Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : The Once and Future King

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.

The Once and Future King

2005-08-31 13:57

by Alex Belth

"I don't think we're talking about poise here...I think we're talking about a 97-miles-per-hour fastball and a curveball from hell." Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire

Tonight gives an extremely compelling pitching match-up in Seattle. If you root for the M's I'm sure that there are precious few games you'd like to see your team win more than this one. Seattle's teenage dynamo "King" Felix Hernandez squares off against one of the league's best offenses, while thier erswhile ace Randy Johnson pitches for New York. I do not get the MLB TV package or Direct TV so I have not seen Hernandez pitch yet. Better still, I haven't even seen highlights of him, just still photographs. Hernandez has a round, open face, and apparently poise to spare along with incredible stuff. He's what they'd call "the Emmis" back in the old country.* All I know is what I've read, and that's plenty to keep me up to see what the fuss is about. Pitching against the Yankees is sure to bring 'em out to Safeco and have the boys at Baseball Tonight salivating.

For obvious reasons, nobody has followed Hernandez's rookie campaign as closely or as passionately as the good folks over at the U.S.S. Mariner (here is a selection of posts for you to peruse: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). There have also been King Felix pieces by Bill Simmons, David Schoenfield, and commentary from Bert Blyleven.

I expect this to be a close game and figure that Johnson will be sharp. Perhaps it will be a crisp pitcher's duel like the one Johnson had against Roy Halladay earlier this season. It is an exciting game for the M's but an even more important one for the Yankees.

All aboard.

* Emmis is the Yiddish word for "the truth."

That is all.

Comments (107)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2005-08-31 14:53:12

1. yankz

Wow, he was almost a Yankee? Tough break.

2005-08-31 14:53:16

2. yankz

Wow, he was almost a Yankee? Tough break.

2005-08-31 15:09:09

3. Shaun P

For those of you (like Alex) who haven't seen King Felix pitch yet, go out of your way to catch some of this game. He is truly something to watch - thank you, DirecTV! - and I'm curious to see how well he does against the Yanks lineup, even if Flaherty is catching.

I agree that we'll need a vintage Unit outing tonight - hopefully facing a 19-year-old kid nicknamed "King" will angry him up good.

2005-08-31 16:39:35

4. JohnnyC

Alex or Cliff, just read on the YES site that Small is pencilled in for Sunday(?). Isn't Moose's next turn Saturday?

2005-08-31 17:02:50

5. Zack

This is totally off topic, and I apologize, but SI.com is running a review and rankings of all of the baseball stadiums as their cover piece. Its one of those silly things that seem to get done every so often, ranking atmosphere, food, tailgaiting etc....Anyways, the point is, take a look at the rankings: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/31/fvi/index.html

Fan Value Index: Final Rankings
Rank Team Stadium
1 Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park
2 Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park
3 Colorado Rockies Coors Field
4 L.A. Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium
5 Atlanta Braves Turner Field
6 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
7 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park
8 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park
9 Arizona D'backs Bank One Ballpark
10 Cleveland Indians Jacobs Field
11 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
12 Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Centre
13 Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
14 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium
15 Oakland Athletics McAfee Coliseum
16 Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field
17 Texas Rangers Ameriquest Field
18 Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
19 Seattle Mariners Safeco Field
20 Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium
21 Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
22 San Diego Padres PETCO Park
23 Tampa Bay D-Rays Tropicana Field
24 San Franciso Giants SBC Park
25 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium
26 Washington Nationals RFK Stadium
27 Minnesota Twins HHH Metrodome
28 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
29 Florida Marlins Dolphins Stadium
30 New York Mets Shea Stadium

Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Anaheim, and Atlanta as the top five best places to see a baseball game, are you insane???? I have heard Pitt. is a nice stadium, but the problem being that you 1) have to be in Pitt. and 2) have to watch the Pirates...

Am I crazy for thinking they are crazy?

2005-08-31 17:29:32

6. marc

what else is new? Boston just came back from a 5-1 deficit to tie TB in the 5th.

2005-08-31 17:31:07

7. randym77

How do they always do that? What do you have to do, drive a stake through their hearts? :-P

2005-08-31 17:50:27

8. Jen

//What do you have to do, drive a stake through their hearts? //

Nah, with their coiffures, silver bullets should do the trick.

2005-08-31 17:51:26

9. Marcus

At first glance I was shocked to see SBC Park so low, since it's such a nice stadium, but when I read how they did the rankings it makes sense. There aren't many people who would claim McAfee Coliseum is a better place to see a ball game than SBC Park, but I know way more people that go to A's games regularly than Giants games (although maybe it's just the type of people I hang out with, because I'm not sure attendance figures would suggest the same thing). Ticket prices, accessibility, quality of team; if you look at it that way, the rankings start to make sense.

Plus I find it entertaining to see a fight in the upper deck almost every game at McAfee.

2005-08-31 17:52:06

10. randym77

ROFL!

2005-08-31 18:10:27

11. Marcus

Millar hits two home runs? Ugh.

2005-08-31 18:15:44

12. marc

Well, Boston now headed for a win. Millar 2 run blast makes it 7-5 Sox in the bottom of the 7th.

With these 5 good teams(Yanks, Sox, Cleveland, Oakland, and The LAAof A) fighting for 2 spots we may have too little margin for error to make the post-season. At any rate we have the talent but it ain't going to be easy.

2005-08-31 18:27:28

13. rbs10025

About the park rankings, a bunch of parks are really bunched together.

Note that between St. Louis (#6) and San Francisco (#24), there is only a 6-point difference in the score. There's a 22-point difference between #1 and #30.

Talk about a bell curve.

2005-08-31 18:52:47

14. Shaun P

Stupid Red Sox and their comebacks.

At least Cleveland is losing going into the bottom of the 9th - as much as I'd like to see them catch the White Sox, our needs come first.

Re: ballpark rankings, ESPN.com's Page2 did it a couple years ago. The rankings gave lots of info - most of it subjective, of course - but at least meshed with what I thought was right. But these SI rankings . . . Camden Yards 18th? WTF!?

PNC Park in Pittsburgh is a gorgeous stadium - every seat makes you feel like you're right on top of the field. But Anahiem Stadium? The blahness of Turner Field? I'm missing something. Is it really another rant about how expensive trips to the ballpark have become, as opposed to actual rankings?

2005-08-31 19:00:24

15. Cliff Corcoran

Blah blah blah ballparks. Hey, we've got a hell of a game on our hands (I hope, part of me expects this to disappoint as these sorts of match-ups always do).

King Felix has five major league starts under his belt. His first was a short outing to get adjusted (5 IP, 84 pitches, 1 ER) that the M's wound up losing. In his second outing he pitched eight scoreless. Since then, he's allowed one more run each time out, his last start being a 7 IP, 3 R stint in which he gave up his first two major league home runs (both to White Sox rookie Brian Anderson). His last two starts have been no decisions, with the M's losing the most recent to the Chisox.

To me the most startling stat Hernandez has posted thus far has been just five walks in 36 IP (against 38 Ks).

The Yanks are sitting Bernie today and starting Tino at first and Giambi at DH. Flaherty, of course, catches Johnson. Bellhorn rides pine. Sheff's back in right, Lawton in left, Matsui in center.

2005-08-31 19:00:50

16. marc

OK, Cleveland just lost and one of the 2 west coasters has to lose since they're playing each other so the night won't be terrible

2005-08-31 19:02:42

17. Jen

I think the problem with those ratings is everything is weighted the same. Personally, atmosphere is much more important than playgrounds and games for kids.

From the Yankee page: "not much for the kids aside from the action on the field and the occasional action in the stands when a Red Sox fan foolishly cheers for his team."

Geez, when my dad took me to the Stadium as a kid I thought it was the greatest thing to actually watch a game in person. Silly me.

2005-08-31 19:03:12

18. Cliff Corcoran

I should have said "always seem to do."

I think the Yanks will need to kick into "Pedro Mode" tonight.

2005-08-31 19:12:19

19. yankz

At least the kid's wild...if he settles down, it could be tough. He can really throw.

2005-08-31 19:12:58

20. Dan-el

Man he throws hard ... the term "easy gas" really applies to him.

2005-08-31 19:16:24

21. monkeypants

OK, I'm getting the Seattle feed and after one inning Niehaus' constant commentary on and running total of 97 mph pitches is already insufferable ("What a way to start--seven 97mph pitches in the first inning...").

2005-08-31 19:18:06

22. yankz

haha monkeypants, i agree...compared to these grandparents, kay and co. are pretty colorful...

2005-08-31 19:18:24

23. marc

damn, I wish ESPN had the game where I am. At least I'm one of the rare oddballs who thinks Sterling is great to listen to at least for a Yankee fan so I'll listen on the computer.

2005-08-31 19:22:10

24. Alex Belth

Hernandez threw a lot of fastballs in the first inning. Only two or three off-speed/breaking balls. He was a little juiced and walked two batters. But Matsui (double play) and Rodriguez tapped out weakly to short. Hernandez's fastball has movement and he keeps the ball low, low, low.

Yikes.

Randy Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 first, striking out two.

Yeah.

2005-08-31 19:23:50

25. Alex Belth

Felix made Tino look foolish striking him out in the second. Anyone has ANY faith in Tino against this guy?

2005-08-31 19:24:17

26. yankz

they came awfully close to dissing tino, which is a no-no.

2005-08-31 19:24:52

27. Alex Belth

This game could move along quickly, huh?

2005-08-31 19:26:43

28. Cliff Corcoran

Tino can hit the fastball, so I have faith, but then Hernandez's "fastball" has all sorts of late movement. The first one he threw to Jeter almost hit DJ in the shins (97 MPH, Jeter swing and miss).

2005-08-31 19:27:05

29. marc

If bth these guys are on tonight this could go awfully fast

2005-08-31 19:31:52

30. Cliff Corcoran

Anyone notice that Justice seems to be patterning his broadcasting rhythms after Joe Morgan?

2005-08-31 19:32:34

31. yankz

to clarify, by "they" i meant the mariners commentators...they were laughing at him after he saw strike 3.

Yeah Cliff, i thought the same thing about his fastball- if they don't overwork this kid early, he's going to be great.

2005-08-31 19:39:36

32. Alex Belth

RJ with four K's through two innings. Not as efficient as the kid, but he's throwing hard.

The spector of the blowout fifth hangs over his head though...

2005-08-31 19:39:59

33. Cliff Corcoran

That curve he dropped on Flaherty was a monster.

2005-08-31 19:41:17

34. randym77

Wow! Somehow, I wasn't expecting Cano to be the one to hit the first homer off this guy.

2005-08-31 19:41:17

35. Dan-el

CANO!! Expect the unexpected.

2005-08-31 19:41:19

36. Cliff Corcoran

HUZZAH!!! Apparently only rookies can hit this kid, all three homers he's allowed have been to rookie hitters.

2005-08-31 19:41:33

37. yankz

HA! Eat that, phenom.

Maybe only young kids can hit him.

2005-08-31 19:48:15

38. JVarghese81

Hell of a good game so far but got lines of meetings early tomorrow so gotta hit the sack. That blows - i was really looking forward to seeing the rest of this duel...hopefully, when I wake and check this site, it'll be good news from tonight. Go Yanks!

2005-08-31 19:52:04

39. Dan-el

Great play by A-Rod.

2005-08-31 19:52:56

40. yankz

Hey, that's Jeter's play...

Arod for MVP.

2005-08-31 19:53:03

41. randym77

All right, A-rod! That was beautiful.

2005-08-31 19:53:40

42. Cliff Corcoran

JVarghese81: set a tape.

2005-08-31 19:54:52

43. Cliff Corcoran

Good to have Sheff back.

2005-08-31 19:54:57

44. randym77

That "rookie" Sheffield looks pretty good. ;-)

2005-08-31 19:55:06

45. Dan-el

SHEFF!! Yes.

2005-08-31 19:56:23

46. yankz

How do you beat Sheffield? The idea of throwing it by him is laughable. And yet, his hands are so fast he can wait on your offspeed stuff. Man that was a laser.

2005-08-31 19:57:38

47. randym77

What the heck is that stuff that was poured on the field?

2005-08-31 19:59:51

48. Cliff Corcoran

Justice is wisely keeping his trap shut tonight.

2005-08-31 20:00:56

49. Cliff Corcoran

King Felix is very saber-friendly. Nothing but the three true outcomes (K, BB, HR).

2005-08-31 20:12:40

50. jkay

Mendoza is joining the yanks tomorrow.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2005-08-31 20:22:05

51. yankz

And the 5th inning passes without an implosion!

2005-08-31 20:24:47

52. marc

Randy's got 80 pitches. If he still has a no hitter when would he come out?

2005-08-31 20:27:41

53. Cliff Corcoran

Damnit, Marc!

2005-08-31 20:30:23

54. Cliff Corcoran

Right on schedule. Thanks again, Marc.

2005-08-31 20:30:51

55. yankz

im calling #52 as the jinx.

2005-08-31 20:31:10

56. marc

Sorry Cliff, next time I'll shut the F up

2005-08-31 20:31:12

57. yankz

Guess im the 2nd.

2005-08-31 20:32:25

58. Cliff Corcoran

Yeah, you didn't help, yankz, but at least you didn't say the magic word(s).

2005-08-31 20:33:17

59. yankz

I wrote post 55 after the double. I know the rule, you dont even hint at it.

2005-08-31 20:33:18

60. yankz

I wrote post 55 after the double. I know the rule, you dont even hint at it.

2005-08-31 20:34:39

61. Cliff Corcoran

I know you did, yankz. That said, once Marc blew it . . .

Don't worry, Marc, we won't hold it against you. You've learned your lesson.

2005-08-31 20:37:34

62. Cliff Corcoran

Seriously, with the way the infield was playing behind him and balls I thought would drop staying up for Matsui in CF, I really thought Johnson was gonna do it.

And as I type that another strong play from Rodriguez.

2005-08-31 20:37:53

63. marc

At least I'm I'm glad he got out of the inning. I like this board and didn't want to have to head to Siberia. Tino wasn't helping. (grin)

2005-08-31 20:38:02

64. yankz

Arod's D has been great.

2005-08-31 20:39:44

65. Cliff Corcoran

Still just 3 hits in the game through six innings, I'd say this has lived up to the hype.

2005-08-31 20:41:35

66. Cliff Corcoran

King Felix is one walk away from doubling his career total in this game.

2005-08-31 20:45:18

67. yankz

Long night for Tino.

2005-08-31 20:46:36

68. Cliff Corcoran

Okay, Tino has looked awful in this game. I take it back, Alex.

2005-08-31 20:51:38

69. Dan-el

Damn A-Rod was so close to making another great play.

2005-08-31 20:51:55

70. Cliff Corcoran

Screw the throw, that was a great play by Rodriguez. Good thing it wasn't still a no-no, that would have been a brutal call for the official scorer.

2005-08-31 20:54:04

71. Cliff Corcoran

Three hits through six, now three hits in the seventh alone. We will see the pens in this game. Johnson's at 109 pitches.

2005-08-31 20:58:07

72. yankz

Gordon in the 8th?

2005-08-31 20:58:18

73. Cliff Corcoran

Johnson was throwing nothing but mid-90s heat to Torreabla to keep the M's scoreless. I think that was his last batter (it should be) and he was emptying the tank.

2005-08-31 20:58:53

74. Cliff Corcoran

Yup, Gordon, but with Mo already warm. That's my call. The Yanks need this game.

2005-08-31 21:00:23

75. BklynBomber

Quick aside on the AL batting crown stats: Young went 3-4 tonight (now .325), Damon 0-4 (.322), and with A-Rod's 0-2 so far, he's at .319.

The HR and AVG are within reach for A-Rod, but he's gotta go on a ribby tear to catch Papi/Manny for the Triple Crown.

2005-08-31 21:00:40

76. yankz

Flaherty hitting = Johnson in the 8th?

2005-08-31 21:01:43

77. yankz

Fox's "Simulcam" (Mariners feed on mlb.tv) is pretty sweet.

2005-08-31 21:02:07

78. uburoisc

Did one of the morons on espn just say that Matsui was a great athlete in the field but that "he just can't hit"? I swear I heard that. I never thought i would go to the Yes network for broadcasting relief.

2005-08-31 21:02:22

79. Cliff Corcoran

Cano now has half of the Yankees hits, runs scored, RBIs and total bases in this game.

2005-08-31 21:04:17

80. Cliff Corcoran

Yankz, I don't think that equasion follows. Torre just won't use that back-up catcher unless someone points a gun to his head. Nieves (terrible as he may be) is up tomorrow when rosters expand, so that will go away for a month, thankfully.