Open Thread: Back to Detroit

May 1, 2011 by Mike Axisa 89 Comments

Curtis Granderson has yet to play in Detroit as a visiting player. He was on the disabled list when the Yankees made their lone visit to MoTown last year, so tomorrow’s game with be his first time ~~facing Justin Verlander (in a game that matters) and his first time~~ in Comerica Park’s visitor’s clubhouse. The Grandyman was an All-Star for the Tigers and helped them to the 2006 World Series, so I’m sure the home crowd will welcome him with cheers. I hope he enjoys the homecoming.

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread. The Mets and Phillies (Chris Young vs. Cliff Lee) are your ESPN Sunday Night Game, and there’s bound to be some NBA and NHL playoff action somewhere. You all know what to do, so go nuts.

Xstar7

Mets vs Phillies? Gross, no thanks.
Epy0n

I am still going to watch it because Cliff Lee is quality and I love to root against t
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

I know Granderson was on the DL when the Yankees played the Tigers at Comerica last year but he faced Verlander later in the year and on Opening Day, no? Unless I just misread that.

Anyway, yay Yankees.
- Cuso
  
  he was talking about IN Detroit as a visitor
http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

Why are the Mets considered “cross-town rivals” like it’s some kind of competition?
- NJYankeeFan
  
  They’re as much the Yankees “rivals” as the Washington General’s are to the Harlem Globetrotters.
- MikeD
  
  Fire doesn’t have a rivalry with kindling. Lawnmowers don’t have a rivalry with grass. America doesn’t have a rivalry with Costa Rica.
  
  /Baldwin’d
Gonzo

Getting a little more excited about the draft. I am very curious about this year’s strategy.
JohnnyC

Any way Matt Purke makes it all the way to us at the 51st pick? His shoulder bursitis might scare off most teams from giving him a 1st round bonus.
- Plank
  
  I doubt it.
  - http://twitter.com/Carlosological Carlosologist
    
    I’m not sure if teams will be willing to take a risk with a dude that has shoulder problems. Tinkering with the mechanics to prevent future shoulder issues might result in a lack of stuff.
    
    I think Purke will be available at pick 51, but if he’s not there will probably be plenty of other talented options available there.
    - Zack
      
      Why wouldn’t Tampa use one of their 10 first round picks? That’s the kind of team that should take a gamble on him.
- Gonzo
  
  If he makes it to 51, he’s probably got something wrong with him. If he’s clear medically, a team with multiple compensation picks (Rays, Jays?) Might be wise to take a flyer. They could then do a new wave of draft and follow and see how he performs in the summer like what the Sox did with Ranaudo.
  
  If he still sucks and wants big $, you still have the other picks to sign.
- Pat D
  
  KLaw said he’d be wary of taking Purke that high right now.
NJYankeeFan

Is anyone else having a problem with this site crashing internet explorer?

It’s happened to me repeatedly and I had to start using Safari.
- http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
  
  …were you using Internet Explorer on a Mac? or Safari on a PC? Are these things even possible?
  
  /confused
  - NJYankeeFan
    
    No, I was using IE on a PC and now I’m using Safari on a PC.
    - http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
      
      I didn’t know you could use Safari on a PC. Anyway, you just shouldn’t use IE.
      - NJYankeeFan
        
        What do you use?
        
        http://twitter.com/kschmidt2 Kiersten
        
        Chrome at home and Firefox at work.
mustang

Question:

If the starters keep pitching well and Hughes’ problem gets solved whom getting bumped out of the rotation when Hughes is ready to return?
- http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
  
  Nova.
  - Slugger27
    
    i think its garcia. lowest upside of any of them.
- http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
  
  This will take care of itself. Either A) Phil won’t be healthy or B) Someone will suck or C) Someone else will get hurt.
  - mustang
    
    I was thinking the same thing that’s how baseball especially starting pitching works. Nice problem to have regardless.
- NJYankeeFan
  
  By the time he makes it back, either Colon or Garcia will have flamed out.
  - http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
    
    Garcia pitched decently for a full season in the AL last year, and Colon is throwing filthy. I wouldn’t expect either of them barring injury, to just flame out.
    - NJYankeeFan
      
      Colon may be throwing great now but given his age, injury history and the fact that he hasn’t thrown more than 100 innings in a season since 2005, the chances of him pitching well enough to remain in the rotation beyond July is pretty slim.
- Plank
  
  I really doubt Hughes will pitch this year.
  - Accent Shallow
    
    I agree, sadly. Maybe one or two starts in September, but I bet we don’t see him until ST.
Reggie C.

April is mercifully over for Nick Swisher. He’s only 30 years old, is healthy, and doesnt appear to be striking out at a troubling rate. Swisher’s April looks alot like his 2008 April.

Its “only” been a month, but Swisher has got to pick it up and start looking something like the ALL STAR he campaigned the fans as being.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  He was an All Star in the first half last year. That was insane production.
A-Rod’s Wingman

My ASB:

AL:

CA: Russell Martin
1B: Miguel Cabrera
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Alex Rodriguez
SS: Derek Jeter
OF: Curtis Granderson
OF: Grady Sizemore
OF: Jose Bautista
DH: Adam Dunn

NL:

CA: Brian McCann
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Rickie Weeks
3B: Pablo Sandoval
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Matt Kemp
OF: Alphonso Soriano
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  I voted for Brad Emaus for NL 2B. Seriously.
  - http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.
    
    *scraping jaw off floor*
  - http://twitter.com/Carlosological Carlosologist
    
    I voted Sam Fuld for AL OF. He should get some votes, I think.
- MikeD
  
  You voted for Adam Dunn at DH? Are DH’s that bad this year? Also, the DH can be any player, right?
  - A-Rod’s Wingman
    
    You can write in, but there’s a list of DHs. I get to play favorites some time, right?
- MikeD
  
  Also, you can expect some Red Sox players to make it. Red Sox fans are the worst when it comes to stuffing the ballot box, so you can expect Pedroia to put up a challenge to Cano, and certainly Alex Gonzalez will get a lot of support. Hell, they’re probably voting for Carl Crawford.
- Slugger27
  
  is this a prediction or who u think will get voted? only guy in the AL hittin worse than jeter is adam dunn, and u have both starting… and pujols over fielder?
  - A-Rod’s Wingman
    
    This is my ballot. Jeter was a bit of favoritism, even in a bad year he was still probably the best SS in the AL last year…he’s Derek Jeter he gets a bit of a pass from me. Adam Dunn is my favorite Non Yankee in baseball…I want to see him in a HR derby. Pujols over Fielder, yep. Just a lil slump.
    - Tackaberry
      
      And voting for Jeter because he is Derek Jeter is exactly why fans shouldn’t get to vote for All Stars and makes the who process worthless. This is especially true because the All Star Game affects who gets home field advantage in the World Series. Shame on you.
- Tank the Frank
  
  AL
  
  C – Russell Martin
  1B – Miguel “Johnny Walker” Cabrera
  2B – Robinson Cano
  3B – A-Rod
  SS – Asdrubal Cabrera
  OF – Grandy
  OF – Jose Bautista
  OF – Alex Gordon
  
  NL
  
  C – Miguel Montero
  1B – Joey Votto
  2B – Brandon Phillips
  3B – Ryan Zimmerman (hurt?)
  SS – Tulo
  OF – Matt Kemp
  OF – Andre Ethier
  OF – Lance “Berka Berka” Berkman
  - A-ROD fan
    
    Lol “Johnny Walker” Cabrera. hahaha
Pat D

ARod’s now 3 for his last 27.

But he’s happy Jeter has his struggles, huh? Am I right?
James G.

So Gardner is quietly OPSing .700 now…which is kinda, sorta pretty cool.
- Plank
  
  That is horrible for a left fielder.
Big Apple

sox got a little lucky today…just watched crawford’s walk off…hope that doesn’t get him going too much..

pedrioa really needs to ditch that beard…he looks like perverted munchkin.
- Xstar7
  
  But it also raises his GRIT factor by 12
  - Pat D
    
    (sees opportunity for easy Brett Pedroia joke)
    
    (moves along)
  - http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.
    
    Who, Crawford?
    Nope, he can’t do grit.
    But his Attitude index is through the roof right now.
    - Xstar7
      
      No, I was referring to Pedroia growing a beard. Obviously only Caucasian players can have grit.
      - CMP
        
        If he grows it a little longer, he’ll look like a garden gnome.
        
        Xstar7
        
        +1
MikeD

I guess I’m rooting for the Mets in this game. A rare situation.
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  Very rare I can’t root for the mets unless it’s against the sox.
Monteroisdinero

No changeups from Nova today I think? Is this the Cervelli factor? Just locate two pitches and don’t worry about a 3rd? Nova has an excellent changeup but I guess his slow curve was locating so well they decided to abandon the change. I thought they were going to go to it in the 6th/7th to give Nova a chance to lengthen his start but obviously not.
- http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
  
  He walked 4 in 6.1 innings. He wasn’t locating well enough. I think he’s got to use the 3rd pitch more, even if to show it and keep it in the hitters’ minds.
NHyankeesfan

He doesnt seem to be using the slider that he developed in spring training at all either
- pat
  
  I think he’s been throw9ng it, he just hasn’t thrown a good once since he K’ed Youkilis in Boston.
Slappy White

OSAMA IS DEAD, MAY HE BURN IN FUCKING HELL FOR ETERNITY
- Xstar7
  
  You’re shitting me.
  - Xstar7
    
    In a time like this the only thing you can do is quote Team America World Police.
    
    AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!
- Tank the Frank
  
  That lake o fire has a little EXTRA sizzle to it tonight baby!
  
  Fuck you Bin Laden. About nine years too late…but fuck you.
Kevin G.

Osama Bin Laden’s dead.
Total Dominication

Osama bin Laden’s dead body is in US custody.
David N

News about OBL calls for a Cervelli-style fist pump.
JobaWockeeZ

We got the bastard.
Alfredo

Osama Bin Laden is dead!
- mbonzo
  
  USA chant erupted during the Phillies game.
  - Tom Zig
    
    That’s awesome.
http://facebook.com/andrewjcalagna Drew

USA! USA! USA!

Now lets play some fucking baseball. Theres nothing more American than that. Suck it Osama
- pat
  
  FUCK YEAAAAAAAA
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

“Do you remember where you were when you found out Bin Laden was killed?” “Yeah, River Ave Blues.” Not sure what that says about my life.
- China Joe
  
  You weren’t physically there, if it makes you feel any better
http://facebook.com/andrewjcalagna Drew

Can we have the Osama Bin Ladin Death open thread?
- Pat D
  
  That’s a bit morbid. Even if I agree with you.
Kevin G.

BAM BITCHES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M
Tom Zig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BkuBZxtTbY

Philly fans chanting U-S-A
Tom Zig

via Facebook:

May 1st 1945 Hitler confirmed dead. May 1st 2011, Bin Laden confirmed dead.
JobaWockeeZ

Voldemort died May 2nd.
Osama and Hitler confirmed dead on May 2nd.
- pat
  
  Still May 1st.
  - Ivan
    
    May 2nd where Osama was killed technically speaking rite?
    - pat
      
      I think they said it happened a few days ago and they were doing DNA tests to make sure. SO either way we’re both probably wrong.
Tom Zig

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Phillies-Fans-React-to-Osama-Death–121066134.html

better video
http://facebook.com/andrewjcalagna Drew

We got him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czzgOr4vlUE
- Xstar7
  
  Precisely how it happened.
Tom Zig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evb489N11Q4

Still gives me chills.
Rob NY

Hey Osama AYBABTU!