Archive for October, 2009
NLDS Game One Thread: Cardinals @ Dodgers
Posted by: | CommentsEarlier today the Phillies rode the left arm of Cliff Lee to a win over the Rockies in Game One of the Division Series, and now it’s time for the other NLDS to get underway. The Dodgers will start lefty Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.23) at home, while the Cards will counter with Comeback Player of the Year winner and Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24). If you’re an ESPN Insider, you can check out KLaw’s series preview here. If you’re watching the game, feel free to chat about it here.
ALDS Game One Spillover Thread
Posted by: | CommentsI hate two out runs. Especially when the bases were empty with two outs.
ALDS Game One: Twins @ Yankees
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Doesn’t it seem like it’s been a month since the Yankees last played a game? Maybe it’s because I didn’t watch too much of last weekend’s throw away series in Tampa.
Anyway, the Bronx Bombers will take the field this evening for their first playoff game in 729 days. They’ll get to take on a tired, but probably an adrenaline hungover Twins team that just spent 12 innings fighting for their season last night. We’ve already posted a long series preview earlier today, as well as a look back at what happened between these two teams this season, so I’m not going to waste bandwidth by regurgitating that info here.
If you’re looking for an expert’s take, Keith Law posted his advance scouting report on the Twins (it can be summed up as: they’re weak beyond Mauer), as well as a preview of the series (he’s thinking Yanks sweep). Both pieces are Insider only, so sorry if you’re out of luck. One scouting you can see without a subscription comes from Beyond the Box Score, who took a look at tonight’s home plate ump, Tim Tschida. Looks like Tschida’s a squeezer, which could be a big help to the Yanks since Minny’s pitchers rely on working the corners and inducing weak contact.
In case you missed it, here’s the Yanks’ ALDS roster. They went with three catchers and eleven pitchers. Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
Minnesota
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, DH
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Brian Duensing (5-2, 3.64)
Yankees
Derek Jeter, SS
Johnny Damon, LF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Jorge Posada, C
Robbie Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Melky Cabrera, CF
CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37)
Pregame ceremonies are supposed to start around 5:40pm ET, with first pitch scheduled for 6:07. It’s been hella windy all day in the Tri-State Area, and it looks like it’s supposed to stay that way most of the night. Could make for a very interesting night if Tschida isn’t giving the corners.
We’ve met before, haven’t we?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 4:45 p.m.: For those of you not watching the Phillies and the Rockies battle it out in the afternoon affair, WCBS 880 AM is doing a special extra-long pre-game show tonight starting at 5 p.m. The first 30 minutes will be streamed live online, and Yankee fans can listen via this link. We’ll be back with our game thread at 5:30 p.m.
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When the Yankees and the Twins face off in around two-and-a-half hours, it will be the eighth meeting this year between these two clubs. It is no stretch to say that, so far, the Yankees have utterly dominated the Twins in 2009.
On the season, the Yankees are 7-0 against Minnesota. They’ve outscored the Twins 41-25, and the splits are equally as dominant. The Yanks’ bats hit .300/.380/.490 with 10 home runs against Minnesota while the Yanks’ pitchers held the Twins to a .232/.337/382 line. Yanks’ hurlers put up a 3.27 ERA during those seven games.
Yet, the Yanks/Twins contests were closer than these numbers would indicate. Four of the games were one-run affairs, and two others were decided by two runs. The Yanks celebrated Walk-Off Weekend with Minnesota in town, and those games could serve as a harbinger of things to come this week.
As we preview the ALDS, let’s hop in the Wayback Machine and relive the Yankees season series against the Twins.
May 15, 2009: Yankees 5, Twins 4 (Box Score) (RAB Recap)
WP: Jose Veras
LP: Joe Nathan
HR: Justin Morneau (2), Joe Mauer, Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner
In a game started by Phil Hughes and Francisco Liriano, the bullpens had the final say in this one. The Yanks entered the 9th down 4-2 and with Joe Nathan on the mound. After a game during which the Yanks and Twins got into a shouting match over Carlos Gomez, this one, as Mike predicted at the time, had walk-off written all over it. Brett Gardner, who had hit an inside-the-park home run earlier in the game, tripled to lead off the inning. Mark Teixeira singled him in, and A-Rod walked. After two outs and an intentional walk to Robinson Cano, Melky came to the plate. He singled to left-center, and the Yanks walked off victorious.
NLDS Game One Thread: Rockies @ Phillies
Posted by: | CommentsEven though last night’s riveting Twins-Tigers game was for all intents a purposes a playoff game, the postseason officially gets underway today. Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22) and the Phillies are at home taking on the Rockies, who are sending Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) to the bump. If you’re an ESPN insider, you can check out KLaw’s series preview here. TBS is carrying the game, and first pitch is scheduled for 2:37pm. Use this thread to chat about the game while we wait for the Yanks to start their own playoff series a little later this evening.
For the ALDS, a Nostalgia Train and more Metro-North trips
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New York City Transit will roll out the Lo-V Nostalgia Train for an afternoon ride up to Yankee Stadium. (Photo via NYCTSubwayScoop on Twitter)
With tonight’s and Friday’s 6:07 p.m. start for the first game of the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Minnesota Twins, the MTA is facing something of a logistical challenge. In the past, playoff games have started toward the end of the evening rush, and the MTA never really had to juggle service. This week, though, Metro-North is beefing up its pre-game service, and New York City Transit is rolling out the Nostalgia Train for a ride to the Bronx.
We’ll start with the fun news. At 3:45 p.m., the four-car Lo-V Nostalgia Train will leave Grand Central Terminal en route to the Bronx. It will make all express stops along Lexington Ave. and should arrive at Yankee Stadium at around 4:20 p.m.
To read more about the Nostalgia Train and to find out about the planned increases in Metro-North service to and from Yankee Stadium during the playoffs, click through to Second Ave. Sagas.
Eppler rumored in Padres GM search
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, with a hat tip to MLBTR, Yanks director of pro scouting Billy Eppler has been rumored as a candidate for the Padres’ vacant GM spot. The Padres, however, have not yet asked permission to speak with him. Eppler has been Brian Cashman‘s most trusted adviser since 2005 and runs a department of 12 scouts who cover the Big Leagues and Japan. Assuming San Diego’s rumored interest is in fact true, this should be the first of many GM opportunities for Eppler, just 33 years old.
Yanks officially announce playoff roster
Posted by: | CommentsThe Yankees have unveiled their roster for the ALDS. Let’s take a look. We’ll discuss afterward.
Starting Pitchers
CC Sabathia – LHP
A.J. Burnett – RHP
Andy Pettitte – LHP
Relief Pitchers
Mariano Rivera – RHP
Phil Hughes – RHP
David Robertson – RHP
Damaso Marte – LHP
Phil Coke – LHP
Alfredo Aceves – RHP
Joba Chamberlain – RHP
Chad Gaudin – RHP
Catchers
Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
Francisco Cervelli
Infielders
Mark Teixeira
Robinson Cano
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Jerry Hairston, Jr.
Eric Hinske
Outfielders
Johnny Damon
Nick Swisher
Melky Cabrera
Brett Gardner
Designated Hitter
Hideki Matsui
* * *
It’s interesting to see how Joe Girardi’s game plan shakes down through roster construction. The Yanks have opted to take eight relievers despite having three starting pitchers who can go deep into games. With Damaso Marte and Phil Coke on the team, Girardi can match up well against the Twins lefties. Still, I’d rather see Phil Hughes facing Joe Mauer or Jason Kubel with the game on the line in, say, the 7th inning.
With Jose Molina set to catch A.J. Burnett’s start in Game 2 (and potentially Game 5), the Yankees are carrying Francisco Cervelli too. I’m a bit intrigued by that decision because Hideki Matsui will DH when Molina catches. The Yanks can then remove Molina for Posada without wasting the DH spot. What Cervelli allows them to do, though, is pinch run for Posada with Brett Gardner if the need arises. Freddy Guzman, by the way, did not make the cut.
I’d be pretty surprised to see Chad Gaudin get into any of these ALDS games, and I wonder what Joba’s role will be. Anyway, 6:07 p.m. can’t come soon enough. And while we wait, don’t forget to check out Joe’s ALDS position-by-position breakdown.
Just 21 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
