Open Thread: Same old A.J.

October 13, 2010 by Mike Axisa 98 Comments

Unhappy with being a platoon DH, Lance Berkman will now be performing the YMCA with the grounds crew after the sixth inning. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The big news from A.J. Burnett‘s simulated game this afternoon is not that he threw 80-plus pitches for the first time in close to two weeks, not that he felt great about his curveball and changeup, but that he plunked two batters. In a simulated game. He got Greg Golson with a two-seamer on his fifth pitch (after his first sailed to the backstop) before getting Austin Kearns with another two-seamer later on. It wouldn’t be an A.J. Burnett outing without erratic command so this is just par for the course. I can’t wait until those two pitches to Golson and Kearns are extrapolated into more #LowPitchingIQ articles and the like. It wouldn’t be the same old A.J. without ’em.

Oh, and apparently Mark Teixeira has a black eye. He says he got it while messing around with his son. Whatever, as long as he keeps hitting bombs and catching everything hit within a time zone of first base, he can do whatever he wants off the field.

Here’s tonight’s open thread. The Knicks are playing the Celtics in preseason action (meh), and both the Isles and Devils are playing real games that mean something (not against each other). Yeah, it’s that kind of night. You guys and gals know what to do, so have at it.

Apollo22237

Lance Berkman doing the YMCA would be pretty darn funny.
Carlosologist

Game 1 of the NLCS will be legendary. I’m expecting perfect games from both.
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  because everyone keeps saying this you know one pitcher isn’t gonna be on and it’s gonna be a boring blowout
- Richard Iurilli
  
  Nah. Those NLCS jitters will get to them and they’ll both be in the showers by the third inning.
  
  /Last week’d
Big Stein

Oh, and apparently Mark Teixeira has a black eye. He says he got it ~~while~~ for messing around on his wife ~~with his son~~.

/fixed
Richard Iurilli

Random thought: Lance Berkman has a very large chin.
- http://Twitter.com/marcos_aguirre Marcos
  
  Perhaps he could spare some for Jorgie…
danny

2010: season of the mysterious black eye?
http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig

Didn’t Kearns strike out in the simulated game?
- Apollo22237
  
  Kinda. They announced that Kearns was up next, then instead of wasting pitches, they automatically put the K in the scorebook.
Kit

My brain has decided to make up for the lack of actual baseball by making my dreams about baseball. Cliff Lee pitched game one and the score was 23-0, Rangers. I have never disliked sleeping more.
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  Didn’t you also have some dream where Andy got over his injury then said he wasn’t coming back because he “didn’t fuckin’ feel like it” or something like that? Was that you? If so, your baseball dreams are TURRRRRRIBLE. ;___________;
  - Kit
    
    Yep, it was me. And I hate my baseball dreams so much =(
    - CBean
      
      Shortly before the ALDS started I had an anxiety dream that Hughes got hurt and AJ had to make his start. And I’m one of the minority rooting for AJ and I still woke up nauseous at the thought.
      
      But it was fine. Hughes was fantastic.
      
      /knocks on wood anyway
- https://twitter.com/Carcillo_ Carcillo
  
  http://whatifsports.com/mlb/default.asp#top
  
  Waste away the rest of the night.
  - Kit
    
    That sim is either unintentionally funny or intentionally mean.
  - vin
    
    Oh man, I pitted the 2010 Yanks up against the ’09 Yanks. I ran the simulation 3 times, and the ’09 Yanks were up 3-0. Then the ’10 version came back to win the next 4. I can’t wait until this 30 for 30 documentary gets made. This is what dreams are made of.
  - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
    
    Every single simulated game on that thing is utterly absurd, I’ve found. Like, I was just running 2009 NYY vs. 2010 NYY and in Game 2, 2010 Pettitte gave up eight runs over five innings. He struck out 12, and walked in four runs. Apparently Andy Pettitte = Nolan Ryan now
    - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
      
      …I should also add that he got the ~win~ because 2010 Alex Rodriguez hit five home runs, including a grand slam. Yes. Five. You read that right.
      - https://twitter.com/Carcillo_ Carcillo
        
        Maybe you hacked the system. I’ve never gotten a five home run game, though I did get a 24-23 game between the ’08 Angels and Red Sox.
    - vin
      
      In game 6 of my ’09 Yanks vs. ’10 Yanks, I had CC starting vs. CC. ’10 CC pitched a CG shutout. Pure domination. ’09 CC gave up 8 runs in 4 innings. The ’10 squad won 14-0.
  - Ray the Anti-Handle
    
    Sooo, I’m pitting the 1927 team vs the 2010 team. CHoP was on the team. He gave up 13 runs in 3 innings in relief. Ouch.
    - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
      
      I don’t see what’s so unusual about that ;)
  - yankees1717
    
    oh man, put the 2010 yanks vs. the 08 yanks, and the 10 yanks won 11(!!!) straight games including four 10-run blowouts. wow.
- http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
  
  Is it weird that baseball is like 96% of my life and I NEVER have baseball dreams. I’m usually good about remembering my dreams but I cannot remember one baseball dream I’ve had.
  - http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
    
    Not weird at all. I’ve never dreamed about baseball as far as I know.
  - Kit
    
    I don’t think it’s weird. I don’t have baseball dreams often, but when I do they seem more like anxiety dreams. I just think I’m crazy or overly anxious or something.
  - first time lawng time
    
    I’ve had one. It was back during that 4 game set vs Tampa and I dreamt that we had a 5 run lead, Wood comes in and gives up 8, we come back Mo blown save.
    
    I’ve also had dreams about some of the players but they were not baseball related so we won’t get into that.
vin

Is anyone else going through baseball withdrawls? The waiting is the hardest part.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  (gives vin some methadone)
  - http://fmylife.com Bryan
    
    (takes the bottle of Captain Morgan out of TSJC’s hand)
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      BITE THIS, BROCHACO
Kevin in Princeton

Two things:
1. AJ hasn’t pitched in a while, I’ll cut him some slack in a simulated game for being pretty wild.
2. Why the hell is everyone on the Yankees getting a black eye?
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

The Yankees taught him well. Marcus Thames was a raw talent, with only one year of high school ball, but the organization knew how to prepare him.

“Don Mattingly came down to the instructional league one fall,” Thames said, recalling how the retired Yankee star worked as a part-time instructor, just to pass along the Yankee techniques, the Yankee mystique.

“But really, it was everybody,” Thames said, with Champagne falling all around him in the Yankee clubhouse on Saturday night, after the Yankees had beaten the Twins, 6-1, to sweep their American League division series.

Thames, 33, in his second tour of duty with the Yankees, hit a two-run homer to double their early lead to 4-0 as they poleaxed the Twins, their foils from the Central Division.

“Eight more to go,” Thames said, in a quote straight out of the Yankee Handbook of Standard Phrases to Maintain a Sense of Entitlement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/sports/baseball/11vecsey.html?_r=2&ref=sports

I can neither confirm nor deny the rumors of me being one of the ghostwriters of that Yankee Handbook of Standard Phrases to Maintain a Sense of Entitlement.
Carlosologist

(h/t to Carcillo for providing the link)

I got bored, so I decided to answer the year-long question: Are the 2009 Yankees better than the 2010 Yankees? Box score: http://whatifsports.com/slb/Boxscore.aspx?gid=2912387
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  7 runs scored in the 9th combined? And only one of those six outs was recorded by either team’s Mariano Rivera?
  
  Holy imploding bullpens, Batman!
- first time lawng time
  
  No, because it says David Robertson has 2ER in 0.1IP.
  
  Fact: David Robertson does not give up runs. Ever.
  
  I think it’s the high socks…
- Kit
  
  Whoa.
  - Carlosologist
    
    And that was with CC on the mound. I just ran an AJ one: http://whatifsports.com/slb/Boxscore.aspx?gid=2912456
    
    I’m shocked by the results.
    - Kit
      
      I ran this one with the 2010 Yankees at the 2009 Yankees, and the number of runs scored is insanity.
      
      http://whatifsports.com/slb/Boxscore.aspx?gid=2912479
      - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
        
        As I’ve said – I have never had a normal game simulated on that thing. They’re all completely wackadoodle.
        
        Kit
        
        I keep getting insanity and I was so careful in making sure everything was precise (since the “normal” line up for the 2010 Yankees has Cervelli at catcher…yuck).
        
        https://twitter.com/Carcillo_ Carcillo
        
        The system also fails to account for players who spent the majority of the season with another team.
        
        For example, Cliff Lee never goes more than 4-5 innings for the ’09 Phillies.
        
        https://twitter.com/Carcillo_ Carcillo
        
        One time I matched up the Twins and Yankees.
        
        And the Twins won.
        
        That’s how you know it’s nonsense.
http://www.mystiqueandaura.com/ JMK

Let me preface this by saying my predictions are historically awful. But for some reason – against all rational and logical thought – I fully expect A.J. to dominate in his start. I can’t explain it; just a premonition.
- first time lawng time
  
  It’s because I’ve got the positive vibes coming. Don’t worry about his start. I’ve got him under control.
  - http://www.mystiqueandaura.com/ JMK
    
    This is very comforting. Thank you for the great service you provide.
    - first time lawng time
      
      No problem. My positive vibes always work for A.J.
      
      I’m 1 for 1 so far.
CBean

You know the fact that they came out and was like, Yeah, Tex was wrestling with his kid, and we still don’t know what happened with AJ makes it all the more intriguing.
Richard Iurilli

“#Yankees announce rotation is Sabathia, Hughes, Pettitte, Burnett. Roster is identical to ALDS.”

http://twitter.com/#!/BryanHoch/status/27286581373
- Kit
  
  Andy versus Cliffy Lee? Intriguing.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    And no CC on short rest for Game 4, either.
    - first time lawng time
      
      Ew. I don’t like that.
    - Kit
      
      =/
      
      Conflicting emotions, but as long as there is a quick hook, I’m fine with it, I guess. I’m just hoping to end the series before a possible game 7.
    - http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
      
      I’m hoping that if the Yankees are down 3-0 or 2-1*, they will send CC out there to stop the bleeding and not A.J.
      
      *this is not going to happen
      - http://twitter.com/dpatrickg Dirty Pena
        
        If they are down after three, it seems highly likely that they’d send CC out there for game four. He’s obviously started on short rest before, they were willing to do it last week, and he’ll have pitched once in like, 16 days by Friday.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Austin Powers: Mr. Roboto is lying to us.
  Foxxy Cleopatra: Tell me something I *don’t* know.
  Austin Powers: I open-mouth kissed a horse once.
  Foxxy Cleopatra: Say what?
  Austin Powers: That’s something you don’t know.
CBean

In AJ’s defense, Golson was asking for it. He knows what he did.

(not really. just bored. i miss baseball.)
Joey

So TSJC, don’t know if I’m late or it’s been said in a previous thread, but… http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=5682536

Figured you’d be interested
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Sad.
  
  Tommie and John were famously blackballed in ’68 after their protest. Nobody would give them a decent job. Black athletes speaking their mind back then weren’t often treated well.
  
  (This may not have changed much, btw.)
  - first time lawng time
    
    …Is that where your poster name comes from?
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Yes ma’am. Tommie Smith and John Carlos are two of my athletic (and political) heroes.
      - Sayid J.
        
        Don’t forget Ridiculous Upside the Elder.
- Kit
  
  A college buddy of mine had that picture blown up and taking up half of her dorm room wall. I thought it was so bad ass.
- http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
  
  I collect track spikes; if I had money (I have none, whatsoever), I’d try and get his Pumas to go along with my other lonely Pumas trapped in a sea of Nike track spikes.
- Esteban
  
  I was just about to post that too.
- vin
  
  Would love to see him take it to the Pawn Stars guys.
  - Joey
    
    Only if Chum is the only one there and negotiates lol
poster on another computer who happens to be a deuce bag

You know, in Sim matchup baseball, The Rangers with Lee kick the Yankees with CC’s asses.

I’m crushed. Crushed.
- http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
  
  How can you simulate something with a seemingly infinite number of variables?
  - poster on another computer who happens to be a deuce bag
    
    I did it, like, ten times. The Rangers won nine of them, and the only Yankees win was by one run (5-4).
    - http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
      
      oh, I didn’t see the link above, cool stuff.
http://fmylife.com Bryan

I really, really want them to win Game 1 and 2.
- first time lawng time
  
  I really, really want them to win Game 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
  
  FTFY.
  - http://fmylife.com Bryan
    
    That works too.
vin

As much as I wanted to see CC pitch 3 times, this rotation does make sense.

Love Hughes pitching on the road to the righty-heavy Rangers.

Love Andy (the lefty) pitching at YS3, and in a potential game 7.

Love CC being able to work out of the pen in game 7 should the need arise (grasping at straws now).

If AJ has to start (and he does), might as well do it against Hunter. Hunter has a hr/9 rate of 1.5 (could be trouble in YS3). He also doesn’t strike people out (has the same so/9 as Mitre).

Maybe having the left-handed CC make 3 out of 7 starts isn’t the best plan.
http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook

1927 Yankees vs 2004 Red Sox

Game 1: 6-4 Red Sox
Game 2: 13-5 Yankes
Game 3: 13-4 Yankees
Game 4: 9-2 Yankees
Game 5: 12-4 Yankees

THE CAKE IS A LIE BOSTON!
- poster on another computer who happens to be a deuce bag
  
  The 98′ Yanks went up on the 27′ Yanks 3-1, but the 27′ Yanks came back and won.
- http://twitter.com/#!/iiKeane JobaWockeeZ
  
  Bad selection IMO.
  - http://twitter.com/#!/iiKeane JobaWockeeZ
    
    Oh never mind. I thought ESPN actually did that fantasy simulating thing again.
vin

Great post from Replacement Level Yankees Weblog regarding Mo and his pitch frequency (location):

http://www.rlyw.net/index.php/RLYW/comments/mariano_riveras_pitch_frequency

Sweet heatmaps. Really begins to shed a light on Mo’s greatness.
candyforstalin

i still can’t shake that 4th inning from lee last night. beauty walks a razor’s edge.
http://mystiqueandaura.com Steve H

Nancy (Bx, NY)
Hey,Hate to focus in on 1 player like this right now, but I’d really like to know : if Cano plays better than hamilton during this series, does that up his chances of getting mvp by much?.. Do you think his chances are already strong enough and he can really win it? Thanks

Wallace Matthews
(2:28 PM)
Hey, Nancy. It’s not supposed to. The MVP voters are supposed to consider only a player’s regular-season performance, and considering Hamilton missed much of September, I would say Cano is right there in the conversation

Sounds like Wally doesn’t know the ballots have already been cast. Good hire though ESPN.
swisher’s fauxhawk

You know, I never realized how physically hideous Boston’s starting rotation was.
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  Lester is okay. If you’re counting Wakefield, he’s a dignified-looking man. The rest are hideola x210095809.
- http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
  
  …how?
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

first time lawng time says:
…Is that where your poster name comes from?

tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder says:
Yes ma’am. Tommie Smith and John Carlos are two of my athletic (and political) heroes.

Sayid J. says:
Don’t forget Ridiculous Upside the Elder.

We’re fast approaching the two year anniversary of the birth of my Ridiculous Upside moniker, you know.

December 9th, 2008.

http://riveraveblues.com/2008/12/the-bill-hall-rumor-mill-6223/#comment-223602

Although, Mike made the initial joke (and I made the initial joke response) a month earlier on that Veterans Day.

http://riveraveblues.com/2008/11/tuesday-hot-stove-league-open-thread-5805/#comment-201618
- http://twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
  
  I remember December 9th, 2008, on that day I was officially on this earth for 18 years.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    (bookmarks December 9th, 2011 on calendar to send Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook a bottle of Appleton Estate Reserve)
VO

Since the start of the playoffs I made a vow to only wear Yankee shirts. Tomorrow I am visiting Boston, needless to say I’m excited to piss of Sox fans.
- http://twitter.com/firstheart42 seimiya
  
  I hope they’re enjoying watching 4 Days in October instead of their team in actual live playoff baseball.
  
  Actually, I hope they’re miserable.
Jerome S.

I saw a thing on the 1993 WS today, and how Mitch Williams blew game six for the Phillies.

Ha.
Seriously, it really made me appreciate even more how great it is to have Mo. We will not truly know how great his value to this team is until some time after he’s gone and we lose a big postseason game in the ninth inning.
- Jose the Satirist
  
  Shit happens. Even the great Mo blew a game seven.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    That didn’t really happen, though, because the Cleveland Indians aren’t a legitimate MLB franchise. They’re from Ohio.
    
    #taftwasafraud
candyforstalin

adventureland’s a charming little film.
http://www.twitter.com/yanksnats4ever Alex C.

Tex has a black eye? Oh boy…
bonestock94

Oh man, does anyone else stare at their school material for hours on end without accomplishing anything? Such a freaking drag…
It’sATarp

Can tex’s son give AJ another black eye