Game 127: End of the Line

August 26, 2012 by Michael Axisa 492 Comments

New York Yankees v Cleveland Indians — (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

This six-game road trip through middle America is already guaranteed to be a total dud, but 2-4 sure looks a lot better than 1-5. I guess it does, anyway. The Yankees haven’t been able to score runs lately other than when Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher drive themselves in, and I’m sure Ubaldo Jimenez will further test that theory this afternoon. Here’s the starting nine…

SS Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
CF Curtis Granderson
3B Eric Chavez
DH Raul Ibanez
LF Ichiro Suzuki
C Chris Stewart

RHP Freddy Garcia

This afternoon’s game starts a little after 1pm ET and can be seen on YES. Try to enjoy.

The Real Greg

The real positive way to look at this is that if we win today, the net loss on this bad road trip will be one game.

Let’s hope the Yankees don’t run into more bad luck and just missed pitches.
- Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
  
  Yes, I would agree with that. You may become Chopra just yet.
  - Paul VuvuZuvella
    
    Could you imagine if Oprah ever married Deepak? She’d be Oprah Chopra.
    - forensic
      
      Yikes, I just had an Uma Oprah, Oprah Uma flashback to Letterman from awhile back.
stuart a

cano zero rbi’s in 11 games. ouch.

i forgot rbi’s mean jack since it is a stat dependent on others. after all Cano never has a chance to drive in a run.

the great cano is on pace for what 90 rbi’s if he is lucky? give him a raise in yankee foolishness…..
- jjyank
  
  Starting early, I see.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  I never look at RBIs, but you’re not really wrong in this instance. Sixty-eight through 125 games is an inordinately low number for Cano. That’s only an 87-RBI pace for 162 games.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  nobody ever said driving in runs doesn’t matter…
  RBI’s are a flawed stat because they don’t account for how many opportunities….and aren’t a good way to evaluate a player’s ability or performance without a lot of context to go along with the stat….
  Cano definitely hasn’t gotten the job done in regards to driving in runs …. but you need more than just his RBI total to know that …. RBI don’t tell if the low total is because he’s lacked opportunities or he hasn’t been productive …. in Cano’s case he’s had a ton of opportunities, but you wouldn’t know that just looking at his RBI total ….Jeter has a lower RBI total than Cano, but has been much better with RISP ….if you just look at RBI, you’d think Jeter might be worse than Cano, which is one reason why RBI is a flawed stat…
  feel free to keep arguing against strawmen though
Countryclub

15 of the Rays next 19 are vs Tex, NY & Balt. If the yanks are going to pull away again, this will be stretch where it happens.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Winning today and sweeping a horrible Toronto team in the Bronx would be a good start.
The Real Greg

Last time they face Jimenez, it took them awhile to get to him.
jjyank

Take that, shift.
Chilango

The big picture is we’re .500 since the all-star break and need to figure out the RISPFAIL and pitching (middle relief LOOGY ROOGY) issues. If Andy and A-Rod come back strong that will help, but it won’t by itself fix the problem(s). We go head to head with the Rays a bunch of times so at least there won’t be any excuses. Time to put up or shut up.
- The Real Greg
  
  They have been much better with RISP in the second half.
jjyank

Wow, Ubaldo hasn’t had a 1-2-3 first inning all season? So glad the Yankees didn’t trade for him.
- jjyank
  
  Also, my fantasy baseball opponent this week has Jimenez, and actually started him today. So yeah, let’s destroy him.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    During my streaming yesterday, some schmuck stole Carlos Santana from me. This schmuck being my opponent, and having won 12 of his last 13 matchups (the only loss coming to…wait for it…me).
    
    My response? Plucked John Jaso, who’s OPS was nearly 100 points higher and has the same flexibility. I also already have Jonathan Lucroy.
    
    Those guys have no idea who they’re up against.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Having a shitty day so far, hopefully the Yankees can cheer me up a little bit. In the completely related to my shitty day department: does anybody know how to get coffee out of a carpet with only windex, lysol, hand sanitizer, hand soap, paper towels, and a sponge?
- jjyank
  
  Ouch. No idea man, but good luck.
- Chilango
  
  My wife says easy get a new rug.
- TomH
  
  Remove excess. Apply detergent-water-vinegar solution. Rinse and blot.
  1 tsp liquid dish or fine-fabric detergent + 1 qt warm water and 1 tsp white vinegar. Test on a corner to see if it affects color (if you’re concerned).
  
  From Better Homes and Gardens Household Hints and Tips
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    I have almost none of those things available to me, I work alone in a shop and can’t leave it empty.
    - Brian S.
      
      Doesn’t Windex work on everything? If you spray enough on the spot and use a rag to rub it out maybe good things will happen? You’ll have to put some elbow grease in it though.
      - jjyank
        
        Probably couldn’t hurt.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Windex helped a little bit. I’m just hoping the stain dries a little bit lol.
- Betty Lizard
  
  Cold water. Right away. Hot water will set the stain. Wet blot wet blot wet blot. Windex (ammonia) won’t do anything but after the cold water a little hand soap won’t hurt.
The Real Greg

Nasty pitch. Tex has gone cold
- forensic
  
  Tex is 0-14 with 7 k’s against Jimenez. He could be red hot and the same outcome would be expected.
Eddard

Quick, name the last time a Yankee hitter got a hit to drive in a RISP without hitting a HR.
- The Real Greg
  
  YOu mean drive in a run.
  - forensic
    
    Don’t tell him what he means. What he said is fine. He’s asking about driving in a runner who was in scoring position. That separates it from something like driving in a guy from first who isn’t in scoring position.
- Athenian
  
  Don Mattingly
  - Yankee Fan 1
    
    I LOL’d
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Well played.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Swisher, two nights ago. Jeter doubled to open the game, and Swish followed directly after.
- forensic
  
  Nick swisher on Friday.
  
  What do I win?
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Nothing. Swisher’s on the Red Sox now, apparently.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      hahaha
- Chilango
  
  Joe Pepitone
The Real Greg

ANother hard hit ball that doesn’t find grass.

Combination of bad luck and great pitching
- Chilango
  
  Look at the replay of Granderson’s swing. He was fooled. Did muscle it to the track though
  - The Real Greg
    
    THat;s why i said it was hard hit.
- Ron
  
  Great pitching hahaha he is fucking awful. Stop ball washing all the luck nerds.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Did you not see Ubaldo’s home numbers.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      Sometimes it isn’t just all bad luck with respect to a pitcher giving up a lot of homers. Sometimes that bad pitcher is just flat-out bad. And Jimenez is.
Kramerica Industries

God, if the first inning is indicative of another crappy game on this ‘trip…
Ron

Shocker another can gets let of the hook.
The Real Greg

Their BaBIP with runners in scoring position is way below the league average.
- Chilango
  
  The shift other teams put on us probably accounts for at least some of that. Grandy, Tex and sometimes Cano get the shift. Maybe if our guys could learn to hit the other fucking way the BaBIP would go up. If they can’t (Tex) then just suck it up.
- Matt
  
  28th in BABIP, but it’s NOT bad luck:
  
  23rd in LD%
  29th in IFFB% (i.e., 2nd highest percentage)
  15th in FB%
  18th in GB%
  1st in HR/FB%
  
  So they have some of the lowest rates of the types of hits that increase your BABIP (LD, GB), and one of the highest rates of infield pop ups (pretty much never a hit). They also have the highest rate of HR/FB, and HR are not counted as balls in play. So basically, most of their non-HR fly balls are being converted relatively easily into outs, which you can see with your eyes since a lot of them are lazy fly balls.
stuart a

3 blind mice. cano, tex, and grandy. they have not done jack in at least 2 weeks.

tex never adjusts… to say he looks for the fastball is a understatement…

more incompetence with risp…the beat goes on……….
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  I’m starting to like you as more than a friend.
- jjyank
  
  …….
  
  ……
  
  ……
  
  …
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Everyone’s going to jump on you as usual, but your frustration is hardly unwarranted.
  - jjyank
    
    I disregard anyone who spews the same crap over and over and completely disappears when good things happen. stuart only complains and sounds like a grumpy old man. He never makes a real point or contributes to a discussion. At this point, I don’t even read what he says.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      The anti-A-Rod crusade is highly annoying, for sure.
      - jjyank
        
        on top of that….
        
        commenting like this….is really….stupid…
        
        maybe if he….formed real paragraphs….he wouldn’t get written off….
        
        FIPster Doofus
        
        I agree….
        
        with that….
- Athenian
  
  The key statement is Tex, he never adjusts and you can get him out with a change up going aways from the left, just as with Cano you can get him out with a slider inside going down but out of the zone – aim for the back inside corner. Both will fish for those pitches each time – Cano had a game a month ago where he swung and three of those same pitches in a row, never close.
The Real Greg

Ump screwed Freddy
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Chris Stewart: Defensive Catcher.
- The Real Greg
  
  That’s on Freddy more than Stewart.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    I’m listening on the radio, and Sterling said it bounced before it got to second, leading me to believe shitty throw.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Kipnis would have been safe anyway. Freddy did not throw a good pitch for Stewart to get and throw.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        So? I still want my “defense first” catcher to be able to throw the ball to second with out bouncing it or having it go to centerfield. Our catchers have done next to nothing offensively so they should be at least doing things defensively.
    - Chilango
      
      Bad throw but even a good one would not have got him.
  - forensic
    
    Freddy made Stewart bounce the ball 10 feet in front of second base?
    - The Real Greg
      
      Freddy threw a pitch that Stewart had to dig out. Kipnis would have been safe anyway.
      - forensic
        
        I said nothing about being safe anyway or not. It was a horrible throw and that was Stewart’s fault, not Freddy’s.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        But it would’t have mattered in any case.
        
        forensic
        
        So? Does that mean he knew that and just decided to throw it there to test Jeter?
Athenian

Yankee 3rd baseman Joe Sewell, played 14 yrs in the majors, 11 with Cleveland, struck out ONLY 114 in his entire career.

by comparison, Yankees have 2 hitters who hit that mark by the All Star break.
- The Real Greg
  
  Oh how the game has changed. Adam Dunn might double that this year.
- Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
  
  Somewhat insane statpicking, but cool fact anyway.
  - Athenian
    
    Actually it was a reference point made my Vin Scully the other night in the Dodgers v Giants game. He brought it up when Pablo Sandoval was batting. So not really insane but more historical.
    
    For the record his highest strikeout total was 14 (i think) in one year.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  There were 48 states when Joe Sewell played.
  - Athenian
    
    Um does that mean that the remaining 2 states have turned out to be powerhouse baseball states?
Chilango

Freddy looks good today…
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  Tall Venezuelan men look good everyday.
  - home depot employee
    
    They sure do standing outside waiting for work.
    - Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
      
      Get out of here, Sheriff Arpaio.
Jag

Those drums are annoying.
- jjyank
  
  Yeah, but way better than that ridiculous Tomahawk chant/song thing that Atlanta does 3 times an inning. I put my TV on mute a few times when the Yanks played the Braves.
  - Jag
    
    Agreed about Atlanta, thankfully we don’t play them that often.
    
    Hawk’s home run call for the Chi Sox may still be the most annoying though.
    - jjyank
      
      Totally agreed. I had to listen to the White Sox broadcast when they played them. Well, I didn’t have to really, but if I can avoid running my xbox for 3 hours for mlb.tv and just use cable instead, I will. His home run calls make my ears bleed.
Brian S.

Why are they giving Phelps extended rest?
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  off-day juggling. They’re actually giving Hughes an extra day, but Phelps was possible relief on Friday if CC ran into trouble
The Real Greg

That’s the problem.

Ibanez: cold
Jones: cold
Ichiro: cool
Chavez: cool
McGehee: cold
Ron

Hey Greg tell us how good Jimenez is again
Kramerica Industries

RISPY hit.

Well I’ll be damned.
Matt

With how this team has been going lately, I’m shocked that didn’t deflect right into the second baseman’s glove for a triple play.
- forensic
  
  Dare I say, that would’ve been unlucky…
Eddard

Ichiro has done it! A non-HR hit with RISP!
The Real Greg

And there’s the good luck. bounced off of Ubaldo’s glove and into no man’s land.
jjyank

Yay RISPHITS
Brian S.

I think they will bring back Ichiro for another year to replace Ibanez. His marketing value is way too high. Not that I think it would be a good idea but that’s what I think will happen.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  They could say the same thing about Matsui, and they let him go.
The Real Greg

Good quality smallball
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Small ball!!
Chilango

RBI for Jeter. He earned it. Great AB
Brian S.

Small ball! Using two outs to get one run. Or, how you win in the postseason!
Mike N

Why is Tampa off today? I’ve never heard of a Sunday off day before.
- jjyank
  
  Republican National Convention in Tampa, I believe.
  - Mike N
    
    Could be. This is what I found on the Rays Web site:
    
    Sunday has rarely been a day of rest around baseball. The A’s and Mariners each had a Sunday off at the beginning of the year after opening the season in Japan, but that’s been it in 2012. In fact, that’s the last since 1995, when the Padres and Cardinals were off because of a scheduling conflict with the NFL.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      Tropicana Field is one of the venues for the RNC, so that’s why. This was a conventional Friday-Sunday set before it was rescheduled. For ticket purposes, I presume, they stuck with all three original first pitch times – that’s why the Rays played a rare (for them) 1:10 game yesterday, even though it was Saturday.
      
      That game did have an odd feel to it, I must admit.
Jag

A single by Swisher would be wonderful right now
- Jag
  
  I spoke too soon! :)
Mike N

Swish!
The Real Greg

And a bonus run with 2 outs.
Kramerica Industries

Freddy staked to another 3-0 lead.

Terrible team this time, however. Make it stand.
Anthony

I can’t believe my eyes! Is it really happening???
Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Holy shit. When’d the Yanks reacquire Swisher?
- jjyank
  
  You didn’t hear? He failed his physical in Boston for not having enough douche-bag in his system, so the trade fell through.
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    They truly are in fire sale mode, trading away guys before they even sign them.
Chilango

Another RISP hit and with two outs. WOW
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

RISPHITS and SMALL BALL are we winning the right way yet?
- Jag
  
  Cano almost ruined it there by blasting it out, just a tad too high. :(
Brian S.

No RBI for Cano
Gene Okerlund

Good to see the team finally playing baseball the right way. But they still left runners on base again. AS USUAL.
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  LOVE the handle. Bravo, Mean Gene.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Chris Stewart: Defensive Catcher!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Defensive Specialist.
The Real Greg

That’s on Stewart.
forensic

Hooray for defense first catchers!!! I’m sure that was Freddy’s fault too, right Greg?
- The Real Greg
  
  Look above
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Good think you’ve got a Masters degree.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  just bad luck
The Real Greg

This ump is pissing me off
- Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
  
  Also pissing Greg off today….
  
  (answer below)
The Real Greg

And Stewart makes up for it
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

He was bound to get lucky at some point.
Kramerica Industries

Excellent throw from Stewart.
Paul VuvuZuvella

Take that all you Stewie bashers!
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  He still has no place on a Major League Roster.
  - Paul VuvuZuvella
    
    I think you should pee on your carpet and dilute the coffee.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      GENIUS!!!http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/.....s-meme.png
      - Paul VuvuZuvella
        
        Since your name is Tom Riddle, I had an Emma Watson sighting last week. She’s adorable in person.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        My god yes she is. You lucky bastard…I’d like to think if I where you I would have introduced myself. I probably wouldn’t have the guts to though.
        
        Paul VuvuZuvella
        
        I left her alone to enjoy some pizza with I think her mom and mom’s friend. She was sitting about 10 feet away from me in an otherwise pretty empty place for about 30 minutes, overheard most of their conversation…caught me looking in her direction a few times.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I’m sure she’s used to being looked at, not only is she famous, but she’s cute as hell too. Even if she wasn’t famous she’d be getting checked out where ever she went.
        
        jjyank
        
        She’s adorable in the movies too. I’d hit that in a heartbeat.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        OMG she’s going to be Sam in Perks of Being A Wallflower. My 17yr old self just died of excitement. My current 22yr old self is now trying to justify going to seen what’s really a teen book based on a teen movie.
        
        Paul VuvuZuvella
        
        Yeah, she’s also in Noah’s Ark which is why I saw her near that set.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        teen movie based on a teen book*
RetroRob

Nice throw.

George Kontos would still be more valuable to the Yankees now.
Anthony

Redemption for Stewart!
Jag

Good throw, good tag. Nice inning.
stuart a

hallelujah some hits with RISP. I am asking for a 150 avg with RISP not the white sox 290.. just a reasonable 250..

cano is not a franchise player. he is the best 2b in baseball but is 29, has no speed and poor plate discipline. he has a beautiful swing but a 7 year deal at monster money is insane………..
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  There is some sense in this. I agree, he’s the best 2nd baseman in baseball, but he doesn’t deserve a 7 year deal. However, you don’t need an albatross contract to be a “franchise player.” I’d sign him to a 5 year deal in a heart beat, because his swing is so good and his plate discipline has gotten much better (still not great, but he can hit bad balls anyway when he’s hot)
stuart a

hallelujah some hits with RISP. I am asking for a 250 avg with RISP not the white sox 290.. just a reasonable 250..

cano is not a franchise player. he is the best 2b in baseball but is 29, has no speed and poor plate discipline. he has a beautiful swing but a 7 year deal at monster money is insane………..
- Mike N
  
  What distinguishes a “franchise player” from a “player”?
jjyank

Chris Stewart:

y u no do dat moar?
Mike N

Awesome tag!
Jag

I wonder if Cleveland will deal Shin-Soo Choo next year.
- Brian S.
  
  I think they will. Perpetual rebuild.
- Jag
  
  He is already 30 though, why the late start from him? I’m not aware of his history… anyone know?
The Real Greg

Good curveball
Chilango

Grandy strikes out on a change. It’s either the slider low and away or the change. 155 K’s not good
- The Real Greg
  
  Well again, Adam Dunn has more.
  - Chilango
    
    So what? I guess you know what a NON SEQUITUR is, with your Masters Degree right?
Mick taylor

Watching Russell Martin makes me appreciate how great posada was and maybe how spoiled were to have him.”you don’t know what you got till you lose it”. John Lennon.
- Yankee Fan 1
  
  Russell’s not playing today but we were definitely all spoiled by Posada. Underrated for sure.
Countryclub

It’s going to be real interesting to see what the yanks do with Grandy. I just can’t imagine giving him a 5 yr deal at the money he’s going to want/get from another team.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  Plenty of interesting roster decisions ahead…
- Chilango
  
  .250/.300 with 200 K’s kind of hard to make a case for giving him a big deal. 40 HRs notwithstanding.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    age and declining defense as well
    What’s the .300?
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      I’m guessing OBP.
- Brian S.
  
  If I had to predict I think he and Swisher will both walk. I don’t think the Yankees want to give either of them long deals considering they will be in their mid 30’s.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    Gun to my head I’d rather them let Cano and Grandy walk, we’ve all talked about how poorly second baseman age, and I feel like Swish will age better than Grandy.
    - jjyank
      
      I’ve admitted that I have blinders for Cano. I don’t want him to leave. Grandy though, I’m cool with letting him walk.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I love me some Robby Cano don’t get me wrong, but he’s probably going to cost much more than he’s really worth.
        
        jjyank
        
        Yeah, but so do most players of the caliber who hit free agency. If you want a star player via free agnecy, you’re gonna have to over pay.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        It’s the years I’m concerned about not the money. I’d sign him to a 5year 110mil contract the day his current contract runs out.
        
        jjyank
        
        Well when I said “over pay”, I meant in both years and dollars. I’d even go a 6th year with Robbie. I’m hopeful that he can move to third to help with the wear and tear.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Dammit Robbie. Freddy has enough trouble getting 3 outs in an inning.
forensic

Nice catch Robbie!
Brian S.

OT but I think that Fathead commercial where Justin Verlander saves that dude who is suffocating on the chicken bone and is all: “No problem, you aren’t the first guy I have seen choke” is ironic considering his playoff ERA is around 6.
stuart a

yanks need to make some roster moves in the offseason else they can fall like a house of cards all at once…

old, slow, etc…..

they need to change things up fast.

nice play robbie way to help out the nibbler.
Ron

That was just bad luck no skil involved.

Thanks,

Greg
The Real Greg

He was kind of pitching around Choo
The Real Greg

COME ON
Kramerica Industries

Holy shit, where the hell was that pitch?
Need Pitching & Hitting

fuck this umpire
Brian S.

That was a strike!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Great job by Freddy, considering he needed to get 4 outs, and the hitter got 4 strikes.
Kramerica Industries

At least it didn’t come back to hurt them.
Jag

*Whew*
Anthony

Phew… Indians just pulled a “Yankees”
stuart a

they need to add on now and end this crap early…

jimenez is all over the place.

that was strike 3 on ball 3. above the knee and over the plate….
Chilango

Why would you H&R with Stewart?
- Chilango
  
  especially with Jeter on deck fuck.
RetroRob

I don’t think Rose said that. He follows his ABs. I doubt he’s watching every one of his ABs. That means Rose follows every Yankee game.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

“The throw’s not nearly in time, they got him”- John Sterling
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  lmao
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  Ha, really?
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    dead ass.
    - Mike N
      
      hahahahah!
- forensic
  
  lol
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

By the way, I started watching a little late, so I’ve been catching up on MLB.tv and just skimmed this thread. I see a bunch of people responding to stuart a in earnest. I’m pretty sure someone recently outed him as his Mets-fan roommate who is here to troll.
- RetroRob
  
  Yeah, I saw that. He’s a troll and a Mets fan. Why people respond to any of his notes is a mystery.
Mike N

Great to see Cano hitting better!
Brian S.

Looks like Robbie’s June was just a spike in HR/FB percentage. I thought he would for sure get to 35 after that June but now I’m not sure he will get to 30.
Mike N

Somebody on the Indians’ grounds crew is getting shitcanned!
Brian S.

Maybe Cano should leadoff since he can’t hit with runners on.
- The Real Greg
  
  This year
Nathan

Cleveland’s broadcast team is absolutely horrible.

Sucks there isn’t a YES broadcast on MLB/Comcast today.
The Real Greg

But again that was a 2 out started rally, so I expected nothing.

I still wonder how Tex managed to hit over .300 with that swing
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  Why would you expect nothing? You’re so extreme about everything. Do teams score 0% of the time when there are 2 outs and a runner on 2nd? I expect the Yankees to score around 1/3 of the time in those cases (over league average, and around what the Yanks have done this year), so I’m a little (but not very) disappointed when they don’t.
Brian S.

Hanging slider right down the middle. Popout.
- forensic
  
  I have no idea why Jimenez was dumb enough to throw Tex a fastball his last AB to let him get a single. He’s shown overall and especially in his matchups with Jimenez that he has no chance against his breaking stuff, especially the split and/or change.
Hummingbird S.

just got home, quick recap anyone?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Freddy’s been flirting with Danger all game, some RISPFAIL in the 1st, some RISPWIN in the second…and not really much since.
Gene Okerlund

Cano stat-padding as usual, taking his extra bases with two outs and nobody on.
- Mike N
  
  People can’t be serious with this “stat-padding” gibberish, can they?
stuart a

have a friggin parade they scored 3 runs in 5 innings off a bum…

texiera sucks as much as cano and granderson. 3,4, and 5 have done crap in weeks.

i wonder what Cano’s avg is with no one on versus RISP, anyone have that stat?????????????????????????
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  http://www.baseball-reference.com/
  - forensic
    
    I’ll bite the bullet on this one.
    
    Leading off inning: .371
    Bases empty: .302
    Men on: .311
    RISP: .250
    RISP and 2 outs: .205
    - Brian S.
      
      Just like in 2009.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Good omen then?
        
        forensic
        
        For the team, hell yeah.
        
        Not for Robbie. He was pretty terrible that postseason.
        
        Guess it’s good for A-Rod though, that should make Stuart happy.
        
        Wonder who’ll get to play the part of Matsui in the World Series.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Is saying Ichiro too obvious?
- The Real Greg
  
  Last time they scored 4 runs off the same bum.
  - Ron
    
    I though U said he was a good pitcher.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  so, now that you’ve been outed…just go for broke, huh?
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  What I find odd, is that if you’re really a trolling Mets fan, do you really have nothing to do but come to a Yankee blog and troll? That’s what I never understood about trolls, I don’t really have much of a social life if I’m being honest with myself, but I definitely have better things to do than troll the boards of a team I hate.
  - jjyank
    
    You may not have much of a social life (nor do I), but you’re also not miserable all the time. Something (read: everything) about stuart tells me is just that.
- jjyank
  
  Get off of my lawn!
Brian S.

The Indians have a guy on their team named Ezequiel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhsndn_GeXQ
stuart a

cano 250 risp….
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  ….
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    …didn’t stuart say before…that he just wanted somebody who hit…250 w/ RISP…
    - forensic
      
      He actually typoed the first time and said he wanted someone who can hit .150 with RISP… ..
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Yeah…but I can’t find it… ..
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....nt-4737024
  - forensic
    
    I liked the ones in the game recap thread where there were the 3 dots and 2 periods.
  - jjyank
    
    …
    …
    
    ……
    
    …
Kramerica Industries

Unreal.

Get the final out, for cripes’ sake.
Brian S.

Fuck. Do you put in Logan/Rapada?
The Real Greg

Bad luck for Freddy
Nathan

Freddy Freddy Freddy…
Kramerica Industries

All of this has happened from 0 on/2 out.

Fuck.
Eddard

Joe needs to keep Freddy in to get him the W because getting the pitcher the W is far more important than getting the team the W.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Couldn’t be because Santana was 0-2 against Freddy and the middle relief sucks.
- Mike N
  
  This has nothing to do with Girardi’s bullpen decisions.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Please don’t blow this fucking game.
Mike N

I’m glad they don’t allow people to bring drums and other noisemakers into Yankee Stadium. Although I do miss Freddy the Pan Man. We have a really nice picture of me, my wife, and Freddy taken outside the Stadium a few months before he died.
Karl Krawfid

Joe G trying to get Freddy through 5, now this game is tight.

Stupid ass.
- The Real Greg
  
  He’s taking him out, you idiot.
  - Karl Krawfid
    
    Yeah after he loads the fucking bases again and gives up a 2 run single stupid ass.
    - The Real Greg
      
      So you have no respect at all for what Freddy did before and try to let him get out of it?
Cy Pettitte

same as the White Sox game. you can’t load the bases every inning and get away with it (unless you’re pitching against the Yankees)
stuart a

another train wreck with this peice of shit team…

girardi 1 batter too late again after all garcia deserves the benefit of the doubt since he is a ace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!fuckin idiot……….
- jjyank
  
  .
  
  ..
  
  …
  
  ….
  
  …..
  
  ….
  
  …
  
  ..
  
  .
Mike N

Sweaty Freddy lost the plot.
Brian S.

One batter too late there Joe.
- Mike N
  
  True in hindsight. Are you implying that he should have pulled Garcia earlier?
stuart a

i did raul but cano is suppose to be our star, our stud.. he also hits 3rd if you have not noticed……….

cano sucks… texiera is worse and ajax is better then granderson.. those are the facts….

agon is a much better hitter then texiera……..not even close………….
- Alkaline
  
  Cano sucks? Ajax better than grandy? Seriously?
  - Brian S.
    
    AJax is way better than Granderson. His Cano rants are unfounded though.
- jjyank
  
  You should probably just go away now. Your trolling is getting worse.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Cano sucks but he’s the best 2B in the game?
  How is that possible?
Kramerica Industries

This has been a revolting series and revolting road trip.
The Real Greg

All of you saying he should have taken Freddy out before Santana are idiots.

Even the announcers are saying that he had a quick hook right there.
- forensic
  
  I fail to see how saying this is necessary. I know you have a sick obsession with Girardi, but people are actually allowed to have different opinions.
  
  Do the announcers even have Master’s Degrees anyway? I can’t trust their analysis if they don’t.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

You know what really Grinds my Gears about the whole “__th inning guy” through out all of baseball? This is probably the biggest defensive moment of the game, and out not-best-relief-pitcher is coming in.
- The Real Greg
  
  And got out of it.
- Chilango
  
  Who would you have put in?
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    This obviously isn’t the biggest game, and there where two outs, so Logan wasn’t the worst move, but same scenario in game 7 of the World Series? I want Robertson in that spot all day everyday.
- jjyank
  
  I remember from watching The Bronx Is Burning how Billy Martin brought in Sparky Lyle in the 4th inning in the ALCS. I’d be nice to see a manager with that would buck the current trends like that. Not ripping on Girardi here, just the conventional wisdom.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  I agree in general, but two points that make this not so bad:
  1) It was only the 5th inning. If you bring in your best relievers every time there are runners on in a 1-run game in the 5th, they’ll be pitching most games.
  2) It was Brantley. Not exactly a string of awesome hitters where you needed our best pitchers.
Matt

Girardi’s move right here shows you just how little faith he has in this offense now, and how can you blame him.

This is the kind of move that reeks of desperation. It’s the kind of move that shows you that he thinks they might not score anything for the entire rest of this game.

Garcia gave up 2 ground balls, a walk, and a hit by pitch. The first ground ball would have ended the inning if it didn’t hit the bag, and the second wasn’t hit very hard. It’s not like Garcia is getting lit up. In fact, he is inducing weak contact, and Brantley is 0-2 with a K and a groundout in this game.
Kramerica Industries

Offense better have some runs up their sleeve, because there’s very little chance this middle relief can hold onto a one run lead over the next two innings.
Mike N

You can’t just routinely pull your starting pitcher in the fifth inning if he gets in a jam. This is a very basic principle of bullpen management. If anything, Girardi may have pulled Garcia too early in this game.
- Brian S.
  
  He allowed four straight batters to reach and was >90 pitches. It was absolutely the right move. Freddy isn’t someone that goes deep into games.
- Chilango
  
  I agree. Freddy got fucked on that grounder that hit the bag. Although his control was not perfect he was down in the zone when he needed to be. Didn’t pitch badly at all.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Girardi hardly does it routinely, and I think he just understood who was starting in Freddy. I’ve said before that anything after 5 that Garcia gives you is gravy, and if there’s anybody that should get the quick hook it’s him.
  - Mike N
    
    I wasn’t implying Girardi routinely pulls people to early. I was defending Girardi to the usual suspects here who blame Girardi for not pulling starting pitchers sooner when they get in jams and give up runs.
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Right now, just win, baby.
- forensic
  
  Freddy’s not a normal pitcher and the entire bullpen has had 2 of the last 3 days off (and all the middle/matchup guys have had all 3 days off). You absolutely pull him early.
The Real Greg

And to be fair, Freddy got unlucky. Kipnis’s ball hits the bag, Santana hits a ten hopper to where no one is playing. Its the type of luck the Yankees aren’t getting.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

GRANYDMAN!!!!!!!
Mike N

GRANSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cy Pettitte

Grandy finally does something.
Jag

Grandy!
Karl Krawfid

Lol Granderson thought he missed it
Kramerica Industries

Get some more.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Lol … looked like Grandy was pissed after the swing.
The Real Greg

Granderson thought he missed it.

and INSURANCE
Athenian

well he didn’t strike out, so he was due for a hr, I mean a hit.
Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Look at that. I get back home exactly at the right time. Nice job, Curtis.
- jjyank
  
  DON’T EVER LEAVE THE TV AGAIN!
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Kid was bored out of his mind and mommy’s sick. Gotta do what I gotta do.
    - jjyank
      
      Well I hope you’re at least working on his left handed delivery.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      So you teach him baseball! Or play with him in front of the TV!!
      - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        HA! He wanted to be out of the house. I could have just taken him to a sports bar, but I was full. :)
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I tried that once…sports bars aren’t a huge fan of babies believe it or not.
        
        jjyank
        
        Sounds like a niche business we could dominate.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Wanna watch the game with your buddies, but your wife stuck you with the kid? Come down to JJ Plouffe’s Sports Bar and indoor playground. 20 TVs, multiple beers on tap, and a full indoor play area complete with highly trained child care professionals. Also: had too much to drink? take advantage of our fleet of cars and professional drivers.
        
        jjyank
        
        I would so invest in that. Sign me up.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        They actually tried exactly that concept here with a place where the top floor was supposed to be a sports bar kind of place, but the bottom floor was a Chuck E Cheese kind of place. The food wound up being absolutely atrocious, no one was in there after 7 PM, and it lasted about a year. Quite possibly the worst establishment to ever get my money in this neighborhood.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        What did they do wrong? kids stuff not up to par? Adult stuff not up to par? Shitty location? Bad customer service?
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Also, for food, just do pizza! Kids and drunk guys both love the shit out of pizza.
        
        jjyank
        
        So it would work if the food was good? Alright, I’ll bring my cookbooks.
        
        I’m thinking a sports bar that has a McDonalds sort of play place in the next room. As long as the sports bar part is the bigger emphasis, I don’t see why people would leave before 7.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        All of it. Food was awful. $18 for a diner quality burger. Now a high roller like me will pay a lot for an excellent burger, but that wasn’t an $18 burger.
        
        Terrible service as well. No idea about what the kids’ stuff looked like. Didn’t have one at the time.
        
        I’m pretty sure Kabak lives in my ‘hood. He could chime in as well. He probably knows exactly the place I’m talking about.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I agree that the sports bar should be a bigger part, but you cannot discount the kids stuff either. I mean, if the kids stuff sucks, the kids aren’t going to want to stay long…maybe if there was an awesome arcade as well? Grown ups love arcades, as do children.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Yeah…if I were to ever attempt something like this I doubt our food would be that expensive. If it was diner/bar quality food it would be diner/bar food prices.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Chuck E Cheese in the 80’s used to have an actual massive arcade you could play unlimited games at for free. It wasn’t the shit you see now.
        
        If the space is big enough that he’s not impeding upon those who honestly don’t want to, and shouldn’t have to, be bothered by him, I honestly don’t mind having him with me. That’s why I like big outdoor beer gardens and stuff like that.
        
        jjyank
        
        Good call, Plouffy. I’m thinking good food, good service, a McDonalds style tube-play area with with solid arcade (Area 51, Time Crisis anyone?) gets it done. Throw in a ball pit for kicks.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        If I had the money to, I would do everything in my power to make this happen.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Come to where I live.
        
        jjyank
        
        AL-RIGHT! RAB party at R-Tils’!
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Park Slope is a haven for parents. Any establishment here that doesn’t cater to us (within reason) is out of their mind. Plenty of big spaces where you can have a drink AND have your kid there. Just be out by Happy Hour.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        In this case though, I agree with JJ, I hope you were working on his delivery.
The Real Greg

and just like with the White Sox and Adam Dunn, that’s why you begrudgingly accept the K’s
- Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
  
  Dunn’s really not a fair comparison to Granderson. Dunn does absolutely nothing on the field and is even more of a two-outcomes guy.
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    Granderson’s not exactly Torri Hunter in his prime.
    - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
      
      Still plenty of useful ground between that and what Dunn would give you, though.
    - radnom
      
      Who said he was? Curtis is a better CF than Dunn is a 1B/LF, which is a huge difference in defensive value.
    - Chilango
      
      Accepting the K’s? All 155 of them? In exchange for what? a .240/.330 avg. and a so-so centerfielder? No way.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        He’s still an above average player total package. Why would you not accept that? I can see not wanting to give him a big extension, but for right now his positives still outweigh his negatives enough to make him a valuable player.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        The Yankees need more players like Ichiro, who never strikes out. Fewer strikeouts guarantees better performance!
        
        Brian S.
        
        Is keeping it under 25% too much to ask?
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        He’s at 28%. You can’t even see the difference between 25% and 28% during the season.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        …..but they can Google it and use it in a comment here, which is all that matters.
        
        Brian S.
        
        Fangraphs has it. If you don’t think a 4% dip in K rate means something I don’t know what to say. That’s a good amount of strikeouts over the course of a season.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        It’s one strikeout a week.
        
        Brian S.
        
        There are a lot of weeks in the season.
      - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Whether I’ll be fine with him after his contract is up is another story, but I’m just fine with him at the moment.
jjyank

Thanks, Grandyman.
The Real Greg

And I don’t trust anybody on that bench so I have no problem with this.
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

Ha, “Let’s go Yankees” chants loud and clear around the stadium and the Cleveland fans boo in response. Are they booing themselves for not being good enough fans that they’re out-cheered by the away team?
- Mike N
  
  lolz
Need Pitching & Hitting

Lowe warming?
I was about to complain, but then I remembered who the alternatives are.
Alkaline

I sort of feel bad for the Indians. It seems like they try to make a ru every now and then, but are just a few players shy of being a true contender. Then, they end up with years like this one.
Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Love the nonchalant walk off the mound there by Logan.
jjyank

*dispenses several cookies*
Mike N

Nice that they honored Glenn at the game.
RetroRob

Chris Stewart swings a bit like a little girl.

Apologies to any little girls out there.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Nice call, Kay.
- The Real Greg
  
  I thought it was gone too.
Kramerica Industries

What the hell was Michael Kay thinking?
- The Real Greg
  
  What I was thinking. It sounded like it was gone.
  - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
    
    Do we have any PhD’s in here? They would have guessed it correctly.
    
    Now I’m actually curious…..do we?
    - jjyank
      
      No idea. I would have if I could actually have stood another 2-3 years of school. Plus I’m not too fond of the whole “dissertation” thing. You don’t “present” your dissertation, you “defend” it. Not really my style, especially since mine would likely be very controversial.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Wouldn’t that make it easier to defend, theoretically? I mean it would also make it easier to argue against, but something controversial usually has very strong opinions attached to it. as a PoliSci major what would your dissertation been about?
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        If the topic was a problem, it’s be stopped at the proposal stage. You’d never see your defense.
        
        jjyank
        
        The longest and most comprehensive paper I ever wrote (~40 pages) was about the feasibility of co-opting the pragmatic, political wing of Hamas into being a player for regional peace (I believe it is in fact feasible). Middle Eastern politics is my thing. I had to present that paper in front of a Jewish girl who was hardcore enough to have Hebrew tattoos on her arms, that was nerve-wracking enough.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Did you take her home that night?
        
        jjyank
        
        No, she was a bitch. Very loud, ver opinionated. She actually stopped me several times in my presentation, even though I stated as a disclaimer that I was not speaking about the Izz-Addine Al-Qassam Brigade (the militant wing) to say “…wait, so you’re saying Hamas aren’t terrorists??!!??”
        
        *sigh*
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        You should have taken her home that night.
        
        jjyank
        
        Maybe. She was kinda cute, in a really bitchy Jewish American Princess sort of way.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        JAPs give the best blowjobs.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        All night.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        There is just no getting through to some people. Also, as somebody with very little knowledge of Middle Eastern politics, wouldn’t having an organization as powerful as Hamas is in the Middle East be on the side of regional peace be a great thing? I’m sure you answered the question in your paper, but how could the political world reach out to an organization like Hamas with out deeply violating Israel’s trust?
        
        jjyank
        
        Well you pretty much summed up the conundrum. But most of the arguments against Hamas’ ability to play that role go back to it’s 1988 charter. When they were elected to office in the mid-2000’s, much of that was renounced, though. What I did in my paper is analyze the language used in the campaign up to that point, the programs suggested once they were there, and the language after they were ousted by the PLO and external forces. My conclusion was that once you get away from the Izz-Addine Al-Qassame Brigade, there are several prominent leaders of Hamas who build hospitals, schools, facilitate sports leagues, champion women’s rights, etc. who could be co-opted to be a part of regional peace. Israel is a bigger problem, in my opinion.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Wait…she was a hardcore Jew who had tattoos? She does know that tattoos are expressly forbidden in the Torah right?
        
        jjyank
        
        It was very ironic, I know. But, that’s how it was.
      - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Gotta choose your committee carefully, then. It’s also rare that, once you get to the point of actually defending it, that they’re going to deny you. They’d have weeded you out long before that if there was a real chance.
        
        I sat in on my wife’s defense. It was pretty cool.
        
        Don’t know if I’d ever go back. It’s always an option. The only reason I think I’d do it is if we both want to be on an academic calendar.
        
        jjyank
        
        That’s true. The other part of it was there was literally nobody on that faculty that I would have been comfortable with having as my advisor for something so important. I swear I am more intelligent than most of the Rutgers Newark staff. That faculty is a joke.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Don’t know much about Rutgers Newark. I know the Dean of Criminology at Rutgers. Really cool guy.
        
        The odds of one of my wife’s students being a commenter on here are actually not low, but let’s leave it at that.
        
        jjyank
        
        It’s sad. I would have loved to go to a better school for my grad program, but Rutgers is a big name and in-state tuition prices were too alluring. I wish I could have done it where I went to undergrad (UVM). I had some truly amazing professors there.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        You should’ve done it at Rutgers, New Brunswick. Much better everything than Rutgers Newark.
        
        jjyank
        
        I didn’t have a choice. Poli Sci Masters program was at Newark.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Really? Hmm…interesting. That’s very strange.
        
        jjyank
        
        It is strange. You can be your BA in Poli Sci at New Brunswick, so you’d think that they have the facilities and faculty for a Masters too. But nope. I had a guy in my class who lived Edison, and he was always real pissed that he had to drive up to Newark instead of New Brunswick.
        
        jjyank
        
        you can *get* your BA
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Lol be your BA. Be your own BadAss. Btw, scroll up a little bit, I had a question about your paper.
        
        jjyank
        
        Answered. If you want to know more, I’d even send it to you. This is my wheel-house.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Great topic. My sister-in-law’s BF has a Masters in religious studies with a focus on Islam, so you’d probably have a ton to talk about there.
        
        jjyank
        
        I minored in Middle Eastern Studies, took several classes on both the culture and the religion. I studied abroad in Amman, Jordan and speak a little Arabic as well. I love the culture. I am an atheist, but I have a lot of respect for Islam, more than Western religions, to be honest.
    - forensic
      
      Not sure about Ph.D.’s, but I do think there is a doctor or two. Maybe the Jose Vazquez guy, that seems to ring a bell for some reason.
      - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Did jjyank tell you he was a doctor as well?
        
        jjyank
        
        *cackle*
- Jag
  
  I thought there was a good chance it was gone, but yeah Kay called it a bit early. Still a solid hit though.
RetroRob

Swish is really going to help the Red Sox, both on the field and in the club house. Seems like most here has decided a lesser player in right will make the Yankees better.
- jjyank
  
  Fuck that, I love Swish. I really hope they bring him back.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  They need someone who strikes out less, a David DeJesus type. The fewer homers he hits, the more you’ll appreciate ‘em!
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    Everybody knows if Swish hit less homers, and more singles instead of them, he’d also automatically strike out less.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      And because he’s just hitting singles, he’s automatically have more of them.
      - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Duh! I thought that went w/o saying!!
- Chilango
  
  Swisher is a .255/.360 guy who strikes out a lot. No great shakes in the field. OK he’e been on a SSS tear. Great. But he’s still not going to get the contract he wants with the Yanks.
  - Brian S.
    
    He also has a high slugging percentage. Which kind of matters. I agree that a large contract for his decline years would not be a smart move.
jjyank

Swish! That is out in YS3.
Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Cashninja strikes again. Great job getting Swish back from the Sox.
Jag

Tex :(
The Real Greg

Another rally started with 2 outs fails. The percentages play the game.
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

Just switched over to the Sox game temporarily to see if they’re gonna lose the series to the Royals, and I hear “… and a visit to the mound by pitching coach Dave Island”! I didn’t realize the Island-man was back as a pitching coach for the Royals. I miss him, mostly for the “Fire Dave Island!” comments.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Did we ever find out why he had to be away from the team so often his last year? I think it was because his son had a drug problem, but my memory could be playing tricks on me.
  - Brian S.
    
    He punched AJ in the face.
    - RetroRob
      
      No, I’m pretty sure that would have been forgiven.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      No, He would’ve been given an award.
Brian S.

Damn Joe is really letting Logan go.
Kramerica Industries

Kipnis has been a major pain in the ass.
Mike N

Who’s coming in?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  looked like DRob
Mike N

D-Rob in the seventh with a lead and one out. Interesting move.
- Brian S.
  
  Rob will be on paternity leave for a few days at some point next week. Might as well use him while you have him!
  - Mike N
    
    Srsly?
    - Brian S.
      
      That’s what other people were saying.
  - RetroRob
    
    Paternity leave for baseball players is bullshit. And, no, not trolling.
    - Mike N
      
      I would assume he *might* get one day off, but certainly no more than that.
    - forensic
      
      What’s wrong with being away for 2-3 days to see your baby on the day it’s born?
      - jjyank
        
        Nothing at all. I am a human being first, and a baseball fan second. Let the man witness the birth of his child.
      - RetroRob
        
        It’s a nice concept. I’ll leave it at that.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        It was the greatest moment of my life. I’ll leave it at that.
        
        forensic
        
        Are you married with children? Just curious since I think that could affect an opinion on this.
        
        jjyank
        
        I know this is a reply to RetroRob, but for my part, I am not married, and I have no kids. Someday, maybe, but I’m still young. But ever from where I sit, let him see his child being born. I know I would want to.
        
        forensic
        
        Yeah, it’s not a tough thing either. They said she’s late now. So, he flies home after the game, they induce either tonight or tomorrow morning, he’s there tomorrow and maybe Tuesday, and then he’s back. Easily done with only missing 1, or two if he can’t get back for Tuesday, game.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Right. With induction, you’re on some semblance of a schedule. It’s just a matter of how quickly they can bring her to labor.
        
        The things we talk about on here…. :)
        
        RetroRob
        
        Was there for the birth of my daughter. Wonderful relationship with her. She has no memory of me being there.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        You and Robertson will also have no memory of the games he misses in about a week.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        ietc
        
        forensic
        
        Of course she has no memory of it. But you could/would.
        
        She won’t remember anything for the first year or two of her whole life. Does that mean you don’t need to be there at all during that time either?
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        Which is why I will remind him of how many times I wiped his dirty ass in front of all his friends when he’s 16.
        
        forensic
        
        heh, hell yeah! Pictures, it’s all about the pictures (and videos…).
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        ….and I’ve got videos. Kid will never give me lip once he sees the arsenal I’m building.
        
        Yankee Fan 1
        
        Yeah well I’m pretty sure your baby’s mother remembers
        
        RetroRob
        
        The “lovely” Ms. RetroRob is fortunately gone from my world. She gave me one good thing for which I’m grateful, my daughter.
        
        Fire-breathing dragons may not walk the earth, but she does. Choose wisely unmarried folks.
        
        Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
        
        It’s all good, dude. Difference of opinion. I hope you get plenty of awesome time with your daughter.
        
        RetroRob
        
        Plenty, thanks. I’m in my 40s, she just turned 20. My seraration is within the last few years, so she lived with us both until recently, so I’ve been a constant there.
        
        I was just playing, just a tiny bit, although I’m not one of those people who believe the men need to be in the delivery room. I’m a bit old school on that.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        She single? ;) I’m 23 a gentleman and a Yankee fan =P
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I’m also not talking about your ex who you compared to a dragon.
        
        RetroRob
        
        I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to be dating a woman in her 40s, and if you did, I would highly recommend against her, although even will admit she still looks quite great.
        
        My daughter does have a boyfriend, although it’s doomed. She just headed back to college. And, yes, she was raised a Yankee fan! She had no choice on that front.
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Haha I was expecting a “dude she’s my daughter, fuck off.”
        
        RetroRob
        
        Nah. I save the tough Dad for the actual boyfriends. As a good friend of mine who is a bit older taught me, you have plenty of time to be friends with her eventual husband. Boyfiends, no such freedom. He was a very tall guy, and he said his job was to make sure any boyfriend of his daughter (daughters in his case) knows there’s an angry 6’8″ Irish guy waiting at home if something goes wrong. In my case, it’s a shorter 6″ angry father waiting.
    - Yankee Fan 1
      
      Seriously dude? You think the players shouldn’t be allowed a few days off to see the birth of their child?
    - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
      
      Absolutely disagree.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      Yeah, because jobs are more important than family!
  - Eddard
    
    There is no such thing as paternity leave in the middle of a pennant race. DRob will be available.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Are you nuts? He’ll be there for the birth of his first child as he should. It’s just baseball.
      - Mike N
        
        I bet he doesn’t take more than one day off.
      - RetroRob
        
        Just baseball? Who are you? : -)
    - Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster
      
      I’ll put it to you this way: I’ll lose respect for him if he’s not in the delivery room. Fuck the pennant race.
- Chilango
  
  Shows how much Joe wants this game.
Mike N

Nice job, D-Rob.
RetroRob

George Kontos?
stuart a

nice outing for boone about time.

girardi only trusts robertson and soriano… joba is far down in the pecking order.

tex having a really clutch game today…..the softest 81 rbi’s in baseball….
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  …….
- jjyank
  
  So how are the Mets?
  - Mike N
    
    Walk-off homer to beat the Astros today. But they do suck total ass.
Brian S.

Is Pedro Ciriaco eligible for the batting title?
- forensic
  
  Sure, they just need to figure out a way to get him 10 AB’s a game the rest of the way. No problem.
  - Brian S.
    
    lol. I’m not sure how much you need to qualify so I figure I would ask.
    - forensic
      
      3.1 PA’s per team game, so essentially 502 PA’s over the season to quality for that kind of stuff.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Not necessarily. They can just count outs for the number of PA’s he’s short. Current leader is Trout at .338. Ciriaco would need 170 hits to finish at .339. So after his 2 hits today, he’d only need 122 more hits in the last 34 games, which is only about 3.6 hits/game. Doable.
    
    On second thought, probably not doable, the Sox don’t have enough games left against the Yankees to make that happen.
- Mike N
  
  No way. You need 502 plate appearances.
  - Chilango
    
    Or you can take null AB until you get to 502, which is why Melky could still get the batting title
    - Mike N
      
      True. It would give him a .316 avg.
      - RetroRob
        
        He only needs thre more PAs, if I remember correctly. His BA would barely move.
Brian S.

The first and third pitches of that at-bat were right down the middle.
- The Real Greg
  
  This ump has been crap all day.
Mike N

Nice breaking pitch!
Mike N

Girardi is not fucking around today.
The Real Greg

4 out save.
Brian S.

D-Rob wasn’t struggling though.
- Chilango
  
  Right, no reason at all to take him out.
stuart a

why take robertson out? 2 outs and 19 pitches.. no idea why…….
Mike N

Thank god Ichiro was in left field today and not Raul.
Chilango

No reason to take Robbie out and it almost backfired.
Jag

Holy crap that out was scary… good news? It was only one pitch…
The Real Greg

I wonder if Girardi brought him in in order to get him some work.
- forensic
  
  Yeah, because it’s not like he just threw 28 pitches with terrible stuff just on Friday.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Exactly. That was because he hadn’t pitched since Sunday.
    
    Get him some work and back in the saddle.
    - forensic
      
      4 out saves and throwing possibly 40-50 pitches in 3 days is not to just get him work or back in the saddle. It’s because the team has been playing terribly and Girardi is desperate to get any win within reach right now (which is reasonable). But it has nothing to do with just getting him some work.
Chilango

a couple of add ons would be nice…
Mike N

Nice “Derek Jeter” cheer!
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  Gotta love the boos in response again. If you don’t like it, start your own chant. It’s not like the Yankee fans are going to stop chanting because they’re being booed. Pretty funny.
RetroRob

Well that sucked.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Soriano for some serious UNTUCKage?
Brian S.

Soriano likes to make it interesting against Cleveland.
The Real Greg

WHOA
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

wow. I thought that caught him in the dome for a second.
RetroRob

Yikes. Can’t lose Soriano, words I never thought I’d be saying earlier in the year.
Need Pitching & Hitting

I don’t even want to think about what would happen if Soriano got hurt.
- forensic
  
  Derek Lowe, closer experience…
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Thanks, I threw up in my mouth a little bit….
dontchaknow

if his hat tells him he’s okay. he’s okay
Mike N

Nice win!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek/ Roadgeek Adam

VOOT!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Exhale and Untuck.
Jag

Win. But god that hit to Soriano was scary.
Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Untuck. A nice victory to have.
forensic

Wasn’t really pretty, but at least they won the series. Time to head back home where they’ve been playing better than on the road. Hopefully that continues against the Bautista-less Jays.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

That was a hard earned save…also a quiet lucky one. Every ball was stung pretty hard.
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

It looked to me like the ball hit his glove, with his right hand just behind the web of the glove. But they didn’t give it enough looks to be sure. He seemed perfectly fine though.
- TomH
  
  He was inspecting the hand as he walked off the field. I’ll bet they give it a close check.
The Real Greg

And after that bad road trip, the net loss

1 game in the standings.
Jimmy McNulty

Much much much needed win. Glad Soriano’s okay. Was that Granderson’s 200th?
- Chilango
  
  yes
Chilango

Hope Soriano is OK. 2-4 on this trip. Time to rock at home.
RetroRob

Two out of three. Let’s hope they can build some traction from there.

Good game.
Rocky Road Redemption

I don’t know if you guys talked about this or not but Sterling’s call of the Swisher double was hilarious. Disappointing too but I couldn’t even be mad (considering we had the lead already anyway), I just burst out laughing.

*Crack* And Swisher hits a high drive to deep left field! It is high! It is far! Ittttt is gone!

[Pauses for a moment while the crowd cheers.]

No, wait, off the wall for a double. And I really, really thought that was gone. I really, really did.

We need to get rid of him so badly….

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