Mazel tov Alex, and everyone else who'll be celebrating.

I haven't seen any news on ARod other then he's sittingf tonight. Anybody?

[2] From LoHud:

Brian Heyman here at Yankee Stadium for this series finale against the Rangers. As you could see in the previous post, Alex Rodriguez is not in the lineup. The oblique/lower back problem that forced him out of Saturday’s game is still not right. Girardi talked to him and A-Rod said he was sore.

Those guys do a bang up job over there.

And I'm glad that Alex isn't trying to hide his injury and thus give the team a bunch of crappy ABs.

Let's Go Yan-kees! Let's Go Knicks!

Sore? What does that mean? Is there an underlying cause?
I wouldn't be surprised if ARod ends up out Tues and Wed, since Thurday is Off.

Sunuva...
The Knicks.
The freaking Knicks.

Boys, don't do this to me if you're just going to collapse in the fourth quarter. Seriously, I'd rather you just sucked.

I'm getting drawn in. I might not watch the Yanks at all!

Okay, okay, I'll watch the baseball.

[6] I just can't get interested in the Association. I try once in a while, but even during the playoffs it just doesn't hold my attention. And regular season? Forget about it.

Oy. I shoulda watched the half time show.

Yikes, that throw was awful.

Playing balls out there Robbie.

[8] Oh, well, hm. I am mainly a basketball fan. Except that the Knicks have sucked for so long that I had to break it off with the NBA.

I hate Adrian Beltre.

No es bueno, CC.

FUCK.

Crap on a cracker.

That could have gone better

[16] Yeah, that was not the best way to make Martin's throwing error irrelevant.

Who are the announcers? I don't recognize them. (That's a good thing.)

Irresistable force vs immovable object.

who will win?

Better swing, not better result.

No grounder!

Irresistible force, FTW!!!

[18] Are you watching on ESPN? One is Bobby Valentine, no?

[18] Orel Hershheiser (sp?) Bobby Valentine (who I hate) don't know the third guy.

Goddamn Beltre!
There was a big to do at Fenway last night where a ball landed on shoebox sized spot between the Pesky Pole and the yellow paint on the wall. Some Jay lost out on a homer to that pinball machine of a park.

Yes, ESPN. Thanks.

[25] The Jays are off to a good start with their roll-over-against-the-Sox-torment-the-Yankees gambit.

ROBBIE THE RIPPER!!!!!

Fucking Nasty!

that was fucking gorgeous.

dontchya know, robbie cano!!!

Dan Schulman is the main announcer at espn...

Dan Schulman, thanks man! He beats the living crap out of his predecessor, despite this inane commentary about the percentage of runs scored on homers.

And gut Pesach to you.

[32] yeah man. he's good.

robbie's got a great big smile. like my boy, boBBy.

You know what I really want to see? The Yankees getting popped up by a reliever all night

I've switched channels. Sadly I am listening to Tommy Heinsohn call the basketball game. He's excruciating. And a homer of the very worst kind, disgusting.

[34] right back atchya!

my family will be doing seder both night in queens; i, of course, will be eating chumitz the entire time here in atlanta! : )

[35] you're in luck!

beast of borbon.

Hm.

Hellz yeah.
Rob is the man tonight.

nicely turned!

Oh, and Chavez, of course, nice leather.

Ah, apparently I am fucking posting fucking comments too fucking quickly. I will add this nice punctuation to slow myself down.

[39] Bourbon? Well, if you insist. . .

Sigh. I thought this was going to happen, but I thought it was going to happen later. The Celtics are taking over.
Oh well.

yeah, that human trafficking thing is really disturbing and fucked up.

[44] i was making a funny. Julio Borbon led off the inning w/ a single. hence, my comment - which i thought was clever, but got lost in translation!

This is going to be a maddening game.

jesus. that sucks.

I always imagined that Bobby V would be a great announcer..that was an incorrect assumption.

I really don't like Michael Young.

[50] i'm with ya on that.

terrible throw by gritner...

Bollocks!

Holy crap. Fire and brimstone!

I wouldn't mind a long rain delay at this point

another nice dp.

Knicks back to looking not terrible.

The Celtics fans are chanting "New York su-ucks!"

[58] i played the big Allman Brothers festival in Florida this weekend. i saw a girl in a shit sox t-shirt, a patriots banner at a camp site and celtics jersey. all 3 pissed me off. didn't see any yankees gear, or any other sports stuff. fuck boston.

i did get to meet Robert Plant though, which was kinda cool...

I hate this game.

[59] Whoa, unexpected ending to that story!

Oh, this is gonna be a long night

Damn. The Knicks are still on top. Five minutes to go.

[61] expect the unexpected!

there are other cool things i could add to that story, but now's not the place or time. i'll have links here to my website soon enough...

that was a really ugly play.

alright, i'm leaving. gonna go pick up some thai noodles for din-din. check in with you guys later.

c'mon CC - get outta this with another DP!!!

i wonder if the Rangers will have Matzoh for Kinsler...

[64] Dude, I can't concentrate. The Knicks.

[59] Very cool.

Its hard for me to decide whether I want a team from Boston or the Knicks to lose

Yay Chavez!

Bang!
Douglas for 3!
Knicks by a trey with 37.8 seconds!

Helluva catch.

Billups is hurt, dang.

Alley-oop to Garnett, wow.
Knicks with a singleton lead and the ball, 37.3 seconds.

That's better

Yup, Cashman done good with the Martin signing.

I don't think it will last, but Martin has been (obviously) a great signing so far.

Holy crap, Brett Gardner swung the bat! TWICE.

Carmelo gives up the ball with an O-foul. I can't stand this.
Celtics with the ball, Knicks no time outs. 21 seconds, here goes...

Russel has MUSCLE! Tad late, I know, but I just checked in.

Celts call their last TO.

Doc Rivers is such a chess master.

[50] What's wrong with Bobby? I think he's great. Insightful, interesting. What's the beef?

Ugh

Betre needs his bell rung.

Ray Allen drains a three.
Carmelo tries to answer back, misses. Ball game.

It was inevitable, seems like.

[81] He's unbelievably smarmy. He bitched for a good five minutes last week because the umpire enforced a rule that Bobby himself admitted was legitimate.

[85] OK. I agree he is smarmy.

[81] And Shut the FUCK up about "blue-collar baseball payers"!! These guys are all multi-millionaires and Micheal Young is a whiny bitch who tried to force a trade, how is he "all about the team"??!

Boat, I actually like Bobby V as a manager and "personality" but doing color-work is a different skill..not for everyone.

[87] I know, Michael Young, blue collar. Snake oil.

...

How?

Bullshit!

this game is pretty sucky.

but we'll win. then it'll be all kindsa awesome!

Ah. Swim move.

[87] I don't get the impression that Young is a "whiny bitch." He's like the Rangers' Jeter and he's been asked to change positions 3-4 times already.

And the Baseball Gods agree. Next play is an out.

the espn radio team of jon sciambi & chris singleton is really very very good.

i'm still shocked that chris is not ken's son. no relation, in fact...

Didn't he tag him in the face? Shitty camera angle.

[95] Really? I'm shocked, too. Chris does look like Ken somewhat....imagination at work?

[93] Maybe harsh, but certain players can be selfish and get a free ride. It's annoying.
Boat, am off to hand in my PR application now..wish me luck!!

61

WOOHOO!

Oh, now that's Grand.

holy fuck, he *crushed* that!!!

i love curtis!!!

[102] Now THAT makes the noodles taste good, huh?

Love Curtis in Pinstripes!

The Yankees appear to have found a way to overcome the rally-killing tendency of HRs: simply hit lots of HRs.

[98] PR?

good luck Jazz Tokyo!!! : )

PR=Permanent Residency, I'm guessing.

So, is it going to be JoSoMo?

[103] aw yeah! and this noodle meal is already incredibly delectable.

The Yankees have a lot of fat pitchers all of a sudden, don't they?

[109] No. Still CC.

The HRs are really bitchin, but we have FIIVE starters batting under .250, and 3 straters with under a .650 OPS. That can't last, can it?

[108] Hel-LO! I should know that. Just got mine in 2009.

Good luck Jazz. Basically, if you have all the docs, it just takes time.

sweet strike cc.

here's joba...

So are we doing okay or what??

[111] The mound is experiencing some extra pressure this year.

[116] Now, yes.
Dingers galore.

Joba, not fat, in Nebraska.

I want permanent residency in New Zealand, but they won't have me.

Asshole.

Oh boy.

Ugh.

Is confidence in our bullpen down?

[113] No, it can't last, but I have a feeling the alternative will be delicious.

[120] ?

YEAH! that was super close.

I'm not sure about that.

Hey, Russell Martin. I didn't know he could do that.

Looked safe from naked eye.

Oooooh.
He was safe, yep.

I think he may have been out now

Maybe not.
But I think safe by a hair.

Yes, Orel has it exactly right. He's just smarter.

[125] It's my poor reaction to a a lead off walk from Joba. : )

Oh fuck.

I *really* don't like Michael Young.

fuck you, michael young.

oh yeah, and fuck you too, joba. i can't frickin' stand leadoff walks from the bullpen. (i know, i know - there was already 1 out...but it was his first batter.)

That's what you get Joba. #@$@#$@$@$@

[134] Seems like the right reaction now.

This can't end well.

Joba came in and I looked at his stats, and they looked pretty good. And yet somehow it doesn't seem to add up.

Joba is trying to vulture a W.

[134] i thought it was quite an appropriate reaction to the leadoff walk. shall i say it was "just fair"?! ; )

[140] Actually, I like our chances here.

Joba threw a fastball to first

Our Win Expectancy is 60%.
Let's get a couple of base runners and boost that sucker.

[145] At least it was a strike.

there have been 4 homers in this game. and for all four players, it's their 4th homerun of the season.

kinda cool.

[145] Better that than the crazy rainbow that so many pitchers throw to first, half of which end up down the RF line!

I really wanted Joba to be da tits, but I think he's just an average RP.

[148] Not as crazy as the 1-6 hitters all hitting into double plays the other night. That's just ridiculous. This game's in the bag.

A little Arthur Rhodes magic?

Poor CC, he eats innings (and other things), but no decisions. He is the next to potentially get to 300 wins, but he should be 4 closer to it.

And, the big 25 lbs. he lost when he checked in at Tampa seem to have returned.

He obviously thrives on the bulk.

Rain looks ugly.

I admit that I am pulling for Nolan Ryan and Co in the quest to get more innings out of their starters, and by and large it has been working thus far this season. But if that is the case, why do the Rangers still carry seven reliers? And especially early in the season, when there are so many off days?

"He has heard the loud crack tonight."

Yes, yes he has. The loud crack, he has heard.

Who is the guy with the manicured eyebrows on the screen behind homeplate?

[155] And they have only three outfielders.

PR for Jorge with one out? I say yes.

Pinch Runner, Joe??

[159] Permanent Residency??? I'm pretty sure he's a citizen.

OK, definitely a PR with Po on second.

I guess losing your 3rd string catcher is enough to keep your quicker runners on the bench.

Wow. Posada made it to second.

Oh, and did I mention that the Martin signing has been pretty awesome so far?

For a long time, Arthur Rhodes facing the Yankees meant one thing.

Arthur Rhodes? I'm drooling!

Fresh meat coming in.

[163] Really, I'd much rather keep Posada in than send in a pinch stand there.

There [146]. Though I actually meant the first two batters. But this did boost the Win Expectancy to 66.4%.

[169] The point is to score on a single, though.
If A-Rod can fill in for Jorgie, then I'm for the PR. If not, then hmm. Andruw?

[169] Except a pinch stand there has about a 1000% better chance to score from 2B on a single, and maybe also a double.

[171] Andruw PH for Gardner. Whose left on the bench, assuming A-Rod is definitely out?

Oh, there's Andruw. Reasonable choice.
So, nobody really to take over as the DH. Hm, close call, I dunno if I would PR.

Oi!

The Yanks can't lose Posada's bat if needed in the 9th.

Well, that was anti-climatic, Andruw. Come on, Jeter!

Ugh. Andruw almost tagged it.

Jeter is the only Yankee ever not to hit Rhodes

[176] Yeah, maybe. There is a decent chance he'd come up in the ninth. I still might have gone for the gusto this inning.

Of course, I'd also not carry 12 or 13 pitchers so that I could have another bat and/or PR available on the bench. Call me crazy.

Leaving Posada in was better, in retrospect.

The Captain really hit the shit out of that one. : (

Jeter H. Christ!

A Jeter grounder to short, how novel.

I love him, but I just don't have any confidence left. At least we found the fungo coach when he does retire.

[181] Although, had they PR for Posada when he was on 1B, Nuñez (?) might have made 3B on the MArtin single and then scored on the Jones FO. Assuming the predetermined outcome, of course. ; )

[185] Hm, possible.

I'll be. Andrus was indeed out.

That out got us 15% of Win Expectancy.

[185] I'm not sure he would have gone to third from a stand still on a single to left.

[189] You may be right.

[188] Uh-oh...how much did that single cost, WE% speaking?

Yeah, I think I screwed that up.
Well, anyway, just get the out and let's get to work.

[190] Not sure, because I think I overestimated it. I don't feel like working it out now. 15% is too much, though.

Anyway, it's 62% now.

[180] Returning to my favorite whipping boy/dead horse: knowing that A-rod is day-to-day but really out until Toronto series at least, why not send down/cut someone useless like Ayala/Noesi and call up an extra position player/hitter for a few days?

[192] Lies, damn lies, statistics and RIYank.

What has the world come to when the Yankees cant hit Arthur Rhodes?

I was hoping Granderson was going to walk there.

[192] i recently listened to Tom Lehrer's "New Math"...

right bobby v - it's not really a tie game. whatevs...

[197] Great song.

There's the walk. Here we go, boys.

Knock a wall down, Robbie!

Bobby realized the pitcher wasn't white.