Yup, it’s our boy A.J. on the hill tonight. You feelin’ it?
I’m feelin’ it.
First of three for the Yanks in Kansas City.
The Royals entered this season with by far the best farm system in baseball and have since stocked their major league roster with prospects, including first baseman Eric Hosmer, second baseman Johnny Giavotella, third baseman Mike Moustakas, lefty starter Danny Duffy (who will pitch on Tuesday), and relievers Aaron Crow, Tim Collins, Louis Coleman, Greg Holland, Everett Teaford, and Rule 5 pick Nathan Adcock. Those players haven’t accomplished much more than getting their feet wet, however.
Moustakas has been awful. Hosmer has hit just .254/.317/.384 since June 8. Giavotella has been solid but has only been up for ten games. Duffy has just six quality starts in 15 turns. Crow, a curious choice for the team’s lone All-Star selection, has a 4.08 ERA and three blown saves in his last 16 outings. Tiny Tim Collins has walked 6.7 men per nine innings. Teaford has just one more strikeout than walk. Coleman and Holland have been excellent, but neither was considered among the cream of the farm system, and Adcock, who is in this discussion only by virtue of being a rookie, has a 5.23 ERA.
That said, the Royals do have a roughly league-average offense thanks to the unexpected performances of their outfielders, two of whom were roundly mocked when the Royals acquired them this offseason. Alex Gordon, who is finally fulfilling his potential at age 27 is actually one of the most valuable players in the league according to Baseball Prospectus’s WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player). Melky Cabrera is, at 26, having by far the best season of his career, hitting for unprecedented average and power. Jeff Francoeur is having his best season since his rookie year of 2005, thanks in part to a career-high walk rate and his best power performance since 2006. Add in Billy Butler’s typical not-great-but-good showing at DH, and the Royals have half of a solid major league offense.
Of course, that has been undermined by Joakim Soria going rotten, posting the worst save percentage among the 24 men with 20 or more saves this season, most recently collaborating with Crow to blow a 7-3 lead against the Rays last Wednesday. Put it all together, and the Royals have the third-worst record in baseball, which is an unfortunately familiar place despite all those new faces, and are 2-8 over their last ten games coming into this series
Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Grab yer napkins and let us dream of K.C. bbq as we cheer:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Kevin’sbbqjoints.com]
The Yankees need AJ in the rotation so that they can move Hughes to the BP, where his stuff plays better.
[1] But then what will Joba's role be next year?
Think ahead!
[2] You can never have too many relief pitchers. You can also never predict baseball. So, better to be safe than sorry.
[2} Joba said he would pick up towels in the clubhouse to be a part of this team.
And here's to the mighty Seattle Mariners for taking the weekend series from the BSox. They almost swept them.
Dare I say it, a win tonight and the Yankees have a piece of first place. And the schedule gods are smiling on them with 15 games starting tonight against the Royals, Twins, A's, and Orioles. They should win at least 10 of these games.
[3] And sometimes it rains.
Funny Alex, I was reciting that Freakin Lickum line just this afternoon...
[0] [6] Vas iz dis Freakin Lickum?
Poor AJ, hasn't gotten the run support of some of the other guys.
I wonder if the yanks will make a waiver deal ... When is the last time the Yanks have been this inactive and haven't even gotten an eric hinske, matt lawton or craig wilson type player (not that any were great)
[8] hahahahahaha
[10] I know. That from Girardi, gamely trying to defend his indefensible player.
I'm in a fucking salty mood tonight/ Just in time for an AJ Burnett start too.
Alex has been gone so long I actually dreamed he retired last night. Suddenly he announced he was calling it quits and everyone was very surprised, saddened and alarmed.
[12] 'Honey let me be your salty dog'
Mr. Salty pretzel sticks...
Oh, man, Melky really showboated there.
I don't ever remember him being that bad.
Now he's a big man in Kansas City, I guess.
Cone, Lorenz, and Flaherty. Interesting.
[12] Oh, we're hardly going to recognize you!
[17] Heh.
=)
Oh, Jeter ... WTF with the bunt, brah???
Aggh. Damn it, Robbie.
Fargin' corksuckers!
So, place your bets.
I say: Good AJ for the first inning.
I don't want to watch this.
I already feel ill.
Strikes! Huzzah!
[22] Dingdingdingding.
Hah! See!
[23] Hypochondriac.
Not to be toooptimistic, but when his fastball is "working", that's sometimes good. Right?
No, I take it back. Sh. Knock on wood.
It's a twister Auntie Em, It's a twister.
Man, that ball took a savage turn.
Yes, Swisher was badly fooled on the changeup before he got the hit.
Man, Martin was so late on that.
Damn.
hmmm ... mlb.tv down for anyone else?
Atta boy, Brett!
I CANNOT believe Jorge did not get thrown out at third.
Yay, Derek! Yay, Jorgie!
Hmmmmmmmmmm....2 out ribeye.......
How long before AJ coughs it all up?
Fucking stupid.
Ok. AJ spotted a couple of runs...
What happens now?
[38] You think? I don't know, he almost made it. I think it's a chance worth taking.
[40] I'd rather see Teix swing away with the bases loaded. One, the ball bounced about 6 feet away, two, Brett's bandaged wrist got jammed on the tag.
Good thing Martin can throw out baserunners.
[41] Yeah, I can see that. Given the fact that this guy has strikeout quality stuff and that Teix strikes out, I'd rather see Brett be agressive, but I take your point.
If it had been Cano at the bat, I'd feel differently.
And AJ wriggles out the inning.
Oh, damn, I missed Robbie.
Double in the left-centerfield gap?
[7] Sorry 'bout that KB, this link will explain everything...
I like Flash.
[47} Brilliant! Who's the Doo Doo Man? You know that Rufus...Freakin' Lickum
[47] Love that album!
Yayy, AJ!
That's a beaut.
After watching that DP, the Royals' announcer said:
"Wow... what a quick turn."
Does anybody do it better then Robbie?
Just a brown stain for AJ. A quick change, and he should be settled now.
However, after the 5th...a very short lease please.
Wow!
Jim Thome.
600 homeruns.
Well deserved.
And a lot of Thome's homers are to left field.
The dude has unbelievable power.
I saw him hit a grandslam against El Duque at the Stadium and it was incredible. HIs swing was so light and easy, I had no idea the ball was going out and it just carried out to left center.
Incredible power.
[53] Better than anyone I've ever seen. The way he fields the low balls and comes up throwing... just remarkably smooth. Elegance that can't be quantified.
Was it mentioned that Thome has hit 2 HRs tonight, including #600?
Impressive!
[53] [57] He is simply an awesome talent.
Every day.
He awes every single day.
Jim Thome was the poster child for "not quite good enough for the HOF" With 600 HRs and no steroid taint, he's now a lock.
I heard a story (maybe from the dreaded ex-ESPN team), that he put like 20 nieces and nephews through college. I know he can afford a lot, but still...that is something. You gotta just like this guy.
Now that he has his 600, I hope he hits none when the Yankees go to Minny this week.
Amazing to see the old footage where the Stadium is entirely empty in the outfield.
[61] As a kid, I've been to Yankee games with less than 5000 in attendance. They sucked for years, the Bronx was genuinely dangerous, and baseball was an unappreciated art. The Mets were the team in ascendence.
I have to begrudgingly give Steinbrenner props for revitalizing the franchise.
Come on, AJ, keep it together.
Fucking hell.
Get him out now!
4 scoreless. Then...........BOOM!
[62] God, 5000? Wow.
I remember in the eighties (when I was a kid) attendance was usually in the 20s and 30s, if I recall correctly.
5000. Wow.
Melky's a free swinger?
Didn't he used to walk a lot with us?
Oh my God.
What a clown man.
He's got an idea alright, Flash. Bases loaded walk.
Why must they make excuses for this bum?
Who's AJ gonna blame this meltdown on?
Dr. Jekyll... meet Mr. Hyde.
Gah.
AJ!!!???!!!???
Wade now!
Obviously.
You the man, AJ!
I HATE you AJ Burnett.
HATE.
!!!
Yes, it was an excellent piece of hitting.
Still, AJ sucks.
Tell us Joe why someone else is going to the pen?
AJ has entered code red in his hypothalamus. I don't think he can escape the quiver.
Well that was sweet.
Great play Robbie - unless it keeps AJ in the rotation
There's that Robinson Cano guy again. As Flash said, nifty.
Cool! This'll give AJ a chance to cough up the lead again.
[85] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHH!
If Brett doesn't run here after his race for home I will be unhappy.
Cap'n, OH MY CAP'N!!!
That was awesome, Derek!
That's satisfying! Can we look forward to three more years of Jeter?
[84] He can come out now, and still get his first August win.
Wake up down there, blue. You're missing an exciting game.
Will Joe let AJ blow this lead?
GOod work, AJ!
Yaaayyyyy!!!
Whew - we gotta chance to win
Booooooooooone!
Man, it says something when I'm actually HAPPY to see BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOne Logan come into a game ...
Didn't Mattpat say he was in a salty mood? This ought to put him right over the edge! Boone Logan to face the tying run!
[95] Actually, he's been really good against lefties recently. I mean, he's not my favorite performer, but credit where due, kinda thing.
A Burnt Jet can safely land sometimes.
There's no stopping Robinson.
I can't get enough of this Robinson Cano guy.
Christ, I step out for sixty seconds to mix a drink and Rob gets another hit.
[101] Yeah. When he's due up, you sit your ass down and revere.
What're you drinking?
Just think. In some alternative universe, we have Dustin Pedroia and Rob is on the Red Sox.
Wow. That world sucks.
[101] AJ can drive a man to drink, even on a Monday night.
[103] Rye and soda.
A couple of weeks ago I started watching Mad Men. That's why. (But I didn't take up smoking, don't worry.)
It's really uncanny how much like Mattingly this guy looks.
He's just taller.
[106] Hahah! I've been making my second or third tour through Mad Men these past couple of weeks too.
[104]Is that the same universe where Teddy was a Yankee and Joe was a Red Sox???
[106] And I still can't see what Peggy saw in Pete in the beginning.
Ya see something new every night.
Now THAT is what LUCK looks like ...
Attaboy!
Save the bones
for Andruw Jones.
[110] Pete is a worm (and Peggy kind of cute in a dowdly, subway-riding Brooklyn way..). All hail the power of Joan of course (and down with Betty Draper and her abusive mothering!) Is it ever coming back?
[109] Well, that makes it sound more fair.
Weeping, you have seen the whole thing several times? Wow, serious. [110] Well yeah, that's surely what you're supposed to think. (I'm almost done with season 2. The death of Marilyn.)
[115] Yo, RI, where Wallace at?
Where Wallace at, RI???
A cue ball off the bag RBI. Looks like a shot to the wall in the box score.
Oh, lovely, time for the Chessmaster!
They just started shooting Mad Men season 5 earlier this month. Anyone seen Breaking Bad? I enjoy it.
[116] That's The Wire, right? I don't watch that one. I'm sure I'll get it eventually -- but HBO won't let Netflix stream it...
Thank god. Boone Logan was actually pitching really well, we can't have that. Spin the chambers, Joe!
Hey! Nice move, Sori!
[120] Oh, dear. The is The Wire ... and there is everything else. Go out of your way to watch it ...
[122] Only shows in the last 10 years that Mrs. Jazz and I have watched from the US are Curb your Enthusiasm and Mad Men..everyone raves about the Wire, but it's like 80+ episodes, yes? Maybe in the offseason..
Speaking of good fielding, our old toastermate Jon Weisman describes an unusual triple play against his Blues.
[123] 5 seasons, usually 12 per. It's worth the time and the commitment.
[115] Oh, you have so much to look forward to in season 3!
Hacky McHeadfirstslide!!!
Hey, Chrissy is back from the dead, doing liquor spots!
Hm, I guess probably Boone could have managed to finish the inning giving up the one run.
Well, I can't really complain, because next inning will be Hamma Time.
Sad.
I wish monkeypants could have stayed up for this. It's positively maudlin.
Haddya like that? Two little grounders, a stolen base, and there ya go, three run lead.
Damn. Even off-balance he can hit the baseball hard.
So you know, the Yankees take a lot of heat for their corporate feel, particularly their dress code, but I have to say, that closer for San Francisco alone justifies it.
I mean, dear god, but that is one fugly motherfucker.
Hands down the fugliest man in baseball.
How can Giants fans stand to look at him every. Single. Night?
Eric Hosmer, you just got Hammered.
Sit down, Jeff Francoeur, because you are the nail.
Hahahaha!
Enjoying that rye and soda are you, RI?
Lucky bastard.
Looked like a slider to me.
hello from...Atlanta!!! i'm HOME!!!!!!! : )
that was a loooooong tour...
Maybe guys should stop testing Russel Martin.
Oh, Russell to Rob, BANG. Sit down.
Stupid muthafuckas, down three runs. Morons.
[139] Hey, you, you were on tour? Man, you must be exhausted. Welcome home.
[141] hahaha. You're killing me, RI. I like it when you talk smack.
Thelarmis! Just in time!
Alabama-hamma-slamma the door, and the whiskey is flowing!
(I can sleep late tomorrow, weeping, if that was what you were trying to ask.)
[143][144] Long live beer-y (and whsikey-y) banter!
thelarmis, welcome home!
thanks guys! sooo nice to be home, i can't begin to tell you...
'bama hamma!!!
i drank so much good beer on this tour, mostly out west. i don't plan on having a beer until september. (this weekend is september, right?!)
I like how we have monkeypants in Dresden and Mr. OK Jazz in Tokyo as bookends. And of course, thelarmis, home from the hills. Or the sea. Are you more sailor or hunter?
opa moustakis. No foul pop for you.
[146] You know what they say: it's always September somewhere.
"Diametric."
Everett Teaford..sounds like the son of a Charles Dickens industrialist.. "young Everett could never live up to the expectations of his titan father, Charlton Teaford II"
Someone is in the September of their life.
i like how swish's ops is up in the 8-teens.
[147] ooh, neither. but, i am a sagittarius and that's an archer, so i guess we should go with hunter. though i'd never hunt, hurt or kill anything. then again, i do wield sticks for a living...
No hit for Jones. I want Mo in a no pressure save situation.
[152] We'll go with sailor. The starlit wave, the plunder of the world.
oooh, there's that girl again in the Corona commerical.
i particularly like that back shot in her business suit.
[154] i am hebrew, so maybe we should go with sale-r. i need more "jew-pons".
btw, my fam is in the holy land. my oldest nephew had his '2nd' bar mitzvah there today. read out of the torah and the Wall. pretty cool. i'm proud of him!
[155] link, please?
Grooving to a Cornell Dupree record night now, Indian take out lunch, Yanks win coming soon..and a slow work day (summer holidays here for most people). It's a good day!
One.
"Bubba Starling?"
The man's name is Bubba Starling?
There's the Mo we know and love.
[157] No kidding, good for him! Though I'm always a little uncomfortable with tying the religious stuff to Israel. I wish our people would stop that. But, you take the good with the bad.
Two.
Nice play, Derek!
And notice how that kid was like ten feet off the plate after that and Mo just threw it outside.
Like clockwork, all around.
[158] holy crap, that's an *awesome* day, dude! good on ya : )
The ol' double clutch trick.
[157] Mazal Tov to the neph!
All rise.
Thanks be to Mo.
Mariano RIvera, ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Mo!!!
[164] It's getting better. Mr. Spacely just told us we can all go out "to a meeting" at 4pm..at the local Irish beverage watering hole..Guinness ahoy!
Ah, Mariano..our one true savior.
We have our little rituals here, too, huh? Just like a bar mitzvah.
:-)
Nice Win
FIRST PLACE!
[162] i totally hear ya. i'm not religious at all and think the whole thing is a bit much. but the kid wanted it and my brothers' fam is into it, so good for them.
my parents are over there with them. i'll feel better when everyone is home in NY. i feel sooo much better being in my home!
[166] thanks weeping!
I think Jeter needs to tickle Kim Jones.
[175] Not feeling the Kim love!
Oh well, beating the Royals is great but not that satisfying..
[158]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bfsE-VMqQk