Bernie's homer (and the crowd chanting his name) must have felt pretty good after the Nats ran all over his arm.

This quote is part of the reason why I sometimes find A-Rod so unlikeable.
"I want to do special things like I always do." Way to be humble, dude.

Farnsy missed three games last time, and says he feels even worse this time.

Beam has been called up from Columbus, and Kevin Thompson sent down.

I'm posting this here since this seems to be a Bernie related post, continuing the discussion by Rob Gee and randym77 in the previous thread:

I'm gonna have to agree with the sentimental pick in the outfield. I appreciate the opinion represented by you and by Steven Goldman over at Pinstriped Bible, that you should play the unknown young guy over the known old guy. But I think you continue to assert yourself without really looking at the statistics, as a good SABRmetric new age fan should. And here are the statistics:

Bernie, LF 2006 NYA: 25 G, -1 FRAA .245 EQA
Thompson, CF 2005 AAA: 38 G, -3 FRAA, .233 EQA
Crosby CF 2005 NYA: 16 G, +3 FRAA, .236 EQA

Those are really the choices, assuming Damon and Cabrera are going to play, and I think Melky should play left because its the harder position at Yankee Stadium. That said, look at the raw statistics. None of those three is much better above average at the plate OR in the field. And at this point, our third outfielder IS a replacement player. So the harm in choosing the guy that energizes the team and clubhouse, and especially the fans, is minimal considering that if the alternatives are better, they'd ALSO be going against trends.

Sorry, forgot to edit, "you" in this case refers to Rob, specifically.

3 Right, Mr. New Age Statistics Man, "choosing the guy that energizes the team and especially the fans" is solid SABR reasoning.

Moreso, why don't you look at a bit more at legit sample sizes then get back to me.

And I think we can put to rest the Bernie gets hot with the weather theory (career splits - G AB AVG OBP SLG):

Apr 274 1038 .269 .367 .420
May 294 1135 .298 .385 .496
Jun 277 1054 .333 .419 .577
Jul 320 1224 .279 .373 .426
Aug 413 1621 .317 .388 .504
Sep 342 1286 .282 .369 .450

Yup, for some reason he likes the month of June. But look out!

Now 2005:
Apr 24 84 .238 .323 .310
May 17 60 .267 .333 .417
Jun 26 78 .244 .358 .385
Jul 21 72 .236 .317 .389
Aug 27 90 .289 .333 .489
Sep 24 94 .234 .280 .245

The Bernie of today is the crash of tomorrow. He may have his hot streaks, but they're more and more fleeting. And he should only be seeing those as a DH/PH, esp. from the right side of the plate.

5 I'm saying that given the players' similarity, choosing someone for non SABRmetric reasons is just as good for the team as rolling a die to determine the Yankees' left fielder. And if one of those players just happens to do something intangible for the team, why not play that player rather than the others?

Sure, fall back on the sample size excuse. I'm just using the statistics that Baseball Prospectus is providing. There ARE no more stats to go by on Bernie in right field, because he hasn't played there in fifteen years. But in this limited sample, Bernie has NOT driven the team into the ground defensively as some claim. As for Thompson, in three professional seasons he has posted a positive FRAA just once (and that was the outstanding number of +1). Meanwhile Crosby produced HIS only positive FRAA while playing for the Yankees last season. Who's to say THAT was not 'going against trends'?

Offensively, Crosby has given an EQA above .340 just once, playing for the Dodger's AAA team three years ago. Thompson last year had a .302 EQA in AA (342 PA) and a .203 in AAA (242 PA). I don't have stats from this year, I know he has better rate stats.

I bet if you were a Red Sox fan you'd be complaining about the runs Ortiz is giving up at first base in NL parks too...

I don't have a problem with playing Bernie while he's hot. (I'd rather DH him, but obviously that's not an option this week.)

But I do think Bubba's numbers will likely improve with more playing time. He's never really had a chance to settle in. He's had, what, 200 ABs in the last four seasons?

Even his minor league numbers aren't really representative, IMO. He did have some trouble adjusting to pro baseball. He basically became a completely different kind of player - from a one-dimensional DH-type power hitter to a contact hitter who gets it done with speed and defense. He was just starting to get it all together when he was called up to the majors, and did horribly. Then he was traded to the Yankees, and was shuttled back and forth between the Bronx and Columbus for two years. It did bad things to his swing. He spent most of his time on the bench in NY, then had to start all over once he got back to Columbus. Then he'd get called up again.

I think given regular playing time (and a little job security, so he doesn't feel he has to try for a homer at every AB), he'd hit better than the numbers suggest.

7 Again, solid SABR reasoning from Mr. New Age Statistics Man! You're comparing Ortiz's bat and glove to Bernie's? Gasp!?

Whatever Bernie will contribute over one game or the next few will be fleeting. We know this already. It's his defense that will be a constant. That won't change. With how many games we've been winning and losing by 1 or 2 runs, I rather have OF defense that won't play flyballs into extrabase hits and won't give up the extra base on SF or singles. That's just me.

Bernie's may ride hot waves. But I'd much rather he do it as a PH/DH. All the benfits, however fleeting, with none of the defense.

Even still, with Gapper going down (nice to see you!), we won't be seeing Bernie at DH. And we may just see a certain someone (puke in mouth) before Long. Gapper can't return for ten days.

There has been some discussion about Melky switching back and forth between left and right at Yankee Stadium and on the road. It sounds like a good idea and a number of bloggers have expounded on it and endorsed it. I think the main draw back is that as a young player Melky needs to get his feet under him and to find himself. Switching back and forth may be a lot to ask; hitting ML pitching can be hard enough without the concern of mastering two defensive positions in the back of a youngsters mind. I'm not saying that's sufficient reason not to do just that it is sufficient reason to be very careful when considering it. Who knows, maybe Melky could handle it and we'll never know unless we give it a try.

They did run on Bernie and made him look bad at least once. Bernie is clearly not the answer in right field but short of Melky I'm not sure we really have the answer on this team right now.

9 Thanks for completely ignoring the rest of my post. I'm showing you that Bernie's fielding is costing the Yankees 1 or 2 runs per game over an "average" defensive player. I also showed that neither Thompson nor Crosby has produced anything better. I agree that Bernie SHOULD be no more than a PH/occasional DH. But we don't have that luxury thanks to a couple of broken wrists. We have to play a replacement player, and all the grumbling in the world results in, at best, a couple of runs over the course of a season.

10 Though an arm in right field is traditionally coveted, isn't it also understood that left field in Yankee Stadium is the harder position to play? If we have to play a replacement-level outfielder, I would think it would be worse in left than in right.

9 Rob, cut it with the name calling.

10 I would much rather they switch Melky now, and let him get settled in, than later in a pennant race. I have no doubt that Matsui will back by the end of August. Then you switch Melky? It just doesn't make sense.

The only thing I can think of they're pretty certain they're going to get a cheap corner OF (Wilson, Sanders, etc) and that Melky isn't ready to hit enough. Under that scenario, the cheapy goes to RF and Melky keeps LF warm for Matsui.

12 Go back and eat stew.

That's "costing the Yankees 1 or 2 runs per SEASON," based on FRAA adjusted to season, from Baseball Prospectus.

Y'know, I've been peeking in on the Clippers' web site now and then, and T-Long is doing very well in Columbus. Really, judging from stats alone, he would be the obvious one to bring up if we need another outfielder. o_O

9 & 15 Do we really have to argue that Bernie is about average in the field? He's not - he's Rubenesque. He's below average. That said, I'm not buying the numbers you cite. We watched as he cost them 1 or 2 runs last night. Someone else could do better and I'm with randy is saying it could be Bubba if not Gapper.

14 Rob, it might behoove you to recognize that, while Bronx Banter is my and Alex's blog, Baseball Toaster is Ken's operation. Anything he says in terms of eliminating name calling is as good or better as the same coming from us.

18 I sorry for name calling mehmattski. Please educate me in all things sabermetric.

As Bernie heats up (from the Dreaded Left Side, no less!), I think it's worth noting that Damon has contributed more offensively than most of the other potential Bernie replacements: Juan Pierre, Milton Bradley, Coco Crisp, and Jason Michaels.

I still think it's not going to be good in the long run, but score one for Cashman.

20 Few of us doubted year 1. It was year 2, 3, and 4 at 13 mil per that was tough to swallow. Juan P was an idea few supported. The others are all making 3mil or under this year.

Tough to score to one for the GM until at least year 3.

7 actually, if I was a Sawx fan I would be complaining about playing Ortiz at first w/o the dh, especially as, last night, it meant the Greek God of Walks sat.

Youkilis is putting up superior hitting numbers this season to Papi. 319 avg .438 obp .502 slugging vs. 259, 361, 526. And that's not even taking Papi's defense into acct.

The Sawx would be batter off w/ Youk leading off, and Papi pinch-hitting late to hit some of his clutch (tm) game-winning homers.

Whoa, check out the lineup:

Johnny Damon CF
Bernie Williams RF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C 0
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera LF

Look who's in the two-hole...

2 Classics Yankees. Why does this team insist on not DLing injured playes? So now, they have Farnswhacker on the bench; call up a pitcher who will rot in BP, and send down a possible OF/PH. Great--playing two players down in the NL park.

19 - good on you. (Btw, "Eat stew"? Ahh, must be summer.)

Of course Bernie isn't comparable as a defender to Crosby. The main questions to my mind are: is Bernie likely to maintain this pace (as with Tino's torrid streak amidst icy expanses in his last season with us, I rather doubt it), and is he likely to be able to make it through the season playing this much (Sep 24 94 .234 .280 .245 - rather doubt it)? Maybe he's fixed something in his swing that was awry for the last several years - maybe he's going to go back to being marginal and absorb playing time better used in deciding who we'd like in the outfield come October.

22 - Youkilis has a slightly negative glove at 1b this season, but yeah.

23 Even given my defense of Bernie, results-based lineup changes are still the main weakness of Torre. Its not like Melky went 0 for 7 last game. Batting the worst OBP guy in the lineup second? I see a lot of GIDP in Bernie's near future...

As long as this lineup is for one game, whatever. But we all know that Joe really WANTS Bernie to be batting in the top 5, so this type of things scares me...

And my weekly tirade against all thing s FOX continues this week as for the upteenth week in a row I have no saturday "national" game...sigh

29 Any luck with the contacting the local station?

Torre said last night that Thompson would be sent down if they decided to bring up a pitcher. But it looks like they DFA'd Aaron Small instead.

Oh, my...

What a game last night. Maybe it was a frustrating game to watch from the comforts of the couch, but in the stands it was a good old time. The Nats fans filtered in slowly, but once there they came for battle. They did not go down meekly as the once prideful O's fans now do. They drowned out each chant we attempted to start up. They booed and smack talked and helped create what in the second half of the game became an electric atmosphere.

Of course, in the end we got the best of them and not just because we would go on to win. The Yanks fans seemed less comfortable in these new digs (RFK) at first, than they have come to feel at the Yard. But, with a few of us screaming and prodding until we were hoarse and sweating the YAnks fans got up and took the house as the players went on to take the game. Of all the games I've been to this season, including the home opener, this game had that incredible dynamic that serves to elevate the game.

And, this non-stathead loved seeing Bernie out there doing his thing. I read the stats, but I'm still a big fan.

31 Wow, nice to see the GM making real moves by cuting the fat. Thanks for last year Smallie, it was a blast.

It's on Feisand's blog for those that want to read it for themselves.

I'm really astounded. I thought it would be Matt Smith sent down, if they decided to get rid of a pitcher.

Abraham has this:

Small graciously met with the media after getting the bad news and said he apologized to Joe Torre for not getting the job done. "I'm the obvious choice," he said. "I don't blame them for getting rid of me."

*

You'll always have a place at Old-timer's Day Smallie!

26 interesting. Papi gets the start at 1st, but the Greek God of Walks gets the start in place of Manny in left and homers leading off.

delicious.

Jeter the Clutch God strikes again... ;)

31 24 I stand corrected!!

Thanks for last season, Aaron. I wish him the best.

This is gonna be A-Rod's at bat.

I am in NH. I get both TBS (Braves) and NESN (Sox). The 2 Fox games today are the Yanks and the Sox/Braves game. So who do I get? The F'in Sox/Braves game.

What the hell is up with TV scheduling?

#42 - i'm in upstate NY and they began the broadcast with the sox. they must have gotten some calls, as it just switched over.

30 Nope, no luck. HArd enough getting a person. Gonna write a letter, but little good that will do. Always worth continued pestering though!

THis has got to be Cashman's hand in matters, no? Erickson, Long, Small: all gone. Replaced by: Thompson, Smith, and Beam. Maybe the point of calling those stinky guys up first was to prove to Joe that the Kids are just as good if not better options!

Seeing all the Bernie posts, I feel the need to respond.

1. Obviously Bernie is having an absurd June. His OPS is over 1.000 for the month (only 43 ABs).

However, since May 1st, he is posting .316/.356/.507. This is good for an OPS of .863. Very acceptable for Bernie.

Obviously, I would like to see him DH more, and only play about 4 or 5 times AT MOST, but right now, I can't question his name in the lineup.

What is funny, is every time he does something good someone says "I'm afraid that this will buy him 2 more weeks in the lineup." Doesn't it feel like we say that quite a bit now? Perhaps he should be buying himself spots in the lineup.

43 Lucky you. Not only do I have to watch the Sox, but I prefer Remy and Co. as broadcasters over anybody Fox puts up.

Remy is really good and fair. On Wednesday, when the Sox lost 8-1, they gave up 10 walks. Says Remy:

"anytime you give up 10 walks, you SHOULD be losing 8 to 1".

Guy is pretty cool.

Hey... why not play Bernie while he's hot. When he returns to norm, Torre will give Bubby and Co. more action.

Damn National League.

42 In NH I bet they'd get alot of angry calls from non-cable households (they still exist!) if the Yanks were on instead of the Sux. Plus, except for these, are there ever free Sux games? didn't NESN take all of them?

44 That sucks, man. Good luck.

I agree. I'm coming around on the GM if he keeps this up. No stupid trades and even better. He may just make it to above-average.

45 And honestly, when the other option is Bubba Crosby, I'll take Bernie.

You know, I hate to add on to McCarver's detractors, but that call he just made about the unpire knocking the ball out of the catcher's had was PURE STUPIDITY. I'm not sure what tape he watched, but the strike call was made AFTER he lost the grip on the ball. As he described it, you could see how he was completely wrong. it's like he wasn't even watching the replay.

Pathetic.

Double doubles for Damon.

John-ny Baseball. John-ny Baseball.

Demon on fire! .333 AVG 1.006 OPS in June (57 AB's)

Has Bernie cooled off yet?

55 I hope not, but I really think putting him in the two-hole was not a great idea.

I was out late last night, and kept thinking, gotta wake up at 10 to throw on the game. Nothing sounds better than a nice Yankee game on Sat morning. Then FOX decides to ruin my plans. Now I'm stuck with gameday. Poor poor me.

57 I think you and Zack should team up with the letter writing. What do they have on there instead? Infomercials?

56 Agree. He's also a poor baserunner. Since ARod aint hitting, its not as much of a deal... but when he starts hitting, Cano should be batting 2nd.

49 You are correct... but I'll be there are more Yanks fans in NE then there are Sox fans without cable (like 15% maybe).

Cartoons! Can you believe it? Not even a game.

We have a no hitt... nevermind, I won't mention it.

Boy, the Mets got good and the Braves got bad awful fast. Sox will sweep them easy... even without the DH.

61 No game in San Francisco?
The folks on Fox must be on drugs. They did give us (Fair and Balanced) Fox news, didn't they?

So why is the RS-Braves the national game of the week on Fox, and ESPN's Sunday night game. How about some diversity here.

63 I hear ya. NYR (Not Yankee related) Watching these cartoons has brought something to my attention. Cartoons suck these days! I feel better now. Sorry.

Okay, its A-Rod's time now.

See?

Giambi hbp - must have overtuned his push-the-ball-out-of-the-strike-zone mechanism.

Young Marv Albert: A-Rod has 10 game winning RBI's this year - second to Pooholes.

67 Was it hit hard? A solid single?

70 Hit 'em where they ain't - strong bouncer up the middle.

Solid single right back up the middle. His swing looked better, too. Smoother.

70 Solid single up the middle.

69 How do those work? If you have a three run homer than puts you up three, does that count as three game winning RBIs? In other words, could 10 game running RBI conceivably be over three hits, or do they have to be ten?

I think I need to mention that Beckett has a no hitter. The Braves are being shut out due to a no hitter.

Is that damning considering our...

Oh wait, nevermind. :P

Cano with walk # 7. Seemed to take some close pitches. I wonder if he was sent up taking a strike.

74 just broken up with a double.

Melky keeps fouling off ball 4.

And there goes Beckett's shut out, too.

Melky swings 3-0 with the bases loaded?
R U Kidding?

Sterling's description of RFK isn't totally acurate. Its cookie cutter, but shaped like a toilet bowl.

Sterling's description of RFK isn't totally acurate. Its cookie cutter, but shaped like a toilet bowl.

All Melky had to was lay off those last 3 balls and the Yankees would have had a run walked in.

77 the first one was a high strike.

76 78 I am thoroughly confused. lol.

73 It's just one - for the RBI that puts them up to win the game - 1-0, 10-0, 5-4, 9-4, it doesn't matter. Think of it as the RBI that won the game. They used to keep track of it in box scores - not sure why it was dropped as an official stat.

Bad Melky.

Donnie needs to have a serious talk with Melky who needs to think about the situation rather than swinging compulsively.

76 78 That's the Sawx doing that damage.

Ack, never mind on 76 & 78

Melky is usually so good about taking walks. His patience at the plate amazed me. What happened?

That's what I get for trying to keep track of two different things at once. Josh Beckett still has his no hitter going.

go chacon! defend our hitters!!!

65 What in the hell is a Kinnikuman?

If the Yankees didn't want Mely swinging they would've given him the take sign.

It's a testament to the trust they have in the kid's eye -- which is darn good -- that they let him swing away 3-0.

if we post beckett's no-no all over sox message boards, does that jinx it?

94 That may be true, and very touch-feely to boost Melky's confidence. But no take sign on 3-0 mean 'If you get a great pitch and you can drive it, go for it'. I don;t think that's what happen.

That cost us a least one run.

damnit.

It never fails. Lead-off walk or hbp turned into a run.

96 did you see the pitch?

Now Beckett's no hitter and shut out are gone. Single by Andruw Jones.

How'd the runner at first score on a single?

I didn't 7782 might have.
I still think it's a bad idea. Bonds, Giambi, whoever. Jetes is on-deck. A walk in that situation is as good as a 1 in 3 chance for a hit.

What happened to Nick the Stick?

in the Red Sox game?

a Beckett Balk sent Renteria to second...so he scored on a single.

How about now? Has Bernie cooled off now?

Bernie doing his best to negate Damon's 3-3 day. (yeah, know Bernie killed the ball last night, but sheesh, today . . .)

105 Oh man. is he allowed to have an 0 fer day? Is that ok? Like I've already said he has had a great June and has been good since May 1st.

103 They said a back strain. Stretched high to get the throw on Jete's last groundout.

107 In the 2 hole after a 3 fer 3 from Damon? Tough to swallow.

Bernie should not be batting second.

0 for 3 doesn't mean much. 1/2 of June doesn't mean much. Bernie is a .265 BA .700-750 OPS guy with a terrible arm and a poor RF'er.

I love the guy. If we would like to see his last year have him appear in the WS, he needs to be used judiciously.

110 - lineup construction isn't that important.

I like Chacon, especially his relaxed demeanor. But this guy is a nibbler. Sometimes he just minces around to much.

By the way, I just signed on and am leaving for a wedding shortly, I caught a question earlier about Rodriguez's base hit and it was indeed a solid single. A line drive right back up the middle. He hit it square on the nose. It was the clean kind of hit you are always happy to see.

Another two out run given up by Chacon.

Another two out run given up by Chacon.

damnit

And that run was on Damon's arm. McCarver called it too.

Shite. And with that, I'm off to get dressed and head out to a freakin' wedding. I say Rodriguez has some good things in his bat for the rest of the day.

Let's Go Yan-Kees!

Damn...They mention Flood, and even showed a photograph of Frank Robinson and Bill Russell with Flood's childhood coach...Yo Timmy, hook me up with a plug there, bro! Dag. lol!

How do you let the #8 hitter -- a guy batting .233 for eff's sake -- drive in a run with two outs and the pitcher up next?

Isn't it kind of funny how "horrible" A Rod's doing, yet is average is 5 points better than Giambi's, who we think is doing fairly well?

Man, that's a classic Jeter at bat. Gets some good cuts and then slices the ball to right.

Giambi walks a lot.

McCarver just said Giambi bunted last year to spoil the shift. Has he ever, or is Timmy confusing him with Papi?

120 Giambi's obp is 60 pts better, and he has 15 fewer strike-outs, to go along with more homers and rbis.

Arod HR.

Giambi did bunt once last year. I don't know if it was to spoil the shift or what, but it was odd.

Andy YAY, A-ROD!

The first one there would be the game winning RBI.

Beckett just walked Renteria on 4 pitches with the bases loaded.

He's baaaaaacckkkkk.

(I hope).

Take that all ya'll haters.

And Jorge juices one!

You called it Alex.

124 Makes sense. I was a little confused on that.

120 Giambi has a much better OPS and better in most of the counting stats too.

Andruw Jones up with the bases loaded.

And a standup double for Robbie. I think this guy is serving meatballs.

Look who's unslumping now.

ok, i have to watch soccer now. Have fun everyone.

Dam, Jones pops up to second.

And now a long fly for Cabrera that's dropped.

Is anyone really worried about the Jays? I know I'm not, even though they are a potential threat.

I was just about to curse the NL to. Nice eye, Shawn.

hee hee. They walked the pitcher.

GRAND SLAM FOR JOHNNY!!!

140 I think they're a wild card threat. Not afraid of them in the division.

140 I think they're a wild card threat. Not afraid of them in the division.

Nice job, Alex and Johnny D. RFK sounds half full of Yankee fans.

If Farnsworth were healthy, I'd make a joke about this lead being Farnsworth proof.

Sweet 143. I hate having to get the score via computer. Too slow.

The U.S. is looking much better against Italy. I'm torn between the World Cup and the Yankee game.

146 Posada doesn't get any love? ;)

And I forgot Chacon used to be an NL pitcher. He must have a fair amount of experience at the plate.

Damn, I spoke too soon. Gooooaaaall, Italy!

Jorgie homered as well?! Nice.

My wife may be going into labor - glad this one is pretty safe.

Is that a Johnny chant?

Come on Shawn. You have a seven run lead.

152 Back-to-back. A-Rod homered, Jorgie homered, then Robby hit a long standup double.

They left their pitcher in way too long.

153 Congrats! Can you blog from the hospital?

The U.S. just tied!!!! Gooaall!

US - Italy is tied up. Italian guy scored for us.

Sterling seems to think a playoff contender wants Small.

Thanks, randym77.

Italy is now playing with 10 men. The U.S. has a real shot to win this game now.

149 i hear ya, simone. but i suggest the world cup. (sorry, yanks)

Come on Shawn.

Vidro just took 3rd on Bernie.

Italy just got a red card, they have to play the rest of the game down a man.

Think we'll see Beam today? Chacon is losing it.

damnit Chacon. Miserable outing. Absolutely miserable.

Holy cow! It's Matt Smith! I didn't know he was on the team. I thought that the only relievers on the Yankees were Small, Proctor, Farnsworth & Rivera.

No Small, no Farnsworth, and Proctor pitched yesterday. Guess Joe was forced to drastic measures.

Pathetic. Chcaon can't even finish the inning to pick up the win.

Of course, with this 4-spot put up the Yanks might not even win. Damn.

USA! USA! USA!

I just saw the score. 9-6? What happened?

Shawn Chacon ran out of gas.

171 Chacon happened. Nibbling bullshit leading to booming hits.

Damn I missed a lot. Gameday is busy. Freaking wedding. Who gets married in June? Saps.

Shite, red card on US.

NYR: world cup: USA red card, both teams play with 10!!!

Oh no, one of the U.S. players just got a red care. The U.S. is down to 10 men also. These refs in the World Cup are giving out too many yellow and red cards.

Here's a recap, courtesy of USA Today:

Bottom of the 5th

Play: Soriano walks. 0 out.

Hit: Vidro hits a single to RF. A Soriano to third. 0 out.

Run scored: 1 run, single by Daryle Ward. Alfonso Soriano scores from 3rd.

Out: Guillen flies out to 2B. D Ward holds on first. J Vidro holds on third. 1 out.

Run scored: 1 run, double by Ryan Zimmerman. Jose Vidro scores from 3rd.

Pitching Change: (P) Chacon replaced by (P) Smith

Run scored: 2 runs, single by Brian Schneider. Daryle Ward scores from 3rd, Ryan Zimmerman scores from 2nd.

Out: Harris hits into double play. 3 outs.

Chacon has to do better.

Damn. I'm tivoing the USa game and haven't caught up, but Sportinglife's matchtracker says the Italy red card was blatant, and that the US one was a joke, a yellow at worst. Effin ref.

It's BEAM!

Beamer!!!

Half time. TJ Beam?! I don't even recognize many of these relievers any more.

180
The US announcers were calling it a make up red card. Make up for what, I don't know. US guy got an elbow to the head, while the US red card was simply for a sliding tackle. Total BS call.

last NYR, i swear. both ABC and Univision referred to the USA red card as a "make-up" call.

Theodore Lester is a TJ?

Beam was called up this morning, when Small was DFA'd.

He pitched in Columbus last night, and was in Trenton not long ago.

who's got the odds on this being a showcase for Beam?

D'OH, Fox announcer just caught up with me. :)

Gamechannel calls TJ Beam "undefined]"

188 Not necessarily the worst thing. If we can create a package with him to get a starter, it wouldn't be awful.

191 no complaints here. 'specially since this is more of a sign that we're not moving hughes.

Beam, Beam Beam. This kid is a stud, if they give him a chance - everybody gonna be very happy.

Ugh! I have to go as real life intercedes. Good luck to the Yankees and the U.S.

The US Red card was weak. Damn Extra Innings package with no early Sat games. I hate Fox.

Wow, looks like Beam is gonna hit and stay in the game.

195, which red card? the first one, or the grimey one they just gave to pope?

I like Beam already. They just showed Torre talking to him on his way to the on-deck circle. Torre must have been asking him stuff like "Can you bunt?" - you know, giving the rookie a working over. And so Beam says something back and they both bust out smiling. My guess - the rook giving it back.

He looked pretty good.

Pretty confident for a kid who was in Trenton last month. I notice he shook off Posada a couple of times.

I would love to see Cano's numbers in his last 25 ABs.

I saw Carew play (on TV. I am also very old). I don't know if Cano has as good and eye, and Carew would take a walk.... but I have never seen anyone drill line drives like Cano. I hope he does NOT try to swing for more power. He's got a beautiful swing as is.

If he doesn't get cocky, and sticks with that beautiful stroke to left, he will win some batting titles.

Why no double switch when Beam came in? If he was going to go two, why allow him to bat?

Man, that was some homer. An upper-decker. That's something, in this ballpark.

Ugh. Looks like Beam should be used like Farnsy: for one inning only.

200 singledd, people have been talking about that Carew connection for a while haven't they. The stance and the look are different but jesus he is shooting balls around the park the way Carew could. A couple of years of that and I'd say yeah it's similar. I think Robbie has a great shot at it.

well, the wheels fell of this bus pretty quickly.

200, last 25, .400, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI

And now Proctor's coming in...

4 outs from Proctor or 1 out and Villone pitches the 8th and Mo the 9th?

Wow, US really getting shafted. 2nd bogus red, and now a goal disallowed when the offside players was only questionably involved in the play.

Hmm, given the match-fixing scandals in Italy, with refs involved . . . you don't think? . . . nah, couldn't be . . .

203 He was used for multiple innings in the minnors. When I've seen him he seemed to jump up in stuff the second inning. He was a starter till last year.

I think that ab f'd him up plus he was already geeked because it was his first ML appearance. The kid's gonna be ok. He's got some filthy stuff.

This could get really ugly...

proctor sucks.

Thank you, Scottie.

Dunno what we're going to do the next inning, though.

Why does it seem like this inning has been going on for about 128 minutes now?

Well if this isn't in A-Rod's face what is?

Intentional walk for Giambi, to get to A-Rod.

And Bubba's in to pinch-run for Giambi.

Which means Andy's probably coming in.

Villone?

Well, we tied Italy, 1 all.

world cup match = tie. 1:1

It has to be either Villone, or Mo for two innings. There are no other pitchers left.

Unless they're planning to use Bubba. He was quite the ace when he was in high school. And I noticed him practicing a splitter in the dugout last month. ;-)

Proctor to pitch to Sori. I guess you couldn't let Villone do that in a one run game.

Is Villone at least up?

Nope, they brought Proctor back for more. I'm not sure this is a good idea...

Swinging first pitch. That was a big out. I don't know about this.

Yes, Mo!!!!!!!!!

Looks like it's skip Villone and go directly to Mo.

i'm pretty sure it isn't... oh, here comes mo. whew.

Well we have to beat a Ghanan team that looked very impressive today, and hope that Italy shows up and beats the Czechs. Too bad for us that Ghana didn't finish some of their chances today -- esp that pk -- and bring the Czechs' goal difference down for us.

As it stands, a Czech/Italy tie would mean we'd have to beat Ghana by 4 goals to have a shot.

Unfortunately, I can see a scenario where we're up 1-nil in our match after 75, and the Czechs and Italians are tied, and they just stroke the ball around, cynically, knowing that they'd both go thru -- a la Germany/Austria in a previous W.C.

Get that DP ground ball from Ward.

What a disaster.

Jesus fucking christ. What an embarassment.

If the Yankees lose this game, you run them. Home plate to the wall in right and back, to the wall in center and back, to the wall in left in back and so on.

7-run lead. Against one of the worst teams in baseball, who lost their best hitter early in the game . . . gone.

Loss is on Scott AAAA Proctor.

Unbelievable.

Ugh. Mke it stop. Let's just forfeit.

If this team can't figure out how to hold a 9-2 lead against the horrendous Nationals, they don't deserve first place.

Chacon is awful, Proctor doesn't belong on a major league team. This bullpen sucks.

While I admit I am totally biased, I hate how the Fox announcers try everything to rub it in.

What's with Mo? I thought he only had 16 pitches yesterday?

As though Proctor is very much responsible, I feel the loss is on Chacon. He was the one who blew the 7 run lead.

Back an hour ago, I thought I was having a great afternoon.

Does anyone else remember when we shit on Tom Gordon to get the younger, healthier Kyle Farnsworth? Farnsworth's like the gift that keeps on giving.

This is F-ing ridiculous!!! My blood is boiling.

Yeah, I blame Chacon, too. They gave him a huge lead, and he coughed up most of it.

For the Nats, I think this is all Soriano's doing. His speed and base-stealing really seemed to throw Mo off his game.

I am so beyond pissed with this game.

I come home to find the Yankees are actually down. Unbelieveable. This is all on Chacon.

237 C2Coke, I know exactly what you mean.

If we can just get to Andy . . .

This sucked like rotten eggs. Chacon and the damn bullpen (outside of Mo).

I think I had a stroke.

Oh well, Andy would've definitely hit a 3-run bomb to give us the lead.

Well, that sucked. :-P

Can we call this a Torre loss? Bernie at #2? the Substitutions?

I'm going to stick my head in the toilet.

238 Gordon wanted to be a closer. The Yanks couldn't give him that.

So anyway, I ask again, what exactly is it that Farnsworth does better than Gordon? He doesn't pitch better. He doesn't stay healthy better, as Proctor in the 8th proved today.

I guess he's a better body builder.

And Chacon is driving me out of my mind. Great outing there Shawn. Wonderful.

Proctor is awful. But for lord knows what reason he's "trusted" Another guy that needs to go.

If Joe Torre is willing to have Rivera throw five outs, why not bring him in to face Alfonso Soriano, the best F-ing hitter on this waste of life baseball team? Nice managing there. Bring back Mazilli.

BTW: Bernie - O fer 5 and how many runs scored or advanced because of him?

This was uncalled for. A happy sunny Saturday turned into an ugly.... Ahh forget it.

I am still in disbelieve.

Holy crap... I'm still pissed. Make it go away!

Just out of curiosity, are Smith and Villone still on the team?

238 Gordon would have stayed for three years. But we wanted to get younger and healthier!

Torre's big mistake was leaving Chacon in too long. He was clearly losing it.

OTOH, you can understand his wanting to spare the bullpen if possible. Wright and Chacon back to back is just not a good thing.

I don't think the substitutions made a difference. Miggy got on base. Bubba and Andy never got to bat. The triple Bubba fielded would have been an inside the park homer if Bernie were out there. It was smoked right into the gap.

Mo was really freaked by having Sori running on him like that. He should have picked Soriano off at 2B. Use the guy's aggression against him.

Now that Small is gone, it proves the BB Power is still working, who should be the next one to go, guys?

randym77, this is all about pitchers not doing their job, not Joe.

257 Smith pitched today. The only reliever who didn't was Villone.

259 He had Soriano picked off by about a mile and a half. Was his head in the game today? That falls on Mo as much as it falls on everyone else. Chacon was terrible. Seven run lead and he can't get outs or throw strikes. Terrible.

261 Disagree. It was about the pitchers, but it was also about Torre not taking out Proctor when he should have or Chacon for that matter.

261 I was responding to 249. He asked if we could blame Torre.

randym77, fair enough.

262 Right, I did see him today. Too many pitchers out there today, got me all confused. In the end, I was wondering to myself if Moose was gonna come in.

Oh ok. We can't totally blame Torre. It's not a Torre Loss. But he didn't help matters today.

I bet when Alex went to the wedding today, he so did not see this coming. Well, I hope he at least enjoyed the wedding.

Frankly I don't see much wrong with any of the choices in the game except the choice of multiple pitchers throwing poor pitches. With farnsy unavailable there was very little room to maneuver and Villone has to be saved in a one run game in case of a tie unless you use a starter. Chacon got pulled even before he was allowed to pitch 5 despite a huge lead. The pitchers just all failed and now we have an empty bullpen for tommorow.

How many were left on base today? It seemed like A LOT.

271 10 LOB, 7 by Melky and 4 by Bernie stupidly in the 2 hole

10 LOB according to USA Today. Bernie, Jorgie, and A-Rod being the main culprits.

USA Today has 6 for Melky. Yikes. I didn't see that.

272 That explains why I almost choked when I saw the lineup today. If not batting Melky in second, why not put Jeter back is beyond me?

I disagree. I think bringing in Proctor instead of Villone was a mistake. I think using Proctor for multiple innings the past two games while Villone sits is stupid.

It's time to let Melky try the leadoff role again.

Torre's playing the hot hand, I guess.

On the bright side, maybe this will dissuade him from using this lineup again.

Folks it bites, but it's one lousy game.

It's a nice hot day, go outside and play.

278 Let's hope so.

279 Great point. I am gonna join My bro in the pool.`

Back to deuce with Boston. Hopefully Wang will go deep tomorrow.

209 just to correct myself for the record, the ref did correctly disallow that US goal by Beasley. MacBride was clearly offside and interferring with play.

279 Amen. I've got 3 racks of babyback ribs smoking over a charcoal and hickory fire even as we speak.

If there is one legitimate knock on Mariano, it is that he gets skittish with speedy baserunners on 1st to lead off innings in close games. Today was nothing new. Call it the Dave Roberts Effect.

283 Have you ever known anyone who wasn't skittish under those circumstances including Ford, Koufax, Gibson, Seaver, Hunter, Carlton, Palmer, Fingers, Lyle, Gossage, Clemens, Maddox, Smith and Mo? I haven't. Speed, a tight game and late innings make for a tense little cocktail. If you're not skittish under those circumstances you're a moron.

Yes he's a little skittish, who the hell isn't? Should Mo have stepped off? Sure, but Jorge has to let him know there's day light. Should Jorge have made better throws? Yes. That's what speed does.

Great sales job by Sori. If the Yankees move a top flight prospect to pick him up you can look back to that run he scored as the billboard ad that sold the product.