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Cleveland Indians
2008-04-25 13:33
by Cliff Corcoran

Cleveland Indians

2007 Record: 96-66 (.593)
2007 Pythagorean Record: 92-70 (.570)

Manager: Eric Wedge
General Manager: Mark Shapiro

Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Jacobs Field (103/102)

Who's Replacing Whom:

25-man Roster:

1B - Ryan Garko (R)
2B - Asdrubal Cabrera (S)
SS - Jhonny Peralta (R)
3B - Casey Blake (R)
C - Victor Martinez (S)
RF - Franklin Gutierrez (R)
CF - Grady Sizemore (L)
LF - David Dellucci (L)
DH - Travis Hafner (L)

Bench:

R - Jason Michaels (OF)
R - Jamey Carroll (IF)
R - Kelly Shoppach (C)
R - Andy Marte (3B)
R - Ben Francisco (OF)

Rotation:

L - C.C. Sabathia
R - Fausto Carmona
L - Cliff Lee
R - Paul Byrd
L - Jeremy Sowers

Bullpen:

R - Rafael Betancourt
L - Rafael Perez
R - Jensen Lewis
R - Masahide Kobayashi
R - Jorge Julio
L - Craig Breslow
R - Tom Mastny

15-day DL: R - Jake Westbrook, R - Joe Borowski, L - Shin-Soo Choo (OF)

Typical Lineup:

L - Grady Sizemore (CF)
L - David Dellucci (LF)
L - Travis Hafner (DH)
S - Victor Martinez (C)
R - Jhonny Peralta (SS)
R - Ryan Garko (1B)
S - Asdrubal Cabrera (2B)
R - Franklin Gutierrez (RF)
R - Casey Blake (3B)

It was a reminder of just how early in the season we still are when the Indians swept a double-header against the Royals yesterday and, in so doing, jumped from last place in the AL Central to second place. Cleveland swept the entire three-game series in Kansas City, which was just their first series win since they took two of three from the White Sox to start the season. In fact, the Tribe won its first two games, then went 5-12 before arriving in Kansas City on Tuesday.

Part of the problem has been a wildly inconsistent offense. Over their last three series, the Indians have scored a total of 35 runs in three of their eight games and just nine runs total in the other five games. Looking over their lineup, platoon left fielder David Dellucci is hot (.324/.390/.649 over his last 12 games), but no one else is even hitting up to their usual standard. Center fielder Grady Sizemore, catcher Victor Martinez, and first baseman Ryan Garko are all getting on-base at a high clip, but none of them have shown their usual power thus far. Martinez is hitting for average, but is homerless on the season. Sophomores Asdrubal Cabrera and Franklin Gutierrez have both been awful, and Travis Hafner looks more lost than he did last year, negating Dellucci's production by hitting .180/.250/.260 over his last 12 games with 12 strikeouts.

Things look better in the rotation, but despite being in Cleveland for four games, the Yankees will miss the three Indians starters who have been the most effective this April. Jake Westbrook (2.73 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) just hit the DL with a pulled muscle in his side. The Yankees will thus see replacement groundballer Jeremy Sowers in tomorrow's nationally televised game (a corresponding roster move has yet to be announced, but it's assumed extra outfielder Ben Francisco will be sent down). The lefty Sowers was a first-round pick in 2004 and moved quickly through the minors, but was awful after being installed in the rotation to start last season. The Yankees gave him a beating in April and hope do to so again. The Wednesday rainout that forced yesterday's double header pushed Fausto Carmona (Wednesday's scheduled starter) out of this series as he'd now be on short rest on Monday and will thus start Tuesday instead. Carmona is still a powerful groundballer, but he's posted a troubling 1:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio thus far. Still, he's survived it to go 3-1 with 2.89 ERA. One or the other will have to give, but I'd guess it'll be the wacky peripherals. Finally, yesterday's other starter, Cliff Lee, has been flat out dominant thus far, but will also miss the Yankees.

Consider these two lines:

0.28 ERA, 4-0, 31 2/3 IP, 29 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, 0.41 WHIP, 4 GS
10.13 ERA, 1-3, 24 IP, 25 K, 16 BB, 5 HR, 2.16 WHIP, 5 GS

Which looks like last year's Cy Young award winner and which looks like the guy who pitched himself out of the rotation a year ago?

Of course the first line is Lee's, while the second is that of defending AL Cy Young award winner C.C. Sabathia, who will start against Chien-Ming Wang on Sunday. It could be that the Yankees are getting to Sabathia a bit late, as his last start saw him throw 6 scoreless and strike out 11. I'd certainly put my money on Sabathia to out-pitch Lee going forward, but those 256 1/3 innings (including the postseason) Sabathia threw last year are enough to put some doubt in your mind, particularly given the fact that his postseason line looked a lot like the one above (8.80 ERA, 1-2, 15 1/3 IP, 14 K, 13 BB, 3 HR, 2.22 WHIP, 3 GS).

Even without facing Lee, the Yankees will see three lefties in this series after the right-handed Paul Byrd tonight. Sowers, Sabathia, and Monday's spot starter Aaron Laffey are all southpaws. Monday will be the Yankees' first look at Laffey, who made nine starts for the Tribe in August and September of last year and was consistantly average, turning in just one quality start, but only once lasting less than than five innings or allowing more than four runs.

Lee's dominance (he threw a three-hit, nine-K shutout in last night's nightcap) has helped keep the Cleveland bullpen fresh for this series. In fact, only the White Sox and Mariners used their bullpen less this season (in contrast, the Yankees have used their pen to eat up more innings than any team other than Pittsburgh). That's important because the Cleveland pen has been another one of their problems in the early going, posting a collective 5.07 ERA that's the sixth-worst in baseball. Joe Borowski's been on the DL with a triceps strain for more than a week, but it took until yesterday for anyone else to earn a save. Rafael Betancourt, who is again pitching well, but not quite dominating the way he did last year, did the honors there. Unfortunately, the other Rafael, lefthanded Perez, has struggled, and the presence of Jorge Julio in the Cleveland pen speaks for itself. Worth watching will be veteran Japanese righty Masahide Kobayashi, who has been getting it done with groundballs (a popular method in Cleveland).

As for the Yankees, according to Pete Abe, Brian Bruney's mysterious foot injury a Lisfranc fracture (which is a bone fracture, not a torn ligament as Pete states) that will require surgery and could keep him out all season. He hits the DL today and both Jonathan Albaladejo and Chris Britton have been called up (no word yet on how the Yankees plan to make room for Britton on the 25-man roster). Albaledejo was optioned to Scranton less than ten days ago, but is able to return before spending the requisite ten days in the minors because he's an injury replacement. That means that Albaladejo was chosen over Edwar Ramirez, who was also optioned less than ten days ago, but that Britton was not. Albaladejo has pitched well in two long-relief outings thus far this year, striking out seven against just one walk in 5 2/3 innings. Britton has struck out ten in 11 innings against four walks for Scranton this year. He has a 2.45 ERA, but is just one of a long list of bullpen candidates pitching well in Scranton this April (also Albaladejo, Ramirez, Jose Veras, Sean Henn, Heath Phillips, Dan Giese, and Darrell Rasner). That long list of successful Scrantonites makes the loss of Bruney easier to take, though it still hurts to lose a guy with a 1.59 ERA and 12 Ks in 11 1/3 innings whom the manager had begun to use ahead of Kyle Farnsworth in key late-game situations.

I wouldn't be surprised to see another move before tomorrow's game. With Cleveland running out three straight lefties tomorrow through Monday, it seems the time has finally come for the Yanks to recall Shelley Duncan, who crushed another homer last night (his sixth since being optioned). Alex Rodriguez is back at third base tonight, which eases the roster crunch a bit, but with Posada starting behind the plate for the third time in four days and Jose Molina having gotten the other start, it's time for Chad Moeller to go. The Yankees have held on to him because he's out of options and they didn't want to lose him only to find out that Posada can't stop a team that actually does steal bases (which the White Sox don't), but the risk of losing Moeller to waivers isn't high enough to waste the roster spot on him.

Tonight is the first time the Yankees have had all nine of their Opening Day starters in the lineup at the same time since Opening Day itself.

Update: Per Pete Abe, Moeller has indeed been designated for assignment to make room for Bruney. The Yanks will the likely option a pitcher to make room for Duncan tomorrow (per Chad Jennings, Duncan is not in the Scranton lineup tonight, and his locker is relatively empty). Tonight they have a three-man bench and 13-man pitching staff.

Comments (124)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-04-25 14:33:53
1.   Mattpat11
I'm really confident about the prospects of taking at least three here.
2008-04-25 14:44:28
2.   Jeb
3 would be great, but 2 is a bit more realistic on the road, particularly with IPK and mussina starting, and CC looking like he's out of his funk.

I hate losing bruney but Chris Britton at least physically resembles the fat-boy bruney from 2007.

2008-04-25 14:45:12
3.   Mattpat11
And although I think Wang can beat Sabathia, I'd much rather face Lee right now than Sabathia. Lee isn't all that good period, let along this good and the bottom is bound to fall out soon. The reverse is true with C.C.
2008-04-25 15:36:28
4.   Cliff Corcoran
Transaction updates above. Moeller DFAed, Duncan likely to replace a pitcher tomorrow.
2008-04-25 15:39:14
5.   mehmattski
PeteAbe surmises that Ross Ohlendorf will be the bullpen casualty to make room for Britton. I hope Ross gets some confidence back in AAA, I still think he has the potential to be a solid middle-innings option.

The AAA carousel can continue all year, as far as I am concerned. Better than continuing to make deals like Hawkins (bad) and Farnsworth (much worse).

2008-04-25 15:39:23
6.   Just fair
Moeller did a helluva job. I wonder who gives him his next chance.
2008-04-25 15:40:30
7.   williamnyy23
Tough break for Bruney. I don't think his loss is a big blow to the Yankees, but he was certainly better than Hawkins and Farnsworth. Still, it's a shame that he dedicated himself all winter to getting shape and then injures himself in a freak accident, which, sadly, was caused by Giambi's inability to field groundballs.
2008-04-25 15:40:37
8.   Cliff Corcoran
6 It was a lucky fluke. I bet he makes it through waivers and lands back in Scranton. If not, he won't hit like that for his next team.
2008-04-25 15:41:18
9.   mehmattski
4 D'oh, so much for my rumor mongering. Well, with various teams (like the Reds) looking for BUCs, I don't think Moeller will make it through waivers, so that is a shame. The catching depth will likely get much shallower, then.

I say look for either Alby or Britton to get some work tonight, and the one who does will be sent down in exchange for Duncan. It's about freaking time for Shelley.

2008-04-25 15:42:06
10.   williamnyy23
9 The Reds already released him. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nationals pick him up. It sure beats Estrada and Nieves.
2008-04-25 15:42:16
11.   Cliff Corcoran
7 Bad call blaming Giambi. Bruney needed to cover the bag on that play no matter who was playing, and if he had covered, he would have gotten the out. Either Bruney messed up and hurt himself in the process or he hurt himself and that's why he blew the play. Either way, Giambi, who did stop that ball from getting through, had nothing to do with it.
2008-04-25 15:43:51
12.   Cliff Corcoran
10 The Nats already released him, too. They were the last ones to have him before the yanks this spring. The Nats are starting Nieves over Estrada, by the way, and Wil's actually hitting (6 for 18, 3 BB). I think Moeller's safe.
2008-04-25 15:44:04
13.   williamnyy23
11 We'll have to agree to disagree. Bruney wasn't hurt covering first...he was hurt stopping abruptly when the groundball managed to get past Giambi. Had Giambi fielded the ball, which he clearly should have (the ball hit his barehand after missing his glove), Bruney would have proceeded to 1B and not been hurt.
2008-04-25 15:44:28
14.   mehmattski
11 Agreed. I thought the play in question was very strange, how Bruney didn't even seem to make an attempt to get over there. Giambi was so far from the bag that even if he had fielded it on his feet, he'd still need to toss to someone to make the play.
2008-04-25 15:45:19
15.   williamnyy23
12 Two of his hits in the Mets series were really errors, but I guess the Nats could be fooled by those numbers. Moeller is just a much better player than Nieves, which, clearly, is not saying much.
2008-04-25 15:48:55
16.   Cliff Corcoran
15 Honestly? No he's not. They're both awful hitters. Speaking of, I see the SWB Yanks are starting Chris Stewart behind the plate tonight. Stewart is about 8 years younger than Moeller and much the same sort of generic back-up catcher type. If Moeller is claimed it's not a loss. Really, on the day Bruney goes down possibly for the season, Moeller's the wrong guy to fret about.
2008-04-25 15:51:58
17.   williamnyy23
16 There are degrees of awful. Moeller is capable of posting an OPS+ in the 50-60s, while Nieves, in a small sample, seems lucky if he can stay in positive territory. It's not an epic difference, but significant enough, IMHO.

Having said that, I don't think anyone is fretting about losing Moeller, nor should they.

2008-04-25 16:07:23
18.   cult of basebaal
good news ... we'll miss cliff lee this series ... check out this from baseballprospectus

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=852

pretty unreal run ... weak lineups or not

2008-04-25 16:09:13
19.   Cliff Corcoran
18 that link is in the above post, right before I mention that the Yanks will miss Cliff Lee this series.
2008-04-25 16:09:57
20.   cult of basebaal
ah ... sorry, cliff ... missed that

DOH!

2008-04-25 16:10:44
21.   Zack
Really crappy news about Bruney, as he seemed the logical candidate to replace Joba, and had really shouldered the load thus far.

That being said, I must say that I love what they did in response. Calling about Alby and Britton (who I am intrigued to see if Girardi actually uses) makes sense, as they are really the most deserving in terms of track record and ability to throw strikes...

What I DO hope happens is no more of this Ohlendorf for extra innings and an attempt to see if he can handle the 1 inning fireman/Bruney role...

2008-04-25 16:11:37
22.   Zack
Sooo, how about the matchup of HGH "fiends" tonight? :)
2008-04-25 16:13:42
23.   Zack
And I assume not hitting against Byrd, which was so infuriating last season, is about what Chicago fans must have felt like against Moose...
2008-04-25 16:15:20
24.   weeping for brunnhilde
All right, Andy, do you thang.
2008-04-25 16:16:21
25.   cult of basebaal
22 i'm totalled "juiced" for it!
2008-04-25 16:16:23
26.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice 2-1 change there.
2008-04-25 16:17:05
27.   weeping for brunnhilde
I'm going to kill someone.
2008-04-25 16:17:09
28.   Zack
cue William
2008-04-25 16:17:30
29.   weeping for brunnhilde
He's a fucking butcher out there.

Blood all over his butcher hands.

2008-04-25 16:17:56
30.   williamnyy23
For the sixth or seventh time, the Giambi experiment needs to be re-evaluated. He is putrid on defense and it continues to hurt them, both literally and figuratively.
2008-04-25 16:19:26
31.   mehmattski
Cleveland announcers talking about the possibility of bunting in the first inning:

"No, you don't want to do that, play for just one in the first inning."

Ah, refreshing.

2008-04-25 16:20:06
32.   Zack
For the first time, I am getting an HD feed in EI, which is super nice!
2008-04-25 16:20:16
33.   Mattpat11
Like I said, I'd actually rather face Lee now. That wave is going to crash pretty damn hard soon.
2008-04-25 16:20:43
34.   mehmattski
For the sixth or seventh time, the A-Rod experiment needs to be re-evaluated. He is putrid on defense and it continues to hurt them, both literally and figuratively.

;-)

2008-04-25 16:21:33
35.   weeping for brunnhilde
Good thing that thing didn't go into centerfield.
2008-04-25 16:21:35
36.   williamnyy23
Posada's first throw not a great one, but he really had no shot anyway.
2008-04-25 16:23:15
37.   Mattpat11
21 I didn't want Bruney anywhere near the 8th inning until he showed he could pitch a full season without walking the ballpark.

I also didn't want him hurt and prefer him over Farnsworth, so maybe you have a point.

2008-04-25 16:24:12
38.   williamnyy23
34 I know that was a joke, but you do you not think Giambi's poor defense warrants not playing him at 1B as a rule?
2008-04-25 16:24:56
39.   Zack
37 Obviously, his candidacy would have been based on him still being effective when Joba was ready to switch roles, halfway through...Hopefully by that time it will be clear that others can do the job as well, especially if they continue the trend of calling up guys who tend not to walk people
2008-04-25 16:26:34
40.   Zack
Sigh...I swear if the Yanks don't respond against Byrd I will go apeshit
2008-04-25 16:29:14
41.   mehmattski
38 1) First base defense is some of the least important defense on the field.
2) For whatever reason, Giambi has significantly worse hitting statistics as a DH.

Still, if I were in charge of personel decisions:
3) Shelley Duncan should have been playing 1B the last two weeks.

Given that 3) didn't happen, Giambi at first base is the least of all evils. Betemit's bat won't make up for whatever glove improvemnt he provides (I'm not convinced there is any). Giambi has swung the bat well the last few nights, and I think is still a more valuable player than Betemit.

2008-04-25 16:29:56
42.   williamnyy23
So far, Giambi's error has not only cost the Yankees a run, but also at least 10+ pitches on Pettitte's arm, which means an extra inning needed from the bullpen.

Again, playing Giambi at 1B has been a major weakness in the early going and Girardi needs to consider benching him more often, especially on days when Pettitte and Wang pitch.

2008-04-25 16:31:09
43.   weeping for brunnhilde
A nice unearned run there.

Thanks, Jason!

2008-04-25 16:32:06
44.   williamnyy23
41 The defense spectrum is irrelevant when talking about ineptitude of Giambi proportions. He isn't a poor 1B...he is an all-time awful 1B. If he isn't going to have an OPS well above league average, the Yankees need to make bench him when their groundball pitchers are throwing and/or when a lefty starts for the opposition.
2008-04-25 16:33:57
45.   mehmattski
42 That seems unfair, to point out Giambi. That's why I made the joke about A-Rod... had he fielded his ball cleanly, that's an easy DP and saves the same run and same 10+ pitches. Would Keith Hernandez have made the play at first? Would Brooks Robinson have made the play at third?
2008-04-25 16:35:26
46.   Mattpat11
39 I've spent so many years watching the Yankees build a bullpen around men who walk people that I'll take almost anyone who doesn't.
2008-04-25 16:36:19
47.   Zack
Take that William :) Giambi giveth and he taketh away
2008-04-25 16:36:21
48.   weeping for brunnhilde
Good, Jason!
2008-04-25 16:36:58
49.   williamnyy23
45 I am not so sure it would have been an easy DP, but regardless, Arod is not a defensive liability at 3B. Arod's misplay was rare, Giambi's error is becoming daily.

There's no reason Giambi can't hit HRs from the DH slot on days when Pettitte and Wang are pitching.

2008-04-25 16:37:21
50.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice little drive by Cano there.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-04-25 16:37:26
51.   cult of basebaal
cleveland giambi 1, new york giambi 1
2008-04-25 16:40:28
52.   williamnyy23
Last year, the Indians had a game against Pettitte in which they worked him hard in the first inning, but then made outs very quickly thereafter. Hopefully, they take that same approach tonight.
2008-04-25 16:40:51
53.   mehmattski
William, please cite your source on Giambi being one of the worst fielding 1B of all time. Because Zone Rating disagrees, there's at least six first baseman worse, including Paul Konerko, Richie Sexon, and Ryan Garko.

Yeah, that's too bad, that he's playing. I bet Wilson Betemit could hit a ball that far...

2008-04-25 16:43:53
54.   cult of basebaal
MELKMAN!!!
2008-04-25 16:44:45
55.   fansince77
That was one of the all around best plays I ever seen by an outfielder...the cut off the spin the blind throw on the money...is there any doubt about this guy?
2008-04-25 16:46:02
56.   williamnyy23
53 Zone rating has inherent flaws, so I wouldn't use it as the basis for my argument. I think Goldman had an article last year showing Giambi's poor defense as historic. If I can find that article, I'll link it.

I am not sure if Betemit could hit the ball that far, but I don't see any reason why Giambi couldn't have launched it from the DH slot.

2008-04-25 16:52:26
57.   williamnyy23
53 Here's the Goldman article. Note the excerpt below: http://tinyurl.com/4dyn25

We're talking about a first baseman who is not just bad, but might possibly be the worst defensive first baseman in the game.

2008-04-25 16:54:22
58.   mehmattski
56 One reason is that Giambi's OPS as a first baseman is about 100 points higher than as a DH, over the last 3+ seasons. And that's with at least 400 ABs at each position, so it's no small sample size error. For whatever reason, Giambi is a much worse hitter as a DH.
2008-04-25 16:54:51
59.   williamnyy23
Can you hit more deep flyballs and have so little to show for it?
2008-04-25 16:55:48
60.   fansince77
wow Sizemore is all over the place...on the bright side...some real quality swings up there!
2008-04-25 16:58:03
61.   mehmattski
57 From that article:

"...most everything thrown over his head seems to get by..."

"Had he played at first on a daily basis, his defense might have started to eat into his overall productivity."

Emphasis mine. There's not a single lick of statistical analysis in Goldman's opinion, simply gut feeling and guesswork. Richie Sexon is a worse fielder than Giambi, based on both Zone Rating and FRAA. Since Goldman is not a baseball scout, I do not trust his opinion on a scouting, intuitive matter. If Goldman, a solid statistical analyst, came up with a statistical argument against Giambi, I'd listen. But his argument is not that at all.

2008-04-25 16:59:08
62.   williamnyy23
61 He cites WARP as the basis for his opinions, so there is a single lick of statistical analysis.
2008-04-25 17:02:20
63.   mehmattski
62 WARP is both an offense and a defense statistic. He says Giambi might have had reduced productivity if he played the field more, but there is no stats to back that up. Had he said "Jason Giambi has averaged a 93 RATE over the last three seasons, while Richie Sexson has averaged 103" that would be solid analysis. But it was absent, and so the argument is lacking.
2008-04-25 17:04:56
64.   Zack
Cy Byrd at it again, and the oh so patient Yankee offense really making him work
2008-04-25 17:07:21
65.   mehmattski
Byrd does through a lot of strikes though, somewhere between 67-70% of his pitches for strikes throughout his career. So taking pitches will quickly get you behind in the count. Doesn't make up for swinging at the bad ones, though.
2008-04-25 17:10:34
66.   mehmattski
Has he made up for his error yet?
2008-04-25 17:11:41
67.   bp1
Error? What error. Giambi is on a roll tonight.
2008-04-25 17:11:47
68.   williamnyy23
66 OK fine...he's off the hook tonight, but I'd still pencil him in as the DH when Wang and Pettitte are pitching, especially if a pitcher who doesn't throw 85 mph is on the mound.
2008-04-25 17:12:04
69.   fansince77
Wow , Giambi kills my bitchbuzz! He is Paul Byrd's Manny and Paul Byrd is his Mussina.
2008-04-25 17:12:51
70.   mehmattski
68 I'd do it more when there's a tough lefty on the mound. Shelley Duncan, please!
2008-04-25 17:13:07
71.   cult of basebaal
cleveland giambi 1, new york giambi 3

makes you think again about the soft-tosser vs hard-thrower breakdown of giambi's recent performance ... too bad everyone doesn't throw like paul byrd

2008-04-25 17:14:57
72.   williamnyy23
That play by Cano is excellent...and yet he made it look easy. Not sure how many other 2B could make that play.
2008-04-25 17:15:18
73.   mehmattski
That was a sweet play, Robbie! Makes me forget about how you haven't gotten a solid hit in a week.
2008-04-25 17:17:00
74.   cult of basebaal
damn ... and that right there is cano's blessing and curse ... like the cleveland announcers said ... "he made that one look easy" ... indeed, i thought that was an easy hit ... when you make the hard plays look easy, any time you don't make the easy play people hold it against you more
2008-04-25 17:18:29
75.   cult of basebaal
nice battle there andy ... nice pitching!
2008-04-25 17:19:11
76.   williamnyy23
74 Cano's defensive reputation is depressed precisely for that reason. Constant observation and stats both confirm that Robbie is one of the best defensive 2B in the game.
2008-04-25 17:21:25
77.   Zack
74 76 I call it Manny Ramirez Syndrome...
2008-04-25 17:23:06
78.   cult of basebaal
76 i wish it was just his defensive reputation ... it's one of the first things that people bring up when they make the irritating "cano is lazy" or "cano doesn't have a good attitude" accusations

c'mon andy!

2008-04-25 17:23:24
79.   Zack
So, should we assume that Pettitte is in line to pitch 7 tonight come hell or high water?
2008-04-25 17:24:21
80.   williamnyy23
79 He is around 60 pitches, so if he is efficent, he should be able to pitch 7. Of course, that assumes he is also effective.
2008-04-25 17:26:34
81.   mehmattski
79 Well there are two new warm bodies in the bullpen tonight. With Shelley Duncan likely joining the team tomorrow, I bet if one of them (Alby or Britton) has to pitch a lot tonight, he'll be sent back down tomorrow.
2008-04-25 17:28:52
82.   williamnyy23
I really like that idea by Melky...not only has his performance been very good, but he seems to really be into each game. I am really looking forward to his development this season.
2008-04-25 17:30:50
83.   williamnyy23
The Yankees need more runs here...they've hit the ball hard, but should have more than 3.
2008-04-25 17:34:50
84.   williamnyy23
David Ortiz has 20 RBI with an OPS of .649.
2008-04-25 17:44:27
85.   williamnyy23
You could see that one coming...in a game they should be winning easily, the Yankees are now trailing. This game as the same vibe as yesterday's.
2008-04-25 17:46:09
86.   mehmattski
The only thing that matters is the score at the end of the game. Plenty of time for the Yankees hitters to match this. At least, Giambi should come up against Byrd one more time...
2008-04-25 17:46:21
87.   williamnyy23
Geez...Pettitte just fell apart. Kind of wish I abandoned this game like everyone else.
2008-04-25 17:46:28
88.   fansince77
God Pettitte is killing us right now!
2008-04-25 17:47:30
89.   fansince77
Way to pitch with the lead Andy...3-0,3-0....whatthefuckdidyouexpect?
2008-04-25 17:49:52
90.   williamnyy23
Pettitte caving in is unfortunate, but the Yankees should have 6 or 7 runs by now, just like they should have scored a lot more yesterday. The Yankee offense HAS to outhit the pitching, otherwise the game plan isn't going to work.
2008-04-25 17:51:01
91.   williamnyy23
This is also probably the last inning to hit against Byrd. I am sure Lewis, Peres and Betancourt are ready to go.
2008-04-25 17:51:31
92.   williamnyy23
Abreu not exactly showing the patience you'd like.
2008-04-25 17:52:35
93.   mehmattski
90 This isn't like the other games, where the Yankees have left men on base. They've only left two on base today, and so the offense has been "quiet" because of hard hit balls being tracked down in the infield. You can't fault them for that.
2008-04-25 17:54:57
94.   mehmattski
Matsui-san!
2008-04-25 17:55:39
95.   williamnyy23
93 By the same token, they haven't exactly worked deep counts against a man who can't throw the ball by them. Instead, they keep swing at pitches out of the zone. Regardless of the reason, this is another underperformance by the offense. At some point they have to snap out of it if they want to avoid digging another early season hole.

Hard hit balls or not, Paul Byrd is a pitcher this offense should murder.

2008-04-25 17:56:06
96.   3rd gen yankee fan
Thank you Matsui-san.
2008-04-25 18:00:13
97.   mehmattski
The Yankees have three homers, three other solid hits, and seven flyouts to the deep outfield (including one to the warning track and two robbed by Sizemore in the gaps. That's thirteen of the Yankees' 24 at bats where they've hit the ball hard.

You're not going to work the count against Byrd, as I mentioned earlier he throws 70% of his pitches for strikes.

2008-04-25 18:03:03
98.   williamnyy23
97 All the more reason to not swing at pitches out of the zone, as many hitters have done. A top offense hammers Paul Byrd. They don't merely hit long fly balls. For whatever reason, this offense has failed to click, and the pitching simply isn't going to win enough games to compensate.
2008-04-25 18:05:07
99.   mehmattski
Huh, I did not know that Billy Traber once URPed the Yankees in 2003.
2008-04-25 18:05:58
100.   williamnyy23
Red Sox scoring more late runs again!
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-04-25 18:10:07
101.   mehmattski
I think it's time for the Billy Traber experience to end. He can go down when Shelley comes to town tomorrow.
2008-04-25 18:12:46
102.   fansince77
F*^% another 3-1 count- falling behind, falling behind, falling behind hitters - this is all on Yankee pitching.
2008-04-25 18:13:09
103.   williamnyy23
Another frustrating game...from a 3-1 lead with Andy rolling to a 6-4 deficit with the Billy Traber. This feels like 2007 all over again.
2008-04-25 18:14:19
104.   mehmattski
Worst. LOOGY. Ever.
2008-04-25 18:14:36
105.   williamnyy23
With Britton and Albaledejo up, there was no reason to waive the white flag with Traber. This game hasn't been one of Girardi's best.
2008-04-25 18:15:14
106.   fansince77
Guess what another 3-1 pitch expect the same result.
2008-04-25 18:16:32
107.   mehmattski
105 Clever pun or Freudian-inspired typo? You decide.
2008-04-25 18:16:57
108.   williamnyy23
Keeping Traber in is pure stubborness. Every indicator points to him giving up another big hit.
2008-04-25 18:18:40
109.   fansince77
Why Traber was still on the mound there I can't figure out?
2008-04-25 18:19:23
110.   Max
Why the *k is it so hard to get a third out? I'm in NBA playoff mode right now, so I'm just checking in on Gameday periodically while flipping between basketball games on TV...but what a letdown of an outing from Pettite.
2008-04-25 18:26:43
111.   williamnyy23
This inning illustrated perfectly what's wrong this offense. Peres is a wild pitcher, yet Giambi swings at the first pitch. Sure, he hit it hard (like with Byrd), but even the best hitters make outs 65% of the time. Then Cano, who never walks, draws four wild ones, and what does Melky do, he swings at at least 3 or 4 balls.
2008-04-25 18:26:47
112.   fansince77
C'mon Melk...anything but that!
2008-04-25 18:35:40
113.   williamnyy23
Overnight, this team has turned into a group of hackers. I hope this is a blip and not the implementation of a new approach.
2008-04-25 18:38:37
114.   williamnyy23
Another no show for the Yankees offense.
2008-04-25 18:41:16
115.   OldYanksFan
Giambi is swinging well now But Jeter is turning into Womack and Cano.... (not enough vocabulary). Disturbing. Hopefully short lived.
2008-04-25 18:44:32
116.   OldYanksFan
All close games tonight, both leagues.
Boston/TB 4-4 after 8.
Angels/Detroit 4-3 after 8.5
2008-04-25 18:49:05
117.   mehmattski
Too bad Borowski got hurt...
2008-04-25 18:50:42
118.   williamnyy23
Losing the Pettitte versus Byrd matchup is not the way to begin this series. Hopefully, CC reverts to earlier form otherwise the Yankees will back under .500 once again. Very disappointing!
2008-04-25 18:57:56
119.   fansince77
what do you think Matsui- when you have one foot already in the dugout you are probably not going to get on base.
2008-04-25 18:58:15
120.   williamnyy23
Back to .500...this Yankee team is developing a knack for throwing away games. Lots of bad signs so far...
2008-04-25 18:58:58
121.   williamnyy23
Great...Rays screw up an easy DP...the hole is about to get bigger.
2008-04-25 18:59:04
122.   fansince77
that was awful.
2008-04-25 19:14:28
123.   vockins
Is it me or were there quite a few "past a diving Jeter" moments?
2008-04-25 19:17:39
124.   weeping for brunnhilde
123 Those couple of balls in the hole?

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