Let's hope it's a perfect Mother's Day for Mrs. Pettitte!

Looking at team offense, while it won't last, Raul has definitely been on of the Yankees MVPs. 2nd in RBI, 2nd in HRs, and 2nd in OPS... all in a tad more than 1/2 the ABs of other starters.

ARod's OPS (.822) is getting close to where it belongs. I peg him for .825-.850.

Cano, at .802, is out of the dumps and hopefully on his way to .850+

But Teix..... oh Teix... is still hovering at the .650 level. Since Derek, Grandy and Swisher are all above career norms, our middle of the lineup really needs to start raking. Somebody has to tell Teix to try a few ABs where he doesn't swing out of his shoes.

Here's my imaginary suggestion. A $100,000 fine for every HR he hits. Maybe that will get him into Line Drive mode.

[1] I imagine that the *perfect* mother's day for Mrs. Pettitte would involve Andy being at home helping with the kids...

AndyAndyAndyAndyAndy!!!!

Why does Jeter need to advertise cars?

How much money does a person need?

[4] Who is he shilling for? Obviously he doesn't "need" to do it. I suspect that it's more or a pride or flattery thing (Mr. Jeter, we would really love for YOU to represent our company...).

[5] I know. I'm not sure who, because I actively resist paying attention but I think it's Ford and it's nothing new.

For whatever reason, maybe because the spot just looked particularly goofy, I suddenly just felt incredulous bordering on indignation. Almost embarrassed for him, I think on one level and just mystified on another.

But whatever, so long as he hits.

God, I'm excited.

[6] Sort of like seeing Joe DiMaggio...Joe DiMaggio...selling coffee. A bit deflating, huh?

Gameday has determined I'm in an authorized viewing area, so I'm all set...

Seriously...the Yankees *need* Andy to be near what he once was? The staff is shaky, but if they need Andy Pettitte to be the #2 starter, this team is likely doomed.

Say, who's the new guy on the mound?

[11] Another one of those castoffs that Cashman seems to love to sign. Maybe they'll catch lightning in a bottle.

Bravo, Andy.

Bravo.

[8] Right. Or RIngo in a fucking wine cooler commercial.

Good inning.

Jeter and Pettitte.

This is not my favorite line-up, but I have to admit it's remarkably free of black holes. The absence of absence is encouraging.

[17] ("absence of absence" sounds like something T.S. Eliot might have written.)

[18] I get that a lot.
Look, Andy Pettitte is wearing the bottoms of his trousers rolled...

"I rolled him up and smoked him like a Cuban cigar, Michael."

[19] He grows old, he grows old.

Jesus. Nice pink shoes.

[20] Thou hast nor youth nor age
But as it were an after dinner sleep
Dreaming of both.

89mph there.

He's able to throw his curveball for strike one.

Well done, Andy.

Well done.

Unbelievable, this shift bullshit.

Hahahah!!

Fucking gorgeous!

Backwards K!

That's my boy.

God, I'm so happy.

[26] Only bullshit if it doesn't work. Against Ted Williams, it was bullshit. Against Teix and Swish, not so much.

[28] My fantasy is that Swisher could tap one up the third base line if he wanted, but he knows he'll only get the freebie once so he's waiting for the perfect moment -- bases loaded late and close or something...

But I know it's a fantasy.

A hit!

Like I said, no black holes.

[28] Indeed. That's the kind of bullshit I meant.
Swisher showed bunt on the first pitch and that was that. I really wish they would make more of an effort to make teams pay. If they can't hit the ball there, just bunt it there, once, twice. They don't have to be good bunters to lay one down in all that real estate, they just have to know how to bunt. If a major league baseball player truly can't lay one down in those conditions, that's a disgrace.

A fucking disgrace!

And yes, it's a moral failing, goddamn it.

[26][28] Actually, it makes sense that we are seeing (it seems) more and more shifts. The entire offensive game has evolved in the direction of three true outcomes. Players increasingly (again, it seems) have abandoned the old tactics of hitting 'em where they aint and just making contact. The name of the game is patience and power, the trade off is strikeouts and contact hitting (as Babe Ruth put it: when I swing I swing big, and when I miss I miss big, but when I hit I hit big). It is perfectly consistent that defenses will try to catch up with this by playing extreme shifts, basically daring hitters to sacrifice power for contact.

[29] bases loaded late and close or something...But I know it's a fantasy.

Yes, since presumably the defense would not play an extreme shift with the bases loaded. I know, I know, you were only musing.

[32] Heh, you sound like Scooter. That's the one thing that got him worked up, bad bunting.

[29] That would be nice.

I wish they'd go up there, "Yeah, you assholes? You're going to shift on me? Well field this, you fuckers!"

Then teams would be forced to align their fielders as god intended and pull-hitters' averages would presumably go up.

[32] And yes, it's a moral failing, goddamn it.

And an aesthetic failing, too, don't forget!

[35] Hahahahha! INdeed. Rest that dear man's soul.

[33] Yes. It's sad, I don't want to watch homerun derby, I want to watch baseball.

[34] I think they might, actually. You'd want to hold the guy on third? Afraid he'd steal home? Seems doubtful. I think Maddon might very well do it.

[37] YES! :)

[33] I don't get that. I don't see the reasoning.

I have to think about it.

[36] The problem is that God intended also for more spacious OF dimension, bunting for sacrifice, pitchers hitting for themselves, and generally playing the game the right way. MLB has been blaspheming now for some time!

In all seriousness, I honestly do not understand why a player cannot be *both* a competent bunter *and* a homerun hitter.

I'm not expecting a power hitter should be able to lay down a successful bunt despite the corners charging in, but to not be able to lay one down with no corners at all?

When I say it's a disgrace, I literally mean that: You call yourself a professional baseball player and you can't even do that?

I just see no excuse for that other than intransigence, pride, a sense that bunting is beneath them, the same attitude I got from the jocks in little league when I would bunt, as if bunting was somehow faggy and effeminate.

Jesus, listen to me.

[41] I use Ted Williams and Babe Ruth as the models. Ruth struck out a lot in his day and was criticized in some circles. His argument was so what if I K, I hit tons of HRs. Ted Williams was a dead pull hitter. When teams employed a shift against him, he "selfishly" refused to change his hitting approach. Hi argued: I'm not going to do anything different, I'm going to hit the ball over the shift.

The entire offensive approach to the game has evolved, it seems to me, in the direction of Williams and Ruth: power, patience and Ks are better than singles and no Ks. Players seem to work very hard to hit the ball a particular way, designed to generate the most power even if it means striking out much more than their baseball ancestors did. They are by and large (it seems) unwilling to tinker with their hitting approach from AB to AB...indeed, maybe they can't.

So now more teams are willing, perhaps, to play more extreme defenses against players who seem unwilling or incapable to changing the way they bat.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that it's at least a plausible theory.

There goes the no-hitter.

Damn.

Beware of the 2 out walks

It's the walks. I don't like the walks. A solo homer I could have lived with.

[43] I agree with you, with two caveats. I have had heard complaints my entire life that MLB batters can't bunt anymore. I suspect this complaint has always been around...maybe bunting is just not that easy at the highest level? What do do I know. Second, we've seen what happens when Swisher tried to bunt, and it's not pretty . He may figure rightly that he doesn't want to waste a strike or two trying to bunt--changing his approach and moving out of his comfort zone---instead of trying to do what he does best.

I see no reason why MLB hitters can't bunt at all, but assuming that they cannot, or lack confidence to do so, I can understand why they wouldn't want to experiment against an extreme shift.

[42] Sigh, it has.

I remember when they moved the fences in in the eighties, even at ten years old I knew that was was not kosher.

[49] Agreed.

Lost in the hoopla is the Yankees getting shut down by 1999 All Star Scott Millwood.

(What's so funny 'bout peace, love and bunting baseballs?)

[52] laughing

We'll get to this fuckwit, just you watch.

Oh, Rob. Patience.

[52] Scott Norwood?
Kevin Millwood.

What happened to Millwood after '99. Injuries I guess. But when he came up at that time, and as I recall the heralded Bruce Chen in the wings, it looked like Atlanta would never run out of starters.

[56] Him too!

LF's ball, Jeter. Even if the LF is Ibañez.

Right on cue.

A bunt! Too bad it's the other team.

Forgot about that play, Andy?

Hahahahahahahah!

Jeff Nelson texted Kay in disappointment re: the pending abolition of "the old Jeff Nelson."

That's very cute.

He's OUT!

5 innings, 2 ER.

Atta boy, Andy!

Oh, nice.

Was the homer the only hard hit ball so far? I think Jeter snagged a line drive in the second inning.

wait, we're being 1-hit and shutout by millwood?

andy. how 'bout that?! : )

weeping, this day is for you, my friend!!!

Okay, time to get to this place-kicking choker! Let's go. Stop fucking around.

Jesus.

Too fucking much, he can do it by accident.

Hahahah

Heh, shift that.

Shift beater!

[68] Right, and the first batter of the game sent Swish to the wall.

Atta boy, Nick!

Nice, Nice! Keep the line moving.

SHIFT-BEATER!

Raul's going yard right here.

[74] Right, I remember that one.

Unless of course he walks.

Chavez, then...

[78] Didn't give him a chance. Opposing pitchers are scared of the Werewolf!

this is more like it!

JEsus.

JESUS!

Right down the pipe!

@#$@$%#@#%#$%

Wow, that was a stinker.
Can we trade that one for Eric's previous AB?

bollocks.

not good, eric.

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

(And no, it wasn't, it hit the inside corner.)

[85] you have my permission.

I have a sense of how this is going to end.

[69] Cheers!

Money pitch right here (3-1)...

Yaaay!

Nicely done, Martin.

Huh, that was not part of it. We'll take it!

I'll take a walk-in run.

Wow, RBI!

Derek's going to hit this punk.

I can feel it.

First pitch fastball, maybe, right back up the middle...

walk on in!

FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK.

FOR. FUCK"S. SAKE!

Sigh.

oh brother. I want 1999 Jeter back!

[101] Wow, you are are really nostalgic today. And you have a particular year you're nostalgic for, too.

waaay less than optimal, captain.

Hahhaah!

God, I love Swish.

Why did that move make me laugh?

[102] Well, 1999 was Jeter's best year, and the only season when Kevin "Scott" Millwood made the All Star Team. Watching this game is like a perverse tim travel.

Fuck.

Fucking more nonsense.

Dang, another 2 run HR.

[105] I've never traveled with perverse Tim. It does sound like fun, I have to admit. Maybe London, or Bangkok...

From quality start to not quality start in the swing of a bat.

[109] OK smart ass, you try to type while doing battle with a three year old.

casper wells. really?

Swish has come such a long, long way out there.

Remember his first year, when he was an adventure?

He really deserves tremendous credit for his defensive improvement.

[109] [111] Hahahahahhahahahahahaha!

And now we seem to be entering the batting practice portion of Andy's comeback start.

[109] i have. perverse tim is an excellent travel companion; great wingman. that said, i don't recommended you to bangkok...

[116] Nor it to me?

Damn it.

Still, Andy can get out of this.

Big moment coming up.

ugh.

[117] yeah, norway might be nice this time of year. not nice, however, around this time last year...

Nice pitch...strike two...

Whew.

Still in it.

Ha!

Andy Pettitte, ladies and gentlemen.

Alright, let's go get the Score Truck revved up and deliver 4 runs.

andy still somewhat of a golden god!

[123] And that's why I love this man, he doesn't fold. He might lose, but he never folds.

[126] God, how I love this man.

[121] Not getting the whole Norway thing. Because I said 'nor'?

[129] yeah. i'm battling a weary drummer's brain...

Ok, this is it, people, the bullshit ends now...Score Truck is on the way.

Excellent start for a big inning.

Oh, ffs.

Goddamn it.

The M's can take these dp's and shove 'em where the sun don't shine.

Is ARod hurt????
How in the hell is that a DP?

That was smart to start Rob off off-speed.

I just hate that.

sigh millwood...

Jesus, Raul, watch out!

Where was that pitch?

Thank you, Andy Pettitte.

That's all we need from you, anything else you'd care to give us this season is gravy.

He'll be just fine this season.

He's exactly the same pitcher he was.

well, regardless... i'm glad andy's back!

[143] Yes. Back and effective.

Decent outing, especially since he hasn't pitched in the ML in over a year. The question is, how will his body bounce back in five days.

[145] Yes, that's true. That remains to be seen.

Otherwise, I'm feeling very optimistic about his prospects.

[144] The jury is still out on how effective he is. He looked pretty good, but he also got hit a bit near the end. And remember, this is the AAAA Seattle Mariners, the same lineup that Hughes blew away yesterday only to be met with a certain skepticism about his being on the right track.

Let's see how Pettitte does after a couple of starts.

Good approach, but hard to beat the shift with a pop fly. Teixera's been a sinkhole in the middle of the lineup. How long is he signed for?

[148] You really think this is it for Teixeira?
Seems too hasty.

So, Millwood is going to pitch a complete game?

Millwood? Seriously? boooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[149] I don't think he's cooked, but I think his days of being an elite hitter are done. His trajectory is not all that surprising, is it?

Kay: "Obviously it's easier said than done, it's not easy to lay down a bunt where you want to..."

Except that's what a bunt is! It's a technique designed to give a batsman maximal control over precisely that outcome! The technique was INVENTED to enable hitters to put the ball where they want to with more consistency than by any other approach!

[147] Indeed, let's. My money's on him, though.

[152] Hmmm. I think it's fairly surprising -- power hitters tend to decline slowly.

The thing about bunting, is you eliminate the pitcher's ability to catch you off-balance. It doesn't matter what the pitcher does because you just have to meet the goddamned ball and redirect it.

Bunt, don't bunt...just don't talk about how hard it is, that's silly. It's hard when the margin between success or failure is inches, THAT'S hard. When it's dozens of feet?

Give me a fucking break.

Jesus, he's slow.

:-)

Smo(a)ked.

[155] Again, I don't think he's cooked---his very poor start is not what (I think) he really is as a hitter. But that said, look at his career arc using the crude OPS/OPS+ metric:

23: .811/102
24: .929/131
25: .954/144
26: .886/126
27: .963/149
28: .962/152
29: .948/141
30: .846/124
31: .835/118
32: .648/73

Even assuming this year is an aberration, it sure likes to me like the classic trajectory: the player develops, peaks at 27-28-29, and then begins to decline. He's on the wrong side of 30 now. I don't expect much bounce back as he ages from 32 to 35 or whenever he is still signed.

Since when did the Mariners resurrect Cy Young?

Chavez can hit.

Ahhh, and now the strategy to wear out Millwood to get him out the game and into the bullpen is starting to pay off.

Hit that fucking ball over that fucking fence, Curtis Granderson.

[159] Teixiera's contract expires in 2016 fwiw.

So, the Yankees announcers commented on the risky play the CF made on Chavez's hit. I wonder what the consensus is: with a three run lead, is that a better time to gamble on making a diving catch because a triple or HR won't kill you, or to play it safe since you have a medium-big lead?

[159] Note that Teixeira's BABIP was very low in his bad years, very high in his good years. Now, it's true that batters have more control over BABIP than pitchers have, but it does make you think the best years had some luck in them and the bad years some bad luck. (Which does suggest bounceback possibilities.)

Another possibility is that infield shifting against him has really killed him.

[164] Ah, so when he's 36, if I recall.

[165] Gamble, I'm sure. (Obviously it depends on how risky it is, but you can/should take more risks with a 3-run lead.)

[166] For his career he has also been worse as a LHB. Maybe he would be better served giving up as a switch hitter, or being "rested" against some tougher RHP (like Millwood??).

sigh

Ungrand.

Dammit, Curtis. Not even close.

tie the game, alex.

[169] Seems sensible. And with practice batting RH against RH pitching he might improve.

Come on, Alex, how about a big hit?

Be dangerous!

[175] And if you can't be dangerous, be smart.

I would accept a Cano single. I'm not greedy.

Nice, easy, level, swing, Robbie. And lace it into a gap.

ok, robbie:

you're really good at the grand slam thing. give us the lead here!

C'mon Robbie.

[177] apparently, i am.

All right, Rob, show time...

Wow, he took that 2-0.

That's impressive.

Ball four!

Come on, fucking Teix!

The man of the hour can now redeem himself.

I'll take that. C'mon Mark.

Wow!
Worse than a single, even, but you have to be happy with it.
(Even though, honestly, I'm not...)

Was Robbie just pitched around?

i'll take it.

keep it movin'...

Huh?
Don't turn him around, no shift, nothing???

There was his pitch.

[188] I do believe he was. I really think that's what happened.

I know managers used to do that to Bonds, with the bases loaded.

God, he sucks.

Fucking hell.

Useless.

Fuck.

Dry sterile thunder without rain.

([19] etc.)

Or that. His at bats are just horrific to watch.

[192] Can't really argue with such a strategy.

damn, tex...

the motherfucking scumsucking shit sox and have scored double digits...again.

ridiculous. : /

I must confess to really paying attention to this game, especially since began the various BP shenanigans.