You're so happy to give them the tickets, but it took you getting sick to fork em over? hahaha, just busting balls

WHy I ought-ta...LOL

Girardi said today that Granderson is likely out a month. Let's hope that's all it is. Back by June 1 would be okay.

Alex Rodriguez gets a day off. Peña at third. Swisher hitting cleanup. Thames in left. Bottom 3 against lefty Buehrle: Thames, Gardner, Peña.

[3] and nj at 1b - we must pray to the gods of good health today.
not a lineup i want to see on the regular.
let's go hughes!!!

Cliff, oy all around...

Wow, that kid looks big for a five-year-old. Cute little guy.

[13] Yikes---weaker lineup, short bench, and a short BP. House Money!

That's OK, I'm tooptimistic about Hughes, phor sure.

If the plan is to feature Thames in LF, than one month without Granderson is going to really hurt this team.

I know it's early, but Cashman can't be very happy with his off season tinkering. Johnson, Granderson and Vazquez have really not worked out well so far, a fact made worse by the great early success of Damon, Jackson and to a lesser degree Matsui.

In retrospect, going into the season with no outfield depth (Thames isn't really an OF'er and so little is thought of Winn that his role has been non existent) was poor planning by Cashman. Would the extra $5mn for Damon have killed them?

[7] No, I am not talking to the future---I'm not Brett Gardner. That was for [3].

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere yesterday, but Derek Jeter is now the Yankees all-time leader in plate appearances. He passed Mantle yesterday. He will also become the all-time games played leader by next weekend.

[8] The problem with Damon, though, is that he's not much of an OF any more either. But your larger point is correct: to save a few million dollars they chintzed out on the OF depth. There must have been someone available, better than Winn, for a little extra money.

On the other hand, if Winn has no role on the team, is that more Cashman's fault or Girardi's?

[11] Do we know that? His UZR was good in LF until last season, and now we are learning that maybe UZR isn't that accurate after all.

As you know, I am always willing to blame Girardi for as much as I can, so let's go with him!

Crap. No Yes feed on Extra Innings today. It's either 1) the WS feed -- with Hawk Harrelson that is not an option or 2) TBS.

Time to hit my head against the wall.

Who's the cute redhead in the first picture? Or is that just clip art?

House money today with our lineup and defense. Hope we score a bunch.

Clip art...dude, is that RIGHT about Jeter? William, That's something. WOW. Kind of LOVIN that. And that doesn't include post season right, the plate apps?

Ah, there's the Yes feed. TBS is obnoxious -- slurping up Ozzie Guillen.

Huuuuuuuuuughes!

Well, that was a little scare I didn't need ...

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are pounding Ben Sheets. The Jays seem to be able to hit a little, so far this year.

not bad Nick, not bad ... better approach at least.

He might not be an ace, but I really enjoy watching Burhle pitch. Works fast, throws strikes, nasty pickoff move.

Phil seems to have good FB command today.

[22] cutter doesn't seem right though. seems to not be cutting.

Phil could use to be more ephicient, throw phewer pitcher per batter. He'll probably phinish this inning with almost. 40 pitches.

THAMES!!! (making the difficult nearly impossible tour - 2010)

The Brett Gardner hitting-'em-where-they're-at-tour 2010!

Well, I'll take whatever the hell that was.

Gritner gits it done with the ball barely leaving the infield again.

[26] Awesome.

[27][28] Never question the Singularity.

Gardner-esque.

[27] I feel like I say that every time Gardner does his "get on base by making contact with the ball" routine.

Pierre now playing the "anything you can do I can do better" card ...

Posada-ian?

I heart Hughes so very much.

[33] JoPo with the NoThrow!

[32] Juan Pierre doesn't know how to spell "extra bases," though

Phil is not being very efficient, but according to Gameday he's dialing up the heat today: fastball up to 94 and at least once 95.

[37] Well, Gameday has him being squeezed a bit.

Tip o' the Cap'n to Ramirez on that one ...

[37] In his defense, it's not like he's nibbling or missing - mainly a lot of foul balls.

i would have given him the green light there, and he probably would have popped out to left

Damn. Nice shot Jorge, next time don't hit it to them. Only Gardner can do that.

[38][40] Hopefully he can get a quick inning and may make it through seven innings today.

Seriously, where did 95,95,96,97 come from for Boone Logan?

Afternoon, Team. Looks like Phil's doing well again, eh?
What the hell is NJ doing at first?

Oooh, beautiful pitch.

Hey everyone. Family in town for the w/e. Party last night. Brunch/BS today. One bro-in-law is an Os fan, t'other is a Phillies fan. I've been rubbing shite in all weekend. Everyone is leaving now. Too bad Po couldn't knock in a coupla runs there.

Orioles going for a sweep of the Red Sux today, btw. :)

[45] Half day off for Teix.

Ooooh! A change!

WAs that 0-1 the cutter?
That had a lot of lateral movement at the end.

where the fuck was that blue?

anyway, it's really nice getting to see the yanks on tv. and no fister caray!

[50] yes.

[48] [52] Thanks!

CRAP!

Gameday: Thames "flies out sharply to RF".

What does that mean, exactly?

Holy fuck!

holy crap!

Holy cow. Brett Gardner???

TAKE *THAT* PIERRE!!!

YOU CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN THE GRITNER!!!!

You can only hope to contain him.

back-to-back. bring it!

Singularity!!

What did it look like live? Did Gardner actually hit the ball? Did the ball bounce off an OF into the stands?

[55] caught at the very top of the right field wall. i wouldn't call it sharply hit, though. more like a pop up fly ball.

[55] Thames missed a NYS special by about 1-2 inches, Kotsay caught the ball at the top of the fence in RF

[55] Long fly ball that nearly hit off the top of the right field wall but for a very nice play by Kotsay who tracked the ball well, felt for the wall gave a little half jump to intercept the baseball which landed in the webbing.

It was legit. Reminded me of Bubba Crosby's walkoff.

[62] gardner actually crushed it into the rf bleachers.

[59] Jinx.

[62] Utterly smoked. Many rows back. Ten, maybe?

[67] I love the result, but I'm not sure he should start messing with his hit-'em-where-they-are approach!

the first pitch to pierre was almost down the middle of the plate

mark kotsay has the hottest baseball wife of all time. lucky bastid.

It's the battle of the teeny titans today ...

very very nice!

The seals are opening, people. The seals are opening.

You were out by a mile Juan. Stop bitching

I was going to bitch about back-to-back pitchouts, then gameday caught up with the action.

Wow.
Thome's such a sleeper slugger.
Eleventh place.

He must be by far the most underrated slugger of the steroid era. Is it just because he's played in "small markets?"

[78] i dunno. i wouldn't call philthy and chitown 'small markets'. he's mostly been a dh. but he's definitely been under the radar a bit. i love the guy. hope he reaches 600!

swish!

[78] probably because he just doesn't really look like a slugger

bullshit! no way he went. ah fuck,i guess maybe he did... : /

I'm a big NJ fan, and I think he should 'stick' in the line-up. But maybe it's time to move him out of the two-spot.

[79] You're right.

Fucking Robbie.
Godfuckingdamn, he's just ridiculous.

ROBBIE!!!

wow, that was gorgeous. what an easy swing. what a LASER!!!

he crushed that ball but rounding the bases he looked like he was still pissed about the checked swing call.

DO NOT PISS THE RIPPER OFF.

this is fun!

M'oh! Robbie Cano!

Hughes had the quick inning he wanted. How far would y'all push him today (assuming no meltdown with a big lead)? Should he go seven or seven plus, or end his day an inning early with an eye to his inning limit?

[88] feel better, man!

[89] Well, I'd at least like to see Melancon today ... prolly Joba too, so I'd be content with a solid 7.

[89] Innings. As many as we can squeeze out. Hughes, Joba, Mo, period.

He dropped the baseball!
HA!

[89] i understand inning limits, but he seems to be having some easy innings, so those should be weighed differently. not much stress on his pitch count and innings today. would be great if he can go 7, but we'll see...

one of those days for the pale hose. step on their throats...

That's why I hate these weak-ass outfielders.
They *never* call off their infielders.
I see Derek and Robbie make plays all the time that the outfielders should be making and it scares me every time.

[91] Well, maybe not Joba, but maybe give Logan an inning or Robertson.

Man, I've had plays like that at short. Lonely feeling pop-ups ...

And I see that Gritner is mentoring Thames.

Push ups, Slappy. Push ups.

ooh, i don't want gritner to start with an uppercut swing...

[96] Did Joba pitch yesterday?

strasburg may be pitching in metro atlanta (triple A) late this coming week. i should go. i doubt i will, but i prolly should...

derek lowe just popped up a bunt. runners on 1st & 2nd, 0 outs. infield fly rule was not called. berkman let it drop and got both lead runners for a DP. god, i hate the national league. ridiculous. just adopt the damn DH rule, already...

Lovely, just lovely.

[102] To each his own---if that sort of play results, I love me that NL baseball.

Left to mow the lawn at 1-0, come back to 5-0. Nice.

Look at Frosty go.

nice job, robbie!

[104] i just hate pitchers hitting. though it was always fun to see Moose bat lefty.

Rob rules.

It's Robbie's world ... we're all just livin' in it!

OMG, where in the goddamn fuck was that???

I'z got dem Chris Matthews body-tingle Huuuuuuuuuuuughes!!!!

How 'bout that Phil Hughes?

nasty cutter

there it is. 2nd time that's happened today.

90 pitches thru 6.

[110] over the plate, at the knees. no need to panic, Hughes'z got this.

[107] I hear what you're saying. For my part, I love pitchers hitting, for a variety of reasons. That said, I think that the NL will adopt the DH within the foreseeable future, especially now that the ASG will have the DH every year.

wow, nice play by ramirez.

Wow. A buck twenty-nine.

Good swing from NJ. Bad result, but good swing.

Yikes ... Nick can't buy a hit right now ... on the plus side, he scalded that ball.

I wonder if Teix is starting to break out.

I get it, this is the new aggressive NJ. Just get the hits, don't worry about OBP...it will come (so goes the wisdom of Flash).

3 hits for Tex, so far. me likey.

[116] ya think? the NL always seems sooo against the DH and that they'll NEVER adopt it.

Love Swish.

Wow.
He fucking crushed that motherfucker.
Right off the bat.
Damn.

SWISHALICIOUS!!!

[118] .127

I hope he starts getting hits soon, if only so he can shave that horrible thing off his lip.

Meanwhile THE STICK IS IN THE HOUSE!!!

TAKE THAT NYS!!!!!!

[119][120][122] OK, I take that back if it was a hot shot. I'm following on gameday and assumed a lazy two hopper.

[124] me too.

You notice how cool Robbie took that first pitch?

[128] oh, NJ roped it. alexei was positioned perfectly. it was hit so hard, it nearly knocked him over!

[128] No, it took a terrific play to grab it -- sizzling liner. And once the stop was made, the DP was about the easiest one you'll see.

[130] yup!

So, now it's time for Joe to begin to make his moves, right? Or does he only do that in close games?

[134] All I want is to see 1, maybe 2 innings from Phil (depends on the efficiency of this inning) and then some Melancon ...

[123] The ASG now "counts," right. And they just decided to use the DH for every ASG in order to level the playing field (that's what Bud and LaRussa said). So, that suggests logically that some coaches, etc see the DH as an advantage. All leagues use the DH except for when MiL NL franchises play each other. As I see it, the NL is slowly but surely being isolated and will eventually give in. I don't think most fans care enough---they certainly won't stop being fans of the Giants or whatever. The Union loves the DH because it means more big salaries for aging sluggers.

If it were up to me I would get rid of it at all levels. But I am in the great minority, I think.

vagitek his 5 homers. feh.

[136] i totally agree with you and think you're right. we'll see how strongly it's talked about during the next CBA. i think that's in 2011...

meanwhile, i finally found the 2 games i'm watching on the HD channels. really makes a difference. i'm psyched.

jason heyward up w/ the bases juiced.

[137] It's okay, because this might encourage Tito/Theo to rely on him as the everyday catcher. And, he stinks, so that would be good.

Is this guy for real?
He's not going to turn into a pumpkin next week, is he?

I keep expecting him to get shelled because he's young and sometimes pitchers get shelled but he keeps having Cy Young-quality outings.

excitement at The Ted (where i was supposed to be this afternoon), so i missed Hughes'z easy inning. : /

[139] r u back in road eyeland?

[140] I know. It actually calms me down and completely changes my mood after all that talk about Ja... About Jv... About Vaz...
Can't say it. But you know.

[136] I'd vote you in to abolish the DH, ftr.

Well, this is interesting:

Alex Rodriguez was not in the starting lineup today against the White Sox due to pain behind the right knee, The Post has learned.

In meeting with the media before the game, Girardi did not divulge a specific injury, saying only, “We talked about it and we just kind of felt like he needed a day.”

From Joel Sherman.

[142] I yam.
Got hung up for a while in Detroit Metro Airport, because they had Air Force One in there. But, home safe.

[143] He who shall remain nameless. Yeah, him.

melky with a 2-run triple! nice to get to see him here a lot. he's been hot lately, after a terrible start.

[145] Wow, that is interesting.
It absolves Joe of the least of his yesterday sins.

[145] feh. interesting = sucky.

[146] glad you are home safe!

"Joba's coming along," assures Leiter.

Kotsay really dogged it on that one.

And Jorge lumbers into second!

jorgie just keeps on hitting.

gritner woulda had a 2nd homer on that. anyone but the molina's woulda been on 3rd (prolly...)

[150] Why thank you!
It was my first time in Indiana. Verdict: flat. (But Notre Dame is really nice.)

Way to get back, Jorgie!
Good running!

well, that was unproductive... why isn't Winn in to face the righty?

[157] Shh. Joe is sleeping, you'll wake him. And we don't want that.

Oz is trying to get thrown out.
Yep.

[159] successful

i was at the game yesterday, and one thing i noticed is that ozzie is about the slowest manager i've ever seen. he takes about 5 minutes to walk out to the mound.

[149] Well, not *all* of his sins!

So, Hughes at 99 pitches...does he come out for the eighth? In this case I, actually, would just go to the pen.

2nd pitch was definitely a strike. good eye for gritner on the others.

Comedy.

[162] definitely the pen.

nice running slide, gritner!

These guys suck at the defense.

[157] Winn is deeper in the doghouse than NJ, apparently.

that flop down on the dirt had to hurt ramirez'z knees. ouchie.

If I were Ramirez, and I made those two plays, I would not have the shit eating grin he has. Especially with Ozzie in a state.

[164] I missed it, of course, but did whatever happen warrant:

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

[167] i guess he can't winn for losing. (ducks...)

[166] offense, too.

[162] No, not all! I literally meant, for the least. Because even if A-Rod were fine, the pinch run move was trivial compared to a few other ones.

But let us not dwell on such unpleasantries.

dammit. nancy hit a game tying homah. knotted at deuce...

Ouch.

[170] Oh, it was a hard one hopper to second, shoveled to Ramirez, looked like a very easy DP but possibly because Brett was coming on so fast he bobbled and then dropped the toss, all safe.

[173] My Fantasy team can't afford a Beckett win

i'll take it. would be nice for Cap to get a 2nd granny one of these years...

out of those 5, jetes and a-rod are the only locks for 3K

C'mon Baby Ruth ... get the monkeypants off yer back!

=)

Except for the Yankees' big lead, this is a perfect time for the Billy-Martinian Triple Steal.

[177] Out of which 5? I'm getting the White Sox feed on TBS.

[179] i would LOVE that soooooo very much. you have no idea!!!

[145] well a nagging knee might explain some arod's good but below his average start. thanks for bringing that in.

On the other hand with Jedi gritner bringing the slugging, the middle of the lineup can take a vaycay and be fresh for the second half...

[180] jetes, a-rod, Kid/Jr., pudge, vizquel. i think all but alex are in the 2,700's...

Well, if Nick should ever try to work a walk...

[179] But stealing home would be impossible. Ohhhhh. Impossible. Gritner. Yes, you're right, they should go for it.

Johnson really's starting to look like he should be wandering around Chicago, circa 1930, wearing a fedora and carrying a violin case with a tommy gun in it ...

nick needs to shave. right after this AB...

[184] Wrong!

[183] Omar Vizquel will carry on as a bitter, whiny bench player long after we're all gone

Lovely! Just lovely!!!

More yard work, and come back to 8-0. Real nice.

Make that 10-0! Woo hoo!!

beautiful!

i'm glad i didn't go to the Ted today. really nice to be able to watch the janks on the tube.

Baby Ruth!!!

[188] My fantasy team will take it

Wait, how the hell did NJ get to second on that hit???

Now, all I need for the game is some Mark Melancon ...

And as I type that, he's up in the bullpen!

YEAH TEX!!!

Batting practice!

NJ isn't so bad after all, guys. And Nick Johnson is okay, too.

Er, make that 12-0!

I love May-September Teixeira as much as I hate April Teixiera

what do you think ozzie's doing right now in the office/clubhouse. now, that would be good tv!

Mmmm ... soft bullpen underbelly!

Suzyn just did a lengthy piece about how she talked to Girardi about subbing in Pena where Girardi told, "Pena is faster" as the reason he pinch ran him last night. Then she went on to see that Arod feels great and was just getting regular rest according to Girardi. Wonder what she'll say tomorrow night when she finds out Girardi lied to her face (if he did lie to her face) .

brian heyman is doing a good job at lohud, filling in for the most excellent chad jennings. chad has really been terrific since he took over!

you down w/ OBP?!

The White Sox crew is suggesting that the Yankees might want to pick up Jermaine Dye to fill in.

millwood pitching in the 8th. worries me a bit.

ugly was scratched due to a sore groin.

After this inning, no way Hughes comes back out.

bad robbie.

and, of course, millwood lets the leadoff man reach...

[208] good. i never thought he'd come out for the 8th.

Dancin' Melancon!

[209] heh. I read millwood in your post as milfwood, which of course, is most likely only a handle on some skeevy Cougar dating site ...

Just got in. Looks very nice... 12 fucking zero. Highlights? And Gritner with a HR???!!!!???? I want details! You guys have done nice work.

So I'm going to the game on Wednesday. Got tickets from my guy. Two tickets for 30 dollars total. Can't ask for much better.

Ok, listen, I just have to reiterate this: SEVEN SCORELESS INNINGS!

It's not like he had a "nice outing." Two, three runs after six.

SEVEN SCORELESS INNINGS.

But the thing is, that performance is coming to be routine from him. His worst outing was his last one, right? And what was that, 2 or three after six?

Dude's too good to be true.

[212] Lots of highlights.
Gritner homer, yeah. Legit.
Rob homer, typical, beautiful.
Swish.
Teix seems to be breaking out.
Most of all, Hughes very, very impressive.

i've got smoltz in the booth on the yanks game and glavine in the booth for the braves game. wish it was maddux. he rules!

[206] I'll take him any day.

So it looks like Melancon, presumably for two innings, then demotion?

Alright Mark ... THROW STRIKES.

[213] Eek, is that a JV day?

[211] milfwood. that is teh awesome! i loves it!!!

Ramirez is off to the woodshed

Frankie Brains @ 3rd!!!

Dancin' Melancon

[223] sooo cool!

dancin'!

[220] Well, they are playing Baltimore.

[217] Well, he might be cheap.

Is there any reason not to skip Javy?

Ah, I'm sorry I wasn't around to crack wise about Gardner's ability to telekinetically place the ball into the outfield seats.

How far was Gritners HR? Over 300'? NJ is still doggin' it but at least got one big hit. Just Swisher being ARod. Gritner's OPS is beginning to get upscene (.347 .420 .444 ).

Al still believes in him.

terrific, easy inning for Dancin'!

[231] He also smoked the ball in the previous ab (NJ, that is) but a lucky snare resulted in a DP.

[231] Gardner also smoked the ball. A no-doubter, maybe ten rows deep.

[231] grit's homer was for real. seriously!

NJ's not fully doggin' it - his DP was scalded. ramirez was positioned perfectly.

tex also has 3 hits and hughes rules.

Phil Hughes is the Yankee story of the year thus far, for me. Just a pleasure to watch. Here's hoping it continues.

my bad - Tex has 4 hits!

ouchie!!!

NOW, will joey-joe-joe pinch run with Winn???

Sportsline says that The wee one singled to left and somehow Varitek was thrown out at third. He was on second.

milfwood got thru 8!

[237] Seconded.

Okay, it edited itself. He was out at home.

seriously. why isn't winn running for tims?

gazoo!

frankie brains not happy with that strike call! i dig this kid.

The Orioles execute a sacrifice bunt that even a sabermetrician could love.

oreo's threatening. c'mon tejada, do it again!

ah, IBB to miggy.

Oh, and Tito decides to IBB Tejada. Bases loaded, one out, tie game in the eighth, here comes Luke Scott...

i really hope we keep this a shutout...

[249] hopefully - GREAT Scott!

I assume that if a Yankee official is going on the record about an injury, he must be lying. Is this a poor assumption?

Thelarmis, are you watching the Red Sox game? (I am.)

Bard smokes Scott. Overpowered him.

[253] nope. yanks. and braves, a little. just following on the scoreboard.

dammit. there goes the shutout. i had a feeling...

Oh dear, no es bueno Senor Melancon.

Well, at least he's not walking anyone

c'mon Judge Reimold

Reimold down looking.
Bard was very good when he needed to be.

fuck. to the 9th in ball tumor...

I wonder if Dan Bard is making Papelbon expendable. It wouldn't surprise me -- Paps is going to ask for a small fortune, and I think it's against Theo's theology to pay a relief pitcher.

ballgame.

Well, good game. All done with ChiSox, back to the BoSox.

where in the fuck was Winn? he shoulda had tims last ab and a coupla innings in left...

will ohman make it thru the 9th?

and of course he lets the leadoff man on. infuriating!

Hey, Phil's ERA is gross now.

Good game, except for the ninth, but I can live with that.

[267] eh eh eh. cute.

Oh, Papi watches strike three! A curve.

[268] Yeah, that was an afterthought. A coda, if you will (since thelarmis is here).

Sori has 2 homers today. that's 296 on his career!

Greinke lost 1-0.
Well, it was his choice to stay in KC.

[271] more like a "codetta", but thanks for including me. in drumming, we have our own argot that's really pretty cool!

double ratamacue, single flammed mill, pataflafla, 4-stroke ruff, et al

: )

Hah! Beltre strikes out. Going to the bottom, Birds going for the sweep...

[273] that sucks. he's 0-3 w/ a 2.27 era. had an in-game whip of .5 today...

[273] then again, he has a supermodel hot blonde wife. he and kotsay both never have anything to complain about. ever.

[274] Oh, why, because it was little? A codetta must be a little coda.

[275] sweet! a sweep would rule!

Here's Papelbon!

[278] yes, exactly! a codetta, is a "short" coda.

[281] So, nothing to do with her, I guess.

Ho ho!
That ball was driven hard, hopped the fence. Darnell MacD had no chance.

wheaties w/ a double!

c'mon lugo. boston's paying you to win games! ; )

It would be too fucking beautiful if Julio Lugo got a walk-off hit against the Sox...

[282] nope. nuthin'.

[284] [285] Same thought there. Delicious irony, that would be.

You know, RSN isn't fretting too much, because the Bruins are distracting them. But once hockey is done, there's going to be some howling.

Oh, man, that stroke looked like it was going to do it! Hung up a little too long. Nice line drive, heading for the gap...

c'mon adam jones

[261] This is the conventional wisdom among my Beantown in-laws. I don't know if it's any other kind of wisdom to let it actually happen though. I'd pay Jonathan.

I bet Papelbon walks Atomic Jones.

[291] Nope. Damn.

[287] i know nothing about hawkey. zilch.

[293] Oh! Okay. Lesson one: it's played on ice.
Tomorrow I'll tell you how many players are on each team.

Hey hey hey! It's Matt Albers!

[294] ice? as in, "on the rocks"?!

[296] Yes! You're a quick study.

Very nice DP for the Boids.
Here we go, Papelbon's second inning, go get 'im boys!

Oh, great at bat for Markakis.
Papelbon hasn't been working recently, but he could be tiring now.

yes, papelbitch gives up a leadoff walk to begin his 2nd inning of stoopid faces.

Ty Cobbington.

do it.