Game 22: Win it for Hiroki

April 30, 2012 by Mike Axisa 342 Comments

New York Yankees v Texas Rangers — That's a 70 pitchface. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Hiroki Kuroda has been alternating bad and very good starts for the Yankees during the first month of the season, and the today the clocks points to a stinker. Thankfully it doesn’t work like that, the fact that he’s alternated good and bad starts doesn’t make him any more likely to get hit around today than the weather or his choice of breakfast cereals. CC Sabathia did his part to set the rotation straight yesterday afternoon, and now it’s time for Kuroda to follow his lead and repeat his strong effort against the Rangers last week against the Orioles tonight. Here’s the starting nine…

SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
DH Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Raul Ibanez
3B Eric Chavez
C Russell Martin
LF Eduardo Nunez

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

Tonight’s game starts a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on YES. enjoy.

Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

I really don’t get it. Girardi plays a guy (Nunez) who is a terrible defender over a guy who won 10 gold gloves (Jones) and is still perfectly capable of handling OF duties. They’re both RHB so that excuse doesn’t work. I’d certainly take the slight downgrade at the plate from Nunez to Jones if it means the substantial upgrade in the OF defense from Jones to Nunez. Also, Jones hit a homer yesterday AGAINST A RHP!!!

smh Girardi…
- 28 this year
  
  My guess is that the Yankees want to evaluate whether Nunez can play the outfield. They don’t have the option to send Nunez down to figure this out cause of the injuries so they have no choice but to roll the dice. I don’t necessarily agree but at this point in the season, its better to keep evaluating to see what you have.
  - MannyGeee
    
    If Ibanez can man a corner, then you got to at least try Nunez back there. That and oh yeah, after Jones & Nunez you got no one who can have a go out there. Got to see if Nunez can hack it, because if not you got to make a move for someone down in the Traveling Circus to man the emergency OF role until Swish and Gardner are 100%.
    
    It is what it is, Nunez has been baptized by fire his entire ML career, why should this be any different. And oh by the way, the book on Nunez is he can get to it but wings it over Teix’s head. Not as big an issue from 250 ft out.
    - Havok9120
      
      Not to mention that a series against Baltimore at the end of April is something of a perfect time for experimentation.
MannyGeee

Ibanez in RF gives me piss shivers… He’s gonna hurt someone back there..
Guest

So, I went to FanGraphs to check on how Grandy is doing in terms of WAR. To the naked eye, it looks like he’s had even more of those seemingly catchable singles dunk in front of him in the past. I wondered if the defensive numbers corroborated what my eyes were seeing, and if they were bad enough to mitigate his wonderful offensive production.

Well. He is currently tied for 8th amongst AL centerfielders in WAR, ahead of only Cody Ross, Cobly Rasmus, Vernon Wells (but of course) and Michael Brantley.

All of this despite having a .411 wOBA and 160wRC+ to go along with 8HRs, 18 R, 16 RBI, and a 1.002 OPS. Not shockingly, the culprit has in fact been the defense. He already has a whopping -7.2 defensive rating according to Fangraphs. Next closest is Cespedes at -2.7. That’s a HUGE gap.

I know these defensive metrics are not very good and need to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if the eye test and the metrics lineup, perhaps there is something going on here with Grandy’s defense.

Given Ibanez and Nunez (may whatever deity you believe have mercy on our souls) are his outfield partners, I’d advise Kuroda to stick with the sinkers tonight.
- Guest
  
  that should read “dunk in front of him than he has in the past.”
- RetroRob
  
  You really are looking at UZR in April?
Clyde Barrow

The outfield is an absolute disaster because of the two injuries. Kuroda better get a lot of Ks and groundballs. At least Nunez can’t do any damage in the infield.
Cy Pettitte

no error!
Greg

HIs sinkers are up so far. That means trouble
NoH

Has anyone else heard that Mccarver thinks that climate change has caused more home runs?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Yeah I heard that over the weekend.
  - Samuel Pacarro
    
    McCarver reasoning and intellect profiles very well for the Climate Change community. Very sharp & scientific process in deducing their theories. The science is settled, no dissenting opinion allowed or needed. Excelsior!!
    
    /ManBearPig’d
Cy Pettitte

ok now I’m impressed
Greg

There’s the good splitter
flamingo

One inning, 9 pitches, 2 Nunez catches.

I’ll take it.
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Every ball will be hit to left tonight.
Clyde Barrow

LOL! Ibanez would have nosedived 3 feet from the ball and let it go past him. Nice job by Nunez.
MattG

It’s nice to see Nunez brought all his grace with him to the outfield.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Did I hear that correctly – Hammel named his kid Beckett?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Wow, that’s one defensively strong outfield…
Mike Nitabach

Anyone hear a statement from Girardi why A-Rod is batting third and Cano clean-up?
- Need Pitching
  
  they’ve been doing that for weeks vs. RHP
  to break up the lefties, I guess
  - Mike Nitabach
    
    Ah. Makes sense. Thanks.
Greg

Hammel throwing hard. 92-94 mph
MattG

There is no place where the word “defense” can’t be replaced with the word “fielding,” and the sentence would not be improved. Please tell me what they are defending? There is no goal, no end zone, no hoop.
- Mike Nitabach
  
  They are defending the ground from the ball!
- Heisenberg
  
  Defense: Means or tactics used in trying to stop the opposition from scoring.
  
  but I hear ya.
  - MattG
    
    My point exactly! To say they are a bad defensive team implies they field and pitch poorly, when all they really mean to say is they field poorly. Pitching is also a tactic to stop the opposition from scoring.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      I’ve always felt that Pitching was technically defense, so I understand what you’re saying, but I look at it as the equivalent if goal tending. To elaborate a little bit, while a goalie directly tries to prevent goals, there is defense apart from a goalie, and while a pitcher directly tries to get guys out there is defense behind him.
    - Heisenberg
      
      Ahh. I see where you went there. Well done, I would agree.
    - Professor Longnose
      
      I’m with ya.
    - Nedro
      
      Semantics in baseball. *facepalm*
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

balls 3&4 were right down the middle according to gameday, can somebody watching confirm this?
- Need Pitching
  
  missed ball 3, but ball 4 looked low
Greg

Tight K-zone by the ump. For both pitchers
- Havok9120
  
  Looks that way. I prefer tight to batshit crazy. It is mighty frustrating tho.
Clyde Barrow

That umpire is just going to sit there all night. Kuroda needs to adjust. Our offense needs to be patient and wear down the starter. Take the BBs like we did yesterday.
Cy Pettitte

fucking Ibanez
Mike Nitabach

Fuck, Ibanez!
flamingo

And… why can’t we play Jones?
Paul VuvuZuvella

Early jump
Clyde Barrow

What a clown. That’s Swisher’s play and he would have made it.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Andruw catches that.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  Nunez catches that
  - Professor Longnose
    
    I miss it, though.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Yogi catches that.
Greg

Dang that was shoulder high according to gameday
- RetroRob
  
  His pitches are up in the early going.
RetroRob

Uggh. A decent RFer has that ball.
Mike Nitabach

Yeah, Nunez!
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Nunez makes a good catch against the wall one pitch after Ibanez botches one.
FachoinaNYY

Holy shit this begining is insane
Need Pitching

Kuroda looking very shaky so far, too much up in the zone
- Greg
  
  What did I say?
  - Need Pitching
    
    idk, i’ve learned to ignore your posts
    - Greg
      
      It was a rhetorical question. I noted in the first inning that his sinkers were up.
  - Havok9120
    
    The same thing you do every game thread about the starter looking shaky?
    
    I’m just guessing.
Clyde Barrow

Nunez rarely plays the outfield and he’s better than Ibanez by leaps and bounds. Ibanez should never play the field ever again once Gardner returns.
- Need Pitching
  
  +9,999,999,999,999
- sangreal
  
  He should never play the field again regardless of whether Gardner is around
- pistol pete
  
  Ibanez makes Reggie look like a gold glover, every play is an adventure.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

so apparently Sterling is trying this new thing where he starts out in an absolute flat voice says a ball hit to ____ field in the air. Making you feel like the ball is going to be an easy play then all of a sudden, in the same dull voice, “he’s going back” then all of a sudden “ITS ON THE TRACK!!!!” like it’s inches away from being gone.
- Mike Nitabach
  
  C’mon, man. I’m purposely watching on YES instead of listening to Sterling. Why you gotta punish me like that?
- Professor Longnose
  
  Next year will be Sterling’s 25th doing Yankee games. I’ll chip in for a gold watch if they retire him.
  - Mike Nitabach
    
    I’m in!
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Shit, I’ll pick up both if he convinces Waldman to come with him.
    - Mike Nitabach
      
      Singleton is saying it’s great for Nunez to bunt with two outs, because it could be “just as good as a double”. Hmm.
      - Professor Longnose
        
        Yeah, that did sound a bit silly. But if Nunez can bunt for hits consistently, that would be great.
radnom

The Yankees converted Soriano into an OF (according to Kay)?

I always thought that happened post-Arod trade.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I think the Nationals moved him to the outfield, not even Texas.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Yeah, according to BR he didn’t play LF till he was in Washington.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      I remember the Yankees considering moving him to the outfield. but they didn’t
      - Havok9120
        
        He flipped out when we suggested it as I recall.
        
        That could be totally wrong though. I was a brand new fan at the time.
- forensic
  
  He didn’t step foot in the outfield until 3 years after the trade for the Nats.
- pistol pete
  
  He never played the outfield for the Yankees only after he was traded.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Apparently they did so in FM, but not in AM.
RetroRob

Kuroda gave up two long flyballs in that inning, but he should have been out without giving up a run.
- pistol pete
  
  Agree, Ibanez should have made that play, made it look a lot harder than it was, if he got to the wall he would have caught it shoulder high, but hey they didn’t sign him to play outfield much only in an emergency and that’s what tonight is with Gardy and Swisher out.
Cy Pettitte

put that run on Ibanez’s ERA. someone needs to start tracking that.
- Need Pitching
  
  it’s worse than Freddy’s
willx

How do they give that guy a hit when ibanez dropped the ball?
- Greg
  
  Did he actually make contact with the ball? If he did, then it should be an error
  - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
    
    It was off his glove.
sangreal

Kay has been reading RAB
Tony

This umpire has one very small strike zone
http://www.blueseatblogs.com Dave

More importantly, Boyle returns tonight.
Mike Nitabach

CHAVEZ!!!!
- Heisenberg
  
  Otra Vez!
  
  I like it, but what did he say the first time?
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Just that it was gone of the bat.
    - Heisenberg
      
      Ah, Thanks.
  - Heisenberg
    
    Sorry, Sterling said “Chavez.. Otra Vez” (again!)
flamingo

…Chavez?

Let’s keep this guy healthy, okay?
- Need Pitching
  
  healthy Chavez is an oxymoron
  - flamingo
    
    Wish it weren’t. He looks good so far.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

CHAVEZ!!!!!!!!
Professor Longnose

Cha me some vez!
RetroRob

Chavez seems to have rediscovered his power stroke this year.
Cy Pettitte

fucking Chavez man, he looks so much better this year, wow.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Chavez has already matched his HR total from 2010-11.
Greg

Right down the middle for a homer
Clyde Barrow

And Ibanez shouldn’t even DH anymore because Chavez is our DH vs righties!!!!!!!!
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

I know Girardi loves to have speed in the 9 hole, but I feel like Nunez should be batting 8th and Martin 9th
- Greg
  
  Disagree. Allows Jeter to be an RBI machine
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  Po-TAY-to…Po-TAH-to
- Havok9120
  
  Why? I mean, he’s less likely to get a hit, but about as likely to get on base. But I am one of the people who likes the speed there, so….meh.
flamingo

Nice at bat by Nunez.
Paul VuvuZuvella

Was Nik Turley this year’s sleeper prospect? He got a shout out in latest BA issue.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Tex is still a beast out there.
flamingo

Nunez getting a good workout out there.
Cy Pettitte

Nunez highlight reel tonight, this is…just wow…
Havok9120

Okay, that thing I said about preferring a tight zone to an insane one? It doesn’t apparently apply tonight judging by the Gamecast. This just looks plain silly.
Electric Nunez aka the shocker

He electric in the outfield too
Tony

There could be some great GIFs created if Nunez were to play the outfield regularly
Greg

That first pitch was a ball in the first two innings
Paul VuvuZuvella

Jeter isn’t just hitting like it’s 1999, he’s really looking good getting down the line too.
jjyank

Just got here. Stupid classes. What’d I miss?
- Electric Nunez aka the shocker
  
  Nunez is the new gritty
  - jjyank
    
    Heh yeah, turned on the TV just in time to see that rather interesting catch.
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  Ibanez botched a ball in RF, Nunez made 2 good plays in LF and then he made a routine lineout way more interesting than it needed to be. Also Chavez hit a bomb.
- Need Pitching
  
  Chavez 2R HR
  
  looks like Nunez can make plays in the OF (though not always gracefully)
  
  Ibanez still can’t field
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  It’s an adventure in the outfield.
Countryclub

A lot of weak contact from Jeter recently. Walks and infield hits keeping the obp up
- Professor Longnose
  
  He hadn’t been walking that much until yesterday. (Or was it the day before?)
  - Countryclub
    
    Yeah, 4 walks in previous 3 games.
    - RetroRob
      
      Jeter’s walk rate has a tendency to go down when he’s in a good hitting streak. I’m taking the increased walks lately represents the opposite, and that he’s not quite as comfortable at the plate.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

2009 A-Rod puts that in the RF bleachers :(
- MannyGeee
  
  2009 ARod was balls deep in Kate Hudson. We’re stuck with kinda deep pop flys and Cameron Diaz in 2012… Deal with it.
  - OMG! Bagels!
    
    He broke up with Cameron Diaz last year.
Chip

Is it just me or does Cano look a lot more patient this year?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Somebody actually brought up the other day his swing rate is at a career low this (incredibly young) season.
- Bo Knows
  
  he is, he has 8 walks (last time I checked) on the year. He’s been much more patient.
flamingo

3 innings, 58 pitches for Hammel. Didn’t realize the Yanks were seeing so many pitches.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  31 strikes 27 Balls too…the zone has been incredibly tight.
  - Havok9120
    
    Yeah. It seems to be wide and short except for one AB.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      Zones around baseball seem incredibly wide this year, especially the outside part to lefties. It seems to extend to the right handed batters box.
      - flamingo
        
        It’s a really bad sign that I can’t think of any game this season with a good zone. There must have been some.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        The problem with that its a good zone isn’t ever noticed because the game just happens. If any sort of official is doing his job, you’re not going to notice they’re there.
        
        flamingo
        
        That’s a really good point.
        
        If only those were the umps that made the playoffs.
forensic

Jeter’s last 16 PA’s have been 8 groundballs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Hasn’t hit a ball in the air in 4 games. Obviously not much sample size, just hope it’s not a sign of him reverting back to pre-DL Jeter.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  He also started the season hitting over .400 so a little regression was bound to happen.
Clyde Barrow

If Phil bombs tomorrow, and he will bomb tomorrow, Andy needs to come up immediately. Rehabbing Andy is better than Hughes and Garcia.
- Pat D
  
  Eh…no.
- jjyank
  
  No, no, no. If they rush Andy and he pulls a hammy, what would be the point? Patience my friend.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Remember as well that, if he bombs tomorrow, there’s always Phil HALLADAY next time.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I’m already here.
  
  Love,
  DJ Mitchell
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  This is why someone once pumped you full of machine gun fire.
Pat D

Damn Caps.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

If they call Andy up after one more start, I’d much rather pitch him against the Mariners than the Rays. They have an off day after the KC series so they can configure the rotation.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

So I was watching the highlights from Harper’s debut, not only can this kid rake…he hustles his ass down the line (which I wasn’t expecting cause he’s an arrogant prick) and threw from deep left to home on a line, the runner would’ve been out too except the catcher dropped the ball.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  You can thank the MSM for that. They spent the last two years tearing him down because hey, that’s what you do to famous people.
  
  There is no reason to boo Harper, he should be applauded because he’s an important part of baseball’s future.
  - jjyank
    
    Didn’t he blow a kiss at a pitcher in a minor league game as he was rounding the bases, or something like that? Seems kind of prickish to me, but I may not know the whole story.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Yes, after the catcher said they were going to hit him with a pitch.
      - jjyank
        
        Ah got ya. Had a feeling I was missing part of the story.
    - MannyGeee
      
      Wellllll…. Who’s to say they didn’t know each other or something? Calling this out as why he’s a dick is kinda short sighted.
      - jjyank
        
        I wasn’t calling him out, just remember hearing that story.
    - RkyMtnYank
      
      If he was a Valverde type pitcher then he deserved it!
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    I hope nothing for the best for him, hell I hope he’s in pinstripes one day. However, the way he carries himself though reminds me a lot of Dustin Pedroia. Very pompous, very much “yeah I’m great and I know I am.” At least that’s my perception.
jjyank

Anyone else think Sterling’s new call for Ibanez should be: “Voldemort…..goes YARDemort!!”?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Ten dollars says Sterling has no idea who Voldemort is.
  - jjyank
    
    Give him a few of those dutchies if yours, strap him to a chair, and let the magic begin.
    - jjyank
      
      *of yours
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      ahahahahahhahaha Oh my god, that would be brilliant.
  - forensic
    
    I had no idea who Voldemort was until I just googled it. No way I’m seeing those movies and why would he use something as specialized to a small audience as that?
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      I feel like Harry Potter has a much larger audience than you realize.
      - forensic
        
        Not that overlaps with a ‘typical’ baseball audience.
        
        jjyank
        
        Dude…it was just a joke. And Harry Potter is huge, one that most certainly overlaps with many, many audiences.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        who is this Harry Potter everyone is talking about … does he play for the A’s??
        
        jjyank
        
        Duh, he’s their top prospect.
        
        forensic
        
        Being that you guys talk about it every game, sure doesn’t seem like a joke. But whatever.
        
        jjyank
        
        …we talk about Harry Potter in every game thread? News to me. The Voldemort thing gets mentioned once in awhile, but that’s because Ibanez looks almost exactly like him. And those are jokes too. Lighten up dude.
        
        You’re right, we discuss Harry Potter and Voldemort all the time in complete sincerity. We all actually think that Ibanez is the next prince of darkness….what? Relax.
        
        forensic
        
        Boy, you sure do get defensive. First the beer run joke and now this. Maybe you need to relax a little bit.
        
        Not a big deal…
        
        jjyank
        
        Says the guy who gets worked up over Harry Potter jokes.
        
        forensic
        
        I’m not worked up at all. Just finding it funny how defensive you’re being. I’m done with this now.
        
        jjyank
        
        Not being defensive. Just think you need to lighten up. If you’re not familiar with Harry Potter, that’s cool. Just don’t participate in the conversation.
- Havok9120
  
  That would be one of the greatest things ever.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Voldemort launches it all the way to platform 9&3/4s?
Clyde Barrow

We’ve got him at 72 pitches through 4. Should be able to get him out soon and feast on their pen.
- forensic
  
  Feast on a bullpen which has been about as good as the Yankees and is one of the best in the league?
  - flamingo
    
    Orioles and best in the league – does not compute.
flamingo

Ha, it’s the fifth inning an hour after the start of game.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Wait, baseball being played at a decent pace? Who are these guys and what have they done with the Yankees?!?!?!
jjyank

Whoa, what? Dylan Bundy didn’t allow a hit to the first 40 batters in his professional career? That’s nuts.
- forensic
  
  http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bundy-000dyl
  - forensic
    
    Low-A, but still impressive. I do wonder what’s up with just 13 innings in 4 games though. Either they’re really babying him or he’s throwing way too many pitches with the strikeouts, or both I guess.
    - Bo Knows
      
      They are babying him, he barely goes above the minimum
  - Need Pitching
    
    21 K/BB ratio … that’s just insane, small sample size or not
rawbrain

“you got to get up to get down”

gotta love kenny
Need Pitching

Orioles getting BABIP fucked tonight
flamingo

Ooooh, Susyn and Feinsand talking about Low A.
RetroRob

Was that one of those new Yankee shifts again?
- Need Pitching
  
  normal 5.5 hole grounder
jjyank

Wow I am so glad I’m not a Pirates or an O’s fan. 19 and 14 straight seasons of under .500 ball, respectively. That sucks man. Royals are next at 8, but they’re farm system/young talent is baller so they’ll be alright.
- RetroRob
  
  Pirates have some good prospects, at least on the pitching side, on the way.
  
  As for the Orioles, Angelos is a disaster what he did to that franchise. Having a bad team is one thing; having a bad manager is survibale; having a bad GM is costly, but fans can take comfort he will be replaced; but there is nothing worse than having a bad owner like the Orioles. All a fan can do is pray for his death.
  - jjyank
    
    Pretty much. I think its extremely telling that GM candidates started turning down offers from the O’s. That pretty much never happens.
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  http://leanblitz.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Baltimore-Orioles-decision-matrix1.jpg
  - jjyank
    
    Wow that is amazing.
  - Need Pitching
    
    that’s great
  - Professor Longnose
    
    Phelps is up. Gonna get a new handle?
    - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
      
      IDK, maybe when he starts in KC.
  - Havok9120
    
    Holy crap. That was fantastic.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Yet we complain when we only make the ALDS. Perspective, folks. It doesn’t matter if we’re the New York Fucking Yankees, or something like that.
  - jjyank
    
    Yup. I mean, losing in the first round sucks and all that, but we get to watch a quality baseball team every single year. It’s awesome, and a lot of Yankee fans take that for granted.
Clyde Barrow

CC and Kuroda eat a lot of innings only to have Hughes and Garcia throw them up. Hopefully Andy comes back after just one more minor league start. Even though he’s 40 and didn’t pitch last year I think he could at least grit through 5 innings.
- Pat D
  
  That’s not going to cut it either.
Greg

This ump’s strikezone is all over the place
Pat D

Some runs, please, boys.
RetroRob

Why is it that Michael Kay seems to be the only one who doesn’t know the ball isn’t leaving the park?
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  Because he probably is.
  - jjyank
    
    Sterling says hello.
    - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
      
      True, true.
  - RetroRob
    
    I mean, I’m looking at the TV and I can see immediately the ball is pulled foul and I can see the batter’s reaction that he knows it’s foul, but Kay jars me for a second with his call, making me wonder if I’m missing something. Nope, the ball lands right where I thought it was going to land.
    
    Of course, when John Sterling goes into his HR call I’m defensless because it’s on the radio. I can’t actually see what’s happening. I’ve probably caught maybe 25 innings so far while driving in my car and I’m keeping mental count of Sterling’s calls. So far he’s gone into his HR call eight times when I’m listening, and seven of the balls have been caught at the fence or barely made it to the warning track. I’ll forgive him for one, such as the second ball A-Rod hit the other night that pinned the OFer against the fence.
    - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
      
      Even there, on Tex’s bloop, Kay said “High fly ball” which led me to think, of course, it could be a routine flyout. As soon as the ball was viable on the screen, I knew it was a hit.
      
      Damnit Ibanez.
    - Professor Longnose
      
      One reason I hate that It is high stuff from Sterling is that it makes all potential homers sound the same. They’re not.
- Pat D
  
  He’s Michael Kay?
  
  Oh, wait, I got it, the lack of soup and condiment eating gives him bad depth perception.
  - jjyank
    
    I knew that, but seriously, who doesn’t eat condiments? Does Kay actually eat hotdogs with nothing on them?
    - Pat D
      
      Maybe he actually doesn’t eat hot dogs. But that would actually make him intelligent, so……I guess he eats them plain.
      - jjyank
        
        Ha true, hotdogs are the ultimate “ignorance is bliss” food. Still though…hamburgers? It’s still weird.
        
        Pat D
        
        Yea. I guess if I ever got to talk to Michael Kay, these are the questions I would need him to answer.
        
        I’d preface them all by saying, “Look, I’m trying to make sure you’re not as weird as you sometimes make yourself seem to be.”
        
        RetroRob
        
        Following on my post below, if I had known about the condiment issue at the the time, I would have asked, or given some attention to it when his burger arrived. Probably would have joked with him that I had to wait to his burger arrived to see if he really was anti-condiment! Yet I don’t like bothering celebrities when they’re eating and if he was at a table I wouldn’t have talked to him. Yet when someone sits at a bar they’re usually encouraging talk.
        
        RetroRob
        
        I think I mentioned this once, but I actually ran across Michael Kay in a bar/restaurant in White Plains, NY several years back. He was just sitting at the bar. He was having a burger. At that time I didn’t know about his condiment issue, so I didn’t see if he put anything on the burger.
        
        I talked to him for a couple minutes since he was at the bar and his food hadn’t arrived yet. He was perfectly pleasant, but I left him to his peace.
Mike Nitabach

Kuroda seems to have gotten his pitches down.
Pat D

Another pathetic power play by the Rangers.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

10% of those voters are trololololin.
flamingo

A hit! A very palpable hit!
RkyMtnYank

I read above that Robbie has been more patient this year, I guess I missed those games because he’s still Robbie “one pitch” to me.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Hooray, offense!!!
Need Pitching

thank you Betemit
Pat D

Woo hoo, beat the shift!
jjyank

Wow Robbie, you got lucky there.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Damn Raul…that’s the one thing we absolutely didn’t want to happen. First pitch too…
flamingo

On the first pitch, Ibanez?!
Greg

Bring in Abreu for Ibanez
- Mike Nitabach
  
  Didn’t we already do this?
- Pat D
  
  Only for a few rounds of “Who looks more pathetic shagging fly balls?”
- RkyMtnYank
  
  … but Ibanez can play the OF and gives Girardi more options.
- pistol pete
  
  Agree, Abreu’s faster, a more patient hitter that will work counts, and dare I say a better fielder than Ibanez. He’s also a little younger and New York proven. Both were good hitters in their prime but Abreu was a cut above and probably still is. I think his patient hitting style would fit the Yankees well. Ibanez swings early and often and I really feel he’ll drop off from his current modest level. The timing would look bad but Abreu is the better choice.
Eirias

IBANEZ!?!

/shakes fist
Bartolo’s Colon

can we send garcia and ibanez to a farm?
- RkyMtnYank
  
  Stonybrook?
  - Mike Nitabach
    
    Boone’s.
    - RkyMtnYank
      
      lol, that’s brings back too many bad hangover memories!
- Pat D
  
  Depends on which kind of farm.
  - MannyGeee
    
    And when you say farm, I assume you mean glue factory.
MannyGeee

You can just tell that Suzyn is juuuuuuust tickled by the Tex “Keep your hands on the wheel, and let me take care of sending the Tex Messages” spot in WCBS….
Athenian

Think Kurda says to his interpreter during innings, “how the fuck do I get run support?” “I didn’t think I was still in LA.”
- MannyGeee
  
  How do you say “I shoulda taken Arizona’s offer” in Japanese?
Clyde Barrow

Get out there Rothschild. Kuroda is gonna blow this with our elite pen sitting on the sidelines.
Need Pitching

anyone else think Kurodo’s leash is a little too long today?
- Greg
  
  Look at his pitchcount
  - Need Pitching
    
    how he’s pitching should carry much more weight than his pitchcount
    
    that, and the fact that the Yankees have an elite bullpen at the ready in the seventh inning
- alittleblackegg
  
  Yep. He hasn’t been right this inning. I don’t care what his pitch count is.
- Tom
  
  What?
  
  The guy has thrown 85 pitches and has given up 4 singles (including 1 infield single and 1 Ibanez single)
  - Need Pitching
    
    as well as several line outs and deep flies
- Need Pitching
  
  nevermind …
  
  (looks away sheepishly)
RkyMtnYank

eesh, looks like SoRobMo time.
MannyGeee

Nice…. Good thing AJ is gone… Should cut down on the wild pitches…

Ohhh
forensic

Ibanez vs. RHP’s last year: .256/.307/.440
This year overall: .255/.311/.473

Kind of amazing how close they are so far. That slugging difference is basically one double becoming a homer instead so far this year.
jjyank

Big K right there.
Don’tcha Know?

Of course Marlon Byrd would do well for Boston. Of course!
Clyde Barrow

The Os are tipping pitches again and Martin’s on to them. Somebody needs to get hit tomorrow.
- jjyank
  
  Nobody needs to get hit, the Yankees just need to change their signs. I am very much against free baserunners, unless the Yankees have like, a 10 run lead. The can stuff it to the O’s beating them.
jjyank

Hey, Betemit! Long time no see! Oh yeah, thanks for Swisher!
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

excellent defense :)
MannyGeee

Off topic alert… But is anyone else happy to see Joey Bats’ dead cat bounce to the mean this season so far? I was kinda over him.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Thank you Markakis!!
- jjyank
  
  And Betemit. He waved him home.
jjyank

Heh, the wild pitch there helped them.
aRX

ahahahahahahaha
Thanks for the free out :)
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Hiroki will cut you down fool.
RetroRob

Thankfully, Kuroda is one of the better fielding pitchers in the game.
Cy Pettitte

Russell and Hiroki! that was awesome.
Karl Krawfid

Joba did that against Baltimore last year right?

Or 2 years ago.
Clyde Barrow

Wow. That ball didn’t bounce as far away as Markakis thought. Got a break there. Good job by Hiroki on the tag.
pistol pete

Robbie in the 8th and Mo to close, great job by Kuroda.
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  Our second baseman is going to pitch?
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  textbook
Clyde Barrow

I think you go batter to batter with Kuroda. If a man gets on in comes Robbie.
- Professor Longnose
  
  All right.
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  Weren’t you just complaining about our “elite pen sitting on the sidelines?”
  - Havok9120
    
    Why yes, yes he was.
Greg

Oh this ump is going to be a pain for Robertson
flamingo

Kuroda pitched really, really well. Hopefully that puts a stop to the “he’s bad every other time out” ridiculousness.
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  Nothing ever stops ridiculousness.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Haha, seriously. There is always ridiculousness here.
- jjyank
  
  Yeah, back to back really good starts is very encouraging. The O’d aren’y great, but they do have some very good offensive pieces. And Texas is awesome. So like you said, hopefully Kuroda is settling in now.
Cy Pettitte

DRob is so filthy.
pistol pete

Kuroda is a veteran and will have a solid year for the Yanks. He’s got good control, eats innings and is effective. He’s a stabilizing force in a rotation full of questions. Great sign by Cashman.
flamingo

Woooohooo, strikes out the side!
jjyank

Man D-Rob is killing it this year. Only member of the bullpen to not give up a run so far (11 IP I believe). I know the idea of having Soriano take the fall of being the first non-Mo closer (assuming he retires) has some merit, but if D-Rob keeps this up, how can he not be the successor?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

K-Rob doing what he does :D
forensic

Now that’s domination!
Bartolo’s Colon

he is a lot of fun to watch
Clyde Barrow

Those are some nasty pitches
RkyMtnYank

So is D-Rob really not the future closer? Just don’t see how that doesn’t happen!
- Greg
  
  He’s really limited the walks so far this season and he has appeared to add a cutter to hie resume. I think he is the heir apparent
  - jjyank
    
    Just wouldn’t be a Yankee closer without a cutter.
  - flamingo
    
    Supposedly it’s Mo’s cutter.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Can we not use the term “heir apparent.” Especially when we have the words I think in the sentence? “heir apparent” means he is clearly going to be the next person to do it. Back when people said that Joba “might be the heir apparent to Mo,” I wanted to rip my hair out.
    - flamingo
      
      Ha, good point.
- jjyank
  
  Yeah, I said the same thing above. He’s been pretty awesome in the early going.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

At this rate the games going to be over, and I’ll still have 10-20 minutes of work left…and usually I get to watch the last inning at home. I’m not amused.
- jjyank
  
  Get a new job?
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Nope, same job. Get out at ten, at this rate this games going to be over by 930 lol.
    - jjyank
      
      No, I ment you should get a new job haha.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Haha, I wish, no professional experience and no degree, and no money to get said degree, means I am stuck in menial labor for now.
- Mariano’s Pimp Hand
  
  You could be working 12 hour overnight shifts like I do so count your blessings.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

I know he’s not a starter, but David Robertson is a damn good pitcher that the Yanks developed.
- jjyank
  
  This. A lot of people like to focus on Joba and Hughes as failures, but the Yankees have done alright with pitchers overall I think. Not the best by any stretch, but at least average.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    I still think it’s unfair to dub Joba a failure as a starter. He’s never had a year where his innings were properly used, let alone a year where he was just allowed to pitch. I still remember the game he threw 7 innings of 1 run ball in Boston, battling Beckett inning for inning.
    - jjyank
      
      Oh, I agree with you. But considering he is unlikely to start for the Yanks again, most people view that as a failure. It’s not Joba’s fault though. But that just makes my point stronger. The Yankees aren’t as bad as a lot of people make them out to be with developing pitching.
      - David N
        
        Look, I love Robertson, and he’s certainly looking like the real deal, but if we’re holding up one reliever as testament to the Yankees’ ability to develop pitching (out of a bunch of relievers and a collection of starters), isn’t that really testament to the contrary?
    - RkyMtnYank
      
      I disagree, everything I saw from Joba the starter paled in comparison to him as a reliever. I know this opinion is not popular on this site but that game was an anomaly since everything else was average at best. The starter reliever transition stuff is just BS. Either you can pitch or you can’t. Joba’s max 93mph straight fastball as a starter was atrocious since he couldn’t throw a breaking ball for a strike. I am a fan of the sweaty, snorting, bring this shit on reliever that Joba was, however!
- Greg
  
  Joba was effective in the pen, Hughes was effective in the pen, so bullpen pitching is a strength for the Yankees.
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  I was there on Opening Game and when D-Rob came in, the place went nuts. We are loving this guy.
  - OMG! Bagels!
    
    *Day
  - Havok9120
    
    Yeah, its great to see him getting love from the fans. Seeing homegrown guys thrive, even if its just early in his career, is always a lot of fun.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Haha wow, it’s totally the right move to pull Ibanez for Jones, but that has to feel like a slap in the face to Ibanez. We’re going to take you, a guy whose played the outfield for 15 years, out of the game, and leave the kid who is getting his first ever innings in LF.
Paul VuvuZuvella

What were the options for LF Michael??
- Bartolo’s Colon
  
  i think he meant jones in left and nunez over to right?
jjyank

Michael Kay: “Interestingly, they keep Nunez in left.”

Considering Jones took over for Ibanez is RF, who is supposed to replace him, exactly?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  I think he means he finds it interesting that Jones is replacing Ibanez and not Nunez.
  - Need Pitching
    
    apparently he keeps his eyes closed when the ball is hit near Ibanez
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  What a beautiful victory. Now that’s Yankee-quality pitching.
Karl Krawfid

Mo has been leaving that fastball up a lot this year.
Pat D

Nice stab, Derek.
jjyank

Mo is Mo. All is right with the world.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Cano: the best pivot in baseball.
Mike Nitabach

YESSSSSS! What a nice win!
flamingo

9 pitches, 3 outs.

April’s over, y’all, and we’ve only had What’s Wrong With Mariano Day! It had to be Opening Day, but still totally worth it.

Great game!
- Bartolo’s Colon
  
  yes! tex is going to be awesome again tomorrow!
Karl Krawfid

Nice win man. Fast game.
Clyde Barrow

We saw brilliant pitching tonight from both starters. Tomorrow we’ll see the exact opposite.
RetroRob

2:22 game? I have an extra hour here I’ve alloted for baseball. What is this, 1982 baseball?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  +1
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah, I have dead time for the first time in a week, and the game doesn’t even last 2.5 hours.
  
  I DEMAND A REFUND!
- SevenAces
  
  Joe West approves.
CS Yankee

Great pitching, solid D (less Raul), and looking forward to tomorrows game…

expecting a 10-8 game, with some solid innings from DJ.
http://none Dick Cheney’s Kidney

can andy help hughes when he comes up to the bigs?
http://none Dimaggio’s Left Shoe

Andy will help everyone be better-
pistol pete

Signing pitchers is the trickiest process in sports. I’m not saying he’ll be great for the life of his contract but Darvish really really looks like the real deal. He’s 4 and 0 at 2.18 and passes the eye test.