Game 146: Momentum
By
(AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Last night’s victory was anything but easy, but Jorge Posada‘s late homer and Greg Golson‘s huge, huge outfield assist have the Yankees feeling good about themselves and momentum squarely in their corner. Of course, that and $2.25 will get them on the subway. Or will it not? I can’t keep up with the fare hikes anymore. But I digress.
Tonight’s start is probably the biggest of Phil Hughes‘ young career, a game in which his team needs him to provide not just bulk innings, but high quality innings. The Rays are throwing Jamie Shields, and in the unlikely event that one of the Yankees will see this, HE’S GOING TO THROW A CHANGEUP. I can’t stress that enough.
First place in the line (at least until next week), and it sure would be nice to go into the off day with a little bit of breathing room, no matter how small. Here’s tonight’s lineup…
Jeter, SS
Granderson, CF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, 3B
Cano, 2B
Berkman, DH – .491 OBP since August 8th, the best in baseball
Posada, C
Kearns, LF
Curtis, RF – wow, I figured Golson would start tonight just because of that throw
And on the bump, it’s St. Philip of Hughes.
Another 7pm-ish ET start tonight, with the game available on YES locally and ESPN nationally. Enjoy.
Welcome aboard, Royce.
http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp.....tshirt.jpg
I bet Ben knows the Subway fare.
Is there any reasons that Noesi shouldn’t on this team as well?
Because he’s too raw and green?
He still only has 18 innings above AA ball.
Fair enough. I just thought it couldn’t hurt to add more quantity.
I agree, I called for him the other night as well, but I get why they wouldn’t bring him up yet.
Now that we’ve got Ring and Pettitte back, the depth is better, so the need to throw the kid in the fire is lessened.
I don’t really see the harm in calling him up to be around the team, letting him throw bullpens in front of the major league coaches, and possibly getting into like a 14-2 game or something.
When you add him to the active roster, you’re starting his service time, option anniversary, and arb clocks.
Of course, that and $2.25 will get them on the subway. Or will it not? I can’t keep up with the fare hikes anymore. But I digress.
Did you see the Post article that said a quarter of unlimited monthly/weekly Metrocard buyers are throwing money down the drain?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/l.....IHrbiDRYpK
Good for the NYC Metro Authority. Maybe that 1/4 can help keep fares down for the rest of you subway dwellers. (Glad I don’t have to pay NYC fares anymore. Disappointed I haven’t been able to get to YSIII)
I almost am beginning to think the Yankees haven’t ended the season at home in half a decade because MLB just assumes they’ll be playing in October, anyway.
I’m okay with this.
It’s like our last little bit of good ol’ roadtrip groupie fun before we settle down to real business.
Oh, and apparently BOTH Callis and Piliere (Piliere in his chat) said they’d take Montero over Harper.
I’m also okay with this.
That is saying something about Harper as well, consider the guy hasn’t even play pro ball yet while Montero is already putting up very impressive AAA numbers as 20 year old .
Well, Harper’s stock took a big hit once they moved him from C to RF. His bat moved from “ZOMG will he be the best ever at his position?!??!” to “He’ll be a great hitter… at a position full of other great hitters.”
Jesus might be a shitty catcher and possibly a first baseman, but he’s still a catcher at the moment.
Oh, and Jesus hasn’t been doing what he’s been doing against high-schoolers and JC pitchers.
True. Harper’s numbers in JC is ridiculous and let’s what he can do with better competition.
I believe his value has dropped due to the position move. That is mainly organization decision due to concern over durability issue. I also think Washington expects OF as easier progression route than catcher, hence, having Harper on a possible quick path to major to use him as franchise drawing card. But you have to give him the credit for having the proper athleticism to do so.
To be put in the same sentence as one the best hitting prospect (Montero) while not having yet to swing one pro pitch is impressive in it’s own rights.
p.s. I am still gaga over some of the moon shots this kid hits as a 17 year old regardless of the competition.
Cmon Berkman has had very limited AB’s over that span.
yamkees 14 rays 12 tonite
Oh dear Mo please no….
Don’t worry, Rebecca, he was talking about the “Yamkees”.
Bill, this is the third night in a row you’ve attempted to predict the outcome of the game and I’m going to take a guess and say you’re going to be wrong, big time…..
Maybe predicting is not for you….
This could be a fun night.
Yeah, Phil’s probably going to give us five or six solid innings and the offense is going to poop on Shields like they did at the Stadium after the ASB.
Golson’s play in rf plus his speed made me think about him in RF and Swish as DH.
it would give us a helluva bench and a huge upgrade defensively…
I guess not…
Having Golson in the lineup everyday would be like running out two Brett Gardners everyday.
I think he just meant tonight.
is that bad? It makes us a little less station to station but we won it all station to station last year with the exception of Damon stealing second and third on one play..
If Greg Golson could produce as much as Brett Gardner has while playing RF they would be the greatest team in the history of baseball.
Swish probably still needs a full day off (or, at least only one PH plate appearance followed by a pinch-runner instead of 4-6 plate appearances and times running the basepaths).
as in when, tonight, or further down the road??
Just for tonight? I’m presuming you aren’t thinking about this as a permanent-type thing. Golson’s bat does not belong in an every day lineup.
That said, that throw was something to behold. One of the best I have seen in a while. It was a couple of feet from making it to
A-Rod on the fly.
Shields has thrown the changeup 25% of the time this year, he mixes it up really nicely. Similar rate as Cole Hamels, the most deadly change in the game right now.
I’d like to take a moment to thank the Yankees for almost never making us watch meaningless games in September. Unless of course they’re meaningless in a good way.
Seconded.
So Troy Tulowitzki
The Rockies won a ‘must’ game IMO this afternoon.
Good at baseball. He’s like Jeter with power and defense.
/low blow
I would not mind another five years of having another #2 at shortstop.
If that #2 is Tulo.
Fantasy keeper question: I can only keep one: Konerko, Prado, Victor Martinez or Aramis Ramirez.
More specifically, is Prado worth keeping because he is the youngest by like five years, or he is not as good as the others to be worth it?
Any opinions would be appreciated. But considering it is a fantasy question, would not be offended if no answers.
I would personally go Prado, but that’s just me…others may like the fact that Martinez is a premium catcher.
thanks
Yea, I am slightly leaning towards martinez, but can’t help but think I’m making the wrong move letting go of Prado in his prime and also a second baseman.
You really can’y go wrong either way, IMHO…but power-hitting first basemen are a dime a dozen.
I’d go with Martinez, then Prado, mostly due to good numbers at premium positions.
My thoughts as well, but my only pause is that Prado is 26-27 and martinez is 32-33. I can keep these guys indefinitely. Its close I guess
I hate James Sheilds. Someone take this dick deep.
Tell me this doesn’t terrify you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded
baaaaahh
The video was removed, so the link isn’t working.
Name the pitcher time:
Pitcher A:
34 starts, 238.2 IP ( IP/S), 2.49 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, 7.5 H/9, 1.135 WHIP, .227/.287/.318 against
Pitcher B:
31 starts, 225.2 IP ( IP/S), 2.39 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, 7.3 H/9, 1.095 WHIP, .220/.280/.319 against
Who are they?
A. Felix 2009
B. Felix 2010
Felix and Casey Kelly
Being a dick’d
Bingo.
Felix, 2009: 19-5
Felix, 2010: 11-11
The pitcher W/L stat sucks. It sucks so, so bad.
I think Baseball Reference recal their ballparks factor in WAR calculations and is currently ranking CC ahead of Felix in WAR.
Sure, but Felix’s road numbers still blow CC (and everyone else) out of the water.
And he’s probably not going to even finish top three. I hate baseball writers.
I think he’ll finish top three. I don’t think he’ll win. :/
You ever listen to the ESPN baseball today podcast?
Eric Karabell is adamant that Felix cannot win the Cy young because he only has 11 wins….but says that he is not over-valuing wins.
Could never figure the logic out.
“This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table.”
Now watch this drive!
What’s scary is that he can and will (barring catastrophe) do better than this.
(insert rambling ZZ post about how great wins are here)
(Sorry, ZZ. You’re great. But your posts on how pitcher wins are awesome are awful, and have not convinced me that wins are awesome in any way, shape, or form.)
A: 19-5
B: 11-11
A >>> B
QED
Felix Hernandez 2009 and Felix Hernandex 2010.
Ugh, beaten. Felix Hernandex sounds better anyway.
And yeah, worth mentioning that hes god damn 24 years old.
He’s like a metronome.
Matt latos and Felix?
Close.
Latos and Josh Johnson?
It was a trick question.
THEY WERE ALL TWIX!!!
Glad to have the game nationally. Not looking forward to ESPN announcers (Miller and Morgan tonight?)
(fires up the HDTV & surround sound)
Anyone else like the rays broadcast booth? Always liked them for some reason.
I can’t friggin’ stand them.
/this is not a very friendly answer, apologies’d
lol I just actually seen them and my God that’s one furry head the main announcer has.
mmm, last guess, Josh Johnson for player A. I don’t think because it will be surely be some no namers thus making the proposition of this trivia interesting to begin with.
If the Yankees lose in some awful way tonight I’ll be back to like “sob sob I hate baseball” mode, but watching FREAKING MARIANO RIVERA fist-pump the crap out of last night’s win was just awesome.
Yeah, but now, if Aubrey Huff hits a homer off him he’s gonna fist pump back…
Let it be known I LOVE your username
Well gosh, you’re making me blush.
Thanks, finally found a MP specific one that I’ll stick with.
The whole team was pumped up last night. Posada especially was fired up in the bottom of the 10th. Nearly came out of his freaking shoes trying to throw out Crawford at second.
Also what never got mentioned last night: Brett Gardner and Mariano were both backing up 3rd base perfectly on that play. HUSTLE, HOLMES
But Ross, I was told that we don’t do anything right and are doomed to miss the playoffs. What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.
It’s a crazy world we live in.
The only team that makes errors, ever, is the Yankees. Brett Gardner’s attempted steal of third with two outs on Monday was the worst play anyone’s ever done in the history of the sport,* but Carl Crawford getting thrown out at 3B for the last out of the game last night was just exciting baseball.
* disclaimer: it was bad, not trying to pretend otherwise, but if like, the Rays or Angels had done it, we’d get to hear how exciting it was and how they were just pushing the envelope and what have you
Heh, can you imagine the shitstorm that would have followed if a Yankee made the last out of the game at 3B? But you know, Maddon says you need to take chances so when it’s the Rays it’s a good play.
I vote that they revoke James Shield’s “Big Game” nickname now that we know he only got it because his roommate in the minor leagues was a Laker’s face.
And by “face” I mean “fan”. Oops.
That’s a much more interesting mental image though.
It may have been a freudian slip.
/dislikes the Lakers
Screw it, I’m calling Laker fans “Laker Faces” from now on.
That .262 avg is looking good … compared to the 260 avg a couple of days ago. Hot streak, ha.
Good start, Jeets.
Jeter is on a roll as of late.
Jeter slowly rounding back into form for the postseason?
He’s going to hit .400/.500/.600 in the playoffs and singlehandedly win 28.
/slightly serious
Would u expect anything less?
no, but still good to see it happening.
Anyone have a scouting report on Ring? What’s he throw, why wasn’t he called up earlier, etc?
What’s he throw?
Baseballs. Lefthanded.
why wasn’t he called up earlier, etc?
Because we only had 25 active spots on the roster and he wasn’t one of our best 25 players.
You’re welcome.
Your powers of observation continue to serve you well.
/V
I give because I love. Also, I’m obnoxious and juvenile.
actually Ring did came close to making the team out of spring training.
/you welcome.
here, you can get to know him a bit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_uYcu7y_pQ
Very nice AB from the captain
DJ came to play today.
That’s El Capitan to you.
/unnecessary
And yes, I agree. He’s looked better at the plate, which is incredibly awesome.
Some more line drives combined with some BABIP love (finally, it seemed like none of those grounders were finding holes earlier) has him looking a lot better for sure.
He seems to be “seeing” the pitches much better as of late, he doesn’t seem so desperate swinging at 50 ft. breaking balls anymore.
I don’t know how Teixeira can play through a broken toe. When I broke my toe (note: I was like 5 years old) I cried like a like a b**** and couldn’t even walk.
It’s only his little toe. Big toe is a different story.
When I broke my toe (note: I was like 5 years old) I cried like a like a b**** and couldn’t even walk.
Dave’s friend: … You hear Dave shit on himself?
Dave’s other friend: I know. Died crying like a bitch.
Haha well done.
To be fair I’m sure it’s wrapped up so tight it he can’t even feel it unless he puts a lot of pressure on it (hence why he’s complained about moving laterally on defense)
If “wrapped up so tight” means “shot up with so much shit,” then I agree with you. And wrapped up.
NICE!!!!!!
No, they weren’t, Al! Do your research!
Solid at-bats, boys.
27 pitches already for Shields. Me likely.
I like this inning. C’mon, Robbie.
Robbie.
Dontcha know!!!!
Yea Robbie, good stuff, let’s get some more
Just keep on rollin’ boys.
Heh Big Lame James Shields ain’t so hot tonight.
Meh
Ugh, Puma.
Aaaaargh he looked safe.
Berkman what the heck.
At least his pitch count is up?
Man what a killer.
L@mer.
That ump is out of control. What was with that crazy punch out? I would want to knock an ump out after that overly emphatic out call.
There are few things I hate worse than grandstanding, self-obsessed, haughty MLB umpires.
Further proof you are Brian Cashman. Assuming #1 is the combination of Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, and Kevin Brown.
I can’t prove I’m not Brian Cashman, so… take that as you will.
/GlennBeck’d
Now folks, I have no proof that tsjc is Brian Cashman. In fact, I don’t think he is at all. But why hasn’t he come up with proof that he isn’t? Isn’t that a bit odd that he hasn’t denied these allegations? Some would argue that it’s downright un-American.
Can you imagine Joe West doing a flurry of punches and an uppercut to finish off the strikeout call?
Urge to kill… rising… rising…
Can you imagine him doing that with pink chaps on?
REDRUM REDRUM REDRUM
LOL.
C’mon, Lance. You can’t be hitting into DP’s like that. Get ‘em next time, boys.
Ahhh fattie
shit his pants lance
James Shield is a good pitcher… for me to poop on!
/Triumph’d
Gotta love Triumph.
I’m multitasking between the Yankees game and Drabek’s start. Drabek’s got an awesome curve.
Speaking of that, Hughes’ curve is look nice as well tonight.
Damn you Dead Elvis and the salary dump you rode in on
Alright, Phil. We need awesomeness from you, so be good, please.
For people watching YES, is that green screen behind the hitter for ad space for ESPN, and YES just does not use it for anything? Or is it something different altogether.
That’s it exactly.
Just a green space here. No ads or anything.
Empty green on YES too
Doesnt have espn written on it or anything. cant remember if it was there last night.
It’s blank on the local Rays broadcast as well.
YES….I by passed the MLB blackout restrication!!! thank you proxy server.
Move along, folks, nothing to see here. Move along.
These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
lol..I had to do anything to watch Yankees baseball. My parents took away my sports package. it hurts!
Nice–I had to get a slingbox to get around that. It works, but I’m at the mercy of my sometimes finicky wireless internet.
yeah, looking for new proxy servers every 2-3 days to a week is also annoying. you just don’t know when they will expire.
Naturally, ESPN didnt show a replay of that DP. Was that close or was Puma out clearly.
He looked safe to me, but they didn’t show a replay of the DP on YES either.
foul ball phil
OGM TEH CHANGE
Phil throwing the 84/85 change. Good
Phil, go shave. The face scruff is exclusive to those douches in Boston.
He needs a haircut as well, but the hair is apparently his form of rebelling.
You just want a lock of his hair…admit it.
Nah. Phil’s cute and all but not my type.
It’s worked out pretty decently for the big sexy lefty all these years (and I am not talking about Mr. Sabathia here).
David Price?
Not tagging at first? Who cares he stole the base right after that.
I want whatever Jorge has been eating for breakfast. Dude has had some kind of energy level lately.
Hughes looked extremely good that inning. I hope he keeps it up.
more curves and changes than usual
Jorge with the most heavily pine’ tarred helmet in baseball.
Oh, its not ALL pine tar…
GRIT
Oh wait he’s Hispanic and not on the Red Sox.
Does the “lazy” label work here or does it get ignored because he’s only half Dominican?
Oh Kearns, you are not helping things lately.
C’mon Kearns.
Kearns holy shit…so slow
Kearns. does. nothing. right.
Aw, Kearns, don’t help them out.
Berkman is out of his mind. He was dead before he even turned first base.
*Kearns
And by Berkman, I mean Kearns of course.
And by Berkman, I mean Barack Obama.
Great first inning.
C’mon Kearns. You’re not fast buddy
Eh, Golson’s throw was better. I give it 2 out of 10. Next…
Golson’s throw was 1000x better, he was flat footed and had no momentum because he was backing up to get the fly ball.
Kearns finding new ways to annoy.
You just got the feeling once he went for 2 he was out
Yea, I think everybody had that feeling. And by “that feeling,” I mean the sight of him moving in slow motion.
Wow, I turned to the TV when I thought James was throwing his first pitch, and Curtis was struck out already. What the hell!
Curtis should had been the second out…but Austin Kearns had to go and play hero. What a ‘tard.
Why do we have to see Colin Curtis starting when hes clearly over matched.
Because Swish is hurt and everyone else is equally overmatched, and I don’t know about you, but I’d like to avoid Thames’ adventures in LF.
Thames in left, in a dome…you don’t think that would be fun? You crazy, Kit.
No alternatives?
As if Golson/Pena/whoever wouldn’t be as equally overmatched.
Personally I thought Golson should have got the start just because of the throw last night.
Just got home, did we get an update on Swish and Gardy today ?
oh man, when Kenny said sitting on 99 I was thinking here comes 100, lol.
Lets get another win tonight!
Perfect through two innings. IS TONIGHT THE NIGHT!?!?!?!?
/WishfulThinking’d
Sorry this is not a reply, I feel it’s important! @Brooklyn Ed:
As someone who works in IT, proxies are incredibly unsafe. You’re basically routing all your internet traffic, unencrypted, through an unknown person’s server. It’s a great way for someone to steal your passwords and/or your indentity, and get infected with viruses or worms.
Look at all these pop-ups Phil is getting. That’s great stuff.
ESPN actually putting a fairly good broadcast team on tonights game. o Sutcliffe, Morgan, Miller or Berman….Thanks ESPN
I wanna see Tim McCarver, Jack Curry and Hawk Harrelson in the booth at the same time.
What did Jack Curry do to deserve that?
Be really boring and irrelevant.
I think he’s been a pretty solid addition. Plus he’s been in the booth like what, once?
Yes, in Seattle, with Bob Lorenz and John Flaherty. And hopefully it’ll be the last.
People’s ears will bleed.
Poor Jack
Jack Curry never did anything to deserve that, you bite your tongue!!!!
I once had a nightmare about a Chip Caray/Joe Morgan/Suzyn Waldman booth
As long as it’s not Morgan/Miller, ESPN’s coverage isn’t thaaaat bad.
I mean ESPN’s announcers. Like, the Wednesday Night Baseball junk they do, those announcers usually aren’t awful.
Im not real fond of Sutcliffe. That whispery way he talks, its not natural for a man with a head that large
Sutcliffe is a creep / alcoholic.
If only Miller didn’t mispronounce everybody’s name, because his voice is incredible.
Phil getting the change and curve over and throwing plenty of them so far. Best part of the game so far…
… was that really a mob reference? smh Kay
Besides BG, I don’t think anyone takes as many hittable pitches as A-Rod.
And that’s why Longoria has a Gold Glove.
For making a routine play?
Even with just the eye test, he’s pretty freaking awesome.
He’s a beast and he’s been making some godly plays, but the play he just made was routine.
Because this is sorta Open Thready and stuff: apparently Meija (that’s right, right? I’m never sure) did something really bad with his shoulder. Oh my gosh, that franchise. It’s just kind of sad at this point.
Both bad and unlucky. Hell of a combination, those Mets.
Though, maybe in hindsight having him rot in the bullpen pitching once every 7 days instead of starting in the minors wasn’t the smartest thing to do to the best arm in your farm system.
I still don’t understand why my parents and grandparents like them. They’re such an epic mess.
Well if the Yankees got that bad I wouldn’t just give up on them so I guess it’s understandable?
That’s true. I just can’t see why they find them appealing as a team.
I like how Don LaGreca has basically said he won’t push his Mets fandom on his kids, because “he wants the best for them”.
Hilarious.
That is hilarious. My parents tried, but I like winners.
I mean, it is more or less child abuse.
Mejia.
Details? Nothing on a quick Google search
Hawaiian Punch Guy needs to one up Porkchop Guy by throwing Kim in the Rays tank.
So is Phil back to throwing the slow, looping curve?
Not necessarily opposed to that.
Its El Duque-esc
Good to hear Girardi reaming out Gardner for being overly aggressive while he shits the bed with his decision-making every night.
Joe Maddon is a genius.
Isaac Newton and Casey Stengel rolled into one.
Apparently
Does Phil throw a slider? Kevin Kennedy on the Rays broadcast seems to think so.
This may just be one of the more boring conversations the booth has had with Kim.
Hey Kim, talk about the Yanksm will ya?
oh Kay, you so funny
I wonder how Michael Kay ever found love.
With money.
Alot of money
Meanwhile, Phil is dealing
94 on the inside corner. Nasty.
Hey look, when Hughes locates his fastball, good things happen. It’s almost like freaking out about his secondary pitches is a tad overblown!
or when his secondary pitches are on he has more confidence in not having to throw the fastball all the time..and it becomes more effective
The major complaint I see isn’t that, it’s usually that he doesn’t throw his curve or change enough. Which I think is true, but given waaaaay too much emphasis at times.
Kay and his usual creepiness
Damn, I would have liked to see Kim jump in the ray tank on camera.
That’s not the first time Kay has made Kim an offer she could refuse…
beast mode
Another Kennedy-ism: “The Yankees are going to need 4 starters in the postseason this year, should they get there.”
Fact: The Yankees will need 4 starters this postseason, while everyone else will just be pitching their aces and no one else.
If they make it, that is. The Yankees are so far back at this point, they might as well start preparing for the Winter Meetings.
The Yankees are just lucky they’ve been 100% healthy and not lost every one of their starting players (and the first two batboys) to injury like those gritty Red Sox, who would have won 120 games otherwise.
/FoxSportsFlorida’d
would like to see yankees put up a 5 spot here lets no hit the rays let go yankees
Just checked the Blood Pressure….120/80….thanks Phil
At what point in time is it okay to add “Sir” in front of Phil’s name?
Answer: 2001 Mariners and A’s
Quiz answer: 2001 and 2002 AL West?
Was I the only one that heard “what are the only TWO years…”
Was is the ONLY year.
What***
FUCK!
2001 AL West
116 win Mariners
102 win WC Athletics
Would they shut the hell up about that play?
Crawford’s tag up was stupid, the end.
Seriously. They keep talking about it because the Rays are SO YOUNG AND SO FUN. Like STFU, it was stupid.
This.
This.
and this.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THAT.
EXCITING
FIREWORKS
something like that
FIREWORKS INSIDE THE TROP…NOW THAT’S DARING
A hundred times this.
Fisted
/ChipCarey’d
Time to put this discussion on MUTE
It’s over now, if you’d like to listen again.
/friendly help out
PUMA
RISP!!! let’s go guys
My lord, Kay is fired up about this
He really is. One of those things that grinds his gears.
Berkman has deceptive speed?
Berkman has speed?
Ive switched to ESPN. Sometime its good to get away from Kay
Posada turned on the burners folks.
Jorge can fly baby!!!
Holy crap. Did Posada just beat a DP?
Crawford’s tag up last night = worth spending 20 minutes on
Making Granderson bunt two nights ago = not worth mentioning
bunting is “accepted” though (whether it should be or not)
Posada beat out the back end of 6-4-3. I’m impressed lol
TWSS
“beat out the back end”…can I use that ?
My check is in the mail.
Nice slide
Come on, Kearns. You fuck face.
way to get behind him
Well, he’s not Wil Nieves.
Austin, we have a problem.
Kearns… wow. Get better soon, Gardy.
What an asshole.
wtf was thst
Kearns cant seem to do anything right tonight
I would appreciate you not being completely helpless here, Colin.
Can Golson do any worse than kearns? I do not like the guy with RISP. He seems easy to pitch to.
Curtis sucks too
This. Doesn’t. Make. Sense.
Austin Kearns has been a solid, but not great major league hitter for years, including this one.
Golson has been a mediocre-bad minor league hitter for his entire career.
Of course Golson can do worse than Kearns. Much worse.
Greg Golson got traded for Mitch Hilligoss.
Let me say that again:
Greg Golson got traded for Mitch Hilligoss.
You mean ‘Hit Streak Hilligoss’?
The same.
Damn, that moment reminds me of the first time I went to a game when I was 6. I want to be a little kid again lol
That was basically me and my older brothers as a kid, except I’d get the “YOU’RE A GIRL, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE A BASEBALL,” bit. Good ol’ fashioned childhood sexism.
Kearns really puts the K in…Kearns.
Congratulations, Austin Kearns. Yankees fans must always irrationally hate at least one member of our team to the point of calling for his instant benching/DFA/assault/death, and you’re the flavor of the moment.
I hope that shithead gets traded to the Pirates. WHERE THE FUCK IS RICKY LEDEE???
Possibly Rehab
The dude could probably use a day off, but asking for Golson to start over him? Eesh.
If the Yankees fired Girardi and hired me, I’d make smart moves like starting Golson over Kearns, and they’d work every time, trust me.
Every time.
Sincerely,
Sal from Little Neck (first time, long time)
Holy crap. Michael Kay just said something so legitimately witty that I laughed.
/looking out the window for flying pigs’d
Kearns and Curtis. This is just pathetic.
Kearns-Curtis duo at it again
It’s really frustrating watching Kearns the past couple of days, I feel like every at bat he’s taking the worst swings and trying to check himself on pitches clearly out of the zone. I can’t wait to have both Gardner and Swisher back, it shortens our line up so much playing Kearns and Curtis. Hopefully they’ll both be back soon. We really can’t afford to be stranding runners with no outs, Kearns can’t even get a sac fly..
Agreed.
That’s an excellent example of a rational complaint. Take note, board.
note taken…whats the word on Swish ?
I blame Girardi.
Dammit you beat me to it.
Well played.
At least we have Shields’ pitch count up.
Shields at 80 through 4. Let’s get to that bullpen.
Kearns and Curtis fail to drive in the run.
This is Joe Girardi’s fault somehow, I’m sure of it. It doesn’t make sense, but just roll with it.
Everything is his fault. Always.
only joe’s fault for putting them in the lineup
Yes, but he had like 15 better options but stupidly chose these ones.
You can’t quite see the better options just now, but they’re there somewhere, trust me. What a moron.
Is there seriously no-on else? Seriously…
There’s plenty of others, but you can have a second Colin Curtis in LF or you can have a seasoned veteran. Solid hitter/veteran >> recent AAA call up
Moron? please. Thames/Golson can be just as effective as kearns/Curtis.
Girardi has options even if you don’t think they are better.
Newsflash: TSJC isn’t the only one who doesn’t think they’re better. List of people who think there aren’t better options: Everyone except you.
I saw Joe stop Kearns before he got on desk, from my the lip-reading classes I took 10 years ago, I know he said “Hey man, do us a favor and strike out on the 0-2 fastball James is gonna throw you. Thanks bud.”
It’s all part of the plan for us to lose and get the WC he so desperately wants.
Casey Stengel never played Colin Curtis. And he won 7 championships.
Q.E.D.
It’s his fault for putting them in the lineup when Swisher and Gardner are perfectly healthy. Or something
At least he didn’t bunt Kearns to put two runners in scoring position for Curtisy!
HE HITTA HOMA WIT AN OH-TWO COUNT! AS A PINCH HITTA!!!
Wishing for a hit with RISP
The only thing good about Kearns being so bad is we will see less of him in the post-season I hope.
putting a positive spin on our injuries
He’s not a great hitter, but he’s certainly a solid one who could provide some pop off the bench/security in case someone gets hurt.
He’s in a slump right now. They happen. He’s still a useful part of the team.
The best thing about Kearns is that he has a short, compact swing and rarely strikes out…
He is solid in that respect and the ball can catch up to his bat on occasion..
and 6 changeups in that AB? Im pretty sure that’s more than PHughes has thrown this year.
yankees are getting going i think 5 runs next inn
Since Gardy can play D and run, why don’t we just stick him in there and forbid him to swing. He takes a ton of pitches anyway, so maybe they wouldn’t notice. He could draw a few walks.
Nick Johnson with speed! He could crouch down further to shrink the strike zone. The Bill Veeck midget strategy. I like it.
Is Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love the only thing on Tropicana’s playlist?
Where is Tampa going to pick up the extra game in their schedule so the .5 is gone? Am I reading the schedules wrong? I don’t see where we have an off day and they play someone….
The Yankees struggle so much with runners at third and less than one out, yet Girardi refuses to force the issue with a squeeze.
lolwut
Curtis has looked positively helpless twice against Shields.
Why not? It’s not like he’d squeeze with A-Rod.
He’d squeeze with Posada.
Oh boy.
See? I told you there was some way this was all Joe’s fault. He can win these games all by himself with smart strategy, but he refuses to do so because he likes Frankie Cervelli and sees himself in him.
What a moron.
I’m totally having a “see what’s wrong with yourself” moment.
We all have our regrettable moments, buddy.
For example, I’m obnoxious and juvenile.
How is asking Joe to squeeze (a high percentage), with a struggling hitter, when you’re only looking for one run, so ridiculous?
The squeeze isn’t nearly as high percentage as you think it is. Particularly with a bad bunter.
Well, I don’t know what kind of bunter Kearns is (and I doubt you do either), but if he indeed isn’t good, then fair. Might not have been the best play in that spot. But my comment was more in an overall sense. With a decent bunter, it’s a very high percentage play.
On what planet is a squeeze a high percentage play? Do you watch baseball? Or the Yankees and their bunting skills? Come on man, you’re smarter than this.
It might not have been the best time to do it with Kearns, but, as I mentioned earlier, my comment was made in more of an overall sense. There are plenty of chances to do it with good bunters, and if a good bunter is at the plate, it’s a very high percentage play. All the batter needs to do is get it down and it’s a run. It doesn’t even have to be particularly well placed.
Jeter on Friday night is the perfect example.
Derek Jeter, even diminished, aging, not as good anymore Derek Jeter shouldn’t be giving away a free out. ESPECIALLY in front of the good hitters.
He should be swinging away.
He had Colin Curtis hitting behind him. Considering that, and the way Jeter was swinging at the time, the chances of a big inning are very slim. Get the run, and put yourself three outs away from winning the game.
Squeeze bunts are for pussy AL West teams.
I would have been thrilled with a sac fly from Kearns in that spot. What about you?
No, strike outs are better.
Or even a groundout to first…remember Borbon (or whatever his name is)?
I’m sure he was trying really hard to strike out and not get a hit or a sac fly.
Damn Joe Girardi for putting on the “strikeout” sign instead of the “sac fly” sign.
If Kearns would have known his manager wanted him to hit a sac fly, he would have swung hard to induce deep contact, instead of swinging hard to attempt to miss the ball altogether.
Girardi = moron
This isn’t relevant in the least to my comment.
Agreed. Just like your mentioning a sac fly isn’t relevant to your initial comment or my reply.
We’re off on a tangent, one started by your silly ill-reasoned initial comment.
Actually, it is relevant. A squeeze would have the same result as a sac fly, but has a much higher chance of being successful. Both plays would result in one run. If we would all be happy with a sac fly, why wouldn’t we be happy with a squeeze?
Squeeze =/= higher change of being successful than a sac fly. Not even close.
A squeeze would have the same result as a sac fly,
But has an accompanying negative of giving the other team a free out, intentionally.
The term “sac fly” is a misnomer, it’s really just a “productive out made while trying to get a hit”.
but has a much higher chance of being successful
Does it?
And even if it does, should we be squeezing in the 4th inning of a 1-0 game a night after we scored 8 runs against the Rays?
What’s the problem with intentionally giving away an out to get a run, when there’s a struggling hitter at the plate who likely won’t get a hit anyway?
And who cares about last night? Overall, the Yankees have been struggling offensively, especially the bottom of the order. If you have a chance to get a run with those hitters, take it, because there almost certainly won’t be a big inning anyway.
What’s the problem with intentionally giving away an out to get a run, when there’s a struggling hitter at the plate who likely won’t get a hit anyway?
Because unless it’s the 9th inning and you’re playing to break the tie/make a tie, you’re decreasing your chances of winning the game giving away an out for a run.
It was the f#$%ing 4th inning, dude.
And last night matters because it’s evidence of us starting to come out of our funk.
lmao
Ben,
Kearns can’t bunt or hit with RISP. Yanks not a squeezing team. And that’s final!
/RABcommunity’d
this comment, it is not a good one
I’m sure everyone here would have been thrilled if Kearns hit a sac fly. Well, he’s struggling, so why shouldn’t they go for a higher percentage play?
For instance, Friday night against the Rangers, 12th inning. Jeter was up with a runner at third and one out. All you’re looking for is a medium deep fly ball, but Jeter was really struggling to even get the ball out of the infield. He’s a good bunter, and all he would need to do is get the bunt down. It’s a very high percentage play.
Look, I’m with you guys. I hate all the sac bunting that Joe does. But a squeeze is different, when you’re only looking for one run, because it’s a play that results directly in a run (instead of needing things to happen after the sac bunt).
But a squeeze is different, when you’re only looking for one run,
… aaaaand, we’re not looking for only one run in that situation. Not remotely.
Which of those situations presents a reasonable chance for a bigger inning?
balt o,s just keep winning.
Attaboy, Hughes.
Phil Hughes has thrown 34 less pitches than Shields.
Love it.
no hiiter getting into rays head
More likely its getting into the Yankees’ heads.
We have visual confirmation, Hughes is officially in Beast Mode.
Must be the facial hair
Hughes looks wider, not in the Z-axis like CC but in the X axis, maybe he is hitting the weights a lot.
Of the Killer B’s, whose most likely to be Hughes (beast-mode starter), most likely to be Joba (useful, potentially in the pen), and most likely to be IPK (trade bait)?
I would guess:
ManBan–> Hughes
Brackman—>Joba
Betances–>IPK
I’m pretty sure this exact same question was asked in the last RAB live chat. I forget the answer, though!
Gbs are great
I am sry, i know Longoria is a good player and MLB is desperately looking for a young new face who has no *suspicious* power but calling him a shoe-in to the HOF in those ‘beyond baseball’ spots is ridiculous
Wait, people have called Longoria a shoe-in HOFer? He’s had a great beginning to his career, but not even the dumbest baseball writer would make such an assumption.
What, you mean he isn’t? I mean, according to B-Ref, his most comparable player through age-23 is Hank Blalock, after all.
Just reported what i saw on that beyond baseball commercial that ran on ESPN
Thats what they said
Kearns is starting to expand the zone a lot and he hadn’t been doing that before.
lol, que the “Hughes should start in game 3 over Burnett” tweets from the same columnists who have been writing how awful he’s been lately.
Is it still crazy of me to envision a time where Hughes and Joba lead us to a championship as our 1 and 2 starters?
No.
(clings tight to my binkie)
I am now picturing you hugging a giant blowup Clown.
A giant blow up clown wasnt actually what I was picturing
“I am now picturing you hugging a giant blowup
ClownAndy Pettitte doll.”#obnoxiousandjuvenile
I wouldn’t be hugging that doll.
/unnecessary
It’s a family blog.
/notreally’d
Oh, she’s not just hugging it.
5 IP? 90 pitches? Should have gotten more than one run.
Not too worried. All the Rays top relievers pitched in both games this series.
Damn, he is good.
Come on Phil, no disgrace to give up a hit to a future hall of famer
In case you forgot, Evan, you’re a member of the Rays franchise. You’re supposed to take your strike outs like a man and allow Phil to no-hit your team.
He ruined Morrow’s no-no too, how dare he.
I only care about Phil. Sorry, Brandon.
Matt Joyce, this facial hair looks awful on you
It kills all his pretty (and hopefully those HR’s he hits against us).
and Longoria needs a barber too. Are they doing the beard growth through the postseason thing? Have the idiots returned?
/Millar’d
Where’s the obligatory mention of this being the first time he’s worked out of the stretch in the game?
lol @ Jeter
Dear Michael Kay, Jason Giambi hasn’t played for the New York Yankees since 2008. It’s time to let go.
(He was actually a pretty good signing in a period of shitty ones, anyway)
Giambi was a good signing? Uhhhh
Have you looked at his years as a NYY?
He hit .260/.404/.521. If that’s not terrible, I don’t know what is.
Only 9 steals, WHAT A BUM
Did he ever pull off the squeeze play? I don’t think so.
What a bust.
The only thing wrong with the Giambi deal is that we paid for 7 years of production but only got six years’ worth of games.
But while he played:
.260/.404/.521 (143+)
That’s worth a buttload of money, absolutely.
Hey, very few guys will give you a full 7 seasons. While he was healthy he was as productive as anyone.
You: preaching
Me: the choir
Yeah, he was. BEST SIGNING EVAR no, he was bad defensively and it was probably a couple of years too much, but I don’t see how you can call it a terrible one or anything like that.
Agreed. He wasn’t terrible but he could’ve been better…especially defensively.
His last full year in 2008 he hit 32 home runs and OPSed .876. I’d say the Yankees got out at just the right time, there.
Jorge with the Hands Of Stone
Posada putting on a clinic back there.
C’mon Phil, continue your awesome, please.
What the shit was that fuck.
Well, that one hurts.
XBH are better than singles.
5th inning = no good
Eesh. Not ideal.
Rays winning the RISP battle so far…
…yes because they’ve had that many RISP.
concrete…
Fuckballs? Fuckballs.
I hereby propose that Axisa is not allowed to post positive comments about a pitcher until said pitcher is out of the game.
Don’t know why you wouldn’t throw Johnson a curveball in that situation..
Dan Johnson, you are supposed to do that to the Red Sox you idiot!
We’ve got plenty of time.
The offense is swinging the bat pretty well. Let’s get them next inning.
Dan Johnson? Really?
6 base runners left on and now they are losing. Pathetic.
Dan Johnson Reid Brinigac whats next fucking Navaro
rays have 2hits 2 runs yanks 66 hits 1 run,now we will score 10 runs
Wait I don’t understand, why didn’t Johnson squeeze there?
This just proves that Ben was right. Had we squeezed, this game would only be tied.
/multipledifferencefallaciesoflogic’d
How in the world did that present an opportunity to combat my initial point? Obviously better results are possible (e.g. the Johnson HR), but it doesn’t mean a squeeze is a bad play.
Beast Mode is downgraded to pitching well.
young yankee pitchers can,t get out of 5inn????????
Asked before, asking again:
Are you posting from a cellphone?
Don Zimmer annoys me by only dressing in uniform when they play the Yanks or sometimes the Red Sox……Fuckin Troll
This his how the Yankees have been playing for a week now.
Pitching well enough to have extremely close games? I agree.
We’re down a run to the Rays in the fifth inning, Kit.
We’ll never win a game like this. I don’t think it’s ever happened before.
It’s the fifth inning?! That means the game is over! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED.
Do you mean futility with RISP of late, if so, I concur.
Well, when we’ve pitched well, we haven’t hit well, and when we’ve hit well, we haven’t pitched well. 6 of the last 8 games have been 1-run games, so these games very easily could have gone our way. Frustrating to say the least.
where’s his changeup?
Hip hip!
JORGE!
HIP HIP
wow, great throw by PoPo
Jorge putting on a clinic out there!
I dunno what’s gotten into Jorge recently but I like it.
Nice one, BJ. Why don’t you go give your more talented, better looking brother a BJ because he’s more talented and better looking than you….idiot…
…Really mean.
4inns 3hits 2 runs good job phil yankees about to kick ass
Loved Gardy behind Arod on last night’s game ending play. Very alert and wasn’t stunned and immobilized by the fact that crawford could be as dumb a baserunner as….Gardy!
Got my tix for Andy vs O’s. $22 upper deck behind the plate but hope to move down…
Yell “ANDY, BEXY LOVES YOU!!!!!” a lot
Cano decides to rake the week I face him in the playoffs.
C’mon, Robbie.
nothing gets me going quite like guys that don’t get the runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs in a close game. I don’t know if it’s a Kevin Long philosophy, or they just don’t listen to him or what but when all you need to do is make sure you make contact and hit it to the right side of the field, it’s not that tough to do with MLB talent. But these guys go up there acting like they have to hit a HR to save their lives and get totally exploited. I just wonder what the team and Kevin Long have to say as their philosophy in those situations, especially in close games without a star hitting. I’m guessing it’s the players just trying to do too much but it’s gotten to the point where I almost want Long to talk to a guy right before he goes up to remind him to cut down on his swing and not to try and do too much. You would think that wouldn’t be necessary in the major leagues.
If you listen to the Yankees at all you know there is nothing that Kevin Long preaches more than getting in the runner from 3rd with less than 2 outs. Sometimes, it just doesn’t happen.
well obviously he wants them to get the runners in…what hitting coach doesn’t want his team to score runs? I’m wondering what their philosophy is. What pitches do they look for? What adjustments if any do they make to their swings? Stuff like that.
I’m sure they try to adjust. They want to hit the ball in the air or to the right side. The pitcher knows that too, so he’s going to bust you inside. It. Happens.
The best ballplayers fail 60% of the time.
ya when they try and get a hit or get on base. that doesn’t have to be the case when all you ask is decent contact to one half of the field. that’s like saying mlb players fail 60% of a time when a guy doesn’t get a bunt down. what they need to do is significantly easier than reaching base.
I’ve been assured that every time any other team has a runner at third with less than two outs, they get them home. Every. Time.
this is a totally unnecessary comment. nobody has said anything close to what you’re trying to make fun of. all i wonder is what our philosophy is and people pull this bullshit. you come off as just wanting to argue.
good point Jonathan. Shortening the swing for contact is not something you will see from the likes of Austin kearns. The Babe gets his cuts up there.
it’s not that tough to do with MLB talent.
That statement is literally never accurate. It’s ALWAYS tough to execute things in baseball, no matter how much MLB talent you have, because the other team also has MLB talent.
tommie, it really isn’t. if you have baseball talent, and ALL you’re looking to do is make decent contact the other way, it’s a lot easier than you think. of course the other team has mlb talent. i’m not saying it would happen 100% of the time but if that is your entire approach and you’re willing to sacrifice yourself and cut down on your swing you should be successful very often.
when you just want to go the other way your front side stays closed, you get to see the pitch longer since you aren’t trying to open up and pull it, and with a cut down swing your bat control increases. obviously line outs and hard groundballs might not get it done, but if your approach is what I said and you are a legit MLB player, you should be able to get this done 80% of the time (total guess on the %) but higher than the average success rate of driving in a runner from 3rd with less than 2 outs.
If it were that easy, every team would do it all the time.
It’s not that easy.
you’re constantly circumventing my point. i’m saying their approach isn’t just trying to cut down and hit the ball the other way. they try and do too much or don’t have the correct approach for that situation. that accounts for AB’s like Kearns had with Robbie at 3rd. Did Kearns look like he was cutting down on his swing to try and go the other way? or did he look like he just opened up and hacked at everything he swung at?
What I’m saying is, your contention that shortening his swing and trying to go the other way is “easy” and “effective” is wrong on both counts. It’s not easier to go the other way (because the pitcher knows what you’re trying to do and counteracts you) and not more effective (because the defense knows what you’re trying to do and counteracts you).
I’m not circumventing your point, I’m rebutting it where it’s flawed.
Super frustrating game.
We get shields to 80 pitches by the fifth and in the sixth inning Cano and Berkman strike out on 3 pitches… That’s some sort of joke..
Hm, so is Shields going to come out for the 7th? Obviously he’s gotten better as the game has gone on.
there is just no reason to continue to be shut down by this guy
You can’t help but laugh at the futility with risp.
Yeah, I mean, it’s been a whole 5 innings since they had one.
Because I was bored, I decided to look up what Brian Roberts was up to this season. From what I gathered, he’s a doubles machine.
Since 2000, 29 players have hit 50 doubles in a season. Roberts is three of those–the only guy to have done it three times.
I think maybe it’s time to actually hammer that first pitch get me over curveball. He’s gone to it a lot and we just give up on it as soon as they see the spin.
what the hell is wrong with our offense? we should have like 5 runs off shields right now
Fact. I hate when we do this shit, we’ve gotten hits all night but none of them have count for shit. James “Big Game” Shields has not pitched nearly as good as his capable of, yet we’ve not taken advantage.. And now Kearns is up, I’ll hold my breath.
seriously that’s what i’m thinking…he looks very hittable…except when we get men on
It’s baseball.
touche’
you cant predict it
youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com
submit suggestions for awards!
Kearn’s can’t even help himself.. His sixth strike out in two games.. It sucks we have no other choice but to keep running him out there. My question is if every scouting report even RAB knows that Shields will throw his fastball as he’s done for 26 pitches (nearly 25%) we really need to take advantage of it.
Nothing is guaranteed and nothing is automatic. It’s how the game works.
Kearns with another chanc. Im betting he gets a big hit here
/degenerategambler’d
Slappy, you better not have made that bet
/Slappys wife
You hid all her fillet knives, right?
thinking about switching to all plastic
Why is Kearns always up with RISP?
All players are always up with RISP in a good offense that puts runners on.
You only remember Kearns being up because of Loss Aversion.
105 pitches for Shields. Kearnsy has him where he wants him Please get an unlikely 2nd hit of the game Austin…
Wheeler’s warming up. Looking forward to seeing him again.
YANKEES + RISP = FAIL
Well that inning really sucked.
Get well soon, Swish.
They should have pinch-hit Ramiro Pena for Kearns. lol
Russo? Nunez? Pena? Anybody but kearns with a bat in his hand and risp…
Kearns blows
/face palm this team with RISP is just pathetic to watch
We miss you, Swish.
Although he saw a lot of pitches that at-bat, Kearns has just not looked good lately. Gotta wonder if he’s still injured and if he is, it would probably be better to go with Golson…
An injured Austin Kearns still outhits Greg Golson.
Golson is Freddy Guzman. They’re the same player.
I think Golson has a better arm
I’m sure it will come in real handy at the plate against James Shields.
contact with the ball and speed on the bases can come in handy. Kearns providing neither..
Golson’s contact ability is worse than Kearns’s.
Far, far worse.
I didn’t bother to look up the stats, so maybe I was over-reacting.
what is the injury? Nothing that has shortened his swing, that’s for sure.
Guzman got that ring baby. Gotta love him
I don’t think he is injured at all, what I see through my non-professional baseball player’s eyes is that his swing is way too long and trying to do too much swinging for the long hits. So he commits and its too late for him to turn back on a lot of pitches.
Kearns-nothing solid about him. Pretty flabby all the way around.
FOX guy isn’t holding a bat OR a ball. I feel cheated, somehow.
Austin Kearns kinda sucks.
Kearns can’t catch a break.
I’m sure it is Joe’s fault. Somehow.
Of course. Gardner and Swisher being hurt forcing Kearns into duty when he needs a day off is completely and totally Joe’s fault.
She was being sarcastic.
Yea, I know
I know, right? Who does he think he is trying to rest his older players and his bullpen at the same time and simultaneously try to keep the team from losing.
For shame. It’s not the Torre way
Not catching a break would be hitting a line drive to an outfielder. He hasn’t even made contact with the ball with RISP.
or a pitch with his bat…
Touché.
Maybe it has something to do with the length of his swing, but Kearns’s swings-and-misses are epically bad-looking.
pretty much have seen enough of austin kearns
So like where were those people who wanted to kearns to start over Grandy?
Berkman and Kearns can get the hell off this team! Thanx for nothing Cashman!
Doom and gloom.
Frank’s right, though.
If we still had Zack McAllister and Mark Melancon, they’d both be hitting .350/.478/.623 and playing stellar outfield and first base defense.
Yeah, Cashman! Thanks for nothing!
Yeah, let’s boot the guy hitting .400 in the last two weeks.
Dude he’s not hitting 60 percent of the time. That’s the majority! BUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Berkman is leading the MLB in OBP since August 8th, per this site. He’s done fairly well. People don’t always get on..
you mean the same berkman who has hit over .400 over the past week? yeah he sucks
A monkey can hit .400 for a few games! He still sucks!
You have now crossed the line into batshit insanity.
…..
O:S
…what. the. fuck.
O:S
Sign that fuckin monkey
IETC
So I see small sample sizes are not your thing. Totally fair and understandable.
Lets go with a larger sample size. Like his OPS last season, which was .907. Or His career OPS which was .957.
That, last I checked, did not suck.
In review, Berkman has not sucked in the admittedly small period starting on August 8th to the tune of the highest OBP in baseball. He also has not sucked over the course of his career to the tune of a .957 OPS.
So…yeah, he doesn’t suck.
I’m not even mad, that’s impressive.
Frank ate the whole wheel of cheese.
I feel like it’s a rule of RAB that dudes that use JUST their first name as their handles are terrible. Just men, just first names.
If anyone can think of any examples that go against this, please let me know. (And sorry if I forgot anyone obvious.)
Bo
Sal
Grant
Lanny
Jake
Michael
Frank
Bret
That’s just off the top of my head in a few seconds.
Greg, jonathan
Rose, assuming that was a female!
Heh.
thanks, i feel that a select few elitist RAB followers spend the entire day being smug and sarcastic and trying to cut people down and be in an argumentative state the entire game. you guys ever think that maybe we’re all yankee fans and you don’t have to just be total douches 75% of the time?
: )
We’re only douches to the ones we love.
(i.e., people who say insane douchebaggy bullshit.)
If you’re the Jonathan that commented during the Royals series, you’re an exception to that “rule”
I am pretty sarcastic and snarky, sorry to say. I’m also really a nice person, and I think others would back me up on that.
Hopefully Hughes can get our offense back on the field quickly.
i’d rather have Zach Macalister than kearns – at bat..
That being said I’d atleast like to see someone who fouls off a pitch or two. I feel like Kearns has fouled off maybe 2 pitches in the past two days.
Did Kernan really just drop a “rather have Johnny Damon” bomb on Austin Kearns? Holy shit does he hate the Yankees.
Kernan? Who?
He writes for the NY Post.
He “writes” for the NY “Post”.
Fixed.
Yankees will win this game on a kearns home run u watch
I have been told that baseball is a game that cannot be predicted.
Colin’s eyebrows caught that ball.
This Yankees team are 17th in Avg (260) , 9th in slug (426) where home run and xbhs comes into play, and 8th in OPS with runner in scoring position.
Making up stats are fun, I guess. The Yankees are slugging .438 as a team, good for 3rd in baseball. They average .268, good for 7th in baseball.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/t.....rder/false
The shortstop with the best fielding percentage?
/pastadiving
It doesn’t surprise me that Jeter has a good FP%. Bad range = fewer opportunities to get to the ball, but when he does get to the ball, he generally doesn’t make a lot of dumb errors or what have you. I honestly think if he had any range at all, he’d be quite a strong defensive SS. But… he’s not.
That was exactly my point, of course. On that note, what AL shortstop wins the Gold Glove this year?
Yeah, he has the highest FP, but has the fewest or second fewest total chances among all AL shortstops.
and 11 0 before a day off
who’s 11-0 before an off day?
11-0 for what?
Hughes did his job, Let’s put some hits together, preferably with RISP!
Here is to hoping some bitch slapping on Qualls.
Yanks better get going before Soriano get up.
I’d rather have him on. He’s bound to get tired.
Excellent six innings from Hughes. Real good command of all three pitches (and even the change has been decent). Just victimized by one bad pitch.
get your lucky hats on here we go great job phil
Dont swing Colin, just dont
So let’s have Shields throw 125 pitches….
Curtis finally does something worthwhile, and there’s a fielder in the way?
Oy vey.
I’m still so bummed about not being able to get that Snoopy. Someone hook me up.
Fuck the Snoopy, I want the Robinson Cano poster.
I’m glad Curtis can atleast have some productive at-bats, see some pitches and hit the ball. I really think the Rays kept Shields in too long, sucks we didn’t take advantage.
CC (the not 6’7″ one) smoked that. I thought it was a double inside the line.
well if we can;t hit qualls after seeing him for the second time…then we are in trouble
Hughes is pitching a much better game than shields but shields is up 2-1. that’s what happens when you hit the way the yankees are with RISP
Fuck you Qualls.
Oh lol sorry.
What are you apologizing dude? Fuck him, regardless of what he did.
MOTHER FUCKER.
Holy shit, I really hope the Captains not hurt.
DAMN YOU QUALLS, DAMN YOU TO HELL
Oh no.
Oh fuck you, Qualls, don’t fucking hit our shortstop.
Oh shitfuck
I thought that hit the bat at first, too. No reason Tampa shouldn’t make the play there.
We want runs
HAHAHA that’s hilarious. Great job, Derek.
oh thank god. Jeter must have picked up some acting skills shooting all his commercials.
Haha. Good selljob, DJ.
Hell of an acting job by Jeter there.
Wow, did that not even touch Jeter? Because he acted the hell out of it.
Oohh…it did hit the bat. (laughing) Oh Derek.
It hit the bat :p
Jeter’s an excellent actor.
slick Jetes
An the Oscar goes to Derek Jetah…number two.
OK, to all those who spend alot of your time bashing Jeter, tell me you werent worried when he grabbed that hand
I had a spontaneous bowel movement. AKA i shit my pants.
LMFAO.. I see the Captain got some good acting lessons from “The Other Guys”
Win if you can, lose if yo must, but always cheat? Don’t know how I feel about that.
“There is no way this umpiring crew will overturn this. They are afraid of the Yankees.”
-Rays radio broadcaster.
That’s kind of really funny.
These guys really have their moments. I do agree with their sentiment that MLB needs to overhaul their umpiring.
Agreed, but the umpires aren’t afraid of the Yankees. You sometimes get calls that go to you and sometimes you don’t, it evens out during the season. It’s not about which team is scarier than the other.
They fuckin better
throw him out!
YEAAAAHHHH
I didn’t think Jeter had it in him. Imagine if A-Rod pulled that?
Wow, the Rays got fuuuucked on that call.
So, I’ve had a virus on my laptop for the past few days, and was unable to have access to the internet. Just installed it now, and the first thing I do is go to the RAB game thread. Not that I have a 5 page paper due tomorrow, or that I have a psychology test tomorrow, because I don’t. Maddon’s getting tossed.
You installed the internet? That’s a beastly computer you got, there.
Someone get that man an Oscar. And eject Maddon.
Nice job DJ that’s why you’re the captain.
Maddon you piece of SHIT.
why?
Because I hate him and he argues about everything even if it’s true which I’m sure he doesn’t fully know.
Are people still questioning the Yankees’ ‘hearts’?
ahh stupid reply
Maddon gets thrown out because the umps make a shitty call? Ridiculous.
what an EPIC leash they’re giving him unless those are a lot of gosh darns and hecks…ah…mid sentence. he gone.
hawk’d
Well, you can’t really blame Maddon for arguing that one.
IN-STANT RE-PLAY
right?
Yes. Losing out on that lucky break is worth it to get all the calls right all the time.
Now. Can you imagine if A-Rod did this? It would be a huge national calamity fit for a week’s worth of discourse.
Are you calling me a liar?
/captain’d
Derek Jeter finding any possible way to get on. I like it.
After the ump threw out Maddon the radar gun for Yes said 89 mph. Ump has a gun.
Wow. Jeter steals second on the first pitch-with a broken arm. What a stud!
/Pedroia’d
Jeter showing off one of his many intangibles.
looool wow that is a great acting job. Incoming rant from Maddon after the game about how the Yankees get all the calls.
oh ya…should be a good one
Make them pay, Grandy.
Haha…the acting job just gets better with that little look.
Haha, watch Jeter’s eyes on the replay. Awesome.
AHAHAHA nevermind my “shitfuck” or whatever I said, epic acting job by Jeets
Is that fucking Garza in the dug out all pissy?
the replay is so good, that didn’t come anywhere near his hand, what an acting job
ump=fucking idiots
Derek Jeter can sell crappy Fords.
This is golden, listening to the Rays feed of the game. I live around Tampa and the Sunshine TV announcers are furious.
They should be, but good for us.
Chad Qualls has a 7+ERA can we please get to this guy the second time around.
The academy award for Best Actor in a Drama – Derek Jeter.
Now Kearns will know what to do next at bat.
Walk right into the pitches shoulder first?
at this point, i’d Dorn his ass like Major League II
Derek Jeter?
That guy’s got an edge.
Honestly the ball looked like it caught the jersey before the bat.
HELL YAH GRANDY, ATTA BOY!!
GRANDY!
GRANDY!
The Grandy man can
YEAH BABY!~
FUCK YES SHIT TITS!!!!!!!
COCK! COCK! COCK!
The Grandy Man Does!
Oh, that is not going to make Maddon a happy man! GRANDY MAN!
Acting pays off…
FUCK YES!!! Derek you sexy beast. Your acting chops are incredible.
THE GRANDY MAN CAN
Jeter acting job = genius
GRANDY!!!
DEEP AND THICK
And BOOM goes the dynamite!
Derek Jeter, American Hero.
Yeah , Bitches ! Quall ‘owned’!
FUCK YA CURTIS GRANDERSON YOU TWO HAND SWINGING BEAUTIFUL MOTHER FUCKER! SUCK THAT SHIT RAYS DUGOUT.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I’d like to think that was karma for the Rays’ TV broadcasters. Non-stop whining after DJ getting to first.
L.O.L.
I do feel guilty about that one, wow.
Eh, it happens to every single team. It sucks, but that’s the reality of the situation.
HAHAHA.
I’m Curtis Blow and I want you to know!
Thank god the Rays’ middle relief sucks.
Ha-fucking-ha.
Bah. Granderson should have squeezed Jeter in from first.
hilarious…..think Joe brings in Mitre next inning?
I bet Mitre pitches well if he does. He’s been solid in the pen for the last two months.
+Infinity
Spectacular.
Brilliant!
I’d like to see Marky Mark smack one now, he’s got 2 singles all with a broken toe.. Props, this guy’s a tough mofo.
Your face Joe Maddon
In all seriousness, does anybody think that, if this score holds, the Jeter “HBP” becomes a story? I can almost see the MSM trying to stir the pot with this.
Yes. As it should be. Expanded replay please.
Yeah, but that would be rational. I’m talking, “Is Derek Jeter a cheater?”; “Do the Yanks deserve the AL East?”; “Will the Rays want revenge?” type of bullshit “reporting.”
100%. ESPN Headline: Blown call giftwraps Yankee win over Rays
Probably. This might fall under “cheating” which instantly makes Derek a horrible person and will make everyone promptly dislike him.
Sure. It’s part of the game, but it’s still a player reaching base when he didn’t deserve to.
That’s payback for that horrid blown call at 2nd base in the Texas series. These things even out, can’t say the Yankees benefit and other teams don’t.
So how is that change of scenery working for Chad Qualls?
He’s been less terrible as a Ray, but still subpar.
Chad Qualls on that replay: “that line drive makes me more upset than my choice in facial hair!”
What a game. This game and last night’s should be Yankee Classics.
Monday’s game was spectacular too.
These two teams would make for an amazing ALCS.
They will. Tampa Bay has become the new version of the Red Sox to me. There’s going to be a couple of epic series between them, but we’ll come out on top as always.
I wanna win this game so bad now
TRADE GRANDERSON
HE SUCKS!
1.) Trade Grandy and Joba for Joakim Soria and Zack Grienke
2.) Sign Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui back
Instant title.
/KevinKernan’d
Baseball. What an amazing game.
/Derek Cheatah
36
Number of Rays fan referring to the Yankees as cheaters on the internet tomorrow.
That’s impossible. Everyone knows the Rays only have 5 fans that know how to use the internet and attend games.
Because its 5 fans with 36 different names/tags/aliases.
Makes more sense then.
36
Number of Rays fans
referring to the Yankees as cheaters on the internet tomorrowPhil gave up a two-run shot after a missed strike 3 call, Grandy gets a two-run shot after DJ’s acting job. Sounds even to me.
Kevin Kennedy is talking about how this play challenges the legitimacy of baseball’s competitiveness.
joba wood mo day off thx
You’re welcome.
colorless green ideas sleep furiously
Well look at that, Walt Whitman posts on here.
William Carlos Williams, actually.
——————-
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
A poet and a gentleman.
makes no difference
your alphabet is missing letters
seventeen, embalmed and caskets
lowered into the weather
a drizzle, brisk and profound
from this texas breath exhaled
their relief
this is forever
Well, the Yankees didn’t score any runs after the Granderson homer. He effectively killed the rally with that play. Just awful baseball there, Curtis.
Austin Jackson would’ve kept the rally going instead of hitting that homer
So would’ve Melky.
People better not question the Yankees’ ‘hearts’ after the last two games.
That sounds like a challenge. You’re on.
Bunch of mercenaries on this team.
Do it.
You won’t do it.
Lemme get Nomar Garciaparra on the phone.
Question: Are Matsui, Damon, and Cabrera on the 2010 Yankees?
Answer: No. Therefore, they do not have heart.
You forgot the most important part of that “heart”: The Red Sox.
I said this right as granderson homered so it got lost…but that ball really could have knicked his jersey before the bat.
With the off day tomorrow I say Joe goes all Ron Washington if he needs to. All hands on deck for a batter or two.
He said before the game that Wood is unavailable and he’d like to stay away from Logan. Other than that, should have everyone.
i agree, save wood, logan for crawford or pena if needed
It’s funny that the MSM will say the Yankees cheated and MLB should stop this but they’ll proceed to say how instant replay kills baseball and the human element.
Has anyone ever been like “hey, no, that didn’t hit me” when they were given a base?
The hitter ain’t getting the base unless they “sell” it to the ump. That’s the ethical elemtn that people will, no doubt, pounce on.
I think Albert Belle tried that once. Or he tried to decline an intentional walk.
Here’s the link, who knows if this is true
Dustin Pedroia does that all the time. He also pays twice as much in taxes as he has to, because he loves America.
For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons, ESPN.
He’s Restored Honor to America, I’m sure.
ZOMG FREEDOM WEEK
If we win 3-2 I sign off my rights to this game being officially known as the
Derek Cheatah Yankee Classic
I’m watching this on ESPN telecast and they’re fucking freaking out.
they so hate the yankees, they’re unable to contain themselves.
That is absolutely nothing new.
Chad Qualls doing what he does best for the D-Backs, blowing games!!!
He was real solid until the elbow surgery. It’s a shame… sort of.
agreed..I probably should had included for the 2010 D-backs.
P. Hughes still drawing hell of weak contact. That’s great hustle.
Every day he’s hustling. Hustling Hustling.
Hughes got them muthaf#$%as flyin’ ‘cross the Atlantic.
Thought the game was tied right there.
The Flip, The Dive, The HBP.
Granderson has certainly hit some memorable home runs this year. Off the the top of my head , Cleveland , AZ and this.
PAPELBON
plus beckett in the first ab
Papelbon, and the HR off Pelfrey was pretty clutch too.
Jeter really “sold it” but when the ball hits the knob it wrings your hand like crazy and the vibration probably made him toss the bat. holding his hand afterward…not sure sure about that.
How do I love Curtis Granderson? Let me count the ways.
I love him to the depth and breadth and height
His socks can reach . . .
I love him to the level of every game’s
Most quiet need, the RBI double and Center Field Save.
I love him freely, as the Yankees strive for Home Field Advantage;
I love him purely, as the Yankees turn from the Wild Card.
I love him with a passion put to use
Without my old griefs, and with my true fan’s faith.
I love him with a love I seemed to lose
In that Texas Series, — I love him with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, with Mo’s Grace,
I shall but love him better after clinching the Division.
(H/T Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
It’s poetry night, baby.
————-
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human rivers
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
Oh yeah! From Langston Hughes to Wallace Stevens:
I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
Cano about to swing
Or just after.
(Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Yankees)
Nasty curve.
Sit your ass down, pretty boy.
that breaking ball was filthy
Perfect curve from Hughes
Nasty CB from Phil.
Oh I love it when Mature Hughes pitches and mixes effectively.
What a curve by Hughes.
logan here….?
Uno mas, Phillip. Don’t let Grandy and Jeter’s efforts go to waste.
Wow, that was hit far.
Oh good
You have got to be fucking shitting me
oh come on…….
/facepalm
That’s regretful.
Are you fucking kidding me.
Dan?
Johnson?
Really?
—____—
Dan Johnson=Bane of my existence.
WTF why does Dan Johnson kill the Red Sox and Yankees, this makes no sense
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/
/buildingthebrand’d
They just throw fastballs to him.
DAN JOHNSON? AGAIN? GODDAMNIT.
omg what a horrible pitch…why wasn’t ring or logan ready for the lefties? he’s at 100+
DAN JOHNSON?!?
You gotta be kidding me. Royce Ring maybe if not Boone Logan?
look up a few comments, i said it too
Motherfucker
Err… I guess those strikes that were called balls make up for Jeter? Nah.
That should have been a three pitch strikeout.
Unbelievable.
The question: Would you have taken him out
Girardi made the right call. The way he was pitching, you have to trust Hughes to be able to retire Dan freaking Johnson.
No.
Yes.
Bad karma, or bad bad pitch…either way, that was fucking deflating.
I just don’t know what to say…
GOD FUCKING DAMMIT
Damn phil pitched excellent tonight. except to one damn batter. Sone of bitch is that frustrating.
Can we just skip right to the ALCS?
that one on joe you have to use bullpen
In hindsight I should’ve purchased a NY state lottery ticket yesterday with 6, 14, 50, 55, 56 and 1 for the Megaball.
Yankees kryptonite – pitchers with 5.00+ ERAs and hitters hovering around .200
Oh, it’s you
We’ve already started the O:S.
NO HE DID NOT
AAAAAAAAHHHH
wait this is a reply fail. Pass out the DFA drinks, please.
Why didn’t you go to the BP after that single Joe? Phil had lost command.
Wrong. Hughes earned a chance to get out of it himself.
We just have to win this game.
This.
For the second time, why in gods name are we throwing Johnson fastballs. Clearly his a strictly fastball hitter, throw the god damn curve ball.. I dont know whos making these pitch selections but they’re absolutely awful.
And so it begins. Guess you never saw someone miss a spot before.
Obviously he missed his spot, I’m talking pitch selection. Clearly he missed his spot, but the guy swings right over the curve or it just buckles him up. In that situation you really gotta give him something off-speed.
So what, just keep throwing him curve after curve? What if he hangs one? You get the same result. Jorge called for an outside fastball. Hughes missed by a full plate. It happens.
Not only that:
You know why Phil Hughes is throwing fastballs to a fastball hitter? Because Phil Hughes is a fastball pitcher, and his fastball can beat fastball hitters.
Not tonight :/… Thus is baseball, just such a deflating moment man..
that was the problem, the location. it’s just a pretty much known fact that low and inside is the danger zone to lefties, he just missed by 2 feet. shouldn’t have been allowed to face all the lefties anyway.
It’s Dan Johnson, he’s not a good hitter or someone you gameplan for.
should have taken hughes out after joyce…we brought up another lefty for a reason
There’s no way that Maddon can use Benoit and Soriano for like the 5th time in 6 days… right?
Another Hughes start where “Oh he pitched great… just made a couple mistakes”.
NO, No, no… He has sucked pretty much since the beginning of the year. This team has 1 starter that exceeds even remotely average.
you really don;t watch this team do you?
You’re an Idiot. Were you alive for the first half of the season?
Really average era in the AL is 4.15
Tell me… How many Yankee starters are better than that???
1? oh. I guess I’m not an idiot, moron.
That is simple an ignorant statement.
just cause you dont like it doesnt make it untrue…hughes did just make a couple mistakes today…..
Yeah… where would they be without Dustin Moseley?
That is so batshit crazy I will now commence O:S.
Male First Name User Handle rule.
I was just thinking that.
(just FYI you’re not part of that rule. Because of the in Jersey thing. Even with just initials, the commenters are better. See, like, Steve H and Steve O are totally fine/great. It’s bizarre.)
Okay, so let’s pretend that AJ and Javy have not made me want to pull my hair out.
Not even Andy Pettitte? Yes, he’s been injured, but he’s coming back, and his ERA before going down was 2.88.
lets go yankees
Giradi should had took out Hughes here.
It really could go either way.
well isn’t this the exact situation we brought ring up for? he could have thrown to joyce/johnson/pena and then we go joba/drob/mo game over. Hughes was over 100 pitches…i
You’re really going to Royce Ring in that situation? Really?
uh ya. why do you bring up a lefty unless it’s to face 3 lefties when your SP is over 100 pitches and has a problem with the HR. He gave up a game losing hr to Joyce earlier in the year and the go ahead to Johnson today. Or Logan, I don’t care. It was 3 lefties in a row.
I’m not bringing in a guy who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008 to face the lead run in that situation.
No freaking way.
We will win this game.
This.
i believe we can too.
I really don’t get it. I feel like Girardi has started doing the opposite of what he has been doing all year. The other day, it was leaving in Nova way too long after he hasn’t been afraid to pull him before trouble even starts. Now with Hughes, we’re SCREAMING for him to take him out in this situation. Who didn’t see the 2 run bomb coming? The announcers on ESPN foreshadowed it and you could just feel it coming. Hughes didn’t do anything wrong and there is nothing with pulling him after a good night and with the lead.
same question…Hughes should have been out after the joyce hit, when there were 2 lefties coming up….stupid decision
Who didn’t see the 2 run bomb coming?
Now that it’s happened, nobody. Before it happened, everybody.
Thanks, B.J.. Time to get the run back now.
Nice, one pitch out, Joba. Now help them out, offense. It’s not often I get to see Jeter act, and I would like to see it again on an off-day sometime soon.
Darn it. They have made the most of their hits. Dan Johnson is this year’s Shelly Duncan.
Assuming Logan is unavailable, I would not have taken out Hughes in favor of Ring.
Rodriguez or Aybar would have pinch hit. I’m not sure I’d want Ring, in that spot, against a RHH.
If Girardi pulls Hughes there, the same people in this thread who said he should have taken him out would be saying he is overmanaging.
Ah, the power of hindsight bias.
iunno 3 lefties coming up…i don’t think we’d be complaining too much after how johnson crushed hughes earlier
All of that.
No matter what happens, Girardi fucked up somehow. It’s science.
Really Phil? Really? (Seth Meyer’d)
we will win this game so sit back and watch its fun
I dunno honestly if Hughes shouldve faced Johnson or not. If Logan was available I would say definitely not although Im sure it wouldve wound up being Logan vs a RH pinch-hitter.
Hughes was just approaching 100 pitches and Im not sure if I wouldve loved to see Ring make his season debut for the Yankees in that spot. Although Joba couldve been brought in to face Johnson.
Pretty tough choice I admit so cant really get on Girardi.
Randy Choate? Ex-Yankee if I remember correctly?
Yep.
Phil should have been left in there, Girardi made the right move but why would you throw Johnson the same exact pitch he hit the 1st HR on? The ump squeezed him but they had the right idea pitching him outside.
It’s not like he TRIED to pitch him inside. The call was for an outside fastball, he missed.
Randy Choate?
Willing to bet Cano reaches here.
Well, I was right, but not in the way I expected.
Still awesome.
This is all Girardi’s fault!
/inevitable.
If there was a way to lose this game, I would have prefered to lose 2-1
Cheater’s Never Win
/espnheadline’d
Rays Avert Murdering of Baseball History
/JaysonStark’s headline
Don’t swing at ball 4, Robbie.
So am I the only one who’s not freaking out about leaving Hughes in there? It’s Dan Johnson. Especially the people crying for Royce Ring.
Nah. There are plenty of rational people here.
Thirded.
Nope, Phil deserved a shot there. A bit perturbed that the ump decided to squeeze him there.
I’m expecting to see something good here from “Big Puma” lets get it done Lance.
Nice fielding, Choate.
Lady BABIP to the rescue.
Just because you’re name is Lady Heroin doesn’t mean you have to go around selling it.
you’re?
lol Keystone Kops out there.
If the game stays as is, Chad Qualls gets the win.
Reason #1,324,789,857 why “Wins” are the most useless stat in all of baseball. By far.
While RBIs, aren’t a very good stat, at least you have to do something productive to get one.
You mean like hitting a slow dribbler with a runner on third? RBIs are next to completely useless.
Oh, I agree that they aren’t a very good stat and you can get an RBI on an out. And outs, are of course, bad.
But hitting a dribbler to third with less than two outs is way more productive than giving up a two run homerun with a one run lead.
Ok.. or something big from Thames
More disturbing than the HR was the inability, once again, of giving up runs after getting the first 2 outs. This has happened all too often this season.
Very true, Hughes has had trouble not only finishing batters on an 0-2 count but finishing innings as well
But it’s not just Hughes. It just seems to have been a problem all season.
why pinch hit for berkman ?
He’s simply not a good lefty hitter, you figure they’d try their luck with Thames before letting Berkman face the lefty which forced the Rays to switch pitchers. Hopefully this guys tired, it feels like he’s pitched every night.
Because Randy Choates a lefty
He can’t hit lefties.
This is all on Hughes. Can’t let Dan Johnson, a .220 hitter, beat you on a fastball twice.
Lazy and embarrassing.
Lazy and embarrassing.
But but but he’s not Cano, I’m confused
I agree, but the thing is you will get beat sometimes and it happened to Hughes twice in one game which is unfortunate. If I remember right I think Utley homered twice versus CC last year, no pitchers perfect.
Utley homered on 2 different pitches and is a HOF talent. Dan Johnson is a scrub.
O:S
I dunno about “lazy” but I agree that it’s all on Hughes.
If you’re Joe Girardi, you have to trust Hughes to be able to get Dan Johnson given the way he’s been pitching.
Lazy? Really? Please, do not bother to explain.
Nothing about our general RISP inability? Shock.
In the same exact spot also.
remember when the Rays had an implosive pen?
Guys, we have to get serious here. We should probably fire Girardi after this game. He just doesn’t know how to manage. We need somebody with heart and somebody who knows when to get fired up over a game. I’m suggesting we bring in Bobby Knight. He can’t be much worse than the worst manager in the game. He will bring the spark this team needs.
Pete Rose. Boom
Brett Favre. Boom
Dustin Pedroia and or Jason Varitek.
I suggest that .400 hitting monkey. If he can hit .400, he can manage a team to at least .500.
Maybe Paul the Octopus is available?
From the start of the season through June 4 (55 totals games) the Yankees played in 7 games that were decided by 1 run. If today’s result stands, then 7 of the last 9 games played by the Yankees will have been decided by 1 run.
Posada’s gonna be the hero again.
i don’t have the numbers or the answer to this question, but are we in better shape with Berkman RH against Choate or Thames vs Balfour?
Thames versus Balfour, for sure. Runners on 1st & 2nd with Kearns up again.. God help us.
Would rather have Berkman Vs Choate or Thames Vs Balfour in that spot?
quit stealing my posts!!!!! haha
Haha, here is to thinking of the same thing.
Balfour living up to his (almost) name
Thames put in good work right there.
Now would be a good time, Austin.
I really really wish Swish was available to pinch-hit
Kearns, it would be really great if you didn’t something good right here.
Let’s go Austin.
Oh no. Not Kearns again.
Austin Kearns has become Pedro Cerrano
Let’s go, Kearns!
kearns plz
Kearns gets another at bat nice.
I feel like Raiders of the Lost Ark. “Snakes…Why’d it have to be Snakes?” Snakes=Kearns.
pinch hit Miranda for Lil CC?
WHAT IS KEARNS LOOKING AT? I can’t stand this guy I’m sorry
At least he didn’t swing through it…?
At least he didn’t ground into a DP. But oh look, Colin Curtis!
/sigh
I gotta say, Kearns has not performed well offensively lately.
Totally non-competitive. Have to be better than that, man.
And it all comes down to . . . Colin Curtis.
I sure wish that the guy who thought Curtis had 30 MLB bombs in him is right, at least tonight.
Wow, who didn’t see that one coming?
awesome, no PH
sigh……………..
Why is Curtis batting?
Joe said he wouldn’t use Swish as a pinch-hitter. Who else is there?
Miranda? Someone, Curtis has been completely overmatched at the plate since being recalled.
What are the other options? Juan Miranda?
18 lob
I’ll put it this way. I can’t remember the last time I saw a game where the two fill-ins had so many important at-bats over the course of a game.
Amazing.
Colin, you’re a good kid, you are, but I just really can’t bring myself to enjoy you being up.
I would have gone with Juan Miranda
Remember that time Colin Curtis hit a pinch hit homer?
That was awesome.
So, Juan Miranda, the lefty on the bench with at least a little bit of power…why is he not hitting?
I mean, the upgrade isn’t that much but Miranda has SOME power.
Why is it so hard to see that Kearns’ swing is way too long for his own good? Kevin should go speak to him about it…
dude scroll up about halfway. we had a big debate about it.
The Rays have pitched Kearns the way the Yanks should’ve pitched Johnson. Nothing but off-speed stuff.
Boy the Yankees just don’t give a crap about these games do they?
Does anyone know, including the rangers series and this one, what the average with RISP is? What’s frustrating about this clip is the fact that it’s not that they look bad, it’s luck w/ RISP
11/57 (.193)
I might of just pinch hit Gardner for Kearns and just had him drag bunt.
Gardner was not available.
he is for running and defense right?
Why are these 2 scrubs batting? Why!
Mothertrucker.
I do not like that Colin Curtis has been allowed to hit as much as he has recently.
Swisher should have pinch hit
He was already out for the game
Swish is just generally unavailable. He didn’t start and he hasn’t pinch hit.
They don’t even want him bending his legs. He can’t pinch hit today.
man the bottom of the order has killed us in the past few games
10 men left on base for Kearns and Curtis.
Get well soon Gardyswish
If I had to guess, Kearns’ WPA is hovering at about -.900 right about now.
-.260. Ouch.
I was close!
-.260
Yeesh
Yah man, our lineup is so short (as I said earlier) I honestly might as well turn off the tv when I know Kearns and Curtis are coming up.
Johnnie Walker I like your commercial.
One of the best Yankee related commercials.
Dear Yankees,
We just had to put our dog down. Please come back and win somehow.
Thank you.
P.S. Austin Kearns and Colin Curtis? Is that really the best you can come up with?
Again the brilliance of Girardi shines through—pinch hitting for Berkman instead of Kearns or Curtis. Joe sure is a shaky game manager.
The chance of kearns getting a second hit in a game? Very low.
Of course he’s injured.
Derek will lead off the ninth
at least he can’t hit into a game ending DP
This game has found our 2 weakest hitters in the most critical situations not coming through. Can’t wait to get healthy…
I haven’t been on the internet in 2 days. What did I miss? I’m sure something massive happened.
We all realized that Joe Girardi is to blame for every bad thing that happens to the team. And something about the Rays being young and fun.
I could have told you that.
I was apparently late for the party.
Yeah, we spent all those games learning to be THICK and DEEP, and now we have to be YOUNG and FUN.
Basically, we’re never going to get it right. We’re not gritty and our small ball isn’t small enough and we have all those injured players but they’re not taking batting practice in a cast and . . . .
The Democrats have a new logo.
http://gawker.com/5639116/will.....everything
Just too many wasted opportunities this game, this series, this road trip. How many has Kearns alone left on base this game, this road trip?
Yup, Kearns and Curtis definitely give them a good shot at a big inning.
Repeat: Gardner was not availible. Swisher was not availible.
Anyway if we lose the division, we play the Twins
soo….. why was Huffman DFA again?
Why was Berkman not allowed to hit Choate? Then we at least have Thames to pinch hit for our weakest hitter. Girardi overmanaging yet again.
This is probably the first valid complaint about Joe.
Berkman is a horrible lefty hitter, that’s why.
Worse than Colin Curtis?
Yes
don’t you mean right hitter?
I mean hits lefties
I’m just glad this isn’t gonna be our #8 and #9 hitters in the playoffs
+28
So much that.
MUCH better off with berkman vs choate. there’s no way they were going to leave choate in to pitch to berkman anyway. it would’ve been balfour against berkman. Even if girardi liked thames against choate over berkman what was the point of announcing thames as the hitter? Announce berkman and if they stay with Choate THEN bring in Thames. Am i missing something here?
Once you announce a hitter that’s it. No change.
Am i missing something here?
Yes. Choate would have been left in to pitch to Berkman. Because Berkman is hitting .179/.273/.269 against lefties this year.
I still can’t understand going with thames vs balfour over berkman vs choate. Just saying that Berkman is batting .174 vs lefties doesn’t show the whole picture. Here’s why:
1) Right handed hitters are batting a WHOPPING .421 against Choate. That takes a .174 hitter to about a .325 hitter.
2) Balfour is holding right handed hitters to a .194 average. although thames is hitting for a better BA than the average hitter, the adjustment would only take him to about .230
I realize this equation isn’t perfect but the point is that the difference between choate and Balfour (as effective pitchers to right-handed batters) is greater than the difference between Berkman and thames!
This combined with the fact that you had kearns and curtis coming up in either the 8th or the 9th in a one run game makes this move truly exacerbating! You had to save thames for one of those two hitters (or should i say non-hitters).
Also for what it’s worth, Berkman is 1-1 vs Choate with a double.
I still think balfour comes in even if Berkman is the hitter. There’s NO WAY Joe maddon goes down in one of the biggest games of the year with randy choate pitching to a righty!
I saw this ad and was just wondering if it was Girardi.
http://d13.zedo.com/OzoDB/l/p/.....00x250.jpg
I laughed.
That really does look like Girardi, whoah.
Kearns is a disaster right now at the plate.
If they lose, this concludes a shit week of missed opportunities.
I don’t get why anyone wants to risk Swish or Gardy for this game. We need them for the playoffs
Playoffs ? Playoffs ?
/jimmora’d
I don’t know why anyone would want to risk them either. Why risk getting them more injured? We’ll need them for the Rays series next week and for the playoffs. Unless you want Kearns and Curtis striking out 8 times a game. If we do lose this we can at least come away with knowing we could have won all 3 games on their field without our full lineup.
So….is it possible Chad Huffman could be as bad as Curtis?
Possible? Yes. Probable? No.
Wasn’t that pitch a strike anyway?
Wow Kay didn’t mention bones.
Oh my god, he’s going to Soriano again?
maybe he’ll be tired and mess up
They probably figure that he won’t be back next season. Why not make his arm fall off in the process?
just checked, he’s pitched the 10th 12th 13t 14th, 43 pitches over those 4 days
Nolan Ryan, you are too old to be on TV. It does not please me to see your face.
Girardi has done nothing blatantly wrong in this game.
Yes he has. Leaving Hughes in was fine, but pinch hitting Thames for Berkman instead of for Curtis was a big blunder. Not much Joe can do about Kearns though with the injuries.
Berkman hits .179 against lefties
Letting Curtis hit for himself with Golson available to play the OF?
Miranda isn’t a great hitter, but he’s a better hitter than Curtis.
Soriano’s arm is going to fall off. Hopefully as he serves up a 3-run meatball to Big Teix.
Again, Joba with the curveball there ahead in the count. I wonder if that’s a scouting thing about the Rays, or if he’s actually starting to use that instead of the slider more.
Let’s not go down with a fight here.
meh, without.
Do you mean “without a fight”? Because if not, I am so confused.
Nice job Joba. He’s actually been really good for a long time now, outside of a couple of hiccups.
Wild Card lead at 6 if this holds. With Toronto, who has packed it in completely heading to Boston while the Yanks lead by General Custer head to Baltimore where Showalter has the O’s playing like their lives depended on it. This is going to get dicey I am telling you
Except the Yankees have 6 games left with Boston, and each of those wins would knock 2 games off the magic number.
First Name Only Male Handle.
Why am I? because it’s possible they could gag this?
Not sure if I get playing deep on Jeter. But, I guess if he gaps one they can cut it off.
What the hell was that?
Soriano the rare reliever who pitches from the windup albeit a strange one.
I really hate it when the opposing team and their fans get the last laugh
We still have to play them 4 more times. In our house. With everyone (hopefully) healthy.
Ugh, two high ones in a row.
C’mon, Derek, you have to do better than that.
ball 3 way to go capn
Derek, please don’t swing at Ball 3 and Ball 4 and then strike out. K? Thanks.
Heh.
Dammit, Jeter loves the Fastball high.
WANTED POSTER: Jeter’s plate discipline.
Shitty AB by jeter…
Why do MLB’ers think that they can catch up to that pitch? Very few can and even less do something productive with it.
Damnit
The Fastball high is a very appealing pitch to pretty much all hitters.
When you manage like you clinched already, as Girardi has the last week or so, you are asking for it coming down to the wire. With six of the last nine games against boston, this is not in the bag yet.
Soriano doesnt look tired.
Without Pedroia and Youkilis, they’re done
Six against the Red Sox is an advantage for us. Boston has to basically take all 6 to even have a chance.
The fact we are even talking about Red Sox right now is sad.
I think they will be fine, but I hate when managers manage like they clinched when they havent, unless the lead is insurmountable. 6 games with 17 to play…not insurmountable.
Only if you’re the New York Mets
FIRE GIRARDI
/lohud crazy
Come on, Curtis!
Keep fighting, Grandy.
everyone at the Trop is 40+ years old
It’s Florida. You expect youth and beauty?
It’s St.Petersburg. Miami is a hotbed for youth and beauty. St.Petersburg is a hotbed for the elderly.
Right. I forgot about Miami’s existence.
This has to come down to A-rod, right?
Damn; well, that was at least a decent at bat.
Come on, Tex, start it with two!
Come on Tex.
Come on Tex tie it up
Well fuck…. This is definitely a game that they should have won handily. Blown opportunities again, especially in the first inning.
Unbelievable.
Jeter swung at ball 3 and 4…where’s the patience?
none… they are pressing too much.
You were so good for awhile there, iYankee.
I am fine. Just disagree with how this team has been managed the past week. They just look tired and beaten.
Sure didn’t look like that a mere 24 hours ago.
one game, an aberration in their long week of disappointing losses.
They are just not playing well right now, it many facets.
OK, one more irritation. Either swing the fucking bat or don’t … this oops shit is fucking annoying.
here come,s the red sox
Here comes O:S for the crazies.
Shut the fuck up
Heh. This isn’t necessary, but it’s hilarious.
What’s the red sox? Is that a disease or something? Sounds awful, I hope you’re doing alright.
This is intense.
Wait ’til they’re in OUR house.
Why do people keep talking about Soriano pitching so often? His blood is pure steroid right now. King Kong ain’t got nothing on him.
Take the walk, Tex.
Thank you!
Get it to A-rod, Tex.
HEEEEEEEEE- foul tipped it…
Tex is dragging this out. Get the bat to A-Rod!
Well, hello gorgeous cutaway girl. And hello, Alex Rodriguez.
Hip Hip Hooray’s to both of those points.
If Gardner is thrown out or picked off, I may light something on fire.
Got to A-Rod. Anything can happen now. Do it, Alex.
Come on Alex!!!
Do your thing, Alex.
one abomb plz
Let’s see how his at speed is here
Maybe they’ll give Soriano the Broxton treatment. His pitch count is getting up there and he’s pitched for five days straight.
And by five straight, I mean 5 out of 6.
I love you, Alex. Please don’t disappoint me.
That’s. Not. A Strike.
Dear A-Rod,
We are paying you obscene amounts of money to do something.
Please do it.
Sincerely,
Sei.
That was not it.
FUCK ESPN.
We now rejoin our regularly scheduled Yankee collapse in progress…
Demoralizing loss, first place gone. Good stuff.
This game was brutal.
Goodnight.
Well, that at-bat royally sucked. Tough, tough loss.
Actually with exception to Tex’s AB, the rest of the hitters that inning took horrible approaches to Soriano.
Fuck, I want the real Yankees back, not this make shift bullshit of Kearns and inconsistent pitchers and assholes bunting on 2-0 and 3-0 counts……
I gotta say, that wasn’t a great AB right there.
RISP fail screws us again…no surprise…
We’ll get ‘em next time.
I blame the healthcare bill.
It’s the abortion laws.
/that one guy’d
Ah well, it’s only a .5 game lead. Just beat them shitless during that 4 game set.
Exactly. And hopefully it’s Gardner/Swish and not Kearns/Curtis. We might be able to pick up that game vs. Baltimore. Andy’s back and we very well could have won all 3 of these games on their field without two of our best hitters. The only weakness we have is our manager.
I’m more worried about making the playoffs at this point. A 6 game lead is not that much. We have to beat the Orioles this weekend. We have to. We are in serious trouble if we lose that series.
Meh. It’s really not that serious. Our chances of making the playoffs are still damn good. Even if we get WC, once we’re in the playoffs, anything goes. Tampa’s shown some major weaknesses in their pitching and hitting and have lucked out. We can take them.
I’m probably overreacting. I probably shouldn’t post after tough losses, I apologize! But I am very concerned. We’ve gotta pick it up. Hopefully we get Swisher and Gardner back. The bottom of the order is brutal right now.
We’ll get our boys back and healthy pretty soon. The most important thing is them being okay, and you’ll see that the line up will round out.
And yet again, another failure to bring in a run with a man on 3rd with less than 2 outs has cost the Yanks. Thanks Lance Berkman.
Lance says “You’re welcome.”
It’s the one issue that has plagued them the entire season.
no no it’s thanks Austin kearns/Colin Curtis.
Wow! Nice at bat A-Roid went up and struck out on three damn pitches!
you are as stupid on here as you are on other yankees blog
What a fucking trip !
i think that was a great game red sox won 5in arow o,s on fire 1,5 road trip this could get ugly
Can you learn how to form proper sentences and punctuate things properly, please. It’s really annoying to read your incoherent babble.
Every single game on this road trip has been brutal. Even the game we won was brutal. I have to say, we HAVE to win the series in Baltimore. If we don’t, I’m not sure if the playoffs are all that guaranteed anymore. I know people don’t want to hear that, but that’s the reality.
This is stupid. The Sox are 6 games behind. They’d have to sweep us in all 6 games to have a shot. Even if they go 4-2 they only gain 2 games. There’s not many games left btw.
It most definitely is not stupid to question whether a team that has lost 8 of 10 – albeit in very close, could go either way fashion – is guaranteed to make the playoffs with a 6 game lead with 17 to play. Girardi is managing soft to give offensive people rest, and yet paradoxically, leaves his young pitchers who supposedly have innings limits in too long just to, what, give them experience? To see if they can get out of the jam, when you have more capable and fresher options in the pen? I quote Mr. Edwards: ‘You play. To win. The game. You dont play just to play it.’ He’s managing right now like its all sewn up, and its frustrating to watch. The odds are in their favor, but I dont think its unreasonable to ask such questions at this point, regardless of what shape the third place team is in.
I’m not even slightly worried.
It most definitely is stupid. If the Yankees go 6-10 (which seems HIGHLY unlikely), Boston would have to go 12-4 just to tie.
You are assuming they do not gain any ground while the teams are playing their other 10 remaining games. Of course, the Yankees will not lose any of those games.
no, it’s not
Wanna put money on the Yankees going to the playoffs?
You should excuse me, I’m overreacting. This week has been so frustrating, it’s easy to get negative.
It happens. Hell, I’ve been screaming and throwing things this week too. Be irrational and silly all you want, just don’t post your irrationality and silliness.
Will do! Putting things in perspective helps.
It’s just not very likely. If we get swept in Baltimore and Boston sweeps their series this weekend then I’d start to worry. Boston has a couple more major injuries than we do though.
The Yankees have been playing some really, really, really bad baseball since the All-Star break. The Playoffs are right around the corner and they need to get it the hell together!
Goddamn. Yankees put 15 men on base, 3 score; Tampa puts 6 on, 4 score.
And 5 1-run losses in a little over a week. It’s like Groundhog Day.
Our luck will turn. But it better be soon.
I’m speechless.
Can the real Yankees, not these imposters who leave runners on base by the metric fuckton, please stand up?
They’re just playing SO bad.
Annd this game…
It’s like God wanted the Yankees to win…and they wanted to lose.
That’s a lot to say for someone who is ‘speechless’
But yeah, they need to get better. 260 average with RISP (14th) in the ML can definitely be improved.
Hey, it’s typing, not speaking.
And just when you think they might build some momentum, you realize they just lost 8 out of their last 10.
So if the Yankees win 3 out of 4 next week, they’ll be tied with the Rays for the season series. And if they finish with the same record…
I think the Yankees outplayed the Rays in this series. It doesn’t always work out. Gardner and Swisher will be in there next time they play.
As will Andy.
don’t think he’ll pitch against them next week. Probably Boston on Friday
Meh, they could always rearrange things.
No passion!
#competedamnit
Gardy not swinging at all>>>>>Kearns
/2 walks for sure and a stolen base or two
What the hell has happened with Kearns? He has fallen off a cliff,
over exposure.
Haha yes. I’m for starting Gardy and telling him to just take every pitch or bunt. Kearns is worthless right now.
Frustrating loss. No way TB gets out of this one alive if Kearns and Curtis are on the bench where they belong and Swisher and Gardner are in the lineup. Get well soon.
Can’t wait till October 5th when we will see the A-lineup for the first time evah…
I’m not one of those guys from Jersey to make those overly dramatic annoying posts after a loss, but I don’t know how anybody could not be PO’ed after this loss. Only scoring one run off James Shields is the most embarrassing part, and giving up two home runs to John Johnson…I mean Don Johnson…I mean Billy Johnson…whatever that guys name is comes as a close second. The Bible says that if you have 9 runners in scoring position, you should score more than 3 runs. The Bible also says (Old Testament) that if a pitcher throws 30 pitches in the first inning, he shouldn’t go more than 5 — 6 at the most….I mean SERIOUSLY, DAN JOHNSON???
On a side note — totally separate from my comments above — if you think it’s okay to give Austin Kearns a free pass for this week, then fuck you. That’s more of a personal fuck you rather than a complaining fuck you. Please ask me if you’re having trouble differentiating the two.
I never ever posted anything this stupid.
Actually, this was pretty funny.
It’s flattering that the two times I did overreact after a loss got so much attention, though.
I didn’t even read the rest of your post because I was laughing so hard at your first sentence.
Heh, at least I am not from Jersey. I heard about those Jersey guys !
I blame Dave Island. He needs to teach phil hughes how to pitch good and not give up runs. He is a deadbeat and needs to be fired.
Sencondly i blame curtis granderson. he needs to better than .245
Lastly i blame kevin long. i dont want to hear about this “new and improved swing” because it obviously isnt working.
I have no idea if you’re serious, but I laughed.
Big Daddy, I think it’s Dave Eiland.
Heh, Dave Island.
.247 > .245
I rest my case.
/McCarver’d
yea it didn;t work… Who was that guy who hit the 2 hr go head hr for us? i can;t seem to remember his name
Here’s a good thing: at least the pitching has been good. Hughes was great tonight…save those two pitches to Dan Freaking Johnson. If we can just pick the offense up a little bit…
Please Nick Swisher, come back
Hm, reply fail.
Agreed… We miss you Nick! And we miss you Brett! Man I hope they finally get healthy soon and tear the 0′s a new one this next series.
Tonight is not the night to blame C-Grand. Not when he hit a go-ahead 2 run HR in the seventh. IM sure it was the biggest WPA hit the Yanks had all night.
I am wondering about the two pitches that were called ball after PH got Johnson 0-1. I thought both were strikes. You could see he was confused by each one. I know it is bad form to complain about calls after a home run but I was dreading that 2-1 pitch.
Kearns and the ninth spot are really hurting the club. It is hard to carry two outs or more in an AL lineup.
The Yanks have a difficult schedule the rest of the way. The only good thing is that Toronto has stopped playing. I think they need eight wins and Boston needs 14 to tie.
If there is one thing we can look forward too, its how much the Rays have over used Soriano..I mean, shit, the guy has pitched in like 6 consecutive games.
Austin Kearns on his two-strike approach:
“swing hard as fuck at anything close because pitchers HATE to give up 2-strike homeruns”
Anybody know the record for most men left on base over ten games?