I’ll get to the Orioles in a second. First here’s what’s new about the Yankee roster:
- Alex Rodriguez is back, playing third and hitting fourth in the tonight’s lineup.
That’s huge. Joe Girardi has posted a lineup without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada in roughly one third of the Yankees’ games this season (nine of 28). Amazingly, the Yankees have scored 5.67 runs per game in those nine games, but their record in those games has been 3-6, and four of those games have occurred during the team’s current five-game losing streak, with the Yankees averaging just four runs per game in those four games. Losing Posada for a month or so has undermined the impact of Rodriguez’s return, but Rodriguez’s return similarly negates the impact of the loss of Posada. Yankee third basemen have hit .202/.248/.283 in Rodriguez’s absence. It’s difficult to underestimate the importance of his return.
- Jose Molina is on the DL with a Grade 2 strain in his left quadriceps. Kevin Cash, who hurt his right shoulder on a slide in April and was just activated from the DL on Tuesday, has been called up to take Molina’s place.
Francisco Cervelli draws the start tonight. I have no idea how Girardi is going to dole out the starts going forward, but I would be surprised if Cervelli and Cash are much more productive in place of Posada and Molina than the Yankee third basemen were in place of Alex Rodriguez. Here’s what I wrote about Cash in my Yankee Campers piece back in February:
Kevin Cash is only three years younger than Chad Moller and a whole lot worse at the plate. He has a great arm, but that simply makes him a younger, less-productive version of Jose Molina. At 31, he’s a career .184/.248/.285 hitter in 557 major league plate appearances. His career OPS+ is 38. He’s among the worst of a worthless breed. The Yankees should be publicly apologetic for not being able to do better.
And here’s what I said about Cervelli:
Cervelli played just 21 games for Trenton last year, but hit .315/.432/.384 in them. That high on-base and poor power is typical of Cervelli, a strong defender who turns 23 in early March and could yet emerge as a major league starter. The Yankees hope Cervelli, the leader in their parade of low-minors catching prospects, will advance quickly, but they’d be wise not to rush him out of desperation. He looked completely overmatched in his five major league plate appearances last September.
And here’s what I wrote about Cervelli when he was called up earlier this week:
After losing most of last year to a broken arm, Cervelli now looks not unlike the catcher-version of [Ramiro] Peña. He’s a strong defender, easily major league quality, with little to recommend him at the plate other than a good batting eye. Cervelli looked overmatched at the plate in his very brief September call-up last year, while playing for Italy in the WBC this March, and in spring training after Italy’s elimination from the tournament. The sample size is minuscule, of course, but the competition in each was something less than what he’s likely to see in the majors in May, and he went a combined 4-for-25 (.160) with just one extra base hit and, despite that good batting eye, just one walk across those three appearances. Thus far this year, he’s hitting just .190/.266/.310 for the Trenton Thunder.
Though I did temper that a bit with this:
I’m not particularly worried about the Yankees “rushing” the 23-year-old Cervelli because Jesus Montero is now just a level behind him at High-A Tampa and is crushing the ball. Montero’s defense is far from major-league-ready, if it ever well be, but he’s nipping at Cervelli’s heals. Peña has handled the jump to the majors wonderfully. Cervelli, who has a veteran disposition—despite his lack of production he was a clubhouse leader on Team Italy—seems as likely as anyone to do likewise.
The way I see it, Girardi might as well start Cervelli and hope for the best given that Cash has already proven himself to be an incompetent major league hitter. That said, if one of these guys has a good day at the plate, he should ride the hot hand.
- Mark Melancon has been optioned to Triple-A Scranton.
That makes room for Rodriguez, but it doesn’t clear a 40-man roster spot for Cash, so another move is coming. If it doesn’t involve Angel Berroa getting designated for assignment, I’ll hit the roof. The problem is that the need to add Cash takes that 40-man spot away from Shelley Duncan, but then Shelley sat out Scranton’s double-header yesterday with a sore shoulder (his left, not the one he separated last year). Oy.
My suggestion for adding another bat is that the Yankees release the perpetually injured Christian Garcia, who is taking up a 40-man roster spot while working out in extended spring training. The hope there being that they could resign him like they did Humberto Sanchez. John Rodriguez or a recovered Duncan could then take Berroa’s 25-man spot while Berroa and Garcia will have made room for Cash and the extra bat.
As for the Orioles, they’re still a terrible team. Adam Jones is having a breakout season at age 23 (.346/.413/.598) and he and Nick Markakis (.355/.438/.582) are a lot of fun to watch both at the plate and in the field, but beyond that, there’s not much to see here. The O’s have allowed 6.07 runs per game, better than only the Yankees and Cleveland, and their offense has been dragged down by a complete lack of production from catcher, shortstop, third base, and every left fielder and designated hitter not named Luke Scott. Just look at these team splits:
C: .212/.304/.364
SS: .265/.301/.337
3B: .226/.264/.313
LF: .200/.306/.284
Throw in their underperforming first basemen (.265/.313/.410) and they have a half a line-up at best. The hitting might improve, but the pitching likely won’t.
Jeremy Guthrie starts tonight in a rematch of Opening Day. Guthrie emerged from a rocky spring training/WBC to put up a quality start against the Yankees on Opening Day, then shutout the Rays for six innings in his second start. He followed those with two rocky outings and has since settled down somewhere in the middle, meaning his season line is properly representative of how he’s pitching (2-2, 5.05 ERA, 4.8 K/9). The most encouraging sign for the Yankees is that he’s allowed six home runs in his last four starts.
CC Sabathia was awful on Opening Day, but followed that up with 7 2/3 shoutout innings in Kansas City. He has looked sharp in his last two starts, but has fallen prey to the One Bad Inning (a three-run sixth in Detroit and a four-run seventh against the Angels). He’s also fallen prey to Joe Girardi’s fear of his bullpen, as Girardi has twice left him in one batter too long to face a veteran right-handed bat in a crucial situation with a pitch count above 110. Melvin Mora lurks tonight. Here’s hoping CC and Joe can iron out the kinks and break this dispiriting losing streak with the help of an Alex Rodriguez welcome-back tater. That’d be just what the doctor ordered.
Baltimore Orioles
2009 Record: 12-17 (.414)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 12-17 (.414)
Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Andy MacPhail
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (103/104)
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Luis Montanez (minors) has replaced Ryan Freel (DL)
- Adam Eaton has replaced Matt Albers (minors)
- Brad Bergesen (minors) has replaced Alfredo Simon (DL)
- Bob McCrory (minors) has replaced Dennis Sarfate (DL)
25-man Roster:
1B – Aubrey Huff (L)
2B – Brian Roberts (S)
SS – Cesar Izturis (S)
3B – Melvin Mora (R)
C – Gregg Zaun (S)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Adam Jones (R)
LF – Felix Pie (L)
DH – Luke Scott (L)
Bench:
R – Ty Wigginton (UT)
R – Luis Montanez (OF)
R – Robert Andino (IF)
R – Chad Moeller (C)
Rotation:
R – Jeremy Guthrie
R – Adam Eaton
R – Koji Uehara
L – Mark Hendrickson
R – Brad Bergesen
Bullpen:
L – George Sherrill
R – Danys Baez
R – Chris Ray
R – Jim Johnson
L – Jamie Walker
R – Brian Bass
R – Bob McCrory
15-day DL: UT – Ryan Freel (head injury), RHP – Alfredo Simon (elbow ligament), RHP – Dennis Sarfate (circulatory problems in bicep and shoulder), LHP – Rich Hill (stiff elbow)
Typical lineup:
S – Brian Roberts (2B)
R – Adam Jones (CF)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
L – Aubrey Huff (1B)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
L – Luke Scott (DH)
L – Felix Pie (LF)
S – Gregg Zaun (C)
S – Cesar Izturis (SS)
"Kevin Cash is only three years younger than Chad Moller and a whole lot worse at the plate."
I did not think that being a whole lot worse at the plate than Moller was possible.
Off to watch the Mudhens. Given that it's a 7 pm start, figure a normal 2-2.5 hr game, and it's Yankees vs. Os, I should be back around the 6th inning.
umm, why would we release christian garcia, who's good when he's not injured, when we could just as easily release Eric Hacker, who isn't?
and if someone claims Hacker, which is very unlikely given his combination of inadequate stuff and middling AAA performance, then we shrug and go sign the next Casey Fossum ...
I did not think that being a whole lot worse at the plate than Moller was possible.
think Wil Nieves ...
Because when is Garcia not injured?
Man, I can't wait till this lineup gets Posada back.
Considering Alex has averaged one HR every three and a half games in all of his Aprils, and closer to one every four games in all of his Mays (not Willie), and he's hit in the three-teens in both of those months, I'm still "from Missouri" in terms of believing all the hype that he's suddenly the savior of the franchise, after a mere two weeks of baseball activities against A ball players.
In fact I would argue he's still in the midst of his ST and is hardly a defensive upgrade over Pena. I would also be infinitely more concerned that he hasn't returned too soon! At least the kid isn't deathly afraid of popups!
I'm just sayin'... be careful of what you wish for. Alex will surprise me if he's suddenly in mid-season form on either side of the ball.
So far this season, stats "on paper" have served best for paper airplanes!
Career at CY... .287 .372 .553 .925
In his memory, to quote "Emperor Dominick" in History of the World, "Nice, nice... not thrilling, but nice."
Perhaps once Alex goes to NYS for the first time, a "treasure bath" might be in order!
: )
IPK has an aneurysm. Ugh, I feel for the kid. Starts last year in the rotation, gets hammered, fights his way all the way back and then this. Very sad, I hope he comes out of this ok, a la Cone.
[7] ah, beat me to it
these things from Petey, time to get your CRANKY on, Cliff ...
Alex is an unusual dude. He’s standing there talking to Sweeny Murti and I when Jeter walked by. “You gotta help me out there, Jeet,” he says. “I’m going to be nervous. Very nervous.”
“What?” Jeter said with a quizzical look.
“Nervous,” Alex said. “I’m going to need your help.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Jeter said.
I have no idea whether A-Rod was kidding or not. It was hard to tell. I hope he was. Jeter looked at him like he was crazy.
UPDATE, 6:31 p.m.: Here’s the roster move: RHP Steven Jackson was DFA’d.
I have no idea why they’re keeping Berroa around. I guess in case Alex gets hurt again. I asked Girardi and he hinted that more moves are on the way.
UPDATE, 6:36 p.m.: A little more on Ian Kennedy. The aneurysm is under his armpit and it’s what was causing the numbness in his fingers. He’ll be operated on at Roosevelt Hospital on Tuesday. No idea yet on the timetable. But Cone came back fairly quickly.
test
I can only think they are keeping Berroa around to make sure Alex is truly ok for a couple of games. If he's not then subsequently DFA'd then I have no idea what this team is doing.
[9] pass
[11]
=)
just making sure i didn't break the Banter with a missing italics tag ...
[10] pretty much ... i'm interested in finding out what these "more moves" are going to be, time will tell ...
[12] I get worried if I of all people am left to post more than three times in a row >;)
[0] The lack of depth in the fram system is depressing..how long does Cashman get a pass on this?? At some point he needs to be held accountable. Cash getting any ABs is just horrifying..
[14] er..."farm" system. Not sure what a "fram" system would be..
[13] Well I've tried posting very often in game threads, semi often, and not at all during games, trying to figure out a winning formula, to no avail...
: /
Dear Lead,
We have missed you dearly. Please come home soon. I know it would be too much to ask your brother big to pay a visit, so send your little bro' 1 run just to get us in the right frame of mind.
Sincerely,
Ledge-Jumpers.
wow
Oh A-Rod, how I missed thee!!!!!!!
Boom!
Welcome back, Alex.
WOW.
yeah.
that.
just.
happened.
NICE.
Word.
Um, wow.
Yep...the Yankees are better off without Arod...HA!
Not only did Arod give the Yankees their first lead in a week, he also provoked the greatest expression of fun all season.
Of course he did it in the first inning, when it doesn't really count. Typical.
Just kidding.
Too bad he's not a winner like Angel Berroa.
Alex also inspires Matsui to hit an IF single
He is also sporting a 5000 OPS right now ;)
[17] I suppose "cousin insurmountable" is taking up residence at The Fens these days...
: )
The lineup might be better, but we still haven't pitched.
Well you can't begin the season late better than that, can you?
[25] LOL!
[15] Well Jazz, where there is a fram, Cash will most certainly accept the Blam (as we all are)... >;)
I'm feeling a tad greedy and would kinda like a crisp 1,2,3 inning from the Big Man.
[33] http://www.rimshot.com
You know, after all the tabloid crap, photo spreads, etc..A-Rod is just an incredible, all-time great baseball player. We're lucky to watch him play!
[34] I'll take A single.
Pena would have had that.
JK, JK.
[35] What was I supposed to see there?
Now, if only Alex can pitch.
[33] Hey Chyll, you familiar with the film Penitentiary by Jamaa Fanaka? 1979 i think..just read about it in WaxPoetics but can't find it on the web..
Ugh, can't we go out and buy one pitcher who then pitches up to expectations?
I just heard that Melancon was the guy who had to move out to make room for A-Rod. That's not a happy thing, for me. I guess it's the options issue, but I would have liked to see MM have a shot at being a useful relief pitcher, unlike... well, everybody.
c'mon CC ... getting out of this inning would be BIG for this team right now.
CC is only missing Cerv's location for the FB by a foot or so...
*sigh*
That's right. Speed kills. Bite me.
Interesting official scoring rule I didn't know (Kay said): Roberts doesn't get credit for an SB.
Oooooh. He was safe.
CC got lucky there
Jones was safe.
Beggers cant' be choosers. I'll take it.
[42] robertson's got options, edwar's got options, i'd rather see MM up than either of them.
meanwhile if Adam Jones wants to ensure he's called safe there, he should have touched the base with his lead leg ...
That was truly an amazing moment.
That said, since someone went and brought it up - yes the Yankees would be better off without A Rod. There are other third basemen who could do a fine job, obviously not the back ups the Yanks have. Absolutely no-one has clamored for A Rod to be replaced by Pena. ( I don't think)
Speaking of which, it looks like they're going full speed ahead with the home run record chase, damn the needles!
ZOMG @ a "lead" after a whole inning with Alex!
Absolutely stunning and thrilling...
: )
[49] Beggars can't be (sic) spellars either. Oy.
[51] Umm..what?
buntbuntbuntbuntbuntbuntbuntbunt!
[50] Me too (prefer MM to Edwar, Robertson), by far.
And you're right -- out and safe calls on stolen bases are at least as much about style as they are about whether you actually beat the throw.
A bunt? My goodness, what's gotten into Girardi...must be Arod's influence.
Cervelli can run for a catcher.
[51] It's in Alex's contract, Hawk. They have to pay the bonuses when each milestone is reached (see also All Star Game, MVP, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards, etc.). There is a precedent with all of Giambi's deal...
damn, that was a better bunt than i think i've ever seen from Slappy!
Okay, this new catcher can stay.
[57] Cervelli can run for a catcher.
Hell, I'll vote for him.
Wow... just tuned in and missed the action. ESPN already has a post up of ARod's HR. Did he pull it? Was it a blast? Did 'roids really help his HR numbers that much?
[51] I admire you for your dedication to an opinion, but I don't think I could disagree with anything more. You'd have an easier time convincing me the Earth is flat.
[51] Hm, maybe, but are there any 3Bmen who are slugging 4.000? Only one that I know of.
[64] :)
14 strikes, 4 balls for CC..
[62] Left center. It wasn't one of his most beautiful or most powerful -- he hit an inside pitch nice and square and lifted it about six rows deep.
Ah, YES just showed it in replay so now I guess you've seen it yourself OYF.
Oh, God, Cano at .317.
Please dear Lord let us not look up next week to find him at like .290.
[67] Glad to have him back.
[62] A-bomb.
[68] easy there, chief.
let's step on that ledge when we have to climb out that window.
just sit back and enjoy the return of your frosty-tipped mirror-kissing savior ...
=)
I hope Alex goes deep again. It would be truly wonderful if he hits like 3 HRs this game.
[70] Does Sterling still say that? I've got the O's radio team on mlb.com Audio now..i know it's just SterlingbeingSterling but being in Japan the A-Bomb thing..ouch..
[73] He does...hopefully at least 40 more times this year too.
I bet he walks.
(Walking would maintain his 5.000 OPS.)
Well, he's back
Damn.
man, i remember a couple of games ago, when i thought that Tex was just *this* close from breaking out and going nuts at the plate ... now, not so much.
he looks really lost.
[79] Me too. Well, that base-clearing double sure looked like a confidence at-bat.
where the hell was that 2-2 pitch???
Oh, awesome trivia.
Kay just noted that Dom Dimaggio (died this morning) was the first batter Bob Shepherd ever introduced at the Stadium. Amazing.
[80] i just wonder what the condition of his wrist really is.
if it's at all questionable, i wouldn't mind seeing him go on the DL once it's clear that Alex is a go ...
nice hitting, Stick!
That was embarrassing.
Swish looked safe on the replay.
not so nice hitting, Rotten!and ... FUCK!
WOW!
never seen *that* before.
Ah, but Thomson pushed him and he was out because of that.
[86] he's out because the 3rdbase coach 'pushed' him back towards the bag.
MOLINA, WHO?!?!?
Cervelli can stay.
Man, that stupid pickoff was a rally-killer.
Nice hit by Cervelli.
Hmmm.
Are was rooting for the Yankees to increase Guthrie's pitch count, or do we want as many inning of this guy as possible? I'm torn.
A double and two singles, no runs. That's unusual.
[67] Thanks. No YES in NH. I'll have to watch BBTN... ug.
[58] I meant in a promotional sense - they're keeping track on YES pretty colorfully. I guess they gotta try and get their money's worth by sort of pretending there's nothing awry and trying to get everyone into it. Since, as you say, they gotta pay the guy anyway.
[95] can't you just watch it online at MLB or YES?
[87] I agree, Cult! I've never seen a player be called out because one of the line coaches pushed him!
*shrug*
[63] I'm not trying to convince anyone, I just figured if you're gonna throw it out there, I'll gladly pick it up. I've never denied the guy's talent, nor the fact that he has had some big moment. So one more isn't gonna make me change my mind. That's not dedication to an opinion, by the way, it's just calling it as I see it.
[98] not only *that*, i don't think i've ever seen anyone picked off of 3rd.
meanwhile, i likey *this* CC ... let's hope he keeps it going and we tack on some more runs off Guthrie
[97] Cult, how do you watch a game on line at YES?
(I'm watching mlb.com tv)
Holy cow, look at CC's pitch count. He's on CG pace, even if he has a bad inning.
Remember the first two batters CC faced? That wasn't promising. Ya never can tell. (Try to hear that last sentence in John Sterling's voice.)
[100] I've seen pickoffs @ 3B before. Swisher was safe however.
Yes, I'm glad CC has his bus sized ass in gear tonight!
: )
That pitch was sooo farrrr outside.
[104] He was out for coach's interference.
Wow, that strike three pitch to Tex was waaayyyyy outside.
[105] Indeed.
That 3rd strike was 4" outside. Poor Tex.
After seeing that freeze frame of Alex's first inning HR, clearly that MVP can hit a high and inside pitch!
: )
[105] [107] [109] That pretty much settles it.
[102] you can't.
but i'm betting that they have (or will) the highlight of Alex's homerun.
Tough (and questionable) strike three up and in on Alex. No way he could have done anything with that pitch.
Yeah, that "strike three" was definitely *inside*. Not as much as Tex's was outside, but still.
Hm. We've had depth problems, but the Orioles have a DH who's hitting .200.
It would be a good idea to score more runs.
Wewt @ "nasty" CC!
: )
FILTHYMCNASTYFUGLYEVIL!
[102] I heard MLB.TV Premium lets you choose the home or away broadcast. I don't have a MLB.TV subscription this year, though, so I don't know for usre.
[119] yes.
[119] It does. I'm listening to Kay and O'Neill. The Orioles' team is excruciating. Most opposing crews are, I find. I don't mind the Tampa Bay guys.
wow this game has gone pretty fast
Outside of Arod and Melky, the bats still seem to be asleep!
[123] Swish.
[123] well, swisher and damon and cervelli have as many hits as alex does ...
[123] [124] He doesn't sleep until he gets on base. (Badump-bump)
[126]
=)
The Yankees have to lead the league in backwards Ks.
My YES feed is approx. 30 seconds behind, I just realized.
[121] Yeah. As annoying as Kay is, there's a lot worse out there. The Rangers guys drive me nuts.
This is one of the widest strike zones I have ever seen...its Eric Gregg wide.
Ahhhhhhh. Yes, I remember you, Rob.
[131] he seems determined to call strikes low and outside that the average hitter couldn't hit with a boat oar ...
At least I can still get radio broadcasts during blackouts.
Still, a home of Yankees fans living in the CIN, STL, ATL "Bermuda Triangle" suckdidleyucks Flanders!
: )
Michael Kay is trying to make excuses for this team then saying they're not excuses. And the excuses he's making amount to: They're not very good.
Has CC been using the wide zone? I don't think so...if he had been, it might be a no hitter.
The particularly bad calls are the ones on the catcher's left side. Outside pitches to lefties, that inside one to Alex.
[133] and AGAIN on Cabrera.
grrrrrr.
Six teams have a higher strikeout looking percentage (SOL/SO) than the Yankees: A's, Rays, Red Sox, Mets, Nats, Tribe.
So, will MLB examine the Pitch f/x data and give this home plate ump a bad report card? or at least some advice? As I recall, the umps' union doesn't allow that as a regular routine.
[139] Wow, very interesting!
I guess that makes sense. A's, Rays, Sox, Yanks: all have hitters who like to see a lot of pitches. One cost of that is bound to be backward Ks.
[139] What about totals.
[140]
I for one welcome our new robot home plate umpire overlords ...
Dang.
Let's see, 11.5 pitches/inning. CC could go eleven innings!
if a ctacher can be described as working fast, cervelli does - i like it
[143] How far off do you think that is? Years, still, but not decades, I bet.
Uh oh.
We've never seen this reliever before, have we?
CC's Ball/Strike ratio this evening is seriously more like it! Tough to compete when he's that effective... umpire's ridiculous K zone notwithstanding...
: )
Jorge's worried about his job, I think. Hurry back, dude!
Jeter's been slumping...thought he might take it upon himself to bunt here.
[150] He was expecting to get ahead in the count, I think, after watching McSomebody pitch to Cervelli.
off topic: anyone catch Bill Plaschke (sp?) and his rant about Manny Ramirez? Hysterical, idiotic, offensive, etc..the media reaction to Manny's suspension is really going over-the-top.
This is the CC we will have the rest of the year!
Damn, Sabathia is one fidgety motherfucker. His performance tonight is pretty exciting though, thus far.
I see Chamberlain watching, studying these Orioles hitters. It occurs to me that he wants to be a craftsman, when he's got the stuff to just be a beast. I think that's partially why he struggles - he's trying to be too fine. Of course a youngster like him should be studious, I just think it's gotten him in trouble at times.
link?
[146] something like that.
plate umpires will last longer than they have to, speaking solely from a technological stand point.
[152] Moronic...but that's Plaschke (sp?).
[152] If I could, I'd post the link but early in the Manny thread yesterday, I did take note of that. It was completely over the top and hilarious.
No way! Mora's foot came off! no?
Hm, maybe not.
I wonder if the Orioles are going to call up Matt Wieters soon. Chad Moeller will probably become available then.
As much as I like the idea of the Yankees winning solely because of Arod on the offensive side, I'd still like more runs.
I guess Jose needs some lessons from ARod on how to hold a press conference: http://tinyurl.com/okxg22
[154] http://tinyurl.com/oou6ue
[130] "*He'll* grab some bench!"
[153] But bodes well for his future, yes?
damn damon is really on fire
I'LL HAVE A SHOT OF JD, PLEASE!!!
Damon on fire..love it!
A catcher who doesn't need three hits to score?
[157] Found it, thanks. Funny.
[168] seriously when was the last time the yanks had a catcher with semi-decent speed? sal fasano was certainly the worst.
Absolutely bewildering with Teixeira.
[170] Maybe Jorge as a kid...he was a pinch runner in the 1995 ALDS after all.
[79] yeah, that again.
seriously, if he isn't 100%, it'd be better to get Miranda up here for a couple of weeks ...
Jason Bay with a 3run dinger, just crushed one from James Shields.
Nancy Drew with a 2-run tater..Rays blowing it at Fenway
[174] Damn Bay is on fire...he's not this good...is he?
[173] Disagree. Tex's glove.
Teixeira is in quicksand. Someone needs to pull him out.
I am almost of the mindset that the division is Boston's and the Yankees will need to beat out TB for the wild card.
Has anyone seen Teix's splits so far?
vs RHP as LH: .162-.303/.351 (.655)
vs LHP as RH: .318-.448/.545 (.994)
[177] Miranda's actually 1/2way decent with the glove nowadays, from the recent reports I've read.
Tex is just completely lost at the plate and if it's related to a lingering wrist injury, I'd rather rest it and clear it up, rather than continuing to allow it to linger ...
[180] What was the side that caused him pain?
Loud out for Markakis.
"Alex Rodriguez? Let's check out how he's running cause every part of his game's gonna be dissected."
Oh Michael Kay, you big goof.
[176] he just might be.
hindisght, even neglecting nady's injury, is really pointing to the yankees making the worng trade with the pirates last year.
[177] if this is anything comparable to jeter's situation last year though, it might make more sense to give him two weeks off.
[183] Perfect example of having a lead helps a pitcher. If this is a 0-0 game, C.C. probably walks Markakis and if the O's don't get a run, Sabathia runs up his pitch count.
[184] What would you find it you dissected Michael Kay?
[185] Hindsight? I don't think the Yankees opted for Nady...I think he is all they could get for what they were offering.
[181] I've seen Miranda a few times. To my eye (which admittedly isn't very reliable) he's nothing special with the mitt -- he's not terrible, but Teixeira is extraordinary. I mean, sure, if his wrist really bothers him you do have to sit him. And instead of Miranda, you could try to pick up another decent OF (A-Jax?) and have Swish play first.
[182] It was his left wrist that was in pain, the top hand in a lefty swing.
If the Yanks lose this game, I will be disturbed. Here we have it as it was drawn up, with A Rod bashing the ball and Sabathia dealing. NEED this win. If they can be like this consistently, the division is a good possibility still.
First they have to fire Girardi though.
[182] batting right handed.
[187] a big headed frog in formaldhyde
[188] oh agree. i just wonder if it would have been better to sweeten the offer and go for bay.
[188] Oh, definitely. The Pirates got more for Bay, too.
Good god, CC's pitch count. Amazing.
CC is going to be the ace this year, I can see it coming..We still have a shot at Boston if the pen improves even slightly..
oh agree. i just wonder if it would have been better to sweeten the offer and go for bay.
Maybe, maybe not, but there was a third team involved in the deal, which complicates things a bit.
[192] LaRoche was a very good prospect, so you might be talking Hughes, maybe Austin Jackson.
Still not exactly the kind of game that gives you confidence this team has broken out. Dominance by C.C. and Arod can't be counted on every game.
Am I imagining things, or was there a season when Robbie hit much better on the road?
[179] on may 8?
[196] [197] yeah i am not definitely not trying to make this seem obvious. and the three team trade definitely complicates things. it is difficult to guage excatly what the yanks would have to give up and whether that would have been worth it - though i think laroche's stock was kind of low at the time of the trade.
Great stat on YES...Arod = difference maker.
Yup. Since he joined the team, the Yanks have a .595 winning percentage with Rodriguez in the lineup, .465 without him. Says it all.
[200] Why not? It's never too early to make an assessment. Gun to my head, I have a feeling the Yankees will need TB to lose more than they will need Boston to lose.
[199] Robbie has hit better away than at home every year except 2007.
Including this year, so far.
[203] not that i agree with it, but that still leaves out hawk's point that the yanks haven't exactly replaced arod with a real 3b in those games
[201] Understood...and I am not trying to say the idea is ridiculous. However, LaRoche's stock was still pretty high, although it has dropped since.
Dear Lord, 86 pitches in the eighth?
Damn.
[205] Yeah, I seemed to recall that when Sterling pointed out that Cano couldn't buy a hit on the homestand and has two tonight.
[208] I know. It just makes the game so much more enjoyable.
And he's a horse, remember. At 12 pitches/inning, he could throw eleven innings!
[206] Be interesting to see the splits for other prominent guys. I don't think anyone is suggesting that replacing Arod for Pujols would net the same difference, but I think that gulf in winning %s is pretty stark.
[205] I know it sounds facile, but perhaps the short porch at home gets into his head?
Wow, what control!
Well, two very expensive players are giving good value tonight.
wonderful! this is the cc i (we) have been waiting for.
[205] [209] maybe since robbie isn't really a true pull hitter the short porch at ys doesn't really help him. still don't totally understnad the splits but maybe that is part of it.
[213] About time someone stepped up.
[211] i'd also like to see the difference in runs/game, since he really doesn't impact the pitching all that much.
c'mon Frankie Cervix!
that wasn't a called strike was it?
[217] i'm not sure frankie would like that name :}
[202] [203] What is it that statistics guys say about correlation and causation?
http://xkcd.com/552/
[217] That's very disturbing. If Wang pitches to him, I'm going to have to ask you to put that nickname on the shelf.
[219] for whatever reason, i've decided to imagine him as if he were a mobster who got stuck with a less than flattering nickname
Frankie "Cervix" Cervelli ...
[220] I love XKCD! Excellent.
Adam Fucking Jones.
Has Derek been hit by a pitch or otherwise hurt himself recently? I remember last season he was raking until he got hit in the wrist and never really recovered. What's his excuse this year?
I hate to sound so grumpy, but really, we can't have him hitting .264 in May. It's time for him step the fuck up.
[216] Although, I do think offense impacts pitching. For example, I think having an immediate 3-0 lead helped Sabathia settle in. I also think if he had a 3-0 lead last start, he would have had a similar performance.
[222] i leave y'all to invent your own backstories for him ...
[222] You could call him "little deer." (I think that's what cervelli means.)
[225] He did jam his neck on a slide into second base right around the time his slump started.
[274] he might soon be the best defensive cfer in the league
[226] yes, but i don't think it's that big an impact.
[225] That was a good hit. Jones ran it down, but he tagged it. And I believe he nailed a line drive earlier that, um, an infielder grabbed. Roberts. So he's not having a bad day at the plate. Also, he's still getting walks, and showing a little power. I'm not too unhappy with his performance over the year. (Recently, I admit, he's been fairly weak.)
[227] I'm still trying to get over Frankie the Wop from "Goodfellas"..
BoSox 11-3 at Fenway so far..never used to believe in home-field advantage but..
[170] Girardi had "decent speed," Ms October...
: )
[229] Ow.
[230] I'll try to be sure to make [274] relevant.
[227] i think i'll do that :}
alright 3 outs cc - let's just end this and be done
[229] [232] Good, thanks for the votes of confidence.
Don't let Markakis be the tying run...please.
Where the hell was Damon...that's awful. What about this season has me feeling very uneasy right now.
Uh.
I think Damon assumed Jeter had it.
No, no, no. No, no.
No.
This can't happen.
Period.
Not worried.
Sabathia is still strong. It's not a problem.
[243] Worried!!
I don't think Damon could have gotten it. It was so shallow, and so near the line. I think I saw Bubba Crosby get a ball like that once, but most RFers don't get there.
Good, there's one.
[236] oh good - except this game should be over soon
[234] i guess :}
that pop-up falling between jeter and damon shows where both of their spped has declined a bit - has happened a few times this year
[246] Wasn't even in the neighborhood though...seemed to be running in the wrong direction.
cervelli's a good catcher. it is not easy to have to move your glove across the plate and still frame a pitch.
2-2...
yes, nice pitch.
one more
That's a huge K.
YESSSS!
There's two.
Sweet.
C'mon, CC. One more.
what would be the harm in naming the player of the game after the game is over?
[252] It kills me not being able to watch the games.
christ michale kay - that speech might have been approprtiate a few innings ago - not when cc has pitched 8 2/3
[258] The breaking balls are snapping. He looks strong.
[258] It's been killing me to watch some of them.
[260] Cheers!
Money.
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
We. Won. A. Fucking Baseball. Game.
Praise Jesus.
i can't believe how good that just made me feel.
nicely done, Carsten Charles, nicely done.
Great game.
It's a CC day! Everybody's smiling! http://tinyurl.com/588j9f
yes, very nice job cc.
good that arod looked comfortable at the plate, cervelli looks competent enough for now, certainly defensively.
just needed to get a few more bats heated up.
Arod/C.C. to the rescue, but the Yankees have to build on this.
[266] Wow, that's the man's name? Had no idea.
Indeed, nicely turned, old Carsten Charles.
Welcome to the Yankees, man.
[268] Heh heh heh heh!
NIce!
arod does look a bit thinner. for some reason i think he plays better at this weight.
[271] He was pumped. He shouted and threw his arms around. Alex, too.
God hearts us again!
: )
Short game.
[276] Most CG SO's are...
: )
I guess this means I'll have to watch tomorrow's game from a bar as well. : ) Grey sky's are gonna clear up.
[270] Yep. It's a step in the right direction.
finally, time to consume celabratory beverages again!
[280] I'll certainly drink to that, Cult!
Cheers!
: )
That was nize. Are we still holding our breathes on CC still?
In answer to your question Jazz from early on, no I hadn't seen the whole picture, but I find Jamaa Fanaka fascinating; that was his third picture that was released theatrically while he was still in school! Gotta read more about him; he was part of the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers from the 60'ss-70's that also included Charles Burnett (To Sleep With Anger) and Haile Gerima (Sankofa)...
The Celtics got blown off the court. For some reason I forgot to watch. ooooh, Bruins too -- I'll enjoy talk radio tomorrow, even though the Sox had a very good game.