Jul
04

Game 80: Hoping for fireworks

By Mike Axisa

The Yanks have their work cut out for them today, as the almighty Roy Halladay will toe the rubber for the visiting Blue Jays. Thankfully the Yanks will have Jorge Posada back in the lineup after a two day rest brought on by a sore thumb. Mo knows they’ll need all the help they can get.

Have a Happy Fourth everyone, whether you’re spending it with us and the Yankees or someone else.

Here’s today’s lineup:

Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, 3B
Cano, 2B
Posada, C
Matsui, DH
Melky, RF
Gardner, CF

And on the mound, Chien-Ming Wang.

Posted on Saturday, July 4th, 2009 at 12:30 pm in Game Threads.

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376 Comments

Soriano~12 says:

Let’s do it!!
Today wanger could suprise many. It’s a lovely day game on independence day.

 
Quikksand says:

Let’s go Yankees, go to hell Blue Jays

 

Wang against Halladay. 2 years ago this would have been a premier match up.

Dela G says:

um last year it wouldve been premier…

 
 

Here’s hoping bizarro world strikes today. on paper this looks totally hopeless.

Do you realize that in the HISTORY of the Yankees, no other pitcher have owned this team as badly as Roy Halladay? that’s just insane.

On the bright side, maybe that means he’s due to go all Johan Santana today.

 
Dorian says:

Over/Under runs against Halladay. Lets put it at 2

 
ClayBuchholzLovesLaptops says:

Wang will probably get his ERA into single-digits today, but what would he have to do to have a lower ERA than Halladay at the end of the day?

Glad you asked.

If Wang throws a complete game shutout, his ERA would be at 8.08. For Halladay to get a higher ERA, he would have to allow 67 earned runs without recording an out. I guess he would be taken out before it gets that far. So let’s say he gets pulled with a line of zero outs, ten earned runs. His ERA would then be 3.39. So, all Wang has to do is pitch 72.2 shutout innings to pull ahead.

Unlikely, you say? Sure. Impossible? Yeah, that too.

A.D. says:
 
Dela G says:
 
ClayBuchholzLovesLaptops says:

Only 217 more to go…

 
 
Dela G says:

man roy halladay today. I am praying for angels in the outfield, infield, and in the batters box for the yankees

 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

I hate FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Businees Channel, FX, Fox Soccer Channel, every FSN channel and Ruppert Murdoch. Why did I buy the Extra Innings package? Blacking out a 1pm game for a 4 o’clock game is refuckingdiculous.

Dela G says:

you should get mlb.tv and hook it up to an HDTV like i do :)

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:
 
 
Dela G says:

wang keeping stuff down

good job

 
zs190 says:

Wang’s ERA under 10, woohoo.

 
Dela G says:

haha that’s nick swisher with cabrera’s name next to it

or maybe Melky had Michael Jackson’s surgeon work on him.

Dela G says:
 
 
 
For lack of a more creative name... Alex says:

Vintage Wang rite there.

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Double-play! I’ve missed those with Wang on the mound…

Steve H says:

Too bad he doesn’t get to face Cano and Jeter!!

I keed, I keed.

 
 
Quikksand says:
 
AJ says:

What do you guys think of Phillies and Rangers interested in Wang? Anyone interesting that they could offer?

Steve H says:

I’d guess they are just sniffing around trying to buy (way) low, probably trying to give back 50 cents on the dollar.

Dorian says:

Conversations start with Justin Smoak and Michael Taylor lol.

 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

The Rangers have plenty of interesting pieces, but I doubt any of them get offered for Wang right now. The Rangers’ farm system is absolutely stacked right now, top to bottom.

 
 
AJ says:

hey, we got 9 runs off Santana

 
Dorian says:

I feel like Pedro is on the mound

Dela G says:

i feel like pedro from 1997-2000 is on the mound

 
JobaWockeeZ says:

Except for his douche bag personality.

Dela G says:

true dat, doc is awesome and so quiet.

 
Dorian says:

Yeah that was the worst. He was the most dominant pitcher in the game, he knew it, and he would let you know it. I was in attendance for the 17 K game when Chili Davis had the HR.

 
 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Fun, amazing fact: Mike Mussina never posted consecutive seasons with FIP’s of four or above.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Fun, amazing fact: Mike Mussina was a HoF pitcher. Too bad none of the sportswriters who covered him think so, because they’re mostly idiots.

But yeah, the Moose was all kinds of good, and I really miss him this year.

Dela G says:

yeah i do miss moose. Kim Jones says the players don’t mention him much, but the writers miss him.

 
 

All time favorite stat: Greg Maddux issued just 437 unintentional walks in 532 starts after signing with the Braves in 1993.

 
 
Dela G says:

wow jeter got screwed there…

Salty Buggah says:
 
 
JobaWockeeZ says:

We scored a run! But it was unclutch A-Rod!!!!

Dela G says:

WHOOOO!!!! That was a damn good throw and play at the plate. I thought he was out…

 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

That was in the first inning, so it wasn’t clutch.

 
Salty Buggah says:

A-rod!!! that unclutch bastard

 

Steep decline.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Looks like a first baseman out there.

 
Dorian says:
Salty Buggah says:

asymptotically steep

 
 
Dela G says:
 
 

OMG WE HAVE A LEAD

 
Quikksand says:

Here comes Cano! Get some more runs Yankees!

 
Little Bill says:

I can’t believe they scored a run this early! Here’s hoping for 8 more shutout innings from Wang!

Dela G says:

yeah runs will be a damn premium today for the yankees

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

So Alex has gotten on base 40% of time but has only 27 runs to show for that. Why? It’s because Robbie is struggling with RISP and Jorge has been slumping a bit.

 
ggh says:

Great job by Cano. Swings at all three pitches. He’s completely dismal in these situations. Move him down in the order.

Dorian says:
 
Dela G says:

and replace him with who? “never gets a hit” matsui?

You mean “hitting .293-.423-.585 since June 10th” Matsui?

Dela G says:

eh, i’d rather have cano who will get hot this month

whozat says:
 
 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Only Hideki Matsui can make a .255 BA feel like a .000 BA?

Lanny says:

There is no way Cano should be hitting 5th in the order. Or has Girardi not watched his at bats the past 20 games?

 
 
 
 

Scott Richmond’s face is half the width of Joba

 
A.D. says:
 
Dela G says:

wow that was a tough break for wang there…

 
gg says:

tremendous job by Wang

 
billbybob says:

This Wang guy ain’t looking so great

whozat says:

really? The double was a total fluke, and outside of that its been pop ups and grounders.

JobaWockeeZ says:

Don’t you know? If a pitcher has an ERA above 0.00 they suck.

billbybob says:

Well when you have an ERA of 10, you do kind of suck. I realize their were circumstances surrounding his performance, and I am all for giving his the chances he needs to rebound, but his ERA ain’t anywhere near 0.

JobaWockeeZ says:

Really? So you’re saying by his first three terrible starts AFTER an injury, that automatically makes him suck. Yeah let’s let that overshadow his 19 win seasons. It’s terribly annoying whenver he gives up a damn run everyone wants his head.

billbybob says:

The fact that Wang won 45 games from 06-08 really doesn’t mean shit. Past performance doesnt guarantee future results. All this being said, I like the guy, and I hope he’s able to turn things around and pitch like he was once capable of.

 
 
 
 
billbybob says:

Guess I was mostly referring to the walk to Overbay. Had him down 0-2, then just seemed to lose the zone. Overall, like you said, his performance hasn’t been that bad today, just unlucky.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

cmon wangy, you started great but now don’t blow up.

 

at least he’s keeping them all on the ground.

 
billbybob says:

Guess he just wanted to get his ERA back into double digits

 
Lanny says:

Haven’t seen a pitcher completely fall off a cliff quite like Wang in a long time. From dominant to barely major league quality in a season. The stat guys were dead right about him.

Bob C says:

calm down, he got ridiculously unlucky last inning a little bloop for a double and a semi-soft ground ball that most shortstops probably would have gotten. other than the walk he pitched fine

JobaWockeeZ says:

It’s Lanny. Everyone on the Yankees suck accoridng to him. Don’t know why he even watches.

 
 
YankeesFanInMI says:
 
Dela G says:

rick ankiel was 100 times worse than wang

 
Zach says:

ever hear of Cliff Lee?

 
 
Dela G says:
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Ground balls find holes, that one just happened to find a hole when runners were in scoring position. Them’s the breaks.

Wang actually looks pretty good so far. If anyone but Halladay were on the mound right now, I’d even like the Yankees chances right now, even down 2-1.

whozat says:

It’s true. I don’t think I’ve seen a well-hit ball, except the Hill single.

 
Salty Buggah says:

Exactly. Sometimes, shit happens and I still like our chances.

 
 
John Duci says:

Stop bashing Wang. Watch…

 
gg says:

Time to stretch Hughes out

JobaWockeeZ says:

Because pitchers are never allowed to let a run score. Time to DFA every pitcher we have.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

BUT PHIL HUGHES IS A STAHTING PITCHAAH!

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

DAMN, Matsui never gets a hit! Bring up Shelley!

 
Jose says:

You forgot that Orel Hershisher was executed on the spot after his 59 scoreless innings streak ended, didn’t you?

 
 
Dela G says:

you’ve got to be kidding me

 
 
JobaWockeeZ says:

And the pessimists come! Where were you during the lead…oh wai

 
Salty Buggah says:

It’s OK. If Wangy can hold them there, we have a decent chance.

 
CP3 says:

We gotta win this game for the game we lost against seattle.

 
Jose says:

Wang’s sinker isn’t sinking. I can tell by the pixels on my television.

whozat says:

And having seen many sinkers not sink before?

Jose says:

If Wang allows any runs at any point during the year, it can only be explained by “the sinker isn’t sinking”. I’m an expert, I have a degree in sinker-ology and plumbing.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

See, we hit a ball hard and it didn’t land while their grounders and bloopers found holes/landing spots.

 
Dela G says:

damn i thought that posada ball would find a gap…

 
A.D. says:

Yeah that Matsui guy can’t hit.

 
JobaWockeeZ says:

BUT THEN WANG AND TEH MATSUI SUCK!!!! WE LSOT THE GAME GUYZ!!!!!!!!

 
DJ says:

Hit-deki Bat-sui!

 
Dorian says:

ATTA BOY MATSUI!!!!!

 
Zach says:
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

I just saw Hideki Matsui get a hit with my own eyes.

Riddering says:

Nope, sorry. That was a YES network conspiracy.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

HAHa!!! who said matsui never hits?

 
AJ says:

Gardner is due.

whozat says:

Gardner is due. not that good at baseball.

FTFY

 
 
Dela G says:

MAN I WAS SO WRONG ABOUT MATSUI MIKE

My Bad

 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

Dela, you have a little egg on your face, no not there….there, you got it. :)

Dela G says:

:( yeah i look like a buffoon for the day

Salty Buggah says:

at least you admit it unlike Lanny

Dela G says:

:) i don’t mind being wrong at all, its a fact of life. Not everyone can bat 1.000

 
 
 
 
AJ says:

Gardner or Swisher playing everyday?

The Fallen Phoenix says:

…is this an actual question?

AJ says:

Gardner’s OBP is .366, Swisher is .364, whats the problem?

Gardner has 3 HR (one of them didn’t actually leave the park and the other two very barely did.) , Swisher has 12?

AJ says:

Its not all Homeruns, Gardner has 17 Stolen bases in 19 tries, Swisher has zero.

Jose says:

12 HR > 17 SB and 2 CS

AJ says:

17 SB + Defense + Intangibles > or = to 12 HR.

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Jose says:

I’m not arguing with that, I just was clarifying that Gardner’s SB are not more important than 12 HR.

Fun stats:
Gardner WAR: 2.1 in 69 Games
Swisher WAR: 1.4 in 77 Games

 
 
 
 
 
Jake K. says:

Gardner’s SLG is .416 (and unlikely to remain that high). Swisher’s is .484.

AJ says:

Yes we all understand Swisher has more power, but he gets on base less, has less speed and is a terrible defensive outfielder. Swisher only has one good quality, Gardner only has one bad quality, the power.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Swisher is not a terrible defensive outfielder. He is, at worst, a league-average RF, and at best, above-average. His UZR/150 in RF is 1.7 right now.

Gardner is a great defensive center fielder, it’s true. But again, if the comparison is Gardner+Melky every day, against Gardner/Melky+Swisher every day, you’re going to see less total production. Gardner’s bat only plays in center, and Melky’s got a fringe-average bat in right, at best.

 
 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

I thought you’d never ask.

Swisher’s BB% is 16.9, his SLG is .484 (with a .248 ISOP). He has a .367 WOBA.

Gardner’s BB% is 11.0, his SLG is .416 (with a .130 ISOP). His WOBA is currently .364.

It’s close, but Swisher also sees more pitches an at-bat, and his LD% is well out of his career norms (13.7%, compared to a career 18.5%), so I would expect that to rise as the year goes on. Swisher’s overall numbers are also dragged down by an absolutely atrocious May.

I’d bet that Swisher is far more productive from now until the end of the season than Gardner. Gardner’s numbers are also boosted by his being a CF – that’s why his WBOA is comparable to Swisher’s. If you stuck Gardner in RF (or moved Melky to RF so Gardner could play more), you’d really start to miss Swisher’s bat.

 
 
 
 

Wow, I didn’t know Wally Pip was out of the lineup that day with a headache. Yikes.

Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

Fun Fact: Lou Gehrig was 6′ tall and weighed 200lbs. Robbie Cano is 6′ tall and weighs 205.

 
Jose says:

That is a common myth. Huggins was trying to light a fire under the offense, so he benched Pipp.

 
whozat says:

Yep. Betcha it was a hangover.

 
 
AJ says:

Why does no one attack Manny Ramirez for his horrible press conference with his sunglasses on the whole time, but A-rod was wrong for showing emotion with his teammates.

A.D. says:

It was just A-Rod being A-Rod

 
Dela G says:

because there is a rule that all present/former red sox players get free passes in the media for life

 
 

Time for more counter jinx,

Wang will never get a guy out.

Cano will never hit with RISP

We will never score against Halladay

A.D. says:

Marco Scutaro only gets hits

 
 
AJ says:

OMG the vest she bought it on Castro Street in San francisco.

Dela G says:

ugh, if she could only change that face :P

 
 
Jake H says:

How is wang’s velocity and movement?

Dela G says:

velocity on the FB is 91-93

sinker is mid to lower in the zone for the better part.

There is movement on that fastball though

Jake H says:

Thanks. MLB extra innings never have the Sat day games so I don’t get to watch the games. It blows.

 
 

Velo’s 92 mostly, but the movement and location seem to be the best i’ve seen all year long (particularly the location.)

 
Dela G says:

oh and his sinker is actually working

he’s getting a ton of ground balls

 
whozat says:

His velo looks good on gameday, and I’ve seen some good movement on a few pitches. The lineout was on a hanging slider.

 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

I hope that fills Wang’s quota of line drives this game.

 

Who is this Asian guy that’s getting all these ground ballz?

JobaWockeeZ says:

Kei Igawa? Can’t be Wang because people told me he sucks.

Mr.Jigginz says:

No,no,we must have traded for Matsuzaka…I noticed he wasn’t playing recently in Boston,and you KNOW only a current/former Red Stocking could be this effective…

 
 
Jose says:
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

see, with a little defense here and there, Wang is pretty good.

 
Dorian says:

If Wanger gets his value back up I have no problems if they trade him for some good prospects.

Dela G says:

why not keep him and let him be the best #3 pitcher in the league?

whozat says:

Because, hopefully, he can be traded for an elite young player this offseason or next year, and a guy like ZMac or Kennedy can come up to be the 5th starter behind CC, AJ, Joba and Hughes.

Dela G says:

i’d rather keep wang. he’s here for cheap, and sinkerballers can pitch until their late 30s (look at lowe as an example)

JobaWockeeZ says:

I’d keep Wang if the prospects don’t pan out. But if the prospects reach their potential then they’ll be much better pitchers.

 
Mike bk says:

7 million isnt cheap. if you can like whozat said get an elite position prospect or two very good ones we can fill holes in say the OF a lot cheaper than we would in FA and have a cheap starter come up to fill wang’s spot.

Zach says:

7m is cheap for the Yankees.

You dont trade Wang until you know you have 5 starters better then him

Mike bk says:

CC, AJ, Joba, Phil, Z-Mac, Nova, Ace if they start him.

I got 6 for sure and Nova as a question.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Zach says:

If Wang gets back right, or even close to where he was you cannot say ZMac, Nova and Ace are better then Wang

 
 
whozat says:

Joba or Hughes is the guy who’s “replacing” Wang. The idea is that a ZMac/Kennedy-type can fill the 5th slot well enough, and the value you get in RETURN for Wang helps the team more, because it is at a position of greater need. If you can get a 26-28 year old very good corner OFer that’s under control at a reasonable price for the next 3-4 years, or a AAA middle infielder with a lot of upside, or an elite AAA corner OF bat…One of those + Zmac is better for the 2010-and-later Yankees than Wang.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
Mike bk says:

well if you can get legit value in position prospects we all know that our system needs them badly.

Lanny says:

Wang the best #3 in the league? What league is this and what Wang are you talking about? Have you not watched him pitch?

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Well, you clearly aren’t watching today.

He has a torn vagina. Get him out of the game and rotation…

 
 
 
 
 
 
zs190 says:

34 pitches through 3, it really is not that bad.

whozat says:

Not that bad? That’s great!

11.3 pitches per inning? Great!

Something isn’t right with Doc. I’m not complaining, but the Jays need to be worried.

A.D. says:

Prob rust + was on a redic pace. He always has a mini stretch where he’s mortal.

 
Dela G says:

yeah he had 15 walks all season, and has 2 or 3 today. He’s throwing too many balls. I thought the yankees wouldn’t get a hit after that derek jeter strike out.

However, Tex looks lost against him.

Dela G says:

watch, tex will prove me wrong

Dela G says:

ugh man i suck today

 
 
 
 
Zach says:

not that bad? in an era where it takes most pitchers 100-120 pitches to get through 6 inning 34 through 3 is great

zs190 says:

Relax, I’m just reminding the doomsday guys that. Can’t believe guys are calling this a bad start and asking for Hughes already.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

soooo close Derek, so close

 
A.D. says:

Heh Wells is the worst URR/150 CF so far this year

A.D. says:
 
 
Dela G says:

man halladay was deathly scared that ball was out

 

Dear A-rod : please hit, or else we will surely not score this inning.

 
gg says:

David Cone is a nut.

 
whozat says:

Way to get to that ball, tex. That’s tough to hit

 
Jake says:

Big money, big money, no whammies.

 

ugggggggggh, inning over.

 
whozat says:
 
gg says:

Time to shine Cano

 
CP3 says:

OMG cano gets a chance to prove he can hit with runners in scoring position!

 
AJ says:

Can Cano make me take back all the bad things i’ve said about him?>

 
AJ says:
 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz at least he took 6 pitches.

 
gg says:

Where’s all the Cano apologists?

Dela G says:

he’ll heat up this month. He is a career .345 july hitter

 
A.D. says:

I mean in his career he hasn’t been good with RISP, he even says he hasn’t been hitting with men on.

 
Zach says:

right here.

can we stop analying every single at bat? if he gets 100 AB with RISP he’s going to make an out 70 times and he’d be a .300 hitter with RISP

gg says:

Its not a small sample anymore. He weakly grounds out almost every time with RISP.

Zach says:

its a small smaple size when you study every single at bat.

hes 20/97 = .206
if he was 30/97 = .309

so you’re flipping out over 10 ABs- thats the definition of a small sample size

The Fallen Phoenix says:
 
 
 
 
JobaWockeeZ says:

DFA him! Kennedy/ Montero/ Matsui for Kinsler!!11111!!11

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Roy Halladay is on the mound?

 
 
Lanny says:

How many runners left on will it take for Girardi to move Cano down in the order? Why would anyone pitch to A-Rod with Cano hitting behind him?

ClayBuchholzLovesLaptops says:

Ask Halladay. He did it twice today.

 
 
gg says:

The guys batting almost 100 points below his B.A. with RISP.

yes, but that also means he’s hitting at a MVP level when there’s no one on.

 
 
CP3 says:

I hope wang can do a great job today so he can be happy like he used to be http://tinyurl.com/lkvk5t

Dela G says:

that photo is hilarious

 
 
AJ says:

Who’s gna hit behind ARod? Posada? There is no one else really.

considering how bad he’s been, anyone on the roster outside of Ransom / Cervelli is actually a upgrade with men on.

 
 
Dorian says:

How come no one talks about Dave Eiland when the starters are doing well?

Dela G says:

i thought the only good pitching coach was dave duncan?

 
 
Riddering says:

If this was only Cano hitting (or not hitting) against Halladay, I’d have nothing to complain about.

But with Cano’s pathetic RISP ability and the lineup showing Halladay is hittable today…yeah.

Zach says:

i wouldnt consider 3 hits in 3 innings as hittable

Dela G says:

well the guy averages less than a hit per inning, so hopefully they can turn this around

 
Riddering says:

Well, with my expectations it is. I was expecting nothing but strikeouts, pop-ups, ground balls, double plays, dinosaur attacks, etc.

Train says:

as I was saying….

 
Mr.Jigginz says:

Well,we did have a Godzilla sighting…

 
 
Train says:

I think he looks hittable. He’s missing the corners more than usual and his slider/cutter/whatever-he-throws is not as sharp. It’s hung up a couple of times.

 
 
 
Dela G says:

man wang looks vintage today.

It seems like the past few starts, the runs scored off of him came off of oddly hit balls, and some bad breaks.

He’s doing much better

Zach says:

impossible, Wang sucks. we needed to cut him 11 weeks ago

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

When Wang is right, that’s how runs are scored – not off well-hit balls. And I’ll tell you, Wang definitely looks right today.

If he’s back, look out AL East in the second half. Sabathia/Burnett/Chamberlain/Wang is as good as any front-four in baseball.

Zach says:

cant top Smoltz-Penny-Wakefield

Zach says:

they’re soo good i didnt need to add a fourth

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

Don’t forget Andy is a 2nd half pitcher so…

 
 
 
AJ says:

Best is Halladay, and haha the Mets lost Nolan Ryan.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Dan Haren and Zack Greinke are also not chopped liver. Halladay’s best when you consider which division he’s pitching against, but those two are closer than one might think.

Actually…even after adjusting for lineups, Greinke and Haren are at the top (5.0 and 4.6 SNLVARs, respectfully). For those who don’t know, Support Neutral Lineup-adjusted Value Added above replacement is a BP metric which adjusts a pitcher’s peripherals based on the strength of the lineups that pitcher has faced over the course of a season, then produces the number of wins that pitcher has added over the course of the season above a replacement-level pitcher.

Halladay is 6th with an SNLVAR of 3.9, tied with Edwin Jackson, and right behind Josh Johnson and Matt Cain’s 4.1, and Felix Hernandez’s 4.0.

 
 
Stephen says:
 
 

GAHHHH, if he bated 5th…

Shdwrptr says:

Haha IETC. As if Halladay would have used the same pitch sequence with 2 on. You can’t assume anything would have been the same.

I know, but it is still extremely agonizing.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:
 
Jose says:

Interesting Stat: Brett Gardner has the highest WAR of all AL Rookies at 2.1

Bonus Info: His WAR is higher than Matt Holliday, Dustin Pedroia, Carlos Pena, Joey Votto, and Ryan Howard.

Zach says:

does WAR take into account grittyness?

Jose says:

Yes, but this year League Average is only 1.42 grittyness so it doesn’t factor in as much.

 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Votto has missed a big chunk of the season, though. And Gardner gets a big boost from his position (center).

You can make a good argument that, right now, Gardner should be getting the lion share of CF at-bats. Melky’s WOBA is .341, and this is with the highest LD% of his career (21.3% v. career 18.9%). That’s also with his highest HR/FB rate of his career (13.8% v. career 6.8%). Melky needs to improve either his walk rate, or his power, since most of the hits he’d getting with his high LD% are singles (ISOP of .164 this season).

Jose says:

Alright, so Votto was a poor example. But don’t you find those examples of people interesting at the very least? I’m not coming to any conclusions just giving food for thought.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Well, Holliday’s season has been well-documented thus far (he hasn’t been playing to his lofty standards), and although Howard is always high on the traditional leaderboards (HRs and RBIs), he’s always given a lot of his value back when you consider his position and defense.

So the real story is that…yes, Gardner has been pretty good this season (probably better than anyone could have expected). Is he better than Dustin Pedroia, Carlos Pena, and Matt Holliday? Probably not. So a combination of Gardner’s suprisingly good play and their disappointing play has contributed to Gardner’s better WAR thus far this season.

That said, as I indicated above, I think Gardner should be getting a majority of the CF at-bats over Melky, though.

Jose says:
 
 
 
 
 
AJ says:

Avis Hot Dog vendor = Henry Winkler/ The Fonze?

 
AJ says:

Kay : “Wang outdueling Roy Halladay” Wow.

 
CP3 says:

Hey what is Rios value right now, what would it cause to get him.

Shdwrptr says:

There was a lot of drama going on with him recently but he’s such a valuable player I can’t imagine Toronto would give him up cheap, especially within the division.

 
Zach says:

.318 OBP this year, .336 career OBP, 63m still owed to him

zs190 says:

58 through 5, it’s not that bad if he can play CF well(and there is no reason to think he can’t, he’s a tremendous RF and had a 24 UZR/150 in 62 games as CF last season). Good stroke, good power, good speed. I think some question his lack of effort and say he doesn’t work hard enough. You know what, he sounds like a Robbie Cano with more speed. I don’t think we’re going to trade in division, but I like Alex Rios a lot.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

Even though he got out there, if it was up to Rios, he would play against us everyday.

 

Wang’s looking terrible, he’ll never get any one out again! (counter jinx more)

 
AJ says:

Cmon Mariners you can do it! It’s just Brad Penny.

Salty Buggah says:

JUST Brad Penny? This guy is the best pitcher around in non-Red Sox teams!

 
Jose says:

Your voodoo appears to be working.

 
 
AJ says:

Fantasy Baseball Question: Start Francisco Liriano against the Tigers?

 
mustang says:

Maybe they should trade Wang now for bunch of minors and a couple of baseballs.

Salty Buggah says:

COUPLE?!?!?! We’ll be lucky to get a single baseball for him!

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

man, a HR here would be nice

 
mustang says:

He is now pitching against a American league team from the AL East no less against one of the pitchers in the game.
Wonder what the excuse will be tomorrow ?

 
AJ says:

Omg its cano….

 
Dorian says:

Here comes the rally killer

 

Cano can’t buy a hit with men on. The statistical correction will be glorious.

Salty Buggah says:

It’s gonna be crazy

 
whozat says:

That wasn’t luck. That was swinging at a pitchers pitch. It’s in his head now.

 
 

This is getting stupid.

 
Salty Buggah says:

another RISP chance for Robbie…will he come through?

 
AJ says:

Cano is such a @*&#(*@&#()*@&U#*(&@&#(@*#&(*&(*!!!!

 
Gustavo says:

Like I’ve been saying… Cano with RISP…. PITCH SELECTION!

 
Shdwrptr says:

C’mon Cano. You can at least hit it hard…

 
Charlie says:

Got Cano has got a serious problem with RISP. Its got to be in his head now, just like he couldn’t hit in April and May last year, this year he can’t hit with runners on base.

Charlie says:

great, didn’t mean to post that twice

 
 
AJ says:

If he took 3 strikes he coulda worked the pitch count.

 
Charlie says:

God Cano has got a serious problem with RISP. Its got to be in his head now, just like he couldn’t hit in April and May last year, this year he can’t hit with runners on base.

Charlie says:

Unless he’s always been like this and i’m forgetting

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

You know what probably doesn’t get it out of his head? Having it constantly talked about by the media, and being asked the same questions by the same sportswriters each and every day.

Not using that as an excuse, but the self-fulfilling prophecies of the sports media (my favorite: it’s so difficult/different playing in NY) always grind my gears.

 
 
Tony says:

You guys have committed horrific crimes against sarcasm. Stop it.

FYI, Wang had a 6.35 ERA in June.

Tony says:

And now it’s 6 in July. Only idiots think Wang isn’t good enough to be in the rotation right now. Let’s tell tired jokes for another 30 posts.

 
 
Lanny says:

Cano is due sometime right?

 
whozat says:

That was the worst pitch today.

 
Shdwrptr says:

What is with Scutaro and leadoff doubles?

 
Jake K. says:

Why would a pitcher give Robbie something to hit with men on? They know he’ll swing at anything.

 
Salty Buggah says:

You know, Wang’s FIP for the whole year is “only” is 5.27 so he has had a lot of bad luck.

 
Charlie says:

Ugh, I don’t care how “good” Wang looks or how unlucky he’s been, he’s just not the same and I don’t think he ever will be. The best he can do is 5IP, 3ER so far and that just doesn’t cut it when it seems Hughes can do a much better job.

Stephen says:
Charlie says:

yea, i’m saying in general this season he’s around 5 IP, 3 ER. And now he’s done worse than that today

Zach says:

thats what Hughes did in all but 3 starts

 
 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Wang was cruising today until that last inning. This was vintage Wang, and even that last home run pitch probably isn’t a home run in every stadium.

I’m as high on Hughes as everybody else, and I wish there was room for him in this year’s major league starting rotation, but you can’t tell if Wang is going to get all the way back unless you throw him out there.

Charlie says:

throw him out there and decrease your chances of winning every time he pitches??

The Fallen Phoenix says:

Except that it doesn’t. Until that last inning, which blindsided just about everybody, Wang was as good a starter as anybody else in the league.

I don’t know what happened on that home run pitch – it looks like it might have been something physical, and not just ineffectiveness – but Wang was cruising this entire game, and outdueling Doc Holliday.

 
 
 
 
whozat says:

His velo is dropping over the course of the game. I think this inning, should he get through it, should maybe be his last one…

whozat says:
 
 
Stephen says:

Seattle tied it

 
whozat says:

He was having a real good game til this inning. Lots of grounders, efficient. This sucks.

 
 
Salty Buggah says:
 
Charlie says:

this is just fucking ridiculous. What the fuck are we supposed to do with this guy???

 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Damn, that’s rough. A ball left up to a left-handed hitter in Yankee Stadium is never a good pitch.

This…does not look good.

 
t56yyy says:

Goodbye Wang. I don’t want to hear that he showed improvement over the last start. The proof is in the final result.

 
Stephen says:

He’s hurt?!?!

Charlie says:

I don’t think i’d mind it if he was

Lanny says:

His arm. It’s broken!

 
 
 
handtius says:
 
 
Lanny says:

Can’t wait to see all the Wang praise after this game. Like 4 runs in 5+ innings is now a great start. The bar is being set pretty low for him.

Dorian says:
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

One pitch. That’s it. One pitch.

I am so glad you aren’t in the Yankees front office.

 
 
YankeeScribe says:
Mike bk says:

DL him for the blister if he has it, even if he doesnt. he can go to scranton, pitch innings, get confidence, build stamina instead of failing as soon as he hits 60 pitches every time and more importantly Hughes gets innings.

 
 
Dorian says:
 
t56yyy says:

and that’s that

 
Tony says:

Wang is “hurt.” Maybe he can go do actual rehab now.

 
CP3 says:

I saw the look on his face and it looked as he was about to take a HUGE dump

AJ says:

Omg Wang sharted on the mound…!

 
 
A.D. says:

Well they may have an excuse if they want to re-DL him

 

He has a torn vagina. Get him out of the game and rotation…

Bob Stone says:

IETC – Very Funny

 
 
AJ says:

Wang to the DL with Social Anxiety Disorder?

 
Charlie says:

Yes, now Hughes can take his spot

 
Stephen says:

Hughes back to the rotation!

 
Lanny says:

Trading Wang to Philly or someplace else in the NL for a good prospect makes a lot of sense since he’s going to ask for a boatload of greenbacks in arbitration and can use his past history to get it.

Then you go out and get a competent starter like Washburn.

The Fallen Phoenix says:

No. Washburn is not a competent starter. He’s a poor man’s Andy Pettitte, at best, except not really, because they’re both owed about the same amount of money this year, if I recall correctly.

Mike bk says:

who needs Washburn, Hughes takes his spot

 
 

If only we had a young starter with hughes potential ready to take Wangs place

 
whozat says:

I guarantee you were resoundingly against dealing for Washburn last season when they almost traded for him.

The guy is a flyball pitcher who has benefitted greatly from having three CFers in his outfield all season.

That’s who you want to go trade for, after dumping Wang for nothing?

 
 
AJ says:

Wang to Posada: Dude, I just sharted.

Posada to Wang: ….

 
Jamal G. says:

Well, he didn’t touch his elbow or shoulder, so, that’s good, right?

 
AJ says:

I wouldn’t be surprised if he caught the flu from Damon and Jeter.

 
Salty Buggah says:

I hope we can tie it soon because we’ve had plenty of chances to score.

 
Lanny says:

Wang’s problem is the same one he’s had since he came up.

He doesn’t get enough strike outs to be successful. It’s caught up to him.

Jose says:

Also he doesn’t throw 98 MPH.

 
Zach says:

hes raised his K9 every year of his career

 
 

CC had the biceps issue. Pettitte’s back locked up. Joba took the liner off his leg. Wang had the hip issue and now this.

Burnett’s the only pitcher to stay healthy all year. Go figure.

A.D. says:
 
Salty Buggah says:

what injury did he have today anyway?

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

cmon Robertson, get out of this

 
Charlie says:

c’mon drob throw strikes

 
A.D. says:
 

Oh come on D-Rob.

Zach says:

but he has a 16 K9!!

 
 
whozat says:

Man, at least two of those pitches were on the black.

 
Salty Buggah says:

that ball 1 was a strike 1

 
Jake H says:

Robertson having problems throwing strikes.

 
Charlie says:

oh my fucking god that was right down the middle

 
Mike bk says:

i know girardi gets bashed enough but hughes only threw 15 pitches yesterday and if wang is going to miss a start or go on the dl why not let hughes throw a couple today so get more stretched out?

Bob Stone says:

Becuasehey may need Hughes for the eight inning

 
whozat says:

That doesn’t work…throwing multiple pitches back-to-back days is not prep for starting.

You need single, lengthy outings. Have him throw 30 pitches in a game tomorrow, a long bullpen in a few days, and then start in five days.

Mike bk says:

what makes me nervous is like i said yesterday it appears they are now looking for excuses to keep him in the pen.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Finally found the inside corner

 
Bob Stone says:

Good pitch D-Rob!!!

 
Doctor J says:

Today, I consider myself, the unluckiest Wang on the face of the earth

 
Charlie says:
 
AJ says:

Dellucci up next, may as well be careful.

 
Jake K. says:

It’s disgusting how many people seem to be reveling in Wang’s struggles/potential injury. He has been a huge asset to this team over the past few years. Yeah, he’s struggling now, but it would asinine to just give up one someone with his track record of success.

billbybob says:

Thats like saying my mutual fund was up 30% last year, so it is going to be up 30% this year.

 
whozat says:

They’d rather be right than have the Yankees be good.

 
Dorian says:

No man it’s extremely cool to be a jerkoff to someone who has been paramount to the team’s success over the years.

 
Charlie says:

No, it’s not. This team is supposed to be contending for a championship. You can’t lose games by throwing out a pitcher who has lost something when you have Hughes waiting in the bullpen

 
A.D. says:

Well its generally going to be what have you done for me lately, on top of that the issue isn’t that Wang is the same pitcher just having some issues, but that he’s not the same at all

 

He “has” been. This year not so much

Hmm kay. Not hard to understand.

 
Tony says:

You know what’s disgusting? Acting like you can’t see what’s happening to this guy. It’s not fair to the fans, the team, or to WANG to have him in the majors pitching like this. He has been completely mishandled and this needed to have been corrected a long time ago. Use the blister or whatever to put REHAB HIS INJURY. He never completed an actual rehab process. They just threw him into the fire before he was ready, and now he has stamina issues, screwed up mechanics, terrible command, etc. Fix this ****.

 
 
Dorian says:
 
Bob Stone says:
 
whozat says:

Horrendous pitch.

 
Charlie says:

fuck i thought this guy was gonna pound the zone when he got called up… this game is looking like a lost cause

 
Salty Buggah says:

damn it D-rob!!

I bet Girardi loses some trust in him now.

 
Jose says:

Yankee offense manages 3 runs off Halladay and this is how they are repayed?

 
A.D. says:
 
Dorian says:

FUCK NO NOT TOMKO

 
Bob Stone says:

Tomko is warming up – Looks like Girardi is conceding the game

A.D. says:

Tomko is like throwing gas on a fire.

 
 
The Fallen Phoenix says:

Wang’s last three starts before this one:

Vs WSN: 5.0, 3R, 4SO, 2BB, 12:2 GB:FB, 91 PI.
At ATL: 5.0, 3R, 4SO, 1BB, 7:7 GB:FB, 62 PI.
At NYM: 5.1, 2R, 3SO, 3BB, 13:3 GB:FB, 85 PI.

He has not been hurting the Yankees’ chancing of winning. In at least two of those starts (Atlanta and New York), he was probably good for another inning or two except that he was in a NL park, and until the 6th inning, it looked like Wang would have been good for 7 or 8 innings, 2 runs. And even if he had given up a third or fourth run by then, 7 or 8 innings with 3 or 4 runs is damned good.

A.D. says:

Yeah he’s been making progress, at this point he’s been pitching like a 5th starter.

 
 
Charlie says:

this ump is absofuckinglutely atrocious. He called balls on at least 5 of drob’s strikes

Bob Stone says:

Cone has been saying all game that he is a great ump and very consistent for both sides

 
 
Bob Stone says:

Ah JoPo – I hope that doesn’t hurt us – Thank Gardner

 
 
Charlie says:

thank god that inning is over

 
Salty Buggah says:

phew, that was close.

 
Dorian says:

There is nothing that Gardy can’t run down

 
Ivan says:

That’s range holmes

 
Riddering says:

Will we see Hughes pitch a full inning anytime soon?

 
Shdwrptr says:

We need 3 runs….and Tomko to come down with the fast acting flu

 

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