Nov
02

Melky out with mild hamstring tear; Peña in

By Benjamin Kabak

A few minutes ago, Joe Girardi revealed that Melky Cabrera suffered a mild strain of his left hamstring during the 6th inning of last night’s game. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the World Series, and the Yankees are working to replace him on the roster, most likely with Freddy Guzman. Official word will come down at 6 p.m., and we’ll update this post accordingly. With Melky out, the Yankees will hand center field over to Brett Gardner this evening, and the Yanks’ lineup will feature a 6-7-8-9 combination tonight of Robinson Cano, Gardner, Jose Molina and A.J. Burnett. On the bright side, the bench is very strong tonight.

Update (5:45 p.m.): The Yankees have announced that Ramiro Peña will take Melky Cabrera’s place on the roster. Peña isn’t as fast as Guzman but provides more versatility both with the bat and in the field. Peña could be asked to bunt tonight as well if the situation calls for it.

Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm in Asides, Playoffs.

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With Melky out, the Yankees will hand center field over to Brett Gardner this evening, and the Yanks’ lineup will feature a 6-7-8-9 combination tonight of Robinson Cano, Gardner, Jose Molina and A.J. Burnett. On the bright side, the bench is very strong tonight we’re still the fucking Yankees. Hide the women and liquor.

Ryan S. says:

Haha! I love it, my thoughts exactly brother. We’re still the motherfucking Yankees and this shit is but a minor obstacle on the way to destiny. At least now Grit Gritner can feel more like he’s earned it when everyone else is celebrating their asses off.

Joey says:
maximus says:

If Cliff Lee no hits the Yanks for 2 or 3 innings tonight the Yanks better start bunting.

Jeter got out of his slump before breaking Gehrig’s hit record by bunting for a single.

 
 
 
mustang says:

In Philly that’s a lot of liquor to hide.

LOL

 
 
Mike HC says:

Damn. That is bad news. I hope it does not come back to bite us this series.

danny says:

melky being out? there could be worse situations, wayy worse.

Zack says:

yeah this was down around 14 on my list

 
Mike HC says:

there is no doubt of that. But it is still not ideal to lose Melky and is definitely bad news

 
 

Considering that Melky and Brett are very similar players and that Melky was just 2 for 13 this World Series, I’m not sure how it can come back to bite us.

Knock on wood.

Chris says:

The biggest difference is that Melky can hit right handed. With Lee on tap tonight and Hamels potenially in line for a game 7, that could make a difference.

Zack says:

Pretty confident this series won’t be lost due to the hitting ability of out 8/9th place hitter

 

Really, though, if the Yanks are relying on Gardner or Melky — especially if this series returns to the Bronx — they might have some bigger problems. It will be ok.

Gardner can go 0-5 tonight and it won’t matter… he’ll still get champagne poured on him after the game.

 
 
Chili Davis says:

Brett’s gone .291 against lefties this year. Not worried.

 
 
Evil Empire says:

Agreed. And you even gain something defensively.

 
Mike HC says:

I don’t even want to put myself through the pain of thinking of the possible scenarios where it might come back to bite us.

steve (different one) says:

i wouldn’t use the phrase “come back to bite us” b/c that usually implies some sort of regrettable decision.

this wasn’t a decision. Melky got hurt.

/nitpick

 
 
 
 
Bill R says:

It’s not like Melky was smashing the cover off the ball this series! And i think gardner is a better defensive weapon with his speed getting to those balls in the gap. His arm isn’t as strong but you can’t have everything unless it’s Ichiro!

 
charlespoet says:

If Cano wasn’t in a Cano funk, you could say tonight is the night Cano busts out…On the bright side, Yanks will pull this one out tonight – 5-2 chasing Lee in the 6th.

 
mustang says:

“Yanks’ lineup will feature a 6-7-8-9 combination tonight of Robinson Cano, Gardner, Jose Molina and A.J. Burnett.”

And Lee on mound.

The Yankees are just trying to make it competitive.

“The Yankees are just trying to make it competitive toying with them.”

Fixed.

 
 
The Iron Horse says:

I vote Hairston. Yea or Nay?

 
Souter Fell says:

i wanna see brett fake a bunt, pull it back at smash a comebacker at cliff lee, if only for payback for that damn catch

I’m not gonna lie, you said

“i wanna see brett fake a bunt, pull it back at smash a comebacker at cliff lee, if only for payback for that damn catch”

and my mind read the words

“I wanna see Brett Favre fake a punt, pull it down, smash a linebacker at cliff lee, if only for Packers for that damn catch”

I’ve been classically conditioned by ESPN like a Pavlovian dog.

tim randle says:

FU tommie, i just shot coke out my @#$@#$ nose all over my desk…ur lucky my paperwork wasnt all over it yet!

urgh…shit stings like a mofo…

 
bonestock94 says:

Holy shit, me too!! I was like, wasn’t the vikings game yesterday!? Damn that old drama queen media whore for being on my mind all the time.

 
mustang says:

In all seriousness tommiesmithjohncarlos stay off the ESPN.

Think of your family,
Think of your friends,

We love you man just stay clean.

 
 
 
 

Ramiro Peña, step on down. He’s the lucky winner of the Melky Cabrera Replacement Sweepstakes.

 
 
 
The Iron Horse says:
 
rob says:

smart move – pena more versitile than guzman or cervelli.

Yeah, it works for me.

Hairston is a fine backup OF, and Peña is a better backup IF than Hairston is.

 
 
mustang says:

What’s the over/under on Pena getting the winning hit or being the the difference maker tonight.

Because I’m voting for PENA.

What’s the over/under on Pena getting the winning hit or being the the difference maker tonight.

Um… yes? It’s yes?

Marcus says:
Joey says:

B. If you don’t know, always go with B. Or C. But not A dammit

 
 
mustang says:
 
 

Push. Definitely a push on that one.

 
 
paul says:

So when the yankees win the series will he still get a ring? I assume only 25 rings are given out…?

Angel Berroa and Jose Veras will get rings if the Yanks win. Pretty much anyone on the team this year will probably get a ring.

Andy in Sunny Daytona says:

No probably about it. EVERYONE who played for the Yankees this year will get a ring.

 
J.R. says:

I think even the pitcher called up, sent down and then traded (erickson maybe, cant remember), will get a ring.

J.R. says:

Without throwing one pitch.

 
 
Accent Shallow says:

Stephen Jackson would get a ring, and he didn’t even make an appearance — was just on the roster.

J.R. says:

Thats the person I was looking for.

 
 
 

Your assumption is wrong.

Andy in Sunny Daytona says:

So, they DON’T have the ring ceremony right after the game? WTF? Bush League!

/World Cup’d

You didn’t bring the guac?

BUSH LEAGUE BRO

I am trying hard not to say “Black Taco.”

tim randle says:

i ate four of those @#$ers today…and i giggled and said ‘black taco?’ after each one. eventually my wife gave in and went to get me a coke.

 
 
 
Greg P says:

I nominate Sid (The Kid-and-a-Half) Ponson for a WS ring.

 
 
 
 
Joe D. says:

I liked the swings CC was taking yesterday. Can the big man play the outfield?

No, Jeter’s bunt-K was the worst ever.

Oh, true.

I was thinking more form-wise.

Mike bk says:

the form was CC trying to get the bunt called off so he could swing, but they made him do it again.

And one of the called strikes was pure BS.

Mike bk says:

well there was only 1 called strike, but yes it was outside.

(Comments wont nest below this level)

Right, right. I felt that the strike zone was putrid last night.

 
Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

One of the worst strike zones I’ve ever seen.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
larryf says:

Let’s hope gardner can steal 2 bases this evening-but probably on 2 pitches…

ShuutoHeat says:

not sure if I can handle another double steal on 1 throw…

 
 
Alex S says:

if they win tonight when is the parade?

Mike bk says:

probably thurs/fri, after bloomberg throws himself a parade for being re-elected.

 
 
Mike bk says:

key player tonight is going to be swish cause they wont pitch to a-rod or at least if they were smart they wouldnt so swish will get chances and has to make them pay, especially with what is behind him.

 
Balls Deep says:

Question to the stat guys… why didn’t Mo get a save on Saturday; pitched 2/3 of an inning and score was 8-5? How does that not qualify?

Chris says:

Saves:
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
- (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
- (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or
- ( c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/officia.....ations.jsp

 
 
ShuutoHeat says:

Glad to see the kid (Pena) get some WS action.

I bet when Melkman’s leg gets splashed with champagne during the celebration, he’ll be miraculously healed and hopping around.

 
Guest says:

How freaking pumped is everyone? I mean seriously. How. Pumped. Are. You.

I can’t remember the last time I was this pumped for a sporting event.

We have Molina, Gardner, and Burnett going up against a pitcher with a sub 1 era in the post-season, and I am completely, totally, and utterly pumped. I’m normally a pessimist, but I feel as confident as TSJC. Let’s. Do. This.

* This was an absolutely useless post, providing nothing of value or any meaning analysis. I apologize. My “pumped-itude” has gotten in the way of my ability to reason coherently.

PUMPED.

Mike Pop says:

I’m pumped too Guest.

I been doing the time warp all day.

ShuutoHeat says:

I’ve been grinning to anyone with Yankees merch on and saying “27 baby, 27″ all day long.

Mike Pop says:

True that dude.

Locked up.

 
 
 
 
Souter Fell says:

i love i had a bunch of met fans today telling me “do it, do it.”

 
Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

A.J. Burnett: 7 2/3’s, 1 run. Ties for Series MVP w.A-Rod, who goes Reggie Jackson/Babe Ruth on us w/3 solo shots to put us ahead 3 runs for Mariano to close it out.

 
Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

People aree idiots to be saying this weak lineup is a result of A.J. pitching on short rest. In actuality, it has nothing to do with A.J. It’s a fixable managerial decision; all they have to do is START POSADA!!!!

 
Rocky Road Redemption (formerly RAB poster) says:

Anybody else have “New York, New York” and New York State of Mind” playing on a loop in their heads? Because I do.

 
ansky says:

Ugh, there’s Karros and that damn politician hair…is anyone voting for him tomorrow?

 
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