Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Subway Series got off to an ever so slightly rocky start for the Yankees this afternoon with a muggy, slow 15-6 crushing. Dan Giese was both uncharacteristically sloppy and, apparently, contagious, as the Yanks' bullpen spent much of the afternoon in the throes of a prolonged nervous breakdown. The result was a rout that … wait, what was that noise?! Did you guys hear that? Oh, never mind – it's just Carlos Delgado's massive sixth inning grand slam finally landing.
Ahem. Anyway, neither starter was all that great today– Pelfrey only made it through five innings – but the Yankees kept stranding runners like it was going out of style, for a grand total of lucky 13, while the Mets let neither Giese or any of his ineffective replacements off the hook.
But, on the plus side... it only took four hours!
There were too many big hits today to recap in full, but here are the essentials: the Mets took the lead in the first inning on a David Wright RBI single, then again in the third on a Carlos Beltran home run, and finally for good on a Carlos Delgado double off Edwar Ramirez in the fifth. Delgado's back-breaking grand slam -- deep, deep, DEEP into the right field bleachers -- came just an inning later, off of Ross Ohlendorf, and Delgado went on to set a new Mets franchise record with nine RBIs, after an additional three-run homer two innings later.
The Yankees did have their moments early on – Giambi and his 'Stache of Doom came through again; Jeter banged out his 400th career double; A-Rod 3 for 4 with a long home run – but nothing that really constitutes an even silver-ish lining.
In fact, this could be a pretty tough weekend all around for the Yankees, given the pitching matchups. Obviously it goes without saying that baseball's a funny game, and anything can happen on a given day, and blah blah blah, but: Sir Sidney Ponson vs. Pedro Martinez? Oy. Sure, Pedro's not his old self, and his last start was a disaster... that still just doesn't sound good, does it?
Those of you brave enough to face the Ponson Adventure this evening, comment away here. I'd recommend emulating tonight's starting pitcher in at least one regard, though, and keeping plenty of booze on hand.
We'll tag Pedro tonight, the way the guys are swinging the clubs, but I can't speak for Ponson.
i know who godzilla looked like, though
I wonder why the Mets arrived at Yankee Stadium today wearing their uniforms?
9 I dunno, but if I'm Carlos Delgado I'm wearing my uniform to the ballpark for every game from now on.
Back here in Buffalo, Brett Gardner is getting another start in left field, with Matt Carson taking another turn in center. Gardner was getting occasional starts in left field earlier this season, but he seems to be playing there a lot more often lately.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200209220.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200209220.shtml
Let's hope it's more like 2004 than 2002.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200404040.shtml
Time for Sir Sidney and the Dolorous Stroke!
Nice.
You can read more here:
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/6/6/547411/sidney-ponson-designated-f
My theory: Cashman is testing to see if the clubhouse can tolerate a malcontent. Next stop: Barry Bonds.
Al Leiter says you never, ever do that. No matter how terrible the fielding, you never, ever criticize your fielders.
And here I thought he'd fallen off the wagon or something.
(sorry)
http://mymoratorium.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/comic.gif
Oh my God - it's now - it IS happening, like some bizzaro parallel universe where everyone is forced to make bad decisions. Like some weird retake on an even unfunnier "Liar Liar" - I...I'm speechless. Speechless until I wander out to the front porch and start screaming "Fire Cashman!" 'till I'm hoarse (or the neighbors call the police).
No, just no. Really, no. C'mon guys, someone yell "Gotcha!" Ha, Ha, April Fool in June....guys? Anyone?
yes?
hold on, i'll get popcorn!
HAID!!!
Then I saw 95 mph, and it made all the sense in the world.
Plus I am getting even more pissed at this Sir Ponson f'er.
We can't do worse then the Mets did last inning (can we?).
Ponson bash time!
My God, is Molina slow. He was almost out on that.
119 please forgive my ridiculous grammar
(Why not Syd Cherise???)
Michael Kay: "We've completed four... interesting innings at Shea..."
wow, what a nice throw
Nah.
meanwhile, JD almost broke off his legs with that "slide"
Now, does Rob get a 'sac' for that, officially?
Told you guys it couldn't get any worse.
"fat, drunk, and stupid's no way to go through life, son!"
Uh. So, he faces 17 batters in the first three innings, and 6 in the next two innings. Do you think the Mets are like, "Ah, fuck it, we can't score anyway, let's get this over with quick"?
Snacks says: I resent that! I am not FAT!
If you ever get a chance to return to Durham and see a game in Cameron, it's the most unique fan experience you'll ever have. Imagine the Yankees playing a World Series game in a high school gym...
Well, who's your daddy, Pedro?
4' from a HR for Jetes. Maybe he's coming back.
It was the hurt hand, had ta be.
~Homer Simpson
102 PA, .322/.396/.456
13 game hitting streak:
57 PA, .353/.421/.490
Not including today's games, of course.
Brian Cashman
Snacks Ponson
GENIUS!
Remember the year when our heros were
Small and Chacon?
Maybe this year it will be
Ponson...
and Chacon?
Really, if you don't count HRs, Farns has been very good this year.
But, uh, they do count HR, don't they?
Oh, did you mean that to refer to 201 ?
Cliff... clear up some disk space.
If you don't count the iceberg, ______ .
If you don't count _______ , that play was a lot of fun.
No, wait, that's not a good prescription.
To celebrate, he's going to grab Cashman by the throat and throw him to the ground.
There was a discussion on SNY during the first game, where Keith Hernandez ripped the Yankees because they don't have a lefty in the bullpen. Cohen was like "well, would you rather have a bad lefty or a good righty." And then reminded Hernandez that Mike Myers gave up a home run to Ortiz the first time they met.
Hernandez laughed and said "well, but... lefty specialists... just work!"
The logic is impeccable.
I think Robbie may be on the way back.
Play the game, Jeb. Sheesh.
We get our asses kicked at home, and 3 hours later, in flushing, with Snacks vs. Pedro, we embarass the Mets.
You simply cannot predict this game.
If I were a Mets fan, I would say:
UNACCEPTABLE!
FARNSPROOF
FARNSPROOF
FARNSPROOF
Yankees record in pitcher-starts, 1995-2008, minimum 3 starts:
1.000 Ed Yarnall 3-0
0.833 Tyler Clippard 5-1
0.800 Joba Chamberlain 4-1
0.750 Aaron Small 9-3
0.750 Jason Grimsley 3-1
0.750 Sidney Ponson 3-1
0.750 Tanyon Sturtze 3-1
0.727 Randy Keisler 8-3
0.695 Chien-Ming Wang 66-29
0.683 David Wells 84-39
New nickname: The Three-Toed Sloth.
Here we go, Farns! Mo needs work!
2 hits! (both from this month)
You'd almost like to see the two-run homer here, just so Girardi doesn't get the wrong idea in his head.
By the way, Will Leitch is leaving Deadspin today. Kind of a bittersweet day in the blogosphere today. Somewhere Buzz Bissinger is slapping someone with a WC Heinz book.
Good use of the closer by the Mets today, by the way.
And here's Kei after all!
I watched over seven hours of the Yankees today. And I'll be back tomorrow for one of the best pitching matchups of the season. I actually get to watch the Yankees play on Saturday afternoon! Woohoo!
So I guess, almost Igawa-proof.
Mine's bourbon on ice. Nice night for it, actually.
Well, a final toast to Emma: yep, we HAD to play the second, and it all worked out. Tomorrow's headline:
PONTOON STABILIZES YANKEE CLIPPER.
SIDNEY'S LATEST OPERA BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE
Or....
SIR SIDNEY JOINS ROUND TABLE WITH SHUTOUT
Or...
PONSON WINS GAME, CURES CANCER, MATTPAT11 STILL BITTER
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