I would rather watch the kids try and fail, than watch the "fragile veterans" mail it in and fail...

"C'mon! Let the kids play!" - Houston Astros Bob Watson as himself in The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

Please tell me there are those of you here who remember that!

: )

[1] Good one. I did not know that was Bob Watson. I love that scene, even though I cringe a little when Kelly Leak's dad starts chanting on the field to fire up the Astro faithful. Tanner gives the secuity guards a run for their money as well. : D

[1] Nice.
"Let them play!!, Let them play!!"

FWIW, I was at the game Tuesday night, the (barely) winning effort against the Nationals (first in war, first in peace, last in the NL east?). My impressions of the new stadium which I saw for the first time in person? Definitely mixed.

My impressions of the new stadium which I saw for the first time in person? Definitely mixed.

Care to elaborate?

[5] Sure, but in a bit when I have more time. Gotta get *some* work done today!

4pm first pitch according to Pete Abe.

[7] I'm skeptical. Look at the NOAA forecast.

[8] but the sun just came out in Pittsburgh!

They are playing right now in Philly...

[7]

"Tales from Topographic Oceans" should be today's theme music ...

[11] Nous Sommes du Soleil!

[11] good call. Though I might prefer "Very Soon and in Pleasant Company" by the Shipping News.

[8] yep, 4pm is here and gone.

[10] Isn't it always supposed to be sunny in Philly? >;)

[14] Not since they put up that ridiculous Rocky statue! It rains often there now...

: )

Looks like rain in NY for the next 7-10 days, so I huess it's fortunate the Yankees head south after today. Might rescheduling interleague games to that much harder?

BJs one out from a one run win. Howard struck out as the winning run at the plate. 1st and 2nd, 2 out, for the Phils.

BJs sweep Philly in Philly. EMBARASSING! HUMILIATING!! UNACCEPTABLE!!! The Phils are a 3rd place team!!!!

[17] Worse sweep in Phranchise History. : )

[18]

and Mitch Williams had NOTHING to do with this one ...

Yeesh. Still in rain delay? Do they really think they can get the game in?

[11] it's been remastered - again - this time with bonus tracks! not really a great YES album of the early years. i'll take Relayer! and of course Fragile & The Yes Album...

sun's back out in Atlanta, but there's thunder rumblings and some drops a few minutes ago...

[21] i guess the whole east coast getting run eh?

[22] rain not run. yeesh

The run is supposed to let up by 8:00. BASEBALL TONIGHT!!!!

And we're gonna score lots of rains!

Looks like rain in NY for the next 7-10 days

I hope it's nice and sunny in Cooperstown this Sunday...

I don't have as much a problem with Francesa as some people but he really is making an ass out of himself today talking about the ninth yesterday. First of all he insists it's all second guessing to say A Rod should have taken second, and doesn't believe that people actually thought that was a good idea at the time. I know a few people on here were saying he should take 2nd, myself included.

Beyond that he says it would be a dumb play cause they would simply walk Cano. This might be true, but he acts as if it's a fact. But really, isn't it better to have the bases loaded than first and third? The winning run is in scoring position - Francesa himself says the Nats wouldn't throw through - and you have a good hitter at the plate in Posada. There's more pressure on the pitcher to throw strikes and if he doesn't, you tie the game.

Anyway it was really irritating earlier.

[27]

But really, isn’t it better to have the bases loaded than first and third? The winning run is in scoring position - Francesa himself says the Nats wouldn’t throw through - and you have a good hitter at the plate in Posada. There’s more pressure on the pitcher to throw strikes and if he doesn’t, you tie the game.

Yes, on all counts.
The winning run in scoring position is probably the most important point. It's so clear, once you think about it, that even Francesa couldn't deny it -- for some bizarre reason it didn't occur to him.
I think your last point is much more important than people realize. With the bases loaded in a one-run game, bottom of 9+, the pitcher is going to throw much better pitches to hit. If he gets behind in the count, he really can't try to paint the edges anymore, and breaking balls are pretty risky. In that kind of hitter's situation, it has to be much easier to hit a sac fly, and easier to get a hit.
I do think the Nats would have walked Cano... but I bet it's the wrong move. The extra chance the team in the field gets from the possibility of a DP is, I bet you, outweighed by the advantage the hitter gets from the pitcher's reluctance to leave the strike zone. And, of course, there is always the chance that Posada walks or gets HBP.

TB rallies in the 9th, but lose to the Rockies.

Late to this party ... on balance, if he was okay, I'd have run A Rod too BUT I don't think it is a slamdunk call and I do think it is wrong to treat it as one. Turns on how sure Girardi is that Gardner scores if A Rod is thrown out. (And isn't cut down if the Nats cut off a throw to 2nd at the mound.) I suppose also, how great a risk he feels of a DP ball from Cano. Robbie was hitting exceptionally well AND saw a lot of pitches as the at-bat proceeded, which generally is seen as favoring the hitter. The odds were pretty decent we were going to at least tie there, with Mo to pitch. He could have been more aggressive at 1st, as I said, I think I would have been ... and I also agree bases loaded is tough on a pitcher in the Bronx.

But it didn't drive me crazy that Girardi trusted his batter there.

1st pitch, 6:30!!!

6:15 in north Jersey: rain is lightening up, but it's done that before today without actually stopping. It was pouring at 6:00.

[30] I think Cano is actually very GIDP-prone. Check this 2007 list, for instance.
I think Gardner's chances of scoring on a throw to second were huge. Not a lock down certainty, but that move is pure speed, which he has.

Joba needs to be efficient tonight.

wow!

UPDATE, 6:10 p.m.: According to the Yankees, once the game starts it would be the third-longest delay before the start of a game in baseball history. That is unofficial, however. The record is 7 hours and 27 minutes.

from Petey

Looks like they are going to play...I am still not sure if that's a good thing. This team's pathetic play since Boston has completely dampened my expectations for this team.

[30] I agree with you. It's not a no-brainer and most managers also sit by idly and watch Cano ground into a double play. My point all season has been why are the Yankees settling for mediocrity at the helm. If Girardi was a starting position player, they would try to upgrade him with an All Star. Yet, for some reason, they are content with a manager who doesn't do anything extraordinarily different. The Yankees deserve a top manager, and they currently do not have one.

[35] I really hope the Yankees extend a rain check to all ticket holders.

[37]

Free legends seat to everyone ...

Agreed. I don't think any pitcher likes pitching the 9th to the Home team with the bases loaded. It's always nice to have a place to put somebody, instead of being forced to throw strikes.

Gameday has switched from "rain delay" to "warmups," so I guess it's game on.

[22] well, it's beautiful here now. it'll prolly rain heavy later. least it's supposed to.

what else is beautiful is this: i *just* got tickets to 2 games next week! wahoo! hell fuckin' yeah!!! i'm goin' to see my boyz! my pinstriped heroes!!! : )

going both Wed & Thurs at The Ted and will be sitting in left field, near the Yanks' pen, field level. good prices for each night. i'm psyched!

also psyched about the 6-pack of Sierra i just bought and will imbibe tonight after i practice! : )

hey seamus, you ever hear of a rocker guy in Pittsburgh named Freddie Nelson?

"Looks like they are going to play…I am still not sure if that’s a good thing. This team’s pathetic play since Boston has completely dampened my expectations for this team. "

Are you sure it's not the weather?
(dampened.... get it?)

[41] A musician drinkin' instead of smokin'?
Kids today... there's no splainin' it.

[42] No, it's not the weather. It's losing to Penny, Nieve and Lannan and needing defensive intervention to not to lose Livan and Martis. That's incredibly pathetic and, in my mind at least, has lowered the Yankees sites to the Wild Card.

Game on. Shit... lead off double for Zimmerman.

[33] cool website, thanks RI !!! : )

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
That's a Yankee's site.

[44] Not just losing, getting shut down.

Joba is getting hit hard.

I was at the game yesterday, so I am catching up on a few things, but that 3-0 pitch to Dunn was as stupid a baseball decision you can make. Even if he was taking all the way, what were you going to do on 3-1?

Wait, as I type, Joba makes a similarly bad pitch.

Is more rain in the forecast?

[43] you know me OYF - i never been stoned in my life. i abhor smoke of ANY kind. that said, i did smoke cigarettes, but that literally was like a whole other life ago.

i actually had a meeting today about a potential gig/tour i'm gonna take in the fall. and i asked all my ?'s about partying, smoking, etc. - i WON'T be around it. i don't believe it has a place in music. least not for me...

I was living in Ohio when Dunn and Kearns first came up, heralded as the wonder-prospects that would save the Reds. Dunn has been very good, but everyone at the time thought that Kearns was going to be the better player. What happened to his career?

fuck. i guess Joba's 1st inning jitters are back.

imagine if Moose had to sit thru the third longest delay of all-time??? i miss the crotchety bastid...

Nice to see the Yankees playing from behind again against one of the worst teams in the history of modern baseball.

[49] The majority of the precip seems to have moved past the area, but it's still raining hard here in NNJ.

Weather.com

[49] You should really read the game thread from last night's game. Your post at the end was a perfect coda, IMO.

[51] Injuries, at least that's what I think.

I would give Gardner when pitch to steal in almost every AB.

Girardi's answer to why he didn't send Arod is even worse than not having him run. If you are afraid of the line drive DP, and not the ground ball DP, you obviously have no clue.

Regardless of what you think about the decision, it is amazing that so many Yankee losses seem to center around a decision by Girardi.

[55] I don't ever want to relive that game.

[50[ OK Guy... but just so you know, the Beatle's 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' had nothing to do with Budweiser...

it says: C. Stammen. i REALLY hope the "C" doesn't stand for "Cy" today... : ~

Great, with small crowd everyone can boo Arod up close and personal.

[60] it was about something a lot better than pot though too

Gardner leading off?

And he got on base. Too bad he's the only one.

Molina doesn't make that play.

8.5!!!

The Joba Flop. : D

Is anyone here overly confident that the Yankees will win this game?

Runs...

[60] i know. there's plenty of good music and lyrics that were composed under the influence of substances. there's also a whole world of amazing music that wasn't. i like beer. i don't drink a lot or very often, at all. i HATE drugs.

for me personally, i let the music come directly from my soul and inner ear. i don't need any outside substance to alter my state to create what is already inside me.

i keep beer separate from my music and am very adamant about that. it's just the way i am. and i'm sure my students, bandmates and employers appreciate that...

I used to like drugs. I'm not sure that they liked me.

[51] I think it was injury that did him in. He had a couple of serious injuries, and just wasn't the same afterwards.

He's the one who collided with Nick Johnson and broke Nick's femur...

[68] no. before i saw your comment, i was thinking how sucky it's gonna be when we lose this series.

we did this the other year, losing to the Rockies in Colo (when they were terrible) and some other teams on that stretch... : /

was Wil Nieves trying to bunt for a base hit there w/ 2-outs? i'll take Frankie Brains, thank you please!

[71] well put. i'm not sure they like anybody...

nice play. hernandez made one of the best plays i've ever seen with the mets on a bloop over his head. i think he barehanded it on a full out dive with his back to the plate.

i think i get to see Joba pitch next Wed here at The Ted!!!

[76] i remember that.

we are being UPR'ed.

raise your hand if you're surprised...

Incrredibly, the Yankees apparently haven't learned anything from the past week. If Flaherty is right that the Yankees look like they are up there to swing, Girardi should be fired before the end of the fifth inning.

[77] Are you excited about seeing the Yanks in Atlanta or something? : )

I'm amazed at how impotent this offense can be for significant periods.

[79] we tried, but it really wasn't the same without you yesterday

[80] you have NO idea!!! well, i guess you do. i'm jumpin' outta my skin!!! i haven't seen them live in...god, could be upwards of 15 YEARS, or something!!! i'm not kidding...

Frankie Brains!

Pena likes Cervelli better than Posada, too.

oh, so NOW Pena catches the ball !!! ; )

[83] 15 years? Howaboutthat? I hope you see some memorable games. And w's.

I am sorry, but to come out here hacking again, after that approach pretty much caused you to lose the games to Nieve and Lannan, is completely inexcusable.

[87] thanks, man. and i'll remember 'em too, 'coz there won't be any beer! gotta drive and all...

definitely want the W's. i'll be clad out in Yankees garb. then again, i ALWAYS do that when i go see the Braves, no matter who they're playing! : )

i need to make a phone call and find out when Visitors BP is and if i'm allowed in early...

They need to add a bat.

[89] Unfortunately, the Yankees will be facing Hanson. If they can't hit rookies who are awful, what are they going to do against ones who are considered among the best prospects in the game?

Sigh Stammen : /

[91] hack away?

[91] ah, crap. he pitched really well today. bravos won 7-0. the kid is all amped up, Yanks will have to be VERY patient and we can get to him. the pen here is rather suspect. high pitch count for Hanson will be key...

[93] opposite. he's wild. had another 4 BB's today...

Wow, I go to eat dinner and come back and...

Obviously six inexcusable things have already happened. I'm expecting at least four unacceptable ones before the end of the game.

5 hits already... : /

i hope the Nats channel the Yanks here. that way, they WON'T score with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 out!

[95] That's what they should do...[93] was saying what they will do.

Needed that.

Man, Joba looks good to me. (I've only seen this inning.)

just for the sake of argument, at what point does one decide that joba should go back to the bullpen? i'm a staunch proponent of joba in the rotation, but obviously if he continues to throw in the low 90s with a slider with much less break than we saw out of the pen, at some point he's more valuable as a closer. i'd give him this year and next.

[102] That should be plenty.

Joba should be able to dominate Nieves.

With the way he is performing, I think Joba secretly wants to return to the bullpen.

good time to squeeze joba here

good time to expand the zone by a good 6"

The calls are terrible. Ball one to Cervelli was plainly in the strike zone.

Is Joba really nibbling to this Nats lineup?

[105] or he so wants to be a starter that he's letting it get to him

[107] Expand = contract?

Yep...it's all Jorge's fault.

ok, posada is definitely not responsible for poor pitch selection

Joba living dangerously. This would be really ugly, if it weren't for Corey "2-pitch-at-Batterson."

Holy cow. How the hell do you do that??

This Yankee team continues to explore the depths of pathetic.

Looks like another up hill battle against the Nationals juggernaut.

Sorry, you cannot walk Nieves here. This isn't the Joba of last year.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

christ, that is soooo fucking frustrating!!!!

[112] nice.

this is not happening. not to the nats. not to the bottom of the order. not to a pitcher with that ERA.

[111] no, [106] was for "ball 1," [107] was for "strike 2"

[101] you been drinkin' already, RI?! ; )

Not to say Chamberlain isn't stinking the joint up this inning, because he is - but you'd think given the weather, the ump would call some of these close pitches strikes

So, who's the long man in the pen now?

What's wrong with this team? Joba has thrown 30 pitches this inning. The Yankees have seen 28 pitches all game.

[122] I actually think Joba's gotten a gift or two from the ump.

If the Yanks drop 2 of 3 to he Nats at home, I hope everyone gets fired.

Maybe the Joba to the pen people are right?

I don't think Joba is stinking up the joint, he's just not as good as he should be.

man, if they come out hacking at pitches out of the strike zone on the bottom of this inning....

[70] Well... but you are glad that chicks drink alcohol right? So what's inside them comes out.... with a little less coaxing?

A strikeout per inning, but two base runners per inning. That's amazing. If it were just the three walks, it's not that unusual -- high K high BB pitchers are not that uncommon. But five hits too! That's very strange.

Joba's got an in-game WHIP of 2, so far. i hate that...

[123] Tikki Tikki Tembo?

[127] before the shoulder injury last year, he seemed like he was well on his way to being an ace

[126] Firing is too good. Public executions would be more in order.

[133] Well, the shoulder injury happened, so maybe the Yankees need to change their plans.

[130] drunk chicks are really not a whole lotta fun, man. ah, i guess i prolly sound like I'M not a whole lotta fun. i play gigs, to play music and make a living. not to pick up drunk girls. plus, i like girls who are musicians themselves...

i dig Tex!

Damn, my mlb.tv cut out before Tex got a hit.

Can you freakin' take pitches?

Joba's control problems are not mechanical, but mental. He is a kid and is trying to be too fine, even against crappy hitters. He will learn.

[135] maybe, but if the shoulder injury changed his stuff in the rotation who says it didn't change his stuff in the pen? anyway, we need more time to evaluate it one way or another.

Could Arod's slump be a case of Girardi not resting him?

[140] Why did he look better as a starter last season?

[128] Three walks and thirty pitches in an inning stinks.

Cano hacks away at the 3-1. I wonder if this team even has even discussed their approach in this game?

of course Boston just scored.

40 pitches in 4 innings.

jesus fucking h. christ!!!

[144] But two strikeouts in that inning, too.
That's what I find perplexing about Chamberlain's performance today.

I would definitely flip A-Rod an Tex in the order to see if it helps.

[142]

Hmmm .... a 33 y.o. player coming off major hip surgery, and you play him every game for 5 weeks ....

(grrrrrrrrriradi!!!!!!!!!!)

[147] i think it's pretty clearly about control. it's been bad.

[142] I don't know if it's because, but it's certainly time for ARod to get TWO days off... to clear the cobwebs.

I hate this team... so much talent, moments of excellent play, and yet this kind of performance. the red sox really took the air out of their sails with the sweep. look out for toronto and tampa.

ARod can't bend. He can only fall on the ball. Time for TWO days of pine.

this series fucking sucks.

I hate to say it, but I think Kay might be right. Maybe Girardi should give A-Rod more rest. They originally said they'd play him only 5 days a week or so. He's been playing every day.

He's ours for another decade. Maybe we should use him gently, at least while he's got a bad hip?

Nats are 6 for 13 on balls in play!

Now 6 for 14.

[155] Yeah.. it's weird. Girardi is usually very good about giving guys time off. Maybe if ARod starts bleeding from the hip....

[146] Boston is in a class above the Yankees. It doesn't even make sense to scoreboard watch with them anymore. The Yankees are a WC also ran.

I think it's time to swap Hughes and Joba. He doesn't deserve to start and maybe that would shake up the team, especially if you are unwilling to change managers.

It's time to stop pretending.

7 for 15.

Okay, I'll stop.

[157] Is he? He played Posada into an injury and never sat Jeter despite a ton of nagging injuries last season.

i can't believe i just willingly paid money to see this team next week. to think, i was all excited about it, too... : /

Judging by the Yankees play today, I think it's time to talk about drunk chicks and recreational drugs.

wow, this is really embarrassing. I'm glad I'm not at the stadium tonight...

[158] well, at least Florida just took the lead on Boston! ; )

To think, so many are blinded by Joba love that they turned on Jorge.

[163] i give in. you are absolutely right!!! : )

Sadly, Kay is right.

i'll take that walk over a 2-run bomb.

[168] he is. where did the 98 go?? perplexing. how can you lose velocity?

[170] He had a shoulder injury.

Papelbon had the same problem...the reason the Sox aborted him as a starter wasn't because he demanded to be a closer, but because after his injury, his velocity as a starter was too inconsistent. The Yankees may be looking at the same thing with Joba.

here comes our hacky-offense!! looking forward to watching them

[144][147] what is so perplexing? Look at Randy Johnson early in his career...or Nolan Ryan for basically his whole career. Young pitchers walk people. Power/K pitchers frequently walk people. As OYF says [140], he will learn. Meanwhile, the man who ignores Wang getting tattooed every start except for one (his last), now wants to take Joba out of the rotation [158]. THat would Joba, the second best starter on the team this season.

Man, a week or two of scuffling brings out the b-a-a-a-a-d vibes.

[173] you watch, i have a weak stomach! ; )

thanks swisher

Bonehead.

When the same players keep making the same mistakes, you either have to get rid of them or get rid of the manager. It's time to fire Girardi...yesterday!

[174] See [131]. If it was just lots of walks and strike-outs, yeah. But then they also have seven hits in five innings. It's pretty odd.

Do we have the most boneheaded baserunners in the league or what?

Michael Kay lost count.

[175] sadly, I have a weak stomach too, but I can't stop watching them... they really suck

[170] You lose velocity when you don't throw everything into every pitch for one or two innings.

[172] The Sox were wrong to give up on Papelbon as a starter, but sonce they won a WS I guess it worked it out for them. for what it's worth, this article seems to suggest that the decision to move him back into the BP was a combination of injuries to the closer at the time and Papelbon's own unhappiness.

http://tinyurl.com/nmbn8j

[180] I think so.

53 pitches thru 5 for Cy Stammen : /

[172] funny i thought it had something to do with the fact that they needed a starter. plus he was not the prospect that joba was, though he was a pretty good one. seems pretty silly to completely give up on joba as a starter less than a year after the injury without even knowing if this is injury related, or if pitching in the bullpen would be any better for him.

I hate to think of what this series would be like with the Nats' regular CFer. Dukes is not a CFer, as we saw in the first game. Patterson was a black hole in the lineup even in AAA. Willingham, on bereavement leave because his brother died, is actually pretty decent.

[178] Firing is too good. Public executions would be more in order.

[186] needed a CLOSER

[188] But not too quickly. There should be public, ritual humiliation first.

[188] Everybody must get stoned. : D

[188] You're going to have to pay that line time-and-a-half, OYF.

In the boxscore tomorrow, the will call the a 'Quality Start'.

watch Joba get thru 6 and people will call it a "quality start". 1 more K and he'll have 1 per inning. but an in-game WHIP of 2.

oh, and our offense - and baserunning - is fucking pathetic.

[191] hilarious! and, no, i'm not happy about seeing the Yankees next week, anymore... : (

interestingly, even with infuriating struggles, joba who doesn't deserve to be in the rotation still gets through 6 only giving up 3.

[193] great minds! whachya smokin'?! ; )

[192] very funny!

I just realized that of the seven hits, six belong to Guzman and Zimmerman. So on the one hand, that makes the line even stranger; but on the other hand maybe that partly explains the other weirdness. He's able to fool bad hitters, but the good ones just wait for a hanging slider and pound it.

[183] but remember the 101 mph fastballs? even scaling them down would bring them to at least 97 or 96, not 90 to 92.

the sliders were 85 to 87, and they remain the same, so the difference in velocity is not that much and it loses effectiveness.

anyway, we can discuss joba, but the offense these last three series has been terrible, (taking away the 15-0 game).

which is the real team? the mid-May, early-June? or the April/early-May to mid-June?

Ever hear George Carlin's routine on public executions.... at football game's halftime? Some of his best work.

[193-5]

The period from 8:02 to 8:03 is reserved for comments on Quality Starts. Anyone may participate...

[188] Maybe they should get raises?

[198] slider may be the same velocity but doesn't have the same bite, so he isn't putting as much effort into it (or can't).
could it just be that the weather hasn't warmed up? i don't want to make too many excuses for him, but it's not like today was a great day to pitch. not that it's affected stammen.

[193] Yes, quality start is bullshit. On the other hand, he gave six innings of three run starting pitching--something that has been very rare from AJ, Andy and CMW. If this is as bad is gets, I'll take it--certainly more than THE EIGHTH INNING every couple of days.

[192] Yeah but if you fire someone, they can just get another job in MLB. If you execute them, then it's harder.

[202] The Nats' starter looks to be handling it.

OK .... I'll break the tedium with a story about a mushroom with a risque name ...
http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_12572413

Is there a rule against taking more than 1 pitch?

[200] hey i didn't use that rhetoric

holy shit, this is FUNNY!!!

Neyer got a post up about Jeter's defense. the article he's quoting is talking about being surprised and there's a link to an insanely hysterical picture. i needed a good, hearty laugh. that was awesome!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2255961726_857a72a170.jpg?v=0

(sorry for the no tinyurl. i haven't had luck w/ that here on word press...)

wait, I got it, they're waiting for the 9th. to get things started...

[203] It speaks volumes.

Which is why Hughes needs to be in the rotation.

[194] BOLLOCKS! Don't let the shitty play getcha down. They could be going for 5 in a row on Wednesday. Ya' just can't ' predict baseball.

[204] I could care less what Girardi does after his stint as Yankee manager. I just don't want him screwing up this team anymore. As for humiliation, these past 9 games have taken care of that just fine.

[208] A rose by any other name would smell as...

this is definitely one of the worst games of the season. I can handle the loss yesterday v lannan. not this guy, he's not good

OMG, we're out of the inning already?! holy fuck, i blinked and...3 outs.

fuck this bullshit.

[206] Can we here at the Banter call it: 'J.D. Phallus drewesii'?

[211] I agree about Hughes, but at the expense of whom? I would have yanked Wang out of the rotation before, but he looked pretty good last time and apparently will start next time around. Would you send Andy to the BP?

Cokey is warming!!

[218] I want to see Joba in the pen for a few weeks to test the velocity hypothesis.

The best part of this pitching staff is now the bullpen, which is partly because two of the team's better pitchers of late are frequently being used in middle relief when the team is trailing in ballgames. To say Girardi has completely mismanaged this staff would be the understatement of the year.

[220] well we may all get aggravated by girardi sometimes, but at least he doesn't test his hypotheses by jerking players between different roles

[220] I am with you. These past two brutal performances have forced my hand. I am tired of watching Joba throw like a league average pitcher.

Someone needs to find that Kate Smith recording AND DESTROY IT!

[221] I know, that's a wild understatement. What would be the more reasonable, accurate way to put it?

[222] Besides, Wang and Hughes you mean?

[220] Who cares about his velocity? He is the second best starter on the team. If he pitched the exact same game as tonight every night out, he would still be the second best starter on the team (with an ERA a tad lower than Andy's).

now...THAT, was a nice inning! : )

please score some goddamn motherfucking runs off this minor league freaking team!!!

[222] Really?

Hughes has gone from the rotation to the pen.

Aceves has gone from starter in the mLs, to long man, to short man, to long man.

You were saying?

Unbelievable. I didn't think there'd be a chance in hell of seeing baseball today. It's been pouring all day in New Haven. Can't imagine it's any different down the road.

[218] (please... family site...)

Yeah, Wang too. Thanks [226]

[225] It's time for a new manager and coaching staff?

[222] Except for Wang.
(Then again, haven't we all from time to time? Sorry Diane.)

[223] These past two brutal performances have forced my hand. I am tired of watching Joba throw like a league average pitcher.

But the previous numerous worse starts by Wang did not, apparently, fatigue you in the same way, since you have called repeatedly for patience?

if our bats weren't sleeping, we wouldn't be QUITE as hard on Joba. we'd be saying - lotsa hits, mostly 2 good hitters, too many walks, but lotsa K's and "only" 3 runs. and we'd be up...7-3.

[230] If you call this 'baseball'.

And we're losing again to these clowns?

[228] amen.

If a new manager comes in, he would yank pettitte and wang out of the rotation and insert Hughes and Aceves. its the natural move.

[236] Right, I agree. And no homers. It would be just the walks that bothered me, if we had some runs.

[236] Exactly.

[236] I am not trying to be hard on Joba. I just want to know why the velo hasn't returned since he walked off the mound in Arlington.

I think the biggest trouble with the starters is the lack of command of their fastballs. That is the main cause of their inconsistency in my opinion.

Where are the seven runs per game I asked for?

I mean, at least I got the "quality starts!"

LOL

[229] none of those moves were made to test whether a pitcher can throw harder in a different role. we may disagree with some of them, but they had a lot better reasoning than just experimentation.

Man, that 2-2 was close.

Oh my god. That was amazing.

[227] Being the second best pitcher on a staff with only one pitcher going well isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. Even though Joba's 4 ERA isn't bad, it's a level that can be turned in by most decent pitchers. You also have to factor in the opportunity cost. If Joba can be a dominant reliever, then it is a waste to employ him as a mildly above average starter.

Holy fuck.

Wow.

I can't believe he caught that ball.

God damn.

oh my....

Ho-lee crap. That was some catch.

[235] Because Wang's performance was the result of being jerked around and injured. Also, Wang does not have the same potential to dominate as a reliever. Joba, meanwhile, is learning how to pitch, and the Yankees have too many holes on this team to afford that luxury.

That's two innings that *should* have started with two hits. Well, Swisher's was a hit, but not a base runner.

I had to take a break to do some work; when I came back I watched the game fast-forward via DVR and it was ****ing painful to watch.

The offense mainly, but also Chamberlain. Another "quality start" but excruciating at times.

The Yankees still having not scored in this game is completely and utterly ridiculous. I mean, let's face it, the team is not very good right now.

That was Paul Blairesque ....

[242] because shoulder injuries are a bitch and young pitchers will break your heart.

i can see i've missed another scintillating performance on both sides of the ball, haven't i?

[247] but you want to replace him in the rotation with someone who wasn't nearly as good as a starter!

DEVO's "Jerkin' back and forth" seems appropriate here ...

That catch turns the whole game around.

Finally Nat bullpen action.

[256] Hughes was definitely improving. Both are on a inning limit and will need to go to the pen anyway, so at this point I would make the switch and see what happens.

[251] so you think girardi's mistake with wang was not putting him right back into the rotation after how dreadful he was?

[257] I was thinking more along the lines of "Patterns"...

: )

That Harris catch, damn.

Swish!

[258] Maybe it prevents the game from turning, but the Nats pretty miuch have had this game in hand. Of course, the problem is one catch isn't supposed to make a difference against the Nationals. Luckily for the Yankees in game 1, it did to their betterment.

well, we finally made this no-name kid work.

was it Willie Harris who made the catch? i remember his amazing game saving catch 2 years ago (in July), while he was with the braves, robbed Delgado of a homer...

[256] but you want to replace him in the rotation with someone who wasn’t nearly as good as a starter!

I want t do what is necessary to get Joba back to being dominant. Why is that wrong?

Oh good, rain.

i want BOTH of these runners to score. 1 minimum. shouldn't be too much to ask off Villone...

[261] The mistake was he and Eiland not noticing that he wasn't right in Spring Training and then waiting for three losses to come to the conclusion that something wasn't right.

Posada has to hit for Cervelli in this inning. Now that Joba is out and Jorge can't make him throw balls, that shouldn't be a problem.

[267] that is not wrong. putting him into the bullpen, in my opinion, is. how does that get him back to being dominant? presumably the yankees know better than we do what this is all about, since they see his side sessions. not that i trust anyone to always make the right move, but doesn't the guy get at least half a season before we put him back in the pen, especially when he has actually been pretty good as far as al pitchers go?

That was Matsui's pitch! I hope he gets another.

[267] It's not like Joba will flip his dominant switch back on once he's back in the pen. I think what we see now is what we're going to get. He, and we, have to take the lumps with him starting.

[273] you got it.

holy shit

Wow that was awful.

Unacceptable.

I hope Jeter can hit for Pena.

Matsui has turned into Mr.Choke.

total bollocks.

PJ - you're close to Atl. want my tix for next week? i could spend the time practicing instead of wasting watching this utter bullshit...

jorgie has really BIG ears! : )

It reminds me of all those Villone-Big Papi battles. OY!!

It's easy to get impatient with Chamberlain. His impact was so great when he came up and into the bullpen, it's difficult to watch him just be an ordinary pitcher.

There is something wrong with this team, mentally. The are unable to simply take care of business and bulldoze the terrible, godawful, crappy Nationals, and on the other hand wilt in the face of the Red Sox. It's the alpha and omega of a faulty competitive mindset.

When Cano broke it down early into 3B despite Kearns fumbling the ball, I had a bad feeling about this inning.

[280] Only Matsui? Forget the Yankees...these are the New York Chokees.

[286] right now, we're the "Blankees", as in NO runs!!!

On Jete's grandslam anniversary day.

[272] What evidence is there that the Yankees know what they are dong? They are run extremely inefficiently given their huge payroll advantage.

I only want to put him in the pen temporarily to test the velo hypothesis. If it doesn't come back, then he is the crafty righty starter he is now.

The desperation of this moment actually made me smile. Out comes the hobbling captain, 2 outs bases loaded in hopes of thwarting the mighty ... Nationals. Ugh I feel sick and amused at the same time.

time for Jete's 2nd ever Grand Slam. he'll get his chance vs...Freddie Kreuger!

[289] Cosign.

[288] really? that's awesome! do it again!!!

[290] Thanks...I enjoyed that. One of the sad and depressing, yet potentially inspiring moments that are so rare.

I'm picturing a ground ball. The question is, does it get out of the infield?

[285] i got that feeling when harris made that AMAZING catch

[289] "What evidence is there that the Yankees know what they are dong?"
i guess it would be ridiculous here to cite the fact that they've been rightfully insistent on keeping joba in the rotation?
just kidding. as i said, i don't trust them. but here i think they're doing the right thing.

[284] An ordinary pitcher with a better ERA then Garza, Beckett, Lester and many others. And that's with him pitching poorly.

[292] i was told there'd be no math.

losgin 3-0 to Washington and maybe the series 2-1?? An OUTrage!!! This does not make for a jazzy friday..where is the O?????

[298] Those are three pitchers who have struggled. I could name three bad pitchers with a lower ERA than Joba too, but I am not sure what that proves. Besides, what makes you think this is Joba pitching poorly when it has been more the norm than not.

Fuck.

[295] That was totally your fault.

No Jeter magic...the Nationals are too powerful of a force. This team is an utter disgrace.

dammit, jeter.

[299] (thelarmis, no math) well played.

[281] Thanks but no thanks, Thelarmis. They are going to have to pay me to watch their games at this pernt...

: )

[298] All those guys have shitty ERAs! What kind of comparison is that? Ah, you're cracking me up.

There better be a serious booty-kicking tantrum after the game by Joe G..totally unacceptable to lose this way to Washington, the whole team should be ashamed..winning teams do not lose 2 of 3 to the Nationals!!

no worries guys, we got gardner leading off the 8th

[310] i think i just threw up a little.

It's panic time!!!

Listen the window is closing on the Yankees. 2009 is their best shot for the foreseeable future and it doesn't seem like they have the mental makeup to get this done.

[301] Because you know Joba's BB totals are an aberation... and have almost always lead to runs. Joba is not one of these 'wild, hard throwers'.

0-8 vs Red Sox and dropping 2 of 3 to the Nats at home. Fire Girardi. I'm fired up!!! Get rid of that sour puss. Something has to change, anything.

[310] uh, maybe not

ouch.

Looks like Gardner just about killed himself.

To literally add injury to insult.

That's a rib-buster .... or concussion :-(

That's gotta be concussion. God bless.

Can this please be the nadir of the season? Pretty, pretty goddamn pretty please?

Sigh ....

Kinda weird that there's plexiglas there. Don't they usually have netting over the bullpen windows?

Gardt does NOT look good....

Well I have to admit, that was pretty darn gritty.

[310] I blame you.

calling it right now, this sparks the comeback!

WIN ONE FOR THE GRITNER!

Not to be a dick but I wonder if this means we'll see Austin Jackson called up.

So who's our backup CFer if Gardner's out for awhile? Damon?

Duncanstein maybe?

[327] why would that make you a dick? but i doubt it.

Win one for the Gapper ....

The fact that a player seemingly just almost died takes some of the edge off this pathetic series performance from the Yanks.

Hey everyone, it's official. The Red Sox swept the Yanks again and sent them into a post-sweep tailspin again. I'm embarrassed.

[327] yeah, i thought that too. might not be a bad way to get his feet wet for a little bit.

meanwhile, "cokey's" been real good recently.

meanwhile boston is being 1-hit (a HR) by ricky nolasco and his 7+ ERA

[330] I dunno, kind of opportunistic of me when Gardner just got hurt.

[327] Actually, it makes him a 'J.D. Phallus drewesii’'...

[334] Thank ****ing god. God be with that young man.

I love you guys (and gals)

[247] If by 4 ERA you mean 3.89, and if by slightly above average you mean 116 ERA+, then I guess I agree with you, but probably not. For what it's worth, Wang's ERA+ during his four seasons before this one 105, 124, 124, 109. So, slumping Joba is ever so slightly worse than ace Wang. Yes, put him in the BP.

[251] Because Wang’s performance was the result of being jerked around and injured.

Or just being injured. In any case, the observation is irrelevant. You would should show a clearly underperforming pitcher greater patience than one who has pitcheed well but had a couple of mediocre starts. Boggles the mind.

Also, Wang does not have the same potential to dominate as a reliever.

How do you know? By your own thinking, wouldn't it make more sense to move Wang to the BP and a) allow him to learn to pitch out of the BP and b) let him recover from injury?

Joba, meanwhile, is learning how to pitch, and the Yankees have too many holes on this team to afford that luxury.

But they do have the luxury to a) move their second best starter into the BP, and b) fritter away starts on an injured pitcher as extended spring training?

Boggles. the. mind.

I liked Melky a lot better when he was hitting .315

My hope springs eternal. However, IF they lose, I hope they get shut out. Anoother fruitless comeback would, well.......suck.

[339] why? why do you do these things to yourself?

If they call someone up, it might be Todd Linden. He plays CF, he's hitting very well in Scranton, and he's a 29-year-old journeyman. No worries about hurting his development.

[313] You may, but I don't know that Joba's BB problems are an aberration.

[337] only the 5th inning, but still. unfortunately I already shifted focus to toronto and TB. Really can't see the yanks taking the division, until they win a game v boston

Ha the Yankees have no-one on the bench except Berroa. They have emptied the frigging cupboard in an effort to somehow, some way, beat the fearsome Nationals.

Dig deep, fellas! Stare the devil in the eye! I know you can do it.

[343] not likely, he's been sold to Japan.

[334] Nolasco had an ERA+ of 121 in 212 innings last year.

[347] Really? I hadn't heard that. Which team?

I am actually enjoying myself now. Expecting the team to do well against the Nats was stressful. Now that I've accepted their haplessness, it's kind of funny.

[349] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

[339] The difference, again, is opportunity cost. If Wang is slightly better than Joba as a starter, and Joba has had a stint as a dominant reliever, I think the choice is clear.

Also, if you take a look at Joba's FIPs, I don't think his current ERA of 3.89 is that encouraging.

Sox in a rain delay after 5. Fish up 2-1.

The Yanks need to quit trying to hit home runs - unfortunately as I say that A Rod comes to the plate.

What an inspired inning.

Wow...not even Joe Beimel can cure the Yankee bats. After an impressive Melky walk it was very heartening to see the team go back to hacking away. No one wants to actually sustain a rally. They might have to reschedule their flight.

[351] Thanks. Not much in Scranton then, except Jackson. Duncan and Rodriguez are hitting well, but I don't think either of them can really handle CF.

If I hear some bs excuses from Girardi and Co. I am breaking my remote.

[358] perhaps then you should use it first

A Rod is turning into the Yankees' own David Ortiz.

I'll make Red Sox fans a deal - you let A Rod get back on the juice, and we'll let Ortiz back on the juice. Whaddaya say?

I don't like seeing pitchers wearing 30 and 31. It's just wrong.

If Gritty is out, Melky is our CFer, and JD as backup. But we are short a #4 OFer.

[359] The one good thing about Cablevision is that they are good about replacing remotes.

[358] The don't watch. Accountability isn't in his vocabulary. We are witnessing the curse of Joe Torre. Not because grandpa Joe put a curse on the team, but because the Yankee brass is now so committed to not looking like they were wrong, that we'll be stuck with Girardi for a lot longer than warranted.

has the game resumed? gamecast is still frozen...

[357] I hear Angel Berroa does a mean Lonnie Smith impression. Unfortunately it's the current age Lonnie. : /

Fire Girardi. Just fire him, for shits and giggles. Just to shake things up. The stadium won't spontaneously combust if Tony Pena becomes interim coach. And so what if it does!

[364] I want to take this opportunity to apologize to Torre yet again. He was terrible at bullpen management, but at least he was entertaining.

Can the Yanks trade Veras to the Nationals now and have him come in to close the game in the 9th?

[367] I should say "interim manager" ...

is kay gone?

Top of the 9th,, Robertson in.

damn, no such luck.

[348]

So Nolasco = Wang?

ah, i see it now. forget it. i'm gonna start practicing. sooner i'm done, sooner to beer!

[363] they're also really good at contracting the amount of channels you get without a box (without any warning)

[368] Had I known that Girardi would be an even worse game and roster manager than Torre, I wouldn't have been so eager to see him replaced. Of course, it would be nice to think the Yankees could have done a more exhaustive search for the man who would run their $200m investment.

[374] If you mean someone with a track record that you don't give up on because they struggle when returning from an injury...then...Yes.

Yanks lead off walk = zippo. Nats lead off walk....to be continued.

Hey on the bright side, Cabrera drew a pretty nice walk.

And that's the end of the good news for this game.

[369] Now that's a plan!

Except knowing the Yankees' luck, he would shut them down and they would trade for him back again!

Oh, you gotta be kidding. He thinks Nieves is gonna steal?

manny acta will be looking for a job soon. he's young and down with sabermetrics. familiar w/ NY from his time w/ the Muts. i know the front office will never give him a chance, but who knows - maybe he'd do alright...

A pitchout?

If the Nats fire Manny Acta, the Yankees should hire him to replace Girardi. This Nats team is so bad that I can't believe they have 18 wins.

Why are the Yankees worrying about Nieves? Does Girardi have any sense??

The problem is, I don't think Girardi can take these veterans to task. He doesn't have the pedigree, age nor demeanor. And I think someone needs to tear shit up right about now.

Wow.

Amazing Cano even got the one after that.

[378] If by proven record, you mean proven record of sligtly above average (using your own evaluation of an ERA+ of c. 120), then yes, we are on the same page. I agree, one does not give up on that sort of performance.

Oh, brother.

I really do see bad things for the season watching games/series like this.

[386] Least of all veterans that he played with. Can he really send Andy to the bullpen? Move Jeter off SS? Make Posada the DH?

In retrospect, the hiring off Girardi was a big mistake. This team needed to make a clean break from the past and hire the best and brightest. They didn't do that and the result has been the mediocrity of the past two seasons.

DId NIck get skinnier?

[382] [385] apologies?

Yesterday it was the wave and beach balls in the bleachers. Today, it's the roll call for the YES booth. This team has sucked the life out of the Stadium that fans now need to create their own fun.

[388] Your not really comparing Wang's body of work to Joba's, right?

[352] Among the Yankees starters, he is 2nd in VORP, DIPS and FIPS

So I wouldn't be rushing him to the Bullpen. By many measures, he is the team's 2nd best starter.

It's like ... I don't even want to root for a 9th inning comeback. It just seems wrong, like these circumstances simply should not be.

"Oh my god what a comeback to beat the dangerous Nationals!"

[390] I think fans and even the team has tried to ignore the signs, but aside from the winning streak, this team has been right around .500. As great as those dramatic wins were, it disguised the fact that the Yankees really had to battle to win games at homes against what should be lesser competition.

not even gardner's intensity seems to have fired up the offense.

[393] Apologies for what? The only reason they sent Nieves is because Girardi gift wrapped a perfect count for a hit and a run.