Game 85: Hello, Seattle. We meet again
By
A seafaring Moose. Credit: AP Photo, Ted S. Warren
When last the Yankees met the Mariners, it was a different time. The World was more innocent and care-free. We knew nothing of LeBrons and All Star Votes. We had only an inkling of the days and wins to come against Oakland and Toronto. Ah, last week, how I miss you.
Due to the idiosyncrasies of the schedule, the Yankees and Mariners are squaring off for a four-game set this week to rush headlong into the All Star Break. The two teams met each other in a three-game set in the Bronx that wrapped up one week ago today. Unfortunately, Cliff Lee is still a Mariner, and he’s set to pitch tomorrow.
Before we get to Lee, though, All Star Andy Pettitte and the Yanks’ starting nine have to get through Jason Vargas. On the surface, Vargas has some good numbers. He’s 6-4 with a 3.22 ERA, but those mask a low strike out rate and a .263 BABIP that’s a good .030 lower than league average. He’s found success by limiting the walks (2.3/9 IP) and home runs (0.7 HR/9 IP), and the one-time member of the New York Metropolitans relies on a good change to keep hitters off balance.
The Yankees, off a sweep of the A’s, will look to keep their winning streak alive. Number 46 takes the mound, and he’s 10-2 with a 2.82 ERA. Lately, Pettitte hasn’t limited the long ball, giving up 6 HR over his last 40 innings, but most haven’t caused much damage. He’ll have the spacious Safeco outfield — and the Yanks’ steller outfield defense — behind him.
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF
Ramiro Pena 3B – His 2-for-4 last night raised the OPS+ all the way to 32.
Andy Pettitte P
First pitch is at 10:10 p.m. ET, and this one’s on the YES Network.
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Finally, almost baseball time. No more of this Lebron crap.
Breaking news: The Nets will still suck
Breaking news: The
NetsKnicks will still suckAt some point, you just run out of words to describe how awful being a Knicks fan has been for the last decade. Even the Jets give ya a thrill every once in a while.
I’m a Knicks fan, and I didn’t truly believe LeBron would come to New York. The honorable move was to stay in Cleveland. The business move was New York. The coward move is to go to Miami where he plays second fiddle to Dwyane Wade, and the Heat have the worst bench in the history of the NBA.
My only fear though is that the Knicks blew this because of Eddie Curry. If they could have had the cap space to lure Wade and Bosh but didn’t because of Curry’s $12 million mess, they truly blew it.
Meh if their bench is somewhere near league average they’ll win it. Look at the Celtics, they managed fine and their big 4 wasn’t even that spectacular. Their bench sucked too.
Oh don’t get me wrong, I didn’t really believe it either, oher than that tiny “there’s always hope” corner of my brain. It’s just breathtaking to step back and realize that for all intents and purposes, after taking a chainsaw to the roster and clearing so much cap space, the Knicks are about to come away with next to nothing. Unless they really think they’re doing anything significant with Amar’e…
Bleh, screw it, bring on the Yankees.
Though TBH, I feel worse for Cleveland…
I don’t think he’s a coward at all. He is going to take LESS cash to sign with the Heat. Tell me when that has ever happened? It says to me that the guy just wants to win, and I can’t blame him for that.
He is a coward. Would Kobe knowingly play 2nd fiddle to D-Wade? Would MJ ever go to a team that already had Magic Johnson?
LeBron is no longer confident in his skills. If he was, he would have created his own legacy.
Exactly. He is saying that he is no better than any other of the top guys. He is just one of the top players and not thee top.
Random comment questioning a player’s mental toughness based on a free agency decision.
So that makes Jeter a coward for letting A-Rod and CC on his team.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=5364549
Ian O’Connor agrees with you, I’d suggest somehow rectifying that.
At least the Knicks play at MSG.
The best thing the Nets have is a crazy Russian billionaire owner…
Plus one of the best coaches, with a few first rounders already with good young players and a hell of a lot of cap space.
At least they have a lot of picks and a good core. But they’ll still suck.
The Knicks are still doomed for quite some time. Are we just going to go through this crap with Melo next year?
The Knicks will not be good until Dolan sells the team, which will be never. I remember the April Fool’s joke where RAB posted Dolan buying the Yankees. If that should actually happen, I would contemplate suicide.
Sounds like the NBA’s next CBA will have lower maximum salaries for free agents, so Melo would be an idiot to pass on the $65 million for 3 years offered by the Nugs.
Well if you believe what’s being said, he’s not too happy there anymore and if you believe Stoudemire, Melo is “desperate” to play in NY.
I think it is more likely that Amare is “desperate” to recruit somebody else to the Knicks.
I agree.
I understand that completely.
Heh the Nets owner tried but Dolan wouldn’t budge. You’re right he’ll never do it.
And if somehow he did get the Yankees I won’t contemplate suicide tough. I’ll just do it.
(The guy who sat next to you at Foreman V. Cotto)
God Willing.
The only. Only way that I would hate him more is if he signed with New Jersey,
Then again, the NBA would still be watchable…
Twitter error: The server understood the request, but is refusing to fulfill it.
I blame LeBron
“Trader” LOL.
http://cache-01.gawkerassets.c.....raitor.jpg
As my best friend who lives in the general Cleveland area will tell you, the people out there are not the smartest in the world.
Everytime I watch Cleveland/Boston games at the Jake there’s always a ton of Red Sox fans, it’s good to know that they at least live in Cleveland and didn’t make the trip down from New England.
Well, at least Joe Mauer will be a free agent at the end of the season. With all these expiring contracts maybe the Yankees can pry his heart away from Minnesota….
He signed a huge extension a few months ago. Huge.
Not sure if serious.
Joker pic?
Sarcasm? He signed a long ass extension months ago.
Did the sarcasm detector break?
Of course I was kidding!
Thank God for the Yanks.
I’m sick over the LeBron news. I should have known better.
So what’s worse – LeBron or Favre?
Favre by far.
Favre, because he’s totally out for himself.
LeBron, I think, does still buy into a team concept at least somewhat. Of course, he made himself more important than the game with this circus.
Has any other professional athlete ever used the term “My Team” and not been referring to a group of other professional athletes.
Probably.
Favre, by such a wide margin that Lebron isn’t even in the conversation.
To be clear, I didn’t really mean as a person, I meant more in terms of all the hoopla.
I still agree with Favre though.
Well, within the first few minutes of being a “team guy” by going to Miami he referred to himself in the third person. I bet Gary Sheffield, Jalen Rose and Sam the Commenter are all about that.
FUCK YOU LEBRON, YOU FUCKIN COWARD.
/Disgruntled Knick/basketball fan’d
Has anyone considered the possibility A-Rod hits #600 in Seattle and how utterly epic that would be?
Unlikely, but deliciously ironic.
He’s gonna hit it on Old Timers’ Day. Because you know, the history, but mainly cause I’ll be there.
I willed him to hit #500 when I was there. Don’t see why you can’t do the same.
I missed that game due to the Fox blackout. I was quite pissed.
Hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. That would be epic. I don’t think it will happen though.
David Lee sign-and-trade to Golden State will land the Knicks Anthony Randolph. Never watched a GS game. Maybe once long ago, but I honestly cant remember.
Solid pick-up at the C/PF spot for the Knicks?
Meh, seems like a project to me. I guess they didn’t want to spend their cap space on both Amare and Lee, as having both of them is redundant.
Lee and Stoudamire are the same player. In fact, a study done by many “sabermetric” basketball sites show that Lee is the better player.
Knicks just wasted money. lots of it. Randolph also plays the same position as both Amare and Gallanari. SF/PF. Amare is the worst defensive center ever lol.
Im done with watching basketball. Like RAB said, 3 players makes not an unstoppable baseball team, but with only 5 players on the court, 3 of the best will be unfair.
He is 20 and just an extremely raw athlete. Think Ty Thomas.
LOL @TheRealTWill
Haha, that’s funny.
Stephen A. Smith said on Francesa’s show that Lebron will sign a five year deal with the Heat with an out at three years. Then he will sign with the Brooklyn Nets or the Knicks. I think there is something to that idea.
That course of action gets Lebron a few Championships (good possibility) and then he REALLY cashes in big time in New York.
Anyone else sick and fucking tired of this Linda McMahon ad?
As a longtime wrestling fan who has grown tired of WWE in general and thinks it’s pathetic that she’s running for office…ABSO-FUCKING-LUTLEY!!
I have Caller ID hooked up to the TV (I don’t know if everyone’s does that). I was watching TV one day and the phone rings, and all I see on the TV screen was “LINDA MCMAHON calling – 555-5555″ etc…
I agree, it’s annoying.
You know what Seattle, you’re right, making everyone on the East Coast wait til 10:05 p.m. for the game isn’t bad enough, why don’t you go ahead and make it 10:10.
Person from Seattle: “What’s the east coast? Is that Japan?”
/Nintendo owners’d
So, who is this guy?
Wayne Gretzky? On steroids?
uh oh http://twitter.com/JasonHeyward/status/18080734989
Obviously, he wants to join the Yankees when he becomes a free agent. Duh!
way to go Jete! Keep it going Yanks!
man i still can’t believe that lebron chose the heat
oh well
on to the yanks
Seriously.
I had to crank the AC up to chill out. Shoulda braced myself better.
Are the Yankees seriously going to pass on this year’s international class? I don’t think the team has made one signing.
Are we waiting on Roughned Odor’s price to drop? Not sure who else was in play.
When do they announce the starters for the ASG?
A week ago. It was all the folks we voted in. Cano and Jeter are the Yanks’ starting representatives.
Unless you mean the starting pitchers.
yeah, yeah you knew what I meant.
Celebrating the all star birth with a single.
Ichiro has game.
Omg that girl Ichiro ran into was just holding a brush. At a baseball game.
oh well, cmon a-rod
Way to fail Tex.
/Jeter’d
Bah, should have scored there
A-Rod definitely just FISTED that ball.
Like how Lebron FISTED cleveland?
God Tex just killed what could have been a big inning.
Shitty.
Stupid moose…
Who are you, Boris Badenov?
Man, I’ve never watched The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show…but I somehow got that reference.
C’mon Andy – Keep it going.
Looking at Seattle’s lineup amuses me. It’s Ichiro and a bunch of meh this year.
What are you talking about, they’ve still got Griffey!
Oh, wait…
He can sleep on his own couch now.
LeBron didn’t go to Miami to win a championship. He went because he wanted to be on the next season of Jersey Shore.
BRETT GARDNER!!!
Get owned Ichiro!
Great play Brett
You do NOT run on Brett Gardner!
Only Gardner CAN RUN ON YOU!!
Brett Gardner rules.
The Cannon!
Gardner is good.
Alex Rodriguez is payed a lot of money.
George Bush was not a good president.
Arnold Schwartzenager is strong.
Bill Gates is smart.
Ichiro thought it was Damon in LF.
ietcvm
Pettitte gives up two hits, and still gets through the inning with 10 pitches.
That can’t be common.
Mariners dead LAST in the league wrt runs scored? Yanks must take this one
Curtis should steal. Guy has a big leg kick.
NM he has a good slide step.
D’awww Pettitte family :3
22 pitches through 2 innings? I like.
2 innings, 22 pitches.
Broussard is my new best friend. He’s saying the same thing as me. To crucify a guy for taking less money is contradictory to every negative report we’ve heard over the past ten years.
says the Heat fan.
Youre probably right though. Maybe Lebron really does just want to win.
andy is dealin
Stop with the damn first pitch swinging.
Per B-Ref, when Jeter swings at the 1st pitch: 382/397/569
Memo to Jeter: Keep swinging at the 1st pitch.
AKA, let us watch, let him do.
swish!
a-rod slam??
lol i just noticed bases werent loaded
Lets go A-Rod.
Jeter and Rodriguez need to not do what they just did.
On the other hand, Pettitte needs to continue doing exactly what he just did
andy p is cruizin
So Pettitte’s “excited.” BEXYBAIT.
man, that’d be hella awkward on the middle of the mound
Really want Cano to win the batting title this year. I don’t want the guy from Detroit to get it.
jopo!
Grandy heating up!
/likely overreaction
He will go on a hot streak at some point this year.
what the heck is up with that train
Damn.
Wow this is just pathetic. Leaving men on every inning.
man i would’ve pinch hit joe girardi for pena there
ugh that guy is terrible
Grrrrrrrr.
Guys, score with RISP for Andy please? Thanks
major fail with RISP, as usual.
Hummingbird S. in the hoooouse
Seeing as they are 2nd in MLB in runs scored, that would seem to indicate that 1) they score a shitload of runs with solo homers or a runner on 1st, or 2) they score a decent amount w/ RISP.
This just in, when you lead the league in wOBA you’re going to have a lot of guys on base, and thus more chances to leave runners stranded.
6 hits and no runs? Who is pitching? Dice-K?
If Dice-K was pitching it’d be 6 hits, 6 walks, and no runs.
wanted to see the highlight of him sleeping in the clubhouse.
DP!
Why isn’t Thames DHing?
Dunno.
Why are they first pitch swinging? Why?
sorry didn’t mean to post that here.
Cuz Alex is better than Thames?
Seriously? I had no idea.
Dandy’s dealin’.
Swisher will not be stopped.
Swish, you already got voted in, man
Getting a little annoyed w/the first pitch swinging…
Why? They’re getting a bunch of hits, just have to string a few together.
Work the count for a better pitch. Get the starter out of the game.
They have 7 hits, they’re getting plenty of hittable pitches and doing what they should with them. Again, just a matter of stringing a few together.
Meh, end result wasn’t there but that was a great at-bat by A-rod. Wasn’t fooling him. Figure they gotta get to this guy eventually.
Good ab.
holy shit swisher
great job cano
I hate Franklin Gutierrez.
That was an inside the parker…
Oh eff you Gutierrez
8 hits and no runs. Houdini!
Vargas pitching the ugliest shutout ever.. amazing that we still haven’t scored.
This would be a terrible loss
Aaagh come on Andy
Sobbing. WTF??
can pettitte not throw to any base??
i find it fucking incredible
WTF!!!!
Wow, 2 lucky hits and again Andy fucking fails to throw to 1st on a bunt. Unrela.
The pull-back-the-bunt-and-swing-away was my move in little league.
There’s a reason no one’s paying me to play baseball.
Offense owes Andy big time… Fucking hate teams like Seattle. They only show up to play the Yankees other wise they suck like the suck ass team they are.
intentional walk to get to mr. 2 true outcome?
Strange, I remember Andy being good at fielding his position…
Knoblach’d
This move terrifies me ;_;
strike this fucker out.
holy shit what a strikeout!
I love this ump’s strikeout move.
Reminds me of Leslie Nielsen in the Naked Gun.
Fuck you Branyan,,, Dont’ ever step out on Andrew again.
andy pettitte FTW!!!!
Huge! Andy’s got ‘em.
epic turnaround
Andy Pettitte I love you, offense get your heads out of your ass.
Way to be Andy.
Why was that an earned run? Wasn’t it scored on an error?
yes. therefore unearned, doesnt matter if it was pettitte’s error
really 1 damn pitch again?
LOL, my neighbors pounded on their walls because I screamed “YEA!!!!” too loud when Andy got out of it.
Well look at that, another groundball by Jeter. I’m shocked I tell you, shocked!!
I can’t believe they are getting shut out. WTF!!!!!
A run please, anyone….Can’t be that hard your the freakin Yankees.
great eye swish!
bring em home texy
Title of this thread should have been, Seattle We Meet Again… Same game, same results….
C’mon Yankees.
..and this is supposed to be the game that we should win.
which is why we are not… God they are frustrating with the playing to the level of the opponent.
They just beat up on the A’s so… yeah.
Did they do that in Oakland?
Sometimes sucky games happen. Not that this one is over.
Lets Go offense!!!
this is unreal
i sat vargas thinking the yankees would destroy him
ugh
Cy Vargas…. Staten Island run production.
srsly
8 hits and no runs makes Andy a sad boy.
cmon andy, dont come unglued
ha i like your bio on twitter. except for the rockets part, I co-sign that list.
Cmon Offense…get unglued
walking Casey Kotchman is unacceptable.
8 k’s, wow. Pretty low pc as well.
Something about Ichiro using DJ Khaled as his batting music just cracks me up.
I find Ichiro to be quite overrated.
Was going home for 3 years really worth having to be second to Ford all your life Andy? Was it really?
I hope whatsamattau keeps vargas out there for another inning
Can we score some runs, please? We only need 2….Mariners cant hit to save their lives
Yeah but Andy can’t field his position this year to save his life.
But he can pitch
Lead off 4 pitch walks, mmmmmmmm, delicious!
Come on Offense.
Did Cano just get a hit? Is teh slump over? Return of the MVP?
Flash might be the worst announcer in Major League baseball.
I like him and Kenny together. Though maybe it’s just nice not to have to listen to Kay.
Flash + Kenny + West coast late start times = zzzzzz
+ 9 hits, no runs
That is the opposite of zzzz because it is infuriating
How dare you! John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman are much much worse.
There are worst…
I find him relatively harmless. Just boring as all getout.
Does A-rod steal?
Well, that was a sorta steal.
That worked…
Good job by Cano not attempting any sort of base running manuever.
Of course that lazy Dominican Cano didn’t move up behind A-Rod. Wait A-Rod’s Dominican too? Then I don’t know what to think.
A-rod was born in America though. Doesn’t count.
So you learn to be lazy in the Dominican Republic then? Makes sense.
Huzzzah a run!
way to go Cano.
Damn, at least we scored, but way to kill the potential rally.
If you thought Posada wasn’t going to ground into a DP there, please raise your hand.
(hand raised)
At least we got the run in.
Me, Posada barely grounds into the dp.
Should of gotten more than 1 run.
DP looms large
Im just glad he didnt k…. he did not have a feel for that curve
Ichiro has an absolute cannon. Look at that throw back in, Grandy would’ve been out by a mile.
Russo up next.
Granderson be leaning
Why swing? Why?
Most depressing game tying inning ever.
true that
I think lots of people here want Jerry Hairston, but you know, he has a .286 OBP. That’s turrrrible.
People want Yankee Jerry, who is not normal Jerry.
Yeah, he hasn’t been very good at all. I mean, a good bench piece, but really.
Oh come on… that was a strike
wow great strike zone.
4 walks? Eesh.
Gotta challenge Figgins there.
Strike zone is terrible.
Yea that was not on andy…
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/.....type=3.gif
Awesome strike zone!!!1
How much money did Figgins pull down?
They better not pull Andy for Joba this inning… Keep figgins at first..
One more to go.
Andy for the CG?
Hells yeah Andy.
Let’s win this thing.
BAM! nice job andy
Terrific job Pettitte. Terrific.
Andy Pettitte: Good at baseball
wow Andy was fired up.
what a gem from Andy tonight… we better score and give him a win.
ball 4
Aardsma’s a good pitcher so he deserves some credit…but Russo is completely worthless at the dish.
Yea, as bad as Jerry Hairston’s been, he’d def. be an improvement over Pena and Russo
Yay, for the Yankees to win tonight, it’s going to hurt my fantasy team…
Swish!!!
I’m so glad we Sent Swish ™
Swisherhouse
Macho Man Voice: Oh YEAH!!!
i love swisher
I love you Swish.
wow tex
wow
Time for A-Rod to clutch it.
Tex you should be ashamed of yourself. ASHAMED.
Goddamnit Tex.
Not the time for a popup.
Jesus Christ…. the one I can depend on…Tex
I imagine baby carlos reacts to Tex failing in a big situation like I did to these new Andy Pettitte Dove men skin care ads.
wow… just wow haha
Touching himself?
Don’t know if it is the same, since I have no idea how you reacted… but it is like more like the reaction George Lopez describes when he was a kid and forced to do something..
Wow Tex, that was just pathetic.
Yay Teix!
damn it tiex….
Alex!!!!!!!!
AROD… THANK YOU FANTASY GODS!!!
I love you Al.
TEX!!!! THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.. NO POP UP
and a-rod delivers
A-Rod >>>>>
ALEX MOTHAFUCKIN RODRIGUEZ!!!!!
A-Rod looked downright Jeterian ™ there!
Haha, I beat Singleton and Flash to it by a solid 2 minutes.
Pad those fucking stats, baby.
so selfish!
that swing was jeterian
This is why you watch baseball folks.
Since last year, ARod has become a machine in critical situations. Well done ARod…
He’s always been a machine in critical situations. Actually he’s a damn machine in general.
Yea, a machine padding his stats.
Stat padding cyborg centaur FTW
think Mariano is the cyborg…indestructible.
MO is omnipotent, he doesn’t need no stinking steel body.
Oh… he has a body of steel….. in fact so much, Superman is his bitch, God looks to him for advice, and with a blink, he makes Glenn Beck cry….
What doesn’t make Glenn Beck cry?
Hey to the Knicks fans, thank god we have the Yankees (and good football teams). Imagine being a Cleveland fan.
ahh wrong place
I no machine, I just
AlbertAlex.A-ROD!!!!
A-Rod. <3
CLUTCH-ROD
that sounds wrong.
IETC.
Remember when the Yankees were like 0-5 in 1-run games?
Well, its not a one run game at the moment anymore hehe.
Good point.
I’m sure its always A-Rod’s fault, not wanting to keep it close and selfishly adding multiple RBI’s at a time.
Fear doesn’t slump.
This is an unbelievable game. Even before they went ahead this was one of the best games of the year. Andy and swisher have been a joy to watch.
Screw that, way too many runners left on base.
I do love watching vintage Andy though.
That. Way too many stranded baserunners. But God Andy Pettitte is so so so good this year.
I don’t know, I was never really worried. I’d rather leave runners on then get totally shut down.
Posada needs a day off….oh wait?
*oh wait.
What was with the stadium announcer voice?
Lol at the last swing Kotchman took on that cutter.
this at-bat never ends
C’mon Mariano.
just hit kotchman and move on… haha
Against anyone else, Kotchman would’ve already homered.
twice!
C’mon, submit to God.
Good Dammit Kotchman just retire already.
OMG Kotchman make an out dude.
He just prolonging the eneviatble(I know I spelled it wrong)
Finally.
That’s why he’s Mariano Rivera, and you’re Casey Kotchman.
mariano added an extra bit of juice on that one, 93 MPH
Did you really have to ask who would win? Really?
Mo is greater than the hatred of 1000 Lebrons.
ROFL. Well done.
That is how an at-bat should go.
When Damon faces Rivera, bat companies must be really happy.
Yes, good idea, bunt against the one pitcher who can actually field his position and throw to 1st base.
Mike Mussina would like to have a word with you.
Ballgame over! Yankees Win!
YANKEES WIN!
this win was ok. Should of had more runs.
C+
/Lombardi’d
Cyborg Mo 1, Rainier the Moose not shot dead by Sarah Palin 0
You might harp on Teixeira way too much but you are freaking hilarious.
LOL..IETC.
Good win.
But I thought this was a terrible loss????
Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera <3
No love for perfect Swisher?
Ugh how did I forget him? I stink. Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Mariano Rivera <3
Important W with Felix and Lee coming up
That game was awesome. I love Pettitte, Swisher, and A-rod