Likely exhausted from the many, arduous takes of that omnipresent bobblehead commercial, Masahiro Tanaka is going to be out for a long time. The Yanks say he’ll sit on the shelf for at least a month, right next to the damn doll. Though it’s hard to guess the return date, the “forearm strain” is quite often the precursor to full-blown ligament replacement. Screw that! “Maybe only a month” is what I’m choosing to hear.
That leaves it to Michael Pineda to slide up a day (he’s still on normal rest however, so it’s nothing crazy) and take the ball for this afternoon’s series finale. The Yankees have already taken the series from the Rays and sit on top of the AL East by two full games, so no matter what happens today, they’ll wake up tomorrow in first place. Wow, just wow to that notion.
But since we’re here anyway, maybe just win this one too?
(Today’s lineup via LoHud)
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Chris Young LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
John Ryan Murphy C
Gregorio Petit 2B
Didi Gregorius SS
(Photo by Charles Wenzelberg, Via NY Post)
Feel free to put the blame on me.
I received my 6JOBA2 license plates the day the midges came out in Cleveland.
I ordered my TANAKA19 plates the day he was assigned his number.
i really want this run.
drat.
for those not watching...
rbj led off with a clean single up the middle (2nd base side). he then promptly stole 2nd without a throw, prompting the booth to bring up Rickey Henderson.
chris young nearly beat out a bunt to the 1st base side. a-rod struck out swinging (after he should've been called out on strikes from a check swing appeal that went his/our way).
tex struck out looking on a pitch that certainly warranted a swing.
anybody have any sound reasoning why beli bats ahead headley? they're both switch hitters.
Big Mike Pine lookin' sharp as a razor. low pitch count through (threw?) 2 perfect frames.
hey, look at that - beli made an out! as shocking as tanaka's arm injury.
glad to see i'm on the same schedule as everyone else, per usual.
headley made an out too. i'm guessing the binder is alphabetical.
It's for Beli's confidence level. BTW, good 1st inning summary. I yelled at Tex for not swinging at an easy fastball.
no-no for the perfect game.
[10] hey, you're interrupting!
[10] actually, i'm gonna need you to take over in a quick minute...
ooh, i wanted that pitch.
[13] Anything for the team...
crap. inning ending strikeout - passed ball/wild pitch.
1st & 3rd, 2 outs.
nice play, chase.
still scoreless.
i'm out...
[4] Which is why I'm not on the thread this afternoon.
[19] why did you get caught in a rundown? explain yourself!
Rbj you blew it that time.
[19] The fans at Camden Yard distracted me.
It's a beautiful day to be outside...
Bollocks
this is what happens when i step away?!
Mike's command off in 4th.
Alex looks like he's swinging for the fences
Hmmmm...maybe I'll start my own blog?
Way to go, Chase
Smyly reminds me of Glavine...there, I said it before Coney!
Chris is Young today. HR ties it up!
[27] Dang day games are tough on the crowd here. But sure do appreciate you considerate few seeing us through.
Unbelievable pick by Petit! Highlight reel
Am watching the Os - White Sox free game on mlb.tv. Surreal.
Pineda was average today, Smyly was better. Neither will get a decision.
Whoa, Betances in a non-traditional but Very High Leverage situation!
Or, hm, is it just that he's the Eighth Inning Guy?
Didi is totally off balance at the plate. Guys, do something about it!
I'll be damned.
I guess it is traditional to use your closer in a tie game at home, though.
If Miller doesn't catch that comeback liner, it hits the side of his head. Too close for comfort!
Extra innings. Everyone looks asleep, except the pitchers.
98 on that last pitch for called strike by Andrew.
Popup. Sit down, Carlos.
John Ryan: 3k's today, works a walk.
I'm off to track meet at John Jay Middle School. Let's score in the 10th!
Insert Scooter rant on bunting
It would be a great time for 660.
Rats.
Oh fer...
(Headley drops foul pop)
So, this is fun.
I had no idea what Cone was talking about when he said Pedro lost that game.
What???
Carlos does the job! And now Brett comes in to run. Hm. But he couldn't PH because...
Carlos's confidence?
Brett Gardner pinch running appearances are so depressing.
Carlos gets a single. Brett in to pinch run. Steal?
[50] Because Gardner pinch hitting and gluing himself to first base doesn't raise my blood pressure like Gardner pinch "running" and standing there.
Guess not.
Seriously. Carlos Beltran couldn't do this?
Pinch hit by pitch. I'll take it.
Probably the only thing that was going to get Gardner to second base.
I'm pretty sure the only reason he hit McCann is that he was so rattled by the threat of Gardner stealing.
Sigh.
[58] Then he doesn't watch Brett Gardner very much.
Didi.
Still, he has great range.
Someone needs to explain to me what the point of putting Brett Gardner in was. He didn't even consider running. I don't think he even faked.
I mean, in the long run, you got the better hitter in the game if and when that spot rolls around again, so its not a total disaster. But its just such a pointless *move* for the sake of it.
See? Great range.
You know things are going terribly when the announcer goes "well, sure, Didi sucks, but Shane Greene aint no great shakes either!"
No, bad idea. Dammit. No IBBs. Shit.
[65] It might lead to the end of this shitty game
I'm off to Aikido.
Oh no! Who ever could have thought that anything like that might happen!
Completely surprising, nobody to blame for putting Longoria on base. Nope, just one of those freak things.
[68] I really had basically zero interest in watching no one hit Ernesto Frieri for two innings anyway
Yeah, fitting end.
Day off tomorrow. I always particularly like a W before a day off.
IBB. Fucking IBB.
Me thinks we have seen what we can expect from Ar*d this season