is this because Pavano spent his 4 years here picking his feet in Poughkeepsie?

YES! If I had a prize bro, you'd get it.

AWESOME comment.

I'm warming up my "boos" for when Pavano takes the mound.

Carl delenda est!

Dude, I'm expecting the Yanks to romp today.

Hope not to be disappernted.

quick predict: 11-5 yanks

Carl Pavano makes the term "A-Fraud" seem like just another "little white lie"...

;)

Carl Pavano has a backpfeifengesicht

[7] Yeah, 40 million times...

wow ... nice of so many patrons behind home plate to come dressed as empty seats today ...

Um, what's the trainer doing out there?

[10] Pavlovian visit left over from Wang's starts?

;)

[11] Don't you mean Pavanovian

Meanwhile, Sterling is now droning on about how great it is that the new stadium could be a bandbox, becuase "I like high scoring games and I like lots of home runs...and the fans LOVE it."

Does he have Trost and Levine feeding him talking points through a small microphone in his ear?

yes - no hrs!!

[13] haha probably. because yesterday suzyn sarcastically thought it would be hilarious if it was a bandbox.

I'm going to be wary of every fly ball to right field.

Booooooo!
Booooooo!!

Hissssss!!

Booo!

Watch Pavano pitch a no-hitter.

Watching the highlights from yesterday's 2nd inning, which I missed, it looks like they were a play or two from getting out of it. The Tribe hit some good pitches too.

[12] No... there is no such scientific jargon for Pavano other than "being full of shit"...

[18] Thanks for getting that out of the way, MP!

;)

crap - here we go

I LOVE home runs!! I LOVE high scoring games!!

jesus michael kay we didn't need the concept of advertising being explained to us.

Why the hell is Gardner leading off. Jesus.

Because he's soooo faaassssttttt.

Wow... I don't get that lineup change at all!

[27] It doesn't really matter what the order is, since apparently Pavano is going to throw a perfecto this afternoon.

Is anyone watching the game? How many empty seats are there?

"Damn we need a W here. I know! I'll bat Gardner leadoff. After all, he is pretty darn fast! Problem solved! Why didn't I think of it sooner? WS here we come!"

[28] Quite a few.

Man, Tex is good.

nice glove tex

It's real nice to have someone who can play defense at first.

[28] Even the Cleveland announcers are noticing the empty high priced seats.

I don't think there is a better metaphor for the 2008-2009 Yankees than what is happening today. Perfectly in line with the absolutely infuriating, terrible, worst offense ever theme of last season...

Yeah... like everywhere else, the worse they play, the less in attendance, only it's exponential because of the new pricing schedule...

They'll get to Pavano...

I'll be totally shocked if this keeps up.

[36] Maybe they should have signed Manny.

And what was wrong with that pitch? Even Cleveland announcers said it was a strike.

I LOVE home runs!!! I LOVE high scoring games!!!

Yup, like I said, totally 100% fitting. AJ doesn't get the call, walks a guy, gives up a HR. Meanwhile, the Yankees are being no hit by Carl F'ing Pavano and about to drop 3 of 4 to a team that lost their first 5 games...I am so sick of this "well they are a better team than this and will get it together at some point, and then look out" crap of the last 4 seasons. You know, maybe the offense simply isn't better and this IS them...

Looks like perhaps the Yankees brass might have an issue on their hands with a ballpark that seemingly insists on at least 4 HRs a game...

All I know is...

This is the best battery they've got at the moment going in today's game, by far. If this battery loses to friggen Shoppach and Pavano, well they really are in trouble...

:(

[40] seems to me the offense hasn't been the problem. it also seems to me they made the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons and that they lost in the postseason because of bad pitching.

This could be the ultimate horrible game of all time. Losing to a dominant Pavano.

And I hate watching Gardner at the plate.

Imagine the reaction when Pavano throws a no-hitter his first game back against the very team he screwed.

thank god the perfect game got broken up

Our long national nightmare is over...the no-no is no-more.

Gardner's uppercut swing is maddeningly frustrating.

[42] Um, the offense WAS the problem last year. And yes, the pitching hasn't been great yet. BUT, this team, was, until just now, being no hit by Pavano. AND the offense the last, oh, 4 seasons has started the season comatose.

AND, the offense AND the pitching in the playoffs has also been the problem since 2004.

The team overhauled the pitching in the offense, I expect it to rebound and they have depth to make up for it. The team still has many of the same problems on offense and has NO depth to make up for it.

[46] Thanks to your "timely" and "insightful" kybosh, MP!

Well done!

;)

Lets see, that makes us now, what, 3-100 or so with runners in scoring position thus far

[48] i think the fact that you cite one hitless run through the order as evidence shows how much you're overreacting.

[50] make that 4 for 101.

[51] Um, its Carl Pavano. CARL PAVANO!!! There is no possible way to overreact to that fact.

Of course the team is better than this, but are you really content to go through another few months of .500 baseball where we are told "its early" and "they'll put it all together soon?" If so, fine, great for you, you are a patient person. Not me. This team is paid far too much to pull that crap.

[52] There has been a trend of the Yankees scoring right after I make a comment like that :)

Waldman with typically brilliant analysis: "this is what we have seen from Teixeira since spring. When there is a runner on third with less than two outs, he gets the ball in the air and scores the runner. So he sacrifices himself. But with two outs he puts the ball someplace so can get the runner in from second."

So, we are to understand that Teixeira can control where and when he gets base hits. And that he intentionally does not get base hits with less than two outs and a runner on third. And this is a good thing?

More seriously, why am I even listening to those two idiots?

[54] At this pernt, I'd "stand on my head and whistle 'Dixie,'" if it would help, Zack! I'm already not allowed to watch the offense. I only have permission from the baseball gods to watch our pitching...

;)

[53] i'm not content to go through a few months of playing so-so, but i can handle 2 weeks. and i don't care how much they're paid, i just want them to win the world series. i would have liked them to get off to a better start, but i'll give it a few more weeks before i start panicking.

Remember, if they'd won 2 out of Wang's 3 meltdown*errrrr*starts this team would be 8 - 4 right now. The offense has been good up till they arrived at the launching pad. Ironically enough.

bottom of the 5th, still down 3-1 ... urge.to.kill.rising.

sweet teeny tiny jesus, *that* was a pathetic inning.

two pop-ups and a weak grounder, lovely.

Tough to take this game. After the fifth I feel pretty hopeless, especially knowing Molina and Gardner lurk around the corner. Might as well write off the sixth too.

God, this might be the worst game. Ever. There is really no excuse to make Carl Pavano look like Cy Pavano.

Well my running out and getting more scotch did bring in one run.

Oh jeez, now the Cleveland announcers are blaming Torre's book in part on the booing of Pavano.

christ joey joe joe, WTF is Molina doing hitting here?

where is Cleetus?!?!?

and now, where's the pinch runner, dammit?!?!?

Immediately behind home plate, in the second row of Barcalounger seats, there are three small children. Will somebody please, please, please (throw blue cape), please, please, please (throw red cape), tell me that Mommy and Daddy didn't really blow $7,500 so that these youngsters who never ever heard of Yogi Berra could see this game good and close up.

Nice hit, kid.

Two hits to lead off the inning? What a concept!

Just. Freaking. Terrible.

Ah, the patented Jeter GIDP.

ugh.

just ugh.

I'm ready for some crushitude myself (towards the Indians, of course).

Like I said, just like last season.

[67] Followed by the predictable double play. And right after I mumbled to myself "why would you bunt down by two?"

Now the good news is that Teixeira is now up with two outs, which, according to Waldman, is when he decides to place the ball such as to get a base hit.

Ouch.

C'mon, Tex.

Carl delenda est!

Please don't try and juice one, Tex. But if you do happen to juice one that's okay too.

man, that 2-1 pitch was FAT.

[65] Probably season ticket holders, who decided to buy enough for the whole family. The kids will appreciate it when they're older.

[76] I was thinking the same thing.

okay pavano stays in - time to pounce

Wow would someone hit one of those hanging breaking balls? Jesus

damnit all to hell

Cy Pavano and the WOE

Nick Swisher's star is fading. That play in RF yesterday, then being Pavano's bitch today ... Not good.

Crap!

The worst

Pavano the stud. :-P

that inning just drained my will to live.

ugh.

If they can't plate a run there, they are truly fucked. I think this team is intimidated by their own stadium. And why not? It's a game and they treat the place like it's a shrine to Jesus, Moses and Mohammed and every US soldier rolled into one.

It's weird how much I dislike about the Yankees. Kay, Waldman, Sterling (though at least he's unintentionally funny sometimes) this fucking stadium, Joe Girardi, the ridiculous levels of pomp and circumstance. The list goes on. What is happening to me?

[88] Nice, how true, sadly...

Seriously, that inning was just so so indescribably awful. The two lead-off hits, no pinch runner (didn't matter of course), the classic Jeter GIDP, then load the bases again and leave 'em all stranded...All against Cy Pavano...

[89] i suggest drinking heavily.

I'm out of here. Let me know how it turns out. The damage is done as far as I'm concerned, because the Yankees were dominated by Carl fucking Pavano for six innings

[91] i did that last night, hence me being late to this game thread. this game is brutally awful. i loathe pavano...

But don't worry guys, cause the Sox are sucking too. Er, wait, no they aren't they've managed to turn it around and are about to be tied with us...

Looks like Girardi's ignoring pitch counts again.... Interesting strategy.

Yankees are trying every possible way to suck.

[95] I honestly don't really know if Girardi has strategies anymore. Sometime hes seems to just do things for the sake of doing them, and other times he seems to just ignore things simply to ignore them...

6 freaking walks. wild pitches. fucking awesome. love it...

If I was paying all that money to be at that new stadium, I would be booing the living hell outta this garbage they are offering up. Just terrible.

I guess Girardi is just trying to get the entire pitching staff on the DL at the same time. Is there really any reason for AJ to still be pitching?

mike cameron off to a good start this season...

how is that NOT a strike?!?!?! wow.

get him outta there.

Yeah, thanks Joe, a bit late there I think

Again according to the Cleveland announcers, that pitch was a strike & a strikeout. Jeebus, playing the Indians is bad enough, having to play the umps too is absurd.

looked pretty high to me

100 pitches, for a guy who's 32 years old, is pretty meaningless. If AJ goes past 120, then I'd be concerned.

But at the same time, this is a team (even with 8 guys in the 'pen) with a ridiculously depleted pen, who's last off-day was the second day of the season, that doesn't have an off-day until Thursday (15 games in 15 days) - and follows that up with 17 games in 17 days.

I really can't blame Girardi for trying to get as much out of AJ as he can.

As ticked as I am that Pavano has pitched well, its not like he's not capable of doing that. The sun shines on a dog's ass every so often.

TBS strike zone thingy said it was a strike, too.

I haven't been paying very close attention, but the strike zone seems to be ridiculously inconsistent lately.

Honestly, I would rather lose golf balls by the dozens, in the rain, during a six-hour round, than watch these bums play like this... against that ridiculous POS!

My only saving grace for this "effort" was that their best battery to date got through Burnett not having the command he's exhibited in his first two starts, and only allowed three runs. If only the others can do as much in theirs...

Meanwhile, the reality that is Nick Swisher in the cleanup spot is rearing its ugly head. He is neither as good as he was on the road, nor is he as bad as this series indicates. He is somewhere in between, and clearly that's not good enough to be lodged in the four hole within the Yankee lineup. I'm saying Cano third, and Tex fourth... yeah, I said it!

;)

good job, ALBIE!

nice job. now let's get the lead...

jon lester has 9 k's in 6 shutout innings...

Phew!

alright, this is the last half i can watch, so this is when the magic's gonna happen!

but ... just sayin' ... if fricking Molina hits for himself again, Cult's gonna have to go all Wayne Brady on Joey Joe Joe's ass.

whew, Cy Pavano is out.

[113] well, that's a good start!

Ca-YES!!!

THE RIPPER IS BACK!

Someone has to teach Major League ballplayers not to watch their balls after they make contact.

Game's not over yet.

[117] At least one thing is going right, cult!

Cano was asking for more misery by taking second there. Thankfully it didn't happen. Here comes one of our automatic outs, Matsui, though.

Did Pavano ever pitch that well for the Yankees? What a scumbag.

yes!

Holy shit, Matsui got a hit.

LEATHERFACE!!!

Wow, I thought Yankee RISP-hits were extinct.

[124] LAAZ ROCKIT!

Damn if they could get Matsui back to form, it would be huge.

Don't you HAVE to run for Matsui and his bad knee here?

[113] Great call, CoB!

I'm just sayin'...

;)

[128] Yes, with Leche... no?

[128] one would think ... melky, i guess, though pena has the most speed.

good thing we've got 455 pitchers on the roster.

i'm looking forward to having a-rod's bat back in this lineup.

jesus christ, can ransom do ANYTHING right?!?!?

christ - poor cody can't even god damn bunt coupled with matsui's robotic knee

Ah, the bunt.

I might have PR for Matsui if the plan was to bunt.

Hm. Worst bunt play ever? I put that on Girardi.

that was lame.

WOW - what a nice reaction for Jorgie!!! nice, i love it.

Pavano pitched at least one game pretty well for us.

I remember it because Colter Bean made a long-awaited appearance.

Well, I guess no one could have foreseen that Matsui's lack of speed on the basepaths could cause problems there.

Yes, Jorge!

hell fuckin' yeah!!!!

hip-hip HOR-HAY!!!

"Okay we have an OAK TREE on first. Bunt play? Yes!"

jorgie jorgie - i knew that bs rf would come in handy - and that better stand up

Oh, boy. Can they instant replay this?

I can't even describe how Sterling "called" that play.

[135] Na... better to have him running and sliding on his water logged knee...

Pfft!

Hip Hip... you know...

;)

what a fucktard fan

I didn't think that was a real HR but on replay it looks like it was.

home run! it hit the fan. looked like on a fly. instant replay?

Hip hip!

[145] Damn, I want to hear that!

Hmmm, Not sure if I want IR on this.

Hey, Team! Much action here, I see.

I seem to have showed up just at the right time. I heard Robby's hit down the third base line and my heart soared.

Man, I have no idea what to call that.

holy cripes - they have replay just go staright to it.

they're gonna look at it on replay. best stand up. jorgie's a badass!

Looks like they are going to replay it.

If it wasn't a home run, what is it? Ground-rule double? Please tell me its not an out.

I don't care if it's not a HR, I just want them to get it right. I don't want any BS runs. This is the fucking Yankees for god's sake, we don't need charity.

Few things make me happier than JoPo hitting in place of Molina.

And he juices one!

[158] The only thing I LOVE better than HOME RUNS and HIGH SCORING GAMES is INSTANT REPLY. Anytime MLB can import the confusion and game delays like they have in the NFL, I say do it.

[158] It's not an out.

I would guess if it's not a HR, it's fan interference?

i don't think it's that difficult: it was over the wall, the fans can touch it. home run.

TBS just had a GREAT replay. The ball hit the top of the wall, bounced, and missed both Crowe's glove AND the idiot fan's glove too.

So, is that a home run?

Looks like it's a home run, judging from how the managers are reacting.

better be a freaking homer...

have we fixed the economy during the wait?

I'm pretty sure it should be a HR, but whatever. Get on with it.

i thought there's no argument. how about the call already?!

[168] No, but Pavano has been injured.

I'd love to have heard that conversation.

alright yeah!!!
i could wait for a hr.

call stands! Yanks lead 4-3!!!

HIP-HIP HOMER!!!!

Ball over fence, hits fan, then Cleveland glove, then to top of wall, and back on field...

HR

[171] hilarious!

caray is a tool. darling is good though...

Another wall scraper in NYS, huh? I'm listening on the radio--where did the ball go over the fence in RF?

[171] And already had three MRI's...

Suzyn seemed to be taking all that confusion a bit personally.

[171] hahaha - nothing like a long wait to injure your buttocks

Yeah I mean, the ball was out. Barely, but it was out. And thus: home run.

Even if the Yankees win this, I'm going to lament the one run in six against Pavano for a couple days. Until they come up with something else for me to lament, of course.

Cleveland announcers aren't happy, tough call. I think the fan was more over the top of the wall, not in field of play.

c'mon Grittner!

singleton with a dylan reference

See, this is just like the great 90s teams. Take the other team's ace, like Pavano, and use patience to get him out of the game, then attack the soft relief. Facing Pavano is just like facing Pedro in his prime...the same approach.

I don't know how anyone can complain about that call given how long they took to get it right. Give them some credit, for pete's sake.

[186] Beautiful. Thank you for that.

[180] Well, Sterling's idiocy has been epic today, so much that I've found myself agreeing with Waldman more than once. Maybe she's just a little beaten down this afternoon.

It was the right call, almost exactly like the one in B-More.

they're really going to have to put up some glass or fine netting or something to cut down on this jet stream, it's redonkelous. Didn't the frigin architects model the wind dynamics - 1.3 billion doesn't go as far as it used to!

[185] what was it?

gardner is NOT a good hitter...

[182] Honestly, do you really believe, in your heart of hearts, that Pavano deserves that "W," as well as any other?

I'm just sayin'...

Somewhere now, the baseball gods are smiling, in a fashion eerily similar to that stupid grin Pavano had throughout this game...

[186] Pavano and Pedro were traded for one another once upon a time.

[190] I think it's real hard to do wind dynamics for stadiums (stadia?). There are so many variables.

alright ... i did my part [113] ... y'all gonna have to carry it across the finish line from here on out.

don't let me down.

;-)

[193] Along with Tony Armas, Jr. who we gave the Sox for Mike "Freakin' " Stanley.

[191] you don't need to be a weatherman ...

[194] They should probably place Gehrig's bat back where it belongs.

;)

Blow Jays playing really good ball. some unknown pitcher (to me, at least), threw a really nice game today... javy vazquez doing pretty well for the bravos, too...

[186] Ha ha hah ah ah ahha a hah aha!!