"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Knock ‘Em Out the Box

Yanks down in Tampa for three to end the season. The Rays are fighting to make the playoffs and they need some help from the Orioles. The Yanks are looking to rest some guys and keep everyone healthy for the ALDS.

Cliff with the preview.

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Jorge Posada 1B
Eric Chavez 3B
Russell Martin C
Eduardo Nunez RF
Brett Gardner LF

Never mind the nap:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Krstnn Hrmnsn]

122 comments

Show/Hide Comments 1-100
1 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 5:28 pm

A better lineup than I thought they'd play today.

I would have gone with the total scrub package (+ Alex at DH) today, the regular 9 for the full game tomorrow and the regular 9 for 6 on Wednesday.

Of course, the real concession is going to be in Coffee Joe's bullpen usage ... and what the TBA start looks like on Wednesday.

2 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 26, 2011 6:25 pm

From the previous thread:

Hmmm, except for Swisher who is probably nursing his hand that he bruised on the wall a couple of games ago, the Rays get the "A" team.

MLB wants Boston in the playoffs for TV ratings and press buzz. Apparently so do the Yankees.

3 Sliced Bread   ~  Sep 26, 2011 6:42 pm

[2] Posada at 1b makes this more like the B+ team.

4 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 6:44 pm

This ought to make MattPat happy, Buster Olney tweeted:


It appears Raul Valdes has an excellent chance to be part of the Yankees' postseason roster at some point, to provide second bullpen lefty.

5 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:15 pm

Well, at least we've made Shields throw 12 pitches to 2 batters.

6 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:17 pm

Did you hear that sound?

Sweet Jesus but Robbie can hit the baseball.

7 rbj   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:17 pm

Robbie's read AB's title.

8 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:18 pm

ROBBIE THE RIPPER!

That ball was smoked.

9 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:19 pm

[6] Sweet Robbie, but Jesus can smack it, too.

Just sayin'.

10 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:20 pm

Didn't someone summon Monkeypants in the earlier thread? How did that work?

Hey, I think Phil Hughes will be good in the bullpen. He's our sixth inning guy now. Very underrated role, and he'll be much better at it than he was as a starter.

11 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:27 pm

[10] In the playoffs, with our set of starters 2 through 4 ... somebody who can pick up 2-3 innings as a bridge to SoRoMo, could be critical.

12 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:30 pm

Heh.

There's something you won't see everyday.

13 OldYanksFan   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:32 pm

Upton pulls a Giambi Jr. play!
Man.. Jorge has even forgotten how to throw. He is in 'Early Nunez' mode.

14 briang   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:34 pm

anyone on this list that's out here in san francisco? i'm moving and i have this huge box of great and weird yankees shit. cards, coins, posters, bobbleheads, stickers...mattingly, henderson, winfield, the like....early 80's to 90's. if anyone's here and wants that box....come and get it. i'm on 16th st. email me at briancircus@gmail.com

i need to have it gone by tomorrow.

15 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:37 pm

[11] Also, I think we should carry five catchers in the post-season. Posada, Cervelli (because he will probably get better soon), Martin obviously, Montero obviously, and Romine because it could be important at some point.

16 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:38 pm

Wieters goes OPPO!

1-1!

17 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:39 pm

[15] I know you're kidding, but quiet! JoeyJoeJoe might hear you ...

18 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:43 pm

[17] (I'm attempting to summon Monkeypants.)

Do you think we should have 14 pitchers for the post-season, or is 13 enough?

19 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:48 pm

[18] Don't we just light candles and look in the bathroom mirror and say, "Monkeypants, Monkeypants, Monkeypants?"

20 rbj   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:48 pm

[18] 14. Can't leave Proctor off.

21 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:53 pm

DOUBLE.

STEAL.

22 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:54 pm

Jesus, this dude was one low strike zone.

23 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:57 pm

What hands on this guy.

Jesus.

Lightning fast.

24 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:57 pm

If Teixeira wants to hit in the 3 spot, he should seriously consider hitting more than .240.

Cano should be hitting 3rd.

25 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 7:58 pm

[24] You don't have to convince me.

26 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:02 pm

[19] That seems too conventional.

27 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:06 pm

Man, Posada at first is good for laughs ...

28 rbj   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:06 pm

Sigh.

29 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:11 pm

Damn, Valdes up *already*?

Eek.

30 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:16 pm

As Leiter is so obviously fond of saying, Noesi has 4 pitches.

Problem is, I don't know that any of them are plus ...

31 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:20 pm

Way to make the Red Sox sweat.

32 seamus   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:28 pm

Wow

33 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:30 pm

Nice. Russell bails out his staff.

34 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:32 pm

NUNE5!

35 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:33 pm

Yeah, Leiter's right, Nune5 does have a bit of Winfield in his swing.

36 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:37 pm

Adventures in the outfield!

Yay, Nune5!

37 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:40 pm

I bet Joe is really impressed with Eduardo today. He's going to get plenty of post-season play.

38 randym77   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:43 pm

Is what Verducci said in that article last month true? Did the Yanks lose out on Cliff Lee because they refused to include Nunez in a trade?

39 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:45 pm

What I miss? Cano tater, and..?

40 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:45 pm

Holy fuck, what a catch!

41 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:46 pm

O's threatening.

42 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:48 pm

Grinch walked his nemesis, Mark Reynolds. 2 on no out.
Did something happen to Buck Showalter?

43 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:48 pm

[38] Who knows?
But the story was that Cash wouldn't give up Montero plus Nuñez (or Nova).

44 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:49 pm

Oh yeah!
Beckett on the ropes. Yum.

45 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:53 pm

So, of course, Showalter decides to give Beckett a free out. Sigh.

[42] Sprained ankle.

46 Mattpat11   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:53 pm

Gotta love that even Yankees announcers are touting the Yankees unbelievable ability to create right handed middle relievers.

47 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 8:59 pm

[45] Pitch count up but yeah, O's blew a great chance there.

48 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:00 pm

Beckett pitches out of a bad jam. Idiot sacrifice bunt didn't hoit.

Hey, I missed it, how did Russell get ejected?

49 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:00 pm

Whoa, Gameday says Martin was ejected. Why?

50 Mattpat11   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:00 pm

...We're arguing over *that* pitch?

51 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:02 pm

See? I told you we needed five catchers.

52 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:05 pm

[43] Well, that was after the Mariner's had agreed to the deal with Montero and without Nunez8.

8According to the Yankees version of the story, the Mariners said YES ... and then went back to the Rangers to shop the deal around to get more.

Who knows ...

53 randym77   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:13 pm

[49] I'm wondering that myself. Must have been arguing balls and strikes I guess, but it seems weird it would come to that in a game like this.

54 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:17 pm

C'mon Phil, could you at least not suck at relieving???

Give us a reach-around here ...

55 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:18 pm

Kontos time!

56 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:19 pm

Beckett's still walking a tightrope. 100 pitches in the sixth, two men on and two out, but still only the two runs.

57 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:21 pm

[51] Hahahahah!

58 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:21 pm

And Beckett tumbles off the tightrope!

Chris Davis doubles in a run. Men on second and third, two away. Josh looks tired.

59 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:23 pm

Oh my god.
Indescribable play in Camden Yards.
Incredible. I'll try to describe it...

60 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:24 pm

Robert Smiley Andino hit a fastball right down the middle! Inside the park home run!! WOW!!!

61 mhoward120   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:24 pm

And Jacoby Ellsbury playing the part of Curly after an encounter with Moe

62 mhoward120   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:25 pm

woo-woo-woo-woo-woo

63 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:25 pm

Officially scored an inside-the-parker for Andino.

Ellsbury went back to the wall, had the ball in his glove, crashed into the wall. The ball came loose. The two runners score easily. Ells flings the ball in, cut-off, relay to the plate, right on line, had Andino dead, and the ball goes right through Saltalamacchia's legs.

Unbelievable.

64 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:25 pm

[60] Dammit. I'm always tuning into the wrong broadcast.

Bah.

65 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:26 pm

Oh, I guess almost everyone here saw it!

Another arrow right through the heart of RSN.

66 mhoward120   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:27 pm

Proving that even Proctor ain't gonna help the Red Cocks make the playoffs

67 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:28 pm

Wow.

Wait.

6-2?!?!?!?

I thought it was 3-2!!!

Man, everytime I think the Sox have picked themselves off the floor, they grab themselves about the throat and throw themselves down the stairs ... yikes.

68 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:28 pm

Oh, right, Ellsbury didn't throw it in -- he had to flip it to Drew. He may be hurt. Geez, right at the climax of his superseason, what a break.

And the look on Beckett's face, great camera work by NESN. Camera right on his face as he watches Ellsbury go back, track it down, glove it... drop it. Priceless.

69 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:29 pm

[67] It was. Before the Andino hard-way round trip.

70 rbj   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:29 pm

Ouch! What a f'ing move.

71 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:31 pm

Nunez was safe without a doubt. I call bullshit on that.

72 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:32 pm

Would someone please, please tell me why Montero did not come in for Martin? They can't be thinking of Carrying Romine on the PS rooster.

73 Shaun P.   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:33 pm

So, what do we call Nune5 when he is caught stealing? NuneC5?

I cannot believe that play in Baltimore. The crowd in Tampa is sensing the blood in the water. Ellsbury might be hurt [68] RIYank, but not enough that he didn't hit at the top of the inning. (He made an out, though.)

I wonder if that botched play erases his gopherball gift from Proctor last night??

74 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:33 pm

[72] They don't want Montero catching. Although it's hard to see why they don't want him catching Kontos, I will admit.

75 mhoward120   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:33 pm

Is anyone gonna address the really important game of the night - Texas-LAAoC?

76 Shaun P.   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:34 pm

[72] Coffee Joe is crazy enough to want 2 lefty relievers in the postseason, you better believe he's crazy enough to take 3 catchers (not counting Posada).

Its kind of silly, but they won't carry 13 pitchers, so they have room for Romine without any problems.

77 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:35 pm

[73] Yeah, he looks to be okay. He looked bad when he was on the ground in CF, but maybe that was just misery.

You mean, karmicly speaking, erases the gopherball gift? I think Proctor still has the Heavenly Debit, but Ellsbury is now even for the week.

78 OldYanksFan   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:36 pm

[63] YOU MEAN I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE TO GET NESN?????
Quite the play. Andino was out at the plate by 10 feet. Can't believe the throw went through.

Now I root for the Yanks but hope the Rays win.

79 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:37 pm

Montero is not a catcher (right now). He's a bench bat. So it's actually perfectly reasonable to bring Romine to the post-season. It does look ridiculous, on the roster, though.

80 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:38 pm

[74] OK. But why? He can't be that bad, and you can't groom a 21-year-old to be a DH. It will be a long time before there is room at foist.

81 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:38 pm

Damn, mlbtraderumors reporting the White Sox and Marlins are completing a trade involving Ozzie Guillen.

Heh.

82 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:38 pm

[78] It's ridiculous that he gets the HR by the scorer. Maybe a double plus two bases in errors. Maybe a triple.

I like NESN a lot. Sox fans bitch about it constantly, and they do come back too late from the commercial rather often, but it's well produced and I think Remy and Orsillo are excellent.

83 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:40 pm

[81] Seriously?

84 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:40 pm

[80] They think he can't handle the pitchers now.

Hey, Ace is back on the mound! Wow, imagine the pitching problems the Sox have right now. Poor Tito. Both aces shelled, their bullpen is in tatters, that Lackey performance against the Yankees plus Papelbon are their only bright spots.

85 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:40 pm

[80] Yeah he could, and yes you can.

I'd sign up for Edgar Martinez or Frank Thomas in a moment.

86 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:42 pm

[85] Ortiz, too.

87 Shaun P.   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:49 pm

[85] Drool . . . If Montero becomes either of those guys, we'll all thank our lucky stars for Nunez, and Cashman not wanting to part with him. Dare we dream!

[82] Me too. Remy and Orsillo are not homers - though you can tell they sometimes are wishing for the Sox to do well - but they stay very objective with the other team and its players. Especially when they play the Yanks. Rarely do they stop talking about the game, which I appreciate.

Compare, for example, Sterling and Suzyn, who just spent 3 minutes on the meaning of the chorus of Naughty by Nature's "Hip Hop Hooray", which Suzyn did not understand, and which Sterling proceeded to sing in the most boring way possible. It was amusing and horrifying - and I didn't quite mind it, but still . . . Remy and Orsillo would never do that.

88 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:49 pm

[85] So you are saying he's done learning. At 21. Can't improve his defense enough to play at the ML level. I don't buy that. No way.

89 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:50 pm

[87] I would gladly pay $10 to hear Sterling sing "Hip Hop Hooray" to Suzyn.

90 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:52 pm

Man, Derek can't catch a break.

91 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:54 pm

Not that I like losing, but a Rays win plus Sox loss means the two remaining games for each team are guaranteed to be significant, huge games. No way the Rays or Sox can line up their starters for the post-season, no way they can rest players. And if they finish the season tied... hoooooo boy.

92 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:55 pm

[88] I think he might well be a catcher. I just think he could still be a great player if he's not a catcher.

93 OldYanksFan   ~  Sep 26, 2011 9:57 pm

Sox with bases loaded, 1 out...

94 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:00 pm

[88] I do. Completely.

Progression paths are a weird thing.

There are any number of players whose first year was actually their best, even though they were of an age that ALL the signs pointed to them continuing to improve.

This is a very real chance that this is as good as Montero is behind the plate ... or at 1st.

Hope it isn't, but there's no guarantee that it is.

Forecasting isn't wish-casting ...

95 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:00 pm

[93] The strike zone is impossible in this game. It became miniscule for Lowrie (first three pitches clearly in the strike zone, count 3-0), and now for Saltalamacchia it's grossly expanded. And he strikes out.

96 OldYanksFan   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:01 pm

Sox with bases loaded, 2 out...

97 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:01 pm

[92] Understood. I guess I am prejudiced against the straight DH as a complete player.

Also, I just feel like they need to bring Jorge to the postseason as his final act. So I am trying to justify it. Furthermore, Romine can not hit...at least not yet.

98 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:02 pm

The Sox choke. No runs.

99 OldYanksFan   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:02 pm

Sox with bases loaded, 3 out!
And only 3 more outs to go.

100 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:03 pm

Man, 6-2, Baltimore!

[91] Agreed. We're really very blessed that the rest of the season is housemoney for us. I don't like losing either but I must say, I really want Tampa to win.

Show/Hide Comments 101-122
101 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:06 pm

Ouch! Foul ball got Salty. He's doubled over in pain.

Okay, I am having a hard time not feeling sorry for the individual Red Sox players. (No sympathy for the fans.)

102 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:07 pm

I think the ball nailed him in the collar bone.

Remy is totally confused. Shoulder? Chest?

Collar bone, I think. That would explain the pain.

It occurs to Orsillo that it could be his collar bone. Saltalamacchia leaves the game, and My Favorite Red Sox Jew enters!

103 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:12 pm

Posada's got that play down like clockwork.

104 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:19 pm

The O's are attempting to give a spark of hope to the Sox. But Carl Crawford won't have it.

105 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:20 pm

Okay! Mission accomplished, so to speak! Now just a moment or two until the Orioles compete their part.

106 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:21 pm

My Little Single. They aren't going down easy. Ellsbury (HBP, balk, advanced on grounder) scores, 6-3.

Ortiz hits the ball into the normal shortstop position, infield hit! Tying run comes to the plate with two outs. Yikes. It's A-Gon...

107 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:22 pm

No so fast. Smurf RBI and Big Papi gets and infield single (that is not a misprint).

108 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:22 pm

Time lag. Sorry.

109 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:23 pm

Delightful NESN shot of sunflower seed husks spilling out of Tim Wakefield's mouth.

Okay, Johnson is getting serious. Sinker, sinker, change, Gonzalez is in a 1-2 hole. Pitch in the dirt, 2-2. Adrian flies out deep to center!

One out to go...

110 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:24 pm

Hey, can any sabre people help me with some new metrics? FanGraphs Power Rankings today have Boston second after the Yankees..I still don't understand even after reading their stats formulas. How can this be?

111 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:25 pm

[108] The electrons have to get all the way across the Pacific.

Boy, not one pitch to Gonzalez was in the strike zone. He went fishing, finally got half-a-hold of one.

0-1 to Lowrie on a heater. Wow, another in the same place, swing and a miss, 0-2. Here it comes...

112 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:26 pm

Boston loses!

113 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:26 pm

Whiff!
Tied up.
Too good!

114 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:29 pm

I mean, is it unethical if we just throw the next couple of games?

We could "rest" all our regulars.

115 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:30 pm

I don't feel good about myself as a person for this. But man, did that whiff make me feel better about last night. Even if FSP (new way I'm going to type this) and the whole fiasco of will they or won't they try to choke those bastards kept me up late and put a *deep* dent in today.

All tied up! There's no way for me to not find this - at a minimum - very interesting. To choose one word from among many.

116 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:30 pm

[110] Very interesting! I hadn't seen that. I'm gonna look closely tomorrow. It has a Wisdom of Crowds component, which might explain some of the over-rating of the Red Sox.

117 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:31 pm

The worst of this all is that the Rays are one hell of a potential opponent. But I can't help myself, and I don't seem to be alone in this.

118 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:33 pm

Yeah, this result is better for the Yankees than if the Yankees had won either tonight's game or last night's. Because the tie is better for us than either team leading.

The incentive structure is bad. Girardi isn't throwing games, but he isn't exactly pulling out all the stops. I'd be kind of unhappy if the shoe was on the other foot. But what can you do about it? I don't see any solution.

119 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:34 pm

[117] I think it's fairly unlikely that the WC team will make it through the first round, so we don't have to worry about it.

120 RIYank   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:37 pm

Robert Andino got a pie in the face.

The O's do not understand pie.

Except Felix, I guess he must understand.

Andino did not seem excited or happy, although he claimed to be, in a deadpan voice. And he was being interviewed by Heidi Watney! So, yeah, something wrong with that dude.

121 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:40 pm

[118] I dunno, kind of feels like we've seen it happen before...

122 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 26, 2011 10:40 pm

[120] Heidi Watney? Any relation to Jodi Watley?

feed Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email
"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver