lucky indeed.

low BABIP magic = "the Force"

yes, but will Hendrickson walk people?

Again, the stupid Rays' announcers. If the yanks are not pounding Hendrickson from the 1st. inning, I'm going to suffer in this game.

Good news everyone, Bernie's playing CF!!! and the cherry on the top, No Phillips v a hard-throwing lefty!!!

I'm still not all that impressed with Phillips.

Well thats the who point Matt, theres nothing to be impressed with yet. He was just starting to look better, and Joe relegates him to the bench, and now we are stuck with Bernie out there...ugh

5 I would just like to see him get a chance, like Nick Johnson did before he was shipped out. If he plays and stinks, I'll jump off the AP bandwagon like it was filled with fireants.

Nick Johnson was also six years younger when he got his shot.

And 6 He hasn't shown me hes any better than bernie. Yeah, he's improved a little, but he started at absolute bottom of the barrel bad. Ans he still has trouble with breaking pitches.

This whole Matsui streak thing is getting out of control, if anyone needs a day off it is clearly him...

At least he swung.

Yeah, but we KNOW Bernie will give us nothing, we don't know what Phillips can give us. And 30 ABs doesn't prove anything. We know that Andy's minor #'s project him to be better than Bernie, but not if he is used like Luis Sojo

Seems Damon has an ouchy foot from smacking into the wall in Toronto, thus he's DHing for the second day in a row and thus, since Giambi's mad hot, there's no room for Phillips.

Cap'n MVP!

Jeter is hitting just about anything.

I may very well be wrong. But when I see a 29 year old minor leaguer, I assume there's something wrong with him. And when he doesn't exactly do anything at all to disprove that early, I'm not big on "Lets just give him four months to work it out"

Damn you, Gathright.

What the hell was Jeter doing? A-Rod needs to talk to him and explain that you should try to walk off those 0-2 pitches in the middle of the strikezone.

@%$@! Great catch. That always seems to happen to us, rarely the other way around...

11 - good luck getting through.

12 - then why not sit him against a lefty?

I think that was gonna hit the top of the wall, but I mean the top, could have bounced over.

WOW!!!

Andy's #s in the minors, if you look at them, only show that there is something wrong with those in charge of calling him up, not with him...So you are saying that when Bernie started badly all those early years, we should have just given up on him?

15 Mattpat11--I basically agree with you. But what's the option? Trot Bernie out there for 400 ABs? Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that sticking with Phillips is right now the better option out of a number of unpleasant (realistic) choices.

22 And no one traded for him. That's what really got me. The Yankees, and apparently every other team, did not want him. he was not called up, he was not traded for in any of the 9 million bad trades we made, he just stayed in the minors. And then he comes up and cant hit a breaking ball.

22 - he's eleven years old, give him a break.

15 What's wrong with Phillips is he missed the 2003 season due to an elbow injury and thus wasn't on the radar to fill Soriano's shoes at second base (which is where he played until the injury) following the Rodriguez trade. Pushed to the corners he got burried behind Rodriguez and Giambi and, as I've been bitching about for two-plus years now, hasn't been given a chance to take the DH/righty slugger off the bench role he should have held for the past two years. So the reason he's showing up now as a 29 year old is that he's essentially lost three seasons to injury and mismanagement.

and 22 There is a difference between waiting for a 22 year old or a notoriously slow starter to find his groove and waiting for a 29 year old who may not be all that good to find something he never will.

Damon Hollins looks 65 years old.

27 - even if he does flop and can't hit, at least he doesn't have a four year 40 million dollar deal.

Don't mean to come across as harsh, just don't feel like rehashing the debate. Much easier to just state it as it is...

27 Last thing I'll say about Phillips on this thread: minor league numbers translate to major league production. He's not a future star, but he's the ninth-best hitter on the team, which means he should be playing.

Nice, Broussard hits a first inning slam of Josh "I play the game right and you don't" Beckett...

Like I said, Giambi's hot.

"or a notoriously slow starter"--We've been waiting over two seasons for this particular slow starter to get it going.

29 We're not paying him a lot, but when we have to deal with this division, I'm not a big fan of waiting around for minor leaguers to find their groove.

Well, only about 12? of Phillips' ABs came without a bajillion years between them. And by the end of the 3rd start (against Kazmir the pitcher who ended his season last year) he stopped looking so overmatched.

Hopefully, Damon is ready for the field again soon, so we can go back to the Phillips at first, and Giambi at DH matchup we had going. I truly believe he deserves 50 regular ABs before we can determine anything. And I see no harm in giving him 50 at bats because he is only taking them away from Bernie who, let's face it, ain't doin well.

If 30 is in reply to 25, that was me urging you on.

I just growled. I have never growled before. IS IT THAT FUCKING HARD to swing at strikes?

Ahhh, it all makes sense now Rilke! :)

This is starting to look just like last year's games against this big galoot and all of the games against the Rays...

looking at our options at back-up 1b, its a shame that Lee got hurt so quickly, when he was with the yanks.

He would have been a long-term solution there, amazing glove and solid bat.

Roster change on the D-Rays I missed. Cantu's ouchy foot turned out to be broken. He's on the DL, Greg Norton takes his roster spot.

40 Solid bat? Lee can't hit.

38 They don't want to swing because they don't think its a strike. If they expand their zone then they may wind up expanding their zone further and swinging at completely obvious balls.

At least in my opinion anyway.

I imagine people would complain if they look absolutely foolish swinging through a ball that is low but they had 2 strikes on them.

Strike outs looking are a product of a patient team. And really, the Yankees have struck out 104 times entering tonight--11 teams struck out more often in the AL and EVERY team in the NL struck out more often.

39 It reminds me of last nights game already.

i think he meant that his bat was solid wood. he had been using a papier mache model.

45 Oh, my mistake. Sorry.

DRay ueberprospect Delmon Young expresses his disagreement in re balls and strikes by tossing his bat into the ump. Oops.

43 But they ARE strikes. They are obviously strikes. They are not bad calls, they are not borderline. They are strikes that get called strikes 8 out of 10 times. I couldn't care less if they strikeout, flyout ground out whatever. I care VERY much when they're so fucking conderned with taking EVERYTHING that they start taking two strike pitches right in the zone. A-Rod did it twice last night with two outs and a runner on third, and the explanation i got was "leave him alone, he's trying to work a walk!" As if taking the 0-2 pitch in the strikezone will somehow HELP him achieve that goal, or that working a walk will be more beneficial that getting a hit off the pitch in the fucking strikezone.

Cano should have taken that pitch. He looked foolish fouling it off.

did kaat just say it's tough to hit a ball fair down the lines at the stadium because there isn't a lot of foul territory?

42 I think he can hit better than Clark '04 and Tino '05 (except for April '05).

48 - 'the explanation i got was "leave him alone, he's trying to work a walk!"'

Just for the record, that was more of a mocking than an explanation. I had tried to explain the concept of not swinging at bad pitches and the related concept of not always detecting good pitches before without success, as had others, and it had grown tiresome. (I rather suspect you're confused about the strike zone sufficiently to be wrong about the location of the pitches in question, esp. given that it's ARod, but that's beside the point.)

look for mr. gomes on next week's sopranos playing 'johnny bats.' he will be the second big leaguer to appear on the show, follwing tony womack's character 'tony eyebrows.'

52 I understand not swinging at bad pitches. I do not understand not swinging at a pitch you know will be called a strike when you already have two strikes. What the hell ever happened to protect the plate with two strikes? Does that just die with little league?

48 They aren't always "obviously strikes" and sometimes they aren't strikes at all, but are called as such. And then there are cases when the pitcher just froze the batter by throwing a pitch completely unexpected for the situation...curve in fastball count and whatnot. It happens, it is part of the game, there are plenty of other things to get more worked up about.

Man, Jeter's hot right now. He's batting .400

53 Didn't Schilling appear once as 'joey baggadonuts'?

There was a working script that included him as the character 'EverQuest Eddie,' but the script was destroyed by a level two mace.

Now we can't hit the immortal mark Hendrickson. This team is going to kill me.

I hate the yankees that play the rays. they just fold when they see them.

hendrickson, orvella, miceli, mcclung... c'mon!

Hendrickson already shut out the Birds this year. He's apparently of the "not too bad" variety.

Oh, he's quite bad. Career ERA north of 5.

It's almost official, this might very well be the most overrated offense of all time!!!

I heard Torre on Mike & The Maddog today making excuses for this offense by saying that he's not worried because he likes their "personality," I shit you not!

I guess they'd be a good date.

"This team is going to kill me."

All things come to those who wait.

perhaps they're not aware that they're facing Mark Hendrickson

I had a revelation the other day: the Yankees bore me. It's hard to get worked up about them sometimes. This occurred to me the other day when I wanted a cigarette. Coming up next inning were Sheff Arod and Giambi and I thought "You know, I really don't particularly enjoy watching any of them hit." Sure, there's something exciting about Sheff's ferocity, something poetic in Arod's effortless swings and something compelling about Giambi's eye, but really, they're hard to get really jazzed about the way I do about say Cano or Jeter or the way I used to about Johnson and Sori.

This team really lacks character and that saddens me. I'm realizing that I really don't enjoy waiting around for the long ball, which is basically what this team offers. It's just kind of uninspired, is all.

Just thought I'd share, anyone feel similarly?

oh, and by the way, it IS official that Bernie's done! I love you, man, but let's be honest...

I say just insert Phillips in as the everyday DH/1B and alternate him with Giambi. Sit Bernie and keep him around on the bench for old times sake.

67 I understand your feelings on days like yesterday and today, when they can't seem to find the ball. However, I would say I get bored when Bernie or Posada are coming up, nobody else. I enjoy the AB's by all of the others, even if they do K a lot or attempt to go for the long ball.

this year in particular Giambi's at-bats are great, as somebody said in this site it seems that the ball drifts away from him like a magnet against another pole.

Cleveland up 9-1, all against Beckett.

67 I too liked that comment about Giambi's body repelling strikes. Apologies to whomever it was who coined that when I eventually steal it like I have the Posada between two cupcakes thing.

68 Hate to say I told you so.

Anyone feel better about the fact that the Yanks haven't walked once tonight?

69 tocho, yeah, part of my malaise might not be objective. While it's true that I am singularly uninspired by homerun derby, that's not the only reason I'm bored. I'm also bored because I have so little invested in the success of those big three I named. I just don't particularly care for them as ballplayers (although to be fair, I do love Arod's fielding).

There's just something very artifical about the whole thing.

67 I've felt that way for a while even though I still get worked up watching up them struggle. This team is not nearly as interesting to watch the O'Neill-Brosius-Tino teams were by a long stretch.

71 Cliff (or someone), do please enlighten me, I'm not privy to the "Posada between two cupcakes thing."

Thanking you in advance.

72 Man, I love how that works.

75 Someone wrote last year that Posada runs the bases like he's caught between two cupcakes and can't decide which he wants to eat.

77 That's got to be one of the funniest metaphors I've ever heard. That's just too funny because it's so *apt."

thanks.

78 That's why it's stuck with me. I rank the Giambi strike repellant along side it, though the latter isn't as humorous.

Hendrickson still hasn't given up an earned run this season . . . man didn't even have time to type that one!

Yeah! Finally something goes the Yankees way.

Well, Matsui's showing signs of life.

80 Ah, turns out none of those runs were earned, so Hendrickson still hasn't given up an earned run this season, despite trailing this game 3-1.

80 - weren't those runs on the 3b?

"man didn't even have time to type that one" myself...

Ok, no more groundzilla comments (though Sterling did say it was a seeing eye ground ball).

Hope the bullpen's active here.

Myers should stay in through Branyan, that's four batters, three lefties and the switch-"hitting" Perez.

Cue the theme from "Halloween." Mike Myers is coming in.

Matsui's good at keeping catchers from taking the extra base.

Why do I feel like I've seen this movie before?

88 Unless he can't throw a strike, of course.

Mmmmmm, lefty specialist.

Der-ek Je-ter!

Damon's foot looked fine going first to home on that double.

67... While I don't feel the same way about the Big 3 ABs, I do understand how you feel in general.

It's much easier to root for the underdog. Remember Mets fans in the 60's? No expectations of winning. A Win was a great prize.

With the Yanks, we expect wins, top notch performance, consistancy, dominance. Why watch now... just tune in in October for the Post Season.

It is a burden on us fans.
But to be honest, I think it's really tough on the team. What other owner predicts... doesn't hope for... but PREDICTS a World Series.

It's hard to be the best.

And is Jetes HOT or what!!

Jeter's on fire this year

#2 now batting .408.

Tanyon is now up in the pen...

Farnsworth might not want to pitch after he's gotten the 3rd out, but the nice thing is, when he only goes 12 pitches the night before, he's available the next night. He seems like he's quite efficient.

BTW, I'm not thrilled with bringing in Sturtze here - I'd rather see Villone. Even though he's a lefty, he isn't a LOOGY by any stretch.

Mo's up, too...

Good move, Joe. No unnecessary drama tonight... please.

How did I know that Mo was coming in? Joe, what happened to not over-using him? Villone has only pitched two innings in the last eleven days. Sigh.

I didn't think he'd put Mo in after last night, but it looks like he's going to.

I almost had a flashback to Game 7 of the '01 Serious there, when I thought Mo was going to field that one.

Greg Norton does not scare me. Darn, couldn't even type that one!

There are very few things prettier in baseball than a centerfielder who turns his back to the plate and makes the play.

Two out of three ain't bad. Last year, we didn't win a Tampa series until the very end, when we had to.

106 Agreed, MFD. He still looks lost at the plate sometimes, but Bubba sure can field. Glad Joe put him in there instead of Bernie. No way Bernie would've got that one.

106 That was nice work by Bubba. Dunno if Bernie would have gotten that one.

They interviewed Bubba last night. Player of the game, great night in the field and at the plate...but he looked like his puppy just died. That baserunning blunder was really weighing on him. They might have won if he kept going.

Much happier ending tonight. :-)

106 Agreed. I'm digging Bubba these days, too. I feel a little better with him out there at crunch time as opposed to Damon...

Tribe 12 (and threatening), Baastin 3. Bottom 7.

106 ws, yes, absolutely. You're referring to that catch by Bubba? He made it look so effortless that I was actually worried he might have misjudged it or something. You're right, such plays are just revelations to watch.

100 MFD I know what you mean, I have limited confidence in Sturtze especially in the 9th even with a 3 run lead. I guess I'd like to see him in a 6th or 7th inning bridge role right now. Torre giving him the hook so quickly may have confirmed that. Any thoughts?

106-111 Did anyone else also notice that Bubba made it to right center, where Wigginton hit that double in the 8th, just a hair behind Sheffield? Dude can fly out there.

And Mo only threw 7 pitches, so it shouldn't affect him too badly. Hopefully they won't need him again tomorrow night.

113 With Jaret Wright starting, the odds of the Yanks needing Rivera are indeed slim.

Bubba would be an ideal fifth outfielder, the problem is this team doesn't have a decent fourth outfielder.

114 With Wright starting, my money is on Ciaro mopping up.

114 I think we may actually have a pretty good 4th outfielder. His initials are M.C. and at this moment he's hitting the International League pretty hard. Any chance Bernie retires before the season is over?

MFD he does fly around out there. It's fun to watch especially when he gets there before the ball does.

Small went 7.0 9h 2r and 2er tonight at Columbus.

116 "I think we may actually have a pretty good 4th outfielder. His initials are M.C. and at this moment he's hitting the International League pretty hard."

M.C.? For a second there I thought you meant Miguel Cairo. I mean, after Torre started him at 1B, what can't do?

MonkeyP, I can be as nuts as the next guy but .....

116 Actually, the best 4th OF in Columbus is Kevin Reese, and as the sample size increases, the numbers are bearing that out. Melky needs to stay put and learn. Reese is overripe and needs to take Bernie's roster spot pronto.

119 Reese over Thompson? Really? I realize Reese is probably better defensively, but can't Thompson fly?

It's kinda sad for Bubba though, he probably can make it with other teams though with that speed and glove... but unless he suddenly realize what he's suppose to do with that piece of wood in his hand when he gets to the plate he's not going to be much of a everyday player.

Although with the current roster, I actually think Bubba deserve more playing time than he is getting... 2 outta 3 guys in the outfield are between big to huge liabilities and the so called 4th outfielder is a below average range guy also...

I much rather trade for a weak bat at 9th for a real outfielder... it's not like Bernie is a huge threat at the plate either. and with Bubba's speed he might actually produce more runs than Bernie... if he learns how to run the bases = =b

Espically playing against these D-rays it really shows what a REAL outfield is... jesus those guys got range... I would LOVE to have Gathright if we could have designated defenders XD (Gathright and Bubba are pretty alike though, but Gathright is probably even better on the wheel...)

67 made me laugh with the personality comment.

Do you remember Nick Johnson? He was probably the most uninteresting good Yankee ever.

I like Bubba in the outfield, too. He'll never be a big hitter, but I don't think he'd be a dead weight, either. At this point, I think I'd take Bubba at the plate over GOB.

If the idea is to give Bubba a shot at playing somewhere else, then one of the Kevins has to be able to play CF. I think they both can, though I'm not sure. But if that's true, I think Bubba would be great on the Marlins. He's certainly no worse than Reggie Abercrombie, and Girardi the Torre acolyte is probably already a fan. I wonder if the Marlins would give up a lesser minor league arm for him?

Pure speculation, mind you - I don't think this will ever happen.