The Yankees look for a quick series victory over the Phillies tonight as A.J. Burnett takes on 47-year-old Jamie Moyer. Moyer has been all over the place this season. On May 7, he became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a shutout, blanking the now-first-place Braves on two hits and no walks. In his last start, he gave up nine runs to the Red Sox before recording an out in the second inning, getting the hook four batters into the second. In between those two extremes, he posted a 3.51 ERA with three quality starts and one complete game in five tries but went just 2-3 due to the slumping Phily offense. Moyer has struck out just four men in his last four starts while inducing just one double-play.
As for Burnett, as I wrote in my “Howzit Goin’?” on Monday, despite the feeling that Burnett has been struggling (he allowed ten runs over 12 2/3 innings in his last two starts), on the season, he’s actually performing right in line with his career numbers (2010 ERA: 3.86; career: 3.84). His strikeouts are down, but so are his walks and wild pitches. This is A.J. Burnett: erratic, but generally effective. Just look at how he fared against the Phillies in the World Series last year:
Game 2: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Game 4: 2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP
I’m mostly impressed that he’s managed to avoid the DL in nearly a year and a half with the Yankees.
As Alex reported earlier, Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup, but only as the DH as Joe Girardi didn’t like what he saw from Alex’s lateral movement during drills on Tuesday. Kevin Russo finally gets a start at third base against a righty, just his second start at third this season. With Rodriguez at DH, Jorge Posada moves behind the plate as Russo effectively replaces Francisco Cervelli as the eighth-place hitter. Nick Swisher returns to the two hole. The full lineup can be seen in Alex’s post below.
Like to see some good AJ tonite.
haha, mk said he would not be able to stand to hear a vuvuzela for 9 innings. the irony.
oh and cliff - the answer to your question on your twitter regarding your shoe is yes, that is bad.
Man, the Phillies must be in a tough spot, they're sending Chris Cooper out to pitch against us ...
not a bad throw from jorgie - in fact i think he got him.
god damnit and now ibanez scores.
Man, he got a HUGE jump.
And there is the run.
[2] Too bad MK isn't in Africa for the next month blowing his hot air into a vuvuzela.
i always hate watching aj pitch. even when he does well he irritates me. i'm glad we have him and he's a good pitcher. just saying...
we are getting elements of bad aj here.
[6] haha, no doubt.
Fuck a duck. Get a dp, please.
jesus christ
Pretty bad when Raul Ibanez steals a base on ya...
they are actually having a chip clip night?
Love me some Robbie. Goddamn.
wow robbie - all these selfish hrs.
RIPPER!
he CRUSHED that.
Maybe Teix, Posada, and Granderson will bring their bats next ups.
Missed 40 minutes of the game, and I guess it was a good 40 to miss. Except I just missed Rob's rap, too. Damn.
[17] robbie's rip jumped the hell out - so it was a quick moment of joy.
aj's bad inning had to last 10 minutes or more. so, don't worry too much.
and the bs continues.
Oh, AJ ...
Way to man up, AJ. Nice work.
fucking hell what is this aj?
Oh, good, I didn't miss the entire Bad AJ Show.
Hmmmm, wasn't it supposed to rain tonite?
Stall, AJ, stall.
[23] Hey, if the entire team keeps hitting homers, they won't make it through 4 1/2 innings!
Or, he could walk them.
We haven't seen AWFUL AJ in a while ... guess it'll soon be time to do laundry or the dishes or something useful ...
I did DVR some soccer.
The feeling that AJ has been struggling has not abated.
URP'd by a Known Fossiilzed Pitcher. Holy Frustrating.
[29] yeah this would be much more enjoyable if they were teeing off against the known fossilized pitcher.
Yup, that play was this game in a nutshell, methinks.
Boone Logan warming? Oy.
[27] If you've got Spain v Switzerland, you're in for a really good game.
[29] the lack of effective at bats against gramps is annoying.
in theory this is a very winnable game still. but we need good at bats. and we need aj to wake the frack up.
Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME!
COVER FIRST YOU JACKASSES!
When I throw bp to my JV kids I still cover first on a groundball to the right side. Arggghhhhhh!
Hello All,
It has to stop here. AJ is ready to jump out a window. Posada can't make a throw on a pitch out. You know AJ hates when Po calls the game, and he is almost petulant about it.
AJ does not cover first? When in little league did the coach not tell him to do that?
Good riddance (for tonight). I like AJ, but he is out of wack?
[39] No, no, he has plenty of wack.
[33] Yeah, I have that. I'm watching South Africa get annihilated at the moment.
let's hope this at least serves the purpose of burning loogan so he gets sent down tonight.
nice job by boone.
could have been a lot worse. nice work by logan.
AJ is a lot like Joba, or vice-versa. They can't handle adversity. It makes me really appreciate guys who can battle through, including CC, even though he has shown us some mental lapses of his own this season.
I hope Girardi partially pulled AJ for not covering 1st. With CC last night, I get that he thought the sure play was at home. Plus he's real fat so why run over there unnecessarily? But AJ ... AJ started off hot as hell and now he stinks. Swing back, pendulum!
Tie this puppy up. Enough of Moyer's nonsense.
[40] Yeah, wack is in large supply! And now Boone Logan (I keep thinking Blown Agin). He must have some good pictures of Joe G. to be up on the team again.
I hope he gets this out, but are the Yankees surrendering this game putting him in?
I think AJ was pulled because he was at 87 pitches and clearly struggling.
Did I see Boone Logan throw a 95mph fastball?
Gentlemen, random thought: Gardner ready to move back up to the leadoff spot, and Jeter to #2? It seems like a natural setup.
I brought this up at River Ave Blues and they jumped all over me. I hope cooler heads prevail over here.
Last year, that would have been a HR for Arod at the NYS. Things have really changed with the old stadium gone.
Too bad this isn't a post-season game. My dog would be chilling in his new hiding spot.
[49] i thought that would be a good idea back in may when jeter was struggling a bit and brett was red hot. i figured it would simplify things for jeter and get him more fastballs.
i actually really like swisher in the 2 spot though.
[49] I don't think it would make much difference, honestly.
[49] Gardner is just fine where he is. His short stint atop the lineup didn't go too well, so I'd just leave him where he has had success. Also, batting in front of the big boys really seems to curtail his running,
AJ Burnett's effort was a disgrace, but having one run off Moyer isn't that far behind.
For those not watching YES, they just did an update and ATL is beating TB 3-0. That's a good thing!
And you can bet that Boone Logan would always cover 1st base...
For what purpose and to what advantage?
[49] I'd rather Granderson than Gardner. Having said that, I don't think Jeter's washed up as a leadoff hitter.
guess we have to be nice to loogan for a couple of days.
AJ may be shit tonight, but Moyer looks like a kid against our lineup.
How fickle we fans can be...GOOD JOB BOONE LOGAN!
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
ne.
I feel really old (Yes showing Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle together in the stands). They look like friends of my uncle artie in Boca. Sigh...
Nice to see them together.
My main reasoning is simply to get Gardner more ABs, if he's able to maintain his 400 OBP it would be more valuable at the top.
[52] I agree, Swisher isn't a bad choice at all.
[53] Probably right. I realize batting order impact on runs scored is minimal.
[54] I'd argue Gardy merits another look at the top. Good point about his running though, but then he's still hitting in front of the big boys in the 9-hole, technically.
[57] It's not a knock on Jeter at all either. More about seeking optimal setup.
I haven't been counting, but it seems like our #1 thru #4 hitters are NOT scoring many runs.... except when Swisher bats 2nd. I wonder at what point it starts getting late for Teix, ARod, and too some extent, Jeter.
And Po makes up a bit for his defense.
[62] This.
JoPo made ball go!
[62] Yeah.... but he can still kick-ass in the studio. Most of my generations rockers are 60 or more, but still are amazing in concert. These young kids can't keep up.
[64] Jeter, Tex and Swish are all in the top 10...quietly though?
Yeah keep Gardner where he is or thereabouts. Swisher looks fine batting #2 right now.
Paul Simon looks like a Hobbit. An aged Hobbit
Hellofa job there, Booney!
I wasn't sure Simon and Garfunkel were still alive. Hardcore baseball fans, apparently.
And Boone Logan has been a total stud tonight. I apologize for my doubts, kid.
[66] True Dat! And the body of work they added to the American Songbook is a treasure. Me thinks we are of the same generation.
I like Boone Logan in June. Boone in June under a crescent moon!
Wait a minute ... Simon and Garfunkel = rockers?
[63] Gardner would probably be exposed at the top of the order as his BABIP would probably regress with more AB's
Simon & Garfunkle take a loss with Bernie Madoff? This must be their 25th "reunion"...
Losing to Jamie Moyer = time to catch up on some long delayed reports..
[73] and we are all loons.
and some of you are talking about old folks tunes.
[74] Didn't you know "Bookends" was a big influence on Black Sabbath AND CCR? :)
[67] Top 10 what?
Paul Simon has a pretty amazing body of work. I don't think he was as driven as some other musicians, but I would put a lot of S&Gs work as classic greats. Like the Beatles, many S&G songs with be played forever.
Gaudin vs Howard?
This can't end well ...
[79] Runs scored.
[77] Completely off topic but I heard "Putting on the Ritz" a few days ago while driving. I used to get a kick out of that song when I was a kid. Then I found out it was the Oldies station. Early 80's music on the oldies. I was appalled. : )
i'd almost forgotten about gaudin's existence.
[80] for Howard!!!
[74] For their time, and in their own way, S&G rocked. Check out "My Little Town", "I Am A Rock", "Baby Driver". They are on the Rock family tree.
[82] haha wow. that is tough to take.
Only Moyer gets the low, close ones.
I bet AJ is hoping someone on the Phils will homer, or at least double. Seeing Chad and Boone shut them down completely must make him feel badly inadequate.
[82] Puttin' on the Ritz is a real oldie. Dates from the 1920s (though perhaps not the version you heard).
[89] Who can forgot Taco's take on that Irving Berlin Classic! (I can)
[82] I have vague memories of a tv show called "Puttin on the HITZ"..like a karaoke contest..anyone remember it?
Something totally off topic and might have already been discussed on the BBB. What happened to Dave Eiland?
[89] It was Taco's version. I definitely had to look that one up. He was pretty creepy.
[91] That was a great show! Usually on WWOR on Saturday afternoons.
[91] Hey...do you remember the guy who did both parts of Say, Say, Say?
I don't know what annoys more more. Watching the Yankees stare at Moyer's 80 mph slop or the fact that Boone Logan has probably guaranteed himself a roster spot for the year.
[95] Can't remember that one! But here, god bless YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llt7h8lc5iA
[92] Still no word. He's on an "indefinite" personal leave of absence. Girardi compared it to a player being injured. He'll be back when he's ready.
They asked Girardi about it again three days ago, and he said he still didn't know.
[97] Oh wow..check out the bottom of the comments page on that clip..could that be our own Ms.October???!
[85] Keep the Customer Satisfied. And there are many genres or Rock.
[97] Now that is funny! "Direct from the Sunrise Bowl in Massepequa, Long Island"
[100] yup
I want to see Paul O'Neill on Twitter.
We are being TWO hit by a guy 10 years younger then O'Neil. The score truck seems to be either running downhill with no brakes.... or has 4 flat tires.
Christ, just get it to Brad Lidge
[99] no!! that is an imposter!
[98] Thanks. I wish him well, and prolly AJ would like to see him back ASAP.
[104] i think moyer put sugar in the gas tank.
[104] I stopped counting the batting practice fastballs that the Yankees took tonight somewhere around the third inning.
Its hilarious to listen to Michael Kay champion the cause of the soft tossing pitcher. This is the man who thought Farnsworth was worth a damn because OMGHETHREWHARD
On the bright side, we could possibly have Pettitte still pitching in 2020.
Well, the Rays are losing.
[106] It's ok, you can admit to being a Jets fan...I'm sure their cassetes were right next to some Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam on your tape shelf :)
[104] 10 years OLDER......
Let's see... would I rather Tweet Swisher or Tweet Kim Jones?
Well, being an old guy, someone would have to define 'Tweet' for me, but I know my gut reaction to that question.
[111] Yes, but he would talk about retiring in 2019, so he could spend more time with his grandchildren.
Brad Lidge. There's hope.
[115] Cheers. : )
Last licks ... c'mon guys win one for Boone and Chad
[118] Or at least knock Lidge around a little. Its the principle of the thing.
damn, in hindsight girardi should have pulled the plug on aj sooner.
[115] haha
[113] haha, i did like "i wonder if i take you home"
Fuck you, blue.
No way
Hey, If Boone Logan married Aaron Boone, then divorced and married Henry Mancini, he would then be Boone Boone Mancini
This is a good game to pretend NEVER happened.
[124] Its basically a worst case scenario game. Horrible AJ, bad game from the offense, and good games from Logan and Gaudin.
[124] yeah if moyer and lidge look like respectable pitchers you just gotta forget this game and move on.
ARod misses a meatball.
smacked the hell out of that one.
Come on! Two Out Rally...Two Out Rally!
(I am a veteran Little League dad)
Too bad Jeter's walk wasn't a walk.
Well, this would be a bit more exciting if Jeter hadn't been robbed by the ump on strike 3.
let's go jorgie, let's go!
I smell another JoPo BIG BLOW
[130] It was a meatball hanging slider, he should've parked it.
[131] But you're basing that on the notion of the pre-determined outcome. Channeling my inner-Kay.
lidge is probably crapping himself right now.
That was lucky! (was a strike)
ugh
god damn tease there.
Meh.
I just don't like Brad Lidge.
How many late rallies have the Yankees had this year without closing the deal?
3 hits in 1 inning against Lidge... 2 hits in 8 innings against Grandpa. Go figure.
Well, that was annoying.
[142] Its better than rolling over and dying, I suppose.
Felt like a trap game before it started. Next time we'll git 'em.