The Blue Jays are in town for three. Man, I don’t like those dudes. I’ve been bracing myself to hate them all season. Yanks will play them a lot in the second half so we shall see…
Hughes is on the hill. As per Katie Sharp over at ESPN New York:
Hughes hasn’t allowed a home run in his past three starts. Only twice before in his career has he had a longer homerless streak as a starter: a five-game streak in 2008 and another one in 2010.
That means he’ll give up three tonight, right?
1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. A-Rod 3B
4. Cano 2B
5. Teixeira 1B
6. Swisher RF
7. Ibanez LF
8. Chavez DH
9. Martin C
Never mind the rumor mill: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via Nature Notes]
As per Jack Curry on Twitter:
Girardi said Gardner "came up sore" today and won't play in rehab game. Girardi said it is a concern and also called it puzzling.
Man, it feels as if this might be a lost year for Grittner. Maybe they pull the trigger on a guy like Victorino after all.
Bobby V. is doubling down:
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8168192/boston-red-sox-bobby-valentine-blames-kevin-youkilis-poor-relationship
May have to watch the start of this game.
[2] Definitely, just to see the crowd reaction. I bet he gets a HUGE ovation. Partly for him, but also partly to rub it in Bobby V's face. I find this whole thing a bit more delicious than I care to admit.
I wonder if Padilla will hit him.
If Gardner cannot play the rest of the year, the Yankees will need another outfielder, if not for the regular season then the postseason. I'd still like them to promote Ronnier Mustelier, who is still hitting near .300 and brings the added benefit of being able to play the infield.
If he's not too expensive, Victorino is an interesting thought. He's havig his worst year, so it would be a buy low deal. He is a GG OFer, switch hitter, has averaged an .800 OPS over the previous 3 years, and is an 15 HR/yr guy.
He's not a stud, and not nearly as good as Swisher, but seems like a solid player. Between Gritner's health, and the Swisher/Granderson cobtracts, it wouldn't be bad to have an extra, solid OFer.
Standing O for Youk.
ARod is just OFF. He swings at bad pitches and missed good pitches. Is he just pressing????
[8] His OPS since the AS break is .923.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuughes.
Martin!
Muscle.
Chasin the Trane!
So RI, what's happening at Fenway? Did Youks' white sox blush red from the reaction of the fans?
[13] He did single and then scored on an error, but I didn't see any of it.
Phil needed a quick inning, good.
Now let's go!
Here's Youk again. (NESN is lauding him.)
Well, shut the barn door (and my mouth). Arod stroked that.
Youk doubles on the ninth pitch of the AB. The crowd gives him a Yoooooooooouk.
Damn, now I'm missing the good stuff in the Yankee game! Back-to-back doubles!
Adam Dunn bounces to first to strand Youk at second.
[18] He must be getting a tingle in that down low spot.
Cano just needs 37 more straight games with a hit...
Argh. Well, there goes that streak.
Bound to happen.
I was just thinking that Toronto has nothing tonight. Hughes got pissed after the HR, and that curve (slider?) was the nastiest on that strikeout of Escobar.
I can actually believe that the hot weather got that hit out of the park. Six or seven feet is believable. Bad luck for Phil, I guess.
Uh oh.
Calm down, Philip. Just hit the glove.
Attaboy!
Very loud out.
Youk is up again...
Full count...
He doubles again! Holy fuck. Three PA, single, double, double.
So let's see, that makes Youk's career OPS against the Red Sox... hmmm... 2.667. That's good!
Dunn grounds out to second, Youkalis to third with two out.
Oh jeez, and again I miss back-to-back doubles in Yankee Stadium, this time for the bad guys. Dang.
Pop up strands Youk at third.
[28] serves Bobby V. Right.
Bad luck, Rob.
Come on, let's score here. Then Phil and mix and match for the seventh, and D-Rob and Soriano to finish.
Missed it by that much.
DAMMIT.
I wanted a run.
Okay, good job by Phil.
NOW we need a run or two, and then slam the door.
nice job by Phil. Now get some runs.
3-4-1. Great play!
What I Miss, Where's the Score Truck delivery?
Teix! And Rob! And D-Rob!
[39] Coltrane homer. Back-to-back doubles from A-Rod and Cano. Good Hughes. That's about it.
[39] bad gas. It's stalled out.
Oh no.
Oh, man. I really like Bautista -- he's an admirable player. Damn.
[41[[42] Thanks!
What happend to Bautista? I like him too..that swing is a force of nature.
Double play here.
[45] Just now, while he was batting, he fouled one off and clutched his hand. O'Neill thinks it's his hamate bone. (!!!) Had to leave the game.
Well that was lucky. D-Rob is a little lucky this inning, and not so much good.
Good enough. Not classic Hammer, but it'll do.
[47] I'll need to look up where the "hamate bone" is..but sounds painful.
I'll take that. Now drive A-Rod in.
BB to Crawford, BB to Ortiz, A-Gon, she-gone. 4-1 in favor of the Scarlet.
[52] RIYank..now you've gone and put an image of Big Papi, Hawk Harrelson and Scarlett Johannsen in my head..that's not how I want to see the lovey Ms. SJ...
Where the fuck was Teixeira going???
c'mon Nick.
[53] Hm. Well, imagine her popping holes in them, as Natasha Romanoff.
God, Paul is just yammering. It's hard to take.
Can't walk in the go ahead run, have to throw a strike here.
Oi! Pull the friggin' trigger!
Got to swing the bat with the bases juiced, Swisher!!
I take it Nick's been looking great today?
Wow.
If Nick had been looking for a breaking pitch, that ball would have been crushed. Just fooled him.
YES! Like tha! : )
BOOM!
Ra-OOOOOOOOOL!
What a werewolf!
The Grand Salami! Yayyyy!
Dino ain't extinct yet.
Ya think, Paul? Ya think that's a "game-changer right there"? Huh. Could be right.
Oh FUCK YEAH.
Soriano is thinking, "Fuck, no Save for me."
[68] Raul. Veteran that knows how to win!
But Raul looks good
[72] And so does Russell, believe it or not.
So, will Soriano pitch the ninth, or not?
Not.
Okay, so it's a Save situation after all.
Save situation.
Clownish.
That bottom of the eight was tense, but Raul chilled us all. Soriano has to sweep up the crumbs, making a few himself.
Why weren't all the infielders screaming at Chavez to throw home??
Nice win. Soriano looks so angry with the untuck.
Yankees win!
Good night all.
Untucked of the North!
Okay. Deserved that S.
Good work, team. Keep rolling!
[80] It was hard to hear over the din of circus music.