Monday Night Open Thread

May 7, 2012 by Mike Axisa 189 Comments

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By now you’ve heard about it, but did you actually see it? Former Yankees draft pick (50th round in 2004) and current Orioles 1B/DH Chris Davis threw two scoreless innings against the Red Sox in Fenway Park to earn the win yesterday. The best part of the whole thing was his splitter — he said it was a split during the post-game, not a changeup — which he used to strikeout Jarrod Saltalamacchia (0:10 mark of the video) and Adrian Gonzalez (1:08). Baseball America’s draft report from 2006 says he pitched with “a 90-92 mph fastball and a decent breaking ball” in junior college. I gotta think he’s messed around with that split while throwing on the side; hard to believe he was able to break it out that effectively after not toeing the rubber in a half-decade.

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread since the Yankees are off. The Mets are playing the Phillies (Niese vs. Halladay, 7pm ET on SNY/ESPN) and the Rangers have a playoff game (best-of-seven series tied at two, 7:30pm ET on NBC Sports Network), plus there’s a bunch of non-local NHL and NBA playoff action going on as well. You folks know what to do, so have at it.

Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

I found the hidden open thread!
- jjyank
  
  No way! Did you find any 1337 loot??
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Quick. Close the lid.
kenthadley

Anyone catch Jose Quintana today for Chisox? We had him buried in A ball most of last year and now it takes him one month to reach the majors. Admittedly SSS, but couldn’t we have used a 25 year old lefty starter at AAA instead of the veteran drek like Feliciano, Ortiz, and now Armando Galarraga? Is this the beginning of another Axford saga?
- http://none Bernard
  
  Hey, I remember Kent Hadley. I think we got him in the Roger Maris trade in 1959 along with shortstop Joe DiMaestri. He was a big power-hitting lefty bat off the bench [a first baseman too]. Unfortunately, the Yankees didn’t use him all that much and before long he was out of baseball entirely. It was a real shame.
  - kenthadley
    
    For Hank Bauer, Norm Siebern, Marv Throneberry, and Don Larsen….and Larsen didn’t have one game as good as Quintana did today.
    - YanksFanInBeantown
      
      Uhhhhhh…do you know who Don Larsen is?
      
      (sorry if you were being sarcastic)
      - kenthadley
        
        Sure, he’s the guy that went 1-10 for the A’s after this trade……
        
        YanksFanInBeantown
        
        Oh, OK, I thought you meant that Larsen *never* pitched as well as Quintana did today, not just that he sucked post-trade.
        
        Pat D
        
        Yea, Larsen didn’t exactly have the most distinguished career.
        
        kenthadley
        
        He actually did ok after leaving the A’s as a relief pitcher before those guys were really valued…and, I remember him being used effectively by Stengel as a pinch hitter…pretty good bat.
        
        http://none Bernard
        
        And Larsen hit a number of home runs, as I recall. Or am I thinking of Don Newcombe? Or both. Sorry. I think I have a touch of Alzheimer’s.
    - http://none Bernard
      
      I always liked Jose Quintana. I was sorry to see him go to the White Sox. I thought he was a definite prospect. And lefthanded to boot.
      
      By the way, I looked up the Kent Hadley bio. It says he went to Japan and played there from age 27 through 34. It’s no wonder why I didn’t see him after his two years in pinstripes [age 25 and 26]. Sorry to read that he died in 2005 at the age of 70.
- Steve (different one)
  
  He wasn’t “buried” in A ball. He was in rookie ball in 2010 and they should have skipped him to AAA last year?It sucks that they lost him, but they didn’t really have much choice. The rules say he was a minor league free agent. the Mets signed him at 17, the Yankees got him at 19 and he didn’t come to the US until he was 21. He went through 3 levels in 2 years, then he was able to become a free agent.
  
  It’s unfortunate, but I don’t know if it could have been helped. I could be wrong, but I don’t think Axford is analogous at all.
DERP

I’m hoping Charleston kills Dylan Bundy tonight (not literally).
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I wouldn’t count on it, though Gary Sanchez just doubled off him.
  - Bo Knows
    
    This is the game of Moral Victories, had Campos not gotten hurt the Baby Bombers might have a chance.
    
    The bright side is that they are making him work (37 pitches in 2 innings), the bad side Bundy has struck out 5 of them.
    - ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
      
      I feel a little in the dark on Campos. I hear he should be good. Have we seen anything yet?
      - Cris Pengiucci
        
        He’s shown a bit. We’ll need to see how he looks after TJ surgery.
        
        Bo Knows
        
        A little early to be saying he needs TJ
        
        Havok9120
        
        Better safe than sorry. He’ll need it sooner or later anyway because he’s a power pitcher and stuff and throws a slider. They always need it. Let’s just get it over with while he’s on the DL.
        
        YanksFanInBeantown
        
        ietc
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I know I already assume TJ for my son.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        Me too, albeit my son is a goalkeeper… But what the fuck, I got Cigna. Get it done now.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I’ll take my kid to Cuba and get it done there.
        
        jjyank
        
        Is he at least a lefty? Can we get some scouts down to your house?
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I have no idea. He just learned how to high-five, and does it with both hands. Watch out, Pat Venditte.
      - GardnergoesYardner
        
        He had a dominant start, plus the hopes and dreams of every Yankees fan are riding on him, and you “hear he should be good?” What rock are you living under, because I might come join you to get away from all of this madness.
        
        When healthy, he projects as a frontline starter one day, so he’s got a bright future.
      - Bo Knows
        
        Very efficient and knows his way around the Strikezone. The only time anyone has given him trouble was his last start (and that was because he was obviously playing injured as can be seen by him being immediately placed on the DL for elbow inflammation)
      - BK2ATL
        
        Elbow inflammation was the only diagnosis given, says Chad Jennings a few minutes ago. Sounds like he’ll be okay.
Chris

Looked like even though Mason Williams struck out he battled pretty good and worked the count
Pat D

I’m of the opinion that the winner of tonight’s Rangers/Caps game wins the series.

Not exactly a bold prediction, I know.
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Slow night on the thread…
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

I can’t find the hockey game on TWC. What the hell is NBC Sports Channel???
- Pat D
  
  Something that was just launched. I’ve got it on DirecTV.
  - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
    
    Thanks. I found it. Took a while. A damn playoff game is hidden.
    - ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
      
      It used to be called VS if that helps.
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  Ugh. 481.
BK2ATL

Pretty cool video, but classic that it happened against Boston IN Boston.
- MannyGeee
  
  The only way that could have been more epic is if it was in September and Papelbon was somehow involved.
  - Havok9120
    
    At least it had Bucholtz. That’s pretty good.
Midland TX

I enjoyed the entire Angels dugout vacating while Pujols was rounding the bases.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Mason Williams just scored from first on a routine throw from the catcher back to the pitcher.
- Pat D
  
  Uhhhhh…how?
  - DERP
    
    Kiley McDaniel ? @kileymcd
    Gabriel Lino threw the ball into CF on routine throw back to Bundy. Mason Williams ran 1st to 3rd then overthrow from CF and he scored.
    - Bo Knows
      
      Time to start a new narrative
      
      The Baby Bombers own Bundy
    - jjyank
      
      Haha that’s awesome. Johnny Damon-esque, if I may.
- kenthadley
  
  That’s almost as fast as Cool Papa Bell….
  - Gonzo
    
    Great reference!
  - Sweet Dick Willie
    
    Cool Papa Bell was so fast, he could get undressed, turn out the light, and be in bed before it got dark!
Pat D

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BK2ATL

Per Chad Jennings, Jose Campos only diagnosed with elbow inflammation. That’s the only diagnosis. Sounds optimistic. Hope that’s all it is and he’s back on the mound shortly after his DL stint ends.
- jjyank
  
  Man I hope so. We’ve got enough “the Yankees lost the trade” commenters as it is.
  - Pat D
    
    What was the last trade the Yankees made that we can say for sure that they “won?” ARod for Soriano? Brosius for The Gambler?
    - jjyank
      
      Nick Swisher says hello.
      - Pat D
        
        I knew I was forgetting something.
        
        jjyank
        
        I wouldn’t say the Yankees “won” the Granderson for IPK and A-Jax trade, but it’s at least fair. That’s good enough for me as well.
        
        Pat D
        
        Yea, that’s still up for debate considering all members of the trade are still with the teams that acquired them.
        
        jjyank
        
        Of course. Just going by what we know now, I would say that it’s fair.
        
        BK2ATL
        
        It’s an interesting case in all 3 teams received exactly what they were after.
        
        IPK was a Cy Young candidate, Grandy was a legit MVP candidate, and Jackson was a very good defensive CF and Phil Coke has been a serviceable LHP for Detroit.
        
        Grandy has been the best power hitter and most consistent offensive threat (combination at plate and on-base) on the Yanks since late 2010. That’s saying something. So, who won? I can say that we didn’t lose.
        
        jjyank
        
        That’s a good assessment. I don’t think anyone won, I think it was a fair trade. That seems, at least anecdotally, to be pretty rare for 3-team trades. But this one seems fair to me, at least for now.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        In that no one lost… EVERYBODY won. Hooray for parody!
        
        It’s like Vegas, if you break even, you actually came up ahead…
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I wouldn’t take the trade back. That’s for sure.
      - YanksFanInBeantown
        
        Yeah, that one was pretty unambiguous
    - kenthadley
      
      Can’t find any that include pitching, though…..
    - BK2ATL
      
      Chris Stewart for George Kontos?
      
      #Toosoon???
      - jjyank
        
        Heh actually Stewart has hit more than I hoped. SSS I know, but the dude is hitting a cool .300 with RISP in 10 AB. If his defensive reputation holds up, I’m cool with it.
        
        It’s funny, Kontos always seemed like a fringe guy that never got any love, and as soon as he gets traded, RAB blows up. The comments in that post were ridiculous.
      - kenthadley
        
        find one where Cash got over when he traded FOR pitching….his luck here matches his luck with girlfriends, although the last one had a pre-existing condition…..
        
        jjyank
        
        That’s not a fair comment, and I’m guessing you’re referring to the Pineda/Montero deal. What other pitching has Cashman traded FOR that you’re referencing? And if we’re playing that game, we can talk about the non-trades too. Glad Cashman didn’t pull the trigger on Santana. So we’re even, right? You have to go back quite a few years to find Cashman trading for a pitcher of any significance, unless my memory is forsaking me.
        
        kenthadley
        
        there’s always the Mike Lowell deal for the 3 studs….
        
        jjyank
        
        Like I said, quite a few years. Every GM has a few mistakes. If you need to go back to the 1990’s to prove your point, then Cashman wins.
        
        kenthadley
        
        wins what…did you name the pitcher he traded for where he won the deal? All you mention is what he didn’t do….the question was what trades he won where he got a pitcher….jury is still out on Montero, but in his tenure, you are hard pressed to find a pitcher he traded for that he really won the deal on.
        
        jjyank
        
        I didn’t mention any (besides my Vazquez correction below) because there really aren’t any. How many pitchers of actual relevance has Cashman traded for recently? If you disagree with the Pineda trade, that’s fine. But don’t make it sound like Cashman consistently fails with pitching trades, because that’s just not true.
        
        jjyank
        
        I’d also like to add that non-trades can be just as important as trades. And considering the lack of a sample size of Cashman pitcher trades, I think you need to consider the non-trades as well.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        Then I will trump you all and say the Randy Johnson deal. Out of town.
        
        They got Luis Vizciano and Ross Ohlendorff for him, which were both servicible, and then traded Ohlendorff as part of the package for Nady (who was legit when healthy) and Marte, who sorta was integral in the WS in 2009…
        
        See, it was a reach, but that is a pitching trade or 3 that he clearly won….. With a ring, all told
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        If you’re going to go back that far, both Hideki Irabu trades worked out very well.
        
        Pat D
        
        The Irabu situation makes me sad.
        
        I was very much looking forward to some kind of 20 or 25 year anniversary celebration for the 1998 team at Old Timer’s Day in 2018 or 2023 with the whole team and coaching staff being there, and that’s not possible now.
        
        Tyrone Sharpton
        
        that’s ridiculous…more people will die before then
        
        Pat D
        
        Dude, that’s a bit fucked up.
        
        jjyank
        
        I just realized that I forgot the Vazquez deal. But even with Javy being terrible, Vizcaino continuing his storied injury history doesn’t make the move look so bad.
        
        kenthadley
        
        you mean Vizcaino getting injured after the trade, sort of like, uhhhhh, Pineda? If that’s the arguement, then you would have to say we already lost the Montero deal, and I don’t necessarily believe that yet, and neither do I believe either Vazquez deal worked for us. Cash has a better track record dealing for hitting than he does for pitching. Justice and Swisher were big wins, and Brosius too. But I don’t recall trading for a pitcher that falls in the big win category….Pineda still might work out, but it will be a few years to determine.
        
        jjyank
        
        I’m saying that as far as relevant pitching trades go, Cashman hasn’t lost a damn thing yet. It’s too early to judge the Pineda/Montero trade. I don’t care that Pineda is out for the year. It sucks, but Montero still sports a sub-.300 OBP, so it’s not like he’s tearing it up. And so far the Yankees seem to have broke even on the Vazquez deal. So what’s your point? It doesn’t seem like “his luck here matches his luck with girlfriends” when the sample size is two trades long and he hasn’t actually lost them yet.
      - Tyrone Sharpton
        
        eric hinske for a pile of shit? shawn chacon?cashman has done well with trades too
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        The pile of shit is now throwing 95 MPH in Pittsburgh’s system. Cashman failed.
    - MannyGeee
      
      Granderson, in that by not losing they won…
- MannyGeee
  
  So, what your saying is don’t get a second opinion from the Mets Medical staff? Done and done
Havok9120

For those that don’t frequent LoHud (what’s wrong with you?), here are the RISP stats via Jennings:

LINEUP

Derek Jeter, 24 at-bats
.375/.429/.542

Curtis Granderson, 23 at-bats
.261/.393/.391

Alex Rodriguez, 29 at-bats
.207/.410/.414

Robinson Cano, 29 at-bats
.138/.212/.276

Mark Teixeira, 25 at-bats
.240/.300/.480

Nick Swisher, 30 at-bats
.267/.314/.633

Raul Ibanez, 23 at-bats
.304/.370/.565

Russell Martin, 14 at-bats
.143/.250/.214

Eduardo Nunez, Seven at-bats
.571/.500/.571

BENCH

Andruw Jones, Seven at-bats
.143/.222/.143

Chris Stewart, 10 at-bats
.300/.300/.300

Jayson Nix, One at-bat
.000/.000/.000

Dewayne Wise, One at-bat
.000/.000/.000

INJURED

Brett Gardner, Six at-bats
.667/.778/.883

Eric Chavez, Seven at-bats
.000/.000/.000

Actually not as bad for some as I thought. I love ARod’s line. Oh, and what’s Ibanez think he’s doing?
- jjyank
  
  Heh if A-Rod’s not gonna get a hit, at least he’ll walk. I saw that post as well, used it when quoting Stewarts RISP prowess above. Jokingly of course.
  
  But I was glad to see Ibanez’s numbers. The way I see it, we’re pretty much stuck with him unless Cash swings a trade. If he can keep those RISP numbers up, then it’s all good.
  - BK2ATL
    
    Ibanez has been pretty good for us so far. Not really seeing a reason why we’d try to trade him.
    
    I remember one of Cashman’s big reasons for signing Ibanez specifically was that he was the best option as a 5th OF who could play extensively in the OF. At the time, it sounded like Cash was pulling it out of his ass. He got clowned on this board, even by the writers. Now, Gardner AND Swisher go down, and won’t you look at that, if Cashman wasn’t right. We could do MUCH worse than Ibanez as a stopgap.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      As long as he’s not overexposed out there on the field, I’m fine with the guy. With Swish back and Gardner on his way, I hope that doesn’t happen again.
      - MannyGeee
        
        Outside of the occasional shit head play out there, he’s been… Well, he hasn’t hurt himself yet, so there’s that
        
        Havok9120
        
        He’s had two really, really good plays and some huge whiffs. Tho, to be fair, one or two of those came at Fenway in his first career start in Fenway’s LF (I think it was, anyway).
    - jjyank
      
      Absolutely, I agree with you. I didn’t mean to imply that Cashman would swing a trade of Ibanez, I meant unless he swings a trade for a new DH entirely. Which means we will have Ibanez, for better or worse, until probably July. If he can keep up those RISP numbers, I’m perfectly fine with him at DH.
      
      I know DH stands for “designated hitter” and as such, he should be a good overall hitter. But in the lineup, the DH bats in the 7 hole. So if you’re 7 hole hitter puts up numbers like that with RISP, that’s pretty good, no?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        Heh, there is no trading of Raul Ibanez. He only has two ways off the Yankees: his contract expires at the end of the year or he gets released.
        
        jjyank
        
        Oh, I know. I was never trying to imply that as a possibility. I think my phrase “swing a trade” was misinterpreted.
kenthadley

Hey Mike, nice outing by Scottie Allen…maybe he’s just bored when facing non-Bundy class competition?
Robinson Tilapia

So was there an actual legitimate reason why Coal Hammmels hit Bryce Harper? I didn’t even know about this until hearing about his suspension while on an elliptical. Real class move to throw at someone who’s been an MLB player for all of a week.
- Pat D
  
  “Welcome to the big leagues,” was more or less his reasoning, I read.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I hope he loses about half his free agent payday from that bullshit, then, and winds up having to back up Houston’s crap lineup.
    - jjyank
      
      Agreed. What an idiot. I saw it on the news, it actually made national news. If you’re going to hit a guy just because, why in the hell would you admit to it to the media?
      - Pat D
        
        To prove that you’re a badass, of course.
        
        jjyank
        
        Ha well I guess some people prefer to be a badass even if it costs them a suspension. I can’t decide if that makes Hamels a better or worse target in free agency.
      - MannyGeee
        
        It’s provocative… It gets the people going!
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        that shit cra’
    - Pat D
      
      Yea…there’s like zero chance of that happening.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Really? Puts his own teammates at risk while trying to prove he’s some sort of big-dicked bastard out there?
        
        Maybe it won’t cost him money, but he’s going to have to answer a ton more questions about his character before someone puts a contract in front of him.
        
        Pat D
        
        No he won’t.
    - Steve (different one)
      
      I hope he loses half his payday and signs with the Yankees!
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Yup. Can’t wait until someone throws a heater at Robbie Cano’s head because Hammmmmels decided to welcome some kid to the big leagues. Idiot.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        The idiot being Cole. I’m sure you’re a swell guy, Steve.
        
        jjyank
        
        I guess I never realized the impact of being “the next big thing” had on established major leaguers like Hamels. We hear it a lot, but I guess I’ve always assumed that actual MLB players pay little attention to media hype. Maybe I’m wrong.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I’d like to see him throw at this “next big thing.”
        
        Love,
        Brock Lesnar
    - Marcos
      
      I’ll still take him here in NY, if anything I’ll take him MORE! We’ll finally have someone who’ll hunt some Sox when the rivalry kicks up!!!
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com The Plouffenator
        
        Yes, let’s put another runner on base for a good offense, and hang our own guys out to dry, and possibly get injured all in the name of some stupid rivalry!!!!!
        
        There is almost never a reason to purposefully hit a guy, unless one of your guys gets plunked first. If you throw inside to back a guy off the plate and the result of the pitch his HBP, that’s fine too, but there is no reason to put a runner on base, extend the inning, cost yourself more pitches, and leave your own offense out there to be hit.
Pat D

I’m starting to wonder what’s more frustrating: the Yankees with RISP last week or the Rangers on the power play all the time.
- Havok9120
  
  Hmmmm.
  
  Bet you were hoping this would slide under the radar….
  
  :D
Spiff

Is there anyway I could look up double-splits of baseball players or is that information not available? For example, if I wanted to see Teixeira’s stats against RHP at Yankee Stadium for the last year, is there anyway I could find that kind of information?
jayd808

For those of you who are connoisseurs of rsawks decline and eating of their young, try this commentary on for size:

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2012/05/gonzalez_the_pe.html?comments=all&plckCurrentPage=7

An absolute classic…
- jjyank
  
  Wow that’s pretty hardcore. I mean, I know it’s laughable that A-Gon struck out against Davis on 3 pitches, but that post was kinda mean. I guess he should have talked to reporters and such after the game, but all I could think about while reading that was “man I’m glad that Mike, Joe, and Ben aren’t reactive enough to write such scathing posts”.
Manny’s BanWagon

Geez, just read the Swisher post. What a shit storm with Ted Nelson attacking Plank over trivial bullshit.

I don’t understand how that guy doesn’t get banned.
- jjyank
  
  I know. I was involved for a little bit, but backed off when I saw it getting nasty. I may have agreed with some of Ted’s overall points, but I never want to see a baseball discussion stoop to that level.
  - Pat D
    
    I’ve been trying to stay away from any kind or arguments on this site anymore. It always feels like a waste of time.
    
    But reading that back and forth was a bit painful. It made me think of a hypothetical discussion between Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann.
    - jjyank
      
      In hindsight, I should have backed away sooner. I was simply trying to state my own opinion, but Plank and Ted descended in to a much more violent (or the internet anyway) argument. Next time I will exit the conversation sooner. It is painful. We’re supposed to be die-hard fans of the same team, and thus not belittling each other over and over to win a virtual argument about the teams payroll.
      - Pat D
        
        But, as Captain Cold said in Challenge of the SuperFriends, “It’s not how you play the game, it’s how you win.”
        
        So, yea, all anyone cares about is winning. Or, at the very least, proving the other guy wrong.
        
        jjyank
        
        I suppose you’re right, and that’s sad. I come here to engage in light, fun, and insightful baseball discourse, but all too often I end up caught in the middle of these epic fights. It certainly seemed to me that Plank and Ted’s vendetta against each other goes way beyond the occasional disagreement in a thread.
        
        Pat D
        
        I used to try to remember everyone I got into any kind of argument with on these boards, and then I realized how extremely worthless and petty that was.
        
        I remember one time at the end of the 2010 season someone angered me enough that I emailed Mike about it and he told me that I was in the right, so I felt good about that.
        
        The only person I can remember consistently arguing with is Matt, and I haven’t seen him on the board this year. He seemed to argue with anyone about everything all the time.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        This is where people wind up having a problem with what I do, because there are few times I actually take an argument seriously and, the times I have, I’ve regretted it.
        
        I have little problem having an argument with either of these guys because I’m going to respect their opinion and not try to shoot them down. I’m not going to spend hours on the same topic with them.
        
        With the overly-negative, trollish guys…..they’re not worth taking seriously. Just make fun of them and move on.
  - Manny’s BanWagon
    
    Valid points? All I saw was a bunch of name calling and making a big deal over semantics.
    - jjyank
      
      That’s what I saw from both of them.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Agreed.
    - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
      
      RAB in a nutshell.
      - jjyank
        
        I’m pretty confident in saying that your comments never help to improve that, so why bother getting involved?
  - Bo Knows
    
    I just looked at what you guys were talking about. That is Ted’s MO, he might make some good points, but every time anyone gets into a debate with him it’ll eventually devolve into Ted being insulting/condescending you if you disagree with his points.
    
    The guy is a dick
    - jjyank
      
      True. I did agree with his original point personally (that $189 mil isn’t as big a deal as some make it out to be and maybe a budget forces the team to think twice about throwing money around unnecessarily) but the argument became so much more primitive than that. I don’t have the highest opinion of either at the moment.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Ted is serious about arguing his points. So is Plank. Both are rather intense guys. I don’t have an issue with either of them and greatly enjoy their presence on here. There would be zero reason to ban either of them and, yes, I did read that thread.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Just noticed I missed some of it. That got ugly, and a topic really not worth arguing. Both are equally responsible, as far as I’m concerned.
    
    I still appreciate both their presences on here.
    - Plank
      
      You think it’s equal responsibility? I was trying to ignore and diffuse the situation but snapped after hours of insults. I guess it didn’t come across that way.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        It’s all good, dude. Today is a new day. Once a topic hits about the half-hour mark, maybe it’s just time to move on.
  - jjyank
    
    I agree. I don’t want anyone banned, and I enjoy reading the opinions of other Yankee fans. I’m not a fan per se of those epic arguments (especially when I end up in the middle), both guys are passionate. A little more baseball and a little less personal attacks would be nice though.
    - Manny’s BanWagon
      
      At the very least, a moderator shoud have stepped in and gave each a time out before the fight got 50 posts deep.
      - jjyank
        
        The RAB posting system works well enough to easily allow people to avoid them though, so that’s not the issue I have. I just wish that fans passionate enough to regularly comment on this site would also be more invested in baseball discussion to not devolve to petty personal attacks, on both sides.
- Plank
  
  I apologize if I got out of line. It really wasn’t my intention.
  
  I think I summed it up well for myself here:
  
  http://riveraveblues.com/2012/05/the-future-of-right-field-68127/#comment-4223690
  
  “I’m feeling very attacked by you. I really feel like I’m being bullied. It’s preposterous since I’m a successful adult and this is a baseball website, but it’s still how I feel. I’m a human with feelings.”
  
  And
  
  “You could have read into the first thing I wrote and assumed I understood the necessary topics (which I did and do) and had a constructive conversation. Instead you attacked me for being a jerk about saying the same thing he wrote (which I didn’t, I added new information to his point). Now you seem to think you are an educator to me or some weird father thing. You called me your son.
  
  Whatever it is, your behavior has been very odd today, you have said very hurtful and heinous stuff to and about me, and I don’t wish to have any kind of conversation with you regarding baseball or any other topic.”
  
  I realize I should have just let it go, but it’s very difficult to have someone make personal attacks against me for hours without doing anything. I’m not a robot, though. Clearly I could have handled it better.
  
  I apologize to everyone for having to read that crap. I know I didn’t enjoy it, but I really don’t think I was the main culprit.
  - Kosmo
    
    Serenity now ! Serenity now !
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    No need to apologize, at least to me, and certainly please do not take the wrong way when I said there was responsibility with both parties. I could go on and one throwing family therapy concept at you like “complimentarity” and all that, but it’s a fucking Yankee blog.
    
    Today’s a new day.
Pat D

Fuck.

Rangers need to wake the hell up.
DERP

Gary Sanchez just left the game for some reason.
DR

So, who else is excited for the release of Diablo III next week?
- Havok9120
  
  I never got into Diablo. Dungeon crawlers of any sort have never really interested me. The old Warcrafts (yes, people, it did exist before Wow…grumble, grumble), the all the Starcrafts have been excellent, however. Starcraft II took everything everyone has learned about classic RTS gameplay, put it all into one game, and rapped it inside a pretty good universe/fiction and mechanics for telling and fleshing out that story.
Brian S.

We are going to regret going 4-4 against the Twins and Royals, while they give our division opponents easy wins.
- jjyank
  
  It’s not ideal, but I don’t think anything in May is big enough to regret. The only division opponent I am concerned about that is in front of the Yanks in the standings is the Rays. It’s a loooooong season, a 4 game deficit in May is nothing.
  - Pat D
    
    Well we haven’t seen the Jays yet, so I’m not sure what to make of them.
    - jjyank
      
      The Jays are underrated I think, and they have a very strong farm system. But I don’t think they’re at the point yet where I worry about them more than the Rays or the Sox.
      - Pat D
        
        I’m not sure if we’ll have to worry about the Sox. They still look like a huge mess.
        
        jjyank
        
        Very true, but their offense is still better than many other team’s. I guess I just this feeling in my stomach that if I count the Sox out now, I will be made to pay for it in the second half somehow. I’ve seen the Sox own the Yankees in the first half, only to have the Yankees bend the Sox over in the second half enough times to reserve judgement on them yet, if only for karma’s sake.
      - TomH
        
        The Yanks probably don’t have to worry about the Jays in the manner they do about TB, but they do need to know that the Jays obtain inordinate pleasure from beating the Yankees, and give it their best try. That’s been the case since the team was invented in the ’70s. Now that they’re significantly improved, it means they can more readily give the Yankees fits.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  To quote Pat D., “no, we won’t.”
  - Pat D
    
    I sure hope not.
    
    By the way, I don’t disagree with your feelings about Hamels, but I don’t know that any kind of incident like this ever cost someone in free agency. When you add in the fact that he’s still fairly young and he’s going to be by far the best pitcher on the market, he’ll get paid handsomely by someone.
    
    I doubt anyone remembers his plunking of Harper come November.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      I don’t know……I think some GM’s are going to remember that. Wouldn’t surprise me if Cashman did. Doesn’t mean they wouldn’t sign him, but it *should* give someone at least a brief pause.
      
      It’s all good, though.
      - Pat D
        
        I don’t think he has a history of this, and that’s what works in his favor.
        
        The only other time I remember him doing or saying something “controversial” was when during the 2009 WS he said he wished the season was over. IIRC that was more due to personal frustration with his Game 3 start and that he had an overall lackluster season, not that he had quit on the team.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I thought that was overblown when it happened.
        
        Pat D
        
        Yes, me too. He picked a bad time to say it.
Pat D

Holy fucking shit! Only 6 seconds left!!!!
Greg

With 7 seconds to go the Rangers tie the game
Greg

And the Mets just cracked Papelbon. 3 run homer by Jordany Valdespin
- Pat D
  
  You’re making up that name.
  
  (goes to ESPN.com and looks at box score)
  
  Holy shit, that really is his name.
  - Havok9120
    
    Which is awesome. I wish he wasn’t in the minors.
  - TomH
    
    Wouldn’t be out of place as a name for a character in a novel by Nabokov.
  - MannyGeee
    
    Sterlings head would explode trying to make up a HR call for him…
Pat D

Discussion point: which of these teams assumed to be a contender that is currently struggling is in most trouble the rest of the way: Boston, LA Angels, Philadelphia, Milwaukee or Arizona? (I didn’t include teams that are at least .500)
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I’d say Boston. Too many holes. Too many injuries. To little depth.
  
  LA and Philly have the pitching. Milwaukee and Arizona……actually, I don’t know a whole lot about either right now. :)
  - jjyank
    
    Wow you basically just said a more concise version of my exact thoughts, and they were typed at the same time. Weird.
- jjyank
  
  Hm. I guess my vote would be for Boston. I don’t think they’re a pushover at all, but if we’re taking context into consideration, Boston plays in the tougher division. They have zero pitching depth, Buchholtz is getting knocked around, their bullpen is a mess, and they’ve had a few injuries. I think the Angels and Phillies rotation will carry them to some degree despite weak offenses, and I honestly just don’t know as much about the Brewers or Diamondbacks to make a judgement.
- Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)
  
  I think the D-Backs or Angels. Coming into the season, the D Backs were the best team on paper favorites in a not so great division and they just haven’t been able to put it together. The Angels never were really that good to begin with; they got the 2011 Red Sox media treatment by adding Pujols and Wilson. All other teams had definite question marks. Adding Pujols to their bad lineup won’t really improve it that much. The Brewers lost Prince, Phillies were without Utley and Howard, and we all know the story with the Red Sox.
  
  Just my thoughts.
  - Havok9120
    
    In terms of media expectations, yeah, it’d have to be one of those two. I’m most surprised by Boston and think that, with all their problems (some of which boil down to simple roster construction), and their competition level, that they’re hurting far worse.
    
    Part of this is that I’ve been on the “the Angels really, REALLY, aren’t all that good” bandwagon through virtually the entire offseason and so I wasn’t really expecting much out of them.
- Kosmo
  
  Milwaukee and then Boston.
Pat D

Let’s do something with this power play!
- Pat D
  
  GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  - Havok9120
    
    Pretty sweet, right?
Get Phelps Up (formerly Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat)

Fantasy question: Should I drop Heath Bell for seeing as he has been removed from the closers roll and all, or should I hold onto him and hope he turns it around?
- jjyank
  
  Depends who can pick on the waiver wire. I would lean towards dropping him, mostly because there were enough red flags in his performance last year to warrant skepticism about continued success. But again, that only applies if you have solid options to replace him with.
- BK2ATL
  
  Hold on to him. He’s the closer. Just had a rough going so far. They’re paying him to close. He’ll be back in that role pretty soon. With all of these closers going down with injury this year, it will be hard to pick up a Bell down the line.
- MannyGeee
  
  dont drop just to drop. if you can get someone of more value (if DRob is hanging out on your wire, for example), then go for it.
  
  Bell will still get the stats (WHIP, K’s, etc) and eventually land in that closer role again.
  - jjyank
    
    Oh man I snapped up D-Rob faster than Sabathia and a box of Captain Crunch in my league.
Pat D

Jeez, even when the Red Sox hit they still can’t pitch.
- Pat D
  
  Dammit, Billy Butler.
Dan in Atlanta

I need new pants… again.
Midland TX

Game management and situational awareness FTW:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21245373
- DJ4K&Monterowasdinero
  
  Ha. I missed that but what a brilliant decoy by Montero to get the runner trying to take 2B.
  
  :-)
Monterowasnotdinero

Watched the Mariners last night. Big hit by Montero in the 9th off the cf wall to tie it. Sigh. Good for him.

I was impressed with Pfister. Tops out at 88 mph but great location and assortment of pitches from 74-88mph.