Game 77: The King is in town

by 444 Comments

2010 Draft: KLaw on Dan Burawa
Productive nights for all the top prospects
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson, AP

No, not that King. His time will come. I’m talking about King Felix, who will face the Yankees tonight as he tries to clinch a series victory for the Mariners. The Yanks have to stick with the same game plan as last night, jumping all over the first hittable pitch Felix gives them. If they get passive in an effort to drive up his pitch count, they’ll be staring at 0-2 counts all night.

Heeeeeeeeere’s the lineup…

Jeter, SS
Swisher, RF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, 3B
Cano, 2B
Posada, DH – this really better not be an every day thing
Granderson, CF
Curtis, LF
Cervelli, C

And on the bump, they man they call Javy. Javy Vazquez.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous day for baseball in New York, and there’s no reason this one won’t start on time. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET, and can be seen on good ol’ YES. Enjoy.

2010 Draft: KLaw on Dan Burawa
Productive nights for all the top prospects
  • Pete

    “this really better not be an every day thing”

    who do you suggest we replace cervelli’s bat with, then? I agree he’s not a long term solution at catcher, but for right now, I’d take his bat plus solid D at catcher over having to deal with Chad Huffman or Colin Curtis DHing. Have Posada catch when Alex or Derek need a day at DH. Otherwise, he might as well fill that spot for now.

    • Ross in Jersey

      Thames is starting a rehab assignment, you’ll probably see him back in the next week or two. And the gap between Cervelli’s bat and Thames, last I checked, is measured in Astronomical Units.

      Cervelli last 14 games:

      .212/.293/.288

      As others have stated, his D hasn’t been that solid recently either. The dude is a backup catcher, it’s time his role returns to that.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

        Agreed. I want Cervelli at C and Posada at DH until one of the legit DH bats returns, then I want Sado behind the dish and Thames/Miranda platooning at DH.

        I think we can roll with a Cervelli/Peña/Thames/Miranda bench (although I may be crazy).

      • http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch aka Master of the Obvious

        Thames is hitting .186/.319 /.254 since April. The difference is not astronomical, but in angstroms. They have both plummeted back to earth, with Thames leaving a slightly larger crater.

        Nick Johnson. It is to weep. Verging now on a career of what could have been.

        • Mike HC

          Verging on a career of what could have been? He has had a what could have been career from just about year one, ha.

          • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

            Yeah, this, pretty much. It’s kind of depressing.

          • http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch aka Master of the Obvious

            It was half a career. Now its verging on a whole one.

            We could certainly use him tonight as King Felix mows us down and Javy serves them up.

      • Pete

        yes, when thames/miranda are available to DH, I would absolutely support that. But right now, it only makes sense to let Posada DH

  • FIPster Doofus
  • Carcillo

    A question I encountered not too long ago was the one about whether the Yankees would be best served going with Cervelli behind the plate and Jorge DH, or if they should acquire a bat to fill in that DH spot and push Jorge back behind the dish.

    My reasoning is very simple; for now, the Cervelli starting/Posada DH thing can work if for no other reason than to rest Jorge from everyday catching duties before the stretch run. BUT, come August 1, I will prefer seeing Jorge catching again, with a bat in the DH spot. Everyone loves Cervelli. But he’s no starter on this team.

  • http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch aka Master of the Obvious

    King Felix has thrown two consecutive complete games and the game before that went 8 2/3rds.

    He’s given up a total of five runs over that span.

    Javy will have to step it up tonight for us to have any chance.

    • Ross in Jersey

      On the flipside, the last time he faced an AL team he gave up 7 runs in 6 innings.

      • http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch aka Master of the Obvious

        And the last time Javy pitched against an American League team, he gave up one hit in seven innings.

        I guess we have a chance after all.

        • Ross in Jersey

          That’s the spirit

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            (passes out bayonets)

    • Mike HC

      So, you are saying he is due for a bad start and has been overworked in his last three?

      • http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch aka Master of the Obvious

        Sixth inning. I so hate being right about this one.

  • Marc

    Was that religious reference?

    Seperations of church and baseball!!

    • http://twitter.com/dpatrickg Dirty Pena

      ?

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    Note for the GT which is pretty much already covered here: Cliff Lee Felix Hernandez is a very good pitcher. If we don’t score four runs in the first, do not panic. If Mark Teixeira makes an out, he is not the worstest hitter ever. If Curtis Granderson makes an out, it doesn’t mean Damon/Matsui/Melky would have hit a home run.

    Thanks.

    /Bexy’d

  • Kevin

    Looks like Joe Morgan wrote the scouting report for Javy today.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      Nah, it didn’t say anything about bunting.

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Oh God not the “Ichiro could hit home runs if he really wanted to” meme again.

    • Mike HC

      But teh batting practice upper deck shots!?!?!?!

      /not particularly funny but just felt it belonged under this comment

    • Trish

      My husband is totally gay for Ichiro and just said “he can hit homers, he just doesn’t want to.” I almost hurt myself with my eyeroll.

    • Ross in Jersey

      Didn’t you know? Being a speedy slap hitter is practically the same as hitting a boatload of home runs. It’s all about attitude!

    • Across the pond

      He could but he’s afraid it will hurt his RBI skills

      /Karros’d

      • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

        It’d be bad for the Mariners.

        /also Karros’d

        • Across the pond

          He must feel dumber with every homer Robbie hits.

    • Chris

      That’s probably true for Ichiro and for just about every other hitter. If his only goal were to hit home runs, then he’d probably hit quite a few more. Of course, he’d also make a lot more outs and be a less valuable hitter, but he’d have more home runs!

  • http://gothambaseball.com RPimpsner

    I am live on GothamBaseball.com with my second live Staten Island Yankees Game Chat. You can listen to the game on MiLB.com while we discuss it.

  • Justin

    Off to hang with my dad for a while. Will be back later.

    No bridge jumping people! I told us not to bridge jump Sunday, and then what happened?

    S’all good in the hood.

  • Cy Farnsworth

    Am I the only one who remembers Leiter bashing the Branyan signing last night? Because he sure does like it today.

    Nice first inning from Javy.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      I’m kind of irrationally annoyed they got Branyan back just in time for the Yankee series.

      • http://twitter.com/dpatrickg Dirty Pena

        These things even out like when Oakland traded Holliday as they were playing us.

  • FIPster Doofus

    Encouraging start. Good job, Javy.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Nice Javy.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    No, Michael Kay. Felix Hernandez did not sign a market deal.

  • Cy Farnsworth

    Yikes, that pitch was pretty close.

    • Cy Farnsworth

      And it’s not often that you’ll see Angel Hernandez give Derek Jeter a call.

      This really is the worst crew in baseball.

      • Ross in Jersey

        For real. Hernandez and C.B. Bucknor are the two umps you can pencil in to blow at least one call a game.

  • Ross in Jersey

    Michael Kay: If you throw a changeup as the first pitch of the game, is it really a change-up? I mean, what is it changing up from?

    /facepalm

    • Vinny the Bull

      Wouldn’t be the first time he’s ever said that.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    WTF, a walk? Did someone tell Jeter it was the 9th inning or something?

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Leiter: “Swisher struggled so much in the playoffs that he went to Arizona over the winter to work with Kevin Long.”

    Kay: “I think the thing that sent him out to Arizona – other than the plane (cackle) – was his struggles in the postseason.”

    • Ross in Jersey

      It’s been said before, but it’s an atrocity that Kay and Scully have the same job.

  • Cy Farnsworth

    No Michael, it is not “unbelievable” to see Tex walking back to the dugout…

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      Didn’t Kay say he was walking back to the dugout mouthing “unbelievable”? Or did I just hear that wrong?

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Oh Felix looks super on. :( (Every time I say this in the first inning, I hope he implodes like Beckett did in that one Hughes/Beckett game at Fenway.)

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    HAHAHA. Oh man people would be so pissed if Posada did that

  • Trish

    Uh, Michael? Maybe it’s just that Rob Johnson sucks? A thought?

  • FIPster Doofus

    Felix isn’t missing by much. Geez.

  • Ross in Jersey

    Maybe Hernandez feels bad about the whole Joe West thing and decided to cut the Yankees a break. King Felix had Jeter and A-rod struck out big time.

  • Across the pond

    Haha love hearing that from CC.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Nice play by Saunders. That’s two runs right there.

  • Cy Farnsworth

    Oh ****.

    2 inches away from a 2-0 lead.

  • Vinny the Bull

    Guess white men CAN jump. (Kay cackle)

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Stupid Saunders. ;_;

  • Ross in Jersey

    Oh look, more line drive outs :(

    That looked like a double off the bat, damn.

  • Kevin

    If anyone votes “no” for the text poll, I will never watch baseball again.

    • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

      TEH STEROID ERA!!!3!!

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Quick, everybody boo!

  • Cy Farnsworth

    That’s the Home Run Javy that we all know and hate.

    Austin Jackson would’ve caught that.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      He would have inspired Javy to make a better pitch, therefore eliminating the need to make a catch.

  • Across the pond

    Thought Bradley was taking time off to deal with his PMS.

  • JSquared

    Very frustrating when you can’t buy a line drive for a hit… yet Milton Bradley can hit a homerun off Vazquez that he can’t hit in batting practice.

    • Hummingbird S.

      hitting a HR off Javy is not exactly a hard thing to do

  • Ross in Jersey

    Milton Bradley, newest Yankee killer

  • Hummingbird S.

    just imagine if we were playing the best offense in the league…

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      You’re back to being all depressed all the time after like, two innings. It was better when you weren’t. :(

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        They only have a one game lead on the best record in baseball…now is the time with panic.

        • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

          And Hughes is RUINED FOREVER.

        • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

          Are you serious? A slim lead in the division is nothing to be worried about. Boston and Tampa have injuries and slumps to deal with, so any lead they have probably can´t be maintained for a long period.

          • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

            I can’t speak for Captain Jack but I’m pretty sure he’s kidding.

            • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

              Can somebody DFA me? Sarcasm detector must not be working tonight.

      • Hummingbird S.

        it’s hard not to be down when your pitchers make the worst offense in the league look like the ’27 Yankees..

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      Why would they play themselves?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

    Man…Javy’s getting hit hard…lets hope he settles down in the next innings. Also of note: I hate playing teams with good defensive outfields.

    • Cy Farnsworth

      He’s given up a solo shot and a soft single. No need to panic.

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        Has he recorded a ground out? His non-K out was a deep flyball…it’s a weak hitting team, I thought Milton Bradley had retired or something since his breakdown…if it weren’t Felix on the mound I wouldn’t be worried, but alas…not the case.

        Lets hope he makes me look stupid.

        • whozat

          Isn’t Javy a flyball/strikeout pitcher? I might be wrong, but I didn’t think he was ever a big groundball guy.

        • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

          Javy has a career GB% of 39.2. It really doesn´t matter if he gets groundouts as long as the OF is on its toes.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

        (draws warm bath, retrieves razor blade)

        • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

          This comment is just like Hughes´ curveball – filthy (ironically enough)

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      Franklin Gutierrez – Death to Flying Things.

      (h/t TSJC)

    • Gwen

      I’m not quite sure that is “getting hit hard” when he’s done much worse.

  • Ross in Jersey

    Michael Kay, accurately depicting the core concept of Moneyball. My mind is officially blown.

    • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

      Seriously

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      He’s not stupid, he just enjoys being a dick…at least that’s the impression I get.

      • boogie down

        Yup, and his radio show is littered with examples of that (obviously). Yesterday he implored people to hate more (in reference to A-Rod letting Torre off the hook by shaking his hand) to make those who have offended you feel terrible about doing so for as long as possible. It began as a semi-valid point about how “taking the high road,” while classy, allows an offender to think what he did was alright, more or less. Then, out of nowhere his rant devolved into a maniacal dissertation on why hate is good and advisable. He even decided (brilliantly, I might add, as the shock value was immeasurable) to directly scream at kids who were listening and told them that holding grudges, no matter what your parents might say, is great because it makes your opponent feel small and insignificant.

  • Vinny the Bull

    Serious question. Does Michael Kay seem so damn unbearable because we listen to him every day, or is he just genuinely terrible?

    • Trish

      I put it into the context of “he’s better than Sterling/Waldman.”

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      The former, I think. He’s been very, very, very down on everything this year, it seems, but compared to other announcers, he’s not that bad, not at all.

      • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

        You can, put it on the boooooooooooooard….YEEESSSS!!!!!!!

    • Hummingbird S.

      I know I’m the minority here but I kinda like him. He’s a lot better than most of other teams’ announcers.

    • Gwen

      Personally, I think it’s the former, but seeing as how I hear the same people talk every day and don’t feel as annoyed, it might be that he’s just that bad.

    • Accent Shallow

      I was really down on Michael Kay last year.

      And then the playoffs started.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

    Also of note: I hate playing teams with good defensive outfields.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      Ibid.

  • Hummingbird S.

    that’s like the 10th lineout in this series

  • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

    wow now Richard Jefferson opted out of his deal this is gonna be a great free agency watch

    http://twitter.com/ksatnews/status/17448519508

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Colin Curtis is 14 months older than Felix Hernandez.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

      HE’S GONNA BE GREAT 25 HOMERS PER YEAR

      /thatoneguy’d

      • Pete

        more like: I THINK WE’RE SELING COLINS SHORT HITTING I’VE SEEN HIS SWING AND HE SHOUDL BE GOOD FOR 15-60 HOMERS THE YANKEES JUST ARENT GIVING HIM A CHANCE AND NOW THEY ARE YNAD YOULL SEE

  • Cy Farnsworth

    I always feel like I need to take a shower after listening to Kay talk to Kim Jones.

    • http://mystiqueandaura.com/ JMK’s Mystique and Aura

      So does Kay.

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        Except his is with Kim Jones.

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    Commence more booing

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      The Seattle Mariners, with two players in the lineup with an OPS+ over 100, and he’s allowed two HRs in three innings. If you can’t boo that, what can you boo? I mean, I want to like him, but he’s making it quite difficult. Yes, he’s the fifth starter and should face less pressure, and yeah he’s still getting booed for something that happened six years ago…but that doesn’t make his performance any better.

      • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

        And booing your own players accomplishes…

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          Time honored tradition amongst sports fans, not that I endorse it…it’s a fact of life. If you suck you get booed, Derek Jeter was booed once upon a time too. It happens to everyone.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            Other things that have been time honored traditions and facts of life:

            Slavery
            Beating your wife
            Stoning infidels
            Drilling holes in your skull to let the evil spirits out

            Progress FTW.

            • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

              Not suggesting that it’s a good thing, it’s a fact of sports. Sports fans can get pretty crazy about their team, booing a guy for sucking against a shitty line up is on the low end of poor sports behavior.

          • http://baseballalamode.blogspot.com Ram’s Bladder Cup

            As was throwing rotten fruit and vegtables at poor performances, maybe we should bring that back?

            • Accent Shallow

              Yes.

              Not joking.

            • Pete

              this would be terrific.

              • Mike HC

                hahaa

        • Drew

          And cheering your players accomplishes…

          Nothing. But people will do it.

      • jimmy

        I don’t understand whey they are pitching lefties down and in.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

        If you can’t boo that, what can you boo?

        Nothing.

        Followup question: Is booing a constitutionally mandated act that I’m not aware of? Is there something intrinsically wrong with just not booing things? Am I somehow a bad person or unamerican if I don’t boo things?

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          To answer your question no, but you can turn that around. Does booing actually hurt anything? If a player can’t tolerate being booed he has no business in professional sports. To be a professional athlete you would have had to struggle and go through enough adversity in life to where they should be able to handle getting booed after a bad start, if you get cheered for success shouldn’t you get booed for failure? It only seems fair to me.

          • mike c

            yeah at least give javy credit that he can handle a little bronx cheer. he’s a pro, he can handle it, and if he can’t well then he has no business being a baseball player

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            if you get cheered for success shouldn’t you get booed for failure? It only seems fair to me.

            Fans don’t cheer to reward the player, they cheer because they’re happy. Fans don’t boo because they’re upset, though, they boo because they want to show the player their disdain.

            They’re not identical opposites. One is joy, the other is derision.

            • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

              A curtain call and a standing O when a starter walks off the mound after a great start aren’t designed to reward the player? When Alex Rodriguez hits a huge homerun and gets a curtain call that’s not to cheer Alex and reward him? When CC Sabathia goes 8IP 1 ER 11Ks 0BBs the standing O as he walks back to the dugout and the “atta boys” aren’t designed to reward him?

              • mike c

                yeah i don’t get it either. the defense of javy in particular is a bit odd. especially on a site where there is whole articles written about tex’s “unacceptable” performance, the “don’t boo javy” position rings a bit hollow

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

        Would you boo Pettitte if he did the same thing? Technically, it would be worse for your #2/3 starter to do that, no?

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          I’m not a booer, I’m more the piss and moan to the guy next to you type, but if I were a booer it’d have to be for a sustained period of mediocrity and underperforming. ERAs over five in late June would constitute that.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            I’m not a booer, but if I were, I’d friggin hate myself for being so insipidly elementary as to boo someone and I’d ask the smarter guy next to me to help me learn how to deal with my emotions like a grownup.

            • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

              You cheer people no? If you can cheer a guy for success is it that big of a jump to boo a guy for failure?

              • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                Yes, it is.

                • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

                  I don’t get why standing ovations and curtain calls to express emotions of happiness and gratitude towards a player are so acceptable yet booing to express emotions of emotions of angst and anger towards a player isn’t.

                  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                    Because cheering isn’t necessarily designed to aggrandize, but booing IS necessarily designed to belittle.

                    • mike c

                      oh boo-hoo, its baseball not the special olympics

                    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                      It’s not about whether or not the players can handle being belittled.

                      It’s about how pathetic it is that some jagoff fan feels the need to belittle someone else.

                      Booing doesn’t hurt the player, it embarrasses the booer. Grow up.

                    • mike c

                      yeah i’m sure the guy that scraped together enough bucks to go to a game is really embarassed himself by booing. how about, i’ll go grow up, and you stop telling people how to act– deal?

                    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

                      What about the cheering that is to aggrandize? Like the roll call, or a curtain call after a big HR, or the chants of C…C…C…C or the “Lets go _____” chants? Or any other chant for a player…not just baseball, hell in soccer they have songs for players. (my favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpV0ygkmhP4 ) You’re telling me that isn’t to praise that specific player getting the praise

                    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                      You want me to stop telling people how to act, but you defend someone booing. What is booing other than someone telling someone how to act (albeit in a juvenile way)?

                      STOP STRIKING OUT, TEIXEIRA! STOP GIVING UP HOMERS, JAVY! That’s a boo, verbalized.

                    • mike c

                      You want me to stop telling people how to act, but you defend someone booing. What is booing other than someone telling someone how to act (albeit in a juvenile way)?

                      i’m not defending the act of booing, i don’t boo players. i’m defending the right of the fans to boo whoever they damn well please, and if i’m bothered by someone in particular– it’s much more likely to be at the annoying guy who thinks he can go around telling people what to do, than at the crumbum who’s making some noise in the bleachers. it’s a free country man, just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it’s wrong

            • http://baseballalamode.blogspot.com Ram’s Bladder Cup

              This, exactly.

          • ZZ

            Fortunately for the Yankees it has been far from a sustained period of mediocrity.

            He has been on of the Yankees best pitchers the past 2 months.

      • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

        Javy has a career HR/9 of 1.2 and a career HR/FB rate of 11.2%. He´s always had problems with the home run. You just have to get used to it.

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          Pretty much, doesn’t make it any less shitty when he gives up a home run though.

      • ZZ

        After his rough start to the season he has pitched to a 3.11 ERA since the first week in May.

        This dude is so unlikeable it is going to take him pitching to a 2.11 for 7 weeks for me to consider changing my mind.

        • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

          What’s so unlikeable about him, 2004?

          • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

            That’s why he gets the most of it…everything I hear about him is that he’s a likable guy. It’s not like RJ, Pudge, or Pierzynski to where he’s easy to hate…and therefore more fun to boo.

            • Chris

              He was injured in 2004. He was their best pitcher (and an All-Star) in the first half. He pushed through an injury to help carry the team. Without him, I don’t know if they would have made the playoffs.

          • ZZ

            I was being sarcastic to mock the original poster.

            I guess poor attempt by me :(

            • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

              …Except I actually like Javy, unlike those booing him. All I’m saying is that if you’re not performing well I don’t see an issue with booing, I never got the big deal why people get mad at booers. Every fan base boos at sometime or another, it’s a part of sports. I don’t see what the harm is…

              • ZZ

                Except he is performing well as evidenced by his statistics the past 7 weeks.

                • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

                  Lately yeah, but not his aggregate performance…you’re probably right that he’s still probably getting booed for the worst baseball memory in most Yankee fans’ lifetimes. However, he has 5.31 ERA, that’s not exactly world beater material here.

                  I can’t stress this enough: I don’t boo…I personally don’t get the appeal, that being said I don’t really give a shit if other people boo…just not like little shit. I did, however, make an exception to this rule when I was pissed with Joe Torre’s bullpen management.

          • mike c

            its not that he’s unlikeable, just not very likeable. he’s a good #4 starter, not exactly the kind that’s remembered for greatness

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          And April counts…those were games that he made it difficult for the Yankees to win. I’m not suggesting DFAing him or anything, alls I’m saying is that I don’t get why people are so pissed at those who boo him.

          • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

            I think it’s just that only he gets booed for “failing,” and a lot of it is because of 2004 (even if that’s not why you personally boo him, or don’t boo him, or whatever).

            • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

              Okay, end this booing nonsense now. There’s no point in having another argument about it. Talk about the game or talk about nothing at all. Thanks.

              (Not singling you out bex, this had to go somewhere easy to see)

              • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                Sorry, I’ll keep my mouth shut now.

                • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

                  Just saw the comment…ditto.

                  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

                    Just know that while you can’t hear it through the intertubez, I’m booing the f#$% out of you right now, Captain Jack.

                    Taste my self-righteousness.

      • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

        Noooo not another booing debate :(

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    I hate you, Saunders. I hate you.

  • Ross in Jersey

    Jeff Mathis flashbacks for the loss

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    Did Branyan try to get out of the way of that at all?

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Seriously the BABIP luck in this game so far is just annoying me. >:(

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    I hate this game tonight.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    This is less than ideal.

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    He missed his spot by a mile there

  • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

    Al Leiter is lying his ass off

    • Vinny the Bull

      Pretty much.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      I’m not listening too intently; what did he say?

      • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

        That his soon plays with Al Leiter in Mlb 2k10 and hes not even in the game unless his son created him in the game.

        • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

          Son*

  • Accent Shallow

    Quite a few hard hit outs. This blows.

  • jimmy

    Team feels dead.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Good pitching does that.

      • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

        No, you stop that rationality. Three days after a pretty awesome comeback, we’re obviously dead and don’t care.

        • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

          We need Larry Bowa back

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

          My narrative >>>>>>>>>> your dispassionate reality

      • JPK

        also no Gardner

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          He is the spark plug that makes this team go.

          • Chris

            Spark plugs don’t make anything go. Except sparks.

            • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

              I was being facetious.

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        I blame the Ms outfield.

  • ZZ

    If Javy holds it a 3 and goes 6 innings, he will finish the month of June with a 3.23 ERA and 6.5 innings per start.

  • JPK

    micheal kay just nailed it on the head in regards to Angel Hernadez

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      What did he say?

      • JPK

        he said “you always know when Angel Hernadez is umping a game” …”he always seems to be in the middle of somthing”

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Nice bounceback inning, Javy.

  • Gwen

    Good job, Teix.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Yay Tex.

  • VO

    There goes the no no.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    More of that, please.

    • Ubu

      Question? Am I the only puzzled why Alex never takes advantage of the short porch to Right anymore? He still does get outside pitches to connect but it seems like he wants to pull everything. Just missing some Opposite Power from A-Rod

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

        He just found his HR stroke on the road trip. This is the first time they’ve been home in a while

        • Ubu

          Yeah but they have been all to his pull side, Mike. When he’s going best doesn’t Alex go the other way with power?

          • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

            Yes, but that’s true for every batter.

  • Ubu

    Rally Begins…..Now!! Good Job Mark!

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    I hate when good at bats end like that. Goddammit that was ball three!

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Heh, if only it was that easy. It looks like a fastball over the plate until you swing.

      • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

        Haha, I know.

  • Ubu

    Ah…the tight slider… is there any other ;-)

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Darin Erstad had 240 hits in 2000? What the hell was his BABIP, .600?

    • Accent Shallow
    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      I looked it up because I was curious. .375 o_O

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

      Darin Erstad’s BABIP was 1.000 pure grit. He willed the ball to drop in for hits with his rugged masculinity and hustle.

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

        He played football in college, you know.

        • Chris

          No he didn’t. He punted. That’s like saying the ball boy plays baseball.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            He only punted because the league banned him from playing linebacker to keep people from dying.

  • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

    Go deep Cano :)

    • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

      :(

  • Vinny the Bull

    Felix’s changeup is something else.

  • Ubu

    Can someone really be called King when Cliff Lee is in the same rotation? More like the Vice Prez if you ask me…

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      I remember when the Ms first acquired Bedard there were shirts that said “We now have an Ace to go with our King” In that same vein I also liked this one:

      http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/50749/greinke_shirt_5b1_5d.jpg

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

      Why do they call it “Ovaltine”? The jar is round, the mug is round… they should call it “Roundtine”.

  • Hummingbird S.

    leadoff double stranded… this is some of the worst baseball the Yankees have played all year

    • Tom Zig

      King Felix is one of the best 5 pitchers in baseball. Good pitching beats good hitting.

      /Atleastwearentbeingnohit

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      You say that like every game they’re losing. I can’t say it’s some of the worst baseball they’ve played when it’s against FELIX HERNANDEZ. He is kinda good.

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        That and they’ve been blown out a couple of times…it’s three runs make Felix work, try to get to the bullpen…this Ms outfield has made things difficult.

    • Ross in Jersey

      I don’t see how you can say that when one of the best pitchers in the game is on the mound and throwing nasty.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

      this is some of the worst baseball the Yankees have played all year

      You’re right.

      And I don’t care.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Dustin Pedroia is oh so gritty. I remember when he played hurt last month and OPS’d .425. Such a team player.

    • Tom Zig

      Dude he is taking grounders from his knees WITH A BROKEN FOOT. My grit meter has exploded!

      • Tom Zig

        In fact if you add up the grit of Ellsbury, Darin Erstad, David Eckstein, and Reggie WIllits, you still won’t equal Pedroia’s grittacularity

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      His 3-HR game at Coors Field was actually the single greatest game of all time, though.

      /Eric Van’d
      /no, seriously, he said that’d

      • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

        I could hit 20 HRs at Coors – and I´m like a Hispanic Pedroia.

        • Pete

          impossible – there can be no hispanic pedroia. That’d be like saying “I’m a gritty, hustling Cano”

          • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

            Are you saying my existence is impossible?

            • Pete

              yes.

              • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

                To be honest, I´m 14 and bigger than Pedroia. By the time I´m as old as him, I´ll be a Mark Teixeira type.

  • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

    Im hoping we can get lebron and bosh and if the Knicks cant get rid of eddy curry contract to get another top tier free agent ill be happy having ray allen.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

      The first half (LeBron and Bosh) is possible. Even probable, IMO.

      The second half (dealing Curry): impossible.

      • Tom Zig

        I don’t know anything about basketball, but what makes Eddie Curry so impossible to trade? Like can’t the Knicks be like we’ll take your equivalent of Eric Wordekemper if you take him?

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

          Because the only teams that would be interested in taking on Curry’s deal would be teams trying to unload a massive contract on the Knicks, and they won’t take on future money that jeopardizes their ability to add LeBron and Bosh (or Anthony/Paul/etc. for future years) unless they also get an elite player.

          It’s not impossible, but it’s near-impossible. Nothing really lines up in a way that makes sense for both sides.

        • Mike HC

          Because Curry is a huge negative. Worthless on the court and tons of money. So the Knicks would either have to add in value to the deal in order to convince someone to take him, or the Knicks would have to get an equally terrible piece, thus putting them in the same place they started.

          It essentially took three first round picks just to unload Jared Jeffries, and he is arguably useful on the court somewhat and less expensive than Curry.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

            That.

            I mean, we could probably trade Curry’s expiring year to someone if we also gave them Gallinari, but we’d never do that because Gallinari’s untouchable.

      • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

        yea i think the only way curry is dealt if hes packaged in a deal with chandler.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

          Even with Chandler, it’s still near impossible.

          • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

            So in your opinion what do u see happening ?

    • Chris

      The only way the Knicks get rid of Curry’s contract is if he unexpectedly passes away in the next week.

      • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

        I was hoping hell pull a Richard Jefferson on us.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

          Jefferson actually has basketball value at a reduced salary. He’ll recoup that 16M over a few years.

          Eddy Curry wouldn’t walk away from 11M, because he probably wouldn’t make 11M total for the rest of his NBA lifetime.

    • Mike HC

      I think Joe Johnson and LeBron it more probable. Bosh seems like he is headed to Miami.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

        It seems that way.

      • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

        I was reading that Toronto trying to do a sign and trade with Miami and it would send Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony to Toronto

        • Mike HC

          Yea, I have not bought into the speculation much, but this one feels real. I hope its wrong and Bosh lands with the Knicks, but it really does seem real to me. Time will tell.

          • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

            So if we don’t get bosh do u think the Knicks resign David Lee or sign Amare along with James and possibly Ray Allen.

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

              I think we want nothing to do with David Lee. He’s going to get overpaid by someone, and it’s not going to be us.

            • Mike HC

              I think the plan is Joe Johnson and LeBron first. Then Amare and LeBron. Then LeBron and Lee. Then Joe Johnson and Amare or Lee (which would be a doomsday scenario)

              I really think LeBron is coming to NY though, which is the important thing.

              • Dalelama

                No way Lebron goes to dysfunctional org like the Knicks…

            • Mike HC

              I have not really put much thought into Ray Allen. I just assume he will be back with the Celtics. As will Pierce and Doc already has.

              • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

                I like Allen Because hell fit perfect in Mike D’Antoni
                system specially with Lebron.Picture Lebron runnin down the court and passing the ball to Allen and he popping 3s.

                • Yankeefan91 Arod fan

                  Or even Mike Miller would shine in Mike D’Antoni system.

  • Ubu

    Ichrio means= Hitman Ninja

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    Oh my Mo. If I have to hear this “born to be a baseball player” thing about Ichiro again, I am going to Van Goh my goddamn ears.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      You should more do what Val Kilmer did to those medics in Heat. Van Gough just looked really funny.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      Just don’t give it to a prostitute after

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        Probably the only way a guy without an ear can get laid, no?

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      NSFW, profanity…but best Ichiro moment ever.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Ichiro just ran across the mound on his way back to first.

    • Vinny the Bull

      They don’t have unwritten rules in Japan. They have robots.

      • Pete

        they don’t have unwritten rules, just unhalf-written-half-drawn rules.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      He should flip out so he can throw a perfecto in his next start.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    I miss Coney. :(

    • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

      +36

  • BklynJT

    LOL Vazq is such a scrub. Cant even throw a strike to a phantom batter.

    • deuce bag poster

      Yeah, no.

  • Drew

    Kay, how many games have you watched? You’ve never seen an ump decline to give a player time?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Yeah really. You know that was a straight up lie just to reinforce his point.

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Javy, strikes please. (Not the ones they hit out of the park, either.)

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      That do it for you? ;)

  • jimmy

    Jose Lopez is up and I’m scared.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    There you go Javy. Work that shit.

  • Drew

    Bad inning, no harm no foul though.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    Way to battle, Javy.

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    That was an awful inning but it totally could have been worse.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    /Luis Castillo’d

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    What a break–make them pay for that

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Good hustle Curtis. HAVE to get this run in.

  • Vinny the Bull

    A little luck!

  • Pat D

    So, stuck at work again as usual. Doesn’t seem like I’m missing anything good, am I?

    • Hummingbird S.

      you’re missing crappy pitching and an offense that can’t come through with RISP by the Yankees..

      • Pat D

        So…nothing good. Gotcha.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      Well, Felix is pitching really well.

  • Pete

    Ok I’m late to the party, but re: the whole booing thing:

    Cheering out of elation and anguished cries are not analogous to booing, as they’re pure emotional reactions and booing is a conscious act of derision. But people generally seem to get that.

    The other point people raise is in regards to giving a player a standing ovation or a curtain call – actions devised to “reward” a player for a good performance. The question being that if it is acceptable to do something like that, then why isn’t it cool for people to boo, which is basically the exact opposite, but the same kind of thing?

    What I don’t understand is how the answer to that isn’t extremely obvious to everyone. Standing O’s and curtain calls are good things. Not rationally good despite booing being bad, just good. As in, man this is a feel good moment look at everybody standing up and applauding the guy-good. Booing is taking an already bad and frustrating situation and bitching and moaning and cussing a player out about it. In other words, you’re taking something that’s already bad and making it worse by adding your own irritating and immature soundtrack. Every now and again you might be near a booer who is genuinely hilarious with the things he says, but usually it’s some drunken asshole whose every other word is “fuck”, and who adds nothing to anybody’s enjoyment of the game.

    That’s the point. It’s not just about the player. It’s about the other fans. Nobody enjoys listening to a booer. Sure, he may have paid good money for his seats, but so did everyone else. Acting like a child when everyone around you is acting like adults is not only immature because of the innate immaturity of the act, but even more so because it is done with such a lack of self-awareness that the person doing it doesn’t even realize that he is being a jackass. Booing a player, whether he deserves it or not, is a shitty thing to do. Even if the player you’re booing deserves to hear your boos, none of the people sitting around you do.

    Whether the person realizes it or not, by booing he is embarrassing himself and, more importantly, he is embarrassing the people who have to live with the fact that they are fans of the same team – hell, members of the same goddam species – as him.

    That’s why booing sucks.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
      • Pete

        i sawwwy

    • Mike HC

      I have a feeling that the people who boo don’t much that much thought into it.

      Why do they boo? Because it makes them feel better to tell someone else they suck. Simple.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

        I have a feeling that the people who boo don’t much that much thought into it.

        That’s a poor defense. People should be thoughtful.

        • deuce bag poster

          This.

          But, as Captain Jack pointed out, we should shut up now probably.

          • Mike HC

            Ah, didn’t read that.

            My bad.

        • Mike HC

          I think fundamentally, your expectations of the average sports fan is too high. Sports is meant as entertainment and a release.

          For the more analytically inclined, like those who tend to read RAB, the entertainment factor comes from the analysis and thought process. For the less analytically inclined, the entertainment comes from the thoughtlessness of it all. Just sit back and cheer the good guys and boo the bad guys, whomever they may be for you.

  • Hummingbird S.

    I think Figgins is blind… let’s just pop up to him everytime

  • Ross in Jersey

    I honestly don’t remember the last time Cervelli got a hit.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Apparently he hit a triple against the Mets. That’s it.

  • mike c

    ah, figgins — that’s money well spent

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    Sonofabitch.

  • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

    BABIP giveth, and BABIP taketh away

  • Vinny the Bull

    Ah, and the BABIP fail is back.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Thanks for trying.

    Meanwhile, I’m completely over Cervelli. He go back to Scranton for the rest of his career for all I care.

    • Ross in Jersey

      I think we all knew he’d start reverting back to the sub-200-hitting, but he’s completely non-competitive at this point.

  • deuce bag poster
  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Cervelli has reached base once in his last 16 plate appearances.

  • Pat D

    I’m just not feeling it with this team right now. Far too many inconsistencies.

    And of course, they still have the best record in the game! I’m not sure if that’s just luck or a comment on the rest of the majors or that it’s still simply too early in the season. I’m going with the last option, actually.

    • Ross in Jersey

      I really hope you’re not basing that off games against Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez.

      • Pat D

        No. They “should” have been 2-4 last week, Burnett’s been terrible lately, the offense is totally inconsistent…I don’t know, it’s just frustrating. It’s more frustrating that I can only watch like 2 games a week. My schedule last year was different and I hardly ever missed games.

        • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

          They “should” have been 2-4 last week

          So it’s kinda nice they won two games where they played pretty poorly, huh? Sign of a good team.

    • deuce bag poster

      That, or your feeling is wrong and they’re very good.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      It’s early. Most teams don’t go on a tear all year, unless you’re really, really special (we’re talking 1998 Yankees special). The 2009 Yankees were kinda spotty pre-ASB, too.

      • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

        51-37

        This year’s team would have to really mail it in over the next couple of weeks to not be ahead of last year’s pace.

        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

          If Alex, Teixeira, Jeter, and Granderson start hitting back to their career norms and capabilities they may have that type of run in them. (2009 second half that is)

    • Mike HC

      The team has not clicked on all cylinders yet and there has been consistent injuries on our offense. It is all about clicking at the right time. You don’t want to peak in June. You want to peak in August and September. The Yanks are right on track. Come back later if you can’t handle the journey.

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    The last two games haven’t been very surprising but they are stinky.

    • Hummingbird S.

      it’s one thing to be outpitched by Lee and Felix but it’s another to be outhit by the Mariners’offense.. last two games have been surprising in that sense

      • deuce bag poster

        Meh, not really. Vasquex wasn’t exactly killed and Hughes had a rare off night. Happens.

      • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

        it’s one thing to be outpitched by Lee and Felix but it’s another to be outhit by the Mariners’offense

        Not when you are in the process of being outpitched by Lee and Felix.

  • Kevin G.

    Am I the only one who voted “No” just to spite Kay?

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    If Javy gets out of this inning with ~110 pitches, does he start the seventh?

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      Probably depends on what the offense does.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    I can’t wait for some fucking morons to not vote for Maddux.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      but teh loozing record in teh postseason!!!

    • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

      If Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron weren’t unanimous, then why does this guy deserve to be?

      /moron with a HOF vote’d

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

        More Ruth than Aaron, and Ruth wasn’t unanimous because the first hall class was supposed to be for a certain generation of ball players and he came after them. Some writers didn’t want Ruth inducted with Cobb, Williams, Matthewson, and Johnson because he was from the next generation.

        • deuce bag poster

          Cobb got more HOF votes than Ruth. Jackasses.

        • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

          So it wasn’t that they didn’t like him, they just didn’t vote for him precisely because they wanted him in the next year so he would be associated with more players from his own time?

          That makes the argument for not voting for someone because why should they be elected unanimously even more idiotic.

          • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

            No, not so he wouldn’t be associated with more players with his own time, so he WOULDN’T be associated with players of Cobb/Wagners/Johnson/Matthewson’s time. Perhaps a distinction without a difference, but nonetheless a very small thing to do.

            • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

              Still makes an asshole of anyone saying “Ruth didn’t get in unanimously, therefore Maddux (or Randy Johnson, or some other slam-dunk Hall of Famer) shouldn’t either, therefore I’m not voting for him.”

    • JPK

      the voting sportswriters should have to fully explain thier votes, in the newspaper that they work for. Both the votes that they cast for the hall and the guys they snub.
      Failure to explain yourself would = loss off HOF voting rights

      you would see a lot less of playes that are obvious HOFers getting low % of the vote, also less of guys that shouldn’t be cosidered getting charity votes cause they where good guys

      • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

        Why hello there, David Segui

  • Once and Future Lurker

    Did Kay just pull out the categorical imperative?

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    The Yanks have scored 26 runs in Javy’s last eight starts.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

      HE DOESN’T WILL THE OFFENSE TO WIN!!!!!

      • deuce bag poster

        “Wins are THE most important stat.”

        -Wally Matthews

        /It never gets old

    • Hummingbird S.

      not even the offense like him.. I kid

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    That was a lot closer than I’d’ve liked it to be.

  • Drew

    Why the hell do so many people watch movies about people turning into animals and vampires and shit? Humanity has failed me again.

  • ZZ

    And Javier Vazquez finishes the month of June with a 3.23 ERA and 6.5 innings per start.

    Over his last 9 starts he has a 3.30 ERA.

  • Rose

    The Yankees are making King Felix look like he’s the star of the next Terminator movie

    • Mike HC

      I would say it more like, King Felix is making the Yanks look like scared Asians running from King Kong.

      • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

        I think you mean Godzilla.

        • Mike HC

          hahaha, yea. I knew that sounded off.

          Thanks for the correction. I need to brush up on my classic movie knowledge.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      Felix does that to a lot of teams.

  • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

    If King Felix would have went free agent, what kind of a deal do you think he would have got?

    At 26 years old, it would have to have been longer than CC or Santana. Since he’s every bit as good as those two were when they signed, the AAV would have to be the same.

    9 years/205 mil sound about right? I’d say 10/235 mil but the economy still sucks and very few think it will get any better anytime soon.

    • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

      9 year deal for a pitcher = absolutely insane

      That said, he might have gotten one

      • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

        It is, but someone would bid the 9th year for less $$, so the team that lands him would have to max out on both the dollars and years. It’s what happened with CC and AJ.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    • deuce bag poster

      Minor league baseball link Axsia. We’re too smart for your little games.

    • Vinny the Bull

      har har

    • VO

      Take it Lebron.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    Russell Branyan <3's YSIII.

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    Stupid Branyan ;_;

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Time to put the subs in. First hit by a lefty off Marte in like, a month.

  • deuce bag poster

    Yeah, thaaaat’s about game over.

    BOOOOOOOOO!!!!111!!!!!

    /Obligatory’d

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    I just got offered Paps for Gregg. I should take this, right?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Yes, more opps down the stretch.

      I got offered Cain for Carlos Gonzalez. I’m tempted, but Cain has some ugly peripherals and power-speed-AVG guys like CarGo are gold.

      • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

        I’d keep CarGo.

      • http://mystiqueandaura.com/ JMK’s Mystique and Aura

        Yep, keep Gonzalez.

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      I don´t know, Pap´s Ks are down, and homers are up. FIP and xFIP aren´t so pretty (4.98 and 4.65). Gregg has an atrocious BB/9 (5.4). It´s a pick your poison type of deal. Gregg should get more save opps than Papelbon.

  • Ross in Jersey

    So over/under 3 on the number of runs the Yankees score in the 9th inning? I say over.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      I’m gonna be a bitch and push.

  • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

    Holy shit. That 0-1 changeup to Posada was incredible.

  • S.King

    i know it’s cliff lee and king felix…i guess i was just hoping we could make a statement in at least one of the games. have our guy pitch great and scratch some runs off their aces and come out with a 4-3 or 3-2 win. i really don’t think the team is playing with a true identity right now. i know we’re in first place, but i feel like we’re playing lousy ball.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      i know we’re in first place, but i feel like we’re playing lousy ball.

      If I had a nickel…

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

        Hey man, if it wasn’t for Broxton getting Torre’d, this would be their fourth loss in a row.

        /Lombardi

        • deuce bag poster

          Proper response:

          Point conceded. If things were different, they wouldn’t be the same.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Felix has retired 19 of the last 21 batters he’s faced.

    • jimmy

      BloggingBombers

      King Felix has retired 8 in a row, 12 of 13, 19 of 21 and 21 out of 25 for the entire game.

  • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

    The Yanks, meanwhile, have told Zduriencik to keep them posted on Lee, though they do not want to expend prospects and dollars to fix a rotation they do not believe is broken. They prefer to wait and just buy Lee in free agency, and not trade any prospects.

    But the Yanks were willing to include Jesus Montero in trade offers last offseason for both Lee and Roy Halladay, who both would have been entering their walk years. They should offer him again for a half season of Lee, as well. Having Lee and CC Sabathia turns the Yanks from World Series favorites into Secretariat. In this scenario, they would not lose a first-round pick if/when they re-sign Lee. They could either put Phil Hughes into the bullpen or try trading Javier Vazquez for a righty-hitting outfielder — though having Lee would remove one of the lefty studs to worry about.
    Would it be painful to deal Montero and someone such as Double-A second baseman David Adams, currently on the DL, but a player Seattle does like? You bet. Again, this trade does not happen without pain. But the Yankee farm system is particularly deep in catching talent.

    And the Yankees’ mandate — always — is to go for championships. Obtaining Lee — as painful as that would be — makes the potential pleasure of a 28th title more probable.

    http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/mets_and_bombers_lMcmliJzOLMo7QfXC8nA0O

    Where to begin.. where to begin… . .

    There are two Joel Shermans. The good, thoughtful reporter and the one who makes batshit crazy trade proposals.

  • Drew

    Ugh.. 1 o clock game. What.. Friday too!??? What the f

  • Ross in Jersey

    Saw this on LoHud:

    “you say Montero is not ready. I say he is.
    We will just have to agree to disagree.
    I’ve dissected each Montero at bat in detail for the last two weeks.
    He has turned the corner.

    I respect your opinion as I’m sure you do mine.
    Between CB, you and myself – we have the most respected baseball minds on this blog.”

    Yup.

    • deuce bag poster

      Who are the two genii to go along with CB as the most respected minds of the blog? (CB is a pretty smart dude.)

      Which one made the comment?

      • Ross in Jersey

        Matt, a typical sky-is-falling dope

        • deuce bag poster

          Who’s the other genius?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      This guy sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.

  • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

    Is this offense ever going to click? I’m so tired of watching this offense suck it up and not be able to scratch a run across when they lead off the inning with a double.

    • Total Dominication

      Perhaps back to back aces going against them isn’t the time to analyze the Yankee offense. They are, after all, second in the majors in wOBA.

      • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

        Thank you.

        • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

          Make excuses for these guys if you want. I’m sorry that I expect them to do a little better. I’m not saying they should be able to beat Hernandez and destroy him. He is a legit top 5 pitcher. What I want is some life and it appears that they have none. Would it kill them to work the count a little?

          Why can’t they do what they did to Pedro when he was in his prime and is better than Hernandez is now. They would get him out after 6 innings. Now a good starting pitcher either goes 8 or throws a complete game.

          • deuce bag poster

            Sometimes really good pitchers ahve really good games. You can hope they do a little better than they have, but it’s unfair to expect it.

          • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

            Why can’t they do what they did to Pedro when he was in his prime and is better than Hernandez is now. They would get him out after 6 innings.

            It’s not like they did that every time. Really good pitchers have really good games sometimes. Sometimes they’re a little off and you can take advantage of that.

      • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

        I would have no problem if they looked to try to work the out. People swinging at the 1st pitch. Guys not being able to get guys over to get a run against a legit pitcher.

        • Ross in Jersey

          Read the original post of this thread, you can’t hope to work the count against guys like Felix, especially when he’s on. If you do, you’re going to be down 0-2 and have to deal with his nasty change and slider. If you see a fastball, you have to hack it and hope to string a few hits together. The Yankees approach tonight has been fine.

          • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

            Pedro in his prime was better than Hernandez is right now. They could do that yet this team doesn’t seem to want to grind at bats anymore. Without Gardner in there you don’t see guys fouling pitches off.

            • Ross in Jersey

              Did you not watch the game 3 days ago where they grinded out 10 pitch at-bats against one of the best closers in baseball? I mean, really.

              • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

                Wow yes I should give them a ton of credit for 1 game. They won that game because Torre was a moron and used his closer the night before when they were up by 5 runs.

                • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

                  Dude. When you get stuff like that, you have to take advantage. They did. If they didn’t, you’d be slandering them for not doing that. There is nothing wrong with being critical, but you are so constantly negative and you’re not around much when they’re on winning streaks.

                  • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

                    I’m on this site every time I watch a game. I work late and I’m in the midwest so most of the time I don’t get caught up until later in the game. Also when I’m off it’s in the morning when there aren’t that many posts to comment on.

                    There are a ton of positive about this team. Cano is killing the ball, Brett Gardner is shutting people up about Carl Crawford, Swisher’s new stance has made him more consistent and the pitching staff as a whole has been pretty good. Offensively they need to be more consistent. Are you saying that they shouldn’t be?

                    • deuce bag poster

                      What she’s saying is that you’re overreacting to some bad offensive games. They’ve scored the most runs in baseball.

                    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

                      Gotcha.

                      And no, I am not saying they don’t need to be more consistent. It’s hard to get irritated at games when you’re facing two of the best pitchers in the game who are on, but getting mostly shut down by Moyer and Kendrick was a pain in the ass. Tex needs to step it up, A-Rod’s not quite A-Rod, Jeter makes me want to throw things way too frequently, etc.

                      You just don’t say the positive things much. That’s all.

                    • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

                      There are a ton of good things this team is doing. This team just does some maddening things. While I would have loved them to beat Lee and Hernandez I thought it would take amazing pitching performance by Javy and Hughes.

                • deuce bag poster

                  So, we shouldn’t give them a ton of credit for one game but TWO games against ace pitches, that’s enough.

                  • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

                    I’m talking about the offense for the whole season. They have been terrible at being consistent offensively. They have been beat by some terrible pitchers who had no right going 7 plus innings against them.

                    • deuce bag poster

                      Number one offense in the league. Repeat that to yourself, and you’ll feel better. That, and best record in baseball.

                    • http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

                      If that makes you feel good great. I’m waiting for this team to go on a roll.

                    • deuce bag poster

                      Yes, being in first place with the best offense in the league and on a better wins pace than last year does in fact make me feel good.

                      I’m such an optimist. I should get my head out of the clouds.

            • deuce bag poster

              Oh please. Hernandez is really, really good. On one of his better days, he could shut down everybody. This is one of his better days. Ditto with Lee.

              You could hope they hit better against them, but you can’t expect it.

      • S.King

        i would like the mariner fans to have to say, “well, give them a break, they’re facing some of the best hitters in baseball” instead of…..

        • Mike HC

          I’m just happy we won’t have to face these guys back to back in the playoffs. You can thank the terrible Mariners offense for that.

  • Total Dominication

    I’m not annoyed to have missed this game.

    • rek4gehrig

      I’m annoyed to have attended this game

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    A-Rod donated $250,000 to have a wing of a children’s hospital built and they named it after him? What a selfish jerk.

    • Ross in Jersey

      Jeter would have donated $500,000… donated a kidney, and saved a puppy.

    • Mike HC

      So he paid $250,000 to have a children’s hospital wing named after him? Sounds like a good deal.

      /Gregg Easterbrook’d
      /TMQ’d

    • Drew

      The construction was performed at a discount and the medical equipment is all used. $220K of the $250K was used for hand painted Centaurs above each bed in the wing.

    • http://www.soxandpinstripes.net JGS

      There were already 6 other hospitals with children’s wings in the area. He was just padding his stats.

  • theyankeewarrior

    Robinson Cano is not a lazy player. But Robinson Cano just made a very lazy play. These two games have been awful to watch.

  • Drew

    lol.. Way to pick up Robbie, Chad.

  • S.King

    oh boy

  • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

    This game is blah.

  • Ross in Jersey

    lol, 2 HR game for Saunders. By the time the Mariners leave Yankee Stadium they’re going to have moved up a few places in the offensive standings.

  • Vinny the Bull

    Never thought I’d miss Mitre.

  • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
    • Drew

      I don’t know what the hell that was, but it’s pretty cool.

  • Total Dominication
    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Yeah, he’s got a partial tear of his UCL. No surgery though.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      :(

  • theyankeewarrior

    The Mariners are a solid offensive team. Top to bottom. They have two aces. They play team ball. They are on the rise. They might see the Yankees in the playoffs…

    /IftheseweretheonlytwogamesIwatchedthisseason’d

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      I had a snarky comment prepared but then I read the second line.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    I know there’s no shame in getting shut down by Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez, but giving up 14 runs to the Mariners in two games is pretty inexcusable.

    • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

      Yeah, that.

    • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

      These last two games have sucked. Hopefully tomorrow they crush whatever scrub the Mariners´are sending out.

    • S.King

      agreed. i thought scratching out a split of these two would be nice, though. beating a tough pitcher shouldn’t be impossible for us.

      didn’t cashman just say the other day “we’ve been tipping our hat to the pitcher too much” ?

    • PhillyMatt

      And we get to face the two aces again next week in Seattle.

      • ARX

        Amazing, given all the random variations of the schedule. Not as ridiculous as getting Halladay over and over, but yeesh. By definition, the last team Seattle faced got the back end of their rotation. Why couldn’t that have been us? :p

      • Reggie C.

        If we can beat up on Halladay and Haren, I think there’s a shot at taking one of those two games next week.

  • Mike HC

    I know its easy to make excuses, but here are my excuses for this poor series so far:

    1) Good pitching beats good hitting. Lee and King were great.

    2) They faced our number 4 and 5 starters (I’m keeping the faith in AJ), and we faced their 1 and 2 (and maybe one and two in the league).

    3) Trap series. Coming off the emotional Joe Torre reunion, this was an obvious let down series.

    • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

      4. YCPB!!!!!

      Like others have said, I’m not really mad about the offense. Lee and Felix = really, really good. It’s very annoying to give up this many runs to the goddamn Mariners, though.

      • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

        Getting mad at the offense gives no credit to two of the best pitchers in Baseball, which is beyond stupid.

        • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

          I understand getting momentarily mad at the offense if you don’t blame them, which is ridiculous for the way Lee and Felix pitched.

          • http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

            …this sentence was poorly written. Basically, you can get mad at the offense, but Felix and Lee were pretty much on. It’s not the offense’s fault we lost.

  • Ross in Jersey

    Pena in the cleanup spot, finally breaking out the big guns. Incoming 450 foot bomb to right.

  • Reggie C.

    Boston is an inning away from losing tonight against the Rays.

    We will all wake up tomorrow and still be in 1st place. A beat-down style victory is way overdue.

  • ARX

    Well…at least it was relatively quick :/

  • Ross in Jersey

    Oh well. Get em tomorrow with CC on the mound playing stopper. Night folks.

  • http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

    7-0 loss, and it really wasn’t even that close. It felt like 14-0 the way Felix was dealing.

  • Reggie C.

    Felix has pitched better games, but damn, was he just overpowering tonight.

  • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

    Blowout of epic proportions tomorrow?

    • deuce bag poster

      52 to -5, Yankees. Pena goes 6 for 5 with 7 grand slams (Jeet’s getting a rest, of course). CC pitches 10 shutout innings. Of course, the Mariners forefeit after three.

      • Carlosologoist in Humid Ass Colombia

        …I said epic proportions, not Melvin-like.

        • deuce bag poster

          Of course. If it were Melvin-like, the universe would explode.

      • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

        Pena goes 6 for 5 with 7 grand slam

        Woah, woah, woah. Only Cito Culver can do that.

        • deuce bag poster

          Or Melvin, if he’s in a merciful mood.

          • http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

            Well, let’s be real here. Anything anyone can do, Melvin can do better.

            And with no hands.

            • deuce bag poster

              Melvin doesn’t even need a body. His spirit would kick ass.