Game 139: A must-win

September 3, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 345 Comments

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

MD

your last sentence tells you all you need to know about this season
http://yankees.com D.B.

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.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Only Mike can answer this question?
  
  And to think, he didn’t even write this post ;)
  - http://yankees.com D.B.
    
    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
  
  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
    
    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?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Also, stop posting the same question in multiple threads.
  - http://yankees.com D.B.
    
    sorry.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
      
      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
        
        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
      - http://yankees.com D.B.
        
        Ok, that makes sense. Thanks.
        
        Frank
        
        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
        
        How else would you have done it? It met all of the team’s needs. The DL wasn’t anything anyone saw coming.
        
        Frank
        
        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

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
  
  True grit. He’s a warrior. ;)
  - Slugger27
    
    i hate his fucking guts…. but i tip my hat to him, dudes off the hook
- giselle
  
  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
    
    He has the swing of a guy 6’3 with the strikezone of a guy 5’9. He’s difficult to pitch to.
    - giselle
      
      just throw him a decent curveball and he’ll watch it all the way into the glove.
Frank

This is NOT a must win. The only thing winning this game acomplishes is moving the Red Sox one game closer to first place.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  If you’ve given up.
  - Frank
    
    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
      
      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

yea bobby! he’s been on fire lately…
giselle

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

Edwin with great command on those inside pitches.
Manimal

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

Its just not Iwamura’s week.
Ivan

Hey it was a great catch but it wasn’t Jim edmonds llike in KC years back.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  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
    
    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.
http://yankees.com D.B.

carly p’s got some skills
E-ROC

Ugh, Damon!
Ivan

An out turns into a double.
Manimal

well that does it. Carl Pavano has throw more innings this year than the past two combined.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Small victories. Small victories.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

Yup. So the Yanks need to address center field this fall. Damon’s great in left, but….
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Teh Melky?
  - Frank
    
    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
      
      At least they have Granderson at CF playing D.
    - A.D.
      
      Chicago White Sox is pretty bad
      - Frank
        
        But they’ve got Dye who’s a GGer
        
        A.D.
        
        Abreu is a former gold glover
    - A.D.
      
      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
    
    i like gardner better than melky. if only BG could get on base…
- Ivan
  
  Yea I like Damon alot but he sucks at CF. The problem is that there are very few options.
E-ROC

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

No Erin Andrews tonight. Damn college football!
Frank

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

look at cano puttin the ball in play! nice!
E-ROC

Yay, it’s tied! Should we tip the cap to Bobby Meachem?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Hinskie returns Damon’s favor.
Manimal

Karma sucks.
- http://yankees.com D.B.
  
  so do the yankees
E-ROC

2-1 Yanks! Pudgy Pudgy Pudgy!
http://yankees.com D.B.

wow where these yanks a month ago
Frank

This may have been a legit comeback team were Wang and Joba in the rotation.
- A.D.
  
  yeah can only imagine if those guys had stayed healthy with pettite and Moose
A.D.

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
  
  I,ve always said, if he was healthy he would of pitch very well for this team in that 4 year contract.
- http://yankees.com D.B.
  
  yea i agree, it may sound crazy but the yanks should actually think about exercising his option
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    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
      
      You hear the word Loyalty with Cashman uh?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Not an accident.
    - Frank
      
      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?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        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
        
        It is a business when all is said and done. Can’t blame him for that, I suppose.
    - 27’Yanks
      
      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
    
    He even fields his position. What CAN’T this guy do!
  - Ivan
    
    Hell No.
A.D.

Pudge showing off for the scouts
A.D.

thats redic the rays havent lost a series since the break
Ivan

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.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  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
    
    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
    
    Or maybe a big ol’ Dustin Pedroia hack?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice hustle Bobby. Earn that new contract.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Grit, bitches.
giselle

bobby eyeing the cycle tonight.
http://yankees.com D.B.

lars anderson=unclutch 0-2 k’s arodian like performance in the post season
- Ivan
  
  There was an arguement who would You want between Anderson and A-Jax.
  - Ivan
    
    I like A-Jax alot but I gotta go with Lars right now.
  - http://yankees.com D.B.
    
    anderson, but ajax isnt that far behind because he plays a premium position.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    The only advantage Ajax has is that he plays a more premium position. Lars crushes him as a hitter.
  - Frank
    
    I’d have to go with A-Jax b/c of positional need for our team and his 5-tool potential.
    - A.D.
      
      we need a 1b
Frank

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

Man Hinske Sucks as a fielder.
giselle

wtf is wrong with hinske tonight? he sucks at fielding.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Clutch, bitches.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

A-Rod!!! RISP!!!
Frank

lars anderson=wish we drafted him
- Manimal
  
  After we passed him up who did we pick.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    He was a signability pick, Boston got him in 18th round of the 2006 draft.
    - Manimal
      
      Thanks.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Lars was like an 18th round pick or something. Every team passed him up multiple times.
  - http://yankees.com D.B.
    
    paul howell, someone we didnt even sign
Manimal

You guys have no idea how cool Raymond is.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He’s not as cool as the San Diego Chicken. That was cool.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

RISP, bitches.
Ivan

Yankees hitting good pitching.
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165 Doug

double the pleasure, double the fun~
mustang

See how much fun Yankees baseball can be when your 4th and 5th spots hit with RISP.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Fuck it, better late than never.
- mustang
  
  NOOOOO…it would of been better in April, May, June, July and August.
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165 Doug
    
    uh that is why he compared “late” to “never.”
    
    Reading is FUNdamental! As is awareness of common aphorisms in the English language.
    - mustang
      
      Yes, Sir. Professor Doug
      I remember that next time sir.
      Thank so much.
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165 Doug

(cue Yakety Sax)
giselle

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.
  
  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

Rasner Vs. Karmir. Well that’s great uh.
- A.D.
  
  premier matchup
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  That’s why these first two games were imperative.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Every game is imperative.
A.D.

Abreu making catches against the wall, is this the psedo-yankees??
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  The real team stayed in Tampa all summer. We were watching imposters the whole time.
- giselle
  
  AND theyre hitting w 2 outs and risp. who is this team?
http://yankees.com D.B.

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

Nice start for Hacker in the playoffs tonight
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Trenton’s pen is suspect, they’re going to have to come up UGE if Trenton wants to repeat.
  - A.D.
    
    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

That Trivia question was easy, It’s Randy Johnson.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I missed it. What was the Q?
  - Ivan
    
    Who was the Starting pitcher Who Edwin Jackson was going against to get his first win in his career?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Thanks. Yeah, easy Q. It was Edwin’s 20th b-day too.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

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

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

Take your pick:

Max Scherzer

OR

Matt Garza
- Ivan
  
  Garza,
  
  Im not sure Scherzer stays as a starter. Plus, Garza has a wider repertoire of pitches.
- http://yankees.com D.B.
  
  scherzer
- giselle
  
  scherzer. he has crazy eyes.
- A.D.
  
  Garza, mainly because he’s already shown it, against the AL. Haren, Webb, Scherzer should be lights out for Arizona next year
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Garza.
- Patrick T
  
  Garza, hands down.
http://yankees.com D.B.

carl pavano was our ace in the hole
giselle

was price called up this month?
- Chip
  
  Nope, he’s in the minor league playoffs right now
- Ivan
  
  No, infact he starting in game 1 of the AAA durham playoff series.
  - giselle
    
    ah i see. thanks guys.
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165 Doug

Alex Rodriguez is not impressed by your submariner relief pitcher.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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
  
  If Chad Bradford is considered a difference maker on ya team, then your crazy.
  - Frank
    
    ESPN is the worst thing to happen to baseball.
- A.D.
  
  thinking that a waiver pickup is anything more than shuring something up is over analyzing
Chip

Where was this team all season? This is just fun to watch
- http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165 Doug
  
  ^^^
  This.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Oh God, that douche is back.
- Ivan
  
  Who?
  - Steve H
    
    The heckler
Ivan

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.
- Jack
  
  http://www.cracked.com/article.....sumes.html
  - Ivan
    
    Interesting.
- Frank
  
  Anything’s possible with some effort and a positive attitude
- A.D.
  
  yup no one has ever exaggerated the # of women they’ve slept with
A.D.

fyi, this website works much faster for me on Google Crome instead of Internet Explorer
- Manimal
  
  But Chrome sucks balls. firefox is where its at.
  - A.D.
    
    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.

Did I just hear Kay say Pavano had TJ in April? That ain’t right is it?
- Jack
  
  May ’07
- A.D.
  
  nope:
  http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....on_sa.html
  
  should be a year from April, so April 2007
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  One Adam Dunn is good. Nine Adam Dunn’s is horrifying.
  - Jack
    
    Especially if you’re a pitcher.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      I suppose, but I meant as a fan of that team.
- A.D.
  
  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.
    
    *swing and miss that much, obv everyone swings and misses, you can have some big fly guys, but too many is no good
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Homeruns don’t win games though.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        Oh, you saw that comment, huh?
      - A.D.
        
        Nope, never, if you don’t make the defense work, then your not showing grit & “making things happen” therefore you cannot win games
        
        kunaldo
        
        is this a joke?
      - Ivan
        
        That’s like saying Touchdowns don’t win Football Games.
- Ivan
  
  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.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
    
    Career .227 hitter in RISP… but a .417 OBP and a .480 SLG.
    
    Batting average is a stupid, stupid stat.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

JP Howell, Texas’ all-time strikeout king. More than Clemens.
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

Pavano takes forever to get to the plate
Frank

Edwar. 13 HR in 72 IP.
Nady Nation

G-Men predictions anyone on this NFL Eve?
- Patrick T
  
  7-9 3rd place
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  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.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    Yes, I realized that was Joe Morgan-esque, I aplogize.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      I also just realized that by misspelling “apologize”, I also displayed more Joe Morgan-isms. It’s all about consistency. ;)
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Whoever plays the best will win. That said, we’ll have to see.
        
        Nady Nation
        
        HOF analysis right there
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Joe Morgan, HOF second baseman, if obligated to remind you, a non-HOF second baseman, that he, Joe Morgan, is a HOF second basemen.
  - Nady Nation
    
    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.
  
  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

Wht happen on that play.
- Nady Nation
  
  Cano didn’t catch it
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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

Edwar just doesn’t have command of his fastball.
Nady Nation

Two times a charm
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice rebound Robbie.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Yeah, I didn’t think Edwar was getting out of that one.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

These Erin Andrews commercials are a nice addition to YES. I approve.
- A.D.
  
  someone had to say it
- kunaldo
  
  it’s a damn shame she’s a bosox fan
E-ROC

There is nothing like watching Serena play tennis.
- Ivan
  
  No doubt. And she starting to look good too.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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.
  
  tell me the eckstein comment is a joke and someone didn’t seriously write that
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    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.
      
      thats what i figured, but you never know and thats why i asked
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        True, especially when you see Mike’s comment further down.
Nady Nation

Palin. Wow. Obama ’08
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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.

Trenton pen held on, Jhonny Nunez was lights out
- Joe
  
  Which trade did he come in?
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    For Alberto Gonzalez.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  That he was. Jhonny’s going to be the go-to guy out of the pen for the Thunder.
  - Joe
    
    As much as Cashman gets credit for horrible starting pitching acquisitions he pulls off some great under the radar work, Aceves, Edwar, Veras, Bruney.
  - http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
    
    what does Nunez feature?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Check out this Phil Coke character.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

Phil Coke looks GOOD!
- Frank
  
  breaking ball reminds me of Marte
  - Chip
    
    I completely agree, hopefully he looks that good as a starter next season
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

OMFG, how many times must we hear this story? For the love of Mariano, Michael, let it be.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

An actual comment from LoHud:

Coke is trade bait, he is not this good.

Coke for Matt Kemp?
- Nady Nation
  
  Pass. You can’t just give away a proven southpaw like Coke
  - Steve H
    
    What if they throw in Loney and Kershaw?
  - Joe
    
    Why stop there maybe we can swing a three way deal to get Pujols out of it.
    - Steve H
      
      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
    
    Maybe not a proven southpaw but guys who can control a 95 mph pitch with their left hand definitely have value
- A.D.
  
  wow
- Patrick T
  
  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.

not good for the Rays if Balfour goes down
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

why would A-Rod slow done?
- http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
  
  down*
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett, two of the more pleasant surprises in the Yanks’ system this year?
- http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
  
  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.
  
  toss on Z-Mac, Hacker, and Coke
  - http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
    
    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

Does anyone else think PeteAbe is a douchebag?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Yes, I most certainly do.
- steve (different one)
  
  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
  
  He’s a massive douche.
- Joey
  
  Yes
Mike R.

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

Maybe Riveaveblues can start an FJM type of section where they review the ridiculous Lohud comments each day
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  There’s not enough time in the day. But a “Stupid LoHud Comment of the Day” feature would be fun.
  - Ivan
    
    That would be a good one.
  - Sam P.
    
    I’d be back on the site an additional 40 times a day if you guys did that … haha.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

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
  
  Does he get to drive a ford to improve his range “Past a dving Jeter in the F-150″
- A.D.
  
  gotta love the comedically large shoulders
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  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.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

I am officially a Coke Whore. ;)
- Steve H
  
  LMFAO!!
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

Why the fuck is Michael Kay talking about Coke as the next big thing with only two innings!
- Chip
  
  Because he obviously is! :D
- Ivan
  
  The Same Michael Kay who Slams Phil Hughes on his radio shows/on TV.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    Oh Lord, what did he say?
    - Ivan
      
      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.
        
        makes you wonder if Kay loves LoHud
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Bush league fist pump by Coke. Who does this rook think he is?
- Steve H
  
  K-rod?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

They sure did hit the ball hard off him…
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K for Ohlendorf tonight. First MLB start.
- Manimal
  
  Holy shit, how the hell did we both do that. Wierd…
- steve (different one)
  
  Karstens is coming back down to earth.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    What are you talking about? That 2.86 Kper9 is studly.
    - steve (different one)
      
      6 HRs in 37 IPs…
  - Steve H
    
    Shocker to us all who ever watched him pitch. Now he’s due to get injured too
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Heh, he was relieved by TJ Beam, and Minky pinch hit for him. Yankee alumni night in Pittsburgh I see.
- Chip
  
  He might actually be decent in the NL a la Karstens
Manimal

Ohlendorf didnt do to bad., 6IP, 7 hits 2 K’s
steve (different one)

my amateur scouting report after seeing him once: Coke looks like a LOOGY
- Joe
  
  Whats LOOGY stand for?
  - steve (different one)
    
    Lefty One Out Guy
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Lefty One Out GuY.
- cult of basebaal
  
  as Al Bundy would say, “uh, no, Peg.”
  - Joe
    
    Huh?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

That fat sum bitch.
Chip

Phil Coke helping the team as a ploy to get Crawford out, what grit!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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
  
  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)
  
  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
    
    The he said that Girardi looks overmatch. Come on.
    
    That’s a guy losing credibility.
  - Frank
    
    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
  
  wow. apologists out in force tonite. Cano *totally* should have had that ball. easy, easy, easy out.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

I enjoyed all of these:

http://www.cracked.com/article.....nters.html
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  “You want to come to Jersey and say that to my face??!?!?!”
  
  Heh, that made me laugh.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    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.
  
  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?”
- Jack
  
  I have always loved Cracked.
  
  http://www.cracked.com/blog/20.....eath-race/
  - Jack
    
    Also, http://www.cracked.com/blog/20.....aq-i-know/
A.D.

Be nice if Coke picked up his first ML win
A.D.

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
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Depends on how he does in ST.
Manimal

Do you take your chances on Coke in the Pen or do you resign marte(to have a LOOGY)
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Pick up Marte’s option anyway. There’s no rule against having two lefties, especially since Coke can get righties out.
  - Manimal
    
    I agree, Hes good trade bait anyways regardless of how he does by the trade deadline.
  - cult of basebaal
    
    ‘course, marte’s a type A … no rule against picking up as many high draft picks, either …
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      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.
      
      i believe he’s a B, regardless he’ll should be the same after a year
A.D.

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

http://www.bennygohome.com/home.html
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Replay!!!
A.D.

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

Oh. My. God.
E-ROC

Clutch’em all!
A.D.

no doubt about it
Chip

That was CRUSHED!!!! Bring on the instant replay
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

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

PLEASE replay.
- Joe
  
  yup
E-ROC

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

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

Kids-Really gramps? your old.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Heh, so true.
  - Manimal
    
    by then the whole umpiring system will be automated and shit. Robots hahaha
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      And they’ll be using laser bats. And people will complain that the maple laser is more dangerous than the light laser.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Yeah no shit.
  
  Just think, we’ll be talking about Mo and Jeter and A-Rod like our grandparents are talking about DiMaggio and Mantle and Whitey.
  - Ivan
    
    No doubt. Were gonna be like “you should of saw him”
  - Manimal
    
    My dad was a Mantle + Munson guy.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      My grandfather is all Joe D.
      - Manimal
        
        My grandfather couldn’t tell you a yankee player if he tried. He also couldn’t speak to you in english.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Two minute delay!111!!1 Oh the humanity!1!1!1
- A.D.
  
  un-manageable
  
  its actually worth it so now hopefully Kay won’t keep talking about if it was foul since it was taken care of
- Manimal
  
  seriously, by the time a manager argues, they get in the gay meetings, it gets overturned, the other manager comes out and gets thrown out, does the whole fiasco
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
    
    That took two minutes. Get over it.
    - Manimal
      
      Ha I know right.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Only A-Rod.
- Ivan
  
  Why shouldn’t it be.
  - steve (different one)
    
    seriously. it’s not like he could help it, but controversy just loves him.
A.D.

they’re definitely playing up Abreu’s grit
A.D.

thanks Kay for letting me know for what seems like the 10th time that this isn’t a save situation
A.D.

no shit it could hook around, its useful if the ball is well over the fall pole when it goes into the stands
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Holy fuck. Shut up Kay. We get it, that second pole shouldn’t be there.
steve (different one)

has anyone ever seen a ball go over the LF foul pole before?
- Manimal
  
  Pretty sure I have.
Ivan

Kay seriously need to shut the fuck up.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Christ. Michael Kay brought his A-game tonight.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Eh, no issue with that as long as he’s throwing it over the plate with a lead of five runs.
E-ROC

Abreu with range?! What?!
Manimal

Nice win. Tampa Bay does have its flaws, this could be the beginning of the end for them.
- Ivan
  
  Really?
  - Manimal
    
    Really.
    - Ivan
      
      I seriously doubt that.
      - A.D.
        
        i agree, however if there is something that brings them down in the playoffs, its probably the pen
      - Chip
        
        I don’t, they’re not as talented as the other playoff teams. They’ve been more consistent but the Red Sox/Angels/White Sox are all better teams when they’re on and that’s what counts in the playoffs. I’d argue that they’re this year’s Yankees. Very talented and consistent but don’t have the timely hitting or shut-down starting pitchers to win it all
A.D.

Kay is still at it on the foul pole