Game 23: Running out of time

May 1, 2012 by Mike Axisa 658 Comments

New York Yankees v Texas Rangers — (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It’s now or never for Phil Hughes, who has to start turning his season around right now if he wants to remain in the rotation. Not next week, not in the second half, not when he’s a little older and has more experience. Right now. If the performance doesn’t change, then the personnel will. Here’s the lineup…

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

RHP Phil Hughes

Tonight’s game starts a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on YES. It was drizzly and overcast most of the day in New York, but they won’t have much of a problem getting the game in. Enjoy.

Chris

It’s actually gotten quite nice in NY. Blue skies, bright sun, warm. Great night for baseball.
- Viasistina
  
  Another bonehead managing night . We DH a .184 hitter so that another .189 hitter can play, by the way we have both of our catchers in the game. we have two offensive (and defensive) cogs out but we have 13 pitchers that we don’t use while letting Logan pitch to a rightie who hits a ball to the outfielder we didn’t bring up. Is anyone else following this?
  - CS Yankee
    
    I’ve been good with Joe until tonight…he gets kicked out of a game an says that he argued because every single game can make the difference in making the playoffs.
    
    He then doesn’t call up an OFer when he has two out and two ready for a stroller(Jones has a decent break but doesn’t hustle), plays two catchers to get a SSS split. He must have Maddon envy of Cashman is putting shit in his ear. His love for the LOGGY’s is just silly too.
    
    OK, rant over. Please call up a fielder and give them a chance versus having too meant RPers.
    - JohnnyC
      
      Yeah, I wish Cashman would stop putting shit in Joe’s ear. It’s unsanitary…and gross!
Typical MIT Nerd

Dear God our Father,

Why is Russell Martin the DH?

Jesus
- forensic
  
  Huge platoon split for Matusz.
- Tom
  
  Because there is a lefty on the mound and lefty bench players are not allowed to hit against lefty starters. I believe that is baseball law (or at least binder law)
  
  This gives Girardi a complete lack of flexibility…. what if you want to hit for Stewart late in the game? (You surrender the DH and have no emergency catcher) What if you want to hit for Martin late (assuming Matusz doesn’t go the distance)?
  
  The other thing is if you want to give Martin an off day… he’s a catcher, give him an actual off day. Sure it’s not as taxing as playing in the field, but this isn’t really a day off.
  
  Is avoiding Chavez or Ibanez getting two AB’s against Matusz really worth it? It’s not like Matusz is going the distance, and if he does the Yankees have bigger problems then Chavez or Ibanez getting 2 or 3 AB’s against a lefty.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Dude Matusz sucks against RHH…Martin’s a legit right handed bat…load up righties against Matusz. Sounds like a legit strategy to me. If they benched Gardner because of this, I’d agree can’t lose his glove, but I don’t see the harm here.
  - Havok9120
    
    You’re absolutely right on the flexibility thing. Thats my biggest problem with it. But you’re also ignoring that he already gets over 1 day off per week (1 day per turn in the rotation) and that Matz has a huge platoon split.
    
    I don’t like it, but it isn’t indefensible.
  - FachoinaNYY
    
    Now, let’s say you and I go toe-to-toe on binder law and see who comes out the victor?
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      One of the best comments I’ve ever seen on here. #sunnyfx
forensic

Is there actually anything official where Longoria is out for 6-8 weeks? All I see is one writer guessing himself while the GM says he doesn’t even know if he’ll need to hit the DL.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  A guy commented on it on the prior thread. What, that’s not enough around here anymore? #highstandards
  - forensic
    
    Yeah, that’s what I figured. Thanks.
  - Fin
    
    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120501&content_id=30125248&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
- GardnergoesYardner
  
  No I think it’s offical. It’s on MLB.com and ESPN (though I guess this all depends on what your definition of “offical” is)
  - forensic
    
    Ok, cool, I see it on mlb.com now. Thanks.
Robinson Tilapia

ROY PHUCKING HUGHLADAY!!!!!!!
- jjyank
  
  BRIAN BUCKING PONSON!!!!!
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    It’s just me and you, man. This is going to be tough.
    - Havok9120
      
      I’ve been gone for a few days, and have no idea what you two phules are doing.
      
      Usually I’m all for nonsensical 1 night memes.
      - TomH
        
        “Memes” don’t exist.
GardnergoesYardner

Saw over on LoHud that Ibanez is the emergency catcher because he caught in the low minors. Not sure if this is true or poor reporting, but I just vomited a bit in my mouth.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I’ve heard he’s the emergency catcher before. If Piazza could be a regular catcher for years….
  - GardnergoesYardner
    
    I guess you have a point, but still, I’d rather have Joe strap on the gear for a few innings than Ibanez.
- Neil
  
  He caught four innings for the Mariners in 1999
- Zooboy
  
  He catches the same way he plays the outfield: stab at the ball (and miss), wait for it to stop rolling, and then go pick it up.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    ….plus the occasional ill-timed leap?
forensic

Reimold out the rest of the series. Hey, every bit helps.
- jjyank
  
  Just saw that. I’ll take it.
http://twitter.com/_swarlesbarkely Drew

LETS GO HUGHES!!
Jimmy McNulty

I really hate Phil Hughes, used to be a favorite prospect of mine, but I should have jumped ship a long time ago. Realistically I hope he’s either just good enough or terrible tonight. Lets face it, he’s not going to be a good major league starter, he’s never developed the third pitch. The change up sucks and the curve wasn’t the same since he tweaked his hamstring. His fastball isn’t good enough to solely rely on it as a starter, and the other pitches just aren’t there. So the sooner the Yankees replace him with someone that can actually pitch in the rotation, the better. If he’s brilliant the Yankees might ignore the rest of his ML career and give him some more rope to hang us all with.

He was a key piece in a WS winning team out of the pen…great! Can’t call him a bust, true…but he’s not going to be a good starter. Ever.

The prayer of prayers is that the dire rotation situation forces the Yankees to give Joba another shot at the rotation.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  Just good enough to win*
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I was wondering why all my plants suddenly died and the dog was barking…
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      You honestly think Phil still deserves to be in the rotation? Or that he might do something he hasn’t done in the last five years?
      
      *****OBVIOUS DISCLAIMER*******
      
      I still think the Yankees will be fine, just that they can’t have below replacement level starters in the rotation. I am in NO WAY SAYING THAT THEY ARE DOOMED
      
      **********************************
      
      Hughes and Garcia are terrible, this is indisputable. Hughes’ FIP is like 6.9 something. The sooner they replace them the sooner they can get back on the road to 28.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        I lied. I’m actually still at the office. No dog barking. Riling you up there was fun, though.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Hughes still sucks, on the bright side so does Matusz so the kids in the bleachers should have plenty of souvenirs. Always seems like Weiters owns Hughes, so he’ll do some damage. Hopefully A-Rod and Tex belt a few off of Matusz, though.
Jimmy McNulty

Sucks to hear about Gardner, my fantasy team longs for his speed.
Zooboy

I like giving Martin a day at DH so maybe he can concentrate on hitting and maybe get out of his funk.
JU

5 years ago today Phil Hughes threw the No-Hitter that never was in Texas. Let’s turn back the clock tonight, Phil. Back to a time when you actually had an out-pitch and could miss bats.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  And he hasn’t had the curveball since then.
  - JU
    
    Exactly right
- 28 this year
  
  shockingly missing bats isn’t the problem. The problem is either he strikes you out or you crush the ball. There is no other outcome and sadly, unless his K/9 rate hits 20, he ain’t doing anything.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Swinging strike percentage for his career is 8.2, I think around ten is average…Mike will have to correct me on this one.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      League average is 8.8% this year.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        So an average pitcher gets one more swinging strike per start than he does? Hmmm…that doesn’t seem like that much, but then again that’s just to get to average. I guess the problem is that when people hit him they hit him hard.
    - 28 this year
      
      I am talking about this year. His K/9 is beyond solid. Just everything else isn’t…
      - jjyank
        
        Like I just said below, his K/9 doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s been facing so many batters per inning that the strikeout numbers are not as good as the stat suggests.
  - jjyank
    
    His K/9 is deceiving this year because he’s facing so many batters per inning.
- bobtaco
  
  Was he wearing 65 then? Didn’t he wear 34 for awhile?
  
  Maybe he should change his number to change his luck. Couldn’t hurt.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    That’s his target ERA.
Cy Pettitte

I will try to remain cautiously optimistic but Phil, you aren’t making it easy.
Jimmy McNulty

O/U on HRs allowed tonight: 3. I’m taking the over.
- jjyank
  
  I’ll take the over too. YES just said that Hughes has given up at least one home run per start, so between that and Matusz vs. the Yankee lineup, I’ll definitely take the over.
Clyde Barrow

I’ve been saying for weeks now that this is Hughes’s last stand so it was nice to see everyone else finally jump on board. If you can’t out pitch Brian Matusz then you shouldn’t be pitching in the AL East. Phil will have to be traded to an NL Club to have a respectable ERA.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  Maybe even an Eastern League club.
- forensic
  
  Bonnie?
  
  Bonnie Parker says:
  
  May 1, 2012 at 2:40 pm
  
  I’ve been saying it’s Hughes’s last stand for weeks now so it’s good to see you guys have finally caught on. Tonight is it. If you can’t outduel Brian Matusz then you shouldn’t be pitching in the AL East.
  - Havok9120
    
    Indeed. I’ve been wondering this myself for awhile.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Hi Hester.
    - forensic
      
      I’m Hester?
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        No, not you.
- Havok9120
  
  Let us be clear you, and your possible alter ego, have been saying that about every start for weeks now, not that his start on May 1 would be his last stand.
  
  The distinction is rather important. Its kind of like Greg’s predictions: he makes the same one almost every game. Of COURSE he’ll be right sooner or later.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Bold prediction of the night: Hughes throws 110 pitches over 5 innings, strikes out 4, walks 2, 2 runs allowed.
- jjyank
  
  I would take that in a heartbeat.
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Anyone remember what site pick 6 used to use to show you all the days lineups? The new SB nation version doesn’t provide it.

Makes picking catchers and some older position players risky as hell when you don’t follow every team.
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Alright I don’t support having Martin DH in a lineup with Stewart and Nunez. We’ve discussed Martin’s hitting woes and I’ve always seen Martin as a primarily defensive signing. Why not DH Jiminy Cricket? Sorry, “Raul Ibanez.” Doing that, he is still available to come in as a defensive sub while keeping Jones’s bat in the game.
- jjyank
  
  Matusz sucks against RHB. So stack the lineup with RHB. Ibanez sucks against lefties, why would he be playing?
  - ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
    
    I guess you have a point, but Martin won’t hit any better than Ibanez would…
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Does anybody really think unless Phelps throws 7 scoreless innings against KC Andy is replacing anybody but Phelps?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Not should he, but will he?
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I think, unless Phelps shits the bed and Hughladay suddenly figures out what he hasn’t for a while now, Andy replaces Hughes.
- Fin
  
  I dont think its as much about what Phelps does as what Hughes does. Phelps could very well throw a complete game shut out and get replaced if Hughes pitches ok.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    I’m saying regardless of what Phil does Pettitte is replacing Phelps. Deep down we all know it.
    - jjyank
      
      I don’t think so. If Hughes is just okay, he might get the edge. But if he gets lifted in the 3rd or 4th, I think Phelps stays.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      I didn’t recieve that memo. Performances will be the key, and Hughes is carrying a lot more baggage.
      
      Would love to see five strong from Phelps on Thursday.
      - jjyank
        
        You didn’t get the memo? It must have gotten lost with those TPS reports somewhere…
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        +1
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        +1 as well.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I would too, I’m just going on how this team has operated up to and including last season. They want so bad for Hughes to get every chance to succeed that they pulled their second best pitcher out of the rotation last year to give him a shot.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Its all about what they’re actually thinking after this last month of Phil. Unfortunately, Cash and Girardi have more or less clammed up since the end of ST.
        
        I think the edge goes to Hughes (tho I wish it didn’t), but that may just me being pessimistic so I can be surprised. I also think that he can easily blow that edge tonight.
        
        forensic
        
        Unfortunately, Cash and Girardi have more or less clammed up since the end of ST.
        
        If you can’t say anything nice…
        
        Havok9120
        
        Indeed.
Clyde Barrow

1-2 count. Foul. Foul. Foul. Then ball. ball. ball. And Phil will lose him. This is his problem. He hasn’t gotten any better.
- Fin
  
  lol not a good sign, 9 pitches to get the first batter out.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Hello Clyde,
  
  Love,
  STREE-IKE THREEEEEE!
jjyank

Well that’s a good as start as any.
Cy Pettitte

94’s from Phil.
- Bklyn
  
  Beats leaving gas in the tank after he gets lifted in the 3rd.
Professor Longnose

Let’s appreciate Nunez on that play. He didn’t anywhere near the ball, but it didn’t dive and let it get past him.
- sangreal
  
  Yeah, he played it conservative, but that is fine with me. I don’t expect him to be Gardner. That ball is a triple with Ibanez in the field.
Mike HC

Anybody else unreasonably optimistic about the rest of the year based on this one inning like I am?
- Bklyn
  
  Unfortunately, it may just be in the bullpen. Hughes is airing it out like in 09′
- forensic
  
  It’s sad when a 21 pitch inning creates optimism.
- Professor Longnose
  
  I can’t help it. One good game and I figure wake me in October. One bad game and it’s Wait til Next Year.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  No such thing as too optimistic. Don’t be ashamed to just be a fan.
jjyank

Ohhh a 95. Don’t recall seeing one of those this year.
GardnergoesYardner

95 from Phil. Wow. That’s encouraging.
jjyank

PHIL PHUCKING HUGHESLDAY!
Mike HC

If he changed his plan to basically let is fly every inning, can he keep this up for an entire start, or will he inevitably get more tired as the game goes? Inevitable arm injury?
- Clyde Barrow
  
  He’ll probably tire after 4-5 innings until he works himself up, but he wasn’t lasing that long anyways. I love this new let it fly style. He’s got nothing to lose.
  - Mike HC
    
    Oh yea, I’m with you. It is now or never and everybody knows it.
- Havok9120
  
  It might be that he’s trying to find that out for himself. He said he wanted to try more fastball. Maybe that’s changed to “air it out and see what happens.”
Mike HC

I think that is the first hard hit ball off Jeter’s bat that I actually remember being caught.
Need Pitching

CRUSHED
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

The grandyman absolutely can.
jjyank

Ahhhh Grandyman! Wow he crushed that.
Clyde Barrow

Lefties can’t hit Matusz, except Curtis Granderson of course.
forensic

Yikes!!!

Put the other lefties in! :-)
Cy Pettitte

Curtis is ridiculous
Chip

Wow
Robinson Tilapia

BRIAN BUCKING PON……Matusz, actually.
- jjyank
  
  Yeah, maybe we should just leave his name alone.
RetroRob

Nice, Grandy. Tied for the league-lead in HRs?

Perhaps after you’re gone Yankee fans will apperciate you.
- Need Pitching
  
  I think most already do.
  
  It’s just the AVG and K obsessed that do not.
- Havok9120
  
  Someone doesn’t? Someone we respect?
  
  Let me at ’em.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  I love Grandy. He might K just a tad to much to ever compete for an MVP, but he’s still a great hitter.
Clyde Barrow

Alex gets a hit vs a lefty. Nice piece of hitting.
- forensic
  
  Solid line drive too.
  
  /boxscore’d
Countryclub

If nothing else, we know Hughes is healthy after throwing 94/95 that whole inning
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Robbie just took ball one with two strikes.

who is this man and what has he done with the real robinson cano?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  No idea, but I would actually like it if he brought the real Robinson Cano back. This version kinda sucks.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Yeah, I kind of miss the old hacking Robbie that hit .320…
Bklyn

This Cano at bat will not end well for Matusz.
- Bklyn
  
  This Cano at bat will not end well for ~~Matusz~~Cano.
- forensic
  
  Or not…
  
  This is not the Robinson Cano everybody would like to see.
- jjyank
  
  You jinxed it.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    He needs to now change his name to something other than my home borough.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

In a hypothetical crazy world if Matt Kemp where some how available via trade…what would he cost? I would think it would have to be Banuelos, Nova, Bichette, Williams, and 2 of Phelps/Warren/Mitchell. right?
- jjyank
  
  Cashman would probably need to throw in his left nut as well.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I don’t think that even gets you in the door. Nova, Gardner, Mason, Campos? Even that’s light. You’d need to add a Montero.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Forgot about Campos.
- Guest
  
  Your offer would get an immediate hang up — or perhaps a Billy Madisonian “Everyone in this room is dumber for having heard it.”
  
  Matt Kemp is the most valuable player in baseball by an order of magnitude. The Dodgers are in a huge market and were just purchased by a flashy ownership group which includes Magic Johnson for a crap ton of money. You think that in a star crazy city like LA a flashy ownership group might want to hang on to BY FAR the best player in baseball? Especially since he also happens to be a good looking minority (important in a city as diverse a LA) who counts Rihanna as an ex? The Dodgers are looking for “Showtime” and you don’t get more “Showtime” in MLB than Matt Kemp.
  
  I think that there is literally no combination of players in the Yankee organization
  that would convince the Dodgers to part ways with Kemp.
JaredTerp

Phil’s velocity was certainly up last inning but his control still wasn’t there. If he’s getting his fastball up, he’s going to get crushed (see: adam jones)
- jjyank
  
  Or Davis, Chris.
  - JaredTerp
    
    who would’ve thought
Mike HC

He is down to 92/93 already, ha. I guess letting it fly sometimes will still make the fastball better overall.
- Havok9120
  
  If he can choose to step it up, he can choose to step it down. We’ll see.
Clyde Barrow

Perhaps Chris Stewart should catch Phil as well. They seem to work well together. Stewart’s a good catcher.
- jjyank
  
  Stop jinxing things!
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Listen, Hester…
  - Havok9120
    
    Flapjack?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

…well that lead didn’t last long…
Robinson Tilapia

ROY PHUCKING HUUUUGHLLADAY!!!!
- jjyank
  
  Ugh maybe if we made his pinstripes red? I’m running out of ideas.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    It takes a village.
    
    How many people misspelling Hamels did it take to make Jason Hammel respectable?
    - jjyank
      
      More than 2, I know that.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        And you’re going to be on your own for a while. Time for me to lock the office up.
        
        Maybe we can get Bonnie/Clyde/Hester to jump in….or not.
        
        jjyank
        
        Maybe hell will freeze over? Well wish me luck!
aRX

Well that was familiar.
Mike HC

Well, I guess one good inning of Hughes is what we can expect to see in the near future.
forensic

Heh. ‘Not quite to the target but still able to pass Wieters upstairs. That’s the Phil Hughes of two years ago.’

Next pitch, Homerun. ‘Straight fastball, thigh high. That’s the Phil Hughes of the entire rest of his career.’
JaredTerp

Been a longtime reader of the site and I’ve finally decided to start contributing. Lets see if Phil can pick up a W!
- Professor Longnose
  
  Wilkommen.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Hmmm…
- Havok9120
  
  I approve.
  
  OR DO I??!?! 0_o
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Mike, I was talking about this earlier, and I’m not sure if you saw it but I would really like your opinion. Do you really believe that Andy is replacing anybody Phelps when he’s ready. Regardless of how well Phelps pitches I don’t think Cash/Girardi will pull the plug on Hughes, whether he turns it around or not.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I do think Pettitte could take Hughes’ spot, yes.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Wow I’m guess I’m in the minority with this, I really think they refuse to give up on Hughes, and proved it last season when they took out Nova for him.
    - jjyank
      
      Yeah but that was last year. There has been a lot more mediocrity/awfulness from Hughes since that decision.
themgmt

Hughes has sped up his delivery, quick pace in his motion. At least it looks like it.
Pat D

In case anyone cares, it appears that we are starting to completely pull out of Afghanistan.
- jjyank
  
  I care. Hells yeah to that.
- Havok9120
  
  o_0
  
  You’re a bit late to the party. But I’ll take it.
  - Pat D
    
    Late to the party how?
    - Havok9120
      
      We’ve been on this timetable for a couple years now, that’s all. And the land forces have already started building down to a peace footing. Just waiting for more enlistments to expire. I suppose that’s one of the benefits of not having a Federal budget for 3 years.
      
      Glad to see it.
JMK

Even that curve for a K hung up there. He just has no command of his fastball or tight breaking pitches. I’ve been a huge Phil supporter but I just don’t see how he can be a starter with a lack of fastball command, a subpar curve and a do-nothing change.

I say all of this solemnly.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  I know it’s only one pitch, but that one curve to strike out Andino opening the game was tight and nasty.
  - JMK
    
    Ah, missed the first inning. That’s good news though. Thanks.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      Not Andino, Chavez, my bad.
  - forensic
    
    Chavez.
Chip

Actually, I thought Phil looked pretty darn good that inning
Greg

I actually think that the home run’s blame is on Stewart. He should have set a higher target for Hughes instead of going low
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  Oh, so we’re going back to the “it’s the catcher’s fault” meme every time a pitcher gives up a homer now, are we?
  
  How is it Stewart’s fault if Phil laid a total meatball in there?
  - Greg
    
    Singelton said that Davis is a good lowball hitter. Stewart should have gone high to get him.
    
    Now Hughes did throw him in which was a mistake on Hughes, but Stewart should have known the hitter and not even try low
    - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
      
      If you miss your spot and throw the pitch where Hughes did, it’s probably going to get hammered, mo matter where the catcher sets up. Even if Stewart set up in the “right” spot, no guarantee that Hughes throws it there.
      - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
        
        *no matter
  - Havok9120
    
    Every time? No. But the catcher does set the target. And Hughes didn’t miss.
    
    For all we know, that was part of the sign tho.
Havok9120

We’ve seen a ton of homers to that little joint between the right side of the bullpen and the stands.

And yet they’ll all count as homers to right and ESPN will assume at the end of the year that “teh short p0rch” has been the culprit.
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  $200 million victims, right?
Monterowasnotdinero

Montero just hit a single on a line off the centerfield wall.

lol
- Mike HC
  
  Does anybody here doubt that Montero is going to mash? Plus, we know that he is a second half hitter too.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    I think he hits ~.270/.325/.550 this season.
    - Electric Nunez aka the shocker
      
      Meanwhile we get a guy like chad guiden back after surgery.
      - Electric Nunez aka the shocker
        
        Or is it mitre
      - jjyank
        
        Can I have your crystal ball please? I wanna know how much money I’m making in 5 years.
      - handtius
        
        i take it you time travelled to the future and came back to let us know the pineda sucks in the future. otherwise, you’re talking out you anus.
      - Havok9120
        
        Yes, because Gaudin has that kind of raw stuff even accounting for the bum shoulder.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I don’t feel like arguing about this trade, hell I’m probably going to be wrong…but I have a feeling 6 years from now we’re going to be laughing because Pineda will have turned into an excellent pitcher and we’ll be signing Jesus as he enters his prime.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    Short answer, yes. Quite a lot.
- jjyank
  
  Please, can we stop doing this?
  - Fin
    
    I was fine with the updates before Pineda was hurt, now its like pouring salt in a wound.
    - jjyank
      
      I wasn’t before the injury either. It’s annoying. Every single day someone needs to post something about Montero’s stat line. Let it go people.
    - Havok9120
      
      Pineda changed nothing for me, unfortunately. It was annoying before and after. Especially since they all studiously ignore his current overall line and the 1 or 2 at bats per start where he’s just looked overmatched.
  - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
    
    You don’t have to read it. It’s an open thread, homey.
  - https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
    
    Seconded.
    
    I rooted for Montero just as much as anyone because he was a YANKEE prospect. My fanhood of Montero does not extend into Mariner’s territory. Simple as that.
Fin

38 pitches through 2 innings. Not looking good for 6innings.
JaredTerp

I’d love for Phil to figure out how to miss low with that fastball. He always seems to miss high and right over the middle
Cy Pettitte

that Andino graphic kills me every time, so random.
- jjyank
  
  I know I posted this yesterday, but it’s just too good.
  
  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=robert+andino+red+sox&start=143&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=555&tbm=isch&tbnid=-m_9dJ21tO8vQM:&imgrefurl=http://www.camdenchat.com/2011/9/29/2457181/orioles-4-red-sox-3-rays-8-yankees-7&docid=b8BoGmkfmHP3tM&imgurl=http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/lagmeister/andino.jpg&w=340&h=459&ei=33WgT_XxH6fe0QH04MikAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=657&vpy=53&dur=47&hovh=261&hovw=193&tx=126&ty=148&sig=117729053120955786209&page=10&tbnh=168&tbnw=124&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:143,i:137
- forensic
  
  I wonder if he notices, and if he does, if it pisses him off, when the scoreboard guys change during his AB’s.
  - jjyank
    
    I was at a game last summer and they did that to Swisher too. Three pictures in one AB.
    - forensic
      
      At YS? Wow, would think that’d bug them as something they’d pick up out of the corner of their eye.
      - jjyank
        
        Yeah, they started with one where Swish had a huge grin, then one with a solemn face, then one with a medium smile. It was weird.
JaredTerp

phil got a bit squeezed there
Tom

Throw a damn changeup to a righty!

I know it’s more effective to a lefty but a changeup down is an effective pitch and gives righties something to look for other than fastball up or curveball
Don’tcha Know?

He’s already at 46 pitches after 2+ innings. WTF.
Greg

DJ Mitchell, we’re ready for your closeup
Bklyn

Show me that rising fastball Hughes.
handtius

lools like he’s back to the knuckle curve.
Need Pitching

he’s thrown a few good curves tonight
so at least there is that
jjyank

Singleton: We are waiting for the real Phil Hughes to step forward.

Eminem: WILL THE REAL PHIL HUGHES PLEASE STAND UP? WE’RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.
- Havok9120
  
  Phil thinks he’s being featured on “How Not To Be Seen.”
  
  I wouldn’t step up either.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

If we could some how get a 2nd or 3rd pitch ground ball to second. that would be really nice
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  …or you know…just not that…
- Tom
  
  You don’t get groundballs when all you throw is 4 seam fastballs and compoud it with working almost exclusively up in the zone and outside.
  
  There’s a reason why Phil is one of the most extreme flyabll pitchers in all of baseball.
J

Man, you can tell such a huge difference between now and beginning of the game. Those high pitch counts are taking it out of him
Cy Pettitte

Phil….so bad.
Need Pitching

Come back soon Andy
- handtius
  
  are you going to say this every time garcia and phil pitch? you know he can’t replace both of them right?
  - Need Pitching
    
    Garcia already lost his spot
    only Phil needs to lose his spot now
    - handtius
      
      doesn’t mean you need to constantly repeat this comment. we get it.
      - Need Pitching
        
        have I said it before?
        If I did, it was once at most, not constantly repeating.
forensic

Heh, same old Hughes. I will never understand why people kept having faith in this guy year after year.
- handtius
  
  because some of us have been following him for a long time and want him to do well. we remember when he dominated the minors and are hoping it will manifest at some point. i think he needs to go back to the minors and work on his secondary pitches.
aRX

*sigh*
Clyde Barrow

Send this piece of garbage to the NL Central. Get him off this team.
- Pat D
  
  Once you stop posting as two different people.
JMK

Oh man, as soon as I saw Hardy turn I knew that was going to be clobbered.
Mike HC

So, how bout that first inning, eh
Greg

FAILURE TO DEVELOP QUALITY STARTING PITCHING!
Can I get an Amen!
- Pat D
  
  Uh, why would you “Amen!” that? To further disparage your team?
  - Greg
    
    No just declaring truth. I wasn’t looking for the failure, I was proclaiming it
    - Pat D
      
      Not really a need for that. I mean, Bonnie & Clyde are constantly reminding us of this.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Nova, IPK, and Wang all say hi
  - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
    
    And DRob.
    - Greg
      
      Not a starter
      - Havok9120
        
        AND YET YOU IGNORE THE THREE OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED ABOVE.
        
        Sigh.
        
        Greg
        
        Fine.
        
        Nova’s on his way. If he continues to pitch well this year and next year, then he will break on the list.
        
        Kennedy no because a lot of people on here believe that his success is due to him being in the NL West.
        
        Wang is the closest. But his inability to come back from injury did him in
        
        jjyank
        
        Wang not coming back from his injury has nothing to do with his initial development.
        
        Kennedy would still be good in the AL I think, just not as good. They developed him, you can’t just not count it because it hurts your argument.
        
        JobaWockeeZ
        
        On the topic of discounting things we have no idea if the Diamondbacks were the true impact of IPK’s success. Maybe they changed his mechanics or told him to throw something new. Either way you can’t prove who developed the IPK who’s mowing down batters.
        
        So no you can’t discount it but for the same damn reasons you can’t say it was the Yankees. So no it has nothing to do with ignoring anything.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        I’m sure Arizona had at least some impact in his development, probably a lot. No pitcher is a final product fresh out of the minors. At the very least, the Yankees developed a major league ready starter good enough to help land a stud CF.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        Nova – already a quality starter
        Kennedy -people think the DEGREE of his success is in part from being in the NL West, not that he wouldn’t/couldn’t be at least a quality starter elsewhere
        Wang – was a very quality starter that the Yankees developed. Him getting injured does not change that.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Inability to….a lot of peo-….3.5 years to be “qual-”
        
        I’m done with this nonsense.
  - jjyank
    
    This. Hughes and Joba did not become the aces we thought. That’s kinda it right?
    - Greg
      
      Since Andy Petitte, the Yankees have not developed a quality starting pitcher, with the possible exception of Wang.
      
      Not Kennedy because alot of people here claim the NL West to be the reason for his success
      - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
        
        Nova?
        
        Greg
        
        Not yet
        
        Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
        
        You’re probably the only person in the world who thinks Nova isn’t a quality starting pitcher. He’s not an ace, but he is a quality starting pitcher.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        it doesn’t fit his narrative, so it doesn’t count
      - Havok9120
        
        …..
        
        “a lot of people claim” is sufficient evidence? And you’re someone who likes to say that people saying things is not sufficient to prove them? And you’ve skipped Nova completely. Again.
        
        Pat D
        
        “A lot of people claim” = Fox News’ constant using of the phrase “some might say…”
        
        Wikipedia doesn’t even accept that phrase.
        
        JohnnyC
        
        Wikipedia’s a Marxist tool. Fox News reports, you decide, citizen.
  - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
    
    IPK doesn’t count. He’s in the NL.
    Nova is just lucky – for now.
    
    #thingsilearnatRAB
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    So to get this straight, IPK is a good pitcher if the subject is on the development of pitchers. But if the topic is reacquiring IPK it’s just the “suckiness” of the NL West.
    - Greg
      
      That’s why I’m not putting him on the list
    - Need Pitching
      
      when has reacquiring IPK ever been a possibility or brought up?
      He very likely wouldn’t be as good in the AL East. You can say that about virtually every NL pitcher. That in no way means he couldn’t be at least quality in the AL East.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        Okay next week I’m posting an experiment. Look for it and people will go back to saying IPK isn’t a quality pitcher.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        even if they did, a few idiots saying that doesn’t take away from IPK being a quality pitcher. It’s also not likely the same people arguing that IPK counts as quality now saying he isn’t quality in another scenario. You can always find a couple of idiots to agree or disagree with any statement.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    And 3 or 4 pitchers in two decades apparently is something to stand up and clap for. Okay congratulations I think we can do the same for each team in the MLB.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Go ahead and try. You won’t be able to do it because developing pitching isn’t as easy as people seem to think it is.
    - Need Pitching
      
      Who is standing up and clapping?
      Just pointing out that the statement that the Yankees don’t develop quality starting pitching is factually incorrect. They haven’t developed many, and certainly fewer than many/most other teams, but they have developed some. I don’t get why that is so difficult for some people to understand/acknowledge.
- Havok9120
  
  No, because a lot of us have disagreed with you whenever you’ve posted that particular dissertation and you’ve ignored our counter-arguments so that you could claim victory in the debate.
- Chip
  
  You have Ivan Nova who is turning into a stud, Hughes who is clearly going to end up in the bullpen, Joba was hurt, Kennedy got traded for a legit all-star.
  
  Who else did you expect to turn out so great? You have one major bust there among high level pitching prospects which is a pretty solid rate
  - Havok9120
    
    And Wang also got hurt.
  - Greg
    
    Nova’s on his way. Pitch like he has this year and next year and then we can count him
    - Chip
      
      So you can count busts early but you have to wait on the guys who have proven themselves? Feels like a sure way to not lose your argument
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      So, just to make this clear, to count as a developed starter you have to make it all the way through your arbitration years before you count?
      - Greg
        
        Fair enough. But one good year does not a quality starter make
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        But busts can be proclaimed within their first handful of starts. I just want to make sure.
        
        Greg
        
        When have I declared busts?
- handtius
  
  no, you can not.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Take your Zoloft, Greg.
Pat D

Pussy feathers.
willx

He misses in the middle of the plate, it’s always the same
Fin

50 pitches and 3 runs in 2.1 innings, I think we may be seeing the end of Hughes starting pitcher career.
Dino Velvet

Hughes = toast
jjyank

PHIL PHUCKING HALLADAY….? Is this thing on?
Electric Nunez aka the shocker

Phil hughes bullpen pitcher !!!!
ShouchBant

Is it just me, or does it seem like a fastball-curveball combination doesn’t work well in the AL East? First Burnett, now Hughes…

It’s probably too late to teach him a slider.
- Chip
  
  Well if you have just a fastball-curve combo, it won’t work that well no matter where you’re pitching. Gotta have a third and maybe a fourth pitch
- jjyank
  
  I really doubt it has anything to do with that. D-Rob has that combo. Doesn’t Beckett also feature FB/CB? I could be wrong, but I don’t think that’s a factor.
  - ShouchBant
    
    Hughes’ success was also in the bullpen, so many that combination fares better there.
    
    Beckett kills with his change-up along with the FB-CB. Hughes doesn’t seem to be very competent at getting his change-ups over the plate.
- Preston
  
  He threw a slider when we drafted him, we taught him the curve instead to limit the stress on his elbow…
  - handtius
    
    i would love to see him try and work on that slider that was supposed to be “mlb ready” when he was drafted
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  AJ’s curve is nasty he just sucks at controlling his stuff. Phil Hughes as a starter just sucks at everything.
  - ShouchBant
    
    Used to be nasty, at least. Hughes’ curveball was always a lollipop. I figure there’s not as good deception with his. That, and his fastball just sucks, as you mention.
forensic

If Hughes continues his Garcia impression next half inning and has to be removed, would the crowd have it in them to boo him like they did him, or would they just refuse to do that? I’m moderately curious.
- jjyank
  
  If Hughes gets pulled in the 4th inning or something, I think they boo him.
BK2ATL

I think this might be it for Hughes as a Yankees’ starter. And it would be the right decision. Bullpen time. Let’s see what Phelps and Mitchell give us, at least until Andy’s can contribute.

While I entered the season with high hopes for Hughes, even using a fantasy pick on him with full faith that he’d do well, I just can’t with him anymore. This was a put-up-or-shut-up game for him. He’s done nothing to inspire future confidence.
Don’tcha Know?

Brian Matusz will assume Ace form during this game. Book it.
Mike HC

As good as Jeter has been to start this year, and bad to start last year, I think luck did play a part in both starts. Last year I remember every hard hit ball getting caught, and this year basically everything falling through. Unscientific, I know, but just what I remember.
- Mike HC
  
  haha … like that hit
- Need Pitching
  
  I don’t remember many hard hit balls early last year. Even his hits were mostly IF dribblers to third. Almost all weak ground balls.
- Preston
  
  Jeter’s average to start last year was some bad luck, and his average to start this year is good luck. The difference is the power. He had none last year, almost everything was on the ground, and this year he’s driving the ball to all fields.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

I would love to see all these gloom and doom fans root for the Orioles, or even the Cubs. You’d probably all have committed suicide by now.
- jjyank
  
  Or the Pirates. 19 straight seasons under .500. That’s gotta suck.
- Pat D
  
  Probably not. People are addicted to their depression.
- Fin
  
  I dont see any doom and gloom. Its clear Phil is on the verge of being pulled from the rotation. He came into the game with an ERA of well over 7 and now its over 8. People discussing replacing him is by no means doom and gloom.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Not that, people proclaiming that Matusz will shut us out, and it’s not just tonight. We get in a hole early and people start crying about how the seasons over and how in gods name are we going to make the playoffs, and blahblahblah
    - Fin
      
      lol yea, that gets out of hand during games, I usually leave the website at the point.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      I don’t know what’s forcing you to read them then.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I like to scroll up and down to see what if people respond to what I’m saying, and to see if people are making any valid points so that I can agree or start a debate if I disagree. you can see how this causes me to read most of, if not all of, the posts.
      - Fin
        
        If Phil can make it through next inning he may save his spot in the rotation. He really hasnt been awful tonight.
    - RetroRob
      
      So true.
Clyde Barrow

The 3-4-5 hitters have got to do something eventually. Jeter and Grandy are doing everything they can to set the table.
Tom

It’s almost as if the 94-95 in the first inning wasn’t sustainable…

Phil trying to throw his way through this game (as he almost always done) and for some reason refuses to alter his approach.

It’s time to let him dial it up to 94-95 and throw an occasional curve one inning at a time, where a caveman approach like that can actually work and be effective.
RetroRob

Cano. Let him go.

Hey, it ryhmes.

Not serious.
- Havok9120
  
  A couple more syllables would have made a hikou. I was disappointed when it wasn’t one.
  - Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
    
    Probably not as disappointed as me :(
  - jjyank
    
    I enjoyed the AL preview haiku thread. We should do them more often.
  - RetroRob
    
    Never been good at haikus. Not even good at rhyming!
    - Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
      
      Clearly. Your comment didn’t rhyme AT ALL.
      - RetroRob
        
        Sure. Sure. Rub it in!
Clyde Barrow

And of course our 3-4 hitters give us a little dribbler back to the pitcher and a 1st pitch pop up to the 2nd baseman. This is a terrible pitcher and these guys are just hacking away, not working the counts.
- Fin
  
  He is at 57 pitches after 3 innings. Hes not making it past the fifth. Working the count doesnt seem to be an issue.
  - forensic
    
    And suddenly it’s 65 pitches after 4. Can easily make it past the 5th.
forensic

Cano is now 3-21 with RISP. It’s too bad he felt it necessary to repeat 2008 again.
Cy Pettitte

If they’re gonna extend Cano now would be a good time to restart talks, I think this is as bad as it gets.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Hah, do you really think that Boris would allow this?
http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/2011-red-sox-will-challenge-1927-yankees-for-title-of-greatest-team-in-major-league-history.html wilk

phil hughes needs to get out. i’ve had enough of this. his fastball is too straight, his secondary stuff sucks, and his location is terrible. please get this guy off of my television.
- jjyank
  
  “please get this guy off of my television.”
  
  Have you tried Windex?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Hey everybody, Phil Hughes is terrib…wait are we not saying that right now?
Mariano’s Pimp Hand

Did anyone else see the story about Matsui’s massive “adult video” collection?
- Erica
  
  Ummmmm…. what?!
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Yeah, that’s a couple years old lol. that broke right around the time he apparently married a girl to win a bet with Jeter.
  - Mariano’s Pimp Hand
    
    Huh, I saw it on Deadspin today. I must have missed it the first time around.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      Yeah, I remember hearing about it while he was still with the Yankees. It is hysterical though.
Tom

Hey look a 12 pitch inning….

And in an amazing coicidence he threw TWO fastballs the entire inning and decided to throw his offspeed stuff down in the zone.
- Mariano’s Pimp Hand
  
  His pitch count is back to reasonable after that inning.
Athenian

Aside from the two home runs and the lack of offense, I like this Hughes. It is progress.
- ShouchBant
  
  That’s basically been the Hughes all year. Let’s see if he passes five innings first.
Greg

I know there were articles done about this but do we think that Yankee Stadium has destroyed Mark Teixera’s hitting?
- jjyank
  
  No. Yankee Stadium didn’t force Tex to do anything.
  - Greg
    
    It just seems incredible to me that a guy can go from hitting .313 to in the mid .200s in such a short period of time
    - jjyank
      
      Sure. But that’s on Tex, not the Stadium.
      - Greg
        
        I didn’t mean literally, but the just the concept of the configuration
    - Sdjohn
      
      Giambi, tex. at least Tex has a glove though.
      - forensic
        
        But GIambi was a better overall hitter, despite what people want to remember. I’ll take the hitter at 1B over the fielder.
        
        Sdjohn
        
        They have very similar offensive games (post 2003) giambi and post 2009 for tex. power, 250”ish avgs. But Tex’s glove is a huge weapon. He’s saved Jeter a bunch o errors and has twice the range Gambia ever had.
        
        Sdjohn
        
        Giambi, damn u auto correct.
        
        forensic
        
        And Giambi had anywhere from a 40-100 point advantage in OBP. That’s huge. And Giambi was actually good at scooping throws. He just couldn’t throw the ball.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        or get to the balls hit more than 2 feet away from him
      - Greg
        
        But you knew that would happen with Giambi. Tex, you expected a high average and good production together
        
        Need Pitching
        
        they expected high average with Giambi as well, it disappeared after his first year with the Yankees
        
        Coincidence?????
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  Mark Teixeira destroyed Mark Teixeira’s hitting.
  - Athenian
    
    BINGO! He should be able to adjust. Not doing so makes him average as a hitter.(said in a McCarver voice)
Don’tcha Know?

I think Andruw needs to talk with his mother again. Maybe Russel could give it a go with Mrs. Jones as well . . .
- jjyank
  
  I just had a really disturbing image. Thanks for that.
Athenian

Christ. It’s Brian Matusz not fucking Verlander.
- jjyank
  
  The problem with this is that the Yanks actually hit Verlander pretty good.
  - Athenian
    
    Go figure. Now sucking ass against this schlep.
Clyde Barrow

These guys are just going up there hacking. There’s no gameplan. There’s no working the count to get better pitches to hit, there’s just swinging at the 1st pitch so we can go home. They only played a 2:20 game last night, you’d think they’d be fresh.
- jjyank
  
  …right, they just want to forfeit and go home, they don’t care. YCBP. Sometimes bad pitchers have good games too ya know.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    ycbp?
    - jjyank
      
      You Can’t Predict Baseball (Suzyn)
      - jjyank
        
        My bad, I got that wrong. YCPB.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        ahh…makes sense.
Mauro

This is a old team.
Sdjohn

Oh Russell, even when you hit a rocket.
RetroRob

Not exactly a big crowd there in Washington for Harper’s home debut.

He’s going to look good in pinstripes. Huge Yankees fan. That, Boras as his agent, and an A-Rod-busting contract should get him to Broadway.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  He’s already said one of his dreams is to wear pinstripes. I would personally pick him up from the airport or even drive down to DC for him.
  - jjyank
    
    Considering I’m moving to DC next month, it wouldn’t be a big deal for my to bring him back up here. I’ll take care of it.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      hahaha nice. works out perfectly. Going down there for work?
      - jjyank
        
        Well I don’t have a job yet, but that’s the plan.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        It’s already a little late for this, seeing all I’ve said directly to you, you’re not going down there to become some kind of federal agent are you? You’ve mentioned your looking for a government job, and you’re going to DC(home of the CIA, FBI, and NSA)…I smell a secret agent…
        
        jjyank
        
        Haha kind of. My end game is to be an Intel Analyst. So basically the guy who reads the secret agent’s reports and turns it into an intel brief. At this point I’ll probably have to settle for being an executive assistant or something first, but I’ll take it.
        
        RetroRob
        
        Hello, Condor.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Just um…you never knew me…I am no threat to national security, I don’t advocate the use of illegal things, and I am certainly not an international crime lord. I have no idea where you got that from…
        
        jjyank
        
        LOL. CIA, NSA, ODNI…not the DEA, no worries. Besides, I’m ineligible for DEA. I’ve been clean for about 20 months now, and their rule is 3 years. So don’t worry.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        That’s some cool shit dude. If I ever give up smoking, I would love to do something like that.
        
        jjyank
        
        It was a tough call, I loved smoking. But they only things I was ever good at academically was writing and political science theory. And I hate domestic politics, so that was easily the most interesting career path.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I was the same way when I was in school, and I cant wait to go back, just curious…do these establishments do regular/random testing or just one time upon being hired?
        
        jjyank
        
        Regular. It’s part of the security clearance, which needs to be renewed every couple of years. They polygraph you about it too.
        
        forensic
        
        If it’s a big enough issue to you or you have to ask something like that, then don’t apply. It’s won’t be worth it to you.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I’d never be able to pass a polygraph test. I get twitchy just speaking to police officers whether I’m in any kind of trouble or not. I couldn’t imagine how my brain would react while being strapped to a machine and being interrogated by a couple suits…
        
        jjyank
        
        @forensic: It is an issue to some people. It’s a lifestyle thing to a lot more people than many realize. How many people would give up booze for a job if they could find another one that didn’t require that?
        
        I gave it up, but quitting something you enjoy doing is not for everyone.
        
        forensic
        
        I understand people like it. That’s exactly why I said that. If it’s important to you, then those jobs aren’t for you.
        
        jjyank
        
        You’re right. It’s a matter of priorities, lifestyle vs. a certain career path. I understand both choices.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        @Forensic, I’d definitely consider quitting if this was some kind of dream job of mine, but for now it’s really not so I’m not concerned.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Sooooooo….you’re Jack Ryan.
        
        Hmmm.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Or Frodo from Archer.
        
        jjyank
        
        I’ll take just about any Tom Clancy character. Except maybe Sam Fisher. He’s badass, but he gets shot at too many times.
  - RetroRob
    
    He will have to live up to his press clippings, but the talent is real. He’s got a huge payday coming. I’m sure the Nats will try to lock him up past free agency, but I don’t see Boras going for it anymore than he did with A-Rod. Boras knows that a great young player hitting free agency in his mid-20s will get an ungodly amount of money. Someone has to break A-Rod’s contract, and Harper could be the guy.
Don’tcha Know?

Is it official yet? Can I say, with reasonable certainty, that Russel Martin sucks? Love the guy, hate his bat.
Greg

Hughes is thinking “Great, the one time I pitch decently, we get no runs”
- Tom
  
  3 runs in 4 innings is not decent.
  - Greg
    
    Compared to what he has done, its decent
    - Tom
      
      Unless “decent” means an ERA over 7.00, that makes no sense.
      
      Better than awful does not mean decent.
      - Need Pitching
        
        4 hits, 6 K’s, 1BB in 5 innings is very decent
        
        unfortunately 2 HR is not
        
        Tom
        
        When the comment was written it was 4.1 IP
        
        And I still think an ERA of 5.40 (3 ER, 5 IP) stretches the concept of “very decent”
        
        Need Pitching
        
        I’m not disagreeing. The results haven’t been decent, and the 2 HR can’t be ignored. HR’s have been a big part of Hughes problem. I’m just saying, overall he has looked somewhat decent (outside of the HR). Certainly the best he has looked this year (not that that is a high bar to clear)
        
        Tom
        
        Other than the ending how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?
        
        Why does it seem like every analysis of Hughes has an “except for the…” qualifier in it. Some of the outs were deep flies, lineouts that could also have been extra base hits if hit slightly differently.
        
        Frankly the better than narrative also needs to stop. Better than absolute garbage is not a postivie indicator nor is it a trendline. This looked like about the sbsolute best Hughes could have pitched… and that is scary.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        ” Some of the outs were deep flies, lineouts that could also have been extra base hits if hit slightly differently.”
        
        even more of those in Kuroda’s start yesterday, yet you jumped on me for suggesting his leash may have been a bit too long yesterday
        
        I think Hughes should be in the bullpen. I was just objectively saying he looked better. Is there something wrong with being objective when analyzing his performance. He didn’t look great. I don’t think he should stay in the rotation when Andy comes back. He did look better. That’s not a narrative. It’s a truthful evaluation of his start.
        
        Tom
        
        Objective isn’t trying to look for reasons to discount the bad results and not do the same on the good results. You can’t say if only he didn’t give up 2HRs as if those were the only 2 hard hit balls all night.
        
        The better than is a narrative because better than 2.2IP or 3.1 IP is MEANINGLESS…. if he threw 4 innings tonight and gave up 4 runs.. hey it’s better than many of his past starts, right? When the bar is better than a run an inning it’s a useless indicator and that is why I say the “he’s trneding better” or “at east he was better” narratives need to stop.
        
        He did some things better, but look at some of the pitches that weren’t even swung at as well. Getting a called strike on a changeup floating high in the zone only seems to get noticed when it is crushed. Hughes was better with his curve (locating it down more frequently) but the command overall was still poor and he got away with bad location that a team like Texas or Boston would absolutely murder.
        
        And when your groundball rate is ~30%, you are going to give up HR’s at a high rate… major league average is ~1 per 10 FB’s, which is why you can’t just say if only those HR’s didn’t occur. Yes Hughes HR rate may regress some (it’s ~17%), but his xFIP (which corrects for this) is 4.71; put that pitcher in Yankee stadium and it’s an ERA over 5.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        “The results haven’t been decent, and the 2 HR can’t be ignored.”
        
        Which part of that is me saying ” if only those HR’s didn’t occur.”
        
        Better is an objective term, not a narrative, and not necessarily a good thing. Looking better for Hughes obviously is different than say Nova looking better. He did some things better today. Many things were still shitty and there is plenty of reason to still think he should not be in the rotation. I didn’t say better was meaningful or not. I just said he was better, which he was, if only slightly. I still think not nearly good enough to be an effective SP, so the better is “meaningless” imo. I never said it was at all meaningful.
        
        Tom
        
        “I’m just saying, overall he has looked somewhat decent (outside of the HR).”
        
        When you say he has looked decent OUTSIDE of the HR, that is discounting them. You can’t judge decent on everything but the two HR’s.
        
        Better is a narrative because it is meaningless… it sounds nice but it has no value. If better is not meaningful, than why did you bother to mention it? (Did you mention it because you though it was meaningless?)
ShouchBant

I see Nick’s taking a page from Ibanez’s book.
ShouchBant

That ball was ready to mock Nunez.
Don’tcha Know?

Where’s Russel Branyan by the way? Is he still hurt?
Clyde Barrow

3 runs through 5 innings. That’s better than anything Phil’s done in a while. If the offense had done what it usually does vs Matusz it would have looked a lot better.
- ShouchBant
  
  I’m just waiting to see a game where Hughes doesn’t actually allow a home run. The only positive this game is that he hasn’t allowed any more.
- Fin
  
  He hasnt been bad tonight. If he gets through the next inning its about what you expect from a number 5 starter against the O’s.
radnom

Hand sanitizer keychain day?

Is it a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer attached to a keychain? Thats a thing?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  That is most certainly a thing, and for germaphobs it’s a godsend.
  - jjyank
    
    My part time job during my grad program was a bank teller. Money is dirty as hell, portable hand sanitizer bottles where very much necessary.
- RetroRob
  
  I’m still waiting for a Trojan condom give-away, with a Yankees logo on each condom. Free to each fan OVER the age of 14.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    I’d definitely go to that game. Only if they’re white with pinstripes though.
    - RetroRob
      
      Oh, they could do tons with Trojan Condom Day. Yet I’m guessing there might be just a slight PR problem for a family game.
      
      Kid: Daddy, what’s a condom?
      
      Father: Shut up. I just wish they had this day nine months before you were born.
      
      A warm, family day at the Stadium.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Haha. Another way to look at it, bring a girl to the game and be like oh…I had no idea. But you know this gives me one…
  - jjyank
    
    I want the interlocking NY on the reservoir tip.
VinceApple

Ok, first Phil has not been horrible. Two bad pitches, let us not run him up the flag pole. Second, maybe we need to bring Guidry back in to work with Phil, he pitched much better with him as Pitching coach. I have to say I do not think Larry R has done a great job with this staff and that maybe the Yankees need to address that ASAP. George would have sent his rear packing by now if he was still alive, along with Phil back to Scranton and Garcia on a slow boat to pitch in Japan.
- forensic
  
  I hate that two bad pitches thing. What about the 4 balls that have been hit to the track? What about the other balls that were hit hard? What the the walk?
  - Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
    
    At this point, the results are all you care about.
  - RkyMtnYank
    
    Exactly, I think it’s hilarious that people always say that the only mistakes made were the ones that lead to runs or home runs.
    - RetroRob
      
      …and it’s even more hilarious when people take the opposite approach.
  - MannyGeee
    
    The walk? As in singular?
    
    Fucking kidding, right?
Sdjohn

Someone help jeter out for the love of god!!!!
VinceApple

We need another position player…13 pitchers is a little much when we have one guy who can actually play the outfield.
Clyde Barrow

Do we have to start batting Jeter and Granderson 3rd and 4th? I just don’t know what more these two men can do to get on base and all A-Rod, Cano and Teixera do is hit dribblers or pop ups on the 1st pitch.
- Fin
  
  LOL I was thinking the same thing earlier, but then I thought who would they drive in?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

God damn. A little bit of offense against this guy would be nice…
- Don’tcha Know?
  
  Wasn’t it you who just recently complained of the “ledge jumpers” who foresaw Matusz putting together an ace-like performance against this C- lineup?
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Not anywhere near the edge, just mildly upset that a group of people who are paid millions of dollars to do something haven’t been able to do it against a guy that they usually succeed against.
Athenian

This is dreadful.
ShouchBant

Longest start of the year for Hughes. I hope this is not the best he could do.
flamingo

Just got home and checked the score – where are all the runs?!
Clyde Barrow

Typically you’d want to hear, “And in the next half inning the heart of the order comes up to bat against Brian Matusz” but tonight ain’t one of those nights. They did no favors for Phil tonight. The narrative would have been a lot different if it was a 5-3 lead and a W instead of a 3-1 deficit and a L. It shouldn’t be but it is.
- Greg
  
  Captain Obvious, everybody!
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    You two fight it out. I’ll sit back, have a Sazerac, and enjoy. Greg, watch for Hester’s multiple personalities. Hester, Greg may not have taken his antidepressants today. GO!
- Fin
  
  Eh, Phil pitched pretty well, win or loose. Not sure it matters much in the meme that he wont get the win. Its something for Phil to build on and probably keep his spot in the rotation for a bit longer. The meme is going to be the Yankees shut down by shit stick Matuz and only scoring 3 runs in 2 games against the O’s.
Need Pitching

I think Hughes just guaranteed himself a start on Sunday
I wish I could say I was enthused about that
- ShouchBant
  
  Probably start-by-start. Two homeruns given up today, not something he wants to continue doing, though.
ShouchBant

Would have been nice to see Hughes finish the inning, but it looked like a bad omen when he hit Wieters. Let’s hope the offense picks up.
Tom

Good pull by Girardi here.

I think he probably just did it because Davis had already homered but I think you have to pull Phil there regardless of the hitter.
Mauro

and Now every body Will be happy FOR 5/2 innings . This guy sucks
- Chip
  
  In relation to our starting pitching thus far this season, it was a decent performance
  - Sdjohn
    
    Ya, but that’s kinda like sayin the last 3 months of our presidents term has been decent in comparison to the previous couple years. Still not great.
Andy E

for some reason i really want a pepsi max right now
RkyMtnYank

At least Phil got a nice hand from all 250 people at the stadium. I’m sure it was still a sell out though.
DM

A little better – but a shame they still have to manage him and his psyche this way. God forbid they let him try to close out the sixth and crack 105 pitches.
- Chip
  
  To be fair, they have a rested bullpen, Davis took him deep earlier, Logan has been solid this season and when is the last time Hughes even cracked 80 pitches?
  - DM
    
    I understand that POV — but the thrust lately has been about getting more out of their starting pitching as well.
- Andy E
  
  i dont think they are trying to manage his ‘psyche,’ i think they are trying to win a ballgame
  - RkyMtnYank
    
    Then Phelps should have started :)
  - DM
    
    They’re not mutually exclusive. Getting Phil outta there before something goes wrong leaves him with some more confidence after his past outings. But Phil isn’t a rookie making the 5th start of his career. Also, you don’t always bring in your A relievers when you’re behind.
- Fin
  
  Yea, I would have liked to see Girardi leave him in to finish the inning, but what can you do? You really cant blame him for pulling him.
  - DM
    
    No, I don’t blame Girardi. Phil himself set up this lack of faith. He’s still treated like a rookie. But you’re gonna have to get out Chris Davis in the 6th inning in this league — even if he homered off you earlier. Make an adjustment –i.e., make some pitches and give your team some length.
Clyde Barrow

Has Boone Logan gotten a lefty out this year
- Michaels’ Pineda
  
  Believe it or not… he has.
- Need Pitching
  
  15/23
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Who knew Phil Hughes would take over AJ’s role where 5.2 of 3 run ball with a couple homers is a “step forward”?
- Chip
  
  Better than his previous role of can’t get his fastball into the 90s
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

That run turns Hughes’ line score from passable to blah…
- ShouchBant
  
  Agreed. Not good for the morning line.
Greg

At least that other team is losing. So the media wont have a complete field day
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  Why are you so paranoid about the media. It’s May 1st, nobody gives a shit about the days where the Sox win and the Yankees lose.
Michaels’ Pineda

Remember the days when Yankee Stadium was sold out for every game? Remember when fans were into every single pitch? Damn I miss those days…
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  Remember when I didn’t have to sell my car to sit close enough to catch a foul ball?
  - Michaels’ Pineda
    
    And yes, the ticket prices are way too much.
- Chip
  
  It’s called October, it’ll come don’t worry
  - Michaels’ Pineda
    
    Let’s worry about May, first. Right now this team isn’t anywhere near the likes of Tampa Bay or Texas.
    - Michaels’ Pineda
      
      And partial blame goes out to Cashman and the Yankees lack of developing pitching, i.e., Hughes, Betances, Kennedy.
      
      Speaking of Betances, here’s his line so far:
      
      W-1 L-2 7.25 ERA 22.1 IP 22 H 21 R 21 BB 19 K
Fin

And there goes Hughes pitching line. 5 2/3 with 3 runs looks alot better than 4.
OMG! Bagels!

Phil Hughes plus Boone Logan = drink heavily and try to black out.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

God damnit Nunie…
Need Pitching

Ibanez’d
jjyank

Nunez….damn it.
RkyMtnYank

Nunez with the Ibanez.
aRX

WTF!?!
Athenian

That’ll just a about do it. 2 game winning streak over.
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

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

I guess Nunez could only be passable for so long out there.
Mike Nitabach

Fucking hell.
Electric Nunez aka the shocker

The electic one
Greg

Problem for Nick Johnson, he still doesnt have a hit
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  It’s your problem. Not his.
  
  #backoff
OMG! Bagels!

Brett Gardner won’t you please come home.
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

LOL! Maybe he should try selling peanuts.
Chip

Well, we all had to know that was coming
Clyde Barrow

Ok, it’s time to bring up an outfielder. This is just ridiculous. DO SOMETHING CASHMAN!
nedro

There’s that E7 we’ve all been waiting for…
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  E7? That’s a pretty funky chord, yo! LOL!
  Maybe an E7b9? Yeah, bro!
718

Pathetic!
Athenian

Shameful. Just shameful!
OMG! Bagels!

Brett Gardner, robbed of a Golden Glove.
Yankee fans, robbed of a Brett Gardner.
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

Looks like the Mets out there.
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

It was bound to happen eventually.
Fin

Getting blown out in a game started by Matuz is tough to take.
- Widget
  
  yeah what is up with that? he’s been pretty horrendous for the past 2 years.
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

Today is the first day I realized that Gardner was on the DL. I just figured they were playing different people as a rotation.
Karl Krawfid

You have Wise, Dickerson, and others down below.

Can anyone tell me why they didn’t bring Bill Hall up north and leave Nunez in the minors?
- nedro
  
  Hall’s gone. Opted out. Not a roadie type.
  - nedro
    
    Sorry. just noticed “didn’t,” as in, to start the season. In that case, I don’t know. Perhaps willing him to become the SS of the future will make it so?
    - Need Pitching
      
      and they needed somebody who could play SS on the roster
      Hall has played 36 innings at SS since 2006
      - Karl Krawfid
        
        Why is Nunez here then? He can’t play SS. Pena would have been a better option.
        
        He can’t play at all.
        
        Need Pitching
        
        Pena can’t hit
        At all
        
        They chose offense potential and hope for defensive improvement over all glove, no-hit.
        All back up players suck in some way. That’s why they are back up players.
- Need Pitching
  
  Bill Hall sucks
  and Dickerson is on the DL
  - JohnnyC
    
    This is true but doesn’t address the issue. Hell, Colin Curtis can at least catch a fly ball. Just move one of the gimps to the 60 day DL.
forensic

Actually, Michael. In order for Logan’s ERA to go down, he would’ve needed to actually get AN out.
Clyde Barrow

You play with fire you’re gonna get burned. Gardner won’t be back as quickly as expected. You can’t rush Swish back, can’t rush a hamstring. BRING SOMEBODY UP WHO CAN PLAY THE FIELD! It isn’t that hard. We’ve got pitchers just wasting away in the bullpen. There’s too many as it is.
WillTheThrill

Wow. I am pretty sure our major league worst rotation ERA will be inflated like a balloon this whole year. Pitching has been horrendous. It’s unacceptable.
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Nunez’s 3 errors have resulted in 8 unearned runs.
Sdjohn

What’s our reason for having 13 pitchers again, in particular one named Freddy Garcia clogging a spot that would be much better served as a position player playing this thing called defense? Hint to girardi/cashman, when 2/3rds of your starting outfield is out with injury, you call a player up that has more experience than 5 games played in the outfield in the majors. WTF are these guys thinkin?
- Michaels’ Pineda
  
  ALL HAIL THE MAGICAL BINDER!
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Did that just happen?
aRX

O..K…well, at least it worked.
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

LOL!
Chip

Hahaha, I’ve often heard that A-Rod is the best bunter on the team
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  or sumthin’. tss. tss.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Sit the fuck down, Teixeira.
forensic

I can’t believe he bunted to break up the no-hitte…

Oh wait, nevermind, just felt like that.
Widget

cano and tex are killing the offense every game it seems. ouch.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

I know it’s kind of funny…but at the same time your clean up hitter shouldn’t have to bunt for a base hit…
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  bunt? more like b$nt, if you ask me! LOL!
Don’tcha Know?

I know this isn’t rock bottom, but damn, it certainly feels like it. Yucky poo.
Karl Krawfid

Yankees make me sick with this shit.

2 everyday outfielders are hurt. They call up a pitcher and don’t DL one.
WillTheThrill

Good Cano where art thou?

All kidding aside has anyone ever wondered how much greater Cano would be if he developed better plate discipline and stopped swinging at balls over his head/outside the zone?
- nedro
  
  Um, yes? Since like 2007?
Ethan

Man, this team just looks straight up awful right now.
- WillTheThrill
  
  The reason I haven’t gone to a Yankee game since 09. I’m not spending my hard earned money on $300 seats for a game in which a non-CC starter will pitch 4 innings give up 7 runs and Mark Teixeira will pop up to second base twice with the bases loaded and two outs.
  - handtius
    
    yeah, cause they haven’t won 90+ games since then…
  - JohnnyC
    
    That’s an original thought.
Fun with Quarks

When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

If this isn’t a time for Mitchell I don’t know what is.
Dan in Atlanta

Nnuez has provided negative value since his arrival. If anyone stuipdly will give the Yanks anything for him, send him packing. And no that doesn’t mean you have to sign a 0 WAR guy for 5 million bucks.
- Fin
  
  Yea, lots of big plus WAR guys sitting on the bench. Especially at ss, the league is filled with so many outstanding shortstops its easy to find a good one to sit on the bench.
  - handtius
    
    nail, meet head.
bill

gardner gets that
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Just saw a feature on Beltran’s strikeout in 06 on E60. Really made me want the guy to win a championship.
Sdjohn

We are an offensive juggernaut!!! We average 5-6 runs a game!! We will be fine. It’s only May. This is all the “everything’s gonna be ok” fans thoughts

We suck. Brian matusz is shutting us down. We have scored 2 runs last night and one tonight. We will not make the playoffs. This is the ledge jumper fans thoughts.

The truth, somewhere in between!
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  I will bet you 1000 dollars straight up this team makes the playoffs , I am dead serious.
  - Sdjohn
    
    Easy plouf, I wasn’t saying they weren’t. But 1000 bucks? Hmmm.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
      
      I know, I went back and reread, but I’m still serious on the bet.
      - Sdjohn
        
        I’m an enlisted military guy 1000 bucks is a little rich for my blood bro.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Haha, I’m making roughly minimum wage, I figured that I can scrape together 1000 bucks by september. Thanks for you’re defending our country :)
- WillTheThrill
  
  I’d probably say the first one is closer to the truth. Although offense will only get you so far. The pitching has been cringe worthy and the production or lack thereof from our 3-4-5 hitters has been beyond awful.
WillTheThrill

Eduardo Nunez for Johnny Venters. Atlanta is supposedly crazy to aquire Nunez and we need a lefty who can actually get lefties out. You guys think the Braves would bite?
- Dan in Atlanta
  
  No.
Robinson Tilapia

Bowling-shoe ugly, but at least Ma and Pa Matusz can actually acknowledge what their son does for a living again.
Don’tcha Know?

Damn, this is the ugliest lineup I can remember seeing in quite in some time. I would’ve thought, a few years back at least, that Jeter, Granderson, A-Rod, Cano, and Teixera would’ve been PLENTY to carry an offense. Not so much apparently . . .
- WillTheThrill
  
  It’s so sad to see Arod and Tex going downhill offensively. They used to be so great. This is why I think we all wanted to keep Montero. Our old/declining lineup is getting exploited more and more.
  - TomH
    
    1965: getting closer.
  - Sdjohn
    
    If it helps we only have 7 years left on the arod contract. Gulp! And only 4 years left on Tex’s. Oh my.
RetroRob

Let’s go. This.is.Baltimore.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  I could’ve sworn it was sparta.
handtius

can’t believe how many ledge jumpers are out already on the 1st of may. bet they were saying the same thing on the 1st of may in 09.
- TomH
  
  They were even saying it on 1 May 1965.
  - handtius
    
    no blogs to hear all the whining though. just drunken bar fights.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  In other words, don’t scroll up?
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

37,790 at the stadium. I know it’s the Orioles at the beginning of May, but it’s still sad.
- WillTheThrill
  
  Tough economy. I certainly can’t afford seats at YS3. And no one wants the bleacher/upper level seats, with that horrible view you might as well watch the game on YES from the comfort of your home.
Dan in Atlanta

Not that it makes a difference overall tonight or will stop this team from the playoffs, but I loathe Nunez and have no clue why the Yankees think he has any value given the atrocious defense he plays.
forensic

Hey, now there’s no DH with one guy left on the bench. It’s late in a relative blowout, but still…
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Instead of asking if somebody made the catch look at the umpires Sterling.
- JohnnyC
  
  It was a trap, not a clean catch. The umpires were wrong. Replay shows that.
Tony

Great job umpires
https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Anyone else starting to think that the lefty righty match-ups are getting a little out of hand throughout baseball? Kind of ridiculous when you give up the DH for match-up sake.
- Need Pitching
  
  give up the DH because Stewart sucks at hitting and Chavez has been hot
  it goes a little beyond just straight matchup
  - https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
    
    Wouldn’t be in the situation in the first place if Ibanez or Chavez had started at DH.
    
    Is DHing a struggling Russ that much of an advantage over Ibanez or Chavez simply because he is a righty? Especially you are saying Stewart is a better option that Ibanez or Chavez because whatever platoon advantage you gain from DHing Martin over the other two is negated by placing Stewart into the lineup.
    
    Chavez/Ibanez DH and Russ C seems better to me than Russ DH and Stewart catching.
    - Need Pitching
      
      gotcha
      I was referring just to the PH
      I agree with you on the starting aspect of it
Chad Gaudin the Friendly Ghost

Hey Joe, think you might come out of the dugout on that one? What the hell?
- handtius
  
  yeah, cause that was so obviously a trap…you would never have questioned it if you didn’t see a slow motion replay…hence, there should be more, replay.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Alex…lets make this interesting please.
Nathan

So, is it pretty safe to say when Andy comes back he’s taking Hughes’ spot?
- Need Pitching
  
  no, not safe to say at all
- JohnnyC
  
  Well, let’s wait until after the RAB crowd tears Phelps a new one.
28 this year

Wasn’t replay expanded to trapped balls or was that just discussed?
- Tom
  
  MLB is still considering it (and fair/foul).
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    What is there to consider…from what I understand the point of officiating is to get the call right, and make sure that the game is played within the rules. If there is a way to make sure that the calls are correct, why not? Btw, all in favor of robotic/computerized strikezones.
    - SevenAces
      
      MLB, trying it’s slowest to make the game better.
Tony

Now imagine if the umps made the right call on Chaves’ hit. Arod would be the tying run. (If everything happened the same)
- Need Pitching
  
  or Martin may have been forced out at second on the play and there would have been no change
Need Pitching

fuck Alex…should have bunted again
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

guess not…I’m a sad panda.
V

ARGHAHGAHG ALEX WTF FIRST PITCH WHY WARHGHAHGHAHGHA
JohnnyC

The legend of ARod continues.
Clyde Barrow

And here come our 3-4-5 hitters again to make outs with men on base. Maybe Alex can hit another blooper over 1st base.
Karl Krawfid

Another all upper body long swing from A-Rod.

Yankees have the worst 3-4-5 in the league.
- Will The Thrill
  
  Word. As sad as it sounds I’d take the Orioles 3-4-5 over our guys at this point. I wish Arod would have an epiphany and retire & I wish 2009 Tex would travel in time and bitch slap 2012 Tex.
- TomH
  
  “Another all upper body long swing from A-Rod.”
  
  Knee problem? Hip problem?
forensic

As usual, the dumbass booing only for A-Rod. None for Cano, who’s been terrible? How about Tex, who’s been abysmal?
- V
  
  Cano has been roping line drives right to the CF. Alex’s swing looks… weak.
Karl Krawfid

Nunez is just jogging out there.

Fucking embarrassing.
- JohnnyC
  
  Gil Hodges would have walked him back to the dugout for that. Of course, we currently don’t have a defensive replacement for Nunez. Gil Hodges, meet Brian Cashman.
Will The Thrill

If only we could hit like we did when we came back in Boston.
Nathan

Since YES mentioned Pineda, given the Buhner trade, the Cliff Lee debacle and the now Pineda deal, have the Yankees had any successful trades with the M’s?
- JohnnyC
  
  Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson. Ye of short memory.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Never let it be said that the Yankees are not charitable. If it’s going to be ugly, you might as well let Nick Johnson get his first hit.
- Tino Martinez
  
  What about me?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator

Sterling, I understand you like Nick Johnson as a person but you shouldn’t get that excited for an opposing player does something to hurt the team your broadcasting for.
- Mike Stanley
  
  The premise behind your entire argument is fundamentally stupid.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
    
    Please elaborate. I’m confused.
    - Mike Stanley
      
      It was an exciting play in the game, especially because a player broke a long, embarrassing hitless streak.
      
      His job is to announce the baseball game. Not to play to your personal emotions.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Or play to his own personal emotions, I don’t know if you heard the call, but if somebody had just turned on the game and had no idea who nick johnson played for they’d think he just gotten a big hit for the Yankees.
        
        Mike Stanley
        
        So? Who cares? Seriously, it’s such a bitter, dumb argument.
        
        I DON’T LIKE THAT YOU WERE HAPPY BAD THINGS WERE HAPPENING TO MY TEAM!
        
        Grow up.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        I’m sorry that I listen to the home broadcast to hear positive things about my team…I didn’t realize that was such a bad thing.
        
        I’m just saying there’s no reason for him to get so excited about Baltimore’s back up DH/1B getting a hit.
        
        Mike Stanley
        
        I’ll chalk this up to your understandable frustration at tonight’s game.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Yeah, it’s more that than anything…it’s just they spent the entire series talking about how great of a hitter he is and blahblahblah…it got frustrating, compounded with our terrible perfomance I was upset.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        It’s no big deal, dude. At least it was someone Sterling spent some time covering in pinstripes. I was even happy for the guy. You hate to see a career go down the toilet like that for a guy who, once upon a time, could actually hit.
        
        JohnnyC
        
        Hawk Harrelson must be your favorite announcer.
Fin

Ugly game. After Jeter, Granderson and Arod, the lineup is 0-17. Not winning many like that. Swisher and Gardner cant get back soon enough. Good thing we have 139 more to go.
Jim

I can’t believe people are defending Girardi for yanking Hughes with 2 outs in the 6th. Let the kid finish the inning and maybe the team can even the score for him. Bad yank by Girardi.
Don’tcha Know?

Haha. This thread is hysterical. Today . . . the Yankees suck. I think we can all agree on that. It definitely does suck losing to the Orioles, but, on a high note, can it REALLY get much worse than this miserable twat fest these buffoons masquerading as Major Leaguers are putting on display tonight? When Nick Johnson is hurting you offensively, I think the answer HAS TO be “No”.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  The Padres would consider this a good night all around lol.
Mike Stanley

Jesus, you guys are whining like it’s game 7 of the World Series.

Wow, you mean they won’t go 18-0 against the Orioles? FIRE EVERYONE!
- JohnnyC
  
  Fred Stanley would be a better handle.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    The MOTHERFUCKING CHICKEN!
  - Mike Stanley
    
    Getting a 14-year career out of a .216 average is damn-near admirable.
    - JohnnyC
      
      At least he could actually field his position.
Zooboy

Granderson. The anti-NunEEEEEz.
Will The Thrill

Joe seriously needs to shuffle this lineup around. Make Granderson-Jeter our 3-4 until Cano/Tex/Arod show signs of life in their bats.
- Need Pitching
  
  so they get fewer AB’s and there is still nobody on base for them to drive in
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
  
  what would the line up look like with the current roster? I’m trying to think of a good one in my head and haven’t come up with anything but this
  Nunez LF
  Cano 2B
  Jeter SS
  Grandy CF
  Arod 3rd
  Tex 1st
  Ibanez RF
  Chavez DH
  Martin C
Robinson Tilapia

I think jjyank us got it wrong tonight. We rooted for Hughladay when we should have rooted for….help me out here.
- CS Yankee
  
  Joe using last nights lineup card?
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Good, but let’s not mix our memes up.
    - CS Yankee
      
      Are you worried about getting chocolate in your peanut butter?
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        MMMMMMMM.
flamingo

This game is… not fun.
stuart a

bottom line the middle of the order has been horrible. tex with a 280 obp. Cano has 4 RBI’s, and Arod stinks. He has so many weak AB’s it is a joke.

Did not see Nunezs masterpiece in left. G-d Nunez cannot field no matter where you put him.

Hughes pitched much better Logan did his usual, he has been avg for 3 years…………
jon

so i just tuned in how was hughes?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Baby steps.
  - CS Yankee
    
    Technically, step-child steps.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  You do this often, don’t you?
Mike Stanley

In related news, the White Sox just got an infield double.
Robinson Tilapia

Sweet, sweet Sazerac. Mashed sugar cubes, bitters, three oz. of rye whiskey, and wash the rim of the glass with some absinthe.

Also, this:

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/visuals/post/_/id/1330/amare-vs-fire-extinguisher-has-a-shirt

Must have.
- Jack
  
  Rye whiskey makes the sun set faster, makes the spirit more willing but the body weaker.
Robinson Tilapia

Mitchell’s debut. This will be the highlight of my night.
RkyMtnYank

Mitchell coming in is the highlight of the whole game!
flamingo

John couldn’t announce DJ’s first strikeout with a little more… panache?
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOOAAARRRDDDDDD YESS!!!! HIS FIRST CAREER STRIKE OUT! YESSS YESSSS!!! ATTA BOY, PAULIE KONERKO.
  - flamingo
    
    Eh, it just seems odd. Of all the things to tone down for…
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      He may have had no idea who he was. He was going on and on on Sunday wondering aloud who else could possibly join this rotation.
Don’tcha Know?

I think I can say, with relative confidence, that this has been the worst game of recent memory. My mindset’s in apocalyptic mode for some reason. It’s like the front office, as well as the players and coaches, are in a befuddled daze, trapped by a paralysis of ignorance and indifference. It’s as though time is standing still in Yankee Universe and all orbiting bodies are moving exponentially faster. It’s almost as if . . . Russel Martin’s black hole is slowly but surely starting to engulf the entire organization. The end is nigh!
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  We’ve lost worst games THIS SEASON.
DERP

Who will be the first to say that Mitchell should take Hughes’ spot?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Andy probably will but, if not, I’ll gladly be first.
- RkyMtnYank
  
  That’s just a given isn’t it?
- CS Yankee
  
  Think you just did.
- Need Pitching
  
  With Pettitte coming back, Mitchell would be competing with Phelps, not Hughes. Hughes will almost definitely start on Sunday.
  
  (hoping the Yankees come to their senses about Phil by then)
RetroRob

Let’s go former Tigers. Clemson variety.
flamingo

…Robbie?
- CS Yankee
  
  Just made up for it.
  
  He does owe us about 8 hits, 4 dingers and 12 RBIs though.
Fin

Freakin Jeter with 3 hits again tonight and back over .400. That is fun to watch. The rest, not so much.
Alkaline

DJ didn’t look too shabby.
JohnnyC

Cano playing like he’s underwater.
Will The Thrill

I dunno about you guys but I’m way more comfortable with letting wild cards like Phelps and Mitchell start instead of the Flyball Wonder Phil Hughes and Sweaty Freddy with his 85MPH heat. I like Mitchell especially since he’s a ground ball guy.
- RkyMtnYank
  
  I’m more of a Phelps fan but agree with that!
Don’tcha Know?

It’s simple . . . This game has merely played witness to . . . THE CURSE OF THE FIRST INNING HOMER!
Robinson Tilapia

Charity begins at home indeed. Nick Johnson and Ma and Pa Matusz can sleep a bit easier tonight.

Supernova will get the job done tomorrow.
forensic

Thank god that crapfest is over.
RetroRob

They were bound to win one eventually.

Two out of three tomorrow.
Don’tcha Know?

Ayala: Yankee killer.
pistol pete

Hughes was better but not good enough. Four runs in five and two thirds against a poor team at home is better but not good enough. For me it’s time to head to the pen replacing him with Andy and trying one of the kids for the five spot. Who knows maybe we get another Nova. Hughes at this point is not a starter, loses too many games, doesn’t get deep enough into games and frankly the five year experiment is over.
- V
  
  cool story bro
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I somehow agree, but still couldn’t stand any of what you had to say.
JohnC

Cheer up guys. The Red Sox just lost too
jbkx

Hughes needs gone, not into the bullpen.