Game 17: The New Schilling
By · CommentsIn the recent past, there was no Red Sox pitcher more fun to rough up than Curt Schilling. Every time that loud mouth took the hill, all I’d think was, “Please, A-Rod, take him deep.” (This in light of Schilling’s comments three and a half years ago.)
But with Schilling on the DL for at least half — and possibly all of — the season, we need a new whipping boy. Enter Josh Beckett. If we’re going to pick on a Red Sox pitcher, it might as well be their best one. We did get to him for 13 runs in 26.2 innings last year, and 21 runs in 20 innings in 2006. He wasn’t exactly at his best last time out, either, giving up 3 runs in 6.2 IP just five days ago.
One can only pray that Moose pitches like he did on Saturday. The last thing we need right now is another long performance from the bullpen. You figure Albaladejo, Traber, and Farnsworth could each go an inning (maybe two for Alb), plus Mo — though I wonder what kind of shape his arm is in after appearing in two straight games and warming up for a third. I guess we’ll see in the later innings.
No Matsui today. Looks like Girardi has set his rotation and is sticking with it. Matsui doesn’t have great career numbers against Beckett, though I doubt that was a consideration in this decision.
Your lineup:
1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jason Giambi, 1B
6. Jorge Posada, DH
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Chad Moeller, C
And on the mound, number thirty-five, Mike Mussina.
And those damn Red Sox:
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Ortiz
ManRam
Youkilis
Drew
Varitek
Casey
Lugo
ByAt the risk of inciting a numbers-based riot, I direct your attention to Tyler Kepner’s latest notebook in The Times with a quote from Number 21 himself:
“I’ve always been blown away by the way the fans have treated me there,” O’Neill said in a telephone interview. “I have absolutely nothing against LaTroy Hawkins, but it’s unbelievable what the fans have done. It makes you feel good as a player, obviously, because that tells you they appreciate what we did as a team.”
To me, it sounds like Paul would love to see his number retired. That is a rather pregnant “but” after the LaTroy Hawkins mention. Either way, perhaps we should put this story to rest for now. · (17) ·
How much is that baseball team in the window?
By · CommentsVia Maury Brown, we learn that Forbes this week released their annual Business of Baseball report. Why is this relevant to us Yankee fans? Well, because the team is worth $1.3 billion, tops in the league by nearly $500 million.
Forbes’ list of baseball franchises shows the Yanks atop a list of the usual suspects. At $1.306 billion, the Yanks’ valuation puts them ahead of the Mets ($824 million), Red Sox ($816 million), Dodgers ($694 million), Cubs ($642 million) and Angels ($500 million). The Marlins and Rays at $296 million and $250 million respectively hold up the list from the bottom.
While the Yankees’ worth increased by nine percent over 2007, no Major League team saw their value decline. The Orioles and Blue Jays saw one and two percent grown respectively, but it is safe to say that baseball as a business is booming.
On the revenue front, the Yanks have a clear advantage over their competitors. Astheir franchise breakdown shows, the team draws in $171 million worth of gate receipts alone. Factoring in unparalleled attendance numbers, brand management and concession sales, the Yanks are rolling in the dough to the tune of $327 million in 2007 revenue. The Red Sox took in $262 million. Those figures for the Yanks should only increase as the Yanks move across the street to their high-falutin’ new digs next season.
Interestingly, the Yanks — along with the Red Sox and Blue Jays — operated at a net loss. The AP tells us why:
The Yankees were listed by Forbes as having $327 million in revenue last year and a $47.3 million operating loss, up from a $25.2 million loss on revenue of $302 million the previous year. Forbes’ revenue figure is after deducting revenue sharing payments, which the Yankees estimate at about $92 million. The team also paid approximately $24 million in luxury tax, which is reflected in the operating loss.
Now, as far as I understand it, these valuations do not include YES Network estimates and revenues, all of which feed the Yankee Empire. From what we’ve heard over the last few months, the YES Network could in fact be worth more than the Yankees. Considering that George Steinbrenner and his group of investors bought the team from CBS in 1973 for a measly $10 million — approximately $48 million in 2008 — that is a pretty stellar investment all around.
ByAs of yesterday evening shortly before game-time, Yanks’ manager Joe Girardi said that Jorge Posada is not quite ready to resume his catching duties. Posada, filling in as the DH recently, made a series of 40 throws from around 150 feet, Ed Price reported, but his shoulder is still not up to par. The Yankees can afford to take their time with Posada. A healthy shoulder later on is much more important, and we can deal with Chad Moeller for a few more days. · (15) ·
ByYankees bury Bernie Williams under new stadium for good luck: “By giving Bernie this chance, we have once again proven why we are the classiest organization in all of sports,” Yankees President Randy Leving said to The Onion. “Lesser teams would have overreacted to this whole curse thing and buried Derek Jeter.” · (4) ·
The Pope has arrived (no not that one)
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (4-2 win over Charlotte)
Brett Gardner: 0 for 3, 2 R
Bernie Castro: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E (throwing)
Juan Miranda: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI – reached base safely in his last 9 games
Jason Lane, Eric Duncan & Nick Green: all 0 for 4 – Lane K’ed twice … Duncan & Green each K’ed once
Justin Christian: for 3, 1 2B, 1 CS – 5 of his last 7 hits have been doubles
Darrell Rasner: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 7-2 GB/FB – 65 of 103 pitches were strikes (63.1%)
Heath Phillips: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Scott Patterson: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K
Jose Veras: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HB – 8 K in his last 4 IP
Who’s booing now?
By · CommentsPosted by mobile phone:
Live from the Stadium, I’m just wondering who’s booing Latroy now. Not only does he have a new number but he escaped the sixth without giving up any runs. Hallelujah.
Game 16: Missing: One MacBook Air
By · CommentsIt’s the joke that keeps giving. I’ve talked to a few bleacher creatures attending tonight’s game — our own Ben K. included — and it appears we could have a “Where’s my lap-top? Clap, clap, clap clap clap” chant going on at some point.
Buchholz pitched well last time out, giving up a run over six innings of work. Of course, he ran up his pitch count a bit, hitting 98 by the end of the sixth, forcing Terry Francona to go the bullpen. He chose Mike Timlin, freshly off the DL, and paid the price.
On the other mound is Chien-Ming Wang, who was just slightly better than Buchh on Friday night. Okay, a lot better. To the point where if it wasn’t for a botched Abreu play, we’d have been screaming at Coco Crisp for his 9th inning bunt single (noting, as Michael Kay would, the fallacy of the predetermined outcome). He kept the Sox on their toes last time around. Let’s see what he’s got up his sleeve tonight.
Johnny Damon gets the night off, so Melky Cabrera moves into the leadoff spot. You’d expect me to complain about this, but I’ve been more than pleased with what I’ve seen of Melky thus far. No, I still don’t like his swing all that much, but he’s looked a bit more comfortable at the plate, and has taken his share of pitches — a hair over four per plate appearance. He’s also walked four times to just five strikeouts.
Your lineup:
1. Melky Cabrera, CF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, LF
6. Jorge Posada, DH
7. Jason Giambi, 1B
8. Robinson Cano, 2B
9. Chad Moeller, C
And on the mound, number forty, Chien-Ming Wang
And for your visiting Boston Red Sox:
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Pedroia, 2B
3. Ortiz, DH
4. Ramirez, LF
5. Youkilis, 3B
6. Drew, RF
7. Varitek, C
8. Casey, 1B
9. Lugo, SS
And the damn laptop stealer is pitching.
ByEmma Span writes her Opening Day swan song to the New York stadiums in the New York Press today. While the media has been pouring on the nostalgia this month, Span’s piece brings a fan perspective to the teary-eyed good byes to Yankee and Shea Stadium. · (0) ·
