I guess I'll have to be the first one here to guarantee a Yankee win tonite.

yeah, i think we steal a win tonight.

then, CC tomorrow.

after that...

my dvr is set. i'm about to head to work and will be teaching til after the game is over. i hope to come home to some great yankee news!!!

have a great game and thread everyone : )

I'd like to imagine an upset. I just don't see it.

Can't argue with sitting Alex & Nick.

Sitting Swisher and A-Rod shows a little moxie. Surprised by Nunez over Nix. Pulling extra hard for Gardy.

Tall order to ask the gods to break one streak (shit offense) and keep another one going (great starting pitching) at the same time.

This will likely call for some adult beverages.

[3] oh, i can very easily imagine being upset by the end of this game! ; )

weird deal

yeah I don't like Nunney at short.

Legs.

Some football teams have a "Hands Squad" for certain situation where they can't afford a fumble or turn over.

This is Coffee Joe's "Legs Squad".

A-Rod benched again..wow. Is he really done in NY?

I can't imagine that this was the lineup we would have envisioned at the start of the season if someone said we would be down 0-2 against Verlander in the ALCS, but what can you do?

In baseball anything can happen. Maybe it rains? Maybe Verlander is deported? Maybe he oversleeps, which I would too if I was dating Kate Upton. ( In fact, I might never leave the house again). Maybe he gets bitten by a Jack Russell Terrier? There are a wealth of possibilities.

Maybe Gardy (Who has had 3 MLB at bats in the last 5 months) hits 4 home runs?

[11] Had to look up who Kate Upton is..well, maybe he will be "tired out" from the relationship..

I'm still down about A-Rod. I really like the guy for some weird reason and think he's getting a raw deal. Let him go down swinging against Verlander if need be but I'd still put my money on the guy with 640 career home runs to have one more come back.

[10] No.

Nunez over Nix at SS? Also, I would have started Ibanez in the OF so they could bench Granderson (that puts Nunez at DH...it sure would have been nice to have another bench player). Still, minor quibbles. Otherwise, this is more or less the lineup I would have used.

[12] I put my money on his comeback next year. Right now, it's probably best to sit him. Then again, it probably doesn't make any difference, since just about everyone else should get benched too.

Verlander...is not untouchable.
It may seem like it with the way the Yanks have been swinging the bat lately, but maybe this lineup actually brings a little new energy tonight and does enough damage for once.

[15] I wonder, is there something between Girardi and A-Rod? Seems to me a shocking lack of respect to still have Cano & Granderson in there night after night but he benches A-Rod twice..Maybe letting Cano come off the bench one game would light his fire at least? Am I over thinking this?

Then again, Billy Martin benched Reggie in the post season and we saw how that ended up..

[17] I think they have more options to work with subs for ARod. Cano is just off mentally, but I think Arod is off mentally and physically.

If Gardner were healthier, I think they might have benched Grandy too, but Cano and Grandy could get hot really quickly, and ARod has been off for quite a while.

The Yankee hitters put Girardi in this spot to begin with. If the gang of Cano, A-Rod, Granderson and Swisher had put up even 50 per cent of their normal production this postseason, the issue of benchings would never have come up. But these guys have been so awful, all hitting sub-.200 without much power, that Girardi has felt compelled to make changes. I might quibble with sitting down A-Rod tonight, but otherwise, I like the idea of giving two young bats a chance to play. So go Gardner and go Nunez!

I've decided I'm gonna be optimistic tonight because really, what the hell else is there?

[16] In three postseason games against the Yanks, Verlander has an ERA around 5. Other than this year, Verlander hasn't been that lights out in the playoffs. If this lineup is able to put up a few runs, and Phil is able to coax himself into pitching like Dr. Jekyll instead of Mr. Hughes, then we've got a chance to hand the series off to CC to even things up. Not over yet.

Let's all print up some of those cheesy "believe signs" like all of the other fans of underdog teams.

[13] Communism was just a red herring.

[20] Its all about the plexiglass principle tonight! In 72 postseason innings, the equal of 8 games, the Yanks' offense scored 3 or more in an inning TWICE. 2/72! That is beyond bound to change.

I'll be watching, but can't be on the Banter until later. My fingers are crossed for Hughes.

[23] Clue?

20) It's true. What have we got to lose at this point? They don't win and it's 3-0 and and thoughts of a sweep. A win and who knows?

The new Donald Fagen album is excellent, and the US soccer team is winning, so I've got that going for me tonight.
I feel strangely positive about this game as well.

[24] Precisely. I find all of the "ZOMG!!! The Yankees MUST trade A-ROD!!1!!1!" stories to be completely irrelevant.

They won't trade him, because they have no ready replacement in the minors, there is no free agent worth pursuing, and no team is going to give the Yanks an equal third baseman in return while also taking any a good chunk of A-Rod's salary. Why would they actively make the team worse, because his feeling might be hurt? Sheesh.

Just turned on the radio broadcast and heard '..will b Justin Verlander facing Phil Hughes!'...my heart sank a little bit...

Let's go Yankees!

Not exactly an awe-inspiring start for the bats.

Now let's see what Hughes can do!

WTF! Strike 3, blue!

Was the third pitch to Berry in the strike zone? Gamecast says it was above his knees (and thus a strike).

I don't care for this matchup.

2-strike hit again, Phil?

[31] I guess that answers my question. WTF is up with the home plate umpiring in the playoffs? Why are they not calling the rule book strike zone?

I pop in every now & then here for years and I can't believe you guys aren't killing Joe. This reeks of panic. If you're gonna go w Nuney at SS, why not ARod? That might be the change up he needs. Capo is out. Time for him to lead. He doesn't even get the chance to come out of it. Demand it from him. Gardy & Chavez are flyers. But Nuney over a top ten player of all time?? This is just crazy to me.

[35] It wasn't even borderline. Sharp curveball that fooled Berry completely. Robbed! Robbed I tells 'ya!

[36] I agree with you, but it was never going to happen. He hasn't played short in so long.

I don't like Girardi's decision, but I can understand it, so I'm not lambasting him for it.

Well, weren't pretty and he won't survive 6 innings like that, but a zero is a zero.

HATS FOR BATS!

OK, Hughes got jobbed but got out of it. Now let's see some bats and the Score Truck, please!

Glad Phil is pitching at Comerica, where home runs go to die.

[39] Fister survived a whole bunch of innings like that.

[26] Hey Sliced, big Steely Dan fan but only know Fagen's "The Nightfly" of his solo stuff. Good to hear he's still pumping out songs.

20 pitches in first two..jeez, how we going to see Valverde if he keeps that pace??

[10] No, but he might be done against RHP for this PS.

Much better Phil.

HATS FOR BATS!!!

[36] ARod himseld said he can't play SS. You want to test him with the season on the line?

Well, I don't approve of sitting Alex. I am not his biggest fan, but I don't blame him for this postseason disaster. Cano is far more at fault than Alex. I think that it is cop out and can only alienate Mr. Sensitive.

I'm sorry, but sitting A-Rod makes no sense...for who, the great Eric Chavez? Come one. If anyone sits it should be Cano or Granderson. A-Rod has hommered off Verlander this year, in fact.

Hughes with 29 pitches. That ain't terrible.

Some quick comic relief: Jason Giambi interviewed for the Rockies managerial opening.

[12] Shocking. You had to look up Kate Upton. The hottest babe on the planet. Dude, all that jazz is affecting your brain.

There went ball 4 into the seats.

Instead, 1 out no one on.

[50] Maybe. On the face of it, it seems crazy, right? But evidently, he's been an unofficial hitting coach for most of the season, as well as sort of being a bench coach for Jim Tracy and supposedly all of the players really like him.

[54] Has he officially retired yet?

Curtis should be allowed 4 strikes, in all fairness

Hell of an AB Curtis

Blech.

[51] Eh..dime a dozen voluptuous blonde. You know I'm all about Ko Yuki, Boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yA1USclDog

[46] I didn't hear that today or even that he took grounders to see how he feels. When a TEAM is struggling you need leadership. We're dying for it. Maybe it's not him.. Idk. But I think this situation scream for him. I don't think this is our best team out there hence the frustration.

If we're going to play this game, then play it. Bunt for hits, take one for the team etc.

I have my fingers and toes crossed. This looks to be a tight one.

Wait, I missed it! What happened in Curtis' AB? It couldn't have been...swinging strike out??!?

[55] I don't think so. In any case, I hope not, him getting the job as a Player/Manager would be tits-on-bacon levels of awesome.

Baseball...you just can't predict it. But there is one immutable truth: you can't win if you don't score at least one run.

[59] No, she's something special. She has "it." She's pretty sharp too. You know I don't go for blondes. But in her case I make an exception.

Yes, Ko Yuki is hot, no doubt. I love that series. There's a better version where she mixes the drink, I've watched it over and over again.

[63] Brett Gardner is in the line-up tonight, sir.

Hughes seems determined to have a runner on before Miggy and Biggy

Oh, this can't end well ...

Now it gets interesting.

I don't really see Phil getting Cabrera out here.

oh crap.

Meh. Jackson was gonna score from second on anything anyway

Hey, when did Jorge Posada rejoin the roster?

[72] I would have gone with Cervelli, but both work.

He's like a dad hitting off his little leaguer.

Well, get the fat man here and call it an inning ...

Hm, I expected the Baseball Gods to punish Leyland for the stupid play. But now I expect them to punish Phil for the walk.

Or, the home plate umpire could punish him.

Thanks, Prince.

Whew.

Like I said.

Well done, Phillip.

Hey Phil escaped!

Sutcliffe is extra torturous tonight.

[82] Glad I am not the only one! On Gameday today, would guess Sutty alread said Yanks missing Jeter abotu 8 times?

[83] Not so much Jeter talk, but all sorts of other nonsense. Nunez brings a lot of offense, Morris should be in the HoF, various moral judgments, a stream slightly to greatly inaccurate and weird observations. Endless talking. It's killing me. Or at least it would be if I wasn't in a particularly masochistic, fatalistic, yankees-are-hopelessly-doomed mood.

Man, they really have missed Gardner's ability to work the count. 9 pitches there!

BTW, has M-Cab become as frightening to see come up to bat as Manny was back in the day? For me he has..just seems impossible to pitch to.

A hit!

YAY!

NO NO-HIT!

Yes, a hit. Nice, Ichiro.

TIME FOR A PLAY!

;-/

Ichiro is on!

OK, remind me. What happens when a Yankees batter runs safely to first base?

[91] Usually nothing

Jeez, gotta steal here with two outs, no? Not that it will make a diference.

[92] LOL.

Dear Robbie,

Do you have any pride?

Please stop embarrassing yourself.

KTHNKS,

CoB

[85] absolutely yes.....Cabrera= manny for me right now. Scared shitless when he is up....overall the duo of Cabrera and fielder is equally as frightening as manny and ortiz

[95] Honestly..I'm beginning to fall out of love with Robbie..truly horrific performance. Worthy of a public scolding by the Boss..where is Hank when we need him?

Damn.

Oh well.

[96] It seems to me Young has been the bigger threat against the Yankees, as demonstrated.

Ah, there's the Phil Hughes I know and love ...

I guess Delmon is the MVP

Inevitable with Hughes, you can't even blame him. He'll lose 2-0 tonight most likely.

At least we got a hit

Ball game. Sad cuz it's true.

[103] Yes, they'll most likely lose X to 0, where X is any integer greater than or equal to 1. The key point being, of course, that the most likely Yankees score is 0.

Injury to Hughes.

Just about sums up where this season has gone.

Injury Delay on Gameday..what happened?

They really want me to put on this stupid debate, don't they?

Lets put aide that neither of them is a good pitcher.

The ridiculous arbitrary innings limits have done jackshit to keep Hughes and Chamberlain healthy.

[108] Nothing blatant. Hughes was shaking his arm between pitches and not pitching very well. They pulled him.

so now Sutcliffe is claiming that Cabrera single-handedly pushed Hughes over the brink and caused some sort of injury, driving him from the game. Just what can't Cabrera do??

[107] What??! Damn..
[109] Don't torture yourself! At least there is a miniscule chance of entertainment in the baseball game.

[110] Do these limits ever really succeed in keeping young pitchers healthy? I guess the Nats can ponder the question during the offseason.

[110] Sure, if you think "arbitrary innings limits" have something to do with a) a leg injury in Texas, b) a shoulder injury in Texas caused by dodging an errant throw to 2nd base from catcher and c) a gruesome trampoline injury.

[115] He blew his elbow out.

Just 2 cents but if Hughes had a lumbar herniation his arm wouldn't be tingly (his leg might be). I'd think its a cervical herniation.

[116] YEAH, after he had to alter his motion after falling off the mound in Texas dodging I-Rod's throw.

A couple of YEARS after altering his motion, I'll add.

Keep dialing.

Whoa, Ichiro looked like Swisher out there...except I trust Ichiro's judgment that he really couldn't make a play on that.

I am going to walk my dog.

[119] The Joba rules took effect in 2009.

[106] Integers, bah.

[122] The Joba Rules took effect in 2007. You know with that older fellow, used to manage the team before Girardi, had to be kept from over-using a young, stud pitcher?

Joe somebody?

I'm going to do some work. Will keep an eye out to see if we get to see the Detroit bullpen though.

Only one run scored. Still, Gardner has his work cut out for him.

[124] In any case, this discussion can't go anywhere positive, so I'm done with it.

[124] 2009. The secret three inning circus starts, the skipped starts, the MYSTERY starts.

2009.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=chambjo03&t=p&year=2009

"Ibanez rips it into centerfield..."

Seriously?

Ok, now I know how the 1998 Texas RAngers felt. Score in one inning only.

Thank God we got a hit.

Just returned to the game. No fireworks in the debate so far. None here either apparently.

[43] hey Jazz. The new Fagen thing, and the last one he did, Morph The Cat are pretty much as great as Nightfly. Dude's still doing his thing.

Really? Come on.

For every ball... you hit in the air... you owe me... fifty pushups.

[128] Pity reality didn't record things that way:

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=joba%20rules

I know that Detroit is not most people's kind of city, but why are the Yankees so anxious to head back to NY?

Gsawd, kill me now. I should go the debate and call it a night.

Ugh. I just feel like we're doomed this year. Freakin' doomed.

NOW a ball carries out there?

Might as well be 20-0

Rats.

[132] Oh cool, will check it out.
Quiet music bar over here called The Nightfly, has the album as the sign outside the place: http://www10.ocn.ne.jp/~barcyde/nightfly-concept.html

Viagra commercial seems about right for the Yanks

142) nice!

Mmm-mmm-mmm, fifth-inning mix 'n' match. Lovely. Let's burn everyone. Joe knows CC doesn't throw a complete game EVERY time, right?

[135] So I just imagined 2009? Joba Chamberlain just so happened to have a string of exactly three inning starts back to back to back? Following a start that was nine days after his previous start? Leading into an exactly four inning start? There was no external force causing any of this?

What was that sign? Squeeze someone's butt? Hey, got to find the humor somewhere.

145) yeah it's panic and vomit time

Now it is fucking rallytime.

i feel remarkably calm. I don't know if that means something is gonna happen or if I've just given up on this group.

[146] No you're just completely ignoring the fact that the "Joba Rules" began in 2007, continued into the beginning of 2008 with an eye towards the ENTIRETY of 2008 AND beyond, but were over-turned when Joba got hurt in Texas, in July, on the freak play avoiding I-Rod's throw to 2nd.

No injury, no *NEW* "Joba Rules" in 2009. He would have been a full-time, all-year starter in 2009.

Whatever happened in 2009 and afterwards, was a direct result of a freak injury in Texas and the resulting decision they made to change his motion to relieve stress on his shoulder rather than have surgery.

But the "Joba Rules" began in 2007 and to think otherwise is simple canting nonsense.

[150} I gave up on them long before this game started. It's made my evening much quieter, and easier to get some work done.

Fuck Grandy. Just tear down this fucking awful team and start over.

[152] Gameday just had some weird tick where Granderson batted three times in a row..I think we've entered Sisiphys territory now with the lineup..

He's probably not really *so* awful, but I really have a(n irrational) dislike for Nunez.

I'd make a "dynamic bat" joke, but its not like anyone else is hitting.

[154] It's increasingly difficult to distinguish the at bats, and batters, from each other. Don't blame Gameday for that.

Man, it really is that kind of series right now.

Cano could come up and hit a ball 600 feet* and it would hit a low-flying commuter jet and fall back into the field of play to be caught for an out.

* well, no, but humor me, it's a hypothetical ...

When Mo went down I figured the season was over. So I'm not upset over the end of this season.

Panic time again. Get Swisher and America's Boyfriend into this fucking mess.

Holy F$uck absolutely ESSENTIAL that they hold Detroit here and Eppley is in the game??? D-Rob and Soriano for two innings each, please!!

Ahhh, there's Cervelli.

Time for a new pitcher.

Pasta leaping Nunez.

2012 on the line.

dp,! Rallytime!

That was a nice double play. Is it finally time for the bats to wake up?

Scratch out a hit, Ich!

I howled with laughter when I realized what "Georgia Roddy" meant from the fake Mike Francessa on twitter.

Fuck yeah!

Ichi's got Wa!

A run, a run, my kingdom for a run!

Wake up, Robbie!

Robbie's fighting

[173] Wake up, time to die?

Robbie's out

[175] Guess so.

See this is why I put the blame on Cano and not Alex.

Steal Ich!

[178] They're all awful

[178] Worst post-season performance I can remember. Shocking.

I'm going to the import mart for some German Stout, drown the miseries tonight.

We got nothing.

This is a very bad team.

Was stuck on Gameday that inning. Any special reason Ichiro stayed put? Fielder put him in a headlock or something?

[181] There's your problem right there. German stout? English or American, my friend!

Snowing? Well, that's somewhat apropo, we've got a snowball's chance in Hell, after all ...

I mean, Gamecast. Whatever.

184) I think they were waiting on a miracle that didn't happen. This is Verlander's game. We're just watching it.

[184] Very odd. He's been glued to first base all night. He should be able to steal his way to third. Then maybe someone can dribble him home.

At least it's Verlander, and not Kenny fucking Rogers.

I watched the debate on the computer while watching the game. The Yankees have sucked the life out of me. Good thing Ichiro brought his bat tonight. Fucking Bollocks! Nice not listening to the booth, though.

There's no reason to watch this team anymore. All the players I like are either injured, not in the line-up, or not playing well.

What a boring team.

Verlander's going to pitch a shutout tonight, isn't he?

And I've wanted to tell the ump to piss up a rope about a dozen times.

I wish Martin had been able to set the table, but it's amazing how much less depressing an out is when it's the outcome of a professional at-bat and a decent swing.

Full count, ground out.
The count is high, it is far it's a moral victory! Yankees win, thuuuh Yankees win!

[195] This is not the umpires fault. Not even close. The Yankees have been worse than wretched.

Sit down Grandy.

Great. Something happened to Martin now?

That"s right

You know, I think I'm ready for it to be over. Just lose tonight, lose tomorrow, let me get on with my life and never speak of the 2012 New York Yankees again.

I feel sorry for Ichiro. He finally gets another chance a the post season and he has to play on a futile line-up, just like all those years in Seattle

Rain delay is our only hope!

203) Ichiro, Jeter, Ibanez, CC and the pitchers, for the most part showed up. That's it.

Cult, mistype! German wheat beer and American stout from Anchor brewery in San Francisco.

Would Arod ask for his unconditional release from his contract if they just refused to play him ever again and let him ride the pine?

All right. This has been a miserable day anyway. Let's get this over with.

[198] Oh, I am well aware of that. I'm still pissed about Phil getting hosed in the 1st. We can agree that the at bats for last who knows how many games have fucking sucked beyond all comprehension.

207) knowing our guy, he'll wait until game 5 of the world series ro make waves.

[207] He would still get paid.

The only way he doesn't is if he voluntarily retires.

Verlander is the man.

Dynamic foul ball.

Of course it's a foul ball. Sigh

Dynamic homer.

Okay

Holy fuck

Nunez of all people.

Bwahahahahahahaha!

Nunez shows the way!

OK, maybe I'll have to start disliking Nunez a little less.

You future ss of the New York Yankees. He's bound to learn defense at some point.

Never give up!

Verlander instead of the Tiger Bullpen. Leyland makes the right move.

That was a great at-bat, and would have been even if he hadn't homered.

Gardner's had some decent ABs tonight....time for another and to get on

Hopefully, the other yanks follow Nunez' example of fouling off the unhittable pitches and wait for the mistakes now.

Get. On. Base.

Then. Fucking. Run.

Pesky. Remember?

I wish we had 9 Nunez's right now.

Get a fatter bat, Brett.

Leyland shit's the bed. Rallytime

Does Arod pinch hit now? Does Joe dare?

Where's the bunt? We needed him on base. At least JV is gone.

231) possessive?

What happened? Feed stopped. Are they taking Verlander out?

232) yes

I had the kind of day that reminds you that this isn't really very important, but a comeback win here sure would be nice.

I've always felt this team could use a little pesky. Just a little among the boppers and station-to-station guys. After all the grief the Coras and Ecksteins have given us over the years.

No
Maybe? Quite possibly not?

Choke, Coke, ya fat fuck.

When Coke was a Yankee he came in and immediately gave up a homer to the lefty

When did phil coke turn into kenny rogers?

Yeah, Teix,that was a ball you wanted to pull.

Get em Tex

A-Rod, pleeeeeeeeeeeeze!

Holy fuck. Daylight.

We need a home run. Who is next? Put in Alex if feasible.

Ha! Now steal again.

Nice vertical, Coke.

Normally I would say PR for Teixera, but all of the fast guys are already starting. I guess you could put Swisher in to run.

Nope, it's Nix.

NO! NO! NO CANO!

Cano, good grief! He can redeem himself here.

Need to bust out here....

Pinch stand there?

0-29, Gawd Cano.

LET'S GO ROBBIE!

Change the narrative, Robby

Let's hope coke gives a homer to a lefty tonight and cano turns it around.

A base hit! Shocking. Put in Alex.

Coke adds life! Get it done, fellas.

Attaboy, Robbie

I was sort of hoping he wouldn't break the streak with a single.

OK, *now* it's decision time. Do you bat Ibanez v. the LHP? I'd probably PH here, but maybe you ride the (sort of) hot hand.

Holy fuck.daylight.
Whaddaya say Ibanez?

Phew.

Why do we have a pinch runner, if he is just going to do what Tex could do? Drives me fucking nuts!

[261] Don't get greedy.

We'll take a base knock, Raul.

Asking a lot from RAOOL. I'm begging here.

I don't think he can sit Raul here. Hot hand.

how's this for timing?!

Coke is shit!

Hard for Nix to steal 2nd off a lefty. He was there to score from first on a gapper, not to steal.

Odd for Joe to suddenly stop playing matchups now, though. Raul was brutal vs. LHP

Oh, boy. LET'S GO!

Quality AB so far...gotta get on base

3-1

Your pitch Ra. Your pitch

Great, so Coke will walk Ibanez then get pulled for a good reliever.

do it again, Raul!!!

Full confidence here

fuck.

Oh fuck

Mother Fucker. Of course.

Or not.

Well, fuck this day all around.

So be it.

Tough pitch.

Season

Has a team ever come back to win an ALCS down 0-3?

Oh yeah. That time.

Series over. Cano should be made to walk back New York. What a waste of space he has been for this whole damn series. He is this team's best hitter unless he is hurt, there is no excuse for his performance.

Folks I quote Johnny Damon -- "we've won 4 in a row before".

289) yes

How could he let Ibanez face a lefty there? Horrible decision.

Very odd, that was an ideal time to use A-Rod, and Girardi even had Swisher up. There must be something going on behind the scenes.

[292] if not, a-rod faces benoit. 3 pitches and done. at least this went full count. i guess...

fuck it all. season over.

292) I dunno. You're probably right, but in the moment of desperation I didn't question leaving it up to Ibanez

I demand wholesale changes next year. Fire the manager. Scrap everything except the young guys, Jeter and the pitching staff.

[291] Which would be totally doable with our pitching if they got any runs to work with.

Girardi really talks a lot of flowery nonsense after these losses. He mentioned at least twice that they only struck out three times against Verlander. But Joe, you scored ONE run. And that didn't come until the ninth. How are any of us supposed to take solace from only three strikeouts?

Bottom line is five runs in three games. Four of those runs came in one inning. And the Yankees have not scored in a game before the ninth.

Hey look in Apeil I would have have signed up ro get to the alcs with no promises, so fuck it if we can't take a joke, which our hitting has been. All due respect to the pitchers who have undressed us.

299) type much, loser?