Game 138: Dead Team Walking

September 7, 2012 by Mike Axisa 570 Comments

I really don’t have much to say about the current state of the Yankees that I haven’t already said this week. They’ve fallen flat on their faces during the first seven games of this incredibly important ten-game stretch, and now they turn the ball over the Phil Hughes to stop the bleeding. Hughes allowed five runs in five innings to these very same Orioles last weekend, and overall he’s allowed 23 runs in his last six starts (34.1 IP). Not only does he not inspire much confidence, but neither does the bullpen behind him outside of Rafael Soriano. The Yankees are in an ugly place yet can still finish the night in sole possession of first place in the AL East. Here’s the batting order…

SS Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
DH Alex Rodriguez
C Russell Martin
CF Curtis Granderson
LF Andruw Jones
1B Steve Pearce
3B Casey McGehee

RHP Phil Hughes

Tonight’s game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on YES.

Will The Thrill

I’m not even watching this game. Too painful to watch. I’d rather not see my Yankees like this. Oh how the mighty have fallen!
https://twitter.com/Mattpat11 Matt DiBari

I know I was personally looking forward to the day when we had Pearce and McGehee in the same lineup.
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

I wish this team the best, as I always do, but I may opt out of watching tonight. :(
EDDARD

Rothschild’s gameplan for how to attach Mark Reynolds, Adam Jones and Matt Weiters has been released to the public- Fastballs, cutters and more fastballs.

Should be interesting to see how that works tonight. 5 home runs were given up last night by Yankee pitchers and 5 more might be given up tonight by Phil Hughes alone.
- Mikhel
  
  6 homeruns were allowed by Yankee pitching. Not once since 2007 had the Orioles hit 6 homeruns in a game.
Scott

Why does he trot Jones out there!?! Dickerson hits better, fields better and surely run better!
- EDDARD
  
  Because Jonesy can hit a home run vs a lefty even though he hasn’t in 2 months.
  - Mikhel
    
    He can also strikeout the rest of his at-bats, can…not run grounders, will…not field pop ups that end up falling 2 meters in front of him, will…not make good throws from the OF, plus everybody will be taking an extra base whenever a fly ball drops in front of Jones as he lets the ball roll past him.
- jesse
  
  Matchups, man.
david

have faith! Go Yankees!!
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

I’m heading to the Giants-Dodgers game tonight. Hopefully the Yanks have already wrapped up a win by then or they have enough of a lead that the last couple innings won’t matter.
jesse

I’m definitely watching. But I’ve reached the point (well, I’ve had this feeling for the last several days now) to where whenever something goes right for the Yankees I ask myself “how will the Yankees screw this up?”
McLovin

Andruw Jones is a bigger blackhole than a blackhole itself
Kramerica Industries

I loved the Orioles going back to the cartoon bird this season.

I loathe it now, since the Orioles suddenly became good again once they did that.
Mikhel

I am looking forward to the 5 strikeout night by our mighty bats in the 5th and 6th slot in the lineup… not really but =(.
- Tom
  
  Apparently Girardi still cannot grasp the concept of actually looking at splits.
  
  What hand does the guy throw with? Left… OK roll out the right lineup. This from a guy who apparently “uses” #’s.
  
  Chen has virtually no splits (if anything lefties are slightly better); so hey roll out the corpse of Andruw Jones in LF. Well at least there is not a flyball pitcher on the mound tonight.
Herby

okay…if I make a typo it’s becccuase I’m watching through my fingres…we really needed those two on 1st and 3rd. I think Swisher could’ve played 1st with a better outfield option.
Mikhel

ooow i just noticed how after a three hit night, Ichiro gets the day out because he can’t hit LHP, but neither Cano nor Granderson can hit LHP and yet they are still there.

I would rather have Ichiro in there than Granderson, at least if he gets on base it will be with a hit instead of an almost non-productive walk.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  Heh.
  
  Ichiro vs. LHP this season: .224 wOBA, 37 wRC+
  Grandy vs. LHP this season: .335 wOBA, 108 wRC+
Karl Krawfid

Here comes the change ups.
Kramerica Industries

All I have to say is that, if this is going to be another loss, make it quick and painful.

‘Cuz I’ll still want to make something of my Friday night if this will be another loss.
Karl Krawfid

Gonna just turn this off now.

No reason to have this shitty team fuck up my day again.

I hope they win :(
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

Tonight’s feelings about the Yankees:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcbTv_zNtvs
- Gonzo
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxc7IukDk38
Anthony

Hughes pitching tonight… is Reynolds going to have a feast?
Cy Pettitte

pitchers continue to be allergic to 1-2-3 innings.
- Chilango
  
  You mean OUR pitchers. Chen certainly had no trouble in the 1st
  - Cy Pettitte
    
    yes, definitely. the Yankees’ offense loves the 1-2-3 inning lately.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

I thought everyone bought into Swisher’s clubhouse “presents?” And how his light-hearted attitude was such a boon for this team? C’mon he’s such a great “clubhouse guy.”
Anthony

JJ Hardy is right up there for most annoying player on the orioles behind Reynolds… everything is hit to him and he hits way too much against us
Anthony

And here…. we….. go
Need Pitching & Hitting

Looking like this is going to be an Adam Warren game.
Kramerica Industries

Another lovely start.

Are these fuckers serious?
Cy Pettitte

are you fucking kidding me with this bullshit again? every.single.game. the other team gets 1st inning runs.
EDDARD

Embarrassing. 1-2 count and you can’t finish a clown like McClouth. This game was over before it started. Here comes a 3 run HR. Throw another fastball Phil.
Anthony

Nice play Robbie way to hustle lately
Kramerica Industries

Excellent play Robbie.
Chilango

Robbie!
Patrick

What’s the last Yankee team that has underperformed as much as this one? So much potential and such poor results. 08?
Anthony

Thank christ.
Cy Pettitte

Phil owes Cano dinner or something.
Kramerica Industries

Escaped the first.

Maybe the Yankees can get lucky a few more times.
Patrick

Dumb luck.
Tom

Wow that was a lucky inning.

I’m all for giving the 3-0 hit sign… but with the righty Babe Ruth on deck and Phils splits against righties, the O’s did Hughes a HUGE favor there. That’s a Girardi-esque decision.
- Chilango
  
  Right.
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

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

Hi everyone =/
- https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica
  
  Hallo.
EDDARD

Alex is doing all he can and nobody else seems willing to help him.
- https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica
  
  Yes, the team got together and they decided, eff this noise… A-Rod hits and NOBODY ELSE DOES.
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

Christ.
Kramerica Industries

Strike out some more, Kurtis.
EDDARD

Granderson blown away by a 92 mph fastball. Just quit and throw up. Nobody helping Alex.
Chilango

Chen does not look sharp.
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

Oh my GOD BUT WHY.
Anthony

Man on and 3 straight outs? Never seen that before!
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Why in gods name are you swinging 3-0 w/ 2 outs?!
Kramerica Industries

Andruw can’t even hit a 3-0 pitch well anymore.
Need Pitching & Hitting

3-0 pop up.

Toast.
Cy Pettitte

wow, he couldn’t do anything with a 3-0 90mph fastball. lame.
Chilango

Jones gets a cookie. Just like the ones Reynolds doesn’t miss
stuart a

andruw jones sucks and the whole yankee approach is moronic. 3 and 0 a hack swings and pops out.. nice you friggin moron.

take a friggin pitch. you will get a similar pitch 3 and 1.. when a guy is hitting 200 he gets out 8 of 10 times so the odds of him getting a hit are not good, that is called math……..

fu-kin morons…….
Defensive Indifference

Andrew Jones might want to consider Riverwalk. I hear it’s wonderful.
Chilango

Down and outside Phil. C’mon
Hoss

Michael Kay I would expect a lame “Sure give him the green light on 3-0″, but Ken Singleton? What are they serving in that booth?
Not to hurt the guy or anything, but I was hoping that HPB would keep him out for a few days.
Cy Pettitte

there’s the slider, great pitch.
RetroRob

Nice to see Reynolds strike out like he’s supposed to.

Mark Reynolds has like one hot streak a year, maybe two, at which point he is blistering hot for a month, surrounded by a whole lot of suck. Unfortunately his one hot streak this year is happening now, and against the Yankees.
- Anthony
  
  Hot streak? What are you talking about. His wing in the hall of fame will be right next to Pedro Ciriaco’s.
  - RetroRob
    
    Reynolds has been a double pain to me this year. I’ve had him on my fantasy team and he’s been horrible. Now he gets hot, and he’s killing the Yankees.
    
    I would have cut him a while back, but I play in a AL-only, very deep league with very experienced players. Finding replacement players who qualify at third is nearly impossible.
    - Anthony
      
      Hmm I see. I have yet to play fantasy baseball. Looking forward to it next season.
Gonzo

This thread is reaching Debbie Downer territory.

C’mon people. In enemy territory, down men, against a scrappy upstart? This is great stuff. Conquer today, rinse, and repeat tomorrow.
- RetroRob
  
  Ha. You’re right, of course, but the game threads are filled with Debbie Downers even when times are going well.
Mick taylor

How much longer must we be subjected to this piece of crap hitter andruw jones. Why isn’t Suzuki playing . So girardi decides a 190 hitter is better than one of the greatest hitters who is hitting 70 points higher.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Ichiro is horrendously awful against lefties now.
  Dickerson or Nix should be playing.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  As I wrote above, Ichiro vs. LHP this season: .224 wOBA, 37 wRC+
  - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
    
    He has a positive wRC+ against LHP? That’s actually a shock to me…
Cy Pettitte

ok that slider is great. it’s annoying they waited so long, through so much suckitude to bring that back.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Well they did say it would end up damaging his elbow, maybe because he’s a FA at the end of next year and they probably aren’t going to sign him they decided ‘fuck it, we don’t have much more invested in him, let him throw it.’ and Hughes decided ‘fuck it, I gotta get my numbers down if I wanna get paid’
  - Cy Pettitte
    
    Let’s hope it holds up through 2013 then, having a legit out pitch to righties works much better than trying to throw 92mph chest high fastballs by them.
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      I think it was more of a long term, wear-and-tare type injury then an all of a sudden elbow soreness type deal, so I wouldn’t expect it to really affect him by next year unless he’s throwing it like 35-40% of the time. And throwing a slider that much makes it loose it’s effectiveness.
Flyer7

Nothing from 7-8-9 in the lineup
Kramerica Industries

34 pitches in three innings.

That’s just fucken stellar.
oldmanalex

can tex PH tonight or what? incase we need to drive some of these low expectation scrubs in.
EDDARD

Phil Hughes is going to have to pitch a shut out to win and that just ain’t gonna happen.
Cy Pettitte

they need to work some counts and get Strop in this game already so they can get some runs.
EDDARD

That 1-2 pitch was strike 3 and the ump just stood there. We can’t buy any help.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

The Orioles are doing a ‘throw back ticket price night’?!?!?! Imagining the Yankees needing to do that?
Cy Pettitte

pretty sure Cano makes that play if Pearce just stays on the bag, no?
The Laughing Troll

Just tuned in to see the Yankees one-hit, a strikeout by Granderson, and only 35 by Chen through 3. Same ol’, same ol’ I see . . .
Hoss

Tomorrow’s lineup:
Jeter, SS
Nunez, 2B
Dickerson, CF
Texeira, 1B
Rodriguez, 3B
Suzuki, CF
McGehee, DH
Pearce, LF
Cervelli (does it matter?), C

The Yankees need to stop relying on Cano and Granderson to save their butts and retire Jones and Ibanez for now.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  So you want to split the series at best then? I don’t even know where to begin…a career minor leaguer batting third, a guy with a strong arm that he cant control at 2nd, a guy with a wRC+ of 37 against LHP hitting against a LHP, having a guy who has been below average in the minors in the starting line up, the fact that you have 2 CFs…It’s almost like you want to lose tomorrow.
  - Hoss
    
    Let’s talk later…
    Still like the lineup
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      by later if you mean the post game thread, I’m probably not going to be there. Whether we win or lose it usually falls apart into a cesspool of what we did wrong lately.
      - Hoss
        
        Sorry. Just don’t feel like you have to use sabremetrics to justify every lineup. There are times when gut, how a team is playing, etc. matters. That is what my call was based upon. Billy Martin once pulled a lineup out of a hat. Stupid, except that it 1) Loosened the team up 2) Got the media off of his back..
- Defensive Indifference
  
  No way that’s going to happen. If Girardi were gong to try something different he’d have already done it by now. I fear nothing will change and the team’s fate will depend on The Ancients.
Chilango

2d time around. time to break stuff. let’s go!
EDDARD

Another lead off man on. 3-4-5 hitters up. Do something this time.
Cy Pettitte

hope Cano takes Chen deep. he didn’t look happy. time for some revenge.
EDDARD

Robbie didn’t like that at all. Phil needs to throw one in Weiters back.
Kramerica Industries

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

A-Bomb? Please?!
EDDARD

Cano walks! We really can’t waste this opportunity. Come on Alex. I don’t trust the 3 hitters behind you.
Tom

Nice disicpline by Cano not chasing that 2-0 slider. If the pitcher is going to walk you, take the walk and don’t try to be a hero.

Yankees have been swinging at too much 2-0, 2-1, 3-1 off speed junk
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Was Alex late on the first pitch?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Damnit Alex, I didn’t mean just straight up back leg a 1-1 fastball when I asked for an Abomb…
Kramerica Industries

That was a pretty shitty AB.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Chen must hide the ball really well because at least three of those pitches were very, very hittable.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

Wow…Alex just kind of got blown away by a 2-2 fastball off the plate. that wasn’t pleasant to watch.
WhittakerWalt

Crap at-bat.
Tom

Martin’s going to hammer one here
- Defensive Indifference
  
  Well played, sir.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  Awesome.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  Good call dude :)
- Chilango
  
  Well done man
- Tom
  
  I’m going to get a knock on the door from a guy giving me a $1,000,00 check now….
  - Tom
    
    Damn, my powers only randomly apply to an occasional baseball AB…
    - http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
      
      Beautiful, naked, big titted women just don’t fall out of the sky you know!!!
      
      10 points for the movie.
      - Tom
        
        Aargh… I know the line, but I just can’t place it.
        (must be the delirium over a 5 run lead)
        
        What movie?
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. AKA the worst, but funniest Kevin Smith movie.
        
        Tom
        
        Dammit… knew I’d be pissed for not remembering it.
        
        “You’re like a child. What’ve I been telling you? You gotta do the safe picture. Then you can do the art picture. But then sometimes you gotta do the payback picture because your friend says you owe him.”
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        **STARES DIRECTLY INTO CAMERA** I loved that scene.
nsalem

good spot here
Cy Pettitte

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

COLTRANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Russ!!!
JobaWockeeZ

Nice HR. He still sucks, I have to be consistent with that one.
EDDARD

SHE’S GONE!!!!!!!!! RUSSELL MARTIN IS AS HOT AS A FIRECRACKER!!!!!!
Roadgeek Adam

MENDOZA :D
Kramerica Industries

Mussell goes Earl Weaver on the O’s!

Hell of a week for that man.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Coltrane on a little hot streak.
WHIPunk

Who is this man that hit that home run, I don’t recognize him!! Yes!! We got this game…. I hope!!!
EDDARD

Now the pitching needs to hold it. Let’s finally have a complete game. Hold it, Phil.
RetroRob

It’s amazing how bad Kay is at reading fly balls. That was an obvious HR off the bat, yet he sounded surprised. Maybe he was looking down at his scorecard, but that was a no-doubter. Then he gets all excited when a player pulls a ball foul, the player already getting re-set back in the batter’s box, and he’s still pretending the ball has a chance.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  by Kay you clearly meant Sterling. At least Sterling was ready for this one though.
  - RetroRob
    
    That’s why I think he was looking down. That was an unusual call, even for Kay.
WhittakerWalt

Jesus, Curtis.
Cy Pettitte

Chen has Kurtis completely off balance.
EDDARD

I would bench Granderson tomorrow and play Dickerson in center. Granderson looks done.
Kramerica Industries

Strike out some more , Kurtis.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  #tradeGrandy
Assapopulus

Kurtis absolutely lost right now. JFC.
Cy Pettitte

STEVE PEARCE!!!!
Roadgeek Adam

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

SAMWISE PEARCE IS FIERCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL STEVE PEARCE
Need Pitching & Hitting

Pearce!!!!

review coming
WhittakerWalt

Pearce is Fierce!
Kramerica Industries

Pearcing the O’s right there!
Assapopulus

Pearce???
JobaWockeeZ

How the fuck does that not hurt?
Kramerica Industries

Give that Yankee fan a beer.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Is Steve Pearce even a real person? Like, does he actually exist?
WHIPunk

Pearce!!! The resurgence of the mendoza type hitters!!
Pat D

Interference my ass, McLouth.
http://Fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

It’s bedlam!
Hoss

Nate McClown has been born…
Need Pitching & Hitting

Shutdown inning please.
johnreverent

in the immortal words of scooter..”How a bout that!”
- The Real Greg
  
  You mean Mel Allen. scooter was “Holy Cow!”
  - johnreverent
    
    your right apologies
- Tom
  
  “Holy Cow” maybe?
Effthisnoise

I finally know how it feels to have a nobody on your team smack a home run!
Pat D

I hate this Chevy commercial so passionately.
Chilango

Phil: time to STEP UP.
https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

AAAAAHAHAH GOOD STUFF GUYS!!!!!!!!!
Anthony

Nice inning Yanks. Martin is redeeming himself. If only we could have Soriano pitch the rest of the game, still don’t feel confident leading by 5 runs, lol.
RetroRob

A shut-down inning would be helpful.
Effthisnoise

C’mon Phil, no phucking around
Kramerica Industries

That’s actually quite true about Soriano.

Trying to remember – wasn’t that home run hit against Schilling?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Oh yeah. Gone as soon a he made contact. Remember that homer like it was yesterday, I was ecstatic.
  - Pat D
    
    I have absolutely no memories of it. I think that’s because I’ve tried to erase all memories of that series.
    
    Hence when I watch that one Yankees tribute on YouTube, I don’t get a big thrill out of seeing Tino’s, Jeter’s and Brosius’ homers from the Stadium.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      See, I still appreciate those home runs because of the sheer insanity and incomprehensible nature of them all. The backdrop of 9/11 doesn’t hurt either, obviously. Always get goosebumps when I see how electric the Bronx crowd was.
      
      Conversely, I feel as you do, about the Aaron Boone home run. I was obviously ecstatic at the time, but I really don’t have an appreciation for it in hindsight. Lost the World Series against a team they absolutely should have beaten. A team just as tired as they were coming in. And it’s because of that series that I’ve never been able to truly mock Josh Beckett – for all the pounding the Yankees did to him over the years, the redneck can always point to Game 6.
      - Pat D
        
        The Aaron Boone homer still means something to me because it was against the Red Sox. And because I think I’ve purged all memories of the 2003 World Series as well.
        
        But the whole backdrop of 9/11 thing with the 2001 World Series is something I use as “evidence” of something which I won’t say here for fear of starting one of those discussions. I’ll just say it has to do with a concept like “cosmic justice.”
        
        http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
        
        I’m curious as to what you mean about that last paragraph…but this isn’t the time or place. Do you have a facebook or a tumblr at which you could send me a private message?
        
        Pat D
        
        Sadly, no. “Social media” is not a concept I’ve yet adopted.
        
        I’ll draw some parallels as to what I mean. In 2006, and then again in 2009, all I ever heard was how the Saints were playing for a city ravaged by a hurricane. As if winning the Super Bowl really means anything to those who lost their homes or worse. It was also ridiculous that the narrative was dragged out 3 years after it was first used.
        
        There was also that thing about the Angels playing for Nick Adenhart in 2009. I’m forgetting a lot of others, too.
        
        But to me, what situation could ever be worse than post 9/11 New York? Yet you didn’t hear anyone say how sorry it was that they didn’t win for the city. Nope, all you got out of MLB was that the evil dynasty was ended.
        
        So it’s one of the many reasons for which I like to say “There is no ___.”
http://Fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Holy crap!!!

A shutdown inning!

Hallelujah! Sing Hosanna! Come to the name of the Lorrrrd!
- RetroRob
  
  I would tell you to calm down, but I can’t, since that was basically my reaction.
Effthisnoise

Hughes going right at em…
Need Pitching & Hitting

Very nice Phil.
Cy Pettitte

Phuckin’ Phil, man! way to step up.
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

wait…a fife run lead and a shut down inning…WUT DA FUQ DID I JUST HEAR?!?!?!
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  five*
  - Pat D
    
    I heard fifes.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Shut down inning: complete.
Chilango

Phil looks like a changed man…
EDDARD

Phil with the shut down inning. Let’s get some more runs to put it away for good. We just might be turning the corner with 11 runs scored in 1 1/2 games.
- The Real Greg
  
  You forget against Matt Moore and the Rays they scored 6 runs in the finale of that series.
  
  That’s 17 runs in 2.5 games
Pat D

Jeter is 11 hits behind Mays now.
Chilango

Robbie never saw a pitch he didn’t like
- The Real Greg
  
  Its amazing that he hits .300 a year, isn’t it?
  - Pat D
    
    We only remember the outs he makes on first pitches, not the hits he gets.
  - Chilango
    
    Yes, it is.
Roadgeek Adam

Did anyone check what Sterling’s call was on Pearce?
http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

ABOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony

HE’S BACK!
Pat D

That was a no fucking doubter.
Kramerica Industries

Bronx Bombers on full display tonight.
Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Atta boy, centaur.
Need Pitching & Hitting

ABomb!!!

More please.
WHIPunk

Looks like we’re getting our mojo back baby!!!!
EDDARD

AN A-BOMB FOR A-ROD!!!!! THAT’LL PUT IT AWAY!!!!!!!
Effthisnoise

Annnnnnnnnnnd now this team is not fucking around!
WhittakerWalt

Stuart, your turn.
Roadgeek Adam

ALEX

(Also graphic fail.)
Cy Pettitte

A-Bomb!! aww yea!
RetroRob

Kay finally recognizing obvious HRs off the bat.

A-Rod’s hand looks fine.
JobaWockeeZ

Hughes proofed lead.
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  This might even be a bullpen proof lead *knock on wood*
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  hopefully
The Real Greg

Make that 19 runs in the last 2.5 games
Anthony

At this rate, we could have Joba pitch the game and we’d still win! Please please this has to be the start of the O’s luck running out!
Assapopulus

LOL Chen. Too many FBs. Didn’t he learn from Drob last night?
Jag

A nice no-stress win is hopefully in order for tonight. :)
Leg-End

Man its good to have A-Rod back. CRUSHED.
EDDARD

The team is finally hitting home runs again. This is great baseball. And tomorrow we’ll get Teixera back. Might be finally turning the corner.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Except home runs are a bad thing, never forget.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    It’s not a bad thing that wasn’t the argument. People thought they sold out for the home run and when it doesn’t work there’s gonna be long droughts of k’s and weak flyballs.
    
    I don’t feel like looking up to prove or disprove it but that’s the argument.
Chilango

A Phail-proof lead?
- The Laughing Troll
  
  Nope. Nothing is PHAIL proof. Let’s just hope for the best though . . .
The Laughing Troll

I know good things are happening but . . . can they PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bench Granderson for a minimum of 3 days? That guy is turrrrrrabull!
thenamestsam

Don’t look now but the offense might actually be waking up. Maybe this season ISN’T over yet.
Assapopulus

And just like that, Chen’s ERA is close to Phil’s.
Tom

Martin is going to hammer one here… into the ground.
(the crystal ball is the crystal ball)
oldmanalex

Although A-Rod has looked overmatched, but I did not think he would have such an impact right away. Heres to hoping the Centaurs back and more importantly so are the Yankees.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Another shutdown inning please.
MannyGeee

Ohmigawd!!!!! THESE GUYS SUCK SO BAD I AM SO GLAD IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON, AND I WOULD RATHER THEY JUST ROLL OVER AND DIE NOW INSTEAD OF DYING IN THE PLAYOFFS…..

Oh wait… It’s not yesterday? My bad
- http://thecarsboneblog.tumblr.com Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle
  
  +1 even though last night was the saddest I’ve been since game 5 last season.
  - Chilango
    
    I gotta go with the Soriano choke against the Jays
- Pat D
  
  It only took 3 hours on Wednesday night for me to have a bad feeling about football season.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  This game doesn’t disprove that they sucked since July but okay.
  - MannyGeee
    
    point of the above post is to point out the obvious lack of bridge jumpers… all of the sudden life is worth living again. jus sayin
Chilango

Stay Phocused Phil
RetroRob

This would be a good time to go off on a nice six to seven week hot streak. Timing is everything.
Steve D Fl

I want more runs, after last night im paranoid. so 15 sounds good to me.
- Assapopulus
  
  But if we score that many runs at once we’ll go on another long dry spell.
  - MannyGeee
    
    they’ll need a refractorary period? maybe a little sandwich?
Anthony

Well Kurtis you can’t hit but thanks for hustling for that.
Cy Pettitte

Phil, I think I love you.
- Pat D
  
  Thanks, now I have the Partridge Family in my head.
  - Paul VuvuZuvella
    
    what are you so afraid of?
    - Pat D
      
      Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Back to Back shutdown innings.

Well done Phil.
- MannyGeee
  
  is this the pitching equivilent of “Garbage Time Runs”? 1-2-3 innings when your up a touchdown?
  
  Sidebar: They make it so easy to put up 7 points, you would think the Jets should be watching this… amirite?
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    The way the Yankees have played lately, I don’t consider even a 7-run lead safe.
    I very much appreciate the shutdown innings.
The Laughing Troll

.232 .323 .474 – Granderson’s Triple Slash . . . Just thought it LOOKED cool.
- Pat D
  
  Symmetry is fun.
Paul VuvuZuvella

Rumors of the Yankee demise are greatly exaggerated…
:crosses fingers:
Anthony

Mike definitely jinxed this game with the title of this post. Very nice.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I never specified which team!
  - Anthony
    
    Haha, very true.
TomH

What the Yankees now need is for Granderson to start hitting. Make that lineup l o o o o n g.
Assapopulus

Phil’s ERA approaching sub 4.00, he’ll give up some runs soon.
- Assapopulus
  
  Too damn predictable!!!!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Not a K.

/progress
- Anthony
  
  heh
Tom

Nice ePHicient Phil… he seems to be pitching “downhill” with the lead.

Get ahead and make them hit it, don’t go for all the setup pitches to get a K on the 5th or 6th pitch of the AB.

18 pitches over the last 2 innings – not sure if it’s Martin or Phil (or both), but after getting the lead this is a smart game plan and great execution.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Why not Dickerson?
- The Real Greg
  
  As Kenny just said, they’re saving him for defense.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    He would stay in the game after PH’ing and play defense. That’s why Dickerson makes more sense.
Cy Pettitte

they better just put Dickerson in after this Ibanez AB. I don’t want Ibanez in LF with a 7 run lead.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I don’t want Ibanez on this team in general.
  - TomH
    
    Nothing like amnesiac fan ingratitude.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      Okay. He’s a terrible player in every facet of the game.
RetroRob

So Girardi will seemingly rarely pinch hit for Ibanez when there’s a lefty up, but he’ll pull Jones immediately when a righty comes in?
The Laughing Troll

I don’t get it . . . . Why does Joe ONLY pinch hit when there’s a substantial lead? WTF goes on in that idiot’s head?
- The Real Greg
  
  No.
  
  He pinch hits when they are behind as well. He doesn’t pinch hit when its a tie or they have 1 -2 run lead, it seems
  - The Laughing Troll
    
    Ok, point being . . . he doesn’t pinch hit when doing so makes the most sense.
- MannyGeee
  
  I am more confused with the lack of faith in playing the hot hand… lets pinch hit for the guy who just hit a ball that hasnt landed yet. seems logical
  - The Real Greg
    
    Steve Pearce is not exactly the hot hand.
    - MannyGeee
      
      well, he kinda just hit a home run. as hot a hand as youre gonna get.
  - The Laughing Troll
    
    Exactly. In the binder, having a great game requires a breather and an early shower. Dem’s the rules . . .
Tom

Does anyone else find it a bit funny that with a 7 run lead, Girardi is pinch hitting liberally in the 6th inning, but down 4 or 5 yesterday there was apparently no need to get any type of platoon advantage?

I approve of the pinch hitters here, but why do it now and not do it yesterday?
- The Real Greg
  
  Why doesn’t somebody ask him that? The question’s come up alot. Why hasn’t somebody asked him?
  - WHIPunk
    
    Our beat reporters are.. well I wouldn’t call them homers, but what I think is that with access to the Yankees, there comes a thought that if they ask questions that peeve the manager then they won’t looked as kindly upon in the future.
    
    If you caught the Franseca interview a few days ago (say what you want about Mike, but the man still asks tough questoins) that Sweeney and Feinsand (however you spell his name) they simple made excuses for the Yankees and did not have ANYTHING negative to say.
    
    Mike said afterwards something alone the lines of “They have to appear that way since they work with the Yankees” Which is totally ridiculous because they don’t work for them, their duty is to the people reading their articles.
    
    The basketball beat writers for the Knicks are pretty much the opposite. They never get any access to begin with, so they say whatever the hell they want.
    
    Hmmm seems like a bit long of a rant I wrote, oh well thats my opinion! :)
Cy Pettitte

ahhh now it makes sense. they’re winning it for Suzyn.
Alkaline

I totally shut the game off during Martin’s at bat last inning to go hang out with friends. I see a lot has changed.
Chilango

Nick flails at the high hard one
Pat D

Oh, the irony. He replaces Jones with Ibanez with a 7 run lead, but when Ibanez should be replaced in a tight game…nothing.
Kramerica Industries

No fucking around Phil.
Hoss

Wow, Suzyn Waldman’s birthday! They’re sellimg pieces of the original Yankee Stadium facade that she worked on when it was built in the ’20s to commemorate. Buy One!
MannyGeee

yuck. Hughesy… settle in kid
Cy Pettitte

wow. what the fuck.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Bullpen.
Immediately.
Pat D

Oh poop.
Anthony

OK Phil you did your job and you did it sort of well… time to go?
WhittakerWalt

God damn you, Phil.
Kramerica Industries

For fucks sake Phil.

Not the time for the fucking requisite home run.
Karl Krawfid

fastball fastball fastball.

Whats coming next! Fastball!
Dan in Athens

My God, does Hughes suck.
WHIPunk

Sigh COME ON Hughes. He should throw in the Home Run Derby.
The Real Greg

Get the bullpen up
JobaWockeeZ

Right down Broadway.
Chilango

Saw this coming. It’s the 6th inning implosion.
Hoss

And now it’s time to give Adam and Suzuyn that little birthday love nest… see ya’ Phil. Bad News Hughes sounds too familiar.
RetroRob

Words we don’t want to hear in the 6th: Cody Eppley up.
Electric nunez

This is all on swisher the guy is a curse
The Laughing Troll

See. No lead is ever PHAIL proof with PHIL on the mound.
WhittakerWalt

This quickly turned into a bullpen game.
MannyGeee

THROW

THE

FUCKING

HOOOOOOOK!!!!!!!!!!!

for real man, this fastball shit is just insane
Assapopulus

Fuck Adam Jones.
TomH

Hughes certainly inspires no confidence when it comes to imagining a post-season rotation. Not that it’s all that clear who would follow CC and Kuroda.
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fjDS0jKiE
  - Steve D Fl
    
    awesome!!!!!!
Leg-End

Nothing is ever Phil-proof, he really was pitching well too. God damn 6th inning blues.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  This is, like, the third time in Phil’s last four starts he’s given up a three-run home run.
  
  Maybe over five starts. Red Sox, O’s, and O’s again.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    Reply fail.
The Laughing Troll

One easy win . . . That’s all I ask for. ONE! UNO! Jesus Montero, for the love of Mo, can’t a fan catch a Modamn break?!
JobaWockeeZ

I really think the Home One Derby side of Hughes can be fixed. Stop throwing a fastball down the middle and hitters won’t hit as many home runs.
- MannyGeee
  
  you think Robbie wishes he brought Phil to Kansas City this July instead of his father? I kinda do…
  - WHIPunk
    
    I think all the hitters were pissed they didn’t pick Phil.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    I think Selig will ban Cano if he did that because it’s similar to using PED’s.
    - WHIPunk
      
      PED= Phil Enhancing Drug! lol
johnreverent

33 HR’s given up by Hughes this year! i know he’s been homer prone but thats just friggen awful
MannyGeee

Alright boys, Sophie’s Choice time. Would you rather:

Have a catcher who is calling a super great game night after night and keeping his pitchers in the game, but is hitting a SOLID .198, OR

a catcher who is starting to hit like a guy on his contract year, but might call for super duper fat fastballs waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much?
- Pat D
  
  If this is a Martin vs. Pierzynski question, then I’d much rather have Martin. No way he’ll hit .200 again next year.
  - MannyGeee
    
    no this is April to August Martin vs. September Martin…
- Tom
  
  He’s not calling for fastballs down the middle.
  
  Up 7-0, he should be calling for a healthy quantity of fastballs. It’s Phil’s job not to put it center-center against Adam Jones.
  
  So I’d go with #2 if your reference is to how Martin is calling the game tonight (which I think is perfectly fine).
  
  Last night – tie game he should have been forcing Robertson to shake him off by putting down 2 fingers over and over.
Anthony

Looks like Phil settled down. Do we keep him in the 7th or risk the bullpen? Hmm
- Cy Pettitte
  
  I would let him work through the line up a 3rd time at most. he shouldn’t be facing them a 4th time.
  - Anthony
    
    What’s his pitch count, around 95? Yeah, I’d leave him in too. That bullpen really makes me nervous. Give them some rest since last night when Girardi went on a binge with ’em.
- Leg-End
  
  I let him start the 7th but if he gives up anything I hook him so quick I make Ali look silly.
- Chilango
  
  Take him out. He’s missing his spots big time
  - WHIPunk
    
    Our other options for the 7th aren’t that appealing though… hell the 8th is no longer a longer safe for us anymore, Mike made a really good point about Robertson and his curve ball.
    - Anthony
      
      Agreed. But like Leg-End says at the first sign of trouble, he is out of there.
- MannyGeee
  
  send him back out there… this bullpen needs a breather.
Marcy

I feel like I need some therapy. Why does Joe do this? Why can’t he just leave well enough alone? When Michael Kay – his buddy starts questioning him every night – it isn’t just fans.
- The Real Greg
  
  Do what?
  - Marcy
    
    Bring in Ibanez, bring in Ichiro — if he wants defense bring in Dickerson – if he wants someone to hit — well, I guess that might be Chavez – but Buck has 3 lefty relievers!
- WHIPunk
  
  “Why can’t he just leave well enough alone?”
  
  What do you mean by that? I’m not trying to be an ass, just confused by the way you questioned your comment.
Tom

Nice approach against Reynolds – one fastball out of 5 pitches that AB.

Hopefully other Yankee pitchers are taking notes on how to pitch to Reynolds. He certainly can hit a hanger but if you execute offspeed stuff you can get him out.
The Real Greg

6IP 2ER. You know what that means!
- Cy Pettitte
  
  whoever pitched that line was better than Hughes tonight?
- Pat D
  
  Looks like 3 runs to me.
  - The Real Greg
    
    2 earned runs. 1 unearned
    - Pat D
      
      Why was one unearned? Was there an error I missed?
      - Anthony
        
        Swisher
        
        Pat D
        
        Oh, that’s right.
- The Laughing Troll
  
  That he gave up his requisite homerun? That he still isn’t the ACE that the organization envisioned? That he should be going at least 7 innings?
Marcy

Now Buck brings in all his lefty relievers and who hits them? Ichiro?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Nix and Nunez on the bench.
- The Real Greg
  
  Nunez
  - Marcy
    
    And who plays the outfield? Sorry, he frustrates me.
    - The Real Greg
      
      I forgot about Nix. He can play the outfield
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Dickerson, Nix, move Swisher back out there. Plenty of options. It’s about time Girardi started pinch-hitting.
Pasta Stumbling Sojo

Good lord, people. 2ER, 1 HR, 5K’s in 6IP and Phil sucks? He’s put in a great start so far.
- The Laughing Troll
  
  It’s Sir Phillip of Hughes . . . he allowed yet ANOTHER homerun . . . People are getting tired of it. Let them be.
- WHIPunk
  
  I think it’s more along the lines of people have had more than enough with his giving up the long ball frequently. In my opinion that’s a recipe for disaster in the playoffs.
  
  Also everyone is hoping for one game when our pitching & offense clicks, I don’t blame them, it seems like it’s been a while since we’ve had a truly dominant games on both sides.
  
  Then again, a win is a win!
- MannyGeee
  
  spoken like a guy who only read the box score. He gave up a ground rule double and a homerun in aout 5 pitches after the error. ERA does not a full story make.
  - Pasta Stumbling Sojo
    
    I’m watching the game too. Are you saying that he’s been pitching poorly? He pitched poorly to 2 batters just now, and if you do that once or twice a game, you’ll generally have a good start.
  - WHIPunk
    
    Curious, Manny were you responding to my comment? Because I don’t see how your retort would be applicable.
- Chilango
  
  Yes. Phil did his job.
JobaWockeeZ

I’m not comfortable with Hughes but I think I like him more than Robertson.
- TomH
  
  I guess I do too.
Assapopulus

Now that’s a dead man walking. Zombified.
- MannyGeee
  
  I see what you did there
TomH

Swisher’s overdue along with Granderson. Swish has been hitting about .100 over the last ten games.
Defensive Indifference

I can haz garbage time?
WHIPunk

Looks like slowly but surely Jeter is getting back to his earlier season form.
The Laughing Troll

Now he’s going pinch hitter crazy? Girardi is absolutely maddening. Pinch hit for that fuckwad, Granderson. Ugh. This season has made me despise platooners. All would’ve been swell had they just kept Montero at DH. YUP! I WENT THERE, BITCHES! The tears have yet to dry.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Montero has essentially been a platoon hitter this season.
  - The Laughing Troll
    
    Every player on that team is essentially a platooner. All I want is a REGULAR lineup. Actually, I should rephrase that . . . all I’ve wanted for a while now is a real, live, consistent DH. And on the days he doesn’t DH he can catch! AHHH!!! Makes me miss the days of Giambi and his glorious, pedolicious ‘stache.
Assapopulus

The requisite K for Swisher.
Chilango

Swisher and Granderson must be eating the same KFC
Pat D

Ugh. Just checked in on MLBTR, and saw this according to Jayson Stark:

Two National League executives had no reservations about spending on Cano. “Pay him what he’s worth,” one said. The other said Cano has a legitimate case for a $200MM extension.

Glad to see that no one in baseball is learning anything about big contracts.

There’s also a blurb about the Red Sox looking at Mike Scioscia if he’s fired and they can’t get John Farrell out of Toronto. Yes, please.

Also, I’m starting to think Adrian Beltre should win the MVP. Or at least be considered. Still think it’s Trout, though.
- Assapopulus
  
  They’re probably just saying that to jack up the price for us. Bastards.
  - WHIPunk
    
    “They’re probably just saying that to jack up the price for us. Bastards.”
    
    Yea the thing is, I don’t see a team with 200 million to spend in the offseason. Dodgers spent their billion already on contracts. Giants….. maybe? Prob not. Nationals? I think they are about where they want to be. Marlins? Had enough of those long term deals. Mets?? hahahhaa sorry had to laugh.
    
    The money just isn’t there, in the AL maybe the Red Sox? Then again they have Dustin, though Cano wouldn’t be bad to build around, but where would they put him. Toronto? Maybe… I really don’t know, but he will have some pursuers.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Yeah give it to Trout.
  - WHIPunk
    
    Beltre’s OBP in relation to his AVG is not that great, Trout should win it, even though he’s been struggling pretty often lately. I think I read somewhere that he was having the worst September in baseball. Not sure how correct that is.
- WHIPunk
  
  If they perceive him to be worth that much, why not? Its a free market baby, just like how all leagues should be run. Well almost a free market, luxury tax has put a damper on that, but then again, who in this country doesn’t pay taxes.
  - Pat D
    
    Rich people don’t pay taxes.
    - WHIPunk
      
      They don’t pay a fair enough in relation to middle class tax payers, I agree, but come on they do pay something.
      - Pat D
        
        Not the ones who hide their money offshore.
Cy Pettitte

5 outs til MFIKY.
Kramerica Industries

Are you fucking kidding me?
Cy Pettitte

oh come on. another HR to Andino, and this one from a ROOGY? fucking lame.
Karl Krawfid

Yankees gonna blow this shit also?
WHIPunk

There’s no way we lose this game… right… right? Someone please assure me.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Bad Roogy.

Please don’t blow this fucking game.
Anthony

Should have stayed with Hughes?
- Tom
  
  Easy to say in hindsightm but Hughes issues this year has been with righties (and Nate #&*&! McClouth)
  - Anthony
    
    The question mark signified that I’m really not sure myself. I would have left him in, personally, and took him out at the first sign of trouble (much like Joe just did with Eppley). The more time we can buy the ‘pen lately, the better.
Pat D

Can anyone in this bullpen get a fucking out?
klemy

Amazing…just amazing.
The Laughing Troll

My mojo’s telling me that they’re going to blow this. Bad mojo, bad!
whozat

Why would humidity make the baseball fly?

That’s what Jon and Suzyn are trying to tell me. Hot and dry air, sure. Hot wet air? That makes no sense.
- TomH
  
  Both Singleton and O’Neill have made the same point since the ASG.
- The Laughing Troll
  
  It makes plenty sense.
- CP
  
  More moisture = less dense air
  - whozat
    
    That doesn’t make sense. Fewer gaseous oxygen and nitrogen molecules, sure…but there’s all that water vapor in the air. So why would it be less dense?
- DC
  
  http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/howfar3.html
TomH

O’s all-over happy. They’re into the Yankees’ pen.
DT

Should have just kept Hughes in..he made on mistake pitch. Come on Girardi.
Marcy

They had a piece in the Baltimore Sun telling O’s fans to give Yankees fans a hard time in the ballpark – really? They’re killing us and they want to give Yankee fans a hard time.
Well, we have better “D” but what happens if the lefty’s come – again.
Joba’s up – words we never want to hear. And Joe who NEVER overuses his relievers has the most used lefty in baseball. What’s going on?
Are they sure Mo can’t pitch this year?
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  I’ve been there a few times and never not gotten a hard time. In fact it really sucks when you can’t travel that close to home. There’s so many cool places in Baltimore but in and around the Stadium is not one of them. I’m not going back. ever.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Shouldn’t Wade step into the Eppley role now?

Eppley has been ineffective for a far longer period of time than Wade was
Cy Pettitte

my god, everyone in the pen is just serving up meatballs.
Pat D

Just checked the scores on ESPN.

The Pirates are losing at home to the Cubs by a count of 7-0. It is the bottom of the 6th, and the Pirates have 1 hit, but have made 5 errors.

I think it’s time for me to give up hope on them catching St. Louis for the 2nd wild card. They can’t win games they need to win, or against teams they should beat.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  What’s your Pittsburgh connection? Or do you just want them to make the playoffs for the first time in forever?
  - Pat D
    
    I always root for those teams that have been terrible for so long. Unless it’s a team I really hate, which the Pirates are not.
Tom

At this point Logan, barring a long inning, should be handing the ball to Soriano (for either 3 or 4 outs)
Karl Krawfid

Clemens is hitting 90 in the gun.

Sign him for the pen.
- TomH
  
  Never happen for the Yankees. He’s bad publicity now because many don’t believe him, trial or no trial.
- Chilango
  
  Sign up his chemist too
- Defensive Indifference
  
  OH MY GAWD.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Him and Pettitte on the same team = awkward.
  - Mikhel
    
    Marlon Byrd and that douche Padilla+Aceves (who broke Byrd’s eye socket in 2011) were together with the bosux after Padilla and Byrd expressed publicly their disgust, and everything went well for the… oh wait, nevermind.
Marcy

These guys in the bullpen need a break too (along w/Granderson)
Cy Pettitte

ok moar runs pls.
Marcy

BTW, Is Kurt Suzuki a free agent next year? Nats should be getting their catcher back (the 1 they got from Twins–can’t remember his name)
- Tom
  
  Wilson Ramos.
  
  But Suzuki is basically a lighter hitting version of Martin (if that’s possible)
TomH

The hitting may be slowly coming around, but it’s the pitching that’s now shaping up to be the potentially killer problem. Neither CC nor Kuroda have been exceptional lately; Hughes blows hot and cold. Freddy is over. Phelps failed to win one for the Gipper the other day. And now the bullpen. With Robertson recently shaky, it’s hard to be optimistic.
Cy Pettitte

is this Steve Johnson or Randy Johnson
- The Real Greg
  
  2.57 ERA this year. He’s not a nobody.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    21 innings pitched.
    
    In his career.
    - CUYanks
      
      Excellent stat.
  - Tom
    
    Spanning ~18 innings.
    
    Good grief.
- Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
  
  Mr. Gruder
Assapopulus

Seriously, how the fuck does this guy have such a good K rate?
- Marcy
  
  He was one of their rookies that they weren’t sure of but brought up for a spot start and well…here he is-
The Laughing Troll

This Steve Johnson character is shutting these assholes down!
OMG! Bagels!

The problem is guys need rest and had we retained our 10 game lead, they would have that luxury.
- The Real Greg
  
  And might have gone into the playoffs rusty and not playing meaningful baseball. It’s a double edged sword.
  - Tom
    
    Myth. Would like to see the “rusty” data.
    - OMG! Bagels!
      
      Me too. I think rested is better.
- Assapopulus
  
  Damn injuries screwed us pretty good.
  - Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
    
    Victims…
Cy Pettitte

uhhh DRob? really? for the third day in a row after that performance?
- Anthony
  
  I’m not exactly confident… but who else is there?
  - Anthony
    
    Wow, they left Logan in for an out. Was not expecting that.
TomH

If they’re bringing in Matusz, the Yanks really have to take quick advantage.
Kramerica Industries

Strike out some more, KKKurtis.
Karl Krawfid

Why the hell is Granderson allowed to play baseball right now?
TomH

It’s the Orioles who took the quick advantage of the hapless Granderson. He should be benched.
The Real Greg

If the White Sox don’t complain about Adam Dunn, we shouldn’t complain about Granderson.
- Effthisnoise
  
  Thank you!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  That makes zero sense. Granderson has been playing like shit for three months and we have every right to complain.
- The Laughing Troll
  
  Greg . . . chingate. Granderson is HORRIBLE. Admit it. There’s nothing wrong with being objective and honest. Kurtis blows!
  - The Real Greg
    
    Then Adam Dunn is even worse. Admit that.
  - Chilango
    
    te chingas sounds better or better yet chinga tu madre…
- TomH
  
  Dunn’s numbers are as lousy as Granderson’s since Aug. 1. He may have one more HR (7). Granderson’s about .191/.265/.390. LOUSY for a middle of the order hitter on a contending team in a tight race. Who really cares what the Sox complain or don’t complain about. The Yankees have every right to complain about the hapless and helpless Granderson.
Assapopulus

Poor Grandy must hate having to face all these lefties with the rosters expanded. As if he wasn’t struggling enough.
- OMG! Bagels!
  
  I think he’s needed time off and I have been saying that since some time in July. I don’t know why he doesn’t get it.
Brian S.

I know we’re winning but Granderson is awful.
The Laughing Troll

Let the stat hunters flitter a frenzy, is Curtis Granderson the worst player in baseball over the past month (or so)?
- The Real Greg
  
  Josh Beckett’s been worse
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Close!
  
  http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2012&month=3&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=20,a
  - FIPster Doofus
    
    Rasmus managed to not suck for that one AB against Soriano. God dammit.
    - WHIPunk
      
      I remember everyone screaming when St Louis traded Rasmus ( sports writers that is) Don’t see them screaming now lol.
      - WHIPunk
        
        Meanwhile they acquired Edwin Jackson from the trade (who is so often called overrated, that I believe he is now underrated)
        
        The guy has a 3.76 FIP along with 8.08 K/9, we wish we could have that now.
        
        To put that in relation, Sabathia has a 3.36 FIP along with a 8.89 K/9 and Edwin is the 4th in the Nationals rotation, god I wish we had such luxuries!
  - WHIPunk
    
    Ahh yes like I thought Trout isn’t the worst but he’s almost there.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      huh?
      
      Do you mean Trumbo?
  - The Laughing Troll
    
    Colby Rasmus . . . damn. Didn’t he hit a HR against the Yankees recently?
- WHIPunk
  
  Shouldn’t he be stealing more than 8 bases a year? I mean he averages 16 a year, and stole 25 last year.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  15th worst over the past 30 days (by fWAR: -0.1)
  
  With some name brands being even worse: Beltran, Trumbo, CarGo, Cespedes, Michael Young
Chilango

Joe: sit Curtis. Robbie: throw a curve tonight for fucks sake
- Assapopulus
  
  The Orioles will be sitting cutter. And DRob will oblige.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Wrong
Effthisnoise

Think D robs throes some curve balls here?
- Marcy
  
  yes
Kramerica Industries

This could be a disaster.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Funny how no one believes in D-Rob anymore. He’s still great.
Anthony

Was that a curveball???
The Real Greg

First pitch. Curveball
Karl Krawfid

Is D-Rob striding like he use to?

Looks shorter.
klemy

That looked like the real D-Rob.
The Real Greg

3 straight curveballs. Somebody talked to him
Effthisnoise

Per typical scrubs become world beaters against the yanks. MClouth .223 on the season, 3 for 4 tonight. Andino, ?221 season, homered in last 2 games
Assapopulus

LOL. 3 CBs and he gets a K.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Holy shit curveballs!
- Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
  
  Comment of the year.
Karl Krawfid

Im shocked!

a 2 strike off speed pitch!
Kramerica Industries

Where has that curveball been?

Jones couldn’t touch that with a 10 foot pole.
Cy Pettitte

Drob throws curve, Drob is successful. mind blowing stuff.
DT

See what happens when you stop throwing fastballs to orioles hitters? Seriously they can’t hit anything but a fastball.
Tom

What is that 2 sign Martin keeps putting down?

Apparently the Yankees have been reading RAB.

When Harold Reynolds on MLB Network is mentioning Robertson’s not throwing that many curves you know it should be pretty obvious.
Assapopulus

Not surprised Weiters sitting on the cutter there. Good thing he didn’t get a HR.
OMG! Bagels!

Have we lost hope if we’ve lost high socks?
Marcy

I don’t want to be a Granderson apologist but when everyone says he needs to sit — he does, he needs some time off but they had no one to help out and now Joe really does need to sit him. Google hamstring tendinitis – it’s overuse. He can’t steal – can’t even really hit if his legs aren’t under him.
Welcome lefty’s
Need Pitching & Hitting

Why no PH now?

Is the game too close?
- The Real Greg
  
  With who?
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Nunez or Nix for Ibanez.
    Ibanez should be removed for defense anyways.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Well Nix pinch hit for Chavez.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Nunez then. Hell even Cervelli or Dickerson would have a better chance against LHP than Ibanez.
- Brian S.
  
  Girardi hates Nunez.
herby

Of course..I go out to get some dinner and I miss an actual game…at least I get to see Robertson throw a curveball
Something tells me we’re going to get sick of these commercials with Eli though.
The Laughing Troll

Has the offense existed outside of the 4th and 5th innings?
- The Real Greg
  
  As Ichiro gets a base hit
WHIPunk

I wrote this a little earlier in the thread, but I just wanted to bring up this unrelated comment I made.

In reference to the Colby Rasmus trade:

Meanwhile they acquired Edwin Jackson from the trade (who is so often called overrated, that I believe he is now underrated and whom they should have locked up)
The guy has a 3.76 FIP along with 8.08 K/9, we wish we could have that now.
To put that in relation, Sabathia has a 3.36 FIP along with a 8.89 K/9 and Edwin is the 4th in the Nationals rotation, god I wish we had such luxuries!

Imagine having a guy with a 3.76 FIP and a 8.08 K/9 rate as your FOURTH best pitcher. Especially with pitchers not hitting the open market as much anymore, the Nationals GM looks like a genius with those trades/signings they made.
- WHIPunk
  
  I only commented again so more people could see it, but I think now that it is not even questionable, the Nationals will have the best rotation for years to come if they keep pitching the way they do. Imagine facing Stephen, Zimmerman, Gio, and Edwin in a four game series, looks like straight up nightmare.
  - WHIPunk
    
    And arguably I think better than the Phillies with Roy, Cole, Oswalt, and Cliff.
    
    My reasoning is because in the long term (as long as they stay healthy) is that they have all relatively young pitchers. Add a few more bats and the Nationals are going to be BEAST for years to come.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      The Braves never fully took advantage of a Maddux/Smoltz/Glavine trio. Washington’s not guaranteed to do anything special.
      - WHIPunk
        
        Why is it so hard for anyone to respond to what I said, instead of what you perceive to have read. I did not say they were going to win 5 World Series, I said IF they add a few bats and IF they stay healthy they would be beast. Glavine/Maddux/Smoltz won a championship and were perennial winners of the NL east, why I’m defending them I have no idea, but it’s largely because you did not respond to what I said, but instead responded to what you think I said.
- DT
  
  Well we traded for Pineda who had a 3.42 FIP 9.11 K/9 and he would have been our 3rd/4th starter.
  - WHIPunk
    
    He never started for us, that’s a hypothetical situation, I’m talking about real live production.
    - WHIPunk
      
      Also Pineda was believed to be a #2 starter. Looking at the K rated Kuroda has this year 6.57/9 and the long term viability of him, the Nationals by far have a superior staff.
    - DT
      
      Yea, but a lot of this is in hindsight though. Pineda is a superior pitcher to Jackson last year, banking on him would have been just as good…had he not gotten injured.
      - WHIPunk
        
        Yea… Again people not reading what I said, I did not say the Yankees are at fault for not getting Jackson (nor was I comparing to him to Pineda at all), it was your choice to bring up Pineda. I was arguing that he is underrated, and how it’s amazing to me he is the 4th pitcher in a rotation.
The Real Greg

There’s the problem with pinch hitting, the other manager can respond in kind.
Marcy

If any of you are really interested about Steve Johnson he’s an interesting story. Drafted by the Dodgers in 2005 – they got him in the Josh Bell trade. His father was a pitcher and they’re from Baltimore so I guess they’re happy.
Cy Pettitte

Andino taketh, Andino giveth back.
Kramerica Industries

That was fricken’ huge.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Generous scoring.

Nice insurance run though.
The Real Greg

Jeter takes the Laughing Troll to be spanked and given a gift basket
- The Laughing Troll
  
  You’re into some sick ass sh*t, Greg. I pity your soul.
Cy Pettitte

fucking Mclouth.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Son of a bitch.
Marcy

Swisher can’t catch a break
Anthony

Oh, WOW! Poor Swish
klemy

Fucking Swish can’t buy a damned hit right now.
Kramerica Industries

I guess the same Yankee fan couldn’t ruin McLouth again.
The Laughing Troll

Swisher and Granderson . . . YEESH.
Anthony

We got enough wiggle room for Sori to make things interesting.
- Assapopulus
  
  No thanks.
  - Anthony
    
    Still have nightmares from that Colby Rasmus smash…
Effthisnoise

Hi I’m Nate mclouth. Against every other team in baseball, I suck
- Marcy
  
  Do you wonder if that concussion he got last year or 2 years ago when he ran into Melky messed him up? He was great in the All-Star game at the stadium.
Brian S.

Two weeks ago everyone was all “BRING BACK TEH SWISH!!!” and now everyone hates him. For a guy that puts up almost exactly a 125 wRC+ every year he sure is streaky. The streakiest consistent hitter in baseball?
- The Laughing Troll
  
  He has to be up there . . . along with Teixera, perhaps? I used to think that Jeter was streaky (at least I think I did) but he’s somehow managed to limit his cold spells, which I couldn’t be happier about.
Marcy

MLB doing a Jeffrey Maier thing on those catches
Mick taylor

Prediction: nick swisher will hit under 200 the rest of this season because he can’t hit in pressure filled games. He begins to actually look like he shrinks in size at the plate. I would not resign him.
- Marcy
  
  All true – and he wants Jayson Werth $$.
  
  Soriano – please…
- FIPster Doofus
  
  He just hit a fucking home run that was taken away. Christ.
  - Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
    
    Woulda coulda shoulda
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      Applaud the catch; don’t be down on the hitter in that particular scenario.
- DC
  
  Prediction: Mick Taylor will continue to make stupid comments.
Tom

Luis Ayala being Luis Ayala circa 2011.

Inherited runners…you can score. My runners you can shall not pass. ERA intact.
- Tom
  
  or simply “you shall not pass”
  
  Reason #431 why reliever ERA can be misleading.
Cy Pettitte

suck it, Reynolds.
Marcy

OMG
Anthony

LOL. Well now its a save situation. You pad those stats, Sori.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  No it’s not. He can’t create his own save situation.
  - Anthony
    
    Oh my god……. how did I do that….
  - Anthony
    
    So, does it count for anything? Obviously its not a win.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      It just counts as an inning pitched.
      - Anthony
        
        Thanks
- Assapopulus
  
  Not true.
herby

Needs to make this interesting doesn’t he…
klemy

I just don’t know what to say anymore. lol
Need Pitching & Hitting

OK then.
The Real Greg

If that was with no outs, I’d feel a lot more nervous.
Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)

He just wanted a save.
Countryclub

Hey, look….a cutter rt down the middle of the plate.
Effthisnoise

Let’s see, throw curve balls get strikes and outs….throw something over the plate…….
Cy Pettitte

you get a HR and you get a HR, and you get a HR….
RetroRob

Too Many HRs!
The Laughing Troll

Ugh. WHY NO 1-2-3?!
Marcy

It’s still not a save.
Kramerica Industries

Untuck that bitch.
RetroRob

Nice win.

Take the next two!
Brian S.

Wow the Orioles called up a rookie and he’s outperforming a crappy old veteran. Someone should tell the Yankees front office that they can do that same.
- The Real Greg
  
  Not until the AAA postseason is over.
- Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
  
  Who? Phelps?
  - Brian S.
    
    CoJo>Ibanez
    Mustelier/Mesa>Jones
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      Or they can just play Dickerson and Nunez.
      - Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)
        
        Or just play Shelley Duncan! LOL!
- RetroRob
  
  True as a general point, although you’ll be searching long and hard to find a Machado in the Yankee farm system.
Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)

Save THIS, you piece of shit.
Anthony

Now, the big question is: Can we win two in a row??????????
Assapopulus

And fuck you Andino!
Countryclub

It was looking like a possible laugher. But still a good win.

Hopefully CC has his A game tomorrow.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Sabathia vs. Saunders. If the Yankees can’t win that matchup, they deserve to sit home in October.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Orioles lose every time they get in first place.

Clearly can’t handle the pressure.
herby

Let’s see if they can do something in the next two…be nice to leave Baltimore a few games up.
Effthisnoise

So the conversation after the last two days needs to be. “ok bullpen, throw breaking stuff. Throw straight stuff and we will staple your balls to the club house floor”
stuart a

i will tak eany win any way.

eppley sucks… does girardi know that? not that girardi has a lot of choices for the pen, it is horroble..

swishers almost homer was right where the pearce homer was. same fan etc.

hughes 1 mistake, good for him.

arod with a big homer…wow..

cano still with 73 rbi’s but hey he is hitting 302.. HE is invisible…wow some elite player…..
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Cano has one down year with RISP and you think that makes him some kind of scrub? You’re a fruitcake.
Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)

You think Joe Buck likes to…you know…’untuck’??

#SORI2012
Rocky Road Redemption

Now that our offense is finally starting to look pretty decent it would be nice if we learned how to pitch again too.
Brian S.

Melky Mesa walkoff 2-run home run with the season on the line and 2 outs.
- Rocky Road Redemption
  
  Down by 1?