Game Two: Revenge

by 588 Comments

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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.

New Feature: The Bullpen Workload Page
Banuelos rocked; Trenton makes history
  • 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.

    • 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

  • 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?

  • 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.jsp?content_id=20427065&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20427065&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
  • 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.