Today’s game was not easy to watch. Those of you who missed it while at work were spared some frustration. The Yankees threw 151 pitches and the Twins tossed 164, and the teams combined for six mid-inning pitching changes. That’s a lot to cram into three hours and 18 minutes. Add in the Yanks committing two costly errors, walking in two runs, and using six pitchers, and it seems like a game they should have lost. In the end, the bats were able to overcome some sloppy play and the Yanks took their Metrodome finale, completing the season sweep of the Twins 6-4.
Al Aceves, making his first big league start since September of last year, didn’t pitch as well as many had hoped. He wasn’t terrible, especially for a guy making his first start since April. Trouble in the second inning upped his pitch count, and trouble in the fourth spelled his exit. He had allowed just one earned run at the time — an inexcusable down the middle fastball to Jason Kubel on an 0-2 pitch — but David Robertson walked in two more, leaving Ace with a line of 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Even the unearned run was partially his fault.
The Yankees executed a series of follies in the second inning which really led to both runs. The first was the aforementioned 0-2 pitch to Kubel. I’m sure Ace wasn’t trying to groove a fastball there, but he did and a hitter like Kubel is going to be all over that. It went out to dead center and cut the Yankees lead to 3-1. Folly No. 1. The second came two batters later. After a five-pitch walk of Mike Cuddyer, Ace threw over to first. He missed by a mile, moving Cuddyer to second. Folly No. 2.
While Folly No. 1 was frustrating and Folly No. 2 was annoying, Folly No. 3 was downright infuriating. The best you can say about Mike Redmond’s running is that he’s faster than Jose Molina. Yeah. He hit one hard to third, and the ball hit the seam. Cody Ransom stayed with it, though, corralling it with plenty of time to make an accurate throw. He pulled it, though, sending it wide of Teixeira at first and allowing Cuddyer to score. Despite missing two months, it was Ransom’s fourth error this season.
David Robertson committed Follies Nos. 4 and 5, which were even more infuriating than No. 3. He came into the game with the bases loaded, never an enviable task for any reliever, let alone a rookie. After avoiding the walk of Nick Punto, an affliction from which many Yankees pitchers have suffered this series, he put Span on first with four straight balls. 5-3 Yanks. Five pitches later, Matt Tolbert would take his base. Not only did this plate the fourth Twins run, but it brought up Joe Mauer with the bases loaded. How Robertson got him to ground out after being behind 2-0 is beyond me. I tried not to think about it too much, opting to wipe my brow and send thanks to the baseball gods.
Meanwhile, with the bullpen responsible for the remaining five innings, the Yanks could have used some more runs. A 5-4 lead just didn’t feel safe, not with Albaladejo in the pen in place of Aceves. Mark Teixeira was the only one who could deliver, sending a solo blast into the left field seats, ending his drought and the annoying comments about it being X at bats since he last homered. As of this writing, it has been one at bat since Mark Teixeira homered. Who’s counting with me?
Oddly enough, Girardi opted to stick with Robertson for the fifth. It seemed a curious move, sending out Robertson, who had just walked in two runs, to face the number four, five, and six hitters in the Twins’ order. He surprised by striking out Justin Morneau on three pitches, but got back to his inaccurate ways by walking Kubel on five. Finally Girardi had seen enough and called on Jon Albaladejo to get the last two in the fifth, and presumably all of the sixth. He delivered, striking out Cuddyer and Redmond, and then sitting down the Twins 1-2-3 in the sixth. With Coke and Hughes up and ready, the prospects of the bullpen finishing the game got a bit better.
They got a ton better when Coke shook off a leadoff bunt single by Joe Mauer to get Justin Morneau to ground out on the first pitch. He then struck out Kubel on just three. That’s five pitches, five strikes for Coke. He might have struggled with his command early on, but lately Coke has done nothing but work quickly and throw strikes. Coke’s last five appearances: 3 pitches, 2 strikes; 24 pitches, 16 strikes; 6 pitches, 4 strikes; 7 pitches, 4 strikes; 5 pitches, 5 strikes. He has allowed just one hit in that span and has walked none.
Phil Hughes again was Phil Hughes. He continued attacking hitters, a lesson we can only hope he takes with him when he eventually returns to the rotation. That was one of the frustrating things about watching him last year and even parts of this year. He’d try to hit corners, and when he didn’t he looked lost. From the bullpen he’s constantly getting ahead of guys, throwing strikes and letting them take hacks if they want. Most of the time their efforts are futile. In the eighth (after a gift out by Justin Morneau, gift-wrapped by Jorge Posada) he got ahead of all three hitters he faced, striking out the last two. The only semi-blip was against Jose Morales, but after going up 0-2 I think it was more Hughes trying to get out an inexperienced hitter with some junk pitches. In the end Hughes got him with ol’ number one, a 95 mph fastball up that Morales had no chance of reaching.
On the offensive side, the Yankees again got production from the bottom of the order. Cody Ransom walked with the bases loaded and drove in a run with a single. Brett Gardner bounced into a fielder’s choice that allowed a run to score and singled on a poorly placed Liriano changeup. The only other runs came on a Derek Jeter single to center, a bloop on the first pitch during Liriano’s long second inning, and the aforementioned Teixeira bomb. Those six runs ended up being enough for the staff, and the Twins’ four runs meant yet another save for Mariano Rivera.
The Yanks will now fly out to Anaheim to wrap up the first half of the season. Don’t be scared, though. While the Yankees haven’t fared well against the Angels in years past, this is just not the same team. They’re good, no doubt, but they’re just not as intimidating as even last year. They’ll face Jered Weaver, the only consistently good pitcher in the Angels rotation, sandwiched between struggling pitchers Joe Saunders and John Lackey. Taking two out of three would be a wonderful way to finish up before the break.
No action until 10:00 tomorrow night, so it’s time to relax. And you know what that means: A glass of wine, your favorite easy chair, and of course this open thread playing on your home Internet machine. So go on, indulge yourself. That’s right. Kick off your shoes, put your feet up, lean back and just enjoy the comments. After all, baseball soothes even the savage beast.
Posted on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 6:30 pm in Game Stories.
+1000
Though his body build is not ideal for being a catcher he’s only 19 so he can still improve. I want him as a catcher until it’s proven he cannot. He has to be like worse than Brian McCann for me in terms of defense.
Well, we know he’s not based on every single scouting report ever written on the kid. Not to say that they are definitely correct, but they are likely more accurate than anything you or I know.
I’m actually doing a blog post about Swisher right now.
His value to the Yankees right now has less to do with his hitting–which is ‘eh’ in terms of average–and more to do with because-the-Yankees-have-him they weren’t left with the consequences of the Nady injury being an everyday outfield of Damon-Cabrera-Gardner
So, in other words, you are saying that Swisher is the 2nd best OF on the team…. that he makes the team better… that he is an above average OF….. that he is a, gasp, good player. Quirkiness aside, he has done nothing but contribute for this team.
Swisher has many faults. Takes too many chances on the bases, his defense in right is shaky and he goes into long slumps but his plus’ outweigh it. Especially since he was here as a 4th OF and backup 1b. His power, OBP and clubhouse presence are certainly plus’.
Don’t forget who carried the offense while A-Rod was out.
UZR is a ridiculous stat. Swisher has been awful defensively. It’s pretty obvious. Steve Goldman, who’s the real stathead for the pinstripedbible, just was forced to admit as much when he said (paraphrased) “Texeira is a revelation defensively, although oddly the stats don’t show it.”
Get it? Tex was so good that even though “the stats didn’t show it” he had to acknowledge it.
Not really fond of UZR either. There are too many variables in play when assuming a player should get to a ball in his zone. ie. defensive alignment, holding runners, etc
1) A big portion of Tex’s great defense is his ability to receive throws to first and turn double plays, two things that UZR doesn’t measure and has never purported to measure. Saying that UZR is flawed because it doesn’t “say” that Tex is a good first baseman is a criticism of UZR that all of UZR’s proponents would grant you. UZR doesn’t deal with first basemen well because it doesn’t try to measure what they do. But saying that UZR doesn’t measure accurately how well Nick Swisher makes outs in RF because Mark Teixeira doesn’t have a UZR number that matches your anecdotal “revelation” is a bit of a strawman argument.
2) Tex is currently at a -2.8 UZR. That’s not all that bad, it’s pretty average. Tex is a good defender, but he’s been slightly less surehanded this year as compared to other years, so I’d imagine his numbers would be a little down.
Less surehanded? Not exactly sure what you mean. Elaborate please?
I do not know enough about the stat except I see it being quoted everywhere. Like I said, Steve Goldman of the pinstripedbible was more or less forced to admit that it was wrong when seeing the stats on Tex’s D, and he’s the biggest “stathead” I know of.
I love that we won this game today with a spot starter on 65-pitch limit. You just know the Twins wanted this game bad if nothing else than for pride. I don’t fear the Angels at all right now.
You’re right, but it feels different somehow this year. Hopefully winning two of three from them at the start of the year will help confidence among the club.
And don’t say that the Angels weren’t “right” yet, neither were we.
I don’t believe it’s coincidence that every time he slows the pace of the game down by chaking off his catcher a billion times, he does really crappy. You may think it’s coincidence. I don’t.
Well, when things are going well he pitches fast, when things are going bad, he pitches slow. Joba is not the only pitcher that does that. I don’t think it’s coincidence, I think it is cause and effect.
I figured as much, also, it’s not just on the pitcher to throw what the catcher says, look at all the arguments against Pudge and his tendency to put the 1 down. I’m not comparing JoPo to Pudge but the pitcher and catcher have equal obligations to eachother to get on the same page. IMO, it’s not just, “throw what I say kid.”
is it just me or does it seem like the positive, happy post vs. negative, critical post stuff no longer depends on whether or not we win? i mean i feel like i’ve read about 4 or 5 wins recently that were, by this site’s standards, disgusting, unforgiveable failures. I love it!
Why should it? You analyze the team based on how they’re playing. Sometimes you play badly and still win, that doesn’t mean all is well. Sometimes you’re in the midst of a losing steak, yet the signs for the breakout are slowly forming.
Ben, Mike and Joe do a great job of reporting all aspects of the game, all the time. If you just want happy talk when were winning and screaming when were losing, then try a message board. There’s a million of them.
Final game of the season, at Fenway Park (one game playoff)…Wang is the starter, vs. Roy Halladay whom the Sox have traded for…Yankees have incredibly forced a one game playoff despite starting 0-8 vs. Boston, and Boston’s trade for Halladay.
Wang pitches seven innings, gives up 2 runs…Halladay 5 and 1…Game tied until the top of the ninth when w/2 outs in the 9th Brett the Jet shuts up the Fenway faithful with a 2 run inside the park HR…Mo works out of a bases loaded no out jam in the ninth as the Yankees win…
Nahhhh, I hope Beckett and Pukilis go down for the rest of the season and the sox go down the tube, exposing their young inexperienced pitchers (Lester, Bucholz, Dice-BB)while seeing their FA signings (Penny, Smoltz) fail miserably.
But wouldn’t that kind of take the fun out of the rivalry? I mean I’d love to kick their ass every time out, but having their best players on the field while we do it is just that much better
Why is it an example of that? Gardner has played outstanding defense and plays a more premium, harder to replace position whereas Bay has played bad defense at a non-premium position. Bay may have him beat by a whole fuck ton of a lot at the plate, but Gardner’s got him elsewhere.
But if you play great defense at a premium defensive position it’s obviously much better than playing bad defense at a non-premium position. It’s worth nothing, though, that Gardner gets a boost for playing CF and Bay gets a knock for playing LF.
I’m not a proponent of defensive stats so I haven’t followed them very closely. Doesn’t working in a smaller field hurt your UZR though? Like Bay can’t range as far in Fenway as Damon can in YSIII.
You’re beating around the bush here. Pena is a better fielder and runner than Jeter, I think we all say Jeter’s the better player. Same with Al, maybe Pena can field and run better than Alex right now but being a baseball player has more than fielding and running.
I wouldn’t say Pena’s a better runner than Jeter. The “old” man’s still got legs (regardless of two stupid base running errors this week). Yeah, Bay’s probably the better hitter because of how much better his bat is, but Gardner’s defense and his spot at a premium position help level it off a tiny bit.
Eh I was using Pena as a simple example. Pena is faster but it doesn’t mean he’s a better baserunner. I didn’t put much though into it. I know you love Swisher and Grit but I mean, even with Bay’s drop in average, the dude’s got 70+ RBI’s heading into the break. That speaks for itself. While Grit plays a premium position, Bay plays sustainable defense in the corner OF and provides ridonculous offensive output in the 4/5 hole.
On Bay’s high RBI total (this isn’t part of this argument, just pointing it out):
Bay has 71 batted in through 355 PAs. The average MLer in that span has 40 in 355 PAs. That +30 is awesome, but it’s best viewed in this context:
The average MLer w/355 PAs can expect 224 runners on base; Bay’s had 262 (these numbers are from Bay’s B-R Gamelogs page). Playing on Boston’s lineup has definitely helped Jay Ray Bay.
Inge is a hell of a player. He had a bad May and slow July. I think he deserves the nod. Also, many people would argue that Victorino is more valuable(WS winner) than Grit.
“Joe Girardi indicated the Yankees would consider calling up a reliever for the Anaheim series after using Alfredo Aceves for 3.1 innings today. He will not be available until after the break.
Mark Melancon would seem like a possibility, or perhaps Edwar Ramirez”
Watching the game unaware of which umpire crew was there, I saw the play and then heard “Hirschbeck”. I had to come here immediately to see if anyone else noticed.
Exactly. Let’s just pretend for a second that the Sox lose tonight. If we had gone 8-0 against them, instead of being 0-8, we would be 16 games ahead of them in first place.
Too bad that we still need to search for a way to beat them this year.
unless my math is really off but excluding today’s win because Boston’s game is still on going…wouldnt we only be 7 games ahead of Boston if we won all 8?
Excluding today’s win we are 50-34. Boston is 51-33. If won all eight games, we subtract the 8 games from losses(34) making 26. We add them to wins(50) making 58. This means 58-26. Boston would subtract 8 game from their wins(51) making 43. Then you add 8 games to their losses(33) making 41. This means 43-41.
That means Boston would be 15 games back in both wins and losses. Meaning we would be in first ahead of them by 15 games excluding today’s play.
You know, the way i see it, the 0-8 is an utter fluke.
Six of the eight were played in Boston and the two in NY were played in HORRID weather.
Pitching Wang in Boston was a terrible idea, of course, and CC should have won his game and Joba the one that G-d blew. IMO Yanks should be 2-8 against them, which’d have us in 1st.
According to my calculations, the Yankees have 0 wins against them so far. So projected over the course of a full season, they will end up with 0 wins.
Not to nitpick (ok, I’m nitpicking) Gammons wasn’t elected to the Hall, he was honored by the Hall.
And while we all agree that Something Must Be Done ™, no one is really sure what. An International Draft? That’d be a logistical nightmare. Hard caps on IFA money? Not crazy about that one. All good players are funneled through the Yankees first? I’m ok with that, but it’d be terrible for competitive balance
I was referencing a Red Sox player. Doesn’t that excuse my cursing? It’s not like I said “What the Farnsworth”, “Farnsworth you” or “Go Farnsworth Yourself”.
“I like how their bullpen looks, it’s pretty tough,” said Jason Kubel, who hit his 14th homer of the season in the second. “The lefty, [Phil Coke], I can’t even touch the ball off him. He’s tough.”
Hopefully Soria is available to pitch tonight. Royals simply cannot blow a 3 run lead if Soria takes the mound.
btw. its time to start keeping tabs on the SF-Colorado battle for second place. IF SF can play .548 baseball at this point in the season, then there’s still hope for the Mets. SF might actually have as bad a lineup as the Mets are trotting out these days. I’m rooting for the demise of the Rockies to come swiftly. Every loss gets Huston Street alittle closer to the Bronx.
They were talking about young players who played in the future games last year who are making contributions this season right.
Then they bring up players to watch in the future games. They said Heyward, Stanton, Escobar who Eric young said.
Then Only brings up Carlos Santana, Tillman and Eric Young Jr right.
As im seeing this, im saying to myself, WHERE THE FUCK IS JESUS MONTERO. For crying out loud, Montero is argubaly the best pure hitter in the minors who plays catcher.
The MSM is going to know his name sooner than later. BA’s acknowledgment today is gonna up Montero’s profile. I wonder if he’s reading or being told of the mounting expectations. I reeeeeaaaaally hope not.
Guys, it’s not going to be Tomko. He’s one of the only pitchers the Yanks didn’t use today. relasing him would defeat the purpose of calling up Melancon.
(Gammons removes Pedroia’s cock from his mouth) The sox are 8-0 against the yanks. The Sox have the best BP EVA. They don’t have the grit of the sox. The sox are 8-0. Why? Because the yanks spend a trillion dollars on players. While the Sox have the type of players that would make Rudy seem like A-Rod. This division is OVA. OVA.
I recently spoke to a scout that said he clocked Daniel Bard’s fastball at 105mph and saw him beat out Clay Buchholz in a foot race. And as far as we know, Clay Buchholz is the only person alive who has ever beaten Jacoby Ellsbury in a foot race. Interestingly enough, Jacoby Ellsbury was clocked going 3rd to home faster than Bard’s fastball. Needless to say, this is a Red Sox team ripe with players that may – one day – reach the level of a Dustin Pedroia type athlete.
Quick questions… Is Montero’s name pronounced Jesus like in the Bible, or Jesus like, “Hey, Zeus?” Feel free to add any Samuel L. Jackson or John Turturro jokes as necessary.
All I know is that I no longer have any finger nails after watching this game on MLB Gameday.
I’m still in awe that Montero is ranked third… Imagine if he was a GOOD defensive player..
How do we know hes not? What 19 yr old catcher is considered good? He should get extra points for even attempting to catch.
+1000
Though his body build is not ideal for being a catcher he’s only 19 so he can still improve. I want him as a catcher until it’s proven he cannot. He has to be like worse than Brian McCann for me in terms of defense.
Well, we know he’s not based on every single scouting report ever written on the kid. Not to say that they are definitely correct, but they are likely more accurate than anything you or I know.
im sick of watching swisher he is so bad
I’m actually doing a blog post about Swisher right now.
His value to the Yankees right now has less to do with his hitting–which is ‘eh’ in terms of average–and more to do with because-the-Yankees-have-him they weren’t left with the consequences of the Nady injury being an everyday outfield of Damon-Cabrera-Gardner
So, in other words, you are saying that Swisher is the 2nd best OF on the team…. that he makes the team better… that he is an above average OF….. that he is a, gasp, good player. Quirkiness aside, he has done nothing but contribute for this team.
That he has helped the team, very much yes.
Nick Swisher is currently outproducing Matt Holliday, Nick Markakis, and Alex Rios.
To be fair, Matt Holliday and Alex Rios are way, way underperforming.
Meh, I’ll give you Rios.
This may be the true, non-Coors Field Holliday, though.
You’re right about that.
Nick Swisher is actually a good hitter, name drop #4 of 1000
(c) TSJC
*© TSJC, 2009
Wow markakis too? I would never of thought. He was doing so well at the beginning of the year.
Baseball is a cruel, cruel bitch of a game.
Yeah, I hate his .370 OBP and 122 OPS+. Not to mention his 14 HRs and 45 RBIs. I also hate the fact that he can play OF and 1st base.
Swisher has many faults. Takes too many chances on the bases, his defense in right is shaky and he goes into long slumps but his plus’ outweigh it. Especially since he was here as a 4th OF and backup 1b. His power, OBP and clubhouse presence are certainly plus’.
Don’t forget who carried the offense while A-Rod was out.
His defense in right is not shaky, despite what your eyes have told you. Every objective metric rates his defense as average at worst.
Exactly. Swisher’s defense in right is normally good. It’s shaky right now, which makes his good defense merely average defense.
But shaky Swisher is still better than lots of other guys, like, oh, say, off the top of my head… Xavier Nady.
Or that guy in RF last year. I still get nightmares…
Not to mention his 2.1 UZR/150…that sucks
UZR is a ridiculous stat. Swisher has been awful defensively. It’s pretty obvious. Steve Goldman, who’s the real stathead for the pinstripedbible, just was forced to admit as much when he said (paraphrased) “Texeira is a revelation defensively, although oddly the stats don’t show it.”
Get it? Tex was so good that even though “the stats didn’t show it” he had to acknowledge it.
I’m tired of the stupid stat of UZR.
ANDY PETTITTE IS A STARTING PITCHAH!!
I really like Brandon Inge.
He’s really got that it factor. He’s a gritty player that always hustles and does what’s good for the team.
Ay! Bring me Porcello’s stats!!
Brandon Inge is one of the most versatile players in the league.
Not really fond of UZR either. There are too many variables in play when assuming a player should get to a ball in his zone. ie. defensive alignment, holding runners, etc
Sorry, I was thinking of range factor or similar metric. But still, not sure UZR accounts for the situations I mentioned.
A few responses:
1) A big portion of Tex’s great defense is his ability to receive throws to first and turn double plays, two things that UZR doesn’t measure and has never purported to measure. Saying that UZR is flawed because it doesn’t “say” that Tex is a good first baseman is a criticism of UZR that all of UZR’s proponents would grant you. UZR doesn’t deal with first basemen well because it doesn’t try to measure what they do. But saying that UZR doesn’t measure accurately how well Nick Swisher makes outs in RF because Mark Teixeira doesn’t have a UZR number that matches your anecdotal “revelation” is a bit of a strawman argument.
2) Tex is currently at a -2.8 UZR. That’s not all that bad, it’s pretty average. Tex is a good defender, but he’s been slightly less surehanded this year as compared to other years, so I’d imagine his numbers would be a little down.
Less surehanded? Not exactly sure what you mean. Elaborate please?
I do not know enough about the stat except I see it being quoted everywhere. Like I said, Steve Goldman of the pinstripedbible was more or less forced to admit that it was wrong when seeing the stats on Tex’s D, and he’s the biggest “stathead” I know of.
The UZR rating on Fangraphs does break down a player’s double play efficiency (for infielders, only).
Where have I read this before?? Ohh right.
Yup.
He’s so bad at not getting on base and so bad at failing to hit home runs and so bad and being a subpar defender and so bad at being overpaid.
/funwithdoublenegatives’d
So you’re saying he’s bad at being bad
Nick Swisher is a lover, not a fighter.
But he’s also a fighter, so don’t get any ideas.
about swisher
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....n-you.html
Excelent post. Really puts the Swisher trade in perspective.
I miss Wilson Betemit. He had spunk.
Thanks man!
I like to think I’m fairly honest about things.
This was a smart post.
Nice post! And, also:
I wonder who could have possibly made that comment
My ears are burning…
Oaktag. Batshit insane. Etc.
He’s not bad but he’s the best .239 hitter in the game…
I LOVE this song!
LOVE the Smash reference.
Wow, Joe Torre doesn’t look that well.
What do you mean?
Looks like Alby passed Robertson on the bullpen depth chart. He’ll go down when they add Mitre next week.
We’re adding Mitre next week?
We don’t need a 5th starter until the 21st. Why would they add Mitre during the ASB? As far as I know, that 5th starter is still TBA.
sometimes i wonder if you are smokin somethin lanny
The Offspring! I just died and went to 8th grade.
I consider Smash a timeless album. I can still remember the first time my parents heard me blaring Bad Habit.
Moneyball film back on! http://bit.ly/LN9Se
I can’t wait to see Billy Beane save a village of Samoans with his ‘Most Undervalued Skill Set’ theory.
Bad. Ass.
No “just be nice” this time? Oh, it’s on, JoePaw!
You’re an ugly, weird slut.
I CAN SAY WHATEVER I WANT I’M ABOVE THE LAW NOW
I will slap you in the face with a trout.
I will throw a trident at you.
That’s not much of a punishment, he’s into that.
Don’t ask.
Tommie = Troy McClure
today’s game was pretty much on par with the season, in that it was at times painful to watch, however, genuinely pleasing
generally*
I love that we won this game today with a spot starter on 65-pitch limit. You just know the Twins wanted this game bad if nothing else than for pride. I don’t fear the Angels at all right now.
dont we always say that? then they always take 2/3 from us
You’re right, but it feels different somehow this year. Hopefully winning two of three from them at the start of the year will help confidence among the club.
And don’t say that the Angels weren’t “right” yet, neither were we.
I’m with you.
Rebecca = leather
both teams had injuries/underperforming players. we see their top 3 starters, and we throw AJ, CC and Andy. should be fun
Hate to burst your bubble but we’re throwing Joba, Andy and CC.
close enough
Be nice to see Joba bounce back.
No, I have always been afraid of the Angels in the past… Not this year!
They have ZERO bullpen.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....p;type=reg
it’s so awesome for a change. I will however, bite my tongue until the series is wrapped up.
Heh Furcal hit a GR double on the first pitch of the game. Such things amuse me.
And hey, it’s Livan pitching.
To be fair, second pitch of the game. Your general point stands, though
they just put Fernando Martinez on the DL too, sad team
No way! The Mets are a sad, sad tragedy.
UNBELIEVABLE.
They didn’t!
they didnt?
That was just an expression because I’m totally shocked.
ah gotcha
Am I the only one who thought the Mets would find a way to screw up the round-down with Hudson?
Y’mean the run down?
No.
Are we talking about Orlando, or Kate?
Kate did the old ’round down’ on Alex last week, and damn near ripped the staples out of his hip.
It’s probably just me, but I almost expect something bad to happen every time I watch the Mets.
No, it’s not just you. It’s everybody.
even the mets fans.. heh, especially the Met fans..
anyone going to any of the LA games ? i’m going saturday maybe sunday.
Small problem of LA being 3000 miles from NYC.
I think he meant Latin America, make that 4000.
Lower Alabama?
I’ll be at the Mets’ game on Saturday. Teh Johan had better not join the DL parade.
I wonder if there’s any truth to the rumors that Santana recieved a cortisone shot?
I’ve only seen it on flushinguniverse.com thus far
I would not be surprised.
Dear Joba,
Work fast throw strikes.
Sincerely,
Yankees Universe
RAmen.
Sincerely,
FSM
yumm ramen
Haha I actually know about the sphaghedeity.
P.S.-Stop shaking off your catcher, you’re just a dumb kid and your catcher is a borderline HOF’er.
Yo kid, throw what you feel comfortable throwing. Your catcher will learn you and you will learn opposing batters, all in due time.
-Drew
I don’t believe it’s coincidence that every time he slows the pace of the game down by chaking off his catcher a billion times, he does really crappy. You may think it’s coincidence. I don’t.
Well, when things are going well he pitches fast, when things are going bad, he pitches slow. Joba is not the only pitcher that does that. I don’t think it’s coincidence, I think it is cause and effect.
chaking is shaking.
I figured as much, also, it’s not just on the pitcher to throw what the catcher says, look at all the arguments against Pudge and his tendency to put the 1 down. I’m not comparing JoPo to Pudge but the pitcher and catcher have equal obligations to eachother to get on the same page. IMO, it’s not just, “throw what I say kid.”
I think w/Joba it is, right now.
True, no problema with disagreeing, we both want for him to go 7 strong tomorrow.
Also, I wonder if Molina catches him tomorrow.
Might be a good idea to try Molina catching.
Girardi had said a couple days ago that Jorge would start the game today after a night game,and then use Molina in the opener in Cali.
I find it so ironic that people complain about Jorge’s game calling ability, yet they want Joba to pitch exactly what he calls every single time.
I never complained about it. Ever.
That was a totally ridiculous arguement anyway.
Never said you did; I was just making a generalization.
All right then.
Okay then.
Sorry for 2 posts with basicaly the same thing. Glitch.
RAB poster, you have shamed us all. Commit seppuku immediately.
/TSJC’d
I just looked up seppuku on google.
I got the head, Matty.
“Yankees Universe”?
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/
Do I know you?
is it just me or does it seem like the positive, happy post vs. negative, critical post stuff no longer depends on whether or not we win? i mean i feel like i’ve read about 4 or 5 wins recently that were, by this site’s standards, disgusting, unforgiveable failures. I love it!
Why should it? You analyze the team based on how they’re playing. Sometimes you play badly and still win, that doesn’t mean all is well. Sometimes you’re in the midst of a losing steak, yet the signs for the breakout are slowly forming.
Ben, Mike and Joe do a great job of reporting all aspects of the game, all the time. If you just want happy talk when were winning and screaming when were losing, then try a message board. There’s a million of them.
anyone have the word on whether Hunter and/or Vlad is going to be playing, or gonna have to wait until tomorrow?
Rumors Chase Utley hit an inside-the-parker
It’s true. My girlfriend lives outside of Philly and was watching on TV.
Seriously, is there nothing that dude can’t do? I have a total crush on him.
Deliver a speech without dropping the F-Bomb?
http://ballhype.com/video/chas.....he_parade/
Hehe, fair enough.
That was beautiful.
I loved that speech.
My Baseball fantasy:
Brett Gardner steals home against in Game 6 of the ALCS at Yankee stadium, with what proves to be the ALCS-winning run.
Anyone else?
vs the Red Sox, of course.
Off of Papelbon and with Youkilis playing 3rd.
Nah, Youkilis is on the DL.
Joba plunked him in the head in Game 3.
Final game of the season, at Fenway Park (one game playoff)…Wang is the starter, vs. Roy Halladay whom the Sox have traded for…Yankees have incredibly forced a one game playoff despite starting 0-8 vs. Boston, and Boston’s trade for Halladay.
Wang pitches seven innings, gives up 2 runs…Halladay 5 and 1…Game tied until the top of the ninth when w/2 outs in the 9th Brett the Jet shuts up the Fenway faithful with a 2 run inside the park HR…Mo works out of a bases loaded no out jam in the ninth as the Yankees win…
Beautiful…
Top of the 9th, Yanks down 3-0.
Papelbon pitching, Bases loaded, A-Rod at the plate. Sox fans screaming Steriods. Then on 3-2, A-Rod hits a homer dead CF give yanks a 4-3 lead.
Then Mo gets out of a bases load nobody out jam by k’ing Pedroia, Youkilis and Ortiz.
SWEET!!!!
Damn, what is it with you people and the ‘bases loaded jams’?
You trying to give me a heart attack?
Yeah but u want the loss to hurt really, really, really bad.
If I live to see it, sure.
This is OUR fantasy…don’t rain on our parade!
In your fantasy the Yankees can win the division by 20 games and skip merrily along to the WS.
Yes, and I’ve enjoyed reading all of them. Just having a little fun.
I know, I’m joking.
Oh, and A-Rod is on second when Brett the Jet hits this inside the parker after a double off the wall.
I’d like to add that it be against Jon Lester
Arod hitting a walkoff grandslam off of Papelbon in a 0-3 game with 2 outs and an 0-2 count.
That would make him almost as good as Scott Brocius.
You heretic.
Hahahahah!
Alex just can’t win.
Not true! Brosius did it in CLUTCH situations.
A-Rod does it in situations that don’t matter.
WS games where we still need to lose 2 to get eliminated are > than 1 game playoffs, but only when it’s A-Rod vs. Brosius.
My fantasy is for the Sox to miss the playoffs and for us to run the proverbial table in the post season.
You’re right, our hatred of the Sox precedes us.
How about a single elimination game where they lose, and then we sweep the postseason?
Nahhhh, I hope Beckett and Pukilis go down for the rest of the season and the sox go down the tube, exposing their young inexperienced pitchers (Lester, Bucholz, Dice-BB)while seeing their FA signings (Penny, Smoltz) fail miserably.
But wouldn’t that kind of take the fun out of the rivalry? I mean I’d love to kick their ass every time out, but having their best players on the field while we do it is just that much better
Is there any team in baseball better looking than the phillies?
Werth and Hamels alone…
They have 3 players in the top 5 for runs scored in the NL. Shape up the pitching and they could be a nightmare.
You ruined my beautiful work below. Damn you!
I aim to please.
Yes, but they’re a good looking nightmare
http://wwww.instantcrickets.com
Um…the Yanks?
I can’t believe Matt Kemp didn’t make the All-Star team, but Shane “I’m less valuable than Brett Gardner” and Brandon “One-Month Wonder” Inge does.
“I’m less valuable than Brett Gardner”
Jason Bay WAR: 1.9
Brett Gardner WAR: 2.1
AHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Is this an example of why some stats should not be used when comparing players?
Why is it an example of that? Gardner has played outstanding defense and plays a more premium, harder to replace position whereas Bay has played bad defense at a non-premium position. Bay may have him beat by a whole fuck ton of a lot at the plate, but Gardner’s got him elsewhere.
I don’t buy that stat. Defense has been proven to be worth only half as much as offense.
But if you play great defense at a premium defensive position it’s obviously much better than playing bad defense at a non-premium position. It’s worth nothing, though, that Gardner gets a boost for playing CF and Bay gets a knock for playing LF.
I’m not a proponent of defensive stats so I haven’t followed them very closely. Doesn’t working in a smaller field hurt your UZR though? Like Bay can’t range as far in Fenway as Damon can in YSIII.
Like you, I really dislike defensive stats.
I believe UZR is now park adjusted.
http://www.baseballthinkfactor.....3-03-21_0/
If you’re telling me Grit is a better player than Bay, especially this year, I have to disagree mightily.
He’s the better fielder and the better base-runner, but Bay is definitely a superior hitter.
You’re beating around the bush here. Pena is a better fielder and runner than Jeter, I think we all say Jeter’s the better player. Same with Al, maybe Pena can field and run better than Alex right now but being a baseball player has more than fielding and running.
I wouldn’t say Pena’s a better runner than Jeter. The “old” man’s still got legs (regardless of two stupid base running errors this week). Yeah, Bay’s probably the better hitter because of how much better his bat is, but Gardner’s defense and his spot at a premium position help level it off a tiny bit.
Eh I was using Pena as a simple example. Pena is faster but it doesn’t mean he’s a better baserunner. I didn’t put much though into it. I know you love Swisher and Grit but I mean, even with Bay’s drop in average, the dude’s got 70+ RBI’s heading into the break. That speaks for itself. While Grit plays a premium position, Bay plays sustainable defense in the corner OF and provides ridonculous offensive output in the 4/5 hole.
On Bay’s high RBI total (this isn’t part of this argument, just pointing it out):
Bay has 71 batted in through 355 PAs. The average MLer in that span has 40 in 355 PAs. That +30 is awesome, but it’s best viewed in this context:
The average MLer w/355 PAs can expect 224 runners on base; Bay’s had 262 (these numbers are from Bay’s B-R Gamelogs page). Playing on Boston’s lineup has definitely helped Jay Ray Bay.
I’m with you.
fuckin’ A, I voted Kung Fu Panda so many times…
Kung Fu Panda for President!
Best nickname in baseball? I’d say so.
Inge is a hell of a player. He had a bad May and slow July. I think he deserves the nod. Also, many people would argue that Victorino is more valuable(WS winner) than Grit.
Melancon on his way?
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....lp-needed/
“Joe Girardi indicated the Yankees would consider calling up a reliever for the Anaheim series after using Alfredo Aceves for 3.1 innings today. He will not be available until after the break.
Mark Melancon would seem like a possibility, or perhaps Edwar Ramirez”
I hope Melancon gets called up.
He makes the most sense. He has to be ahead of Edwar on the depth chart, he’s a better pitcher.
E-ram bigger track record. Joe G likes the proven guy.
Another blown call by that crew at the Mets game. This is getting comical.
Meant to be a separate post.
You’re right. With the way that crew is umpiring, we should call up Edwar.
Was that just ANOTHER blown call?
Watching the game unaware of which umpire crew was there, I saw the play and then heard “Hirschbeck”. I had to come here immediately to see if anyone else noticed.
That anti-double play call also hurt the Mets.
I think those guys just hate NY. Bastards.
Brad Penny starting to struggle. I badly want to be tied for first tonight.
Considering how the Sox have mad us their bitch in every head to head, it is a miracle that we can be tied for first if they lose.
It tells you we’ve played 8 games better vs the rest of Baseball, which is a truer measure.
Exactly. Let’s just pretend for a second that the Sox lose tonight. If we had gone 8-0 against them, instead of being 0-8, we would be 16 games ahead of them in first place.
Too bad that we still need to search for a way to beat them this year.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
math fail?
How so?
unless my math is really off but excluding today’s win because Boston’s game is still on going…wouldnt we only be 7 games ahead of Boston if we won all 8?
No, because you have to also take away all 8 wins from Boston. IE, we’d have eight more wins and Boston eight lest.
i seeeee, good thing there are a lot of comments on this thread so maybe not everyone will notice how i just embarrassed myself
I think it’s 16.
Excluding today’s win we are 50-34. Boston is 51-33. If won all eight games, we subtract the 8 games from losses(34) making 26. We add them to wins(50) making 58. This means 58-26. Boston would subtract 8 game from their wins(51) making 43. Then you add 8 games to their losses(33) making 41. This means 43-41.
That means Boston would be 15 games back in both wins and losses. Meaning we would be in first ahead of them by 15 games excluding today’s play.
yep, i got it now. Iam an idiot
mad=made
You know, the way i see it, the 0-8 is an utter fluke.
Six of the eight were played in Boston and the two in NY were played in HORRID weather.
Pitching Wang in Boston was a terrible idea, of course, and CC should have won his game and Joba the one that G-d blew. IMO Yanks should be 2-8 against them, which’d have us in 1st.
But the Yanks will beat ‘em.
I hope so.
According to my calculations, the Yankees have 0 wins against them so far. So projected over the course of a full season, they will end up with 0 wins.
It is a dark day for Yankee fans.
Hey look at that, the AL East is the only division with 4 teams having a positive run differential
Yanks-Sux-Rays-Phils-LAD>>>>>>>>>Everyone Else?
Every so often, Peter Gammons reminds you why he was elected to the Baseball HOF
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....mons_peter
Great article about the Latin American talent market.
Not to nitpick (ok, I’m nitpicking) Gammons wasn’t elected to the Hall, he was honored by the Hall.
And while we all agree that Something Must Be Done ™, no one is really sure what. An International Draft? That’d be a logistical nightmare. Hard caps on IFA money? Not crazy about that one. All good players are funneled through the Yankees first? I’m ok with that, but it’d be terrible for competitive balance
NOBODY FUCKS W/ THE DEJESUS
god bless us, everyone.
WHOOOOOO!
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....run5-1.jpg
Luke Hochevar, Yankee fans turn their lonely eyes to you…
Best bullpen in Baseball
http://espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290709102
In April and May
MDC could close for any team other than the Sox.
The nation frowns on your abbreviation of his name.
The Nation can go Farnsworth itself.
As could Daniel “Farnsworth” Bard.
Ay, watch your language in here. This is a family blog.
I was referencing a Red Sox player. Doesn’t that excuse my cursing? It’s not like I said “What the Farnsworth”, “Farnsworth you” or “Go Farnsworth Yourself”.
Damnit Steve H! Farnsworth you!!! heh
stats cannot measure grit so that boxscore doesn’t tell the whole story
is JD Drew really batting lead off?
Well, he does have a .382 OBP this year.
Despite his HR tonight, is everyone who was on the “Dejesus for CF!!” bandwagon ready to admit that he’s #1 not a very good hitter, and #2 not a CF?
“I like how their bullpen looks, it’s pretty tough,” said Jason Kubel, who hit his 14th homer of the season in the second. “The lefty, [Phil Coke], I can’t even touch the ball off him. He’s tough.”
Nice praise
Funny thing is that technically our bullpen pitched 9 innings today.
Send everybody to the pen!
ZOMG!
ZOMBIES!!!
8-5!!!
Kansas City trying real hard to blow the game
I’ll give them that. Juan Cruz really got it off to a good start by walking the first and 2nd hitters of the inning with a 3 run lead. Great idea.
It could be worse. Kyle Farnsworth could be in the game.
shhhhhhh. Don’t give them any ideas.
Kotsay looks high as hell in his gameday photo.
Hopefully Soria is available to pitch tonight. Royals simply cannot blow a 3 run lead if Soria takes the mound.
btw. its time to start keeping tabs on the SF-Colorado battle for second place. IF SF can play .548 baseball at this point in the season, then there’s still hope for the Mets. SF might actually have as bad a lineup as the Mets are trotting out these days. I’m rooting for the demise of the Rockies to come swiftly. Every loss gets Huston Street alittle closer to the Bronx.
what’s with Kotsay and fouling off so many pitches
8-6 game now on the Kotsay sacrifice. Not the worst outcome by far. Soria now in. Only need to get 1 more out to get out the inning.
I’ll take a sac fly…can we get a Soria 4-out save?
mexicutioner fts.
Enter,”The MexiCutioner.”
Nick Green was just MexiCutioned
Wouldn’t it be Mexicuted?
yeahhh, that’ll do it.
English fail
Jeez that’s two fails for me in one day. I think i’ll just keep quiet.
You’re hereby DFA’d from RAB.
nah that’s too rough of a punishment…a more proper one is TO TEH EIGHTH!!!!!!
MexiCuted???
Mr.Jigginz=slow on the draw…
Oh my MELVIN that two-strike pitch was naughty…
I wish I could see the game, I don’t get NESN in Westchester.
Curve…fell off the table like that poor meatball in one of the songs of yester-year…
BBTN/ESPN is a bunch of bitches.
They were talking about young players who played in the future games last year who are making contributions this season right.
Then they bring up players to watch in the future games. They said Heyward, Stanton, Escobar who Eric young said.
Then Only brings up Carlos Santana, Tillman and Eric Young Jr right.
As im seeing this, im saying to myself, WHERE THE FUCK IS JESUS MONTERO. For crying out loud, Montero is argubaly the best pure hitter in the minors who plays catcher.
JESUS MONTERO IS A STARTING YANKEE!!!1
heh…
The MSM is going to know his name sooner than later. BA’s acknowledgment today is gonna up Montero’s profile. I wonder if he’s reading or being told of the mounting expectations. I reeeeeaaaaally hope not.
Montero is unbelievable.
Jesus Montero>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The other Mike Stanton
seems fair to compare since both are 19 and in the same level.
Nice, way to battle back from 3-0 and get the viceroy of grit to fly to center
+1 “viceroy of grit”
Joakim!
tied for first!
Soria’s the man.
Red Sox go down in the 9th. Game OVAH!!
order has been restored in the universe
first place feels so good.
http://community.thetimes-trib.....-york.aspx
Please let this be the end of the Brett Tomko era in the Bronx. Please.
+1.
he’s the last option on a great team. IMO, Tomko has been okay, he seems to hit corners well. let’s not begin a tomko hate parade.
As long as he finished Hughes’ painting.
Is Tomko gone?
Guys, it’s not going to be Tomko. He’s one of the only pitchers the Yanks didn’t use today. relasing him would defeat the purpose of calling up Melancon.
meh hopefully.. they didn’t use him cuz the game was close… hopefully.
We also need someone to pitch garbage innings in blow outs.
That’s good news. Melancon first duty at the bigs wasn’t great, hopefully he learned from that and improved his game.
We’ve got a post on Melancon up. Feel free to move the discussion there or keep it here.
There’s 0 chance Tomko is gone. They are making a move to have relievers available for Friday, and they won’t DFA one of the available ones.
(Gammons removes Pedroia’s cock from his mouth) The sox are 8-0 against the yanks. The Sox have the best BP EVA. They don’t have the grit of the sox. The sox are 8-0. Why? Because the yanks spend a trillion dollars on players. While the Sox have the type of players that would make Rudy seem like A-Rod. This division is OVA. OVA.
This is Diamond Cutters, and im Peter Gammons.
(Then puts Pedroia’s cock in his mouth)
I don’t know where to begin. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more.
I recently spoke to a scout that said he clocked Daniel Bard’s fastball at 105mph and saw him beat out Clay Buchholz in a foot race. And as far as we know, Clay Buchholz is the only person alive who has ever beaten Jacoby Ellsbury in a foot race. Interestingly enough, Jacoby Ellsbury was clocked going 3rd to home faster than Bard’s fastball. Needless to say, this is a Red Sox team ripe with players that may – one day – reach the level of a Dustin Pedroia type athlete.
For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons.
And I have spittle on the sides of my mouth.
Spittle!!!
That’s to so true.
I feel like I smoked some herb, I am laughing my ass off tonight.
YANKEES ARE IN FIRST PLACE!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!
Quick questions… Is Montero’s name pronounced Jesus like in the Bible, or Jesus like, “Hey, Zeus?” Feel free to add any Samuel L. Jackson or John Turturro jokes as necessary.
It’s “Hey-Zues”
Much obliged.