Game 147: The Return of Andy Pettitte
By
(Mike Stobe/Getty)
Mother Nature threw a wrench into things last night, but Andy Pettitte will finally get back on the mound for the Yankees this afternoon. The team went just 37-35 during his absence, and it’s probably not an accident that the second half slide began not long after Pettitte got hurt. He was pitching like a bonafide ace, and you can’t replace that kind of performance. Here’s the starting nine…
LF Ichiro Suzuki
1B Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
DH Alex Rodriguez
CF Curtis Granderson
C Russell Martin
3B Eric Chavez
RF Raul Ibanez
SS Eduardo Nunez
LHP Andy Pettitte
This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start a little after 1pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.
Derek Jeter Update: Prior to the game, Joe Girardi said his plan is to have Jeter (ankle) play shortstop in the second game of the doubleheader. That is subject to change depending how he feels during pre-game workouts, of course.
Brett Gardner Update: Girardi also said that as of right now, there are no plans to activate Gardner (elbow). He’d be limited to pinch-running and late-inning defense roles anyway.
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Guess who’s not at work today? THIS guy. Reward me, Andy.
That’s a pretty ugly line-up. I’d almost rather lead off Nunez than Ichiro.
A-Rod gets a lot of flack (mainly due to the amt of $$ he makes, probably)- but he has been a very productive Yankee third baseman. I think he deserves a little more credit; especially in recent years.
He has played a VERY good, I daresay great third base since moving from SS. Yes, ARod was a bit conceited early on, and he probably deserved to be (Hey, Mohammed Ali said he was the best that ever was all the time.. and millions of people love him!).
What impresses me about Arod nowadays, is that he has definitely toned his self-righteous attitude down, and he has been improving as a “team mate”. In addition, he has been more relaxed and more clutch over the last few years.
I’m glad he is a Yankee, and there are prob only 2 or 3 better 3rd baseman in the league.. and they are in their 20′s.
I generally agree with this. I think A-Rod’s image kind of got tarnished earlier in his career for being arrogant and doing things like those ridiculous magazine poses. But in the last few years, he has really become an excellent team mate. He mentors the younger guys and invites them to workout with him in the offseason. I also remember watching MLBN’s “30 Clubs in 30 Days” thing before the season started, where they did behind the scenes stuff at each team’ spring training complex. Towards the end of the Yankees’ episode, they did a segment that showed A-Rod conducting his own drills with Cano and Nunez. It was after camped had ended for the day, and A-Rod stayed late to run situational hitting drills with Cano and Nunez. A-Rod didn’t even participate, he just instructed. He would toss balls to those two to hit just after calling out a situation. “Runners on the corners, 1 out” *toss*. That sort of thing. It was pretty cool.
Plus, he’s one of the hardest workers in the league. Nobody can fault him for not giving it his all, and I respect that immensely.
Centaurs dude… centaurs
We shouldn’t forget that a few years ago, the Yankees invited a young boy dying of Cancer to the ballpark. ARod took the kid home to his condo/apt, spent the day with the kid, and had him sleep over.
Not many players go that far.
Agree with nearly everything. But Longoria, Beltre, Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Zimmerman, Chase Headley, etc. makes A-Rod “merely” top 10 3b material. But I’m very happy with how he plays and is certainly very productive whenever he plays.
A-Rod has really grown on me. I think he takes an undeserved amount of abuse. The Ali comparison is apt. A lot of people really didn’t like him at the time. He’s a guy that sports fans look at with Rose colored glasses. He was reviled by a lot of people for his arrogance, Islam, racism, opposition to Vietnam etc. I think in 20 years people will look at A-Rod more favorably then they do now.
Yankee Killer Jeff Mathis is batting 5th…yes 5th lol
I’m not really excited about the day game lineup? Do the Yankees realize that ALL games are MUST games now!?
I know the line up isn’t a huge deal after the first time through, but I personally would rather Nunez get 5 ABs and Ichiro 3 or 4.
Yeah definitely. But Ichiro has better presents? I dunno.
So maybe we should bat Santa Claus leadoff?
(better presents…. get it?)
Run scored for Ichiro after the leadoff hit. I’ll take it.
Senior year is the best. Getting out at 12:30 makes sure I will never miss a baseball game.
Of high school or college?
Definitely high school.
Gotcha. I hated senior year of high school. I was too busy looking forward to being in snowboarding paradise for the next 4 years (for East coasters, anyway). Now senior year of college….oh hells yeah. I’d live that year again for my left testicle.
High School!
Boo. The next 4 years will be so much better.
I can’t wait. I’m actually going to start doing some college stuff now. Gotta write some essays.
PHUN.
enjoy the next 4 years of your life. you’kll have to work for a living after that and its gonna bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!!!!
Trying to get into Rutgers. If not I’ll just go to Saint Rose, STAC, or a SUNY school. Majoring in Sports Management. I’ve known what I wanted to do for three years now.
Word. I got my grad degree from Rutgets. Just do yourself a favor and don’t go to Newark.
*Rutgers
Hell no! New Brunswick campus.
Any tips on how to get in?
I dunno, I was applying to the grad school, different process. Just make sure your essay isn’t lame or cliche. Come up with something actually unique you did/can do, then spend a series of paragraphs eloquently talking out of your ass about how it made you a more complete person.
Will do. Thanks for the tips JJ.
It can’t be that difficult, I mean I got waitlisted and I was only in the 30% tile of my class and had slightly above average SAT scores. I talked to an admissions adviser, and they told me I probably would’ve gotten in if I had stronger recommendations(most of my high school teachers didn’t like me) or any extra-curricular.
I’m 25% and average SAT scores. My math was above average though.
I have one teacher who’s freakin’ awesome, but I need another one. My extra-curricular is played travel baseball/volunteer assistant 7U baseball coach. LOL.
Hey, it’s something. lol I had literally nothing. I played baseball freshman year, but went and got a job instead.
I did theater. Yes, me and theater. But you know what? We shared dressing rooms with the girls. And it’s an a golden egg for extra curriculars and references.
Hey, actually wish I had done theatre, like you said, it’s a golden egg for applications, and a few of my friends did it, and they apparently had a lot of fun with it.
Recite Hamlet now.
Plus…the shared dressing rooms
If you go to Rutgers, you’re going to have a blast. I didn’t go, but I had a bunch of friends that went and basically lived at their on campus house for four years. Honestly, I have no idea how they ever got any work done. My one friend graduated w/ an engineering degree in 4 years…i still have no idea how he did it.
It’s my dream haha.
rodriguez
chavez
ibanez
nunez
EZ does it!
#punsrule
Suzyn just refered to Yunels “anti-umm slur on his eye black”. Pretty sure shes not been following the story.
I’d be SHOCKED if that were true. If you know Suzyn’s story you’d know where she came from and how she would feel about such things and even if she didn’t read about it herself don’t you think the Yanks would have kept her up-to date on all pertinent issues?
Their lineup is ugly too. They have Vizquel batting 7th
Fucking Orioles just won’t die.
18 innings is ridiculous.
They’re having a fantastic year. A lot of luck in it, but they have played very well.
Wonder what their team BABIP is.
.286, below average.
most annoying team ever. they get 2 hits and do absolutely nothing for 8 innings, then in the ninth they get two singles to start the inning, bunt, seeing eye ground ball up the middle and boom tie game. I wish they’d just go away already. Hopefully it’s back to the AL East basement with them next season.
He’s back…Andy game 1 starter…CC’s fat and garbage…best pitcher evver
/stuart a meets eddard
Occasional Troll Eddard to you!
What if those two somehow had a baby?
Well that’s a good a start as any!
I didn’t like that pitch calling. They didn’t once go outside on Rasmus
Okay, here we go! 6 innings of 2-hit ball!!!!
Dickerson should be in RF.
But the binder says no.
I agree with you. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be.
Pettitte’s stretched out right? No pitch limit?
No 55-75 pitches
Any chance Melky plays in the second game?
Starts? Doubtful. Late inning defensive replacement? Sure.
Hello all, and especially hello to those who were in the game thread to the end last night. I fell asleep as the 17th inning ended. So close, I feel ashamed that I didn’t make it. (Even though I live on the West Coast, my excuse is that I have an 8-day old baby that I’ve been tending to.)
And my excuse was that my alarm was set to go off at 4 AM
Almost in time to catch the ending!
honestly, if I knew it was still happening at 3AM, i mighta gotten up that extra hour early to play along…
The Open Thread became a Game Thread for the M’s-Orioles. Probably a first.
Might have too. My roommate is an O’s fan and was up for the entire thing despite having to be up at 5:30 this morning.
I was up until 1:00, but I didn’t bother to check the thread that late. Figured you guys went to bed.
Probably would have kept me up even later.
Well that’s what we get for wishing Nunez was batting lead off. Now steal second!
Who’s next in line for 1st base?
This is exactly what we need =/
steal right now.
Swisher limp hit!
Nice start…now let’s get the run home? I mean if we’re going to do DP and K, I’d really rather it be in that order.
RUNZ. OMG RUNZ.
Cano hit with RISP, awesome.
That was some excellent small ball there.
RISPWIN!!!!!!!!
BLOLue Jays.
Or “Blow Jays”. I’ll take either
Blow Jays is the winner
Wow…Cano’s not even 30 and he’s nearly in the top ten of franchise doubles list. That’s pretty incredible.
3-0. I’m dreaming.
Cano’s damn slow.
that and it never looks like he’s really hustling. I’m not saying he’s not but ….
Nothing he does looks like he’s really going all out. Fielding, hitting, running, whatever. I’m convinced that’s just how it is with him.
I know, I think that too, but, typically you can tell a different intensity level when some is running at max effort.
True, and despite my unabated love for Cano, I can see that argument if it was a ground out that he wasn’t busting it on. But I just can’t believe that any major leaguer isn’t going all out trying to tag up like that.
Ah fuck.
7 years to convince you on that one there?
What, for a new contract? I dunno, maybe. I’d prefer to not go over 6 though.
Will Andy be able to use his “A” move with his ankle the way it is? The reason he doesn’t balk is because he has the ability to kind of hang his leg.
Situational hitting clinic being put on by A-Rod there!!!!
#30Clubsin30Days
+1
Now, can Andy have a shut down inning in like 10 pitches?
Amazing job getting 3 runs there. I can’t believe it.
Before the end of the day, Mathis will have a double.
OK, I am not gonna hop too hard on Andy’s dick here (we’ll be saving that for when Nunie comes up next inning to save our season…)
but I dont think I trust any pitcher in this club to provide a shutdown inning after putting up some runs as much I as I trust Andy.
*roars*
Dumb poll question, right? Either way it’s 18 innings, and the 18 inning game is played without any rest at all.
I watched every damn inning of that game from the 8th on.
Waste of time?
Didn’t end like I wanted. I tuned in around the 8th to catch the end not wanting to actually watch the full game, and ended up seeing ten innings!
Jesus Montero was one of the players who cost the M’s the game by going 0-8 and seemingly having no ability to hit a RH’d pitcher.
How did Andy look in the first? I was driving and had to rely on Mom and Pop Suzyn and John, which wasn’t helpful.
reason 3,423,322 that we love Andy Pettitte… game pace baby! he just flings them in there! He’s like the Anti Josh Beckett, in every possible way.
How the hell is Vizquel still starting?
Blue Jays… nuff said
Because he’s on the Jays.
Yunel is suspended.
Well, I’m kinda hoping Andy didn’t catch the recent disease that plagued this team with not being able to get shutdown innings.
Hoping for 4 innings?
Shut down inning! Took a lot of pitches though.
Anyone else kind of surprised that Girardi matched both Pettitte and Phelps for the double header? Andy’s going four, maybe five innings, which means bullpen. Phelps generally will give around five, which means more bullpen. I’d have thought he’d have Hughes go the second game.
I said the same thing yesterday in the thread informing us of the rain delay/ double header.
But if Hughes starts today he will then be scheduled to start on same day as Saint Andy next time. Plus bullpen is rested today.
Gotta use a spot starter anyway, might as well use him against the Jays ASAP than this weekend against the A’s. The sooner they use Phelps, the sooner he’s available out of the bullpen.
Okay, that makes sense.
I’m guessing we’ll see several innings from Freddy today.
Andy is pitching quickly. He doesn’t look to be laboring that much. Already at about 40 pitches. Wonder if they’ll stretch it to 75-80 if the pace remains good like this? A lot of 2-2 and 3-2 counts, but they don’t look like the typical 3-2 sweating bullets types of counts. I guess we’ll see how next the inning or two goes, but it’s also pretty cool outside so hopefully they give him the few extra pitches if necessary.
Andy threw a lot of pitches that inning…hopefully we can get him a little bit of a breather here?
Guess not.
Sunday night football: NE at Baltimore. Who wins???
Who cares?
NE, but not more than a field goal.
The Ravens shouldn’t have motivational issues this time around. They’ll actually try at home against an AFC powerhouse.
And since the Pats lost Hernandez, Gronk is their only true threat.
Brandon Lloyd says hi. And Wes Welker isn’t going to be written out of this game; I would be shocked if he were for essentially a third consecutive game.
Lloyd’s done nothing so far. He’s got potential but he’s not a threat yet. Nicks and Cruz outproduced his 2 games in an entire quarter each.
It’s clear BB is moving his offense away from the slot in Welker. Now that Hernandez is out Welker will see targets but it’s clear that his role is less important in NE.
just re-signed Branch, Winslow (no one cares), Welker & Lloyd… all threats. Ironically, the weak link offensively on that team looks to be Brady for the first 3/4 of the game.
Who’s first out of the bullpen if Andy’s done after about 4?
My guess is Lowe. But it’s all depends on the situation. If it’s 3-2 or 3-3 going into the fifth, probably Epply or Rapada. It’s it 7-0 nothing in favor of the Yanks, definitely thinking this is an opportunity to get Lowe some work.
This is an OY all the way around question
Depends on the score. Lowe maybe?
Doh. We think a like
I guess it depends on the score. Eppley?
Wade for 2 innings?
I could see Wade later in the game depending on the score. I could see Girardi saving him for later. Likely no more than an inning.
Hey Mike,
Did you receive my email?
I did. Sorry for the delay, I’ll get back to you tonight.
Delay? Haha I’ve written emails to many site managers and I’m still waiting for their reply. I really appreciate your time.
Adam Warren
Has he thrown an inning since he was recalled?
No, was kidding though.
Wade? Garcia?
My money is on Garcia.
jj, and Pat if you’re around, click on my blog and look at the first entry, I think you’ll both find it amusing.
Wow, some people man, some people.
Rajai Davis is a pain in the ass.
Watching Ibanez track fly balls makes me so uncomfortable.
Great D this inning.
…god damnit Swish.
AHHHH!
What the hell was Swish thinking?
Get better quicker, Tex.
over the radio it sounds like a swish blooper reel
Swish owes Andy and Robby a steak dinner.
Same old Andy, pitches around the errors.
I’m at work so watching on gameday… what the heck did Swisher just do? I didn’t even realize you could make two errors on one play.
Well, groundball went in and out of his glove, drifted to his right, and in haste to try and get the out at 1B, he threw the ball wide of Pettitte.
Ouch, he’s normally not that bad so here’s to hoping it’s a very isolated incident.
Thank goodness for the subsequent dp too.
he bobbled the ball (allowing the runner to reach first) then threw the ball away trying to throw it to andy covering (allowing the runner who was already on get to third)
Tommy John once committed 3 errors on one play.
And Pettitte picks Swish up.
I think Andy only had to throw one extra pitch (or was it two?), so damage was fortunately non-existent.
John and Suzyn love themselves some Ichiro rooster.
Ichiro with yet another hit. Who says he can’t hit leadoff?
Eddard wins the title of Quickest To Judge Based On The Smallest Of Samples.
Screw the Grand Caymans, I’m changing my vacation next year to Eddard World.
RAB vacation!
And just like that, Ichiro is our new lead-off hitter. . . .
Do not run on Gose. He may have the best OF arm now in the AL.
Jeff Francoeur says hi. I mean he does almost nothing else on the baseball field, but dude has a cannon.
Doesn’t he have something like the most outfield assists in the league since he started? But yeah, he sucks at everything else.
I was thinking of Francoeur, although this kid might be better.
Maybe we should bitch about Ichiro hitting ahead of Nunez every day.
I’m pretty sure that John just makes things up as he goes along. According to him this AB has gone slider, sinker, 4 seamer, sinker, sinker. According to game day it’s been all 2 and 4 seam fastballs.
Of course he does. John tells his version of the story, which he thinks is more interesting than the truth. And he’s right.
I think he was looking for an eephus pitch in there too, just to spice it up a notch!
Back to back K’s for the SP with the worst K/9 rate in the AL.
Well, that’s always nice.
As the booth has said, I’m surprised that Alvarez doesn’t K’ more. His stuff is definitely K’ worthy. 94-96 mph fastball. 89mph changeup.
Just because he doesn’t K many doesn’t mean he can’t
Well yeah, his k/9 isn’t 0. But it still sucks.
Alvarez might tie his season high in K’s today.
The Yanks have been hard hit with injuries this second half but didn’t the Jays also fair badly? Jose Bautista out since Mo knows when, it’s been a friggin while, and no Encarnacion. Next season will be interesting to see if someone like Lawrie and Arencibia can really improve and give that lineup actual depth.
Jays have been hit very hard. Losing most of their rotation in like a week’s time was unrecoverable for them. The division would have been even tougher if they were at full strength.
Just got here. How does Andy look?
Decent, but shaky. Command isn’t really there, and a few balls have been tagged, but he’s looked okay.
Pretty good, I think. Walked a couple guys, Swish had 2 errors on one play, gave up a couple hits. I think he’s looked about as well as can be reasonably expected being rushed back from the DL.
Wish I lived in DC today, would love to go see a straight double header some time in my life. that would be like baseball overload!
I can do it, but I won’t. I love baseball, but I gotta do SOMETHING else today haha.
Jays are getting base runners, that much is certain.
Hope Andy has more stranding in him today.
Omar Vizquel just tied Babe Ruth on the all time hits record… holy shit. mind blown!
Vizquel just tied Base Ruth for hits, although he had a lot more at-bats to do it in.
John & Suzyn?
howarth and wilner
Derek Lowe? oh boy.
Derek Lowe?
…and it is Derek Lowe warming. They’ll give Andy another inning, I believe.
Bring him back out, even for a batter. Part of lengthening includes getting up and down for innings.
Well, that could’ve been worse.
Some extra runs would make watching Lowe a bit more palatable.
So would four consecutive shots of tequila.
Yeah, for sure. Girardi can’t have too quick of a hook with Lowe considering the double header, either. We need a couple innings out of him.
ground ball to Nunez… I always wondered what 30,000 people collectively holding their breath sounded like
Thunderous silence.
it was truely awesome.
They need to let Andy go 5 and get the W. Joe will let him.
Whoa, Robbie is one 40+ double season away from tying Lou Gherig as the only other Yankee do it? That’s kind of nuts.
By “do it”, I meant having 7 of them.
Like I said earlier he’s 29 and he’s already 11th on the Yankees all time doubles list!!
That’s nuts. The Gherig thing just seems insane though. No Mantle, Berra, Jeter, etc. ahead of him?
Yankee Stadium — all versions — have never been good for duobles, since even guys who are good doubles hitters are hurt some. Obviously, no problem for Robbie.
yuck. BABIP gods are not kind
One more, Andy. You got this.
Damnit Joe. You better let him try to finish this inning!!!
And I thank you Joe.
Come on Andy!!! 1 more out!!
75 pitches on the dot.
That’ll do just fine Andy.
Fucking brilliant! 75 pitches. 5 Innings. Possible win (we hope).
Andy in line for the W. 5 shutout innings in his first game back. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want Andy on the mound in any elimination game.
Okay, now for an offensive explosion so I feel comfortable with Lowe/Epply/Garcia/Warren/Wade coming in.
wow, just wow Andy
Quick n easy. Good job Andy.
Andy coaxed the hell out of that extra inning.
I’ll probably now regret not starting him in fantasy. I was gun-shy with the 65-75 pitch limit of his.
Can you blame me? I had a start wasted from Scherzer last night – couldn’t afford another short one.
GIVE EM HELL ANDY!!!!
Andy Pettitte, I tip my cap to you.
I have to admit I didn’t expect that.
Ibanez is hitting .146 over the past 3 months. Yuck.
/BetterthanMelkyMesa’d
Actually he’s hitting .193 over the past 4 months.
I like Raul, and I think he’s been a net positive…but I seriously don’t remember the last time he got a hit.
I was just going to say the same thing. His last big hit has to have been at least a month ago.
for all the shit that Swisher has gotten collectively for his September fade, Ibanez Chavez & Lowe have gotten away with complete flacidity
A lot of the Swisher stuff has to do with his impending free agency. Yes, I realize all of those guy are free agents too (what’s Lowe’s deal? I’m actually not sure and too lazy to look it up). But Swisher would actually leave a hole in right field, whereas Ibanez , Chavez, and Lowe are pretty replaceable.
Ahahaha Kay and Singleton with a chicken and beer joke!
alright, new drinking game. Every time someone in the booth says, “boy Alvarez has really settled down” shots!!!
do we do a shot for “Alvarez is smokin’”
add that!
Offense has done absolutely nothing since the first inning.
I know. Alvarez was up in the first inning and getting battered. then he found his location and has been able to to use his other pitches to get people out via groundouts and strikeouts.
drink? I mean he kind of said that Alverez has settled in, and he certainly alluded to it…
I’ll allow it.
I’m that guy who looks for excuses to drink during a drinking game. like during never have I ever I would admit to doing some pretty strange things that I’ve never really done just to continue drinking.
At work. In meetings. How’d Andy look? Crowd reaction? And today there have been no bagels.
Bastards.
Andy was overall shaky, but decent. Command was a little rusty, a few balls made their way over the middle of the plate, but he was able to induce a DP or two, and had some strike outs.
Cool. Thanks. I had tickets to the game last night so I hate everything and everyone today.
looked decent. command was not there, but made his pitches. got a ‘standing O’ when he went his 5 IP (or so Ma & PA told me)
Alvarez has settled down. Yanks going quietly. Bullpen makes me nervous. Some tack-ons would be nice.
Shots!
Or a quick 1-2-3 inning and cross our fingers…that works too. It makes me really nervous that even if we win this game, and Phelps goes deep in the night cap, at some point Lowe and/or Wade are going to have to pitch an important inning or two.
Lowe has been useless, other than one appearance.
which is why I’m really nervous about handing him the ball in mid to high leverage situations (like the one he’s coming into right now) *gulp*
LOOGYFAIL!!
LOOGYs for lyfe!!!
/Girardi’s Binder
Speaking of a guy who’s useless…
LNOGY’s suck.
Is Joe gonna burn through every reliever in 3 innings so we have no one left for tonight?
That’s going to be very hard to do given the expanded roster.
That sounds like a challenge.
Always gotta love when the LOOGY doesn’t retire the lefty.
And now the frequent trips to the mound follow.
Derek Lowe in the 6th inning of a 3-run game?
Huh?
Doubleheader remember.
They have several better options. Even factoring in the Double Header.
Adam Warren? No
Cory Wade? Maybe
Wade (who would be my choice), Garcia, Logan, Eppley (debatable), Joba
Don’t use Logan if you have to.
Wade 6-7. 8-9 depends on score. Using lesser relievers now increases the chances of needing the better relievers later in this game.
Yes, but the next game might be a blowout.
got to use him. cant burn through the high leverage guys today, you might need them tonight
You really should go for the win when it presents itself. Who knows if there will even be a time to bring them in in the nightcap.
Hey, Lowe got an out!
I think Joe does a fine job managing right up until September 1st, then he becomes infuriating.
He has a great long-term managing philosophy re: the bullpen. But he doesn’t have a switch to change into win-now mode, which is annoying as crap in the high pressure games late in the season.
Maybe you just care more after Sept 1
This has something to do with it. In May it’s easy to say “Oh well, he’s saving bullets for later”.
It’s hard to say that in September.
Not really, I just think that he can’t help but over-manage when given the extra arms.
There is a small faction of baseball fans (typically the older guys) who pine for the days that double headers were a regular part of the schedule. This is why I am not in that faction. The bullpen management is going to be annoying as hell all day.
Well in the old days, the managers didn’t manage like this.
So it actually was probably pretty enjoyable.
That’s true. But there are still people who want scheduled double headers, and there is no way the game switches back to the days where starters pitched complete games regularly.
Yeah, I agree. I think it’d be fun to have 1 or 2 planned in the schedule, during the summer, but I don’t want to make a habit of it.
Maybe a Labor Day or Memorial Day tradition or something. I could buy that. But otherwise, hells no.
Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, actually.
Those are the same guys who think pitch counts are useless because back in their day, when men where men and baseball players where generally terrible, guys pitched complete games and the bullpen was for starters who couldn’t start anymore.
They didn’t do this when there were double headers.
Right, but like I said above, I’ve seen people wanting to bring it back now. And the game isn’t going back to a time where bullpens didn’t exist. So I think it’s dumb. Unless teams are allowed to use the 40 man all year.
Maybe the Yankees can blow the game up next weekend and Lowe can record one of his patented 4-inning saves.
*inning
Lowe!
Three flyball outs for Derek Lowe.
Hey, whatever works.
Nice inning from Lowe, although a groundball pitcher getting three flyball outs may be a warning sign.
knocking the rust off. hasnt pitched in almost two weeks
I’m in Mike’s camp here, at this point, I don’t care about process anymore.
Nice inning Lowe, keep it up.
DEREK LOWE!?????? OUTS, REALLY????
I would run the wheels off Lowe today… especially if hes going to be the roster casualty for when Gardner comes back..
(sidebar, Casey Mcgehee completely approves of this message)
I’d still love to know whose dog he killed or whose wife/daughter he banged to never be allowed to play again.
McGehee that is.
I always say McGehee like Michael Jackson. Hard to explain over the interwebs, but once I started, I can’t stop.
He can freely bang my wife (former), but if he goes near my dog, then I’m gonna have a problem.
Cash actually said he hopes he’s back the end of next week.
I thought he put more on that swing.
This is really one of those games where I’d like to see the offense get a few scratch runs in the later innings.
Well, Alvarez has really settled — *drinks shot* … *burp*
The last time I established a drinking game for baseball on here was when the Yankees were really struggling. It was to do a shot every time the Yankees scored a run. Then this happened:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....;mode=wrap
I initially thought that was going to be a link to a youtube video of you stumbling through the streets naked with a shot glass in one hand and a handle of rum in the other.
Heh. That may have happened before, but that was 5 years ago and I lost a beer pong game that included that as a bet.
a whole half inning dedicated to Alvarez….im effing wasted
I really don’t understand Joe’s logic here. He puts Lowe in, Lowe gets 3 quick outs, but now he’s going to go to Jo-Ro-So anyway? I mean don’t get me wrong, the less time Lowe spends on the mound, the better, but if we use all of Joba, Robertson, and Soriano this afternoon then our late inning guys in the night cap are Epply, Wade, and Logan…
Well you also have to consider that the bullpen has had 2 days off
They could have a week off, they still aren’t going to pitch twice in one day.
Take the win that you can get. There’s no guarantee that we’ll even be in a position to need Jo-Ro-So tonight.
I’d like to state again that Jo-Ro-So and Ro-So-Mo as well as the rarely used but occasionally successful Lo-Ro-So all sound like dragon shouts from Skyrim or the language spoken by the Rhino people from Doctor Who.
Jim Is Bored likes this post.
Yeah, I feel you. I can see it either way though. On one hand, you don’t want to burn out your top relievers in game 1 of a double header. On the other, the Yankees just need to win the game at hand and hope for a blowout tonight. I would be pretty pissed if Lowe or another scrub blows the lead in the 8th inning while D-Rob watches, only to have a blowout at night.
This would be a great time for ARod to let the bullpen relax a bit.
Wait, isn’t the reason that teams score more in the first inning obvious? They have their best hitters batting then. The commentators are making it sound like it’s all about starting pitcher mentality and preparation without mentioning that very obvious factor.
Wait you mean announcers tried to explain something without actually reaching the proper conclusion? No!
I wonder if Leiter went his whole career actually believing that the reason he was having more trouble in the first inning was due to his preparation, constantly tweaking his routine as a result, never realizing that he was facing better batters usually in that inning. That would be kind of sad if so. Hopefully this was just commentators saying some silly things rather than actually having believed it their whole careers.
Nice fucking job ARod. Create 2 outs without swinging the bat.
wait so what just happened?
Arod struck out and stepped in front of the catcher, who threw into center field with Cano going. Cano made it to 3rd before being informed that he was out due to Arod’s interference.
Bullshit. You made a shitty throw, deal with it.
Well that whole sequence sucked.
I don’t think he purposely tried to block him (not that it matters because he did), but he was taking a step toward first because he was trying to convince the ump is was ball four.
Never really liked that rule. Like the helmet to helmet rule in football, it is mostly about intention and time of placement.
Why should it be about intention? If you prevent the catcher from making a throw, it shouldn’t matter whether it was on purpose. What do you want to happen? The runner is safe?
and that called strike looked outside
Joe’s gonna use everyone. Susan said Lowe was just getting warmed up and that sinkerballers need tired arms. Why not leave him in?
the more guys you use the more likely you are to use one who has a lousy day
That looked like it was off the end of the bat.
Hoo boy.
What a shitty swing of luck… and lay-off A-Rod; kind of a freak play.
I only saw one person diss A-Rod for that.
I don’t know, he stepped towards the dugout. He should have realized the runner was going and that he needed to be out of the way. If he had stumbled accidentally, that would be different, but I think that’s kind of his fault.
I think you’re right… took a while to see the replay.
Wow! Great play, Chavez!
Chavy!!!
I went away from the computer. I love Pettitte.
Damn Joe, I get the Bullpen is rested after 2 days off, but lets not use the whole pen with another game today
Who’s next, Scott Proctor?
I’m sorry!
Heh. I feel the same way when the Yankees play the Orioles. Everyone refers to JJ Hardy as “JJ” and I got confused. He got a RISP Hit at one point and there were a couple of “Fuck you JJ” posts. At first I was like….the fuck did I do?
I feel like this was a completely unnecessary move.
Considering what Rasmus did to Soriano, I think it is the right move
I had the sound off. Why were they just talking about Bobby Richardson?
I missed it, although I don know he was on Francesa yesterday promoting a new book.
do
I get the whole win this game and deal with it later philosophy, but Girardi is REALLY buying into that with this one.
Joe is aware there’s a second game, yes?
Rasmus looks like a 70′s porn star
Joe’s really banking on a blow out in the night cap…
Well with Romero on the mound it is a distinct possibility.
Even in the game that he pitched well against us, he lost.
Ricky Romero’s the right man for the job.
Joe does know there is another game today, right?
Hey, get your own writer! : -)
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....nt-4833463
Oops. But don’t be upset, I only plagiarize from the best.
Ha!
I don’t disagree with Joe at all for the bullpen management – game tonight or not, take the win that’s in front of us.
I completely agree. The only question I have is why they had to line up two short starters on the same day.
Lines up the better group of starters for the A’s.
If Hughes were to pitch tonight it would force Freddy or Phelps against the A’s.
Cookies for you, Boone.
NO! NONE FOR YOU, CLAY. GET OUT!
Go look on my tumblr again. I guarantee you’ll laugh out loud.
You were correct. I did in fact “lol”, as the kids say.
And that’s his season high in K’s. Probably increased his K total by 10% too.
Hopefully DRob and Soriano finish this easily.
This has been a pretty dismal performance by the Yankees offense ever since the first.
If I had a nickle for every time I hear that…I’d have 8 nickles. (obscure Archer reference for the win)
+2
(since I already said “+1″ apparently)
Well, at least they’re batting .500 with RISP.
What happened to the offense? Hope this doesn’t carry over to the night game.
As long as the Blue Jays carry over the same offense to the nightcap, we should be fine.
I don’t know why everybody is whining about Alvarez’s K’s. In his first year his K rate was 5.7/9 in fewer starts.
And his stuff is clearly good for strikeouts.
5.7 ain’t exactly stellar either.
Isn’t 7 K’s in 7 innings bad against a pitcher who previously had 62 K’s in 168 IP this year and had a 5.7K/9 rate in his first year? I’m not complaining too much about the offense, and it’s hard to pick apart what happens in a single game, but those K’s are not great.
This offense is maddening. The bullpen shouldn’t even be a factor in a game against Henderson Alvarez.
well, he did settle down after that first inning
Lawrie-Lind-Mathis
Hope DRob can maneuver that without too much difficulty.
Let’s use all our pitchers. I’m sure hughes will throw a complete game tonight.
Phelps starts tonight.
well then, I completely disagree with Mike that Hughes WILL NOT throw a CG tonight.
Hughes isn’t throwing tonight.
Why is everybody so against winning the game that we have a small but precarious lead in the late innings?
Throw the curveball David.
Sweep the leg…i mean curve.
Every time I watch D-Rob throw a pitch… “Throw a curveball, asshole.” …It never seems to work.
Not a stellar start to this inning, Dave.
C’mon.
Fucking DRob. You kidding me?
The more pitchers you use . . . .
Can I get a curveball?
I hate the way Sterling calls foul balls. This last one, he made it sound like a pop-up to the infield.
“A high pop……………….. fouled third base side.” The pause was so long I thought he was just trying to figure out which infielder was camped under it. Turns out he was just pausing because he wants to make every pitch sound dramatic.
The kind of silly complaint about those announcers that is typical of the board. It’s like a recognition ceremony, where people feel it necessary to slur them in order to prove to other slurrers that “I’m OK You’re OK We’re All OK.”
Of course he’s trying to dramatize it. More accurately, he’s trying to do what radio announcers have been doing for generations: give you a sense of how the game looks as it unfolds. Necessarily, this is how it looks to a perceiver. Sometimes they get things wrong–as you would and the others in the recognition ceremony–because it’s very hard to call a radio game. TV broadcasting is comparatively a breeze because people can see what’s happening.
The great strength, though, of the Yankees’ radio team is that they don’t bore us with statistics on top of statistics for the sake of demonstrating statistics. Now that would be boring.
A change up? Don’t throw a change up, Dave.
DRob get’s out of this w/o a run scoring, but throws 30 pitches.
I was wrong.
And people might say “score more than 3 runs”. At this stage of the game, 3 runs should be enough.
and this is why you cant run through your bullpen with the matchups, especially when pitchers were effective. Now you have D Rob threatening to blow the game and no one to go to
Huh? What the hell are you talking about? This is his job. This is what he has to do.
Robertson is supposed to be one of the “big guys” in the bullpen. If your big guys in the 8th and 9th can’t protect 3 runs with 6 outs to go, you’re in trouble.
Exactly.
Right. I do think Girardi, as he does in general, got a little too matchup crazy, yet going to D-Rob in the 8th with a goal of getting to Soriano in the 9th is the right thing to do.
How about a fucking curveball?
How about some fucking curveballs???
Fucking DRob.
COME ON
Well, this isn’t inspiring…
Get out of this for Christ sake. Joe burned through every reliever in that bullpen and now might not even get the W. Jesus Christ.
WTF is with the constant stream of fastballs Robertson? This is infuriating.
Don’t know. His fastball also is down a few miles.
I think thats because he’s just throwing cutters almost continuously.
If those are cutters then he needs to trash it. He’s a guy that’s made it as a fastball, curveball. He got beat on a changeup before, as he did in Boston. Seems like he wants to throw anything but what made him good, which makes me wonder of there’s some injury here. If not, whomever decided to change him should be fired.
*No actual basis for this, just speculation*
I’m wondering if something is going on with the curveball in relation to Robertson’s health. His curveball is so obviously a dominant pitch, theres no way he would just go up there and ignore it (I’d hope). Is throwing the curve causing him some sort of discomfort after a long couple seasons?
Idk, food for thought.
Whenever a pitcher makes substantial changes (at least one that was successful), it’s usual a sign something physically is bothering him. Hasn’t been the same since he went on the DL. I thought originally he might have been trying to pull a Mo and was experimenting with the cutter to be more efficient. Rivera did just that, basically putting away what was his most effective pitch (the four seamer) and replacing it with the cutter. It worked for him, rarely works for others.
If it’s by design, D-Rob should stop it. My guess, though, is there’s something else going on.
That was low.
But that might be the call DRob needed to get his head out of his ass.
DRob got lucky there. That wasn’t even a strike.
Big K. I want 2011 DRob to show up now.
is it out of favor to pitch a reliever twice in a day? even if its a DLowe type of guy? if so I get a feeling we’re gonna see a whole lot of Freddy and Wade tonight.
fucking bummer
It isn’t. Glen Perkins had two saves in one day recently.
Are you shitting me?
Omar Vizquel?
Are you fucking serious David?
Get somebody in there that can throw a breaking ball. Get Soriano in there. Might as well use everyone. Joe Girardi is so horrible at managing baseball.
You’re blaming Girardi for this? Are you nuts?
Not saying Eddard is 100% right…but come on, Joe totally over managed this one (as usual).
Doesn’t matter what he did. He got a 3 run lead to the Eighth inning. That’s all he needed to do. Once he reaches the eighth inning, the game is out of his hands
Yes but he also wasted 4 relievers in the process. There was no need to bring Drob in (unless men were on in the 8th). Just bc Drob is the “8th inning guy” doesnt mean hes needed for EVERY 8th inning. You let Joba finish the 7th, Logan takes the 8th. Logan can get righties out, no need for him to face 1 guy.
Don’t get me wrong, Drob pitched terribly…but this is on Joe as well.
Wow…are you fucking kidding me D-Rob. If we lose this game w/ the way Joe’s managed we almost definitely get swept through the Double Header.
Was just about to say the one thing Vizquel can probably still do is lay his bat on a fastball.
shit
We have lost six consecutive series openers…. why would we want to start winning them now?
Hey let’s throw more fastballs…
Someone should be pulled from this game (or just the entire pitching battery)
A double to Omar Vizquel? Seriously? Ugh
Now he throws a curveball for a strike
Orioles seem to find ways to pull games out of their asses and win.
This team seems to find ways to pull games out of their asses and lose.
shame, shoulda kept DLowe
You guys are all ridiculous. Other than Soriano, who else do you want in there?
No one…but I’m still upset Robertson is coming up so small in such a big spot.
DRob trying for loss #8?
This is why Girardi is a TERRIBLE manager.
You didn’t have to use every reliable reliever in your bullpen for 1 or 2 outs prior to this point, especially with the night game coming up. Even if a guy pitches to 1 batter in the day game, having to sit down and then warm up again increases the risk of injury if he pitches in both games.
When you mix and match, you are backing yourself into a corner. Every reliever HAS to be sharp, or you won’t have anyone left to pick them up. Robertson and Soriano aren’t going to be perfect on every night. No relief pitcher is. But now he has nobody to bail him out when he clearly has bad control of his fastball.
So you were hoping to have Derek Lowe/Boone Logan available to come in in a high leverage situation to back up Robertson? Or did you want Clay Rapada/Joba in this spot?
The situation was not high leverage until Robertson created his own jam.
He could have thought ahead, and saved some of his relievers for the night cap. 3-0 lead, one of the worst lineups in all of baseball, unless the pitcher is getting hit hard you leave him in there.
He could have left Lowe in there to throw 2-3 innings, and had guys warming up if he started to get in trouble. He could have left Joba in there for a few extra batters instead of matching up Logan with 1 batter. Heck, he could have left Logan in to start the 8th given the fact that Lind was leading off and the lefties on the bench were much better than the guys already in the game.
The bottom line is that Girardi had clear alternatives, and could have thought ahead and kept some of his guys back for a game that might be even closer in the night cap. 3 run lead is not a spot in which you HAVE to use your best relievers, just because it is a “save situation.”
If the night game is also a close game (don’t give me the BS about playing for today’s game, because this team rarely has a blowout win anymore), he is going to have a really tough time navigating it.
Look. With the two days off, a lot of these guys are not very sharp. You don’t burn through every pitcher just because you can, and back yourself into a situation in which you need every one of them to be sharp.
I’m not saying you yank Robertson as soon as he gives up a few hits, but once Vizquel doubles then you might have thought about bringing in someone like Joba to back him up. If you didn’t keep mixing and matching, maybe you never ended up in that situation in the first place because you found a guy who was sharp and rode him for a few innings.
Except he does because they have alot of pitchers in the bullpen with the 40 man.
Get your facts straight if you are going to complain
Wow, you are beyond stupid.
Is he going to bring in Justin Thomas to bail out Robertson? He won’t touch half the roster unless it’s a blowout.
“Anyone left to pick them up”
“Reliable reliever”
Maybe if you would read, you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself every time you comment
If they had been able to build on the first three batters of the game – this inning would have been moot.
Why isn’t he using the curve? It gives him the swing and miss-
One more JUST LIKE THAT.
On this upcoming batter.
Great. Take him out of the game.
they better win this game because the bullpen will be toast for the night game
At least the sacrifice is out of the question now… here’s hoping he gets out of this without any further damage.
Four out save? Banking on a blowout tonight.
2 hits and 21 outs since Cano’s 1st inning double. That’s a problem right there.
I don’t know if I agree with this. Soriano always seems to have trouble with getting the third out of an inning . . .
Let’s just hope Soriano doesn’t give up one of those bleeders to plate both of these runs.
Gotta hope Sori can finish this.
Brutal effort from DRob.
If they take the lead I will vomit.
I understand that players make the plays and most times you cant put loses on the manager, but I seriously would put 15 loses EACH year since he’s been managing strictly on decisions made by Girardi during the game.
Said it when D-Rob came back, he wasn’t the same.
Stuff is flat. Command is worse. Not throwing his curve. Throwing more change ups?
The fuck is wrong with him?
Boy, I was really enjoying this game – especially when Andy came out of the game and Mo was there to greet him; I allowed myself to remember the Andy to Mo shake hands, give him the ball, game over.
Whew – now, what happens tonight?
One more strike here.
That was way too close for comfort.
I don’t understand why everybody is getting on Girardi. He has done nothing wrong in this game. He managed a 3 run lead into the eighth inning which is what you want.
It’s not his fault that Robertson has become in love with his fastball.
True that. DRob just didn’t show up.
Because that is logical and doesn’t have an easy scape goat.
I don’t think most people are getting on Girardi at all about using D-Rob. I’m certainly not. As I noted above, he goes for matchups a little too much. I wouldn’t have made as many moves, but once he got to D-Rob that was fine. He just didn’t have it.
Exactly, you don’t understand.
You don’t understand how it takes a toll on a player’s body to warm up, sit down, and then warm up again after shutting it down, and especially when it is just a few hours apart.
With the double header today, Girardi not only backed himself into a corner in today’s game by leaving himself no backup plan in case one of his pitchers was not sharp, but also has impacted the night game by using most of his arms in the day game when there was no need to do so.
He did not need to use the majority of those relief pitchers. It was a 3-run lead against a terrible offensive club, and the guys he already had in the game were pitching well.
Unnecessary overmanaging in a game that really wasn’t that close, which loses sight of the big picture and could come back to burn him down the line (as usual).
You make it sound like it was 10-0 game at the time. Yet if he lets Lowe stay in the game and he promptly gives up a bloop and a blast, that game that you insist “wasn’t really close” is all the sudden a one run game. Then we all know what happens next…Matt blasts Girardi for leaving Lowe in too long and not going to his well-rested bullpen.
Fuck.
Come on now.
That walk even if it doesn’t come back to bite him is going to be bad for his pitch counts on the 4 out save. Ugh
to let this battered lineup even contend right now is embarrassing
waaay to much drama in this game. and who would’ve thought it would be D-Rob and Soriano (and not Lowe and Joba) creating it.
Huh. This game got annoying.
ICHIRO THE MAN
Joe Girardi so botched this game. He shows no ability to think outside the box. He has to follow his formula and binder. Ichiro bailed him out. Saved Girardi’s ass.
You are an idiot.
And you’re a dick, quite possibly a bipolar dick with asperger’s.
I do have asperger’s.
Then it appears my powers of observation remain intact.
And that you are an insensitive bastard.
Actually, no. I’mma gonna go with NO. One of my closest friends has Asperger’s. He owns it and he’s perfectly functional in all aspects of society. Except, well, I can’t say that he resorts to trolling on forums for all hours of the day . . . He’s in South Africa (JoBurg) offering aid and support to those who need it.
Good for him. Seriously.
Robertson botched this game, as he has done a bit too often lately.
Thank Christ.
Ichiro nearly gave us all heart attacks.
they tried so hard to blow that
Jesus…and I don’t mean Montero.
ICHIRO! WHAT A CATCH! BREATHE RAB!
I see the closeness of this game as a validation, if anything, for Girardi’s all-in bullpen management.
Yay.
GET THIS SORI!!!
Thank goodness that wasn’t much much worse… it’d be nice to score some runs now.
How many insurance runs can the Yankees get? Man, since the 1st inning this offense went to sleep. Score some more runs!
Ichiro with 2 hits today in the leadoff spot and the game saving catch. If he isn’t one of Cashman’s greatest midseason trades I don’t know who is.
Seriously?
Glenallen Hill.
David Justice.
I am sick of Robertson and his fucking fastball/cutter. Must have thrown 3 0-2 pitches right down the middle of the plate. This game is on him if we lose.
Agreed. I’m following the game on Gameday and as soon as I saw that 10 of his first 12 pitches were strikes I thought he wouldn’t make it out of the inning.
Meant to say 10 of 12 were “cutters”
Agreed. I’m following the game on Gameday and as soon as I saw that 10 of his first 12 pitches were cutters I thought he wouldn’t make it out of the inning.
A run would be nice.
Well at least Girardi has the brains to pinch hit here, even if it’s Andruw.
Well that was some serious bullshit.
why is Andrew Jones still in baseball
Can we go back to bitching about the offense, which is a legitimate gripe for this game, as opposed to Girardi, who has done everything right?
Of course! When you want insurance runs you bring in Andruw Jones! BRILLIANT!
Thank god we have Andruw Jones to mash lefty relievers…
More importantly, Raffy threw 12 pitches that inning, and now it’s Rasmus-Lowrie-Lind in the 9th.
Arencibia, my bad.
We all know Raffy is not known for his easy 1-2-3 innings.
Jones and Ibanez have served their purpose, but it’s time to move on.
Ich!
Valentine had it wrong. This lineup (of late) is the worst roster ever assembled. Even his down-trodden Sox put up 9 on the Rays.
It’s really, really, really top heavy.
One team scored 2 runs and forced 2 late inning relievers to throw 30+ pitches in the 8th inning, the other made two outs on 4 pitches…
And then scored an insurance run.
Need a hit here.
Can Swisher get this run in?
It seems the answer is yes.
The offense only shows up for one inning but is that per game or per day? Could make for a long night…
I thought the Yankees OWNED D. Oliver?
Yea.
Swish!!!!!!
HUGE HIT Swish.
Swish!
Garbage Time.
That was rare! Yeah, Swish!!!
Garbage time!
Swish!
2 out rally started again by Ichiro. What a great pickup. Cashman, Swisher and Ichiro have bailed out Girardi today.
So when players fail it is Girardi’s fault, but when they succeed he has no role in their success?
That’s generally what happens to managers – no credit when it’s due, disproportionate blame the rest of the time.
Microscopic analysis to support criticism of a manager’s every move is stupid.
That’s the way it usually is with managers. I don’t like it and have fought against it here.
That 2nd strike looked like a meatball on gameday.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Insurance run!
Robbie…I’d love for Soriano it have 4 runs to play with in the top of the 9th.
That was a subtle example of our BABIP w/ RISP beginning to correct itself.
Just wondering, but how does Omar Vizquel’s bat profile at first base?
Ichiro a .360 hitter against Romero but you just Know Girardi is gonna play Jones instead tonight because his binder says a Right hander MUST start against a lhp
I bet he plays both.
The irony of course being that LHB hit .300/.391/.424 against Romero this year, and RHB .262/.365/.347, with similar reverse-platoon splits in his entire career because of the changeup he throws.
Joe Maddon once had all of his switch hitters bat left handed against Romero and they crushed him. Girardi is textbook.
Especially one with reverse splits for his career.
I’d go Dickerson/Granderson/Ichiro with Swish at 1st.
Ichiro is 1-9 against Romero this year.
He may play ahead of Granderson though.
And 8 for 16 in the rest of his career against Romero.
Since you think that small sample sizes are very indicative, you must now think that Ichiro completely owns Romero?
Well combine the two. 9/25 or .360
Thanks for that really enlightening comment. I couldn’t possibly add such big numbers like 8 and 1, and 16 and 9, and then multiply the numerator and denominator each by 4.
It’s a tale of two extremes, but neither one is likely the case since they each small sample sizes at different times.
Way to be a jackass.
Ichiro has declined precipitously against LHP this year. It stands to reason that MIGHT apply against Romero as well.
I didn’t say he shouldn’t play against Romero. I would start him. I’m just pointing out that his success hasn’t carried over to this year. It hasn’t. His previous success may not be indicative of his ability to hit Romero this year. Ichiro is no longer the same player.
Except Romero is a pitcher who has always had trouble getting lefties out because his breaking ball is terrible. A guy’s overall numbers vs. LHP are likely compiled against very different types of pitchers from Romero (most lefties have at least some kind of slider/curve they can use to get out LHB).
I’m not saying anything about what Ichiro can or cannot do right now. Neither set of numbers is meaningful, because Ichiro is not the same player, but the sample size against Romero this year is also very small. Ichiro is hot right now at the plate, so you can’t necessarily cite his numbers from April or May either.
I never said they were meaningful. I merely pointed out the rosy numbers Ichiro has accrued against Romero were largely when he was a different player.
Guarantee the line up tonight is this, or some form of this:
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
A-Rod DH
Pearce 1B
Granderson CF
McGehee 3B
Jones LF
Stewart C
Maybe Granderson out.
It’ll likely be Nix at 3B.
Oh yeah, I forgot, McGehee isn’t actually allowed to play anymore. @ Greg, who starts instead of Grandy? I’d be okay with Ichiro or Dickerson, but I’d prefer Grandy be out there.
Also Nix career .583/.643/.667 against Romero. I’m sure that, and Girardi’s apparent hatred of McGehee, will ensure Nix will be in the lineup.
Put this game away MFIKY so I can go play Madden.
I know I’m being a broken record here, but I still have to say this:
In a 4-2 game in the 9th inning, YES having a “player of the game” poll, featuring four Yankees no less, is so damn fool-hardy I can’t even begin to describe.
Go back to the 86 series. They announced that Bruce Hurst was the MVP in Game 6.
One down.
Two more.
One more, kinda like that.
Ouch. Glad I wasn’t reading through the comments when that all happened (phone call). These game threads can really turn ugly quickly, eh?
I have no problem with how Girardi has managed the game. I don’t give a shit that it’s a double header, you can’t hold back superior relievers when the game at hand is winnable. At least not when the Yankees are in the situation they are currently in. As for the middle relief, they were kind of handcuffed by Pettitte’s pitch count there. Win today. Worry about tonight in a few hours. This is almost entirely on D-Rob, not Girardi. I couldn’t even finish reading most of the comments above.
It was pretty painful, yes.
Thank you MFIKY for a drama free 9th.
Now maybe the offense can wake the hell up and give the bullpen a rest in the 2nd game.
Big win! Andy pitched amazing!
Great win! Do it again tonight!
MFIKY
Untuck that motherfucker.
41st Save for Soriano.
Come on blowout tonight.
Boom. And in the end they won. Perhaps bitching will quell. Also, I think I just saw a pig fly.
Untuck!
+1
Anybody want him to opt out?
Yes. I appreciate very much what he’s done for us this year, but I’m pretty sure they Yankees can make the team better with that $14 mil to use elsewhere.
Disclaimer: I’m not thinking of specific players, just speaking generally.
Slight nitpick – it’s actually 12.5mil elsewhere, he’s getting 1.5 mil no matter what
Right, my bad. Still though. That’s a lot for a closer, and he probably won’t even be doing that next year.
Yeah, I never understood this – he’s on a 1 year deal effectively, and it doesn’t impact 2014 or pretty much any of the long term decision on the upcoming FA’s
People around here seem to think reliable relievers are a dime a dozen on the FA market.
…only if your name is joe maddon
Half game up now, let’s hope after tonight we’re 1 and a half up!
It was good seeing Andy do well.
Hopefully the real King Felix will show up.
Ichiro still doesn’t speak English? Damn.
he does, he just prefers to use a translator
It’s not really a judgment, I was just surprised. I’d feel horribly uncomfortable if I lived in a foreign country for 12 years and didn’t know what anyone was saying.
He understands and speaks English pretty well. He is rumored to be incredibly sarcastic and funny. He just likes to use the interpreter with the press.
He does, just not on camera to reporters. Considering the way media types can pick apart words and take them out of context, I don’t blame him for wanting to use his native language.
I remember reading somewhere that’s exactly why he does it. He speaks English fine, but he wants to be able to convey exactly what he’s trying to say w/o anything getting confused.
Doesn’t he speak in english in the clubhouse and to his teammates?
Yes he does.
Career win #244 for Andy.
4-2 win. The only concern was D-Rob’s continual issues and love of his cutter. He’s critical to keep advancing.
Robertsons should go to Macys and buy a set of balls
What?
as in testicles
I don’t want to get too cocky because we haven’t won anything yet. The way the schedule plays out gives us a chance to have the best record in the AL. All the guys have to do is play to their capabilities. Texas and La and Oakland will kill each other while we can take advantage of it.
This is why we can’t have nice things. QUIET.
Well, a win is a win no thanks to Robertson and Joe G. Hopefully Phelps can give us 6-7 tonight so we don’t have to overuse what few relievers we have left. Robertson and Soriano won’t be available and in Robertson’s case that’s a good thing.
Welp, my bet on Andy getting 300 wins is starting to look a little remote…
I think that went down the drain in June 2010 when he got injured and then retired that offseason!
I’m hoping for 260 or so career regular wins, because that means he comes back next year.
You know what Motherfucker?
I KILL YOU.
#UNTUCK
So in the end it was a great job by
John WettelandRafael Soriano getting the save. That final out of the 8th was HOLY SHIT FUCK DAMN WOW, but he got it.