Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
"That's why the Yankees are the Yankees," Rays DH Jonny Gomes said. "The buffoonery they had earlier, that was something else. But they're the Yankees and they're here now. They mean business. And they're not taking no for an answer." (N.Y. Daily News)
Welp, Cliff was right: neither pitcher was pretty last night. But that didn't stop the Yankees from winning their fourth straight game. Down 5-1, the Bombers scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, giving Aaron Small all he would need in order to up his record to an improbable 8-0. The final score: Yanks 9, Rays 5. According to the YES broadcast, it was the tenth time this season that the Yanks have come back from a deficit of four or more runs, a team record. Robinson Cano hit a huge grand slam and Alex Rodriguez made like David Ortiz with a tie-breaking two-run blast which gave the Yanks the lead for good. New York inched to within a half-a-game of the idle Cleveland Indians and a game-and-a-half to the Boston Red Sox who lost to Oakland last night at Fenway Park.
Aaron Small had two bad innings. In the second, he allowed two doubles and hit a man as the Rays jumped to a 2-0 lead; in the fifth, he gave up two singles and a long home run (which hit the catwalk) to Johnny Gomes (hey, the dude can hit the high fastball, 'specially when it ain't that fast). He also retired the side in order three times. The most important work for Small came after his offense reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth. He retired the next five men, throwing strikes, and keeping the aggresive Rays hitters off-balance with his breaking pitches, throwing them slower rather than harder.
When Julio Lugo punch a two-out triple in the gap, Small's night was over. Alan Embree came in and struck Carl Crawford out on sliders. Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera worked the last two innings and neither was crisp. Gordon got two outs in the eighth, but also put two men on base. Mariano replaced him and walked the pinch-hitter Eduardo Perez on five pitches, before falling behind Toby Hall 2-0. But Rivera regrouped and got a ground ball out to escape unscathed. The Yanks added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth (and hey, Cano and Rodriguez tripled) for some breathing room, and Rivera retired the side in order to end the game.
Bubba Crosby--my girlfriend's new favorite Yankee (oh, how she adores the underdog)--had a career-high three hits, Gary Sheffield had three himself, but it was Cano and Rodriguez who were the offensive stars (with an assist from Hideki Matsui). Again, the big inning was the top of the sixth when Matsui led off with a bloop double down the left field line off of Seth McClung. Bernie Williams followed with a walk before Jorge Posada singled sharply through the left side. McClung throws hard but he was tiring and Cano launched a 1-0 fastball deep into the right field stands. He managed to strike Crosby out but then walked Jeter and had to deal with Rodriguez, who he had plunked in the back in the previous inning. McClung was on the ropes and Rodriguez drilled a low fastball to deep center for his 42nd homer of the year. Some personal payback for him, and a measure of payback for the entire team in their final game against Tampa Bay.
The Yanks did exactly what they needed to do here. Now, all they have to do is continue win two of three in each of their remaining series and they'll have a fighting chance to play into October. I hate to end on a down note, but I'd be remiss if I didn't link to Bill Madden's article today about how Boss George and his crew have effectively frozen Stick Michael out of the picture. This is depressing and does not bode well as far as the future is concerned, but we can't worry about that right now. With just under three weeks left in the regular season, it's all about the team on the field, playing good ball, winning ball games, and hopefully making the playoffs.
Go Yanks...and thanks for showing up.
Could all change tonight, of course, seeing as how this has been a total jeckyl/hyde season, but it seems as if the confidence is building.
BP
Bill Madden's column is a downer, but should make the Torre haters here and elsewhere happy because Emslie and Oppenheimer in charge means that it is just a matter of time before Joe is fired. I love Madden's take on Kerrigan who is supposed to be this guru who will solve all the Yankees' pitching woes, even after he crashed and burned with the younger pitchers in Philly. Seriously though, most of the dreams of all armchair Yankee managers on the Internet appear to be about to come true. The 80s have returned in full force. May the baseball gods see us through the dark, until the light returns.
The Sox played their 24th straight game last night, and the papers noted today how wiped out they looked...their bats have definitely cooled off recently.
Nevertheless, that's what these guys get paid to do. Out of curiosity, I looked at the other long stretches of play the Yankees had this season. They had two 16 game stretches, one in late April and the other in early August, and went 8-8 in the first one (when they were still sleepwalking through the beginning of the season) and 9-7 in the second one.
The team had an 18 game stretch in June in which they went 10-8.
The most recent stretch of 17 games at the end of August is the most encouraging: 12-5, a .700 pace. I think we need to be just a little better than that in the last 17 games to make the playoffs.
And confirming what everyone's known for a while: in all those consecutive game stretches where the team broke even (or won only slighly more than they lost), the culprit was a series loss to Tampa. Hopefully, sweeping the bastards this time around portends positive developments the rest of the way.
I was hoping for a couple more runs in the ninth, just so that Mo could come out of the game. It was a tough call at that point, if you take him out and the rest of the bullpen blows up. . . Now Unit & Chacon need to pitch deep the next couple of days, but also the hitters need to kick the opposing pitchers when they're down. Double digit scoring vs. the Blue Jays, and Mo & Flash should stay away from the park tonight & tomorrow. No temptation.
A weasel that rides the coattails of other weasels is in many ways worse, and if Kerrigan gains even more ground in the new organizational chart, then things look really bleak.
I don't know whether to be happy that this is the first Yankee team to come from so far behind so many times. Great Yankee teams have some big comebacks in their history (the game that featured Darryl's granny at the Oakland Coliseum, etc.), but the Yankees are most successful when they beat their opponents into submission.
Torre told the New York Post that Matt Lawton will get the start in right tonight, proving that in Torre's stat notebook world of wonderment, no good deed goes unpunished.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/28178.htm
Meanwhile, I'm not sure taking 1 of 3 in the five remaining series will be enough. I think the Yanks need to work a sweep or two in there. I'll take a closer look at this in my pregame post tonight.
It's just like their constant reference to the payroll disparity. Following the prevailing line of thinking it shouldn't matter who's scouting with 200 million on the field (not adjusted for Brown, Pavano, and Gotham's cost of living). What if we were to start judging journalists on a sliding scale relative to their salaries? Maybe their salaries should be posted on their byline. How much does Madden get? Lupica? It's no doubt more than the poor inksters toiling in KC.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/yankees.htm
Perhaps, Madden is exaggerating. Just maybe. Genocide?
Anyway, this article points to a basic fact that is so obvious it begs to be refuted by more nuanced arguments. Here it is: George Steinbrenner is a raging moron, hellbent on self-destruction. He does not follow a line of reasoning; rather he always does the emotional thing and the action that serves his ego the most. If there is any hope in this organization it lies with people like Gene Michael and Cashman. Not because they don't make mistakes, but because they are willing to take on the Boss when he's ready to do a really stupid thing. There is evidence that Cashman, however flawed he is, follows more up-to-date statistical indicators when looking to add talent to this team. George invests in irrational notions of "true Yankeeness" (Womack anyone.) and redemption stories (Steve Howe). If Stick was out of the loop following the ALCS, that explains the horror of this past off-season even more completely. Get ready for the Yanks to sign Damon for an even bigger contract than Beltran's. Because he's won a world series and he's done well against the Yanks of course.
2. "said one Yankee organization man" "it was learned" "one former Yankee executive said" "From what I'm told" "Said one Cashman associate"
Unnamed sources are occasionally accurate. But not as much as they're wrong, and even moreso when they have an axe to grind like Madden.
Anyway, not to bring up the MVP cause that's not what's important. Does anyone still doubt AROD is the MVP... Came up big last night...
Lawton is literally the worst defender I've ever seen in the outfield. Enrique Wilson was better than him I think. And he's lost at the plate. I think he seems like a nice guy, and I want him to do well, but I don't think I've seen anybody so obviously freaked to be a Yankee in my life.
It's true that individual journalists such as Madden have axes to grind but it's pretty clear that at the very least everyone has the basic skeleton of the organization described. From that, the conclusion I draw is that George uses his Tampa people to justify his hunches. I'm guessing from what I know about the highly erratic and emotional Steinbrenner that he makes a lot of "from the gut" calls about players. If Cashman and Stick are indeed leaving who counterbalances that?
A couple of blowouts here and there will mean some much needed rest for the vets. In other words, let's pray for some more of those 17-3 games like Game One of this past Rays series.
As for the Sox, their bats have definitely cooled off. But in addition to their stretch of 30 straight games, it's also been caused by a hurt Damon, an exhausted Varitek (who's BA historically slips in September), an underperforming SS, etc.
Guys, mark my words, the Sox offense is deadin the water. Unless Manny wakes up and acrries that team with a monstah 2 weeks, the hobbling of Damon and the fact that no one will pitch to Ortiz anymore will doom that team.
VIVA LA JANKEES!
Meanwhile, anyone besides me like our chances at being a half-game up on the Sox come Monday morning? I expect Boston will win tonight behind Wakefield, but that the A's will win Saturday and Sunday. I think wins against Bush, I (in another matchup with O), and Lily are in the cards.
Oh how short our memories are.
Flawed as he may be, he never fails to provide his team with the one thing each owner owes to his or her franchise, a chance to win, plain and simple. To do otherwise is irresponsible and selfish.
Please, it's not 1985.
Fact: George Steinbrenner has delivered 6 World Series Championships to the fans in New York and elsewhere.
Fact: George Steinbrenner has delivers a team which was able to reach the World Series, albeit unsuccessfully on a few occasions.
Fact: George Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees for just under 10 Million Dollars on January 3, 1973, making it the wisest sports purchase in World History.
(http://www.answers.com/topic/new-york-yankees
Most importantly, the purchase of the New York Yankees came at a time when the team was loathed and spited in New York City. There were several options the former ownership were contemplating, not the least of which was an almost certain move out of town. Yes, the Yankees were on their way out, do your research.
George Steinbrenner, for all his foibles and flaws,(as Reggie says: "He's a great man and I will always respect what he has done for me, but if you're waiting for him to hug you like your daddy, don't hold your breath."), odd psychological quirks, which many attribute to his father's obsessive and domineering personality, e.g., making him wear, oddly enough, a sport coat as a young boy, in public, and to school, as well as in other "strange" and socially casual settings.
But for George Steinbrenner my friends, whatever your feelings may be, this conversation would, not could, be taking place somewhere else in the United States. If the Yankees are a religion, then George Steinbrenner is our Savior, our Jesus Christ.
Without him, the "New York" Yankees would not exist at all, to compete for anything, let alone, a 27th World Series Title.
We owe him more than words can articulate, he's not perfect, no he isn't, but he lifted this team from the ashes, and to me, he will always be the most important owner in sports history, not simply in New York. He has given me, and the State and City of New York, more than we could ever repay.
And my own personal favorite, he removed the names from the uniforms, something I have always felt is an anathema to team sports.
Thank you George, thank you.
Not defending Torre, but consider this: having Lawton as an asset down the stretch would be useful. He's not an asset right now. To become an asset, he needs playing time. He'll get it tonight against a pitcher he's hit before (.500/.571/1.167 and yes in a small sample size (6ABs)) with a groundball/strikeout pitcher going for us (Unit), minimizing the chance for fielding problems.
Personally, I'd stick with Bubba, but you can always put him in. I can see some logic behind Torre's move. Many of us criticize him for not using his bench more, I think this is a reasonable use of it.
Shaun, a resonable use of his bench would be to start Bubba and use Lawton if we get Bush into a hard spot or need a pinch hitting matchup later in the game (he can also bunt by the way), not start Kramer out in right, opening up the possibilty of some bone head play that will cost us runs we might not get back.
Maybe Joe will sit Sheffield and Cano and Matsui, in favor of Womack and the boys, they all have horrible numbers against Bush.
I say again: Fuck you Joe!
Joe Torre: "What I like to do is find something that works really well, than stay late in my office with Donnie and Girardi and see if I can figure out some way to screw it up. This is a very good team, so it can be difficult at times, but I'm confident we'll figure something out by gametime." September 15, 2005.
The more control Boss has over baseball-decisions the less likely the team is going to win. That's a fact.
By the way, Mo is the Jesus Christ of our collective fandom narrative. Please don't be a heretic. Yours is the apocryphal gospel.
Anyone else notice that, despite A-Rod having hit the game-winning home run last night in a game the Yanks HAD to win, against their greatest nemesis this season - no print media outlet used the words I have in bold type?
I guess it just doesn't fit the story.
You're missing the forest for the trees.
It's only a game winning home run if it happens in Boston.
I am curious though, I wonder how long it will take the writers to cast Boston as the scurge of sport, if in fact they do go on some sort of a long term run. Any thoughts?
"The more control Boss has over baseball-decisions the less likely the team is going to win. That's a fact."
I don't suppose you have anything other than anecdotal eveidence to back up a pretty bold statemet. Remember we would have Ortiz if George had his way.
Top or Bottom?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2163464
Firing Dick Howser after 103 win season, signing Danny Tartabull to take the back page away from the Mets after signing Bobby Bonilla of all people. Pressing to acquire Kenny Lofton because "we need a leadoff hitter". Or my personal favorite, "I just won you the pennant-I got you Steve Trout"
The list goes on and on, but you get the point...
http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2005/09/torii_hunter_in.html#comments
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Killing me!
I was so not attempting to begin a debate concerning George's bad moves vs. good moves, over-involement in the team, under-involvement in the team. That debate is one open to differing poits of view and could go on ad naseum.
The point I was attempting to make, apparently unclearly was this, AND ONLY THIS:
George saved the team from either contraction or relocation, that is simply not debatable. I was not casting a judgement concerning his competency as owner.
From embarassment to Champ in less that 4 years (1973-1977).
He may have made some bone-head moves, but stepping back and looking at in perspective, I was remarking that but for George, we are not even having this discussion at all.
Let's not overlook the fact that the foundation for the four championships in the '90s was laid by Stick and Buck while George was suspended for paying Howie Spira for dirt on Winfield.
With fewer and fewer young stars reaching free agency in their prime, relying George's money to compensate for poor drafting and player development will become more of a fool's errand.
The Yankees have to start relying on their farm system to produce talent, otherwise their major league talent base will continue to erode.
For their obscene payroll advantage, there should be a significantly larger talent disparity between the Yankees and other teams than there currently is.
btw, The idea that anyone who criticizes Torre is a hater is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.
Few managers handle a bullpen worse than Torre.
The Sox are hard to figure out...their lineup on paper is as good as it's been all season, but in 7 of the last 10 games, they've scored 3 runs or less. Guess when you're not beating up on Texas and Detroit and Tampa pitching at home, it's harder to score runs.
Your points are taken regarding Damon's injury, Renteria (Theo's fans are sweating him out bigtime) and Varitek's usual tough September...but I think the Sox will be there until the end. The pitching matchup looks good for them tonight, and they'll probably snap out of their current funk.
stormer, I think George is a hall of fame owner and larger than life figure, but with all due respect, your statement "If the Yankees are a religion, then George Steinbrenner is our Savior, our Jesus Christ" sounds like something a Sox fan would say to mock a Yankee fan.
If not comeback POY, at least the biggest surprise that I think I've ever seen. I keep waiting for him to pitch a crap game (isn't he overdue?) and it just hasn't happened.
//I wonder how long it will take the writers to cast Boston as the scurge of sport, if in fact they do go on some sort of a long term run. Any thoughts?//
The Sox need 20 more rings first.
Hey ChuckM,
We could have Al Davis, count your blessings.
And don't make me assign you a research project on the late 60's, early 70's Yankees.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/history/timeline3.jsp
From the Baseball Prospectus "Postseason Odds", based on 1 million simulations of the rest of the season:
Yanks: 43% chance (31 for division odds, 12 for wild card).
Red Sox 76%
Angles 45%
A's: 55%
Indians: 82%
White Sox: 97%
Better than a few days ago, but still last out of 6, and you need to be in the top 4 to make it!
But of course that's why the play the games on the field ...
Since Howser was fired 25 years ago, Yankee brass have made some wise decisions and some unwise decisions. Everybody does.
Shouldn't have traded Ted Lilly, definitely shouldn't have traded Rickey Henderson. But I see no proof that these decisions were irrational or that their purpose was to boost Steinbrenner's ego.
George is always gonna fire everybody if the Yankees lose in the playoffs, if the Yankees get swept by the Mets, if the Yankees lose to the Red Sox, if the Mets sign Roberto Alomar, if Steinbrenner eats a greasy pastrami sandwich for lunch.
The writers need to work a little harder on a new storyline.
I hate greasy pastrami, he better fire somebody!
A friend of mine had this to say about Lawton's tenure at Pittsburgh:
"He continually misjudged balls. He would jump up after the ball had passed him; he'd be way out of position; he'd get late breaks on the ball. Then about every 20 games he'd make a spectacular catch. I can't understand why the Yankees have him doing anything except DH."
Because we need an outfielder, not a DH, obviously. :-P
Bubba's hitting well, and his fielding is a lot more solid than Lawton's. Bubba's baserunning strikes fear into my heart, though. Wasn't he the one who neglected to look at the runner ahead of him, and passed Jason Giambi? (This ain't golf, Bubba. You can't play through.) He made two baserunning blunders last night (though luckily, the first time the Rays didn't have anyone on 1st to throw to, so he got away with it).
Better tell Frank Costanza.
Ok guys, I live to suffer your ridicule another day. I must venture into the world this evening and will catch only bottom line scores if I'm lucky.
Good thoughts, another big game, that goes without saying.
It's in their hands now. 1.5 out and .5 out respectively. If they win at least 4.5 of 6 here on out, they are in, well I think so. More wins would be preferable.
Cleveland and Boston now an afterthought, considering the math. If they win, they're in, if they don't, they aren't. Simply have to be a little better than both to get in, that is not a terribly large thing to ask of this team.
Carry the day boys!
Go Yankees!
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