I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom
Posted on Jul 6, 2009 12:15 pm
By Cliff Corcoran
It hasn’t been pretty, or even all that encouraging given the injury to Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain’s first major league disaster start, but the Yankees are on the verge of sweeping this unusual wrap-around series of day games against the Blue Jays. I was going to title my series preview, “Toronto Blue Jays: You Ain’t So Tough,” but I didn’t want to jinx anything. With three games in the bag, however, I figure there’s no harm now.
Then again, if the Yankees thought they took care of the hard part by out-lasting Roy Halladay on Saturday, they likely failed to notice that this afternoon’s starter, former first-round pick Ricky Romero, enters today’s game with a 20-inning scoreless streak and a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts. Romero completed at least seven innings in five of those starts, all of the Toronto wins. In the exception, Romero lasted just 6 1/3 and the Jays lost 1-0.
Romero faces fellow lefty Andy Pettitte, who is coming off his best home start of the season, a seven-inning, two-run, 98-pitch gem against the weak-hitting Mariners. Andy beat the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre earlier this year, but needed 106 pitches to get through six and walked four. He’ll have to do better than that to beat Romero this afternoon and deliver the sweep.
Eric Hinske makes his Yankee debut in right field today as Nick Swisher plays first and Mark Teixeira gets a half day off at DH. Hinske can’t hit lefties, so Joe Girardi has set him up to fail in his debut in front of the home crowd. Good job, Joe. Johnny Damon gets a full day off as Melky plays left, giving the Yankees a bottom three of Cabrera, Hinske, and Brett Gardner.
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I don’t get it, Cliff. Do you think Girardi was on board with getting Hinske, or is this his way of a subtle protest? I can’t believe Joe wouldn’t have thought all this out before placing him in that predicament. Do you have any insight on this?
Girardi wanted to start Hinske against the righty Scott Richmond yesterday, but Richmond got hurt and the Jays started lefty Brett Cecil instead, so Girardi went with Ransom. The only thing I can think of as to why he didn’t start Hinske against the lesser lefty (Cecil) is that he wanted to have the series in the bag first, and that he’s starting Hinske today because he didn’t want him to go his whole first series with the team without a break-the-ice start.
[2] Ah, that would actually make sense. Thanks!
And that’s exactly the problem with Hinske. He’s useless against lefties, so shouldn’t be starting over Damon and Matsui and he’s worse against than either against righties too.
I don’t see how playing him though is the manager’s fault. The guy, with no clear purpose, is on the roster. If he’s going to have any value whatsoever, the manager has to find spots for him.
The real question is why Damon is sitting too.
this isn’t even a house money lineup. this is like your backyard lineup.
[4] i would guess becuase of all the somewhat hot day games, in preparation for the road trip, and becuase they are headed to the mn turf – damon’s legs are being rested.
Regardless of today’s outcome, I’m still of the same opinion I got from the Yankees’ first series in Toronto earlier this season. They are “Halladay plus meh,” and not much more, at least as far as AL East supremacy or being a real threat to the Yankees are concerned.
: )
If only Andy could be more efficient.
Cashman is a genius. As is Girardi. What a brilliant pick-up! What a great call to start this gold glover!
[8] It weren’t pretty, but it worked. Egads.
Pretty is as pretty does.
Whatever that means.
That was a nice catch!
Kid seems a little jumpy.
Stepped too much towards the plate there…
Wow!
WTF?
Too early for such a “horseshit” call!
: )
Yeah, he was safe, but still, not a smart move by Jetes.
Ouch, now that one hurts. Damn.
JOE!!!
What could Jeter possibly have been thinking about? That was way too close of a call to complain that much. Getting thrown out at third as the first out is simply a very bad mistake.
And Michael Kay has already lost track of the count. “Swinging on 3-0…”
no fair – am at work and don’t know what you are talking about nor can i leave gameday open all afternoon!!
LOL @ Joe G. with “the finger”…
: )
Romero looks a lot pudgier than he looked when I saw him in spring training.
Patience please, Alex…
LOL @ Joe G. with “the finger”…
obviously, *that* was unacceptable!
=)
[20] Jeter tried to steal 3B with no outs and was thrown out. The ball beat him, but Jeter pulled his hand back. He then argued alot more than he ever does, causing Girardi to come out and eventually get ejected.
[20] Jeter tried to swipe third. The throw beat him, but he pulled a very cool trick, sticking out his left hand and then pulling it back and grabbing third with his right. The tag missed him, but the umpire didn’t see the trick.
Damn, too slow this time. Curse you, William.
[20] On the slide of the SB attempt to third, Jeter went in head first and deeked Rolen pulling his left hand back and getting the base with his left. Ump called it on Rolen just having his glove down on the dirt as he ended up tagging Jeter on the chest.
Girardi came out, started pointing at eh ump… leading to his ejection.
That’s a good nickname for Girardi…
“The Finger”
Joey “The Finger” Girardi
I like it!
: )
The Yankees really let Romero off the hook. I’d say I was shocked that it was Jeter who pulled a rock, but I believe he also made the last out trying to steal third earlier in the year. I wonder if he is trying to pile up the SBs to dispel some of the notion that he is getting older.
Ugh.
That big pitch count seems like a pretty hollow ‘victory’.
thanks william, riy, and pj
[30] Yeah, I’d say that was a textbook example of letting a nervous rookie off the hook.
Frankie “Brains” and Joey ‘the Finger” … we’ve got the makings of a quality mob crew going here …
I guess i shouldn’t have made that C.B. Bucknor crack in the other thread, huh?
[35] Oh, you thread-killer, you! >;)
Hmmm…this game is heading in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, it has been the Hinske show in RF.
Boy can the outlook of a game change quickly. The Yankees look like they are going to stick it to the rookie and then they let him off the hook. On the other side, Pettitte is cruising, but then pitches around Millar and gives up a series of hits.
Okay, runs, please.
[37] The momentum is definitely moving toward the Jays side :)
(BONK!) Andy! Don’t let Kevin “Frying Pan” Millar start a two-out rally with a walk!
Doh!
[38] It looked like he watched the ball and said, “Hmm, I wonder where that’s gonna go?”…
I was just going to say that it was inexcusable that the bottom 4 hitters in the Toronto lineup cause problems today, as they all have OBPs of around .300 or worse – and then I saw that Jose Bautista somehow has a .394 OBP. Will wonders never cease.
Though I imagine they all post better numbers vs a LHP . . .
[43] Yes, it did!
heh heh
Speaking of Mo [41], I guess Ace gave us a Mariano opportunity today, huh?
[46] Yes, Mo is available…
[46] The question is will the Yankees get another chance against Romero, who seems to get stronger as the game goes on. Pettitte will have to be alot sharper than he has been for most of the season.
[48] Right.
Well, I bet we get a shot at the bullpen.
[48] They’ll get Romero out of the game…Andy needs to keep it close.