New York Mets
2009 Record: 31-27 (.534)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 31-27 (.534)
2008 Record: 89-73 (.549)
2008 Pythagorean Record: 89-73 (.549)
Manager: Jerry Manuel
General Manager: Omar Minaya
Home Ballpark (Park Factors): CitiField (100/99)
Who’s Replacing Whom:
- Fernando Martinez is filling in for Carlos Delgado (DL)
- Alex Cora is filling in for Jose Reyes (DL)
- Wilson Valdez is filling in for Alex Cora, who actually replaces Damion Easley
- Omir Santos replaces Ramon Castro
- Dan Murphy replaces Endy Chavez
- Gary Sheffield replaces Marlon Anderson
- Jeremy Reed replaces Nick Evans (minors)
- Tim Redding is filling in for Oliver Perez (DL)
- Fernando Nieve is filling in for John Maine (DL)
- Livan Hernandez replaces Pedro Martinez
- Francisco Rodriguez replaces Billy Wagner (DL)
- Robert Parnell replaces Joe Smith
- Sean Green replaces Duaner Sanchez
- Ken Takashi replaces Scott Schoeneweis
- Jon Switzer is filling in for J.J. Putz, who replaces Aaron Heilman
25-man Roster:
1B – Dan Murphy (L)
2B – Luis Castilla (S)
SS – Alex Cora (L)
3B – David Wright (R)
C – Omir Santos (R)
RF – Ryan Church (L)
CF – Carlos Beltran (S)
RF – Fernando Martinez (L)
Bench:
R – Gary Sheffield (OF)
R – Fernando Tatis (UT)
L – Brian Schneider (C)
L – Jeremy Reed (OF)
L – Wilson Valdez (IF)
Rotation:
L – Johan Santana
R – Mike Pelfrey
R – Tim Redding
R – Livan Hernandez
R – Fernando Nieve
Bullpen:
R – Francisco Rodriguez
L – Pedro Feliciano
R – Robert Parnell
R – Sean Green
R – Brian Stokes
L – Ken Takahashi
L – Jon Switzer
15-day DL:
SS – Jose Reyes (hamstring)
OF – Angel Pagan (groin)
IF – Ramon Martinez (dislocated finger)
RHP – John Maine (shoulder fatigue)
LHP – Oliver Perez (patellar tendonitis)
RHP – J.J. Putz (bone spur in elbow)
60-day DL:
1B – Carlos Delgado (torn hip labrum)
LHP – Billy Wagner (TJ)
Typical Lineup:
L – Alex Cora (SS)
S – Luis Castillo (2B)
S – Carlos Beltran (CF)
R – David Wright (3B)
L – Dan Murphy (1B)
L – Ryan Church (RF)
L – Fernando Martinez (LF)
R – Omir Santos (C)
Notes: Fernando Tatis is platooning with Murphy at first base. Santos and Brian Schneider are splitting the catching duties. Gary Sheffield has been spelling Martinez and Church in the outfield corners, but will more likely DH for all three games at Yankee Stadium.
The Mets can’t buy a break. Literally. After a pair of September collapses kept them out of the postseason in 2007 and 2008, they diagnosed their problem as a weak bullpen, then went out and dropped $37 million on closer Francisco Rodriguez and made a nine-player trade with the Mariners to bring in J.J. Putz and Sean Green as set-up men. Rodriguez has been awesome, converting all 16 of his save chances while posting a 0.61 ERA, but Putz and Green have posted ERAs over 5.00, and Putz just had surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow and will be out until at least mid-August.
Meanwhile, the Mets stars-and-scrubs roster construction has blown up in their faces as two of the four stars in their lineup, Carlos Delgado (torn hip labrum) and Jose Reyes (torn hamstring) are also on the DL until roughly the All-Star break, leaving the lineup to Carlos Beltran and David Wright (both of whom are having tremendous seasons), and the scrubs.
Injuries have hurt the Mets’ rotation as well, as Oliver Perez, resigned over the winter to a contract one million bucks short of K-Rod’s, posted a 9.97 ERA in five starts before hitting the DL himself with patellar tendonitis, and John Maine, who was supposed to start tonight, just hit the DL with shoulder fatigue.
The result is a team with four stars (Beltran, Wright, Rodriguez, and Johan Santana, who will start Sunday) and a whole lot of filler. That’s still enough to remain competitive in the National League East, but it’s not terribly intimidating on days that Santana doesn’t pitch.
Tonight, the Mets will send veteran innings eater Livan Hernandez to the mound against Joba Chamberlain. Hernandez, who won the fifth-starter job as a non-roster invitee out of camp, has been the Mets’ second-best starter thus far this season. That’s partially an indictment of the Mets’ rotation, but it’s also a tribute to the fact that Hernandez is pitching better than he has since he was a 29-year-old All-Star for the Montreal Expos in 2004. Hernandez is striking out twice as many men as he walks for the first time since 2004, and since the calendar flipped to May, he has gone 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA.
As I mentioned in my appearance on Kenrick Thomas’s podcast last night, Chamberlain has been the Yankees’ second-best starter this year, which was not unexpected. The Yankees have won five of Chamberlain’s last six starts and are 7-4 in his starts overall. Two outings ago he dominated the Indians, allowing just two runs in eight innings. His last time out he turned in a quality start against the Rays. He’s never started against the Mets before.
BOSTON — John Henry, the principal owner of the Red Sox, waited less than a minute after Boston’s thrilling 4-3 win over the Yankees on Thursday night to post his reaction.
“The MT curse?” Henry wrote on his Twitter account.
From NYT
[0] Who Hasn't Replaced Whom?
I have a sinking feeling that this series, while it won't change the current trends for each team, it will have an effect on the current faces of the team either by a coaching staff change or the replacement of a significant player due related to injury. I'm certainly not wishing that on either one (and the Mets, no matter how weak their division is, cannot afford to lose anyone else), but the play on both sides seems like a caution flag of ebbing energy.
Seems like I remember Livan usually getting the best of the Yanks in head-to-head matchups, but has had a few really bad stinkers of late, but I'm probably wrong. I just hope the bullpen will stay awake this time.
no Damon in tonight's lineup. Bruney might be activated tomorrow!
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cabrera LF
Gardner CF
(all info. courtesty of Pete Abe)
And by "coaching staff change" I really mean they will sacrifice at least one of the managers' underlings to appease the mighty media horde >;)
[1] i'm REALLY slow... what or who is "MT"?
[0] the Muts real and pythag records are exactly the same last season and so far this season. i wonder if that's rare and hard to do...
GO YANKS!!!
[1] I don't get it (don't care, really). I just can't get caught up in the hype anymore; the matchups with Boston are way overdone now. It would matter more if they didn't face each other as much as they do now. And THIS series needed to end years ago. Played out like Kwame, man...
[5] I'm glad that the NY Times is reporting on a sports owner's somewhat obscure twitter. The old lady really is the flagship newspaper in North America.
[6] It would matter more if they didn’t face each other as much as they do now.
I'm not sure I agree with this, but I do agree with the overall sentiment of your post. As I mentioned in [7], if this is all they can dig up to highlight the intensity of the rivalry, then I wonder just how much of a rivalry it is.
@ 7
And she's fat. Very fat. And singing.
The "rivalry" is a creation of the Wild Card/ESPN age. They've had more close finishes in the last 15 years than they had in the 75 years before that.
[10] Maybe. It was always promoted as a huge rivalry when I was a kid in the 1970s, and ol timers like Rizzuto certainly talked about the Sox-Yankees as a longstanding rivalry. At that time there was only fierce competition in one or two years. The rivalry may have become more overblown in the last 15 years, for a variety of reasons, but I am pretty certain it predates the WC/ESPN era.
i’m REALLY slow… what or who is “MT”?
Mark Teixeira
[5] MT = Mark Teixeira
In 1997, I was able to hang out in Fenway with no problems. Sat in the bleachers, a Sox fan bought me a beer. The rivalry has always been there, but things really didn't get out of crazy until they met in the playoffs in 1999.
But it could be my memory playing tricks on me.
Extra Bases:
Then, this afternoon, according to a Tweet by Tyler Kepner, the Yankees beat writer for the New York Times, Teixeira offered a reply:
Teixeira calls John Henry's Twitter post "silly," says he "won't get in a war of words with a 70-something year old man"
Henry, for the record, is 59 years old.
Perhaps the E@#$ factor has deflated my own enthusiasm because of the force-fed nature of the coverage of the matchups. I've heard it on E@#$ Radio that if E@#$ were located anywhere but where it is now, Red Sox/Yankees would probably get the same "meh" coverage as a SF/LA game would in New York. I liked it when it was a regional showdown and not the second coming of MNF in its heyday (look what happened with that when E@#$ got involved...), but I have to remember that I am not likely the target audience, so my opinion is moot.
@ 11
And yet out of all of the years in the 70s, how many times didn't they really collide? Two or three times?
In the 80s, once?
Going back further, there were maybe three close finishes - in eighty years.
For the record, I think the Wild Card is more to blame than ESPN.
Uh, boy. Damon not just getting a rest day.
[15] Twitter, the official A.D.D. Hotline... >;)
Brett Gardner's good luck charm is already up and about. Wow. I expected it to take longer to recover from heart transplant surgery.
[12] ah. thanks! i never would've gotten that. john henry is a tool...
Posada should be batting fifth.
[18] he says he's available though. "fluttering" eyes, doesn't sound good. i just had minor eye surgery about 2 or 3 weeks ago, today. NOT FUN!!!
I'll be paying closer attention to the game 7 Pens-Wings game. But man, I wish Girardi would bench Swisher. What a blockhead. His two double play running gaffes are as bad as you'll see. Two games in a row no less. b double o. Go Yanks!
[12] And yet, they committed nearly $170 million to sign him and then nearly committed hari-kiri when he signed with the Yanks for $10 million more. Seems like if they'd been a little more personable they would've gotten him at a slight discount.
damon was batting his eyes last night after he dropped the fly ball.
it is nice of the mets to play to their pythag last year and to date.
henry is a tool - and looks way older than 59.
[26] Apparently, owning a major league team is like owning a picture of Dorian Grey. Wait'll we see what Hal looks like in five years >;)
Damon's eyes
[28] hallelujah! i finally did a link in html so my links don't have to be moderated
[28] I've had eye twitches for a few seconds. Creepy. i can't imagaine it for hours or days. Hopefully it's not serious.
[27] hal already looks old - and smoking as much as he does probably won't help.
[30] i had some weird thing with my eyes twitching a couple of years ago and it was very annoying and uncmfortable. definitely hope damon is okay. that concussion he had seems to have caused him a lot of problems.
I like Teixeira more now.
(Though I don't really dislike Henry. He's a bit of a fool, but his heart's in the right place.)
[31] Kay just reported the eye-twitching being a symptom of "fatigue". Uh-oh, doesn't bode well for an already-thin outfield...
[32] His heart is in Boston. What are you talkin' about? : D Good 1st inning.
Well, that was good.
Where's Diane tonight? I recall her participation in Joba's last start.
[34] Well, I meant in a non-partisan way. He's a good person (in spite of his misguided devotion to the team that he owns).
[17] Well, yes, of course they rarely "collided," given that the playoff arrangement for the first 90 years or so all but prevented it. That does not mean there was not a rivalry. Or was Scooter in 1983 channeling notions from the future?
Now, I agree with you that things have become more overblown in the last 15 years. In fact, building off my posts from last night, I would say the rivalry has evolved as follows:
1920s-1970s: The rivalry existed in the minds of the players, for historical reasons and because (before the 1960s), they were among the very few good teams in the AL, playing 18 games a season. Also, players more rarely switched teams, so competitive rivalry and/or personal animus could intensify over time.
1980s-1990s: A residual rivalry continues, but increasingly it is cast in historical terms and carried on by the fans.
1990s-present: The rivalry is largely a fan phenomenon, exacerbated by endless media coverage. However, with free agency and more turnover on rosters, the players themselves care less about the rivalry as rivalry. Tensions do mount in seasons where the teams "collide," but no more than between any two competitive teams. Thus, when CC Sabathia says that preparing for his first showdown in pinstripes against the Sox, he means it.
That's my speculative reading of the situation.
Jeter sure hits a lot of warning track outs to RF. Is he actually trying to take advantage of the HR susceptibility out there??
[37] Looks good to me...
earlier: Kay "anyone in this both think El Duque is really 37 years old?"
Cone " well, the second number is right"..
mice play mt
[41] That's a curse I can live with.
What's Al Leiter doing here? I thought he'd forsaken YES for the the MLB Network.
robi - now keep it going man
The two swinging strikes looked so lame, and then.... bang, boom, bomb.
Well, that was optimal >;)
That's the Livan I was hoping to see.
This could be a fun game. Livan doesn't look too hard to hit...
[47] haha - yes, he is back in the al for a few games
oh po - should really be closer with castillo running
Pitch 1 was clearly a solid strike. pitch 3 was clearly a ball. The calls? The reverse. I guess the tension of errors from the human element is the whole point.
Posada going out to tell Joba to stop throwing so many sliders :)
joba just throw strikes to these guys
David Cone with the "jerks it"...
Waldman just said, and I quote: "That all part of global warming. Weather where it's not supposed to be. 45 degrees in June."
Now, besides the obvious question of why, on a radio broadcast where it is incumbent on the announcers to describe the game, Silver-Throated Susie is prattling on about global warming, just read her statement and cogitate.
God I hate the Yankees radio announcers.
Jorge's pissed...
[55] i hope she is not talking about today - it is upper 70s in the bronx
beltran is really making him work
This is getting ugly.
Beltran is good.
Beltran with the walk..yet again not making plays that win games..he's just not a gamer that helps his team win..
[57] I don't know WTF or WhereTF she is talking about. I really have a hard time actually listening to the game with these two ass clowns. Is sort of fade in and out when Sterling starts shouting or when Waldman's sweet, sweet voice shatters a wine glass in the room.
And all the girls in the neighborhood
Try to go out with David Wright
They try their best but can't succeed
For he is of pure and noble breed
nice pitch joba
[64] Replay looked outside. Gameday has it on the edge.
And.... exhale.
That was scary.
Oh cripes. Jesus.
Joba at 68 pitches already. Who's available in the pen tonight?
[68] Tomko if it's early relief, no doubt about it.
2 runs on one measly hit!!!!!!!!
awful..why isn't Joba just pumping fastballs at this point??
[62] only Hawk Harrelson rivals those two for awfulness..
[68] There was a shot of Tomko warming up
Is Jorge good?
I did a comparison of Posada's pitcher's park adjusted era against molina's because I've always thought Posada was a lousy handler of pitchers. But the numbers I put together didn't show it.
Posada always seems so frustrated with his pitchers, which wouldn't seem to be productive.
Isn't it about time for someone to say that Joba "hasn't looked that bad" or that he's "moving in the right direction"?
Oh fuck, now Sterling is doing his "you can't predict baseball" routine. I may have to take the night off soon.
Tomko. Of course.
[73] The scouting reports on Jorge say he has a good rapport with pitchers.
Girardi looks ready to throw up
Wow, 43 pitches, two runs, no hits. Amazing.
Ahead with the hard stuff, get them out with the breaking stuff. Why Joba's throwing so many breaking pitches is beyond me.
[68] Cokey?
[78] This team this year, despite the record, does seem to have a remarkable ability to amaze.
Joba and Jorgie were so out of synch that inning.
[81] It's not necessarily a bad thing!
(I mean, his walking three and hitting two in one inning is a Bad Thing, but the amazingness is a kind of mitigating factor.)
Go go go!
Gardy is hitting pretty well these days.
Brett on the base paths will slow the game down a little, good for Joba.
Given the Met's problems, I still feel good about this game despite all the amazing. (not that anyone asked)
Hey, Team, how're we doing?
Man, Jeter really is getting slow.
Yankster, how do you feel about this game?
(In banterland, time does not always work in one direction.)
It's only 2-1. We can still win this.
Gardner sure is fast.
[88] Would be very good, except the Mets put Joba repellent in the strike zone last inning.
It's Full Count Nick, no doubt.
Maybe I exaggerate Gardner's speed, but I do not understand why he isn't running almost every time he's on base. It would just about have to pay off, no?
[93] He's not very good at reading some pitchers, I think. He's afraid he's going to be picked off. Getting the right jump is just as important as being speedy.
God, I love Tex.
Yankees lead!
Oh, HELL yes!
Gone right off the bat.
That was sweet.
Ah, Teix renders my complaint [93] mute.
Oh Tex! My man-crush on you is growing by the day!!!
When I hear or read of "eye twitches," and couple that with these Yankees, I'm "seeing" Herbert Lom as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus in my mind's "eye"...
: )
Nice. Tex's expression almost never changes, regardless of what he does.
MT the bases!!! : )
[96] We'll convert you yet.
[97] Exactly, Shut up, complaint.
[102] Heh he he heh heh.
Nicely struck, Alex.
I think Brett was saying to Tex (in the dugout), "Damn, I run all that way and then you do that? Next time I'll just stay on first and wait for you."
Batting practice.
What'd Cano's HR look like? Line drive or fly ball?
random factoid: (I may be repeating this) Joe D had a higher career slugging percentage than Mickey Mantle, .578 to .556...i would NEVER have guessed that..
[108] Lined it. No-doubter, maybe 12 rows deep? He pulled it. The bat speed was fierce, too.
[108] It looked like "it is high.....it is far....it...is....gone..."
Sorry man, I'm listening to the Yankees broadcast on radio, so I have little idea what is going on.
[110] Sounds sweet. And his last out was nice too. Maybe he'll start hitting again.
[106] Let's not confuse the poor man any further; he's already dealing with that kind of issue >;)
Just throw strikes now. Please.
[109] You can't go wrong choosing between those two as your best all-time CF. Throw Gardy in that mix, too.
joba 3-2
[97] I would guess that's why Gardner doesn't steal more often. :-)
Gardner is a good base stealer, judging from his minor league numbers. I think he's being cautious...likely because he's been told to be. Bubba Crosby said that he was often given the green light..but told he better be sure. And that most of the time, it was easier to wait until someone hit a homerun.
[111] Heh heh heh. I know. I suffered through that jazz until last Sunday. It can be agonizing. I sympathize. This series, though, you should listen to the Mets' cast. I was listening in the car for a few minutes. Solid stuff.
[112] Yeah, his last out was pretty impressive for reaching out and flicking, huh? It really carried. Strong, and he got it square in the middle.
Uh.
That throwing strikes thing was working. Go back to that.
Grrr.
[118] I would if I could--I always listen to the opposing team's broadcat when possible (except the White Sox). But since I am banished in Canadia, I have to take what I can get. And I mean that literally--I can barely get reception on this Yankees broadcast.
oh joba the strike zone is your friend
SIX baserunners due to wildness. that is frustrating!!!
I guess this is something you have to be prepared for with young pitchers. Every now and then the control goes kablooie. (Is that how you spell that?)
Yankees starters seem overall to be averse to going deep into games.
[122] if you get the mlb.com package you can listen to either radio feed live online..it's worth the $$, especially if live games online are blacked out for you being in abroad, as i am. (is canada still another country??)
strikes
[120] nice!
ugh. bollocks. throw fucking STRIKES, joba!!!
[126] accept cc -
Well, Joba's probably out soon, if only on pitch count.
[131] ugh except
[131] I do. I accept him as my personal savior.
[131] Accept, are re-forming! but without Udo on vocals... : )
Whelp, I'd say Joba's night is done...
Weeping, the third inning was like that, only twice as bad. No, three times as bad.
[134] :} i did correct myself though - so i shouldn't bear a mute type burden
[122] Ah, but what about the mlb package? That's only like ten bucks a month for the audio, as I recall.
[138] I know, I was very disappointed that my joke didn't get in before your correction.
KC's starter has gotten six outs with just 11 pitches so far.
Shut up, Kay! Who cares what you think about pitch counts!
[141] We should breed him with Joba.
[127][139] I know, I know. It's my complaininess versus my cheapiness.
[142] he really is blabbing away tonight. thankfully cone and leiter are starting to really have a lot to say.
[143] That would be one ugly baby!
[144] I got a subscription this year. It's been totally worth it.
[145] I know. Cone's great with "You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time out; trust your veteran catcher..."
[138] Hey, it's no burden.
Btw, speaking of access to broadcasts, if MLB didn't have the anti-trust exemption, would they be able to black out games, thus coercing people like me into purchasing YES instead of subscribing to the mlb internet package?
Tikki Tikki Tomko
(i guess nobody gets why i call him that???)
Damn, look at Beltran! Who knew he could hit .340.
[150] I don't think the anti-trust exemption has anything to do with it, actually.
NFL blacks out games, after all, and they have no exemption.
[151] You just did, don't sell yourself short.
[147] I was so disappointed with the MLB.tv service that I sort of swore never to subscribe to anything again.
FWIW the Jays' announcers are not too bad--though if you think it's annoying to suffer FOX grade C celebrity interviews during the game on saturday, imagine Canadian grade C celebrity interviews every night.
[151] Aside from the sound? (The Kipling story, right?)
[153] Well, whatever the reason, fuck 'em. Bunch a bloodsucking racketeers.
Nice play, Nick!
[154] ? (i'm slow, remember?!)
ah Fuck you Swisher, get your head in the damn game!!
Jesus, he looked fucking silly.
Get that man a red wig and a pair of clown shoes.
If it was just the money, I would have MLB.TV, MiLB.TV, and Gameday Audio subscriptions. But dealing with MLB.TV is such a freakin' nightmare, I just couldn't bring myself to do it again this year. Double billing, billing me for things I never ordered, not giving me things I did order (and pay for). Every time I order anything from MLB.TV, I know I'm going to spend at least half on hour on the phone, trying to get the billing straightened out. I just don't want the hassle any more.
at least he didn't walk him... : /
Come on, Coney, don't defend him. No excuse for lunging like that at this level.
[155] Maybe it's improved, technologically, this year. I've had very little trouble.
[159] Nah, that was smoked, it shoulda been a double over his head
[150] Anti-trust has nothing to do with it.
[151] I know why, had the same book as a kid!
Wow!
[156] no! the children's book "Tikki Tikki Tembo"
....no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo...
has fallen into the well...
jesus fucking h. christ!!! : /
So, friends, here we are again. It's all coming undone before our eyes.
[165] No. That should have been easily caught by Shelley Duncan!
[149] i guess a badge of honor mp :}
[167] nice! yeah man, that book was big for my brother and me, as kids.
[165] Be that as it may, he lunged in a strange way with ample room behind him. He didn't know where the ball was going or whether a play could be made, which made him look silly.
He's not a good outfielder.
[157] Hey, Canada has federally implemented black out and similar rules. There's nothing like the state joining in with the racketeering. It's all part of the sweet, sweet music of soft socialism.
Good throw, Robbie!
Great play all around, Team!
[169] My mom used to read me that story. Only her version was "Icky-sticky stambo, no so rambo, baribari-basko, icky-nan, no-ran, kani-rani tambo."
[169] I mentioned hollering down a well the other day. I know where your coming from. I've been trying to think of way to throw Paul Sorrento into the mix.
so tomko has seemed to outlive what little bit of usefulness he had in his first few appearnces
[176] now now, don't disparage us Socialists, we may fight back by objecting in a strong tone of voice & stern expression..
awful start by Joba leads to Tomko-bullpen ugliness...
[178] that's fucking awesome!
this game is...not very awesome.
Sheff's gonna jack an oppo field one right now...
Shut up, Kay.
[169] Oh, I know that one too.
[181] in solidarity
Man, Sheff doesn't hold back with his swings..
knew this was gonna happen! the stupid boston series ruined this team, they are really beating themselves.
the clock has turned back to April.
my stomach can't stand this
[179] nice. i missed that reference...
[182] Sadly, a not too bad prediction.
"Is it *that* hard to make us look cool?"
[182] closed - but he pulled it nostralarmis
this pen really has to improve
Booooooo!
Click...
G'night everybody!
[182] Dude.
toldjya! ok, so it wasn't oppo field, but i knew the result...
[184] i've had it w/ Tikki Tikki Tomko...
I really hate this version of the 09 yanks. they look an awful lot like last year's.
everybody in the lineup is trying to hit HR's of Hernandez
Oooh, Al: "No, I heard you loud and clear" to Kay's "You're digesting that, aren't you, Al?"
Kay, Kay, Kay.
[194] sorry, man. i'll shut up now...
time for me to practice some marimba anyway...
wow, where was that 2-2
Boooooooo!
[199] On the inside corner, yeah, a strike.
we still walk castillo...... disgusting!
Just hope Girardi does some kicking and yelling to Eiland tonight. He's got to get his shit together with the nibbling of his pitchers.
[191] Is the BP really the problem? So far this season the BP has a 4.60 ERA, but the starters are 4.93. The BP has not been good, but starters repeatedly going 5 or fewer innings have been the real culprit, I think.
@ 201
Castillo seemed to think so too
[202] Tomko has to nibble. Otherwise, well, you saw what happened.
Joba's different, he should be pounding the strike zone.
Sheff moved past Eddie Murray with that homer. he's got 505, 24th in history...
the combination of starters (other than cc) not going deep into games with an exposed pen is an issue again
the need new arms and maybe an extra arm for awhile (bye bye berroa)
meanwhile Jon Lester shutdown the Phillies on 2 hits..wish our young'uns could pitch like that..
time to head out, hope we can come back to win this one!
@ 205
THat was a lousy pitch to Sheffield; Posada set up outside, the pitch broke inside. Tomko thought he had him out on a pitch in that sequence as well.
[205] No talking 'bout Tomko exclusively. I'm too lazy to add them up but the walking of batters these last 4 games is tough to swallow. It's impossible to win games doing that.
Eiland sucks
[208] yeah, Lester has 11 K's, with 1 ER, and 2 hits, thru 7. dammit...
meanwhile, Tommy Hanson vs. Matt Weiters here on Braves baseball...
i hope dwight gooden is doing alright
[211] Wow, that's one hell of a pitching coach.
[207] Berroa gone = good. Getting there by carrying 13 pitchers = not good.
finally! fuck that inning. let's put it in the rearview mirror and get to Livan...
When Bruney comes back, who gets the boot? Veras, or Tomko?
berroa's gone?! how'd i miss that one...?
[217] how 'bout a 2-for-1 deal and get rid of 'em both?!
i really need to get away from the laptop and practice...
1-0 Penguins. : )
No, Berroa's not gone. Ms. Oct just suggested adding an extra bullpen arm and making room by DFAing Berroa.
the extra strength tums are not really doing their thing tonight... any suggestions?
[215] yeah i agree - i am kind of exaggerating - but the pen is being overworked again, and hughes is rightfully being treated better than a mule pen arm, so exchanges need to happen, and i don't think it is awful to carry an extra arm for a day or two.
[222] besides watching entourage instead of the game?
He's definitely aiming for that fence!
So, this new stadium is a bit of a joke, no? (at the risk of angering William)
[221] oh, boo. can i pretend that Berroa's gone? i was reading a scouts' report in this weeks Baseball Weekly and the Dodgers scout said Jeter was the best amateur he's even seen, but in the next segment, he said his best move was getting Berroa last year. oy!
[224] what about a chipwich? did anyone get one of those yet?
i had never even heard of it. something i don't see much in the northeast is the great american cookie company - when i was growing up i loved those cooike sandwiches with icing in the middle instead of the chipwich's ice cream.
i love my Captain!
[223] I'd rather they simply demote someone with options, rather than carry 13 pitchers. I'd really rather that one of their 2-iiner-per-start specialists could be put on the DL, but that is probably not possible.
[230] Cripes: 2-inning-per-start specialists.
Well, blue, if you have a bs zone, then expect to be called on it, ya jerk
[228] there's all kinds of things here in the South i had never seen, growing up in Queens & LI. of course, i can't think of anything right now, but lotsa weird stuff here in the South!!!
I never heard of Chipwiches until I came here to NY. They were sold in my college Rathskeller.
[234] did you go to Binghamton? they called it the "Rat" there.
i used to play our Rathskeller, at Penn State, but we called it the "Skeller"...
[233] Hush puppies. Grits. Sweet tea.
[233] Fried pickles, okra, & Donks, for starters...
that one didn't go quite as far as Tex's last hit...
thelarmis, supposed to head out here but the game pulled me back in too..and the press conference in Japan for the new Terminator was on tv..never heard of Ms. Moon Goodblood (great stage name)..my god, will have to see the film just for her!!
[235] No, RPI. We called it the "Ratcellar."
[236] & [237] yes, yes, yes and more! out of all that, i think i tried fried okra, but thazzit... no boiled peanuts, either!
[233] Okay, I'll play.
In Rhode Island, they have "coffee milk". It's like chocolate milk but the syrup is coffee flavored.
There must be other things. Oh, clam chowder that is neither white nor red, but... clear! It's very good, actually.
[222] [224] Tocho,
Get your doctor to give you a prescription for Nexium. Take one every morning and you'll never need Extra Strength Tums again, no matter what you eat or watch...
: )
[243] Funny, I was just watching "Word Wars". Have you ever seen that? One of the players has serious acid reflux and describes it in detail.
Do the Yankees ever score with doubles and singles?
[228] Never heard of a chipwich? You must be a baby.
[236] [237] that is child's play :}
how about chitterlings, mountain oysters, possum
(of which i have tried none)
[244] I would have had ulcers had it not been for Nexium. It's the Yankee Fan Favorite!
[245] What are those?
: )
[237] A donk?
[243] I'll try that thanks.
[247] ugh. you're gonna make me move back to NY, if you keep that up!!!
goin' to practice again...
you won't have me to kick around for...oh, a half-inning or so...
[247] Oh, chitterlings are delicious.
Can't speak for possum.
[247] Oh, and mountain oysters are like hog testicles are something, is that right?
Nexium, the "Official Acid Reflux Medication of the New York Yankees!"
: )
[253] yeah bull testicles
[253] Bull's testicles...
[254] Girardi can't endorse it, though. Conflict of interest. Every time he makes a stupid move (which, I hasten to say, lest Bum Rush checks in, he never does!) everyone would suspect he was trying to drum up sales.
[255] I don't believe I'd enjoy eating those.
Tocho, that was a pretty good inning for Eiland, no?
2-0. Pens. : )
I think my local Hanniford's has Chipwiches. I could swear I bought some last summer (or was it the summer before?)
I actually don't like Chipwiches very much. The cookies are soft. Which makes it easier to eat. But I like my cookies crisp. Every once in awhile, though, I eat a Chipwich for nostalgia's sake.
robertson looking pretty good - he would be excellent if he had just a bit more proclivity to the strike zone
[258] I will never find out.
Though I have to admit, it took me some courage to eat an oyster, the shellfish, and now they are among my favorite foods.
Banterers..you don't want to play the funky food game with Mr. OK Jazz..if I pull out the big guns from here you will all run for cover..and that's just Japan, if we get to the local delights in China..my god...
Any more Yankees hurlers failing to command their fastballs more often than not, and they will be selling "Eiland Oysters" at NYS!
: )
From Wikipedia:
Rocky Mountain oysters, also known as prairie oysters, are a North American culinary name for edible offal, specifically buffalo or bull testicles. They are usually peeled, coated in flour, pepper and salt, sometimes pounded flat, then deep-fried. This delicacy is most often served as an appetizer.
When I read "sometimes pounded flat" , I really winced.
Anyone ever had a white-hot?
what the hell is so special about Okajima? Just can't figure it out. he just struck out utley with an 87-mph fastball. why is he good? I just can't buy the theory that it's because he jerks his head down during his delivery.
Meanwhile should we start worrying again about toronto?
[264] I surrender!
[264] OK, keep your "horse meat/jerky" on that side of the Pacific, please...
: )
[264] [265] Hehe heh he,
[266] *wince* indeed.
[259] don't know if you're being sarcastic.
Beltran is a good centerfielder.
Beltran is good. Damn.
[266] peeled?
[268] if haladay's injury (supposedly left the game in the 4th with aan ijured groin) causes him to miss many starts probably not too much.
some random team always ends up with a great interleague record - so they might do that but they shouldn't finish in the top 2 in the al east and probably not even top 3
[267] Having lived in WNY, I can say "yes"
[272] Well, joking, not exactly sarcastic.
i've only been watching for 2 innings but boy does this umpire suck
NIce play. Nice stretch.
But he's safe.
[270] hahah, crispy grilled spider enough for you?
[268] Okajima a mystery indeed, never figured he would be this good in MLB..
[277] In all my years I think I've had a single bite. Not for me. : /
Donk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donk_(automobile)
All right, Jorgie's going to hit it out.
White hots, red hots, beef on weck, whistlepigs, and garbage plates
[238] [281] yeah i don't get okajima either. he had a terrible stretch last year or the year before that i thought marked him being done, so am very shocked he is pitching effectively again.
How can a guy actually throw 61 mph? That sounds like a lob. And why doesn't that break come so early that the pitch in effect hangs.
[278] OK
Oh, damn.
That was it.
Almost, anyway.
[281] Does leaving the spinnerets intact provide the "silky" texture?
: )
with santana looming on sunday, this was the key game of the series
matsui!!!
papelbitch not available for the 9th. hopefully Philthy pulls it out. Werth up...
back to prak!
Ahhhhhhhh....
Very, very nice.
Godzilla!
Yay!
Okay, that confirms it, my mlb.com feed is a little slow (I could tell by [292]).
So much for my thought that 'Matsui is just not clutch anymore'.
Yea!!!
Upper Decki !!!
hell yes
on his birthday! papers here will go apeshit with photos, 松井誕生日おめでとう！
Gardy is certainly hitting the ball harder these days.
[301] 松井！
(I learned that bit from you earlier.)
Wouldn't you know. I run out for all of ten minutes to pick up my pizza and miss all the fireworks.
Oh well, nice job anyway.
Philly tied it up
Swisher took a funny route to that one.
does any yankee outfielder have an accurate arm?
Gardner really isn't a plus CF, is he?
hmm cokey's turn to get the lefty
[306] i kinda called that too in [293] !!! : )
[308] Well, yes, but only one.
Unless Nady does, I can't remember.
[307] Swisher? That was Gardner and Melky, wasn't it?
[310] You misspelled "walk". It doesn't start with a "g", for starters.
[313] I thought it was Gardy and Swish.
[313] I thought it was Swisher in right.
[313] that was swish - melky in lf
[314] hahaha so true
[304] nice. just don't remember this one 井川..hint: he cost 46million dollars..
[314] well give up a hit does start with a g
Can't we win just one game?
[319] Cokey helped you out!
Nice play.
...
the rule against rbis with a double play is a joke
frack!
I wager that even if Joba throws 200 pitches, he doesn't give up seven.
He might need a couple of weeks off though!
[326] Joba rules! Any time he throws 200 pitches, he has to take two weeks off.
It would be great if Green would lose the strike zone. (Or the umpire would, either way works for me.)
[327] Can you imagine requiring an entire day off because you threw one inning? Sometimes I need a day off from watching these idiots!
: )
[329] If there were RIYank rules, I would not be allowed to comment for the rest of the Mets series.
Ok, Alex. Your turn.
[328] It would be great if Green would groove a pitch for Alex...
NIce ab, Alex.
Damn, it didn't work that time.
Patience, Rob.
[330] Talk about having your "hands tied"...
At least you would have a strong keyboard upon your return... maybe too strong!
That one didn't work either. I was one for three that inning.
Cano can't get it done, either. Missed opportunity...
Wow. Two stellar ab there following Teix's herculean effort.
dammit!
[334] i could've told you what was going to happen, but i was finishing practicing. ; )
Hey, I like this Girardi decision -- leaving Coke in here.
the alex and can abs displayed the shittiest part of their at bats that inning
Wtf was that?
Yipe.
christ derek that was close
Billy Martinarian?
[341] I think you mean 'Cokey.' Nice catch by Jetey??
[347] you and kay are thinking the same thing :}
I like how catching fly balls is now a team effort. It's like gang tackling in football.
bullpen solution? http://tinyurl.com/n7oy9z
[349] Sorry... I'm old like that...
: )
[344] et al: Sterling/Waldman are blaming Cokey for getting the way or something.
[348] huh? What was that meant to refer to?
[350] Heh ehe heh heh.
It's like my little league kids; the whole team runs after the ball from all directions. (Ok, I'm exaggerating, I've been able to train them better than that, but still, sometimes it's close.)
Oh my gosh. Mo for the eighth!!!
Weird move. Why Mo now?
Now he's going to Mo?
Wtf?
Why not yesterday, then?
Damn, RI, you must be furious.
[353] So did Kay and Leiter.
great move, Joe G is learning! best bullpen guy to face their best hitter, thank you Joe G!!!
i would like to know the real logic behind girardi's decisions sometimes
[353] actually they are not totally bonkers
[355] My nephew (8 yrs old) was watching a Yankee game a couple of weeks ago and Jeter circled under a pop fly, hauled it in. Ben was almost freaking out with worry. "Nice play!" That's what it's like when you're eight.
[354] It was meant for [342]. But since I am an an idiot...
[361] You mean the Deep Magic?
Mo needs the work... He didn't pitch in Boston...
hey, we have a new 8th inning guy! some cat named Moses something or other. skinny kid. he's got a bald spot. i wonder if he's any good. just don't walk the leadoff guy and i'll like you! ; )
[360] Exactly. [358] No, any little bit of outside-the-box thinking is okay by me. I assume the idea is he'll get four outs, giving us two chances to win.
[366] "He's got a bald spot."
He should try MHR! It worked for Wade!
: )
[366] uh oh -
[366] I blame you for that walk.
He's gone with Mo' for four outs before. He's trying to steal an extra out here with Mo facing a tough batter. Plus, was the last batter LH?
Anyway, I don't think this is a bad move at all. It at least gives me hope that Girardi has not totally succumbed to Joe Torre Autopilot Mode.
[367] Yeah, but then why didn't he bring him in yesterday when you were screaming for it? If he can do it today, he should have done it yesterday.
Oh shut up, Michael, you're an idiot.
Kay..shut the hell up. It's the correct move that should ALWAYS be made, use your pbest pitcher to face their best hitters
[362] my 8 year old nephew, is a little slugger and a switch-hitting 1st baseman, taboot! he's also really cute and looks a little like his Uncle Thelarmis! : )
oh yeah, it's Matsui's birthday today! he hit a granny last year on his b-day...
[372] But I'll take whatever I can get, weeping.
Anyway, a petty consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.
Or foolish. Petty or foolish, I can't remember.
Under the hands now Mo.
Here it comes,..
Yep... it's the "tie game/garbage time" version of Mo...
punch - stomach
That was bad. Now I'm not happy.
Why did he go back outside?
And why can't we win a game?
Okay, maybe that's why he doesn't use Mo in the 8th...
yikes, sorry guys! i had NO idea. my gamecast has been frozen - i didn't even know there were 2 outs. i thought it was 1-2 on Beltran.
if my name were Michael, i'd have thought [273] was for me!
i thought i was supposed to shut up, as per before.
my bad...
Damn..but still, you win or lose with your best pitcher..no problems with Joe G here. Wright just a great hitter and Mo is not the Mo of old anymore..
[378] It's getting ridiculous already.
oh, no. what happened NOW?!
please tell me it's NOT a 2-run blast for wright?!?!?
[378] Jeez that's right. I always forget about that. For some weird reason, he doesn't pitch well in a tie game. It's hard to believe -- I always thought it was just a peculiar coincidence. But it seems to be true.
LOL @ no matter what they do, it still backfires...
I'd start Berroa on the mound tomorrow!
ugh. i see it. unfrozen. i'm gonna hit the beer very, very soon...
and got to leave, will miss the 9th inning comeback off K-Rod, damnit!
thelarmis, will fill you in later on the live jazz last night, have a good one.
So, in the end, they can't win. Don't put in Mo and Veras blows it and everyone screams. Put in Mo and he blows it.
I'm going to the (new) stadium on Tuesday. I hope the unfunness has gone away by then.
[386] rbi double.
Now church down on strikes, at least. But Mo on the hook for the loss now. We'd better score...
[369] Clearly, thelarmis is a witch. (A witch! A witch! May we burn him?)
oh, that's right - they have K-Rod on their team. god, i HATE that guy... : /
[386] Walk to Beltran (pitching very, very carefully) and then double by Wright.
I don't know why he went outside two pitches in a row on 1-2 (it was 1-2, wasn't it?).
[393] "It's a fair cop!"
[393] yeah thelarmis needs to stick to predicting good things for the yanks - or else we will have to do something -
I am beginning to wonder if the big winning skein is the exception this year. After all, they won a lot of close games with late comebacks. Some would attribute that to grit or momentum. Others would say it was luck. If the latter, then perhaps the losing version of this team is the one we should get used to seeing.
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy free
And I wish all his money belonged to me
I wish I could be like David Wright
[398] But this losing streak has close games, too, so there's luck both ways.
[393] as long as it's in a Hexenhaus or Iron Maiden, as i'm a "true" metalhead! : )
[395] I didn't see. Is the answer as simple as he made a mistake and missed his spot? Or was Po set up outside and Wright just went with the pitch?
[400] True. But the Yankees are still leading the league in comeback wins, I believe. When things start to balance out, we are probably looking a team a lot closer to .500 than to .600.
[420] The Mo & Po Show sucks when it's not a save situation...
That's the answer.
[402] I think it was the latter.
[404] I will try hard to ask a question at [420] to which that is the answer.
[404] Only now we have to wait for the questions? ; )
[403] The previous pitch had been down and away and Wright didn't bite, but it was the perfect set up pitch to come back under the hands. Especially with Wright, who's good at going the other way.
Cone is kind of smacking Kay around on this "bringing in Mo in the eighth" thing.
That was the same pitch that was called a ball two pitches previous.
[409] it's funny to hear kay be somewhat generous in his recollection of torre's moves
[409] I know! "You make valid points, I'm just trying to advance the debate."
Here that, Michael? "Advance," not just muse fruitlessly.
[403] It depends how you extrapolate, I guess. If you extrapolate from the season up to now, then yeah, I think it's probably a .540 team or so. But if you think April was lousy, and May and June can be extrapolated, then I'd say close to .600.
[402] it almost looked like a 2 seamer ... ran back fat over the plate
Man, we're going to lose the game because Mariano walked Beltran.
k-rod time. let's hand him a beat down!!!
[412] musing fruitlessly is kay's speciality
alright didn't touch up the biggest jackass closer in the league last series - let's go for the runner up tonight
god i almost forget we had to suffer through brett tomko this game
[414] i will see your 2-seamer and raise you a sierra...or 6...! : )
[415] ooh, don't blame that on me, i had NO idea what was going on in the game at the time!!!
[418] hopefully he's fallen down a well by now. or, perhaps someone pushed him... wasn't me, i swear!
God I despise this guy. Even more than the troll, I think.
Christ, man, stop flying all over the place. It's really annoying.
I feel like Pettitte hasn't pitched in about two weeks.
Come on, Jetes, take one for the team!
holy shit - who was complaining about kay's use of the word efficacy? he is still using it and naturally not using it properly.
okay damon pinch hits for swisher but not gardner?!?
Wow. I can't believe Derek hit that.
why ph damon for swisher who has been hitting lately instead of for gardner?
Here we go.
Let's get K-Rod to meet A-Rod this inning.
"Jeter felt he had to go get that one. And get it he got."--Cone.
Interesting, if anything, I woulda pinch hit for Gardner...
[429] Poetry.
[425] [427] [430] Please get together on this one.
So who wants to talk about the washed up short stop? he's a sick great infielder hitter when it matters. This is K-Rod and Jeter is batting .500 against him. Not so bad.
This jack ass' number is just as indiscreet and gaudy as his delivery and his attitude.
What a buffoon.
Come on, Johnny, you can get this guy.
You're a hitter, Johnny, just hang in there and wear him down.
oh jesus - that was ball 4 - least jeter stole second
Oh, man.
Damon.
Damn it damn it damn it.
At least Derek's on second, but now Teix won't get to hit and Alex, I'm afraid, has no chance against this guy.
Was it ball four he swung at? Maybe not. Close.
Oh, I wouldn't pitch to Teix.
[438] definitely low
[437] You think they're pitching around him? I think that's a big, big mistake.
[438] I think it definitely was down, yes.
Tex will win the game.
just watch.
(i really don't think he will, but i'm trying to get on everyone's good side again...)
looked like ball 4 to Johnny on the gamecast box...
Wow, they do seem to be pitching around him. But that puts the winning run on base! You think an A-Rod double is less likely than a Tex homer???
[441] I hope you're right.
[443] your paranetheticals are going to prevent that :}
It always comes down to Alex.
let's go alex - clutch time
I guess maybe Alex is less likely to *tie* the game than Tex was.
[424] i love the word "efficacious", but i never know how/when to use it...
i would sit changeup here
Oh boy.
If Alex walks, does Robinson have a chance??
I think it was a hit and run. Damon had to swing.
All right. Does Alex dare look change here?
I think I might.
[453] if Alex walks, we'll tie it on a wild pitch.
[454] good point
3-1 change?
Alex just watched a fastball right down the pike.
shit sox just scored and are threatening.
great. just great...
OMG!!!!
hahahahahhahahahahahahhaha
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!!!!!!!
holy shit that was unbelieveable
Holy crap! He dropped it!
Fucking Bizarre.
Momentum???
whoa.... yanks catch a hell of a break
Better to be lucky then good.
It's good not to strike out.
No matter how bad it gets, just look across town.
what the hell happened? frozen again...
Are you fucking kidding me?
I can't believe he dropped the baseball.
He just flat out dropped it. Like my little league kids.
UNFUNCKINGBELIEVABLE!!!! >XD
Ironic. I would expect to see A-Rod on the other end of a play like that. ;-)
that's the first time i've ever felt bad for krod
[470] Heh heh heh heh.
And btw, they did the right thing not pitching to Teix.
[470] that's exactly true. It's always true
i feel bad for castillo (sort of) but the look on krod's face was wonderful to see
wow.
just wow.
boston scored again. 4-2 in the 13th...
Real heroes of that play, Teix and Jeets. They ran hard all the way. Heads up play.
A-Rod hit an easy popup, but Castillo dropped it. It just bounced out of his glove. Unreal. I don't see how he didn't catch that.
[468] You! HA!
i'm just glad we won. victory beer!!! : )
[576] Not me. : D A-Rod should have done a finger kiss point to the sky. lol.
[482] damn straight.
Teix is just all sorts of awesome.
[468] >;) You called it. Finally the HA! play makes a difference...
[486] I don't know if we're going to make 576, JF.
[482] Yep, good call.
Shitsburgh wins the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup. i'm sure there are tons of Penn Staters going nuts, though school's not in session...
wow! that was the most undeserved win ever! haha
I have seen a lot of weird things in baseball, one of a kind things (heck, the Mudhens - Redwings ((Rochester, not Detroit)) first 4 innings tonight took 45 minutes) but I have never before seen or heard of
an ERROR OFF
[491] kind of noisy around here in Pittsburgh.
i can't wait to see the highlights. coming up soon on sportscenter...
[491] stanley cup? what's that?
When Tex scored the winning run, I thpught it was Jetes with the tying run. I can't believe Tex scored on that. Great hussle.
[497] yeah if he wasn't running full out i'd be so pissed. you gotta take advantage of a break like that!
[494] nice. enjoy! have a guiness victory beer, i'm having a sierra!
Cheers to the Wetlands! : )
Who knew the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was in town tonight?
I'd still go with Berroa on the mound tomorrow!
G'night folks!
: )
[493] So how do you celebrate that one, hit Castillo in the face with a terd sandwich, or send him flowers?
It's why you fucking hustle on every goddamn play. Period.
[496] i think it's a special kind of cup that they wear in the 4th world, where things are really bad!
(anybody get that reference?)
i wonder what the back pages in NY are going to look like...
[499] Cheers to Wetlands for sure! And the Penguins of curse! Not really a Pens fan but good for the city.
[504] I've got an idea [501] ...
[505] yins like hawkey? yins like the chiefs?!?!
here's the Yankee highlights on espn...
Seamus, you're in Pitt?
I don't begrudge Pittsburgh some sports love. Good town, I like Pittsburgh. (I have a weak spot for decaying industrial cities.)
[506] i dare AJ to break into the Mets locker room and hit Castillo with acream pie!
wow, just saw Sheff's shot.
Matsui's was beautiful, too.
I was effin exctied for the Pens. I watched the whole game. Iit ended just in time for me to watch Tex and A-Rod bat. I'm steel reeling. Holy effin' smokes.
No baseball highlights for me--it's all hockey all the time. I'm really, really glad the Stanley Cup is over, so I can enjoy three weeks or so without hockey.
oh, that was BEAUTIFUL!!!
hell fukin' YEAH!!!
wahoo, we needed a win. i know, i sure did...
: )
[507] yinz like them there Islanders. Which is really depressing these days.
[508] Yep, izn Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a great city. It really is doing quite well right now too. Better than of the decaying industrial cities for sure. The economy has really changed of course but they've donea good job of adapting to the changes.
hey seamus - is Graffiti still there (the club)?
Huh, check it out, all the New Yorkers are gone. The Banter is all out-of-towners.
Oh, no, Chyll Will is a NYer.
[513] well, if nothing else, that should hopefully prevent a full on post-boston slide. i hope. knocks on wood.
[514] I spent 4 years there. I kind of miss it.
[514] i was doing the Johnstown bit from Slap Shot!
i'm NOT a hockey guy at all, but growing up, i was a HUGE Isles fan. i heard they might move to Kansas. weird. i used to wear an Isles "Drive For Five" painters cap every single day in the 5th grade.
my godfather was the VP for the Isles and Mets in the early 80's. somehow, i'm a Yankees fan and Yankees fan only. i don't care for any other sports. not even Penn State football...
I guess Jeter was right. The ghosts of Yankee Stadium found their way over.
[515] not sure. I haven't heard of it but these three years i've been here I havn't done much of that. which is a real shame but a long story...
[514] Yeah. Toledo here is bumming. Not to mention all the auto factories whose future is still up in the air.
[518] cool. where in Pittsburgh were yinz?
[516] i miss my fam, but Atlanta RULES! i'm glad i grew up in NY, but i couldn't live there. or work there...
[519] Interesting. I never had any interest in hockey, but now I kind of like college hockey. My real love growing up was basketball, but, well, the Knicks have ruined it for me.
[519] shit, those Painters caps were in for a few years that i recall. I had a notre dame one. why were they so popular? cheap i guess? btw, i so missed the slapshot ref. sorry. :(
[523] hopefully Mars! that always made me giggle. or - i know i'm gonna get this wrong - Zelionotrope. sumpin' like that. i dated a girl who went to the Art Institute and lived there.
[524] What's so great about it? I've been there, only twice, only about three days each time. Both times downtown (near Ga. State).
[525] I LOVED hockey growing up but moving away and nto being able to catch Isles games pretty much killed my passion for the sport. I still like it but am luke warm about it is all.
But a Knicks fan eh? I wasn't that into basketball growing up but I was a mild Nets fan. Ironically, i lived without tv for several years and just got a tv in time for the Nets awesome run earlier this decade. And I probably follow basketball more than hockey now.
[523] Duquesne. 2 years on campus. 2 years off .
[527] Zelionople! though I may have misspelled it too.
[530] cool. A friend of mine just graduated from Duquesne Law School on Sunday. Of course, since I live in Pittsburgh that shouldn't seem that unusual. :D
[524] btw, never been to Atlanta. I gotta checks it out sometime.
[525] Penn State Icers! i haven't liked hockey for a solid 25 years now. it's funny, the guys from my PSU band love hockey and a few of my students here, do too.
i was never too big on basketball, but i LOVED Bill Cartwright growing up. i collected some of the cards, too. soooo weird, those TINY little rectangles. i think they were perforated. i used to stare at the back of Cartwright's card in total disbelief at seeing 7'0".
my big brother (who's actually very little!) was pretty big into the Knicks in the early/mid-90's, so i followed it some. Starks was cool. we liked Hubert the best. why can't i remember his last name? i wanna say Davis, but i don't think so. he went to high school, with my other ex-g/f from Penn State...
[526] yeah man, those painters cap were sooo cool and VERY comfy! i wore them for a good 4 years straight. any of 'em. i used to flip the viser up too, prolly thought i was cool...
yeah, you DID miss that Slapshot reference in a BIG way. i put it on a tee for you!!! ; )
Are we SURE there are no jetstream swirling winds in right field?
[534] Elephant farts from the circus...
[525] Yeah, I used to go to Knicks games buying scalper tickets, a few minutes into the game you could get them at face value or even below. (This was in the 1970s, and a teenager could afford face value.) I had a friend whose father had, must have been corporate season tickets I guess, and occasionally we could sit right behind the visitors bench. God, I can still conjure up the sounds, the smell of the Garden, the squeak of the sneakers.
Hey Hammerhan. Your wife's a d#%$! I just had a co-worker tell me she finally watched Slaphot. I told her 4 years ago to watch it after I found out she was a hockey fan.
[516] Yeah, but now the talk is hockey and I've got nuthin'...
But I will give some love to Pittsburgh; my eldest uncle Ossie lived there and founded a church there; I'll have to get back to you about the name. I'll ask Uncle Woodrow about it tomorrow. So I have family I haven't seen in years there, so good for Pittsburgh >;)
[528] i live pretty close to Ga State. the place my jazz trio played, that just closed down, is right near it. dowtown Atl, is very strange - it's just a business district, so you wouldn't get a good feel for the city from there.
tons of reasons. inexpensive, great climate. but mostly...well-rounded city. there's culture - museums, restaurants, parks, music venues, etc. it's a big city, with a small city feel. i live in the heart of the city, but there are trees and backyards. big music scene, with lotsa great players, but it's not cut-throat. it's slow-paced and folks are generally nice. it's easy to get around and lugging a drumkit is not stressful, like it is to gig in NYC. i actually have bum friends downtown that watch my car for me and look out for me. pretty cool!
it's just a wonderful city all-around, for a ton of reasons and i adore living here. lotsa late night stuff 'round my area too, for "vampire boy".
I would like to point out that in [441] and [445] I said it was a big mistake to walk Teixeira.
Thank you.
[538] that is pretty cool Chyll. I definitely would be curious to know what church. I live across from a church but of course there are many! :D
[533] Yep, Hubert Davis. Star player at UNC, a good specialist on the Knicks; kinda like Trent Tucker.
[538] i hope Uncle Woodrow is doing well, my friend!!! : )
[539] Only thing I've experienced in relation to Atlanta is that I was once in Cynthia McKinney's office when she was congresswoman there and she had a closet full of coca cola.
[542] Yep.
My hayday is a little earlier. Earl Monroe. Even Clyde, though I was maybe a little too young to appreciate him or Willis or Debusschere.
[540] you're learning. still got a ways to go, i'm afraid... ; )
[540] You got it, chief. I was redoing my resume and tuned back in during the 8th, then realizing I was still signed in when that happened, I started giving 5 to whoever was near >;)
Yeah, I'll let you know, seamus. Uncle Woodrow has told me quite a few times, but I never remember when I want to.
[542] coolio, i was right! yeah, we called him Little Baby Pubert. my ex didn't like that. he went to Lake Braddock High School in northern Virginia. he was well represented in the hallways in glass cases with newspaper clippings and such.
[544] i know less about politics than i know about churches! only reason, is i once had a church gig... : )
[546] I am not yet a perfect sage; but I watch, and I learn.
So, the worst loss of the season followed by the worst win of the season. Oh, I'll take it all right, but I had to apologize to my Mets fan friend. That was just beyond ridiculous. Wow. Terrible.
[544] Cokey!
[549] i wish i had an awesome movie line at hand, but alas...i got nuthin'. good work RI !!!
[551] we might get to #576 after all... as long as we skip #134. or was it 184? that was sooo the old website! ; )
[551] funny thing is that whenever Coke pitches for the Yanks I flashback to that closet full of coca cola. for real. It is kind of like how every time I hear Pavement's Crooked Rain album I remember this guy Chris buying me a 40 at a warehouse show in west Philly like 15 years ago. Certain things trigger certain memories for me.
i read some good stuff about Fly Ball rate vs. HR rate for some players today. HQbaseball, seems to have some pretty good stuff...
[553] i liked when the old website hit 1000 comments and broke.
[552] good thing you don't have an awesome movie line as it would go right over my head!
[552] I was going for a Kung Fu kind of vibe, not an actual quote. (I don't think it was, anyway.)
Now for my celebratory gin and tonic. Apologies to you tee-totalers.
two-thirds of our hits tonight went for extra bases and we walked more than we struck out. i like that.
I wasn't here earlier so forgive me if I missed this sentiment but Joba was beyond awful tonight. What in the name of all that's holy was that?
[553] Yeah, we might at that. I'm ready.
[543] Oh yeah, good news: He's back home as of yesterday. Almost didn't happen as the nursing home he'd been recuperating in tried to keep him a while longer (soak up some of that Medicare dough), then the doctor forgot to sign his discharge paper, so we had to track him down and compel him, for lack of a better term, to do his job. I'll tell you, old folks who don't have the means to live independently have got it really bad. If it wasn't for organizations like Uncle Woodrow's they'd be living like convicts. Sad, really sad. But I'm happy to announce the Return of the King! >;)
[558] And all of our rbi were home runs. That's odd when there were so many runs scored, don't you think?
[559] It was kind of freaky. And it didn't even look wild, exactly -- he'd just miss the strike zone by three inches for 8 out of 9 pitches.
[556] burnt toast(er)! shit, i only know like 7 movies. 3 of them are Tolkien related and another is the LoSt BoYs...
[557] oh, i know. it deserved a good wise Gandalf-like reply. i didn't have any. enjoy your drink, i'm on my 2nd Sierra!
i'm just catching the end of the OTL on Gardner and the girl from the hospital. she's healthy!!! thanking everything for that. i learned today that a good friend of mine suffered a family tragedy. life is not fair...
here's the recipe for success: your future ace is out of the game with five walks and two hit batters to bring on the godawful Yankee bullpen who live up to their rep post-haste. Then bring Rivera in not only in a tie game, where he is not very good, but in the eighth inning to boot. then have the team's "best player" hit an innocuous fly ball with two on, two out in the bottom of the ninth. Mix well and voila, you have a W.
[563] well, i haven't said anything about baseball yet I don't think so...
yeah, wtf kind of freakiness was this game???? and doesn't [562] just add to the whole freaky factor? wtf?
I bet there won't even be a #576. It will probably go directly from 575 to 577.
[564] Good for her!
Yeah, a kind of friend of our family just died of lung cancer. Really his son and mine are friends, I didn't know him well. The wake was just crushing, spiritually. The guy was maybe 50. You can't expect fairness, that's for sure.
[561] i'm soooo glad he's home, bro. my grandpa HATED being in that hospital. he called the other patients "zombies" and said it was a living hell there. i'd never seen him down in my entire life. it was grand to get to take him home for a few months...
he would have been 97 tomorrow. or, in 13 minutes... : (
btw, anyone else get randomly logged out like 3 minutes ago? weird.
[564] I wasn't even trying to fuel a LOTR discussion, honest! >;)
[569] Nope.
Yankee stadium is f***ing insane, btw. This home run foolishness is just too much. An average of almost four home runs a game ... Four home runs a game!!!
[572] Did you think Jeter was actually gunning for the RCF fence? He flied out to the track twice today, and at least once yesterday. Then he homered there.
[572] were any of the homers borderline at all? That is the thing that drives me nuts, for the most part the home runs are homeruns off the bat. I can't even tell if there really is a stadium effect. I can't tell that there isn't one either. The players seem to think there is one.
[571] just my weirdness i guess
Hey, Just Fair, what should A-Rod have done?
There, always wanted to do that.
[573] Man did you see how many balls hit by the Yanks were caught on the warning track? It was at least six, but probably more. I kind of doubt Jeter was gunning for it, but I'm positive he's very aware it's out there, saying "come to papa".
[566] somebody contact Ken Arneson quick and get him skip #576! ; )
[567] i only caught the tail end of the segment, but i heard something to the effect of: "she should live a full, healthy life". that was enough for me!!!
yeah man, my mom just had to bury one of her former students. he was 15, maybe 16. i think he got drunk once, never got laid...
[568] I'm sorry, man. At least he got to go home; that's important. Have a great day in honor of his memory, my friend.
Hey, my link doesn't work! Well, anyway, it was supposed to link here. I think I forgot a close-quote.
[569] nope.
[570] suuuuuure ya weren't! ; )
[576] you did it! i'm impressed! : )
[576] Oooh, almost! >;)
[577] Yes, many fly outs to the track. It sure felt like they were swinging for the fences -- of course, with Hernandez that's probably what you should do.
ok, we got the zen master to 576. I should go read or something. catch y'all laters!
[574] I think looking at the physics of each one kind of misses the point. The overall numbers are so astronomical, it kind of overwhelms breaking down each homer. That being said I think as far as distance goes, only Jeter's was a New Stadium one, dimension-wise. But that just leads me to suspect there's something going on other than just the dimensions. There's gotta be some other element at work here, cause the ball just flies ... So many fly balls go farther than you'd normally think, even if they don't make the seats.
[579] thanks, man. it WAS important. it made a drastic difference in his mood, demeanor and health. we had him home for a little over 3 months. i flew in to NY a billion times to be by his side and spend time with him.
i just finished composing a short 4-mallet solo Marimba piece in tribute to my grandpa, entitled "Hero". it's gonna go on my 2nd solo percussion cd. gotta get the damn debut out first...!
my family is going to his favorite restaurant on Long Island tomorrow to "celebrate". it was my nephew's idea. alas, i won't be able to join them, as i'll be playing a Blues-Rock gig in the north Georgia mountains...
[585] I think that's right, Jeter's was close, the others were not at all close. And I am sure it can't be just one factor at work. There must be a combination to explain the difference between this year's home homers and last year's.
One difference, of course, is Tex...
Okay, mission accomplished -- team-wise, and personally -- and the gin and tonic is down the hatch, so I'll say buenas noches.
per Pete Abe:
Brian Bruney will pitch in the first game of Trenton’s doubleheader tomorrow.
Damaso Marte is going to see Dr. James Andrews on Monday. That can’t be good.
um, i think the latter *could* be good. i mean, it's money down the drain, but whatever. let's get Melancon up...
Bottom line: The Yankees should at the very least take on half of Castillo's salary, because he's certainly earned it tonight.
I am tres confused.
[590] Just what the Yankees need... paying millions of dollars to yet another MLB player for failing to do his job!
: )
It's great that the Yankees won the game, but you can't ignore the many things that went poorly.
For starters, Joba was absolutely awful. It's one thing to walk good hitters, but Joba was walking the bottom of a very weak lineup. At some point, Joba has to start figuring out how to pitch efficiently. Otherwise, he is giving credence to those who want him to be a reliever. A starter who pitches to a 4 ERA (his FIP ERA is actually much higher) and only goes 5 innings isn't not that valuable. Jaret Wright could do that.
Aside from Joba, Girardi managed another horrendous game. Bringing in Tomko was a ridiculous. You have Robertson available, so why on Earth lead with the veteran scrub? Then, after refusing to bring Mo into the 8th inning the night before, he inexplicity calls for him in a tie game. Finally, he allows Gardner to hit, but then uses Damon as a PH for Swisher. It seems like every game, win or lose, Girardi does something that defies logic. It's really a shame that a talented team like this one can't be complemented by a manager who is skilled at managing the game.
One positive from the game was the Stadiumm was absolutely alive tonight. It sounded as loud as the old place and really erupted on several occassions, most notably Matsui's HR. The crowd reaction after the error was also priceless...the Yankees fans were laughing and the Met fans (who got pretty cocky after the Gardner AB) were stunned.