I don't know about other players, but I will say that there's no greater pleasure in life than watching Cano when he's on.

Bonds was incredible, too, obviously. I was never so impressed by the distance he hit the ball as by the fact that he was never, ever, ever off-balance, never fooled.

Fucking amazing.

Reyes is fun to watch.

I kind of enjoy Thome, too, though as a big beefy slugger guy, he's really not my type. But something about him...

On the Yankees, I like watching Posada. He always gets his hacks in.

On other teams, Vlad (not as much vs NY) and Howard.

1 On the other side, watching Cano swing at the first pitch when JV was obviously struggling to find the plate was extremely frustrating. I hate to see a guy with so much talent pressing. The hits will come, Robbie.
I've always loved the "controlled chaos" of Vlad's swing.

3 He's as excruciating to watch right now as he is glorious when he's on.

He makes me want to pull my hair out and scream and throw things at him.

I really, really, really hope he'll learn to avoid these month-long slumps.

And yeah, Vlad's swing is something else.

Did other people see this in The Onion today? This, combined with the "Yanks bury Bernie Williams under Yankee Stadium for good Luck".... They're on a roll with their Yankees-related articles:

http://tinyurl.com/6emnfw

5 Heh hehe heh heh. Nice.

This one's good too:
"I'm not even sure how this, what do you call it, 'wild card?' Right…how this wild card even works," said Yankees shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, who made "air quotes" gestures every time he uttered the phrase. "Can a team even make it to the World Series from such a position? Seems like charity to me. And the Yankees are nobody's charity case."

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/yankees_decline_wild_card

6 I still love this one

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27656

2 i like watching posada too - mostly because he doesn't f around - no batting gloves - he gets in the box and he swings;
i actually like watching jeter too because of his going the other way so much (back in the day i used to lunge a lot and be a dead pull hitter until a coach made me start going the other way, so i have an appreciation for going the other way)

4 as you say vlad is something to watch

i like to watch rios (again not against the yanks) too - and justin upton is going to be a monster

i hope oyf is sitting down when he finds out matsui is in lf and damon the dh

actually another thing on jeter - many have commented on his seemingly improved range this year - which i concur with - whether it is improved positioning or a quicker first step or a combo of things - but his throwing has been pretty dismal - has anyone who has watched closely or been to a game picked up on anything - is he not getting his feet set? is it too much to get to the ball up the middle and make a good throw? i don't know - maybe i should just be grateful for the improved range and not complain.

7 Ah, yes, I remember that one.

Since then, they've actually only gotten two out of the five guys featured in the photo.

8 No, it's ok to complain. I'd love to have a real shortstop out there.

Something's got to give.

8 Well I disagree with the Damon/Matsui as well. I understand the need to get Damon some rest, but Phil needs all the defensive help he can get. Maybe Damon has some small injury we don't know about though...

11 Hey, I was just going back through today's threads and I saw your dig at biologists. I would have a witty response, but.... sadly, you're right. I study moss, and even among plant biologists, the moss folks have to have their own words for things, different than the exact same thing in other plant groups. Drives me nuts.

Would be like if in the National League they called the bases "primary," "secondary," "tertiary," and "domicile dish" for no good reason.

11 yeah, i thought about phil too - unless as you point out that it is minor injury related, seems like it could have waited until tomorrow with andy pitching then

i think we all realize that just stick player x at 1b does not always work - but i do wonder why more serious thought to trying matsui out at 1b over the winter/st was not done - it would provide a little more insurance there - especially since it seems betemit is not going to be an option there; shelley's really not a good 1b and is the person who is going to get sent down whenever tjere is a roster situation; and it would help create a little more flexibility with the dh spot

9 And the other three are all currently free agents looking for work.

I just wanted to clarify on Floyd above that he was the fourth overall pick in 2001 draft, which happened to be the Phillies' pick. I worded that poorly.

12 Domicile dish, that's hilarious. Physicists have their own jargon too of course, but biologists seem to take it to new levels.

seems like we might have a new face (or at least the return of a face we've seen) for this weekend in CLE

from petey:

UPDATE, 6:57 p.m.: RHP Brian Bruney is not available because of what the Yankees are saying is a sprained mid-foot. He went for an MRI and will see a specialist in New York tomorrow. (Dr. Martin Van Nostrand perhaps?) Bruney was injured Tuesday night in the seventh inning when he was trying to cover first base. He was wearing a knee-length boot today and was in the trainer's room all afternoon. Given that it's his push-off foot, it seems almost certain that Bruney will go on the disabled list.

3 I like watching Sheffield swing. Talk about controlled chaos.

Griffey still has a beautiful swing.

3 I like watching Sheffield swing. Talk about controlled chaos.

Griffey still has a beautiful swing.

12 Domicile dish.

I fucking love it.

Domicile dish.

Controlled chaos, that reminds me, the "Get Smart" movie is coming out soon, isn't it?

That last thread ("The Greatest") was great. I just wrote three friends to let them know that Mo will be taking the career ERA+ title by storm round about the All Star break. Very cool.

20 Really? A "Get Smart" movie?

How retro!

Did what's his name die, though?

And what about 99? Will she be in it?

Don something?--was that his name?

Don Adams, yeah. But Maxwell will be played by Steve Carell in the movie. And 99 will be Anne Hathaway. Pretty hot, but can't hold a candle to Barbara Feldon, frankly.

15 Re physics jargon, check out this poster (which is on the wall of Rilkekind's nursery):
http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/images/200705/cover_big.jpg

Sheffeild, Ichiro, Pujols, Manny (D'oh!), A-Rod, Jeter and most of all Vlad

Matsui...
Left Field...
Six Shot revolver...
One Bullet...

Anyone hear anything about the start time?

Anything at all?

Hey, it's our old buddy Aaron Boone on the television, playing with the Nats.

OK - here goes something that I KNOW will get me abused but its been eating at me: I don't think that Matsui is all that bad in left. I seem to recall a fairly consistent presence out there. I mean I know he is step slow but I always felt he made up for it with pretty efficient routes...when did he become awful?

Hey, also, the Mets seem to have a really, really new camera angle going on. Kind of from above the field looking down, so you can have a bird's eye view of the field. It's really, really cool.

28 He's looked terrible to me this year. His routes, his speed, his first step, everything. He just looks like he's barely hanging on out there.

30 He wasn't nearly as bad when playing for the Yomiuri Giants over here..I think he is really favoring the knee and that's dropped him from average defensively to barely acceptable...

31 He wasn't nearly as bad his first few years here, either. I remember feeling comfortable with him out there before. He was solid and could actually run balls down.

Now it seems like, if he has to start running full tilt, the result is not going to be a happy one.

Oooh, game on!

PeteSez:
UPDATE, 8:04 p.m.: They just announced in the press box that the rain should be ending within an hour and they hope to play at 9:30 p.m. (EDT). I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE, 8:23 p.m.: They're pulling the tarp off the field now. Then it'll take a little bit to clean up the field.

UPDATE, 8:36 p.m.: Umphrey's McGee is doing the anthem. Great band.

That was funny.

O'Neill just cracked up as Derek grounded out on the first pitch: "When you're hitting after Derek Jeter, there's no finding your gloves or anything, you better be ready to step into the batter's box and hit."

All right, here we go, Phil, break a leg!

Hey Weeping,
that camera angle on the Mets game is courtesy of the Nats. The one that looks like it's from Google Earth above home plate. It takes a while to get used to. Not as strange as old games where the centerfield shot from behind the pitcher was on the left side of him.

35 Not so funny. Jeter's total lack of patience this year has resulted in some awful ABs. He has had a couple of nice games and big hits, but Jeter's offense has been just as bad as anyone other Cano. The Captain needs to remember about how to take a pitch.

Oh no another night of torture listening to the "Peregrin Penis"..."He gone" and the "good guys coming to bat" STFU!

This Sox hurler looks mucho hittable. If Phil can get out of the first couple we should be in good shape!

Nice curve there.

Let's ignore the YES gun again tonight...it is already displaying readings that look significantly low.

39 "Peregrin Penis"? no idea what that means but has me laughing...3 games in a row with the Hawk, I think I'll put on the Spanish broadcast instead

Nooo, don't lose him!

You had him 0-2!

Put him away, Phil!

Giambi is an awful 1B.

Nice toss there, Jason.

YES gun's registering mid 80s on the fastball.

Geez is Giambi RETARDED!

sorry that was rude. I shouldn't do that to the actually retarded.

If you swing on 0-2 and the barrel of the bat does not break the plane of home plate because it broke due to a crack from a previous swing, is it still strike 3. OMMMMMMM
Nice toss, Giambi.

44 Agree with yesterday's comments, harder and harder to watch him to try and field the ball..maybe we can get Richie Sexson next year, I hear he's available...

Lots of curveballs coming from Hughes.

Yess, Melk!

Nice catch, Melkele!

He really covered some ground out there.

I am sorry but PHughes has good stuff - I don't care if he starts 0-5- he's got good stuff and should be at the ML level.

first strike fastball at 93 to each hitter thus far...

Since when does Phil's curve break left? I noticed this last game too. He's better when it goes 12-6.

is Hughes working faster tonight?

Paint it black, baby. 18 pitches, Bleh.

he GONE!

Nice!

BALLS DROPETH!

42 Same exact sentiment perhaps an over metaphoric stretch.

Gameday has him at 93-94. I'd say the YES gun is off. Remember last night it had Jenks at 88mph on his fastball.

37 I wish we had that angle. I really like it. You get a much, much better sense of the spaciousness of a baseball field.

This is the game that's going to get Robbie going.

Dear Mr Ensberg (sorry to wake you) but would you mind moving three inches closer to the plate. You can't reach the outside pitch and you are a pull hitter.

Way to bang the ball around the yard, Robby!

Right now My must see at bat is Jeter cause my kids love him and I adore that simple inside out swing and basehit to right. It's a thing of beauty and I'm proud to say my first game in The BB in the Bronx was when he got #2,000 (a 4ft nubber).

In the past, I'd have to say Reggie, Donnie, winfield and Oscar Gamble (I loved him living on top of the plate) for the Yanks and Yaz (particularly the leaning tower), Pops, Brett, Rose and Carew for other teams.
Decent work by Phil in the first but he needs to get ahead a bit more. Nice D by phil and melky. Looks like a long night offensively so let's hope Phil is sharp for 6 and Joba and Mo get in.

This whole season has been one lousy game of pepper for Cano. Didn't he read the signs "NO PEPPER GAMES ON THE FIELD!"

YOU SUCK, Jason.

ok, that's the first out Jason gives away..

Another gem from Giambi. He's acting like he's got T-Rex arms tonight.

see 44

46 61 WGN has phil at 93. Fucking Giambi is an embarrasment at first.

DOG on hind legs + upper body of Aligator = First baseman

68 The guy is going to make my head explode.

Phil, you may slap Jason when you get to the dugout.

Yay!

Jason caught the ball!

Gameday had that last pitch at 95. I think the kid has his velocity back.

NIce catch on that double play JG! Well done - so let me get this straight:

balls below the waist on throws (check) pop ups (nope) throws (nope) ground balls (nope) batting average (nope) speed (nope) most of your hits home runs (check) less than five hits on season (check) GDIP (check)

Yeah - good move...pause...not.

Hawk's talking about everything Giambi's gone through. Let's see, he injected himself as a matter of choice, got a huge contract and presumably gets laid a lot. Yeah, I wish I could go through that. Boo fucking hoo.

i fear the triple play here....

Got to bunt here.

I smell a double from Molina...
79 more reasons not listen to that idiot..

Interesting that Girardi didn't bunt. With the rain, you'd think that was an ideal spot.

Someone tell me why we didn't bunt there?

82 Must've been something in your fridge...day old sushi?

84 I wish we'd bunted Molina but with the Damon walk at least it becomes moot.

the good wheels!

Catlike!

Wow good hustle by Jason. It feels weird to use hustle and Giambi in the same sentence.

89 Like drag racing a big rig

Giambi's LONG REACH got that run across. I knew there was something!

was it painful watching him zoom down the line?

The idiots doing the Chi Broadcast have Earle Combs playing in the 1890's. Volume off.

"That ball hit--hard." Hawk, with "hard" half-strangled, gasped out, like dying words....

Bobby has been so clutch and so coy about it to...is'like "OK, I'll smash it the other way...if I must."

Ensburg...mr ensburg...please move closer to the plate or get a five inch longer bat. Please.

FUCK. They're going to delay This game and phil will get screwed

This dickhead announcer just said that "Ensburg almost walked into that one." - HE IS STANDING FIVE FEET AWAY FROM HOME PLATE!

Dear Mr. fansince77,
I'll stay right here if you don't mind.
Sincerely,
M. Ensberg.

98 Now I'm really glad I turned the volume down.

Please don't bring Hughes back out. Please.

Can they please drop Ensberg, bring up Kei Igawa and make him the spot-starter/long-man? My championship season will not be complete until I see Igawa riding a Qwest float in the parade...

101 Please bring Hughes back out. Please.

101 Reverse psych?

104 Hell no. Long rain delay, rookie pitcher sitting. Do you really want to risk him? Its one game.

105 Let's see how long this bogus delay goes for first...no? We may be able to get two innings out of Sir Phil w/o risk and get him his first win/ confidence builder. You are probably right but let's see first?

105 I guess it depends on how long the delay is. Anything under 40-45 minutes, I say bring him out.

Looking at the radar it looks like at least 20-30 minutes of rain, then they have to pull the tarp and clean the field. I'd be amazed if its less than 45 minutes.

Anything under 45-50 min, I say bring him out :)

What was the name of the kid on the Marlins who's never been the same? Guys, this could be our ace for years to come, its one game. Why risk it? He'll pitch again in 5 days.

109 Agreed... 40 minutes is like a really long rally... you wouldn't mind sending the start back out after that, right?

An hour or more, though, and you gotta go to Bruney or The Dorf.

See: Johnson, Josh.

111 Well, not Bruney, since he is in a full ankle cast.

Is there such a thing as a rain delay shorter than 40 minutes if they bring the tarp out?

Is Hughes cursed only to pitch in rain and/or cold?

It's too bad he looked like he was really cooking but if it were me I'd sit him.

Pete Abe says Bruney is out with a sprained foot.

112 Maybe he's just cursed, period. He gets hurt throwing a no-no, rain happens, cold happens, throwing good tonight and more rain. Poor kid can't get a couple of normal start strung together.

Why does it seem like it's been an hour already? Damn, I'm impatient.

116 yep! on the bright side though, it's friday payday here, going for cheeseburgers for lunch, and the game will just be re-starting when I get back for Friday afternoon Gameday viewing..

Its one game. I really wanted to see him pitch tonight too, but I'd rather see him pitch the rest of the year then come back out for 2 more innings and risk injury. Its been 40 minutes already. You have to sit him. If Girardi brings him back out its a huge, huge, huge mistake. I'm willing to go on record to say that.

Has there been any word on how much longer its expected to be? I was watching the Office.

Will it never stop raining?

Yawn

Phil's gone for sure at this point. I agree. But wtf with the weather? Anyone?

No way Hughes comes back...that's an awful break because he looked real good. With the specter of Josh Johnson over his head, there is no way Girardi can let Hughes go back out there. Hopefully Ohlendorf is on his game and give the team 4-5 innings.

Hey 117 How is Friday looking? Something worth getting up for? Any mistakes back here on Thursday you want us to alter for you?

Looks to me on the ol' dopler system like we should be clear to play no?

Dorf it is. Play ball!

Oh, look, we're back in business.

He gone.

124 Friday looking good, but could use a reply on that squid soup I ordered for dinner last night..
wait..in this rain delay have you all been listening to the Hawk the whole time??

Oh, fuck.

Whew!

Matsui hauled it in!

I thought it was going out.

Good start. Blegh.

See, that was the perfect example of Matsui being an adventure.

He just doesn't look confident out there.

Well, this is going to be a game to forget, methinks.

129 No thank God and for some reason not NOW either as I watched two outs in peace...maybe the baseball God's will shine down and switch the audio to YES again.

By the way my confidence in Mats holds. He is NOT THAT BAD!

Turns out that Squid was actually immitation squid...sea horse. Sorry.

133 Think positive.

This is our game, you watch.

The sticks are out for blood.

134 Well, he's better than I am, that's for sure, but I can't say I don't hold my breath a little whenever the ball's hit his way.

Is it me or does Morgan Ensberg & Tanyon Sturtze look a lot alike?

Was it yesterday that Guillen used Jenks for no apparent reason? Or was that the day before?

Is Floyd gonna pitch 100 pitch warm-up?

Dear Gavin Floyd,

You are up to 100 warmup pitches. Please actually try pitching during the game.

Yours,

Every single person watching the game

138 Well Mo pitched with a 6 run lead and Joba with a 5 run lead within the last 3 games.

Dear lord Robbie looks bad.

I can't bear to watch Robby.

It's just painful.

Oooh, nice rope, Melk.

I think Giambi may have gotten the memo. Finally.

145 When I see him fight off a pitch to the left side or hit a groundball through the vacant left side of the infield, I'll believe it.

146 I said he got it, I didn't say he read it! ;-)

145 yeah I am a bit confused...what memo? Make an out.

Well, Ohlie's hitting spots. Only one really well hit ball against him so far.

Wow, look at Ensberg.

147 Heh hehe ha aah ha.

Great stab by Ensberg but...
Anyone see the thought bubble above his head, "Oh man do I really have to get up and throw this thing...oh well."

148 No, the one that said take a ball to left field once for Christ sake before every Yankees fan alive has a stroke. That memo.

Ok dangerous pitch right here.

Is it Dye?

No, Konerko.

Dye's the scary one. Konerko is about to hit into a DP, though...

Time for Dorf to earn some stripes.

Of course.

Better a single than a dinger.

Or not.

All right, here's the ballgame.

Okay, this is a big batter, very big. I mean, significant.

I'll take it.

Again, better a single than a dinger.

I'll take it.

Again, better a single than a dinger.

This looks like it is going to get ugly. Not sure where the innings are going to come from.

Alex...please come back.

fuck. & we're short on pitchers. time to start stretching Joba out?

164 You think Alex would have had that?

ever get that feeling that we're just going to lose?

OK...announcers don't get to add "ie" to the end of player's name unless they have been intimate with them.

"...that a way Paul-ie!" and now a more obnoxious "wheeeeeee!" on the next hit.

Damn. He was looking good. Then not good. He just left pitches right in the middle of the zone, is all. Good speed, decent motion.

Now what?

He's got nothing.

yep we're going to lose....fucking ohlendorf.

You could just see Ohlendorf lose it. All of a sudden, this game looks like a loss. Where's the rain now?

wow I thought there was no batting practice today?

Anyone else seen enough of Dorf tonight? Joe, Paging Mr. Girardi.

166 Yes.

Coney totally called this inning in the Thome ab. He said if Ol's got a third pitch, now would be a good time to show it.

He didn't have said pitch and here were are.

fucking rain delay.

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

FFS!!

Another poor play by Ensberg...his defense has been brutal.

awful set before the throw by ensberg.
hawk sucks.

It' a good thing Ensberg got his body in postion to throw as the ball was coming. Baseball 101. Should have been a fairly routine out.

controversial question: do we just say fuck in and leave Ross in for another inning:

Great...Giambi's awful defense caused an injury to Bruney.

I think we win this one, if we get decent pitching from here on (which I admit is very iffy).

182 No contoversey...he has no other choice. This is a lose the battle game.

133 I was right.

oh, man, huge out here--& nobody else to pitch...

Just for the record, 184 was before Ramirez' double.

Lotta game to play folks.

One things for sure...Neither teams score will have the number at the end of it at the end of the game.

whining about balls and strikes in the booth: real professional, Hawk, you fuckwit...

Sorry guys, this one is on me. For some reason I started Gavin Floyd on my team.

God.

God, Ensberg just kind of threw with his arm, all flat-footed.

Ok, so, how do we win this game?

Who's coming up?

Damon?

Ohlendorf isn't a longman. In fact, the Yankees don't really have one. That's one reason they are going to keep losing these games when the starter is knocked out early.

Hawk's so bad that I'm actually mad that they won a WS, just because it made him happy. How's that for spite?

If Ross has gas in his tank, sure, let him pitch another.

As bad as the pitching was that inning our defense was WORSE! Ensburg is not ready to play the field...really this guy is pretty useless...where's Betamit? Pink eye? Shit. Ensberger with cheese dripped all over the fucking field that inning.

stupid question.. sorry i got here late, does phil hughes now get a loss?

Come on, Derek.

Up the middle.

We gotta pick this one up.

197 No he was leading and didn't give up any runs. This loss is on Ross.

197 No, no. It's all on Ohlendorf.

197 I don't think that is possible. Especially since the yanks are going to win ;-)

Jeter needs to stop hacking at everything.

so why is floyd still pitching if Hughes can't?

Very un-jeterlike lately.

Ah, that was a fat pitch, Bobby.

No!!!

Fuck.

Don't swing at that!

203 If Floyd gets injured, nobody cares.

what was that, the 8th one in a row.

Oh, Christ!

Terrible, Bobby terrible!

Looks like the Yankees now have one foot on the charter.

Line it into left, Hideki!

Look outside!

do you think cone and oneil are capable of doing the game themselves.. i feel like kay jinxes every single play by saying things like 'hot hitters can turn cold... now here comes matsui'

you think to yourself.. aww jeez mike!

That's an awful inning by the offense and one that is becoming a trademark.

How come their guys hit the ball well and our guys strike out and pop up?

Really, this guy's throwing all right, but his stuff's not exactly electric.

I hate watching this.

night all it's over.

That was a fucking gift-wrapped run!

Lead off walk, uncontested stolen base.

And they fail to advance him?

I'm sorry, that's just unacceptable.

Oh that FUCKING Hawksqual...."yes!" what professional announcer does that on a strikeout?
What professional announcer says "good guys" and "bad guys?"
What professional announcer says "get in there ball?" when his team hits it.
What professional announcer says "Paulie" and rants openly about a pitch just off the plate?

The whole fucking city of Chicago should be embarrased of this guy! We at the Banter would never accept that shit here in NY!
What a total embarassment!

203 Exactly! 21 years old can't RELAX for a 15 minute rain delay and come back?

nice play robbie

217 you cant get the yes feed?

That was a SICK play! where's the SQUEAL Hawk? A baseball purist would have to give some props no matter how biased.

...and goodnight.

That man is so strong.

Please resume your regularly scheduled booing of LaTroy Hawkins.

218 You might need a new watch.

I think everyone needs to get over Hawk Harrelson. He's been doing it for years, and apparently thats what the White Sox want.

Hawkins is this year's towel. I think we've seen enough of #22. No reason to have a guy like Britton in the minors...I'd like to see the Yankees cut bait early on him.

Girardi must be gun shy after he brought a young pitcher back after a rain delay with Florida and was heavily criticized.

220 No- I am in Texas...but I get the point...I'll turn down the volume.

Thome comes to bat more often than the rest of the team, right?

226 But not before having Hawkins throw the final 5.

Am I the only one that wants Barry Bonds? I know he can't pitch out of the bullpen and that's tonights problem, but it's crazy to me that no team will pick the guy up, baggage and all.

228 sorry man i use mlb.com on the road, ddnt realize. giambi sucks. this expermient needs to end.

228 Satellite has Chicago AND YES feed...

232 yeah...It's hard to justify. My biggest immediate problem though is too many good hitters not competing- Cano and Jeter tonight.

228 I get YOUR point however. Those Chicago announcers freak me out. That "he gone" when somebody on the opposing team strikes out abut makes me want to bust the TV...

Nice defense, Team!

(That Dye can hit.)

Start up that plane...the Yankee batters don't look too interested in working the count. Another game and the impatient apporach continues.

Robby's killing us.

He is one slow, fat man.

Melky sure looks like he has taken another step.

WOW!!!!!

What a stud@@@!!!!

MELKY!!!!!!!!

Man, he fucking drilled that ball!

The Melkman Delivers!

Well, that woke me up!

That ball got out in a hurry. Thanks, Melky!

How ta be, Melky. Thanks for shutting up the Chisox announcers.

Hey HAWK...I think you got some MELK on your chin?

Boy, it sure is too bad Melky won't ever develop any power.
: )

Seriously, I thought someone died when Melk made contact.

All right, and Dye made last out, right?

We're actually in this thing!

245 HA!

Melky!

Hawk: "high..deep...and gone"--pronounced like "Fido...died...today."

Melky's mah boy.

249 Hey Nick...that's mine from last night. But what the heck.

Yes!

Got Pierzinski.

That's good, that's good.

Hell ya, just tuned in & the first pitch I see Melk DRILLS to right. talk about a step forward, atta boy!

Hawkins got away with one on that 1-2.

251 sorry, fan: great minds, &tc--we need a Hawk database.....

no, on second thoughts: we don't.

That was a nice pitch.

What was that, a splitter?

Ah, change.

Nice pitch.

Nice job, Hawkins, nice job!

All right, sticks, back to work!

AJ's bobbing and bouncing at the plate was making me nervous. Dude must have gotten into the high octane coffee or something.

Everyone all together now!.....He.........

Fuck, Damon.

Coney: "I'm trying to watch a ballgame here," responding to Kay's and O'Neill's banter.

STOP SWINGING AT THE FIRST PITCH JETER!

We have Joba tonight, righ?

After Cano, Jeter is public enemy #2 on offense.

Abreu, meanwhile, is feelin it.

All right, Hideki.

Hit it over the wall.

Come on, you can do it.

This is where it's a killer to not have a lefty PH for Ensberg. Having Ensberg face a righty is a serious handicap.

Jorge now?

We have LH pinch hitter and the Attorney General on the bench no?

269 Good point...AG could play 3B.

Can anyone remember the last time Jeter hit the ball hard to LF? It's almost like he feels he HAS to go the other way to get a hit. He's turning into Mattie Alou.

Meatball.

This week should have taught a valuable lesson to those who thought the Yankees could survive without Alex Rodriguez...

Whew.

Ensberg almost bit at that 1-2 slider.

Or don't pinch hit.

WOWW!!!!!!!!!

LOOK AT THAT!!!!!

A SIMPLE HIT UP THE MIDDLE!!!!!

YAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Hey, emotion from Ensberg! He does want to be here, after all!

Well, what can you say...Morgan giveth and he taketh away!

Wow.

He walked Cano on four pitches.

Amazing.

We just might steal this game yet.

Excuse me, sir. I have to put down your tax forms and tie this game up. I hope you don't find me too gauche if I high five the 1st base coach.
M. Engsberg C.P.A.

OK, Jason, just hit the fucker out, as long as you're still around.

Umm, what's Jason looking for if not that 1-0.

Oh, Jesus.

He lets that 1-0 go by and then swings at that crap up and in?

What the fuck?

I likey the hits when no one is on base. Damnit.

Barry Bonds wouldn't have popped the ball up there.

Myabe that's why Jason tries to pull everything?

Well, Ensberg got a hit, Cano walked, we can't expect the trinity there can we?

285 No he most certainly would not have.

Nor would Manny.

That 1-0 would have been history.

287 No, I suppose not.

What was his plan up there, though?

What the hell was he looking to do?

Does he even know?

286 Yeah your probably right william...he logged on to banter between innings and was influenced by our disdain. The truth is the 1-0 pitch was the pitch to hit. Oh well.

Oh, no!

Look who's here...

Oh good, nothing to worry about here.

288 And Babe Ruth certainly would have given that ball a fearsome what for.

Really, Giambi is awfully stinky these days, but I am not sure comparing him to Bonds and Manny--or Pujols or Ted Williams--furthers the point all that much.

Come on, Kyle.

Please.

I swear to God, I'm going to kill Cano for those catches.

Dye's out of the game!

Wow, good news!

293 It's just tough to watch, is all.

Farnsworth is awful.

293 Except that of the six people you mentioned, one of them is an available free agent. Who can probably go .270/.400/.500 for this team, right now. And who would probably sign for $1 million at this point. His agent says they've gotten no offers, and did not rule out Bonds returning for league minimum. That's insane.

IF and its a big IF we get outa here- promise me that Joba finishes.

Melk- a non stat play that can save the game.

I feel a sinking feeling... I fear a double is coming...

step out for a simple Friday cheeseburger, and come back to a 6-6 game with Farnsworth in...maybe will go back for a walk in the spring sunshine and talk to some office ladies...

Nice job, Jose.

That's a big break there.

where was that last pitch?

Ozzie trying to manage his way out of the inning.

I think Cabrera should have been called for batter's interference, even if the throw wasn't perfect.

God Molina got rid of that fast!

Hopefully Farnsworth slipping saves him from coming out for a second inning.

301 Heh heh heh heh.

305 What interference? He threw the bat forward.

303 I'm pretty sure ump got bailed out on that one- throwing the bat in front of the catcher...yeah a little bit.

296 It is tough to watch. But it is tough to watch not because Giambi does not hit pitches that Manny would mash--after all, Manny is probably the greatest RH hitter of his generation. Rather, it is painful to watch because he his missing balls that Marco Scuturo and the like would jump all over.

298 This is true, though to be honest with you, I can live without that certain free agent. Maybe I'm just a moralizing fool.

I'm not much interested in the balls that Giambi misses which Bonds would have hit. I am more upset that Duncan is at AAA smashing many of the same pitches.

Is Melky leading the team in HRs now?

309 Well, he threw the bat at the ball. Isn't that some kind of penalty, like a fielder who throws his hat at the ball costs his team a base?

ok, who do we have for the 8th?

313 You can throw your bat at the ball in an attempted swing.

311 Well, its not like Shelly went 2-3 today with a HR, oh wait he did. Sigh.

Ok, here we go guys, tie game on the road and....in comes Joba. Yes!

Very inspiring 8th inning.

Doesn't MLB discipline announcers for too much criticism on umpires? Hawk just did a split screen bitch whine session still begging for that inside pitch to Ensberg (which was clearly inside btw!) WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Ha and then he says "We're not saying guys are bad umpires...they just miss a bunch...its a fact...." WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Ah, the Yankees bats have settled in for a long night of extra innings in the rain, methinks.

So... soon we may have Girardi's first "tie game on the road in the ninth" decision. Will he go to his closer? Will he prove to be different than any other manager? Or will he keep his closer on the bench just like Torre?

311 Amen. Shelly must be freed.

I'm a football Giants fan, and I appreciate their morals to not go after "bad character guys." Christian Peter not withstanding.

I prefer to root for, maybe not "good" guys, because let's face it there are plenty of shady characters and bad people in sports, but I rather NOT root for some bad people.

Roger Clemens is the kind of person that gave me pause. I was not thrilled when the Yankees got him, and while I certainly didn't root against him he was never a Yankee I "loved."

319 the guy is annoying just to read on the screen..
Joba in 8th of tie game = I heart Girardi

All right, Joba, here we go.

Wow, strike one!

Man, that's huge.

Joba's fucking great.

ah, Joba!

joba, joba, HEY!

sweet jesu! must you ALWAYS be SUCH a homer, hawk???

So which position player is the first to pitch? I say Giambi ;)

There were plenty of times where Torre went to the setup man in the eighth inning of a tie game. We just seldom had a very good setup man.

The real question is whether he goes to the closer in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game, or if he lets the setup man continue, just like Torre used to do with Tom Gordon.

I think Joba pitches the 8th and 9th no matter what.

Konerko knows he went!

328 I have no problem with Joba pitching two if his pitch count is low enough.

Beautiful, Joba.

He's so good.

sliderpushing 90mph...wow..

gorgeous pitch!

Someone is getting fired over this mound. Seriously.

Geeez that second swinging strike to Konerko...just fell off the universe- NOT FAIR!

only the bullpen matters, guys--got that?

Um, wow.

Just blew him away.

Here, hit this.

No, you can't, can you?

The YES gun is apparently still 5-6 mph slow. Joba at 90/91, huh?

I guess Phil's curve wasn't really at 68 mph early in the game then, either. Man, that seems like a long time ago that Hughes was pitching.

Jeter...please take at least 1 pitch!

he gone. he gone and he gone.

340 No, Gameday had Hughes at 93-94, touching 95.

339 Add to that, 'nah nah nah nah nah'

Yeah- you gotta give the Joba one more.

328 Joba changes the equation, though. Also, Mo went nearly two innings last night. The better move, IMO, is to go back to Joba in the ninth and then to Mo in the 10th if they have to.

I'm dreaming of Joba complete game shutouts in the second half of the season. We'll be seeing some new players come tomorrow. Bruney likely going to the DL, they have to DFA Moeller at some point. I hope we'll see Shelly and Edwar. I think it'll be Shelly and Alby, unless they want Rasner to be the long man.

Mmmmm....me like. Let's go Bobby.

Nice, Derek.

Nice hitting, nice head down on the ball.

Ok, let's do it here and go home.

That was jeterbeingjeter

347 Edwar can't come back until 10 days after he got sent down (April 19, i think). Alby last pitched on April 17 in the majors, but I don't know when he got sent down.

351 Finishing my thought, I think the pitcher that comes up will be either Scott Patterson or Chris Britton.

Shelly is more than due for a callup, though.

God, what kind of swing was that?

The one thing that worries me about Joba starting was watching him in spring training. He seemed like a different pitcher, so reserved, so held back. Small sample size, yada yada, just an observation on my part, but I'm sure he'll be just fine.

352 yeah, one of the three catchers has to go, and with Betemit on the DL the only position player with a real shot at getting called up is Duncan. it will be interesting to see who they call up for the BP. I am also curious to see what happens when Betemit comes off the DL--does he come back or is he displaced by AG?

Yes, it fell in!

Nice, Hideki.

Here comes Jenks.

Can Ensberg do it again?

And where's Jorgie?

351 He can if its for a player placed on the DL

Does Hawk call those bloopers 'Duckfarts'?

Jorgie, Jorgie, that was not good. Not good at all.

Oh, that's painful.

That's really painful.

WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU SWING 3-0????

Raise your hand if you saw that coming.

(raises hand)

Jenks is good...

There is always that possibility too.

It was a 2-1 pitch

361 Was it 3-0, or am I starting to fall asleep?

361 I don't know, but wasn't that 2-1?

361 it was 2-1 but your point's still valid

358 yes. yes, he does. over and over and over again ... i don't know how white sox fans retain their sanity

361 Hard to believe but the umpire called the third pitch a strike but he did. That was an unbelievable gift imho.

[369} that is a joke of course, right? RIGHT???

I would have swapped Jorge in at C. I know Girardi wants to rest him, but now the bench is pretty much empty--I'd rather have his bat in the lineup for the rest of the game. either it ends soon, and he only logs an inning or two, or it goes longer but he bats again.

I love that Joba has an 80 mph curveball

I dont like the way this feels right now.

who is at third?

372 I would have too.

Wow, that scared me.

STRETCH STRETCH....DICK

368 How is it valid? Players are now not allowed to swing 2-1 without violating some immutable baseball dogma? What counts are OK to swing away on?

Stretch, stretch, Stretch...stretch your ass!

379 IT'S VALID BECAUSE HE SWUNG AT BALL 3.

Oh my God!!!

They totally called that 1-2 a strike earlier!!

379 I don't have a problem swinging on 2-1...I really thought it was 3-0. I also don't mind swinging at 3-0, but not in that situation.

375 I don't know.

379 That was a perfect pitch for Jorge to drive- game of inches...could have been a line drive down the line...live and die with your best.

Joba is a little off in this inning.

Second breaking pitch that's been hammered.

375 AG

381 That's different. William complained "why swing on 3-0," implying that the count should determine the action. You are saying that he should not swing at a ball. Agreed. But that is a completely different criterion, unrelated to the point that William mistakenly made.

This guys a curve ball hitter. Second blast he's hit on the off-speed.

387 Seems to have gone back to the fastball. Man, I wish I had a 100mph fastball.

Wow, so Joba is human after all. Shake it off kid, it was a good pitch.

385 Hmmm...Jeb 381 seems to think it was ball 3.

389 You're right. you win the million dollar giveaway for being the smartest one here.

Well that sucks.

Oh, that's sad.

Is that Joba's first major league loss?

That was the first meaningful run Joba has yielded in his career.

What a disaster of a game...you empty the bullpen, will get in late tomorrow and still lose the game.

Why did they keep going to the off speed?

The breaking ball again.

It was flat.

Three hard hit breaking balls in the inning.

Well, that was not a good ending. Ah well.

Wow that hurts. I am going to bed sad but not mad. At least the Yanks competed in this one. Earlier in the year this would have been over in the fifth. A good series overall- without A-ROD...Mussina, Hughes, Wang, Pettitte and some bats coming alive.

Sad but not mad.

From the Joe Torre Era:

1) IF there is a tie game, on the road, in the ninth inning, AND
2) IF the manager does not use his best reliever, AND
3) IF the Yankees lose, THEN

It is a "Torre Loss."

Why isn't this a "Girardi Loss"?

Seems like the Yankees can't pull away from .500.

Strangely enough I'm not upset about this game. The offense put up 6 runs without A-Rod and Posada. Joba had to give up a run sometime, I mean he's not superman. Hughes was pitching well. It happens, we'll get'em in Cleveland tomorrow night.

394 Thanks!

401 Well, that Joba kid is a pretty good reliever. Considering Mo threw 1 2/3 yesterday and only Traber was left in the bullpen, I am not sure what you think Girardi should have done.

Post title for tomorrow needs to be: Blame it on the Rain

400 Sad but not mad.

401 Why, because you think Mo should have been out there? I don't get it.

This is a Joba loss.

401 What 405 said. Its not like he went to Billy Traber in the ninth. I had faith in Joba.

407 No, this is a LaTroy and Ohlendorf loss.

That was a nice swing by Crede, too.

That's what happens when you just put the bat on the ball.

I wish our guys did that more often.

401 One could argue that Joba is their best reliever, or at least close enough to Mo--especially Mo who pitched five outs the game before. This is a far cry from Joe 'What Awful Middle reliever Will I Use in the 9th" Torre.

403 Well put. Don't have a problem losing when the other team wins it. Early in the year we were giving away games or simply not competing. We competed today. If the White Sox with that lineup have that hard a time beating us once in three...I like what we can be...I think four out of our next five/ seven out of ten is very feasible.

We also leave too many runners on base.

I know we scored the six, but we could have had more.

Losses like this one make me less than excited about the next game.

I actually agree that Joba was out for the ninth.

I'm just saying, for all the hand-wringing that was done last year and years before... not having your "closer" pitch the ninth inning of a tie game on the road is not an automatic criticism of the manager. Most managers don't do it that way, and this game was a good illustration of why- you need to take other things into consideration other than "use my best reliever, at whatever cost."

401 Was facetious. I hated "Torre losses," because there isn't another manager out there who routinely uses his closer in the ninth of a tie game on the road.

401 I can't really fault Girardi for going to Joba for another inning. And this was eventually going to happen, though I was as spoiled as anyone and can't remember ever seeing his breaking ball look that hittable.

What really sucked was the 51 minute rain delay...I mean, really sucked. Completely trashed the bullpen. Oh well.

412 I actually think they gave this away by playing poor defense, pitching poorly in the middle and leaving too many men on base. This should have been a sweep.

415 The criticism is legitimate though when you don't have a Joba. The difference with Torre is Sean Henn would be walking off with the loss.

He should have kept with the fastball to Quentin. I don't think he could catch up to it. The slider to Crede seemed to hang a little in the zone. I agreed that the slider was a good pitch there, but should have been much lower, IMHO.

Well at least the Yankees have a day off coming soon....

Oh wait, they don't. Not until May 5.

418 So then the criticism should have been of Cashman, for not providing a suitable setup man since Tom Gordon. Mo cannot be expected to pitch all such high leverage innings.

415 "Torre losses" (at least on NoMaas) referred not only to games where Torre failed to employ his BP to the fullest, but also bizarre PH/PR decisions/non-decisions. Torre was really a pretty bad game manager the last couple years.

417 Agree completely with all the hindsight reasons why would SHOULD have folded but the point for me is that we didn't stop playing even after the debacles on "d." Yes Ensberg and Giambi were horrific but AROD in that spot changes the game (although he didn't even throw home last time) but anyway...we gave ourselves a chance to win. If anyone here knew, before the game that Joba would be on the mound in the ninth in a tie game with one out, they would take those chances. Shit happens. But we competed through the mistakes which is something uncharacteristic of the Yankees the last two years.

421 No...because it makes no sense to save Mo and let Henn pitch. If Henn would have lost after Mo pitched, it would have been a Cashman loss.

423 I don't see much value in competing. This was a game the Yankees should have won and didn't. There have been too many of those already, which is why this team is hovering around .500.

421 No, but it would have been nice if pitched some of them. I can't believe we are rehashing Torre's piss-poor BP management last year, which also included numerous bizarre "get Mo some work in a 10 run blowouts only not to use him in higher leverage situations." In this short season, except for a goofy Traber appearance or two, Girardi has handled the BP in a much more creative fashion, and he has spread the workload more evenly.

423 Agreed.

425 Yeah, but this loss was not like lots of those others, where the team just had nothing.

We're really starting to see some signs of life, is the point.

425 You know why there is value in competing right now William? Because this year's team is going to be a work in progress for about two months...I think we all know that, and at the end of that time we'll know who wants to compete in the pen, on the field and in pressure situations. Like it or not that has to be a learning curve with this squad. When the smoke clears, we should all expect and demand excellence everyday and not accept a loss like this- but we do have to realize that a few guys need to be given a chance to show what they got and how they rebound. Tell me this loss doesn't feel better than those comatose showings in Baltimore or in Tampa Bay or in Boston...of course it does.

427 That frustrates me more. You shouldn't lose game like this when you have something. It could just be me, but this game had the feel of a win that the Yankees gave back.

428 The work in progress angle would make sense if the loss was the result of a mistake made by Hughes. That wasn't the case. Instead, a few misplays in the field and give away at bats by veterans turned a win into a loss.

429 It is frustrating, yes, but for me, no, it's not more frustrating than those other games where it's like a bunch of spectres walking around out there.

And Melky, that was huge. Melky's game alone is a big, big deal, to just pick the team up on his back like that.

430 I hear you brother...no one gets more frustrated than me on lousy lack of concentration at bats...but what about Melky picking us up, what about Jeter bouncing back from horrible appearances, what about some of the positives that gave us a chance to win?

Joba says he only through one curve ball in that inning and that was the one to Crede.

Bad game, lost chance to pick up ground again. Hughes got in only 2 innings. Olendorf stunk. Joba threw too many curves. Bad night. Still no wins for Hughes and IPK. Lets see in Kennedy can show anything today.