The Yankees were lucky to take two of three from the Mets two weekends ago. Literally. Only Luis Castillo dropping a pop up in the first game—one of the flukiest plays I’ve ever seen giving the fact that it turned the last out of a Mets win into the last play of a Yankee win in the course of the ball falling six feet to the ground—prevented the Mets from winning that series.
Since then, the Mets have gone 5-5 and added Carlos Beltran to their list of key players on the DL (along with Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Oliver Perez and J.J. Putz). That means more major league exposure for 20-year-old top prospect Fernando Martinez, who enters the series on an 0-for-14 bender and is hitting .167 on the season. It ain’t pretty, but it should make Mets fans appreciate the .336/.425/.527 line Beltran put up before hitting the DL.
Tonight the Mets send 25-year-old sophomore groundballer Mike Pelfrey to the hill tonight. Pelfrey had a great run of seven starts from late April through the end of May in which he posted a 2.96 ERA while the Mets went 6-1, but he’s been unimpressive since, even tossing out his stinker against the Pirates on June 4.
The Yankees counter with CC Sabathai, who left his last start in the second inning with discomfort in his left bicep, but has reported no further problems since. The injury interrupted a streak of eight-straight games in which he completed seven innings. Sabathia was 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA over that stretch. The Yankees noticed Sabathia was hurting his last time out because he wasn’t finishing his pitches and was leaving everything up. Look out for that in the early going today.
Melky Cabrera, who missed yesterday’s game with the flu, is in right field tonight as Nick Swisher takes a seat. Brett Gardner, who has hit .342/.432/.513 since May 13, seems to be winning the center field job back. Francisco Cervelli, who hit his first major league homer on Wednesday night, will catch Sabathia for the seventh time this season.
New York Mets
2009 Record: 37-34 (.521)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 36-35 (.507)
Manager: Jerry Manuel
General Manager: Omar Minaya
Home Ballpark (Park Factors): CitiField (100/99)
Who’s Replacing Whom:
- Nick Evans (minors) replaces Carlos Beltran (DL)
- Argenis Reyes (minors) replaces Wilson Valdez
- Patrick Misch (minors) and Elmer Dessens (minors) replace Ken Takahashi (minors) and Jon Switzer
25-man Roster:
1B – Dan Murphy (L)
2B – Luis Castilla (S)
SS – Alex Cora (L)
3B – David Wright (R)
C – Omir Santos (R)
RF – Ryan Church (L)
CF – Fernando Martinez (L)
LF – Fernando Tatis (R)
Bench:
R – Nick Evans (1B)
R – Gary Sheffield (OF)
L – Brian Schneider (C)
L – Jeremy Reed (OF)
S – Argenis Reyes (IF)
Rotation:
L – Johan Santana
R – Mike Pelfrey
R – Tim Redding
R – Livan Hernandez
R – Fernando Nieve
Bullpen:
R – Francisco Rodriguez
L – Pedro Feliciano
R – Robert Parnell
R – Sean Green
R – Brian Stokes
L – Patrick Misch
R – Elmer Dessens
15-day DL:
CF – Carlos Beltran (bone bruise in knee)
SS – Jose Reyes (hamstring)
OF – Angel Pagan (groin)
IF – Ramon Martinez (dislocated finger)
RHP – John Maine (shoulder fatigue)
LHP – Oliver Perez (patellar tendonitis)
RHP – J.J. Putz (bone spur in elbow)
60-day DL:
1B – Carlos Delgado (torn hip labrum)
LHP – Billy Wagner (TJ)
Typical Lineup:
L – Alex Cora (SS)
L – Dan Murphy (1B)
R – David Wright (3B)
R – Fernando Tatis (LF)
L – Ryan Church (RF)
R – Omir Santos (C)
L – Fernando Martinez (LF)
S – Luis Castillo (2B)
Notes: Nick Evans has temporarily supplanted Dan Murphy at first-base, while Brian Schneider and Omir Santos continue to split the catching duties.
They gonna play the game? Severe thunderstorm warnings. And raining like cats and dogs here (upstate).
It's official: Andy Phillips is a Hiroshima Carp. He's getting $400,000. Less than half what Aaron Guiel got, but then, the season's half over.
Tokyo, if you're around, how's Guiel doing in Tokyo? I read that he hit a grand slam a couple of weeks ago.
[1] aaron guiel? wow, i *completely* forgot about that guy. how 'bout Charles Gipson?!
CC had better stand for "Come Correct" tonight! We don't need no stinking bashes every time a Mets hitter swings a bat!
Gatorade Tiger Focus, CC...
It really works!
: )
[2] Hey, I like keeping track of former Yankees!
Sir Sidney tested positive for a stimulant during the WBC and is banned from international competition for two years.
Bronson Sardinha has been unable to get a job anywhere. The guy was our first round draft pick in 2001. We gave him a million dollars as a signing bonus. He's only 26. And he can't even get a job in the independent leagues.
Kevin Reese is now a scout for the Yankees.
Kevin Thompson signed with the Newark Bears this spring, but was released after only three weeks. Not sure what happened there. He seemed to be playing well enough.
Jeter's out of the lineup. He's sick. Pena is playing SS.
[4] oh, i know and i think it's great! : )
yeah, i mentioned that about Sir Pontoon on an earlier thread today.
keep us updated!!!
hopefully we play tonight. we play tonight, we win tonight.
(we drink lotsa beer, either way!)
[5] too much pre-partying in the Atl, i imagine. something tells me i shouldn't feel bad for him...
or, maybe = 35 is really OLD! ; )
(personally, i think it's a fabulous age, ahem)
they shoulda stayed here - it's 90+ degrees and sunny...
[7] They said it's a respiratory problem. He's got a really bad cough. It's been going around the clubhouse. Same thing Melky had, I guess. Kim Jones said a lot of the players have been sick.
I find it hard to believe that Jeter is 35...
Posada is out of the lineup just because the game was so long, and the temps so hot and humid yesterday. Girardi just wanted to give him a day off.
Wind and rain has led to several brief blackouts on my block in north Jersey, but it looks to have blown over. It's 6:40pm as I type that.
[9] i find it really hard to believe that i'm 35! : ~
I just hope that CC is OK.
Pete Abe reports:
He also reports that Nady tore his liagament and will need TJ surgery. He's out of the year, and may miss next year, too.
I feel for Nady. He had a career year in '08 and was headed for a nice free agency payday, but this could totally derail his career and he never got that contract. As for the Yankees, it would have been nice to have him back as a bench bat, but they'll survive without him, and now there's no risk of them being the team that overpays for him.
[11] I got socks that old, Thelarmis!
: )
Still not raining here. I think they'll be fine in Queens shortly.
[14] Gotta give X credit. He tried like hell to come back and play this year, even though it probably would have been best for his career if he just had the surgery done when the injury happened.
[14] I look at this way: the Yankees' relative depth at OF allowed them to absorb the injury to Nady (Swisher went from supersub to starter). Meanwhile they have been able to work in more ABs for Melky/Gardy. I was skeptical that they would work out, but the combo has been ok. And, if Nady had come back, either Melky or Gardner would not be on the 25 man roster. So In the end, losing Nady hasn't really disrupted things very much.
That said, I do I feel bad for him, of course.
[18] or Brett Tomko was gonna take a dirt nap. I don't think either Gardner or Melky were going *anywhere*.
Mute point now ...
[14] That's kind of what happened to Craig Wilson. He had chronic shoulder pain (I think that's why didn't hit as well for us as expected). Shoulder tendinitis and bone spurs. He had surgery the next year, but never really recovered. (Most major league players don't, it seems.) They were expecting him to sign a multiyear contract worth at least $5 million a year once he finally escaped Pittsburgh. Didn't work out that way.
Funny, Randy, because Craig Wilson was the comparison I made when the Yankees traded for Nady. Check the last few paragraphs here.
[19] Maybe. I think that it's pretty cleary they would keep back-up two infielders. matsui at DH. Two catchers. Add in the starters and Melky/Garnder and I get 14 position players.
You think they would have gone with only 11 pitchers?
If X came back, either Ransom/Pena goes or Melky/Gardner goes, I'm pretty sure.
[17] Cult, I disagree. TJ would have (and now has) wiped out his season and his contract. If he had come back and hit in the second half, it would have benefited him as much as the team. Not that I don't give him credit for trying to come back, just that I don't think it was a completely selfless act.
[22] of those 2 sets, one of Ransom/Pena would be far more likely.
They can't send Melky down and Gardner is clearly a game changing late inning runner, even if he's not starting.
Neither of those 2 were going anywhere.
So it becomes a question of Rikki-Tikki and the 2nd inf.
I suppose I'd bet on the 2nd INF, just because that's the way things seem to shake out, but with Hughes AND Aceves, I think you could easily go with 6 relievers. They could always use the Scranton shuttle to cycle somebody in if there was an emergency at some point.
[21] Wow, that's kind of uncanny.
I do think Nady has a better chance of staying in baseball than Wilson. Elbow surgery is almost routine. It's shoulder surgery that's a total crapshoot. That's why they try to avoid shoulder surgery if at all possible. For ordinary people, impingement surgery is pretty routine, but baseball players don't use their arms like normal people. It's not routine for them.
Bubba Crosby is another one who never came back from shoulder surgery.
[23] well, except for the fact that even if he came back, he had a ticking time bomb in his arm, a bomb that might blow up and wreck a season for whatever team signed him next year. Nobody really knows with these platelet procedures and though he certainly would have gotten a look if he'd come back and played to level in the 2nd half, there's no way that he'd get the same contract as if he'd never gotten hurt. Mid-level corner OF is not a position of leverage right now.
If he'd had the surgery when it happened he'd be that much closer to recovery (TJ, even a 2nd one isn't that scary for a fielder); he'd probably have to take a 1 year deal to prove his health, but there's a very good chance that's what he was looking at this year if he'd come back for the 2nd half.
[11] pffffff... I got Luds older then you!
petey says start at 8
[25] Bubba Crosby never came back from hitting like Bubba Crosby.
[29] He might not have been all-star material, but several teams were interested in signing him as a reserve infielder or AAA insurance. He couldn't pass the physical.
Which is what happened to Wilson, too. He was released the first day of spring training, when he couldn't pass his physical.
[30] Arrgh. That's reserve outfielder, of course.
Looks like we're getting baseball. Gameday has switched from "delay" to "warmups," and the pregame coverage has started on My9.
[11]Hey, that's MY line! :)
[1] check here for stats http://tinyurl.com/orm7hl
I havn't seen my Yakult Swallows yet this season, but hope to catch a game soon. $15 dor general admission seats, not a bad deal as it's such a small stadium you can see from anywhere.
[33] Thanks! Holy cow. Guiel's on fire. .290 is a pretty high average for him.
For some odd reason they have Braves-RedSox on tv this morning, despite no Japanese players on the field this game...so GameDay for me to follow the Subway Series
Yay Gardy!
Gardner does it again...
[37] Yeah, doesn't run right away...
Bleh
Well at least that wasn't a GIDP
[39] Yay?
: )
Let's see what A-Rod can do with it.
A-Rod walks. It's up to Cano.
Feh
Cano with the weak groundout.
I wonder if his wrist is the problem.
Watching Josh Beckett..why is he so unlikeable? I keep hoping for the Braves to charge the mound for no reason..
[45] b/c he's a douche. I share your disdain. : )
[46] He just whiffed Larry to end the 3rd, no score there..ok, time to break the fast..
thelarmis: nice shout out to Ali Akbar Khan! You know your music my friend, am sure you know a lot of great Indian percussionists.
Wow. Johnny almost dropped that one.
Nice catch.
Good first inning for CC, that!
: )
good sign of no bicep issues
Citi Field kinda looks like a bland cardboard box compared to all the bells and whistles of New YS.
[47] thanks, man! none better than Zakir Hussain. he might actually be the BEST musician alive on the planet today! (sorry, herbie hancock. i did say might)
Zakir just did a wonderful series of Indian Classical music at Carnegie Hall the end of April. one night even had my favorite drumset player, Steve Smith on board. unfortunately, i missed it, but i'm sure there'll be a dvd...eventually!
we'z the same age, bro! : )
C'mon Ramiro!
Woohoo!
Mr. Pip!
CC with the single!
nice hit big man
Carsten Charles IN CHARGE!
And again!
: )
Alright, C.C., now get picked off.
sweet cc! nice job by the AAAA lineup there!
I guess Pelfrey is just sucking. Everyone's hitting him.
My God! Could Brett actually be a major league player?
[60] No! HR so he can jog in...
mets a mess
speed.
kills.
Ah, the Mets; : D
Pelfrey is not getting much help from his fielders.
[64] Or that...
Aren't you supposed to throw the ball to your teammates, as opposed to at the opposing runners?
C'mon Tex!
oh man. that's one of the worst plays i've ever seen.
Oh Lord, this is sick!
jesus that is more than a mess
Wow!
Mets sucking is acceptable!
: )
Unreal.
Deja 1964 Vu.
[52] Same indeed!
Do the Mets just really stink??
I can vouch that Jeff Francouer REALLY stinks..he just swung at a pitch low and outside even Soriano would lay off..
Leiter said the first baseman was just called up from AA, and doesn't usually play 1B.
Well, thank G-d I'm not a Met fan. Wow.
As I posted the last time they played the Mets--no matter how bad it gets, just look across town.
[58] Nicole Eggert!!! ; )
holy crap! the rest of the infield trying to make castillo feel better! ; )
I was gonna post and say Gardner easily passes CC on a double....
....and they make a THIRD error as I type!
/threestooges
[70] It depends. Are you playing kick ball?
hey Robbie, how about you sweep the leg here?
sweep the leg, robbie! nice n early, let's do it!!!
Nice how A-Rod gets his "In Game Rest" not having to swing and all...
[86] you really ARE trying to Pipp me! damn you, son!!! : p
Common Robbie.... break it open so the Mutts can relax...
THEY CAUGHT ONE!!!!!
LOL @ Cheer of Castillo!
Good approach from Cano there--hit it at their fielders. It just didn't work out that time. Get 'm next time, Robbie!!
[86] great minds drink alike! it'll still be a few hours before i can get my drunk on...
let's go leche!!!
more runs, pleeze!!!
[82] Nah, if you're going there..how about Erika "something" from the original Baywatch?
But for me it's always going to be Sherilynn "Audrey" Fenn from Twin Peaks!
Braves get baserunners but no runs off the Grinch..
poor Pelfrey, feel bad for the guy..
C'mon Melky!
who does pelfrey keep looking at in the dugout after every ball call? does he want manuel to come out and argue balls and strikes?
Nice four spot!
Being a Met's fan right now would be...unacceptable.
[96] hmmm ... i'd go Fenn > Eggert > Eleniak
mmm, sherilyn fenn
[96] i never watched babewatch or twin peaks. i was remember nicole eggert from charles in charge. my god, she was gorgeous!!! : )
kay just said "the amazins were E-mazin' in that inning." am i missing something? what does that mean?
Melky should be held somewhat accountable for swinging at ball 4. : )
They rarely play her up in the movies she's done, but I loves me some Zooey Deschanel. http://tinyurl.com/o2entq
[101] Sherilyn..dark hair with green eyes..did you know she dated Prince at one point? (yes, I had a huge crush on her)
Big Poo-Poo just homered, Sox 1 - Braves 0
[103] It means Kay makes worse puns than my father even..
[106] guess the idea of gritner out-homering papi is officially over
[107] but what does it mean? did he mean to say "f-mazin" or "d-mazin" or something? e doesn't mean anything. in elementary school we got e's instead of a's.
[102] 10 years ago in Colorado I convinced a girl I had been on a Charles in Charge episode. How I got to that point I'll never know. Let's just say it was in a bar past midnight. lol.
wow the mets just can't catch any breaks
First one, yes. That check swing? Nope.
[109] e for error?
[113] oh haha that makes sense, still stupid though
[110] That is hysterical for so many reasons..a buddy of mine tried that by saying he was the original Balki on Perfect Strangers..
[113] [114] and i was about to make fun of leiter for being slow in understanding what cone was talking about with checked swings
[100] Being a Mets fan at any time is unacceptable.
[110] i don't know who should be more embarassed - you or her :}
though i am embarassed to admit i liked scott baio back then
[109] e = error
[105] mmm. beautiful. Kat!
[118] we all had out crushes back then..i think had a Madonna "True Blue" poster when i was 13..
Tokyo morning: already up past 30C degrees here, BoSox on tv, Mets radio on the web, lady and junior napping, i'm hanging laundry and Bantering..randym77, the weather is making me think it's time for a family trip to Jingu Stadium tonight for a Swallows game!
Yay Ramiro!
[118] My wife is into Buddy Lembeck.
pena looking quite adept at the plate tonight
You can only home to contain him...
Damn...I thought he had another hit up the middle.
good thing they were shading CC to pull!
[123] :}
cc is loving hitting
[121] Cool! Take a photo of ガイエル アーロン for me! ;-)
[12] I'm loving pitchers hitting
[110] that rules! i take it it worked...
[130]-->[123]
that would have been impressive
gritner is getting bolder out there
[129] Damn, they're away at the Giants tonight, at the Tokyo Dome..no indoor baseball for me! In two weeks at home against Yokohama Baystars then, will try and talk to Guiel-san and get some thoughts on his years here. Your katakana is right on!
[132] OK, that was meant for [128]
Screw me..it wasn't even an interesting comment.
[121] i think i still have a crush on Heather Locklear! : )
[137] I still like Traci Lords...
: )
i still like jessica rabbit
where's mattpat? - i would have thought news on pontoon would bring him to the banter
[135] Is it common for fans to talk to players over there, or are you a member of the media or something?
[139] Was she modelled on Rita Hayworth? Recently saw "Gilda" from the 1940s..my god..Rita Hayworth!!!
[142] wikipedia: "Jessica was based on Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946), and Veronica Lake (noted for her famous "Peek-A-Boo" hairstyle)."
[143] nice, thanks!
[141] Not really, and I'm not in the media. Just easy to get near the foul line and shout out in English, sure to get any gaijin players attention. My buddy from Venezuela had a running dialogue with some of the latin players when we were at a game last year
pelfrey's "curveball" looks like a 75 mph straight throw
Cone has to be fired. He just dared to say that Girardi is doing a great job managing the bullpen. Unacceptable evaluation.
[146] then he could take over for eiland.
1-2-3 inning???
UNacceptable!
Opinion poll--
Alex and Joey Cora are the worst pair of brothers ever to play in MLB?
[114] Interesting.
One day, I want to go to Japan and go to a baseball game.
Sweet Lou admits he "once smoked pot"..methinks Lou came of age in the 60s and 70s, it was more than "once"...wonder if Soto gets suspended for that?
Actually Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster) was prettier to me than the Jessica Rabbit basis’s, as were Lena Horne and Rita Moreno...
Leiter v. Cone. Funny.
[152] Rita Moreno? "The Electric Company"? "Hey, you guys!!!" Was she a sex symbol?
[151] people don't believe me most of the time when i tell them about never being stoned. hell, i've never even tasted coffee before!
i read that article though, kinda funny. : )
[154] http://www.jsrpages.co.uk/scansm/moreno/rita%20moreno7y.jpg
[154] http://www.nbizz.com/greatstone/listings/44.jpg
[152] yvonne de carlo is really sexy without the lily munster stuff on.
[155] pot and coffee are both delicious. but good for you, you're better off without either.
It's refreshing to hear players who seem to have some historical sense of the game...certainly more than the non-player in the booth.
alex looking better in the field tonight too
Watching Cervelli behind the plate, it's hard to believe this kid was in AA ball last year. Very mature.
CC Rider!
Black Sabbath-ia!
Carsten Nielsen!!! (ooh, sorry. underground reference to the original drummer and co-founder of Denmark's first thrash/speed metal band Artillery!!!)
[154] I don't know the link codes whatsoever. So bear with me. If you go to youtube and type in Easy Reader the first clip is a classic Morgan Freeman-Rita Moreno clip. Speaking of stoned, they were ALL stoned. : D
[161] honestly, i keep waiting for him to start sucking and it keeps not happening.
[158] i hate the way they both smell. i get my caffeine from Barq's root beer! i can't stand smoke of ANY kind. i used smoke evil cancer sticks though. loooong time ago. i did try pot in high school. it was AWFUL. did nothing for me. then again, i barely tried it. i have zero interest in drugs... (sorry OYF!!! i'm a disappointing musician, i know...)
think i'll stick with beer! mmmm, beer. : )
[163] Maybe after taping, but not while teaching kids to read.
"Easy Reader, that's muh name! Uh, uh, uh..."
: )
Damn Beckett throwing a shutout again..will we ever catch up to the Sox?
Oh, 165+ comments in, must be time for a "Fire Girardi!" post
[167] "Clearly since CC is pitching while injured tonight, this is yet another Girardi managerial firing offense!"
: )
[166] During taping. Nobody can convince me otherwise. "When I itches, I scratches, when I'm bored I read matches." "Wait a minute, Easy! You don't smoke!" Kills me.
damn you sheff!!
well ... there went that idea!
I hate Michael Kay!
[165] wow i can understand not liking either for their effects, but you don't like the smells? coffee is one of the best smells in the world.
we're really letting Pelfrey off the hook. i mean, Bats in the Pelfrey, and all. ugh. i should stick to my day job. wait, i don't HAVE a day job. oy vey! : ~
I hate the smell of coffee, too.
Bollocks. damn. the Iron Sheff strikes.
I'm going to send Duct Tape to YES for the next time a Yankee hurler has a perfecto past the first time through the order so they can apply it to Kay's hole!
Frankie, He's throwing 95+ for the love of Pete. bleh.
[175] strength in number! wahoo!
[173] i can't stand incense, either. stuff makes me ill...
[167] Did you see that bomb by Sheff? CC is clearly gassed...why roll the dice with him pitching with a sore arm. Girardi is totally panicking. He's managing tight. And he's asleep at the switch. If the Mets didn't commit those errors we'd be LOSING right now. Is anyone accountable?
leiter has weighed in on sliding versus running through the bag - verdict running through!!
jesus mk stfu
alright settle down big man
maple bats gonna kill somebody ...
[175] Blasphemy.
mmmmmmm....... Coffee.......
Evans may not have a good glove at 1B, but he can hit.
[180] LOL Nice.
[180] cashman's the one who signed the fat guy!
[187] Win or lose, Girardi and Cashman have to go.
isn't that a dead ball when it hits his foot?
ok
The cruelest of outcomes for a batter. Sucker.
[191] The Mets really do bring the odd and embarrassing.
All I can think of is My Heinous a%$#.
In "Kay's World,"
One Solo Shot = A Rough Inning
Shoot me now!
i'm out. need to run to the studio for a short while. gotta get a little prak in and pick up my drums. game may very well be over by the time i get back, but i'll check in later...
have fun, play nice and...
GO YANKS!!!
[194] I liked when he asked if any "angst" was creeping in when CC gave up a couple of hits, followed by painful silence from the former pitchers in the booth. Then he quickly changed the topic.
"Every Krap Begins with Kay!"
[180] Hmmmm....Me thinks that horse might be a bit dead.....
Hey thelarmis,
How lucky are those damn Bosox fans getting a whole weekend in the ATL. If the Yanks were there, I'd go to every game. I got in at 1a.m. last night and I was a zombie at work all day.
[198] I like Zombies. Very good drink, those...
[198] Maybe...except..[167][168][186][187]
[198] i just hope i don't see those 2 asshole fans in full Boston unis at my watering hole later! bravos getting shutout 4-zip. : (
i'm out. be back in an hour/half or so.
rock on, y'all
Gardner 3 for 4.
Peas Thelarmis!
[202] His AVG is higher than Damon's now...
: O
[202] That Gardy..I like the cut of his jib...
man even the mets grounds crew sucks
This is a serious question--what "rights" does a pitcher have to demand that the grounds crew fix the mound? Does the umpire have to give his consent? Or the head groundskeeper?
Or because Wilpon is trying to will his team to become the Brooklyn Dodgers?
castillo seems to complain about every strike call. those first 2 pitches were right down the middle.
[208] ?? Are you referring to the Ebbets Field type design of the new ballpark?
Gardner has a ridiculous .430 OBP this month. He's gotta come back to earth sometime, but it sure is fun while it lasts.
[207] idk the actual rule - but it seems the pitcher lets the ump know the mound is not right and the ump calls the grounds crew out. it doesn't seem like pitcher ever communicates directly for the grounds crew to come out.
[210] Sorry about that...while there was a short delay, Kay, Cone and Leiter were opining about why there were no mets colors at all in the new stadium. They posited various light-hearted theories.
And to answer your question: yeah. Jackie Robinson rotunda? In a Mets park?
[212] just to follow-up i think the ump gives automatic consent unless he feels the pitcher's bitching goes overboard.
[206] LMAO
[207] I would argue that any pitcher can ask for the mound to be "reset" if he's uncomfortable with it, especially with the landing area so as to not get injured.
[213] Ah, gotcha. Yeah, very odd..especially when you think that the two Mets championship teams were easily two of the more memorable of the last 40 years..wouldn't you want to highlight those teams a bit more?
[211] He’s gotta come back to earth sometime..
I don't know about that..he's got a lot of grit!
More seriously--you're right, he's a blast to watch when he's going good.
[207] don't see anything in the rules about it. but did anyone know that this is actually a rule (part of 3.09): "Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while in uniform"?
I hope the Yanks tack on a few more runs, then give CC a couple of innings off.
Ya know, one of the downsides of these early-leads-that-looks-like-a-win, is the ensuing rather polite and bloodless thread. I mean, can't somebody insult someone? Do I need to speak about traditional oriental sexual customs? If this keeps up, people like Hoss are going to start participating in the threads again. And you know what that means. Even more moderate and intelligent conversation.
We don't want that, do we?
[218] Sadly, I did know that rule existed.
[218] How much of a "tab" has Jeter run up for Kangaroo Court because of that?
: )
[201] no kidding. Why would someone put on a full Boston uniform, right down to the stirrups and go to a Yankees Braves game? BTW, end of the game I was down in left-center. I was yelling John-ny Da-mon, hoping he'd turn and there was a 45 year old man with his 10 year old son. Anyway, every time I'd yell that, he'd yell "Sucks!" What a fine example he is for his child.
[217] yeah, since it has been so long (or at least seems so long) since the yanks had a true speedster gardner is a fun weapon to have when he is getting on-base. after gardner's no-go when he was supposed to run he has been a lot more aggressive (and succesful) running.
[218] pj knows that rule! :}
PH? I would.
Wow... Cano hussle! Next up... smow in June.
[218] Maybe they can enforce this next Sox-Yanks series, sparing us all the french-kissing between Jeter and Youkilis..
[223] an adult in stirrups needs to be dealt with, and dealt with harshly..
[223] Now you know why Atlanta was set ablaze during the mid-1860's...
: )
poor guy - never going to be a good pitcher with that name
[224] Damn straight!
: )
[207] i suppose rule 3.10(c) is the applicable rule: "The umpire-in-chief shall be the sole judge as to whether and when play shall be suspended during a game because of unsuitable weather conditions or the unfit condition of the playing field..."
Cervelli ALMOST made me eat my words. Almost.
[231] Aha! That would do it. Thanks.
[227] [228] the guy yelling "sucks" wasn't the one wearing the Boston uniforms. They were just a couple of dweeb-asses trying to stir up trouble. But I do think the older guy was a Sox fan.
Most of the Atlanta fans were pretty cordial. There were two drunk guys standing near us and one of them kept turning to me, and seeing my Yankee jersey, and yelling "Yankees Suck". I thought for a moment he was going to hit me or something. Geez, takes all kinds I guess. I guess if he'd ended up being someone's "friend" in jail and knowing he had a Yankee fan to thank for the privilege it might make him hate us even more.
If you can't laugh at youself.......
[235] yourself. Youself for Joe Pesci I guess.
[235] thing is he might drop another from laughing
would have been nice to tack on a few there
For all of Sheffield's faults, I liked him on our side. He was (is) an intimidating dude in the box.
good evening folks ...
I wonder if we might be able to get Milton Bradley in a salary dump now. Yes, I realize he's a lunatic, but when he's on he can be a dangerous hitter; given Nady being done, Matsui hanging by a string, Swish being so-so for awhile now, and our lack of depth on the bench, I wonder if Cash would even consider it.
[239] Hiyas Diane!
: )
[239] Hola, Diane
What language does Russ Salzberg speak? I don't think it's English.
[238] i like sheff flaws and all. and definitely initmidating.
[240] I would pay good drachma to see a conversation between Joe Girardi and Milton Bradley..
Papelbon gave up a homer and double in the 9th but still closed it out.
time to pack up and head out for a Jerk Chicken and Carib Lager lunch, Let's Go Yanks!
well, so much for CC throwing fewer pitches tonite.
[243] loud
[239] you missed some egregious puns from mk
I probably would have hit for CC and sent in someone to finish the last two innings.
[243]
It was much worse when he sat next to excessively blonde and not too bright Cora Ann Mihalik.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Gritty Gardner
Look at, Papi. Holy smokes. The lil' G!
Brett! Gonna catch up with Big Papi eventually! ;-)
BIG SLAPPY!!!!!
Wow! Good night for Brett!
LOOK OUT BIG POOPI!
watch out papi - maybe gritner's power stroke is coming back!
You can only hope to contain...Gardy!
Look over your shoulder, Big Papi.
Swisher just reminded me of this... I'm paraphrasing of course...
Circle, circle, dot, dot. Now here is my cooty art!
Woohoo Gritner!
wow, what a game for Gardner!
[249] Oh yeah. I remember her from her days on Ch. 5.
making the official loss of nady even less of a loss
Just checking in at the Banter.
I was supposed to fly to the UK tonight. But I was flying out of Newark. Couldn't even get into Newark. (Bet you never heard of someone disappointed not to be able to get into Newark, huh?)
I'll try again tomorrow. In the mean time,
GO YANKEES!
[252, 253. 254, 256, 257, 258]
Sweet.
[245] No question. Milton's personality, at times, reminds me of Sheff....It would be nice if he could find the right home and just focus on hitting. He did have a 163 and 153 OPS+ the last two seasons, so he could be huge in our lineup (and in our park). Of course he is on his 7th MLB team in only 10 seasons for a reason....
He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
you god damn stat padder!
Boy, this is fun. Yeah. This is better.
Early June doesn't count, I call.
[243] I think that's Bob Cousy-ese complete with inserted marbles...
Woohoo Alex!
Passes Reggie!
: O
Tack-on-Alex : o
Damn! That looked like a lazy flyball to RF. Man, ARod must be strong!
[266] Text Buster Olney, Rich.
like i saids last night, alex is hitting the up the middle and the other way ... and that's a VERY GOOD thing
So Citi Field is obviously a bandbox, huh?
Elmer's Glue ...
Now we can rest CC.
[263] that stinks riyank - least you get to enjoy this game
Cute-cute-curecutecute!
mmmmmm... Kate Hudson.
[272] Heh.
[276] you'd think so, but joey won't ...
[277] Thanks, yeah.
Oh well, assuming I do get to Edinburgh, I'll probably enjoy it all the more.
[273] yeah that seems to correlate pretty well with alex being on
[240] Bradley can slug, no doubt. The only problem, which we were discussing near the beginning of thread, is that with A-Rod hurt, the team will probably want to carry two BU IF. If they carry 12 pitchers, that means there is no room for another OF.
Now, if they had the balls to carry only 11 pitchers or one BU IF...
[272] Buster Olney has sucked royally since he left the NY Times for ESPN..
GO GO ALEX!!! Passing Reggie..wow...
gnite everyone, it's great to beat the Muts in their new identa-kit retro park!
[272] and we ensure that Mo doesn't have to pitch so he's available tomorrow and sunday.
[263] was there a massive mj vigil in your way or something?
The Mets should use gloves, like other teams.
And a balk, as the Mets work their way through every sort of error in the rule book.
man ... could you imagine William as a Met fan right now?
[286] Ha.
I guess it was the lightning.
[281] Bleh! No Yankees in Edinburgh, unless you take your laptop...
Have a safe trip RYI! Taking golf clubs perhaps?
: )
[283] true but they were going to bring back Nady (and I don't think they were going to unload Swish). I get the point, I'd just like to have that bat and that OBP. Damn can you imagine that lineup. And really, now would be the time to strike because the Cubbies have pretty much had enough of his act.
Would it be too mercenary to obtain him and then invent a reason to DL Matsui or even release him?
And I think you'd have to hire a team shrink to room with him. Maybe I'm too seduced by his OPS+
I picked a great inning to get home...after listening to Sterling, it's nice to actually see what's going on.
Just scanning the game thread...seems as if a dominant C.C., a sloppy defense and some late power has monkeypants declaring all is well in the Yankees world! :)
better watch out for lil miss trouble parnell
Cervelli = animated
[293] even you have to admit things look up when alex is swinging the bat well
[289] If I was a Met fan, I'd take a look at the roster and be grateful this was a somewhat close game for 8 innings. I lived through 1989-92...my expectations are never irrational.
Kevin Thompson got in trouble for "fraternizing" with the other team. He was playing in the minors, after he left the Yankees. I don't know if the umpires said anything, but his own manager pulled him from the game and suspended him or some such thing. The manager was plecked off about other infractions, or I doubt he'd have done that. Players fraternize all the time. If you show up really early at minor league games, you'll see players in different uniforms hugging each other, talking, patting each other on the butt, etc. A lot of them have been traveling from team to team for years. They're old friends, and act like it.
[291] I played today for the first time this year. Didn't hurt anybody. I only used 4 balls and yelled "FORE" once. Par for the course is the idiom I would choose. : D
[291] Thanks!
I will have my laptop, and I'm pretty sure no games are blacked out in Scotland.
I hate golf. Too bad, I guess. Actually, I might like the Scottish kind, it seems more like a sport.
I guess that's it for me. I'll check in tomorrow, from Newark...
[293] and William, I'm trying to work out a deal to get you some extra OBP....[240]
[296] Absolutely...when C.C. dominates and Alex rakes, the Yankees better look great, especially against an inferior opponent. The key is how do they finish the weekend and finish up the second half. TB and Boston are now winning with regularity, so the Yankees can't be content to play win one; lose one.
[292] I agree entirely. We were discussing earlier who would have been sent down/released had Nady come back.
[293] Well, I did express some mild displeasure that there was no PH for Cervelli the inning before, so I was trying at least to keep the flame burning for you. ; )
[280] i stand corrected. thank you joe.
A Tomko-proof lead?
[300] Golf in Scotland is played along the ground, grit-style...
Latas!
: )
Wow. Love me some South Beach.
As good a D as I've seen Alex play in a while.
man, alex is en fuego at 3rd tonite.
A few days of rest and we have a new ARod! Mets announcers VERY impressed with ARods D.
[300] good luck.
arod looks good on both sides. his arm is looking as good as ever these days. remember how shitty his throws to 1st were in 06?
[301] Milton Bradley? I don't mind head cases, but Milton Bradley might go a step beyond.
Has Arod been making these plays all game? John Sterling was going ba-n-an-as, but that could mean he fielded a one hopper right at him.
[310] they're not the only ones. he's made more good plays at 3rd tonite than he has combined since he's come back.
[305] Is Tomko the new "run fairy" now that Veras is gone or (gasp) is that Wanger's burden for the rest of 2009.
William, what do you think of the idea of Milton Bradley being acquired on the cheap from the Cubbies who've already had enough?
Girardi finally reads the "Brett Tomko: Instructions for Use" manual....
[303] Believe it or not, I had no problem with that because I hate to break up a battery when the pitcher is rolling. I did think Pena should have been hit for, however, especially with Ransom back on the roster.
just to rain slighlt on the alex parade - he looks great tonight - this could lead to the conclusion is fine and doesn't need off days beyond yankee off days - i would rather the conclusion be the rest seems to have really helped him let's continur to give him the scheduled off day for a bit longer
[312] that's true, William, if he's got his head screwed on anyone would love to have him....the question is whether the Yanks could do that for him. He "seemed" to be relatively normal in Texas though I don't think we could ever know that for sure. Perhaps hypnotherapy or medication might help...
[299] "I only used 4 balls..."
There have been many days where I would deem that quite an accomplishment for myself, Just Fair!
I have posted 40 rounds so far this year into the handicap computer with nary a blue screen.
: )
I'm expecting to read that Alex will be getting a day off due to rope burns sustained at the hands of Kate Hudson.
[312] i think Milt gets more crap than he deserves, but ... he's a genuinely unbalanced person ... there's just no other way to put it.
and somehow, i think NYC is the *last* place he should be playing ... for everyone's sake.
Wow..did Leiter just say "my concern is that he goes into the BP and rots for 7 to 10 days," in reference to developing young pitchers?
I don't get to see the YES feed very often, and I am amazed how much basically frank and smart stuff Leiter and Cone have said tonight.
[314] He is owned $30mn over 3 years, so I'd have to pass. Bradley is esssentially an injury prone DH and the Yankees have enough of those guys. Also, while I am not a Girardi fan (as a manager), I wouldn't want to make his life that much more difficult.
[321] probably true.
[322] they are both very blunt and don't read the yes talking points.
[321] i do too. he kind of reminds me of ron artest - i don't think they mean to flip out and rgeret it after they do, but they don't have much control of theri actions or emotions.
[320] Hasn't he been playing with his hands tied long enough, Diane?
: )
[322] Cone is a breath of fresh air...he combines a love of the games history with a player's perspective AND an openess to sabermetric concepts. He is also very funny.
I love Leiter. He can be shockingly frank sometimes.
[325] yeah, that's pretty much it. i think he's generally a decent fellow, but there's *NO* control in the heat of the moment ... and so, it doesn't matter how long Milt goes being a wonderful teammate and well behaved model citizen, he's always one random triggering moment away from going batshitcrazynuts.
i also like that yes is willing to pair cone and leiter together too rather than believe that the booth can't have 2 pitchers
they are both great and they do well together
Clap clap clap
HOLY CRAP, 5 HITS FOR GRITNER!!!
that would be a cycle if cc hadn't been on base for one of those singles
words. fail. me.
Did Gardner just hit for the cycle? Nope, I guess he missed the double.
Holy crap! Triple! That's 5 hits for Gardner!
Yup... this kid is a AAAA player at best.
Number 11 in your program and number 1 in your heart. Lil' G.
Let me get this straight:
Ellsbury is an up and coming star, but Gardner is a 4th OFer????
Gardner seems to have forgotten those defensive miscues from last night....
Rays are 15-7 in June now (Yankees are 12-11). I hope the Yankees have the ship righted and some of these losses against weaker competition doesn't come home to roost.
[333] That's it! That's why I thought he had a 2B [335].
If Sabathia wasn't on base ahead of him in the second inning, Gardner would have had a cycle.
I am very happy to admit that I was dead wrong about Gardner. I know it's early, but I didn't think he could sustain an OPS+ over 100 for this long. If he can keep this up, he is a bonafide weapon.
OK, so now give A-Rod the rest of the night off and move Swish to 1B. Yep, Matsui in to PH.
Judge Mo will order C.C to pay 2 steak dinners for costing Gardner his cycle double. Or maybe C.C. will just pat him on his head.
[343] I too was skeptical, my skepticism tempered only by my utter loss of faith in Melky. I figured Garder was the lesser of two eveils, but he has played above my expectations so far. As you say, can he keep it up?
[339]
Ellsbury OPS+ 93
Gardner OPS+ 97
Clearly Jacoby is a superstar.
[347] Ellsbury wished he had Gardner's speed...
[347] It's that damn Boston hype machine AKA ESPN.
[346] well, does he *have* to? i mean, on a constant basis. right now, we've got the luxury of being able to mix-n-match with gardner, melky and swisher.
play the hot ones, nobody gets over-exposed, keeps the fire lit under them all ...
[347] Gardner is also two weeks young. Interestingly, Ellsbury's 18th birthday was 9/11/01. Talk about coming of age.
[348] gardner wishes he had 1/2 the idea of playing D that ellsbury does ...
With Sabathia pitching very well and Melky and Hughes both contributing, can we now conclusively say that not making the Santana trade was the right move?
jesus damon
[350] "play the hot ones, nobody gets over-exposed, keeps the fire lit under them all"
Hey I've said that at least once this year...
: )
[353] i'll wait on that, but it's certainly looking better than it was a year ago
let's not declare Gardy a success while he is hot. Just as we shouldn't write off players just because they are in slumps. I like Gardy and hope he succeeds but we need to see him sustain solid play over an extended period before we know for sure. I do like what I see and love watching him play.
[352] That's true...both the arms are weak, but Ellsbury does seem to be a much better defender...at least to the naked eye.
[353] It was always the right move, imo, if Hughes was involved.
[350] Sure, if it works. There may be something to what you're saying--maybe Melky/Gardner produce better as semi-starter?
good start to the series team
til tomorrow ....
I would guess Brett's OPS+ might be 100 or 101 by tomorrow...
By the way, that's an example of why Tomko can have a role on a good team. I would hate to use a Melancon in the role of mop up man. The only problem is you need to trust that the manager will never use him in a key spot.
This season UZR/150
Ellsbury: -6.8
Gardner: 10.4
[357] I agree...but I was so critical of him to the point that I didn't think he could ever hit a lick in the majors...not for a week, month or three.
[357] depends again on how you define success.
if it's key cog everyday starting CF on a playoff team, yeah, we're nowhere near that.
if it's good enough to start for periods, not an automatic out (the way he was when he 1st came up last year) and always a threat off the bench ... i'd say he's a success.
i mean, with the way he looked at first last year, everybody who thought he'd ever hit 3 homeruns ... in his *ENTIRE* career ... raise their hands!
'cause it weren't me, i'll say that.
he (and kevin long) deserve a TON of credit for being willing to change and working hard to make the changes stick ...
[352] I've seen the only major leaguer in history named Jacoby botch a few in the "cavernous" Fens CF, including ridiculous routes. Haven't seen many bad routes by Gritner...
[365] UZR really only has value over a large sample, but still, that finding surprises me.
[369] I'm not saying Ellsbury can't be good, only that there really isn't a lot of evidence to think he is that much better than Gardner.
Wow...just seeing those Mets errors now...they were just as bad as they sounded.
Yay Yanks!
Beat those Mets again tomorrow!
G'night folks...
: )
Besides the Mets of course, it would be nice if the NL Least could pick up a few wins. The Rays really scare me.
[371] some of the worst baseball i;ve seen in a while.
[368] i dunno, i see gardner misread and misplay balls quite often.
[373] me, too....given the combination of youth and $, the 3 best teams in the AL will be in the East for the next five years, I think....
[376] I would hate to miss the playoffs because the Yankees went 2-4 against the Nats/Marlins while the Rays went 6-0. I know you can't look at things that way, but still...
Getting NESN, I watched a number of Sox games on TV. Ellsbury appears to be an outstanding fielder. Like with Bernie in his GG days, speed makes up for lesser judgement/poorer routes, so Brett ultimately is an excellent fielder also. But IMHO, Ellsbury is better.
[367] Put it perfectly. We are not expecting Brett to be a stud. But with the Yankees payroll, it's very important to be able to field some minimum wage players without compromising the team too much.
If Gardy can post a .700 OPS, he is borderline successful. At .750, he is more then anyone expected. Given his speed and D, thats not bad for the teams 'worst player'.
While I don't expect him to keep 'this' up, last year, we were watching a scared kid. Now we are watching a guy who is building confidence, helping the team, and beginning to look more like the real Brett.
if we come third in the division, I guarantee there'll be some unpleasant stuff to look at
;<)
[378] BG: 303/374/441
current Gardner OPS: 815!
meanwhile, good thing it was a good day at the ML level ... down below things weren't quite so hot ... Kontos and Cox to the DL, Garcia done for the year with elbow surgery
[366]
but I was so critical of him to the point that I didn’t think he could ever hit a lick in the majors…not for a week, month or three.
I have a hard time believing this.
: )
[370] I’m not saying Ellsbury can’t be good, only that there really isn’t a lot of evidence to think he is that much better than Gardner.
To be fair, Ellsbury's minor numbers (.313/.389/.425/.814) were a good bit better than Gardner's (.291/.389/.385/.774), especially his power numbers. And he looked a lot better in MLB at age 23 and 24 than Gardy looked last year at 24. But this year? Not so much.
Methinks Ells bury is better, but if it turns out close, all the better for us. Ellsbury was a hot prospect for the Sox, Gardner was not high on our list.