Sep
09

Game 145: Aceves’ first start

By

After last night’s debacle in Anaheim, I’d imagine that most Yankee fans are looking ahead with trepidation to tonight’s game. The Yanks don’t play well in Anaheim. They’ve lost four of five on the road, and they’re staring up at a Blue Jays team that has, as of this writing, won nine in a row.

Meanwhile, down on the farm, the Yanks’ AAA kids are battling the Durham Bulls. So we won’t see any call-ups for a least a few more days. But tonight’s starter offers up something new for Yankee fans. Alfredo Aceves will become the 13th pitcher to make a start for the Yanks when he takes the mound tonight. Aceves, known as the Mexican Gangster, has appeared in two games this season at the Big League level. In seven innings, he’s allowed one run on five hits and two walks while racking up seven strike outs. He replaces Darrell Rasner in the rotation.

Of all the arms in the Yankee system, Aceves was one of the biggest surprises this year. The Yanks signed him out of the Mexican League in February, and he rocketed through the farm this year. He put up an 8-6 won-loss record, but in 140.2 innings, he was downright filthy. He allowed 111 hits and 27 walks along with 114 strike outs, and his ERA was a stingy 2.62. Opponents hit just .217.

As Aceves takes the mound tonight, the Yanks are playing for little than pride right now. But hopefully, the 25-year-old will give us something to watch tonight. At the very least, it’s a new face and a new arm. We no longer have to suffer through another Darrell Rasner start.

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B – Still no walks since the middle of August.
Moeller C – The forgotten Yankee.

Aceves P

Yankee Notes: The Angels have scratched Jered Weaver from his start tonight, and in his stead, Ervin Santana (15-5, 3.23) will start…The Scranton Yanks and Durham Bulls are battling it out for the IL Championship. You can follow the action and watch the game for free here. While the Yanks are winning, David Price is throwing quite well…In the Penn League, Jonathan Albaladejo had a rocky first inning, but Jeremy Bleich is throwing nicely. Mike will have more on those two games later tonight.

Categories : Game Threads

232 Comments»

  1. Ivan says:

    Trenton with a 3-1 lead.

  2. Ivan says:

    Price looked pretty good as well. Yeah he got hit around a bit but he displayed some electric stuff especially with his slider.

  3. E-ROC says:

    Ben, do you think Humberto Sanchez will see some time at the major league level before the year’s over?

    • cult of basebaal says:

      why rush him? and from what i hear, it doesn’t sound like his stuff is back yet. IIRC mike ashmore was saying that he was only throwing somewhere around 91-93 down in trenton. doesn’t seem to wise to push him for something close to zero benefit.

  4. I think in the off season the Yankees, rather than signing Mark Texiera. Should just sign Milton Bradley to play RF, keep Damon in LF, put Gardner/Melky at CF. Make Matsui the permanent 1b. Then do a platoon at DH with Xavier Nady (who I know has been hitting righties really well this year, but throughout his career not so much so), and Juan Miranda.

    • Steve H says:

      Milton Bradley in NY=Not good. Like him as a player, but he wouldn’t last thru spring training without an incident.

    • No. Bradley barely holds up as a DH, how can he play the OF? Besides, IMO, Damon or Matsui should be traded. Damon would be traded at peak value and he could net 1 mid to high ceiling near-MLB ready position prospect plus two other either really raw or low-ceiling talents. Matsui can maybe be traded for a guy with a lowish to mid ceiling (Jon Sanchez, again?) I’d like to think we could eat $6M and get a buy-low talent like Homer Bailey or Andy LaRoche, but I know that will never likely won’t happen because they play on NL teams. Then again, the Giants (NL West) wanted Matsui, so…

    • It should be pointed out that, outside of the 144 AB’s for the Padres last year before he got injured (where he had a damn lucky .327 BABIP) , Milton Bradley has never ever ever been remotely as good as offensive force as he’s been this year for the Rangers, who, last I checked, still play in the Bandbox in Arlington.

      His 2008 spilts:
      Road – .299/.420/.469
      Home – .363/.478/.726

      Park effects much? Oh yeah, and his ’08 BABIP? .391. Look, Milton Bradley’s far from a nontalented hacker, but perhaps we should be a bit skeptical about his ability to continue producing like a dominant 4-hole hitter if he comes here to the Bronx and some of his good luck starts to wear off. Not to mention, he’s not exactly a paragon of good health.

  5. Geno says:

    He’s seriously known as the Mexican Gangster? I thought that was something you guys christened him with.

  6. Ivan says:

    Yo whats got into Carlos Delgado.

  7. Samsonov KGB says:

    lets win this one for pride……….

  8. Ivan says:

    In other news Shawn Merriman is gonna have season ending surgery.

  9. Ivan says:

    ESPN is giving the sox some good head right now.

  10. giselle says:

    ahh i’m nervous for al aceves. when hughes and kennedy made their “hometown” debuts, they tanked. i know aceves isn’t a kid, but still… its a big deal.

    here we go.

  11. BigBlueAL says:

    Jason Bay saying Manny who!!!!

  12. Mike A. says:

    Heh, whenever someone lets go of that bat like that, I think of this:

  13. Jamal G. says:

    This guy does a really nice Joker impersonation: http://www.youtube.com/user/CiscOreo

  14. Joe says:

    From the good and the bad file, Melancon is back pitching, unfortunately, Robertson and Kroenke blew the lead.

  15. Ivan says:

    First time seeing Melancon pitch.

  16. Jamal G. says:

    So what’s Yahoo! Sports going to do with Seneca Wallace? Are they going to change his position to QB-WR? They better change his position, I picked him up earlier today since he’s going to be replacing Nate Burleson.

  17. Ivan says:

    Great Job Papelbon.

  18. BigBlueAL says:

    Papelbon just gave up a HR as Tampa tied the game. Interestingly Keith Law recently wrote in his blog that Papelbon is throwing to many fastballs and no longer throwing his splitter much and that it could lead to problems come post-season time.

    I know nobody cares but hey it still is a good game to watch….

  19. Ivan says:

    I thought the yanks were on vacation. A-Rod shouldn’t have those tough a-bats.

  20. Jamal G. says:

    Look at A-Rod trying to pad his stats with a meaningless SB in the second inning. Nine more years of this!?!?!?!?

  21. BigBlueAL says:

    Wow double Navarro Tampa now leads 5-4. Keith Law mustve been on to something….

  22. Ivan says:

    Melancon has some pretty good movement on his fastball, and a pretty nasty curve. Ben Sheets lite.

    • Jamal G. says:

      I’m really thinking hard on Buster Olney’s point of signing Ben Sheets instead of C. C. Sabathia. Then again, is signing Sabathia to a seven-year deal instead of Sheets to a four-year deal that big a risk when you take into account Sheets’ injury history?

      • Mike A. says:

        Considering how pitcher’s tend to breakdown, if you get three good years out of Sheets during a 4 yr deal, I think you have to be happy with that. Ditto CC for 5 or 6 out of 7.

      • Ivan says:

        Well I read his opinion on one of his chats. He said the yanks need to avoid long term contracts and try to get younger. Both obvious points.

        In that same chat, he said if he was the yanks, it would be better for the present and future of the yanks to sign Sheets to a 3/4 year deal rather than dealing a long deal to the likes of Sabathia or Teixiera.

        While CC is #1 for me, I wouldn’t mind if the yanks sign sheets at all. Plus, it might be the smart move if they did sign the guy.

      • The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

        link?

      • All of Olney’s argument hinges on Sheets taking a 4 year deal in the first place. Is that based on any evidence, or is that all conjecture on Olney’s part?

        Why wouldn’t Sheets demand a 5 or 6 year deal? Everyone else is getting one…

  23. Manimal says:

    WHO THE HELL IS TIM BATTLE, WHO CARES!!!

  24. BigBlueAL says:

    Typical Yankees offense….

  25. Yankee1010 says:

    Isn’t that so typical of this year? 2nd and 3rd and no outs. 0 runs.

  26. Mike A. says:

    And Scranton ties it in the bottom of the 9th. Tim Battle double.

  27. Jamal G. says:

    Thanks to Hulu, I finally started watching Arrested Development. Damn, that show is fucking hilarious, I really can’t wait for the movie.

    Speaking of which, is there a hotter lesbian in Hollywood than Portia De Rossi?

  28. Pete says:

    YANKEES (Scranton) WIN!!!!

  29. Matt G. says:

    Eric Duncan!!!

  30. Andy in Sunny Daytona says:

    Aceves has a Giant Noggin.

  31. Ivan says:

    Here it is:

    Paul(Glendale, AZ): Buster, I agree Pedroia give them exactly what they need everyday minus the fist(forearm)pump, and thank god for that! I agree the Yankees must get younger in order to compete, but I don’t see how they avoid the fat contract. Moving into a new stadium and two veteran starters on the way out, I see them backing up the truck fo CC, your thoughts?

    Buster Olney: Paul: I think you make the offer to CC, and in the end, I think he’ll sign elsewhere. It’d be better to offer a big three-year deal to a Sheets or a Burnett. Ten years ago, the Yankees were stacked up the middle, with Posada, Jeter, Bernie. As of today, it’s hard to say who will be manning those positions in 2010, so this has to be the priority for the Yankees.

    http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....t_id=22177

  32. Nady Nation says:

    At least Boston lost. Man it’s depressing that that’s all we have to look forward to nowadays (besides our Minor League system dominating the MiLB playoffs).

  33. Hybrid Moments says:

    I think Mike A and a couple of other people got on me for saying Fuck Joe Torre in another topic. I went to bed and never got a chance to respond to that.

    Torre really wore out his welcome with me. I am not going to bother going over his miscues because I am sure you know most of them. You can make a really good case that Don Zimmer was just as responsible for the Yankee dynasty as Torre. Right when Zimmer left the Yankees pretty much went into the tubes as far as playoff success goes. I hate the hero status he has among fans. Its annoying and he really doesn’t deserve it.

    • BigBlueAL says:

      Yeah he doesnt deserve it, he only won 4 rings as manager….

      • Hybrid Moments says:

        “He won four rings”

        The safety net for any Torre defender. Please try and make an argument other then “he won four rings!”

        • BigBlueAL says:

          What else do you have to do????? Thats the ultimate goal, win a WS. He did it 4 times after the Yankees hadnt won one in 18 years. He won 3 in a row which has only been done 3 other times in the history of baseball. You are an idiot, and apparently Im not the only one who thinks so….

    • Nady Nation says:

      Pretty much everything in this post makes it the dumbest one to ever grace this site, so I’m just gonna go ahead and highlight my favorite part.

      “I hate the hero status he has among fans. Its annoying and he really doesn’t deserve it.”

      Joe Torre made the playoffs 100% of the time that he was here, which was for 13 SEASONS. Oh yea, I almost forgot to mention the part where he won 4 titles too, or one every 3 years. For the love of god, if you are a Yankee fan, please stop rooting for the team and go away. We don’t want you. You are a complete fool and embarrassment to our fanbase.

      • BigBlueAL says:

        He went off on Torre last night due to my posts, thank you for this response cause I couldnt have put it any better myself….

      • Hybrid Moments says:

        Yeah, stupid me for thinking that Torre should make the playoffs every year having a medley of great players at his disposal. I am such an idiot!

  34. Mike A. says:

    Please stop trying to steal with A-Rod up. First base is scoring position when he’s at the dish.

  35. Dammit, just as Scranton walked off the field I turned on the game, and I missed seeing Melancon pitch. Fuck…

  36. Ivan says:

    Fun Fact:

    The series between SWB and Durhan, Phil Hughes will be the youngest to start in that series compared to IPK, Price, Niemann and Davis.

  37. Way to steal with 2 outs and A-Rod up…

  38. BigBlueAL says:

    Abreu this season has had a bad habit of getting caught stealing with A-Rod up.

  39. Joe says:

    How about that AROD!

  40. Joe says:

    These Angel types don’t waste any time do they?

  41. Jamal G. says:

    LoL @ Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain being the most and fifth most abused pitchers in Major League Baseball, respectively.

    Nice job, Bruce Bochy. Hey, I understand, the Giants and their 63-80 record have a win-now mentality.

    http://www.baseballprospectus......cid=204015

  42. Ivan says:

    Adam Sandler: “You want a piece of me Bob”

    Bob: “I don’t want a piece of ya…I want the whole thing”

    Mike that title and picture brings back memories LOL.

  43. Jamal G. says:

    Awkward silences in the broadcast booth are some of the funniest moments in T.V.

  44. Nady Nation says:

    Can we PLEASE get a first baseman that can actually PLAY FIRST BASE next year?

  45. pat says:

    Im still amazed tim keefe threw 619 innings with a sub 1.0 whip in 1883. 68 starts 68 complete games.

  46. Jamal G. says:

    Why’d Cano throw the ball so perfectly? Another lackluster display, lazy bum.

  47. Mike A. says:

    I expect PeteAbe to blame Cano’s throw for that error.

  48. Pedro says:

    Anybody wanna call Jeter lazy?

  49. Ivan says:

    You know Cano makes that error, he gets cream by almost everybody and almost everybody would say it was him being non-chalant, or lazy or not showing effort.

  50. Jamal G. says:

    So what’s PeteAbe going to do? Say Cano should have taken the sure out at first, instead he put Jeter in a tough spot by trying to be too flashy and start a double play? Or is he just going to mention it at all?

  51. Pedro says:

    Does anybody know the numbers for Damon since he started playing CF regularly? It feels like he’s been struggling since the move, I know he’s something like 4 for his last 33.

  52. Jamal G. says:

    Oh Michael, shut the fuck up. You know damn well someone on the YES team read you a mini-scouting report or you bumped into on online.

  53. Ivan says:

    Wow he was out.

  54. Pedro says:

    There’s that lazy Derek Jeter again..

  55. BigBlueAL says:

    What a FA signing Gary Mathews has been for the Angels….

  56. Ivan says:

    How Ironic is that.

  57. Jamal G. says:

    Wow, if Gary Matthews Jr. can’t play defense, he literally is more useless than Melky Cabrera, especially factoring in that contract.

  58. Pedro says:

    Thankfully, Matthews great year wasn’t this year, otherwise he would definately be in pinstripes next season.

  59. Ivan says:

    Unclutch Homerun by A-Rod.

  60. Mike A. says:

    The Yanks were winning already. He’s just padding his stats.

  61. BigBlueAL says:

    How the hell he hit that pitch out.

  62. Pedro says:

    That was a bomb.

  63. Ben K. says:

    Just padding his stats. Don’t homer with the lead, A-Rod. It doesn’t count.

  64. Ivan says:

    I thought the yankees were on vacation. Do ya job Girardi. wake em up.

  65. Will says:

    Did we just break the record for most simultaneous, identical comments made?

  66. Ivan says:

    11:40 PM: Terrible game by the yanks. A-Rod hitting meaningless homers, Cano making Jeter make errors, and Girardi not having his team up. What next me losing 500 LBS.

    Pete Abe.

  67. A.D. says:

    omg aceves blows trade him now!

  68. Mike A. says:

    That’s hysterical. They’re blaming Pavano for Eiland collapsing yesterday.

  69. BigBlueAL says:

    Nice job Aceves. Hopefully Yankees hold on and get him a win.

  70. Mike A. says:

    Joba for two? No reason not too.

  71. Ivan says:

    I gotta admit, Im quite surprise the yanks are smacking around Santana.

  72. BigBlueAL says:

    Per Pete Abe:

    UPDATE, 11:58 p.m.: This is interesting. It turns out the scoreboard at Angels Stadium does go beyond one or two runs for the visiting team. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.

  73. Jamal G. says:

    Official scorer changes derek jeter’s triple to an error:

    Peter Abraham: “Scoring decision?!?!?!?! I must update, I must update!11!1!1

    UPDATE, 12:05 a.m.: They just changed Jeter’s triple in the sixth inning to an E-8.

    A Home Run by Alex-Rodriguez that is proving to be the game-winning hit thus far:

    Peter Abraham:

  74. Pedro says:

    I must admit watching the game is so much better when you do it while studying electromagnetism.

  75. Ivan says:

    Angels are the anti sabmetric team. It pretty much displayed in that bottom half of that inning.

  76. Ivan says:

    Good work Aceves.

  77. mustang says:

    Oh! shit they are winning.

  78. Mike A. says:

    Justin Speier, example 24,516,873 as too why you don’t give relievers long term deals.

  79. Mike A. says:

    Stupid LoHud comment of the night:

    Wow, clutch hitting for Damon! A CLUTCH HR. Too bad A-Rod can’t do that.

    • Ivan says:

      He’s right. I mean after all, A-Rod Hr when the team was only up one didn’t mean much.

    • Jack says:

      Another nominee:

      ant928
      September 9th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
      Ok…time for my rant. WHAT THE FRACK HAPPENED!?!? This was the team that as so good on paper and we folded. yes injuries are a part and yes we’re playing like sh*t but what does JoeG do? Lie to the media…hold the party line…he makes Hillary look HONEST!!

      There has been no motivation…NONE all year. Personally I say JoeG and the coaching staff go…Cano goes to the minors, IPK=DFA, Hughes…we’ll see.

      There has been NO fight in this team for years. And for all the JoeT haters…uhhhh…the Dodgers look QUITE GOOD.

      *sigh*…I feel better now. Thanks for listening.

      And as far as Toad Schilling’s comments…ummmmm….is he even FROM Boston?!?! when the H*ll did he become the Beantown Mayor?

  80. mustang says:

    I see that we are having fun with Mr. A-Rod and I also see he has magically found his bat.

  81. Ivan says:

    You know while the yanks may not make the playoffs and they have been subpar, it could be worse. They could be the Nationals and/or Pirates, but there not.

  82. Ivan says:

    Damon having himself a night.

  83. E-ROC says:

    Damon is upping his trade value.

  84. Ivan says:

    Yankees Win.

  85. Hitman says:

    Aceves is a curious pitcher. His fastball velocity was as high as 94mph several times during his first appearance and now it’s no more than 91 or 92.

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