The Yankees avoided a post-Red Sox let-down by taking two of three from the Blue Jays, but they needed eleven innings to take the rubber game and a late-game comeback to win Game 2. Now they’re coming off a cross-country flight with Derek Jeter (foot), Alex Rodriguez (elbow), and Jorge Posada (middle finger on throwing hand) all smarting from being hit by the ball in Wednesday afternoon’s nearly-four-hour marathon.
The good news is they’re playing the Mariners. The Yankees took two of three from the M’s in the Bronx as June turned into July and the M’s are 9-10 over their last six series. Like the Yankees, the Mariners are also coming off a nearly-four-hour extra-inning win (1-0 in 14 frames over the White Sox) that saw their shortstop, the newly acquired Jack Wilson, leave with an injury (hamstring).
The Mariners are also a bad team that is wildly outperforming its Pythagorean record thanks to the league’s best defense and correspondingly strong pitching. Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, and Jarrod Washburn have combined to pitch 374 1/3 innings with a 2.76 ERA for the Mariners. Fortunately for the Yankees, Washburn is now a Detroit Tiger, Bedard is about on the disabled list headed for season-ending shoulder surgery, and Hernandez pitched yesterday and will miss this four-game set.
Which leaves what exactly? A team with the worst offense in baseball, a negative run differential, a replacement-level rotation, and a few spectacular glove men (Beltre, Gutierrez, Suzuki, and Wilson, who, like Jeter, is back in the lineup tonight).
Tonight, the M’s offer Ian Snell, a 27-year-old righty who has fallen hard from his breakout 2006 season and was toiling away in Triple-A for the Pirates, who were all too happy to unload him on the M’s in the Jack Wilson trade. The Mariners are banking on the moody Snell, who had fallen out with Pirates management, benefiting from a change of scenery that involves a pitchers park and a strong defense. It worked for one start, ironically in the Rangers’ launching pad. In his second Mariner outing, and first at Safeco, he walked six men in 1 1/3 innings before getting the hook.
I ridiculed the Wilson-Snell deal on SI.com. True, I took the short-view, analyzing the trade as the M’s attempt to thrust themselves into the Wild Card race (this was before they traded Washburn), but even looking at Wilson as a multi-year solution at shortstop on a defense-first team (a sketchy premise given the 31-year-old’s fragility and below-average bat, even for a shortstop), I find the trade uninspiring at best.
Snell faces CC Sabathia, who is coming off his biggest Yankee start (7 2/3 scoreless frames of two-hit ball in which he struck out nine Red Sox). CC actually struggled against the Mariners in July, allowing six runs on ten hits in 5 2/3 innings, and he’s been up and down since, often battling through a lack of command. Still, he’s 5-2 since that loss to the M’s, and that last start was a a beauty.
Alex Rodriguez, as previously scheduled, and Jorge Posada get the night off. Derek Jeter is in the lineup, of course. Jerry Hairston Jr. plays third and bats eighth. Jose Molina catches and bats ninth. The rest of the regulars are above them.
Seattle Mariners
2009 Record: 60-54 (.563)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 52-62 (.456)
Manager: Don Wakamatsu
General Manager: Jack Zduriencik
Home Ballpark (Park Factors): Safeco Field (96/97)
Who’s Replacing Whom:
- Jack Wilson has replaced Ronny Cedeño
- Adrian Beltre (DL) has replaced Chris Woodward
- Michael Saunders (minors) has replaced Wladimir Balentien
- Jack Hannahan has replaced Mike Carp
- Lucas French has replaced Jarrod Washburn
- Ryan Rowland-Smith (minors) has replaced Brandon Morrow (minors)
- Doug Fister (minors) has replaced Jason Vargas (minors)
- Ian Snell pushes Garrett Olson to the bullpen and replaces Roy Corcoran on the roster
- Shawn Kelley (DL) replaces Josh Wilson (minors)
25-man Roster:
1B – Russell Branyan (L)
2B – Jose Lopez (R)
SS – Jack Wilson (R)
3B – Adrian Beltre (R)
C – Kenji Johjima (R)
RF – Ichiro Suzuki (L)
CF – Franklin Gutierrez (R)
LF – Michael Saunders (L)
DH – Ken Griffey Jr. (L)
Bench:
R – Mike Sweeney (1B)
L – Jack Hannahan (IF)
L – Ryan Langerhans (OF)
R – Rob Johnson (C)
Rotation:
R – Felix Hernandez
R – Ian Snell
L – Ryan Rowland-Smith
L – Lucas French
R – Doug Fister
Bullpen:
R – David Aardsma
R – Mark Lowe
R – Miguel Batista
R – Sean White
R – Chris Jakubauskas
R – Shawn Kelley
L – Garrett Olson
15-day DL: LHP – Erik Bedard (shoulder surgery)
60-day DL: LF – Endy Chavez (ACL), RHP – Carlos Silva (labrum, rotator cuff), LHP Cesar Jimenez (shoulder and biceps tendonitis), LHP – Ryan Feierabend (TJ)
Typical Lineup:
L – Ichiro Suzuki (RF)
R – Franklin Gutierrez (CF)
R – Jose Lopez (2B)
L – Ken Griffey Jr. (DH)
R – Adrian Beltre (3B)
L – Russell Branyan (1B)
R – Jack Wilson (SS)
R – Kenji Johjima (C)
L – Michael Saunders (LF)
I would of DHed Jeter tonight, but that would have meant one weak-ass lineup (featuring Peña, Hairston and Molina).
It'll never happen, but I would like to see Hinske at 3B, even once as an experiment.
no word on Mo's cranky arm? hmm.
[2] Supposedly there was nothing to see there. Expect to see him if he's needed tonight.
[1] Agreed about at least giving Hinske a look at third (though it might be ugly).
[1] [3] Do you mean to say Sheffield "playing" 3B wasn't enough?
: )
[3] Cool, and thanks for the update. Hopefully the Yankee bats can give him a couple nights off here. I didn't like hearing it was his shoulder. Also hoping whatever personal reason that prevented him from flying with the team isn't a serious concern.
Have watched a lot of M's games here this year, it is indeed surprising how they have such a good record..though the new management definately moving in the right direction.
Kind of sad we'll miss King Felix actually...
No one does a series breakdown better than Cliff.
Pete Abe:
No one could pay me enough to ask Beltre if he uses a cup.
[6] definitely a bummer missing Hernandez.
I grumble about the start times, but I always look forward to the Seattle games. Beautiful park, the train, the late sunsets, etc.
Aesthetics-wise, these and the KC games are my favorite away games to watch, and I haven't been to either park.
[7] word.
[8] It hurts just to read that. Seriously, I'm just about doubled-over in sympathy pain typing this.
[8] How do you play the hot corner without a cup? Hell, I played some 3B as a kid and I wanted to have catcher's gear on out there.
The Yanks play Seattle again in Sept. If Beltre is on the DL then look for this:
[8] That is horrifying..but yes, how could he not wear a cup at 3B?!?!?
[9] I've never been to the KC park, but Seattle's park is great. Their football stadium is amazing also, with it being open on one end like the Univ. of Washington's stadium. Great city and great people.
Now, let's go whoop their asses!
Verlander with the 100mph heaters in the 8th inning..schweeeeet...good win for Detroit City, now let's hope Tejas can sweep those damn BoSox..
[12] I imagine that cup sales just skyrocket accross the league. Heck, I'm even thinking of putting one just so I never have the words "tearing" and "testicles" follow my name.
My one game at Safeco was 1999, the year it opened. Pettitte beat Freddy Garcia 1-0. Griffey made a sliding catch in center (though saw that on a monitor while in line for food). We sat on the 1B side so we could see Mt. Rainier. Very nice park. Very nice city. Very nice area. I'd go back anytime.
[15] et al - There are just some things you don't take risks with. What a moron.
No one will take me up on this, but anyone want to bet Beltre never makes that mistake again?
[17] Too late now though, isn't it? Like my old Little League coach Jimmy Myers used to say (while chugging a beer, am sure that is prohibited in LL now!) "Boys, rule #1: you always protect the family jewels. Baseball games come and go, but your family jewels you can't replace!"
Not to belabor the point, but if given the choice to wear a batting helmet or a cup I'd take my chances with the latter.
Slightly off topic: I live near a team that plays in the professional Canadian American league, and the base coaches don't wear helmets. Even though MLB coaches only recently started wearing them, the Can-Am coaches appear 19th century reckless without them.
[18] the one resounding bit of advice I once got from a Little League coach with bloodshot eyes, and beer on his breath was this: "Go to college, (urp) or you'll be pissin' up a rope."
[8] A liitle too much information fot my liking.
Oh shit @ Flash in the booth...
I guess we'll see which is the more powerful force of Yankees Universe nature this evening... The Curse of Flash, or Will Weiss' reinforced Winning Non Stop...
: )
[22] I'm getting the M's feed here...I'll try to channel my good karma to you guys under the curse of Flash.
Not much of a swing. Hopefully that's called both ways.
how does molina drop a slider that's in his glove? his declining skills behind the plate are a real concern. he simply cannot be trusted as a backup catcher!
What a boss CC is. His mid to high 90s fastballs look effortless.
This is a good start to this inning...
11-pitches for CC, I like it..anyone want to join me in the O-Bon Odori dance? It's that time of year.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJbhciv8SFo
[28] ...but things are starting to turn...
[8] "gently rocking... gently rocking..."
Woohoo Jerry!
Jerry Hairston Jr., greatest pickup ever? :)
[30] All's well that ends well!
[31] Dollars to donuts Beltre will be sitting on one very soon if he isn't already...
: )
OMG, you mean we only got Jerry Hairston Jr.? >;)
JH Jr, Professional Hitter!
Argh, I wonder is Swisher could have made it home on that bloop if he hustled
Woohoo Jojima!
[38] No worries...the Score Truck has many faces.
Didn't matter!
Begs the question doesn't it... is Jojima wearing a cup?
[42] Actually, after that passed ball I was wondering if he washed his hands with urine.
[43] Maybe if it were Wakefield pitching...
Wowzers, I was wondering when or if they'd talk about that on TV, never mind show it. But it didn't look as bad as it sounded, and give him some credit for playing the rest of the game. But damn... no cup = 0.008 sympathy (x) 0 apologies...
Cups and urine jokes? Are we bored already?
[46] These pretzels are making me thirsty..
Damn...that was a big fly for Jeter.
Woohoo Derek!
Okay, one AB late, but nice way to lead off, Cap'n!
[45] I'm watching the M's feed, and they haven't mentioned the injury at all...only that he's on the DL "probably for a while".I guess the home crowd knows the story, and any details are best left unrepeated.
Hey... is this officially the worst lineup we have played this year?
MATSUI IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Woohoo Hideki!
Well then!
These are the West Coast games that I like.
Two reasons to be pleased tonight..the Yankees are up big and they didn't follow through on the rumors about their interest in Snell.
[46] Godzilla looked bored with that 2-run HR...
Ian Snell..buh-bye...
This game is going along at a Snell's pace...
Aww, I actually felt bad for Swish on the flyout. He looked very unhappy, as though to say "but everyone ELSE got to hit one out!"
wow.... Chyll is just warming up.....
[51] Well, it was a dignified retelling, although I can imagine Michael Kay ranting about it through his entire show tomorrow. No one's gonna miss his pontifications tonight...
Damn, Phil Hughes cut his hair..was hoping he would grow it till Girardi fined him..
[62] Not only did he cut it, he put it in a bag and left it in Phil Coke's chair at his locker...
*shrug*
[64] If he set it on fire, you'd know he was still mad from that game...
Ichiro is great. What a waste playing in Seattle.
Hmm, the Banter is sleepy tonight. Or are we bored?
Woohoo Tex!
[66] I think it's past most folks' bedtimes...
: )
[66] workin hard on a tough assignment.. http://tinyurl.com/p9tkd3
The Mariners lineup is one of those lineups where, if you forget where you are in the order, you think almost everyone that comes up must be the number nine hitter.
[65] Non sequitur? Or because he lined a single?
[69] Love the Big Sleep! I think alot of Banterites are doing just that.
[70] In a way, I am interested in Mitre's start because if he can't shut this lineup down, well...
[70] He's cooled off a good bit, but I hope Branyan ends up with a nice season. I have a soft spot for him, for some reason.
Nice inning for CC. Keeping that pitch count reasonable.
[73] Yes, the Gaudin-Mitre one-two punch will be interesting to watch.
[76] I had forgotten about that. My mood has soured.
[77] Sorry about that.
[72] Classic..case I'm on right now is making Big Sleep's script seem like an episode of Blossom..
[74] Stat-head crush?
[80] Maybe. But probably more because I lived in Ohio when he first came up..lots of expectations, lots of frustration by the local fan base. Plus I like the story--a guy bounces around with no real team, no real role, a good bit of talent...and puts it together for a season or three in his thirties. It's the kind of story I always wish for guys like Andy Phillips and Shelley Duncan, except Branyan actually has the talent to make it happen.
[78] It was probably unavoidable.
[69] Yo, I was watching Bogart before the game; In A Lonely Place; one of his better roles since he played a nasty dude. Good flick.
Hey, hey. FWIW. If your wife asks you to go see her cousin sing karaoke b/c he could win $1,000 bucks, do the Nancy Reagan and "Just Say No." : O
Do these people always hit HR against the Yankee aces, or is it just me?
Who was the former banterer who was always saying his folks' neighbor was C.C? Boo to the hr.
Especially to the 1st career shot. Crap. Good on him , though.
CC does give up the HR with some frequency, at least this year.
First MLB HR. We've done it again.
[84] Beautiful non-sequitir..
[83] That looks great! Will have to pick up a copy, I love Bogart.
[84] Someone else followed that line of thinking and ended up on Cliff's "Stupid List"...
Mercury Morris doesn't appear to be losing his hair in the before picture.
[91] He appears to have a flip-up lid in recent pictures...
[91] Where is Giuseppe Franco when we really need him?
Snell was awful, but at least he gave the M's six innings.
[90] The game on the tube was a beautiful distraction. Brown Jovi was the best part of the evening.
Some less popular Bogart films that I think are among his best are All Through the Night and The Desperate Hours. Bogart was very good playing a villain or anti-hero.
[93] Defending America from a lifetime regiment of drugs?
Might we see a CG for CC?
[98] I hope so! That would be great and super for the bullpen as well...
: )
ooh, i love me some late night baseball to come home to! even better that we're winning! jeter hitting homers at safeco!!! cc throwing another jem!!! me likey! : )
esp after the shit sox got shut down by an overpowering verlander (damn, that kid is GOOD!). i've got lotsa to catch up one here - just getting home - but wanted to say 'hey'...
Damon gives all little leaguers who swing and throw like girls much hope. Crazy how much he's produced over his career.
[94] The Livan argument.
[100] You're right on time, Thelarmis!
: )
[102] Rather, it was the "as bad as he is he does one thing Mitre doesn't" argument.
[103] good, the metronome is working! : )
From Arroyo:
"People don't own teams to lose money. If you ask any owner whether they would rather make $20 million and come in last place or lose $20 million and win a World Series, there's only one guy who honestly would take that championship: George Steinbrenner. Nobody else."
'Zilla!!!
[104] I'm not so sure. Part of the reason I compared it to Livan, was, over the years, whenever the Yankees were looking for pitching depth, someone would always bring up Livan and claim "at least he gives you innings!"
What I always said about Livan and Snell tonight is that they wouldn't give the Yankees innings. If Ian Snell pitched the way he did tonight for the Yankees, he wouldn't have started the fifth. Conversely, I think there are a couple of Mitre's games where if he were in the Mariners, they may have left him in through six. The Yankees really don't leave starters in for innings and innings after its obvious that they have nothing just to waste time.
thelarmis. On Verlander's final pitch of the game in the 8th (# 124), he whiffed Bay on a 100 mph high heater. Nasty.
[109] yeah man, i saw that earlier before i left the house. unreal! he did great in that 8th inning after giving up a leadoff double.
Swish = the walkin' dude.
okay, Robbie - time to overcome!!!
[108] You're missing my point...it was not legitimate praise for Snell, but an oblique swipe at the worthlessness of Mitre.
[109] He was throwing 99 in the first and ended up at 100. In both innings, he flat out blew Jason Bay away. Verlander is one reason to root for the White Sox in the Central.
Cano's bases loaded #'s have nowhere to go but up.
[112[ Kenny Rodgers was one reason to root for the Tigers a few years back. Ya' just can't predict baseball. : D Damnit, Cano. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Kill em, kill the umpire!!!
damnit, robbie. : /
[112] Isn't Verlander very mediocre against the Yankees?
[113] yeah, up the creek! ; )
It should Peña time.
i want 9 runs this inning. (in total, 2 more, though i'd certainly take 9 more...!)
i'd settle for 8. if only robbie could've done that...
Woohoo Jerry!²
there's my 9.
ENNEAD!!! : )
[118] not just yet! : )
[123] OK, now,
I like Hairston. I think he's doing a great job coming off the bench so far.
holy crap, you guys see Prince Fielder's homerun today? wow!!! : o
[125] Yep.
[114] Verlander is a lot more "predictable".
[116] He has a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings against them this year.
[125] In fact he (Jerry) is making V. Martinez look like David Ortiz...
: )
CC Rider!
We have a Pena sighting!
Hey everyone. Just in from rehearsal.
Yanks game lookin good!
thelarmis, first album playing last night at the jazz cafe was Hank Mobley "No Room for Squares"! You'd have been thrilled.
Verlander threw 118 minor league innings in 05 and then 11 more innings in the bigs.
Then 186 ip in 06
201 ip in 07
201 ip in 08
159 ip thus far in 09.
[132] i just got in from rehearsal about a half-hour ago!
[133] hell muthafukin' YEAH!!! that album freaking RULES!!! and the cover art is simply awesome!!! a classic record, all the way around!!! : )
And he was 22 in 05 fwiw.
Hey NYYfan22! Yes it is!
Sabathia is at 89 pitches through seven (61 strikes)...
: O
Woohoo Hideki!²
Yay!
GODZILLA!!!!!!!!!
Jeez.... Matsui ON FIRE!!!!!!!!
Ichiro looked so dejected. hehe
Poor lil guy.
I wonder if Ichiro goes to that extent if the batter wasn't Matsui?
MATSUI- SAN!!!
West coast blowouts are great for getting enuff sleep!!!
Tons of news for OK Jazz in the Japanese papers tomorrow, er um, today!
: )
these are Score Truckin' good times!!! : )
Monster Game!
Hey... As a kid, night games were at 8:00 PM, so WC games started at 11:00!
[143] I thought the same thing
[146] Won't push the latest celebrity scandal off the front pages though..
[143] Of course he does. He's a competitor. Geez.
[143] he always goes all out for those catches. i'll never forget the other year when he climbed the wall and stole a homer backhanded. i thought the catch BLEW away Matthew's Jr...
[145] and for our Run Diff! : )
Why on Earth is CC still on the mound?
[152] Competitors don't always make maximum efforts in blowouts. For example, I think Ichiro dives for Hairston's bloop if it was close. I am sure Ichiro knows everything he and Matsui and do will be big news in Japan, so robbing Godzilla would be a big deal.
[154] to save the bullpen for Sat/Sun?
Yankees have to scare alot of teams when they look like this.
CC still throwing 96. That was K #10 and it was Ichiro of all people...
CC = Ace !!!
who finishes - Robertson? is Melancon still with us?
I say throw out some combination of the worst/most rested BP pitcher to rest CC
[159] Maybe Melancon is gone? I thought he was still here. If not, probably everyone else could use a rest.
[155] Ichiro is going to make that effort on the homerun ball no matter who hits it. IMO. If you think he's just going to jog to the track and watch the ball sail out b/c a non-Japanese player hit it.....well. I find that rather ridiculous.
[157] Yankees scared everyone last week by sweeping Boston. This game was kinda expected around here...
[159] Bruney was up. Gaudin replaced Melancon...
[161] judging by the sidebar, i think Melancon's in Scranton...
[154] Because he was at 89 pitches through seven, and three of the four batters he faced in the eighth were lefties...
[164] Trying to get Mo a save?
[162] I respectfully disagree...I think Matsui being the batter was a factor. If you think competitors always give 110% regardless of the score, well, I think that is ridiculous too.
Mistajoemolia, Mister Jose Molina... welcome to the party, pal!
[166] If Melancon was still here, I don't think any of those things would matter because it would be a perfect opportunity to save your ace some pitches. However, everyone in the bullpen probably needs the rest more than CC.
Bruney on to give the requisite solo shot and two runs before nailing down the win?
[168] I kind of agree. Ichiro probably doesn't want to risk getting injured climbing up walls and diving for balls... But he might make an exception to show up Matsui.
[168] I've seen some pretty damn amazing Ichiro highlight catches since he's been in the league, and though I can't say for sure, some of those web gems probably didn't occur in tight games.
Yay Yankees!
Winning Non Stop!
Have a great evening folks!
Well folks, 6.5 again.
[171] Heh, thisclose...
great, quick inning for BB!!!
terrific game and win! : )
new record for getting the game post up . . .
I always find these interviews with Matsui a lil uncomfortable. He doesn't make eye contact w anyone. Only the translator every now and then.
[178] shit, i haven't had time to read the pre-game post yet!