Game 28: 1,000

May 3, 2013 by Mike Axisa 165 Comments

You thought this was just another early-season game, but no. Joe Girardi is managing his 1,000th big league game tonight, which is kind of a big deal. He is 574-425 (.575) all-time, including 496-341 (.593) in 837 games with the Yankees. Girardi is sixth in games and seventh in wins among Yankees managers, and he’ll likely climb into sixth on the wins list before the end of the month. Here’s the lineup he filled out for tonight’s game against the Athletics and right-hander A.J. Griffin…

CF Brett Gardner
2B Robinson Cano
LF Vernon Wells
DH Travis Hafner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
SS Eduardo Nunez
1B Lyle Overbay
3B Jayson Nix
C Chris Stewart

And on the mound is the guy who signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Hawaii way back in the day, left-hander CC Sabathia.

Lovely weather in New York, so there will be no issues getting this game started at 7:05pm ET as scheduled. You can watch on YES. Enjoy.

David Robertson Update: Robertson (hamstring) feels better but is not available today. He doesn’t expect to miss more than “a couple of days.” The Yankees are off on Monday, so I’m guessing we don’t see him at all this weekend.

Roster Moves: As expected, Corban Joseph was optioned to Triple-A Scranton to clear a spot on the roster for the recently acquired Chris Nelson. Preston Claiborne was officially called up to replace the injured Joba Chamberlain. Cody Eppley was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster.

Robinson Tilapia

Vamos a la guerra por Prussia.
Vern Sneaker

Not doing Romine’s development having Stewart start game after game. He’s a prospect, not a backup. If we don’t trust him enough to catch Sabathia and get a hit or two, or if Stewart is viewed as being so much better, then I think Romine should be sent back to AAA and let’s bring up Wilson or get another backup.
- The Oberamtmann
  
  Oops. You already said it!
  - Vern Sneaker
    
    Two great baseball minds working at the same time
The Oberamtmann

If Romine is a genuine prospect, shouldn’t the Yankees either A) play him or B) let him play in AAA? I get that Girardi loves Stewart, but couldn’t Cashman step in?
- Pat D
  
  He could, but he probably won’t. I’m not sure there’s a huge difference between the two of them, but I would like to know. Considering how much Stewart caught Sabathia last year, I’m not surprised he’s starting tonight.
- CS Yankee
  
  After an off-day, you start your starting catcher. Romine will start in tomorrows day game I bet.
  - The Oberamtmann
    
    Romine should get the majority of the playing time as the prospect who figures into future Yankee plans. He needs to get a real chance to show what he can do. If he’s just gonna be the backup for Stewart, Romine should be in AAA.
    - jjyank
      
      I agree with that. I would like to see Romine given the opportunity to show something. If there is a possibility that Romine can be better than Stewart (and I think there is), I would like the team to give him an opportunity to show it.
    - CS Yankee
      
      No, Romine does not provide the best chance to win…these games count and to develop someone in the bigs is not feasible to the NYY (think Mets, Marlins, Astros).
      
      Stew handles the pitchers well, Romine bread is still baking.
      
      Solid catcher/toothpick bat exceeds the fair catch/little league bat. Relax and bitch about bigger things than a future projected backup catcher.
- forensic
  
  Cashman has clearly shown that he’s just as in love with Stewart as Girardi. He’s not suddenly going to step in and change this now. Get used to it, still over 50 days to go till Cervelli is back and maybe lessens Stewart’s PT.
  - trr
    
    unduly negative, wot?
    - forensic
      
      How is what I said anything close to unduly negative? It’s the reality.
Pat D

According to LoHud, today is the 8th anniversary of Cano’s debut in the major leagues.

It is also the one year anniversary of The Event That Shall Not Be Named.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  …the day I became “Lord Voldemort?”
  - Pat D
    
    It Shall Not Be Named for a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry good reason.
    
    And it has nothing to do with Harry Potter.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      oh…that </3
Eddard

CC just doesn’t have it today. Get Nuno warming.
- jjyank
  
  Easy there, chief.
Anderson Silva

Great start.
forensic

Well CC, that’s no bueno to start things off.
jjyank

Well…that’s not how the game should start.
Karl Krawfid

CC ain’t right.
- jjyank
  
  Based on that one pitch?
forensic

Suzyn talking about how long the A’s average games are, which is a little over 3 1/2 hours to show several things. But of course she fails to mention that includedin there are 3 extra-inning games, including one that went 19 innings and took over 6 1/2 hours…
- Vern Sneaker
  
  She and Sterling are a bad joke. When I’m in the car I listen with the sound off.
  - forensic
    
    How do you listen to a radio with the sound off???
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      I was waiting to see if somebody would notice that.
    - Vern Sneaker
      
      You don’t hear much.
Get Phelps Up

Boy, the A’s announcers are the last people who should be poking fun at the Yankees attendance.
- forensic
  
  Ah, another person who will be trapped with the A’s announcers all weekend.
  
  They certainly aren’t as bad as many teams announcers, but they’ll take any chance they get to make a crack about the Yankees and anything involving them, especially the payroll.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    I hadn’t noticed really anything too bad that I can remember, but considering they barley draw 15k a game, it really bothered me for them to poke fun at the Yankees drawing 35-40k.
    
    I agree that they are much better than many other announcers.
Wheels

Drive him in Robbie.
forensic

Was Gardner’s hit a flyball or a groundball? Sterling called it as a flyball but gameday says it was a groundball.
- Wheels
  
  flyball
Dalek Jeter

How’d CC look after the homer?
- jjyank
  
  Fine. He walked a guy but that was it.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    He’s obviously done. A homer and a walk in the same inning?!?!
    - MannyGeee
      
      Warm up teh Vidal nunoz
- Anderson Silva
  
  command a bit off
Anderson Silva

that curve is tough.. so slow
Dalek Jeter

So I know there has to be a few Arrested Development fans on this board, I mean you’re Yankee fans, so you obviously have good taste, so I’ll just leave this here:

If you call 1 (619) 344 8325 (The Bluth Family’s phone) The Final Countdown plays. If you text it ANN it will respond “her?” and will inform you the minute Season 4 of Arrested Development is on Netflix.
- Pat D
  
  Dude, what’s with repeated mentions of this? It’s starting to sound like you’re advertising for them.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I said it on Facebook, and here lol. Two completely groups of people. Just because you overlap =P
    - jjyank
      
      COLLUSION!
- Mykey
  
  Haha that’s awesome!
- jjyank
  
  Saw that on FB, that’s awesome. I love Arrested Development. I’m actually in the process of re-watching the older episodes.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Yeah, I restarted it today after I found this. It’s still funny
- WhittakerWalt
  
  OK, but where’d the lighter fluid come from?
- MannyGeee
  
  I am legit excited for this.
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Hafner looked like his back was bugging him during that AB
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Can anybody confirm this, or have anything else?! John and Suzyn didn’t say anything…but they’re far from reliable.
  - http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso
    
    Ok not saying anything official…just what I sae
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Can’t scare me like that man…Especially with the way people are dropping around this team…
Mykey

It’s official. I am now afraid to wear Yankee related clothing, on the off chance I will get injured.
http://www.yesyesyesyesyesyesyes.com Daniel Bryan

YES! I’M ON YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!
oldmanalex

How does CC look?
Wheels

Jesus, the helmet again.
forensic

Any idea why Girardi came out to CC? John and Suzyn mentioned he was out but then just ignored it the rest of the time.
- jjyank
  
  He had some words for the ump. He thought he got a strikeout two pitches before the single, apparently. Girardi just came out to calm him down and make sure he didn’t say anything to get tossed, from what I gather.
  - forensic
    
    Ah, thanks.
- Havok9120
  
  CC and the ump got into it, including some cursing. Joe came out to calm him down.
Havok9120

Alright folks, rally from the deficit FOR PRUSSIA!

And try not to get tossed from the game CC.
Eddard

CC should be barking at that awful ump. That’s the same guy that threw the ball back to Carasco in Cleveland and then threw him out and he also threw Tito Francona out. He shouldn’t be umping in the majors.
- Wheels
  
  Yeah, he’s got that deer in the headlights look.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Yes…lets argue with a guy who has a quick hook.
Rubano

Anyone else’s mlb.tv crash when you change games a lot? Is there any way to fix it?
- forensic
  
  Don’t change games a lot? :-)
WhittakerWalt

“He always does something to help you win a game”

Jeez, Suzyn. You and Nix need to get a room.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  It’s disturbing.
  - jjyank
    
    Bow-chica-bow-wow….
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Jayson Nix is the definition of “nice player” and he does the occasional good thing for the team… but FFS can we give it a rest? Even Sterling admits that he shouldn’t be playing every day.
    Waldman talks like he’s Ben Zobrist or some other underrated impact player.
Anderson Silva

not a single ball hit hard off this guy. I thought they were only atrocious against lefties
- Havok9120
  
  Three innings dude.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    What other innings are we supposed to talk about? The ones that haven’t happened yet? It’s a live thread, not a postgame wrap-up.
    - Havok9120
      
      Because even the worst pitcher in the league can string together 3 good innings every now and then, and this guy isn’t the worst pitcher in the league. Three innings of weak contact against an offspeed-heavy guy isn’t really “atrocious,” is it?
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        It’s an accurate observation of the game so far. What else is there to talk about? He didn’t say GAME OVER like some people do after the other team scores a single run.
        
        Havok9120
        
        True enough.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        We’re saying they were atrocious against this guy after we’ve played three innings against him. We don’t actually know if they’re going to do “atrociously” against him.
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      How about we don’t talk at all about how they CAN’T hit a pitcher when only three innings have gone by since, you know, we can’t make that conclusion yet?
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        He didn’t say they CAN’T hit him, only that nothing had been hit hard so far. That’s pretty mild for this board.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        “I thought they were only atrocious against lefties” implies a lot more than “nothing has been hit hard so far”.
        
        WhittakerWalt
        
        Don’t be like Greg. There’s no need for that much parsing.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        I thought this was pretty obvious, and I’m apparently not the only one.
        
        WhittakerWalt
        
        Well ultimately this was an argument about nothing. Griffin shut down our bats the whole goddamn game.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Yeah, it was pretty pathetic in the end after all that.
jjyank

Whoa. Cano has the franchise record for most hits within 8 years of his debut? That’s pretty wild.
Anderson Silva

Terrible AB.
rey sanchez

rey sanchez
- Havok9120
  
  Prussia?
  - rey sanchez
    
    austria-hungary
    - Havok9120
      
      Ouch. I’m sorry.
Eddard

CC’s already at 70 in the 4th. He probably won’t get past 7 tonight.
Neifi Perez

FFS Reddick’s swing looks terrible right now
Get Phelps Up

Ichiro’s gonna get his 4,000th hit between Japan and the US this year.
Dalek Jeter

And the Ichiro slobberfest has started.
- Havok9120
  
  Dude’s been raking for the last little while. And been pretty darn good since the Detroit series. I’m perfectly fine with sloberfests when they’re earned.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Ma and Pa?
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    you know it. “He’s a magician, he can do anything. He tried to do that, on purpose, he always does.”
    - Havok9120
      
      Oh, for God’s sake.
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        Yeah, I only call them out for sloberfests when they go over the top, or praise Nix.
    - WhittakerWalt
      
      Did you know Ichiro could hit 40 homers a year? He just doesn’t feel like it.
WhittakerWalt

Pastadiving… oh.
Anderson Silva

Nix is garbage.
forensic

John Sterling says he doesn’t know what baseball activities are.

Thanks for finally stating the obvious…
Pat D

I love this conversation about Girardi winning manager of the year. No one that manages the Yankees will ever win that award again until the Yankees have a period of shittiness, a la 1989-1992 again and then they rise from the ashes.

The Yankees could win 100 games this year, but if the Red Sox make the playoffs, Farrell has that award locked up.
- heismanziel
  
  If the Red Sox and Yankee both make the playoffs, I have to agree. Farrell will win manager of the year and It probably wouldn’t be close between him and girardi.
- MannyGeee
  
  For as long as the Yankees are the Yankees, a skipper will not get MoL.
Dalek Jeter

I hate Sterling. What happened?
- forensic
  
  Come on, that was clear as mud:
  
  Great play by Cano.
  
  No he dropped it.
  
  No he dropped it taking it out of his glove.
  
  See you next inning…
heismanziel

Nice play by robbie! lets get on the board.
Eddard

Whew, Robbie saves the day after that clown for an umpire screwed CC again. Girardi should get himself tossed so CC doesn’t. Someone needs to put that ump in his place.
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

It always amazes me how Cano get to those balls with such ease. I will never understand why people get on his as for not diving all over the place. Although if he did dive all the time he could probably cover line to line.
- Havok9120
  
  I’m not so impressed by him getting there, but that THROW was something else. Even for him that was impressive.
  - http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
    
    Agreed, that arm is ridiculous.
Hall and Nokes

I don’t think you should get the benefit of the transfer rule on the third out.
Troll Hunter

Four things i’m sick of:
1) C.C. giving up home runs to scrubs
2) Brett Gardner not running early in the count
3) Jayson Truitt Edward Nix
4) Beer streaming down the outside of my Fosters Oil Can when I pour it leaving a big puddle of wasted beer on my counter
- MannyGeee
  
  5) leaving men on base. Make me look wrong Robbie
- Dan in Athens
  
  I can only help with no. 4. You should be drinking it out of the can.
  - Troll Hunter
    
    Your right, but I felt the need to use my limited edition 1994 Texaco New York Yankee pint glass tonight.
Dalek Jeter

…Ma and Pa are discussing the difference between Gray’s Anatomy and Grey’s Anatomy
- WhittakerWalt
  
  I’m surprised they know it’s two separate things.
Eddard

Well at least they’re hitting the ball hard now. Just need a couple of those to fall in and they’ll take the lead.
MannyGeee

Balls. If we learned nothing this weekend against the Astros, it’s that dinks and dunks win games
Vern Sneaker

Safe at second. We’re lucky.
Dan in Athens

OK that was pretty cool. But between CC relying on grit and not his good stuff and the pen availability, this could get out of hand quickly.
SDB

Damn, that was some throw by Ichiro.
Vern Sneaker

That’s it, CC’s cooked.
- Havok9120
  
  In this game?
  - MannyGeee
    
    In life… Forevsies…
- http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  I wouldn’t say cooked, but I am starting to be a bit concerned. On the other hand I’ve started to worry before only to see him come out next start and completely de-pants a lineup.
Rolling Doughnut

Sneaking out of a conference to check the score. Shit. No runs for CC I see. How’s his stuff?
- Havok9120
  
  Not so good. Certainly not by Prussian standards.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Thanks. So it’s another one of those CC doesn’t have his best stuff but he’s toughing it our evenings eh? This is getting kinda old.
    - Havok9120
      
      It is. I appreciate him a lot for it, but it is getting worrying.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      I’m still not overly worried at this point. I understand the concern though.
- Troll
  
  Thanks for the update. Newsflash: Nobody cares.
  - MannyGeee
    
    I happen to care, “sir”, that a friend is checking in on the game. Thanks for being a dick.
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      Darn, I was hoping nobody would respond.
      - Troll
        
        Aww . . . I just want to pinch your pudgy little cheeks!
        
        Pinkie Pie
        
        You know what, Troll? To me you’re nothing but a dog shit.
        
        Troll
        
        Only “a dog shit”? Just a singular, measly, steaming log of stinkin’ canine excrement? But I’ve always aspired to be much, much more. At least give me some additional credit here. Can I not simply be plain ol’ “dog shit”? I want to be an everlasting stream of dog shit. With any luck, after the days grow old and the sewers run dry, I’ll blossom into a ‘barrows and ‘barrows of rancid, magot-infested elephant shit. ‘Tis a dream I can only dream of dreaming . . . The sweet is never as sweet without the sour, my friend. You’ll miss this shit when it’s gone.
        
        BFDeal
        
        Hello Rainbow Connection.
Vern Sneaker

So Girardi. At 114 pitches if this were Nova or Phelps they’d be gone gone gone. CC is used up this game but Girardi takes his chances. Well here’s hoping. . .
Vern Sneaker

*exhales*
http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Wow, just had a total memory lapse when I saw Ichiro in RF and thought “is Swisher hurt?”.
- MannyGeee
  
  Hehehe. That’s funny how the mind works. Maslow speaks volumes on how under appreciated swisher was. If nothing else, a super reliable guy out therr
  - http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
    
    I didn’t start following baseball until 2010 or so, so Swish is kind of the only RF I have ever known.
    
    What’s most under appreciated is the fact that he would be a huge upgrade over Lyle Overbay at 1B right now.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      Don’t take this the wrong way but how old are you and were you not interested in baseball before 2010?
SDB

Meanwhile, while CC’s getting hit around, AJ Burnett’s pitching like an absolute ace against the Nats. Sigh, why couldn’t he pitch like that more often in the Bronx?
- Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
  
  He was pretty great in 09′.
  
  People do keep forgetting that.
  - SDB
    
    True. And he was phenomenal in game 2 of the 09 World Series, which is why I’m still cheering on the guy in Pittsburgh and hoping he keeps doing well there.
Anderson Silva

What a depressing suckfest by the offense. They are bad.
Eddard

They’re just missing some hits. We may have another comeback win in the making. The problem is who pitches to keep it at 2?
Troll Hunter

Be patient, it’s almost time for 7th inning thunder!
Vern Sneaker

This guy’s pitched beautifully. Mixed it up, great location, deceptive fastball.
- Wheels
  
  Not bad for Mikey from American Choppers.
Troll Hunter

Be patient, it’s almost time for 8
8th inning thunder!
Eddard

Just need a bloop and a blast. Get Gardner on and we’ll have 3 good chances at the game tying HR.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Wow Gardy, ballsy.
- Havok9120
  
  And I approve.
Get Phelps Up

The Blue Jays have got to have the worst record through 30 games for any World Series winner.
- http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  It makes me laugh, for all the shit the Yankees get for “buying World Series”, nobody else can really do it. Clearly the Yankees are doing something right that nobody else is yet they get zero credit for it.
  
  Boston tried is a couple years ago and imploded, Marlins last year bought everyone and still sucked, and the Jays tried it with the same players the Marlins did and don’t look much better. Without looking at the standing or stats and just going by what I’ve heard it doesn’t sound much better for the Angels or Dodgers. It’s pretty clear that it isn’t as easy as just going out and signing the top free agents.
SDB

Shit. Sigh.

Not happening tonight, is it?
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Okay…Not our game, I think.