Bullpen, Melky deliver a sweep
By Benjamin KabakFor nearly five hours, the Yankees and the A’s played an excruciating game of baseball. Over 14 innings, the teams combined for 16 runs, 26 hits and 14 — fourteen! — walks. That the Yanks managed to eke out a 9-7 win is due to two piece who haven’t gotten much love lately: Melky Cabrera and the bullpen.
The game started with CC Sabathia on the hill. Sabathia, who’s had one good start and three mediocre starts as a Yankee, couldn’t locate his fastball gain. In 6.2 innings, he threw 112 pitches but just 59 percent of them, or 66 pitches, for strikes. He scattered six hits but allowed four walks, and those walks hurt. He left the game after blowing a two-run lead in the 7th and gave up seven runs, six earned, while striking out just two. It was one of those days.
Meanwhile, Sabathia’s departure in the seventh was a significant turning point in the game, but no one knew at the time. Joe Girardi trotted Sabathia out to the mound to start the inning when he was over 100 pitches and not flashing his best stuff. The first two runners reached base, and still Joe Girardi did not make the call to the pen. After the first 14 games of the year, Girardi would rather see his struggling ace attempt to battle than anyone trot out of that pen.
The pen though, after last week’s drubbing at the hands of the Indians, did not disappoint. Phil Coke, Jonathan Albaladejo, Mariano Rivera, Damaso Marte, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras — everyone except Steven Jackson and Brian Bruney — combined for 7.1 scoreless innings. The sextet combined for three walks, three hits and six strike outs. Even Marte, who by retiring one man lowered his ERA a full 2.10 runs, contributed.
The gold star though goes to Jose Veras. For the second straight appearance, Veras gave the Yankees length, and for the second straight appearance, he did so effectively. Since getting shelled in the stadium opener against Cleveland, Veras has made two appearances. He’s gone 6.1 innings, allowing one hit and one run — both on Saturday — while walking two and striking out six. Order has seemingly been restored to the bullpen for a day.
Offensively, the Yanks plated nine again with the help of the longball. Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera went back-to-back in the 2nd to get the Yanks on the board, and Derek Jeter added a solo shot in the 4th. In between, the Yankees went 5 for 12 with runners on base and still managed to strand 13. In reality, this game should have been won long before Melky’s second home run cleared the right field fence in the bottom of the 14th.
Before the 14th though, Melky wasn’t looking like too much of a hero. In the bottom of the 7th, the Yanks loaded the bases with no one out. Melky then struck out on a pitch practically at his eyes, and when Brett Gardner pinch hitting failed to get the run in and Derek made out, the Yanks and A’s were primed for a long, long battle of the bullpens.
But Melky redeemed himself as only Melky can. He smashed a line drive — a true Yankee home run at old Yankee Stadium — and Nick Swisher hit the plate with the winning run. For Melky, his fourth home run of the season and his sixth and seventh RBIs. (Joe will have more on Melky “Mr. April” Cabrera later tonight.)
The Yankees now head up to Boston to play a team that’s won, as of this writing, six in a row. With the bullpen coming together and the offense clicking, we should be in for a weekend of great baseball, and it’s always comforting to leave home with a win, 4-2 on what started out as a bad homestand.
My TV Appearance
For everyone who missed my shot on NBC’s Nightly News with David Ushery yesterday, you can watch it here thanks to the good folks at my dad’s office. I’m not smiling in the first few seconds on air because I didn’t realize the camera was on. I have to work on that. As my girlfriend said, I look like I’m on death row, but once I start talking, it’s all good. It’s a brief bit, and I talk about the empty seats at Yankee Stadium.
Use this as your open thread. We’ll be back with DotF later on.
288 Comments»
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Kabak with some face
At first, I was like, “Damn, I didn’t know Ben was that black or that bald!”
Am I the only one who always thought it was pronounced Kah-bak?
I didn’t know how to pronounce it, but “Kay-back” sounds way cooler than anything I came up with.
Even if its wrong, I’d stick with it.
I believe it’s pronounced “Aks-EE-sah”
Ben, you look great and sound like a natural.
Leche!!!
Nice job Ben, you looked a little nervous at first but got more relaxed later on. Congratulations man.
Man, even though the Yankees won I still feel so…down.
I hope AJ walks less than seven on Saturday.
I’m such an idiot for drafting CC, AJ and Joba for fantasy. FML
I drafted lincecum and nolasco…
Oh, duh. Forget my next comment.
Don’t worry about it
How come? Everything OK?
Meh, these are the kind of grinding wins that make me feel good. Sure, CC wasn’t amazing, and in hindsight Girardi should have yanked him before the game tied, but heck, that was a great finish.
Winning that game, especially before rolling into Boston, could be a nice emotional boost for the team. Positivity!
I don’t feel down because of the game…
The game was great.
It will get better, Rebecca. It will.
*hugs*
Thanks dude.
Get your filthy paws off my Girlfriend before come over there and knock your ass out.
LOOK, MOTHERF$%&ER, I ALREADY BEEN TO JAIL ONCE FOR MY BECKY, I AIN’T FRAID TO DO IT AGAIN. I WILL SHANK THE F$%# OUT OF YOUR ASS.
Don’t make me sick Pat on you, bitch. I will distract you, and he will come up from behind and deep french kiss you with that hooker germ infested mouth of his.
You know me, I’ll go to jail for three, four years just to prove my point.
Welcome to PopCopy, may I help you?
I do alot of sick shit, your mother included, but kissing dudes is not on the list.
Ben is by far the most photogenic of the RABers.
Ouch.
I hope you have money, Joe.
Bitch, I’m broke.
http://tbn0.google.com/images?.....laroid.jpg
My hair is normal now, thank you very much.
Wait, PAWLIKOWSKI’S WHITE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I always pictured you as Jamaican, in my head.
Didn’t you say that if you type “Jets fans” in Google Images, you are on the first page?
Oh! He totally is!
Do “Jets fans draft”.
More refined. I’m in the first 4 images, which are ’05, ’06, ’07, and ’08 (not respectively.)
http://thesportshernia.typepad.....fans_2.jpg
The one on the left?
Tommie’s the one sitting with the camera.
The one on the left?
The one on the right with a white t-shirt half on and half off.
(The one sitting with the camera is actually my homeboy’s brother; he’ll be there this weekend again. Giants fan.)
I know, I was messing with you.
I was referring to the lady in the pink hat and pink jersey.
Speaking of the draft and football, do you think the Giants will trade for a WR?
The only guy I see the GMEN trading for is Braylon and apparently the Browns wanted the first and Kiwi, so unless they come way down its not happening
I think it comes down and the Edwards deal still happens. No Kiwi, but the first, maybe a 4th, and Steve Smith should get it done.
If the Giants sit at #29, though, I think all the good WR’s (Crabtree, Maclin, Heyward-Bey, Nicks, Britt, and Harvin) are all gone. Harvin is the best bet to still be there (since he got busted for weed), but the Giants need a big, physical WR and not a short, fast WR.
They need to burn up those phonelines to get either Boldin or Edwards.
Uh, why does it say “XXXX” on the top of the page?
I now know what you and Ben look like. Mike, show yourself!
Here’s Mike’s headshot:
http://www.baseballtoddsdugout.com/OscarGamble.jpg
Eh, you shoulda tinyurl’d it. Could have Oscarrolled us.
Meh, it’s just a joke on Mike. I shouldn’t have to work that hard for it.
Found a better picture of Mike:
http://imagecache2.allposters......A/U117.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/cpnwcr
I’m the fat one. That’s me and my two brothers during a tour last fall.
Stop lying, Mike… you’re the 10-year old kid in the front.
I’m sure you are all good looking in your own right. Better looking than me, at any rate.
BTW, thanks for your email. It meant a lot to me.
Rebecca is trying to fool you. She’s ridiculously hot. There are several men in prison for trying to kill other people to get closer to her.
What the hell are you doing commenting so close to her?
I KILL YOU NOW!!!!!!!
Pfft. This is not that impressive
http://www.facebook.com/photo......=199700451
“This content is currently unavailable”
-Facebook.
Bah.
This should work
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.co.....8_4755.jpg
I just jizzed in my pants.
YOU’RE A FOX, GIRL!!!
Heh, I was thinking about writing “Tommie just jizzed his pants.”
Oh come off it. I’m really not that attractive.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/i.....AA115_.jpg
Oh come off it. I’m really not that attractive.
http://imagecache.allposters.c.....osters.jpg
i tried to find an ‘aw shucks, i’m really not that good’ quote from Mo, but it turns out, EVERYBODY knows and admits how good he is.
who knew?
Regarding your first comment — you can say that, but why do you think I keep a painting of me up as my Facebook pic?
And for the second, you’re welcome. Glad I could have some (hopefully) positive impact.
I have a painting up too. It’s cuz I bring the fugs, haaaard.
Your Dad works at William Morris? No wonder you guys love A-Rod.
Ben you should hook Jamal up with an talent agent. We need him to hit the big time as an actor. While you’re at it, get TSJC a literary agent also.
Looking back on that comment, I realize that I could probably use an English teacher.
While you’re at it, get TSJC a literary agent also.
Before he died, James Baldwin said I had ridiculous upside.
I am so gonna buy the shit out of this place if I make it big. Socialism no more!
Nice job, some intelligent banter on MSM for once. I’ll savor the moment…………………. and it’s gone.
Nice job, some intelligent banter on MSM for once. I’ll savor the moment…………………. and it’s gone.
UP NEXT ON FOX NEWS… OBAMA SHAKES HUGO CHAVEZ’S HAND. ARE WE BECOMING A COMMUNIST NATION?
I prefer: UP NEXT ON FOX NEWS…CITIZENS PROTEST TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION.
I like how Obama is both a fascist AND a communist.
Hilarious.
The best part of the whole day was when a station, I believe it was CNN, talked to people and asked them why Obama was a fascist. Judging by their circular response, I’m guessing they don’t know the definition of “fascist.”
-McBain, what is it?
-I’M UNDER ATTACK BY COMMUNAZIS!!!
Yay for politics!
To be honest, Italian fascism (the original type, of course) and socialism had similar roots and Mussolini was a committed socialist before he started his movement.
That’s not to say that it’s anywhere near accurate to call President Obama a fascist or communist.
Do the yanks pick up Vizcaino if/when he is released?
Just saw the highlights of Melky’s HR and at the plate I could have sworn I saw Jorge smiling. Must have been an illusion.
He was also raising the roof.
Jorge Posada is bush league.
Wipe that freaking smile off your face, punk, and show some damn respect for the game, you hand-urinating-on-bastard.
I’ve heard Jorge’s name mentioned with urine before… but I don’t know why. I must have missed something. Can someone explain it to me? This should be good.
http://www.slate.com/id/2100652/
I think this quote from Kerry Wood is very telling in regards to steroids/HGH in baseball:
“Someone tells you something works, and you give it a try, because saving your career is worth any sacrifice—even peeing on your own hands.”
Ty Cobb stabbed a guy.
Nice going Ben, you were great….
Anyone else thrilled about where we are right now?
Think about it. At 9-6, considering that CC has been so-so (pun intended) Alex is out and Wang has been horrendous in epic, historic fashion we are actually doing quite well. Toss in the slow start by Tex and its amazing we are where we are.
If you substitute the three Wang starts with IPK’s or Hughes’ first 3 from last year, we probably win two of them. I’m sure there’s an even higher probability we win at least one. That’s either 10-5 or 11-4. And that’s without A-Rod.
http://www.baseball-reference......;year=2008
I’m sure Joe has some fancy chart that can nail these guesstimations down, but I doubt I’m far off.
I’m pretty happy minus all the off the field hoopla (Bandbox, empty seats, Yankees slap the economy in the face!! STEROIDS !!!). But such is the life of a Yankees fan.
Don’t forget how huge it is that Matsui is coming around. It would be such a plus if he can sustain some time at DH and produce like he’s capable of. Especially when just a couple days ago it seemed like he’d be in and out of the lineup all season with one or two trips to the DL along the way.
Matsiu is better than most people realize. He’s great at making situational adjustments for a power hitter. His 2 out man on 3rd numbers are insane.
I’m not sure I love this looming Nady/Matsui DH platoon, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I’m not sure I love this looming Nady/Matsui DH platoon, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
It probably is going to work out like gangbusters.
Matsui shouldn’t be playing that much against lefties, Nady shouldn’t be playing that much against righties. And, whomever is sitting will be a great PH option.
Two DHs? Its bad enough burning one roster spot on a guy that can’t play the field, but two?
That’s one less pitcher you carry. Don’t like that one bit.
Eh, I see your point, but the potential benefit of having Swisher in RF and Matsui/Nady both taking ABs at DH seems pretty strong to me. You get to rest each of them, neither of whom should be playing every day, and you always have a potent bat sitting on the bench, ready to PH.
Plus… Of course it’s unfortunate Nady probably won’t be playing the field for a while, but both of these guys (Nady/Matsui) are under contract and aren’t going anywhere. Nothing wrong with having 1 potent bat at DH and another waiting on the bench.
Two DHs? Its bad enough burning one roster spot on a guy that can’t play the field, but two?
Nady’s not a DH. He just plays one on TV.
I’m with you on this one. That DH platoon sounds fantastic to me.
put it this way: how did you guys feel about having Brett Gardner as your best PH option with the bases loaded and the scored tied???
i’d have killed for Nady in that spot.
Speaking of the chart, I was looking at NoMaas’s fangraphs of the Yankees defense, and was surprised at Tex having a negative value. They admit that it’s early in the season so values might be a bit whacked, but I’ve already seen him make some nice plays at 1B…
Yeah, those ratings must have changed considerably in the last couple days, especially with Tex.
They had Gardner at -21.8. Please. He’s the only guy on the team who catches the ball he caught last night, and that includes Melky.
DEREK FREAKIN JETER WAS LEADING THE STARTERS IN UZR!!!!1!! THAT SAYS ENOUGH ABOUT THAT CHART!!!1!
there is nothing “wrong” with the chart.
it’s just that it’s simply too early for the numbers to mean anything, which they said right above it.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....ug-it-out/
“[Giambi] gave Kevin Long, the batting coach, a bearhug that lifted him off the ground. He did the same with General Manager Brian Cashman. Giambi gave Manager Joe Girardi the kind of hug reserved for long lost brothers. He gave Joba Chamberlain the kind of hug that made them look like really, really long lost brothers.”
Is anyone else laughing their ass off at the mental image of Giambi lifting Cashman off the ground?
A bit. I must admit. It doth make me smile.
Reminds me of this
http://dunkonyourface.com/word.....ngundy.jpg
I don’t want to sound like a queer or nothing, but I just saw Charles Oakley in a Knicks uniform and got a little aroused.
Oakley is the shizz. My mancrush for him is still strong.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Dude I was born and raised on those 90′s knick teams. Oakley and Anthony Mason will beat your face in.
MASE… IN YOUR FACE!!
Sorry, my bad. Feeling the nostalgia.
My favorite Knicks list:
1. Patrick Chewing
2. Oak
3. Bernard King
4. Latrell
5. LJ (yes, it’s irrational, but I love “throwing up the LJ”
6. Nate
7. Gerald Wilkins (he’s my Knicks version of Gerald “Ice” Williams)
8. D-Lee
9. Trent Tucker (no rational reason)
10. Travis Knight (I may have made that last one up)
No John Starks? Blasphemy.
It’s hard for the wounds of that 2-17 performance to heal.
Seriously, though, Starks would probably be #10 if I hadn’t gone for the Travis Knight non-joke.
He’s got to make the list just for posterizing the Bulls.
Iconic.
Ben- Congrats on the interview but more than that on being rep. by William Morris, they are a fantastic agency as i am sure you are aware….
As for the game, i dont care if melky hit 2 hr, that strike 3 at his plucked eyebrows was just silly… I will never trust him, hopefully he hits a few more jacks to move his trade value up a bit. He has less plate discipline than Cano!!!
I’m not really repped by WMA. My dad works there, and they DVR’d the appearance for me last night.
He said it was hosted by his dad’s office, which makes me assume his dad is Wayne Kabak, co-COO of WMA.
You got it. The Google, it knows all.
You have big impressive dad.
I’m not going to say it.
Me neither.
Rebecca, I’m starting to think you’re trying to set us up for these juvenile double-entendres on purpose.
Considering Melky has been markedly better than Cano in those bases jacked situations, I don’t see your reasoning.
Ben, ur dad signed Condi Rice? I am no republican but that is pretty impressive. Did you go to law school to go into the agency? Or were you guys really serious about putting RAB front and center? not that you aren’t already doing a great job, but that’d be a pretty big shift…
It’s all up in the air a little bit. We’re very committed to RAB. What I do after law school depends on a lot of different things.
At least you have options.
Me, unless I want a career in the supermarket business, am roundly fucked.
What do you do/want to do? I have an ex (who somehow remains friends with me) in supermarket management.
My family has supermarkets, so if I wanted to do that I would be set for life.
Unfortunately I find it the most boring thing on the planet.
I’d like to write but I’m not nearly good enough, even if the opportunities were out there.
Ah, gotcha.
We should have an ex-parte convo sometime about your family’s supermarkets, in case my ex ever decides to leave Hannaford. I’d love to have some contacts to pass along to her.
It’s not what you know or who you know, it’s both.
Alas, I’m not sure I have any pull besides getting jobs stocking shelves, but my AIM is fireroseboudicca. Hit me up sometime.
Oh, okay.
Sorry, no AIM. Just FB and Twitter. I don’t think I have time for anything else without adding a personal assistant.
You know, I do need a job. You need an assistant.
It’s like a match made in heaven.
I like where your head’s at.
Let’s talk salary. I’m writing down a number, tell me what you think about it.
(writes “$0″ on a piece of paper, slides it across the table)
Dude, I got rent to pay.
Me too.
That’s why I don’t have the personal assistant I need so desperately.
I can only pay you with sex. It’s good, though. Real good.
Unless I’m living at your place, sex don’t pay the rent.
Damn. This isn’t lining up right.
Maybe I can get Axl to be my personal assistant in exchange for free unlicensed psychiatry sessions.
I’m pretty sure she just offered you a Mike’s Apartment/personal assistant deal.
The YES money is starting to roll in.
Ben, good job on tv. Hopefully this gets RAB more exposure and traffic.
except for the B’Jobbers
I appreciated the irony of you saying this, BJ.
You thinking what I’m thinking?
Yup.
Toga party.
RAB is the best Yankees blog out there, no doubt about it. I visit every day for all Yankees news, opinions and minor league info.
I used to love NoMaas but their only real talent is photoshop. And they pushed real hard in advocating signing Barry Bonds. That’s a dealbreaker….
i could be wrong, but i believe some of the RAB’ers were in favor of signing Bonds.
if i am wrong, i take it back, but i seem to recall at least one of the 3 being very much in favor of it.
But TEH juice!
I’m not saying it should be for us, but the guy should still be playing if he wants to come back.
I’m actually all for him playing with us. It would’ve been great having him pinch hit today. I think the disconnect between Barry is ridiculous and Selig induced.
*between Barry and MLB
I don’t remember any of them being “very much in favor of it”.
I remember them not being at all opposed to it.
I was very much in favor of it, though.
I’m still in favor of it. Dude can still mash, guaranteed.
why not? he runs faster than matsui, and plays the outfield better than nady (at least while he can’t lift his arm past…here.), and hits waaay better than gardner!
he’ll play for 400k and all the hot dogs he can eat.
it’s either him or lastings milledgesings.
just kidding.
except for that one part.
Hey TSJC, for my history final paper im writing about the ‘68 olympic games sooooo, do u know any good books about that black power salute?
Hmm,
http://www.amazon.com/Before-E.....0875803881
intriguing
Here’s where you should start, though:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Po.....038;sr=1-5
Stokely Carmichael a/k/a Kwame Ture was one of the co-founders of both SNCC and the Black Panther Party. His philosophies of Black Power as a self-identification movement were largely influential on Dr. Harry Edwards, the man who really organized the ’68 protests. His book “Black Power” in ’67 is the book to read to understand the mindset of Edwards, Smith, and Carlos.
Oh, and Edwards wrote a book about the protests the following year:
http://www.amazon.com/Revolt-B.....038;sr=1-4
this is gold
I give because I love.
True story: one of my nephews is named Stokely.
It’s my middle name.
Have you seen the documentary by Matt Norman?
Is it any good, cause the trailer is very powerful
No, I haven’t seen that doc. Is Matt Norman related to Peter Norman, by chance?
The Original Mr. Irrelevant.
matt is peters nephew
Bet. I’ll try to check it out sometime.
huges is mowing them down he struck out f mart twice six k trhu 4
It’s also a good day to be a Melky.
John Maine time baby. GO CARDS
Wow, is Lenny Dykstra’s life a train wreck.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4084962
Guys who don’t pay their bills don’t have the money.
Buster thinks Strasburg will get a monster deal for a college pitcher.
“After talking with executives and talent evaluators about where these negotiations might wind up, here’s one early educated guess: a six-year, $20 million deal.”
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....ney_buster
But not with the Yankees.
Not for another 6-7 years, no.
I still think that’s a little high. He’ll certainly break the current bonus record, but double it? Nah. I’m thinking 6/15 or 16. He’s still an amateur with no negotiating leverage.
I just saw Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.” Good flick.
My favorite Spike list:
1) Do The Right Thing
2) Malcolm X
3) When The Levees Broke
4) School Daze
5) Inside Man (I also have an ex who made an appearance in this movie. That’s two separate name-drops of two separate exes in one open thread. I’M HOT!!!)
crooklyn is underrated
I absolutely loved 25th Hour too.
True, 25th Hour is underrated.
Only had room for 5, though.
i also love the leguizamo/sorvino storyline in summer of sam
Only had room for 5, though?
Umm, says who?
5) Inside Man (I also have an ex who made an appearance in this movie. That’s two separate name-drops of two separate exes in one open thread. I’M HOT!!!)
My sister was a driver in that stupid “Riding in Cars with Boys” movie.
Actually, I have two different exes who had two non-speaking roles in two different Spike Lee movies.
I dated one of the hostages seen briefly in the scene in the bank basement in “Inside Man”, and dated the bailiff in the courtroom scene in “The Miracle at St. Anna”.
There’s nothing like going to school at NYU. Tisch is the shizz. More pretty (and neurotic) girls then you can shake a stick at.
[Ex Namedrop #3]
[Ex Namedrop #3]
Uh-oh
Don’t worry, it’s not going to 1000.
Only 50 or so. And most of them are too irrelevant to work into a conversation.
i went to tisch and had no such luck
sigh
Me >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you
I was going to say I was related to a Yankees relief pitcher from the 50′s, but the spam filter didn’t let me post the B-R page.
Wait, Jodie Foster is a lesbian. Or so I thought . . .
5) Inside Man (I also have an ex who made an appearance in this movie. That’s two separate name-drops of two separate exes in one open thread. I’M HOT!!!)
Clive Owen? Christopher Plummer?
so does everyone still want Veras released? just curious.
Overreaction FTW!
Jose Veras is like A.J. Burnett. He can be AMAZINGLY GOOD or amazingly average.
The bullpen is going to be really good when Melancon and Robertson get called up for the 6th – 8th.
What about the 5th?
THE BRIDGE TO VERAS!!!
Except Veras pitches important parts of games.
Anyone that wanted him released was nuts. I still wouldn’t mind seeing him traded in a deal that is worthwhile for us. To be honest, the Jose we saw today, is not the Jose we see 70% of the time, but I wish it was or will be.
Actually, it is the Jose we see 70% of the time.
Problem is, we’re not happy with a 70% success / 30% failure rate. And I can understand why, because we have other guys, like Bruney, Albaladejo, Melancon, etc. who can probably offer an 85/15 rate, or guys like Mo, who have a 101/-1 rate.
Broski, you think he paints the corners like that with his fastball and gets his slider over like that 3 out of 4 innings or appearances? Even today, initially he didn’t have the control he showed for the final 3 innings he pitched.
70% success rate for a reliever is entering Latroy Hawkins territory. 80%+ is a good target for a reliever.
He just needs to get that opening walk out of the way. Joe takes him out way to early.
I still think he’s a bigger regression candidate than Edwar.
I’ve always liked Edwar, but you have to pick your spots with him. Low leverage situations, and have patience with him. He’ll often get in trouble, but get out of it. He’s useful.
Veras drives me nuts, though. Walks the leadoff batter constantly. I just cant stomach that.
I’ll take Veras every day of the week. Veras has better BB/9 numbers than Bruney. He can figure it out, but he’s got a max-effor, frantic delivery, so it may take some more time.
I think is is a breakout year for him. He tired at the end of last season. I think he goes on to a big year despite some early troubles….continuing to lower his walk rate for the season.
Both Mo and, to a lesser extent, Bruney set great examples for the pen with their strike throwing and work ethic.
Both Mo and, to a lesser extent, Bruney set great examples for the pen with their strike throwing and work ethic.
And don’t forget Cashman’s focus on acquiring strikeout pitchers at every opportunity (in the draft, in trades, in the IFA market, etc.) Cashman’s made it a point to stockpile as many power arms as possible and build a bullpen by accumulating hard throwers and letting them compete.
I see Veras as the Dominican Brian Bruney. Gotta be patient when a guy has stuff like that.
That’s funny. I think of Bruney as the white Jose Veras.
Wait. what?
I like to think of Derek Jeter as the biracial Tiger Woods.
I like to think of Nick Swisher as the white Larry Bird.
IETCVM.
I think of Tiger Woods as the biracial Tiger Woods
Well, they both throw gas and have trouble with walks.
I just went over their mL and MLB records, and I’m not totally correct; Bruney’s had more trouble with walks, but also strikes out more batters, and Veras is a tad more hittable. Still, not totally dissimilar.
http://www.baseball-reference......html?redir
http://www.baseball-reference......br01.shtml
E-Dunc with another hit.
I just turned to the replay of the game…almost up to Veras…
Damn, I wanted zeroes from Hughes.
What the Heck is Hughes doing pitching in the 8th? He must be mowing guys down with a low pitch count.
Robertson has an older brother who’s a pitcher?
Hughes-Melancon. Love to see them doing this in the majors.
A-Jax getting a hit, stealing 2nd and scoring sounds good to me as well. Maybe sometime around July or August.
I really want to try to trade some of this surplus of relievers (along with some of the fringy guys like Melky/Gardner/Miranda/Ransom) for something of value to open up spots on the 40-man for Melancon and AJax.
He had about 100, in the 7th he made like 7 pitches.
today’s game showed the importance of having a bridge from mariano to veras
Thank goodness we saved Steven Jackson for the Red Sox series and used Mo instead.
Meh, Mo only pitched one inning and we have an off day tomorrow.
I think everybody but Veras is probably good to go for Friday.
You? You of all people missed a chance to go with a bit?
I’m devastated.
Sorry… I missed it. Didn’t pick up what you were putting down.
Here, let me set you up and you do it:
“Thank goodness we saved Steven Jackson for the Red Sox series and used Mo instead.”
Eh. Won’t need Jackson in that series. Burnett throws a CG shutout against Beckett. These are the games he wants to pitch in. He loves this stage.
Joba seems to shine against Boston too. If he can avoid getting tossing for throwing at Youk’s head.
He doesn’t throw at his head. The ball just breaks from his hand, and does its own thing.
The ball… it knows everything.
It knows the difference between pitching inside to a normal batter, and buzzing a sick douchebag cock-knocker with some chin music.
Sick douchebag cock-knocker, yes.
But you’ve got to love the fancy way the man holds a bat. It’s like he skipped batting practice as a kid and took Fencing lessons instead.
It knows the difference between pitching inside to a normal batter, and buzzing a
sick douchebag cock-knockerKevin Youkilis with some chin music.Fixed.
That was a superfluous and unnecessary fix.
Six of one, half-dozen of another.
It knows the difference between pitching inside to a normal batter, and buzzing a
sick douchebag cock-knocker Kevin Youkilispremature ejactulator with some chin music.fixed.
*ejaculator
Of course not. Its not like he thinks Youk is wound too tight and he thinks he can get him off his game or anything.
Just two perfectly innocent coincidences, that’s what I say.
“Listen.. I’m not out there to hit anybody. I respect the game too much and I…wait… THAT Kevin Youkilis? Yeah, I tried to hit him in the fucking head.”
Funny, those are the only two times in his MLB career he’s thrown a ball over a batter’s head, and it happened to be the SAME batter.
Nah, just a coincidence.
John Maine is doing his thang.
I heart playoff hockey.
+1
joba/aj/andy
no way we’re not winning the weekend
“Five MORE HR left Yankee Stadium today!!”
Is this going to continue all season? Does the media even care anymore about how hard the HRs are hit?
Is this going to continue all season? Does the media even care anymore about how hard the HRs are hit?
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-344081
Nothing in that statement is false. Five more home runs left Yankee Stadium today. You cannot deny that as a true fact.
Am I the only one that doesn’t really care if there or five or fifty home runs a game? As long as they’re hit by Yankees, that is.
Just so long as everyone understands it is NOT due to a coincidental combination of very, very bad pitching, a 314ft wall to right field, and playing a four-game set with one of the best hitting teams in the AL that got their entire offense clicking after a bad start.
It’s wind currents, meteorology, the Yankees didn’t know what they were doing! Conspiracy! PANIC!!!!
I read somewhere that the New Yankee Stadium attracts bears. The bears can smell the delicious foodstuffs from the concession stands.
Hahahaha foodstuffs. I love that word!
But, but, if not that, where oh where will the MSM get in their pejorative jabs on all things Yankees?
Well, all things considered, I’d rather the Yankees play in a neutral park rather than a hitter’s park, no?
It’s tougher to build a successful pitching staff in a bandbox; see Texas, Colorado. Of course, a nice rebuttal to that is the ChiSox.
no, absolutely not…we’ve got a great GB pitcher in wang, and with our power in arod, tex and…
sorry, i’ll sit down now
D wade killing it! Go Heat!
As a follow up to the Joba/Youk comments above, I’ve been hearing all week in Boston how it’s blasphemy that Beckett was suspended for, get this, throwing at Abreu’s head. Jerry Remy was on the radio railing about how it’s part of the game, blah blah blah. These are they same idiots who call Joba the freaking Anti-Christ when he decides to give Youk a close shave.
Or when Farnsy threw behind Manny’s little bum-bum. Baseball Tonight MURDERED crazy Kyle.
red sox never do anything wrong. the world will be a better place once people realize that.
“Derek, what do you think about Farnsworth almost hitting Manny there?”
“Almost don’t hurt. Getting hit hurts.”
I heart Derek Jeter and how he can tell someone to shut the fuck up and damn them to hell with their stupidity…. without actually saying it at all.
He should have been suspended for throwing at his head during a time out, then, waking towards the batter demonstratively and most importantly, that fucking soul-patch on his face.
My one goal in life is to rip that thing off his lip in one fleet swing. What happens after that has been the source of some speculation.
I hate Steve Phillips…this is all.
What did he do now?
Kim Jones HAS to be blowing Nick Swisher.
Melky hits a walk-off homer, I personally can’t wait to hear what he has to say, and then I’m like, “WTF? That’s Nick Swisher.”
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Melky say anything in English aside from “Only on YES” or “Sit back and enjoy the game” on the big-screen–and the latter may’ve been Cano, but I can’t remember.
I think it was Melky last year, during a clubhouse interview he had Jose Molina translating for him.
Fernando Vina needs a freakin’ translator. Dude is just bad at speaking. He hesitates on just about every other word.
It’s the HGH he tested positive for.
Actually I guess he couldn’t “test positive.” He admitted buying it though
Okay guys, really late fantasy question. My league just started, what are your thoughts/opinions/criticisms/insults/derogatory epithets regarding the team I drafted?
My league is weird. It’s got a whole mess of random extra categories as a joke. Like HBP and wild pitches. The important ones in addition to the 5×5 are OBP/BB/SB%/Net Steals and H/R/HR/BB are all counted on the pitching side. So it’s a 9×9? I told you it was weird. Anyway, it’s 12-team, H2H, two extra IF spots. Here is this team that I drafted:
C: Brian McCann
1B: Miggy Cabrera
2B: Robbie Cano
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
3B: Evan Longoria
IF: Jason Giambi
IF: Edwin Encarnacion
OF: Nate McLouth
OF: Torii Hunter
OF: Andre Ethier
DH: Pat Burrell
SP: Jake Peavy
SP: Felix Hernandez
P: Zack Greinke
P: John Danks
P: Erik Bedard
P: Gil Meche
P: Wandy Rodriguez
P: Joe Saunders
P: Paul Maholm
RP: Jonathan Broxton
RP: Chad Qualls
What are your thoughts, fellow awesome Yankee fans?
Here’s the issue: Apparently you’re supposed to load up on starting pitchers for your bench in head-to-head to win in Ks. However, since my league has H/R/HR/BB as extra categories, having twice as many pitchers as everyone else in my league and rotating them constantly might not work. I’d only be guaranteed to win Ks, maybe wins, but I’d run the risk of losing in the stupid 4 extra counting stat categories. Do I try to trade some of my awesome SP depth for a #2/3 starter, like a Chad Billingsley or a Jon Lester?
Thanks in advance, sorry for the TL;DR clogging up the proverbial basepaths of this thread.
McLouth will lead your team to victory. Trust me, I heard he was good on the radio.
That team is pretty awesome. Your SP depth is pretty unreal, although as you said, you may want to throw K’s and go for the WHIP/ERA/R/H/BB categories. I think you should use your depth to trade for some studs, whether they are hitters or pitchers.
I’ve been to 2 games at Yankee stadium in the past 4 years(one in old stadium, one in new stadium) Melky Cabrera hit walk off hr’s in both games. FML.
Ahahahaha. Nice.
Make sure you go next time he starts.
In ’07, I had to watch Kei Igawa pitch like…4 times. But, I was there when A-Rod hit his 500th so I guess it all evens out.
That’s because Melky is the shit.
We should all chip in for season tickets for you Manimal.
umm… OK!!! Sounds good to me.
Nick Swisher will ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. according to the Yankees.
The market has to go up, right? Either that or Swish will try to talk to every trader, they’ll forget their jobs and the we’ll all be lining up for government cheese in a week.
From Petey Abe…
Mr. President: the economy is saved.
Did anyone find it ironic that both Melky’s hit 2 homers today?
Mets are fun to watch.
Veras should be the long reliever.
Do we reeeaaally have to play Boston in the middle of a seven-game winning streak?
They’re due for a loss.
Technically, we’re playing them at the end of a seven-game winning streak. If we played them in the middle, it would be wins 3, 4 and 5 for Boston.
*after they’ve won 7 in a row.
I don’t know how to do all the fancy crossing out of the words and such. Excuse my unRABness.
Ooof, BJ Ryan.
Dan Haren is so dirty.
I watched the highlights from todays game and to me, it not only looked like there were some empty seats, but it looked like the stadium was barely half full! I know it was a crappy day but the Yanks need a better turnout than that if they want to keep the payroll over 200 million comfortably..
I was there, and it was half full. It was cold, and rainy, and windy. Terrible conditions. Attendance was announced at 43000. Don’t forget, there is more room around the stadium and alot of standing room where it is dry and warmer. The fans were there but hiding.
Fantasy baseball advice:
Josh Johnson and Ryan Howard
or
Matt Cain and Aubrey Huff
Johnson and Howard. I’d say the drop-off between Howard and Huff is greater than the difference between Johnson and Cain.
Late to the party…great interview Ben. How’d you score that gig? Did they come to you? Congrats. Job WELL DONE!
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