Bats come back to life in second game of doubleheader

August 29, 2011 by Mike Axisa 78 Comments

Now that’s more like it. This “not getting a runner past first base” business wasn’t going to cut it, so the Yankees went back to doing what they do best in the night cap of Saturday’s doubleheader. They broke out the whoppin’ sticks and pounded the Orioles, which is what they should have been doing all weekend. To the bullet points…

Offensive star of the game was Curtis Granderson who clubbed two homers (one a three-run shot, the other solo) and now leads all of baseball with 38 dingers. Both came off lefties too, and his 13 left-on-left homers leads baseball by five. This is a guy that had 16 homers off lefties in his entire career before 2011. Pretty amazing season for Curtis.
Because two bombs from Grandy weren’t enough, the trio of Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Andruw Jones combined to go back-to-back-to-back in the sixth inning. Brian Matusz gave up Granderson’s first bomb as well as two-thirds of the back-to-back-to-back jobs, raising his season rate to 3.02 HR/9 (14 in 41.2 IP). He’s far too good for that, something’s seriously wrong there.
All the homers provided support for Ivan Nova, who was shaky in the early innings. He gave up exactly one run in each of the first, second, and third innings, and only three of the first 14 batters he faced in those three frames put the ball on the ground. That’s not Nova. He settled down and allowed just an infield single and a walk in the fourth through seventh innings before putting the first two men he faced in the eight on base. David Robertson came in, allowed a single to load the bases, then struck out the next three to escape the jam unscathed. He’s quite good at that. Very nice efforts from both guys (ten strikeouts combined), especially Nova after the shaky start to the game.
Everyone in the lineup but Brett Gardner and Eduardo Nunez had a hit (Gardner walked), plus Granderson, Tex, and Cano had multiple knocks. Seven of their eleven hits went for extra bases. Pretty nice rebound following the nonsense in the first game.
The Yankees are back to two games behind the Red Sox and 6.5 up on the Rays, so they’re sitting pretty right now. Could be better, but it’s not worth complaining about. Here’s the box score, here’s the advanced stats, and here’s the updated standings.

One more game left in the series, which will be played Monday night. Freddy Garcia will make his (hopefully) triumphant return from the disabled list against ~~Jeremy Guthrie~~ Alfredo Simon.

Oscar Gamble’s Fro

With speed, I’m agile, plus I’m versatile . . .
Esteban

Granderson-Kennedy-Scherzer/Jackson trade has turned ok for all three teams, though better for the Yankees and DBacks.

And WTF, people on WFAN are already turning on ARod and calling him AFraud and AChoker. One day, there will be a sports talk show not hosted by idiots, with a callers who have more than a third grade education.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  There will always be a faction of people that dislike A-Rod.
  - Esteban
    
    I really thought that the fanbase had gotten over calling him a choker after the 2009 postseason. I guess I had too much faith in my fellow Yankees fans.
  - http://twitter.com/AnaMariana42 Ana
    
    Of course, but seriously? A-Fraud and A-Choker? At least be a little creative with your insults if you’re going to act juvenile enough to spew crap on your radio show.
- HyShai
  
  Yeah sucks though that they gave up IPK instead of Hughes or Joba.
  - rbizzler
    
    My guess is that you weren’t saying that at the time that the trade was made.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

If I was Girardi I would have risked starting Noesi tomorrow night, and then have Freddy pitch in Fenway instead of A.J.
- Esteban
  
  Noesi hasn’t pitched more than 4 innings since June 7th. I don’t see him starting any games this year unless there’s a real emergency.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    That’s why I said it would be a risk.
    - Jetrer
      
      not a good idea to intentionally burn out the bullpen before going to Fenway
      - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        ehh you could always send him down and call someone else in his place, plus CC goes Tuesday, although he sucks against them I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he goes 7 or 8.
        
        Jetrer
        
        Not just Noesi that would be used though. It would probably Noesi for 4, and then 5 more innings from the bullpen, and you would be calling up a lesser reliever to replace him.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Still, you’d have CC on Tuesday who would go 6-8 innings, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to use a few extra relievers on Monday. The point of this is to not have A.J start in Fenway, which we can all agree on.
      - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
        
        CC is on Tuesday. It’s pretty unlikely he’ll get blown up against them for a 5th time. Then Freddy would go on Wednesday, hopefully with the BP rested.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Both games count the same. Garcia’s got some rust to shake off.
  - Sayid J.
    
    I don’t like when people say this. It’s really not true. A win over Boston guarantees a full one game improvement in the standings. A win against Baltimore does not do that.
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      Exactly, and a win against Boston does a hell of a lot more psychologically than a win against Baltimore, easy.
      - Jetrer
        
        and if you lose both???? Garcia doesn’t guarantee a win against Boston, a bullpen start certainly doesn’t guarantee a win against Baltimore, and an AJ start doesn’t guarantee a loss to Boston (although he does make a loss very likely)
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        The point is Garcia gives you a hell of a lot better chance of winning than Burnett. Although Garcia doesn’t guarantee a win, Burnett guarantees a loss in Fenway, it really does. If you’ve watched him for the last few weeks you’d know.
        
        Jetrer
        
        nothing is guaranteed, YCPB
        the only guarantee in your solution is that the Yankees go into Fenway with a burned out bullpen
        hopefully CC makes that irrelevant, but you never know
        If they were dead set against AJ starting at Fenway, the better option would be to call up a stretched out triple A pitcher to start Monday, so you don’t blow out the bullpen
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Nah the bullpen wouldn’t be burned out, just because you had to use one or two extra reliever’s doesn’t make your bullpen burnt out.
        
        Jetrer
        
        you are pitching the entire game (9 innings) with the bullpen. Thats more than 1-2 guys
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Nope, Noesi for 5 or 6, then depending on how the game goes it’d be Ayala and Wade to close it out or Soriano, Robertson, and Mo.
        
        Jetrer
        
        Girardi isn’t going to run Noesi into the ground.
        Noesi is stretched out to go 4 max. No way Girardi would leave him in for 6.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        It’d be worth the risk, besides I said 6 max and depending on his pitch count he could go six. That wouldn’t be running him to the ground. That’s ridiculous.
        
        Jetrer
        
        he hasn’t thrown over 38 pitches in over a month
        Managers (especially Girardi) don’t like to extend pitches beyond 10-15 pitches over where they are already stretched out to. That would leave 48-53 pitches for Noesi, which would likely be 3-4 innings. 6 innings would likely take him minimum 90 pitches (even that is probably unrealistically low. Jumping from 38 pitches to 90+ is exactly the kind of pitcher abuse that gets guys injured.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        He wouldn’t get injured based on that, that’s a bunch of BS. He’d be fine, settle down.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        And btw, on June 7th he pitched 6 innings on 71 pitches against the Red Sox after going 2.1 innings and throwing 32 pitches on May 28th, so it’s already been done and Girardi wasn’t hesitant to do so.
        
        Jetrer
        
        only 71 pitches, not 90+, and he was stretched out to 66 pitches within 3 weeks before, he was already stretched out
        he now hasn’t thrown over 48 pitches since that game, and hasn’t thrown over 38 in over a month, he’s not currently stretched out for that length, especially to do it by choice and not necessity
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Again, you’re clearly overreacting to the whole pitch count thing, he’s able to throw a ton of pitches as it is. It won’t kill him. Besides like I said, Garcia gives you a hell of a lot better of a chance to win in Fenway than A.J, A.J is a guaranteed loss in Fenway. In fact before Friday’s game I said this would be a lock loss, and sure enough I was right, and this was against the last place Orioles who they’ve owned. I don’t have time to argue with someone like you any longer. Goodnight.
        
        Jetrer
        
        its not about whether it would kill him or not. its wether Girardi would actually let him do it at this point (he wouldn’t, 60 tops) and whether it makes sense to force the bullpen to throw 9 innings the game before a series where they will likely need the bullpen alot, it doesn’t. If the objective is just to avoid an AJ start, it would make much more sense to just call up a triple A starter for Monday and not screw up the bullpen.
        
        Jetrer
        
        do you actually think Girardi, or any other manager, would allow a kid only stretched out to 38 pitches to go out and throw 90+ pitches? Your insane if you do.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        He doesn’t have to throw 90 pitches to get through 6 innings, if you actually watch him he is very economical. *You’re insane if you don’t notice that. Quit overreacting, he’s been used like that before.
        
        Jetrer
        
        not to that degree, and he averages about 16 pitches per inning
        
        Jetrer
        
        actually 15.6, so if he stayed on that pace, he would need 94 pitches. Even if he was allowed the 71 he threw in June when he was still somewhat stretched out, you could only reasonable expect 4.5 innings. Realistically, since he hasn’t been stretched that much in a long time, he’d probably only be allowed around 55-60 tops or 3.5 -4 innings, meaning he would be spent for the entire Sox series, and you would still need another 5 – 5.5 innings from the bullpen.
- Will
  
  I would LOVE to see Banuelos and/or Betances make a spot start against the Sox. The Braves did it with their youngsters Delgado and Teheran against the Phillies so its not too crazy of an idea. It would give everyone a much needed break down the stretch.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Please tell me you’re kidding.
  - MannyB ace2be
    
    The braves did it and it was a mistake why on earth would you fuck them up mentally by having the MLB debut be against the sox in Fenway for either of the bees
  - http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    The Braves also lost those games and neither Teheran or Delgado made it out of the fifth inning.
  - http://www.secondavenuesagas.com Benjamin Kabak
    
    Betances vs. a team that takes pitches would be high comedy.
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      Yep, you could see a 3 inning performance at 90 pitches, easy.
      - David N
        
        In other words, about the same performance we can realistically expect from AJ at this point.
        
        And no, I wouldn’t be calling up people from the minors to make their first start in Fenway, for the mind screw reason. But they do have a decent shot at pitching better than AJ.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      As if AJ Burnett wasn’t a joke.
zs190

Small mistake, Mike, tomorrow’s Orioles starter is Simon, not Guthrie.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Thanks, fixed.
Will

Positives:
-Tex learning how to hit singles instead of popping up
-Nova pitching decently but not dominantly (ROY stock up?)
-Cano’s opposite field power making an appearance
-Grandy hitting more HRs and against lefties! Yay!

Negatives
-Losing the previous two games. Seriously. Not cool.
-Girardi waiting until Nova got into trouble instead of letting D-Rob start the inning
-A-Rod and Jeet injuries. We don’t need this happening now!

That is all for my commentary. G’night!
- Jetrer
  
  no need to have DRob start an inning with a five run lead, and Nova’s pitch count was low enough to start the eighth on a short leash
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5456682768_0137e060ba.jpg
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  Get it? Too many Homers? It’s not funny if I have to explain it…
Craig

Sterling made it sound as if Noesi will win a starters job next year. Assuming my Christmas miracle doesn’t happen and AJ is still on the team- what to do with Colon/Garcia?
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  Bye bye Bart, Garcia offered Arb, hopefully he declines and we get a sandwich pick when someone signs him.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    I’m down for that plan as long as they get someone good before that.
stuart a

arod gets grief because he makes $30 mill this year and has 54 rbi’s. he is 35 and getting injured every year now and enough with the excuses. they need im to plAY aND BE EFFECTIVE…
- Jetrer
  
  if your expecting him to earn his contract on the field, don’t hold your breath. That contract was a horrible, ridiculous contract the day it was signed. Its a sunk cost now though. Despite missing a lot of time, he is still leading MLB thirdbasemen in WAR, and is third in wOBA and OPS. He not worth $30M, but he is still one of the best thirdbasemen in the game.
stuart a

colon and garcia where pure house money on there performances this year and will not be back next year.a year older, chances of them repeating same as aj burnett pitching better. zilch..
Kevin D.

Going to see Betances pitch against the pawsox tomorrow. I sincerely hope that he does not walk the park in this contest. In other news I have concocted a master plan that involves me offering/forcing Montero to take a ride up to Boston with me after the game. Wish me luck!
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  Just wait until September 1st or when the SWB season ends.
  - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
    
    Hey, they ARE facing Lester on Sept 1…
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Please tell me I am not seeing a Pokemon ad on here….
Roland Deschain

Granderson has got to be the favorite for MVP now. He’s the best player on a contending team and that’s what the writers vote for on the MVP ballot.

Nova has got to be the favorite for ROY. He notched his 14th win and has a chance to get a few more in the last month. If he gets 18 wins the writers won’t be able to resist.

If only CC hadn’t had that rough stretch we’d have a chance to win the Cy Young, too. Verlander’s gonna win that and it won’t even be close.
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  Granderson is having a great year, but MVP is going to Bautista or A-Gon.
  
  The writers will devalue his batting average as justification (right or wrong, it’s true).
  
  Trumbo is winning ROY, and it’s not really close at this point. Nova still has to play second fiddle to Pineda at this point, anyways.
  
  In the Yankee-centric Universe, yes. Nova & Grandy are locks. In the MLB writers world, however, you got one strike against you already if you’re a Yankee.
  - ItsATarp
    
    AGonz isn’t even the best player on his own team.
    - Esteban
      
      He isn’t even having the best season on his side of the infield.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Look people, AJ will start in Fenway. The Yankees clearly don’t want to call up someone or start Noesi for Monday’s game, so they’re pretty much forced to pitching AJ, or someone on short rest. But, what I would do was match CC with Beckett on wednesday because it’s very unlikely Lackey will have 2 good starts against the Yankees in a row, and you could potentially waste a good CC start if he beats Lackey 8-1, when he would be outdueling Beckett 2-1. To me, that gives us the best chance of winning the series despite the Yankees throwing Burnett out there in the last game.
Oscar Gamble’s Fro

I’d rather see Igawa start one of the games in Fenway than AJ. Seriously, I would.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I’d rather have Brackman. Both equally shitty but you feel accomplished with Brackman following a prospect and seeing him in the bigs.
FIPster Doofus

I’m pretty tired of Michael Kay analyzing the Granderson trade every other game. Enough already.
Elan

Granderson had 13 homers against lefties before the game and now has 15 – just a small mistake in the recap.
sleepykarl

On the Balt broadcast it said Noesil’s last pitch was 99. Did not expect that, does. Their gun run fast?
- Karl Krawfid
  
  95 on gameday
Dino Velvet

Yankees are just hitting too many home runs for their own good.

/espn’d
ItsATarp

This win was obviously possible by not having Arod on the team. derp
crawdaddie

Right, Grandy has 15 homers against lefty pitching this year.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Both the Phillies and the Red Sox had off days. Which means they were probably watching us during game one and laughing at us.

/Greg’d
- the Other Steve S.
  
  I would have been.
CBean

doesn’t the magic number decrease to Mark Teixeira?
ThisIsBaseball

At G2 last night, it was great to see Curtis’ 3R shot to finally shut the O’s fans up. They were really living up the 3-0 lead.