Game 33: Leaving Coors

May 9, 2013 by Mike Axisa 291 Comments

I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised the Yankees have only allowed four runs through the first two games of this series. It helps that Troy Tulowitzki has been out with a nagging injury, but four runs in 17 defensive innings is pretty damn awesome for Coors Field. Now that I’ve sufficiently jinxed things, here is the lineup that will face left-hander Jeff Francis this afternoon…

CF Brett Gardner
SS Jayson Nix
2B Robinson Cano
LF Vernon Wells
RF Ben Francisco
3B Chris Nelson
1B Lyle Overbay
C Chris Stewart
SP CC Sabathia

The forecast says it will be another rainy game, maybe even to the point of a delay. I really hope that’s not the case. The game is scheduled to start at 3:10pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Eduardo Nunez Update: Nunez (ribcage) won’t hit until tomorrow, but he went through some fielding drills and is available in an emergency.

trr

would LOVE to leave here winning 2/3.
with this line-up, it’s all on you CC!
gageagainstthemachine

No 8th/9th catcher/pitcher line-up switch today?!? You’ll swap Romine and Phelps but not CC and Stewart?! C’mon Girardi! CC is clearly a better hitter than Stewart!

/half-kidding
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  The idea behind that move was to have the better hitter bat ninth. He’s clearly employing the same strategy today.
trr

The unique double 3B of today’s lineup is an ireresting wrinkle!
- Winter
  
  I think it’s really interesting that they have a 3B playing left field. Really shows how deep they’ve had to dig given injuries.
- Havok9120
  
  Joe Girardi is a genius.
trr

*interesting
Jim Is Bored

I know our lineup is not what it used to be, but holy shit is this a bad lineup right now.
- FachoinaNYY
  
  Considering how decimated we have been we really have overachieved.
  - Jim Is Bored
    
    Oh for sure.
    
    I just never imagined I’d see Ben Francisco, Chris Stewart, Lyle Overbay, Jayson Nix, and Chris Nelson in the same lineup on the Yankees. At least not unless it were a getaway game in late september with a 10 game division lead.
WhittakerWalt

“Nunez (ribcage) won’t hit until tomorrow…”

I wasn’t aware that he’d started hitting yet this season.
Too easy, I know.
FachoinaNYY

Any word on a start time?
- forensic
  
  About a minute ago…
  - FachoinaNYY
    
    Espn was stating delayed :/
    - forensic
      
      It was, but just a couple minutes. Just messin’ with ya.
forensic

Why pull Austin Romine in favor of Chris Stewart last night? “It’s a situation where Stew is used to Mo,” Girardi said. “It’s a one-run game, and I just felt like Stew’s the best thrower that we have, so I thought we’d put him in there. … It’s not something I want to do every time, but in that situation, I just thought I’d do it.”

So absurd, far from the end of the world, but still what a pointless thing. It must be really tough to say, “Hey Mo, throw a cutter here, ok”. But of course, he’s the best thrower, so of course when someone breaks for 2nd they don’t even bother throwing down.

Brilliant…
- Jim Is Bored
  
  I actually have no problem with that move to begin with. Stewart could very well be a better defensive catcher.
  
  But yeah, how it ended up playing out just made it seem silly.
  - forensic
    
    He could be, but again (like you said), it’s silly since they then didn’t throw down. Also, it’s not like Mo is some wild pitcher where there will be pitch after pitch in the dirt that will need to be blocked.
    
    It also took away your last position player should someone have gotten hurt during that inning.
    
    And he says he’s not going to do it every time, but if you never let Romine catch him, it’s not like he’s ever going to learn how to catch him. Plus, it’s not like Mo ever pitches in games that are that much out of reach (especially considering how often Romine is catching in the first place), so every game he’s in will be close and a tough situation.
- Winter
  
  Hey, it’s a tough decision whether to call for the cutter in on the hands or the cutter away. Gotta have a veteran in there.
WhittakerWalt

Nix works a walk. Cue fanfare.
- Winter
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkD0MxNY_Bw&t=9s
  - Havok9120
    
    You are awesome.
- MannyGeee
  
  “Nix does something every day to help this team…”
  
  Ma & Pa love for Nix again.
- Pat D
  
  I couldn’t find a clip of the Sheriff of Rottingham’s fanfare being hummed by his guards.
forensic

Geez Cano. Walks are allowed in this game…
Pat D

Latest update to Jeter’s diary:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/61505/derek-jeters-diary-ducks-have-no-place-in-baseball
JonS

It’s weird not hearing singleton or Kay do the game.
SDB

Nix scores! I think Ma and Pa need a new box of tissues.
- MannyGeee
  
  doesn’t count… the run scored shows in the box score.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Oh that’s right. They only like things that don’t show up in the box score.
    - forensic
      
      Like stolen bases apparently…
forensic

Nice to see some more contribution from Wells. They desperately need it at this point.

Especially with their 5 pitchers coming up next…
- trr
  
  yep. grab those runs while you can…
Jim Is Bored

Vernon!
MannyGeee

Cashman fai….. oh
SDB

“We sound like a broken record.”

Truer words were never spoken by John Sterling.
- Winter
  
  You can’t predict not predicting baseball.
  - MannyGeee
    
    FALLACY
MannyGeee

Ben Francisco sitting on 399 hits. Fun fact
- SDB
  
  We’re going to read this fact for the next five games against LHPs, right?
  - trr
    
    against LHP, RHP, guys who throw with their feet…
  - MannyGeee
    
    We may be talking about that 400th hit in August. And when I say “we”, I actually hope I mean “The Marlins”….
- trr
  
  I wish he was sitting on the bus to Scranton. True fact
  - gageagainstthemachine
    
    Wouldn’t that mean he’s still with the organization. Ugh. I wish he was a on a jet plane…don’t care if he ever comes back again!
dkidd

two questions:

are the indians for real?

is jason giambi a hall of gamer?
- Pat D
  
  First question, still early.
  
  Second question, hell no. STEROIDS.
- JonS
  
  1. Way too early.
  2. No, because (a) Steroids, (b) He played 1B and wasn’t really good at it.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Not enough counting stats.
  Steroids.
  Basically a DH who played first. If you’re only a DH your numbers need to be truly extraordinary. Of course, Jim Rice has screwed up this metric forevermore.
  - Pat D
    
    Jim Rice was teh mozt feard hittr!!!!
    
    Opposing managers thought about intentionally walking him with the bases loaded, even though they never actually did it.
- MannyGeee
  
  I say a double no
Jim Is Bored

Well all we need now is a shutout from CC and we’re golden.
- Jim Is Bored
  
  So much for that.
dkidd

hall of gamer

edit button!!!
- Winter
  
  I’d love to see a Hall of Game.
  - MannyGeee
    
    Is that anything like the Player’s Ball from Chappelle’s Show? Because that would be dope
trr

Cano’s stopped hitting
WhittakerWalt

I have to remind myself not to watch CC in the first inning.
Brian S.

I hate Ben Francisco
Anderson Silva

Robbie slumping hard. We need him back ASAP.
WhittakerWalt

“And Joe Girardi calls him a professional baseball player.”

Unlike everyone else on the team. They’re all sanitation workers or something.
- Pat D
  
  You know that a bunch of these so called professionals are nothing more than amateurs.
Wheels

Fuck
Pat D

Damn. Really couldn’t tell.
JonS

This is the CC that we need to get used too. Hopefully he can adapt like Andy did though.
- ROBTEN
  
  http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/comparing-april-velocites-to-april-2012-velocities/
  
  CC Sabathia is the real scare here. His strikeout rate is down, his swinging strike rate is down, and he’s inducing significantly less swings on pitches outside the zone. He’s also giving up more than a home run per nine innings, which is something he hasn’t done in any of his 12 previous seasons. Like Haren, it might be his fault. He’s living in the zone more than he has in years. His first pitch strike percentage is 4.6% higher than his career average. His Zone% is the highest it has been since 2008. He doesn’t appear to be in danger of falling off the map, but he may not be the stud that he used to be.
Winter

CC Sabathia’s first inning stats:

2013: 9.00 ERA, 1.714 WHIP, 11.6 K/9

Career: 3.35 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, 8.4 K/9
- Winter
  
  Obviously with only 7 IP in the first inning in 2013, we could be looking at the mother of all SSS.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    7 R in 7 IP before this game, and four of those runs came in that game against the Rays.
jtb1203891

Way to go CC, you give up another run in the first inning on a walk after you were given a lead. Pathetic.
- MannyGeee
  
  Yeah, he’s the worst. Should have traded *wanking motion*
- Pat D
  
  If I gave you some money from my wallet, would that make you feel better?
Wheels

Damn, CC can’t clean his spikes himself?
Winter

Damn. Overbay ripped that.
MannyGeee

Sabathia Bomb. here it comes…
- MannyGeee
  
  bummer
- trr
  
  not this time, but I was just thinking the same thing
  - MannyGeee
    
    If he’s in there long enough to see a righty, I would bet the house on it.
    - Rubano
      
      [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlmdZujA6WE&w=420&h=315
Winter

When your offense is as worn down by injuries as the Yankees’ is, key contributors like CC can’t just swing at anything like that. He has to know the team is relying on him to carry this offense.
dkidd

i believe pacheco is related to dr. ferdie pacheco
WhittakerWalt

“800-621-2020″

Man, this team lets any old ambulance-chasing law firm buy ads.
Saul

just perused fangraphs for the first time this season… as we’re starting to get deep enough into the season where it’s curious to see what WAR guys have so far

no real surprises at the top… cano, wells, gardner, hafner…

nunie clocks in at -.6 so i checked baseball ref figuring they’d be a bit more kind… -.8

but no, let’s hear some more about Jeter’s days at shortstop being numbered
WhittakerWalt

Cano will take it.
WhittakerWalt

Ben Francisco’s lousiness can’t even be quantified.
- forensic
  
  34 OPS+, and that’s before today’s two outs.
  
  Very impressive.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    A true case of the stats not telling enough of the story.
forensic

Three straight one-pitch AB’s. Not exactly ideal guys.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  With a .667 AVG, I’ll take the tradeoff.
  - forensic
    
    It’s ok, but you’re looking for more than that out of Cano. Though with him 0-the series before that, I guess at least he didn’t let himself get to the point of swinging at ball 4 again. And Wells is a hacker, so that’s not too surprising.
    
    Francisco is the big no-no though. You’re terrible, at least try to take a strike.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Ben Francisco needs to be put out of his (and our) misery already.
MannyGeee

As an aside for everyone not listening to the radio, Cano just got hit # 1500. No one will care about Ben Francisco’s 400th.

And as I type this, Francisco pops out on one fucking pitch
Winter

As a question, what are Cano’s chances of making it to 3000?
- MannyGeee
  
  damn good, considering he just hit 1500.
MannyGeee

plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt,plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt,plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt,plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt,plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt, plz don’t be hurt
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  +15
MannyGeee

Don’t look now, but “Nelly” (as he’s likely to be dubbed after today) is starting to hit.
- ROBTEN
  
  It’s getting hot in herre!
forensic

Overbay trying to drive him in? Against a lefty, just try to make some contact and advance him.

Unfortunately, that leaves it to Stewart, but it is what it is with this lineup.
Wheels

Come on Stewart.
- Wheels
  
  that works
forensic

Stewart actually finally got the job done. Whew…
forensic

Just 6 more innings of dealing with Lorenz/Flaherty, just 6 more innings of dealing with Lorenz/Flaherty…
WhittakerWalt

I think the worst part about having this horrible lineup is we have to listen to Ma and Pa gush about how much they all contribute. I mean, I’m happy Chris Stewart hit the sac fly, but he’s still Chris Stewart. They just said he’s done “a remarkable job for this team.”

Really? Remarkable?
- Wheels
  
  It’s remarkable Sterling has a job as a radio announcer.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    It’s a mystery for the ages.
  - forensic
    
    He didn’t used to be this bad, from what I remember, when he was with Kay. But his age and being paired with Waldman who has no business being a ‘color analyst’ for a baseball broadcast has really brought him down to a new low.
    
    I wonder what might happen with him if he was paired with a better announcer again.
    - Wheels
      
      Apparently he still doesn’t use a monitor when he calls a game. He needs to use one.
    - WhittakerWalt
      
      That’s true. He used to be perfectly acceptable. I think the success of the team over the last 17 years inspired John to ramp up his own antics to hysterical levels.
      But he used to be decent. Before every batter got a homerun call. Before all the insane theatrics for every little thing. Before he stopped being able to describe anything on the field. Before “THAAAAAAAAAAAA YANKEES WINNNN!”
      
      My memories of the ’96 series are still cherished, and Sterling was all over those.
      - forensic
        
        Yup, he’s really become a parody and caricature of himself. He really tries to make it all about him almost more than the game and the team.
    - TomH
      
      Actually, his “age” is a strong point. For one thing, it keeps him from boring the radio audience with statistics. He knows it’s all about entertaining–not boring–an audience that does not primarily comprise statheads.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Silly me. I thought it was about the baseball. And the stuff that goes on during the game on the field.
        
        forensic
        
        Maybe the most important words in your whole comment are ‘on the field’, and not the game in his head.
      - Mikhel
        
        It depends on who the audience is, you can have stat minded analysts on the air and still know what is going on in the field, plus historical data.
        
        In my 30+ years of life, mexican radio broadcasters in baseball games have done it, since Mario Thomas with the Padres in spanish for Baja California, and now recently (since 1998) Eduardo Ortega; there’s also Oscar Soria with the DBacks in spanish radio. Jaime Jarrín, from Colombia, is also a great announcer.
        
        Usually in a baseball game with spanish comentators on the radio, you know what’s happening at all times, and yet they take their time to chat about the past, what certain player accomplished, historical data, even advanced stats are mentioned… and I think one of the most important things: they can criticize.
        
        In english i’ve had a hard time finding good radio comentators, I like Vin Scully but he’s no Mel Allen (years and years ago a south california radio station used to broadcast old baseball games at night, some of them with Mel Allen).
        
        Sterling is ok at times, but his he overacts, a game should be called as it is, and the anouncer has to be as unobstrusive as possible.
MannyGeee

hellz yeah small ball!
Winter

“No immediate threat of rain.”

You Can’t Predict ~~Baseball~~ the Weather
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

“You don’t want to jump to conclusions without all the facts, but you see video where a guy keeps going to a forearm that’s covered in some kind of foreign substance, and it makes you wonder where he might stop in his search for an edge. Probably short of murder, but you never know, that franchise has always had a flexible morality.”

-Derek Jeter’s diary, referring to accusations that Buccholz doctored the ball.
- Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
  
  No, never mind, new favorite line:
  
  “We’ve assembled the greatest extended spring training roster of all time down here. Rodriguez. Teixeira. Granderson. Youkilis. Ivan Nova. Frankie Cervelli. Michael Pineda. We’ll probably outdraw the Rays by 5,000 per game. That’s not intended as a brag; everyone knows the Rays have had trouble getting fans out to Tropicana Field because of the legitimate fear that they’ll be killed by a falling catwalk.”
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

and a rain delay…..
forensic

A’s swept in four by the Indians after they won a series against the Yanks. That really sucks.

Not to mention that now the Indians are hot right as the Yankees have to play them in a DH after they were terrible back when the games should’ve been played. Yuck…
forensic

Damn rain. I was hoping to watch the whole game before work. With the slight early delay and now this one, guess that’s out the window.
http:/www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Mark Teixeira – Ghostbuster (formerly Drew)

I love the slow jazz music whenever there is a rain delay.

Very classy.
Rubano

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlmdZujA6WE&w=420&h=315
trr

Local radar shows quite a bit of rain in the Denver area
Athenian

I am West of Coors Field, this is going to be a two hour delay. CC is done pitching. It’s will be a long game so get comfortable. Ok,back to work.
- fabricio
  
  nooooo don’t say that
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Perfect time, then, for you to show is your study.
fabricio

and the tarp is coming off
Robinson Tilapia

I just think it’d be interesting if, during this rain delay, when there’s nothing else to do, if Athenian would share the study he said he did at the start of a year as to blog comment behavior around the internet.

He promised us results and, as someone with a strong interest in research, and the spouse of a very good one, I’d like to give this study a nice look over. It certainly seemed like a worthy topic.

All these games in, though and, despite his promises, we have yet to see this study from Athenian. I mean, does it not exist? Did Athenian lie to us?

It’s time, Athenian. Pull that fucker out. We know you’re at work somewhere in the Mountain Time Zone…..or not.
- Athenian
  
  I agree. But I have not proofed it yet. Graduation, my sons, has taken up more time than expected.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I currently have you penciled in as a lying sack of shit. It’s in pencil, though, so there’s a chance for that to change.
    - Alkaline
      
      I would get the feather and ink out.
    - Athenian
      
      I’d keep it in pencil, for now. I said it would be a two hour rain delay and we are 14 mins shy-started at 2:28 mst. As for the study, I have not forgotten and will get it to you. But in case it takes longer, might want to follow Alkaline’s suggestion.
forensic

Bastards, take the tarp off just to work on the IF and then put it back on…
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Even worse is that they tease you with a shot of the field on YES, but you still have to listen to Mike Francesa’s voice.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    THIS GAME IS YOOOOGE
- Athenian
  
  Winter weather advisory for counties west and north west o f Denver. Last 4 weeks have seen snow, week 5, today, rain.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Athenian, I remember we were promised some sort of survey or study from you a couple weeks/months ago. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten and that you’re hardly working at configuring the data…I was just curious as to how it’s coming?
Dalek Jeter

I’ve been mentally willing my boss to leave for the past hour and forty-five minutes just to find out we’re in a delay. Son of a bitch, baseball gods. Why would you do this to me!!
Robinson Tilapia

Mike Francesa:

– Heard the Yanks had re-signed Wang, but has no information as to how he’s doing.

– Michael Pineda, however, is doing well in the minors.

– A bit question, to Mike, is if the Yankees will lose Teixiera for the year and go acquire Justin Morneau.

I hate Mike Francesa.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  He’s been blowing the Morneau horn since…like the second of the Teixeira injury.
- Pat D
  
  Is his staff that worthless?
forensic

Just noticed that Chad Jennings says Granderson is playing RF tonight at AAA. I’d rather see him in LF, maybe, when he gets back, but as long as it’s not CF it’s a plus and a step in the right direction.
Alkaline

So any update? I kinda am happy about the delay; now I could watch it after work!
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  expected to resume in about 10-15 minutes, apparently
BigBlueAL

So with CC most likely done for today, chance they bring him back on 3 days rest for one of the games on Monday??
- Dalek Jeter
  
  >0
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I meant <0
- BigBlueAL
  
  Just looked at schedule, Yankees dont have a day off until the following week so no point in pitching CC on Monday, they would still need to call up a SP for later in the week anyway.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Unlikely. No real point. They’d just need the 6th starter the next day instead, and they won’t have the extra roster spot to call someone up just to make that start (if that’s the direction they choose to go)
RetroRob

What happens if the game is rained out? Do they play from the start again? Pick up in the 5th inning at a later date? Do the players’ stats count?
BigBlueAL

Looks like game is scheduled to restart at 6:25. Feinsand tweeted Warren is warming up.
Dalek Jeter

:( my avocado rotted from last weekend. I’m very upset. The Yankees better help change this.
- Deathstroke Heathcott
  
  I’m not sure anyone on the Yankees 25-man roster has fruit unripening skills.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Cashman failed. Again.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Agreed.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Thanks, Obama!
Get Phelps Up

I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to watch this game. Sweet.
Dalek Jeter

ROBBIE CANO!!! DON’T YA KNOW?!
- fabricio
  
  fuck yea!!!!!! robbie!!!!
RetroRob

Kind of surprised Mantle was leading that list. Not shocked, but surprised. He walked so many times so he wasn’t the type of hitter to rack up high hit totals.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

I’m sorry, who’s been slumping again?
- Deathstroke Heathcott
  
  Ben Francisco. Hint hint.
  - Deathstroke Heathcott
    
    Nope, doesn’t work with Ben Francisco.
McLovin

That rain delay was two hours long damn. Seemed shorter to me. Good job Robbie.
- Wheels
  
  1501 career hits.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Why no Ichiro?
- The Real Greg
  
  I think beause the Yankees are ahead and the fact that you don’t want to waste pinch hitters in the NL. Need to bat for pitchers.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    They’d still have Boesch and Hafner to PH. If the pitcher’s spot comes up more than twice in the next 3 innings, the offense is doing well and could probably live w/o another PH.
    
    And hitting for Francisco is essentially the same as hitting for the pitcher.
    - The Real Greg
      
      I honestly forgot about Hafner, I thought they only had Boesch and Ichiro to PH.
      
      Oh well, its too late now.
    - Deathstroke Heathcott
      
      Still no need to burn unnecessary bats, extra innings is always a factor.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        I get that, but I’d think with the lead, you’d want to improve defensively to try to protect the lead. And they’d be upgrading offensively in the process. Why not try to prevent extra innings?
        
        Deathstroke Heathcott
        
        You can think the other way, with the lead, no need to burn the pinch hitter there when you can do it next inning for the pitcher and get a double switch. I don’t think either of us is wrong, but certainly not a slam dunk decision either way.
- Tom
  
  The walk to Tulo… understandable.
  
  The walk to Fowler – on a 3-2 changeup, with 2 out, noone on base and a 2 run lead, and in front of Tulo and Cargo is just bad pitch selection.
  
  Don’t know if it’s Stewart or Warren, but have some common sense and challenge a guy when you have a 2 run lead and the heart of the order coming up; especially with 2 out and noone on base.
WhittakerWalt

I actually, genuinely feel bad for Ben Francisco.
We all knew he’d be terrible, but I hate to wish ill on someone who I’m sure is trying his best.
Still… yeesh.
Dalek Jeter

…a 8 pitch AB to the pitcher?!
- The Real Greg
  
  Hey its better than giving up a home run to a pitcher.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Getting herpes is better than getting HIV. Both suck pretty hard.
Wheels

Goon Logan warming up.
Havok9120

It is so weird to actually spend a ton of money just because it needs to be spent. Not sure I’ve ever done it before today.

Meanwhile, go Yanks. Warren looks good so far.
- Havok9120
  
  I so completely jinxed that.
  
  Verdammt.
The Real Greg

You can blame Adam Warren if Logan has to come in here and give up some runs.
Anderson Silva

it would be incredibly dumb to bring Logan in to face CarGo. That`s why Girardi will do it
- The Real Greg
  
  Really? I think he has no choice. I don’t like Nuno’s chances in this park.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Few things are less encouraging than bringing in Logan the LNOGY.
  - Anderson Silva
    
    CarGo at over .400 against lefties. Logan sucks against lefties.
    - The Real Greg
      
      So he’s actually going against his own binder.
      - Anderson Silva
        
        the one time he goes against, it`s the wrong decision
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        No. His binder says lefties have to face lefties, regardless of actual splits.
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        Greg, all the binder says is lefties must face lefties!!
    - Anderson Silva
      
      Logan at .368 BAA vs. lefties
    - Deathstroke Heathcott
      
      TSS
Anderson Silva

here we go… CarGo at over .400 against lefties and Logan is Logan. This is definately a base hit
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Gonzalez hasn’t hit lefties all that great in about three years. He’s had a good 40 PA. This is absolutely the right move.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Damn. This means Boone’s coming in. And staying in.
Havok9120

Uh oh! A DOUBLE SWITCH!

What’s happening here? I can’t even comprehend. Too much strategery.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Haha, we’ll never understand. It’s a higher form of baseball.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  MY MIND IS LITERALLY EXPLODING RIGHT NOW!!! I CAN’T COMPREHEND?!?!?!?!
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Maybe if you were smart like Rick Sutcliffe you’d be able to figure it out.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      I’ve got a big chart on my desk right now…but it’s not making sense!!! So if you take out the pitcher and a position player at the same time, you can switch their positions in the batting order?! Does that mean the pitcher has to play in the field? And Ichiro has to pitch?!! I DON’T GET IT!!!
Anderson Silva

MIRACLE! He retired a lefty.
The Real Greg

Anderson, I didn’t know they changed the definition of a base hit.

(Had to do it)
WhittakerWalt

Sometimes even the wrong move can work out for the best. That was def. the wrong move, but I’ll take the results.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  This is why you look at the process and not the results.
- Deathstroke Heathcott
  
  Over the last 3 years, CarGo’s splits
  vs lefties .288/.335/.488
  vs righties .326/.389/.581
  - Deathstroke Heathcott
    
    Boone’s splits over the same time period
    vs lefties .230/.303/.362
    vs righties .258/.360/.413
- Havok9120
  
  I’m really not sure it was the wrong decision at all, regardless of the results.
The Real Greg

We need a nickname for Preston Claiborne
- Wheels
  
  Mayday
- Havok9120
  
  Pantston.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Creston Plaiborne.
  - Havok9120
    
    If working “Pants” into the name is not an acceptable option, this pretty much needs to be it.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Presto.
  
  You’re welcome.
  - The Real Greg
    
    I think we have a winner.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Not bad. Not bad at all.
  - Havok9120
    
    Ooooh. Shiney.
- Robinson TIlapia
  
  He’s the new Pants Lendleton, both because he has a nice, long name and because I consider “Pants Lendleton” to be the greatest meme ever.
  
  Pantston. He’s fucking Pantston.
Havok9120

Alright Pantston. Forward for Prussia!
- Robinson TIlapia
  
  PANTSTON LIVES!
Dalek Jeter

Preston Claiborne is totally writing the country club after this afternoon…hopefully he comes back strong after the lead off single.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  He and Spaulding will have a jolly good larf over this.
  - Havok9120
    
    You win six internets for the Caddyshack reference.
GreenArm

I know the whole Preston Claiborne name thing is kinda done to death, but MAN, our pitchers today are basically old Englishmen.

Carsten Charles Sabathia -> Adam Parrish Warren -> Preston Michael Claiborne.

(well save that pesky Boone Logan)
- And in merrie olde England
  
  While one isn’t quite sure how to approach the moniker Sabathia, the other names mentioned are tip top.
  - GreenArm
    
    i dunno. other than boone (who basically defected to go out west to this New World/USA) it pretty much fits the bill. (and i mean, it’s CC’s real name. and it’s pretty fucking regal!!) haha!
- GreenArm
  
  er, if Boone even got in. i missed almost all of the game, so just tried to catch up, at the time, via this thread. (glad i got to see the Mo save though. as i’ve mentioned a bunch since i started commenting here, i will watch him pitch every single chance i can this year. truly a gift.)
The Real Greg

How many of you were scared that he was going to throw that away?
Havok9120

Bam. Well done.
Deathstroke Heathcott

Say what you want about Cano, but no one turns the double play prettier than him.
Dalek Jeter

Damnit Pantston! this is our one chance to get Boone out of the “7th inning guy” role.
Dalek Jeter

:( Pantston…
Havok9120

If DRob’s ready, bust a move Joe.
- The Real Greg
  
  There he goes.
Deathstroke Heathcott

Get out of the damn jam so I can say, “Presto!”
Havok9120

Yeah, Al, because there was a chance Joe was gonna call for Nuno, who hasn’t warmed up.
The Real Greg

My best guess. Ichiro goes to center, Boesch moves to right, and Robertson bats in Gardner’s spot.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Step one in preserving leads.
  Weaken the defense as much as possible.
  - The Real Greg
    
    I know. I don’t like the idea of bringing in Ichiro just to take him out again. But he did it
  - Havok9120
    
    The NL manager is doing his NL manager thing.
    
    I embrace it…8 times a year.
Havok9120

Oh God. Another double switch.

Now I’m hopelessly lost.
flamingo

So, this Claiborne kid. I’d never heard of him before his promotion – felt like all the buzz was reserved for Montgomery and his (great) slider – but he’s been great so far!
- Havok9120
  
  Someone has to keep up the organization’s reputation for pulling decent to good relief pitchers out of every orifice.
  - flamingo
    
    It’s quite nice.
    - Havok9120
      
      It is, and it’s why I’ve stopped worrying about the bullpen. Between our pro scouting department and whoever it is that’s been building the bullpen pipeline in the minors, the organization seems to know exactly what it’s doing in at least this respect.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Thanks, Houdini.
- The Real Greg
  
  There’s a line about Presto and Houdini waiting to be made.
Dalek Jeter

*breaks down in tears and burns chart* I’m done. I just can’t comprehend the double switch. The strategery is beyond me!!
The Real Greg

Didn’t the Rockies use a weird type of rotation last year?
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah. Some kind of quasi four man setup that they abandoned as soon as humanly possible.
Havok9120

Your helmet is looking a bit Jorge Posado-esque there Robbie.
flamingo

Wait, hang on. Did Girardi actually use D-Rob to clean up a mess in that inning? Even though it wasn’t his inning?

(I guess I’d think more of that if the first out he’d gotten wasn’t immediately adjacent to “his” inning. But it’s still unusual.)
- Havok9120
  
  It is rare these days.
The Real Greg

Oh David…..
Dalek Jeter

Gameday’s audio is like 4 pitches behind it’s website…it’s odd.
anderson Silva

terrible throw.. a good throw gets him there
- Havok9120
  
  The throw did have him. It wasn’t perfect, but that needed to be caught.
  - The Real Greg
    
    It wasn’t a great throw, but it looked like Robbie had a chance had a good chance at it.
anderson Silva

that curve is so awesome, so not fair
Dalek Jeter

Yay and boo for my fantasy team at the same time!!!!
- Havok9120
  
  I’m pretty sure your fantasy team is beyond hope at this point. I’ll shed no tears.
Robinson TIlapia

I will say this as to why “Pantston” may not work for Claiborne: I really did think he was going to be about as good as Pants the Elder, but he’s exceeding expectations.

I’m also glad I didn’t come back on here to any “Something’s wrong with DRob” comments after that walk.

Win this fucker for Prussia.
- Havok9120
  
  If he keeps this up, “Presto” is gonna stick.
  - Robinson TIlapia
    
    Yeah.
    
    So Pants Montgomery? Pants Whitley? Pants Mustelier? Who will it be?
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Are you the real fishman? I have to question cause your name isn’t quite right.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Nah, that was me and a typo.
anderson Silva

oh man, very nice play. Can we get a good young position player like that?
Dalek Jeter

*rolls eyes* this is how Romine gets playing time?! This is just getting ridiculous if Stewart is actually hurt.
Robinson TIlapia

Do we thank God Stewart seems fine, or not?
- The Real Greg
  
  At this point, thank him.
- Havok9120
  
  There’s no reason to believe Romine could play every day health wise. So we thank God.
Havok9120

I thought that was a hammy. Whew.
- Robinson TIlapia
  
  Yeah. Bobby Wilson can stay right where he is, although the idea of giving Murphy a shot did give me about half a woody.
ClusterDuck

Just turned on the game. Why did Sabathia leave after 4 innings??
- Havok9120
  
  Rain delay.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  The same reason that we’re watching/listening to a game that started at 3 at 8 w/o any extra innings lol…like a 2 hour rain delay.
Robinson TIlapia

The bunt off the knee was a better chance at getting on base.
ROBTEN

If Stewart can’t go next inning, does Romine catch Mo, or do they put Wells behind the plate?

(I keed.)
Robinson TIlapia

So if Mo gets these three outs, are we still lucky not to get swept on this road trip?
- The Real Greg
  
  Taking two of three against a solid Rockies team in Colorado is a fantastic result. Gotta think the same in KC, who are a good team.
Wheels

What a legend.
OldYanksFan

3 games at Coors.
Between 2 good teams.
A TOTAL of 11 RS between both teams.
I wonder how many times that has happened at Coors.
- VT Yankee Fan
  
  When the Yanks played in Colorado in 2002 there were 70 runs scored in a 3 game series.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    We would have swept that series if not for Todd Zeile.
nsalem

Frst 2 outs were MAN vs boy
Robinson Tilapia

2 of 3. Look at that lineup today. Beautiful. Gettin’ it DONE.
Dalek Jeter

Never complain about 2-3 against a good team. :)
Get Phelps Up

Adam Warren’s first career win.
flamingo

I’m not sure how we’re winning games, but I like it.
- The Real Greg
  
  Good pitching and timely offense.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Mo.

That is all.
Eddard

And after all that doom and gloom the take the series. I thought they could go .500 on the road trip and theyre already halfway to 4 wins. Its the starting pitching that will carry a ballclub throughout the season because offense comes and gos.
- Evan3457
  
  They’d better get more offense, and soon, because sooner or later, unless you’ve got the pitching staff of the 1965 Dodgers, with that strike zone, in that ballpark, in that league, without the DH, your starting pitching will give way under the pressure of having to pitch that many tight games with no cushion.