It’s fun when your team is winning, isn’t it? Even when they aren’t slick or efficient.
Last night, Didi Gregorious had a couple of big hits and made some nice plays in the field. He also had a base-running error and failed to tell Mark Teixeira to slide at home, to prove that he’s far from a polished product. Still, the Yanks will take it. Chase Headley continues to swing a hot bat, as does Teixeira (who was robbed of at least two hits), and Alex Rodriguez hit a solo home run on his 40th birthday.
Ivan Nova appeared to be tired but Chasen Shreve pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances kept the Rangers off the board in the 8th and 9th. Annoyed to see Betances in there? I can relate. But that’s how it went down.
Another fine victory. Then again, aren’t they all fine?
Final Score: Yanks 6, Rangers 2.
And the Yanks are gonna need them because here come the Jays (and you’ve got to figure a starting pitcher will be added to their roster before the end of the week).
[Photo Credit: Owen Perry via MPD]
I don't know how you can put the rap on Didi for not telling Teix to slide when Teix clearly did slide -- whoever's idea it was.
The issue was clearly with Espada telling him to take it "easy." Which may have been a dumb thing to say -- but more's the point, it was a dumb thing to listen to. A pro takes it "easy" when the play is over and he's outside the white chalk lines.
Seriously. Look at 0:40 here: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13329343. That's a galumph to the second-base keg, is what that is.
Baseball doesn't have a whistle, but still you run until you hear one.
[1} Thanks for posting the link. I saw the play live last night and just thought, "how the fuck did Teix not score from 2nd on that that hit?" I missed all the extracurriculars until now. Teix is quoted at Lohud as saying, "I can get hurt." Someone should tell him he can get hurt throwing a tantrum in the dugout and flipping garbage cans! : )
Not Mark's finest hour, but if you're worried about him pulling a hammy, hold him at third. If the season comes down to adding a fifth run above the other team in a late July game when you are in first place by five, well, then, you don't deserve to win.
Tex's problem aside, can you imagine being in Texas this time of year.
1) Good point. Probably harsh on Didi there. He was out of TV view so maybe he did tell him to slide. Regardless, it was the third base coaches gaffe, not Didi's. The base running mistake, though...ah, the kid is just all sorts of unpolished.
But I stand corrected.
[5] No question at all about his getting caught off 2B like that.
[5] Blaming a coach for your failure to score is like blaming a director for you poor acting performance. Or like a pitcher blaming a catcher when he gives up a HR.
And the Didi thing is a not issue IMHO. Who hired him to coach? No one. This is not basketball. There's no pick and roll. This is not football. There are no missed blocks.
Can you image? The receiver was open, but he failed to signal the quarterback. And the coach did not tell the QB where to throw. Horseshit.
Mark ran the bases shitty, and he fucked up and took it easy , he fails to score and then blames the COACH? WTF? Uh, no. Life does not work that way. HE should be apologizing to Espada.
That's like my proofreader blaming me for making an error he/she missed.