Yanks battle back, walk off against Jays
By Joe PawlikowskiThings looked so bright at the start of last night’s game. After Chad Gaudin set down the Blue Jays 1-2-3 in the first, including a strikeout of Adam Lind, the Yankees went to work. Derek Jeter worked a leadoff walk, and Mark Teixeira crushed a double to bring him home. Hideki Matsui made sure to plate the runner in scoring position, and the Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. It was as if they were sending a message: “We are not losing to the Blue Jays again.”
Yet for the next five frames, the Yankees managed just one hit and two baserunners — an Alex Rodriguez single and a Robinson Cano hit by pitch in the same inning — resulting in no runs. Even after starter Brian Tallet left the game before the bottom of the third, the result of taking a Robinson Cano grounder off the foot in the second, the Yanks couldn’t put up anything against the Jays middle relievers.
Meanwhile, the Jays were busy leading off innings with extra base hits. They did it four times, including a homer from Jose Bautista to start the third. The Jays tied it up in that frame, and then took the lead in the sixth when Vernon Wells singled, Lyle Overbay doubled, and Rod Barajas drove one in with a grounder. Those were all on Gaudin, and he left the game with two outs in the sixth, his team down 3-2.
It wasn’t a completely bad game for Gaudin. Yes, he got a bit lucky in avoiding big innings after leadoff hits, but the Yanks will take his final line every time. It would have been nice to see him get through the sixth, but Damaso Marte made that a moot point, fanning Travis Snider to end the threat. With the Yanks offense, a one-run deficit is nothing, right?
That might be true, but when Brian Bruney is in the bullpen — and worse, in the game — anything can happen. He came out to start the eighth, and things got ugly quick. Another leadoff double and a single set up the Jays with runners on second and third with none out. That was it for Bruney. With each of his appearances, it’s becoming harder and harder to remember when he last looked good.
Phil Coke cleaned up the mess, but not without allowing a run to score. It was a sac fly, hardly something you can blame on the guy who came into that situation. Even so, it was a relatively short fly, and it’s still a bit confusing as to why Jerry Hairston didn’t throw home. I guess it kept the double play possibility on, but the replay showed Hill still off first. In any case, the Jays had again capitalized on a leadoff XBH, and took a two-run lead to the bottom of the eighth.
As we’ve learned over the past few months, there is just no counting out the Yankees. They seem to save their best swings for the late innings. Coming into the game they were hitting .298/.383/.517 in innings seven through nine. As a team. They again added to those totals last night, going 6 for 14 with a walk and two extra base hits. The most important one, of course, was the two-run home run by Hideki Matsui, which tied the game at four. Once he hit that, there was no doubt that they were taking the game.
The winning run would come just one inning later. Brett Gardner, who came in as a defensive replacement in the eighth*, ran the count full before punching a single into center. If it wasn’t clear that they were winning the game yet, that pretty much sealed it. He swiped second, a necessity in that situation. Derek Jeter advanced him to third, and then the most beloved backup catcher in the history of baseball, Francisco Cervelli, slapped a single past a drawn-in infield, earning the pie and giving the Yankees the win.
* Replacing Hairston defensively raises the question of why Girardi didn’t pinch hit for him in the seventh, when the Yanks had the bases juiced with two outs. He could have gone to Eric Hinske there, but then Cito goes to Scott Downs. What’s a tougher matchup: Hairston v Accardo, or Hinske v Downs? I didn’t mind the non-decision, but if you’re going to replace Hairston with Gardner anyway, you might as well pinch hit there.
The win reduces the magic number to a Knoblauchian 11. It would have been 10 had the umpires punched out Nick Green on two different occasions. Then again, that would have been moot if Brian Fuentes did his job. The Yanks are just four wins, or four Rangers losses, away from clinching a playoff spot. They head into an off-day with a solid win. West Coast trip starts on Friday. See you at 10 p.m. Yippee.
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The Mason Williams Watch
And why didn’t Juan Rivera dive? Is he not a diver?
Good question. And why was he humping the wall? Where he was, anything hit in the air to him was gonna hit the mawnstah anyways…
…and then the most beloved backup catcher in the history of baseball, Francisco Cervelli, slapped a single past a drawn-in infield…
http://thenastyboys.files.word.....s_1728.jpg (safe)
I thought the most beloved backup catcher in the history of baseball was Jason Varitek.
That works too.
http://www.hiyoooo.com/
It is probably Sal Fasano but I love that kid Cervelli.
Hazmat, Gritt Guttner and Pasta Fagiole.
Awesome.
Why does the Fagiole win every race?
He should of dived. A little effort is all is asked for.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/couldof.html
Besides, usually the British use “dived”…Americans usually use “dove”, no? Well Americans use both…but the Brits make it a point to never use “dove” as the past-tense of “dive”
That’s because “dove” is a small white bird.
Off-topic, but it’s my thread.
In last week’s chat, I said that Pantera is the best metal band ever. I lied. It’s clearly and without a doubt Black Sabbath.
Sorry everyone. I don’t know how I could
ofhave made such a stupid error.http://riveraveblues.com/river.....uidelines/
/Kabak’d
Sabbath!!!
You definitely need another chat to clear up this controversy!
How does tomorrow at 2pm sound?
Naw, you were right the first time.
BLOODROCK!!!!
It is a wise man that can admit he is wrong and change his ways.
Do we consider Guns N Roses metal? Or are they just motherf%ckin’ rock n roll!!!
Both Pantera and Sabbath are awesome though…even Black Sabbath with Dio is great…although they’re called “Heaven and Hell” now when they tour live. You have to throw some Maiden and Priest in there as well…
By the way, is there a Pantera Bread near Yankee Stadium by any chance?
It’s still Metallica. Sabbath would be #2 in my book, though.
No way. After “Ride the Lightning”, Metallic went down the tubes…their first album turning to the darkside, “Metallica” or “The Black Album” to some was pretty good…but sounded absolutely nothing like the previous albums…while it was a very good album…it represents Metallica’s turn to mediocrity. Load, ReLoad, Garage Inc, St. Anger, and even the new one…they all stink pretty badly. S & M wasn’t bad though…
After “Ride the Lightning”..? Wow, so you don’t think too highly of “Master of Puppets”, huh?
Don’t know why I put “Ride the Lightening”, I meant “…And Justice for All”…got them confused for whatever reason…of course I like Master of Puppets…it’s incredible.
And if I were ever a closer in baseball…my theme would absolutely be “Seek and Destroy” off of “Kill Em All”…so badass. Don’t know why it hasn’t been used yet…
Hey, wait, you guys said you were going for current Yankees for the magic numbers? So why no Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner instead of Chuck Knoblauch??
Eh, figured we might as well go with cooler pics with great memories attached to them.
That’s ok, so long as you have good pics of Rizzuto, Maris, Yogi/Dickey, Mantle, Torre, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Ruth, and Martin, I guess. Obviously Jeter pics will be no problem.
That’s ok, so long as you have good pics of Rizzuto, Maris, Yogi/Dickey, Mantle,
TorreClete Boyer, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Ruth, and Martin, I guess. Obviously Jeter pics will be no problem.I think Torre’s still a bit more iconic than Clete Boyer.
Haha, I know. I’m being very sarcastic.
What? No love for Roy White?
Much love for Roy White!
Hey, I would like to see a Clete Boyer picture, personally. Nothing agaist Torre but why not give some less known Yankee legend some well needed attention.
I was hoping to see a pic of Hector Lopez tonight, but oh well- Jete’s old best pal is fine.
I was looking for Hector Lopez as well. That would have been great.
Earle Combs >>> Billy Martin
(although finding an image of Earle Combs wearing the #1 isn’t easy. Which is similarly why #11 is Knoblauch and not Lefty Gomez.)
Also, Bobby Murcer is a good option for #1 as well. I’m just saying.
Gotta go with Murcer.
Second, for Bobby over Billy. After the
Universe lost Bobby last year, I was very down and
it would be a beautiful nature to see Bobby’s
face right before we clinch the division against
the Roid Sux. Although, I would feel bad about
subtracting Casey’s boy from our magic number
countdown. No one loved being a Yankee more than
Billy. Why can’t we do both, huh?
I love your poetic posting style. So beatnik.
Can we have a pic of Robert Merrill somewhere between Jeter and Murcer?
Mike — I sent you gents my suggestion for #10 via the “tip line”. A great memory, if you ask me.
You and I probably did the same thing, I’ll guess.
Here’s mine:
http://assets.nydailynews.com/.....ays-25.jpg
Here’s me, two hours ago:
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-584425
Holy moly! Honest, I didn’t see your earlier link.
You will pay for your transgression, Greg G.
In blood.
(rummages under mattress for shiv)
I’ve got a whole bunch of suggestions for pretty much every number from 15 on down. Don’t be offended if we don’t pick one of yours, nothing personal.
No worries there. It does make for a fun diversion.
Don’t be offended if we don’t pick one of yours, nothing personal.
Don’t worry, Mike. I’ll be very offended. VERY OFFENDED.
(rummages under mattress for shiv)
That was my pic of Boggs yesterday.
Mike clearly likes me better than you.
(throws gasoline on fire)
Because this play is more gritty than Brett Gardner’s entire career will be:
http://tinyurl.com/qanwnt
That’s not empty space between Offerman and Chucky–it’s grit, spunk, scrap, mystique, aura…everything.
i LOVE cisco, can’t help it.
i LOVE cisco, can’t help it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm_RbaylSj4 (NSFL)
We also would have accepted:
http://www.bumwine.com/bumwine/cisco_flavors.jpg
I was drinking cisco the only time I ever blacked out from being drunk.
My best friend’s nickname is Da Cisco Kid.
I have more Cisco-related stories than should be legally allowed.
My story is pretty good, embarrassing, but good.
Fun fact: Cisco bottles are made out of glass that is surprisingly thick. Shockingly thick, in fact.
If you are ever in a post-apocalyptic world chased by zombies and flee into a liquor store and are attempting to decide which bottle to use as a blunt object melee weapon, choose the Cisco bottle. Take my word for it. Freaking impossible to break that thing. Goes through skulls like butter. Better than Dr. Hibbert’s surgical 2×4. Trust me on this one.
I’ve probably said too much.
Personally, I’d be going for the cookware section, for a large cast iron pan, then make my way to the hair care product for some hairspray and grab a lighter by the check out…instant blow torch.
Torch ‘em, hit em, then grab a knife and decapitate.
(that’s too far)
You know I was thinking we could go back home… have some dinner and pop in the Sisqo CD… no? Weren’t thinking that? Ok.
And, to think, I thought he meant:
http://origin.arstechnica.com/.....o_logo.jpg
Gardner is awesome and has gone 6-18 hitting .333 in limited playing time since coming back.
Part of me wants to see Matsui back next year, but I’d like to see this team get a little more athletic. Its going to be a tough call for the Yankee brass.
Part of me wants to see Matsui back next year, but I’d like to see this team get a little more athletic.
Yeah, but Matsui would be playing the two positions (DH and PH) where athleticism is not required at all. Only hitting ability.
Reupping Matsui to be the DH and PH for another year isn’t really sacrificing any athleticism…
Thats true, but versatility was the other thing I was thinking but didn’t mention. Damon could DH while still being able to play OF and a number of other guys could be inserted in LF.
I wouldn’t be against bringing back both Damon and Hitdeki if they took pay cuts.
It all depends on who the other guys are whom are being inserted into LF.
Is it Chone Figgins? Then it may be worth it (if the price is right). Is it Melky Cabrera? Then I’m less enthused.
Bring back Matsui-san.
I’m really starting to like Gaudin more and more. He knows how to pitch, really battles and doesn’t fall apart. As a starter he has a 3.38 ERA. I hope he makes the post season roster over a guy like Bruney.
Gaudin is earning his way into next year’s #5 spot.
Penny and Smoltz get demolished in the AL East and Contreras bombs out of Chicago, and all three go to the nancy-boy league and start dominating.
Meanwhile, Gaudin stinks in the most pitcher-friendly park in the bigs in the offense-averse NL West, then comes here to the meatgrinder and looks like a solid #4 and a reliable pen stalwart.
(intentionally omits sub-punchline)
/Sterling’d
See, that’s why Bronson Arroyo would be the best pitcher
OVAH here!!!!!!!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!
/ Francesa’d
He has been pretty awesome post-ASB, go check out those numbers. It is in NL of course.
Well he is winning 15 games again with a team thats struggling to win 80 games. What more do u want from a back end starter?
What more do u want from a back end starter?
For him to not cost 26M over the next 2.25 seasons.
except arroyo gets paid much more than a back end starter.
so a lot more is expected
The other Yank’s pitcher’s gave some of their tRA to him.
The Jays got Cerve’d
haha nice
Wow, just saw (N)ESPN’s front page… things of note:
1. SVP tried to lump the Sawx with the Bombers’ walkoff ways (“how many walk off wins have the Red Sox and the Yankees had this year”)
2. judging by the picture, the best team in baseball with the best pitching staff and greatest game-calling catcher of all time (GGCOAT?) just won its 100th World Series.
What’s funny is that nESPN actually has their own special website now.
http://www.espnboston.com
Why pretend?
ESPNBoston awesome moment of the night:
Brian Fuentes gets horribly, atrociously squeezed by first the first base ump and then the home plate ump in Fenway on the penultimate batter, thus prolonging the game and ultimately resulting in a crushing loss.
During the postgame press conference, Fuentes says (emphasis mine):
“Especially here and some other places, they [the umpires] seem timid to make calls. It just seems like that’s the way it is here, time and time again. I’ve heard it from other guys that come in here and say that. That’s either because it’s a mistake, or they’re scared. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe not.”
Hearing Fuentes’s comments about umpires getting timid and scared to make calls in Fenway, you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking: How can I misinterpret that quote to smear the Yankees in a totally unrelated fashion? What, that’s not what you were thinking?
Well, that’s what Pedro “I think Jay Bell should be in the Hall of Fame” Gomez was thinking!
(emphasis, blinding rage, and disgust most fucking definitely mine):
WHO THE FUCK WAS TALKING ABOUT YANKEE STADIUM, PEDRO YOU COCKFACE DIPSHIT ASSBURGLAR? NOBODY WAS. BRIAN FUENTES WAS TALKING ABOUT FENWAY PARK.
F-E-N-W-A-Y
P-A-R-K.
Which you admitted yourself later in the article, where you quote Fuentes saying “‘You hear it from other guys,’ Fuentes said. ‘Especially here at Fenway.’” Not Yankee Stadium, numbnuts. Fenway Park. The Baked Bean Shithole. The Inbred Bandbox. The Least Comfortable Place To Ever Do Anything. The Sucking Maw of Destitute Drunk Southietude.
The place where weak-knee umps giftwrap losses and personally deliver them to the away manager’s clubhouse locker all covered in horseturds and handwritten notes that say “Fuck you, there’s no way we’re letting you win this game” in perfect X-height cursive with a touch of chamomile and jojoba essence. NOT Yankee Stadium, where the home team wins because it’s actually better.
You assclown. Fuentes said like 20 things about how the umps give the home team the ol’ happy ending strokejob AT FENWAY PARK but one time, ONE TIME, added on the throwaway phrase “and some other places” and you pounced on that shit like a Alabaman pouncing on a coupon for two-for-one cans of country-fried steak at the Piggly Wiggly and said “Here’s my opening for shoehorning in a reference to how anytime that the Red Sox benefit from a special advantage, well, the Yankees probably benefit from it too even though there’s no evidence at all to support my position and they were never mentioned!
And they probably benefit from it MORE than the Sox, since the Yankees are all that is wrong with baseball, so let’s mention them first in the article EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN’T EVEN PLAYING IN THE GAME AT ALL AND NOBODY WAS THINKING ABOUT THE YANKEES AT THE MOMENT OTHER THAN ME AND ALL THE OTHER MISERABLE JEALOUS DICKWEEDS IN THIS GOD-FORSAKEN BACKWATER SPHINCTERHOLE FULL OF GONORRHEA AND SMITHWICKS THAT WILL BE WIPED OUT BY A DIRECT HIT FROM A CATEGORY 6 HURRICANE NAMED “TAWMMY” IF THERE IS ANY SENSE OF IRONIC COSMIC JUSTICE THAT EXISTS IN THIS WORLD OF CHAOS.
Tool.
http://espn.go.com/boston/colu.....name=gomez
The Sucking Maw of Destitute Drunk Southietude.
Fantastic.
Now that is some high quality, grade A ranting right there.
Maybe you really do have a shiv under your mattress.
This made my day, thank you TSJC
There’s this too from Olney:
The count was full, the bases were loaded and Brian Fuentes fired a fastball at the lowest part of the strike zone Wednesday night, and when home plate umpire Rick Reed called the pitch a ball – the K Zone indicated that Fuentes’s fastball nicked the strike zone –
I think it more than “nicked the strike zone –
http://brooksbaseball.net/pfx/.....v_size=500
They called AJ “the most expensive pie-maker in the world.”
I’d like to see a comparison between these Yankees and Red Sox teams with the Yankees and Red Sox teams over the past few years.
So, Gaudin was awarded the #3 webgem, Hill #2, and Tulo got a #1 gem for an unassisted DP, which was very meh to me, and Tulo’s my favorite SS after Jeter.
It is time for the Brian Bruney show to move on.
I’m not sure that would be good. He’s lost like 30 lbs., and frankly, his psyche seems fragile right now. If he’s not on the post-season roster, he might eat himself to defensive lineman proportions, become terribly depressed, and then go postal on the Yankees clubhouse. Though I suppose out of jealousy, Edwar Ramirez would be the first to go.
I didn’t think he pitched badly at all, just in bad luck. He faced two batters, one hits a pop fly with eyes that finds a hole for a double, and the other was a bloop single over the infielder’s heads. Two poorly hit balls that wind up as hits.
“Bad luck”? How are walks bad luck? Bruney hasnt earned anything.
Question: Was The Artist talking about all season or just last night?
Answer: Just last night.
Question: Did Brian Bruney walk anyone last night?
Answer: No.
Meh, it’s Sal/Bo/Grant/Lanny. He doesn’t know how to use a reply button; stands to reason he probably also doesn’t understand how to reply to the content of a comment at all.
In fact, it’s highly likely Sal/Bo/Grant/Lanny is replying here to some other comment in some other thread about some other pitcher walking some other guy.
i think we should reply to evry one of his wrong posts with a “dumb movie quote” from now on
The unfunnier, the better.
Why even respond to that kind of comment from Bo?
Feeling lucky this morning?
was great to see Cervelli’s reaction as the ball got through and he was rounding first. i think players almost reached him before Grit Gardner touched the plate.
Cervelli has made some timely hits in his short and rather sporadic stints up here. If they did put him on the post-season roster, which they won’t, I could see him being a Ricky Ledee/Shane Spencer type player during it. You can’t (always) underestimate these young hungry players…because, remember,
they want a nice paycheckwant to win a World Series too someday.Meh, I’m not sure Cervelli wouldn’t make the postseason roster.
This isn’t like the regular season, where if we pick Cervelli over Molina it means we have to DFA Molina and lose him forever. It’s just a “pick which 25 guys you want to go to war with for this week”. If Cervelli keeps playing well, he’s probably hotter than Molina; he’s definitely a better PH option. We may just pick him anyway.
Besides, if picking Cervelli over Molina offends or upsets Molina, it’s moot; he’s gone after October anyway.
Why so sure that Molina is gone?
I think we all know catching depth is really important and Posada will be 37 next yr. Noit like Molina will be asking for starter money. Not like Cervelli couldnt use another yr in AAA.
Cervelli is:
A.) Cheaper
B.) Younger
C.) Faster
D.) Just as good defensively
E.) Just as bad offensively (at worst)
F.) Optionable (always comes in handy)
Only thing I’m not so sure about is D), otherwise I’d say definitely go with Cervelli next year…
Gardner didn’t come in strictly as a defensive replacement; it was as part of a double-switch to move Cervelli a couple of spots down in the order since they couldn’t pinch-hit for him. Ironic that it ended up being Cervelli who got the walk-off.
Phil Coke cleaned up the mess, but not without allowing the tying run to score
I know I’m an infrequent poster but I can’t let this go w/o mbeing mentioned. It’s almost ESPN like in its wrongness.
Yeah, there was a mistake. But what about it is ESPN-like? What the hell does that even mean?
The ESPN hate gets laughable at times.
Went for a joke. All stations make mistakes but it does seem that ESPN commentators have made more than their share of mistakes.
Please don’t take it personally.
Francisco Cervelli’s “Clutch Stats”
2 outs, RISP – .444/.444/.556 with an OPS of 1.000 (9 at bats, 4 RBI, zero strike outs)
Late & Close – .545/.545/.636 with an OPS of 1.182 (11 at bats, 3 RBI, zero strike outs)
Tie Game – .300 batting average (10 at bats, 2 RBI, 1 strike out)
Within 1 Run – This one is funny because on baseball-reference.com, it says that he has a higher batting average (.324) than on-base percentage (.314)…how does that work? Sac Flys?…same goes for Within 2 Runs…BA .286 and OBP .280. Interesting…
Anyway, he’s pretty clutch in his short small sample size thus far…the best part is he’s been sent down…came back…and continues to be consistent thus far in this area
Sac Flys?
Yessir.
Bengie Molina drew his first walk on May 12th. From Apr. 7-May 11, his line was .287/.286/.539 because of the 0 walks and 3 SFs.
Talk about a small sample size. The kids played well but relax. He’s a future backup catcher.
Wrong reply there, buddy.
Bo’s inability to ever reply properly is practically Ransomesque.
Berroaesque, perhaps.
Caravaggio: In Italy, there’s always chickens, but no eggs. In Africa there’s eggs, but never chickens. Who separated them?
Anyway, he’s pretty clutch in his short small sample size thus far…the best part is he’s been sent down…came back…and continues to be consistent thus far in this area
Bo, did you make my tuna on rye today or that damn wheat again?
Cervelli is a fine backup catcher, and I was at the game in Atlanta when he hit the tide-turning homerun. But in my mind, Jake Gibbs stands as the all-time favorite backup. During Thurman’s rookie season, Gibbs had his best year at the plate. Also his last year in baseball. Great way to go out.