Game 130: Back in Business

by 371 Comments

The Brian Bruney Appreciation thread
Should Moose head to Cooperstown?

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)

The Brian Bruney Appreciation thread
Should Moose head to Cooperstown?
  • Steve

    “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.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

        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.

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        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

          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

    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.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

      “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

    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

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

    • Steve

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

  • Slugger27

    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?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

        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

    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

      would be shocked if anyone gave giambi more than 1 year

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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

          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

            and then he was subsequently released….

          • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

            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.

          • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

            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.

            • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

              • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

            • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

        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.

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          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

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

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

            not what he made last year.

            • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

              http://baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_baseball_arbitration_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

                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 …

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  Touche.

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

                  [crickets]

                • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

                  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

      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

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      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

        except he won’t get 18-20 from us.

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    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

    so much for the red sox having trouble with burnett

    • Slugger27

      wahts the score in the sox game?

      • Ben C

        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

          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

          • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

            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

    that slider couldnt have hung more

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Come on Ras, one more freaking out.

  • Slugger27

    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.

    xman is nasty

  • Slugger27

    come on robby

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    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.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      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.

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          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

    RIPPER!!!

  • Slugger27

    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…

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • D.B.

    these yankees are pretty good

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Melky who?

  • D.B.

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

  • zs190

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

      • zs190

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

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        Nady.

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

    • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

      i’m assuming you mean in CF …

      • zs190

        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.

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

          • zs190

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

  • D.B.

    cody ransom deserves a shot at a start

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      Cody Ransom deserves a shot at starting for Scranton.

      Fixed.

  • Slugger27

    JOHNNY!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    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.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      A Jay-Bomb! For Jay-Dam!

  • D.B.

    popes been getting lit up recently…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

      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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

    • Ben C

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

  • Slugger27

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

        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

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

          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.

        what about melky?

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

          • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

            No love for Morgan Ensberg?

            • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

              • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

                • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

                  Yep, he and Alberto Gonzalez.

  • D.B.

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Come on Ras, get your shit together.

  • A.D.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Rasner looks hurt.

  • zs190

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • Ben C

    i am terrified of this ab right now

  • A.D.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Look at that, scoreless inning.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

  • Slugger27

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      59, 36 for strikes.

      • Slugger27

        yikes…

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Oh my, Osi’s done for the year…

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3551499

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      I have no words.

      • A.D.

        we’ll see how good Tuck is

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          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.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Merriman’s injury might also be career-ending:

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

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        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

          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.

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

      • A.D.

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

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          That was one ugly injury.

    • E-ROC

      It’s time for Kiwanuka to prove his worth.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      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

        Wow you sound bitter. World champions

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          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.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

            How were you not impressed by the Cowboys and Patriots?

            • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

              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.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        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.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

          • Nady Nation

            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

            • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

              • Nady Nation

                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.

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  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

                  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.

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  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

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

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

                  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/08/jason_taylor_-_right_knee_spra.html?nav=rss_blog

                • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

            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).

            • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

              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.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

                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.

                • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

                  The Vikes’ D line is redic.

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  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.

                • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

                • Nady Nation

                  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?

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  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

                  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.

                • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

                  Agreed.

      • Ben C

        tie game in canada

  • A.D.

    at least giambi went the other way

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Nice hustle by Hit-deki.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

  • mko

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

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      Non-athletic and huge, what do you expect?

  • Slugger27

    come on pudge!

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

    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.

      not exactly the angels in the team speed dept

    • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    And people say Damon can’t defend in CF.

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

  • A.D.

    Ponson against Byrd…yikes

    • Slugger27

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

      • A.D.

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

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          That’s my new favorite stat ever.

  • A.D.

    Ras probably cost himself an out

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

      • steve

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

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        You ever had a Big Kahuna burger?

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

          • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

            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.

    Ras is bleeding hits

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Nobody makes me bleed my own blood. NOBODY!

      • Slugger27

        a dodgeball reference? nice… lol

  • Nady Nation

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

    • A.D.

      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

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        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.

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        “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.

    nice punch out

    • Slugger27

      that was a ball… but ill take it

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • zzzzz

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Ooo excellent guess, that’s probably it.

    • A.D.

      agreed

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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.

    Imagine if TB had kept Abreu from the expansion draft

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      But Kevin Stocker is the SS of the future.

  • Slugger27

    nice hit n run

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

    • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

      happy now???

  • A.D.

    X!

  • zzzzz

    fuckin’ nady! i love this guy.

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Xavier Nady, your 2008 Yankees offensive MVP.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • Slugger27

    nady is the freaking man

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    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

      Big Ben’s gotta be in the mix somewhere

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        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.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          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

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

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        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

          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.

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        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.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          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.

          • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

            • Nady Nation

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

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

            I agree that he’s a top ten QB.

  • A.D.

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

  • Slugger27

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

  • Babe’s Ghost

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

    • Slugger27

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

    • A.D.

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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

    • Slugger27

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

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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.

        its 5-5 last I saw

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Coco’s such a bitch.

  • A.D.

    Rasner really needs a put-away pitch

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

    • A.D.

      un-manageable

    • mko

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    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.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      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.

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        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

      jesus damon.

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

      GRRRRR.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    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.

      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

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      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

      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.

    Paging Zambrano/Wright?

  • mko

    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

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

    • mko

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

      • Yankee1010

        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.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      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

        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…

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          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

        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

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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    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

    Could’ve been worse.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      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.

        he didn’t go 5, he cant get the win

      • E-ROC

        LOL, don’t get a lifetime ban.

      • Slugger27

        ras is out? unless u mean figuratively win it

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Suzyn Waldman throws like Johnny Damon.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      It was Wake, Jeter had thirty hits off him.

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        Cool, thanks.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

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

  • Slugger27

    strikeout? infield pop up?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    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.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

  • Slugger27

    damnitttt

  • Radnom

    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

      1:30…

      • Radnom

        that explains it a little

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

      • BigBlueAL

        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….

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

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

      • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

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

      • Taylor

        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

          Robertson’s splits:

          VS RHB .789 OPS
          VS LHB .546 OPS

  • Slugger27

    ellsbury is such a joke

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Battle of the bullpens now.

  • E-ROC

    That sucks.

  • Slugger27

    their pitchers gassed

  • A.D.

    lets go X

  • Slugger27

    send arod?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Why not?

  • Nady Nation

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

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    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

      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

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

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

    • A.D.

      we’re screwed then

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        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.

    This game doesnt have the best feel to it

    • BigBlueAL

      This would really be a tough one to lose.

  • Pops

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

  • Ben C

    god dammit jason bay

  • Slugger27

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

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    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

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

  • A.D.

    goddamnit edwar, throw strikes

  • Slugger27

    fuck jed lowrie

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Bold prediction, sure to go wrong:

    Pudge 2 run HR.

    • Slugger27

      lol, thats some brass

      • A.D.

        reality: the opposite of a HR

  • Pops

    C bomb from Cano

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Robbie Cano, whaddya know!!!

  • A.D.

    Cano!

  • Nady Nation

    Don’t ya know

  • Pops

    calld it son !

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    You think Robbie read that Larry Bowa article?

  • Pops

    Pudge can go back to motown

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

    Robbie the RIPPER!!!

  • Slugger27

    robby hr… vernon leadoff walk… theres hope!!!

  • A.D.

    Delcarmen is trying to close it for the sox

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Robbie Cano, solo shot. Just as I predicted.

    MAN, I’m good!

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Man, Pena really stepped it up when Crawford & Longoria went down. He’s a monster.

  • Slugger27

    i would do the yahoo sports girl from mlb.tv

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      picture? name? info?

      • Slugger27

        no idea… just have to watch mlb.tv cuz shes on 6 times every commercial break

      • mko
        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          I don’t want to be the one to tell him, but with those narrow hips she couldn’t have more than 6 or 7 children.

        • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

          Meh. Not impressed.

  • Pops

    delcarmen blows

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Are these Baltimore losers really spelling out the name of their team? This isn’t football…

    • Nady Nation

      This is coming from the same city that plays “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” during the 7th inning stretch. I went to school down in Maryland. Orioles fans are, how should I put this…pathetic

  • Pops

    bautista damn game prob over

  • Slugger27

    sox take it down :(

  • A.D.

    this isn’t pretty

  • Joey H

    ok damaso this is what we got u for!

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Rich Harden is crazy good. Best 14th round fantasy draft pick I’ve ever made.

  • Pops

    damn anyone see hardens line 7 strong 11 ks 1 run 2 hits ,. dude is filthy

  • Slugger27

    get a damn ground ball for the love of god!!

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Alright, Damaso, go earn your 2009 option, muhfucka.

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      NICE! That was a $6M breaking ball right there…

  • Pops

    C Quentin on roids

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Yessir.

  • Slugger27

    thats like the 4th inning in a row that has felt like the bottom of the 8th

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Mets lose in extra innings. Brad Ausmus and Darin Erstad both hit 10th inning homers to lead the Astros to victory. In a related story, hell has frozen over and the Mets still suck.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Yeah, and LaTroy Hawkins maintained his 0.00 Astros’ ERA in that game, but his Kper9 dropped to 15.43.

  • Slugger27

    god bobby is a machine

    • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

      2nd-half-contract-drive-bobby is a BEAST!

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

    Why petey abraham should stick to reporting and not thinking, pt. 417:

    Petey today:
    Edwar Ramirez has allowed 12 home runs in 112.1* innings in the majors. He’s a useful guy in sports but he’s a tough guy to trust late in games against good hitters.

    Petey on 8/14:
    Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez are good choices for the seventh inning or as mix-and-match guys. But neither is ready (or good enough) to be an everyday eighth-inning guy.
    Go get somebody like Dan Wheeler.

    Player 2008 IPs/2008 HR
    ramirez 47/6
    wheeler 55/7

    * for some reason petey decided to double edwar’s career innings

    • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

      Yeah, because Dan Wheeler plays for the Rays, so they’d totally be interested in dealing us a valuable bullpen piece, seeing as how we’re not competing with the Rays for a playoff spot or anything. Because they’re in last place… because they’re the Rays.

      Right?

      • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

        oh, i should have made it clear that the latter was from a piece where petey outlined his “plans” for the 2009 yankees.

    • mko

      Whenever Edwar gives up any runs (hellohoooooo, every pitcher gives up runs, and Edwar hasn’t given up that many this season, one of our bullpen’s best) Pete can’t wait to badmouth him…I guess he doesn’t like him for some reason.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      I think that’s a case of “find the best team in the league, find out who their setup man is, and say the Yanks should find someone like him.”

      Pete’s a great reporter, but he should leave the analysis to those of us who reside in our mother’s basement.

      • BigBlueAL

        Hey I resent that, I actually have my own room!!!!

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          Wow, you’re lucky. I had to arrange my furniture so that my bookshelves kinda make it look like a room.

      • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

        Yeah. I live in Kim Jones’ mother’s basement.

  • Slugger27

    that rally lasted

  • mko

    Does Kevin Millar have a Hitler mustache? LOL…

    • Austin

      lol I noticed that as well

  • Pops

    this is the marte i like and what we expected

  • Marc

    WTF is Giambi even good for… Oh yeah, game winning jack last night

    • mko

      Let him do it from the 8th spot in the lineup…

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Good job by Girardi, quick hook. Mo’s only thrown 25 pitches the last 2 days, it’s not like he’s been overworked.

    • BigBlueAL

      Ditto Veras, its a good thing they have Monday off.

  • BigBlueAL

    Mo for his 2nd 4-out save in 3 days..

  • Joey H

    a few pitches in that last AB for marte were called strike 3

    • mko

      I guess the umpire thought so as well, because this called strike 3 was a present ;)

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    First they’re spelling O-R-I-O-L-E-S, now they’re playing the Spice Girls… ugh.

    Glad I’m not there.

  • steve

    that pitch was filthy

  • THE Dread Pirate Roberts

    at least it seems like pudge is starting to hit the ball hard in his at bats …

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Fucking double clutch…

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Hammer it down Mo…

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    Un. Hittable.

    Love how Pudge threw his fist up before the call was made.

  • Nady Nation

    Huge win, what do you guys think, must sweep situation against Boston? I don’t think so – but it’s a MUST take 2/3

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Phew!

    There is no God but Mariano, and Mariano Jr. is his messenger.

  • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos

    Kim Jones: Big hit on the homer, there, Robbie, did you know you got all of it?
    Robinson Cano: I know your moms got all of it, that’s for sure!

  • Batty

    I’m surprised they didn’t bring in Molina to keep the running game down in the 9th.

    Mo’s awesome. When I grow up one day I look forward to telling my kids about the days I’ve seen the great Mariano pitch at old Yankee Stadium. It’s like listening to my dad talk about Maris and Mantle.

    • Manimal

      He waved at me once. In the Trop I was started a Mariano chant with the couple yankee fans there and he waved at me. Insane.

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        I was at a game in Oakland a few years ago, and my seats were right by the Yankee bullpen. I was no more than 5 feet away from Mo while he was warming up. It was awesome.

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

          I’m from his country. Yeah, and what! ;)

  • Manimal

    Man, Pudge goes insane while Mariano just calmly shakes his hand.

  • Mac

    Is it too much to say we’re back in the play-off race? Anybody look at the Rays schedule in September? They have like 11 games vs. the yanks and bosox alone.

    • Batty

      If we sweep Boston we can talk about that. It’s still a cock tease at this point.

  • Pingback: River Ave. Blues | Questions about the upcoming rotation