Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yankees have scored a minimum of eight runs in their last four games and are on a six-game winning streak. Today they send Joba Chamberlain to the mound and will face a far less heralded rookie in Josh Banks.
The Yankees have actually seen Banks before, as his first two major league appearances came in relief for the Blue Jays last year against the Yankees. In his debut in Toronto, Banks retired Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Johnny Damon in order. A week and a half later in the Bronx, he gave up a run on a walk to Hideki Matsui, a Robinson Cano single, and a Jose Molina double (he also saw Cabrera and Damon a second time, striking out Melky and walking Johnny).
Banks posted a 6.80 ERA in triple-A this year, was claimed off waivers by the Padres in late April, and snuck into the major league roster after both Chris Young and Jake Peavy went down with injuries. The 25-year-old righty started out in the bullpen, but after pitching six shutout innings in the Padres 18-inning win over the Reds on May 25, he was granted a rotation spot, which he nailed down with a complete game victory over the Giants in his first start and a 2-1 win over the Mets in his second.
A command and control pitcher with marginal stuff, Banks hasn't walked a man in 20 innings since entering the rotation, and has been extremely efficient with his pitches, needing just 101 for that complete game and not topping 77 in either of two six-inning outings. That makes him an interesting contrast to Chamberlain, who has filthy stuff, but has struggled with walks since moving into the rotation, and can thus use up a lot of pitches rather quickly. Joba's peripherals went backwards against the Astros in his last start, but despite his four walks, he was cruising along at 89 pitches through six when his turn in the batting order came due, thus ending his outing there. This afternoon, the limits will finally be off . . . mostly. I'm sure the Yankees won't want him to throw more than 100 pitches, but that's a respectable limit for any rookie, and Joe Girardi won't have to pinch-hit for him. For all the hype that has come before, this afternoon should mark Chamberlain's true debut as a full-fledged American League starting pitcher.
Ok boys and girls...just phoned in that I'm "working from home" today. That means some text on the screen, Banter in the background, and the Yankees on the radio.
Anyone else in the house today?
I am reporting that Kyle was kind enough to throw them a few so they could experience hitting homers. : )
Right on, mp, right on!
Here and there, in and out, but I'll probably become transfixed by the game.
.
.
.
Sarcasm.
It's Peanut Butter JOBA Time!
Now Damon leads off with a single.
He's got a weird good season/bad season streak.
Hopefully, Robbie's got a 4 hit day planned.
Always amazed at the day crowd here on the Banter.
I do so hope that he is (slowly) coming around.
Looking at his OPS+ the last few years:
82 109 94 117 110 115 97 141 (this year)
It's nice watching him when he's hitting so well, though.
that last pitch by banks was money.
let's get two here, peeps.
Let's hope he gets out of this with only one, maybe two runs.
Interesting to think about.
Now, where is William to complain the risk of letting your pitcher cover home?
Another strikeout! Nice!
onions
Where's williamnyy23 when we need him??
He probably knows he'd be slaughtered on 'FAN for going nuts in the 2nd inning against the Padres.
he positioned himself perfectly for the throw, and the slide. gave the runner enough of the plate to avoid a collision. I wouldn't advise against him making plays like that.
I still think you trade Mats next year. Get Tex and consider taking Giambi's option as the DH.
I think we need a FA impact OFer, unless Bobby will go for a 2 year contract.
I question whether we need CC. I think Wang and Joba make a powerful 1-2. If any of the kids, especially Phil, is strong, I think our SP is good.
It's just a philosophical question.
I don't think Ajax would be ready, but I wonder what the other options would be. Free agents, trades returns, etc.
Where'd everyone go?
CC would be nice, if only because he's a southpaw because I don't think you can count on Andy coming back.
Too early for Jody Gerut, too.
101 Lack of production in the OF is going to be tough to correct next year. Abreu's numbers are good, but 114 OPS+is not really an impact corner OF. Melky may continue to develop but no one expects him to put up impact numbers; Gardner is probably not going to be much of a power hitter; Damon will not hit 140 OPS+ next year (hell, we'd be very lucky if continues this year). And your correct that Matsui does not look like he handle starting in the OF full time.
If it's a one-run game and Farnsworth comes in... then I might have another. Or three.
heck, that's when you switch to whiskey.
118 If there are impact OF bats to be had, ok. If not, upgrade where you can. Tex & CC = upgrades in run prevention.
Problem is Ajax/Tabata are not ready for 2009. Gardner is a nice 4th OFer, but with Melky in the OF, I think our other 2 must be strong with the bat.
If we can find an Abreu type salary dunp, great. But its hard to trade for a Brian Giles type without giving up a bunch of kids.
JD will be 36 entering 2010. Unless he plans on retiring, he will be motivated to have a good contract year in 2009.
Any international prospects in the outfield? Who's the next Fukudome?
That said, your main point is a good one--it would be tough to have Melky and Gardner in the same OF.
I haven't come up with any song parodies today (yet).
(I wonder if Ichiro would be willing to come to NY)
We can score when we want to ....
(you know the rest)
The slider is definitely his out-pitch today.
Well, that could have been a lot worse.
Odd Innings Good; Even Innings Bad.
This theory may or may not have any relationship to whether the Padres best hitters are batting....
So, like, score some runs guys.
Still a decent chance of getting Banks out of there before the seventh inning.
Where was ball one???
Jesus.
-David Cone
Cone: Hey guys, we've got a game going on here! I got my education in a Second Avenue Irish Bar!
Fordamn again? Wasn't that yesterday's pointless pissing match?
Thumbs up to Coney. He's getting funnier.
Kudos, mehmattski.
Rob, I'm sorry, someone has to tell you. We're benching your predictions in favor of Mehmattski. You know, it's just for the good of the team.
Joba's gotta do better than that. I'll take 1 run over 5 innings, of course.
Of course, now Sterling is proclaiming him a "very good situational hitter." That's high praise...almost as good as Cairo (the best .200 hitter...)
But this is surely the last inning for the Jobmeister.
If Ponson falls on the mound, and there's no one there (willing to) pick him up, does he still suck?
It woulda been nice if the offense put up 10 runs so he could tinker.
Well that was fun to watch. I begged and pleaded my sister to try and get tickets for the Pittsburgh series next week. She has searched high and low, but no luck. Any one here going to Pittsburgh?
Now let's chase Banks! I think he's tired.
IF we keep the lead and win...
The official scorer CAN give the win to Joba.
Is that correct?
Hm.
Have the Yanks stolen this many bases in a single game all year?
It looks to me like Veras is in line to be the winning pitcher, though there is that rule that gives the Scorer leeway, intended (I think) for a situation in which the starter doesn't pitch enough innings.
In brief, I'm not sure.
BTW, I'm thinking Mo's in for 1+ today
Wow .... the ML record (since 1956) for most consecutive games with the same team stealing at least 4 bases is only 3. (Last done by the Marlins in 2003)
I'm almost positive that the starter can't be assigned the win unless he both leaves with the lead AND pitches at least 5 innings (4 in the case of a rain-shortened game).
He's only thrown 2.2 innings the last week.
http://tinyurl.com/4yq7sa
282 288 Thank you!
Wait till next inning. You'll be glad you did.
uh oh. that sounds a little too prophetic for my taste.
Good job, Jose!
well played, cliff.
and now nice mr farnsworth will be along shortly to pitch in the eighth and get the ball to mariano.
what could possibly go wrong?
Anyone warming in the pen?
I met with captain Farsworth and his homers he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold banterer,
musha ring dumma do damma da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar
Meanwhile Waldman just gushed that Molina "knows who he is" and that's why he's so good.
ummm ..... Mariano has only faced 2 currently active players named Edgar (Renteria and Gonzalez)
(yes, its slow at work)
Abreu has range ... of motion.
Aren't the Molinas widely recognized as the slowest family in all of baseball history? Cripes.
Ray Durham is a lifetime 0-for-26 against Mo, but has only struck out 3 times.
The Pods Tony Clark is the next career longest 0-fer amongst active players (0-10)
Oh I wish that we could see
How I wish that we could seeeeeee....
Bryan Corey!
whereas i'd say a 2 run lead going into next inning is a very big deal
just poor analysis of risk v reward
Now this gives the Yankees a bit of an advantage.
CRAP;
1 away
366
Farnsworth, 2008.
RHB as RH: .296/.333/.521
LHB as RH: .313/.414/.688
For some reason this comforts me. I apologize if it bothers anyone.
one more
Tony Clark worries me, however.
My stomach is clenched hard, too.
Credit when credit's due and all that nonsense.
I wish Mattpat were here. He must have enjoyed the Farns show, and he's one of Lyle Overbay's biggest fans.
So much for Bush's no-no in Brewtown.
FWIW, how come a game with 3 runs and 10 hits is 3+ hours? Oh well.
I don't know about this guy.
But I'll take the 2 ks.
There are still spots left on the bandwagon! Everybody on!
The air's getting pretty rarefied here at 7 games over .500. Gonna need an oxygen mask soon.
Glad to hear about the lack of cavities :-)
Its now 8-7 with two out in top of 9th.
http://tinyurl.com/3gmq36
Yeah, "mighty Joe" Inglett (he of 21 HRs in 2,400 career minor league ABs) cracked a GS.
See you all tomorrow!
We are in 2nd place in the WC, 3 behind TB.
Maybe we are NOT a .500 team?
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