"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

2010 Cleveland Indians

There are four basic steps to rebuilding a ballclub. First, trade your marketable stars and veterans for prospects, retaining only the core, team-controlled players around which you plan to build. Second, evaluate your new assets to determine which will hit, which will miss, which might benefit from a position or role change or a particular mechanical or coaching fix, and identify what holes are likely to remain on your roster once those players have graduated to the majors. Third, once those players are established at the major league level, compliment them with one or two big free agent signings and perhaps another trade that target the remaining holes. Step four: win.

It’s not that easy (not that it sounds easy), but that’s the plan. The Indians are currently in Stage Two. Beginning with the trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Brewers in July 2008, Cleveland has traded CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Casey Blake, Franklin Gutierrez, Rafael Betancourt, Ryan Garko, Kelly Shoppach, Ben Francisco, and Mark DeRosa. That’s a pair of Cy Young award winners, more than half of their 2008 starting lineup, an ace set-up man, a productive back-up catcher, and their 2009 Opening Day third baseman.

That has left them with a core of center fielder Grady Sizemore, 27, middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, 24, (both, cruelly, on the disabled list at the moment with injuries that could keep them out for a significant portion of the season), right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, 27 and the team’s best hitter for the last two seasons, and right-handed starter Fausto Carmona, 26. Travis Hafner, Jhonny Peralta, and Jake Westbrook are still around, but Hafner is tied down by a bad contract, the market for Peralta dried up last year when he moved to third base and stopped hitting, and Westbrook was frozen in place by his June 2008 Tommy John surgery.

To that core, the Indians have added these young players and prospects via trade:

2B – Luis Valbuena (from Seattle for Gutierrez)
SS – Jason Donald (from Philadelphia for Lee)
C – Lou Marson (also for Lee)
C – Carlos Santana (from the Dodgers for Blake)
OF/1B – Matt LaPorta (from Milwaukee for Sabathia)
OF – Michael Brantley (also for Sabathia)
RHP – Mitch Talbot (from Tampa Bay for Shoppach)
RHP – Justin Masterson (from Boston for Martinez)
RHP – Chris Perez (from St. Louis for DeRosa)
RHP – Jess Todd (also for DeRosa)
RHP – Carlos Carrasco (also for Lee)
LHP – Scott Barnes (from San Francisco for Garko)
RHP – Nick Hagadone (also for Martinez)
RHP – Bryan Price (also for Martinez)
RHP – Rob Bryson (also for Sabathia)
RHP – Jason Knapp (also for Lee)
RHP – Connor Graham (from Colorado for Betancourt)
RHP – Joe Smith (from the Mets in the Gutierrez deal)
LHP – Zach Jackson (also for Sabathia)
RHP – Jon Meloan (also for Blake)

Valbuena, Marson, LaPorta, and Brantley were in the Indians Opening Day lineup at second, catcher, first, and left, respectively. Talbot and Masterson are in their rotation. Perez was their closer while Kerry Wood was on the disabled list. Donald is now their starting shortstop with Cabrera on the DL. Santana is expected to be called up in June to push Marson into a backup role. Of those 20 players, only relievers Jackson and Meloan are no longer with the organization (both were throw-ins that yielded no lasting value for the team).

Of the eight pitchers not mentioned in the previous paragraph, Jason Knapp, a big, hardthrowing righty from New Jersey, has the highest ceiling, but is among the furthest away from the majors as a 19-year-old who hasn’t pitched above the Sally League and has yet to return to action this year following minor offseason shoulder surgery. The top prospect overall from the 20 above is Santana, who could be the next Victor Martinez and is on the Stephen Strasburg plan, due for an early-June arrival. That is made all the more impressive by the fact that they got him from the Dodgers for Casey Blake, a player they picked off the trash heap in 2002.

For now, however, the Indians have the look of a team that’s been gutted, something the injuries to Sizemore and Cabrera have only exacerbated. The defensively-challenged Valbuena is beginning to look like a bust at the keystone and is losing starts to 40-year-old Mark Grudzielanek, who didn’t get a major league opportunity last year. That could open up the position for Donald, who is getting a look at shortstop in place of Cabrera but is probably better suited for second, though many think he’s ultimately just a utility man.

In the outfield, Brantley struggled and was optioned out when Russell Branyan came off the DL forcing LaPorta to left field, and LaPorta has since lost his job to Austin Kearns, who came to camp as a non-roster player. Behind the plate, Marson’s days are numbered with Santana on his way. In the rotation, Masterson, who was so valuable in a middle-relief/utility pitcher role for the Red Sox, is 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA. Mitch Talbot, acquired from the Rays for Shoppach, is 6-3 with a 3.73, but he has walked as many men as he’s struck out.

The net result is that the 2010 Indians are a terrible team. They’re scoring fewer than four runs per game and allowing nearly five, and their overall record is better than only those of the Orioles and Astros. Cleveland has won just four series all year, one against the Orioles, one against the Royals and, curiously, two against the White Sox (both of those coming in April).

Fausto Carmona, who faces Phil Hughes tonight, has been the Tribe’s best pitcher this season, finally gaining control over the wildness that plagued him the last two years. Not that he’s suddenly become a control pitcher. He’s still walking 3.6 men per nine innings against just 4.7 strikeouts. He’s also getting fewer ground balls, though a lot of those “flies” are actually infield pop-ups. Still, better is better, and that’s big considering Carmona is one of the few players the Indians decided to keep.

The Yankees decided to keep Phil Hughes, and it has payed of both this year and last, though Hughes will look to pull out of a tiny two-start slump while facing the punchless Tribe tonight. The Yankees also opted to keep Kevin Russo with Curtis Granderson coming off the DL tonight, so Randy Winn has been designated for assignment  having hit .213/.300/.295 as a Yankee and 0-for-11 with four strikeouts and no walks against left-handed pitchers.

Granderson bats second tonight, Russo rides pine, Brett Gardner moves back to left field, Alex Rodriguez gets a day off, and Chad Moeller makes his first start since returning to the team producing a bottom five of Nick Swisher, Juan Miranda (DH), Gardner, Ramiro Peña, and Moeller. So much for putting some punch back in the lineup.

Cleveland Indians

2010 Record: 17-28 (.378)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 18-27 (.400)

2009 Record: 65-97 (.401)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 73-89 (.451)

Manager: Manny Acta
General Manager: Mark Shapiro

Home Ballpark: Jacobs Progressive Field

Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-100, LH HR-91
RH Avg-95, RH HR-96

Who’s Replacing Whom:

  • Russell Branyan replaces Ryan Garko and Mark DeRosa
  • Jason Donald replaces Asdrubal Cabrera (DL)
  • Trevor Crowe is filling in for Grady Sizemore (DL)
  • Austin Kearns replaces Ben Francisco and Michael Brantley (minors)
  • Lou Marson replaces Victor Martinez
  • Mike Redmond replaces Kelly Shoppach
  • Mark Grudzielanek replaces Jamey Carroll
  • Shelley Duncan is filling in for Andy Marte (DL)
  • Jake Westbrook (DL) replaces Cliff Lee and some of Aaron Laffey’s starts
  • Justin Masterson inherits Carl Pavano’s starts
  • Mitch Talbot replaces Jeremy Sowers and Anthony Reyes (DL)
  • Fausto Carmona reclaims Carlos Carrasco’s starts
  • Chris Perez inherits Rafael Betancourt’s innings
  • Hector Ambriz replaces Jensen Lewis
  • Jamey Wright replaces Tomo Ohka

1B – Russell Branyan (L)
2B – Luis Valbuena (R)
SS – Jason Donald (R)
3B – Jhonny Peralta (R)
C – Lou Marson (R)
RF – Shin-Soo Choo (L)
CF – Trevor Crowe (S)
LF – Austin Kearns (R)
DH – Travis Hafner (L)

Bench:

L – Mark Grudzielanek (2B)
R – Matt LaPorta (OF/1B)
R – Shelley Duncan (OF/1B)
R – Mike Redmond (C)

Rotation:

R – Jake Westbrook
R – Fausto Carmona
L – David Huff
R – Justin Masterson
R – Mitch Talbot

Bullpen:

R – Kerry Wood
R – Chris Perez
L – Tony Sipp
L – Rafael Perez
L – Aaron Laffey
R – Jamey Wright
R – Hector Ambriz

15-day DL:

CF – Grady Sizemore (bone bruise in left knee)
3B – Andy Marte (“non-baseball medical issue”)

60-day DL:

SS – Asdrubal Cabrera (broken left arm)
RHP – Anthony Reyes (Tommy John surgery)

Typical Lineup:

S – Trevor Crowe (CF)
L – Shin-Soo Choo (RF)
L – Travis Hafner (DH)
R – Austin Kearns (LF)
L – Russell Branyan (1B)
R – Jhonny Peralta (3B)
R – Luis Valbuena (2B)
R – Lou Marson (C)
R – Jason Donald (SS)

Categories:  Cliff Corcoran  Series Preview

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246 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 vockins   ~  May 28, 2010 5:37 pm

I think Justin Masterson broke SIERA and QERA. Broke them dead.

2 knuckles   ~  May 28, 2010 5:38 pm

Are Jackson and Meloan any relation to Jackson Melian?

3 ny2ca2dc   ~  May 28, 2010 5:40 pm

This is at least the second time Pena is starting at not-SS in place of Russo. Annoying.

4 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 5:58 pm

Cliff thanks for this tremendous analysis. I look forward to an easy series for the Yankees (fingers crossed). I hope Granderson is the fuse we expected.

5 Iyasu   ~  May 28, 2010 5:59 pm

[0]
Thanks for this gem of a write-up.

So much for the possibility of Shin-Soo Choo being granted military service exemption for winning with the Indians...I wonder if being named an All-Star would be considered worthy?

6 Cliff Corcoran   ~  May 28, 2010 6:17 pm

[3] Excellent point.

8 Cliff Corcoran   ~  May 28, 2010 6:51 pm

[7] Encouragingly intelligent approach to Hughes' workload, and an interesting note about the Wang/5th starter problems last year negatively impacting their ability to be similarly smart with Joba. So the question then becomes, could Vazquez create a similar problem re: Hughes.

9 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 6:54 pm

[7] I'm happy to hear that they're thinking and talking about it.

Shouldn't the rules, if any, be called "Phil Rules"? Sounds better than "Hughes Rules" anyway.

10 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:02 pm

Ah, Grandy's back! Fabulous!
Please hit now, Curtis. (Soon, anyway.)

11 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:03 pm

Oooh, Phil's pitching! Yaay! (I thought it was CC.)

12 Mattpat11   ~  May 28, 2010 7:03 pm

[8] I just don't trust them.

13 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:10 pm

How 'bout that slider.

14 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:11 pm

Nice.

15 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:11 pm

[13] Yeah, I wonder if that might become his strikeout pitch.

16 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:13 pm

That's two little Indians.

17 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:17 pm

Well, that was fun.

Where are the rest of my Banterers, though?

18 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:18 pm

'Aight Jetes, get it going!

19 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 7:19 pm

Hafner averaged a 165 OPS+ over 3 years, and then around 110 the next 3 years. I know he was injured, but is steroid withdrawal part of the problem?

20 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:21 pm

Wow, 24 games? It's been that long?

21 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:23 pm

God, Teix i's so off-balance.

22 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:23 pm

Carmona looks as good as I remembered. I thought he'd been struggling.

23 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:26 pm

HUUUUUUUUGHES!!!

24 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:27 pm

[22] Not this year ...

25 Mattpat11   ~  May 28, 2010 7:28 pm

I was at the game when he hit the restaurant

26 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:28 pm

Haaahhhh!!

Damn!

27 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:28 pm

HUUUUUGHES!!!

28 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:29 pm

Holy fuck.

29 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:29 pm

Good job, Phil.

30 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:30 pm

Oh, too bad!
I mean, there was no way he'd strike everyone out, but it was a good daydream.

31 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:34 pm

How the hell did he beat that out?

32 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:34 pm

He didn't, that's how.

33 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:34 pm

Phew. Nice to see them blow a call in our favor for once ...

34 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:34 pm

[30] :)

35 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:35 pm

Fuckin' A!!

Clobbered that motherfucker!

36 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:35 pm

Nick The Stick ... with the BIG STICK!!!!

37 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:36 pm

So, there ya go.
We needed someone to step up, esp. with A-Rod out of the order.

38 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 7:36 pm

Look at that batspeed!

So savage.

39 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:36 pm

[36] Really good to see that Nick has conquered the bad NYS juju that he suffered from last year ...

40 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:39 pm

Oh goody, the Ramiro Pena Experience ...

41 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 7:41 pm

Why wasn't Gardner stealing there?

I mean if having Gardner on 1st with the Ramiro Pena Experience and Chad "Fuzzy" Moeller due up *isn't* the time to put some sort of play on, then when the fuck is?

42 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 7:48 pm

Ohhhhhhhh.

43 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 7:50 pm

Hello All,
Hughes Do's!
Swish has dialed it up this year, and this game so far feels like it should.
For those watching Yes, didn't Jeter look like someone's kid brother on that tape of his first hit?

44 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 8:00 pm

SHIFT THAT!

45 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 8:01 pm

The Grandyman looked like he was going at about 80% on that one ...

46 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:01 pm

That's right, walk Robbie. The Stick awaits.

47 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:03 pm

Damn.
Good pitch.

48 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:04 pm

[9] "hughes rules" sounds MUCH better. it's all about the rhyme!

[3] great point. i'd like to see russo in the infield, where he's more comfy...

49 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:06 pm

[48] No, that sounds worse. It doesn't rhyme. The vowel isn't even the same. What do drummers know from rhyme, anyway? If I have a question about rhythm, I'll ask.

50 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:06 pm

It turns out that most of my injuries are also "non baseball medical issues."

51 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:07 pm

What the hell happened there??

52 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:09 pm

Lost his command.
Come back, command, and immediately please.

53 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:10 pm

[49] i'm a poet. and i know it. hope you don't blow it.

54 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:10 pm

Whassup, Gang? Shut 'em down, Phil!

55 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:11 pm

[51] how the hell should i know, i can't see the game. i'm guessing, he lost his...rhythm!

56 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:12 pm

[55] I'll take your word for it. Rhythm you know.

FUCK.
Dammit. Yeah, he can't hit his spots now. Dammit.

57 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:12 pm

[53] I'm a writer a poet a genius I know it
I don't buy cheeba I grow it
Courtesy of the Beastie Boys. Hope you've heard of them. : )

58 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:16 pm

[57] of course, i've heard of them! even got the gatefold vinyl of 'licensed to ill' the day it came out! : )

cheeba though, that's a different story. never been stoned before. that stuff sickens me...

[56] in all seriousness, i am a writer/poet/lyricist and take it very very seriously. i study it like drums...

59 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:16 pm

Better.
Okay.

Now let's see if Fausto's deal with the devil extends to the fourth inning.

60 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:16 pm

Good ol' Uncle Charlie. aka The Buckler.

61 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:17 pm

That's probably my favorite strike out pitch right there...

Oh, you think it's a curveball, so it's going to land in the dirt? Oh, but I have a surprise for you... yerrrr out!

62 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:17 pm

professional hitter just gave the shit sox a 3-run lead again...

6 k's for hughes (ruze)

63 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:17 pm

[58] Hm. Well, okay. (So how come you thought "Hughes" and "rules" rhyme, then? It's not some weird southern drawl you've picked up, is it? I mean, you still talk New Yawk, right?)

64 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:19 pm

evening folks!

65 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

[62] Wakey is giving them back, though.

66 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

Holy fuck!!
FUCK!!!

67 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

[63] Poetic License. I was trying to teach that to my students just this week. They could not quite wrap thier heads around that one.
Nice catch.

68 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

sizemoresque!

69 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

Jesus Christ, that was miraculous.

70 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:21 pm

Evening, Diane.
Did you see the first couple of innings?

71 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:22 pm

Miranda was all like "Double!"

But then he ate Crowe,

72 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:23 pm

[67] Their. D'oh. Super bugaboo.

73 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:23 pm

Royals have scored two, and have the bases loaded, all with nobody out.

74 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:24 pm

[70]

I heard that Hughes was dominant, and Swish hit a dinger ... that's about it

75 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:25 pm

[74] Yep, that should do it.
Phil struck out the first five Indians.
Then in the fourth, not so good. Let's see what happens now.

76 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:25 pm

[63] is it NOT an exact rhyme. but it's close. lyrical.

i definitely DON'T have any southern drawl, but i don't have my thick NY accent anymore. i purposefully got rid of it after about 3 years in Pennsylvania. it still comes out pretty regularly and there are certain words that always sound VERY new york, coming out of my mouth. but i just sound...american.

77 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:26 pm

[73] this makes me happy. jose guillen popping out to 2nd, does not....

78 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:26 pm

Did we observe a moment of silence for the 47 game NYY career of Randy Winn?

79 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 8:27 pm

KC ties the game on a 2 out, bases loaded, wild pitch.

80 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:28 pm

I wanna call Trevor Crowe ... Trevor Rabin .... maybe because he's on YES right now?

81 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:29 pm

[79] I thought Wake was going to get out of it.

82 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:29 pm

Easy peasy. Look how you can conserve pitches when you're not being fascist.

83 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:30 pm

Holy shit. Yuniesky salami!!!! Monster seats.

84 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 8:31 pm

GRAND SLAM AT FENWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KC up 9-5!
(As the Sox deploy the pitching/defense first game)

85 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:32 pm

Thelamis, have you ever tried Yuniesky salami? I've heard it's made with turkey.

86 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 8:32 pm

[83] Fucking people from Rhode Island!
:-)

87 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:33 pm

[84] [83] Too slow, my friend. But the home run call from Remdog was pretty damned quiet, huh?

88 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 8:33 pm

[85] No......... Chicken! (with apple chunks)

89 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:34 pm

[80] nice!

[83] nicer!

[85] in that case, i'd try it...

[btw, trevor rabin, is a fellow tribe member. i believe of south african descent]

90 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:34 pm

Ummm ... isn't it supposed to POUR tomorrow?

91 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:36 pm

[88] well, i do like apple sauce! : )

92 Raf   ~  May 28, 2010 8:36 pm

[71] Props on that entry :)

93 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:37 pm

Trevor Crowe .... Trevor Rabin .... Russell Crowe ... Russell Branyan ...

(yes, I'm tired)

94 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 8:40 pm

Grandyman!

95 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 8:43 pm

Way to use the ballpark, Phil!

96 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:43 pm

Hughes is back in control.

97 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 8:43 pm

Had it all the way. Good inning.

98 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 8:44 pm

hi team.

curtis looked pretty good tracking that ball down.

99 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:44 pm

89 pitches thru 6.

now, some offense please!!!

100 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:45 pm

I'm gonna watch basketball for a while. Someone let me know if Mephistopheles shows up to escort Fausto out.

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:47 pm

If Fausto Carmona pitched to Angel Pagan . . .

102 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:47 pm

that's a (pretty) good start.

103 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:47 pm

[101] fausto carmona, sounds like a boxer from brooklyn.

104 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 8:51 pm

please take advantage of this situation here boys.

105 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:51 pm

All right, time to read them your rights, Juan!

106 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:51 pm

c'mon juan miranda.

you have the right to hit a grand slam!!!

107 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 8:52 pm

Look ... its Carmona Miranda!

108 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 8:52 pm

looking through the lohud posted, it looks like swisher homered at 7:36pm - i predicted this morning the score truck would show up at 7:42pm - that is pretty damn close if i do say so myself.

109 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 8:53 pm

wow that was a mile off the plate.

110 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 8:54 pm

very nice.

at least 3 of those pitches were in the box on gamecast. what gives?

anyway, go-go gritner. clear them bases!

111 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 8:54 pm

Carmona has this weird arm action where it whips back from the follow through until it's back all the way over his head. Very strange; it's kind of bothering me.

112 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:55 pm

Hey!
I told you guys to let me know if Mephistopheles showed up. One favor, that's all I asked.

(Dwight Howard is taking over the game. He just caught a ball off the top of the backboard and slammed it.)

113 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 8:57 pm

[112] it is tough trying to keep an eye on both games.

114 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 8:58 pm

[110] All game the pitch inside to righties has been called a strike, and the outside edge called a ball. That is, the strike zone is shifted a few inches to the catcher's left.

115 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:00 pm

That's okay Ramiro, you get a lollypop for trying ...

116 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:01 pm

[114] thanks.

that was some ab for el nino.

that's prolly it for fausto.

i do wish we scored more than 2 w/ bases loaded, no outs. but i'll take it...

117 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:02 pm

[115] He may have cost Carmona an inning.

118 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:03 pm

[116] Me too, but after all it was Pena and Moeller.

119 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:06 pm

Not a good basketball game. It's badly officiated, and the play is very sloppy. Howard was eye-popping for a while. Damn, Rondo is good, great pass on the fast break. But in general not playoff caliber.

120 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:06 pm

Strong like bull, Mr. Branyan is ...

121 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:06 pm

well that pitch was not in a very good spot at all

122 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:07 pm

Ugh. Very bad pitch. Damn.

123 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:09 pm

hey everyone.

just got home in time to see branyan's HR. should I turn off the TV and go back out?

124 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:11 pm

[123] Nah, it looks like Phil will survive your arrival.
Arrival survival.

125 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:11 pm

[124] whew.. that's one bear I don't want gettin fangry at me.

126 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:12 pm

Girls like length from their starting pitchers .... :-)

127 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:12 pm

[124] everyone's a poet.

128 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:15 pm

Star that one.

129 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:15 pm

[127] I've always preferred the feminine.

Attaboy! Thanks, Phil, see you next week.

130 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 9:15 pm

As I've said.... if Teix can fall on it, he will catch it.

131 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 9:15 pm

Another Yankee call at first. It's nice to be home.

132 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:16 pm

33. cult of basebaal
May 28th, 2010 at 7:34 pm

Phew. Nice to see them blow a call in our favor for once twice …

133 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:16 pm

great game phil!

let's hope for good joba/mo

134 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:18 pm

oh, lohud says robertson is warming up...

135 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:19 pm

If Sipp pitches to Swish, then all we would need is for someone to spit, and we'd have a dentist's office in the ballpark.

136 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:20 pm

[135] Paging Dr. Scott Levy!

137 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:22 pm

I thought this pitcher might be a rookie, but it seems that his cup of coffee was more than just a sipp.

138 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:22 pm

I'd hate to be sitting next to Weeping right now.

139 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:22 pm

[137]

(wiping spit off my keyboard) :-)

well-played, Mauer

140 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:23 pm

Excellent.

This is why we don't want Girardi putting in plays.

141 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:24 pm

[140] huh?

142 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:25 pm

c'mon Teix, swing at STRIKES dammit!

143 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:26 pm

[141] He wanted Granderson to bunt, right? And that would have been worse than a double, right?
There's no doubt in my mind that at least 75% of the time Girardi puts a play in, it's worse than if he'd just done nothing. That's why I don't get upset when he does nothing.

144 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:26 pm

did I miss some news today? I've been away from my internet-box. What's all this spit news?

145 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:26 pm

That's a mistake by Jeter.

146 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:26 pm

[143] Kay seemed to think that Granderson was doing the bunting on his own.

147 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

welcome back, curtis.

decent job, tex.

bases loaded, no outs...again.

i want more than 2 runs!!!

148 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

That's a beauty. Hot Damn!

149 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

[143] Looked like Grandy was bunting for a hit there, which likely meant it was his call, not Girardi's.

RIPPER!!!

150 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

fuck yeah! that's some SWEEEEEEET hittin!

151 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

Lazy Cano just refuses to run the bases hard!

152 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

Aww, now I'll have to watch Boone Logan pitch instead of JobaMo. Darn!

153 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

WOW! That thing got out of here in a hurry!

154 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

Now THERE'S the Score Truck!!!

hooooooo! hooooooooo!

155 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

[152] Hey, long time!

156 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:28 pm

Also, it seems this Sipp has sailed.

157 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:29 pm

Robbie Salami!

158 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:29 pm

ROBBIE!!!!!!

159 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:29 pm

[152] uhhhhh... boone logan still on the 25-man?

160 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:29 pm

[152] No, Boone is long gone, mehmattsiki.

161 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 9:29 pm

Here's to you Robinson!

162 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 9:30 pm

Sipp sapped swish, asshole.

163 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:30 pm

[157] doesn't rhyme. : p

but, you're learning. you're getting your poets permit.

164 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:30 pm

[161] Montero loves him more than he will know.

165 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:30 pm

[152] Even better, you'll likely get to sample the MeatTray ...

166 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:30 pm

[152] nope. i think he was optioned to scranton...

167 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:31 pm

[159] Nope. But, it's been a long time [155]. (hi weeping!)

168 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:31 pm

ya gotta love swish wiping the gnat off his arm while trotting down to 1B. hehe

169 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:31 pm

[165] neh. i would think he'll be saved for long relief...

170 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:31 pm

[163] True. But, assonance. That's real poetry, Dr. Seuss.

171 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:32 pm

kc has reached double digits!

172 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:32 pm

You know, in my baseball video games, hitting the man after giving up a home run is an automatic ejection.

173 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:33 pm

[170] assonance - then you shouldn't have commented about "hughes rules" before.

174 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:34 pm

damn. celtics up big. : (

175 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:35 pm

Man, Miranda's had a really good night tonite, but is going to come away with 2 fewer hits than he should have gotten ...

176 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:36 pm

[173] Dude, you said it rhymed. I had to call you on that. If you were a bassoonist, I would have let you slide.
I mean, if you were a trombonist, I would have let it slide. Now that is poetry.

177 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 9:36 pm

i agree riyank - this was not a well played basketball game - bos/orl bring out the worse in each other i think.
oh lord and now mk is spouting off about lebron.

178 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:37 pm

[177]

How soon before we see a CenterStage: LeBron James

179 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:38 pm

That hit was like a $1 steak. After someone dropped it in the street.

180 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 9:38 pm

[178] probably soon.
i swear i saw an ad for centerstage with mike tyson.

181 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:40 pm

[179] Mmmmmm. Steak.

182 kenboyer made me cry   ~  May 28, 2010 9:41 pm

[178] Kay can only wish. A lot has to happen first.

183 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:42 pm

wow, krazy kyle threw/through 2 scoreless innings at the fens.

[176] yeah, in an assonance type of way. i didn't say "exact" rhyme. i thought it was obvious. similar...

184 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:42 pm

before our boy robbie hit a 4-ribbie throbbie, I saw "spit" in more than one post.
Now I couldn't keep up with the news and the scuff, so I axe youse again: whole wheat toast?

185 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:43 pm

[181] Perhaps served on a Tray?

186 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:44 pm

[184]

see comment 135 ...

187 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:45 pm

[183] I was just being a dick. You know me.

[184] It was Diane's idea.

188 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:46 pm

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Unlucky One. I just don't know why? Dimentia, maybe.

189 Raf   ~  May 28, 2010 9:47 pm

[180] It's true, there was a centerstage with Mike Tyson

190 cult of basebaal   ~  May 28, 2010 9:47 pm

[169] Told ya!

=)

191 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 9:48 pm

i somehow feel like i shouldn't be scoreboard watching in may - but gotta like what is happening as of now tonight.

192 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:48 pm

huh, i guess it was orgies timer.

193 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:48 pm

[185] A silver platter, baby.

194 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 9:49 pm

[188] really? the unlucky one? huh?

[189] that must have been an interesting one.

195 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:49 pm

[190] you be right!

[191] never too early. shaping up to be a good baseball night!

i'll enjoy sipping my suds later : )

196 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:49 pm

[191] 3 1/2 and 7 1/2 would be an improvement on life.

197 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 9:50 pm

[196] indeed.

198 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:51 pm

Chad Moeller only gets doubles when it doesn't matter. So unclutch.

199 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:52 pm

I'm not really concerned about the Sox catching up, but I do enjoy it when they get pounded by a crappy team. Okajima's turn to be embarrassed now.

200 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:53 pm

[198] Speaking of which, it's pretty cool to score a pile of runs with A-Rod getting a rest and Chad Moeller catching.

Show/Hide Comments 201-246
201 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 9:55 pm

There has been very little talk here on how well Miranda has been hitting. Not his BA per se, but he puts good wood on the ball almost every AB. Is he just trade bait, or is there room on this team for him?

202 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 9:55 pm

oh man, bases loaded, nobody out...AGAIN!

i want double digit score truckin'!

203 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:55 pm

If the Yankees could play in the Central, they'd win 129 games.

204 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 9:56 pm

[203]

... by the all-star break ...

205 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 9:58 pm

mk just said "fordham" like 14 times. that's a lot of shots.

206 Just Fair   ~  May 28, 2010 9:58 pm

Fucking horrible.

207 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 9:59 pm

[201] With our starting DH on the Nick Johnson Memorial 60-Day Disabled List, I'd say Miranda has a chance to stick in the Bronx for a while.

208 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 9:59 pm

Teix just doesn't seem to know how to go the other way.

209 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 9:59 pm

[201] I wouldn't mind having him as a bench bat. Maybe even DH against righties sometimes.

210 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:01 pm

bollocks, tex.

snap out of it, man...

211 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:05 pm

Wow, I'd better start drinking, the game's almost over!

212 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:06 pm

It's over in Fenway.

213 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 10:07 pm

Would anyone think KC was capable of a game line of: 12 20 0 ??
Only at Fenway I guess.
P.S. KC leads MLB in BA.

214 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:08 pm

Oops, no, only the 8th inning is over!

215 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 10:10 pm

[212]

No its not ... Bill Hall is on the mound for the Sox though...

216 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 10:11 pm

[215] diane i think [211] and [212] may be correlated :}

217 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:12 pm

[216] Cheers!

218 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:13 pm

Take that, typo.

219 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:13 pm

pepto pitching.

220 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:14 pm

[211] i just finished playing thru my new composition on marimba. it's almost drinkin' time here! : )

clink

221 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 10:14 pm

[217] no doubt :}

looks like the c's are going to close this thing out tonight.

222 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 10:14 pm

Butch Davis... BOOO.

223 Diane Firstman   ~  May 28, 2010 10:15 pm

Hall goes a perfect 1-2-3, 3 groundouts.

224 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:15 pm

[213] 20 hits? that's teh awesome!

225 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:15 pm

Nicely done, Mr. Park.

I wonder if Chan Ho is related to Fenway. Think about it. They both small, both very friendly to hitters.

226 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 10:15 pm

nice win team - good starting pitching, big scoretrucking, the pen was fine - i'd say a fine way to start this home stand and the memorial day weekend.

227 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 10:16 pm

[225] they both have diarrhea. lots of diarrhea.

228 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:16 pm

[215] and he pitched a perfect inning in only 11 pitches. damn!

yankees win!!!

celtics up hugh. : /

229 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:17 pm

[221] Yeah.
Thelarmis, tell Atlanta we are sorry that their son Dwight couldn't pull it off.

230 ms october   ~  May 28, 2010 10:17 pm

jack curry looks a tad out of place doing on the field interviews.

231 seamus   ~  May 28, 2010 10:17 pm

8-2! How's it going peeps? what joyous evening has thus been brought upon us!

232 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:18 pm

[227] Yes! Dirty water, very dirty.
[228] You mean Hughes. You know. Rhymes with stool.

233 OldYanksFan   ~  May 28, 2010 10:19 pm

Wow... a great Win and Bill Maher to come. Great night!

234 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:19 pm

[229] yeah, it's a shame. hopefully kobe kan shut down the celts.

i'm watching the braves...

235 NYYfan22   ~  May 28, 2010 10:20 pm

what should I watch on netflix instant stream?

236 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:20 pm

[231] Could hardly be better, seamus. Phil was on -- couple of mistakes but mainly brilliant. And with A-Rod resting and Chad catching, the Score Truck still managed to barrel around the bases.

237 RIYank   ~  May 28, 2010 10:21 pm

Well, that's the bottom of the bourbon. Just clinking ice cubes now.
See youse tomorrow, day game. Good bullpen, good pitching match up, so let's keep things rolling.

238 seamus   ~  May 28, 2010 10:22 pm

[236] that's so awesome! I love me some Hughes! Definitely impressive to dominate like that. And Cano with the grand slam? that's awesome! I was just admiring his pic over on lohud.

239 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:22 pm

miguel cabrera hit 3 homers tonight, in a losing effort...

240 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:23 pm

[238] yeah, that pic is awesome!

i'll be in philthy in a month. too bad it's the complete opposite side of the state from you. plus, i'll be busy over a quick wedding weekend there...

241 mehmattski   ~  May 28, 2010 10:24 pm

[235] Been watching Ken Burns' National Parks series myself. (There's also the Civil War and WWII series).

Alternatively, some Mystery Science Theater 3000 always brightens up the night.

242 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:28 pm

muts & brew crew knotted at knuthin' in beerland. gallardo/santana pitchers duel.

speaking of beer...

243 seamus   ~  May 28, 2010 10:30 pm

[240] oh crap, when are you in state college? You said you'd be there at some point right??? still a bit of a drive but closer than Philly. Though I love Philly more than you can know.

244 seamus   ~  May 28, 2010 10:32 pm

YANKEES FRACK YEAH!!

245 thelarmis   ~  May 28, 2010 10:33 pm

[243] i won't be in state college, unfortunately. hopefully, next summer.

i'm not a big philly fan. but this'll be suburbs w/ old friends for a joyous occasion, so it's all good...

246 seamus   ~  May 28, 2010 10:35 pm

[245] Ah, but Philly rocks! Not the sports teams. They suck. But the city really does rock. And the music scene is beyond awesome. I really loved my time there. Plus I still have friends there and always a place to crash.

But holy bummer! no state college? oh well. Next time I guess.

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