I don't know if this is a little more 'good news', or 'small sample', or what, but A-Rod seems to be doing better the last couple of games.

[1] i hope so - the double against the mets was a really nice at bat

and picking up from the last thread riyank - no i don't think aj should be smacked upside the head - as i mentioned i am not really a fan of the word accountability the way it is babdied around in most contexts - i am just trying to make the point that all of the calls to hold in particular posada and the coaching staff responsible for these mediocre pitching performances rarely ask that the pitchers shoulder some responsibility for these shitty performances - cc, aj, and andy in particular are veterans without the extenuating circumstances of wang (coming off the very serious injury and to me handled poorly) and joba (a young pitcher still learning to pitch)

Gotcha.
My view: most of the Yankees' recent problems have been because of bad starting pitching performances. Once that's acknowledged, as it must be, further questions of 'responsibility' are misplaced.

(This is probably essentially the same as your not being a fan of the way the word 'accountability' is used in this context.)

Hope this is OK... to repeat last thread's post, but I would love to know how peoples here feel:

"... I wonder if there is something to ... Jorge’s handling of pitchers is what’s killing our pitching staff. We know his throws are not great, he doesn’t block the plate, he’s not good at preventing passed balls or wild pitches and he absolutely does not frame pitches at all.

We have all said that he is one of our most key players, if not THE most important. It’s very hard to ‘qualify’ how a catcher ‘handles’ pitchers. This has been brought up before.

Could JoPo actually be hurting us???"

And to respond to Raf: The fact he's been doing it for 10 years does not help qualify him. From Vasquez, Contraras, RJ and others, we have (coincidentally?) gotten many undeperfromances from our pitchers. Rumors flew that a number of guys preferred Molina, and I think the same it true for Cervix.... even knowing a major offensive force would be out of the lineup.

There are so many variables, I don't know if you can statistically 'prove' anything. How about trade Matsui (we pay 1/2 his salary) to either LA team and get something in return, make Po our 75% DH, and let Cervelli (and later Molina) do the catching?

Frankly, over the next 2 years, using Po primarily as DH may not only help our pitchers, but maybe we get more hitting from a rested Po.

[3] we are in agreement

some interesting updates from pete, the highlights are:

- bruney and krod almost got into a fight duirng bp and krod might have even bumped bruney

- bruney will be activted tuesday

- eiland thinks the park effects of new ys is part of the reason the pitchers are not throwing strikes

The fact he’s been doing it for 10 years does not help qualify him. From Vasquez, Contraras, RJ and others, we have (coincidentally?) gotten many undeperfromances from our pitchers

Vazquez was injured, Contreras & RJ had one good year and one bad year with Posada catching a buld of their games, RJ was injured as well his second season. Mussina was hurt in 04 & 05.

There are other factors that I would look at before I look at Posada's pitch selection

[5] I'll take a shot at those pernts, Ms October.

· Pussies waving their pricks and jaw jacking without throwing punches doesn't impress me. "The first punch is worth a thousand words." I expected as much from both actually. I mean, they aren't hockey players after all, are they? heh heh

· Yay for the return of the "eighth inning guy!" If they use their players correctly, and their starters get their heads out of their asses and trust their stuff, they will have what is necessary for those "six inning games" we've all been longing for for years!

Starting Tuesday, I would use Hughes, Coke, Bruney, and Mo for those "six inning games"...

· Scared money never won anything, Ms October...

; )

[7] Wow, PJ, it must take a lot to impress you. Pussies waving their pricks would sure be a first for me.

Scared money never won anything

haha very true pj

off the top of their head does anyone know if any of these pitchers that supposedly didn't like pitching to posada have had issues elsewhere? just asking this becuase i know greg maddux often had a personal catcher. it wouldn't surprise me to find out rj has had difficulties in his various stops and wanted the buc as his personal catcher.

In case you don't want to be subjected to Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips tonight, might I suggest the ORIGINAL "Pelham One Two Three"?
http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/the-taking-of-pelham-one-two-three/MV000059850000

[8] Nice

Let's hope today is the day for Burnett. Otherwise the Yanks are ****ed.

well first pitch a strike - let's hope that is foreshadowing

I was surfing and found the game on TBS for some strange reason. I just saw K-Rod going to confront Bruney at Yankee Stadium. Who does K-Rod think he is? He is so over the top.

Way to make it look easy, Swish!

nice play swish

God, that's hysterical!

Nice play, Swish.

That's a case of matter over mind for Mr. Swisher.

Burnett's curve better settle down or he's going to get bombed.

[14] so true simone - i wonder if he flops around in a confrontation like he does on the mound?

[9]

Whenever I hear the phrase "personal catcher", I think of these guys ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZEuzxM3_Uk

(especially if your catcher is Jesus Flores ....) :-)

[14] Isn't K Rod substantially smaller than Bruney? My sense is Bruney would overwhelm him if it came to fisticuffs.

[20] Lookin' good that AB

i could be okay this version of aj- though those fly balls were a bit scary - but throwing strikes is a good start

Ooooh. Very nice backward K (just like Leiter was calling for).

So to me, it looked like Burnett's location was very good -- except that pitch to Cora was too hittable. Good speed on the fastball. Curve, I couldn't really tell.

[25] You know he was thinking, "throw strikes", because everyone's depending on him to go deep into the game.

[23]

K Rod 6', 175 lb.
Bruney 6'3" 226 lb.

It's hard to believe K Rod is even that tall.

There goes Jeter with that infuriating first-pitch hacking again.

It's nice to be able to listen to the Mets guys call the game. A break from Kay, esp.

[27] definitely

[28] krod has fat cheeks though

[28] True, about K-Rod. He has a kind of pipsqueak attitude, maybe that's it.

Hey, Team. Here we go.

If Kay utters the phrase "derisive cheer" one more time...

[8] "Pussies waving their pricks would sure be a first for me."

Obviously, the term "snapper" is lost on you. So is "lesbians with 'snapons'"...

: )

[14] Confront Bruney about what?

[35] *strapons*...

[34] Let's send him some substitutes and synonyms.

Derogatory accolades.
Facetious applause.

[34] Watch the Mets announcers, it's at least a novel brand of annoyance.

If the Yanks can win this game in legitimate fashion, ie the Mets don't give it to them, that will go a long way towards putting the Boston series behind them, especially if the beat Santana.

Who's in the booth with Kay btw?

[38] I kind of like "facetious applause."

Of course, Kay's problem is his smug, self-satisfied delivery of such observations.

[40] Cone and Leiter.

[41] Kay has a terrible case of "Miked Up Moron"...

I don't think there is a cure for that!

I love that overhead camera.

I really wish they'd hire more creative directors to broadcast the games. They have so many cameras they hardly ever use. I'd love to see the batter's perspective more often. A lot more often.

Why keep all those cameras around if they never use them?

Damn, look at AJ.

very nice 2nd inning as well aj

[45] Red Ass, maybe?

[39] That's a good idea. I really like those guys. Now, to find the channel...

i am going to on the game on the 4th - a yankee ice cream bowl - how exciting!

It's a good thing Burnett shaved his mustache, I guess.

[49] Heh heh heh. Classy. Who needs a bat, anyway?

[42] Oh, I might switch back and forth then. Thanks.

i don't care for keith hernandez in the booth too much - do you guys who like the mets broadcast feel differently?

[49] "Who could ask for anything more?"

: )

[53] Oh, I think he's great. I love his focus on fundamentals and the way he seems personally aggrieved by sloppy play.

I also love that you never know what he's going to say. I also love the way he and Darling get into war stories.

Who is that guy?

nice batting robbie

Well done, Robbie.

Hernandez also gets really happy about hits like the one Robbie just got. He really gets off on baseball in the way that I do.

if you can't play 1b or lf - i think you are a dh

Wow really... who is that guy on 3B, and what did he do with Cano?

: )

God, Santana's changeup is so sick.

maybe the seinfeld episode ruined keith hernadez for me.
i appreciate his passion - but he seems to have a kno-it-all demeanor about everything.

Funny, I like the YES broadcast. I know I make no secret of my, uh, disdain, for Kay, but I like Cone a lot, I'm fine with Leiter, and I like it when O'Neill shows up.

It would be nice if Matsui had any chance of stealing here, wouldn't it?

[62] He does, for sure, but I can put up with it because he knows what he's talking about and it's coupled with genuine respect for the game.

I like the YES broadcast too, btw. I can put up with Kay (though he bugs the hell out of me) and I really like Cone and Leiter.

[64] shouldn't even put matsui and steal into the same sentence

[63] yeah i am okay with yes too. it would be nice to get rid of kay, but all of the other guys are okay to great.

Watch out for the change, Melky!

And there it was.

[67] god damnit melky - listen to weeping!

Cervelli vs Santana doesn't really seem quite fair.

coney said to go after santana early in the count - that might cause problems around here :}

Wow!

It fell in!

Oh, hey! Big hit for Frankie!

[70] neither did that bloop

[71] Heh heh heh.

Well there you go!

Clutch Cervix

Ugh. I hate Keith Hernandez. I think he's an idiot.

I love Leiter. I thought we wouldn't be getting him on YES any more.

not literally

[71] See [29], Ms. Oct.

Darling just called Derek's single off of Rodriguez the other night "a work of art."

Yes it was.

LOL @ Cervelli's "duck snort"...

[80] indeed :}

Ooooh! Go Derek!

Terrible pitch by Santana.

No idea why he threw a fastball.

Awesome!

How come Cervelli didn't score?

Woohoo!

nice hit derek - yanked that ball down the lf line

[85] He went first to third and Santana backed up the bad throw.

yeah i don't think frankie c could have scored the ball didn't get that far away and as buck said santana was right there

nice hit damon - and what a weird play at 2nd

OHHHHH!

Johhny Damon!!

Wtf?

Nice hitting by Damon. Very, very nice hitting.

Crazy rundown situatoin.

We're cooking with gas today.

Ok, AJ. It's on you.

Win the fucking baseball game. No excuses.

Yay Damon, but blue botched another one for the Yanks...

So it's Santana who blinks first today!

Who knew?

: )

It's weird, I have so much respect for Santana I don't like to see him roughed up like that. Especially since the Cervelli single was a bit of a joke. I just hope to god it's not in vain and Burnett can hold the Mets to a run or two tops, for seven or so. We needs it!

maybe damon learned that play a few years ago

Maybe this is something you never want to hear but:
I love it when Jeter PULLS the ball.

Wow! JD with the CLUTCH 2 out hit...
but he's OUT on the basepath...
No... the BALL IS Dropped... he's SAFE....
But... he overruns the base, but...... SAFE
But... he knocked the ball out of the defenders glove so... He's OUT!
(But Kay thinks it was an accident and he... SAFE-ISH!

(Gotta Love Baseball!)

3-0.

Do you believe this shit?

I love Hernandez. I like Darling too. I like Leiter and Cone I love but Kay is getting to me lately.

I'm tellin' yas... he should have done a Mike Lowell to Cano, and they'd still be hitting...

: )

Here comes Burnett.

YAY!

Lead off walk!

Way to go, AJ!

OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!

[102] Wow...

[96] i agree oyf - jeter (like almost everyone else) is a better hitter when he uses the whole field - for him that means pulling the ball.
when he pulls the ball down the line it is usually hit hard

What happened to that slider he threw last inning?

Don't they have a place to throw and keep loose in the bowels of the new stadium?

Holy shit Burnett!

It's gonna be one of those games, isn't it?

[96] [105] Agreed. It takes me by surprise how quick he can be inside because he so rarely does it.

[108] All I know is I ain't tryin' to hear, "He had to sit for a while during that long inning"...

Are you people watching this?

[111] mm hmm

Absolutely pathetic by AJ...of course, it's not his fault. It's the Stadium's fault that Yankee pitchers don't throw strikes.

This guy's a bum.

He's a fucking bum.

F*ck a goat!

I got that from somebody here.

Bases loaded jam. Bullpen stirring. Oy.

[113] you mean girardi's

1-0.

[111] The Jekyll and Hyde thing? Of course!

[115] Ms. O.

And it's "fuck a goat in the ass."

2-0.

Right.

[120] :}

god this asshole is infuriating

That 2-1 was a gift.

Damned close, anyway.

Oh, what a break!

WOW!

What a break!

wow thankfully alex cora is well alex cora

([125] was about the check being called a swing.)

It'd be one thing if this was just a problem with Burnett, but aside from Mo and CC, no one throws strikes.

Come on, AJ.

You can do this, bum though you be.

Yankees getting gifts.

they have fernando martinez hitting 3rd?

[126] No, wrong, it's "Oh", not "WOW". Otherwise, fine.

[132] No, second. Cora is lead-off.

[111] no, I refuse to watch this anymore... there is something seriously wrong with this pitching staff that involves EVERYONE.

[132] 2nd

Damn, what a sickly hack.

Good work, AJ.

Holy cow.

Burnett is just insane. What must it be like to be him?

is yes on a 5 second cone delay or something? channel 11 comes in like a whole pitch before yes.

[133] ha ha hah ah ah ah !

I stand corrected.

Another nice slider.

Wow...

What an escape.

Houdini Burnett.

Sweet.
Baseball is so fucking weird.

Maybe Yankees pitchers are a little shell shocked. They just have to get used to the idea that sometimes a flyball will go out at the stadium. it affects both pitchers the same. You still have to go after the hitters. They are being too fine.

good job getting out if it - but just no reason to be in that jam

Nice, AJ. Take that K-Rod.

Wow.

Good work, AJ, except it's not, because now the Mets know they're in this game, especially if they can get into the pen, which prospect that inning greatly facilitated.

Get back out there Santana!

[139] i think cable channels are generally on a longer delay, but a cone delay is probably a good idea - plus different cable companies seem to have different lengths of delay

[146] Precisely. No reason.

It's like when an outfielder makes a great, diving play on a ball he misjudged. It looks nice, but it should never have been that close.

The ump bailed Burnett the **** out, but I'll take that as payback for that Posada AB in Boston. Karmically.

Come on, Robbie. Buy AJ a little breather, at least.

[148] If the Mets know anything about Burnett, they know they were always in the game ... and always had no chance. It's completely random with the guy, apparently.

Boston is up 3-1 enroot to a sweep of the defending Champions in their place, while the Yankees battle tooth and nail with the Wright, Beltran and the AAA Mets. The one thing this week has accomplished is exposed the gulf that exists between the Yankees and Boston. What's worse is the Yankees arguably have more talent.

Well that's that.

Come on, AJ. NIce and easy one-two-three.

[150] i have a thing about delays going back to game 7 of 01. i had 2 fox channels at college, one that came in about 10 seconds before the other. earlier that day my tv had fallen so that the connection in the back came undone, and then only the later fox came in clearly, so i had to watch it. and i had to listen to the sox fans all around me cheering in the 9th before i knew why. it was bad. now i only watch it as live as possible.

[155] The Mets are missing huge pieces, but the fact is, they're still pretty good. With Santana on the mound, you're always fighting an uphill battle anyway. The problems were the first two games. Luckily they handed the Yankees one of them.

It's true about Boston AT Philly though, when they Yanks almost got swept at home by them.

[155] "What's worse is the Yankees arguably have more talent." i'd say that makes it a lot better, especially since we have almost 2/3 of the season left.

3-1.

...

[157] Ouch.

[158] almost got swept, but almost won 2/3.

2-1.

[158] The Mets are not still pretty good...their lineup is ridiculously depleted.

[159] It's worse because it tells me something is wrong with this team and the only viable corrections won't be made this season.

[157] yeah i hear you. that really stinks.
my friend's cable is slightly faster than mine and hearing "oh caught at the warning track" on the phone before someone even swung the bat is irritating as hell.

Nice. Good slider.

[163] The Yankees have been all about amost this season. They almost took 2 of 3 from Philly; they almost one a game or two against Boston; etc. Maybe they'll almost make the playoffs or almost win a series?

that yes graphic was telling - every pitcher but cc decided to crap the bed this week. if the pitching stabilizes the yankees will be fine - if not ,then this will not be the season we are all hoping for.

[168] or maybe they'll almost miss the playoffs or almost get swept in the season series against boston.

Nice 3-1.

[165] I already acknowledged that, my point is they still are performing pretty well as a team. As we've noted some teams play above - or below *ahem* - their talent level.

not nice

How come he can throw that 3-1 so perfectly and then miss so badly on 3-2?

Oh, yes!

Pfew.

nice job can and especially jeter

[169] It's June already and the Yankees pitching staff, which is definitely talented, is an absolute mess. If Girardi isn't accountable for that, then shouldn't the pitching coach be held responsible? If not, why do teams even have one?

You know, watching Burnett I'm starting to think he's going to be the Cano of pitchers.

[176] Indeed. Very nice.

In 1/3 of a season I see why Burnett hasn't really been more than a .500 pitcher over his career...He just rarely has it all together...today its flasher of one or there other...but doesn't really have one he can depend on...

That said I wouldn't put this guy one the mound with 1 game to win if my life depended on it...

The one thing this week has accomplished is exposed the gulf that exists between the Yankees and Boston

Didn't realize 3 games out in June was an insurmountable lead.

The funny thing with AJ is he is not this wild of a pitcher...or, atleast he hasn't been in a long time. His BB/9Inn rate had been 2.9, 3.4, 2.6, 3.6 and 3.5 since 2004. This year he is walking 4.5 men per game.

When the epidemic spreads throughout the entire staff, maybe there is a bigger problem.

godzilla!!

OH, hell yeah!!!

Hideki!

Godzilla strikes again!

Woohoo Matsui!

Have a nice afternoon off, Santana...

: )

[172] They had lost 8 of 12 coming into this series...if any team was ripe for a sweep, it was this one.

HITdeki!

I almost feel bad for Santana he's a classy guy it seems.

[180] What if you had to choose between him, Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez?

Nice hitting Melky!

Very, very nice.

nice hit and hustle melky

If not, why do teams even have one?

It's something I've wondered myself. I've heard griping when Stot & Gator were the pitching coaches as well. IMO very few coaches bring anything to the table.

I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Marshall get a shot. THAT would be interesting

Good hustle, Melky.

Nice hustle Melki! Yankees have life today.

Good hustle, Cervelli!

Thes are the Yankees? Doing almost everything right?

Brains!

[189] In their prime? I'll take Kevin Brown

[181] Either you missed the point or you're being disingenuous. For the sake of the community, let's hope for the former!

I have to tell you this. Just now I was in the car for ten minutes (had to pick up something at the store) and listening to WCBS. On the ball that got Burnett out of the jam (top of fourth), Sterling says, "Hit on the ground to second, not a double-play ball... Cano, tosses to Jeter, on to first... Double play!"

Classic.

[198] Nah, not in their prime. Burnett of today or the other two of 2004.

Another pulled baseball by Derek! Though it was an outside pitch, not like the previous one.

[177] [182] it may well be some of this is on the coaching staff, but how do point to the coaching staff for all the walks this year?

take pettitte as an example - his walks are way up this year compared to last year (3.7 to 2.4 - 2.8 career bb/9) - both eiland and girradi were around last year - this years issues seems to be a product of poor stuff

Yay!

[200] Just perfect.

Man mets fans must be besides themselves.

[200] ha hah ah ha ha ha ha ha ah a aa h hah ah ah!!!

Good old Sterling.

Lets hope AJ settles in now and starts pumping the fastballs.

[182] This may be true...When NO ONE has settled in and provides the consistency that expected, maybe those giving the advice have to be held accountable

[189] I think about slitting my wrist first so I don't have to go thru the misery...Even though I kinda like Vasquez and think we miscast him as a 1 or 2 and he really is a 3 or 4....

That's baseball...we knock out Santana but can't get to the rook yesterday....its why I live this game :)

ooooooooooooooooooooh Hoss... Hossy.... Hoss Hoss
You can Log On now.... It's safe!

[203] I'd really like to see a comparison of Yankee pitchers BB/9 INN at home and away. Maybe that would tell us if the pitchers are being too careful at home?

[200] Wow @ Pa Pinstripe...

He's become a mascot rather than a play by play man.

Woohoo Damon!

Damon on fire today.

Nice to see the bats alive like this.

Yeah! Finally a lead and a decent pitching performance.

[199] Nope, just pointing out that the Yanks are only 3 games out in June, percentage points behind having the second best record in the league and just knocked Santana out of the game.

Heh heh heh.

This is fun.

We Got Sabathia
They got Santana
(sang to the tune of Nah... Nah...na nah - Nah)

I love Teix. He is awesome. Alright got that off my chest.

Poor Mets fans. Poor Mets. I mean this is unbelievable.

Wtf was that?

Just missed a triple play for A-Rod.

I think these are the Bad News Mets today.

[203] For starters, it's a little worrisome when your pitching coach wonders if the Stadium is causing his pitchers to avoid the zone. If that's the case, I would think the issue would be addressed directly. Maybe the issue really is the Stadium. If so, it’s the coaching staff’s job to Coaches can't perform for the players, but there are certain philosophies that can be preached and certain routines that can be employed. As a fan looking in, I don’t really know what is being said and done, but I really hope Cashman is making it his business to know.

Santana's worst career outing. 9 ER.

ever.

[201] Oh... I'd still go with Brown, pre dugout wall confrontation

NIce, Robbie.

Woohoo Robbie!

Not only beating, but destroying Santana was an important win to this organization. Had they lost today, it would be one of the uglier weeks in recent team history.

Sweeeeeeeeeeet!!! It is bad karma for K-Rod.

I dare not leave my seat. This is great.

All right, Team, I'll check in with you monkeys later. We look to be in good shape (knock on wood) and I've got work to do.

Wasn't Santana involved in the pregame "festivities" of jaw jackin', when F-Rod stepped up to Bruney in the outfield?

If so, I'm glad that apparently rattled him, or distracted him, or both!

: )

[209] their whip is 1.534 at home; 1.354 away
for some reason baseball reference doesn't have bb/9 splits for the whole staff
but they they walk 0.45/inning pitched at home and 0.43 on the road

LOL

Melky shows some mercy.

I don't mind Melky being greedy there. It was almost a mercy thing to do.

I wonder if Melky was watching that, and didn't turn it on until he rounded 1st?

[227] I agree with that, Simone!

: )

[209] The Yankees have walked 3.9 per game on the road and 4.1 per game at home. Both numbers are way too high. It's also not an isolated problem. Mo's rate is 1 and CC's is 2.8. Everyone else with significant innings has a rate of 3.7 (Andy) or higher.

the bats have really heated up this game - will be nice if they can rack up some wins against the nats and marlins this week and get back on a really hot streak

Absolutely pathetic by AJ…
This guy’s a bum. He’s a fucking bum.
And it’s “fuck a goat in the ass.”
no, I refuse to watch this anymore
while the Yankees battle tooth and nail Wright, Beltran and the AAA Mets.

Humble apologies can be forwarded to:
Old Yanks Fans, c/o Utopia

Quote: "Sweet. Baseball is so fucking weird."

And Melky... What is it they say about "Last out at 3rd base?"

The Mets next 30 games are brutal. If they don't make some moves, I would be shocked if they are still in the race by the All Star break.

[239] oyf i remember you cursing aj too - don't try to pull a hoss on us :}
and btw for all we know hoss has been yelling at his tv during the red sox and mets series just as much as the rest of us - he just isn't publicizing it like us nutsos

The booth is going to be interesting, since the game is out of hand; I have a feeling Cone will be all over the place

[241] I get as frustrated, disappointed, and bummed out as anyone here, when the Yanks lose, and especially when they play poorly.

But I don't think they stink, I don't think they need a LOT of changes, I don't think anyone should be fired, I do think they are a Post season team, and I always root for, and assume they will get better.

I think fans need to have a little faith... a little patience....
AND LET THEM PLAY 162 GAMES before we pronounce them dead.

[231] [237] Maybe It's not the Stadium then. The Yankees pitching has just sucked.

If Cervelli gets sent down, that would be tragic! And I don't care if it was Johnny Bench who returned from the DL!

If anyone ever has earned their way into the show, it's him...

And Kay, I would argue that the reason Hernandez was brushing his teeth just now was to get the bad taste of this Santana start and that nine spot out of his mouth!

: )

If we plate these runners, the game will be safe for Veras.

[244] "The Yankees pitching has just sucked."

I've been saying that for two months now, BF...

Just look at Pettitte and Hughes' home and away splits, especially BAA, ERA, HR allowed, and WHIP.

: )

[246] Don't tempt the baseball gods.

Time to bring on the backups. Rest Jeter, Rodriguez and Damon, the old men.

Forgot to invite A-Rod to the party.

[243] i hear you on most of that oyf

[249] i was thinking that too - i stepped away for a few minutes have they pulled anyone yet?

[243] Instead of waiting for 162 games before pronouncing them dead, I'd rather address a few issues now and perhaps avoid that proclamation.

Meanwhile, it's 5-5 in Philly

[251] Looks like Pena for Arod. That's it for now.

Josh Beckett just hit a HR to tie it. Incredible.

good news everyone - just got an email that nyy steak is open year round

[254] thanks

Well, if you have a BS zone, expect to get called on it

[255] That speaks volumes, doesn't it?

if cano gets another tear that will be a great outcome of this weekend

[259] I would love for him to get his AVG up to the .340 area again, Ms October! They could sure use that kind of production from him!

: )

Wow, remember [12]?
Not trying to give Hawk a hard time about it; I thought the same thing. I'm sure everyone did.

[261] I thought Burnett getting out of that bases loaded jam successfully gave him the confidence he's needed for some time, umpire's calls notwithstanding, RIY...

: )

[260] very true - let's hope to see his avg up soon.

[261] haha. another great outcome would be if aj could build on this outing (i know, i know)

[262] Could be -- I'm not going to try to understand AJ. Hm, maybe you _J guys understand each other better.
But my actual point was that we pretty much all believed the Yankees would have to hold the Mets to a couple of runs to have a chance of winning. Turns out Kei Igawa could have got the win today!

See, that's why Berroa is on the team.
We knew there was a reason.

[264] "Hm, maybe you _J guys understand each other better."

I doubt it, RYI. I went to Vanderbilt eons ago. I doubt Burnett can even spell Vanderbilt...

: )

Yanks showing all aspects today. Maybe it will become habit forming.

The Philly broadcast just showed a great ST confrontation between Beckett and Ryan Howard. Howard launched a bomb off Beckett and apparently Josh wasn't happy about the time it took him to go around the bases. When Howard went to his position, Beckett kept jawing at him, so the big man dropped his glove, held his hands out and walked over to the dugout yelling "I've had enough of you". Beckett did not decide to come out of the dugout.

[266] Yeah, he's just inscrutable.
But even I can tell that he liked that DP. Nice job by both middle infielders.

[268] Damn, I can't get that (blacked out). What inning? I'll watch that on the archives tonight.

JRo takes Beckett deep.

[271] good.
i do think we need to be concerned about the rays getting on a hot streak. hopefully they don't go on a crazy tear and we can get some head to head wins on them (even though some banterers do not see the importance of that)

That was all for Beckett too, for today...

Too bad!

Not a very good day for Aces, was it?

: )

[272] Totally agree.

If I had to bet, I would bet that the Rays are not a real threat in September. But there's a decent chance they could be (I'll say about 1/4), and beating them a few times would provide good insurance.

[214] I call bullshit.

What ever is the opposite of snake-bit, that's what the Yankees are today.

We want K-Rod!
We want K-Rod!

[272] So do I. After this week, it looks like the Yankees may need the WC as a fall back, and the Rays have been hanging around. They haven't exactly dominated the Nats, but it would be alot easier if they don't play well. The WC is most likely going to come down to the Yankees and Rays.

[261] I don't get how you could give me a hard time about it. Who would have thought they wouldn't need a well-pitched game from Burnett?

Seriously its June 14th, we are 2-3 games out of first, and we are going to resign ourselves to the wild card? There's no chance this Yankee team improves? They haven't been that bad, just a little improvement, especially in the pitching. Haven't they been better every second half the last few years?

[279] Oh, I actually knew they were going to rock Santana for 9 and then tag the bullpen for another half dozen.

No. I just thought my reference might look like I was singling you out as having made a bad call.

Go Phillies. Sorry, Mets

[280] I agree it's not time to resign ourselves to the WC, but without making projections beyond what we've seen, that's where it'll probably end up. Yes the team could - probably should - improve, but they look right now like the second place team. And they are too!

9-5

Oh, Pedro Feliz!
Sox stumbling. This could be Daniel Bard's last inning in Boston (I hope I'll get to see him in Pawtucket).

[280] It has nothing to do with the record or games behind. The Jays were only 5 behind and I don't think they have a prayer of making the playoffs. The ways the Yankees have played this week makes me seriously doubt their ability to handle Boston H2H, so naturally I am glad the WC is in play. That doesn't mean they can't improve, but if I had to make a prediction right now, I'd think Boston would take the division.

Wow, Bard waks Park on four pitches! Kid must be rattled badly. (I'm just looking at Gameday for that game.)

[285] I hope so...Bard has been throwing great. Like the Yankees, the Red Sox rotation has 2 or 3 guys that probably aren't as good as other options in the organization.

I know this is garbage time, but I'm liking Dave Robertson.

Mo
Bruney
Robertson
Coke
Hughes

Mix in some Aceves, stir well.

That just can't be a terrible bullpen.

I hate using Robertson here, by the way. He has thrown as good as anyone in the bullpen, so bringing him into a 15-0 game seems silly. There is an off day on Monday, so maybe that's why.

Cano and Cabrera's numbers seem to be "becoming one".

[289] The irony of this week is the Yankees have not been undone by the bullpen. In fact, he has pitched pretty well (aside from Tomko).

Well, the Yankees used the rest of the AL to get to first place and hang around there for a while. They don't play Boston again until August. If they start with this series and win a lot of them between now and August again, it will be difficult for Boston to keep up, unless they win a lot of series, too.

I'm concerned about the Yankees' three West Coast trips, while Boston is already finished with going out there.

Then there is always the injury factor, which is as unpredictable as the game outcomes themselves. I'm not smart enough to figure all of that out... much less predict any of that! Nostralarmis, I'm not!

*shrug*

: )

[288] Bard has options, and they think he could benefit most from development. He'll go down when Smoltz comes up, almost for sure.

Holy smokes, the Sox' vaunted bullpen just put four consecutive hitters on base without leather touching wood. (One HBP and three walks, including one IBB.)

[289] I totally agree with that, RYI!

[289] yes, while i am on my "good outcomes of the weekend" kick - i think robertson moving up in the pecking order is a strong positive as well. as has been said before he too needs to throw more strikes, but i think it is within him to do that and he has great stuff - my mets fan friend was asking me about him and was quite impressed.

Look I go to postseason odds and I see that the odds and schedule favor the Sox. But hey I'm a Yankee fan and if sportsbooks were legal in Jersey I'd be putting my money on the Yankees to win the division. I don't want the WC, I'll take it, but I don't want it. And what happens in the regular season has absolutely no bearing in the regular season. We owned the Indians in 2007 and they still whupped us in the ALDS.

Now 11-5 Phillies.

Excellent

Picturing Beckett hitting a home run is kind of nauseating.

Crazy day for pitchers" Johan gives up 9 and Beckett and Lowe give up 7.