Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The last week, in which our heroes went 5-1 against the rival Red Sox and dastardly Devil Rays, has been a physically and emotionally draining one for both the Yankees and their fans. Fortunately, while there are no off-days left in the Yankees season, their schedule does get decidedly easier starting tonight when the Yanks begin a stretch of fourteen games against the Blue Jays and Orioles.
But it is exactly that that concerns me about these four series against the weaker sisters of the AL East. The Yankees avoided a let down after taking two of three from the Red Sox, and they avoided a let down after both unloading 17 runs on the Devil Rays in the first game of that series and pulling out a one-run victory in Game Two. But in both cases they were facing a team that had made them angry, the Red Sox by virtue of the natural rivalry, last year's humiliating ALCS, the standings, and all of the accompanying baggage, and the Devil Rays by inexplicably pushing the Yankees around during the first five series between the two teams this year.
The Blue Jays and Orioles, on the other hand, have thus far minded their manners. After a hot start, the Orioles have tumbled to a .476 record, 14 games behind the still second place Yankees, and they haven't been seen 'round these parts since just before the All-Star break when they dropped a pair to the Yanks in the Bronx. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have gone a very accommodating 4-8 against the Yanks thus far this season, most recently dropping three of four to the Bombers at the Stadium in late August, the only Blue Jay win in that series coming on what remains Mike Mussina's last game of the season, when the inflammation of his elbow became too severe for him to continue.
The fear, of course, is that after the fever pitch of their last six games, the Yankees will ease off against the Jays this weekend, forgetting that they're markedly better than the Seattle team that split a four game set with the Yanks two and a half weeks ago, and perhaps completely unaware that Toronto has a .545 Pythagorean Winning Percentage, which, if substituted for the Blue Jays' actual record, would rank them just two games behind the A's and Angels in the overall American League standings.
Then again, looking back over the Yankees' schedule, other than their struggles against the Devil Rays, the Yanks haven't lost a series to a team not currently in a playoff slot since they dropped two of three to the Mets in late June, and other than that Mariners series the only other split they've suffered over that span was the rain-shortened two-game set against the Orioles that immediately followed that Mets series.
What that tells us is that, over the last two and a half months, the Yankees have done their job against the lesser teams in the league, but simply winning these four series may not be enough to get the Yankees in the playoffs. Let's speculate, shall we?
Let's assume the Yankees will take two of three from the Blue Jays in each of their two match-ups and three of four from the Orioles in each of their two match-ups, an optimistic, but not at all unreasonable assumption. That would make the Yankees 10-4 over that stretch and would find them entering the finals series of the season at Fenway with a record of 93-66.
Now assume the Red Sox take two of three from the A's, Devil Rays, and Orioles and three of four from the Blue Jays. That would make them 9-4 over the same stretch and would put them at 94-65, a game better than the Yankees, entering that final series. They could then eliminate the Yankees with a series win. Meanwhile, the Yankees would have to take two of three from the Red Sox at Fenway to force a one-game playoff in the Bronx, thus effectively needing to win three of four against the Red Sox to continue on into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, assume the Indians take two of three from the White Sox and Devil Rays and six of seven from the pathetic Royals. That would make them 10-3 over this stretch and give them a one-game lead over the Yankees entering their final series of the year against the White Sox. The Yankees would then have to win one more game against the Red Sox than the Indians win against the White Sox over that final series to force a one-game playoff for the Wild Card as merely matching the Indians would eliminate them from the Wild Card.
Of course, the Yankees might be able to work their way back into the Wild Card if the White Sox collapse so badly that the Indians win the Central, but as the Yanks trail the White Sox by five games at the moment, that possibility is akin to shooting the moon in hearts and one the Yankees would be wise to ignore for the time being.
With all of this in mind, it would behoove the Yankees to mix in a sweep or two over the next two weeks. One thing's for sure, unless the Yankees totally tank over these next fourteen games, it's going to be an exciting two weeks, regardless of the inferiority of their opponents.
Tonight the Yankees send Randy Johnson to the mound against David Bush. Johnson is coming off of four straight quality starts, his best run of the season. His line in those four games:
28 1/3 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 0 HR, 6 BB, 26 K
More problematically, Johnson left his last start, that Sunday gem against the Red Sox, with a cramp in his left calf. Also, Johnson is 0-2 against the Blue Jays this year, though the first loss was his brilliant complete-game duel against Roy Halladay in April, which the Blue Jays won 2-0 on a two-run late-inning homer by Erik Hinske. The other game was one of those ugly mid-season games we'd all rather forget.
It's also worth noting that Bush is also coming off of four quality starts, in which he's produced this line:
28 IP, 22 H, 5 R, 2 HR, 5 BB, 22 K
Bush has faced the Yankees twice this year, turning in a quality start both times, though his bullpen blew the first game. In his most recent outing against the Yankees, he shut them out for six innings while striking out seven, picking up the win.
Should be a good one tonight. I just hope the Yankees are up for it.
Toronto Blue Jays
2005 Record: 72-73 (.497)
2005 Pythagorean Record: 79-66 (.545)
Manager: John Gibbons
General Manager: J.P. Ricciardi
Ballpark (2004 park factors): Rogers Centre (106/105)
Who's new?
Ted Lilly (activated from DL)
September Call-ups
L - Gabe Gross (OF)
L - John-Ford Griffin (OF)
R - Guillermo Quiroz (C)
R - Shaun Marcum
Current Roster:
1B – Shea Hillenbrand
2B – Aaron Hill
SS – Russ Adams
3B – Corey Koskie
C – Gregg Zaun
RF – Gabe Gross
CF – Vernon Wells
LF – Reed Johnson (R)/Frank Catalanotto (L)
DH - Eric Hinske
Bench:
S - Orlando Hudson (2B)*
R - Alexis Rios (OF)
R - Frank Menechino (IF)
L - John-Ford Griffin (OF)
R - Guillermo Quiroz (C)
R - Ken Huckaby (C)
*will miss series due to an ankle injury
Rotation:
L - Gustavo Chacin
L - Ted Lilly
L - Scott Downs
R - Josh Towers
R - David Bush
Bullpen:
R - Miguel Batista
R - Justin Speier
L - Scott Schoeneweis
R - Jason Frasor
R - Vinnie Chulk
R - Pete Walker
R - Brandon League
R - Dustin McGowan
R - Shaun Marcum
DL:
R - Roy Halladay
Typical Line-up
L - Russ Adams (SS)
L - Frank Catalanotto/R - Reed Johnson (LF)
R - Vernon Wells (CF)
L - Corey Koskie (3B)
R - Shea Hillenbrand (1B)
L - Eric Hinske (DH)
S - Gregg Zaun (C)
R - Aaron Hill (2B)
R - Gabe Gross (RF)
I preferred it when WOR carried Mets games.
Damn! What a moment to tune in... Wells 3 run dinger. Shit.
Cover his butt offense.
Like I said, the scoring for the Jays ends at three runs!
Feels like I've been saying this for 5 years straight now!!!!!
No more runs, Randy.
Sportsline still has Adams walking
Scott Proctor is coming in. Leiter is also warming.
Fans are ticked. They paid to see Randy Johnson, not Scott Proctor.
AND THE UMP WAS LIKE !!!!!!!! and came charging to the mound, and Randy started yelling back and got tossed.
What bullshit.
The umps are NOT part of the show. They need to learn that.
Flaherty put himself between Randy and the umpire and kept them apart, or it could have been worse. They were both really ticked off. Torre was hot, too. He was yelling at the umpire himself, after Randy left.
Holy crap! Cano hit a home run!
This may be a blessing in disguise. The rest of the team has something to prove now. And Johnson was not pitching all that well.
I like the sound that that, too... ;-)
Maybe with a 10 run lead.
We may just get that. Let's hope so. The last thing we need is for Gordon or Mo to have to pitch.
Doesn't look like pitching will be critical tonight, anyway. The Jays look like they've rolled over and given up.
Maybe it's just League.
And now's the time for Flash Gordon's nemesis, Ming the Merciless. 19-3 would be fine. And put pressure on the late starting Red Sox.
Although it looks like they'll get their break tomorrow...all the signs are that tomorrow will be a complete washout. But then the Sox will have to turn around and play a doubleheader on Sunday.
Ouch.
Hey, put the pitchforks down. . .
This was the deal in case anyone was wondering - the Oakland Athletics traded Carlos Pena, Franklyn German and a player to be named later (Jeremy Bonderman) to the Detroit Tigers, the Tigers traded Jeff Weaver to the New York Yankees, the Yankees traded Ted Lilly, Jason Arnold and John-Ford Griffin to the Athletics.
Wasn't it a little early to be consenting to "baseball etiquette" and not run up the score? Now it's a game again.
And F-Rod needs to get an out when he comes in, even if it results in a run. Don't be too fine, just get outs.
I think I'd go with Leiter. He's used to pitching with men on, after all. :-P
Well, my worries were for naught. Tanyon got the out. Though not without some nervous moments.
It was 11-3 and now it's 11-10?
Words fail.
Don't be nice Yankees.
And if A-Rod had stolen that base, they might have hit him later. Oh, wait.
Yankees must score!!!
It is embarrassing to think about this bullpen playing in the PS.
And Rich... forget about the "F-Rod has not been used enought". There is good reason for that.
ESPN just picked up the feed here...
What a mess...
Can anyone give me even a shred of hope that this team can contend in the PS?
Let's bring out Flash or Mo to close this out...it sucks, but no more screwing around. Clearly, the offense has checked out for the rest of the night.
Hitters, now would be a good time to manufacture one, or two, or twenty.
I didnt need that
Mo can't be anywhere near the park tomorrow. He needs to be in his pjs at game time, drinking some cocoa and reading his Bible.
Red Sox about to win. Based loaded.
On a different not, anybody check out Andruw Jones' numbers lately?
But hey, it's still a win. At least we don't fall behind in the loss column.
They muted the sound out on the replays.
But it was really quick. Like, seconds. All of sudden, he's screaming, the ump's screaming, and he's ejected.
The ump had a really short fuse, and I think he should have given Randy a warning first.
But Randy should know better. The guy's over 40, and should know that nothing good will come of cussing out umps.
Way north of .400 AVG and 1.000 OPS for the month, even though he's only really been crackin' off some big power in the last few games.
At this point, "white-hot" wouldn't quite cut it.
though Coco Crisp comes very close
Since Johnson pitched so little, perhaps he could be used on his throw day out of the 'pen? Might give GorMo a rest.
Rich is right - where the #%(& is Colter Bean!?!
Meanwhile, Cleveland won, ChiSox just took the lead in the top of the 10th, and Boston-A's still tied. #%()in Ortiz.
Someone here suggested that Cano's sudden improvement was due at least partly to the acquisition of Bellhorn. I didn't buy it at the time, but now I wonder. He suddenly seems worried that he'll lose his job. He hasn't had those brain fart moments on defense lately, either, which seemed to be due to lack of focus.
Wakefield will pitch until a decision is reached.
Why can't our middle relievers be more like Oakland's?
How many times have I wished that the Pirates had held onto him? Here comes the tenth . . .
If the Yanks go to the playoffs, and Cano keeps hitting like this the last two weeks, I think he may sew up ROY, Street or not.
Torre thought the ump uncharacteristically short tempered. He hasn't talked to RJ. I think he's afraid to talk to him until RJ hopefully cools off by tomorrow
note:what Suzyn actually said was RJ said where the blank was that and I assumed RJ didn't say where the blazes was that.
In other words, Colter Bean would've been in the A's pen since Opening Day. Sigh.
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With Toronto leading 3-2 with two outs in the second inning, Frank Menechino at the plate and the count 2-2, Johnson threw a pitch on the inside part of the plate that was called a ball. The 6-foot-10 left-hander yelled at umpire Fieldin Culbreth, who popped out to the first-base side of the plate and took off his mask.
Culbreth yelled something at Johnson and pointed at the pitcher. Johnson yelled something back, and the umpire then ejected him.
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And no I'm not. Funny managing.
I left that unsaid because because I couldn't have said it without alot of four-letter words.
Wow! Scutaro legged out a double on a short hit to right. good hustle!
But it looks like the Sox are gonna pull it out again. A man on 3rd and one out.
BTW, there's a couple of spots on the high court. ;)
All things considered, this isn't that bad. This was the game the Sox were supposed to win, and it took them 10 innings and every ounce of effort from their best two pitchers to do the job. They're still struggling offensively, even at home.
Let's see how they do the rest of the weekend.
I'm guessing Sterling took up an irrational defense of Johnson just as Republicans do of Bush, but I can't be sure.
Whosever fault it really is, we can't have this. Given the import of each game, RJ has to account for irascible umps and act accordingly, for the good of the team.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B198210DB
Culbreath claims he warned Johnson in the previous inning, though not formally.
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