Aug
27

Game 132: Winning would be a good idea

By

I hate to say that the Yankees ever have to win a game, but I think, for tonight, I’m going to go with this one: If the Yankees don’t win tonight, it will be extremely hard for them to make the playoffs. Of course, even if they do win tonight, it’ll still be extremely hard for them to make the playoffs.

Left to the task of winning tonight’s game is Sidney Ponson. The Aruban is 3-3 with a 5.46 ERA while on the Yankees, and his WHIP remains a lofty 1.61. He last faced the Red Sox on July 3rd and gave up seven earned runs in four innings. The Yanks are going to need a better effort from Ponson tonight.

Opposing Sir Sidney will be Paul Byrd. The righty, a post-deadline acquisition for the Red Sox, is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 13.1 innings for Boston. On the season, he’s 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA. While Byrd bounced the Yanks from the playoffs last year, he’s been far less successful this year. Against the Bombers, he is 1-1 but with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed six Yankee home runs in 12 innings this year. Slugfest, anyone?

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
I. Rodriguez C

Ponson P

Repeating History:Yes, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez are still hitting back-to-back in the lineup. Giambi since the All Star Break is hitting .232/.355/.414 with six home runs, but he’s gone deep twice against Byrd this season.

A “God Bless America” Brouhaha: Deadspin has an alarming report about a fan who got roughed up by the cops and kicked out of the Stadium last night after failing to show what the police officers viewed as proper respect for Kate Smith. We covered this issue in May of 2007, but this development sounds like one ugly incident.

Categories : Game Threads

484 Comments»

  1. E-ROC says:

    When was the last time Giambi had a “day off”? That might explain things. Still, Giambi should be moved.

    I don’t think there will be a slugfest. Ponson will throw a gem.

    Will Jody Gerut be a free agent this off-season?

    • bill says:

      Are you serious? Ponson a gem? This has to be a slugfest for the Yankees sake because Ponson will definately give up a fair share of runs. 6.92 ERA career against the Sox and Big Papi has a lus .400 BA against Sir Sidney

  2. Manimal says:

    Funny story, my cooking class teacher realized my name was Manny and asked me how I felt about Manny leaving Boston. “I’m a yankees fan so I could care less” Then she told me a story about how her son went to yankee stadium and got beamed with a drink in his head and immediately got asked by the police if he wanted to press charges. are the po-po that strict?

  3. giselle says:

    i dunno, ben, i’d say we’re in for a pitcher’s duel tonight.

    • Manimal says:

      This was the game that could go either way I really thought that the yankees were going to win game 1 and 3 but NOOOOO. Arod had a different plan.

  4. Ivan says:

    Alot of media outlets and fans were getting on A-Rod today.

    A-Rod needs to step up and shut these people the fuck up.

    I still got faith in A-Rod, but I have to admit some of that confidence was lost after last night.

    Nevertheless A-Rod is our best player and the best MLB player and while he has struggled in critical spots this seasons, he can turn it around.

    A-Rod needs to stop with the BS and go out there and kick some mothafuckin ass. Ya better than that.

    Tonight I think A-Rod is gonna do some good things tonight. It’s a clean slate for him and the yanks tonight. Lets go Yanks.

  5. Jake H says:

    Yanks need a good outing tonight by Sidney.

  6. Ivan says:

    The good thing is that Paul Byrd suck so, I would be surprised/piss if the yanks don’t beat the shit out of Paul Byrd.

  7. Jamal G. says:

    This season and his inaugural Yankee season are the only two seasons A-Rod has hit under .300 w/RISP and two outs. These two seasons are also the only two seasons where A-Rod hit under .290 w/RISP overall. So to say anything other than “A-Rod has been one of the major reasons the Yankees have made the postseason during his tenure in New York” is wrong.

    • DP says:

      One could argue “A-Rod was the #1 reason the Yankees made the postseason in 2007″

    • Jamal: Nobody is saying that ARod is anything other than the main reason we made the postseason.

      They (and now I) are saying we need him to to more. Because he can.

      Stating that he’s really good overall doesn’t change the fact that he’s frequently been far from good. His standard is higher.

  8. Ivan says:

    Yo Jamal you watching the Phil hughes start?

  9. Steve says:

    Scuse me, I gotta take a leak.

  10. DP says:

    How many times is Michael Kay gonna doubt Girardi for saying 2 out of 3 is necessary. It clearly is. The players know it. If they can’t handle the pressure of that, they wouldn’t be in the majors. Mariano, I can’t wait until ESPN takes him full time.

  11. Mike A. says:

    Here’s a nice stat for you: Roy Halladay leads AL starters with a 2.11 GB/FB ratio. Who’s second? That would be Sir Sidney, at 2.04.

    http://tinyurl.com/5rassc

  12. bill says:

    Mike: Do you know what kind of stuff Nik Turley has, and do you think he can be a prospect?

  13. Steve says:

    Speaking of prospects, you just gotta love Boras and his Alvarez bullshit.

    Hopefully, the Pirates will go back to skipping Scotts clients and some of them will fall to us.

    • bill says:

      What did he do with Alvarez? I thought the Pirates signed him

      • Mike A. says:

        Boras is saying Alvarez won’t report until the Pirates renegotiate the deal and give him more money. He wants the extra $200K to surpass Buster Posey’s bonus, the largest given out this year, and the largest straight bonus ever.

    • Mike A. says:

      That’s really messed up. Boras’ rep has taken a major hit the last 2 years or so. The guys still gets his clients paid, but teams aren’t taking his bullshit any more.

      • Steve says:

        Especially when dealing with the low budget Pirates. They wouldn’t even deal with him for years (a Fmr Pirate Exec came up with the slotting system) and suffered as a result, drafting sub par talent. Now they try to rteverse course with the new GM and this shit happens.

        Chances are it blows over and goes nowhere legally, but its just so unseemly. But hey, that’s Scott. We all remember last years WS-ARod fiasco.

  14. bill says:

    This could get ugly for Ponson. Bad pitcher + added pressure = DISASTER

  15. E-ROC says:

    Ugh, Ortiz’s numbers against Ponson.

  16. Ivan says:

    When did Ortiz became Vlad with that scouting report.

  17. E-ROC says:

    No shock there. Ortiz owns Ponson.

  18. bill says:

    Great start for Ponson

  19. Ivan says:

    Just chill guys, it’s early and it’s not like Roy Halladay is pitching against us.

  20. E-ROC says:

    Mike, thought’s on Luis Sumoza? Player acquired by the Braves.

  21. Ivan says:

    There you go Ponson.

  22. bill says:

    Youkilis really shouldve crushed that pitch

  23. E-ROC says:

    Ponson hitting 94 on the gun on ESPN.

  24. Manimal says:

    Nady+Damon have more balls than all the other yankees combined.

  25. E-ROC says:

    Tough break there. Nady tried like hell to get to that ball.

  26. Ivan says:

    okay not good.

  27. Ian Kennedy = Wade Taylor says:

    The fact Ponson is starting this game is all the more reason that Brian Cashman
    should be serving his final season as GM. Let’s hope Byrd doesn’t throw a 5 hitter
    against the Yanks. For some reason their lineup seems incapable of hitting pitchers
    that throw 78 MPH instead of 90 MPH.

  28. giselle says:

    bay has become a rbi machine. damn him!

  29. bill says:

    I had enough of Poison. Bring in Aceves

  30. E-ROC says:

    Start pitching inside.

  31. Ivan says:

    Good luck Varitek trying to get a Posada deal.

  32. E-ROC says:

    What? Abreu accurate with the throw to home?!! Nice.

  33. Mike A. says:

    Way to not show the play at the plate, YES.

  34. Ben K. says:

    Gotta praise YES’ camera work there. They utterly missed that play.

  35. BigBlueAL says:

    Abreu with the chooch.

  36. Manimal says:

    I wonder how much the fact Arod got a missed a HR-call had to do with MLB rushing the instant replay. How embarassing is it that they took away a hr from the potential HR king.

  37. BigBlueAL says:

    The audio for the YES broadcast on my MLB package isnt working so I have to watch the ESPN feed if I want to listen to audio. Actually watching the YES broadcast w/o audio would be a blessing for most of you guys here who hate Michael Kay….

  38. Steve says:

    Mike, you see the BA article about the 2 Cuban teens that defected? One’s a interesting lefty.

    There was also something in Pinstripes Plus about the Yanks signing 2 Venezuelan 16 year olds.

    • Steve says:

      Heres the Cuban kid

      Posted Jul. 31, 2008 10:24 am by John Manuel
      Filed under: International

      Two Cuban teens have left the Cuban team at the Junior World Championships in Edmonton and are apparently defecting. Here’s the scoop on the two players from BA’s scouting contacts.

      The pitcher is lefthander Noel Arguelles, who has pro size at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. Scouts describe him as tall and lanky with a live arm, with a fastball with natural cutting action and sink. One source wrote that Arguellez sits around 90 mph in his Serie Nacional appearances. He’s thrown as hard as 93 mph and works primarily off his fastball, with more rudimentary curveballs and changeups. His curve has shown potential, however. His exact age isn’t known, though the cutoff for Junior events is 18. Arguellez pitched in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, and according to baseballdecuba.com, he went 3-2, 5.82 with 22 strikeouts in 21.2 innings for the Havana Cowboys this past season.

      Arguelles, whose name was misspelled on this blog previously, was pegged as a first-round talent were he draft-eligible by both scouts as well, as both confirmed BA’s earlier scouting report. “It’s a three-quarters slot with a clean stroke,” the scout said. “He’s very intriguing.” Another scout said Arguelles reminded him in some ways of Twins lefty Francisco Liriano.

      • Steve says:

        Here’s the Venezuelan kid

        Yankees sign 16 year old Venezuelan CF 5 tool prospect Erickson Lianaro

        The talk is he is a premium 5 tool CF, the Yankees view him as a more athletic Jose Tabata more info later as it comes. I guess this is the guy Carlos Rios hinted about.

        scouting report makes comparisons to Marquis Grissom, Andruw Jones, and Jose Tabata

    • Mike A. says:

      I missed that, but I usually don’t get too into the international free agents. Unless one of the Cubans was Yuliesky Gourriell, I’m not too interested.

  39. Mike A. says:

    Christ, where the fuck is that pitch? It was in the damn batter’s box.

  40. BigBlueAL says:

    OMG on the K-Zone on ESPN that pitch wasnt even nowhere near the corner.

  41. Jamal G. says:

    That’s the exact same fucking spot Jed Lowire got a called ball on.

  42. Jake H says:

    Umps blow this series.

  43. bill says:

    Ponson didnt get the exact same call. This a repeat of last nights bullshit

  44. Joey says:

    Come on umps, are we going there again?

  45. giselle says:

    holy fucking shit. wasnt that pitch to damon called a ball for lowrie? i hate umpires. i’m so glad that instant replay is starting this week, cause it will pave the road for robots and lasers deciding the strikezone.

  46. Manimal says:

    the amica pitch zone is so biased and they still said it was 2 feet outside.

  47. Manimal says:

    this inning is truly the “Anything you can do I can do better” except the yankees are falling flat on their faces.

  48. Jamal G. says:

    Jesus Christ, this umpire is such a douchebag.

    • bill says:

      It seems all of them are lately, especially agaist the Yanks. Maybe Selig told them he doesnt want the Yankees in the playoffs

  49. bill says:

    I really want these umps to die painfully. MLB should really consider hologram strike zones. The umps have done an AWFUL job this year

  50. Manimal says:

    Girardi is going to blow a lid.

  51. Mike A. says:

    Good, cheers for A-Rod. There’s still a few people with a half-a-brain left.

  52. bill says:

    What the fuck is this clown doing?

  53. Mike A. says:

    Unclutch. Only 9 more years of that, fellas.

  54. E-ROC says:

    Clutch these nuts!

  55. Steve says:

    YES! A-ROD!!!

  56. Jake H says:

    If the Yanks lose they lose but I hate when the umps make terrible calls.

  57. Ivan says:

    That’s what Im talking about A-Rod.

  58. The Fallen Phoenix says:

    But it’s the first inning, and Bobby Abreu wasn’t in scoring position, so I guess this isn’t clutch.

  59. CJ says:

    Why doesn’t he get ticked and do that to the ball more often? Love it.

  60. bill says:

    Way to go ARod anwer the critics

  61. Mike A. says:

    Jason Bay has a girlie man arm.

  62. Jamal G. says:

    Two out RBI, but Abreu wasn’t in scoring position so it is meaningless.

    God I hate that fucking state. Like I literally hate the combination of letters R-I-S-P.

  63. Mike A. says:

    Game should be tied, but the ump blew that call on Damon.

  64. Jamal G. says:

    E-ROC says:
    August 27th, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    Clutch these nuts!

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

  65. Jake H says:

    Big G needs to go.

  66. BigBlueAL says:

    Giambi cant become a FA soon enough.

  67. CJ says:

    Giambi should be hitting sixth or seventh. How much more would I have liked to have Nady or Matsui hitting there.

    • Jamal G. says:

      Is it just me or do any of you guys have a feeling an Erin Andrews sex tape will be surfacing in due time?

    • Steve says:

      Everyone on earth is aware of that, but I think Girardi still wants to wait to see what Matsui has and how much he can play him.

      He was asked this very question on the pre game (LoHud has the feed) and thats was pretty much his answer.

      Its like Joba, by the time he comes back it will probably be too late. And by the time Girardi gets to see how Matsui is doing, we could be buried. With much of the blame aimed at the inept run production we got from the #5 hole.

      • CJ says:

        Then Nady? I personally am not so sold on lefty-right-lefty-righty.

        • Steve says:

          If you don’t go R-L, you can get killed in the late innings vs hard throwing relievers. Even if your righties hit lefties, they generally don’t hit hard throwers. Or at least not nearly as much.

          So if you send up 3 righties in a row late in a game you’re just making the opposing managers job easier.

  68. usty says:

    So the key is to keep them on first base…got it. Can’t wait to see how that gets twisted…”he didn’t even hit a HR there…A-rod is a sux lozer. We want Brosius.”

  69. Ivan says:

    Giambi is very streaky guys.

  70. In re: ARod and clutch, the Replacement Level Yankees Weblog has an excellent post dealing with the above subject if you’re interested. Certainly more in depth than “hitting .250 with RISP”!

    Check it.

  71. Jake H says:

    Big G does need to be moved down.

  72. Manimal says:

    Fatty dives?

  73. Ivan says:

    Ponson showing athletism.

  74. E-ROC says:

    Shawne Merriman should have the surgery. His knee could end up being bone on bone if he plays on it.

  75. BigBlueAL says:

    Off-topic, but how bout Merriman, only 24 years old, potentially risking getting a career threatening injury by playing this season. Bro just get your surgery, miss this season and come back like a beast at age 25.

  76. Ian Kennedy = Clay Parker says:

    Mike A. -

    Your buddy Cashman did seem to say to himself:
    “these guys – Hughes and Kennedy – are gonna win 10 – 15 games each as 2 of our starters.”
    That led directly to the current mound problems – and indirectly to Sidney’s encore with the Yanks.
    But nice play there from him! (and at least he hasn’t been arrested at 2 AM in an upper
    East Side bar.)

    • Mike A. says:

      “these guys – Hughes and Kennedy – are gonna win 10 – 15 games each as 2 of our starters.”

      When the hell did he say that?

      • bill says:

        He shouldve had an effective backup plan. Yo cant really expect two rookies to be anchors in the rotation

        • The Fallen Phoenix says:

          I think the backup plans were (1) Yankees scoring over 900 runs over the course of the season, (2) Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte throwing over 200 above-league-average innings each.

          Oops?

          • bill says:

            Okay but you really shouldt have question marks in a contending rotation if you wanna go anywhere, like the world series. Isnt that the goal?

            • The Fallen Phoenix says:

              Hughes, when healthy, provided league-average innings in the AL East last year as a 21-year-old.

              I don’t really think he’s as a big a question mark as people are making him out to be; he bombed in April, and that may or may not have been due to the injury that ended up costing him the next three-and-a-half months.

              Pelfrey wasn’t all that great to start the year, either, and he’s arguably the Mets’ No. 2 starter right now.

              When the question mark is that kind of upside, yes, I roll the dice every time. Especially when I’m reasonably sure I can count on 900 runs of offense and 200 league-average or better innings from two of my rotation anchors.

        • Jamal G. says:

          He had backup plans. They were Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez, Darrell Rasner, Kei Igawa, and Jeff Karstens. Is it Cashman’s fault that Horne and Marquez both went through per longed bouts of ineffectiveness and elongated stays on the DL?

          Would anyone have expected Hughes and Kennedy to not record a single win?

          • bill says:

            Okay, I agree with nyou on Horne and Marquez, but Rasner and Karstens? It was only a matter of time before NL hitters blasted him. That near-perfecto was a fluke

        • Mike A. says:

          What effective backup plan would you have liked? Who should Cashman has signed?

    • Ivan says:

      You are talking ridiculous.

    • bill says:

      True dat

  77. Mike A. says:

    Nice inning by Sid. Ballsy.

  78. Ivan says:

    Mariners suck.

  79. Jamal G. says:

    I’ve been racking my brain with this ever since Barack Obama became the Democratic Primary, will Obama get more votes or non-votes because he’s black? Meaning, will more people vote for him just because he’s black or will more people not vote for him because he’s black?

    To break it down even further, I really want to know if this country is filled with more morons or more racists.

    • Steve says:

      http://slate.com/

      Please pretty please. I come here to get away from politics.

    • BigBlueAL says:

      I think, or rather I HOPE, race has nothing to do with it and it will go by the usual crap about party lines. Republicans recently own the Democrats in elections so if anything that would be the reason for Obama losing the election.

      • Jamal G. says:

        Oh no, I don’t think for a second that will decide the election. I just meant that of the morons who will make their decision based on his race (you know there will be), who will have a bigger impact? The idiots who vote for him because of his race, or the racists who will not vote for him because of his race?

        • Ivan says:

          that’s the world we leave in.

          I get ticked when blk’s vote for Obama (aka Barak Odrama) cuz he’s blk.

          Please people, do ya research.

  80. Steve says:

    Hughes off to another shaky start

    IP 2.0 H 3 R 1 ER 1 BB 1 SO 2

  81. Ian Kennedy = Clay Parker says:

    Mike A.

    Don’t take things literally – what I’m saying is the CASH man obviously placed too much
    faith on unproven starters and the Yanks are really paying for it now. Of course the lineup
    looking like the Hitless Wonders of 1906 White Sox vintage on many nights only worsens the results.

    • The Fallen Phoenix says:

      If Chien-Ming Wang doesn’t get injured, the rotation right now is Wang/Mussina/Pettitte/Ponson/Pavano.

      If Chamberlain doesn’t get injured, either, the rotation right now is Wang/Mussina/Chamberlain/Ponson.

      I think the injury to Chien-Ming Wang hurts this team a lot more than Hughes’ and Kennedy’s injuries and ineffectiveness. And if Hughes doesn’t get injured, maybe he pulls a Pelfrey and gets stronger as he takes his knocks? It’s been known to happen to young pitchers before.

      • The Fallen Phoenix says:

        That should (obviously) be Wang/Mussina/Chamberlain/Pettitte/Ponson above.

        Also, just to beat everyone over the head with a hammer: most teams end up doing rather poorly when they lose their ace starter for an extended period of time, either to injury (Cardinals and Chris Carpenter) or ineffectiveness (Boston and Josh Beckett, two years ago).

      • Steve says:

        Let be real. The BoSox lost Curt Schilling before the year started, lost Dice-K for a few weeks, now Beckett for a few weeks. They’ve been pitching AAA guys and waiver wire guys all year. Tonight’s starter Byrd is off the scrap heap.

        And they’re 6.5 ahead of us. Why? Because they’ve hit and we haven’t.

        • The Fallen Phoenix says:

          I was responding to the point that losing Wang hurt the Yankees more than Hughes’ and Kennedy’s ineffectiveness.

          I agree that the offense is also a big part, as my other comment above (Yankees scoring 900 runs, or not) suggested.

          But of the pitchers you just mentioned, Boston wasn’t counting on Schilling to be an ace. Ditto Dice-K, and it remains to be seen how the Red Sox do over the next couple of weeks without Beckett.

          But the Yankees lost Wang – their top starter – for three months. It’s not the kind of loss that’s insurmountable, but it’s hard to do so when, as you correctly point out, the offense is underperforming for an already leaky rotation.

          • Steve says:

            Yeah, I agree with everything you said. My response was less aimed at you than aimed at some others who might be reading.

            You know who you are, people! Thats right! YOU!

  82. bill says:

    That was a pathetic at bat by Robby. What the fuck is he doing?

  83. bill says:

    Phillies are winning

  84. Ian Kennedy = Clay Parker says:

    The Fallen Phoenix – your comment was a classic.

    Peace to everyone/Good Night.

  85. CJ says:

    Did Sutcliffe just say that Varitek is the greatest Red Sox ever?

  86. Jamal G. says:

    Un-clutch defense.

  87. The Fallen Phoenix says:

    OMG A-Rod’s glove is teh clutch!1!!

  88. Jamal G. says:

    Jesus, he even runs fugly.

  89. E-ROC says:

    “The most significant player in Red Sox history is Jason Varitek.” Rick Sutcliffe

    “You can’t measure pitchers by sabermetrics.” Too Old For TV

  90. Ivan says:

    Jim Rice really sat Curve on Ryan? I seriously doubt it.

    • Whitey14 says:

      Dude, in his prime, Rice was rarely thrown fastballs, even by those pitchers who chucked it up there at 100mph, because he typically would hit them so far they needed stewardesses. If he says he sat curveball on Nolan Ryan I would guess it’s because Ryan didn’t want to supply any additional power for Jim Ed. Then again, it’s not like he needed it. This is, after all, the man who broke bats on checks swings on more than one occasion.

  91. CJ says:

    Good to se Pudge really smoking the ball.

    Sutcliffe is really killing me.

    I think Schilling was full of it in the bloody sock game.

  92. CJ says:

    That’s the softest base hit through the infield in history.

  93. CJ says:

    Cameraman faked me out again.

  94. Jamal G. says:

    Ted Williams and Yaz are too easy an answer, any guesses besides those two?

  95. Ivan says:

    whats up with the scores in milb.com.

  96. Ivan says:

    that was a catchable ball.

  97. Jamal G. says:

    John Flaherty is such typical mediot.

  98. E-ROC says:

    I know that Ponson has been effective thus far, but I would like to see him pitch inside more.

  99. LC says:

    the Yankees defense has not made plays this year. Balls drop in the outfield and get past the infielders more often than not. They need some upgrades…hopefully starting with Tex at first

    • The Fallen Phoenix says:

      Xavier Nady should be an upgrade in right over Abreu, too. I’m still not sure why Damon and not Abreu was DH’ing most days after the Nady acquisition, provided Damon was healthy enough to play the field.

  100. Ivan says:

    why everytime sidney pitches well, the team struggles to score runs.

  101. Accent Shallow says:

    In re: Flaherty’s gushing about Varitek.

    Is Varitek all that worthwhile as a catcher? Would the Red Sox really be that worse off if he’d hurt himself in spring training and someone else was hitting .220 in his spot?

    • Jamal G. says:

      Along with A.J. Perzynski, Jason Varitek is one of the worst defensive Catchers in the A.L. (Caught Stealing Percentage)

      • The Fallen Phoenix says:

        But! But! He handles the pitching staff! No one can’t catch a knuckleball better than Varitek, and no one else can do a better job calling terrible games for star prospect Clay “Where are my laptops?” Buccholz!

        • Whitey14 says:

          I’m guessing you only see the 18 or 19 games against the yankees each year….

          Varitek does call a good game, doesn’t have a really strong arm (never really has), and doesn’t catch Wakefield’s knuckler.

          His bat has slipped tremendously this year, but that tends to happen to cathers when they hit their mid tolate 30′s.

          If he played for the yankees over the past decade, you’d have loved him the way we do. We may be dissapointed that his skills are declining, but we still love him and he’s an excellent Captain. You don’t hear him booed at Fenway either.

        • Mike A. says:

          No one can’t catch a knuckleball better than Varitek

          I’m sorry, but that cracked me up.

      • Accent Shallow says:

        Well, he’s getting up there in years, so obviously he doesn’t have much of an arm anymore. But here I’m referring to his possibly mythical ability to “handle a pitching staff”.

        How much worse would the Sox be if their AAA guy was hitting 220/310/370 for them? How much of an effect does the man have?

        • The Fallen Phoenix says:

          I’d argue not much, since he couldn’t make Buccholz very good in the majors, could he?

          • Whitey14 says:

            Why is that the Catcher’s fault. When Buchholtz trusted his stuff in 2007 Varitek guided him to a no-hitter. When he started missing his spots, couldn’t locate his fastball, and lost all confidence, it became an issue for the Pitching Coach, not the Catcher. That’s why he’s in AA working with somebody he had great success with, rather than in AAA.

            • Steve H says:

              Because Varitek gets all of the credit in the world for good pitching performances, including the overblown no-hitters stat. Mike Piazza caught 2 no-hitters in his career, Fisk none. Piazza better defensively? In fact, when Fisk was with the Sox, his backup caught 2 no-hitters, was he better than Fisk? If all Sox fans are going to give Varitek the credit for the good, he gets blame for the bad.

              • Whitey14 says:

                I guess if that’s the case then Posada and Molina are largely to blame for the early season failures of Hughes and Kennedy?

                I think these are all big boys and they need to take responsibility for their own failures, that goes for Buchholtz, Hughes and Kennedy. Blaming the Catchers is just typical finger pointing and I haven’t heard anybody but the fans do it so far…..

                • Steve H says:

                  “When Buchholtz trusted his stuff in 2007 Varitek guided him to a no-hitter.”

                  Umm, just saying, it’s got to be a 2 way street. Guided him to a no-hitter is a total BS line. Bucholz made the pitches, just like he’s not making them this year. End of story. If you don’t want to blame Varitek, don’t make asinine comments about no-hitters.

                • Whitey14 says:

                  I don’t think it’s asinine to state that a pitcher’s confidence level has a lot to do with throwing a no hitter, nor is it BS to give a catcher credit for calling a good game during a no hitter.

                  And thank you for making my point for me, Varitek has been the one calling his pitches, one year he was hitting his spots, the next year he wasn’t. Sounds like the pitcher’s problem to me too.

  102. Mike A. says:

    Unclutch. There was no one in RISP.

  103. Joey says:

    Not a HR… unclutch

  104. Jamal G. says:

    Lead-off doubles don’t help teams win games.

  105. The Fallen Phoenix says:

    Damn it A-Rod, why can’t you hit these doubles when there are two outs, runners are on base, and it’s the 7th inning or later!? And preferably after you’ve had the other team score enough runs so that your hit would put the Yankees ahead after they’ve been behind!

    You’re such a worthless piece of refuse, you un-clutch money-grubber!

  106. Ivan says:

    Didn’t I say that A-Rod was gonna have a big night.

  107. E-ROC says:

    Clutch these on yo fo’head!

  108. Ivan says:

    good job Giambi moving the runners.

  109. Mike A. says:

    Intentionally making an out is not good baseball, Michael Kay.

    • The Fallen Phoenix says:

      Especially when one considers this is what Jason Giambi does more often than not; hit right into the shift. He just happened to be fortunate there was someone on 2nd base he could move over to 3rd this time.

  110. E-ROC says:

    Nady’s unclutchness is pissing me off. ;)

  111. Ivan says:

    come on X-Man.

  112. Steve says:

    Brutal AB by Nady.

  113. Jake H says:

    unclutch by x

  114. Steve says:

    Here’s one of the spots where Matsui can make the case for Giambi’s #5 in the batting order.

  115. D.B. says:

    how about them yankees

  116. Ivan says:

    You saw Cano reaction

  117. Mike A. says:

    Pedroia pulled a Cano on that grounder.

    • Steve H says:

      Can’t believe he didn’t “grit” it into his glove. If had dove and made the play, everyone would have lauded him for it. The 2007 (and 2008 Pre-ASB) Cano would have made that playing standing up, because he has twice the range of Pedroia

    • Manimal says:

      or Cano pulled a Pedroia, depends how you look at it.

  118. giselle says:

    woo! robinson! robinson!

  119. E-ROC says:

    Cano!!!

  120. Steve says:

    Canooooo!!!

  121. Accent Shallow says:

    Not as good as upper deck, but I’ll take it.

  122. Jamal G. says:

    So two of the most hated Yankees in 2008 combine for the tying run in the consensus “biggest game of the year”.

  123. D.B. says:

    canos daddy

  124. Ivan says:

    not enough grit by Pedrioa to get that ball.

  125. Mike A. says:

    Man, Pudge has been just brutal since the trade.

  126. Jake H says:

    Finally a 2 out rbi.

  127. Jamal G. says:

    Phil Hughes has a 19/3-K/BB ratio in his past four starts (including this one in progress). That span covers 16.1-IP. He’s also getting his grounders tonight, has a 5/2-GB/FB ratio.

    • Mike A. says:

      Irrelevant, the minors are about results and wins, not development. Duh.

      • Accent Shallow says:

        Clearly unless you’re a scout watching the game, you’re not gonna have an idea of that, but to us, it’s tough to be encouraged by a 3 inning outing where he gives up 10 hits and 8 runs.

        Thankfully, the Yankees have access to more data than I do. Here’s hoping he can get his shit together and have a few successful starts at the ML level before the season’s end.

    • The Fallen Phoenix says:

      I still think that kid’s going to be something special, possibly as soon as next season.

      • Steve H says:

        Could not agree more. Look at what some of the best MLB pitchers were doing at his age, and they weren’t all lighting up the league.

    • Steve says:

      Just struck out a lefty. Pitching VERY well tonight.

      IP 5 H 4 R 1 ER 1 BB 1 SO 6

      Throwing lots of strikes as well 68-46

  128. Steve says:

    When you think about Pudge, you really can’t be surprised he hasn’t done much. He lost his starting job in Detroit, so that tells you he wasn’t playing great in the first place. Cashman knew this, he was hoping Pudge would get energized in a pennant race, and lets be honest we haven’t really been in one. He came here to take some of the pressure off Molina, and he’s done that.

  129. Jamal G. says:

    That’s the same pitch Lowrie got for a ball and Damon got for a strike. Douchebag.

  130. Jamal G. says:

    It’s funny, didn’t Peter Gammons call Ron “Papa” Jackson the best hitting coach in the Majors when he was with the Red Sox?

  131. E-ROC says:

    Wasn’t Ponson suppose to pitch inside against Pedroia?

  132. Jamal G. says:

    What is so special about June 12, 1999? Well, in the 4th inning of that Yankee game, Paul O’Neill jacked Major League Baseball’s 200,000th Home Run off Marlin’s starter, Livan Hernandez.

  133. Ivan says:

    just BB ortiz

  134. Jamal G. says:

    Sean Henn also gave up HR number 240K to David Newhan and the Baltimore Orioles on September 9, 2006.

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/250_000.shtml

  135. D.B. says:

    hughes is ready.

  136. Ivan says:

    where was that pitch.

  137. The Fallen Phoenix says:

    If you were going to go inside, Sidney, couldn’t you at least hit him in the ass? It’s a clearer target than this ump’s zone, at least.

  138. Dave P. says:

    The grittyness of Pedroia can suck my ass.

  139. E-ROC says:

    Just get out of the inning!

  140. The Fallen Phoenix says:

    Clearly A-Rod is willing the Red Sox to score right now so that he can screw up in a clutch situation later this evening.

  141. Josh K says:

    Come on Ponson!! If you were going to walk that bushy-faced bastard, you could of hit him instead…

  142. Patrick T says:

    I wouldn’t mind Ponson being a three-toed sloth so much if he’d just throw some strikes.

  143. E-ROC says:

    Now offense, start scoring!

  144. Ivan says:

    Look, the yanks have coming up Damon, Jeter and Abreu. I assume we can score at least one more run her this inning.

  145. Jamal G. says:

    Not for nothing, but Melky Cabrera has been doing what the Yankees asked of him. Including tonight’s game, he has a 5/7-K/BB ratio.

    • Steve says:

      He has, as has Ian Kennedy who has been throwing a zillion 2 seamers and curves just like Girardi asked.

      The only complaint about Melky is they also asked him to work on his base running, and he’s been getting thrown out on the basepaths almost every night. But he seems to be more patient at the plate, drawing plenty of BB, and that was his biggest problem this year, not being selective.

  146. Manimal says:

    Go laserpointer man.

  147. Steve says:

    Another easy 1-2-3 inning for Phil Phrachise.

    Bring em up.

  148. Jamal G. says:

    What happened there Youk, your ugly ass can’t make a gritty play now?

  149. Mike A. says:

    Please no GIDP, please no GIDP, please no GIDP …

  150. D.B. says:

    almost a DP

  151. E-ROC says:

    Dammit!!!

  152. Ivan says:

    Hughes 6.0 5 1 1 1 6 0 6.65

    He’s k’d guys at a good rate.

  153. Ivan says:

    why is the yankees making Paul Byrd look like Greg Maddux in his prime.

  154. Steve says:

    Thats one way to break up A-Rod and Giambi.

  155. Jamal G. says:

    I wonder if 85% of the Yankee universe will cease to exist if A-Rod can’t be blamed for a loss against the Red Sox.

  156. E-ROC says:

    hit the balls hard………right at somebody in that inning. Sucks!

  157. Jamal G. says:

    So Mike, is there any chance that Pedro Alvarez wont become a Pittsburgh Pirate? Can he really go back into the draft pool next year?

  158. Manimal says:

    that inning showed how much better a manager francona is than Girardi

  159. A.D. says:

    anyone know why Hacker only pitched 3 innings?

  160. Jamal G. says:

    Cool, Hughes back out for the seventh.

  161. Jamal G. says:

    Lakeview Terrace = Snakes On a Plane

    Meaning, I can’t wait to see it! Seriously though, screw what everybody else said, Snakes On A Plane was meant to be a campy movie, if you think it sucked it’s because you took it too seriously.

  162. LC says:

    when’s the last time giambi got a frigging hit? seems ages ago

  163. Ivan says:

    The yanks should be killing Paul Byrd.

  164. BigBlueAL says:

    5 runs thru 15 innings so far in this series vs Wake and Byrd and that supposed shitty Sox bullpen by this pathetic Yankees offense….

  165. Accent Shallow says:

    Sit down, pretty boy.

  166. Steve says:

    Heyman (who I feel dirty quoting) wrote today that he’s hearing (from as always vague, unsourced Yankee types) that the Yanks will let Marte walk at the end of the year.

    I hope not, it took us YEARS to find a good lefty and he’s just taken some time to adjust, which most acquisitions do. He’s death on lefties, I’d like to extend him at a lower rate than his 6 mil option. Maybe 2-10 or 3-13. He still only 33, should have a few years left.

    • Mike A. says:

      Just pick up the option. One year commitment, easy to get out of if it goes wrong. It’s better than the alternatives, like signing Fuentes for 4/40, or Ohman for 3/12.

      • A.D. says:

        youd be better off soption and trade if you didnt want him, obv there is a surplus of pen pitching, but letting marte walk, during a weak draft year (expected) isnt the answer

    • Accent Shallow says:

      I’d be surprised if they were to let him walk at the end of the year, since they’ve lusted after him basically since they traded him for Enrique Wilson.

      That said, I wouldn’t cry too much if they were to let him walk. He’s apparently a Type A free agent, so that’s two draft picks. For a reliever? That’s tough to argue, unless it’s someone significantly better than Marte.

  167. Charles says:

    Marte is damn filthy.

  168. Ivan says:

    The yanks don’t really need to make drastic changes to the offense, but they need to add a consistent hitter and it doesn’t have to be Texiera.

  169. Mike A. says:

    Yay Marte. Let’s see if Girardi runs him back out there next inning.

  170. E-ROC says:

    Dama-so damn filthy!

  171. Mike A. says:

    Kay really took Girardi’s “we have to win 2 out of 3″ to heart, huh? Talk about beating a dead horse.

  172. Jamal G. says:

    Michael Kay has to be the whiniest person on the face of this fucking planet. Jesus Christ.

  173. Steve H says:

    It’s funny that with all of the stories about the Red Sox developing all these young players and the Yankees failures, do people realize that Cano is less than a year older than Ellsbury, and has clearly accomplished a hell of a lot more? Wonder if Gammons is aware.

  174. Ivan says:

    Come on offense.

  175. Jake H says:

    Yanks O again not showing up tonight.

  176. Ivan says:

    Yo pudge is just awful right now.

  177. E-ROC says:

    Sighs…

  178. Jake H says:

    It doesn’t help that they almost had 3 hr’s

  179. E-ROC says:

    nice save by I-Rod.

  180. A.D. says:

    any chance Veras comes close to these numbers next year?

  181. Jamal G. says:

    Johnny Damon, you should be ashamed of yourself.

  182. Accent Shallow says:

    Oh, Bobby . . .

  183. Steve says:

    slip sliding away . . . . . slip sliding away . . hey. You know the nearer your destination the more you’re slip sliding away . . .

  184. E-ROC says:

    Abreu!!!!!!!!!!!!

  185. A.D. says:

    oh abreu by the wall, terrible

  186. Ivan says:

    Jesus christ.

  187. Josh K says:

    Nice covering Damon…geesh

  188. A.D. says:

    wonder if its abreus d that leads the yanks to let him go

  189. E-ROC says:

    Veras walked Jason bleeping Varitek.

  190. Ivan says:

    If the yanks lose this game, would it be smart to just let Hughes and Kennedy pitch for the rest of the season Mike?

    • Mike A. says:

      Well, I don’t advocate throwing them to the wolves, but if they’re ready, then yes. I, as well as a whole lotta other people, thought they were ready in April.

      • Steve says:

        Its September. It will be valuable non pressure experience for both of them.

        I think in both of their cases what they need to learn can only be done on the MLB level. I wouldn’t be against using Hughes out of the pen, to limit his exposure and try to build on success. His Innings numbers are shot for the year anyway. But Kennedy I’d like to see starting.

  191. Mike A. says:

    It just wasn’t meant to be I guess.

    • Steve H says:

      Realistically it never really was for 08. A whole lot of chips would have had to fall right. Cashman has had 2009 in his sights, with all of the $$$ coming of the books. Of course part of that plan was letting Joba/Phil/IPK take their lumps and develop this year to be ready to contend this year, but injuries certainly got in the way of that.

  192. Steve says:

    Think we have a rally in our bones?

  193. Steve says:

    Fucking Mets just tied it up. 3-3.

    If I’m going to be miserable the LAST thing I want to see is Met fans happy.

  194. Ivan says:

    Shit Coco crips.

  195. Mike A. says:

    “She’s very smart, she plans our vacations a full year in advance. And she’s all mine.”

    Why the hell are those furniture store commercials so damn dramatic?

  196. Dave P. says:

    these songs come to mind when I think of the 2008 Yankees Season….

    The End- The Doors
    Over Now- Alice n Chains
    Blackhole Sun- Soundgarden

  197. Ivan says:

    Well maybe just maybe, it wasn’t the yanks year.

  198. Steve says:

    Fucking Mets pulled ahead 4-3.

  199. E-ROC says:

    Who is due upin the bottom half of the inning??

    That wasn’t a bleeping strike??????

  200. Steve says:

    The midget hits a granny. Can’t make this shit up.

  201. Jamal G. says:

    Really, David Robertson? Really?

  202. E-ROC says:

    Thanx Abooboo!

  203. Jamal G. says:

    Oh wow, Jonatahan Papelbon is a fucking douche.

  204. Ivan says:

    Dustin Pedrioa just might end the yanks season.

  205. Joe says:

    Okay, really? Did that just happen?

  206. Ivan says:

    Well look on the bright side guys, 09 will be much better.

    • Steve says:

      Maybe.

      Or maybe Hughes will never get healthy, Joba will blow out his rotator cuff, CC will sign in sunny CA, we sign Sheets and he goes on the DL in May, Tex gets a comparable offer in BALT and signs there, and we will all come to the conclusion that Kennedy, Melky and Cano just weren’t as good as we all thought they were.

  207. D.B. says:

    Season over.

  208. E-ROC says:

    Hey, Abooboo catches one.

  209. I’ve been one of the most optimistic people on here for months, constantly defending our players and keeping up hope. But over the past two days, my level of disgust with this team has increased exponentially.

    Nobody is to blame and everyone is to blame. We’ve been victims of bad luck, injuries, cold streaks, player regressions, an inflexible roster, an imbalanced rotation, and numerous questionable decisions by owners, managers, executives and players.

    This is just fucking frustrating. I will still hold out hope that we can get on a hot streak and get into the playoffs, but I have zero confidence of us even winning a single game there if we do. I want to fucking punch something, and I’m going to expect a serious effort to reshape this ballclub from top to bottom for 2009. We simply don’t have good starting pitching, good defense, or hitters who can consistently get on base and drive runners in.

    God-fucking-damnit.

  210. Steve says:

    Remember when we went up to Boston in 05 and swept the BoSox in 5 straight, knocking them out of playoff contention?

  211. D.B. says:

    at least hughes did good tonight.

  212. Steve says:

    OH, please somebody get on base.

    Please let Alex be the one to make the last out. Preferably on a double play.

    It the only way to end this season.

    • Steve says:

      WTF am I talking about. Its still the 8th.

      Feels like the 9th, in a LOT of ways.

    • Mike A. says:

      Please let Alex be the one to make the last out. Preferably on a double play.

      Why the hell are you wishing for that? If you’re rooting for him to fail, then you’re no better than a Sox fan, or that douchebag in the bullpen with his arms extended after the granny.

      • Steve says:

        It would be fitting, thats all. Geez, have a sense of narrative for once when it comes to Alex hitting in the crutch.

        . . . . silly me, did I just say “crutch”? A-Rod hitting in the crutch! Hahahhaahah. . . . . nah, actually that sucked.

      • Whitey14 says:

        Come on Mike, seriously!

        No better than a Sox fan? What does that even mean? We root for our team the same way you root for yours, we’re no different than you. For Christ’s sake it’s not like we’re fighting over the fucking Gaza strip. Just because we’re Red Sox fans doesn’t mean we’re bad people.

        I realize emotions are high tonight and I hope you know that I respect you very much as a stand up guy who has often supported me on this site, I just didn’t care for that statement.

        Sorry for the rant…

        • Steve says:

          OK, I take that back. When a Red Sox fan is the only one agreeing with me, I have clearly done something very wrong.

        • Jamal G. says:

          Whitey, your cool peoples, but I disagree, there is something wrong with being a Red Sox fan. Just isn’t human. ;)

          • Whitey14 says:

            Come on Jamal…..I can’t help where I was born (good old Brunswick, Maine!)

            If you were born here, chances are, you’d be a Sox fan too.

            Scary isn’t it ;-)

            But just so you know, I think you’re good people too!

  213. Steve says:

    Yanks become sellers? Still a month left, we’ve seen a few deals this week . . . why not?

    • Mike A. says:

      Players have to be acquired before Sept 1st to be eligible for the postseason roster. And what do they have to sell anyway? Who’s going to want Giambi or Pudge?

      • Manimal says:

        Arizona could want Giambi and Tampa could want Pudge.

        • Steve says:

          There you go, but I was thinking we might serve two purposes. If we want to take a look at Hughes/Kennedy maybe we deal Moose or something. I don’t see him coming back, and all we would need is something comparable to a supplemental round draft pick, talent wise. Maybe a teams 07 supplemental or 2nd round pick that we like.

  214. Bill N says:

    What a shit way to end the season. I started this season with such hope ans excitement to end on a rat fuck boy grandslam. I will continue to watch but only cause true fandom holds me to. But I have lost hope for the postseason.

  215. Jamal G. says:

    PeteAbe: “The Yankees used to get in position then put the hammer down. Not this year.”

    Meaning, Joe Torre would have willed Chien-Ming Wang to a healthy trip around the bases, Torre would have rubbed out all the bad luck out in Robinson Cano’s bat, Torre would have enlisted the help of shaman to heal the injuries of Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, and Phil Hughes quicker.

    I really hate this mentality that people have that the Yankees could have overcome all this if Joe Torre was still here.

  216. Hybrid Moments says:

    I look forward to the post game entry about how the Yankees are still in it.

  217. Joseph M says:

    Cashman needs to start loading names onto the waiver wire right now and see if he gets any nibbles. Maybe just maybe the Yanks can get lucky and pick up a useful part or two for next year. It’s over pull the plug.

  218. E-ROC says:

    Good stuff by Chris Britton.

  219. E-ROC says:

    meaningful.

  220. Ivan says:

    Ya Giambi.

  221. Jamal G. says:

    If A-Rod would have hit that HR then the word “meaningless” would have appeared 6234039723869 times in tomorrow’s papers.

    Joe, your theory is up again tomorrow.

  222. E-ROC says:

    This is one of the reason I like Timlin.

  223. Jamal G. says:

    I love it how every section of the Stadium has emptied out except for the RF Bleachers. I really do love that.

  224. bill says:

    The season is over. This team is GUTLESS. Absolutely no mental toughness on this joke of a team. And we let a little turd put the nail in our coffin. FUCK THE YANKEES. THEYRE DEAD

    • Steve says:

      and if Joba was healthy and pitched a 1 run game, you’d be praising their ‘heart’ and ‘grit’, right?

      Baseball is about 75% pitching, and we just don’t have it.

  225. Ivan says:

    Pudge sucks ass right now.

  226. Ivan says:

    Jamal is the season over?

    • Mike A. says:

      It’s not over until they’re mathematically eliminated. Rox proved it last year.

      • BigBlueAL says:

        I want some of whatever you are drinking right now….

      • Steve H says:

        Rox did it in the worst division in baseball

      • Hybrid Moments says:

        The Rockies did not have teams the calibur of Boston, Minnesota, and Chicago to deal with. Its not happening.

      • Steve says:

        Mike, there are some seasons where you just don’t have it. This team looks a LOT more like the mid/late-80s teams than it does the mid/late 90s teams. We need to start doing everything with an eye toward next year.

        Now is the time to lower expectations, and just watch Baseball for the fun of it. If you hold on to hope, you’ll just make yourself miserable. Trust me, I’ve seen (more than a few) bad Yankee teams. This is one of them.

      • Joey H says:

        mike this “faith ” of yours is getting way out of hand. its hard for all of us to jump ship, but now is the time.

  227. Stryker says:

    so – is it time to write the obituary yet?

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