Sep
07

Game 139: Let’s win two!

By Mike Axisa

The Yanks took care of business in a very professional manner this afternoon, beating Tampa with great pitching and rock solid situational hitting. They improved to 15-0 when tied after seven innings this year, which is just ridiculous. The magic number dropped to 18 for just a few minutes, because the Red Sox lost to Chicago not long after the Yanks’ game ended. If you missed it, here’s the Johnny Damon pic we briefly had up in the Magic Number Counter, but right now we’re rockin’ Oscar Gamble.

As for tonight’s game, the story will be AJ Burnett and how he performs. The big righty has put 29 men on base and allowed 18 runs in 16.1 IP over his last three starts, so he needs to make sure he rights the ship before the playoffs start. He’s got four (maaaaaaybe five) starts left this year to figure it out. Luckily, Burnett won’t have to face the dangerous Carlos Pena, who had two fingers broken when he got hit by a pitch in the first inning of this afternoon’s game. He’s done for the year, which is a huge blow to Tampa’s already slim playoff chances.

Joe Girardi said Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera probably aren’t available for this game after pitching earlier, so it looks like it’s up to David Robertson, Damaso Marte, Phil Coke, and Brian Bruney to take care of business tonight. Hopefully they just pound the crap out of Andy Sonnanstine and make it a moot point. Here’s the lineup:

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

And on the mound, AJ Burnett.

Posted on Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 6:30 pm in Game Threads.

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306 Comments

Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

It’;d be nice to get another promise from A.J. that he’ll improve. The last time he did that he just dominated for a few starts.

 
Drew says:

Kind of surprised all the regulars are in, sans Al/Jorgie.

 
Mike Pop says:

Ugh man, why sit Alex?

Zack says:
Mike Pop says:

I’m an unruly fan.

Zack says:

ahh, well your forgot to boo him too

 
 
 
 
Johnnyboy says:

Kim Jones just confirmed this. Carl Crawford is not in Tampa Bay’s lineup.

chriskeo says:

The lineups are on Gameday, i am confirming this too.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....de=gameday

Johnnyboy says:

*waits for 100th person to confirm this*

Drew says:
 
VO says:

I can’t confirm it now but in approximately 15 minutes I will have the confirmation.

 
 
 

And with Carlos Pena being out for the year with a broken hand the Rays playoffs hopes are all but dead. Too bad, I kept waiting for them to take off but it’s just not their year.

 
 
Drew says:

Damn Rutgers is getting hosed.

scooter says:

Crap… that’s an understatment. 45-7? Schiano is going to be pissed off

 
Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

I just flipped it on, saw the score, and flipped it off.

It’s ugly out there.

 

ADIOS COMPADRES!!!!!!!!!!

 
 
Dela G says:

wow this is awesome

just got back from class, and just in time to watch game two!

scooter says:

Classes on Labor Day??? Wow. Grad school?

Dela G says:

no my school, texas a&m does not ever give labor day off

it sucks, but this is my fifth year here, so i am used to it by now :(

Drew says:

I had the five year plan too… Lost credits when I transferred.. Ugh, I miss Miami.

Dela G says:

yeah i’m in a 3+2 system which gets you a masters and undergrad in accounting/finance. Not a bad program if ya ask me. I get an extra year of freedom from the man! :)

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

Yea, Im at college right now too. Though I dont have class, Im waiting 3 hours for some orientation BS we have. Im tired as fuck already since I need to get used to getting up early and walking around all day again.

scooter says:

The BS sucks for sure – esp dealing with the administration of any college or university

Strange as it sounds, I miss it all these years later.

The college administration or the 20 year old girls?

Dela G says:

i love the 18-22 year old girls :D

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Moshe Mandel says:

Nick Swisher will homer tonight.

/ Moshedamus’d

Steve H says:

Maybe. But his average will still suck and his defense will still be horrible due to a few bad plays I’ve seen with my own eyes.

/old school baseball analyst

 
 
King of Fruitless Hypotheticals says:
 
Dela G says:

anyone else excited for the absurd crew of kay and john flaherty for a second time?

Jackson says:

Bob Costas and Jim Kaat on the MLB Network if you have it. I always find them enjoyable.

Dela G says:

damn, i am in my best friends’ house, so no mlb network for me :(

 

Bob gets a bit stuffy, but I always loved Kitty Kaat on the YES broadcasts.

 
 
Riddering says:

At least Flaherty won’t mention naked yoga.

No, wait, it’s still worth the visual to have Coney in the booth.

That was classic. Coney is fast becoming my favorite announcer. He has a certain ‘Beavis’ quality about him when he’s calling plays.

“Man! Did you see that! heheheh That was cool!! DIE! DIE!”

Is pretty much all of his calls, with some slight variation.

 
 
 
Drew says:

27 outs from perfection.

/Kay’d

 
VO says:

A win today gives us 89 wins last years total.

 
Dela G says:

thank goodness for no crawford (even though it was already mentioned at the top of the thread)

VO says:
 
 
Dela G says:

lol what the heck was that swisher

Riddering says:

Swisher gives it his all!

 
 
Evan says:

Hmm, an ad bumper after one batter? Weird.

 
Karl W says:

did swish just do a tumbling summersault after that throw?

I hate Tom Gordon says:

Yeah. We should see him doing floor exercise in the 2012 olympics.

 
Riddering says:

He calls it the Swisheroll.

 
 
Dela G says:

ruh roh

not a very good start here :(

 

And this is our #2 starter in the playoffs?

Um.

10 pitches in and it already starts.

Sigh.

Mike Pop says:

Pretty ridiculous, right.

 
 
Dela G says:

after what i saw what he did to boston in new york, i would take him over other number 2’s except lester

 
Riddering says:

What happened to your faith?

I think it disappeared when Jesus went down.

 
 
cjc says:

what are they playing in a cemetary make some noise people jeez

 
Mike Pop says:
Steve H says:

What’s up with your boy Pop?

Mike Pop says:

Saving his no-nos for the playoffs.

Steve H says:

The 9 BB no-no? Hope you’re right.

Mike Pop says:

As long as 5 walks don’t come in one inning.

 
 
 
 
 
Riddering says:
 
Karl W says:

Jim Kaat does not like AJ much

 
Dela G says:

don’t worry AJ, just trust your stuff

 
C says:

What the fuck, step it up AJ

 
Karl W says:

I wonder if AJ is going to start talking to himself soon. This might be a good game for it.

 
Mike Pop says:

Posada’s fault.

Drew says:

At least Molina didn’t put down the sign for the home run.

Mike Pop says:

Definitely one of my favorite new memes.

King of Fruitless Hypotheticals says:

Anything that goes that far ought to have a stewardess, dontcha think?

 
 
 
 
cjc says:
 
Dela G says:

excellent curve

that thing is soooo nasty

 

Joe Maddon get a “Just for Men” endorsement?

Riddering says:

Have you read the Dugout about that?

No, but if its funny and you have a link, I’ll check it out.

 
 
 
 

I may, uh, have overreacted in my last post.

I apologize.

 
Dela G says:

attaboy AJ

like i said, just trust your stuff

 
Jake H says:

That Longoria double was a ball that was in. Sometimes pitchers get beat on balls that were placed well. Also Gardner would have gotten to that Gross double.

Drew says:

I don’t think so.

 

Yeah, and give Longoria some credit, he’s a tremendous hitter.

 
 

That’s as good as I’ve seen AJ throw the ball in his past few starts. Stuff is very crisp, control is decent but could be better. Whatever happens tonight, he’s not that far off.

 
Dela G says:

lets get to sonnanstine early and give AJ some runs!

 
Dela G says:

man if jeter prolongs this thing, the yanks will love the full house every night

Mike Pop says:

That’s why he’s doing it, he careS more bout the team than himself.

Dela G says:

his intangibles have intangibles

 
 
Riddering says:

That dirty capitalist!

 
 
cjc says:

I sure hope we treat sonnanstine like well sonnanstine

 
Salty Buggah says:

Scouting Report Item #1:

“What Happened?”

….

 
Dela G says:

boy tex is in some slump

 
Mike Pop says:
 
Dela G says:

where did that miss/?

 

Kay-”The Red Sox beat the Red Sox this afternoon”

We still doing intersquad games? I thought that ended in spring training.

Salty Buggah says:

Only the Red Sox can beat the Red Sox…they are that good.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

You don’t walk b.j. Upton.

Dela G says:

he didn’t… really… one of his balls was a strike

 
Brazilian Yankee says:

You do if you have no idea where your pitches are going…

 
 
Salty Buggah says:
Riddering says:

Or 3 Ks in a row.

 
 
Dela G says:

cue the whistle baby!

 
Mike Pop says:
 
Salty Buggah says:

If AJ has control of his curve, thats really good.

 
Salty Buggah says:

where did that curve miss?

Brazilian Yankee says:

It didn’t, according to gameday at least.

Salty Buggah says:

really? Gameday says it was in the zone for me

 
 
 
Dela G says:

yeah where are these pitches missing?

 
Drew says:

Umps are unbelievable. You get it over the plate, no good. You get it over the batters box, strike.

Salty Buggah says:

Only for us though.

Nah, Sonnenstine is getting squeezed, too.

 
 
zs190 says:

Seems like the ump is calling the outside edges but not calling anything that’s in the lower part of the strike zone.

 
 
zs190 says:

Man, that pitch 3 looks totally like a strike on Gameday.

Dela G says:
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

nice play Jerryry

 
Dela G says:

attaboy AJ

you are doing just fine

don’t let the umps get to you

 
Drew says:

Did AJ just tell himself he “fuckin’ sucks?”

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

That was a close one.

 

He’s getting helped and screwed over at the same time.

http://tinyurl.com/myrtl3

You know, those 4 ‘balls’ in between the three outside the zone ’strikes’ are just inexcusable, but you see shit like that all the time.

 
 
Brazilian Yankee says:

41 pitches through 2… not so hot.

Mike Pop says:

Need a couple quick innings.

 
Salty Buggah says:

yea but if he settles down, he’ll go at least 6.

 
 
Dela G says:

way to make him work hit-deki!

:thumbs up:

 
Drew says:
 
Mike Pop says:

I’m not a huge fan of this ump.

Kind of annoys me.

 
Riddering says:

A Johnny Cash theme, Kay. Do your research!

 
Karl W says:
 
Mike Pop says:
Drew says:

haha I saw that.

NL FAIL

 
Riddering says:

Just for that, I’m rooting for the Rockies.

 

Quadruple A-ball.

 
 
Dela G says:

damn, played perfectly

but hey, at least they are making sonnanstine work a bit

 
Dela G says:

look at that

a lightening quick DP

how the hell have they not scored yet?

 
UWS says:

I thought they were supposed to be annihilating Sonnanstine. WTF?

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

This offense has been dead lately =(

Dela G says:

you miss what they did on sunday, even though they allowed 14 runs?

Johan Iz My Brohan says:

i’ve seen them all… I mean I expected this to happen eventually after that super hot streak, but I just hate when it seems like everyone crashes at the same time.

Mike Pop says:

But this hasn’t happened.

 
 
 
 
Drew says:

Didn’t we score like 8 yesterday?

 
Brazilian Yankee says:

They’ve been trotting out the B-lineup more often than not…

 
 
Riddering says:

I’m rooting for an offensive onslaught the next time through.

Mike Pop says:

If you wait for it, it will come.

 
 
Brazilian Yankee says:

It’s Sonnanstine guys, comon.

Mike Pop says:

It’s two innings, BY, come on.

Steve H says:

While it’s been two innings, if they haven’t scored 5 runs off of this bum, this team is a bust, waste of money, and will fail in the postseason.

Mike Pop says:

I don’t know if I can deal with this bullshit much longer.

Yo, I bet you love that Seymour trade, don’t you asshole?

;)

Steve H says:

I love it. Short team it hurts a little, but long term it’s an absolute steal. They weren’t going to resign him anyway and they’ll likely end up with a top 10 pick with a rookie slotting system in place so they won’t have to give that pick a ridiculous contract.

That, and anytime you trade with the Raiders, you’re most likely going to win.

Mike Pop says:

Oakland is just pathetic. How do they give their first round pick away for him? Lol, such a joke.

Is that rookie slotting system a lock? I figured the Pats might flip it for a lower 1st and a 2nd in the future.

Steve H says:

Not a lock, but with the CBA up after this year, it’s likely to get negotiated in the next agreement. As it is now, top 7 or 8 picks are poison due to the $$ commitment. If the slotting goes in, the value of that pick improves greatly, by either trading or picking.

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Dela G says:

prediction time

yanks score 3 runs in their second time through the order, including a jeter hit

 
Dela G says:
Salty Buggah says:

what happened? Damn Wifi crapped out

Riddering says:

He hit the tubular tarp going for a pop-up and was hobbling a little like he banged up his knee, but is so far still in the game.

 
 
 
Riddering says:

CRAP.

Jeter’s there to say, “Dive next time, fool!”

 
Dela G says:

give burell the curve

Dela G says:

aaand he swung away like i thought he would

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

Burnett buried Burrell with a curve!

AJ and AL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Pat Burrell

 
Mike Pop says:

He’s got that curveball working tonight, damn that Longoria kid.

 
 

Damn, for a game where Jetes is supposed to break the all-time Yankee Hit record the building sounds AWFUL quiet.

Is it just me, the broadcast team or the stadium crowd?

 
Dela G says:

he’s pretty on point for a while now

good job AJ

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:
 
Salty Buggah says:

AJ>>>>>>>>>>>>Aybar

 

Not digging these new Paul Olden upcoming game commercials. Kay was better at it.

Mike Pop says:

Kay was better at it.

This is something we will probably never see again. Kay being better at something?

Kay has gravitas. Not Bob Sheppard gravitas, but more than Olden has.

 
 
 
Dela G says:

Hey Salty, Jerry was trying to catch a foul ball that was going into the stands where that weatherproof tarp cover thing is and banged his right knee (i think it was the right one) on the tarp

he seemed to be ok

Salty Buggah says:
 
 
Riddering says:

A.J. is so filthy.

Mike Pop says:

Ya, he fists his wife.

Salty Buggah says:

heh, I forgot but who said that?

Riddering says:
Mike Pop says:
Salty Buggah says:

yea I think it was him

 
 
 
 

Pffft who doesn’t fist his wife.

 
 
 
Salty Buggah says:

Hmmm. I’d say last game, just to see the ovation and stuff he’ll get.

 
Dela G says:

i am def going to be at the HOF induction for sure, but i would rather want to be there for the 3000th hit

Riddering says:

Yeah, I will be there for his HOF induction but all of them will be phenomenal.

 

I don’t care far I have to drive, walk, fly, crawl, whatever. When Jeter gets in the HOF, I’ll be there.

 
Mike Pop says:

+1

Same goes for Alex.

 
Salty Buggah says:

what if you have to hop on 1 hand to get there? And if you mess up, you start over each time.

 
Steve H says:

What if it’s during Shark Week?

 
 
 
Drew says:

love me some melky

 
Dela G says:

great hit there melkman

 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

…and a Melky shall lead them.

 
Steve H says:

Since I’m heading to the stadium for the 1st time tomorrow, is it wrong for me to root for an 0′fer from Jeter?

Riddering says:

Hater! What’s wrong with a 2fer?

 
Salty Buggah says:

no, hope for 2 hits so he can do everything tomorrow. If he goes 0-fer, he’ll need 3 hits to tie all tomorrow, which is of course way less likely than 1 hit to tie.

Steve H says:

Yeah, I was off on my hit count (as in I wasn’t sure but thought he was closer and didn’t take the time to look it up).

Go Jeter!!

 
 
Drew says:

QWouldn’t you rather he get 3 hits today?

Steve H says:

Technically yes, but I’d like to see it in person.

 
 
 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:
 
Mike Pop says:

A jacket for Alex? Something you don’t see often.

Trendsetting. He does it.

Salty Buggah says:
 
 
 
Dela G says:

woah that was close!!

 
Salty Buggah says:

Holy fuck, that was close. That was headed for his nose

 
Zack says:

come on jose, do your thing

Drew says:
 
 
Dela G says:

ugh jose

you should’ve bunted

Mike Pop says:

Jose Molina says take your bunt and shove it.

 
Dela G says:

HEY I’LL TAKE THAT INSTEAD!!

WOOHOOO!

 
VO says:

I know what’s wrong with him.

 
 

You gotta love when they load the bases with no outs and the ball doesn’t leave the infield.

Salty Buggah says:

The magic of the walk

 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

How big of infield did Melky have to face?

Drew says:

Melky gets no love :(

 
 
 
Drew says:

wooohoooo! C’mon Jetes

 

Let’s go, Jeet. Make this a big one, baby.

 
Riddering says:

Now this is drama!

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

Bases loaded for Jeter!!!!

 
Salty Buggah says:

Jerry OBPing and Jose OBPing? This lineup is contagious!

Career Grand Salami #2 coming up?

 

Too bad this isn’t the 4th hit moment. Bases loaded, down a run. Adds to the drama.

 

Did I jsut see Bernie and Rodriguez in the same clip? That is too much fear to handle.

 
Dela G says:

keep your eyes on the prize young jete

Dela G says:

ATTABOY JETER!!

HUSTLE BABY!

 
 
Drew says:

way to go jetes! tie game

 
Jackson says:

Damn, great play.

 

Dammit, Iwamura. Nice hustle, though. Tie game and that’s all that matters.

 
 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:
 
Salty Buggah says:

phew, no DP…cmon Johnny, bring in at least one mo run

 

Those shots of Jeter’s parents are classic.

 
Dela G says:

i love watching his parents, they look like little league parents mad that their kid didn’t get their first hit :)

Riddering says:

So true! His parents are awesome. Good old Michiganders.

/MI resident’d

 
 
 
Karl W says:

Time to blow this open

 
Dela G says:

johnny damon!!

now lets pile on some runs TEX!

 
Salty Buggah says:

JOhnny!

More runs Tex!

 

Pena’s out for the year? Damn, that’s shitty.

 
Mike Pop says:

Marky Mark!!!!!!!!

 
Drew says:

WOOOOT MOTHERFUCKER!!!!

 
JGS says:

into monument cave!!!!

 
Dela G says:

MARK TEX!!!

WOOOOOHOOOO!!!

YOU’RE ON THE MARK, TEXIERA!!

 
Salty Buggah says:

TEXY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This offense sucks. It’s Andy Sonnanstine, how are they not hitting him. This is atrocious. I’m not watching.

Maybe not people will stop complaining about the offense in the first and second inning.

Mike if you take away that three run homer, the Yankees are only winning by one. That’s not good.

WHY ISN’T PHIL HUGHES IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW?

FIRE GIRARDI!

 
 

The same people who complained about the team in April and May.

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

Score every inning or bust…. duh!

 
Mike Pop says:

No it will literally ALWAYS happen.

 
Drew says:

Nah, I’m sure they’ll complain tomorrow too.

 
 
I hate Tom Gordon says:

LOLZ Tex wants those 7 HR.

 
Riddering says:

OH FUX YES.

BRING IT TEX.

 
 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

A Mark Teixeira Home Run!

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

I love this team.

 

Damn, that was fast.

 
Steve H says:

So where are the 2 inning bridge jumpers now?

Dela G says:

they prolly already jumped

Riddering says:

Natural selection at its best!

 
LivefromNewYork says:

one can only hope

 
 

When I came, they were gone. I disposed of them, St. Patrick vs. snakes style.

Mike Pop says:

There is only one rule: No touching of the hair or face, AND THAT’S IT!!!

 
 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

Awesome. Just, awesome.

 
JGS says:

“Well, basically I’m nuts”

-John Sterling, about a minute ago

Dela G says:

good that he finally came to this realization

haha

 
 
Salty Buggah says:

This offense is fuckin relentless. Who said they havent been scoring lately?

 
Drew says:

Hey now Mark can catch Pena!

 
Dela G says:

this team is an on base machine

 
Salty Buggah says:

Circular lineup!

Anyone else hearing some guy speaking Spanish in the background at times?

Dela G says:

yeah

i love the YES microphones

 

That’s the SAP broadcast by Juan Sterling.

Es alto!

Es el momento!!

Se ha ido!!!

The Captain!!!!

Salty Buggah says:
 
 
Dela G says:
 
 
 
 
Evan says:

Heh, went from cruising to bruising in just one inning.

 
danny says:

when this team pounces it happens damn fast

 
Salty Buggah says:
 
 
Drew says:

Melky starts rallies, then keeps them going. Basically, he’s the man.

 
Dela G says:

the MELKMAN DELIVERS!

6-1!

 
JobaWockeeZ says:
scooter says:

A little more air under that, and it’s out. At one point I thought Melky was swinging from his heels too much – then he did a great job pulling his hands in and crushing that one.

I saw Sonnanstine pitch vs the Yankees in Tampa 2 years ago – he was a strike-throwing machine. This year – not so much

 
 
Mike Pop says:

Melky is a funny player.

Can look so bad and then go on tears. Even though he’s been streaky, you have to be happy with the season he has had. .270/.330 and with all those ‘clutch’ hits.

Drew says:

You’d think people would be happy. But then he goes into a slump for a couple weeks and everyone hates him again. I really don’t get it.

Mike Pop says:

Considering I had low expectations for him.

I’m happy and glad he has proved me wrong to an extent.

That walk off win vs Nathan was EPIC.

 
 

I really liked using him AND Gardner together. You keep Melky’s attention, prevent him from getting overused in bad match ups and they both push each other.

 
 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:
 
VO says:

It’s Sonnanstine why can’t we hit him….

 
Salty Buggah says:

Bye Bye Sonnanstine, hello TB bullpen!

Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

Its a sweet, sweet meat.

 
Johan Iz My Brohan says:

Get ready for the Rays to switch their relievers every third of an inning and in between even if they give up one hit. I don’t think Maddon has any trust in his BP the way he has been using it.

 
 
Dela G says:

who doesn’t like bullpen in the 3rd inning?

 
Mike Pop says:

2.2 with 6 earned runs.

Ouch.

Mike Pop says:

Well, let them tack on first ;)

 
Steve H says:

It’s really 2.0 with 0 ER, and then 0.2 with 6 ER.

Why the hell couldn’t they get to him in the 1st 2 innings???

 
 
VO says:

That’s gotta hurt an ERA.

 
 
Dela G says:

cashman delivers!!

7-1

 
Salty Buggah says:

Overworked bullpen for the rest of the series!

JERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Riddering says:

Mmmm, sweet sweet offense!

 
Dela G says:

boy!

i am lovin it

8-1

 
Salty Buggah says:

MOLINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Zack says:

Jeter: 0-2
Molina: 2-2

what????

Drew says:
 
 
LivefromNewYork says:
 
Riddering says:

Molina’s showing Jeter how it’s done.

 
Steve H says:

This offense sucks. Molina gets up twice in the same inning, and can’t even get an XBH??

 
Salty Buggah says:

WHy are the lights flashing now?

 
zs190 says:

2 hits for JoMo in one inning? who needs Posada! Gotta love our offense.

 
Dela G says:

boy jeter cannot find a break

 
LivefromNewYork says:

Lou Gehrig is saying not so fast there bucko

 
JobaWockeeZ says:

Unlucky Jeter. Funny he made 2 of the 3 outs.

 
Riddering says:

What terrible effing luck for Jetes.

 

Captain Unclutch.

The pressure is finally getting to him after 14 years.

 

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