There was an article in one of the local papers awhile back. Bernie talked about how hurt he was at being benched last year. He said he always starts out slow, every year. He's a second-half guy. He was quite insulted when what he saw as his usual slow start resulted in his being benched.

It would be a good thing too, since Moose is a "Princess and the Pea" type pitcher when it comes to irregular rest and other interruptions to his routine.

Remember the opener against the Rays in Japan a few years ago? And the peanut butter incident? If not, NYYFans.com has an article at http://www.nyyfans.com/article/8516/ chronicling these other other "Bad Moose" moments.

It kinda reminds me what a headcase the guy can be, something that's been easy to forget this year. Anyway, considering he could be facing Pedro over the weekend, it would be best if there's not a rainout tonight that could screw with him.

At the risk of sounding like a "Wordanista from Merriam Websters", "it's" means "it is." It's not interchangeable with "its."

/end nonbaseball matter

We need guys like Giambi and Rodriguez to step up big time to pick up the offensive slack. Giambi seems to be really affected by the shift recently. He has had quite a few hits taken from him in the Boston series. But still, that doesn't explain his sudden lack of walks. In the past 7 games, he's batting: .174 avg, .240 OBP, .435 Slug.

Pretty lame. Hopefully a minor slump.

Another Torre note: why is Bernie batting 5th? Posada has been red hot in his last 7 games with an AVG of .462, OBP: .533 and Slug of .846.

Why not have him bat behind Arod???

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Canó 2B
Jorge Posada C 5
Bernie Williams DH
Bubba Crosby RF
Melky Cabrera LF

They're still after me because I don't know what the hell I'm doing with quotation marks and punctuation. [So wait, is it, "the comma goes in the quotation," "the comma stays out of the quotation", or maybe "the comma goes in between','?]

The Brits put the period after the quotation mark. Americans put it inside.

Wanna know why? It might help you remember. It's a printing convention, from when printing was done with printing presses. The type was set by hand, and small punctuation had a tendency to fall out. So they starting putting the periods inside the quotation marks, to enclose them and help hold them in.

Besides, I think it would be better for the kid to stick to LF, rather than switch him between RF and LF depending on whether Bubba or Bernie is in the lineup (which will depend on if there's a righty or lefty pitching).

And Bubba brings him home....

OK, Bubba! RBI!

Dunno if Cano would have scored from 2B on Bubba's hit. Could've gone either way.

Nice catch by Giambi, but speedy, he's not.

Looks like I don't have much to look forward to on Wednesday.

(period outside of parentethies) (sp)

I think Bubba just got spoken to about that last AB. Hitting flies like that is what they're trying to break him of.

on a serious note, Moose's fastball is especially nasty toda, right at the knees, lots of movement and at 89-92mph. that coupled with the 70mph changeup and 80mph curveball. I almost feel bad for the batters. 3 different speeds, 3 different movements, and 3 different locations...

of course as I'm typing a HR by the Rangers

melky and bubba with nice catches tonight. damon almost.

I'll shut up now or run another lap

Good old Big Tex, always willing to pick up a pitcher with a timely strikeout.

Stand up Triple for Mike Lowell.

Someone should tell them that those are only good if it's your pitchers doing it.

I really did not think he could get that one.

We definitely need another outfielder, because if Bubba keeps this up, he's going to kill himself.

We used to have a really scary lineup.
Now we have a very good lineup.

It's not enough. Not with our pitching and defense. Maybe when Shef comes back it will be OK.

I'm betting Cash and Company are working on an OF'er.

This can still be a patient lineup.

I want Sheff back. Maybe then they won't be so tempted to screw with their approach at the plate.

The outfield is fine for the time being, even without Sheff, 3 runs in 2 days against A's and Rangers isn't acceptable. I don't want another Kenny Lofton problem again. Just get through it with Bubba and Melky for now. We dont need Sanders clogging up the works.

Bubba's been hitting. It's Jete, Giambi, Damon and Posada that are stinking up the lovely month of May, not our youngsters.

Lets hope so. No tear last year, just the league tearing through his sinker. Bye bye Sturtze.

Now lets see if this piss poor offense can get a run for our ace. I expect this crap when RJ is on the mound, offense not knowing what to expect, but Moose should be rewarded.

That type of injury should have him out for months, thank God!

Runs for Moose?

Anybody?

How about pitches for Millwood?

I say bring out Moose for the 7th. at the first sign of trouble bring in the Proctor for the cure and if there's no lead for the 8th. leave in the Proctor and/or use the Myers/Villone/Farns tactic.

Maybe we need kids like Bubba. He even hit Wakefield, probably because he's not going for the big homerun. (Or isn't supposed to, anyway. I don't think Donnie Baseball was happy with that last AB.)

Wang recovered without surgery, so he got back before the end of the season. If surgery is required, Sturtze will probably be out for the season.

Who's coming up with this crap anyway? Is this part of the "well we can't jack homers so we better do something else" new offense? I sure hope not.

Gotta go watch '24'.
Someone yell loudly if we score a run.

It's a wonder they've plated anybody against him.

Not when Giambi and Jete are both at or below the Mendoza line for the month.

We have to reverse this losing low scoring games and failing to score runs late thing. Anyone can win when you score 10 runs. What do we do whaen we face solid pitching? You're seeing it today. You saw it Yesterday, you'll see it Friday.

DP DP DP! Now get an out and get the bottom of the order up to score some runs.

Ah, the pitcher's best friend, the double play. I'm glad Ian Kinsler isn't back yet.

Way to execute the strategy 109, fellas. Talk about the killer Bs . . .

Bernie will never do that. It is what will make him marketable in the off-season.

I had a feeling we wouldn't be seeing much of Villone, after what happened yesterday.

I have faith in Andy's hitting ability but geez . . . I would have left Giambi in too. What's Tex/Nevin/Blalock going to do, bunt their way on?

Shit. There goes the game!!

Anyone who wants to see the kids, take a good look. Phillips, Bubba and Melky all in.

Yeah, by all means trade Torre for someone who fills out a lineup card like that.

But it looks very wet on TV.

Yea, Randolph is one of the only managers who understands how insignificant the leadoff hitter is today. I suppose you think Jete should lead-off. he does and did last year, score more runs and have a higher OBP than Damon, while basicallt tied in SB's. Riddle me that one. Is that why the Mets have a better record than we do, with worse pitching?

Why didn't the Yankee hitters just give him a beer out there too?

The big difference is that Yanks in 1-6 rank #1 in the AL (OPS: 874) and in 7+, they rank #7 (OPS: 740).

But last year, the Yanks in 1-6 ranked #2 (OPS: .824) in the AL. In 7+, they ranked #3 (OPS: .761). The rankings were the same in 2004.

So all signs are that it will even out for us over the course of the season. I hope...

I think they just said if the game is called, the top of the 8th doesn't count. So it would be tied again.

Man, Boston is whaling all over Baltimore.

I cannot believe the Knicks and MSG are going with Isiah Thomas over Brown. How badly does Thomas have to screw up the Knicks before someone kicks his know nothing reactionary Marbury loving ass to the curb. He is quite possiblt the worst VP GM in any professional sport. He makes Donald Sterling look like a genius. That team's management is laughable.

That was the inning.

It was not meant to be.

Actually, I want to say he had some experience in baseball, could be wrong there.

That Farnsworth money could really have been better spent. He wasn't particularly good with Atlanta, he stunk it up with Chicago. He's not the answer, Proctor (cannot believe I wrote that) Smith, and Bean give us a better cahnce. Farny is a head case who doesn't know how to use the tools he has, and hasn't made any "head" way towards improving them. Just wait until we need him in a tied playoff game and he implodes. 6 Mil. per, wow, I called for Cash to go last year, and this deal didn't make me change my mind.

Farnsworth is Mark Wohlers! Hell, he's a tad closer to John Rocker, but at least Rocker used his best pitch!

The tying run will get to the plate.

Where are all the Tom Gordon haters now?

Either way, its not a big issue.

I miss Matt Smith, I miss Colter Bean, I miss ... Maybe Joe can fish up John Franco to pitch, or maybe Ramon Martinez!

I'd give my left testicle to sign Piniella to manage this team. He's forgotten more about managing a baseball team than Joe "kisses all around" Torre knows. At least the children are safe at home I guess.

Apparently, either Yankee scouts are now slapping every pitcher with the "Swing First" label, or Torre 'n Crew think they can't work the count without Sheff & Mats.

I don't know why they're so impatient at the plate. They were yesterday, too. This seems to be their strategy for dealing with good pitching.

Seems like they did this last year, too...

All Im saying is that Giambi is a fine defensive 1B, not sparkling, but there is no evidence anywhere that he is Carlos Delgado or Frank Thomas, lighten up on the guy. He did save a run today on that ball that would have been out of Phillip's reach! Not to mention the two he dug out of the dirt yesterday.

You had:

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Canó 2B
Jorge Posada C 5
Bernie Williams DH
Bubba Crosby RF
Melky Cabrera LF

Should have been:

Alfonso Soriano CF
Alfonso Soriano SS
Alfonso Soriano 1B
Alfonso Soriano 3B
Alfonso Soriano 2B
Alfonso Soriano C 5
Alfonso Soriano DH
Alfonso Soriano RF
Alfonso Soriano LF

It was like some horrible version of that old Bugs Bunny cartoon.

From the very first pitch, Johnson was not extending, appearing instead to shorten his stride to reduce stress on that damaged front knee. Watch Johnson's leg--it's nearly straight. He'll either "pop up" on his follow-through, getting taller, or rotate to the third base side. Both actions take the energy that normally heads to the plate in a delivery and redirects it. While this is taking some of the pressure off the knee, it's taking velocity off of the ball, and adding stress to the elbow and rotator cuff. Adding insult to literal injury, Johnson's changed mechanics are also inconsistent, leading to his newfound control problems. It's notable that his release point seems to change, at least according to the MLB.com video. Video obtained from scouting sources and then seen through the Dartfish program makes this even clearer. Johnson's release point is more than inconsistent--it's almost random, adding stress to the shoulder. Fastballs from the normal slider release point and sliders from a higher ¾ point are consistent only in their ineffectiveness.

The key here is the knee. Johnson isn't complaining about it, but it seems that Johnson is either due for a refill on his Synvisc, or the treatment is no longer effective enough to keep him effective. He's too crafty and talented to write off without another couple of starts, but you don't have to be an expert to see when Johnson's on. You probably saw it last night in your own way, but I'll give you an easy key--watch the front of his jersey. When it pops out hard, as shown on the cover of "Saving The Pitcher," Johnson is okay. Surprisingly, the gloveside shoulder seems to be okay, despite previously reported problems. The Yankees went ahead and had an MRI on Johnson's pitching shoulder yesterday to make sure everything was fine, meaning something was bothering him physically. Johnson says that he wants to "put his best foot forward" in his next outing. He'll need to make sure that's done in combination with a solid knee, good hip turn, and proper energy transfer.

However, David Justice did say that swinging on the first pitch was the game plan. This pitcher is known for throwing first-pitch fastballs, and they're the best pitch to try and hit. Once you're behind in the count, it only gets worse.

Hmm. Farnsworth's numbers with Atlanta:
ERA: 1.98, 10 Saves, 4 holds and NO BLOWN SAVES!
his 2005 numbers in total:
Games: 72, ERA: 2.19, 16 saves, 19 holds, 2 blown saves

Compare that to Tom Gordon's 2005 numbers:
Games: 79, ERA: 2.57, 2 saves, 33 holds, 7 blown saves

And Gordon is 39 while Farnsworth is 30. Phillies are paying him to pitch for them until he is 42. Considering our luck with 40+ pitchers, I would not have wanted Cashman to match that deal.

If Rivera goes down for the year, then our season is over with or without Gordon as our closer. Neither Gordon nor Farnsworth have stood up to the pressure of postseason games.

Are you both high? I really haven't figured out this Phillips bashing. Not sure where you are getting the below average fielding, but he is far far far superior to any 1b we have fielding wise. Just look at the Wang game on friday for proof.

And as for the OF, well, so you are saying we shouldn't have given Cano the ABs he got when he started so slow...

Nope, I'm just saying he has no place on the team, it's not completley his fault. You can't sit Giambi or DH him every day, especially when Sheff is first in line there. You can't DH Phillips. I know folks want that to happen, but unless Bernie goes down, Phillips is late inning defense, and the occasional start, thats all. If we pick up a viable PH sometime this year, you wont hear from Phillips until he is announced by Vin Scully during a Dodger broadcast.

So. Neck. But Joe doesn't see it as a "major scare."

That's what really scares me about Giambi's D. He's not bad, but it seems like he injures himself far too often reaching for line drives or bad throws.

Now Guidry and company need to get Farnsworth to use his fastball a little more.

As for the Phillips/Giambi debate, I don't care -- as long as Cairo is NOT PLAYING 1st base.

Do you know that before this year, Cairo has played a total of 17 games in his career at 1st base? Why does he EVER play first? How can he possibly be a better defender than Phillips or Giambi who have played that position for years? Even Giambi who everyone agrees is not a stellar defensive 1st basemen has a better Range Factor than Cairo.

Seriously though.... we had NO walks.. and 6 HIT!!... 2 hit by Cano.. 1 by Bubba... wtf our stars studded lineup gave as much offsens as our sophmore secondbaseman and the last guy on the bench combined...

Is it just me or is Damon and Giambi slumping a lot lately? also Jorge after a couple hot games looked terrible today

OOooooh something wrong with Josh Beckett's finger?? Now here is anticipation and a big fat told-you-so. Maybe by the end of the year we can work a Pavano-Beckett swap.

Helluva day to write my impassioned defense of Bubba. If we could have had a few runners in the 9th I KNOW he would have delivered the game winner. Average now flirting up to the .280 mark. This is the year of the Bubba. God bless you Joe Torre for seeing the gold in this kid.

I wish I could have the same positive vibes about Melky but I've seen too many really shaky plays -- the flubbed bare hand pickup that allowed the runner to second, the throw home tonight over the cutoff guy, the ball that fell foul the other night when he gave up on it thinking it was going into the stands -- shit like that drives me crazy. Goddamned Redsox baseball in pinstripes -- I can watch that for free anytime. I pay for these channels, Melky. You'd think you'd want the job fer chrissakes, Melky. Stop it, you're killing me.

Granted he has gone back on a few balls and with his speed has caught a couple I could see over Matsui's head but DAMN. Where the hell is Tori Hunter, anyways? I thought Damon had him recruited...

Bubba makes my evening. Moose is awesome. If this isn't a Cy Young 24-3 season I don't know what is.

When Randy turns that corner and all the old man jokes fade, this will jell, this will definitly jell.

And for those Yees of little faith, abide with the Pinstripes my friends and know that the fates swirl over the lakes of Minnesota tonight and a man named Tori (whose name is as close in meaning to the entrance gate of a Shinto shrine as can be allowed) will lead you all past the fallen warrior Matsui to a season of shining glory.

Repeat after me, Tori!~ Tori!~ Tori!~ If that doesn't have a stadium ring to it, my name is not Shane Spencer.

Whatever.

Stewart, maybe. Or someone like Craig Wilson.

Torii is a free agent at the end f the year. That's when we get him. We don't need him this year, we need a DH and hekp on the bench. Next year Damon moves to right and Torii to center. if Sheff is picked up, he's the DH. No sense selling the farm to Torii this year, his bat aint worth it.

If Wang can throw his split finger properly he should be getting his Ks a lot more ....

Hmm, think you'll be saying that in october?

"And for those Yees of little faith, abide with the Pinstripes my friends and know that the fates swirl over the lakes of Minnesota tonight and a man named Tori (whose name is as close in meaning to the entrance gate of a Shinto shrine as can be allowed) will lead you all past the fallen warrior Matsui to a season of shining glory."

How about making what you have work. Jeter, arod, giambi, damon, and you need more offense? So just take another teams best player, huh? And you're talking about boston fans? You need your meds.

Take a player like Soriano. In Game 7 in 2003 vs Boston, how many times do you think people told him to take a pitch as he was on his way to striking out four times in 7 innings?

As for the influence of a good coach, usually I agree that it doesn't make much of a difference from game to game. But somebody like Mazzone has a greater impact because he also affects how pitchers train.

You have to give Mazzone time before you judge him with "How's that Mazzone majic workin' in Baltimore". It maybe that it will take a few years to see what he can do.

Here is someone who tried to quantify the Mazzone effect:
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/03/the_mazzone_eff_1.php

(AVG / OBP / SLG / OPS )

Posada .323 / .447 / .581 / 1.028
Rodriguez .295 / .392 / .591 / .983
Crosby .300 / .364 / .400 / .764
Giambi .150 / .358 / .375 / .733
Cabrera .333 / .385 / .333 / .718
Williams .286 / .311 / .405 / .716
Cano .313 / .340 / .375 / .715
Damon .245 / .302 / .327 / .628
Jeter .224 / .296 / .286 / .582
Stinnett .182 / .182 / .273 / .455
Phillips .100 / .100 / .100 / .200
Cairo .000 / .000 / .000 / .000

It ain't Crosby and Cabrera that are killing us on offense...

Phillips is a 29 year old career minor leaguer.

Cano gets leeway.

That's rich. Pun intended. A Boston fan complaining about "taking" another team's player.
Let's look at the 2006's Sox lineup and see how many are home-grown talents, shall we?
Youkilis, yes. Loretta, no. Oritz, no. Ramirez, no. Nixon, yes. Varitek, yes. Mirabelli, no. Lowell, no. Pena, no. Gonzalez, no.

So 3 out 9? Good thing, you guys replaced Millar with Youkilis or that number would have been lower.

The Yanks have 3 homegrown talent in their infield alone.

Bye now. I'm off to Sons of Sam Horn to write about Schilling's faux bloody sock.

Wow, Varitek and Lowe for Slocumb. That is seriously lopsided trade favoring the Sox!

265Now, now, let's not be too hard on poor dpMurphy (the dp stands for dipstick, by the way). Stop fighting flamers with facts. As noted in my earlier post, there is no intelligent baseball conversation in Boston and so their fans need to insinuate themselves into Yankee sites so as to promote the following:
1. The Yankees suck.
2. Yankee fans know crap
3. Yankees buy all their championships.
4. Rooting for the Yankees is like cheering for General Motors or US Steel
5. The Yankees suck.
Part of being a Yankee fan is having pathetic hanger-ons like dipstick who need to insult others to maintain their flimsy hold on self-esteem. I mean, look at the matchups here: We have Derek Jeter and drop dead babes like Scarlett Johanson; they have Tom Werner and the perky Katie Couric. We have Sinatra, they have the Cowsills. We have Rudy; they have John ("What's the score? Sox get any more points?" ) Kerry. Wouldn't that make YOU want to strike you pillows at night till your little fists turned red? We have a team, they have a failing Real Estate venture.

267Torii Hunter a fading star. The guy is a year older than Andy Phillips and maybe the best centerfielder in the game. Some other guy whose mother couldn't spell Andrew right gets a few votes here I understand.