Hear that? It’s the Score Truck, y’all.
Over at Lo-Hud, Chad Jennings asks: When is Alex Rodriguez going to drive in runs and hit for power again?
1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Cano 2B
6. Swisher RF
7. Jones DH
8. Martin C
9. Nix LF
Andy’s on the hill.
Keep it movin’ boys. It’s gunna be a good night.
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
That's a big truck.
I admire your optimism, Alex. So tell us -- when's he going to start to produce?
2) You got me. And I guess what he's going to produce depends on your expectations. I think he can be a decent hitter for another couple of years but he's in decline and since his hip troubles doesn't seem to be able to generate the power he's famous for. I don't see him as a 30+ home run guy anymore. So maybe his pop will come in bunches but I wonder if he'll even slug over .500 again. I hope I'm wrong because I enjoy rooting for him. And perhaps he just has to morph into a different kind of hitter. His contract and what he "should" be producing for that money is a different story and it's moot to argue about that. He is what he is. If he plays 130+ games this year and next he should reach 3,000 hits.
I'm curious how the last phase of his career plays out.
Tex is more troubling because he's so much younger.
Andy!
[3] I agree, Alex, there's no reason he can't become a high average guy. If Dave Winfield was able to raise his average like sixty points and nearly win a batting title simply because one year he decided one year to fool around with hitting for average, I don't see why Alex couldn't do the same thing if he put his mind to it.
Well-put, man.
[3] Tex is more troubling because he's so much younger.
More troubling perhaps, but certainly his decline is less surprising. He was never the hitter that A-Rod was. With A-Rod you have a clear HOF talent, whose seemingly steep decline is due largely to accute injuries that occured in his mid-30s. With Teix you have an extremely gifted but not HOF caliber 1B whose decline appears to have started very lredictably at age 28.
Two different creatures. In some ways, the crazy contract the Yankees gave A-Rod was a safer gamble than the one hey handed Teixera.
Is there a reason why the BUOF is playing DH, the BUIF is playing LF, and the DH is on the bench?
Via LoHud:
The new guy: The Yankees get to face a pitcher making his big-league debut for the 14th time since 2000. They will come in against Will Smith with a 5-8 record against the first-timers.
How does this team have such a crappy record against first timers. If it were the Pirates or Orioles or Royals, I could understand, they're crappy teams. But a team that's almost always in the playoffs?
There you go, Andy, keep 'em off balance!
I believe when the team is doing poorly, ARod focuses more on contact/BHs than on power (remember his bunt?). I still expect 20+ HRs/yr. However, to hit HRs these days, he may have to pull the ball.
[9] Because we have guess-hitters, and they need to have a book on the pitcher?
Kenny with the "Butler a solid major league hitter". Is that better or worse than being a "professional hitter"? (Speaking of, what happened to Ur-Professional Hitter™ Victor Martinez, is he out for the year in Detroit?
Nice work, Andy.
I think we all should appreciate every single pitch Andy throws for us this year. Just think, we all thought that we'd seen the last of our old, trusted friend on the mound, and here he is...and, incidentally, serving to hopefully get the Yankees in gear.
That was a nice inning. I see the great Teix hitting 7th experiment lasted one whole game.
[15] Hear, Hear!
It's Will Smith! I'm searching for some word play here..guys, help me out?
Now that's a beaut! Curtis!
[16] I think it's because he's batting right-handed.
Grandy.
Fuck yeah. Welcome to the Bigs rookie.
Nice one, Alex.
Take that, world! : ) NIce one, Alex!
See him mouth, "That's what I'm talking about" as he crossed the plate?
Yeaaah buddy
Al is pumped!
Wow, you can see he's jacked-up. Nice.
Interesting Flash should say that, about Alex using his hands a bit more because I noticed his swing too, it looked kind of whip-like, for what that's worth.
C'mon Swish.
28) And he did have as big a leg kick.
[19] Aha. Hadn't thought of that. Grazie!
Dang, I had to go to the basement and play with my new circular saw. Missed it.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior!
(I expected him to be this good, this quick. Ftr.)
Bravo, Andy.
Keep it up.
Hey, Boone! Are you paying attention?
Swish cracks me up. Nice catch and throw.
Couple of cheap hits. Time for a double play.
Andy Pettitte, ladies and gentlemen.
Hot damn. How 'bout that?
Wow! Wonderful Mark. Just beautiful.
[38] Nice order.
And he's pumped up!
Ouch! Jeter could have busted a leg turning that dp.
True Indeed Jetes. No need to be a hero. Double is just swell.
Time for Mark to start feeling good...
Drag, but a run came home.
Getting pretty tired of that. That's for Mo Damn sure!
FUCK YEAH
Ha!
Holy shit, ALEX!
I didn't think that was going to get out.
He knew it. That was a bomb.
Belth is prescient. He has the power.
Yup... ARod is done for sure.
Wow, classic quote...considering what he's done so far.
Man, Cano smoked that one.
Joe Sheehan just tweeted: I wish Wally Matthews would write that my days of being great are over.
Andy's cutter has a nice, crisp break tonight.
Man, Andy's good at just floating that curve in there.
Damn, solo shot.
Oops, that one hung.
O.k. Maybe I shouldn't be watching. Missed both of A-Rod's homers and saw Butler's.
These turkeys have a lot of crappy hits off Andy.
Another one! Christ.
Hahahahah!
He fell on his ass!
Hahahhahah
Ohhh, HELL yes, Andy!
"Okay, I'll just have to strike them all the fuck out then."
Only Andy would never say 'fuck'.
Sweet, Andy.
He doesn't care that the bases are loaded on cheapies.
He just does his business.
Golden god that he is.
Remember when Jeter looked SOOOOOOO bad in 2011, and we were sure he was done? Big Papi was terrible for a much longer time... done for sure.
Who knows... maybe ARod ain't done either.
Whole mess of cheap hits. Way to go Andy.
[65] "Gosh, I guess I'd better just strike them all the heck out, then, the guys got me five runs, I owe 'em that much."
Swish hit that one well, though.
[70] 'Gosh'.
Huh.
Damn it.
Come on, Andy, hang in there.
Okay!
More runs now, please.
Nice move, Robbie.
Ha!
HA HA HA!
C'mon Mark
I feel bad. I'm hoping he walks Teix.
Ball four!
I still feel bad. But kind of happy too.
For fuck's sake, Teix! I could have squared up that 3-1 pitch. Eh. A walk.
I'll take that.
This could be fun...
That was FAT!
But not that.
Fuck, Robbie keeps getting robbed!
Jeez. What a rip. Oh well.
Man that's 2x Cano's nearly killed the pitcher. Damn!
Damn. Nice play
SHit.
Ouch.
Punish him, Andruw.
o/t but it's been on my mind. There used to be a nice looking (aka beautiful) usher that could always be seen in the seats near the Yankees dugout. I wonder if she moved on to bigger and better things. Inquiring minds want to know.
It's amazing players don't get injured more often by HBP.
The fucking ball is HARD and travelling VERY FAST.
How players can just grin and bear that shit is far, far beyond me.
Ball four again!
I'll take it.
Ha!
Save the bones for Andruw Jones, 'cause Andruw don't eat no meat.
We got one hit this inning. One!
Andy is just beautiful.
I could watch him pitch forever.
0-2...
ClappityclapclapclapClappityclapclapclapClappityclapclapclap!
Look at that.
THese bastards are just flailing up there.
They just don't get good swings off him.
Six innings, two runs.
And he doesn't fuck around up there, he gets the ball, he comes set, he deals.
Ohhhhhh.
Dang, Nix deserved a double there.
This is so nice. Arod shutting up the critics and hystericals (I could be included). Tex should be next. A laugher for Andy. THIS is how I remember Royals-Yankees games of late.
So happy for that gosh darn Andy Pettitte.
Strike three!
He's fooling people, is what he's doing.
No one looks comfortable up there.
Strike two...
Wowowowowoow.
Wow.
God Bless Andy Pettitte.
My god.
I mean, is this not the most beautiful stuff you've ever seen?
Gorgeous.
Just gorgeous.
Day-um! Me like
I just like this so much better than seeing a guy go out there and blow everyone away.
This is art.
Okay, boys, let's tack on a couple and give thelarmis double digits.
I mean, Belth put up a big score truck, so.
Jeez... Andy looks better then he did 2 years ago.
[112] Double digits!
I was optimistic about Andy's return. I'd never would have expected these last two starts, though. I just kept thinking he was getting outs and pitching pretty damn well two seasons ago. He walked away with pitches left in the tank.
Where's Moose? ; )
I miss the way Singleton pronounced Jorge's name like "Pothada".
The TV crew feels a lot more collegial with Singleton, Pauli and Flash.
[116] Poor Michael Kay..you think he knows that many fans don't like him?
Score Truck arrival long over due! Goodies for everyone!
Another Dave Eiland sighting. Boy, he really got banished to Siberia (KC).
Not quite. Not quite.
Oh man, he's back out there!
First walk issued by Andy.
Take Andy out. 100 pitches is enough.
ON my feet, clapping.
Andy Pettitte...the golden god! No tarnish on him.,,
Bravo, Andy!
[124] None.
Andy as the grizzled veteran. Makes me feel old.
Mission: Possible!
Gasface!
[127] I think it makes Girardi feel young though. I mean, they're battery-mates. And Pettitte is pitching.
Bad hands in stands. Oi!
Big Poison, meet the Captain.
[130] In my 30s when Andy outdueled Smoltz in 1996. Jeter!
[133] I was a year out of college :P
I wonder how much Broxton really weighs? Close to 300 am sure.
[133] Hm, we might be the same age.
[134] Yeah but you took 9 years to get through college :-b
[134] hey you damn kid, get off my lawn!
[135] Missing my 25th college reunion this year. Turn 48 in October.
Take your time, Big Man. Cripes!
[136] Knowledge is Good!
[137] Age is relative..Mrs. Jazz gave me a good scolding for calling my iPod a "Walkman"..said I sounded like Grandpa Jazz :(
[139] I sometimes refer to my Ipod as a Walkman too. At least I don't call it a Victrola.
[139] Still one third of my music is on vinyl. I've got a better Beatles collection than the Rock n Roll Hall
Cheapie hit
The Royals specialize in hitting the ball very softly.
A big ass, yellow, sony sports walkman that played tapes. Alright, alright.
Mission: Accomplished!
Very good night all!
[143] Yeah! 4 mix-tapes in my bag; LL Cool J, The Cult, Led Zep, Madonna (D'OH!). Remember all the time it took to make mix tapes? I wonder what my kids will think when I describe that?