Game Two: Revenge

April 7, 2012 by Mike Axisa 588 Comments

New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays — What a beautiful place for a ballgame! (J. Meric/Getty Images)

Opening Day didn’t go according to plan, but the best thing about baseball is that they play everyday. The Yankees will get their first regular season look at Hiroki Kuroda this evening, their brand new veteran number two starter. Kuroda looked sharp all throughout Spring Training and was probably the club’s most effective starter in March, but it was March and no one cares. Now he’s gotta go it against a lineup of big leaguers multiple times. I expect him to be more than fine. Here’s the starting nine…

DH Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Mark Teixeira
CF Curtis Granderson
LF Andruw Jones
C Russell Martin
SS Eduardo Nunez

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

Tonight’s game starts at 7:10pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy.

Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Line up change.
Phife Dawg

HIROK time. Lets roll, you guys.
dkidd

lol beckett
Dela G

Love to see the red sox get pounded
Jesse

Let’s go HIROK!
jjyank

Lets do this!

And love that the Sox got rocked. Seems like they’re banking their whole season on Beckett and Lester pitching well, so its great to see Beckett get shelled.
- CP
  
  The thing I noticed is that Beckett was topping out at about 91 today. That sounds a lot like Hughes last year.
  - jjyank
    
    That’s interesting. I didn’t watch the game, just checked the box score. If Beckett can’t get past 91, that is encouraging (for a Yankee fan, obviously).
  - Mike HC
    
    Beckett is notorious for horrendous April’s though. He definitely could have a poor year, but I don’t think that start really means anything.
    - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
      
      He had a pretty good April last year. (2.65 ERA in 34 IP)
      - Mike HC
        
        True. Here is to hoping he is terrible this year, ha
Chen Meng Wang

Can we do better than yesterday? Please lol, that was such a sad way to start the season.
Dino Velvet

Schilling was right Boston = Titanic
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Ugh…how can you type the first four words of that sentence in succession without feeling dirty…
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    three*
  - jjyank
    
    I laughed.
  - Paul VuvuZuvella
    
    I felt dirty reading it.
- Jesse
  
  So far, yes. Hope it keeps going.
Dela G

This Meredith girl is not half bad. Not going to say hot, but I would definitely consider after a couple of drinks. She’s pretty good at this interviewing thing
- Mike HC
  
  She seems like a younger Kim Jones to me. Whoever picks these sideline reporters definitely has a type, ha.
  - Dela G
    
    Haha I definitely agree. She even has the same facial structure and expressions.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Gun to your head, Meredith or Kim. I find both attractive but Meredith is more my type.
  - Dela G
    
    Meredith for sure. She’s probably closer to my age than Kim was. Ha easy to say since I’m 24
  - jjyank
    
    I agree. Never found Jones very attractive. She was alright, but not for me.
  - Dino Velvet
    
    Kim had a great rack.
    - Dino Velvet
      
      That said, YES should have signed up Heidi Watney
      
      http://farm5.staticflickr.com/.....9b6b_z.jpg
- Jesse
  
  I think she’s better than Kim Jones.
Mike HC

I’m liking how it looks like Girardi is going to handle the lineup this year. Credit to Cashman for building a good bench on the cheap.
Cy Pettitte

Really excited to see Kuroda’s Yankee debut
Dave

Question: I’m going to Australia for the summer, but when I’m here in the states, I’m in the blackout area for YES. Should I get the YES package or the MLB.tv package?
- http://twitter.com/karcotte karcotte
  
  YES package will be worthless outside YES market.
- mike_h
  
  you can double check with customer support but when in Australia you are not in the blackout so mlbtv is good but when in NY metro blackout area you will need the YES add on.
  
  my advice go mlbtv and do the month to month YES add on when in the states
Kevin G.

Why is Granderson batting 6th?
- jjyank
  
  Guess Girardi has more confidence in Swisher against a lefty. But being the protection for Tex isn’t exactly a huge demotion.
- Tom
  
  Swisher is 10 for 22 against Price (Girardi loves his batter vs pitcher stats)
mustang

Not a good day for Manuel Banuelos 3.1 IP 11H 4R 4ER

Ouch !

Its Ok Go RiverDogs ! Go Dante!
Chen Meng Wang

God damnit, it’s cowbell night…
- Dela G
  
  Isn’t every night cowbell night at that place?
karel capek

Coney 2012

Let’s make him famous…for looking like Buster Keaton.
D-Rob da man

I could not believe the Rays celebrating yesterdays win like a WS game what a bunch of goomers.
Soviet Swag

I didnt watch the game last night and didnt watch intros, who is that third guy in the booth???
- Cy Pettitte
  
  Kay, Cone and Piniella
- jjyank
  
  Lou Pinella
V

Joe Girardi, overthinking things.

Curtis Granderson against David Price in 2011:
.267/.353/.667
- http://twitter.com/karcotte karcotte
  
  at 6 he’ll have more ducks for that .667
  - jjyank
    
    Exactly. Grandy is the protection for Tex, not exactly a huge demotion.
- Needed Pitching
  
  It doesn’t sound like this lineup is going to be limited to just Price, seems Girardi is contemplating it against all Lefties
  
  http://yankees.lhblogs.com/201.....es+Blog%29
Mike HC

What a garbage stadium to open the season in.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  What a garbage stadium ~~to open the season in.~~
  
  Fixed.
  - Mike HC
    
    haha
- D-Rob da man
  
  I thought the king dome was bad but this place is more gloomy.
Dela G

Price is in midseason form, already hitting 96 on the gun. Good lord
Chen Meng Wang

Maddon really loves moving his infielders around, huh? I wonder if it makes them uncomfortable at all?
- Mykey
  
  It pisses me off watching it. Then again, I’m irrational.
Mykey

Well done, Mark. That’s how you do it.
Mike HC

He was not expecting fastball there
- Greg
  
  It was the location too. Price went outside after pounding him in.
Virgil Earp

And Teixera continues to be worthless. We have no protection for Robbie and Alex.
- jjyank
  
  Oh come on. He hasn’t hit for average, but a guy that hits as many HRs as Tex does is “worthless”? I think your comment is “worthless”.
  - Kostas
    
    Worthless might be harsh but to the posters point, Tex puts as much fear in pitchers as John Kruk does to salads.
mustang

Dante just got a hit of Tim Hudson what is Tim hudson doing in A Ball ?
- Karl Krawfid
  
  Rehab.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  Rehabbing form an injury
- mustang
  
  Thank you
Karl Krawfid

Woo just lookin’!

I ain’t trying to hit I’m just lookin’!
Virgil Earp

If the leadoff hitter reaches base don’t be surprised to see Girardi instruct Hirkoki to intentionally walk Carlos Pena to set up the righty righty match up against Longoria.
Kostas

Tex, no one watches pitches quite like you do. I think batting 5th is still to high. Thankfully you make up for your poor hitting with stellar defense.
Greg

I’m seeing the same things from Mark that I saw last year. What happened to this guy since 2009?
Mike HC

It has to do with run support and also the fact that everyone in the NL West pitched like an all star.
First time lawng time

Just wanted to say that it’s really not a big deal that they lost last night, and if they lose today it’s really not a big deal either. It happens. They’re not going to win every single game. With that said, I think everyone should just be relaxed this season, because I know people tend to get tense. It’s perfectly normal to lose. They lose today, but they play again tomorrow, so you just gotta get over it.

Just wanted to to give everyone a pep talk for the season. I know people like to flip out, but it’s really unnecessary.
- Mike HC
  
  I don’t think there is a single comment in this thread coming close to flipping out. Everyone seems pretty level headed here (for the moment).
  - First time lawng time
    
    I just mean for the future. Judging from past years, people seem to get pretty reactional.
- Mykey
  
  But we still have a chance at 161-1.
Dela G

Damn, he pitches so slow. Ugh
jjyank

I like that pause in the windup. Its cool.
Mykey

There you go Nunez! Mid-season form.
Cy Pettitte

good old NuniEEEEEEEE
Greg

Same Nunez from last year
Pinstripes in Cali

2012 Cy Young candidate Hiroki Kuroda…
- Mykey
  
  I don’t get it.
Needed Pitching

and Eduardo Scissorhands has returned
Virgil Earp

He sure did work on his fielding during the offseason. Why is Jeter sitting in the 2nd ballgame of the year?
Dela G

Nunez already working his error count!
Mike HC

Man, the SS for my softball team is more surehanded than this guy.
- Derrick
  
  Don’t ever question the binder it knows all.
jjyank

Wow and I thought Nunez’s problem was throwing…
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Your antics will never get old, Nunez.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Ugh. Nunez already huh?
teddy

wow nunez, just wow
Karl Krawfid

Should have kept Bill Hall.
Derrick

NunEz strikes again.
mustang

Jeter may have no range but at least…….
Ethan

Why is Jeter getting an partial off day? It’s the second game of the season!
- jjyank
  
  I think it’s more benching Ibanez and having someone else DH.
  - Ethan
    
    but ibanez played well yesterday! Let him continue DHing
    - jjyank
      
      But Ibanez is terrible against lefties…
      - Ethan
        
        so let jones DH then!
        
        Ethan
        
        nvm, just checked the lineup and he’s in the field.
        
        jjyank
        
        Jones is playing LF. Gardner is pretty bad against lefties too.
    - RetroRob
      
      No way do you want Ibanez in against a lefty, especially one of David Price’s caliber.
- Mike HC
  
  Nunez is going to be playing a lot. If he keeps making errors though, there will be a time when the Yanks might have to reevaluate that, but that is still a long time off.
RetroRob

Ahh, Eduardo. Why am I not even angry at you? Probably too early in the season. The Captain doesn’t have the range, but he makes sure outs are outs.
Dela G

Where did that miss?
- Ethan
  
  it didn’t according to pitch fx on mlb.tv
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Where was that pitch?
Cy Pettitte

wtf that’s a ball but that one to Cano was a strike?
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com Mike E
  
  Scout from MLB gameday says that Price got a generous strikezone. No such luck for Kuroda, but its early in the game.
Johnny

Nunez is horrible. A pillar of salt is superior. Chavez would be a better shortstop. Honestly, I would trust Chavez as a utility guy 10x more than I would Nunez. The only problem is that Chavez would get injured fielding the first grounder that came to him.
Ethan

Wow this game has slowed to a crawl
Chen Meng Wang

I hate Suzyn Waldman so much…she is sooooooo annoying.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  She’s going on and on about how the Rays have a disco ball in the club house and has no idea what a disco ball is called…
Cy Pettitte

Nice pitch but Jennings got a huge jump
jjyank

Nice pitch! Too bad Nunez put Jennings on.
Tom

Gotta IBB Longo here with 1st base open?

/Girardi’d
Mike HC

ARod just needs to play like the cocky kid from bad news bears and just take all Nunez’s balls.
- Dino Velvet
  
  Kelley Leak
  - nedro
    
    Freddy Kruger.
D-Rob da man

Kuroda should round house kick nunez in the head after the inning
Mykey

Veteran A-Rod not letting Nunez anywhere near that one.
Karl Krawfid

Do people forget A-rod played a hell of a third base last year?

I mean he was a beast in the ALDS. He just couldn’t hit.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Not at all, at least I don’t. He’s really become an excellent defensive third baseman.
Ethan

Ugh i wish Girardi would bat anyone anywhere at anytime like Maddon does. Who cares if they are a veteran, if they can’t perform they should be moved down in the lineup!

Also, yay for Arod for taking that ball and not letting Nunez getting it!
- Greg
  
  If Girardi did that, he would hear about it from management.
- jjyank
  
  Maddon doesn’t have guys like Jeter on his roster.
mustang

Good job A-Rod because we want Nunez to never touch the ball.

LOL
D-Rob da man

Nunez added an half hour to this game
- mustang
  
  at least
Greg

That was inside
Johnny

I hope we get a Kuroda vs. Beckett matchup this season. Game time: 7h 33m.
Mike HC

Martin tried to get the call … I think the umps might be on to him
Virgil Earp

Hirkoki’s getting squeezed.
D-Rob da man

Squeezed
- Greg
  
  No, that was inside
  - Ethan
    
    It got a sliver of the plate. It was a strike, barely.
jjyank

Man I thought Kuroda had him there.
Dela G

That was strike 3… C’mon man
Ethan

I sure hate inconsistent umpires! Do they even have a way of evaluating their performance, including strike zone accuracy?
- jjyank
  
  We really just need robo-umps.
  
  I’m all for the human element when they are good. But it seems like the umps the last few years have just been terrible.
  - Ethan
    
    To be completely honest it wouldn’t bother me. Use a similar system to how they track balls in tennis. I honestly don’t care one bit for the “human element” argument. I want some consistency!
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  http://www.brooksbaseball.net/....._type=.gif
  
  Okay two should have been strikes. Not a big deal.
  - Ethan
    
    3*
    - Ethan
      
      nope nvm, it is 2. Still 2/22 is not amazing.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      There’s two green boxes in the strike zone. That means two, not three.
Chen Meng Wang

So, if the first inning has taken a half out, this game is going to be 4.5 hours. Hooray.
Dela G

Anyone else love the fact that AJ Burnett will never pitch an inning for the yanks? No more 7 run games against Boston
D-Rob da man

22 pitches
Thanks nunny
- Tom
  
  Yeah, he basically shaved an inning off Kuroda’s start (an extra 12 pitches and counting)
Dela G

He’s getting squeezed badly
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Michael Kay loves pointing out when pitchers use the ol’ Jeff Nelson move doesn’t he? And yeah, Kuroda is getting squeezed.
Mike HC

Guess I should cancel my plans. This game might not end till midnight at this pace.
JobaWockeeZ

Thanks Nunez and thanks for overmanaging Girardi.
- Greg
  
  Why Girardi for today?
  - Karl Krawfid
    
    Making Jeter DH for the scrub playing short.
    - Greg
      
      Girardi plays for the playoffs. You should know that by now.
      
      Especially on artificial turf.
      
      Bet Eric Chavez will get a play at third within the next two games.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        It’s game two. Playoffs shouldn’t even be the first 50 things on Girardi’s mind.
        
        Needed Pitching
        
        They have a much better chance of making the playoffs if they can keep Jeter and ARod healthy and productive.
        
        That absolutely should be on Girardi’s mind.
      - Karl Krawfid
        
        Chavez is a legit Big league player.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    Jeter is old but I think Jeter can play two days in a row after having months of rest.
El biberon

I wanna rip my ears off my head listening to Lou pinella, he’s so bad it’s distracting me from the game
Cy Pettitte

wonderful.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Rays 0
Nunez 2
jjyank

…I hate you Nunez.
teddy

this is all giradri fault
- Greg
  
  how?
  - First time lawng time
    
    Girardi is a crappy manager. I’m not saying this is his fault, but I know you like to defend him. Jus saying in general that he’s a bad manager.
    - Greg
      
      He might be, but I dont like people losing their jobs unless they are losing. Girardi has fielded all winning teams and has a ring.
      
      And before you mention Torre, he was here forever and kind of overstayed his welcome.
      
      Just like that I dont like if the Jets fire Rex Ryan if his team has a winning record this year.
JobaWockeeZ

Nunez is so bad that even a simple errors fucks everything up.
Virgil Earp

And we’re seeing the beginnings of Hiroki Kuroda in the AL East. Nunez didn’t do him any favors but Huroki has to get out of that if he’s going to pitch in this division.
- First time lawng time
  
  It’s been one inning. One inning is way too small of a sample size to be indicative of anything.
Rey22

Luke Scott looks just like Sabretooth from the Wolverine Xmen movie.
mustang

Where are all of you that complain about Jeter range?
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Can I go in your world where errors = range? It’s two different things but continue not making sense.
  - mustang
    
    Bottom line Jeter makes the play and the inning ends with no runs in the REAL world.
    
    THAT’S MY WORLD !!!!
    
    Does that make sense in your world?
    - Greg
      
      Unfortunately that’s the fallacy of the predetermined outcome.
      You cant say that if Jennings grounds out the inning goes the same way.
      - mustang
        
        Your right, but my guess if it did is that Jeter would make play as he has almost every time all these years. Never know what you have until its gone.
        
        Needed Pitching
        
        there is something in between Jeter and Nunez
        a SS that has range and makes most of the routine plays
        Complaining about Jeter’s lack of range is in no way an endorsement of having Eduardo Scissorhands at SS. Each are bad in their own way, but Nunez is even worse than Jeter.
        
        mustang
        
        I totally understand, but people complain about Jeter’s lack of range like the Yankees can just bring someone up. Yes, the lack of range does show up here and there, but the routine plays happen more often and I think fans are spoiled by a man who makes those routine plays on the regular.
        
        Needed Pitching
        
        I’d agree with that. They definitely don’t have a better option.
Disney23

FU Nunez!
Ethan

Is there a defensive metric for number of extra runs allowed due to errors? Add 2 to nunez, I’d be very interested to see just how bad nunez’s errors have been.
- jjyank
  
  Ha yeah fielders should have URAs (unearned run average). Every run after an error (the ones that don’t count for a pitcher’s ERA) should be applied to the fielders URA.
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  It would basically be unearned run avg (ura)
- Tom
  
  UZR models this with what they call errR (runs due to error for a fielder). You’d have to go to Fangraph and pull up the player and look at the breakdown within UZR.
  
  It’s hard to simply just looked at unearned runs as pitcher quality comes into play and if you have a 2nd error in the inning how do you assign the runs?
jjyank

Nunez with the redemption!

Not really though.
D-Rob da man

Kuroda should go take a shit in Nunez locker in the middle of the inning.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  give him some of that Chan Ho Park diarrhea
  - D-Rob da man
    
    Eyeee ok but i havea
    diaryhia! Why you laugh? I have diareyhaaa.
    ( joba laughing in back ground)
    
    Why you laugh?
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com Mike E

Nunez and a terrible strikezone makes it 5 outs per inning.
mustang

Wow back up on that too its going to be a long game.
Kostas

Watching Nunez says so much about the lack of quality middle infield talent in the Yankees system. Damn near threw he ball away.
Mike HC

You know deep down that Jeter feels like the team got what they deserved for pulling him from short.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Calling a Nunez bomb here
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  Whoops. When he’s up I mean
Ethan

Price is pitching really well so far. Those 2 runs could really hurt later in the game.
Darren

Girardi is a monkey. Sitting Jeter in the 2nd game of the season?. Just DH Nunez! ARod probably needs the time off more than Jeter!

goddamn my blood is boiling through the roof already….if George was around he would have Sweet Lou and Girardo switch places after every loss.
DT

I’d kill to get an utility infielder that can actually field the ball
- JAG
  
  He’s named Ramiro Pena.
  
  Yeah, I know.
D-Rob da man

The Rays are becoming the new Redsox really hate this team.
- Ethan
  
  I dislike them but what i hate even more is poor baseball by the yankees. Sloppy defense, stupid IBBs really boil my blood.
- Mykey
  
  Definitely not the Red Sox, but yes, I absolutely hate this team.
  - Greg
    
    The Rays are the new Angels when it comes to the Yankees.
    
    They steal. They pitch.
    - Mykey
      
      Every series is just stressful against this team.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  The Red Sox are mostly comprised of dirtbags. There’s no one on the Rays close enough.
mustang

Dante 2 for 2 of tim hudson not bad at all.
Mykey

Well this may get out of hand soon. Christ.
D-Rob da man

Gardy would have caught that.
- Greg
  
  No he wouldn’t.
- D-Rob da man
  
  (sarcasem off)
Mykey

Kuroda just cannot avoid 3-2. Great.
Johnny

No fan of Detroit or Fielder, but his second home run of the game was glorious.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......5&v=3
jjyank

That was pretty scary for a second there.
Virgil Earp

A-Rod has to give way there. Teix had the better angle.
D-Rob da man

Thats cause jeter is not there. Lol
bobtaco

Remember when Pena used to be a .200 hitter?
- Mykey
  
  Remember when he didn’t face the Yankees?
- Ethan
  
  He’s been a yankee killer. They should’ve got him this offseason just so they don’t have to face him.
- Kostas
  
  Still is and will always be.
Chen Meng Wang

sigh…I know it’s a long season but this is upsetting :(
Mykey

So… Can we go back to Spring Training?
Kostas

Seriously, letting Pena beat you? Embarassing.
D-Rob da man

Pena again.
jjyank

The 2012 Yankees are not doing good things for my blood pressure so far.
Darren

remember when The Yankees could have had Carlos Pena for nothing and he sat and rotted?
Love Ya Cash.
- jjyank
  
  Seriously? Lots of teams had Pena and released him. He was just a late bloomer. No way you can blame Cash for that.
  - Greg
    
    I think he is talking about this particular offseason.
    - jjyank
      
      It was pretty clear the Yankees did not budget that much for a DH this year. Again, can’t blame Cash.
      - Needed Pitching
        
        and definitely can’t say he could be had for nothing.
        He signed for 7.25M. And there is no guarantee he would even consider signing for the Yankees as platoon DH instead of Tampa as starting 1B.
  - bobtaco
    
    Torre wouldn’t play him either.
D-Rob da man

Kuroda welcome to Al east beast ball. No easy outs here. And f-ing cow bells.
Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet

not looking forward to the annoying ‘must win’ narrative the local papers will try to manufacture about game 3 if they lose. that would be the worst part of a loss.

and price is cruising; this doesn’t feel like yesterday where shields clearly did not have his stuff working so 4-0 wasn’t that big a deal.
- Mykey
  
  Honestly these losses mean nothing. It just makes it hard to watch SportsCenter later.
  - Greg
    
    No, it makes all of ESPN harder to watch. The good news is that the Red Sox are getting creamed early, so that kind of even;s it out.
  - Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet
    
    i wouldnt say nothing. every game has the same 1/162nd meaning, until you get to the end of the season where they then coudl be meaningless if you clinched/are out of it. and against AL East co-contender Tampa, they certainly have meaning.
    
    Ask the Sox if they wish they could’ve had one of those early season losses back from last year.
Karl Krawfid

All the “old” players are ready for the season.

All the young guys are playing like shit.
Johnny

Derek Jeter is the only good player left on this team
mustang

Jeter two hits boring.

Smile on my face.
- Tom
  
  Clearly he needs to DH more?
  
  /GirardiForTheWin!
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Kay’s first misread fly ball of the year.
- Mykey
  
  That was Stirling-eque.
Chen Meng Wang

Wow, according to pitch FX this ump has a very tight strike zone. and damn BABip gods, starting early this season.
Ethan

How come swisher is batting 2nd?
- Karl Krawfid
  
  Joe Girardi trying to out manage Joe Maddon and Bobby Valentine.
- jjyank
  
  Good numbers against Price, good numbers against lefties?
  - Ethan
    
    Granderson had great numbers against lefties too… I don’t know his specific numbers against price though.
    - Needed Pitching
      
      Swisher much better OBP vs. lefties, Granderson more power against lefties. They want Swisher setting the table and Grandy powering them in.
Mykey

Hahahaha this is a joke.
Kevin G.

Terrific start to the season.
Chen Meng Wang

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Hiroki looks….ummmmm…..really good?
Karl Krawfid

Embarrassing.
Cy Pettitte

this game is pretty much unwatchable, bad everything right now.
D-Rob da man

Kuroda
You can notnthrow meatballs here.
jimmy

He obviously can’t handle the pressures of the AL East. Worst. Signing. Ever!
bonestock94

The ’09 season didn’t start that well either
- Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet
  
  or the ’98 season.
Ethan

Couple more rays runs and this game is going off. It’s early but the Yanks just don’t look good offensively (except for Jeter). Plus, I have some econometrics studying I probably should do.
Virgil Earp

I just don’t know if he can pitch in this division. He’s all over the place tonight. And what a brilliant move to DH Jeter the 2nd game of the season. More over managing from Joe.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I don’t think CC can pitch in this division either.
  - I’m sexy and I Cano it
    
    I can’t believe it’s not butter.
bobtaco

Who is the long man today, as Kuroda has already thrown a lot of pitches…
Kostas

Well, I didn’t think the Yanks would start 0-2.
- bobtaco
  
  Well, not sure if you remember, but the 1998 Yankees started 1-4
Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet

Kuroda needs to not groove first pitches to this team, that was 3rd-4th time he got burned doing that.Something Martin/Rothschild needs to let him know about.

And btw, Tampa is a very good team, arguably top 3 in the AL. Losing to them 2x in a row, if it happens, is not something to be embarrassed about.
- Greg
  
  Grooving the first pitch, I think, is a side effect of pitching against NL opponents in a big ballpark.
  
  There is no shame in it. But the media is not going to play that way which makes it unbearable to do anything.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Obviously every loss should be something to be embarrassed about. This team should go 162-0, anything else is simply unacceptable. You do realize that the Rays magic number goes down to 160 if we loose this game right. (sarcasm detector optional)
D-Rob da man

Rays players over celebrating again
Dino Velvet

This is gonna get ugly.
I Collect Brett Gardner Cards

dont worry bout the starters, Andy And Pineda in May.
Chen Meng Wang

Hooray…a double play.
I Collect Brett Gardner Cards

get phelps in there. lol
Ethan

Please, get something done on offense.
Derrick

Oh well at least that second wild card is available
Gil L

T. Austin taken out after 3.
Cotham out after 4.
Anybody knows why?
Johnny

Sterling dropping OBP-related joke bombs on air.
- Pat D
  
  Please tell me he wasn’t making fun of OBP.
  - Johnny
    
    It was something about Alex being the OBP league leader two games into the season.
    
    Sterling dropping joke bombs doesn’t necessarily mean they detonate.
Greg

Well, there’s your answer on DH’ing Jeter.
- Ethan
  
  Stupid reason
JobaWockeeZ

This defense of theirs is too annoyingly good.
- Greg
  
  Again, they are the new Angels in our rogue’s gallery.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    The Angels were annoying for this team but in different ways.
    - Greg
      
      I disagree. They steal bases, they play defense, unknown guys step up for them in crucial moments, they pitch well.
Pat D

So…I’m at work. Is the season over yet or something?
Kostas

Watching all these shifts makes me wonder why the Yankees never seem to have the same success in scouting opponents. Clearly Girardi’s binder is full of wrong answers.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  The Binder never lies. How dare you.
- j6takish
  
  It’s pretty remarkable how they always seem to be in the right place at exactly the right time. It’s not like they are using information that isn’t widely available to the public
Johnny

These shifts Maddon pulls are so embarrasing. Because you know no Yankee hitter will ever play late on the ball to beat it. They’re going to be hitting into these shifts all season long.
- Greg
  
  If that’s true, then why dont other managers do it?
  - nedro
    
    If the Yanks continue to hit right into them, you can bet they will.
Cy Pettitte

Jonesy beats the shift!
bobtaco

61 pitches for Price too, the Yankees will see the Rays BP this game
- Greg
  
  And given their performance yesterday…
  - Ethan
    
    maybe they’ll be tired? Like girardi seems to think Jeter is.
    - Greg
      
      One thing that Girardi said that makes sense is that its on artificial turf which can be very hard to play on. I think it is more the turf then the playing time.
    - jjyank
      
      Oh give it a rest. Girardi is DHing Jeter to bench Ibanez and Gardner, NOT “rest” Jeter. Why is that so hard to understand?
      - Ethan
        
        It was sarcastic.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Andruw!
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Bowchickabowow
D-Rob da man

Woo hoo we scored one
jimmy

Run Andruw run!
Kevin G.

I don;t know why, but watching Jones run is hilarious.
Cy Pettitte

Andruw was chuggin’ lol
Ethan

Alright now you have to capitalize on this martin!
D-Rob da man

Is that nunez on fist for the Rays.
- D-Rob da man
  
  First dammed beer
Kevin G.

#Redemption
Cy Pettitte

Nunie making amends, somewhat
I’m sexy and I Cano it

It’s a ballgame, gentlemen.
Greg

Nunez giveth and taketh
http://twitter.com/karcotte karcotte

Here’s to the nunez/gardner platoon all season.
D-Rob da man

Nunez can hit
jimmy

Jeter is killing the ball.
Greg

More evil BaBIP.
- Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet
  
  yep, they smoked price that inning. methinks the shine is off his stuff a bit. hold TB at 5, can still take this one.
Ethan

Argh really want to watch more of the game but need to learn econometrics. Any of you out there can explain the Logit and Probit models? I would be so grateful :)
- jjyank
  
  I just stick to Poli Sci. Easier that way.
  - Ethan
    
    Poli sci is my second major. Just doesn’t have much for job opportunities unless I decide I want to do law.
    - jjyank
      
      It does if you get a few good internships. I was Poli Sci, then got a Masters in Poli Sci, and now I’m only 24 and already and Intel Analyst for a government agency that I can’t disclose haha. Poli Sci is great, you just gotta apply it the right way.
      
      That being said, math related things are probably easier. But it worked out for me anyway.
      - Ethan
        
        Where did you intern? For my summers I’ve been doing things that are probably more suited for economics. Worked for the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand my first summer, interned at Citibank last year and between my 3rd and 4th I’ll be spending it at the university working on my honors (kind of like you do for a masters but for undergrad) and doing research.
        
        jjyank
        
        Studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, learned Arabic. Did internships with the National Council on US-Arab Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, both in D.C.
        
        Ethan
        
        Several people have really recommended that I learn an up and coming foreign language, Arabic would be a great one. Those sound like pretty awesome internships. Do you mind my asking where you did your undergrad and masters? If so, just say so.
        
        jjyank
        
        Undergrad at the University of Vermont (I like snowboarding haha), grad at Rutgers University. Not marquee schools, but my experience has taught me that its more about your GPA and your experiences there than the name. Rutgers isn’t an Ivy League school, but when you get a Masters with a 3.9 GPA and submit a good writing sample, that is more important than a name brand school.
        
        As far as languages go, if you can learn Arabic, Chinese, or Farsi, you’re set. Any one of those gives you a massive boost.
        
        Ethan
        
        I go to school in Canada (being half Canadian i get great tuition prices) and have a very strong GPA here. Grad school will almost definitely be somewhere in the US as that’s where I want to work.
        
        If I do end up pursuing poli sci I will probably try to learn a language to go along with it whether it’s one of the three you mentioned or perhaps Russian.
        
        jjyank
        
        Russian is still a good option. It was obviously much more ideal 20-30 years ago, but it is still a good language. To make a baseball comparison, the three languages I mentions would be #1 starters, with Russian as a solid #2.
        
        But definitely keep up with the econ stuff. It’s much easier to break into the industry as an econ related positon and then go from there. What is it you want to do?
        
        Ethan
        
        Can’t reply anymore :(. Not quite sure exactly where I want to go but I like micro more than macro so most likely that I’ll end up in the private sector. I’m still considering learning a language if I do go forward with economics. Russian, Chinese and Portuguese would all be great languages (i think) with those being the languages for the BRIC countries.
        
        jjyank
        
        Sounds like a good plan. Government does have a lot of openings in micro econ stuff (usajobs.gov) Are you a US citizen? Not being a citizen is a huge detriment for government jobs, though I’m sure the private sector has plenty of opportunities too, I just don’t have any experience in that area.
        
        Ethan
        
        Yup, I’m American-Canadian dual. I will definitely look into some government jobs in the micro field.
        
        Anyways, I need to get some studying done. Thanks for all the advice!
- j6takish
  
  Learning about the Rays teaches you everything you need to know about econometrics
Johnny

Lou Pinella talks a lot but says nothing.
- Pat D
  
  I really don’t think he’s got a good feel for broadcasting.
Greg

If the Yankees score one more run, then the blame is partially off Nunez because his error only gave up two runs.
- I’m sexy and I Cano it
  
  If the Yankees score one more run
  
  Then it will be a one run game
- Tom
  
  Huh?
  
  If they lose 4-3 won’t the 2 unearned runs be the (theoretical) difference between a 4-3 loss and a 3-2 win?
  - Greg
    
    No because Kuroda gave up 2 earned runs after the error. He could have given up none.
    - Mike
      
      That’s poor logic. From that exact same reasoning, Nunez shouldn’t have had the error in the first place that led to the 2 unearned runs.
    - Tom
      
      So Kuroda giving up 2 ER’s is a poor outing and puts the blame back on him?
      
      Once again, huh?
      
      The expectation is that Kuroda should throw a shutout?
      - Greg
        
        The 2 runs that Kuroda gave up after the error were directly in his control. He had the power in the situation.
        
        In the first inning, the Nunez error took away the control that Kuroda had.
        
        Tom
        
        Right and if the Yankees score another run then they win the game 3-2 without Nunez’s error….
        
        (which obviously takes the blame off Nunez and puts it on Kuroda?)
Virgil Earp

Lou just says anything that comes to him. Who cares about Petco Park? We’re in Tampa for Yankees-Rays. They need to replace Lou with Paulie or Al Leiter.
- jjyank
  
  I agree about Paulie. Lou is only doing the Tampa games, so its really not bad. But my dream booth is Singleton, Cone, and O’Neil.
- D-Rob da man
  
  I like lou its like watching the game with a cantankerous grandpa
  - mustang
    
    LMAO !
mustang

Did I heard that right 5 HR of beckett ?
- Greg
  
  Yep. 2 each by Miguel and Prince and one by Alex Avila
  - mustang
    
    LOL
    
    Priceless!
- Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet
  
  yep. fielder m cab 2 ea, aviles.
  - Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet
    
    avila that is. aviles did not hit a hr off his teammate.
- jjyank
  
  Yes and its awesome. If Beckett is anything less than awesome this season, the Sox are screwed. I know its just the first start, but it sure feels good.
Kostas

Funny Michael Kay says with 100% certainty “that should be two”. When the ball is hit to Nunez, he says, “ball on the ground, Nunez to his left… and he boots it”.
Mike HC

Might we see some Phelps tonight?
RetroRob

These shifts have nothing to do with Joe Maddon. They’re given to him by the front office. It’s all computer driven. That’s why Ben Zobrist will cease showing solid defensive numbers at 2B as soon as he leaves the Rays.
- Kostas
  
  See Carl Crawford. You could be right.
  - RetroRob
    
    Crawford’s defensive metrics also took a hit moving to LF at Fenway, which negates one of his greatest assets: speed. Yet I’m sure positioning was helping him in Tampa.
    
    I am fascinated by Tampa’s increasing use of shifts against all hitters. If history teaches us one thing, if it’s working, other teams will begin to deploy the same types of shifts, and more front offices will begin to study the data to deploy their own shifts.
    - Tom
      
      Crawford’s #’s were already suspect before he left TB.
      
      He had a career UZR/150 at the Trop of 22.5
      He had a career UZR/150 away from the Trop of 7.5 (when he was with TB)
      
      His defensive #’s were going to take a hit as soon as he moved out of the Trop to ANY park.
      
      Fenway doesn’t help, but it is not the sole reason for his decline. (They also have changed the park correction recently for Fenway to take care of some of that)
    - JohnnyC
      
      The knee-jerk response to this is that your pitchers have to execute their pitches in order to make hitters hit into these shifts. But the insight that TB may have latched onto is that the patterns depend more on the swing mechanics of the batter than the location of the pitch. I.E., Teixiera will try to pull everything even if it’s on the outer half of the plate.
Chen Meng Wang

Hooray, the leadoff walk.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  hooray for double plays to erase leadoff walks
mustang

YESSS!!! Nunez
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Can’t. Beat. The. Fucking. Shift.
mustang

This thing that the Rays are playing on field is really annoying.
Cy Pettitte

Joe Maddon actually had them move the LF wall out 1ft before the game in anticipation of Jones being in the line up
jjyank

Damn it!!! I thought that was gone.
Greg

I;m really starting to think that going to Yankee Stadium has ruined Mark Texeira’s offensive game.
DT

No goddamn luck
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

Wow.
mustang

Damn Dante ! SO

2 for 4 the 2 hits being of Tim hudson I can live with it.

Another bad day Culver 0 for 4. I wonder if he has any “range”? LOL
- mustang
  
  Sanchez 2 for 3 very nice.
Cy Pettitte

teeing off on Kuroda. super.
Greg

Scott really likes the lowball.
D-Rob da man

Oy another hidecki irabu moment.
- Greg
  
  Really?
- D-Rob da man
  
  Er i mean igawa.
Kostas

Seriously, first Pena now Luke Scott? It is one thing to get beat by talented baseball players, but when it is second rate hacks, WTF?
- Greg
  
  Pena and Scott are not second rate hacks.
  - Kostas
    
    Sorry, dude, they are. They are fillers to a line up due to expanded leagues. With no Tampa, AZ, Colorado, these guys are bench players, at best – more likely AAAA players.
    - jjyank
      
      Pena hits 20-30 HRs annually…and he’s a bench player?
      - Kostas
        
        Averages 140++++ K’s a year. Career .239. .210 hitter with RISP… Seriously, your playing the HR stat, c’mon.
        
        jjyank
        
        Not saying Pena is a star, but he is a useful player. And HR are important. Not the be-all, end-all, but how many bench players can you name that can hit 30 HR a year? None? That’s that I thought.
    - Needed Pitching
      
      Pena rakes righties.
      Should be a platoon player … maybe yes.
      AAAA player – ridiculous
      
      10th best hitter in baseball against RHP (wOBA) over the last 5 years, a common trait in AAAA players, amirite?
    - JAG
      
      Really? Luke Scott I can kind of see, but Pena? He’s widely considered a strong defensive 1B and is an OBP and SLG machine.
Chen Meng Wang

On a fun note, I beat the Orioles in The Show 2-0 earlier today in The Show, with a minor league line up an Brackmonster on the mount (last years edition)
D-Rob da man

This is not the nl west
Meatballs over the middle of the plate here get killed.
- TomH
  
  Meatballs over the middle of the plate get killed in the AL East, the NL East, and my grandson’s little league team.
  - TomH
    
    NL West too!
- alittleblackegg
  
  In LA, he kept the ball down. This isn’t typical – he just doesn’t have good control today.
Paul O’neill’s Batting Helmet

Could Kuroda be tipping his pitches? TB is unloading on the first pitch like crazy.

5 runs for Rays is a pretty tough hill to climb.

Someone at the Post/News is writing the 0-2 uh-oh article as we speak.
- Tom
  
  Good grief Nunez is awful…. It’s like he’s overwhelmed as soon as the ball comes to him (especially when he has time to think about what to do)
  - Tom
    
    aargh… reply fail.
DT

Well season’s over. See you next year guys!
I Collect Brett Gardner Cards

sigh
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  +1
D-Rob da man

Lou not a kuroda fan huh?
Chen Meng Wang

Did He get hit?! Sterling and Waldman are completely useless.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  no he’s fine, got out of the way
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Thank god. Sterling just goes Kiroda is on the ground, I didn’t see if it hit him cause I’m watching the ball.
jimmy

That could have been bad.
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

LOL, make him hit the dirt as payback!
D-Rob da man

Maple bats again will this be the year of the fatality.
D-Rob da man

Likeing kuroda after the dust off lol
Greg

You know who Kuroda’s pitching like today.

A.J. Burnett ans I am not kidding.
- Jeff Karstens, Male Model
  
  ^
Karl Krawfid

Rays do what the Yanks don’t like to do.

Add on runs.
Cy Pettitte

Joe shifts people to open up holes for the other team. perfect.
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

Kuroda makes me miss AJ, he could do this, but with some nice Tats.
Kostas

This if fucking ridiculous. At least put up a fight. Spring Training is over.
D-Rob da man

Cano went all out for that one huh
First time lawng time

Boston lost 10-0 today. LOL
- Jeff Karstens, Male Model
  
  And so through 2 games they’ve allowed as many runs as the Yanks, but our game isn’t over.
Chen Meng Wang

This is just torturous…it feels like the Rays are doing everything well while we’re still in spring training mode.
D-Rob da man

Kuroda to the showers
He should piss in nunez locker.
Cy Pettitte

that was almost the worst run down ever
I’m sexy and I Cano it

http://troll.me/2012/01/05/jac.....tual-fuck/
The Fallen Phoenix

Eduardo Scissorhands…
Needed Pitching

that play had impending doom written all over it once Nunez got the ball
First time lawng time

Guys, it’s one game, and it’s not even over yet. They could still win the game, and if they don’t it’s fine. They play again tomorrow. Also, let’s not act like Kuroda is a bad pitcher or can’t handle the AL East based on one game.
- Greg
  
  Technically that’s true.
  
  The problems are that
  
  1. the media will go nuts
  2. We have to live through these crappy games.
  - First time lawng time
    
    1. Don’t pay attention to the media. It’s incredibly easy to ignore it and to pick and choose what type of news you want to read/watch.
    2. That sounds really depressing. It’s just a game. Get over it. It has no impact on your life.
mustang

Yanks 15 out of 23 games vs Rays, Red Sox, Angels, Rangers, and Tigers it MIGHT be a long April.
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

There was so much stupid on the field at that moment I can’t even comprehend it.
- https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  I mean do they not practice rundowns AT ALL during spring? They fuck these up at the start of every year. You would think it would be fresh in their minds.
Hall and Nokes

Boy, Tampa is really bumbling and stumbling its way to 2-0.
Chen Meng Wang

Ok, can we work on getting some offense…especially if Price is now over 100 pitches and is probably coming out of the game soon?
D-Rob da man

Josh beckett had a rough game but a couple cases of beer and some popeyes and he should be fine.
RetroRob

As fascinated as I am by the Rays’ use of shifts (and I do think they’re on to something), I am equally sure their overly agressive style on the bases, most likely designed to force physical and mental errors, costs them runs, especially against more experienced teams. Of course, the Rays no doubt have data to say I’m wrong!
Zack

I’m sorry but we look like an old and tired team and our pitching staff is getting clobbered by one of the worst offenses in the league.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Or we look like a team that’s getting beat by a really good pitcher who is on his game…and our pitchers are off to a bad start. Or let’s start the narrative that we’re old and tired in game 2 of the season.
- pat
  
  LOL. 2nd game of he year and they’rr already old and tired?
Tom

They might give ARod the day off tomorrow (and not even DH him)?
mustang

Wow! they are going to sit A-Rod the 3rd game of season?

LMAO!
- Liam in NY
  
  Yeah, it’s mostly because of playing on the turf though
Greg

As I suspected, A-Rod’s probably not going to play tomorrow. Just like Jeter is not playing SS today. Girardi thinks in terms of the whole season.
- First time lawng time
  
  There’s a difference between thinking in terms of the whole season and just being superfluous.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Are they talking about this on the TV broadcast?
  - Greg
    
    They did, yes. And they seemed to to be nonplussed about it. They seemed to understand the reason for it.
- mustang
  
  Yes, but its 3 games in?????
  
  Can they play like for a week first.
Jimmy McNulty

Yeah the pitching and defense has been atrocious.
mike_h

Stupid question: anyone know the song in that Corona commercial?
Cy Pettitte

Soriano makes twice as much as this entire bullpen combined, can they please do something against it.
- I Collect Brett Gardner Cards
  
  well the big boys are coming up in the 8th, so we got a shot. Unless the rays tack on more, they might.
pat

Front door slider plz.
Karl Krawfid

What the hell is up with this strikezone?
Chen Meng Wang

Rapada was brought in to get out the Pena’s of the world. Not walk them.
Needed Pitching

why is Rapada pitching to Longoria???
a bit early to throw in the towel isn’t it?
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Hooray for my fantasy team.
- pat
  
  You’re a douche.
  - First time lawng time
    
    Unnecessary.
  - I’m sexy and I Cano it
    
    Just trying to take something positive from this.
Cy Pettitte

Rapada against Righty -> HR.

wow that was predictable.
- Kostas
  
  Not according to Girardi’s binder. But then again, he was out of IBB’s for the series and chooses never to use them late in a game.
Karl Krawfid

And our dumb ass manager leaves Rapada in to face the righty
Chen Meng Wang

According to Sterling and Waldman this is going to get over turned. People with TVs: thoughts?
- Cy Pettitte
  
  clearly leaned over like a foot into the field to grab it. should be overturned.
  
  stupid Yankee fan.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  Fan clearly reached over the wall. Swish wouldn’t have caught it, but it wasn’t a homer.
- Kostas
  
  Who cares. Game was over 5 innings ago. Plus, it is unfortunate because now Waldman has another dead horse to beat the shit out of.
Hall and Nokes

That completely cancels out Jeffrey Maier.
- Hall and Nokes
  
  OK I guess not.
RetroRob

Okay, I have an issue with here already. Rapada should NEVER be left in the game to face a righthanded hitter, and heaven knows, not one as good as Longoria. What part of Rapada’s track record does Girardi not understand? He’s a LOOGY and a LOOGY only. If he fails or succeds in getting the lefty out, he should immediately be taken out of the game.
- rek4gehrig
  
  Hear hear
First time lawng time

Well that Yankee fan certainly won’t be winning Genius of the Year Award.
bonestock94

What a dickhead fan
- Cy Pettitte
  
  especially because he’s a Yankees fan. wtf was he thinking?
  - RetroRob
    
    He wasn’t. Or what he was thinking is he wants to catch a baseball. The excitement of the moment, eyes up on the ball, and the belief that because he’s sitting in the stands, anything he can catch is over the wall. He, of course, was wrong! Steve Bartman syndrome.
    
    I don’t think it made any difference. Swish was not going to catch that ball, so it was going to be a double as is.
- RetroRob
  
  It’s actually Jeffrey Maier out in RF. He’s older and had a tough life.
Kostas

Favorite move – bringing the infield in a 6-2 game? Girardi, your brilliance is only second to Peter Griffin.
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

Rapada is good.
pat

Hahaha bloop.
Chen Meng Wang

for fucks sake. this is getting sad to listen to.
Zack

I have this bad feeling we could be looking from the bottom not before long in the AL east….
- pat
  
  We’re already in last place. Probably not going anywhere for the rest of the season.
- DT
  
  Yea we’re screwed. Might as well give up this season.
  - JoeG
    
    Let’s go Mets..! ..?
mike_h

Mike Gonzalez still available?
rek4gehrig

Good night all. Game 3 – The Real Revenge
JohnnyC

Why is Rapada actually in contact with the rubber? He needs the extra coupla inches.
Tom

Girardi is on fire early this season….

I hope he went to Rapada because Logan is not available as L-R-L is a much better setup for Logan who at least has a prayer of getting righties out.

Better matchup: Rapada vs Longoria and Joyce or Wade against Longoria and then Joyce. It was a 4 run game at the time and not exactly ball game over. (and it’s not like Wade worked yesterday)
D-Rob da man

Rapada to righties giradi raises the white flag.
Karl Krawfid

Cory Wade must have died warming up.
JobaWockeeZ

It’s GG anyways but either Girardi is using his weakest pitcher to get him outs or less logically just loves him his crappy LHP.

Don’t know which reason it is.
First time lawng time

I think it’s time to bring in Chad Gaudin…or whoever the garbage time pitcher is this year.
mustang

Well this is over the only interesting thing left is Montero AB in Oak.

0 for 1 but it was a very strong ground out to 2nd like my friend here would say.
Cy Pettitte

oh my god that’s only one out? lmao.
Karl Krawfid

Oh no Sean Rodriguez. Lets make that pitching change now.
- Tom
  
  Hey, that’s a step up from intentionally walking him. There was a lefty on deck and 2nd base was open….
  
  (I kid…. well only sort of…)
D-Rob da man

Big stein is rolling in his grave
Karl Krawfid

And what the hell is up with YES showing the Rays dugout non stop?

The Rays are the only damn team they do it for and it’s annoying.
First time lawng time

Weird question: who was the guy who, last year for the Yankees, had a low ERA, but that was only because he pitched in garbage time or something? People used to joke around, saying he’s the worst pitcher with a [insert number here] ERA.

Was it Cory Wade or am I thinking of someone else?
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Pants Lendelton?
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  Ayala? The worst pitcher with a sub 2 ERA?
  - First time lawng time
    
    Yes! Thankyou.
- Tom
  
  Ayala?
- YankeeJosh
  
  Lance Pendleton? IE Pants Lendelton?
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Nah, I was wrong. It was Ayala.
- Needed Pitching
  
  definitely Ayala
The Scheister

This strike zone sucks! I demand a refund!
James A

I don’t normally have too many complaints about Girardi, but Maddon has just completely undressed him in this series. It’s not his fault that CC and Hiroki weren’t sharp, and not his fault that there’s been some RISPfail, but Maddon has his team ready, is making smarter decisions, and is making pretty much all the right calls on everything out of the box while Girardi has been wrong. Can’t wait to get out of Tampa
- pat
  
  Isn’t Maddon the guy who had Jose Molina try to sac bunt with 2 strikes yesterday? And didn’t one of his players just get thrown out at 3rd after another was caught in a rundown at first?
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    And that makes him worse than Giaradi how? Let’s not even try and pretend that Girardi doesn’t overdo bunting.
    - Needed Pitching
      
      I don’t recall Girardi ever calling for a squeeze with 2 strikes.
    - pat
      
      Not saying that at all, but to act like the Rays players are “so much more prepared” and that Maddon is “completely undressing” Girardi is dumb when you actually look at the games, not a select few events.
      - Justin Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (formerly Rainbow Connection)
        
        or the results. dummy.
- Tom
  
  So if Girardi didn’t set fire to this game with Rapada time, the Yankees might potentially be one baserunner from bringing the tying to the plate right now?
  
  This is why you don’t give up on 4 run games… if nothing else it forces your opponent to use their better bullpen arms.
  
  (granted this assumes Wade gets out of the inning and the Rays still bring the rapist in)
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

Game 3: Avoid the Sweep

Anyone think that was going to be the game thread at 3:00 yesterday?
- Hall and Nokes
  
  I go into every season expecting to go 0-162. I like to be pleasantly surprised.
  - Jeff Karstens, Male Model
    
    You must be one of those six “1”s every Monday morning.
The Scheister

Let’s go with the comeback! BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES!!
- mustang
  
  Hey why not.
  
  LET”S GO YANKS!!!!
mustang

Ok here we GOOOOOO!
mustang

Wow!
Karl Krawfid

Yankee baseball!!!!!!
Jeff Karstens, Male Model

The Rays look like they play in a league above us.
Needed Pitching

TOOTBLAN
JobaWockeeZ

At this point I’m giving props to the Rays organization. Fuck you guys.
- mustang
  
  “At this point I’m giving props to the Rays organization.”
  
  Agree 100%
  
  who thinks they will be seeing more shifts played on them?
  
  Me! Me! Me!
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Never had a reason to hate them before, but fuck the Rays.
sevrox

Mark Tesh-air-uh – MVP!
I’m sexy and I Cano it

That figures.
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com Mike E

Shoulda bunted.
Johnny

That double-play pretty much sums up the game for the Yankees. That’s good work, boys.
First time lawng time

I wonder what Teixeira’s stats would be if it weren’t for that wretched shift.
pat

LO freaking L. Can’t buy a break. Maddon is so smart having his fielders postioned right where we’re hitting liners.
The Scheister

AL take notice…shift, shift then shift some more on the Yanks, I’ve counted three or four base hits robbed just tonight. Well done Rays.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  It’s all luck, Maddon sucks, the Rays suck, everything bad going for us is just bad luck.
  - The Scheister
    
    They’ve been hard to hate but their getting there, especially Maddons face!
    - JohnnyC
      
      I hated Maddon when he was Sciosia’s bench coach. I go way back on that shit.
      - The Scheister
        
        I kinda felt sorry for him at the beginning of his Rays tenure, now he’s pesky like the herpes.
I Shift my Pants

Hughes, gotta be the stopper tomorrow.
The Scheister

Swisher looking sweet in the field, I’m trying to be positive at this point.
forensic

Wonder why they told the players that the season doesn’t start till Monday?
mustang

And in Oakland everyone is hitting in front of Montero and everyone hitting behind Montero someone forgot to send an invite.
- mustang
  
  And Colon is getting killed!!!!
  - The Scheister
    
    I hate it when my Colon gets killed, damn community college!
The Scheister

Spring training what? Says Wade! Epic comeback on the way boys and girls! Say tuned for some “C-Ya’s” and such!
- The Scheister
  
  TWO MORE TO TIE!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!
pat

Maddon might have had Joyce a little too prepared there.
pat

Another line drive right at someone. Grrrrrr
mustang

The old man !!!!!
JohnnyC

It would scar Teixiera’s manhood if he actually went opposite field against the shift.
- pat
  
  I he supposed to lay off a pitch he hit hard so he can try and inside out something to LF?
  - Needed Pitching
    
    obviously
    - JohnnyC
      
      They were pitching him away. Didn’t have to inside out anything. Maddon knows he tries to hook everything.
      - Needed Pitching
        
        the pitch he hit was pretty much down the middle. That’s a pitch he should be trying to do damage with, especially given the score at the time.
        
        JohnnyC
        
        Clint Eastwood: A man’s gotta know his limitations. A single to left would’ve scored 2. And considering the score as well, it would have prolonged the inning, possibly more runs could’ve scored. Final note: if you look at the replay, the pitch was outer half not down the middle. He went out and hooked it.
Johnny

Yay Shiv-ezz!
mustang

WE NEED A HIT !!!!!

WE NEED A HIT !!!!
Virgil Earp

We look as bad as the Red Sox do right now and that ain’t good. Our two best pitchers were lit up. So much for revenge. A lot of pressure will be on Phil tomorrow to avoid a perilous 0-3 start.
- pat
  
  Sox were depantsed today. We were winning the game yesterday until Mo blew the save. Swish just cut it to two. Come on down from the ledge, friend.
  - https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
    
    Love the word depantsed.
- Esteban
  
  0-3 probably means the end of the world.
- DT
  
  Red sox scored 0 runs in 2 games. We’re scoring but our Pitching has been off.
  - forensic
    
    So their runs from Thursday don’t count?
The Scheister

Retire old man!
bobtaco

O’Neil Theory
mustang

YES THEY LIVE!!!!!!!
The Scheister

And it’s a SWISH-BOMB from Swisher!
mustang

Never give up!!!!!!!
- mustang
  
  Its me and guy above.
  
  LETS GOOOO!!!
Tom

Hmmm….. hard to figure the two Rapada give up runs might come back to haunt the Yankees (or the Nunez error?)

(yes the game plays out differently, but Girardi needs to stop treating a 3 or 4 run deficit as give up time and having LOOGY’s facing righties)
- JohnnyC
  
  I’m sure Girardi will say that he left him in to face Longoria because of the lefty batter on deck…didn’t have Boone available tonight. Still…it was the difference in the game. If Yanks had won the opener I could see the logic but…they didn’t. Now 0-2 on season. Tough way to start out, especially against a division rival.
  - forensic
    
    Logan was available. He was also warming later in the game.
    - JohnnyC
      
      That was later in the game. Logan might have gotten up on his own. Girardi’s extra careful with players coming back from injuries.
      - Tom
        
        OK, if not Logan you choose:
        
        Rapada vs Longoria and then Joyce
        Wade vs Longoria and then Joyce
        
        Would you rather Wade facing a lefty (who he gets out almost equally well as righties) or Rapada against one of the better right handed hitters in baseball?
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

I think it goes largely unnoticed when you have a guy like Cano with such a sweet swing, but Swish has a really pretty lefty swing.
Chen Meng Wang

So I leave work and get home in time to watch Swish go yard :)
forensic

Could someone tell the announcers to read the correct titles of the rows in the stat lines so they stop saying every pitcher walks almost one per inning???
The Scheister

And Cano takes a pitch… Holy shit!
mustang

YESSSS !!!!
Sabathiasgut

C’mon arod!
Chen Meng Wang

This is why I never leave games early and don’t turn off the game until the final out has been recorded.

Also I think it’s better for the A-Rod that Rodney is coming in, he’s lost a lot of his power against LHP.
Esteban

Clutch Rod let’s go.
pat

I’m all for Girardi trying to get the most out of his players and not wanting to wreck their confidence this early in the season, but I’m kinda wishing he hadn’t left Rapada in there so long. Oh well, hindsight, 20/20 etc.
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

How many pitchers does Tampa have? I really used to almost like that team. Seriously, fuck the Rays right now.
- Justin Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  You hate them because they beat a team with a $200 million payroll? LOL at you.
mustang

And Montero single in OAK happiness everywhere!
Chen Meng Wang

…you can’t take a pitch Alex?
mustang

THE DAMN SHIFT !!!!!!
The Scheister

Regardless what ends up happening, good game.

FWIW, A-Rod is 1-6 w/ 3Ks and 1 RBI vs Rodney
- The Scheister
  
  Check that hitless.
- forensic
  
  0-6 actually.
Sabathiasgut

Well that sucked
Rick Bladt Attack

A-rod must have had dinner plans.
Jamey

I would not be surprised if in the future being a Yankee fan will require taking a work sabatical April thru October in order to watch these games. Watching most games is about half a work day now as it is.
- Jamey
  
  Come on spell check, I’ve been drinking you need to catch that sabatical instead of sabbatical crap.
DT

Shift screws us again..ugh. That’s usually a hit and we’d have 2 on for Tex..
V

Fuck the Rays and fuck their shifts. Hope someone gets knocked on their ass by a hard hit liner tomorrow.
The Scheister

Rapada shouldn’t have stayed in past Pena. Nunez shouldn’t have been the starting SS on the second day of the season and the Shift works.
Zack

THe shift works,Nunez should not have been out there and Rapada stinks.
The Scheister

Until tomorrow, SEE-YA!
pat

Well at least a Jim Abbot Center Stage should be pretty cool. Abbot was the balls.