Game 15: Lefty v Lefty Part Deux

April 22, 2009 by Mike Axisa

Following last night’s lefty vs lefty matchup, we get another one this afternoon. CC Sabathia will be making his fourth start for the Yanks and second at home, but the A’s have kinda owned CC throughout his career. He’s 3-7 lifetime against Oaktown with a 6.12 ERA & 1.63 WHIP in a not small sample of 85.1 IP. On the bright side he’s pretty much pwned the current A’s hitters.

Sabathia will be opposed by rookie Brett Anderson, the best lefty pitching prospect in the game not named Price. The A’s acquired him in the Danny Haren deal, and he’s very similar to a young Andy Pettitte in that he’s a four pitch guy with outstanding command. He’ll be making his third career start and his first on the road. Welcome to the bigs, kid.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when I’ve done the game thread this year, the Yanks are 0-3 and have been outscored 27-12. Let’s hope they buck that trend today. Here’s the starting nine:

Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
Posada, C – I could be wrong, but this is his first time he’s catching a day game after a night game this season
Cano, 2B
Swisher, RF
Matsui, DH
Melky, CF
Ransom, 3B

And on the mound, number fifty-two, CC Sabathia.

RAB Notes: Please fill out our Reader Demographic Survey if you haven’t already, it’ll take less than a minute and all of your info will be confidential … also take a second to vote in this week’s Fan Confidence Poll if you haven’t already. Thanks a bunch.

Muel

They’ve been 0-3 after your thread? I’d say they’re due to help you out.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Mike: How many game threads have you done during CMW starts?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Just one. I did Opening Day, the second game of the year, and the home opener. So this will be my third CC start.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    Damn, you are cursed.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      You are one pathetic loser, Mike. No offense…
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        No, none taken.
Andy In Sunny Daytona

The Axisa of Evil
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  - Joey
    
    over/under: how many times have you heard that before. Bar set at 7.5
    
    I’ll take the over
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Nah, definitely under. No more than 4 or 5.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  *groan*
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    They can’t all be winners Rebecca.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  The Axisa of Evil
  
  That reminds me: How is “Axisa” pronounced?
  
  Aks-ISS-ah?
  Aks-EE-sah?
  Aks-ee-AY?
  AH-shee-ah?
  Mu-LAN-sin?
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    Aks-EE-sah
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      Good. I’ll pronounce it “Smith”, then.
      - Sweet Dick Willie
        
        That’s how Joe pronounces his last name.
    - Joey
      
      Damn, I would have guessed Mu-LAN-sin, but that’s why I suck at multiple choice
jon

mlb.com headlines are great

Sabathia seeks first win while wearing pinstripes

apparently CC is so large he needs 2 wins for to get a real victory
- jon
  
  although i guess he wasn’t wearing pinstripes on the road
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    Wait, I’m about to blow your mind:
    
    http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2008/08/08/a651c998-2fe7-4c24-bdc4-9da93911d2a2news.ap.org.jpg
    
    BOOM. THAT JUST HAPPENED.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Granted, I’ve missed the better part of a week, but has anyone else noticed that Matsui doesn’t look quite so helpless at the plate?
- KW
  
  I think it’s to be expected – the man did miss just about a year (except for about one month in between where he struggled mightily), and it takes a little time to get back into it. Especially with knee issues, hitting is a lot about confidence, and in his case, the confidence to properly utilize the lower half of his body. I just hope his knees don’t creek up any more than they already have, between him and Nady’s elbow, they’ll probably need as much health in between them for the DH spot as possible.
- steve (different one)
  
  no no, he should have been cut after 5 games.
- Chris
  
  He had his knee drained a couple of days ago, and has been playing well since then.
No So Angry Axl

Finally they pulled Swisher out of that cleanup spot…sheesh. Posada has been consistent all year so far…Swisher was always going to be a streaky guy…had to end sometime.

The Yankees aren’t very successful against soft tossing lefties…and when you add in the fact that we’ve never faced this kid…that doesn’t help either. Our statistical history against new young pitchers we haven’t faced before isn’t great. Although, Eveland I dont think we’ve faced so who knows…but this kid is suppose to be far better.

Sabathia is due for a decent start. He’s done one real bad one…then one good one…then one mediocre one (that could go either way). The A’s haven’t been hitting that well so hopefully the key is to do the same thing Andy did last night and DON’T WALK ANYBODY!!! I don’t care as much about the K’s if we’re getting outs. Just don’t give free passes to people. Especially to a team who hasn’t been hitting well.

If we can do that…we’ll be in good shape. We just need to figure this Anderson character out in the process…
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  The Yanks rode swisher’s hot bat as long as they could-which is exactly what they should have done.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Nice comment, Axl. There seems to be something different about you now, almost like you’re more relaxed and not so angry.
  
  Can’t quite put my finger on it…
- Not So Angry Axl
  
  Haha couldn’t even properly type “Not” in my name… : /
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    Heh, it makes a big difference too.
    
    “Not So Angry Axl” seems like a nice guy. Much better than “NO! SO ANGRY AXL!!!”
    - Not So Angry Axl
      
      hahahaha very true
    - steve (different one)
      
      yeah, i like this Not So Angry Axl.
      
      almost as much as i like Axl Rose. unless you ARE Axl Rose. that would be sweet.
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        
        I was guessing he was Axel Foley.
        
        (Don’t forget, kids, Beverly Hills Cop 4 should be in theaters sometime in 2010. Get your popcorn ready…)
        
        jsbrendog
        
        sad thing is this is probably true
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    I like “No So Angry Axl” better. Makes you sould like Solomon Grundy.
- Not So Angry Axl
  
  Well the Yankees winning games certainly helps. And I’m getting excited that April is ending soon…so that means Sabathia will be transforming into The Destroyer…and Alex Rodriguez will be back to not only smash the ball…but most importantly…take Cody Ransoms place at 3B and in the batting order.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Cano moving up to #5… daddy likes.

Also, let’s see if this is the beginning of more PT for Melky.
- Not So Angry Axl
  
  At this point who’s bat do you like better in the line up? Gardner or Melky? Setting speed and other attributes aside.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    Meh, too soon to give up on either of them, I suppose (unless one of them can be traded for Mike Cameron.)
    
    But you can’t deny that Melky’s been hitting the ball better and Gardner’s scuffling. I guess I’d still let both of them play, split it up pretty 50-50 until somebody really establishes himself.
  - Traded to Philly
    
    This season:
    
    Gardner (14 G, 49 AB):
    BA: .245
    OBP: .288
    SLG: .306
    OPS: .595
    ISO: .061
    SO/BB: 10/3
    
    Cabrera (13 G, 18 AB including the 2nd inning HR):
    BA: .333
    OBP: .400
    SLG: .833
    OPS: 1.233
    ISO: .500
    SO/BB: 1/2
    
    Obviously, Melky’s numbers are a lot better right now, but that may just be because he has 31 fewer ABs.
- andrew
  
  I believe Cano was 5th last night as well. I’m excited for ARod to come back, our lineup will begin to look scary again with Cano 6th and Swisher 7th.
http://theenlighteneddespot.com NC Saint

Is there any evidence to suggest that career performance against a particular team is meaningful? I assume not, but I’m not just being snarky, I’d like to know, because that would be very counterintuitive.

You guys also bring up match-up type stats a lot in these game previews. One sees that all the time on tv, but I wouldn’t expect you guys to buy into any of it. Do you, or do you just include it out of convention?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Not that I know of. But it was the last minute and I needed something to write about.
  - Joey
    
    Honesty will get you nowhere, sir.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  Probably somewhere if you look hard enough.
  
  I can’t be bothered.
- Not So Angry Axl
  
  Other than being comfortable on the road in their city or having the confidence knowing he’s been successful against this team. No, there is no other benefit to having particular success against a certain team.
Not So Angry Axl

Wakefield is perfect through 1…
- jon
  
  and yook smashed another HR
  
  it would be scary if manny was still in that lineup
  - Not So Angry Axl
    
    Yeah, I’m definitely glad he’s out of it. Youkillis is hitting everything in site for some reason. Nobody else is really hitting and they’re still winning games…granted the majority of them against the Orioles who they’ve owned since the Carter Administration…but still. Youkillis has to slow down at some point here. It’s too bad that he’s a cry baby and he premature ejaculates (i have a story) or else he’d be a decent all around player…
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      It’s too bad that he’s a cry baby and he premature ejaculates (i have a story) or else he’d be a decent all around player…
      
      I am truly and honestly torn about whether or not I want to hear that story. Half of me thinks it would be hilarious and I would laugh my ass off, half of me thinks it would be super disturbing and the story would haunt my nightmares.
      - Not So Angry Axl
        
        Girl from my town dated him a few times when he was first called up to the Red Sox a few years back. She said he was ridiculously nervous and awkward…and she said he premature ejaculated after their first kiss. Needless to say, they no longer see each other.
        
        http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop
        
        You mean with Cleveland?
  - Not So Angry Axl
    
    I got nervous for a second and saw the 2-0…I have Liriano pitching today…but I guess it’s tonight. Phew.
Christopher

I’m glad to see Melky get the start just to change things up a little, he’s hitting .294/.368/.647. Then again he’s only had 19 at-bats.
Christopher

Is it just me who has worked out the YES opening credits riff on guitar lol.
Brooklyn Ed

dudes, check out the new roster pages over MLB. its awesome!
Not So Angry Axl

Nick Green just homered for the Red Sox. 4-0 already. So stupid. Nick Green homers but Gardner/Ransom/etc can’t.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Meh, Ransom was hitting freaking grand slams last year. It happens, it won’t last.
  
  Give Green another few weeks and watch him burn up on re-entry.
- jon
  
  he had a throwing error if it makes you feel better
- zack
  
  The Sox are just correcting to their ability. They are neither as bad as they started nor this good. Especially considering what they are actually throwing out there.
  
  Just makes it worse that the Yankees are struggling early yet again…
  - steve (different one)
    
    are they “struggling”? they are 8-6. if they win today, they are on pace for 97 wins.
    
    sure, we’d like them to be 10-4, but 50% of their losses can be pinned on ONE player.
    
    it’s not like previous Aprils when the entire team has come out sluggish and slow.
    - Chris
      
      10-4 would still be struggling. They should be 14-0!
    - zack
      
      You think they aren’t struggling? Saying they are on pace for 97 wins when they are two games over .500 is kind of silly. This team SHOULD be 10-4, not “it would be nice.”
      - andrew
        
        I’d take 97 wins. It’s hard to be much more than 2 games over .500 at this point. Only a few teams are there, and most are predicting they fall back to earth. I’m fine with us being where we expected (minus CMW)
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        
        Saying they are on pace for 97 wins when they are two games over .500 is kind of silly.
        
        Well, he actually said we’d be on pace for 97 wins if we win today, which would be three games over .500 (9-6), and seeing how 97 wins is 32 games over .500 and we’ve currently only played about a tenth of the season, if we go 9-6 ten times, that’s 30 games over .500.
        
        So… I don’t get how the statement is that bad of a statement. If we win today, that means we’ve been winning 60% of our games. A 60% winning percentage is damn good… and we’ve been winning 60% of our games despite the fact that one of our starters has looked like an utter trainwreck and that we’ll either fix that or replace him in short order.
zack

Man, those seats behind HP are EMPTY!
zack

I like how Giambi gets applause from the fans, but Arod gets booed while still on the Yanks…
- jon
  
  apples and oranges
  
  giambi is one of the nicest guys in baseball
  - zack
    
    And A-Rod is one of the best players. They both did roids, they both say stupid sh#t, but A-Rod has been the better player for the Yankes…
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    giambi is one of the nicest guys in baseball
    
    So is ARod.
http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

You gotta love technology- taking notes in class and watching the game at the same time.
- http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop
  
  Heh, I’m watching on Gameday, wish I had MLB.Tv though ;(
  - http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
    
    You should invest in it. It has glitches, but the quality is much better than in the past. Great picture.
    - http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
      
      Unless you live in NY, bc then you would be blacked out anyhow.
    - another steve
      
      in class. no notes. just gameday.
      - andrew
        
        seconded.
- zack
  
  Ahh, its students like you that drive teachers like me nuts! I have literally caught my students watching Padres games multiple times. Sigh…
  - http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
    
    Hey, in the laptop age, everybody is playing around on the computer- who cares what they are doing?
    - Joey
      
      last year I had MLB.tv in class and watched every night Yankee game on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the class. Everyone around me seemed to love watching it too.
Ted

Why no Joba today? Why not pitch him today and then go Sabathia, Burnett and Petitte in Boston
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  They want to keep Sabathia on regular rest.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

You know, as a lead off guy, Jeter doesn’t get on base all that often…
- Nady Nation
  
  Based on 14 games? His career OBP as a leadoff hitter before this season was .389.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    point taken.
http://eemack.blogspot.com Eric

This guy really pounds the strike zone huh
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop

Come on, Cano. What ya swinging at?
Jasper

I hate free passes, especially leadoff free passes. Find the zone CC, work ahead.
- Chip
  
  I hate homeruns
A.D.

Suzuki is the Yankee killer
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

What a fucking idiot.
Chip

CC still seems a bit off with that fastball
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Ayayay CC…
Not So Angry Axl

3 2-run home runs for the Sox…meanwhile Sabathia has 2 on and nobody out against the A’s??
southernyankeefan

fuck
Drew

What an idiot.
Russell NY

homerun – 3 nothing oakland
steve (different one)

what happened?
zack

Ahh, WTF. Like I said, struggling…
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

That was gone anyway. No need to review.
- jon
  
  why are they reviewing it?
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    Fan reached over the wall. It was gone anyway, no OFer could have jumped that high.
Chip

Ouch
Jasper

Well… Lets hope for more rain.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  Dude, it’s the second inning.
  - Drew
    
    lol, and we’ve scored at least 4 in each game.
    - Getting Angry Axl
      
      Yeah, they weren’t against rookie lefties we’ve never seen before though…
      - Drew
        
        i’ll take my chances.
Not So Angry Axl

Sabathia in April = Useless
Not So Angry Axl

Well, looks like the Red Sox are going to pull ahead of us for the first time this season…
- http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop
  
  Okay, so what? Also, CC in April-useless? Okay, I’d much rather have Ponson too.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Who cares what the Red Sox are doing? The Yanks can’t control it.
  
  It’s freaking April. There are far more important things to worry about.
- A.D.
  
  Seattle & KC are in 1st place, it’s going to be okay.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop

Damn you, Kurt, you freakin’ homewrecker.
Getting Angry Axl

Also, check out the name change…
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Axl, I say this with the utmost care and concern:
  
  You need to see a mental health practicioner. You suffer from manic depression.
E-ROC

That’s a homerun, unfortunately.
pat

Those cocksuckers.
- http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00mwbIM15ofMv/340x.jpg Mike Pop
  
  I’m getting my trident out.
  - pat
    
    DOES MIKE POP HAVE TO SPEAR A BITCH!!?!?!?!
Drew

Imagine paying 2500 per seat to sit in the rain. HAHA
jonathan

Ahhh nothing like the security of a staff ace pitching on a wed afternoon.
Matt-Pitt

Leadoff walks always seem to hurt, huh? Alright CC, get outta this inning. Our offense needs to pick him up.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Holy crap guys, it’s the second inning!
- Russell NY
  
  Rebecca – you visit here too? :)
  
  How is the rain affecting CC’s pitching? I don’t get why you don’t just throw pitches right down the middle instead of walking the leadoff guy. It ALWAYS comes to bite us.
  - andrew
    
    because throwing pitches down the middle leads to home runs.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    Yeah. I’ve been otherwise occupied the past week, but yeah.
- Matt-Pitt
  
  Don’t you know when the Yanks don’t have the lead in the early stages of a ballgame, that its over?
  
  CC does have no control and is leaving his breaking stuff over the plate. Doesn’t mean he can’t figure it out this game though.
Getting Angry Axl

It seems like we either win games…or we get absolutely massacred. No normal losses yet…when we’ve lost it’s been by the team scoring around 10 runs or more. The average of runs our opponent scores in our losses compared the amount we score in them would be interesting to know…
- http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
  
  So we are already being massacred? In the second inning? After we put two on in the first?
  - Getting Angry Axl
    
    Yes…
  - Getting Angry Axl
    
    I don’t make the rules…I just enforce them…
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  WHY THE FUCK IS MY BURRITO TAKING THIS LONG TO COOK IN THIS MICROWAVE!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?
http://1337 Kid Moe

Finally, gameday audio for iphone came back.
- Kid Moe
  
  Ugh, its out again. Anyone having similar problems or even regular gameday audio problems?
Getting Angry Axl

What did I say before the game? I’d be happy if he didn’t walk anybody. He’s pitched 1.1 innings and already walked 2. 1 already came around to score. RRRrrrrrrr
Chip

Man, where would we be without Pettite?
Drew

Can’t believe we lost today.. Wait, oh shit there’s 7 and a half innings left
- Russell NY
  
  “Can’t believe we lost today.. Wait, oh shit there’s 7 and a half innings left”
  
  I can’t believe it either. There’s always tomorrow.
  
  In all seriousness though we will probably score 2 runs then the game will get rained out in the 6th and we lose lol
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Bandbox, obviously.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Bandbox. Matsui’s toast.
Drew

GODZILLA :)
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

See, now it’s only a two run game!
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  One run game!
A.D.

Coors Field East.

….someone is getting warm
southernyankeefan

That was hot
Matt-Pitt

There is one run back… Nice shot Matsui. Nice to see him back on track these past few games.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Bandbox, duh.
A.D.

Melk!!!
Chip

Wow, that’s a great two-pitch swing
http://ryanhandt.blogspot.com/ handtius

back to back! belly to belly…yum
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Bandbox. Melky’s useless.
Drew

I told you Melky’s the man!
John K.

Ooooooooooh no… They say he’s got to go…
Oh no Godzilla!
Will

Were they legit or wind induced?
Matt-Pitt

Melk Man taking advantage of the start, nice shot kidd.
Drew

So COdy shows bunt…
Yankeegirl49

Must be the wind!
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Heh, wanna talk about an oxymoron? How about witnessing back-to-back homers then seeing Cody Ransom come to the plate.
southernyankeefan

both of those were gone in any stadium
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

And in other news, Ransom still sucks.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Nothing like a Cody Ransom at-bat to bring back a pitcher’s confidence after giving up back-to-back jacks.
- Chip
  
  Seriously, Pena CAN’T be worse than this. Maybe he’ll at least survive to see the 4th pitch in an at-bat
Chip

2009 Cody Ransom = 2008 Melky Cabrera

Hopefully, Pena starts getting more starts soon
- Drew
  
  Melky hit 250…
  - Drew
    
    With good D.
    - Chip
      
      True, but Melky played the entire year and Cody is gone in a few weeks
- Yankee1010
  
  Hey, at least Melky was red-hot last April. Ransom would kill for Melky’s 2008.
zzzzzz

the melk man just delivered…right handed?
Chris

Melky is such a c@cktease.

He did this last year and then fell off a cliff…
Nady Nation

For those of us at work, were those legit shots?
- Drew
  
  Super legit.
- http://ryanhandt.blogspot.com/ handtius
  
  la-git
http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

But…but…Axl said the game was over, so I turned it off!
- Not So Angry Again Axl
  
  It is over…this is all a mirage. Now go get me a coffee
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Well, it’s a good thing for Landon Powell that he can hit.
Russell NY

Fielding error. Lets get one over before its called in the 6th
Not So Angry Again Axl

Cody “The Buzzkiller” Ransom
Mike

I’ve come to the following conclusion….either:

(A.) Ransom is dating a family member of Girardi.
or
(B.) Ransom has compromising photos of Girardi.

In all seriousness though, why the FUCK is he still playing on a daily basis? It’s comical.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Matsui and Melky, bravo.

Axl… CALM THE FUCK DOWN.
- Not So Angry Again Axl
  
  I’m sorry, if you’ve noticed I’m “not so angry again”…
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    I did. Hopefully you’ve learned your lesson.
    
    Try to freak out LESS going forward. Our team is still the balls.
Matt-Pitt

How is the weather looking in NY? I go to college in Pitt and it is clear here. If it is clear in Pitt, I am usually positive that it is clear anywhere.
- Not So Angry Again Axl
  
  Oh for a second there I thought you were just Brad Pitt’s younger brother…or Mr. Pitt from Seinfeld…
  - Matt-Pitt
    
    That would be nice.
    
    Gotta squeeze Johnny. Pick him up CC.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  How is the weather looking in NY? I go to college in Pitt and it is clear here. If it is clear in Pitt, I am usually positive that it is clear anywhere.
  
  Good thing the meteorologist from the other day explaining the wind effects came from Penn State and not Pitt, eh guys?
  
  http://www.instantrimshot.com
- KW
  
  It’s disgusting right now. Misty and rainy and just really ugly.
http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

You know what strikes me as strange? The Yankees saw enough in Ramiro Pena to take him over Berroa and put him on the 40-man for the foreseeable future, but they apparently do not believe that he can hit better than .156 we are getting from Cody.
- Mike
  
  and they found it necessary to cease his development by gluing him to the bench. no experience above AA and everyone speaks so highly of his glove, but lets bring up to the majors and not play him
Matt-Pitt

And lets hope for a nice shut down inning for CC here. Get our offense back up quickly and keep the bats going.
Not So Angry Again Axl

Over/Under on walks this inning? Runs scored?
John

A-rod gets standing ovation in his first at-bat back….and booed in the second
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

…It’s like the curse of the pop up!
Stryker

lol damon.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Lame.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Bah.
Mike

Nice job, Damon
Drew

No Johnny no
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Ups!
Chip

I think it’s about Pena time
- Drew
  
  Um.. Wtf
  - Drew
    
    Whoops, that wasn’t suppose to be a reply.
Drew

Ha COdy jumps so damn high.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Ransom saved a run right there. But he still sucks.

Love the vertical though.
Not So Angry Again Axl

But the UZR on Damon says he’s the 2nd best!!! The world is coming to an end! Dogs and Cats living together…MASS HYSTERIA!!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Only your world is coming to an end over a dropped pop up in the rain during the 3rd inning of a mid-April game.
John

how did he committ that error?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Damon or Jeter?
  
  Damon dropped a pop up after calling off Jeter.
  
  Jeter through the ball home to get the lead runner, but no one was there. No one even close, really
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Nice one by the Cap’n.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

…Defense FTL!
A.D.

WTF
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

The Yankees are annoying me today.
Mike

Good throw Jeter. How about checking to make sure someone is within 50 yards next time
BigBlueAL

This is ridiculous.
jsbrendog

GAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt-Pitt

Error comes back to haunt us.
http://ryanhandt.blogspot.com/ handtius

retarded
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

If the Yanks lose this game then Giradi better lay a People’s Elbow on one of these assholes.
http://eemack.blogspot.com Eric

Well at least they finally got Kurt Suzuki out. That’s a positive right?
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Question: While Posada should stay at home, should not CC have been backing up at home once Posada went to first? Or is there simply too much risk of injury?
- Drew
  
  He just threw to Jeter. How fast do you think he is?
- Joe R
  
  Posada should be at first backing up the throw
jsbrendog

when can we officially start getting worried about cc? 55 pitches for 3 inn??
- http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
  
  Considering last April, this is actually a solid first month for him. I would start worrying in June.
- steve (different one)
  
  didn’t his defense just give back TWO outs?
Joe R

This shit is bananas. Bee na nanananas
http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

Jeter obviously didnt know how many outs there were, right?
- A.D.
  
  Has to be, its the only logical answer, else the play is absolutely redic
southernyankeefan

that was a HUYA Jeter
http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak

What went wrong:

1. Derek didn’t just complete the double play. That would have ended the inning.

2. Where is Jorge going? He has to stay at the plate.

That’s fucking ugly, ugly baseball.
- http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
  
  No, with one out, Jorge’s job there is to back up first. That was all on Jeter.
- Chip
  
  Jorge has to backup the overthrow to first, I’d imagine that’s where he was
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  You’d think after fifteen+ years together they’d know better by now…
- Andy In Sunny Daytona
  
  Do you hear “Benny Hill” music too?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  For those of us not watching at home, could someone recap the hijinks of that inning? All I got in the text descriptions was an error by Damon, and infield single, and a fielders choice. That’s not very descriptive…
  - http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel
    
    Damon dropped a flyball for two bases. the next hit was right at Ransom but really high, he jumped and deflected it, but it would have been a spectacular play. Then there was a grounder to CC, he threw to Jeter for one, who instead of going to first for the DP, went home to get the runner, but Jorge was backing up first.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
      
      Thankee-sai.
  - Joe R
    
    After a dropped flyball by Damon it was 1st and 3rd with 1 out. I forget the hitter, but whomever it was grounded back to CC. He threw to Jeter on 2nd and instead of going to first, threw home where nobody was covering and the ball went to the backstop allowing Giambi to score
- Joe R
  
  I dont think its wrong for Posada to be covering first. There was no reason for Jeter to go home with that in the first place tho.
  - Chris
    
    With a runner on third and a groundball to the pitcher, Posada needs to stay at home. Once he leaves, there’s no one there and you’re just conceding the run.
    - Joe R
      
      Theres no wrong or right way to play it. Ive seen more people have the catcher still cover first rather than stay home.
Not So Angry Again Axl

Let’s see Sabathia either walks people in an inning…OR if he doesn’t, somebody else on the team makes sure to get some opposing batters some free passes their way…Interesting…hey, it works at least…
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Why the hell is a grown man wearing a Superman shirt?
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  Because it’s a free country.
- KW
  
  comment o day!
- BigBlueAL
  
  Dwight Howard wears one.
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    Dwight Howard is all sorts of awesome, he does not count. This guy looked like an ass.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Maybe he’s Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em.
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    IETC.
- Jack
  
  Because he’s awesome, that’s why.
Not So Angry Again Axl

Let the slumpy at-bats begin!
- KW
  
  Be positive, man! Positive!
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Axl:
  
  CALM. THE. F%$&. DOWN.
- Chris
  
  ~~Not So Angry Again~~ Depressed Axl
  
  Fixed
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Mmmmm, I likeh teh offense.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Now they’re in business.
Not So Angry Again Axl

Tie it up Jorge! Hit a rope in the bandbox!
Chip

Here we go, Cano time
Matt-Pitt

Here we go boys. Lets take the lead this inning.
steve (different one)

one thing this team has done this year is come back. they’ve done it about 5 times (hasn’t always ended in a W).

you guys don’t have to freak out in the 2nd inning.
A.D.

Productive out, I’ll take it.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

A hit would have been nice, but that works.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

The fuck, Swish? All these baserunning outs are kinda lame.
- A.D.
  
  We need more station to station base cloggers, not these fast guys trying to make things happen.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    Yup. You know who would be really awesome right now?
    
    Matt Nokes.
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    Nick Swisher is not fast.
A.D.

Bah, guys getting gunned down at 2nd
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Yah Swisher!

Boo getting thrown out, but hey, tied game!

Is it me or does this team show a hella lot of fight that it didn’t last year?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

WTF. That’s twice in the last two games someone’s been thrown out at second.
- http://eastrutherfordrant.com donttradecano
  
  ESPN Gamecast:
  Swisher out stretching at second.
  - Joe R
    
    agreed
    - Joe R
      
      wtf. wrong reply
pat

I like the baserunning aggression as well.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Ozzie Guillen is rolling over in his grave.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Anderson looking like a rook, forgot to cover first there.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

Mark Ellis’s ESPN headshot makes him look like a male Stepford Wife.

http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/mlb/players/65/5086.jpg
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

CC’s velocity is increasing this inning.
Russell NY

Could we be seeing another no-walk inning like the first?
http://ryanhandt.blogspot.com/ handtius

new thread? i’m getting a little bogged down.
Not So Angry Again Axl

Remember when Bobby Crosby used to be picked to be the MVP of the league? Those weren’t the days…
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

You know, the first time Leiter was in the booth I didn’t like him much, but he’s grown on me, a lot.