Today’s news is powered by the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan:
- Key Yankees bruised and ailing:
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, both hit by pitches, are questionable for Thursday’s series opener against the Mariners — Rodriguez more uncertain than Jeter. Catcher Jorge Posada, who took a foul ball off his right hand and a series of other pitches off his body during Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Blue Jays, is also unsure whether he will play. And closer Mariano Rivera, who woke up Wednesday with a sore right shoulder, is similarly in question.
[My take: Hughes should be the closer for the next week. Give the Mo Man a full rest.]
- A very interesting quote from the manager on bullpen usage, courtesy of Baseball Prospectus:
. . . Girardi is being lauded for turning a bullpen that, beyond closer Mariano Rivera, was perceived to be a weakness to many mainstream observers coming into the season into a strong point. Girardi has pieced together a quality bullpen without having any of his pitchers ranking in the top 10 in the AL in relief innings pitched.
“The bullpen, to me, is something you really have to watch,” Girardi said. “You have to be careful that you don’t fall in love with one guy because then you wear him down and he no longer can be effective. The key is to be effective for the whole year, not just two weeks or a month.”
Girardi’s approach is not lost on his relievers. “Phillip Hughes is the eighth-inning guy but it’s not like he’s going to pitch every day,” right-hander Brian Bruney told the New York Post’s Larry Brooks. “Everybody responds to pressure situations because we’re rested and ready. Girardi is careful with the way he uses us. He communicates directly with us more than any manager I ever played for.”
[My take: So Aceves is NOT Scott Proctor? And Phil Hughes REALLY DOES understand his role?]
- The wonderful, erudite Joe Posnanski (soon to be joining SI) gives his ten worst current contracts (no Yankees! . . . not even A-Rod).
- Over at ESPN, Gene Wojciechowski dreads the possibility that one particular name above all others could ever be on “that list”:
If I ever see Jeter’s name attached to the hip of performance enhancers, I’m done. I mean it — I’ll never watch another big league game again. Because if Captain Pinstripes could do the Vitamin S deed, then anybody can.
Jeter’s name is where I draw the line in the PED sand. He is the absolute last guy I’d ever suspect of juicing. It seems so, well, beneath him. He is the one player who I actually think would walk away from the game if he thought he had to cheat to compete.
To me, Jeter is the anti-Barry Bonds, the anti-Roger Clemens and the anti-Alex Rodriguez. He understands that if you compromise the game, you compromise yourself. . . .
I can see him marrying Mariah Carey before I see him squirming in front of a Congressional hearing with the lawyered-up Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. I can see him in a Boston Red Sox uni before I see him smirking his way through PED revelations like Manny Ramirez did in Los Angeles. Jeter would never put himself in that position. At least, that’s what I want to believe.
- Happy 45th birthday to one that got away, Jay Buhner. Buhner collected all but three of his 314 career homers, and all but 14 of his 965 career RBIs as a member of the Mariners, after the Yankees traded him in July of ’88 for Ken Phelps.
- Fred Stanley, the quintessential light-hitting shortstop, turns 62 today. “The Chicken” compiled a .222/.299/.266 line for the Yanks over eight seasons (’73-’80).
- The Scooter, Phil Rizzuto, passed away two years ago today, and Mickey Mantle died on this date in 1995. On this date in 1922, the Bombers’ Everett Scott nears 1,000 consecutive games played, but it takes an extra effort to keep the streak alive. He spends $40 to hire a car to get to Chicago in time for the game after a train he is on is wrecked.
- On this date in 1964, CBS buys 80 percent of the Yankees, effective November 2.
- On this date in 1978, the Yankees erupt for five runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Orioles before heavy rains force a delay of the game. Thanks to stalling tactics of Earl Weaver and some slow-moving Baltimore groundskeepers, the game is called, and the score reverts to the last complete inning. This rule will be changed in 1980, and the game today would have been suspended. The Orioles win 3-0, with Scott McGregor the winner.
- On this date in 1980, the Yankees trade righty Ken Clay and a player to be named later to the Rangers for 41-year-old pitcher Gaylord Perry.
- On this date in 1998, Orlando Hernandez sets a Yankee rookie record by striking out 13 in beating Texas, 2-0.
I still miss the Scooter. Everytime I see MLBN broadcasting an old game of some kind involving the Yanks, I TiVo it, hoping it will be White and Rizzuto calling the game.
A cannoli (or three) with lunch today is the only possible way to commemorate this day.
First, I just have to mention what a great site this is. I've only been reading for a few weeks now, but it's become a very regular stop during my day. Very well written, and some very insightful, educated comments. In fact, the majority of comments here are better than the writing on most blogs I read.
I saw Stevie Ray live 3 times. The last show he was playing a double bill with Joe Cocker at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 3 weeks before he died. They were alternating who opened the show, and SRV was first up that night.
We never saw Joe Cocker. Stevie Ray was so amazing (Tin Pan Alley literally raised the hair on my arm), there was really nothing Joe could do at that point we wanted to stay and see.
[2] Yep - I saw SRV at SPAC as well, but I don't remember it being w/ Joe Cocker. To be honest, I don't have a clue who he was with as SRV was the reason we went.
The guy had a spiritual relationship with his guitar, didn't he? It was like an extension of his being. He made it look all too effortless. Simply amazing to watch him play. I just shake my head and chuckle - kinda like watching Rivera pitch. Too good for words. You just bow and offer an "I'm not worthy"
Thanks for the clip Diane.
[1] There's some measure significance in the fact he passed away on the same day, though years later, as the Mick. Makes the day a little heavier as a fan who keeps track of those things, I suppose.
I think Nick "America's Got Talent" Cannon would have a significant problem with Jeter marrying Mariah, but to the network execs it would make "good tv"...
Am I the only one who sees significance in Bruney saying, “Phillip Hughes is the eighth-inning guy but it’s not like he’s going to pitch every day" Taking that quote out of context, which the Post is otherwise often want to do, would also lead execs to believe it makes "good tv" (being that "copy" is a dying industry and all...;)
And thankfully there are no significant injuries from yesterday's three bean salad, though I hope they don't start playing Alex's reaction to being hit as though he's a (ya think there's any significance to Snagglepuss being pink?)
*sigh* Okay, I got it out of my system, so have a signif... um, be chill... >;)
[2] Oops... >;)
First, as a long-time reader, rare commenter, general kudos for the Banter. Have an offer here. I'm located down in North Carolina and have ended up with a couple of extra tix to the SWB Yankees vs. the Durham Bulls on Saturday night. Any Banterites from the Triangle area interested in some free tix? If so, get in touch: austin@saxapahaw.com. Who knows? Might get to see Shelly Duncan hit the Bull!
NY Post:
But manager Joe Girardi said yesterday that Chamberlain won't be limited in the postseason, should the AL East-leading Yanks get there.
"All hands on deck," the manager said.
But before then, Girardi and the Yankees will limit Chamberlain, who is 8-2. And although he has struggled with consistency regardless of what his rest has been, he hasn't lost a decision since June 18.
The Yanks plan to hold Chamberlain to between 140 and 160 innings in the regular season. He has thrown 121 2/3 innings this season after never throwing more than 100 1/3 as a pro, which he did last year.
"The important thing is his long-term health," Girardi said.
__________
I dunno, Banterers. If the important thing is long term health and he pitched 100 MAX before, then taking him to 160 in season means - all deities willing - he gets 3 playoff starts (maybe even 4) and that can be 180 innings.
Go ahead, but don't say you are thinking about long-term health if you do that.
Also from the Post:
ow banged up are the Yanks? Rodriguez was drilled by a pitch on the left elbow in the 11th, and Posada said he was told that if A-Rod had to leave the game, the Yanks' default third baseman would have been -- ready for this? -- catcher Jose Molina.
___________
Sorry, I have to say I would really, REALLY loved to have seen it! The mind reels, the sport reels...
Diane- Thanks for the SRV clip. I saw him once with Jeff Beck at the Garden. He was one in a billion in terms of talent and ability. Little Wing-Jimi Hendrix song, yes?
I don't like the sound of Mo's shoulder soreness.Is it that August thing that happens every year where he dips?
Diane, you missed Buhner's three homers and eight RBIs for the Yanks in 1988. I specifically remember seeing him hit a grand slam in a Saturday day game at home (via WPIX) and being very excited about the Yanks new young outfielder. He was traded a month and ten days later.
Meanwhile . . . you mean if Weaver hadn't stalled that game in '78 the Bucky Dent game never would have needed to be played?! That's a part of that season's story that I didn't know.
[8] Interesting on Molina, but I'm not sure I buy it. I would have thought they'd move Teixeira to third (his former position) and put Jorge at first (where he has some experience) and Molina behind the plate.
[9] Yes, Hendrix, from Axis: Bold As Love
[10]
D'oh .... serves me right for writing up the NOTD so late last night. I'll correct it.
[10]
Was Watching has a little more on that infamous game ...
http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2007/06/june_28th_the_o_1.html
First time I saw SRV was kinda neat. It was a Fabulous Thunderbirds gig at the old Bottom Line in NYC (RIP). The T-Birds scorched the stage for an hour or so, and then Kim Wilson announced that Jimmy Vaughn's little brother was in town and was gonna come out and play a few tunes with them. Seems not many in the crowd knew of him, and I'm not sure any of us were expecting what was to happen next (since Jimmy was no slouch).
So this skinny kid walks out, plugs in, and the collective jaw of the place fell on the ground. He basically gave a comprehensive history of blues guitar over the next several tunes. He was utterly mesmerizing, just stole the show without even trying (and he just played, didn't sing), and this had to be before anybody much outside of Austin knew who he was.
The T-Birds were a very formidable band, but the energy level rose several notches when Stevie came out. Everybody walked out of there buzzing about him; a very memorable night!
Oh, and I'm with [2]. I don't get to post very often, but I read you religiously (I guess that's unfortunately construed as lurking), and this is simply the best baseball blog anywhere, truly the only one that matters re the Yanks. Thanks to all for the daily entertainment.
That Woj article ticked me off for some reason. I’ve gone on record (here) stating that I just hope that Jeter/Mo/Po don’t end up on The List, but to put all of your faith in baseball on one single guy to have not doped is a pretty sh1tty burden to lay on someone.
The game is tainted, top to bottom, whether someone like Derek Jeter plays the game the right way or not. And for Woj to draw his line there, about 12 miles past the spot where all these once hallowed records were trampled, and any hope of being able to be among the elite power hitters without sticking a needle in your butt is gone, is just the kind of gnashing of teeth and rending of garments that we shouldn’t have to put up with from the mainstream media anymore.
I was about to say I saw Buhner win a game for the Yanks with a late inning homer before he was traded in 1988, but I went to B-R to verify it, and remembered that it was Pasqua, not Buhner, and likely in 1987. I think Seinfeld is mixing me up!
A lot of attention has been given, and rightly so, to the Seinfeld episode in which Frank Costanza castigates Steinbrenner for trading Buhner for Phelps, but my feelings on the day that trade was made were best summed up by this Kramer quote from another episode: "Steinbrenner--he's ruining my life!" It was so frustrating to follow the Yankees in the '80s and see that man trade Fred McGriff for Dale Murray, Doug Drabek for Rick Rhoden, Willie McGee for Bob Sykes, etc.
btw, A-Rod was scheduled to get this game off anyway.
I can't resist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUwSxqnRW-8
[15] I definitely agree. It's unfortunate that the more you try to distance yourself from other peoples' actions, the more people try to hold you responsible for them by implying that you are responsible for the integrity of the system as a whole. That reveals only a weakness in your own belief system, which you alone are responsible for, media member or not. How about your own integrity, huh?
I love the Hughes-for-a-week idea. Do it.
In a now somewhat-eerie coincidence given my music choice for the day:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/13/arts/AP-US-Obit-LesPaul.html
RIP Les ...
[20] What's the coincidence?
[21]
ummm ..... legendary guitarists?
[0] It's reassuring to know Phil Hughes actually does have a "special purpose," and it didn't take a "Jerk" to figure that out...
[20] Indeed, Diane.
RIP Les Paul...
[22] Huh.
IIRC, Buhner and Piniella didn't get along, he felt that Buhner had too many holes in his swing.
Given the Yankees were RH heavy at the time, and Buhner really wasn't going to get any playing time over Winnie & Rickey & Clark, I can understand why he went in a trade. And seeing as he didn't become a full time regular until 1991, if he wasn't traded for Phelps, he would've been traded for someone else.
How about Mrs. Mantle dying. Never divorced him, despite his philandering. Can any comparisons be made between her and Mrs. Secretary of State. Stand by your man, she said.