Game 37: North of the Border
By
Hey now. TD Comfort Zone indeed. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)
The Blue Jays have become something of a nuisance in recent years. They’ve improved but not to the point of being a legitimate contender, but they’re just good enough to give the Yankees fits whenever they play. New York is 19-17 against Toronto since the start of the 2010 season, which is far too close to .500 for my liking. Tonight is the first time these two clubs will meet in 2012. Here’s the lineup…
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Mark Teixeira
LF Raul Ibanez
DH Eric Chavez
C Russell Martin
SS Jayson Nix
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
The game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.
Ivan Nova Update: Nova tested his contused right foot and sprained right ankle with some light running today and pitching coach Larry Rothschild confirmed that he will throw his regular side session tomorrow. I suppose we’ll find out if he can make Saturday’s start after that.
462 Comments»
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Woooo if last night’s game thread was anything like the game story afterwards, I’m sure glad I was apartment hunting in DC rather than on RAB.
New game, new series. Let’s do it boys.
I’m at work, so I won’t really be able to participate in the game thread.
After the game? No. No, no, no. I’m O:S with all that.
Can’t say I blame you Pat. That was one epic thread I slogged through this morning. I think O:S is the only strategy to deal with Duh Innings.
Yea, I find that if I get into one epic argument with someone, that’s the only logical solution.
Just don’t go further than a few replies. No need to argue with anyone for more than a couple of rounds.
….or just make fun of him.
The Game Thread really wasn’t bad at all, at least the last third of it.
That said, more of the inconsolable pessimists were on at once than is usual.
“Hey, a Blue Jay landed in my seat! Do I get to keep him?”
“No, son. It’s not right to cage one of nature’s flying creatures. You have to let it soar.”
Or let it sink to fourth place. That works too.
Maybe it was a seagull.
Love,
Dave Winfield
My favorite player. Such a weird thing to happen.
Wow, Lawrie only got 4 games? That seems…light.
He should have gotten 10 games. You don’t throw things at umpires. Selig ain’t no Roger Goodell, that’s for sure.
ummmm… he didn’t throw it at the umpire. He spiked it into the ground. Ump just took the bad bounce.
And frankly, I’d like to see umps called out for all these poor calls we see. They shouldn’t be the one’s who decide who wins the game.
Regardless, as a professional, you shouldn’t be slamming the ground with your helmet like that. I’ve almost gotten a helmet to the face cause a teamate felt the need to spike it after striking out.
Second, yes they were absolutely horrible calls. But, they are going to happen. Unless you move to an automated system or have instant replay of balls/strikes, you’re going to have mistakes.
I think people take for granted how many right calls they get sometimes. These are plays that are sometimes hard to tell with slowing down instant replay.
I have no cutesy words of support for Hiroki Kuroda yet. No “big man,” “SuperNova,” or “Hughaladay.” Just fucking win.
Hiroki Kurodnandez?
That’s just asking for a lack of run support.
Ha fair enough. Hiroki Kurodumganer? Or Hiroki Kurdo2010Hughes?
Hyuroki Kurodish?
Rascist.
I should know better than to misspell “racist.”
Best not to misspell your vocation.
I’m tapping out on this one.
Guessing A-Rod sits a full day, manyana.
Yeah, they don’t want Jete and A-Rod playing on the turf. That’s why Joe gave Jete a day off the 2nd game of the season.
Drabek is a guy they should hammer.
I have a weird feeling the Yankees will hit well tonight.
First place by June 15.
I’m going to do my best to remember that you’ve been predicting this so you can have credit when it happens.
And a bunch of snark if it doesn’t. Oh, well.
I’m not big on the snark when predictions go awry. Baseball is a game of failure, for fans as well as hitters.
Wayne Tolleson’s son last night, Doug drabek’s tonight….
Wonder if we get to meet Joe Balboni tomorrow?
Now in at short for the Blue Jays, Skippy Espinosa.
Replacing Hiram Pagliarulo….
(Uh oh. Now I know what game to play when we’re down 5-1 in the 8th inning).
Did Billy Meulens get called up yet?
Joey Mmahat in the bullpen for the Jays…
Had to check that one on B-R.
Y’all suck.
A Robbie Cano 2 out walk.
Whoa.
Could be worse.
At least the Yankees don’t have to play games in Ottawa.
Are you from Toronto?
I’ve been to Toronto. Love the place.
Ottawa? Not so much.
I once loved a girl in Canada…
Good evening everybody
anything terribly interesting missed?
Well Duh.
You missed INNINGS!!
We don’t seem to be very good at this.
I want to engineer an argument between him and Greg tonight. How can we make that happen?
We could sell tickets for that. A paywall for that one thread would be worth setting up.
We’d be millionaires.
I think me and Greg can have a reasonable discussion with out it turning into an argument, mostly because I know I’ll be right about most things but I’m far to lazy to do research.
Not you. lol
We were talking about “Duh Innings,” who had a bit of an incident in the game recap last night/this morning.
I always miss the fun stuff
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....nt-4264465
Just skim the thread. Some of it is pure gold. DON’T TRY TO READ IT. Your braincells will dry up in protest.
Wow…what happened to Jose Bautista? >.200?!?!
Pujols is taking all the heat.
Is anyone else watching the Jays broadcast? They’ve either put microphones on the bats, or they’ve got a guy slapping two pieces of plywood together everytime someone makes contact.
Is there a reason Sterling calls Joey Bats “Bo-tista”?
Because he doesn’t want to associate with Latins.
I hear Bo-tista hits a lot of grounds-rule doubles.
Gee, what a shock.
Yankees in Toronto, and Michael Kay’s not with the team. Lemme guess, Canadians have head-size regulations? Must eat food with condiments? I can’t recall him ever being with the team in Canada
I really can’t complain about Kay not broadcasting a game, unless there is a Lorenz/Flaharty booth replacing him. I love Singleton’s PBP.
Poutine.
Poutine would be a major mindfuck for Kay.
Which is a problem. If a head like that explodes…
That might cause a global crisis, in line with what a super volcano would do.
He hates maple syrup.
No one could possibly hate maple syrup. Not even Kay.
As a Vermonter I have to agree.
He hates any and all condiments, which makes me think he hates maple syrup.
Dude, it’s fucking maple syrup. This is very different. I’m not talking the Aunt Jemima shit. I’m talking real 100% Dark A Amber Maple Syrup.
why are they pitching him away and shifting for him to pull?
Hirok!
beautiful pitch… nice inning from Kuroda
Nice pitch on that K to Bats.
Gotta be Pujols.
I’ve always been expecting Joey Bats to fall off a cliff (or at least not be a 40+ HR guy) and I had no idea Upton was struggling.
Upton’s struggles are explained by his presence on my fantasy team.
Oh I did. Upton is on my fantasy team. Though to be fair, he’s had some thumb issues.
Brett Nunez extends the inning
if not for bad D that would have been another DP with RISP… at least some good luck so far tonight
those pitches werent even close..
so I’m thinking of going to a new handle…Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA Raul Ibanez. Thoughts?
I approve. Though that’s not saying much, as I have no idea what a Plouffenator is.
Haha it’s a play on the name Plouffe, after Trevor Plouffe, the least manly name in the history of baseball.
Haha I never made that connection. Still though, the proposed name is Yankee related, so I still approve.
Interesting, changing my display name doesn’t change the name that appears on previous posts…
We’re not exactly a high-end operation here.
Haha, don’t be to hard on yourself Mike, You’re still by far the best yankee blog in the blog-o-sphere.
Nope. Its something used to great effect by several people, “Stairs” Cabral perhaps being the best example of this.
I’m watching you.
Your meme could flair out at any time.
I know. Not enough people witnessed its inception I suppose.
That really does seem to be a problem.
It was a funny post though.
I need to come up with a Meme Handle during a more popular game thread I suppose.
It lives.
Least manly name in baseball?
No love for Taylor Teagarden?
You’re just lucky Troy Percival retired.
Plouffe’s name sounds like the brand of a female hygiene product.
Or an odd sexual position.
I always get a kick out of asking my wife, “Did you just Plouffe?”
She doesn’t seem to find it very funny, however.
Robbie. Blah.
lazydominican’d
/Salty’d
I don’t get this meme, is Salty a racist or something?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9055131
Wow what a twat. I mean I make fun of the whole little white guys being “spark plugs” and “gritty” where as Latin players are considered “firey” and “athletic” but I don’t actually believe any of that garbage for a second. BTW Salty, “Laser Show” and standing, staring at his homers says hi.
Yeah, but Salty is serious. Nevermind that Cervelli is half Italian.
Didn’t Cervelli get hit by a pitch in his next at bat?
After the fistpump, I mean.
yeah, it’s in the article that Lackey put one in between Frankie’s numbers the next at bat.
Yeah, by the honorable John Lackey.
JAAAAAAHHHHHHHHNNNNNN Lackey?
He’ll be ready at “awesome o’clock.”
Look at Dustin Peeedroiaia. He has the more adorable chocolate chip on his shoulder. He’s so tiny!
Watching the Seattle game on MLBTV and wow, Jesus is definitely not a catcher. Pass ball and an error throwing a ball into left field in the first inning…three runs directly his fault
Felix must be thrilled
Maybe he should come to New York so he can have a better offense and catcher??
OK, that was too far.
thanks for nothing cano
he didnt hang a breaking ball to a bad hitter
garbage pitch
Yankees love throwing off speed pitches this year.
Thank goodness the Kuroda deal is just a 1 year deal.
Working the count doesn’t mean you get the count to 2-0 and then swing at ball 3.
Toronto still stealing signs i see. Wonder if girardi is smart enough to change the signs?
Nice inning, gang.
Wow…Vizquel is still playing…that’s something. Alex, Derek ignore that he’s like a million and still playing.
Are you concerned that your internet crush won’t recognize your new name?
Haha, she might…but she also might fall in love with the epicness of my new name.
Your FIP is looking excellent in the young 2012 season.
Please tell me you stayed in that thread long enough to see that.
No, I really have to start hanging around here more often
I have no idea what you’re talking about… enlighten me.
After your little proposal, she said something about a “Flawless Internet Proposal”, and I noted that that is the same acronym as Fielder Independent Pitching. So FIP can now mean both, hence, your FIP looks good in 2012 so far lol.
Haha, why thank you kind sir.
But seriously where are all the single female yankee fans who enjoy star wars and harry potter?
Sore subject, as of today there is one more out there
Oh, wow…Erica, where ever you are, I’m sorry
my proposal is still on the table if that makes you feel better.
No, I meant my own (ex) girlfriend. Don’t like airing out my laundry on the internet, but today is not a good day.
Wow, even more sorry bro. Shit gets better, plus you’re starting a new life in DC, there are plenty of great girls down there.
AND your meme name died.
Booo.
Yep, it’s all good. I have a rebound weekend in Boston this weekend, where a bunch of my college buddies have having a 3-day long party. Good timing.
They married Robinson Tilapia.
…YOU’RE MORMON??!!
I just want to say- whatever hell the rest of you may be going through, I’m stuck listening to Sterling and Waldman for this game.
I’m with you for everything but games on the west coast, all season my friend.
Solid approach… let’s try to pull the ball against a groundball sinkerballer.
Is every out a groundout to the pull side so far tonight? Just a horrendous approach at the plate. I’m not against pulling the ball but there are just too many hitters rolling over on pitches on the outside corner in neutral or hitter counts.
A zombie team again tonight.
Game over. Goodbye.
And dont bring up 9-0. Jays have a better pen
9-0. BOOM.
Wait to you hear what duhinnings said about you, booooooy! Oh, it’s going to be oooooon!
This is your plan?
It’d be better if the rest of you joined in.
I believe they just sounded the “Troll Happy Hour” bell.
Reply fail…..within a Greg thread. Double fail.
Heh.
They must have some real solid drink specials.
Bye Greg!
Ha, he’s just getting warmed up, trust me…if A. allow more runs, or B. Continue to fail to score, he’ll be back.
Meme that didn’t stick: When I would reply to anything Greg said with a Cure or Smiths lyric. He never had any idea what I was talking about.
Hahaha, now that’s funny.
with this offense.. game over
Well.
That didn’t go according to plan.
Turning this off.
Have a good one folks.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4qJ.....eme-Fu.jpg
So that’s that. At least we’ve got playoff basketball we can watch. This pitching staff is awful and the offense isn’t much better.
Yes, damn them for having just the third best offense and possibly the most consistent with spreading out its scored runs between games. And all those come from behind wins….pffft.
Damn them to Hell.
Another N.L. pitcher that can’t handle real big league hitters in the A.L.!
KURODA IS WORSE THAN IGAWA
These Yanks definitely look poised to score 6 runs tonight.
Yeeeaaaah this team sucks.
Where’ve you been? I don’t see you on here much anymore.
Yeah, I come and go. Seems like I’ve missed quite a bit here, though…
Good to see that the gang is all here.
Didn’t take long.
I can’t wait to hear what Duh Innings has to say about this one.
…trade A-Rod?
Blow it up.
Play the kids.
/OTM’d
Indeed.
Who is Duh Innings?
And Athenian?
Look at last night’s game recap.
Guys that come and troll the boards when the Yankees are loosing, or just lost about how bad the team is and how they’ll never get it together…then magically loose internet connection when the yankees are winning/coming back/win.
You want a recap on Duh Innings, go read the game story from last night/this morning. Not the game thread, the story after the game.
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....nt-4264465
That, my friend, is Duh Innings. In all his glory.
I don’t see Athenian yet. That’s always the point a game thread jumps the shark.
Plate ump not helping Hirok. Both HRs came with extra outs.
Playoff hockey and basketball calling
Can anyone tell me how the Yanks are in 1 Run and 2 Run (differencial) games?
4-3 in 1-run games.
I think it was rhetorical
Less rhetoric! More statistics!
There isn’t a statistics user on this board who isn’t a rhetorician.
4-3 one run games
3-3 in 2-run games (based on quick look at the results, I think it’s accurate though)
Can’t wait until Mason Williams makes the show so the Yankees can trade him.
They are stealing signs again waiting on offspeed stuff.
Guys, there’s a DISTURBING TREND going on: a two-run HR in the second, and a three-run HR in the third. OBVIOUSLY there’s going to be a grand slam in the fourth, and from the fifth on we’ll have to play some creative baseball.
If this goes into extra innings, we may have a 10-run HR.
So jj, what neighborhoods in DC are you looking?
Derp, idk if I’ve told you yet, but your name makes me http://weknowmemes.com/wp-cont.....e-face.png every time i see it.
I looked at apartments yesterday/this morning on Mellon St SE, S St SE, and 57th St NE. Leaning towards 57th so far.
Semi-sketchy neighborhoods, but I’m poor lol. Just starting out, I need a cheap place.
Become a Scientologist. Live by Dupont Circle. BOOM.
If you give me an extra $600 per month, I’d gladly live on Dupont.
Join the house of Hubbard.
Doesn’t that coast more monies than rent?
Nothing wrong with that. Gotta start somewhere.
Yep. They’re mostly studio apartments, the one of 57th is real cheap and newly renovated. Walking distance to Benning Rd Metro. That’s the front runner.
Yeah, dude. Totally fine. I hope you get what you want.
Pretty much gave the guy a verbal commitment today. Told him as soon as I get a job offer, I’ll sign a lease. He owns a renovation company, seems like a good kind of landlord to have.
Damn it, my new alternate is revealed.
Yeah, I was about to point out that you’d made a mixup here.
Oh well.
Wonderful. You’re Nicky Fucking Minaj.
So this is annoying…
Chavez just broke his foot
Let me just make a comment about all of these injuries. With the exception of Rivera, whose injury seems legit and serious, these “injured” guys need to get over it. In all seriousness, you play baseball for a living. Baseball is not remotely physically demanding, especially when compared to the other four sports. Suck it up and be a man.
Reminds me of this:
Dibble criticized Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg for missing a start due to an injury: “Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can’t have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow.” It was revealed shortly afterward that Strasburg had torn an elbow ligament and required Tommy John surgery.
None of these guys have anything similar to a torn elbow ligament.
Always great advice from a guy whose arm fell off.
Can’t wait until they hire Joel Zumaya as an analyst.
He actually went off on Strasburg and the Nats today on this twitter account. Guess he’s still Salty they fired him.
Let’s go Rangers!
IS IT ME OR DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE YANKEES ARE ALWAYS DOWN IN A GAME?
That happens when your 3-4-5 are garbage.
…wait, are you a single Yankee/Harry Potter/Star Wars fan?
DIBS!!!!!!!
and I’ll settle for 1-3!
Heh, a .300 average gets you into the Hall of Fame!
Oh God. Is this a dating site now?
Only sometimes.
Diversifying during the slow economy.
I DON’T WANT TO BE A JERK, BUT I THINK YOU LEFT YOUR CAPSLOCK ON.
one hit through 4 against mediocre pitcher while the #2 pitcher on the staff gives up 5 runs in 3 innings.. and some people still think they’ll go to the playoffs… funny
name 5 better teams
Tampa Bay, Texas, Detroit, Dodgers, Cardianls, Braves, Brewers, Nationals
lol at Detroit
….aaaaaaand Troll Happy Hour is ON!
Detroit, Milwaukee, and Washington? LOL. Someone doesn’t watch much baseball.
And three of those teams play in the AL.
AL teams. Its for the playoffs.
Detroit is not better than us.
Tampa Bay: Line up/bullpen playing over their collective heads
Texas: Most complete team in baseball, no arguement
Dodgers: I laugh
Cardinals: We could beat in a best of 7, but it probably goes 7
Braves: I don’t know enough about the braves to break them down, but I don’t think they could beat the Yankees
Brewers: Their pitching would be eaten alive by our line up, even now
Nationals: Decent NL team, wouldn’t win more than 85 games in the AL
Detroit 18-18 in a terrible division. Brewers 16-20 in an equally terrible division.
I was referring to making the playoffs. The five better teams would have to be in the AL. Tampa Bay and Texas definitely look better right now. Someone will win the Central. Most likely both wildcards come from the east, so the Yankees would just have to finish third in the East to make the playoffs. They are third in the East now, and I really doubt Baltimore stays good all season. Most likely, the Yankees would just have to finish better than two of Boston, Baltimore, and Toronto to make the playoffs. I think that’s entirely realistic, and think the Yankees would rightly be favored to do so.
Honestly…
Texas.
Texas.
Texas.
Texas.
Texas.
They are no doubt really good, but I’d like to see how they do if they were in a division that doesn’t have 3 AAAA teams in it.
Haha, I agree…but to me they are the most complete team in baseball…especially if Yu Darvish continues to be as good as he’s been.
Because this one game is going to dictate the future.
Because the sucky pitching has been there all season long, and the aging offense might not improve… only that.
and yet if the playoffs started today, they would be in (despite the sucky pitching and aging offense)
2 games ago we we’re one game out from first. The offense beat some really pitchers and the pitching was doing fine for a week+. (kuroda, CC, Nova and Hughes all had games where they pitched well in the stretch) Then two bad games, the season’s over? Fair-weather fans lol…
I always love responses like this. They are the standard come back to the expression of frustration by a fan simply made to chastise them or demean them in a manner that says their just stupid.
However, when one looks at this team and the huge inconsistencies they have, pitching, fielding,especially hitting, it is not a hard jump to say they may miss the playoffs. Sure people will quote their offensive numbers but those numbers mean nothing when they come head to head with teams they should beat, teams they should hit, and yet, stubble to find a single run.
Right now, this team is a yo-yo with no one person taking the lead. Joe gives his usual cliche responses as do the players. They tip their cap so much during the season it is a wonder they are not all on the DL with strained wrists.
Alright, now it’s ON!
So you’re saying it’s fine to overreact despite the fact there’s more than 75% of the season left to play, but wrong to call them out for it?
In a game that an offensive star fails at best to at least reach base 60% of the time no team is ever consistent.
What does O:S stand for?
Don’t worry about it, it gets ignored by the same people who preach it.
I can’t stop worrying about it until I find out what it means.
Operation: Shutdown, I believe. Meaning, end the arguments against the trolls before it gets out of hand.
Ah.
5Q + 5Q
Operation: Shutdown.
It never works.
Or if it does, it doesn’t count because an argument doesn’t start and no one notices.
The issue is that at least one regular will be feeling frisky on any given night and argue a point for an hour or so. Its what happens with any well populated board.
In my limited experience, if someone really wants to argue, there will always be people to argue with.
Chavez just broke his tongue
DAMN KURODA, I GUESS HE DOESN’T LIKE PLAYING N TURF
DAMN LILY YOUR CAPS LOCK BUTTON IS STUUUUCK.
Something tells me something is up with this Lily.
This team is brutal to watch. Call me in August
If the season ended today, the Yankees would still be in the playoffs as a WC team.
For those who like to worry about the standings on May 16…
Yes they would. And lose in the WC game.
Oh, well that’s settled. Wrap it up boys, Athenian has spoken.
They’d have CC against either the Orioles of Tampa. But feel free to think what you want.
Has the hat tipping started yet?
Hard to know what to say about this lackadaisical team. Win a couple, lose a couple, win three, lose 2, split a couple, go 3-5 go 5-3, etc.
It really needs some sort of shakeup, whether that be by changes in the lineup, benchings, other kinds of personnel moves, etc., I don’t know. I suspect that if we were in the 70s or 80s, Joe G. might be gone soon.
Of course, it may just be that they’re “unshakeable,” and just plain mediocre. It’s six weeks into the season now. “Early” excuses are over.
As for the present score, no one should be surprised by it. This team plays the Yankees hard, and they’re not without talent. They’re younger and more energetic.
I just got doomed
we were 5-2 before this game and the last game. We were 2 outs away from sweeping the rays…now suddenly this team is crap because of two games?
Game and a half, but who’s counting?
It’s still early dude. Baseball is a long season.
It gets late early for some teams, and this may be one of them. I’m not thinking about these recent injuries. Six weeks in are enough to tell this is a pretty lousy starting rotation. Take a look at the age of this lineup on some nights: ARod, Jeter, Ibanez/Jones, Chavez.
Baseball seasons:
First third is for evaluation, second third is for adjustments, last third is go for it.
We’re not even done with the evaluation phase yet, so relax. Zen baseball.
Funny enough Jeter and Arod are among to top offensive players in their position this season. Ibanez and Jones have been fine splitting the DH. It’s the younger guys that’s been sucking.
A-Rod’s triple slash the last month .318/.417/.466
Jeter’s triple slash all season .366/.413/.523
Ibanez has been “clutch”, as has Chavez.
Age isn’t what’s wrong with this team. I don’t know what the problem is right now but that’s not it.
Citing those stats is whistling while going past a graveyard–or an old-timers’ home–and ARod’s are the least reassuring of all. He isn’t being paid to be a singles hitter.
This is baseball, salary isn’t commensurate with performance.
Ha ha ha. Very good. Bravo.
Sorry, I ran out of fucks to give earlier, especially about how many homers Alex hits. He’s still on pace to hit around 22 I think, and you know what? that’s more than fine if he’s hitting in the three hole, before Cano and/or 5th, after Cano.
One good week and suddenly he’s back on pace for 30.
Jeter, Ibanez, and ARod have been 3 of our 4 or 5 best hitters.
That’s what Bernie Madoff told his clients
I will conquer you.
…..
That’s a shame.
Rome and Athens, classic right?
#searchingforanewmemehandle
“…classic, right?”
Are you trying to break into puns now?
I was only gonna use it for Athenian. Seemed appropriate.
Oof.
Oh lordy.
This team is garbage. Cashman needs to be fired. HORRIBLE pitching staff. HORRIBLE. Cant get one decent starts out of ANYONE BUT CC consistently. Disgusting overpaid pigs. Yankees.
It’s topless Jello shot time at Happy Hour!
Spring break comes early (late?)
TYPING in CAPS makes my points more VALID.
Its the Chris Mathews Theory of Rhetoric in text form!
bring back igawa he is better thn kurodaaaaaa
Third consecutive inning runs score with 2 outs. Inability to close out an inning an issue for this team all season. Glad Kuroda is signed for only 1 year. The clock has started for getting another starter.
And giving up whom, at what level of quality? Ain’t no one going to be giving the Yankees any bargains because soon the Nietzsche principle may come into play: “When you see something slipping, give it a shove.”
He was fine before this stinker. He was inconsistent, but had a 3.5 ERA coming into the game.
That number always surprises me. He’s come off as incredibly inconsistent to me as well, and I was a huge supporter of signing him.
He has like one really bad game for every 2 good ones it seems.
Which isn’t the kind of veteran anchor I was hoping for. I’ll be honest – I’m pretty disappointed, but we’ll save that for a daytime thread.
I honestly can’t remember a good start by him aside from the starts against the Angels and against Texas (and they lost that one).
7 inning 2 runs vs seattle
7 innings 1 run vs Balt
2-1 win vs. Orioles was pretty damn good
Wow, I don’t remember it at all. It must have been great.
#hattipping
…….aaaaaand the Bud Light Girls have arrived.
Hiroki Kuroda with no regard for my Fangraphs The Game SP!
His xFIP is only around 3!
This team is hilarious… I honestly can’t get upset at the pitching when you know there’s a really good chance the offense won’t show up… I just feel bad for the pitchers.
It feels either Kuroda strikes them out or the ball is out for a homerun
At least all these runs Toronto scores only counts for one game! I’ll take some nice signs from the offense in the next few innings and hope they carry it over to tomorrow.
3-1 fastball on the outside corner…. pulled groundball.
Outside of Jeter does anyone on this team regularly go with the pitch?
Alex.
Cano recently
Martin (well everything he hits seem to be grounders)
I’m not giving up on this game. I’ll bet you all a pile of snark the Yankees get the tying run to the plate at some point.
Only works when Axisa says it.
Yeah and I don’t want to anger the baseball gods by abusing the privilege. I’ve only used it once this year: the 15-9 comeback win in Boston.
Good Tiexiera, you get a ribbie.
Clay Rapada comes into the game.
Clay Rapada has weird viral infection.
Robinson Tilapia comes home from vacation with strep throat.
Coincidence?
Stop making out with Yankee relievers.
I’ll admit it: I fucked Clay Rapada.
You might become a Zombie. Should get it checked out.
Clay on yo’ fa’!
I would’ve gone with David Robertson, but that’s just me.
/mancrush
Are you kidding? Mo FTW.
Ha, well let’s just say I’m a guy of flexible morals…and Robertson ain’t exactly bad looking…I’m just going to stop talking now
Yeah, you do that. Maybe we should change your eHarmony profile to single MALE Yankee relievers who also like Harry Potter and Star Wars.
Well, I wouldn’t be on penicillin now, for one.
Just started reading Duh Inning’s rant from last night…ouch. My head hurts.
Ridiculous, right? I love how trading guys with no trade clauses is a forgone conclusion for him.
Don’t bother finishing…seriously, it was a disaster.
My brain is still fried from that.
How do you think I feel?
Like your steak is undercooked?
Horrible, horrible call!
Nothing really good on tonight. Celtics are blowing out the Sixers. The Rangers are going to beat the Devils in their series. And this laughfest.
“And this laughfest.”
Yes, we have missed your comments.
Sincerely,
Duh Innings
amidoingitrite?
Did you read what duhinnings called Greg the other night, jjyank? I wouldn’t dare repeat that. How low.
I must have missed that. Enlighten me.
I swear he used the word “douchecow.” I don’t even know what that means.
…a cow made of douches? Or maybe a cow that that emits douches? I’m confused.
The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, no, and everybody’s got to live their life
And God knows I’ve got to live mine
/worthanothertry’d
Boo Nix was safe.
What’s really amazing to me is that you can’t point to the injuries and say, “Well, that’s the reason they’re so pedestrian.”
I think the fact is that Cashman and Co. did absolutely nothing to infuse to youth into the everyday lineup. They were shown to be lackluster and flawed at the end of last yr, and what did they do to remedy it? Nada.
Didn’t they give Nunez more playing time?
They did, and their hands are somewhat tied by the long-term deals they’re saddled with, but there has to be a creative solution somewhere in there.
If they paid me a few million I could come up w/a pretty good plan.
Is that you, Mr. Innings?
You need to pick one handle and stick to it. You’re working on three this thread already.
can/do you actually know that Mike? or are you just using judgement?
Name ‘em. Please. You know there’s no privacy policy for this kind of things.
No problem, will do.
Thanks. It makes it much easier to have a conversation.
The Yankees are feeling the effects right now of the Steinbrenner Era in early 2000s when they didn’t develop anybody and traded all of their prospects.
Like the mid 80s.
They traded, what, one prospect? If you’re comparing mid 80′s Yankee farm with 2012 farm, you are not paying attention.
My bad. But you can’t complain IPK and A-Jax anyway.
I wasn’t talking about their farm system now. The lack of development in the mid 2000s and such was the problem
Jake Westbrook
Ted Lilly
Mike Lowell (even though it wasn’t in this decade)
John Axford (released, not traded)
Tyler Clippard
Plus if you look at their drafting for that period of time, it was awful
Okay, the IPK, Robertson, Nova, Hughes (if he keeps this up), Joba, Cervelli, Nunez, Gardner. All serviceable, or more, players.
What’s your point?
Also, if you’re brining up players not from this decade, let’s go ahead and throw Jeter, Mo, Posada, and Pettitte on that list. Again, what’s your point?
IPK, Joba, and Hughes were all drafted in 2005-2006, I believe. I’m talking about from the late 90s to about mid decade.
So you pick a sample where they were bad and disregard the more recent successful examples? Again, I don’t really see the point. So they had bad development 20 years ago? They’ve been better recently, as I’ve pointed out, so where’s the beef?
“Some beef is big and some beef is small
But what y’all call beef is not beef at all”
-Mos def
At some point, lack of development catches up with you. That’s the point. And yes the Yankees have done better in the last 5 years.
Yes. So let it happen.
This is when we need TSJC and his microwaved burrito.
Now you’re just throwing together shit from somewhat recent Yankee history that you think will make you sound old and knowledgeable when, in the end, you know you’re not making any damn sense.
The early 2000s and the mid 80s were two completely different animals. Completely. You can start with the sheer existence of the Wild Card.
Also,
Poor old man
He had an “accident” with a three bar fire
But that’s OK
Because he wasn’t very happy anyway
Yes, but the actions of Steinbrenner in both times were the same thing
Doug Drabek
Willie McGee
Jay Buhner
Al Leiter
Bob Tewksbury
J.T. Snow
Greg Gagne
Worst dropkick in the business. Oh, not that Greg Gagne.
You’re also just looking these up on the web as you type them, as if Greg F’ing Gagne was the one that got away.
FWIW, JT Snow was blocked by Mattingly. The Yanks didn’t dare acquire another 1B until Tino came along.
It was dumb to trade away Tewksbury. The point isn’t that they made dumb trades in the 80′s. It’s that the 80′s and the 00′s have nothing in common. Go ahead, though, and keep on Wiki’ing transactions from the 80′s. You forgot Fred McGriff.
Baseball reference. Interesting look into what could have been.
I’m just pointing similarities. Of course the eras were different
BTW, Roy Smalley did have 2 good years with the Yanks so that kind of evens out Gagne
Please quit referencing Greg Gagne, unless we’re talking AWA Wrestling.
I do not believe you could have come up with Willie McGee for Bob Sykes by yourself.
I remember all those trades well and, yes, there was actually a point to Al Leiter for Jesse Barfield, btw.
Three of those trades literally completely disregarded a good young player in order to either obtain quick veteran fixes that weren’t very good to begin with in order to chase god-knows-what since there were plenty of other things wrong with those teams.
My point is that the moves were much less ridiculous in the last decade, and they were actually chasing something. What was on par with Buhner/Phelps in your eyes?
Yeah I know. But the similarities are there. Of course, Geroge then got suspended and Gene Michael came in and so did good drafting.
They also drafted well because they were a last-place team drafting high. That kinda sorta helped.
I saw the list of “current” names you provided above. Most of those names are no longer on the Yankees for different reasons than why Jay Buhner wound up in Seattle. You need to squint awfully hard to get to the similarities you’re claiming.
Mo, Joba, Swisher (for a little while), Gardner?
And what did they do to remedy last year? Pineda? Kuroda?
This team at the beginning of the season was better on paper than last year, yet that is “nada” in your book. Just because it hasn’t gone according to plan so far doesn’t mean nothing was done at all.
They got Ibanez who has a wRC+ of 133, huge up grade over other DH from last year if you forgot how bad he was.
I get pissed off when people say “Oh they love the human element”.
With so much money at stake for victories, the human element shouldn’t come into account at all.
Greg and I might not agree on alot but THIS. EVERY SINGLE GOD DAMN WORD OF THIS.
But Joe Morgan says the human element is essential.
I’m not really sure what’s so romantic about countless blown calls. The argument of “just think about all the calls they get right!” is not exactly a compelling one.
The players are the human element.
ROBOT UMPS
That was God-awful. I mean how can you even keep a straight face. And I have to listen to the Toronto feed.
So many goddamn Homeruns…
So who thought Avengers was awesome, but feels like Batman is going to blow it away?
Didn’t see the Avengers, but Batman is awesome, so yeah, that.
I hope so.
Iron Man 1 was the last superhero film I saw. It was the just the point where I realized I was watching the same damn story over and over.
That’s the dumbing down for mainstream audiences. You always have to start with the origin story and that’s always fundamentally the same.
+ infinity.
Hey tilapia! Did I say 5-1 in the 8th? I meant 8-1, sorry.
Sebastian Rhoden
I don’t get it.
Skippy espinoza? Scroll to 1st inning
Ah.
Jermaine Stankiewicz?
Love me some Pepe Zuvella.
I heard Butch Azocar is toolsy
Ok. I got it out of my systen
This party don’t start til Homer Habyan shows up.
Hilary Velarde.
Epply is throwing some good pitches but not getting any calls.
Could’ve basically guaranteed tonights results after the developments in Toronto the past two days, and the Yankees general sucktitude in Toronto since 2010 (7-12). Alas, get ‘em tomorrow.
The Blue Jays are the most underrated pain in the ass team ever.
Truth.
I’m just surprised Colby Rasmus has joined in on the fun. Goes to show how far in the shitter he is, and has been since Toronto acquired him.
Meanwhile, his replacement in St. Louis is now the masher everyone expected Rasmus to be.
Sure, Robbie. Why not? Let’s let it all hang out tonight.
robbie getting bored
I had Pizza Pizza up in Toronto once. That shit ain’t pizza. It’s sort of like the Little Caeser’s Outlet Store.
/Canadian’d
You can’t get good pizza outside NY.
Local pizza place where I live isn’t bad. I mean, it’s real pizza compared to the chain places.
Au contraire, mon frere.
Love,
New Haven, CT
Portland, OR
Chicago too.
My wife and I argue about whether deep dish is actually pizza. It’s a very different breed of pizza but, yeah, it’s good. Just not my style in the least.
Not mine either, I prefer a thinner crust, but it is good in its own right.
I’m a big New Haven guy, and Difara’s in Brooklyn is heavenly, of course. There’s a place in Portland called Apizza Scholls which shocked the hell out of me. No way west coast pizza could be that good.
what the expression on girardi’s face mean?
“What’s Teddy thinking right now?”
This team is lifeless…
-1 for your handle. Boooo.
If Kelly Johnson can beat the shift with a freaking 5 hopper through the vacated shortstop hole, why can’t any Yankee batter do the same? Oh, right, Johnson sucks while our entire lineup is going to the Hall.
Preemptive hat-tip.
lol @ Yes showing BG like he’s Bonds in his prime.
He’s a hell of lot better than Jayson Nix and Dewayne Wise.
I’m listening to Leiter and Singleton and I disagree that the be all end all of wins is starting pitching. Hitting and defense are just as important. It just sounds like another excuse for the lack of run production on this ball club.
It’s hard to win when your starter gets shelled like this. And the Yankees have the 3rd best offense in the AL.
That number is inflated by their there wins scoring 15, 11, 10 runs. Otherwise they are only outscoring their opponents by 4/10 of a percent – runs per game.
It’s funny how when you take out the times they were really good they were merely just good enough.
Huh.
That is the beauty of the numbers argument that so many come back with, they can be modified to tell any story.
On the other hand, they are not quite as powerful offensively as they may seem.
…Thank you for conceding the debate.
That’s what I’ve been saying about Athens. You’re going down.
I’m not sure if the phrase “good enough” really applies to the team as they’re currently playing.
The games where you score 10 or 11 runs count too.
Yes they do. Just as a 1-0 win counts equally.
This is exactly how I remember Joe Morgan misinterpreting this same topic.
you realize that’s essentially true of every team, right?
somebody run over Kuroda and cashman with a car.
somebody run over
Kuroda and cashmanShawn R with a car.Nah. I’m sure Shawn has his strenghts as a human being. Just slightly bump him.
Bulldoze Athenian.
It would help if the starters would attempt to hold the opponent to less than 5 runs in less than 5 innings.
Oh, I think they attempt that.
7 runs tonight. Tomorrow night could be brutal with Hughes pitching.
http://www.baseball-reference......g_gamelogs
Phil’s last three starts.
I can understand his pessimism. Flyball pitcher in a hitter’s park against a team that seems to live off home runs.
Hopefully Hughes proves him wrong.
Thats funny that you pick the last three starts where he won 2 games. However, that is not a valid argument since those wins are against Seattle, KC, and the earlier one against MN.
KC the only one of the three that is in the top 10 in team BA. The other two are bottom feeders.
THIS….IS….ROOOOOOME. *Kicks Athenian down a well*
I think the point was that Hughes has been pitching progressively better in his last few starts. Quality of opposition surely played a part in that (especially vs. Seattle), but he has been pitching better. Hopefully he can keep it up. Toronto should make for a good test for Hughes.
this.
Anyone ever heard of The Expendables?
Blasting their new album makes baseball loses okay.
Yes, I am a reggae head. But seriously, extremely talented band.
Anyone notice the game ended?
At this rate, I can’t wait for the post game thread. I promise to just observe.
lol … I’m just staying out completely
I wonder if he’ll show up…
I actually hope so. He only makes a fool of himself, everyone knows it.
Maybe sleeping, like the rest of us do, will be a good idea for some of you.
I could do with sleep. But I’m getting laid off in 5 weeks, and my current job is trying to be nice and bring in other employers for job fairs. So one is tomorrow and I suck at compiling a résumé, so I’ll be spending most of the night doing that.
Good luck Pat! I’d offer my own advice, since I am also job hunting, but since I’m not getting my desired job and am falling back to a previous position, I suppose I shouldn’t recommend myself.
Well someone has to put the crazies in their place, Pat!
Yankees held to 2 runs or less in 8 of the last 16 games.
Offense definitely struggling a bit right now.
Be careful, deriding the offense may get you labeled a troll.
And it’s “2 runs or fewer.”
my grammar skills are on par with the Yankees performance today
Just busting your chops.
So I guess everyone on the board gave up on this game just as fast as the Yanks did.
even Bill Miller couldn’t stop the Jays tonight…
Just to confirm what the rest of you may suspect by now…
Yes, I might just hate the Rays more than the Red Sox, now in 2012. I wouldn’t trade a thing about September 2011 – incredible collapse that will forever be on my instant playlist.
But, that in mind, living in the TB has jaded me so damn much against that franchise. Seeing the Rays perennially turn total schmucks like Kyle Farnsworth and Fernando Rodney into lights out closers annoys the shit out of me. Seeing them win with lineups that routinely feature Sean Rodriguez, Elliot Johnson, Jose Molina, and other shitty offensive players annoys me.
Worst of all, the myopic assholes that form sports talk radio are insufferable with that and their boversimplified generalizations about the Yankees, Red Sox, and their fanbases (I mean, why am I annoyed at the Boston side? Principle – it’s blatant lies done just to pander to the huge bandwagon fanbase of TB sports fans).
Fuck ‘em all. I’m comforted knowing that Texas would destroy that team, again, in the playoffs before they could ever reach the World Series.
We need some helmet throwers!