I always wonder what a team thinks after losing a game like this. Sure, they talk to the media about how much it hurts, but they’re likely holding back from their true feelings. Can you imagine being a professional athlete and being utterly decimated by your opponent? What happened tonight was pathetic, and every single player in the Yanks clubhouse feels it. The only question we can ask now is of what they’re going to do about it.
There’s no reason to break down this game. It all came undone in the first two innings and only got worse throughout. The only way to properly recap this game is through bullet points.
- Not only has Chien-Ming Wang been a problem over his first two starts, but he could be a major, major problem down the road if this isn’t just some dead-arm period. Guys weren’t tattooing him like this in Spring Training, so we can still hold out hope that there’s an underlying issue and that Wang will overcome it. To those who think that his lack of strikeouts are catching up to him: Do you think he succeeded over the past few seasons by throwing belt-high sinkers with no movement?
- Once Wang left after 1+ innings, we all knew the bullpen was in for a horrible night. We got just about the worst case scenario. Albaladejo threw 60 pitches and Edwar tossed 51, meaning they’re both unavailable for at least tomorrow, possibly Wednesday. Phil Coke used 38 pitches to get through one inning — though it was prolonged by the miscommunication between Cano and Pena. — so after the past two days he can’t go tomorrow. Things could get rough over the next few days, without a day off in sight.
- Chances of the Yanks making a roster move to call up a reliever: basically 100 percent. The bad news is that the prime candidate for promotion, David Robertson, pitched three innings yesterday, so he won’t be of much help. Coke will almost certainly be demoted, with Anthony Claggett or Stephen Jackson taking his place. We could see both if they demote Jon Albaladejo, too (not because of performance, but rather because of the pressing need for bullpen arms).
- From the “there has to be a bright side” dept.: Of 10 Yankees baserunners, five scored. Nady’s DP meant the team left only four men on base.
- Is Nick Swisher everyone’s favorite Yankee yet? Not only did he put the Bombers on the board with a fourth-inning homer, but he nearly hit another later on. Oh, and the whole pitching thing was pretty cool — despite the fact that I’m pretty sure nothing good has ever come from a position player pitching. He was their most effective arm, for whatever that’s worth.
- Since homering in the 9th in Baltimore last Wednesday, Jeter is one for his last 20 with just one walk. The hot start didn’t last too long. Not helping matters is Johnny Damon, who is 2 for his last 16 with two walks. That’s not how you want to lead off your lineup. Swisher and Jorge need men on base.
- The Rays only failed to score in two innings. Nick Swisher pitched one of them. That is all.
We get to do it all over again today when A.J. Burnett tries to give the bullpen a break. He’ll face off against Matt Garza. Bold prediction: it will be a better game than last night.
Just 5 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
The Rays only failed to score in two innings. Nick Swisher pitched one of them. That is all.
This will be the best inning of the season.
Are we allowed to be upset over losing yet?
You can always be *upset* about losing, but don’t proclaim it to be the end of the season because the Yanks are 3-4.
Any way we could get some pitch f/x analysis of Swisher?
Pitch selection:
Wicked Changeup
And he can throw it sidearm when he pleases.
I think that 3 quarter delivery was an attempt at a slider.
I am here to help: http://www.baseballdailydigest.....be-kapler/
Nick Swisher’s pitches are so good that they cannot be plotted by human mathematics.
Changeup around 77 mph, Fastball around 78 mph. Really used the change of speeds to keep batters off balance.
Patience, Eric. Patience. I’d say checking back at, oh, 9:30 a.m. EDT.
1) I bet A-Rod and Melky can break the low 90s.
2) I would have laughed so hard to see Johnny Damon pitch.
With his arm, a knuckleball may have to bounce to reach homeplate.
New name for me
Yankee hurlers tossed 232 pitches in this game….. so basically we had two complete games thrown in eight innings of work. Nothing like averaging 29 pitches per inning to tell the defending league champs we mean business.
But I forgot….. April losses don’t count. This game would only have been embarrassing in September.
If forced to choose, I would sign for a loss like this over Sunday’s any time.
No one says they don’t count, but I do think September performance says more about a team than does a bad loss in the 7th game of the season.
But I forgot….. April losses don’t count. This game would only have been embarrassing in September.
Wolf, I think I’ve been through this with you, but here we go again.
Nobody around here is saying “April losses don’t count” when we say “Calm down, it’s April” or some variation thereof.
What we mean is to say that an accumulation of bad things (starts, games, at bats, etc.) in April shouldn’t be OVERANALYZED to draw concrete conclusions from, because many big leaguers are still rounding into form in April and how they look, or how their teams look, in April is often very different from who or what they really are. It also means that teams are generally more cautious with injury concerns, either holding out players who would probably play through pain later in the season or limiting/making unavailable pitchers who would normally not be capped/restricted later in the season because players are prone to overexerting themselves in the early weeks of the season (particularly in the cold).
So don’t overreact. That’s all “It’s just April” means. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to win these games. It means not winning these games is not only NOT the end of the world (because no single game or series ever is) but it’s not really indicative of much of anything either.
We tend to frown on hyperbole here (unless it’s funny). So yeah, there’s some things we wish happened differently over the first 7 games, but none of them are necessarily a big deal.
Don’t overreact. It’s only April. It counts, yes… but doesn’t matter any more than any other game, and it matters LESS than other games in terms of player/team evaluation. Still feeling around and rounding into shape.
Don’t overreact.
Is it funny or sad that the same people who seem to agonize over every April loss also seem to hold the belief that only performances “down the stretch” really matter in terms of stuff like MVP voting or “showing you what a team is made of”?
or derisively call A-Rod “Mr. April”…
I get the feeling that commenters like Wolf, and anonymous in his comment above, are reacting less to someone like you who says “it’s only April” and more to the commenters on Sunday who were calling anyone who was upset with the way that game ended a “Chicken Little” or a “LoHuddite.” I think the reaction against people who think the sky is falling has gotten to a point where it went a bit too far and people who only express (reasonable, or at least understandable) dismay over a loss are being lumped in with the “Chicken Littles” of the world, and now those people are taking <their reaction a bit too far in response.
All of which is rather pointless and I just bring it up to say… Maybe we just need to give people a little more space to express their opinions without being shat on or bullied and be careful not to unfairly label people we disagree with.
I AM GOING TO SHIT ON YOU AND BULLY YOU FOR THAT STUPID COMMENT I DISAGREE WITH!!!!
Just kidding. You may have a point.
“I AM GOING TO SHIT ON YOU…”
Dude, I’m no Trot Nixon.
Heh.
Is Swisher’s pitching a laughing matter? Posada doesn’t think so.
There is nothing Swish can’t do. Seriously, even when he makes outs he does them with style.
Trading for him = favorite move all offseason. Notice I didn’t say best, just favorite.
Does Tex play? It’d be a big confidence booster if he did.
And there is a bright side to tonight’s game. Mark Teixeira didn’t hurt his right wrist. So we have that going for us…..
Nick Swisher pitch fx, courtesy DRays
I can’t stop laughing!
Wang seems to think its his release point. From Lohud:
“Wang seemed stunned. He said the issue was where he released the ball, which was off to the side instead of over the top. A sinkerball pitcher wants to stand tall on the mound and throw the ball on a downward plane. Otherwise the ball floats over the strike zone and you see what happens.”
This seems to contradict your graphs.
It’s possible that there’s some calibration problem, yes. It’s also possible that, through some combination of factors, both are true. Perhaps his wrist IS tilting to the right, and he’s not “standing tall”…but he’s releasing early or late, or his torso is at a slight angle.
Swisher will relieve tomorrow. No demotions necessary. Swisher will start for Wang, too, if he needs to be skipped to work on mechanics. 4 more appearances and he’ll get RP eligibility in fantasy baseball. I cannot wait.
Part of me wants to be embarrassed that Swisher pitched, but it pales in comparison to the part of me that is still laughing when I think about it. Of course it’s humiliating to get destroyed like that, but they were pretty much DOA after the GS by Peña. There will always be games like that, but there’s no point in getting stuck on it. It only hurts so much because we’re fans of a team that’s supposed to be a huge contender, and isn’t supposed to get blown out.
I like how Swisher put it. This game is like an Etch-A-Sketch: shake it and start fresh.
Coke will likely be demoted, probably in favor of Jackson like you said. Robertson would be the ideal candidate but where he’s worked extended innings the past few outings he wouldn’t help until the weekend. Hopefully this is just a confidence thing with Coke and he’ll work it out and make a quick return to the Bronx.
Wang I hope isn’t hurt. But then again, if it is just some minor nagging injury I’d rather get it out of the way now rather than later in the season. Sure, it’s inconvenient either way but at least something minor early on can be overcome.
Coke is being demoted because he’s gassed, not because he sucks.
He doesn’t suck. He had a couple of hiccups. He should be back up shortly, no “confidence thing” to work out, IMO.
Best way for Coke to gain confidence is for the org to show him confidence by putting him back on the big league roster ASAP.
As disgusting as the entirety of this game was, I really got a kick out of watching Swish shake off signs from Molina. Maybe it’s just a macabre sense of trying-to-find-something-to-be-happy-about, but I thought that was pretty damn funny.
It took us until this point last season to score more than 5 runs in a game. At least we are scoring more this season despite our quasi-national league line up.
Three of our four losses have been due to mechanical issues of our starters. At least Joba didn’t stink up the joint in his first start (you all know how the MSM is so reactionary) or at least Mo’s arm hasn’t fallen off yet.
Take the good with the bad.
I don’t know why my comments don’t appear where they’re supposed to appear.
Anyway
Nick Swisher pitch fx
I am highly, highly amused.
You would have to think if Wang blows it again on Saturday, Cashman would have to put him on a DL with a believeable lie. Putting him on the DL would have him down in the minors working out his kinks.
“Swisher and Posada need men on base”
… sigh… What we need is Arod and Teixeira playing.. soon.. lol
Oh man I love Nick Swisher
Jennings thinks Claggett will be called up.
Listen. As hard as it may be, lets take this with a grain of sand. Games like this over the course of a 162 games season are bound to happen. At least 3-5 times. We all got a laugh out of Swish. We all know the Yankees are winning the WS anyway. Perfect scenerio: A-Rod comes back. We have murderers row and the great pitching we have will dominate. Wang will get straightened out. So keep the faith fellas.. And ladies for that matter.
Scenario*
lets take this with a grain of sand.
I’ve never heard that one before, usually it’s a grain of salt. Is that a regional idiom of some sort, and if so, where are you from?
he is from a country where they put sand on food that is too bland.
Afghanisand.
Bravo. Both of you.
There is more sand then salt. I was just in beach mode.
I had to work last night and missed the whole debacle and can’t bring myself to read anything (but here) about it.
Srsly, did Nick Swisher pitch? I am thinking I’m dreaming while reading this thread.
can you guys make a pitch f/x thing for swisher?
Anyone remember July, 2006? We got a beat down 19-6..at the hands of the DEVIL RAYS..when they were still the crappy team we knew and loved. We went on to win 5 straight after that. Sure its hard to watch and sure we are upset…but come on, its one game in April.
Nick Swisher for Cy Young!
In his first two starts of April 1998, David Cone was craptacular, giving up 7 ER and 9 ER in two lopsided Yankees losses. His ERA was 14.90.
He finished the year 20-7 with a 3.55 ERA and as a team we won 114 games and the World Series.
Jesus died. But then he rose.
[/end.]
I’m upset by the loss. But it is game 7 of a 162 game stretch. I was hoping that they would come out hot since they played so well at the end of spring training but really they need A-Rod to get depth to the lineup and for the pitchers to pitch to their abilities. Wang had to have known that he wasn’t right after Baltimore and he got worst not better after working on things.
if wang has one more start like this send him down to minor league to work on his mechanics.thank god we only signed him for one year.next yeaR GO GET DOC.JETER IS SHOWING HIS AGE ALSO TIME TO MAKE POSADA CAPTAIN HAS BETTER LEADERSHIP QUALITIES THAN JETER.HOPE WE CAN BRING AJAX THIS YEAR OUR FUTUE CENTERFIELDER.WE MAY NEED TO BRING PHIL HUGES UP.RANSOM IS SO BAD.
Lol @ this guy. Always caps lockin’.
Ok, so you are going to have the Yankees tell Jeter he is no longer captain and make Posada captain. I am sure that would halp things immensely. Then you are going to make the “centerfielder of the future” the centerfielder now and finally you are going to replace a 3rd baseman with a pitcher?
This is funnier than Nick Swisher striking out Gabe Kapler.
AllMost of this is batshit insane.which part saved it, “Ransom is so bad”?
Meh, nothing “saved it”, i was just trying to be charitable.
I mean, the idea that if CMW struggles for one more start we send him down to work on his mechanics isn’t really a batshit insane concept on it’s own, it may be a smart idea. So, there are some reasonable things in there (and then there’s some batshit insane overreactions, like “GO GET DOC!!!)
Figured it was easier to explain…
No, there is too much.
Figured it was easier to sum up the comment by saying that in totality, the majority of the comment was batshit insane.
A.J. will save us, don’t ya’ll worry!
JETER DOES NOT DESRVE 18M PER YEAR NOT IN THIS ECONOMY.
MY CAPS LOCK BUTTON IS STUCK TOO. I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS OR HOW TO TYPE.
You forgot the misunderstanding of guaranteed contracts signed nine years ago.
LETS JUST RIP THAT SHIT UP HE DONT DESRVE IT NOT IN THIS ECONOMY.
LOUD NOISES!!! WHY ARE YOU ALL SHOUTING!!!
This game was ugly right from the start (I hated the pitchin g match-up). I am not the least bit worried about one game out of 162. The thing to keep in mind, is that if Wang does NOT turn it around, Phil Hughes will be available as a replacement (I could see Wang getting traded after this season, no matter what). This does not include the fact that you will be replacing Cody Ransom with Alex Rodriguez. All they need to do is tread water (Be no more than 5 games back), until Rodriguez returns.
Well said. Perspective is key, you nailed it on the head.
(I know, I can’t believe it either.)
“(I know, I can’t believe it either.)”
This comment made me shit on myself.
I think the positive we have to take from this is that Boston is doing worse than us and we cant expect the Blue Jays and Orioles to maintain this pace or expect us to go .500 for the season as well. The ship will right itself, just allow it to before you jump off the side.
THANK GOD THE RED SOX HAS BEEN LOSING
YA, YOU PROBABLY MEAN THANK MO THOUGH.
Enough now.
I hate to play Site Admin on behalf of the three Grand Poobahs, since it’s not my site, but enough is enough already.
rsam:
RAB Commenting Guidelines
7. Any comment written out in all capital letters will be deleted. That’s just unnecessary.
http://riveraveblues.com/river.....uidelines/
Give it a rest already. Shouting doesn’t make your point more right.
THIS IS THE BEST BLOG ALL YOU GUYS GIVE GOOD POSTS LETS ALL HOPE THAT OUR YANKS GET NUMBER 27
http://www.wap.org/info/techst.....slock.html
FLATTERY WILL GET YOU EVERYWHERE
This is going to end badly.
JETER IS JUST NOT WHAT HE USED TO BE JUST NOT GETTING IT DONE
WHY ARE WE YELLING?
http://www.352media.com/rantin.....psLock.jpg
You make one more caps-locked post and that’s it. Say what you have to say, and say it in a single comment, not a bunch of capped sentences.
Stop it with the caps, it’s one of our few and friggin’ reasonable commenting guidelines:
http://riveraveblues.com/river.....uidelines/
Do it again and you’ll get the boot.
Send down Coke and Albie, bring up two far superior pitchers in Melancon and Robertson (I know he threw three innings yesterday). Cut Ransom and bring up Russo, or hell, even Eric Duncan. I know it is early, but time to give the kids a try. Remember the comments of Gerrit Cole? He had a point, and it was made for him when the Yanks locked up 4/5 of their rotation long term. You have to throw the kids a bone, and when 33 year old journeymen infielders who have always sucked keep sucking, maybe give the 24 year old a try…
How is 4/5 of the rotation locked up long term? Sabathia and Burnett have long deals, but CC could opt out. Pettitte is on a one year deal, Wang is still in his arbitration years, and Joba is still under team control as well. There’s a difference between being under team control and being locked up long term.
no, Gerritt Cole did not have a point. he was just graduating High School.
That’s idiotic. Gerrit Cole won’t be a major league-ready pitcher before A.J. Burnett’s deal is out. I’d take that to the bank.
That’s not the point – the point is the Yanks have a history of signing free agents rather than letting their farm fill poisions, that is clearly the widely held belief. Signing CC to 7 years, Burnett to 5, and having Wang and Joba under team control for serveral more years means the rotation is full for a while, regardless of whether they are free agents or not. And signing Pettitte, even on a one year deal, blocked the development of young guys – no other team in baseball, save maybe the Sox, would’ve signed a vet like Pettitte to take that spot when they had a bunch of young guys capable of taking that spot.
I’m not saying I don’t like those deals, or even that Cole is right – but the FACT of the matter is that that is the perception. Throwing some kids, particularly when they are clearly superior to the veterans, a bone would help that perception.
And you misconstrued what Cole said – he basically just said the Yanks don’t value their young guys like other teams, don’t give them chances other teams do. And while they have been getting better at that, that is unquestionably true.
The blood bank?!?! Sorry, I think of that horrible scene every time I hear that expression now. Damn you Steven Seagal!
Wang is the only pitcher who comes with built in excuses. Its his mechanic. its his arm slot. He has to come over the top. Blah.
Maybe he should develop some secondary pitches because maybe hitters have him down cold.
Again, I ask: Was Wang leaving sinkers belt high in the past? If not, perhaps hitters don’t “have him down cold.”
Wang is the only pitcher who, after throwing a bad game, cites a mechanical flaw? huh?
All of this is batshit insane.
You’re a national treasure, Grantbo. Not a single useful thing to contribute to any conversation, ever.
You gotta’ believe it’s mechanics — the guy didn’t lose the ability to throw a power sinker overnight. Those belt-high, middle-of-the-dish frisbees he was throwing last night were just begging to be tatooed. Two batters into the game, you knew he was going to get rocked.
Was it just me, or did he some overly deliberate in his windup last night? I mean, he’s always had that real slow start to his delivery, but it seemed like he was trying to slow it down even further last night. He just looked to me like he was over-thinking it. Sometimes you need to clear your head and let your muscle memory take over and do what it knows how to do without your brain’s help.