Game 33: An Old Friend
By
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Hector Noesi seems to be the forgotten man in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda trade. He was slated to be the team’s sixth starter before being dealt away, but Brian Cashman was emphatic in saying that Noesi would work as a starting pitcher in Triple-A instead of serving as the long-man again. I guess that means David Phelps would have still made the Opening Day roster but not gotten starts when Freddy Garcia had to be removed from the rotation. Who knows. Anyway, here’s the starting nine…
DH Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Nick Swisher
LF Raul Ibanez
C Russell Martin
SS Jayson Nix — might as well see what he can do at short
RHP Phil Hughes
Today’s game is scheduled to start a little after 4pm ET and can be seen on YES. Their will be a pre-game ceremony for Yogi Berra’s 87th birthday on the field, so make sure you tune in for that. Enjoy.
Pitching Update: As expected, David Phelps is moving back into the bullpen and will be available tomorrow after starting on Tuesday. Andy Pettitte will take Phelps’ rotation spot. Have to figure Cody Eppley will be sent to Triple-A to accommodate Andy tomorrow.
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Is it just me or does it seem like they’re resting Jeter and A-Rod an awful lot this early in the season?
That’s Girardi’s plan. He doesn’t want to wait until they get rundown, which leads to lower production and injuries; he wants to keep them fresh all season long. I felt like he was overdoing it with A-Rod.
What I am surprised at is he hasn’t given Jeter a single day off. He’s been hitting so much it’s difficult to do, but a day off here and there with the DH-rest days isn’t a bad idea. Jeter will never say anything because he wants to play every game, but the man is turning 38 next month and plays SS.
Happy birthday Yogi! Win it for #8 boys.
I wonder if Guidry at 61 could be a LOOGY?
Heh he’d probably be better than Rapada.
So what is Freddy Garcia’s role on this team besides keeping a seat warm? If he’s not going pitch he needs to be released. He’s taking up a spot out there.
Yeah I kinda agree. Mike and Joe talked about that on the podcast, and now the Phelps is officially back in the bullpen, he’s really expendable. I liked the ideas they were throwing out about dealing Garcia to an NL team in need of pitching to get a better UTIL guy. I don’t really want him straight up released, but they need to do something with him.
Probably doesn’t hurt to keep him around to make sure that Pettitte is for real and Hughes doesn’t slip back into implosion mode though.
I rather have them leave Freddy out there to rot as the long man than D.J. Mitchell or someone potentially useful. Garcia’s hardly a problem, really.
I guess it depends on how they want to use Phelps though, right? If Phelps is going to be a 1-2 inning reliever, that’s fine. But if Phelps is also a long man, they don’t really need Garcia.
Agreed
If Joba and/or DA shows up come August, might they put Phelps down in AAA to get some innings during their final (AAA) month?
Either way, I believe Sweaty will be around thru the parade and all.
I agree with your point about Pettitte. He’s an insurance policy, I suppose. But now they have two long men essentially. If Garcia’s going to be kept around then I’d like to see Phelps down in Triple-A getting regular starts.
Good approach, they could keep him around the Pettitte/Hughes part of the cycle in AAA, and if one pulls something or blows-up ( in that respected order), you got the kid ready to go.
Who’d have thought that Ibanez would have 3 game-winning hits my early May? Crazy.
Who’d have thought that Ibanez would have 3 hits my early May? Crazy.
let me fix that for you
I laughed. He did look really awful in spring training, but hey, maybe he turns into a lefty 2010 Marcus Thames. I’m down for that.
To duplicate that he’d have to OWN Jonathan Papelbon. Can’t quite duplicate that unfortunately.
It’s a good day to give Nix a shot as it’s not like Hughes is a GB machine out there.
I think they should have considered either Wise or Jones given Hughes’ FB tendencies (just give Jeter the day off against the righty and DH Ibanez)
Friend of mine is an AAA GM for the Rox club and he told me, a few year back, that the best guy he has ever seen throughout all the years doing minors, was Jayson Nix…bar none. He seen Nafai, Tulo, Helton to name a few.
…with the glove of course.
ePHicient PHil.
is this the first single digit pitch count inning for Phil this year?
I would bet yes.
Good thing Ichiro has no power. Most other hitters, that’s way gone.
But remember, Ichiro could hit 40 homers if he wants to! He just prefers the singles.
Oh, no. The narrative on Ichiro is he could be a 30-HR hitter in the Majors, but he elects not to be that type of hitter.
Yeah, right!
Haven’t you heard? Ichiro could hit homers if he wanted. He must not have wanted to there.
Quick inning for Phil….love it
Totally thought that was gone.
Michael Kay seemed to read that one better than me. Time for an eye checkup.
Same. I thought it was gone. Kay seemed to never think it was.
I’m rooting for Phil Hughes really hard tonight. I hope he can put it together. This place was pretty pumped for every Hughes minor league start not too long ago.
Unfortunately it was kinda long ago. But I’m with you, I’d love for Hughes to figure it all out.
95 for noesi in the first!!!???!!
I know it’s all in my head, but it seems as if every pitcher the Yankees let go (Clippard, Noesi, Kennedy) experiences a boost in velocity and any pitcher we get (Johnson, Pineda, Vazquez) experiences a huge drop.
What’s the deal?
Kennedy’s velocity didn’t tick up at all and Clippard went to the bullpen.
Again, I’m aware it could just be in my head. But I saw Kennedy hit 94mph the other day.
Of course there’s nothing to it but it just seems that way.
Noesi threw 94 all the time out of the pen last year. And there were off season reports of his velocity picking up as well.
Oscar Gamble. Would love for an Oscar Gamble-like hitter on the Yankees today. Sabermetric types would love him today.
I look at the trade on the screen:
Michael Pineda
Jose Campos
Jesus Montero
Hector Noesi
with the logos displayed next the names and I wish we could undo that trade. I don’t necessarily think it was a terrible trade, but boy do I miss Montero and Noesi.
Noesi? Really?
I’m Dominican. We take pride in our players – good or bad.
Okay. Accepted. : -)
Noesi is fungible. Montero is not.
Anyone else uncomfortable with Hughes vs. Montero?
Yes. But only because Kay gave the “number” story. *Sigh*
Hell, I’d be disappointed if I went from being a Yankee to being a Mariner too.
Woo Hughes!
This kid says all the right things. I wish we can sign him. See you in 6 years Jesus?
Hmmmm, will Montero and Harper be free agents at the same time, assuming both don’t sign extensions?
I am convinced Harper will be a Yankee one day so I’m rooting for early and massive success for him. In this case, I’m happy Boras is Harper’s agent.
Phil Phrancise. K
wow Phil really dialed it up. that wasn’t a Kauffman Stadium 95.
Consistently sitting 94-95. I’m at a loss…
I’m also giddy.
Yeah I noticed that too. Real good to see. 95 just off the black is a real good 2-strike pitch.
Wow, this game is flying along early…
Loving the velocity from Hughes.
I was just thinking that, I’ll be much happier if it’s the same in innings 4-5-6
Phil’s getting a lot of fly balls. Very economical. Hope he keeps it up and can get through 7 innings.
Perfect Phil will be Perfect.
8 for 9? That’s absurd.
Pitcher facing his former team, advantage pitcher or hitters?
I want to say it’s an advantage to the pitcher. Considering hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in the game coupled with the fact that a pitcher sees his teammates every day.
I mean, unless you’re Josh Beckett and go golfing on your off days you have to be paying attention to the game right?
I was thinking the same thing, a pitcher gets to see his team mates swing on a regular basis, but a hitter very rarely get’s to see a pitcher’s full stuff while standing in the batters box. Sure you can watch them in the field, but pitches look different when you’re facing them.
.221/.276 eek. After a two-hit night?
Boy can anyone imagine the reaction Alex would have gotten if he regressed so mightily after he got here?
SHIFT THIS BITCH!
fuck you shift.
Hey hey, Mark Teixeira contributed to the offense.
Against a RHP no less!
Well it’s May now.
Maybe Mark is showing signs of coming alive.
Joe Maddon would have put the RF in a position to catch that ball.
Fuckin’ Raul Ibanez man.
Screw Johnny Damon (who I wanted).
I know he just came back, but holy crap does he look awful. Both at the plate and in the field, it’s bad.
Right. I’m not reaching for the fork just yet since he’s basically in spring training against players in full-season mode, but it hasn’t been pretty.
Lord Voldemort uses a clutch spell.
Hector Noesi must be a Gryffindor.
Raul Ibanez is en fuego right now.
Good job zombie Ibanez.
Stand in awe of the power of Lord Voldemort!!!
I can’t believe Ibanez is probably our most clutch hitter right now
Ibanez’s swing makes me want to vomit, it’s so ugly. However…
RAUL IS COOL!!!
I would pick you up in fantasy Martin but I have Carlos Santana.
Yeah, I would too, but I have McCann.
All aboard the Russ Bus.
Yeahh Russ! Hopefully that’s a sign of a turn around for him.
By the way, Voldemort always talks about “the power of Lord Voldermort”. We definitely need to integrate the power aspect into the meme when Ibanez goes extra bases.
Russell! looks like early 2011 Russ is back.
Martin and Tex? IN THE SAME INNING????
*IN THE SAME GAME????
Fixed.
Hmm I didn’t realize they altered Martin’s mechanics. Hopefully it works for him.
Nice to see Russell get something going.
Mar-tan!
Our easy out hit it out?
Jayson Nix!
Nix!!! what the fuck is going on right now.
Wow. Was this the craziest offensive inning of 2012 or what?
Best. Trade. Ever!!
Duh, the Yankees don’t trade players, they trade sleeper agents. Just ask Aceves and Melancon. Montero probably just hit a home run last night to remind the Yankees to pay him.
Hector Noesi sleeper cell spy is working out marvelously.
Jayson Nix?
Kevin Long is a genius. If Martin starts hitting this lineup will be unstoppable. NOW NIX GOES DEEP!!!!!!!!
Has Noesi thrown an off speed pitch in this game?
Stupid Nix. Doesn’t he know how home runs kill rallies.
That was such a YS3 home run.
Did anyone hear Sterling’s call?
If it’s Jayson New York Knicks I’ll puke.
The New York Nix!
Don’t think Sterling gave one. He babbled on about Nix having gone 0 for 7 as a Yankee, and then Suzyn started in with a story and the moment passed…
or perhaps he hasn’t had a chance to come up with anything yet, and was covering and vamping…
Sometimes he doesn’t make calls, if it’s like a backup player.
Also, I love your handle.
Thank you!
And I always thought Sterling was pretty consistent about coming up with HR calls… this is the first one I can remember in which he hasn’t had one.
If Nix keeps fielding decently, Sterling’s gonna have to get on the case (although the evil part of me is hoping that, come next year, it’s a moot point).
I don’t think Nix will be around for long. If he is, then that means Nunez is more of a fielding haack than we thought.
Just the usual “that ball is high, it is far, it is gone” etc- nothing rhyming with “Nix” just yet.
Is this a Yankees Classics game that nobody told me about? Because too many things are going right today.
It will be when Perfect Phil pitches a perfect game on Yogi Berra’s…wait…this narrative I’ve seen it.
The game of the unlikely offense.
Nix really nixed that pitch from Noesi, huh. (I couldn’t resist.)
Beautiful.
lol … Jeter trying to bunt in a 4-run inning with 4 extra base hits in the inning
Seriously, what is the thought process there? Does he feel bad for Noesi? It’s almost like a fear of making the last out, so instead you make a play that seems all “gritty” and “team-first,” but is just dumb.
Of course, it could be that he figures the defense is playing back, given the series of extra base hits, so he can sneak one down the line. But still, even if this were the case, they’re playing back because of the back to back to back to back extra base hits.
Ugh.
Oh well. Internet rant over.
If he thought he could get it down for a hit then why not?
Nix does the tricks.
Nix had a fix.
Nix ensured that all of the fans recieved fair value for their tix.
If Sterling needs a call for him, he knows who to call.
Now Phil can just pitch and dominate this weak lineup. Cone said Phil is unbeatable when given a 3+ run lead.
It’s a fight at the bat rack!
Justin Smoak can’t hit anyone but our pitchers? Ugh.
There goes the no hitter and perfect game.
This is where Hughes usually pisses leads away. Men on base.
Come on Phil.
Well, all leads are lost involving men on base.
Yes, but Hughes usually shows a very strong inability to make good pitches with men on base.
And not all leads lost involve men on base. Solo homers and the like.
What a pitch by Hughes. Was that a slider?
I remember this Hughes. Fastball, Curveball + working quickly. Now with a solid changeup. I think I see a slider or two a game? I know he threw it in the minors but sometimes what is called his curve really looks like a slider to me.
He throws a cutter, which is similar to a slider but a little less movement and a little more speed. Right? I thought Hughes scrapped the slider.
Same. But I saw something at 84 mph with some bite. Maybe a changeup? But it didn’t have the vertical movement of a change. Maybe a circle changeup?
I don’t think he throws a circle change either. I mean, Hughes knows how to throw a slider obviously, maybe he still busts it out every once in a blue moon, or maybe he’s just trying to change speeds with the cutter.
Wow guys. But LOL on the play at second.
Jesus. What the hell were they doing? Lucky to get the force.
That ball needs to be caught, but nice recovery to get the out anyway.
Sometimes Robbie makes you want to kick him in the gut.
Sometimes.
A WTF that turned out okay.
Lolz Kay called Swisher Nick Johnson. I was in another room, and I ran back when I heard that, out of fear that someone let Nick Johnson into the Stadium.
What do you expect from a man who doesn’t know the difference between a plate appearance and an at-bat?
I guess you’re right. Still, I feel like he messes up names almost daily. I can remember at least three times where he’s called Girardi “Torre”.
Well, Swish is supposed to make the throws, so Cano was fine to just stop when it fell in. Still, weird play.
I can realllllyy get used to this Phil.
Hughes is a pop up machine
Yeah, it’s interesting. Do you prefer some more homers and fewer hits allowed overall (fly ball pitcher) or fewer homers and more hits allowed in general (ground ball pitcher)? You can make a real strong case that the first guy is better than the second, especially if he limits walks.
That’s a real interesting take on it. I always thought you preferred the latter, though, just by reading some of your work.
I don’t mind fly ball pitchers, even at Yankee Stadium, if they limit walks.
I have preferred ground ball guys basically forever, but I’m starting to see the value in fly balls. Yankee Stadium makes things a little tricky though.
I think our improved outfield defense in recent years helps. When we had Matsui, Damon, and Abreu running around out there, a ground ball guy might have been better. But with Gardner, Granderson, and Swisher, a fly ball might have more value than they used to.
This is a really great point. Yankee Stadium 1 with our horrendous outfield required ground ball pitchers.
That’s a good point.
It’s really easy to distinguish the good ground ball guys vs the bad ground ball gays. But I’m curious if there’s any statistical way to sort the good fly ball guys all things considered (ballpark, opponents, etc…).
I honestly have no idea. Like I said, I’m new to this whole “fly ball pitchers are good too!” thing.
Pop fly pop fly pop fly. 35 pitches through 3! Go Philly!
I cannot believe customers have caused me to miss a big inning again
and Hughes gave up a hit 
I had a weird feeling lol.
I thought we went over this last night.
We also went over the whole mess of pretty girls that come into this store.
Touche, sir.
Where do you work, if you don’t mind me asking?
Hughes looks good so far, but I would love to see the Yankees keep it going and hang a real crooked number on Noesi anyway. I’m still a little nervous about Hughes.
The Granderson home/road splits mean little. Timing of hot streaks early in the season.
.294/.396 5 homeruns a month?
I sign up for that right now from Alex.
In a heartbeat.
So that’s basically 300/400 and 30 home runs. That’s enough to be the best 3rd baseman in baseball this year. (Cabrera excluded, because his D is just sooooo bad).
I actually saw Cabrera make some pretty remarkable plays a couple days ago.
And opening day. He was fantastic opening day.
You mean Broadway plays?
Robinson Cano’s ability to hit anything thrown near the plate hurts him.
Easy trivia, it’s Moyer.
What was the question, what pitcher started opening day in 1912?
Freddy Garcia had 18 wins for the 2001 Mariners, who was the only pitcher to have more?
Without looking anything up, what about Randy Johnson?
Never mind, 2001 Mariners. Nix (pun intended) that.
He was out of Seattle by then.
I don’t know. I’ll go Abbot.
But then again why would Abbot be relevant. So Moyer is probably right. Didn’t even know he wont 20 games.
Active pitcher with most wins/innings pitched/views of the Big Bang for the Mariners?
Please Gardy just don’t pick up a bat. Just get better.
Jason Nix’s answer: I watched Nunez’s defense and knew I’d be called up soon.
That’s ENTIRELY feasible.
2 hits on 2 ground balls. moar fly balls Phil.
Do not allow men on in front of Montero. Not sure why, but I don’t like Hughes’ style vs. Montero. Fastball, flyball.
It’s like the Yankees don’t know Montero is an opposite field hitter. Everything’s away.
And the kid is making a conscious effort to go the other way. I don’t understand it either.
I’ve always believed that really dangerous hitters’ strengths sit right next to their greatest weakness. In Montero’s case, he will chase outside pitches. Miss by an inch and you’re screwed.
That’s true, they were setting up pretty far outside, not really on the corner.
When was the last time you saw Hughes pitch inside regularly to a righty?
The binder is incomplete.
Or maybe Montero hanging around the stadium was subterfuge for him to get to the binder.
How many people think “The Binder” is really the New York Post so Joe can read when the game gets boring?
WHERE DID THAT MISS?
Oh that was a strike
ball 4 was close…
This guy is dangerous.
…or not.
O-2 to walk for a guy that doesn’t walk a lot…
Hughes still wastes way too many pitches trying to setup a K… other than ball 4 none of them were close enough to make Montero consider them.
Ball 4 was a strike. That should have been a K
That gets to the heart of why the Montero vs. Hughes matchup makes me a bit nervous, as well as my comment to Mike that the most dangerous hitters are ones whose strengths and weakness sit right on top of each other. Montero has great opposite field power, but chases outside pitches. That’s dangerous in the hands of a pitcher who has weak command, as Hughes does.
All of these Montero stories make the trade harder. I wish Kay would stop.
so happy I’m listening to the game. Sterling’s stories are so incoherent and difficult to follow it’s hard to even know if the story is about Montero. and usually the stories about people who died at least a decade ago.
Agreed! He’s like “Montero stares longingly into the right field stands…”
I secretly think Kay’s a troll, he just chooses to do it over TV instead of on blogs.
+1
Greatest description of Michael Kay I’ve ever read.
Secretly?
All these stories are making me love him even more. In a little less than 5 years, I look forward to welcoming him as our replacement for Tex.
I really hope you’re right. Because as a fan, I love nothing more than knowing the players I pay good money to see love playing for the team as much as i love rooting for it.
But how could we afford both Montero and Harper?
/daydreamin’
Well they’ll be replacing the Tex and A-rod contracts respectively. Just as Strasburg will replace CC’s.
Where the heck did that one miss? Come on ump.
finally Phil gets a call.
Niiiice Hughes.
Phabulous!
So Erica, how was having a social life and leaving the game early last night =P
Lame I bet. All the cool kids hang at RAB.
I agree. But let’s see if she can defend herself.
Um, well, we ARE cool because we’re not at LoHud, right?
Ha! I still managed to watch the rest of the game because my boyfriend and I dropped by a local bar for a friend’s birthday. While everyone was being normal and socializing, I was busy inhaling my beer and focusing only on the TV.
hashtagSERIOUSABOUTBASEBALL
Haha, I know that feeling
Normal Person:”Oh, hey how’s it going?”
Me: “Well, the Yankees have two runners on, and no out.”
Normal Person: “No, I mean how’s it going with you?”
Me: “Who cares Lord Voldermort just went yard, again.”
EXACTLY. Exactly exactly exactly. And if I’m on the phone and something happens, I don’t care what the hell is being said on the other end of the line, I am interrupting the other person and yelling about what’s going on.
It’s a wonder people like us have friends.
Haha, apart from one of my friends, I’m forbidden to talk about baseball around them. When my one friend hosts our group he refuses to put on baseball because I want the Yankee game and my one friend who also follows the greatest game ever follows the Mets.
Haha! What a bummer! You must get so much joy out of ribbing your Mets fan friend… though the way they’re playing this year, I mean… can the usual jokes and insults work? They’re kind of holding their own and it’s a little terrifying.
Haha, whenever he says that I just remind him it’s May.
Yes. I told my Dodgers fan friend that it’s only May and he got all ornery.
Haha, I always get the “yeah, well…we’ll just see…”
Ha, this strike zone is ridiculous. Ball four to Montero was right there, strike 3 to Carp was a full ball-length off the outside corner.
Not for nothing but Hughes’ command has been really spotty today. Martin is reaching over the plate for a lot of fastballs and there have been some right down the middle the Ms are just plain missing. They also haven’t offered at his curve ball at all. This is such a bad offense and he’s doing the right thing in attacking the hitters. But I thought he looked much better against the Royals.
He has been missing quite a bit…. he’s also been hanging curves up in the zone and for some reason he continues to throw changeups either up or in the middle of the zone (height wise).
Not sure if he can’t command the change down, but a good hitting team would be hitting some of these mistakes.
Jesus will still go into the hall as a Yankee. I’m calling it. He becomes one of the best bats in baseball in the next 5 years, learns first base, and then signs a Teixeira’-esque deal when he’s a 27 year old FA.
Yeah, but the magic of Jesus was the money that we weren’t paying him. With a Tex like deal, there’ll be a lot more pressure, and 95% of fans will realize that he wasn’t as good as we thought he was.
Well this is kinda hinged on him becoming that type of hitter.
You obviously don’t realize how great some people thought he was.
Tex in the years leading up to his Yankee deal was ridiculous.
One can only hope that his Tex-esque deal will be with the Yankees so that all the ledge-jumpers can quietly retreat inside.
Well obviously, that’s why he’s going into the hall as a Yankee.
Well, even if his Tex-esque deal is signed with, like, the Pirates, he is still going in as a Yankee.
haha Raul Ibanez
KNEEL BEFORE THE COUNT!
RAUUUULLLL!!!!
Haha Raul.
VOLDEMORT USES HIS POWERZ WTF
Rauuuuuuuuuul!
Ibanez holy fucking shit. that was a monster shot.
I said Damn.
Tremble in fear at the power of Lord Voldemort!!!!!!
RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is cool
raul = so cool
Yeah I know, I just feel like that doesn’t work. It’s not even a sentence.
Of course, this matters to Sterling not one bit.
Lord Voldermort makes the ball disappear.
Really? Is Voldemort a magician now?
He’s a wizard…
He’s a wizard. He does real magic. Duh.
Right, but the ball disappearing is kinda beneath him no? What is he, a performer at a magic show?
Making stuff disappear is like 1st year Charms.
Yes. I am a loser.
Nah, the disillusionment charm is OWL level.
Wow…I just got out losered. Congrats I’m laughing so hard I’m crying. Are you sure it was OWL and not NEWT?
Actually, u might be right.
Thinking about it though, the disillusionment charm doesn’t make something disappear in the way we’re discussing, it just makes something semi invisible. He’s obviously using the opposite of the Summoning charm.
The thing about Ibanez, if you think he’s hit the ball well, you know it’s gone. I looked at that off the bat and knew it was going over the wall.
Insane…absolutely insane.
raul ibanez everybody
Imagine how surprised we’d have been in Spring if somebody told us that Ibanez would be hitting better than Teixeira in May, and maybe—*shudder*—for the entire season.
Ibanez has been a pleasant surprise, can not wait till Gardner comes back so we don’t have see him on the field.
My Phillies Phan Phriend was so so so right about Teh_Awesome that is Raul Ibanez.
I have a friend who’s a major Phillies Phan and he would not stop ripping Ibanez. I’m like, “Dude, we have almost no money invested in him.” Still, he just went on and on.
Of course, this guy’s favorite player is Carlos Ruiz, so take of this what you will.
My sympathies for your friend. Introduce him to a real team!
Trust me, these Phillies fan are mentally out there. There is no other team.
Red Sox? Red Sox.
I actually get along with a couple Red Sox fans. We rip on each other playfully when one team is going poorly, but I can’t stand Philly sports fans. My one friend slept with a Phillie fan…I couldn’t look her in the eyes for weeks.
Seeing as I went to school in Red Sox territory, I had no choice. But seriously though, I have some very close friends who are Red Sox fans. Every fan base has their crazies, but the Red Sox are certainly not as bad as Phillies fans.
I have to say though…I haven’t spoken to any of my Sox fan friends about baseball in a couple of weeks. I actually feel bad for them, because they’re my friends…but I love that the Sox are doing poorly so I’ve kept my mouth shut.
I’ve always said it takes a very different mind to root for a Philadelphia sports team. They threw snowballs at Santa!!
Yeah, I agree. I’ve seen more devoted fans, but there’s just something…different about the Philly fans. Like you get the sense that it’s more than a game.
Jack Curry update from the trainer’s table in the stadium.
Russell Branyan says, “That’s it. I give up.”
+1
Nice change by Hughes below the zone… if he can do that consistently…
And as I type this he does it again to get a quick groundball.
I know that the two offenses that Hughes has faced have not been overpowering these are promising starts.
KC’s line up isn’t dreadful.
It’s actually very good.
Lots of potential, for sure.
They have wRC+ 97 so about average.
If Phil can get by on pretty much fastball/curve the first and second time through the line up and then starting mixing in that change up, look out.
Phil Phranchise
I know this is an odd thought but…do you guys think Jeter and Alex will try to out last the other?
Who retires first?
Jeter, I think Alex’s contract runs longer and both retire at the end of their respective deals.
That’s a terrifying thought. I’d say Jeter. But… no. I don’t know.
I don’t think either’s decision will be impacted by the other, but if one was trying to outlast the other I would go the opposite. Totally A-Rod. He’s always been fascinated by Jeter. Jeter, on the other hand, does his own thing.
Fortunately, neither seems anywhere near close to being done, and I’m very happy to write that statement after where Jeter was early last year.
Derek Jeter being awesome is AWESOME.
Brooklyn Nets, are you somebody that posts regularly using a different handle? I’m just curious because I’ve never seen the name and you seam way to reasonable to be new here.
Heh. I just felt like posting today, really. I’ve lurked here for years. Maybe posted once or twice under random handles but nothing consistent.
We like you. Stay this way.
Thanks for the welcome (everyone below as well). It’s been a good experience. I’ll definitely post when I can.
Stick around. We lost some of the more reasoned posters here, either completely or reduced volume, to balance out the crazies.
TommieSmithJohnCarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder was strong enough to be five reasoned people. It was like losing Mariano!
Erica needs to stick, too. We lost some of the females from here too, like Bexy.
She seems pretty committed I think.
Cool, welcome aboard. There are some nice people on here, I started posting regularly last summer and I felt welcomed immediately. Mike even answers my questions during Chats sometimes now!!!
I’m actually a pretty new edition myself. I didn’t start commenting regularly until the offseason, but I’ve been a lurker pretty much since RAB’s inception.
I’ve been reading for at least two years, but I made a handle right after Pineda/Montero and started commenting. With schoolwork and rowing, I haven’t had as much time anymore, but I pop up on weekends. I’ve found that generally this site is great in that it is basically fan driven. Lots of great people and a great place to talk Yankees.
Maybe your questions are just getting better? : -)
Always welcome more rational voices.
5 run leads help keep the conversation reasonable on here.
Heh, very true.
If Hughes can get through this inning facing tops one over the minimum He can get through 2 more relatively easily.
yea, hughes is such a fuckin bust, huh…glad to see him bouncing back
Nice turn
Cano: Godly Pivot.
Thank the Lord for Cano’s ability to release the ball so quickly.
Hughes must be thinking, “so this is what it must be like for Kennedy in the NL West.”
I laughed.
How about that for Phil Hughes ladies and gentlemen? 6.0 IP 0.00 ERA 0.57 WHIP. Sitting 93-95 and actually throwing a curveball or two for a strike.
more please. If he could do this in 40-60% of his starts for the remainder of the season I feel very very positive about our chances to do Great things this year.
If he could do this in 40-60% of his starts, he’d be one of the best pitchers in baseball
Philthy Phranchise phrusting the phutile Mariners
phrustrating*
The Perfect Game? Really? I thought that would be dead last.
I was a fan of the Pineda trade.
…sorry, Noesi.
It is a home game against the Mariners. Hughes is looking great, but I’m not exactly sure he is quite out the woods yet.
Hopefully one more inning before he gets lifted and can leave with seven innings of shutout ball.
Yeah, Eppley’s going down for Pettitte tomorrow. Wear him out and let him throw 40+ pitches in the eighth and ninth if needed.
Sooooo close.
I will always believe Hughes has the potential to be great despite his setbacks.
May 1, 2007. Most exciting and devastating non-playoff game I’ve ever watched in my life.
No big deal Phil. Just get through 7. Shake it off.
I guess it would not be Hughes start without him giving up a home run, oh well…
No biggie Philbert.
Good changeup. Philthy changeup!
Good game.
He comes out to start the 8th right?
Torn. It’s a long season.
I can understand if Joe want’s to sit him now and send him onward to his next start with some confidence.
On the other hand, I don’t see the harm in letting him go batter by batter.
I would bring him for the 8th. Go batter to batter. He is finally in a groove, let him stay out there.
Well with no one warming I would say so
He should. We’ll need plenty of bullpen tomorrow.
I’d like for him to come back out. I like to push starters as long as they’re not laboring. It’s not just pitch counts, but the very act of getting up, sitting down, getting back up. I don’t think he’s made it to the 8th this year, so now’s the time. It’ll make him stronger for when he needs to reach back in future starts.
wow … nice couple
Great start by Phil, lets see how long he can keep it going.
Nix the Stix!
Michael Kay made the awful pun that I thought Sterling would make. Can always count on Kay.
Am I a bad person if I irrationally hate Jayson Nix for hitting the ball that Mariano got hurt on?
You’re not a bad person, but it is irrational.
Yes
I had already forgotten that. I’m way to lazy to remember all that stuff.
Boone the LEDGY – lefty every day guy
Ooh get out the cookies. Logan’s up
I got a whole bucket ready. Also got the hose in the other hand, just in case.
If you had told me like 3 weeks ago that Hughes would be pitching in the 8th inning and still be a starter, I would have LOLed. Yay Phil Hugheslladay.
Hughes’s velocity has been the most promising this year, hopefully more results will continue to come, if not he will be a great arm in the pen.
Curve still looks sharp in the 8th. I like.
This is what we have been missing all season. Getting very good, deep starts from multiple starts in a row. We don’t need the offense to score a billion runs, we just need to keep them in the game. It also good not falling behind in the first inning like we did so many times earlier this year. With pettitte coming back, the rotation is really starting to shape up into a strength again.
I’d like them to score once more so I can get a super cheap lunch from Papa John’s tomorrow.
Shades of the 2001 World Series.
The straight cheap-ass hits don’t let Hughes finish eight
Fucking dinky hits. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHES!
Phillie getting Phunky late
it’s ok though. He pitched excellently tonight.
Sad to see two dinky hits knock him out, but it is what it is.
Stupid BABIP
Awesome start phor Phil.
What a pop up day for Phil. He’s the King.
Nice to hear the HUUUUUUUUUGHES call, and know for once that he’s not just being boo’ed.
The Huuuuuughes call always reminds me of the Moooose calls.
Unfortunately, it also reminds me of YOOOOOOUK.
I hope Boone doesn’t allow inhereted runners to score. 7 2/3rds one run, six hits for Hughes is just a great line.
Your wish is my command.
I paid a “visit” to Ichiro while he was on deck.
one hell of a outing by hughes.
Loving what I’m seeing here. Glad to see Hughsie throwing a good game for once.
or twice in a row.
Is it me or has Logan’s slider looked much better this year? Has it always been that good?
I don’t think it looks any better but he’s using it A LOT more often.
That might be it too.
I do not want to see Montero this inning.
…and I won’t.
COOOOOOOKIES!
*puts hose away*
GOOOOD LOOGY, GOOOOD.
Damn it.
Well done Logan…can’t do too much better than a four pitch strike out.
Um, yes he can, three pitches. What a bust.
Logan can be pretty damn filthy.
Wait, logan got a left out?
I read that backstory write up on this guy that Mike linked to in the series preview. Really cool story. Considering that the Yankees are already winning, I kinda hope that he strikes out the side so a bar in Tuscon goes nuts.
Is that the Mariner with the rebuilt arm? Didn’t read it.
See the below comment(s).
Tom Wilhelmsen is now one of my favorite players in baseball. busted for smoking pot, got got suspended, said fuck it I have enough money right now…quit, “back packed” (read smoked) his way around the world, and is now pitching again. Talk about living the dream.
Agreed. He’s like Dennis Quade in The Rookie, only instead of being 40 and a science teacher, he’s a borderline hippie.
Haha, borderline? I mean kudos for being nice but…no need to sugar coat it, dude’s a hippie.
I took hippie points away for not having Manny Ramirez dreads.
he’s blowin by the yanks, though
Completely ok, we’re already winning…you cant come back simply by pitching well.
Why cant the mariners play on the east coast? It would be really nice if they were in the AL EAST.
Ok, let’s bring Jeter home so I can eat cheap courtesy of papa johns tomorrow.
Thank’s very much Robbie
What does that mean?
If you live in the NY Area the day after the Yankees score 6+ runs and win, if you go to papajohns.com and type in Yankees6 in the promo code you get half off your order. It’s really a beautiful thing.
I mean, I’m not a huge fan of fast food pizza but hell, I am a fan of cheap food because of being poor so I’ll take it.
I used to deliver pizza for Dominos. They get a bad rap, but I could eat their cheesy bread all day every day.
Meh, after delivering for a “real” pizza place, and living off of that style of pizza it’s taken me a while to get back to “fast food” style pizza.
Well like I said, I didn’t eat their pizza, I ate their cheesy break haha.
*bread
Dominos pizza has gotten much better, but also more expensive.
“Will the real Robbie Cano please stand up?”
“Oh, you did stand up. Well I guess we’re not gonna have a problem here.”
wooo, the 3 Yankees on my fantasy team go 1/12
Heh yeah, I have Swish, A-Rod, and Gardner. Sad day for me.
That’s why i don’t pick yankees for my fantasy team. Even when the yanks win, i will be pissed if certain guys didn’t get me points. I just avoid that headache altogether these days. I just take all the cardinals players.
But when they do well, it’s extra awesome. It’s better than taking Red Sox players or something. Plus they have plenty of good players, so many times it’s the smart draft pick regardless.
I rarely have Yankees because they get over priced (I play in an auction league) in the NY area. I do get Red Sox players. I don’t root for them. I just check the boxscores and my team’s standings after all the games have been played. My league is way too competitive for me not to draft some of the better players because they’re on the Red Sox, especially if they come at a slight discount.
So Boone Logan strikes out Jesus.
hahaha i love that little girl eating ice cream. adorable
Someday Montero might be someone to fear, but right now I just don’t see it.
He still very young.
what in gods name is going on on the field…Sterling is confusing the fuck out of me.
Was called a home run, but it wasn’t. That gets overturned, easy. Off the top of the wall and came back, no fan interference.
Ok so not gone. I’m taking your word.
lol at the pansies who move out of the way of a potential home run ball
+1. catch the ball. it doesn’t hurt that much, or for that long. You’ll forget about the pain by the end of the game and have the ball for as long as you want.
That was the best 15 seconds of tv all week. “That young lady wanted no part of that ball”
Not a HR.
The only yankees i would take for fantasy would be Cano,grandy,jeter and maybe arod if there is no better option at 3b. Grandy, tex, strikeout waaaaay too much for my fantasy liking.
But if Tex can hit 30-40 home runs, there’s a lot of value in that. Also, no Gardner? a guy like that can win your steals category easily.
I’m fine with instant replay.
The only thing that I don’t like about instant replay is that it isn’t used enough.
replay for trap plays, fair/foul, homers and such, close plays at the bag, and a robot calling balls and strikes would be a great use of technology in baseball.
It really is a shame that MLB is more concerned about expanding the playoffs so they can get more money, and eliminating the Jeff Nelson move.
I’ll never get my robot behind the plate
the Umpire’s union would never allow it.
I agree completely. That should have been the priority, but there’s not money in that so they don’t care.
BS, there’s no reason for the mariners to send him home.
That’s a valid point. Wasn’t even thinking that. They probably would have held him just because they wouldn’t want to run into the potential out.
Dinner plans. Please end this now.
i play in a points league. My outfield is ryan braun,Carlos beltran, Melky, Lance Berkman,shane victorino, so… i would pass on gardy 10 times out 10.
As for tex, i have konerko at first. not to mention there are several players you can draft deeper in the draft that can put up close to the same amount of points as tex. Low average guys are not the way to go in fantasy.
I’m guessing you play mixed league.
So what, that’s your team. Some guys focus on the infield in the early rounds, so Gardner can become a steal. Or if you focus on outfield, Tex can be a steal. Don’t act like they’re useless fantasy guys, because that’s stupid.
Additionally, “low average guys” depends on your team. If you’re weak on home runs, but have other high average guys, Tex is a huge asset. Just because they don’t fit for your team doesn’t mean they’re bad fantasy picks. I got Gardner in like, the 15th round. That’s insanely valuable for that round. I focused on Votto, J Upton, HanRam, McCann, etc. in the early rounds. Every team is different.
Yeah, I find it funny when people have power opinions and want to give fantasy baseball advice without really understanding the league, competition, your team’s strengths, etc. I’ll give my advice on players, but without understanding the rest, it’s all kind of pointless.
I remember way back when people said Smoak was Tex-lite. I see they were right.
I want to see Smoak hit some pop ups with 10 seconds of hang time before I go there.
THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA YANKEES W-HIN!
what a sweet sweeping slider.
yankees win!
I think that might have been a ball, but the umpire wants to go home.
Josh willingham has 30 more fantasy pts this year than tex. Just goes to show you how over valued Tex is in fantasy baseball. Willingham didn’t even get drafted in majority of the leagues.
Do you realize there is a reply button? Also, Tex is off to a slow start as usual. Get back to me in July and tell me Willingham is better than Tex in fantasy.
Look, i am not saying tex is a useless player… but he is vastly over valued in fantasy. Someone picked him up in the same round that i picked up YU DARVISH. Tex is carried by his name, thus he is taken way too early in drafts. He is a 1b, to me that is very easy to find each year. keys to a great fantasy team, our a very good 2b,ss,3b, and pitching. Catchers can be picked up mid year, and same with outfielders and sluggers at first base.
I value pitching much more than offense anyways. I took starters in the second, third, and fifth rounds. Offense can be found very deep in the draft or in free agency.
Boone gets a save!
Theeeee Yankeeees win!