Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Three weeks ago, the Yankees headed to Chicago to face the first-place White Sox coming off yet another dispiriting series loss to the Devil Rays. Having been spared their performance in that series in Tampa due a long weekend away from electronic media of all kinds, this is how I sized up the Yankees chances at that point in the season:
What I see when I look at the standings is that the Yankees are four games behind the Red Sox in the AL East with six games left to play against Boston and one and a half games behind the A's in the Wild Card race with three games left to play against Oakland. That means the Yankees' destiny is in their own hands. If they are able to match just one of these two clubs win-for-win over the remainder of the season and sweep their head-to-head confrontations, the Yankees will make the playoffs for the eleventh consecutive season.
Here's how those three teams have faired since then:
Red Sox: 13-7
Yankees: 13-7
Athletics: 10-9
The Yankees didn't sweep the A's head-to-head, but they did take two out of three while otherwise outplaying the A's by a game and a half (removing that head-to-head series, their records over that span are NYY: 11-6, Oak: 9-7). So, despite yet another just-completed dispiriting series loss to the Devil Rays, the Yankees have thus far accomplished what I said they would need to.
The first is that my initial analysis failed to mention the Cleveland Indians, who at the time trailed the Yankees by a game in the Wild Card hunt. Since then, the Tribe has gone 14-5, a game and a half better than the Yankees (the half game, by which the Indians currently lead the Wild Card race, is thanks to a rain-out against the Tigers), leapfrogging both the Yankees and A's to take the Wild Card lead. With no head-to-head match-ups with the Indians remaining, the Yankees, who fell a half-game back with last night's loss, no longer control their destiny in the Wild Card, despite getting the job done against the A's.
The good news here is that 12 of the Indians remaining 22 games are against winning ballclubs (three each against the Twins and A's and six against the White Sox), while the Yankees six games against the Red Sox are their only remaining contests against a team with a winning record. Of course, the Yankees still have three games against those @*#$# Devil Rays, but then so do the Indians.
Elsewhere, the A's have fourteen games left against winning teams (three each against the Twins and Indians, four each against the Red Sox and Angels), while the Angels, who are playing hot potato with the A's over the AL West title, have just seven (those four against the A's, and three against the White Sox). Of course, if the Angels outplay the A's, they'll be eliminated from the Wild Card chase by virtue of winning the division. Besides which, the Angels also have a three-game set remaining against the Devil Rays, who it seems are destined to decide the remaining American League races.
Cluttered and confusing as this all may be, it seems to me that the Yankees can afford one last 1-2 series loss against the Devil Rays in Tampa next week (which seems like a forgone conclusion at this point) if, if, they're able to make hay against the Red Sox this weekend and again in Boston over the final three games of the season.
That's the second problem, but it's not necessarily more daunting than the first. As the records posted above show, despite the just-completed series loss to the D-Rays and last week's split in Seattle, the Yankees have matched the Red Sox game-for-game over the past three weeks (thanks in part to the major league's worst team, the Kansas City Royals, who took two of three from the Red Sox in Kansas City, then got swept by the Yanks in the Bronx).
In addition, the Yankees are 7-6 against the Red Sox thus far this season, most recently taking three of four from the Sox in Fenway to open the second half of the season (you might remember something about an Alex Rodriguez game-winner off Curt Schilling and Al Leiter's last hurrah). They're also 3-3 against the Sox at home and 4-3 against them at Fenway, proving that what feels like a huge home-field advantage for the Crimson Hosers has thus far been irrelevant.
As for what to expect this weekend, let's take a quick look at the expanded Boston roster before we get into the nitty gritty.
Boston Red Sox
2005 Record: 82-57 (.590)
2005 Pythagorean Record: 78-61 (.563)
Manager: Terry Francona
General Manager: Theo Epstein
Ballpark (2004 park factors): Fenway Park (106/105)
Who's replaced whom?
Gabe Kapler replaced Adam Stern (DL, call-up)
Tony Graffanino replaced Mark Bellhorn (Yankees)
Roberto Petagine replaced John Halama (Nationals)
Keith Foulke (DL) replaced Wade Miller (DL)
Jon Papelbon replaced Alan Embree (Yankees)
September Call-ups
R - Kevin Youkilis (IF)
L - Adam Stern (OF)
R - Kelly Shoppach (C)
S - Alejandro Machado (IF)
R - Manny Delcarmen
L - Lenny DiNardo
R - Chad Harville
L - Matt Perisho
Current Roster
1B – Kevin Millar
2B – Tony Graffanino
SS – Edgar Renteria
3B – Bill Mueller
C – Jason Varitek
RF – Trot Nixon
CF – Johnny Damon
LF – Manny Ramirez
DH – David Ortiz
Bench:
L - John Olerud (1B)
L – Alex Cora (IF)
R – Doug Mirabelli (C)
R - Gabe Kapler (OF)
L - Roberto Petagine (1B)
R - Kevin Youkilis (IF)
L – Adam Stern (OF)
S - Alejandro Machado (IF)
R - Kelly Shoppach (C)
Rotation:
R – Matt Clement
L – David Wells
R – Curt Schilling
R – Tim Wakefield
R – Bronson Arroyo
Bullpen:
R – Mike Timlin
L – Mike Myers
R - Chad Bradford
R – Keith Foulke
R - Jeremi Gonzalez
R - Jon Papelbon
R - Manny Delcarmen
L - Lenny DiNardo
R - Chad Harville
L - Matt Perisho
DL:
R – Wade Miller
R – Matt Mantei
Typical Line-up
L – Johnny Damon (CF)
R – Edgar Renteria (SS)
L – David Ortiz (DH)
R – Manny Ramirez (LF)
L – Trot Nixon (RF)
S – Jason Varitek (C)
R – Kevin Millar (1B)
S – Bill Mueller (3B)
R – Tonny Graffanino (2B)
For all the talk about the Red Sox outslugging their shaky pitching, both the Sox and Yankees have scored a total of 27 runs in their last seven games (an average of just 3.86 per game), but the Sox have gone 4-3 over that stretch, while the Yanks have gone 3-4. The way I see it, this series--like any truly competitive, play-off level series, which I hope this turns out to be--will come down to pitching. With that in mind, here's a quick look at the starters in the first two games:
Tonight's Red Sox starter, David Wells, is coming off three straight wins in which he's posted the following combined line:
21 IP, 21 H, 4 R (3 ER), 0 HR, 2 BB, 16 K, 1.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
In his last start against the Yankees (against the infamous tag-team of Tim Redding and Darrell May), he held the Yankees to one run on five hits and no walks while needing just 85 pitches to get through seven innings.
In contrast to that, here is Saturday's starter Curt Schilling's combined line in his three starts since returning to the Boston rotation:
17 1/3 IP, 27 H, 15 R, 1 HR, 5 BB, 13 K, 7.79 ERA, 1.85 WHIP
On the flip side, here are Aaron Small's numbers in his five Yankee starts this season:
35 IP, 27 H, 8 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 16 K, 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
And Shawn Chacon's in his eight Yankee starts:
51 2/3 IP, 45 H, 18 ER, 4 HR, 22 BB, 34 K, 3.14 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
I refuse to even think about making any predictions here (though I expect the Red Sox to win at least one game by brutalizing the Yankee bullpen). I just hope we all get our money's worth this weekend. If the Yankees fail to make the playoffs this year, these remaining six games against the Sox will be the closest we Yankee fans will get. Enjoy them.
Tyson a Red Sock?
Bring it On!
More than three month's have passed since Curt Schilling and the Boston the Red Sox completed their latest bean-ball bonanza with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and I believe I've finally heard it all. The Pantalone Press reported today that murderous-malevolent-malcontent Boxing Promoter Don King has announced Red Sox proselytizing pitcher Curt "Bloody Sock" Schilling and Tampa Bay Devil Ray skipper "Sweet" Lou Piniella are set to square off in what's being called the "Bean-Ball Brawl" at Donald Trump's new Pompadour Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The details were evidently "leaked" sometime last evening. That's right folks; I've confirmed it with both camps, this fight is for real. The battle royal was apparently fueled by raging-Republican-rant man Schilling's public comments following the fracas between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Boston Red Sox at the turf toed concrete egg miniplex known as Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida in April, which resulted in several fines and suspensions.
Mr. Schillings comments following the April 24 melee were:
"The problem is when you're playing a team with a manager who somehow forgot how the game is played, there's problems [sic]. This should have been over a little bit ago. Lou's trying to make his team be a bunch of tough guys, and the telling sign is when the players on that team are saying, "[T]his is why we lose 100 games a year; because this idiot makes us do stuff like this," they said that on the field."
Yes Mr. Schilling, "there's problems" alright. This new Shill-ing episode drudged up the following response which was recently published once again by a Seattle reporter who has been stomping his feat and jumping up and down to the national media for years to come clean concerning what baseball insiders have known for years regarding Mr. Schilling:
During the past few days, the country has discovered Schilling's little secret, the one baseball insiders have known for years but has rarely surfaced into the mainstream. Schilling is something of a con man, someone more intent on polishing his personal image through whatever means possible.
The Associated Press Reported on April 28, 2005, "[t]his little dagger was fired not last week, but on Nov. 4, 2001 - the day that Schilling was to start Game 7 of the World Series for Arizona against the Yankees. The author, Arizona Republic columnist Pedro Gomez, now with ESPN, is said to have been privately congratulated by many Diamondbacks players and staffers for taking on Schilling publicly. The point is, Schilling is not universally loved by his peers, many of whom regard him as a shameless self-promoter who can't keep his mouth shut. "
It appears Lou Piniella would like to shut it for him. Given Mr. Schillings balsa-wood body and the fish stringer full of catchers body parts Piniella keeps on his desk to this day, I'd be running to the nearest microphone to make Robert McNamara's Viet Nam mea cupla look like a mid-western husband bringing home a bouquet of roses following a boys night out. Somehow I don't think he'll listen.
"Sweet"-cigarette-smoking Lou Piniella fired back;
Forget how the game is played? I have forgotten more baseball than this guy knows, on the idiot subject, I'm appalled he would actually say something like that. He's questioning my character and integrity and that is wrong. He's never played for me, never really spoken to me, so he really doesn't know what I stand for. If I were Curt, I would be really embarrassed at the cheap shot he took and get the story correct. I'll tell you, I've always admired his pitching ability and competitiveness, but I can honestly tell you I've lost a lot of respect for him. I'm looking forward to talking to Curt myself and get this matter cleared up.
Translation: "I'm going to send his ass back to Boston in a duffle bag." Has Mr. Schilling not watched any tape of Mr. Piniella's rants? I'd lay 2-1 on Piniella against Holyfield any day.
It appears as if it will require a tad more than talking to satisfy Red Sox skipper Terry Francona, who was reportedly livid when Piniella's remarks were conveyed to him. Red Sox Senior Vice President Vinny Lie-a- Lot, torn away from his full time research ripping Alex Rodiguez told me, "Francona was as jumpy as Steve Howe on an all night bender." "My pitcher goes to Church-Church I tell ya!"
The Piniella camp is insisting we refer to Mr. Schilling as "Glass Jaw," the moniker recently planted upon him by Piniella's trainer, Sammy "the Cork" Sosa.
I was able to track down the belly busting bean bag late last night in beantown. He was on his way to an all night buffet, Big Gulp in one hand, mirror in the other. Also waddling along was fellow self-promoter David Wells, whose gout was making it difficult for him to keep up, but he'd rather die than miss that buffet. He looked more like Spanky chasing the gang to grab that crème puff than a major league pitcher, chanting the whole way, "wait up, wait up., I hear they got crab legs!" Rounding out the fearsome threesome was Wells' bodyguard who told me, "gotta watch out for those 5'2"-150 lb. busboys, they'll stick you man; how's he supposed to look like a tough guy is Urkel's kicking his ass?" When I carefully approached the gaggle of guts, Mr. Schilling was very clear in his intentions concerning the upcoming bout. "I gotta keep my name in the news man, gonna run for President someday." "Did ya see me in congress, did ya, did ya, did ya?" "I'm going on Celebrity Poker next, and then maybe Nascar Nation, yea, they have tons of gullible, I mean wholesome fans I can cultivate." He then put on his "game face" and said sternly while spewing saliva about, "Sweet Lou I'm comin for you man, my style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious, I want your heart, I want to eat his children, Praise be to Allah!" He continued, "you're sweet Piniella, I'm gonna make sure you kiss me good with those big lips, I'm gonna make you my girlfriend."
Wow I thought, this guy's lost it. Could it all be a calculated PR campaign?
"Sweet" Lou Piniella, not be outdone by the youngster, addressed the press this morning, "[m]y biggest weakness is my sensitivity; I am too sensitive a person." "You see me out there shaking ump's hands, bringing flowers for player's birthdays." "That's how I end up in these situations; I give and give and give." Has "Sweet" Lou Changed? This seems wildly at odds with the conventional wisdom, considering that following his reinstatement from a long suspension some years ago, and preceding a scheduled fight with another catcher he nearly decapitated, he said:
I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him, I want to kill people, I want to rip their stomachs out and eat their children. When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff. He then fired a hard right at the Red-Sock-ringleader while my assistant Lucy questioned him saying, It's no doubt I am going to win this fight and I feel confident about winning this fight. I normally don't do interviews with women unless I fornicate with them, so you shouldn't talk anymore . . . unless you want to, you know. When asked how Mr. Schillings' comments made him feel, he responded, I was as hopped up as Vida Blue with a stack of hundreds, an off day and an eight-ball.
Well, clearly the pre-fight banter Americans expect is off and running and unlikely to disappoint.
Mr. Don King, fresh from burying gold bouillon under Benny Binion's ranch was also available for comment this morning. As expected, Mr. King made complete sense. He opined, quite clearly:
"I'm a promoter of the people for the people and by the people and my magic lies in my people ties. I'm a promoter of America. I'm American people. You know what I mean? So therefore, uh, do not send for who the bell tolls 'cause the bell tolls for thee."
Huh, what? I then pushed him for an answer as to how on this earth he was able to arrange this ground-breaking fight and how it got leaked:
"I can't believe that having said what I said was interpreted as having been what I said when I said it, because I said it where I said it, when I said it, and who I said it to . . . ," and, "I can't believe what I said about myself. What I said in my own private conversations with myself to an ESPN producer are my business, and I had no business saying them to someone else."
Clearly Mr. King is as lucid as ever and reluctant to divulge the details-and quite frankly--I like breathing so I aint gonna push it--of what brought us to this point in American boxing history, but I'd get some security crews out to the Meadowlands end-zone ASAP. He does understand one American tradition as old as apple pie . . . the plea bargain. With power comes influence, and with influence in Mr. King's case, apparently comes gibberish. I posit his reasoning for "fixing" up this bout is quite similar to what was said by this same promoter many years ago while shaking one of his prize fighters by the leg in an effort to make sure there wasn't any money left in his pockets; "Martin Luther King took us to the mountain top: I want to take us to the bank, God Bless America . . . and God Bless . . . um who is it . . . the actor . . . he's President now . . . no freakin way, we're rich!"
Mr. King attempted to bolster the red carpet appeal of the bout by offering me a list of players who will be attending the event. They include; so long as someone else picks up the tab I presume, Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez, Texas Ranger pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, Padre outfielder Alan Wiggins, Royals first baseman Willie Aikens, Royals outfielders Willie Wilson and Jerry Martin, Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry and pitcher Dwight Gooden, as well as Atlanta pitcher Pasqual Perez. Several other players have expressed interest including Joaquin Andujar, Dale Berra, Enos Cabell, Jeff Leonard, Dave Parker, Tony Phillips, Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, Ricky Henderson, Tommy Lasorda, Alex Sanchez, Mark McGuire, Lenny Dyksrta, Pete Rose and Lonnie Smith.
"Look at this list," Mr. King said, "you can't question these players integrity!" "Come one come all; see my latest creation, Barnum and Bailey aint got nothing on me." "This is miraculous, it's stupendous, it's fabulous, it's superfluous, it's any adjective with more than two syllables, and it's downright amazing."
Mr. Schilling's trainer, Sammy "the Cork" Sosa, could not be reached for comment but did issue a statement;
Mr.Schilling does not regret making his statement and will show that ex-pinstriped-punk Piniella what he's made of at the fight in May. He's a warrior, and a hero to every fan in Boston. You see, this is why I don't tell nobody I speak English, congress woulda chewed me up, I just smile and act cute, say bery bery a lot, works every time. Mr. King taught me that. My only regret is that those lousy umpires didn't let "Bloody Sock" grab that peanut Pienella on the field and give the fans a fight preview. I'd like to stuff a cork in him myself, and if I know anything, its cork.
Well, I suppose if I want to keep both my legs I won't question Mr. King any further. However, I do look forward to not only the upcoming pre-fight hype and the jiggly weigh in buffet sponsored by Krispy Kreme, but to every crazy gimmick along the way. Mr. King never disappoints his customers. Trump's Pompadour and Why-the-Hell-is-Anyone-Still-Paying-Attention- to-Me hotels and casinos opened today with the line showing "Sweet" Lou Pienella a 5-1 favorite over his arch rival Curt "Bloody Sock" Schilling. Lets get ready to . . . ah . . . rumble? It's sure to be one for the ages; the Thrilla in Manilla, the Rumble in the Jungle, Patterson, Foreman, Marciano, Ali . . . and October 25th, the Bean-Ball Brawl. God help us all. If only Mr. Schilling had been more . . . um . . . curt!
Hope Paul was/is able to get a good seat for tonight's game . . .
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=1912&teamId=10&sort=OPS
It would seem make more sense for Torre to go with Cano at second.
Meanwhile, those numbers suggest Sierra at DH and Bernie in CF (Small throws just enough ground balls for that to be an acceptable decision). But one has to remember that Bernie and Sierra likely amassed a great deal of their numbers against Wells in the '90s, while both have struggled from the right side of the plate this year.
An additional difficulty is the situation with Gary Sheffield's strained thigh muscle. At best, he'll be able to start at DH tonight, which might tempt Torre to put Sierra in right.
It's a downright rotten situation as Lawton is both a poor fielder and a lefty, as is Tony Womack (ack!) and while Bubba Crosby can play the field, he too is left-handed and would likely get carved up by Wells.
I wonder if Joe would consider starting righties Mike Vento (a right fielder in Columbus) or Andy Phillips (who played two innings in left field earlier this year) in right tonight. Not that I necessarily think he should. Then again, if Sheffield can't play at all, Vento or Phillips just might be the way to go.
All of which is something to think about before jumping all over the Yankee manager upon seeing his line-up tonight.
I actualy think it makes sense, with the Red Sox lineup, we need good defense, especially with Mats in left, I don't think Torre would dare move Mats to right and capture Phillips defensive attributes in left, but nothing would surprise me at this point, as much fun as it is for me to watch Sierra in right, I actually do enjoy it for some twisted reason, I think Torre will chose defense over offense tonight.
I think he'll go with Bellhorn at second, almost certainly, especially against an experienced pitcher like Wells. I personally think it's foolish to play Bellhorn considering Wells will likely eat him alive, not to mention Cano's defense is on par with Bellhorn's, and I like Cano's double, HR and line-shot potential, not to mention Bellhorn's almost certain not to even put the ball in play in 2 at-bats tonight.
Just one man's opinion.
And further, I can't jump on Joe's lineup, I can't even keep up with it to get close enough to jump.
Meanwhile, I'd be flat out stunned to see Phillips or Vento in the line-up.
Heading up there now -- will let you know how it turns out ticket-wise. Thanks to all who offered their advice.
Go Yanks, it will be nice rooting for the home team for a change!
Just another reason Joe will put him in, I just think Wells will make him look foolish.
Cliff
That's what I meant, about Cano. Hey, I can be optimistic, maybe Bellhorn will get hold of a fastball or hanging curve, who knows.
Lets go tonight boys! Lets meke it a September to remember!
No Sheff in tonight's stew. Hope his injury is not worse then reported.
I've been without my laptop for a week due to a shot power cable. The new one arrived just in time for this game.
I can understand dropping Matsui today, he really struggles vs. Wells.
Keep it going!
Indians up 2-0 on Santana
Very funny.
And as I write, Sierra swings at the first pitch to ground out!!
Oh no, I can't even watch, 3 already. On a good pitch no less.
Hey Lawton is doing his best manny impersonation out there tonight. Phillips, I said Phillips god damn you!
I guess we try and get something out of our trades, but he is useless.
DUMP HIM JOE!
Come on, Jeter.
Like I said, we're behind, how many pitches Wells throw that inning, even with the HR?
It's awfully predictable.
I'd take that bet
Easy man, he's a veteran. Joe only brings in rookies in middle relief, aint you been watchin?
Great play by Jeter, and whimpy collision by Varitek (that will get into Jorge's head) and then he just walks away and doesn't help him up, jerk!! haha
I shudder to think of what would have happened if Lawton were playing LF.
Man I hope I'm wrong.
hoooooooooooooo.... AROD!!!!!!
And Jason singles to LEFT!
And A-Rod ties it up! C'mon, Yanks!
Good lord!
He literally foloowed that ball right to the base of the wall and followed it like a cat and a ball of string.
Who has a better chance? thoughts?
Bullpens, who has a better chance? Did you watch last nights game, or for that matter any game this year . . . I would leave Small out there no matter what the pitch count so long as he's keeping us in it.
Bet Tampa would have caught that one, though.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?playerId=2538
So 4 hits the last 10 games, batting second, hmm.
Exactlt Sam Ryan, bug some fucking spoiled brats and get them off us regular folks for crying out loud.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spynotes094418008sep09,0,7854142.story?coll=ny-yankees-print
It sure would be a good idea!
yay Robbie, wheres all that love for Damon now Sutti?
I sure hope Stien saw that! No Danmon, chant it loud!
My god I just agreed with Sut, I don't know Sut, maybe they could have spent some of the 200 mil. on a lead off man, huh, maybe, you made it sould like they had no choice.
Matt Lawton of
4 years/$27M (2002-05)
* $1M signing bonus
* 02:$5M, 03:$6.5M, 04:$7M, 05:$7.5M
* Cleveland paying portion of 2005 salary, with Pittsburgh paying the same amount toward Arthur Rhodes' 2006 salary
* $50,000 All Star incentive
* 1 year/$3.9M (2001), plus $0.1M in incentives (at-bats)
* agent: Levinson brothers
* ML service: 8.169
Isn't it great !
If Joe pulls Small and they score 7 runs off relief, I will personally choke the life out of him myself.
BA with RISP and 2 outs: .227, worst in the league.
Tonight, 4 for 8... and thus, 8 runs.
You nuts, you have a better option? I would put a lock on the bullpen till the 8th every game if I were Girardi, and tell Joe you lost the key.
My point is, Embree, should not even be warming! Is Lieter the gardner out there or is he a pitcher Joe, even I would choose Lieter over Embree, God you're a dunce!
Joe in Boston, you can't be front-running with the flag on the garage, man. I mean, I know you're not a front-runner, but you've gotta stick with it regardless of how they're playing.
Why couldn't Joe be vacationing in New Orleans?
UGH
Flash is coming in.
We really need to start replacing Cano for defense
Gordon in. That's good. Now it's four runs. That's bad.
God Joe you better be pissed and if you want to know who at, grab a mirror and your precious "Kevin Brown in Game 7" playbook. Sit the fuck down Joe.
You got it, sorry bro.
Jeremy, you got it. I think Embree dug down for that one, grudge-match stylee.
By the way, getting out of that mess, and doing it via a nicely turned DP started by Cano was huge on many levels. Imagine the effects on a young player, or on Joe "Trust" Torre had that error turned into a big inning. Cano acts cocky, but I think that could have crushed him. Just think of how hard the fans would have ridden him over it.
.316 .458 .684
Tino's injury has been a blessing in disguise.
Glad to see we're winning, and that Small pitched well and Jorge is hitting tonight. Not happy to see Sierra playing - and making outs - AGAIN. Though I am glad Giambi's at 1B . . .
BTW, I have to listen to Remy and Co - Remy just said the ball Cano flubbed (ugh!) "probably wouldn't have been a double play". Any thoughts on that one? =)
We might even be able to position him in the outfield I'm told.
Friggin' Mueller. I'll be glad when he's gone from the Sox next year. Reminds me of Mike Macfarlane in the early 90s - always a Yankee Killer.
Please, someone enlighten me as to why and when asking a starter to go 8 or 9 became "asking a lot?"
Jack McKeon has done ok not adhering to the philosophy.
I still think what I said above has got to be the way to do it. If you plan on having to use guys almost every day.
Find good ones, mentor, train, mold and then pay!
No starter should ever be paid more than 5 mil. if asking them to finish games is "asking a lot."
It's very frustrating because I just know it has no basis in fact or medicine.
Maybe if the Yanks score a couple runs here, Torre will get someone else up? If things start to go bad, he can always go to Mo then.
Middle relief are treated like garbage afterthoughts, paid nothing and blamed consistently, but are used more and more and have become just as important as every other aspect of the game in contemporary baseball.
Similar to the shift from a four to a five man rotation, it's merely a matter of whatever is au courant thinking.
OK Giambi, your turn!
I hear ya, but don't you think they should be given greater training, specialization and money, if, indeed, there are going to be asked to work every day and starters are not even expected, let alone demanded, to actually pitch and own the games they pitch.
The obverse should be true considering your reasoning right? If one more day of rest then why not more expected.
I just feel like baseball is lost with this and it's hurting the quality of the game.
Easy there killer, I was talking about Varitek's moonshot throw to center!
Four runs sounds comfortable, but against the Sox, it ain't.
Catch Bubba catch!
Name Years Played Given Name
Bubba Carpenter 2000-2000 Carpenter
Bubba Church 1950-1955 Emory Nicholas Church
Bubba Crosby 2003-2004 Richard Stephen Crosby
Bubba Floyd 1944-1944 Leslie Roe Floyd
Bubba Harris 1948-1951 Charles Harris
Bubba Morton 1961-1969 Wycliffe Nathaniel Morton
Bubba Phillips 1955-1964 John Melvin Phillips
Bubba Trammell 1997-2003 Thomas Bubba Trammell
3 of the 8 have played for the Yanks at some level (Bubba Carpenter was in the minors for years, apparently)
Rich,
"Closer potential" Not to quibble but I was speaking of the guys that have to work the 6th 7th etc. I understand what you're saying.
However this is what the halfwits like Gammons should be talking about, instead of Barry Barry, please let me touch you Barry.
The 6th or 7th their whole career? Because most relievers who are effective in the antecedent innings become closers later in their careers, like Mo or more recently, BJ Ryan.
Alternatively, the Yankees have "overpaid" Karsay and Gordon to fill set roles. Consquently, there is some apperciation for their skills.
Build on it. We need to sweep.
randym77, Bubba Carpenter was born in Dallas . . . http://baseball-reference.com/c/carpebu01.shtml . . . I have no idea how common a name "Bubba" actually is, in the South or elsewhere.
I gotcha. Maybe what I'm arguing is impossible with a 5 man rotation and salary constraints. I still have no idea why they moved from 4 to 5 anyhow.
Maybe, picking my own argument apart, the answer is to, at the very least, expect starters to pitch longer and throw those clickers in the trash.
Maybe it's not that common, but the fact remains that somewhere, somehow, someway, someone is sitting in a hospital--or trailer--right now pondering and percolating whether or not "Bubba" is the right choice for their new baby boy, and it frightens me, frightens me quite a bit.
Patience, Cliff, Unpopster and everyone. Cut the kid some slack.
Oh, and Cliff, are you saying you think Cano per se is a choker? Because I think that many a rookie would choke in such a spot. It's quite common, isn't it?
My biggest concern is that as fans we can't have it both ways. We can't lament the fact that our team is an inorganic assemblage of veteran superstars (faded or otherwise) on the one hand, while displayin no patience for rookie mistakes, on the other.
If I'm going to lose, I'd MUCH rather lose because of inexperience than because of being over-the-hill and without passion.
At least the promise of inexperience blossoming gives us something to look forward to. I mean, who knows if this kid's not the next Bernie or Jeter?
Big win. Small is a real hero. I think he deserves a post-season start if we can get ourselves in....(I predicted as much a couple of days ago).
Hope Sheff gets back quickly. We need him. I also hope we see Bellhorn tomorrow. Love to see him hit against Schilling, the way Schilling has pitched anyway.
Let's go Chacon...here we go!!!!
Don't forget - Bernie was NEVER a good defensive outfielder. The first steps he got on balls were absolutely horrendous - he just had the speed to make up for a lack on instincts. Now he doesn't have the speed to make up for it.
Remember that big error he made in the postseason? God, can't remember when it was or who against (Oakland? California?), but he made an error on a routine play in late innings in a pretty big spot and the next play the ball found him again and he made the play with grace and guts.
I don't get to watch games often so I can't say with Cano, but Sori really did lose focus. He's just forget to see the ball into the glove. Tonight, anyway, Cano didn't lose focus so much as try to do too much. He tried to turn two on play that was hard hit and by no means routine.
I think losing focus and trying to do too much are two separate issues. What do you think?
Bernie win those gold gloves on personality and good looks?
He really did come up big and we should all feel really pleased with his performance.
This was the first time I've gotten a chance to see him and I must say, I wasn't that impressed. What's his secret? Yes, I saw him change speeds effectively (he threw some really sweet offspeed pitches in big spots) but otherwise, I can't account for his success. His stuff was all right, but I kept expecting Boston to explode.
Is the changing speeds basically the key to his success?
Further, Joe had some nerve yanking him at that point, a coulple bad luck plays and a great hit of a very good pitch. No excuse to yank him there, and we had to overuse Flash, and use Mo for no good reason as a result.
Many pitchers have forgotton who calls the game, and many lose games due to nothing more than testoterone and insecurities, by shaking their god damn heads too much. Watch the best ones, you'll see.
Great game. Small rocked. Cano is a rookie and some want to bash him for not concentrating well, while others think he should be given a longer leash. I can't go back and read them all again....tired....
I think we should be pleased that Giambi is in the 4 hole now. It means that he's hitting, and it means that Torre is confident that he will keep hitting there. Sheffield's absence hurts, but I think we should consider plugging him in elsewhere if it means Giambi higher in the order. I propose:
Jeter
Matsui
A-Rod
Giambi
Sheffield
Sierra
Bernie
Posada
Cano
When Torre came to get the ball from him, Small was surrounded by appreciative Yankee players. Guys who make salaries in the 10's of millions all patting him on the back and sicerely expressing their appreciation. Small stuck out his prominent chin and barked his thanks back to them and you could see his pep talk as he pumped his fist. He was rallying the troops to keep those inherited runners from scoring, and he was urging his All-Star teammates to bring the herd home.
I love this guy. He's humble enough to know his role, but strong and confident enough to urge his famous teammates to play with passion and focus. That's a guy I want with the ball in a playoff game.
I know I made the last several posts, but someone needed to vault this thing over the top!
It's a testament to Cliff and Alex that this forum has grown to be as interesting and prolific as it is, and post #400 is dedicated to their skill, dedication, and loyalty to team.
Excelsior!!!
Keep in mind that the same people that give out the gold gloves are the same people that gave one to Raffy Palmiero for playing 34 games in the field.
Bernie was a wonderful outfielder, but he's never had good instincts. He's just been able to outrun his mistakes - something that he hasn't been able to do this year.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.