"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Los Angeles Angels II: Do It Again

The Yankees hosted the Angels for three games last week, facing the same three pitchers that they will in this weekend’s three-game set against the Halos, and took two of three. Doing that again won’t be as easy. That’s because, after leaving the Bronx with a 3-7 record, the Angels flipped the switch, pealing off five wins against the Blue Jays and Tigers; because Jeff Mathis’s broken wrist has pushed Mike Napoli’s superior bat into the lineup; because Scott Kazmir, who pitches against Javy Vazquez on Sunday, shook off the rust against the Tigers in his last turn; because Joel Piñeiro was as dominant against the Tigers as he was against the Yankees; and because these games will take place in Anaheim, where the Yankees went 3-6 last year.

Tonight erratic stuff-misers A.J. Burnett and Ervin Santana face off. Burnett has gotten better in each of his starts in the early going and is coming off seven impressive shutout innings against Texas on Saturday. Santana lost his first two starts–one of which came in the Bronx and saw him give up five runs on five walks and eight hits (including solo homers by Nick Johnson and Derek Jeter)–but is coming off a sharp, 106-pitch complete game win against Toronto in which he walked none while allowing just one run on another solo homer (by Adam Lind). I’ll be impressed if either can manage a second straight dominant outing tonight.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2010 Record: 8-9 (.471)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 7-10 (.412)

Manager: Mike Scioscia
General Manager: Tony Reagins

Home Ballpark: Angel Stadium

Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-104, LH HR-94
RH Avg-102, RH HR-107

Who’s Replaced Whom:

  • Robb Quinlan (minors) has replaced Jeff Mathis (DL)
  • Reggie Willits (DL) has replaced Terry Evans (minors)
  • Scott Kazimir (DL) has replaced Bobby Cassevah (minors) by pushing Matt Palmer to the bullpen

25-man roster:

1B – Kendry Morales (S)
2B – Howie Kendrick (S)
SS – Erick Aybar (S)
3B – Brandon Wood (R)
C – Mike Napoli (R)
RF – Bobby Abreu (L)
CF – Torii Hunter (R)
LF – Juan Rivera (R)
DH – Hideki Matsui (L)

Bench:

S – Maicer Izturis (IF)
S – Reggie Willits (OF)
R – Robb Quinlan (4C)
R – Bobby Wilson (C)

Rotation:

R – Jered Weaver
L – Joe Saunders
R – Ervin Santana
R – Joel Piñeiro
L – Scott Kazmir

Bullpen:

L – Brian Fuentes
R – Scot Shields
R – Fernando Rodney
R – Kevin Jepsen
R – Jason Bulger
R – Brian Stokes
R – Matt Palmer

Lineup:

S – Erick Aybar (SS)
L – Bobby Abreu (RF)
R – Torii Hunter (CF)
L – Hideki Matsui (DH)
S – Kendry Morales (1B)
R – Juan Rivera (LF)
R – Howie Kendrick (2B)
R – Mike Napoli (C)
R – Brandon Wood (3B)

15-day DL:

C – Jeff Mathis (fractured wrist)
OF – Chris Pettit (labrum surgery)
RHP – Anthony Ortega (triceps tendonitis)

Categories:  Cliff Corcoran  Series Preview

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300 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 Sliced Bread   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:06 pm

Erratic Stuff-Misers: great name for a band!

2 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:19 pm

[1] Nice.A lot of the Angels sound like musicians names actually. How about "The Jeff Mathis Band"? "Mike Napoli and his Swingin' All-Stars"? "Kendry Morales y su Caballeros"? "The Hideki Matsui Experience"?

3 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:19 pm

[1] if they need a drummer, i'm very available for work! tonight is the first friday since september i don't have a gig... : (

4 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:23 pm

fat papi hit his first homer. a solo shot.

5 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:48 pm

[2] I like "The Jeff Mathis Band," though I'm sure I'd hate their music. I'm more into The Howie Kendrick Experience and Torii Hunter and the Colonists.

6 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:48 pm

[4] Watching it on tv here. Man, the Orioles are just terrible..what happened to all their supposed young talent?

7 RIYank   ~  Apr 23, 2010 8:53 pm

[6] Jones is still there. Very slow start, but I saw that kid at YS last year and he's ferreal.

8 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:13 pm

[6] I still believe, and I'll write about it on Tuesday.

9 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:17 pm

I just read this on LoHud. : )
No surprise, Alex Rodriguez’s run-in with Dallas Braden was again a topic of discussion this afternoon. “I have no problem with what Alex did,” Girardi said. CC Sabathia said it wouldn’t bother him if a player ran across the mound, and Mark Teixeira said he’s never heard of such an unwritten rule. “Once we heard his comments, we’ve been laughing about it ever since,” Teixeira said.

10 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:25 pm

[7] Jones just crushed a D.Bard fastball into the monster seats..great AB there.

11 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:29 pm

Howdy ..... I'm not gonna be commenting too much tonight, as I'm doing the recap for this game (my first time ... I hope its gentle with me).

12 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:30 pm

[10]

Of course, I had just benched Jones tonight from my $$$ roto team. :-)

13 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:35 pm

[11]

Of course, it WOULD be nice if the Yanks posted their game notes sometime BEFORE the start of tonight's game. They still have Wednesday's notes up. :-(

14 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:40 pm

OMG. braves just looked like the Muts at citi field.

reyes popped up. infield fly rule. chipper called off escobar and dropped the ball. runners on 1st & 2nd advanced (there were 2 outs, so they were running). no one was covering home and pagan scored. (3rd base coach was yelling for him to go)

i can't believe the teams here weren't reversed!

15 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:40 pm

[9] Nice to see the team stick up for Arod. Even Jeter did in his own way. Marc Craig of The Star Ledger tweeted the following from the Captain:

“It ain’t like he brought it from home.”

16 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:40 pm

[11] looking forward to your first recap, diane!

17 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:42 pm

[15] i was just about to post that! but the braves aping the muts got me sidetracked.

i like how Derek even used "ain't" - a word he normally doesn't use and i generally hate - for effect.

18 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:43 pm

it looks really windy in new york.

19 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 9:47 pm

[15] Now I LIKE that one from The Captain. ha. very nice.

20 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:03 pm

hey everyone. what's chill?

I'm working tonight, and therefore will be listening to sterling/waldman, and unless they've changed something, it'll be on about a 2 minute delay. Stupid mlb gameday audio.

21 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:03 pm

aw, it's good to see melky here w/ the braves! he's facing k-rod in queens. top 9, braves down 5-2 after committing 4 errors tonight...

melky's having a rough start away from his bff. but gets a nice single here!

22 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:06 pm

o's tie it up in the 8th!

rays trying to do the same in their game. scary team down 'ere in tampon...

23 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:07 pm

[22] f'n rays. they're the DEVIL!

24 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:09 pm

[23] well, the devil fishes did not tie it. still down by a run, headed to the 9th.

o's didn't take the lead, but they tied it up.

k-rod is struggling. all those damn warm up pitches...

25 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:11 pm

OH MAN!!! mclouth came *this* close to hitting a 3-run game tying homer. just foul. damn.

26 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:12 pm

i can't wait til May (for Tex)...

27 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:15 pm

That's a good start.

28 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:20 pm

Talk about a game of inches.

29 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:25 pm

Burnett or Cano have to cover there....the Yankees have been very sloppy over the last 10 innings.

30 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:36 pm

What's happening in Disney Land. I'm waiting for NHK to get the stupid Sawx vs. Horrible game off. The first set of our morning matinee in Tokyo.

31 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:38 pm

Man there have been two awful calls at 2nd base in Fenway tonight. Both going the Sawx way.

32 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:38 pm

Orioles may be the worst team I have ever seen. Bullpen walks 5 guys in the 7th & 8th, now Markakis gets thrown out by 2 miles trying to get into 2B after hitting one off the Monster..also 2 errors this game. Bad fielding, hitting, running, pitching and managing..gift win for the Red Sox as their bullpen sucked too and the O was nothing special.

33 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:39 pm

middle of the 2nd. 1-0 LAA. Arod got a hit and then stranded. 21 pitches a-piece for Burnett and ESantana (only Santana over 6 outs).

'at's about it...

34 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:39 pm

[32] He was safe, Dude

35 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:40 pm

[31] Yo Boat! Same here man, only can get on the Banter now & then as got Thomas the Tank Engine on a YouTube loop...

Papelbon stinks. Gave up a hit and a walk here in the 9th, but bet the O's won't take advantage.

36 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:40 pm

I Hate the Angels.

37 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:40 pm

[33] Thanks.

38 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:41 pm

c'mon AJ. Stop being a turd.

39 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:42 pm

[35] I'm all alone my friends, coffee and baseball. Will they please get that game on!

40 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:43 pm

Finally, Rogers Sports Net has decide to cut to their coverage of the Yankees-Angles game...at 10:42 pm. Wait, check that...we get some commercials first.

41 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:43 pm

[32] I had a Sunday package to Camden Yards in 2002. They stunk then. They've stunk for a good long time. Makes me happy.

42 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:44 pm

Pappelbon is walking Wigginton to pitch to Jones. GAH!

43 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:45 pm

Man, poor Jorgie. He's got nothing.

44 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:45 pm

Great managing by Trembley earlier, pinch ran for Wieters and now Julio Lugo batting in his place in the 9th with men on..they deserve to lose for that.

45 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:47 pm

Sorry, it's Lugo. That' makes sense. And he struck him out. Yankees, please.

46 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:47 pm

damn oreo's

47 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:47 pm

[44] Could you imagine having to root for a team like Baltimore 162 times?

48 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:48 pm

Lucky for me (sort of), laboring, inefficient, deliberate AJ is pitching tonight, so I only missed less than two innings.

49 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:49 pm

Has the entire Yankee team taken the criticism of Nick Johnson to heart? For the last 11+ innings, they have been a bunch of hackers.

50 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:50 pm

Look at Brett slapping that thing around.

51 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:51 pm

[49] Gotta be aggressive and go for hits...the OBP thing will work itself out. Flash says so.
.
.
.
Yay! Now Gardner's BA ≠ SLG.

52 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:51 pm

[47] Seriously, except for A.Jones' homer they were bad in every single area this game, it was painful to watch.

Ah, now we have real baseball on! Gardy with the two-bagger!

Yo Boatzilla, get in touch later!

53 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:52 pm

Jeter missed that cookie.

54 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:53 pm

[47] sigh... my sister and brother-in-law are die hard Os fans. It's... uhhh.. depressing. My OTHER brother-in-law is a Phillies fan, so I don't care about him. But with Cam, it's kinda sad...

GRITNER!

55 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:53 pm

But not that one!

56 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:53 pm

Nice hit, Derek.

57 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:53 pm

Jetes is only 1 2B behind Mattingly.

Donnie was the double king.

58 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:55 pm

Jeterian!

59 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:55 pm

[57] Yes he was.

60 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:55 pm

I have to admit...that was a pretty awful AB.

61 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:56 pm

Sigh. Anyone looking at Gameday? Were strike 2 and 3 actually strikes?

62 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:57 pm

On teevee, strike two was a strike, strike three was borderline.

63 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:57 pm

The Angels announcers are making fun of Nick Johnson's Stadium at-bat music. One guy just said, "Nothing gets you fired up for an at-bat like Miley Cyrus." And the other guy says, "Either that or It's Raining Men." Cracked me up.

64 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:57 pm

[62] Gameday agrees!

65 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:59 pm

Beautiful, Alex.
Beautiful.

66 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 10:59 pm

The Code Breaker strikes again!

67 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:00 pm

Ouch!!!

68 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:00 pm

I have to be consistent...I hate that play by Teixeira. Not necessary to kill the catcher like that.

69 bp1   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

[68] Agreed. Didn't even slide. Catcher wasn't even blocking the plate. Seems like a cheap shot to me.

70 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

Yikes. Just saw that. Wow.

71 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

That was sort of cheap shot by Teixeira on the catcher, who was not really blocking the plate. Teix was going for contact purposely.

I hate that fucking play.

72 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

Awful by Tex.

73 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

Wow.

74 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

[68]

cheap play by Tex .... blech

75 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:02 pm

[63] i played "it's raining men" for a high school performance!

alex! robbie!

76 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:03 pm

His slump must really be getting to him.
Or something.
Wow.
That really was unnecessary.

77 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:03 pm

The boys in the booth are not fans of Teix's slide.

78 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:04 pm

On the other hand. Fuck Scioscia.

79 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:05 pm

Tex never really been known as a dirty player..but that was ugly. Chin music coming to him later I think..

btw, "Frank Robinson was the greatest all-round player the game has ever seen" from Angels announcers earlier..did i miss part of that conversation? Frank was amazing but that seems excessive..

80 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:05 pm

Btw, that was a nice hit by Robbie.

81 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:05 pm

[68] I disagree. Split second decision. Solid hard-core baseball. It's horrible the guy got hurt, but you have to score.

82 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:05 pm

In defense of Tex, if Wilson fields the ball cleanly, he did have a chance to make the tag. Having said that, the slide was excessive...and even if Wilson was blocking plate, I still think it is wrong to crush the catcher. MLB really needs to change its thinking on this kind of play.

83 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:05 pm

interesting. of course, my entire perspective is via radidio. And Sterling/Waldman are blaming it all on the throw. No critisizm on Tex from them. AT ALL.

84 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:06 pm

[76] Getting again might not have made him happy either.

85 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:07 pm

[81] Specifics of the play aside, I think barreling into the catcher is ALWAYS a bad play. MLB tolerates it, despite it being illegal, but I;ll never accept it as a good baseball play.

86 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:07 pm

[81] Maybe split-second, but it sure looked to me like he was gunning for the C the entire play.

87 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:07 pm

[83] Never any criticism on the John Sterling show!

88 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:08 pm

[84] Getting *hit* again, I meant.

89 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:08 pm

That was kind of ucomfortable

90 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:08 pm

[85] You and I have always agreed on this point. Maybe the "kill the catcher play" has become "part of the game," but it shouldn't. it's not baseball and simply *should* not be tolerated.

91 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:10 pm

Maybe he should have jumped over him and broke his own neck. ;>)

92 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:10 pm

This has all the appearance of a five inning AJ start. The only question will be whether he can manage to keep the lead.

Maybe not a good idea to throw to 1B there, A-rod.

93 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:11 pm

Mark Teixieira was just drafted by the Jets in the third round. Rex Ryan is going to use him blitz packages.

94 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:11 pm

Dangerous plays at the plate are rarities. Far less than close double plays. Far more leg tangling and torn knee possibilties happen around 2b base than collisions at home plate. No reason to change any rules imo.

95 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:12 pm

[94] You're right. No need to change the rules---the play is already illegal They simply need to enforce the rules.

96 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:13 pm

Classic bad Godzilla. Thank you, Hideki.

97 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:13 pm

[94] A rule change isn't needed. The rule book currently forbids crashing into fielders who possess the ball. It also forbids blocking a base without the ball. Both rules are ignored at home plate.

98 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:14 pm

Cripes, AJ has nothing tonight.

99 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:14 pm

Shit and Bollocks.

100 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:14 pm

Posada wanted no part of that play at the plate. I for one am glad Cano's throw was off line.

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 OldYanksFan   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:14 pm

They are crushing AJ...

102 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:15 pm

When AJ is bad, he doesn't fool around.

103 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:15 pm

Angels announcers ripping Jorge Po for not even trying to make a tag or block the plate..I missed the play, are they right?

104 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:17 pm

this was easily predicted

105 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:17 pm

Paging Dr. Aceves..Dr. Aceves you're wanted at the pitching mound immediately...

106 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:17 pm

[103] It did look like Posada was more than happy to move up fro the throw.

I know it's not the case, but AJ seems to just quit when he doesn't have his stuff. Girardi really needs to give him a quick hook because he seldom recovers.

107 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:17 pm

[95, 97] I don't think enforcement is on the radar of any of the powers that be. I don't think I can blame them. They can't even speed up the game let alone enforce rules. Good work, AJ. bleh.

108 OldYanksFan   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:17 pm

The Angels look like the Yankees

109 thelarmis   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:18 pm

remember that game when moose gave up like 10 doubles? i think it at comerica. this is reminiscent.

110 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:18 pm

Has Eiland visited the mound yet?

111 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:19 pm

What is the point of not warming up the bullpen?

112 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:19 pm

[103] Darn. I had the Nihongo on. I think he made the right play. There's no way he had a chance to catch the ball cleanly and make a tag. I think the "expectation" of another collision could be clouding our judgment of the play.

113 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:22 pm

Grandy is scuffling a bit now.

114 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:23 pm

Kaboom.

115 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:23 pm

Nice job, Swish!

Yes!

116 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:23 pm

Swisher is the Road Warrior.

117 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:24 pm

So this is going to be a 10-8 affair, is that it?

118 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:25 pm

MotherFUCKER he is fast.

119 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:25 pm

[116] what's the deal with his splits? 90% ½ mental?

120 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:25 pm

Gardner is so damn fast, he really should bunt half the time.

121 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:25 pm

[119] No idea...its passing the fluke stage though.

122 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:26 pm

Welcome back, Grandpa. : )

123 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:26 pm

He swings! He swings!

124 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:26 pm

A hit!

125 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:27 pm

Welcome back, Private Pyle.

126 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:27 pm

Do they plunk Tex here?

127 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:28 pm

He's just not seeing the ball at all.

128 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:28 pm

How many more days until May?

129 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:28 pm

I'm really growing weary of this.

130 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:28 pm

I hope Eiland is sewing a new arm on ol' AJ right now...

131 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:31 pm

Please take AJ out...now.

132 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:31 pm

Oh, come *on!*
It was 0-2!
We can't afford this shit.

133 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:32 pm

Ah, so the Yankees' strategy is to kill all of the opposing catchers?

134 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:32 pm

[131] Agreed.

135 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:32 pm

I get the plan...leave the Angels without a catcher.

136 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:32 pm

Surely I am not the only one that hates seeing Scioscia giving "signals"?

G'nite AJ...

137 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:32 pm

I want to see Girardi vs. Scioscia on Fox sometime soon.

138 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:34 pm

That was a bad pitch.

139 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:35 pm

Do the statheads think Abreu is underated? His career seems pretty quiet.

140 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:36 pm

Good punchout.

141 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:36 pm

Nice job, AJ.

142 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:38 pm

Ole!

143 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:38 pm

Lucky > Good.

144 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:38 pm

Hot Damn. That's the good stuff.

145 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:39 pm

71 pitches through 4? c'mon... how about a coupla 1-2-3's AJ? Pleeeeeeeeease?

146 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:40 pm

Nice AJ. Good comeback inning. Let's see if he can stay cool and get the win.

147 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:40 pm

[139] Career 131 OPS+ and never higher than 12th in MVP voting. I'd say he is somewhat underrated. BTW, everything is quiet in my mother's basement.

148 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:41 pm

I really dig Ervin's pj bottoms.

149 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:43 pm

[147] Why should they have basements in Canada? I never hear about Canadien Hurricanes. : )

150 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:47 pm

[147] Where else would the puck loving sons live if their moms didn't have basements?

151 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:48 pm

If Aj can suck and get 15 outs I'll consider it a minor success.

152 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:49 pm

Come on AJ...stop moping around.

153 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:50 pm

[151] I'd call it a minor miracle. I have a feeling he's gone after he walks Matsui.

154 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:50 pm

I used to hate those groundballs to second base.

155 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:51 pm

OK, maybe I was a little too pessimistic.

156 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:52 pm

[154] When you used to watch Matsui hit them for the Yankees, when you used to watch Chuck Knoblauch play 2b, or when you used to play 2B?

157 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:52 pm

Nice.

158 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:53 pm

I'll never forget a game I pitched when I couldn't throw strikes. We lost to my home town team to a kid throwing knuckleballs. Bleh. Hey. Maybe AJ can get 18 outs.

159 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:56 pm

Nobody is safe tonight.

160 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:56 pm

Ooops, caught me daydreaming.

161 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:56 pm

Run, Curtis, Run!

162 monkeypants   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:58 pm

Do not bunt, Swish, do not bunt.

163 Just Fair   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:59 pm

Yankee Stadium needs some Pine Trees.

164 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 23, 2010 11:59 pm

[156] Yes...Yes...and I still do. Always love having the ball hit to me.

165 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:00 am

As I said, nobody is safe...

166 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:00 am

Boy, this game is being played in a warped dimension.

167 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:01 am

[163] Tear down that dumb bar and turn the space into Monument Garden...that's the only change I'd make at the new Stadium.

168 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:01 am

Poor. Very poor.

169 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:01 am

Why don't the Yankees teach Gardner how to bunt? Are they too busy?

170 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:01 am

How does a guy like Gardner fuck that up so wretchedly?

171 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:03 am

Fuck!

172 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:03 am

Son of a bitch.

173 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:03 am

Damn it.

174 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:03 am

Really, nobody is safe tonight.

175 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:04 am

probably the fastest guy on every team he played for since he was 7 years old and he never learned how to bunt?? That's a hell of an oversight...

176 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:04 am

NJ and Teix for the ribbie. Not looking too good right now.

177 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:06 am

I think it time for that double steal now

178 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:07 am

[175] Unless his little league coaches thought, "man, this kid sucks at bunting. Let's just forget it." Then it would make sense. Maybe.

179 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:08 am

At least fire the ball to the pitcher...the fake throw isn't going to fool anyone.

180 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:08 am

Oh...my...goodness.

181 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:08 am

Santana got screwed.

182 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:08 am

Whoa...that looked like strike three.

183 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:08 am

Holy fuck.
That was a strike.

184 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:09 am

[178] or, his hitting was probably so far above average that it wasn't ever necessary. But still.. that's what the rookie leagues are for, no?

185 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:09 am

Sigh.

186 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:10 am

Atta boy, Nick. Strike out looking AND ground meekly to second. Bollocks.

187 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:11 am

Damn it.
We really could have used that run.

188 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:12 am

[175][178] Presumably every kid "learned to bunt" in little league. More relevant is why he was not encouraged or compelled to hone the skill at a higher level of competition. He did have 11 SH in 94 games at AAA in 2008, so it's not like he has never been called on to bunt.

189 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:13 am

So, both starters are gone after this inning, no?

190 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:13 am

It is truly disheartening to hope that NJ can deliver a clutch hit at this stage of the game, and as feared, he doesn't deliver. It would have been nice if we scored one, because this will prolly be AJ's last inning. Maybe Grandy should have tried to steal home...

191 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:14 am

Flash makes a good point about AJ and Jorge. They're making it work

192 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:16 am

Never before have so many starters had so little and accomplished so much.

193 thelarmis   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:16 am

i dunno. i think AJ comes out for the 7th. that was a great, easy, fast inning and he's only at 90 pitches...

194 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:16 am

Close game, middle innings...not a save situation...not an eighth inning guy situation...not a long man situation...not a mop up situation. It's a Boone Logan situation!

195 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:18 am

Thank you, AJ. I'm sorry I said I wanted a new arm sewed on you. thankyoudrivethrough...

196 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:18 am

Jepsen is good...was hoping Sciosa would fool around with middle relief.

197 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:19 am

[188] I hear you. Some of his bunt attempts just look sad. But I guess lots of swings also look bad so It is bound to happen. Mickey Mantle had lots of bunt hits, right? Some guys made bunt hits their forte. But they've all had moment of wtf was that?

198 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:21 am

NJ and MT are a lethal combo...it's not amusing when the team doesn't win.

199 Just Fair   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:23 am

That's a nice play. F him.

200 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:28 am

I predict Gardy and NJ redemption.

Show/Hide Comments 201-300
201 OldYanksFan   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:31 am

Posada has also cooled down a bit. We really need for Teix and NJ to start hitting. On Bretts bunt.... I think he was over anxious. That pitch was way high and impossible to lay down. He never should have offered.

202 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:33 am

I hope Girardi has a quick hook this inning, and I am not normally a fan of the quick hook.

203 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:33 am

I guess he wasn't looking for the fastball.

204 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:38 am

And I bet Posada will be blamed for Burnett's start... Ridiculous.

205 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:38 am

[201] Lots of guys are cooling down...if NJ and Tex don't start hitting, this team will start losing. It might make sense to move NJ down in the lineup some until he figures things out. He isn't even walking now.

206 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:38 am

[204] Blamed? How about be given credit?

207 Evil Empire   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:40 am

evening folks, have I missed anything?

208 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:40 am

I'll go on record and say Ave was the right call here.

209 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:41 am

Not even close.

210 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:41 am

Jorge "Canon" Posada.

211 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:41 am

You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.

I hate that message!

212 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:41 am

[206] Come on, you know when the NY media gets a good meme, they can't let go... Burnett struggled, Posada caught him, therefore Posada can't handle Burnett and Cervelli or some other catcher who has the magical ability to prevent Burnett from pitching the way he normally does, can.

213 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:42 am

[212] I don't dispute that...my point was Burnett pitched pretty well with nothing, so if anything, Posada would be in line for credit.

214 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:43 am

Hitting the corner isn't "coming right at the batter"

215 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:43 am

[205] He isn’t even walking now.

He didn't walk tonight or last night. In the six previous games he walked 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1 times. It's a little early to say he's stopped walking.

That said, I agree that they should---for now--break up Teix and NJ. I would think about moving Cano and/or Granderson down in the lineup.

216 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:46 am

[215] I guess I'm thinking 1,1,0,0.

217 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:47 am

Lots of near misses havent gone the Yankees way tonight.

218 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:47 am

[216] Nope, you got that backwards. I listed the walks in reverse order from today.

219 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:51 am

Run, Gardy, Run!!

220 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:51 am

The Yankees are going to lead the league in backwards Ks.

221 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:51 am

[218] Then I'm not thinking at all.

222 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:52 am

Gardner has to learn how to go on the first pitch.

223 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:52 am

[222] Yep.

224 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:53 am

Is there anyway to keep track of how many times we run on the first pitch? It seems like almost never.

225 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:53 am

Do any base-stealers slide feet-first?

226 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:54 am

That was ball three

227 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:55 am

I'm gonna be irked if my first Banter recap turns out to be a 15-inning game ending at 3 am. :-P

228 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:55 am

[225] Can't think of any off the top of my head.

229 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:56 am

[227] I'm going to be irked if this turns into a Boone Logan/Sergio Mitre game.

230 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:57 am

Not optimal. Gardy tried, but my prediction [200] fell short.

231 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 12:59 am

So, let the bullpen roulette begin...

232 OldYanksFan   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:01 am

Nice play by Swisher!

233 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:01 am

I wish I could say I had confidence in Joba.

234 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:01 am

This game could come down to Willets' ability to bunt versus Gardner's inability.

235 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:02 am

[234] Scratch that...sorry.

236 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:02 am

Matsui=professional hitter

237 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:03 am

That wasn't a shocker.

238 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:03 am

[233] damn...

239 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:03 am

Good thing Girardi annointed Joba the 8th inning guy.

Made no sense to put Joba in this game right now...Morales kills him. Girardi and this bullpen could get dicey this year.

240 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:03 am

[225] Ichiro. And he actually has a very odd and dangerous (to him) slide, where he plants his leading foot, spikes in the ground, instead of keeping it up on his heel. It's amazing he hasn't broken an ankle yet.

241 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:04 am

[233] I also lack confidence in Girardi in this situation (and I am generally much more a fan of his than you are): he will start burning through relievers (Robertson for six pitches?).
.
.
Oops, Morales v. Joba makes my concern about Girardi "mute."

242 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:04 am

Well...that's special

243 Diane Firstman   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:04 am

Gack .... I'm a jinx ... :-(

244 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:05 am

[236] More properly:

Matsui = Professional Hitter™

245 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:05 am

Robertson threw well in the 7th, so going to Joba was formulaic nonsense.

I think the Yankees have to start to consider that Joba might not be that good.

246 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:06 am

So wait, Morales is now 5-7 against Joba? Girardi pulled Robertson after six pitches to go with that match-up?

247 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:06 am

WTF! Ruined my day and now it's cloudy out.

248 thelarmis   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:06 am

jesus christ.

249 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:06 am

[241] It didn't come into play tonight, but Chan Ho Park's injury could be disastrous if Joe gets to keep two lefties for any length of time, especially when one of them is horrendous.

I have no desire to return to the six reliever games of last year.

250 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:07 am

Remember when Joba had something?

251 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:07 am

[243] Look on the bright side...you won't need to stay up for 15 innings.

252 thelarmis   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:08 am

[247] my day was already ruined, so i was kinda expecting this.

253 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:08 am

[251] Brian Fuentes is still looming

254 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:09 am

Oh no

255 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:10 am

[246] Yes, because it's the 8th inning... Roles trump numbers.

256 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:10 am

[252] But soon my wife will be home to yell at me for not cleaning the house yet. Gad!

257 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:11 am

Joba keeps hitting that low and away slot to RH batters..

258 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:11 am

Missed it, Joba came in for D-Robertson? Why??

[253] Yes, still a chance!

259 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:12 am

This time last year, I'd be going nuts about Girardi and Joba, but after a World Championship and 11-4 start, why bother.

260 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:13 am

[255] I still get confused about that. In a tie game you can't use your closer because it's not a save situation, unless you're on the road and there can't be a save. But are you always supposed to use the eighth inning guy even when it's tied?

261 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:13 am

[251] The Angels announcers just said, "But you can never count the Yankees out." Well, NJ and Tex are leading off....

262 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:14 am

Three smoked outs to outfield. It could have been worse.
Time to counteract that friggen monkey.

263 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:14 am

[261] I smell redemption!

264 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:15 am

Did we just get Jeter Ass Cam for like 2 seconds?

265 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:15 am

[263] Check that, I smell pinch hitter.

266 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:15 am

[260] That is correct, and will be the case until the "hold" becomes a recognized stat.

267 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:15 am

[263] Not so much

268 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:16 am

It does seem odd to bench the guy with a .400+ OBP when you need a base runner.

269 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:16 am

Well that worked.

270 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:16 am

Whoa, Thames can't catch up to a sub 90's fastball?

271 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:16 am

[266] Right! I forgot that the H is not recognized and therefore cannot drive startegy to the same degree.

272 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:17 am

Now that was awful....way to get the job done Marcus.

No matter how much he is struggling, you can't hit Thames for NJ. That's a panic move pure and simple. Girardi still has figured out the close games.

273 Hank Waddles   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:17 am

I can taste the Angel bile starting to rise up in my throat.

274 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:18 am

Are the Yankees going to be completely stymied by Brian Fuentes and his 86 mph fastball?

275 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:18 am

[268] It makes perfect sense... Thames is a RH hitter who would be looking to swing the bat. NJ is a LH batter looking to get a walk. Swinging = good, walking = bad.

276 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:19 am

[273] Actually, this isn't a case of the Angels beating the Yankees, but the Yankees beating themselves all game.

277 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:19 am

[275] I have much to learn from you.

278 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:19 am

Anyone think NJ could have worked a walk of Fuentes?

279 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:19 am

[275] Well, if Thames could connect with a mid 80s fastball, swinging would be great.

280 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:20 am

3-1 swinging? Really?

281 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:21 am

Halos=Yankee Killers, tonight.

282 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:21 am

Well that was familiar.

283 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:21 am

The Yankees can't be very proud about how they played the last two games.

284 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:22 am

[279] I suppose so, but Fuentes usually is wild. So it's either Thames hitting a mediocre fastball, or Johnson walking because Fuentes can't find the zone.

285 OldYanksFan   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:22 am

Teix's slide had bad mojo.

286 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:25 am

No need to panic, but I wonder if the Yankees are considering a demotion for Joba, or finding some "injury" and placing him on the DL.

287 Hank Waddles   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:25 am

According to the Angels announcers, a "big statement victory!" On April 23rd. And now they're interviewing Kendry Morales, live to TV and the stadium, without benefit of a translator. An odd choice.

288 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:25 am

[265] Joba's slider had worse rotation.

289 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:26 am

What did Teix do in his last at bat, K? I missed it.

290 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:27 am

[286] I am ready for something drastic with Joba...he really is hit or miss. What Girardi was thinking when he installed him as the 8th inning guy is beyond me. If Girardi is married to his formulas, the bullpen will blow more games.

291 Hank Waddles   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:27 am

[289] F-9

292 Mattpat11   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:28 am

[286] I couldn't even guess who they'd call up. Maybe a third lefty so we can mix and match some more.

Or someone that comes in to walk a batter and go away. We seem to like them too.

293 Raf   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:29 am

[287] I guess it's expected, since it was their first meeting since the playoffs. As for Kendry, is he speaking english or spanish? The interview could be the spanish language station, or maybe the producers think that subtitles will show up like they do in the MLB 2K10 commercials.

294 Boatzilla   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:30 am

[291] At least he hit the ball. So he gets plunked tomorrow and we have fight. Something to look forward to.

295 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:32 am

Goodnight. Thanks to all who create this opportunity to hang with the die-hards.

296 monkeypants   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:32 am

[292] Presumably Melancon for a week or so, until Chan Ho Park returns.

297 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:38 am

How has Joba done the job all year?

298 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 24, 2010 1:57 am

I heard the radio calls -- 3 hits for 2 runs.. but did Joba look like he couldn't place his pitches well? Was he missing spots?

299 williamnyy23   ~  Apr 24, 2010 2:00 am

[298] Joba looked awful...missing spots and nothing on his pitches. I think the Yankees need to reconsider his role on this team.

300 NYYfan22   ~  Apr 24, 2010 2:09 am

Ugh. Dead Ball Joba. No es bueno.

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