D-CAF!!!
Game 102: Shi-Town
(I keed, I keed, Chicago’s a great city)
Coming off arguably their biggest series win of the season, the Yankees head into Chicago’s south side for a four game set against the 51-51 White Sox. Just to give you an idea of how different the AL East and AL Central are, the ChiSox would be sitting in fourth place in the East, eleven games back in the loss column for first. Instead, they’re just three back of the Tigers and very much in the thick of the race.
I’m sure Nick Swisher and Ozzie Guillen will have a blast catching up during batting practice and stuff. We all know they had a harmonious relationship during Nick’s time with the White Sox, two peas in a pod almost.
…
Okay seriously, Ozzie effing hated Swish. I know some Yankee fans do as well because the guy botches the occasional defensive play, but Ozzie’s dislike for the guy allowed the Yanks to acquire an incredibly productive outfielder (120 OPS+) for basically nothing. So thanks, Oz. Keep smartballin’ teams to death, or whatever the hell they’re calling it these days. You’re only three games back after all.
The Red Sox already won this afternoon, so the division lead currently sits at three games. Let’s pick up that extra half-game tonight. Here’s the lineup that’ll oppose Gavin Floyd:
Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, 3B
Matsui, DH
Swisher, RF
Cano, 2B
Melky, CF
Molina, C
And on the mound, good ol’ Andy Pettitte.
Matt Garza opens mouth, asks for suspension
After Joba Chamberlain threw over the head of Evan Longoria last night, Rays starter Matt Garza retaliated in the fifth by grazing plunking Mark Teixeira in the shoulder. I actually didn’t think it was payback at all; Dioner Navarro had set up inside, Tampa was already down 2-0, and Garza would have been putting two men on for Alex frickin’ Rodriguez. But alas, I was wrong. “I just kind of got tired of people brushing [Longoria] back,’’ Garza said. “I hate to be that guy, but someone had to take a stand and say, “You know, we’re tired of it.” You can go after our best guy, well, we’ll make some noise too, and that’s what happened.’’
Considering Josh Beckett and AJ Burnett received six game suspensions for not hitting batters this season, is it crazy to think Garza might get an 11-game suspension (forcing him to miss two starts) considering he hit a guy and admitted to doing it on purpose? Bobby Jenks got just a $750 fine for admitting he threw behind Ian Kinsler earlier this year, so maybe Garza just ends up missing one start and a couple grand. Who knows, but I think Bob Watson has proven something like this will not go unpunished.
Manny, Papi tested positive for PEDs in 2003
Wow. Legacy, meet taint. Taint, legacy.
Update (12:37pm): Here’s the original NY Times article.
Phelps continues to roll as Tampa wins big
Triple-A Scranton was washed out. They’re going to play a doubleheader tomorrow, but Chad Jennings says the Indians had scouts and their national crosschecker at the game. My guess is they were there to watch Durham, since the Rays are rumored to be in on Victor Martinez. Either that or the Yanks are planning to bring back Carl Pava … no, couldn’t go there.
Double-A Trenton‘s doubleheader was rained out. They’re going to play two tomorrow to make one of these games up, and the other will be made up as part of a doubleheader next weekend.
High-A Tampa (7-0 win over Charlotte)
Dan Brewer & Jose Gil: both 2 for 4, 1 K – Brewer drew a walk, stole a base & K’ed … Gil plated a run
Matt Cusick & Seth Fortenberry: both 2 for 5, 1 R – Cusick swiped a bag … Fortenberry tripled & K’ed
David Adams: 0 for 2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K
Damon Sublett & Luis Nunez: both 3 for 4, 1 RBI – Sublett walked, stole a base, tripled & scored a run … Nunez scored a pair of runs
Brandon Laird: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K
David Phelps: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 10-2 GB/FB – another tremendous start
Noel Castillo: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1-2 GB/FB
Pat Venditte: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 0-1 GB/FB
Game 101 Spillover Thread II
They’re not saying BRUUUUUUU, they’re saying BOOOOOOO!!!
Game 101 Spillover Thread
Dang it. Need to tack on some runs, fellas.