Yes, the Yankees have lost all five of their games against the Red Sox this year, but they’ve actually outplayed Boston the rest of the time. The Yankees are 13-8 (.619) against their other opponents (O’s, Rays, Royals, Indians, A’s, Tigers, Angels), while the Red Sox are 12-10 (.545) against essentially the same group of teams (O’s, Rays, Indians, A’s, Angels).
The Yankees may have a mere .500 winning percentage, but the Rays are four games below .500 at .429 and lost their only series against the Yanks thus far their season. The Rays’ haven’t won more than two games in a row all season and have a 1-6-2 record in series.
The catch is that the Rays haven’t been bad, they’ve just been unlucky. Based on run differential, the Rays should be just a half game behind the Red Sox at 15-13, rather than 5.5 games behind Boston as they currently are. The problem is the Rays aren’t giving themselves much margin for error. They’re the fourth stingiest team in the American League in terms of runs allowed per game, but they’re scoring runs more often than just five teams in the AL.
The underperforming offense can be pinned to differing degrees on B.J. Upton and Dioner Navarro, who have been complete black holes for the Rays thus far this year (Upton: .157/.276/.205, 27 OPS+; Navarro: .179/.198/.262, 18 OPS+), and Pat Burrell, who enters tonight’s game with just one home run and a .322 slugging percentage. Upton has gone 1-for-18 over his last four games. Burrell has had just two extra-base hits in his last 75 plate appearances. Evan Longoria is mashing, leading the majors with in slugging with a .365/.417/.721 line, Carlos Peña is leading the majors with 11 home runs, Carl Crawford is leading the majors with 19 stolen bases and has yet to be caught, and Jason Bartellet is in the top-10 in the majors in batting average, but Longoria, Peña and Bartlett are the only every-day Rays starters with multiple homers on the season, and Bartlett especially is playing way over his head. Assuming the Rays’ lineup will balance out and for a few more breaks will go their way, they should be fine, but they’re creating an opportunity for the Yankees with their early struggles.
The Rays’ roster is unchanged from the last time they faced the Yankees, though former Yankee farm hand Michel Hernandez replaced Shawn Riggans (15-day DL: right shoulder tendonitis) as the back-up catcher after I wrote my initial preview. They send Andy Sonnanstine to the hill tonight. Sonnanstine got a no-decision after holding the Yankees to two runs over five innings on April 15 in a game the Yankees eventually won with a run of closer Troy Percival in the ninth inning. Sonnanstine has completed six innings just once this season and carries a 6.75 ERA into tonight’s game.
The Yankees counter with A.J. Burnett, whose best start of the year was his eight dominant innings against the Rays on April 14 (8 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 9 K). Burnett walked seven in his next start, then coughed up eight runs to the Red Sox in the start after that. His last time out, against the Angels, he was good enough, allowing four runs over seven innings and walking just one in a game the Yankees won with three runs in the eighth.
Note those combacks. The Yankees have scored 2.38 runs per game in the seventh, eight, and ninth innigs alone. The major league average is just 1.47 R/G in the seventh, eighth, and ninth. Meanwhile, the April 15 game mentioned above was the only save the Rays bullpen has blown all season.
Let's hope the Rays continue to slump and don't use our pitchers to wake up
The Yankees aren't last in the league in ERA any more. Cleveland gets that honor.
Best in the league is Cincinnati. They haven't led the league in ERA since 1940.
Best in the AL is Kansas City.
FYI, after last night's start, Joba's ERA+ is 127 which is pretty good for a 23 year old. Hopefully this season ends all discussion of him being a closer.
But in terms of people being on hot starts (and the magic of small sample size), Zack Greinke's ERA+ is 1170. Wow.
[3] "Zack Greinke’s ERA+ is 1170. Wow."
That brings new meaning to "sick!"
I sure hope Burnett can right this listing ship tonight. I believe they need to begin a new winning streak by virtue of many quality starts from the rotation. That would be a very good thing! It would also take some of the sting out of us all from them losing five straight to Boston. I'm sure glad they don't have to look at them again for quite a while!
Dear Yankees,
Please don't allow "The Speedy Carl Crawford" (or any other Rays player) to run wild on the paths! Can you at least be prepared for that this evening?
: )
According to YES - "at least" two more weeks on the DL for Bruney.
Speedy Carl Crawford should be kept off the bases period. The guy has a lifetime OBP of 331 and is coming off a season where it was a miserable 313.
From Pete Abe:
He also thinks the Yankees' struggles are not Girardi's fault...but the manager always gets the heat.
[7] Yup, that about sums it up for the way the Yanks do business.
On the other hand, I long ago stopped reading Pete's actual attempts at analysis.
I mean, you can't pin the injuries on Girardi, but the team is pretty much playing exactly like it did last year, so at some point, the manager SHOULD get the heat. The players should ALWAYS be getting the heat as well.
Just win the damn game.
I'm not smoking already, Jeez. These no smoking ads are brutal.
O bring thine black holes on offense ... Yankee Stadium shall cure all their woes.
Top of the first ... HR BJ Upton???
I hope Cervelli gets some starts.
Aj grabs his crotch a lot...
Is there such a thing as a defensive slump? If so, I think Pena's in one.
[14] I think Pena has started to think too much.
[15] Or he remembered he's Ramiro Pena
Oh, man! They put the shift on for a .159 hitter and Tex finally smacks a good groundball right into it. The world is a cruel place!
Wasn't Pena's upside his defense? Even if he can't hit a lick, I figure he can field a fucking ground ball.
Anyway, that was annoying. Way to kill the pitcher's momentum.
Watching on TV, with the standard behind-the-pitcher shot, I feel like you can see more of the crowd behind home plate now. Am I just imagining this because it's the new place?
I gotta say, in the early going...I generally like Burnett a whole hell of a lot more than I ever thought I would.
[20] Pitch count problems here..
sometimes it just looks like Damon's never played a game in LF in his life ...
Weird thing about Burnett is his delivery is so smooth, it's hard to believe he's been hurt as often as he has. It just looks so easy ...
[21] Yes, but blame Pena for some of that
[19] Now that you mention it, ya - maybe because the seats are 20 feet closer.
Man, Damn has not looked good going in or out... yikes...
Damon is not the player he used to be.
for all the shit the Yankees catch for it, and rightfully so, you tend to forget that two other teams had Navarro and gave up on him.
[25] but that wasn't really an issue of failing range so much as horrid technique ... frankly, the "chase-after-the-ball-with-your-glove-arm-extended" looked like something you'd see from the RF in a co-ed softball game ...
[26] The Dodger gave up on him for Russell Martin though...
[27] I think he's always done that kind of thing. He used to get away with it.
ROTTEN Robby is back, it seems ...
[28] Fair point.
I'm generally OK with Damon's wretched defense as long as he does his job in the lineup.
The Yankee defense has been such a liability this season that I am actually looking more forward to Arod's glove than his bat.
When the Yankees have to go to someone like Veras or Albaledejo an inning early, you can thank Pena. In this day and age of pitch counts, defense has really become more and more important. Perhaps not coincidentally, it has also been one of the Yankees weakest links over the past 5 years.
I don't know what seems more dead...the Yankee lineup or the crowd. I feel like I'm watching a golf torunament.
[30] I think it's just a letdown for Cano after that hitting streak. I'm not worried about it ... yet.
Why would he pick that up?
[32] Again though, isn't Pena supposed to be an outstanding fielder? Even they make errors sometimes. I don't think this is part of a trend, or should I say the trend.
[36] As a SS...I am not sure how much 3B he has played.
Bad tag by Jeter.
[37] My point is he isn't part of the systemic bad defense, it's just circumstantial.
all things being equal, I'm fine with keeping Pena on as the backup after Friday. Now granted, when the alternative is Berroa that isn't really saying much...but I think we could do worse as far as a defensive replacement.
I can't imagine why Jeter would catch that throw with two hands. His tag was so slow. Cano would have caught it and slapped it down immediately. It's a minor detail, but already another case of the Yankee defense not only costing the team a potential run, but taking innings off the starter's arm.
[39] I don't know...he could just be a bad defensive 3B.
Cap'n needs to get that tag down.
Here, perhaps, is the trouble with placing a premium on "missing bats". Like Chamberlain last night, you can strike out truckloads of batters and still have a mediocre game.
[44] Being a devil's advocate, however, with this defense, the Yankee pitchers have to miss bats. It's the third inning and the Yankees have already made 3 poor defensive plays.
[42] Possibly. But since he's out of position, it's not representative of the systemic problem with bad defense, because it is a product of circumstance, not planning. You used him as an example of the overall bad defense of the team, and while I agree the defense is bad (who wouldn't), he's not a good example to use: A third string, out-of-position rookie.
[40] Pena or returning Ransom?
One more point on the defense before I stop beating this depressing, but decidedly dead horse. The Yankees FIP ERA is almost a full run lower than their real ERA. In other words, the defense is costing the team about 1 run per game. That spells disaster.
There have been 500 checkswings tonight and none of them have gone.
[46] That was why I half jokingly said I am more looking forward to Arods glove. Without him, 3B is systematically a part of the team's poor defense.
I had to unceremoniously cut ties with Burrell from my fantasy team today, he was killing DionerAndTheBelmonts
Burnett has 59 pitches through 3 innings. Get the rolaids ready.
[45] It's true, but if you still end up losing, it's irrelevant either way.
[53] It's part of the damned if they don't, damned if they do predicament that yields a .500 team.
Looks like the Red Sox series may have put the Yanks into a team hitting slump.
Andy Sonnanstine entered this game with a WHIP of 1.895.
Cody Ransom isn't coming back any time soon, if ever. He's on the 60-day DL. That's usually for players not expected back during the season.
Nice to see Pena jog down the line on that one.
Anyway, the point is, this team is designed to be bad defensively, by default. They basically let that happen. But Pena isn't part of that design. He's just a happy accident.
Darn! That was Molina's hit this week!
hey, look everybody, defense!
[59] I guess there's something to be said for fitting in.
[58] I thought so, too. I can't tell if I'm unreasonable but I want players to run out foul balls until they're called.
[63] I don't remember something like that being tolerated in the past, especially from a rookie with speed. Maybe it's part of a new attitude.
I've come up with a solution to the Yankees problems...Nick Markakis and Joakim Soria. Maybe the Yankees can send the Orioles Xavier Nady and the Royals Jose Veras?
A two hour rain delay seems to be about 1 hour away.
well, at least 1st base isn't a defensive blackhole ...
[67] Now if only he could hit ;)
I think that once A-Rod comes back is when you're really gonna see Tex turn the corner, this is of course based on nothing but a hunch. I just think he's close to breaking through.
My goodness...Burnett is trying to be perfect with every pitch, and I guess I can't blame him.
[65] You're not looking at needs. The O's need more pitching and the Royals need to find a way to get Jose Guillen out of hte clubhouse.
Markakis for Veras and Soria for Nady!
[71] Deal.
80 pitches for Burnett.
Next year, where do you hit Jeter? 5?
[66] Just enough time to get a 1-0 loss in the books!!!
Gameday says Andy Sonnanstine is pitching, but his line looks like we're facing Greg Maddux..this is odd..where are the hits? AJ sharp with 7 Ks already though..how's he looking on tv?
This team is exhausting
I wonder what Matsui and Iwamura were talking about out there.
It didn't even occur to me that Cano might get a hit there. That's how defeated this team has me.
Come on, Cano. Fucking relax. Or don't relax. Something.
[77] It really is...it feels like this season is 5 months old.
At least my #2 team is doing well.
[76] To be honest, I don't think he looks that good. Rather, the Yankee batters look pretty bad. If the offense continues its funk, things are going to keep getting uglier. I think this is a real tipping point in the season.
It's almost as if the offense has just run out of steam, they've had so many games that were battles, where they had to come back or tried to come back or had to re-assert a lead.
[78] Matsui: "How you like living in Tampa?"
Iwamura: "Not bad, but there are too many early-bird dinners and not enough squid on the menu at the local restaurants.."
Ramiro Pena should watch Longoria run down the line. Boy does it seem like the other teams have assumed all of the Yankees former good habits.
Are we doing anything different yet?
[84] They find this team exhausting as well.
In other news, Kids on Deck is advertising that we can watch Veras and Marte go dancing. I'm intrigued by this.
[87] Pitching at least.
Weather Update: Massive Storm approaching central Jersey.
This Heiniken commercial has me really missing Guiseppe Franco.
Well now that the (starting) pitching starts to show signs of coming around, naturally the offense will fall back
[88] I watched Sabathia, Chamberlain and Wang go to a basketball game on that show during the rain delay the other day. It was great. It's crazy but as big as CC is, he is dwarfed by Dwight Howard.
[92] Precisely. Hasn't that been the Yankees formula the last few years?
Why is the crowd chanting obscenities so often?
I am always disappointed by a Yankees crowd responding to people in the crowd.
That's an alarming AB by Swisher. Instead of trying to work a lead off walk, it seemed like he used the 3-0 count to try for a HR. If Swisher is pressing, the entire team likely is as well.
It really feels like the calendar never turned. The Yankees are making the same mistakes as they did last year. Simply waiting for things to correct themselves isn't going to be the answer.
Am I reading the boxscore correctly? 52 pitches for Sonnastine after 5 innings?
ah bugger, couldn't even clear the double pitchers spot
nothing like leading off an inning with Molina
[95] If this game were a little more bearable, I'd have had a sarcastic reply more than a minute ago. Alas, we are not that good right now.
Jeter's AB in this game really set the tone. He had two chances to take ball four, but went out of the zone each time. It seems as if everyone has followed suit.
That’s an alarming AB by Swisher. Instead of trying to work a lead off walk, it seemed like he used the 3-0 count to try for a HR.
really?
with Melky, Pena and Molina coming up behind him?
I'd saying Swisher going for the downs on 3-0 is the best chance the Yankees had of scoring that inning ...
I left for about two minutes to do something. I assume the offense went down meekly again?
I wish this season had a do over button.
[101] The difference is he was trying to hit a HR, and most hitters seem to say when you do that, it never happens.
[102] Each hitter more meekly than the previous.
[105] Strange that Ramiro Pena was more so than Meekly Cabrera.
[85] LOL.
Though IME, there's plenty of squid in Tampa. Only they call it calamari instead of ika.
Why do they call Iwamura "Gan-chan" in Japan?
Isn't this taking the phrase "We mean no offense" a little too far?
You have no idea how little I care about Pat Burrell getting his World Series ring, and ESPN, MLB Network and now YES treat it like it was some momentous occasion and heartwarming moment. Who outside of Philly could possibly give a shit?
[109] With Gomes off the team, Kay needs another story to repeat every TB series.
Someone please intepret this for me:
http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?page=0&playerid=185&position=OF&type=full
Something tells me we are going to see the bullpen with men on base...I feel like vomitting.
[111] Looks good to me.
[109] I think it's hillarious. Philly hated Burrell.
[107] Not sure if this will display on your computer but Iwamura's last name has two Chinese chracters 岩村, the first of which can also be pronounced "Gan". "Chan" is a suffix, you use it for kids or with people you are close to.
3 for our last 24 (.125) with RISP. It's Girardi's fault, although Cashman MUST get some blame too. (Can we bring back public hangings?)
well, about time to get the bullpen going and cue up this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw
Pitch out here.
[111] It's a breakdancing diagram... "I believe that's 'The Worm'..." >;)
[115] Sometimes performance stems from team attitude and atmosphere. I don't know the reason, but Girardi isn't helping the team so I am perfectly willing to roll the dice on a change sparking this team. Otherwise, this seems like a trainwreck.
[114] Thanks. I can usually kinda figure out Japanese nicknames, but I'd never have guessed that one, since I don't read kanji.
[111] Does it mean JD's defense is above avg? Even including his CF play?
That extra run feels like a nail in the coffin.
[122] And that run is the dirt thrown on top.
well, that's a fucking killer.
[121] The graph that I'm looking at (and I think that you sent) is for Damon's batting average being above the league average. I don't see a fielding graph there.
"Sometimes performance stems from team attitude and atmosphere."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So... we have poor team attitude and atmosphere?... and it's Girardi's fault? Jeez William, I wish I could see you say this shit face to face with Jeter.
My Bad. I googled Ultimate Zone Rating. How did I get there?
[120] Sure. That one makes more sens than "Guts" Ogasawara, veteran with the Yomiuri Giants..I know it's a compliment but hearing people chant "Guts" is kidn of odd...
This game sucks..no other comment to offer.
[126] You left out the part where I said I don't know the reason and that I am willing to take a chance on a managerial change shaking things up. I have no idea what that has to do with Derek Jeter, unless you think the Captain is really running the team.
seriously Jose?
Quality at-bat.
How many times has Kay said "one pitch, one out"? Was the Yankee strategy to get this game in before the rain?
It's not that they aren't getting hits...they simply aren't having good ABs...against a pitcher entering the game with a WHIP near 2.
Johnny Damon improves his batting average.
Hey, it's only 3-0. Not over yet.
How many fuckin strikes is Tex going to take this year??!??!?
Absolutely pathetic...after this series, I guess we can trot out the Yankees record against everyone but Boston and Tampa.
Oh Christ.
[135] He and Gardner have a bet
[135] 42% apprently. Fangraphs has him swinging at 58% of strikes down from a career average of 67.8%. I still wonder about his wrist.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1281&position=1B
[128] What did they call Aaron Guiel in Japan? Did they use his first or last name?
[137] who's a fire starter ... crazy fire starter
Is Crawford worth looking into for left field next year?
In a way I'm glad George probably isn't watching this, but then again, I wish he was.
[142] Absolutely.
[142] Hard not to have your eye on Jason Bay.
[136] I think the Sox will suffice.
Crawford on pace for about 120 stolen bases.
[144] I've always liked him. He's what some people had convinced themselves Gardner is.
This is a very scary matchup.
[149] Edwar vs anyone is a scary matchup
I've already switched from rooting for the Yanks to win the WS to rooting against the Red Sox winning it.
OK... Let's try this. http://tinyurl.com/cfgfpc
JD look solid in LF (but cooked in CF)... best fielder on our team?
Numbers for Swish are nice. Tex and Melky are very surprising.
hmmm....
Phew.
Go Cleveland!!!
Edwar throws pretty hard for a guy who is what.... 135-140 lbs?
Kay had it right the first time.
ya know, we could catch a break once in a while too...
[152] I think defensive stats are still problematic. I remember a year or two ago, Melky Cabrera was the worst defensive CFer in the league by one system, and one of the best by another.
I'm sure Gardner will pinch "hit" next inning as well, just to complete this disaster.
Or maybe not
wonderful, now we've got 4 pitchers batting in our lineup ...
Gameday agrees that that's pretty far off the plate.
Dominated by Sonnenstine...yep, the Yankees are just fine. Let's just pretend he's secretly on the Red Sox.
that pitch was in the visitors dugout
With Swisher out, Gardner has to come in, doesn't he?
[166] Yep.
Everyday Albaladajo
I doubt he said "That's outside" Coney.
Why would you take Edwar out of the game? He pitched well, so wouldn't you send him out for another inning?
[140] last name pronouced "Gah-ii-eh-ru" in J phonetic script
I don't think Crawford is a FA after this year. I believe that because his option was picked up for '09, he had another one kick in for 2010.
I could be wrong about that though...
[170] Don't push your luck
It's funny, Swisher got ejected in my online game earlier. Had to replace him with Gardner.
I lost.
[172] Cot's has them only picking up the 09 option. 10 mil for 2010, so they still might pick it up though.
With all the rain this week, you'd think the Yankees could have at least one of these games postponed.
[175] Yeah, the '10 option didn't exist until they picked up this year's...
I'd sure pay $10M for him next year if I were the Rays!
In fact, I'd be surprised if they didn't lock him up with an extension.
What a bullpen!
[176] Can we postpone one of the already-played games? Just forget it happened? You know, cuz of the rain.
Good Lord, wtf is going on around here?
*Zero* runs?
Anyone care to give me a brief synopsis of this, our latest fiasco?
[171] Cool. That was my guess.
Just idle curiosity. We discussed it here at the Banter when Guiel first signed with the Swallows. Mike P said they just use the name that's easier to say, and thought they'd call him Aaron. But I thought it would be "Guiel," since it's not that hard to pronounce.
There were are quite a few new faces this season, but nothing has changed. I wonder why that is?
[180] It's like everyone is Bad Cano tonight.
And why is Derek hitting .272?
We can't have that. And Cano's fallen what, sixty points in the past seven days?
At least Tex is off the interstate and Melky's miraculously hitting a point higher than Cano, so, I guess that's something.
I'm surprised the Rays payroll is (high for them) at $63m. Still, $10m is 15% of the team. I would think they would trade him for some decent young (cheap) players.
[180] http://tinyurl.com/33qub4
[180] A lot of first pitch swinging and taking called third strikes. More bad defense. A lackluster effort all around. Think last season.
[186] Whose fault is it? The car, or the driver?
Now would be a perfect time to have a warm body to pinch hit.
i'm so happy we don't have a pinch hitter to insert for molina here ... i mean, why would we ever need such a thing?!?!?
[188] The pole.
[186] No fucking kidding. I almost wrote "train wreck" but opted for "fiasco" because their play has been so consistently poor that I'm losing the sense of urgency that's connoted by a train wreck. It's entering into circus clown territory. (In fairness, though, I've not seen the games, so I can't really say which is more appropriate.)
If I was Girardi, I would have an automatic take sign for Molina until there was one strike.
[190] We both know damned well it would be Brett Gardner regardless of who was on the bench.
[191] Christ, its a tree. I missed that somehow.
[187] What about this crack starting rotation we're supposed to have? Shouldn't we be winning games on the strength of it alone?
I mean for the love of Jesus.
[191] True, if the pole wasn't in the way, the car would be zipping along on the median.
hah.
beautiful.
i should question Molina's bat more often ...
[194] I can believe that small tree did so much damage and didn't budge. It must have a very impressive root system.
[189] Doesn't Tim Raines need to bolster his HOF cred?
[196] Three runs from Burnett aint bad, especially when you consider it could have/should have been less if not for more bad defense.
[197] And is there a better metaphor for this team than "zipping along the median?"
That should really be the headline tomorrow.
c'mon, gotta get these 2 runs in ...
c'mon Cap'n!
Burnett threw too many pitches tonight, but other than that you really can't complain about anything he did
Now would be a nice time for a NYS cheapie.
and now mlb.tv is taking a dump. last time the yanks were behind late and mlb.tv crapped out, i turned it off and they came back to win. So I'll abide that cargo cult science and hit the road
[204] I would even put that on the defense. It easily cost him 15 pitches.
[199] The car is the Yankees, the tree is the Red Sox.
lovely, just so ... lovely.
sigh.
[201] [204] Fair enough, but what about that last start? Of all times to implode.
[207] Who did what?
Girardi needs to have a huge fine for anyone that takes stroke three. This is absurd.
What the hell are the Yankees looking for? Does this team have a clue? Is there any accountability for these god awful ABs?
[210] Lets see... Pena had a ball go between his legs and then picked up a slow roller that was going foul. Damon had an another adventure on a flyball. The Captain applied a tag in slow motion on a throw that should have nabbed a base stealer. There's probably more.
Remember when we would face Curt Schilling, and our genius strategy to "work the count" was to just take everything and strike out on four pitches?
It really seems as if the Yankees are going to the plate with absolutely no plan of attack.
[211] Agreed. It's Little League-basic..take the bat off your damn shoulder against Andy Freakin Sonnanstine!
When was the Yankees last rally? Friday?
I can't wait to hear Girardi talk about how much faith he has in his guys and how there's still time to get this thing right.
[213] Lovely.
[217] Maybe the Yankees can fly in Brian Fuentes to close this game?
Well, things are getting interesting.
Does Tex have a hit in him?
[220] That might be what they need. Kay talks about the last two games, but its not as if they rallied on Monday either. Three homeruns.
[221]
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
It certainly could be a signature moment. One way or the other
Holt shit.... IT'S POURING!
When was the last time Mo pitched?
[223] I guy can dream, can't he?
[225] And will continue for hours.
[227] No.
I'm in northern Manhattan and it is absolutely monsooning here
Wow!!!
How 'bout that!
Yayyyy!!!
Holy shit.
WHADDAYAKNOW?
NOW they can bring the tarp out.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
sorry, reflex action
There you go Tex...a broken bat I think, but I'll take it.
Joe Madden has a real gripe here. Baseball shouldn't be played in this weather.
[234] Doesn't the inning have to end?
Obviously, somebody brought the "hats for bats!"
I need some rum!
In fact, leave it to Pena and Molina to start that off!
Woohoo Tex!!!
The radar has so many colors, it looks like a crayola box. This storm system goes all the way to Baltimore.
It's pouring. They can't keep playing in this, can they?
Oh Tex, I am so sorry for doubting you!! (kneels on tatami-straw mat and makes formal apology)
[239] In fact, the Baltimore game is still in a delay.
[239] So it'll probably be in New Haven soon, is what you're saying? Thanks for the warning.
[237] huh?
you can stop play at any time.
frankly, the game should have been stopped during the Texeira at bat.
Giambi would have hit a grand slam. You could look it up!
so, do we get an ending tonight?
If this game gets suspended, it would be nice to have Arod join the team to pinch hit.
[244] not that i'm complaining that they didn't, but the rain was ridiculous
[246] It's been raining in Baltimore since 8PM, and the radar indicates another 30 minutes or so. I'd estimate a 2 1/2 hr delay, so I guess they might wait.
[244] If they call the game right now, don't they go back to the score at the end of the previous half inning? Am I losing my mind?
I'm not gonna trot my "Tex is close to breaking through" post from earlier back out, but I'm just saysin'...
[250] Never heard of that rule before..
[250] Nope...it's a suspended game and it picks up where the game left off. They changed that rule a while back.
So... we will end up with a 1 inning sudden death game? Who do we have that's good in thge first inning?
Sox about to lose.
[253] Ah. Okay. Was that the rule at some point though?
[254] Arod!
They should have put a Seattle-type retractable roof on NYS.
Then they play regardless...
[255] Yes...although it only applied to runs scored in the top half. If the home team scored, the inning would be considered complete.
[254] Freakin CLeveland puts up 9 runs on the Sox with Carl Pavano starting, yet we lose 5 straight to them?? Seriously..
[257] 1.4 Billion doen't buy what it used to.
[249] except it looks like there's a sizeable clearing behind the initial intense band of rain (which isn't very broad) and then another really nasty looking (and much broader) patch that's down around Philly right now.
I wouldn't be surprised if they could start up again in 15-20 minutes and get a couple of innings in before the next wave hits.
Kinda depends on how everything tracks, though ...
http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/map/interactive/USNY0172?from=36hr_topnav_sports
Just heard Jerry Remy took a leave of abscence after a set back following cancer surgery. I really enjoy his call of the game and wish him well.
[260] What's $500M more or less?
One FA Market?
: )
[259] What does that say about Yankee pitching?
[262] He got pneumonia following the surgery, tried to "come back too soon" in ST, and got burned.
It's tough to get old... trust me...
[262] Wow, I didn't even know he was sick. Poor RemDawg.
[262] I was watching Sox games on NESN last week, and was wondering where he was. I hope all ends well for him.
Looks like they're taking the tarp off.
[261]
Voila, the tarp is coming off.
Thank you, I'll be here all night ...
[256] Heh heh heh.
and just as I was getting knee deep into Springsteen bootlegs...
[269] Or maybe not. They put it back on.
"I was watching Sox games on NESN last week"...
Ya feelin' aight, Mattpat?
: )
[273] Extra Innings
[272]
UPDATE, 10:16 p.m.: Next pitch at 10:25 p.m.
Play will resume at 10:25.
[274] I'm glad you recovered so quickly!
Most NESN viewing requires a DL stint, and a few minor league rehab reps...
[275] Good thing Pena already scored! That's past his bedtime...
So things seem pretty quiet with A-Rod news these days..surprised there hasn't been any tabloid hit-job "books" about him yet..
[277] Especially with no more Hazel.
meanwhile, So. Cal. is on fire again ...
apparently the baseball equivalent of "All The President's Men" is currently an impressive #119 on Amazon right now
[282] I heard it started plummeting the day it was released.
They can't find Upton.
[282] There was a quote from a salesperson at a Borders in midtown today about how it's barely made a blip saleswise. I gotta say its not all that shocking, I mean how much mainstream appeal does a biography of Alex Rodriguez really have? It does make the success of Torre's book, regardless of what you think of it, that much more impressive.
[282] 40 pernts in one day?
Sounds like my stock portfolio!
: )
[286] pity there's no way to short it ...
Christ
Not an easy play, but it should be made.
exactly, Mo, exactly.
once again, the D depresses ...
[289] The quality of the field should probably also be taken into account.
Full disclosure: I read the first chapter at Barnes and Noble during my lunch break. Curiosity got the better of me.
The one thing that jumped out at me was Roberts' apparent magical powers that allow her to tell us exactly what is going through A-Rod's mind at all times, that coupled with her incredible capacity for passing judgment on everything he does. It's impressive really.
[291] It hit him in the heel of the glove though, so he got there in time.
Well, I'll be honest, I think its probably easy to guess what Alex Rodriguez is always thinking about.
It rhymes with Smalex JodJiguez
Interesting how the umps fuse was a lot longer for Upton.
STFU BJ, that was a beautiful pitch.
[293] I think if he had a little more time to get there and center himself, he has a bit better of a shot. *If* he's having a hard time getting traction (and he might not have been) I can see how that happened.
has anyone ever figured out what "the magic word' with umps is exactly?
Molina gets hit a lot.
[298] I always figured it was cursing.
[294] Hahahahaha...
I know Mo is in a tie-game here and things are tense but..anyone read the article about Lenny Dykstra today? How is possible to have so many legal judgements against ONE person? Methinks nails has some mental troubles..
gorgeous pitch.
I believe references to family members are frowned upon.
[300] well yeah, but theres apparently one word that is somehow on a level of offensiveness above all others. and I mean, we all know language on a baseball field isn't exactly squeaky clean...so its gotta be something pretty bad.
[303] is it perhaps a reference to the umpire's relationship to his mother?
[304] Ump needs glasses?
I like the way Mo reacts to striking out the side.
Longoria looked bad there
[305] Or his mother's relationships in general?
has anyone ever figured out what “the magic word’ with umps is exactly?
If I remember Bull Durham correctly, it's "cocksucker"
[301] Was that the ESPN article? I read it a few days ago and it was very interesting story. Dykstra seems to be suffering from grand illusions about himself.
[305] I think Verducci once said that the Robbie Alomar incident was triggered by "a certain twelve letter curse word"
[310] thats always what I suspected (my personal favorite curse word, FWIW). I figured "fuck" was way too common to be considered overly offensive.
I posted this on RAB, but I figure the more mature crowd here could better answer my question.
Given my age and where I lived, I wasn't really into baseball in '96. I both moved and discovered the game, as it were, in 1997, and by '98, I was a huge Yankees' fan.
That said, what was Mo like as a rookie? He's obviously evolved to become the Panamanian Thunder God that he is right now, but what was he like in the early years?
let's get this done this inning ... the big ugly isn't that far south and it isn't going to be a 20 minute delay this time ...
[311] Follow-up this morning, it's insane..I didn't think it was possible to have that many people sue you at once.
Mariano Ks the side..can't wait to watch that later!
Nice, Robbie.
wow Mo is really letting it all hang out, thats awesome to see
[314] In 1995, he was actually a spot starter mid season, but he really emerged as a reliever during the 1995 ALDS. In his first full season, he was a lights out, two inning at a time set up man.
No bunt???????????
[292] I would venture a wild guess that Roberts has some deep seeded "Feminazi Issues"...
[313] You and everyone in Deadwood.
Melky needs a single.
well, at least Slappy seems to have learned how bunt, more or less ...
[320] Not that I want Gardner swinging away, but I can see trying something with the bottom of the order coming up.
[314] In '95, a couple of flashes of brilliance (that Chicago game) surrounded by a whole lot of meh. Think Hughes. '96, Joba two years ago minus the histrionics...those were left to Wetteland.
[314] More strikeouts, as I recall. He'd blow people away more with high heat rather than work the wizardry he works now.
Demeanor was exactly the same.
That said, what was Mo like as a rookie? He’s obviously evolved to become the Panamanian Thunder God that he is right now, but what was he like in the early years?
Tempermentwise? He was the same as he is now.
Interesting...moving Melky to his stronger side; Pena too (if you can say he has one).
[319] well he didn't emerge enough for Buck to feel comfortable giving him the ball in Game 5.
[327] didn't have a cutter then, used a 4 seamer.
The story goes that after Rivera was sent down, he was more or less pitching the way he was. Then out of nowhere, his fastball picked up some speed, and Michael went down to see for himself. Rivera got the call, and the rest is history.
[325] Gardner IS the "bottom of the lineup".
So, given that he didn't actually screw up, I cannot extrapolate Mo's (imaginary) lack of initial success to Melancon's becoming the next Mo?
Great pickup by the C.
damn, someone put something in Mo's oatmeal today
[329] yeah, odd ...
Don't know if it was intentional, but it should have been.
Jesus... sometimes Melky looks like a MLB player.
[334] No...you can not. Just rely on very small sample size.
drop a bunt down 3rd?
[334] Thing was, he was developed as a starter. He only landed in the pen because he couldn't hack it in the rotation. Melancon, as far as I know, has always been looked at as a reliever.
Mo for one more inning?
damn, pena got a pitch to hit right there.
gah, must i curse you yet again, molina?!?!?
[343] yeah, i'd do it.
[314] He had elbow surgery in 1992 and farted around in the minors... average at best. Once brought up in '95, he was used as a spot starter, with hardly any success. Then one day, while "fooling around" with different finger pressures on the ball in a bullpen session, he figured out he could throw a cut fastball with a lot of lateral movement...
The rest is history.
: )
fuck, he was safe.
It's a second guess, but I wonder about a double steal on the first pitch to set up a squeeze.
[331] Aha! That'd explain it.
losing Posada..damn...cmon Molina, prove us all wrong!
mo must be really pissed about the losing streak
I think you have to go to Mo in the 10th and hope the top of the lineup can come through. If Jose Veras gives up another walkoff, Girardi can just walkoff himself.
[343] God, that's hard.
Last time he had to get more than three outs...
But still, he's Mo and we haven't won a game in a week.
Well, Pavano beat the Red Sox. Sir Sydney is going to pick up a W as well. Molina may as well get the gw hit.
There's really no reason to not have a Shelley Duncan type to hit here. No reason.
well he didn’t emerge enough for Buck to feel comfortable giving him the ball in Game 5.
He was the first option after Cone ran out of gas.
Mo's one really good major league start from July 4, 1995, vs the White Sox: 8 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 11 K's, 0 ER. That was kinda it for him as a starter though.
Mo stopped clapping...I think he can sense the inevitable.
FUCK
[357] After the game, Frank Thomas blamed the Sox advanced scouts who apparently said Rivera didn't have a good fastball.
Are you serious? Mo can't go more than 1?
Its amazing to listen to Kay when he sees a pitcher with a hard fastball. He's a man that truly believes that all you need is a hard fastball to get by. Yesterday He made some comment about Joba using breaking pitches that infuriated me, but I've already forgotten it
adfl;ksdsnl;kdjskjdfsakl;adsfj
[361] I was thinking the same thing...
Of course.
damn
What a shocker! Another bonehead move by Girardi pays early dividends.
12-letter-word
yeah, great, take Mo out.
why make 1 move when you can make 5, right Joey Joe Joe???
well that was fast - should have stayed away
[365] Of course.
I'm not gonna second guess that, Mo has not been reliable going more than 1
If this team loses tonight and they fall under .500, something has to be done. Someone needs to lose their job. 13-14 is absolutely unacceptable.
That's it..Joe G, you are dead to me now. MUST WIN game and you take out mariano who just struck out the side!! AHHHHHHH!!!!
And people will chime in about how Girardi isn't to blame...even though he is directly responsible for back-to-back losses. I wish my job had the same level of accountability.
[375] I'd argue Phil Coke is to blame here
What happens now?
[375] To be honest, I'd rather be Brian Cashman. Almost as much money with even less accountability.
[377] We lose?
[376] Coke didn't bring himself in the game. If Girardi doesn't recognize this as important game, then we might as well get ready for 2010.
Here's the thing: Mo really hasn't been reliable for more than three outs for awhile now. Not saying he couldn't have done the job, just that (and it pains me to say it) it's not such a no-brainer anymore.
[378] Cashman didn't let Pena swing away yesterday and Cashman didn't pull Mo in a big game.
[381] That's just not true...when I stop fuming, I run some numbers to back that up.
[382] Cashman repeatedly saddling this team with incompetents can't be overlooked.
Jeter's just not seeing the ball.
[383] Please. I'd love nothing more than to be wrong about this.
We need a good Yankees Suck chant.
Not Coke's fault... What Kay called "a mistake," Coney spent three minutes telling us that he put that pitch exactly where he was supposed to...
Sometimes, you have to tip your cap to the ML leader in HR.
: /
[388] We've been tipping our caps for years. We need competence.
[386] I just scanned his 2008 game log and couldn't find a single 2 inning game in which he gave up a run.
[389] I'm just sayin' when a hitter of Pena's quality gets full extension on a FB on the outside corner, ordinarily considered a "perfect pitch," such that he can pull it with power, not much else Coke could have done...
Zobrist leaned into catch a ball that was 100 feet away.
[390] Really? Wow. That's surprising. What about the previous years?
The Yankees need to water down this warnign tracks!
Oh christ. This is the worst way to lose.
[390] Now I'm fuming, too.
[393] Maybe you are thinking about the problems he had coming into tie games last year.
Damon's hitting well, that's for sure.
c'mon Tex, we need a hit here, make this a 'Texeiraian' moment!
FLY BALL
[381] yeah that's not true. mo pitched 1+ innings 14 times last year and let up 1 run.
that was 23 innings, 1 run.
Oh, God, why are they torturing us like this?
Can't they de-superball these warning tracks. Kinda tired of seeing balls bounce just over. Yeesh.
please tex....
[400] You got your wish.
THIS TEAM SUCKS.
FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clap, clap,clap,clap.
a deep fb woulda been nice... sheesh
oh for fuck's sake.
that was EXCRUCIATING.
Fcking. A.
YANKEES SUCK! YANKEES SUCK! YANKEES SUCK! YANKEES SUCK!
On a 2-0 count no less...this team is fucking awful.
Sterling's really peevish about the rain, like he's taking it personally.
This has to be rock bottom. It has to.
Your 2009 Yankees, ladies and gentlemen.
I fucking hate this
Horrible.
Fucking Horrible.
I hope Tex didn't hurt his wrist again. Jeez, the way he was pounding his helmet was a little scary.
Fucking disgrace. Girardi should make them run laps until they puke.
That was a horseshit game, all around.
I'm sorry, but if Girardi isn't fired then this season will go exactly like this year. He clearly can't manage a game and it really seems like this team has been pressing for 2 years. It's time for a change. This game is the absolute last straw.
Its simple .... tear down the moat, and the new stadium curse will be gone
I'll punch the first person that tells me its too early to expect this team to play well and that we should wait until August.
[420] Or at least limit the hours of operation of the "Food Room"...
God hates us...
: (
I just got my nightly "Yankees suck" text message from the team.
[424] Its too early to expect this team to play well and that we should wait until August.
Just think, Carlos Pena was languishing in Columbus in 2006. The Yankees didn't call him up. Torre said they weren't even looking at his pretty numbers, because they had Andy Phillips. So Pena exercised his option and left.
[429] Remember when the Yankee fans thought Andy Phillips might be something?
What the fuck is Bob Lorenz watching?
[429] Yeah, gotsta give it up to Joe Torre... He sure is great with the media!
I think I broke my hand.
I hate this team. With a fiery fucking passion.
[431] What did he say? I turned it off after the last out.
The Yankees are a ruderless team right now. Sometimes he was too volatile, but with George you always knew who was in charge and winning was always a priority. Now, that just doesn't seem to be the case.
[434] The silver lining is that Teixeira came through in the 8th.
[436] Yankees are on a real moral victory kick lately. That's never a good sign
That's right YES - the pitch to Pena was great!!!
So who's the player of the game? Teixeira? Sure, why not? He did pretty well for himself ... Oh yeah he didn't get the runner in from third with one out but hell, he tied the game up! Awesome! So what if they lost?
i've been a big Cashman supporter, but this is really, really starting to piss me off.
you can't carry 2 shit ass hitting catchers like molina and cervelli and NOT have a GODDAMN pinch hitter to use for them when the situation demands.
and NO, brett FUCKING gardner doesn't count.
and the decision not to stay with MO, with him not having pitched since LAST THURSDAY ... awful, just fucking awful, Joey Joe Joe ...
Hey I can't wait till YES awards "player of the game" to an opposing player who has a good night when the Yankees win.
"Player of the game is Kevin Youklis ... He went 4 for 4 with 2 RBI. Thhhhhheeee - Yankees WIN!!!
you can’t carry 2 shit ass hitting catchers like molina and cervelli and NOT have a GODDAMN pinch hitter to use for them when the situation demands.
You can, if you have a 13 man pitching staff.
"Let's talk about that pitch to Pena. It was fucking brilliant. But ... he hit it out of the park."
[439] There really is no accountability in this organization. Girardi should have been out of work after yesterday. As for Cashman, nothing is gained by canning a GM in season, but if the team doesn't make the playoffs again, his head should roll too.
Can one Steinbrenner wake up...PLEASE!
Thinking of George right now in this moment reminds me of that scene in Braveheart when Wallace was being drawn and quartered, and Longshanks was dying on his bed, unable to speak, learning of his daughter-in-law's "bun in the oven"...
*cough cough gack choke spit cough*
They are so bad, even such a "Missive from The Boss" as above wouldn't do any good!
"How do we view the night Teixeira had? Fucking amazing. What a guy, he came through once, but not twice. Hey, no-one is perfect. Player of the game!"
Kay: "Pretty sweet that Teixeira was angry after he popped out. That really shows me something. You know what? Player Of The Game!!!"
Arod should just have the full surgery now and get ready for 2010.
[447] Precisely!
[447] I concur. A Rod: Player of the YEAR!
You know, Nick Swisher really showed some passion when he got tossed out. I nominate him for Player of the Game! Whoooo
Girardi is going to be fired this year. The Yankees can do it now and hope to save the season, or wait until the team is about 32-40 and do it then.
I mean, would you bust your ass to get ready to join this shitstorm?
I'd pocket my free $30M and go under the knife...
[445] [446] hah ah ah ah ah aha a ha ha a ha ha ha !
Oh, dear God.
Girardi's press conference screams FIRE ME. I hope Hal is listening.
[451] Who do you have in mind?
Welcome to the most expensive rebuilding year in MLB history. Bright spots abound ... for the future. Phil Hughes, turning a biiiiiiiiiiig corner. It'll take time. Same with Joba. Why, next year maybe he'll even record 12 Ks and get past the 6th inning. Maybe even walk off the mound without the loss! Teixeira should be settled in in about 13 months. LeBron James will be available ... Waitaminute ...
How can you watch this william?
[457] Because I'm hoping someone will ask Girardi a hard question...or maybe Hal to walk on stage and announce Girardi has been fired.
[423] Mr. Trost, tear down this wall!
Girardi gets until the all-star break. There were a lot of high hopes for him.
Bobby V. on speed dial.
[459] The season will be over by the All Star break.
Seriously, I had high hopes for this season. I had a feeling 2008 wasn't gonna be our year, but I endured it with my eye on the prize: All that money coming off the books, a retooled staff, the ascendence of Chamberlain and perhaps Hughes - 2009 was gonna be sweet. And everything worked out in the offseason perfectly. And yet here we are, enjoying a shit sandwich in early May. The team is gonna get tighter and tighter. The only thing that might break it up is A Rod's return. His bat, his weirdness ... For once the Yankees need a distraction.
One thing you can't argue: Taking the lineup and replacing Pena with Rodriguez and Molina with Posada would change everything.
For once the Yankees need a distraction.
It's not like they're under the microscope now.
hey look, it's Boomhauer!
Let's not fly off the handle here at 13-14. But Tex's AB in the 10th in that cavernous, depressing ballpark does kinda sum up the season to this point.
What really sucks is this team seems very happy with the status quo, so changes wont be made and the team will continue to flounder. It's funny how everyone thought the Yankees would get off to such a good start without the distraction of Arod, but the reality is Arod is one of a few players who actually performs on this team. Too bad he can't manage too because as long as Girardi is at the helm, the Yankees aren't likely to see the post season again.
[462] "One thing you can’t argue: Taking the lineup and replacing Pena with Rodriguez and Molina with Posada would change everything."
You're right, Hawk!
They would be an even bigger disgrace with those two playing every day and the team still had a 13-14 record...
You know what, fuck it. If no one else is going to say it I will: When you take away half of the RF platoon, your key 8th inning setup man, your number 2 starter, your starting catcher, your number 1 is wallowing in mediocrity, and your 1B is only now beginning to show signs of life and this team STILL has the chance to be .500 on the day they get back (arguably) the best player in baseball...then maybe a modicum of credit (yeah I said it) is due to the manager.
If Girardi can't get anything out of a healthy A-Rod and a productive Tex and CC, then fine you can look at making a change. But to just do it on May 6th on the heels of a 4 game losing streak would only serve to be a white flag, not a sign of "shaking things up."
Anyone who is longing for the Old George in the middle of this is either delusional or attempting to rewrite history. We're talking about an owner who changed pitching coaches like socks, and I don't recalling it ever accomplishing much of anything except getting the team on the back page for all the wrong reasons. I'm not about to long for the days of an owner whose idea of "securing a pennant" was Buhner for Phelps.
If you wanna fire someone just to make yourself feel better, then knock yourself out and fire Kevin Long or Dave Eiland, why the hell not. But changing managers in the first week of May with the roster issues this team currently has would be all hell of a lot more irresponsible than bringing Phil Coke in to pitch the 10th.
[468] Good managers make a difference when the team isn't firing on all cyclinders. In these last two games alone, Girardi blew two bleedingly obvious decisions and both greatly contributed to the team losing. Also, there are so many new faces this year, but the same problems remain. You could take the storylines from the first 30 games last year and apply them to this season and not miss a beat. A significant common denominator between last year's team and this one is Girardi. It's time to hold him accountable.
Furthermore, while George would fire managers on a whim, many times the tactic would work, especially when the team had talent. We saw it in 1978, 1985 and 1996. Such a time exists now.
If you are happy giving Girardi another season to turn a very talented team, injuries and all, into a mediocre ball club, well, then I admire your patience. As for me, I am sick and tired of the same song and dance for 8 months. I've seen enough. It's time for a new voice in that clubhouse.
I do wish George would fire someone, but to be fair, I might also trade Montero for Matt Stairs.
Try again:
I do wish George would fire someone, but to be fair, he might also trade Montero for Matt Stairs.
[468] Fire Cashman.
Boston: #1 & #2 starters with ERAs above 5! #3 starter on DL. Big Papi has ZERO home runs. Varitek at .230 and going south..their record is 17-11. That is because they have organizational depth.
Meanwhile, we signed Marte for 3 years..
Fire Cashman!! WHAT has he done since he became GM????
[472] Fire Cashman!! WHAT has he done since he became GM????
Three WS and the team made the playoffs every season but last year???
[473] Add up all of Cashman's signings (as opposed to Big George signings like Sheff) and tell me if you are impressed..
the comparison right now between him and Theo BoSoxstein is not looking good..Sox got Saito cheap! we signed Marte for 3 years..
[463] Wow, you're missing the point.
[475] Not really. Compare and contrast the media coverage now, with say, Willie's last days a manager... One could say their "lackluster" play is a result of distraction? Too may ways to read this.
[474] Part of the reason for Cash's stupid signings was that the mL system, that he had no control over until 2005, was not producing any talent.
If you want to fire him, fine, but assure me that his replacement won't be worse.
Theo won one ring because of Manny and Pedro, who he had no role in acquiring.
Part of the reason for Cash’s stupid signings was that the mL system, that he had no control over until 2005, was not producing any talent.
Regardless, that's no reason to sign Wright & Pavano. At least you could've made a case for signing Igawa.
[478] Cash once said on Mike and the Mad Dog that he was opposed to signing Wright.
At least five teams, including Boston, attempted to sign Pavano, but I agree that because it was a failure, he is accountable for it.
Why do you think there was a case for signing Igawa? From what I have read he always threw up in the zone, which would seem to indicate that his stuff probably wouldn't translate.