Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : No Point in Steering Now

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Major Leauge Roster:

Infielders:
J. Giambi BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
W. Betemit BR BP E MLB mi
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BC mi

Outfielders:
B. Abreu BR BP E MLB
J. Damon BR BP E MLB
X. Nady BR BP E MLB
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB mi
B. Gardner BR E MLB mi
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB mi

Catchers:
I. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
J. Molina BR BP E MLB
C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi
F. Cervelli BR BC mi

Starting Pitchers:
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

Relief Pitchers:
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
60-day DL:
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC

Coaches:
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

40-man Roster:
AAA
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi
J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
I. Kennedy BR BP BC E mi
C. Wright (L) BR BP BC E mi
J. Marquez BR BC mi

Designated for Assignment:
B. Traber (L) BR BP BC E mi

Select Minor Leaguers:

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
B. Castro BR mi DL
C. Basak BR BP BC E MLB mi
E. Duncan BC mi
N. Green BR mi
B. Broussard BR mi
M. Carson BC mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi
J. Brown BC mi DL
K. Igawa (L) BR BP BC E JB mi
M. Melancon BC mi
J.B. Cox BC mi
S. Strickland BR BC mi
S. Jackson BC mi
E. Milton BR BC mi DL
V. Zambrano BR BC mi DL

AA Trenton Thunder:
K. Russo BR mi
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
J. Jones BC mi
G. Kontos BC mi
J. Nuñez BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DL
A. Claggett BC mi
O. Perez BR BC mi
M. Gardner BC mi
K. Whelan BC mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi

A Tampa Yankees:
E. Nuñez BC mi
C.J. Henry BC mi DL
T. Battle BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Gil BC mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
Z. McAllister BC mi
W. De La Rosa (L) BC mi
C. Garcia BC mi

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:
J. Snyder BC mi
M. Cusick BC mi
B. Suttle BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
J. Montero BC mi
D. Betances BC mi
J. Heredia BC mi
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi

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

Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube (past mL stats)
mi = MiLB.com (current mL stats)
E = ESPN (current splits, game logs)
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
JB = Japanese Baseball.com

The Recently Departed

2008 Yankees:
R. Sexson BR BP E MLB
M. Ensberg BR BP E MLB CLE mL
A. Gonzalez BR BP E MLB mi WAS
K. Farnsworth BR BP BC E DET
L. Hawkins BR BP BC E HOU
S. Patterson BR BC mi SD

Nady/Marte Trade:
J. Tabata BC mi
J. Karstens BR BP BC E mi
R. Ohlendorf BR BP BC E
D. McCutchen BC mi

2008 Campers/mLers:
C. Woodward BR BP BC E MLB PHI mL
J. Lane BR mi BOS mL
G. Porter BC mi WAS mL
J.D. Closser BR mi SD mL
S. Henn (L) BR BP BC E mi SD
H. Phillips (L) BR BC mi TB mL
S. White BR BC mi

2007 Yankees:
J. Torre (Mgr) BR BP BC LAD
D. Mientkiewicz BR BP BC E MLB PIT
A. Phillips BR BP BC E MLB mi CIN
J. Phelps BR BP BC E MLB STL
M. Cairo BR BP BC E MLB SEA
K. Thompson BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT
B. Sardinha BC mi SEA mL
W. Nieves BR BP BC E MLB WAS
R. Clemens BR BP BC E mi
T. Clippard BR BP BC E mi WAS
L. Vizcaino BR BP BC E COL $7.5m/2yrs
M. DeSalvo BR BP BC E mi ATL mL
M. Myers (L) BR BP BC E LAD mL
R. Villone (L) BR BP BC E mi STL
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

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

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No Point in Steering Now

2008-08-27 13:52

by Alex Belth

Sho nuff, this has been a down year for our boys. Games like last night just underscore what has been a frustrating season this has been. Still, there's thirty games left. Soon enough, fall will be upon us and there will be no more baseball until the spring. It's looking like there won't be October baseball in the Bronx, which only makes me appreciate what an impressive run the Yanks have enjoyed since 1995. So even if they team isn't that wunnerful, at least we get to watch baseball for a little while longer. And that's nothing to sneeze at.

Ponson vs. Byrd tonight. Can't get any worse. And even if it does, we're prepared. Damn the torpedos and let's go Yan-Kees.

Comments (113)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2008-08-27 14:14:41

1. kylepetterson

What we have to ask ourselves is: What's worse, not making the playoffs or choking in the first round? At least we can blame this on injuries.

2008-08-27 15:36:41

2. JL25and3

1 That's easy. Not making the playoffs is much worse. It's not even close.

And why do we need to "blame" it on anything?

2008-08-27 15:41:49

3. Biscuit Pants

2 Because it is the Yankees' god-given right to be in the playoffs every year, of course!

There has to be a reason for this horrific, freakish abomonation of a season.

Maybe we didn't sacrifice a real virgin?

2008-08-27 16:15:43

4. Eirias

3 She lied!

2008-08-27 16:17:53

5. OldYanksFan

3 Madonna's not a virgin ? (or just like a virgin?)

2008-08-27 16:20:53

6. Just fair

Big Papi don't preach. Got home just in time to see a nice 2 out, 2 run double.

2008-08-27 16:21:47

7. Mattpat11

If the Yankees are going to miss the playoffs anyway, can't we just release this tub? If the season is lost anyway, I want to see little things I can enjoy. The likes of Sidney Ponson and Carl Pavano are insult to injury.

2008-08-27 16:22:26

8. tommyl

Good to see Ponson picking up where Pettitte left off.

2008-08-27 16:22:38

9. Eirias

Ding.

2008-08-27 16:23:27

10. OldYanksFan

FYI: Postoons has made 10 starts for the Yankees, for an ERA of 4.67. In 3 starts, he was horrible, giving up 7 ERs in 2, 4 and 5 IP. In the other 7 starts, his ERA is around 3.00.

So he has been terrible in 3 starts and 'Acelike' in 7. He is 6-4 in those 10 starts.

2008-08-27 16:23:28

11. Eirias

9 Or not ding. Much better.

2008-08-27 16:23:42

12. randym77

Nice throw.

Bay was out by a mile.

2008-08-27 16:25:51

13. Mattpat11

10 And he has a long history of being a lousy pitcher, so we have every reason to believe that the bloom is overdue to come off the rose.

2008-08-27 16:26:16

14. Eirias

Outside of obvious, blatant, stupidity, I don't even get the fake science of the Phiten neckbands. Titanium is only paramagnetic.

2008-08-27 16:27:32

15. Eirias

Byrd throws the fewest pitches per inning in the AL, if memory serves me correct.

2008-08-27 16:27:42

16. randym77

14 At least they don't look as silly as those Lisa Simpson beads Asdrubal Cabrera wears.

2008-08-27 16:27:46

17. Mattpat11

14 They're supposed to do something?

2008-08-27 16:28:48

18. Just fair

15 With strike 3 calls like that, no wonder. Unfrickinbelievable.

2008-08-27 16:29:02

19. OldYanksFan

That strike 3 was at LEAST a foot outside. Jeez...

2008-08-27 16:31:53

20. Mattpat11

Timmons is on his game tonight

2008-08-27 16:31:58

21. Eirias

17 Yes. They are supposed to do things. Check out http://www.phitenusa.com/tech.htm . Good times.

2008-08-27 16:33:07

22. Biscuit Pants

Headline on Yankees.com:

Time Is Short, So Yanks Ready To Bust A Move

Holy cow, Messer!

2008-08-27 16:33:31

23. tommyl

Eh, wasn't with a runner in scoring position...

2008-08-27 16:33:39

24. Eirias

A-Rod! Aqua Titanium! Titanium Micro-spheres!

2008-08-27 16:34:21

25. Biscuit Pants

He should've hit a homer . . .

2008-08-27 16:35:23

26. JL25and3

23 I was thinking the same thing. No RISP, not "close and late," didn't tie the score or put the Yankees ahead. Meaningless.

2008-08-27 16:40:51

27. Mattpat11

I think there's a crater in the infield after that

2008-08-27 16:42:39

28. tommyl

Where's Dimelo?

2008-08-27 16:44:22

29. Just fair

I shoud put the garbage out more often. How come the Yanks are at bat again? : )

2008-08-27 17:05:12

30. OldYanksFan

"I was thinking the same thing. No RISP, not "close and late," didn't tie the score or put the Yankees ahead. Meaningless."

We all tend to look at RISP but I think RUNNERS ON is a better stat. It covers that last ARod situation and, after all, when we have a guy on first, isn't the next guy up getting a hit, even a double, pretty important?

And Runs Scored doesn't get enough 'play' (except if you're Jeter). If you have back-2-back doubles, the second guy gets RISP 'credit' AND an RBI. The first guy to double? What was his name again?

ARod has a .936 OPS leading off. This is a good thing, yes? So yeah, RISP is indeed important, but it doesn't tell the whole story about how a player contributes to scoring runs.

2008-08-27 17:15:44

31. rbj

Feh. I've given up already. And last night I went to the Mudhens game. They were down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, two outs, a man on second & Hessman (who leads the IL in homers despite having gone to the Olympics with team USA) and the runner gets picked off. Picked off second base to end the game when you're the tying run.

I think I might just be done with baseball for the year. I'll still watch, but the enthusiasm is gone.

2008-08-27 17:19:07

32. OldYanksFan

And a useless (statless) leadoff double.

2008-08-27 17:19:31

33. JL25and3

He's the least clutch player there is. Leadoff double in a 2-1 game - and only in the fourth inning? Pfft.

2008-08-27 17:20:24

34. JL25and3

30 I think this shows: basically, getting a double is good. No one on, runners on, RISP - hitting a double is good.

2008-08-27 17:20:55

35. rbj

Clutch grounder to move A-Rod to third.

2008-08-27 17:22:01

36. Biscuit Pants

Doubles Shmoubles . . . can he hit a homer, for cripes sake???

2008-08-27 17:22:16

37. tommyl

Bah, leadoff double. Not clutch. Trade'm

2008-08-27 17:23:19

38. tommyl

Somehow, that's A-Rod's fault. Why didn't he steal home?

2008-08-27 17:28:56

39. Mattpat11

Good enough

2008-08-27 17:32:41

40. Alex Belth

Hey, so far, so not so bad...Nice couple of abs by Alex, decent stuff from Bonzone after the first...(reverse jinx, knock on everythang)

2008-08-27 17:34:07

41. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

Ohayo Gozaimasu! another wonderful 80% humidity morning here..at least it's a tie game so far!

2008-08-27 17:34:33

42. Alex Belth

Jeez, nice job falling behind Coco and then coming back to K his jive ass.

2008-08-27 17:38:46

43. cult of basebaal

i didn't think it was possible, but somehow sutcliffe manages to make me miss joe morgan ... jebus, every time he starts a sentence, "it's just my opinion, but ..." my mind reflexively recoils in horror ...

2008-08-27 17:39:00

44. Alex Belth

I really did speak too soon didn't I?

2008-08-27 17:43:33

45. JL25and3

How can they boo Sidney Ponson for being Sidney Ponson?

2008-08-27 17:43:35

46. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

43 ooh..."Sutt" is awful..obsessed with "gamers" and "table-setters"...

2008-08-27 17:43:37

47. randym77

Throw strikes, lard butt.

2008-08-27 17:45:50

48. Mattpat11

...

2008-08-27 17:46:45

49. Alex Belth

BONZONE!

2008-08-27 17:46:51

50. Mattpat11

43 Has he declared Varitek the AL MVP yet?

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2008-08-27 17:48:07

51. tommyl

On the positive note, Hughes is dominating right now.

2008-08-27 17:50:50

52. 3rd gen yankee fan

They seem to have some fight in them tonight.

2008-08-27 17:50:58

53. Mattpat11

I'm gonna watch Bubba's speech in ten minutes. I suspect it will closely resemble the lyrics to "Viva la Vida"

2008-08-27 17:51:38

54. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

is Paul Byrd the guy who talked about finding religion to cure his "adult video" fixation?

2008-08-27 17:53:08

55. cult of basebaal

hey alex ... you seen this story?

http://tinyurl.com/6zbuxd

2008-08-27 17:53:49

56. Mattpat11

54 He's the one that saw nothing abnormal about going to a dentist to gain an online prescription for a thyroid gland problem.

2008-08-27 17:53:49

57. Mattpat11

54 He's the one that saw nothing abnormal about going to a dentist to gain an online prescription for a thyroid gland problem.

2008-08-27 17:53:55

58. cult of basebaal

53 thanks for the commentary, let me know when it has something to do with this game, ok?

2008-08-27 17:54:14

59. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

8 pitches and a single...nice job Johnny!

2008-08-27 17:55:44

60. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

57 oh that's right! jeez, one look at him and you don't exacrly think 'roids...

2008-08-27 17:59:03

61. Alex Belth

I did hear about that story, from Jay Jaffe who linked to it as well. Made me absolutely, 100% sick to my stomach. It's absolutely revolting and I have no reason NOT to believe the dude. That is about as offensive as anything I can imagine.

2008-08-27 18:00:10

62. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

55 man...if that is all true then I will never, ever go to the Stadium again while Steinbrenner is with us..just revolting...

2008-08-27 18:04:52

63. Mattpat11

58 Well, I could commentate on how the team continues to drift into irrelevancy with another shitty performance against a mediocre pitcher, but apparently that's "negative"

Its a boring game in a string of boring games from a profoundly boring team. They're not even comically bad. That would be something. Instead they just go out there day in and day out and play semi-competitive baseball. I think watching Bill Clinton pretend to like Barack Obama is far more interesting than watching Pudge Rodriguez pop out to second.

2008-08-27 18:04:55

64. cult of basebaal

61 62 i had no idea, never heard about the "decree" ... i'm just stunned ... if true, i certainly hope the guy decides to press the case ... a public apology and revocation of the policy are the least the yankees owe him ...

2008-08-27 18:07:36

65. Alex Belth

just ridiculous.

2008-08-27 18:07:58

66. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

63 true..probably see amore skillfull performance from Bill C than the Yank lineup these days!

64 seriously..what is going on with the Yankees admin that they would not see how wrong that is?? and please, replace Kate Smith with Ray Charles "America The Beautiful" if you HAVE to have a song!

2008-08-27 18:13:23

67. Just fair

The dominating Paul Byrd ladies and gents. Ugh.

2008-08-27 18:14:12

68. Max

This is the guy Cashman refused to block from getting to the Red Sox, while allowing Rasner to stink up the joint every five days. Unbelievable. That non-move, along with the acquisition of a particularly useless catcher, are signs that Cash may be losing it.

2008-08-27 18:14:25

69. Mattpat11

Tuned back in. Yankees still refuse to hit career mediocrity Paul Byrd?

2008-08-27 18:16:32

70. Mattpat11

Tuned back in. Yankees still refuse to hit career mediocrity Paul Byrd?

2008-08-27 18:18:02

71. cult of basebaal

68 yeah, because acquiring paul byrd would have definitely helped this offense hit mediocre pitching ...

2008-08-27 18:18:12

72. Alison

Do you think they realize it's Paul Byrd? Maybe the lights are in their eyes and they think it is someone good?

2008-08-27 18:20:02

73. Max

71 It was more about keeping him from helping someone else in dire straits on the pitching front. I agree our offense is making him look criminally good.

2008-08-27 18:33:53

74. Raf

I think I am going to have to go to Yankee Stadium and test this new policy...

I don't need Steinbrenner to tell me how much I love my country... I don't need any busybody fans to tell me how I should pay my respects and I certainly don't owe them an explanation nor an apology.

2008-08-27 18:40:02

75. Mattpat11

Back again. Anything of interest happen in the game?

2008-08-27 18:40:06

76. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

74 nice, good luck! the Steinbrenner/Giuliani/Bloomberg axis of security in NYC is really troubling...

2008-08-27 18:40:36

77. tommyl

Ah, there goes the season...

2008-08-27 18:41:06

78. Mattpat11

I hate this team.

2008-08-27 18:41:16

79. OldYanksFan

Man... Abreu is a lousy fielder.

2008-08-27 18:41:26

80. Chyll Will

G'nite everybody! >;)

2008-08-27 18:42:31

81. Mattpat11

79 I want to know how the ball got by Damon

2008-08-27 18:46:46

82. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

80 peace out, Chyll. i see Miles' "Bitches Brew" and a Bob Marley cigar on the menu for tonight's wind-down..wait a second, that's for me later today...

2008-08-27 18:47:47

83. cult of basebaal

79 somebody over at RAB referred to him as the "gun turret" ... immobile and armed with a canon.

2008-08-27 18:48:09

84. nick

I hope we get swept, Girardi goes, and no options are picked up. As much of a clean slate as possible. This is a dreadfully dull, underachieving ballclub.

2008-08-27 18:49:38

85. Max

This would be comical if it weren't so excruciating. Or is the other way around?

And it looks like Pudge is the one we should have sent down to the minors while keeping Melky up here. At least we would have maintained some level of competency in the field.

2008-08-27 18:49:42

86. nick

oh, and that stadium policy is shameful--some kind of demonstation next year would be in order, if I could afford next year's prices....if a bunch of people wore black and all walked out during that song? might be effective....

2008-08-27 18:52:37

87. Jeb

74 If you decide to test out the policy be sure to wear a diaper cause...you know...the cops won't let you use the bathroom. Also, even if you're not thrown out, watching this team may make you have some control issues.

2008-08-27 18:54:34

88. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

have reached the acceptance stage now..i can live with the team being a spoiler..turning to 2009 and the contracts coming off the books..Moose for one or two more years i can see but please no Giambi or Abreau..and NO Tex for 10 years!

2008-08-27 18:55:07

89. Jeb

I'm not saying that I don't believe the guy, but we've all only read his side of the story, not the cops. Perhaps he's not giving all the facts, ma'am.

Actually, I'd be more interested in what any disinterested witnesses have to say about what happened.

2008-08-27 18:58:23

90. buffalocharlie

Ugh.

Well, tomorrow, Mussina goes for another win in his quest for 20. That, I will root for.

2008-08-27 18:59:13

91. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

and so Dusty McChoksondik puts an emphatic final nail into the coffin of 2008...sigh...

LET'S Go TAM-PA, clap-clap-clapclapclap

2008-08-27 19:00:05

92. cult of basebaal

88 they might re-up giambi for 1 year, but abreu's a type A ... don't see them giving him a multi-year offer to match what he'll get on the market ...

ugh. pedroia. it had to be pedroia. lovely.

2008-08-27 19:00:51

93. Jeb