Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The last time the Yankees and Orioles played, the Yankees suffered a let-down coming off a series win in Boston and their 8-1 start to the second half. Going into this weekend's three game series in Baltimore, I can't help but look ahead to the Yankees' three-game set against the Red Sox at the Stadium next week. Here's hoping the Yankees are able to stay focused on the task at hand and build up some momentum heading in to that Boston series which, if it doesn't go well, could seal the Yankees fate this season. The Yankees enter tonight's action trailing both the Red Sox and Twins by six games for the Wild Card lead. They have six games left against the Sox, none left against the Twins, and six left against the Blue Jays, who are just a game behind the Yanks after last night's win.
The Yankees are an alarming 5-7 against the last-place Orioles this season, and a mere 2-4 at Camden Yards on the year, though they've not been to Baltimore since the end of May. Since losing two of three to the O's in the Bronx at the end of July, the Yankees are 8-12. The Orioles, meanwhile, are 10-9 since leaving the Bronx, their only two series losses over that span coming against the Angels and Red Sox.
Not so fast. Five starts ago, Mussina gave up two dingers and six total runs in five innings against . . . the Orioles. In two starts against his former team this season, Moose has allowed 13 runs in 5 2/3 innings. His last start at Camden Yards was also his final start of the 2007 seaon. He gave up six runs in five innings. As for Liz, the 25-year-old Dominican righty posted a 2.67 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP while striking out 27 in as many innings in triple-A this month, and in two relief appearances against the Yankees last year totaling 4 1/3 innings, he allowed just one run while striking out five and allowing as many baserunners. Though most of those innings game in mop-up duty against the Yankees' subs, the Yankees in tonight's starting lineup who have faced him are a combined 1-for-10 with four strikeouts against Liz.
Are there any encouraging signs heading into this series? Hideki Matsui has just two hits in 11 plate appearances since returning, but they've been good for six total bases (.545 slugging) and three RBIs. He's also struck out only once and grounded out only twice, which suggests his swing is in good shape. Derek Jeter has hit .317/.382/.440 since June 1, .392/.434/.486 in August, and is 17-for-32 on his current seven-game hitting streak. Bobby Abreu is hitting .328/.407/.531 since the All-Star break. Uhm . . . that's about it.
Baltimore Orioles
2008 Record: 61-65 (.484)
2008 Pythagorean Record: 63-63 (.502)
Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Andy MacPhail
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (101/102)
Who's Replaced Whom:
Jay Payton has replaced Adam Jones (DL) in center field
Luis Montanez (minors) has replaced Jones on the roster
Alex Cintron (DL) has replaced Brandon Fahey (minors)
Radhames Liz (minors) replaces Garrett Olson (minors)
Chris Waters (minors) has replaced Brian Burres (minors)
Rocky Cherry (minors) has replaced George Sherrill (DL)
Kam Mickolio (minors) has replaced Chad Bradford
25-man Roster:
1B - Kevin Millar (R)
2B - Brian Roberts (S)
SS - Juan Castro (R)
3B - Melvin Mora (R)
C - Ramon Hernandez (R)
RF - Nick Markakis (L)
CF - Jay Payton (R)
LF - Luke Scott (L)
DH - Aubrey Huff (L)
Bench:
S - Alex Cintron (IF)
R - Luis Montanez (OF)
R - Guillermo Quiroz (C)
Rotation:
R - Jeremy Guthrie
R - Daniel Cabrera
L - Chris Waters
L - Radhames Liz
Bullpen:
R - Jim Johnson
L - Jamie Walker
R - Dennis Sarfate
R - Lance Cormier
R - Fernando Cabrera
R - Randor Bierd
L - Alberto Castillo
R - Rocky Cherry
R - Kam Mickolio
15-day DL: R - Adam Jones (CF), L - George Sherrill, R - Chris Ray, R - Greg Aquino
60-day DL: R- Danys Baez, L - Troy Patton, L - Adam Loewen, R - Matt Albers, R - Jim Hoey
Typical Lineup:
S - Brian Roberts (2B)
L - Nick Markakis (RF)
R - Melvin Mora (3B)
L - Aubrey Huff (DH)
R - Ramon Hernandez (C)
L - Luke Scott (LF)
R - Kevin Millar (1B)
R - Jay Payton (CF)
R - Juan Castro (SS)
Incidentally, the back of the one above reads:
"If ever there was a born athlete, it was Mike. The first time he ever played a round of golf on a regulation course, as a teenager, he fired a 92. After high school, he tried out as a kicker for the Penn State football team, and booted a 60-yard field goal. And as a pitcher, he is an annual lock for the Gold Glove Award."
Cone says not a lot of people acknowledge how athletic Moose is.
The golf thing on Mike's card is not that impressive. Shooting a 92 as a kid. I was a much better golfer as a teenager than I became to be as an adult. I consistently scored in the 90s as a teenager. Oddly, I was still playing baseball as a teenager so you'd think that would influence my swing, make me swing harder, but my swing was much more relaxed, and natural as a kid than the mess it became before I finally walked away from that brutal game. At my sister's wedding a few years ago I shot a 133 on an unforgiving links course. I beat my 13 year old nephew's 136 so didn't come in last.
5 did you try place kicking? would be a much easier transition for a soccer player than punting. Captain of my varsity soccer team became the place kicker on the football team. We were walking off after practice one day, and as a goof he started kicking 50 yarders. Varsity football coach signed him up on the spot which was pretty damn funny at the time.
"Radhames Liz, who sports a 7.28 career ERA in the majors."
Psst, Yankees, this guy isn't good.
I wonder how many more double plays A-Rod will cause tonight before the Yankees inevitably lose.
yeah. right.
I wonder how many more double plays A-Rod will cause tonight before the Yankees inevitably lose.
"Chris Kattan's marriage to his model wife lasted almost as long as a "Saturday Night Live" skit.
The comedian filed for legal separation from model wife Sunshine Tutt after only eight weeks of marriage."
Sunshine Tutt? That's a bad given name or a bad stage name.
O's radio guys saying Abreu could have got to that ball...
Top fourth: Phil Hughes night is done after three and a third, allowing eight runs on 10 hits. That four-run second inning made for a bad line in the box score, but Hughes didn't look particularly bad. This inning, Hughes looked bad. The inning started with a single to right field, a bunt single and a hard-hit two-run double to right-center field. Hughes caught a pop-up, then gave up a fairly well hit single to left to drive in another run and chase him from the game.
86 And I've seen where flying elephants live...
how many people in the Balmore bullpen???
BA: 1.000
And Mo's still in line for the save.
Didn't someone earlier order 8 runs for the Yankees?
Brooklyn ta' Bronx!
Maybe they need to give him that "there's a difference between hustle and bad baserunning" talk again...
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