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Cleveland Indians Redux: Bullpen Elimination Addition
2008-05-06 12:51
by Cliff Corcoran

Since the Yankees and Indians split a four-game series in Cleveland a week ago, the Yankees split a pair of three-game sweeps and the Tribe went 2-3. All five wins, by both teams, came against the hapless Mariners, who are now nursing a five-game losing streak. The rain erased a sixth Cleveland contest, conveniently pushing C.C. Sabathia out of this week's three-game set in the Bronx by pushing his last start up a day.

Still, things won't be easy for the Yankees this week. Lefty Cliff Lee, who starts tomorrow, is off to a literally unbelievable start, going 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA and a 0.56 WHIP. Tonight, the Yanks will have to face Fausto Carmona. Carmona's an interesting case. He's 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA, but an alarming 1.73 WHIP and a backwards 1:2 K/BB ratio. Carmona's allowed less than a hit per inning, has given up just one home run in six starts, and he's still getting his groundballs, so it seems his only real problem is those darn walks. Since he's been able to win while wild, odds are he'll settle down and return to his overall dominance before too long. The Yankees certainly hope that doesn't start tonight. The Yankees found Carmona unhittable in the ALDS last year, but won both of his starts against them in the regular season.

On the other side of the ball, the Indians have responded to their inconsistent and generally underperforming offense by rejiggering their lineup in the last week, dropping Travis Hafner and his Perdue pop-up timer to sixth and moving right fielder Franklin Gutierrez up to second on the heels of a hot start to last week. That puts David Dellucci, still the team's hottest hitter, in the third spot and pushes the slumping Ryan Garko down to seventh. Finally, today they designated Dellucci's platoon partner Jason Michaels for assignment in favor of 26-year-old rookie right-handed outfielder Ben Francisco despite the fact that Francisco is hitting a mere .228/.308/.315 with triple-A Buffalo. I guess folks are desperate all over.

As for the Yankees, they have a decision to make this week. With nine men in the bullpen, but just four in the rotation and three on the bench, the Yankees will have to regulate that imbalance no later than Saturday, when they'll need a fifth starter. That fifth starter is all but officially going to be Kei Igawa, and Igawa's arrival on the roster will force the Yankees to pair the pen down.

Looking over the bullpen nine, three are veterans on multi-million-dollar contracts (Mariano Rivera, Kyle Farnsworth, LaTroy Hawkins) and six are twenty-somethings with options remaining (Joba Chamberlain, Ross Ohlendorf, Jonathan Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez, Chris Britton, and Jose Veras). Taking the last six first, Ramirez, Britton, and Veras have yet to give up a run in the majors this year. Of course, Britton and Veras have only had one appearance each, but Britton didn't allow a hit and Veras didn't allow a baserunner. All three were somewhere between very good (Britton) and dominant (Ramirez, Veras) in Scranton and deserve a chance to pitch themselves off the roster. To that end, Joe Girardi should make an effort to get all three into more games this week. If they continue to throw up zeros, they should stay put.

Chamberlain is dominating in the primary set-up role (1.46 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 12 1/3 IP, 14 K, 3 BB), and thus won't be anywhere until the team's secret plan to convert him back to starting takes effect, which won't be soon. That just leaves Ohlendorf and Albaladejo.

Both have been used as long relievers. Both have been solid save for one ugly outing. Albaladejo's was his last (four runs vs. five outs against the Tigers). Ohlendorf's came back in Chicago (five runs vs. six outs against the White Sox). Ohlendorf's been strong since then, including an excellent 3 1/3-inning outing in which he struck out five Tigers, but he's on a 103-inning pace, which is by far the heaviest workload among the Yankee relievers. Then again, Ohlendorf was just converted from starting last year and threw 89 2/3 innings between the minors, majors and postseason last year and 183 innings in the minors the year before that, so that 103-inning pace may be something he could handle. Both Ohlendorf and Alabaladejo are striking out at least one man per inning, and Albaladejo had a 2.08 ERA and 1.04 WHIP before that one bad outing, but if the decision had to be made to day, it would come down to them, as Ohlendorf could do with a breather, and Albaladejo has been the only other pitcher with options who has struggled at all.

As for the veterans, Mariano Rivera wouldn't be going anywhere, even if he hadn't held the competition scoreless to this point. Don't look now, but Kyle Farnsworth has pulled out of his nosedive. All of Farnsworth's peripherals had declined in each of his first two seasons with the Yankees, but this year his walks are way down and his strikeouts are back up over one per inning. In his last nine appearances, each exactly one inning in length, he's struck out ten and allowed just eight baserunners (five hits, three walks) while posting a 2.00 ERA. The only problem is that those two runs were both home runs and Kyle's HR/9 this year is off the charts (2.35). Still, of the four homers he's allowed this year, three of them were solo shots because he's simply not putting anyone else on base. That makes a two-run lead Farnsworth-proof and makes Farns worth keeping around to see if he can solve the one remaining flaw in his game.

That leaves LaTroy Hawkins. Hawk has the worst ERA, WHIP, K/9 and K/BB among all Yankee relievers, and it's not even close. Still, he has pitched five scoreless innings in his last four outings, allowing just three singles in that span. His walk rate is still a problem and he doesn't strike anyone out, but he's not hurting the team right now. Still, his signing was something of a hedge against betting everything on the team's younger arms, and with nearly all of those kids coming through, Hawkins could simply find himself in the way, particularly as he can't be shuttled on and off the roster the way everyone else save Rivera and Farnsworth can be.

Right now the Yankee bullpen is fourth in the AL in WHIP and both lowest batting average and lowest OPS against and fourth in the majors in K/BB. If the team is smart about who they remove from the pen this weekend and the shuffle at the back of the rotation allows them to recede from their place atop the AL in relief innings per game, the Yankees could find themselves with the best bullpen in baseball.

In other roster news, Wilson Betemit was just activated from his rehab assignment and Alberto Gonzalez was sent down. Betemit will start at third base tonight and could cut into Morgan Ensberg's playing time significantly as Betemit was getting in a groove in Scranton and Ensberg has been struggling. Morgan has been playing almost daily since April 19 and has hit a mere .174 with just two walks and no extra base hits in those 13 games. Alex Rodriguez could be back in about a week, so this is Betemit's big chance to solidify his spot on the roster. Remember, before Rodriguez mended his fences, Betemit was the leading candidate to be the Yankees starter at the hot corner.

Cleveland Indians

2008 Record: 14-17 (.452)
2008 Pythagorean Record: 16-15 (.515)

Manager: Eric Wedge
General Manager: Mark Shapiro

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

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

Rotation:

L - C.C. Sabathia
L - Aaron Laffey
R - Fausto Carmona
L - Cliff Lee
R - Paul Byrd

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

Comments (245)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-05-06 15:17:00
1.   JL25and3
Thanks to the unbalanced schedule and interleague play - both of which I hate - this is the last time the Yankees and Indians will play each other all year. That's just ridiculous.
2008-05-06 15:32:07
2.   Zack
0 "If the team is smart about who they remove from the pen this weekend and the shuffle at the back of the rotation allows them to recede from their place atop the AL in relief innings per game, the Yankees could find themselves with the best bullpen in baseball."

While I think obviously that is a rather optimistic statement, isn't it great to even be able to discuss that, and do so in the context of a ton of young guys with options?

2008-05-06 16:16:24
3.   ChrisS
So, yeah, good on Andy throwing first pitch strikes and setting the side down in order.
2008-05-06 16:20:22
4.   ChrisS
Carmona may have caught the Ankiel.
2008-05-06 16:23:30
5.   Biscuit Pants
In the air, 'bino, in the air!
2008-05-06 16:23:32
6.   quacks25
Giamni up with bases loaded!!! this is why we miss A rod and Posada (and Id feelk more comfy with Duncan or Cabrera up now)
2008-05-06 16:23:33
7.   Mattpat11
This has double play written all over it.
2008-05-06 16:24:07
8.   Mattpat11
SPEEDSTER
2008-05-06 16:24:57
9.   ChrisS
Well, Giambi is a patient hitter - he won't give away the AB with a wild pitcher trying to find the strike zone.

Almost spoke too soon.

Way to show some hustle Giambi (thanks Ump!).

2008-05-06 16:25:00
10.   Biscuit Pants
Man doesn't listen
2008-05-06 16:25:00
11.   Knuckles
Hit the ball the other fking way...cheezus.
2008-05-06 16:25:05
12.   Mattpat11
He was out
2008-05-06 16:25:25
13.   Biscuit Pants
Melky, Melky, Melky
2008-05-06 16:26:46
14.   ChrisS
1-out, bases juiced, a wild pitcher on the mound, and your 5 & 6 hitters take a total of 4 pitches to end the inning.

If that doesn't just sum up the Yankee offense, I don't what does.

2008-05-06 16:27:59
15.   Biscuit Pants
If Ryan Garko was a big time power hitter, could we call him Gone-y Garko?
2008-05-06 16:28:27
16.   weeping for brunnhilde
All right, so before the first pitch was thrown I was asking why the hell Jason's batting fifth.

While I cringe watching Giambi on both ends of the baseball and around the bases (in fact, anywhere near a baseball field), credit where it's due: Good hustle, Jason!

2008-05-06 16:30:46
17.   ChrisS
Nice, Andy is looking sharp tonight. Hope he can keep it up.
2008-05-06 16:33:19
18.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice pitching, Andy, my Andy.
2008-05-06 16:33:25
19.   Biscuit Pants
Remember when Travis Hafner was as good as Papi?
2008-05-06 16:38:51
20.   Yankees Brasil
Great inning guys, way to work him.
2008-05-06 16:41:32
21.   Yankees Brasil
Lucky f**k!
2008-05-06 16:44:25
22.   OldYanksFan
14 Giambi saw 4 pitches... swung at a 2-1 pitch. Now Melky... well, it's his biggest downfall. If Melkman, and Cano for that matter, can let some pitches go, they would both be much better players.
2008-05-06 16:44:54
23.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh, that was a beautiful 2-2 from Andy. Just missed.
2008-05-06 16:46:51
24.   weeping for brunnhilde
22 I think they'll learn.

I hope they'll learn.

Cano will have a harder time, I'd imagine, since he's a see-the-ball-hit-the-ball hitter, which of course is his great strength.

2008-05-06 16:47:34
25.   rbj
I really, really, really hate these local market blackouts. Game blacked out on EI, I can't get YES, and the stupid STO (Sports Time Ohio?) is showing boxing.
2008-05-06 16:47:37
26.   Mattpat11
Wilson would have missed that throw
2008-05-06 16:47:56
27.   Yankees Brasil
Man, what a throw. Nice tag too, but what a throw. Wow!
2008-05-06 16:49:36
28.   weeping for brunnhilde
That really was an amazing play by Jose.

Such a compact, efficient throwing motion.

No wasted movement.

Beautiful form.

2008-05-06 16:50:32
29.   dianagramr
Which organization is sweating most?

a) Indians over Hafner
b) Giants over Zito
c) Dodgers over A. Jones
d) Yankees over Giambi
e) Other

2008-05-06 16:54:23
30.   weeping for brunnhilde
That's some nice effort there by Garko.

Good on him.

2008-05-06 16:55:57
31.   Mattpat11
29 Indians for sure. I think a bad Hafner cripples them.
2008-05-06 16:56:01
32.   weeping for brunnhilde
29 I'll take D simply because I can't possibly keep up with the problems of other teams. Hard enough keeping track of our own.

Nice AB, Derek.

2008-05-06 16:56:39
33.   Biscuit Pants
29 I have to think it's either B or C
2008-05-06 16:57:50
34.   tommyl
Well, IPK is dealing. Perfect through 4 2/3 innings, 4 Ks so far, 57 pitches.
2008-05-06 16:59:48
35.   rbj
I'd say B. Giambi's in the last year of his contract. Zito's still got the most money tied up (I think). And it's all guaranteed money. It would be harsh, but NY could financially weather releasing Jason.
2008-05-06 17:00:12
36.   OldYanksFan
29 I don't think the Sox are bragging about Ortiz at .739, although he looks to be snapping out of it.
The slugging White Sox w/a team OPS of .710
Vlad, OPS of .730
Carl Crawford, .707
Delgato, .682
IRod, .652
Garret Anderson, 607
Troy Tulowitzki, out till the ASB, .464

A bad day for Cano at .467 will make him worst in MLB.

2008-05-06 17:01:11
37.   Biscuit Pants
Feck
2008-05-06 17:01:12
38.   Biscuit Pants
Feck
2008-05-06 17:01:18
39.   Yankees Brasil
What the hell Abreu?
2008-05-06 17:01:32
40.   Biscuit Pants
sorry for the double post
2008-05-06 17:08:02
41.   Mattpat11
Pettitte is giving up a ton of homers.
2008-05-06 17:08:24
42.   ChrisS
crap
2008-05-06 17:09:41
43.   Yankees Brasil
There, another one right down the middle. Pathetic.
2008-05-06 17:10:59
44.   weeping for brunnhilde
I can't believe this.

I go outside to have a cigarette (yes, I fell off the wagon after nearly three months--I'm writing) and I think, "Gee, I hope I don't come back to marvel that "something's happened" in the time it took to have a cigarette.

Homerun, I presume?

2008-05-06 17:11:42
45.   weeping for brunnhilde
34 Very nice to hear.
2008-05-06 17:14:00
46.   Yankees Brasil
44 Peralta, again. Got one right down the middle. Horrible pitch.
2008-05-06 17:15:06
47.   weeping for brunnhilde
Andy's a golden god.

That was some dealing.

2008-05-06 17:15:32
48.   rbj
You can follow IPK's game here:
http://tinyurl.com/6dt7ts

should be the 4th game down.

2008-05-06 17:16:01
49.   weeping for brunnhilde
46 That's good. At least it was just a mistake.

Andy seems to have rebounded.

2008-05-06 17:16:32
50.   Mattpat11
34 Which is why I thought sending him down was silly. I bet he's pitching exactly like he was on Thursday
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-05-06 17:16:36
51.   ChrisS
he's still pitching well, just that one mistake combined with a fluke single.
2008-05-06 17:16:39
52.   weeping for brunnhilde
48 Cheers, rbj!
2008-05-06 17:17:05
53.   rbj
Hmm, actually IPK did hit a batter, Fernando Cortez, in the third.
2008-05-06 17:17:22
54.   weeping for brunnhilde
5k, even for IPK.
2008-05-06 17:18:12
55.   weeping for brunnhilde
50 Good point, mattpat.
2008-05-06 17:20:05
56.   rbj
And there goes the no no. 5.2 innings in for Kennedy. It should still be a boost for his confidence.
2008-05-06 17:20:33
57.   Mattpat11
I'm going to Shea on Saturday. DARE day.
2008-05-06 17:20:38
58.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice ab, Hideki!
2008-05-06 17:23:34
59.   ChrisS
Nice!

But, Matsui would have been meat had the throw been halfway decent.

2008-05-06 17:23:35
60.   3rd gen yankee fan
Here comes the Melkman!
2008-05-06 17:23:49
61.   weeping for brunnhilde
That was gorgeous.

That sequence brought me to my feet, applauding like a madman.

Now that's baseball, all around.

Nice walk by Hideki, nice hit, Jason, nice running, Hideki.

We're playing baseball here, Team!

2008-05-06 17:25:19
62.   weeping for brunnhilde
I can't believe I'm watching ABC baseball here.

I'm so happy.

2008-05-06 17:25:27
63.   OldYanksFan
GI-AM-BINO!
Goes the other way!
2008-05-06 17:25:37
64.   quacks25
He hit the other way and was succesfull!! Yay a turn for the better? lets hope!
2008-05-06 17:27:41
65.   OldYanksFan
Actual, he goes the other way on fly balls a fair amount. It's liners and grounders that he always pulls.
2008-05-06 17:32:57
66.   weeping for brunnhilde
Holy fuck, what a catch by Seizmore.

Damn, he's good.

What a beautiful inning of baseball, all around.

2008-05-06 17:33:05
67.   ChrisS
That Sizemore is pretty good.
2008-05-06 17:36:58
68.   OldYanksFan
Wake 1 hitting Detroit. Sox up 3-0 after 6.
2008-05-06 17:43:17
69.   tommyl
IPK gave up a hit. 83 pitches through 7, into the 8th now. 7 Ks, so what again was he supposed to learn in the minors?
2008-05-06 17:44:41
70.   OldYanksFan
69 To not leave his balls in the locker room?
2008-05-06 17:46:48
71.   tommyl
You know, say what you want about Kay (I know I do), but he's excellent at prompting the color guy for analysis. That was a very nice question put to Cone about opening up and overthrowing, and then he got out of Cone's way.

Meanwhile, never make the second out at third you retard.

2008-05-06 17:47:29
72.   Mattpat11
He was safe
2008-05-06 17:47:33
73.   ChrisS
Abreu was safe.
2008-05-06 17:48:42
74.   tommyl
Final line on IPK. 7.1 innings, 1 hit, 0 R, 0 BB and 8 Ks, 90 pitches, 58 for strikes. Can't do much better than that. Now lets see how Igawa does on Saturday.
2008-05-06 17:49:41
75.   Mattpat11
69 How to get Igawa up into the majors so the team isn't embarrassed by having a 46 million dollar player in AAA
2008-05-06 17:50:19
76.   OldYanksFan
"Meanwhile, never make the second out at third you retard."
Silly you... it's never make the 1st or last out at 3rd.
2008-05-06 17:50:28
77.   Mattpat11
JORGE JULIO
2008-05-06 17:50:37
78.   ny2ca2dc
74 Thanks

The calls in the field had seemed to be going in the Yanks' favor for the first few weeks of the year, not so much lately. Mecham should've been getting Bobby hauling ass & sliding hard. Damnit.

2008-05-06 17:55:12
79.   Mattpat11
78 Giambi was out by a foot in the first and called safe.
2008-05-06 17:55:13
80.   OldYanksFan
We got the call of the Giambi 'non-DP'.
2008-05-06 17:55:40
81.   Mattpat11
Wilson caught something!
2008-05-06 17:56:14
82.   OldYanksFan
Meanwhile, Papi and Manny go back-2-back. Sox killing Detroit, 5-0.
2008-05-06 17:56:47
83.   Mattpat11
Well that was no good.
2008-05-06 18:00:16
84.   weeping for brunnhilde
I just want to say, this is the first baseball game I've really enjoyed in what seems like forever.

This is one crisp baseball game.

2008-05-06 18:00:54
85.   OldYanksFan
Jeter is making a lot of bad throws. We need a net behind 1st base.
2008-05-06 18:08:56
86.   Jeb
Here's what I don't get. Betemit has the good splits against Righties and Ensberg has the great splits against Lefties. So why doesn't Giradi pinch hit and put Ensberg in at third base?
2008-05-06 18:09:38
87.   Jeb
82 we'll help detroit rebound.
2008-05-06 18:11:48
88.   ny2ca2dc
79 80 That'll show me (was away till the 5th). Thanks for the detail, when I looked at the play by play, I was impressed Giambi beat out a DP. Now not so much.

86 Seems a bit early to do that? Maybe.

2008-05-06 18:13:51
89.   Jeb
88 it's the bottom of the 6th. If Ensberg gets a hit and Melky walks to put 2 on with 1 out then it ratchets up the pressure. Maybe Damon singles and we get some breathing room. If not then, when? This is the feared Indian lefty out of the pen.
2008-05-06 18:17:24
90.   ny2ca2dc
89 Maybe, but we are leading, and Betemit is the better glove. I wouldn't quibble with Ensberg or Betemit.
2008-05-06 18:18:38
91.   OldYanksFan
Farnsworth???????????
THIS IS JOMO TIME!
2008-05-06 18:19:27
92.   ny2ca2dc
We are going to win this game.
2008-05-06 18:20:08
93.   Zack
69 Yeah, wasn't this sort of exactly what we thought might happen? Going back to AAA and dominating yet not really "fixing" anything won't really help all the much. I guess it won't hurt, except my eyes watching Igawa..
2008-05-06 18:20:42
94.   Zack
nooo, Joe, why are you going to Farns???
2008-05-06 18:22:04
95.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
just checking in, and Farnsworth is coming into the game?? WHY OH LORD?? why must you hurt me on first morning back at work after spring holidays???
2008-05-06 18:22:48
96.   williamnyy23
I am going to first guess here and say going to Farnsworth is a very dangerous move. If you are going to use a valuable weapon like Chamberlain in the bullpen, this is precisely when you employ him. With as little as he has pitched, there is no reason he can't get 5 outs here. If this backfires, Girardi should take the heat.
2008-05-06 18:23:15
97.   tommyl
93 If it builds up his confidence that's fine, but so far it seems like he just needs to learn to get major league hitters out. We'll see how he does his next start. I'm already on record saying I'd rather he have been left up and try to work things out over Igawa, but I'm happy to be proved wrong if it means Kei pitches well and IPK comes back better than ever.
2008-05-06 18:23:25
98.   ms october
seriously - i have been back and forth from the nba playoffs - and i return just in time for hrk to get in the game
2008-05-06 18:23:56
99.   JimCobain
Looks like Girardi is auditioning for the 8th inning role when Joba moves into the rotation...
2008-05-06 18:24:13
100.   tommyl
That was Kyle Farnsworth? woah.
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-05-06 18:26:38
101.   ms october
and a collective kyle sigh of relief
2008-05-06 18:26:55
102.   Jeb
FARNSY!!
2008-05-06 18:27:41
103.   Zack
I'm just going to not comment on that inning for fear I might wake up
2008-05-06 18:27:42
104.   tommyl
I like good Kyle, I hope his evil, walk the park twin doesn't show up soon.
2008-05-06 18:27:56
105.   Mattpat11
97 Unless the public demotion hurts his confidence more than dominating inferior hitters helps it.
2008-05-06 18:27:59
106.   cult of basebaal
the farnswacker might be a sack-full-o-bastards, but if he's somehow managed to channel his 2005 form, i, for one, welcome my new redneck overlord!
2008-05-06 18:27:59
107.   ny2ca2dc
Has Professor Farnsworth, freezer of Ortiz, returned? Boy he's been good.

Matpat, how do you feel?

2008-05-06 18:28:08
108.   OldYanksFan
Is this an illusion?
Can Farnsworth actually be turned around?
Is this real?
(all those drugs in the 70's... can never figure things out myself)
2008-05-06 18:28:32
109.   williamnyy23
Thank you Mr. Wedge for not using your best LH bat. With Joba and Mo to follow, did Wedge think he'd have a better opportunity than this one (this year, LH have an OPS OF 1.150 versus Farnsworth).
2008-05-06 18:31:44
110.   OldYanksFan
It's very funny. We are getting one comment here about every 5 minutes. Then Farnsey comes in and instantaneously, the are a dozen protests!
2008-05-06 18:32:36
111.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
108 Bronx Zoo, Foghat 8-tracks and a Chevy Duster? (sorry, was a kid of the 80s so all my 70s knowledge is second-hand..)

I apologize for disparaging Farnsworth. Looks like he was dealing it there!

2008-05-06 18:32:57
112.   tommyl
105 Well considering he almost threw a perfect game tonight, I think he's doing ok. The 8Ks and no walks is really reasurring.
2008-05-06 18:32:59
113.   nick
wow...Kyle "High Leverage" Farnsworth!
2008-05-06 18:34:12
114.   OldYanksFan
Wakefield goes 8, 2 hit shut out. Where is Detroit's offense?
2008-05-06 18:36:10
115.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
114 Boston starting to come together..need to not fall more than 3 or 4 back..
2008-05-06 18:36:44
116.   OldYanksFan
As much faith as I have in JoMo, I wouldn't mind an extra run or 2.

First Bedard and King Felix. Now Carmona? With our ragtag lineup? Pretty impressive.

And the hitting star of the game?
Jason Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiammmmmmmmmmmbi!

2008-05-06 18:36:48
117.   ny2ca2dc
Man, now this is where Morgan or Shelly needs to be up. If only for D!
2008-05-06 18:36:51
118.   SF Yanks
Giambi has a higher batting average than Cano. That's sad.
2008-05-06 18:36:58
119.   Jeb
The thing about Farnsworth is that when he was signed a number of bloggers commented that he was the kind of guy who rarely had the same year back to back and he would range from horrible to pretty good -- just really inconsistent. I think that the larger point may have been that it's just not possible to predict MOST relievers (with the exception of the phenomenal ones).

Anyway, his inconsistency has been somewhat well established in his numbers and maybe he's just DUE:

2002 7.33 era lousy
2003 3.30 era good
2004 4.73 era not good
2005 2.19 era great
2006 4.36 era not good
2007 4.80 era not good

Anyway, backing up to where we signed him he'd been lousy, good, not good and great. So maybe he's just due for a good year. He was at 3.52 coming into tonight.

2008-05-06 18:36:59
120.   quacks25
Hideki is really getting his season going! hes on a 15 game hitting streak, batting .340 and tonight is 3 for 3 with BB,
With some big guns gone and some tohers under performing, he really has done a job for us!
Vote him for DH!
2008-05-06 18:38:19
121.   Mattpat11
107 Like I've heard this song before. On May 3 2006, Kyle Farnsworth had a 2.53 ERA
2008-05-06 18:38:55
122.   ny2ca2dc
120 Didn't he do the same thing for us last year? When he hit like 20 homers in one month, sort of sparked that post-ASB run.
2008-05-06 18:39:51
123.   Jeb
120 Agreed. with the way we've started to pitch and get some timely hitting, maybe all we need now is some Arod and Jorge. Plus, you have to figure that Cano's going to come around at SOME point.
2008-05-06 18:40:01
124.   OldYanksFan
Jeez. Just missed.
2008-05-06 18:40:43
125.   Jeb
121 that was good Kyle.
2008-05-06 18:41:24
126.   Jeb
now some Joba-Mo and time to go.
2008-05-06 18:41:34
127.   SF Yanks
The last 5 batters in the Yanks lineup in terms of batting average:

.157
.283
.158
.125
.233

Yikes!

2008-05-06 18:42:30
128.   nick
119 In 2001 and 2005 Kyle had strong years--you could argue he's just about due. I mean, I expect nothing, but it's not entirely inconceivable....naah, I'm just not gonna get my hopes up with Kyle-
2008-05-06 18:42:42
129.   Jeb
Perez threw 38 pitches, so at least we probably won't see him tomorrow.
2008-05-06 18:43:53
130.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
127 "Zoinks!!" indeed...but if they stay close to Boston through the end of May with this line-up...
2008-05-06 18:45:14
131.   Jeb
128 you know something though....maybe you don't want to get your hopes up, and none of us do, but we NEED Kyle to be good because Bruney's gone, Proctor's long gone (I'd like to have that one back!), and we need Joba in the rotation later this summer. It sure would be nice if the good to great Kyle becomes our 8th inning guy.

And I'm glad we didn't trade him to Atlanta last year for Bob Fatman.

2008-05-06 18:48:54
132.   Jeb
man...everyone's holding their breath...
2008-05-06 18:51:12
133.   ny2ca2dc
What's with all the fucking breaking balls.
2008-05-06 18:51:49
134.   Mattpat11
131 I would have traded him for a stack of dimes.
2008-05-06 18:52:33
135.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
umm....
2008-05-06 18:53:29
136.   Jeb
134 depends on how many dimes.
2008-05-06 18:53:30
137.   pistolpete
There's a fastball, finally!
2008-05-06 18:53:56
138.   pistolpete
Holy crap.
2008-05-06 18:53:58
139.   Mattpat11
Well that sucked.
2008-05-06 18:54:02
140.   SF Yanks
Wow
2008-05-06 18:54:06
141.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
MLB. Gameday has both ONE nad TWO outs listed on the screen..which is it???
2008-05-06 18:54:28
142.   Mattpat11
136 A nickel and five pennies.
2008-05-06 18:54:43
143.   williamnyy23
109 I guess Wedge was right!

That's a devestating blow...the Yankees simply can't afford to give away games and this is going that route. This is going to be a long season.

2008-05-06 18:54:48
144.   pistolpete
141 2 outs, but that doesn't really matter anymore.
2008-05-06 18:55:02
145.   ChrisS
ouch.
2008-05-06 18:55:29
146.   cult of basebaal
wow ... this lead didn't get blown like you'd think it would ... joba-oi!!!
2008-05-06 18:55:37
147.   quacks25
Starting for Scranton tommorow: Joba
2008-05-06 18:55:40
148.   Jeb
FUCK.
2008-05-06 18:55:49
149.   pistolpete
Is Joba spooked by the logo on the hat or something? Cripes!
2008-05-06 18:56:11
150.   ny2ca2dc
oh noes
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2008-05-06 18:56:12
151.   Mattpat11
Kay annoys the hell out of me.
2008-05-06 18:57:09
152.   ny2ca2dc
christ. stock market analogies? spare me.
2008-05-06 18:57:15
153.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
NO F"#$%&= WAY!! few seconds delay on MLB.com..oh man...
2008-05-06 18:57:16
154.   Jeb
Fuck cleveland, we've got 2 innings.....
2008-05-06 18:58:41
155.   Yankees Brasil
Horrible pitching there by Joba. No command whatsoever. The Yankees really wanted to give this game away, just so happened that somebody we didn't expect gave it up.
2008-05-06 18:58:55
156.   Mattpat11
Joba gets sent down for Colter Bean
2008-05-06 18:59:11
157.   williamnyy23
152 The analogy sucked, but the point was very good. Joba waited too long to establish the fastball and it came back to haunt him. Blowing this game would be a huge blow.
2008-05-06 18:59:50
158.   ChrisS
Apologies for the language, but fuck Michael Kay.

I like how he's trying to be all coy while simultaneously blaming that HR on Joba working his curveball in.

Yes Mikey, we know you think that it would be stupid to put Joba in the Chamberlain in the rotation. Just man up and don't try to insult the viewers' intelligence.

2008-05-06 19:00:58
159.   Yankees Brasil
This is the inning, if we can't get it back this inning, it's game over.
2008-05-06 19:01:24
160.   ChrisS
157 I highly doubt that was Kay's point.
2008-05-06 19:01:24
161.   pistolpete
Damn it, wish A-Rod was at least available to PH..
2008-05-06 19:02:09
162.   Zack
Wait, Joba isn't automatic? Hmm, but I thought "8th inning guys" were automatic?? Perhaps these people needed a reality check, just wish it wasn't in a game the Yanks SHOULD win...sigh
2008-05-06 19:02:12
163.   Mattpat11
158 I'm not sure that's it.

Kay sees a 98 mph fastball and assumes that OMG NO ONE CAN HIT IT, so there is no reason to be any good with any other pitch.

2008-05-06 19:02:51
164.   Yankees Brasil
Another pathetic AB by Cano. Another lazy swing. Even his hit was lucky. He looks real bad.
2008-05-06 19:02:58
165.   williamnyy23
The difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees now is the former doesn't give away games, while the later is doing so in bunches. Looking at both teams, it's pretty easy to see a scenario wherein the Red Sox will once again pull away.
2008-05-06 19:03:34
166.   randym77
What ever happened to Colter Bean, anyway? Last I heard, he was released by the Braves' Triple-A club. Free Colter Bean is no longer being updated.
2008-05-06 19:03:39
167.   Mattpat11
God fucking damnit Robbie. You're hitting .150. Can you at least fucking run hard?

Jogging up the god damned line like your Manny Ramirez.

2008-05-06 19:04:01
168.   williamnyy23
You have to put Duncan up here.
2008-05-06 19:04:10
169.   51cq24
157 he waited too long to "establish" the fastball? get out of here. he just got beat on a very good pitch, it happens.
2008-05-06 19:04:10
170.   OldYanksFan
Can ARod PH?
Now I have to go out a get some ice cream.
But I won't enjoy it.
2008-05-06 19:04:57
171.   Zack
165 The other has also played a lot more games at home and also can't hit very well. The difference has been their home games, their luck (Dice-K walks 8 last night?), and their starting pitching. Their BP has been pretty crappy this year outside of Oki and Papelbon. Its not like the Yanks' pen has been their problems thus far.

i don't think your comparison really works there

2008-05-06 19:05:32
172.   quacks25
With that hit from Betemit, Cano and Giambi tie for worst Average .157!
2008-05-06 19:05:34
173.   Mattpat11
166 I hear he got a job as a tour guide at Yellowstone.
2008-05-06 19:05:59
174.   williamnyy23
Keeping Molina was a giveaway...I guess Girardi is in shock too.
2008-05-06 19:06:12
175.   Yankees Brasil
169 I'm sorry, it wasn't a very good pitch. It was belt high and over the plate, not inside like Molina wanted. It was a bad pitch.
2008-05-06 19:06:32
176.   ChrisS
163 Disagree, I could practically hear the gears turning in Kay's head. He's not stupid. He knows perfectly well that for Joba transition to starting he needs to start working in his other pitches. The first curve that Joba threw, Kay was feigning surprise, "wha... that looked ... kinda like a curveball."

Kay doesn't lie or obscure the truth very well.

2008-05-06 19:06:42
177.   Mattpat11
174 Its the old "what if a meteor hits Moeller" argument.
2008-05-06 19:07:10
178.   51cq24
165 you're so full of shit sometimes. what are you talking about? joba just blew the first game of his career not counting the bug game. that's the difference between the sox and yanks now? come on.
2008-05-06 19:07:14
179.   williamnyy23
169 If he hadn't played around with Sizemore and Peralta, he wouldn't have been in the position to get beat. Joba's pitch selection was very poor in that inning.
2008-05-06 19:07:44
180.   randym77
Ah-ha. According to Wikipedia, Colter Bean is playing in Mexico. Pitching for the Olmecas de Tabasco.
2008-05-06 19:07:59
181.   Jeb
176 I want Joba to work on other pitches, but maybe Kay has a point that he could find a better time to do so -- perhaps lower leverage situations. He misses and has to go Fastball and Delucci kills him.
2008-05-06 19:08:04
182.   Yankees Brasil
165 And we have no late-innings offense. None. It's ridiculous, if we fall behind after the 5th or 6th inning, it's over.
2008-05-06 19:08:45
183.   williamnyy23
171 Individual performances aside, the Red Sox are beating the teams and pitchers they have to beat, while the Yankees are not. Thank goodness for Seattle or who knows how ugly this strecth could have been.
2008-05-06 19:08:51
184.   Mattpat11
173 I demand someone take the bait here.
2008-05-06 19:09:14
185.   51cq24
175 it was inside what are you watching?
2008-05-06 19:09:24
186.   Jeb
180 I met Colter once at a baseball club I'm in. He's a nice guy. Didn't like Arod for some reason.
2008-05-06 19:10:42
187.   Jeb
184 173 I don't get it. why yellowstone? he's from Alabama, so why not DeSoto Caverns?
2008-05-06 19:10:57
188.   williamnyy23
178 Ok Mr. Bissinger...quite the persuasive argument.
2008-05-06 19:11:29
189.   Mattpat11
187

BECAUSE HE'S WALKING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PARK!

RIMSHOT

2008-05-06 19:11:45
190.   randym77
186 Colter didn't like A-Rod?! And he told you?

BTW, anybody see that USA Today article about Ken Griffey, Jr.? Sounds like he doesn't like A-Rod, either.

2008-05-06 19:12:12
191.   Just fair
I don't see or hear a second of tonight's game. I finally sit on the couch to see Joba's eighth. F@#$ ME.
2008-05-06 19:12:22
192.   Yankees Brasil
185 Gameday, it wasn't inside, go look it up. It was on the plate.
2008-05-06 19:12:31
193.   dianagramr
Gavin Floyd five outs from a no-hitter (though he's given up an unearned run)
2008-05-06 19:13:03
194.   51cq24
188 haha sorry
2008-05-06 19:13:46
195.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
190 nobody seems to like A-rod..who cares? i like his 50HRS every season..

this game is depressing now...time for an early lunch..

2008-05-06 19:13:52
196.   quacks25
Last time the Indians were in New York (in regular season) A Rod hit a walk off grand slam. Yes he`s not playing (and neither is Borowski) but its not over till its over!!
2008-05-06 19:14:05
197.   williamnyy23
192 It was an awful pitch...there is no way to alibi for it. After finally getting ahead with a fastball, he threw another down the heart of the plate. Joba was pitching backwards in that inning and the Yankees are going to suffer a loss because of it. Next time out, Joba needs to go back to doing what worked so well in the past.
2008-05-06 19:15:18
198.   Yankees Brasil
I can't believe we allowed 5 runs to an offense that might be worse than ours. Not gonna get many wins playing like we played today.
2008-05-06 19:15:30
199.   pistolpete
181 What lower-leverage situations? The guy only comes in when the game's on the line...
2008-05-06 19:15:30
200.   ChrisS
181 Joba threw two pitches to Dellucci and both were fastballs. Dellucci was late on the first one (~97) and then crushed the next one. He wasn't toying with his curve then.
Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2008-05-06 19:15:32
201.   51cq24
192 gameday is wrong if it says it was down the middle. it was up and in. i didn't say it wasn't over the plate, but it was up and in, in a good spot.
2008-05-06 19:15:50
202.   williamnyy23
195 Love him or hate him, the Yankees are not much better than a .500 team without him.
2008-05-06 19:17:05
203.   Mattpat11
195 A-Rod has a very smarmy quality to him. He's easy to hate.

That said, I can deal with it if he hits like A-Rod.

2008-05-06 19:17:21
204.   Bama Yankee
187 DeSoto Caverns, good one Jeb...
2008-05-06 19:17:24
205.   Yankees Brasil
197 Yeah, it was a bad pitch. Up and and over the plate. To a guy who likes to hit FB. When you are ahead 0-1. Horrible.
2008-05-06 19:17:52
206.   Jeb
186 good one

187 he said that Arod never spoke to him and said that he wasn't enamored.

2008-05-06 19:18:11
207.   51cq24
197 i agree that there's no reason for him to be pitching backwards, but definitely disagree that it was an awful pitch. it was a high 90s fastball up and in.
2008-05-06 19:19:08
208.   tommyl
Guys, Joba had an off night. It happens to everyone, including Mo and Papelbon. It sucks that it happened right now, but it was going to happen eventually. Step back from the ledge.
2008-05-06 19:19:32
209.   Zack
206 I sort of find it pretty easy to think that A-Rod had no idea who Colter Bean was
2008-05-06 19:20:04
210.   Zack
So basically thus far this team isn't very good against the AL central huh?
2008-05-06 19:20:58
211.   randym77
206 Interesting. I'm kind of surprised a guy in his position would say that, even if he was thinking it very loudly.
2008-05-06 19:21:58
212.   Yankees Brasil
Pitch way out of the strike zone. Bad swing there. Good AB, but a bad finish to it.
2008-05-06 19:22:14
213.   Zack
0-14 when trailing after 8. Clearly this team sinks and swims with A-Rod's "clutchitude" :)

Just awful yet telling stat though

2008-05-06 19:22:16
214.   Jeb
204 Thanks Bama Yank. Nice to see you. sorry it's under these funeral like circumstances.
2008-05-06 19:23:12
215.   pistolpete
Good God, Pettite must be pi$$ed.
2008-05-06 19:23:31
216.   Jeb
c'mon guys...bloop and a blast....
2008-05-06 19:23:43
217.   Mattpat11
209 If I saw Colter Bean on the street, I'd never assume he was any sort of athlete, let alone a teammate.
2008-05-06 19:24:10
218.   Shaun P
I don't wish to alarm anyone, but:

Pitcher A:
13.3 IP, 1 HR, 5 BB, 15 K, 3.38 ERA, 10.15 K/9, 3 K:BB

Pitcher B:
16 IP, 4 HR, 5 BB, 17 K, 3.38 ERA, 9.56 K/9, 3.4 K:BB

Small sample size warnings apply, but that's pretty damn close, except in the one thing that gives away who is who.

Wise ass solution - Pitcher B should be moved to rotation!

2008-05-06 19:25:35
219.   randym77
Hey, Bama. Your Andy Phillips was 2 for 4 with a walk, a double, and a home run tonight. He's batting over .300 for the Louisville Bats.
2008-05-06 19:27:32
220.   williamnyy23
Even when the team started poorly last year, they had several come-from-behind-wins. This year, the team has pretty much laid down as soon as they have gotten behind. Tonight is yet another example. Usually, you could always count on the Yankees to at least bring the tying run to the plate. In this game, it seems as if they packed it in as soon as the ball came off Dellucci's bat.

I don't expect the Red Sox to slow down, and can't see how the Yankees will be able to sustain a winning streak. That's an ugly combination.

2008-05-06 19:27:43
221.   Jeb
217 the sense I got was that Arod's on a pedestal....it's not like he hasn't earned it.
2008-05-06 19:28:12
222.   Mattpat11
Of course.

No reason to swing or anything.

2008-05-06 19:28:43
223.   pistolpete
220 And the fact that the Sox are absolutely destroying the team that swept us less than a week ago is extremely depressing.
2008-05-06 19:29:12
224.   Yankees Brasil
Fitting that the game ends with a strikeout on a pitch right down the middle. Painful like a nutshot.
2008-05-06 19:29:48
225.   51cq24
220 you are the one who packed it in as soon as the ball came off dellucci's bat.
2008-05-06 19:30:24
226.   Mattpat11
I shall now return to watching the Democrats eat their young
2008-05-06 19:30:33
227.   Bama Yankee
219 Thanks for the update. Andy is a good guy, I hope he keeps it up. I miss seeing him with the Yankees. He got his chances, he just couldn't produce. Maybe he'll make it somewhere else.
2008-05-06 19:31:51
228.   Yankees Brasil
225 Our hitters, on the other hand, got a bunch of hits, walks and runs and we won the game. Right?
2008-05-06 19:32:04
229.   williamnyy23
225 Hmmm, well, seeing as I don't swing a bat or throw a pitch, I am not sure how I impacted the outcome, but I'll take your word for it.
2008-05-06 19:34:16
230.   Yankees Brasil
Poor Gavin Floyd, lost the no-hitter with 1 out in the 9th.
2008-05-06 19:35:02
231.   Zack
223 220 Lay off the doom and gloom just a bit. The Red Sox have hardly shown themselves to be a juggernaut, and if the last however many years should have taught you, they are the kings of April and May. Even in the WS winning years, they were great in April May and even June, and then faded before kicking it back in gear.

Their offense has some real problems and their BP is pretty bad outside of their big 2. Their starting pitching can go either way, but Dice-K, Lester, and Wake have proven themselves to be consistently inconsistent with stretches of awful. Buchholz will also have his stretches. I hardly see them winning as any sure thing.

Step off the ledge and stop trying to make sure we all see things your way. Its okay to feel depressed about the Yanks, but at least try and maintain some perspective

2008-05-06 19:36:15
232.   Bama Yankee
What a depressing game. We got good Farns, but bad Joba. Oh well, I'm out. Good night all.
2008-05-06 19:40:13
233.   williamnyy23
231 Sorry, but I think it's ok to give an honest assessment of this team. I'd love to be able to say that this is just a bad stretch and the outlook is bright, but that just isn't the case. You don't have to feel the same way, of course.
2008-05-06 19:46:34
234.   Shaun P
231 At least tonight the Yanks managed to show a bit more patience: 4.33 pitches/PA, with 6 walks in the game.

Compare that to the last series against Cleveland, with an average (over the 4 games) of 3.66 pitches/PA and 1.25 BB/game.

Can't win 'em all.

2008-05-06 19:49:01
235.   Yankees Brasil
234 And we still manage to score only 3 runs. This offense is great.
2008-05-06 19:56:36
236.   weeping for brunnhilde
You know, that was a tough loss, but I'll take it.

We played crisp baseball, Sizemore made an outstanding play to save a couple of runs and Delucci turned around a really tough pitch from Joba.

Good game, all in all.

2008-05-06 19:57:37
237.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh, also, Joba made some great pitches on the outside corner that just missed and Andy was Andy.

Nothing to be ashamed of on this day.

2008-05-06 20:00:34
238.   Mattpat11
237 Moral victories are beginning to grow old.
2008-05-06 20:12:15
239.   weeping for brunnhilde
238 Nah, I don't think so. This was good baseball the team played, and without two of their big guys.

Matsui's performance of late alone should hearten us.

He's looking to be his old, line-drive hitting self lately, which is good news.

Long-term prospects are looking pretty good to me.

2008-05-06 20:12:56
240.   Shaun P
235 In theory, more patience should lead to more offense. So, small sample size aside, props to Damon (4.2 pitches/PA), Abreu (4.8 pitches/PA), Matsui (6 pitches/PA thanks to Abreu's CS), Giambi (5.25 pitches/PA), and Melky (4.25 pitches/PA), but boos to the Captain (3.4 pitches/PA), and meh to Cano (3.5 pitches/PA, but that's about what he does anyway).

238 Yeah, but they're better than losses! Wait, they didn't come out right.

2008-05-06 20:28:53
241.   livewire33
"Their offense has some real problems"

First in runs scored, first in rbi, first in hits, first in total bases, first in batting average, first in OBP, first in slugging percentage, first in OPS...

What the hell are you smoking zack?

2008-05-06 21:17:02
242.   weeping for brunnhilde
240 Ha ha ha ha ha!
2008-05-06 21:21:43
243.   Zack
241 Ahh, ok, I'll take the troll bait. Why don't you actually look at their road/home splits, which would tie into the actual argument, which you clearly didn't read. The Sox offense outside those cozy confines is, well, the Yankees current crappy offense, thus there .500 record. So nice try buddy, go back to not posting...
2008-05-06 21:58:21
244.   livewire33
"Why don't you actually look at their road/home splits"

And they play half their games at home. If they played all their games on the road you might have a point. If the WS was played on neutral ground you might have a point.

And please, for the love of god, learn what a troll is.

2008-05-07 07:23:18
245.   Zack
244 Oh God you're so funny! Hey, keep posting and maybe you won't be a troll anymore.

Well, even if they keep this up, they'd still be on pace for but 90 wins, so perhaps, just maybe, you should admit that the Sox offense does have some major issues to address if they are going to go anywhere...But naaah, thats not the troll way

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