May
04

Game 25: Rain rain, go away

By

It’s raining in the Bronx, and the radar doesn’t look too promising. They say they want to get this game in tonight, but expect a lengthy delay first. Feel free to use this post as an open thread while we wait for first pitch.

In injury news, Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus noted that because Xavier Nady has already had Tommy John surgery once before, his elbow ligament is actually a tendon. That could affect how much the experimental platelet-rich plasma procedure actually helps him. Hopefully there’s no issues and Nady comes back sooner rather than later.

Anywho, here’s the lineup should this one ever get underway:

Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
Swisher, RF
Cano, 2B
Posada, DH
Melky, CF
Molina, C
Berroa, 3B

And on the mound, number sixty-five, Phil Hughes.

Categories : Game Threads

258 Comments

  1. Matt ACTY says:

    I missed Phranchise’s last start, glad I’ll be able to see this one.

  2. I love pretending to be a weatherperson. It’s funny.

    You know what’s weird? I get less work done without baseball than I do with it.

    Then again, writing a paper on Burchard of Worms isn’t terribly appealing.

    • Alex says:

      same here for some reason.. I think I just get way too bored when there’s no baseball to watch and fall asleep without working.

  3. Dan2 says:

    ugh, why is Berroa in the lineup?

  4. Mike Pop says:

    Don’t know if it’s been mentioned in another thread but here ya go, if anyone cares:

    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns

  5. manimal says:

    Rain delays are pointless if the games are guaranteed to be 4 hour

  6. Drew says:

    Just to clear up some confusion from the last post, I’m pro-Joe. Love what he does, coming to the defense of Alex was great in my book. Even his BP moves, I blame them on our ineffective pitchers, not Joe. Hopefully we’ll get the performance we need from our guys and Alf won’t be needed and Dek sitting won’t be an issue. I just hope we get this one in!

  7. Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

    I hate the Red Sox. I really, really do.

    • I hate rain delays, the Rangers, roller coasters and brussel sprouts, I really, really do.

      • Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

        I hate the Eagles, bad drivers, and any movie with Ben Affleck (minus the Kevin Smith ones). I really, really, do. congrats on becoming an aunt. (I’m a little late to the party).

      • UWS says:

        I’m with you on three of the four. I don’t think I ever had a brussel sprout.

      • cult of basebaal says:

        brussel sprouts are damn tasty:

        pan fry a little pancetta in a little olive oil

        halve brussel sprouts

        toss sprouts with pancetta/oil

        broil sprouts on foil until exterior is browning/crispy

        sprinkle with pepper flakes and sea salt to taste

        • Accent Shallow says:

          To be fair, pancetta fired in olive oil will improve just about any food, no?

          • cult of basebaal says:

            well yes, but the real trick is broiling/roasting the sprouts, gives them an almost nutty flavor, unlike the flavor disaster that comes from boiling them, which is the experience that leads most people to decide that they hate them …

          • Yeah, its like when people say “HGH may have little effect on its own, but when used in conjunction with Steroids is very effective.”

            Right, and Rice Crispies when used with steroids are very effective as well.

  8. KP says:

    What are the chances we get to get a chatroom/live blog rather than sifting through 1,000 posts during games?

  9. Matt ACTY says:

    Ugh. Since I’m watching on NESN, I really don’t have anything to entertain me during the delay. I never thought I’d say this but…I’d kill for a Yankeeography.

    • Mike Pop says:

      Can’t you watch another game on mlb.tv right now?

      • Matt ACTY says:

        True, true. Let’s see what we’ve got….The Zack pitches at 8 so I’ll throw that on. For now, though, I’ll go with Gallardo vs. Maholm.

        • Mike Pop says:

          I’m jealous man. It’s so stupid the Yanks games get blacked out. Should of used a cousin’s address or something. Think Matt!!!

          • Matt ACTY says:

            What’s funny is during the ’07 season, I got the games. I don’t know how, but I got them. Whatever, just six more days of this–is it odd that getting back the ability to watch Yankee games is so high up on my list of reasons I’m happy to graduate?

            • Mike Pop says:

              I would expect that to make you laugh. Considering your comedy skills, I would expect pretty much anything to make you laugh.

              My impression of Matt:

              “Well, umm ya man. You used a colon when it was supposed to be a semicolon. You suck, and I am more of a man than you are”.

  10. Rene says:

    how long do you think the delay will be, or do you think its no game tonight????

  11. Spaceman.Spiff says:

    If this game ever happens today, I have a bad feeling Ortiz is gonna bust out.

    • Don’t be so negative. It doesn’t accomplish anything.

      • Spaceman.Spiff says:

        Haha, I’m usually not. But I’ve got a hunch (that I’m trying to jinx by voicing my concern).

    • pat says:

      I was thinking the same exact thing. All this hullabaloo about how he hasnt done shit so far this season, it’s set up perfectly for him to come to Ny and wreck us.

    • Steve H says:

      Highly doubt it. He can’t catch up to a halfway decent FB anymore, and he cheats on everything else, which still isn’t working for him. There will be no breakout for him this year, he’ll hit a few HR’s and have a few decent games, but he won’t put much together in the way of a good season. He’s not even driving the ball in batting practice.

      • Mike Pop says:

        Agreed. STICK A FORK IN EM, HE’S DONE!!!

      • Chris says:

        People were saying the same thing about Delgado last year, and he turned out ok. Of course, it’s more likely that he’s done, but anything is possible.

  12. Will says:

    So I’m in Delaware right now, and it was raining here about 20 minutes ago. Now its already past Philly (looking at the map). I’d guess they can be playing by 8pm.

  13. Eirias says:

    Goddamn it Kazmir, stop mailing it in.

  14. UWS says:

    I’m watching Mets-Braves: Santana vs. Vasquez.

  15. Mr. Rodriguez says:

    Do you think the arrest of Joba’s mother will affect his pitching?
    Somtimes off the feild events do affect practice,game execution.

    • UWS says:

      No, because Joba doesn’t any sort of meaningful relationship with his mother, AFAIK.

      • Mr. Rodriguez says:

        Yeah, I wasn’t really sure what his relationship was like with his mother.

      • Eric says:

        yeah, i know someone who knows joba and joba really doesn’t like his mom. when joba signed his contract out of college, she tried to get him to buy her a car, so joba bought her a hot wheels car. lol

    • Albert = Machine says:

      Blame it on the crack,
      Got ya feeling wack

  16. Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

    Hey Bill, did, did you ever kill anybody?

    What kind of asinine question is that?

    No I mean in Korea.

    What Career?

  17. Matt ACTY says:

    The Pirates announcers are so dull.

  18. Jamal G. says:

    I really, really miss Javier Vasquez.

    • Matt ACTY says:

      I heard he misses you. Expect a greeting card.

    • Mike Pop says:

      I’ve always like him. Remember that trivia question I got ;) BAM!

    • Accent Shallow says:

      You miss Home Run Javy?

      That’s one state that can stay unlocked. Yeesh.

      • Jamal G. says:

        One-half season, dude.

        • Accent Shallow says:

          He’s the rare pitcher who consistently underperforms his peripherals.

          Fantastic stuff, but I can live without him.

          • andrew says:

            But his peripherals are so good, that even if he underperforms them… he’s so consistent, never misses a start, gives you 200 k’s, 200 innings, of very very solid pitching

            • Accent Shallow says:

              Oh, he absolutely has value, and the Yankees dumped him too soon. Still, who in the current rotation do you prefer Vasquez to? He’s more likely to stay healthy than Burnett, and absolutely has better stuff than Pettitte, but I don’t think adding him and subtracting Pettitte significantly improves the current rotation.

              Going forward, he’d absolutely add stability, but like I said, I can live without him.

              • steve (different one) says:

                Still, who in the current rotation do you prefer Vasquez to?

                it’s not that, it’s that we prefer Carlos Beltran to Melky Cabrera….

          • pat says:

            Is it possible to underperform your peripherals?

            • Accent Shallow says:

              Javier Vasquez, career ERA: 4.30. Career FIP: 3.90. That’s the kind of thing you’d expect over a season. But over his entire career?

              • Mike Pop says:

                Burnett:

                FIP: 3.79
                ERA: 3.85

                He just underperforms his stuff. Should be so much better.

              • pat says:

                Wouldn’t a lower FIP indicate he has just played in front of shitty defenses his whole career? I’ll be honest I think I have a pretty good understanding of FIP, but if I’m wrong show me the way.

                • Accent Shallow says:

                  FIP is just a model, it’s not reality, so it’s not perfect. Still, Vasquez is a guy who strikes out a ton of guys (career 8.0 K/9), doesn’t walk all that many (career 2.4 BB/9), and gives up jacks at around the league average (1.2 HR/9).

                  Yet his career ERA+ is 105. He has borderline ace-level peripherals, and has had one season at that level (2007) since 2003.

                • pat says:

                  Alright I see what you’re saying, what then is the cause of his mediocrity? Inconsistency?

        • I’m a big Javy fan too, but I understand why they felt like they had to get rid of him. It may have been only one-half season, but it was a really, really bad half-season, followed up by a really, really, REALLY bad playoff performance (during which the Yankees seemed to completely lose faith in Javy) that just happened to coincide with the darkest hour, as far as stuff happening on the playing field, that the Yankees have ever experienced. It was a terrible performance by Javy at the worst possible time. I wish they didn’t feel like they had to get rid of him, but I understand it.

  19. No determination till 8 via ESPN

  20. Ivan says:

    Remember when John Maine was gonna be the next great Met pitcher.

  21. Man, the Mets are fucked if Santana or Pelfrey isn’t pitching.

  22. Matt ACTY says:

    I don’t know why, but I get angry when Nate McLouth gets a hit.

    • Jamal G. says:

      It’s how I feel when Bronson Arroyo does anything successful.

      • whozat says:

        I wish there was some way to simulate a team in which Hughes was traded for Arroyo, Joba was in the pen, and the holes had been filled by like…having to trade for Jarrod Washburn and stuff. Or whatever Francessa says the Yanks should have done…just to show him how much worse such a team would be.

    • Mike Pop says:

      Because somewhere, Francessa is rejoicing?

      • Matt ACTY says:

        Probably. But every time Joba and Phil do well, I know he’s getting his soul crushed bit by bit so it’s all good.

        • whozat says:

          Nah, because every time Joba does well, it’s just more evidence of how much MORE valuable he’d be in the pen, and Hughes isn’t Johan Santana RIGHT NOW, so that also doesn’t matter.

  23. Matt ACTY says:

    Worse decision by the Pirates: Those awful unis of the ’70s or choosing Van Slyke over Bonds?

    • Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

      The 70s uniforms….Bonds couldn’t throw out Sid Bream.

      • cult of basebaal says:

        i love those unis!

        the “we are family” caps with the stars were the tits!

  24. Ivan says:

    Man that video for “Love, Sex and Magic” by Ciara is just beautiful.

  25. Ivan says:

    If Phil Hughes turns into Javier Vasquez, would you guys accepted that?

    • Mike Pop says:

      I would be dissapointed.

      • Ivan says:

        Really?

        • Mike Pop says:

          I would love all those innings every year but Hughes should be a better pitcher than he is. I would love Phil to be the pitcher Javier was in Montreal his last 3 years or 07 Javy but overall…. I would be dissapointed if he was only a Javy Vazquez.

          • Ivan says:

            Javier Vasquez is a good pitcher. Everytime u look up, he pitches 200 innings with 200 k’s. could he betta than that sure, but if he turn into a Vasquez, I would settle for that.

            • Mike Pop says:

              I’m not arguing that he isn’t a valuable pitcher. Surely I would settle for Hughes to become the pitcher Javy is but I just hope he is better than that. My key word was dissapoint ed/ing. Ya, I’d be good with him being that kind of pitcher but would definitely be upset that he wasn’t better.

              • whozat says:

                I think you need to learn to moderate either your expectations or what exactly defines “really good major leaguer.”

                If Hughes turned into Javier Vazquez and Austin Jackson turned into Mike Cameron, the Yankees would (and should) consider them complete successes as prospects.

                • Mike Pop says:

                  Where did I say that Hughes would not become a good major leaguer? I just said I have higher hopes for him.

                  I don’t even think Austin Jackson will be as good as Mike Cameron is but I still think he would be a success. Same goes with Hughes if he turns out to be like Javy.

    • Accent Shallow says:

      It’s enough that Hughes isn’t Chinese, now he’s not Puerto Rican, too?

    • whozat says:

      A horse in the rotation that took the ball 33 starts a year and, despite never quite being all it seems he could be, is still quite good?

      Are you kidding? Hell yeah I’d take that.

    • E-ROC says:

      I’ll accept that.

    • Spaceman.Spiff says:

      I’d take it in a flash.

      • Mike Pop says:

        Where would you guys settle for Joba? Obviously we all hope he is a clear cut 1/2 but what if he turned into a Josh Beckett?

        • Mattingly's Love Child says:

          Id like to see him replace Mo…and be Mo….

          JK, I couldn’t even leave that bit of sarcasm hanging there.

        • Matt ACTY says:

          I’d be pretty fuckin’ happy if Joba turned into Josh Beckett.

        • whozat says:

          What does “a Josh Beckett” mean? First of all, the book is FAR from closed on what Josh Beckett is going to be.

          • Mike Pop says:

            A career like he has. A pitcher like Beckett, would you be happy or dissapointed. I know it’s hard to judge or w.e but I couldn’t think of anyone else right away that was comparable.

              • Mattingly's Love Child says:

                That would be one hell of a career to be David Cone. I’d take that in a cocaine heartbeat!

            • whozat says:

              Yes, I know you meant “a career like he has. A pitcher like Beckett.”

              But what do you mean by that? A guy who’s kinda injury prone but above-average with flashes of brilliance that has one AMAZING season after a really mediocre one…and who knows what from age 29 on? Do you mean a guy with great stuff that’s kind of a whiny baby?

              • Mike Pop says:

                Heh, I guess it’s a bad choice to use a pitcher that his career is still on-going. Nevermind the question, too hard to judge.

                • whozat says:

                  Yeah, that’s kinda my point. I feel like you have to at least wait until a guy hits the normal decline years for a pitcher. Like, asking for a comparison to Pedro would be legit, or even Roy Halladay. We kinda know what they are. Beckett could get figure his shit out and reel off three straight years that approach his 2007 and I wouldn’t be really surprised. He could also cram his head back up his own butt and reel off years somewhere between his 2006 and his 2008 and I also wouldn’t be surprised.

                  Do I think Joba could be Pedro? Maybe, but probably not. Pedro’s walk numbers were just unreal, and I don’t know that I see Joba doing that. I could see Joba being kind of like AJ Burnett up to this point. Having those flashes of awesomeness, but also having a lot of those days where he can’t get out of his own way, and spending a good bit of time on the DL. I’d prefer it if he was healthier than that, though.

                • Mike Pop says:

                  He better be healthier than A.J. But ya, my bad. Beckett was a bad comparison, I should have said “up to this point” like you did with A.J. you sneaky lil bastard. The slightest chance that Joba becomes as ridiculous as Pedro is a sexy thought though. Too sexy to contemplate.

              • Mattingly's Love Child says:

                I could do without the whiny baby shit!

                But being Becket wouldn’t be a failure. I would hope for more consistent excellence. But I think that’s the difference between a very good and a great pitcher. A great pitcher is amazing every year.

        • Mattingly's Love Child says:

          I’m completely flumoxed, I’ve never thought of Joba as anything less than a 1/2 in training….

  26. Matt ACTY says:

    They just mentioned Tony Womack on this broadcast. Ugh. Bad memories…

    • Matt ACTY says:

      Okay…I know everyone says the YES guys are homers but they are NOTHING compared to most of these other guys. It seems every time I watch a game on MLB.tv, the team’s announcers are almost openly rooting for their team.

      • Mattingly's Love Child says:

        It is so funny. The worst homers are the White Sox guys, Hawk is AWFUL!

        Worst….announcer…..ever.

        But at the same time, getting to listen to Vin Scully is the bomb.

        • Matt ACTY says:

          Ugh, the CWS guys are AWWWWWFUL.

          • Mattingly's Love Child says:

            It’s fun doing the Rays cus they have Dwayne Statz….brings back memories of my childhood when the Yanks really sucked. That poor bastard went from a terrible Yankees team to the friggin Rays…last year may have been one of his first winning seasons in his entire career as a broadcaster.

    • Jake H says:

      Come on. I say Wo you say Mack , WO-Mack, Wo-Mack!

  27. Mike Pop says:

    Why does Mo not want the Phranchise to pitch?

  28. Brendan says:

    I’m watching Tigers v Twins on mlb.tv because I’ve got Edwin Jackson on my fantasy team and I have to feel bad for the kid. He has been getting no run support all year.

  29. Mattingly's Love Child says:

    I’m enjoying the Yanks On Deck Shit….Joba called CMW Wanger…awesome….

    • whozat says:

      Don’t most of them call him that?

      • Mattingly's Love Child says:

        They were horsing around at the Magic game….it just had more of a comedic tone, especially since it was clear he didn’t like being called that on camera.

  30. Eric says:

    Prediction: game starts @ or around 8:50

    • Matt ACTY says:

      From Petey A:

      UPDATE, 8:19 p.m.: Still raining, tarp still down, grounds crew no longer mulling around. At this point, it would take at least 45 minutes to get the field ready. So the game is not starting any time soon, if at all.

    • Albert = Machine says:

      I’ll take anything. I can’t go 2 days(at least during the season) w/o watching some Yankees baseball.

  31. Tarik says:

    Wow, the Mets moved Perez to the bullpen.

  32. How long till they call it?

    I imagine they’d have to call it by 9.

    • Mattingly's Love Child says:

      Well if it starts at 9, that would mean an end time somewhere around 1am. Do they still have the rule against starting innings after a certain time?

      • whozat says:

        did they ever have that rule?

        • Mattingly's Love Child says:

          I thought I remember that being the case…..but I could very well be wrong.

          • Mike Axisa says:

            The AL used to have a rule that a game couldn’t start after 1am, but they got rid of that. There’s no time criteria now, they can start a game as late as they want and play until the wee hours of the morning if they want.

            • Mattingly's Love Child says:

              Thanks Mike! I thought that was the case but was WAY too lazy to look it up and see if they ever got rid of it or if I imagined the whole thing!

          • AL had curfew, but given the Det/NYY game in 2007 that ended at 2.00 AM I’m guessing they don’t still have it.

  33. Corey Nord-Podberesky says:

    Grienke just continues to blow ppl away. Biggest steal in my fantasy draft. 14th round

  34. Mike Pop says:

    Heh. Teix seems like an awesome dude on this show.

  35. Mike Pop says:

    A-Rod as early as Friday, eh. I like that as long as he is ready.

  36. You guys ever seen “The Zen of Bobby V?” It’s on MSG, it’s pretty entertaining.

  37. Jamal G. says:

    Wow, that scene just now in House (with Amber singing) creeped me out more than any other show I can recall ever doing so.

  38. Albert = Machine says:

    What ever happened to YES’ Ultimate Road Trip. That was the best thin YES had

  39. Corey Nord-Podberesky says:

    Whats up with HanRam?

    • Mattingly's Love Child says:

      So not only did Gammons take it easy on him with the questions, but he also took it easy on him by giving him an actual break?

  40. Jamal G. says:

    This is probably the greatest non-Olivia-Wilde-making-out-with-hot-petite-chick episode in the history of House.

  41. Mike Pop says:

    LaPorta jack.

  42. cult of basebaal says:

    is there a curfew at Yankee Stadium?

  43. Eric says:

    Ok let’s go Indians

  44. Matt LaPorta just hit his first ML HR.

  45. Matt ACTY says:

    UPDATE, 8:48 p.m.: They’re starting to pull the tarp. Get a Red Bull, its going to be a long night.

  46. daneptizl says:

    It’s a go.

  47. cult of basebaal says:

    meanwhile, zack greinke is a fucking joy to watch right now …

  48. Nady Nation says:

    Not sure if any of you guys heard or would be interested, but Boomer & Carton interviewed Selena Roberts this morning on the FAN and they really asked good questions. No powder puff interview like Costas. The audio is on wfan.com, it’s a good listen.

    • Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

      Thanks. I think I’ll take a listen…Even though it’s like a car accident…

    • UWS says:

      Details, por favor? A reader’s digest, if you will :)

      • Nady Nation says:

        They questioned her “unnamed sources” of the pitch tipping & steroids, her lack of apology for the Duke accusations, why she’d even write a book just to tear down A-Rod’s character, etc. But they really didn’t ease up on her, like most interviewers would.

      • pat says:

        They put the screws to her regarding the Duke lacrosse thing, saying how she was incredibly wrong about why should we believe her now about other accusations such as doing steroids in hs. They asked her why even write a book about Arod’s personal life, how she expects to be taken seriously when she uses only anonymous sources. They brought up how early reviews have compared the book to an 80,000 word blog post.
        They were pretty harsh. She held her ground though I’ll give her respect for that. She answered all their questions about duke lacrosse even when carton got a little antagonistic.
        It’s definitely worth a listen.

        • Mike Axisa says:

          “Let me ask you something. Did you ever apologize to the Duke kids and their families? They received death threats you know.”

          Fav part of the interview.

        • cult of basebaal says:

          well, depends on what you mean by “answered”.

          it’s not like she ever offered up a “my bad” when it came to what she wrote back then, preferring to pretend that she never actually wrote she did about the players’ presumed guilt and that she was only writing “generally” about the culture of the institutions involved.

          it is nice to see *somebody* take her to task, wish it would happen with more frequency …

  49. Just got a text 9.20 start time

    • cult of basebaal says:

      SWEEEEET!

      Just enough time to make some brussel sprouts for dinner!

      =)

  50. Nady Nation says:

    9:20 start

  51. Mike Axisa says:

    Just a heads up, I’m going to post a spillover thread at 9:15 since it looks like we’ll have baseball tonight.

  52. Albert = Machine says:

    Expect a lot of Spillover threads for this one

  53. KP says:

    House is awesome tonight…

  54. Guys just pretend it’s a game on the west coast (I’m thinking Oakland or Seattle here) and it won’t seem like such a long night.

  55. A.D. says:

    Watched How I Met Your Mother and now Yankees.

  56. Jamal G. says:

    House: “I slept with Cuddy… after she helped me detox.”

    Wilson: “Wow. Wow; one for each.”

    House: “That’s what she said.”

    That was legen…

    The Yankee game start yet?

    dary!

  57. Mason says:

    Game on!!!!!

  58. Mason says:

    The tarps off folks lets get ready for some baseball..

  59. mike jones says:

    You think Hughes still gets the start?

  60. KP says:

    Anyone else see the toilet in the bullpen? Bad ass..

  61. Hi, I'm Jerry, this is my associate Cornelius says:

    Looks it’s homer-happy Javy!!!!!

  62. Jamal G. says:

    Jim Rice: “…see the ball, hit it. As far as on-base percentage, I don’t, I don’t go for that.”

  63. Wow, they’re actually going to play this clusterfuck and there’s zero chance I’m still awake by the 4th inning.

  64. Chances the game finishes before 1.30 AM?