The O’s could hit a little, but not pitch. The Yankees swept them. The A’s, who have a nearly identical record, can pitch a little, but not hit. The Yankees welcome them to the Bronx tonight for a four-game set that has the Bomber faithful salivating at the thought of their team extending their perfect 6-0 second-half record and building on their two-game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East and game-and-a-half lead over the red-hot Angles for the best record in the league.
The A’s arrive with the third weakest offense in the American League, and one which just lost ex-Yank Jason Giambi to the disabled list via a strained hamstring. Not that Giambi was hitting (.193/.332/.364 on the season), but he was tied for second on the team in homers with 11 and would have had fun trying to lift balls into that jet stream to right field (you just know J-Bombs is miserable over missing these games). Matt Holliday is doing what everyone expected he’d do, hit like his career road split, which is still good enough to make him the A’s best bat. His closest rival is replacement third baseman Adam Kennedy, who was released by the Cardinals in February, dumped on the A’s by the Rays after spring training, and spent April in the minors.
As for the A’s pitching, it’s typically park influenced. The A’s staff has a 3.83 ERA at home, but a 4.75 mark on the road. Accordingly, the A’s are a .391 team outside of Oakland. The A’s rotation currently consists of three lefties and four rookies, but the most effective left-handed rookie starter they’ve had this season, stirrup socked fashion plate Josh Outman, has been lost to Tommy John surgery.
The Yankees will face Brett Anderson, the most heralded of the rookie lefties, tomorrow. Anderson gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in the Yankees 16-inning win over the A’s in April, but has turned it on of late and enters tomorrow’s contest with an active streak of 21 scoreless innings and a 0.34 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over his last four starts. Saturday brings rookie lefty Gio Gonzalez, part of Oakland’s return for Nick Swisher. Gonzalez is Outman’s replacment and his four major league starts this season have been evenly split between decent and disaster, his last seeing him cough up 11 runs on on ten hits, including four homers, in just 2 2/3 innings against the Twins. Sunday brings non-rookie lefty Dallas Braden, who is the ripe-old age of 25. Braden has been the A’s most consistent pitcher having delivered quality starts in 14 of his 20 starts and maintaining his 3.40 ERA both at home and on the road. He’ll face Sergio Mitre.
Tonight, the Yankees will face one of the A’s two rookie right-handers in 22-year-old Vin Mazzaro, a Hackensack, New Jersey native and graduate of Rutherford High School who relies on a hard, heavy, mid-90s sinker. Mazzaro joined the rotation in June and got off to a fine start with four quality starts, but things have gone downhill from there, bottoming out with the eight runs he allowed in three innnings against the Angels his last time out. The A’s have lost Mazzaro’s last seven starts, with Vinnie taking the loss in six of them. In fact, the A’s haven’t won a game in which Mazzaro has given up a run all year (Mazzaro’s first two starts, both wins, saw him pitch 13 2/3 scoreless innings).
Maz has his work cut out for him tonight as he’s facing not just the major league’s best offense in a hitting-friendly environment, but CC Sabathia coming off seven shutout innings against the AL Central-leading Tigers his last time out. CC wasn’t as good as his numbers in that last start, however, as he walked three, hit a batter, threw 51 pitches in the first two innings, and had just two 1-2-3 innings. CC who started against Anderson in that 16-inning monster back in April and had one of his worst starts of the year, allowing seven runs in 6 2/3 innings while walking five. He’s come a long way since those early struggles, however, and will be looking to build some second-half momentum tonight.
Tonight’s lineup includes Hinske in right, Gardner in center, and Matsui at DH.
Oakland Athletics
2009 Record: 40-53 (.430)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 43-50 (.462)
Manager: Billy Beane
General Manager: Bob Geren
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (93/93)
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Daric Barton (minors) has replaced Jason Giambi (DL)
- Adam Kennedy has replaced Eric Chavez (DL)
- Scott Hairston has replaced Travis Buck (minors)
- Gio Gonzalez and Vincent Mazzaro (both minors) have replaced Josh Outman (DL) and Dana Eveland (minors)
- Craig Breslow and Edgar Gonzalez have replaced Sean Gallagher (minors) and Dan Giese (DL)
- Andrew Bailey has replaced Brad Ziegler as the closer
25-man Roster:
1B – Daric Barton (L)
2B – Mark Elllis (R)
SS – Orlando Cabrera (R)
3B – Adam Kennedy (L)
C – Kurt Suzuki (R)
RF – Ryan Sweeney (L)
CF – Scott Hairston (R)
LF – Matt Holliday (R)
DH – Jack Cust (L)
Bench:
R – Nomar Garciaparra (IF)
R – Bobby Crosby (IF)
R – Rajai Davis (OF)
S – Landon Powell (C)
Rotation:
L – Brett Anderson
L – Gio Gonzalez
L – Dallas Braden
R – Trevor Cahill
R – Vin Mazzaro
Bullpen:
R – Andrew Bailey
R – Brad Ziegler
R – Russ Springer
R – Santiago Casilla
R – Michael Wuertz
R – Edgar Gonzalez
L – Craig Breslow
15-day DL: 1B – Jason Giambi (strained quad)
60-day DL: RHP – Justin Duchscherer (elbow surgery), RHP – Joey Devine (TJ), LHP – Josh Outman (TJ), RHP – Dan Giese (TJ), 3B – Eric Chavez (back surgery)
Typical Lineup:
L – Adam Kennedy (3B)
R – Orlando Cabrera (SS)
R – Scott Hairston (CF)
R – Matt Holliday (LF)
L – Jack Cust (DH)
R – Kurt Suzuki (C)
L – Daric Barton (1B)
L – Ryan Sweeney (CF)
R – Mark Ellis (2B)
I don't know about NY, but up here in NH the 10 day forcast is cloudy, rain, cloudy, and seven days of thunderstorms. No such thing as global warming.
i will miss the game tonight, due to work. have fun, y'all...
GO CC !!! GO YANKS !!!
From NYT: Mark Buehrle of the White Sox pitched a perfect game Thursday afternoon, the first in major league baseball in five seasons and the 18th over all, in a 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
[3] Yep. There's a blog post by Alex earlier, though it's not obvious that's what it's about.
I missed the thing (I was crawling up 95 at the time), but just watched some highlights. The Wise catch is absolutely incredible. Congratulations to Mark Buehrle!
Any New Yorkers want to give odds on tonight's game actually being played? The NOAA forecast looks very pessimistic indeed.
This game is already a rescheduled rainout, yes? I guess they could do a weekend DH if necessary. but I'll bet they wait until at least 10:00 before calling it.
Anyone know the Bronx forecast for the next 3 games?
The next few days don't look great, but better than tonight.
[6] saturday is about the only day no rain is predicted. otherwise scattered showers every god damn day for a week.
there is only one way to describe no yankee baseball for 2 nights in a row in july post asb - UNACCEPTABLE!
The good news is (in my area) there are TWO Lindsay Lohan movies on!
Hasn't rained for a couple hours out here in NW Bumfuck, New Jersey. If they played here, we'd be watching baseball right now.
Instead, I'm watching a bunch of deer, including a handsome 8 point buck, eating apples off my lawn from a tree that fell earlier this week. It's a nice peaceful scene, but I'd rather be into some Bumfuck Bombers baseball about now.
[9] BOTH of 'em? Ain't you the fortunate one.
[9] That really is a break. Now, by turning your television off, you can miss two Lindsay Lohan movies!
I'm not a hunter, but my neighbor who is says the 8 pointer on my lawn is a very expensive deer. Apparently one would pay a fee of about $5000 to bag a buck of his size, and stature.
I think it would be a damn shame to kill such an impressive animal as him.
The buck, that is, not my neighbor, who's a very good neighbor.
rain letting up in the city
Sliced, what would you do if you had 8 Joe Bucks eating apples in your yard?
[15] My carnivorous neighbors would be feasting right now at Sliced Bread's Joe Buck Stew Shack.
Ew. Gamey.
A Perfect Game!!! Cannot wait to watch that on the weekend.
So is it game on tonight or did they call it? Still says "delayed" at mlb.com...
per PeteAbe - UPDATE, 8:21 p.m.: The rain is letting up. Tarp is still down. They’re going to wait this out, seems like.
[17] so far still a delay ok jazz. since it is a mekup game they seem to want to try their damndest to get it in.
[19] The Yanks also have a big charity drive going this week. They're hosting groups, and doing special events. That might also add to their determination to play tonight.
.
per PeteAbe – UPDATE, 9:02 p.m.: It has stopped raining for what that’s worth. No announcement yet.
newest per petey
UPDATE, 9:07 p.m.: Tarp is being pulled up. There will be baseball, looks like. Long night, folks.
[16] I'd give you $5K per Joe Buck you bagged, Sliced...
You can keep the stew!
: )
Let-them-play-Let-them-play-Let-them-play-Let-them-play-
9:40 start time
Jon & Kate Plus 8 Joe Bucks.
Now that would be some kinda awful reality show.
I hope CC can handle the rain delay adversity... this time.
[26] Struggling to understand that one but..."8 Joe Bucks"? sounds nightmarish!
[26] "Now that would be some kinda awful reality show."
You mean there is another kind?
/shudder
Can Selig please force any replays of today's perfecto to use the radio feed? I think I've heard Hawk's reaction to the final out about 10 times already. (shivering)
[30] hawk should just be prohibited from ever speaking again
on a related note kenny and al tonight - no mk, fine; no coney - unacceptable
Yay @ no Flash in the booth for this series!
The Yankees can continue to win!
: )
[31] It's also on MLBN. Harold and I-forget. I can guarantee I won't make the ninth inning.
[31] Hawk is without a doubt the most unacceptablist of unacceptables..listening to him makes me queasy..
Hey, warm-up. That's better than Rain Delay.
[28] back here in the States, the mainstream media is obsessing over a dopey (yer right PJ there ain't no other kind) reality show about a couple named Jon and Kate who have 8 kids (they had 6 at once). The big drama now is they're divorcing.
It's kinda like the Billy and George Plus 25 show from the 70's, but in this case there are only 8 sympathetic characters (the kids).
Is it acceptable to want Hawk to get run over by score truck?
i guess start time at 9:40 does not mean first pitch at 9:40
We play today, we win today. - M. Duncan
[36] I am not sure how to even process that information..I think I'm still recovering from someone here telling me about the Flavor Flav reality show, last year...
[37] Beautiful..."He Gone!"
[38] which means it goes into the "we have no choice but to accept this unacceptability" file, yes?
[40] oh, don't try to process such information. It's not to be digested, just regurgitated.
[40] bwahahahahhahahha - he gone
guess the delay didn't have too much impact on the big man
hinske is messing up the all lh outfield
Well that first inning by CC looked promising!
: )
[40] oh and that was me about flavor flav - the reality show explosion of the last 5 or whatever years has been something else
Let's hope there's no URPing tonight.
[43] That's ok, Hinske is due for another HR...
I just finished Verducci's Yankee Years book. I don't see what all the fuss was about. I had to skip the chapter about that one year. No need to relive that. : ) This year has a much different vibe, though.
...
hmm mazarro came out dealing - hopefully that won't last too long
[45] Have you ever seen Talk Soup? It's damn funny. It shows lowlights from reality shows. It is truly unbelievable what people do and watch.
[42][45] Certainly a cultural phenomenon I am glad to have missed..will stick to the local game shows featuring monster-eating contests and endurance games..
is nomar really worthy of booing?
[51] no - is it on e?
totally agree that it is unbelievable
[51] The Soup is where I get all my entertainment info. Joel watches it so I don't have to. The man's a saint.
Booing Nomar? He's irrelevant anymore.
a bit of trouble here - get out of it big man
[51] He's a real Nomar man, sitting in his Nomar land, making all his Nomar plans for, um, Nomardy?
(sorry, Beatles, my bad)
[54] He's going to be on an NBC sitcom this fall. He'll stay on E.
Saint indeed. : )
[57] Joel is staying on E? Interesting. Though the networks are dying, so it may make sense to have the fallback job.
Didn't Bobby Crosby once have a "bright future"? Was it injuries that slowed him down?
damn he's leaving these pitches up
Yikes. That coulda been ugly.
Anyone want to venture any guesses as to what CC was doing during the rain delay?
CC giving up two runs to the bottom of a last place lineup is unacceptable.
cano and hinske made that one interesting
[56] Isn't Nomardy where the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
: )
[59] All the injuries did was make it take longer to get enough of a sample size to realize that Crosby sucks.
Hi, folks!
To answer the Toyota Text Poll Question: All of the above.
[62] [65] C.C. was going Bluto foodfight impressions. : O
[68] doing D'oh.
[66] hi ken. how's it going?
URPing is unacceptable.
[66] Whoa! Look who popped out of the Baseball Toaster!
Great to see you, Ken!
Miss the Toaster, too. I still go to it out of habit sometimes.
damn - i think the yankee score truck is stuck in the rain in the eraly going here
The URP'dness is underway.
Uncanny really...
hi friends! i'm a miserable camper as i haven't slept in THREE days b/c of idiot, asshole, disrespectful downstairs neighbors. i left my gig and wanted to go to my studio to practice, but my eyes are closing. of course, i won't sleep. when i turned on the radio in the car and heard the game was about to start, i turned my car toward (temporary) home (i'm moving. period, end of) to follow the game online and with you wonderful people!
so here i am. gonna drink myself into oblivion (and hopefully dead-like sleep). i see the score truck is confused about where to park. please drive to the other side of the stadium and deposit ALL of your runs to the pinstriped part of the plate. thanking you! : )
"in the rain in the eraly"
you haven't slept much either, i see, ms. october! ; )
Hey Ken! Where have you been?
: )
[66] hi ken! thanks again, for the Toaster! i've never posted on a single other site or board anywhere on the internet. the Toaster was like home. nice and comfy, with quiet, considerate downstairs neighbors! : )
[66] woah toaster man! hey Ken!!!
[76] hahaha - i actually have no excuse.
asshole neighbors really suck. when i lived in bk my upstairs neighbor was one of cher's dancers. he practiced his fucking routines at all kinds of crazy hours. that was about 2 years of pure hell.
[75] bummer man. sorry to hear. i have great neighbors. Sure am lucky.
[66] Hi Ken! And I'll throw in my thanks for the Toaster as well. It was a fun site.
[80] i'm trying hard not to comment on the unintentional there....
Holy cow. They're really playing this game.
I wonder if there have been other times a club has had 2 ex-shorstops from the same club?
Six pitches... much better, CC!
[77] I have been avoiding baseball all year. Taking a sabbatical of sorts. Haven't been to a game. Only watch on TV or listen to the radio when my wife turns it on. Trying to get back to where baseball is the background music in my life instead of the main event. As an A's fan, I picked a good year to do it.
I'm not even watching or listening to this game!
jeter-cano special. :)
[83] um yeah that wasn't the meaning i was going for :}
[87] Your young Hackensack pitcher is off to a good start.
[81] my idea of great neighbors is nothing and no one within 3 texas-sized states of me!!! ; )
nah, it's just downstairs. no other unit in this apt. complex is bothersome. i'm here 10 freaking years now. it's only been since last august that it's been really bad. before that, it was like 2000, for awhile, but that's really it. i guess i was pretty lucky for awhile; it's time to go...
Another off-the-wall single.... by dumbo
Aw Jeebus! Even the hits are outs.
The league doubles leader will never be a Yankee in this joint.
Robbie not hustling is unacceptable!
jesus cano - nice hit - shitty hustle - shouldn't have bothered with going to 2nd
[87] Wow! I don't think I could do that even if I tried really hard..too much a junkie..but as you say, maybe as an A's fan this year it's easier...Bob Geren not exactly Billy Martin either, eh?
that was bad by cano. but that bounce was bizarro too.
[75] I have to ask, thelarmis, what on earth are they doing? I can often hear my *upstairs* neighbor clomping around (he has good taste in music, fortunately), but my downstairs neighbor could have a wild sex-and-tap dancing marathon and I doubt I'd hear a thing.
Oh, Cano. Cano Cano Cano.
[80] I would imagine one of Cher's dancers would be kinda light on his feet.
Yo, I'm just sayin. Having dancers overhead can't be the worst kinda hell, especially if he had the courtesy to wear headphones.
Imagine living below John Sterling what with the bellowing, and the hair dryer blowing constantly.
[87] props to you Ken. Sometimes you gotta step away. I respect that big time.
[62] i thought about that. hopefully he was napping....for ME!!! : ~
Brandon Phillips got benched for a game because of a similar play.
[87] Well that's absolutely allowed... I guess...
: )
Wasn't there a pitcher last year who was from the Tri-State area who made his rookie debut at the Stadium and did well? Anyone?
"that's a strike. Especially with the night he's having." What the hell does that mean? My horoscope is good so I get a bigger strike zone? bleh.
[91] well, a chance for a better space I guess.
[87] well it's great to see you, and I didnt scrawl anything on yer wall after you signed off, but it was a beautiful place you created, and you went out on a high note. Thank you.
[100] I would have to report Sterling to the EPA for environmental violations due to his massive hairspray consumption...
what's the yankees' record in games when they wait out long rain delays? like 0-5?
you had to see that out at 2nd coming as soon as the ball bounced towards the left fielder.
[105] Bueller?
I once had a horrible upstairs neighbor, she eventually got kicked out for blasting her stereo one night. She was a troubled kid, I suspect a cocaine dependency. But she and her boyfriend would go at it at 2 or 3 am nearly every night. And walls and floors/ceilings were thin.
But can you really complain about those who are getting some, especially when you were in an extended dry spell?
6 K's already. ugh. : /
[104] Yeah, I figure I consumed enough baseball in four years running the Toaster that it's probably healthy to go on a diet for a while and burn some of that fat off.
[110] Rain delays have been a glaring issue with the Yankees since the "Brawl Game" in '04 and then in that year's ALCS...
Wet Ass < Red Ass
[100] sheeeeeeeeeeeeit. this guy was not light on his feet. he made a ton of noise dancing around.
cc very hittbale tonight.
Another shitty outfielder. BLEH.
[113] Well we're all certainly glad you stopped by here tonight!
: )
isn't it particularly stupid to wait out a long rain delay against a west coast team on the first day of their road trip?
[110] It feels like that to me too. I really wish the Yankees would stop forcing these game to be played because they never seem ready to go.
Okay CC, can we get Ichiro's little brother out now?
Oh, and that's quite enough runs, too!
Feh!
damnit, CC
[118] i think from a scheduling standpoint it was a must.
[118] The alternative might be seeing Kei Igawa pitch in a doubleheader. : / Shut 'em down C.C.
[113] [117] yeah definitely. there's a lot about the toaster that is missed, but the banter is thriving in part to a lot of the seeds you planted.
Great. The catcher's stealing on us.
[118] Pete Abe said if they didn't play tonight, they'd have to play a doubleheader. Which means another pitcher would have be called up. LIkely Kei Igawa.
[123] I almost wouldn't mind seeing Igawa. see what he's got now.
Well good night all. Gonna shut down the intertubes for the evening and enjoy another hour of the game then slumberland. Yankees have now gone through the order and know what the kid has. They'll get him.
[127] hehe. intertubes. hehe.
[123] [126] why do we need an extra pitcher? no one can pitch on 3 days' rest now?
[126] I'd rather see Igawa than a suboptimal effort because the team was waiting around for 3 hours. Maybe it's just coincidence, but it does seems as if each time the Yankees wait these games out the results are kind of ugly.
anybody just see Tim Kirkjian's segment about the great #8's in baseball history? it was pretty cool.
yogi, ripken, pops, yaz, morgan. no gary carter or bill dickey. the fans voted for...cal.
kei igawa is not even on the 40 man - i doubt a roster move would be made to call him up. right, right !?!?
[127] please get some schloofen for me!!! : ~
[128] I bet some of the Yankees, like Swisher for one, wish they could be intertubing on the wet field right about now!
LOL
Lata RBJ!
though come to think of it why isn't nady out on the 60 day dl to clear up a roster spot?
[134] for realz.
[126] That's probably why it's in my head. Plus 4 games in 3 days followed by the Rays mixed with a shitty forecast. If they can get it in.....
[135] because he's still more worthy of a roster spot than Igawa I suspect.
alright now is a good time to take advantage of the e6
let's get the score truck in gear. it's time...
johnny should have stretched that into a double.
anyone else having banter issues? page not loading right.
kenny's a little bit tired too apparently
Hell Yeah. 3-0. : D
TEX!!!! WOO HOO!! we're alive now.
and the score truck got hotwired
[137] That's a good point...the Yanks rotation is set up perfectly for the Rays series, so MAYBE you do take the risk of losing a battle to win the war.
damn he drilled that bad boy
At this pernt, I wouldn't even call up Igawa in September... any September!
I believe he is indispensable charting/filming pitches for SWB when not "pitching" for them...
The Teixiera Terrace by Leiter. I like that.
[140] thank you, folks - i'll be 24/7, since apparently i'm not allowed to sleep...
nostralarmis at your (truck) service!
man, does Tex ever hit 'em far!!!!
Woohoo Tex!
[151] i'm waiting for the upper deck shot still. i didn't miss one right?
I guess Pascual Perez was driving the score truck tonight... ;-)
Sounds like Wang's season (and maybe career) is over.
poor wang - that really sucks
the only black mark on buehrle's perfecto, is the fact that Hawk had to call it. that guy is horrific, horrendous and horrible...
[155] career? wtf?
ARod's bad hip keeps him from swinging at bad pitches. Me likey.
[153] i don't think so. but didn't an opposing batter hit one absurdly deep in the left field stands? i don't think upper deck though.
bury my heart at wounded wang
[158] He is on the way to see Dr. Andrews.
[154] i'm playing in B'ham in 2 weeks for a good cause. lemme know if you wanna come out. i'm a-gonna invite Evil Empire from here, as well...
[160] i do recall one going into absurd territory out there. not sure who that was though.
[151] Dollars to donuts Tex gets the first one in the RF upper deck at the new Stadium.
: )
[156] I won't say a thing.
[153] None into the upper deck yet. It's going to take a doozy. I loved the Upper Deck blasts at the old stadium, but I think the ones into the third deck here will be less commonplace and more special.
This umpire has a huge strike zone. C.C. should take note and stop pounding the zone with fastballs.
Adam Dunn crushed one, not into the upper tank though...
Igawa is pitching pretty well down there. And he was IL MVP last year, wasn't he?
I don't think he can cut in the big leagues, at least consistently. But he's a good AAA pitcher.
[167] yeah, i see it as being a special mark for this stadium. it'll be exciting.
The Upper Deck is pretty far away now. I am not sure we'll see one hit up there anytime soon. The only HR in the old place that I think would have had a chance was Bonds titantic blast in interleague play a few years ago.
If Marte still stinks or is still hurt, could Iggy help in the BP?
Huge Jump. Pay attention kid. Runnerish. Whaaaa...
how did the a's not know alex was going - that was beyond evident
[172] maybe ledee's in cone's perfect game
[168] huge but seemingly consistent
A-Rod's got some wheels lately! me likey. can't wait for him to reach 300-300.
nicely done po
Woohoo Po!
HIP HIP!!!
[176] It's very consistent, so hopefully C.C. starts aiming for the corners because so far he has been very aggressive in the zone.
wow holliday really went hard after that one!
No triple, Jorge. C'mon. : O
[173] if by "BP" you mean the Baltic Provinces, yes, he could help us there...
doing something besides pitching.
HIP-HIP!!!
who is this mlb network announcer? funny as heck.
TERRIBLE PITCH ROBBIE! Jesus!
If only Cano could make that final leap he'd be a super star.
Bobby Crosby is still in baseball?
On a related note, why?
Robbie 'Scarecrow' Cano!
Yay!
Woohoo Hinske!
Hinske with my best shot!!
When anyone sees a Yes replay showing an important highlight with a close up of the expenisive seats and EVERYONE is watching....well. I won't believe it. Hinske!!
hinske is definitely taking advantage of his opportunities
[195] I really believe Hinkes is as good if not a batter pickup than LaRoche.
[193] i love that! saw it at LoHud...
i'm thinking of composing a piece and calling it "SCORE TRUCK"!!!
Yay @ A's bullpen getting up!
[163] thelarmis, I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it. I don't get to make many of those trips these days since the new baby. Where are you playing in B-ham?
And didn't Cashman actually get some cash with Hinske?
[196] i'm gonna say better. i think we have more of a need for him than the shit sox for laroche. plus, even though laroche is a 2nd half player, he's never played in the AL East. Eric is quite familiar with it...
[197] that would be beyond awesome!! "What you listening to?" "Score truck. By Nostralarmis. GO YANKEES!"
[197] Yeah, you could use The Art of Noise "engine starter," only with a big diesel truck instead!
: )
40 pitches for the kid in the 4th. Ouch.
gardner needs to hit those on more of a line.
oh boston isn't playing tonight. i was wondering why no updates. best part of Buerhles perfecto was that it was against the Rays.
[204] EIGHTY!!!
[199] oh, totally understand! and CONGRATS on the little one!!! : )
i think it's a place called the Bessemer Civic Center, or something like that. is it a surrounding town to B'ham?
This shitty hitting team is hitting CC pretty good.
[200] Yes he did.
That's an example of C.C. not needing to throw the fastball down the middle. The A's are obviously aggressive and the ump has a wide zone. If he goes to the breaking ball and spots the fastball, he should sail through this game.
[209] Some teams just have your number.
[202 & 203] yeah, keep the ideas coming! if i have a title, i need some programmatic notes, so i can compose accordingly. i already have another baseball title and one for Todd Drew in mind. i just need to come up with appropriate music to accompany the titles...
[211] The A's did a number on CC back in April.
[212] What does a musician know about a "score"?
[208] Thanks. Yeah, Bessemer is just outside of B-ham. What's the good cause you are playing for?
[214] dude. that's awesome!!! i'm waaaay too tired to have thought of that... : ~
Orlando Cabrera just irritates me
[215] benefit for the Children's Hospital.
btw, people, i never heard from that lady about her very sick 6-year old boy i met at the Yanks-Braves game... : (
[208] bessemer - oh man - hahaha - yeah a little bit outside of bham - everyone i met from bessemer while in bham mumbled and had a weird haircut
that was a nice pitch big man
Ken Singleton playing on Baseball Reference should be its one half hour YES show.
[217] i kinda like him when he strikes out like that! ; ) i remember watching him here at Fulton County Stadium when he was super young w/ Le Expos. he was impressive in the field, at that time. at least to mine eyes...
[212] Title - Score Truck
Intro - Big diesel engine starting and revving...
"Programmatic Notes" - You're on your own!
: )
[216] It's my gift to you! It was between that and sending some people down to AL to have a talk with that neighbor of yours.
[222] Maybe some big truck horns beeping the coda from Beethoven's 5th?
[219] i'll get compensated well and get to play w/ 2 of my fave musicians, so it should be alright. i kinda wanna drive back that night so i can go to a record convention here the next day. but, i could also get a free hotel room and just stay there and drink beer all night! we'll see, i have a few days to decide...
[218] Not hearing anything about that sick child from his mom is unacceptable!
wow, come bcck with my falafel lunch and see a 4-3 lead! Goooooo Team! can CC go 7?
[223] send them with instruments of death!!! ; ) you need to put a "T" between the "AL" - that's Bama Yank, Evil Empire and Ms. October territory! i'm in the ATL!!! the best part of Alabama is it keeps Mississippi one state farther away from Georgia! : )
[227] he'll be lucky to make it through 5.
[223] See, I KNEW you were really Rudy Giuliani!!
Are Scott Hairston and Jerry Hairston related?
Hard to imagine this team without Tex. We would be fighting TB for the WC.
good at bat there.
Vulture can go, more than one if necessary...
[224] at the debut performance of Beethoven's 5th, people actually fell asleep during the lull moments, only to be rudely awakened by the famous: DUN-DUN-DUN-DUH!!! part. it got bashed in the reviews...
beethoven is "teh awesome"!!!
[231] brothers.
[227] can you get a good chicken sandwich in Japan?
[231] Brother.
They're both Mexican National Heroes
[231] Jerry Hairston Brother of Scott Hairston, Son of Jerry Hairston, Grandson of Sammy Hairston and Nephew of Johnny Hairston
[235] And wasn't there an actual riot at the premier of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"? Talk about punk rock!
Teix is the man.
i like these runs team!!
Woohoo Tex again!
THE TEXEIRA SCORE TRUCK! (I hear the score truck music. beats the crap out of the ice cream truck!)
[226] yeah, it's sad. i've thought about it. of course, the mom could have simply lost my biz card. or not cared. i'm thinking it was bad news and she's been dealing with that. no time to contact a near stranger to let me know the goings on. i think about that little boy though and hope he'll be absolutely FINE and live a full life...
Children's Hospital was taking great care of him, so this gig i'm doing in 'Bama next month holds extra meaning for me...
TEX!!!
the score truck needs to drop off 2 more runs here...
[244] Yay @ Thelarmis and his good causes!
: )
Thanks about the Hairstons. Jerry has driven me crazy with the O's since 98. I guess brother Scott is new to the leage and mostly in the NL West. Don't follow that too much. : )
[246] yeah, you would think i'd have good karma as far as neighbors and women are concerned, but alas...to no avail. : (
damnit, Alex.
They should score, um, at least 1 here. Or else......
[246] btw, i hope to be working in Nash-Vegas in the coming months. we'll see if it pans out. i'll let ya know if it does...
100 pitches and 11 baserunners for the kid after 4.1
we really need to sweep the leg here!!!
hip hip - jor ge
HIP HIP!!
[251] some Merle haggard covers on the way? am sure the venus "has both kinds, Country AND Western!"...
[250] agreed. or else... TOTAL BOLLOCKS!!!
[248] Perhaps your good karma lies elsewhere, like the Yankees and your health for a couple of instances...
: )
when matsui and po are hitting this lineup is vicious
[250] let's state your post anew. it's still current! : )
[251] We'll be here!
: )
[250] Rinse, wash, repeat.
And that's one to grow on for the NJ kid.
[257] i'll buy that...for a dollar!
[255] the gig in Bama, is actually pop-country. some originals, some covers of modern acts, plus Ring of Fire, of course...
btw, i really love Jorgie. jus' sayin'...
robbie you are maddening my friend
Here's to the Yankees' Score Truck running over the A's bullpen early in this four-run series!
Batting over 400 on the first pitch does not show up well there.
[260] i hope that comes to fruition. it won't be an open to the public gig, but i'd be in town and maybe we could meet up for a meal...or yanks game, if it's in-season.
wasn't Breslow originally a Shit Sock?
Another shitty pitch that Scarecrow flails at.
Robbie really SUX w/ ducks on the pond.
That could have gone better
ah, i was hoping to be able to say...
ERIC THE GRAND!!!
and see a nice 10-spot on the board.
at least we're doubling them up! CC needs to settle in and throw a coupla more frames...
[265] Or not...
[267] Well that's okay and yes, we certainly know the best places to eat here! We might even finagle a decent bag of bagels for you to enjoy!
: )
pasta diving everyone.
NOMAAAHHH. He's bound to get hurt this weekend.
That one was not hit "wicked hahd!"
: )
[272] mmm, bagels = sounds great! if i'm there for these possible jobs, it's a good thing! we'll see...
I wonder what if anything Long is doing with Cano these days? He is wasting his talent by abandoning any semblance of an approach with RISP.
btw, noballs, vagitek and tex all went to Ga Tech, here. just sos yas knows - it's NOT a good part of town. i thought it would be a big campus kinda place like UGA, but it's very inner city and yuchy. not as downtown as Ga. State, which is like NYU, but Tech is just not in a good place...
The only sport where defense controls the ball, Al
[277] oh god. with the A's in town, i saw "Long" and had a nightmarish flashback to Terrence. don't do that to me again!!! remember, i'm on no sleep... : ~
nice work, very large man!
[280] He did have one big hit against KC...remember the good times.
[280] I wake up every morning dreading yet expecting to see "Ponson released."
You can deal with the occasional Oakland game scare.
[278] You would not be surprised that I collapsed in laughter when a local here said "Oh, don't go to that neighborhood (in Tokyo), it's dangerous..I think someone was murdered there 5 years ago.."...safety is always relative, ain't it!
CC for 7, Go Go GO!!
[284] Someone was murdered in Tokyo?
Gasp!
I want to visit the "Bathing Neighborhood!"
: )
Now that one was hit "wicked hahd!"
[277] We could try tying his hands behind his back.
[284] yeah man, safety is a BIG thing. i'm making some good strides with my new real estate agent. obviously, i can't afford much, but i have to be in a safe neighborhood. some of the transitional areas are kinda nice here, but music stuff always attracts any and everyone, so i have to be extra careful. plus, i'll be there alone, don't believe in violence - therefore, i won't be packin' heat, as the kidz say! - and i'm scared of dogs. so, safety looms large in my house search! but so does close to in-town. stay tuned...
Jeter - on base 2 times yet again...
[283] I hope Ponson is released and joins Irabu and Lima Time in the independent league team..
[287] Even with his obvious flaws, Cano is still a very good player. The frustrating thing is Cano could be a great player if he could more consistently maintain a patient approach at the plate. Because he doesn't strike out and usually hits line drives on balls over the plate, Cano should be a terror with RISP. Instead, he keeps getting himself out.
I saw K.C. in Texas in April. Missed Sir Sid. I'm going to Kauffman Stadium at the end of Aug. Maybe we'll catch up then. : )
[288] I take it West Paces Ferry is out then...
: )
[290] When Ponson gets released, I give it a week before we hear Cashman babbling about what a great insurance policy Ponson is and how we "know he can pitch"
[292] i've always loved Kauffman Stadium. the waterfalls are awesome. the renovations have gotten a lot of praise. i've never been inside, but i've passed it on the highway a coupla times, whilst on the road, including a coupla months ago.
you live in the midwest?
[293] whoa, that totally freaked me out!!! i live in pretty much the BEST area of Atlanta - Virginia Highlands - but i'm soooooooo ready to move. i'm all about it!
lookin' Decatur-ish...
[296] Rochester. I'm going to K.C to visit an old friend.
[297] is Eastman in the air a lot by you, or is it just...there?
Is Gardner's arm better than Damon's?
[297] one of my students is from there. he lives here in Atlanta now. he and his girl have a baby boy and just closed on a house here, so he can't afford to come in for lessons right now, but we're pals outside of the teacher/student relationship. he's mostly a hockey guy, but he's a Muts fan. sent me an email about it just yesterday. he's a good cat...
They took a gigantic hit with digital age. But they're trying to keep it together. The name will always be prevalent but not as relevant.
[299] i didn't see the play, but i have to say Yes! i know the defensive graphs were showing he's better than we think. then again, i watched him throw 2 games here last month, mostly warmups and my untrained eye thought it was pretty strong. but what the hell do i know, besides playing in 19/16...
big man gettin' tired, huh...
[296] Sorry about that! Remember my wife and I lived there for a year. We rented an apartment across the street from the "King and Queen Towers," where she worked. I had the luxury of a daily commute to Canton against rush hour traffic, a 35 mile trip taking 25 minutes both ways!
: O
I was partial to the River Road area and the massive homes at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth...
[301] wow. i did not know that, thanks for hipping me to that. i wouldn't have thought that, but then again, i'm a traditionalist, so i still haven't really entered the digital age. i'm a freaking professional musician and i don't even know how to download a song! (true story). i don't know what a blackberry is. i thought it was a Black Crowes song. etc. etc. that's sad that Eastman is not as relevant. then again, you'd think they'd change with the times. (unlike me...)
good job, Carsten!
PJ & thelarmis..share your Southern knowledge with a poor-Brooklyn Yankee boy..what exactly are "grits"?
[303] i think i've heard of the king/queen towers, but am not positive. that's a great commute! Canton is about 40 miles from me. the college class i was teaching, is not far from Sugarloaf, a little before that. i use to live up that way - in Norcross, very near Duluth - when i first got to town 13 years ago. for some reason, there's GREAT Indian food up that way!
keep the score truck moving folks. i gotta get some sleep. all the best!
[305] What Gardner has in his jock?
ziegler's the submariner right? has the record for scoreless innings to begin a career, or something like that?
was that first pitch to Mats really a strike???
[305] Grits are what Rizutto put in his pocket during his first trip south!
Seriously though, grits are coursely ground corn usually prepared into a polenta-type dish such as this...
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_29048_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html
Enjoy!
Why is Phil Hughes warming? This game is calling for Ace to close it out, but Girardi seems intent on going with the Hughes/Rivera formula.
[305] dude, i'm from Queens and have never even had an apple! i have NO fucking clue what the hell grits are!!! i'm pretty sure i saw 'em once at one of those Waffle House places, but i can't stand those places and certainly would NEVER try grits. so, i haven't a clue! it's what Flo said to kiss on Alice!!! : )
[304] I think they got a Remedy for that. : )
[312] i don't think Mo's available today. least, he shouldn't be. yes, it should be Ace...
[311] i don't think i'm letting you choose the restaurant if i end up working in Nashville! ; )
I had grits once. ONCE.
How about letting Phil go both innings
Girardi is going to completely burn out this bullpen. I think it might be time for Cashman to draw up some Phil rules because Girardi is completely wasting his valuable right arm.
[314] well played! : )
I'm glad Yes accepted my suggestion of scrapping the "Yes Gun." Too many 95mph changeups I s'pose. : D
[311] awesome PJ, thank you! very helpful.
[313] Man, dropping "Alice" into the Banter is more + points for you..the great Linda Lavin, who went on to win a Tony award in "Gypsy"...
[317] Johnny Dangerously!!! nice!
[319] agreed.
[322] You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant...
...except an Alice!!!
: )
Now Mariano, who has pitched in 5 of 6 games since the ASB, is warming.
Sweet play. The formula has worked, but for the love of effin' @#$, let the kid pitch 2 innings for Pete's sake. Ugh.
wow. 9 pitches for Hughes. that's pretty awesome. i guess we can't argue about that. still, maybe it's best to not throw him in the 9th. or are we stretching him out? it's all too much!!! (<--- both George Harrison AND Joe Jackson reference!)
[308] Nothing? Wow... tough crowd.
[325] ugh. styoopid. let him rest!
[316] Heh heh! The best Breakfast and Lunch is at the Noshville Deli near Vanderbilt Campus. They also have superior bagels. The best steak dinner is at The Stockyard near The State Capitol Building. Both have websites.
[317] AB's Cheese Grits are really good, hence my posting it...
As frustrating as Cano is at the plate, I'm starting to think it's worth keeping around for his defense alone.
Now someone explain to me why they want Phil Hughes to throw as little as possible. Is this really a case of a "role" (eight inning guy) taking too much precedence? If they would just let him pitch two innings when he gets through a first inning efficiently - which is the norm, it seems - him coming out of the pen could really be justifiable.
um, who in the goddamn fuck writes the bylines (correct term?) for ESPN?!?! for the Giants win over the Braves, the headline of the recap reads: " Zito in control..." um, okay. he walked FIVE in 7 innings!!! that's control?!?!? wow. : o
Btw - better late than never, right? - I think the optimum musical bang for your buck these days is to buy vinyl that comes with free mp3 download. That's how I roll, anyway.
Ah, Gardner's swing, a thing of beauty.
[330] Nosh-ville Deli = that's awesome! very clever!
steak = ick. of course, i haven't eaten red meat since Feb. 1992...
[331] Hughes ideal role would be to throw 2-3 innings in high leverage every 2 to 3 days, or occasionally to protect a tight lead in the 8th. Having him throw 9 pitches in the 8th inning to protect a three run lead is not only a waste, but also makes it difficult for him to accumulate innings.
Looks like Coke is coming in. Judging by how he handled his last save chance, Mo might wind up in the game afterall. If not Hughes for 2, the game should be closed out by Aceves.
[313] you've never had an apple? is that a song lyric or something?
[335] that's around when i last had red meat.
[333] i have a record player! it's even set up. but, it's not mine - i've been "borrowing" it from one of my music buddies for MANY years. the stereo it's attached to has blown speakers, so it gets very little use.
not only can't i download, but i'm not even sure what an mp3 is! amazing i can make a living in music, i know. i do have an ipod - got it last year! itunes - whatever the hell that is - has upgraded soooo many times, i don't even know how to transfer my cd's onto my damn ipod anymore. but i was able to charge it last night, so that was a small personal victory! : )
Girardi sending the BP the message that a 3 run lead can only be held by a Phil.
Hughes for 2! That makes more sense.
Hughes in to close it out. it IS a save situation...right?
I guess Girardi is monitoring the Banter and finally listened to the bitching about his use of Hughes. Kudos, Joe!
I am glad he is pitching two innings, but I hate seeing him on the mound in this rain. Wrap this up quickly!
[338] no, it's the truth! i know, it's weird. but whatever... that said, i like apple sauce! never had apple pie. i guess it's the form/texture. i eat tomato based products - ketchup, salsa, marinara sauce - but not straight up fresh tomatoes. yuck!
i remember my last red meat meal. a roastbeef sandwich at the Cellar in the HUB at Penn State, 2nd semester, freshman year. it wasn't a bad experience or anything, i just never really cared for it...
[328] that's okay, OYF - i thought i'd get some kind of response to the Arlo Guthrie bit. oh well. we're about to WIN another game and that simply RULES!!! : )
[335] Hrmm.. okay... no beef. I can work around that!
The best fried catfish is at The Cock of the Walk near the new Grand Ole Opry House in Donelson.
For Italian, try Caesar's Ristorante Italiano in Lion's Head out in the West End of town.
Arguably the best food in Tennessee can be found at the Loveless Motel and Cafe. It's a bit out of town but well worth the trip!
All three ot these have websites...
Whoah..just the news about the huge FBI bust..the Mayor of Hoboken and some rabbis? sounds like a bad joke...
2.5 games up on the BoSox..'tis a happy day!
[345] that is weird. i can see the tomato thing because they're a little slimy, but apples??
If he walks him, I would take Hughes out here. I don't want him throwing on this wet mound anymore.
[347] nice! i'm a Bird guy. no beef, no fish. i dig the bird. the guy i play for in Nashville is really wonderful. he and his wife are like my Southern parents (even though they're from Germany!!!). i hope to be working with them in the coming months. we'll see. i'll certainly let you know. i have another music friend from there, for years, but haven't met him, though we've spoken on the phone. i've written liner notes for a coupla cd's his band has released over the years. would be good to meet you both in person, one day, if possible!
Good W, all. Atta boy, Phil. I can't drive 65!
I like this second half.
[350] Mute point.
Bing Crosby runnin' up Phil's pitch count...
Man, it's nice to see the Yankees up on top of the AL East.
Endgame!
[352] nice, Red Rocker!
no strikeouts in 2 innings???
Yay Yankees and their "Red Ass" > "Wet Ass!"
Woohoo @ "Philthy" Phil's first Save!
Winning Non Stop!
G'night folks!
: )