Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Patience Is A Virtue

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Patience Is A Virtue

2007-06-21 11:30

by Cliff Corcoran

Through the first 16 games of June, the Yankees went 13-3, scored 6.94 runs per game and drew 4.31 walks per game. In the last two games against the Rockies, the Yankees have gone 0-2, scored exactly one run in each game, and drawn exactly two walks per game. Against the two Colorado starters, Josh Fogg and Jeff Francis, the Yankees drew a total of two walks in 14 innings. Of the four walks the Yankees have drawn in the last two games, three of them were by Alex Rodriguez, and one of those was an intentional unintentional pass (that came with two outs and a man on second in the sixth inning of a still-scoreless game and was the only free pass Jeff Francis issued in seven innings). It seems that the Yankees approach at the plate appears to be largely to blame for their power outage in this series.

This afternoon, the Yankees face Rodrigo Lopez. Lopez has had decent control in his career (2.82 BB/9IP), but that number jumps to 3.42 BB/9 in his career against the Yankees. Lopez also has a career 6.02 ERA against the Yanks and has given up 30 homers in just 121 innings against the Bombers, more than double his total against any other team, Boston included. Familiarity should help the Yanks this afternoon. Hopefully it will also give them the confidence to take a few more pitches. That said, Lopez is having a solid season in Colorado, perhaps buoyed by having finally escaped Baltimore. He spent nearly all of May on the DL, but has turned in three quality starts in four tries since.

On the flip side, Roger Clemens is two-for-two in quality starts in his second tour of duty in pinstripes. Based on the last two games, however, he may need to contribute even more than that to prevent a sweep. Clemens last faced the Rockies one week shy of two years ago and held the Rocks to a Preston Wilson solo home run, two walks and a trio of harmless singles over seven innings while striking out seven. His bullpen then gave up five runs in the eighth to blow the game.

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Comments (196)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2007-06-21 11:57:34

1. cult of basebaal

don't you know, walks just clog the bases ...

Hacking Macht Frei!

good thing we've got the Gnome playing 1st today

2007-06-21 11:58:29

2. cult of basebaal

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Cano 2B
Cairo 1B
Clemens P

2007-06-21 12:04:42

3. thelarmis

ooh, aren't we supposed to use emma's non-game threads and then we win?!

go rocket. here's to 350 wins!

2007-06-21 12:05:43

4. RIYank

3 Yeah, darn.
1 Nein! Kein Hacking: Geduld!

2007-06-21 12:06:46

5. monkeypants

Look at that lineup--yikes! At east no Nieves, but it seems as though the Phillips experiment ends after one day. This team is rudderless.

2007-06-21 12:10:46

6. RIYank

Jeter's got the game plan, anyway.

2007-06-21 12:10:52

7. cult of basebaal

5 ah, but you see, The Gnome has hit .375 off of Lopez in the past, doubt not the steel trap of torre!

2007-06-21 12:11:43

8. monkeypants

Winning baseball.

2007-06-21 12:12:04

9. RIYank

Screw.

2007-06-21 12:12:49

10. jedi

6 apparantly abreu is not on the same page =T

2007-06-21 12:14:40

11. thelarmis

cap'n sure has been getting caught stealing a lot. janes addiction should be his at-bat music. he had a fantastic %age last season...

2007-06-21 12:14:45

12. RIYank

Jeez. Lopez faces the minimum and throws 21 pitches! They have the patience thing down okay, if only they could remember that "don't give away outs" thing.

2007-06-21 12:14:48

13. Cliff Corcoran

10 Judging by Gameday only three of the eight pitches he saw were out of the zone anyway.

Meanwhile, what happened on Jeter's CS? 1-6-3?

2007-06-21 12:16:25

14. RIYank

11 "We walk right through the door..."

2007-06-21 12:17:18

15. RIYank

I think jedi meant Abreu missed the hit-and-run sign. Jedi?

2007-06-21 12:17:44

16. Cliff Corcoran

Jeter's now 7 for 13 on the bases, 54 percent. Blech.

2007-06-21 12:18:25

17. monkeypants

13 Possible blown hit-and-run, Jeter stopped running halfway to second, half-hearted attempt to run back to first, tagged out. But shouldn't that be 2-6-3, or am I not paying enough attention?

2007-06-21 12:18:43

18. Cliff Corcoran

15 I hate the hit and run.

2007-06-21 12:19:06

19. Cliff Corcoran

17 No, you're right. I'm wrong.

2007-06-21 12:23:51

20. RIYank

So far in this game: six up, six down, 40 pitches.

I bet we see Farnsworth today. Let's hope it's in the proper Farnsworth situation: five run lead in the eighth.

2007-06-21 12:24:18

21. jedi

15 yeap

2007-06-21 12:29:03

22. monkeypants

Did they crank up the humidor for this series?

2007-06-21 12:30:54

23. RIYank

Our Matsui is better.

But now I'm thinking, if Jeter doesn't steal and Abreu manages to get one more ball...

I guess that's a stupid way to think about baseball.

2007-06-21 12:30:54

24. cult of basebaal

GOJIRA!!!

2007-06-21 12:31:09

25. monkeypants

No humidor for that ball! M-HA!-tsui!

2007-06-21 12:31:55

26. jedi

what the heck is matsui doing!? we are not suppose to score more than 1 run in any game against the rockies. He could have tripled you know.

2007-06-21 12:32:03

27. thelarmis

matsui-san!

nice to leave for work with a lead : )

2007-06-21 12:32:19

28. RIYank

Uh.
Cano and Cairo didn't get the memo.

2007-06-21 12:32:49

29. jedi

23 i believe they call that john sterling philosophy...

2007-06-21 12:33:04

30. Mike T

Godzilla!

2007-06-21 12:34:03

31. monkeypants

28 Is it to the point where whoever is playing first (Cairo, Phillips, Phelps [RIP]) should just stand there with the bat on his shoulder and never swing? I mean, at least that's a three pitch minimum, right?

2007-06-21 12:34:06

32. RIYank

29 Fightin' words, jedi. Draw your light saber...

2007-06-21 12:35:18

33. RIYank

31 You can't spell Mientkiewicz, I see.

2007-06-21 12:35:56

34. RIYank

Wow, good day for giant lizards!

2007-06-21 12:36:51

35. RIYank

Okay, so it really is Coors.

2007-06-21 12:36:53

36. thelarmis

bollocks

2007-06-21 12:37:02

37. Marcus

34 For those of us who are viewing impaired, was the a spectacular catch or just close to the wall?

2007-06-21 12:38:11

38. monkeypants

33 Oh yeah, I forgot! In keeping with the current philosophy of never putting players on the DL (Damon), maybe they could platoon Minky or Giambi at first--or better, DH--with the "stand and don't swing" mandate.

Hmmm, Rockies seem to be lining up Clemens this inning.

2007-06-21 12:38:53

39. monkeypants

37 No and no. Nice running catch, short of the warning track.

2007-06-21 12:39:21

40. rbj

Dang work getting in the way of a ballgame. Does gamechannel have it correct -- the Yankees have scored more than one run in a game at Coors?

2007-06-21 12:40:37

41. RIYank

40 Oddly, yes.
37 Sorry, it wasn't like he hauled it in from over the wall or anything. Just a good play.

2007-06-21 12:41:28

42. RIYank

Yike.
Another bomb, for those who are Gamedaying.

2007-06-21 12:41:36

43. Marcus

39 41 Thanks guys.

2007-06-21 12:42:50

44. Cliff Corcoran

Deuces wild, #2 off #22 to make it 2-2 with 2 outs in the 2nd.

Poop.

2007-06-21 12:43:08

45. RIYank

Does anyone have a pitch speed for Clemens? Is he a little slow, or are they just flat? Both of those homers were really tagged.

2007-06-21 12:43:22

46. monkeypants

40 Yes, but don't panic, the Yanks starting pitcher gave away the lead in the opposing team's next at bat. Things are back to normal.

2007-06-21 12:44:19

47. thelarmis

i should've gone to work when we had the lead. i'm off now. please, oh please, let me come home to a W.

i guess coors is a launching pad during the daytime... : /

2007-06-21 12:45:45

48. rbj

41, 46. Thanks. Looks like today might be a regular Coors day. Though I'm going out this evening and plan on drinking Harp.

2007-06-21 12:46:05

49. jedi

man, this Gameday is impressive. Clemens look mad old in that Gameday profile pic, truly they are trying to show how old he looks out there today...that's what I call HD for the viewing impaired.

2007-06-21 12:46:47

50. RIYank

Clemens on the DL, till July 4 at the earliest.

48 Yeah, no point in ruining an evening just for the sake of symbolism.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2007-06-21 12:47:41

51. RIYank

Mellllllky. Oh MELLLLLLL-ky. Can Melky come out and play?

2007-06-21 12:48:11

52. cult of basebaal

50 eh?

2007-06-21 12:48:40

53. jedi

50 double eh?? what's going on????

2007-06-21 12:49:45

54. RIYank

Ugh, sorry. Schilling.

2007-06-21 12:50:09

55. RIYank

Didn't mean to scare anyone.

2007-06-21 12:50:18

56. jedi

54 damn...talk about a mistype...

2007-06-21 12:50:22

57. Start Spreading the News

This karmic retribution for when I made fun of the red sox for losing two of three here.

2007-06-21 12:50:37

58. monkeypants

Someone remind me why is Damon starting?

2007-06-21 12:51:29

59. Start Spreading the News

56 more like a freudian slip. RIYank, care to confess something?

2007-06-21 12:52:28

60. RIYank

59 Uh...
I'm more of Jungian.

2007-06-21 12:53:43

61. jedi

58 because Damon is a warrior and warriors play through pain and never go on the DL.

Can we get a Johnnny Da-mon

No really...it's Torre' mission to call up Thompson and never let Thompson play this year. It's an ongoing "prank of the year" in the clubhouse and I have to admit, Joe, got him GOOOOOD!

2007-06-21 12:53:48

62. Marcus

Where's Rob Gee? Guess who the A's DFA'd:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2911830

2007-06-21 12:53:52

63. rbj

58 Because he's never been on the DL and is a veteran and with the pitcher hitting it's important to get Cairo's bat in there and take Melky's bat and legs out.

/sarcasm

2007-06-21 12:54:48

64. cult of basebaal

58 to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can't play and needs to go on the DL?

exactly "who" still needs convincing of that is the thing i'm trying to figure out ...

2007-06-21 12:55:34

65. RIYank

Damon's in because with no DH we need the power... I know, it was a rhetorical question.

62 Yeah. Will he go on waivers?

2007-06-21 12:56:30

66. RIYank

Clemens threw over three times between the pitch-out and the second ball. Now Taveras is going for sure.

2007-06-21 12:56:58

67. RIYank

More than three times. And now two more.

2007-06-21 12:57:08

68. cult of basebaal

65 no waivers, he's got 5 years service time ... they've got 10 days to trade him, or else he's a free agent

2007-06-21 12:58:24

69. Cliff Corcoran

Gameday reports seven throws to first amid the first two pitches three pitches to Matsui and Taveras steals anyway, while Clemens goes 3-0 on the batter. Fug.

2007-06-21 12:58:41

70. jedi

66 you're good!!!

2007-06-21 12:59:00

71. Hocakes

Clemens just walked Matsui, Kaz Matsui.

Yanks suckin' again, no doubt.

2007-06-21 12:59:22

72. RIYank

68 Thanks.

Cripes. Not a good situation. I hate to say it, but Taveras has almost single-handedly developed this two-on, no-out situation. Weepingforbrunnhilde would love this.

2007-06-21 12:59:38

73. Yankees Brasil

horrible

2007-06-21 12:59:47

74. standuptriple

64 It's those "belly full of guts" of course.

2007-06-21 13:00:49

75. RIYank

69 I guess it's obvious, but Taveras distracted him badly.

2007-06-21 13:01:01

76. cult of basebaal

72 heh ... just what i was thinking

2007-06-21 13:02:16

77. RIYank

Nice job, Roger.
And smart by the Rox, they didn't send the runners on 3-2 with a great contact hitter up! Would have been a DP.
But Clemens gets out of the jam anyway with an easy grounder!

2007-06-21 13:14:58

78. monkeypants

Gotta run after Matsui bats. Hopefully game will still be in contention by the time I get home.

2007-06-21 13:15:18

79. Count Zero

62 I actually find that rather disturbing because if I were Theo...

2007-06-21 13:15:52

80. RIYank

78 He sure delayed you, huh? And for nothin'.

2007-06-21 13:19:35

81. RIYank

Damon reels it in, a couple of steps in front of the wall.

2007-06-21 13:20:41

82. pistolpete

Useless info: FoxSports.com still has 'Astros hat' Clemens in GameTrax.

2007-06-21 13:22:46

83. yankz

Only 3 hits...

2007-06-21 13:23:42

84. RIYank

Hm, Roger's two-seam is staying up. I have no idea whether that's Coors-related.

2007-06-21 13:24:30

85. pistolpete

Ok Rog, remember - the pitcher bats 9th.

2007-06-21 13:25:30

86. RIYank

Yeesh. It's not Coors, looks like, but some pretty serious control problems. (Now 3-1 to JoeJessica.)

2007-06-21 13:26:29

87. RIYank

Whew. Cairo bobbled that one, probably because he was looking at second for the throw. But no harm/no foul, assuming Rocket blows Lopez away.

2007-06-21 13:27:20

88. pistolpete

If Lopez gets a hit here, I concede the division! ;-)

2007-06-21 13:27:37

89. RIYank

Abreu is playing way close for Lopez, I like that. But Cairo is not playing in.

2007-06-21 13:29:07

90. RIYank

Blew him away with the high heat, like yer suppose ta.

2007-06-21 13:32:18

91. weeping for brunnhilde

51 Deaarrr Melky.

Won't you come out to playhehay.

Dearrr Melky.

Greet the brand new dayyyaayyy!

2007-06-21 13:33:52

92. RIYank

91 Yo. And keep reading for a reference to you :-)

So, is the virtue of the day Patience, or (Dear) Prudence???

2007-06-21 13:34:39

93. RIYank

Gosh, another 'almost' for Miggy. That ball is out of most parks.

2007-06-21 13:34:43

94. weeping for brunnhilde

72 In fact I do. When I speak of reliable offense, that's what I'm talking about.

2007-06-21 13:35:51

95. cult of basebaal

94 except for the fact that they didn't score any runs that inning because of it ... so if by "reliable" you mean a whole lot ado about nothing, then sure

2007-06-21 13:36:28

96. RIYank

ROGER ROCKET!!!!!!

2007-06-21 13:37:50

97. pistolpete

That certainly helps, although hopefully he isn't forced to run too much...

2007-06-21 13:38:04

98. RIYank

In case it's not obvious to Gamedayers: the Rox were playing for the bunt and he pulled back and drilled a grounder through the middle.

2007-06-21 13:38:49

99. Cliff Corcoran

88 No need for the condition there.

Damon DPs this.

2007-06-21 13:39:00

100. RIYank

Ouch. Johnny just hit it too hard. Lined it the opposite way, Cano had no chance.

Show/Hide Comments 101-150

2007-06-21 13:39:23

101. rbj

With Schmidt and Unit both on the DL, I'm glad Cashman didn't go for the former this past offseason, and dealt the latter.

2007-06-21 13:39:30

102. pistolpete

98 It wasn't, thanks.

2007-06-21 13:39:38

103. RIYank

99 Scary. Though I presume not what you had envisioned.

2007-06-21 13:41:03

104. pistolpete

99 Still 3+ months to go, Mr. Positive. :)

2007-06-21 13:41:11

105. Cliff Corcoran <