Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : ...Do We HAVE to Play Two?

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J. Miranda BR BC mi

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M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB mi

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C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi
F. Cervelli BR BC mi

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M. Mussina BR BP BC E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP BC E
P. Hughes BR BP BC E mi
C. Pavano BR BP BC E mi
A. Aceves BR E mi

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M. Rivera BR BP BC E
J. Chamberlain BR BP BC E
D. Marte (L) BR BP BC E
J. Veras BR BP BC E mi
E. Ramirez BR BP BC E mi
B. Bruney BR BP BC E mi
D. Giese BR BP BC E mi
C. Britton BR BP BC E mi
P. Coke (L) BR BC E mi
D. Rasner BR BP BC E mi
S. Ponson BR BP BC E mi
D. Robertson BR BC E mi
H. Sanchez BC mi

15-day DL:
C. Wang BR BP BC E
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J. Posada BR BP E MLB
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC

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J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP BC
R. Thomson (Bench) BC
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP BC
B. Meacham (3B) BR BP BC
T. Peña (1B) BR BP BC
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BP BC

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J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
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J. Marquez BR BC mi

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Select Minor Leaguers:

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R. Peña BC mi DL
C. Malec BC mi
M. Vechionacci BC mi DL
A. Jackson BC mi
C. Curtis BC mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
P.J. Pilittere BC mi
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G. Kontos BC mi
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M. Cusick BC mi
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C. Heyer BC mi

Low-A Staten Island Yankees:
D. Adams mi
P. Venditte mi

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C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
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S. Proctor BR BP BC E LAD
J. Brower BR BP BC E mi CIN mL
C. Bean BR BP BC E mi ATL mL

2007 Campers and mLers:
E. Durazo BR BP BC E MLB mi
A. Cannizaro BR BP BC E MLB mi TB mL
A. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi LAD mL
K. Reese BR BP BC E MLB mi
R. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT mL
O. Santos BC mi BAL mL
T. Pratt BR BP BC E MLB
T.J. Beam BR BP BC E mi PIT mL
B. Kozlowski (L) BR BP BC E mi Japan

Molina Trade:
J. Kennard BC mi

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M. Smith (L) BR BP BC E mi PHI
C. Monasterios BC mi PHI
J. Sanchez mi PHI

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...Do We HAVE to Play Two?

2008-06-27 14:58

by Emma Span

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.

Comments (290)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2008-06-27 16:09:45

1. cult of basebaal

You forgot the triumphal return of Kei Igawa, what could possibly be more potentially more exciting that that???

2008-06-27 16:18:53

2. randym77

They're talking about maybe bringing back Shawn Chacon on The Fan. Cashman thinks he can take him, but I dunno. He's kinda skinny.

2008-06-27 16:22:38

3. cult of basebaal

2 i think cashman vs edwar is the only fair fight either could get on this team ...

2008-06-27 16:23:31

4. mehmattski

I'm confused. Which one was Bambi?

2008-06-27 16:24:14

5. weeping for brunnhilde

You're crazy, Emma, with that video (which, btw, makes nice use of the "Day in the Life" chord!).

We'll tag Pedro tonight, the way the guys are swinging the clubs, but I can't speak for Ponson.

2008-06-27 16:25:52

6. randym77

Well, Jeter has spoken up in support of Chac. Says he's willing to be a character witness for him.

2008-06-27 16:26:32

7. cult of basebaal

5 i'm insisting that he only be referred to as he is on RLYW ... as "snacks pontoon" ... which is just sounds totally awesome and old school, like 1930's old school

2008-06-27 16:29:19

8. cult of basebaal

4 i was confused myself, i couldn't tell if bambi was supposed to look like giese, ramirez, or ohlendorf

i know who godzilla looked like, though

2008-06-27 16:34:15

9. randym77

Looks like the game will start on time.

I wonder why the Mets arrived at Yankee Stadium today wearing their uniforms?

2008-06-27 16:43:34

10. Emma Span

1 You're right, how could I have neglected to mention Kei Igawa, the tinsel on the Yankees' Christmas tree of a day?

9 I dunno, but if I'm Carlos Delgado I'm wearing my uniform to the ballpark for every game from now on.

2008-06-27 16:51:22

11. mehmattski

8 I guess that's how Matsui hurt his knee, stomping on Bambi...

2008-06-27 17:01:13

12. mehmattski

At least I get YES for the nightcap, I've missed those guys.

2008-06-27 17:01:30

13. cult of basebaal

on another front, chad jennings reports the following:

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.

2008-06-27 17:02:12

14. 3rd gen yankee fan

Delgado has nine RBI on the day? Okay kids, I'm calling it, we have officially hit rock f'in bottom. It can't get any worse. We can only go up from here. Hooray!

2008-06-27 17:02:42

15. cult of basebaal

i have a feeling that sunday night / monday morning is going to be a busy time for yankees transactions

2008-06-27 17:03:32

16. cult of basebaal

14 is that like the rock bottom that the housing market keeps hitting ... on the way to its new bottom???

2008-06-27 17:10:00

17. randym77

I get to choose between YES and Channel 11.

2008-06-27 17:13:44

18. mehmattski

Pedro Martinez and Sidney Ponson have faced off before:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200209220.shtml

Let's hope it's more like 2004 than 2002.

2008-06-27 17:14:46

19. mehmattski

And, I posted the same game twice. Here's the epic Ponson-Martinez opening day matchup in 2004:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200404040.shtml

2008-06-27 17:17:41

20. cult of basebaal

damn, just missed it ... not bad for 1 handed, though

2008-06-27 17:17:57

21. mehmattski

Nuts. Not quite the wind currents from Yankee Stadium, there A-Rod.

Time for Sir Sidney and the Dolorous Stroke!

2008-06-27 17:17:58

22. Yankees Brasil

Damn, almost a HR.

2008-06-27 17:19:25

23. cult of basebaal

c'mon Snacks Pontoon!

2008-06-27 17:19:28

24. tommyl

Sir Sidney!

2008-06-27 17:19:53

25. Eirias

A strikeout? Who is this Ponson kid and how do we sign him!

2008-06-27 17:20:55

26. 3rd gen yankee fan

16 No, this is the REAL bottom! Rock f'in bottom!

2008-06-27 17:21:17

27. Mattpat11

They didn't really call up Kei Igawa did they?

2008-06-27 17:21:22

28. cult of basebaal

nice play, cap'n!

2008-06-27 17:21:30

29. mehmattski

Aww, there goes the perfect game and the no-hitter.

2008-06-27 17:21:37

30. Yankees Brasil

Nice play by Jeter. Ponson looks good so far.

2008-06-27 17:23:27

31. tommyl

27 They did. They figured if we're gonna lose the game, we might as well go for some records in sucking.

2008-06-27 17:24:35

32. 3rd gen yankee fan

27 I said, rock f'in bottom!

2008-06-27 17:26:28

33. weeping for brunnhilde

7 "Snacks Pontoon."

Nice.

2008-06-27 17:27:31

34. Mattpat11

31 I actually hate Brian Cashman. I really, truly, honestly believe he runs this team for is own ego to the detriment of the team.

2008-06-27 17:29:13

35. cult of basebaal

34 "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

2008-06-27 17:29:59

36. tommyl

35 Though you do get a pretty swanky super star destroyer.

2008-06-27 17:30:53

37. 3rd gen yankee fan

Pedro laughed when he saw Robbie get into the box, didn't he?

2008-06-27 17:31:15

38. mehmattski

36 Swanky, but with glaring engineering flaws easily exploited by anyone with a ship that flies.

2008-06-27 17:31:45

39. randym77

What exactly did Ponson do to get fired from his last job?

2008-06-27 17:32:20

40. Mattpat11

34 I want a rational argument for why Igawa is still in the organization, let alone on the 25 man.

2008-06-27 17:33:21

41. mehmattski

39 Unknown, "disrespectful and adverse reactions to situation unbecoming of teammates."

You can read more here:
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/6/6/547411/sidney-ponson-designated-f

2008-06-27 17:33:51

42. tommyl

38 Well, you just need to protect the bridge deflector shields. Any idiot knows that.

2008-06-27 17:33:58

43. cult of basebaal

38 only if you've got the mad skillz to bullseye womp rats!

2008-06-27 17:34:34

44. mehmattski

40 Brian Cashman is Inigo Montoya, and you are Count Rugen.

2008-06-27 17:34:44

45. Yankees Brasil

And we finally break the streak of innings with somebody left on base.

2008-06-27 17:35:09

46. OldYanksFan

I heard he got drunk and nasty at the hotel bar during one of the road trips. Basically they said he was a 'bad character' and influence. AND he wasn't doing as well as Milton Bradley.

2008-06-27 17:36:53

47. mehmattski

41 I'm also remembering that the incident came after the Rangers committed like five errors behind him in a start, and he was pissed off and ran his mouth in the dugout. That's the rumor anyway.

My theory: Cashman is testing to see if the clubhouse can tolerate a malcontent. Next stop: Barry Bonds.

2008-06-27 17:37:01

48. OldYanksFan

I'm calling it now. 'Snacks' goes 11-0 and they interview him and Aaron Small together.

2008-06-27 17:37:15

49. Mattpat11

44 I think he's a stubborn son of a bitch that can't take the blow to the ego that his 46 million dollar investment sitting in AAA is.

2008-06-27 17:37:52

50. Yankees Brasil

Damon should have had that ball.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2008-06-27 17:38:01

51. OldYanksFan

JD 'Matsuied' it.

2008-06-27 17:38:57

52. randym77

41 Wow. Sounds like he had a tantrum because of bad fielding.

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.

2008-06-27 17:39:23

53. mehmattski

Pedro is going to hit a grand slam here.

2008-06-27 17:39:33

54. cult of basebaal

49 whatever you do for a living, you're obviously in the wrong field, your powers of psychological analysis are stunning

2008-06-27 17:39:59

55. SF Yanks

This Pontoon guy is most excellent! I'm glad he's apart of the squad.

2008-06-27 17:40:23

56. Eirias

Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play, Triple Play

2008-06-27 17:40:36

57. mehmattski

How dare Ponson disgrace the name of Ron Villone by taking his number?!?

2008-06-27 17:40:40

58. randym77

48 Not off to a promising start here.

2008-06-27 17:40:56

59. OldYanksFan

However, Snacks did NOT grab his GM by the throat and throw him to the ground.

2008-06-27 17:41:42

60. Eirias

How far out can the infield fly rule be called? The start of the grass?

2008-06-27 17:41:57

61. cult of basebaal

way to go, Snacks!

2008-06-27 17:42:15

62. Yankees Brasil

59 I bet Mattpat11 wishes he'd do that now.

2008-06-27 17:42:18

63. OldYanksFan

ohoh. Pedro will now have to bean Syd.

2008-06-27 17:43:10

64. Eirias

Typhoon Sidney blew on through.

2008-06-27 17:43:14

65. mehmattski

If you think watching Sidney Ponson pitch for the Yankees is bad, imagine being a Mets fan, cursing at the TV because the Mets haven't scored an f'ing run off Ponson yet...

2008-06-27 17:44:06

66. OldYanksFan

Wow. The Mets there were kind of Yankeelike.

2008-06-27 17:44:47

67. mehmattski

60 I'd imagine it's not literal, it's at the ump's discretion... if they think the fielder could get a double play by letting the ball drop, they'll call it.

2008-06-27 17:45:01

68. Eirias

66 They are the Milwaukee's Best of Yankees.

2008-06-27 17:45:17

69. Yankees Brasil

Now it's time for us to score. A Ponson homer, I say.

2008-06-27 17:46:08

70. 3rd gen yankee fan

MOlina!

2008-06-27 17:46:12

71. OldYanksFan

Look... Colon is 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA for the Sox. So if you think Snacks is a real asshole, well... what about Colon?
(sorry)

2008-06-27 17:47:28

72. mehmattski

There is no infield fly rule on a bunt, by the way. Delgado remembered this too late.

2008-06-27 17:47:57

73. ms october

evidently there is something about the yankee uniform that keeps anyone from being able to bunt

2008-06-27 17:49:07

74. cult of basebaal

i think that if snacks pitches well in this game, he should start growing a giambi 'stache as well ... i think in a couple of weeks he'd look like Ned Beatty playing Arthur Jensen in Network

2008-06-27 17:51:06

75. mehmattski

74 I think he'd look more like this guy:

http://mymoratorium.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/comic.gif

2008-06-27 17:52:56

76. Yankees Brasil

It would be a miracle for us to win this one.

2008-06-27 17:55:42

77. cult of basebaal

baffled him with a hanging meatball ... don't think i'd want to try that one too many times tonite

2008-06-27 17:58:24

78. jalexei

Wait a minute - what the hell is going on? - I've been crazy busy at work the past week or so, haven't seen a snippet of baseball in two days, I get home from work, help get the kids to bed, and turn on to see....Hmmm, #47? Who? Oh, that's odd, it must be a "Yankee Classic" covering a rain delay, though I'll be a monkey's uncle if I can remember any game Aruba's favorite son started that could remotely be considered....Wait, is that? On his shoulder? No, that can't be a Yankee Stadium patch. It just....can't be.

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?

2008-06-27 18:00:23

79. mehmattski

78 At least Miguel Cairo isn't playing first base...

2008-06-27 18:00:25

80. cult of basebaal

78 if i told you that the yankees called up kei igawa, would your head explode?

yes?

hold on, i'll get popcorn!

2008-06-27 18:03:07

81. cult of basebaal

this has got to totally be the Snack Pontoon Experience, circa 2008 ... not so many runs, but always with the base runners ...

2008-06-27 18:04:11

82. Yankees Brasil

He has no idea where the ball is going. Don't we have enough of these kind of pitchers already?

2008-06-27 18:05:01

83. Mattpat11

Look at the size of this man's head.

2008-06-27 18:05:34

84. nick

what a bloodbath!

2008-06-27 18:06:20

85. cult of basebaal

83 it's like an orange on a toothpick!

HAID!!!

2008-06-27 18:06:27

86. Mattpat11

This must be what facing it feels like facing the Yankees.

2008-06-27 18:06:27

87. mehmattski

Ponson is a Magician!

2008-06-27 18:06:44

88. cult of basebaal

oh boy, iggy is warming!

2008-06-27 18:07:16

89. Mattpat11

I wasn't sure why Kay has been gushing over Ponson for two weeks.

Then I saw 95 mph, and it made all the sense in the world.

2008-06-27 18:07:36

90. nick

phew...one more, and then Iggy, no doubt. fun for the whole fami