I am gonna miss the first part of this game. Really kind of nervously anticipating a good start. I don't know if it was the right thing for Girardi to tell Wang it was make-it-or-break-it, but whatever, here's hoping Wang comes through.

"A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials" -- Chinese proverb

Go get 'em 王健民！！

I'm still asking the Baseball Gods for seven runs per game and quality starts from our Yankees from day to day...

*fingers, toes, and eyes crossed*

I'm so nervous. I like Wang, and hate to see him struggle.

[4] same here.

Evening, Team.

Here we go.

Hey, it's our old buddy Nick!

Sinker not sinking. C'mon, Wanger.

He got away with one there. That was a pretty fat pitch, knee high and over the dish. Looked like a slider.

Yes! Pitcher's best friend.

Not knee high, more like belt high.

sweet!

that hopefully helps his confidence. He has some movement but he clearly needs to get on top of the ball some more.

Come on, Alex. You should feast off this guy.

Dukes relegated to right field tonight, I see.

I'm not sure Corey Patterson is an improvement, though...

Wow. Dunn down, and it wasn't one of the Three True Outcomes.

i think that was the best question i've ever heard michael kay ask (what happens when the hitter's strength is the same as the pitcher's?)

Nice work, Chien-Ming.

two solid innings. now is the tough part where he has tired in other outings since going on the DL.

His stuff isn't as good tonight as it was last time. 91-92 instead of 95-96, and his sinker's not sinking.

Maybe that's the price for better control?

Wang can be effective even when his sinker isn't sinking, though.

Nice pitch! Looked like a very, very sharp breaking slider.

Arrghh. I"m as big a football fan as anyone, but c'mon. This is supposed to be a baseball game.

That guy's really a quarterback? He sure looks kind of puny for a football player.

Man, I hate FOX erm YES coverage!

Wang looking good so far. (knocks on wood)

Hi, sorry I'm late.

Has anything inexcusable happened? How is Cashman doing?

I have been a huge critic of Wang so far, but I have to admit that this start is finally starting to look like a step in the right direction. Now, for the bats to wake up...

Flaherty just said he's a "big dude," so I guess it's just a trick of camerwork that makes him look puny.

[26] Welcome, RI. No, all is dull so far.

Good "dull", or Michael Kay dull?

[30] Good dull. Except now it's becoming concerning dull since we've yet to hit safely through three.

[30] Both...

And we have FOX "Celebrity Cam" instead of the game this evening...

Pfft!

We need to go Mark Chapman on this John Lannon guy.

[33] Ouch.

His slider really is nasty tonight.

Really, really sharp break.

Looks good to me!

the giants must be disapointed about the yanks offense. I know I am.

is lannan really throwing a no-hitter. that must be hard

Gasp.

That's not good.

Somebody please inform CMW that the Pinstripes are not a snotrag before the Ghosts smite him!

Dunn gets one of the three true outcomes there. :-P

Gulp. But that's what happens when Dunn meets New Yankee Stadium. Not gonna fret about it.

Hate to log on to that. Yikes. 3-0 Blast.

Man. That was some shot. What's-his-name--Swisher--didn't even flinch. Just stood there like a statue.

[41] That's Adam.
[42] Also when he gets turned loose on a 3-0.

kay says the crowd is still buzzing- "an audible buzz." as opposed to?

[40] Too late...

That was some sound, too, off the bat.

[46] As opposed to the silent buzz of the mind!

Ommmmm!

[46] Beer buzz? : D

What is the sound of one mind buzzing?

[46] If a stadium buzzes but no one is there to hear it, is it audible?

Well done Wanger, Teix.

[46] Maybe a buzz so high pitched only dogs can hear it?

[52] like if they had a hearing impaired day at the stadium? if the stadium buzzes without any crowd, something's wrong with the stadium, audible or not.

If a buzz is not better than silence, one should keep silent...

Wang's ERA now down to 12.43.

Is the Yahoo scoreboard correct, that the Yankees don't have a hit yet?

[57] I'm afraid so...

Very impressive, that this kid can come to Yankee Stadium and no-hit the Bronx Bombers.

[59] I think the Yankees are star-struck, what with the Manning brothers there and all...

: )

I guess "audible buzz" is sort of like "last ten in a row," which Kay just reminded us is the number of consecutive Yankees retired by the opposing pitcher.

work it Kay. that's right, no hits yet

I had a feeling Acta would turn Dunn loose on that pitch. And ... I was right.

Besides that ball, since I started watching this game, I think every ball has been hit in about the same spot, hits and outs against Wang. Either Cano barely gets to it or it barely gets away from him.

As far as Lannan goes, first of all he seems to be pitching well, which is partially him and partially more proof that some teams get "up" for the Yanks that otherwise stink. It's also partially because the Yankee bats are asleep. If only Johan Santana was pitching!

[63] Dammit, that dude just ruined my observation

Catch the ball, dummy!

[64] If you talk to yourself, is it audible?

by the way, saying that it's weird that lannan was a yankee fan because he's from long island and most baseball fans on long island are mets fan is kind of like saying that it's weird he's male because most people are female

[66] Yes and no

[65] And so he did!

:)

[68] : )

[65] See, it's not that hard. : )

Wang is starting to get hit harder. BTW, Guzman looked out.

that's one of the worst calls i've seen

Man, definitely out.

Oh man that was a really bad call.

To give Lannan his due...he's been pitching well lately. He pitched six innings and gave up only one earned run against Cincy his last outing, and he had a complate game against the Mets before that, giving up no earned runs.

Roll a deuce, Wanger. C'mon, Nick. You know you're good for it.

[72] The baseball gods are out to get Wang. Once he physically starts to weaken, his luck goes out the window too.

Bear down, C-M! Do it for the little Wang!

Should be a short leash here.

Oh, fuck.

It's really too bad.

Um, bad call Melky, deal with the ball on the hop.

Melky should have played it on a hop.

Oof.
So close, Melk.

Better start hitting the URP or this is going to be a ... memorable game.

Hm, not as close as I thought. Bad play, dude.

Fuck a duck. E-Pena. Bad call. 3-zip Crud.

Melky's gonna dive at anything in three zip codes after that great catch yesterday, isn't he?

[78] I agree--some bad luck here. But now that he's at 75 pitches or so, they should pull him. He made some positive steps tonight.

well i thought that was a terrible play at the time but with the replay i'm not so sure he could have even cut it off

This is shaping up to be the dreaded so so start. We're losing, but he's pitching sort of ok. So we basically lose a game and learn nothing.

[88] Oh, I think he can finish the inning.

If Baby Wang was indeed lucky, that ball would have landed about 15 feet to the right, in Melky's glove. Of course the bad call didn't help, either.

[89] I think he could have had he circled it rather than trying to catch it. Whatever, the ball was smoked and the damage is done.

[92] But if JJ Wang was lucky, he would've got the call, too.

Another traditional Chinese myth, busted!

Yeah I say let Wang finish the inning. With a little luck he could've started the sixth no worse for the wear, but it is what it is.

I mean, hopefully he can get out of this inning!

i think mo should teach him a cutter

[91] Maybe, but why push it? Then again, it probably won't make much of a difference, since the Yankees seem disinclined to score.

Now Hughes?

Oh no..down 3-0?? Is Wang really done for??

and how is there a no-hitter in progress?? too depressing to go back and read even 100 comments..

Oh, I didn't realize Phil was shadowing C-M. (I came in late.) In that case definitely finish the fifth inning: Phil can't come in with men on.

[90] I think it's a little better than so-so, considering ... Certainly an improvement.

I'm waiting for the third out to post this.

And ... done!

All right, not so terrible, all things considered.

[96] I'm sure he could do it. Wang supposedly soaks up new pitches like a sponge.

He had something like 10 pitches in the minors. He just loved learning new pitches. They pruned him down to four before calling him up.

[99] Bad play by Pena, bad call at first, slightly questionable play by Melky. Led to two runs this inning. The other run was a 3-0 pitch to Adam Dunn... use your imagination, and then add maybe sixty feet.

well he gave up a bomb on a 3-0 pitch, not much he could have done there, and then gets a shit call that leads to at least 1 extra run. and he had a lot of ground balls. not too bad really. the hitting, however, has no excuses.

Positive outing for Wang
Homer to Dunn in NYS. That'll happen.
Blown out call at first. Not his fault
Bad choice by Melky in not limiting damage. Not his fault.

Just trying to stay positive with CMW.

[104] Adam Donald Duck Dunn..my imagination is conjuring up a ball that landed in the old stadium..

so a few bad plays then and not Wang being awful..can live with that..but where's the O tonight??

That's how to end a no-no, Rob.

There goes the no-hitter...

NYS HR?

Robbie Cano= good

Now if by some miracle the Yankees were to bust the no hitter, and shut out and score 4 runs here, CMW would be in line for the win.

Well that takes care of the no-no & shutout. . .

[106] Don't forget the ball that Pena betemited. Hey, Robbie!

[107] but where’s the O tonight??
Thanks for asking!

[107] The "O" has been mostly...inaudible.

[115] O=0 until Robinson.

Pretty random but..John Lannan looks like the the grown-up version of the kid from Fargo.. (what say you AB if you are lurking??)

All right, on Wang:

Flaherty observed his stuff was better in Boston, and I was thinking the same thing ... His sinker wasn't as sink-y tonight, but he mixed it up more, plus threw more strikes.

There were a lot of ground balls nonetheless, and not too many hard hit ones - maybe three that I saw.

And with Pena holding onto the ball and the call being made at first things surely would have been better in the fifth. I think a pitcher oughtta be able to work around those things, but sometimes they don't, plus Wang is still a work in progress.

At any rate, there was progress. Could've been better, but I'd hope he can build on it.

i wonder if the only reason people think lefties are better at hitting the down and in ball than righties is that the centerfield camera is in left field so a similar pitch to a righty doesn't look as far in. or it's just that there are more righty pitchers.

Phil Hughes=wow

[120] Yes. Now, if they can only get him in the starting rotation.

[121] I was about to say: wow, our bullpen suddenly looks a lot better...

At least Hughes kept Two-Pitch-At-Batterson off the bases.

What's Kay's problem with Wang?

"I guess you'd call it his best start of the season ..."

"Do you think the Yankees were looking for him to be lights out or just better, so now they have an excuse to send him out there in five days?"

Well maybe AJ could come down with an "injury".

[124] I don't think it's a particular problem with Wang. He's just kind of... dim. There isn't much thought content in what he says, if you see what I mean.

[126] Absolutely, cause now he's claiming to be a "big proponent" of Wang. Then he gave his performance a letter grade of C.

Hey-yo ... Yanks are going to have to get a hit or six. Come on, people. Score runs.

[124][126] Yes. I would add that one of Kay's many weaknesses is that he does not seem to understand basic English idiom, or even what simple words mean. I assume that when he said "the Yankees are looking for an excuse", he really meant "...looking for evidence of improvement".

There's one.

elijah duke's red glove looks a bit like my darryl strawberry glove i had for many years

Kay suggested that giving up three runs to the lowly Nats was a poor performance. But Sabathia gave up three runs to these guys yesterday.

[131] I hope you were a better fielder.

[132] True, though the number of innings may factor in. Or Kay is just an idiot.

According to Gameday, Lannan is getting robbed by the ump. When he hits the corners they're getting called as balls. Pitching that well when not getting the calls is impressive.

Or is gameday just wrong?

[134] I'll go with your second theory. Not to mention the ump & the fielders didn't exactly help Wang out.

I wonder, when Chien-Ming goes home tonight and picks up his baby, will little JJ URP all over him?

[133] haha - i was :}

Call me williamnyy23 but 2 hits so far in this game is unacceptable..not sweeping the Nationals (on pace to rival the Cleveland Spiders for all time worst winning%) is just not going to cut it. Wake up and get some hits guys!!

I tell ya, Lannan has been pitching very well lately.

these nats pitchers are not that bad. they showed up to pitch, especially today. he's got them way off balance. Lannan at 78 pitches... he's in line for 2 more innings

toronto and boston winning...

I'm still amazed by a slick fielding firstbaseman. (luv ya, Giambi, but that would've been a run scoring double for you.)

Wow... I am LOVING me some Mark Teixeria.

As far as Wang's performance against the Nats goes, their offense isn't nearly as poor as their pitching so he's doing relatively better than the Yankees batters at least.

Terrible sentence, I know. **** it, the Yanks don't deserve my best right now.

[142] I was just thinking that a cool video effect would be to be able to show how that play would have gone if Giambi were playing 1B.

[142] Remember when Torre would sit Giambi and start Andy Phillips or whoever when Wang started?

[144] Save your really good sentences for a day when Jeter's playing.

Great pitch from Hughes there.

nice pitch phil

[147] Exactly. I'll just start stockpiling them.

[142] with the risk of being too picky, but shouldn't Teix first throw to second and then wait for the relay. I think with Johnson running and the ball hit so hard, he had a chance. nice play though

And perfect call by Kay, too.
"So Guzman will stay anchored at second and wait to see what happens..."

You know something, if they are willing to use Hughes like this, 2-4 innings at a time in medium leverage relief, it might not be a bad thing to let him do that for the year. He really seems to be improving his command and agressiveness. Transition him to the rotation full time next year and he's learned a lot. I'd prefer that to sending him back to AAA. Call it the Santana plan.

[153] and that's the worst case scenario. It also leaves him some pitches for a spot start toward the end of the season.

[144] I'm not blaming the Yankees hitters. Lannan is good. Or at least, he has been lately.

He'd have had a complete game shutout against the Mets the start before last, except for an error by...you guessed it! Elijah Dukes.

Wow, with Mr OK JT letting the offense have it and tommyl advocating the Santana Plan for Hughes, we really don't need williamny!

[156] someone has to discuss girardi and eiland

[156] Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer Hughes to be in the rotation if it was possible. I'm fine with him in the pen though as long as he doesn't turn into Joba v. 2.0. Use him in mid to long relief and let him learn to pitch to big league hitters. People forget he's younger than Joba and Kennedy because he was drafted out of HS.

[156] Wait, I take that back.

Joe Girardi is going to have to accept responsibility. People are going to have to be held accountable.

Now we've got william's bases covered.

[151] Nah--take the sure out first.

[153] I agree, especially about the aggressiveness. Though the lesson apparently didn't stick for Chamberlain.

[157] I was typing [159] as you posted!

[0] i miss Todd Drew. been thinking about him recently. what an honor to sit in his seats! we'll come back and win it for him!!! : )

[131] i have that same glove! still do. it's here in my closet. i never really liked the color red, or straw, per say, but i always dug that glove. whenever i go home to NY, i make sure to put on my childhood glove - Richie Zisk glove by Wilson. it's small, but it's still like an extension of my hand. : )

i see we're being URP'ed by Cy Lannan. wonderful. just great... : /

[156] shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

How about the Yanks falling to three back of the Red Sox whilst playing the Nationals at home? How does that make you feel?

[165] Can't tell yet. I'll let you know.

[161] Well Joba was only ever used in short relief. That's different, his problem seems to be more pitch selection and efficiency. You can't really learn that pitching one inning at a time. Give Hughes and Joba time, if things work out we could have two potential aces for years to come.

Yankees offense has been working hard the last two games trying to break that "at least one HR every game at the new stadium" streak.

[165] probably the most humiliating thing that's ever happened to this franchise. but at least now we know we have no chance this year, or maybe even in the next 5 years.

[159] But who has the role of BumRush?? :)

[165] Unacceptable! Sox always take care of business at Fenway..damn them..

[165] Three back before the ASB, pshaww. I got the long view.

Crap. wish hughes got another inning. 24 pitches ain't much.

So what about Jeter pinch hitting next inning? I guess it would mean Angel Berroa going to SS.

Oh, fug. Hughes should be pitching this inning.

We haven't discussed it much, but ARod has been a black hole in the lineup for about 10 days now. Aside from the big double against the Mets, he has offered nothing for more then a week. No coincidence, we have been slumping.

Again, on that last AB, he tried to pull a low outside pitch. If he doesn't start to use RF, we are looking at the worst year of his career. And of course, the circus wheels will be spinning at high RPM...

cokey got the lefty!

[172] yes, you're right. i agree. can't argue the result, but yeah, Hughes should be pitching...

[174] Well it does happen occasionally.

[169] hilarious

That's unacceptable. Posada must hold that ball. That guy who was the catcher for all our championship teams would have held it. Posada is not motivated.

[169] You think we can win in 5 years? NOT UNLESS THERE ARE BIG CHANGES!

[163] that was the best glove i ever had thelarmis. finally came apart on me and i sadly don't have it anymore.

[173] yep oyf. i hope he gets his swing together soon.

Greinke somewhat coming back to earth. his ERA just reached 2.01!

shoulda left the other Phil in...

Just wait until the Yankee pitchers are running the bases for 9 straight days. Heads are going to roll.

[180] yeah, i do love the glove. mine's still in excellent shape. that just means it doesn't get used enough. next time you're in the south, you can use it! ; )

[182] i hate that aspect, but i'm hoping to see that live in person twice next week! : )

It's just a shame that this nice Two Phil effort will be squandered because of lackadaisical effort by the line-up. Tony Pena had better have the horse whip ready for his namesake Ramiro.

Maybe it's "lackluster" and not "lackadaisical". Not sure.

gonna be difficult to get to lennan tonight, our best hope is to get him to pitch at least 15 pitches in the bottom of the 8th...

[183] :}

it would be the first loss in which the other team scores 3 runs or less.

[188] Hey, that's right.
Better put Tomko in for the ninth, that would take care of it.

[188] but it won't be...'coz we're gonna win - for Todd Drew!!! : )

good time for the ump to expand the zone out of nowhere

when melky f'ing cabrera is the centerfielder of the yankees that is a problem. cashman has screwed the pooch yet again. he has a 200 million dollar pay roll and this is the lineup we get?

wow, Arthur Rhodes is AT-BAT vs. the Braves. weird. i guess that means he can't replace Lannan in the 9th. : /

I predict we'll score in the ninth. I'm not saying it will be enough, but I think we get some hits...

[192] Now I feel like that gang's all here!

[192] call it like you see it

Uh. [195] Sometimes in Rhode Island we say "that" when most people would say "the". It's a dialect thing.

[189] now that's a solution!

lannan will get the CG

If we just had five more Phils, our pitching staff would be in good shape.

cokey had a nice outing.

maybe we can give lannan what zimmerman gave wang a few years ago

[197] The's crazy. : /

joey joe joe, making moves to make moves move!

[196] haha, i tried - working up rage is not easy

If Big Stein was still running the show he'd surely come up with a money-quote for their "performance" tonight..

btw, my man Irabu is on an independent team with Jose Lima Time now! maybe someone already mentioned that here?

[182] Wang damn well better not be pitching/hitting in an NL stadium. DL him if you have to.

let's hope lannan turns into a pumpkin after 100 pitches... sorta like pedro

[167] What I meant was Chamberlain was aggressive as a reliever and hasn't brought that aggressiveness to the starter role.

[199] i promise to play at least seven "phils" (read: fills) later when i go back to the studio to prak! ; )

[208] oddly enough, he also hasn't brought *that* shoulder with him either ... funny how that works

still puzzled on yesterday's HR off CC, Anderson can't handle a MLB fastball

[201] that'd RULE!!!

[205] lima's on the pussy toads now too?

[208] I'd have to check his game log, but I remember Joba throwing too many pitches as a reliever (especially when teams started to catch on to his slider)--not so much "nibbling" as always going for the K with stuff out of the zone.

[209] can you play "Funky Snakefoot" later for us? Alphonse Mouzon(sp?) on Blue Note!

alright, here we go. bust out some bats. let's beat this sorry franchise...

alright - is there a rally in this bunch tonight?

[171] But what do you think about the short view? Losing a game to the Red Sox while playing a team with a .250 win percentage at home? You just look toward September and say "I don't even see that" ... But I don't think that's right - we should just live for the moment, and say yea verily, it sucks?

[215] what record is that on? i actually had minor surgery on my feet today, so i don't know how funky it'll be. i'm a tough kid though, so i'll still toe the pedals!!! : )

i was reading a BN biography at the dr's office...

oh, and yes, you spelled his name correctly!

Sure, now.

Thasscool.

yeah jd!!!
yeah ys!!

there's 1 !!!! (i was thinking that one a second ago!!! for real)

ah, i was hoping they'd take Lannan out after that...

"High fly ball!!! Left field!!!!

... Harris has plenty of room ..."

Michael Kay, ladies and gentlemen.

strike 1 looked low on the gamecast box.

It always comes down to...

Nah, screw it.

tex with a nice hit.
now slumpy mcarod's turn

it's time, Alex. it's time. get it done...

pleasenogroundballA-rodpleasenogroundballA-RodpleasenogroundballA-Rod...

[226] It was. Tex spun pissily out of the box.

Tough decision? Wow, there's no one in the Nat's bullpen for a reliable save? Sucks to be that team.

What is A-Rod thinking?
I hope his mind is blank. Ommmmmmmmm.

lannan's out. beat them now.

[232] Speaking of which, the Jays put their ace and their closer on the DL today.

[210] Everybody hurts, you'll get over it.

i don't wanna look up and see an 0-2 count immediately...

[236] not when you're a young pitcher ... funny how that works.

alex please stop swinging at that shit

1st hack inspires much confidence

A Rod, oh A Rod. Trying to pull that???

took out Tex?

was that in the dirt? c'mon dude!

should gardner come in?

Yes! Lannon gone, there's hope.

Lil G best be gone on this 2nd pitch.

Gardner must run. Run, Gardy, run!

Tex hustled hard the other day. shouldn't have taken him out. i guess move Nick to 1B, if we go extras. Brett better run...

I don't like the pinch runner move. Even if Gardner scores, we may well be wishing for Tex in the eleventh...

Gardner absolutely needs to steal this bag, cause A Rod is likely to **** this up with a GB

Go go go go go!

good job gardy

lucky lucky

Wheels!

Yay!

Now, would you try to have Gardy steal third?

[249] agreed.

now...steal!

[255] I'd give him the green light, go if he thinks he's got it, yeah.

[252] Gardy and Cokey really came through tonight.

[255] kay is musing the same decision

Gardner rarely gets a good jump it seems. At least the announcers rarely see so, usually they say it's not that good, or like this one, downgraded from "good" to "decent" by Flaherty.

Now we're cookin'.

[255] sure! i'd love that!!!

ooh yes - gardy to 3rd

would they walk him?

Oh freaking yes.

Okay, I was wrong, I'm giving Girardi credit for the pinch run!

Big wheels!

Speed kills!

FINALLY! how many games have we been waiting for this kinda aggressiveness with gritner!

[258] definitely - and good to see

Flaherty said he didn't get a good jump, but that looked like a huge running to me. Anyway, c'mon A-Rod.

[260] I think it's true. He doesn't have enough experience to read pitchers yet.

Gardner as a pinch runner seems to be working well lately. It's good to have him on the bench so basically if you get a base runner late in the game, that base runner magically becomes really fast.

whew!

A Rod was obnoxious with the sell there, hahaha!

close, nice sell by alex

Double steal now?

Very nice!
Huh. I have to say that I would now have Berroa pinch run for Alex. Yep, I'd do it. He could steal...

A-rod got lucky on that check swing.

NO DP!!!! NO DP!!!! NO DP!!!

Shit now it's DP danger again.

c'mon robbie, be the RIPPER tonite!

Alex missed his one pitch. The walk works, though. : D C'mon, Robbie!!

[276] Uh. Steal home???

Alex can't steal, can he?

[277] Very Leo Durocher of you!

Damn, Cano.

[283] I don't think he can. I don't think I'd want him to.

A squeeze would have been tempting, if Robbie were not the batter, and there were not two strikes...

fly ball, buddy. do it.

[283] Alex steals second & there's a throw, Big Wheel ties the game.

Good eye, Rob.

robbie with the good eye

Alex stole a bag somewhat recently...

does this guy not have an offspeed pitch?

Wow, I go away for a little while...

[289] I guess that's right. With Brett on third, they can't make the throw to second...

Maybe they should send A Rod. That would be nuts, I'd love it.

Kay: "The tying run just 90 feet away before he leads."

[289] so where's the steal then?

Is my DVR skipping? Every pitch is the same, same spot, fouled off the same. Samey same.

Wow, look at Robbie!