Game Three: Baby Steps

April 4, 2013 by Michael Axisa 425 Comments

The first two games of the season have not gone according to plan, to say the least. The Yankees have been outplayed by the Red Sox in pretty much every facet of the game (hitting, pitching, defense) and are a well-deserved 0-2 to start the year. Things could always be worse, I guess.

For the sake of lowering expectations, there are two things I would like to see the Yankees do in tonight’s series finale against Boston. One, it would be cool if they weren’t done four runs after two innings. That one seems simple enough, yet they were unable to do it Monday or Wednesday. Two, it would be even cooler if they actually held a lead at some point. Remember, they didn’t hold a single lead in the ALCS last year, so you have to go back to Game Five of the ALDS for the last time the Yankees had more runs than their opponent.

If they do one of those two things, I guess I’ll be happy. If they do both, then I’ll be even happier. If they do all that and manage to win … well, I don’t want to get greedy now. Here’s the slightly shaken-up lineup…

CF Brett Gardner
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kevin Youkilis
DH Travis Hafner
LF Vernon Wells
RF Ichiro Suzuki
~~1B Lyle Overbay~~ SS Eduardo Nunez
~~SS Eduardo Nunez~~ 1B Lyle Overbay
C Frankie Cervelli

And on the mound for his first April start since 2010, left-hander Andy Pettitte.

It’s cold once again in New York, but it’s not as brutally freezing as it was last night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET and the game can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Try to enjoy.

http://twitter.com/Carlosologist Carlosologist

Time for the new guys to buck up. I have faith they’ll do stuff tonight. 5-2 win maybe?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  WRONG!
  
  4-2, bitch.
forensic

Not at all shocking that it took all of one game for the lefties at the top of the order to drive Girardi nuts and start messing with stuff already.

And it’s also nice to see that there is absolutely no plan in place for the catchers, other than blindly swapping them every game no matter what. I’m sure that’ll really help one of them hit moderately well. Game 1, Cervelli gets a hit so he immediately sits game 2 despite having experience and success against Buchholz while Stewart has never faced him. Now game 3, Cervelli has never seen Dempster while Stewart at least has. Now, far be for me to ask for Stewart to start any game, but at least use something other than every other day to make damn decisions.
Winter

I can understand batting Cano second, but not with Cervelli batting ninth. Put Nunez ninth as a “second leadoff hitter” (god know how much everyone loves those), or Ichiro or something. I just don’t like the idea of the hitter batting two spots above our best (and only elite) hitter being a complete no-show at the plate.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  2010-2012
  Ichiro .699 OPS, 93 wRC+
  Nunez .701 OPS, 88 wRC+
  Cervelli .702 OPS, 93 wRC+
  
  Granted Ichiro is significantly better vs. RHP, but that would be a reason to try to get him more AB’s, not less.
jjyank

Hm, not sure how I feel about Cano in the two slot. Let’s see how it goes.
- hogsmog
  
  I AM SO SURE ABOUT THIS.
  - jjyank
    
    Hope you’re right.
Adam

Can Big Show bat cleanup?
jjyank

Whoa, new MLB.TV interface for the season. I didn’t see it last night, so this may not be new to some of you. I like it. I don’t have to scroll down the list of games to find the team marked as my “favorite” anymore. Yay progress.
- Winter
  
  Maybe I’m just remembering it wrong (or used to the new one from watching spring training), but in what way is the interface different? I don’t notice any change.
  
  Again, I may just be used to the new one.
  - jjyank
    
    It’s different for spring training. Maybe it’s the xbox app that’s different, because that’s what I use. I logged on and there was an update to download, and then it was different.
    
    Basically it used to just have all the games listed on a horizontal line, and I had to scroll through to click one. Now it defaults the Yankee game to a window about 1/4 of the screen and has additional info on the sides, like news, highlights, schedules, and lists of other games. I can just click the window of the Yankee game to full screen it. Much better layout.
    - jjyank
      
      It was different *than* spring training. Sorry if that language was confusing. I watched ST games through MLB.TV on my xbox, and it’s different now.
      - Winter
        
        Probably the xbox interface. PC is unchanged :(
valgoth

or chokeslam a redsox player
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Or turn face/heel 30 times.
YankeesJunkie

Seeing the day where Travis Hafner hitting clean up is just scary. Tex, Granderson, and Jeter please come back soon! However, Pettitte locks down the Sox tonight and the Yanks win.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Much better than the days of Sam Pearce hitting cleanup.
  - jjyank
    
    Also reminds me of this: http://www.overthemonster.com/.....0/game-134
YankeesJunkie

True fact, I was not capable of watching games for the second half of the season so I did get memorized by his performance.
Pat D

RIP Roger Ebert.
Ruby Rich

I like Cano hitting 2nd in this lineup. Might as well get him as many AB’s as possible because nobody in front of him will ever get on base anyway.

Gardner
Cano
Youk
Hafner
Wells
Overbay
Cervelli
Ichiro
Nunez
- trr
  
  I’m OK with this.
Wil Nieves #1 Fan

That picture of Joba and Big Show is awesome.
jjyank

Just thinking about the lineup, I think I’d rather have Hafner hit behind Cano against RHP.
Pat D

Don’t know if I’m a fan of the lineup tinkering. Hitting Ichiro 6th is like saying you don’t expect him to do anything.
- Crespo
  
  Might as well get Boesch in there.
Pat D

Gotta love the schedule, too. Night game today. 1:00 game in Detroit tomorrow.
cheddar

Looks like Big Show is getting shorter, the same way his father Andre did.
- Pat D
  
  Not sure if serious.
  - cheddar
    
    Dead serious. He’s not as tall as he used to be.
    - Pat D
      
      I meant about him being Andre’s son.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        It was his original gimmick.
        
        One of my favorite NWO moments was, long after the whole “son of Andre” thing got dropped, Scott Hall looked him dead in the face during a promo and asked, “yo, you’re not really Andre’s son, are you?”
        
        Great stuff.
        
        Pat D
        
        I know it was his original gimmick. I wanted to make sure he knew that he really wasn’t.
        
        I remember Hall asking him that. Classic.
        
        cheddar
        
        IIRC, he replied something like “Dude… don’t go there.”
mrdbag

Great, another game with a half empty stadium. Sigh.
- Slugger27
  
  i think half is overestimating it. legends is 80% empty and upper deck is mostly empty.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Two minutes into the game. OMGZ.
Pat D

I just want to share this story. My college advisor is a big Red Sox fan. I had a meeting with him on Tuesday. He said that he watched the game on ESPN Monday and he thought they made way too big a deal of Bradley. He agreed that Bradley did nothing special and it reeked of bias.

Just thought I’d share that.
- jjyank
  
  Yay rationality.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  I saw him at College World Series a couple years back, and the one thing that popped out was his arm was a cannon.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I just stick to little cute blondes as my Sox fan friends.
  - Pat D
    
    I withhold the first thought that comes to mind.
Mike HC

You just know Pettitte is going to stop the bleeding tonight. We have seen him do it over and over again.
- Pat D
  
  Andy Pettitte is a stahting pitchahhhhhh!!!!! He’s the stoppahhhhh!!!!
Pat D

Victorino is really annoying me. The fact that he’s the only guy I know of who sports the two-flap helmet doesn’t help.

It always amused me that my favorite player Dave Winfield was the last guy who got to wear a no-flap helmet.
- bobtaco
  
  Choo!
YankeesJunkie

The Yankees strength this year, especially with Granderson being back is going to be the OF defense in their capabilities to grab flyballs and may be especially beneficial to Hughes.
Mike HC

Swisher would have caught that too, but it would have ended with him tripping and then gracefully playing it off into a roll.
Crespo

Wow.
Anderson Silva

thanks Victorino
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

That was ….ummmm….interesting.
Mike HC

And Cervelli got a nice elbow to the throat in for good measure as well.
Eddard

And that’s the type of energy and hustle that we need from our C. Frankie should be playing 80% of the games.
- Slugger27
  
  he probably will. everyone here acts like theres been a quote saying he wont be the primary catcher. if there is, i havent seen it.
- Ron Hassey
  
  Hustle? He almost got caught dogging it picking up his passed ball. He’s lucky if anything.
Pat D

Cervelli giveth and taketh.
jjyank

Wow. Was not expecting that to happen. Boo, Cervelli, yay Cervelli!
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Nice Cervy, you even mannaged to hit that punk in the face.
That ball you let pass… not nice.
Mike HC

It caught everyone napping because it would such a shockingly stupid attempt.
Eddard

If they can’t hit Dumpster we might as well forfeit the rest of the games until the injured stars return. This is a prime chance to turn things around against a bad pitcher.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  Yeah, I cannot think of a worse pitcher than Dempster… Oh wait I got one; DAVID PHELPS.
Winter

Heads up, Overbay and Nunez are flipped compared to Mike’s lineup.
Mike HC

Here we go … can’t help but feel this our game
- Mike HC
  
  now I’m not so sure
Eddard

Finally Gardner gets on. Now let him fly, Joe. Don’t sit back and wait for the 3 run HR.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  I’m sure he has a green light.
  Whether he uses it is another matter.
- Ron Hassey
  
  Nice call.
- Mike HC
  
  Joe let him fly, alright
YankeesJunkie

Did Robinson Cano really start from the bottom? How will (should) this effect his contract? Who actually thinks I am serious? Who gets my joke? Who cares?
jjyank

What did I miss? Since when does Cano get shifted like that?
- Mike HC
  
  Sox have done it all series
  - jjyank
    
    I didn’t watch last night and I guess I didn’t notice on Monday. Seems weird. I mean it worked there, but Cano can hit the other way.
    - Mike HC
      
      Yea, that was basically everyones reaction both in the booth and in the comments.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Usually in the air when he does.
    - Anderson Silva
      
      But it seems he only does it in the air. It’s actually a really smart shift and Robbie hasn`t been able to beat it so far.
    - Crespo
      
      They’re trying to get him to just hit singles because no one else in the Yankees can do anything.
    - Tom
      
      Wally Pipp Overbay?
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Don’t think that’s CODY Ross, Michael.
Pat D

Sigh.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

YAY!! Free outs!!
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  With one of the best hitters on earth at the plate!!
  - Winter
    
    I dunno, given how the last two games have been somewhat lackluster offensively, I don’t mind trying to jumpstart the scoring. Sucks that he was thrown out, but he’s one of the fastest runners in the league (possibly the fastest) and I don’t mind sending him.
    - Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
      
      Come On Andy do with this punk what you did with Harper last year
      - Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
        
        Oh shit, reply fail.
BrienTaylorsRookieCard

double sigh
Mike HC

Middlebrooks has range all the way to rightfield! He is going to break UZR!
- BrienTaylorsRookieCard
  
  lol
Pistol pete

Gardner flatfooted and Cano won’t go the other way so now we have 2 outs and nobody on, great.
WhittakerWalt

I have a sinking feeling Robbie’s going to spend the entire season just getting himself out. When did he become pull-happy?
- Mike HC
  
  If anybody can beat that god damned shift, you gotta think it is Robbie.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    He should be able to. He has no problem going the other way. He could rack up base hits to left from now until the cows come home. So why pull a weak grounder to the right side?
    - Mike HC
      
      It will be interesting to see what the other teams do with him. But I still think Robbie can adjust given a little time.
      - Crespo
        
        The Red Sox know that they can let Cano hit singles all day and that no one else in the Yankees lineup will make them pay for it.
        
        Mike HC
        
        Good point.
        
        WhittakerWalt
        
        I guess. I just don’t like seeing a smart hitter ground into the shift with that much regularity.
  - BrienTaylorsRookieCard
    
    anyone know what his spray chart looks like? got to be better than tex’s.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Cano last year:
      http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.c.....2F1%2F2012
      
      Tex last year:
      http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.c.....2F3%2F2013
      - Mike HC
        
        If you look at the chart only against righties though, the shift does seem to make some sense,
        
        http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.c.....2F1%2F2012
      - BrienTaylorsRookieCard
        
        thanks! does look better than tex’s, no?
- Winter
  
  Truth is most players are “pull happy.” Being able to go the other way effectively is not a skill that most players possess. Especially not on balls that are middle of the plate or inside.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    But Robbie’s an all-fields hitter. When Tex becomes pull-crazy you aren’t that surprised.
    Robbie uses the whole field. That was a gimme base knock.
Athenian

Always fascinated that players like Cano who are considered great hitters, can’t adjust to a shift.

On the bright side, we are at least seeing consistency in the team.
- Freddy’s Dead
  
  That’s two big hits the Yankees have gotten on pitches out of the zone. Great hitting by Gardy and Overbay. (What’s Joe calling Overbay? Lyley?)
WhittakerWalt

That was some Jeterian range by Nunie.
Reuben Sierra’s Chains

Yankees were not behind by 4 runs after 2 innings of last nights game as is stated up top. But I know what you mean…
BrienTaylorsRookieCard

cano to jeter…I mean not Jeter.
Pat D

That was the greatest GIDP ever!
jjyank

Suck it, JBJ.
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Nunez didn’t even pretend to take a step toward that ground ball.
Crespo

Where’s the adjustment Wells? You know they’re going to pitch you away. Why am I even asking?
Crespo

Holy fuck Ichiro
WhittakerWalt

Ichiro. WHAT.
Crespo

and of course it bounces in the stands
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Shit, bad break!!!
Eddard

Damnit. That was Nuney’s RBI. Now the C has to hit with RISP.
King George

Who has faith in Lyle here?
BrienTaylorsRookieCard

6 percent of yahoo fantasy baseball has nunez on their teams. starting on mine (though I might be biased).
- jjyank
  
  Who else do you have at SS on your team?
  - BrienTaylorsRookieCard
    
    well i should say aybar is starting. i have nunez as the extra middle infielder.
    - jjyank
      
      Oh good. I was gonna say…
      - BrienTaylorsRookieCard
        
        yea i realize now how that looked. it’s also a 17 player team and all hitters. i grabbed him like 15th round. figured it would be fun and I had hopes he’d hit well.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  I’m pretty sure Big Member drafted him in our league, but I don’t know if he is starting him.
Crespo

3-run bomb. please.
flamingo

Oh, look, runs!
Mike HC

Yes!
Crespo

A LEAD!!!
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

A lead!!!!
Eddard

Nuney and Overbay! We might have a new 1-2 punch on our hands.
- jjyank
  
  Erm no. Love the enthusiasm though.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  I laughed.
jjyank

Thank you, Overbay, Thank you.
Crespo

Lyle Overbay, extension candidate.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Lyle Overbay, cocksman.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Yes, nice break!!

There you have your lead Mike.
Vern Sneaker

Nice!
Pat D

What’s this lead of which we speak?
forensic

XMRadio and Gameday must be having technical difficulties. They both have a 2 next to the Yankees and a 0 next to the Red Sox.

Can anyone clarify what’s going on for me???
WhittakerWalt

Cervelli: professional hitter.
Anthony

This is my first time sitting down for a game, and before they announced Overbay was batting I was legit just staring at the TV thinking “who the eff is this??”. But hey, a hit with RISP!
WhittakerWalt

Nuney is 2-2 in Jeter impressions.
flamingo

I love these double play balls.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Jeter got a tan or something? May be he went to Brazil or Africa…
Eddard

Andy looks sharp. I don’t know why people continue to doubt him after he keeps coming back and dominating every time.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  More injury risk than anything else with me. I don’t doubt his ability to get the job done when healthy.
  - jjyank
    
    Same, but for me it’s not injury so to speak, but rather endurance. He hasn’t pitched a full season since 2009.
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

I’m convinced that the Yankees’ problem in the first two games was a lack of people who boast the middle name “Eugene.” This solves that.
Vern Sneaker

Andy is such a pro. Love watching him pitch.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

I freaking love Andy Pettitte.
- ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
  
  If you aren’t the Luis Castillo who dropped the ball are you the one who sprained his ankle walking down the dugout steps.
  - ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
    
    There was meant to be a question mark there.
  - Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
    
    Hah, no.
jjyank

Great fielding, Andy.
hogsmog

Andy Andy Andy
flamingo

This game is pretty nice so far.
Robinson Tilapia

GARDNER GOES YARD!!!!!
Mike HC

Yankee Stadium special for Gardner!
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

GARDNER GOES YARDNER
Cy Pettitte

Gardy bomb!
Anthony

Wooooo
Eddard

There’s a slump buster for Gardner! Keep racking up those runs for Andy.
Crespo

Too short Shane
BrienTaylorsRookieCard

we are unstoppable!
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Jesus, I just blasted my pants!!

Nice Gardner see? you don’t need no stinkin’ stolen bases!
- ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
  
  SERIOUSLY WHICH LUIS CASTILLO ARE YOU?? ARE YOU THE ONE WHO GETS INJURED IN THE DUGOUT??
  - Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
    
    NOOOOOOO!!
Pat D

YS3 Special.
jjyank

Well Brett Fucking Gardner goes yard. The Yankees have to win this game now.
Tom

The Yankees next 40HR CF’r?

It is good to see him occasionally attack the first pitch to keep pitchers honest.
Mike HC

From that replay angle it looked like Victorino was waiting for an Angels in the Outfield type pick me up
Robinson Tilapia

Brett Gardner: Cocksman.
- Crespo
  
  extend him!
  - Mike HC
    
    I think you mean, “extenze” him
    - jjyank
      
      Well done.
- jjyank
  
  You’re forcing it a bit, R-Tils :P
  - Pat D
    
    Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do with……never mind.
    - jjyank
      
      Heh. You dirty man, you.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    You’re only going to know if something is going to stick if you put it to the stress test.
    - jjyank
      
      It garnered enough conversation today to warrant it, fair enough.
BrienTaylorsRookieCard

It would be fun if someone said “we rely too much on the long ball” right now.
- ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
  
  we rely too much on the long ball
  - BrienTaylorsRookieCard
    
    there it is!
hogsmog

I’m watching Gameday; can anyone tell me if Youkilis actually changed his stance?
- Mike HC
  
  I haven’t really done a study, but from what I remember, there definitely seems to be less pre pitch movement.
  - jjyank
    
    I don’t think the stance itself changed much, he is supposedly keeping his hands a bit lower so he’s quicker to the plate. I think that’s what it is, I could be misremembering though.
- http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  Enough to notice a change, not enough to stop him from looking like a clown. He still has that goofy dance, but when the pitch comes in you can tell he drops his hands lower than he used to.
- Barry
  
  I think he’s just dropping his wrists earlier. Instead of swinging straight from his crazy cocky pre-bat routine, he does that but drops his wrists right before the wind-up.
Kramerica Industries

get home, and the Yankees have a lead. Nice!
Hall and Nokes

Hafner isn’t very good looking, is he?
- Barry
  
  doesn’t matter, man’s hung like a horse, or so dalelama’s sister tells me.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  Hah yeah I think so.
  
  Replacing Jeter, Chavez and A-Rod with Pronk, Youk and Eddie Nuñez has gotta hurt to the eyes of the girls.
  - jjyank
    
    Poor Erica.
    - Eric Chavez
      
      *blows kiss*
  - flamingo
    
    Was going to comment that maybe women watch because they like the sport.
    
    Then I decided it would become a Thing and I hate Things.
    
    Yeah, this is super passive-aggressive of me, but hey, I call out casual sexism when I see it.
- Winter
  
  He looks like some dude who works for Verizon.
Robinson Tilapia

The Eduardo Nunez conundrum.
Anthony

Nuney should make more of those plays so he doesn’t have to throw the ball lol.
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Nunez is still a derp even when he makes a great play.
jjyank

Nunie with the ups.
Eddard

I thought that was Ozzie Smith out there for a minute. Great play by Nuney.
Chip

Nunez is looking great on defense. Color me shocked
Eddard

Coney is just full of interesting stats. He’s the best baseball analyst in the game, imo. FOX would do well to replace McCarver with Coney.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I am all for running Tim McCarver out there every week until he doesn’t remember his own name.
  
  Keep Cone on YES.
  - jjyank
    
    This, this this. If Cone leaves YES, that is a bad thing. He needs to stay right where I can hear him.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      I’m willing to drive Flaherty to the moon myself, though.
      - Mike HC
        
        I will gladly get started on building the rocket.
  - Pat D
    
    He knows it now?
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      He’s not at Ralph Kiner levels yet.
- Mike HC
  
  Cone and O’neill are my favorites. Singleton a close second/third.
  - jjyank
    
    That’s my booth of choice right there. Singleton for play-by-play, Cone and O’Neil for color.
    - Mike HC
      
      Definitely
    - flamingo
      
      West Coast games are awesome for this reason.
    - The Other Sam
      
      Singleton, Cone, O’Neil, and…Sweet Lou!
      - jjyank
        
        Meh. Lou is okay, but a 4 man booth is too much.
        
        Pat D
        
        That 8 or 9 man broadcast booth in The Naked Gun worked just fine.
Vern Sneaker

Hard to believe Andy is 106 years old.
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

I say this every year, and I’m always shocked to say it:

I missed hearing Michael Kay’s voice.
Vern Sneaker

He’s been interesting this series. Kay doesn’t follow up well with him, though. Cone’s stuff could lead to much longer discussions but it takes two.
- Barry
  
  If they got Kay some coke it’d be interesting.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Get Kay hopped up on condiments.
    - Mike HC
      
      haha … I was unsuccessfully trying to form a condiment joke there myself.
      
      Well done.
  - Vern Sneaker
    
    I meant Coney’s been interesting. Kay is awful
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Lol at Coney outing Whitey Ford’s cheating tactics.
sangreal

That helmet…
The Other Sam

Maybe a chin strap for Nuney?
jjyank

Hah, of course Nunez loses his helmet. I’d love to see that stat actually. What MLB player loses his helmet down the line the most?
Tom

I thought the Red Sox traded Josh Beckett?

Dempster really slows down with men on base.
Crespo

Kay said it, Dempster taking way too fucking long. Indians Blue Jays it is.
- Mike HC
  
  This has gotten ridiculous
Vern Sneaker

Couple of hits here to break this open!
jjyank

Hehe. Kay said “fister”.
forensic

Does Pettitte really only have 40 pitches in 4 innings? Are they just swinging at everything or what?
- jjyank
  
  I forget his exact pitch count, but yeah, pretty much. A few of the hits were on the first pitch, and Andy’s gotten a couple double plays as well.
jjyank

89 pitches for Dempster through 4. Love it.
Freddy’s Dead

I’d like to know if anybody thinks there’s a better curveball in the game now than Pettite’s.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  Lee’s for a lefthanded, Verlander’s for a righthanded.
  - Freddy’s Dead
    
    Wouldn’t argue Verlander, but not sure I agree on Lee. Whatever. It’s a damn good one when he gets it over. Loving Andy tonight.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Paraphrasing…

Sterling: “I think Dempster, Morneau and Lawrie are from the same area, I don’t know exactly where or wich, but they are from the same area…”

Yes you moron, it’s called freaking Canada.
- ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
  
  You can’t figure countries of origin, Suzyn.
jjyank

This comment is kinda late, but man, I LOVE watching Andy’s windup. Just so smooth and effortless.
- Freddy’s Dead
  
  I agree! Enjoying this hugely. We might get to see Mo and feel all warm and fuzzy.
- Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
  
  I also love how, before the first pitch of the game, he looks into evrey infielder’s eyes and does a little fist pump. I like that very much.
- http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  Pretty much any time I create a video game pitcher I give him Andy’s pitching windup. Probably the smoothest in the game.
hogsmog

I reiterate:

ANDY ANDY ANDY
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Good to see Robby getting off to a good start. They really need him to carry the offense for a while.
Tom

6ER in 5.1IP for Buerhle….. welcome back to the AL, Mark.
- jjyank
  
  I shall now go laugh in the face of my buddy who picked him up in my fantasy baseball league a few hours ago :D
Freddy’s Dead

I’m rapidly getting over the revulsion of having Youk on the team.
- Winter
  
  YOOOUUUUK!
jjyank

Nice to see Yankee fans have embraced Youkilis. There’s been a few Yoooouuuuuk chants already.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I kinda really like him, but I always did.
  - Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)
    
    Don’t lie, there is no way you liked Youkilis, you probably respected and recognized that he was a good player, but you didn’t like him like him.
    
    I liked to see his face after facing Joba.
    - Cool Lester Smooth
      
      I’ve always loved Youk. But I’ve also lived in Boston for his entire career.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      If there were archives here, you’d be able to look back and say that I’ve always written, “if he’s good enough for Jeter, he’s good enough for me.”
      
      But, no, I wouldn’t fuck him or anything.
Bryan

We may not win a lot of games, but dear lord we will wear out most pitchers by the 6th inning.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  First time it’s felt like Yankee baseball. I must say.
Vern Sneaker

I hate it when we don’t cash in these situations. Wells needs to come through. Two innings in a row like this and only a 3-0 lead.
- Bryan
  
  Did Dellin start tonight’s game for Scranton? If so, any word on how he did?
  - Bryan
    
    Woops. Not sure why this is a reply. Sorry!
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Nuno
    http://www.milb.com/gameday/in.....de=gameday
Robinson Tilapia

I’ve never seen what Vernon just did before. Wow.
- Winter
  
  I guess he figured if you can’t hit it far might as well hit it as many times as you can.
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

Jose Iglesias is an annoying pain in the ass.
Cy Pettitte

Iglesias has like what, 5 hits this series and I don’t think one was hit hard or left the infield.
- forensic
  
  He had two hard hit balls down the 3rd base/LF line last night, both to the OF, one for a double and one held to a single.
Robinson Tilapia

That was a gorgeous push bunt and, yes, I almost typed “bush punt.”
- Winter
  
  I’m not sure I can remember a better bunt. Maybe Dewayne Wise…
Bryan

Let’s try this again.

Did Dellin start tonight’s game for Scranton? If so, any word on how he did?
- Winter
  
  He did not. Nuno went 4.2 innings with 4 hits, 2 ER, 4 BB and 4 Ks.
  - Bryan
    
    Yeesh. Not the best of starts for Vidal. And thanks above for the MiLB game tracker. I had no clue there was one.
Vern Sneaker

Andy, I am SO impressed!
jjyank

Andy is really helping me with my fantasy baseball comeback!
MannyGeee

What’s up mutherfuckers. Sorry I’m late… Parenting stuff. A couple of observations so far:

– Brett the Jet doing his best “non fast white guy” impression tonight. Huzzah!
– when the Real Team shows up, they are going to absolutely sodomize Dempster. This lineup is what it is and they have beat him up a bit… July series is gonna be some shit.
– Fuck Jose Iglecias
– Andy Pettitte is a god.

– Joe Castiglione (WEEI Red Sox announcer) to open the game:
“And here comes FOURTY year old Andy Pettitte, who was JUST 5-4 last season on an INJURY PLAGUED 2012″

He apparently forgot to mention the steroids and the Herpes outbreaks, but outside of that he pretty much covered the talking points… Cock sucker
- MannyGeee
  
  OH SHIT I forgot. I am loving Nuñez if for no other reason he LEGIT can’t keep that helmet on.
- jjyank
  
  Haha. Welcome to the thread. It’s a lot more fun because…the Yankees are winning. So, no trolls.
sangreal

there goes another helmet
- sangreal
  
  …and again on the steal
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

David Ross has a ridiculous arm.
Eddard

Another 2 hit game from Nuney. I wonder when he’ll start getting his due.
- jjyank
  
  When he doesn’t erase it immediately, maybe.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Your crush on Nuney is embarrassing.
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Someone probably told Nunez that he could become Willie Mays if his helmet fell off a lot. Somebody was lying.
Pat D

Well, that’s nice. Glad both outfielders thought it was out.
- Preston
  
  Ichiro was just jogging and watching it, that pissed me off a little bit.
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

So close to making through seven scoreless.

And it had to be JBJ again. Ugh.
Eddard

Well that wasn’t a good pitch at all. Get out of this and we can get to Drob and Mo if we need them.
jjyank

Fuck you, JBJ. I was getting really close to catching my fantasy opponent in ERA.
Vern Sneaker

A f-ing pitching clinic.
Anthony

Yay for the Yanks (and Pettite) making me feel slightly better for this season.

On a completely unrelated note, I found myself looking at Stephen Strasburg’s stats from last season (writing a preview for school newspaper)…. he had an 11.1 SO/9 in 160 innings. That’s got to correct this season, no? I’m wondering if that’ll affect his other numbers (ERA, WHIP).
- Bryan
  
  I don’t think so. He is more like Verlander in that his stuff gets better as the game wears on. He only struck out three in his first start but I don’t think he will have a SO/9 less than 9. So I guess a little bit of a regression, but definitely not by much. His stuff is nasty.
  - Anthony
    
    Yea, I thought so, what you say definitely sounds reasonable. Above 9 is still pretty impressive.
- Tom
  
  1 more inning for Andy?
  
  With MLB conveniently scheduling a day game for tomorrow, it would be nice to hold one of Ro/Mo back.
  - Tom
    
    oops… not meant as a reply.
- Cool Lester Smooth
  
  You’re right. He faded towards the end of last season because it was the most he had ever pitched.
  
  He should be better this season.
  - Anthony
    
    I do remember some talk that he was flaming out towards the end. That’s probably why his ERA was above 3 (barely). Maybe the Nats did make the right choice, although I definitely didn’t agree last year.
Eddard

That’s why Gardner should be the permanent CF. Granderson can adapt to LF. Having Gardner in CF makes the whole outfield better defensively.
- Winter
  
  Yes, but will the runs saved by the defensive change make up for the runs lost while Granderson is out of the lineup learning a new position?
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Andy Mother Fucking Pettitte.
Ron

Thanks maimi clinic
Eddard

That’s why he should start 80% of the games. Chris Stewart can’t do that.
Barry

Cervelli FTW!! HAHA
Bryan

Who says the Yankees have no power?????
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Gardner and Cervelli in the same game? No. Way.
jjyank

CERVIIIII
Dela G

The Cisco Kid!
- Barry
  
  That’s chapter 1,
  would you like to have chapter 2?
  You better, you son of a bitch, I know the way.
  - jjyank
    
    + infinity for that reference.
    - Barry
      
      Couldn’t help it, saw the Cisco kid and had to run with it. Plus it fits, it always does.
      - jjyank
        
        Top three favorite bands. Good shit there.
Get Phelps Up

That landed in A-Rod territory.
- Chip
  
  They put a steroid shop in left field? I suppose that explains some of the power we’re seeing today
Vern Sneaker

I need to get to my eye doctor immediately.
Winter

#TooManyHomers…
BigBlueAL

I know its early but Ive really liked the at-bats Cervelli has had so far this season.
Chip

What……the…….hell?
Crespo

Haha cone, blEEchers
Ka “Meme” Abdul Jabbar

TOO MANY HOMERZ!!!!!!!
Tom

Gardner HR, Cervelli HR…

That’s it I’m buying a Power Ball ticket!
jjyank

Jeez. The Yanks are winning, and that’s awesome, but the speed element seems to be hurting them tonight. Gardner caught stealing, Nunez caught stealing, and now Gardner out trying to stretch a hit. Maybe not be THAT aggressive.
- Chip
  
  Took 2 on-line throws and 2 great snags by the shortstop to get them stealing. The Gardner thing I’m ok with, he’d have made it if he didn’t hesitate out of the box
  - jjyank
    
    I know. Just saying. It hasn’t helped them tonight.
    - Chip
      
      Yeah, I wasn’t meaning to belittle your point. The running game is great when its working and infuriating when you keep handing the other team outs
t

thats 2 hits the shift have taking from cano tonight
MannyGeee

Got to say, David Ross man… Woulda loved to see him in Pinstripes. The problem with the defensive catcher that can’t hit is that unless they are either at the Molina/Ross level, they will disappoint…
- Ka “Meme” Abdul Jabbar
  
  But,
  
  OUR defensive catcher hits bombs!!!
JRod

I’m going to take the short sample tonight and run wild with it. What the hell, all the pessimists do. This team can hit. Cervelli is going to force the legion of absurd doubters to eat their words.
- ClusterDuck
  
  Speaking of catchers and short samples, I believe Russell Martin is hitless in three games.
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

I come back and Cervelli has homered? What the hell is going on tonight?
- Chip
  
  Cervelli didn’t homer, Cervelli HOMERED. I’ll make the bold prediction that he will never in his life hit a ball that far again
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

Iglesias again? Are you fucking kidding me?

This is Ciriaco shit.
Vern Sneaker

Uh, what’s this , Girardi? Are u nuts?
- jjyank
  
  I probably would have put D-Rob in, but it’s not nuts. Andy’s under 90 pitches.
  - Preston
    
    Worked out well enough.
    - jjyank
      
      Indeed. I only would have done it because D-Rob could probably use the work and Andy had a couple hard hit balls the previous inning, but the pitch count was excellent, so I don’t second guess it much.
- Reuben Sierra’s Chains
  
  Nope.
Cool Lester Smooth

Gardner and Cervelli homer in the same game?

I bet that doesn’t happen again this season.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Gardner’s last MLB HR: 9/6/11
  Cervelli’s last MLB HR: 9/6/11
  
  What are the odds?
  - Barry
    
    2 in a million?
  - Cool Lester Smooth
    
    Wow, haha
    
    They’re fantastically low, I’m sure
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    That was the rainy game against the Orioles that started at like midnight IIRC.
  - Anthony
    
    Haha wow kudos for finding.
Chip

My goodness, how many stupid little dinky hits are they going to get in this series?
Vern Sneaker

Whew!
Barry

I have a man crush on Andy Pettitte and I don’t even want to say no homo.
- Laura Pettitte
  
  *glares*
  - Barry
    
    jealous biatch
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  We’re family here. Be yourself, Barry.
Tom

Wow… that was an impressive turn. Ellsbury can get down the line with the best of them.
Bryan

If Andy were to make the HOF…not saying he will just IF…I demand his bust be of his glove in front of his face only showing his eyes and passion staring you down. No other way.
MannyGeee

Also, Nuñez has really impressed defensively.
- Chip
  
  If he keeps this up, he’s going to end up being at least a part time starter when Jeter comes back. He’s got the range to be great at short and the bat is definitely above average for a shortstop
Tito Francona

Give that man a beer! And some fried chicken.
jjyank

My hat tips for you, Andy. Brilliant.
Get Phelps Up

Andy Pettitte is the man.
Cool Lester Smooth

Now how about Mo for the save.
Robinson Tilapia

I love this game. This is Yankee baseball.
- Barry
  
  That and I don’t have HDTV box in my room so I’ve got an old school picture with letterboxes, bringing me back to the 90s.
Crespo

Vernon Wells aka Craig Wilson
Pat D

As I cue up Enter Sandman…
- Pat D
  
  Though I still insist he should switch to the Undertaker WrestleMania XXVI/Johnny Cash “Ain’t No Grave” entrance.
  - Pat D
    
    Oops, WrestleMania XXVII I meant.
    - DERRPP
      
      From the unnecessary corrections department.
      - Pat D
        
        I’m a perfectionist.
- jjyank
  
  Playing it on my stereo as I type.
Barry

Every time Mo comes out to pitch this year it’s must-see TV for any fan of baseball.
Eddard

What a treat we get this year watching Andy and Mo’s swan song. It couldn’t be more fitting that Andy gets this team in the win column and Mo gets the save.
Robinson Tilapia

C’mon, Mo.
Barry

Chin music.
Darren

Come on Mo!
jjyank

You know what? Screw the YEs announcers. I’m looping Enter Sandman this whole inning.
- JRod
  
  In honor of Mo’s last season, they should simply BLAST that shit at the stadium. Like, concrete shifting volume. I mean, like 11 times louder than they normally do. That would be the beginning of my idea of a tribute.
Kramerica Industries

not a strike? what?
Robinson Tilapia

I really wanted my comeback strikeout there.
jjyank

Uhhhh anyone else ahd MLB.TV shit the bed?
- jjyank
  
  Back now. It froze for a good 2-3 minutes on me.
Tom

Zone seems to have shrunk… Dempster was getting that call off the plate most of the time he was in there.

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/.....8;s_type=7
Kramerica Industries

Don’t make this so difficult, Mo.
Vern Sneaker

Okay, I’m walking around the room now.
Pat D

Fuck you, Gomes.
UncleArgyle

This doesn’t have a good feel to it
King George

Come on, Mo. Let’s get Save #1. Two more outs.
Robinson Tilapia

Please send this kid crying back to his mother, Mo.
- Pat D
  
  He just did.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Go suck on your mom’s tit, Bradley.
Kramerica Industries

Froze that fucker.
UncleArgyle

That feels better
flamingo

YES.
Anthony

Mo, Mo, Mo! (and Andy)
Pat D

Ain’t no grave…
Tom

Nice outing by Mo.

A BS reputation walk to Pedroia, a ground ball double… he looks fine.
- Steve
  
  A reputation walk? And that 3rd strike that was 8 inches outside was what, exactly?
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Jackie Bradley Jr. just got Mo’d.
Get Phelps Up

Striking out Jackie Ciriaco on 3 pitches was a pretty good way to end it.
- jjyank
  
  Haha.
Robinson Tilapia

Dare I say, the perfect baseball game. The perfect game thread.

Yankee Fucking Baseball is back.
- King George
  
  Amen
- jjyank
  
  +1
- Cool Lester Smooth
  
  Stupid religion essay due at midnight making me miss the game…
- Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (Formerly RRR)
  
  Nah. It would only be perfect if Mo hadn’t given up the run. ALMOST perfect.
Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

A hit by el Capitan was the only thing missing.

Good ol’ day’d
jjyank

I’m not gonna lie, I stood up from my couch and clapped like everyone else at the stadium for that last pitch.
Dela G

finally, a win
TCMiller30

Mo says: “welcome to the big leagues Jackie. Now now to your king!”
Vern Sneaker

That was fun. Bradley sure got a taste of Mo.
Barry

Mariano even goes and pounds some fans after the interview.

#Lastofadieingbreed
- Anthony
  
  I loved seeing that, Mo will always be my favorite athlete.
  - Barry
    
    Me too, I’m sure I won’t be the only one talking about him until I die.
Jimmy McNulty

Man…after those first two games I’m just glad they didn’t get swept. Too happy to complain about the bad line up.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  “I’M SO theystillsuck HAPPY!” – Jimmy McNulty
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Hah!!! That’s pretty much how I feel. For the first time as a Yankee fan I’m worried that they might finish last, but whining about that is for the fan confidence poll, for which I am going to ask Mike if he can include a -70 as a choice.
    
    But seriously, I’m happy they got the win, happy Pettitte got the W and Rivera got the save…I won’t get too many more of those. Against the Sox no less, good night. I dunno what I’m going to do when the bullpen doesn’t have Mo in it anymore and Jeter’s not playing shortstop. Worries for a different day, I guess.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      OK, McNulty. Celebrate away. I got my eye on you, though. No funny business.
  - Cool Lester Smooth
    
    Well, his name is Jimmy McNulty.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      What the fuck did I do?
      - Crespo
        
        givin a fuck when it aint your turn to give a fuck
      - Cool Lester Smooth
        
        This team pulled you off of a BOAT, Jimmy! Don’t you think that’s earned them a little bit of loyalty?!
jjyank

Love that quote by Mo on Andy’s start.

“What’d you think of Andy’s start”

“He was…he was Andy.”
trr

sorry to gush, but wasn’t it great to see Mo save it?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Chicken Soup for the Yankee Soul
Vern Sneaker

Man, I was into that game almost like it was a playoff game. Great win.
Dela G

Love Mo
Cool Lester Smooth

Games like this are why I made sure I would have Mo and Andy on my fantasy team.
- jjyank
  
  I have Andy on my fantasy team :)
- https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica
  
  Ditto on both accounts!
- Bob Buttons
  
  I’ll take a 2 ERA between them any day.
Now Batting

Are Yankees games not blacked out on MLBtv if you live in Manhattan? The OP says available nationally but everywhere else I’m reading says black outs still exist. Would appreciate a quick answer since I need to sign up for cable/internet, thanks!

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