Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
In his last turn, Jake Peavy pitched six scoreless innings in his first start after an elbow-related DL stint. In his last turn, Darrell Rasner was beat severely about the head and neck by the typically mild-mannered Oakland A's offense. Peavy needed just 72 pitches to get through those six innings against the Dodgers. He'll likely be pulled before he hits 100 pitches today. Rasner, despite that beating, has still only allowed three homers and walked just six men in 42 major league innings this season, and hasn't allowed a homer in any of his last three starts. Peavy was the best pitcher in baseball last year, but couldn't deliver the Wild Card to San Diego in their one-game playoff against the Rockies. Rasner is 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts.
So there's that.
Hideki Matsui's left knee is hurting, so he sits tonight and will see a doctor tomorrow. I'm hoping his knee is just reacting to the wacky changes in atmospheric pressure. Here in New Jersey we've had different weather every two hours today. Cool and crisp like an early spring day. Downpour. Overcast and humid, but dry. Downpour. Sunny and hot like a perfect summer day. Downpour. It's not raining now, but the sky is darkening and I can hear thunder in the distance (make that directly overhead . . . yikes!).
With Matsui out, Wilson Betemit will play first base while Jason Giambi moves to DH. In contrast to his persistent career-long split, Giambi has been a better hitter when not playing the field this year (.297/.458/.622 vs. 252/.383/.563). For those of you filling out All-Star ballots, the Big G leads AL first baseman in VORP this year and Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Giambi, and Matsui are all among the top dozen ALers in the stat.
In other news, the Yankees picked reliever Oneli Perez off waivers from the Indians and assigned him to double-A Trenton. Perez is a 25-year-old Dominican righty with who entered the year with some fantastic career numbers in the minors, but who had never seen triple-A. He had a rough 14 games with the White Sox's double-A affiliate to start the season and was released. The Indians picked him up and got an equally unattractive performance from him across seven games in his triple-A debut. There must be something going on with this guy, as he had been excellent, if old for his league (he was originally a hitter in the Padres' system), the previous three seasons. Chad Jennings quotes Baseball America as reporting that Perez "can drive his managers a little loopy with his laid-back approach to conditioning and peperation." BA also reports that Perez has six fingers on each hand. One of those two things was clearly unpalatable to the Chisox and Tribe.
To get Perez on the 40-man roster, the Yankees moved Jonathan Albaladejo, who was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his pitching elbow and is out for the season, to the 60-day DL. In other injury news, Brian Bruney and Ian Kennedy are throwing bullpens. Kennedy could start a rehab assignment next week. Also, Francisco Cervelli started something of a mini rehab assignment with Tampa on Monday.
Finally, and most frighteningly, the Yankees have added Sidney Ponson to the Scranton roster. Jennings expects this to be a temporary minor league roster filler move like the signing of Runelvys Hernandez was last year. Even still, couldn't they find someone, anyone, else?
"BA also reports that Perez has six fingers on each hand." So is he going to be twice as good as Three-fingered Brown?
UPDATE, 7:43 p.m.: They're starting to pull the tarp. No word on a start time but likely shortly after 8 p.m.
from PeteAbe: UPDATE, 6:06 p.m.: The Matsui story continues … he's getting his knee drained today by team Dr. Stuart Hershon. There's a chance he will be getting an MRI, too. "Whenever somebody is out of the lineup, I'm concerned," Cashman said.
I don't think you get an MRI due to the weather. Lets hope this is nothing serious.
And then the news about Ponson. PeteAbe thinks he can start against the Mets.... I just knew that Cashman would go after him when he was DFA'd by the Rangers. Dammit.
3 games, 16 ip, and a whip of 2 for the Yanks last time he wore the not so slimming pinstripes. There's desperation and there's pure stupidity. I vote for the latter.
Game on.
Good thing we don't have that big lug at first today, he never would have made that play that Wilson... uh... oh.
funny jokes about Ponson guys..i mean, that IS a joke, right? RIGHT??
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/431349.html
I would have preferred for Arod to not strike out and for Bobby not do that weak groundball nonsense.
"Ponson eats everything but innings."
In Ponson's favor Sidney pitches.
In Pavano's favor Sidney pitches.
Mean while, the Padres are mystified by our Raz. That's fun.
Can we please play in the NL West for the rest of the season?
How 'bout he shows up next time, too.
How does he get it to stay still like that?
Rasner looks good, but then again he's facing the Padres' offense.
Eh, a run's on the board and Rasner is dealing.
where IS Pavano now anyway??
Good Robbie.
Can we officially say that Robbie's on his way out yet?
69 I guess I owe you a root beer for the ooh, even though mine was much, much longer.
http://tinyurl.com/66mqe2
Worst. Defense. Ever.
i'm guessing june 29th
This threesome really makes me laugh. In spite of Kay.
Bollocks. Don't walk the lead off guy, Rasner.
Time for some bourbon!
Rasner, 2008
Bases Empty (105 PA): .253/.295/.414
Men On (68 PA): .313/.318/.422
Ahoy, LaTroy.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sexsori01.shtml
check out the "Pitch Data", especially the percentage of strikes he's just looked at this year
alright raz - this team has one, perhaps two, three if you are being generous, professional hitters - throw some strikes and get out of this game with a w - you'll even get some ice cream afterwards
FWIW, guys named Ray are batting .000/.000/.000 against Mariano in 29 PAs.
;)
sho'nuff
Giambi and Tino are tied for Runs Created! How about that for coinky-dink?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/hWKv
Cano is looking really, really good.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/MNZk
Dang, small zone but Rasner's not doing himself any favors. Juuuuusst a bit outside.
Remember when people booed him? That was pretty hilarious, wasn't it?
Well, if someone told me before the game that we'd get to the bullpens with a lead, I'd certainly have been pleased. That's looking pretty likely now.
Is A-Rod better all-round player than Pujols? I say..yes, by a nose...
I like how you can buy pretty good bourbon for about half the price of pretty good scotch.
Secondly, the Yakees need Rasner to be effective, regardless of why he has assumed a prominent role.
the slide??? not so hot.
So, when Melky breaks a finger diving in next time, does that mean the blame is on Melky? Or on the coaches still, for not telling him sternly enough?
I hardly know her. Sorry. Could. Not. Resist.
Ha ah aha h a a ha h ha ha!
(for those not getting yes, kay asked him if he ever had teammates who do not swear and cone said not that i trusted)
207 Fair points but they are all ML hitters. And I guess it is better that the Yankees face a reigning Cy Young winner rather than a URP.
Thinking of him as just a AAA spare part is, IMO, wrong. Granted, he doesn't have the stuff to be front end starter, but he's got talent.
the English lannguage. But, who am I to say?
There ya go! Good job, Raz.
We're going to see LaTroy, aren't we?
To the greater point being his 5BB's, he's not this wild. This is a reflection on the ump.
I've been on self-imposed hiatus.
Terrible about Chien-Ming.
It is what it is and grind it out to need to banned from the English lannguage.
Funny, but I've been thinking recently about how many cliches are used in sports writing. It's almost impossible to avoid 'em if you write regularly. For instance the use of the term "sharp" is something I've found that I'm guilty of over-using. "Mike Mussina was/wasm't sharp last night..."
I remember Allen Barra writing something for BP a few years ago about this. About how defense is used now instead of fielding. Ever since then I've tried to use fielding which is a good word.
A: Darrell Rasner.
1,054 games; 1,039 hits; 566 runs; 192 HRs; 739 RBIs; .276/.346/.484
Giambi:
812 games; 702 hits; 484 runs; 194 HRs; 548 RBIs; .263/.395/.530
regular season only
as for durable ... remember Giambi's knee and parasite problems ...
I'm guilty of it with my wife, though. her- Do you like the brown shoes or the black shoes? me- The black ones. her- What do you mean? me- I mean what I mean. HA.
Also, nearly everyone who says "begs the question" is incorrect. They mean "raises the question."
good stuff and you can usually get a bottle for not too much over $20
Nice hitting, Jorgie.
is that a euphemism alert?
I heart Jerry Coleman
(sheesh)
No, Cone was saying that Jorgie was able to turn on that pitch so deftly because he led the swing with the knob, thus enabling him to get his hands in nicely.
It was beautiful hitting.
Giambi though has learned to go opposite-field!
280 hey! it's not easy being a faux gm!
This is much better than watching LaTroy. And such an efficient inning Edwar will surely pitch another.
Dazed and Confused. Or is it me?
Good inning, Bugsie.
And Jason, good Christ, he's on fire!
When was he hitting below .200, like four weeks ago or even less, no?
Jesus.
Glad you're having fun too!
But word for word, this is still my favorite place on the web.
In an emotional moment here at the Stadium, "George, a Met Life Financial Advisor" pulled the countdown lever.
Apparently the homeless guy with the cart on the Deegan northbound ramp was busy. That's like three Met Life employees who have done it this season. Did the Yankees give this thing any thought whatsoever?
Nice hitting, Betemit.
Nice hitting, Betemit.
Cone said factions develop regarding the running game.
Great stuff.
Hey, Butter-Girardi. Come quick. Farnsworth's up and tree and says he's never coming down. : )
I suppose that, in being a liquid, it has superior drinkability compared to, say: brussel sprouts. Or my coffee table.
http://eephus.blogspot.com/
In the NL, the Yankees would win like 115 games.
That's bullshit.
Oh God, that's bullshit.
It's alwyas my first stop. Thanks.
Oh well, now we don't have a Farnsworth cushion, is all.
Okay, Ramirez needs a Bud Light asap.
I wonder what Edwar is thinking right now.
Clockwork!
God, I needed that run. I needed it personally.
We can kick your team's behind
Cause your team can't score and if they can't score
Well they're no threat to mine
A Hard Rock .... sounds like an ode to Giambi's range
heh eh hehe he.
Thanks for the help in fattening us up for the dog days.
Best Regards,
NYY
p.s. I can't hear the fat lady, but she's on her way.
If they get a runner on 3rd with less than 2 out, then we go with ...
S S S S
A A A A
F F F F
E E E E
T T T T
Y Y Y Y
safety .... squeeze!
you made Bubbles mad!
Man, this ballclub's swinging the old sticks.
thanks!
And thank YOU Alex for this great forum, and your wonderful writing. Its one of the first sites I check in the morning, and one of the last I see in the evening.
My mind needs to be put to better use. : )
Like cursing Farsnsy.
No disrespect intended, Emma, wherever you are.
I miss the '80s .... sort of.
Having to use Mo in this game means Farnsworth facing Bruce, Dunn and Votto for a save over the weekend. If Mo pitches today, it makes yesterday look foolish.
410 And where have you been, stranger?
PS--Others feel free to answer, as long as it's dirty...
WORD.
I was just thinking, there is NO Yankee I'd rather have up in that situation than Damon.
Just laying low.
It's such a nice thing to return to find we're actually swinging the baseball bats so as to strike the baseball with authority on a routine basis.
Does the heart good.
Knight of the RoundlyBooed
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/06/time-travel-bac.html
Great read.
Ponson would enjoy medievel drinking to excess wouldn't he? He could head on down to the mead hall and get fucking blitzed, black out, and attack a village.
Nice win.
Ah, it feels nice.
Next.
Good stuff, Mo. Love them' afternoon games.
(And yet I can't but laugh.)
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