That’d be our man Hiroki. Who is still our man even though he hasn’t had much success this year.
Sorry I haven’t been around much since last week. I was in L.A. for the long weekend and didn’t do the smoothest job of leaving instructions for the rest of the Banter-posting crew. Anyhow, my apologies for the inconsistent posting and thanks to Hank, Will and Jon for holding things down.
I’m back now, tired but happy after a great trip, pleased to be back home with The Wife, eager to watch the game tonight.
Here’s the lineup–minus Tex:
Brett Gardner LF
Brian Roberts 2B
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brian McCann 1B
John Ryan Murphy C
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Brendan Ryan SS
Kelly Johnson 3B
Hiroki Kuroda P
[Photo Credit: Picture I took of El Segundo high school’s baseball field. George Brett went to school there.]
McCann at 1st, JR Murphy behind the plate batting 5th.
I wonder if they're going to start trying to get the rook more at bats by using this configuration when they can ...
As I told Jon, we demand a refund.
Seriously, thanks for the blog & game threads.
Hmm. If Solarte played third, Kelly Johnson could play first base. Is it really necessary for Young Jervis to get today off? I know Jeter sits the day before an off day, that's a rule. (Rolls eyes.)
They looked low, those first two.
Nice, Hiroki.
Hit for Megan's Law!
Taco!
OK, that's one way to go
Nice job by Hiroki there.
Nicely done!
Double Fucking Steal.
Woo hoo! Me!
Ring that Bellsbury!!!
Remember, we want the home run after the walks and singles.
[14] Like now?
[14] I will proudly settle for runs after walks and singles ...
Slainte!
LIKE THAT ... go JR!
This is going very nicely.
I'll take those non-homers.
Yeah, who needs rally-killers, anyway?
This I do not like
Well, that sure seemed like strike 3 ...
Hiroki usually good at getting out of jams, like Pettitte...
Uh ... ugh.
Good.
Phew!
There are two pitchers now in MLB with a better K/BB ratio than Tanaka. One is David Price. Guess who the other one is. (RBJ may know this...)
Me again!
We've replaced homers by RISP-hits.
2 more from the Bellsbury!
Wow. What the hell is going on here??? I like it!
[28] Shoot, I'm not a pitcher. Not Verlander. Scherzer.
Card's pitching coach doubles as the Good Year Tire blimp hanger.
Siddown.
He still looks good to me.
[33] Nope.
It's Phil Hughes.
(I thought you might know because Pinto posted the list.)
[36, 37] was that where I saw Phil doing well in Minny? Busy with a library shift, re-fi and allergies so my brain is verklempt.
That Jack-in-the-Box mascot in the background looks like a serial killer.
Maybe, but I was just thinking of this.
What's happening Banter? I think I'm repeating myself from years back (been on the Banter too long..??) but I don't like the Cardinals. Maybe the lingering stink of Tony La Russa or their obnoxious fans..great uniforms though.
Go Go Hiroki!
[40] Can't access his site on my Touchpad. It blanks out.
[42] He has a lot of ads with fancy Java stuff, I think. Anyway, it's an entry that starts off on Greinke's control and then lists the K/BB leaders, and he tells you how many guys had a ratio better than 4.0 in each of various years... but I was really just interested in those top three. (Tanaka: 7.9; Hughes: 8.3; Price: 10.5)
Gotta tap out, lots of work in the morning
[41] What up, OK?
[45] Yo Cult, rocking, rolling and swinging here as usual. Went to see a live show by the Frode Gjerstad Trio from Norway, check them out. Earth-shakingly loud in a small club.
2 of 3 from the Cardinals is great. But I'm really over the Kelly Johnson Era now..
One of these days we'll find that thing that Matt Thornton is good at. We have two years.
WTF. Why let Betances throw one pitch and take hm out the next inning?
Jesus Christ is there anyone in the Yankees cast of infielders that isn't a horror show in the field?
oi that was awful.
Solarte really struggling. Makes me sad.
I feel like I've seen this movie before
that's two! one more...
C'mon, Dave!
That's a beaut. Uncle Charlie.
yes! phew.
NAILED! NAILED!! NAILED!!!
The final nail has been [i]hammered!!![/i]
Damn italics...
A few bent nails, but they finally driven home. Hey! The Yankees took a series against a really good team in their ballpark with a lot of pieces missing. Toronto has won 9 straight, that won't last.
Seeing McCann at first reminds me of the time when Fernando Valenzuela was pitching a no-hitter. The writers asked Pedro Guerrero what he was thinking with two out. He said he hoped they wouldn't hit the ball to him. They asked what else. He said that he hoped they wouldn't hit the ball to Sax.