Yanks go for seconds this afternoon against the Jays at the Stadium.
It’s the Big Fella.
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Andruw Jones RF
Curtis Granderson CF
Steve Pearce DH
Jayson Nix 3B
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Chris Stewart C
Oh, Scoretruck, where art thou?
Never mind those Birds on the Creep: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Jacinda Russell]
Oh, Scoretruck, where art thou?
I think some guy named Steve Pearce drove off with it.
Efficiency par excellence!
On pace for a 40-pitch CG.
Wow, some lineup. Is it the Cashman-Girardi strategy to loll opposing teams into a false sense of security, and then crush them with cotton balls?
Glug.
E-6
[4] It's too bad there was no room for Russel Branyan. I'd rather him than McGehee or Pearce.
Meanwhile, defensive wizard Chris Stewart.
CC: awesome.
Others: not so awesome.
Nice. Good K there C.C.
[6] jEter.
[7] i think russell the mussell was hurt. don't know if he still is, however...
That's better, DJ.
Sigh.
I'm falling in love, all over again.
the hits keep coming!
[10] He was, but then also (I think) he had some release-me clause that was triggered in August. He's no longer in the organization, I believe.
Small strike zone.
I guess that favors our side today.
I request not the double play buggy or the men-left-on-base bike, but the SCORE TRUCK.
[14] acha. that sounds about right and par for the course...
Productive!
ok, c'mon cleanup hitter!
Okay, not horrible but not what we wanted either. Two runs must score. Otherwise: disappointment.
[19] Keep in mind that "clean up hitter" often means something different for the NY Yankees.
More productive!
[20] Expected runs with one out and runners on second and third: 1.45.
Aha! There's one.
tones for jones bones!
It's a start...we wannum more.
Gift run!
Good hustle, Curtis. Good slide, Andruw.
there's the deuce!
Pearce!
pearced.
He really Pearced that one.
Oh, hey, 28 29 30, that's impressive.
So not good.
Well, you don't see that everyday. Another basebrawl move (for those who remember the bit in Mad magazine from the 70s).
6.06c, batter's interference.
Bare hand = bad
Dear CC,
PLEASE DON'T STICK YOUR HAND OUT LIKE THAT.
Thanks,
RIY
Hey, GameDay got the rule!
"Yunel Escobar strikes out swinging. Yunel Escobar out on batter's interference."
nixed.
I will say, the bottom half of the order keeps the game moving.
Big guy, just keep your hands down.
I really hate these spring training games.
Oh good, the other team is trying plays!
um. this is not good.
Jeez, fielders are doing CC no fuggin favors.
Jeez.
Three hits, end-to-end they traveled about 250 feet.
triple plus ungood.
ok, let's pretend this was us.
bases loaded, nobody out.
perfect situation. no runs scored.
lead intact!
This has not been Chris Stewart's best game.
Goddam. That was nice.
But why did Chris throw to third?
[47] So far, so good.
well, that seems pretty cool!
wish i actually, you know, got to see it...
[50] After effects of getting whacked with the bat. That's the charitable answer.
[49 I think he saw someone running to third and forgot who it was
Crud.
At least that was a real hit.
The unacceptable part of this inning is that it started with a Jeff Mathis hit
Argh.
The Blue Jays' bloopers and bleeders v. the Yankees' three-man lineup. It's an epic battle so far.
fuck.
This is one of my least favorite innings.
Al is right, bad counts.
Oh for fuckin crying out loud.
jesus fucking christ.
really?
Oh, Scoretruck, where art thou?
I think
some guy named Steve Pearcethe Blue Jays drove off with it.forthcoming base hit will make it 5-2...
Better count...
Better result.
Glad this is a day game and I'm at work.
Not to fear---the Yankees only three hitters bat this inning.
[63] Unnostralarmis.
[66] They need to get some base runners on for Pearce.
[67] practicing my reverse predictions.
claudia schiffer will NOT be sleeping in my bed tonight!
[cannot wait to get home from work later!!!]
I'm excited for the Yankees new middle of the order power house "Steve Pearce," so I don't know why you guys are mocking him.
Meanwhile, why did they not put Teixera on the DL, but instead chose to designate McGehee to make room for Pearce. All reports seem to indicate Teix is going to miss at least a week, maybe more.
[71] The roster will expand, so it's really only four days. Girardi talked about it yesterday (or the day before).
swish is a walkin' dude.
[71] Look, I don't know what this "Steve Pearce" character is all about, but anything that rid us of Casey McGehee, even temporarily, has to be a plus.
oh, rob.
where's craig wilson when ya need him...
That shift is ineffective against the BB.
cash 'em in, grandy.
What in the living hell was that?
Oh hell yes.
Thank god he swung at that crappy fifth pitch!!!
Cripes, this is a little league game.
Thelarmis, Davis totally misplayed the ball -- started in on it before he realized it was too deep -- and turned an easy fly ball into a double.
Seriously, if Granderson had held up on ball four, the bases would have been loaded for Steve Pearce (which is, of course, the moment we've all been waiting for).
Oh, "Steve Pearce."
Pearced!
[78] Nostra is BACK!!!
hmmm, i need to now reverse my claudia schiffer scenario...
[72] Still, that seems like a weak answer. If he's going to be out for that long, they might as well DL him---regardless of whether rosters expand. And if it's only four days, why bother even adding a worthless piece like Pearce. Why not, say, call up Dickerson and put Swisher at 1B?
[82] oh, thanks!
man, these guys frickin' suck out there today!
[87] Chris Dickerson is left handed.
The Steve Pearce Era has begun inauspiciously.
[90] Especially for someone who is apparently a middle of the order force.
[87] Oh, because if they DL Teixeira they lose him for an extra week, that's all.
Now, why Pearce instead of Dickerson... that's a complete mystery. There's obviously something about Pearce that Girardi likes. (Australian like vegemite.)
[89] I right, I forgot about the Iron Law of Backup Player Handedness.
[92] Chris Dickerson is left handed. We really don't need to dig deeper than that.
[92] But they're likely not to lose him for a full extra week, at least if what I have read is accurate. It seems like a lot oc machinations to maybe save a couple days of Teixera in a week and a half.
That's more like it.
[95] Not following you.
My understanding is that Teixeira will need about a week off.
If the DLed him, that would be 15 days.
So the cost of DLing him is about a week.
Girardi thought the extra roster player for four days was not worth it. That seems right to me.
Ichiroed!
Ichi!
IIIIIIIIchiro!
Monkeypants, I know you're disappointed that the bottom guys are making this inning longer.
Damn, Chris Pearced that one.
[99] Scratchi!
[sorry. couldn't resist...]
[101] that's pretty awesome, man.
Oooooooh.
Respect, and disrespect.
Wow, that is a really dumb move. Holy smokes. Does Girardi look envious?
loading the bases for swish.
i'm sure he's licking his chops...
[97] According to Riveraveblues: The Yankees lost more than just a game last night, as Mark Teixeira went down with a Grade I calf strain that will cost him no less than one week.
So we are talking a week at minimum. Now, the team went to the trouble of getting McGehee---I'm not saying he's good or worth anything, but that is besides the point. The team made the move to acquire him. Then Teix went down for at least a week, and instead of any number of roster moves---the most obvious being putting Teix on the DL---they designate the very player they had just bothered to acquire, and he's primarily a 1B.
This then required the addition of *another* BU1B, despite the fact that Chavez and Swisher can also play 1B.
I just don't get it.
Just relax, Nick. Do what comes naturally, don't get too excited...
FUG!
Goddamit, Nick.
[108] too excited IS what comes to him naturally.
[101] A pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, Swisher picked up where Steve Pearce left off.
oh, swish.
[107] The only part I'm defending is not DL-ing Teixeira.
Of course if he's out for 15 days anyway, then it's a mistake, but they thought at the time that it was likely to be just a week, so given that evidence it was sensible not to put in on the DL. The point is that the cost of leaving him on the roster is low, because of the coming roster expansion.
hey, who was the god awful reliever we dumped to get casey? i forgot already! the move was worth it just for that...
dude's at 90 pitches already.
[110] Hm, good point.
Okay, it's time for some Blue Jay to do something really dumb so we can score here...
Nix could try to steal home with this goofy defensive alignment.
oh, fuck.
that truly sucks.
alright, i gotta get ready for work...
WTF?
Those last two pitches looked like the kind that Rob deposits in the bleachers.
Now I understand. At any given time only three batters in the Yankees lineup can hit. It is usually but not necessarily the first three batter.
[114] Chad Qualis.
[121] oh yeah, Qualls.
i'd probably like Chad Qualis better, though. seems like he'd be more of a quality pitcher.
NIce play.
Effortless.
Thelarmis, you would have enjoyed that Cano play. And [122] shut up.
[125] : )
heading into the shower, so my voice is silenced!
There ya go, speedy quick through the bottom.
You know, I'm beginning to have some real doubts that this "Steve Pearce" is the middle of the order hitter the Yankees are promoting him as.
Huh. If Andruw had just laid there for a while, it has to be called a catch. (It's not totally clear that it wasn't a catch, imho.)
[128] SSS.
:-(
This is a pile of horseshit.
Man, C.C., you are sucking ass today, huh?
fer fuck's sake.
i take a shower and we lose the lead? i shudder to think what'll happen when i go to work in a few minutes.
bollocks!
[and why are what'll and that'd not allowed to contracted?]
that's 9 hits off the very large man.
I dunno, I don't think he was pitching that badly. Nine hits, but several really crappy ones; eight K in six IP. The homer was the only real smudge.
Not his best game, but better than the 5 ER would indicate.
Okay, I want two of these stiffs to get on base.
[136] i agree. esp. the k:bb ratio. and yeah, some bloops and bleeders.
only 2 ER. (on the homer)
There's one.
there's one stiff!
stiffed.
I said two.
Not good enough.
Did they PH for Stewart? I had to step out for a second or three and missed the AB.
Ah, the Jays announcers just informed me that Girardi is in the process of using three players for one PH maneuver. That's that ol' NL style managing.
That was awesome.
[144] Three?
Chavez and Martin come in for Stewart and Nix. Double switch.
Ahhhh.
Now that's the old Ichiro.
Okay. Three innings. At least two runs. This can be done.
Don't fuck it up, boys.
[146] They meant, I think, that three players including Stewart were used to PH for Stewart, which is pretty much what happened with the double switch. However, the double switch was the correct move since using Martin as a PH would have been somewhat silly.
[148] You are far more confident than I.
[149] Oh, right. Yes, it's exactly like the NL double switch, since Martin and Stewart are essentially pitchers, as far as hitting is concerned. Just exchange "ca" for "pi".
Sure, now, Rob. Not last time, with the bases loaded...
Why no Ibanez here?
Absolutely friggin' hapless.
C'mon Curtis!
Losing a series to this awful team would be a disgrace.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
So, correct me if I'm wrong---in the bottom of the 9th it will come down to:
Steve Pearce
Russell Martin
Ichiro Suzuki
[157] Hmmmmmmmmm.
Ibanez will PH.
Yeah and no offense but D. Lowe doesn't inspire confidence here.
[157] Well, bottom of the 8th
Another recent acquisition doing his job, I see.
Aha, there's something Lowe cannot do.
[158][160] Aha...I'm off an inning. I guess Girardi did not use Ibanez because it was only the 7th rather than 8th inning.
This will rank high in worst losses of the season if they screw the pooch here.
Rouxlette.
I would go to D-Rob here. Need a K or a pop-up.
Please...no throws to first.
However, that worked.
Platoon Power.
Aw fuck, not Eppley.
Give the wheel a spin!
I mean seriously, we need a platoon matchup against JEFF MATHIS?
[169] Binder rouxlette rules. No closer or set up man when down by a run.
Am I just particularly cranky or weak-willed if I say here - I give up. I can't take this team anymore. Leave a small village on base. Constantly fail to get the big hit as the game wears on. "Ace" blows two leads, and blows them absolutely pathetically. Have only two pitchers worth a damn in the bullpen. Black hole after black hole in the lineup. Strikeouts galore. Get given an ABSOLUTE GIFT by Rajai Davis and still can't take a game they have to have.
Just discovered I'd paid for MLB.tv premium all year and had never used it, because I logged in with the wrong account and thought I didn't have it. Wondering if they'll allow me to transfer it to someone else. Because I can't keep wasting four hours like this and reaping the collateral damage. I've felt for two or three weeks at this point like this team isn't going to make the playoffs period. I can't take the ageta.
BA v. RHP .273
BA v. LHP .326
WHIP 1.51
Hey, that was a play.
Hmph.
A play, and it worked. Sometimes that does happen.
Jeff. Fucking. Mathis.
Yeah, as if it wasn't predictable for Mathis to shtup us for the 3,501st time.
Swisher didn't know how many outs there were. Team sleepwalking?
Oh, good, Steve Pearce.
Seriously - anyone know if you can transfer an mlb.tv subscription? My health just can't take this shit anymore. I know there are a lot of injuries (of course, all the competition has the same thing), but it's the pitiful, repetitive, pluck-less way they lose these games that I'm losing my ability to stomach.
[173] Ferchrissakes they are in first place. What the hell are you talkin' about? Or was that rant tongue in cheek?
Comeback! Let's GO
[181] You ARE serious. This is baseball.
Ibanez must think he's Steve Pearce.
The most frustrating thing is that this game had SO much potential to be a laugher - in our favor. This will/would be a dreadful dreadful loss.
Good AB here, Russ...
Hang in RUSS!
Huh.
Can't predict baseball.
FUCK YES
Let's GO. Get him home. Keep it moving.
[185] "Ibanez"
Big spot for Ichi here.
Stop with the bunting already.
[192] No, I'm like 99 percent positive Ibanez exists.
I still think this "Steve Pearce" character may be some random right handed guy they found on the street to placate Girardi's platoon obsesseion.
I'm not even sure this "Steve Pearce" is the same as last night's "Steve Pearce."
Bad AB for Ichi there.
Keep battling Chavie.
Unbelievable.
Tying run on second, nobody out. You fucking guys gotta get him in, man.
This fuggin blows.
Am I the only one who has noticed that Ichiro can't sac bunt? That's been obvious for a number of games now. I just can't take this. When I was younger, there was no "real life" for this to interfere with - now their crappiness completely fucks with my real life and wastes time I can't afford to waste. They're killing me.
[182] I'm totally serious. I know they're in first place but I don't think they're anywhere near as good as the six other teams in the mix for the playoffs. I don't think they're making the playoffs. They've been dreadful for a very long stretch now. They've got like two hitters who are getting it done, and two guys in the bullpen who are getting worn down to a nub. This doesn't look like a good team. They could be out of a playoff spot within ten days.
Oy!
"They could be out of a playoff spot within ten days."
JJ, I know this is what you do, but you're coming unhinged.
That's nice. It's just a pleasure watching this fucking team.
[204] Look at who they're playing - I don't want to believe it, but have a look at the standings. Not only is there no cushion in the division, but there is no cushion in the freaking wild card race.
You hope they'll raise their level, but there are a TON of bad pieces on this team right now, and they've shown us nothing to make us believe they can play well against the best teams in the league.
It pains me to say it, but I don't think it's that outlandish a statement.
I'm certainly not an optimist. I think Joe Girardi is among the worst managers (if not the worst) in the game and his bizarre obsessions are a drag on the team, and have contributed heavily to their recent slide.
I still think the Yankees are the best team in the American League and will end the season in first place, at or about the best record.
Oh, and I don't mean "out" like "it's over," I just mean "no longer in playoff position if the season were to end at the end of those ten days."
I hate that the government doesn't let me gamble online. The moment Tex went down, I would have plunked down a nice sum on Yanks to not make the playoffs. I'm not saying that I viewed it as the most likely scenario, but I'm positive that the odds would have been misvalued. It would have made a good bet. And a great hedge, because I'll be so fucking disappointed if/when that happens.
[207] I hope you're right, but what about all the black holes in the lineup, the absolute inability to push runs across, the lack of any bullpen beyond two guys (until we get Phelps back there - if we do), the lack of any ability to pull out close ballgames when they're down - what about any of that gives you the confidence you seem to have?
I CAN STAND THIS FUCKING MATCHUP BULLSHIT.
Holy crap, Rapada. What a bunch of shit.
Oh great, empty the bullpen, then we'll tie up the game in the bottom of the ninth, and be out of pitchers for extra innings.
Oh, this is just delightful. And now Joba with the bases loaded. ROFLMAO. Kill me now.
And as to their inability to get runners in, just how much does this team resemble a football team where you want to cry when the guy gets caught at the five. Just like with the Yankees where you know if it doesn't go out, the run is unlikely, have any of you rooted for a football team like that, where you know it's a big deal, even if the guy gets caught at the two? This seems like an on point analogy to me.
Well, raise the white flag, here comes Joba.
[209] I have to hope that when Rodriguez and Teixeira get back, Joe will be forced to significantly tone down his platoon obsession, which will significantly improve the lineup. (He won't be able to throw some man he found on the street into the four hole because he happens to be right handed).
Once that gets sorted out, I think things will fall into place.
Nothing good is going to come of this.
[212] He's a terrible manager, and yet another side effect of his obsession with handedness is you fucking blow through the bullpen quickly when no one pitches a full inning.
MATCHUPS!
Oh good, this way we won't tie it up.
A real team effort this afternoon.
Andruw Jones should be cut right now. In the field. Enough. Enough is enough.
Think the Jays should make it 10 by the time Joba gets through with them.
Another thing. Seriously. What the hell are we hoping to accomplish with Joba Chamberlain?
If this was any other right handed middle reliever, he wouldn't have nearly this long of a leash.
Cut him.
[215] I will give you that there was at least terrific humor in seeing Pearce in the 4 spot. I also think a lot of bad things may happen by the time we have those two back, I don't know what they'll be when they get back - this is a lot of weeks in a row of pitiful, pitiful baseball.
Btw, do others agree that Jones' "almost great catch" earlier was a ball that a good RF catches without much trouble?
[217] It started when he pulled CC after only 99 pitches. OK, CC labored and was not entirely effective. So then he goes with the "long man" for only two batters (getting neither of them out). Then the games really began.
Here comes that slugger, Mathis--watch out!
Well, whadda ya know, the might Mighty hath struck out.
[225] Above all else, though, CC let us down horribly in this game. I am just beyond frustrated with his outing.
Am I off-base in finding losing this series devastating?
Our Ace on the mound, shit on the mound for them, home game, team just playing out of the string and you fucking shit the bed.
[228] Its an awful series loss. But we're still in the drivers seat
I demand a refund.
Nice way to fuck up a perfectly beautiful day.
229) Well said.
[229] 13 of the next 16 games are against the Orioles and Rays. That should pretty much decide things.
[229] Thanks for the buck up. I just have had a bad feeling about this year all year (from even before Mo went down).
[231] Precisely. Thank goodness I just got a wonderful message about how well these two cats I rescued are doing - the timing of that was perfect.
Still these Yankees. I have not been having any fun watching them. Virtually the only thing I enjoyed about today's game was admiring the skill with which Mathis blocked pitches. Like Al, I thought he did a really nice job.
[233] Thank Goodness we're going into those series hot as a firecracker!!!
[235] And with a roster that's loaded for bear.
[236] I think we're the sitting bear in the equation.