Game 133: Win It For Robbie

August 28, 2013 by Mike Axisa 203 Comments

For the first time this season and the first time in 175 games dating back to last year, Robinson Cano is not in the Yankees starting lineup tonight. He is day-to-day with a left hand contusion after being hit by a J.A. Happ pitch last night. With the off-day tomorrow, it’s no surprise they’re resting him tonight and hoping the two consecutive days off have him ready to go for the Orioles series come Friday. Assuming he won’t come off the bench at some point, this will be Robbie’s first full game off since August 15th of last year, when a stiff neck sidelined him for a day. #lazy

Here’s the lineup Joe Girardi is running out there against right-hander Todd Redmond:

CF Brett Gardner
SS Derek Jeter
DH Curtis Granderson
LF Alfonso Soriano
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Lyle Overbay
2B Mark Reynolds — Eduardo Nunez and his sore knee didn’t make it through batting practice
RF Ichiro Suzuki
C Chris Stewart

And on the mound is right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who is coming off his worst start of the season. The Yankees need him to get back to pitching like a true ace if they want to have any chance at the postseason.

First pitch is scheduled for a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Eddard

Hiroki vs Redmond must be won 100% of the time if this team wants to make the postseason. It’s a good night to make up some ground with a W – Tampa is out west, Cleveland has a tough match up, maybe Detroit will show up and BOS and BAL play each other.
- Winter
  
  Did you just copy and paste this from the other thread?
OldYanksFan

This is pretty clever
ARod and NonoRobots
http://www.billjamesonline.com/breaking_news_on_the_baseball_scandal/
- And in merrie olde England
  
  Reminds me of a guy called Edgar Davids, he had to wear tinted lenses to aid with his Glaucoma rather than take the relevant medication that was deemed to be performance enhancing.
- Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
  
  Ha! That’s gold. It touches on something I always wondered about HGH. All HGH does is shorten injury time. Shouldn’t it be a personal medical decision? It’s not a PED in the traditional sense.
Winter

We’d better hope Jeter doesn’t get hurt because then we’d be looking at Soriano at 2nd and Reynolds at SS. And also then Jeter would be hurt.
- trr
  
  If we can just …make it…to Saturday without anybody else getting hurt, we can bring up some bodies.
Tom

Chris Stewart post all star break:
.503 OPS, wRC+ 37 (thirty freakin’ seven!)

For reference there are 10 PITCHERS with a higher wRC+ than Chris Stewart’s 2nd half #’s
- Frank Costanza
  
  Yeah, but no stat can measure heart.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Nomar Garciappara
  - ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
    
    Speaking of Nomar, why hasn’t he been on every steroid watch? His career ended because of tendonitis.. That doesn’t happen unless you juice so much that your body literally cannot handle its own muscle mass.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  For reference there are 10 PITCHERS with a higher wRC+ than Chris Stewart’s 2nd half #’s
  
  And one starting RF who can match that second half wRC+.
  
  (Hint: he’s on the Yankees)
- jim p
  
  “Romine” is Italian for “sure to lose” so Joe can’t bring himself to play him. Other than that, who can imagine?
Wheels

nice Jeter
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Captain!!!
With range!!
- Chris
  
  pretty sure that’s a great example of him diving and having to make that difficult play on a ball that any decent shortstop would easily get to.
Dalek Jeter

PASTADIVINGJETER
- http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso
  
  Rigatoni? Linguine? Gnocchi?
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Mmmm…Gnocchi. Not Linguine though, I grew up having long pasta 3 nights a week. I freaking hate long pasta like Linguine, Angel Hair, Spaghetti, etc.
    - http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso
      
      Mmm, Tortellini
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        OMG YES.
nsalem

Very nice.
Wheels

Weird seeing Cano on the bench.
nsalem

I wish I was as confident as Eddard about this game.
nsalem

Even half as confident.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

ughhh
Wheels

Dammit Hirok
Eddard

We’re in big trouble. Hiroki hasn’t done a damn thing to rebound.
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Urrp
UncleArgyle

Yup. Kuroda is out of gas. Forget the post season.
Wedge

Kuroda has nothing
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Actually, that might have been intentional. It looked like a perfect time.
Rolling Doughnut

Kuroda in August. ARGHHH
The Scheister of Doom

Season over. Good night, all she wrote. Somewhere a pregnant woman is signing.
the Real Greg

That’s what happens when you rely on a 40 year old pitcher coming off of a career high in innings to be your ace.

The innings speak to CC’s decline as well.
Cy Pettitte

this is their season going down the tubes tonight.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Chris Stewart is fucking awesome.
Wheels

Disaster. Thanks Stewart
Eddard

Ballgame over. Hiroki doesn’t have it and Stewart should be cut immediately.
CashmanNinja

Chris Stewart is a fucking bum. That’s something you learn in Little League ffs. He just cost us at least 2 runs AND tack on more pitches for Kuroda. Great job, backstop!
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

That has to be the first ever 2-run K in baseball history, right?
UncleArgyle

Ballgame over. Season Over. The Yaaaaaaaankees lose.

/ Sterling’d
Leg-End

Thanks Joe for continuing to play Stewart.
Frank Costanza

This organization baffles me.
28 this year

wow. thats… sad.
the Real Greg

What happened? Did he drop a foul tip?
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  Passed ball on strike 3.
  Then hit the runner trying to throw him out at first.
  2 runs score on what should have been K to end the inning.
  
  aka, Chris Stewart happened.
  - the Real Greg
    
    Wait a minute. How could Stewart hurry a throw with a catcher running?
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      Passed ball. The ball went to the back stop and rolled a bit.
      - the Real Greg
        
        Even though, The ball is on turf so it would get there quickly. How far is the backstop?
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        It deflected to the side on the 3B side. Almost all the way to the dug out.
Get rid of stewie

This guy has killed us this year
http://bigredsportsnetwork.org Matthew Provenzano

That is probably the worst play I have ever seen. My eyes are still hurting.
- CashmanNinja
  
  It was beyond stupid of him to do that. It was bad enough that he got crossed up on the pitch. But then to fumble around to find the ball and fire it when he had no chance to get the runner at 1st…it made no sense. If there weren’t runners on base then you make an attempt, but TWO baserunners were on. You just don’t do that! The only way that could have gone worse is if he threw the ball into the stands or a player got injured. Kuroda could have gotten flattened at home and Overbay could have hurt his arm on the play ala Brian Roberts.
  - http://bigredsportsnetwork.org Matthew Provenzano
    
    Pretty much every part of that play is the first thing one is taught NOT to do in Little League.
Winter

This team scored seven runs yesterday. This game isn’t over, much less the season.
- Frank Costanza
  
  This season is over broseph. Not only that… it’s BEEN over. CC and Hughes are pitching like minor leaguers, which is an insult to minor leaguers. If Kuroda joins them, it’s over.
stuart a

kuroda in full meltdown mode. 3 or 4 straight games… stewart with a terrible terrible play.

joke…yep that defense has been tremendous…

stewart cannot hit and a fielding play like that cost them 2 runs
Dalek Jeter

…8 minutes. I was away from the TV for 8 minutes. Apart from Miracle Catcher (TM) Chris Stewart straight missing that ball, what did I miss?
Get rid of stewie

Stewart worse yankee catcher ever
Bring in jorge tomorrow you get a better defender jeesh
Wheels

Is this how it ends?
the Real Greg

Can someone please tell me what he did?
- CashmanNinja
  
  Stewart got crossed up on the 3rd strike, let the ball get passed him, then threw the ball to 1st when the runner was practically standing on 1st. Ball got away and allowed the 2 base runners to score. Kuroda was covering home and — had he received the ball sooner — was set up to get completely flattened by Raji Davis since he was standing ON the plate and not in front of it. So Stewart missed the 3rd strike, threw it away, let 2 easy runs score, worked up Kuroda’s pitch count, and almost got a bunch of teammates hurt.
  - the Real Greg
    
    Is Arencibia that fast? I don’t know how that could have worked?
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Jesus fucknuts, just when I thought I couldn’t hate Chris Stewart more. All Yes was showing when I got back into the room was the cross up.
Eddard

It would have been nice to get to that Os series with a shot but if the offense doesn’t come back the season is over, RIP 2013 Yankees.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  I would trade a loss for you not commenting the rest of the season because you feel like the season is over.
Get rid of stewie

I would pull him but girardi doesnt have the stones with a short bench
nsalem

Still 8 innings left don’t give up.
- your mom
  
  But we don’t have Cano.
- Wheels
  
  You’re right, but Kuroda looks like shit.
  - nsalem
    
    That’s true. I’m just trying to remain confident. On the bright side Redmond has been very hittable especially against righties this year.
your mom

Good God, what the fuck????
Tom

Meh… Stewie will get the runs back with his bat.

“He’s had some good swings of late”
- CashmanNinja
  
  I would love to see some of these so called “good swings” of his :P He’s just down right useless. Let’s see more of Romine to get an idea of how much potential he truly has at the MLB level. He’s no worse than Stewart. Take away that 1 awesome double-play that Stewart had (against Boston) his entire season is a big “meh”.
Cy Pettitte

A’s are probably gonna win tonight, season is definitely over if (when) they lose tonight.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Yes because coming back from 5.5 back with a full month is completely unheard of.
  - Captain Turbo
    
    Losing today doesn’t mean the season is over but they have to win like 2 out 3 minimum going forward. So they need to pick it up.
Captain Turbo

I guess I picked the wrong day to tune into the game a few minutes late.
- McCroskey
  
  Picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.
  - Captain Turbo
    
    Ha! That, too.
  - Steinbrenner’s Ghost
    
    Picked the wrong week to give up PEDs
Get rid of stewie

Fire cashman
For allowing stewart to wear pinstripes this long.
- CashmanNinja
  
  You can’t blame Cashman entirely. I think he was hoping that Romine would be better. I think that the whole “Get under $189 mil” thing fucked with Cashman’s early plans. If he knew that Hal was going to scrap the idea then I feel that Russell Martin would still be in pinstripes.
  - the Real Greg
    
    Or he would have been more creative and signed Pierzynski (who’s had a good year in Texas)
  - Brian Strawman
    
    Cashman is to blame for starting a season with Chris ‘Career Backup/Quad A’ Stewart. Don’t blame Chris Stewart for being Chris Stewart.
Get rid of stewie

Yogi is better catch right now than stewart
the Real Greg

I’m just trying to picture it. They’re playing on turf which means the ball won’t slow down. Wouldn’t the ball bounce off the back wall and come back to him.

Plus Arencibia’s a catcher. He doesn’t have great speed.
- CashmanNinja
  
  I think it hit off his glove and skipped off the ump’s leg/foot. He definitely slowed it down. It was a terrible judgement call on his part because the runner was like a step away from reaching 1st. If there wasn’t anyone on the base paths then I’d have no problem with him making an attempt…but 2 guys were on. TWO! It was bonehead to the extreme. He made 2 goofs in 1 play.
- Get rid of stewie
  
  By the half ass effort of ichabad crane to get the ball and then the stupid idea to throw it with runner rounding third.
- McCroskey
  
  No, the ball deflected wildly off Stewart’s glove to his left.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  The ball rolled to the side, almost all the way to the dugout.
  Gameday has the video.
Kramerica Industries

Of for fucks sake.

I saw a runner on 2nd, 2 outs, 0-0.

I finally get in, and it’s 4-0. More two out problems for Kuroda, and perhaps even some more awful defense from the defensive wizard himself.

Unfuckingbelievable.
- the Real Greg
  
  The first two runs are on Kuroda, and the second are on Stewart.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  I’m pretty sure the defensive ineptitude all happened on a 3rd strike that would have ended the inning, so fwiw if we had a major league catcher back there instead of a AA back up, Kuroda gets through the inning unscathed.
  - the Real Greg
    
    And who do we blame for that? Brian Cashman, once again.
- Kramerica Industries
  
  Oh g-d, that was worse than I could’ve imagined. Stewart flat out dropped it AND fucked up the throw. I mean, holy shit, how the hell does that happen?
  - Wheels
    
    Yup, it was fucking ridiculous.
Winter

http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-evidence-confirms-arod-invented-steroids,33583/
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Without Kuroda pitching well, win or lose, we’re totally fucked.
- the Real Greg
  
  Even if they come back in this game, it doesn’t bode well.
  
  A disaster year for Brian Cashman.
  - Winter
    
    You’re still blaming this on Cashman?
Get rid of stewie

E-2
Does this assclown lead the league in past balls?
- the Real Greg
  
  That’s actually his second error of the year.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  No. His Toronto counterpart has 13.
  - Get rid of stewie
    
    Yeah but he had to catch a knukleballer who started the year lost
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      I agree.
      Though Stewie’s “just” tied for 4th worst now. Blanco and Castro have 10. Rosario has 9.
Tom

No bueno.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Ooof.
May as well get Hirok some rest and utilize the 2 long men.
Cy Pettitte

can’t make the playoffs with Kuroda doing his best Hughes impression every start now
Kramerica Industries

So much for looking forward to tonight’s game.

Nice 2-4 roadtrip at this crucial juncture.
Eddard

Ballgame over, Season over.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

We just aren’t a very good team.
- the Real Greg
  
  I figured that when we were swept by the Mets.
  
  And that’s when I called the season over. And it appears that I was right.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    No, you weren’t. We made a run and got back into the race late in the season to give us a shot. You might as well say we were out…
    
    Why am I doing this again? I’m going to not do this now.
    - nsalem
      
      We weren’t a good team for 3/4 of the season. We are now a good, but not a great team. it would take a sudden reversal of our starting pitchers fortunes to get back in. It probably wont happen, just as we probably wont win this game. I am not ready to give up on this game or the season yet.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    C’mon man be honest. You disappeared when they tanked and came back when they started picking it up. Inasmuch as every team has a shot, they had/have a shot. But the probabilities are too low to get too excited about. S
Get rid of stewie

Hirok should just start plunking guys now
Is warren up yet
the Real Greg

Well now its easier to relieve Stewart of total blame and put it more on Kuroda.
Wheels

Speechless.
your mom

Wow, wow, and wow. . . . . . . . . game over. Kuroda has caught Hughesitis. We’re fucked.
Eddard

When the kids get up here on Sunday I’d just start playing them to see what we have. Romine should be playing anyway. Sit guys like Overbay, Ichiro, Hughes and see what we have in the kids.
- Winter
  
  Who would you pitch instead of Hughes?
  - Get rid of stewie
    
    Huff
    - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
      
      He’s not a kid.
      That would be more of a “WIN NOW” move.
      
      lol.
  - RkyMtnYank
    
    I’d go with Huff, Warren, Marshall and Bootcheck all before Hughes.
sevrox

Postseason hope decimated. Bring up some young’uns for September so they can get some experience.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  You use that word, decimated, but I’m pretty sure you don’t know what it means.
  - Captain Turbo
    
    There’s a one in ten chance he knows what it means.
  - sevrox
    
    decimated – destroyed, done, over with, no hope, no chance, fuggedaboudit. Next question?
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Actually it means “to reduce by 10%” Hence, Turbo’s play on words that there’s a 1 in ten chance you would know.
Get rid of stewie

Jr murphy and romine should catch the rest of the year.
Winter

Ok. Score some runs here, start chipping away.
Get rid of stewie

Stewart
25 wp
8 pbs
Shit catcher who shouldnt be in the bigs
Tom

Is it too early to PH for Stewart here?
- Dalek Jeter
  
  It is never too early to PH for Stewart.
Get rid of stewie

A cookie
Al just slamed the stew
OldYanksFan

I go out for some takeout Pizza.
I get home and rush to the TV.
As the picture comes on, they are showing high up in the LF seats.
The camera pans down to show Grandy on the field.
The score flashes briefly.
I thought it said 6-0, but… ya know, I’m older, and the first thing to go are the eyes.

As home plate is touched, the scores comes on again.
Long enough to get a good look.

WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING??????
- Wheels
  
  It was a shitstorm of epic proportions. I hope your pizza tastes good anyway
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

Oh my god, just got on, wtf is happening with Hirok??
- dkidd
  
  it’s a condition known as “more than 25 starts”
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

wtf was that ARod??!?
Tom

Mike A’s game summary should take a page from this thread and just be titled

“WTF?”
dkidd

hurry back michael pineda
Red Felson

You guys are just spoiled whiners! Chris Stewart’s pitch framing alone makes him worth keeping around. Read a book!
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Pitchout with 2 outs and a 7 run deficit?
- Tom
  
  Can’t afford to let this game get out of hand.
Kramerica Industries

Meanwhile, Bud Norris is on the verge of a full-scale implosion right now.
HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)

Man, if Hirok can’t find his former self, this stretch run is going to flat out suck. I feel like everyone’s been operating under the assumption that he was just going to remain his phenomenal self (me included), and that CC and Hughes were the ones to worry about.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  This is his August 2012 former self.
  - HateMclouth (formerly I’mVernon)
    
    Welp, I should have specified, I meant regain his form from the first half. All things considered, it does seem unreasonable he’d continue it given his age and pre 2013 track record. But I sure was hoping he would.
nsalem

Redmond has been extremely ineffective in the 4th inning this year.
dkidd

girardi (evoking 96 world series torre): let’s cut the lead in half!
jeter: how do we score 3.5 runs?
Tom

Thank you Tim Redmond. Nothing better than a pitcher walking the first two guys with a 7 run lead.

4 more walks and they will have the tying run to the plate in the form of Chris Stewart. (who will then promptly hit into a triple play on the first pitch)
dkidd

chip away
Wheels

Ok. Let’s go
Wheels

Overbay sucks
Kramerica Industries

Holy crap is Overbay horrible.
Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Fucking incompetent send.
Rolling Doughnut

Bonehead move ARod.
- YankeeFan
  
  ??? That’s on Robby Thompson. Coach knows better then throw up the send sign. Could have had at least 3 runs there and clear Stewarts spot
Kramerica Industries

ARod is SLOW.
- Wheels
  
  What a stupid decision.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    They sent him? I thought he was held up.
    - Wheels
      
      A stupid decision on A-Rod’s part.
      - YankeeFan
        
        Where you talking about? That’s not A-Rod’s fault.
        
        YankeeFan
        
        What*
        
        Wheels
        
        Ok relax, I was wrong.
      - Wheels
        
        Check that, all on Thompson. Jesus
        
        Rolling Doughnut
        
        I also thought Thompson held him up.
Lukaszek

Jeez Chuck E. Cheese! What the f*ck happened, I look at the game and it’s like 1-7?!!!
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Boy has this been a fun ~~season~~ game…
Tom

So did Arod blow through a stop sign or is this another boneheaded send by the fantastic 3rd base coach?
- YankeeFan
  
  Another boneheaded send. I miss Bowa.
  - RBC
    
    I miss Bowa too. He would’ve handed Cano is arse whenever he doesn’t hustle to 1st base.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  He was waved in.
  Absoulutely awful send.
- RBC
  
  Rob sent him home.http://riveraveblues.com/2013/08/game-133-win-it-for-robbie-93375/?replytocom=6757044#respond
Mick taylor

One of the things yanks need to do is fire rob yanks of runs thompson
- Wheels
  
  Now that’s something I bet George would do.
Tom

This might be a close game if Stewart wasn’t playing and the Yankees had a competent 3rd base coach.

Both are easily fixable, yet for some reason it isn’t being fixed.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

We have NO breaks going our way in this one.
- nsalem
  
  Disagree. It’s bad play not bad breaks. Mental errors have probably cost us two runs on D and a couple of offensive.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    It can be both.
Mick taylor

If mr steinbrenner were around he would fire rob yanks of runs Thompson he has been a horrible 3rd base coach . So many games where he makes a terrible call on sending runners. And he would fired cashman by now and the people in charge of scouting and drafting
- The Other Sam
  
  Well, Hal held a meeting.
dkidd

this game is winnable. hiroki has been picking up the offense all year. time to return the favor
- The Other Sam
  
  Exactly what I was thinking. Running out of time though.
Kramerica Industries

Yankees better have a rally up their sleeves tonight, because otherwise they’re dropping a game on both the Rays and A’s.
- Rolling Doughnut
  
  Yeah then they’ll go from a 7% chance to a 5% chance of getting in.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

Holy shit, do they need to make a ridiculously awesome play on EVERY hard hit ball?
OldYanksFan

Mike Trout, 22 years old.
.331 .427 .575 1.001, 23 HR, 81 RBI
Missed him by one turn.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Cabrera maybe the best hitter in baseball, but Trout is the best all around player right now.
Tom

Saw a replay of the send home… what the hell was Thomson doing?

It looked like he was way down the line (like he should be) but then started running AT Arod. And then after Arod passed him he continued running past 3rd base toward the OF (in foul territory)

He should be 1/3 or 1/2 way down the line and stationed there. There is no reason for him to be running at the the baseruner (which would also make it harder for the baserunner to figure out what the hell he is doing).

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before.
- Alkaline
  
  Not sure why he sent A rod either. Close game, I could see. Down by 6? Yikes.
Alkaline

RALLY HATS BOYS
Tom

King Felix 3IP, 9 runs (8ER)
Wainwright 2IP, 9 ER
Kuroda 5IP, 7 runs (5ER)

Not a good day for some of the top pitchers.
Wheels

Wish they could just start this game over.
Kramerica Industries

ARod is striking out at a rate that would equal about 170 over the course of a full season.

This is a serious problem.
Kramerica Industries

I really, really hate this Red Sox team.
- Captain Turbo
  
  They’ll tank in the playoffs. It’s a Boston tradition.
  - http://riveraveblues.com/2013/08/game-133-win-it-for-robbie-93375/ BostonStrong
    
    ’04(Greatest comeback in sports history) and ’07
Rolling Doughnut

In five of their last six games, they’ve scored three runs or less. CC, Kuroda and Hughes are bad, shaky and shitty, respectively. Hope they turn it around, like right now.
- Captain Turbo
  
  Yeah, like turn it around yesterday. 29 games to go and they probably need 22 wins or so to make the playoffs.
TJF

Yanks are done, I’ve been in denial up until these past two series losses, but they are finished, time to start thinking about next year.