Sep
03

Game 139: A must-win

By Benjamin Kabak

We’ve always hated tossing around the phrase “must-win” when it comes to Yankee games. Too often, writers label a game a “must-win” only to see a team lose and then rebound. But today is different.

This afternoon, the Orioles, leading the Red Sox 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, gave up two in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth to lose the game. With that win, Boston is 7.5 games up on the Yankees with 23 left to play. If the Yanks — who have 24 games left — lose tonight, that eight-game deficit will be nigh impossible to cover. They have to win tonight to keep whatever faint glimmer of hope remains alive.

To that end, Carl Pavano will take the mound in search of his third straight win. Once he records the second out of the first inning, he will have thrown more innings this year than he has in the prior two years combined. Go Carl!

Pavano faces Edwin Jackson, and the Yanks do not hit him well. Jackson is 1-1 against the Yanks in four starts this year. He’s sporting a 2.59 ERA in 24.1 innings against the Bombers.

It’s hard to believe that the season could hinge on Carl Pavano.

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

Pavano P

Posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm in Game Threads.

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345 Comments »

MD says:

your last sentence tells you all you need to know about this season

 
D.B. says:

hey mike,

why dont the yankees start chamberlain in 09 as a starter and make him a reliever? i think this would put less stress on him arm during the transformation process.

Ben K. says:

Only Mike can answer this question?

And to think, he didn’t even write this post ;)

D.B. says:

hey Ben K,

Why dont the Yankees start Chamberlain in 09 as a starter and make him a reliever? I think this would put less stress on him arm during the transformation process.

 
 
Slugger27 says:

i dont understand why they dont just start him, skip starts occasionally, and keep him on 90 pitches… it may chew up the bullpen a little more, but is that any different than the past 8 years?

if u have him be the 5 starter, dont slot him up after off days, be careful about his pitch count, skip occasional starts when able/necessary, i dont see any reason he cant be a starter the whole season…… frankly, the idea of mid-season transition AGAIN kinda turns my stomach

Frank says:

This is why getting C.C. is so important. With Wang and C.C. at the top of the rotation eating up innings, you can afford to have Joba start all season and pull him after 5 innings in some starts.

I totally disagree with the way the Yankees are handling this BTW. What happens if he goes on the DL again next season? Start all over again in 2010?

 
 
Ben K. says:

Also, stop posting the same question in multiple threads.

D.B. says:
Ben K. says:

No worries. Here’s the answer: The Yanks would rather have Joba available as a starter down the stretch than at the start of the season. They’d rather have him a available to start in October. If you start him out as a starter, you run the risk of reaching his innings max way too soon, and they don’t want to baby him by seeing him through outings of only five innings or 90 pitches for the entire season. That would stunt his development in other ways.

The transition was very smooth and fluid this year, and the same will happen next year on the same time frame. That, I believe, is the least of the Yankees’ concerns heading into 2009.

Slugger27 says:

ben, is there any thinking to maybe having him throw some simulated innings after the season is over for a few weeks or so to make up for the time he missed? that way he can come closer to 140-150

 
D.B. says:

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks.

Frank says:

Ben K.

“The transition was very smooth and fluid this year”

You mean other than going on the DL?

Other than starting games in the middle of the season on a pitch count that prohibits him from going more than 3 innings?

Rick in Boston says:

How else would you have done it? It met all of the team’s needs. The DL wasn’t anything anyone saw coming.

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Frank says:

I was all for it this year as something that had to be done.

But I don’t think it went smoothly as was mentioned above and I’ve read an article on either BA or BP where the directly atributed his injury to the way the Yankees used him, 100 percent.

Now I don’t know who’s right or wrong, but I think there comes a time when you just have to name him a starter and let the kid start a full season. Like I said, what happens if he goes on the DL next season, only missing around 4 starts? Will he EVER start a whole season?

I’m not a doctor but I really think all this bouncing around and changing his role can’t be good for his arm, can it?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slugger27 says:

ya know i hate the red sox more than satan, and it takes everything in me to muster courage to compliment them, but dustin pedroia had 3 hits again today 2 of them for extra bases…. i mean seriously whats up with that guy? hes outta control

Patrick T says:

True grit. He’s a warrior. ;)

Slugger27 says:

i hate his fucking guts…. but i tip my hat to him, dudes off the hook

 
 
giselle says:

you cant spell pedroia without PED.

he’s had a great season, but i doubt he could repeat it next year with all the back problems he’s gonna have from over-exerting himself with every swing he took this year. its like he corkscrews himself into the ground each at-bat.

Frank says:

He has the swing of a guy 6′3 with the strikezone of a guy 5′9. He’s difficult to pitch to.

giselle says:

just throw him a decent curveball and he’ll watch it all the way into the glove.

 
 
 
 
Frank says:

This is NOT a must win. The only thing winning this game acomplishes is moving the Red Sox one game closer to first place.

Ben K. says:

If you’ve given up.

Frank says:

Sure have. I mean, the season has been over a long time IMO, just based on my own opinion of what I saw. It doesn’t make me a bad fan, I’m not angry about it.

But I’d still like to play the role of a $200 mil. spoiler. And I’d like to see the Sox somehow miss the post season. Haven’t given up on that.

Geno says:

So you’d like us to lose tonight so the Sox don’t gain a game on the Rays? That doesn’t make you a bad Yankee fan, just a mediocre Rays fan.

 
 
 
 
giselle says:

yea bobby! he’s been on fire lately…

 
giselle says:

man, jackson’s really changed in one year. what i remembered the most about him was his inability to throw strikes consistently. he’s a strike-machine out there tonight.

 
Ivan says:

Edwin with great command on those inside pitches.

 
Manimal says:

Arods repetitive ness is killing me. swing+miss, Swing+miss(bad pitch), looking down the middle for a called third strike.

 
Manimal says:

Its just not Iwamura’s week.

 
Ivan says:

Hey it was a great catch but it wasn’t Jim edmonds llike in KC years back.

Mike A. says:

That catch Jim Edmonds made earlier this year in Houston was sick.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/me.....8;c_id=chc

You have to see him play in person to appreciate how great he is. He plays such a shallow CF, he’s like a 5th IFer.

Ivan says:

Yea he does play a shallow CF. That dude was sick as a player and a very good OBP% guy as well.

I really wanna see Devon White, cuz I,ve heard stories that his D was the best in years.

 
 
 
D.B. says:

carly p’s got some skills

 
E-ROC says:
 
Ivan says:

An out turns into a double.

 
Manimal says:

well that does it. Carl Pavano has throw more innings this year than the past two combined.

Ben K. says:

Small victories. Small victories.

 
 
Ben K. says:

Yup. So the Yanks need to address center field this fall. Damon’s great in left, but….

Mike A. says:
Frank says:

If any combination of Damon, Matsui, Nady, Abreu are the OF next season, it’s gotta be one of the worst defensive OF in the AL.

I’m trying to think of one worse… Detroit maybe?

Ivan says:

At least they have Granderson at CF playing D.

 
A.D. says:

Chicago White Sox is pretty bad

Frank says:

But they’ve got Dye who’s a GGer

A.D. says:

Abreu is a former gold glover

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Actually if they had Damon, Gardner/Melk, Nady they’d probably end up with one of the best outfields in terms of range factor

 
 
giselle says:

i like gardner better than melky. if only BG could get on base…

 
 
Ivan says:

Yea I like Damon alot but he sucks at CF. The problem is that there are very few options.

 
 
E-ROC says:

That Lastings Milledge trade is working out well for the Mets.

 
E-ROC says:

No Erin Andrews tonight. Damn college football!

 
Frank says:

I love that little star, that “Ray” of sunshine in CF. Such a positive attitude in Tampa.

 
giselle says:

look at cano puttin the ball in play! nice!

 
E-ROC says:

Yay, it’s tied! Should we tip the cap to Bobby Meachem?

 
Mike A. says:

Hinskie returns Damon’s favor.

 
Manimal says:
D.B. says:
 
 
E-ROC says:

2-1 Yanks! Pudgy Pudgy Pudgy!

 
D.B. says:

wow where these yanks a month ago

 
Frank says:

This may have been a legit comeback team were Wang and Joba in the rotation.

A.D. says:

yeah can only imagine if those guys had stayed healthy with pettite and Moose

 
 
A.D. says:

1st inning aside, forking out the 13 mil (really 11.5 with the buyout) seems a little less crazy as he pitches well, and should be better nest year, could end up comp for him, and not potentially end up signing a long big money deal that could go south to someone else

Ivan says:

I,ve always said, if he was healthy he would of pitch very well for this team in that 4 year contract.

 
D.B. says:

yea i agree, it may sound crazy but the yanks should actually think about exercising his option

Mike A. says:

Nah, I think you buy him out and try to bring him back on a smaller deal if anything. Say 1yr, $5M with another $5M in incentives plus a vesting option based on IP.

If Cash comes back I can see it happening, Pavano’s very loyal to Cash because of how he stuck up for him.

Ivan says:

You hear the word Loyalty with Cashman uh?

 
 
Frank says:

Loyal like how he refused to come of the 40-man even though the Yankees asked him to?

Isn’ that what happened before this season?

Mike A. says:

Eh, it’s hard to blame Pavano for that. Coming off the 40-man would have screwed up his service time, and he’s not far off from locking in his pension. Given his lack of health, I can’t blame him for wanted to get as much service time as possible.

Frank says:

It is a business when all is said and done. Can’t blame him for that, I suppose.

 
 
 
27'Yanks says:

Wouldn’t it be easier just to pick up the option for 10.05 million and not have to worry about getting outbid on years from another team. The last thing this guy needs is a multi year deal??

 
 
Frank says:

He even fields his position. What CAN’T this guy do!

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Pudge showing off for the scouts

 
A.D. says:

thats redic the rays havent lost a series since the break

 
Ivan says:

Hey Mike even though A-Jax is somewhat raw as a baseball player, he does have an ability to draw walks at a solid rate.

Wouldn’t that gives you confidence he can reach his ceiling? I mean for a guy who just devoted himself to baseball just three years ago, he does draw BB’s pretty well.

Mike A. says:

That just started this year too. I’d like to see him cut down his swing some, it’s a big ol’ Pat Burrell hack.

Ivan says:

His first year in Class A when he K’d like 151 times, he did drew 60+ BB’s that same year.

Didn’t last season they made some adjustment to his swing which led to a big year last season.

From the videos I,ve seen, I gotta admit he does take some big swings.

 
Chip says:

Or maybe a big ol’ Dustin Pedroia hack?

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

Nice hustle Bobby. Earn that new contract.

 
 
giselle says:

bobby eyeing the cycle tonight.

 
D.B. says:

lars anderson=unclutch 0-2 k’s arodian like performance in the post season

Ivan says:

There was an arguement who would You want between Anderson and A-Jax.

Ivan says:

I like A-Jax alot but I gotta go with Lars right now.

 
D.B. says:

anderson, but ajax isnt that far behind because he plays a premium position.

 
Mike A. says:

The only advantage Ajax has is that he plays a more premium position. Lars crushes him as a hitter.

 
Frank says:

I’d have to go with A-Jax b/c of positional need for our team and his 5-tool potential.

A.D. says:
 
 
 
 
Frank says:

Check out the hustling Yankees! Unbelievable.

There was a time not too long ago where they would haveen thrown out 10 times out of 10 trying that, no matter who was running.

 
Ivan says:

Man Hinske Sucks as a fielder.

 
giselle says:

wtf is wrong with hinske tonight? he sucks at fielding.

 
 
 
Frank says:

lars anderson=wish we drafted him

Manimal says:

After we passed him up who did we pick.

Jamal G. says:

He was a signability pick, Boston got him in 18th round of the 2006 draft.

Manimal says:
 
 
Mike A. says:

Lars was like an 18th round pick or something. Every team passed him up multiple times.

 
D.B. says:

paul howell, someone we didnt even sign

 
 
 
Manimal says:

You guys have no idea how cool Raymond is.

Mike A. says:

He’s not as cool as the San Diego Chicken. That was cool.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

Yankees hitting good pitching.

 
Doug says:

double the pleasure, double the fun~

 
mustang says:

See how much fun Yankees baseball can be when your 4th and 5th spots hit with RISP.

 
Jamal G. says:

Fuck it, better late than never.

mustang says:

NOOOOO…it would of been better in April, May, June, July and August.

Doug says:

uh that is why he compared “late” to “never.”

Reading is FUNdamental! As is awareness of common aphorisms in the English language.

mustang says:

Yes, Sir. Professor Doug
I remember that next time sir.
Thank so much.

 
 
 
 
Doug says:
 
giselle says:

whats up with all the speculation from kay and singleton tonight? first kay says that if abreu hadnt stretched his hit into a double, alex’s grounder *could* have been a DP. now singleton says longoria *might* have made that play on cano.

weird.

A.D. says:

did that in the 2nd on the Hinske miss play, saying Crawford *probably* would have had no problem

Odd since we know Kay hates the predetermined outcome

 
 
Ivan says:

Rasner Vs. Karmir. Well that’s great uh.

A.D. says:
 
Jamal G. says:

That’s why these first two games were imperative.

Mike A. says:

Every game is imperative.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Abreu making catches against the wall, is this the psedo-yankees??

Mike A. says:

The real team stayed in Tampa all summer. We were watching imposters the whole time.

 
giselle says:

AND theyre hitting w 2 outs and risp. who is this team?

 
 
D.B. says:

now all the yanks need is hughes and kennedy pitching well in the majors

 
A.D. says:

Nice start for Hacker in the playoffs tonight

Mike A. says:

Trenton’s pen is suspect, they’re going to have to come up UGE if Trenton wants to repeat.

A.D. says:

If Nunez and Whelan can lay off the walks and come up big, or if Clagget can get healthy they might be able to piece it together

 
 
 
Ivan says:

That Trivia question was easy, It’s Randy Johnson.

Mike A. says:

I missed it. What was the Q?

Ivan says:

Who was the Starting pitcher Who Edwin Jackson was going against to get his first win in his career?

Mike A. says:

Thanks. Yeah, easy Q. It was Edwin’s 20th b-day too.

 
 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

These Yankees sure are old, lethargic, lifeless jerks who only seek to get their $30M paychecks at the end of the day. They sure quit on Joe Girardi.

 
Jamal G. says:

Heh, it sure seems like all bad karma the Yankees got over the course of the season has transformed over the course of these past two innings.

 
cupz says:

I made a lot of friends eat their words when I said that Carl Pavano would be pitching in the majors this season, but even I’m having trouble believing he might go 3-0 in his first 3 starts back. Really hard to believe that one.

 
Jamal G. says:

Take your pick:

Max Scherzer

OR

Matt Garza

Ivan says:

Garza,

Im not sure Scherzer stays as a starter. Plus, Garza has a wider repertoire of pitches.

 
 
giselle says:

scherzer. he has crazy eyes.

 
A.D. says:

Garza, mainly because he’s already shown it, against the AL. Haren, Webb, Scherzer should be lights out for Arizona next year

 
 
Patrick T says:
 
 
D.B. says:

carl pavano was our ace in the hole

 
giselle says:

was price called up this month?

Chip says:

Nope, he’s in the minor league playoffs right now

 
Ivan says:

No, infact he starting in game 1 of the AAA durham playoff series.

giselle says:

ah i see. thanks guys.

 
 
 
Doug says:

Alex Rodriguez is not impressed by your submariner relief pitcher.

 
Jamal G. says:

I like how the BBTN guys were all lauding the Chad Bradford pick up for the Rays, saying how he would be a tipping point in the pennant race. Funny, seeing as how he’s making an appearance in the fourth inning of a 4-run ballgame.

Ivan says:

If Chad Bradford is considered a difference maker on ya team, then your crazy.

Frank says:

ESPN is the worst thing to happen to baseball.

 
 
A.D. says:

thinking that a waiver pickup is anything more than shuring something up is over analyzing

 
 
Chip says:

Where was this team all season? This is just fun to watch

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Oh God, that douche is back.

Ivan says:
Steve H says:
 
 
 
Ivan says:

Iight I was ready a brief biography on Wilt Chamberlain.

It got me wonering, did he really had sex with 10,000+ Women?

I mean that’s alot of sex. ALOT.

If he said 3,000, then okay, but 10,000. Wow.

 
Frank says:

Anything’s possible with some effort and a positive attitude

 
A.D. says:

yup no one has ever exaggerated the # of women they’ve slept with

 
 
A.D. says:

fyi, this website works much faster for me on Google Crome instead of Internet Explorer

Manimal says:

But Chrome sucks balls. firefox is where its at.

A.D. says:

yes now, it does, so did firefox at the beginning and I’m not trying to take away from firefox, just was doing side by side for IE and Chrome.

Firefox sucks up memory

 
 
 
pete c. says:

Did I just hear Kay say Pavano had TJ in April? That ain’t right is it?

Jack says:
 
A.D. says:
 
 
Jamal G. says:

People say that Adam Dunn is not a winning player. I say: What the hell is that? Doesn’t that depend more on the rest of his team than him solely? Last time I checked, a guy with 40-HR allows for a team to win a nice sum of games.

So seriously, why are people so against Adam Dunn? I just want to throw two stats at you: Secondary Average and weighted On-Base Average. Adam Dunn leads the Major Leagues (at a considerable margin) in SecA with .531 clip, the number two guy in that stat is Albert Pujols (.493). A .531-SecA, that is just nuts, absolutely nuts. Yet people say this guy doesn’t help you win games? Dunn has a .426-wOBA w/RISP, but he is not a winning player. Lastly, amongst National League outfielders, Adam Dunn has the fourth best WPA (2.46).

Oh yeah, and he had a walk-off double today that, you know, won the game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mike A. says:

One Adam Dunn is good. Nine Adam Dunn’s is horrifying.

Jack says:

Especially if you’re a pitcher.

Mike A. says:

I suppose, but I meant as a fan of that team.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

I’m not a big Adam Dunn fan, mainly I don’t like players that swing and miss, but in reality the only thing that has kept him from being a “winning player” is that he’s played his career in Cinci

A.D. says:

*swing and miss that much, obv everyone swings and misses, you can have some big fly guys, but too many is no good

Mike A. says:

Homeruns don’t win games though.

Jamal G. says:

Oh, you saw that comment, huh?

 
A.D. says:

Nope, never, if you don’t make the defense work, then your not showing grit & “making things happen” therefore you cannot win games

kunaldo says:
 
 
Ivan says:

That’s like saying Touchdowns don’t win Football Games.

 
 
 
 
Ivan says:

I think saying that a player is not a winning player is just ridiculous. What is a winning player anyway? It’s just something media people/stupid fans like to say.

As for Adam Dunn, I have said many times, I am not a Dunn fan. Yes he hits alot of hr’s and BB’s alot but he k’s a ton, he’s not a good situational hitter (career .235 hitter in RISP or less than that) and he’s a DH who I feel will not age well as a hitter.

Career .227 hitter in RISP… but a .417 OBP and a .480 SLG.

Batting average is a stupid, stupid stat.

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

JP Howell, Texas’ all-time strikeout king. More than Clemens.

 

Pavano takes forever to get to the plate

 
Frank says:

Edwar. 13 HR in 72 IP.

 
Nady Nation says:

G-Men predictions anyone on this NFL Eve?

Patrick T says:
 
Jamal G. says:

I think we are going to regret the loss of Jeremy Shockey more than the mediots will admit. I also think e are going to make it to the playoffs, and from then on, whatever happens, happens.

Jamal G. says:

Yes, I realized that was Joe Morgan-esque, I aplogize.

Jamal G. says:

I also just realized that by misspelling “apologize”, I also displayed more Joe Morgan-isms. It’s all about consistency. ;)

Mike A. says:

Whoever plays the best will win. That said, we’ll have to see.

Nady Nation says:

HOF analysis right there

Mike A. says:

Joe Morgan, HOF second baseman, if obligated to remind you, a non-HOF second baseman, that he, Joe Morgan, is a HOF second basemen.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Agreed. I think the biggest part of Shockey’s game we’ll miss is his blocking. But regardless, I personally won’t miss his bitching/whining/constant injuries/killing of Eli’s confidence

 
 
A.D. says:

Better than the ‘Skins.

I’d say 8-8, but it really depends, if Eli can develop, the backs stay healthy, and Smith & Manningham step up, they can cover for any problems the defense might have

 
 
Ivan says:

Wht happen on that play.

Nady Nation says:

Cano didn’t catch it

 
 
Mike A. says:

Edwar should never be brought into the game in the middle of an inning. He should strictly be used to start innings.

 
E-ROC says:

Edwar just doesn’t have command of his fastball.

 
Nady Nation says:
 
Mike A. says:

Nice rebound Robbie.

 
Mike A. says:

Yeah, I didn’t think Edwar was getting out of that one.

 
Mike A. says:

These Erin Andrews commercials are a nice addition to YES. I approve.

A.D. says:

someone had to say it

 
kunaldo says:

it’s a damn shame she’s a bosox fan

 
 
E-ROC says:

There is nothing like watching Serena play tennis.

Ivan says:

No doubt. And she starting to look good too.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Idiots at LoHud:

After the non-catch: “OMGFZG ROBBIE, YOU LAZY HEAD CASE, WHY DONT YOU STICK TAHT $30M CONTRACT UP UR ASSZ!!111!

After the double-play: YEAH ROBBIE, WAY TO KEEP YOUR HEAD IN TEH GAME!111!1 NOW LET’S TRADE HIM FOR DAVID ECKSTEIN, WE NEED DA HAHHHT!1111!111!!”

A.D. says:

tell me the eckstein comment is a joke and someone didn’t seriously write that

Jamal G. says:

No, the whole thing is just a description of their sentiment towards Robinson Cano. They have proposed some ludicrous offers, but I blocked them from my memory to per long my life.

A.D. says:

thats what i figured, but you never know and thats why i asked

Jamal G. says:

True, especially when you see Mike’s comment further down.

 
 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Palin. Wow. Obama ‘08

 
Mike A. says:

I was going to make fun of Shepard Smith’s name, but then he added that “Go Yanks” at the end of the Fox News Break. We cool now.

 
A.D. says:

Trenton pen held on, Jhonny Nunez was lights out

Joe says:

Which trade did he come in?

Mike A. says:

For Alberto Gonzalez.

 
 
Mike A. says:

That he was. Jhonny’s going to be the go-to guy out of the pen for the Thunder.

Joe says:

As much as Cashman gets credit for horrible starting pitching acquisitions he pulls off some great under the radar work, Aceves, Edwar, Veras, Bruney.

 

what does Nunez feature?

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

Check out this Phil Coke character.

 
Jamal G. says:

Jesus, Michael. If the Phil Coke jokes are this bad, I can’t imagine the days of Jesus Montero as a Yankee, let alone Montero and Ryan Pope as battery-mates.

Ivan says:

I can’t wait when Montero hits a homer and John Sterling has to say something off the top.

 
 
Chip says:

Phil Coke looks GOOD!

Frank says:

breaking ball reminds me of Marte

Chip says:

I completely agree, hopefully he looks that good as a starter next season

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

OMFG, how many times must we hear this story? For the love of Mariano, Michael, let it be.

 
Mike A. says:

An actual comment from LoHud:

Coke is trade bait, he is not this good.

Coke for Matt Kemp?

Nady Nation says:

Pass. You can’t just give away a proven southpaw like Coke

Steve H says:

What if they throw in Loney and Kershaw?

 
Joe says:

Why stop there maybe we can swing a three way deal to get Pujols out of it.

Steve H says:

Ok, we’ll give Betemit back to the Dodgers, throw in 12 new balls and 5 new bats and bring back Pujols. But we’ll have both Pujols and Loney at 1b, so we’ll trade Loney for Kazmir, Price, and Crawford.

 
 
Chip says:

Maybe not a proven southpaw but guys who can control a 95 mph pitch with their left hand definitely have value

 
 
 
Patrick T says:

Well obviously. Phil Coke can’t snow some reprobate commenter on LoHud, but the Dodger scouts who actually found Kemp in the first place will think he’s Johan Santana 2.0.

 
 
A.D. says:

not good for the Rays if Balfour goes down

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett, two of the more pleasant surprises in the Yanks’ system this year?

Yeah, but Jackson is in his second go-around of AA and is already 26. He needs a change of scenery. He could probably get an MLB spot somewhere next year though.

Claggett walks too many people and his WHIP is high (1.49). Escape act. Though only 1 HR and 1.52 GO/AO is encouraging.

 
A.D. says:

toss on Z-Mac, Hacker, and Coke

Hacker had real nice stuff but after missing 2004 and 2006 with various injuries, I think of him as a very good org guy/spot starter right. He is 25, though, but he’ll be at least be in AAA. Besides, he’s incosistent with the strikeouts and BBs some times.

 
 
 
Frank says:

Does anyone else think PeteAbe is a douchebag?

Jamal G. says:

Yes, I most certainly do.

 
steve (different one) says:

yes. there are many, many people who feel this way.

read his note on A-Rod’s 30 HRs today. now it’s bad to hit HRs if you’re already ahead? even if you are only ahead by 1-2 runs?

 
Patrick T says:

He’s a massive douche.

 
 
 
Mike R. says:

Someone should tell Michael Kay to have a Coke and a smile and shut the F* up! Seriously though. Gameday had Coke’s FB topping out at 95 MPH!!!

 
Joe says:

Maybe Riveaveblues can start an FJM type of section where they review the ridiculous Lohud comments each day

Mike A. says:

There’s not enough time in the day. But a “Stupid LoHud Comment of the Day” feature would be fun.

Ivan says:

That would be a good one.

 
Sam P. says:

I’d be back on the site an additional 40 times a day if you guys did that … haha.

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

So I finally cracked and went to jetersfordchallenge.com, and one of the games involves, believe it or not, controlling a virtual Jeter and ranging all over the field to make plays on defense. No joke.

http://jetersfordchallenge.com.....aunch.html

Joe says:

Does he get to drive a ford to improve his range “Past a dving Jeter in the F-150″

 
A.D. says:

gotta love the comedically large shoulders

 

Personally, I think my two favorite things about checking out the great website jetersfordchallenge.com was taking a look at the Ford Edge’s cool panoramic vista moonroof or listening to the awesome Sync voice activated bluetooth system.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Heh, you know that kid’s big brother is going to rob him in his sleep.

 
E-ROC says:

I am officially a Coke Whore. ;)

Steve H says:
 
 

Why the fuck is Michael Kay talking about Coke as the next big thing with only two innings!

Chip says:

Because he obviously is! :D

 
Ivan says:

The Same Michael Kay who Slams Phil Hughes on his radio shows/on TV.

Jamal G. says:

Oh Lord, what did he say?

Ivan says:

Remember he had that really bad start against the tigers?

The next day he ripped, saying how could he be a top prospect and he’s not that good and etc.

A.D. says:

makes you wonder if Kay loves LoHud

 
 
 
 
 
Mike A. says:

Bush league fist pump by Coke. Who does this rook think he is?

Steve H says:
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Fist pump alert! Fist pump alert! Bush1!!11111!11

 
Frank says:

They sure did hit the ball hard off him…

 
Mike A. says:

6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K for Ohlendorf tonight. First MLB start.

Manimal says:

Holy shit, how the hell did we both do that. Wierd…

 
steve (different one) says:

Karstens is coming back down to earth.

Mike A. says:

What are you talking about? That 2.86 Kper9 is studly.

steve (different one) says:
 
 
Steve H says:

Shocker to us all who ever watched him pitch. Now he’s due to get injured too

 
 
Mike A. says:

Heh, he was relieved by TJ Beam, and Minky pinch hit for him. Yankee alumni night in Pittsburgh I see.

 
Chip says:

He might actually be decent in the NL a la Karstens

 
 
Manimal says:

Ohlendorf didnt do to bad., 6IP, 7 hits 2 K’s

 
steve (different one) says:

my amateur scouting report after seeing him once: Coke looks like a LOOGY

Joe says:

Whats LOOGY stand for?

steve (different one) says:
 
Mike A. says:
 
 
cult of basebaal says:

as Al Bundy would say, “uh, no, Peg.”

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:
 
Chip says:

Phil Coke helping the team as a ploy to get Crawford out, what grit!

 
Jamal G. says:

Let me ask you guys something, would anybody that is:

A) Not a Red Sox fan

B)Doesn’t have a dislike for Robinson Cano and/or Joe Girardi

have come to this conclusion:

UPDATE, 9:04 p.m.: Robbie Alomar Cano took his eye off the ball there, looking to double the runner of first before catching the liner. Can’t make mistakes like that.

I’m sorry, but that ball was hit way too hard to say Cano took his eye off the ball, he didn’t even have time to fully extend his arm.

Ivan says:

He dislikes Girardi and he always seem to bash Cano all the time.

Always making slick comments.

Then he said that Girardi lost credibility cuz he defended Cano and didn’t rip him. Gee, Joe Torre almost never ripped his players either Pete.

 
steve (different one) says:

Abraham’s anti-Cano crusade of late is all meant to imply that Girardi can’t get Cano to play hard.

it all comes down to Girardi for that jerkoff.

Girardi has made some mistakes. but that’s not the kindof crap that Abe harps on. he harps on things like Girardi not badmouthing his players in the press, concealing injuries (and thus making Abe have to actually workfor info), and other crap that really doesnt matter to anyone except overweight beat writers.

he’s a hack. worse, he’s petty and unprofessional. try to disagree with him in the comments, he’ll either delete it or come after you.

he sucks.

Ivan says:

The he said that Girardi looks overmatch. Come on.

That’s a guy losing credibility.

 
Frank says:

All of the above.

The media are a fickle bunch and PeteAbe is one of the worst. Girardi had an attitude with the media early on, and he doesn’t give injury info. It’s been all downhill from there.

 
 
cult of basebaal says:

wow. apologists out in force tonite. Cano *totally* should have had that ball. easy, easy, easy out.

 
 
Jamal G. says:
Mike A. says:

“You want to come to Jersey and say that to my face??!?!?!”

Heh, that made me laugh.

Jamal G. says:

My favorite was the one they got from an actual comment:

“stand up for yourself and fight like a man you f’ing punk ass pu’ies”

It’s so funny because it’s so unnecessary. You can just imagine that guy typing all angrily and shit.

 
 
A.D. says:

pure gold

my favorite, thats not the Jersey comment:
“How can you guys sit here and watch a video about two girls pooping into a cup when America is being turned into a Fascist police state?”

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Be nice if Coke picked up his first ML win

 
A.D. says:

Coke next year, likely to start in the ML pen, or minor league rotation, we’re likely to have a ton in the pen, especially if Joba starts there again this year, as some reports are suspecting

Mike A. says:

Depends on how he does in ST.

 
 
Manimal says:

Do you take your chances on Coke in the Pen or do you resign marte(to have a LOOGY)

Mike A. says:

Pick up Marte’s option anyway. There’s no rule against having two lefties, especially since Coke can get righties out.

Manimal says:

I agree, Hes good trade bait anyways regardless of how he does by the trade deadline.

 
cult of basebaal says:

‘course, marte’s a type A … no rule against picking up as many high draft picks, either …

Jamal G. says:

Marte will be a Type-A in 2009 as well. Unless of course he implodes next season, but I’m more than happy to take that risk, if I were the Yankees.

 
A.D. says:

i believe he’s a B, regardless he’ll should be the same after a year

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

This is a great site with insight to the idiot meat head that live down the jersey shore:

http://www.bennygohome.com/home.html

 
 
 
 
E-ROC says:
 
A.D. says:
 
Chip says:

That was CRUSHED!!!! Bring on the instant replay

 
Jamal G. says:

Meaningless, two extra runs in a three-run game against the best team in the A.L. means dick.

 
Manimal says:
 
 
E-ROC says:

That ball went right over the top of the foul pole and hit the catwalk.

 
Manimal says:

Grampa Manimal- I saw the first time instant replay was used. Arod hit a homerun.

Kids-Really gramps? your old.

Jamal G. says:
Manimal says:

by then the whole umpiring system will be automated and shit. Robots hahaha