Aug
24

Game 130: Back in Business

By Mike Axisa

The Yanks have won 5 of their last 7 games, and after today’s game they get a crack at the Wildcard leader in a three game set in the Bronx. If there ever was a time for the Yanks to make a move, now is it.

Dareel Rasner takes to the mound for the boys in pinstripes, sporting a 3.38 ERA in his last three outings. He’ll be opposed by big Danny Cabrera, who gives the Yanks fits for whatever reason (3-0, 3.15 ERA against the Yanks this year), but he’s been brutal over the last month, pitching to a 7.15 ERA & .920 OPS against. He’s basically turned everyone into Josh Hamilton over that time.

The Yanks have to remain patient, work the count and let Cabrera get himself into trouble. He’ll do it, it’s almost inevitable. Playoff caliber teams win these games. 1:35pm start today, get it done.

1. Damon, CF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Giambi, 1B
6. Nady, LF
7. Matsui, DH
8. Cano, 2B
9. Pudge, C

And on the mound, Waiver Claim Rasner.

Update: Tigers Thoughts updated the Elias rankings. Bobby Abreu is comfortably a Type-A free agent, while Jason Giambi is barely a Type-B. It’s not even worth thinking about risking offering The Big G arbitration at this point. (h/t reader Steve)

Posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at 1:00 pm in Game Threads.

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371 Comments »

Steve says:

“Jason Giambi is barely a Type-B. It’s not even worth thinking risking offering The Big G arbitration at this point”

Unless of course, its already a clause in his contract where they offer and he declines. Has there been a FA that the Yanks have signed where this has ever been a problem? I’m asking, I honestly don’t remember.

In any case, if Pudge and Abreu get 2 year offers, I don’t think they will be a problem. Giambi is another matter. He might not get 18 mil for 2 years on the open market, much less the one the Yanks would have to pay if they offered him arby.

Mike A. says:

I hadn’t considered that their might be a provision in his contract that he must decline arbitration. If there is, then obviously you offer it.

I can’t recall there ever being as issue with the Yanks, but I remember Michael Barrett surprised the Padres and accepted arb last year. Of course, he was only making $5M, not $22M.

Steve says:

When you pay out the kind of money the Yanks do for FAs, I would think this bookkeeping stuff is pretty much a formality. But I could be wrong, especially with guys like Boras. Though even in his case there’s probably just a price tag attached to it.

 

I’d be shocked if the union allowed language like that in player contracts. No way would he be contractually barred from accepting a collectively bargained provision like arbitration.

Have you ever heard of anything even remotely along those lines?

————–

Following your line of thought, though, when we don’t offer him arb, he’d either have to take the 1-year deal we’d offer him, or go elsewhere (or retire.) I’m betting he’s suiting up for Toronto next year…

Steve says:

I’m pretty certain the Union is NOT a problem. If you remember just a few weeks ago, when Manny was traded to the Dodgers part of the deal for the Dodgers was getting Manny to agree to decline Abritration so they got the 2 draft picks. In that case, it was even made public as being part of the deal.

 
 
 
 
monkeypants says:

If Giambi is only a class B free agent, and the team has little incentive to offer him arbitration, as Mike A. argues, then why not bring him back for one year (that is, pick up his option)?

Unless the team plans to get a FA 1B (Tex?), Giambi stands a good chance of putting up decent numbers next season. Plus, back-to-back good seasons would might improve his FA rating after next year. And if he breaks down, it only costs the team 17 million. For a one-year stop gap, he’s really a pretty good option.

Mike A. says:

Well, it’s a $22M option, that’s a ton of money. Even if he comes back next year and plays his way into Type-A status, they’re back in the same position as this year: do they offer arb or not?

I think it’s best to just cut the ties and move on.

 
Steve says:

“why not bring him back for one year”

23 million reasons, plus have you seen his #s with RISP this year? He’s been killing us all year. Draft status is not a big enough incentive to retain a guy who is on the decline, thats putting the cart before the horse, baseball wise. Throw in Giambi’s very checkered health history and you have the trifecta of reasons to sign Tex.

 
 
Steve says:

Apparently, Rasner like throwing to I-Rod where Pettite and Moose don’t.

His last 2 outings he gave up 1 and 2 runs with I-Rod behind the plate. Facing TOR and MIN.

 
zs190 says:

guess Sox didn’t scout Vernon Wells well, another bomb today.

Steve says:

Plus they have as much trouble against Burnett as we do. That could be enough for him right there *crosses fingers*

 
 
Slugger27 says:

hey mike, whats the deal with gardner? they just gonna let him ride the bench and be reduced to a pinch runner? i know the minor leagues are almost over so i guess it would be pointless to send him down… seems like he should be getting at bats somewhere though right?

Mike A. says:

They’re not hurting his development at this point, he’s got a full season of at-bats under his belt. It’s not like they’re going to use him as a pinch hitter, he’s just there to pinch-run and provide late-inning D.

It’s not ideal, but it’s not doing damage either.

Slugger27 says:

thats true… id still like to see him get some spot starts every now and then though.. or maybe thats just me not wanting damon in CF, heh

 
 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

why is there a risk offering giambi aribtration.

he’s going to get a multi-year contract offer for someone else that i can pretty much guarantee is going to be more than giambi is going to get in arbitration.

and who cares what giambi made *this* year. if he accepts arbitration, he’s *not* going to get $22 million, he not going to get close to that.

if he’s a type b, it’s a no brainer to offer arbitration.

Slugger27 says:

would be shocked if anyone gave giambi more than 1 year

Mike A. says:

Agreed, there’s zero chance he gets 2 guaranteed years. Maybe 1 years with a vesting option or something. There’s also no way he gets offered close to the same kind of money he’s making now.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

Frank Thomas got 2 years PLUS a vesting option and he was even more injury prone AND couldn’t play the damn field.

Giambi could very well get 2 years.

Slugger27 says:

and then he was subsequently released….

 

Thomas got two years, 18M. And THAT was a disaster. No way Giambi gets that much, which is why he’d accept arbitration and sit back and wait on his Yankee checks.

 
Mike A. says:

Yeah, but Riccardi’s an idiot, and he couldn’t get rid of Thomas fast enough. Most GM’s are smart enough to avoid that kind of disaster.

Riccardi got his phone calls mixed up, he thought he was signing Adam Dunn to a 2 year deal.

Mike A. says:

But Dunn doesn’t have a passion for the game.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

yeah, only problem with that argument is well, it only takes 1.

 
 
 
 
 
Mike A. says:

If he gets a paycut, it won’t be that much. In reality, Giambi’s a $10M a year player right now thanks to his OBP and power. There’s absolutely no chance his salary gets dropped that low in arbitration, it would be a groundbreaking decision and the MLBPA would throw a hissy fit.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

And I disagree. Post-free agent arbitration is a rather unknown animal. The cases just don’t happen that often and frankly, there’s never been a case like what giambi’s situation would be.

He’s coming off a giant contract that he signed when he was a much, much different player.

he’s still valuable enough, but he’s nowhere as valuable as the contract he just finished.

the yankees don’t argue his old contract, they find the comparable current valuation of his production and argue that.

if the yankees choose $10 million and giambi picks $22 million, giambi’s gonna be playing for $10 million.

and who cares about the union, this is clearly within the CBA, they can whine, but they’ve got NO grievance.

Mike A. says:

He’s coming off a giant contract that he signed when he was a much, much different player.

That’s not going to matter, he was making $22M per, and he and his agent are going to want something in that neighborhood.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

and *that* doesn’t matter before the arbitrator.

it’s what is his production worth *now*.

not what he made last year.

http://baseball.suite101.com/a.....tion_works

The arbitration is a “high-low” proceeding, during which each side presents its case for why the player should be awarded the requested salary in the upcoming season. In deciding to award the higher or lower salary, the panel may consider the following criteria:

(1) the player’s contribution to the club in terms of performance and leadership;

(2) the club’s record and its attendance;

(3) any and all of the player’s “special accomplishments,” including All-Star game appearances, awards won, and postseason performance;

(4) the salaries of comparable players in the player’s service-time class and, for players with less than five years of service, the class one year ahead of him.

…The panel, without opinion, awards the player a one-year, non-guaranteed contract at one salary or the other.

———————–

If we submit a 10M offer and Giambi submits a 24M offer, it’s far, far from a lock that we’d win. Giambi is still a guy who’s going to end up with 30 homers three of the past four years, he’ll have played in the postseason every year with the Yankees, he’ll have been in the heart of the order on winning teams constantly for a franchise that sells out every game, and he’ll end up with an OPS+ for 2008 around the 130 mark. And, he’ll be a guy who’s been a power hitter for a long time in a league that pays power hitters 18-20M contracts like giving away candy.

It’s just way, way too risky to try and gamble on turning a guy we probably don’t want and definitely don’t want to pay into nothing more than a sandwich round pick.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

And, he’ll be a guy who’s been a power hitter for a long time in a league that pays power hitters 18-20M contracts like giving away candy.

ahhh, hyperbole.

Players making 18-20 million in 2008:

Ramirez, Manny OF $18,929,923 2008
Beltran, Carlos OF $18,622,809 2008

i guess when you said “like giving away candy” you must have meant like willy wonka giving away golden tickets …

(Comments wont nest below this level)

Touche.

Players who are “comparable players in the player’s service-time class” making less than 12M in 2008:

[crickets]

 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

you already *got* your answer earlier in the thread.

frank thomas.

at the end of 2008, giambi will be 37 with 14 years experience.

at the end of 2006, thomas was 38 with 17 years experience, coming off a 2 year run very similar to giambi’s but with a better 2nd year where he was 4th in MVP voting and the indisputed offensive force that led his team to a playoff berth.

thomas got a 2+1 for about 9 and change a year.

but yeah, sure, somebody’s gonna decide giambi’s worth 24 mil a year.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slugger27 says:

i can see a contending team takin a chance with him at 1 year, 7-10 mill or somethin…. but no way 2 years… u gotta figure only al teams will be after him though since DH is where he belongs

 

A) I doubt he does get a multiyear offer, and in any event, even if he does,
B) it would be about 2 years at 18-20M total, versus 18-20M he’d get from us in one single year by accepting arbitration.

If we offer it, he’ll take it. Dude will be 38 in January.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

except he won’t get 18-20 from us.

 
 
 

Do you think Joe West is bummed when he’s at 3rd instead of behind the plate, because he has to leave “The West Vest” in the lockerroom?

 
Ben C says:

so much for the red sox having trouble with burnett

Slugger27 says:

wahts the score in the sox game?

Ben C says:

4-2 — pedroia hit a home run

grit·ty Pronunciation[grit-ee]
–adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est.
1. consisting of, containing, or resembling grit; sandy.

Slugger27 says:

every week that guys lookin more and more like their version of jeter… hes got a ways to go… but he seems a great hitter, an intelligent player, and a gamer

Plus, he’s dead sexy and all the hot, sexy moviestar women of Boston can’t wait to get into bed with him.

Wait, no, that’s wrong.

 
 
 
 
 
Slugger27 says:

that slider couldnt have hung more

 
Mike A. says:

Come on Ras, one more freaking out.

 
Slugger27 says:

is millar hitting .780 this year against the yanks? with 14 homers? 67 rbis? 2500 ops? whats the deal with not getting this guy out… look at his season numbers, hes not a stud hitter, i dont get it

 
D.B. says:
 
Slugger27 says:
 
Jamal G. says:

Would have been a HR if Bowa was still here. Lazy prick.

 
Mike A. says:

So Ryan Anderson being a chef is a result of not being able to repeat his delivery, huh? I would have thought the three times he tore his labrum, or the four times he tore his rotator cuff would have done the job. You learn something new every day.

If he’s torn ligaments seven separate times from throwing the ball, it sounds like he’s pretty damn good at repeating his (awful) delivery after all.

Mike A. says:

Well, in fairness, each of the labrum tears coincided with a rotator cuff tear, so technically he’s only been hurt 4 separate times, not 7.

Meh, i like the way my story sounded better before you had to fudge it all up with your stupid facts.

 
 
 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:
 
Slugger27 says:

hope ras can go at least 5… edwar and marte fully rested so we should be able to get 3 from those 2 guys… in a perfect world anyway…

 
Mike A. says:

Matsui wouldn’t have made it home away. Markakis has a cannon.

 
D.B. says:

these yankees are pretty good

 
 
D.B. says:

gone!!!!!!!! damon baby!!!!!!

 
zs190 says:

Got to give it to JD, the guy can’t play a lick of defense these days but still rakes.

Mike A. says:

Team offensive MVP this year? I have to think so.

zs190 says:

I don’t know, I think it’s ARod if he gets in a groove the last month but right now it’s Damon.

 

Nady.

(Sad thing is, I’m dead serious, too.)

 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

i’m assuming you mean in CF …

zs190 says:

I don’t know about that. He’s less exposed in LF maybe but he’s average at best in LF range-wise and obviously his arm is terrible for any OF position.

Mike A. says:

Outfield arms are over-rated though, they’re definitely the least important of the defense tools out there.

zs190 says:

I agree with that, yeah, range>>>arm to me. There aren’t that many plays where arm strength will save some runs.

 
 
 
 
 
D.B. says:

cody ransom deserves a shot at a start

Jamal G. says:

No he doesn’t. There is no one in this lineup I would ever even consider resting in favor of Cody Ransom.

 
Mike A. says:

Ransom’s just fine where he is. You put him in the lineup every day and he’ll get exposed. He’ll be hitting .230-.280-.350 within two weeks.

 

Cody Ransom deserves a shot at starting for Scranton.

Fixed.

 
 
Slugger27 says:
 
Jamal G. says:

Michael Kay, you don’t have to say “See ya!” every God Damn time. It sounds ridiculous when it’s just jammed in there like that.

 
 
D.B. says:

popes been getting lit up recently…

 
Jamal G. says:

Is it wrong of me to see Daniel Cabrera as the nightmare version of Dellin Betances?

Mike A. says:

I’ve said that before, Betances = Cabrera without the hardheadedness. Betances seems to have better control, albeit he’s still in the low minors, so take it with a grain of salt.

Their stuff is very similar.

 
Slugger27 says:

at least that would mean betances is a ml innings eater with at least some track record of success… but i agree, lack of control is eerily similar

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Daisuke Matsuzaka sucks so bad, he gets his outfielders hurt just trying to play defense.

Ben C says:

this crap is ridiculous — either take him out or clear him to play

 
 
Slugger27 says:

back to what u were saying mike, i think JD is the offensive mvp of this season… but bobby is right behind him

Mike A. says:

Bobby’s another good choice.

People where hating on Damon big time earlier in the year, but you have to be blind not to see how much different this team plays when he’s not leading off. It’s like night and day.

Slugger27 says:

very true… i think its a tie between those 2… bobby is the only guy on the team that has been consistently healthy and productive all season without a dl trip or prolonged slump

Jamal G. says:

A-Rod has been on the DL and is still fifth in Home Runs and is second in the A.L. in OPS. That’s how valuable he has been.

I agree though, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu are two good choices. For me it’s:

1. A-Rod
2. Johnny Damon
3. Bobby Abreu

 
 
D.B. says:
Mike A. says:

He’s sandwich between Jose Molina & Chris Stewart in the MVP voting.

No love for Morgan Ensberg?

Mike A. says:

He’s behind Stewart. Richie Sexson is tied with Jon Albaladejo just ahead of Molina.

And Justin Christian is in front of all of ‘em, right?

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Mike A. says:

Yep, he and Alberto Gonzalez.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D.B. says:

hey mike, heredia or mccallister who has a higher ceiling?

Mike A. says:

Heredia. McCallister is much more of a sure thing though.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

I’d be nice if ras didnt give up this lead

 
Mike A. says:

Rasner looks hurt.

 
zs190 says:

Ugh, it’s not good when Robertson is up warming up and it’s only the 2nd inning.

Mike A. says:

At least there’s an off day tomorrow, they can empty out the pen if need be.

 
 
Ben C says:

i am terrified of this ab right now

 
A.D. says:

in and out of trouble, maybe he’ll make the 1st & 2nd his bad innings

 
Mike A. says:

Look at that, scoreless inning.

 
Jamal G. says:

Could it be a little shoulder stiffness? Not his normal flexibility to get his normal release point?

 
Slugger27 says:

anyone know how many pitches ras has thrown? i dont feel like loading up gameday

Mike A. says:

59, 36 for strikes.

Slugger27 says:
 
 
 
Mike A. says:
Jamal G. says:
A.D. says:

we’ll see how good Tuck is

 
 
Jamal G. says:

I hope they don’t move Mathius Kiwanuka back to DE. I like him more as a tweener, like Demarcus Ware.

Mike A. says:

Terrell Suggs style. That’s what I was hoping the Jets would do with Gholston, but it looks like he’ll be a LB only.

Don’t worry, Mangini’s from the Belichick multiple defenses tree, he’ll mix in some 4-3 and Gholston will put a hand down for that.

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

Merriman’s injury might also be career-ending:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/.....id=3550426

Jamal G. says:

Did this happen on a single play or can we attribute this to an excess of weight on his knees due to his steroid use?

E-ROC says:

He worsen the injury by playing on it last year. I think he tore his PCL or MCL last year and played which resulted in ACL tear

 
A.D. says:

since its pcl & lcl, and hes 24, I doubt roids is the reason for the knee injury

 
 
A.D. says:

after what happened to McGahee’s knee at Miami, and his recovery, I don’t buy it

Mike A. says:

That was one ugly injury.

 
 
 
E-ROC says:

It’s time for Kiwanuka to prove his worth.

 

WOW.

Although, even if he was healthy, there was NO WAY the Giants were repeating. They were a crappy team all year who played a cupcake schedule and only got hot for about the last four games they played while all of their competition got hurt or was dramatically flawed. The 2007 NFL season was one of the saddest in recent memory; nobody played well. The 2007 Giants are like the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.

This moves them from a third-place finish in the NFC East into the cellar.

Nady Nation says:

Wow you sound bitter. World champions

Not bitter, just skeptical.

I’m a Jets fan, and for the record, I was rooting for the Giants to beat the Pats. I bear no ill will against the Giants (don’t really like or dislike them), I just wasn’t particularly impressed with ANY of the playoff teams last year, I though everybody looked bad and most of the games weren’t won by one team as much as they were lost by the other.

Jamal G. says:

How were you not impressed by the Cowboys and Patriots?

The Patriots looked like shit from November going forward. My Jets team was horrid last year, and we damn near beat them ourselves. They were totally imbalanced, the OL wore down, and the defense was a sieve.

Cowboys were better, but they couldn’t stop the run.

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, you won and you deserve the win. I’m just saying, I didn’t think the 2007 Giants were especially dominant champions and I didn’t think they were a lock to make the playoffs in 08.

 
 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Nah, that’s crap. The teams the Giants beat in the playoffs deserved to be the overwhelming favorites as they were. The Giants’ defense was legitimate and they just needed consistent play from Eli Manning. The talent has been there for years, it just finally came together.

The Giants defense was legitimate, yes, but that was with Strahan in there… and I’m not convinced on Eli yet.

Nady Nation says:

Are you a Jet fan? Eli has a ring and a SB MVP after 3 years of starting at QB. Sorry if you’re not convinced

Guys like Trent Dilfer, Desmond Howard, and Timmy Smith have rings and MVP’s too. One game does not a career make.

Nady Nation says:

Hey man, Eli led us to one of the most improbable Super Bowl wins in NFL history, including victories over our biggest rival, and a team that people were calling the best team ever. Sorry if your Jets have been so brutal to you in your life that it’s caused immense jealousy and bitterness towards the G-Men, but I’ll take Eli Manning as my quarterback any day of the week.

(Comments wont nest below this level)

It’s not jealousy or bitterness at all. Just criticism.

I’m just not ready to anoint a guy with a 56% completion percentage and 20 INT’s, and a career 73.4 passer rating as “the next great QB” just because he had one good game against a shitty, wildly overrated Patriots pass defense.

 
Nady Nation says:

No one was annointing him the next great QB though, and he doesn’t need to be the next great QB. He’s got enough talent around him to play within himself and be successful.

 

And he can be successful… I wasn’t picking the Giants to go 0-16. I just didn’t see them beating out the Cowboys for the division, and I think the Redskins and Eagles closed the gap. (although losing Taylor hurts a lot as well..)

 
Nady Nation says:

Fair enough. Is there word on how long Taylor is out?

 

None that I can find yet. MRI is today, Skins are calling it a sprain.

http://voices.washingtonpost.c.....v=rss_blog

 
 
 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

but that was with Strahan in there

Unlike baseball, strategy and schemes are as much a part of success as is talent, if not more. You put the right packages together, make the right reads and adjustments, you can be successful without the most talented guys. Steve Spagnuolo was a fucking genius last year, if he can keep it up then the loss of Strahan wouldn’t have been a major issue (before Osi got hurt because that just hurts the depth way too much).

Yes, the scheme is outstanding, but the talent level plays a part too. Tuck is devastating when he’s the third guy in the rotation, but if you elevate him to #2, now you have to find someone as good as Tuck to take all those snaps that the #3 DE takes.

That’s where the drop off is.

Jamal G. says:

True, but sans the Osi injury, the Giants’ depth at DE went from outstanding and unmatched, to just good. However, with the development of Corey Webster and Aaron Ross (the loss of Gibril Wilson is going to hurt more than people think), the secondary will be a bit better thus allowing for a drop off in the pass rush.

With the Osi injury, well, that’s another story.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Mike A. says:

With Osi + Strahan it was unmatched. I think I’d take Allen + Udeze over Osi + Tuck.

The Vikes’ D line is redic.

 

Very true. Ross and Webster are great building blocks.

And as a Hurricane fan, I LOVED the Phillips pick for you. He’s a stud, he can be the next Ed Reed.

I think your D was amazing last year, and can be amazing again next year when Osi returns. And, had he not been injured, you still woulda been really, really good.

I’m just not sold on Eli making the jump, as yet. And I don’t think your OL is as good as they think they are, either.

 
Jamal G. says:

If it’s strictly D-Line, then I agree. However, Kiwanuka was always the wild card for me.

 
Nady Nation says:

Jamal I know you’re a fellow G-Men fan and feeling my pain right now. Do you really wanna leave Kiwi at LB? I just think we HAVE to move him back there as a necessity if we wanna put any kind of consistent pressure on the QB. Is there any chance Strahan would come back now?

 

I’d move him. Personally, unless you’re running a 3-4, I never say why you moved him to LB in the first place, dropping into coverage ain’t his forte. Let him go get the QB.

Who’d take his place at LB if you move him, though? Blackburn? That’s a big dropoff…

 
Nady Nation says:

Maybe Gerris Wilkinson, if he can ever stay healthy. It’s a big dropoff in terms of overall talent, but Kiwanuka still was just learning the LB position. I understood why we moved him last year, to get all our best players on the field at once, but now, especially with Osi’s injury, I think you have to move him back to his natural position.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ben C says:

tie game in canada

 
 
 
A.D. says:

at least giambi went the other way

 
Mike A. says:

Nice hustle by Hit-deki.

 
Jamal G. says:

Daniel Cabrera looks like the Cloverfield monster standing next to Brian Roberts.

 
mko says:

Wow, Hideki legging it out with his bad knees…unbelievable.

 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

wow … cabrera is slower than matsui??? that’s just embarrassing.

Jamal G. says:

Non-athletic and huge, what do you expect?

 
 
Slugger27 says:
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

oof … with giambi, matsui and molina in the bottom of the lineup, we’ve got a lot of “takes a triple to score from first” kinda runners …

A.D. says:

not exactly the angels in the team speed dept

 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

or even “takes a homer to score from first” …

 
 
Mike A. says:

And people say Damon can’t defend in CF.

 

Johnny was all like “Holy shit, I actually caught that? I suck, and I made that play!

 
Jamal G. says:

It’s funny how many non-idiotc RSN fans hate Jacoby Ellsbury.

 
A.D. says:

Ponson against Byrd…yikes

Slugger27 says:

byrd sucks… aside from that game in the playoffs last year…. oops….

 
Mike A. says:

That one’s got 5 hours written all over it.

A.D. says:

Ponson has been good this year after giving up 7+ runs the previous start

That’s my new favorite stat ever.

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Ras probably cost himself an out

 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

wow … Jim Palmer with the In-N-Out burger shout out … props.

Mike A. says:

I miss In-n-Out. One of the better perks of living in Cali.

steve says:

excellent, i was trying to figure out what i was going to do for lunch. i’m going to in n out !

 

You ever had a Big Kahuna burger?

Mike A. says:

Is there really a place called Big Kahuna burger, or are you just making an obscure movie reference?

Just making a reference, but if Quentin Tarantino didn’t actually open a Big Kahuna burger chain, he’s seriously dropping the ball.

Remember, the most important thing in lfe is the foresight to retain international merchandising rights.

 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Ras is bleeding hits

Mike A. says:

Nobody makes me bleed my own blood. NOBODY!

Slugger27 says:

a dodgeball reference? nice… lol

 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

I’m so depressed about Osi. Any chance Stra pulls a Favre?

A.D. says:

Obv osi will be a loss, but as Jamal pointed out earlier, the giants dont just rely on Osi putting pressue on the QB, they actively pressure the QB, so any single player isn’t as imporant. Big thing for the giants D will be how Webster & Ross hold up in coverage

Jamal G. says:

Big thing for the giants D will be how Webster & Ross hold up in coverage

One of the bigger keys to the Giants’ season before the Osi injury. Now with him down, those two just need to play well and that’s all there is to it.

 

“the giants dont just rely on Osi putting pressue on the QB, they actively pressure the QB”

That’s some pretty damn wishful thinking.

Osi is one of the fastest and strongest DE’s in the game. You don’t just lose him for the year and think you’re not missing a beat.

 
 
 
A.D. says:
Slugger27 says:

that was a ball… but ill take it

 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

wow … 77 pitches for rasner in 2 2/3rds

looks like the Make a Wish Kid’s gonna ride again today …

 
Mike A. says:

That is a damn good trivia question. I’ll say … Pedro?

 
zzzzz says:

i’d say jeter has the most hits against wakefield.

Mike A. says:

Ooo excellent guess, that’s probably it.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

How about Mike Timlin? Could a reliever really be the answer?

Mike A. says:

I don’t think he’d get enough chances against a reliever. Timlin hasn’t been the AL East that long either (recently I mean, discounting his time with the Jays back in the day).

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Imagine if TB had kept Abreu from the expansion draft

Mike A. says:

But Kevin Stocker is the SS of the future.

 
 
Slugger27 says:
 
Mike A. says:

They’ve got Cabrera on the ropes. Anything less than 2 runs here is unacceptable.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:
 
 
 
zzzzz says:

fuckin’ nady! i love this guy.

 

Xavier Nady, your 2008 Yankees offensive MVP.

 
Mike A. says:

X. Nady reminds me so much of the WS years.

 
Slugger27 says:

nady is the freaking man

 
Jamal G. says:

I agree with you on Eli, strongly disagree with you about the O-Line. I really thing we have a top five O-Line, I really do. With Eli, although I’ve defended him from the staunchest of critics, I’m not buying he is on that second tier of QB’s in the league.

I say:

First Tier
1. Peyton Manning
2. Tom Brady
3. Carson Palmer

Second Tier
1. Brett Favre
2. Drew Brees

Third Tier
1. Donovan McNabb
2. Eli Manning
3. Tony Romo
4. Phillip Rivers

Nady Nation says:

Big Ben’s gotta be in the mix somewhere

 
Mike A. says:

Roethlisberger and Hasselback have to be in that mix somewhere. Big Ben’s definitely a second tier guy.

Jamal G. says:

Nah, not second tier. Yeah, I did leave out some guys, just going off the top of my head. I say Hasselbeck is definitely a second tier guy and Big Ben is on the third level.

Roethlisberger >>> Eli.

Not really that close.

Ben: 908 for 1436, 11673 yds, 63.2%, 8.13 ypa, 84 TD, 54 INT, 92.5 rating
Eli: 987 for 1805, 11385 yds, 54.7%, 6.31 ypa, 77 TD, 64 INT, 73.4 rating

 
 
 
E-ROC says:

Carson Palmer is second tier. I would put McNabb in the second tier.

Jamal G. says:

Carson Palmer is easily a top rate QB, easily. Two straight seasons of 4,000+ Passing Yards, three straight seasons of 25+ Passing TD’s, and 60% completion every year he’s been a starter.

E-ROC says:

Ah, it’s either way. He didn’t exactly look that great last year with that same group when the touchdowns were hard to come by. The first tier is a two-man race. Carson isn’t sniffing Brady or Manning.

 
 

Top Tier
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning

Second Tier
Carson Palmer
Donovan McNabb
Matt Hasselbeck
Ben Roethlisberger
Drew Brees
Tony Romo
Brett Favre

Third Tier
Eli Manning
Phillip Rivers
David Garrard

Best case scenario, if you think he’s the best QB of that tier, he’s the tenth best QB in the league.

Fuck, I forgot Marc Bulger. Add him to the third tier. So Eli is somewhere between the 10th and the 14th best QB in the league. And here’s tier four, they’re not that far off:

Derek Anderson, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Matt Schaub, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia, Jon Kitna.

Mike A. says:

Jeff Garcia is a bad mofo. All he does is win games.

Nady Nation says:

But T.O. thinks he’s gay, despite being married to a Playboy playmate. T.O. also sobs like a schoolgirl after losing games

 
 
Jamal G. says:

I agree that he’s a top ten QB.

 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Guess they should have traded Cabrera when he “figured it out” earlier this year

 
Slugger27 says:

hes a 2 out rbi machine… like paul oneill used to be… dude is clutch

 
Babe's Ghost says:

was the arod plunk intentional? Where’d he get hit? Watching gameday so can’t tell.

Slugger27 says:

no, cabrera just doesnt know where the ball is goin… hit him on the elbow

 
Mike A. says:

No, not intentional. Cabrera was just all over the place.

 
A.D. says:

arm, it was to load the bases, so I doubt it

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Daisuke Matsuzaka, meet the law of averages. You little bitch.

Slugger27 says:

whats the score in that game? im not keepin up with it, dice k gettin lit up?

Mike A. says:

5-5 in the 7th now. Dice-K coughed it up, but Coco just homered to tie it.

Dice-K’s the luckiest pitcher in the world.

 
A.D. says:

its 5-5 last I saw

 
 
Mike A. says:

Coco’s such a bitch.

 
 
A.D. says:

Rasner really needs a put-away pitch

 

God, Xavier Nady fucking sucks. I hate that guy.

Mike A. says:

He can’t play defense! I can’t believe they traded Jeff Karstens for him! Brian Cashman is teh idiot!!111!

 
 
Mike A. says:

Holy crap moly. It’s only the 4th inning.

A.D. says:
 
mko says:

That’s ridiculous. I think there are going to be a lot more runs scored on both sides…

 
 
Mike A. says:

I love how Girardi keeps bring D-Rob into high stress situations. Way to put the kid in a spot where it’s easy for him to succeed and build confidence.

Jamal G. says:

It’s the fourth inning, who do you want in there? Brian Bruney pitched two innings last night and it seems that Damaso Marte is best used as a LOOGY right now. Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras are our late-inning guys, you can’t bring them in the game in the fourth inning.

Mike A. says:

Let Britton finish up the inning.

The Yanks go out of their way to make sure kids like Melancon, Robertson and Cox only enter the game at the start of the inning at the minors, then they throw them right into the fire in the bigs.

Eh, I guess it has to happen sometime.

 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

jesus damon.

YOU’VE GOT A GODDAMN NOODLE FOR AN ARM. LET ABREU TAKE THAT!!!

GRRRRR.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

So if avid Ortiz continues to suck it up next year, at what point do we consider him a declining player next season?

BTW, I checked his stats and something is puzzling me. In his age 26 season, David Ortiz posted a .500-SLG%. The Twins then non-tendered him the following off-season, the Red Sox picked him up as a platoon guy, and the rest is unfortunate history. I’m questioning why the Twins let him go when he posted 20-HR, .500-SLG%, and an .839-OPS when he posted those numbers at an age that is to be believed the beginning of his prime baseball years.

A.D. says:

interesting to see how it goes without Manny behind him

My guess for the twins didn’t think he was going to live up to the power potential, and hes not your normal twins prospect

 

Oh, I don’t know, maybe the Twins non-tender had something to do with the fact that Carl Polhad is a douchenozzle who volunteered to assassinate his own team?

It’s a thought.

 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

twins didn’t like him. IIRC they tried making him change his approach/stance. plus pohlad’s a cheap sack-full-of-bastards and he didn’t want to pay for ortiz in arbitration.

oops.

 
 
A.D. says:

Paging Zambrano/Wright?

 
mko says:

God damn it, if Damon does that one more time I’ll kick his ass! He did it for the fourth or fifth time in this series!

 
Yankee1010 says:

Still waiting for an explanation as to why Damon is calling everyone off on fly balls when there are runners tagging on him.

mko says:

He probably thinks that the runners fall down and fail to score because they are laughing so hard…

Yankee1010 says:

It’s better than the “yeah, but he’s the CF, so it’s his ball” explanation. Damon might as well kick the ball back in.

 
 
Mike A. says:

What is he supposed to do? He was parked under the ball, is he supposed to move out of the way and let Abreu try to catch it on the run? Catching the ball is the priority, not the throw afterwards.

The ball was deep enough that the runner would have scored anyway, Damon did the right thing by catching it and throwing to the cutoff man.

mko says:

On that play the runner would have scored anyway – probably. But he did it four or five times during this series. And in situations where HE was the one making the catch on the run…

Mike A. says:

Oh I know, I was just talking about this particular instance. It seems that every time Damon catches a ball in the gaps and runner advances people freak out that he shouldn’t have caught it. It’s a little ridiculous.

 
 
Yankee1010 says:

I disagree. That ball was not deep enough to score on Abreu’s arm.

Abreu could have made that play easily. It’s not like he would have been making the catch on the dead run. Damon’s done it a few times this weekend. It’s time for him to put his pride in his back pocket and realize that Nady and Abreu (and pretty much anyone) has a better arm than him.

 
 
 
Slugger27 says:

anyone else feel like this game should be in the 7th? loooong sloooow game

 
Jamal G. says:

I seriously hope that one day when Kevin Youkilis slams the bat to the ground in disgust that it will just pop back up and smack him in that thing he calls a face.

 
E-ROC says:

Could’ve been worse.

Agreed. Rasner WILL still win this game. We are not going to surrender this lead, or so help me, I will go all Cuba-Taekwondo up in somebody’s face.

A.D. says:

he didn’t go 5, he cant get the win

 
E-ROC says:

LOL, don’t get a lifetime ban.

 
Slugger27 says:

ras is out? unless u mean figuratively win it

 

Sorry… it just feels like the 7th inning already, it slipped my mind.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Come on Toronto, time to feast on that “bullpen” Boston has.

 

Suzyn Waldman throws like Johnny Damon.

 
Mike A. says:

Did they give the trivia answer? I missed it, shit.

Jamal G. says:

It was Wake, Jeter had thirty hits off him.

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

You know Kay was totally mackin’ on Kim Jones’ mom.

 
Jamal G. says:

“You’re so much more handsome in person.”

Hmmm, that seems up to interpretation whether that’s an absolute compliment.

 
Slugger27 says:

strikeout? infield pop up?

 
Jamal G. says:

Alex Cora Wins Games – Steve Phillips

I named my fantasy team that for a reason. Top 9, Cora bunts and Jason Varitek is thrown out at second base.

I was gonna go with “The Alan Horne Project”, but there’s only room for 20 characters.

 
 
Slugger27 says:
 
Radnom says:

I just got in…first at bat I see is a 2 run hr off Ramirez? Holy shit did this game really start at 1? And we are only in the 5th right now? Geeze it looks like one of those days, good thing they are off tomorrow.

mko says:
Radnom says:

that explains it a little

 
 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

ah. good to see joey joe joe jr spinning his wheels to piss away this game …

Jamal G. says:

So, what would you have done. And if David Robertson would have given up the HR, what would you have said?

BigBlueAL says:

I dont disagree with the move at all, I also wouldnt have cared if he had left Robertson in. Its just that it seems every freakin move Girardi makes backfires on him….

Jamal G. says:

That’s what I’m saying. It’s complete hindsight BS that someone would complain about the move Girardi made there.

 

Joe Girardi: Normally I wear protection, but then I thought, “When am I gonna make it back to Haiti?”

 
 
THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

i would have said, oh well … the orioles didn’t hit the ball out of the infield in that inning against robertson

 
Taylor says:

Really wasn’t a reason to think that Robertson would have allowed a HR there, since he still hasn’t allowed a HR to a LH hitter as a professional, and Huff’s double was the first xbh hit he had allowed to a lefty as a Yankee. Was just Joe G. overmanaging again.

THE Dread Pirate Roberts says:

Robertson’s splits:

VS RHB .789 OPS
VS LHB .546 OPS

 
 
 
 
Slugger27 says:

ellsbury is such a joke

Mike A. says:

He’s the next Grady Sizemore. Peter Gammons told me so.

 
 
Mike A. says:

Battle of the bullpens now.

 
E-ROC says:
 
Slugger27 says:

their pitchers gassed

 
A.D. says:
 
Slugger27 says:
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Man, we really need this game (not to state the obvious or anything)

 
Mike A. says:

Most of the year, whenever there was a game like this, I felt like they’d find a way to lose. I feel like the Yanks will pull this one out though.

Slugger27 says:

dont wanna jinx anything… but i have a good gut feeling about this game… also have the same feeling the sox will win their game though

 
 
Ben C says:

so, marte in the seventh… then what? what do we do if this game goes extras?

Mike A. says:

Worry about it when they get there. I’m sure Ponson could give them an inning or two.

 
A.D. says:

we’re screwed then

Rex Kramer: [talking to Steve McCroskey] Our only hope is to build this man up. We gotta give him all the confidence we can.
[to Striker]
Rex Kramer: Striker, have you ever flown a multi-engine plane before?
Ted Striker: No, never.
Rex Kramer: Shit. It’s a God damn waste of time! There’s no way he can land this plane.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

This game doesnt have the best feel to it

BigBlueAL says:

This would really be a tough one to lose.

 
 
Pops says:

sox gonna lose b jays(hehe) pen is so filthy and bostons is struggling // rios or stairs with a walkoff

 
Ben C says:

god dammit jason bay

 
Slugger27 says:

britton is rested… maybe him… no reason marte couldnt go 2 if he doesnt struggle

 

At this rate, it’s a good thing we’ve got an off day tomorrow, because this game won’t be done until Tuesday morning.

 
Nady Nation says:

Jed Lowrie HR, Sawx up 6-5. We NEED this game

 
A.D. says:

goddamnit edwar, throw strikes

 
Slugger27 says:
 

Bold prediction, sure to go wrong:

Pudge 2 run HR.

Slugger27 says:

lol, thats some brass

A.D. says:

reality: the opposite of a HR

 
 
 
Pops says:
 
Mike A. says: