Word! We need ya, Joba.

Well for starters, he scared the shit out of me with that picture!

It looks like he gets his hair cut at the Howard, Fine, and Howard Barber Shop.

"Woob WOOB woob woob woob woob! Hey Moe!"

Poor kid...

: )

Perhaps more than an uptick in velocity, I want to see improved command.

nice pic! that really grabs ya.

also, he has kirsten dunst teeth there.

[5] I thought I had mistakenly wandered into FOX MLB coverage with their unbearable close-ups!

: )

What a mischkeit punim. He needs to get more economical with his pitches as well. He can't consistently throw 100 pitches by the fifth inning. I gues that's what Rich means about command.

[7] mischkeit punim

What does the first word mean?

Ugly or unattractive. Sounds kinder in Yiddish.

Thanks.

That's really not a flattering picture.

[6] If I see one more extreme closeup of Jon Lackey while I'm trying to eat, I'm writing a letter to FOX.

worse extreme closeup: lackey or gustavo chacin?

That picture is scary. Thank heaven for Ad-block.

A lot of teachers teach b/c they like the vacations. I teach so I can witness the wild scene of school picture day every year. Too funny. Here's hoping Joba throws a gem w/o the aide of a cheap, plastic, black comb in his back pocket.

[13] Lackey. Chacin looked like a supervillain. Lackey is just so phenomenally ugly in so many different ways.

[12] Apparently, it's more important to get that "vantage pernt," than to see what signs the catcher gives from pitch to pitch...

Who knew?

"Pink Hat Wearin'" Director in the truck, maybe?

*rolls eyes*

He's lucky he became a major leaguer, no girl will look at him if he was a manager at Chipolte's - no offense to Chipolte managers.

[18] Well that certainly explains his penchant for strip clubs!

: )

He looks so young.

[13]

Ted Simmons
http://tinyurl.com/d2o29l

[21] Tell Mr. DeMille he is not ready for his closeup.

Guess I'm stuck with the Detroit version of the game.

HA!

I can imagine the voiceover ...

"I'm Joba Chamberlain ... and I (reluctantly) approve of this photo"

Nerts!

No sign of Gardner ... Seems like he's all but forgotten. Now I feel kind of bad.

godd lord that's an ugly pic.

nice start to the game though.

Btw that picture has gotta be from high school or something. His skin.

[25] Have no fear, Hawk! You can still vote for him on the Yankees All Star Ballot (see also Nady)...

: )

[27]

That might explain all the movement on his off-speed pitches, sebaceous gland overproduction of oils, liberally applied to the ball :-)

[28] Ha - except I never wanted Nady gone ... I prayed to Joe DiMaggio daily to get Gardner off his real estate. Then I remembered it's not the same real estate *sigh*

The YES gun is all over the place...I've been comparing it to MLB's pitch data and it pretty much seems to be a random read out.

[28] Maybe Nady can win a Gold Glove too.

[30] What would really suck for Gardner is if he were sent down before said All Star Game... as he remains on the ballot.

That's had to have happened before!

Stupid MLB...

Captain Ole. Got to have it, Jete.

Can we call him "Oil of Ole"?

Cone keeps saying that Joba's is hitting 95 mph, but not on the PFX gun. That has Joba topping out at around 93 with an avg fastball at 92. This velocity drop is really starting to worry me.

And on a curve ball no less!

[35] If you're a massage therapist and know something I don't, knock yourself out. : ) Nice first 2 innings.

Now we Yankees fans have first hand knowledge of why Manny served as the cutoff man with Damon's "throw" at Fenway that time...

LOL @ one-hopper to Jeter from LF!

[39] that is one of my favorite baseball highlights

man, hughes would have been much harder to hit last night if he was getting *that* call ...

the arrival of our robot umpire overlords can't come soon enough for me.

[40] Mine too, Ms October! Suffice to add I don't think we can call what Damon does "throwing." It's more like "lawn bowling," only shorter and slower...

: )

Goddamn lead-off walks.

The Yankees look like amateurs against this 20 year old first timer. Great!

Alot of curve balls from Joba today. It's his third best pitch, so that's kind of curious.

[42] haha yeah "throwing" is far too generous

damnt joba throw strikes

Joba can't throw his fastball for strikes. At an avg. speed of 92 mph, location is very important, yet Joba doesn't seem able to command the fastball. I not sure how the Yankees fix this problem, but it is making Joba very mediocre.

That was the thing about Hughes last night. He was throwing strikes. It really makes a difference. I though Joba was supposed to have good control. Wha happened???

Joba's thrown at least 4 pitches this inning that were better strikes than Jeter's caught looking. 3 curves and a fastball. But that's just me yellin' down a well.

Look at that sourpuss Girardi.

Joba used to be able to pinpoint a 98 mph heater...now he can't locate a 91 mph fast ball. There has to be either an injury or a mechanical issue.

Joba deserves a bases clearing double. BOLLOCKS!!!

he's letting getting squeezed rattle him here

Grrr, this is frustrating.

*this* Joba is driving me goddamn crazy.

he hasn't been close to the same since he came back from the injury last year.

i don't think he's getting squeezed, he just isn't getting that pitch porcello got against jeter

[53] He isn't getting squeezed...he is missing.

That last pitch to Ordonez was called a strike when that other youngster threw it vs. the Yanks

If Joba can actually throw it 97 still, now is the time to do it.

Well good. And his pitch count is still decent. : )

[53] [57] yeah - shouldn't have said squeezed - he thinks he is getting squeezed though

Right now, Joba's fastball is a mediocre pitch. If he doesn't find it fast, I think the Yankees might be better served skipping him (if possible) and having him do side work.

Yes!

i wonder if he just doesn't have confidence in really rearing back and letting it go ... i wonder if he's unsure if the shoulder is 100%

It's very, very, disconcerting to watch Chamberlain now. God it was great when he would come in that first year. Speaking of which, what happened to that devastating slider?

well, Joba threw the fastball in fastball counts and got away with it in the first couple of innings--but lack of command plus (relative) lack of velocity does typically signal injury...and no swings and misses at all on the fastball...

[64] If that's the case, it should be obivous to the Yankees and they should address it. Before his injury, his fastball and slider were A+ pitches. This year, they are more like C+. As a result, he is relying more and more on the curve, which is kind of dangerous because Joba has the tendency to hang one every now and then.

Joba just might be the one sent down when Wang comes back (assuming the new top 4 keep going well)... This guy isn't Joba the starter nor Joba the reliever from last year. Even forgetting the FB velo, where's the command, where's the wicked slider?

part of the slider's potency in the past was the fastball ... with it's speed and movement, the batter had to cheat and commit a bit, making the slider even more devastating ... with the fastball being pedestrian now, the batter doesn't have to speed up the moment of commitment, making it much easier to lay off the slider.

To be fair, you can't throw the ball through a wall every time; if he needs to throw it 91-93 to go 7 innings (or 6, more realistically) that's fine. But he never seems to dial it up for a pitch or two, plus his control is suspect.

damn, I can't remember the last bad at bat Cano had...

damn, keep hitting it like that RIPPER, it'll fall, it'll fall ...

[68] If this keeps up, yes, I agree. Joba might be the one who needs more work. He only has 16 starts. While he can probably be a mediocre starter without his best stuff, the Yankees would be better served trying to figure out how they can return him to his past dominance.

[69] That's probably the biggest reason he has had to shelve the slider along with the fact that he can't get ahead in the count.

[70] yeah, but he didn't have any trouble going 6/7 at 94/95 last year before the injury ... something just doesn't seem right.

Just looking at that pic up there, and a cam shot of Joba just now on YES and I think that if he grew some sideburns, we could easily nickname him "Sabertooth" >;)

My knees hurt when Matsui runs.

nice hitting, Jorge!

[74] That's the key point...you can't expect him to pump 99 in there like he did in relief, but he was still a 93-97 pitcher as a starter before he was injured.

What da hell?

smart play by Jorge--good to see him feel capable of doing that, too...

Jorge. Stole. A. Base?!

APOCALYPSE!!!!

I'd walk Swisher here.

i bust Joey Joe Joe's chops a lot, but that was a smart call.

Got our speedsters on base, I see.

(Also, hello.)

[84] Posada did that on his own, I think.

If Melky isn't on deck, Swisher would have taken one of those for ball 4.

[83] Oooooh, nice call, William

the Swish!

I liked the sound of that!

SWISH!

good to see swisher with the hr again

That's the classic case of the pitcher getting greedy after 2 strikes. He should have never been pitching to Swisher.

never show your face at Seton Hall Prep ever again Rick!

oh who am I kidding, if we welcome Eric Duncan back with open arms...

STICK!!!

[87] Good thing he didn't!

Opposite field jack to left in Comerica is impressive.

Tell me--does Melky actually look like he has a better approach? I don't wanna lie to myself, but...

Porcello's velocity is down now and he is leaving pitches over the middle. Stamina is probably the most underrated element of pitching.

The acoustics are awesome here; at least when we're at bat. (Can I have the ball? Can I have the ball?) >;)

this YES mic behind home plate is killing me. Last night we had Drunky McNotACleverHeckler and tonight we have Little Lord Fauntleroy

way to swing the bat there, Hacky!

Melky's starting to make me a believer again.

Just kidding. Sure would be nice though.

[101]

IETC

[98] He looks slightly more selective...more like in his rookie season. Melky is always going to have bad ABs, but I think he is capable of being at least league average.

why would you be first pitch swinging there, Cap?

Cap'n DP.

even if it wasn't, c'mon Jetes ...

[101] Good one...

The Yanks are beating a guy they've never seen before, it's Christmas in April

ahhh, young pitchers, the strippers of the baseball world ...

[110] ah wha?

hmm, walking Tex on the "he is SO due" principle?

[112] I think having a side arm-like lefty was a big factor.

aren't strippers the strippers of the baseball world?

[110]

I dont have any dollar bills ...

[111] first they lure you in with tantalizing promise, then they break your heart.

or so i've heard ...

Tex got the (contract) money, he has the (slugging) power, now he gets the respect (IBB).

Great job Godzilla!!!

don't disrespect Godzilla!

I am glad Teixeira didn't give Laird the Posada treatment.

I like this new concept of Yankees hitting around in an inning.

I think it's pretty clear that Melky is being more selective. Got it from the room mate, I assume.

Godzilla is hitting again, too.

More great running by our speedsters! Matsui, Posada, and Tex are vying for the nickname 'Wheels'.

is anyone else really nervous about Joba coming back out after this inning and immediately giving up a walk and a double?

this lineup is so much better when matsui is hitting

Hit-deki!

Does any hitter go from god awful to on fire faster than Matsui?

A base-clearing double by Rusty Gate. Is it safe to take a stroll to Burger King for a few minutes?

I'M NOT DEAD YET!!!!!!

I just got in. How is Joba pitching? 2 Ks is OK. 3 BBs is bad.

[121] But you're going to be disappointed if they don't score another three here, right?

[124] And when Gardner, Molina and Ransom/Berroa aren't in it.

uh boo ya.

ya Tex, touch the plate; thanks Johnny.

Poor Leyland

[129] Not great. Still seems tentative about throwing strikes. Pitches are just off the plate.

[129] Poor control. Had to pitch out of serious trouble, made it. This time.

[129] Read the comments above...some concern about a lack of velocity and command.

[116]

sounds like politicians .... :-)

[130] I'll settle for a lucky 7

[131] Absolutely; When I looked at the lineup it was nice to not have a totally embarrassing bottom 3 (Melky being hot is important).

there was an article on BBTF on Matsui a little over a week or so ago ... i posted Matsui was burnt ass toast and that it hurt just to watch him swing, let alone run

ever since then, he's been smoking the ball.

not that i'm complaining ...

Just logged into Gameday..7-1?? I'm feeling queasy and knock-kneed now with JobaPhil-itis! 3 walks though..is he not too sharp?

I credit Matsui's recent hot streak to me cutting him from my fantasy team

I'm nonplussed by that Mike Francesa promo...

These cigarette commercials get creepy after you see them a million times. I'm still confused how she lost her fingers smoking, was she eating the cigarettes?

[141] Can you pick up Youk, Lowell, and Jason Bay?

I'd like to see all fastballs now.

[42] I'm nonplussed by Mike Francesa

This is going to be an interesting couple innings: Joba is staked to a big lead with the potential for more now that the Detroit firestarters are pitching. Lets see if that helps him pitch with more confidence. Would go some way to letting us know if it's in his head or in his body.

[143]

ummm ... no.

[146] He plusses me.

Two very good fastballs (94 and 93) to set up a sharp slider that Guillen almost offered at followed by another 94 mph fastball and the put away sharp slider. That is an AB from the Joba text book.

the Joba stuff looks better this inning...

Well that was more like it. Looks like he really wants to use the slider as an out pitch when ahead. Which is hard when you're not ahead cuz you ain't got no FB command to get ahead with.

Smoked 'em.
Joba's back on track.

Batter two: three fastballs to start (96, 95, 95) followed by a swinging strike on a sharp slider and blown away by a 95 mph fastball.

Where was this before?

[150] The World is Ours.. Joba and Phil both in the rotation would make me so so happy.

SO glad Matsui is back too, the O will be clicking in time for A-Rod's return..

I'm comfortable with Joba's velocity if he can consistently spot his fastball at about 94. Its not as "sexy" (God I hate using that word in a sports context) as 98, but its still damn good.

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

that is how you pitch with ace stuff and a lead!

[143] that commercial freaks me out too dimelo.

obviously an injury and/or mechanical stuff is a possibility - but i think some of joba's "issues" are mental.
he approached this inning far differently.

Totally different pitcher: gimme the ball, lemme throw it.

Batter three: 95 mph fastball for stirke...sharp breaker and then another 94 mph for a strike, a little 95 mph chin music and a 96 mph put away fastball.

Again, why wasn't he pitching like this sooner. Could it be he now has confidence because of the lead? By working off a dominant fastball, everything else was more effective.

nice inning Joba, keeping coming like that

Sorry, I don't like hipsters >:p

I can speak from experience that the vast majority of cab drivers in this city do NOT appreciate loudly singing Biz Markie in the backseat at 3 am

AND Lester's getting rocked?? oh this is shaping up to be a nice little Wednesday...

Coming into that last inning, the Joba's fastball was averaging 91.5 mph (and he couldn't locate it). In the 4th, Joba's fastball was between 94-96 every time and he had very good command. Maybe Joba simply needs to stop worrying about throwing strikes by taking something off and go right after the hitters.

[164] Maybe you gotta be a hot chick.

OK Yankees, stake Joba to a 6 run lead every game.

Sox are getting beaten up today. After that Celtics win, I need some Red Sox slumpage to keep me going.

the slump is OVER

Whoa. I could get used to this.

Wow, is Steve Lombardi watching?

[165] Lester has been very shaky so far. Everyone was annointing him as of the best pitchers in the game, but we need to remember he has one very good season under his belt.

Swoosh!

Swish Swish

holy mother shitter

[164] I was gonna talk about other things cab drivers don't appreciate in the back seat at 3am, but instead I will say, "Hey, how about another 7, huh??"

[176] well writing that list could keep us here all night

[171] would it matter, he'd still find something to bitch about ...

i am assuming swisher is one of those very streaky hitters.

[168] that was a disapointing loss for the bulls riyank. gotta get out of new england - works wonders.

[173],[174] Nuthin' But Net...

Swish seems to swing the bat almost as hard as Gary Shefield did.

Where are these mphs coming from - 95, 96? On YES, Joba was throwing 91, 91 last inning.

I think when all is said and done you're gonna get about .285/25/90 out of Swish with a nice OBP

[182] From the PitchFX data on MLB.com. The YES gun is all over the place, so I never put stock in it.

[181] Yeah, but that didn't keep him here too long...

[182] Numbers are from Gameday

[172] I'm listening, not watching, so I can't tell you how Lester looks. He looked really, really good last year. But remember how early he is in his career -- this season could just be 'growing pains'.

[182] Just to illustrate, the YES gun had Joba in the mid-90s early on, but FX had him at 90-93. Also, there have been 90+ mph fastballs that YES has registered in the 50s.

That's actually quite common -- for the YES gun to register an absurdly low number.

[184] Yeah I hear that. I'd love to think you can trust that MLB.com gun. Those numbers sound much better.

Super Freak Mohegan Sun commercial .... NEEDS TO DIE!

[187] Lester and Beckett both with ERA's above 5 now..Dice-K on the DL..their staff has a lot of holes methinks.

[189] Last inning, Singleton said Joba threw a 96 fastball, but YES displayed it at 86!

Did everybody see Pronk Hafner is back on the DL with a/the shoulder issue

[191] Agreed. Hey, put my commercial up there!

By the way, it's not just Lester -- Boston is getting dazzled by Fausto Carmona, too. Carmona loaded the bases with two walks and a HBP in, uh, some early inning, but aside from that weird inning he's kept the Sox off the bases.

[182] Just went through the Pitch FX data for earlier innings and there's only one pitch about 94 (in the first). In the 4th inning starting with the second batter Hut put some fire in it: 96, 95, 95, 85, 95. Third batter is 95, 80, 94, 95, 96

[190] Pitch f/x is a very sophisticated system, so its accuracy is much more likely than the YES gun.

Ooh, Joba is locked in now.

I did see a fastball from the Detroit starter whiz by a Yankee - swing and miss - and the YES gun had it at 69.

There is no doubt however that Joba is throwing different now. Suddenly the slider is back. WTF?

MONSTER!

Gulp.
This looks like that 8th Inning Guy I seem to remember from last year.

I haz found the Jabber. He was in there the whole time.

In this inning, Joba is now locating a lesser fastball (91-93), and putting batters away with breaking pitches. I'd like to think he laid back on lesser hitters...let's see if he amps it up for Granderson.

where has *this* Joba been all year???

he's filthier than Roger Ebert on a hot dog bender ...

Coney with another "jerking off" reference!

I hope Joba went and read the comments of his ugly mug, I hope that inspired him to pitch PWETTY again.

someone was killing independent joba!
this is the joba we know and love.

Yep...he raised the bar to 93-94 in the Granderson AB.

[206]

Conelingus ....

(yeah, I'm going to he**)

I can live with this; strikeout, strikeout, flyout (repeat)...

Youkilis out with bruised ribs from a HBP, Drew out, too got plunked on the wrist...

Thanks C'land!

The ebb and flow oozes into RSN...

: O

don't know what to make of the DET gun ... 2-0 pitch to Granderson was 91, 2-1 was 97 but didn't seem markedly faster than the 1st ...

[210] Just be sure the girls that get near him are "adults"...

;)

[213] PF/X had 93, 92, 94, 93.

Zumaya is hitting 99 consistently on pitch f/x

[212] What do BoSox fans think of Drew? he seems the kind of guy I would HATE if he was a Yankee..

Youk I'd build a shrine to if wore pinstripes, obviously.

[210] Some people raise the bar, and then... >;)

Huh, they're easing Zumaya back in, 6th inning of a game they're down by 7.

That one hit 100 mph.

[216] Obviously, he hasn't got the Halladay/Burnett memo...

: )

So things are going pretty well.

[217] My guess that RSN's opinion of Drew is, "Meh"...

[221] He was too busy playing guitar hero.

I am sure glad Leyland didn't waste Zumaya in yesterday's 0-0 game!

[217] The question you have to ask yourself: what does he look like without that massive brush fire on his chin?

[224] I am sure glad Zumaya isn't throwing at Yankees hitters in a C'land/Red Sox fashion!

;)

[217] It is. They think he's overpaid, and that he's kind of a sissy.

Hot Dog.

Sorry, [227] was supposed to refer to [223], which referred to [217]. About what RSN thinks of Drew.

wow, i really hoped something clicked for joba here

Ordonez comes up and Joba dials up two fastballs at 95 an 93; then to Cabrera, he comes up with 95 and 95.

If you just looked at the data, you'd think two different pitchers pitched in this game.

Hell keep this up and you'll throw a CG, Jabberiffic.

Poor Johan Santana..the Muts are in deep doo-doo if they can't even win his starts..

From PeteAbe, Swisher became the 10th Yankee to homer from both sides of the plate...earlier in the season Melky became number 9.

GULP. That was briefly terrifying. Stay healthy, Cano. Geez.

Hughes = Rotation Leader (see also Burnett)

Joba = Making adjustments to "settle in" now

Life = Good

: )

As Will NY says, Joba's fastball goes up a few when facing better hitters. Joba's two seam to Polanco was 92 then rose to 95 against ordonez and cabrera. Pacing himself?

Didn't AJ Burnett convince Joba in spring training that he should dial down his fastball for more control? Maybe that was bad advice.

[235] No injury thank goodness...he just missed touching first base. If I was able to line a 98 mph fastball to the wall, I think I'd miss the a base or two as well.

[237] Joba got the Halladay/Burnett memo, which says, "Better to change speeds to fool major league hitters, than to try and blow them away."

Joba = Grasshopper that "has learned"...

[236] Yes! I get wayyy too emotional over losses (especially at Fenway) but looking towards the rest of the season..a solid CC & A.J., the JobaPhil monster, veteran Andy P..and hoepfully a healthy Wang..still waiting for Tex to be Tex but that will come too.

[233] After the Early Morning Bungle they did on Willie and Jerry Backstabber taking over, I don't mind saying the Muts are deep fried doo-doo...

[237] [238] In the first three innings, it seemed as if he was trying to hit corners with a dialed down fastball. After the third, he started throwing his fastball down the middle: gas to the good hitters and a lesser fastball to the others. He also stopped trying to get ahead with breaking pitches and instead started using them as out pitches.

[241] "and hopefully a healthy Wang"

Never underestimate the inherent value of a "healthy Wang"...

Sorry OK, couldn't resist...

: )

I again think Joba is coming to grips with the role the Yanks have given him. He is well aware they need him and don't want him to go balls to the wall every pitch. I think he might be the Anti-Young Burnett. But he's learned from New and Mature Burnett and is trying to pace himself, but is stuck in the middle somewhere. Holy soap-box! In short, I think he'll figure it out. : )

[245] That was way too deep for me.

[244] http://www.sadtrombone.com

"A Healthy Wang keeps his balls low in the strike zone.." etc etc etc..

[238] Out of all seriousness, I don't think it's bad advice; given that it saved AJ from injury last year and could be the net benefit for Joba over time. Joba should learn to control his pitches at any speed is the advice I would give, then dialing it down a bit will save his arm some wear.

[244]

Hey Chyll, is that raising or lowering the bar?

boy that looked like it hurt. right on the bone

I don't think there is a catcher who bunts more than Laird (and does so sucessfully).

I wonder if young Joba should just shave his head and embrace the ugly....

Abreu would never have gotten that ball

With 1 and 2, Joba reverted to nibbling with the FB on the first two pitches, but then poured them over the plate and won the battle. Don't change now Joba!

Abreu makes that catch. not.

[245] i agree - i think a lot is approach - trusting his arm and his stuff and finding his way as a full season starter

[249] For what it's worth, I think [247] has "raised" the bar for all of us tonight! >;)

Swisher could probably even play third just about as well as Betemit....

Is "embracing the ugly" anything like "enjoying the silence"

(I'm in my Depeche Mode) :-)

Like clock work...as soon as he starts throwing for the center of the plate (even with his less than best FB), he overmatches the hitters.

Alex would make that catch... not. >;)

[259] Oh no, that is taking a turn into musical corners I am afraid to enter..

88 pitches, I say let him come out for more.

259--Joba in his depeche mode too!

I know I'm projecting, but it was almost like after the second ball to Inge, Joba thought "WTF and I doing, F this crap" and went ahead and smoked some arses.

[264] Whatever he's smoking, I hope he passes that around the bullpen...

"Ryan Perry" sounds like a character on "90210"

Haven't been following, but the Tigers' promo for Friday vs. Cleveland. Indians' starter is Pavano, he of the 0-3, 9.5 ERA record.

Good.

[266] Looks the part too!

on Baseball Today podcast this morning, Peter Pascarelli said a Yankee "insider" told him that Ramiro Pena could stand on second base with a fungo bat and not reach the warning track.. that comment hurt my feelings, I like the kid!

Good Phil. Good Joba. Wang Jokes. Cone's Alligator arm and jerking it references. No more Ransaom (Sorry Cody) Nice Evening.

They're gonna need room on that flagpole under GK for GM pretty soon...

Well tomorrow will be a really good day, a bunch of angry Met fans tying up the lines to both AM sports radio stations here in NYC.

The comments on Metsblog are great today.

[270]

zinggggg!

[269] I missed the Alligator arm and jerking talk from Cone! will have to watch on archive tonight..Cone and Singleton are really good together btw.

Screw "bar raising!" I'm raising my drink to Hughes and Joba and these Yankees, who have turned their "WTF road trip" around quite nicely!

And the little children shall lead them...

: )

Could we offer Michael Kay a severance package .... his choice of which of his vocal cords to sever?

This is getting kinda yummy...

[273] Easy listening. I'd sign up for listening to these 2 on a consistent basis in a heartbeat. With a little Paul O'Neill thrown in for good measure.

[274] That's not special; Detroit's taking a beating all over.

[266] Diane, Ryan Perry is not "Keeping it Together" like David Silver, is he??

Humph. Cano's being seduced by the prospect of a grande chalupe...

ok, long rest, why not let Joba have a shower?

I miss the Movie Guy...

man, Cano blistered the ball 3 times tonite and got nothing for it ...

I know, Singleton and Cone are just a great combo. Kenny with that voice like a tenor sax, and Cone sounds like he could be my neighbor.

ABREU!!! Oh, wait.......

bobby abreu ... are you watching this?

What??????

wow

somehow this could only happen in detroit

STICK!!!

NOW WITH GLOVE!!!

Did somebody call in a bomb threat or set a trash fire or something?

[291] Not me!

ofergoodnessake

Panic in Detroit!

well, this ain't yer everyday occurence ...

Screw the players. But get those fans out of there.

Coke throws so hard, he started a fire in Comerica Park?

I have never seen that before!

Oh, good. It's not too dangerous for the players to stay, at least.

Yep. High school all over again...

details please for us GameDay people, it just says "delay, other"...

oh no, HAMdemic!

Aporkalypse!

oh, never mind, false alarm ...

[294] There aren't enough citizens living in Detroit these to "panic," I'm afraid...

A couple of years ago, a game in Cincinnati was delayed due to an "air raid" siren going off nearby ...

the detroit bullpen combusted for real this time

[300] apparently someone pulled a fire alarm (without reason to)

[300] Apparently someone pulled the fire alarm. A warning system went off, everyone started filing out. By 'everyone' I mean the fans.

[301]

ROFL .... glad I wasn't drinking anything

Singleton wants to throw somebody in jail really badly...

I think it was the auto companies who pulled the fire alarm. Just a guess, not 100% sure

[303] zee Germans? I think you're dating yourself if you think that was just a "couple" of years ago.

Apparently, they just fired Perry for walking the bases loaded...

That, or Leyland is currently having him burned at the stake...

[305] [306] Oh, that's eerie.

And for the rest of you: no, we don't even know each other.

[310]

OK .... it might not have been a true "air raid" siren, but it sure was loud ...

[312] hahaha - great minds of course think alike

Tiger's announcers liking what they saw from Coke.

Me too, sure glad we wasted 3 years on Marte ...

Let's get this Marte started .... not!

Maybe it's a Rally Siren...

Coke's FB has explosive movement?

I'm tryin'...

Stupid CLE bullpen

[317]

Sounded by a Rally Monkey ... wearing a Rally Cap?

[319] I was just gonna say.

If you have an inning that last more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical attention ...

[318] A Diarrhea ball?

I got it. They were practicing for next week's Depeche Mode Demoltion Night. : )

[323] No... caused alarm to go off...

*shakes head*

Its your own .... personal .... catcher ...

Come on, Jonathan. Give us a break.

I don't expect Swish to keep this up all year, but none-the-less, the Swisher for Volleyball trade might be a historic baseball rape.

Sorry, I had to flip over to Mythbusters and their Legoball.

Detroit's just weirded out because the last job just left the city.

Effin' Boston. 5-5.

[329]

and they didn't turn the light off when they left?

[330] What you said...

: /

Am I too late with the Panic in Detroit joles?

[325] Hey, I didn't start with the poop jokes, that was OK Jazz >;) But hey, I would be alarmed too. The way he was pitching, the batter had to be thinking, "oh, $#!+"...

Which is why I don't understand why once again, Joe takes out an effective pitcher in the late innings...

[331] Everything is run by computers now...

[335]

I can see it now.... Robocop (which took place in Detroit) vs. the Machines from Terminator 3

[334] I would'a liked Joba to start the 8th and if not then Coke continue into the 9th. So, ya.

[334] I dunno Will... I think Girardi is doing that so everbody can still go tomorrow at home against the Angels, maybe?

*shrug*

Okay, enough of this.

Take a seat, Alby.

Now I'm shaking my head... I hope I wasn't right about that Rally Siren...

[334] Hey, I didn't start that! My "jokes" were of the "Wang is a bit stiff so his balls are hanging" variety!

Cleveland..how did anyone pick them to win this year??

fricking hell, albie.

don't dry hump Mo, Joey Joe Joe, just bring him in ...

[336] That automatic announcement to leave sure sounded like Robocop to me!

LOL @ "Tally-whacking him"...

lololol @ Coney

That Ump has one of my favorite punch outs in the league. AWESOME.

If Mo has to come in to close, somebody should backslap Girardi...

[338] the angels already? i have been trying not to think about that matchup.

christ get this over with.

[347] i'd rather punch Albie ...

Well, that was fun.

Girardi should have tackled him and given him a wedgie.

[331] The lightbulb was stolen. (This is Detroit after all)

Ugh. One more freaking out.

[342] You said the Mets would be in "deep doo-doo". The door was open and the dawgs came home... >;)

This is a horshit move. Never liked it when Torre did it. Don't it now. Give me me break. Ugh.

Oh christ

oh, Mo ...

wtf?

jesus christ this is not cool

Gah F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm pissed.

Just end the god damned game

@#$^%$!#^$%@#!%##

Well that happened quickly

[347] I hate you...

Not worried, but pissed.

Say Hey.

YES!!

Good.

Finally.

Good night all.

alright - got a win - scored some runs - joba looked better - but that 9th inning was bs

Now Mo's got it

well, that was more interesting than it should have turned out to be ...

still, 2/3 of three and going back home is ok by me ...

Meanwhile, Manny Del Carmen: walk, HBP, walk, with two outs, and the Indians have 'em loaded...

Why is Mo trying to suck?

Indians w/bases loaded, 2 out........

Really hate to see Mo give up a HR regardless of the situation.

Joe just screwed up--Mo wasn't as loose as he wanted to be...

What's the over/under on Coney's dick references for his next game?

bottom of the 8th.....

bottom 8th, 2 outs, CLE has em loaded with sizemore up! come on CLE!

[374] His "annual funk" came early this year?

*shrug*

[347] and by "backslap" I mean "take the back of his/her hand and knock his teeth over the LF wall"...

Sizemore flys out. 9th coming.

Why doesn't Kim stop with the "one word to describe blah blah" questions? They never say just one effen word.

bugger

[347] It's his personal protest against having top come into a game that should have been won without him...

[386] That was actually for you, Dim...

If the old heads can follow the youngers' lead, well...they'll be in good shape. Down with the Angels. if that's possible.

Cleveland now (about to bat in the bottom of the ninth) has a 65% chance of winning. (That's generic, not taking anything about the two particular teams into account.)

A-Help is coming. From PeteAbe:
UPDATE, 5:21 p.m.: A-Rod will play in a minor-league intrasquad game tomorrow.

Francona is beginning to remind me more and more of Donald Pleasance ...

[391] Well spotted, Cult!

Have a good night everyone!

: )

I guess life is too short to be worrying about the Red Sox in April.

Good win tonight. Only I'm really worried now about who is going to pitch the eighth.

I hate the Boston Red Sox

[392] Fantasmagoric... >;)

Kim Jones ---> Shirtless Interview!

From Abraham

Meanwhile, here is Joba’s line: 7 3 1 1 3 6. He is 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA as a starter. By all means, let’s return him to the bullpen.

Selena Roberts book alleges A-Rod did roids while with the Yankees..didn't he get tested for the WBC in 2006??

[397] Her sources are a high school teammate whose claims were refuted by the coach and an unnamed cubhouse attendant who just so happened to be in the loop with management (I mean, aren't most clubbies sitting in meetings with management). In other words, Roberts is a hack and SI has officially descended into the world of gutter journalism. I am glad I already scratched them off my list of reputable sources.

Based on her last big finding of A-Rod, I'm afraid she has more credibility than A-Rod right now. She can write that A-Rod sold secrets to the K.G.B and I'd believe it at this point.

I don't care about roids, I don't care that A-Rod took it during the Yanks, I just care that he come back and help the Yanks win, but I won't defend a person with so many internal demons.

IF ARod has been clean with the Yankees (IF), and Selena alleges he was NOT, he should go after her. It would be a blow to shitty journalism and also make ARod look better.