I’m pretty jazzed up for this weekend’s interleague set between the Yankees and Dodgers. Not just because of the familiar faces in the opposing dugout (yes, Joe Torre, but also Don Mattingly, who has also never been part of the Yankees’ opposition before tonight and who never wore another team’s uniform before following Torre to L.A. for the 2008 season, and former undesirables Manny Ramirez and Jeff Weaver, whose presence helps stir the emotional pot), but because it’s Yankees-Dodgers. This matchup was the greatest World Series rivalry in baseball history. From 1947 to 1956, the Yankees and Dodgers met in the World Series six times in ten years, and from 1977 to 1981 they met three more times in a five-year span. Altogether, the Yankees and Dodgers have played 11 World Series against one another, the most of any paring in major league history, with the Yankees holding a 8-3 advantage in those Series.
Given that history, it’s shocking to me that this is just the second interleague meeting between the two teams and that they have yet to play an interleague game in the Bronx (which means the the final dozen years of Yankee Stadium’s existence passed without such a matchup). Since the Dodgers come-from-behind victory in the 1981 World Series, the Yankees and Dodgers have played just one series, a three-game set in Chavez Ravine in mid-June of 2004 that the Dodgers took two games to one. The winning pitchers in that series were Brad Halsey for the Yankees in the middle game and Weaver (who, in his first Dodgers stint immediately following the Kevin Brown trade, beat Javy Vazquez in his first stint with the Yankees) and the late Jose Lima for the Dodgers.
This year, Weaver is in the bullpen and Vazquez won’t pitch until the Yankees return home next week, but the matchup is even more compelling. Beyond that history and the familiar faces, this series pits the defending world champions against the team that lost the last two National League Championship Series. Say what you want about Joe Torre, but he has kept his postseason streak alive since leaving the Bronx.
I figured the Dodgers would make it 15 straight seasons for Torre before this season started, and though they got off to a slow start (13-17 and six games out of first place on May 8), they turned things around in a hurry with a nine-game winning streak, the start of a 23-7 run from May 9 to June 9 that put them a game ahead of the inexplicable Padres. They’ve only won three of their last 12 since then, however, and have fallen back to third place, three games behind San Diego. Included in that swoon has been a 1-5 performance against their local rivals in Anaheim and a three-game sweep at the hands of the surging Red Sox in Boston, where the return of Ramirez and old rival Torre added a similar charge of emotion.
The bad news for Yankee fans is that despite the Dodgers slide, Manny has been red-hot, hitting .421/.463/.711 with three homers in his last ten games (nine starts) and enters this game with a six-game hitting streak. The Dodgers are finally seeing some signs of life from Andre Ethier as well. Ethier was having an out-of-his-mind season before breaking a finger in batting practice in mid-May. He didn’t hit a lick upon returning on May 31, but has gone 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles in his last three games. The same goes for Matt Kemp, who slumped badly for most of June but went 4-for-13 with a double and a homer in those three games. The Dodgers also just got Rafael Furcal back in the lineup after he missed close to a week on bereavement leave.
The most favorable pitching matchup in this weekend’s series for the Yankees is tonight’s as CC Sabathia takes on Vicente Padilla. CC has been sharp in June, going 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA 28 strikeouts in 29 innings, a 3.11 K/BB and just two home runs allowed, both in his first start of the month. Padilla, meanwhile, has made just one start since April 22 due to a nerve irritation in his right forearm that shelved him for nearly two months. Padilla gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Fenway his last time out. In his last start against the Yankees, on June 2 of last year while he was still a Texas Ranger, he gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers
2010 Record: 39-33 (.542)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 36-36 (.500)
2009 Record: 95-67 (.586)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 99-63 (.611)
Manager: Joe Torre
General Manager: Ned Colletti
Home Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
Bill James Park Indexes (2009):
LH Avg-97, LH HR-111
RH Avg-96, RH HR-84
Who’s replacing whom:
- Blake DeWitt inherits Orlando Hudson’s playing time
- Garret Anderson replaces Jim Thome, Jamie Hoffmann (minors), Xavier Paul (minors), Doug Mientkiewicz, and many more
- Reed Johnson replaces Juan Pierre
- Ronnie Belliard inherits Mark Loretta’s playing time
- Jamey Carroll replaces Juan Castro
- A.J. Ellis is filling in for Brad Asmus (DL)
- John Ely replaces Randy Wolf
- Vicente Padilla replaces the starts of Eric Stults, John Garland, Eric Milton, and Jason Schmidt
- Charlie Haeger is filling in for Chad Billingsley (DL)
- George Sherrill takes over Guillermo Mota’s innings
- Hong-Chih Kuo takes over the innings of Brent Leach , Scott Elbert (both minors), and Will Ohman
- Justin Miller is filling in for Cory Wade (DL)
25-man roster:
1B – James Loney (L)
2B – Blake DeWitt (L)
SS – Rafael Furcal (S)
3B – Casey Blake (R)
C – Russell Martin (R)
RF – Andre Ethier (L)
CF – Matt Kemp (R)
LF – Manny Ramirez (R)
Bench:
L – Garret Anderson (OF)
R – Ronnie Belliard (IF)
R – Reed Johnson (OF)
R – Jamey Carroll (IF)
R – A.J. Ellis (C)
Rotation:
L – Clayton Kershaw
R- John Ely
R – Charlie Haeger
R – Vicente Padilla
R – Hiroki Kuroda
Bullpen:
R – Jonathan Broxton
R – Ronald Belisario
L – George Sherrill
R – Ramon Troncoso
L – Hong-Chih Kuo
R – Jeff Weaver
R – Justin Miller
15-man DL:
RHP – Chad Billingsley (groin)
RHP – Carlos Monasterios (blood blister on middle finger)
60-man DL:
RHP – Cory Wade (shoulder surgery rehab)
C – Brad Ausmus (pinched nerve in lower back)
Typical Lineup:
S – Rafael Furcal (SS)
R – Russell Martin (C)
L – Andre Ethier (RF)
R – Manny Ramirez (LF)
L – James Loney (1B)
R – Matt Kemp (CF)
R – Casey Blake (3B)
L – Blake DeWitt (2B)
I'm having hard time getting jazzed for the series. Mostly it's because I am a crank and i don't care for inter league play. But also, hughes is not starting. I know it's a good mob, but it takes a bit of the fun away for me. Also, the Joe Torre angle is already getting on my nerves.
That said, I am excited that I actually get to see tonights game the TeeVee up here in Canadia. And of course, any chance to hear Vin Scully...
The Mattingly thing is weird. Dodger Blue and all. Seems okay in general but to see him against the Yanks...odd.
I'm hoping that AJ gets his ass in gear and has a rebound start. Mostly, I hope the Yanks can take two of three...(and that A Rod hits 4 dingers in the process)
The most interesting part about facing Padilla is the last time out, he plunked Tex twice, nearly sparking a brawl. That incident started the ball rolling on Padilla's eventual release. Tex had some very strong words for Padilla after the game, so it will be interesting if Padilla should come up and in.
Edwin Jackson has a no-hitter against TB after 8.
The score is 1-0 D-Backs.
Jackson is at 134 pitches (only 70 strikes).
Do ya wreck this guys arm and let him go for it all?
Oh..... EJ has issued 7 BBs.
Ah, I see...for perplexing reasons, probably having to do with CanCon laws, the local TeeVee affiliate is going to cut to the yankees game already in progress at 10:30. So, it looks like I'll be tuning in on the radiophone to listen to the soothing sound of Vin Scully, at least for the first couple of innings.
Most pitches in 9-inning no-hitter (at least per B-R.COM): 138, Unit in 1990 and Koufax in 1962.
[4] Dunno if you can wreck Jackson's arm @ this point, he has been in the league for a while, bouncing around.
Most walks in 9-inning no-hitter: 9, A.J. Burnett in 2001
And....... a 149 pitch no-hiiter for EJ!
And the Rays keep reeling
Wow, he did it, he got the no-no!
Good for him. A night to remember, for Jackson.
What is it with the Rays? It's not like they're a bad team. But how many times have they been no-hit recently?
And 140 pitches? Ye gods.
Rays now in 3rd.
[13] Exactly 149 pitches.
[15] Well, if it's the last game he ever plays, what a way to go.
[16] Rangers pitchers are going to be required to throw at least 150 pitches every start next year. Nolan Ryan used to do that both ends of a double-header.
Hey, the game is already on TV. Yay. But I may need to leave the dodgers radio feed on.
Evening, banterers.
I feel pretty good about this series, though tomorrow's AJ game could be a stomach-churner.
Yanks need to take care of Padilla tonight, get back to playing crisp baseball.
[17] I think that would probably be okay, if you worked up to it. But Jackson hasn't. The most he's thrown this year is 123. He'd only gone over 115 twice. This is a big jump in his work load.
And he was throwing hard. Probably due to adrenalin. He was throwing harder at the end than at the beginning.
[18] except the radio feed is well behind the video. Hmm. Maybe I'll have to suffer with Kay.
What the fuck kind of curveball is that?
[3] yes, I thought that was Padilla. too interesting.
Dodgers have a lower payroll than the Twins??? wow.
This is not an auspicious start.
How about this ... Galarraga completed his "perfect game" on the 83rd pitch he threw. Jackson completed his no-hitter on the 79th STRIKE he threw.
You don't often see 8 walks in a no-hitter.
[27] "Child's play," says AJ Burnett.
Yankees have not gotten off to many fast starts of late. With Jeter and Tex not hitting much, that probably goes without saying.
Can someone look up the last pitcher to throw 149 pitches in a game?
D-Backs are going nowhere, so losing EJ doesn't kill.
How would you guys feel if Girardi let Andy throw 149?
[30]
Livan Hernandez, 150 pitches June 3, 2005
[30] The Unit on 7/31/2002. Must be a Dback thing.
[32] RJ was the last to throw exactly 149.
Posada's arm is a real liability.
Wow, that was...not a good throw.
Al Leiter threw 162!
(And ruined his arm, but hey, he says that's what made him the pitcher he was.)
Manny has destroyed CC in the past. Might be wise to pitch around him even in the first inning.
Seeing Manny makes me think one thing...man, I am glad the Red Sox were foolish enough to trade him.
Manny gives birth to a run ... those fertitlity drugs work!
Why can't this team justy come out and dominate a game when they have the mismatch?
[38] LOL.
Just Manny being tranny?
[37] If he'd been on the Yankees, would you have put up with the distractions, the dogging it on the bases, the 50-game suspension?
[41] Absolutely. Only the suspension would have been a concern, and that was completely unexpected.
Ok, that's better.
Youk goes deep in 1st, 3-0 Sox over Giants
Grrrrr
That is one crazy ass curveball. If I didn't know better, I would suspect that Padilla threw the GYROBALL.
The Yankees really need to pound Padilla here.
Nice eephus, even better RBI single
A couple of nice swings there. Well done, guys.
Jorge taketh away, bur he also giveth!
How many people do you think routinely participate in those text polls? They never release the numbers.
[46] It's an eephus pitch. Duque and Pascual Perez threw them on occasion
How is that crossing the plate in the strike zone? At some point, I hope they start hunting that pitch.
[53]
Be veeeeewwwwy qwiet ... we're hunting eephus .... hhheeeheeheehehee.
[52] sure, it looks like an ephus pitch. But you always have to be on the lookout for the GYROBALL.
Is michael Kay going to describe every player as "pesky"?
[56] About as often as John Flaherty uses the phrase "ball game."
[57] Well played!
I've got my choice of announcers, and I'm going with Scully. Anyone else?
I was just a bout to write about CC's nice,quick inning, until that pesky baehit and even peskier walk to the pitcher.
[59] I don't have a choice, but if I did, I would definitely go with Scully.
[59] Lucky you, I'm stuck with Flash and Kay
[59] I have Kay on the TV and Scully the radio, but the audio is about one and a half batters behind the video feed, so I gave up on Vin. It is tempting, though, to sacrifice TV for a little Scully.
The one good thing about living out of market and watching on my ps3. Man, I'd love to hear Scully day in and day out. He's spinning yarns about who umped for some no-hitter years ago and telling stories about CC almost playing basketball.
Nice swing by Jeter.
On June 21, 2008, Sabathia homered in Dodger Stadium, against CHP.
I'm getting the feeling the Yankees are close to cracking the code here.
[66] They just showed it on YES. It went about 500 feet.
Sox and Giants tied at 3 in bottom of 2nd.
Scully and Mulder are my favorite.
Scully puts so much work into his broadcasts. He studies up on the visiting team, often coming up with tidbits that are new even to the visiting team's fans. A lot of people would be coasting at this point in their careers, but not Scully.
[70]
:-)
Pregnant women shouldn't be running like that ...
Scully is amazing. For Granderson's AB, he led off by telling stats about his BA when ahead and behind in the count, then led into a story about where he grew up and his parents work as educators in the South Side of Chicago. Simply amazing.
[71] "Yes, but can he sing?" asks John Sterling.
Chris Carter did name Dana Scully after Vin, who is his favorite broadcaster.
[76]
and during the swansong years of The X Files, there was an Agent Doggett, named after Jerry Doggett, who called Dodger games from 56-87.
So this inning Jeter and Teix get on base, which is a nice change of pace lately, but they still can't score. Frustrating.
The Yankees inability to hit bad pitchers is very disconcerting.
Erin Andrews could learn a thing or two about sensible clothing from Kim.
So Sabathia's game plan is to work the Dodgers' worst hitters?
And now the riveting discussion between Kay and K. Jones, which is a nice thing ato fill in the dead time since there is no game on...
Maybe it's not too bad that I don't get the Yes feed too often.
[77] I'd forgotten that.
Vin Scully's voice was actually used in one episode. "The Unnatural" - the baseball episode, of course.
I also will never forget his call of the Gibson HR. I can listen to that over and over again.
[84] I actually like Buck's call of that HR better.
[80] Different crowd, I suppose
[82] You have no idea how lucky you are
#Rays are first team in ML history to be no-hit in 3 9-inn. games in 12-month period; Brooklyn was no-hit 3 times in 1906, 2 were 7 inn.
Nice work CC. Now, I've been away a good bit over the last month or two, so I haven't been able to make my in-game predictions. But I am pretty sure I hear the Score Truck pulling into the peaking lot outside of Chavez Ravine.
What's up gang? Still trying to convince my wife that if we had a daughter Mattingly would make a perfect name. : )
Here we go again with Padilla.
Now I know why Michael Kay idolizes Vin Scully. The "not-mentioning-a-no-hitter" thing is Kay's personal crusade.
Perhaps Kay should work a bit harder if he wants to be like Vin Scully
Giants up 4-3,top 4th
That's a fucking eephus pitch.
[92] Hahahah. Maybe a tad.
[89] Not that it helps, but I named my childhood dog, a Beagle, Mattingly. :)
[96]
Otherwise known as "Doggie Baseball"? :-)
Pathetic...I guess no one took Mariano's warning to heart.
[96] Better than Carlin naming his dog Stay. Come, Stay. : )
I don't know if I am getting the same commercials as everyone else, but Rogers sports Net has been tuning an ad for the All Star Game that highlights John Kruk goofing off and batting with his off hand against Randy Johnson. The tag line for the commercial is something like "always a great memory" or some such.
Now I find it interesting that MLB would approve this ad, given that it was this very goofiness and the related pressure on the managers to get all the players in that led to the infamous tie game, which so horrified the very same fans who giggled at John Kruk's antics and the like, which led to the institution of "this time it counts."
Finally, a nice quick inning. Now, where the hell is the score truck?
The Big Z stepped in it again.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5328972
[98] This game isn't as sloppy as Thursday's game, not even close
[103] er, Wednesday's game
[102[ Settle down, Zambrano. Oy!
It's the Old weekly update on What Might Have Been:
Damon: .273 .367 .400 .767 - 105 OPS+
Matsui: .259 .333 .418 .752 - 101 OPS+
Melky:: .266 .325 .339 .664 - 81 OPS+
AJax::: .302 .350 .407 .757 - 102 OPS+
Tabata: .236 .288 .345 .634 - 72 OPS+ (590 PA)
Moyer, Kendrick, Lopez, Padilla...what an embarassing litany.
FIGHT HIM!
Very interesting...hope this doesnt come back to haunt the Yankees.
It must be nice to be as big as CC in a situation like that.
There's no way that wasn't intentional. The throw over was priceless, just an added, "Fuck you."
[110] Padilla is probably crazy enough to go after him
I know CC's startegy...he is hoping Padilla will hit a Yankee to improve their chance of scoring a damn run.
[113] Kay and Flaherty didn't report it, but I'm pretty sure both benches were warned.
[112] Didn't seem so.
These at bats have really been putrid.
That's the Arod power stroke!
The best revenge of all.
[106] interesting. As the season has gone otiose numbers look more and more missable.
[109] I just got done commenting to my wife, who really wasn't listening, that I thought it was bullshit the old adage that in the NL the pitchers have to hit so they can't head hunt as much...I mean, who is going to hit the pitcher and put him on base to get to the leadoff man?
Than CC goes and proves me wrong.
Still, one would think that when the pitcher bats, it's the #8 hitter would be the one who takes the hit as paybacks for his pitcher's head hunting.
Yay ARod.
Big Time.
Well A-Rod doesn't suck.
Also, Cano continues to just flat out hit.
[119] "those numbers", not otiose numbers. Damn touch pad again!
[115] That's not a risk I'd take. Padilla still had the bat.
How come Manny isn't batting eighth tonight? ;)
o·ti·ose
/ˈoʊʃiˌoʊs, ˈoʊti-/ Show Spelled[oh-shee-ohs, oh-tee-]
1.
being at leisure; idle; indolent.
2.
ineffective or futile.
3.
superfluous or useless.
[126] yes, yes. See [123].
Posada doesn't appear to be limping, that's a good sign
g'night all ... need some sleep.
The Gas Face.
I listened to the first 3 innings with Vin Scully for a chance of pace...HOLY COW. I've heard him before, but he's fantastic. Take back all my Sterling love, Scully is the man.
Looked safe to me
Kill the umpire!
Take back all my Sterling love, Scully is the man.
That just might be the best setup for a punchline I've ever heard ...
Two hits from Jeter. Hope this means something
[134] Scratch that, this might be better ... "take back all my love of Pyrite ... Gold might be better ..."
Ya think?!?!??!?
Two runs against Padilla...incredible.
Hello All,
[131] you should hear Scully's live reads for Farmer John Dodger Dogs.
[137] Considering your opinions about the Yankees, why should this be incredible? You should be expecting it.
Kuroda seems like a guy we should hit.
[139] On the contrary...I expect a lot from them.
[141] What did Padilla seem like?
[142] I kind of expected this. I have a good feeling about Kuroda though
Wow...let's purchase tickets to the tune of $300 to get that Yankee Chip Clip! (apologies to those not watching Yes)
Nice to see Teix go up the middle.
Thatta way, Teix.
The hell?
MANNY BEING MANNY!!!!!!!!!
Manny being Manny.
Manny being Manny...
Oooops!
Just Manny being Manny!
Ouch.
I love me some Manny!
Actually, he did everything fine....he just dropped it.
Hm.
[148-150] Great minds think alike...
Wait, I stepped away for a second...what'd he do?
[149-150] Can't you be original?
[153] He dropped a pop fly? Yikes.
[156] Misplayed a Cano liner. Rattled around in his glove and popped out.
[153] That's what i was thinking
Some geico runs sure would be nice.
One of Manny's dreds smacked his arm, and forced the miss.
[153] If he dropped it, he didn't do everything fine, neh?
56,000 fans at Dodger Stadium, it looks like. Reminds me of when Yankee Stadium uses to get 56,000 fans.
Another wasted opportunity.
CC for the eighth...likey!
Setting up for Manny v. Mo.
[164] But 149,000 makes them so much more money. cack.
[168] Whoops. I was only off by 100,000. Bollocks! 49,000 I meant. Oy.
[164] Yankee management figured a smaller stadium would create demand for the obscenely high ticket prices, and for the regular Joes, they could watch YES increasing the ratings for more advertising revenue. Didn't figure on the economy tanking.
The entire tone of Kay's voice changes when he talks about hard throwers.
Does Scully do the radio as well? Same broadcast? if so, that's awesome.
[172} Normally, for the first three innings, Scully is simulcast on radio and tv.
[173] And then...?
[172] I think that I read that his TV call is simulcast on radio for the first three innings. I'm not sure who calls radio for the rest of the game. I figure that at his age, scully can't really do radio play by play door the whole game. TV is a little more forgiving for the announcer.
I might have pulled CC after the aeond out. Hopefully he escapes here...do we really want to see Joba v. Manny?
CC for Mayor.
Huge inning by CC.
[175] isn't it Charley Steiner?
The big man pulls it out. Now, maybe just maybe the score truck can make a late delivery and take the pressure of the ninth.
Rick Monday, and remember Charlie Steiner? They do the radio after the third.
[168] As things have turned out, the secondary market has also made tickets more affordable for the fans, so everyone seems to have made out fine.
[176] Farmaduke is due for another disaster outing. I don't want to see him in one run games until it comes.
[182] I've been to a dozen or so games since the ballpark opened, and I've never paid some outrageous price.
[182] everyone except the 7000 fans per game who are used from attended because the stadium is smaller...but that is a conversation for another day. Of course, it's my fault for noting how much the big crowd at dodger stadium reminded me of the last few years at old yankee stadium.
[184] I have never paid more in the new place for similar seats in the old one.
[185] what the fuck, how can the autocorrect change 'precluded' to 'used'?
[185] Germans? Pearl Harbor???
Can I Haz Mo Now???
Well here we go, 1-run lead, Mo into the game.
[187] Say it with me: iPad sucks ;)
Good thing CC showed up because the bats sure didn't. Hopefully Mo doesn't have a blip because the burden has really been placed on the pitchers.
Mo vs Manny
Oh no, Mo vs. ManRam, not liking that. At least no one on.
Hey, I bet Torre knows this Rivera guy by the book, "Now guys, be sure to look for a fastball, breaking in towards lefties..."
Show him whose boss, Mo.
Here's the best thing about Scully: he knows when to shut up. He just said, "And now lets watch" and was quiet for 20-30 seconds.
i hope MANNY v MO doesn't JACK one.
"Manny as always loved the ball out away from him"
Anyone remember that brief period where our strategy against Manny was to bring in Proctor to throw a letter high fastball middle-away?
Good try, Manny.
[199] There was never anything brief about the Scott Proctor era.
Sit down Manny. Thing of beauty.
I thought LA fans might show a little more intelligence, but as usual we get the "Yankees suck" chant...
never mind that the Dodgers had an absolute jerk pitching tonight, a petulant cheater in left, and a whiny manger.
High cheese.
[201] Well, eventually they stopped bringing him in to pitch to Manny.
That's two.
[202] You mean crib? ;)
[202] True, but could you really expect them to chant "Dodgers Suck"?
[204] I disagree, they *never* stopped bringing him into pitch. I thought there was call of converting him to a switch pitcher after his arm fell off.
[202] suck on this Dodger fans:
IN MO WE TRUST.
Damn
Good win. All Rise. Eat shit, Joe.
Whoa...some angry Dodgers there.
Wow, just...wow.
Strikes out the side! How many times did Joe get worse calls in his favor with Mo?
Has anyone ever seen Donnie that hot?
Wow.
meanwhile the Rays lost and the sox are 2 outs away...
And anyway, how 'bout that Mariano Rivera?
[215] as long as he's not in pinstripes, FUCK DONNIE
It's nice that papelbon hasn't had to have his ass kicked tonight
I really didn't think the pitch was that bad
[218] Never disrespect Donnie...NEVER.
Arod was really gloating in that interview.
hey guys. Wife and I are on vaca.. out of market, so I'm listening via internet. Looking forward to Sunday's ESPN broadcast.
Roll on Yanks. Roll on.
Ooooh, bonus coverage of the giants-sox...free baseball!
[221] I'm dissing him, William. He's a traitor and a turncoat. If he comes back I'll respect him then.
[221] You mean he never had disgraceful, pathetic at bats when he was a Yankee like the current world champion first place Yankees do?
The giants are determined to blow this one.
[220] it might have been frustration. The first two looked out of the zone, first up, then low and in. I'm not sure if they were strikes, but I can imagine that by strike three the bench was pretty riled up.
[226] Yes, that's mostly what he did from 1990-1995 except for a brief moment in the 1995 postseason.
What a game!
Wow, can't remember seeing Mattingly that mad in a long time.
CC and Mo were ill - CC's last pitch was awesome, and Mo was nasty, even if the last at bat had at least one call that was a little generous.
Can't stand Flaherty in the booth, but that's still no cause to celebrate getting a FOX game.
But Flaherty is such a milquetoast and tends to say a lot of things during the course of a game that drive me nuts. The world has moved on from batting average, John.
LA, LA - classic LA shitbag with the hat on backwards behind the plate - pretty sure the guy left before the last out (after standing during the first two).
One Dodger pitcher was uglier than the next. Bellisario - holy crap. No joke - if I ever faced that guy, there would be urine trickling down my leg.
I really resent the call at first, because it involved yet another fat, old white dude being lazy as hell and not getting in good position. Gee, Joey, after the stroll you did to get somewhere over there, we really appreciate the hat tip of making a ceremonial bend at the waist as though you were "right there."
Bugs the heck out of me. When I ump, I hustle my butt to be in the right position, and I am RIGHT THERE to make the call at first. You want to be much closer than Crawford got, and then you get down. I don't think I've missed a single call at first in six, seven years of umping.
And it seemed to me like he blew the call, but I'd like to see a better replay.
Great win, though, great start from CC. Gritty.
Wheels coming off by the Bay
[225] He’s a traitor and a turncoat
Huh? Because he took a job with another organization where he stood a better chance to manage in a few years?
[231] Yup, the sox have loaded the bases.
Yeah, I think Mattingly was sticking up for Loney there, and that was a night's worth of frustration. Also doing some barking for the skipper too. I don't know that I've EVER seen Donnie that hot. Ever. I could be wrong, but wow. Don't entirely blame them. The second two pitches were down but borderline, but when coupled with that first called strike, well, the ump was taking the bat out of Loney's hands. Good job of framing those pitches by Jorge.
Still, that's a nice, tidy, fuggin win.
If AJ can go out and pitch well tomorrow that would be freakin' great.
Giants are imploding in SF. Watching every other closer in baseball really makes you appreciate Mo even more...if that is even possible.
And fellas, you can diss Mattingly or anyone else on either team all you want, just realize that guy has special cred here with many fans. And whatever you do, keep your heads, and don't let this get nasty, huh? Team just won, after all.
[234] Good job of framing those pitches by Jorge
That statement just blew my mind. ; )
[235] Which frightens me when people have deemed the Farnsworths the heir apparents over the last five years.
Amazingly, SF closes out the Sox.
THREE game lead in the AL East!
Sox lose.
...but in the end the Sox Lose!
[238] As I've always said, Apres Mo, Le Deluge.
[226] That's exactly what I mean.
Sox lose!
[236] I gotcha Al. I like Donnie. I really. He was my favorite player in the 80's. Loved him. Poster on my wall, etc.
But, I pretty much don't like the guys who are against my team. Donnie complaining about a pitch from Mo is also a complaint against a popular player, as I see it. But really it just comes down to this -- I loved Donnie. I will love Donnie again when he comes back. But right now he's the enemy.
[225] Blasphemy.
Manny had one pitch--the 1-2 pitch--to hit from Mo and he fouled it off.
Sox lose, fuck yes!!!!!!
Oh, here's a slightly funny story - so I sent my friend who's reasonably high up in the Rays organization a congratulatory note when they beat the Sox in the ALCS headlined, "From the files of Fuck Yes!"
He loved it, and suggested that he was going to get some stationary printed up with that heading.
[234] He got very hot a couple times when he was criticized by George, but never on the field during a game.
On the other hand, kind of classic seeing Torre have to eat it with Mo getting those calls.
nice to see boston lose
249) Yup. The whole STEINBRENNER headband McMahon thing..
According to PitchFX, every called strike was correct.
Monkey I don't think Donnie's a traitor. He's just not on my team.
[249] I saw Donnie get tossed from a game once, and I think that only happened a couple of times. Imagine, I go to see favorite player, he gets called out on strikes then he gets tossed! Anyway, as recall, he didn't even get hot then...either ump overreacted or Donnie said something really nasty. Either way, he certainly didn't react with visible anger like this evening.
[243] Such pleasant memories, such unpleasant current realities. In your estimation, how are the current Yankees so bad, but have an off the charts winning percentage this late in the year? How did they win the World Series last year? You must be miserable watching these games. Maybe you should take a break?
[256] You keep trying to put words in my mouth, but they are the wrong ones. I think this team is SO GOOD that they shouldn't lose to pitchers like Lopez, Padilla and Kendrick, and shouldn't put on displays of bad baseball like we saw on Wednesday. If anything, I probably overrate this team, but I expect them to be a 100 win team. I am sorry you don't seem to share my high expectations.
Also to the contrary, I love watching these games. No break needed, but thanks for the suggestion.
[257] I never put words in your mouth...this is a written forum. But you have stated with regularity that the Yankees were disgraceful, pathetic, embarrassing, incompetent, terrible, etc. It's a game played by humans who cannot always be perfect, and the team is better than all others right now. They are headed for a 100 win year, based on the record so far, but nothing is a given. Enjoy yourself, and respect their achievements and don't be so disappointed when they fail. What can you do about it?
[257] What do Sidney Ponson (8-9, 5.27), Frankie Rodriguez (4-6, 6.56) and Jeff Juden (1-3, 6.75) have in common? They all won games against the 1998 Yankees (114-48).
A team will beat good pitchers, they'll lose to bad pitchers. It happens within the ebb and flow of a season.
[258] You're free to your opinion, but in mine, the Yankees performance over the last week or so has frequently been all of the things I mentioned. I am sorry if you are not comfortable with my criticisms, but I think we can each enjoy the team in our way. I hope that's ok with you?
[259] Sure, but the Yankees recent spate of bad losses have been bunched together and come amid some very questionable efforts. It's great that the team can still manage such a fine record in spite of their problems, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored.
[260] Again, a team will beat good pitchers, they’ll lose to bad pitchers. It happens within the ebb and flow of a season. They shouldn't lose to pitchers like Moyer, Lopez and Kendrick, but you fail to mention, that during that "recent spate of bad losses" they've beaten Santana, Pelfrey and Halliday.
[260] William, are you that down on a team that is currently the best team in baseball?