Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
After being embarrassed by the Devil Rays all season, including losing two of three to them at home last week, the Yankees were clearly a team on a mission last night in Tampa, unloading on the D-Rays for five runs in the first inning, knocking starter Doug Waechter from the game before he had recorded a single out, and finishing the night with a whopping 17-3 victory.
From one point of view such an outburst was exactly what this team needed to do: send a message to Tampa Bay that clowntime is over and papa won't take their mess no mo'. From another point of view, such an outburst is actually cause for concern. Could it be that the Yankees expelled all of their frustration over a season worth of series loses to the Devil Rays with one cathartic explosion of run scoring and will thus lack that fire in the remaining two games of the series, which are every bit as important to their playoff chances? After all, hasn't it been true all season that the Yankee offense has followed such a outbursts by failing to score more than a run or two the next day?
Well, no, actually.
Prior to last night, the Yankees had run up a double-digit run total in thirteen games this season. In six of the games that followed such an outburst, the Yankees scored fewer than five runs, but in six others they scored more than five runs (in the one remaining game they scored exactly five), twice scoring in double-digits again the next day and once scoring nine runs and following that with a fifteen-spot the next day. While it may not look impressive compared to the nearly 14 runs the team scored on average in their thirteen highest-scoring games, the Yankees have scored an average of 5.62 runs in the games immediately following those outbursts, with a median total of five runs. That average is actually higher than their overall season average of 5.39 runs per game.
It's much more informative to look at tonight's starting pitchers for an indication of what tonight's contest might bring. For the Devil Ray's, that man is Mark Hendrickson, who has made four starts against the Yankees, all of which the Devil Rays have won, with Hendrickson himself picking up the win in three of them. In his last two starts against the Yankees, which includes his most recent start of the season, Hendrickson has posted this line:
14 1/3 IP, 12 H, 9 R (8 ER) 2 HR, 5 BB, 8 K
That translates to a 5.02 ERA, more than a run better than his season mark of 6.06. But then consider what Hendrickson did in his three starts in between those two games against the Yankees:
21 2/3 IP, 17 H, 5 R, 3 HR, 3 BB, 15 K, 2.08 ERA
And what weaker sisters of the league did he amass that line against you might ask? The Blue Jays (who are an even .500 after defeating the Red Sox last night), the AL West-leading Angels (against whom Hendrickson hurled 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball), and those red hot Cleveland Indians.
What all of this goes to show is that if the Yankees do struggle to score runs tonight it has nothing to do with the 17 runs they scored last night or Hendrickson "owning" them, as he's actually pitched much better over the past month against the Yankees' rivals than against the Yankees themselves.
The Yankees will send Chien-Ming Wang to the mound tonight for just his second start since returning from a minor league rehab assignment and what was once thought to be a season-ending rotator cuff injury. Wang's last start also came against Hendrickson and the Devil Rays and saw the rookie groundball pitcher surrender three runs on eight hits and a pair of walks in five innings.
Curiously, that outing was Wang's best result in three starts against the Devil Rays this year (he surrendered five earned runs in six innings in each of his other two and took the loss in all three). The loss in his last start could be considered hard-luck as the Yankees did score four runs, one more than Wang allowed, but their bullpen gave up four more after Wang departed to put the game out of reach before the Yankee bats finally got to Hendrickson in the eighth (it's worth noting that Hendrickson needed just 85 pitches to get through 7 2/3 innings in that game, which means that the Yankee runs were not the result of Hendrickson tiring, but also means he was alarming efficient through the first seven innings).
Wang threw just 80 pitches in that game, likely due to concerns over the health of his shoulder. With the bullpen well rested following Monday's off day and last night's blow out, I would expect the Yankees to again be cautious with Wang's pitch count, so the performance of the bullpen tonight could turn out to be every bit as important as Wang's, though it would certainly do the Yankees well to see Chien-Ming continue to improve coming off his injury and, hopefully, heading toward the postseason. Of course the latter will be less of a concern should the Yankees fail to pull out another win (and their first series victory over the Rays this season) tonight.
I'm a Torre fan and like his managing of a team full of potential prima donna's but somebody should jump up and down infront of him and tell him to put at least one good defensive outfielder out there. Matsui is not bad but also not good.
He did throw 33 pitches.
More runs.
Joe likes Ruben, period.
Joe likes Ruben, period.
"I'll never make a play and risk an injury, I won't do it"
I thought your feelings were just hurt but I guess you were serious.
You can't hold Paul O'Niel's Jock!
Joe already told the guys during that half inning that they reached their 2 run quota following a win by 7 or more. I saw Giambi tell him to shut up, and Joe said "prove me womg, I dare you, 2 run wonders!"
Rocket pitching tonight, his mom died today, I'm sorry Roger, that's like a month off for Gary.
Gary should be a pinch hitter, he's clogging up the works like a hair-ball.
I see we're doing it again against Tampa. Lots of stranded runners and no killer instinct.
Toronto tied it up!
Man, if we had 10% of the runners we've left on this year.
Holy Cow Phil!
They're in!
Crawford will score easily and we wont score again all game
You've done it, Laundry Det.?
I want Rich to be right...Yanks have to gut this out.
I don't want to see Proctor enter the stadium, well unless it's called Legends Field.
That, and our crappy D...
And the fact that we suck against the Rays\..
Good idea, I've got one eye on it, and a towel at the ready, I had a feeling it might suds up.
And now that triple has led to the game being tied once again.
Meahwhile, Stormer, I can't imagine what you could possibly have against Sheffield, he constantly plays hurt and has been one of the Yankees two most valuable players over the past two seasons (with Rodriguez).
Wang hasn't been pulled yet. Proctor's sat back down.
Plain ol' hot water works in a dishwasher. Dishes get pretty clean even without any soap.
I know I know, about Sheff, it's a carry over from when I lived in LA. My apologies.
News flash, Josh YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD
We must win this game, Cleveland, no score, but I wouldn't bet against them.
Now freakin' score.
WE MUST SCORE.
Now knock him the fuck in
No Dh is winning the MVP. I pray at least.
No DP Big Rube.
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
5-2-3 DP now set up
Can we pinch hit Giambi here, think they'll notice?
Pop up, Jesus Cano.
It's in Jeter's hands now.
How 'bout them apples.
Jete!
Jete!
Jete!
Am I the only one who has a physical response to the word "Embree?"
Cleveland-Oakland tied at 3. C'mon A's!!
You had a spelling error there. I think it's spelled m-i-d-d-l-e r-e-l-i-e-f.
Now its righty Lugo, lefty Crawford, righty Cantu. I see no need to use Leiter here, 'cause he's AWFUL against righties. Meanwhile, Embree actually shows an ability to get righties out, just not lefties . . .
Leaving Wang in is fine, too - only 73 pitches so far.
WTMF?
If a message - the kid has a pair!
And people wonder why I think Torre is a an idiot.
Bringing in Gordon would say, "I want to win this game."
Bringing in Embree says, "I like my book of numbers, look at it, see the cover, my wife made it, it's cute huh?"
I have the Rays' feed on Extra Innings - is there any chance that Gordon is coming in? The announcers haven't been telling me who's up in the 'pen.
Cue required cano error in 3...2..
OK, only 1 run in, now two down. And Cantu is a righty - Embree actually gets them out.
porn would be less stressful...
I'll be somewhat appeased if he gets the out - BUT NOT IF THE SOB HITS CANTU!!!!
Sturtze, on the other hand...
OK, I guess Sturtze hitting Cantu wasn't so bad, as we have Gordon in finally.
Yikes. It's only Tampa Friggin Bay !!
He really has a problem with bullpen managament that goes so far beyond having bad pitchers...
Oh Gordon you say, no way Joe, Gordon, seriously, he was out there, you don't fucking say!
God, I'm starting to hope you get canned. You see Timlin in that game the Red Sox won the other day, in the 7th, you stipid FUCK!
You're script is worse than Ron Jeremy's.
Insurance. Talk to me guys.
(breathe, joe ... breathe.....
Let's go boys!
I know. It still kills me tho...
should the Cleveland plane crash and we make the playoffs, don't you think it would be good for Torre to have more then 2 relief pitchers? I hate Embree, but he is a Lefty, has PS experience and has pitched well in the past. We need to know if we can count on this guy. We just need more relief help then Gordon can provide.
Granted, it ain't pretty.
My complaint is that Torre has often used Gordon (and Sturtze) with 5+ run leads.
Guys (and any gals out there too) - look how we all are now. My heart is racing, as I'm sure many of yours are. Imagine what it will be like if we do make the playoffs? 600+ comments? At the least, my wife will be happy - I curse a lot less when I can just type my frustrations here. =)
I agree, take last night, 12 run lead and he leaves our most fragile pitcher in the game, but yet refuses to go with Gordon tonight, he's a lost puppy.
Again, I say Joe has dropped the bottles, and in his harried attempt to save them all, he salvages none.
"180 pitches, get the fuck back out there, what, you think this is band camp mother fucker!"
Kay agreed with me? Let me rethink that then.
Insurance run(s) please...
Now can we PLEASE get some insurance runs?
And we let Joe Borowski off the hook. Gawd. Thank goodness for Flash.
Come on guys, who's with me? We should really get George out there for one game to manage, I have to see that before I leave the planet.
Can we get some runs please?
NOW could we get some insurace, PLEASE?
I think if do retaliate tonight, they'll wait until the top of the order comes out.
Mercy me
If I know Lou, they will.
Kotsay homers, A's down only 6-4, still one out Chavez up!
I know you guys give me the numbers, is it only the games I watch where Arod lays an egg late, am I crazy?
yes I have Extra Innings. How about the lame announcers? The only consolation that I have, is that my dad (die-hard Italian Yankee fan in bradenton, Fl is watching the same game/announcers that I am). Some sort of being a kid again thing there....
How about the cheesy way they sell the "call to the bullpen" and promote stuff that happens during the game ?
And noooooo, we did not. Did he do something or say something while he was up? He fell faster than Sun Microsystems.
I agree on Gammons. I'm a little down on him - his site is now a "pay" (Insider) site on ESPN.... I mean , c'mon.
I'm babbling now, I realize it. Too nervous to watch the game...so I'm just typing.....
Hey, Gammons made the Hall, time to cash in, he's low on Scotch. He is setting up a booth next to Pete's next year I hear.
Is it seriously a pay portion?
.275/.322./.411
We beat the Rays for a series!
George is smiling tonight. As we all are. =)
2.5 and holding...
Wow. Well, no matter how poorly Giambi and A Rod did tonight, no matter how many runners were left on base, a win is a win is a win.
Very important victory. Nice following it with ya, guys. See you in the a.m.
BTW, off topic, but did anyone notice how well Clemens pitched tonight, considering his mom died this morning? I miss the big lug, and am glad to see him do so well. I feel privileged to have watched the best pitcher since WWII - maybe the best ever - wear pinstripes.
Hey, what a win ! G'night all
Good Yankee/Giants/Knicks/Rangers territory - in that order too !
Strike zoone shrunk, mound lowered, fences in, hitters juiced and more athletic --Clemens is the best ever!
Where do you live out here? We're in Medway (not too far from Foxboro)
I would cap it at 10 mil a year on beltran
North Andover. I went to Siena, had a friend from Cazenovia - Ken Hergert - class of '84. At least in Medway, you can probably hear FAN for some Yankee talk. I'm stuck with Red Sox propaganda on WEEI. It was so good for so long listening to that crap (at least until last year....) We always had the upper hand. Oh well.
the Utica Boilermaker....
We can't fully assess it until we see the price paid in money and players (if any) for the next CFer.
Cornell, class of '89, physics and math. I even miss the snow, surprisingly enough.
And yes, I get WFAN and WCBS out here, at least with clear weather. Much better than 'EEI.
The good old Boilermaker - I'm guessing you've run it? I run it while I was in college and law school, but not since - always busy now in July. =)
Ran it about 7 years ago. Lots of fun. Local bands at every mile mark, great crowds, and LOTS of free beer at the end...
good times, good times.
It's the all upstate team.
After that strictly NYC, but I hope to move back the the Husdon Valley when I decide to come back from Japan.
My old stomping grounds.
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