The Yanks got served but good by Felix Hernandez not too long ago in New York. They’ve got to face the tough Seattle ace again tonight. Here’s hoping they give him a hard time. Nobody likes gettin’ played a piano twice in a row, even if the “King” is some kind of pitcher.
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Picture by Bags]
I'm still irrationally steamed at the mariners so I hope we can beat the King's brains in.
Hey Thelarmis.... I know you cats south of the Mason-Dixon line take certain liberties with the English language, but when you speak of Jeter, just what does 'it’s to give him a blow' mean?
I know what it means in NY.
[2] Sir, I live in the deep south too, and I don't take any such liberties.
[2] i speak like a new yorker! i wrote that on purpose, 'coz that's "baseball speak" for giving someone a rest...
anyone able to watch this game in 3D (you need a special TV which just about nobody owns)?
5) i plan on watching in 4D...it's groooooovyyy, man.
You guys see what Travis Wood of Cincy almost did tonight?
[4] I'm sorry.... but if ARod ever played SS to give Jeter a blow, it would be in the tabloids for weeks! Besides, a comment like that could upset Cult (and we know you don't want to do that!)
Anyone mention that the Sox blew a 5-3 lead on the Jays? It would be nice to take 2 of the next 3.
[8] why would it upset him?
[7] a few of us were following in the last thread.
Cliff Lee tonight in Texas:
7 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 K
Just saying.
9) it would be nice to take two of the next three regardless of what the Sox did today, I should think!
; )
[11] oh cool. I've gotta give MLB.com props. I dropped my TV subscription because $20 per month was more than I wanted to spend, and they played his 1/2 innings for free.
Yeah, it sounds from what little I've read, the Yanks think the M's were shiisty in this Lee thing. That's a shame. But then again, it's the Mariners, who've been a sad excuse for an organization since them boys spoiled that great 2001 season in October...
Jose Contreras just looked nasty vs the Reds... still scoreless.
I just have to say that the Banter readers are top-notch in terms of knowledge. Calyankee pointed out an error in my latest Bantermetrics post, and sure enough, I checked my data file, and he was right on the money.
My apologies to the Banter readership, and thanks to Calyankee for the eagle eyes.
Note that the Reds' best hitter tonight has been one Miguel Cairo. 2 for 3 with a double against Halladay is not bad.
15) is Contreras just about the most frustrating, confusing players to pass through The Yankees world in the last twenty years? He can look so, so good.
Go-Go Gritner!
[8] A-Rod is still stuck at one home run away from tying the all-time home run record for a shortstop.
Hm..this inning is turning south quickly.
He was safe in 3D.....
[11] Maybe it's the heat, or the lack of sleep since Monday with the late games, but decorum must be maintained here (not directed to you),
So...good evening banterites. There is a lot to be thankful for. Primarily, that the Yankees are on pace to win 100+ games this season.
[9] I'm confused, there are only two games left (counting tonight) until the break. If we can sneak a win tonight against Felix, then tomorrow should be easy.
Is tonight like the Joe Franklin broadcast team? Flaherty and Bob Lorenz? This is the D team, folks.
The Phillies beat the Reds in extras for the third time in a row. Crazy.
[25] What happened to Singleton?
25) I'm getting the M's broadcast up here in Canadia.
26) impossible to predict, really. : )
5 innings done in Oakland .... 13-0 A's ... and Kazmir has allowed ALL 13 runs!
Big ball park.
Smoak on the (Pacific) Water ....
[23] decorum regarding?
It's amazing the way Kazmir's career has turned. Sad, really.
Before that AB, Peña was hitting .203/.247.215.
.
.
.
wow
nice, nick getting an early start for monday...
I'm sure Ichiro could get a geisha girl to massage Rob Johnson's feet ...
Hoo boy.
You can only hope to contain Brett Gardner.
Felix looks sooooo pissed even time a runner gets on.
Hey... but don't we have a decent bench tonight!
40) True, but even he has to know that Brett Gardner is just any batter.
42) not just any batter.
Yuck. Looks like the only way to score of Felix tonight is to knock it over the fence.
[25] [27] A little late to the party here, but I read somewhere (LoHud maybe?) that Singleton is doing the color analysis on the 3D broadcast. I think they've sold like 10,000 of those 3D TVs - I have to believe there's at least ONE Yankees fan somewhere in NYC that has one.
I wonder what it's like?
[30] And now 15-1 A's, with the last 2 runs coming off of someone for the Angels named "F. Rodriguez", which made me do a doubletake for all of 1 second. I thought maybe it was our old friend Felix, but no, its ANOTHER Francisco. And now I'm laughing.
Big, big ballpark.
don't look now, but the M's are lacking in one particular category through 5 innings ...
Mmmmmm ... every pitch Javaz makes, I dream of 2 draft picks in 2010 ...
Stupid west coast late games - if I stay awake much longer, the wife's going to get mad at me.
[48] I guess that should be 2011.
[49] Tell me about it, I'm glad this is the last really late start.
Awfully big ball park.
51) speaking selfishly, I love the late starts because they are just about the only Yankee games televised up here. Otherwise it's all Blue Jays all the time.
I'm seriously upset about ARod. Too many warning track shots that would have been far gone in previous years. He simply isn't generating the power he used to. Bummer.
This is quite an interesting game we've got going tonight
doesn't a certain former pitcher who wore #38 owe a certain current pitcher an apology?
Well, Javy is certainly pitching well tonite ... yay!!!
Meh. Dammit.
If you were pitching a no-no the late innings, would you IBB Ichiro ?
And as I write...
[60] ok dammit I got called out when I pointed that out about CC against Tampa in April
[59] Late in the 6th doesn't really qualify as "late innings" for me ...
61) I didn't meanthis inning...I was asking more generally. It is only that before I could hit submit Ichiro broke up the no hitter...unless the scorer rethinks things.
damn ichiro!
From LOHUD:
UPDATE, 11:40 p.m.: There’s a room in the press box that’s showing the game in 3D. It’s pretty amazing. It’s not so much that the baseball is flying off the screen or anything like that, there’s just real depth perception. The shot from behind the pitcher, you can really see how much room is from the mound to the plate. When they show the outfield, you have a better feel for how far the center fielder is from the wall. It’s little things like that, and it makes a huge difference. You have to wear some sort of 3D glasses to see it properly, but it’s an amazing way to watch the game. Meanwhile, here’s Javy, back on the mound for the sixth inning, still with a 1-0 lead.
[62] your favorite player! ; )
FWIW, Javy has one CG 1-hitter and one CG 2-hitter in his career, both as an Expo, and both against the Dodgers.
[66] Expo? not sure i'm familiar. ;(
Well, I guess there's no real reason to stay up now and risk the wife's wrath.
[64] Thanks for the update! I bet its really interesting, but I wonder if watching the whole thing in 3D would give you a headache, like some 3D movies do for some people.
So, if Javy goes on to complete the game without giving up another hit, how much pressure on the official scorer to change his ruling? The home town scorer surely doesn't want to take a hit from Ichiro and cause his team to get no hit.
[69] Big if though, right? Javy's already at 94 pitches, and he has 3 innings to go. Now, maybe if the M's hack their way out of the 7th in 6 pitches or so, I could see it happening.
65) i do think that he is overrated, but there is no batter I would want to face less with a no hitter on the line.
70) again, I am just musing, and apparently jinxing Javy along the way.
Running out of gas?
really need the dp here...
javier!!!
1 more, man!
Guess this is his last batter no matter the outcome
wasn't t-clip like 8-0? he's 8-6 now. either way, that's a lot of decisions for a late inning reliever...
get him javy!
?
[77] I think that's right. NL less awesome than AL aside, that kid has pitched great in relief. Damn shame the Yanks didn't hold on to him. If they'd ever give Albaladejo - who's been amazing in SWB - another chance, it would sting less.
damnit. lost him.
OK Javy, you got this guy.
Time for a 2nd guess? Vazquez is just about done
A Jeterian leap ...
I don't think Jeter makes that play...
Phew. Nothing quite as comforting as "in play, out(s)."
JAVY!!!
now we all know why girardi gave jetes the nite off! ; )
Evening all. Went to the SI Yankees game tonight with my wife n kids. It was a blast.
What's the deal with this 3D? Is a 3D TV required?
[88] Yep. No 3D TV, no game in 3D.
seamus has a bit of info from LoHud up in [64] I believe. Just wondering - who was pitching for SI tonight?
87) the beauty of Peña is that he helps set up the one run game by leaving runners on with his inept bat, then he saves the lead with his dine defense!
I think its safe to say that, unless the Score Truck runs King Felix over this inning, he'll be back out for the 9th. Pretty sure we can't say the same for Javy (not complaining!).
This reminds me of games against Pedro in his prime...base runners every inning but they can never push them across.
[92] Until they inevitably did (sometimes).
A two-run homer by A-Rod would be very nice here.
93) Enrique Wilson
some kid named Sean Greene. He blew up in the 5th and gave up 3 runs. Surrendered all 4 runs that Tri-City scored. The Yanks won 8-4.
[94] Old 10 for 20 himself.
I was thinking Posada was usually in the middle of those inevitable (sometimes) rallies, but I have no evidence for that. Its probably just Game 7 in 2003 clogging up my memory.
[95] for [89]
[95] Thanks!
Yeah, it hit the ground. But really, Robbie, you should get a K door a winging at that!
damnit. still need 6 outs.
joba/mo? i'm not thrilled w/ the joba idea...
99) hahahaha
...for swinging at that...
This is exciting, a 1-0 game and all, but I have got to get some sleep. See you all tomorrow . . . err . . . later today.
100) but he's the EIGHTH INNING GUY!
I look at Joba's numbers and i just don't understand why he is still cemented in the eighth inning.
and, of course, the leadoff man gets on... : /
Please please please morph into good Joba. Now. PLEASE!
[104] OK, one last thing.
I look at Joba's numbers, and the SWB rotation (hello, Tim Redding!), and the possibility that the Yanks could have two holes in the rotation for 2011, and (if CC opts out) another one for 2012, and I just don't understand why he is still not cemented in SWB, getting experience as a starter.
'Cuz they sure could find someone to do what he's doing in the 8th inning.
I think all Joba's problems could be solved if he'd just start wearing his cap the right way.
This umpire is an idiot. He blows the count on Saunders, and Cano's tip was clearly in the dirt.
Now Joba, with only a one run lead.
wear one J Wilson, SS out... you still have another!
[107] if we get cliff lee in the offseason, cc won't opt out. i bet cashmoney has that on his mind and in his plans. (either way, i think cc stays...)
[108] backwards?! ; )
[that's the only way for me!!!]
[109] lance barksdale. i haven't heard of him. of course, i can't see the game, either. but i was guessing it was angel hernandez or someone of that ilk...(bucknor, diaz...)
Come on Joba.
jesus, joba.
you really irritate me...
Branyan v. Joba could be amusing.
[104] Because he's the 8th inning guy?
I think it's high time Mr Bud Selig If You Please put the ol foot down and BAN Ichiro from wearing his first name on his jersey. fucker.
fuck you joba
You know what rhymes with AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!?!?!?!?!?
JobAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ...
Fuck.
Now, if Jorge were behind the plate, everyone would be howling about him missing that ball. Oy...now the IBB to load the bases. really?
[117] Don't you mean ... he's "Teh 8th Inning Guy!!!!!!!"
[112] Bend the bill!
i'd really love it if joba can - somehow - preserve what would be javy's 150th win...
117) Right!!
goddammit!
[107] I thought with Robertson warming up that we'd see him in the game...
Oh, wait .... what did someone just say???
Oh, yeah ... FUCK YOU JOBA.
There is gonna be some changes after the all star break, that is my prediction.
sigh ...
[122] i was gonna correct mp on that before, but didn't wanna step on your lines!
[123] oh. i do that, too! : )
joba - FUCK YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL. i'm done with him... asshole. : /
Thanks Joba, you sucking pile of shit ...
127) no, you see he was warming in the SEVENTH inning. But once Javy escaped, Robertson's job is done.
I just can't wait to hear Joba's fucking excuses after the game.
Well, that is the worst outcome possible. Joba is officially a mess, and needs to reboot. He should spend some time in SWB.
I hope Joba at least buzzes Smoak over his head now....just because
[129] there better be...
Dear Joba
Jose Lopez just FACE RAPED YOU.
K THX DIE
Me
Looks like he's going to be pitching the 8th in SWB. Better work on his control and his secondary pitches. Yes, I know that HR was tomahawked, but still.
Suzyn says, "this is a problem....the 8th inning is a problem"
[125] SWB = Single Women's Bar? where is that joint? i'll be there in a new york minute! ; )
When...when! is Girardi going to give up this absurd notion that Joba is an 8th inning guy. Makes no sense to blame Joba for not being a good pitcher; Girardi is the one who keeps bringing him in to blow leads.
[138] when i just reloaded the page, i scrolled up and saw "face raped you". the poster's name was blocked. i KNEW it had to be you. and...it was! : )
[133] Yeah that's right, that was the 7th inning, this is the 8th inning.
So how long until William's "Fire Girardi" post? :D
My brother predicts that Joba will be traded, probably to an organization with a stronger history of developing young pitchers. I think he might be right, which would explain, perhaps why the Yankees don't do the obvious thing with Joba: send him to AAA to get some right thinking.
[144] Close enough :)
[144] That would be -1 minutes!!!
we're going to win this game regardless
[145] Joba needs a "Code Red" ...
[145] If that were the case, wouldn't it make sense to demote him so that he can increase his value?
[142] william - now that joba rendered this game bullshit...OT -
remember a coupla months ago, we were talking about those awesome Kashi organic frozen pocket sandwiches? well, after that, i couldn't find them anywhere. no 411 at their site. they recently updated and they're discontinued 'coz not enough folks bought them. really sucks! i only have 1 chicken rustico left. soooo delicious. soon to be gone forever... : (
[ps - fuck off, joba!]
I wonder if Phil Hughes might get his 8th inning role back later this year if he gets too close to his innings limit.
You know, Jose Lopez really needs some chin music next time up, even if it's tomorrow. That was some obnoxious hot-dogging on a ball that wasn't THAT far out.
[151] oooh, i *hate* when the parenthesis part of the emoticon goes on the next line!!! it's the little things... : /
That was kind of a "I have dinner reservations" call on that 3rd strike to Curtis.
150) perhaps. My brother argues that if they demote him, his stock will drop (opposing GMs can argue that he is broken and had to be demoted). Instead, they trot him out hoping he gets hot for a few games and they can sell him (somewhat) high. I don't know.
[151] That sucks...maybe you should have been buying more.
That was an awful call by Barksdale.
I also can't wait to hear Joba tell us about how good he has been all season. Even though Girardi deserves most of the blame for continuing to make the same mistake over and over, I am slowing coming to dislike Joba.
c'mon DJ!!!
[153] Meh, it's not that big a deal. Chamberlain should've made a better pitch. He should've made several better pitches.
CAP'N!!!!!!!!!!
152) cripes i hope not. This whole eighth inning guy bullshit threatens to ruin or waste both pitchers.
Meanwhile, Jeter lives a very charmed life.
[152] I think that was the plan with Lee. At this point, anyone but Joba would be a better option, but Girardi can't see the nose on his face.
Hope...
Not even paying attention to Jeter....why doesnt he take second?
[157] i was stocking up like crazy! they were perpetually on sale and i'm jewish! : )
still, i think i'm gonna shoot them an email. one of grandma's used to always say: "bubbala, write them a letta, dahrlink!"
The really frustrating thing on Joba is it seems like he has this meltdowns against awful hitters.
how cool would it be if Po ties it here? if so, evil gets credit!
[159] I'm not letting Joba off the hook, I just think Jose needs to eat a little dirt.
jeter should run. why the fuck not...
Lance Barksdale has been awful. That pitch was up.
Wow, this ump really want to get to bed. But yet it's not almost one AM out west, is it?
Does Barksdale have the runs or something?
Gardner should just fucking bunt.
Well ... Horseshoes and Handgrenades and those sorta things ...
[171] 9:55pm
Zone's moving all over the place; Curtis' K looked low, Posada's K looked high, Joba's cement mixer slider was in the same location as the pitch Posada K'd on but was called a ball.
Po's SO pitch was high. This is redickalus
[166] I don't think there is anything frustrating about Joba. He throws a straight fastball and can't throw his slider for a strike. He simply isn't a good pitcher. The frustrating thing is the manager who keeps giving away games by using him in the 8th inning of close games.
we've had 12 baserunners. 1 run on a homer. not good...
i'd like an inside the parker here. tie this biatch up!
bollocks.
Yeah, that was a strike
Another Girardi loss...how good would this team be with a competent manager?
Thanks, Joba. Thank you very much.
felix earned his check tonight ...
what the fuck was that lift up the jersey move by felix? is that... what?
javy did great.
joba sucked ass.
swish.
The eighth inning really, really, really brought home just how much I hate Tony LaRussa baseball. What a waste of a fine start by Vazquez. At least he wasn't pinned with the L.
It's ok for King Felix to be excited, Seattle lost 5 in a row until now.
[183] hasn't cashman called joba "teh 8th inning guy" also? maybe thems the orders from above?
I know that two of the strikeouts were BS calls, but it still stinks to have the tying runners on and lose the game because three guys looked at strike three.
186) world cup fever?
well, we're assured of, at least, a 1-game lead in the division at the break.
191) were the tying runners on?
[156] Yeah, but at the same time, his stock is dropping every time he takes the mound. Personally, I don't think they should give up on him, but send him down to the minors to get some work in. He's not going to get right throwing an inning or two at a time. Unless there's an issue with him starting, let him work on his stuff. The arm is there, the results aren't.
[183] Good question, maybe a more bester record in baseball?
[192] is that still going on? does canada have a team?
[excuse my ignorance, i don't follow...]
[194] Oops, the tying run was at the plate for the last two Ks.
[195] A more bester record in baseball would be very important. With 75+ games left, the Yankees are not at the point where they can rest on their lead.
[190] I would hope that Cashman would understand if Girardi didn't want to use Joba in "t3h 8th"
Pitch FX has the last pitch to Posada as a strike.
Fuck Joba, obviously, but not for nothing, I still say Barksdale deserves a gigantic fuck you for his work behind the plate.
Pitch FX doesn't actually have him giving Felix free strikes, but it DOES confirm for me what I thought watching - Javi was not getting the same call from Barksdale that Felix was.
There are 8-10 pitches that should have been called strikes that he did not give to Javi.
Now, I usually don't think the Yankees get a favorable call - although last year, I thought they got a few their way - but I will confess that Mo has gotten some recent calls that I was surprised by. So this is not a particularly good time to bitch, but I have no fucking clue what Barksdale was doing with Colin Curtis, and with Granderson, it sure looks like he completely blew the call. So, Lance Barksdale? Fuck you.
10 hits, 2 walks and only 1 run. Jebes.
195) i agree with you. Frankly, I think they should be focusing more or less exclusively on making Joba into the starter they envisioned when they drafted him. He has spent very little time in the minors...he could really use to be sent down to AAA to work on his craft.
In any case, it would be far preferable to watching him morph completely into cost controlled Kyle Farnsworth.
[198] No one says they're resting, but with a moron as a manager, the Yankees currently have the best record in baseball, and were thisclose to landing Cliff Lee if not for some "shenanigans" from the M's. I think they'll be ok.
[200] how awesome would it be to be able to say "fuck you!" to someone in the courtroom? it's sooo hard for me not to curse when i'm teaching...
damn new yorkers! ; )
[203] The really great thing about pinning this on Girardi is that there were SOOOOOOO many other options for him to go to in the 8th.
Right.
The whole bullpen has been a complete joke, with the exception of His Holiness.
[203] They might be ok, but it's a shame that the best team has such an awful manager. Who knows....maybe they will need some of these games that Girardi keeps tossing away.
[204] You literally made me just laugh out loud, as I seriously contemplated your question. I confess, as much as I believe the word "fuck" has an appropriate place in a complete vocabulary, that it might just be counterproductive.
It pains me to reach that conclusion.
[202] To be fair, Joba has shown more as a starter than Farnsworth has. But I agree that he should be sent down for a spell to work on a few things. The Sox sent Bucholz down, the Jays sent Halliday down, the Yanks sent both Hughes and Kennedy down for a spell, why they don't do the same with Joba is beyond me
If anyone is still up, and it seems a few people are, could someone answer a question that has been gnawing at me during recent telecasts?
They keep referring to some sort of attractive prospect of facing Minnesota if we are fortunate enough to reach the playoffs.
Just how the fuck exactly is that going to work?
How can you play playoff baseball in Minnesota with an open stadium?
I've been to Minnesota in the winter. It's the coldest I've ever been in my life, with the exception of the time we made the stupendous decision to spend New Year's in Montreal.
But Minnesota in the winter is cold as shit. Shouldn't they be forced to play all playoff games on the road, as punishment for what is clearly an act of insanity?
[206] Yeah, yeah, we know, we know... Unfortunately, he managed the club to a world series championship last year, so he's probably going to be around for a while. Who knows, maybe they won't need these games that Genius Joe is tossing away.
[207] oh, i object! "FUCK" would probably drive the point home more thoroughly - and colorfully! - than any other word. be it a verb, adjective, pronoun! ; )
ie.
your honor - fuck you!
defendant - fuck you...and the horse you rode in on, but we can't find.
oh, and your lawyer is spewing complete horseshit!
Going back to the top of the thread, is anyone else furious with our fanbase for voting Jeter to the All-Star game?
Or is it not Yankees fans, but thirteen year old girls with itchy mouse fingers that are to blame?
Because that guy really needs the days off. And I haven't really checked out the other candidates, but I can't believe he's even close to deserving the nod.
205) the pen is a mess right now. That said, my gut tells me Robertson is more trustworthy now than Joba, even if the numbers suggest otherwise. Meanwhile, the numbers say that Mitre or eveN Marte is a better bet than Joba, he of the 5.00+ ERA and 1.5 or so WHIP.
I do not know who is responsible for roster moves...it is the GMs job but the manager surely has some say. Anyway, Chan Ho Park should not be cluttering up the roster, and there must be someone at AAA who can do a better job. If that means sending Robertson or Joba down for a few weeks, so be it.
[211] If they go down that road, I firmly believe "Fuck That Shit" should be the proper way to state any objection.
[208] shit, didn't the royales start farns this year for a coupla games? i know they were talking about it, at the very least... unfortunately, banny got shelled today. i dig him. he's a sabermetric nut!
[213] I agree, he's the only other guy on my mind when I pose that question.
But while I'm encouraged by what I've seen out of him recently, bigger picture, I have nowhere near the same confidence in Robertson this year that I had last year. At least to this point.
209) they played in the snow in november last year because of the WBC. The league seems pretty accommodating of this sore of thing, it seems.
[213] anyone know how dancin' melancon is doing?
[214] oh man, i am ALL about that.
your honor, "fuck that shit!"
case closed
[209] That's probably why they play in the fall :D
FWIW, the Metrodome is still around, I guess worse comes to worst they could use that. I don't know what it would take, seeing as they've played outdoor postseason baseball in places like Cleveland, Toronto, Minny and Colorado.
jeff nelson's gonna be at the old timers day game. i wonder if he could still pitch teh 8th... ; )
[210] I know he isn't going anywhere, but that doesn't mean we can't pine for a competent manager. It just seems like a shame that the Yankees strive for excellence, but tolerate a manager who is unable to run a game.
[217] I can't even play SOFTBALL when it gets too cold. Discovered that a few years back. We had the brilliant idea to have a short late fall league season, mostly just for kicks. After three weeks, I realized that my days of being able to do that sort of thing when it's anywhere near freezing are done.
[209] take minisoda and jesse 'the body' ventura to court and tell them "FUCK THAT SHIT", in regards to playing playoff baseball there in october! : )
[218] Can you imagine how entertaining trials would be?
It could go all the way to the judge telling someone to "sit their five dollar ass down before I make change!"
[219] So we all agree that MLB seems ok with this sort of thing - my question is this - just on a "is this or is this not nuts" level, isn't this kind of nuts?
[222] are you in NY? i'm always cold, by nature. but, i grew up in the north and i love the cold, brisk air, snow and wintertime. but i've been in the deep south sooo frickin' long, that my blood has thinned (read: i've become even a bigger wussie than before!) and i couldn't take full winters in NY or PA, any longer...
fuck that shit.
[215] Nope, I think he may have started in spring training, but the Royals haven't started him this season, outside of a start @ AAA Omaha.
[223] Please don't remind me of that agonizingly unfunny mlb.tv commercial.
And Frank Nicotero must berate himself in the mirror every time his ad comes on. "Ocho Cinco? You went with a motherfucking Ocho Cinco joke when they asked you for your best line? What were you thinking? Why do you suuuuuuck?"
212) jeter is still one of the top SS in the AL, which admittedly sports a pretty weak field. With his name recognition it's sort of a no brained that he was elected. I just wish he would turn it down and rest for a few days.
[225] My league, which I am officially closing in on being retired from, is in Brooklyn. Right now I'm in DC, and each December, I berate myself for not choosing a law school even further South.
[224] i think it would be terrific. things would be more truthful. no one would pussyfoot around anything. here it is. BAM. "fuck that motherfucking shit. that's just complete and utter bullshit and you fucking know it!"
i don't know if trials ever happen on sundays, but yeah..."sit your five dollar ass down; you just wasted my 5-cent sunday. prickfuck. sigh..."
you should write a book, man! if you want, i'll ghost write it for ya! : )
[228] Yeah, I irrationally wish he would turn it down, as well. Is the field that weak? I was sort of admitting that in my post, but I should just straight out admit that I'm not really sure who the heck else is out there at short in the AL. Is it that bad? I guess it could be.
224) i guess it's sort of nuts, but what are they to do? Frankly, they should Jimmy with the schedule so that the WS is played a couple of weeks earlier, like the olden days. That would solve most of this.
[229] yeah man, it still gets cold in dc. highly impressive if you're at georgetown law! i liked g'town a lot. i've played at the 9:30 club. and i think the bayou was around those parts, too...
man, it still gets very cold down in raleigh and here in atlanta, too. so, you're prolly fine where you be...
[221] "We?" You have a unique way of spelling "I" :). Yanks haven't had a "tactically competent" manager since Showalter was there. And even that's debatable. As for the Yankees "strive for excellence," again, they're the defending world champions and they currently have the best record in baseball...
[230] The High Times of Cornelius G. Fuck Yourself McWithers: My Life in Court?
I do guarantee you that such words have been uttered in a criminal case or two by a defendant, but regretfully, I still must contend that if opposing attorneys were allowed to swear at each other, there is no way fisticuffs would be all that far behind.
[232] I just think they should have been forced to build a retractable dome. If you can force someone to do that sort of thing. Which is an interesting issue.
[233] Yeah, I'm at G-town Law. I love the place (even if it doesn't *always* love me back). But the people here are really first-rate, and more often than not, my professors have been outstanding. Our Registrar's Office is a bit of a clusterfuck, but otherwise, it's an unusually good place to go to Law School (in terms of how they treat the students).
[229] You have to keep it moving, worked for me while I was playing in cold weather. Played a couple of polar bear softball games too, those were fun; layer up and have fun :)
[232] I guess it depends on what television wants to do.
[231] elvis andrus is great in the field. he's hitting, but never walks, so his obp is below average. he's got a lot of speed (20+ sb's). alex gonzalez has like 17 homers. but that's really it. marco scutaro (supposedly) prevents a lot of runs. a lot...
231) the average AL SS is hitting .679 OPS, to give you an idea.
[234] I get it. Because the Yankees won the World Series last year, it makes sense for Girardi to use Joba as the official 8th inning specialist. Even so, I still wish the Yankees had a manager of whom they didn't have to win in spite.
[237] It doesn't help that I am virtually the laziest first baseman on Earth. And what I mean by that is that I calculate the amount of energy I have to give during a game. No one busts it harder down to first (I'm a lefty, so people are always surprised that someone they think of as slow is that far down the line so soon), and I play my ass off, in general. But if I see a foul ball that I'm just not going to get to, I admit that I just about don't even get out of my stance.
[238] Yeah, I can't really get up in arms over any of those guys going instead of him. He just so, so needs the rest.
[239] Wow, that is grim. I think you've stated your case fairly well with that statistic.
[235] that's a great book title. fantastic. i'll buy it. lemme know when and where the book signing is!
[236] i think retractable roofs should/could be mandatory. pohlad's could certainly afford it...
that's terrific about g'town law! i hit things and kick things at the same time, for a living. yet, i'm about the most passive guy you'll ever meet. 'cept for me mouth. it's fargin' filthy! : )
240) im not going to debate whether girardi is a good manager or not. Whom would you have used in the eighth inning tonight, since Javy clearly should not have come back out.
Oh, [233], keep in mind the law school is not in the nice place referred to as "Georgetown." We're in the less nice place described as "not that far away from some hardcore slums." Like where the U.S. Capitol is. And the Supreme Court. It's like they wanted to illustrate how many problems we still have in this country by letting the area surrounding the seat of government be such a shambles.
[244] I would have used Robertson to start the inning and then Marte to get a lefty if the situation called for it.
Joba is not the answer. It's time to try something else. Maybe that wont work too, but simply trying the same thing over and over despite evidence to the contrary makes no sense whatsoever.
what's ironic is when we got gi joe, the one thing most talked about was that he actually knew how to manage a bullpen.
it's possible he could've gone to marte the parte tonite, since he was already warmed up, and, technically, can get batters out, regardless of handiness...
he could've shaken things up and gone straight to d-rob and masked a minor ache joba was feeling and let teh 8th inning guy ruminate on that in nebraska over the break.
other than that, i mean, just go to joba... major implosion tonight. sad as it sounds, we were all expecting to lose to king felix tonite anyway. javy's doing great. let's hope swish doesn't get tangled up from the hr derby.
we're 23 games over .500. we have a +111 run diff. we're 2 & 5 games up in the division. and, oh yeah...we're:
WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS!!!!
[239] that is insane. cal ripken is *not* pleased. in fact, i think i just heard him pointedly whisper "fuck that shit"...
[243] I will let you know. Although I think maybe it should be Cornelius G. McFuckWithers. That may have a better ring to it.
I honestly don't understand why they didn't do a retractable roof, and you're definitely right about Pohlad.
And personally, I have a volcanic temper, so I'm all in favor of rules of decorum to keep it in check. If I were in court and things could switch over into "ok, so you want to see some real shit" territory, it could get ugly in a hurry.
Thinking about message boards, btw, have you ever stumbled into a place where posters actually curse at each other? It's kind of hilarious. Like, "Fuck you, Kenny on Top Chef is the man!"
I can't imagine that actually works. Although nomaas had a little run for themselves....
[240] I think Joba has some kind of history as the 8th inning specialist. I remember there was some sort of debate as to whether he should start or be the 8th inning guy. I could be wrong, though.
[245] oh. ugh. you should march into the registrar's office and say, "fuck this shit!"
we've got plenty of those neighborhood's here in the atl. after growing up in far rockaway, i make sure i stay away from those hoods...
[246,7] As much as I think William's "all losses = Girardi losses" thing is whatever word is the polite way of describing what I want to describe - I may have to agree with him that this "Joba gets the 8th inning by fiat" thing probably has to stop. I don't know if it's good for anybody.
[248] I hear that's how Ripken greets the new crop of little leaguers every season. And that he continuously peppers his opening day speech with that phrase.
[249] actually, i liked your original title minus the 'mcwithers' part. but that was kinda funny, so combining is a good idea!
to be honest, the banter is the *only* place online where i post or even read comments. well, very very rarely, i'll check out comments at places like cardboard gods or baseball analysts, maybe a joe pos article on musial, but that's really it. i'm not interested in most people outside of this site...
[251] I've come close. As I've gotten older though I've learned the value of "in so many words..." - if you get what I'm saying.
Yeah, as a native New Yorker, I know where not to be. I never feel unsafe in my neighborhood, but it does still kind of suck.
[250] That debate was relevant when Joba was throwing upper 90s with a devestating slider. He know has neither of those pitchers. If Girardi is making his decision based on memories of 2007, that's not good justification.
[254] i hear ya, all the way around.
[253] I suspect that is very, very wise. Generally, internet boards can lead to very little good.
Alright, I gotta go to bed. Or stop ignoring the cat. He's sitting over there starting to make an expression which loosely translates to, "fuck this shit! Stop ignoring me!"
Have a good one, everyone. I agree that you didn't think this game was going to be a win when it started. It's just so frustrating to see Joba shit all over the gutsy performance Javy put in. While getting fucked over by Lance Needs to Go Fuck Himself Barksdale.
Along with being so certain that Joba was going to do Javy dirty like that from the moment he came in.
CC, go get 'em tomorrow!
[255] Yeah, but he was also the 8th inning guy in 2008 and 2009. So it should come as no surprise that he would be the 8th inning guy in 2010. Kinda like when Melky and Cano were going through their struggles in 2008. They were full time starters from 05-07 in Cano's case and 06-07 in Melky's case. They were given every opportunity to work their way out of their fog, until Melky was sent down in August of 2008.
So yeah, Joba will probably get the benefit of the doubt since he has been doing this since the 2007 season. Especially since he's still throwing upper 90's.
in other news, it's possible that mark cuban tries to become the next owner of the rangers... now, that''d be fun!
[259] I hope so. I was rooting for him to become owner of the Cubs, but I can dig him being Rangers owner. Will MLB let him in?
[260] who knows. here's the article i just read...
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5370763
yeah, i was rooting for him to be the cubs owner, too... in this week's edition of baseball weekly (usa today, sports weekly), there's a feature on arte moreno. i can't remember what year or what club it was, but several years ago (around when moreno was buying the halos), there was ton of news (and a baseball weekly feature...) on a potential owner who was black. i read a lot about him. i remembered his name for years, but don't now. i'd prolly recognize it immediately. i wanna say he was up for buying a basketball team, too. maybe he was from north carolina, i forget. i was really surprised how he faded away so quickly. i wonder what happened there...
seemed like a great guy and potential owner...
ooh, i hope william has gone to bed! this just in from lohud's postgame notes:
Just as you probably expected, Joe Girardi said he plans to stick with Joba Chamberlain as his eighth-inning reliever. Tonight was one of the low points for Chamberlain — two singles and a game-winning grand slam — but Girardi said, “I’m going to send him back out there, that’s what I’m going to do.”
[btw, chad jennings has been kicking all kindsa ass since taking over that blog!]
[261] It was probably Robert Johnson, who was flush with cash after selling BET to Viacom
[263] According to this link, there's a lot more than I thought
http://www.theroot.com/multimedia/don-t-play-pro-team-own-it
[263] nope. i *definitely* woulda recognized that name! : )
shit, i wanna say Carl something or other, but i don't think that's quite it, either. this guy seems to have just vanished... he was a billionaire, i believe...
Wow, RiverAveBlues nails what I've been thinking. It's so good I'll block quote then go ro bed:
266) yikes, that came out longer than I thought. Sorry about that.
G'nite all.
[263] fuck, maybe it *was* robert johnson! prolly was. i'd think i'd remember that name...
[267] no, no - good stuff! yeah, the bottom of the order was a black hole...
[263] i was right! Donald Watkins. was looking to buy the Twins in 2002.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2002-01-30/2002-01-30-watkins.htm
In happier news. CC Sabathia goes tomorrow and is likely to head into the break with 12 wins. He had eight in the first half last year and won 19.
[270] Nice. Guess he isn't interested in becoming an owner anymore? He hasn't been linked to buying a team since 2003.
Please send Joba to AAA....ASAP...it ain't working Cash!
yep, time to demote Joba in some way or another. Either lesser role on big league team or AAA.
[266] The problem with the complaints about the bottom 3 is that if Joba does his job we win this game. And the likelihood that not resting anyone results in the 3 runs we needed to survive bad joba is actually remote. Nor can we afford not to rest guys.
275) surely there is a happy medium between not resting anyone and not starting that precise bottom third of the lineup. Joba or not, it's hard to expect a team to win when they score only one run.
This isn't just about last night's game, when Joba's meltdown was the most acute factor in the loss. The RAB piece makes and raises more systemic observations: how long is Joba going to get high leverage duty? How long will Cervelli be called on to start as often as he does? How long will the team go without a better option than Colin Curtis, especially if the teams committed to resting multiple starters in the same game?
I'm with Seamus. I don't think it matters whether the guys who need rest get it on the same day or on different days.
Monkeypants, I hope you plan to take a nap today.
277) if the team as constructed requires resting multiple key players in the same game, and in some cases resting players more frequently in the past, doesn't this cry out for more creative roster construction? For example, might it not make sense to carry only eleven or even, for short periods ten pitchers? That would at least allow more flexibility in PHing.
It's not like the entire BP gets regular work anyway, especially given how good the starters have been at going deep into games.
[278] wouldn't that just mean two more players who are worse than curtis and cervelli? Why would you be happy about that?
279) it depends which players. Peña is truly atrocious, but he is on the roster because he can play multiple defensive positions. This is directly a product of modern roster construction. Miranda, while not good, is much much better offensively. He would provide at least one offensive options superior to Peña or Cervelli or Curtis. Also, as i argued yesterday, a focus for the team should be to pick up a viable DH/OF option.
There is no reason at all to assume that carrying an extra bench player means that player must be a worse hitter then what they have now.
[280] And, it should be noted, that Miranda's off the DL, so I'm not sure why he hasn't gotten the call yet. Also it seems that Russo and Gaudin have been buried, I'm sure their roster spots could be put to good use.