Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Moose Tacos?

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Moose Tacos?

2007-08-27 13:30

by Cliff Corcoran

Mike Mussina's been mind-bottlingly awful in his last two starts. Justin Verlander was pretty awful himself last week against Cleveland (4 IP, 7 R). The weekend prior to that, Verlander worked 5 1/3 inefficient innings in the Bronx (119 pitches), but managed to pull out the win as he allowed only three runs and the pitcher he was facing was none other than Mike Mussina (5 IP, 7 R). The Yankees are hoping the rematch will tilt the other way, as they need this last game of the series to salvage a split and some dignity from this road trip before heading home to play three games against the suddenly out-of-reach Red Sox. Mussina, meanwhile, could very well be pitching for his job.

Damon in left, Matsui DH, Giambi at first for the second day in a row. Putting G'Bombi in the field scares me, as supposedly that's how he hurt his foot in the first place, but this is undoubtedly the Yankees' best offensive alignment.

Comments (261)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2007-08-27 15:47:11

1. Yankee Fan in Chicago

Per this road trip, and the post-all star break part of the season:

If we win tonight, I think we can count this road trip a success, given the level of the teams we played. Even if we lose, it's not a disaster, at least re the wild card.

When the 2nd 1/2 began, I thought if we were within 3 of the wildcard, and within 6 of the division by the time we left Detroit, we'd be in good shape. A win puts us well w/in the first, and only a game off the 2nd.

What worries me is the way we've lost 3 of the games on this trip. Close games that we couldn't pull out. Against playoff caliber teams. Sound familiar? I'm getting flashbacks of Octobers past, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006.

I think we'll make the playoffs, but those are the types of games we'll have to win to be successful once we're into October. On the basis of this road trip, we'll be out in the first round once again, and chances are it will because we lost a game 2 or 3 that we could've/should've won, just as we lost game 1 in Anaheim, and games 1 and 3 in Detroit this road trip.

2007-08-27 16:00:36

2. ny2ca2dc

I agree Giambino at First is scary, but we gotta have the best lineup out there every day, risks be damned. Keeping him out of the lineup means no playoffs (probably), so it's all-in time!

Lets go Moose!

2007-08-27 16:05:22

3. OldYanksFan

Over the nexy 30 games, Giambi's bat alone will win us 2 or 3 games. Hopefully Joe realizes this. I feel much better about our chances if he goes back to being an everyday player.

2007-08-27 16:08:38

4. Ken Arneson

I've been reading my daughters The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy this week. I never realized how often Douglas Adams used the word "mind-bogglingly" until I tried to say that word aloud a dozen times, and have my tongue trip over it every time. I think from now on, I'll use "mind-bottlingly" instead.

As the resident consumer of Moose Tacos:
bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/774195.html#35
I'll add this to the growing knowledge of Moosedom on this blog: Mike Mussina may, in fact, not only be to blame for the Yankees struggles this year, but he's also to blame for global warming:
spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,501145,00.html

2007-08-27 16:09:27

5. yankz

Sheff is DL'd. I'd much rather Cleveland win the central.

2007-08-27 16:18:53

6. SF Yanks

I already feel bad for Moose.

2007-08-27 16:20:41

7. SF Yanks

Let's go Moose. I'm pullin' for ya buddy.

2007-08-27 16:23:08

8. yankz

Great start!

2007-08-27 16:24:03

9. SF Yanks

I really feel like we could potentially be watching Moose's last start for a long time, and I can't help feeling bad for the guy.

2007-08-27 16:24:53

10. SF Yanks

Guess it's just me and you yankz.

2007-08-27 16:25:34

11. yankz

10 I'll be here as long as I can, but my stomach is rumbling.

2007-08-27 16:25:35

12. Yankees Brasil

Couldn't be better..

2007-08-27 16:26:18

13. Yankees Brasil

10 I'll be here for a while..

2007-08-27 16:26:26

14. yankz

Pretty much have to get the K or a shallow pop-up, right? Granderson's too fast to get on a casual grounder anywhere.

2007-08-27 16:27:05

15. yankz

Never mind! Phew.

2007-08-27 16:27:28

16. OldYanksFan

Wow... what a GREAT freakin' play! Amazing!

2007-08-27 16:27:46

17. yankz

That was a great throw from Cano, considering the way his body was set up.

2007-08-27 16:27:53

18. SF Yanks

14 What's that?

2007-08-27 16:28:19

19. OldYanksFan

Are u'z guys watching on ESPN?

2007-08-27 16:28:40

20. SF Yanks

Me no likey this matchy upy.

2007-08-27 16:29:42

21. yankz

Moose just hit 90, according to the Detroit feed.

I wonder how he feels about moneyball, given his economics background.

2007-08-27 16:29:56

22. OldYanksFan

Bad news. It's bad Moose.

2007-08-27 16:29:58

23. SF Yanks

19 EI, I got the Detroit feed, but thanks for telling me. I didn't know it was on ESPN. Now I get to watch it in HD.

2007-08-27 16:30:31

24. SF Yanks

22 Not necessarily. They have been hitting some good pitches.

2007-08-27 16:30:31

25. OldYanksFan

5 inches outside...

2007-08-27 16:31:39

26. SF Yanks

Here we go. This might tell us a lot about Moose's future.

2007-08-27 16:32:14

27. OldYanksFan

Moose needs to pitch in on the hands. Good hitters can handle outside pitches. Is the game on ESPN in SF?

2007-08-27 16:32:40

28. SF Yanks

WOW!

2007-08-27 16:32:44

29. yankz

OK guys, hold the fort. I've gotta eat and then get some work done.

2007-08-27 16:33:13

30. OldYanksFan

Wow...
gotta go change my underwear now.

2007-08-27 16:33:18

31. yankz

MELKY!!! YES!!

2007-08-27 16:33:31

32. SF Yanks

27 Yeah it is.

2007-08-27 16:33:34

33. Zack

OH MY GOD

2007-08-27 16:33:37

34. yankz

He ran as far as Mays did in '54.

2007-08-27 16:34:16

35. yankz

Doesn't it seem like Melky makes one of those a week?

OK, really going now.

2007-08-27 16:35:31

36. SF Yanks

35 sniffle, sniffle, you're leaving me?

2007-08-27 16:36:24

37. OldYanksFan

Why does Moose refuse to pitch inside???

2007-08-27 16:36:49

38. SF Yanks

C'mon Moosey! Guts time.

2007-08-27 16:37:36

39. nyy jim

Horrible start for Moose. He's darn lucky to get out of it with only one run thanks to Melky. 30 Pitches in the first inning isn't going to help us tonight.

2007-08-27 16:38:17

40. SF Yanks

37 Yeah, he really should. Everything is outside and at the speed he's throwing, these hitters just need to extend their arms to hit it hard.

2007-08-27 16:40:45

41. mehmattski

If this continues, Mussina's gonna have a lot of watches or steak dinners to buy his defenders. Melky and Cano are already due something, for sure.

2007-08-27 16:41:25

42. thelarmis

hi all. hmmm, verlander wears the number as moose. can they just switch pitching repetoires? that would be cool.

we need a g'bomb-i right about now...

2007-08-27 16:42:25

43. thelarmis

hmmm, let's switch velocity to our #35. 97mph fastball, beautiful uncle charlie...

2007-08-27 16:43:21

44. thelarmis

damn, that was fast. verlander with less pitches in 2 than moose in 1...

2007-08-27 16:44:43

45. Yankees Brasil

Horrible start.. not what we needed..

2007-08-27 16:48:51

46. Good4baseball

Is it me, or are there nights you just watch this team and think, "There is no way they're going to win tonight." Mussina looks as old as Tommy John out there.

2007-08-27 16:53:09

47. C2Coke

Tacos for everyone?

2007-08-27 16:53:40

48. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

Listening online again, Tigers announcers killing Abreu for not throwing home..what happened??
not feeling confident either with this start...

2007-08-27 16:54:53

49. thelarmis

wow, moose sucks. hello quest? ugh...

2007-08-27 16:55:17

50. nyy jim

We are digging the hole a little deeper. Get the BP ready.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2007-08-27 16:55:33

51. Max

How much longer till Moose gets the hook?

2007-08-27 16:56:34

52. bobtaco

Mousse.

2007-08-27 16:56:57

53. C2Coke

48 If there's already someone warming up in the bullpen, you know Abreu is not the one solely to blame.

2007-08-27 16:57:07

54. thelarmis

the Phantom Warrior is warming in the pen. 51 pitches, 0 k's, 3 runs, 2 innings. yikes.

2007-08-27 16:57:29

55. C2Coke

51 When they have the grill ready.

2007-08-27 17:00:27

56. thelarmis

moose gives up:

1 in the 1st

2 in the 2nd

-- do i hear --

3 in the 3rd???

god, i hope not... : ~

2007-08-27 17:01:28

57. OldYanksFan

46 My normal optimism has totlly left me. Moose looks as bad as Verlander looks good.

Melky is obviously confident going back as he plays a VERY shallow CF. Check out his positioning next time you can.

As good as Abreu can be with the bat, he costs us a LOT with his glove (or lack thereof). Now that I get to watch a very good defender in CF, I am unhappy with the combo of Mats and Abreu. Maybe the solution to the JD 'problem' is to move Mats to RF, JD to LF, let Abreu walk (thats $16m to spend elsewhere) and bring up a 4th OFer.

I can't stand our shitty OF defense (Melky excluded of course).

2007-08-27 17:01:32

58. thelarmis

leche! let's not give up yet, it's early. let's go fellas.

2007-08-27 17:02:01

59. rbj

I can't stand the Tiger tv announcers.
Moose tacos with a Pepto chaser.

2007-08-27 17:03:08

60. thelarmis

bollocks

2007-08-27 17:04:33

61. thelarmis

59 sutcliffe and steve phillips are no walk in the park, either. i'm just glad i finally get to see our boyz on tv in the comfort of my own home. of course, moose is ruining that and i'm about to do a bunch of other things and just have the game be background... : /

2007-08-27 17:04:50

62. Emma Span

This is tough to watch, isn't it? Not that they can't come back, just to see a great athlete struggle this much. It's awkward, like we should give him some privacy.

If you had told me ten years ago that David Wells at age 44 would pitch a better game than Mike Mussina at age 38...

2007-08-27 17:05:49

63. OldYanksFan

This is a really bad time of year for Jetes to shit the bed. I would sit him down.

2007-08-27 17:06:15

64. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

Seattle's tv guys the worst..saw a game last week where the lead guy announces JJ Putz coming out of the pen as 'And look at the BIG STUD RUMBLING to stand tall on the mound!'....shudder.....

2007-08-27 17:07:56

65. OldYanksFan

JD is now the worst hitter on the team. Maybe Shelly should DH. Or Betemin.

2007-08-27 17:11:01

66. Max

This game is not over, but it sure doesn't look good. I guess it was premature to declare we turned the corner a few weeks ago...the reality is that losing 5 of 7 on a crucial road trip, with four games against a team that's struggled much more than us, is not a good sign.

With that said, I'm not giving up on this game yet...at least, until the next 3 runs Moose gives up.

2007-08-27 17:11:39

67. OldYanksFan

It's like Moose only has 1/2 a home plate to work with. Pitch INSIDE! Brush guys back! Get in on their hands! You are not good enough to only pitch outside.

And that pitch was outside...
Common Guidry. Take a walk!

Crap... Ballgame basically over.

2007-08-27 17:12:10

68. nyy jim

Hey JT haven't you seen enough?

2007-08-27 17:12:16

69. thelarmis

moose is useless. 2 more to give up 3 in the 3rd! uy yuy fuking yuy

2007-08-27 17:13:05

70. Marcus

Our Moose is cooked.

2007-08-27 17:13:21

71. mehmattski

Mommy, the moose on the hill is scary! Make him go away!

2007-08-27 17:13:52

72. thelarmis

67 i know! it's like he's pitching petrified. he's not going after anyone. infuriating.

and this is the only game i get to watch. i'll be teaching wed. nite when rocket will be on espn2...

2007-08-27 17:15:33

73. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

Tigers announcers killing Mussina now, and asking why Joba isn't starting already with his stuff....good Qs indeed....

2007-08-27 17:15:47

74. Mattpat11

The shame of it is he was pitching pretty well in the second before the keystone kops bullshit.

2007-08-27 17:16:50

75. Mattpat11

TAKE HIM OUT.

2007-08-27 17:16:55

76. rbj

Sigh.

2007-08-27 17:18:25

77. rbj

56 You called it.

2007-08-27 17:18:27

78. Mattpat11

KEYSTONE FUCKING KOPS.

2007-08-27 17:19:04

79. thelarmis

wow. game fucking over. absolutely pathetic. and, go ahead and blame me - there's the 1 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd. 68 pitches, an in-game WHIP of over 3. unfuckingbelievable.

carp on a cracker.

2007-08-27 17:19:11

80. mehmattski

I've turned from the game to an episode of Law and Order, still got the game in the small PiP box. If you squint real hard, Mussina looks a lot like David Cone, circa 2000.

2007-08-27 17:19:13

81. C2Coke

56 ......

2007-08-27 17:19:27

82. Zack

Wow, we sure didn't need this. What a joke. I'm off to the gym to forget about this team

2007-08-27 17:19:38

83. bartap74

4 in the 4th?

2007-08-27 17:19:54

84. Mr OK Jazz TOKYO

D'oh!!! Ok, think it's actually time to focus on work, less painful than listening to this....

2007-08-27 17:20:15

85. OldYanksFan

69 Bubbala - I believe you meant: OY-YOY-YOY
However.. OY VEY! this is definitely Fercockt!
And 3 in the 3rd it is. Please! No more predictions! :-(

2007-08-27 17:21:02

86. Max

66 Well, Moose made it easy for me to give up on this one.

Someone should tell him, though, that horror movies are supposed to have some suspense. Everyone knew the plot for this one before they even got a chance to order popcorn.

2007-08-27 17:21:03

87. randym77

Melky does play a very shallow CF, but is that his doing? Don't the coaches position the OFers?

2007-08-27 17:21:19

88. thelarmis

77 i know, my bad. me sorry. very very sorry.

igawa has to be better than this. doesn't he? let gator pitch...

time to get shit done and put game on mute in the background.

let's somehow sweep boston. please.

2007-08-27 17:21:21

89. Mattpat11

If Bobby Abreu tried, we may avoided that. But this team is screwed.

2007-08-27 17:21:21

90. vockins

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Stop the insanity.

2007-08-27 17:22:54

91. thelarmis

89 he did try. he just failed. he ran hard.

85 oh, that's just how i spell it. oy gevolt!

2007-08-27 17:23:12

92. ny2ca2dc

62 It really is Emma; For some reason I'm able to not get too worked up about this likely loss, maybe because it's just so sad to see what Moose has become. You've got to expect a change to be made. I really hope he gets traded to Philly or something, he can still probably help a team like that in the NL.

2007-08-27 17:25:02

93. monkeypants

65 You're runnng out of players to bench!

2007-08-27 17:25:10

94. thelarmis

hmmm, if bob timmermann is out there...

how many frames is the record for scoring the # of runs to match the inning #? ok, that was phrased horribly, but you know what i mean...

1 run in the 1st
2 in the 2nd
etc. etc.

how far has that gone? either way, let's stop this one at 3...

2007-08-27 17:27:27

95. thelarmis

and pete abe makes a funny reference to the hank aaron pitch back! we had a grea