Okay Jesus, this is getting ridiculous
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (16-6 beatdown of Durham) how’s 11 XBH as a team sound?
Brett Gardner: 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB – he’s slugging .833 … no joke
Justin Christian: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB – 10 RBI in 9 games
Juan Miranda: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 HBP
Shelley: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB – 4 doubles, 3 homers and 21 total bases in 3 games since being sent down
Jason Lane: 1 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Cody Ransom: 3 for 6, 3 R, 1 2B
Nick Green: 4 for 6, 4 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI – Nick Green, Nick frickin’ Green is 9 for his last 17 with 2 doubles, 2 homers and 5 RBI
Chris Stewart: 4 for 6, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Jeff Marquez: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 E (throwing), 11-2 GB/FB – sinker’s workin’
Scott Patterson: 0.2 IP, zeroes, 0-2 GB/FB
Ben Kozlowski Heath Phillips: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K – the “he’s going to be used as a lefty specialist only” plan went out the window two weeks into the season
Scott Strickland: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-3 GB/FB
Game 12: Hoping for a Bull Moose
By · CommentsFor some reason, this game sticks out in my mind from last year. We were kind of rolling, leading 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth. And then Moose blew it, giving up back-to-back shots to Lowell and Varitek. I also probably remember it because we bombed Schilling that day — or, rather, Jorge bombed Schilling. Of course, Proctor went and blew it some more, and we went on to lose a winnable game.
That was Mussina’s last start at Fenway. We’ll need a much better job out of him today. Hopefully he can keep the Sox hitters as off-balance as he did the Rays hitters last time out. With Wang giving the bullpen a full night off, Moose just has to give us six solid…considering the offense can muster a few runs off Beckett.
Here’s the lineup. Looks pretty standard considering the injuries.
1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Melky Cabrera, CF
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jason Giambi, 1B
6. Jorge Posada, DH
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Jose Molina, C
9. Alberto Gonzalez,SS
And on the mound, number thirty-five, Mike Mussina.
ByThe New York Times takes a look today at how Yankee Stadium will be arranged for the Pope’s visit and Mass next week. Considering how few non-baseball events take place at the Stadium these days, it makes for a great read. The Pope will be standing on a platform above Robinson Cano’s customary spot, and this graphic on how the clergy will give Communion to 57,000
fanspeople in 14 minutes is a good one. Watch out for the steep upper deck, they say. · (1) ·
ByIn their continuing series of interviews with Yankee bloggers, the folks at YanksBlog.com sat down with Tyler Kepner, one of our favorite beat writers. Kepner talks about his long-time fandom, the limitations of blogging under The Times’ editorial structure and that ever-controversial 8th inning bullpen spot. · (5) ·
Praise Jesus!
By · CommentsGreat, great game by Cy Wang tonight. He’s off to a helluva start.
JB Cox is scheduled to make his season debut tomorrow for High-A Tampa, FYI.
Triple-A Scranton (7-3 win over Durham) old pal Andy Cannizaro batted third for the Bulls
Brett Gardner: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K – 3 of his 7 hits have gone for extra bases
Justin Christian: 3 for 5, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 1 E (throwing)
Juan Miranda: 1 for 3, 1 BB
Shelley: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – two games in AAA, two bombs
Cody Ransom: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Nick Green: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI – 4 doubles and a homer in 7 games
Darrell Rasner: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 9-3 GB/FB – 55 of 84 pitches were strikes (65.6%)
Edwar: 2 IP, zeroes, 3 K – 3 baserunners, 11 K in 6 IP
Jose Veras: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Game 11: Have you seen my laptop?
By · CommentsLock your laptops, folks. Clay Buchholz, he of the stolen laptops (and, yes, a Major League no-hitter), is making his first start against the Yankees tonight. Buchholz had a bad Spring Training and lost his first start of the season.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are countering with their ace. Chien-Ming Wang has looked exceptional this year so far. In two starts covering 13 innings, Wang is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA. He’s given up 10 hits while walking four and, encouragingly, striking out eight. He’s keeping the ball low and keeping runners off base.
Tonight, though, will be a challenge for Wang. He’s facing a Red Sox team that has, by and large, hit him well over the last few seasons. David Ortiz, currently mired in a 3 for 36 drought to start the season, is 15 for 30 against Wang; Manny Ramirez is 13 for 22; and Kevin Youkilis is 7 for 21. As a team, the Sox hit Wang at a .300/.394/.442 clip and six of the 30 career HRs allowed by the sinkerball specialist have come off the bats of the Red Sox.
The Yankees go with something of a different lineup tonight. Johnny Damon is getting the night off, and the hot-hitting Melky Cabrera will lead off. The game, weather permitting, starts at 7:05 p.m., and we get to experience the drama of a Yankees-Red Sox three-game set all over again.
Yankees
Melky Cabrera CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Bob Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada DH
Jason Giambi 1B
Jose Molina C
The Former Attorney General SS
Chien-Ming Wang P
Red Sox
Coco Crisp CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez LF
Kevin Youkilis 3B
J.D. Drew RF – Currently, the AL’s leading hitter (11 for 25, .440 BA)
Jason Varitek C
Sean Casey 1B
Julio Lugo SS
Clay Buchholz P
ByWell, at least it’s only a “slight” tear. Anyone out there have any idea how long this takes to heal? I couldn’t find anything on google. My guess is Chase Wright, not Danny McCutchen, gets called up to fill his roster spot. · (17) ·
MLB, players agree on Joint Drug Agreement
By · CommentsThe MLB and MLBPA have come to terms on new drug policies pursuant to the findings in the Mitchell Report. For starters, all fines imposed through this plan will be donated to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, as well as the Taylor Hooton Foundation. The players will also make a $200,000 donation “to an anti-drug charitable or research organization.” Yes, yes, but what about the new regulations?
1. Increased Independence – the Independent Program Administrator (“IPA”) is appointed for a multiyear term and can be removed only in very narrow circumstances.
2. Increased Transparency – the IPA [ed. note: not to be confused with delicious India Pale Ale] will annually and publicly report key statistics related to the program and record retention requirements will be lengthened.
3. Testing – 600 additional tests will be conducted each year and the number of off-season tests will double on average.
4. Flexibility – the agreement institutionalizes an annual review process to allow the parties to respond to new developments.
5. Education – the IPA, in consultation with the parties, will develop an annual mandatory education program for players.
6. Amateur Draft – Baseball’s testing program will be expanded to cover top prospects.
So are these changes going to revolutionize how MLB polices drug activity?
At least Selig was speaking some sense:
“It is time for the game to move forward. There is little to be gained at this point in debating dated misconduct and enduring numerous disciplinary proceedings. Educating children and their parents about the dangers of performance-enhancing substances is a much more productive endeavor.”
I can’t disagree with any part of that.
