Game 81: Halfway Mark

June 30, 2013 by Mike Axisa 358 Comments

Well, he isn't wrong. (Patrick Smith/Getty) — Orioles fans can finally say that and not be wrong. (Patrick Smith/Getty)

At the end of the night, the Yankees will be on pace for either 84 wins or 86 wins. Either way, probably not enough to qualify for the postseason. The good news is that paces mean very little. Some good health and a few smart trade deadline pickups could change New York’s second half outlook dramatically, but for now they’re stuck with one of the worst lineups in baseball and a pitching staff that has shown some cracks in the dam the last few weeks. The Yankees have already lost this important series to the Orioles, but at least tonight they can escape with a win. Here’s the lineup that will face right-hander Chris Tillman:

CF Brett Gardner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
2B Robinson Cano
DH Travis Hafner
LF Zoilo Almonte
1B Lyle Overbay
SS Jayson Nix
C Chris Stewart
3B David Adams

And on the mound is the first 200-million yen pitcher in Hiroshima Carp history, right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. That’s a touch more than $2M.

It was raining in Baltimore for most of the day, but that has cleared up and they should have no trouble getting the game in tonight. First pitch is scheduled for a little after 8pm ET and can be seen on ESPN. Enjoy.

Rotation Update: After last night’s long relief appearance, Ivan Nova will not make a spot start against the Twins this coming week. The rotation will simply remain on schedule.

Spencer Tang

Hiroki Kuroda, a fan base turns its lonely eyes to you.
- Ethan
  
  Desperate is probably the word I would use.
- Winter
  
  Woo woo woo
- TomH
  
  Will he come back for another season? Given the likelihood that next year’s team will be no better than this year’s, and, in fact, might be worse, it’s hard to imagine why he would remain.
forensic

Oh my god, a lineup I can’t really complain about.

Someone must’ve locked Girardi in a closet…
- Laz
  
  I could complain about it, but it’s the best we have.
Mick taylor

Does anyone believe firing Kevin long would help? Rothchild has been a really good pitching coach , but name me a hitter long has made better .
- forensic
  
  I’m certainly not a fan of Long and think he’s pretty well overrated here, but he’s not a miracle worker. The players they have chosen to continue running out there only have so much skill, which is to say not much.
  - Mick taylor
    
    It looks like except for 2nd base, the orioles have abetter hitter than the Yankees at every position .that is shocking. when was the last time that happened,1972?
    - Pat D
      
      1997, 1989-1991, 1983, 1979.
      - MannyGeee
        
        Shhhhh….teh narrative!
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  No.
- Pat D
  
  Gardner, Melky, Granderson, Cano.
  - MannyGeee
    
    Kevin Long is a good hitting coach, but in fairness look at the shit show he has to work with. Take the blame off Long and blame it on the true cause… Father Time and Uncle Fluke Injury.
    - Pat D
      
      Stupid fucking drunk uncle.
  - forensic
    
    It’s not even worth it right now since they have bigger issues than Long, but there are certainly arguments to poke in every one of those players.
    - Pat D
      
      Yes, there are, but you can say he’s definitely helped them, too.
      - forensic
        
        There’s an argument for Granderson and Cano (though also arguments against them both). Slightly less of one for Gardner, though he’s tougher to judge.
        
        I don’t see much of an argument for Melky though, but again, he’s easily the lowest of the four.
        
        Pat D
        
        For Melky, I’m going strictly off his ’09 performance. And maybe a little off his ’10 performance.
- TomH
  
  No, for reasons others have said (e.g., the talent level is low), and also because from what one hears from their mouths on tv interviews and reads in interviews of them, the players seem to like Long.
- Laz
  
  Is Long really the reason though for the hitting woes?
  Gardner and Cano are fine, but who else is supposed to be great. Nix is not Jeter, Wells isn’t Granderson, Adams isn’t Youk or Arod, Overbay isn’t Teix.
  
  If they had their players healthy and were scoring like this I would agree, but you can’t blame Long because Nix is a shitty hitter.
Winter

This is the best lineup/pitcher combination I can remember since Teixeira got hurt again. Which is really, really sad.

After typing that, I looked it up and an almost identical lineup played last time Kuroda pitched. So what I’m really saying is my memory sucks.
Dan

Ok, we were in it for 4 outs yesterday, so let’s see if we can hang tough for the first two inning and go from there.
Wheels

Just put that lineup out there as much as possible for now.
Kramerica Industries

No wonder the Red Sox have 50 wins. Lucky wins like that.

Fucking wankers.
- Winter
  
  Also they actually have an MLB-caliber team.
pat

Girardi’s gonna get tossed tonight if they’re losing.
Crime Dog

You gotta put this lineup out as much as possible really. Even against lefties, I would keep Hafner in and just move guys around. The guys who are in this lineup have the most “live” bats of the available guys, so put them out there regardless of lefty/righty. Let’s win one tonight and start a little roll maybe.
forensic

Nice Hafner, don’t worry about swinging at that fastball clearly in the zone. It’s much better to swing at the one 2 feet high instead like you did earlier in the AB.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  That was outside.
  Probably too close to take with 2 strikes, but outside.
  - MannyGeee
    
    Truth… Got to take a hack at that one
Kramerica Industries

Wells has an OPS of .316 since May 15?

I mean, holy shit. That’s an awful OBP, let alone adding the OBP with his slugging percentage.
- Winter
  
  -31 wRC+ in June.
- forensic
  
  .136/.148/.168
  
  You almost have to try to be that terrible.
Mick taylor

Orioles have a better hitter at every position except 2nd base.
Game over
- MannyGeee
  
  Thanks for coming by, Mick
- Pat D
  
  Go see if the Stones need help on their tour.
forensic

One whole out before they start trailing…
Kramerica Industries

And here we go…

another first inning deficit. Even with HIROK on the mound, this was kinda predictable.
Tom

So the temporary 3 man bench to give Nova a spot start is now a default 8 man in the pen plan for the foreseeable future?

What ridiculous roster construction… regradless of injuries that is an absurd way to run your team (Cashman). Call up another bat already (Dan Johnson), if you can’t find a bat on the market.

So the only actual PH tonight (and any night a righty starts a game) is Vernon Wells?
- forensic
  
  It’s not like a surprise, they’ve been showing their terrible ability to construct a roster all season. Just think about how many times they played with short benches for injured players for at least a week at a time. And that’s just the start of it.
  - Tom
    
    What bothered me most is yesterday… Warren hasn’t pitched since June 23.
    
    Game out of hand, you have Nova on the roster for the primary reason of making a spot start, and rather than use your ACTUAL long man in the pen, they burn Nova?
    
    If the plan was to start him, shouldn’t Warren be the first long man in out of the pen when a game is out of hand?
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      I assumed they used Nova as a tuneup for the spot start. He’d still be in line to start Thursday’s game. I figured they didn’t want him to have a ton of days off before that start.
      
      I’m flummoxed that they’ve now decided not to start him at all.
MannyGeee

Now, if Machado can only hit 7 more tonight, my abortion of a fantasy team will be able to save some face
- forensic
  
  I was up 15-4 in my matchup this week until the first inning of the Cardinals game. After that inning, I was tied 10-10. That really pissed me off.
Winter

Baseball player!
- MannyGeee
  
  PROFESSIONAL ball player.
Wheels

Nix has his moments in the field.
your mom

Well shit, game over.
MannyGeee

What a snag by Nix.
MannyGeee

Chris Stewart just got clubbed
- Wheels
  
  Al Capone style
- Hardy
  
  This swing should get you ejected.
Eddard

I just don’t know why the Yankees can’t get an everyday impact ballplayer through their system like the Os have with Machado and up and down their lineup. Must be nice to root for a good, young nucleus with so much potential, something we haven’t had since the late 90s.
- Crime Dog
  
  He was the 3rd overall pick in the draft… That type of talent doesn’t just fall through the draft easily.
- TomH
  
  Well, the O’s used to be pretty bad, and in the age of Seligized leveling, one may have to put in bad years in order to have good years.
  
  How G & H. Steinbrenner ever consented to all these regulations is beyond me. It’s like the scene in Gulliver’s Travels, where the little guys tie up the big guy
- Ethan
  
  Well the Yankees haven’t exactly had good position for draft picks in a long while. Whereas the O’s had 15 years of them.
- MannyGeee
  
  Sucking for a long long time tends to lead to better drafts and coincidentally better players coming through the system. Machado was Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 2010 amateur draft.
Wil Nieves #1 Fan

Trade for DeWayne Wise. Have him bunt a lot.
- MannyGeee
  
  Truth
- Winter
  
  Or just once. Turn the season around.
MannyGeee

LoverBay has become horribly bad.
Winter

Nix really shooting for that warning track there.
forensic

Just missed the warning track…
MannyGeee

Nix… Warning track power, even in a hitter park
- MannyGeee
  
  LOL, 3x the Warning Track Power jokes…
Winter

With two doubles in the last three games, I believe we can now christen Chris “Doubles-Hitter” Stewart.
- forensic
  
  Obscure, meaningless stat time:
  
  Before those last two games, his teams were 16-0 in the last 16 games where he doubled.
MannyGeee

That shot to the head might have been all Stewart needed to become a hitter.
- Winter
  
  Hey, Stewart’s 81 wRC+ makes him the team’s second-best right handed hitter… after Zoilo Almonte…
  - Winter
    
    Edit: Zoilo’s a switch hitter, Stewart stands alone.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Zoilo has a -13 wRC+ batting RH.
forensic

Tillman is very much like their Hughes. Unable to put batters away, long counts, lots of homers. It’d sure be nice if they treated him like most teams treat Hughes…
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Too bad they couldn’t have this situation with 1 out.
MannyGeee

3-1. Green light Adams?
Wheels

C’mon Gardner
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Well, at least we can say there’s a better than 10% chance to get a run here with Gardner.
RetroRob

Nothing sums up the Yankee season more than rooting for Gardner to get up to bat since he’s one of the better hitters now.
Kramerica Industries

A run!
RetroRob

Nothing sums up the Yankee season more than rooting for Gardner to walk with the bases loaded since that’s one of the few ways they can score. : -)
Tom

So odds Ichiro swings at the first pitch (I have some crazy hope that he;ll take a strike here)
RetroRob

Nothing sums up the Yankee season more than Ichiro popping up with the bases loaded.

Okay, I think I’m done for now. At least we’re tied.
- your mom
  
  Probably not for long though.
  - RetroRob
    
    I guess you were right.
  - your mom
    
    Told you so.
Eddard

Guy couldn’t command a damn pitch and they only managed to get one run. That’s the kind of missed opportunity that always comes back to cost them.
Ethan

Just a perfect example of ESPN bias. That whole rally all they talk about is how the Orioles can get out of it. Man, I fucking hate national broadcasts.
Rolling Doughnut

Dicktease with shots of tequila. Reminds me of college.
Wheels

Chris Davis setting a great example with that tobacco.
- Wheels
  
  To which he says to me, fuck you.
  - Pat D
    
    I know what you mean, though. My favorite cousin still does dip and I just want to slap him upside the head. But he’s about 12 years older than me and I don’t feel it’s my place. At the same time I want to remind him that he has two kids, aged 13 and somewhere between 8-10.
    
    I think that because our grandfather lived so long after being a pipe-smoker for years that good luck will help him out, I don’t know.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Well that tie sure lasted long.
Kramerica Industries

#obligatorydavishomerun
your mom

Someone needs to test that man!
- Winter
  
  As much as I hate to admit it, he’s always had this kind of power. And did you see that slow motion replay of that swing? The talent is there.
  - Bo Knows
    
    I agree, he’s always had crazy power, just never could put it together
your mom

“Reminds me of Ken Griffey Jr” Um no.
goterpsgo

I suspect the warning signs were already pretty clear to everyone last year in that 2013 was a transition year. I was hoping, with all the money coming off the books, that the free agent market would be good enough and the team could reload. The former has come true, the latter has unfortunately not. I don’t know if we’re going to see any teams as bad as the ’90 and ’91 squads, but we may see a team that’s not up to recent standards for at least a couple of years.

As for those 0’s fans – good job there with the spelling on that sign, Sparky! Or did your mom do that for you?
Winter

Can ESPN quit it with the behind-the-plate camera angle? Thanks.
Kramerica Industries

I’m trying to figure out some of Davis’ numbers.

I mean, he had a very solid season last year, and looked to finally be breaking out and becoming a formidable power threat. .270/33 HR, .827 OPS and 122 OPS+.

But THIS? .333/1.133, 30 HR (now 31) and a 201 OPS+? ‘Cripes.
- Bo Knows
  
  he’s not missing any mistakes
- Winter
  
  I know this sounds like a broken record, but I don’t think it’s sustainable (even though he’s kept it up for half a season). I’d expect him to finish the year something like .300 with 50 HR. For comparison, Reggie Jackson hit 37 HR in the first half of the 1969 season and finished the year with 47.
Bo Knows

tip your cap to that throw, that was crazy
Eddard

The guy can throw a fastball and only a fastball for a strike and Hafner is reaching for a double. Zolio swung right through two FBs when he knew what was coming.
- Bo Knows
  
  I had no issues with Hafner doing that, it should have been a double
Tom

I’m baffled that there are still people who think Adam Jones is a good CF’r, he isn’t even an average one.

I guess people assume since he’s athletic he must be good but both advanced defensive stats have him well below average for the last 3 years (so the data has moved beyond the noise stage).
- Tom
  
  I’m talking about defense in terms of below average (not overall)
  - Bo Knows
    
    Even by the eyeball test he’s not good
- Dan
  
  the only reason Mclouth isn’t in CF is because Jones is the “face of the franchise”.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Not sure McLouth is any better.
Bo Knows

I’m glad Adam Jones is such an Ambassador to the game, but that said he never deserved that Gold Glove
- MannyGeee
  
  There are a lot of players carrying around Gold Gloves that don’t deserve them
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

#toomanydamnhomeruns
Kramerica Industries

Are fucking kidding me Hiroki?

And ENOUGH OF THIS MCLOUTH SHIT ALREADY.
Kramerica Industries

Remember when the Yankees owned Camden Yards?

Jeez, seems like a theme with many a road park this season.
- Winter
  
  Yankees “owned” Camden Yards because it’s a very good hitters’ park and they had a great offense. Take away the offense, and the advantage vanishes.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    Still, they went 7-4 there just last season. I can’t even remember the last time they had a losing record there, which is something that would be clinched for 2013 if they lose tonight.
    
    Now it’s just an annoying place with a home run siren that was last used by any sports team back around 1997.
    - Winter
      
      Last season they had the best offense in baseball by wRC+. This year they have the fourth worst. There’s your difference.
Rolling Doughnut

So now HRok sucks too. Grand.
Anderson Silva

Embarrassing. This team is a joke.
Wheels

I see another loss here.
Fin

1 more run and this game is outa reach. Can’t expect the Yankees to score any more than 3 runs in any given game.
Eddard

They can’t hit a lick. And now they can’t pitch anymore. Their best starter right now is Ivan Nova and he isn’t even starting! They better hope they can get better against Minny and KC before the ASB, otherwise it’s over.
- Winter
  
  “Their best starter right now is Ivan Nova”
  
  Um… no. Kuroda’s having a shaky start right now, but that does not mean Nova’s better.
  - BFDeal
    
    In Eddard World, sss overrule all other stats.
Da Zhang

Is anyone else also getting mild depression from watching this team play night in and night out?
- your mom
  
  No, but it’s beyond frustrating. The team is playing like a bunch of depressed fucking losers. Half of them should just commit seppuku.
  - Winter
    
    That way we can get our seventh string guys some playing time!
- Dan
  
  Yes. I am considering taking a leave of absence for a week. But I have been considering this for 3 weeks. I cannot help but watch this ship go down.
  - The Real Greg
    
    It’s like a train wreck.
your mom

Okay, this team has hit a new fucking low. Even our best pitcher is throwing like crap. What’s next? Mo to the DL? Can’t compete for shit against true playoff teams like the A’s and O’s. Fuck just sell already.
Ethan

Arod why are you helping out the competition? That’s a stupid thing to do.
- Bo Knows
  
  I’m assuming this is sarcasm, so obligatory “It’s all Alex’s fault”
  - Ethan
    
    I actually wasn’t being sarcastic. You don’t normally see people in the same job for different companies competing for a job/contract/etc. helping out one another. Why should baseball be any different?
    - Bo Knows
      
      I really wish you said it was sarcasm. Arod is a vet there is nothing wrong with trying to make help a young player and make sure he doesn’t repeat the mistakes the vet has done. Arod had been mentoring Machado since high school, training with him, helping refine his fielding and hitting. This dates back a long time.
- Dan
  
  That really is one of the dumbest things written on here in weeks. Truly it is.
  - Ethan
    
    You don’t normally see people in the same job for different companies competing for a job/contract/etc. helping out one another. Why should baseball be any different?
    - Dan
      
      Oh uh, no reason there buddy. Carry on, carry on.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Hirok is getting scalded today.
Rolling Doughnut

OK Kuroda’s up in the zone, and they roughed him up. But the fact that Tillman only has control of the FB and we still can’t get any runs off him is shameful.
- The Real Greg
  
  Well they got 1 run which for this offense is pretty good.
  - Dan
    
    I don’t consider it an offensive run though. It was more allowing the pitcher to make mistakes 4 times in a row. If the Yankees score, it’s usually accidental.
Tom

“It’s (Boston) the team that Baltimore is trying to chase down in the East.”

You almost have to laugh that there was no mention the Yankees are also chasing that team.
- Winter
  
  The Yankees aren’t chasing anyone. They’re trying to stay alive.
- Anderson Silva
  
  Because they might be in last place by the end of next week. Yankees aren’t chasing anyone right now, they are trying to survive.
- Fin
  
  Well the Yankees are closer to last place than first place.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  They’re not chasing anybody. They’re 5 soon to be 6 games out, barely over .500, shitty lineup and now the pitching is shaky. Jeter, Granderson and ARod aren’t going to magically turn it around either.
  - Wheels
    
    They are currently 6 games out
    - Wheels
      
      Now 6.5
your mom

Flat FBs right down the middle, c’mon Nix.
Ethan

No mention of Nix as far as nice plays. And that was possibly the best play of the game for both teams.
- Dan
  
  Kruk was giving him some high praise earlier in the game after diving to his left.
Manny’s BanWagon

Kuroda needs to shut them down right now because 1 more run and this game goes in the column to the right.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  ude the game is over. It’s just shits an grins now. Go Yanks.
  - Winter
    
    Yankees have averaged 3.85 runs per game. As much as that sucks, it means they’re not actually out of this (yet).
    - Rolling Doughnut
      
      How many runs on avg have they scored against good pitchers, we’ll use your definition of “good”
- Kramerica Industries
  
  this sounds like the quasi “put it on the left side” Kay-ism of 2011.
  
  G-d. Never again. I hated that phrase.
MannyGeee

OK WE GET IT, THE ORIOLES ARE FUN…. For shits sake. They have a ping pong table, throw them a fucking parade….

I just went all stuart a on that ping pong table.
- Tom
  
  but it’s an OLYMPIC size ping pong table… that’s meaningful and just another example of how Schowalter sends a message in everything he does.
  
  /ESPN’d
Tom

When did ESPN switch over to the MASN telecast?
- The Real Greg
  
  The baseball crew are front runners and home lovers.
- Fin
  
  Eh, I heard ESPN go on for 9 innings about how great the Yankees line up was in years past. Must have drove the other teams fans nuts. Not a lot to talk about in a positive light with the Yankees right now and the O’s have a good, exciting young team so its what they talk about.
  - chris
    
    I sure don’t remember much of that.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      Selective memory. Honestly, I don’t blame you, but it probably has happened.
      
      There’s a reason why I can read Red Sox fans complaining about “YESpn” and Yankee fans complaining about “NESpN” after any Red Sox/Yankees game. We hear what we want to hear and ignore the rest.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Probably because most of it was in the 1990s
  - Dan
    
    Yeah, agreed. What are they going to say about the Yankees? Short of making things up that aren’t true all that they would be able to talk about is injuries, Arod controversies, and underachievers. I’d rather hear about the Orioles to be honest.
- MannyGeee
  
  Since NESN is airing a re-run of ‘Sox Appeal’…
Winter

…and sexy. Have they mentioned how sexy Buck Showalter is?
Anderson Silva

why are these guys in the majors if they can’t hit FBs? amazing..
- The Real Greg
  
  Didn’t know Brett couldn’t hit a fastball?
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    ?
    - The Real Greg
      
      Yeah the puncuation screwed it up.
      
      Brett Gardner’s 0-2 so apparently he can’t hit a fastball. That was my point
  - Anderson Silva
    
    Did I mention him specifically?
    - The Real Greg
      
      Well he was up in the inning when you made the comment so…
Rizi Walnutz

Jeez, somebody get Orel a date with Buck.
The Real Greg

Speaking of Rolling Doughnut’s point about good pitchers, it boggles my mind that this Yankee team was able to win both games that King Felix started.

Now they mainly did it against the pen, but they had to get Felix out first
- SDB
  
  Yet they couldn’t beat Jeremy Bonderman. YCPB.
Wheels

Why is there an Oriole fan dressed up as Macho Man Randy Savage? I don’t get it
- MannyGeee
  
  Well, that’s how they roll in B-more. And when I say ‘ how they roll’, I obviously mean beaming on coke and smacking their wives.
MannyGeee

It is pretty amazing that Machado is only 20. The kid is gonna be something special.
- MannyGeee
  
  And as I type that, he swings a noodle through strike 3. Since the reverse jinx is in tact, that Tillman fella is unhitable!
  - SDB
    
    That Cano hit just now was a fluke.
    
    Tillman’s really looking on point after that second inning.
  - The Real Greg
    
    SAY MORE
    - MannyGeee
      
      I swear Buck doesn’t look at all like he’s about to have a stroke *come on reverse jinx gods, I need this one!*
      - MannyGeee
        
        LoverBay is washed up…….
MannyGeee

Boom. Cano getting that Jay Z money right there.
Kramerica Industries

When did Robbie last go yard?
- The Real Greg
  
  Was it against Haran in Seattle?
  - The Real Greg
    
    Harang
- MannyGeee
  
  First XBH in 36 ABs, if that helps
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  june 13
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    In that miserable 18 inning game against Oakland.
- Govin
  
  june 13 in Oakland.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  Thanks. Knew it had to have been quite some time. Obviously, it’s been even longer since he last hit a HR at Yankee Stadium.
  
  This isn’t to rip him, either, by the way. When he’s not getting anything to hit, odds are he isn’t going to leave the yard.
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

OMG….an XBH!
MannyGeee

Fuck, Pronk has chased at least 2 at the eyes tonight already.
Lukaszek

CANOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I admit I turn on these games only because of you, no homo
The Real Greg

I don’t think we have any good pinch hitters so you can forget about that going forward in this game
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  They have a guy on the bench who’s hitting 429/429/571 this year as a PH.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Is that Wells?
    
    Depends on the pitcher.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      The lack of any difference between BA and OBP probably makes it obvious.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Also, Romine and AG being the only alternatives.
Anderson Silva

at least Cano is heating up.. unfortunately the other guys can’t figure out how to hit a 94mph straight-as-an-arrow fastball
- The Real Greg
  
  Remember, be specific.
Eddard

That chance to beat them was against Tillman. They’re not going to hit Oday’s frisbee or Johnson’s bowling ball and Buck will bring in Matusz to shut down the lefties.
Kramerica Industries

O’Day is in?

*calling Joey Bats*
MannyGeee

McLouth: “glad you almost caught a ball that would have been an out… Fuck your peanuts”
The Real Greg

I would not bunt here.
Tom

So now Girardi doesn’t bunt?

Righty specialist, 1 run game….
- The Real Greg
  
  Bunts are evil around here
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    only dumb bunts
  - Tom
    
    Not late in the game when you have a severe platoon disadvantage.
    
    Fortunate that Nox was running or that is a GIDP.
    - Tom
      
      Nix
    - The Real Greg
      
      He put the runner in motion. Worked out
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        Nix was most likely running on his own.
- Winter
  
  He put the runner in motion instead. I’m fine with that.
  - Tom
    
    With Wieters behind the plate?
    
    (It’s not like that’s an 0-2 hit and run)
Dalek Jeter

Just got in, wow, it took all the way till the 7th inning for them to bring up A-Rod? Or has this been an off and on all game?
Kramerica Industries

ROOGY Darren O’Day just walked two RHB.

You can’t waste this kind of chance.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Bullshit call.
- Tom
  
  It really changed that AB. Something that will go unnoticed since it happened in the middle of the count.
Dalek Jeter

Wow…that 2-0 call was fucking ludicrous, has that been all night?
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Now it’s a ball to Ichiro?
Kramerica Industries

But waste it they did.

Predictable. And also quite pathetic.
SDB

Goddamnit.

Well, that glimmer of hope was nice while it lasted.
Wheels

Move along, nothing to see here.
Fin

Its like a miracle when these guys drive in a run. When ever anyone is on base I truly am surprised if they score.
The Real Greg

Can’t blame the weak hitters this time. Gardner and Ichiro failed
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  Depends on one’s definition of weak hitter.
  - The Real Greg
    
    I would count Nix and Adams as weak hitters. Stewart’s a “meh” hitter
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Stewart 81 wRC+
      Ichiro 80 wRC+
      
      And Stewart is not a “meh” hitter.
      - The Real Greg
        
        That makes sense because I put Ichiro in the “meh” category too
- Dalek Jeter
  
  The ump sabotoged Gardner’s AB, he still failed but that AB might(and probably) has a different outcome if it goes to 3-0 instead of 2-1. Ichiro, no excuse.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Alhough I give Ichiro a slight pass because IMO driving in runs with two outs is very tough to do. The pressure to get a hit is astronomical.
  - Winter
    
    Pinning the entire game on one strike call feels like a cop out; a way of avoiding the offense’s ineptitude.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      I wouldn’t say the entire game, but I’d say that inning. At least for myself, I felt the wind go out of my sails at that point. Not saying we won’t tie/win, but the second that ball was called a strike I knew it wouldn’t happen that inning.
Charles

Anyone else notice that the highlights of the game so far made it seem like the Orioles are up 10-0 instead of a 3-2 game? Not a single Yankee play in the highlight reel. Don’t know why I’m surprised though, it is NESPN.
Bo Knows

Here’s some good news, even if the yankees lose they have the Twins tomorrow! They should at least wins of those games
- yeayo
  
  There are no guaranteed wins with this team.
  - Bo Knows
    
    I’m trying to be optimistic dude, or would you rather here that if they get swept or win just one game, they could theoretically be in the bottom ten for wins and losses?
    - The Real Greg
      
      High draft pick. Might be just what this organization needs.
      - Bo Knows
        
        Sadly that’s the bright hope I cling too, because they aren’t making the post at this rate so that’s the only optimistic take I see over this year.
        
        I’ll admit it would be cool if one of my fellow Wolfpack (I go to NC State) get drafted by the Yankees
Bo Knows

I despise that fucking chant
- SDB
  
  I hate it more than the tomahawk bullshit they do in Atlanta.
Kramerica Industries

Yankees fucked themselves in the top half of the inning, and now the game is about to slip away for good.

Good job, assholes.
yeayo

Well this game is fucking over.
Jimmy McNulty

Some good health and a few smart trade deadline pickups could change New York’s second half outlook dramatically

This team is a thousand years old and the past three years as opposed to actually getting good baseball players their off season plan is find some shitty vet and hope they have a fluke season.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Logan w/RISP?

lol
- Winter
  
  And against a righty, no less. Although he’s actually been better against righties this year.
Tom

Wow, he missed location on that by about a foot. You don’t see that a lot with Kuroda.
your mom

That chant is fucking annoying. I bet half of those Baltimore ‘tards don’t even know who sings that song.
- Bo Knows
  
  I don’t care, everyone does that stupid chant….it’s worse than the vuvuzuela. Everytime. I hear it, I want to punt a puppy
- Bo Knows
  
  I don’t care, everyone does that stupid chant….it’s worse than the vuvuzuela. Everytime I hear it, I want to punt a puppy
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    If you thought the vuvuzela’s were bad, then be glad you didn’t watch a June 2010 Rays/Marlins game.
    
    Seriously, they gave away vuvuzela’s to the fans that night in Miami. Not only was it unbearable, but the game went 14 INNINGS too. The Yankees had already played their game that afternoon (against who, I don’t remember) and that was the only local baseball on. It was a mistake for that reason alone.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      That…just sounds like a terrible nightmare.
      - Kramerica Industries
        
        I think it’s the closest I’ve ever actually been to Hell.
        
        Bo Knows
        
        How do you know you weren’t there?
        
        That strong smell probably wasn’t Cuban bbq smoking
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        I would have done literally anything else, read, played a video game, watched Bravo!, checked out the BDSM scene…anything.
    - Bo Knows
      
      I’m pretty sure, I would have beaten someone silly with one of those things.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      Oh, it actually only went 11 innings.
      
      http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300619128&teams=tampa-bay-rays-vs-florida-marlins
      
      Sorry. It sure as hell felt like 14.
      - Bo Knows
        
        They say in hell time is different, so yeah you were there
The Real Greg

A poor start for Kuroda given his “ace” label this year
Wheels

Looks like the Natty Boh’s are going down easy tonight in Camden Yards.
Tom

FFS, Girardi. I don’t know why I continue to be amazed that he can’t grasp the simple concept of not bring in a LOOGY to face a weak lefty.

Apparently the opposing manager can PH? Who knew.
- The Real Greg
  
  Considering Logan’s splits this year, Showalter made the bad move
  - Tom
    
    The bad move is considering splits based on 21 IP…
    - The Real Greg
      
      With short relievers they are always going to be SSS.
      - Tom
        
        Which is why you use more than ONE DAMN YEAR OF INFORMATION!
        
        Good grief man… I get that you have to defend Girardi at all costs, but are you seriously suggesting the opposiong manager should be putting up lefties against Logan based on 21 innings of performance?
        
        The Real Greg
        
        No. I’m saying according to “normal” stats, he should have just left the spot alone.
        
        And actually last year he gave up fewer hits to righties than lefties, 28 to 20
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        “normal” stats
        
        The plural for of stats isn’t appropriate, considering you are only basing this on one single statistic – opponent average.
        
        And actually last year he gave up fewer hits to righties than lefties, 28 to 20
        
        You’re not really this dumb, are you?
        This is just an act, right?
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    vs. L: .302 wOBA against, 43.8 K%, 2.1 BB%, 0.83 FIP, 0.2 xFIP
    vs. R: .309 wOBA against, 27.0 K%, 8.1 BB%, 4.72 FIP, 3.09 xFIP
    - Tom
      
      Come on, he’s going to think wOBA is you mispelling Joba!
    - The Real Greg
      
      Sabermetrics mean nothing to me.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        K% and BB% aren’t really sabermetrics.
        The only category where Logan has been worse against LH is AVG.
        I’m sure Buck is basing his decisions on more than 21 innings of AVG against.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Probably. But in the end…
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aYmOqPFyJPw#t=12s
        
        Pat D
        
        Too easy.
        
        But always hilarious.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Because Boone Logan actually deserves that box of cookies.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        He actually does, but I didn’t like the move. You need strikeouts there, and it’s the 7th inning anyway, why isn’t Kelley ready and put in? This was in direct response to you’re hatred of sabermetrics on top of the rest of your schtick.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        I know. It’s just this team just angers me. And my usual Girardi defense is in overdrive this season because he’s working with a pile of shit.
    - Bo Knows
      
      Logan is perfectly fine during a clean inning, but this year if he comes in with runners on, your screwed 8 ways to sunday.
      
      With runners on opposing batters are hitting .294 with a .324 obp
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        yep
        
        http://riveraveblues.com/2013/06/game-81-halfway-mark-89954/#comment-6474876
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        Unfortunately he’s the only lefty we got.
Kramerica Industries

I wouldn’t mind if the Seven Nation Army thing just kinda stayed in Baltimore and isn’t heard anywhere else across this fine continent of ours.

Holy crap.
- Tom
  
  +1
  
  If you are going to have “thing” at least make it original.
  - Tom
    
    **a** “thing”
Dalek Jeter

Nice play Boonie! You’re a third of the way to a full box of cookies.
Kramerica Industries

This crew is marveling at these Orioles fans and their noise.

Can anybody remember when the Orioles last appeared on Sunday Night Baseball, especially at Camden Yards. Even I can’t venture a guess at this one!
Winter

What a terribly weak throw.
Anderson Silva

What a weak throw.
Dalek Jeter

What a pasta-armed throw by Gardner, I thought he had improved on his throwing…a 5 hopper?!
- Dalek Jeter
  
  No, seriously, this was Johnny Damon-esc.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    It was.
The Real Greg

Gardner ain’t earning the GG this year
- your mom
  
  No he won’t but the whole team deserves the Golden Fist right now.
Wheels

Wieters looked slow as shit too.
Rolling Doughnut

Shit throw Gardy.
Dalek Jeter

Given the situation he was put into, I have to say, that was impressive by Boone.
your mom

“Sweeeeet Caroline….duh, duh, duh…….”
- SDB
  
  Still less annoying than the O’s chant.
John

Gardy may run like Mays, but he throws like s..t.
your mom

I like pinch hitting Wells here because it makes Buck use another pitcher. Why not? More mileage for their pen.
- Winter
  
  You really think one more AB for Hunter versus one more AB for O’Day makes any difference? I’d rather see Hafner batting against lefty than Wells batting against a righty, and I’d much rather the Yankees try to score than try to tire out the Orioles bullpen by a minuscule amount.
  - your mom
    
    You really think it would’ve mattered if Hafner did face Patton as opposed to Wells facing Hunter. It was a wash either way. Not like this shit offense had any chance of coming back.
Anderson Silva

excellent AB! That’s why they have Wells..
Fin

Vern Dog very impressive there.
Oy

Shit, you gotta know when to fold it. This team is not going anywhere and no one is coming to save it. Tex is out for the year. A-Rod is out indefinitely, looks like the team wants to keep him off the field. Youk is out for the year. No recent news on Granderson. And what numbers do we expect from Jeter? Oh wait, Michael Young is on the market! He and Paul Konerko will be our saviors!

Just give up and prepare for the next year. Trade Cano for a haul. Kuroda, if put on the trade market, would be the best available starter in terms of contract and ability. See if anyone (coughDodgerscough) is willing to take on CC’s contract.
- Bo Knows
  
  I know your trolling, so I’m not going to pull any punches when I say that’s f’n stupid.
  
  One recent bit of news on Granderson was last week, when he had the pin removed and is practicing dry swings. CC’s has a full no trade clause and has said before he’s wearing pinstripes until he retires. Kuroda isn’t going anywhere either and Cano is a free agent at the end of the year in an age where you can’t recoup draft picks if a guy leaves which would be a certainty because he’s expecting to get paid.
  - Oy
    
    Oooh dry swings! Looks like we’ll have our left fielder back after the All Star Break! CC is from the Cali region and expressed great interest in playing there while being a free agent. Yanks just blew him away with the money. An All Star second baseman will bring you a great haul, your idea that the lack of a compensation pick will draw teams away from acquiring a player who can easily be worth 2-3 wins down the line, is “fn stupid”.
    
    And why isn’t Kuroda going anywhere? Does he have a secret pact by which he can’t leave his best friend Ichiro?
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Pretty sure Kuroda has a NTC.
      And he’s used one in the past to stay with the Dodgers.
      - Oy
        
        Ugh, no he does not.
        
        http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al-east/new-york-yankees/
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        I’m aware of Cot’s.
        Their information comes from published reports.
        It’s entirely possible he has one and it just wasn’t reported.
        He insisted on one for 2012. It’s very unlikely he didn’t insist on one again this year.
        Also this:
        http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/decaying_pricey_roster_has_same_FLZxUEE1aEpKO754tcQcCN
        
        Besides, the Yankees might not have much to sell. Hiroki Kuroda has a full no-trade clause, and when he had the same provision in July 2011, he refused to waive it to leave a losing Dodgers club to accept a trade to the Yankees, among other suitors.
        
        I’m not 100% sure he does have a NTC, but I’d be willing to bet he does.
        
        Oy
        
        I can’t find any info regarding Kuroda having a no trade clause. MLB Trade Rumors does not mention it. I have a hard time trusting Sherman as the sole source of info. Thanks for the link, but it would be great to know if he actually has that option or no.
        
        Mayhaps it is unpublished. I was only using data that was available to me. If he does not have an option, Yanks can easily get a B+ prospect for him.
    - Bo Knows
      
      When has CC said he wants to go back to California? Was it after him saying he wasn’t going anywhere, after him reupping with yankees? Or was it before he said that how he and his family is settled in NJ and that he didn’t want to uproot them again?
      
      Also I never said that Cano wouldn’t draw any trade partners, I said your not going to get “a haul” for him because he’s a free agent, is going to command a ton of money and the new CBA doesn’t allow for teams to gain draft picks. Also who is going to trade for him, that even has the prospects worth getting? Are you going to Jedi mind trick St. Louis?
      
      I will repeat myself, it is f’n stupid
      - Oy
        
        And there are many reports that the LA teams were the favorites to sign and on top of him saying publicly that he proffered to stay on the west coast while being a FA in 2008. We can cherry pick and guess on CC’s reaction to a trade back to the region where he was raised but the argument won’t go anywhere.
        
        Oh, plenty of teams will be interested. St.Loius won’t be they have Carpenter, who’s having a better year than Robbie. Mike mentioned A’s as a fit in a chat a while ago and I fucking love the match. A package of Jaso/Choice/Gray would satisfy me greatly. Tigers are another fit. Maybe Kansas will break the bank.
      - Oy
        
        Ha, just realized that if they wish to upgrade from Walker, Pirates can go after Robbie. A package of Walker/Polanco/Hanson would interest me. An average/above average 2B who is under control until 2017 and two lottery tickets.
WhittakerWalt

Predictable Vernon Wells at-bat is predictable.
WhittakerWalt

4 runs is just WAY too many runs to give up if you’re a starting pitcher for the Yankees. It’s just not something this team can come back from.
Fin

Is it too early to call up Jagelo, Clarkin and Judge?
- Bo Knows
  
  Judge has to actually sign first
  - Fin
    
    Pshh, don’t bore me with details, just get em up.
- your mom
  
  I want to call up our 2014 top ten pick already.
Kramerica Industries

Jim Johnson time!

YAY!
your mom

Wow that pitch has a ton of sink.
Winter

Is either Gonzalez or Romine faster than Overbay? PR?
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  No point. They’re down 2.
  I’m assuming Overbay is fast enough to score before a runner behind him could score.
Dalek Jeter

Loverbay won’t say die. Luckily we have Nix, Stewart, and Adams coming up here.
SDB

Woo hoo a lead off double! Someone drive that run in and put some pressure… oh wait, Nix, Stewart and Adams are up now.

Shit.
Winter

Never Forget
Kramerica Industries

I can dig Kruk making Mitch Williams jokes.
Tom

This would be a nice spot to have a guy like Dan Johnson on the bench. While he sucks, he can at least run into one.

But I’m sure that 2 options when you need to decide what long man to go to has more value.
Kramerica Industries

Thanks for your part of the tease, Nix.
Dalek Jeter

I’ve only been watching since the 7th inning, but if I hear turbo sinker one more time I will probably scream.
WhittakerWalt

Baseball player.
your mom

This is when the 3 man bench comes in handy.
WhittakerWalt

Listen to all those Orioles fans pretending they’ve been loud and loyal these past 14 or so years!
SDB

Way to take one for the team Stew. Well done.
Dalek Jeter

The HBP that turns the season around?!
Anderson Silva

puts the tying run on base = sets up the DP for a crappy hitter
Winter

OK. No double play. Please no double play.
Wheels

Can they do it?
- Wheels
  
  nope
Anderson Silva

Adams does not belong.
Dalek Jeter

2nd time the ump has bailed out an Oriole pitcher this game…that should’ve been ball 1 to Adams.
- Anderson Silva
  
  it’s David Adams. It doesn’t matter the count, he sucks.
your mom

Aww fucking shit, that chant!!!!!
Tom

Gardner going yard here….
- Tom
  
  or weak groundball to 2nd…
  
  Could be either outcome!
Kramerica Industries

And the Yankees now reside in fourth place.
your mom

Booooo!!!!
SDB

So this is the view from fourth place.
- 28 this year
  
  Please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times as we fall of this cliff we built.
WhittakerWalt

“temper your expectations with David Adams”
your mom

Last place here we come!!!!!!!!!
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

I would have much preferred they go down without a whimper than have to deal with this stupid tease.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  MUCH better screen name.
  - HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)
    
    Heh. Thanks. He annoys the crap out of me.
WhittakerWalt

Want to know what’s really sad? We scored 8 runs in this series, and that actually feels like a lot of runs for this team over a 3-game stretch.