Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Tonight, the Yankees open a three-game weekend series with the Blue Jays in the Bronx. These two teams last met in Toronto just over a week ago, splitting a two-game "series" due to radically disperate performances by Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina. Not much has changed about this Blue Jay team in the interim. The only change to their roster is that A.J. Burnett (hereafter known as the Canadian Pavano) is back on the DL and has been replaced in the rotation by hot prospect Casey Janssen, who was drafted out of UCLA in 2004. Burnett did not pitch against the Yankees last week and Janssen will not pitch in this weekend's series, so for all the Yankees will know, this team is unaltered.
They have shuffled the line-up however, primarily because of Alexis Rios, who at 25 appears to finally be living up to his early hype. Rios was rushed to the majors at age 23 after just 185 unimpressive triple-A at-bats and has struggled mightily the past two seasons to the point that he was supposed to platoon in right field this year with twice displaced former Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske. Poor Eric.
What's been most startling about Rios thus far is his power. Rios had just 31 professional homers coming into this season and no more than 11 in any single season at any level, or combination of levels. Thus far, in 18 games he's homered six times and is hitting .368/.375/.772. Certainly he's not that good, but a month into the season, he doesn't appear to be cooling off very much, having gone 3 for 4 with a homer against the Orioles on Wednesday. Last week in two games against the Yankees, Rios went 3 for 7 with a homer, two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored (doing most of that damage against Randy Johnson whom he's now 6 for 11 against career with three extra base hits). You just can't keep that kind of production in the eighth spot, so Rios moves up to second in the order, pushing Frank Catalanotto (or Reed Johnson) into the lead-off spot, and dropping Russ Adams down to his vacated eighth spot. The result looks like this:
L – Frank Catalanotto (LF)
R – Alexis Rios (RF)
R – Vernon Wells (CF)
R – Troy Glaus (3B)
L – Lyle Overbay (1B)
R – Shea Hillenbrand (DH)
R – Bengie Molina (C)
L – Russ Adams (SS)
R – Aaron Hill (2B)
The man who will try to stop some version of that lineup tonight will be Jaret Wright. Wright is making just his second start of the year in addition to a lone relief appearance, both of those prior outings having ended badly. Wright claims that the long rest and excitement about finally getting on the mound caused him to overthrow against the Twins two weeks ago. We'll see if he's able to dial it down a bit tonight. He'll certainly shock the pants off of everyone watching if he is. Making matters worse, his mound opponent is Blue Jay ace Roy Halladay. Halladay hasn't been his dominant self yet this season, and was even skipped two turns ago due to stiffness in his pitching forearm, but still comes into the Bronx sporting a 3.60 ERA, which should be more than enough to outpitch Jaret Wrong.
A couple quick line-up notes: Kelly Stinnett will catch Wright tonight so that Posada can catch Johnson in tomorrow's day game. Johnny Damon is back in the field, as is Bernie, who will play right for tonight's DH, Gary Sheffield.
One thing about his previous home-run deficient seasons is that he did rip a fair amount of doubles (24 & 23 in 426 and 481 ABs respectively) and if there's one thing that's been drilled into my head it's that as young hitters age, doubles turn into home runs, often quickly. So, I don't think it's entirely unexpected. A lot of the early reports I've seen on him all raved about his tools and that it was just a matter of maturation.
What's the deal with Damon at DH two games in a row? Is he hurt?
I wish there was an over/under for Toronto 1st-to-3rds tonight. Easy money on the OVER!
I personally think its one of the stupidest things about the whole Extra Innings package. That, and that you usually only get the home announcers. We ought to have a choice between home and away announcers, so we can get the YES feed when the Yanks are on the road.
anyway, given that baseball is THE most unpredictable game, I suppose the yankees will win tonight with a strong effort by Proctor.
You see, with Wright against Halladay, the Yanks almost certain to lose. So Torre is cleverly resting as many good bats as possible so that they will be fresh tomorrow. Then presuming the series is tied 1-1 after tomorrow, he will start enthusiastic Miguel Cairo at 1B on Sunday, thus clinching the series victory.
You see, sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good rather than seek instant gratification.
What an unfortunate story for a guy who had his share of hardships, even with the great fortune of being blessed with a Major League arm and a Yankee career.
http://tinyurl.com/psbb7
those are some pretty bad outfields...
Rios should play every day. That kid is too good and will never build his confidence against righties if he sits against bums like Wright.
Thanks Canada.
Wow, that is a shame. And it seems that he had turned his life around. Of course, now we'll have to wait for the toxicology reports.
And I am pissed that the game isn't on E.I. Not even the Blue Jays feed. Grrr. It is digital cable fer cryin' out loud. And I'm in Toledo, I'm not going to impact WOR. Detroit vs. Minn is scheduled, but that is blacked out. As is the Cleveland game. And the Cincy game.
(Minor rant, in light of what Howe's family is going through.)
Check.
Wright on the mound?
Check.
Stinnett catching?
Check.
No feed from Extra Innings?
Check.
Does Wal-Mart still sell tranquilizing darts? I could self-applicate.
(That was a joke by the way)
3...2...1...
Pete Gray
http://tinyurl.com/hz7hn
I would say the Redsuxs one have very limited range in all positions but at least has decent arms.
The Yanks one has a rangy CF as brockdc points out, the worst arms in the AL.
Offensively, I think it would be a tie.
I do believe we have ourselves a modern-day Pete Gray playing RF for us this very instant. Ain't history grand?
I was thinking yesterday that A-Rod needs to be more boring, like Jeter, to give the critics less fuel to stoke the fire.
Just reply to every interview, "It's a 162 game season. I don't get hung up on the day-to-day. Let's go back out there tomorrow and win. That's all."
If he said that, win or lose, in every interview people would stop to a degree.
Someone does not want me to hear or see this one. Maybe it's for a good reason...
True Cliff. He's boring. But he tends to be self-depricating and it adds to people's impression of him as a failure. He says, "It was all my fault.", or, "I played like a dog."
If he'd just stick to the Jeter-isms that I listed in 47 he'd be better off.
I was just about to type that Bk. Great minds.
And then there was that bizarre tomato juice rant from a couple weeks ago
63 tomato juice?
It sort of went all the way downhill right after lemonade. Thats the last thing that made any sense.
Like when he dissed Jeter. His talking about going through psychotherapy. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...but why give people that kind of ammnunition?) Then there was that threatening to sue MTV if they aired a tape of a prank they played on him. I just can't imagine Jeter doing that.
That was my original point randym77. Thanks. I like A-Rod a lot. I was lukewarm about him coming to the Yankees at the beginning, because I thought it was overkill and that he would end up a distraction.
Now, I'm solidly in his camp. He's not Pujols, in that he doesn't exude that nuclear energy, but he's one of the top players in the history of the game and you have to appreciate how much he cares.
If he would just stick to the old Jeter cliche machine, he'd be okay.
Look, can you please not repackage Red Sox snipes at Yankees players in this way? I can vaguely understand you being annoyed at Arod striking out, and I can understand people being jealous of his success and salary and the publicity he gets when he saves a kid from getting run over, but your comment is just stupid.
Believe me, I understand. The Yankee game is on tape delay in about 3 hours in Japan so we can see the M's take on the O's. With Wright on the mound, I'd rather know now and not waste my beautiful Saturday afternoon.
http://tinyurl.com/zcbnz
Thanks. Sounds like he didn't have his demons under control. BTW, the picture the AP had of him was in handcuffs. There is going to be all the negative history about him, there's no need to show him in handcuffs too.
Is Wright, um, righting the ship?
I gather it involved a restaurant, and a waiter who made some pointed comments about his always being on losing teams. I believe A-Rod said he thought it was funny, but didn't want it shown because his wife was with him at the restaurant.
Understandable...but it really played into the rumors about his being a stick in the mud in the clubhouse, who didn't have a sense of humor.
Radke loads the bases and gives up a grand slam to Shelton. Can anyone say...LIRIANO?
No more Yankee family auto related fatalities, please. Three is enough...
Sorry...it was a base clearing double by Carlos Guillen...followed by a solo shot to Shelton.....(Guillen out trying to stretch the play before).
Still....say it with me....LIRIANO!
I have Shelton too. He's in for me, but I was overexcited about the grand slam. Still a homer is a nice consolation.
Nice D there by the Yanks.
I probably just jinxed him.
2-0 Nats.
Anyone else starting to have trouble remembering what it was like to want to have Bernie at the plate?
53% strikes, Roy's at 55%.
Both through 5.
Stinnett's AB was, what, 11 pitches or something like that?
Perhaps it was luck, but I don't think so. I mean I don't think any of the balls hit that resulted in DPs were that hard hit.
He kept us in the game. Lets hope the inherited runners don't score, and we can take advantage of the Jays' bullpen.
I agree. Wright's getting paid to pitch here. I'd rather see him do well and give us a chance. A bloop and a blast and we're tied.
http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2006/04/in_the_spirit_o.html
Mike Myers was 1. Sturtze 2. Proctor 3.
and funny, when i saw the count go 3-1 i said "please don't swing. please don't swing. get the walk. get the walk. let cano bat."
Jeez, I'm starting to sound like Torre.
But this is not an Earl Weaver situation. What else could we do? Everytime we hit and run today we made outs.
The Yanks simply couldn't get even a double to score a run, let alone a homer.
Whether you play "small ball" or "Moneyball" you need to hit.
Right, cause bunting will get you three runs. I think "waiting for homeruns" is my most hated baseball cliche. Do the people who say it even know what it means? I sure don't.
The only more idiotic team photo is Cleveland's Rafael Belliard.
Get him out of there!
Not all his fault, but we weren't in a good position to win that one from the start.
AAARRRRGH!!!!!
On a somewhat positive note - Jaret Wright was not too bad. And Scott Proctor...I see big things for him down the road.
Opinions???
'What If' Dept: Farnsworth and BJ Ryan as the bridge to Mo. Day-um! That would have been sweet, like the old days — get a lead on the Yanks before the 7th or you're done.
Good to see Small back in the dug out, I love Chacon showing Small off to the camera ;)
True Cliff, Bernie hit a two run homer, but he also left 4 guys on base and hit into that crushing double play.
If Stinnett is in, Bernie should be out. There's no way Bernie should be hitting 7th in the Yankee lineup on any occasion.
It's not all the lineup, but it contributed to the loss. Bernie's homer aside.
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