The Yankees took two of three from the Indians at the end of May, but the Indians team they face for four games this week is better than the one they faced two months ago. Since June 27, the Indians have gone 15-9 (.625) thanks to an improved performance from their pitching staff, and a coalescing young offense.
Blue-chip catching prospect Carlos Santana made his major league debut on June 11 and has hit .270/.418/.516 since, most impressively racking up more walks (34) than strikeouts (25). Matt LaPorta, the blue-chipper received from the Brewers for CC Sabathia in 2008, returned to the majors on June 27 to replace Russell Branyan at first base after he was dealt back to Seattle, and has hit .320/.386/.560 since. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera just returned from the disabled list last Tuesday and has hit .294 in the Tribe’s four games since. Cabrera has pushed Jason Donald, the infielder received from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee deal, over to his proper place at second base, which should only increase his comfort level. Donald has hit .304/.366/.461 since June 10 and .321/.345/.571 in eight games at second base this year. Heck, even 30-year-old Yankee castoff Shelley Duncan is contributing, hitting .283/.359/.522 while spotting in the outfield corners, first base, and DH.
On the mound, former Red Sock Justin Masterson, who had a 6.13 ERA entering the Indians’ last series against the Yankees, has settled down with a 4.56 ERA in 11 starts dating hack to his quality start against the Yankees on May 30. Jake Westbrook, returning from Tommy John surgery, has posted a 4.38 ERA in 14 starts since May 11. Former Rays prospect, rookie Mitch Talbot, who faces Andy Pettitte’s vacated rotation spot on Thursday, has been solid all season (3.89 ERA). Ditto All-Star Fausto Carmona, who will bring his 3.51 ERA to face A.J. Burnett on Wednesday.
The Cleveland rotation did spring a leak in David Huff’s old spot. With replacement Aaron Laffey having just gone down with a bum shoulder, the Tribe will turn to 25-year-old rookie righty Josh Tomlin Tuesday night against their former ace CC Sabathia. I’ll have more on Tomlin tomorrow, but “25-year-old rookie righty vs. CC Sabathia” tells you most of what you need to know.
The Yanks face former David Justice trade bait Westbrook tonight. By providing 1,183 1/3 league-average innings for the Indians over the years, Westbrook has actually made that trade a net loss for the Yankees, though I can’t imagine many Yankee fans have any regrets about the deal. From 2003 to 2007, Westbrook posted a 4.11 ERA in 922 2/3 innings over 143 starts and 15 relief appearances for the Tribe, but in 2008 he made just five starts before going down with an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery. He then missed all of the 2009 season, but has returned to his old form this year and, in the final year of his contract, is actually considered a low-end starting pitching option for teams looking to fill a back-end-of-the-rotation hole prior to the trading deadline, teams that could include the Yankees in the wake of Andy Pettitte’s groin injury.
I still think the Yankees would be better off giving Ivan Nova a look, but that’s a rant for another day. Tonight, they have Javier Vazquez looking to rebound from a poor start against the Angels. Vazquez seems to have finally settled in as the mid-rotation starter the Yankees hoped he would be when they acquired him from the Braves this past offseason. He hasn’t had consecutive poor outings since April 25 and May 1 and nine of his 12 starts since then have been quality starts. Vazquez hasn’t faced the Indians since he was with the White Sox in 2008, which means half of the Cleveland lineup has never seen him before.
The Yankees run out their standard lineup tonight with Jorge Posada at DH and Francisco Cervelli behind the plate. Despite his hit-by-pitch scare, Alex Rodriguez is back at third base, still sitting on 599 career homers. Nick Swisher remains in right, batting second.
Cleveland Indians
2010 Record: 41-57 (.418)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 42-56 (.429)
Manager: Manny Acta
General Manager: Mark Shapiro
Home Ballpark: Jacobs Progressive Field
Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-100, LH HR-91
RH Avg-95, RH HR-96
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Carlos Santana (minors) has replaced Lou Marson (minors)
- Michael Brantley (minors) has replaced Russell Branyan
- Asdrubal Cabrera (DL) has replaced Luis Valbuena (minors)
- Jayson Nix has replaced Mark Grudzielanek
- Chris Gimenez (minors) has replaced Mike Redmond
- Andy Marte has returned from the DL
- Josh Tomlin (minors) will replace* David Huff (minors)
- Frank Herrmann (minors) has replaced Kerry Wood (DL)
- Joe Smith (minors) has replaced Aaron Laffey (DL)
- Jess Todd (minors) has replaced Jamey Wright
*note that a move will have to be made to add Tomlin to the 40- and 25-man rosters before his scheduled start on Tuesday
1B – Matt LaPorta (R)
2B – Jason Donald (R)
SS – Asdrubal Cabrera (S)
3B – Jhonny Peralta (R)
C – Carlos Santana (S)
RF – Shin-Soo Choo (L)
CF – Michael Brantley (L)
LF – Trevor Crowe (S)
DH – Travis Hafner (L)
Bench:
R – Austin Kearns (OF)
R – Shelley Duncan (OF/1B)
R – Jayson Nix (IF)
R – Andy Marte (3B)
R – Chris Gimenez (C/UT)
Rotation:
R – Fausto Carmona
R – Mitch Talbot
R – Justin Masterson
R – Jake Westbrook
[R – Josh Tomlin]
Bullpen:
R – Chris Perez
L – Tony Sipp
L – Rafael Perez
R – Hector Ambriz
R – Frank Herrmann
R – Joe Smith
R – Jess Todd
15-day DL:
RHP – Kerry Wood (blister on right index finger)
LHP – Aaron Laffey (left shoulder fatigue)
60-day DL:
CF – Grady Sizemore (surgery on left knee)
RHP – Anthony Reyes (Tommy John surgery)
Typical Lineup:
L – Michael Brantley (CF)
S – Asdrubal Cabrera (SS)
L – Shin-Soo Choo (RF)
S – Carlos Santana (C)
R – Matt LaPorta (1B)
L – Travis Hafner (DH)
R – Jhonny Peralta (3B)
S – Trevor Crowe (CF)
R – Jason Donald (SS)
Joba sucks!
; )
[1] Dave Eiland, Mike Harkey: stay or go?
Nice to see the Yankees finally admit the obvious and send Mitre back to the bullpen. Granted, Mosely will probably be just as bad, but watching someone else pitch miserably wont be as frustrating as watching Mitre do it again.
[3] Agreed.
Sigh, I'm stuck with the Indians announcers. Don't know much about them, maybe they'll be semi-decent.
*sigh* I can follow the game on radio indoors now. Before I had to sit out in the car and I would be without reliable access to Banter. Now it's sea water for a thirsty man...
[4] Normally, I would say your better off, but Kay isn't in the booth today.
[4] Jinx...
[6] Who is in the booth?
[8] Singleton and Flaherty.
Flash and Kenny.
[9] In effect, you trade a defective roman candle for a damp sparkler.
[11] Very nice.
Always like seeing the name, Asdrubal.
We aren't going to be Asdruballed to death, are we? A dribble here, a dribble there, pretty soon you're drowning in it.
Shin Soo Choo, who is no more than twenty two.
(OK, he's 28, but work with me here.)
[15] If you can come up with a limerick, I'll give you poetic license.
[15] Okay, but where are you going with this?
"I just looked at Suzyn and said, 'I'm amazed!'"
That's an interesting lead-in statement...
[17] Little Cindy Lou Who, who was no more than two.
Remember your Grinch.
Glad to hear Kenny qualify the Cano third fastest to 1,000 hits by mentioning "in the expansion era". Seems like everyone else left that important fact out.
[16] I can't think of one.
Hello all.
Listening to the Cleveland radio feed brings back nice memories of my nearly ten years in Ohio.
[20] There once was a catcher named 'Choo'...
19) Third fastest by age or games played (in the expansion era, of course)?
[23] At bats.
[21] I also spent ten years in Ohio. I think it was in 1989. Well, felt like ten years.
(Actually, I like Cleveland.)
[16],[20] Me neither (not for this site, anyway)...
Kenny calls a good game.
Well, that ball was "pronked" ...
[25] :)
[28] It certainly wasn't Asdruballed.
Not unexpected.
25) Haha.
In all seriousness, though, I spent nearly ten years in grad school and teaching in and around Columbus. I loved it there.
Oh, speaking of getting to 1000 hits, I haven't been watching too closely lately, but it seems like Derek's hitting the ball a little harder lately, am I wrong?
[28] Someone can work that into the limerick...
[32] Back in the days of the Clippers or just after?
33) It looks that way to me, though he is still a ground ball machine. But yeah, a couple more line drives and sharply hit balls.
[32] I thought about moving to Columbus once. We (my wife and I) were looking around the Granville area.
[34] I bet Sliced is working on it as we type... (if not, he'll start as soon as he sees this) ;)
[[35] The Clippers days...I was there from '94 to '04. I saw Jeter, Posada, Mo (I think), Nick Johnson, Ledee, Juan Rivera, blah blah. Lots of talent, some of it legitimate and a good bit AAAA level. It was fun, though.
[39] Wow, very cool!
[37] Weird...I taught for five years as an adjunct in Granville while I was finishing my dissertation. Nice, quiet college town, but most of the young profs lived in Columbus where the "action" was. I lived in Columbus and commuted.
[33] He hit the ball well in a couple games over the weekend, but nothing really sustained.
It doesn't look like the Yanks are "into" this one. Everyone's just hanging out waiting for A Rod to hit ihs stupid A Bomb
You gotta bring your A-game when Cy Westbrook is on the mound.
Now, on previous threads I expressed confidence that the Yankees would not make a silly move for the sake of it this season. However, a fluky performance by Westbrook before the deadline...
[41] Aha, Denison, right?
Yeah, I looked in the action-y part of Columbus, but my wife was not into it at all.
[43, 44] Hm. They did not bring their A-Game because they are waiting for A-Rod's A-Bomb.
A teammate of young Shin Soo Choo
Could play first base better than Who
Javy V, from the Bronx
Got his hanging curve Pronked
'Bout four hundred feet into the blue.
(I know, he doesn't play first at all, but he once did, and I'm using my license.)
[45] Yep. Denison...the (other) Big Red, where Woody Hayes cut his teeth coaching before the big time.
[48] Didn't know that!
My son is going to Oberlin, a sister of Denison's.
Fuck!
Fucking hell, he crushed that.
Stick goes Pronk!!!
[49] Musician?
I'd rather be Pronked than Swished!
Swish asdruballed that one. ; )
[47] Excellent! Gets the Nick Swisher seal of approval.
Huh. A home run. And no more no hitter. I wonder what's next?
....and Nick Swisher played for a surprisingly good OSU baseball team when we were in Columbus.
♪ Memories....♬
You have to be fucking kidding me.
THAT CLEARLY BOUNCED!
WHERE ARE OUR ROBOT UMPIRE OVERLORDS?????
Bullshit.
boooooooooooooooo
At least they're conferring. Could go either way.
[49] Ah yes, one of the Ohio Six. Pretty good schools in general. I liked Denison a lot.
[52] Yes, but in the liberal arts college, not the conservatory.
I take it that I am glad not to have seen the play. The Indians announcers almost immediately said it was a blown call.
Well, a Yankee game just isn't a Yankee game without the pure outrage from Bullshit Umpiring®
The umpiring truly gets worse every year.
[64] Ah. Cool. I went to Grinnell, so I'm all for Oberlin! :)
Javy is settling nicely into the Cashman Good Move column.
I think I'll call the Sanders Law Firm and sue MLB on behalf of baseball fans who have had their intelligence insulted and their feelings hurt by defective umpiring...
Obviously blown call in the Tampa - Detroit game. Tampa runner was clearly thrown out trying to steal. Leyland gets tossed in arguing.
[71] Detroit has been screwed left and right by umpiring this season, with the most example obviously being the perfect-o.
[72] I'd say bad umpiring is the least of the problems in Motown...
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!
He was fucking safe.
Wow, Grandy's not having a good year, huh?
He beat it.
Where's yes-mo? I say bad call #2.
[76] Umps aren't
Are you kidding me? Girardi has to get himself tossed now.
Posada's base running is contagious? Nope, the Indians announcers just admitted Granderson beat the tag.
2 feet right in front of the fucking umpire's face.
So the umps have literally cost the Yanks an entire inning of outs in the span of two innings.
[80] Not in a tie game I imagine, unless it gave the other team a chance to blow it open...
[79] Most of them think they are, which is the real problem...
I'm stuck watching the Cleveland TV. After rationalizing the AROD trap as "too close to call" ignoring the obvious bounce into the glove, even they had to admit the blown call at 2nd. That play wasn't even close -- ump was in perfect position but I guess he was so enamoured by the throw that he felt he had to call Curtis out. I used to say that the umps were about 50% on plays that actually required some skill to make the correct call (there are only about 4 a game, 3 of which are usually at 1st). Based on the last week they are at 0%.
Did we all get booted or is this game just boring?
[87] ::lurking::
"This is as sharp as we've seen Westbrook all season"
Indians announcer.
Great, just great.
In a tight game, those two blown calls really sting. Aren't we getting close to Javy's melting point?
[89] Well yeah, he's got a chance to escape...
[90] I was just about to caution you, but too late...
[89] So long as Cashman isn't watching with little valentines in his eyes, like Pepé Le Pew.
[92] Sorry, I'm listening on the computer with a big, big time lag. Didn't leave you much time.
Hooray bad base running!
[93] Heh.
Hi folks .... just got in from a long day ....
[97] And just in time for another one! >;)
Greinke gave up 6 runs in the first tonight ... let's see if we can deal Joba for him!
There is twice the amount of interesting going on in the DET/TB game right now.
[100] Yup. Keep your eyes on the Detroit Tampa game folks.
Two hits against Westbrook? It's 34 C here at 9am..tYanks losing to Cleveland, Mr. Spacely just said "guys, we're in deep doo-doo.."...this is not going to be a fun morning for Mr. Jazz, is it...
[100] Double of nothing
[101] Whoa!!!
Coming into this game, the last think I expected was Westbrook would shutdown the offense.
13. Just Fair
July 26th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Always like seeing the name, Asdrubal.
I know.... I'm really tired and my as is drubaling.
[102] Is it humid there? I wouldn't go to the fish market that afternoon if I were you...
[107] Yesterday it was, about 60% on whatever scale they use..totally drenched in sweat walking home. Today a bit sunnier and drier..summer's here are apalling, though sounds like NYC even worse!
Maybe the Yankees should trade for Westbrook just to get him out of this game.
Scherzer for Detroit still has a no-hitter going, but walked the bases loaded against TB... one out for TB in the 6th.
Pena up, sacs loaded.
[109] Hahaha
Well played, sir.
Oops... sorry. 2 BBs and an error. Full count to Pena.
STRIKES OUT PENA!
No fastballs.
Bases loaded, 2 out, full count AGAIN.
Grand Slam.
Talk about a way to break up a no hitter.
[115] 100 pitches in the 6th..no way he makes it to 9..
It's funny, but I think Javy's biggest mistake in this game was not throwing over to first on the 3-2 pitch to Choo. Brantley had such a big lead and left so early that he practically was at 2B by the time the ball landed.
GS HR, 4-0 TB ...
[106] As my friend from Tennessee liked to say, "Don't get any on ya." ; )
Even if they don't score, it would be nice if the Yankees could clear Jeter for the ninth.
Pinch run for Jorge!
Very surprised to not see a lefty here.
CURTIS!!
Goddamn Straight. That's my man!
Try and call Curtis out on that!
That was so predictable. My alter ego on Cleveland Banter is absolutely killing Manny Acta now.
[122] I actually agree with that in this situation.
[128] Can I change my mind?
YAY Grandy!
Wow, Grandy's not having a good year, huh? >;)
I'm surprised the umps got that one right; they might have called it a ground rule double because they didn't see it reach the third deck...
421' for Grandy.
Hit it, Curtis!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z66wVo7uNw
Kick save and a beauty. D'oh!
Christ. Stopped it with his foot.
Are the Indians fans chanting "Pittsburgh sucks?"
Nice change from what NY usually hears.
[127] A scary thought. Though maybe your alter ego in Cleveland is more like a Bizarro William, who agrees with all of the moves the manager makes and generally is very low key during games?
[121] Well, they did clear Jeter for the ninth :)
Jeter's infield groundouts bring me down ...
[136] I hope not....that wouldn't make him very much fun at all.
[131] 420 for Grandy! (well, not really... >;)
[138] His ABs this season have given me the same feeling as Matsui's first 2 months as a Yankee.
I abandoned my computer, but I'm checking back in: very Grand inning!
8 innings from JV would be nice.
Oh boy...3-0 to speedy Brantley.
[141] Even I have given up my usual apologia for Jeter. I just hope he's battling some secret injury and bounces back next year with one last nice season.
[127] williamcle23 is pretty pissed right now, for sure.
That's just a terrible job by Vazquez.
That, JV, is f%$#ing lame. Don't walk the lead off guy.
Walking a guy batting .157? Ouch.
So, who owns the all important eight inning tonight? Oooh, Robertson. I guess Joba is unavailable after yesterday (a serious question)?
Great...now I get my chance to kill Girardi. He takes out his starter, who is not only pitching very well, but also holds runner better than any, in favor of an erratic reliever who yields an OPS of .908 to lefties (and there are three lefties in a row).
Managers do help win and lose games, and we are getting a perfect illustration tonight.
[151] Remember, it's all a chess match and Girardi is a grand master. His gambit is unorthodox, but he's three moves ahead of the likes of you and me.
[150] well at least its not Hughes
[150] Via Lohud:
"If the Yankees have a slim lead in the eighth inning, “I’ll probably lean toward Joba,” Girardi said. “… If it’s David Robertson’s time to come in in the seventh, I’m going to bring him in. I’m not going to hold him back.”"
So I'm assuming Joba threw too many pitches yesterday.
It's not the reason because Robertson was warming earlier, but Joba has done such a terrible job holding runners, you really couldn't bring him into the game with a speedy runner on first.
[153] True, so true.
Whoo-hooo. 6-4-3. Next.
Great double play by both Jeter and Cano.
Beautiful DP!
Girardi's genius manifests itself again!
BTW, I was at Mud Hens - Bison game the other night, and who did I see pitch for Buffalo but our old friend Brian Bruney.
I'll come right out and say it...
with a lead in the division and the game, and their ace going tomorrow...you might as well see if ya got something in Boone Logan here.
[160] Trust the Process!! (Wait, that's for Royals Ruffians.com.. I lurk there sometimes..)
Robertson gets a DP and is quickly removed for Logan. Knight to e4.
[162] I hate bullpen roulette under all circumstances.
Interesting...now this move makes perfect sense. Kind of weird that he would burn Robertson for one batter when Cabrera really doesn't hit well from either side, but going to Logan here makes sense.
[164] Hm, a strange move, Mr. Girardi... I believe you have made a fatal mistake... bwah ha haha ahaha aha!
[164] [165] Choo and Santana both struggled against lefties, but murder righties, so in this case, I think Logan is the right move.
Of course, that doesn't mean Boone wont blow it.
Wow!
Amazing.
there ya go
[164] [167] Damn, you, Girardi! I am foiled again!!!
Good job Boone.
if anyone can pull off the Hitler mustache in 2010, its His Airness.
[160]
http://tinyurl.com/y6j9pxj
[173] ???? MJ??
If anyone can think of consecutive batters with better names than Asdrubal and Shin-Soo I'd like to be privy to that info. : )
I'm still trying to figure out what Jordan is doing with that... Did like his nice little putdown of LeBron the other day though. "In my day, I was trying to beat Magic and Bird."
[175] haha yeah, he rocks it in the new Hanes commercial running on YES...it suits him well.
I love how he just owns it. Like "yeah, I'm MJ...I have 6 rings, if I feel like growing a Hitler stache you're not gonna stop me." Gotta respect that.
I think A-Rod gets #600 here.
C'Mon, Tigers. Get your shit together.
Damn. He missed it.
That was his pitch.
[178] MJ is our Babe Ruth, can do whatever he wants..but I don't get the ripping of LeBron evereywhere. Guy can play where he wants! Sportswriters are so lame..
[179] Or not. I forgot they are NOT playing in an elevator shaft.
Cano is going to set some kind of record for IBB.
[182] yeah I agree, but I think if you were here you'd get the rage. Its not that he left, I don't think anyone holds that against him, its that he went on national television and basically humiliated his hometown for no real reason.
Its one thing for your girlfriend to dump you, its another thing for her to dump you for Brad Pitt live on the jumbotron during halftime of the Super Bowl
[182] I'm giving that really Serious Consideration, trust me... >;)
IBB to face Posada. Doesn't happen often...
[182] Plus he's giving up $ for championships.
Make 'em pay, Jorge.
[182] I think some are put off by what looks like collusion by a few very good players to create a sort of super-team. I don't care about it much one way or another, but then I don't a shit about the NBA. But I can see how it might rub some people the wrong way. And in any case, MJ's comment was funny: he didn't say it was wrong, only that he beat the best players in the league. He didn't need to join up with them.
Whatever. Tempest, tea pot.
[187] actually i realize it's happened a fair amount this year. but in general gotta be a new feeling for Hip Hip
Damn...I thought Progressive was supposed to provide insurance.
Damn. Soclose. Guess I was being tooptomistic.
damn
It was all about the way it was handled. An hour-long special? As others have said, Jordan unretired with a two-word fax. It actually made A-Rod's opt-out announcement in 2006 look classy. Plus, it followed his bizarre performance in the latter half of the Boston series.
[184] Bonds had 120 in 2004, ain't nobody touching that
joba for the close?
hehe
Sterling did it again...
[185] Brad pretty much did that already, if I recall...
[191]
+1
[184] Maybe the Yankee record for IBB?
[185/6/9] The tv special was ridiculous, of course..but why did people watch it? LeBron is 25 years old! Damn, how many bad decisions did I make at that age? The whole Bill Simmons idea of "legacy" and " tortured fan base" is pathetic..sorry but I just feel there are many people out there that don't like seeing LeBron do as he pleases..he owes Cleveland nothing!
Bring it, Chyll!!
[195] I was actually thinking for a 2B...turns out the record is 21, although Cano has already set the record for most IBB by a Yankee 2B.
[196] Stop that...
Mariano..0.98 ERA...wow...
1 down in Tampa
[200] Questions that I intend to find an answer for, plus questions you might not have thought to ask...
[200] I did a lot of dumb things when I was 25. I'm not sure that relative "youth" of 25 absolved me. You are correct of course that James does not really owe anyone anything. On the other hand, you're being unrealistic and maybe a bit unfair not to expect, even allow, some people to be off put by the entire circus.
Why MLB is not showing Garza live is beyond me.
Anyone have stats about Mo's first pitch?
It seems like he's 1-0 a lot more this season than ever before.
Mo not sharp tonight.
Gulp.
[207] Because the game is on ESPN.
No no for Garza ... 1 walk
No no for Garza!
Arod looked very spry on that play.
[207] I'm tuned in, it seems they're having technical difficulties
Mariano Rivera.
no no for TB
Bros Icing Brogna had Matty Garza going tonight, that should be like 20 fantasy points for me
Mariano Rivera, ladies and gentlemen.
232 BBs total for Barry in 2004. Just a sick, sicik year.
Oh... he hit 45 HRs that year (between walks)!
Thanks be to Mo.
Mo.
What more needs to be said.
Mo closes it. God, i'm gonna miss this guy when he retires.
Mo.
All rise. Hope Garza's tired for the rest of the year.
Well, that turned out to be an interesting game after all...
GFY Matt Garza!!!
the Rays play a clip of Johnny Drama screaming "VICTORY!!!" after a win?? Can we contract this team please?
God, I love this guy.
Great game today, didn't want the story to be how the Rays are so good because of Garza's no-no.
Curtis beams enthusiasm. Good dude for sure.
off to watch armageddon :-)
[206] That same media that enables such a circus is the one acting horrifed at his "betrayal" and "immaturity"..one advantage being far away, I can just focus on the games and avoid all the nattering nabobs!
[208] Mo has gone to a 1-0 on 44% of hitters, compared to 38% for his career.
Amazing - the quick scan I just did shows the Banter to have reacted to Girardi's moves almost completely in the opposite manner of my reactions.
Reflections to follow...
[234] Cheers! So I'm not crazy.
I'm guessing that's still insanely below league average.
That the 5th No-No this season?? Wow..
[233] Works both ways though...Lebron is Lebron because so many people care about every little thing he does.
[237] That is correct. Haven't seen that many since '91
Great win. So, does Joe G. get a little credit?
[233] As I get older, the more I think this argument is somewhat bogus. Inasmuch as sports news is, well, news, then sports news agencies have an obligation to report the goings on. That does not mean that the various talking heads, especially those hired to give editorial opinions, should be disallowed from passing judgment on the events.
Again, I personally don't care very much about this particular affair. But I do understand how some people would be rubbed the wrong way by the way it unfolded.
So... as someone who falls very regularly on the side of defending Girardi, I thought he was simply awful tonight. They won the game, but there were multiple instances that had me thinking, "if he wants to go to Chicago, fine."
The first complaint is a small one, hewing dangerously close to the pointless. But I get pissed off when no one on the Yankees' bench seems to make a move or a peep on a call like the CG call at 2nd. My naked-eye view on first watch said that I thought Curtis was safe. I sure as hell thought it was dicey. And the replay showed that he was CLEARLY safe (note to announcers: stop referring to such a thing as a "great play" - it is not a great play - rather, it is a "great throw"; if the umpires weren't such fat. useless sacks of crap, Curtis is standing on 2nd, and we have a nice 2nd and 3rd, 1 out opportunity to squander).
No move from Girardi or the bench to complain reinforced my impression that the team was sleepwalking through this game up to the Posada at bat (great, great AB), and the Granderson bomb.
Funny, though, I walked away from the game for one moment and was cursing Girardi for not pinch running for Jorge there. Imo, Joe got lucky. I think with no outs, it is inexcusable not to have a guy who can go from 1st to 3rd better than Jorge in the game. Then, boom. Mistake erased.
Here's where I really differed from the other Banterers: I hated Javy coming out for the 8th. This guy doesn't lose it according to pitch count. And Javy can sigh all he wants, but when you walk the lead off batter, you have nowhere to look except the mirror.
Javy had been losing it, gradually, inning to inning at that point. His velocity declined each late inning, and his location grew progressively worse.
He gave up the 2nd run in the 6th, wriggled out of 1st and 3rd in the 7th, and on the one batter in the 8th, he had sweet fuck all for velocity and his location was terrible enough to walk a guy hitting something like .170 who can run like the wind.
I didn't need to see him pitch the first batter of the 8th to know I didn't want to see him in the 8th.
[233] one advantage being far away, I can just focus on the games and avoid all the nattering nabobs!
And yet, ironically, you are the one who set this discussion in motion [182]!
[241] Reporting the goings on in sports is fine. Having a "Countdown box" to the Decision on your front page, putting on a one-hour special...this is excess. LeBron was misguided with that idiotic special and the "taking his talents.." line..but he's ultimately a good guy and awesome b'ball player. Anyone writing editroials or burning a jersey about the matter..jeez, get a life!
Same with all the A-Rod nonsense..top-10 all time player, that's all that counts. (well, i DID love the centaur bit, though..)
[243] Only because I value the collective Banter opinions so much, sir!!
[244] But presumably ESPN et al would not run a countdown to decision (etc) if there was not a market for it. I can't blame the network for providing a service that is in demand. At the same time, I can't blame talking heads on this or that opinion show for expressing distaste for it.
In fact, that's the beauty of this whole affair. There is a market demanding hourly updates, waiting to tune in to the press conference, and probably an equally large number of consumers completely turned off by the whole deal.
[246] Is there really a market for it, though? Have you ever met ANYone who said "can't wait to watch 4 hours of ESPN coverage of the Decision"?
The again, I spend wayyyy too many hours at this place so...
More and more I find ESPN unreadable..having RIck Reily and Bill Simmons as your two star columnists? Yuck...
Anyway, enough discussion of the NBA. (I would definitely support a new posting guideline banning all NBA talk, but that's just me).
It looks like good old Canadian sports TV is switching over to the Sox-Angels game. I love me some west coast baseball.
[248] No NBA, no soccer...damn Prof, what next..no beer or jazz talk?? :)
Sox-Angels..i'll be in and out. Mr. Spacely gone for rest of the day so time to ease back the pedal..where's thelarmis for some choice Sox profanity?
Here my thoughts seem to be a complete departure from the rest of you - I was pleased that at least Vasquez was lifted after that one batter, with no chance to lose, and no chance to provide further evidence of what I felt I could see pretty clearly - he had pitched his best baseball of the night, and anything to come would be much worse.
I have really liked everything I've seen out of Robertson recently - stuff, velocity, mound presence, composure, competitiveness - and I thought that the moment CG's ball landed in the seats, this became a precious game to steal. Which means go to the guy absolutely most capable of pitching the 8th, which is D Rob (not Vasquez, and not Joba).
I was very grateful to see DR and not Joba, period.
I hated the move to bring in Boone Logan. My thinking had a few factors in mind - 1) I don't think Logan has the stuff to make lefties look stupid in a way that even Marte has (I am always a bigger Marte supporter than most, and think that when he's right, he can look awfully good), 2) Robertson is your best pitcher out of your bullpen right now, period. There's nothing wrong with having your best pitcher, who has shown good stuff out of the gate tonight, already, on the hill for ALL of the outs in the 8th inning. 3) If by some chance the Indians tie the game because of your over-managing, you just burned your best bullpen arm on one batter. Me no likey.
Again, Girardi got away with it. I admit, that I'm becoming a bit intrigued by Loone Bogan (v2) - and have been a bit from the first outing I saw from him this year. But our LOOGY did make one big mistake on a hanger to Chu, which means Girardi got away with one. Admittedly, take away that one pitch, and Loone actually made Chu look silly.
I guess that's all I was annoyed with tonight, but I thought those were big moves and the wrong moves. I was very frustrated with hyper-Joe tonight.
But winning cures all frustration - I like those W's. So these are just thoughts.
Two other things:
Singleton said exactly what I was thinking - is it pretty much clear cut that Robby has the strongest arm of any 2B in the league - like, maybe, it isn't that close? Because his arm is sick.
And Mo is a marvel. There may not have been maximum cut going on, but 93, 94, 93??!??!
Mo's velocity has been astounding at times, this year.
Me likey.
Thanks be to Mo. Man, is he amazing. And Cleveland fans who packed it in - passing up the opportunity to see Mariano work? That is a missed opportunity.
These days, there is demand for any and all voyeuristic opportunities... but I'm not sure you can call it news. We even love watching fat people lose weight.
In the 60's, many reporters knew JFK was sleeping around, including with MM. Yet is wasn't reported, becauses ideas like 'taste' and 'personal' still had value.
The fact that there is 'demand' may seem like justification, but you wonder in today's day and age, when the media will draw the line... if ever.
[247] My last post on this.
Look at the following:
http://tinyurl.com/29wxn4c
The articles claims that The Decision was a huge ratings draw. The money quote:
Someone was watching, whether I happened to meet them or not.
[246] Funny, ESPN's ombudsman excoriated the network for covering the issue the way they did...
[249] Jazz talk allowed only in its own threads. Beer talk, however, anytime. ; )
KC getting stomped on by the Twins, 17-0 in the seventh...
[254] In the 60′s, many reporters knew JFK was sleeping around, including with MM. Yet is wasn’t reported, becauses ideas like ‘taste’ and ‘personal’ still had value.
We could debate whether it was a good thing or not that the press used to collude with public officials on certain matters that THEY deemed the public should not or did not want to know about.
But in any case,. I'm not sure that an athlete's decision to sign with X or Y team, for which he announced a special press conference well in advance, counts as "personal" and is most certainly "news" within the context of the relatively unimportant world of pofessional sports.
[254] I had a Paulaner Hefe-Weizen the other night that was so good..I had to walk down to the shop to buy another one...end of story...
Oh, Laptop is off the DL? Wonder if Boston can climb back in the race..
[257] Hear me now and listen to me later: Boston is cooked this season. If they are clever, they should be sellers this year and build up depth for the upcoming seasons.
[258] Of course, as I typed that comment, Boston is making me even happier that the Yankees didn't give up a fistful of prospects for Haren.
[259] What's gotten into Adrian Beltre this year? His O is up, and D is down...
Wait a sceond, that could be interpreted in a way I do not mean...
Haren is a beast, they should have gone for him. Signed til 2010 too!
[260] I reiterate my skepticism over Haren. I know his peripherals are all good, but as I've written before, I have a bad feeling about him going forward.
[260] My guess is he's wearing a cup this year...
[261] You'll love this: http://www.npbtracker.com/2010/07/gyro-cutter/
[262] Ouch...I had forgot about that....
[263] GYROBALL!!!
Nothing? Nothing even on Loone Bogan? I think that needs to catch on.
Funny how life is, the one night I'm all up in arms about Girardi's managing is the one night the Joe-no naysayers were all phoning in versions of themselves from opposite-land.
Ha - and I was just going to note that it is 19-0 in the Minny-KC game, but just like that it is 19-1.
Hello All,
Dan Haren in his Angels debut is hit on his pitching forearm by Youk...out of the game. Welcome back to the American League Dan.
I missed the game tonight...nice pitching by Javy, and Granderson is without a doubt heating up. He probably is still coming back from his injury. Grandy been grappling with that groin.