Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Rubber Game?

Hot from the Toaster

Toaster Sites
Baseball Toaster
Toaster.TV

Suggested Reading

Alex:
Ray Negron part 1 2 3 4
Dad, Reggie and Me
Slaughterhouse Five
Way Out in Brooklyn
Heat Fave
Passing
Love, Death and Baseball

Cliff:
The Ugly Truth About the New Yankee Stadium
First-Half Review
2008 Draft Roundup
July Farm Report
2008 Campers
All-Star Game: 1977, 2008
The Holy "Trinity": 1904 1949
Yankees by the Numbers
SportsIllustrated.com archive

Other Writing

Alex:
Strikes and Gutters: A Year with the Coen Brothers: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
My 20 Favorite Hip Hop Albums
Greatest Singles from Hip Hop's Golden Era (1986-1994)
Ten Neglected Hip Hop Classics

Cliff:
Tin Ear
Pazz & Jop ballots: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 (post), 2002, 2001
Clem Snide
Eminem
Sleater-Kinney

Bronx Banter Interviews

Roger Angell
Allen Barra
Jim Bouton
Howard Bryant: Part 1, Part 2
Ken Burns: Part 1, Part 2
Will Carroll
Ethan Coen
Harvey Frommer
Malcom Gladwell
Bill James
Pat Jordan
Chuck Korr: Part 1 Part 2
Jane Leavy
Michael Lewis
Tim Marchman
Marvin Miller
Rob Neyer: Part 1, Part 2
Buster Olney: April 2003, Sept. 2004
Buck O'Neil
Joe Posnanski
Alan Schwarz
Joel Sherman
Tom Verducci

Excerpts

Juicing the Game by Howard Bryant Part 1 Part 2
Forging Genius by Steven Goldman Part 1 Part 2
How About That! by Stephen Borelli
The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff
The Last Nine Innings by Charles Euchner
Clemente by David Maraniss
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanaski
Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson:
Yankee Century: Part 1 Part 2
Red Sox Century: 1 2 3 4
The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball

Players

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

Food Blogs

Syndication

About the Toaster

Baseball Toaster runs on some experimental software called Fairpole. It's still under development.

For more information, please visit the Fairpole blog, or read the FAQ.

Rubber Game?

2008-08-30 09:06

by Cliff Corcoran

With Roy Halladay pitching tomorrow, one suspects it's today's game, which pits Darrell Rasner against John Parrish, that will decide which team wins this series.

Since he was briefly removed from the rotation, Rasner has posted a 4.19 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in four appearances (three starts). The best of those was his 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the Blue Jays in Toronto two starts ago. The worst was his last, when he failed to get out of the fourth inning against the Orioles.

Parrish, who spent most of his major league career as a lefty reliever for the Orioles, was recently recalled from triple-A Syracuse. He's making his fifth major league start of the season and his first in more than a month. He posted a 4.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in the first four. His only other start against the Yankees was his major league debut in July 2000.

Joe Girardi's lineup makes no concessions to the opposing lefty.

For those who missed it, the Yankees swapped David Robertson out for Alfredo Aceves before Thursday's game. The 25-year-old Aceves, who pitched well in his final two starts for Scranton (12 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 16 K) and posted a 2.62 ERA in 140 2/3 innings across three minor league levels in this his first professional season, will work out of the bullpen. He's also the first Yankee to wear number 91 during the regular season.

Comments (75)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2008-08-30 09:36:29

1. dianagramr

Number 91? .... what .... is he on loan from the football Giants?

2008-08-30 10:15:13

2. rbj

Thanks for blackout the game on Labor Day weekend, Fox. grumble grumble grumble.

And let's see $40 mil / 7 wins = $5.7 mil per win.

2008-08-30 10:41:27

3. Chyll Will

2 I would love math like that as a Set PA. I wouldn't hate lock-ups in Midtown Manhattan so much >;)

2008-08-30 10:44:21

4. Jeb

Could be a decent day for me if the Yankees and Bama can win.

2008-08-30 10:46:24

5. Jeb

Unfortunately, this looks like a quiet Banter today.

2008-08-30 10:55:56

6. Chyll Will

6 Labor Day weekend. I'll bet most people are getting their last summer licks in elsewhere.

2008-08-30 10:56:35

7. Chyll Will

6 Yunnow, 5

2008-08-30 11:10:02

8. Jeb

6 Looks like the Jays are getting licks on Raz.

2008-08-30 11:13:59

9. Chyll Will

8 And thus, very few Banterers (not that I blame em). The fun part is, we both know this won't be the shortest game thread this year...

2008-08-30 11:21:17

10. Just fair

Nice. Belly to belly into the future $100 seats. : )

2008-08-30 11:21:39

11. Jeb

Titantic blast by Pudge....

2008-08-30 11:23:19

12. OldYanksFan

I have no social life.

2008-08-30 11:28:41

13. randym77

I'm keeping one eye on the game, one eye on Hurricane Gustav. Holy crap, but that sucker is a monster. Category 4, heading for Category 5. And it's heading for somewhere between New Orleans and Houston. Not gonna be good for gas prices.

(The New Orleans Zephyrs, the Mets' AAA team, is cancelling the rest of their season and getting the heck out of Dodge.)

2008-08-30 11:35:06

14. Jeb

13 I don't blame them.

2008-08-30 11:41:57

15. Dimelo

I'm so glad that "157 OPS+" is on our team, when am I suppose to see that 157 OPS+?

2008-08-30 11:48:08

16. Jeb

sweet hit by Matsui san.

2008-08-30 12:00:19

17. Jeb

all right could Boston please lose?

2008-08-30 12:01:31

18. rbj

looks like I'm missing a heckuva game.

2008-08-30 12:04:53

19. Jeb

nice combo, Reggie and Cash

2008-08-30 12:05:38

20. Jeb

18 actually it's a little boring, but that's fine with me.

2008-08-30 12:08:10

21. randym77

Gustav is a Category 5 now. Even the National Hurricane Center is astonished at how fast it powered up.

2008-08-30 12:08:29

22. Just fair

12 "It's sort of social. Dimented and sad, but social."
-Judd Nelson in "The Breakfast Club." He was referrng to the Physics club, though. : )

2008-08-30 12:12:47

23. Jeb

22 social? Yes, definitely.

2008-08-30 12:15:52

24. Jeb

so guys...can we sweep tomorrow?

2008-08-30 12:16:10

25. Dimelo

21 I thought I heard that name in the Mitchell report.

2008-08-30 12:17:31

26. Chyll Will

13 Me too. Checked in twice on my sweetheart; she and her family busy packing for Houston. Hopefully they're on the road by now...

2008-08-30 12:25:02

27. Jeb

How many more starts are they going to give D-Raz before they realize that ANYONE would be an upgrade?

2008-08-30 12:28:46

28. Jeb

Outstanding pitch by Bruney.

2008-08-30 12:29:53

29. Just fair

Thanks, Cano.

2008-08-30 12:30:39

30. randym77

26 Houston? But that's in the "error cone." Gustav could end up hitting Houston as a Cat. 5, at least according to some models.

And speaking of disasters... :-P

2008-08-30 12:31:32

31. williamnyy23

29 It wasn't a great flip, but Jeter should have handled it. Considering how slow the flip was, he had penty time to adjust to the low trajectory. Still, it was a lazy play by both Cano and Jeter. Lazy play has been a trademark of this team, and I think that speaks alot about Girardi.

2008-08-30 12:32:55

32. Dimelo

31 It looked slow cause YES was showing it in slow motion.

2008-08-30 12:33:17

33. Jeb

31 Lazy or Lethargic.

2008-08-30 12:33:38

34. Jeb

Excellent way to finish the inning by Bruney.

2008-08-30 12:44:45

35. williamnyy23

32 It was slow in real-time.
33 Take your pick.

2008-08-30 12:47:00

36. Jeb

35 HA. I'll say both. By the way I really enjoyed reading your discussion with Vandelay the other night about Sabermetrics, the value of OPS, etc. Good stuff.

2008-08-30 12:54:18

37. Chyll Will

30 If I could do anything about it, they'd be up here in NY or up in Las Vegas. But Houston is likely a safer place than New Orleans in any type of projections; as far as shelter is concerned.

2008-08-30 12:55:28

38. randym77

Uh, boy.

2008-08-30 12:58:32

39. Chyll Will

Seems like the chances of winning this game is about the same as successfully holding a bowlful of silly-putty in your bare hands...

2008-08-30 13:04:53

40. JeremyM

31 I hear ya, but a guy like Jeter shouldn't need his manager kicking him in the ass to play solid baseball.

2008-08-30 13:08:07

41. williamnyy23

40 I look at it more as if a guy like Jeter isn't going all out, how bad must the situation be?

2008-08-30 13:10:08

42. JeremyM

41 Really? Maybe Jeter is part of the problem if that is his attitude.

2008-08-30 13:13:24

43. rbj

WTF? I leave at 6-3 (granted, the bases were loaded) and now it's 6-7?

Boo!

2008-08-30 13:17:07

44. williamnyy23

42 I think the entire team is part of the problem, but you can't fire all of the players.

2008-08-30 13:17:22

45. Chyll Will

43 Cano and Jeter's sloppy play on the potential double play got to their heads too easily, I guess. I can't watch these guys playing shook all the time.

2008-08-30 13:19:12

46. Chyll Will

44 You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it >;)

2008-08-30 13:22:43

47. williamnyy23

Let me guess...Arod makes the last out and the crowd boos? Only 11 more chances left!

2008-08-30 13:25:54

48. Jeb

44 I agree with you. It's not all on D-Raz, Bruney, Jeter, Cano, or Edwar, but all of them combined to make this the perfect storm. If just one of them had done their job in a crucial moment, the Yanks would have iced this one already, instead of going down to defeat.

2008-08-30 13:26:07

49. nick

how about a triple play grounder to end it?

2008-08-30 13:26:20

50. Just fair

Walk off win. C'mon, baby. Why not?

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2008-08-30 13:27:47

51. Jeb

Ok Jeter HAS to steal here, right? Don't fuck around with bunts or GIDP. Steal the damn bag NOW.

2008-08-30 13:28:26

52. Jeb

Steal, dammit, steal

2008-08-30 13:30:06

53. Chyll Will

This works, too. But look out for 49 ...

2008-08-30 13:30:23

54. Jeb

49 now I am worried.

2008-08-30 13:31:40

55. williamnyy23

1-2 pitch to Arod is perfect for a steal attempt.

2008-08-30 13:31:46

56. Chyll Will

50 Codename Ransom can win it for us...

2008-08-30 13:33:04

57. Just fair

BOLLOCKS!

2008-08-30 13:34:42

58. Chyll Will

Or not. Alex came through with the rally-killer though...

2008-08-30 13:35:01

59. williamnyy23

That's on Girardi...had the runners been going, Jeter could have either beaten Batista to the bag or at least broken up the DP. Girardi is definitely part of the problem and has contributed to the first playoffless season since 1994.

2008-08-30 13:35:04

60. nick

sigh...

2008-08-30 13:35:52

61. Jeb

garbage team

2008-08-30 13:36:44

62. nick

Cody Ransom batted there? Giarardi's been looking at his Strat-O-Matic card or something?

2008-08-30 13:36:55

63. OldYanksFan

ARod couldn't hit much harder. Just good luck, I guess.

2008-08-30 13:38:05

64. rbj

Boo.
Leaving Rasner in too long and the bullpen. Ugh.

2008-08-30 13:38:28

65. williamnyy23

63 Arod hit a pea...that inning died because of poor management (or rather no management at all).

2008-08-30 13:44:12

66. marc

what a miserable year. I gave up on the Yanks a long time ago and started to root for torre and the dodgers. Now they suck mucus and aren't likely to make the playoffs. The only silver lining is I am finally getting a lot of things done this year that I was busy with baseball previously.

2008-08-30 13:46:40

67. Chyll Will

59 Agreed. But at this point, going to the playoffs would be embarrassing and potentially harmful in that (as you or someone said before), it would convince the front office that the problems were more injury-related than talent-related. And even if it were key injuries that did them in, you're talking about key injuries to either aging or inexperienced players. The worst problem is that the Yanks refused to rebuild early on. Playoffs mean nothing in New York if you don't win it all, for some reason...

That said, I give Girardi a team that fits his philosophy and see what they can do first. He's not a carbon-copy of Torre after all, and considering the best that Torre could do with this current bunch is a weak 1st round exit, you shouldn't expect anything better from Girardi in Year 1.

2008-08-30 13:47:26

68. williamnyy23

66 That's funny...with the Yankees out of it for the past week or so, I've channeled my energies into rooting against the Dodgers and Red Sox. If both don't make it, I'll better be able to enjoy the Yankeeless October.

2008-08-30 13:49:55

69. williamnyy23

67 The Yankees are not going to the playoffs this year. The outcome of this game had no bearing on that reality. What bothers me about this game is that even when backed into a corner, Girardi simply doesn't manage. I don't see any reason to think that 2009 will be any different, so unless the Yankees assemble overwhelming talent, Girardi's no-show managing will be a factor once again.

2008-08-30 13:51:19

70. 3rd gen yankee fan

I was praying that Arod wouldn't hit into that last double play. Oh well! I did MY job!

2008-08-30 13:52:49

71. williamnyy23

Is Bob Paige on drugs? He is talking about how the late rally is a positive to bring into tomorrow's game, especially because Pettitte is on the mound. I know he has to schill for YES, but between him and Kay, it's becoming insulting to watch these games.

2008-08-30 13:54:03

72. williamnyy23

71 Yikes...make that Bob Lorenz...I think that was a flashback to the MSG days.

2008-08-30 13:55:27

73. Chyll Will

69 Valid points, but my point is I don't think anyone could do a better job with the team as constructed. At least not anyone that would be available this or next year. If you have a name and a reason to expect more from him, I'd be glad to hear it.

2008-08-30 13:59:37

74. williamnyy23

73 They might not be able to win more games, but they could at least try. It's fine to sit back and watch when you have the 1998 Yankees, but this flawed team needs some help.

In the postgame, Girardi can't admit that Cano and Jeter screwed up the DP. Girardi ignores reality...his optimism is transparent and it is hurting the team because it is preventing him from addressing some dramatic deficiencies.

2008-08-30 14:25:18

75. Chyll Will

74 That may be a Abreu-like reflex from running into management in his previous job, yet it's not an excuse. His unwillingness to challenge his bosses may be as much a detriment to the team as his unwillingness to address the reality of what his team is. Girardi may not be a good match for this team, but who is? We were all optimistic going into the season, hoping his charged-up attitude would charge up the rest of the players, but it looks like the team has taken the charge out of him.

I agree Girardi's decisions have cost this team quite a few wins, and maybe it won't change with a differently-constructed team. But considering that this has been a team effort in losing key battles, Girardi's just one of many issues that have to be addressed, if not changed. That's what has to be focused on during the off-season. If they just run out and get free agents and do nothing else, 2009 will be a harder season to deal with than this one, trust me.