"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Toronto Blue Jays II: Back To Reality

I said my piece on the Blue Jays’ hot start on SI.com when the Yankees were in Toronto in mid-May, so let’s see how things have changed since then.

Entering their series with the Yankees on May 12, the Blue Jays were 22-12 (.647), the best record in the American League at the time. Since then, they’ve gone 20-26 (.435) and fallen back to their expected place as the fourth-best team in the AL East.

At the time, I pointed to the unexpected health of the Jays’ starting nine as one reason for their early-season success, saying “Injury seems sure to strike the offense at some point, and several of the team’s batting averages, including [Aaron] Hill’s .346, catcher Rod Barajas’ .307 and platoon left fielder/utilityman Jose Bautista’s .311 seem sure to regress.”

The starting nine has stayed healthy, but Hill has lost 45 points off his average, Barajas has shed 40 points, and Bautista has lost 57. Hill was the Jays’ best hitter in the early going, but since going 2-for-4 with a homer in the first game against the Yankees on May 12, he’s hit just .255/.294/.452. Barajas has hit .228/.267/.378 since the start of the Yankees series; Bautista .191/.353/.309.

Scott Rolen, on the other hand, is hitting like he did before his shoulder problems derailed his path to the Hall of Fame. Rolen went 6-for-11 with three doubles against the Yankees and has hit .341/.405/.508 since, though with just six homers on the season. Accordingly, Cito Gaston has moved him back to the cleanup spot after having demoted him from that spot upon taking over for John Gibbons last June. Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay have also maintained their hot starts, the latter by virtue of not having to face left-handed pitching thanks to the presence of platoon partner and Yankee killer Kevin Millar. Marco Scutaro has come back to earth a bit, but has hit a still-respectable (for a fine fielding shortstop) .290/.364/.403 since the Yankee series and still leads the league in walks (though Nick Swisher is in hot pursuit).

On the flip side, Alex Rios and rookie slugger Travis Snider weren’t hitting in mid-May, and they’re still not. Rios, another Yankee killer, still managed to go 4-for-10 with a double and a homer against the Yankees in May, but has hit just .256/.311/.421 since. Snider was demoted to Triple-A then aggravated an old back injury and has since been replaced by former Yankee David Dellucci, who was released by the Indians at the end of May and signed a minor league deal with the Tribe. Dellucci was just called up this morning.

As for the pitching, I raised red flags about the unsustainably low opponents’ batting averages on balls in play being recorded by starters Scott Richmond and Brian Tallet, and relievers Jason Frasor, Jesse Carlson, and Bill Murphy. Richmond, who starts Sunday, was bounced by Yankees in the second inning on May 13, but rebounded with seven shutout innings against the White Sox and has posted a 3.18 since his Yankee disaster. His season BABIP has actually dropped a point over that stretch. Similarly, Tallet, who starts this afternoon, has been solid with a 4.30 ERA over his last nine starts while his BABIP has also shifted just one point (up to .228).

The rotation suffered from Roy Halladay’s DL stay, but Halladay is back and will pitch on Saturday, still leading the majors with ten wins. Meanwhile, the return of former first-round pick Ricky Romero has further solidified the rotation. Romero will bring a 20-inning scoreless streak into Monday’s game and has posted a 1.91 ERA in six starts since the calendar flipped to June.

As for those relievers, Frasor’s BABIP has increased by 54 points, but that hasn’t hurt his bottom line much. Carlson’s BABIP has increased 85 points, as has shown up in his performance as he’s posted a 7.32 ERA since the start of the Yankee series. Murphy was optioned to Triple-A right after the Yankees left town.

The man Murphy made room for was B.J. Ryan, who has posted a 3.14 ERA since coming off the DL, but with more walks than strikeouts and without a single save opportunity. Those opportunities were going to Scott Downs, but he’s replaced Ryan on the DL, leaving the closing duties to Frasor and his tight-rope act and 2007 closer Jeremy Accardo, who started the year in Triple-A after a forearm injury ended his 2008 campaign prematurely.

All of that adds up to . . . well, the fourth-best team in the AL East, just like everyone thought.

A.J. Burnett faces Tallet today in the first game of an unusual, wrap-around, Independence Day weekend series in which all four games will start at 1:05pm. Burnett gave up five runs in 7 2/3 innings to his former team on May 12, but has been nails in his last three starts posting this line: 20 1/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R (1 ER), 10 BB, 26 K, 0.98 WHIP, 0.44 ERA. Amazingly, A.J. lost one of those three starts, having matched up against the ace of his other former team, Josh Johnson of the Marlins.

Toronto Blue Jays

2009 Record: 42-38 (.525)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 44-36 (.550)

Manager: Cito Gaston
General Manager: J.P. Ricciardi

Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Rogers Centre (99/98)

Who’s Replaced Whom:

  • David Dellucci has replaced Travis Snider (minors)
  • Ricky Romero (DL) has reclaimed his spot from Robert Ray (DL)
  • B.J. Ryan (DL) has replaced Scott Downs (DL)
  • Jeremy Accardo (minors) has replaced Brian Wolfe (minors)
  • Dirk Hayhurst (minors) has replaced Bill Murphy (minors)

25-man Roster:

1B – Lyle Overbay (L)
2B – Aaron Hill (R)
SS – Marco Scutaro (R)
3B – Scott Rolen (R)
C – Rod Barajas (R)
RF – Alex Rios (R)
CF – Vernon Wells (R)
LF – David Dellucci (L)
DH – Adam Lind (L)

Bench:

R – Kevin Millar (1B)
R – John McDonald (IF)
R – Jose Bautista (UT)
R – Raul Chavez (C)

Rotation:

R – Roy Halladay
R – Scott Richmond
L – Ricky Romero
L – Brett Cecil
L – Brian Tallet

Bullpen:

R – Jason Frasor
R – Jeremy Accardo
L – B.J. Ryan
L – Jesse Carlson
R – Shawn Camp
R – Brandon League
R – Dirk Hayhurst

15-day DL:

RHP – Dustin McGowan (labrum)
RHP – Shaun Marcum (TJ surgery)
RHP – Jesse Litsch (forearm tightness)
LHP – Scott Downs (sprained toe)
RHP – Casey Janssen (shoulder inflammation)
RHP – Robert Ray (shoulder)
C – Michael Barrett (right shoulder tear)

Typical Lineup:

R – Marco Scutaro (SS)
R – Aaron Hill (2B)
R – Vernon Wells (CF)
R – Scott Rolen (3B)
L – Adam Lind (DH)
R – Alex Rios (RF)
L – Lyle Overbay (1B)
R – Rod Barajas (C)
L – David Dellucci (LF)

Note: Dellucci and Jose Bautista are in a strict platoon in left field, as are Overbay and Kevin Millar at first base.

Categories:  Cliff Corcoran  Game Thread  Series Preview

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342 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:26 pm

Warning to all--I'm working from home today, and since it's the Jays, I get the game on the boob tube. Sadly, their record when I get to see the Yanks on TV is not good. If it's another stinker today, I take full blame.

2 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:33 pm

[1] umm, what is your address? [looks for baseball bat]

3 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:34 pm

seriously, i'm working from home myself. i doubt the game is on tv. probably stuck with internet stream.

4 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:38 pm

[2] I'm in Montreal, and that's all you're getting! ; )

Oh yeah, I should say "working" from home.

5 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:39 pm

Adams DFAed, Dellucci up. Updated above.

6 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:42 pm

I take a look at today's NL East standings ....
Tm W L W-L% GB
FLA 41 39 .513 --
PHI 39 37 .513 --
NYM 39 39 .500 1.0
ATL 38 40 .487 2.0
WSN 22 54 .289 17.0

.... and I have a flashback to 1973 .... all but one team right around .500
Tm W L W-L% GB
NYM 82 79 .509 --
STL 81 81 .500 1.5
PIT 80 82 .494 2.5
MON 79 83 .488 3.5
CHC 77 84 .478 5.0
PHI 71 91 .438 11.5

7 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:43 pm

You should have done less acid in 1973...then you wouldn't have to worry about these flashbacks.

8 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:45 pm

The whole NL is right around .500 save for the Dodgers.

9 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:46 pm

[8] And this in turn helps explain the Dodgers' record, at least partly.

10 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:47 pm

[7] haha.

[8] dodgers are doing so well without Manny. Amazing!

11 Horace Clarke Era   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:48 pm

[8] Parity is next to Godliness?

Some will claim it makes for excitement, no one out of it, but SUCH mediocre baseball teams... by definition!

Excepting, always, Pujols, who may actually be next to Godliness.

12 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:51 pm

I was trying to point out that all but one team is right around .500 in each of these cases, but yes, parity is the name of the game in the NL it would appear.

(thanks to interleague dominance by the AL)

13 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:56 pm

nothing like morning baseball ...

and now I get's it ... 4 DAYS RUNNING!

YAY!!!

14 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 12:58 pm

lineup:

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Matsui DH
Cervelli C
Gardner CF

Posada's still day-t0-day with a thumb (as they'd say in the NFL).

15 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:01 pm

At this rate Cerveill is gonna blow his rookie status this year, making him ineligible for ROTY in 2010 ...

(a girl can dream, can't she?)

16 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:06 pm

[15] after rolling it over in my head for a while, i decided last night who Frankie reminded me off ... a combination of a very young Tom Sizemore with a little bit of Elijah Wood on top (around the eyes) ... not sure if that helps or not ...

17 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:07 pm

[4] Don't worry, we could just make the whole city "disappear".

18 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:09 pm

Did someone call for a RedCap?

19 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:09 pm

Why are the Yankees wearing red hats? I mean, what is the pretext for this obvious marketing ploy? I think I really hate this.

Unacceptable.

20 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:09 pm

[15] that would be so cool if he was in the running for ROY in 2010.

21 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:10 pm

Red Caps?!

Curse you , Bud Selig.

22 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:10 pm

I hate the fact that Rios and Wells are struggling coming into this series. Keeping them down for four more games ain't going to happen.

23 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:11 pm

[17] One advantage of being here, though, is that I get the Jays feed for today's game, which means no Michael Kay (or Sterling/Waldman for that matter).

24 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:13 pm

Red caps all weekend? Ugh. 'Tain't right.

25 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:16 pm

wow, seriously? the top two walkers in the AL? going to be a long game.

26 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:21 pm

Umpire groupies? WTF?

27 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:21 pm

It seems like Jeter is in a mini-slump, though I haven't checked his game logs, so this may be perception over reality.

28 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:23 pm

what is the deal with the halloween umpires?

29 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:24 pm

[28] oh, wait ... are those guys behind the plate again?

30 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:26 pm

that hit him

31 tocho   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:27 pm

seriously tallet, get a freaking haircut and shave that thing above your lip.

32 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:27 pm

I'm sure it did hit him, but very tough call.

33 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:28 pm

Easy gas. Man, if these pitches are truly 95-96, nasty. Effortless.

34 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:30 pm

[28] I think it might be these two asshats...

http://tinyurl.com/mwlkqy

...or their copycats.

I blame Canada for this!

35 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:36 pm

"Extra Umpires" are unacceptable!

I don't even like "Regular Umpires!"

: )

36 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:37 pm

Woohoo Robbie!

37 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:38 pm

Girardi is an idiot. He should have batted Cano in a position where he'd have men on base when he homered.

38 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:39 pm

ok cano can bat 5th.

39 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:39 pm

Furthermore, I'm very angry at Robinson for swinging at the first pitch.

40 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:39 pm

[38] Girardi apologist. Enabler. Unaccountability-holder.

41 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:39 pm

[39] why won't these guys work the count? we hvae the worst lineup in baseball.

42 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:40 pm

The faux umps kill me. Good for them. Like it said in the article [34], it's better than the asshats who are on their phones. : )

43 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:40 pm

girardi is my hero

44 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:40 pm

[37][39] You've nailed, I gotta say.

45 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:41 pm

[34] oh it's them ... and the Yankees made it happen!

And next month, when the Jays head to New York for a series with the Yankees July 3-5, Williams and Farrell will be in their customary seats in the first row behind home plate at new Yankee Stadium. Ordinarily those seats, located in the Legends section, would cost more than $1,000, but they were such a hit on a YES Network broadcast last month that the Yankees arranged to have them fake ump the July series.

46 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:41 pm

[42] Asshats of any stripe...unacceptable.

47 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:42 pm

[37] It's inconceivable if Girardi doesn't pinch-hit Posada for Cervelli right now! There's a man on base for Christ's sakes!

heh heh

: )

48 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:42 pm

Hello?
Teixeira, then Matsui, then Cano. That should be the batting order. This is so obvious. Tex is hot, and lefties hit Tallet better than righties. With my line-up, we'd have three runs!

49 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:42 pm

nice hitting by Matsui.

50 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:43 pm

[45] That's just frigging perfect. And somewhere, Joe DiMagio weeps...

51 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:44 pm

This is just awful. It should be Gardner who hits the slow rollers to third, not the catcher, for gods sake. Kevin Long must be fired.

52 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:47 pm

[51] you are doing that too well.

53 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:47 pm

[51] Man, you should be running this team. And in the front office too--then they wouldn't field a team with no good starters, a terrible bull pen and bench, awful OF, and so on.

; )

54 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:49 pm

[52] [53] $200,000,000!

The game's slightly boring, gotta entertain ourselves somehow.

55 The Hawk   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:49 pm

[37] There could have been men on base, if men had gotten on base.

56 The Hawk   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:50 pm

[39] Even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut once in a while.

57 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:50 pm

Good lord.

58 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:50 pm

Get on this right now, RIYAnk.

59 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:50 pm

JD can play RF for my COED softball team any day ...

60 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:50 pm

BOLLOCKS.

61 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:52 pm

[58] Too easy. I'll leave the genuinely horrible things to someone else...

62 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:53 pm

[54] are you wearing umpire garb too?

63 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:53 pm

Expected runs with man on 2nd and one out: .7.

64 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:55 pm

[62] You don't *really* want to know what I'm wearing right now to entertain myself. Remember, I'm working from home today...

65 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:55 pm

[62] Dress up is fun! I like to pretend!

[64] Well, are you in your mother's basement? Anyone's basement?

66 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:56 pm

So clearly Damon is getting some sort of weird glare off the red cap, no?

67 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:56 pm

I call "bullshit" to the "First to draw 4M in a season," Coney. Capacity of the Rogers Centre is 49,539. Do the math.

I believe the Yankees were the first to draw 4M fans in a single regular season...

: )

68 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:58 pm

[67] doable. especially if they sell standing room only tickets to boot.

69 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 1:59 pm

[66] Is the inside of the bill red?

70 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:02 pm

[68] "I'm from Missouri" Seamus, with respect to any professional team in Canada selling out 81 games in a season where hockey isn't involved.

After all, Coney also made excuses about "the white shirts in the stands" on Damon's "catch"...

: )

71 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:05 pm

[70] The greater Toronto area has more than 5,000,000 people, and the Jays drew really well in the early 1990s. When the team wins, they can draw. I'm pretty certain they drew more than 4,000,000 in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

72 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:06 pm

[70] Blue Jays used to sell out quite a bit didn't they? I don't know but this site backs it up:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/toroatte.shtml

73 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:07 pm

[69] Maybe he was mesmerized by how gritty Gardner looks in *his* red cap.

74 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:08 pm

nice to come home to a 1-0 lead

has this game thread taken its cue from coney or just a friday afternoon holiday vibe

75 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:11 pm

[74] What vibe is that? I'm getting the Jays feed, eh...

76 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:11 pm

[71]

1990 - 3,885,284
1991 - 4,001,526
1992 - 4,028,318
1993 - 4,057,947

All AL Records at the time.

My bad Coney...

: )

77 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:11 pm

Oh, Robbie. : (

78 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:13 pm

[75] i skimmed through the thread and it is amusingly odd even for banter standards :}

i can definitely understand the gripes on the hats - those are are an abomination

79 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:16 pm

Sloppy, sloppy baseball. Yet amazingly the Jays have not capitalized so far.

80 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:17 pm

alex rios continues his hitting against the yanks i see

81 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:17 pm

[78] regarding the caps, it was even worse (IMO) here on Canada Day. The Jays all wore red softball style tops with the word CANADA on the back where their names would be written. Of course, at least it was only the home team and not the entire league (I assume this is a league-wide thing, no?).

82 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:20 pm

[81] yeah that sounds bad. and i think these hats are a league wide thing this weekend

nice throw frankie

83 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:20 pm

Not even close.

84 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:20 pm

Jays helping Burnett.

85 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:20 pm

[78] "amusingly odd even" nice, even very nice use of an odd phrase "odd even"

86 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:26 pm

After Rios' F-bomb laced tirade after being called out for not signing for some kid, he is dead to me...

87 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:27 pm

Wow, where was that pitch? Inside, I guess.

88 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:28 pm

The offense has stalled since the Boston series and now they can't muster more than 1 run from a bottom feeder like Tallet. This team is doomed to a 3rd place finish unless they shake things up.
: D

89 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:30 pm

[88] They need another former RoY, Just Fair!

: )

90 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:34 pm

My fault -- went out for a Frappucino.

Mmmmm, whipped cream!

91 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:34 pm

I want to know when they are going to start selling car insurance at W.B. Mason...

92 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:34 pm

"Bases clear, Cano hits ball very hard. People on base, bats are afraid." So says Pete Abe. But i was wondering, because it doesn't seem that Cano doesn't hit the ball hard with men in scoring position. It seems to me that he tends to hit ground balls. Am I just imagining this? I've done no research so this may be completely subjective. But one of his issues in my eyes seems to be that he hits hard ground balls which often are easy double plays.

93 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:35 pm

OK, Yanks are gonna open up a can of red-hat whuppass next inning. That's my call.

94 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:38 pm

ooh swishy

95 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:38 pm

[92] Looked it up. This year, I can't see a pattern.
Bases clear: OPS .921.
Man on second: 1.013
Man on first: .976

But low in many other man-on situations...

96 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:38 pm

[94] are you way ahead of me or something? what'd swisher do?

97 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:39 pm

Nice Swish snatch. Now we just need a Swish swat.

98 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:39 pm

[94] as i see now

99 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:39 pm

[92] I looked at baseball-reference but could not figure out a way to cross-reference his hit trajectories (ground ball, fly ball, line drives) with his situational stats.

100 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:40 pm

[95] interesting. is it way down whenever there is a force play at second?

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:40 pm

Okay, for Robinson's career:
Bases empty, .863
Men on, .744

Might be significant.

102 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:41 pm

[99] thanks for trying.

103 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:41 pm

"I'll tell you what ... I smell Friday night coming!!!"

I love Coney ...

104 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:41 pm

Cone effin' kills me. "I can smell Friday night coming." Word up, David.

105 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:42 pm

Yay!

Gritner!!!

106 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:42 pm

Run. Run, run, run. Steal. Run.

107 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:43 pm

NO bunt, until you steal!

108 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:44 pm

[100] With 1B occupied: I don't feel like doing the arithmetic, but it does look like he must be down at abut .750 in those situations. With 1st and 34d only occupied, his OPS is .942; just first, .799; but the other 1b-occupied situations are low.

109 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:44 pm

"Easy Money" was on last night...

"The Regular Guy Look"

LOL

: )

110 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:45 pm

gardner's not reading Tallet well ... meh.

111 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:45 pm

HIt and run now 3-1.

112 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:45 pm

[110] Didn't matter this time.

113 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:46 pm

well, he couldn't get a jump, but he distracted Tallet enough to help Jeter draw the walk ...

DOUBLE steal.

114 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:46 pm

hell yeah in talent's head

[103] [104] and that is why i think coney has influenced this thread in a great way!! :}

115 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:46 pm

Anyone bunt here? Get your vote in now!

116 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:46 pm

Tactical preferences--

a. Bunt Damon?
b. Gardner steal?
c. Double steal?
d. no play?

117 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

nice drag johnny

118 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

Hey, Now we're cookin'.

119 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

Too late!
What a bunt, freaking beautiful.

120 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

[108] Perhaps Cano gets distracted by ducks on the pond from a traumatic childhood experience with wild fowl?

: )

121 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

Or bunt ... FOR A BASEHIT!!!!!

yay, JD!

122 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

Ack, I didn't post in time. Yay Johnny.

123 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:47 pm

Terrible scoring that!

124 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:48 pm

Ricky Bobby losing the zone.

125 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:48 pm

E1, that's a tough scorer. I mean, it was a sucky play, but I wouldn't call it an error.

126 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:48 pm

[108] might be something to it then. Thanks for doing what research you did. Maybe sometime later i'll run numbers.

127 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:48 pm

[123] I didn't realize you were British, PJ.

128 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:49 pm

That's nice...the OF door is broken.

129 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:50 pm

wowzers

c'mon alex, make big pain!

130 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:50 pm

Well, that's one way to negate Gardner's speed. Just walk everyone behind him.

131 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:50 pm

[128] leave it open. Maybe put a monument there for old times sake.

132 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:50 pm

[124 he's about to get kicked out of applebees

133 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:51 pm

Wow. Baseball is so freaking weird. Nobody out, one run in, bases loaded... without a hit, without the ball being put in play past the 30 foot mark!

134 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:51 pm

[125] Tough to award a hit on that misplay, especially given that he almost got Johnny by rolling the ball to first base. And there was no real FC. So by default is't got to be a (tough) error.

135 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:51 pm

[130] Ah, the base-clogging strategy. Severely under-utilized.

136 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:51 pm

[127] I'm can't be. My teeth are too good, unless my parents are very good liars!

: )

137 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:51 pm

[133] sterling has a phrase to describe it

138 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:52 pm

Sigh. I thought A-Rod was out.

139 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:52 pm

we'd better get more than 1 run this inning ...

just sayin'

140 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:53 pm

Bleh!

There are no ducks there, Robbie!

141 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:53 pm

alright rocket time robbie

wow what is with the d the last few series?

142 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:53 pm

Thanks, Blue Jays!

143 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:53 pm

Someone explain this to me. Cone says A-Rod was "out in front" of the pitch, and he hits it to third base. Does "out in front" not mean what I think it means?

Holy crap, the Jays suck today.

144 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:53 pm

Well, it looks like the Yankees can't score on their own. Nice to have the Blue Jays helping them out here.

145 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:54 pm

Rob, first base is unoccupied now. Rob?

146 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:54 pm

Let's put all those Cano theories to the test...oops, nope, passed ball.

You know, you ust can't predict baseball.

147 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:54 pm

Goddamnit!!!!

148 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:55 pm

damnit robbie

149 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:55 pm

Oh, clearly safe. Dreadful call.

150 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:56 pm

safe

but, ROTTEN Robbie fails again with men on ...

151 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:56 pm

So, with a correct call, it would have been three runs without a hit.

152 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:56 pm

[143] I don't know, what do you think it means? I always thought it meant that your bat came through the zone too early, so you tend to pull the ball (but off the end of the bat instead of the sweet spot).

153 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:57 pm

[152] Uh, yeah.
My bad. I just got confused.

No, Swisher's bad.

What a freaky inning.

154 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:58 pm

Garbage. Simply garbage. Is one solid hit with a guy on base too much to ask for. ahhhhhhh.....

155 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:58 pm

[143] "Out in front" means his bat is ahead of the plate (out in front of the plate) at contact, such that a right handed batter can pull it to the left side of the field or a left handed batter can pull it to the right side.

156 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:58 pm

[143] my understanding is it means swinging too soon and not waiting for the pitch to get in the hitting zone - you generally pull the ball in that situation

157 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:58 pm

[152] ...or miss the ball entirely.

158 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 2:59 pm

And Michael Kay lost track of a run, so his bad, too. We can share the bad, me and Swish and Kay.

And Robinson.

And the Jay's defense.
I'm only going to get a little bit of bad.

159 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:00 pm

So Robbie hit the ball on the ground. Got that right. But not hard. got that wrong.

160 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:01 pm

Damon's bunt was changed to a hit.

161 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:02 pm

[160] It's too bad the tv broadcast doesn't include guys actually in the stadium, watching the game, who can report on things like that.

162 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:02 pm

[106] Good! That's correct...

163 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:03 pm

[154] Yes.

164 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:04 pm

oh vernon just smoked that

165 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:04 pm

Someone please remind Vernon Wells that he is slumping.

166 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:04 pm

HR's on 0-2 pitches are unacceptable!

167 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:04 pm

Ouch.

168 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:05 pm

As long as I live, I will never understand the throw-the-ball-back thing with HRs.

169 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:07 pm

[168] agreed

170 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:07 pm

[160] Well, there you have it. I thought it should be an error, but you know what? I'm not official.

171 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:08 pm

[170] unofficial monkeypants

172 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:08 pm

well we have learned something new about momentum today - the importance of the 1st game in a 4 game series

173 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:09 pm

[171] Official monkeypants, but unofficial scorer. And undercover lover.

174 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:09 pm

I like Yankee day games. It gives you the rest of the day to watch the Red Sox lose...

: )

175 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:10 pm

[173] At least you're acceptable...

: )

176 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:10 pm

[172] I missed that bit of wisdom. The way the momentum keeps going back and forth in this game, though, you really sense how important both teams think it is to seize the Momentum.

177 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:11 pm

god damnit why is frankie c running?

178 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:11 pm

Please tell me that Cervelli missed a sign.

179 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:11 pm

Bah @ slide step...

180 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:11 pm

Catchers shouldn't run.

181 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:11 pm

[177] Maybe so that he doesn't clog the bases ahead of Gardner?

182 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:12 pm

[181] So Gardy can leadoff in the next inning...

183 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:14 pm

[182] LOL My bad...

184 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:14 pm

Yes, in a four game series especially, the first game is critically important.

That reminds me that Larry Bird always insisted that in a seven game series, it's game four that is critical. Here is his reasoning. After game three, the series is almost invariably 2-1. (If it's 3-0, then obviously the fourth game is critical.) So after game four it will either be 3-1, in which case the team ahead has a commanding lead and will almost certainly win, or else it's all even!

As smoke-and-mirrors explanations of nonsensical theses go, that one is pretty damn good.

185 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:15 pm

A-Rod, you selfish bastard.

Oh, never mind. He selflessly got another K for AJ.

186 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:18 pm

you guys will never guess who is up in the pen

187 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:19 pm

For what it's worth, I really like the Jays broadcast team because it includes Rance Milliniks. Not that he's a particularly good commentator...it's just that he was one of my favorite baseball names when I was younger. Right up there with Candy Muldonado.

188 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:19 pm

[186] I hope it's Hughes. He needs to get his weekly nine pitches in.

189 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:20 pm

Last batter for AJ? Is it Cokey time?

190 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:20 pm

This is obviously second-guessing, but might it make sense to play the 3B in a couple of steps when Scutaro is batting?

191 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:21 pm

[184] i've heard similar theories about game 3

[188] the phillys

192 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:21 pm

[186] I guess Phil.
(Doubling my chances.)

193 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:21 pm

[186] EDPCY!!!

194 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:21 pm

[190] I wondered the same thing when I saw where A-Rod actually fielded that ball, after about the fifth bounce.

195 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:22 pm

[191] I prefer to call them ... the Philthys!

196 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:22 pm

[191] (part one) yes, well, I feel confident that there would be equally good theories about pretty much any game in the sequence...
(part two) No surprise...

197 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:23 pm

[190] second guessing? How could Girardi have A-rod back like that when we have scrubaro batting against AJ? He blew it again! This is like the fifth time this game he has blown this game from the bench!

198 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:23 pm

[195] yeah that sounds better

aj done for the day?

199 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:23 pm

Good, because I still don't feel good about Hughes entering mid-inning.
So, who pitches the eighth? I'd go with Bruney. He's ready for a dazzlingly good appearance.

200 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:24 pm

[197] Thanks for picking me up on that one. Ugh, what an awful error by me.

Show/Hide Comments 201-300
201 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:24 pm

See now, on Fourth of July weekend, God Bless America is appropriate. Keep the song special.

202 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:25 pm

[199] I go with Bruney, too, because you want to keep Hughes innings down. Way, way down.

203 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:26 pm

[200] it's ok. someone has to do it and you've been doing such a fine job.

204 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:27 pm

[199][202] it's Bruney, because the 8th is Bruney-ey's spot, dontchaknow???

205 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:28 pm

uh, Kay just said that there's nobody up in the bullpen right now

hmmm ...

206 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:28 pm

Now I know why A-Rod and Madonna hooked up!

He's got hands of stone, and she's a material girl...

: )

207 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:30 pm

That's awful.

208 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:30 pm

Bleh!

209 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:30 pm

UNacceptable

210 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:30 pm

ugglebuggerfargingcrapsicle

211 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:32 pm

maple's gonna kill somebody, someday ...

212 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:32 pm

[205] status change: edpcy up again

213 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:33 pm

[211] Hopefully those fake umpires...

214 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:33 pm

[211] If I could change on rule, I tighten the regulations on bats. That would include 1) eliminating maple, and 2) outlawing these super-skinny-handled bats.

215 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:34 pm

[212] Lefty coming up, so it must be Cokey's job. Ideally Cokey gets the first two batters and Hughes throws two or three pitches to the third batter.

216 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:35 pm

[213] haha

[215] that's a lot of pitches for hughesy

217 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:37 pm

Hey, statistical oddity:
The win expectancy just went *down* when Coke got the first out.

218 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:37 pm

I'm really not liking Girardi's recent impersonation of Tony LaRussa.

219 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:37 pm

jesus christ, joey ... really?

220 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:38 pm

Oh, no it didn't, it went up slightly. I was using the calculator wrong. Moron.

221 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:39 pm

just to calm me down ... from the BP minor league update:

Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (Double-A Trenton)
Thursday's stats: 2-for-5, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, K
Basically, if you go deep in a fourth straight game, you make the Minor League Update, and continue to do so until the streak ends. If you need someone else to keep track, the 19-year-old Venezuelan product is now 8-for-14 in those four games with 24 total bases, upping his season averages to .325/.395/.571. For a teenager in Double-A, that is entering nutsy koo-koo territory.

ahhhhhhh ...

222 randym77   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:39 pm

This is really unfair. I'm working today, dammit.

Has there been any mention of that Cuban defector? There are reports that the Yanks are signing him.

223 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:39 pm

[221] Watch out, Jorge.

224 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:40 pm

nice hitting by Roleny

225 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:42 pm

Win expectancy = .77.

I don't know why this WEx tracking makes me feel better.

226 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:42 pm

[222] based on the most recent defectors, it will probably take about a year to establish residency and work out visa issues ... almost certainly won't be signed until after that point

227 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:43 pm

Now the Jays announcers just got finished gushing about the Yankees "maybe finally found their set-up guy in Phil Hughes."

Would some one remind me when the eighth inning became the most important inning in all of baseball? Was it before or after we figured out that batting average was overvalued?

228 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:45 pm

[223] problem is, his bat is likely to be ready before his glove, it'll be interesting to see how the Yankees handle the situation ...

229 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:45 pm

he might not have tagged him.

plus those curls under his hat makes phil look a little douchey

230 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:45 pm

[227] It's a corollary of Bird's Theorem.

231 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:46 pm

Win Ex went to .82 with the second out...

232 randym77   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:46 pm

[226] Olney said six months, then the feeding frenzy begins.

And one of the wire services said it would be best to establish residency in a country other than the US first, so he could be a free agent? Or something like that...

233 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:46 pm

[227] yeah i have been wondering that too - besides the joba mania from 2 years ago what else has led to this obsession with the 8th?

234 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:48 pm

Whew, nice play Rob. Good job, Phils.

Win Ex now .89.

235 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:48 pm

Hughesy throwing smoke!

Canoey with the nice running play!

236 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:48 pm

Good play, Cano. Now slap some Geico runs on these dirty birds.

237 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:48 pm

[228] Yep, especially considering that he's blocked at 1B and 3B for the foreseeable future. There's no place to move him, except DH, get his bat into the league sooner. Plus, they really want to keep his bat at C to maximize his value.

238 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:50 pm

Yay A-Rod!

He stoned that one!

: )

239 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:50 pm

cult of baseballsy with the nickname trope!

A-Rodsy with the bombsy!

240 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:51 pm

yeah alex - nothing like a little stat padding on a friday afternoon!!

241 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:51 pm

Yes, the all important insurance run!

[233] Isn't it that 8th inning runs count twice?

242 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:52 pm

That was a 6% Win Expectancy Added homer.

243 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:52 pm

[242] [241] Or should I say, two homers?

244 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:53 pm

[232] oh, i didn't make it clear, when i said residency, i meant outside of the US (usually the DR)

that's what allows them to be free agents, otherwise, they'd be subject to the ML draft.

took the last 2 Cubans nearly a year to get everything cleared, though because Chapman played in the US during the WBC, the process might be somewhat streamlined for him with regards to procuring the Visa clearance ...

245 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:55 pm

[233] It's entirely because of Jobamania. If Joba as not so successful as a reliever, there would not have been (and continue to be) the the perception that the Yankees have a "hole" in the eighth inning because they moved Joba to the rotation. Thus, when Hughes looked ok in the reliever's role, suddenly the "solution" to a largely fabricated "problem" was found. Meanwhile, the same arguments that Joba is more valuable as a starter also hold for Hughes. Unfortunately, when Hughes is (hopefully) restored to teh rotation this year or next, we get to go through the entire debate again.

246 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:55 pm

I always thought that the 8TH inning was important because when you lay an "8" on it's side, it's the symbol for infinity...

And nobody wants an inning to last that long, even those guys with incentives!

247 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:56 pm

Maybe, if the Yanks can push another across, Girardi will have the ball to let Hughes finish the game.

248 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:57 pm

[246] That's deep, man.

249 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:57 pm

[237] Unless you want to try him in the OF.

I don't believe he's ever played a game at 3rd before (even if that were an option).

I guess the thing for me is, if he hits AA like this for the rest of this year and then starts off in AAA like this *next* year, you're wasting time by not bringing him up, even if he isn't ready to catch at the ML level.

The bat could be special enough that you have to find a way to let it play ...

250 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:57 pm

[247] Freudian typo (or awesome joke).

251 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:59 pm

[250] Undoubtedly a typo. : (

252 randym77   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:59 pm

I dunno. Seems to me that the 8th inning has been a big deal for a long time. Long before Joba, they've been fretting about "the bridge to Mariano."

253 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:59 pm

[249] I don't suppose he could be the 8th inning guy? Jesusy, I mean.

254 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 3:59 pm

mo should really be exempt from wearing that abomination on his head

255 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:02 pm

[249] I agree with you. I suggested corner IF because everything I have read paint him as a pretty bad defensive catcher, and I had a hard time imagining him in the OF, even corner OF.

I think he's going to see a full season at AAA next year, unless he is absolutely smoking the ball next year.

256 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:02 pm

Is it me, or did Coney get into Swisher's Red Bull supply today?

257 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:02 pm

Cool clutchy stat by Kay!

258 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:03 pm

All others get the cutesy name treatment.

But not Mo ... *that* would be disrespectful.

259 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:03 pm

[256] more than usual? coney is usually always hype.

260 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:03 pm

Red hat or no, still fucking beautiful.

261 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:05 pm

Raul Chavez does not seem confident (written on the 0-2...)

262 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

Thanks be to Mo.

263 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

ah a thing of beauty - sit the hell down

hope everyone still smells friday night coming

i'm making my season debut at the stadium tomorrow

264 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

ugh. this vampire boy hates day games! caught up on all the bantering of the day - just in time for...the endgame. wish i was here w/ you guys.

nice way to kick off the series!

265 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

[259] A bit more, especially on replays... I mean wow, calm down granpa! You'll ruin naptime before "pounding the streets" tonight!

heh heh

266 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

That 2 strike 3's. Nice. : )

267 rbj   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:06 pm

Ah, Mo.

And I've got the Mudhens & fireworks tonight. Not a bad start to a three day weekend.

268 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:07 pm

[263] i'll overnight you my glove!

269 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:07 pm

[263] [267] And I'm going to the Pawsox - SWB Yanks, also with fireworks. And the weather has cleared! Psyched.

270 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:08 pm

Tough call on the check swing. But Yanks win. This is excellent new because:

1. the Yankees win the all important first game of the four game series
2. they found their solution to the eighth inning problem
3. they seized momentum
4. and they shook off the hangover from yesterday's game

271 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:08 pm

Win Ex = 100% ; )

272 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:08 pm

[255] well, 1st base, yeah, it would just seem pretty hard to move him to 3rd at this point.

If Carlos Lee and Dave Kingman (and others of their ilk) can "patrol" LF, you gotta figure teh Jesus could give it a go ...

I think the Yankees would rather he got a full season at AAA next year, but if he keeps hitting like he is now, what's the point?

273 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:08 pm

[268] haha thanks!

you got 3 more of these day games thelarmis.

aj has been on quite a nice little stretch recently.

274 PJ   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:10 pm

Yay @ starting another winning streak!

Have a great time at the game tomorrow Ms October!

And I'll catch the rest of yas lata!

: )

275 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:10 pm

[271] The finishing touch! Nice. (Although I felt it was 100% when Mo stepped onto the field...)

276 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:10 pm

you got 3 more of these day games thelarmis.

ugh. me no likey the day. or the sun. AM = bad.

don't the Yankees know i work "musician hours." i like to call it the "other" 9-5! ; )

277 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:12 pm

yes, have a great game and wonderful time tomorrow, ms. october.

if my grandpa was still alive, he'd tell you to wear a bullet proof vest and helmet! (in other words, be careful!)

i'll be fast asleep til about the 5th or 6th inning! : )

278 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:13 pm

Cult -

go the the Catalina Club tonight! last night of Steve Smith & Vital Information. the BEST jazz-fusion out there!!!

Catalina Bar and Grill
6725 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323.466.2210
http://www.catalinajazzclub.com

279 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:14 pm

ack. i'm always the last one to the party. i guess i'm that weird kid just talkin' to himself... : ~

280 ms october   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:16 pm

[274] [277] thanks guys.

this is the 3rd 4-2 game mo has saved this week

281 RIYank   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:19 pm

[280] That's odd. 4-2 for #42.

They'll win tomorrow, I guarantee it!

282 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:20 pm

[279] better to figure these things out while you are still young.

283 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:28 pm

[282] yins musht be one a dem schmart kids from up 'ere o'er at the caullidge. yins from phi'lipsburg? i'll open a whole big can a whoop-ass on ya up on da mountaintop! ; )

284 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:29 pm

[282] i had to cancel my trip to Central Pa for later this month. sad. was gonna go see the State College Spikes play, at least once, too... : (

285 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 4:37 pm

here's hopin' King Felix flummoxes the Shit Sox and the M's aren't mystified by Wake's floater!!!

286 seamus   ~  Jul 3, 2009 5:16 pm

[282] haha. deftly done.

[285] yep! Go King!

287 Horace Clarke Era   ~  Jul 3, 2009 6:09 pm

Word elsewhere is that Boston's moving fast on the Cuban defector, even saw a $ figure of 8 million. Word also he's glove + range and bat is tbd.

Another pretty tidy win, though if I think about it, our runs in the bases loaded inning weren't tidy at all. Dunno if the thread went crazy, but pretty clear Tex beat that tag at home with a lovely slide. Is the ump supposed to be where he was, towards 3rd base? Any umps here?

Need to start showing some semi-serious love for AJ, Cliff. Hate to tell you. Winning with pitching? Who ARE those guys?

288 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 6:50 pm

(285) 4 straight day games?!? Oh well, nice to wake up and see a win, archive game ahoy! At least King Felix is on tv against Wakefield here this morning, that should be fun. Coffee and then a Banter catch-up first on the menu though

289 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 7:06 pm

[288] Indeed, I have the Sox-M's on right now. This could be a wonderful July 4th Eve of baseball.

290 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 7:46 pm

Ms down 2-0 now..can Seattle score three runs off of Wakefield?
Looking forward to watching AJ later on the archive..

291 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 8:07 pm

4-2 Seattle! Who is the awful guest announcing this inning? Fingernail on chalkboard voice..

292 tocho   ~  Jul 3, 2009 8:34 pm

[291] wake's gut is now officially out of control!

293 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 8:42 pm

[292] Yes, but that makes him my hero!

294 Just Fair   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:21 pm

Effin' Nick Green. OY.

295 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:22 pm

damn Nick Green ties the game for the Sox..what happened to the great Seattle bullpen??

296 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:22 pm

FUCK!!! nick green, of all people, just tied the game at 5 in the 8th w/ a 2-run double. christ almighty. i fuckin' HATE this shit sox. why can't they LOSE?!?!?! : /

hank the bank puts tex-ass up 2-0 over the Rays.

apparently, the Rangers have joined the Phils in having interest in Wang...

297 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:24 pm

[295] i think Seattle's bullpen is on payroll w/ ESPN, therefore, the game is fixed. Sox must win.

fuck boston. i wish Bud would contract them. i really do. i just despise that team and i'm NOT a hateful human.

298 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:26 pm

i guess the Sean/Shawn connection in the 8th didn't work as well for the M's as "The Phil's" did for the Yanks today. that's what you get for changing the spelling! whaddya think of that Shaun P.?! ; )

299 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:30 pm

thelarmis, i went to an awesome Bossa Nova bar the other night, lots of original vinyl records from Brazil and Caiparinha on the menu. Tokyo bars just continue to amaze me!

Nancy Drew up now for the Sox..i'm feeling nervous..

300 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:34 pm

[299] that place sounds awesome! i LOVE playing Bossa's. i teach 'em, too.

np = dizzy gillespie/james moody/gil fuller w/ the monterey jazz festival orchestra. it's from 2 separate dates in 1965, released on one terrific blue note cd (conn series)! it's really lovely music.

well, M's escaped bottom of the 9th. Rays closed the gap 2-1 in Tejas...

Show/Hide Comments 301-342
301 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:37 pm

[300] I've been getting into some Brazilian music recently, especially samba.

Papelbon's entry music is some awful faux-Irish rock music..isn't he from Louisiana??? Should have the Meters as his music..just confirms what an Irabu he is..

302 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:40 pm

c'mon Griffey - hit a 2-run jack off this jackass!!! do it!!!

303 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:41 pm

[301] i just came up with a cool jazz-latin samba in 3/4 Tuesday night! : )

Meters kick ass! Zigaboo!!!

304 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:43 pm

Awful...

305 Shaun P.   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:43 pm

Never would I have thought the Yanks would regret letting Nick Green go.

306 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:45 pm

fucking bollocks.

[305] came off your namesake(s)...kinda! ; )

307 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:51 pm

nice inning by...that seattle reliever guy. i'm sure as shit not gonna try and spell his name and i haven't even started drinking...yet! : )

308 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:56 pm

greinke's ERA has reached 2-even.

pujols hit his 31st homer.

tribe has put up a 15-spot vs. the A's.

M's have the first two men on. don't waste it!!!

309 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 9:59 pm

1 out, man on 3rd.

GET HIM HOME!!!

310 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:00 pm

WAHOO!!!!

7-5 M's!!!!

hell fuckin' yeah!!! : )

311 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:03 pm

nice! we could be 2 back soon...

312 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:04 pm

[311] i wouldn't mind seeing Branyan hit a 3-run bomb right now.

we need a nice, tidy and quick 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half. i wanna enjoy my brew tonite...

313 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:06 pm

alright M's. 3 quick outs. thank you, please!

314 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:13 pm

phew. that AB sucked. i liked the result though!

2 more, please!

quicker this time, thanks.

315 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:15 pm

wow, nick green made an out. i'm shocked. shocked, i tell you! : o

316 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:15 pm

This guy has some cheese..ah but that's what you can do with a fast ball...cmon, one more!!!

317 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:16 pm

holy christ. backup catcher hits a "fenway homer". i HATE that little league park.

still up by 1. 2 outs. Nancy at the plate...

318 The Hawk   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:17 pm

I'm gonna kill Mark Lowe if he doesn't get it together.

319 The Hawk   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:19 pm

This is shaping up to be an ugly loss for Seattle. And me.

320 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:19 pm

jesus fuck. just get one more damn out, dude!

man, i'm soooo glad Mo is on my team!!!

321 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:19 pm

[318] i know. i just wanna enjoy my beer.

322 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:20 pm

YES!!!!

now, let's hope Tex-ass holds their lead. 3-1 in the 7th...

323 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:20 pm

Ballgame! Dusty McVittles isn't gritty enough to come through!

I love how the Sox announcers focus on the "valiant" effort by the Sox rather than the M's victory!

324 The Hawk   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:22 pm

I hope it was a brutal loss for the Red Sox.

Two games out.

And over the last month or so AJ Burnett has been the Yankees best starter.

325 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:27 pm

I find this all very confusing. I thought that good teams like the Sox never lose to bad teams like the M's. Moreover, they gave up seven runs to a historically inept offense. I'm really surprised Francona still has a job after such a lax performance.

326 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:29 pm

Manny walked in his first AB, but hasn't had anything to do with the 5-run explosion going on in the 1st...

6 outs to go in Arlington. Rangers win and we gain a game on everyone in the AL East!

327 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:30 pm

[325] stop calling me stoopid. are all Canadians racist? ; )

328 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:33 pm

Watch it chief...I'm not Canadian! I'm just passing...

329 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:33 pm

looking ahead, we still have a tough remaining series against the Blow Jays, then have to tackle the Halos and Twinkies, who are coming along, as of late.

after the break, we have 17 games in a row! there was a scheduled day off in there, but we've got a makeup date w/ Oaktown.

methinks this is a pretty important stretch here...

330 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:34 pm

[328] how long have you lived there? i've played Montreal a coupla times. most 'recently' was maybe 3 years ago, a little less. i played Ontario 2 years back, i think it was...

331 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:36 pm

[330] Have always wanted to go to the Montreal Jazz Festival in the summer..have heard it's one of the world's best!

Sox are done, we're going to win the division by 6 games!!

332 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:38 pm

[331] they used to have a Montreal Drum Expo, which was a major drum event with some of the world's best players. they still have festivals like that all over the place, and who knows, they might still have one in Montreal, i'm not sure...

333 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:41 pm

Will make it there one day!
Wow, John Franco is a real dweeb.."the Mets lack leadership"..No you idiot, they lack half their lineup due to injuries..am so glad am not a Mets fan..

334 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:44 pm

[333] you plan on staying in Japan forever?

335 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:45 pm

[330] About five years.

[331] The Jazz Fest is pretty good, but...with each year the definition of "Jazz" becomes more and more inclusive. The last couple of years the number of "jazz" acts was pretty limited. Plus, the headlining acts can be expensive. Still, you can see some good side acts for free, and for that price who can complain.

(A couple of years ago we did pay to see Dave Brubeck...that was rather acceptable.)

336 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:49 pm

[334] Like Prince said, "Forever is a mighty long time.." But I love Asia and would be happy to stay here!
[331] I hope the inclusiveness is for world/experimental things and not Kenny G-style smooth jazz..

Time for lunch and to cue up the Yanks game on archive, hasta manana, banterinos!

337 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:53 pm

3 more outs to go in Arlington...

[335] cool. i don't know if PJ likes jazz, but i'm sure even he would say that Brubeck is acceptable! did he have his sons playing with him?

you're right about jazz festivals. 5 years ago (2004), Diana Krall played there. i'm a big fan and she's prolly the biggest international jazz figure the last 10 years. but this was her ill-advised "adult contemporary" phase, after she married Elvis Costello. the set list for that Montreal Jazz Fest, was pretty unfortunate. i have the live dvd. it even takes away from the jazz standards on there. She's Canadian and can prolly do no wrong there, but iirc, even the crowd was unsure how to react, at times...

338 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:56 pm

[336] i hear ya on the 'forever' thing.

there's prolly some world music at the jazz fests. but definitely "granola" jazz or "safe" jazz. also, some more modern backbeat stuff. not the good stuff, for the most part.

oh, what i wouldn't give to see Hank Mobley circa Workout, live in person!!!

339 monkeypants   ~  Jul 3, 2009 10:58 pm

[336] Worse..lots of rap, folk, classic rock. Basically any genre under the sun. To be fair, there were a lot of complaints a couple of years ago and it has gotten better. They're shooting pretty straight this year.

340 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 11:03 pm

they have all but gotten rid of the big - and free! - Jazz Festival here in Atlanta. this year or last, was the first without the big festival. i've seen some big acts, including Max Roach, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Heath Brothers, Brian Blade, et al...

341 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 11:04 pm

Alex has a new thread up. but i'm a-gonna check these last 2 outs in the Rays game and hop off. it's Beer:30!!! : )

342 thelarmis   ~  Jul 3, 2009 11:08 pm

alright, Rays, Jays & Sox all lose!!!

good day in baseball! : )

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