Game 85: Fourth of July

July 4, 2014 by Michael Axisa 278 Comments

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. The Yankees are looking for their second straight win (!) and are in the right place to do it. They’ve been close to unbeatable in Target Field over the years. Here is the Twins lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

It’s cloudy in Minnesota but there is no rain in the forecast. This afternoon’s game will start a little after 3pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and ESPN2 nationally. Enjoy.

Deep Thoughts

Happy Birthday, Boss. Let’s get ‘em today.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Interesting to have Brob in the 2 hole. Would rather have Ells/Gardy b2b, but he does see a ton of pitches, and actually has played better offensively than Jeter.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Shit, 61 hot dogs is a bit much for me.
- vicki
  
  merica.
  - Tony Lazzeri’s Plaque
    
    MERICA!
    
    /fixed
Tony Lazzeri’s Plaque

Lou Gehrig = Greatest ever homegrown Yankee (TM).
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Man, Gardy is so good.
Tom

Brian Roberts batting 2nd? Ridiculous.
- Tom
  
  And Roberts rewards the bad decision.
  - nycsportzfan
    
    Rewards the decision again.
    - nycsportzfan
      
      2doubles and a triple are quite the reward for Joey G
      - Deep Thoughts
        
        And a third double. Maybe the high socks are making his swing more efficient.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  Higher Wrc+ than Jeter, hits more fly balls, and sees more pitches.
  - http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
    
    And is rated as being a better baserunner still.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      When Roberts batting second is an upgrade, you’ve got problems.
- nycsportzfan
  
  Roberts showed signs of getting healthy last yr. The guy can still hit some, it woulden’t be a big deal if the guy hit 290BA or something, so i’m not surprised he came through. Hes struggled to this point but he’ll have his hot streaks from time to time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek Roadgeek Adam

YS3 would’ve made this a 3-run game.
nycsportzfan

Did the offense finally wake up? I was so optimistic for so long, I finally started to lean they woulden’t gel offenively the past couple days and boom, the offense is looking how we expected.

Its only 2 days but still, its something.lol
nycsportzfan

Belty gets the job done. 4ribs in past 2 games so far. Still alot of AB’s left in this one.
nycsportzfan

3runs, a bunch of ex-base hits, and the pitchers pitch cound nearing mid 20’s. July 4th baby!
vicki

fireworks started early.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

They just clobbering this guy.
nycsportzfan

Uht oh.lol
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

And we giving them right back.
vicki

well. july baseball.
nycsportzfan

Come on Whitley. How can you go from so good to not being able to get a guy out in blink of a eye? Baseball is a crazy game man.
- TheRealGreg
  
  I think you answered your own question
- Jim
  
  Usually pitchers who were never that good in the minors, throw 90, and leave the ball up in the zone won’t be that good for too long. Regression to the mean hittin him hard
nycsportzfan

There we go. Mix that change/fastball. Its that Change that is his on pitch.
TheRealGreg

By the way, for those who thought Morales would help the offense, he’s hitting .217/.247/.304
TheRealGreg

This offense doesn’t score a lot. So when they do score, the pitching has to hold up. And Whitley has been sinking like the Titanic
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

3 outs in and we already have the hits for the cycle.
nycsportzfan

Wow, I count 2 or 3 fastballs this inn so far. Rothschilds out now. Maybe there is something wrong with him? Nerves coming off a bad outing and worried his heater will get pounded?
- nycsportzfan
  
  Haha, the 1st pitch after Rothschilds visit to mound was hardest of night, 91mph fastball.
nycsportzfan

Whitley has only thrown 1 ball at 90mph or better(90 on dot), but has a couple outs and a K. All off speed or is his velocity down? I can’t totally call it yet?
- nycsportzfan
  
  Ok, there was another 90mph fastball. Tons and tons of offspeed stuff. Whitley must be feeling good about his stuff today, no?
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

At least he was better than Gibson.
nycsportzfan

ROthschild def told em to not be afraid of his heater. He started throwing mostly fastballs and got got the K.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Gonna be seeing a lot of David Huff today.
- TheRealGreg
  
  And maybe the Twins longman too.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  28 pitches for 1 inning. At least the bats were coming alive, otherwise I’d be pretty worried.
BigBlueAL

Wish I was old enough to have watched Righetti’s no-hitter on July 4th, 1983 (i was only 3 yo at the time). When I got older he and Mattingly were my favorite players but I only remember Rags as the closer not as a starting pitcher.
nycsportzfan

Cervelli does what Cervelli does when hes played for the big club. Hits.
- nycsportzfan
  
  And he shows his speed for a catcher. I think Cervelli’s just great!lol
- WhittakerWalt
  
  That 88 career OPS+ begs to differ.
TheRealGreg

LOL Cervelli
Tom

Good thing Cervelli swung at the next pitch. You have to think Cowboy Joe would ave rung him on any pitch after the 3-0 businesss.
Yankee Fan 1

Derek Jeter making fun of Suzyn’s sparkly vest is hilarious. That thing is a monstrosity
Tom

That was some seriously good baserunning there by Cervelli though to tag up. A lot of runners I think would have instinctually started going halfway on that.

Cervelli really trying to piss Cowboy Joe off (nice slide)
TheRealGreg

Damn
nycsportzfan

Tim.K is so boring hes funny sometimes.lol
nycsportzfan

Brilliant AB for Gardy. A triple, BB, Run, and now get ur SB Gardy, and you’ve pretty much filled ur leadoff hitter stat chart for the day.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Nice ells. Managed to create 2 more runs with 2 outs.
WhittakerWalt

Now we’re talking. And here I was just about to curse that Grounds Rule Double.
nycsportzfan

Ells baby! You could say something bout Jeets not being in the lineup but he was last night when they scored 7 and has been hitting well recently.
WhittakerWalt

I think John Sterling is drunk. He’s already blown like three calls.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  How is that different than normal?
  - http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek Roadgeek Adam
    
    76th birthday drinking?
TheRealGreg

The Yankees can’t lose this game under any circumstances.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Little early to make that proclamation.
  - vicki
    
    i’m sure he means mustn’t.
    - TheRealGreg
      
      Better word. Thank you
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        I’d certainly agree with that. It means they’d better keep scoring runs by any means necessary.
nycsportzfan

Gardy on pace for 47 ex-base hits 99runs and 29SB.. Not to shabby.
- nsalem
  
  for a fourth outfielder.
  - JGYank
    
    Yeah sure. Probably only been one of our best hitters. If he’s a 4th outfielder what are Ichiro and Sori?
  - nycsportzfan
    
    Yeah, lots of 4th OF’ers score 100runs with 30SB , 47ex base hits, a 290BA and a 363OBP..
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    I think a couple of broken sarcasm meters above…
    - nycsportzfan
      
      Wow, I just caught it. Should of mentioned the sarcasm though.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  Remember when that was kind of expected for a leadoff hitter. Nothing against Gardy, it’s just offense really has gone downhill far.
nsalem

Just turned my set on to a 6-1 lead. Is this still 2014?
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek Roadgeek Adam
  
  Yep. We’re facing the Twins’s worst starter.
vicki

big wheel woulda made that.
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Dr. Martin van Nostrand

Very nice of these two teams to just decide and stage of replay of their 4th of July game in 2013.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?id=330704109

I missed that game because of work, among other things, and that day sucked, so it’s been nice to see it now.
- Yankeefan91
  
  cant believe that lineup scored 9 runs
  - vicki
    
    twins. enough said.
  - https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Dr. Martin van Nostrand
    
    In their defense, they were playing in Minnesota. How has this team scored 13 runs in 11 innings? Minnesota.
    
    Can we just negotiate a swap of home ballparks for the rest of 2014?
  - http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
    
    I know.
    Ichiro leading off, Zoilo 2nd, Hafter, Wells, Overpay as the 4,5,6. And then that bottom 3, you just have to laugh how bad that lineup is.
  - http://Riveravenueblues Marty l
    
    Can t believe that lineup won 85 games!
nycsportzfan

Whatever Whitley.
WhittakerWalt

Jesus, two infield hits in a row. This isn’t Whitley’s fault.
McLovin

Gotta love the Twins, they always deliver.
vicki

i detect a pattern.
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek Roadgeek Adam
  
  Very noticeable pattern.
WhittakerWalt

Awww come on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek Roadgeek Adam

Thanks Cervelli.
Tom

Cervelli having himself a game…
JGYank

Anyone see Johnny Damon’s comments on ESPN? It’s funny and sad at the same time. He’s become delusional.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Does he still think he’s a Hall of Famer? Is he trying to catch on with a team?
  - vicki
    
    http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_.....t-playoffs
  - JGYank
    
    Thinks he can outhit half the league. Also suggested Boras hasn’t come to him with any offers because they’re too embarassing.
    
    He’s 40 and he doesn’t have a job for a reason.
- Yankee Fan 1
  
  He needs to give it a rest. He really thinks he can outhit half the league? LOL
- vicki
  
  what a drag it is getting old.
  
  not “half the league,” but i bet he’d outhit sori.
  - JGYank
    
    Not much of an accomplishment there.
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Mick Jagger would outhit Sori.
TheRealGreg

I can totally see Deduno shutting down the lineup after they struck early.

Whitley needs to hold.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  He won’t.
  - TheRealGreg
    
    I know. That’s why he needs to be taken out very soon.
Need Pitching & Hitting

I’d say this should be Whitley’s last start, but I have no idea who they’d replace him with.
- nycsportzfan
  
  Matt Tracy right from Double A? I have no idea. Chris Leroux on a pitch count?
- JGYank
  
  Huff and Whitley swap roles?
  - Rolling Doughnut
    
    Yeah I was thinking that too. What a choice.
    - JGYank
      
      Honestly our best option if we’re limited to internal guys. Whitley started out as a reliever anyway. Need to replace Nuno as much Whitley though.
      - JGYank
        
        *just as much as Whitley
nycsportzfan

Come on Whitley. Jesus!
TheRealGreg

Take him out NOW
TheRealGreg

WHITLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

The Whitley experiment needs to be done. Go get Saunders on a minor league deal and stick Whitley in the pen.

And, yes, I’m well aware how bad Saunders is.
WhittakerWalt

Gonna be a long day, kids.
vicki

bring me huffles.
JGYank

Whitley’s ERA has really skyrocketed recently. Wasn’t around 3 not to long ago? Now it’s above 5.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  Was under 3.
Yankeefan91

this is bad we need a couple of arms.
TheRealGreg

Again, I’ve seen it happen a lot where the Yankees score a lot of runs early and then put it on cruise control and don’t score again.

You shouldn’t need insurance runs when you have scored 6 runs.

They better not lose this game.
- BigBlueAL
  
  Unfortunately you do need insurance runs when you score 6 runs if Chase Whitley or Vidal Nuno is your starting pitcher.
  - TheRealGreg
    
    Then they are going to lose.
Dave G

Isn’t this the time of the year we get Cliff Lee?
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

When’s huff come in?
JGYank

That moment when you realize that the Yanks scored 6 runs in 3 innings with Ryan Ichiro Roberts Cervelli and KJ in the lineup.
- TheRealGreg
  
  And they might lose that game
Dave G

Roberts’ apparently likes the 2 hole
Dave G

Getting better pitches.
WhittakerWalt

This offense better wake up against the new pitcher or this will be a gut-punch loss.
- TheRealGreg
  
  It has nothing to do with the offense. All about the pitching.
  
  When you score 6 runs that should be a win.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Not when Chase Whitley is your starting pitcher.
    - TheRealGreg
      
      Exactly. That’s why it’s the pitchers fault.
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        Who cares about fault? Whitley is a nobody. He can’t be expected to produce. He started melting down almost immediately. The offense certainly saw it happening, and saw it happening early. Scoring in the first two innings and then going to sleep is never a good idea.
vicki

how ’bout that two-hole?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Sure, why not?
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

HUFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- TheRealGreg
  
  Thank god.
  
  He might suck, but it’s the right move.
  - http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
    
    He can at least keep his era near 4-5.
BigBlueAL

Mentioned this earlier, wish I was old enough to have watched Righetti’s no-hitter on July 4th, 1983 (i was only 3 yo at the time). When I got older he and Mattingly were my favorite players but I only remember Rags as the closer not as a starting pitcher.
- http://Riveravenueblues Marty l
  
  Saw Star Wars that day with my son who s 42 now.:) Saw the last 3 innings on the “tube” (TV) as called back then. Who made the last out? How? Need a hint? Just ask.
JGYank

2 triples in one game.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  is because the park they are playing in.
  - JGYank
    
    Plus they’re actually hitting.
Dave G

What would it take to get or Colon or Burnett (after all Kenny Rodgers was here twice).
WhittakerWalt

Well yes, but Whitley is not exactly Mr. Shutdown. It’s not about who’s right or who’s wrong. Whitley isn’t a factor. The offense will have to win this game.
- JGYank
  
  They still have the lead at least. Anyone unavailable in the pen?
- TheRealGreg
  
  But their offense for the most part has proven incapable of winning games on their own. So when they do score some runs, gotta make it stick.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    You can throw around words like “gotta” and “must” but it’s irrelevant to the reality of this game. They will almost certainly need to score more than 6 runs to win this one. It’s depressing, but then much of this season has been depressing.
    - Rolling Doughnut
      
      Right. And besides, the reality is only this: whoever scores the most runs wins.
Yankeefan91

We seem to hit better in bigger parks maybe we should exchange Citi Field and Yankee Stadium.
- Dave G
  
  They obviously can’t actually do that but it sure does seem they play better in big ball parks with big power alleys.
- vicki
  
  i bet the mets would be down for that too.
WhittakerWalt

Yeah, the offense is going into roll-over mode now. It was fun while it lasted.
- TheRealGreg
  
  Knew it was coming.
  
  Luckily Huff looks poised to the challenge for the moment
WhittakerWalt

Suzyn wants David Huff to start. Yikes.
- TheRealGreg
  
  She might be right
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    She might be right that he will start, not that it’s a good idea.
    - Dave G
      
      Last year Girardi used Hughes/Huff. They may try the same formula with Whitley/Huff.
    - Rolling Doughnut
      
      OK so if Huff starts, and Whitley goes to the pen, then Huff can go the three or four and Whitley can come in to give them another three or so. It’s a wash.
      - http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
        
        But if Huff is doing better you go him first. Can always throw the game to the rest of the bullpen, if you out of it throw it to Whitley.
        
        Rolling Doughnut
        
        Agree. But Whitley was also doing better..until he wasn’t.
JGYank

Looking out the pen workload, we really need to use Thornton more often. I know he’s not the best option to bring in, but we really should start taking the pressure off of Dellin and the others. I think he’s done well recently too. Huff has been pretty active recently so he won’t last long. May have to use Miller in this one along with Thornton.
- JGYank
  
  Thornton’s not even on pace to throw 35 innings this year. Betances and Warren are already in the 40s in IP.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Thornton is godawful against righties though. He’d be facing a ton of them.
  - Dave G
    
    The Phillies are one of the rare teams who are out of it. AJ Burnett is most likely going to retire after the season. I’d try to work something out with the Phills.
  - JGYank
    
    True, but he hasn’t even hit 20 innings yet. If we give him more innings in blowouts that’ll help Huff and they can use him more often against lefties when we’re ahead so Betances/Warren/Kelley need to face fewer batters.
    - TheRealGreg
      
      “if we give him more innings in blowouts”
      
      Would be nice to have some blowouts for these innings. This could have been one.
    - Dave G
      
      Thorton is a below average pitcher, it’s that simple. We haven’t exactly played many laughers (in which we were in the lead).
      - JGYank
        
        Don’t need the lead to use him. Just give him an inning in any blowout and just give him a LHB or two to start/end an inning instead of Warren/Betances/Kelley throwing an entire inning too often.
        
        Dave G
        
        The problem is he blows. If you can use him as a mop-up guy, I agree, do it.
        
        But as a “lefty specialist”, which he supposedly is, he just does not have the ability.
        
        JGYank
        
        Not true. Vs LHB this year:
        
        .220/.289/.220
      - JGYank
        
        Not saying he should pitch really often or regularly, but just put him out there more often in the right spots (low/medium leverage, higher leverage for a LHB or two. nothing more than that) For example, if Warren has been used a lot but can still pitch and then there’s back to back lefties coming up 2nd and 3rd with a 2 run lead, use Warren to start the inning and use Thornton to get the next two and finish the inning.
Dave G

The Phillies are one of the rare teams who are out of it. AJ Burnett is most likely going to retire after the season. I’d try to work something out with the Phills.
- http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ
  
  How about no.
  - Dave G
    
    I know the Yanks are just loaded with starters. Good point.
JGYank

Clean inning just what we needed.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Ichiro staying busy out there.
- vicki
  
  F9 F9 F9
TheRealGreg

Roberts has been sensing Refsnyder coming for his job.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com/ ALZ

Doing his best Refsnyder impersonation.
- Deep Thoughts
  
  well done.
Yankeefan91

Roberts Looking like The Old Roberts the Extra base Machine.
CashmanNinja

Hands down Roberts’ best game as a Yankee. He’s padding his OPS today.
- vicki
  
  up over .700. whaddaya know.
  - vicki
    
    good for fifth on the roster??? (with big wheeler first after his one game; so fourth, qualified.)
WhittakerWalt

One pitch? Really?
- TheRealGreg
  
  They don’t tack on runs.
Yankeefan91

why not leave huff in and if he gets in trouble then bring in warren ?
Tom

Surprised Girardi didn’ at least leave Huff in for Fuld
TheRealGreg

Dont like this move. Think you could have gotten another inning out of Huff.
- JGYank
  
  Huff has pitched often recently.
  - TheRealGreg
    
    Pitched on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fair argument.
nycsportzfan

Hopefully BROB can hand this one off to DROB for a 4th of July W. Nothing as american as Yankees Winning.
JGYank

Adding on to my point earlier, could use Thornton to go after Fuld, then brought in Warren. Or bring in Thornton against Parmelee.
- JGYank
  
  But nope. Burn out Dellin.
  - TheRealGreg
    
    Dan Otero from Oakland leads the majors in IP for a reliever with 52.1
    - JGYank
      
      So what? You’re just pointing to another overused reliever. Why have Thornton if he’s not going to be used? He hasn’t pitched in 3 days.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Jim Miller hasn’t pitched at all.
        
        There are reasons for that. And Thornton.
        
        JGYank
        
        But Thornton can be effective as a LOOGY.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Sure, but he’s really no better than Warren and worse than Betances against LH’s, and you don’t have to worry about PH’s with those guys.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Problem is in most cases, they can only use Thornton for one batter at a time, and even then, it’s not really worth it because their good righties are just as good or better than Thornton at getting lefties out.
    Saving somebody one batter in an outing really isn’t going to make a substantial difference.
    Really what they need is another reliable non-OOGY (or 2) so that Warren and Betances don’t have to pitch, or pitch multiple innings in, every close game.
    - TheRealGreg
      
      That’s what Kelley was supposed to do.
      - vicki
        
        and what he did, before injury.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Yes.
        They need him to figure it out, or find somebody else.
        
        And more innings from the starters would be a big help as well.
    - JGYank
      
      Yes but they don’t have that. Kelley could be that but isn’t pitching well. If Joe had been using Thornton for even just one or 2 LHB all season to ease off of Warren/Dellin, they would both have several less innings and may be more effective. Thornton has barely been used at all this year and has effective numbers against LHB. They can use him for at least a couple of batters. Most fans just don’t want to see him out there because Warren and Dellin have been so good.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Taking one batter (and a few pitches)out of an appearance isn’t going to have much or any impact.
        No reason to go with a lesser reliever when there is likely to be little or no payoff.
        If he could give Warren or Betances an entire day or inning off that would be different, but that’s really not the case.
        
        JGYank
        
        It’s a worse reliever, but with a platoon advantage that closes the gap somewhat if not completely. He probably could give them entire innings off but would probably have to face a righty, which wouldn’t ideal. There’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching even for just one batter.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        “It’s a worse reliever, but with a platoon advantage that closes the gap somewhat if not completely”
        
        Unless they PH.
        There is no advantage to using Thornton, so why risk it just to save 3-4 pitches?
        
        JGYank
        
        Good point, although PH won’t happen too often. I looked up the numbers and Warren has a reverse split for some reason and I’m sure Betances is more effective than pretty much anyone, so I guess it is moot. Still Warren and Betances need more rest. Kelley needs to step up at the very least.
  - Dave G
    
    The alternative is sacrifice the game and bring in Thorton.
    
    He is not going to pitch in big spots.
    - JGYank
      
      Not even that big of a spot and like I said earlier Thornton has been great against LHB this year. Hasn’t given up a XBH against them this year.
WhittakerWalt

Even Betances is hardly a sure thing these days. He’s been very, very shaky of late.
- TheRealGreg
  
  Only problem with Betances lately is that his walks have started to increase
  - Dave G
    
    A real test of his durability.
nycsportzfan

Don’t seem those ex AB’s are doing much for KJ now a days. Pretty Solarte esque if you ask me.

Oh well, he’ll get into a power groove for a bit at sometime. Just dead wood lately though.
Farewell Mo

Why is Thornton on the team if you can’t use him to get out a lefty in the bottom of the 7th?
- Tom
  
  Because baseball rules – you must have a LOOGY in the pen.
  
  Just be glad the Yankees have seemed to move on from the 2 LOOGY approach – for a few years they seemed to be determined to have 2 lefty specialists in the pen (though Logan could do a bit more than get lefties out)
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Why is Jim Miller on the team?
  Or Chase Whitley?
  Or Vidal Nuno?
  
  Lack of better options.
- JGYank
  
  LHBs don’t have an XBH against him, are hitting less than .230, and he hasn’t pitched in 3 days. Meanwhile Dellin and Warren are overused. I don’t get it.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Take away one batter and Warren and Dellin are still overused, but you’ve now risked using a lesser reliever.
    - JGYank
      
      I replied above.
- Dave G
  
  Because Girardi knows that Dean Anna has better stuff than Thorton. The only reason Thorton is still here is that he is left handed and he is a Cashman off-season FA signing getting decent money.
  
  I think he is gone soon.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Not a chance.
    - Dave G
      
      He wastes a roster spot. They can’t continue doing that.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        He’s signed for 2 years, and he hasn’t been the worst reliever in the bullpen.
        
        He isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
        
        Dave G
        
        You may be right. Another bad move by Cashman.
WhittakerWalt

Yeah, as I was saying about Betances…
nycsportzfan

Jeez those guys got alittle close for comfort there. Ichiro makes the grab though. 1down. 2 more Big D!!
WhittakerWalt

Fucking shifts.
nycsportzfan

Man, this has had a tight rope feel to it many times today and never more then right now. Just has had a bad feel after taking big lead and giving much of it back so quickly. Please hope i’m wrong. Come on Big D!
FIPster Doofus

Jesus. What a play.
Farewell Mo

Zealous is a chubby little guy, isn’t he?

Has a little Kirby Puckett thing going on.
Tom

Nice play by Roberts.

Without the addiction to shifts, this might have been a relatively stress free (and scoreless) inning.
- Tom
  
  And an even better one by Tex!
nycsportzfan

One DROB scoreless inn away.
Rolling Doughnut

TEX!
JGYank

Cervelli’s made the most of his start today.
miron

Halfway through the season and Betances already looks like he’s been Scott Proctor’d.
- Dave G
  
  Warren is pitching too much as well, but consider the alternatives.
- Tom
  
  3GB’s, a weak popup and a HBP (though one grounder was hit pretty hard)
  
  It only looked like a high wire act because of the shift.
- TheRealGreg
  
  Proctor threw 102.1 innings in 83 games in 2006 as a reliever.
  Betances has thrown 50.1 in 37 games here.
  
  He’s on his way
  - Farewell Mo
    
    Unfortunately Girardi has to play the shitty hand dealt to him by Cashman.
Tom

Gardenhire is using his closer down a run? Is that allowed?
- Farewell Mo
  
  Tony LaRussa is somewhere clutching his chest.
TheRealGreg

WHEELER
nycsportzfan

Wheeler!!!!lol
Tom

My oh my…

Tremendous
- Tom
  
  Won’t count, but tremendous.
  - vicki
    
    all is not lost. scored a few fan fave points there.
yankeepankee

Hi all.
See that Nats are shopping Ross Detwiler.
He’d be our No. 2 starter.
Go get’m Cashy!
New league, lefty, funky. And still low 90’s mph. Seen him at 94.
Buried in Nats pen and complaining he wants to start.
He’d help us.
Regards.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  No. 2 starter? What? He hasn’t been good this year at all and would need to be stretched out anyway.
nycsportzfan

Its gonna be reversed? They should have a door then they have to close so its a border all the way across. That should be a judgement call, and I think a out.
FIPster Doofus

Wheeler’s pretty lovable.
Yankeefan91

that’s kinda a dumb rule, when you catch a ball over the wall its still a out andn your feet are still in the air or hanging on the wall.
TheRealGreg

That’s a bullshit rule IMO. If you catch it, you catch it. Doesn’t matter where you catch it
- Tom
  
  So teams should be allowed to put some in the OF stands too?
  - Tom
    
    **someone
  - TheRealGreg
    
    And leave two in the outfield? That’s dumb
    - Pasta Stumbling Sojo
      
      If you don’t like that example, should you be allowed to climb into the stands and run up the stairs on a pop foul?
      - FIPster Doofus
        
        That sounds kind of awesome; so, yes.
      - TheRealGreg
        
        Yes, if possible
        
        Pasta Stumbling Sojo
        
        Well, we disagree about what “dumb” is, but I think it would be dumb to have infielders running into the stands and catching the ball among the fans on every pop foul.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        It’d be very interesting to see Pedroia try to do that in YS.
        
        Of course, that would be in the Legends seats, so the people there might just politely get out of his way.
        
        Tom
        
        Two problems with that scenario
        
        1) Pedroia would need a step stool and/or ladder to get over the wall.
        2) There are people in the Legends seats?
        
        TheRealGreg
        
        No one will end up doing it because of that risk and effort needed, but it should be open to them.
      - Tom
        
        I have to admit even though I agree with the rule, I would like to see this.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      Depends who’s pitching.
vicki

whew. this thing was stamped for a nuni walk-off, and you all knew it.
Need Pitching & Hitting

All of these DRob K’s are getting boring.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  Almost as boring as TOO MANY HOMAHS.
Wolfgang’s Fault

Wheeler’s teammates rather unzelous response to protecting their teammate. Not one of them there in time to keep the Zelous one on the field and safe. Wheeler could have seriously hurt himself there once those cleats hit the dugout steps/floor. You gotta get off your butt, stop watching, and react to help your teammate there.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Seriously.
  Some teammates.
Tom

Cowboy Joe! Might have been a bit generous… but it was down the middle in the box score.
Wolfgang’s Fault

What a great game this has been. Gotta get this 3rd out though.
Yankeefan91

good gamee yankees win
nycsportzfan

Winning Streak!!!!lol

Seriously monster win and huge game for BROB and Cerv!
WhittakerWalt

Damn, DRob strikes out the side every game!
- vicki
  
  for reals. as vulgar as his k/9 and k%; watching the games, it’s almost surprising they’re that low.
chris

Another win with jeter on the pine.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  I really hope you’re kidding.
  - chris
    
    I am not.
    - WhittakerWalt
      
      So you’re taking this opportunity on July 4th to bash the greatest Yankee of our lifetime? That sounds really fun. Great fan.
      - toad
        
        I’m older than you, and have several candidates for greatest Yankee of my lifetime who rank ahead of Jeter.
        
        Two of them played CF, for starters, and one caught.
nycsportzfan

Lets go A’s!

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