Game 112: First the Jays, then the Sox, now the Jays
ByThe Yanks complete their Sox on Jays sandwich this week with three more against the fourth place team in the AL East. The Blue Jays had a nice run early on, but they turned out to be more like the 2005 Orioles than real contenders. They’re now 53-57, while on this date in 2005 the O’ were 55-58. Strange stuff, eh?
For the second time in a week the Yankees get Jays lefty Mark Rzepczynski, whose name you should not make fun of. Remember, it’s Zep-CHIN-Ski. He pitched well through six last time out, striking out seven to one walk and three hits. But the Yankees struck in the seventh, as Nick Swisher tied the game with a homer, and Robbie Cano followed with a double. That chased Rzepczynski from the game, and the bullpen would go on to blow it, allowing the Yanks to bat around.
The Yanks will send the same man to the mound as well, Sergio Mitre, who could well be pitching for his next start. The Yankees acquired Chad Gaudin a few days ago, and he could be in line for a start if Mitre stumbles again. Then again, with Gaudin’s dominance of righties, perhaps he’s best left to a bullpen assignment. In any case, the Yanks are looking for more than the 4.1 innings Mitre gave them last time out. The bullpen is decently rested after long starts by Sabathia and Pettitte, but there’s no need to overstretch them. Chances are Gaudin gets into the game, even if Mitre does give them five solid (I can’t expect six at this point).
Johnny Damon gets the day off today, and I would expect A-Rod to get a day off either tomorrow or, more likely, on Wednesday’s get-away day game.
Lineup:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, DH
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Jerry Hairston, LF
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina, C
And on the mound, number forty-five, Sergio Mitre.
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The Blue Jays just traded rios to the white sox for nothing (the jays receive nothing)
Thank god, a yankee killer begone
i swear, the yankees have the best luck
Holliday gone during the A’s series, now rios
And Clayton Richard!
oh yeah, i was super stoked about that too.
too bad we couldnt win that game
and we finally have a series against toronto without facing Roy.
I would have loved Rios on the Yankees. Hes 28 and his defense alone is worth the 12m a year.
Uhhh no. Jerry Hairston plays good defense at 3 positions and makes about 2 mil.
We are comparing Rios to Jerry freaking Hairston. The same Hairston who had a OPS+ higher than 100 in only 1 year.
Rios put a 5.5 WAR just last year
You said “defense alone”
If Rios’s defense is worth 12 mil then Melky’s is worth 15.
fangraphs disagrees with you.
??
Fangraphs says Melky is better on defense.
Melky career UZR/150, -6.8 in CF, 5.3 in LF, 6.1 in RF
Rios career UZR/150, 12.8 in CF, 13.7 in RF.
He’s had a rough year this season and he’s average but Rios has been significantly better in all previous years.
This year Melky is better. OmgZom was saying Rios’s defense was worth 12 mil. That’s crazy talk.
That’s a bit of hyperbole, but realistically if Rios has a replacement level bat and plays CF exclusively, then he’s worth about $7-8M per year.
Melky Career UZR/150 in CF: -6.8
Rios Career UZR in CF: 12.8
Melky Career UZR in LF/RF: 5.3/6.1
Rios Career UZR in RF: 13.7
Rios is having a bad year, both defensively and offensively. I would trust the career numbers more than just this year, as players tend to regress to their expected production (see Robinson Cano).
Rios tends to get lumped in with Wells when people discuss bloated contracts, but the two aren’t even on the same planet. Alex Rios is a solid major leaguer that has a contract that is slightly beyond what he should get. If not for the economic meltdown and salary corrections last year, then Rios’ contract wouldn’t look that bad – especially if he’s playing CF everyday.
Rios is a +3.5 to +4.5 win player in the prime of his career, and he’s due to make just under $60 million for the next five years. This is a really good contract for the Jays. Rios is an outstanding player being paid less than his market value. He’s as far from being a Wells-like albatross as you could possibly get.
Vernon Wells contract is awful, and the Jays have to regret giving it to him every single day. Alex Rios‘ contract is very good, and he’s one of the pieces Toronto should be building around. They are in no way similar.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....rios-wells
That assessment is a bit over the top in favor of Rios. At +4 wins, he’s ‘worth’ about $18M per year. Of course, he’s only averaged +3 wins per year for his career, which puts his value at about $13M. It’s not a bad contract, but it’s not the steal that article makes it out to be.
Great news. I hate it when he faces us. Now only if Vernon Wells can suck too while facing us.
The Vernon Wells contract is so bad that they had to dump the better player with the cheaper contract in order to afford him. Yikes.
There is a good chance we play the White Sox in the ALDS. I would rather him not be on that team
No Rios today then…
The White Sox just acquired Alex Rios. First Matt Holliday gets traded right before we played the A’s and now Rios gets sent to another team as soon as we are about to play the Blue Jays. Maybe the baseball gods do love us.
forgot clayton richard who was supposed to start that night against us.
Hi guys, welcome to 5 min ago. We missed you.
The Jesus get-well-soon card http://bit.ly/26UdLp
I have now been informed by reliable sources (aka Trenton’s clubhouse manager) that Jesus got the card and enjoyed that I wrote in Spanish.
I am on fucking cloud nine right now.
I would love to see his first homerun come off of Lester of all people.
+1
Awwww, that’s so sweet of you. You make me wish I was sick just so you could send me a card.
Did you get through to WFAN earlier this morning?
Ummm…which show? I actually I called Adam+Kim, then Even, then I just spoke to Mike about a half hour ago. I had a LOT to get off my chest today.
Hahah I heard you on Evan.
Ahhh yes. “August 9th, 2009. Order has been restored to the universe.”
WEEI is must-listen radio tonight.
http://player.streamtheworld.c.....r/?id=WEEI
The host just finished saying he’s “sick of Mark Teixeira’s face”
Thats so awesome. They are soooooooo angry right now, I love it.
http://img268.imageshack.us/im.....azytex.jpg
This will scare him even more.
That was freaking hilarious!
+1
I can’t look away.
“Swisher has a fat little gerbil face!”
“Swisher’s got a fat little gerbil face,” so funny.
This makes the Sox the Happy Pierre.
Shiit, check out this guy the Mets just signed
Holy shit!
Albert Pujols, watch out!
that was fucking hilarious. 6 tool player, maybe 7.
We think he can talk to the dead, as well.
too bad his thumb is weak.
Mitre’s sinker..devastating? seems a bit much al leiter
Stadium def doesn’t have the same buzz tonight.
we’re all exhuasted from a buzzy weekend
This is a good shot for Mitre, he got a bit unlucky on the turf last time around, now he’s on grass.
MITRE PERFECT THROUGH A PITCH
through .1 now
There goes the perfecto
I hope we can win this series…can’t get complacent and have a let down.
So the Blue Jays are rebuilding, yet JP doesn’t trade Halladay? Does he really think Halladay will want to re-up with the Blue Jays? I wonder if JP tried to get Josh Fields or somebody else in the deal. Probably not. He might not spend the newly found money wisely.
Report: Blue Jay’s sign Angel Berroa for 7 years 68 million.
Nah, Brandon Backe.
Im still high off that crazy weekend man.
I bet rios turns into a monster at us cellular
alright mitre
2 more fucking outs
Mitre looks good today
Ok, two strikeouts. I now expect 5 straight hits.
Cy Mitre!
Okay, got the first two outs, time to get the last one. In his last two starts, Mitre’s gotten two quick outs then gave up a string of hits.
Maybe its just the quality of the 3-4-5 hitters?
He’d be great in Boston, thats what the pitcher’s always do.
so far like his last start…2 K’s lets see if he can finish today
nope a single…cmon Mitre end it
aight mitre!
one more out
Lind is a guy I’d like on our team.
Same shit. Two quick outs, then bam.
ARG!
Wtf Meat Tray.
So… think we see Gaudin today?
Yes.
Mitre would be pretty good if he could command his secondary pitches, which he hasn’t shown he can do it yet.
Dammit Mitre!
That’s something that should (might?) improve as his TJ surgery gets farther behind him.
Ugh, not again.
Woohoo the new comment indicator is back!
Where do you see this? I’ve heard it mentioned, but I don’t see it on my page…
It’s the Yankees emblem on the right side of a comment. If it’s a gray box, it means you’ve read it. Try and represh the page and you’ll see which comments are new.
Wells with the fist pump!
Thank goodness for Vernon Wells.
UUUUUUGEEEE for Mitre, I was beginning to think he had the -itis in the first inning.
Nice, he didn’t give up a run, K’s the side, threw 21 though.
Ok, I was off by three hits.
Let’s see if Mitre can maintain the 27.0 K/9
VERNON WELLS WITH A FIST PUMP!
OK, I’ll take a scoreless inning over efficiency from Mitre anyday.
If this guy was on our team, Id buy his shirt just to have people read the back of it and mispronounce it
JETERIAN
WHATTTTTT Damn Jetes
Boom. That just happened.
El Capitannnnnn!
HELLL YEA! CAPTAIN!
Jeter!
O Captain, my Captain!
Phil Hughes is the homerun ball gnome.
Well that was nice.
It’s Clock work now.
By the way, I find it quite hillarious how Hughes runs out of the BP for the ball after hr hit in there.
Haha Hughes is so excited to get a jeter home run ball
JETER !
swisha
nice Swish!
Jeter’s HR was legit and not a cheapie right?
yes
Nah, bullpen shot. thats fo realz yo.
thanks guys
aren’t there t-storms predicted for tonight? it’s freaking hot here.
As I read this comment, my dad said “severe thunderstorm watch” from across the room, ironically. It is hot as hell here too (CT).
Rzepcskeroyxknquyiucski imperfect through 0 IP.
“hitters are like elephants”
They are big and live in the zoo
Easily distinguishable from behind?
Hey look Dustin Pedroia hits a homer over the monster……
Bandbox for elves
Awwww……the little bitch that could.
Wow this Yankee offense is really clicking rite now.
Nice tex…keep it going Alex!
Bad Alex
Information from the ice cream line.
Damn, we let him off the hook there so let’s get him next time.
The way they’re getting hits off Rzepczynski, he’s not too long for the game.
This guy will be out of the game by the fourth. Can Mitre outlast?
el capitain is fucking awesome
great inning
“probably did it for the money.” YES is the only place you can get insight like that.
I know, and here I am thinking JP did it because he lost a bet.
Hey Salty, could you email me
delag26 at gmail dot com
this concerns gameday
Ricciardi has done a pretty bad job of building this team. Has assets like wells and rios, overvalues them, pays them too much, ends up with nothing? He ends up with nothing for roy he has got to be fired
He will be.
they should just get a new GM. why let JP trade guys away and then replace him? let the new GM pick what guys he wants to trade and keep
It’s a tough situation in Toronto. IIRC the exchange rate/tax rates forces them to overpay free agents, and then they wind up with untradeable players. He’s actually built a nice pitching staff at times, and has a team that usually plays a little over .500. Considering what he’s up against, that’s not awful.
to be near .500 in the AL East and considering all the injuries they have had, that’s not bad. I mean, in the NL, they could contend possibly.
Its a good point. Can’t see anyone really wanting to play there. It’s a situation where you need to get a whole group of good young players, get one or two vets, win big and then start over, ala florida. Otherwise you’re overpaying guys, and your still having some of your better players leave. Thats why not getting prospects is criminal. Prospects are happy to play for anyone, and there stuck with you for a while
How long before the Jays record a ball-in-play out?
Im loving the K’s.
Assuming we keep Wang, you guys think he’ll be a good pitcher again next year? I used to love his efficiency and quality starts.
hey, read my early comment a little bit higher about emailing me about gameday
I’m not sure when or if Wang will be effective again. I’m not especially hopeful, though.
Perhaps 2011.
Who is this guy and what has he done with Sergio Mitre?
hey man dont jinx him
5 K’s!!!!
I wonder who had him start in fantasy. ha
I’d wonder who actually would own him in fantasy, first.
Holy fuck Mitre, who spiked your cornflakes?
I’m not shocked. His stuff is good, he just needs to keep the ball down and get into a rhythm. I never wanted to boot him from the staff, I thought the stuff was there.
A good outing or a horrendous one can come down to a handful of pitches and/or decisions between him and the Catcher. He needs to learn what works and how to navigate these lineups. You can’t expect a guy like him who doesn’t blow people away to hit the ground running.
A rational analysis, i like it.
isnt he just over the 12-month mark for rehab too?
Yeah, that too.
Mitre: “It’s ludicrous that these mortals even attempt to enter my realm.”
He had a pre-game pep talk from Melvin.
(drink)
As a kid, one of my favorite days at the stadium was “Abacus Day”.
/Old Ranger’d
Hahaha, sadly enough I was driving the other tray trying to think of funny /Old Ranger’d things. I was unsuccessful.
*day.
Hey Salty, i replied on the email
Ever time Nick Green contributes to the Red Sox, a little baby dies.
I guess the babies were safe this past weekend.
6ks!!!!!
jeterian
Whenever i see that #45 I think pavano first.
Scarred for life
How so? I’ve never seen the man in a uniform.
His cast has the number 45, indicating the number of times he’s been injured while on the Yankees.
Almost had it.
Mitre is nasty today!
shit
But, the nice men on ESPN told me any pop-up to right field will be a homerun…
K-rate down to an Edwar-esque 50% of batters faced
It’s OK, I’ll take 6 innings of 1 run ball!
Mitre is terrible
Jeter>>>>Lefties
CAPTAIN!
Jeter is so good at baseball.
Damn, Jeter.
Jeter with the wheels.
Jeter takes 3rd base… FOR FREE!
jeterian he is
Jeter wreaking havoc on the bases.
Bring him home Swish!
Wow, Bautista.
So happy JoPo wasn’t on third right there.
Jeter is halfway to history.
The 4th OF strikes again!!
Does Swisher lead the Yanks in sac flies? I think so
(too lazy to look up the stats)
That he does, that was his sixth. Posada has four, Melky three.
Yes, he has 6 now, Jorge is second with 4
bautista has an arm of a god!
Almost Croussettish.
(drink)
El Captain is G
What the Blue Jays did with Rios is disgusting (Although I am glad the Yankees missed him)), they flat out quit. This organization is worse than the Pirates (At least the Bucs put the money they saved off of Wilson’s and Sanchez’s contracts into signing top flight draft picks, Toronto has not signed ANY of their top FIVE picks: Including two CANADIAN kids (James Paxton & Jake Eliopoulos)). I am sure that Marcos Scutaro will be happy to leave at the end of the season.
Wilson and Sanchez were owed 33m total, Rios is owed 60m.
It was a salary dump to help in the long term. I dont know their draft pick status but the deadline is a week away, if they pass the deadline then you can complain, until then it’s not realy fair
That’s the short term view. But if they take that money and improve the team, then it was a good move.
For example, in 06 the Phillies traded Abreu+Lidle to the Yankees for absolutely zilch, but he saved about 26 mil in payroll. GM Pat Gillick was killed for it at the time, and people said stuff like you just did. But he took that money and filled other needs, and we all know what happened iby 08.
Ditto for the 1997 Marlins and 2000 Padres. Those teams were torn down and they laid the groundwork for their next run.
So you think they would have been better off keeping Rios and continuing to finish 4th in the AL East?
Amazing how Kay has to say Joba is “least effective” of past series starters. Really? How do you measure that. Oh, because the other 3 didn’t give up a run.
Yes.
Soooo… is there any reason not to believe both Teix and Cano will win Gold Gloves this year? Perhaps Polanco will get in the way?
Gold Gloves are a joke, Pedroia will probably win.
And Youk will be the first ever double recipient of GG at first and third
And LF. ESPN spin-machine.
That’s what I mean. It’s never all about defense. With the offensive years Cano and Teix are having on a first place team, voters will probably take that into account.
Gotta be Burnett.
i voted CC
I would choose Burnett (If only because he had no margin for error with Beckett pitching).
yeah, this is why.
good inning
tack on another run
the yanks are going to need about 7 more though… haha
I know the trivia. Not going to ruin it.
People complain about the way the Yankees spend but could you imagine being a fan where they dismantle the team? Give me the free spending ways of the Yankees ANY DAY.
double play plz
He can’t go thru a lineup twice
? That was hit directly to him.
Dammit Mitre. That’s like, the third time he hesitated before throwing to the base.
Ugh, fuckin Mitre can’t catch a break.
fuckin Mitre blew a DP ball
As much as I want to smack Mitre for being so tense right there, Robbie should have the sense to get off the base.
Nah Mitre has done this plenty of times now, it’s in his head. Just throw the ball 10 feet.
I agree. Mitre should have made a more central throw, but with his short history of doing this before and also knowing that pitchers throws tail pretty often, Robbie should know what might be coming and be ready to make the quick adjustment.
If it was a throw to first, Teixeira most likely gets off the bag and keeps the ball from flying past the base.
Mitre, Cano doesn’t play the outfield..
Fuckin A
Cano wasn’t even looking at the ball.
why can’t Mitre throw to 2nd base?
Because that would make him the perfect pitcher.
I think it’s twice against toronto he’s done it.
Gimme Gaudin
glad to see you waited to make your first post now and ignore the first 3 innings
glad to see you’ve ignored his entire career.
yeah because judging his numbers while getting bounced between bullpen and rotation is a good strategy. how about looking when he finally got a chance to stay in the rotation and put up sub-4 era before bad starts and finally TJS surgery
and that has nothing to do with you hiding out until he gives up more than 1 run to call for Gaudin- because why dont you look at his numbers
Long story short: he isn’t good. He’s not going to become good. He hasn’t been good. He will not be good.
Not read that over again and substitute “okay” for good.
But Gaudin is the answer all of the sudden? dude pitched like crao at PETCO park this year
Mitre gets the Conan O’Brien [ASS] stamp.
damn it mitre
Ugh.
why would you give the damn error to cano??
its not his damn fault mitre can’t throw
Whoever scored the error on Cano is blind.
agreed
f*** Mitre throws like atrocious Scott Brosious
uno maas
unbelievable
Can’t start mitre again
Get out of this Mitre.
I’m sorry but Cano needs to catch that ball. Mitre didn’t make a very good throw but it was definitely in arm’s reach and it’s not like Cano had to lunge for the ball. Cano was far too worried about getting the DP and not catching the ball.
if mitre doesn’t suck at throwing to the damn 2nd base for the 3RD EFFING GAME IN A ROW, he starts the dp
again, what does that have to do with Cano making a simple catch of the ball that was in his reach? Why is Cano getting a pass for his part of that play? I don’t believe Cano is lazy by any means but he needs to catch that.
Cano also had to worry about being taken out by the runner from 1st. Would you rather Cano catch the ball if it means his legs being taken out and a DL stint?
you are acting like the ball was so completely far from him that he couldn’t make the catch and then move. Even if the throw was perfect, the runner was right on him. And I’m sorry but I don’t play that “well what if he got injured” game.
Gaudin time.
Scranton Shuttle is here, Sergio!
Mitre can’t help but spoil his own good pitching performance.
It’s true. It’s not like those errors he’s made haven’t been costly. They’ve usually made a big difference in his starts. It seems like he’ll be right on the cusp of a good start, and then find some way to spoil it with either walks errors or both.
Ahhhh. So frustrating.
In response to a much earlier post about WEEI tonight, I’ve heard this guy drop the term “fat ass” at least 10 times in the last 15 minutes. He referred to a play as “crap.” And he just equated liking country music and “drilling butts” to being a “good baseball guy.”
On the positive side, he also said, “Suzyn Walman, you suck. I don’t give a rat’s ass, she sucks. She makes me want to puke.”
That’s classy radio.
Problem is the Yankees will probably still win this game and all we will hear from Girardi and Cashman is that the Yankees will be 3-1 when Mitre starts.
Wouldn’t it be 4-1?
Shit thats right, my bad.
that’s not really a “problem” if we win
you really want to kill kittens when mitre pitches
babies…
even better
Kill babies with kittens.
GENIUS!
amazing that every chance Mitre has had to make that throw… i think it’s 3 times, he has’nt been able to make it once.
Ha Gaudin looks weird without the moosecock beard
Would be nice to see mitre go past 4 inn sometime
cmon offense, we need to win tonight
Regardless of that terrible inning, if the Yankees thought scoring 2 runs of Rzepczynski with Mitre on the mound was enough, there are bigger problems. This is the type of game that should be 8-6.
luckily games are nine innings.
JERRY!! JERRY! JERRY!!!
YES!!!!!
DON’T CHA KNOW!!!
Hahah robbie says FUCK YOUR ERROE
heh speaking of errors…
GET SOME!! Cano mad he got that stupid error Mitre gave him.
Take Mitre out and bring in the RODAN next inning!
WELCOME TO MR. ROBINSON’S NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT’S a good one.
WAYYYYY better than ‘don’t cha know!’
oh well, this is probably the last of mitre. the guy is fucking terrible, just not good enough stuff or control to be a starter on the yanks. this is what we got gaudin for. he’ll probably relieve mitre in the 5th or 6th and then pitch the next turn in the rotation.
so replace Mitre with Gaudin, problems solved. Mr. 6.30 era, 1.95 WHIP and .323 BAA at PETCO Park
Robbie Cano dontcha know. Way to get one back.
ROBBIE CANO!
DONT YA KNOW!!!
WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!!!?? haha this team is nuts
Fuckin love Hairston!!
Hairston!!!!
Cashman bitches!
JERRY HAIRSTON JR.!! FTW !!!
The Yankees are magic!!!
Gotta love this stadium.
DAMN!!!
JERRY. . . uhhh. . . .we need a Sterling call for him.
“It is high, it is far it is GONE! Jerry-Not by the hair of my chinny-chin Hairston!”
Sterling would use this one because it takes the longest to say thereby giving him the most time to hear his own voice.
..and its sufficiently horrible and corny, so it makes the cut.
How ’bout: “Jerry makes your Hair-Stan’ on end!”
That’s so bad he just might use it.
Cano/Hairston, just 5 behind Damon/Tex…watch out!
JERRY! JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!
Aaaaaaand cue Steve Phillips with the Stadium bashing…..
CASHMAN MONEY ENTERTAINMENT IN THA BUILDING!
Depth.
Jerry Hairston!!!! How dare Cashman make a trade for a utility man like Hairston.
In the dug out.
Cano: *trots back from a solo HR*
Mitre: “hey thanks man!”
Cano: “STFU fool.”
Mitre: “yessir…”
Tex: “He said STFU FOOL.”
Mitre: “…”
Mitre: *cries in the corner*
mitre then makes a throwing error trying to throw some dap to cano
ZOMG!!!!!! CASHMAN MAKES GOOD TRADES.
woohoo!
Damn it, I walk away for 2 seconds and look its tied! Go Yankees!
Walk away again so we can get a Molina hit sighting.
hahaha IETCVM
Go walk away some more.
Cashman is badass…he looks dorky but that’s just a cover
Every time I watch a game at Fenway, I can’t help but think: Hey look, white people.
Is that wrong of me?
haha.
haha try watching a UTAH JAZZ game.
I play “where’s the black guy” on their team and in their home crowd
Hey, I was surprised when I noticed they had a black batboy.
why not bunt with molina and get melky to 2nd for top of order?