Boy, was today a clunker, or what? The Yanks were absolutely putrid in the field, and frankly they deserved to lose this one. Let us count the botches …
- Jerry Hairston Jr. makes a bad throw to first and pulls Mark Teixeira off the bag, scored an error.
- Johnny Damon gets lost in the left field corner digging out a ball, scored a double, run scores.
- Joe Girardi brings the infield in when they’re behind 2-0 in the first inning while playing on turf. What is he trying to accomplish? They’re on turf. Unless the ball is hit right at the defender, they’ve got no chance to make a play on it. Nevermind that it’s the first inning. Result: ball goes just beyond the reach of Derek Jeter, run scores anyway.
- Robbie Cano botches the transfer on a route grounder to second, scored an error.
- Nick Swisher loses a ball in the sun, scored a doubled.
- Mark Teixeira misplays a hopper to his right, scored an error, run scores.
- Edwin Encarnacion strikes out, but reaches base anyway on a wild pitch.
- Jerry Hairston Jr. fields a grounder, looks at the runner going home, lolligags it over to first and Joe Inglett beats it out. Scored an infield hit, run scores.
- Sergio Mitre walks a batter with the bases loaded. Run scores.
- Mark Melancon walks a batter with the bases loaded. Another run scores.
- Mark Melancon walks a batter with the bases loaded again. Another run scores.
- Josh Towers hit Randy Ruiz in the face with a pitch with the bases loaded. Another run scores.
- Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon collide in left-centerfield, Damon miraculously holds on to the ball. Maybe that’s not a botch, but it shouldn’t happen.
Did I miss anything? Nick Swisher almost got hit by the barrel of a broken bat while in the on-deck circle, but that I think that’s it. Sergio Mitre didn’t get much help behind him, but that certainly doesn’t absolve him from any blame. He still allowed 11 hits and 2 walks while recording just 14 outs, and that’s just not getting it done. Luckily, it’s unlikely he’ll be on the postseason roster and the Yanks have a 7.5 run lead with 25 runs to go.
As for that whole bases loaded situation in the 5th inning, that’s just awful. You can’t allowed four runs to come around to score without making them ever take the bat of their shoulders. Melancon was shaky and went from nibbling to just straight up chuck-and-duck. Frankly, I’d rather see him come in and give up a grand slam in that spot than walk in two runs. I still think he’ll be a fine Major League reliever, but damn, that was ugly.
Melky Cabrera and Swisher knocked balls over the outfield wall, and Derek Jeter picked up three hits to bringing him that much closer to Lou Gehrig’s franchise record. That’s pretty much all you need to know about the offense. It’s not often you can score 8 runs and lose, but that’s exactly what happened. Luckily they’ll get the turn the page quickly and have a chance to pick up not one, but two wins tomorrow. CC Sabathia gets the ball in game one, AJ Burnett goes in game two. Should be a fun Labor Day.
Just 4 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
any word on Ruiz?
He’s ok, He might even play tomorrow. Just swollen face.
Saw him in a game when he played on the Twins AAA Red Wings. Good to see a career minor leaguer get a chance to play with the big boys.
Who is scheduled to pitch for Tampa?
Garza vs CC
Sonnanstine vs AJ
Price vs Gaudin
Niemann vs Joba
How many of those hits go away if the defense makes those plays?
Swisha sun play, -1.
Infield in pastadiver, -1.
J-Hair mental lapse, -1.
That’s 3. Now if you convert those E’s to outs, who knows how many less hits there would have been.
#1 was probably what I was most pissed about.
Not because it led off the game with an error but because he caused Big Teix’s involvement in a collision on the first base line. That CAN’T happen.
Oh and I think Melkdog ended up catching that ball in the OF collision.
You’re right that Sergio was going to have a mediocre line even if they play cleanly (best case scenario was probably 6IP, 4 or 5 runs) but considering the opposing pitcher, a much cleaner game would at least make the game winnable instead of the travashamockery it became.
When is Gardner coming back?
Tomorrow
Yay! Hope he plays CF in one of the games.
Yes, he was kinda bad. However, I think those mistakes got to him mentally and physically, inflating his hit total. He gets tired when in the 80+ pitches thrown range. After the K, on the wild pitch, here’s what happened:
E Encarnacion struck out swinging, E Encarnacion safe at first on wild pitch by S Mitre, V Wells to third.
R Ruiz singled to right, V Wells scored, E Encarnacion to second.
T Snider singled to right, E Encarnacion scored, R Ruiz to third.
J Inglett reached on infield single to third, R Ruiz scored, T Snider to second.
M Scutaro singled to left, T Snider to third, J Inglett to second.
A Hill walked, T Snider scored, J Inglett to third, M Scutaro to second.
That’s 4 singles there. Then add in Swisher’s mistake and the single with the infield in. On top of that, add in the groundballs that got through. If the defense was decent, he’s possibly have that many less hits and subsequently, less runs.
Now this is all speculation of course. He wasn’t goof but really I think the mistakes kinda were a big factor in his implosion.
Im not defending him because as a MLB starter, he should be able to bare down. However, he really wasn’t all that bad. He’s still a decent/kinda good 5th starter (that’s on a curve since 5th starters have lower expectations) IMO.
*good
i totally agree
+1
I think Mike just insulted some little leaguers.
I know Melky isn’t the most popular here, but he came up with that ball, not Damon. Credit where due and all that
Melky the-walkoff-king rocks! #9 hitters across the board are nowhere near his power; he’d be higher up in the lineup anywhere else. And he’s a solid OF. So, I don’t know why anyone would be hatin’ on the Melkman this year.
Didn’t Melky make the catch yesterday when he and Damon collided?
Damn College starts tomorrow. Too bad I cant watch any of the doubleheader games.
college starts on Labor Day?
Eh, not really. Classes start next Monday but I have registration, orientation, and some other stuff Im required to go to for 5 days. It’s from 8 in the morning to 7, 8, or 9 (depending on day) in the night.
What kind of college are you attending that is open all day on Labor Day and requires its students to be there?
Run, Salty! Run from this hellish institution!
How much more power do you guys think Cano will develop? He has passed his career HR mark by 4 already this year with 23 and has also matched his career high of 41 doubles. ZIPS predicts 27 HR and 48 doubles on the year.
Well, I think he’ll be a 30-HR guy next year. If he keeps improving his disciline (and walk more since he still isnt walking a lot even with improved discipline), he can be REALLY good.
He’s has to enter his prime still so maybe he’ll hit 35 HRs at least once.
I would argue that 27 HRs, 48 2Bs, and a possible Gold Glove is “REALLY good.”
You guys finally got that Melancon appearance you were clamoring for.
At least he hasn’t given up a HR in his 13.2 IP out of the Yankee bullpen.
What’s that supposed to mean?
that he’s due to give up a baker’s dozen soon
/Lombardied
Its a good start considering Coke has 10 HR, Aceves 9 HR, followed by Mo and Edwar with 6 each.
The Le Jay broadcasters were surprised that MM was in there. They were told that he was supposed to be unavailable for the game. By the way his velocity and command looked, he should have been unavailable.
Wow!!! I guess it was a good game to miss. Could that have been the worst game of the year? I hope that the Yanks just got all the miscues out of their system in one game considering how well we have played since, well, since ARod returned from injury.