"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Hughes Got It

 

Mr. Hughes goes for the Bomb Squad tonight.

Flip it, kid.

Chad Jennings has the line-up:

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada C
Marcus Thames DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Ramiro Pena 3B

Let’s Go Yan-Kees!

206 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 5:54 pm

Let's send August out in style, boys.

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHES!

2 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 6:00 pm

From Nick Cafardo over at Pete Abe's new place: Sox trade Manny Delcarmen to the Rox for a prospect.

Balcom-Miller, 21, is 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA with 117 strikeouts and 19 walks in 108 innings for the Rockies Single A Asheville affiliate.

In 2009 Balcom-Miller was named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 4-0 record with a 1.58 ERA in 57 innings.

Projected as a future middle-of-the-rotation starter, he was rated the 16th-best prospect in the Rockies organization by Baseball America entering the season.

3 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 6:03 pm

Oops, I mixed up two Extra Bases articles. The one about the Delcarmen trade is by Chad Finn.

4 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:04 pm

Uh-oh...Kay, Flash AND Tino: the C-team.

5 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:12 pm

[4] I hope you don't inflate your students' grades so easily. ; )

6 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:13 pm

[4] No kidding.

Tino is as useful as "tits on a bull".

7 Alex Belth   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:13 pm

Poor Tino just does not have the voice to be on the air. He just sounds like a goof ball.

8 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:15 pm

This just makes it un-fun to watch Hughes. Seven, eight, nine pitch at-bats. ARGH.

9 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:15 pm

[7] Well, on a team that manages to employ *both* Sterling AND Waldman, Tino's voice really isn't the insurmountable obstacle to his usefulness ...

10 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:16 pm

Is this the plan ( Hughes Rules) to keep Phil under his innings limit: have Him throw as many pitches as possible and nibble, nibble, nibble?

11 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:17 pm

That helps.

12 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:19 pm

[7] Yeah. I just didn't want to be the one to say it.

13 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:19 pm

That foils your plan, monkeypants.

I wouldn't describe what he was doing as 'nibbling'. My bet is that he knows he's close to striking guys out -- they keep fouling off pitches. He wants them to chase one for strike three.

But, what do I know?

14 Diane Firstman   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:22 pm

Greetings from section 233A... It's a bit moist out here ... Schvitz city

15 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:23 pm

Hey Diane!
I really, really wish I could join you. Just too damn far.

16 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:23 pm

Yay, Bergen County reference. That's where I was born.

17 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:23 pm

Now there's a novel idea.

18 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:24 pm

[13] Yeah, I'm not sure "nibbling" is the right description, either.

He's not exactly trying to get them to chase a pitch, or make the perfect pitch, he's going after batters, but he's not getting the swings and misses.

Which, of course, means that Hughes should probably mixing things up more (and using that mythical "change-up" that we heard so much about during the beginning of the year and have seen so little of during).

19 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:25 pm

The only catcher with worse caught stealing rate than Suzuki...

20 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:25 pm

DOUBLE.

STEAL.

21 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:25 pm

On cue...

22 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:25 pm

[20] From my hands to Coffee Joe's brain!

23 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:25 pm

Steal & double steal. Love it.

24 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:27 pm

I'm calling SLASHER into the LC gap.

Cash 'em ALL in!

25 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:27 pm

[20] Sunova...

26 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:27 pm

Okay, that makes three bases stolen this inning, every one of them wasted by a free pass to the man behind the stealer(s).

27 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:28 pm

[18] It definitely does start with the fact that he isn't getting swing-and-misses. He gets two strikes, then foul, foul, ball, foul...
A good change would make him murderous. Maybe in April.

28 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:28 pm

26) it's like reverse base clogging...or something...

29 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:29 pm

[28] It could be a kind of cosmic wake that Brett leaves behind him when he breaks lightspeed.

30 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:32 pm

Well, at least Robbie is getting some of those pitches back for Hughes ...

31 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:32 pm

Ugh,

FUCK.

GODDAMMIT.

sigh.

32 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:32 pm

Good at bat, and yet oddly suboptimal.

33 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:32 pm

Rats.

34 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:33 pm

Good pitching.

35 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:34 pm

Hellz yeah.

36 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:34 pm

slightly better.

37 Diane Firstman   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:35 pm

Ron Dibble would have a field day with the four middle age gals behind me. Talking nonstop ... 5% of it about the game

38 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:35 pm

slightly better.

and *slightly* better than that!

=)

39 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:35 pm

Po with a triple!

40 Alex Belth   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:35 pm

That is fucking hilarious. Congrats, Jorge.

41 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:36 pm

Now let's cap this off with a rally killer. Whoops, a triple is almost as good.

Wait...Posada...triple?!?!?!

42 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:36 pm

You NEVER make the 3rd out at 3rd base,
Posada is an idiot!

43 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:36 pm

"Uh oh, I don't *have* another gear!"

Nice call, Flaherty!

44 seamus   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:36 pm

[39] what? 2 stolen bases this year. and that's his second triple isn't it? somethings wrong!

45 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:37 pm

He must be one of the worst baserunners in history.

46 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:37 pm

[42] Well, he *was* running the bases ... REDUNDANCY alert!!!

47 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:37 pm

Now, in all seriousness, could the scorer have given the thirdbasemen an error on that? Or is there some sort of can't assume the out on a throw from the OF guideline?

48 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:38 pm

[45] He used to be. But this is 2010.

You do have a calendar, right?

49 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:39 pm

42, 46) actually, given how slow Posada is, I thiink it may have been a good gamble to force the play at third rather than stop at second and hope to score from there on a base hit.

50 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:42 pm

Ah, back on track with the plan, I see.

51 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:42 pm

TIno's got a great voice for silent movies. (terrible, I know)

52 The Hawk   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:43 pm

Jorge's base-running instincts continue to impress

53 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:43 pm

Look, Phil, ball-in-play is good. See? Remember how you got out of the first inning?

54 The Hawk   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:44 pm

He's not nibbling like he used to but Hughes's starts of late have become almost as unwatchable as last year.

55 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:45 pm

17 balls, 17 strikes.

56 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:45 pm

[51] And Michael Kay has a great face for radio.

57 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:46 pm

Well there's something you don't see every day.

58 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:46 pm

Now that's something you don't see every day.

59 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:47 pm

[57] Great minds.

60 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:47 pm

58) especially given that Po' wasn't the runner!

61 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:47 pm

TIno’s got a great voice for silent movies. (terrible, I know)

As I always say about Waldman, some people have a face made for radio ... she has a voice made for semaphore ...

62 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:48 pm

I wonder if Hughes is trying to hit corners or if he just doesn't have great command. I'd like to see him really challenge this lineup instead of using so many pitches, but maybe that's what he is trying to do?

63 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:49 pm

[57] [58] Well, neither of us gets out much.

[61] I love Suzyn's voice.

Okay, I don't. But I used to, and I still like it if I only listen once a week or so.

64 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:50 pm

[62] I thought the first, but at this point it's certainly at least partly a lack of command. I mean, they haven't hit the ball very hard, we have a three run lead, etc. He knows he's supposed to attack the zone.

65 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:51 pm

[63] Waldman does have a "good voice", but not for singing, not being John Sterling's sidekick.

66 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:51 pm

[65] I know. But, there's something about her accent. It's unique.

67 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:52 pm

63) i was reading an o-l-d game thread from years back, and a bunch of us were debating the relative merits of the Yankees announcers. I was surprised to see that you were, then, big defenders or Sterling and Waldman...I had forgotten that. So, have you changed your mind? Or do you just not listen all that often to the radio broadcast?

68 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:52 pm

I wonder why Hughes has completely shelved the changeup...it seems like such an obvious addition to his arsenal.

69 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:54 pm

[56] At least MK is self-deprecating. : )

70 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:55 pm

[69] But MK has lots to be self-deprecating about.

71 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:56 pm

[69] Somebody needs to pick on him, and it might as well be he.

72 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:56 pm

[67] Mmm, well, I haven't exactly changed my mind. I just got tired of them. And it's true, I don't listen much anymore -- a couple of years ago I didn't have access to the games on television (and they weren't on the internet yet).

73 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:57 pm

Love the high stirrups!

74 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:57 pm

Beckett's pitching pretty well, but the O's are starting to drive him nuts. Brian Roberts singled on the tenth pitch of his AB to lead off, and now he's taken second on a WP.

75 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:57 pm

I'm beginning to appreciate these boring routine A's game. Helps sleeping at night.

76 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:58 pm

[74] I guess someone is about to get hit.

77 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:59 pm

[61] I learn something new each day at the Banter. Had to look that one up.

78 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:59 pm

[68] Has he shelved it though?

I don't think he's ever really gone to it, which is the point that it seems people (like even Tino tonite) keep making, After the BIG deal the Yankees made about how it factored in to his getting the 5th starter's job after spring training, he's really never established it at all this season.

It would be interesting to look at the pitch f/x data and see what the numbers are over this season.

79 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:59 pm

72) got it. For me, i never liked them and only got more tired of them...such that I now pay to here other teams' broadcasts on the interwebs! Of course, I will listen to Sterling/Waldman over the ChiSox broadcast.

80 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 7:59 pm

Roberts goes to 3rd on a groundout, but now Ty Wigs grounds out to a drawn in Scutaro and Roberts stays put.
2-0 pitch to Luke Scott...

81 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:00 pm

Scott walks. Adam Jones up with runners in the corners, two out.

82 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:01 pm

[78] Right, he hasn't really thrown it much ( 2.4% of all pitches). By shelved, I meant coming out of spring training.

83 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:03 pm

Phil "5th Century" Hughes. Throw fucking strikes. Bollocks!

84 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:03 pm

Hughes has really become an enigma. Seems like the Yankees have alot of those.

85 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:04 pm

Nibbling or poor command, this is startin' to git aggravatin'.

86 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:04 pm

I'm now watching the Sox, but looks like the Yankee game has reached the point of excruciation.

87 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:05 pm

[75] Hughes' strikes are as reclusive as Howard tonight

88 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:05 pm

[82] Are there pitch f/x numbers for the spring?

I always thought the whole "now! he's got a change-up!!!" line was bullshit. A simple excuse to explain that the Yankees were doing what they'd always intended to do, barring a complete meltdown by Hughes.

I don't remember back that far, so I can't say, though ...

89 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:07 pm

[88] Not that I know of...the system is actually a complicated setup, so I doubt they would have been installed in the ST ballparks.

You might be right though...maybe he wasn't throwing it in the Spring either.

90 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:08 pm

Adam Jones hits a slow roller to Marco Scutaro. Scutaro scoots up and Marcos the ball past Lowell. Two runs score.

91 The Hawk   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:09 pm

The Hughes Change-up was not so much about why Hughes was in and more about why Joba was out, by inference. They needed something to explain why all the bending over backwards to set Joba loose as a starter in 2010 was for naught.

92 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:10 pm

Jeter's struggles have gotten to the point where even the YES crew can't help but harp on it.

93 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:13 pm

Just looking over the pitches for the evening. Hughes isn't missing by much. But he's missing often. So, it has to be nibbling. If he had no control he'd miss by more sometimes, and he'd be leaving pitches over the middle more often too.

94 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:14 pm

Also, Brian Matusz is dominating the Sox batters.

95 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:14 pm

Please stop talking about football.

96 The Hawk   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:15 pm

[93] It's not like it used to be. He's missing but the annoying part is the constant foul balls. Even in games when he isn't missing it's been like that lately.

97 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:15 pm

92) well, they talked about it. i'm not sure they harped on it. Now, they ARE still harping on about football.

98 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:17 pm

[97] They've talked about it in every AB over the last three games, whereas previously they seemed to ignore it.

99 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:18 pm

I love two out rally killers.

100 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:18 pm

Why the hell would the Rangers want Jeff Francoeur?

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:18 pm

As I have said ALL year, there is only ONE "The Stick" ... and it AIN'T Nick.

102 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:18 pm

[96] I know, I was saying that earlier. (The long ABs because of so many fouls.)

103 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:18 pm

I figure at this point, Jeter is losing about $200,000 per AB.
And Swisher has just turned into a fantastic Yankee.

104 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:19 pm

[103] Wait, Swish did that just now? Cool. Circle the date! On your calendar.

105 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:20 pm

[100] Shorter games?

106 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:20 pm

100) Proven Veteran (tm)? Professional Hitter (tm)?

107 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:21 pm

[105] Part of the plan to keep Cliff Lee?

108 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:22 pm

[100] etc. Superb vowel distribution?

109 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:22 pm

104) It's clear, I think, that Gardner's speed has caused some sort of rupture in space-time. So I'm not sure that any of us can be sure just which calendar we are looking at.

110 The Hawk   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:24 pm

[102] I'm just clarifying where my annoyance comes from lately, as opposed to last year.

111 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:24 pm

[109] True. If you want to know the date, you really have to consult an atlas now. To tell what time it is, check Google Maps.

112 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:24 pm

So this is why he is nibbling.

113 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:24 pm

2-run homer for Jed Lowrie.

114 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:25 pm

Somewhere along the line Phil Hughes stopped being a fun pitcher to watch

115 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:26 pm

[113] If a good thing has come from all of Boston's injuries, it's that they rediscovered Lowrie, who has actually been as good as Pedroia.

116 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:27 pm

Wild pitch my ass.

117 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:28 pm

Tampa winning too?

Will no one rid us of these meddlesome Rays?

118 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:28 pm

How come Tampa can figure out a way to beat Toronto?

119 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:29 pm

[103] Honestly, how can they give Jeter more than a year at this point? It makes me sick to think about it, but how can they?

120 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:29 pm

This is mindnumbingly boring

121 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:29 pm

Come on Hughes.

122 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:30 pm

Can Ivan Nova start game two?

123 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:32 pm

Wow, thank you Crisp ... that *was* Ball 4.

124 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:32 pm

Has someone been allowing AJ Burnett to talk to Hughes?

125 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:32 pm

Hughes' last two starts have been so laborious that I wonder if the lack of command isn't a result of fatigue impaired mechanics. I hope not, because that's where the risk of injury would come from.

126 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:33 pm

119) because he's still still, surprisingly, one of the best hitting SS in the AL and they have no other options for the forseeable future. Unless you relish 150 games of Peña at SS.

127 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:34 pm

125) My guess is that he is hitting a bit of a wall, and the league is probably catching up to him a bit. I doubt he comes out for the fifth inning, certainly not the sixth.

128 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:36 pm

GRANDYMAN!!!

FUCK YOU KEVIN LONG!

129 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:36 pm

That's my boy. Good on ya, Curtis!

130 rbj   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:36 pm

Curtis getting back on track?

131 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:38 pm

It's so different watching games played in these newer parks with smaller foul territory and safety fences in front of the dugouts. I swear I have seen more wild overthrows in the last few days that simply bounce back to the fielders, with the runner not advancing, than I can remember.

132 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:39 pm

[128] Could Kevin Long be our Rudy Jaramillo?

133 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:40 pm

God damnit.

134 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:42 pm

Are all five seasons as a Yankee farm team?

135 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:43 pm

That helps a bunch.

136 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:43 pm

I like having a couple of these games in a row.

137 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:43 pm

Coming into this series, the A's led the majors in quality starts.

138 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:44 pm

OK, nice big lead...send Phil out for his 100 pitches or five inings, whichever comes first, then hand it over to the luckiest man in the world: Chad Gaudin.

139 williamnyy23   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:45 pm

Love that AB by Cano.

140 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:46 pm

[137] They had given up 38 runs in seven games against the Yankees.

141 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:46 pm

134) Hm, good question.

142 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:47 pm

[141] I don't think so. I think the Yankees still had the Clippers in 06.

143 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:47 pm

That boy *looks* like a "Boof" ...

144 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:49 pm

142) I think you're right. And as I recall, the Clippers were not so good in those days.

145 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:50 pm

Go Blue Jays!

146 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:51 pm

Yay Blue Jays!

147 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:54 pm

[144] I think Bubba Crosby and Andy Phillips were the stars.

148 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:55 pm

[134} What does that mean (I was away from the TV at that time).

149 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:56 pm

[147] Naw, Crosby was starting in CF for the Yankees that year. Don'tcha remember?

150 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:57 pm

Only the 5th? 9-2 sounds great though.. How is Philthy Phil?

151 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:58 pm

A little frustrating but overall not too bad tonight for Sir Phil. I can't wait to watch him next season.

152 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:58 pm

I know Hughes has labored, and it is frustrating to watch, but he did get through 5 innings with only 2 runs. He deserves the win despite Michael Kay's sniping.

153 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:58 pm

[150] Phailing a bit ...

154 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:58 pm

[150] Exhausting

155 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:58 pm

[153] or ... Phlailing a bit ... if you'd prefer ...

156 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 8:59 pm

[152] I'd hope most major league pitchers could do at least as well against Oakland.

157 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:00 pm

Phil pitched 146 innings in '06. After that, he hasn't pitched more then 110 innings in a season. My guess is he's fatigued.

158 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:00 pm

[150] Nibbling, or no command, or something. Far too many balls, too many walks. Not what you're looking for in a blow-out like this one, obviously.

159 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:00 pm

[156] They do exhaust pitchers though..Go Go Moneyball! (or is that soooo 2002?)

160 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:02 pm

[156] Ya think? Oakland is playing .500 ball. Many pitchers have lost to them.

161 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:03 pm

150) Phrustrating, at times inphuriating.

162 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:04 pm

157) Phatigued?

163 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:04 pm

In his 24 starts this year, Phil has gone less than 6 innings 10 times. His longest outing was 7.1 on April 21. He's gone 7 innings 8 times but not since July 9th. Something is amiss.

164 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:04 pm

[160] Indeed, but many pitchers have lost to them without giving up many runs. Their pitching is really good.
Well, that's hard to say with a straight face after what we've done to them, but that's how it's been.

165 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:04 pm

To answer a question posed earlier today, I think Mr. Thames looks like Brother Mouzone.

Minus the horned-rimed glasses.

And the sycophant, of course ...

166 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:06 pm

[160] Because they can pitch. They're 11th in the league in runs scored, 9th in average, 10th in OBP, 13th in SLG, 13th in runs scored, 13th in home runs and so on and so forth.

Pitchers tend to handle them fairly well.

167 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:07 pm

[160] Even Sabathia and Greinke have taken losses against the A's.

168 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:11 pm

159) your comment made me curious, so I checked out AL team stats for pitches per plate appearance. oakland is a little below average 3.79 P/PA v. 3.82. But what struck me was how little difference there was between the top team, Boston at 4.04, and the worst team, baltimore at 3.70. So that means that the difference between the most pitch watching and least pitch watching team is only about one pitch every three batters.

I guess that adds up over the course of the game...I guess.

169 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:12 pm

I left with the Rays up. I like them trailing 11-3 a little better...

170 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:14 pm

[167] Sabathia went 8 IP and only gave up 3 ER (4 R). Greinke went 6 IP and gave up 2 ER (5 total)

The A's can't hit. 5 IP 2ER against Oakland is not a good performance.

171 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:14 pm

Chaaaaaaaaaaaad.

Nah, doesn't have the same ring.

172 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:15 pm

163) in the end, though, it doesn't matter too much. Had he gone more than six more often, he would be up against his innings limit sooner and they would have to pull him or sit him. When all is said and done, he's performed pretty much up to expectations for the year...at least up to my expectations.

173 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:16 pm

[172] Right, but it's a bad sign.

174 Mattpat11   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:18 pm

Pennigton looks so much more out of control than Jeter when he makes that play.

175 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:21 pm

[170] OK, can we at least say it was an adequate performance? 2 runs-5 innings?

176 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:22 pm

[175] The result was fine. It's just that we know he had real problems, because we watched. (Actually I only watched a couple of innings.)

177 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:23 pm

Can Kevin Long do his magic with Jeter?

178 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:25 pm

173) yeah, but not a sign that has me too worried. He looks a little gassed to me...not surprising considering he is now exceding his previous innings high, and he was not stretched much last year.

179 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:26 pm

Sox bunt runners up to 2nd and third, but Scutaro grounds out weakly and Nava Ks looking. Still 3-2 O's.

Jays piling on!

180 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:27 pm

And, while Hughes has been less than stellar since really the All Star Game, why is it that he doesn't get "he figured out how to gut it out when his stuff and command failed him" praise like others do?

181 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:30 pm

[180] Oh, I dunno.
I think he's going to be fine. He's going through some puzzling phase, but he'll figure it out. Hey, if he figures it all out this October (and it isn't serious fatigue that just can't be fixed until the off season), that will be perfect!

182 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:30 pm

Too bad they couldn't have gotten Lilly off of waivers. Always good to have options at this point.

183 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:36 pm

What's going on up there, Jorge?

184 monkeypants   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:42 pm

182) I think they have plenty of options already, and Pettitte is coming back in a couple of weeks. i mean, sure, it would be nice to have a starting staff that goes nine or ten deep, but I think they'll be ok.

185 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:42 pm

so.... who's been better?
................ SP.......................RP........................Total
Pphil: 4.66 / 1.344 - 1.40 / 0.857 - 4.17 / 1.270 102 ERA+
Joba: 4.18 / 1.480 - 3.15 / 1.179 - 3.83 / 1.376 113 ERA+

186 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:42 pm

"Hi, I'm Boof Bonser" Not something you would want to hear as you're introduced to your heart surgeon.

187 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:50 pm

Hughes, the shitty 16 win pitcher. The Yankees better have options.

188 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:51 pm

Damn.

This Two-Starters stratagem is absolutely brilliant. Works like a charm.
We could carry ten starters plus Mo. That leaves 14 spots for position players!

189 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:52 pm

Sox traded Manny DeCarman. Addition by subtraction.

190 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:52 pm

Luke Scott makes a boom-boom.
O's up on the Sox, 4-2... bottom of the 8th.

191 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:53 pm

[187] I didn't say Hughes was shitty, I just said it would be nice for the Yanks to have Lilly as an option, seeing as Burnett is a mess, Andy is injured but hopefully healing, and Vazquez is a mess too. But OK.

192 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:53 pm

Felix Doubront coughs up a dinger to Luke Scott. 4-2 O's in the bottom of the eighth.

193 Just Fair   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:54 pm

Rats. Pena ran into that one and STILL couldn't get it over the fence.

194 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:54 pm

[192] Slow. Too slow.

195 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:57 pm

[194] Dammit.
On the other hand, [189] was too slow by a lot more.

196 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 9:58 pm

Ooooh, he coughs up another one, to Felix Pie.

197 JeremyM   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:01 pm

Took a save right out of Gaudin's hands.....

198 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:06 pm

I guess Dave needed work?

199 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:07 pm

The Red Sox are now 6-7 against Baltimore this year. Not a good feeling.

200 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:09 pm

It's over in BaltO. Can we now officially put the Sox to bed for the year? Time for those wicked fans to care about the the Pats.

Show/Hide Comments 201-206
201 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:14 pm

And first place all by themselves. Nice way to start September. But with Texas losing lately, and Minny winning, the Wild Card would play Minn if played today. Yanks v Minn, always better than Yankes v Texas.

Texas needs to finish strong in a Yankees point of view.

202 OldYanksFan   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:15 pm

We and the Sox have 30 games left. If we go .500 the rest of the way, we Win 97. In order for the Sox to tie us, they will need to go 23-9. I don't know if it's official, but it's pretty damn close.

203 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:19 pm

[202] It's going to be extremely difficult for the Sox to go 23-9 over their last 30 games. And that's official.

[201] I want the home field advantage. Especially with CC starting the first game. Still, the main thing is to punch the ticket to the post-season, and that ticket looks to be nearly punched.

204 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:30 pm

[202], [203] 23+9 equal 30?

205 RIYank   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:36 pm

[204] That's why it's going to be so difficult. Officially.

206 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 31, 2010 10:49 pm

[205] Thanks Inspector!. Have a stuffy, and wash it down with coffee milk.

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