Figure the Yanks'll do what they used to - not score much against him but get him out of the game and beat the bullpen. I wouldn't be surprised if he pitched really well but it'll only be for six innings, tops.
even though he is a headhunter i mostly like pedro.
i hope his smoke and mirrors bullshit doesn't confound the yanks - he should be someone they tee off in the stadium.
[4] it's always been easy to appreciate his talent, and the loopy character he plays off the field could be fun if that's your thing, but the plunking drives me nuts. I don't like Pedro because he hits my guys.
Even in the National League where he can be held accountable he's still hitting guys, but the Phillies fan in my office assures me it's all been unintentional junkball b.s. Of course I don't believe him., and I suspect one reason he's going in Game 2 is because he won't have to step to the plate. Sneaky Petey can still hit low 90's on the gun. That's hard enough to break a hand.
All that said, AJ would be wise to not get into the eye for an eye thing with Pedro. We need the Pie Unit to go 6 and change strong.
It's amazing I felt more trepidation in the Yanks facing Pavano than Petey.
Will Matsui play the field in Phlly? Not crazy says Joey Joe Joe. mwaaaa-hahahahahahah. Or something like that.
[8] No, they chartered a train, I heard. Cool idea. But then, huh, what the hell were they doing arriving at the airport? You're sure that's what you saw?
Evoking a bygone era when rail travel was the main mode of transportation in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies rolled into Penn Station on a chartered train about 6:03 p.m. Monday, but they were not looking to the past century for inspiration.
[7] You're joking, right? There's NO WAY Hideki plays the field. Oh my God, no, no, a thousand times no.
We can't have that.
Oh, and btw, I should say that I owe Nick Swisher an apology. I've been on him all year for his "defense" but it turns out he's come through very big more than once for us in the postseason, mostly by playing very heads-up baseball out there.
[16] I haven't heard Girardi's reasoning, but perhaps if Hideki pinch hits for someone late in blowout game?, it's possible that he'll be put in the field. Aside from that, I don't expect Hideki's shoes to touch turf.
I don't get it. Matsui bats just a little better than Damon this year. Is there something about certain splits that makes Joe think it could be worth sacrificing so much defensive range?
Um, Matsui hasn't played the field all year, and while I'm sure he's been taking fielding practice that isn't a game situation. His defense is going to be rusty.
Woe Nelly. My elderly mother runs faster than Matsui (her words, not mine). How the hell is he going to catch up with...I don't know...a baseball flung in his direction whether by ground or by air?
[7] Why play Matsui in the OF? Swap his bat for JD's or Swisher's? Considering Matsui's defense and speed on the bases, I'm not sure (well... I'm pretty sure) it's worth it.
Unless you want JD in CF also, and bench Melky (and give us the worst fielding OF in MLB)?
I think our OF'ers gloves and legs will get plenty of exercise!!!!
“I respect the Yankees. I love the Yankees. But I would love to beat them as bad as I look forward to them,” said Martinez, who faced New York numerous times while pitching for the Boston Red Sox.
[10] Nice. Hey, if Bernie can throw out the first pitch why not our ol' buddy Karim... Actually, now that I think about it maybe Karim could throw out the first "punch" instead of the first pitch... ;-)
btw, speaking of Bernie's first pitch from the other night. I forgot where I heard it but someone had a great line about GOB's rainbow toss. The guy said something like "Looks like his arm has gotten a little stonger"... Ouch. I love Bernie and I miss seeing him out there with the guys, but I had to laugh at that one.
I think Sliced has it (I go between Sliced and Bread as short form!. Be glad I don't call you Challah!)
Double switch country to keep a pitcher alive for an inning. Risky as hell, but the guy has been a major league OF for a long time, can survive an inning or two out there.
[26] Marcy Kaptur? Dunno if she's a Tigers fan or an Indians fan. Speaking of which, if you hear a loud explosion in the first inning tomorrow night, don't worry, it's just the Indians' fans collective head exploding.
[31] Of course he can. And, unlike Johnny, he has the ability to get the ball back into the infield if/when he finally gets to it. Matsui might be slow, but having an arm better than a 7-year old girl puts him on par with Johnny "give me a multi-year deal" D.
No, we can't survive an inning or two with him out there! I mean, sure, it's possible the ball won't be hit to him or if so, it's a mile-high fly ball, but man, the WS is *not* the time to fuck around on such reckless gambles!
[35] If, say, Jeff Karstens was still around, I'd be terrified of Matsui in the field.
But everyone in the bullpen is a high-K guy, and none of them are really scary fly ball guys, so I'm not sure it wouldn't work out for an inning. Especially if Mo was on the mound.
Don't worry - Girardi won't put Matsui in the field in a bad place. And if he does, he can always switch in Gardner, or even Hinske.
I actually don't freak out at Godzilla in the field for a double switch inning ... in fact all of this stuff (3 guys on 3 days rest maybe? starters relieving?) is part of what makes short series, post season wild. We talk about 'stick with what got you there' but in a short series it rarely actually plays out that way (unless there's a blowout). Add losing the DH and the team will have to look different.
Of course it would be a gamble to put Matsui in the OF. But we're talking about situations in which it would also be a gamble not to make the switch -- maybe you'd have to let the pitcher bat, or maybe you'd have to yank a Relief Pitcher who was cruising.
All good managing involves gambles.
[30] I ran into a guy once here in Omaha who was wearing a Yankees fan and looked a lot like Bernie Williams, so I told him as much. He said to me "oh no, not noodle arm!" You don't run into too many 'real' Yankee fans out here, so that remark cracked me up! I told him to ease off, Bernie was still one of the best!
it'll be fun til he plunks someone. then Girardi will have to finish the job for Zimmer.
No old men to beat up this time, Pedro. But you're gonna get rocked at the new Stadium, just like old times.
Figure the Yanks'll do what they used to - not score much against him but get him out of the game and beat the bullpen. I wouldn't be surprised if he pitched really well but it'll only be for six innings, tops.
and if you don't know now you know
even though he is a headhunter i mostly like pedro.
i hope his smoke and mirrors bullshit doesn't confound the yanks - he should be someone they tee off in the stadium.
My prediction for the Joisey Toinpike Series:
Yankees in 7. Each team has one ugly game.
Teixeira as MVP.
[4] it's always been easy to appreciate his talent, and the loopy character he plays off the field could be fun if that's your thing, but the plunking drives me nuts. I don't like Pedro because he hits my guys.
Even in the National League where he can be held accountable he's still hitting guys, but the Phillies fan in my office assures me it's all been unintentional junkball b.s. Of course I don't believe him., and I suspect one reason he's going in Game 2 is because he won't have to step to the plate. Sneaky Petey can still hit low 90's on the gun. That's hard enough to break a hand.
All that said, AJ would be wise to not get into the eye for an eye thing with Pedro. We need the Pie Unit to go 6 and change strong.
It's amazing I felt more trepidation in the Yanks facing Pavano than Petey.
Will Matsui play the field in Phlly? Not crazy says Joey Joe Joe. mwaaaa-hahahahahahah. Or something like that.
Speaking of the Turnpike Series, I saw footage of the Phillies arriving at the airport. I really hope they weren't flying in from Philadelphia.
[8] No, they chartered a train, I heard. Cool idea. But then, huh, what the hell were they doing arriving at the airport? You're sure that's what you saw?
Karim Garcia needs to throw out the first pitch on Thursday.
Yeah, here's the train story.
[7] You're joking, right? There's NO WAY Hideki plays the field. Oh my God, no, no, a thousand times no.
We can't have that.
Oh, and btw, I should say that I owe Nick Swisher an apology. I've been on him all year for his "defense" but it turns out he's come through very big more than once for us in the postseason, mostly by playing very heads-up baseball out there.
Now, if we could only get him to start hitting...
[9] Nope, I just thought it was an airport. Never even considered they might take the train. Bully for them.
[12] It's true about Matsui
unless "the field" is the title of a porn movie available in his hotel room, Matsui won't play it.
They'll put Mo in the outfield before Hideki.
[14] Why? Why?
[15] :)
Who SITS for Matsui? I don't get it.
[16] I haven't heard Girardi's reasoning, but perhaps if Hideki pinch hits for someone late in blowout game?, it's possible that he'll be put in the field. Aside from that, I don't expect Hideki's shoes to touch turf.
I don't get it. Matsui bats just a little better than Damon this year. Is there something about certain splits that makes Joe think it could be worth sacrificing so much defensive range?
[19] Yeah that's it - he's not planning on starting him. He said something about the dreaded double switch.
Oh, okay. If it's a double-switch it could make sense.
Our tribe is scattered across multiple threads right now. It's ****ing distraaacting.
Um, Matsui hasn't played the field all year, and while I'm sure he's been taking fielding practice that isn't a game situation. His defense is going to be rusty.
Ok, if it's a blowout or something, and it's only for an inning, I can live with it, I guess.
[24] Write your congressman
Woe Nelly. My elderly mother runs faster than Matsui (her words, not mine). How the hell is he going to catch up with...I don't know...a baseball flung in his direction whether by ground or by air?
Those effin double switches.
[7] Why play Matsui in the OF? Swap his bat for JD's or Swisher's? Considering Matsui's defense and speed on the bases, I'm not sure (well... I'm pretty sure) it's worth it.
Unless you want JD in CF also, and bench Melky (and give us the worst fielding OF in MLB)?
I think our OF'ers gloves and legs will get plenty of exercise!!!!
From Petey to Bronx Banter (courtesy of AP):
“I respect the Yankees. I love the Yankees. But I would love to beat them as bad as I look forward to them,” said Martinez, who faced New York numerous times while pitching for the Boston Red Sox.
[10] Nice. Hey, if Bernie can throw out the first pitch why not our ol' buddy Karim... Actually, now that I think about it maybe Karim could throw out the first "punch" instead of the first pitch... ;-)
btw, speaking of Bernie's first pitch from the other night. I forgot where I heard it but someone had a great line about GOB's rainbow toss. The guy said something like "Looks like his arm has gotten a little stonger"... Ouch. I love Bernie and I miss seeing him out there with the guys, but I had to laugh at that one.
I think Sliced has it (I go between Sliced and Bread as short form!. Be glad I don't call you Challah!)
Double switch country to keep a pitcher alive for an inning. Risky as hell, but the guy has been a major league OF for a long time, can survive an inning or two out there.
I think.
[31] please don't hesitate to call me Challah.
[26] Marcy Kaptur? Dunno if she's a Tigers fan or an Indians fan. Speaking of which, if you hear a loud explosion in the first inning tomorrow night, don't worry, it's just the Indians' fans collective head exploding.
[31] Of course he can. And, unlike Johnny, he has the ability to get the ball back into the infield if/when he finally gets to it. Matsui might be slow, but having an arm better than a 7-year old girl puts him on par with Johnny "give me a multi-year deal" D.
[31] No!!!!
No, we can't survive an inning or two with him out there! I mean, sure, it's possible the ball won't be hit to him or if so, it's a mile-high fly ball, but man, the WS is *not* the time to fuck around on such reckless gambles!
[35] If, say, Jeff Karstens was still around, I'd be terrified of Matsui in the field.
But everyone in the bullpen is a high-K guy, and none of them are really scary fly ball guys, so I'm not sure it wouldn't work out for an inning. Especially if Mo was on the mound.
Don't worry - Girardi won't put Matsui in the field in a bad place. And if he does, he can always switch in Gardner, or even Hinske.
[32] It's a challavah nickname!
I actually don't freak out at Godzilla in the field for a double switch inning ... in fact all of this stuff (3 guys on 3 days rest maybe? starters relieving?) is part of what makes short series, post season wild. We talk about 'stick with what got you there' but in a short series it rarely actually plays out that way (unless there's a blowout). Add losing the DH and the team will have to look different.
[36] "Don’t worry – Girardi won’t put Matsui in the field in a bad place."
You'd better be right about that. Now that I have your assurance, it's your ass on the line if Things Go Bad, can you live with that?
[38] That depends - what do I get for being right? ;)
[39] Hopefully a championship?
Of course it would be a gamble to put Matsui in the OF. But we're talking about situations in which it would also be a gamble not to make the switch -- maybe you'd have to let the pitcher bat, or maybe you'd have to yank a Relief Pitcher who was cruising.
All good managing involves gambles.
[41] Don't try and trick me with sensible words.
These go to eleven.
Oh eleven!
Matsui Electronics: your home for high fidelity slugging.
:)
[31] But you never have to call him Johnson (or talk about his for that matter)...
[30] I ran into a guy once here in Omaha who was wearing a Yankees fan and looked a lot like Bernie Williams, so I told him as much. He said to me "oh no, not noodle arm!" You don't run into too many 'real' Yankee fans out here, so that remark cracked me up! I told him to ease off, Bernie was still one of the best!