Howie Kendrick - black
Reggie Willits - white

That is all.

He's batting .400 against Lackey, which probably had some bearing on the decision to start him at 1B tonight.

Khalil Greene still tops them all.

6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR, 3.00 ERA.

The announcers said his fastball was 90mph, and he was hitting his locations well.

I don't think he's quite ready for prime time, though.

Let's Go Yank-ees!

Manny's out of the lineup again tonight.

Barry Zito has a no-hitter through 6.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/446638p-376040c.html

What a surprise

Let's care of two birds at once ;-)

Anyway - does anyone think A-Rod should be moved down to 7th in the order until he starts hitting consistently again?

Its sad when Randy Johnson is a distant third, at best.

34 Exactly. Not what I had in mind ;-) ...

I just think Lackey's worse because he's that ugly with really bad teeth that for some reason they always close up on.

Can we petition for the Angels to be swapped to the NL for, say, the Cubs? This way we'd only have to play them 3 times every 3 years or so...

I loved his HR trot: 'One Flap Down'...

Atlanta fans also deserve every bit of shit they get about being horrible fans

How so?

How about trying to sell out a playoff game now and then?

Go Mariners.

Turner Field is like an amusement park with Cartoon Network land, batting cages, face painting, etc....

They did not sell out most playoff games

We better hope for a Boston loss.

College Football and NASCAR rule down here

Like they don't know what a ground-rule double is or something... ;-)

college football is my favorite of all sports.

Wang, Hughes, etc....homegrown is the way to go...with the odd Lidle, Chacon, etc..mixed in

Atlanta must have the worst fans in professional sports. I can't think of any city that comes close.

Go Mariners.

totally agree....have a bad feeling about this weekend....the ass end of our rotation against the Angels...

Just glad the Sox stay out here for three with the A's while we get home

you muskrat!

Both Florida baseball teams, D'Backs, Padres, etc.....

any of your fabricated cities (e.g. Orlando)

I had high hopes for Wright earlier this season, but now...the guy's killing our bullpen.

I live in Atlanta and Wright was a mirage created by Leo Mazzone...

You mean piggy back around the clubhouse?

Drat. But I gotta say...what a catch. Damn.

I have been to alot of events and LL WS is on the list to get to....

A Rod has actually hired Sal "two slices extra cheese" Fasano to provide the piggyback service to teammates interested

A Rod has actually hired Sal "two slices extra cheese" Fasano to provide the piggyback service to teammates interested

Looks like they were both caught stealing, huh?

By the way, Wright SUCKS and should be cut after this game!!

My theory is he's channelling Kelly Stinnett, and I simply expect him to make out every single time. It's less aggravating that way.

"Palm trees and blonde bitches like you see on TV? You better pack yo sh*t and get the f*ck on outta here..."

I have been probably the biggest Arod supporter there is this year. But, I am beginning to wonder about him. I see the same thing all the time....sneak a fastball by him with the first pitch, foul one off next, slider low and away for a swinging strike three. You would think he would make some adustments.

He takes so many bad swings and is fairly easy to fool, yet he draws walks.

I really don't get it.

Anyone care to explain his opb skills to me, because I just have never been able to see them.

I had my head turned but heard the loud cheer, fully expecting to see that Gueil had K'd.

sadly for Cano not paychecks

What a hussle by Damon!

Good hustle, Johnnie.

Next time, Bobby.

And if one of the Yankee pitchers doesn't plunk a hitter tonight, I am going to be pissed. How many times has Jeter been hit this year?

it is like watching a train wreck...oddly interesting...you just sort of ponder how bad it could get...

He's got a free pass from me for a good long time.

And Joe has seen enough.

Then again, Villone has been pretty good this year, and he is rested.

And as I type this, he Ks Anderson, so tell me to shut the hell up about BP strategy.

Still 2-0.

Rex is right. NY fans respect honesty, not platitudes and excuses.

Like clockwork.

1-2-3.

Singleton on striking out five times in two games.

It's a crying shame.

3-0.

Seattle 4-0.

good night to you all.

222 He HAD a fever, he doesn't have one now. If he is indeed still sick enough to screw up his game, he should sit out and not hurt the team.

I'm just kidding of course. I hate, hate, hate these games where they strand tons of base runners.

Fair call, I am just amazed at this total and utter mental collapse...this is an MVP, HOF type...honestly cannot recall anything like this other than a lower level player like Rick Ankiel....

This will be interesting going forward to next season...hope he turns it around

With a ton of displaced Yankees (in the traditional and baseball fan sense) like me, I think eventually we could see a big league team in Raleigh or something.

When Tiger is done people will have turned your statement around to read "the only person you can remotely compare to Tiger is Jordan"

LeBron if it works out right for him could have the Jordan like 6 ring run...

kinda pathetic.

no offense seamus you were prob writing it at the same time i was writing mine

We could all agree to go back to picking on Pavano...

254 Never, Jordan was first and, plus he is a Tarheel!!!

Lets just go an entire inning without talking about A-Rod. Just 1. Jeez, its like we are the f'n paparazzi and every flippin day its a new picture of Lindsay Lohans boob or something.

One inning. Starting at the end of the 5th. No A-Rod talk.

NONE

I seriously want to see if it can happen because i know someone will mess it up.

This guy's just great. Way to hang in and take care of business.

I'm done talking.

Our guys should take some notes.

My prediction NY 6 LA 5. Mo with the save.

Oops, damn. Does that count? ;-)

Taste of their own medicine.

TIE GAME.

Damn.

I guess I was wrong about Bobby, but that was a productive out, doubly so.

Let's go A-lex!!!

That's the best possible result from that ab.

8 K's in his last 9 ABs - did I just hear that correctly from Murcer?

But at least we tied it up.

And thank you to Abreu for not striking out.

Put the bat on the ball and good things can happen.

What, just because he struck out _____? Meh, doesn't seem like a challenge anymore. There must be an instructional video being passed around from team to team these days. He can't hit anyone anymore.

Proctor is a stud.

Do you think Joe would DH Melky, or would he continue this hodge podge approach?

Like night and day from last year bro.

There is no situation I can evision where I wouldn't be comfortable with him out there.

I'd like him to just stay put where he is.

Hands off.

That's how good he is.

Good effort, Figgins.

Let's go DAM-on!

I hope so too, but Matsui fancies himself a baseball player and will bark to get out thre. We'll see how Joe handles it.

What I am most looking forward to is watching how well Matsui is going to just bind himself charmingly to the molecule that is this great chemisrty in the New York Yankees clubhouse.

That was strike three to Johnnie.

That's a break.

I don't know, but it sure worked well. I actually beleive 90% of it was 80% mental.

I am going to get killed for saying it but looking forward to Pavano as well

Heh - Scioscia's getting a workout tonight...

They don't piss away opportunities to get the runner in from third.

Heads up, Derek.

No, Angels burn another runner.

We all need to lighten up and realize that the guy just isn't going to perform if we rag on him. To succeed in the stretch run and the playoffs we as fans need to support him 12031312 percent because he is the former MVP and MOST IMPORTANTLY our starting third basemen.

Now would be a good time.

Second pitch slider in the dirt, swing and a miss.

See!!

What did I say?

Put the bat on the ball and good things can happen!

Nice job, Alex!

Bravo!

A-Rod scores the winning run. Write that down.

I was being sincere, not sarcastic.

I'm thrilled he put the ball in play.

466 lol

hahah

Hey, we aims to please... ;-)

Figgins didn't take the bat off his shoulder even though everyone in the ballpark had to know the slider was coming on 1-2.

Do they just not believe it's really going to be a slider, or are they totally unable to identify it?

Not a good match up.

Let's go YANK-ees!

Just annoys the bejesus out of me.

Great eye, Jorgie!!!

Didn't he just have some misadventure bunting recently?

Anyone recall?

And Nick Green is not a good pinch-runner.

OK, this is probably sour grapes. But did Figgins need to jump for that ball? He outran the ball--great speed, no doubt. But he looked to overreact a little at the end. Frankly, I think he jumped to soon for Wilson's double, and that's why he missed it.

Damn you, Figgins!

Meanwhile, Meyers gives up a double. and we probably lose the game now with Dotel or, worse yet, Bruney.

I'd rather push the game to extra innings athen give up in the ninth with the best arm sitting in the BP.

Runner on 3rd, no out. No possible way we can win this game.

Kennedy doesn't strike out, does he?

Hot damn!

DOn't fuck around with that slider anymore.

http://www.getrelaxed.com/014.htm

Nooo!

That was strike three!

Oh well, Damon got one earlier.

(no?)

Every time, seemingly.

They don't squander their opportunities.

We will be tied with Boston in a two weeks again at this rate.

Well, at least he didn't walk the winning run in. :-P

Hope these really do even out...

That's now 5 straight days off for Mo. He'll be nice and rested for that 3-run save tomorrow.

Why did I stay up till 2 am for this?

I'm just real bummed that we've returned to pre-boston where we just leave hitters on base all night. We cannot do that as much as we have and expect to win. Something needs to give.

I did say seems.

:)

That was for you, Travis.

F that. Everyone is going on fumes right now. Snap out of your Beantown glory, Yanks, and get back to the job at hand.

I was afraid of this shit...

At the same time, Boston has split 4 games, including getting shutout by a no-name pitcher. 1 of their 2 top offensive players is hurt.

It's not time to panic yet.

The much better play is to go to Rivera for two innings, then worry about how to jimmy around with Dotel and Meyers. The second best move would have been to go right to Rivera after the first hit.

I don't know if I can put this loss on exhaustion. This is how we were playing before the Boston series. We scored a decent number of runs, but gave up too many.

Starting pitching is suspect. This was hidden while playing Boston, because their pitching is even worse.

And while the offense is better than ever, we've lost some other pieces. Like the guys who could bunt and pinch-run.

This is not to say he hasn't shown some improvement. It would be nice if they a had a kaugher or two where he could be sent out to keep working himself into MLB form.

1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K
2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K
1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K
1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K
2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K

HIs control still isn't great and he still isn't in top form, but he is clearly doing ok. 5 of those 8 baserunners you cite were in his first IP, in the 2 IP since he has only allowed 4 and one of those was an intentional Walk. Not perfect but clearly improving.

I'm not doom and glooming it, I just want to see this team win consistently. We stink, then sweep 5, then we stink again. Not gonna get it done...

It's about when you have your foot on their throat and fail to close the deal.

If the AL crown (or wild card) is still up for grabs the last week of the season, these one and two run losses in games we should have won will provide no comfort.

The winning formula that worked so well from the break to the Boston series went out the window since. No excuses for losing in Seattle and we should have won tonight with just one instance of timely hitting.

Forget Boston. We have 4 games left with them which we can control the outcome. We just need to beat up on everyone else and those games won't matter. Tonight was a wasted opportunity and I don't want to see this team get into a funk right now. The timing is not good...

Yikes, no wonder Villone and Proctor are getting worked like rented mules.

Pretty odd, when before then, we'd won nine of our last eleven series, or something like that.

Might have worked out better for the Yanks. Oh well.

I had no problem with Joe bringing in Dotel in that situation (has to earn trust at some point), but I was surprised he did because yesterday I read that Joe didn't intend to bring Octavio into situations with runners on, and was planning to have him start innings.

Dotel looked like he was pitching scared. I hope that outing didn't rattle his confidence too much.

That's why you prefer to lose with Mo, because you know he can dust it off.

Sox lost, no harm, no foul. We'll get 'em today.

It's how we'll do in the postseason I'm concerned about. Starting pitching is looking shaky.

Pavano into the rotation, Wright to the pen?

Gak. I'm hanging my hopes on Carl Pavano... o_O

Speaking of Pavano, he says he's ready:

"I was happy with my location and was much sharper than my last start. I am ready."

http://www.clippersbaseball.com/

Given that the Clippers are out of it, I have to thank that Pavano kid for knocking Indiannapolis out of a tie with Toledo for the IL West lead. Where did this kid come from?