Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira DH
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Hairston LF
Ransom 1B
__

Optioning Shelley and putting Ransom at 1B? No wonder they get so little out of a $60 million payroll advantage.

Dear lord help that lineup

8/1/2009 - the beginning of the hairston ransom era - unfortunately I saw this as the roster - I just didn't think they would ever be in the lineup together

[1] Please tell me this is a joke. If not, Girardi may have just completed his transformation into Torre...and I don't mean that as a good thing.

[2] Can't Hinske or Swisher play 1B?

I would like to mention that yesterday I questioned why they would make a roster move with Duncan BEFORE the trade deadline. Now they have burned him for 10 days (in case they decide to recall him, which of course they won't) just so he could watch from bench for one day.

Cody Ransom starting at 1B has me absolutely, infuriated. This brain trust really seems to have no coherent plan.

Is Miguel Cairo available?

Yeah mp put swish at 1b - are they facing a lhp? - if so probably why no hinske - but that lineup is ridiculous - especially with mon off
I damn well new they would trot hariston out to the of

(5) If I remember correctly shelley doesn't even have options so he would have to clear waivers

[4] Danks is a lefty, though, so that's why Hinske is sitting.

Small sample (87 PA) but Ransom has hit LHP well: .273/.349/.468.

In all the "DFA Ransom" talk, note that the SS talent pool is so thin, the Mets picked up Angel Berroa as soon as he was available. That makes Ransom a somewhat desirable commodity, and I'll be that's why Cashman is holding on to him.

Of course I know they have Pena at AAA, but what if Pena got hurt? The other SS options are 28-year-old Doug Bernier, currently "hitting" .168/.293/.233 at AAA, and Reegie Corona, who "hit" .147/.169/.221 in 71 PA at AAA earlier this year. No, holding on to Ransom is the right move, methinks.

[7] No, he was sent down because he has option years and Ransom doesn't. Not that it excuses keeping Ransom.

[8] Hinske has been bad v. LH pitching in his career, but he has been good this season:

.321 .441 .571 1.012 (28 AB)

Cody vs Eric against Danks? I'd go Cody, easily.

Hairston's doing what he's here to do ... spelling Damon in a day game after night game, and vs a southpaw. Why are people so agitated?

Be glad you aren't seeing Molina (that's half a joke).

[7] IIRC, Shelley has options left, and PeteAbe said he was being "optioned" down.

I know everyone wants the Yanks to win today, because they've lost the last 2 - but isn't Girardi being smart? Matsui can't play the field, and Damon has started every game but 1 since the ASB ended. He's 35 and hitting .235/.369/.376 for July. I say even with the off-day coming up, a rest for Damon is perfectly reasonable, with the hot days of August coming up.

A couple of months ago we harped on Girardi for not resting A-Rod, putting winning today over the team's long-term goals for the year.

[11] Fortunately Girardi seems to get not giving every single one of the guys who need rest time off at the same time, as Torre so often did.

[10] Pretty small sample though.

To continue our discussion from the last thread Rich (good point on inferior hitter, sorry I missed it).

I wonder, though . . . given that the ordering of a lineup is essentially meaningless over the course of a season - only a 1 or 2 run difference between the most optimally organized lineup and the least - if that doesn’t negate it. I’m not convinced it does, but the two ideas certainly but heads.

BARISP is also, apparently, not a skill - that is, its not something hitters do consistently from year to year. I wonder about OBPRISP, though.

(9)Ok- Thanks rich.

(11) It's hairston and cody together with an upcoming off day and coming off 2 shitty games
I understand the a lineup doesn't play everyday - but the c (a gentlemen's c)?

[11] Horace, I'd go with your namesake over Ransom.

[13] You could be right. The one study I recall reading on clutchness, found that the only players who demonstrated that trait over time were Paul Molitor and Tony Fernandez.

Lineup construction can lead to some batters being pitched around with regularity (e.g., Bonds), so batting order does at least have some marginal effects for some hitters. We have also seen the opposite effect with A-Rod at times in the playoffs, where some managers have refused to give him anything good to hit, and he has expanded his strike zone rather than taking a walk.

Oh, no, does this mean Damon's busted up and won't be the same from here on out?

Damon isn't busted, though I admit I find his circling/wavering under flyballs this season alarming. He does need rest. August is a killer month in this game. Teams in races want their guys out there every day, but the wearing down of those same guys is an issue. Managers DO need to find ways to sit people. Girardi might have kept his powder dry for Sunday and used Hinske instead of Ransom then, but I have a feeling we may see Ransom playing another position tomorrow. A Rod still needs his downtime.

This is actually why V Mart is a big asset for Bosox ... though his numbers since April/May are really NOT good at all. He allows people to sit without their missing much so 1st/3rd/C become a rotation. And next year Varitek is gone.

People maligning Washburn (park factor benefits) are, I think, missing the point: we need a starter, somewhere about 3-4 weeks from now, unless they decide to ignore the long-proclaimed innings cap for Joba. Unless Hughes moves back, I have no idea what the plan is.

Maybe they DO plan to ignore it.

[17] Vmart allows people to sit, but the reality is he isn't a big upgrade. With the age of the players involved in the rotation, however, he does allow them to get more of a rest. Now, the question is how will he react.

As for Washburn, if the price was Austin Jackson or Montero, you simply can not make that deal. There has to be a competent 5th starter out there somewhere (aside from the handful currently pitching out of the bullpen).

[17] hoss we perfectly get rest for damon - it's cody at 1b that is so maddening

pere petey - looks like joba is not starting in toronto - but will move back a day to kick=off the bos series
UPDATE, 2:31 p.m.: The rotation:

Toronto: Pettitte, Mitre

Boston: Chamberlain, Burnett, Sabathia, Pettitte.

[17] I have no doubt that Hughes is going to take on that role, h-c-e. Cashman will never let Joba throw so many innings that Joba gets hurt later; to do otherwise would ruin the whole having young pitchers plan.

Aceves might also play a role, if he's not hurt.

This is where Wang + IPK both getting severely hurt has hurt the Yanks, not to mention George Kontos's TJ surgery.

Hughes is the competent fifth starter out there.

[19] Smart move, even though the Toronto match-ups looks ugly. These next two will be big games. Otherwise, the Yankees could be looking at a losing streak heading into the Boston series.

I can't figure out why Mitre is still starting. Even Igawa would be better. Hopefully, Cashman pulls off a deal before then.

Look at the bright side. If the Yankees fall out of first place, the RS can't block their waiver claims. Just sayin'...

[20] etc. I understand players, and that Damon might be banged up. I also get that Hinske will not start v. LHP. I do question, though, why Girardi is playing Ransom at 1B rather than starting SH Swisher. Also, if people are tired and banged up, would it not make sense to keep Duncan on the roster for a couple of days and go with 11 pitchers, until the off day?

Finally, I understand that Ransom would probably be scooped up if DFA'd, but that might give Cashman a chance to trade him. In any case, they DFA'd Berroa as soon as Ransom was back--i.e., having one BUIF at MLB and another at MiL (Peña) made Berroa expendable. I don't see why Having Hairston/Peña doesn't make Ransom now expendable.

[22] So, it looks like they are going with the "skip a few starts" Joba plan, to save innings, rather than the "swap in Hughes" plan...at least for now. I'm ambivalent about this, believe it or now. I like that they are willing to be a bit flexible with the starting rotation and use off days tactically & strategically..

Someone tell Joe you only trot out the house money lineup after you've WON the first 2 games of a series.

[19] Ah, forget what I said at [25]...I misunderstood. I thought they were skipping his turn, not simply moving him back.

That Mitre is starting is...unfortunate.

OK, my line-up griping time is over for the rest of the game...I promise. I get to see today's game on the boob tube! Let's go Yanks!

Apparently they brought up Duncan to guard and protect the coolers from Pettitte's vicious and deliberate attacks, and Shelley won't be needed until Andy's next start? I think he destroyed CC's pie/candy bar carrier last time and well, we can't have that...

*shrug*

: )

knuckles, cute line, but I'm arguing this isn't house money it is August. (Forget it knuckles, it's Augusttown.)

Shaun and Rich, I've been arguing that Phil MUST swing back to rotation during this month, and Joba to pen ... or they scrap the whole innings thing AND mess up Hughes for next year. It might be nice to see Yankees talking along these lines, but this may only reflect their playing cards close to the vest. Indeed, Hughes going 30+ last time around could even be a first salvo in swinging him over.

It is very hard to juggle the needs of a pennant race with next year and the future of their possible aces. Washburn or Bannister would have allowed the two to happen and I really did want/expect one of them. I never saw signs that Seattle wanted that much for Wash, and what they got suggests otherwise. I have to assume the report that the sticking point on Bannister was $650,000 owed has to be a bad joke.

All the Ransom/Pena/Hinske talk lasts a month, by the way. Come September everything changes in the dugout.

[30] All the Ransom/Pena/Hinske talk lasts a month, by the way. Come September everything changes in the dugout.

Let's hope there is no lasting, negative impact during the intervening month!

Go team!

Was if Pierzynski or Podsednik who who nearly barrel rolled (imo) Cano in the 1st game? I hope A.J. drills him in the ass. But that's just me. : D

[32] I hope he doesn't, but only because invariably MLB would slap him with a two week suspension.

McCarver. *sigh*

no buck - just timmy with brennan

McCarver thinks it's "odd" to see Jeter swinging at the first pitch. His deep knowledge of the game shows itself almost immediately.

[33] Bah! A.J. wouldn't get suspended for an ass/leg/arm/wrist-plunking. Now another "coconut ball" is a different matter entirely...

Timmy hasn't been watching much because Jeter has made a habit of hacking on the first pitch. I wonder what his average is when he does it because it seems like he usually makes an out.

Sweet Jesus.

Great....Yankees picking up where they left off yesterday.

Oh no.

Is it going to be another one of those games?

Sigh.

(Afternoon, Team.)

If this is another bs slopfest, I swear I'll go down to the clubhouse and crack heads myself.

Just saying.

[38] This season, on balls put in play 0-0:

Jeter:.404/.426/.577/1.003

Of course, plenty of first pitch hacks turn into 0-1 counts, which may yield disproportionately bad outcomes.

well yesterday started well and ended poorly - let's hope that half inning is as poor as it gets and todays game ends well

[41] I agree. It's finally nice weather here this afternoon. If this continues, I'm bagging out early.

Fastball right over the dish.

[43] I was referring to the 1st pitch of the game, not any AB.

[38] And for Jeter's career:

.381/.395/.571/.966

And what's up with Teix? He's no old man, is he? Can he really not play 1B today, especially if Monday's an off day anyway?

Great pitch, Burnett.

[49] that's the million dollar or shall we say 200 million dollar question weeping.

Shut up about the WS from what, three years ago?

There's a season on now, not to mention a game.

nice shift team

[47] Ah. I misunderstood.

Cano with an outfield assist.

Hey, Robbie!!

Oh, man.

I was scared until suddenly, Cano's standing there in right field.

Oh yeah.

[55] Make that a putout.

Keep it up please Weeping! I got Ma and Pa Pinstripe today.

Thanks!

: )

[52] wow, weeping, you're fired up today!

[59] [60] :)

Yeah, bullshit play the past two days will do that to me. My patience is hanging by a reed.

[59] fox still considers nashville braves territory?

actually the pitcher is closest to the hitter you fuckwit

Wow, this Danks guy's got a pretty good curveball himself.

Yes, E6!

Now, fucking boys, cash. It. In.

No more games.

[63] :)

[62] I'm afraid so, Ms October. We're Reds/Braves/Cardinals territory (in no particular order), with the Dodgers/Braves game today...

: /

good to know 3b is the only position on the field you have to stay down on grounders - i kind of remember my days at ss differently - but who the hell knows

Way to go, Jorgie!

Bad job by Posada...all of sudden, the Yankees are doing very little right.

[66] yeah that stinks

[68] jorgi's not having the greatest time these last few games

[67] You were a SS? Nice. I began as an SS in little league but was moved to 2B in my second year because (alas) my arm was neither strong nor accurate. I had great range on grounders and pop ups, a good glove, but my arm was just lousy.

Oh, please.

This is bullshit.

How the hell did you miss that, Robbie?

Can't they get a ball out of the infield?

Nope...

[71] Well, I moved around from 1B to LF to RF...a lot of RF in little league. You know what that's a code for, right? Needless to say, I was "out of baseball" at a relatively young age.

yuck cubed

Bang up job, boys.

Keep it up, Boston's just around the corner.

Wow...it's like watching a completely different team.

[78] Did they travel through the Bermuda Triangle en route to Chicago?

I want my New York Yankees back!

[71] Watch what you say about second basemen!

[71] yeah i was a ss - i was little and quick until i grew a bit taller in hs.
somehow i had a pretty good arm -
i did play some 2b my sr yr in hs after i hurt my knee

[75] :)

Actually, RF has a more important job than LF, because the RF has to back up 1B. At least, before the catcher can accept the responsibility.

But yes, I take your point.

Oh my goodness. Swisher is an adventure.

God, Nick Swisher fucking sucks my ass out there.

Routine plays are adventures with this guy.

[82] In our little league, RF was where they buried kids who couldn't catch fly balls. I was always a decent fielder and could throw OK; I was fine on liners and grounders, but I had some troubles with fly balls. My best position was 1B but for whatever reason as I got older I was moved off the position. In the end, though, I was Charlie Brown with the bat.

How many hits to the opposite field by AJ do the Yankees need to see before they figure out that they should pitch inside?

[84] As long as he makes the catch...

maybe this team is just really streaky - win a bunch - lose a handful - win a bunch - lose a handful - repeat

Hey, PJ, did Ma and Pa Pinstripe mention that Swisher fucking sucks? Or did he simply "make the catch?"

I have a real bad feeling about this game...all of sudden, it feels like this team is always playing from behind.

[87] I mean, I guess. But he often doesn't make the catch, is the thing.

[89] LOL! Only Alex trying to stretch a double down five last night "sucked" to them, never mind he failed miserably to hustle out of the box.

"Line drive right at Swisher"...

: )

Someone do something.

The wheels are coming off. This just sucks.

I HATE the White Sox.

[92] Well, what really happened is he caught the ball on his knees, kind of falling down because he never knows where the ball is going until it's about five feet away from him.

[95] It's not their fault. The Yankees gave away the first two and seem more than happy to do the same in this one.

[96] Sounds "routine" for him to me!

: )

This really sucks.

OHHHHHHH!!!

That looked pretty good to me.

Motherfucker.

well weeping - i haven't broke it out in a while - but fuck a goat in the ass

Shit A.J.!

Apparently, Head Up Ass Syndrome is contagious on this club!

Where was that pitch? Seriously though...you can't walk a non-hitter when you are ahead 1-2. If AJ doesn't have it, we can turn the game off now.

[101] Seconded.

Oh my God.

What have we done to deserve this?

Way to hit the cut off man swish to keep the dp in order. : (

Unbelievable!

"A bad throw by Swisher." - Sterling

I'm shocked, really...

*rolls eyes*

Looks like the Yankees are taking the weekend off in Chicago...just in time to go into the tank again versus Boston.

I am going to cry.

I don't know what to do.

Scream?

Cry?

Bust up a water cooler?

Call WFAN and hyperventilate?

I just can't take this.

Okay guys, I'm finished with this travishamockery of a team for today!

Have a great rest of your Saturday, if you are able...

And another outside fastball, another off-field hit.

Actually, it wasn't as outside as all that. I take it back.

Whatever.

Just, whatever.

least they let us know that this would be bullshit rather quickly

Oh well, first place was nice while it lasted. It wouldn't surprise me if the Yankees are not even in a wild card position by this time next week. Apparently, when the slightest adversity hits this team, they can't recover quickly. That really doesn't bode well for the playoffs.

Well, this game got ugly fast.

Sheesh. Our new utility infielder/outfielder hasn't even had a chance to bat yet, and the game's about over.

Sometimes your're the dog. Sometimes your the hydrant.

[113] Yeah, like yesterday.

TB already up 3-0 on KC. So much for putting them away. Something tells me the Yankees might have been feeling a little too good about themselves leaving Tampa.

Well now, boys, looks like we have some work to do.

I suggest every man swing with all his might at the first pitch. That'll show 'em.

[119] Probably what they'll do...dinner plans on a Saturday night in Chicago, you know.

Nothing like being down 6-0 and hacking away at the first pitch. Great job by Girardi getting his bat in the lineup.

I thought Hairston was supposed to be fast?

least chris rose and thom will have fun on their date later

[122] me too - and with swiheroo's popup not scoring anybody

Nothing first pitch flail...nice to see the Yankees not putting a game plan into effect. Would it kill Girardi to actually manage?

Thank you Tex.

That was rather important. : )

Let's go Arod....time to start hitting homeruns again.

teix at least hitting today

Okay, plenty of time to chip our way back into it.

Not a bad debut for Hairston.

Every batter in this inning that hasn't hacked at the first pitch has been successful.

Thats a pretty brutal change Danks has.

Awful Arod...just awful.

And howdy folks, long time lurker, yadda yadda

[134] welcome andy - 134 is a special number round these parts
these shitty games are bringing out some new folks

[134] So, it's your fault?

AJ has mostly AND is mostly good. The scary thing is that when he is bad, well, he is BAD.

[136] Actually, I'm afraid it's my fault. I did some pretty serious trash-talking to the one Chicago fan I know.

Hubris of the first order, duly punished.

[136] If me taking the blame would get AJ to throw a first pitch strike, then yes, yes it is.

we'll take that inning

now the score truck needs to really get up the hill

hopefully the next 2 days off will do po some good

Danks is not laying the ball in their 0-0, but the Yankees haven't figured out that they should take the damn first pitch. Does Girardi watch on the bench?

Nix is awful.

Nice boot Nix

nix is not a ml ss

Re-emergence of Bruney? Does McCarver even bother to prepare?

Brian Cashman, super genius :)

why were you people complaining about hairston?!? :}

What is McCarver talking about?

Great to have Ransom up here.

And he swings at an outside curve 0-0!!

[149] somehow he is even worse than usual

Wow, Ransom sucks.

Why is this $200mn ball club sending Cody Ransom to bat!

[142] He's pounding the srike zone and consistently throwing first pitch srikes. Well, if he throws another srike then the count is 0-2. So.......Being agressive is the route they are taking. AJ got pounded in the 2nd reason for the complete opposite reason.

Do we really have no one besides Ransom to play 1B?

oh cody you may be intersting but you really are lousy

Great job AJ.

hmm it is becoming more apparent which inning was the outlier here for aj

[154] But he isn't pounding the strike zone. He is throwing a lot of breaking pitches and changes on 0-0. The reason he is getting ahead is because the Yankees are swinging. If he was throwing fastballs, i could see swinging early, but he isn't, and like Friday, the Yankees haven't adjusted.

Great to hear that Girardi feels so good about the team...the manager lacks urgency, so why should the team have any.

nicely done

Shew

getting aj from 1-2 to 3-2 is not as difficult as you might think thommy

but nice reocvery there aj - i thought we were headed for another horrible inning after that double

Did he just say Steve Swisher?

Steve Swishers retired, hello

mccarver just needs to retire

Lifeless.

Steve Swisher. Steve Fischer. You're a fucking idiot McCarver. I caught a few innings of the 85 Cards/Royals world series earlier on the MLB Network. Yup, McCarver. WHY????

He does have a lovely singing voice

i would feel a lot better knowing mcacrver hit a southside bar before this game

[171] Or if a southsider hit him with a bar. : )

jeez, very little command today

[172] yes, that would be ideal :}

i don't think pershithead has made an out this series

Someone is trying.

Calm down, Hairston. I know you want to make good and all...

that was some hustle, perhaps insane, but some hustle

The only announcers that use the word effort are golf announcers? wtf is that?

[176] You're right. This team has just put me in such a foul mood I've grown cynical.

alright aj - gotta get out of this

Yup, Tim. They're keeping him in so he can get a cheap win.

"This is a very very very big at bat"

Thank you, Captain Obvious

the yanks haven't been on fox for a while, so maybe i am forgetting just what a gapig idiot he is, but timmy's fs* quotient seems to have increased dramatically today

* fucking stupid

This is pathetic.

holy christ deja vu all over again

That's incredible.

unreal

doubt we see po catching aj in boston

How do you call a freaking curveball on 2-2 to a .230 hitter, knowing what happened last time? How? How is this possible? I'm following on gameday, so who's fault is it? Did AJ shake Posada off. Or is Posada just being Posada?

The stupidity is unbelievable.

"whose fault is it" - I'm so angry, I can't even type.

Posada had zip to do with AJ's bullshit command today.

[191] i agree, aj had no command time - i just think because they had to conference a couple of times it is going to be made into something

[192] today not time - though time is probably relevant somehow

[189] Last time they went with 3 fastballs and they were all balls. I actually liked the curve there and think they should have gone with it again on 3-2. AJ wasn't going to throw the fastball for strike because he hasn't done it all game.

The real question is what game was Girardi watching to make him think Burnett should be left in?

Another 0-0 swing at a breaking ball off the plate...good thing he made up for it.

Probably true, but Posada has completely reverted to his old "never present the pitcher an actual target" mode in past years. For a few years he fixed the problem and stopped doing all the pre-pitch fidgeting and actually presented a proper target. It doesn't help and it's ridiculous. He did it when he was younger, someone fixed it (Pena, I assume), and then he went back to his bad habits.

But my question is who called that damn curveball? That's criminal.

so mcacrver does pay attention to current events when it allows him to point out a blunder by arod

Oh - he had even less command on the fastball - I retract my complaint, then. I do remember the fastball missing all over the place in the 2nd. I turned the game off and did other things because I was about to burst a blood vessel, so I missed the other innings.

Could it be that after 6 innings, the Yankees finally figured out every first pitch was a curve off the plate?

the real test is if he walks cano

and he failed the test - make them PAY

BULLSHIT CALL.

shit - melky got a good swing there

Guess it's up to Cherry Hudson.

That was an awful call and this whole inning could turn on it. Now it comes down to Hairston because Ransom is an out.

holy jesus only po could mange to get thrown out there

Oh, Lord.

This team has played like a bunch of fucking clowns. For this level of play to go on for three games now speaks to the lack of accountability on this team. What a joke.

OK, I break my promise. The one-two punch of Hairston-Ransom at the end of the line up is just brilliant here with the bases juiced. And fine base running by Posada.

How the hell do you let Ransom hit here? Is Girardi mailing it in? Might explain how he has managed all game.

[209] fuck it - misery loves company at this point

Can't really complain about how Hairston has played today.

All in all I'd say scoring 1 run with no outs and the bases loaded is pretty good for this team. BARF.

Please, someone give me reason to hope we don't get swept by Boston.

i don't give a damn what sterling says - thiat was predictable!!

Again...why the hell did Ransom just bat there? I don't care how well they play at times. This team will not win in the playoffs with Girardi at the helm.

[210] Well, if he doesn't trust Hinkse and Matsui to face Danks for the entire game, why would he trust them to face him in a tight spot? And of course, there is no one else to go to off the bench, like say a Duncan or Rodriguez. And they would lose the DH.

Un-be-liev-able.

I swear to God, if the organization won't take Ransom away from Girardi, one of us fans is going to have to kidnap him.

On a side note, Posada now does so many things poorly that I wonder how much a benefit his bat really is.

[216] Why is Ransom starting at 1B, especially when Miguel Cairo is available.

Mind boggling.

poor play is contagious

Oh my God.

OK, maybe they should just forfeit tomorrow and give everyone some rest. Then they can bump Mitre from the Toronto series.

Jeter joins the club...

[217] Presumably, part of the benefit is to give Matsui and Damon a rest. There is no way you can argue either can't hit Danks, who has really pitched a poor game and likely would have been bounced if it didn't take the Yankees 6 innings to figure out every first pitch was a breaking ball off the plate.

With Boston coming up, maybe the Yankees are practicing their gag reflex.

yeah back to back fox weeks!! can't get any better than that.

[224] Oh trust me, I agree with you. I was just fishing for an explanation there. PH Hinske would have made sense, since he would have been able to go into the game and taken 1 B or RF (with Swish moving to 1B).

Pete Aba suggested pinch hitting Ransom with C.C. : O

Note to McCarver: Kotchman is not a good player.

[228] Pete Abe. D'oh,

[228] Not a bad idea.

Between leaving AJ in and not hitting for Ransom, Girardi put on display how poorly he manages a game. If the choice is make the playoffs and get bounced in the 1st round or not make the playoffs and get rid of Girardi, I'd opt for the latter. Maybe then the Yankees would take seriously the need to hire an alert manager.

Glad to see Robby dive...I had visions of the game against the Angels last season when he didn't.

[227] especially that danks isn't long for this game

and danks isn't so much tougher against leftys:
rhb: 243/313/370
lhb: 230/307/413

Did they say what the roster move was to make room for Hairston?

I know they sent Shelley Duncan down to make room on the 25-man, but how'd they make room on the 40-man?

[234] i'm not sure of the sequencing but they are starting to move guys to the 60 day dl - wang and nady are finally there

[234] 60-day DL moves, I think. Wang, IIRC.

[236] I think Wang went to the 60-day DL to make room for Duncan. Duncan was not DFA'd, just optioned, so he's still on the 40-man. So someone else had to be put on the 60-day DL for Hairston.

Danks just threw another 0-0 breaking pitch in the dirt. This time Jeter took and then hit the 1-0 fastball. I can't believe it took them so long to figure this out.

I've never been anti-Girardi because I wanted him so badly before they hired him and because I have no idea who to replace him with. I think he stuck with AJ because he had no idea who to throw into this game which was not really closely enough to consider a spot to hold the team in the game, but not bad enough to consider a completely lost game. He's facing the very real possibility that tomorrow is an all out desperation game. The obsession with Ransom is beyond disturbing, though.

How did Bruney look? Maybe if this game could be a turning point for him, this wouldn't be the 100% disaster it seems to be. I'm looking for a bright side.

I still can't believe we didn't get another starter, knowing that Joba has an innings limit.

Ha ha, please leave Danks in. It will be a battle to see who can blow the game worse from the bench, ha

If a manager like Showalter was on the bench, Danks would be showered and dressed for his night on the town.

Guess that was too much to hope for

Not that I give shit, but isn't Guillen going to the mound with a hooded sweatshirt worth a fine or something?

[239] I think we will get another starter. It won't be a big star or a bargain, because players like that won't clear waivers. But lots of deals are done after the deadline.

[239] I think there are a few guys available who would be a huge improvement. Obviously, because they have played well in spite of him (though still below their talent level), you can't make a change now.

Bruney looked very good, but regardless, AJ looked off. He didn't have it today. Instead of accept reality, he pushed the envelope.

[241] But if Jeter swung and missed at a 0-0 fastball he would been flailing away. : D

This team goes through massive stretches of not being able to hit with men in scoring position...even when Posada isn't on the bases.

[246] By the 3rd or 4th inning, you should pick up a pattern.

we'll take it

now po time to break out of the bs

That would be how they'd knock in a run in. Surprising, great baserunning by Swisher to hold 2B.

Make me less angry, Jorge

Come on! The bobble goes right to him....damn it!

Some guy started a website that suggests to movie goers the best points of the movie to use the restroom so to not miss anything. I'd suggest to Yankee fans to use it when there is a guy on 2nd.

I wish Molina had played this game.

did they take pena out?
i swear i didn't see a pitching change - just cut to the commercial

The good news, I guess, is that the wonder twins at the bottom of the order will bat in the eighth, so the top of the order should bat once more in the ninth.

[254] i'm sure he will tomorrow - po really looks like he could use the 2 straight off days

[256] Think Girardi will pinch hit in the 8th? I still can't believe we didn't get to see a quality hitter against a struggling Danks.

[257] But Posada was bad today! Tomorrow, he would probably be good.

only fitting

[244 & 245] Manager names you have in mind? I just don't have any. I was so disgusted with Joe by the end that I don't know what other direction to turn.

I can see us getting a 5th after the deadline, but part of the concern was with the waiver wire, and us in first, we were so infinitely blockable. Of course, that may not be a concern soon. Very strategic, Yanks!

Unfucking believable.

[258] I've given up thinking about such possibilities. It's just another one of those games, again. I'm just hoping that someone can poke it over the fence in th eninth.

I always have such hopes with Robbie up. Foolish hopes.

[261] If we get a fifth starter, it's going to be someone like Bronson Arroyo. Average pitcher, paid like a star. No one else will want to pay that kind of money.

Cashman won't, either, but if the alternative is Mitre and Igawa...

[261] Without a doubt, Buck Showalter. I'd imagine he would have learned to ease up on his overbearing rules. With a veteran clubhouse, he could focus doing what he does best...manage a game and notice everything on the field.

Just a quick example of the following. The Yankees had good success stealing bases against a catcher one series. It later turned out that Showalter noticed that the catcher's forearms visibly expanded when he called for a pitch out.

If Showalter was on the bench, he would have easily picked up on Dank's pattern.

That ball should be caught...Melky didn't exactly look like he was coming hard.

I really wish Molina had played today.

what in the hell is brennan talking about - bruney has proved himself, but he hasn't been that good.

Has Bruney pitched in 3 innings as a Yankee? Is Girardi planning to just leave him for the rest of the game?

those steals are on bruney

[271] A good throw had a chance on the steal of 2B.

Either Nix is really Babe Ruth, or the Yankees keep walking him so Ozzie will leave his glove in the field tomorrow.

Incredible that the bullpen is just getting up now.

[272] No chance. Bruney had a high leg kick and the kid got a huge jump. IMO.

[274] Posada's weak throw didn't miss by much. A good Molina throw looks like it would have had him.

Well, we walked a lifetime .195 hitter three times. That's awesome.

[266] I figured you were angling towards Showalter, but I don't know if I see it. Are you sure he hasn't just gotten more crotchety as he's gotten older?

[265] I will not be happy about Arroyo. Another player of the type you described, and I guess I can stomach it, what with it being their money and all. But wasn't the rumor that for far less than a mil they could have gotten involved on Bannister?

The only positive to these negative blow outs is that Girardi trusts guys like Robertson and Melancon, which means they get to prove their worth (if they have any).

The inning starts with Melky not exactly busting for a ball, followed by Bruney forgetting that runners can steal bases. It's nice to see a first place team really focus in a game.

Meaning that if they wouldn't spend for Bannister before the deadline, now they're going to spend a lot more for someone overpriced? Very odd.

[276] I am not sure, of course, but he's a smart guy and must now what has caused his downfall in the past.

This game is taking forever.

[280] Definitely agree about him being a smart guy, it's just smart guy + inability to look inward = not exactly unheard of combination. : (

Atta boy, Dave.

If Ransom bats here with anyone on base, I may celebrate this impotent feeling by doing some real damage to myself.

[280] you have to hope his time on bbtn has not caused his iq to plummet though :}

That's another brutal call to Mleky.

The umpire in this series have been embarrassing.

[287] To answer your previous question about PHs...

Melky showing uber patience. : (

[284] well melk/the ump and hairston arranged for that to not be an issue

Go jump on box, Cody!

[276] I don't think money was the real issue with Bannister. They really didn't want to trade him, and wanted a lot more back in prospects than anyone was willing to give them.

I can only hope that this disastrous sequence of games will compel the brain trust to radically rethink certain assumptions about roster construction and roles.

Come on, that has to be the coda on the cody ransom experience. Enough is enough. He sucks, he sucked when he got here, he will always suck.

This has to stop.

This team is headed to a train wreck. Buerhle and Halladay and then Boston sounds like a nice losing streak on the horizon.

[292] Yep. The money issue has become the meme, but the deal must have hinged on the players involved.

i know cody has no chance with off-spead stuff - but he got 3 straight fastballs, even a foul tip on one of those pitches would be something

[292] Fair enough, if that's the case. Those were just rumors, anyway.

I would rather have Cervelli up here as a third catcher than Ransom. At least that guy can play the game. I can't take Ransom, I can't take it no more.

I just woke up to see that Ransom AND Hairston started this game??? Is it even worth going back to read through the game thread or watch on replay?? HOW do you have both those guys starting?!?!?!

[299] basically just translate your initial shock and anger into about 3 hours worth - and you get the game thread