The Yanks look to avoid a two-game series loss to the first-place Rays tonight. Here’s hoping Andy Pettitte has another good outing, nobody gets hoit, and the Yanks make like Benny Blanco from the Bronx and play like the World Champs they are, walking wounded and all.
Lineup again, The Stick is back ... we'll see what he's got.
Jeter SS
Gardner CF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Miranda DH
Cervelli C
Winn LF
[1] You mean Swish. The Stick is the other Nick because he snaps like a twig.
Nick the Stick to 60-day. Chad Moeller brought up to ride pine. Jorge to the 15-day. Kevin Russo, who had been playing OF for Scranton, is up as a utility man. Thames took BP, which might mean he could pinch-hit for Miranda against a lefty, though I'm sure they'll try not to use him today.
[2] Funny!
Wow.
[2] correct. and Swisher is Nick @ Nite.
[2] yes, agreed! Swish is Swish, NJ is "the stick". sorry cult!
[5] i watched it. it was awesome! this after Hanson got knocked out after giving up 8 runs in the 2nd inning, iirc, all were with 2 outs. it was some game. gorgeous day here in atlanta.
i'm off to the studio here in a few though, so...
GO ANDY!!! GO YANKS!!!
[7] Nick took "The Stick" from Nick last year. You know, when Nick the Stick helped win us the world series?
There's only Nick the Stick on this team and he plays RF
Well, I suppose I could just point towards the field and say, "See that? That fella playing right now? That's Nick the Stick."
But 1999 was a hellofava year for Baby Ruth, I will admit ...
Nice curve, Andy.
One night he wins the game, the next night he loses the game and yet the next he hobbles himself on his own bat.
You just can't...
Damn, that was some hitting.
Quite the chip shot.
Sure would be nice not to dig ourselves into a hole at the beginning of a game ...
[12] Well, I guess that was too much to ask ...
Oh dear.
That guy is strong. That looked to be all arms.
The pain has come early...I guess the bright side is this is only a two game series.
Well done, Andy.
A good AB by Jeter would do a lot to raise the spirits.
[18] Well, it was a nice hit, anyway. Kind of fought it off well.
Oh, fuck.
[19] I
Bang up inning, gents
[20]...actually wasn't encouraged by the swing, but at this point, I'll take the result.
I hope the Yankees realize they can't just sit back and expect to compete with this team.
The Rays have really made a resounding statement in these two games.
This is the only time I've ever been moved to give any thought to texting in reply to one of these YES polls.
[23] haha what would you vote?
okay Andy. looking much better. Eff these guys.
[24] I actually read it wrong...I could only vote Girardi as the advantage, not Maddon over Girardi.
[26] oh, haha
what a dumbass.
Dude.. WTF? was arod jogging down to first!?!
Niiiiiiiiiiick!
Wow!
How's about that?
good for you miranda - that was needed
HE READ'EM THE MIRANDA RIGHTS! ...and the Yankees trail 3-to-2.
READ THAT BALL ITS RIGHTS!!!
..now that might coulda been a game-tying jack if Arod wasn't loafing on what he thought was a foul ball. Maybe.
FUCK YEAH!
good work andy!
oh man.. I could watch that replay 16 times in a row. Damn that was sweet.
I got a family of sparrows living in a birdhouse in my backyard. 2 babies and the mama and papa are in an endless loop of flying away to fetch some foodstuffs. they're so cute with their lil wide open beaks sticking out the front door. hehe
BASE HIT! Okay now get Granderson back.
that's a smart play. Gotta jump start yoself when times is tough. Nice work, Cap'n.
I love it! smallballin!
GRITNER HITS 'EM WHERE THEY'RE AT!!!!
yipee!!
What great camera work!
I wish we could see that bird's eye view *much* more frequently.
Wow ... 2 perfect bunts in a row.
LOVELY!
now tex just has to bunt away from the shift.
...what a bunt, too! (someone musta read our bitching about Gritner not knowing how to bunt)
[36] [37] Cooking, what'd I miss?
shit.
[43] do you really?
Oh, Teix.
Brutal.
A SWEET pickoff move by Andy to nab Zorbrist at 1st.
[48] Yeah, really! (Are you teasing me?)
[47] picked zobrist off 1st - it was a beautiful pick-off.
[47] see [50] (even the ump was fooled)
[51] no, never :}
i kind of didn't like it - it seems to far away.
[50] Cheers!
alright boys, need to take advantage of this and get at least 1 more run.
Help me, Robbie Wan Cano ... you're my only hope!
[54] no joke. I thought they were replaying Jeter's bunt from above. Then I saw the location and 2 baserunners. I was confuzeled.
jesus robbie, wtf?
that was a helluva pitch to K robbies ribbie.
Well, that was a disappointing end to the inning.
Yeesh.
[54] :)
No, it was perfect!
You could see Brett's chances of beating it out and you could see Derek rounding as the ball was overthrown! Usually you have no idea what's going on.
Oh, motherfucker.
Really?
3-4-and 5 tapped out, K'd and K'd?
Not cool.
On the one hand, the Yankees were lucky to get a run, but then again, when you get a gift, you can't have the 3-5 hitters do so poorly. Crushing inning for the Yankees.
dammit
The ball is really carrying to RF tonight.
Very bad pitch by Andy...giving up that run after blowing an opportunity really hurts.
c'mon swish. be patient. get on base man.
too high
wow. that was awesome! HOW CAN THAT BE A TRIPLE!?! oh well... take it.
Holy fuck!
Upton should have dec'd, maybe.
You know, Upton was showing that he didn't see it for a LONG time, and no one came close to backing him up
[71] I know, that seems odd.
OK, Miranda now needs a single, a double, and to start a triple play....
YOU CAN'T THROW ME OUT, DUM DUM.
Fucking Crawford.
wow that was good wood. GO YANKS! I was scared someone would get doubled up.
Oh, Derek, that was wretched.
I really think you might be right, william about Derek's cheating. It would explain the increased first-pitch swinging and his being off-balance a lot more than usual.
[78] wait.. what? please s'plain... you mean stealing signs?
[79] Sorry, no, I mean starting his swing earlier because his bat-speed has decreased.
Noooo!!
I'd rather have bad Andy than Robertson.
Win, lose or draw, let Andy pitch 6.
dammit. did big papi bury a jersey under RF of something?
Defensively, the Yankees simply can't hang with the Rays.
What an awful week this has been
zobrist looks like a skinnier, less grotesque version of shelley duncan.
[0] Is that Carlito Brigante in the picture? And if the Yanks are Carlito...does mean the Rays are Benny Blanco waiting ominously in Grand Central for us?
I am worried...
Michael Kay is talking about another manager who is obsessed with being the smartest guy in the room?
That's the difference between Maddon and Girardi...that safety squeeze has already won two ball games. With a depleted lineup, the Yankees need to be creative, but Girardi's style is to simply sit back. That isn't going to work with this lineup.
Bad time for the starting pitching to blow a tire ...
If the Yankees lose tonight, they will be closer to Boston than Tampa for the first time in a while.
Sigh. Nice pitch, but a little too late ...
[78] It really seems like that's the case. It's going to become an 800 pound gorilla if that's the case.
Gah. Dammit.
This Giambi bullshit is starting to piss me off.
GO THE OTHER WAY, TEIX, DAMMIT.
They're pitching you away ... what in Hell to you want.
STOP PULLING THE FUCKING BALL.
[94] Funny, I've been getting the same vibes from Teixeira.
At what point does Teixeira just take the free hit the Yankees so badly need. When the Yankees have need him most, Tex has come up very small these past 10 games.
[88] I've never seen a manager that puts on less plays than Joe Girardi.
Fugly.
Just fugly all around.
What a lame game for Tex and Arod.
Right now, the Yankees dont even seem like they belong on the field with the Rays.
At leas Joe had the good sense to leave Andy in.
this fucking sucks. goddamn bullpen is gonna fuck it up more. DAMMIT
Whatever.
I'd still rather see Andy than Robertson.
Well, here he comes.
Let's see if he can hold serve.
This game is a complete kick in the balls ... there'll be no kick in the "baals" when I'm around, thank you very much Alex!
[102] Bank on it.
There's a good chance I am just overreacting to the Yankees being outplayed, but I really think this is the week the Rays "won" the division.
[104] :)
[106] Nah. As a wise man once said, it ain't over til you can't predict baseball.
thank you david. King Harvest Has Surely Come.
[106] nah - this team is deplete and not getting the performances it needs right now out of some healthy guys and the pitching has sucked the last 2 nights - but there is still a long way to go and everything has been favorable to the rays to start the season where the yanks have caught few breaks schedule and injury wise.
[110] ms october with the wisdom, a hearty arigatou! I feel better now...
but still, Rays are opening up a serious can of whup-ass right now...
[111] haha, yeah - in the moment things are looking shitty.
[111,112] maaan, y'all gotta get some toooptimism. like my kid. If he weren't in bed right now, he'd say something like, "if the Yankees get the bases loaded and then hit a grand slam then they'll be in the lead, Daddy".
Well, at least Robertson is looking good tonite.
[113] i think your son must be sucking up all the toooptimism :}
at least kenny got some good news on aceves.
[114] that too - that would go along way to helping the pen settle down.
davey's dealin!
Wow.
How 'bout that Robertson.
[114] Sorry about that ... looking *VERY* good tonite.
my wife just asked if james shields "came outta Amish country".
same woman who after seeing Star Wars for the first time asked me what the deal with Lando Calripkin was...
[110] True, but the team will be depleted for another 3-4 weeks, so even if everyone comes back in top form, who knows how big the lead could be. The sorry state of the Yankees isn't the only problem. The Rays look damn good. Not many teams play .750 ball over 40 games without being legit. I just really get the feeling that this is the week that we'll look back upon as when the Rays started to run and hide.
Bah. Dammit.
Those two pitches kind of say it all about Derek. He actually started his swing both times.
What an awful game
CHP the RHP. I'm worried.
I'm sick of moral victories Kay.
whew swish.
Gotta love that CHoP ... using the WHOLE ballpark!
He's good out there, that Brett.
chop is scary fly ball guy.
fuuuuuck
Brian Cashman really had a shitty off season.
[1030] correction - he is home run chop
[128] And THEN some!
[120] "Lando Calripkin!" That's classic!!
Hah aha ah ha !!
Who could possibly be happy with this bullpen?
[132] We've basically gotten worst case scenario to this point, but there was an argument that everyone he got was worth a try.
Except Johnson. If this team doesn't win this year, the Nick Johnson signing will be a key reason why.
The Yankee braintrust needs to meet and figure out how they are going to get through the next month. The status quo is not going to get it done.
Shield's facial hair is absurd.
[137] I think Park made little sense as wellm but not signing Damon could wind up being a massive mistake (with or without Johnson). By trying to save a few miliion, the Yankees may have cost themselves many times more.
Again, that sounds great, but fucking Russ Salzburg prevents me from watching
Too late Tex...we needed that so many times before.
You pulled the ball and roped a single. You happy now, Teix?
[140] I think Johnson and Damon go hand in hand. I think the doomed to fail Johnson signing was little more than a fuck you to Damon.
Because no one could seriously think Glass Nick added something to this team.
Oh, god, what a stupid question, mk.
Alex has been fishing all night long.
who the fuck is the pitcher - he is trying to emulate mo's delivery - and mound routine - though in a bizarro fashion
The middle of the orders looks like it is pressing now, which if true, is a recipe for absolute disaster.
This team is cursed.
fucking hell - of course robbie gets tagged out on that play
[144] They were definitely related, but they didn't have to be. The Yankees could have signed both Johnson and Damon. Cashman had to assume that Posada and Johnson would each miss a month, and he also couldn't have assumed Gardner would play so well. In other words, there would have been plenty of room for Damon even after the fact. Whether its hindsight or not, that decision looks like it could have a major impact on this season.
The Rays are simply outclassing the Yankees in this game. In the AL right now, there is Tampa and everyone else.
I still don't get the Nick Johnson move, especially the spin that it was to "make the team younger." To paraphrase Indiana Jones, with Johnson it's not the years, it's the mileage....
[151] Why would you sign Johnson assuming he's going to miss a month?
at least the Rays schedule over the next month isn't as soft as the Yanks'.
[154] Maybe Cashman figures he still has Something To Prove...
[154] Why would I? Well, I guess I would have still considered it if Johnson was not going to be counted on so much. I guess Cashman thought being a DH would preserve his health, but if that was his thinking, it turned out to be an awful miscalculation. It's not of the Pavano variety, but it's pretty close.
You know what? I can't watch the game on TV because I don't have cable, and I can't listen on the radio because my car's in the shop and I don't have a home radio. Yet with all that, it sounds to me like I'm getting the best of both worlds...
lead man on? that's good.
I guess Thames can't hit.
[158] The game is on MY9! Hurry, turn it on before it's over.
nice ab from miranda - his swing is definitely tailor made for ys
[161] Can't friend. My roommate has the working TV and she watches stupid programs religiously, not to mention her blasted guinea pigs...
[163] Her guinea pigs watch tv?
That's a very nice AB by Miranda.
I think I am sufficiently depressed about this team, but if Derek Jeter winds up being the central figure in killing this really, well, I don't even want to think about it.
I'm following by the comments; boy you guys are moody tonight!
That's a fucking old baseball adage? WTF, mk?
Cervelli is a great actor, man.
[164] No it's their constant weeking... Weeking For Brunnhilde! (if Brunnhilde were food, that is...) >;)
[166] Ignore them, I got the groovy good-time vibes provided. Yanks are going to win the ALCS in 7 against Tampa, all this is just an appetizer...
FUCK.
I hope Cervelli isn't going to turn back into a pumpkin anytime soon.
Man, we're *really* screwed if Cervelli turns back into a pumpkin over this next month ....
[166] We've been watching this horse shit for three hours now.
[172] [173] Alright, now, that was a bit odd ...
[174] really 3 games npw.
[170] Will the game be in Tampa or YS?
Randy Winn can't hit a fastball. The Yankees may need to part ways with him soon.
[175] [176] Indeed. Indeed.
is randy winn always up?
[176] I'd say since Sunday, really ...
[170] beat of tomorrow? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMjxUKxqlo
[180]
That made me cackle.
[172],[173] If he does, you can feed him to my roommate's stupid guinea pigs...
[175] Odd...yes...but a legitimate fear. The same hold true of Gardner. If those two regress, and DJ doesn't snap out of it, this probably isn't a playoff team.
How many pitches will it be?
[184] Hehehhehehehehh.
that was a nice rip.
One, but hey, a rope!
Randy Winn is finished. He had a nice career, but he has no chance to hit a good fastball. He has had so many poor ABs in key spots that the Yankees should cut their losses and give his 40-man spot to one of the "older" young guys in the minors.
I fuckin KNEW he'd snap outta it!
Three hit game for jeter
Now that's a good AB by Jeter!! At least I wont have to visit the ledge.
Spots like this is when it sucks to have Gardner hitting second. No power.
Does Gardner look to turn on one here?
[191] that's some toooptimism!!
Larry Vanover sucks....MLB needs to hold the umps more accountable. We've seen a ton of bad games.
s'always gotta be 2 outs man. fuckin agita-inducing yanks!
I can't decide whether to be encouraged or irritated by the fact the Yankees have come back in the 9th inning the last 2 nights.
I suppose it depends on our last out here ...
And that's that.
[198] And there you have it ... irritated it is.
ah fuck it - least jeter got some hits and miranda looked good - time to feast on jerry manuel's carcass
sigh
[202] indeed. And to make matters worse, the Yanks are only one day away from slipping back behind Toronto.
Jeter better be calling a team meeting before they fly off to Queens tonight...
Well, this has been a horrendous two weeks of baseball
[203] let me be clear -- I'm not predicting that. I'm an optimist by nature. I mean potentially.
[203] as much as I agree with the sentiment, you really can't be the one to call a meeting when you're basically 0-for-May. At least the schedule now pretty much turns into Cupcake City with a handful of exceptions over the next 2 months
Usually the Subway Series has featured one team flying and the other dying. This weekend, it will be a battle of two beleagured teams. I am kind of worried about a let down for the Yankees. The Mets always have incentive to beat the Yankees, but after being embarrassed by the Rays, it may take the Yankees awhile to wake up. It's almost like what happens when a rookie learns he isn't ready to play with the big boys in the majors and then struggles for his first few games back in the minors.
[170],[182] I'ma dig it anyway. And a PB&J with milk. And old Jet Li films all night long...
[207] as bad as it looks now, I still feel like the Yankees are just passing through Beleaguredsburgh...the Mets on the other hand, are the Mayor.
[207] I don't know if you're giving them enough credit. These guys don't want to play bad, as bad as it may be. Airing out some issues might just help a little; like the lack of discipline in certain areas. Somebody's gotta kick some ass in there right now and if it ain't Derek or Jorge, it's somebody.
It really feels like the plug was pulled on this season.
[210] I know they don't want to play bad, but they are. The worry I have now is the Yankees will take the field tomorrow as a beaten team, and may not be motivated to beat the Mets. Of course, I am probably just projecting how I feel. After watching these two games, it's hard to not feel like the Yankees simply are not as good as the Rays. Beating the Mets will do nothing to dispel that feeling.
Well I guess we know what happens now if the Yankees starters aren't brilliant like they were in April.
I'm sure I said it a number of times but the one thing that this team had going against it was the potential for injury. Granted, it's not just the guys you might have expected but nonetheless they are in some trouble now. I wouldn't kiss the division good-bye but for now the wild card seems a lot more reasonable.
What do you do if your manager of three years wins a championship sandwiched by two years of the team not making the playoffs?
Oh I know! Fire him!!.
[211] oh stop, you tell me who else in the AL legitimately concerns you right now other than TB? Everyone out west has their own issues to deal with, the Central teams are good but we all know that at the end of the day that thing is gonna turn into the same war of attrition that it does every other year, and over here you have one team thats flat better than the Yanks right now, one in Boston thats hardly been a world beater, and one in Toronto that will be a non-factor by the break. This past week has been a rolling brown-out, theres no pulled plug.
We're still in this kinda shape after playing the Mets, Indians, and Astros for a few weeks...well then yeah, I'll be out on the ledge.
[212] I'm not so worried about their mindset. They're not rolling over and dying and keep making comebacks in the ninth. The problem is they aren't sending out a very good lineup right now, and they can't fall too far out before the big guys come back.
And the bullpen is a disgrace.
[212] Hey don't forget the Yankees took two of three from the Rays at their park. They can beat them. They just need to pitch better. I don't think the Rays are the offensive juggernaut suggested by the last two games.
Wow the Yankees really need two of three vs the Mets.
[215] Seriously, there is nothing worse than seeing Randy Winn on deck in a big spot. Apparently the guy can't catch up to a 93 mph fastball.
I hope Cervelli doesn't come back to earth right now. It's not a good time.
[215] yeah thats a big part of the reason I'm not flipping out here. The past 3 nights they've sent what are basically NL West lineups out there and could have won each game. It sucks to lose, but its clear as day why this team is losing, theres really no mystery of "ZOMG WHATS GOING ON HERE?!?!" behind it. You keep throwing Randy Winn, Juan Miranda (although its not fair to get on him), Marcus Thames, and Frankie Cerevelli out there...you're gonna end up leaving some ducks on the pond. Its just inevitable.
[214] No one...I still think the Yankees will win the wild card, but as I have always said here, I am all about the division. That is what kind of justifies the 162 game season to me. After seeing how much better the Rays played against what will be the Yankees for the next 3-4 weeks, I can't help but feel the Yankees are not a good bet to win the division. That doesn't mean they wont get healthy win the WC and then blow through the playoffs, but that's 4 months away and there will be an empty feeling in the meantime.
[216] When healthy, I agree the Yankees can beat the Rays, but that's just not the reality right now. If the Rays keep playing well, one more depleted month could dig too deep a hole.
[219] If the Rays are going to win 118 games, I really don't think it matters what the Yankees do. At some point, you have to assume that they are going to go through a funk like this.
The key is you need to find a way to keep the funks as short as possible, and play damned well when you're hot
[221] Teams that get off to such a good start historically do not come back down to Earth. Sometimes, a team will beat the Yankees and I'll come away incredulous as to how they did it. Not so with this Rays team. They definitely have the talent to be a great team.
[222] they're not flawless, as talented as they are guys like Niemann and Davis down the stretch are unproven commodities. Don't get me wrong, I think they're an excellent team and fully expect them to be in the playoffs. But they'll have their ugly stretch at some point, theres a couple of guys there playing over their heads a little bit.
I think Russ Salzberg is actually Chris Russo in a fat suit.
[224] theres comedy...theres high comedy...and then theres Russ Salzberg interviewing Mike Tyson
Can someone explain to me why the Rays were excellent in 2008, no good last year, and appear to be excellent again in 2010. Wha happen???
[0] Ouch..i hadn't read the text when I asked if that was Carlito...too much jazz & baseball = scatterbrained Mr. OK Jazz...
[226] It's the rotation, methinks.