Game 6: Playing time for everyone
ByIf the Yanks aren’t going to give Melky Cabrera playing time, why carry him on the roster? He’s not the pinch running type, he can’t lay down a bunt, and there aren’t many scenarios, thankfully, where he’ll be the best bat off the bench. His purpose right now is Gardner insurance, but if Gritt proves he’s dependable Melky could find his ticket out of town. There are just other guys in the system who can provide more value in the 25th roster spot — Miranda for a big-bat lefty, John Rodriguez for an outfielder with some power…something along those lines.
For the time being he’ll stick around, so it’s good that Girardi has found time to start him. We’ve never been high on Melky here at RAB, but there’s a difference between not liking what you see from a player and not wanting him to succeed. We want Melky to hit and prove he’s capable of being a 4th outfielder/fringe starter. Here’s to hoping he makes his case today.
Bad news on Teixeira. He was originally posted in the lineup playing first base, but was scratched pretty shortly afterward. PeteAbe reports that he’s in a brace, and that the Yanks will go heavy on treatment today and have him checked out tomorrow in Tampa. This is not good news for the Yanks lineup.
Hideki Matsui, who was supposed to get the day off, slides in at DH, Swisher moves to first base, and Nady, who was the DH, heads out to right. Even with Tex, this was not an ideal lineup against an opposing team’s ace. It looks like the Yanks are content with winning the series.
In happier news, happy Joba day. Hopefully this turns into as big an event for Yanks fans as Felix day is for Mariners fans. There’s nothing quite as exciting as having a young, flame-throwing potential ace on the mound every five days.
Important Note: We’ve added a new policy to our commenting guidelines:
9. Don’t tell us that you were “first” to post in a thread. We don’t care. This is a one-strike offense. You do this, you get banned.
There will be none of that tomfoolery in the comments.
Lineup:
1. Gritt Girtner, CF
2. Cap’n Jetes, SS
3. Swisher for MVP, 1B
4. Godzilla, DH
5. Xavier Nady VI, RF
6. Rod Carew, 2B
7. Hacky McHeadfirstslide, LF
8. Handsome Cody Ransom, 3B
9. Hava Molina, C
And on the mound, number sixty-two, Joba Chamberlain.
Update by Ben (1:27 p.m.): Bryan Hoch asked Teixeira about the injury last night. The Yanks’ first baseman says he may have hurt it diving in Baltimore on Wednesday. If so, that’s more indicative of a jammed or sprained wrist than tendinitis. I’m trying not to get too concerned about this, but wrist injuries can linger and sap power hitters of their strength. We’ll keep an eye on this.
301 Comments
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The Mason Williams Watch
I can’t get over the people freaking out about the line up today.
1) People need rest
2) The weather forecast looks awful
Ergo: Rest people when weather is awful! You don’t risk playing them in increased injury risk conditions or in a possible rain-shortened game.
Ayayay.
The concern over Teixeira’s legitimate. We’ll have to see how it plays out.
You’re the first to post, who’s freaking out?
The entirety of the LoHuddian universe, and my brother
Ah, LoHud. I should have known. Happy Birthday.
Thanks Yous!
Happy Birfday!
Thanks!
Happy birthday.
Thank you!
My bad, didn’t see the lineup was posted in another thread.
Happy Birthday
Gracias!
Happy Birfday!
Thanks! Let’s Go Devils!
Happy birfday lady!
Dankeschen
Happy Birthday, yo.
Yo Yo Ma
Happy Bir”f”day!
Merci!
I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT FOR DAYS……… GARDNER HAS TO GO,
HIS IDEA OF POWER IS A POP UP TO SHORT RIGHT FIELD!!!
Days? That’s something everybody knew his entire career, yet we’ve mostly all wanted him up in the majors. There are other things he can do well.
But he isn’t doing them at the moment.
WHY ARE YOU YELLING?
So? Who said you need power to be a successful player? Power is just one component of a player. if Gardner plays good defense, gets on base a decent amount, and steals some bases, I wouldn’t care if he went his whole career without a HR, he’d still be a solid CF.
http://tinyurl.com/c8gdkx
See? I like yelling too.
IETC&ICWUDT (yes at the same time, I’m multi-talented, like a swiss army knife)
I understand the need to rest players but why must Damon sit today? On a day when Posada legitamitely needs a day off and Tex is out hurt? Seems to me like Damon should play today and then sit tomorrow when Posada is back in the lineup and also the Yanks will be playing on turf.
What I’d have done is play Melky over Gardiner today, then give Melky another start tomorrow for Damon. That way todays lineup isnt so anemic, Damon misses a day on turf, and Melky gets to play 2 days in a row which could get him more ABs.
I like that Girardi rests guys more than Torre did, I just hate the way he does it. Last year he seemed to give no thought to how hot a player was when choosing when to give a day off. In this case he should sit Damon tomorrow for 2 reasons, the first is that a day off on turf would likely help him more and secondly to avoid having 4 spots in the lineup today filled with poor hitters.
Damon was supposed to get a day off yesterday, but was re-added when Tex got scratched. I suppose Girardi wants to stick somewhat with the plan.
Especially seeing as how this is the sixth game of the damn season. Why even think about pushing it with Damon, Matsui or Posada before the season is even a week-and-a-half old?
I think Damon is being rested today because he was supposed to sit yesterday.
Anyway, if the game’s a wash the whole thing is moot.
Im saying its not that imperative that Damon sits yesterday or today. If he cant handle playing 5 days in a row, we are in trouble. If Tex were in the lineup Id have no issue with it because we could just easily play Swisher in LF and Tex at 1b. In fact it would have made alot more sense to sit Damon yesterday when Posada was still in the lineup.
hacky mcheadfirstslide… lmao
why not put melky in right field and nady in left? melky has the better arm
only thing i can think of is nady is our normal RFer, so maybe girardi wants to keep him in that position as much as possible since thats where he will play most of his innings
still, it seems melky is better suited for RF rather than LF
Looks like Phil has a problem with the control bug today.
I was about to post that, too. He seems to be unable to put the batters away.
Except for the two strikeouts that followed the two walks
That’s fine, the inning could have gotten ugly. But a K on a 11 pitches is not that great.
Nothing to be concerned about, though.
There have only been 2 batters…
Just a little 30 pitch inning.
Buchholz has 68 through three frames.
Thompson walks on 6 pitchesVelandia walks on 6 pitches
Donald Ks on 11 pitches
= not pretty
Joba like it’s hot.
Please stop.
*sigh* http://broccolicity.files.word.....n-nope.jpg
Holy crap we’re a reactionary bunch today, aren’t we?
Now I’ve had both my brother and one of my best friends complaining about the line up!
Ayayaay
If you’re in need of additional languages to thank people for birthday salutations, the Indonesian for “Thank you” is terima kasih (tuh-ree-muh kah-see) or as it’s often shortened when speaking, ma-kasih. As an added bonus, Indonesian and Malaysian are basically the same, so you can use this in two countries.
May come in handy! Terima kasih!
Sama Sama (You’re Welcome. Literally, Same Same, as in, Right back at you.)
if you want to laugh, check out who sponsors the johan santana page on baseball reference
lol, thank you
Good job doing that about ‘first’ comments. Great decision.
Truthfully I haven’t really seen people do it here to begin with, very rarely anyway. Guess you take care of the problem before it becomes a problem.
LOL @ Swish’s opening statement.
“9. Don’t tell us that you were “first” to post in a thread. We don’t care. This is a one-strike offense. You do this, you get banned.”
I don’t get it? what does it matter if your first to post in a thread? I’m not trying to be a smart ass just making sure I’m not missing something. Don’t want to do something wrong by mistake.
Some people find it annoying.
I don’t, but this ain’t my blog.
What i mean is why would I even care if I’m first or not. I just don’t see the need for anyone to point that out. Am I missing something?
No, he means that tools that say “FIRST!!!!!111!” when they are the first ones to post.
You must not comment on sites much. They are plagued with morons that write “first” like its some kind of accomplishment.
I’m here a lot. I guess that it passed right by me I’m kind of glad it did. It’s so stupid that I didn’t understand the need for the rule i thought it might be something else.
I’ve been joining the freak out, but yeah, I guess when people need rest, they need rest.
Love the line-up you guys posted. Now have the Hava Nagila going through my head.
Hava nagila
Hava nagila
ve’sne’mekha
Hava narunana
Hava narunana
Hava narunana
ve’sne’mekha
u-ru
u-ru a-khim
u’rakhim ve’snemekha….
No alex gordon in the lineup today. royals lineup primed to get shutout.
nice alternate unis
Anyone watching Mets-Marlins?
I think all the Royals unis are really classy.
That was supposed to go above.
But yeah, I’m paying attention.
josh johnson looking good
nice at-bat
Mr. Slappy!
Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner!
happy grit-day
=D Todah!
It’s interesting to see that when Meche signed his 5/55MM contract everybody booed it. And now he’s the Royals’ Ace. He’s really excelled with KC.
Yea at first I thought it was a horrendous deal.
Did he just say the whole bitch light up?
Nick Swisher made an out? What new horror is this?!?!
just rolled over on that pitch
F*king Castillo breaks up the no-no. Damnit.
f-ck him, seriously, what sort of business does he have doing that?
Awesomeness.
Holy crap I may be in love with Gardner right now. Only not really, but that speed. Man the speed.
In standing up on that?!?!
gardner is the man
I love speed
most exciting ting all year,
RBI for meche
Thats why speed is so important in a lineup.
It’s less important than the ability to get on base or drive the ball, but it’s nice to have.
Small ball. OMG small ball!
…Normally when a guy says that, he doesn’t say so with so much…uh…exciitement in his voice.
John Sterling just climaxed, I’m sure.
no mo no-no
time for nady to steal some of swisher’s thunder
It’s so weird when your lineup doesn’t include the number 3 & 4 hitter.
Michael Kay’s inning recap was so dumb.
“He went to first, he moved to second, he moved to third, he scored.”
That’s usually how it works, Michael.
Well, you know sometimes, you can run it in reverse.
right?
C’mon Ben, it actually wasn’t that bad.
gardner is fastttt
Austin Jackson up with the bases juiced against former Oriole Rodrigo Lopez.
never heard of the royals 6 or 7 hitters.
89MPH?
Results buddy, he’s up to 94 now
Pitch f/x has him at 91-94.
sick slider
that was a WICKED pitch.
Joba B Good
Aviles’s stance has annoyed the hell out of me this series.
ha me too. He looks really odd out there
Like Craig Counsell’s.
Joba’s kid is so cute!
nice work Joba
86mph slider? last year that was coming in at 92, i think he need TJ to get back to 101, really …
10 pitches, I’m loving it!
did anyone see Daniel Murphy’s error?
Yeah. It was hilarious and cringe-worthy simultaneously.
Yes. I laughed.
(I assume you’re talking about the easy fly ball that he dropped which led to two runs, not sure if he committed a second.)
What happened with A-Jax and the bases loaded? Gameday isn’t updating for me.
i thought the velocity complainers would take longer to start posting.
is there a plan for keeping joba to 150 innings? how many starts does he figure to make?
Why has phil phranchise been taken out the game after 2 innings?
He hasn’t, the box score is screwed up. Happens all the time.
He’s not, box score has him stil pitching at 2 and 2/3rds innings
Was that really a strike?
No. Terrible call.
Doesn’t matter, that pitch was too close to take.
Happy birfday.
…when’s the last time Canó took six straight pitches?
the 12th of never
dunno but even with the K I’m loving the new approach
Melky taking pitches as well?? What is this world coming to?
Well, Melky did make an out, so I guess it’s not quite the apocalypse…
And then Meche throws 3 straight strikes to Ransom saying “you couldn’t hit me if you tried anyway, bye bye”
Cano and Melky just combined to see 11 pitches. This ain’t 2008 that’s for sure
Ransom was completely out of place in that AB. getting cringe worthy watching some of his ABs.
Seriously, he was completely overmatched by Meche.
shouldnt have even swung at the 3rd strike lol
http://www.theonion.com/conten.....rd_baseman
Hope Joba keeps this up. I have a feeling Melky/Ransom/Molina isn’t going to give us anything. At least they watched a few pitches though!
its started raining.
Ransom is atrocious. You’d get the same production out of an orange cone.
DMacP just signed a minor league deal with the Giants; one would think he’d have preferred an MLB job for the next four-six weeks, but…
Cash never made a run at him. He publicly? stated that the Yankees were going to pass
I know, it was an odd choice, I felt. I mean…if you hear that he’s going to sign a minor-league deal with the Giants…why not make a run at him? I guess 40-man roster concerns…
Even Ray Durham would be an improvement, no?
One would think so. It’s not like Ransom’s defense is helping them win games either.
Heh, that Scranton game must be wild. Austin Jackson singled with the bases juiced and two out, but the runner at third was thrown out at home.
….
?
Mike, Ransom line may have to be adjusted from .100 to .050 if he keeps it up
YES needs a new gun. 63mph? Come on!
keith hernandez on josh johnson’s fastball: “gas attack!”
Josh Johnson is so awesome though.
Joba would be so much better in the bullpen. Why hasn’t anyone ever considered that???!11!!
Mark Teahen
88.9 FB
93.0 FB
80.7 Change
84.2 Slider
His velocity is right where it should be.
Joba’s using a 2-seamer sometimes these days, yeah?
heyy a nice changeup!
Luis Castillo is a joke of a professional baseball player.
rather him than Ransom atm.
great contract, omar
Wow, he looks GOOD
Wow 23 pitches through 2, gotta love this more efficient Joba
It’s also got a bit to do with the Royals, who are NOT a team that takes a lot of pitches…but he does look very good today. I feel like I’m seeing fewer of those FBs that he wastes up high sometimes.
Am I the only one who finds it odd/stupid that they would open the new stadium on a Thursday afternoon?
It’s not up to them, the schedule makers decide who payers where and when.
No because it’s a four game series.
did anybody else here that molina was in better shape this year? cuz he still looks a little portly to me.
Where’d you hear that?
rain out = wasted joba innings
wow anyone see that last strikeout from Santana?
Johan just made some dude throw his bat, he has 12 k’s
and he’s *losing*
Happy birthday btw !!!!!!
blame daniel murphy for that
Josh Johnson is a man. He’s 40.
ietc
80 pitches threw 7 innings. Yikes.
He’s throwing 96 in the 8th.
That reminds me of the time in the Mets series 2(?) years ago where Wang struck Jose Reyes out on 3 pitches. The 3rd making Reyes actually fall over he swung and missed so hard.
Is there something wrong with Cano? He isn’t being as patient as he was 2 games ago. Everyone goes through slumps, I just hope he doesn’t start his now.
What are you talking about? The guy who took 6 straight pitches isn’t being patient??
I assume this is a joke @ poster above whozat
Well, if it was a joke, I will admit that I don’t get it
He watched 6 pitches go by last at-bat, how much more patient can he be? I suppose he could take a pillow and nap up there but that’d be rediculous
… Uh, did you not see his last AB where he didn’t take a single swing and struck out looking on a 3-2, borderline strike?
Oh and nice addition to the commenting guidelines, people pull that shit at FanNation and it gets wildly annoying, just like everything else that goes on over there.
Hopefully, we can get through the fifth and Joba can get the complete game “shutout”
yeah hopefully they dont run into a long delay
2: Phil Coke
I like my drugs!
Lol @ the “security guard” in the Mets/Marlins game.
ripping him in the booth lol
Ya, haha. They were like “fired” and “that’s just terrible, how do you hire a guy like that”.
Wow, Joba just relying on that two seamer today. I’m actually enjoying this quite a bit
Well, I *was* enjoying it…
Damn, o well
Drat. To the 8th!
damn it joba
hang-ger
Ugh, to the 8th.
oops
A home run? That’s it. Move him to the pen.
The perfect game, no hitter and shutout gone in one swing
ooh…eh, well, it happens. Calm down, Joba. Don’t get geeked up and start leaving the ball up…
Damn, just did.
Say goodbye to perfecto, no-hitter and shutout.
In reality, a power pitcher is going to give up home runs. Hard swings + hard-thrown baseballs generally lead to home runs. The best of them though limit the damage to solo shots.
beat joba pitch ever…was it the day he unveiled his curve to the world and made…pedroia?…fall down?
Joba getting hit hard this inning
Damn Joba three straight well hit balls lol
gardner wasn’t gonna get to that. coco showed some real power there.
leaving the ball up this inning
Come on Joba!
The great ones limit the damage.
terrible throw by jeter on the triple
That’s an unnecessary shot at Jeter. They weren’t going to get Crisp at third anyway.
Oof, that was a nasty curve to Swish.
That was a nasty hook
meche is limiting the 1 run damage.
meche is rolling. nady had no chance.
Meche is just good, wow
Is it Meche being awesome or is it that we have our (d) line up in? Or is it a combination?
Both, this guy has sick stuff when he’s on
Kevin Appier?
Lol, I thought Cone was too obvious.
Swisher checking is there is a hole in his bat. Welcome back to earth Swish.
Meche is pretty darn good.
Though I’d sell body parts at this point to drop Matsui lower in the order.
It’s raining pretty hard. they’re going to can this one soon.
i don’t know what Civony is, but it’s by far my favorite ad sponsor
that hook from Meche is nasty today
i love that michael kay has no idea how much john flaherty hates him
Well, at least his PC is up. Won’t be making it longer than 6 and then we can feast on the bullpen
It is a rarity to see Farnsworth be dominant two outings in a row. Please send him in with the game on the line.
swisher struck out. i knew he’d suck.
Chill out. It’s out to strikeout when a guy is throwing like Meche is. You can’t get on base every time.
(insert ‘i’m not a regular so you can’t tell when i’m being sarcastic’ text here)
Oh, my bad.
Man, looking at the radar, this is gonna get worse before it gets better
Ayayay Joba, they’re called strikes ^_~
…am i the only one that sees the little bugs all around joba’s head?
They are called rain drops
I think that was a midge joke.
Oh man, Joba struggling a bit.
Joba’s lost the zone :/
Josh Johnson was a missed strike call away from a 3 hit shutout
Bad time for that one, the strikeout or DP would be helpful here
B-Jobbers rejoice.
mike jacobs: worst facial hair ever
He’s no Reed Johnson.
scott spiezio
http://thesportshernia.typepad.....6_phix.png
Youkilus/ Becket
are we asking Mo for the rain to stop or fall harder?
Oh man that last Jacobs swing make me cringe.
Joba’s command of his slider isn’t there. Instead of fouling it off or grounding out, he should have them swing-and-miss at it. I think it’s a point to work on between starts.
Good throw by Nady.
Josh Johnson is a pimp.
hit 98 according to the SNY radar to Delgado with 2 outs in the 9th. nasty.
Also, all these 2-seamers are annoying the f*ck out of me.
This Pena character looks like a big dude, but probably would lose to Molina in a foot race
Important out there, now we’re just a ground ball away from getting out of this
Dropping the hammer for a called strike one, I love it
Lets see if he learned something from AJ
wicked slider
…dear John Flaherty:
Joba has no command of the slider…why would your recommend throwing it?
That rain’s coming down pretty hard now
Wow, the curve on a 3-2 count with runners on? Ballsy
Now I’m just confused, I think Gameday need to figure out a curve from a slider
What in the fukk? Right between the wickets.
The Astros are getting one-hit by Kyle freaking Lohse through five innings.
LOL
damn
That is not a single, take that ER off of chamberlain
what happened there
Oy. They really needed Swisher to stay at first there, and Cano should have had the glove down.
Also, how could that be a hit + RBI? That’s really generous home town scoring.
KC’s official is terrible. That rbi double that they gave to Jacobs in the first game was terrible also.
The B-Jobbers are at it again. Secretly giving that a single and a rbi so Joba’s ERA goes up.
That is some bs. KC official scorers blow
I’m watching on gameday. Can someone please explain what happened on that play?
Swish ranges to his right. under Swishers glove under cano’s glove.
grounder slips under Swisher’s glove and Cano’s. Swisher was out of position.
i don’t know, but the benny hill theme music should have been playing
Ground ball toward second base. Swisher ranged way too far over to his right…and missed the ball. Cano, backing up, didn’t have his glove down, and the ball ended up in right field. The scorer called it a hit even though it should have been marked an error
Now John Buck just hit an RBI single, and Joba’s ERA will go up.
Thanks everyone. *sigh*
Aaaaaand rain delay?
This game is so gonna get called after five.
Some birthday present.
Really Jeter? You couldn’t get to that?
haha that was good.
It’s time to call this game.
Screw you, Jeter, I’m not giving you the benefit of the doubt that the infield slowed you down.
I blame Arod
The dam is breaking here
Past a falling Jeter
C’mon people, Jetes cletes slipped. It’s been raining on the infield dirst for a while this half inning.
They’re gonna make the Yankees play the fifth, and then call it, aren’t they?
Yep, no way Cano/Ransom/Melky/Molina score two runs. I hate these cheap games
Actually, the radar makes it seem that it might almost be over
yes.
Wow, that was a long and agonizing inning
On the good side. Ajax and Miranda are still killing Minor League pitching.
Hey! Swisher got a GB!