Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Puddle Jumpers

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Puddle Jumpers

2007-09-22 09:22

by Alex Belth

Roger Clemens was supposed to start this afternoon in place of Ian Kennedy but was a late scratch. Nothing serious, according to Joe Torre. Clemens was on the field at a quarter to ten this morning watching his eldest son perform running drills in right field under the guidance of a trainer.

About an hour later, Harlan Chamberlain made his way from the bullpen to the Yankee dugout. His red scooter moved slowly across the warning track and then down the left field line. Chamberlain stopped to shake hands with some fans. As he approached the Yankee dugout, he shook more hands. "Harlan, we love your son." He is clearly enjoying every moment of his first trip to New York.

John Turturro is also at the park. After his daily pre-game conversation with reporters, Torre chatted with the actor, several photographers snapping pictures several feet away. Torre also spent a few minutes talking to Harlan.

It's 12:40 now and it's raining. The tarp is on the field, but rain wasn't in the forecast so I don't imagine the game will be delayed long.

Comments (677)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2007-09-22 09:49:52

1. Chyll Will

Er, what happened to "Drat!" ??

2007-09-22 09:53:33

2. Alex Belth

Just a little confusion on our end...I didn't know if Cliff was going to put up a post and so I put up "Drat" as he posted his recap of last night's game. So I took out mention of the game and just kept this open for a game thread. The rain isn't so hard...

2007-09-22 10:02:54

3. Chyll Will

2 Heh... didn't see this coming at all. I'm utilitarian when it comes to rain, though now I worry about my apartment being flooded now every time it rains.

So is this electric slide the rotation has to do now going into the PS? I'm of a mind of giving Ohlendorf a start after we clinch the playoffs to offset any trouble the shifting might cost...

2007-09-22 10:04:54

4. Alex Belth

1:04, it's clearing up...don't think this'll last too long here...am up in the press box this afternoon.

2007-09-22 10:06:45

5. claybeez

I left the stadium last night, tired and frustrated. The comeback was not wholly unexpected as I don't believe this was the first time a Halladay start imploded in the 9th. It was thrilling and the pulse of the crowd, the high energy spike was unlike anything I've experienced before. As a long time fan from outside the tristate area, it was my first exposure to the playoff energy at the stadium. Now in NY, I'm giddy with anticipation for my first Yankees playoffs. Positively Giddy.

Still, what frustrated me most last night was how Melky's AB unfurled. I completely understood getting Shelley in there to play for the instant tie. But, didn't Torre see the right hander warming in the pen? He had to know that he was coming in, right? So was the decision made prior to the AB that you'd rather have Betemit up in that situation than Melky? If so it was not one I agreed with, to put it mildly. Either you decide to keep your starter in there or say "matchups be damned" and let Shelley take his hacks vs the righty.

2007-09-22 10:11:14

6. Alex Belth

The ground's crew is working on the warning tracks now....some big puddles out there...

2007-09-22 10:11:41

7. Zack

Raining here in San Diego too, for the first time in over 5 months. Crazy, almost forgot what the stuff looked like!

2007-09-22 10:13:11

8. Chyll Will

7 We gotta good deal on rain for you, low shipping costs...

2007-09-22 10:13:58

9. Chyll Will

4 What's the view like up there? I've heard complaints...

2007-09-22 10:15:33

10. Bob Timmermann

They've got sun in Chicago.

It doesn't matter with Minneapolis.

On many levels.

2007-09-22 10:15:48

11. Chyll Will

5 Melky needs rest, too. Is this his first full season with the big club?

2007-09-22 10:17:09

12. Zack

8 We could use it. They broke out the dreaded "stage 2 water conservation alert" yesterday...

2007-09-22 10:26:33

13. claybeez

11 He was called-up pretty early last season, I believe. This is the 1st season he started with the club out of spring training.

What I was referring to was his being pinch-hit for last night in a game he started.

2007-09-22 10:27:05

14. claybeez

Still raining in Brooklyn.

2007-09-22 10:29:02

15. Dimelo

Just a little confusion on our end...I didn't know if Cliff was going to put up a post

I don't know, this is the first I've heard of you and Cliff being "confused". I'm seeing similarties here with the ARod-Jeter relationship. Are you sure you guys can work together? Will Cliff opt-out this off-season?

Hmm...this is the stretch run and the playoffs are about to start, I suggest you guys work out your "confusion" before the 2nd season starts. We are counting on you guys.

I guess the question is, who is ARod and who is Jetes? :-)

2007-09-22 10:33:31

16. Chyll Will

It's almost stopped here in the N. Bronx...

2007-09-22 10:36:12

17. Alex Belth

The rain had slowed up but it's still coming down. More a steady mist than anything else...There are two press boxes. One, large one and then another auxillary one, which is directly next to Steinbrenner's box. Far as I can tell the view is good from both--as sat in each of them. The beat guys tell me it's not as spacious as the new parks, but I think that only becomes an issue during the playoffs, or maybe Yanks-Sox, Yanks-Mets.

2007-09-22 10:38:22

18. Chyll Will

What do players do to prepare for the post-season? I don't think there's a certain formula, but then winning three WS in a row has to produce some discernible patterns and habits... Jeter always seems prepared, Jorge less so but still better than A-Rod and Matsui... but the Giambi surprises. Anything?

2007-09-22 10:40:39

19. SF Yanks

If anyone has the link, can you please special link me? I screwed up by about 5 min last night, and PHIL HUGHES IS PITCHING. Anyone here who sorta knows me, knows that if I can't watch a Hughes start I go into convulsions...and of course thanks.

Topher00ATcomcastDOTnet

2007-09-22 10:45:22

20. Bob Timmermann

18
Don't they just hope that the small sample size of the postseason works in their favor?

Jeter's postseason numbers are pretty much the same as his regular season numbers and he has close to a full season's worth of postseason ABs at 478.

2007-09-22 10:46:28

21. Chyll Will

Holy Switzerland, Belthman! I guess you have to remain extremely neutral when I go on my vicious rants on tabloid-sportspage writers. Still, sounds like a sweet set-up, thanks for the insight >;)

2007-09-22 10:48:33

22. Chyll Will

20 Does that then dispel the notion that players "turn it up a notch" during the playoffs? Or does it seem that way because of the small sample size?

2007-09-22 11:01:25

23. Alex Belth

The grounds grew just came on the field. Looks like the tarp is coming off...

2007-09-22 11:04:30

24. Alex Belth

The announcement just came that the approximate start time will be 2:30...

2007-09-22 11:08:11

25. SF Yanks

24 Thanks for posting that for those of us that aren't living in the area.

That gives me 30 min. to figure out a way to watch this game...

2007-09-22 11:09:22

26. Raf

22 It seems that way because of the small sample size and the time of year. More focus is on the playoffs, therefore a good performance will stand out.

2007-09-22 11:15:39

27. Sarasota

25 ....if you can figure that out, then please don't hesitate to let me know down here in Sarasota. Damn FOX!!

2007-09-22 11:17:19

28. SF Yanks

27 I certainly will if I can...

2007-09-22 11:19:17

29. Bob Timmermann

26
Reggie Jackson wasn't very good in the 1977 ALCS. But in the 1977 WS, he became a larger than life figure.

What was different?

2007-09-22 11:22:05

30. Alex Belth

Paul Splittorff...

2007-09-22 11:37:09

31. Chyll Will

Very sweet... the first pitch was thrown out by the President of Panama, with Mo as his catcher (he bounced it and Mo couldn't come up with it; Jorge shoud've been backing up on that play >;)

2007-09-22 11:37:10

32. Raf

29 He hit 3 HR's a game in the WS for a team that plays in a major media market. Had it been an April game against the Blue Jays, it would've been a footnote.

2007-09-22 11:39:15

33. Sarasota

28 would be much appreciated.

2007-09-22 11:40:11

34. Raf

According to Sinins' ATM reports, Kennedy is hurt too? Who's starting today?

2007-09-22 11:40:56

35. Chyll Will

34 Phil

2007-09-22 11:40:56

36. Sarasota

Phranchise is starting

2007-09-22 11:41:00

37. Eirias

If they know they are going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, why does no-one ever practice first?

2007-09-22 11:45:14

38. cult of basebaal

very niiiiice 1st inning for phil ... c'mon boys, let's get some runs now

2007-09-22 11:45:34

39. Chyll Will

37 Actually, they usually warm up a little bit like anyone else. But how often do they have to throw a pitch in front of thousands of people to a pro ballplayer? A little stage fright perhaps...

2007-09-22 11:46:13

40. Jersey

Phil of the Future looking good to start out.

2007-09-22 11:46:47

41. yankz

Whoa, studly 1st for Phil.

2007-09-22 11:49:09

42. Jersey

Melky has a .465 OPS in September. I think I could do that.

2007-09-22 11:50:29

43. Chyll Will

42 Most people do that on the can...

2007-09-22 11:51:35

44. Chyll Will

Tow pitchers that struggle in the first inning having 1-2-3 innings... tired?

2007-09-22 11:51:50

45. Chyll Will

Two...

2007-09-22 11:53:51

46. randym77

Maybe the long season is weighing on Melky. The minor league season is so much shorter. Last year, he was dead weight in September, too.

2007-09-22 11:55:06

47. Chyll Will

Single by Big Hurt through shortstop hole (seemed like they were playing him to pull...)

2007-09-22 11:56:54

48. yankz

Gameday disagrees with the ump

2007-09-22 11:57:30

49. Chyll Will

First and second now, no outs...

2007-09-22 11:58:21

50. Chyll Will

Fly to right, BH tags to third, 1st and 3rd, one out...

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2007-09-22 11:59:57

51. cult of basebaal

i see phlailing phil has returned

2007-09-22 12:00:08

52. Chyll Will

5-4-3 double play!

2007-09-22 12:00:40

53. yankz

51 You wish!

2007-09-22 12:00:51

54. cult of basebaal

never mind, double play. That'll do!

;)

2007-09-22 12:01:05

55. Chyll Will

I'm doing this for anyone who can't get the game yet, let me know when i can stop...

2007-09-22 12:02:18

56. yankz

55 Just tell them to get on GameDay.

2007-09-22 12:03:01

57. cult of basebaal

i feel a big game coming for a-rod, he's been zoning back in the last 2 games ...

2007-09-22 12:03:15

58. Chyll Will

56 Right. Back to bantering...

2007-09-22 12:03:22

59. SF Yanks

55 No game for me :(

I'm on gameday.

2007-09-22 12:03:42

60. cult of basebaal

obviously, marcum feels that way too ...

2007-09-22 12:04:23

61. Chyll Will

57 Not if they don't give him anything. Why doesn't Jorge or Giambi bat behind him again?

2007-09-22 12:05:15

62. yankz

Seriously, Posada's OPS this month is nearly double Matsui's.

2007-09-22 12:05:29

63. Sarasota

blacked out in Sarasota too (ecxept for GameDay and Chyll Will)

2007-09-22 12:06:16

64. randym77

59 Use an overseas proxy. Thailand, India, someplace like that.

2007-09-22 12:07:14

65. Chyll Will

NIce!

2007-09-22 12:09:17

66. cult of basebaal

damn, is this ump's strike zone as small as it seems on gameday???

2007-09-22 12:10:08

67. SF Yanks

64 yeah, somebody on here does that, but I haven't figured out how yet.

2007-09-22 12:10:28

68. Chyll Will

63 No, I'm done, I waiting to have the carpet in the bedroom replaced, so I'll be off at some point anyway :'

2007-09-22 12:10:51

69. yankz

67 What browser are you using?

2007-09-22 12:11:28

70. yankz

Twice in two days Giambi's gone down on 3 pitches. Isn't he supposed to draw a ton of pitches?

2007-09-22 12:11:35

71. monkeypants

66 Ball three to Jorge look like a strike to me, but they din't show a replay on Rogers.

2007-09-22 12:14:40

72. cult of basebaal

meh! just one run here feels like failure

2007-09-22 12:15:02

73. cult of basebaal

c'mon Malphabet!

2007-09-22 12:15:09

74. Chyll Will

Bad baserunning by Posada. Matsui was in a long rundown, but Jorge stayed at second. See, Scrabble's single would have scored him...

2007-09-22 12:15:19

75. yankz

Why would Melky bat leadoff?

I guess because Joe feels scared putting Captain there.

2007-09-22 12:15:48

76. monkeypants

cripes--a BB and three hits, including one of the wall, and only one run. Weird, unfortunate sequence of baserunners.

2007-09-22 12:16:08

77. cult of basebaal

argh! no run??? now one run would really feel like failure ... like patton oswalt says, like a failure pile in a sadness bowl

bleh!

2007-09-22 12:16:35

78. randym77

Scrabble's single might have scored both Jorge and Cano if Jorgie weren't the worse baserunner in the known universe.

2007-09-22 12:16:48

79. SF Yanks

69 firefox or ie

2007-09-22 12:17:00

80. monkeypants

74 Sadly, if Jorge tried to take third I think all we would have seen was a very long double play.

2007-09-22 12:18:21

81. cult of basebaal

fuck! failure pile, sadness bowl ...

2007-09-22 12:19:19

82. Chyll Will

It's stuff like that can really trip up a team in the PS. Jorge must be tired, but that's not even an excuse right now, we haven't clinched anything yet.

2007-09-22 12:19:57

83. monkeypants

75 Remember in the old days when announcers would talk about the advantages of batting a lead off type hitter ninth? Maybe Torre is trying something similar in reverse, where you bat a number nine type hitter at lead off.

2007-09-22 12:20:00

84. williamnyy23

That was an absolutely awful inning. Giambi flails out of the strike zone, Cano tries to pull an outside pitch, Posada runs the bases like a little leaguer and then Melky (who shouldn't be leading off) does nothing with a 2-0 pitch. Not exactly the kind of baseball you want to be playing with the clock running out.

2007-09-22 12:20:26

85. yankz

79 OK, for Firefox- first go here: http://www.proxy4free.com/page1.html

You'll probably have to try a couple to get it to work. China usually works best for me.

Pick one, copy the IP address, and remember the port #.

Then go to Tools-Options-Advanced, then the Network tab, then click Settings. Click "Manual proxy configuration," then paste the IP address and type the port # in.

Your IP address is now changed, so mlb.tv will think you're abroad (and therefore unable to watch on TV).

Note: Your internet will almost surely slowly down substantially (but the stream is fine).

2007-09-22 12:22:05

86. cult of basebaal

and i just don't see the blue jays not scoring today, either ... especially if phil doesn't get the ball down more consistently

2007-09-22 12:22:50

87. randym77

79 There are several Firefox extensions for managing proxies, including one that's pretty idiot-proof.

Or to do it by hand, Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network ->Settings. Check "Manual proxy configuration" and fill in the boxes underneath. (The proxy and the port.)

To find proxies, Google "free proxies" and pick one that outside the U.S. It may take several tries to find one that works.

I've found it quite speedy on Saturdays, because no one else is using MLB.TV.

2007-09-22 12:24:38

88. cult of basebaal

reed johnson has the dumbest damn facial hair in the game, methinks, it's like his chin decided to secede from the rest of his face and join ZZ Top by itself

2007-09-22