Bubba Crosby’s game-winning home run last night just might have solved the Yankees’ right field situation, which has been in flux since Gary Sheffield injured his leg at home against the Devil Rays two weeks ago. At the time of the injury, Matt Lawton had just “hit” his way out of the line-up, having gone 4 for 25 with a homer and three walks (.160/.276/.280) in eight games since joining the Yankees. Lawton’s benching forced Bernie Williams back into center (where Lawton’s arrival had temporarily placed Hideki Matsui), and created room for Ruben Sierra at DH.
Sheffield’s injury created another opportunity for Lawton, who promptly squandered it by playing abysmal defense in right while going 0 for 12 against the Devil Rays and Red Sox. That opened the door for Bubba Crosby, who proceeded to go 7 for 20 over the next five games, starting two of them in right and one in center.
However, Crosby’s grip on the starting job was jarred loose when Sheffield returned to the line-up as the DH, forcing Torre to give Ruben Sierra a trio of starts in right in order to get his favorite 39-year-old out machine in the line-up. However, Sierra also played his way out of Torre’s rotation, going 2 for 27 with a homer and a pair of walks in the wake of Sheffield’s injury, mixing in some costly defensive mistakes in the Yankees lone loss on the just-completed road trip.
Ultimately it was Sierra’s defense that prompted Torre to start Crosby against the left-handed Erik Bedard last night, as Joe told MLB.com, “Yesterday, we may have given away too much, defensively. Bubba probably gives us our best defense, so where it may cost you a little on the offensive side, you hope he can make up for it.”
Crosby, who is clearly the Yankees best defensive outfielder, responded by going 2 for 3 against Bedard by victimizing 320-pound Oriole firstbaseman Walter Young with a hot shot down the line and a bunt, then won the game by homering off of lefty reliever Eric Dubose in the bottom of the ninth.
With that 3 for 4 night under his belt, Crosby is now hitting .379/.379/.552 in 29 September at-bats (his triple against Tim Wakefield and last night’s homer being his only extra base hits of the year), which has brought his season line comfortably above the Womack line to an almost respectable .278/.307/.347 (speaking of whom, Womack has made just one plate appearance since August 24, which is exactly what has to happen for this team to make the postseason). Last night’s game has also thrown Crosby’s splits for a loop as he’s now hitting .357/.357/.571 against lefties in a mere 14 at-bats, three of his five hits and all of his extra bases against lefties coming last night.
Crosby made the Yankees’ 25-man roster out of spring training the last two years due to his ability to get extremely hot at exactly the right time, hitting .320 during spring training this year and .357 last year. Thus it would be foolish for Torre to do anything other than ride Crosby until he runs out of gas, particularly as he is leaps and bouds better than his other options defensively. Fortunately, Torre seems to have caught on, as Crosby will again get the start in right field tonight as Aaron Small looks to extend his perfect record to 9-0.
Incidentally, it had occurred to me that with Crosby installed in the outfield, it would make more sense for Torre to play Crosby in center, Bernie in left and Matsui in right, but there are two reasons why I’m not going to harp on that:
1) Doing so would force two of the Yankees’ three outfielders to play out of position. Matsui’s four games in right this year (during which he’s made six catches) are his only four games there since coming to the Yankees. Bernie, meanwhile, has not played left field since 1992, when he was a 23-year-old second-year player, and even then he only played four games there (eight catches). I do blame Torre for not working Williams into the corners more often this season (or last, or in 2003 . . .), which would have made such a move much more viable, but having failed to do so earlier, now is not the time to play two-thirds of your outfield out of position.
2) Looking at their Rate stats on Baseball Prospectus, Bernie has miraculously brought his center field defense up to league average for the first time since 2001, and Matsui has been even better than that in left. It would appear, even with the use of advanced stats, that Bernie and Matsui have reached a comfort level at their respective positions that is very beneficial to the Yankees and it would be very foolish, and potentially very costly, for the Yankees to mess with that in order to ride the hot hand of a 29 year old non-prospect who still qualifies as a major league rookie.
Now that that’s out of the way, here’s quick note on tonight’s opposing starter. John Maine is a 24-year-old right-handed sinkerballer who was drafted out of college and has since sped through the Orioles organization. Maine has made five starts in seven appearances for the O’s since being recalled in mid-August. His most recent start, against Rangers in Arlington, was both his longest (6 1/3 IP), and very nearly his best (just two hits, both solo homers). He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his seven appearances this year and has only once failed to complete five innings (he was knocked out with two outs in the fifth by the A’s on August 28). He’s also been murder on lefties thus far this year, holding them to a .147/.286/.309 line in 68 at-bats.
1. Let's go Pinstripes! Let's go D-Rays!
2. The newspaper reports this morning were saying it's going to be Chacon, Wright, or Wang going to the bullpen.
3. I have also advocated the OF configuration you proposed, realizing all the while that it won't happen.
One of the more interesting stories of the last few weeks, as you point out, may be trying to understand how Bernie has been able to improve his defense. Is it merely because he is healthier than he has been in a long time? Is he more focused because he may be coming to terms with the possiblity that his memorable Yankee career may be nearing an end?
4. Most likely it has something to do with positioning. Perhaps Roy White can take partial credit there, if so, White (with Williams) and Girardi (with Posada) very much earned their keep this year, though one might argue that Girardi's been earning his catcher coach keep, but not his bench coach pay.
5. Why did A-Rod swing at the first pitch against a pitcher he has never seen?
6. Boston jumping all over the Rays....
7. Interesting point Cliff, maybe so, although he seems to have a better ability to go and get balls too.
WTG, Sheff. He may he healing.
8. Sheff looked pretty spry there.
9. I told you, half a Sheff is still a full kitchen.
Nice Sheff!
10. Now if the bottom of the order stays hot, this could be a bloodbath!
11. 3 Runs and No Outs in Tampa, Yikes!
12. Po baby!
13. Prior to that double, Sheffield had a .500 OBP since returning to the line-up as the DH. Over the past two seasons he's hit like a monster in very limited time as the DH. The free agent market is pitiful this winter, but the Yanks might want to find a way to get Sheff, who's also prone to nagging injuries in part because of his age, more time at DH.
When he signed with the Yanks, Sheff thought he would be the everyday DH and was looking forward to that.
14. Sweet, Jorge. Now guys, pile on.
15. Jorge Jorge Jorge!!!!!!!!!!!!
16. Man, Jorgie's hot these days.
Are you sure we can't send Randy Johnson to the bullpen? I want Posada in the lineup every night. ;-)
17. CS getting hit.. Keep 'em coming... knock the SOB out!!!!
18. Cliff,
Not a bad idea, however, we don't need no stinking Frank Thomas.
19. Very nice. This team needs a blow out win. It's very very very early, but here's hoping Small tightens the grip.
20. I agree. The Yankees need to acquire two OFers over the course of the off season.
21. Stormer, I don't understand the Thomas reference.
22. Cliff,
Just being a wise ass. Thomas is always saying "I don't want to play the field" "I don't get paid to play defense" it's just rather annoying, and any excuse I have to poke at the Big Injury is always welcomed.
In Sheff's case, because he doesn't complain about having to play defense, it's perfectly acceptable.
23. Cano messes up, people whine. Jeter messes up, people shrug.
24. Still adventures in babysitting for Cano out there.
25. Surhoff looked out at first, but safe at second.
26. Cliff,
See then, two wrongs do make a right.
27. That wasn't an error. Morons.
28. Also, Cano didn't cost the Yanks that run, because Jeter wouldn't have gotten Lopez at first on that grounder in the hole.
29. Cliff,
A little preemptive defense there?
30. Bubba played that like Ruben.
31. Meanwhile, Small doesn't have great command.
32. I shouldn't have said anything about Small tightening the grip. Unfortunate play by Bubba there. Blech.
Meanwhile, this inning isn't on Cano as per #28.
33. But Cano will get the blame. He always does.
34. Oh, and Stormer, I'm responding to the YES broadcasters on my Cano comments.
35. Cliff,
Just never respond to Kay, I think that will lead him to speak more.
36. I think Sierra might actually have played that better than Bubba, because he would have stayed back and kept the ball in front of him. He knows his limitations.
Cano's problem is that sometimes, he just looks too nonchalant out there. Maybe he was honestly having trouble getting the ball out of his glove there, but he looked so casual people assumed he was slacking.
37. Bubba was trying to make a play, I can live with that. Amen.
38. I think I actually saw that balk. Maine came to a stop, then jerked his glove down, then went into his motion.
39. Man this is a sloppy game, hope his arm isn't hurt bad.
40. Oy. That looks bad.
41. Crap, Roberts is hurt bad.
42. Feel better Roberts.
43. Ouch, that does look bad. I like Roberts, hope he comes back next year.
44. He's fine, dislocated, that's why he's hurting so much, a break wouldn't hurt that much.
45. Major hyperextension of Roberts' elbow. Good news is it was a clean play by Bubba, he just ran through the bag, no foul play.
46. Is Perlazzo sniffing glue?
47. Ooops, the elbow, my bad, I take it back, he is hurt.
48. White was heads up on that unfortunate play.
49. Bubba was also running in foul territory as per the blimp shot.
50. What is this moron doing! The runner owns the line, you can run the fielder over and crush his skull if you want to. Exactly what Arod should have done to Arroyo last year.
51. Whoa, wish I could've seen the play. yech, Sterling and Suzyn makes it sounds like Roberts arm is pretty ugly. Sounds like a season ending injury to me. Actually it sounds kinda painful to see, maybe I'm glad I didn't see it
52. It should be noted, meanwhile, that that was a great bunt by Bubba, he just might have beaten that out regardless of the injury to Roberts.
53. WTG, Maine.
54. Marc, you don't want to see that play, one of those classic "the human body doesn't do that" injuries. Yech.
55. Cliff, not to be a putz, but the base line is in foul territory, was Bubba wide of the outer most line?
56. If I'm King George, I offer any pitcher pitching to Fat Papi 100 grand per walk. This is effin ridiculous. Two 2-run homers already tonite.
57. Geez, they hook their kid starter because of a balk, a bunt and an error? Tough crowd.
58. Bubba was clean. He didn't get into fair territory until he was on the base, which he's entitled to do. The problem was that Roberts' arm was there too.
Crap, 5-1 in Tampa
59. Pitchers don't think Papi has "earned it." They are already walking Bonds. I am torn there, I hated what they did to Bonds, part of me thinks it's better for the game to pitch to him, as much as it sickens me.
60. Stormer, along the first base line is a elongated box for the runner to run in, that box is in foul territory. Bubba was running in that box when he made contact with Roberts.
61. meanwhile, Ortiz taking batting practice. 2 two run HR and a homer by Manny to boot. Seems like they want to hold 1st place. Speaking of which Nixon just hit one, I think that's a seven run lead for Boston
62. No one brushes Ortiz back. It's freakin' unreal.
63. Cliff,
I'm sorry I didn't explain myself better, my bad Cliff. I know about the box, that's what I was referring to, whether he was within that line, or contacted Roberts prior to the base outside the line. I didn't catch the replay. They made it sound like Bubba was outside before reaching the base.
64. I hate the hit and run.
65. I don't play small ball with A-Rod up in the 2nd.
66. Slugfest in the making?
67. marc,
I see that, it blows! Game over in Tampa. Lets go White Sox!
68. This ain't so great so far. Boston heading for an easy win. Yanks just lead by 2 right now
69. Don't get your hopes up about the Wild Card. I think it's all about the East at this point, but that needn't all happen at once. As long as the Yanks keep winning, they're tied in the loss column with Boston, so it's all good.
70. Just checking in ... Small at 52 pitches after 2 innings? We're going to need all those starters!
71. looks like ortiz is trying to prove that he deserves the mvp this year.
72. Why is Ortiz actually playing a position in the field?
73. no - but at this rate he's going leave arod in the dust in hr's and rbi's. i agree that not playing the field is a huge detriment for his campaign - but he might just try to hit his way to the award.
74. Giambi works eleven pitches then hits a bloop that finds a hole in shallow left center. The O's try to throw out Bubba at third and it hits him in the back. This is officially a weird and wacky ballgame.
75. after reading nomaas.org, I'm finally beginning to be able to hate Ortiz.
76. Every time I hear an argument (not yours) why Ortiz should be the MVP, the points made really argue in favor of Mariano as the MVP.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
77. Sheff cooks up a granny. Yahoo! But keep piling on guys.
78. go sheff!
79. That thing I said yesterday about Sheff being too hurt to play? I take it back. :)
80. the sheff serves salami
81. HELL YES
82. You like nomaas? Cool. I helped name it.
83. Sheff up with the bases loaded. 1-1 pitch is off the corner outside but called a strike. If I'm Baldwin I go further outside and try to get him to chase for strike three. Instead, he comes inside and Sheff hits a grand slam, 9-3 Yanks.
84. I think this is going to be one of the four hour games.
85. this is the longest inning, I'm getted tired already
86. Just as long as Gordon and Mo don't have to pitch.
87. nomaas is hilarious
88. How long was that inning?
89. Sterling said before that Carl Crawford scored from 2nd on a sac fly.If he keeps improving his hitting he might make a good lead off man for the yanks some day
90. marc.
It is never a long inning, so long as the Yankees are batting:)
91. yeah - read on gameday that crawford scored on a sac-fly, but the previous line had him at second. i was scratching my head over that one.
92. I want Crawford to be a Yankee too.
93. That bottom of the second was more than 30 min.
94. If they can score a few more, then THIS is a good Wayne Franklin game.
95. Right now, Small is the odd man out of the rotation, imo.
96. Dislocated elbow. OUCH!
97. Let's hope Roberts's elbow ligaments are in tact.
98. Yeah, I'm wondering if Small just took the league by storm. It's still been an amazing story though.
99. Yup, that was Roberts' diagnosis. They've already popped it back into place, but I would think he's done for the season. Then again, I know very little about these things.
100. By "took the league by storm" i mean had the element of surprise and was underestimated.
101. why small over chacon or wang? my gut says it's should really be randy or wright. but has anyone done a real analysis?
102. The key to Roberts' prognosis is whether or not he tore ligaments (which hold bone to bone) as well. If he didn't, it's not terrible. If he needs surgery to repair those ligaments, he might not be 100% by ST.
103. Aaron f#cking Boon hits a two run homer. Cleveland up 2-0. We're not in that great a shape yet in this game. We're only up 6 and it's still only the 3rd.
dislocated left elbow for Roberts they just said.
104. what happened to working the count in this inning??
105. I think Chacon and Wang each have a pitch, the curve and sinker respectively, that gives each a chance to dominate hitters.
106. I want to see Jeter finish the year .310+.
107. Yikes 10-2 in Tampa.
Cliff,
You're right, I agree, we likely need to grab the east to get in.
But I have decided to root against the White Sox instead of rooting against the Indians, I think it's a safer bet, and more probable.
108. It would be nice if Cano, Sheff, and Matsui get .300 + too !!!
109. only up 6 in the 3rd??? what the hell do you want.
110. I want the White Sox to win so we can play them.
Doesn't it seem like Small gets a lot of huge double play balls?
111. Stormer, rooting for the White Sox to drop out of the playoffs altogether isn't a bad idea, though I think that underestimates them, especially as their schedule, other than the Indians, is very beatable (Twins and Tigers).
112. Small has induced four GIDPs before tonight.
113. Cliff
Gotcha, and the Sox can beat the Twins.
I have to admit I like to watch "events," things which have never happened before, good or bad, and I am almost rooting for the biggest collapse ever, at least I get to see it.
114. Let's go Sheff... How about some insurance runs to make our buddy "marc" happy.
115. Tie game in Chi Town.
116. Cleveland better lose a few games or we've got an excruciatingly tough task unless Boston completely collapses which ain't going to happen. They may lose a bunch so we get in to win the division but a complete collapse with their line up is improbable to say the least.
Speaking of which chisox just tied the game at 2
117. As I've posted, I can't worry about other teams. If the Yankees keep winning, and somehow they don't make the playoffs, however unlikely that is, I can live with that.
118. The Daily News 5th. It's only the 5th, I feel like I've been listening to this game for a week
119. Well said Rich... Boston justed added some more runs. Score is 12-2 now :(
120. Cleveland back up by one, wow, I dont want to face these guys.
121. The cocksuckin' Bosox just added another one... 13-2 !!!
122. Yanks lost 2 of 3 the last time they faced the Indians, and that was in early August and it took a ninth-inning comeback to win the final game to avoid the sweep.
123. Wow, sounds like I missed a lot. Hope Roberts is OK, and very glad to see Sheff and Jorgie hitting.
Anyone else notice that the home plate ump (Sam Holbrook) seems to have, shall we say, a generous interpretation of the strike zone? (The last two pitches to Giambi looked like balls to me.) I thought MLB was cracking down on umps calling pitches three inches off the plate as "strikes".
124. Damn, Bonds hit another homer tonight, at RFK no less! I think he might catch the Babe before the season ends.
125. If Chisox collapse and blow the division I'll at least have to give them the fact that they were beaten by a Cleveland team who made a phenomenal run. Also it would be bad news for the Yanks because it would mean Cleveland just kept winning.
On another note I'm not that comfortable with Moose taking a spot from one of the others right now. It sounds like he's not all that much better but he's gonna try to pitch through pain because he's assumedly needed. It's not like he was ptching lights out through the inflammation before he came out
126. I expect either a homerun in this inning or a pitching change b/c Baldwin Jr has thrown way too many pitches already!!!
127. Yeah, I wouldn't rush Moose back either.
128. It looks like Cano is starting to hit at home now too.
129. not a homerun but atleast a double...see ya Baldwin!!! Next!!!
130. Cano's the shit.
131. ynks4life, I think you're on to something here!
Its nice to be able to watch the Yanks face a pitcher of Baldwin's 'abilities' in the heat of a pennant race. =)
132. I guess we're either going knock Baldwin out or his arm's going to fall off. 87 pitches for now. There comes the manager.
133. Shaun P, re: the wide zone, see comment #83.
Re: Chisox, I don't think it's so much that they've collapsed, or that they're being beaten by a hot club, as much as that they overachieved in the early months and built up a record that mislead everybody.
134. I guess Lou doesn't think much of TB's chances - thanks for helping us out there, Lou. Munson hitting leadoff? Nick Green hitting third? No Cantu. No Crawford. No Lugo. At least Gomes is in - why wasn't he starting?
135. Well Small has thrown 98 pitches and hasn't been that sharp. I guess we're going have to sweat through one of these hideous middle relef scrubs who usually screw up and force Gordon and Rivera to come in.
136. Not good. Please, please, please be OK.
137. I would use Al Leiter baby!!! That way we could make this game last 5-6 hrs...
138. Cleaveland 3 Whitesox 3
139. Thanks, Cliff. Glad Baldwin decided to go inside.
I think you're right on re: White Sox - they played way over their heads early on. Their early RS vs RA proved it. Regression to the mean was bound to happen.
140. Uh, is anyone warming up? I think Small is reaching the end of the line . . .
141. They say Procter warming up. I guess we'll see Gordon and Mo tonight and hopefully we can eke out a win
142. This game isn't nearly over enough yet for a 10-3 lead, if you know what I mean. They almost lost to Toronto with an 11-3 lead not so long ago ... c'mon, move it along!
143. How about a positive attitude Marc ?? Holy Shit..i'm starting to sound like Alex!
144. Nice move by Torre. This is exactly the kind of situation to use Proctor in. He could pitch 6 through 9, especially with the 7-run lead.
145. Shaun,
No, no one is warming up, but there is the Groundskeeper Scott Proctor coming in to pitch I think, go get em' Green Thumb!
146. Appropriately timed hook there by Torre. I think Proctor was the way to go as well.
147. An out for a run. a fair trade.
148. Geez, I though Bernie had Newhan there . . . he sure looked like he was trying extra hard.
149. A bonus. two outs by Proctor. Do I hear three?
150. Good job Proctor with a little help from your friends
151. Small was nothing special.
152. Nice to see Matsui smiling more this year. He is loosening up a bit, he has that desire and pressure to please his countrymen and not screw up. He even drives a Mitsubishi because he is from that city, refuses to drive Toyota's becuase of the rivalry with that city.
I'm sure he has a Beemer at home though.
Smile Mats, it's ok, it's fun!
153. I think it would be smart for Boston to play Ortiz in the field the rest of the way to improve his chances for MVP
154. proctor sucks
155. Here we go. Leiter hasn't worked, maybe now you'll bring in someone other than Proctor, huh huh huh?
156. start stretching Mo.
157. Is no lead big enough?
158. If he brings Leiter in, Grodon might be able to rest, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. How many times can you kick a dog before he stops coming to you.
159. Proctor has now allowed 13 homers in 62 major league innings. But I guess Joe likes him.
160. Dear Yankees,
Please score more runs to save Torre from himself.
Your pal,
Rich
161. Tribe back up!
162. Saw the first two innings downtown and just got home an inning ago. Man, what a strange game. Roberts' awful injury, Sheffield's strange grand slam, the terrible relief pitching. Ortizzle with two dingers tonight for the Sox while Rodriguez is pressing offensively.
Weird night.
Ah, just get this "w" and let's move on.
163. I take back what I said about Proctor being a decent inning eater. Please save him for 12 run deficits, not 7 run leads.
164. I think Mo is warming up...or atleast stretching...
165. They don't need to go to Mo with a 4 run lead.
166. Dear Yankees,
Please score more runs to save Mo from Joe.
Your pal,
Ben
167. Dear Yankees,
Please score more runs to save Mo from Joe.
Your pal,
Ben
168. would everyone be happier if Leiter comes in starts walking people and by the Gordon and Mo come in we manage to lose? These games are too important right now and 4 runs is absolutely nothing.I can't be sure we're going to win it as it is.
169. Alex,
The Tribe is up by one again. It's quite a run they're on, no bout a' dout it.
170. The bullpen blows.
171. Hafner at the dish with teo runners on!
172. two*
173. Hafner Double, Here comes another run!
174. damn cleveland leads 4-3. We don't even have the WC. Right now we have squat. We can't afford to lose. If the Yankees want to give Mo and or Flash some rest they know how to do it. Score a bunch of runs. They didn't, their middle relief is hideous and there's no choice. If we lose the game everyone's going to crucify Joe for throwing Proctor in or find 50 other reasons to criticize him.
175. Colter Bean and Jason Anderson are watching this game on TV somewhere (unless they're smart enough to not give a crap about the team that doesn't give a crap about them) while Tom Gordon is emptying his tank with a 4 run lead.
Sickening.
Take away Proctor (used already) and Mo and Gordon (overused already) and there are seven other rested arms in the Yankee pen. C'mon, they only need six outs. Can nobody else do that?
176. Bases Juiced , 1 out, Ozzie just exploded a la Cronenberg's "Scanners."
177. Marc, right now we havce a tie in the loss column with the Red Sox. Don't sweat the WC. I applaud Joe for bringing in Proctor, I crucify him for burning Gordon here (and by the way, Gordon just gave up one of those four runs and now Mo's up--someone else could have done that).
178. Gack. I can't believe this.
179. Cliff,
I am Mr. Positive now. Hey, now Mo can get a save...:)
Leiter could have finished the game, simple as that. 4 innings, even he can do that, he throws strikes from the pen.
180. No, ther hasn't been and when another scrub comes in they fuck up anyway. Mo warning now and they have to do it.
181. 5-3 Tribe.
182. The Wheels on the bus go round and round.
round and round
round and round
round and round
The Wheels on the bus go round and round.
183. That's why Gordon's in the game. To give up the lead and wear himself out while doing it.
184. The ghost of 1996 rears its ugly head yet again. Torre can't escape his old usage patterns. Sigh - this is mileage on Gordon's arm that he doesn't need. And the same will happen to Mo soon.
Cliff's right - no reason DePaula or F-Rod couldn't get these outs.
185. Well if Moose can pitch effectively as a starter then they may have a solution with whoever goes to the pen.
186. No F-Rod, can't my boy Leiter get any love from you guys, no?
187. Cliff, the Colter Bean thing is definitely an enigma.
188. Didn't F-Rod come in recently and totally screw up. They all suck outside of Gordon and Mo. They're not even fair, they all suck in middle relief. The whole goddamn bullpen bunch of scrubs.
189. I see Leiter as the emergency replacement starter for when Unit gets himself tossed or Wright gets hit by a meteorite or whatever. Don't use him unless you need to eat a minimum of four innings with him.
190. marc,
I am waving the flag of Leiter.
No headsets you stupid fucks, Singleton, Kay! This is Baseball, not the WWE or the NFL, get a grip, telephone carpel tunel, seriously?
191. "Gets hit by a meteorite" good one.. and pretty likely too.
192. Holy guacamole. That was some hit.
193. MVP! MVP! MVP!
Maybe Mo can sit down now, please?
194. It's one thing to over rely on Gordon and Mo with big leads in September. It's another to do it in May, June, and July. That's what Torre did, along with overusing Tanyon, and it is costing them now.
MVP-Rod!!!!
195. Someone tell Mo to sit the hell down. I'll take my chances on the scrub behind door #3 to get three outs before giving up four runs.
196. I think Leiter is better suited to come in with a true blow out one way or the other. I don't trust him coming in a close situation late in the game. He can barely even throw a strike most of the time because he thinks he's gonna get hit in the strike zone and for good reason.
An A-bomb from A-Rod. That helps.
197. Cliff,
I am pretty sure Small left in the 6th, 6, 7, 8, 9, hmm, that's 4, no?
I am just screwing with you, but I called it, then, and Joe went with the Proctologist. "million to one Doc., million to one."
Can't Fussili Jerry get some peace!
198. marc,
You trust Proctor the rookie over Leiter, or Rodriguez?
At this point I trust Alex Rodriguez, over Proctor! He has a rocket arm.
Leiter has been ok outta the pen.
199. Rich, I agree, but it's too late now, those innings have already been used up. This is one of the many reasons I've been complaining about that overuse all season, they need to be able to overuse them now, but they can't.
200. Is it Torre and Mel that are holding back Bean, or is there a confluence of forces (Cash, Tampa, etc etc)?
All I know is that I hate seeing Gordon out there, but I can't honestly say I could breathe easily with F-Rod/Leiter/name your stiff. Not saying I support what Torre is doing, just that the mix of elements seems especially volatile. I know Torre's mismanagement has contributed notably to this, but lack of ability is also lack of ability -- many of these guys simply aren't that good.
In some ways, as nice as the Yankee run has been recently, I felt better with the way things were going a few weeks ago. We were getting a more consistent stream of starting performances going seven or eight innings.
With the heat up these final 14 days, it seems that we can not count on anyone on a given day to go past five or six innings, and that opens up Pandora's Box. Not Small, not Johnson, not Wright, not Moose, not even Wang or Chacon...maybe for one start, but it's still a crapshoot what the next start will be like.
201. Hey that is a good idea. Anyone know the rule in the AL concerning moving a position player to pitcher, can it be done?
202. Sox go ahead on a fly ball and an error, the crowd goes wild...lol. You can put in onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn the board, Yes!
203. Me likey the add-on runs here in the ninth.
204. Proctor pitched okay after RJ got tossed on Friday. But not tonight. Maybe Friday was too long and too soon for him to go again tonight.
And I gotta say...welcome back, Tino!
205. All right Mo sitting down. Now you're going to get Embree. I wouldn't be shocked if Mo still has to come in before it's over. Well, another 5 hits and we should be safe
6-5 Chisox after 7 now.
206. I knew if I rubbed my Fussili Jerry hard enough, we would win and the Sox would come back!
207. There's no special rule, it's just like moving a man to right field or first base.
208. Now there's one way to make up for our crappy relievers...score against the other team's crappy relievers.
Jorge Julio cures all ills...I hope we see a lot more of him in the remaining six games against the Birds.
209. Who's that guy on 2B? ;-)
210. Tino may have to play 1st a couple days to rest Giambi's back, he clearly needs it.
Sox up, you can put it on the board, yes!
211. Cliff, so a position player replaces the former position player and hits, while the former position player, now pitcher does not?
212. Think Gibbons was just desperate to get the heck out of right field there? Great play.
213. I don't see why, if they can't get three measley outs without giving up 5 runs, the Yankees' pen (outside of TanGorMo) has major-league jobs. Shitty construction, shitty use.
The Brewers - a team that hasn't had a winning season in 12 years - built a fantastic bullpen from scratch. Why can't we?!
Every day I like nomass's motto more and more.
214. Embree. Shit, why not let me pitch?
215. Hey Shaun, I came up with that motto.
216. Perhaps Torre is confused by the '46' on Embree's jersey, and thinks its Pettitte he's calling on.
If Embree blows this game, he should be released tomorrow.
217. Actually, Stormer, you lose the DH altogether. So say you move Rodriguez to the mound, he still hits in his normal spot and the guy who comes in to play third will hit in the DH spot. If you then bring in a pitcher in relief of Rodriguez, that pitcher must hit in Alex's spot.
218. So let's see. A-Rod has a bruised ankle or foot or whatever but I'l assume he's going to be fine. Sheff has a bad leg. Giambi has a bad back. And all out middle relief sucks despite being healthy. Sounds like a typical pennant race.
219. CUT HIM NOW!
220. Torre now says he will match Leiter lefty lefty, thanks Joe, didn't even the Ambassador to America Samoa recommend that like a month ago?
221. STOP THE MADNESS TORRE!
222. Mad props, Rich - it sums up so many things so well. You should have those guys make t-shirts - I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
Someone last night said George should let Bronx Banter run the team. As sick as it sounds, I think there are some things we could do better at, even with so many different people having a say.
#%@)#&*%)@#)!)(!%()#%)!%
(#%&(!#*%&!
!%(@%&!_@*$@ $@!
(%&()@!_)$*!@$
NOW MO IS UP. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
223. get up Mo
224. GET RID OF HIM.. HE'S HORRIBLE..
225. Embree must have those pictures Todd Zeile had of Torre with the girl scouts.
226. Cliff, I thought the DH had to bat in the same place in the order no matter what.
227. Wow, if we make the playoffs, it will be one heck of a pyrrhic victory...I don't know who's going to be left standing. Not one decent relief pitcher outside of Gordon (barely with his dead arm) and Mo.
228. 5 Runs and you have to bring in Mo. This is unfricking believable.
229. Stormer, you lose the DH, there is no DH once you have a player move from another position to become the pitcher.
230. is Mo ACTUALLY COMING IN? no TV here.....argh!?
231. I can't believe my eyes. I think I have to call it a night before I lose it.
Going forward, the other starters better follow Chacon and Wang's example, and pitch well into the 8th every night, or we might be in deep trouble when GorMo's arms fall off.
232. Yes, Mo's in. They didn't trust Embree. For good reason.
233. Cliff,
Am I nuts? My reading seems to be that the Dh will be gone, the pitcher will bat in the DH spot and the new player will bat in the vacated spot, no?
234. Max, if this team makes the postseason, that is the victory. This isn't one of those "all or nothing" years, making the postseason would be a huge accomplishment and would be, at least to my mind, an end within itself.
I still find it difficult to believe that no one other than Mo could have come in for Embree with the team up four in the ninth.
235. So cantt use proctor or Embree. They move from the suck to the useless column. Others can think what they want but I don't want to see Leiter late in a game. It's more likely to be a painful mess than work out good. F-Rod sucks.Go get em Mo.
236. Shaun, That's why I think Small is going to be shifted to the pen.
237. Well this is just the loopiest game, man. Wonder why the Sox gave Embree the boot, huh? God, it's just embarassing that Rivera has to be used here. All I can think of is the last weekend in Boston, and Mo running out of gas....
238. Mo does in two pitche what the whole bullpen cant't do with grease on the ball
240. BTW, Mo should get A-Rod money (though not length) for his next contract - even if its only a year. They owe him big time.
241. Stormer, I think you are nuts because that's exactly what I just said, why is this so hard?
242. Cliff,
I'm a Lawyer and even I cannot read Rule 6.10.
243. Unfreakin' real.
244. GOD THIS BLOWS
245. Cliff,
See 242. Lawyer making easy difficult.
246. MO = MVP RUNNER UP
247. The Yanks are now 4-1 since Friday. Why does it feel like they're 1-4?
248. Cashman or Emslie or Oppenheimer or whomever needs to cut Embree to save Torre from himself.
249. yankz,
Mo=Cy Young
250. Rich, I will welcome Small being in the pen. At least he can get guys out.
Someone said before all the Ortiz for MVP arguments really just show why Mo should be MVP. They're right on. I think tonight makes it pretty clear that, if A-Rod isn't the AL MVP, Mo is. I don't care if he only pitches 80 innings. He (and Gordon) are the bullpen. Hell, give 'em both the award.
251. Rodriguez should have stabbed that ball by Matos though I doubt he would have got him at first. At least Rivera didn't have to work too hard. How many pitches did he throw? No more than a dozen, right?
Screwy game, man.
252. Shaun, It was me. Mo has been the MVP for 10 years. It's time to make it official.
253. That was too close for comfort.
I think the undefeated Small may have just written his ticket to the bullpen tonight.
254. whoever goes into the pen, they become arguably our #2 guy right now...scary indeed.....
255. Cliff I agree. I have to remind myself at this moment that I should be feeling happy, the Yanks won, didn't lose ground on Boston and might just gain some on the Indians. This game has left me feeling angry...gotta snap out of it.
Nice bomb by Alex. I missed his third and fourth at bats. Cool to see him rebound after the one-pitch ground out, and the full count fly ball (on ball four).
256. Rivera threw 7 pitches
http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/live/MLB_20050920_BAL@NYY
257. Klapisch had a column today that A-Rod had to be like Reggie is in October, in September. He can't put extra pressure on himself. He just needs to let his ability take over.
258. there 8 pitches and a win. Better than getting aggravvated with these damn scrubs and ending up losing possibly. You got to play the cards dealt you and Joe's playing them decently though I'm sure everyone disagrees for 22 reason. Sheff sounds like he feels fairly well on the post'game interview
259. ChiSox up 1 after 8.....anybody think they have any chance of winning?
260. I still say Alex could get through a couple innings. If Boggs can do better than Proctor, surely Arod can.
261. Seven, really? Impressive. You know, I was daydreaming about this the other day, but without looking at the numbers could the past three seasons (2003,2004,2005) be Rivera's best three-year stretch of his career? And if so, how remarkable is that after he was hurt in 2002 and looked as if he was headed for a marked decline?
They say that relievers are so unpredictable. One year Sturtze (Howry, Todd Jones, etc.) is great the next years he's a bum. But Rivera is actually consistent. Amazing.
262. I more shot for the Tribe.
263. Is Jenks closing for the White Sox now?
264. Tribe Leadoff walk.
0-1 . . .to be continued.
265. Jenks is attempting to do so.
266. MLB gameday says 8 pitches. 7,8 close enough
267. 1 out.
268. My subjective math tells me that we need to win 7 of the next 9 going into Fenway, minimum. There is no way Mo is going to save all seven without his arm coming off. We have to do this with no middle relief.
So which 4 starters are going to give us some innings in the next week and a half? Or more realistically, are we just going to have to pound out runs every night and start praying after around 9:30pm?
269. You can TAKE IT OFF THE BOARD, NO!
Runner at third 1 out, misplayed ball at center fielder Rowand.
270. Tie Game!
271. cleveland ties the game.
272. Indians have tied. My God these guys are hot.
273. I'm glad I'm not a Chisox fan. They really suck
274. What ever happened to Mendoza? He pitche dbad in his first look and has been on the bench since. I don't expect him to be a savior, but he's worth a look, at least in a blowout. Of course, Coulter Bean is/was worth a look as well.
I have to think Embree is done on this team (probably in baseball period), other than garbage time.
275. Didn't Jenks blow it last night also. And Rowan with a misplay in Center. He caught everthing when we played him. Runner on 3rd still.
Strike 3. Tie game going to bottom of the 9th now.
276. We've won 8 out of 9 since the Boston series. Boston has won 5 out of 9. I don't expect Boston to collapse, but I think they are even more beat up and tired than we are. And their pitching is even sorrier shape. We can catch them.
277. JeremyM, I want no part of Mendoza...he's pretty damaged goods. He gave up a 3 run homer at Seattle which helped the Mariners clinch a win and a split of our last series with them.
I really, really hope this is the end of Embree's tenure with the Yanks.
278. Max,
Joe finally gives up on Embree, how long did that take!
Sox, runner on, 1 out.
279. Chisox one on one out now. Bottom of the 9th.
280. randym, I agree with you to a point. The problem is that the schedule favors the Red Sox heavily in the final week, and we'll be more worn down with consecutive games and road-weary by the time we get to Fenway.
It will have to be adrenaline and a potent offense that still has some legs that can get us through next week. And Chacon, Small and Wang not turning into pumpkins too soon.
281. The definition of stupidity . . . doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
Ladies and Gentleman, I give you, Joe Torre.
282. Does anyone remember that game in San Diego several years ago -- I think it was a 1-0 or 2-1 Yankee win -- where Embree struck out something like 8 of the 9 Yankees he faced? I've sometimes thought this year that Torre keeps using him just because of that game, which was of course 3 or 4 years ago now.
Embree stinks now, doesn't matter who he's facing. I love Goldman's articulation of this over on the Pinstriped Blog.
283. Max.
I agree. Sox with 7 games at home, that scares the begeezus out of me. That is why I have been pushing to do anything possible, no matter how crazy, to win every game we can while they are on the raod.
284. 2 out! Great defense!
285. throw a damn wild pitch and get this over with
286. Sacks of Sox.
287. oh crap. Now I have to listen at least one more inning.
288. I'm still confused about who to root for here.... On one hand I want the White Sox to go ahead and collapse. On the other, we're a few games closer to the Indians.
Mendoza's numbers were pretty good in AAA, although I think I read that if you looked deeper, those numbers were probably lucky.
289. For me, the ideal situation is Red Sox win the division, Yanks take the wild card, and Chicago holds off Cleveland and keeps the best record. That would mean our boys play the ChiSox in the ALDS. Definitely a matchup we want. But with Cleveland playing the way it is, you have to believe theyre going to make it.
290. While I like to take the high road like others here...and say that the Yankees need to win as many games as possible and not worry about anyone else...
The reality is that I think we could definitely use some help, what with injuries, a pitching staff that gets shakier by the day, and an unfavorable schedule. I'd like to see the Tribe lose some games, even though I'm not one bit surprised to see the Sox fading.
291. White Sox won.
292. Yanks, Tribe, Red Sox with 63 losses apiece and less than 2 weeks left in the season. Wow, what a race.
293. So much for the purists, like Bob Costas, who decried the advent of the Wild Card.
294. finally we gain on Cleveland. Yankees have been hot but we're not going to win every game and we need at least some help. Finally got some. Last night pick up a game on Boston, tonight on Cleveland.
295. The WC's been an immense sucess for the fans and financially for baseball. I wonder if any of these purists are still against it.
296. To digress a bit from my beloved Yankees...
Bonds is back after 10 months of no baseball.
He is over forty and had 3 knee operations.
Would he have anything left?
Is he in steroid withdrawal?
Was it all an illusion?
I expected to see Bonds like Giambi in May.
Nobody can sit on the bench for 10 months and come back with their timing and eye intact.
So after a week, the man that would be Bonds:
19 ABs / 3 HR / .316 BA / .417 - .842 - 1.259
Steroids or no, this man is amazing, well beyond anything we have ever seen.
Even in Mantle's declining years, we all knew what we were seeing.
Do we fully appreciate what we are seeing now with Bonds?
297. Singledd,
Right there with you on Bonds, he has just mastered hitting. It is incredible that there is so little margin of error with this guy.
Back to Yankees: I think yesterday would mean confirmation of the fact that if anyone should go to the bullpen when Moose is back, it is probably Aaron Small. I cannot put a value on what he has done to salvage the Yankee season with his pitching, but it would be suicidal to not appreciate his limitations.
Johnson is not going to go to the bullpen, ditto Mussina, the two designated aces. Chacon has pitched quite a few close games in which we won, and ditto for Wang. So, these pitchers have not relied on much run support to win games. The question then is Wright vs. Small.
Small has been a recipient of generous run support lately (Yankees have scored 36 runs in his last 4 starts, an average of 9). He strikes out less than 5 per 9 innings, and in his last 3 starts, he has given up 4, 5 and 4 runs after pitching the CG shutout against A's. Maybe the league is beginning to figure something out about him.
Wright has thrown decently after being back from the DL, and has been not so lucky with the fielding errors around him. He walks a little too many, but purely on stuff, he is a better pitcher than Aaron Small. So for now, to me, he stays in the rotation, but for one more start. If he cannot capitalize on that, it is back to Small.
And none of these two should be in the post-season starting rotation, assuming we get there.