Game 42: You Again?

May 17, 2013 by Mike Axisa 391 Comments

The Yankees just lost two of three to Mariners, only their fifth series loss in 14 tries this year. Two of their series wins have come against the Blue Jays, who are in town for another three games starting tonight. Come Monday, one out of every four games the Yankees have played this year will have been against the new-look Jays.

Toronto is still stuck in last place in the AL East, but they’re playing way better than they were a few weeks ago. They’ve won four straight and seven of their last ten, and the offense has scored at least ten runs in each of their last three games. The Yankees are going to have to be at their best to win a third straight series against their division rivals to the north. Southpaw Mark Buehrle is on the bump, and here’s the lineup he’ll face…

CF Brett Gardner
SS Jayson Nix
2B Robinson Cano
LF Vernon Wells
DH Ben Francisco
1B Lyle Overbay
3B David Adams
RF Ichiro Suzuki
C Austin Romine

Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound for the Bombers. The game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on My9. Enjoy.

Travis Hafner Update: Hafner (shoulder) took batting practice and said he’s available to pinch-hit. If a right-hander was on the mound, he would have started.

ClusterDuck

Nix second and Bendover Francisco fifth.

Geez.
- Havok9120
  
  I’m okay with Nix batting second against lefties. Not excited, but not offended either.
  
  Ben Fran in the five spot though…
trr

Andy on the DL, Stewart out- what (who’s) next. I think we need to win this game tonight if we’re gonna win this series
- Winter
  
  What if Ben Francisco got hurt and they had to replace him with someone even worse?
  - trr
    
    Like who, my Aunt May?
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      The original 90 year old lady or Sally Fields? Because that makes a difference.
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      …Oh, YOUR Aunt May.. My bad. Still, it would help if we knew how she compared to Sally Fields.
    - Deathstroke Heathcott
      
      Spider-Man?
      - trr
        
        Bingo
  - SDB
    
    Does this person exist?
    - Havok9120
      
      Elector George Wilhelm was a pretty sorry figure. He’d probably be worse.
      
      And maybe Bubba Crosby.
trr

Nix batting 2nd, what could go wrong?
Havok9120

Let us end their streak in the name of our wounded and Prussia.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Anybody think we wrote off the Jays to early? I was never completely sure if we were right in burying them just yet.
- Havok9120
  
  I didn’t think anyone had buried them. I thought we were all just cackling with glee at their poor start.
  
  Anyone who did bury them though definitely did so too soon, yes.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    I mean, ten game is definitely a lot, so I can’t completely blame the people who did bury them. They looked REALLY fucking bad.
- vicki
  
  their rotation is still rough, but you knew the bats would show up.
vicki

i hope vernon ate his wheaties.
I’mVernonI’mVernon4U

Nix batting second again…

Where is Granderson? Much rather him than Ichiro..
- Havok9120
  
  Freshly back from an injury and getting a day off. *shrug*
  - I’mVernonI’mVernon4U
    
    And he had three hits yesterday too.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      TEH LEFTY!!!
      - I’mVernonI’mVernon4U
        
        Lol… but…but Ichiro…:(
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Ichiro is a magician with the bat. he can do anything he wants. He can be a power hitter and hit 50 a year if he wanted to. What brainwashing? Jayson Nix is a ball player.
        
        Havok9120
        
        And not just any player, but a professional player.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Yes Havok. A professional baseball player. He always to do something to help the team. Even when he goes 0-4 w/ 3Ks and an Error. He always helps.
    - Havok9120
      
      Still though.
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

I fail to see why Francisco remains on the team
- Deathstroke Heathcott
  
  Incriminating pictures no doubt.
dkidd

from the immortal “rio bravo”:

random guy: a game legged old man and a drunk. that’s all you got?

john wayne: that’s WHAT i got.

no excuses!
- Havok9120
  
  Wow. A Rio Bravo blast. I approve in the strongest possible terms.
Rolling Doughnut

Nix, Ichiro and oh fuck Fransisco in the same lineup. Not to overstate the obvious but Hiroki needs to be very …good….
Wheels

Nice night for a ballgame .
J.R.

It’s lineups like these that really remind you what a great hitting catcher Posada was. Imagine if he were in his prime, he would probably be hitting 5th and this lineup would look even more dangerous.
- pop
  
  +1
Dalek Jeter

Really though Granderson against Kershaw>>>>>>>>>>>>>Francisco OR Ichiro vs Buehrle.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Ichiro at least has had some past success against Buehrle.
  As for Ben Francisco, I’m convinced Joey G and Cash are just trolling the fan base at this point.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Pre-2011 Ichiro has good numbers against Buehrle. Post 2011 Ichiro…I’m sure not so much.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      2011-2013
      333/300/333
      
      The ultimate empty average, but not all bad.
Wheels

Paul O’Neill in the booth tonight is gonna bring us good luck.
Dalek Jeter

The Yankees are 0-3 when I’m not listening/watching and taking part in the Game Thread…so I return for Prussia and The Yankees!!
Eddard

Ben Francisco did hit his one and only HR off Mark Buehrle. That might have been the last time he played, actually. If you can’t hit Buehrle, you can’t hit anyone.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  He’s 0-7 vs. Buehrle this year.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  If you can’t hit Buehrle, you can’t hit anyone.
  
  Talk about hubris, I hope the baseball gods weren’t around for this…
  - Havok9120
    
    That quote brought to you by the same guy who’s convinced Josh Johnson is a terrible, terrible pitcher. Because reasons.
The Real Greg

Its a sad state of affairs when we are foced to bat Ben Francisco 5th in a lineup. Although I might have switched Adams and Francisco
Eddard

Hiroki is the Yankees most consistent pitcher and the ace of the staff. If they were voting for Cy Young, Hiroki would be at the top of the list.
The Real Greg

So Pettitte did go on the DL? Oh crap….
Havok9120

Wow. I’m actually getting a My9 game. Sweetness.
Dalek Jeter

“[Bautista] has unusual numbers against Kuroda, he’s 2-10. Both Homeruns. He’s a homer hitter.”

Sterling is off to a wonderful start…
- Wheels
  
  Did he call Melky Cabrera the Melk Man?
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    No, but I’m sure that Melky was at second before Sterling called it a base hit, the call went something like “The ball……………………..is down the right field line…………for a……base hit.”
Rolling Doughnut

Hanging slider. No no no don’t do that
Eddard

HA! What a reaction by Hiroki. That’s why he’s the ace.
- Winter
  
  ok…………………………
Havok9120

That works. Do that 8 more times Hirok.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Don’t think that would get through anyways. Robbie looked like he’d be able to get to it.
Brian S.

We need more Asian players
- Brian S.
  
  I’m rooting hard for Refsnyder.
  - Havok9120
    
    Wait, you’re a Refsnyder fan?
    
    Who knew?
    
    :p
    - Brian S.
      
      Haha he’s one of my new crushes this season. Then again I’ll fall for anybody with a wRC+ above 150…
      - Havok9120
        
        Yeah, I know, but take a little more credit. You were blowing him up in the offseason as I recall. He’s done you proud so far.
I’mVernonI’mVernon4U

Nice work Hirok. Lets get to Buehrle fast.
Rolling Doughnut

Kuroda by pitch count

First 15 pitches: .362 .396 .489 .886
16-30: .150 .271 .275 .546
31-45: .143 .217 .190 .408
46-60: .220 .220 .341 .561
61-75 .143 .143 .143 .286
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Da speed!!!!!
Dalek Jeter

Gardner at third…now it’s time for Nix to strike out on three pitches…
- The Real Greg
  
  Didn’t even get the chance
The Real Greg

That’s what I need to se more of from Gardner. Extra base hits, especially triples with his speed.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  You do realize, even if he sets the triples record you’d only see it 36 times over ~600 ABs.
  - Havok9120
    
    And I assume that’s gotta be one of the KC guys from when they had that so-called “turf.” No Yankee is ever matching that.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Chief Wilson, of the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates.
      - Havok9120
        
        Hmmm. Interesting.
        
        vicki
        
        along those lines, i suspect many or most of the homeruns recorded in that era were of the inside-the-park variety. they played in caverns, some without delineated outfields.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Yeah, that’s kinda what I was thinking.
Eddard

SAFE! What an awful job in the OF by Melky.
Winter

Now that is speed.
Havok9120

That’ll do Brett. That’ll do.

That was one looonnnng slide.
Rolling Doughnut

Go Gardy
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Try to forget you’re Jayson Nix right now, Jayson.
Rolling Doughnut

Nix lefty splits

.270 .378 .270 .648
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  powerful
  - Havok9120
    
    Still, I’ll take an empty .270 and a ~.380 OBP with the current roster construction.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Yeah, there aren’t many better options vs. LHP.
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah. Again I say, I’ve had no problem with him batting 2 against lefties. Doing it against righties is what’s caused me to be annoyed.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Right
    - Havok9120
      
      I love you after that thing with Matt last night, by the way.
Dale Mohorcic

This Nix batting second thing is flabbergasting. Girardi was batting Cano 2nd for a while showing some apparent sabermetric understanding, and now he’s putting Nix there, because you want extra at-bats for one of your worst hitters.
- The Real Greg
  
  Yesterday it was more of a concern because it was against a righty. He actually has decent numbers against lefties.
Eddard

It’s like I said, if you can’t hit Mark Buehrle you can’t hit anyone. Knock him out in the 1st.
Brian S.

Double steal!
forensic

According to Sterling, Nix’s 5-13 line against Buehrle is one AB shy of .500.

Huh???
Winter

Is this a first inning lead? I’m not sure I understand.
- Havok9120
  
  A rare and wonderful thing.
  
  I shall savor it.
vicki

not just kuroda. say what you will about our situational hitting but we give as good as we get. the yankees’ staff has the lowest whip (and woba against) with risp in the league. second lowest xfip.
- Brian S.
  
  Damn Wells what choo swinging at.
- Havok9120
  
  Dannnng. I mean, that sounds right now that you mention it. But I wouldn’t have guessed that that was the case.
nsalem

even Randy Winn had a great Yankee moment. Lets go Ben
Rolling Doughnut

A rather clueless AB.
SDB

If you can’t hit Buerhle around, you’re not an MLB quality hitter.

If you can’t get an easy out with Ben Francisco batting, you’re not an MLB quality pitcher.

Something’s gonna give.
- Wil Nieves #1 Fan
  
  Match: Buehrle.
Dalek Jeter

..It’s the first inning and Sterling is already making jokes about traffic on the Major Deegan. How can I kill myself, using only office supplies, with minimal mess?
- Havok9120
  
  Swallow some open stables and tape your mouth/nose shut to avoid spitting out blood.
  - Winter
    
    Or, you know, just tape your nose and mouth shut.
    - Brian S.
      
      But then he could just breathe through his ears.
    - Havok9120
      
      Reflex would almost certainly prevent that from actually killing you.
      - Winter
        
        Clearly you just lack the willpower.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        He lacks the will of the warrior.
        
        Havok9120
        
        I’ve the blood of Prussia. Shut your whore mouth.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Bitch you’re Polish!
        
        Havok9120
        
        Yup. But that whole “Poland is famous for getting partitioned” thing isn’t simply a byproduct of WWII.
        
        Or: your geography kung-fu is no match for my monkey-style.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Maybe not me, but Dalek? Make no bets on his willpower.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        I feel like bees are stinging my insides. and that last one went down sideways…
        
        Havok9120
        
        Panzy. You’ll be fine.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I feel like I’d need to swallow a lot of staples…
    - Havok9120
      
      You would. Till something tore. I wasn’t going for quick and painless.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  Swallow some toner?
  - Havok9120
    
    By far the best bet. But I was going for sadism.
    - Rolling Doughnut
      
      Svetlana?
      - Havok9120
        
        She’d work too.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Svetlana and I get along well…wait I mean..not that?
- SDB
  
  Strangulation/hanging with a paper clip chain?
  - Havok9120
    
    Held by Svetlana. We’ve got this all worked out now.
Rolling Doughnut

How many mistakes does Buerle have to make before they square one up? Answer: a lot
- The Real Greg
  
  You realize they did score, right?
  - Havok9120
    
    Off a fielder’s choice groundout. Color me unimpressed. Happy, but unimpressed given what MB was throwing out there.
    - The Real Greg
      
      You take ’em ANY WAY you get them.
      - Havok9120
        
        No doubt.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Uh, Cano and Bend-over got two meatballs each. AND they scored a run. Look up non-sequitur dude. You really say some silly shit.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Again, with this roster, you take runs any way you can get them. Never get greedy with this roster.
    - Havok9120
      
      I took the highroad with Greg after last night. Not sure how long that’ll last.
The Real Greg

Predictable. Damn injuries.
Dalek Jeter

Wow. Ben Francisco…please get off my team. I will make a deal with the Baseball Gods right now: Take Francisco from this team and Jayson Nix can bat 8th and play SS for the rest of the season…I won’t complain once.
- Brian S.
  
  Francisco doesn’t play enough for that to be a good bet. We will eventually get Jeter back.
- Havok9120
  
  Lies.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I swear. I wouldn’t make a peep about him for the rest of the season. I’d even begin to praise him, nonsarcastically occasionally.
Brian S.

Off my team off my team off my team off my team
forensic

Yay Francisco! Lefty mashing DH!!!
The Real Greg

That scared for a bit given the way this year has gone
- Havok9120
  
  Same.
nsalem

Dumbest poll question I’ve ever seen
The Real Greg

Other than Mo >>>> Rick Vaughn, you gotta go with the Cleveland Indians
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

The feeling I get watching HIROK pitch is a lot more pleasant than the feeling I get watching Hughes pitch.
Eddard

Hiroki vs Buerle is the mismatch of all mismatches. The only question is how soon does the offense knock Buerle out of the game. The sooner the better as it will give them a short pen for the rest of the series.
Havok9120

Robbed. Oy.
DLSIII

Traffic issues probably due to train derailment on metro north. Can we talk about the game now?????
Brian S.

First pitch is a ball, so swing at the second and third pitches in the same exact location.
- The Real Greg
  
  Were you talking about Overbay or Adams?
  
  Because Overbay hit that ball solidly.
  - Brian S.
    
    Gameday said Kawasaki struck out now he’s at first?
The Real Greg

So I guess Overbay, Adams, and Ichiro can’t hit anybody
- The Real Greg
  
  Although Overbay got robbed.
The Real Greg

The left handed 1st baseman strikes again
vicki

you got faced, junior.
Rolling Doughnut

Sit down mf*!
I’mVernonI’mVernon4U

Haha, nice job.
Brian S.

What happened to BJ Upton?
- The Real Greg
  
  He’s hitting worse than Jayson Nix, that’s what.
- Havok9120
  
  His brother stole all his talent.
Rolling Doughnut

Plan: Knock out Buehrle, get into the rested Jays pen, let Kuroda hit for Benny badass.
- Havok9120
  
  That would sure be nice.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Maybe rethink the Kuroda AB. With this club’s luck he’ll pull a hamstring walking to 1st after getting hit on the elbow with a Buerle 85 mph heater
vicki

lol @ buehrle.
Brian S.

lol walking Nix twice. Let’s go Bobinson!
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

They need a better hitter behind Nix or he’s never going to get anything to hit.
The Real Greg

Nix’s OBP: .317
Gardner’s OBP: .326

Let’s think about this.
- Havok9120
  
  And now he’s stealing bases.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Nix wRC+ 66
  Gardner 95
  
  Nothing to think about.
  - Havok9120
    
    C’mon. We gotta let Greg get on a roll here at some point.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Saved me the post. I was just thinking the same thing.
  - The Real Greg
    
    I would expect for a starter to have a better wRC than a bench player. So that doesn’t surprise me.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      I would expect for you not to have a point. So that doesn’t surprise me.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Especially a player that has hit leadoff basically all season over a guy who mostly has been in the lower part of the lineup
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Who said it should be a surprise?
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Nobody. I just find it interesting that our leadoff hitter has a .009 better OBP than a guy who gets crucified. Just an observation.
        
        Brian S.
        
        Well there is more to offense than OBP.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Again, he’s much, much better than Nix overall, and he’s only required to hit leadoff because of all of the injuries. He’s a slightly below average career hitter overall. He shouldn’t be hitting leadoff. In a lineup with Nix, Francisco, Romine, Ichiro, etc, there really isn’t much choice.
      - Havok9120
        
        A) Nix has not been a “bench player” this season.
        
        B) What? wRC+ doesn’t work that way.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        But on mostly any other team he would be a bench player.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Which means precisely what when comparing statistics from the two of them this season?
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Gardner’s stats should be much better than Nix’s.
        
        The fact that their OBP’s are very close together is somewhat shocking.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Okay.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Not really. They’re only about 1/4 of the way through the season and Nix’s OBP is 30 pts over his career avg while Gardy’s is 26 pts below his career average.
        Lesson: much ado about nothing
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      A “bench player” doesn’t play in 88% of the team’s games.
      - The Real Greg
        
        They do if the team he’s playing on has become St. Elsewhere
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        So you admit that he’s an everyday player then?
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Not inherently.
        
        He has always been a bench player that has been forced into starting.
        
        He’s only had over 300 ABs once in a season.
        
        In terms of quality, he’s a bench player.
        
        Rolling Doughnut
        
        Why don’t you look up the definition of bench and everyday player, then compare and contrast same. Quiz on Monday,
Brian S.

I would intentionally walk Cano and Wells to get to Francisco.

/not really but kind of
SDB

Ugh. Swinging on ball 4.
Brian S.

Trade Cano 4 prspcts
- nsalem
  
  trade your brain for a functional one
  - Brian S.
    
    Trade your sarcasm detector for another one
    - Winter
      
      Trade your… uh… face for another one.
      
      Yeah. I’m clever. Deal with it.
      - Havok9120
        
        Rocked him back on his heels there.
      - Brian S.
        
        This offense is terrible. And we won’t be getting reinforcements until June right?
    - nsalem
      
      sorry thought that was serious
The Real Greg

Whatever team gets Cano, they are going to be very testy at these types of slumps.
Anderson Silva

Cano with another hack at a pitch not even close.. he needs a day off
Rolling Doughnut

Robbie: FYI. He is pitching around you.
Kramerica Industries

I’m guessing the trivia answer is Tim Salmon.
- nsalem
  
  Garrett Anderson
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    My answer is “Some random good player from the Angels in the late 90s-early 2000’s and something about your mother being a whore?” Trebeck.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    It’s either one or the other (not sure if you’re guessing or know the answer).
    
    I remember playing with the 1996 Angels a lot on Triple Play ’97. Salmon and Anderson were the only two All-Stars in that lineup.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Is the question something a long the lines of ‘What allstar on made the last out in Mariano’s first save in 1996?’ If it is, Ma and Pa just said it was Anderson.
      - Kramerica Industries
        
        Yes.
        
        And YES also revealed the answer as Anderson. Paulie and I were on the same wavelength, and that wavelength plunged us to a drowning death.
NeilT

Let’s try this… wife’s away and has left her new MacBook Pro home so I can have a full-sized keyboard instead of my ‘phone.

Man… can the Yanks catch a break with injuries? And also, would Robbie please start hitting again? And Francisco as DH?!

At least #HIROK! looks as good as ever.
- vicki
  
  don’t forget to clear your browsing history!
  - NeilT
    
    Nah I’ll just use my own computer. In the meantime I’m sure much fun might be had with my wife’s account.
vicki

#offmyteam
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  #offmyplanet
  - Brian S.
    
    #off my dimension
  - Havok9120
    
    God. We’ve gotta fling another guy into the sun?
    
    You people are really stretching my ability to get us access to the DoD’s railguns.
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Seriously with that strike call on the 2-0 pitch to Overbay
NeilT

Why is Francisco still with the club?
Havok9120

That O’Neil video was hilarious.
NeilT

Nice play by Vern. The Jays are already fed up with him, I’m thinking they’ll be groaning at the sight of him come September.
Kramerica Industries

I will never understand how Paulie did that.

Such an amazing highlight.
- vicki
  
  ’cause he’s paul o’neill. sheer will.
Winter

Maybe Vernon got a new belt and that’s why he’s playing well.
Dalek Jeter

Havok…my intestines feel like they’re being poked with needles. Are you sure this was a good idea?
- Havok9120
  
  You’ll be fine. Live with the pain.
  
  Your sacrifice shall be seen by the baseball gods and no doubt earn us a win.
  - Mercenary
    
    have we started the fire
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      If I’m getting a bitchin funeral pyre I’m completely okay with all of this.
      - Havok9120
        
        Can I float the pyre into the Baltic?
- SDB
  
  Just lie back and think of Prussia.
vicki

they’re alright, yeah, the kids are alright.
Havok9120

The rooks got this.

Let’s make something happen Brett.
I’mVernonI’mVernon4U

These kids at their bats!
MannyGeee

John Sterling wants Matt to know David Adams has hit safely in every game he’s played in
- NeilT
  
  I wonder, how do you hit anything but “safely”? By definition if you get a hit, you make it “safely” to at least first.
  - MannyGeee
    
    You get a hit but during the backswing you club yourself in the nuts
    - NeilT
      
      You ever try even moving after doing that? I’m thinking you could hit the ball right to the furthest corner and the outfielder could run the ball to 1st and you’d be out if you did that.
Dalek Jeter

Home grown Rally?!
Winter

Any RAB redditors out there should know that the cotton candy gif from a couple nights ago has become a kickass upvote gif.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Is it the backwards one? Because that one is hysterical. It’s been making the rounds on tumblr since that night.
  - Winter
    
    It’s made from the backwards one, yep.
- MannyGeee
  
  Saw that today on the imgurs… Pretty awesome
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Oh god, that’s even better!!
Anderson Silva

Nix in yet another big situation… really great decision to have him bat 2nd
- The Real Greg
  
  YOu were saying?
Wheels

We are overdue for an offensive explosion.
- MannyGeee
  
  Check my shorts
  - Wheels
    
    Ha, I asked for that
    - vicki
      
      you get the assist.
Havok9120

Allllllllllright Nix. Nice and easy now. Don’t do anything foolish.
I’mVernonI’mVernon4U

God I keep thinking okay awesome Cano is up next and then I realize no its Nix. Granted, Robbie is in quite a funk right now.
Dalek Jeter

Not completely fail Nix…good job.
- SDB
  
  And Ma goes off about what a great job he does every game, completely forgetting his chokes with a runner on 3B and one out yesterday.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I wanted to vomit and take back this comment the second I hit submit because of that.
  - nsalem
    
    In Nix’s defense righties are batting zero against Wilhelmsen this year
    - WhittakerWalt
      
      But he didn’t need a hit. Something other than a strikeout probably would have done it.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      What Robbie did the next AB would have been enough from Nix last night, I’m not asking him to get a hit or even hit the ball hard. Contact. That’s all we needed.
- MannyGeee
  
  Ma & Pa just gushing over Nix who “does SOMETHING” every game…
NeilT

Dear Joe,

Please put Robbie back to 2nd in the lineup.

Ta.
Rolling Doughnut

Sac fly. We’ll take it. Now Robbie remember some of those pitches will be out of the strike zone
- vicki
  
  … but will still be called strikes.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

notastrike
- The Real Greg
  
  Gameday had it just touching the edge of the strikezone. So just bad luck for Robbie
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Looked clearly outside. On tv and on gameday.
forensic

“Every game. EVERY single game Nix does something to help the team.”
– Waldman

Guess she wasn’t watching last night…
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Did she specify which team?
- MannyGeee
  
  Yup, this. Also Stewart apparently “gets his hits”…. You’d think this was Yogi Berra and Mike Schmidt they were talking about nightly.
Anderson Silva

Cano is pathetic right now
Wheels

Damn Robbie, snap out of it
Kramerica Industries

Wretched slump is wretched.
vicki

i’m mad too, paulie.
Dalek Jeter

Robbie…come on. That’s the pitch that ended the game last night too…When you’re on, you know better.
your mom

Really Cano?
Roadgeek Adam

David Rackley is a “rookie” umpire. Horrid strike zone to go with it. Looks somewhat like what got AJ Pierzynski ejected with Robin Ventura in Chicago against Seattle last year. (Different umpire, point stands.)

then:
Blake Beavan hits that spot, its a strike
Jose Quintana hits that spot, its a ball.

now:
Buerhle hits that spot, its a Strike
Kuroda hits that spot, its a ball
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  It’s a new brand of baseball, the zone changes with the count. haven’t you heard?
NeilT

Hey anyone got a Powerball ticket? If so which sports franchise are you buying with the money?
- Roadgeek Adam
  
  The one in Willets Point.
- MannyGeee
  
  The one closest to beaches and nekkid bitches
The Real Greg

74-75 pitches through 6 innings.

Does he go all the way?
- NeilT
  
  I’m saying yes and there will be a big fat 0 in the Jays’ run column.
NeilT

Since when did Hiroki turn into Sir Phillip of Hughes? He’s a veritable fly ball machine out there tonight.
Rolling Doughnut

Good jump nice hustle by Gardner. And Robbie’s smooth play on the short hop gets an honorable mention.
WhittakerWalt

NO. Suzyn Waldman, you are LYING. Jayson Nix doesn’t do something every game to help the team win. Not unless you’re giving him credit for bringing his gloves and spikes to the game. Because last night, that simple sac fly that you seem to think he can just always hit, well he didn’t do it. He struck out. He did nothing.
This is why we hate you.
Dalek Jeter

At least our Defense and Kuroda is on God Mode.
Tom

“Who’s on the mound?”

“well it’s a guy with these stats:
Buehrle vs lefties 4.21 FIP, .318 wOBA
Buehrle vs righties 4.16 FIP, .323 wOBA”

“…but what HAND does he throw with?”

“Does it matter? He’s the same against lefties and righties”

“Yeah but if he’s a righty I have to start Hafner and if it’s a lefty I have to go with Francisco… that’s how platooning works”

(Hoping for the reverse jinx)
- vicki
  
  well done.
  - Tom
    
    Well except for the reverse jinx part.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  Binder Blindness. Joe got it several years ago and it’s irreversible
- forensic
  
  Not to mention:
  
  Hafner vs. Buehrle: .246/.366/.435
  Francisco vs. Buehrle: .188/.222/.188
  
  And Hafner has hit lefties better than Francisco this year too.
Rolling Doughnut

Two more meatballs Wells does nothing with. WTF.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Please Cash, just put him, and us, out of his misery already.
- Havok9120
  
  No joke. Needs to happen.
  - Roadgeek Adam
    
    I know he’s not hitting great, but Ronnier? :)
    - Havok9120
      
      I’m not against it.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  And there’s a hell of a lot of misery for him and us to be put out of.
Anderson Silva

Is this Buehrle or Randy Johnson?
- The Real Greg
  
  Just be happy they’re winning.
Winter

Guys, we’re winning this game. Do we have to keep complaining about everything?
- vicki
  
  not everything. just the 5hole.
Leg-End

It’s hard to wrap your head around Francisco not only being on the team but also batting 5th………just save us all from him Cashman.
SDB

Just saw Cliff Lee clubbing a double against Cincinnati.

You know it’s sad when the aging Phillies pitcher can get a better hit than Ben Francisco has all season.
Dalek Jeter

No, John. Kuroda has been “dominant” as he is facing a legit line up. Buehrle is facing a lineup of 2 rookies, 2 bench players, a platoon Lefty facing a lefty, a guy who has no business on an independent league team’s roster, and Cano, Gardner, and Wells.
The Real Greg

Kuroda is throwing a one hitter against the Jays through 6.

No let’s complain about how crappy the offense is.
- trr
  
  Well….
Roadgeek Adam

Alright, this strike zone sucks.

1-2-3 were within 5 mm of each other. BALL – BALL – STRIKE.

Come on Rackley, really?
Bo Knows

Trenton thunder facing Kevin Gausman, the O’s #2 prospect and #26 overall

Jose Ramirez is the SP tonight, he went 5 innings throwing 79 pitches (52 pitches for strikes) he gave up 1 run/ER, on 3 hits (one of which a homer), 1 walk, and struck out 7.
Rolling Doughnut

Down HRok down. Let’s go.
Rolling Doughnut

DP the easy way. I’m calling it,
- MannyGeee
  
  TWSS??
- vicki
  
  must– make– joke–
Anderson Silva

Hiroki!! Looking great
The Real Greg

That inning may have denied him the CGSO. Up now to 92 pitches
- MannyGeee
  
  8IP with MO up in the 9th works for everyone involved
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Agreed. My fantasy team included.
Buddy

Why can’t I find the game on tv?
- Wheels
  
  My9
Dalek Jeter

If he keeps up this pace Kuroda has to at least be in the Cy Young conversation come season’s end.
- MannyGeee
  
  Not sexy enough. Yu gets the nod, albeit with an inferior performance.
- Eddard
  
  He’s plenty sexy. At this point, Hiroki Kuroda is the Yankees ace and he is the leader for Cy Young.
  - MannyGeee
    
    I wish I could go there with you, but the voting will not.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Lol Melky

Way to go Addy!!!
Roadgeek Adam

And Adams wastes no time hitting a ground rule.
Anderson Silva

this guy is a hits machine.. and Melky wtf! lol
Dalek Jeter

David Adams gives zero shits about Matt’s bearish outlook of him.
- MannyGeee
  
  I was just about to do this. Well done Dalek.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Beautiful bunt.
Wheels

Oh awesome
The Real Greg

Move Adams up in the lineup next time.
Alkaline

Seems like a good, quick game so far. Haven’t watched but keeping track of box score. Anything encouraging?

Also, for people to enjoy: http://i.imgur.com/crDS2HF.gif

Reverse GIF of the cotton candy.
- MannyGeee
  
  David Adams is putting on a clinic
- Havok9120
  
  Adams and Hirok have looked pretty good.
forensic

Bat Adams second…

And fifth…
- Havok9120
  
  Romine 5th. :D
  - Tom
    
    And if you really need a righty DH…. Chris Stewart? :-)
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      You got me curious.
      2011-13 vs. LHP
      Stewart: 235/301/328 70 wRC+
      Francisco: 213/294/323 72 wRC+
      
      At least Stewart can catch. How the hell is Ben Francisco on a MLB team as a RH DH?
      - vicki
        
        the yankee fan’s koan.
Dalek Jeter

AUSTIN FUCKING ROMINE AND DAVID FUCKING ADAMS!!!
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  The Impact Players
Roadgeek Adam

RBI DOUBLE
Havok9120

Well that’ll do Romine.
Anderson Silva

Beautiful Romine!! One too many sliders!
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Da Kids!!!!

Look Joe, Romine can be useful.
Wheels

Yay
SDB

I swear, I love how any time there’s an injury this season, someone steps up and performs.

Well done, Romine.
vicki

who’s the big who fan here, pat? i’ve had them in my head all night.

yeah the kids are alright!
Rolling Doughnut

Finally nailed a hanger. Well done Austin
MannyGeee

I have a rookie boner right now.
- your mom
  
  Soon to be quelled by the top of our line-up.
Eddard

It just goes to show you if you give these kids a chance they can come through. You can’t tell me there’s no one down in AAA better than Francisco. If the kids don’t come through you can always send them back down for more seasoning.
- MannyGeee
  
  I fucking despise agreeing with you… But you are 100% correct. This team owes Ben Francisco NOTHING, but he stays with the big club.
JonS

I have nightmares of Bo Jackson drinking 5 hour energy.
Dalek Jeter

I was gonna say this before Austin Romine did his thing; but Ma and Pa have to get off of Ichiro’s dick. I understand Nix, at least a little bit, he’s a not-every-day-guy, sort of holding his own playing everyday. Ichiro on the other hand is hitting .235(!!!) yet they cannot call him a professional hitter any less than 7 times per AB.
- Roadgeek Adam
  
  Nix is .231 and it hasn’t moved since the night began.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Technically Nix hasn’t had an at-bat tonight. 2 walks and 2 sac flys
    - Roadgeek Adam
      
      Hence “it hasn’t moved”. ;)
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Trust me, I despise Jayson Nix, but Ichiro has been worse
    wOBA and wRC+ for Ichiro: .259 56
    wOBA and wRC+ for Nix: .267 61
- SDB
  
  At least today they haven’t gone off (yet) about how Ichiro is such a magician with a hundred different swings.
Havok9120

Look at this. Nice crooked number.
Flesh hammer

Sounds stupid but David Adams has this look like he is going to hammer the ball every time he is up.
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  Not stupid he swings the bat with authority. Of course he’s not going to get a hit every time up but after his first AB I couldn’t help but notice is swing.
Pink Slime

Sorry if this was addressed already but any update on how Pineda threw today?
- Havok9120
  
  I heard nothing about it on here or LoHud.
  - Pink Slime
    
    Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who’s excited for this kid, anxious to see what he can do. I’m hoping to see himself the rotation at some point this summer.
    - Havok9120
      
      Oh, I’m pretty pumped. But getting ExST news usually happens later. Especially when most of the pregame stuff was centered around Andy going to the DL.
      - Pink Slime
        
        Yeah makes sense, hopefully we’ll here something about how it went sooner rather than later !
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  No updates yet as far as I know
MannyGeee

I was hoping we’d hang a crooked enough number to get a little hot Betances action tonight, but alas…
- Sangreal
  
  Likewise. I bet one more would’ve been enough
Havok9120

Gonna get DRob some work I see.
- The Real Greg
  
  I’m thinking he’s warming if Kuroda gets in trouble
  - Havok9120
    
    Hmm. Could be.
  - Havok9120
    
    Yep. You got it.
Havok9120

Ooof. Bonifacio got a bit too much extension on his knee there.
MannyGeee

So I picked up Wil Venable today off waivers, but John Jay was available too. Already have some buyers remorse. Thoughts?
- Bic Own Lee
  
  I like Venable for the SBs, basically the same guy w/ the bat.
Tom

Lost in the insanity of Francisco hitting 5th and Robbie going through one of those funks…

Kuroda with just 2 hits allowed through 8 IP

How the hell does this guy continue to be so under-rated? His ERA is now a buck ninety-nine.
- Winter
  
  Who’s underrating him?
  - Tom
    
    Folks beyond this site (or beyond the Yankee fanbase)
your mom

Fuck Francisco. Useless.
- fabricio
  
  i agree with you we need mustilier
Clue Heywood

Hey Taylor, how’s your wife and my kids.
Havok9120

Alright Pantston. Let’s wrap this up.
Tom

This will be a good test for Claiborne – after Kawasaki these are some good hitters he’ll be facing.
Troll

3-6 in the lineup: 1-16 with 1 RBI and 5 Strikeouts. Solid.
- your mom
  
  Blame Francisco.
vicki

joey didn’t step to preston?
nsalem

Not oin love with Nix either but what are the alternatives at this point? If the Yankee’s knew Jeter was missing half a season they probably would have pursued someone more aggressively but that’s water under the bridge at this point.
Havok9120

Whoa, Austin. That was more exciting than necessary.

Good game peoples.
nycsportzfan

Jesus, at this pace, Hiroki is gonna be starting the AS GAME. What a amazing season for him!

I guess, guys can come over from AL WEST or NL in general and pitch well in AL EAST, ey? Maybe there is something to a good pitcher will pitch good no matter where he comes from?

Just a sensational performance!
fabricio

the younglings stepped up today good stuff Adams and Romine
Eddard

That’s why Hiroki is the ace of the staff. 8 IP, 0 ER, just 2 hits allowed. It doesn’t get much better than that. Right now, if you were voting for AL Cy Young it’d be-

1. Kuroda
2. Felix
3. Buchholz

Hiroki is one of Cashman’s best FA signings of all time.
- Winter
  
  Iwakuma should be up there. As should Sanchez. And, as much as I hate to say it, Bucholz and Felix (at least) belong above Kuroda.
  - nycsportzfan
    
    Yu Darvish is having a big yr as well..
- nycsportzfan
  
  Along with Mike Mussina.
  - Deathstroke Heathcott
    
    Moose is my favorite pitcher of all time but I might give Cashman more credit for the Kuroda signing. Moose was a no-brainer to continue his success in the same division and he was signed away in his prime. Kuroda was seen as much more of a risk coming from the NL West with his advanced age.
nycsportzfan

Preston Claiborne not only has not given up a run in 8ml innings, he hasen’t walked a single batter. That right there is a great recipe for young pitchers to go by. Throw strikes!
Nathan

Hiroki, the mythical awesome #2 pitcher, who now might have taken over as the ace of the staff.