Game 14: It’s not the end of the world
By · CommentsThe Yankees are 6-7 right now, a whopping 1.5 games out of first place. In 2007, they started 7-6; in 2006, they started 6-7; in 2005, they started 5-8; and in 2004, they started 6-7. The sky, in other words, is not falling.
Tonight, a dubious era in a Yankee history begins. While Derek Jeter takes over at short stop and Alberto Gonzalez spells Robinson Cano at second base, behind the plate will be none other than Chad Moeller. Moeller is 33 with a career batting line of .224/.284/.346. Luckily, Jorge made a series of throws today and seems to be on the mend. Considering that Posada was under strict orders not to throw to second yesterday, who knows how serious his injury really is?
The Yankees lineup features Moeller, Gonzalez and Morgan Ensberg. It’s like Spring Training all over again. A six-run first inning would be fitting.
On the mound today as the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays is Ian Kennedy. Kennedy is a RAB favorite; just check out his Baseball-Reference page. But this year in 5.1 innings, he’s been rocked. Hopefully, he’ll right that ship today.
Yankees
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Ensberg 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C
The Unemployed Former Attorney General 2B
Kennedy P
Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Hinske DH
Riggans C
Haynes RF
Bartlett SS
Sonnanstine P
Game Notes: We’ve just installed a new threaded and paged comment system. Hopefully, that’ll keep site performance at normal levels. Expect some more changes there over the next few days, and if there are any problems, our e-mail addresses are on the left…Thirteen games into the season, and we’ve raised a pledged $93.70 as part of our Big Three K Craniosynostosis fund drive. Please consider donating. Every amount helps.
ByUnlike the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants were good at baseball. Unlike the Dodgers, they weren’t the heart and soul of a borough struggling to carve out an identity for itself during times of change. Unlike Brooklyn Dodger fans, old New York Giants fans don’t carry fifty-year-old grudges on their sleeves. And while Ebbets Field is often represented as the ideal embodiment of sepia-tinged nostalgia, the Polo Grounds don’t evoke the same feel of history in New York sports culture. Today, Richard Sandomir catches up with a few old Giants fans who still pine for the team of their youth. It’s a fun read of an oft-neglected part of New York baseball histroy. · (5) ·
ByChad Jennings notes that career journeyman catcher Chad Moeller was called up from Triple-A Scranton today to help ease the catching burden. There is no word on any accompanying roster moves, but it’s likely that M(VP)olina will hit the 15-day to clear a spot on the 25-man roster, and either Frankie Cervelli or Humberto Sanchez could be placed on the 60-day DL to clear up a 40-man spot.
I was just thinking about this whole catching mess, and I had an idea so ridiculous, so crazy it just might work. Why not sign sign this readily available free agent to not only catch a few days a week, but to provide a little offense? Not a bad idea, no? · (36) ·
A Foxian blunder or a business decision
By · CommentsAs we all know, Fox dropped the ball on Saturday night. With the Yankees-Red Sox game rapidly nearing a conclusion, Fox bounced baseball to FX, its cable entertainment network, so that a NASCAR race could start.
The transition was far from seamless, and fans were none too thrilled with the News Corp. network. From the AP:
The teams didn’t begin playing again until 8:30 after a delay of more than two hours. Announcer Joe Buck repeated several times that the game was being simulcast on cable channel FX and Fox would have to switch to the race at 8:53.
It appeared the network might be able to show both events in their entirety, but with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano fouled off several pitches. At 8:55, Fox switched to the race in the middle of Cano’s at-bat.
The final two pitches of the 4-3 Red Sox win were shown only on FX, which is available in about three-quarters of the nation’s homes with televisions.
Bell said Fox hoped to show all of Cano’s at-bat instead of switching to the race earlier so the change would occur between hitters. “It wasn’t the smoothest transition, but our intentions were to try to finish on the network,” Bell said.
For Fox, this move was a simple business decision. NASCAR races receives ratings well above those for mid-afternoon baseball games. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that the network cut away from a one-run game with one out remaining. Fox apologized, but it rings a little false.
ByEvery time he does, I’m going to look at this stat sheet. · (34) ·
ByJoba has left the team to tend to his father, who collapsed last night and is in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joba, Harlan, and the whole Chamberlain family. · (19) ·
ByFor overflow comments only. · (81) ·
A-Jax starting to heat up
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (2-0 loss to Durham)
Brett Gardner & Juan Miranda: both 0 for 2, 2 BB – Gardner K’ed once & was caught stealing
Justin Christian, Shelley Duncan & Cody Ransom: all 0 for 4 – Christian threw a runner out at the plate from LF … Shelley K’ed once
Eric Duncan: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS
Greg Porter & Chad Moeller: 1 for 2, 1 BB – Porter doubled & K’ed
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 3-9 GB/FB – 65 of 95 pitches were strikes (68.4%)
Chris Britton: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K – way to not allow a ball to be put into play
Jon Albaladejo: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Game 13: Changing things up
By · CommentsAs the Yankees and the Red Sox prepare for a battle amid the cold and the rain tonight, both teams are going with some lineup changes. The Yankees, mercifully, have pushed Jason Giambi down in the order while David Ortiz is on the bench for the Sox tonight.
The big story, of course, as is the case every five days is Phil Hughes. The 21-year-old is the youngest Yankee pitcher to face the Red Sox since Jose Rijo in 1985, and Peter Pascarelli in previewing the game sees big things in the future for young Mr. Hughes.
The Red Sox counter with Daisuke Matsuzaka. In three starts this year, Matsuzaka has been the pitcher the Sox thought they were getting last year. He’s 2-0 in 18.1 innings with a 1.47 ERA. He’s struck out 22 and walked nine while giving up just eight hits. The Yankees in the past have hit Matsuzaka hard. So we’ll see if the Sox’s expensive import has turned a new page or simply enjoyed facing the A’s a few times.
Game time is at 8:05 p.m., and we are stuck with the ever-talented Joe Morgan.
Yankees
Johnny Damon CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada DH
Jason Giambi 1B
Jose Molina C
The Former Attorney General SS
Phil Hughes P
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
J.D. Drew RF
Manny Ramirez DH
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Sean Casey 1B
Jason Varitek C
Coco Crisp CF
Julio Lugo SS
Daisuke Matsuzaka P
Game Notes: The loser of this game will land in sole possession of last place in the AL East but just 1.5 games behind the first place teams. How’s that for a tight division after two weeks of the season?
