Here's hoping for a relatively complaint free game thread. I have a good ol' fashioned baseball debate question, to get the debate rolling:

What should the Yankees do when Molina is ready to return? I say they should keep Cervelli with the big club, which means releasing or trading Molina.

I think Cervelli is better cerved in Scranton, where he'll get more starts and a lot more PAs.
Two provisos, though. First, maybe Posada can only start 2/3 of the remaining games. In that case Frankie gets enough game to improve. And second, maybe the Yankees could get something valuable for Molina, in which case that would tip the scales. (Who out there in MLB needs a catcher?)

[2] Yeah, it's a tough call because I think that the team is btter (but probably not by much) with Cervelli than Molina. But if it's a toss up, then better to send Cervelli to AAA.

I sense that it would be hard to get much of anything for Molina, esp. with his contract, unless the team in question were really, really desperate for catching help.

Maybe Torre could be convinced that he needs someone like Molina...that is, unless the Dodgers get Cairo to satisfy whatever Torre may have.

Speaking of catchers, did you see this?

SOURCES: YANKEES SIGN DOMINICAN CATCHER GARY SANCHEZ FOR $2.5M

Said to be not the hitter that Montero is, but quite a prospect.
I don't think Boston has any catching prospects. We're brimming with them now. It will be an interesting situation when Mauer hits free agency.

yeah it probably boils down to a) trade molina or b) send cervelli down to aaa.
surely someone needs a buc - molina is only owed the rest of this year (about 1 million for half the year, if necessary the yanks could pick-up part of that i suppose)
i doubt anyone wants c) keep all 3 with the big club.

i could see, and understand a or b.

petey says aj's suspension got knocked down to 5 games which starts today - meaning he cannot make his friday start.
can hughes make it or do you just move cc up a day with monday off?

Now that you mention (c), it helps me see another advantage of sending Cervelli to Scranton, namely, that he could be brought back for the play-offs. Small advantage -- and of course, the priority is to make the play-offs...

[6] I think you just bump cc on normal rest and have aj go Saturday. Then Wang on normal rest on Sunday.

[6] I bet they move CC up with the off day. Unfortunately, Hughes has been used for only one inning each of the last couple appearances (IIRC), so it might be tough to stretch him to a start. Plus, I imagine they want him available to shadow Wang for another few starts until they are sure he's back to form.

[6] The latter, I bet.

For what it's worth, I did some quick calculations. In MLB history going back to 1900, there have been 2196 team-seasons (i.e., the 1990 Cardinals, 1901 Cardinals, etc.). In these nearly 2200 team-seasons, only 92 have won 100 games (4%), and only 246 have won 95 games (11%).

I didn't look at the percentages for 162 game v. 154 game season, but overall this shows how relatively rare it is for teams to win that many games in a season. I mention this for information purposes only, of course, though in the back of my mind I think about such things as expectations.

[3][5] Stirring the pot a little more, let's forget other factors such as player development. Who is the better player right now, Molina or Cervilli?

Cervelli brings more to the table offense/defense than Molina. If their primary goal is to win this season, Cervelli should continue to be the backup catcher. If Posada's health weren't fragile, I would trade Molina, but since it is, I would make him the 3rd string catcher and DFA Berroa.

[13] If that's the plan, I would not carry three catcher-I would then send Cervilli to AAA and keep Molina. Of course, Berroa has not played much (except for A-Rod injurygate), so it probably doesn't matter of they carry three catchers or two catchers and a Berroa.

[14] It's often said that the Yankees have needed to get younger or more athletic. Cervelli's play epitomizes those two words, while Molina is basically the anti-thesis. But as you said, Berroa is a non-entity, so the choice of keeping a 3rd catcher can await a more difficult roster decision.

[12] in what we have seen - cervelli.
also i think it is fairly safe to say molina has pretty much shown his legs will break down if he is used too mcuh - so he has to be used sort of sparingly.
i suppose there are worse things than carrying 3 catchers, but i would prefer the roster spot be used for something more valuable than a 3rd catcher. i guess if nady is ready soon much of this is a mute point.

[16] While appreciate the invocation of "mute" : ), I am skeptical of Nady's return. I have a Yankees-rushing-a-player-back feeling.

That said, if he comes back and can play, then Berroa/Molina or Gardner/Melky better be looking over their shoulders, because someone is getting the axe.

i don't have "supper" either. it's always "dinner." and it's always late, too...

knowing the Yanks, we'll prolly keep 3 catchers. if it helps us get rid of Berroa...

[17] it was in your honor :}
yeah who knows about nady - i am not holding my breath waiting for him to come back and be productive. but if the rehab reports have any merit, it is a decent possibility he comes back and does something.
and even if it ends up being a yankee rushed back player with the end result of him being brought back even if it is rushed, some roster move will be made.

Sending Cervelli down makes the most sense of those four (Molina, Gardner, Melky the others). Molina would have to be DFAed. It might be possible to trade Gardner, come to think of it. But I'm afraid they would trade him for bullpen help, which would be a waste.

I think Molina can contribute marginally more than Cervelli if it's just a matter of this season. The difference is small, though, and it would surprise me if Molina turned out to suck. (This year and 2007: hit significantly better than Cervelli is hitting; 2008: significantly worse.)

Oops, [20} "It would not surprise me if..."
(You all must have thought I'd taken leave of my senses.)

Funny, we always had dinner, but it was always early. I don't know if that's because my family is Catholic or because my dad used to work really early and then get home and late afternoon (and want to eat).

Braves just tied up Boston!

[20] I agree regarding Melky/Gardner: both seem to have played well enough to earn the good graces (and platoon time) of the coaching staff. However, when Nady comes back you know he's going to be on the team. That makes five OFs (plus Matsui), which the Yankees have been unwilling to carry for most of this season. They seem driven to carry two BU IF, and now that A-Rod looks like he needs to be spotted more often (i.e, ever), I doubt they want to go down to one BU IF.. If they go with three catchers, something has to give.

In the end, I guess Cervelli will probably be sent down, then called up again in September, or when Molina gets hurt again.

"In the end, I guess Cervelli will probably be sent down, then called up again in September, or when Molina gets hurt again."

Yes.

Fat Papi with another strikeout. he homered today, but i thoroughly enjoyed watching his last 2 swinging k's.

[25] Hey, thelarmis, I'll be at Thursday's Yankees Braves game....are you going? I'll be in the terrace reserved (I think it's section 226) wearing a Derek Jeter road jersey and a Yankee hat. If you see me please say hello.

(The poster formerly known as Jeb)

[26] awesome, jeb! yeah man, i'll be there! i'm sitting in section 138. it's field level, left field, near the Yanks bullpen. you're one level up on the other side of the 'pen, so we're pretty close.

we should definitely meet up! i might try and go early and catch BP. not sure what i'll be wearing, but it'll be a Yankees shirt of some kind and quite possibly a Yanks hat. i've got a long pony tail, so that should be a dead giveaway! : )

Papbelbon high wire act. Nick Green. Pesky Pole. Barf.

[26] he might need more info than that. I'd think Jeter jerseys are common.

papelbitch got in trouble in the 9th, but matt diaz bailed him out swinging at a pitch about 17 feet about his head.

1st pitch of the bottom half, and nick green, of all people, hit one out, *just* inside that ridiculous pesky pole. sux win.

total bollocks.

I'm really starting to hate Nick Green...

[31] You can hate him, but you can only hope to contain him...

[32] I'm sorry, but .292, .341, .442, .783 at the bottom of that order are well beyond "overachieving," even for someone we can only hope to contain...

Who does he think he is anyway, Scott Brosius?

: )

i would keep cervelli up and do away with molina because cervelli seems to be better at everything, and can even pinch run if needed. and since we don't plan on cervelli ever really being the everyday catcher (see [4]), i don't really worry about whether catching more in aaa is marginally better for his development than staying up.

Nick Green is having quite a year, isn't he?

He's got an identical twin brother, who used to be a minor leaguer in the Braves system, and is now a model.

I think Frankie gets sent down, if they don't carry three catchers. Posada's health is so fragile, they need an extra catcher. If not on the roster, then easily called up from Scranton. They don't want to be in the position they were in last year, desperately hoping Chad Moeller clears waivers.

[29] you're right, my jersey has #2 on it.

(Sorry just kidding)

I don't know what to say other than I'm 6' 4" and I'll be making like a bleacher creature yelling, "John-ny Da-mon!"

[36] haha. enjoy the game!

[36] dude, you "stole" my idea!!! i'm planning on doing the bleacher creature chants, as well! we should definitely figure it out and meet up. 6'4" is TALL!!! between your height and my hair, it shouldn't be too hard. maybe we'll designate a time and meet in the concourse by one of our sections, or something...

[35] that is definitely odd about nick green and his brother!

All right, Team, here we go. And may I say, 90 degrees and 73% humidity is simply unacceptable.

that strike call is unacceptable

[40] Michael Kay failing to realize he is in a tropical climate is unacceptable...

: )

Swisher and Matsui both have this strange, sweep-type swing. When they follow through, their wrists don't seem to follow the swing.

Nice job, Swisher.

Spanky McSkittles!

I'll take the 4 seasons of upstate (western) Ny weather above any other. 90+ degree weather for more than a day or two at time would drive me insane. Hey, Swish.

[46] Having spent several years in South Florida Just Fair, it's nice to wear shorts around during Christmas Time. However, dodging hurricanes every year with their storm surges and 6-10" of accompanying rain at sea level isn't all it's cracked up to be...

I prefer temperate zones, too.

: )

Hold down the fort. Go Yankees. Time for steak and wine with the old man. Dinnersuppereatschowtime. : )

Wasting a Swisher double is unacceptable.

[47] I was in Orlando for a week in January about 10 years ago. I just couldn't get over it. Bizarre to know it was January and it was freakin' hot.

[46] it's been 90+ pretty much every single day here in Hotlanta for like 2 weeks straight...

Very nice hitting.

The Fish eat lefties for breakfast, apparently.

[51] meanwhile, it's been overcast and drizzling most of june here in LA ... just goes to show!

hey, you heard the new Mastodon album?

For some reason, I'm NOT getting the game on Extra Innings. They don't even have any games listed after 4:00. Was the time of this game changed? Any reason it is invisible to EI?

DFA Berroa for Ransom (off the DL this week)

Send Frankie Brains to AAA unless Posada can't catch 4/5 games, otherwise DFA/Trade Molina ...

DFA Tomko bring up Melancon.

[55] Sorry, OYF, I'm afraid I have no idea.

this is NOT a good start.

[55] I'm getting it on EI (Directv channel 745)

I went to do some cooking and missed at least one inexcusable thing! Bad pitch by CC, I guess.

The double wasn't a good pitch, but the rbi was just very good hitting.

joba and CC should somehow switch names ... that way, we could call them Joba "the Hut" Sabathia and CC Chamberlain ... which just seems to work better on physical and linguist levels ...

I'm busy cleaning, looks like CC's struggling?

[54] neh, i'm not a Mastodon fan. i know they're a good band, i just don't like 'em. that said, i'm friends with the drummer and have known him for over a decade, well before Mastodon was born. he's a good guy.

Okay. Should I watch this half inning, or grill some chicken? Tough call.

[60] what's for dinner?! or, is that: supper? ; )

20 plus pitch innings by CC are unacceptable...

Yhis sucks! Now that I finally have EI, if I miss one game, I freak. I don't get it. I'll watch the last inning of the Mutts getting spanked by TB (10-6)

Update? Score? Unacceptable plays? HELLLLLLLLLLP!

OK, what the hell is CMW doing starting in a NL park? He better just make 3 weak swings at each AB. I don't want even the possibility of a walk.

[68] After rooting for the Mets this weekend, I'm glad I don't have to do that on a regular basis. Still, this team has really sucked the passion out of me that I am kind of watching this game with uneasy indifference.

Top of the second, two out. Cano hit a looper to short left caught by the shortstop and Jorgie lined one hard to right which was caught.

3-1 currently on Melky.

[70] If he gets 3 ABs, I'll be ecstatic.

Melky bounces weakly to second.

[64] heard one of their earlier albums, wasn't much impressed. DL'd the newest one after a thread at the Onion AV Club raved about it ... said it was awesome prog-metal ... i'll report back

[66] I guess it's supper. (My wife: supper. Me: dinner. She usually wins.)

Grilled chicken tacos, black beans, mexican rice. Guacamole.

Volstad is from 70 miles up the road in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He's not an URP though...

Girardi makes a ton of trips to the mound with the trainer.

Trainer & Co. visit the mound.

uh oh - don't like seeing monahan

HUT! Don't scare me like that!

[55]
Longtime lurker here... Same problem for me OYF - no Yankees on extra innings tonight.

Well struck ball run down nicely by Gardner.

Aceves warming...

Is something wrong with CC?

Double laced down the line off the left-field wall.

Monahan & Co. back out...

christ what is going on - now all 3 are out there

shitgoddamnfuckbitchcrapdammit!

I don't get...is something wrong or not? Why don't they know for sure before it gets to this point?

[85] Girardi thinks so--that's all for CC.

well cc is out - cc seemed to want to stay in but he came out with gir, eiland , and monhan at the mound

CC leaving after recording four outs is... you know...

well, Vulture's in a WHOLEFUCKINGLOTEARLIER than I ever wanted to see him today ...

CC obviously didn't want to go, He argued to stay in. But the trainer must have seen something he didn't like. CC's hitting the showers.

I hate the phrase "mix and match," ftr, as in, "Aceves can give them three, and then they'll mix and match..."

I really don't think he's hurt. With everyone's tender necks from their visits to South Beach, Girardi got hurt seeing all of the rockets the Marlins hitters were hitting off CC...

Bring in the righty...

*shrug*

Pete Abe reports:

Former Yankee Jim Leyritz is at the game and pressed himself up against the chain separating the fans from the field near the Yankees dugout so he could call out to players. Leyritz, who is facing a trial for killing a woman while drunk driving, was not granted a pass by the Marlins.

Jeez.

With the haphazard way so many decisions seem to be made, I really have no idea what to make of Sabathia's early exit. There seemed to be alot of confusion on the mound, so anyone's guess could be right. Who knows, maybe Girardi is overreacting to the criticism he received for how Arod has been handled. Either way, it kinds of feeds into the feeling that this team is slowly spinning out of control.

this fucking sucks.

Just checking in.

Um, why isn't CC on the mound?

Whoa, I obviously missed something! But (reading) apparently you guys don't know what happened either.

Hm, why not Hughes? This is what he's for.

[100] we don't why - but he was pulled when giradi made a second visit to the mound with monhahan (eiland was on the second trip too)

Brett likes a huge center field.

[100] He was pulled. At this point, anyone's guess why.

hughes will probably be part of mk's mix and match

If Sabathia is ok, I guess that solves the problem of Burnett's suspension. Sabathia could come back on Friday and Burnett could pitch on Saturday. Maybe this is part of Girardi's clever plan to win the Subway series?

[97] that's really pitiful.

[101] Maybe they'll "mix and match" with him later.

I guess Gardy's head is screwed on right. He seems to be handling CF just fine.

[102] That is quadrupleplusungood.

So no obvious injury? I wonder if Cashman is having Joe go extra easy on injuries.

[105] Heh heh heh!

What she said.

[111] great minds weeping!

{109] seems so for now - and i certainly hope so.

Another negative...the Yankees now lose Sabathia's bat.

Man, Paul really, really holds Kay in contempt.

[98] william, i love you, but man, step back from the ledge. why don't we *wait* for more information (just this once) before deciding girardi's worse than GARVEYCANCERLUPUSHITLERAIDS.

please?

[115] I am not on the ledge...whether Sabathia is out for the year or was removed for no reason, it is disconcerting that the decision was made amid such confusion.

All right, Swisher. A lousy single, please, for the love of Jehovah.

[116] I agree it's disconcerting.

All right, Swisher, a walk is something, I guess.

Come on, now Teix.

Nice and easy...

Perhaps he was struggling with command and the hits were really hard?

June 20th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I am so fed up with Girardi that I even doubt my own objectivity

June 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I am so down on Girardi that I really don’t even trust my own objectivity about him anymore.

Just sayin' brah.

Yay Tex!

Well done, Teix.

(Teix would have had that.)

Ok, not really.

It's not a glaring error, but Swisher probably should have stolen 2B. Of course, had he done so, Cantu would be playingback. Of course, the Marlins may have pitched around Tex.

Woot! 2 out RBI

OHHHHHHHH, Alex!!!!!!

Woohoo Alex!

Woot woot! Another 2 out 2 RBIs for A-Rod.

REST-ROD!

HAH! Madonna!

Yay Kate Hudson and late night partying!

Wtf was Swisher looking at?

Did you guys see that?

He didn't know how many outs there were.

Easy on that neck, Alex...

: )

[129] What of Kate Hudson? (She was great in Almost Famous.)

[132] She is Alex's new Madonna...

[120] At this point, I would never be so dishonest to suggest that I my view of Girardi is free of the bias formed by past frustration. Still, that doesn't mean I necessarily off base. I can’t be the only person bothered by the way Sabathia’s exit transpired.

[133] Ahh, who knew?

Yay @ a three spot!

[133] Kate Hudson is a definite upgrade from Madonna.

[134] You're not. It certainly had a sort of keystone cop quality to my sensibilities.

[135] Cult and I did, Weeping! C'mon keep up, will yas?

Those things are important!

In fact not knowing that is unacceptable.

: )

[139] :)

I read somewhere that Kate Hudson apparently has a history of bad things happening to the men she dates. I hope that's not true.

I'm so not interested in Joe Giradi's habits of perspiration.

[142] Apparently, he must be a Winchester.

[141] have you heard from the 'black crowes' lately???

[143] I don't get it, he's a gun?

[129] yes, YAY Kate Hudson! : )

NICE PITCH.

buckler!

OK, I *just* tuned into the game. What happened to CC (injury, I know, but what does it look like)?

[148] It looks like a complete and total mystery. No one has a clue.

[145] It's a classic line from M*A*S*H. Charles said, "Winchester's don't sweat; we perspire".

This just in: Tightness in his left bicep. No tests scheduled. Day-to-day.

Tightness in the left bicep for C.C. I wonder if this was a pre existing condition. If so, then why did he start this game?

[150] Ah! I never got into M*A*S*H. I know, it's, if you will, an inexcusable blind spot of mine.

[101] Hm, why not Hughes? This is what he’s for.

Slow down, chief. The Yankees finally find the solution for the EIGHTH inning, a problem they created by keeping Joba in the rotation, and now you want him wasted on long relief?????

[144] yes, new album called War Paint. came out last year sometime. not very good. their first 5 albums are pretty friggin' awesome, however!

[152] I just hope "tighness in the left bicep" is not Girardi-Speak for "Complete shoulder reconstructive surgery"

(and yes, I realize that the word wasn't passed up to YES by Girardi himself).

[141] Yeah, but with A-Rod the bad things have already happened. Maybe this will be like a reverse jinx.

[155] it's a joke son, smile when i say it!

nice boy, i say nice, 'bout as sharp as a pound'a wet newspaper.

/foghorn leghorn

=)

[64] thelarmis - I used to know Brann too! Not anymore but I used to hang out in the same circles as some of the Lethargy guys, mainly him and Burke. Weird!

Damn that Gardner can bust ass.

[158] doh! you've met me, so you know firsthand that i'm: s-l-o-w!!! ; )

[159] no way! i haven't seen Brann in a coupla years now, but he's a good dude. he played in some pretty big bands before Mastodon. i a HUGE metalhead, but totally different styles from the metal bands with which he's been involved, so i don't know that scene or circle very well, at all.

are you anywhere near Atlanta or did you know him from the road? yes, that is definitely weird!!! small world...

Gotta love Gardner's wheels.

I wonder if they knew about CC's bicep tightness before the game. He really seemed to be on a short leash.

For the life of me I can't figure out the connection to South Beach and tightness in CC's left bicep...

Drinking hand maybe?

One handed bench pressing a 90 pound hottie?

A few too many cabs hailed?

I still say lack of command coupled with getting hit hardly...

Maybe Girardi took into consideration how the Marlins hit lefties, saw enough out of CC, and decided to change it up with righties from the pen to thwart Florida's lineup and gameplan.

Sounds better than tightness in CC's pitching bicep, no?

[158] i guess i'm as sharp as a bowling ball, huh?! ; )

teh Vulture looks serious in his intents ...

Right. On. Melky!

MELKSTER!

Oh, man, he barely had it, too! Right in the heel!

I think there have been a couple of instances where a player's hid an injury from Girardi. Maybe he sat the team down and told them to disclose everything. The CC thing would just be an instance of being overly proactive. Which to me is less unacceptable than hiding injuries.

[161] No, I used to live in Rochester and his band before - or a couple bands before Mastodon - was Lethargy, which was basically the freakier tidbits you sometimes find in Mastodon, all the time. Brann is a nice guy and so is the man I referred to as Burke, assuming we were talking Rochester era, Eric Burke, the singer/guitarist for Lethargy. Actually so is Bill who played guitar in both bands.

Brann is a great drummer. Not many people could get away with what he does, or used to do - but he has so much musicality he pulls it off. It's weird to read articles about Mastodon's new album re: his sister, when that used to be so private and sacred to him. Not that it isn't now cause it's being publicized but I wouldn't have expected it to come out so overtly.

I believe the Marlins think facing Aceves today is unacceptable...

I like Marlins Park. Great location downtown, too!

: )

Tomko? Um...

ta-ka-di-mi tomko.

ugh.

[169] I agree. On the unacceptable scale, being overly cautious is certainly lass unacceptable than being underly cautious. Of course, hiding injuries is unacceptable too, though certainly not nearly as unacceptable as ignoring injuries. Whatever the case, the Yankees are winning, and it would most unacceptable to lose the momentum.

I'm back. Damn, I've obviously missed an A-bomb.

Ah, just a 2-run single for Alex.

So, weeping is happy.

[175] You have not. He did lace a two-out, two run single, though!

Ah, steak is done. Back later.

[170] i never heard of Lethargy. i also don't know anything about Brann's sister. i hope she's okay! i prefer a much much different style of playing, but he's been very fortunate to have the career he has. good for him! : )

[176] Damned straight!!!

[177] Acceptable?

I wonder if Brett Tomko has a brother, Tom, who really, really likes to give directions. (I wish Diane were here, she'd appreciate that one.)

You know, is it me, or is this one of the dullest games in recent memory?

[183] Perhaps it suddenly got less dull?

fuck brett tomko

[183] That homer was your fault.

[181] It'll do.

Motherfucker.

That was just a stray thought that slipped out.

I swear to god, it was just a mindless, stray thought.

Fuck fuck.

hmmm ... tomko happens

bleh

[186] No fucking kidding.

Veras could've done that.

crappity-crap-crap!!!

I take full responsibility for this sudden misfortune.

I don't think he could have missed any worse with that fastball...

Bleh!

I wonder what "tightness in his biceps" means. I've never had tightness in my biceps. Cramp? Spasm?

I just can't think of a reason why you bring Tomko into this game. You used Aceves for only 2 2/3 and have someone like Robertson who can give you at least 2 innings. It just makes no sense.

[190] Aceves wouldn't have done that...

: )

Alex is gonna hit one out today...

[195] It makes sense in as much as he is one of the "long men" in the BP. So I get why they went to him. What makes no sense is why he's on the team to begin with.

...just not in that at-bat.

I will indulge in a complaint here. I will point at that I complained about Tomko's signing when it happened (check the threads if you don't believe me). Those who defended the signing tended to argue that it was no big deal, roster depth, he would never really block anyone, etc. And yet he persists.

[198] Do you really get it though? I don't think the only way to get through this game required an appearance by Tomko. In fact, I think the way the Yankees have played this game required that you not even consider Tomko.

That was a terrible, terrible swing, Robinson.

[200] From my standpoint, having Tomko is not as much a problem as when you use him. For example, when the Yankees took a 15-0 lead on the Mets, that was the time for Tomko. A 3-1 game in the 5th inning, however, is most certainly not the time. Girardi made the same mistake in the first game of the Mets series, but apparently didn't learn from it. It would be nice to not have even have Tomko on the roster, but that doesn't mean he has to be used in this spot.

I wonder if Girardi and A Rod have made up after their "heated words" ...

i have a feeling i'm going to end up hating this game.

i also have a feeling we have a shot at being in 4th place by the A-S break...

[204] What heated words?

Fuck that ball was crushed.

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

[206] ******* **** ******* *** ** * ***** ******* ************ *** *****, etc

Brett Tomko: not good at pitching.

jesus goddamn christ, tomko's the little girl with curls.

[210] he's just not good very often ...

WHY DO YOU HAVE A $200 MILLION PAYROLL IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE BRETT TOMKO IN HIGH LEVERAGE SITUATIONS?

[205] I am already hating this game. I started this game with indifference, but Girardi pulls me back into anger and frustration with another assanine move. Bringing Tomko into this game qualifies as incompetence. No sensible manager of a team needing to turn things around would have entrusted a 3-1 lead to a horrible pitcher. Once again, the Yankees are on their way to a loss and Girardi is behind the wheel.

and there it is...

i fucking hate this game.

i'm not much for the 'bum rush', but somebody tell my why is fucking tomko here instead of melancon or some random bum you could find sleeping on a subway car???

[210] didn't she become a porn star?

[212] To reframe the question, why do you have a $200 million payroll if you are going to have a manager who uses Brett Tomko in high leverage situations?

[203] If you have a pitcher who can only be used in total blowouts, then he shouldn't be on the roster.

[215] though that's not to absolve joey joe joe of any responsibility for deciding to use tomko here ...

I think that's quite enough for "Mr. Unacceptable"...

[218] That's fine too...and I seriously doubt Cashman is forcing Tomko on Girardi. Of course, even if he is, that still doesn't explain using him in this spot. Only one person made the decision to bring Tomko into a game that the Yankees were winning 3-1.

[220] brett tomko ... this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner for being the one thing that unites teh Banter.

hey brett, it's not that puzzling, you STILL suck.

well my cheery assessment of the pen did not include brett f'ng tomko-

cashman - get him off the roster
girardi - do not use him in any situation that might be described as important or high leverage for as long as he is around

the problem, William, is that, imo, 9 out of 10 mlb managers are going to overrate veteran guys and handle their bullpen just like Girardi. The media will second-guess you for using "a kid", but not for using "a washed-up vet"--baseball man bias.....

Here's the disadvantage the Yankees face most games. The Florida Marlins took the lead and did not bring in the worst pitcher on the staff. If the other managers aren't going to make brain dead moves, the Yankees really are fighting an uphill battle.

[221] I'm not defending the decision, but I think that it is predictable given the situation. Tomko is one of the "long men"; the starter went down early, so the manager will tend to use his "long men" for two or three innings each. Girardi's decision is in keeping with what most any other manager would do. Like saving his closer until the ninth, etc.

It's bad...but predictable.

that's fucking pushups, slappy.

Meanwhile, how about the hitting?

The past two games could be chalked up to good pitching.

But today?

[225] Even if I accept that argument, why are the Yankees settling for the 9 of 10 (and why are they paying him $5mn)? Don't the Yankees deserve the 1 of 10 guys who do know how to manage the game well?

these marlins games aren't lasting very long

guess part of it is quick at bats for the yanks

I'm on the point, after looking at rosters and thinking about the future, of saying that we're pretty clearly the 3rd best team in the AL East. Too pessimistic?

[227] I agree that it's predictable given the situation and the manager. I know I am beating a dead horse, but it sure does seem like every loss involves Girardi playing a major role.

Are they singing God Bless America?

I thought that was just a Stadium thing.

"And Brett Tomko a picture of dejection."

For once, Kay, well said.

C'est le mot juste.

That is just a great shot. (Wang and Tomko.)

you know you are in the depths when cmw is who tries to cheer you up

[230] If they don't make the playoffs, I'd probably advocate firing Girardi; I think he's average at best, and an excuse to get rid of him should be taken; I'm just not sure that what I regard as a disfunctional organization is likely to make a better hire.....

Meanwhile, the Marlin powers that be have to be enjoying Girardi's return to Florida. Vindication might be too strong of a word, but I think it's clear they made the right decision.

[234] No, we've poisoned all of MLB with it.

NL games seem to go a lot faster than AL games. The Pirates had a lot of games around 1 hours this year, and one that was less than two hours.

I think the other teams do GBA on Sundays and holidays only.

oh look, it's EveryDayPhilCokey.

let's hope his arm doesn't fall off by July.

[174] That post was . . . acceptable. My steak w/ Chimay ale also acceptable. Brett Tomko, however, is definitely unacceptable.

Hey Brett Tomko, when Chien-Ming Wang is trying to cheer you up, you know you're in trouble.

[238] If they don't make the playoffs he will be fired. I don't think the Yankees should simply throw away a season before reaching that conclusion.

[230] I don't what they "deserve," though I had hoped Girardi would be a little better game manager. His BP use, while not great, is miles beyond Torre's circle of trust insanity. Of course, that's a low bar to exceed, I'll grant. But I think we forget just how awful Torre had become.

In any case, whatever the Yankees "deserve," one has to be realistic about options they had when hiring. Mattingly? Pena?

[241] Wow, those are short games!!!

[241] Typo. That should be "around 2 hours."

[237] Ha, I am too slow, apparently.

If you consider Coke in the 7th, Bruney in the 8th and Mo in the 9th, can you really argue that Tomko was anything close to a logical choice in the 5th and 6th? This team does have Robertson and Hughes available.

oh sweet, *now* robertson is up in the bullpen ... obviously, there was no way *he* could have given us 2 innings after Aceves ...

hmmm, looks like a mighty fine ledge you've got here William!

Apparnetly, Phil Phranchise is now considered part of the bridge to Mariano.

I honestly would have given Hughes three innings tonight -- or at least given him the ball and left him in until three innings or he became ineffective, whichever happened first.

[246] There options were every baseball man minus the 29 who had jobs. They didn't have to limit themselves to three candidates. I will ammend my statement a little...Yankee fans don't deserve Girardi, but Cashman, Hank, Hal, et al. do because they made he decision and refuse to admit the mistake.

[253] hell, aceves only threw 43 pitches, is it inconceivable he could have at least *started* another inning?

[250] How has Hughes been used lately? For one inning. He is no longer a "long man" and so cannot by rule be used in the 5th inning. Cokey is a LH specialist. Again, by definition, he cannot be used in the 5th inning.

You're not arguing with Girardi...you're arguing with standard MLB BP praxis.

Girardi has to deal with a bunch of starter who (CC excepted) can't throw strikes and eat innings, which cascades to the bullpen. Still, personnel is a big problem. Do you guys not feel that the Red Sox, over the recent past and for the foreseeable future, have absolutely kicked our asses in terms of 2nd tier/marginal personnel moves?

Re: Game length, the MLB has got to do something about the interminable time between non-fouled off pitches. It's just ridiculous, and nothing is happening. If you watch old game footage, it's nothing like that.

It's a complete waste of time. Pitcher and batter should be required to stand their ground in most instances.

That being said, I think I read a couple years ago average game length was 2:50 ... That sounds impossible, but I'm pretty sure that's what it said.

i guess cokey was just in there to get the lefty

[255] yeah cult i would have let aceves go back and looked at him batter by batter

I just remembered tomorrow is a day off. So Girardi will empty the bullpen.

[249] join the club! ; )

Tomko sucks, all right, we all know that, but this game is on the sticks. No reason not to score more than three runs today.

[256] actually, we don't know that Hughes is available tonite. He pitched yesterday and might still be on the "1 off per inning pitched" plan.

[257] Absolutely re: Red Sox ... The thing is, they don't have the first tier the Yanks have. They just have a more balanced team in general.

[251] Now I know how Knick fans feel.

This is getting comical now. You don't trust Cokey to get a righty, but you give Tomko 2 innings? I mean really, how can anyone explain the decisions he is making?

[258] I think some of it also ads. Yankees games tend to have a lot more ads than, say, Pirates games.

Tomorrow is a day off, so clearly we NEEDED Tomko today....%$#%#$%$#

IF [Winning Teams's Runs] - [Losing Teams's Runs] <5?
THEN DO NOT GOTO TOMKO

[254] That's a bit of a dodge. Whom would you have hired? Who had experience, obvious excellence, and showed interest the job? Who is this mythical better option?

The Yankees hired the man who in public consensus was the best man available. He was manager of the year, unjustly fired (so it seemed at the time, etc.). It's easy to sit here now and say how bad he is, and how should not have been hired to begin with.

Jays, Rays and Shit Sox all won today. great, just great.

[256] That's an excuse...I am arguing with Girardi. I refuse to accept that most managers would use their worst pitcher in this situation, especially with the entire bullpen being available. Girardi has distinguished himself as a particularly poor game manager and the Yankees are losing games as a result.

this game has given me a bad case of the 'angrys'

meanwhile, i'd ask for 2 forms of ID before I'd serve Robertson in a bar ...

Looking at things right now, my guess is Girardi's goose is cooked, in the near future. Pending a spiritual rebirth, this team is going nowhere fast.

I thought the first game vs the Marlins was the Yanks rousing themselves after the humiliation of their performance vs the Nats ... Yesterday I'll give to Johnson, but the Yanks' bats still seem asleep, and the ought not be.

[257] I don't agree with that at all. Besides, everyone in this bullpen has been pitching well....that is everyone, but Tomko. Girardi did not have to use him.

[265] C'mon, you're being willfully confused. Coley is the LOOGY, and he was (predictably, see [256]) used as such.

Again, the concept of the LOOGY is absurd, but that is a general criticism, not one specific to this manager.

can't zombie Steinbrenner rise from his crypt and go medieval on this team?!?!?!?

Great point by Kay...the Yankees are about to go 4-5 against the NL Least! They are not even playing big boy AL competition. The alarm bells should be blaring. This Yankee team is headed in the wrong direction and Girardi is a big reason why.

[268] There are a couple obvious reasons one might not hire Girardi: 1. Lack of experience. 2. Having played alongside some of the veteran players he would be managing.

[258] The biggest difference between old game footage and the current game is that the commercial breaks between innings are longer. This was a decision that MLB made years ago, and it adds automatically 20 minutes or so to every game.

What types of pitches does Robertson throw?

[279] Dude, I'm talking about when the game is actually on, not the frigging commercials. Geez.

[275] sorry, but Girardi was on record *multiple* times this spring that they liked Coke (and kept him on the roster after ST) because he could do more than just be a LOOGY ... because he could go multiple innings and get righties out.

If he's used as a LOOGY right now, it's because Girardi has chosen to shoehorn him into that corner, not because that's all he is or could be used for ...

This game is not out of reach. Yankee bats need to wake up though.

[278] Yes, one can posit many reason not to hire X. But it is more difficult to identify who should have been hired.

[268] I've been on record adovcating Showalter and thought they should have really pushed hard for LaRussa. I also posted here several times before they hired Girardi that the Yankees should have held an extensive search for a new manager. While I did mistakenly think Girardi was a very good candidate, I also thought they shouldn't settle on three candidate.

Regardless of who they should have hired then, I think it is clear that they made a mistake. Instead of cutting bait, it seems like the Yankees are loathe to admit the mistake, especially coming on the heels of Torre.

[280] A little fastball (ca. 90mph) and a little breaking ball.

[280] He has a low-90s fastball with some motion, and a big curve.

[282] Look at how he has been used lately. It may be a shoehorn--I agree--but that is how Cokey has been deployed.

[275] Great, so we've established Girardi employs just about every bonehead piece of conventional managerial wisdom. If that's the defense of Girardi, I'd love to be a witness for the prosecution.

[286] Big curve, I'd say.

[287] Yeah, the breaking ball is a little bigger than I thought.

Oh, fuck. Oh, get the fuck out of here.

CAn you believe this bullshit?

Click...

Have a good evening everyone!

This Yankee team is in full collapse mode now...someone, please wake up in this organization and make a change.

Well, that's the game for sure.

So, since Robertson has failed here and let the game get out of hand, does this retroactively let Girardi off the hook for not going to him in the fifth inning?

meanwhile, if melky spent 1/2 the effort on directing his throws as he did in overthrowing them, he'd have a hell of a weapon out there ...

Ah, Melky. Strong arm, not all that accurate.

[282] correct cult - and cokey has been used as more than a loogy quite a bit recently (5 of his last 9 appearances has been 1 inning or more, and only one has been only for one out)

[294] if a bear wears a funny hat in the woods, does that make you Pope?

=)

and there it is.

fuck this game.

fuck this team.

[294] This game is on the hitters. You can't expect to win scoring three runs.

They've scored nine runs in three games.

[289] It's not a defense of him per se. YOU argued that his moves were laughable and inexplicable. I simply point out that they are in fact very explicable, predictable even.

good fucking God!

[294] Robertson has given up a single; Tomko gave up two bombs. Clearly, you must see the difference?

i guess horseshit is about the only word to describe this

[298] No, but it makes the bear the pope of bears, one might say, poper bear.

[301] I guess I just don't accept Girardi being as dumb as a lot of other managers as a satisfactory explanation.

[300] Maybe true, but you can't expect them to score seven runs either.

Beat by the bottom of the order. Robby walking the #9 batter.

[301] the problem with that theory is that if Girardi had gone to ... say Robertson after Aceves and Robertson had coughed up the lead, not 1 person ... I mean NOBODY would have gone, "Hey Joe WTF didn't you use Tomko??? I mean, he's the long man 'in that situation', right?"

WTF? I leave at 4-3 & now it's 6-3? Bad team, bad bad team. No cookies for you tonight (except for A-Rod & Aceves).

[297] I beg to differ. I looked at his game logs. In the last nine appearances, for every one COKE came in to face a LHB, including five times in the middle of the inning. HE has clearly been deployed as a late inning LH specialist. If anything, Girardi has used him *slightly* more imaginatively by bringing him in in LOOGY situations but trying to get more than one or two batters with him.

Well, at least Girardi can fill out a lineup sheet...

Protest the game!

just make a god damn decision already

[309] I'm just playing around. Of course I don't believe the ex post facto argument that I suggested. I do imagine, however, that at least some would second guess Girardi for not going with Hughes. Also, it becomes ore hard to pin the loss *specifically* on Girardi when CC leaves early and even good pitchers from the BP give up runs...and the offense scuffles again.

Look, the team is just dysfunctional. They usually have one aspect of the game going poorly; sometimes all at once. Rarely have they had all going well at once.

They're 4-7, very close to 4-8, starting with the last Red Sox series, that's including a gift from the Mets and a gift from the Nats center fielder.

speaking of LaRussa --

TLR won his 2,500th game today. wow, that's A LOT of wins. 3rd manager to ever reach that plateau...

What a crazy horseshit game of a game.

[311] well i concde that he is brought in iniitially to face a lhb, but him staying longer than that, sometimes for an innings worth of outs negates that he is just a loogy

Why is it taking them so long?

It's not like this doesn't happen several times a year.

Girardi intentionally waited until one pitch was thrown. He knew what he was doing.

I kind of want to see the umps rule against us and then have Joe come raging out of the dugout like George Brett.

That I'd love to see.

what's going on???

this horrid music is not helping matters - enough already

[322] I can't follow. Some kind of questionable double shift or something.

[306] OK, I can buy that. If it makes you feel better to look for a more sinister explanation, that's fine. If exaggerated rhetoric ("how can anyone possibly explain such a move?!?") is more cathartic than the more straightforward complaint ("And of course, here come the long man, Tomko...great..."), I won't begrudge you.

Double switch.

[323] ha hah ah a a h !!! I know. It's like a special kind of hell.

[320] He knew what he was doing.

You take that back...it can't be true.

Marlins screwed up the lineup. Girardi intentionally waited until one pitch was thrown, then complained to the umpire. He wants to force the Fish to burn a player. The umpires took a long time to figure it out, but it looks like Girardi has prevailed.

I don't understand why it took 10 minutes to figure it out.

[319] Fair enough.

[326] NL baseball!!

Too bad Freddy Gonzalez didn't contest Girardi's use of Tomko.

Five outs to get three runs.

Man, how dismal.

[315] The problem with this line of thought is not all relievers are equal. A reliever giving up three runs is always bad, but who gives them up makes a difference. Some are simply more likely than others to **** it up.

Four outs.

Is Jeter still up? Gamecast is frozen...

jeez...

Nah, he blooped out to center on the first pitch he saw after the delay.

Wow, Texas player Davis has 100Ks already, in 219 at bats.

[311] haha william we sure as hell did!

[329] seriously 10 minutes - the rule is just as straightforward as a double switch

Three outs to get three runs.

This is not good.

And with zero irony or joshing, I do declare this is unacceptable.

I mean really, was the pitching today so electric?

[338] Oh my god. He should be ignominiously released and banned on the grounds of making a mockery of the sport.

5 hits? Who was Cy Fishes today?

[338] holy carp.

Nice play.

How funny would it be if Girardi could have used the mistake to the Yankees advantage, but instead squandered it.

[340] Incredibly, it is acceptable to the Yankees.

[345] but instead squandered it.

I'm not sure about the rule. How could he have used it in any other way to the team's advantage?

[347] By waiting for the RF'er to impact the game and then protesting his involvement in the game.

[347] Using it like in the pine tar game, as Kay says: wait til there's a great play that can be overturned.

[341] As Tim Kerkabunchmoreletters put it, Babe Ruth never struck out 100 times in a season & Joe D. never struck out 40 times in a season.

The only time striking out is acceptable is CMW on Tuesday. He better strike out each time. No being on base, no running to first even.

All this talk about Earl Weaver make me really angry the Yankees have Girardi running this team. I think I'd even take Torre back at this point. At least he told good stories.

oh i'm glad darryl is doing well

Ah, the 0-2 count - A Rod's best friend.

[351] oh my god william are you okay - you, take torre back? :}

One out. Poor Alex overpowered by a 90 mph fastball right over the plate.

Singleton says high nineties, but the YES gun said 90.

Whatever.

Two outs left.

[348] By my reading of the rules (3.08 a and b), once the illegal player impacts the game (i.e., makes a play, bats, etc.) he becomes legal. So I think that Girardi had only one shot to contest the substitution. But I admit, I do not fully understand the rules and penalties for illegal substitution.

This is fucking pathetic.

sorry, Marlins' announcers, but no, Yankees fans aren't coming back to root for the Marlins.

I'm not even angry.

I'm just demoralized.

Defeated.

[354] There is an old saying about sticking with the devil you know over the one you don't. If NoMaas was keeping track of Girardi losses, they'd need a bigger server. It 's just so depressing that the Yankees seem perfectly willing to let him drive this team off the cliff when all the warning signs are blaring.

[355] the Marlins gun most definitely did NOT say 90.

dude hit 102 earlier in the at bat.

[351] Torre may not have had always the nuts and bolts part of the operation down, but he had the disposition and record. I didn't think Girardi had the latter two, but he screws up the former pretty often too. The problem with getting rid of Torre was who could fill his shoes, stature-wise? A step down may have been inevitable, though Girardi, the recent Yankee player, may have been going too far.

[361] That's rather on the fast side.

[359] I am angry that Girardi still has his job, which has demoralized my attitude toward this team and left me the expectation that they will be defeated.

NIce hit, Melky.

i'd use damon now

Didn't Melky's arm used to be strong and accurate? Wha happened?

Yanks still alive.

Clutchy Melky! Kind of.

[363] hard to say, mr. lindstrom's playing good ol' country hardball, without a doubt ...

They're letting Gardner hit?

Wow...Brett Gardner is hitting here. Sad.

[367] he fell in love with it - like most people they over do a good thing

[366] I was thinking that too, but I guess they'd just pitch around him in that case.

But HEY!!!

Check it out!

oh wow - good for gardner

GRITNER!!!

[371] I knew he would do it all along. ;-)

would be nice to have a shelley duncan on the bench for this spot...

[372] Make that happy...damn I wish he could have made it an inside the parker...losing 6-5 will be like pouring salt in the wound.

[372] Happy!

[372] HA!!!

Come on Johnny, you fucker.

hmmm...WOW!

wish there was only 1 out.

straight steal of home!!! ; )

[349] Yes, but what happened in the pine tar game? The objection was overruled as going against the spirit of the rules. Since then, if I recall, the rules have been re-written (at least with regard to illegal bats) to prevent this sort of "gotcha" use of a rule.

c'mon jd - we really need this

c'mon ... little shot of JD here!

Time to come through Johnny.

Don't try to pull, Johnny.

[383] seriously.

dammit, almost a WP.

It always come down to Jeter...

of wow - jeter time - let's go cap i tain

OK Cap'n, clutch time.

captain really needs to come thru...

I kind of was hoping Damon would get a chance to hit there...just don't feel good about Jeter against a real hard thrower.

Sigh.

Please, Derek.

(I don't feel good with Derek here.)

But please, Derek, nice and easy.

time to sing the redemption song, Cap'n.

[367] No, I think Melky has always been strong but not necessarily accurate.

I remember when he first came up, he gunned down a runner at the plate, and everyone was amazed at how strong and accurate his arm was.

Then he threw one into the stands halfway between third and home, when he was aiming for Posada at home. That's when we started to suspect that his accuracy was as much luck as anything.

damn it all

Sigh.

Well that's that.