Yanks are in Chicago for a four-game series against Ozzie’s White Sox. This weekend, of course, they’ll be in Boston for three against the Red Sox.
Over at PB, Cliff has the preview. And Jay Jaffe write about the imminent arrival of Jesus Montero:
Montero’s overall .283/.342/.429 line at Scranton is still not terribly impressive, but he finally showed considerable pop in July, batting .271/.346/.514 with four homers, upping his season total to 10. He’s drawing his walks, too — eight in 78 plate appearances during the month, the second in a row in which he’s taken passes in at least 10 percent of his PA. His defense is still cause for concern, but there are modest signs of improvement; while he’s gunning down just 20 percent of would-be base thieves, opponents are running somewhat less often against him this year, and he’s cut his rate of passed balls almost in half.
On the other hand, Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein compared his defense unfavorably to one of the more notorious bat-first backstops of recent memory: “Mike Piazza is a MUCH better defensive catcher than Jesus Montero. We need to get away from that comparison, because it’s a bad one.” Ouch.
Left unsaid in the report of Montero’s near-imminent rise is where he’ll be picking up his at-bats. Aside from an early-season power spike, Russell Martin’s overall numbers (.225/.326/.366) are no better than in recent years, and since May 1 he’s hit just .201/.309/.287, which is basically what one might accomplish by swinging at pitches with a rubber chicken. Francisco Cervelli (.235/.305/.306) is even worse, as usual, and he’s thrown out just two out of 24 base thieves. Jorge Posada’s hitting .235 /318/.383 overall, and .284/.351/.406 since the Big Sitdown, having gone a whole month without homering; furthermore, he’s just 6-for-53 against lefties, with a lone double as his only extra-base hit. Andruw Jones (.227/.315/.445 overall) hit .242/.342/.545 in July, and is up to .268/.348/.524 against lefties; that thin slice may be the most likely segment of these players’ time to be preserved.
Jeter sits tonight as the Yanks go to a six-man rotation.
Brett Gardner LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Jorge Posada DH
Eduardo Nunez SS
Francisco Cervelli C
Oh, it’s all just so exciting.
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
Hep me Jesus!
On the other hand, even Jesus could not save who ever decided that wearings short was an acceptable part of a baseball uniform ...
Pre Bucky Fucking Dent. I have found conflicting reports on the shorts scenario. One account says the White Sox wore shorts for only 1 game. The first of a double header on 8/8/76. But the SI Vault pic above says they wore them for 3 games in '76. Up until 10 minutes ago I believed for some reason that they wore them for an entire season in the early 80's. lol...
Oh, and Praise Jesus!
the men who had to wear those uniforms should receive some sort of special compensation for the indignity they endured, and continue to endure with the publication of such photos.
Actually, I feel I should be compensated for being exposed to their public humiliation.
disclosure: i'm not a lawyer, just married to a good-looking one
I wonder how Kevin Goldstein (thinks he) knows that Piazza is a MUCH better catcher than Montero.
On the one hand, I deeply distrust 'expert' scouting reports on catchers based on watching them play, ever since I read Moneyball. On the other hand, Goldstein is a BP guy who presumably doesn't place a lot of stock in scouting reports. But then on the third hand (which would be truly awesome for a catcher, wouldn't it?), don't serious BP guys admit that their defensive metrics for catchers suck?
Oh, and Betances is supposed to be headed for Dunder Mifflin shortly, too. With Autin Romine (who I guess will supplant Jesus, so he should be renamed "James Romine", right?). Same article.
[5] Goldstein isn't primarily a statistical analyst for BP. His stock in prospecting is collation of scouting reports through a network of major and minor league scouts and industry contacts. Unlike KLaw, KG doesn't do primary scouting himself.
This might explain why the Yanks are going 13-deep with pitchers, and hopefully just as temporary...
Jesus is coming?? Huzzah!!
While he seems a jovial fellow with a nice smile and quirky fun English-ability, I am confident I am not alone is saying a hearty and final "Sayonara" to Frankie Brains.
6 man rotation is going to be awkward for 2 months. Bartolo & Freddy are on 1 year contracts, right? So next year we have CC (if he doesn't opt out and go elsewhere), AJ, Phil & Ivan. Only need to grab one starter.
[10] Maybe Manny B.
Teix has 5 more years with us, and he won't be a young man in his last year. So maybe Jesus is our C/BUC for 4 or 5 years and then moves to 1B? If his bat plays, he still has great value as a DH/BUC. It wouldn't be bad to see him take over for Teix and be the #3 Catcher. He could be Giambi II.
Goddam, Boston is already lighting up the scoreboard.
I want to say that Josh Tomlin is not good at pitching. The Sox do score off everybody, but not Carl Crawford, Marco Scutaro, and Longname Catcherboy.
[10] The 6 man rotation is going to last about a week. Either Hughes or Nova is going, either to the AAA rotation or the ML bullpen.
There's absolutely 0.00 reason to cost CC any starts down the stretch.
This thing gets resolved within 2 turns of the rotation. Just like my "Brains plays less than 2 of every 7 games that Martin is healthy for" prediction earlier in the year ... this one's my STONE COLD LOCK ... OF THE WEEK!
This is just what Jake Peavy needs. He can't get guys out even when he's paying attention to the batter, and now he's going to watch Brett while he pitches to Curtis.
Awwwww, yeah, SPEED baby!
Not so dandy, Grandy ...
Oh, wait ... why am I listening to Hawk FUCKING Harrelson???
FUCK that ... HE GONE!
[18] Yeah, I'm sometimes tempted to pick the other team's broadcast... but not when we play the White Sox. Then it's a no-brainer.
ROBBIE!
That's my Rob.
The crowd is ready to go home now.
[20] Is that how you pronounce "rbi"?
Squibbed!
Better pick it up Cletus, Jesus is coming!
[24] You better watch yer ass ...
Yes, it's true, McClellan really does drive Sterling insane, I can vouch for that. I might turn on WCBS just to hear it.
[14] Agreed. CC MUST PITCH. With as much as the Yankees have fucked around with Phil, I hate to say it, but my guess is the best move is Phil to the BP. As this point, I think there is nothing he can achieve in AAA.
If Phil can't be very good from the BP, my guess is he's done. If he is good, hopefully he helps the team (especially with Joba out) and gets some confidence back.
Fuck yes.
Unbelievable. Rob does everything.
"The bunt is a big part of Juan Pierre's arsenal."
Hysterical.
DRIVEN!
Lofted...
Nobody turns it better than Robinson.
Effortless. And CC has 6 outs in 14 pitches, holy smokes.
I've seen it for years now, but the way fuckin' Cano turns the DP is just amazing. Who might possibly be better???
Damn. What a laser by Curtis. Too low. ; /
Driven.
Lined.
Chopped. No rbi for robbie.
[22] Not this time ... meh.
Asdrubal takes Lackey deep, and the Indians of Cleveland take the lead.
Could you imagine if the Yanks had signed Lackey?
Mmmm. Purple.
Jesus christ. That is disgusting. Another fucking bunt. Hideous.
Much as I like Guillen as a character, he's much worse even than Girardi as a tactician.
Yeah, Ozzie flummoxed. Huh.
And we are lucky to have Kim. She rocks.
Whoopsie!
Whoo-hooo. Smile, Robbie. That was a clever little double play.
Aha, Flash and Michael agree with me about the bunt.
YEAH, BABY! Way to go, Rob, way to go.
[40] Nothing made me happier when he signed with the Sox, almost my least favorite pitcher going to my least favorite team.
Seriously, I've had to look at his slack-jawed mug for years here in LA and I can't help but want to slap that mouth-breather every damn time I see his face.
Lackey and Paplebon, the douche-face duo ...
Lackey = backpfeifengesicht
Peavy is getting dangerously close to his 75 pitch precipice. Meanwhile, CC at 25 through three. Could be a day off for the Yankee bullpen. (Knock on wood.)
Piss hands!
Black Jack McDowell!
[48] You used that for someone else yesterday! A relief pitcher, I believe. I admit that I had to look it up.
Also, [47] his countenance and (even more important, for me) his voice are much easier to take when he's pitching for the Red Sox. He's their douche.
A local radio show has a regular contest, "Lackey or a muppet?" They play a clip and the caller has to guess whether it was John Lackey or a muppet. It's true genius.
Okay, so now Peavy's BA against is .456, right? Which I guess means Frankie should look like, what, a .290 hitter?
Sigh.
Oh shut the fuck up Kay.
Salty homers with a man on to tie the game.
[54] Relax, my friend. Every shitty at bat from Brains is just one step closer to Jesus ...
Pushups, Slappy.
FUCK.
[57] I didn't realize you were such a spiritual man.
Ah, I guess that's another important part of Juan Pierre's arsenal ([29]).
GODDAMSUNOVABITCH.
Lackey's gone. Some guy I've never seen before is pitching for the Red Sox.
Gardner in a little rut again.
This is weird.
Gardner:
Batting 1st: .600 OPS (148 PA)
Batting 7th: .881 OPS (32 PA)
Batting 8th: 1.088 OPS (81 PA)
Batting 9th: .701 OPS (115 PA)
That's not what I expected to see ...
[62] Yes, odd. Hm. I was going to say SSS, but 148 PA is fairly significant.
Hammered!
Hammered!
Rob has been on the good end of two DPs today, and on the bad end of two.
[62] Yeah. And 1st and 9th together and you've got 263 sub-par PA's vs 113 PAs of awesome.
Just odd.
Fucking white sox.
Putting aside whether or not its a good idea to trade for Ubaldo, I'm a little put off by this "how can they trade Nova for [x]"
Because he's Ivan Nova?
Fugh.
C'mon Big Man!
White Sox baseball!!!
Awesome!
I just love bunts. When the other guys do it.
[68] Well, yeah, but x is overrated.
[68] Have you seen x's FIP???
White Sox baseball!!!
Smoke ought to be coming out of Ozzie's ears any time now ...
[66] Ha ha. He's going for the golden sombraro now. Or something. : )
Think Kenny's regretting not being a seller at the deadline right about now???
[72] And injury prone.
But seriously, Ivan Nova the untouchable seems a bit odd to me.
[75] Whoops. That was for RIYank at [65]
Whew.
I'll take "lucky" there.
[73] That one took me a minute...
[77] Not after last year and their reluctance to deal Nune5 ...
Wow. Nick Swisher for Betemit and two even less useful players.
Nice hustle Nick
[82] It was a dropped line drive, not a big deal.
Unimpressive, Swish.
[80] I beg your pardon. He is now Nuñe6.
Blech.
Lots of hard hit balls. Only 3 runs. Bollocks!
[80] Did that actually happen? I've heard conflisting reports on whether or not that was accurate. (It seems that thi year, with the reality of the kind of player Nunez is, more peopler are denying it. )
Asdrubal goes yard again! Another two-run job, this time against Bard, and this one he got by instant replay review!
Indians take the lead again in the eighth.
[84] Yeah, I know, but I like the 5 better in his name than the 6, just because it looks more like Nunez ...
[84] Can't we all just settle on E, Nunez?
[90] Yeah, that's good. I also like Eduardo Scissorhands, which I saw at River Ave. (I think).
[87] IIRC it happened after the Mariners rejected Adams after reviewing his medicals, they wanted a comparable player as a substitute, hence Nune5.
ICE CREAM CONE!
Phew.
97 MPH!
[92] etc.
The YES guys would explain over and over why the Yankees thought he was so promising, earlier in the season. I guess it's become so patently implausible now. I forget what they kept saying -- decent bat and they thought he could 'develop' as a fielder? I can't remember.
Man, I feel bad for the Big Donkey ... or at least I will in 4 days.
Damn. Adam Dunn. Damn.
I honestly feel bad for the guy.
[96] Heh.
[92] I'd heard that version as well, but I've also seen people seemingly "in the know" bristle at the suggestion that E, Nunez cost us Cliff Lee.
[95] His errors were way down @ AAA last year and he looked fine when he came up for a cup of coffee. If his fielding improvement was legit, he was certainly at least an average ML SS.
It's important to remember just how much the position *sucks* right now, especially with the bat.
The Red Sox bring on another mystery reliever, name of Randy Williams, relieving Bard with one on and one out in the eighth. Single, double. Another hit and even the mighty Boston Hitting Machine will be buried.
One step closer to Jesus, friends, one step closer to Jesus ...
Swing the fucking bat Cervelli! 2 times in a row down looking.
[100] I guess that's right. Although this Alexi Ramirez kid can whack it.
Replacing Brains with Jesus.
I have a joke all lined up, but I might get in trouble.
Hey that pitch county thingy goes past 105. How about that?
Williams escapes.
8-5 Tribe, bottom of the eighth in Fenway.
And Peavy notches a Q-start. Go figure.
FUCKING PUSHUPS, SLAPPY.
GAH.
[101] Old left hander? I can't believe he'd still be in baseball
Rob does everything.
I HATE AJ Pierzynski. Shit.
[102] If that period where Martin was hurt and Cervelli was throwing the ball into LF every day didn't bring us Montero, I'm not sure what will.
[110] Well, he's a lefty, and he's 35. Seattle, San Diego, Rox, WSox, RSox.
[114] Yep, I remember him with Colorado a million years ago.
Wasn't any good then
I saw that coming.
Oh, jeez. Can't really blame Chavez, he couldn't charge it.
I'll be shocked if Lillebridge doesn't steal.
[117] AJ was in the way.
Pain in the ass.
He didn't steal. Why? Isn't that Oz's m.o.?
Jason Kipnis goes yard off Matt Alpers. 9-5 Tribe in the ninth.
This Morel character is hitting the ball pretty hard
Matt Albers, sorry.
Uh, how about some goddamn insurance runs here, ok???
I can't imagine Sales would be ANY kind of fun to hit off of if you are a LHB ...
A tall lanky lefty that doesn't suck. Interesting.....
Any time I hear of a bullpen with three lefties I hold my breath. Would starters even go five innings with a Girardi three lefty pen?
A big part of Juan Pierre's arsenal.
The swinging K is a big part of Juan Pierre's arsenal.
Brand new Red Sock Mike Aviles singles, but Boston is down to their last out...
Good hustle, Brett.
Hm, Ellsbury singles, Aviles was on second by Def Indif, so he scores. Sox still alive.
One of these times Dunn is gonna get us.
Holy cow, Adam Dunn.
And My Little Groundout ends the game in Fenway.
Between Pierre's strike 3 swing and Dunn's 3 pathetic hacks, well,,,,,those were 4 sad ass swings.
Red Sox finally dead.
I think they should shoot it in the head just to be sure.
...It worked in Scream.
[134] I like the commas.
Yeah, but that's a big part of Pierre's arsenal. And Adam Dunn is making tons of money, so.
Wait, the relief pitcher was really good in the eighth, so you leave him in for the ninth? Huh. Never thought of that. Interesting approach. But I mean, is he the EIG, or the Closer? Because you can really fuck a pitcher up jerking him around like that.
Yuz guys hear about this:
"The report from the Denver medical examiner's office shows Robert Seamans had marijuana in his system and a 0.19 percent blood-alcohol level, which is more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Seamans, of Pueblo, was trying to slide down a stair railing at Coors Field during the seventh inning of a May 24 game between the Rockies ... he fell between 20 and 30 feet and struck his head on concrete. He was declared brain dead about 12 hours later"
I feel bad for the guy and his family but jeez... isn't that kind of stupid?
[136] Home key fail. Thanks, though. : )
[138] Why do you think they call it 'dope'?
Now I'm sorry I wrote that.
They call Beer 'Dope'?
Alrighty, Mo. Nice and easy.
"Sabathia shows that just because you don'tn't have your best stuff you don't have to give up"
Taking notes, AJ?
He doesn't make as many errors at short. Seems like.
Ya know, if he beaned Pierzynski, I wouldn't mind.
Well, now it's 0-2, so just embarrass him.
Heh, that'll do.
[144] AJ can write???
Thanks be to Mo.
WOO-HOO!
All Rise.
Boy, that was a gorgeous inning. Vintage Mariano.
CC Sabathia gave up 10 hits tonight. He gave up 18 in July.
Cano had a friggin' day on defense.
CC with 16 wins, should really be at least 18 considering the early season weirdness. The best in the AL?
Nice win, great defense, just enough early runs, the "gutty" version of CC, and MO.
Enough to win a regular season game.
[154] Don't worry, the voters will figure out a way not to give him the Cyke Young award...