Game 157: Four

by 528 Comments

Teixeira played first base, got seven at-bats in Instructs yesterday
Yankees rout Blue Jays to maintain AL East lead
(Ronald Martinez/Getty)

Four. That’s my proverbial magic number there. If the Yankees win four of their remaining six games, I think they’ll be in really good shape as far as winning the division. If they only win three, then there’s a very real chance they’ll be playing a one-game tie-breaker or worse, a one-game wildcard play-in at this time next week. Hiroki Kuroda has been the team’s best pitcher from start to finish this year, so one more strong performance to kick-off this six-game stretch would be appreciated. Here’s the starting nine…

SS Derek Jeter
RF Ichiro Suzuki
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
1B Nick Swisher
CF Curtis Granderson
LF Raul Ibanez
C  Russell Martin
DH Eric Chavez

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

Tonight’s game is scheduled to start at 7:07pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Teixeira played first base, got seven at-bats in Instructs yesterday
Yankees rout Blue Jays to maintain AL East lead
  • Pasta Stumbling Sojo

    I agree with this from the post:

    “If they only win three, then there’s a very real chance they’ll be playing a one-game tie-breaker or worse, a one-game wildcard play-in at this time next week.”

    but not this from today’s chat:

    “If NY goes 3-3 in the last 6 do they still win the division?
    by JM 10:41 AM

    I say no. 4-2 seems like the bare minimum.
    by Mike Axisa 10:42 AM”

    If the Yankees go 3-3 there’s still a good chance they’ll win the division without a tiebreaker. Assuming the O’s have a 60% chance of winning each game (this is generous if you check the Vegas odds for each game), that gives them a ~54% chance of winning at least 4 of 6, which gives t Yankees a 46% chance of winning the division without a tiebreaker by going 3-3, and a 73% overall chance of winning the division (assuming the tiebreaker game is around 50-50).

    Not that I’m banking on the O’s losing, and I’d be very nervous with every Yankee loss, but I think they still have a very reasonable shot even if they don’t go at least 4-2.

    • MannyGeee

      With the Red Sox, I would guarantee, assume, or bet nothing ever. Those pricks could just as easily run the table as lose out the string.

  • VT Yankee Fan

    It’s pretty amazing that the Yanks could finish with the best record in the league or be playing in a wildcard game.

    • MannyGeee

      Yeah, here’s to hoping that the MLB joins the late 20th century at some point in our lifetimes and goes to a bracket playoff system so AL Central teams don’t limp in while better teams have to fight and claw for spots…

  • MannyGeee

    off topic, but comediansincarsdrinkingcoffee.com is goddam funny stuff. This is what I imagine being bored and filthy rich being like, can’t wait to hit that Powerball….

    • jjyank

      Haha one of my friends from college showed me that when I was up in Boston a few weeks ago visiting him. Funny stuff, we watched a bunch of em. Livin’ the dream right there.

  • jjyank

    …of course A-Rod gets a hit after I bench him in a desperate ploy in fantasy. You’re welcome, everyone.

    • jjyank

      …but I sat A-Rod in favor of Swisher. So I guess that’s okay.

  • Chilango

    Good AB by Cano and ARod, Not trying to do too much.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Garbage Time started early today.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Yeah Swish.

  • Cy Pettitte

    Swish! all with two outs, nice.

  • Mike N

    YESSSS! RISPHIT!!!!!!!!!!

  • Chilango

    Swish!

  • MannyGeee

    Hey guys, that dude that hit a 2 run double???

    Yeah, dint resign him. Go with Chris Dickerson instead. *trollface*

    • jjyank

      I don’t really get it to be honest. There seem to be a lot of people who want to let Swisher, Cano, and Grandy all walk in the name of “getting younger”.

      Swisher will probably be the cheapest of the three, and the RF options for next year are pretty abysmal. I am in the re-sign Swish camp. Unless of course, he actually does want Werth money, but he’ll never get that.

      • MannyGeee

        It’s the “garbage time” / “bad in October” memes that get you that.

      • Tom

        I don’t get it either… Girardi’s already got platoon-itis, the Yankees don’t need one in RF. (as SS/3rd/DH is sort of 2 rolling platoons)

        Sign Swish (up to 4 years/14mil per or 3 years/15mmil per) , let Grandy walk after next year. Draw some sort of line with Cano.

        • jjyank

          I pretty much agree with all of that. Re-sign Swish, let Grandy walk, and re-sign Cano, if you can.

          I freely admit I have trouble being rational with Cano. I pegged him has my designated “favorite player” after Bernie left, and I really, really, really want him to stay around. But I do realize that the Yankees can go out and give him a Pujols contract, or anything close to it. Hopefully they just take the Kinsler extension and pump a few more mil into it and Robbie takes it. I would like the Yankees to spend part of the offseason exploring an extension with Robbie, though I doubt he takes one given that Boras is his agent. You never know, though. Weaver signed an extension under Boras, it can happen.

          • jjyank

            they *can’t* give him the Pujols contract.

    • Chilango

      It’s great to see him getting hot, but he’s still 6 for his lat 16 and his Sept and Oct numbers for the last 3 years are .236/.327 and .188/.381

      • jjyank

        6 for his last 16 is slightly deceiving, it goes back further than that.

        Last 2 weeks he has been 12 for 43, good for a triple slash of .279/.404/.558.

        I’ll take that from Swish, or any player, any day. Hopefully he keeps it up. And I put absolutely zero stock in month-by month numbers from years past, for the record.

      • Chilango

        * I meant AND he’s 6 for 16!

      • MannyGeee

        We’re bitching about 6 for 16? Seriously?

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

          I can’t believe he’s only hitting .375!

  • Mike N

    HOLY SHIT!!!!! That was the craziest play I’ve ever seen!

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Wow! Ridiculous play.

    • MannyGeee

      Was kinda awesome… Got to admit that

  • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

    uh…can’t we say granderson was unlucky there? wow.

  • MannyGeee

    Also, my 2 year old is walking around saying “fackyou glove”…. My bad.

  • DT

    Poor Grandy, when he finally makes contact it end up like whatever the hell that was.

  • jjyank

    Come on Hirok. Settle down, we need a win today.

  • jay

    Lawrie giveth, Lawrie taketh away

  • MannyGeee

    So how is Encarnacion not pissing in a cup every time he puts in his uniform? I don’t get it

  • Rooting for U.S. Steel

    Anyone want to talk about not re-signing Swisher?

    And yeah, I know, it’s only one play. I just like the guy and want him on the team… albeit not at the usual Scott Boras asking price…

    • jjyank

      Like I mentioned above, I agree. And yes, I also freaking love the guy. He wins my “pick one Yankee to have a beer with” award.

      • Rooting for U.S. Steel

        And David Wells would get the “Pick one Yankee to split a brewery with” award?

      • MannyGeee

        Also, in strong contention for my “pick one Yankee to go trolling for tail with” award…

        Jeter still gets the gold…

        • Rooting for U.S. Steel

          As an old friend once commented, “When Derek Jeter retires his bat is going to be the second thing Cooperstown asks for.”

          • MannyGeee

            That’s awesome. Thank your friend for me, I might end up using that…

        • jjyank

          Always go for the Gift Basket Master for that one.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      He’s not a Boras client.

      • Rooting for U.S. Steel

        Whoops! You are, of course, correct. Swisher is represented by Joe Bick. I stand (sit) corrected.

    • Chilango

      It’s great to see him getting hot, 6 for his lat 16 not too shabby but his Sept and Oct numbers for the last 3 years are .236/.327 and .188/.381. Guess resigning him or not depends on the deal he wants

      • jay

        This. That’s why I don’t get these arguments. Almost everybody is a good signing at one price, but a bad signing at another. It all depends on the numbers

        • ted dibiase

          everybody has a price

  • Tom

    Aaron Cook. Thanks buddy (6 run 1st for the O’s)

  • Cy Pettitte

    Aaron Cook….christ.

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    So much for help from the Sox. We’ve got to win this one and the next 2 to hold 1st place through the weekend.

  • Dela G

    Man the orioles will not fucking die

    • Karl Krawfid

      The Red Sox did

    • Cy Pettitte

      I really hope the Rays knock them out and take their spot. so sick of everything Orioles.

  • MannyGeee

    Everything has been hit on the nose today. Which begs the question… Why the fck is Russell looking for the bunt?

  • Tom

    WTF? It’s the 2nd inning…. and Girardi has entered bunt mode up 2?

  • Darren

    I’ve never seen a pitcher do that before. Crazy!

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Prime opportunity to go up 4-5 runs early and give Hiroki all the support he needs. 2 on, 2-0 count. Chavy should get a fat one to hit here.

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

    R-Tills, you’re currently in the “like us on FB graphic!!”

    • jjyank

      …and as soon as you posted this, he liked my current status. Coincidence???!!!

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

      Now I see Havok.

  • Darren

    Also, I’d love to see Melky Mesa get a start against the Sox….but I doubt we’re gonna clinch by then. Hope we can play well and win enough games to get in. O’s are killing Sox again. Damn.

  • MannyGeee

    Wow… Jenkins can’t find the plate right now. Hang back, wait for that cookie and sweep the leg

  • Dela G

    cmon jeet!!

  • robert heenan

    do i blame girardi or martin for wasting two strikes on a bunt attempt in the second inning? leiter said maybe he was bunting for a hit which is not terrible i guess, but otherwise boo – and the runner just went with two strikes didn’t they learn something from that twins game –

    blue jays already want to bring in a reliever because this guy gave up two runs – meanwhile boston happily let cook give up 6 to the o’s – thanks boston

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

    Also, jj, calling me a “mediocre” bong salesman the other day, I just turned today from a net loss to a net gain w/ one sale. Suck it.

    • jjyank

      Hahaha I told you that it just fit my joke better. I’m sure you’re excellent. In fact, over Thanksgiving break I may direct my little brother to your shop instead of going to that crappy one in Easton he always goes to.

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

        Haha, it’s a little bit of a hike from your town, but if he’s willing to make the trip tell him he’ll get at least 10% off just for dropping your name. In fact any RAB smokers, mention RAB and get 10% off any purchase $50 bucks or more!!

        • jjyank

          That might make it worth it. Can’t be more than 40 min or so away. Easton is already 20, it’s not exactly right around the corner. Besides, they have a really shitty collection.

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

            Our “high end” bongs is a little on the light side, but dude, we’ve got so many awesome bowls and bubblers.

            • jjyank

              He’s already got an Illadelph (I believe) with an ash catcher, ash catcher, triple chamber. He split it with his room mate, so he’s probably set there. But maybe he might want a new bowl? I’ll throw the idea at him.

              I guess is the problem is you’d be competing with Vermont. 4-5 top end head shops in Burlington.

              • jjyank

                One of those “ashes” should be “ice”. My bad. I’ve been drinking :P

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

                That’s a nice set up, If I were him I’d never use anything else.

        • Herby

          should look up Nebula glass for wholesale stuff.

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

            thanks for the tip, I’ll tell my boss to sign up so we can look at their selection.

    • Herby

      I could use a bong after that inning…tired of those bases loaded do nothing innings

    • Mike N

      Are you allowed to refer to them as “bongs” in the store? When I was a college student in Philly back in the 80s, there was an awesome head shop called Wonderland. If you said the word “bong” in the store, however, they’d throw you out. You had to say “water pipe”. And you had to buy some shitty tobacco crap along with your “water pipe”.

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

        Nope, I don’t mind when customers use it, and online I can say anything but on their facebook page and in the store I have to refer to them as “water pipes”

  • Dela G

    captain double play!

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

    Jeet, w/ the strikezone being kind of small early, and the chance you might roll a DP, I’d take that pitch.

  • CountryClub

    Jeter’s in a bit of a slump.

    • Need Pitching & Hitting

      So is Ichiro.

  • Dela G

    Kay is a moron, but we do know this already

  • Karl Krawfid

    Bases loaded no outs.

    1 run.

    LOL

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Ichiro wanted to make an out there per Michael Kay.

    • MannyGeee

      THIS!

  • Cy Pettitte

    bases loaded no outs, get one run.

    stop letting shitty teams stay in games, that’s how they end up losing games like they did against the Twins.

  • MannyGeee

    Arguement about the sac rule is great… They sound like a bunch of old ladies.

    Also, 1run scored with the bases loaded and no one out is BARELY acceptable. Get it together guys. Hang a 12 spot and get Derek Lowe and Melky Mesa some time out there.

  • ArchStanton

    Top two hitters responsible for 5 of 6 outs so far, the other one being Granderson’s liner.

  • Tom

    Crap – Yankees had a chance to completely blow it open and really get into the bullpen.

    At least the Martin bunt failed… that could have been a completely scoreless inning if it had “worked”

    • Chilango

      Why was he bunting in the first place?

  • MannyGeee

    Hooray, another lead off double! Apparantly the Japanese believe the shut down inning after gaining run support is bad luck…

  • Chilango

    This is all too familiar. They let Jenkins off the hook when it looks like Kuroda’s going to need all the help he can get. Let’s pick it up guys..

  • Karl Krawfid

    A Kuroda is still struggling.

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

    Russel Martin: DEFENSIVE CATCHER

    • Need Pitching & Hitting

      yep :)

    • MannyGeee

      Hey Raul… Phone for you. It’s Russell Martin. He says go fuck yourself. Double play bitches!

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

        I’ll happily eat my crow for this one :)

  • MannyGeee

    Hiroki is getting worked out there… Alot of foul balls and deep counts.

  • Dela G

    great job, russell!

  • jjyank

    Wow, real heads up play, Rus!

  • Karl Krawfid

    OMg blue Jays are trash.

    And I love it.

  • Chilango

    Two bonehead baserunning plays. Yay

    • MannyGeee

      This is how you become worse than the Red Sox.

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Hiroki’s giving up too many hits. Jays ran into outs helping him out. More offense is needed.

  • Cy Pettitte

    they really need to blow this open ASAP, Kuroda doesn’t look good tonight.

  • CountryClub

    Boy, I agree with Kay on that one.

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

    Suzyn’s killing me right now…she’s going on and on about how basically the 90s Yankees where so good because they got “repremanded” for baserunning mistakes by having to go sit next to Joe. Fucking seriously Suzyn…these are grown men or guys in their early 20s…the fuck is sitting next to the manager like they’ve been put in time out going to do?

    • Mike N

      Maybe they need dunce caps?

      • MannyGeee

        They should have to sit next to Suzyn….

  • toad

    Kuroda looks terrible.

  • Karl Krawfid

    Pray for Hirok.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Get Phelps up.

  • Cy Pettitte

    they get Andy back, CC straightens himself out and just when you think you can feel better about the rotation Kuroda turns into a pumpkin. lovely.

  • Mike N

    BEAR DOWN, HIROKI!!!!!!!!!!

  • CountryClub

    Kuroda not making me feel any better about his upcoming playoff appearance.

  • Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

    Here comes Rothschild, that means runs are guaranteed to score here.

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Where is the old Hiroki Kuroda? The one who pitches shut outs and goes 7-8 innings. Phelps might need to pitch here to bail out Kuroda.

  • MannyGeee

    Colby Rasmus is caveman ugly… Like, cat killer ugly.

  • Kramer

    Kuroda is pitching like total shit right now.

  • CountryClub

    I’ve seen some fans say that Kuroda is pitching himself into the 4th spot in playoffs. I’ve laughed it off, but maybe it’s not so crazy.

  • Chilango

    Kuroda is missing big time. Get Phelps up now

    • The Real Greg

      As Kuroda strikes out rasmus

  • Karl Krawfid

    Damn huge pitch.

  • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

    HIROK!!!

  • Kramer

    At least he avoided a huge disaster in this inning.

  • Dela G

    wow that was one hell of a 2 seamer

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Nice K to get out of it. Still need 2-3 more runs for some breathing room. Hiroki is giving up too many hits for comfort.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Looks like they’re going to either need a lot more runs or a lot more shitty Jay’s baserunning to win this game.

  • MannyGeee

    Beauty of a pitch by Hirok! To get out of a major jam.

    Now let’s hang a crooked letter and go all Aaron Cook on these bitches

  • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

    yey….lets move on. more runs and some quick innings for hurok.

  • Kramer

    To that end, glad to be watching finally, albeit not with my main browser up…

    The Red Sox laying down to the Orioles might’ve been the most predictable thing in baseball yet this season. Unreal. Red Sox lack any kind of professionalism whatsoever. Just another reason to hate them.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      They’ve been laying down all season. You would hope some of the younger guys are giving it their all to win a spot on the roster for next year though.

    • Hummingbird S.

      kinda like what the Yankees did last season?

      • Kramer

        Yankees did not lay down to the Rays. Hell, they beat them three times in the space of two days with eight days left in the season (when NYY clinched the division) which could’ve crippled the Rays, if not for the Orioles laying waste to the Red Sox at the same time.

        Furthermore, the Yankees didn’t play to lose Game 162. They were never going to use Mo or DRob, but Cory Wade and Luis Ayala weren’t exactly schmucks last year – that was a remarkable Rays comeback.

        Don’t even try to compare the two.

  • Mike N

    Awesome! I bet Hiroki gets his shit together now.

  • Chilango

    Great recovery.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    I love Russel Martin’s style. If he can hit over .200 and get 20hrs a year @ ~5 mil a year I would take it. Obviously something more like .240 and 20hrs would be awesome.

  • MannyGeee

    Did jenkins get better or did these guys start swinging at shit pitches now?

  • Mike N

    I’m reposting this comment down at the end of the thread, because this is such an important topic for Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle:

    Are you allowed to refer to them as “bongs” in the store? When I was a college student in Philly back in the 80s, there was an awesome head shop called Wonderland. If you said the word “bong” in the store, however, they’d throw you out. You had to say “water pipe”. And you had to buy some shitty tobacco crap along with your “water pipe”.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      lmao that’s hilarious. There was a shop where I lived that would kick you out for saying the same thing.

    • jjyank

      I only ever bought my stuff in Vermont, back when I did smoke. And there, you could say whatever the fuck you want. They just had obligatory signs up saying “For tobacco use only” around, but that was it.

    • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

      I got thrown out of a shop for that once. Stupid rule really.

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

      I just responded to you up there, but I’ll repeat it here. In the store I just correct the customer and call them “water pipes” but I let them say what they want. I have to refer to them as “water pipes” in the store and on the facebook page, but outside of that I call them bongs. Also, we don’t make people buy shitty tobacco with them.

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

        unless they’re obnoxious, I’m in a bad mood, or they’re clearly like 15. If any of those things apply and they say bong I kick them out real quick.

      • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

        where is this shop? jersey?

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

          Yep, Englewood.

          • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

            like right over the gdub, englewood?

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

              10 minutes, maybe. If there’s traffic. But I’m not going to lie, our prices are outrageous compared to the NYC side.

              • Mike N

                Wait. You charge more in Englewood than in NYC?

      • Mike N

        Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, I went and looked on Google, and Wonderland is still open in Philly in the same location. One time we went in there baked out of our minds, and the clerk sold us some papers and one of those glass pipes that as you smoke with it, it changes colors and shit. We paid and left and walked back up the street towards our campus, and about two blocks away, the clerk came running up to us breathless and was all like, “Hey. Can you dudes smoke me up?” Of course, we did. Hilarious times.

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

          Ha Wonderland…I still don’t understand how they expanded so big. and yeah, I could totally see that happening.

          • Mike N

            Expanded?

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

              Yeah, there are 3 in NJ and at least 2 in Penn that I know of.

              • Mike N

                Wow.

      • OMG! Bagels!

        Aren’t there legal hookah bars now? I’ve heard but everyone there seems to be 18.

        • Mike N

          In NYC there are, but you can only smoke tobacco.

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

            Yeah, no flavored shit. It sucks.

          • yo fahgetabowdit

            They smoke charcoal. It’s kind of a trend the troops are bringing home from the mid east I’ve heard. Kind of a trendy college kid thing or something.

            • jjyank

              If you’re still talking about hookah, it must be excellent of they’re bringing it back from the Mid East. That stuff is the bomb.

    • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

      i know of this rule in some shops, but i’ve never seen it enforced. never heard of the buy shitty tabac though.

    • CountryClub

      I’m pretty sure tommy chong went to jail not too long ago for selling bongs

      • Mike N

        You should read his book about it. Very interesting, and disturbing. Although he and Cheech Marin played the stoned fools in their comedy, they are both extremely intelligent and erudite individuals.

        • OMG! Bagels!

          I knew a Tommy Chong like guy in the 80s. Ran a headshop in Danbury Connecticut called “Oz.” Wore a tee shirt that said, “The world needs more ‘ludes.” He was very intelligent.

      • CountryClub

        Yeah I just found an article on it. Evidently there was a crack down back in 03. Bunch of arrests and shops being shut down.

      • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

        Tommy Chong could call them water pipes and still go to jail because lets face it, he’s Tommy Chong, and he ain’t fooling anyone with that “water pipe” shit.

        • OMG! Bagels!

          Nothing to be jailed for IMO.

      • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

        he went to jail for selling them across state lines on the internet, which is ridiculous. they made an example out of him.

  • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

    i just read that kuroda has a career high in innings pitched this year. that surprised me.

  • MannyGeee

    Goddammit. Atta way to let Jenkins off the hook boys

  • http://theevilsquare.com handtius

    dammit yankees! do something better then be winning! arrrrr.

    • Tom

      HIt and run? (or is this guy too wild?)

      • Tom

        oops not meant as a reply

    • MannyGeee

      Yeah, Winn harder!

  • Hummingbird S.

    this Jays’ pitcher takes forever and a half in between pitches.. it’s boring as hell.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    I would love to have lawrie on our team…

    • MannyGeee

      … Instead of this bunch of Sallies… Amirite?

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Rays already lead?

    Colour me shocked.

    • Tom

      And yet people still want them to keep winning, which also helps Detroit win the central and potentially setup their rotation for the postseason.

      All this so they “play hard” against Baltimore, because if they were out of it their starting pitching would stop trying?

      I want no part of the Rays in the postseason.

      • CUYanks

        My priority is for the Yankees to avoid a 1-game playoff. I’m assuming they can hold off the Rays with a 4 game lead and 6 to go, so yes I pretty much want to make sure that the Orioles and Rays have to go all out to beat each other up.

    • CountryClub

      Their fans are probably saying the same thing about the yanks and orioles.

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        Well, the O’s are playing the Red Sox. If the Rays fans are even hoping for the Red Sox to win a single game this weekend, they are being far too optimistic.

  • Mike N

    Wait is there a game going on here? I am lost in a fog of my bong reminiscences.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    I hoped it would be George Bell.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Seems like Rajai Davis has a fucking ton of hits against the Yankees this year.

  • MannyGeee

    Rajai Davis… Dude is an enigma. Some days he sucks out loud, other days he looks great.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Yikes. Kuroda really working the middle of the plate.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Davis is 14-51 this year against the Yankees, so the numbers don’t really back me up.

    I guess the idea of a schmuck of that calibre getting hits has just stuck to memory.

    • Chilango

      Yeah he’s .245/.288 against them. It’s like when I look at Swisher’s solid situational stats I don’t believe it because he’s a straky hitter and you remember the slump fuck ups more than the step ups when he’s going good.

    • Chilango

      Yeah he’s .245/.288 against them. It’s like when I look at Swisher’s solid situational stats I don’t believe it because he’s a streaky hitter and you remember the fuck ups when he’s slumping more than the step ups when he’s going good.

  • Chilango

    Kuroda is giving what they call a gutsy performance. Good job.

  • CountryClub

    Unless he gets a quick inning, he’s on pace to throw 6 innings. Think Girardi goes to Joba or phelps for the 7th?

    • CUYanks

      If it’s looking like Robertson/Soriano for the 8th and 9th, probably Joba. If it’s a bigger lead where Phelps might go a couple, then we might see him.

  • jay

    “the deficit views of al leiter are his own…” Did I miss something? Not paying too much attention to Kay, just heard that quickly

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Short leash please.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Better that Rasmus did that now than in the 2nd inning, I guess.

  • Hummingbird S.

    time to worry?

    • Chilango

      We let Jenkins off the hook, Kuroda’s struggled and it’s the 5th inning. Yeah time to worry.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      1-800-273-8255

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Missed his spot.

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    This is why you need to score more runs when you have bases loaded no outs and the starter on the ropes. Hiroki won’t get through 7 and hand it to Robertson and the other relievers are a crapshoot.

  • Cy Pettitte

    3 runs isn’t winning this game.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Phelps please.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Kuroda has not been sharp all game, and has fallen behind a ton of batters.

    If he doesn’t get it together, it’s going to be yet another blown lead for him tonight.

  • Hummingbird S.

    short leash, please. get Phelps up

  • Tom

    Rapada and Phelps up in the 5th inning… but noone complain about the Yankees failure to blow this open in the 2nd inning because the Yankees are winning!

  • MannyGeee

    Homer Bailey no hitter through 6IP

  • Hummingbird S.

    nice escape Hiroki!

  • MannyGeee

    Hell, Hiroki has been bending but not breaking tonight. I can dig it

  • Cy Pettitte

    5IP 1ER is just a miracle. Yankee magic.

    • ArchStanton

      Feels like “we’ve” been on the other end of RISP fail games like this a time or 50.

  • Chilango

    Kuroda gets out of it. Great. Joe will put Phelps in in the 6th right?

    • ArchStanton

      Kuroda at 89 pitches, I bet Joe tries to get another inning out of him, but I think I’d pull him or at best go batter to batter. The luck can’t last forever.

  • Joe F

    Hey all. Still up 3-0?

    • jjyank

      Yessir. Welcome to the party.

      • Joe F

        Thanks jj!

  • Tom

    Kuroda really needed that. Hopefully the Yankees can get one more good inning out of him

    Maybe the offense can get their first hit since a leadoff single in the 2nd and create some separation.

    • Chilango

      I hope he doesn’t start the 6th. That’s looking for trouble

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    It would be great if we get a decent lead in the division so we can give kuroda a rest before the playoffs.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Please don’t be a serious hand injury.

    Assholes.

  • jjyank

    Fuck. Please be okay, Robbie.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Don’t be hurt.
    Don’t be hurt.
    Don’t be hurt.
    Don’t be hurt.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    We killed their bird, so they killed one of ours. These guys are good.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Runs, please.

  • Tom

    Nice Swish!

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Ok, stop the bunt on 2-0 now.

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

    Curtis or Kurtis?

  • Chilango

    Kuroda in Aug/Sept IP 46/24.0 ERA 2.35/5.64 BAA .215/.284
    If he’s gassed we’re in trouble.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Just gave away an at-bat with the stupid bunting.

    • jjyank

      Yep. Hey, I have an idea! Let’s let a guy prone to strike outs, but can hit homers, bunt and let him get behind in the count!

      Seriously. If you wanna bunt Chris Stewart, fine. But Granderson? Stupid. He’s got just as good a chance of blasting one out than he does bunting successfully.

  • Tom

    Just dumb. Girardi and his dumbass small ball.

  • Cy Pettitte

    what a terrible at bat

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    A Kurtis K, especially after 2-0?

    Well, that’s shocking.

    • Jon

      I think it time to go out and get my “I struck out Curtis Granderson” t shirt made

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    chances are he strikes out anyway, but why not just let him swing there? -1 girardi.

    • Hummingbird S.

      much rather have him bunt… he absolutely sucks right now, especially against a lefty..

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        So does Ibanez, if not more-so.

  • Hummingbird S.

    granderson K’d? really?

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

    Kurtis :( also, even w/ a lead, no reason Ibanez should be hitting for himself here.

    • Hummingbird S.

      Girardi is probably sleeping on the dugout. What a shitty manager.

    • Joe F

      Oh Kurtis…

    • ArchStanton

      Don’t want to give up his defense with a lead…. D’oh!

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

      Knew it :(

  • ArchStanton

    Did they have him sacrificing up there?

  • Tom

    Pinch hit?

  • Chilango

    Granderson protection swing w/2strikes lol

  • Joe F

    The concept of bunting with a guy who has hit 40 home runs really makes me wonder if Girardi is stupid.

    • CUYanks

      Especially given the score and pitching situation.

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

      Joe, I saw your question when I got home from work last night. Yes that is my Tumblr.

      • Joe F

        Why do guys have tumblr?!

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

          …because it’s awesome and shut your face that’s why.

          • Joe F

            Hahahahaha

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    MLBN pounding this Homer Bailey no-hit shit to death.

    And now they’re going to air the 8th inning as well.

    Asshole.

    • jjyank

      Wait, they are? Like, they’re going to abandon the Yankee game?

      I’m watching on the MLBN, but was only half listening to that.

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        I’m guessing.

        I know how to get around that myself, but a few other Yankee fans will probably get pissed, if even for just a half inning. Hopefully it comes when the Yankees are at the plate.

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

          They did the same thing w/ Humber’s

          • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

            At least that was a game where the Yankees basically had no chance of winning.

            Or so we thought.

  • MannyGeee

    Come on Voldemort. Make some shit happen

    • MannyGeee

      Or strike out… Dick

  • jjyank

    Ibanez strikes out against a lefty. Guess it’s time for a shot.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Fucking Girardi. Either he makes one move too many or no move at all.

    • Tom

      It is amazing how bad he is managing with a lead…

      The only surprising thing was he didn’t have Granderson bunting 2-2.

      A guy who lives for the platoon on defense can’t be bothered to PH in the 6th inning.

  • ArchStanton

    Another candidate for Girardi’s worst managed inning this season. This is a joke.

  • DT

    Girardi is a fucking moron…no reason to not pinch hit for Raul.

    • Cy Pettitte

      yea, if he sends up Andruw and they bring in Frasor then you can send up Dickerson. I’d rather have Dickerson vs. righty over Ibanez vs. a lefty. plus you can leave Dickerson in LF for much better defense.

      • DT

        Exactly. We have depth…use it.

      • Need Pitching & Hitting

        Exactly what should have happened.

    • ArchStanton

      Thank you Russ Martin!

  • Matt

    Having Granderson try to bunt, and then leaving in Ibanez to bat for himself with multiple runners on base when he is basically a singles hitter against lefties and you have Nunez, Jones, and McGehee on the bench?

    You just have to shake your head at Girardi these days. When the pressure is on, he just completely loses it.

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

    Mad busy late tonight…how come I see people wishing Robby not hurt?! WHAT HAPPENED?!

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      Pitch grazed his left hand on the fat part of the palm

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

        He’s good though? Not hurt?

        • Tom

          Not clear – he was on the bases during the HR.

          Obviously a good sign that he stayed in to run the bases and didn’t come out instantly.

    • jjyank

      It didn’t look bad, but he seemed to be in a bit of pain at first. Hopefully just an initial sting and he’ll be fine. They left him in the game, so that’s something.

  • Mike N

    Please score some more runs now.

    • Mike N

      FUCK, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tom

    Come on Russell bail Girardi out of this ridiculous inning.

    • Tom

      Thanks Russell! (but should you really be reading RAB during an AB?)

      Fuck this small ball shit!

  • Karl Krawfid

    Pathetic baseball by the Yankees.

    • Mike N

      Excuse me?

      • Karl Krawfid

        Being wrong never felt so right.

        • Mike N

          Srsly.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    This game is playing out the same way Tuesday’s game did.

    Crappy SP, got a few runs, but have not been able to build on that. And the Jays have managed to hang around thanks to that.

    As the old ideology goes – you allow the schmucks to hang around, the more they begin to believe they can win.

  • Dela G

    MUSCLE!!!!!

  • Karl Krawfid

    Take that bat.

  • Hummingbird S.

    RUSS!!!

  • Cy Pettitte

    RUSSMART! thank you for finally blowing this open.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    RUSSELL!

    Saved Joe’s ass big-time there.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      girardi better be the first guy giving a high five in the dug out that’s for sure…

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      girardi better be the first guy giving a high five in the dug out that’s for sure…

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Thanks Russ!!!

    That was quite huge.

  • jjyank

    ZOMG RUS!!!!! Huge, huge homer there.

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

    COLTRANE!!!!!!!!!!

    ALL ABOARD THE RUSS BUS!!

  • Chilango

    RUSSSS!! Saves Girardi’s sorry ass

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    “We’re not the Bronx bunters.” – Girardi

    Could have fooled me. And Martin just showed what this offense is all about!!!!!

  • MannyGeee

    Hey Raul? Nah I won’t do it….

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

      Still don’t think he’s a good defensive catcher =P

  • Hall and Nokes

    I remember when we all hated Russ. It was like two weeks ago.

    • DT

      That’s so last month.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

    Alright Russ.

  • Tom Q

    Can’t overestimate what a big at bat that was.

    Who knew Russell would become such a clutch player?

  • http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

    Wow!

    What a big freakin’ hit by Russell Martin!

    Great job, dude.

  • Betty Lizard

    My day. It is made.

    • Tom

      My Favorite Marti(a)n!

    • ropeadope

      Hi Betty. Was wondering if you were around. Great work by your bf. We can breathe a bit easier now.

      • Betty Lizard

        :-)

  • Joe F

    Russ is surging.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Huge 3 run home run with two outs. Plus he made a huge nobody out runners on first/third gun down on 3rd to save hioki’s butt.

  • jjyank

    Ah WHAT THR FUCK? Can someone please get a hit off Bailey so I can go back to the Yankee game? Bullshit.

    • Tom

      As much as I like to see the Pirates misery continue, I second this!

      • jjyank

        Luckily I do have mlb.tv, but I still had to boot up my xbox and wait for everything to load, just because the MLBN decided Bailey needed to be seen for half an inning.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    And MLBN ascends to Pittsburgh.

  • MannyGeee

    Ok MLBN had moved to the homer bailey show. No hits thru 7.1 now

    • MannyGeee

      Also, AJ Burnett is getting the short end, he is going for the CG, 5H 1ER…

      Great great stuff

  • Dela G

    ICHIROOOOOOO!!!!!

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

    http://riveraveblues.com/2012/09/game-157-four-76681/#comment-4878368

    Mike N, Idk if you’re still around, sorry it got really busy late here. Absolutely we a head shop in Jersey is going to have higher prices than NYC. It’s a really simple reasoning too. There are SO MANY head shops in the Village that if a guy won’t give you a deal you just go around the corner to NY Gifts and they’ll hook you up. Here, unless you want to drive 45 minutes out to the nearest Wonderland, or up to Nyack to Liquid Glass or pay 12.50 to cross the bridge and go hunting for a deal in the city were they spot a NJ’er a mile away, we’re the only game in town.

    • Mike N

      After I posted my comment, that occurred to me. My first thought was, “NJ rents -> NJ prices”. But if you are the only head shop in Bergen County, you can charge whatever you want.

  • Mike N

    MORE RUNZ!

  • Joe F

    ICHI-RO

  • Chilango

    Tack on Ichiro-san

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Jason Frasor laying a stink bomb, eh?

  • jjyank

    God damn it. What did Ichiro do? I fucking hate Homer Bailey right now. And MLBN.

  • Dela G

    Michael Kay waited MANY MANY years to use that “Down goes Frasor” line

  • King George

    I don’t mean to overemphasize or to sensationalize this, but my goodness. Looking back at the end of the year, that could be one of the bigger at-bats we have seen in terms of pressure, standings, momentum, you name it. Huge.

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

    Time to get on the real bus…not as fun as the Russ Bus, G’night guys.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Why couldn’t Hunter Bailey have done this last week, which would’ve kept Adrian Gonzalez from hitting two home runs?

    /still bitter from Sunday’d

    • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

      Homer.

      Duh.

  • Joe F

    Comfy.

  • Eddard reboot v.1.0

    Now they have a nice cushion. Let Hiroki go one more then get the garbage relievers some work. The big guys could use the rest.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      yep. Hiroki is looking gassed. Hoping we can get him a bit of rest before the POs.

      • ArchStanton

        Yeah, I might just pull him now, see if it helps at all. He’s over his innings max for a season by quite a bit now.

  • Jack
  • Dela G

    the great thing is that all of the runs so far were with 2 outs

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Well, six runs to work with now.

    Hope Kuroda and Co. can bring this one home safely.

  • Chilango

    I hope Joe still has Kuroda on a short leash.

  • Cy Pettitte

    6 run lead, now how many times will Joe have DRob warm up tonight? gotta be like 2 times minimum.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Knowing joe he will probably get the Jays within 2 runs and have to burn one of soriano or drob.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    I busted my own narrative, but I’ll say it again anyway:

    Rajai Davis seems to get a fucking ton of hits against the Yankees.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Really just not Kuroda’s finest hour whatsoever tonight.

    He better get his act together for the Yankees to have a good chance of advancing deep into October. He hasn’t been sharp for over a month now.

  • jjyank

    God damn it. Do these assholes actually think that anyone watching the Yankees/Jays game in a tight division race actually gives a shit what Homer Bailey does??

    *boots up xbox yet again*

  • Joe F

    Phelps time.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Yeah, that’s a worthwhile out.

    No chance of turning two on that chopper, and Gose’s speed.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Two pitches, two outs.

    Well done, Sir Phelps-A-Lot.

    • Tom

      Like jjyank I’ve been MLBNetwork’d….

      Thanks for the play by play (was curious about the ground ball forceout that you mentioned above)

      • jjyank

        Don’t know if you saw my post earlier, but I do have mlb.tv…so I booted up my xbox to watch the Yankee game when they switched. I hate that they made me do that, though.

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        Well, Jeter was shaded a bit the middle, and Gose hit a weak chopper to Jeter’s arm side.

        Hard DP in most cases, but especially with Gose’s speed on the basepaths. In a 7-1 game, the out overrides the surrendered run, obviously.

        • Tom

          Thanks.

          Figured with Gose running no shot unless it was hit hard at someone.

  • Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

    I find David to be very Phelpful.

    lolololololololol im so fucking funny

    • Rocky Road Redemption

      You mean so Phucking Phunny.

  • MannyGeee

    No hitter complete. Godamn does homer bailey take his time… Kid pitches at a beckett pace

    • Tom

      The no hitter also locks in .500 at best for the Pirates (they need to win out to avoid another under .500 season)

      Maybe they just need more Hells Angels type players?

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      One Beckett-

      two minutes. Roughly one walk around the mound, a blow into the hand, one zombie stare into the stands, and a slow rubbing of the baseball.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Ok, MLBN, get back to the fricken’ Yankee game already.

  • Cy Pettitte

    that was Sterling-esque.

    • Winter

      Yeah, I expect that sort of shit from Sterling. Kay I expect to at least get the call right, despite anything else he may say.

  • Need Pitching & Hitting

    Michael Kay is blind.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      Martin is seeing the ball really well right now. Wonder what’s different?

      • yo fahgetabowdit

        woops. didn’t mean to reply to your post.

  • Hummingbird S.

    how did Granderson got thrown out on that play? stupid baserunning?

  • Hummingbird S.

    how did Granderson got thrown out on that play? stupid baserunning?

  • Tom

    By the way a leadoff bunt single was the only thing standing in the way of Boston also being no hit tonight.

    (Fallacy be damned!)

  • Chilango

    Michael Kay says some very stupid shit.

  • Hummingbird S.

    I wish every game could be as boring as this one. I love boring wins.

  • Cy Pettitte

    Is Boone Logan seriously warming up right now? wtf.

  • mt

    Kuroda looks gassed and not sharp at all and it would be great to rest him but he would be scheduled to pitch Wednesday against Red Sox if that game is still important.

    Given Cook/Doubront/Zach Stewart(!!!) Red Sox rotation this weekend against O’s, I would be shocked if O’s don’t sweep.

    I am not as sure Yanks will sweep Blue Jays especially since Yanks do not seem to be able to thrash Romero like other teams seem to do.

    I guess I am rooting for Oakland to lose to Seattle so Tampa stays interested in 2nd wild card (since Tampa plays O’s in last series).

  • jay

    Why are Logan and Joba up???

  • jjyank

    Real nice curve by Phelps there.

  • mt

    Kuroda looks gassed and not sharp at all and it would be great to rest him but he would be scheduled to pitch Wednesday against Red Sox if that game is still important.

    Given Cook/Doubront/Zach Stewart(!!!) Red Sox rotation this weekend against O’s, I would be shocked if O’s don’t sweep.

    I am not as sure Yanks will sweep Blue Jays especially since Yanks do not seem to be able to thrash Romero like other teams seem to do.

    I guess I am rooting for Oakland to lose to Seattle so Tampa stays interested in 2nd wild card (since Tampa plays O’s in last series).

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Uh oh, Girardi has his pet booner up in the pen.

  • JonS

    So…with an 8-2 lead, why is Chamberlain and Logan warming up in the pen?

    • Tom

      Logan needs the work.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Gotta go with Phelps on Tuesday.

    I don’t even see how it’s a question.

    • jjyank

      I’m inclined to agree. I don’t like throwing a rookie into a game like that, though.

    • JonS

      Even if that’s why he’s gonna pull Phelps early, it’s still an 8-2 game with no one on base. Warm that Motherf’er Lowe up.

  • Tom

    So with Texas trailing by 3 in the 6th, the Yankees can pull within 1 of Texas for the best record.

    I don’t see Chicago coming back in the Central so I much rather have the #1 seed (even if it means 2 games in Oakland). If the Rays get in, maybe not.

    Thoughts?

    • jjyank

      I know you said “thoughts”, and I’m replying, but I don’t really have any. The Yanks are gonna play a good team. They’re gonna have to play a good team. They’re gonna have to beat a good team. No matter how it shakes out. I don’t like how the #1 seed has to wait to know where they have to fly to/play, but they also would be playing a presumably less-rested team with a lesser rotation line up (again, presumably). So we’ll see.

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        But, you want fucked up, here you go, in the event the Yankees procure that #1.

        The Wild Card play-in right now is Baltimore vs. Oakland. Right now, it’s slated for Camden Yards, but if the A’s finish with an identical record (or better, obviously), the venue shifts to the Coliseum.

        Now, imagine the A’s win that play-in game. Then the Yankees have to fly 3,000 goddamned miles to play a game THE VERY NEXT NIGHT. Meanwhile, the A’s would be resting comfortably in their own beds waiting for the jetlagged Yankees to arrive in Oakland.

        I know how the popular rhetoric is “wild card is marginalized” etc. etc. etc. Well, in 2012, it sure as hell isn’t. In that scenario, the winner gets such an enormous boost that it becomes a disadvantage to be #1.

        Only in Bud Selig’s MLB.

        • jjyank

          True. I certainly would not want that. I really do hate Bud Selig, for the record. Always have, always will.

          Truth be told, I may hate every commissioner until they let Pete Rose back. This isn’t related to Bud though, I hate him for so many other reasons.

          • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

            I should point out that it’s also possible for the O’s to win a game in Oakland, and have to fly back to Baltimore to play the Yankees the next night – a Yankees team that would only have a short flight from NY to Baltimore. So that would certainly favour the Yankees.

            But it’s insanity all the same. It should not be coming to this, but Selig and Co. deciding to rush this format after the TV deals had already been brokered has resulted in this unfortunate system for 2012.

            • jjyank

              Dude, you’re preaching to the choir. As far as I’m concerned, it’s criminal (CRIMINAL!!) that such a thing was rushed into production ahead of instant replay. But replay doesn’t make money, and this ridiculous wildcard situation does.

              • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

                I know. Most people here, sane or insane, realize this.

                I still feel like venting about it every now and then, because when you realize the batshit insanity of it, it just boggles the mind how a supposed top-notch professional league like MLB could actually justify doing it.

                • jjyank

                  Vent all you want. I’m sure we all want to at one point or another. There is no excuse for baseball to drag its feet on replay while rushing a new (and ill thought out) playoff structure in the meantime.

                  You get the pitchforks, I’ll get the torches. Let’s storm Selig’s office.

        • Need Pitching & Hitting

          “Then the Yankees have to fly 3,000 goddamned miles to play a game THE VERY NEXT NIGHT”

          There is a day in between, so it won’t be that bad. Wild Card game is Oct. 5. The #1 v. WC ALDS begins Oct. 7.

          • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

            Please correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the play-in games next Friday, and that would mean the ALDS begins on Saturday?

            • Need Pitching & Hitting

              The 2-3 Division Series start on Saturday.
              The 1-WC Series starts on Sunday.

              • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

                Oh.

                I stand corrected. It’s still a screwed up system, but at least that gives #1 teams a chance to acclimate themselves a bit more to their surroundings.

  • Chilango

    6 run lead go after these guys. no screwing around Phelps

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Ryan Doumit hits a huge two run HR to put Minny up 2-0 on Detroit.

    If Chicago holds on to their slim lead, they’re back within a game in the Central.

    • CUYanks

      My goal is that CWS and Det have to play a 1-game playoff. Then Det can potentially burn Verlander? Who would be scheduled to pitch that game?

      • yo fahgetabowdit

        which game?

        • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

          AL Central one-game playoff, I guess.

      • Need Pitching & Hitting

        Verlander is scheduled to pitch tomorrow, so he’d be on regular rest for that 1-game playoff (unless they used him on short rest for last day of regular season)

      • Tom

        Scherzer is scheduled to pitch the last game of the season (but that seems iffy)

        That would leave Verlander for the one game playoff (or game 1 of the LDS if no tie)

        But if Scherzer can’t go I wonder if they bring back Verlander on 3 day’s rest to pitch that last game of the season if it means something. (which I assume would leave Fister for thea tiebreaker of game 1)

        • Tom

          yikes that last part was if they bring Verlander back on short rest for game 162 it would leave Fister for a tiebreaker (or Game 1 of the LDS if there is no tie)

          • Tom

            And correct that, Fister is scheduled to pitch game 161. So if they burn Verlander in either game 162 or a tie breaker – maybe Porcello? Sanchez?

  • Chilango

    Go Swish. Looked ugly but got it done. Nice play

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Way to make me look good, Phelps.

    Once again, never easy with this team.

  • Tom

    Crap… 4 run game. That will likely get the good arms in.

  • Mike N

    Fucking hell. We really have absolutely no decent long relief.

  • Cy Pettitte

    So Joe warms up Logan but then doesn’t bring him for Lind. Either don’t warm him up and give him the night off he needs or bring him in if you do get him up. It’s unreal how bad his decisions have been the last 2 months.

    • The Real Greg

      If those are bad decisions, then every manager in baseball is an idiot. See it all the time.

      • Tom

        Who cares if every manager is an idiot? That doesn’t excuse Girardi.

        Girardi should not be warming up a guy who leads the AL in appearances and is clearly worn down, especially when he’s not going to use him for the guy he was warming hium up for. And who by the way would likely have been pinch hit for had he brought Logan in anyway.

        There was no reason for Logan to be up. At all.

        • The Real Greg

          It all comes down to what the effect does warming up have. It is not included on pitch counts. Nobody really talks about it, unless they warm up 3 times in one game.

          And also he hadn’t pitched since Tuesday so having him only warm up is fine with me. This still counts as a day off for him.

          • Hummingbird S.

            where did you get that number from? It only hurts a pitcher if he warms up 3 times in one game? Really?

            • The Real Greg

              That seems to be the only circumstance that I hear about it from the commentators. 3+ times warming up.

              • Hummingbird S.

                That’s insane.

          • Tom

            No it comes down to stupidity…. he was warming up for a guy (Lind) who would likely have been pinch hit for anyway if he had brought Logan on.

            It was dumb to have him up at all… his only chance of coming in was to pitch to a righty (unless Girardi really was too dumb to realize Farrell would pinch hit for Lind?)

            Other than the need to defend Girardi, what is the logic behind Logan warming? Please tell me who he’s pitching to that inning.

  • The Real Greg

    Anybody still want Phelps to start?

    • JonS

      Because he gave up a HR? Seriously?

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

        Ivan Nova can do that … and more!

    • Rocky Road Redemption

      Definitely. Not even a question.

      • The Real Greg

        It’s going to be tough now because he has been forced to pitch here.

        • Tom

          3 days rest?

          How much time does he need off after throwing 26 pitches?

          • The Real Greg

            To start a game? He would probably only go 4 innings or so. He has a tendency to build up his pitch count quickly.

            • Tom

              That has nothing to do with him working today though (which is what you were saying)

              He would be limited no matter what – his working today is meaningless.

          • Rocky Road Redemption

            Yeah, really.

    • nsalem

      Between him and Nova most certainly. Have you watched Nova’s last 2 starts?

      • The Real Greg

        No that’s fine. Just don’t put him up on a pedestal yet.

    • Chilango

      Yes, I do

  • Hall and Nokes

    WIN IT FOR ICHIRO. WHILE HE’S STILL HERE AMONG US.

    • yo fahgetabowdit

      He might have to win it for us.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Toronto’s problem isn’t offense. They score runs ok. Sorta the same problem the Twins have.

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

    is the website being incredibly laggy for anybody else? Like seriously as I’m typing this it’s like three words behind.

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

    No reason that Cano shouldn’t be at second if hes’ busting it out of the box.

    • Chilango

      Right. Even thrown out going for two is legit in the circumstances. Cano just doesn’t hustle plain and simple. Never did never will.

      • yo fahgetabowdit

        I wonder if he’s just trying to stay healthy for FA or something. He hardly ever dives for balls that I’ve seen either. Beyond that his D is very good.

        • jjyank

          He’s not even a FA this offseason. I highly, highly, highly doubt this is an issue.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Probably the worst bullpen we’ve had in 5 years. Haven’t looked at the numbers yet, but it sure feels that way.

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

    I guess Swisher got that off the handle a little bit cause I thought that was hit a lot farther off the bat.

  • VT Yankee Fan

    Is Sterling drunk?

    • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

      #CommentsFromForever

  • Chilango

    No cutters Robbie ok. Throw the curve

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    DRob pitching in a five run game to start the 8th is the height of insanity.

    • jjyank

      Agreed. But my fantasy team needs the boost after Edwin Jackson shit the bed. So I can’t really bitch about it :P Unless Robertson also shits the bed.

    • The Real Greg

      I can see both sides of the issue.

      The other side is that he hasn’t pitched since Monday and has only pitched once since September 21st.

      • CUYanks

        I don’t think it’s terrible, but I might have tried to avoid it. Bottom line, these are must win games, and a B reliever could easily make a mess of it.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Yet ANOTHER hit for Rajai Davis.

  • jay

    who is that and what has he done with Rajai Davis?

    • Rocky Road Redemption

      Pedro Ciriaco, is that you?

      • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

        That’s racist!

        —

        Yeah, I’m kidding. Spare me the high-horse righteousness, potentially-offended-RABers.

        • Rocky Road Redemption

          Heh, I didn’t even consider race. It was just a reference to how another player who wasn’t really that good suddenly turned into Babe fucking Ruth when playing the Yankees.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Looked like a strike there…

  • Mike N

    I am far from a naysayer, but how well is this bullpen gonna fare in the postseason?

    • The Real Greg

      Its the main reason why I don’t think they are going to do anything substantial. Especially without Rivera where he was so clutch.

      • Winter

        Losing rivera has done much more damage to our middle relief than it has to our closer, IMO.

    • Chilango

      Is that a rhetorical question lol

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    And no damage done.

    First scoreless half-inning since the Yankees top of the 5th.

  • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

    I think it was a little over board bringing Robertson in.

    • The Real Greg

      Another thing I thought of is who else are you bringing in?

      Lowe pitched yesterday
      Logan you want to avoid getting him into a game (warming up is fine)
      Rapada (not a full inning guy)
      Aardsma pitched yesterday and didn’t show much.
      Joba I bet is pitching the ninth
      Wade is awful
      Soriano’s the closter.

      • The Real Greg

        And Eppley’s not really a full inning guy either.

      • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

        Lowe cant pitch on consecutive days? Rappada and eppley could have mixed and matched, they could’ve left phelps in, or gone to joba then robertson. idk, just seemed a tad excessive for a 5 run game. sorry it took so long to reply. The website is really sucking for me right now

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Ryan Doumit really wants the White Sox to stay in the Central race.

    Wow.

  • Pat D

    So I impulsively bought a new second TV for our house last week. What happens today? Oh, great, my laptop won’t turn on! And I still haven’t gotten any kind of approval for Trade Act training, so I don’t know if I’m eligible for the health care tax credit, so I’m going to have to pay high premiums if I want health coverage, so……ah, fuck it, just shoot me.

    • Big Members Only (formerly RI$P FTW)

      I still can’t tell if you’re 12 or 87.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    I remember when allstar break rolled around the only thing I could think of relistically upgrading for little cost was the bullpen. We don’t have the young phenoms to bring up, or move from starters into the bullpen this year.

  • Mike N

    WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

  • Cy Pettitte

    Chavez has such easy oppo field power, blows my mind how many of his hits like that get out.

  • nsalem

    Would a divisional tiebreaker game be considered a regular season game (as it has been in the past). Can the loser of a tie breaker be eliminated from the playoffs if there are two non division winners with a better winning percentage after a tie breaker loss?

  • jjyank

    Yay more breathing room! Can we please get Lowe or someone of that ilk now?

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries
    • Need Pitching & Hitting

      wtf?

    • jjyank

      Um…whaaaat??

    • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

      dafuq did I just read.

    • Tom Q

      I’m thinking (OK, praying) it’s a different, freakier Wade Davis.

    • CUYanks

      ESPN and its crack editing team couldn’t fathom there could be multiple people in the world named Wade Davis.

    • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

      This is all a joke, trust me. That’s why I boxed in the portion placing it in the UK.

      I’m amused ESPN’s filters let that one slip in there. I wasn’t about to just let that one slip away once I saw it.

    • Pat D

      Isn’t it great to share a name with someone like that?

  • Tom Q

    So, considering the evening began with the Orioles prohibitively ahead in their game, and Kuroda shaky from the get-go in this one, it’s nice (if surprising) to go to the bottom of the 9th as relaxed as this.

  • Tom

    Soriano and Garcia throwing

    Maybe he can get Sabathia warming in case there’s a tough lefty coming up?

  • Cy Pettitte

    this is seriously hilarious.

  • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

    I swear Joe just gets loaded for some games and just goes crazy.

    • Tom

      He seems to have taken an extra dose of his stupid pill today.

      “Raffy needed to get some work in… one batter keeps him sharp”

  • Hummingbird S.

    Girardi is seriously insane. Or straight trolling.

  • Matt

    Even Michael Kay is speechless. Girardi is nuts.

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    Why in the hell is MFIKY in an 11-4 game?

    Joe?

    Umm…JOE?

  • Cy Pettitte

    will he still #untuck?

  • jjyank

    Mkay. I usually defend Girardi’s decisions (with exception of course) But Soriano here? Really?

  • Matt

    LOL. Some guy screaming “You are an idiot!”

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Watch Soriano pull his hammy or something insane like that.

  • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

    Seriously hoped it would be a one pitch out for the comedic effect.

  • Tom

    Wow I miss Gardner… is Jones or Ibanez within 20 feet of the wall on that foul ball?

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Joe trying to rattle sorianos confidence before the playoffs start. He was pitching too well.

  • Mike N

    YES!

  • mt

    Joe will say that Soriano wanted to pitch since he has not pitched in awhile.

    I still would not have let him do it.

  • jjyank

    Well, whatever. A win is a win is a win. Keep it going boys!

  • https://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

    No save, no Untuck?

  • Rocky Road Redemption

    I am completely flabbergasted as to why MFIKY was in the game.

    D-Rod, while debatable, was understandable, but MFIKY? Really? Come on.

    • The Real Greg

      Hasn’t pitched since last Friday. That’s why.

      • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

        and we have an off day tom—or not for the rest of the season. There isn’t a shortage of games to get these guys work.

        • The Real Greg

          Do you want him rusty when we actually need him to close a game?

          • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

            Rusty>Tired. I’d rather him be rusty in a regular season game then tired come Post season time or tired come a game that matters. Rust you can not off, tirdness is hard to beat.

            • The Real Greg

              Not when the division is up for grabs.

          • Rocky Road Redemption

            I want him rested for when we’re in extra innings and he needs to throw 20 pitches in back-to-back games potentially. I’ll risk “rustiness”, which probably isn’t even a thing for relievers who haven’t pitched in a fucking week.

            • The Real Greg

              Wonder if you’ll be saying that if he blows back to back saves thanks to loss of command that costs us the division.

              • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

                You’re more likely to lose your control than command if you’re rusty. So he’d walk a few guys. If he’s tired he’s much more likely to throw up a meatball.

              • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

                Also…it’s literally impossible for a reliever to be rusty the second time around if he’s used twice in two days.

              • Rocky Road Redemption

                Hahaha yeah sure, okay. It’ll be RUSTINESS that’s the cause. Well, now I’ve seen the error of my ways.

  • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

    #untuck, glad we won. But now watch the next three games be 1-0 games going into the 7th and we lose one because Robertson and MFKIY pitched w/ a 5 and 7 run lead respectively.

    • Tom Q

      Honestly, I feel better about him coming in protecting a 1-run lead tomorrow knowing he’s at least thrown a few competitive pitches in the preceding week.

      I’m shocked people are so up in arms about this. I think it’s a completely defensible move, trying to get a guy a minimal amount of work.

      • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

        Greg’s got me defending my opinion much more than I actually care. It’s defensible, I just wouldn’t have done it.

        • Rocky Road Redemption

          Yeah, I second Raul here. I mentioned that I was “flabbergasted”. but this just comes from my personal managerial theory that if you pitch a lot take as many breaks as possible.

  • yo fahgetabowdit

    Joe had to meet his gamely quota of at least 5 pitchers.

  • The Real Greg

    I get Soriano. He hasn’t pitched since last Friday.

  • The Real Greg

    And people are acting like he pitched a full inning. He pitched 0.1 inning.

    • Jonathan

      considering the warming up in the bullpen the difference is negligible

      • Tom

        Warmups don’t count. Unless you do it 3 times.

        • The Real Greg

          In one game, basically.

          If that’s true then how come they don’t add warmup pitches to the pitch counts?

          • Tom

            And you know managers and teams DON’T do this how exactly?

            Hell even Mike A tracks “WU”

  • https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

    At least Stephen Drew isn’t only terrorizing the Yankees anymore.

    Man, the A’s have just been something else. And with a good weekend and a little luck, they can have a chance to win the West when the Rangers come to town for the last three off the season.

  • forensic

    Why are people freaking out about Soriano in this game???

    He’s thrown precisely 0 pitches in the last week.

    Even Robertson had thrown just 10 pitches in the last week.

    There’s a point where too much rest defeats the purpose.

    • The Real Greg

      That’s what I’m saying. And Soriano only pitched a third of an inning.

      • forensic

        Ugh, I agree with Greg. I feel so dirty…

        ;-)

    • Rocky Road Redemption

      I’m not freaking out, but yeah I think it’s stupid.

      • forensic

        But even your other comment doesn’t make sense. It’s understandable for a guy who has pitched in the last week to throw a whole inning but absurd (my word, not yours) for a guy who hasn’t pitched in a week to get a little work getting one out?

        • Rocky Road Redemption

          It was really more my feelings in the moment I guess. There’s not ACTUALLY much of a difference between a five run lead with two innings and a seven run lead in one, but at the time I definitely felt that our sucky relievers could have made it close.

          A seven run lead in the ninth just felt way more manageable-two more runs to work with and three less outs. You’re right though, the difference is actually so negligible that I should be against putting D-Rob in as well.

  • mt

    The problem with using Soriano is that if for some reason he gets hurt or gets hit by a line drive in a blowout game like today Joe would never live it down with media and fans (maybe even players on his own team) even though he could just as easily get hurt in a close game tomorrow.

    Also if Sori really needed work why not have him work the whole inning – one batter really makes that big a difference in Sori’s rest/rust issue as as far as feel for pitching? What if he retired the batter on 1 pitch? Seems crazy.

    I also wonder why if Logan and Chamberlain were made to warm up why couldn’t they be used instead of Robertson and Soriano in a game where all everybody is trying to do is get some outs (no real mixing and matching when you have such a big lead). Instead Robby and Sori warm up AND get used and Logan and Joba still warm up.

    • The Real Greg

      I think you might have answered your own question. That’s probably why he only pitched a third of an inning. To lessen the probability of injury, while getting him some work.

    • mt

      I have seen closers come in during blowouts when they haven’t had work – the “too cute” issue of overmanaging is the one batter thing – does that really make a big difference?

  • The Real Greg

    Joe just said exactly what we thought. Can’t give too many days off to a pitcher.

    • Tom

      Well then have him start the inning (and pull him after 10 or 15 pitches or whatever the magic “get the rust off” # is)

      What happens if he gets a groundball on the very first pitch… does that shake the rust off?

  • Chilango

    Getting a guy “work” means more than .1 inning. Joba and Logar were already warming, as mt says. Another Girardi head scratcher. But allin all no big deal.

  • http://needanewnamegivesuggestions.tumblr.com/ Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle

    Lol @ that Land Rover commercial. Are you an obnoxiously rich white mid 30s bird watcher w/ 1500 dollars worth of camera equipment? If so, Land Rover is the car for you.