"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Baltimore Orioles IV: How To Extend A Winning Streak

Play a patsy.

To be fair, the Baltimore Orioles aren’t a complete pushover. There seven teams in the major leagues with worse records and the free-falling Mets are just two games better. In fact, for the first time perhaps since I started blogging, I’m actually looking forward to the Yankees matchups with the Orioles. That’s because of the exciting young talent the Orioles have in their lineup.

Nick Markakis is in his fourth season as the O’s right fielder, but he’s still just 25, and though his production has dipped down to his rookie-year level, he’s been a strong second-half performer in his young career, hitting .316/.388/.529 after the All-Star break. Adam Jones, who had the game-winning RBI in the All-Star Game, is having a big breakout season at age 23, though he’s slumped since the beginning of June, hitting .253/.307/.333. Those two have been joined by 25-year-old Nolan Reimold in left field. Reimold was called up in mid-May and made an immediate impact, hitting .296/.375/.533 with nine homers through the end of June. He’s scuffled thus far in July (.191/.269/.234, no homers), so it will be interesting to see if he can make the necessary adjustments to stay in the league.

Perhaps overshadowing those three is rookie backstop Matt Wieters, not because of his performance, but because of his blue-chip status. Wieters was supposed to be this year’s Evan Longoria, but with the Orioles out of contention they were able to wait a bit longer to bring Wieters up, thereby protecting his arbitration status. The fifth-overall pick in the 2007 draft, the 6-foot-5 Wieters hit .343/.438/.576 while burning through the Orioles’ minor league system in a little more than a year. Called up in late May, soon after his 23rd birthday, Wieters has yet to really settle in as a major leaguer. Even tossing out his rough first week in the bigs, he’s hit just .270/.330/.416 since June 9. Still, the potential is there for a huge breakout, and Wieters has the potential to develop into one of the best hitters in the league at any position.

Add to those four Brian Roberts, having a slightly down year at age 31, but still leading the majors in doubles, and a strong showing from fellow-31-year-old Luke Scott (.298/.380/.579 and hitting lefties even better than righties), and the Orioles have an offense worth watching.

What makes them a patsy is their pitching staff. The names have changed from when I wrote something very similar prior to the Yankees’ season-opening series in Baltimore. Adam Eaton has been released, Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon are on the DL, and Mark Hendrickson has been banished to the bullpen, but the Orioles rotation is still awful. Would-be ace Jeremy Guthrie, whom the Yankees will miss, has a 5.12 ERA. The rest of their rotation made a combined five starts above double-A in 2008, all of them by Cubs castoff Rich Hill. Hill, who starts against Sergio Mitre tomorrow, has a 7.22 ERA thus far this year. Rookie Jason Berken, who will face A.J. Burnett on Wednesday night, is 1-7 with a 6.44 ERA.

The Orioles have had more encouraging results from 23-year-old rookie groundballer Brad Bergesen, though he won’t pitch in this series either. Bergesen has been solid (6-4, 3.51 ERA and a 2.41 ERA over his last ten starts), but his low strikeout rate remains a concern. The fifth spot in the rotation is being filled tonight by 24-year-old rookie David Hernandez. Hernandez. Hernandez has struck out 10.4 men per nine innings in his five-year minor league career, but save for his lone major league relief outing (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 4 K), has yet to find the same success in the majors after five starts. Despite his middling major league strikeout rate, Hernandez turned in quality starts against the Mariners and Angels his last two times out and fell just one out shy of a quality start in two of his other three outings. The catch is that he’s a fly-ball pitcher coming to the new Yankee Stadium with a reputation for grooving pitches when behind in the count.

Facing Hernandez will be Andy Pettitte. Pettitte had always been a strong second-half performer prior to his second-half collapse last year. Even with last year factored in, he sports a second-half ERA of 3.64 and winning percentage of .687 compared to 4.17 and .578 in the first half. In 2007, Pettitte helped pitch the Yankees into the playoffs, coming out of the All-Star break to go 8-1 witha 2.61 ERA in his first nine starts of the second half. Pettitte claimed his poor second half last year was due to poor off-season conditioning, which he blamed on his desire to keep a low profile after his name surfaced in the Mitchell Report. Assuming Andy got back to his normal routine this past winter, it’s time for it to start paying off, particularly given his disappointing first-half performance.

Eric Hinske starts over Nick Swisher in right tonight against the righty Hernandez. Melky Cabrera starts in center. That’s four post-break starts for Melky to one by Brett Gardner. I don’t like that trend. Melky had a six-game hitting streak going, but it was snapped yesterday. He’s hitting .256/.319/.372 in July and was 2-for-10 with no walks or extra base hits against the Tigers over the weekend. Then again, Gardner is hitting .219/.265/.281 with just two walks and one extra-base hit on the month. Both players have taken advantage of slumps by the other this season. There’s no telling who will step up now, but Gardner needs to play to have a chance.

Baltimore Orioles

2009 Record: 41-50 (.451)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 41-50 (.451)

Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Andy MacPhail

Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (103/104)

Who’s Replaced Whom:

  • Matt Wieters has replaced Gregg Zaun behind the plate and Chad Moeller on the roster
  • Luke Scott (DL) has replaced Luis Montanez (DL)
  • Nolan Reimold has replaced Felix Pie in left field
  • Jason Berken and David Hernandez (both minors) have replaced Adam Eaton and Koji Uehara (DL)
  • Matt Albers and Kam Mickolio (both minors) have replaced Chris Ray (DL) and Jamie Walker

25-man Roster:

1B – Aubrey Huff (L)
2B – Brian Roberts (S)
SS – Cesar Izturis (S)
3B – Melvin Mora (R)
C – Matt Wieters (R)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Adam Jones (R)
LF – Nolan Reimold (L)
DH – Luke Scott (L)

Bench:

R – Ty Wigginton (UT)
L – Felix Pie (OF)
R – Robert Andino (IF)
S – Gregg Zaun (C)

Rotation:

R – Jeremy Guthrie
R – David Hernandez
L – Rich Hill
R – Jason Berken
R – Brad Bergesen

Bullpen:

L – George Sherrill
R – Jim Johnson
R – Danys Baez
R – Brian Bass
R – Matt Albers
R – Kam Mickolio
L – Mark Hendrickson

15-day DL: OF – Luis Montanez (torn thumb ligament), RHP – Koji Uehara (torn elbow tendon), RHP – Chris Ray (biceps tendonitis), RHP – Dennis Sarfate (circulatory problems in bicep and shoulder), RHP – Alfredo Simon (elbow ligament surgery)

Typical lineup:

S – Brian Roberts (2B)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Adam Jones (CF)
L – Aubrey Huff (1B)
L – Luke Scott (DH)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
R – Nolan Reimold (LF)
R – Matt Wieters (C)
S – Cesar Izturis (SS)

Categories:  Cliff Corcoran  Game Thread  Series Preview

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413 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 Raf   ~  Jul 20, 2009 5:51 pm

That’s four post-break starts for Melky to one by Brett Gardner.

To be fair, the first game back featured a lefty, and this is Hinske's first start since the Angels series.

2 ny2ca2dc   ~  Jul 20, 2009 6:08 pm

Per PeteAbe: UPDATE, 4:48 p.m.: Wang felt pain. Shut down until Friday. Girardi mentioned rotator cuff issues. At this point, Girardi admitted, anything they get from him is a bonus.

Girardi said that Aceves would be easier to return to the rotation than Hughes as he is more stretched out. Girardi said he is concerned about their rotation depth.

Easy or not, time to get Hughes back into starter mode. This has worked out nice enough for his development - he got a shitload of confidence (presumably), his innings will be controlled, learned something about pitching at the ML level (presumably), and the Yanks got nutso quality performance out of him. So now the short & long term concerns align: Hughes back to the rotation (unless you think this team can afford a back 3 of Joba, Pettitte and Aceves/Mitre). If and when Wang comes back, he can be evaluated against whoever is the worst starter in the rotation at the time for a slot, or pitch out of the pen. Might as well give Mitre 2 starts while Hughes gets stretched back out. At least this Wang setback happened early enough to make the decision making easy.

3 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 6:20 pm
4 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:02 pm

"the 6-foot-5 Wieters ...."
So this guy is the same size as Montero.
Are they calling for Wieters to be moved from behind the plate?

5 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:04 pm

Same size as Mauer. Montero's 6'4". And no.

6 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:07 pm

From Lohud:
Melky Cabrera’s first 128 at-bats: .328/.374/.492
Melky Cabrera’s last 128 at-bats: .234/.310/.367
Does the MelkythDud get complacent as soon as he plays well enough to quell the trade rumors?
While I don't expect a .860 OPS from him, a sub .700 is absolutely....

UNACCEPTABLE.
He continues to prove we can't rely on him.

7 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:11 pm

NOT a good start.

definitely UNacceptable. : /

8 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:11 pm

Well, that didn't take long...

9 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:13 pm

Ixnay on the Angeupchay, Andy...

10 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:17 pm

Damn, Markakis went down and got that one. Hardly a meatball.

11 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:18 pm

Brian Roberts is 31? Damn, I remember watching him in college.

12 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:19 pm

[11] somewhere in NC, right? dad was his coach?

13 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:20 pm

For the record, I say an emphatic "Boo!" to College Football being played at The Stadium...

14 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:21 pm

Nice "single" Johnny...

: )

15 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:23 pm

[12] He was in NC for freshman & sophomore year. Set the ACC record for stolen bases in a year. Team didn't do well so dad was fired. I saw him the next year at South Carolina for junior year (don't have to sit out a year in baseball) where he set the SEC record for stolen bases in a year. Even then you could tell he had potential.

16 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:25 pm

damn you, Alex.

17 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:31 pm

Jesus!!! That wasn't even close. How many braindead players can this team support?

18 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:31 pm

please tie the game, at the very least.

19 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:31 pm

They've completely run out of things to talk about in the booth

20 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:32 pm

That was ball four

21 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:32 pm

Grrrr. I hate wasted opportunities.

22 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:32 pm

Fuckin' Cano. Refuses to take a walk even with the bags loaded.

23 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:33 pm

Cano just refuses to accept a BB.

24 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:33 pm

[22] Or what OYF said.

25 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:33 pm

Girardi needs to fine him $10k each time he does that.

26 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:34 pm

Make that $20k.

27 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:37 pm

This game could be lost on Cano's AB.

28 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:37 pm

Stop arguing with me!

29 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:38 pm

...

30 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:42 pm

Hammerin' Hinkse!

31 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:42 pm

More PT for Hinske...

32 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:43 pm

Well, there's Hinske's HR. He won't play for another ten days

33 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:44 pm

Oy, how did I miss Molina when I skimmed the lineup? Blech. I know Jorge has to sit, but watching Molina hit is just so dispiriting.

34 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:44 pm

"Say, Hey!" Hinske!

35 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:45 pm

[33] "I miss Molina when I skimmed the lineup?"

Freudian penis?

: )

36 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:46 pm

I love that having army's coach in the booth for a half-inning long commercial prevented YES from showing the starting pitcher's stats or the Yankee lineup. And by "love" I mean "hate."

37 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:47 pm

[36] Yeah, "priorities"... you know I love 'em...

*rolls eyes*

38 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:48 pm

Slightly off topic: Sergio Mitre's K/BB in the minors this year: 6.14. He's walked seven guys in 54 1/3 innings.

39 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:49 pm

53 pitches already for this kid, but only one run?

40 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:50 pm

56 pitches already

41 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:50 pm

Does Huff do the fist pump after he drops a pop up?

42 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:50 pm

Huff alligator armed that one.

43 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:50 pm

[38] I'll have a Sergio Mitre REPORT after the game tomorrow.

I don't expect that it will be long.

44 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:51 pm

[41] Nice.

45 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:51 pm

did the umpire call a ball about 10" outside a strike because he felt bad for huff?

46 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:52 pm

Coming into today's game, Hinske's OPS+ during his Yankees tenure was 281!

LOL!

47 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:53 pm

[43] Obviously I want Hughes back in the rotation given the Wang setback today, but I don't hate the Mitre thing. More on all that tomorrow in the game preview.

48 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:53 pm

Weiss has to be better than Kay

49 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:55 pm

[47] This has Ponson level disaster written all over it.

50 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:55 pm

[48] Nice Kybosh, Mattpat...

51 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:56 pm

No, Mattpat, Serio Mitre = Aaron Small 2.0.

52 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:57 pm

[49] It''s no where near the same thing, as I explained to Bum Rush a few threads back. Mitre is just 28 and is far from a proven major league failure like Ponson was by the time he got to the Yankees.

53 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:58 pm

[51] Again, no. Small was 33 in his big Yankee season. Mitre has more career ahead of him than behind him.

54 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 7:59 pm

There it is.
Good fight, Andy.

55 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:01 pm

[49] Sir Pontoon is "pitching" tonight for the Royales.

56 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:03 pm

Another one bites the dust. Sweet.

57 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

To me, Aaron Small looked like Hanover Fiste from "Heavy Metal"...

: )

58 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

50 pitches for those 8 outs. andy's gonna blow our bullpen tonight and who knows how long Mitre can go manana...

59 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

[53] Okay, well, I didn't mean he was alike in every way.

60 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

More runs...

61 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

Hinske flashing the s-m-o-o-t-h leather.

62 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:04 pm

[58] I guess you liked the Markakis AB then, huh? ;-)

63 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:06 pm

Nice work, Andy!

64 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:06 pm

Apropos of nothing. Did anyone catch this highlight( (lowlight) from the Dodgers-Astros game this weekend. Ths 'Stros pichcher, with a man on third, went to throw the ball into his glove in frustration of something. Well, he missed his glove, the ball rolled into foul territory, and the guy on third after a WTF moment, trottted home w/o a play. Incredible.
GO IRISH : D

65 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:07 pm

Kay: "...driven deeeeeeep to CF..."

66 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:07 pm

[64] Yep, saw it. Very embarrassing.
Not just "The 'Stros pitcher", either -- it was Mike Hampton.

67 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:08 pm

[62] i didn't see it specifically. i'm guessing he worked Andy hard and then homered?

i have the Braves game on here - young Hanson vs. No-No Sanchez. switching to Cubs-Phitin's on ESPN during commercials. i'm also making dinner and am completely infuriated with this new hand-held recording device i got. i HATE technology and modern electronics. soooo frustrating!!! : /

Chipper just hit a 2-run shot...

68 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:08 pm

Isn't there a Banterer at tonight's game?

69 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:08 pm

[65] I think he might be auditioning for the radio job.

70 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:08 pm

[64] LETS GO IR-ISH!!!

71 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:09 pm

[67] Oh, no, I meant that last one. One-pitch out.

72 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:10 pm

[66] i can't believe mike hampton, russ ortiz and carl pavano are all making their starts this season. : o

73 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:11 pm

[70] My family is looking to see them in the 'burgh this season. Yinz gawt any tickets? : )

74 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:12 pm

[70] i was thinking of picking some up. i think there are season tickets still available (and yes, buying Panthers season tickets is cheaper than buying second hand tickets for the ND game).

75 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:12 pm

[68] yes. there's one tonight, Mattpat tomorrow and another going on Wed. can't remember the bookends...

[71] oh. i don't get YES. i follow along w/ ESPN gamecast and the Banter. i check in on the full scoreboard and Pete Abe for updates. i really wish the game was on espn tonight - everyone in the country can watch the Cubs anytime... : /

76 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:13 pm

I finally got around to reading Brian Biegel's Miracle Ball (recommended in the Father's Day Banter). Really great mystery, and a fascinating depiction of New York in the '50s. (I didn't find Biegel's personal story as interesting.)

Anyway, the book seems to be almost an afterthought to a film he was making on the same subject. Has anyone seen the film? Is it available, doing film festivals, or anything?

77 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:13 pm

[70] i think you mean...

WE ARE....PENN STATE!!!

78 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:14 pm

[73] yins guhna stay dahntahn?! : )

79 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:15 pm

[77] let me think about that... Nope, definitely not! haha

80 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:15 pm

[75] Hey, it's me! I'm going on Wednesday!
My first trip to YS2. Bringing the kids, my dad, and my brother and nephew are both going to be there, from DC. Awesome day. AJ Burnett...

81 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:16 pm

Reborn range.

82 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:17 pm

[75] Thanks Thelarmis. I thought as much...

Did you notice that Will Weiss' appearance coincided with some more wins against Detroit?

I did...

Now if we can only Super Glue Flash to his Lazy Boy at his house, we'll be golden!

: )

83 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:20 pm

geez, we went from a 35 pitch first inning to some quick outs. argh!

84 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:20 pm

These guys stink. When do the regular Yankees get to bat? Does that come later?

85 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:20 pm

[80] So many, Rainman? Did you take out a loan or something?

: )

86 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:21 pm

MEE-tree. So that's how you pronounce it. Or is it MEE-tray?

Crud, well, at least that was a real swing.

87 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:21 pm

Jeez.... Jason Giambi and his .697 OPS injured his quad and is on the DL. The guy has fallen hard. Maybe the Mets could use him.

88 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:21 pm

Just finished a nice Boylan Creme Soda, got one thing to say:
URP!

89 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:21 pm

[85] Oh, well, cheap seats, relatively speaking. Still, yeah. Once per summer at these prices.

90 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:24 pm

[79] i'm not a college football fan, at all. i remember when PSU was "independent" like ND. of course, i always hope Penn State does well in everything. i was supposed to be there next weekend, but alas, it's not happening. : (

[83] i thought that, too. let's hope Andy settles down/in...

[80] WOW!!! that sounds nothing short of terrific. i'm sure you all will have a wonderful time. hopefully AJ delivers you a gem and us all a win!!! : )

91 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:25 pm

Very nice.
But why did Kay say "Say hello to Bud Selig"? Because it looked like Andy might be throwing at him??

92 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:25 pm

Evening, Team.

Looks like a good game. Seems Andy's pitching well!

93 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:25 pm

[89] Well I certainly hope you and yours have a great time and enjoy a Yankees win!

: )

94 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:26 pm

[65] When Kay goes "deep" sea diving, he's just looking for a coin in the kiddie pool. When he orders a "deep" dish pizza, he gets a Stoufers. : ) Honestly, every time he does that I wish O'Neill was there to smack 'em.

95 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:26 pm

[91] Reference to his signature on the ball...

96 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:26 pm

[82] Andy's supposed to be golden. at least to weeping! : )

i did not notice that about Will Weiss. but i HAVE noticed that his columns here been A LOT better since his return! : )

97 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:28 pm

[95] Oh! Duh.

[92] Some frustration in the bottom halves of the innings, though. Different brands of frustration different innings.

98 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:28 pm

Shit Sox got on the board early vs. Millwood...

[92] i channeled you whilst typing! see [96]

99 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:28 pm

Yipes.
Decent play by Hinske, though.

100 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:29 pm

HA!

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:29 pm

throw strikes, Andrew.

Tommy Hanson is FUN to watch! though i'm doing a gazillion things and can't really devote too much time to any one thing right now...

102 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:29 pm

Hmm..Wieters is a 6'5" highly rated catcher prospect, but Montero is too big.

103 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:30 pm

Wow, very smart, Robinson!

104 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:31 pm

Thelarmis, on the Wieters hit, Reimold rounded second but Rob bluffed him and he held up, so he couldn't score, even though he was running with the pitch.

Oh, Andy! Awesome.

105 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:31 pm

Needed that.

106 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:32 pm

[102] i assume (maybe that's stupid) that the difference has more to do with their actual defensive abilities than their heights

107 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:32 pm

good job, Andy! get outta this unscathed...

Theodore Roosevelt Lilly getting lit up by the World Champions...

108 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:32 pm

If Andy can escape here, they might be able to milk him through seven innings.

109 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:32 pm

nicely done, andy!

110 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:33 pm

And the Magician does it again.

111 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:33 pm

shall i say...Golden God?! ; )

112 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:34 pm

[106] It's true that Montero is not a good catcher. At all. But it's also true that observers have been saying for over a year that his size will prevent him from being a catcher.

113 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:34 pm

[106] Sure that's a good bit of it, but Montero is always mentioned as being too tall or too big. If that is eliminated from the equation, then they are looking at a sub-par defensive catcher who can hit like heck. That's worth developing, or at least not giving up on too soon.

114 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:34 pm

I think the reason Montero was considered too big is that he was that big when he was 16. They assumed he would keep growing.

115 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:35 pm

Lean into that one, Molina!!

116 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:35 pm

[104] coolio, thanks man!

soriano just totally pulled a luis castillo! 8-0 Philthy

117 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:36 pm

[114] The thing is, ALL players at EVERY position are bigger these days. They used to think a tall pitcher wouldn't work because his mechanics would get out of whack, or that big middle infielders weren't quick enough for their positions, etc.

118 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:37 pm

[112] [113] true, but it's also not fair to compare him to wieters, who is supposed to be a good defensive catcher. i'm sure people had questions about his defense based on his size too. i obviously agree that it's worth trying to keep montero at catcher, but i doubt the knocks on his defense are arbitrary.

119 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:37 pm

Is it too soon to miss Cervelli? : /

120 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:38 pm

[117] Is that true, about pitchers? I never knew that. Walter Johnson was big, wasn't he?

121 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:39 pm

we are totally letting this kid off the hook. : /

122 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:39 pm

[118] No, they aren't arbitrary. If you follow Trenton Thunder, or even River Ave Blues, you'll see that he's been very bad. But, he's very young. I don't think he's worse than Piazza at 19.

123 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:41 pm

[118] The knocks on his defense are most assuredly not arbitrary. The knocks on his size most assuredly are--that was my point!!

[120] The Big Train might have been big for his day, but he was only 6' 1".

124 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:41 pm

[119] Nope. Not at all.

125 tocho   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:41 pm

logging in late guys. is this a classic URP case?

126 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:42 pm

[123] Lefty Gomez, 6' 2"?

127 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:43 pm

Tommy Hanson:

6 innings
89 pitches
11 strikeouts (!!!)
13 in a row retired

128 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:43 pm

[125] Some unpleasant chokage early, then total URPage.
On the plus side, Pettitte is cruising.

129 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:44 pm

[126] thelarmis j. younkin = 5'10"

130 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:44 pm

re: Monetero and Weiters I'm one of the few here that follow hockey, and there are some big-ass goalies in the NHL. I am going to say goalies are more athletic than catchers. Catchers of course spend 99% of their time crouching, and therein lies the probem. But I've seen some goalies do crazy things on skates. Why can't Montero be a serviceable catcher for 10 years?

131 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:45 pm

LOL!

Head in game instead of up ass, Alex...

132 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:45 pm

evidently, Alex has been talking fielding lessons from Ransom ...

133 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:45 pm

Nice!

134 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:45 pm

Oh, now I get it! A-Rod set up that DP nicely.

135 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:46 pm

3-6-3...my favorite. You can tell I grew up watching Mattingly!

136 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:46 pm

No Giambi special into leftfield. : D

137 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:46 pm

[122] i hope that doesn't mean that he IS worse than piazza at 30 or so!

138 tocho   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:47 pm

[128] saw in gameday that robbie AGAIN refused to be walked withe the bases loaded and a gassed pitcher, swinging not once but twice at ball four. glad I didn't watch that...

Just hope good andy keeps it up...

139 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:48 pm

Does anyone know how big Montero is now? They usually don't update those stats in the minors. Melky was listed at 180 lbs. for years after he passed 200 lbs.

Just wondering. I haven't see him in person.

140 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:48 pm

[137] If he is, and he's still playing, then he will have taken over DH and it won't matter!

141 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:48 pm

time to sweep the leg and step on the throat.

get that score truck in gear, let's go!!!

142 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:50 pm

[141] Flat tire.

143 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:51 pm

It seems the Orioles have been up to bat since 7:30.

144 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:51 pm

how did this guy throw 56 pitches in 2 innings, then 47 in the next 4? damn it!

145 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:51 pm

Does anyone know how big Montero is now?

Not sure, but there was a poster over at RAB that went to the AA All Star Game and said that he was huge. He and Taylor (iirc, the Phillies prospect) were the biggest guys on the field.

146 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:51 pm

UPR'ed...

147 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:52 pm

[142] Creve! anybody here used to play Mille Bornes, the French card game?

148 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:52 pm

[139] I hear he is 8'3" and 320.

149 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm

[130] If Montero can't ultimately be a catcher, it will be because there are factors other than his size that will preclude it.

150 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm

please have a quick, easy inning and go out there for the 8th.

151 tocho   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm

wow, looks like both teams are sleepwalking. nobody wants to win. must be one of those days. I hate Mondays

152 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm

Critical inning for Pettitte--can he wriggle through?

153 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:54 pm

[98] :)

154 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:54 pm

[148] stop talking about me like that! ; )

155 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:55 pm

[147] I did! And I used to use that as an expletive, too!
And sometimes I would say, "Increveable!", or whatever it is, and of course I couldn't pronounce it, but I like the word.
Great game.

156 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:56 pm

[151] i believe i was born on a Monday.

Ry Cooder's "On A Monday" > Bangles' "Manic Monday"

what about "Monday, Monday"?

i used to like Monday's 'coz my jazz trio play everyone of them for several years. now, they kinda suck...

157 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:56 pm

[148] Hysterical.
He's the reciprocal of David Eckstein.

158 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:56 pm

hi team.
why do the yanks have only 1 run?

159 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:57 pm

[158] they donated the rest to charity for HOPE week.

160 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:57 pm

[156] Rick Monday.
"Rainy Days and Mondays" (but that doesn't count because it's actually *about* how bad Mondays are)

161 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:57 pm

[145] Interesting. Looking forward to seeing for myself when he gets to AAA.

162 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:57 pm

Boy, Andy's made a living off the GIDP today.

163 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:58 pm

[154] i'll try to remember not to...

164 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:58 pm

Andy's had a good game today!

: )

165 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:58 pm

[158] score truck got stuck on the Major Deagen. it should be here in the bottom of the 8th.

another good job, Andy!

166 tocho   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:59 pm

[156] pettitte seems to be enjoying his Monday. let's hope somebody else joins him

167 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:59 pm

[158] [165] haahahahhahaha

least andy looks like he's having a nice game!

168 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 8:59 pm

[158] Because Hinske drove off with the score truck.
.
.
Alternately, because you cannot predict baseball.

169 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:00 pm

[165] Damn your eyes.

170 tocho   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:00 pm

URP's gone!!! victory is ours

171 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:00 pm

CANO is infurtiating. He turns that dp like nobody's business. He has so much freakin' talent I'm disappointed whenever he doesn't lace one off the wall. He's got to have a monster season or two ahead of him.

172 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:00 pm

Hope Week as in "We hope to score some runs this week."

173 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:01 pm

ben zobrist, man - i'm still not ready to believe that

174 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:01 pm

[155] i had a feeling you'd know that game! that rules. we still have it at my parents house and my pop will bring it up every now and then when i'm visiting, but i only wanna play Boggle anymore... it really was a great game! : )

[160] growing up, collecting baseball cards, i always thought his last name was so weird. i mean, i don't think anyone else in the world has a last name of any other day. kinda strange...

175 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:01 pm

speaking of tall...

176 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:02 pm

[173] i know, i saw that before and thought the same thing. 18 homers? really?!?!

177 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:02 pm

[138] That horrid AB changed the total complexion of this game.

178 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:03 pm

Too bad nobody told Moose that after 40, vision sucks...

179 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:03 pm

Smoltz through three: 1 hit, no walks, 43 pitches.

180 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:04 pm

[177] William, stop that. And what have you done with Old Yanks Fan??

181 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:04 pm

[75] thelarmis, try the MLB Gameday graphics, better than the ESPN one.

Who is this young pitcher and why have we not scored 15 runs yet? (Would like to make a score truck joke here but lack confidence to do so...)

182 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:05 pm

[180] oh jesus - spot the hell on. where is william these days?

183 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:05 pm

As Homer would say, "BOOOORRRIIIIINNGGGGG"

184 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:05 pm

[181] see score truck jokes above...

185 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:06 pm

Bah!

C'mon you humps! Hinske can't carry all of you, even with his monstrous Yankees OPS+ in the 280's!

186 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:06 pm

Oh, good, Mr OK is here, now everything will be okay!

The URP is gone
Orioles' soft underbelly
Now our bats can roar

187 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:07 pm

Not sure I go back to Andy here.

188 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:07 pm

[181] i've tried that. for some reason, the games won't open up on my old laptop. i'm talking the free stuff just from their scoreboard...

[183] i had a young student a decade ago who used to say that all the time. cute!

189 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:07 pm

Lil' G's bound to pinch run at some point. So says my magic 8 ball.

190 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:09 pm

[187] Remind me to ask you for investment advice, or a weather forecast.
Not.

191 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:09 pm

[187] i'm cool with starting Andy here. see what happens. he's been strikin' out some batters lately, huh?!

[186] don't worry, that beeping sound you here is the score truck backing into the home dugout, just in time for the bottom of the 8th! : )

192 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:09 pm

Oh, man, bad timing by me [190].

193 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:09 pm

[188] Blonde or Brunette? : D

194 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:09 pm

[190] Heh heh...

195 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:10 pm

[186]
It's tomorrow here
I check in from the future
Yanks, climb the score truck!

196 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:10 pm

[189] 8 ball, 8th inning, 8 wheels on the score truck...

197 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Cano's AB in the 1st, along with this lackluster offense against a last place team, even with an excellent albeit rare, performance from Andy, is why this team is destined for 3rd place unless there are sweeping changes

198 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

what the hell was hinske doing out there?
working on the penske file?

199 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Unbelievable.
Dammit.

200 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Double HA!

Show/Hide Comments 201-300
201 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Ah, Itzuris must have attended the Nick Swisher School of Baserunning.

202 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:11 pm

[191] "Don’t worry, that beeping sound you here is the score truck backing into the home dugout, just in time for the bottom of the 8th!"

Whew, that's good! I thought it was Molina...

203 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:12 pm

Wow, Cano making up for that lousy at bat with some pwnage of the Orioles baserunners.

204 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:13 pm

[193] oooh, NOOOOOO!!! it was a little boy. looked like he could've been my son - little, pale white kid with blonde hair and blue eyes. his father is a rock star of sorts. he was a great little kid. i think he's a teenager now and lives in Brooklyn...

fuck. monkeypants was right. score truck is supposed to wait til the BOTTOM of the 8th. somebody go tell the driver...

205 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:13 pm

[197] Now cut that out.

206 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:13 pm

[199] I think it's going to be sunny tomorrow.

207 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:13 pm

I would go to Mo here, but...

208 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Awesome fuckin' play.

209 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Woohoo Tex!

210 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

fuck that - out at home

211 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Oh. Teixeira doesn't throw the same way that Giambi used to.

212 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Damn--ballsy play by Teixera. I thought Molina bobbled it at first.

213 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

I love defense!

214 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:15 pm

No parking the score truck here.

215 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:15 pm

Damn. Teixeira and Molina. Rockin'.

216 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:15 pm

wow, somehow that ball didn't get kicked out.

nicely done, Teix!

217 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:15 pm

good. 1 more!!!!

218 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

Holy SHITE.

219 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

luck or bad call?

220 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

wow - another out at home - though he looked safe

221 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

Whoa.

222 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

luck

223 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

I'll never understand why you walk a guy with 2nd and 3rd, but not 1st and 3rd.

Wow, another bang-bang play at home.

224 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:16 pm

Molina earning his paycheck tonight.

225 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

[220] I think he missed the plate on the slide. That said, I'm not sure the ball didn't come loose on the play before, but it was pretty hidden.

226 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

don't come knockin cause the score truck is gonna be rockin this inning

227 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

Roberst just missed the plate.
Great play by Cokey, though.

228 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

The ump's punchout is priceless. Those 2 outs were good times.

229 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

It must be glove 'cause offense don't shake like that!

230 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

[223] because you're putting another runner in scoring position?

that was a good strategy- i had a bad feeling about jones vs coke

231 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

[214] the white zone is for loading and unloading only. if you have to load or unload, go to the white zone. you'll love it! ...it's a way of life...

COKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

232 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:17 pm

what just happened?

233 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:18 pm

[223] Oh, I can tell you why. Two reasons.
(1) Because you put another runner in scoring position.
(2) Because even without walking the batter you have GIDP potential.

234 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:18 pm

Unclear what happend ther from Gameday! Details, anyone?

235 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:18 pm

[225] yeah that's what fooled me - cokey obviously hasn't done too many cover home plate drills

236 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:19 pm

[230] That's the reason given, of course. But if a guy is SOOOO dangerous that you walk him, aren't you putting the game on the line (tied, 8th inning) by pitching too him with a man on third.

237 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:19 pm

[231] you want me to have an abortion

238 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:19 pm

[232] Wild Pitch.
Roberts comes home, Molina scrambles, throws off balance, Coke grabs it and swipes. It looks like Roberts beats the throw, but he's pumped out. Replay shows he slid around the plate and didn't touch it.

239 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:19 pm

yeah, what the hell happened?!?!?!

240 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:20 pm

[238] sweet! thanks. gameday was ambiguous.

241 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:20 pm

No Way Po makes that last play.

242 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:20 pm

[234] wild pitch mr ok jazz - molina scrambled for it through it to cokey and they got roberst out at home becuase roberts didn't get the plate and cokey flopped a tag on him

243 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:20 pm

[233] DP opportunity is an interesting argument. Still, it seems to me that if a batter is so fierce that you aren't willing to face him with two me in scoring position, then I wouldn't pitch to him with a man on third regardless of first base.

Also, if you walk him, the bases are loaded and you still have a DP opportunity.

244 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:21 pm

[242] shit - threw - not through

245 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:21 pm

[236] well i agree that in a lot of those situations walking the guy is the right play, but it makes sense that it's a little different

246 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:21 pm

I'm not sure Jorgie makes either of those two plays at the plate.

247 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:21 pm

Hm, on that replay (of the 3-1 FC) it really does look like Molina failed to hold the ball, trapping it against the ground. Itzuris dislodged it. I thinik.

248 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:22 pm

I'm confused about the rules tonight...why do the Yankees have to start every inning with two outs automatically?

249 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:22 pm

[238] thanks, man!

[237] uh, i don't get it??? [214] said "no parking..." and then i quoted Zappa!!! : )

250 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:22 pm

[238][242] Thanks! Can't wait to see that later.

251 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:22 pm

Tex with an audible goddamnit after popping out.

252 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:23 pm

[247] That's what it looked like to me, but all doors are locked on the score truck tonight.

253 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:23 pm

[249] and then i turned it into an airplane! reference

254 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:24 pm

Relax, Hinske is due for a HR...

255 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:24 pm

crappity crap. the 8th was NOT supposed to go like that. i think we need to hire a new score truck driver. now accepting applications. only pre-requisite is that you don't swing at the first pitch!

256 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:24 pm

Doh!

257 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:24 pm

[243] Right.
But as 51cq24 says, it's not the same situation.
Sometimes it's probably smart to walk a really good hitter with corner runners and one out, but it makes sense that you should do it *more often* with 2nd and 3rd only.

258 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm

That ump had his mind up before anything. booooooo

259 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm

Kay: "...put Nick Swisher in RF for defense..."

Probability of ever hearing that statement uttered?

260 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm

[253] acha! i'm not a big movie guy, so it went over my head... : ~

261 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:26 pm

[254] In the clubhouse on xbox?

262 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:26 pm

[254] Uh oh...

263 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:26 pm

Cokey doesn't pitch to Mora, right?

264 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:27 pm

no No NO!!! don't put the leadoff man on. esp a speedy one. : /

265 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:27 pm

Ah. Fresh Melk delivered as promised.

266 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:27 pm

Good catch.

267 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:28 pm

(For Gameday watchers: Melky with the shoestring catch.)

268 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:28 pm

ace is in to "vulture" a win -

269 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:28 pm

Aceves not Hughes...interesting.

270 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:28 pm

smoltz gives up a run...

271 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:28 pm

With extra innings a good possibility, witl Girardi burn through our BP?

272 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:29 pm

[269] huges *might* not be avialble today. and mo has gone 3 days in a row.

273 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:29 pm

wow. ryan howard just CRUSHED an oppo field homer. damn, is he strong! wow.

274 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:29 pm

Shouldn't Melk be in RF and Gardner in CF? Eh, what do I know?

275 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:31 pm

what was the "on field delay" about?

[273] Howard never gets cheated with his swings..monstrous power, i think he could hit the ball out of most J stadiums over here.

276 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:31 pm

[274] i don't think gardner is in - just swisher for hinske

277 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:31 pm

OYF I respect the hell outta you, I really do. But destined for 3rd place? Seriously?

They've won 16 of 21, they're a game out of first and leading the WC, they're 17 games over and just swept a first place team.

Now I'm not saying they should rest on their laurels and not bring in another arm, give AJax a shot at some point, etc etc. But you really can't ask much more out of them over the better part of the past month.

278 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:33 pm

[272] Ah.

279 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:33 pm

[276] I meant why should Swish replace Hinske instead of the MelkBrett combo. : )

280 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:33 pm

i just saw the Roberts highlight. he was OUT!!!

now get Judge Reimold out... : )

281 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:34 pm

No Mo?

282 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:35 pm

[279] oh sorry. girradi logic - much like the game of baseball is unpredictable.

283 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:35 pm

[277] He's too subtle for you. This is OYF's impersonation of William.

I think.

284 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:36 pm

[281] 3 days in a row...

285 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:36 pm

[279] My guess:
Swisher's bat will show up (probably) this inning.
Brett is now available to pinch run.
Girardi is imagining that he's going to be in a situation where he'll really, really want a pinch runner.

Just a guess.

286 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:37 pm

[283] It's comments like that why someone needs to be held accountable. : D
Whoever found Aceves deserves a nice watch or something.

287 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:37 pm

Vulture!

288 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:37 pm

Aaaaaaaaaace.

289 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:37 pm

ACES HIGH!!!

290 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:38 pm

Okay, here we go.
What's that I see in my rear view mirror? It's big. It's honking. It's coming up fast...
Could it be...?

291 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:38 pm

[286] do people still wear those things?

292 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:39 pm

i know it's a little frustrating that we aren't scoring runs, but you gotta love the pitching in these tight matchups

293 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:39 pm

[283] aaaah ok. Although I think William's take would be something along the lines of "Cano swinging at a 3-2 pitch is further proof that Joe Girardi is an incompetent manager"

294 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:40 pm

[291] *raises hand with one on*

295 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:40 pm

cano's gonna end this, by the way

296 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:40 pm

[289] Remember Sam "Ace " Rothstein's short-lived tv show in the film "Casino" was called "Aces High"..funny bit in an otherwise weak Scorsesee effort..

297 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:40 pm

So Alex, need a day off or what?

298 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:41 pm

[295] bold prediction. i like it. nostralarmis may be challenged.

299 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:41 pm

[293] Well, you have to read all of OYF's comments tonight. He pretty much has that angle covered.

300 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:41 pm

松井頑張れ!!

Show/Hide Comments 301-400
301 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:42 pm

[291] my watch is a drumset! there's a kit at 12 'o clock. the minute and hour hands are both drumsticks and the second hand has an eighth note on it and acts as a conductor's baton! : )

all that said, i don't like to wear it everyday, but i do have it on most of the time...

302 Dimelo   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:42 pm

Let's go Matsui

303 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

So Hideki, need a walk-off or what?

Woohoo!

: )

304 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

SCORE TRUCK!!!

305 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

松井!

306 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

Word to big bird. Dope.

307 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

Godzilla!!!!

308 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

TORA TORA TORA!!!

309 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

godzilla!!!!!!!!!

310 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

damnit!!! i really wanted to be right!!!

311 Dimelo   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

Holy SHIT. YES!!!

312 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

Mastui-san!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

313 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:43 pm

BOOM!

314 randym77   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:44 pm

Sweet hit, Godzilla.

315 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:44 pm

Wow, he's happy.

316 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:44 pm

Perhaps a bit unfair, but with the state of his knees could this be considered a hobble-off?

317 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:44 pm

as soon as ace came in to "vulture" i knew someone had to be warming up the score truck

318 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:44 pm

[296] my "Aces High" reference is of Iron Maiden! track 1 from the brilliant "Powerslave" record, 1985!!! : )

[298] my buddy Cult starting challenging me when i was at the Braves games and couldn't post!!!

319 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:45 pm

MATSUI-SAN!!!!

go rangers : )

320 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:45 pm

さよならホームラン!!YAYYYYYYY!!!!!

321 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:45 pm

Funny, Kim can't interview Matsui, I guess.

322 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:45 pm

damn, every time I see a walk off, Melky is grabbing the helmet out of the air and Arod is empty handed on the margins ...

323 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:46 pm

jesus - molina is moli

[318] i thought he was posting your texts

matsui getting pied is just too good

324 Statler   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:46 pm

That was a satisfying way to win.

325 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:46 pm

[320] I was quicker off the mark, though, Mr. OK.

Pie for Matsui!

[316] Harsh.

326 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:46 pm

[310] heh-heh!!! ; )

327 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:46 pm

holy cow!!! woo! had to play a couple of songs on the guitar. it worked!!!

328 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:47 pm

Now it's time to run for the hills. A Yanks-O's game ending before 10 o'clock. : ) And no, I haven't worn a watch since I was 10.

329 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:47 pm

[321] Kim can interview me ANYTIME!!! ; )

330 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:48 pm

Suzyn got Matsui on the interview,, nice job, kiddo.

331 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:48 pm

[329] ditto. in fact i'm free now if someone wants to let her know...

332 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:48 pm

[329] YES! Glad I'm not the only one who finds her completely underrated

333 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:49 pm

Matsui is clutch..after his Japan years he just doesn't crack under pressure..

meanwhile Big PooPoo hitting .225, Nancy Drew .240, Captian Tek .235..are BoSox fans worried bout their offense at all?

334 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:49 pm

[323] yes. i mean, um, uuuuuuh, yeah - that's what he was doing!!!

actually, he was - but that was just to say hi to you guys! : )

[328] was it a Swatch?!

335 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:49 pm

[329] I know, right? I mean, I'm married, but I think it's okay to be interviewed.
Rollez!

336 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:50 pm

[331] i got dibs, as she's a Penn Stater, also! : )

337 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:50 pm

Whoa, several closet Kim fans! I feel better now.

338 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:50 pm

[332] oh, dude - she's gorgeous!!! : )

339 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:50 pm

[330] Does Suzyn ever bust out any Peter Allen songs in the booth? "call me Legz Diamond!"

340 PJ   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:50 pm

Well done Yanks!

Have a great evening everyone!

: )

341 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:51 pm

kim's attractiveness waxes and wanes, but it's been very low for me ever since she shared her political thoughts on a francesa episode. but i shan't get into that.

342 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:52 pm

[336] oh crap. but don't you have a studio session? I mean, i've got no conflicts...

343 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:52 pm

[333] they're still winning though. 2-1, bot 6.

[337] i'm a longtime fan and not shy about it! : )

344 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:52 pm

[341] what are her politics generally? just curious... you know, compatibility and all. :)

345 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:53 pm

[334] I must have had about 3-5 different swatches back in the mid 80's. Unfortunately wearing 2 at once was a common occurrence at my school. lol.

346 rbj   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:53 pm

Nice that this team is finding ways to win these close games. Last year they'd have lost all three consecutive 2-1 games.

347 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:53 pm

i'm single. NO studio sessions. (sneaky seamus = smeagol !!!). HATE politics.

all i'm sayin', interview is the wrong verb... ; )

348 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:55 pm

[345] the 80s..izod shirts, Members Only jackets, surfing brand t-shirts (in Brooklyn?!?), hair gel...not a good time to be a young teenager..

349 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:55 pm

[347] haha smeagol!!! too good...

350 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:55 pm

Michael young tater off of Smoltz!

351 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:56 pm

[344] let's just say she is what she appears to be

352 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:56 pm

[344] Your fantasy life is... richer than mine.
Not for sure, but from what I remember of 51cq, I'd have a hard time with her politically, too. But that's okay, my fantasy life does not extend to intense political debates.

353 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

[277] Dude... I was channeling William. Didn't you recognize the voice?

354 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

[348] ah, i had all that, too (in Queens). wait, actually i was on the Island by then, for the most part - right by JFK...

[349] smeagol !!!! (perfect.)

355 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

[352] Really? I've always had this recurring dream involving Cokie Roberts and Nancy Reagan...

Josh Hamilton doubles with no out, go go Tejas!

356 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

[351] HOT AS HELL!!!! ; )

357 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

[353] I explained it, OYF. I cottoned on immediately.

358 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:57 pm

she's also little mouthy. i mean physically.

359 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:58 pm

[351] damn too vague. now i'm thinking, what does she appear to be politically?

360 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:58 pm

[355] See, now this is spoiling the whole Kim thing for me. Dammit.

361 Just Fair   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:59 pm

When I think of Kim Jones, I remember Randy Johnson dousing her with champagne with a weird look in his eyes and making her look like a drowned rat.

362 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:59 pm

[355] suh-weet! tie game. threatening...

363 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 9:59 pm

[358] No, I like that. That's part of the attraction.
But I'm turned off now. Jeez, I didn't know that about myself. I keep thinking Ann Coulter.

364 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:00 pm

[362] And they take the lead!

This is a vvvg baseball evening.

365 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:01 pm

i ignore all of it. physically, she's still HOT!!!

[359] hey smeagol, i'll tell ya what - let's "fight" for her. you serenade here w/ a guitar song and i'll play her some 4-mallet marimba and write her poetry!!! ; )

366 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:01 pm

[363] ok if she leans the Coulter way then that would definitely be a turn off. oh well.

367 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:02 pm

[364] praying they hold it!!!

368 vockins   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:02 pm

That Roberts out in the eighth was hilarious. That exchange between him and the ump was like a Broadway play or something from the Little Rascals.

369 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:02 pm

[365] haha. my guitar play is so incredibly horrible that you will no doubt win that.

370 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:03 pm

2 more for Texas!!!!!!!!! Up 5-2 now!!!!!

371 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:04 pm

I'm listening to Sterling's recap. He's replaying his calls of the seventh inning tag plays at home.

He says he predicted those would happen.

372 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:05 pm

The Sox-RAngers game is looking up by the minute. Sadly, I am not allowed to watch it--my wife's price for the Yankees game is that now we have to watch Italian talent shows.

373 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:05 pm

Salty with a bomb!!! 6-2 Texas!!!

374 51cq24   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:05 pm

[363] well i imagine that's going a little too far, but it doesn't take much (in that direction) to soften my initial reaction

375 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:05 pm

[371] I meant in the eighth, of course.

376 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:05 pm

[370] Yeah!! Go hit the golf course, Smoltzie!!

377 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:06 pm

[372] I can't watch either. Blacked out for me on mlb.tv, and not on Fox.

378 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:06 pm

ok folks. gotta watch torchwood. can't let that sit there too long. GO TEXAS!!!

379 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:06 pm

[372] Speaking of hot women..Italian variety shows..my goodness..horribly sexist but....

380 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:07 pm

[369] yay!!! ; )

[372] ouch!

6-2 lead!!!!

381 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:07 pm

Ann Coulter ... the reason they invented ball gags.

382 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:07 pm

Interesting, though. I mean, from a purely clinical, non-fan perspective. Smoltz plainly needs to be stretched out, but Francona treats him like a warhorse. Understandable.

383 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:08 pm

[379] Horribly sexist and horribly horrible...but like a car accident, you just can't look away.

384 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:10 pm

[383] Funny but when I visited Italy once, the variety shows there struck me as EXACTLY the same as the ones here..mindless tomfoolery, horribly sexist..and I could not stop looking at the women..

385 OldYanksFan   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:11 pm

Guys.... a sexist (real definition) is someone who believes women are inferior. It has nothing to do with sex.

386 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:12 pm

Matsui in postgame: "I totally forgot he does that." (In res AJ with pie, of course)

Girardi: (after a lot of trite cliches, which Suzyn loved) Tough play for Molina to get that ball back to Coke, he did it perfectly. (This seems obvious, but I credit Girardi with insight because he's a catcher.)

Coke: game on the line, and I was so embarrassed I bounced that pitch, I was gonna sacrifice my body to get him out.

Molina: Teix and I have been working on that play since spring training. I reminded him that Itzuris is fast, so if you get the grounder get it back to me fast. (!!!)

387 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:18 pm

[385] Sexism--look up "The Miniskirt Police" on Japanese tv..

388 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:20 pm

Emily Procter on CSI:Miami WINS. i adore her! : )

(Jazz Tokyo - you'd hate her!!!)

389 ms october   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:21 pm

cokey should be interviewed after every game regardless of whether he even played

390 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:21 pm

I actually believe that woman are superior. As the old Robert Palmer song goes: "That's right, the women are smarter."

391 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:22 pm

[388] I've seen a few episodes of that on local tv here, the one with David "whispering is not acting" Caruso? She's...."OK"...but not my type!

392 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:25 pm

[390] i fully agree! stronger, smarter, more talented and creative...but they don't play fair!!! : /

[391] yup, that's the one! i generally don't ever watch stuff like this. when i was going home all the time to visit my grandpa, but my dad loved watching Caruso on this show and sucked me in. and goddamn, is Calleigh HOT HOT HOT!!! : )

393 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:28 pm

[390] I didn't know that was a Robert Palmer song. I love that song.

394 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:37 pm

It's not a Robert Palmer song. It was written by Norman Span, and I think it was made a hit by Harry Belafonte. I knew I remembered it from my childhood -- my parents had that Calypso album. And of course, the Dead did it as a kind of zydeco song, I guess.

Great song.

395 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:45 pm

shit. sawx just scored. threatening. 4 outs to go. 6-3 Tejas.

396 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:49 pm

wait, is that THREE 2-1 victories in a row?!?!?! : o

397 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:57 pm

[396] Small-Ball Bombers?

3 outs to go, Go-Go Tejas! Sox are vulnerable..I smell blood...

398 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 10:58 pm

2 outs to 1st place!

399 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:00 pm

One out to go!

400 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:00 pm

1 more out...

Show/Hide Comments 401-413
401 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:00 pm
402 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:02 pm

[401] Yeah, same song.

The Red Sox just can't hit. It's been several weeks now. Red Sox Nation isn't panicking, but just wait until we blow by them for the Division lead (it's bound to happen when I go to the game day after tomorrow, I figure). The pressure to trade the farm for Halladay will mount.

403 monkeypants   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:02 pm

First place...again...

404 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:02 pm

1st place!!!!

405 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:03 pm

wow..Tito pinch hit for JD Drew..injury? Suckititis? What's his salary??

406 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:04 pm

Jenks really walkin' the line in the 9th vs. the Rays...

gets out of it.

Rays lose also!

407 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:05 pm

[401] Sorry, I see I wasn't clear. Belafonte did that song in 1956. It seems to have been written by Norman Span (can't find anything definitive). Grateful Dead covered it, so did Robert Palmer.

You can hear the calypso even in Palmer's version, though I admit I thought of it as zydeco.

408 thelarmis   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:05 pm

okay, off to the studio to prak.

good baseball night, y'all. let's do it again tomorrow!

409 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:07 pm

[405] He's in a serious slump.
He's getting $14M/yr. But he's almost worth it, generally speaking (as long as he doesn't get injured). Just the past few weeks he's sucked.

410 RIYank   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:14 pm

[396]

wait, is that THREE 2-1 victories in a row?!?!?! : o

It is, and furthermore (via David Pinto, because i hadn't noticed) it's the second straight game in which all runs were solo taters. Weird.

Until Saturday, the Yankees were 0-8 in games in which they scored fewer than three runs. Now 3-8, they're second best in the league (behind Texas, oddly) in those low-scoring games. And without learning how to bunt!

411 Rich   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:19 pm

[407] I came of age in the '70s, so Palmer's version is my frame of reference.

412 seamus   ~  Jul 20, 2009 11:28 pm

holy awesome!!! Torchwood rocked my world and now first place!!!

413 The Hawk   ~  Jul 21, 2009 12:04 am

Got back from the game a little while ago, and speed-read through all these comments.

First of all, can someone tell me what the **** Hiske was up to with that ball that fell in for a double? From where I was sitting (section 128 - sweet! - left field side) it looked like it was catchable and he just pulled up as if it was going into the stands. Everyone around me including the usher was like "WTF???"

The good thing about that play was the game was pretty dull and it enabled two exciting plays at the plate. The first I questioned - I guess they sent the runner on third on contact but it looked like a bad idea given how hard the ball was hit. The second, I thought the runner's goose was cooked once Molina picked up the ball - it was just too close to the plate.

And the ending was very sweet of course. My buddy missed it, cause he went to the bathroom, anticipating something spectacular. Well he was right but he didn't get to see it.

As far as the new stadium goes, I really dislike the idea of it but I enjoyed it. It really didn't seem like much more than a ballpark, though walking by the suite level and the restaurant with candles and wine glasses on the tables was somewhat unnerving. But my personal experience was very ... baseball-y.

I'll also take credit for getting the Yanks back into first place - you're welcome!

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver