Kuroda has pitched at least eight innings in each of his last four starts. The last Yankees starter with a longer streak was David Cone (five straight in 1998).

Cool stat, but I'm surprised it hasn't been broken sooner by C.C.

I might've put Alex fifth or something so he could at least get his swing back up to speed. Putting him right back in the four spot as if nothing happened the last six weeks? I'm definitely not a good manager.

Why is Russell Martin hitting 5th. Takes the bat out of Arod's hands. I am definitely not a good manager!

[3] Why is Russell Martin hitting 5th.

[3]

Why is Russell Martin hitting fifth even on the roster, given how little he's done over the last few seasons except for April and August 2011?

Oh my God, Steve Pearce is back

[5] LoHud has all the ugly numbers, but here's what Martin has done over the last week:
Russell Martin: 13 at-bats - .308/.400/.385

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/09/05/rough-week/

It is brutal the way the bats have gone cold.

15 hits from Willie

Hadn't seen that in a while it seems like.

And they go down meekly.

Sam Fuld catching balls at the home run derby with the kids is still one of the most sad things I've ever seen.

[7] Wait, really?? That's way, way better than I would have thought.

The Orioles have taken the lead.

Yeah, hm, see, Maddon kind of sucks, too.

[12] And Swish Is .091. Looks like they switched bats.

Look... Martin is what he is, and he's on our roster.
He has the same WAR as the TB Catcher, and his OPS is 90 pts better.
Do we have to gasp in surprise every time he's in the lineup?

This is painful to watch

[16] No, I no longer gasp in surprise. I was surprised that they kept him around after last season, but I'm no longer surprised. And we'll always have those sweet, sweet memories of last April.

[16] Its a situation where we have three bad options and you might as well go for the guy who's at least had something of a career.

Nice inning guys, BTW.

[8] The best (only?) reason to watch these days, no?

This is just an awful team

Regarding nothing in particular, I saw this hugget at riveraveblues:

Via Scott Miller, there is “increasing momentum” to change the September roster expansion rules as soon as next year. Teams can currently deploy their entire 40-man roster in the season’s final month, but the new scenario would limit clubs to a designated 30-man roster for each game.

I for one think this would be a vast improvement. But then again, I've always thought the current September call-ups rules were goofy.

[22] If you're going to do that, just do a 25 man roster for each game.

God, Maddon is really not good.
I take it all back.

And God help me, if we lose the division because of Sam Fuld.

[23] I agree, entirely. But it would be a step in the right direction. Ultimately, I think that MLB will end up expanding rosters for the entire season, even if it's like the NFL, where teams will have a27 or 30 man roster roster and then only suit up 25 players each day. The owners won;t like paying more in salary, but in th eend the fetish with having as many pitchers as possible will win out.

[22] I agree, but that particular change won't make any significant difference. Teams will leave four starters off their 30-man roster, so they'll still have twenty slots for relief pitchers and bench players.

25) LOL.

Good job, Hiroki!

Nice recovery.

[27] Hm, interesting...I hadn't thought of that. You'd make a good earl Weaver!

[27] The article I read said they wouldn't allow teams to deactivate starters for games.

[32] If they can make that stick, it will help. A little. Still, 16 slots for relievers and bench players.

I guess the point isn't to stop Bullpen Rouxlette, but to prevent the games from turning into spring training games.

This is non competitive

What's the point of watching? Kuroda's is going to allow 3 runs or less and the Yanks aren't going to score for him. Broken record.

Why are Jones, Nix, Pearce and Martin in the same line up? Why don't we just forfeit?

Come on, Lou, we're gonna wait for Steve Pearce or Jayson Nix to hit a three run homer.

[36] You know the answer.

This is the first time I've heard Lou in the booth. Not sweet. In fact, my stomach is starting to sour.

[32] Yeah, they've already thought of that.

The point of using the Aug. 31 rosters as a base? Simple: Each club would be required to keep its five-man rotation eligible every day in September, rather than de-activating the four starters not pitching on a particular night in order to add four more relievers.

[40] Oh, hm, not bad. Anyone on your 8/31 roster would have to be one of the thirty?
Okay, so that actually does seem like a significant improvement.

Wow. Pinella is awful. Makes me long for Joe Morgan.

[36] If you have to ask, you're definitely not a good manager.

Okay, okay, I'll keep watching too.

This must be how Fans of Other Teams feel.

C'mon GUYS!

Your pitch, here, Robbie, wait for yours...

Now, Alex. Sir. No double play here, Homey. Drive the fucking ball.

Yes, two on base for Russell Martin!

Well, who knows. Stranger things have happened.

Though not often.

Oops, I forgot Alex.
Sorry, Centaur!

[43] I'm not a manager at all, at least not of baseball players.

C'mon ARod. We need a Boom Boom here.
And NOT in your pants.

FUCK. He missed his pitch. The 1-0 pitch. FUCK.

Jeter would have been out by fifty feet

Hilarious. Waves him and then holds up his hand. Jeter laughing. A Rod smiling. LOL

YEAH!

Oh my god, its one of those run scoring thingamajigs!

Russ, get this run in, papi.

Wow. A HWRISP!

A-Rod.
Remember?

YEAH! Man, feels good to clear out the old Pipes: YEAH!

Stranger things HAVE happened!

I'll be damned.

[33] I don't mind spring training games if both teams are out of it. Problem comes in when a team out of it starts rookies against a team in the hunt, giving them a better chance of winning while others may have to face regulars.
Yay-Rod & Martin!

Muscle!

Watch Jones' eyes.
Are they open?

Cmom Andrew, treat this as if the whole game's on the line

Andruw JUST a little late on that 1-1 heater. Dag. Moore has him set up now...

[61] :-)

And [54] that really was funny but other exciting things happened right after.

WhatIMissWhatIMiss? A-Rod is back??!

[69] A nice double with Jeter on second and Rob on first.

[64] Hey Boat, are you back in town? How was your trip back to the US of A?

14 or 13 from Willie now?

Sigh.
He's so dreamy.

Hey, so, would anyone advocate making a run at Mike Napoli this winter?

[72] I believe 13.

Don't walk Sam Fuld

[74] No.

This Jewiush kid is killing us!

Big batter coming up.

Almost every left fielder in the league catches that methinks. Jones pretty much quit on it too soon.

[77] Too old?

[75] Thanks.

[78] Have you ever seen his wikipedia?

[78] Desmond Jennings doesn't look Jewish.
Oh, Jewiush, right. Yeah, he does look Jewiush.

[84] Racist.

:)

You know, there are times I *really* wish Eduardo Nunez were competent in the field. If there was a spot on the diamond we could put him, he could do this to other teams when he was on the bases.

Yup.

[81] Yep. Best is behind him..would really love to see a younger Yankee team next year. Gold Watch and pat on the back to Andruw and Raoooool as they retire. Young speedy guys brought in..you know, like Dave Collins back in the day!

All because we couldn't get Sam Fuld out.

Yankees gonna lose this game.

Yep, big batter.

What in the hell?!

[88] Oh, hmmmmmmm.

You're describing a 78-84 team.

[93] Was joking...did the humor get lost on the trans-continental journey?

But DO like the thought of a younger, athletic bench..

[94] Whew.
But Napoli wouldn't be on the bench.

I dunno, I just miss Jorgie, I guess.

Its rough to try to build a rally with the...er...lefty mashers at the bottom of the lineup.

Is it some kind of fucking rule that we have to take pitches until we have two strikes?

Girardi is a genius.

Okay, Russell, take as many pitches as you need.

[98] Bow down before him.