It’s return of Andy Pettitte this afternoon. Tonight gives Dave Phelps.
Yanks are going to need to score runs and plenty of them. Let’s make this long day of baseball a good one, fellas.
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Nick Swisher 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C
Eric Chavez 3B
Raul Ibanez RF
Eduardo Nunez SS
Never mind the nonsense: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via: Gruesome Twosome]
I'm sure many of you know this from Twitter (and elsewhere) already, but our old friend Jon Weisman is, well . . . I'm not sure how to accurately describe it and Jon's a far better writer than I, so:
http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2012/09/18/on-waivers/
After a long cloudy day in Massachusetts, the sun has come up, which I take as a good sign for the afternoon game.
1) Yeah, I didn't have time to put up a post but will tomorrow. Jon is the best, man. The best.
Let's Go AN-DY!
A nice start...
Jesus must still be mad at us.
(Jesus MONTERO that is).
He went 0 for 8 over 18 innings in last nights loss to Baltimore.
Okay boys, let's bring these guys home. No Double Play!
Atta boy. C'mon, Alex. Ducks on the Pond!
Okay, Al, one is better than none. Pick him up, Curtis.
How could Cano make it that close???
Andy a little rusty but so far so phew.
Very rusty. Yanks will be lucky to get four innings out of him.
Double play!
Can we officially eliminate TB from the Division race?
Actually I want them to Win now, so they have some incentive when the play Balimore the last 3 games of the season.
Andy in trouble again.
Holy crud, he got out of it again. I wonder if that's it. Four innings, lucky to not give up a run. Wonder if he gets one more inning...
Nope, Andy's back for the fifth.
Man, and a great, quick, 3-up, 3-down inning. Wonderful.
Meanwhile, after a bumpy first inning, Henderson Alvarez is making short work of the Yankees.
Andy done for the day at 75 pitches?
andy is a golden god!
prolly done after 75 pitches.
5 inn, 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs.
his era for the season is .297
Five innings, shut out ball, got out of some tight spots...well done.
these clowns better keep andy's win in line!
[1][2] jon is all class and i wish him the best. underdog was a super cool poster on dodger thoughts from the toaster.
slight correction - alex: you're the best! let's hope the banter never becomes too much of a burden for you. this is my online home and i consider you all my online family. : )
good work, lowe!
4 relievers to get through 2 innings. but only 2 hits (1 per inning) and nothing else.
shutout intact!
[23] AB has wisely built up a strong support network, so I don't think he'll be giving it up anytime soon. I hope!
This has been a nice, crisp game so far. Good to see Andy do well and hopefully the bullpen keeps holding things together.
I wish Girardi wouldn't use so many bullpen arms today, because there are no more off days and he might find himself short at the wrong time.
we've really let alvarez off the hook here...
[27] As long as they don't do the same tonight against Romero!
the hammer is getting hammered.
uh-oh...
Shit, Robbie in trouble in the 8th.
Robertson, currently shitting the bed. Now 3-1, first and second, no out.
there goes the shutout.
2 on, still nobody out.
c'mon!
hammered.
now a dp, please!
Fucking nightmare inning for Robertson.
motherfucker. really?
you're gonna let omar fucking vizquel hit a double off you in this situation?
great. we're gonna fuckin' lose. jesus christ.
get your shit together, man!!!
They'll be lucky to get out of this with the game tied.
another nail hammered.
one fucking more.
no more runs!!!
Ok. Struck out the number 8 hitter. Now, number 9 guy. MUST. GET. THIS. OUT.
sori in for the 4-out save...
their 9 hitter has an OPS under 6.
no excuses!
Heart attack here.
jesus christ.
walked the dude.
d-rob could've done that, then become houdini...
get out of this with the lead, goddammit!!!
YES!!!
jesus fucking christ. doesn't need to be this difficult. damn.
Jeebus, Mary, and Jo Jo. Thank goodness.
some geico runs would be appreciated...
Nice afternoon for Ichi. Swisher, you DOG, get his ass home, brother!
Is Roberston's shittiness regression or injury? Or both (regrury)?
andruw has been brutal...
ichi with 3 hits.
[46] cornflake heard ya!
4-2
Cock and BALLS! Way to go, Kid.
blow it open, robbie!
ok, a little breathing room.
howza bout an easy 1-2-3 untuck?!
Gotcha!
Good win. They're all good.
UNTUCK!!!
andrew eugene pettitte with the win!
and GI Joe *only* used SIX relievers this afternoon!
[47] I'm wondering exactly the same thing. Only I would add "Or other?"
My bet is regression, which would be kind of disappointing.
Anyway, one down. Now, hm, how many innings will Phelps pitch, and who (the hell) will pitch the rest of the freaking innings? Yikes. Is it Phelps + Nova? I assume not, since the rain-out presumably means Nova gets the start in four days.
[57] the chief?
[56] I do think regression is a large part of it, but would regression also account for his inability/refusal to throw curve balls?
[47] [56] [59] His numbers on the season are (not including today):
53.2 IP, 46 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 5 HR, 17 BB, 69 K, 2.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
which, you have to admit, are pretty freaking awesome. Are they as good as his numbers from last year (66.2 IP, 40 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 35 BB, 100 K, 1.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)? Of course not, so yes to regression, but still . . . dude wasn't going to throw like that every year. Even a regressed Hammer is an excellent reliever. I think we were just spoiled last year.
[58] Logical.
[59] [60] Not really awesome for a top-of-bullpen guy, but good, so that's the kind of change that's explained by regression. (Any relief pitcher who is awesome one year should be expected to be more like Good the next. His Moliness excepted, as in all things.)