Game 90: All lefties hit poorly against lefty pitchers, says Girardi
ByPardon my frustration with Girardi’s lineup tonight, but it looks like he’s going with the notion that all righties are better against left-handed pitchers than lefties. Seriously, that’s the only justification for hitting Melky leadoff and batting Betemit ahead of Cano.
The Yanks enter the game nine games behind the Rays in the loss column, and can cut that to seven over the next two days. Unfortunately, the ball is in the hands of Sidney Ponson tomorrow, so they’ll have to capitalize on Andy Pettitte‘s start tonight.
Just a quick hit from PeteAbe tonight: “Girardi said just now that he expects Hughes to pitch in the majors in September, which is different than what Brian Cashman has been saying. Of course in general Cashman is always more a pessimist and Girardi an optimist.” I’m not sure how this differs from what Cashman has been saying. In September, there are no minor leagues, so since Phil is on the 40-man, yeah, he’s going to be in the majors in September. That is, if he’s healthy.
Good news on Matsui, as he hit off a tee today. We’ll continue hoping for a healthy comeback for Godzilla.
Your lineup:
1. Melky Cabrera, CF — booooooooo
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, DH
6. Wilson Betemit, 1B
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Jose Molina, C
9. Brett Gardner, LF
And on the mount, number forty six, Andy Pettitte
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No Michael Kay? The YES Network is bringing out their A-Team in the booth tonight.
I don’t know if you heard but Rich Hardenhas been traded to the Cubs.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_.....8;c_id=chc
Anyone see the lopsided deal that sent Harden to the Cubbies for 4 stiffs?
I don’t want to ever hear again how good a GM Billy Beane is…..he just got fleeced by Cubs GM Jim Hendry.
you forgot the chad “i’m pitching better than sean gallagher this year” gaudin chaser.
strange, strange trade.
Agreed but maybe to him this was best deal he could get and didn’t want to take any risks.
That’s my initial reaction as well. Heard his velocity was down to about 88-91MPH lately so there are whispers something might be off with him, yet again.
There has to be something up with that one……that deal stinks for the A’s.
Makes you wonder if Cashman inquired or made an offer because the Cubs sure as hell didn’t give up that much.
I mean, that’s like a Shelley Duncan, Justin Christian, Alan Horne and Austin Romine package. Yawn me.
Yeah Beane got screwed. The thing is, the Cubs I’m sure had (or will have) him take a physical so it can’t be a glaring injury for him to be traded. I could see where Gallager could one day be good and Gaudin can help in the bullpen but that’s just insane.
I’d have thrown him Christian, Kennedy and Giese and called it even
I don’t even think it’s that good…
I think it’s more a Shelly Duncan, Justin Christian, Steven White, Frankie Cervelli kinda package. None of these four guys are in Romine or Horne’s class, IMO, and that’s even after knocking off some of the “Yankee Prospect Luster” off of Horne and Romine.
Gallagher is a slightly, slightly better Darrell Rasner. Murton and Patterson may not even be 5th outfielders. Donaldson is nothing special behind the plate, and now he’s not hitting in the advanced minors either.
This blows… it’s almost a conspiracy that we try to make offers and Hughes and IPK isn’t enough, and then the teams turn around and make deals for pu-pu platters.
if that was the best deal – the yankees couldnt do any better without giving up huge names
That’s a very weird deal, makes me wonder if Billy knows something about Harden we don’t. It’s basically a potential ace and serviceable back-end guy for three ghosts of top prospects’ past, and Josh Donaldson.
Meanwhile in Yankee-land all is quite.
I think its the other way around. Harden has pitched a grand total of 30 starts in the past 3 years. I wouldn’t trade away guys who can help me win this year on the PRAYER that Harden stays healthy.
Oh, and BTW reports are everywhere that Harden’s velocity has dropped in his past few starts. Remember the last time that happened? I do. He spent the rest of the year on the DL.
Hendry is an idiot. This is why the Cubs never win, not Steve Bartman or some silly goat.
Melky Cabrera has a .400/.400/.500 line against Kazmir as opposed to .077/.077/.154 for Cano. The all-important sample-size is definitely an issue.
So I guess that Sabathia and Harden off the board in concern with the yankees needing a big pitcher. The only one left is Burnett but I seriously doubt he comes here and maybe Harang.
Albeit in just 41-Plate Appearances, Melky Cabrera does have a vital line of .273/.375/.333 when batting lead-off in the lineup.
His velocity was down that last start, but in his most recent one it appeared to be back up.
-Gameday
If that’s the best deal the Cubs could get for Harden, imagine what could (or still could be) offered for Joe Blanton!
Why don’t we just trade for Duchsherer? Of course that’d cost an arm and a leg assuming Beane is even willing to give him up
Wow, Kazmir is DEALING
I love it when they K swinging out of the zone.
Mr. Kazmir looks to be on his game. Gonna be an uphill battle tonight fellas…
Kazmir smoked these batters right now.
So most pitchers have about 3 or 4 inches of break on their fastballs (according to Gameday) why is it that Kazmir is so effective with just an inch or so?
This could be quite the pitchers duel
Even though Cano is struggling with the Bat, the way he’s playing defense, he might win a GG.
Ian Kennedy has walked two in his first 1.1-IP (one was a grinding type AB) but he has a great Changeup tonight, good to see.
that’s solid news.
And there goes the no-no
its good to see cano back to normal.
Heh, anybody else shocked that Jose Molina actually made contact?
Even more shocking that he has a double.
Doublemint Molina!
How does Robbie not score if Molina made it to second?
B.J. Upton has a cannon, and then some.
Dunno, but there are worse things in the world than 2nd & 3rd, no outs.
Hava Molina!
That pitch was just nasty. Looks like a fastball out of his hands, then it just disappears.
Wonderful, Gardner strikes out and now Melky won’t get the run in and we’re screwed
On the bright side, that means the Captain can’t hit into a double play.
yup
Aren’t we awsome with RISP?
WTF…..that swing was a joke by Melky!
That pitch was over his head AND a foot off the plate. What the fuck Melk.
Those two Ks are what I hate about the Yanks this year.
Just hit a squibber.
Come on Jeter, show us those intangibles!
Just release Melky right now.
you can release Gardner too
Holy Shit that was terrible
The Yankees are third in the AL with RISP & two outs, we got Kazmir right where we want him!
DJNY!
Wow. Just, wow.
You see Chip, Upton has a gun.
Consider me convinced
that was a friggin cannon…..but is it me or is Jeter getting thrown out at an abnormal about of times this year?
I have no idea how you could check that.
go through every game log on espn.com…….but i have faith someone here will have that answer at some point.
The Captain comes through…..thank you, DJ
I’m just happy Michael Kay isn’t around to talk about how wrong it was for Meachem to send Jeter when A-Rod leads off the next inning with a base hit.
Two more doubles and Melky ties Jason Varitek in XBH on the year.
Fucking AWESOME.
This is Yankee baseball, Kazmir is up to almost 60 pitches after 3. At that rate we’re in the bullpen by the 6th, love it
With more experience can B.J. Upton be a perennial .400-OBP% guy?
Certainly. .310-.400-.550 with 20 SB a year in his prime isn’t out of the question. Super. Star.
is it me or does Melky just take bad routes to fly balls and then makes it look like he made a nice catch?
He doesn’t typically take great routes but the ball is clearly carrying tonight to right center field.
Yeah i wasn’t speaking specifically about tonight, just in general
Absolutely. More specifically he takes a bad first step, then has to hustle up to recover.
That’s exactly what I was thinking when I saw the replay. Most centerfielders coast to that ball but Melky initially cut it short
FIP has to be one of the most important stats when evaluating a pitcher in the Minor Leagues, those defenses absolutely suck.
*Wow, where the hell did that hop come from?
Lip o’ the grass.
our old friend the late Phil Rizzuto would have said “that ball took a bad hop in the air”. I swear he said that once on an old WPIX telecast.
I just saw the Simpson Movie, and I thought it was gonna be dissapointed but man that movie is funny as heck.
Wow, I thought it was a huge disappointment. But I haven’t thought the SImpsons have been any good for several years now.
Either Andy Pettitte is really on tonight or these Tampa hitters are a bit too geeked up. They are ninth in MLB in walks and fifth in OBP%, so this seems a bit out of character.
Kevin Cash is starting tonight with Jon Lester on the mound, could the All-Star, Jason Varitek, be riding the pine?
Isn’t that sad that a guy who isn’t even a starter on his own team is on the all-star roster?
Jorge drove that ball just miss a homer.
Betemit has seen 6 pitches, swung at 5 and has yet to make contact
He is awful.
Which do you think might happen, Robinson Cano hitting .260 or better by the All-Star break or Jason Varitek hitting .209 or lower by the ASB?
I’ll take Cano
Man, I hope Varitek plummets below .200, just so they can flash that shit during the game for all of America to see.
theres probably a 90% chance of that happening hahaha
Amen
That’s so fucking embarrassing, I don’t think I can wish that on somebody. We’re talking internationally as well, yikes!
Can we please lay off the guy? Please? I mean he has scored 18 runs this season!!!!
where the fick was that 1-2 pitch to Aybar?
Ian Kennedy is going to have one of those starts where he has pitched better than his line indicates. That said, his line might still indicate he’s pitched a good game.
Ian Kennedy better pitch well because I don’t think I can watch another Rasner or Ponson start.
Pettitte looks great tonight.
Any P is dominating
It will be Ironic that despite the big deals the Cubs and Brewers pull off, the Cardinals win the division.
That’d be awesome. It’s the Cubs division to lose at this point but history suggests that they’re screwed
Can anybody remember a movie they’ve been as excited to see than “The Dark Knight”?
I am really stoked about this movie but I am getting tired of the marketing. Its to the point where I stop watching the television when the trailer comes on because I want the movie to be a surprise.
Yeah, I had that same feeling with the Simpsons flick. Advertisement just got tiring.
Arguebaly the most anticipated. I heard ledger had one of the better performances as the Joker this year. Christian Bale might is the best Batman. Most of all they made Batman movie more dark and gloomy and somewhat freakish which should always be.
Come on Molina, time for homer numero uno
I’ll take it
molina is an all-around better catcher than jason varitek
except he’s not more valuable to his club than any other human being who has ever lived ever in all the universe
That’s unfair to Molina. He’s SO much better than Varitek. He’s got Molina catching blood running through those veins.
Kaz bobbled that because of Gardner’s speed.
Brett makes fast people not look fast.
Just bunt Melky.
Does the litle edge on the grass have that cool new vista panoramic roof?
Is there any doubt that Melky’s going to fuck this up?
No.
“Was”
I’m sorry, I may have missed a meeting. Is Girardi waiting for more proof that Melky should not be in the leadoff spot?
It’s always ideal to have a leadoff hitter than can’t put the ball in play.
Or bunt.
But lets face it, with all that power . . . . oh, wait a minute. Never mind.
Can someone explain to me why Melky is the starting CF for the New York Yankees? It baffles me…
Because there is no alternative. Certainly Brett Gardner is no better.
Reid Brignac in the house. Didn’t even know he got called up.
I hate when people penalize pitchers for trying to strike people out, what the fuck do you want them to do if the hitters can’t touch their stuff?
story of the season, another DP
When you get hit in the hand, it makes you hit into lots of DP’s.
Doesn’t it?
That Derek Jeter GIDP was brought you by Viagra, helping men with E.D. turn two since 1998.
You’ve been on lately Mike.
The other day I made a crack that Jeter GIDP’s so often that the Yanks should find a sponsor for them. That was the cheesy slogan I came up with.
Pettitte’s on.
Kay is gone.
Now if Jeter could just STOP hitting into a double play, life would be good.
Two things happen in that inning that happens often, Melky sucking and Jeter GIDP.
I’d rather Jeter strike out looking than GIDP
true he is an injury rissk, but at 4.75 million this year and signed through 2009 the yanks couldnt take a shot at letieally gcatching lighting in a barrell – hank tips waiters 4.75 million
dont give me this nonsense about you dont know waht they asked from for the yankees – the cubs trades essentially melky and 3 B level prospects. the yanks couldnt have beaten that offer and got a decent bullen arm in the process.
maybe harden pitches a couple more years as a starter and eventually he needs to become a closer alla krry wood when mariano is retired. either way this is a deal that the yankees should have been all over if not for this year than for next year, or we can keep having faith in a savior rising from the farm system- after all we have masterson, bucholz and lester down there – oh wait, that is the red sox
He’s made a grand total of 30 starts in the past 3 years. And recent reports were his velocity was down over his past few starts.
I wouldn’t TOUCH him. Not if it costs me guys I can use in the near future, and it will.
WHAT are you talking about?
Rich Harden, ever heard of him? He’s a pitcher who gets injured a lot.
and could have been had for free basically
the yankees have always been a team to take chances and absorb the consequences. from what this deal looks like they would have had to give up no pieces of much value unless you count the breeze melky provides with all his swings and misses
the yankees have always been a team to take chances and absorb the consequences
Yes, and look where it got them. Battling with the Rays to try and maintain their stranglehold on third place.
Ahhhh . . . . . . the good old days of Kevin Brown. He’s flying to Denver to see his acupuncturist as we speak.
Look up the stats of the players they gave up. Those were mostly guys who could have helped them this year, and now instead they’ll have Harden on the DL and nobody in their system when somebody else gets hurt.
There are guys with all the talent in the world who simply can’t stay healthy. Mike Hampton, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, on and on. Harden has a track record of being one of them. I don’t need guys like that.
Ooops, sorry. You weren’t talking to me.
Trying?
Melky is an absolute plague on offense. He’s dead weight bringing the whole team down. He doesn’t get the run in from third with one out, and then he can’t lay down the sac bunt, and to top it all off he strikes out three times swinging all on pitches well out of the zone. The only thing he adds to the team is a strong arm in the outfield, but that’s not nearly enough to justify keeping him around. As soon as Damon comes back Gardner should take Melky’s spot, and if somebody will offer anything at all for Melky the Yanks have got to make the deal.
Andy Pettitte is not an ace.
The douche got fired! The douche got fired!
What?
Did I miss a memo?
I’m going to go ahead and make sure you get another copy of that memo.
Mmmmmmmmmmmkay? Thaaaaanks Peter.
The Bobs said I don’t have to read the memo.
What?
The long-haired jackass that did those FOX Business spots.
damn, i was hoping for Joe Morgan
You think Cano wins a GG this year?
Mr. Balfour is having himself one hell of a season. 6 H and 27 K in 17 IP? Hot damn.
the day billy beane makes a fair deal with the yanks is the day that manny ramirez stops showing up pitchers after home runs.
To all of you bloggers that were so high on Melky and refused to include him in any potential fantasy RAB deals, well enough said. I’m not sure what the hitting coach is doing with this guy, not to blame the hitting coach. But isn’t it obvious that the man batting both ways has a slight hitch and steps away which causes said head to follow. He looks so lost up there. There has to be a better option until he can fix his swing because at this rate his value is zero and he is a black hole in the lineup.
I blame
1. Melky. Is he an idiot or what?
2. Kevin Long. Does he get paid or what?
3. Bobby Abreu. Finds time to goof around with Melky. Should be teaching this idiot something.
4. A-rod. Same thing. Why aren’t these guys talking to Melky?
I blame Melky’s talent. He just suck.
You know what would be the definition of irony? If Jeter drives a runner in from third for the winning run in Game 7 of the World Series with a GIDP.
No that is the definition of never happen.
It would also be ironic if Melky was batting leadoff.
. . . wait. . . did I say “Ironic”? I meant MORONIC.
Betemit didn’t strikeout I am surprise.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say B.J. Upton doesn’t make that play at 2nd last year. And that’s a BIG reason why the Rays are so much better this year.
Far from the only one, mind you. But any discussion with how the Rays got better that doesn’t start with their defense (looking at you, Ken Singleton), just isn’t very good analysis.
That strikeout was UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE.
I get really frustrated when I think of Carlos Pena succeeding somewhere else because it was important to play Andy Phillips and then Craig Wilson.
Heady play by the Cap’n. He’s got an edge.
Andy Pettitte is bush league, anybody just see that fist pump? Unbelievable.
Iiiiii don’t know Mikey, just don’t like seeing that stuff in the game. No place for it. Alright we’re gonna take our 748th commercial break in the past hour.
Pettite may not be an ace but he is most definitely a stopper. He gets big wins when we need them
Those Edge commericals have to go. Sorry to take it off topic,but theyre really starting to annoy me.
Range!
Why the fuck is Melky Cabrera listed an option for Chevy Player of the Game?
Because he made a fairly routine catch look hard
Did I miss something? Was Melky really on the list for YES’s Chevrolet Player of the Game?
Hey Mike A…..Umm yeah….Can I get a copy of that memo….thanks.
Seriously. That was priceless.
Yeah, let’s move Jeter off of shortstop. He only prevented that run from scoring and drove in the only two runs of the game
I’m not sure what his offense has to do with him playing Short Stop but I would have no problem saying that Alberto Gonzalez could have made that play as well.
Except that Alberto would then have to bat and Jeter would have to take somebody’s place
Jeter’s not been terrible this year, according to RZR and ZR and replacementlevel.com’s findings. I don’t know what’s happened but he may be ABOVE average this year
MELK CITY
You have to be kidding me. Hah. Go Melky.
Is it too late to stuff the ballot box for Melky? Two more XBH and he ties Varitek.
That’s why he’s the “Chevy Player of the Game”, bitches.
I believe I mentioned TB pen may start to slip yesterday….after last night and now…hmm
Small sample of course
My bad if this has been posted already, but I just listened to Girardi’s pre-game interview posted on LoHud, and then found more info on Feinsand’s Daily News blog.
Pavano has been spotted on a pitcher’s mound facing human beings with bats in their hands. And he will throw again 3 days from now. As Costanza would say, sweet fancy moses.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....nkees.html
The tarring and feathering will totally make the plays of the week.
If that doesn’t tell us that the yankees are winning this game nothing will.
Beautiful hit and run
he gives the O face
Jason Jones, begging for a call-up to AAA
I was about to complain about Boston tying the game, but then I realized that the team we’re playing is who we’re chasing.
Technically we’re chasing the Twins too, so we gotta gain ground on someone
Nice Job twins.
Red Sox rally in the 8th to pull ahead of Minnesota… Manny hit that ball as hard as he hit that 65 year old defenseless man…
Robby’s been up there for an hour.
What an at-bat by Robbie.
Great AB.
When Cano is going well, he is a fun hitter to watch.
DFA Bobby Meacham.
Does anyone know that Jorge CANNOT run?
If that’s Jason Varitek, he scores by 20 feet. He’s lightning fast, that Tek. Ruggedly good looking as well.
Damn, these Rays are playing like the Devil Rays used to.
No hitting, and a bullpen that can’t get anyone out.
Keep it up, fellas.
Meacham kind of sucks.
In other News elton Brand is signing with the Sixers. Persoanlly a good signing by the sixers. Brand gives them an inside presence to tag along with Iguodala and helps their half court offense alot.
Statement game.
Edwar nice job
Great win by the yanks and a great performance by Pettitte.
Jackson vs Ponson should be interesting
[...] Because it happened on a minor league field, I feel obligated to report it: Carl Pavano threw live batting practice off an actual mound today. He’s scheduled to do it again on Friday. (h/t Haggs) [...]