Don't forget the Yanks took 2 of 3 from the Angels a few months ago.

[0] Now those were the days in Cali Alex, when the girls you saw were actually real, for the most part! We can't say that about these days. West Coast cosmetic surgeons' bank accounts are proof...

heh heh

"The future ain't what it used to be." - Yogi Berra

[1] Without Vlad or Hunter in the Angels' lineup, taking two of three is what the Yanks should have done this weekend.

I still wonder sometimes why people get SO down on the team for two pitchers messing up - especially when they were two pitchers we have kind of begun to expect to be worrisome. In same vein, if CC wins today, we are 3-3 vs Angels, two wins at home, two losses in Anaheim. Is this so dreadful? Even if they sweep us, we remain the Wild Card team right now heading into 2nd half. This is so far from the talk some had last night (listening, friend william?) about two bad games destroying all credit earned for 2-3 good weeks? Why should we THINK that way, especially veteran fans? Heads up banterers, this team WILL slump, it will have slumps ahead of them, not just the ones behind. So will Boston and the Angels, incidentally. The west coast can be hard, the Angels with a declining Vlad out (not so big) and a hot Hunter (yes, a break) are still an excellent ballclub, playing at home. Want a dominance issue? Consider our record vs Twins. We have no right, in baseball terms, to be as overwhelmingly sweeping them as we have been.

In other words, I refuse to subscribe to apocalyptic thoughts based on having two comebacks (early) against us. I DO worry about our 3/4/5 starters right now, can see a move being made, and that might include shifting Hughes back to rotation - where, everyone remember, he was good not great. This was supposed to be a pitching-shifted team, and the current reality is that we're an offensive powerhouse with okay, at best, pitching.

That's william's shtick, I wouldn't worry about it or read into it too much

[4] H-C-E injects a measure of sanity of sanity into the discussion, laced with a dollop of cautious optimism. Thanks!

Interesting decision lie ahead with regards to the pitching staff, no doubt. Everyone knows my views on the subject, but regardless, I cannot believe that the team will continue with current 3-4-5 rotation without doing anything to address the inconsistency, and I cannot believe they will wait until Wang returns (in a month?) to start making some changes.

I do think that Tomko will go pretty soon, but then again, I've ben saying that for weeks.

[2] Speaking of the future, the Futures Game is presently on.

Also, despite all of the negative talk and hand-wringing and complaining (and I am one of the worst offenders), the thing that has separated the Yankees from first place is 0-8 v. the Sox. Now, if the Sox sweep the season series, it's not gonna be good news for the Yankees. On the other, I am pretty certain that the pinstripers beat the boys from Boston a few times in the second half. If they continues to outplay the Sox against everyone else in the league, as they have done so far, there will be champagne bottles uncorked in the Yankees' locker room come September or October.

The pitch that Rivera threw to Bay in the 9th inning of the first RS game remains the most damaging one of the season. If the result of that game had been different, I suspect that they would have won multiple games v. the RS. I don't think that Rivera was sufficiently recovered from his offseason shoulder surgery to pitch multiple inning saves at that time. Fortunately, he seems to be stronger now, strong enough to be used in non-save situations, which brings me to yesterday's game.

The Yankees have never played particularly well v. Anaheim in Anaheim, so in contrast to their abysmal record v. the RS, I think they can more easily put aside their failures against them, especially if they can win today. A major reason for their two loses in this series is that they entered Friday's game with a roster that lacked sufficient bullpen depth to be able to compensate for Aceves's unavailability, especially when it was foreseeable that Joba and Pettitte would not be able to go deep into their respective starts. They may have been able to overcome that roster deficit in Saturday's game if they had been willing to use the relievers that are on their roster more flexibly. Specifically, that meant using Hughes and Rivera earlier in the game than normal.

To sum up, their failures against the RS and Angels have more to do with personnel deployment than the talent on the roster.

On the positive side, the score truck has been running on all cylinders.

Let's hope the bats keep going today, and that CC + certain relievers whom we have not seen in a few days can keep the Halos in check.

YANKEES (51-36)
Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Hinske RF
Cabrera LF
Molina C

[11] Interesting--RHP on the mound and no Damon. Playing the hot hand with Hinske over Swisher makes sense, as does DHing Matsui. Molina over Po...well, at least he can PH.

[12] Regarding, Molina, there may be two things: 1) Cervelli has caught CC so maybe there is an issue that needs to be addressed by the playoffs; 2) Girardi may have noticed that the Angels have run at will v. Posada.

As for Damon, if he's not hurt, it makes no sense.

[13] They have run at will on Posada, but I'm not sure those SBs led to extra runs--I mostly recall players scoring on doubles and home runs. Still, Posada needs to rest. If CC prefers Cervelli/Molina--and he is the starter least likely to give up big runs--today is probably as good a day as any to sit Po.

I just cringe at the thought of Molina having Ransom-quality ABs with men on base. Then again, I think more of Molina than that.

[4] Well, a loss is a loss. You can usually parse it and throw out some "ifs", but there does seem to be a pattern with the Yankees against certain teams. Also the Angels as I've said too many times now were missing two huge pieces of their offense the last two nights. 3-3 isn't bad, but under the circumstances, the Yanks should have taken two of three in Anaheim.

The best way to keep the Angels from running is, of course, not to give up 29 hits (and 6 walks) in two games.

[13] Reviewing the box scores, I'm not convinced that they "ran at will" against Posada (3 SB, 1 CS) significantly more than they did against Molina (2 SB, 0 CS).

[7] ah, who needs it - i already know what happens! ; )

meanwhile, the shit sox are well on their way to sweeping the royales... : /

Meanwhile, I'm watching the Jays-Orioles game. The game itself is uninteresting, but the Jays announcers are talking at length about the potentially great value of trading Halladay for prospects. He's the big prize this trade season...it will be an interesting next few weeks.

per petey:

Sergio Mitre was terrific today for Scranton (8 6 0 0 0 5). He threw 82 pitches, 64 strikes. You can bet he’ll be in the rotation as the fifth guy. That will allow them to use Aceves in the bullpen. Girardi said they needed to talk about it over the break but Mitre had to have impressed today.

[19] If it were only prospects...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Yankees-feeling-sticker-shock-by-Halladay-price-?urn=mlb,176041

[21] I don't think the Yankees have the chips to trade for Halladay, unless a) my expectations are too high for what he will fetch, or b) the Yankees go crazy and package a whole pile of players. I have a feeling, and it's not very original, that he gets traded outside of the division.

We will see.

[14] The bigger problem may have been Po's inability to block pitches in the dirt.

[23] This I cannot argue!

Until proven otherwise, I have to think that Mitre is probably a AAAA pitcher.

hey, Torre just mentioned Bob Gibson! just like old times...

[25] absolutely.

[22] I would add the only real prospect on that list is Romine, as with the departure of Damon after this season, AJax will be on next year's roster barring some significant injury that sets him back for an extended period...

Also, at this pernt, I wouldn't classify Hughes and Chamberlain as prospects either.

Other teams' announcers... you know I love 'em!

LOL

A's have come back to tie the Rays at 3. something tells me the Royals will NOT come back to tie the shit sox, down 5-nil...

[28] Well, OK, but Chamberlain/Hughes are still essentially prospects. In any case, it would take a bunch of young players/prospects/whatever you want to call them to land Halladay, at least that's what it seems.

The Yankees have too many aging position players and too little healthy depth in the pitching staff to trade for Halladay. I want to be in a position to win every year, rather than overleverage their need to win now. But they do have more the chips to make the deal.

Angels fans need to get over thewhole Tex wanting to be on the East Coast thing.

[31] That's what I meant. Sure, they have the chips...most teams do. But they don't have a surplus of prospects/young players. They need both Joba and Hughes next year, especially with Pettitte's eminent departure and Wang's uncertain future. They probably need Ajax next year, especially with Damon leaving. They will not want to part with a young bat like Montero's, which could find its way in the lineup by 2011 if not sooner.

jeter is a hit machine and quickly approaching a .400 OBP!

[32] i know. it's pointless and ridiculous. Tex hasn't been playing well there, though...

I am confused and slightly scared...Angels baserunners did not bring about a meltdown by the Yankees' starter???

[36] their score truck stalled.

is this umpire joking?

[38] I take it there was a questionable ball/strike call? Fortunately I am listening to the game, so given Sterling/Waldman's reluctance to describe any game action, I am spared such painful details.

the score truck makes a delivery!

I don't mind Jeter attacking early in the count...that's his thing. But I do wish in this case that they gave jeter the take sign, to give Gardner a chance to steal. Ah well, productive out and all that.

[40] Indeed, the score truck delivered the Melkman. Ironic, no?

Collectible truck day? Better be a score truck.

[39] there have been quite a few borderline pitches all called balls. nothing absolutely egregious, but definitely not a pitcher's umpire.

Fuckett with a shutout. oh, btw, it was of the complete game variety! amazing how that works... ; )

boBBy is killing us...

The entire Angels team is killing us.

Does Swisher catch that?

so today's blow-up is in the 4th i take it

and there it is - we're losing to the halos. familiar territory.

this sucks... : /

They aren't even spotting us 4 runs this time.

WTF, CC?!?!

aaarrrggghhh!!!!!

When did Gardner's batting average get higher than Melky's?

[36] Jinx!

The homeplate umpire's ridiculous zone for CC brought about precisely that.

A four-run inning off CC... with no HR's...

LOL!

Hitting, defense, pitching ... One way or another, the Yanks seem to find a way to lose when you really, really want them to win. I said during their most recent run they needed to beat the Angels two of three to convince me they weren't just bullying inferior teams. After I realized the Angels were without Vlad and Hunter, I didn't know if it would be that convincing but figured it was more likely, at least.

After game one I said as long as they don't get swept it's not a disaster. Well, I come home to see Sabathia give up four runs. Bad. He needed to step up here, and instead turns in a mediocre start (pending further scoring to reclassify it as a craptastic effort). Beyond the fact that a sweep is pretty disastrous, Sabathia's elite status takes a hit, even if the Yanks rally to win. But I wouldn't be surprised if their bats fall asleep today, as the team wilts under the glare of Girardi's increasingly puckered face.

Man I really wanted to come home and see Sabathia dealing and shutting this team down! So, so disappointing.

Cano. I wish they'd trade him, really.

[55] But he is dealing, Hawk. He's just not getting credit for it...

The zone has been a disgrace today... more so than other days... when compared to pitches Lackey is getting.

It get's old quickly these days I'm afraid.

Damn we suck

I am really sick of even playing the Angels...Can't the Angels move to the NL and we trade in the SF Giants for them?

Melky with the leadoff spark!

: )

[59] yeah, Baked Zito gave up 10 hits and 9 runs today!

Thanks for that pinch hit Joe!

Hip, hip, Jorge!

Maybe the Yankees could trade Girardi for Scioscia?

Big inning here.

Then two innings for Hughes and Mo for the ninth?

heh heh

damn I'd like to return the favor to these damn Angels...I love how, just by putting on the uniform, Abreu has turned into a Yankee killer.

Gawd @ strike zone...

[63] Do you REALLY want Mike Sciosia managing us against the Red Sux?

christ sometimes it would be nice for us to score from 2nd on a single - the damn angels do from 1st

C'mon Tex!

[67] I don't want him managing against the Yankees anymore.

shake off those fuckin' boos tex...fuck these so calers.

shite

Bleh!

fuck you, Tex. damn dude. he's been suckin' lately. : /

How about a nice gapper, Alex?

heh heh

Ah yes, bases loaded, no outs and we have a failure to score.

of fuckung course

Ans with that, the radio goes off. I'm outta here. See everyone after the All Star Game break.

holy mother of god. we really do fucking SUCK!!!

If the angels had bases juiced with nobody out, they'd then get 6 straight hits!

LOL!

These humps are already on their ASB...

$52.5M per just gagged with the bases jacked against a gassed Lackey making Scoscia look like even more of a genius...

Pfft!

pj i am really starting to believe in the curse of flash - earlier in the game he said something to the effect that "we" thought with the vlad and hunter injured "we" could take advantage of the angels

we don't need flash "we-ing" the yankees

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[82] It's really getting to be uncanny at this pernt, Ms October...

Most times he calls their games, they all turn into Flash on the field and at the plate!

I'm just sayin'.

They have to do better than this for effort and production in the second half.

So if the Angels and Yanks played all 162 games against one another, is it reasonable to assume we might win 20 games?

[84] yep - we need to petition for his exclusion from the booth

let's hope with most of the team having some off-days here they will come back refreshed and ready to go. 3 days in a row of pretty big inninng blow-ups is not a good recipe.

Okay we're at the ASB and I think it can be said this team has consistently shown it is shaky at best in big games.

Bases loaded and no outs with Tex and A Rod up and we get nothing. Well at least Tex only made one out. Boo, A Rod. A fly ball, even. Sheesh.

LOL!

That's enough clownin' during the first half for me guys...

Have a great rest to your weekend and I'll catch yas lata!

: )

And CC goes from mediocre to shit.

Last game before the All Star Break, you're down 0-2, third game of the series, your ace on the mound. Your pitching has been brutal for two days in a row and he turns in a garbage performance? A bad sign, folks.

Good thing CC had Molina today to keep him dialed in.

well we finally get Phil some innings....maybe he can bean Bobby.

Ok rally time....let's turn the tables on them

[crickets chirping in the room]

Hughes has thrown 4 pitches. thankfully, the all-star break is here for him to recuperate!

2 on nobody out...I'd say we have an 88% chance of not scoring.

howdy folks! did I miss much?

Bases loaded and nobody out ... sounds familiar ...

hmmmm bases loaded....nobody out.....surely we'll score ....um....oh...right....

Bases loaded, no outs, how are the Yankees going to fail to score this time?

[95] bases loaded, no out...92% of NOT scoring!