This just in: the Yankees are cruising to their first AL East title since 2006. There, I said it. The Yankees have a six-game lead with 32 left to play and nearly half of those remaining games, 15 of 32, will come against the Royals, Blue Jays, and Orioles, three teams with a combined .416 winning percentage.
The Yankees are 9-3 against the Orioles this season and 9-1 since dropping the first two games of the season in Baltimore due to poor starts by CC Sabathia (who has since turned back into CC Sabathia) and Chien-Ming Wang (who has since landed on the 60-day DL).
Since the Yankees last saw them, the Orioles have traded away first baseman Aubrey Huff, closer George Sherrill, and veteran backup catcher Gregg Zaun. Lone All-Star Adam Jones has been fighting back pain and hasn’t had a hit in over a week, and supposed rookie phenom Matt Weiters has been slower to adjust to major league pitching than was expected (.258/.307/.366 in August with 24 Ks against 6 walks in 25 games). The debuts of top pitching prospects Chris Tillman (yet another product of the Erik Bedard trade) and Brian Matusz have kept the O’s interesting, but the Yankees will miss both this week.
So, really, there’s nothing to see here. The Orioles are 10-19 (.345) on the month and have won just one series in August. The Yankees have lost just two series since the All-Star break, have scored 7.5 runs per game in their 11 contests since being shutout by the A’s and Brett Tomko, are coming off a sweep of the White Sox, and have their top three starters lined up for this series in Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett. The O’s will be lucky to avoid a sweep.
Jeremy Guthrie takes the hill for Baltimore tonight coming off a pair of strong starts against the White Sox and Twins. In both outings, Guthrie allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings. In the latter he struck out five against no walks or homers. Of course, his season ERA is 5.26, and he’s 1-2 against the Yankees in three starts this season. Guthrie’s first two starts against the Yanks were similar quality starts (6 IP, 7 H, 3 R). He won the first thanks to Sabathia’s bad outing and lost the second when CC got his revenge with a four-hit shutout. He last faced the Yankees on May 20 and gave up five runs in seven innings to lose to Phil Hughes.
Despite a hiccup in Boston hidden by the offense’s 20-run outburst, Andy Pettitte’s second-half numbers are still fantastic: 2.79 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 3.6 K/BB, just 2 HR allowed in 8 starts averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per start. Andy started that run with 7 1/3 dominant innings against the O’s (1 R, 8 K). Surprisingly, that was his only start against Baltimore this season prior to tonight.
Alex Rodriguez gets the night off tonight. Jerry Hairston Jr., hitting a fluky .316/.413/.553 as a Yankee, plays third and bats eighth. Everyone else moves up a spot.
Baltimore Orioles
2009 Record: 54-77 (.412)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 58-73 (.443)
Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Andy MacPhail
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (103/104)
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Michael Aubrey (minors) has replaced Aubrey Huff
- Chad Moeller (minors) has replaced Gregg Zaun
- Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz (both minors) have replaced Rich Hill and Brad Bergesen (both DL)
- Chris Ray has replaced George Sherrill, while Jim Johnson has assumed closer duties
- Cla Meredith has replaced Matt Albers
25-man Roster:
1B – Ty Wigginton (R)
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:
L – Michael Aubrey (1B)
L – Felix Pie (OF)
R – Robert Andino (IF)
R – Chad Moeller (C)
Rotation:
R – Jeremy Guthrie
R – David Hernandez
R – Jason Berken
R – Chris Tillman
L – Brian Matusz
Bullpen:
R – Jim Johnson
R – Danys Baez
R – Chris Ray
R – Brian Bass
R – Cla Meredith
R – Kam Mickolio
L – Mark Hendrickson
15-day DL: OF – Luis Montanez (torn thumb ligament), RHP – Koji Uehara (torn elbow tendon), RHP – Brad Bergesen (shin bruise), RHP – Dennis Sarfate (circulatory problems in bicep and shoulder), LHP – Rich Hill (torn labrum)
60-day DL: RHP – Alfredo Simon (elbow ligament surgery)
Typical lineup:
S – Brian Roberts (2B)
S – Cesar Izturis (SS)
R – Adam Jones (CF)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Nolan Reimold (LF)
L – Luke Scott (DH)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
R – Matt Wieters (C)
R – Ty Wigginton (1B)
Cliff, the Yanks have 32 games to play. (I bet you forgot about the regular season finale series against the Rays, which is in October.)
There's still a decent chance that when the Red Sox show up for their final set with us the last week of September, they'll be in a position to at least threaten if they can sweep. Note that we have three in Anaheim right before that, so if the Halos live up to their dreaded reputation as Yankee killers, that Sox series could still be interesting.
Still, I do think we'll cruise to the Division title...
Oh, also, Brad Penny has signed with the Giants.
Whew.
[1] Yes, that is what I did wrong, but it's 32, there's a make-up game with the Angels in there, too. Fixed. Thanks.
It's about time ARod got the night off. Or a couple of weeks past time, to be more precise. What part about him needing frequent rest does Girardi not get?
If I were in charge, Cano, Jeter, Tex, Jorge would have all had at least two more games of rest by now. I know Girardi is hoping they'll have more chance once the roster expands and if the lead widens, but I don't think that's good enough.
This may be obvious, but it's time to dump ARod and Jeter, play JHJr everyday (at cleanup) and get Miggy Cairo back.
Uh, yeah, 32, that's what I said.
And another not-at-Yankee-Stadium HR for the Swish!
This is the game thread.... yes?
Can Swish wear his road grey at YS III during the playoffs?
Swish swat!
Andy lookin' solid ...
Banterers just don't seem to care today, huh?
Though come to think of it, the Orioles don't, so why should we?
[12]
Can we blame it on Cliff's write-up :-)
[12] We need something shitty to happen. : D
[13] Yeah, nothing to see here.
[14] Oh, why, do you miss William? ;-)
i just dropped $1,000 on my car. rent is due tomorrow. the amazing rental house i found last week is no longer available. i barely have any work. the girl i'm in love with is over me for about two years now. (i can go on...)
so, [14] plenty of shitty happenings going on here!
i'm VERY pleased the Yanks are winning though. i'd be REALLY thrilled if Boston somehow misses the postseason. either way, the BEST outcome is us winning the Serious.
i have TONS of baseball reading to catch up on now. carry on...
[16] Oh, I forgot to mention: Kim Jones called, and she wanted me to give her your number. Is that okay?
I can't imagine using a treadmill. Hamster wheels for humans.
[16] That sounds like a Blues song.
Get that man another Red Bull.
[17] and i forgot to mention - i couldn't pay my phone bill and it got turned off! ; ) [kidding]
[19] i played a Blues gig Saturday night. i guess it's spilled over into this week! oy yoy yoy...
[16] Sorry to hear about all that. At least you're not a Mets fan. Or root for the Shit Sox.
Wieters is not what you're looking for in a play-caller...
[12] I'm here, but silent. Shocking, I know.
[22] yes, i'm not religious, but i thank the good (baseball) lords for making me a yankee fan!!! : )
[that religious bit is pretty much the dealbreaker with the aforementioned girl...]
[24] Hey, nice use of "laxly" in another thread. That's a very odd-looking word, and I'm sure Diane will be glad to have it at some Scrabble tournament.
[26] Thanks! I was pretty sure that I had wrong (my usual "mute syndrome"), but spellchecker OKed me.
[27] It sounds like some important British person's name.
"By Jove, Laxly, once you're finished with whatever affairs of state you've been busying yourself with, what say we stop off at the club and see if old Fitzsnoggle is still wagging about?"
[16] I'm sending you an airplane ticket to NH. Come up. There's a hug waiting.
Anyone notice I had a debate with MP yesterday, and now he has NOTHING to say? Watch out William... you're next.
Okay, time for Banterers to come out of the woodwork. And not because something shitty happened, either.
Shut up Michael Kay.
[12] I'm here doing a few things while watching the game
i have it on mute, at this time, but check on the braves game. top of the 6th in miami...
Thesaurus
Legend:
Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv. 1. laxly - a state of temporary incontinence due to the ingestion of too much Exlax.
[33] Be sure to pay attention in the bottom of the inning. And subsequent innings.
From Peter:
UPDATE, 8:20 p.m.: Wait, it gets worse, Melky was 9 for 19 against Guthrie with SIX ENTRA BASE HITS and Girardi had him bunt.
That was a real stupid bunt.
[34] On that note, I'd like some (more) runs.
[31] i'm trying to divert everyone to south florida...
[29] i appreciate ya, OYF!!! i'm not much of a fan of flying though. really, it's all good, i'm not too down or anything - promise! i've got a great car and i haven't had to put too much $ into it in 7.5 years, so i'm not complaining. i had the day off to get it done and i'm good and safe now. should be fine there...
i'll keep looking on the house thing. i guess this one wasn't beshart (sp, OYF?). it was really great though. i have a super nice apt. though, so that's cool. it's just time to go for a multitude of reasons...
the girl thing will work itself out. we're super close friends and i'm just being a hopeless romantic right now. we'll see what happens.
what i really need...is a freaking BEER!!! it's been over 3 weeks and i think i'm ready. i'm looking at Saturday, which'll be a solid month. i've earned it!
HEY!
Has anyone noticed the Andy has a
P...
...
Pe...
...
Per
...
Perty game going?
[34] smooth move! ; )
[35] you're right, thanks! i just paused Jimmy McGriff and unmuted the tube.
[36] that pisses me off. we really shoulda scored another run or two that inning...
JHJr!!!!
Perty!
and there it is! matt diaz gets a hit off josh johnson with 2 outs in the 6th. all 17 fans at Joe Robbie (Landshark? Really?!), half-ass stood and half-ass clapped.
back to Jimmy McGriff !!!
Hot Damn!!!
Nice, Jerry!
[39] Wish Michael Kay would bight his tongue, too. Dammit.
bight? bite? prolly bite.
Damn it. Looks like I'm missing another gem by Andy.
Rats.
Nice throw, Melvin.
"yes ... its a major league baseball .... but it turns into a Frisbee"
(nice one Kenny!)
[47] Not just an ordinary gem.
Run out to a bar, weeping. Seriously.
Just checking into Gameday..looks like an "interesting" game so far! How "interesting" has the pitching been..or has it been more "lucky"?
Swisheroo continues the road warrior act, I love it!
[51] Well, you'd have to say that the Orioles are a little flat. Aside from that, it's been pretty genuine. Not overwhelming dominant, but top-notch Pettitte.
Hey, has anyone noticed...this may have been mentioned before:
The reason DJ is having such a great year may be because he's really cut down on his K rate?
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Roberts bunt ...
[50] hey weeping, if you take RI's advice and run out to a bar, please drink a beer for me. it's been awhile and i'm holding out til Saturday (i think)...
why didn't Melky bunt?! [j/k]
[54] Is that allowed???
Chipper Jones is good at the baseball.
[53] as in minKa Kelly ?! ; )
hey weeping, i don't know how good a feed it is, but you can watch here, click on "other sports".
8
[55] I'll be glad to have one for you. : ) Good. Roberts pisses me off.
So is Brian Roberts.
It would be really, really good if he didn't bat again.
[51] Not particularly dominant, but he's changing speeds and moving the ball around.
did Swish save a homer or something? looks scary on gamecast!
[63] was about [58].
[59] There's a K-ratio I wouldn't mind increasing! HIGH-Oooooo, booo-yah!
[57] 2-0 game, sure bunting is acceptable..as is the brushback next time they bat..
[65] No. A step in front of the track, maybe. But on the run, a little scary.
[62] thanks man, i appreciate ya! : )
I understand that Sterling is not going to shy away from announcing the ongoing P----- game. But does he need to say it every 5 seconds??? Shut up, sterling!!!
Meanwhile, I have lost out to my wife's weekly Italian variety shows. Hard to argue, no matter how special the game, when I get the Yankees the other six nights.
7
has he been to a 3-ball count yet?
[63] yeah, per the Aflac trivia ? for the Braves game - Roberts and Hanley are the only 2 players to amass 150+ doubles & steals the last 4 years. kind of a silly ?, but still good #'s. besides hanley, i was thinking J-Roll...
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry.
Augh!
drat
Ohhhh nooooo. Oh no.
C'mon Andy, keep it together here.
Lame, I blame A-Rod.
[71] Mp, there was an interesting article in the paper the other day about Italian variety shows, and how a majority of young women in Italy list being a "presenter" on tv as their #1 goal in life..
DAMN you Jerry Hairston Jr!!
doh! E-5
ooh, don't let the wheels fall off here...
For those not watching:
it was a very easy, routine play, rolled straight through Hairston's legs.
[79] I agree.
I remember that Moose came unglued when he lost his Perfecto (with one strike to go).
[80] That's sad on many levels.
FUGH.
oh well
I guess we have to wait for another day to see if every year a Yankee throws a perfect game the team wins the World Series, or if it is only when a Yankee who's first name starts with D.
dammit. c'mon Yanks... keep this lead up...
Round of applause for Andy P..a great performance no matter what!
Calling Phil Hughes ...
I don't mind the base hit here. But no more.
[83] oh, bollocks!!!
well, that hit was easy to call. i guess a walk comes next. then a run...
let's all let out a collective breath and...WIN the freaking game!
Well, hold the shut-out, Andy. Go get 'em.
One more chance, if he doesn't get this guy...
Now I'm really ready for Michael Kay to shut up. Nothing to do with any superstitions, he's just getting on my nerves.
NICE! sit down, BMore
Good job. Good job.
That Jeter he's such a terrible fielder.
I'll bet JHJr feels worse then Andy.
Well clappity-clap-clap anyway. Damnit, Hairston. grrrrrrrrrr
i'm kinda pissed at jerry right now. i'm sure he feels utterly horrible, however...
What a freaking throw by Marky!
I'm giving Hairgel a break, he made a great play the last inning. At the least the rest of the lineup can now try to break this game wide open for Andy to try and make up for it. Andy did good today...
Completely laying waste to the O's bullpen would take some sting out of that error.
nicely done, JD.
Yeah, I can't see being mad at Hairston. He made a good play earlier, and face it, he's not a great player. Can't be angry about that.
[106] Off to a good start, huh?
FWIW, JH Jr. has played 984 games in his career, but only 54 of them at third.
this is a rapid game.
There's no shame in a 1 hit shutout, right?
[111] It could be one of Andy's best games ever.
Still. So damn close.
[111] yeah, i hope Andy finishes it up!
Hairston did make that nice bare-handed grab before. He really looked like he felt awful.
so, NOW the Blow Jays decide to score runs. Canadian Score Truck is dropping a 10-spot on Texas, who are disappointing me in their pursuit of the Wild Card.
[109] And we saw the one he may remember most. : /
[115] hey man, how was the fusion gig??!
So, is Weeping out at a bar?
[116] I'm just glad that wasn't ARod. I couldn't take it.
[119] That's a damn good point. Yikes. I'm shuddering thinking about it.
[108] I approve. Good on ya' Robbie.
[117] hey man! good. but now's not a good day to talk about it. i mentioned it briefly the other day on a thread - i think saturday. it's been a looong coupla weeks...
i just finished listening to a Jimmy McGriff Basie Tribute on Blue Note and am now into some amazing Pharaoh Sanders on Impulse!
i'll tell you more about the fusion gig sometime soon. i will say that the last set was me playing Zappa tunes with Frank Zappa's guitar player, which was quite an honor for us!!! : )
What is Kay talking about? He had absolutely no chance to get Teix at the plate.
[114] It was an uncharacteristically good play on his part. He's not a great player and thus is a super-sub, but ya gotta give him credit for playing out of his head as long as he could.
Keep it up, blow em out, waaaay-out! (boom) >;)
Feasting on Oriole bullpen, yum. I hope Jerry gets to swat one out.
[119] [120] Ooooooh. Yep, very good point. Very bad thought.
[118] i hope so. but i hope he didn't get there just as the Hairston play was unfolding. or the Markakis AB.
i'm so glad Robbie is starting to get over his fear of ducks as the playoffs approach!
[122] what is Kay ever talking about?!
[119] Alex is probably thinking the same thing!
watch GI Joe pull Andy 'coz of the long inning. i hope the Golden God (h/t weeping) comes back out and finishes. he most definitely should, esp w/ the lower part of the order coming up...
So, with that score truck deliver, can we say this game is iced?
apparently, the Yanks, along w/ the Rockies, have interest in Jon Garland.
this is according to MLB trade rumors...
[130] Yes, but I don't want the team to take the rest of the game... what is the word I'm groping for? In a loose way... sloppy, slipshod... no... it's on the tip of my tongue...
My beer is Reimold, the dry beer ...
motherfucker.
[121] I missed the game threads from the day games, but tell me about it soon. Playing with Zappa's guy..must have been a treat.
Was listening to Babyface Willete last night, forgotten organ master..
[132] motherfucker?!
So let's see... on Saturday, Mitre took a perfect game 1 out into the 5th. 2 nights later Pettitte takes one 2 outs into the 7th.
I'm predicting Sabathia with a perfecto 3 outs through the 9th on Wednesday. :)
[135] i love that cat! which one? both of his BN solo albums have recently been issued on cd, along with the one he did w/ Donaldson. he's super cool !!!
i haven't been spinning too much jazz...til today. this "out" Sanders stuff is suiting me well, at the moment!
well, in case Weeping is indeed at a bar, i'll say it for him:
Andy is a Golden God !!!
[134] Psst! Andy's ERA goes lower...
Love this ump's punch out. BIg step back with the short jab. : D
i love how Andy's averaging a strikeout per inning lately. i especially love the no walks bit!
[136] Good word, but not legal in Scrabble.
[138] Man, I went down to visit my inlaws in Yokohama on the weekend, found a jazz cafe where the owner is a Max Roach fanatic. She has some really rare albums of his, including "Percussion Bitter Sweet" of which I read there are only about 20 copies on vinvyl left in the world..you would have loved this place.
[143]
Ummm .... yes it is, its just not in the "sanitized" Scrabble dictionary they sell in the stores.
And if no one else has said it yet... Jorge either called a great game or has successfully channeled the Renaissance masters in framing the pitches.
[140] but like Miles Davis, i simply LOVE saying that word! : )
[145] Seriously, you could use that in a tournament? That would be a hell of a bingo if "OTHER" was on the board and you had CEFKMRU.
Of course Hairston's teammates are picking him up tonight. They'll undoubtedly be all over him by tomorrow. Judge Mo of the Kangaroo Court may sentence him to dressing up as Bo Derek or something. : )
[147] I miss Richard Pryor.
[143] that's okay, i like Boggle better! (shhh, don't tell Dianagram!)
[144] wow, that's awesome! i forgot to tell you, i picked up a cool Art Blakey dvd today, whilst waiting on my auto to be fixed. '58 concert in Europe, with the Moanin' group!
[146] i think Cervelli called in the pitches from Scranton. good thing he'll be in the dugout tomorrow...
[145] Speaking of which, the interlude music right there was Straight Outta Compton, ha! >;)
Let the man finish the game? I say yes.
[144] oh, i was also given a cool vinyl copy of Louie Bellson's Skin Deep album. it's a great LP cover. i was really sad when he got dead earlier this year...
On the Orioles broadcast, the fans were asked to text in votes for Player of the Game. The results:
Guthrie 82
Swisher 15
Pettitte 3
Buttheads of Baltimore.
[153] i echo that.
Jesus Christ, Brian.
[155] I echo that.
Hm. A couple more batters and we get to see Mo.
Wait, I get it. The idea is to add another Rivera-Saves-Pettitte to the records.
Smile, Robinson.
[155] wha? huh? motherfucker!!!
ooh, i LOVE it when our relievers come in and walk the first batter. esp speedy, leadoff guys who are good at 'teh' baseball.
Posada: Throw fucking strikes, you big meathead, or no dessert.
[159] when was the last time we DID see Mo? seems like it's been a minute...
Robbie seems to be having a lot of multi-hit games lately, but his BA seems to remain the same. hmmm....
No complaints about that, good pitch.
And heeeeere's Mo.
What part of Adam Jones likes high fastballs don't they get...
Just plain garbage. Can't they close out a fucking 4 run game w/o Mo? Bollocks!
[160] nice call.
Unbelievable. Well, actually, it IS believable, because Andy threw the magic number of pitches.
[160] you are correct, sir!
[160] Yep!
[164] It's probably just waiting for his RBI with RISP total to catch up...
[164] It's tough to move your batting average this time of year, with all the ballast of 528 at bats already loaded up.
[163] the language. my virgin ears!!! ; )
Cano was... Jeteresque?
Keep smiling, Rob!
He would have made a nice wide receiver, huh?
Robbie is REALLY good at tracking down popups like that.
One more, Mo!
[172] i mean, i know that and should've written it there, but it seems like Jeter's BA fluctuates more and he's got only 25 or so more walks...
[173]
Virgin ears .... ? Have you not engaged in aural sex? :-P
Aieeeeeeee, don't scare me like that Teix.
Teix will have to take some lessons from Robbie.
[167] The whole sequence is crap. First, Pettitte, who was cruising, should have just finished the fucking game. Second, if you put in Bruney (or whomever) with a four run lead, let him pitch out of trouble. If he can only be trusted when perfect (i.e., allowing no base runners), then it's not even worth going to him at all. In which case, third, just go straight to Mo and be done with it.
LaRussa ball sometimes sucks the fun out of these games for me.
[173] Don't ever go to Nantucket! >;)
[181] Oh, and I should add, the ONLY reason that Girardi went with Mo with two on, as opposed to one on or bases empty, is because the game suddenly became a SAVE SITUATION.
Ahhhhh.
[181] And a backward-K from Mo to finish doesn't fix it all up for you?
theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! g'night all.
[50] [55] [60] Thanks, friends. Unfortunately, I caught not a lick of the game, but maybe I can watch at least some of it on the YES rebroadcast.
Andy's a golden god.
i love me some Mo!!!
Waiter, my soup is nearly perfect. But there's a Hair(ston) in it. That's all I got. Good win.
[184] Not entirely, because he shouldn't have to be there to begin with. ex post facto and all that.
[178] yes, but my earplugs were in and it ruined it for me. but in today's times, you've gotta wear protection! ; )
[188] how was my beer?!
[189] Agreed on all counts. Especially in regards to only trusting Bruney if he's perfect. Bah.
[191] Cold. Refreshing. Delicious. The usual.
[190] Be careful with those Norah Jones records though..ear porn like that can get thorugh mosty aural protection..
[193] mmm, i think i'm coming back around. i hope to feel up to some ale on Saturday night...
[194] i've never heard her, but i love her father Ravi !!!
Totally disagree about bringing in Mo.
It's not that Bruney can only be trusted when he's perfect. It's that once he puts two men on base with less than two out, it's getting too close for comfort. (It's a closer game than it would be with nobody on and a three run lead.)
With one out, it's still pretty safe, and I would have been happy with a decision to let Bruney face another batter. But obviously you don't let Bruney just piss the lead away; at some point you do bring in Mariano. Two base runners isn't a bad benchmark.
I would totally bring in Mo in that situation. Basically you use Bruney hoping not to have to use Mo. You know that sometimes you'll have to anyhow. But if Bruney puts noone on base no worries. He puts two on, you bring in Mo.
I can't believe I missed Pettitte for another 14 hour day at work. that sucks.
[192] From 1977 through 1987, when leading by four runs in the bottom of the ninth, one out, men on first and second...the visiting team won 97.4% of the time.
The same situation from 1996 through 2006...the visiting team won 97.9% of the time.
Tony LaRussa's genius of dedicating a "closer" in this "save situation" has yielded a .5% improved chance of winning in that situation.
[198] Oh, lord, what have I done???
when was the last time Mo pitched or had regular work? might have been a decent idea just to get him some game action there anyway...
[197] be thankful you have the work, promotion and raise! (but i hear ya...)
[200] oh yeah thankful i am. and yet not so much. :)
[196][197] There are two overriding points. First, the closer should not have to be used with a four run lead. That means biting the bullet and letting a less trustworthy pitcher try to work out of it with two runners on. Basically, Mo had to be called in to close out a game that the Yankees would win about 97% of time, increasing the chances that he'll be unavailable when they can really use him later in the series.
If a pitcher can't be trusted to get three outs before giving up four runs, he shouldn't be used in that situation.
Second, Pettitte should not have been taken out of the game to begin with. He should have started the ninth, and if he gave up a run or two, or put a couple of guys on, or whatever, then you go straight to the bull pen ace.
There was really no reason to use three pitchers tonight. And this sort of BP usage only contributed to the bloated pitching staffs peopled by more and more untrustworthy relievers. But that is a more systemic complaint.
[199] Tee-hee. : )
[200] Then just put him in to start the ninth, after warming him up nice and regular like during the half inning.
Still, another win and another game subtracted from the magic number. G'night all.
[204] take it easy mp!
A four run lead with two men on is the same as a two run lead (with nobody on). Do you say the closer should not be used with a two run lead?
Don't agree. The 97% win rate doesn't account for having Brian Bruney on the mound having just put two men on base. That is not an average situation.
What does that mean? That he can be trusted to get three outs before giving up four runs every single appearance? The Yankees have only one guy like that. You could never have anybody pitch in a four-run game besides Mo.
If you mean, most of the time, then obviously Bruney can be trusted. But he'd put two men on. It wasn't the same situation anymore.
Texas marking a comeback. it's now 11-9. i really hope the win and somehow take over the WC...
Sleep laxly, monkeypants.
Later, seamus.
[207] You want the Rangers to take over the WC? I say, sir, what on earth would be the point of seizing control of the loo?
MVP Watch - Mauer Power has homered tonight. his 26th...
[206] yeah, that could have very easily turned into 5-4 and then it's more stressful for Mo (and us!). plus, it would hurt our Run Diff and i hate that! ; )
[209] Water Chambers?
[207] Big Tampa-Boston series starts tomorrow..think the Rays can sweep?
[211] Water Babies! late-60s Miles..it doesn't get any better!
[212] i'm hoping they do! i just REALLY want boston to miss the postseason. my hatred toward that entire organization is borderline absurd...
we're currently 35 games over .500 w/ a +130 run diff and 10 games over on the road.
[206] How about this--I am pretty certain that the only reason Mo was brought in with two men was because it magically became a save situation. In other words, I am pretty certain (with no evidence, of course, that Girardi was managing to the stat and not to the game.
For the record, I would have gone batter-by-batter with Bruney when he got two men on [210], figuring the worst case scenario is that he gives up a bomb and it's 4-3. I probably would have pulled him if he loaded the bases.
As for more stressful for Mo [210], um, that's his job.
In any case, I would not have taken Pettitte out of the game to begin with, a decision made almost certainly because he hit the magic number of pitches. Had it been a 5-0 game, Girardi probably leaves him in. Had it been a no-hitter, he would have left him with 130 pitches. Yet 5-1 and 105 pitches and he has to go. Again, managing to stats and not to game situations.
[212] No.
[213] i *just* emailed the guitarist from the fusion trio about all those Miles cd's. i wanna borrow them from him soon. like Live Evil & Dark Magus and all those 2cd live digipaks you love so much. i haven't heard 'em in a decade and don't actually own any...
you ever hear of a West Coast guy named Lou Blackburn? i hadn't until today. cool CD release on BN. it was cheap, but too scratched up for me. i'll have to pick it up elsewhere sometime soon though. looked excellent!
[218] Man, i REALLY love those Miles sets..Live-Evil (now collected on the big 6-cd Cellar Door Sessions) is just insane..Miles, Keith Jarrett on a funked up electric piano AND John McLaughlin..too good! Dark Magus is wayyyyyy out there though..no remaining song forms, just a real dark, swampy funk with a lot of guitar..hypnotic, but not for casual listening..
Rays are finished but would still love to see them beat up the Sox..
[216] You may well be right about Girardi -- in fact, I think it's very likely that you are. I'm not saying he did it for the right reasons, just that it was a reasonable thing to do.
Okay, so if Bruney had put one more man on, you'd have gone to Mo. Girardi went one batter sooner than you would have. That seems like a "reasonable people can differ" difference to me.
For the record, I would have let him pitch to one more guy, too. I assume thelarmis is joking about putting more stress on Mariano.
I have no real problem pulling Andy, either. All Pettitte innings are very good innings these days. We should be trying to save them for October as much as possible. If Bruney had been better, it would have worked out perfectly.
[218] Oh, I don't know Lou Blackburn..will investigate...
I don't like Mike Lupica but he really nailed Rick Pitino in his latest article..
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2009/08/30/2009-08-30_louisville_coach_rick_pitino_decided_a_long_time_ago_that_the_media_was_there.html
time for grub, a great way to kick off September with another win!
rangers closing the gap more: 11-10 bot 7
[221] he's one of those West Coast guys like Larry Vinnegar and Jack Sheldon, who you know. i think Freddie Hill was like Lou Blackburn's partner, or something. it wasn't originally on BN; they just took a coupla his records and put 'em out on 1 Conn Series disc, as their wont to do.
That seems like a “reasonable people can differ” difference to me.
Probably.
[223] If goddamn X-Factor Italia ends I can tune in that game, which appears to be entertaining, if nothing else.
[226] hopefully you can catch a late walk-off win for the Rangers, or something. headed to Bot 8 right now. still 11-10 Jays...
murderer's row of anaheim already up 4-0...
[227] I'm watching that one now. Boy that play on Kinsler was close.
Hm. Oh well.
12-10 Jays and threatening. crap...
13-10 now.
Keep this in mind, on the off chance we get to play Texas in the Post-Season:
Grilli sucks.
[232] i hope we get to play them! that means boston's out!!! : )
14
Yeesh. Well, we don't play them again, assuming the Rangers don't get into the post-season. The bullpen is a disaster. Happens to all bullpens, I guess, but this one is the pits.
Whoa, Lind with a chance to make some history.
No history, but dude sure knows how to drive a score truck.
The Twinkies schedule over the next 2 weeks is favorable for them. Detroit best be on guard.
Eight rbi for Adam Lind on the night. Salami, two dingers, two rbi hits in one inning. Not bad.
No point in sticking around for the bottom of the ninth now, thelarmis. Here's hoping September is like August for the Yankees, but a turn-around month for you. Cheers!
OMG 18-10 Jays.
jeepers.
[239] wow, have yourself a night, kid!
Halos have already put up a touchdown, w/ extra point. jeesh!
the Halos are freaking scary : /
vlad the impaler w/ his 2nd homer. 9-0
wow, double digit runs for the Angels. impressive.