Open Thread: A Look Back At 2011

October 2, 2011 by Mike Axisa 197 Comments

Our own Hannah Ehrlich put that video together over the last week or so, looking back at the last six months of Yankees baseball. It’s basically the greatest thing ever. You should watch it, then tell her how awesome it (and she) is.

Once you’ve done that, use this as your open thread. The late LDS game is the Cardinals at the Phillies (Lee vs. Carpenter, 8:37pm ET on TBS), and the late football game is the Jets at the Ravens (8:20pm ET on NBC). Talk about that, or whatever else you want here. Anything goes.

First Time Poster

Makes me feel a lot better after that loss… you should have a perma link for this on RAB for a night like tonight.
Sarah

I feel better. That was amazing, Hannah.
First Time Poster

Mom: “Is the ball game over?”
Me: “Yeah”
Mom: “Did the Yankees win?”
Me: “Nah”
Mom: “Oh. How many scores?”
Me: “5-3″
Mom: “Oh! Well at least they got 3 scores!”
Me: “yeah, good thing they got 3 scores”
Mom: “You’ve got three socks in your laundry that I know you have the pairs of, don’t throw them out”
Me: “Thanks, Mom”

… also made me feel a bit better.
- Monteroisdinero
  
  Making me feel old. My wife says the same things to our kids during a game. At least she says “runs”
- mustang
  
  LOl… Thank you
Alex K.

Very well done, lots of hard work paid off on that one.. A+
Monteroisdinero

Very impressed with the changeups that Tiger pitchers throw. All of them so far have quality changeups (except New Mexico Al-who may also have one).
- forensic
  
  I didn’t see many good changeups today. I saw a bunch that hung down the middle that were absurdly taken over and over and a bunch that were never close to being a strike even if they were fastballs that were pitifully swung over.
  - Monteroisdinero
    
    Pitifully swung over = effective changeup
Tyrion Lannister

It all comes down to tomorrow’s game 3. Whoever wins it will win the series. AJ Burnett will not win a big game so we need CC and Nova to win the big games for us.
- jay h
  
  it’s funny because tigers fans feel the same way about porcello that we feel about AJ.
  - Jorge
    
    Precisely. I was going through this train of thought with my wife today when I came to the realization that, well, a Tigers fan could say the same exact thing.
Frank

Nice video- great song by Queen and the late, great Freddie Mercury.
Sarah

Our boys are angry about today. They are going to make Verlander pay tomorrow.
http://deleted Total Dominication

There has been much improvement in RAB advertisements.
- Thomas Cassidy
  
  I saw an Obama ad today. I beg to differ.
ItsATarp

I’d say the next two games are toss ups. So it could go either way.
maeby

Frustrating loss, but this video made it a little better. Nice job, Hannah.
flamingo

At least it wasn’t 5-0 and our offense woke up! And we made Valverde shake a bit, always a plus.
Josh

Post game is driving me nuts. That 6th inning defense was brutal. Also Jeter ARod Tex are all on my $hit list right now…. In that order too!
- your mom
  
  Ayala is on my shit last, and has been all year long.
- Brian S.
  
  At least A-Rod played nice defense and walked in the first inning to set up Teix with RISP. Jeter and Teixeira were awful.
- Guns of the Navarone
  
  No real surprises so far. Posada is hitting right handed pitching, Jeter isn’t hitting right handed pitching, Teix isn’t hitting at all, Jeter is brutal in the field but makes heads up plays. The Tigers don’t have much outside the middle of their order and their bullpen isn’t as good as advertised.
  - jay h
    
    all of this judged by 2 games…
    - Guns of the Navarone
      
      Is what I wrote true or untrue? Two games or not, my point is that certain players are performing as expected.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Still pissed off at this loss. Oh well, hopefully they’ll win tomorrow. Verlander isn’t invincible like the MSM suggests, right??
- Brian S.
  
  He’s not that much better than CC. We have a deeper offense and a better bullpen so I think that we are the favorites tomorrow.
  - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
    
    Plus the Tigers had to make Benoit and Valverde throw a bunch of pitches today.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Word.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    Verlander was the best pitcher in the AL this year, and even when you factor in quality of opponent it still isn’t that close. CC’s very good, but he’s not JV. Check out this Jaffe piece if you have a sub for BP-
    
    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15019
- Guns of the Navarone
  
  I think the wild card factor is how Verlander will respond to pitching on short rest. It’s not so much the fatigue as it is getting out of the routine. CC has been here before.
  - Sarah
    
    Indeed. Let’s hope it is an issue.
your mom

CC needs to step up BIG tomorrow, no screwing around. Maybe the offense will show up early and keep the pressure on Justin V.
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

At least the Yankees went out with a fight today, so hopefully the O’neill Theory will come into play. Call me crazy, but I’m confident that the Yankees can get it done against Verlander tomorrow.
- BklynJT
  
  unfortunately, the O’Neil theory worked for the tigers today. Stupid Ayala… I blame him twice for this loss…
William Wallace

Giants win, Eagles collapse, Cowboys collapse.

Yankees would have made it a perfect night. Hopefully CC f’s shit up tomorow.
Zooboy

The video rocks. Among the great clips, I loved seeing Martin in the dugout explaining to AJ why he just got tossed. They both look thoroughly amused.

“Have you stretched out today?”
Anthony

Fantastic video, thumbs up.
Golson’s Laser Rocket Arm

I saw it yesterday, fantastic job, how did you pull it all together?
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Awesome. Hannah is the same person who put this video up as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hqd73mw-zg
- http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
  
  Wow, That one was great too!
ED

Great video Hannah. I forgot about Gardner smashing hit bat haha.
The Constant Gardner

Thanks Hannah. Your video and Parks&Recs are getting me through the night.
Tyrion Lannister

The Brewers are putting on a clinic on how an elite offense is supposed to take over a postseason series. I’m sick of leading the league in runs and home runs every year and then come the postseason it’s nowhere to be found. Guys didn’t start hitting until the game was pretty much over.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  NL baseball and AL baseball. Two completely different things.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    Brewers have the 6th best offense according to WAR which is league adjusted of course. They faced off against a 3.28 FIP pitcher, 3.79 xFIP pitcher and a 3.63 SIERA pitcher.
    
    So not it’s not fucking completely different.
    - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
      
      Still don’t think it’s comparable. The Brewers broke the game open against the D-Backs bullpen. Also the Tigers are just flat out better than the D-Backs.
    - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
      
      The Yankees are putting on a clinic on how an elite offense is supposed to take over a postseason series.
      
      Yankees have the 3rd best offense according to WAR which is league adjusted of course. They faced off against a 3.02 FIP pitcher, 3.61 xFIP pitcher, and a 3.52 pitcher.
      
      Sincerely,
      Yesterday
      - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        *and a 3.52 SIERA pitcher
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  You know, there were a number of games this season where the Yankees do that, you know, score when it may be too little too late.
- http://www.twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H.
  
  2 games, one of which the offense dominated. Love it.
JobaWockeeZ

Girardi’s strength is planning for the long term. When he’s in do or die games which is like most playoff games then he’s horrendous. I’d rather have Torre in there. I mean Jose fucking Molina started games in 2009. Yeah someone is going to say some sarcastic comment asking if we won in 2009 but honestly 2009 was all on Alex’s shoulders. He got hot at the perfect time.

Luis Ayala in a postseason game is a fucking joke.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  What’s wrong with Molina starting in 2009? The reason he did was because him and A.J worked a lot better together compared to A.J and Posada.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    He had a 5.27 ERA in that postseason. Molina didn’t do shit.
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      But, but, but, what about Game 2 of the 2009 World Series?! He became a True Yankee™!
- cr1
  
  Agree with you about Girardi’s focus being on the long term and that that doesn’t work so well in the post-season. He doesn’t have the laser now-now-now focus required at a time when winning three games is all that matters. I don’t think he even knows that that’s a problem. I’m sure he could explain his thinking very well in terms of what the team is going to need a week or two from now. But unless he can channel a bit of Torre and look at life in terms of do or die for this one game, the team may not need anything but their golf clubs a week or two from now.
  - ArchStanton
    
    Torre lost this skill around 2003 though. In particular, he saved Mussina for game 5 in the 2004 ALCS instead of using him to go for the throat there in game 4.
    - ArchStanton
      
      I should point out, I 100% agree with you on Girardi. It’s do or die.
- BklynJT
  
  Using Ayala in the playoffs is utterly ridiculous, but don’t say that Girardi can’t manage in a short series (5 games) or in the playoffs. He has only lost 1 playoff series to date, and that was a 7 games series.
  
  I can understand Girardi’s reason for not bringing in Soriano-Robertson-Mariano, but he should of at least used Hughes in that situation. And Ayala shouldn’t even be on the roster. I rather Colon over Ayala any day.
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

Thanks Hannah. I’m sure this took a lot of time. I enjoyed it.
nedro

Best. Thing. Ever. Loved it!!!

You could sell that shit on a DVD outside the stadium.
stuart a

Girardi is a dope. No rationale at all for using Ayala, none. Worried about over using Robertson and Soriano? then use Hughes… Girardi worries about his bullpen availability for a game that may never come to fruition, classic stupidity.

btw texiera stinks. grandy had a problem last year and during the season they tried to fix it. texiera nah. same old same old. the guy has gotten 1 big hit postseason in his yankee career. 220 lefty. popup city… horrible…
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  No rationale at all for using Ayala, none.
  
  How about the fact that they were losing the game at the time, and that’s Ayala’s role? You know, low leverage work. If he shouldn’t come in at that time, he shouldn’t be on the team. But he is, had a good year and has done his job for the most part.
  
  Girardi worries about his bullpen availability for a game that may never come to fruition, classic stupidity.
  
  Unless of course it does happen. Then guys who do it your way get caught with their pants down, which is both stupid and funny.
  
  They’ve already lost their off day, if anyone will pay for their bullpen management it will be Leyland in Games 4 and 5.
  - forensic
    
    That’s his role in the regular season because you have 162 games to think about. That’s not his role in the postseason because there are so few games. Now, by the time he decides to use Soriano and Robertson they’ll be rusty and I wouldn’t be shocked in the least to see them blow the next lead (if they even get another one). How will Leyland pay for his bullpen moves? Game 5 doesn’t matter because there’s a day off before. He also didn’t use Albuquerque so he’s fine for the next two days. Valverde will be fine after one game and Benoit will certainly be fine two games from now, if not tomorrow and sit game 4.
    
    At this point, all he’s doing is resting Soriano and Robertson for April. Pregame he said everyone is fine going three days in a row. What changed two hours later?
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      Funny, nobody complained about him using Wade, and they’re basically the same pitchers with the same sole on the team. You people are all such geniuses after the fact. There was nothing wrong with using Ayala there if you know anything about bullpen management. You don’t just make it up as you go along, guys have roles based on their skill sets.
      - forensic
        
        Actually, I did have a problem with using Wade for his second inning. The 8th and 9th should’ve been Soriano and Robertson.
        
        There are two games left. Is he saving them for April? By tomorrow it’ll be 6 days since either of them pitched now. How is that bullpen management? It’s not just overuse of pitchers but also underuse and putting guys in position to succeed, which he is not doing.
        
        At 2-0 after 5 innings, it should’ve been Soriano, Robertson, and Mo (maybe add in Wade for one inning if absolutely necessary) to finish it off and keep it close. At most you have 3 straight games, one of which is being pitched by CC. Either you believe all your talk about him being a horse and pitching deep into the game or you don’t and you’re saving relievers for time after him. You can’t have it both ways.
        
        CS Yankee
        
        I’m on board with your reasoning less MO. He should have not been used tonight until we at least had a lead or a tie.
        
        forensic
        
        Well, yeah, that was more or less being optimistic that there’d be a lead by then, but holding him is fine since he pitched yesterday. And I just basically repeated what I said last night assuming that Garcia would finish 5 with a lead…
    - CS Yankee
      
      It’s tough letting the #11 pitcher (and 25th man) on the depth chart ruin any real chance of a comeback.
      
      If it was the 17th inning…I get it, but not when they are within five and just missing all day. Poor managing there.
  - CS Yankee
    
    Disagree, great time to bring Drob in to get his feet wet.
    
    Soriano and Mo resting is fine but all three in a fairly close game you have to believe that you’ll get a shot.
    
    Hopefully Arod and Teix show up Monday, we’ll need them against the greatest SP of all time. Is it just me or is anyone else tired of them saying “…and the Tigers will have their Ace going tomorrow night.” along with “a must-win for the Tigers”, they don’t even know what must-win means.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      It was 4-1 when he brought in Ayala. You don’t waste your best relievers in what appears at the time to be a losing effort. Do you know why you don’t do that? So they’re available when (hopefully) you have a lead tomorrow.
      - forensic
        
        So now they can’t pitch two straight days, much less three straight as he said they could?
      - CS Yankee
        
        Again, get his (Drob) feet wet.
        
        Use>>>Rest>>>over-use>>>no use.
        
        Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to “no use”.
      - David N
        
        Keeping it close is not wasting. 3 runs is nothing for this offense, even with the way they were hitting all day. That sort of logic might work in June when there are lots of scheduled games left in which they’ll be needed, but not in October. Now, you only get more games if you win, and you’re not going to win a lot if you throw up the white flag down by only 3.
        
        Let’s say Girardi had brought in Robertson for the 9th and he had gotten out of it without allowing a run. If we have a lead tomorrow, he can use Soriano instead if he really wants to. But let’s be honest: Robertson should be able to pitch on back-to-back days after having several days off, so he’d be available tomorrow also.
      - BklynJT
        
        You actually believe that Ayala had a good year. Pls dont quote his ERA. I would have used Hughes instead and placed Colon or Noesi on the roster before Ayala.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Hope Lee gets hammered tonight.
mustang

The Giants win, the Eagles collapse, and the Cowboys collapse ALMOST made up for the Yankees lost.
CMP

As with most postseason games, It’s all about pitching, especially starting pitching and today Scherzer>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Garcia.

Any offense, no matter how good can be shut down by a pitcher with good stuff who’s on top of his game.
- Brian S.
  
  Garcia pitched great today, I don’t know what game you were watching. He was striking people out and inducing groundballs(!) all day. Not his fault our defense up the middle in the sixth inning sucked.
  - CMP
    
    1st I didn’t say Garcia was bad, just that Scherzer was better which is a fact.
    2nd,5.1 innings and 3 earned runs is certainly not great.
    - Brian S.
      
      And if Jeter knew how to throw a ball ninety feet and Cano could dive to his right he would have gone six innings while giving up two runs. Garcia pitched fantastic, it wasn’t starting pitching that lose us this game.
      - Brian S.
        
        *lost
      - forensic
        
        He was not fantastic at all, but he did keep the game close for 5 innings. Garcia should not have been sent back out for the 6th inning. The offense was doing nothing but they were still within striking distance. He was facing the top of the order for the 3rd time, which included two guys who have owned him in their careers.
        
        It was terrible management sending him back out there.
        
        Brian S.
        
        He had ten groundouts, six strikeouts, and zero walks. He was victimized by bad luck on easy groundballs in the sixth inning. Fantastic.
http://deleted Total Dominication

So the epicness that is Matt Klaassen inspired me to join twitter. What baseball accounts should I be following?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Just go to my account (twitter.com/mikeaxisa) and look at who I follow. That’s a lot easier than listing them here.
  - http://deleted Total Dominication
    
    Thanks.
Darren

The crowd was pretty loud today at the Stadium, once things got going.

Too bad Cano is a choker.

I kid, I kid!

Ayala – 2 appearances
Robertson – 0
Soriano – 0
Hughes – 0

Um, you can justify that all you want, but that’s just stupid.
- Tyrion Lannister
  
  Well, you’re not mentioned that the Yanks had a huge lead late in game 1 so Ayala should pitch over Robertson, Soriano, or Hughes. Today was a different matter with how our potent offense can put up 3 runs.
  - CS Yankee
    
    You are either a tool or troll. Not using a better option in a fairly close game is wrong. There were 2-3 better choices and they should have been used.
    - CS Yankee
      
      Retract…my bad, I misread your comment to say you liked the Ayala move today.
      
      /movealongthereisnothingtoseehere’d
Erica

Thanks Hannah! I saw this posted on Tumblr yesterday. It rocks.
Tyrion Lannister

Girardi made three huge mistakes today that may cost us the series-

1. Not starting CC Sabathia today and in Game 5. Now he’s got CC tomorrow against the only pitcher where he’s not favored. We don’t want Burnett.

2. Pinch hitting Eric Chavez for Brett Gardner. Girardi’s rationale was “I thought he would bop one.” Because Chavez has shown so much home run power this year. Gardner just had the big hit the previous night.

3. Bringing Luis Ayala into the 9th inning in a 3 run game. Did Girardi not watch the previous night where Ayala couldn’t get through the 9th with a huge lead? Bring in a better reliever to keep it at 3 and hope the offense can “bop one.”
- Brian S.
  
  Burnett had a nice September and pitching in Comerica might help mask his HR/FB issues. I’m confident in a Burnett-Porcello game.
  - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
    
    I think Tiger fans should be waaaay more worried about losing game 3 and having their season come down to Porcello in game 4 than we should be about losing tomorrow and having Burnett pitch in a game 4.
    - Sarah
      
      Concur.
      
      I don’t know whether AJ’s last outing against Boston is representative of anything, but if he pitches that well on Tuesday, then I like our chances.
    - CMP
      
      You’re crazy. Porcello is WAY better than Burnett. He had 2.7 WAR this year which is as much as Burnetts last 2 years combined and a better ERA, FIP and xFIP. God help us if the season comes down to a Burnett start.
      - forensic
        
        I think Burnett will pitch alright against them. He’s got pretty solid numbers against them as a team recently and overall as hitters.
        
        But, I don’t have much faith in the overall offense hitting Verlander or Porcello at this point.
        
        CMP
        
        I’d almost rather see the Yankees pitch Burnett tomorrow and then come back with CC and Nova in games 4 and 5 against Porcello and Fister.
        
        CS Yankee
        
        Not a bad approach. Hopefully Verlander is shakier than a whore in church Monday night and the Yankees win big.
        
        forensic
        
        I was thinking the same thing, but at least if CC pitches tomorrow maybe he could be available for short relief in Game 5 if needed. A minor point (since it’s moot right now) is that he’d be on regular rest for game 1 too (though unfortunately I still think they’ll lose the series).
      - Brian S.
        
        AJ Burnett xFIP 3.85
        Rick Porcello xFIP 4.02
- Sarah
  
  I’ll agree with 2 and 3.
  
  There’s no way to know how CC would’ve pitched today. Save him for tomorrow.
Karl Krawfid

I remember last year Cliff Lee was touching 96 mph against us.
- Ivan
  
  No he wasnt.
  
  Cliff Lee never ever threw that hard.
  - Karl Krawfid
    
    You are correct.
    
    I could of sworn he hit the mid 90’s a couple of times.
Ivan

Boy the MSM is amazing uh. First they hyped Fister as the 2nd coming of Greg Maddox, despite forgetting that Fister put those amazing numbers against the AL Central that stinks

2nd, I understand Justin Verlander is great we all know that but its amazing how MSM as viewed CC as just another pitcher. Like Verlander cannot be beat and CC is not a great pticher. Verlander isnt a robot

3rd, Look all of us know that Burnett stinks and we dont want to see him on a mound ever. However, MSM would make you think that the rain delay destroyed the Yankees and not the Tigers and OMG Burnett is going to pitch and be the Yankees downfall. Hey You think the Tigers want to make Porcello and Penny both of whom are worse than Burnett make a start too?

Great job MSM…..for grinding my gears!!!!
- Sarah
  
  You must have been watching MLB Network. I turned it off when they started in with that argument.
  
  I hope AJ throws a no hitter in Game 4.
Tyrion Lannister

Mark Sanchez is finished in New York. They need a real QB if they want to go to the Superbowl.
- CP
  
  Spoken like a true New York “fan”. Because it impossible for a quarterback to improve after 2+ seasons.
- CMP
  
  He’s far from done in NY but it’s also fair to say he’s a LONG way off from being an elite QB in the NFL.
  - CP
    
    The same could have been said about Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers in their third seasons.
    - Tyrion Lannister
      
      The Packers won the Superbowl in Aaron’s 3rd year at starting QB. Now that guy is an elite QB capable of carrying a team on his back.
    - CMP
      
      Right now Sanchez is probably in the bottom third among starting QBs. He has the tools to get better but I haven’t really seen that much of an improvement over the last year which is a little concerning.
  - Bill
    
    To be fair, his offensive line has been MIA the past few games.
    - David N
      
      And that’s not a good thing when you’re playing the Ravens.
      
      As much as I hate to admit it, I suspect this is going to be a “take one step back” season for the Jets. They might still make the playoffs, but I doubt they’re going very far. Hopefully next season will be the one in which they take two steps forward and finally win the big one.
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.

Bravo Hannah. Great song choice, beautifully done.

It reminded me just how many wonderful moments there are over the course of a baseball season. We all want to win in October, but the journey with the Yankees is always worth taking, and we shouldn’t ever lose sight of that.
Beth

Thank you Hannah. That was wonderful. And was where you’ve got Robertson in there a coincidence, or…?
Brian

I want to be postive, but i think the yankees are done. I would have never put garcia out today, he is a fly ball pitcher and that is why he was pitching monday in DET that HR in the 2nd would have been in the field. They should have used CC on Friday/Saturday, Nova today AJ on Monday. JoeRetirdi Messed this one up big with his rest nonsense. At lest use your real bullpen today after garcia got out of the fifth. Chvez pin hit was a big mistake. Will Tex show up as well? Will any yankee hiters show up with runners on second base? The Yankee need a new batting coach.
- Brian S.
  
  You are an embarassment to the name Brian.
- Thomas Cassidy
  
  I would have stopped reading at “the Yankee need a new batting coach,” but unfortunately for me it was the last sentence.
  
  The series is tied 1-1. Not 2-0 Tigers with Burnett v. Verlander tomorrow.
Ivan

I think people are making WAAAAAAY to big of a deal on CC pitching today instead of tomorrow. I really, really, really dont see where the problem is.
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

Cardinals tie it up at 4-4
- Jesus Freak
  
  If the Cardinals win, then the serious is ovah.
  
  /projected anger’d
Ethan

I like this video very much
Jesus Freak

Fire Girardi!

Hire Francona!

/frusrate’d
CS Yankee

Great video, Hannah!

I was guessing throughout it, who (Mo or Jete) would finish it and the dugout/tunnel kinda-thing was a fitting end.

Best single part was the Drob k’s ending with the Jays dude.

Well done also on the song selection; Queen has so many epic songs that work well with sports, this might be the best though.
Andrew 518

Imagine the Yankees come alive tomorrow Verlander doesn’t agree with short rest and it turns into a blow out. What are the chances we see Robertson or Soriano in the game anyway because they need “work.” I can’t wrap my mind around failing to use them for the ninth.

They were losing? But the point is to try to win. Keep it close increase your chances of winning. 8 run deficit bring in Ayala, 3 run deficit hold them close. Playoff games work different than regular season.

How could Joe not trust Ayala with getting one final out yesterday with six run lead? Six!! If you go to Rivera in that situation I just don’t see how you don’t bring in Robertson today.

Playing for tomorrow in a short series is completely unacceptable.

We lost on the field today. Bad.
We lost in the duggout today. Worse.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  “We lost on the field today. Bad. We lost in the dugout today. Worse.”
  
  Oh well. What’s done is done. Now go win tomorrow.
CS Yankee

In a side note, whoever wins this series could have an edge (not the crappy car either) over the next foes as they clearly will have their ace in G1 of the ALCS.
ArchStanton

I’m really enjoying Lee get hammered here.
- ArchStanton
  
  He just got a big hand for blowing a 4-run lead and leaving with two men on and nobody out! Philly fan is slipping….
Brian

Joe and Kevin Long need to go! I have been calling him Joe Retirdi since last postseason. He works these games they don’t matter. Hire Gary Denbo as Batting, Terry Francona as Manager.
- Thomas Cassidy
  
  What’s a Retirdi?
- Andrew 518
  
  It seems like the players really like Long and what he’s done for Granderson and to a certain extent Jeter has been pretty good. What do you achieve by letting him go? The guy’s a coach he can’t go hit for them.Got a new pitching coach this season, Same old AJ. “Some men you just can’t reach”
  
  I’m with you on Girardi, I just can’t take it. Should have gotten Mattingly when we could.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  Kevin Long turned Granderson into an MVP candidate and now he has to go?
- Bill
  
  I’m not a huge Girardi fan either, but I think firing him now would not be a good move. Maybe if the team falls short of expectations this year, and assuming the Yankees have a bad postseason from here on out. But firing Long makes no sense at all. He is widely regarded as one of the best hitting coaches in the game, and the players love him.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Firing Long Tex fell in love with the short porch would be foolish. Jeter, Posada, and A-Rod got old, no hitting coach fixes that.
swishers fauxhawk

Manuel sticking with Cliff Lee a bit too long here.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  You say that like it’s a bad thing. Screw the Phillies.
- Jesus Freak
  
  Fire Manuel!
  
  Rehire Francona!
  
  /fan’d
Bill

I really haven’t been happy with a lot of Girardi’s decisions this year, and it has continued into the postseason. First off, naming AJ Burnett the Game 4 starter is a mistake. I have no confidence in him regardless of the outcome of Game 3. I don’t think he has the intestinal fortitude to handle pitching with a 2-1 series lead, let alone a 2-1 deficit. He has done nothing at all to deserve this start, and you can make a very good case that he shouldn’t even be on the roster. Even with Colon’s recent struggles, I would be a lot more comfortable with him pitching, simply because he’s not a total headcase that hasn’t come an iota close to his expectations for the last 2 seasons. Now to this game. Girardi should have walked Cabrera in the 6th with second base open. There was one out and the hobbling V-Mart on deck, a good double play candidate. You can’t let Cabrera beat you there. And then pitching Ayala in the 9th, only down by 3. Ayala has proven this season that he can only pitch effectively in blowouts, and the last time he pitched he gave up 6 runs with the Yankees up 7-0 that allowed the Rays to come back in that wild 162nd game. Of course, Ayala gives up a run. While I don’t think at all that this loss is Girardi’s fault, I do think there’s a good chance that the outcome of the game could have been different if he had made those two moves.
- CS Yankee
  
  You speak much truth, Lone Feather. Now if only the spirits can raise us above all this, we can win twenty-eight.
  - Bill
    
    I’m actually pretty confident about tomorrow’s game. The Yankees have hit Verlander pretty well, better than most teams it seems. And Sabathia is our ace. But AJ in Game 4 scares the shit out of me.
Avi

Can someone please give me a good reason why Ayala pitched the 9th? It’s driving me crazy and I can’t sleep.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  1. It’s not the reason the Yankees lost
  
  2. I’d be more focused on how the Yankees are going to tackle Verlander tomorrow
- ArchStanton
  
  There is no good reason. So just blame the binder, and call it a night! Never lose sleep over something you can’t control. And if you can control something, don’t lose sleep over that either, because you can control it.
- mt
  
  There is none, especially with Ayala not pitching well recenlty (even yesterday he wasn’t great) and Soriano and Robertson very well rested. Joe only had to use one of them, not both, and still would have had the other one plus Mo available if we had tied.
  
  After 2 games, Ayala has pitched twice and Robertson and Soriano have not pitched.
  
  I know Ayala has exceeded expectations this year but he has not been that great lately.
  
  That being said, being no-hit for five innings and not getting a hit with RISP should also not be ignored.
- http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
  
  Assuming you are >21, drink a beer, take a few deep breaths, turn off all electronics except some wind down music. Pick up War & Peace and read the first 25 pages (or anything by Henry David Thoreau.) You’ll be out till morning.
ArchStanton

Smart play by Pujols after being caught off of third.
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

Had to get more runs there.
- ArchStanton
  
  Yeah, needed at least one more there.
  - http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
    
    I really hate Philly fans. Sea of red in Boston, sea of red in Philly. Both groups dooshbags. Coincidence?
    - Andrew 518
      
      no.
Gonzo

Did Sweaty Freddy really give up less ER’s than Cliff Lee?
- ArchStanton
  
  Garcia also didn’t get annihilated in a World Series like Lee did last year. I can’t say I’m Lee’s biggest fan…. didn’t care for his stupid “Yankees are older” comment.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Luis Ayala would be the best pitcher in the Cardinal’s pen.
ArchStanton

Wow, what was Rollins thinking?
Bill

According to ESPN New York, Jose Valverde guarantees the Tigers will win the series …
- ArchStanton
  
  Overcompensating for being on the ropes today.
  
  I’m not a big believe in bulletin board material in baseball, but I’ll take it. Seem to recall a certain shortstop making a guarantee a couple of years back….
  - Bill
    
    I think it has the potential to be a factor if/when Valverde pitches again. His poor performance against the Yankees in Game 2 coupled with the desire to back up his words could lead to him choking. Especially since he was a perfect 49-49 in saves this year. That’s more of a fluke than anything, I would think that he has a blown save in him this postseason.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  “I think the series will finish in our house,” Valverde told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas and other outlets. “They have a good team, but the series is not (coming) back to New York.”
  
  Well, the Yankees could still win the series if it doesn’t come back to New York…
- Brandon
  
  Well, if we lose tomorrow, he may be right since we would be pinning our hopes on the stylings of AJ Burnett, the same one who has been a pile of shit for the last 2 seasons.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Some people may argue Pile of shit>>>A.J Burnett
    - Bill
      
      At least a pile of shit can’t give up 7 runs in 3 innings :)
      - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Well, a pile of shit gives up zero runs in zero innings which I’d much rather prefer.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  This IS the year for premature predictions against the Yankees backfiring…
Carl Spackler, assistant greenskeeper

Wow
Lots of angst here.
As for Ayala in the 9th, would people have been happy seeing drob and still losing 4-3?
So now it’s best of three.
If the Yanks don’t hit and pitch, than we don’t deserve go on, that’s life.
Not like Joe T was so great in the oughts ( remember joba vs the midges, or kevin brown or throwing Roger or boomer when they had nothing left…)
- Andrew 518
  
  I wouldn’t be happy they lost.
  I wouldn’t be unhappy they used Robertson.
Carl Spackler, assistant greenskeeper

Hannah,
Thank you
Beautifully done!
Jesus Freak

This is a must win game for the Phills
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  It is? So if they get eliminated they’ll lose the series? Huh.
ArchStanton

Honestly, the Chavez pinch-hitting appearance is bothering me more than the Ayala appearance. The logic in that one is so bizarre. It wasn’t even a handedness deal, which most managers are guilty of blindly following.
- Bill
  
  I didn’t think it was a bad move. Chavez has been clutch this year with RISP. Girardi has made worse moves this season.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Does anyone think this song is really annoying?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6YE3xkdPR4
- http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
  
  yeah, that was the worst fucking song ever recorded (or maybe a close second to We Built This City on Rock And Roll)
  - ArchStanton
    
    “Who Let the Met’s Out”? says hi!
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      Oh God, that’s terrible. I remember Al Leiter and Paul O’Neill talking in the YES booth earlier this year about the 2000 World Series and they were talking during warm-ups and everyone was asking each other “What the heck are we listening to? This is the worst music ever!”. Hahahaha
    - http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
      
      I had no idea we were including horrible remakes of horrible original songs. I stand corrected.
- Sam
  
  song is so bad i had to turn off the speakers, great video though
Darren

Uh oh. Arthur Rhodes? Arthur Rhodes.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

I wanna see a Yanks-Cardinals WS so there can be a record set for most pitching changes in one postseason series.
Rey22

Wow, completely forgot Brian Gordon existed until he showed up in the video.
kev

Let me ask, why no Colon in game 4…
- Bill
  
  Because Colon is losing gas and Burnett pitched a decent game against a fading Boston team. I don’t agree with it either.
- David N
  
  Because I don’t think first-half Bart is around anymore. If he were, it would be a no-brainer. At least I hope that’s the reason – please don’t let it be about the contract.
Karl Krawfid

Let me ask, why doesn’t A-Rod get rid of his leg kick?
- Thomas Cassidy
  
  Because he has over 600 home runs and almost 3,000 hits with it.
Jesus Freak

This game shows why LaRussa is greatest manager who has ever lived.

/msm’d
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  Well, he’s certainly not the worst. He’s looking like a genius right now.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

C’mon Motte, close this one out..
mt

I wonder if Phillies think Cliff Lee looked a little “old” tonight blowing that 4-0 lead – he’s now on streak of three straight postseason losses. Hopefully his wife was treated with dignity and respect in the stands.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Wow. Imagine RAB if the Yankees blew a 4-0 lead with their ace on the mound and got 1 hit over 6 innings by a subpar bullpen.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  We’d go totally OTM’d
  
  But what, that’d be the equivalent of CC blowing a 4-0 lead against the Rays and getting one hit off their sub-parish bullpen for 6 innings?
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

Cards !
Bavarian Yankee

damn, can’t view the video, not available in my country :(
Boydg

Wonderful. Definitely makes me feel better.
Thanks Hannah.