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The Fat Lady She's a Warmin Up
2008-09-17 13:47
by Alex Belth

Phil Hughes is back on the hill for the Yanks tonight for the first time in a long time.  Be nice to see him have a solid outing.  And it'd be cool to see the Yanks pad their stats some, huh?  C'mon boys, give us a lil something, something.  We ain't askin much.

Let's Go Yank-ees.

  

 

Comments (81)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-09-17 14:35:04
1.   randym77
They released the 2009 schedule.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3593419

Starts pretty late. The Yanks end the regular season in October...in Tampa.

2008-09-17 15:13:33
2.   ms october
1 also seems weird that they wouldn't open the season at the new yankees stadium too. just weird handling of the stadium stuff with closing on the road this year and opening on the road next year.

also for those who don't have yes and were hoping to be able to catch all the pregame festivities on sunday - looks like we will be able to get a lot of ys coverage (the caveat is it is on espn).
http://tinyurl.com/3sy79y

2008-09-17 15:16:02
3.   randym77
2 Maybe they're afraid the stadium won't be ready. Starting out with a roadtrip gives them some leeway in the schedule.
2008-09-17 15:20:17
4.   ms october
3 ah - good point.
fwiw, during his joechat on tuesday joe morgan said he heard the new yankee stadium might not be ready to begin the year and there might actually be some games in the old satdium.
2008-09-17 15:23:40
5.   tommyl
Hughes pitching well in his last few starts would be one of the lone bright spots on the year. I hope he comes through. That's the fanboy in me speaking btw.
2008-09-17 15:25:59
6.   Just fair
And as much as the 96 snow-home opener was funny to watch, who needs it? April baseball in the NE is brutal. At least they're not going to Japan. : )
2008-09-17 15:45:25
7.   randym77
6 Good point. Talk to any baseball player, and they'll tell you that playing in cold weather leads to injury.

Maybe MLB has caught on. No "snow bowl" for the Indians this year. They're opening in Texas.

2008-09-17 16:19:44
8.   Biscuit Pants
Wonder-Phil throwing a lot of pitches so far . . . but I guess that's to be expected.
2008-09-17 16:26:51
9.   randym77
Yeah, same Phil. 33 pitches to get through the first inning.
2008-09-17 16:30:48
10.   rbj
1 Yankees should always be ending their season in October -- except when it ends in November.

Uh oh, the squirrel is back. And are the Yankees facing an URP?

2008-09-17 16:36:44
11.   Biscuit Pants
Phil's going to be out by the 3rd inning at this rate.
2008-09-17 16:43:55
12.   OldYanksFan
I will say as a MLB.TV subscriber, it is REALLY REALLY nice to be able to choose the YES/Yankee broadcast. No more Hawk Harrelson and other local yokels.
2008-09-17 16:58:23
13.   rbj
Nice hustle, Robbie.
2008-09-17 16:58:23
14.   rbj
Nice hustle, Robbie.
2008-09-17 16:59:10
15.   OldYanksFan
Looking at the last thread, I can't help but wonder why EVERYONE in the media needs to take shots at ARod. Yeah, at worst, maybe he is a little self obsorbed. But as a ballplayer, his work ethic and dedication are outstanding. Everyone is aware of this, but few chosse to write about it.

I remember as a kid being absolutely amazed that (earlier in his career) Mantle was actual booed by Yankee fans. Same happened with Williams. I simply could not understand it. And now we have it again with ARod. A historically great player and all the media can do is take him apart.

Am I over snesitive because I am a Yankee fan? It seems to me it's all a bunch of horseshit because taking shots a heros sells. It's really to much for me.

Is ARod really such a bad guy? At what point in the next nine years does the media start to give him a break?

2008-09-17 17:01:02
16.   tommyl
A bit too many pitches, but Hughes looks alright so far. He needs to learn to pitch to contact a bit, but that can come in time. People forget he's just 22 still.
2008-09-17 17:02:06
17.   OldYanksFan
Well, Phil is throwing a lot of pitches, but he's settleing down a bit. 33, 24 and 15 pitches last inning.
2008-09-17 17:03:07
18.   OldYanksFan
Let's see if Melkdud has learned anything.
2008-09-17 17:04:09
19.   OldYanksFan
Nope. Still trying to pull everything.
2008-09-17 17:04:53
20.   tommyl
19 I much prefer Brett at this point.
2008-09-17 17:05:35
21.   randym77
Whoa. I hadn't even noticed Melkbone was playing. I think that was his first at-bat since he was recalled.
2008-09-17 17:12:27
22.   rbj
Both Joba & Phil seem to throw an inordinate # of pitches.
2008-09-17 17:16:19
23.   rbj
Psst, Yankees, now would be a good time for some offense, you know, get some hits and score some runs.
2008-09-17 17:19:10
24.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
15 even after reading about it's hard to believe anyone booed Ted Williams or Mantle..
..and anyone booing A-Rod is a simpleton who does not understand baseball, and probably likes Jeter because he is "cute" (like my Mom..D'oh!!)
2008-09-17 17:25:16
25.   rbj
Was Ted William booed before and/or after his service in WWII & Korea?
2008-09-17 17:28:44
26.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
25 I think it was after...his career stats that good while missing years of his prime, amazing...from a distance it's hard to see how they debated who was better between Joe D and Ted..looks like TW in a rout..or am I missing something? park effects perhaps?
2008-09-17 17:35:04
27.   Schteeve
Please tell me that Phil is out because he burned his pitch count, and not because he broke his thumb or something.
2008-09-17 17:35:26
28.   rbj
26 Thanks. Damn, that's obscene. Maybe he wasn't the friendliest guy to the media, but he did answer the call in two wars. Never boo such a guy.
2008-09-17 17:36:56
29.   nick
some glutton for punishment needs to do an empirical study on how badly we suck against rookie pitchers we've never faced before...
2008-09-17 17:41:01
30.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
27 gulp....
2008-09-17 17:43:01
31.   rbj
Actually, Mr. Advertisement Voiceover, it does look like the Yankees are going down without a fight.
2008-09-17 17:43:47
32.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
29 you mean you didn't know that Clayton Richard is the next Nolan Ryan??
2008-09-17 17:44:35
33.   Eirias
Cano!
2008-09-17 17:44:53
34.   Biscuit Pants
31 Not if Robby Cano has anything to say about it!!!
2008-09-17 17:45:16
35.   Eirias
Ivan Rodriguez!
2008-09-17 17:45:19
36.   Biscuit Pants
uh oh . . . rally
2008-09-17 17:45:40
37.   Biscuit Pants
uh oh . . . Melky
2008-09-17 17:46:45
38.   Biscuit Pants
M'er F'er
2008-09-17 17:51:30
39.   tommyl
27 Pitch count, though he was only at 89 pitches. He could have gone out for the 5th.

22 Yeah, that's part of being a young pitcher. They'll learn. Not everyone is a Freak.

2008-09-17 17:51:34
40.   OldYanksFan
My God! Melky just can't do anything right. Should have PH Brett there.
2008-09-17 17:52:00
41.   tommyl
Hey Melky, we're sending you back down to AAA, oh wait the season's over. Hmmmm...there's a spot on the bench next to Cano. Have a good one.
2008-09-17 17:52:25
42.   rbj
Sigh. Is this team a c.t. when it comes to scoring runs?
2008-09-17 17:53:10
43.   OldYanksFan
26 Joe D. with a career OPS+ of 155. Teddy ballgame.... 191. Whaddayathink?
2008-09-17 17:57:08
44.   rbj
Goodnight all.
2008-09-17 17:58:53
45.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
43 191!! Joe D had "grace" I suppose, but really not close in that dept..though didn't Joe stirke out less than his career HR totals? that's impressive...hey OYF, want to look up Bonds career OPS+ too? :)
2008-09-17 18:02:17
46.   Alex Belth
Just got an e mail from a friend who said "I hate this team, this season can't end soon enough." I think the Yanks feel the same way too. It's like they've got a 10:15 movie to catch.
2008-09-17 18:02:48
47.   Alex Belth
I don't care enough about these Yankees to hate them that much. They've beaten the hate, the passion right out of me.
2008-09-17 18:02:53
48.   OldYanksFan
Barry Bonds: 182
Babe Ruth: 207

However, OPS+ is adjuested to the league. The league in Ruth's day had many players (all white) who were drunks and just padding out the league. It wasn't as bad is Williams day, but I still think the overall caliber of play was/is much better in the 90s/00s then back in the 40s/50s.

2008-09-17 18:06:23
49.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
48 thanks OYF..for Bonds to even get close to Ruth is unreal..
47 yep, more fun to talk about stats and payers from the past than watch this "offense" tonight..
2008-09-17 18:11:59
50.   Alex Belth
A rally, what's this, a rally?
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-09-17 18:12:53
51.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
anyone remember when the "short porch" in right field still had 353ft written on it? know where i can see the full dimensions of the park listed?
2008-09-17 18:16:06
52.   williamnyy23
51 http://preview.tinyurl.com/3jq7wq
2008-09-17 18:24:08
53.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
52 great, thanks..going to be on that site all morning now...so still 353, wonder why they took it down?
left-center 500ft in 1923?!
2008-09-17 18:27:49
54.   Alex Belth
Nice job by Joba...
2008-09-17 18:28:12
55.   monkeypants
43 45 Well, Joe D did play CF, and apparently pretty well 9at least by anecdotal accounts), while the Splendid Splinter played the corner, and rather indifferently. Joe D was killed by his home park, though OPS+ should take care of some of that.

Williams was the fr better hitter, and probably the clearly better player overall. But in their primes, it's not unreasonable that people might debate who they would rather have. At the time, after all, DiMaggio was the third best hitter in Yankee history (after Ruth and Gehrig), and played CF.

2008-09-17 18:31:17
56.   williamnyy23
They Yankees have not had a very good season, but they are a better team than the White Sox.

Surprise, surprise...Ben Sheets had to leave his start in the 2nd inning. If Michael Kay's report about the Yankees liking Ben Sheets is true, then get ready for Pavano II.

2008-09-17 18:31:20
57.   monkeypants
48 David Wells is a white drunk, and I'm sure there are others. At a time when Carl Pavano and Sidney Ponson can start on the same staff, there is plenty of roster fodder these days as well.
2008-09-17 18:34:44
58.   williamnyy23
55 Dimaggio was considered to be a top notch defender in CF, while Williams was considered to be a poor left fielder playing in front of the Monster.

Dianagrams' friend caught another!

2008-09-17 18:36:29
59.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
56 please,please,please do a rain-dance and pray they don't sign Sheets..guy has never won more than 12 games...

so you don't like the ChiSox chances against the Rays?

2008-09-17 18:39:36
60.   williamnyy23
59 Maybe they don't even pass the Twins? If the Rays can hold onto the division, I think they'll easily handle the Central winner.
2008-09-17 18:39:56
61.   tommyl
Man, that A-Rod, what a crappy player, 1-3 with a HR. Bah.
2008-09-17 18:40:17
62.   Schteeve
Sheets would be awesome if sheets didn't get hurt all the goddamn time.

But HE DOES.

2008-09-17 18:42:10
63.   williamnyy23
62 Carl Pavano would be league average if he didn't get hurt all the time. So, if the Yankees do sign Sheets, at least they'd be upgrading their disabled list.
2008-09-17 18:43:52
64.   williamnyy23
Maybe the fans should boo Arod because his HR deprived them of getting to see Mariano at YS one last time.
2008-09-17 18:45:20
65.   monkeypants
63 Then they could hire Britt Burns or maybe Don Gullett as DL pitching coach!
2008-09-17 18:45:29
66.   Just fair
That dude that caught Damon's hr caught Giambi's last night. Someone recently noted on of the side blogs that he has collected over 3,000 balls over the years from various ballparks. Someone please tell me I'm not halluciating.
I must be. It's the bottom of the 9th and it's not 10:00 yet.
2008-09-17 18:47:45
67.   williamnyy23
66 See 58 .
2008-09-17 18:48:25
68.   monkeypants
66 You are hallucinating...it's the top of the 9th! : )
2008-09-17 18:48:31
69.   nick
so Joba threw 10 pitches and they felt he was tired? why not give him the 9th?
2008-09-17 18:51:51
70.   Just fair
68 I don't think I've ever typed this but here goes. lol.
2008-09-17 18:53:43
71.   Just fair
67 Ah yes, the scrabbler. Thanks for the reminder. : )
2008-09-17 18:59:10
72.   3rd gen yankee fan
Guys I've been on vacation but I've been watching the games when I can. Good game tonight! Melky finally bought a hit!
2008-09-17 19:01:38
73.   3rd gen yankee fan
WOO HOO! Third place is all ours, baby! :-)
2008-09-17 19:02:21
74.   3rd gen yankee fan
Oops actually ignore that. Too much partying.
2008-09-17 19:14:00
75.   Alex Belth
The Yankees are the most awesomist spoilers ever. They ROCK.

LOL. And they still finished up in time to gets showered and shaved and catch an 11:00 movie.

2008-09-17 19:17:58
76.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
75 Or the midnight showing of "Black Belt Jones" with Jim Kelly at the Kent, on Coney Island Avenue...wait, that was Clyde Frazier in 1974...
2008-09-17 19:35:49
77.   3rd gen yankee fan
15 Ok here's my take. I just realized this tonight after Arod hit that homerun in the eighth. He is AMAZING! The guy's talent is incredible! He is baseball divinity incarnate, just like Mantle was. I mean did you see that home run? He was late on it and he still flicked it out! So when he doesn't perform, we mortals are ShOCKED! It doesn't make sense!

The media are just a bunch of vampires, so they can't give him a break, or they'll die. They either feed off the energy of an event or they create a feedback loop which they can feed off of. Something pure source like Arod, no way they'll ever leave him alone!

So... yeah.

2008-09-17 19:39:06
78.   williamnyy23
76 You know the Kent on CI Avenue? It's still there you know.
2008-09-17 20:02:51
79.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
78 still there?? nice..i grew up in Midwood, there was a big old movie theater on Avenue J. balcony always had a "funny" burning smell...those days long gone...
2008-09-17 21:27:31
80.   Chyll Will
78 ,79 The Kent is still there, but Astroland is about to be toast... :(
2008-09-18 04:59:58
81.   OldYanksFan
77 I must be dumb. Are you being sarcastic? Mantle was the greatest raw talent in the history of the game. I don't think anyone compares, but in this generation, I would put Junior at the top, followed by Bonds.

While ARod is very talented, he works like a dog and keeps himself in top shape. If Griffey took the game as seriously as ARod, he would breeze past Rutgh/Bonds. Imagine if Cano worked like ARod. There are a lot of players who coast on their talent.

It's why I personally respect ARod a great deal. There are lots of players more talented. ARod is driven. It was the same with Mattingly. Donnie played above his talent with hard work and smarts.

ARod does not have a good eye at the plate. His swing is golden and he is very strong, and that makes up for his eye. But if he could spot sliders/breaking pitches and stop swinging so much at outside/in the dirt pitches, his numbers would be a lot better.

Like Bonds used to do, during BP, ARod just needs to stand at the plate while someone just throws him junk. He should never swing... just watch the pitches. This is where Bonds was the absolute master. Not only did he never swing at balls, but he rarely had a check swing. If ARod could detect breaking pitches and be more selective, he would be a much better ballplayer.

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