Game 149: Closing in on the Iron Horse
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Thanks to his 6 for 7 effort in yesterday’s day-nighter, Yankees’ captain Derek Jeter sits a mere three hits behind Lou Gehrig for the most hits in Yankee Stadium history. Considering he’s hit .364-.440-.591 against Edwin Jackson in his career, it’s not out of the question that Jeter could tie, and perhaps even pass Gehrig’s record this afternoon.
In a season where there’s not much left to cheer for, Derek’s pursuit of history comes right when the fans need something to root for. Every time he steps to the plate from here on out will be soundtracked by a thunderous DER-EK JE-TER clap clap clapclapclap chant, and if you’ve ever been in the Stadium for one of those, you know how cool it is. Go get’em Cap’n.
1. Damon, LF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Giambi, 1B
4. A-Rod, DH
5. Nady, RF
6. Cano, 2B
7. Pudge, C
8. Ransom, 3B
9. Gardner, CF – yay
And on the mound for the 5th straight start for the first time since 2005, Carl Pavano.
Notes: Phil Hughes has officially been named the starter for Wednesday’s game against the ChiSox says PeteAbe, happy days … Joe Girardi wants Brian Cashman to return … Yanks win today and they’ll be just 10 GB of the Rays for the division lead with 12 games to go … Double-A Trenton is one win away from it’s second consecutive Eastern League Championship, but more on that later
ByJake Mooney, author of The Times’ City Section Dispatches column, ventured up to the Bronx this week. While there, he explored how fans are saying their fond farewells to Yankee Stadium. It’s still hard to believe that, in seven days, the Yanks will be playing the last baseball ever at the House that Ruth Built. · (0) ·
Ajax carries Trenton to a Game 3 win
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Double-A Trenton (4-1 win over Akron) Trenton leads the best-of-five series 2-1 … Jeff Marquez gets the ball in Game 4 tomorrow
Reegie Corona & Edwar Gonzalez: both 1 for 3 – Corona doubled in a run … Edwar drew a walk, swiped a bag, drove in a run & K’ed
Ramiro Pena: 0 for 3
Austin Jackson: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS – robbed not one, but two homers at the wall … Mike Ashmore says it’s the best he’s ever seen Ajax
Chris Malec, Frankie Cervelli & Kevin Russo: all 1 for 4 – Cervelli doubled, scored a run & K’ed twice … Russo drove in a run & K’ed
Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 1 SB
PJ Pilittere: 1 for 2, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB – hitting .350 in the postseason
George Kontos: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3-8 GB/FB – nice job on 13 days rest
Anthony Claggett: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-5 GB/FB
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-0 – he’s been studly in the playoffs
Jhonny Nunez: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 0-2 GB/FB – ditto Dunn’s comment
Game 148: How ’bout a win? Pretty please?
By · CommentsThe Yanks already managed to lose today,so it would be nice to not have to go through that again tonight. Something about getting swept in a doubleheader just makes me feel dirty, and not in a good way.
1. Gardner, CF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, DH
5. Nady, LF
6. Cano, 2B
7. Betemit, 1B
8. Pudge, C
9. Ransom, 3B
And on the mound (hopefully for the last time) Sir Sidney Ponson.
Update (7:01pm): The game is on MY9, not YES.
Pondering Moose in between games
By · CommentsWe’ll wrap up both games of the double header later tonight. Needless to say, the Yanks didn’t look too impressive this afternoon as they lost meekly to the Rays 7-1. With that win, Tampa extends their AL East lead to three games over the Red Sox, and the Rays are going to exceed expectations I set for them when I compiled their BP Depth Chart in late March. The Yanks, on the other hand, are utterly underperforming this year.
As we await the start of the second game in less than three hours, let’s ponder Mike Mussina for a minute. Despite his gaudy numbers this year — 17-9, 3.63 ERA — Mussina has been far from impressive lately. In five innings today, Mussina gave up five earned runs on eight hits, two walks and seven strike outs. He couldn’t really get anything past the Rays’ hitters, and this start continues a recent trend.
Since August 12, Moose has now made seven starts, and in those seven starts, he’s 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA. In 43 innings, he’s allowed 53 hits and seven walks while striking out 41. The K totals are great; nothing else is blowing me away.
As the Yankees head into the off-season, the status of Mike Mussina will be one of the team’s biggest internal question marks. He’s been something of a baseball godsend this year, but he’s showing some signs of wearing out down the stretch. Moose will be 40 come Opening Day 2009, and while six weeks ago, I would have advocated bringing him back with no hesitation, now, I’m not so sure about that anymore.
If the Yanks can find reasonable replacements for him, might they be better off cutting ties? I’m glad I’m not the one making that decision.
Game 147: A must-win for Moose
By · CommentsThe Quest for Twenty continues this afternoon as Mike Mussina takes the mound in search of his 18th victory of the season. For Moose, in his career-long quest for a 20-win season, today is something of a must-win. He’s set to make three more starts this season, but to expect him to go 3-0 might be asking too much. If he wins today, his quest will be that much easier.
On the season, Mussina is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA against the Rays. He’s allowed 17 hits and just three walks in 18.1 innings. Hopefully, his dominance against Tampa will continue. He faces James Shields who is 0-2 against the Yanks this year but with a sub-3.00 ERA.
This afternoon starts at 1:05 p.m., and it’s on YES. Mike will have the nightcap game thread later. That one’s on My9.
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Mussina P
Yankee Notes: Phil Hughes and David Robertson have rejoined the Yanks. Hughes pitched last night and is lined up to make the start on Wednesday.
Update by Mike (1:10pm): A-Rod scratched with a stiff neck. Nady’s cleaning up, Ransom’s playing third & batting 7th. Ouch for Betemit.
ByChad Jennings has the news. After flat-out dominating during the IL playoffs, the promotion is well deserved. I think we’re all excited to see him in pinstripes again, even if he won’t be able to pitch for a few days. In similarly exciting news for fans of young stud pitchers, David Price, amongst others, was called up to Rays. There’s a good chance we’ll see him sometime this series.
Update (11:30am): David Robertson’s back too. · (10) ·
ByPhil Hughes, fresh off his IL Championship-clinching win, will make an Internet radio appearance. Eric SanInocencio, host of Baseball Digest Daily Live, will interview the Yankees’ young prospect this afternoon during the noon broadcast of his show. Point your browser over to the BDD Live homepage at 12 to catch Hughes. · (7) ·
ByFor the first time in a long time, New York City will play host to four Major League Baseball games on one calendar day. The Yanks and Mets were both rained out on Friday, and both teams plan to play doubleheaders on Saturday. The Yanks are going the split-admission. day-night route to enable fans to catch their last games at the Stadium while the Mets are playing a single-admission set starting at 3:55 p.m. The Yankee Stadium Insider Blog notes that it’s possible for dedicated baseball to catch 75 percent of the doubleheader later today. That would be one long day of baseball. · (1) ·
