Game 88: Make It Seven

July 7, 2013 by Mike Axisa 307 Comments

It's a hot one out there. (Jim McIsaac/Getty) — It’s a hot one out there. (Jim McIsaac/Getty)

The Yankees have won a season-high six straight games, and this afternoon they have a chance to earn their first seven-game winning streak since … the middle of last September. Not that long ago. Nothing really “negates” getting swept by the Orioles last weekend, but returning the favor with a sweep this weekend sure would feel splendid. Here’s the lineup Joe Girardi is sending out there against right-hander Jason Hammel:

CF Brett Gardner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
2B Robinson Cano
DH Travis Hafner
LF Zoilo Almonte
1B Lyle Overbay
3B Luis Cruz
SS Eduardo Nunez
C Chris Stewart

And on the mound after having his last start pushed back do to a sore left hip flexor is right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. He threw a bullpen session the other day and has been cleared by all the necessary doctors.

It’s another hot (but slightly less steamy) day in New York, which is why I am somewhat surprised Stewart is getting the call behind the plate again. He caught yesterday’s day game after Friday’s night game, remember. I guess Girardi really wants this series. Anyway, first pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and TBS nationally. Enjoy.

trr

Just got back from playing softball, sun in NY is intense today. I like Kuroda’s toughness, and think he can out pitch Hammel today. Hope the offense keeps it going!
Eddard

The pitching matchups weren’t in our favor the first two games but this one is. Return the sweep.
Lukaszek

This is one of those days where I wish I lived in Canada
Get Phelps Up

Man, it would be nice to sweep these guys.
Bo Knows

F’n restrictions such bullshit
Kramerica Industries

Eh, I think you could call it a negating. It would just mean six head-to-heads off the schedule with no ground gained, and no ground lost in those games.

Would also even the season series at 6-6. Yeah. This isn’t a “would be nice, but 2/3 was still good enough” game. This is a “stomp on their g-ddamned necks” game.

Finish this series off strong.
- Pseudoyanks
  
  I subscribe.
Dalek Jeter

I don’t understand how anybody can say Buck is a good manager. Imagine if Chris Davis was on the Yankees, how livid would you guys be if Girardi hit him anywhere but 3rd or 4th?!
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Yep. Chris Davis batting 5th really is insane.
  Maybe Buck is just expecting regression to start any minute now.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  Especially against a RHP!
  
  I mean, jeez, not that Davis hasn’t done damage to southpaws, but this guy should always be batting #3 against RHP.
Dalek Jeter

Ugh, Pronk swung at ball 2 and then ball 4 at least 3 or 4 times.

Also this thread is dead. (heh, I made a rhyme.)
Robinson Tilapia

It’s worse today outside than it was yesterday. I actually tolerated having an outdoor day yesterday. Today? A half-hour excursion and I’m half-dead.
Dalek Jeter

That was an awesome AB by Zolio!!
FEED.ME.MORE!

Good PA by Almonte
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Travis Ishakawa, eh?
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Another lefty?! lol this is insanity!
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Randy Ruiz on his way up possibly?
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Well I guess that can’t work if he’s out of options.
Anderson Silva

Overbay is terrible.. how the hell do you swing at that 3-1 pitch? it bounced before the plate
- FEED.ME.MORE!
  
  Overbay is terrible…how do you get a single on that 3-2 pitch that moves the runner to 3rd?
  
  FTFY
McLovin

Hear someone say fuck?
- FEED.ME.MORE!
  
  Andrew Dice Clay in the crowd?
Doink

If we sweep this series we are going to the World Series and maybe even further than that.
Dalek Jeter

Wow…this team is putting some very Yankee like ABs against Hammel. 21 pitches over the past 2 batters!
- Elton Cod
  
  That’s because we no longer have to deal with the diseased cadaver of Tex’s hitting ability after it was poisoned by age and Kevin Long’s obsession with pulling the ball at the cost of all else. We also haven’t dealt all year with Granderson’s “home run or strikeout, but let’s be honest, it’s going to be a strikeout” approach. We don’t have “stars” but we have real baseball players, and we’re better for it. They may not be able to hit worth a lick but they can work an at-bat now and then. They don’t have egos, they also are willing to sacrifice themselves to move the runner up. Players like Granderson and Tex will never do that, it’s homerun or bust, they won’t willingly forego a homerun opportunity to move the runner into scoring position.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    You’re drunk or stupid if you prefer Ichiro, Overbay, and Wells to Granderson, Teixeira, and Swisher. The latter ground 1 work pitchers so much better than the first group it makes the 1st group look like a bunch of back ups, 2 hit the ball for power so much better than the first group they make the first group look like a bunch of back ups and 3 are just such better all around players than the first group they make the first group look like a bunch of back ups. Almost as if…I don’t know, Ichiro, Overbay, and Wells are back-up caliber baseball players.
    
    I thought the “wow” clarified this, but I’m surprised that guys like Overbay and Almonte were working the count in a way I’ve become used to from watching guys like Teixeira and Swisher do for years.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
    
    Yep. They’re better off for scoring many fewer runs.
    
    LOGIC.
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

Great pair of at-bats. Let’s get him home!
Kramerica Industries

Travis Ishikawa.

lol.
McLovin

Knock em in Nunez.
FEED.ME.MORE!

Nunie…again!
Anderson Silva

he hit it hard.. unfortunately it found the fielder
Kramerica Industries

Nunez is good at getting those sac flies.

It’s a little thing that I can appreciate.
Anderson Silva

Gardner has looked bad lately.
McLovin

Gardner has struck out in 15 straight games, kinda surprising.
Elton Cod

If that were Russell Martin, he would have struck out as part of his third 1-45 slump of the year. Stewie isn’t a genius or a baseball god, but he knows how to poke one into the outfield every few at-bats. He doesn’t try to be more than he is or swing for the fences like Martin did. I think it was fine we let Martin go, Stewie is an improvement, it just hurts the we’ve had trouble finding a reliable backup with Cervellie out.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  You’re nuts.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Chris “knows how to poke one into the outfield every few at-bats” Stewart is hitting .239 with no power.
  
  Russell Martin is hitting .252 with power.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  “Stewie isn’t a genius or a baseball god, or even remotely good at hitting, and Russell Martin is a superior baseball player in almost every single way.”
  
  I fixed it for you.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    It’s funny, the Russ haters were so gleeful when he got off to a tough start this year. Now that he’s got a 118 OPS+, the goalposts have to move.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      If the goalposts aren’t constantly moving ~~It’s not politics~~ It’s not trolling a Yankee blog.
- Anderson Silva
  
  118 OPS+ against 73 OPS+
  - trr
    
    C’mon man….Stewart is, at best, a back-up. Nobody is saying Martin is Johnny Bench, but he is a plus offensive option at the thinnest position in baseball. This should be obvious to even a casual fan.
Elton Cod

I want to go back to something Paulie said in the first inning, about how Gardner needs more rest than other players because he has to try more. It is true, Gardner isn’t born with a home run swing, so much of his production is about speed and grit and defense. He has to patrol center field and do it well…that means more running in a game than most corner infielders run in their entire careers.

That’s what makes this team so much better than last year’s. Last year’s team was apathetic. Guys like Swisher and Granderson just expect their talent from 5 years ago to do all the work for them now. Then (with Swisher at least) they cry and run away when Yankee fans take them to task for not doing the little things, the stuff that helps you contribute even when your talent is old or in a slump. It’s true, this team doesn’t have the built-in offensive production last year’s team does, but it does have a desire to win. Players are just grateful to be there, they don’t feel like the fans owe them cheers for a 4 strikeout game. We might not make it to the ALCS this year but at least we’ll lose the right way.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  but at least we’ll lose the right way.
  
  lmfao
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    Haha.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Hahaha, seriously!
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    If that’s not talking for the sake of ~~hearing~~ typing your own voice, then I dunno what is!
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      It’s like an “Angry Suzyn Waldman” Twitter feed with this one.
      
      At least he gave us the celery cap.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  This photo: http://25.media.tumblr.com/237ed25538125f774c565644d1d2189d/tumblr_mmsswgZi621qzmopno1_500.png
  
  makes more sense than any of your posts.
  - FEED.ME.MORE!
    
    randomly typed letters make more sense than his posts.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  “He has to patrol center field and do it well…that means more running in a game than most corner infielders run in their entire careers.”
  
  Ha. I bet this is a not so subtle shot at Tex.
- trr
  
  This is trolling at it’s worst…or best , I’m not sure which
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Worst. The idea is to get people worked up, not to leave them shaking their heads.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Wow, this is pure horseshit.
nsalem

Most AS appearances I think was Warren Spahn.
Kramerica Industries

Adam Jones seriously has zero plate patience.
- nsalem
  
  Jones offense has never impressed me offensively. I don’t understand why he bats where does.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  All Star starter!
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Eh. At least they’re excited about baseball for the first time in eons over there. I’m fine with them having their four All-Stars or whatnot. We’ll be back.
    - Get Phelps Up
      
      I don’t really have a problem with him being on the team, but I do have a problem with him starting when he’s like the 3rd best CF in his own division!
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        This is why I’ve basically disassociated from the whole ASB. Too many years of being driven crazy by shit like this, and the home-field thing is the most ass-stupid thing I’ve ever seen. They could put Puig in there for all I care. They could put Jayson Nix in there. I no longer give a shit.
Robinson Tilapia

I noticed someone left the back door open. Let me close it.
Elton Cod

Kuroda is the kind of guy who really knows how to pitch to the score, unlike some other fellows in this rotation. His team could score 0 runs and he would still find a way to win.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  career 64-63. His teams must score negative runs in half of the games he pitches.
Roadgeek Adam

Anyone for making a meme for Nunez’s helmet?

:p
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  DOWN GOES THE HELMET!!! (???)
- FEED.ME.MORE!
  
  He ran first to third and his helmet actually stayed on.
  
  LOL
Dalek Jeter

Waldman is convinced that Jeter will be back right after the all star break in Boston. If that is not irresponsible rumor mongering, I don’t know what is.
- nycsportzfan
  
  She said she don’t know why? Its just a hunch. Its not a big deal.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Didn’t know.
    
    *runs for it*
- WhittakerWalt
  
  You’re saying she might wind up owing somebody a quarter?
Anderson Silva

0-3 and 4 LOB. Gardner is killing the offense today
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Clearly he’s not the same player without Greg’s motivation.
- trr
  
  He’s seems to have gone ice cold the last few games
nycsportzfan

God Damn Gardner! Bottom of the order setting table for you all freaking game and you can’t get the big hit against a righty throwing a ton of pitches? Frustrating!
nsalem

Not good. We should have more than one run off of Hammel. I hope we get to him next inning.
Elton Cod

My point was just proven. Stewart with a little bloop single, gives Gardner the chance to bring this run in. With 2 outs and Martin up that would have been a strike out, he would have been swinging for extra bases all the way.

Gardner couldn’t convert, sure, but that’s going to happen. Especially with Gardner, he is going to get in slumps with all the trying he has to do. But at least Stewart gave him a chance. He did what he could to help the team. He didn’t try to do it all himself, he knew somebody else would have to deliver to get the run home.

Just imagine if that was Jeter up instead of Gardner leading off, that run would be in. Jeets knows how to finish off what his teammate started. No knock on Gardner, he just isn’t Jeter.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Your bullshit point was just proven by one AB in July? It’s curious that you think the batter who has better plate discipline is “guaranteed” to strike out over the batter who can’t hit at all.
- Anderson Silva
  
  Or Martin would have hit a 3-run HR and put this one away. Either way, it didn’t prove anything
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  The hostility and dick measuring in response to this guy is hilarious and saddening.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    As are the attempts to position oneself as above it all.
nsalem

You should know who’s pitching Paul.
Dalek Jeter

This is the most refreshing Daily News 5th I think ever. It’s all about A-Rod and up until this point it’s not about Alex Rodriguez the personality or the stupid Biogenesis scandal, it’s about Alex Rodriguez the 3rd baseman and if he will be of benefit to the Yankees as a baseball player.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  It probably helps that Feinsand isn’t in the booth.
Elton Cod

Dickerson has delivered for us in some really key spots this series. I always liked him, never figured out why the Yankees dumped him last year.
- Eddard
  
  Is there anything you like about the Yankees? They are up in this ballgame, in 2nd place and have exceeded all expectations with what they’ve had to work with this year.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Look closer at what he wrote.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Wrong tab. This belongs on the “Camden Chat” one.
  - Elton Cod
    
    Read more carefully.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Thanks, but no thanks.
- Kosmo
  
  your posts are precious.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Sadly, I didn’t find an identical comment to this while searching on Camden Chat. I really, REALLY wanted to find it.
    
    Those guys on there are pretty damn funny, though.
Anderson Silva

Can anyone crush one of those hangers?
- Robinson Cano
  
  Yes!
nsalem

Is O’Neill calling Hammel Hillman or am I hearing wrong.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  It’s like a reverse “Coal Hammels.”
  - nsalem
    
    Sound like he thinks Tillman is still pitching and calling him by the wrong name. I was at SummerStage last night and they introduced a group by the wrong name.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Yipes.
      
      Just checked the schedule. I’ve heard of Camera Obscura, but not She & Him. Who was introduced incorrectly?
      - nsalem
        
        Camera Obscura was introduced as Cameo Obscura. That was who I was going to see. They were the opening act and only played 10 songs which was disappointing. She and Him is Zoeey Deschanel and M. Ward. I wasn’t that familiar with them but that’s who most people came to see. BTW new Sigur Ros is very good.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I was just listening to the new Sigur Ros today. Very good, but I do tend to like the quieter albums, which the previous one definitely was. A lot of interesting textures on this one.
        
        Zoeey Deschanel and M. Ward is a bit too precious for my liking.
        
        I haven’t even done the Celebrate Brooklyn shows in a long time and I’m only a few blocks away from those. Bad New Yorker, RT. Bad New Yorker.
        
        nsalem
        
        She and Him sounded very manufactured, if that makes sense. I don’t love outdoor shows, too many people. I will be in Prospect Park this week though.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I’ve done a lot of “listening from outside.” Now I do a ton of chasing a two year-old around Prospect Park.
        
        nsalem
        
        I’ve done that. It’s tiresome but fun.
Robinson Tilapia

How many of those giant frozen lemonades would you need to get through sitting out there at YS3 today?

Worse, those things almost have more calories than two Czechvar’s from the Beers of the World stand in the bleachers.
Kosmo

Hafner is hitting about a buck eighty since May 1st.
dkidd

i give hafner credit; he’s been trying to go the other way
- Kosmo
  
  Wells takes all the heat but I think hafner is worse.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    No way, Hafner knows how to take a walk and has legitimate power. Wells has “meh” power and and walks about as often as Ichiro.
    - Kosmo
      
      take a walk is good, getting a hit once in awhile with men on base is even better . 225 hitter batting cleanup. hafner is a disappointment to say the least.
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        I may agree Hafner’s a bigger disappointment, but I’d still argue that Wells is a far worse player.
        
        Kosmo
        
        can we agree they both stink.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        Yet we need them both to perform.
dkidd

padres fading, might be sellers?

rooting for the braves to crush the phillies and convince amaro to let go of chooch (twss)
- Dalek Jeter
  
  If the Padres were selling I’d totally would like to see the Yankees some how buy super low on Headley.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I don’t know if “low” exists there. He’s still going to be worth a pretty penny. I’m not sure if I’m willing to pay it.
    - dkidd
      
      how about carlos quentin?
      - nsalem
        
        Nice AB Adam Thank You
Jag

I wish the YES team would go back to the game… I love Meredith and all but let’s discuss the game, not Jeter and Pineda in the middle of it while ignoring the entire inning.
- Kosmo
  
  give Meredith credit she has many assets she brings to reporting.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I like her. She doesn’t give off the “sports nerd” vibe that Kim did, though.
Robinson Tilapia

My God, that was an awesome play by Machado.
FEED.ME.MORE!

Manny Machado is good at that defense thing.
mustang (The Has Beens & Wannabes Bunch 2013)

WOW!!!!
nsalem

Very Brooksonian Manny
dkidd

insanity from machado
Wheels

That play was insane.
mustang (The Has Beens & Wannabes Bunch 2013)

LOL Its wasn’t even close
nsalem

Nice AB Adam Thank You
nsalem

This is going to be a tough team to shut out
Eddard

I don’t know how anyone can say that Hiroki is not an all star. He deserves to go.
Robinson Tilapia

Russell Martin wouldn’t have done that.
DERP

Yea this was nice

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/788425449.gif?1373224282
- Dalek Jeter
  
  WOAH I’m officially upset I’m listening to this game. All Sterling said was it was a great play. That doesn’t do it justice.
DERP

where the fuck is Kuroda?
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Don’t know, but hooray for cheap and unexpected fantasy innings :)
Anderson Silva

bad move to take Hiroki out. I hope it doesnt backfire, because Robertson can put us in a jam in a hurry with his wildness
- nsalem
  
  but he gets out of almost all of them.
nsalem

Taking a shower
DERP

It is important to not let any guys get on so Davis doesn’t get another chance to bat
Elton Cod

Like I said, Dickerson has been coming through for us in key spots all series.
Gonzalo Hiram

I’m liking this Cruz guy, from the scrap we’ve been taking lately he has done a good job
Eddard

The game started with an All Star pitching and it will end with two All Stars closing it out. The sweep is imminent.
- nsalem
  
  Please don’t say imminent.
DERP

I was really hoping Hiroki could get his second shutout against the Orioles .
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Insurance runs would be nice.
Elton Cod

Robertson with a great inning. I really don’t understand why anyone thinks he shouldn’t be Mo’s successor. All the “closer mentality” “closer psychology” stuff is junk. The 9th inning is pretty much the same as the 8th. The people who say he “doesn’t have it” as a closer are going off about two weeks prior to an injury.
Kramerica Industries

Machado-Markakis-Jones

ok then.
nsalem

MoForCY
Kramerica Industries

Mo breaking out the high socks is just the cherry on the Sundae’ of Awesomeness.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Damn that was close.
Kramerica Industries

Fucking TBS just about jinxed Mo there.
DERP

I thought that was definitely gone.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  Well, it was gone.
  
  Just a couple inches on the foul side.
DERP

Need a DP here. Don’t want to see Davis.
Kramerica Industries

FUCK
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

WTF Mo??!?
Dalek Jeter

Wait…did that really just happen?
Eddard

It’s all over. Mo just didn’t have it today.
- mustang (The Has Beens & Wannabes Bunch 2013)
  
  With Johnson in the pen.
  
  Please just stop
  - Matt
    
    With this lineup and those hitters due up, don’t count on it. Blind faith is not the same as talent.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    He already jinxed this by saying the sweep was impending, or whatever.
    
    Let him try to reverse this mess he created.
Anderson Silva

wow.. terrible
mustang (The Has Beens & Wannabes Bunch 2013)

DAMN!!!!
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Mo just looks awful. Absolutely terrible. At least he was only giving up singles to the Mets. I’m worried he’ll give up MORE runs.
Kramerica Industries

May 2010 vs. Minnesota
September 2010 vs. Baltimore
June 2011 vs. NY Mets

Today

There might be a few others too.

These TBS games seem to bring out the worst in Mo.
Anderson Silva

overbay, cruz and Nunez due up = game over
Bo Knows

Oh well, Mo’s entitled to blow a save. Its only the second one of the year
nycsportzfan

Those were a couple awful at bats by MO. Batting practice type pitches he gave to both Markakis and Jones.

This fucking stings!
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Well, we ALMOST won. That doesn’t count at all, right?
- nsalem
  
  Well the games not over so we haven’t lost yet.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    Well, not technically. Let’s cross our fingers, but keep normal hats because rally caps look ridiculous.
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

Would’ve been nice to put more than 1 up on the board…
Matt

Not a bad pitch. Just terrible PITCH SELECTION.

Every hitter in that lineup hits nearly all of their home runs to the pull field. Why are you challenging them in there in a 1-run game?

After Markakis pulled that ball foul, you can’t just throw it where he knows it’s coming. Especailly on 0-2. Change his eye level, go up in the zone. Don’t just give it to him.
- Now Batting
  
  Ya Mo, listen to Matt! He knows more than you!
  - Matt
    
    So I guess they can never make a mental error out there because they are in the big leagues and I’m not?
    
    Do you realize how stupid you sound?
    - Now Batting
      
      Hold up a mirror
    - Johnny Wise
      
      Not as stupid as giving pitch advice to Mo.
- Bo Knows
  
  Because that’s the purpose of the cutter, throw it in it’s supposed to get in on the hands. That’s why it’s usually such a great pitch against opposite handed hitters. Even if they make good contact it’ll go foul.
  
  Cutters away are risky, they can leak over too much and meet the sweet part of the bat
  - Matt
    
    No, really? I had no idea why someone threw a cutter. Thanks
    
    Every pitch on which he was beaten was a STUPID pitch to throw. Markakis knows it’s coming after he pulled that ball foul. You don’t have to throw him a strike on 0-2. Throw him a high fastball and change his eye level first.
    
    Jones is a pull hitter who lunges at breaking stuff way off the plate. You are ahead of him 0-1. Don’t just throw a front door cutter that he can cheat on and pull. Throw him a cutter down and away and let him get himself out by trying to do too much as he always does.
    
    Stupid pitch selection with one pitch and a guy who doesn’t throw 95 anymore is going to lead to bad results. It doesn’t matter who is out there.
    - Bo Knows
      
      If your going to act like an ass, you probably won’t mind if I reply in kind.
      
      First off, no pitching inside to Markakis was not stupid throwing inside prevents him from extending his hands. Also if you were actually paying attention (or maybe your blind or listening on the radio, I don’t know nor do I especially care), the pitch that he ended up hitting back up the middle was a pitch away. The problem was that Mo missed, just like he missed his spot on the Pitch that became the Adam Jones homer.
      
      Also Mo has pitched inside for years, well after his velocity has settled into the 90-92 mph range with his cutter, why is now a problem? He pitched inside to guys just last night he did it 29 other times this year alone or do those other 28 times he’s converted the save not count because he succeeded?
      
      Its not that big a deal so get the stick out your ass, he blew a save, he blew saves in the past he’ll probably blow a few more before the year is out.
      - Matt
        
        Pitching inside to Markakis is stupid because Mo’s control is not what it once was and he tends to leave it out over the plate at times when he is trying to go in there.
        
        It almost burned him on the previous pitch when he missed a home run by a foot. The problem was that the next pitch was PREDICTABLE. Mo is a guy who is successful with one pitch because he can keep the hitter guessing. There was nothing to guess about there. Markakis would have hit it even if it was on the corner because he leaned out over the plate and was waiting for it. Even if you want to throw that pitch, you throw 1 or 2 out of the zone first to keep him guessing.
        
        He didn’t miss his spot on the Jones pitch. The pitch was a little flat, but it was on the corner and hit the glove. The problem was that it was a hitter who literally swings at pitches a foot outside trying to pull the ball, in a count in which he is likely to be more aggressive.
        
        You can make all of the excuses that you want, but it’s pretty hard to deny the logic here. You have to adjust your pattern to the hitter and situation. When Markakis pulls one within a foot of a home run, you have to know that he’s not a rookie who’s going to cheat again.
- Johnny Wise
  
  Yeah, Matt, you tell Mo how to pitch.
  - Matt
    
    Anyone who thinks those were smart pitch sequences is just delusional. Whether Mo threw them or not is irrelevant. They were stupid pitch sequences. Don’t be an idiot.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      He gave up a single and a homer, it happens. No need to psychoanalyze everything.
      - Now Batting
        
        Let him keep going. This is more entertaining than the game.
      - Matt
        
        It happened because of stupid and predictable pitches. Not because of bad luck. “It happens” is nothing more than an excuse. He didn’t get beaten by bad pitches, he got beaten by throwing the wrong pitches, and ones that were pretty obviously so.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        Well shit, with all that evidence you’ve provided how can I refute?
        
        I have great certainty you’ve spent plenty of time analyzing what Markakis and Jones like to do in specific counts in specific game situations.
        
        Matt
        
        Markakis just pulled the previous pitch within a foot of a home run.
        
        It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that a decent hitter like Markakis who doesn’t always try to hit home runs will probably be sitting on the cutter away on the next pitch. That is why you don’t just throw it given that you have a few more pitches to set it up on 0-2.
        
        Gee, it really takes a genius to figure out that Adam Jones likes to chase pitches that break away from him as thrown by righty pitchers. I mean, we haven’t seen him repeatedly get himself out on curveballs and sliders a foot off the plate since he’s come up in counts like 0-2, 1-2, etc. I wonder what pitch we should throw to get him out there?
        
        It really isn’t that difficult. You can keep up the excuses, but it doesn’t change things.
        
        Now Batting
        
        So Mo should have thrown a curveball or slider there and not the pitch that made him the greatest closer in history?
        
        Matt Everyonelseisanidiot everybody!
        
        Johnny Wise
        
        Had Jones swung through that pitch, or hit a dribbler for an out, Matt never shows up to criticize Mo’s pitch selection. Then it’s “Man, Mo is awesome”. Plain and simple.
    - Johnny Wise
      
      Delusional? This coming from a guy who consistently thinks he’s smarter than ever player or manager in MLB?
      - Matt
        
        Do you realize how ridiculous your argument sounds? Let me get to the essence of it for you:
        
        “Because a guy is in the Major Leagues, he can never make a mistake. He is infallible. And even if he were not, since you are not in the Major Leagues, you cannot possibly figure out whether he made one.”
        
        Do you realize not only how irrelevant this is, but how stupid it makes you look to think it actually refutes my point?
        
        Johnny Wise
        
        Your response simply supports the fact that something in your life created this massive superiority complex you feel the need to display during a losing game thread.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        It’s really no less ridiculous than “I am Matt. Everything I say is right. I never make mistakes. Anyone who disagrees is stupid”
        
        Matt
        
        I will admit that I have made a mistake if I am wrong. So far, none of you have provied an argument which even remotely refutes my view. The best try that I’ve seen so far is, “You’re right, but it’s just one game.” Which doesn’t exactly refute my argument
        
        So until you do, don’t expect me to suddenly give up just because you tell me to do so. Attacking me personally is also not going to work.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        I’m not talking about today.
        This is the same tired act you’ve had for years.
        
        1)Something goes wrong, usually in a losing effort for the Yankees.
        2) Captain Hindsight shows up with an essay on how whoever messed up clearly should have done something different.
        3)Anybody who even mildly disagrees is called stupid, all while Matt pretends he is the all-knowing, best pitching coach/hitting coach/manager/pitch caller in all of baseball history.
        
        Matt
        
        Again, it isn’t hindsight. This was obvious stuff at the time. As soon as Markakis hit that ball, I knew that if he threw it away, Markakis was going to probably hit it hard. If you can’t see why that is the case, then you haven’t been watching baseball games very closely.
        
        The only way that Adam Jones can really beat you is with a fastball on the inner half. Otherwise, the most he’ll probably do is poke a grounder to the right side. Usually, he gets himself out chasing these pitches.
        
        If you can’t see why these things were stupid, then I can’t help you. If you come at me right away with insults, then you can’t be surprised to see me react as I do. And most of what you guys are saying IS STUPID. Because you automatically assume that any criticism is unfounded because we aren’t major leaguers. That is one of the most ridiculous arguments I have ever heard.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        What part of I’m not talking about today did you not understand?
        
        Now Batting
        
        Nobody is questioning whether or not he made a mistake. Based on the outcome it’s pretty obvious he did. What I, personally, am questioning and laughing about is wtf are you to say what he should have done instead.
- Pasta Stumbling Sojo
  
  He gave Markakis a backdoor outside pitch after the inside one that he pulled foul, and Markakis hit it back up the middle. It’s not like he was throwing him inside the whole time.
  - Matt
    
    Try again. He threw him an incredibly preditable pitch on 0-2 that he was SITTING ON because he just pulled the previous pitch foul.
    
    On 0-2, there is no reason to throw that pitch. After a swing like Markakis had, you throw it up out of the zone or way up and in where he can’t hit it to knock him back. You don’t go away with the cutter until you’ve firmly planted in his mind that you are going inside. At 91-92, it’s hittable out there.
Kramerica Industries

That Sundae of Awesomeness melted very quickly.

Sigh.
Mick taylor

Cashman needs to get off his ass and get some hitters . Giving up 2 runs in a game, yanks should win. Girardi should have left Robertson in the game since he threw only 8 pitches.
Dalek Jeter

Yes, I was just gonna say “I hope we see Johnson again”
Dalek Jeter

It’s time for Luis Cruz’s True Yankee(TM) moment.
The Real Greg

ANY OTHER WAY of losing I would have accepted. But this is going to sting. You had the sweep in your hands. And if the Red Sox win tonight, after winning 6 in a row, you lose a game in the division standings.
Anderson Silva

this team cannot get out of its own way… they faced a rather mediocre Hammels today but could only score 1 run and then the best closer in the world cannot shut the door before giving up the lead. Very pathetic game.
- The Real Greg
  
  YOU SHOULD WIN THAT GAME. YOU HAVE TO WIN THAT GAME. I DON’T GIVE A FUCK IF YOU SCORE ONLY 1 RUN. YOU HAVE TO WIN THAT GAME>
  - Mike Stanley
    
    Six singles off a bad pitcher=BLAME MO
    - The Troll Monger
      
      To Greg’s point, what’s the difference in a 1-0 game to close and a 4-5 game to close, the margin of victory would still be one run.
  - Matt
    
    The pitching literally had to throw a shutout for them to win the game.
    
    Do you realize how hard it is to shut out American League teams let alone ones with offenses as good as the Orioles have?
    
    You are an idiot if you think this is on the pitching. If you get a 1-0 lead in the first inning, by your logic, anything that happens thereafter is the fault of the pitching. Do you realize how many games end with a score of 1-0?
    - The Real Greg
      
      Yes. You got it. They do have to throw a shutout.
      
      And if that’s what they need to win. then that’s what they have to do.
      - Matt
        
        That’s ridiculous. If the team gives up 10 runs, then they have to score 11 to win. I guess they should just suck it up and score 11 runs? Gosh, if the offense can’t do what it takes to win then it is entirely their fault, huh?
        
        You are such an idiot. It’s amazing that you don’t realize how stupid you sound when you say these things.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Never mind. You clearly don ‘t want to be at least trying to digest what I’m trying to say.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Greg, he NAILED what you’ve been saying. He’s just pointing out that if the situation between the hitting and the pitching were reversed how stupid it would be. Because it’s stupid.
        
        Your error here is assuming pitchers have the magical ability to pitch better because the offense scores less. Unfortunately, they don’t have that power, as awesome as that would be.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        I actually disagree with that. Like King Felix the last few years.
        
        He had to be on pinpoint, for those woeful Mariners offenses. And he was.
        
        LK
        
        Dude are you even trying? In the years where the Mariners had their worst two offenses, Felix went 13-12 and 14-14. Even your freaking cherry-picked example disproves your point. What you’re arguing is just wrong.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        And won the Cy Young award.
        
        Matt
        
        Exactly, because he still pitched well. Even though his W-L record wasn’t great, because he can’t control what his offense does.
        
        The pitching allowed 2 runs today and lost. They can’t control what their offense does eiher, but they still did well.
      - Mike Stanley
        
        2nd fewest runs allowed in the AL=NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR GREG FIRE EVERYONE NOW
        
        http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching/league/al/sort/runs/order/false
The Real Greg

And if anybody blames the offense they should go to hell. You have to close the deal. When you have a 1-0 lead in the 9th . YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE FUCKING DEAL
- Mike Stanley
  
  You are such a moron.
  - The Real Greg
    
    No, you are an asshole. This offense is not going to score many runs. That is a fucking given. You have to step up your game if your pitching in order to win these games. Otherwise, don’t bother.
    
    ANY Other way of them losing I would have been fine with. Not this way.
    - Mike Stanley
      
      http://riveraveblues.com/2013/07/game-88-make-it-seven-90358/#comment-6497561
    - LK
      
      So just so we’re clear, you can’t complain about any losses except blown saves by Mo for the rest of the season, right? After all, you’re fine with them.
- Matt
  
  You think the offense did its job when they scored ONE RUN at HOME in an AMERICAN LEAGUE ballpark?
  
  You are one of the biggest idiots I have ever seen.
  - The Troll Monger
    
    Have you ever actually seen the real Greg?
- Kramerica Industries
  
  You know, not that you are wrong with the second part, but once again you are absolving an offense that couldn’t do shit against a pitcher with an ERA over 5, and only scored one run today.
  
  So, um, yeah, the offense deserves their share of blame.
  - The Real Greg
    
    This offense sucks.
    
    IT’S A GIVEN.
    
    Therefore if you want to compete your pitching is going to have to carry you.
    
    I don’t care if you score 10 runs or 1. You have to close these deals.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      So what? The worst offense in baseball doesn’t average one run per game. Or two runs a game. Hell, not even three runs a game. Usually even the worst offense will average 3.5-4 runs per game.
      
      So there’s still no excusing them, especially facing a crappy pitcher like Jason Hammel, and not even facing the O’s best BP arms, outside of Johnson in the 9th.
      - The Real Greg
        
        I don’t care. You have to close the deal.
      - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Why are we even responding to Greg anymore? His bizarre Greg-logic makes no sense. If he’s not a troll, he might as well be because frankly he only takes away from good discussions with his ridiculous comments and his refusal to change his mind when pointed out by many people that they don’t make sense.
        
        I’m tired of you, Greg. Seriously, this makes absolutely no sense.
    - Mike Stanley
      
      “It’s a given”
      
      Oh, so its ok with you how bad the offense is. Cool.
      - The Real Greg
        
        I’m not cool with it.
        
        I’ve accepted it. It is what it is and until the trading deadline, there’s nothing they can do about it.
    - Matt
      
      No major league offense has done its job when it has scored one run. Not even the worst offense in baseball.
      
      Just give it up. You will do anything in the world to absolve the offense or Joe Girardi. Nobody takes you seriously because you are an apologist in every sense of the word.
      - The Real Greg
        
        I’m not defending this offense. I;m accepting the situation.
        
        The offense sucks. It is what it is. And until the trading deadline, that’s all it will be.
        
        Matt
        
        Even an offense that SUCKS is doing poorly when it scores 1 run. Even an offense that SUCKS.
        
        Even the worst offenses in baseball typically score 2-3 runs a game, if not more. 1 run is a HORRIBLE FAILURE. Wake up.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        I don’t understand what the hell you’re saying.
        
        I’ve said the offense is bad. That’s all that needs to be said. Period.
        
        What I am saying is that it is not going to change till at least after the All-Star Break.
        
        So until then, whatever little juice you get out of your offense you have to make count.
        
        Matt
        
        No, that is not what you are saying. Read your OWN POSTS.
        
        What you are consistently saying is that because they had a lead, no matter how many runs they scored, it is the pitching’s fault if they lose. Your argument makes absolutely no sense. They scored ONE RUN. The pitching had to throw a SHUTOUT for them to win the game. Because the offense was BAD, the pitching had to be PERFECT for them to win.
        
        The pitching, no matter how good, is very unlikely to be perfect. Yet, it is, in your mind, the pitching’s fault for losing because they gave up two runs. Never mind the fact that two runs is a GREAT PERFORMANCE by the pitching staff, and one run is a HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE by the offense.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        I did not say that. What I’m saying is that in order to be competitive with s shitty offense, the pitching has to be better to compensate for the shitty offense. Because the shitty offense is not going to change.
        
        I’ve said this like 5 times, and you don’t seem to get that.
        
        Matt
        
        The pitching allowed just two runs. HOW MUCH BETTER DOES THE PITCHING HAVE TO BE?
        
        If the pitching has to throw SHUTOUTS for you to win games, then your OFFENSE is to blame. No matter how many runs your pitching staff allows, it is unlikely that it contributed more to you losing than SCORING JUST ONE RUN.
        
        Do you know how many games a team wins over the course of a season in which they score just 1 run? Most teams have records like 1-20 if not worse.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        So, basically the pitching failed if they give up more than 0 runs?
        
        This is what you’re saying. Do you realize how ludicrous this is? Pitchers can’t control what the hitters do. What they CAN do is a great job and give up only two runs. If they lose it’s not the pitchers who didn’t score.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        You can’t blame a given.
        
        The offense is bad because of injuries. That is a given. You can’t blame something that you already knew was a fact.
        
        Going into this game, you knew the offense was bad. So pitchers know that they will have very little to work with.
        
        Matt
        
        That’s also a great point. Pitchers can give up a few runs even when they are pitching well due to bad luck on balls in play. Just like hitters can score a run or two by getting lucky on balls in play. You can’t expect any of these guys to be perfect, but you can expect them to at least not be terrible.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        So, your response to me is “Yes, they have to throw a shut-out or it’s their fault.”
        
        Ladies and gentlemen, Greg-logic.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        If they know the offense is going to suck. Then yes. Otherwise you are not going to compete. And I know it’s virtually impossible but you have to try.
        
        What does complaining about the offense do? It doesn’t change the offense?
        
        LK
        
        “And I know it’s virtually impossible but you have to try.”
        
        Pretty sure they are trying. Seems like if you’re willing to admit it’s virtually impossible you might be able to forgive them failing sometimes.
        
        Matt
        
        Greg, even a sucky offense can score for its pitching 2 or 3 runs on many nights. It is unreasonable to expect pitchers to throw a shutout. Pitching staffs, even good ones, rarely throw more than 10 shutouts as a team over an entire 162 game season.
        
        You need to stop thinking in terms of conditional outcomes. Given that they allowed 0 runs through 8 innings, 2 runs seems like a failure. But it is not a failure over an entire 9 inning game. If the offense scored more than 1 run, as Major League teams almost always do, it would not have mattered.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        I…I can’t…
        
        Pitchers aren’t supermen. Their job is to give up as few runs as they can. If the pitching gives up two runs and you lose, it doesn’t matter that they “have” to make it count. Of course they do. That’s how they win. It doesn’t make it their fault when they lose. That you can’t grasp this simple concept is staggering, or you can grasp it and you’re trolling. Either way, this reflects badly on you.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Except that they know the offense is going to suck. It has been a given all year that the offense is going to suck.
        
        So if you want to remain competitive and the offense is going to suck, somebody has to step up.
        
        I’ve said this 6 times, and nobody seems to understand this.
        
        Matt
        
        Greg, wake up. The pitching allowed just 2 runs today. The pitching more than stepped up and did its job.
        
        If Kuroda wasn’t incredible and throwing a shutout, this game would have been a win for Baltimore before it ever got to the 9th inning because of the terrible offense. 1 run is not acceptable even from a bad offense. The offense had a bad game even for its bad self.
        
        LK
        
        Well, the thing is, when you say something stupid over and over again, it doesn’t get less stupid.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        It’s not stupid. It’s logical fact.
        
        The offense sucking is a control in this experiment.
        
        The pitching is the variable.
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        No, we know EXACTLY what you’re saying. It’s still stupid.
        
        Pitchers can’t magically make themselves better when the hitters hit badly. IF they could, why wouldn’t they just pitch like that all the time. The performance of the hitters simply DOES NOT affect the pitchers. The pitchers can’t make it affect them. They don’t have that power.
        
        The Real Greg
        
        Mentally they can. Physically they probably can’t. But they know.
        
        LK
        
        Are you even listening to yourself?
        
        The offense sucking is a control in this experiment? Then why do they score different quantities of runs on different days? If the offense gets shut out are you going to bitch about how the pitching needed to hold the other team scoreless indefinitely?
        
        “The pitching is the variable.” OK, sure. It was awesome today. It gave up 2 runs against a good offense in a hitter’s park.
        
        Now Batting
        
        Every offense in baseball has games where they score 0 or 1 run. It just so happened in this game they scored 1 run and still had a fantastic chance of winning. They didn’t win because Mo had a bad day/didn’t listen to you. It doesn’t absolve the offense going forward, but within the scope of this one game it could have been enough going into the 9th.
        
        Matt
        
        Boy are you stupid if you think that I said that Mo “should have listened to me.” No, he should know how to pitch given that he’s been in the big leagues for almost 20 years. If even I can point it out, then it’s pretty obvious that he screwed up out there.
        
        Second, you need to wake up and learn to read. I’m not the one posting the ridiculous nonsense about the offense not being to blame for the loss when they scored just one run.
        
        Now Batting
        
        It’s pretty obvious he screwed up because I watched Adam Jones hit a two-run home run off of him, not because you pointed it out.
        
        The offense and the pitching combined to get the ball into Mo’s hand with a lead in the 9th. That’s the formula every game. No need for hypotheticals, that’s what happened. I’ll take it every time.
        
        Matt
        
        Your mistake is in judging him based on the result, and not on how he got to that result.
        
        He threw a stupid pitch to Markakis, and an even more stupid one to Jones.
        
        Jones could have just as easily lined it right at the shortstop, but it still would have been a stupid pitch, and one that could have cost him the game if it were hit to a different part of the field (like it was).
        
        There is a difference between making a mistake in location, and hitting your spot but giving it up. Rivera did the latter today. That shows you that the mistake was not in physical execution, but mental.
        
        Matt
        
        I won’t blame him if he gives up a bunch of bloop singles, because he can’t control that. Bad pitch sequences though are within his control, and he deserves the blame for that.
        
        It’s unbelievable how every response to one of my arguments is “well, that’s crazy because even though you just said it in this situation, you must always believe it.” No, I don’t always believe the pitch sequence is to blame. Assuming such just shows you can’t refute the actual argument.
        
        Now Batting
        
        My response to your argument is your some dumb fuck fan sitting on the couch telling Mo how he should sequence his pitches. What do you know?
        
        Matt
        
        I guess I was right. That was all that you’ve got. I was hoping you’d at least try.
        
        You don’t have to be a pitcher to know how to pitch. Many pitchers even don’t know how to pitch properly, they just try to blow guys away.
        
        The only way to understand pitch sequences is to study the game, which is something that a fan actually has an advantage in because they are detached.
        
        Your argument is the same one that executives tried to use to shut guys like Bill James out of the game for so many years. It’s pretty funny to see the same mistakes made by closed minded people like you.
        
        Now Batting
        
        Did you just compare yourself to Bill James? I’m done here.
        
        Matt
        
        Good, go away. You’ve added nothing to this thread because you clearly do not understand the game of baseball.
        
        And if you seriously think I compared myself to Bill James, you are even dumber than I thought. I compared your attitude and views to those of executives whose closed-mindedness led them to ignore useful insights simply because they didn’t come from their inner circle.
        
        That is not the same. Try again idiot.
        
        Matt
        
        If nobody had told you how many runs the pitching had allowed, but told you that the Yankees scored just 1 run, what would you have guessed their chances were of winning the game ex-ante?
        
        Probably not very high. That is why your argument makes no sense.
        
        You can’t criticize or praise them based on how the pitching does, because that is beyond the control of the hitters.
  - HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)
    
    This. What’s even more annoying was that they were making Hammel really labor and still couldn’t push more than 1 run across.
Frank

Tough one to lose.
Kramerica Industries

Fucking horrible.

Welcome back to 4th place.
BigBlueAL

Toughest loss of the season??
Ethan

Fuck fuck fuck fuck
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Man, that might not have been the WORST loss of the year, but it may have been the biggest. This was a huge game, and they blew it big time.
The Troll Monger

Mo should retire now. Why was Cruz allowed to bat there?!
nycsportzfan

that was one of the most sad losses i’ve felt in sometime. Its strange, that as soon as I seen MO in those high socks , i actually worried about him blowing the SV. One thing about Mo, he don’t seem to do well when he changes things up or pitches in non sv situations. Very depressing loss.
- Capo
  
  Yeah, same here. I’m not even the superstitious type but as soon as I saw the high socks I got a queasy feeling.
Kramerica Industries

Really, the thing that stings the most here is the fact that 2/3 becomes a consolation thing. If the Orioles had bludgeoned the Yankees today, that would’ve been a fine fall-back; none of us would’ve really complained that much.

But a 9th inning lead with Mo out there? Yeah, it’s really not a consolation. It’s a flat-out missed opportunity.
- The Real Greg
  
  That’s exactly what I’m feeling. I came into this game feeling that if we lost, meh we won 6 in a row.
  
  But not like that.
  - Mike Stanley
    
    The way they lost does not matter. They all count the same.
    - The Real Greg
      
      Not in the newspaper, But emotionally is way different. They missed a chance.
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      Yeah, it’s the subjective feeling though, really. And also, this went from a “Meh, so we lost” game to a huge missed opportunity.
    - Kramerica Industries
      
      But it does feel different when there was a win to be had.
      
      If the O’s win this game, like, 7-3 or something, then, eh, we’re made during the game, and then we forget about it by night-time tonight.
      
      Winning the game like this, with the sweep only two outs away, is a stinger.
      
      Yes, they all count the same numerically, but that’s not really the point. Some losses absolutely hurt more than others.
Ethan

Well, at least top gear comes on tonight. Dexter too.
- Mike Stanley
  
  POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
  - Ethan
    
    Probably my second favorite show on tv. Second only to Game of Thrones.
Now Batting

Offense was anemic but Kuroda pitched a fantastic game. Had the Orioles right where we wanted them in the 9th but Mo blows the save.

Wada ya gonna do?
Capo

Well, given that in the 14-game stretch preceding the ASG (4 vs. Twins, 3 vs. O’s, 4 vs. Royals, 3 vs. Twins), the Orioles are by far the biggest challenge, I’d say taking 2 out of 3 is a pretty damn good result. That said, the way this one was lost just hurts. Hopefully the Sox blow it again tonight.
Kramerica Industries

Eddard says:
July 7, 2013 at 3:33 pm

The game started with an All Star pitching and it will end with two All Stars closing it out. The sweep is imminent.

—

Gee, thanks.
- Ethan
  
  It’s all his fault.
- FEED.ME.MORE!
  
  Yeah, once I read that, I had a bad feeling something craptastic would happen.
Nathan

Times like this you just say “Sh*t happens”.

One of the few blown saves he’ll give up. Whatever. Sucks that Kuroda won’t get the W though.
Mick taylor

I think the biggest disappointment this season has been hafner. If he was just average the lastmonth the whole performace of the whole lineup changes no power from him
- Capo
  
  Absolutely. In the past month, all of those strikeouts and short flies with a runner on 3rd that aren’t deep enough for a sacrifice have been a disaster.
The Real Greg

And the worst part is that despite winning 6 in a row, the Yankees net gain is ZERO. They gained no ground in the division and actually lost ground in the wild card.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  Eh, that’s not their fault. They did gain ground on the Orioles, who went 2-4 this week while the Yankees went 6-1. Can’t fault the Yankees when the Rays and Red Sox also go 6-1.
  - The Real Greg
    
    True, but this is why when Toronto won 11 in a row, that that alone shouldn’t have got them back into the division.
- Matt
  
  Umm, before the winning streak started the Yankees were 3.5 games behind Baltimore. They gained quite a bit. Of course they didn’t gain much relative to before last weekend’s series because they had to make up for a 3 game sweep in which they lost 3 games in the standings.
  - The Real Greg
    
    Well they’re in 4th place in the division so they went from second to 4th with this loss.
    
    And they gained no ground on Boston, so in the end, very little ground.
    - Matt
      
      You specifically said that they “lost ground in the Wild Card.” They actually gained 3 games over that stretch. You are wrong. Period. You can’t make excuses for this one, just own up to it and rephrase it.
      - The Real Greg
        
        Yeah they probably did.
        
        But I should say as well. If they got blown out in this game, it would have been “next”. But now it’s worse.
      - The Real Greg
        
        That’s true.
jtb120381

You facking idiot Rivera. Good when we don’t need you but you blow it when we absolutely need it. Absolutely fuckign bullshit you blow this save today.
- Capo
  
  That’s true, if there’s one thing we know about Mo, he is terrible in high-pressure situations.
  
  Wait…
LK

Tough loss. The reinforcements are almost here, and they haven’t fallen too far behind despite one of the 3 or 4 worst offenses in baseball; hard not to feel good about that.
The Real Greg

I want to add an addendum. It’s very curious that the 2 blown saves that Mo has blown have 1-0 leads.

I have to go back. It’s very wrong to force pitchers to throw shutouts, which is what Kuroda did today.

But you had 2 outs to go. You have to close the deal Rivera. And he probably feels this too right now.

Then again, he has saved 1 run leads before, this season.

These are two games that should be wins. Will it make much difference at the end of year? Probably not, but you just keep that string going.

It just seems now like the Orioles won that series. Probably because they swept us and we weren’t able to do the same.

Now of course the best thing the Yankees can do now is kick the crap of Kansas City and not let this linger.
dan genovese

Dont worry RIVERA will be gone soon and next year you have an awful offense, no Rivera and 189,…….
WhittakerWalt

I don’t care what team you are, it’s extremely difficult to win a 1-0 game. That’s about as tough as it gets. Mo crapped the bed, no two ways about it, but this offense should be ashamed of themselves.