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

I think the Yankees etched-in-stone, never-to-be-altered Mitre Map dictates that this game MUST be played today, regardless of the weather.

There's golf in Joisey City, and somewhat meaningful football in the Meadowlands tonight, too. Good TV sports day, but it's not quite cool enough for me to make a pot of chili for the friends who are coming today. No chili til October. Same goes for cheesecake. I could kinda go for both today, but for everything there is a season...

Dear Lord, is that *Jose* Contreras? Is *he* still around?

That's a fabulous picture, Alex.

And am I the only one getting a very sick feeling about Jorgie? If he has something wrong with the joint in his finger, how's he going to grip a baseball bat?

[4] Although I think Posada should sit out for a week or two, he has been playing with this injury for a couple of weeks, and has said that it doesn't affect him at the plate.

I have a question about the other night's 10-9 loss to Texas. I didn't have a chance to post this on the game thread before (and to do so on that thread now would be a little moot since no one's going to go back and post). It's funny that if we had lost 10-5, I would have just said "Oh well" and chalked it up as one of those games we were meant to lose; but to come all the way back and then lose in the way we did made the game much more frustrating.

With nobody out and runners on first and second, Girardi opted to have Swish bunt. Frankly, I don't think that's bad strategy per se, particularly if he had GIDP in that spot (sure after a double play people would have said "why didn't they bunt?"). And if he had succeeded, we would have runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and a chance to tie even with an out. But, of course, what was bad was that Swish made a terrible attempt a bunt and popped out to Young.

Here's my question: What made everyone the maddest about that Swisher bunt. Was it:

A. The strategy to being with -- why bunt?;

B. The fact that as a big leaguer Swish should KNOW how to bunt;

C. Girardi's failure to realize that Swish isn't a good bunter, and to make an adjustment to try something else (whether a double-steal, pinch hit, hit and run, or just Swish swing away); or

D. other

Personally I was mad at Girardi. Yeah, Swish should know how to bunt. But as the manager, Girardi is supposed to know all of his players strengths and weaknesses -- after all, that's why you would, for example, pinch hit Matusi for Molina when facing a pitcher Godzilla kills (for example). The manager has to react to his player's strengths.

And, if we want to take this a step further, during Spring Training the Manager needs to find out who's weak on the fundamental and drill them on their weaknesses.

Granted, if Swish is a good bunter, but just missed one, then I'm completely wrong and the question only boils down to the propriety of giving away an out (even through a successful bunt). But, based on what I saw it didn't look like he knew what he was doing.

And that's my problem with Girardi. I know Hinske was on the bench (and maybe he couldn't bunt either), but maybe Pettitte could have bunted (and I honestly don't know if Pena was on the roster or not), or someone else. It just seems like Girardi lacked the creativity to manage the situation.

Ramiro Pena was sitting on the bench and I suspect he could have bunted those guys over, since weak hitting infielders normally know how to bunt. Why did he have to force a square peg into a round hole?

[6] The last paragraph was meant to be deleted because I couldn't confirm whether Ramiro Pena was on the roster or not.

[5] Really? I thought it was the thing that just happened a couple nights ago when he took it on the finger behind the plate?

[6] B. Most unequivocally, B.

C. It was infuriating that he kept the bunt on.

[8]

link:

Posada re-injures finger: Posada re-aggravated his bruised left ring finger when Nelson Cruz fouled a pitch off the catcher's glove in the eighth inning. The Yankees led by seven runs at the time and Girardi replaced Posada with Molina. X-rays on the finger were negative and Posada is day-to-day. "It's been beat up before," Posada said. "It just took another hit today to the same spot." Posada injured the finger earlier this month. He said the training staff is working on something to protect it but he doesn't expect the finger to heal. "I don't think it's going to heal until the season's over," he said. "The joint is bruised. There's not much I can do."

No tarp on the field. Just light fog, and drizzle. Everything's going according to the Mitre Plan (TM).

Girardi expects six or seven innings out of Mitre.

He didn't specify over how many starts he expects this inning total.

[6] FWIW, Swisher had 3 previous successful sac bunts this season and has 7 on his career.

[6] I'll say C, but you left out an option that the pitcher was having a difficult time and thus giving up an out there may not have been the best idea. I think that combined with Swisher's ability to get on base and C sum it up for me.

I'm not sure I should turn the game on today. Mitre seems awfully unlucky whenever I watch on TV or listen on the radio.

[16] If he bombs, we might get to see Chad Gaudin!

Mitre has a .366 BAA against?

Christ

[17] If we're lucky. It all depends on luck.

And speaking of luck, for some reason I get the game today...and I even get the NY rather than CHW feed. Woo-hoo!

[0]

Great photo Alex.

[5]

Three days til Cervellitime!

OK .... I know this is probably in REALLY bad taste, but ...
The article below mentions that DJ AM had only last weekend thrown out the first pitch at the Mets "game-ending triple play" game.
The Mets cursed season reaches new lows ...

http://tinyurl.com/lr7no5

'Sergio Mitre is ready."

Why does that sound like a threat?

I've disliked Podsednik ever since it was falsely determined that he was good and he stole the allstar appearance from Jeter.

Molina and Hairston starting--Girardi is really emptying the bench today.

Kay just said that Hairston is the emergency catcher. Now the roster construction makes perfect sense.

[26]

I think former NBAer Happy Hairston is still with us, correct?

I'm pretty sure Happy Rockefeller is.

So ... Melky finally gets a couple hits, then Girardi sits him the next day? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I don't get it.

15

Captain Hit Machine !!!

[27] Sadly, no.

So, apparently the CHW have a "plan" with Peavy and Contreras.

i think Jetes was out...

Jeter looked out.

[34] Indeed he was

damnit, tex. gotta capitalize...

wow, A-rod getting a hand in the bronx!

Any call that pisses off Guillen is good by me.

[34] Does the ball maybe need to be off the ground?

prolly shoulda put on the double steal by now. shake contreras up early...

[40]

what .... no bunt? :-)

*sigh*

Hawk (not our Hawk!) complaining about Mark Wegner who apparently *always* ruins the ChiSox...

damn you, Alex.

Yankees: PLEASE stop striking out. Hawk's "he gone" calls are already making me nauseous...

Matsui = 3-run blast!!!

[41] that was my original thought!

diane - just saw a link to Boss George getting sued by some guy who claims he had the original idea for the YES network. i didn't read it, 'coz i figured you'd have a nice little gray box money quote on Monday's NOTD! : )

btw, i saw the link at MLB trade rumors. it's at the bottom of the top post right now...

[40] Do the Yankees have a double steal this year

For all the hopes that some people had that Girardi might bring some NL style running to this team, we pretty much anchor these guys to the base when they get on. Hell, sometimes we send in a pinch runner to stand there and do nothing.

[44]

Yeah, I'm saving it for Monday ...

oh, boo. i was hoping he'd walk and Swish could face Ozzie w/ the bases juiced...

"Driven out into left center field..."

Kay is no Hawk, but he's an idiot nonetheless.

[45] don't know for sure, but i think we do. not many. with jeter & johnny running pretty well, i think it should happen more often...

[46] i figgered...

[45] sometimes we send in a pinch runner to stand there and do nothing.

Well, at least they used to, until they decided to go with the Hairston-as-Bugs-Bunny bench.

[48] Before the game started, Kay goes "The Yankees had their [whatever number] walk off win last night! [Whatever number +1] if you count the Castillo dropped pop up!"

Why the hell wouldn't we?

Hot dog, potato chips, burger ... that'll be $16 please ...

[51] Hairston has come in a couple times to not run.

wow, that was slow enough that Thome made it close!

[22] Perhaps, but in all honesty I was thinking the same exact thing, Diane...

[6] I gotta go with C. I agree with Weep that all major leaguers should know how to bunt, but the fact remains that likely a good majority don't bunt well enough for it to be considered automatic in those situations, and the "he's done it before" doesn't really justify having him do it in then. Someone showed in that thread that the percentages (likelihood) of a successful bunt from Swisher was lower than either a fly ball or a walk. Girardi should certainly know that much, but played against the higher-percentage option by applying a book strategy that, as expected, failed.

If you're gonna criticize anyone for woulda-coulda-shoulda, you can start with Girardi for putting Swisher in a situation that, given his skill-sets, was likely to fail. To me, seven successful sacrifice bunts in a career (with three in a season) doesn't justify applying it during a high-pressure situation when there were higher-probability options available.

I will add that no one would be this outraged if Swisher had simply struck out (even though the pitcher was erratic, lowering that probability as well) in that situation. But the lowest-probability option was applied, and the resulting failure exposes not only Swisher's fault of not being a better bunter (if such a thing is possible), but also Girardi's flaws in his in-game strategy.

That was the fastest I've ever seen Jim Thome move.

Orgies on a Saturday afternoon. So far so good. : D

who's this guy on the mound wearing #45 ?!?!

[59] Carl Pavano

[14] Cliff -- that's why I wrote "Granted, if Swish is a good bunter, but just missed one, then I’m completely wrong and the question only boils down to the propriety of giving away an out (even through a successful bunt)." So, he does have 7 sac bunts in his career, meaning he can do it, but doesn't do it very often. He did look a bit helpless to me.

[15] Hawk, I did leave that out, but that's why I had the D category. I wasn't trying to force anyone to stick with my possible answers b/c other people could have a totally different takes that I hadn't thought of.

[53] Not surprising if you've been to any Wendy's in Midtown...

Moron.

[60] he's got 11 wins this season and throws today. i hope Feldman destroys him and the Jays finally find a way not to blow it vs the Shit Sox.

YEAH!!!

c'mon Hairston!!!

Contrereas, like my Labrador, looks SAD always. It's a bit depressing.

[56] You stated my point better than I did ... It's a failure to manage the situation by Girardi. Now, what does it mean down the road? I don't know. Every manager is going to make a wrong choice at some point because they are relying on human beings. Maybe it exposes Girardi as someone who will choke in the playoffs or maybe he changes his thinking.

I'll add one thing I hadn't mentioned before. Immediately after the pop out they showed Girardi pacing in the dugout, presumably cussing. I hope he was cussing his own decision and not cussing someone who doesn't have that skill set. Again, in an ideal world all major leaguers should know how to bunt, but many do not. Maybe Girardi makes sure they can next year.

those seats behind home plate look super comfy! not $2,500 comfy, but comfy nonetheless...

i want 2 runs this inning...minimum.

oh, hell yeah!!!

I like Jerry Hairston

Good ab. Nice one, Jerry!

[68] Ask, and yee shall receive...

[66] well, since it was in NY, i think he was cursing and NOT "cussing", haha!!! ; )

i never heard "cuss" til i moved to the south - we curse up North, Evil!!! : )

[72] Kim Jones, please!!! ; )

good job, Molina

Jerry!

What's Sterling's homer call for Jerry Hairston?

We'd better score 10 runs today with Sergio Whitson pitching.

Damnit.

now, there was a good bunt. but, i'm not so sure why he did that there...

[76] HAH! At least I didn't write "cussin' y'all"

Jeter bunted. Hmpf.

Kay said it made no sense...and I agree. I feel dirty.

44 pitches so far...for 4 outs...

All right this is bizarro baseball, where Jose Molina doesn't bunt but then Derek Jeter does.

I hate that bunt

oh, fuck yeah, Johnny!!!

i think he should steal 3rd. like immediately...

[78] perfect!!!: )

Still hate that bunt. Jeter very easily could have done that

[77] And Leiter justified the bunt by saying that as a leadoff man, he needs to be able to bunt. First of all, the leadoff man needs to get on base, not bunt (which is, by tradition, the #2 man's responsibility). Second, don't we have ample evidence already that Jeter knows how to bunt well?

[75]

Hmmm .... "Oh my pubic Hairston" ..... nah
"Hip hip Hairston" .... nah
"A Hairston of fun" ... nah

[77] true, but at least it's a guy who CAN bunt. So at least it's a pure strategy question of bunt v. don't bunt

[82] me too, but it's hard to complain about it at this point...

[83] well, i guess i'm glad he didn't go immediately...

[66] A "moment of clarity" if you will >;)

I don't know what to expect, and I doubt anyone could. However, one can hope that Girardi can either step up his game in the playoff, or that he'll help develop his players to adjust to his game, which sounds unlikely to be honest with you.

So the Yanks give up an out and get two runs after the fact. Strategy or good luck?

(with Molina running at first, I give the edge to strategy...)

[87] yeah. don't bunt.

[86] pubic hairston....that's really bad!

Hey only 6 more runs to make this game "Sergio proof"

I hope we'll do exactly what the Chisox did to us in the first three games in Chicago. I want their playoff run to end this weekend at the hands of the Evil Empire.

from Josh Thompson, filling in for Petey at LoHud:

UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: Jeter absolutely cannot bunt there. I’m sorry. He’s batting over .330 and Contreras hasn’t come close to recording an out in the second inning. (And he had just walked the No. 9 batter with Jeter on deck.)

People at the Stadium clapped because fans clap for bunts. Damon’s two-run double will only confirm in their minds that the bunt was the right play there. Anyway, it’s now 4-0 Yanks.

Kay, the Blue Jays want to give away Rios and Wells because they make alot *and* aren't playing well.

I still think the problem was less the Jeter bunt than the Molina non-bunt. Have Molina get the runner to third with one out and Jeter up. I'll take my chances there.

Nice Orgies!

[89] Remember one thing about Jeter is that he is a bit of a GIDP machine and I doubt that Molina at 1st is really going to break up the DP (mainly because he'd be 30 feet away on the pivot). So, perhaps the bunt isn't bad there because:

1. There were no outs;

2. It gives the Yanks a chance to score without a hit;

3. A 3-0 game in bad weather (particularly where we need to get to 5 innings) could be huge (assuming we only scored a run on an out and Damon didn't double there); and

4. The odds of a successful Jeter sacrifice are high.

So I won't criticize Girardi there because it appears that he at least made an informed choice and managed the situation -- it worked out. And if it hadn't worked out -- Jeter sacrifices and the next 2 hitters K then I wouldn't bitch there.

Terrific !!!

[94] that's a very good point. Plus if Molina bunts the chance of Jeter hitting into a DP are nil.

[86] I'm going with Hairgel, because the Yanks' play has really gelled since his acquisition...

Okay, I know it's a stretch, but it's gotta be better than Pubic Hairston, no offense Diane >;)

I don't remember Contreras' okay seasons.

Michael Kay defines "driven" as "not a ground ball"

[99] if it's a YS Special: "cleared the fence by a Hairston!"

okay, that sucks too...

[99]

If it hooks around the foul pole for a homer ... "A Jerry Curl for Hairston"

Oy ... this is tougher than I thought it would be ...

molina is s l o w ...

Molina is not fast

[105] looked like he actually slowed up at the end, giving up. if he had run that out like Thome did early, he had a chance to be safe...

[103] And Casman's Jr. momentarily makes you forget all of his less than stellar pitcher signings.
Nah. Way too long. : O

LoHud:

UPDATE, 2:05 p.m.: Posada just warmed up Mitre while Molina put his gear on. That must be a positive sign.

wasn't jorgie scheduled to catch in the bullpen today, anyway?

[102],[103] If he makes an error or two, are they Hairston "Folly-cles" ?

Okay, i should've made a Bad Pun Alert sign when I first started typing...

this is fun!!!

alex was awkward on that play, but no matter, got it done...

"What a job Scott Podsednik has done for this team!"

When he started this year, the White Sox were one game over .500.

They are now one game under .500.

Division changer.

Kay says there have been 20 walkoff homers against the Chisox by the Yanks, before Cano who hit the last one?

I'll say Dan Pasqua.

I really dislike that Sergio Mitre keeps resurfacing in the rotation.

That said, I'm really, really liking this game so far.

[112] I saw Dan Pasqua hit a walk-off HR once, back in the 1980s. Maybe against the Twins?

14

Jeter's amazing. and that's why you don't bunt him...

[113] Plus Mitre is pitching a perfect game.....Wouldn't it be fun if he pitched a perfect game and then the Yanks DFA'd him?

MVP!

i freaking LOVE it!!!

i think Jete's is 2 away from 300 stolen bases!!!

unreal. i hope jeter's okay

Is that a two error play?

[114] I'm pretty sure it was @ Yankee Stadium, on the Saturday game of the week and I think it was a 2-1 game (maybe 3-2) and think it might have been extra innings

howdy all. listening at work.

And....

http://www.partyoutfitters.com/itempics/misc/BoppCircus.mp3

2 errors on that play?

wow, so it was Don Baylor against the Chisox in 1985...could've sworn Pasqua hit one against the Chisox.

The ChiSox Follies...

must plate 2 more...

[117] DUDE, what the hell are you doing typing that?!?!?! : /

They've got a D.J., they are how they play ...
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh, ooh

[122] That sounds about right, 3-2 I think. I was sitting with my bro in the upper deck, 1st base side. I still remember the ball arcing by us. It was either the 9th or 10th inning, as you say.

ok Pasqua's was 9/1/86 against the Royals, Yanks won 3-2

http://www.yankeenumbers.com/WalkOffHomeRuns.asp

This is fun.

oh, that's beautiful!

must get more from the Score Truck !!!

[122] In fact, here it is:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198608090.shtml

[129] because:

1. Mitre has no chance to throw a damn perfect game; and
2. I'm like Michael Kay -- I don't believe talking about a perfect game in Birmingham will blow a perfect game in the Bronx.

[132] Ha-ha, you beat me to it [135].

he gone.

[122]

to the rescue ...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?n1=pasquda01&t=b

[132] see [122]

[136] ah, i know. you're right, but still...

(drummers are supersticious, i guess...)

[117] What I wanna know is, Mattpat, what are you counting? [115]

I hate the turd sox, not as much as the shit sox (h/t thelarmis) but I love beating them.

Hmmm ... I wonder what the record is for most errors committed while getting no-hit? :-)

[142] Hits until Jeter ties the Iron Horse

lovely!

now, bring Mats home

I'll take it

[144] I immediately think of the Andy Hawkins game...

i'm loving this!

[148] The only no hitter I have watched or listened to on the radio from start to finish. Sheesh!

[145] Very good, sir; a noble aspiration >;)

[148]

No, I mean the team being no-hit ... the number of errors THEY commit.

i.e. you don't see 0-0-3 too often.

[150] I was supposed to attend the Wells perfect game. My grandfather died the day before

[150] was Hawkins' against the chisox?

[152] That's because he's been overshadowed by 0-0-7...

[155] Reflex; couldn't resist >;)

WOW, what a play by A-Rod!!!

Uh..could that be the play?

was that as incredible a play as Sterling made it sound?

Maybe not

[159] No, but it was a pretty fine play. Unfortunately, the luck just ran out.

and there it goes. that ball was smoked!

Orgies Timer gets a nice hand from the crowd.

[162] ?

Jeter is filthy

58 pitches thru 5 for Mitre.

the hit didn't rattle him one bit.

he's lowered his ERA almost a full run already today!

[163] what? the no hitter got gone, thome smashed the ball and "Orgies Timer" anagrams to "Sergio Mitre" !!! : )

[166] The anagram, thank you very much >;)

wow. jeter freaking RULES!!!

13

Locked in the Captain is. Holy smokes.

D.J. obviously on the take, getting payola

[167] no worries! i don't remember who first came up with it here...

ah, crap...

[172] I've bee supporting Orgies from the get go. : )

[173] I've heard the world's bee population is decreasing. Just trying to do my part. D'oh!

Prior to today, in his last 93 games (since May 9), Jeter is hitting .350
In his last 56 games (since June 24), he is hitting .363

In his last 18 games, Jeter is hitting .432!

Mitre for 7, then Robertson and Marte for 1 each? Maybe Aceves for 1?

I'd rather hold Aceves and Gaudin b/c they'll be needed tomorrow for sure.

holy fucking crap, that was gorgeous, robbie!!!

Outstanding. What a play.

Brett Favre wants Cano's phone number ...

that was fucking amazing by robbie.

what an impressive outing for Orgies!

[177] he keeps this up, send Mitre out for 8 or even 9. why not? 67 pitches thru 6!

Cano...wow....

good start to the inning.

what happened to Beckham?

[177] yeah ... maybe have him go 7 and then batter to batter

Oh damn...I've been watching the game on MLB.TV and didn't even realize the game was on WGN.

[185] With an eight run lead, why batter-to-batter. I say pitch him as far as he can go until he gives up four or five runs.

[186] doh! i'm watching wgn...

[187] i agree. i get the feeling he can pitch a nice, tidy complete game today...

ok, so we lost a 10th inning thriller to Chicago 3-2, after we tied it up in the 9th and last night was a similar script.

Then we lost to the Chisox 10-5 in a laugher and we're laughing 8-0 now.

might tomorrow be like the third game of the series which the Sox won 15-5, only in reverse?

I don't hit often with men in scoring position.......but when I do.........I hit 3 run walk off homers.

awesome!

great game for robbie, all the way around!

September 21, 1926 - Yanks 14, ChiSox 0
Biggest Yankee shutout over Chicago ever.

[190] Excellent.

Now I would keep Mitre out there until he gives up 5 runs.

well, that's not a good sign.

Is that a Red Bull I see Hughes holding?

[196] To stay awake in the weeks between appearances?

that's an even worse sign. frick!

Time to go?

Girardi is secretly happy Mitre was struck by that ball, because now he has an excuse to use the bullpen.