Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
A beautiful day did not make for a beautiful game. Actually, Saturday's ballgame was often tedious, though there was some upper deck excitement provided by Johnny "Double Dutch" Damon, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada. The slumping Alex Rodriguez made a great backhanded catch (it's funny, Rodriguez is clearly in a funk at the plate and yet his numbers are still respectable--he was 0-4 yesterday but scored three runs and had an RBI) as the offense crushed Toronto pitching.
Final score: Yanks 17, Jays 6.
The most alarming moment of the game came when Gary Sheffield collided with first baseman Shea Hillenbrand. Both went down hard, with Sheff staying down longer. At first I thought, "Oh, God, his right shoulder." But according to the early reports, Sheff has a bruised right knee and banged up both of his wrists. It was a scary moment though. Oh yeah, and Randy Johnson got beat about the face and neck again by the Jays. This time, he was bailed out, but it was another underwhelming outing for the Big Unit against Toronto.
Otherwise, the game was a snoozer, perfect time for Yankee fans to take a mid-afternoon nap without fear of waking up suddenly in a panic. The Blue Jays could simply not throw strikes, almost every count went deep and the Bombers scored runs in all eight innings they came to bat, only the second time in team history that they've accomplished that feat (the first was back in 1939).
They played deep enough into the afternoon for the shadows to become a factor in the last couple of innings. The intense spring light against the grass is just different enough from the more mellow, autumn light--and the shadows they create--to really give you a sense of time and place.
Mr. Chacin goes against Mr. Moose this afternoon, another drop-dead gorgeous day here in the Bronx. Our man, Cliff Cocoran will be on hand, drinking it all in.
Go get 'em Moose.
"Boston Dirt Dogs posted about Jonathon Papelbon playing a remote game of X-Box baseball against Kyle Farnsworth. The entire game is highlighted in the post, including the curious choice of Farnsworth to forgoe putting himself in the game with a 2-2 tie late. He opted for Tanyon Sturtze who promptly gave up back to back home runs to lose the game 4-2. Papelbon went 1-2-3 for the save.
Unbelievable. http://tinyurl.com/npwm4"
http://tinyurl.com/npwm4
http://tinyurl.com/rv934
"Not all walks are created equal — they're batter-dependent," Neft said. "Any manager is less upset when his pitcher walks the cleanup hitter than when he walks the No. 9 hitter. They aren't crazy. They intuitively understand this concept."
Dunno if I buy Giambi diving into the stands after a foul ball, though...
And Boston Dirt Dogs has Posada on their fantasy team. Guess they won't be completely bummed if he hits a few over the Green Monster, then... ;-)
its exciting just to write it down. I don't know what will happen when sheff comes back, but it would be great if he stays there and sheff moved to th 5th spot and break up that stupid lefty-lefty 5-6 spot.
Damon, Jeter, Giambi, A-Rod, Sheff, Mats, Posada, Cano, Phillips.
L, R, L, R, R, L, S, L, R.
and the OBP makes a lot of sense too. The only slightly bad thing would be that Giambi can't run and with A-Rod and Sheff behind he can slow them down.
lets see how it turns out today.
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada C
Bernie Williams RF
Andy Phillips 1B
Miguel Cairo 2B
The afternoon will belong to Andy Phillips.
I just feel it.
The guy's going to be our 2b for a long time, I can't see the wisdom of sitting him against lefties.
Heeere's Johnny...with a leadoff bunt??
Was about to make the above comment when Moose decided to K Zaun...
Ah, whatever.
I'm getting really sick of A-Rod's slump...
Man, that could have been bad.
Joe just got tossed by this putz, too...
game tying HR.
Maybe Nick 8 was right....
Meanwhile Waldman just blurted out that "the Yankke organization really likes Andy Phillips and want him to succeed." Without irony.
2B Robinson Cano (L)
1B Andy Phillips (R)
OF Bubba Crosby (L)
for
2B Luis Castillo (S)
OF Lew Ford (R)
I think Torii Hunter is going to be way overpriced for his offensive production. I'd rather pluck Lew Ford from the Twins and a speedier second baseman who walks more than once a week.
I'll take it, but a-rod must know that he must have made a swing at those.
Sweet justice for the Matsui at-bat last weekend.
You know who got the go-ahead RBI in the fifth? Was it Jeter, or Giambi, or Matsui?
Gee, I just can't quite remember...
Matsui is definitely in a slump. But I think he may be coming out of it. He's now hitting long fly outs rather than striking or grounding out. :-/
I still have to get the edger out and do some more.
If this keeps up I'll need a bigger lawn.
Maybe they should hire someone to twist Matsui's ankle or something. ;-)
And someone give Jeter an academy award...
Lee Mazzilli, baseball thinker?
GI-AM-BINO !!!!!!
MVP! MVP! MVP!
i love when Idiot Sterling is waxing poetic about something, like how amazing Farnsworth is, and then gets interupted by something like a smoked double...
As a casual USC fan, I listend to some of the draft while driving around, to see where my guys would go. It was sort of interesting to hear about all the trades and jockeying that accompany the process. Made me realize there are smart and less-smart GMs in football too.
Of course baseball is a much better sport.
Speaking of the draft, I'm mildly surprised that the Jets didn't take Leinert. It's not like Pennington is durable.
A tight game win.
A series win.
We keep adding these up and we'll be OK...
A-rod's expression is priceless.
http://tinyurl.com/fj57s
Recap from Tampa: 5 GS, .70 WHIP, 30.0 IP, 19 H, 2 BB, 30 SO, 1.80 ERA
Next up: Brett Gardner, CF, (74 AB's) .378 AVG, .500 OBP, .526 SLG, 9/12 SB
Gardner has been tearing it up down there. He and Christian should be a sight to behold running around in Trenton. I can't wait for that. The jump to AA can be tough on young pitchers but I have a feeling that Hughes is the goods. I guess we'll find out if he's ready, man is he young.
Smith was shipped out today to make room for Small. Glad Small is back, I just wish it was possible that Smith was given a better shot. Oh well maybe next time.
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