Ponson pounded as Yanks drop a game

July 28, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 75 Comments

Allow me to quote myself from six days ago:

Every time Sidney Ponson takes the mound, I half expect that to happen, and one night, it will. It may not be his next start which happens to fall against — gulp — the Red Sox, but it will come. Tonight, Ponson managed to win yet another game for the Yanks. He went 5.2 innings and allowed his customary 11 base runners. Somehow, he has to keep up that 1.94 WHIP.

Somehow, indeed. Last night, in a losing effort against the Red Sox, Ponson managed to put 11 runners in 4 innings for a WHIP of 2.75. While the portly Aruban lasted three outs longer than I predicted he would, seven of those 11 runners scored, and the Yanks wouldn’t be able to overcome that deficit.

Since joining the Yankees, we’ve seen a lot of the same out of Sidney Ponson. He’s thrown 26.2 innings with a 6.08 ERA. He’s allowed 39 hits and has both walked and struck out 11. His WHIP is 1.88. Stick a fork in him, folks, because he’s done. I can’t really see him making his next start against the Los Angeles Angels this week.

In Toronto, Jarrod Washburn strengthened the Mariners’ position with a solid outing, and as Sunday’s game unfolded, I couldn’t help but imagine how things may have turned out differently had the Mariners been more willing to consummate what seems like an inevitable trade. But Washburn or not, someone — Ian Kennedy, Al Aceves — has to replace Sidney Ponson. He’s just not doing the job.

* * *

In the end, I can’t, outside of my condemnation of Ponson, be too critical of the Yanks. Jon Lester has the team’s number, and he pitched a brilliant game. The Yanks, since the All Star Break, are now 8-1, and they sit three behind Tampa in the AL East and two behind Boston in the Wild Card. There’s a lot of baseball left, and the Yanks are a better team today than they were three days ago.

Game Notes: I no longer wonder why Richie Sexson was released by the Mariners. Whenever Joe Girardi wants to bat Jason Giambi against a lefty instead of this abomination of a player, count me in…Dan Giese threw an effective four innings, but don’t let those results full you. He had a 0-12 GB-FB ratio. I wouldn’t be too keen on seeing him make a start…Derek Jeter has now hit into 15 double plays this season and 36 since the start of 2007.

Baseballnation

Dear Ian Kennedy,

Ian Kennedy…We couldn’t be more happy to see you. Further more you might as well bring Al Aceves with you to replace Rasner in the rotation. We see it like this, we know what Rasner has to offer already and we figure it aint any worse than what Aceves might bring.

Thank you,

Yankee nation
- jsbrendog
  
  yankee universe
  - Chip
    
    Yankee Empire
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      You stay classy… PLANET EARTH!
RustyJohn

Yes, and if we get Wasburn you will soon see why the Mariners want to get rid of him too. I wasn’t a big fan of the proposed Washburn trade, still am not, but his price sure as shit got higher today after his outing in Toronto and Ponson sucking it up on the mound.

Sexson is very much lost at the plate and has been for two years. I see the Yanks got him away from his open stance though.

I was so hoping for a rainout tonight, knowing this would be the day that one S. Ponson would get his ass handed to him. Waiting for the game to start was a lot like waiting for Santa Ana to attack the Alamo. Sure, it’d be interesting to sit back and watch, but the outcome was pretty much decided before the first shot was fired.

Was there one ball that wasn’t crushed by the BoSox tonight? Girardi should have tried some Larussa shit and started Mo, then worked his way through his other relievers after the second inning.

Any glimmer of hope that the Yanks would come back was erased with Jeter’s double play and then by ARod and Nady in the 5th
RustyJohn

Oh, hats off to Dan Giese- way o eat up some innings, only give up two runs and save the pen for another day. Ummmm….can we get Giese to start in five days?
TheLastClown

Yeah, I’m going to have to roll with the majority on this one. I wanted to give Sidney a chance, and he did put a couple of lucky outings out there, but its time to know when enough is enough.

Give me IPK. Give me Aceves. Hell, give me Phil Coke……

If or when these guys fail, we’ll have Hughes & Pavano back, and I’m not a Carl fan, but I have a feeling he’ll pitch well when he does come back. He does have to convince some team to sign him after this year, after all.

Hopefully IPK or Aceves will stick, both would be a miracle, but one will do, as after they have their time to prove or disprove their own ability, we’ll have Chien-Ming Wang back.

Enough with the abominable Aruban. Enough with Dicklock Sexy. Start Giambi @ 1st, and go get Mr. Bonds to DH. Let Johnny & Nady alternate @ LF.

I know it’s no kind of attitude to be upset after they win 8 straight, which is a good rhyme in and of itself, but I don’t want to play roulette with Sir Sidney anymore. Rasner I have a bit more patience with, but not too much.

I think IPK showed he could preform last year at the big league level, and it’s time for him to get another shot. Remember, all you IPK nay-sayers, that he had a stellar, no, DOMINANT year last year all through the minors before he was called up, so he had Herculean levels of confidence in his ability. Joba wasn’t the only meteoric Yankee prospect last year.

To quote Old Ranger, but to phrase as a statement rather than a question….27/08!!!
- A.D.
  
  milb minor league pitcher of the year, for IPK its all about being in a groove
TheLastClown

For some reason, when a thread has 400+ posts in it, my computer will freeze when trying to load it. Sometimes I like to read the game thread if I haven’t watched the game live, to see what people are saying & the connections that people make throughout.

Wonder if anyone else has this issue.

Also sucks to be a West Coast fan and be awake long after you folks mostly go to sleep :)
- radnom
  
  You can go to the mobile version of the site (which absolutely sucks by the way). It will only load a small number of comments at a time, which should crash you computer.
  
  Oh, a note for the site admins, who handles your technical stuff? I get redirected to the mobile site when I am on a regular computer every once in a while just for fun (its not me either because this has happened on multiple computers). This is fine because I can always go to the regular site but when I am actually on my phone I just have to hope it doesn’t recognize that (which it doesn’t about half the time) because the mobile version is such an awful interface and has scripting errors quite often. (for a good example of a mobile version of a blog check out peteAbes)
  
  Anyway I’ve been noticing this a while, just thought I would point it out.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
    
    Do not post technical issues in threads. We went over this over the weekend. Our e-mail addresses are at left. If you need us, e-mail us. This is not the place to air your personal dirty laundry issues with the site.
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      Look, these parades you throw are very expensive. You using my police, my sanitation people, and my Oldsmobiles free of charge. So… if you mention extortion again, I’ll have your legs broken.
      - Steve
        
        Somebody’s been watching “Animal House”
http://www.thebronxzoo.wordpress.com iYankees

Richie Sexson is getting exposed for who he ultimately is. A large and oafish shell of a hitter with seemingly no power and no plate discipline. The lineup got that much thinner today by sitting Giambi and Girardi needs to play him against all lefties, that’s it (he still has an .897 OPS against them). The Nady acquisition should offset the lefty heavy lineup enough. If Sexson gets any playing time, it should be as a pinch hitter (against lefties or for Molina or Moeller) and a defensive replacement at first.
- TheLastClown
  
  Im with you…concurred….agreed
- Steve
  
  He’s not even a decent fielder. He has balls hit right at him go under his glove.
  
  He’s never hit .344 vs lefties before this year (more like 260-ish), so there was a good chance he would regress to the mean, and he has. Guys usually play to their baseball cards, and his card is pretty ugly.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  So, then, it looks like the Sexson experiment failed. That’s why it was a smart experiment: give him a quick audition, see if he can help us in a small role. If it doesn’t work, DFA him and move on.
  
  All of which lends more credence (and necessity) to doing the exact same thing with Barry Lamar.
http://nyyu.blogspot.com Mike @ NYYU

A few good weeks can’t cover up the fact that Washburn is on his way to a 6th season of double digit losses.

He’s a scrub, don’t be fooled.
- TurnTwo
  
  but that scrub is better than Ponson and Washburn, right?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  I’m not at all concerned with his losses. He plays on an anemic offensive team. If your offense doesn’t score runs, you won’t get wins.
  
  Again, win-loss record for a pitcher is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on baseball fans.
  - Whitey14
    
    That and the Save!
    
    When the single season record holder is Bobby Thigpen, you know it’s too easy to achieve one.
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      Good point. Felix Rodriguez is about to break the save record, and he’s not even one of the three most effective closers in the league this year.
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
        
        I wasn’t going to correct you until you made fun of B-Ref, but I believe it’s Francisco Rodriguez going for the save record.
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
        
        Whoops! I shoulda just called him F-Rod, huh? My bad.
        
        In a related story, I can’t wait for Man-Ram, M-Tex, and CC-Sab to hit the market so we can sign them up.
  - steve (different one)
    
    A few good weeks can’t cover up the fact that Washburn is on his way to a 6th season of double digit losses.
    
    He’s a scrub, don’t be fooled.
    
    actually, he’s been a better than average starter for a decade.
    
    losses? are you serious?
Steve

“In Toronto, Jarrod Washburn strengthened the Mariners’ position with a solid outing, and as Sunday’s game unfolded, I couldn’t help but imagine how things may have turned out differently had the Mariners been more willing to consummate what seems like an inevitable trade.”

I agree completely, last night couldn’t have turned out better for the Mariners trade stance. Even Aceves has a garbage outing in Scranton. Washburn was strong and Ponson was a disaster against our main rival, you’d have to be nuts to think the M’s didn’t notice that and loved every minute. But I don’t think they drop Ponson necessarily, he and Rasner have been equally bad this season.

Rasner’s next start vs the O’s lines up perfectly with Kennedy’s, both are slated to start Tuesday. A strong outing by Kennedy could tip the scales back in the Yanks favor. Or Cash might not want to risk showing his hand, fearing a poor Kennedy outing could make them seem even more desperate. I’d give it a shot, Kennedy’s previous MLB starts in April don’t give you much you can credibly claim fall back on, and he can’t be much worse than Ponson/Rasner. But the Yanks are trying to sell the Moeller-Rasner combo, so I suspect they won’t do this.

BTW-Ponson’s ERA with the Yanks is 6.87, double check that.
- TurnTwo
  
  the Mariners can say whatever they want to, but just like he did with the Phillies for Abreu, Cashman will wait the M’s out, and they’ll give him up for exactly waht he’s worth; salary relief and a middle level prospect.
  
  Sexson should not take away time from Giambi, but just provide a complimentary piece to go along with him.
  
  i wonder if, when Damon’s shoulder is fully rested, you’ll see Nady at 1B, Damon in LF, and Giambi back to full time DH.
  - A.D.
    
    Imagine if they traded CJ Henry again!
    - TurnTwo
      
      that would be awesome.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  B-Ref agrees with the math I did last night. His ERA is 6.08 while in the Bronx.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
    
    B-Ref… Must EVERYTHING be abbreviated in this fashion?
    
    “Hey, did you see the State of the Union address last night?”
    “Yeah, it was pitiful. G-Bus is a real dumbass.”
  - Steve
    
    26.2 IP
    18 R (all earned)
    
    Actually, were both wrong. His ERA is 6.18
    
    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3823
Relaunch

If you see the thread from the game, there were many people saying what is the big deal Sexson is starting instead of Giambi. One person actually wrote who cares as long as he hits.
- TurnTwo
  
  well, that kind of is true, though. If Sexson hits, he’ll get playing time. dont you want someone in the lineup who hits?
  - Relaunch
    
    Sexson doesn’t hit and hasn’t (Yankees and Mariners).
    - TurnTwo
      
      you said that someone in the game thread said who cares if Sexson plays as long as he hits.
      
      i just agreed wit the concept.
      
      i dont think Sexson is all of a sudden going to be a .280 hitter and jack up 15 bombs in the second half of the season, but if he did, would you really complain at that point if he was in the lineup?
p

as long as seattle keeps acting like douches and asking for austin jackson to be included there is no freaking way this trade will go down. They are just proving why they have been such a garbage team for the past few years because they have no idea how to negotiate
TurnTwo

in case anyone missed it, Hughes is sched to throw 2 innings in the GCL today, and Pavano the same tomorrow.

I guess that makes them each likely to potentially be ready in 4 weeks, approximately?
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  Potentially ready, yes, but not necessarily to throw with the big club.
  
  I still doubt that Hughes makes an appearance anywhere higher than Scranton this year. Baby him and let him regain his confidence.
  
  Pavano is more likely to arrive in the Bronx (unless he re-blows out his asscheek).
http://2009 Haggs

Last night was a blessing in disguise. Watching the blimp blow up on national television might finally convince the powers that be to not give him the ball ever again. The jig is up. It should have been up two weeks ago.

I wouldn’t say Lester was brilliant either. The Yanks let him off the hook.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  Yeah, but he was only on the hook once. He was pretty damn brilliant outside of that.
Mark

this is his first game that he lost for the yankees…why be so hard on him ?
- http://www.overheardinnewyork.com NC Saint
  
  His peripherals have been bad all along, as they have been all year. Everything about his track record suggests that he will be a very ineffective option most of the time. And he isn’t exactly the sort of guy that makes you want to go out of your way to like him.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  Because we know he’ll lose many many more if they let him.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  And check that. This is the second game he lost for the Yankees. He lost that Rangers game. The offense won it.
- jsbrendog
  
  because until yesterday he got 8 runs a game of supprot so we could hold our hands over our eyes and pretend he wasnt atrocious…jigs up bitches
- Chip
  
  You could have put Giambi on the mound and still won most of his other games
Bo

You can only survive so long with Ponson and Rasner starting games.
A.D.

I think the hate on Rasner in this thred is a bit misguided, as not all of Rasner’s starts have been 2 guys on an inning followed by a double play and Rasner has given up 3 runs or less in 4 of his last 6 starts, not bad for a 5th starter.

With IPK appearing to round into form I imagine we’ll see him up soon over Sir Sidney, if he can pitch to his ability then he’ll make a nice 4th starter.

Props to Giese being the long man and mopping up. Under the Torre era we would have seen Proctor, Farnsworth, and one other reliever all pitch
- radnom
  
  Joe Torre – “Every releiver. Every day”*
  
  *(Excluding the half of the bullpen he doesn’t trust)
KW

The game kinda sucked – Yanks didn’t hit when they could have and Ponson really let loose (in a bad way). But hey, 8-1 in the last 9 isn’t bad. We’ll get em next time
Rich D

The trouble I have with last night’s game is that the Yanks had no chance to win last night. Obviously matchups dictate your chance of winning most games but they are not determinant in all instances. However, last night, I’m sure that pretty much noboby thought the Yanks could win last night. And that was all because of Ponson. Lester would have been tough to beat but when your starter gives up 7 runs in 4 innings, its all over.

That is a failure of the GM when, if a $200M payroll, you are conceding games before the game is even played.

I really hope that the Yanks don’t miss the playoffs by a game.
- steve (different one)
  
  this post is kindof dumb.
  
  almost every single team at some point has to roll out a replacement level starter due to injuries.
  
  the following illustrious pitchers started games for the 1998 Yankees:
  Mike Buddie
  Ryan Bradley
  Jim Bruske
  Mike Jerzembeck
  
  if they do miss the playoffs by one game, you *could* point to this game, but a smarter person would probably point to the 2 months of crapitude the all-star 2Bman started the season with. or when their #1 starter got hurt running the bases in interleague play. or when their borderline HoF catcher tore his labrum.
A.D.

Per MLBTR

“The Yankees still don’t want to send more than a middling prospect for Washburn. Meanwhile, the Ms hope Hank Steinbrenner will demand Brian Cashman acquire the pitcher, even if it means trading Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner.”

Seriously teams are going to Hope Big Stein Jr. goes nuts and thus throws in a prospect. On top of that, if it did happen cash would target a pitcher who actually was worth prospects.

Say what you want about Hank, he made be loud and fire off, but he’s not an idiot, and it appears he’s letting Cash do his thing.
- TurnTwo
  
  yup. gotta love the Hank.
nick blasioli

i think that joe should have sacraficed in key situations as when jeter is up and runners on first and second no outs…get some runs on the board..he just doesnt play small ball enough..ponson sucks…i wouldnt even have him the pen..i also had a terrible feeling before last nites game started…it was a huge game for the yankees…its sad they couldnt win it…
- steve (different one)
  
  i think that joe should have sacraficed in key situations as when jeter is up and runners on first and second no outs…get some runs on the board..he just doesnt play small ball enough..
  
  yes, playing for 1 run is a really good idea when you have Ponson on the mound.
  - jsbrendog
    
    and are down by 7
    - steve (different one)
      
      honestly i can’t think of a worse example of when a team should play small ball.
    - Kyle D.
      
      They weren’t down by 7 at the situation he was talking about. I remember it because I was half thinking to myself the same thing, mainly to keep out of a double play. On the other hand, you really can’t ask Derek Jeter to bunt in Fenway with 2 men on and no out. However, his knack for getting doubled up is becoming a rally killer.
      
      Though, if DJ gets a hit there no one says he should have bunted. Its really a moot point. Hind sight is 20/20.
      - jsbrendog
        
        and beers are 8.50
        
        Kyle D.
        
        “Wow, its packed in here!”
        “Well, what do you expect? It is eight dollar beer night.”
      - steve (different one)
        
        they were down 4-0.
        
        and there was absolutely no indication that the Sox were done scoring.
        
        Jeter crushed the ball to the very deepest part of the stadium his first time up. there was a lefty batter on deck.
        
        if Girardi had bunted in that situation, i’d ask to have his head examined.
        
        it would have just been an awful tactical move.
        
        steve (different one)
        
        i do love the 40 YO Virgin reference though.
      - ceciguante
        
        yeah, you can’t bunt there b/c the yanks were down 4-0, i believe, w/ the aruban prince on the mound. but i totally hear you that DJ has been horrible with the GIDPs this year. he’s simply having a terrible year by his standards.
        
        all part of the larger problem that the yanks are abysmal with RISP and often can’t seem to put together competitive at bats against good pitchers. note, i don’t expect the same production against good pitchers, but i see a lot of guys looking overmatched when the opposing pitcher has any idea what he’s doing. not encouraging.
        
        Kyle D.
        
        Either way, there was little hope when Lester was pounding the zone like he was last night. The one blip in control he had we couldn’t capitalize on. If Ponson isn’t pitching, we still need to convert a bases loaded no out situation without a lucky infield single. We’re not going to get a ton a opportunities like that. Got to make them count.
http://RiverAve.Blues Joseph M

I wasn’t in favor of getting Sexson so my first inclination would be to just put him on waivers. That said, the Yanks should do some low profile checking and see what might be available in the back up infielder market with an eye on making a quick deal before making a final determination on Sexson. Sexson is better than nothing, and if a replacement isn’t found they will have to work with the hand that has been dealt and see if Long can do anything for him.

I wouldn’t make a decision on Ponson until after Rasner’s start, maybe they can survivie a few more outings by the portly righthander, I just don’t trust Rasner.

Washburn is an upgrade at this point but the deal has to be on fair terms. The salary should be split and the compensation reasonable. I would not be opposed to sending Gardner if that’s what it takes. I don’t know what the upside to Gardner is but I suspect it’s close to Bubba Crosby.

I believe Kennedy should stay where he is until the last week of August, let’s see how it goes instead of rushing him up before he’s ready.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  Sadly, I agree. Even in the afterbirth of Ponson’s disgustingness last night, he still probably stands a better chance of fooling ML hitters more often than Rasner does.
  
  We should try and get Washburn here, post-haste, and let Ponson (shadowed by either Rasner or Giese) survive two more turns in the rotation. Hopefully IPK has two more solid tuneups, and then he can return with some confidence.
dkidd

what is wang’s eta?
dkidd

any chance they’ll give dan geise another start?
Bart

Lester is a cancer survivor and by many respects a heroic guy but the Yankees had more than enough chances to beat him save for the Ponson Hole — ARod’s line drive to 3b was luck —
this could have been a 2-0 3-2 -5-4 win it did not have to be a loss — Girardi should have pulled Ponson in the first – he had nothing — Giese may have done no worse than he did — the entire attitude and approach to the game woujld have changed

Sexton has looked awful – maybe he is but Gimabi has not been producing lately —

the issue is the hitting largely stinks (is not timely) one game ot the next — twice failing to advance a runner from 2B with NO OUTS

— The Yankees have no chance getting to October trotting out ponson and Rasner every 5 days — winning out of 5 games won’t hack it with the games that are remaining and at that Moose Pettit and Joba can’t be expect to win theirs 1-0 2-0 3-1 every time out.

Ponson and Rasner have been lucky with the run support argainst 4 and 5 starters — they need to at least make the games against theSox and Rays possible wins — 2 out of 3 gainst them won’t close the gap with the ramining games. The losses to toronto, Pirates, cincinnati were much like yesterday against the Red Sox

I hope we are not seeing Girardi Prcatice Torre’s “house Money” BS style — they are not 8 games in the lead

Washburn is a risk but if you want to stabilize the 4rth strater in order to make it to October – he is worth Gardner plus some throw ins — the issue is not MONEY — it is time —- the clock is running out.

If we want to make a run with rasner and Ponson — make your vacation plans for October anywhere but to Yankee Stadium
Bart

Can i amend that — Slip IPK in there — at least idf he does a Ponson you are hardening him for the future — Rasner has none — stil get Washburn
Gary

A brief comment on the Sunday Night Baseball Yankee loss:

At the end of the year, we must fire Bobby Meacham, an average player and a horrific third base coach. Holding up Damon and not being aggressive on a fly ball to center field broke much of the Bombers’ momentum of that inning and, to boot, a close up shot revealed Meacham and Damon shittlily grinning after the play in which the Yankees refused to test a below average arm in center field with a fast runner at third. Was that funny? I didn’t find it funny. Johnny: your throws are so bad you’d make Don Baylor look like Clemente. You can’t field well anymore, now are you going to stop being a good baserunner, one of your few fortes?
Gary

Geise…Ponson…Rasner…what does it all mean??????????????

It can all mean but one thing…”Kei Igawa is the suckiest
pitcher on the face of the earth!
- http://YankeesWizard.blogspot.com wizard
  
  The Yankees shouldn’t want even try for Washburn. He can’t help us. He’s a nothing thrower wanting the big bucks. That’s why the Mariners will end up keeping him on their roster, no one wants him bad enough. The I agree, Kei Igawa sucks.
  Yankees have people in the minors ten times better than Washburn or Igawa. Be patient, let the cream rise to the top instead of always taking on someone else’s trouble (Mariners and Washburn).
  
  As to Melky Cabrera, 23, and Brett Gardner, 24, if I was cashman I wouldn’t shed either in this round–not for a washed up Washburn. I’d keep Gardner, bring him bck up and put him in centerfield. He’s much quicker than Damon at this state in his career…and can outhit Melky any day. Unlike Nady, Gardner can steal bases, giving the bombers an aspect they seldom have on the basepaths. Nady, quite frankly, doesn’t impress me much…not yet. I wouldn’t have gotten Nady. I would have used Cabrera in left and put Gardner in center.
  Yankees Wizard