Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Had last night's historic comeback come in the penultimate game of a playoff series, tonight's affair would be a foregone conclusion. It seems everytime a team is on its way to winning a series only to be interrupted by a dramatic comeback that forces a double-elimination game, the team that was mere innings from a series win is unable to recover and staggers, zombie-like to defeat. Some quick examples: The Cubs in the 2003 NLCS, the Giants in the 2001 World Series, the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series, on a larger scale the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and the Angels in the 1986 ALCS (two notable exceptions being the Diamondbacks and Reds in the 2001 and 1975 World Series respectively).
That sort of thing is far less likely to occur in the third game of a four-game series in May, but if ever there was a loss that could put a team off its game the following day, it was the one the Rangers suffered last night. Looking to prevent such an occurence will be Kameron Loe, whom the Yankees handled capably in Texas, touching him up for five runs on five hits and three walks in five innings, four of those runs coming on a pair of homers by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. No word yet as to whether or not Giambi will be back in the line-up tonight, so in lieu of that useful information I'll just mention that Loe looks like he could be Scott Brosius's son, though he's only 15 years younger than the one-time World Series MVP.
Loe will be opposed by Chien-Ming Wang, who handled the Rangers capably in Texas, limiting them to three runs on seven hits and no walks over six innings. In his one start since then, Wang twirled an eight-inning, three-hit gem against the A's B-squad. Wang is on a streak of four-straight solid starts in which he's posted the following line:
26 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 0 HR, 9 BB, 5 K, 1.08 WHIP, 2.77 ERA, 2-0
The issue, of course, is that nasty 5:9 K/BB. In 49 innings this season, Wang has struck out 18 (3.31 K/9) and walked 16 (2.94 BB/9). Before Wang's first start of the season I wrote about the importance of Wang increasing his strikeout rate:
In his rookie season, Wang struck out just 3.64 men per nine innings, a severe drop from his career minor league rate of 7.06 K/9. In 74 1/3 career triple-A innings between 2004 and 2005, Wang struck out 6.78 men per nine and in 15 1/3 innings this spring he struck out 5.87 men per nine innings. Given that history, it seems fair to expect Wang to increase his strikeout rate to something in the mid-fives this year. As dominating as Chien-Ming can be in terms of keeping his opponents from getting the ball in the air, he'll need to help himself more often this year if he expects to improve on his freshman campaign.
That hasn't happened and indeed, Wang hasn't improved on his 2005 performance. He has managed to repeat it almost exactly, however. For the time being, that will do.
1 Will Carroll said that Giambi got a bit of whiplash as he hit the ground, and lack of neck motion is a common affect of whiplash. Hopefully it is a temporary thing and doesn't linger - my wife got whiplash over 10 years ago (car accident), and there are still days now when she won't be able to move her neck without feeling intense pain.
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Giambi DH
ARod 3b
Posada C
Cano 2b
Bernie RF
Andy 1b
Bubba LF
I would have switched Melky in LF and Bubba in RF and bernie on the bench, but with Wang on the mound we need the A infield defense, and Torre probably thought Bernie and Bubba gives you more bat than Melky and Bubba (I do not agree).
And you're probably right about Joe's reasons. Yesterday, they asked him why he put Posada in the cleanup spot. He said he couldn't decide between Bernie and Jorgie, and basically just flipped a coin.
Gawd, I hope he was saying that just to soothe Bernie's feelings. But I have a feeling he believes it...
YES is reporting that Giambi is better and will be DHing, and Posada is fine.
Chacon isn't, though. Apparently that bruise on his leg from that comebacker is really bad, and pitching made it worse.
Though I must say, I feel a lot better having Bubba in LF than Melky. Melky probably just needs time to adjust, but in the meantime, balls have an alarming tendency to drop in around him.
And it's well-deserved...
I can (sort of) understand Sheffield not wanting to talk with the press everyday about his injury, but something must be happening. Why the silence from the Yankees?
I guess I'm just asking for pure speculation from all the Banterers, because I haven't seen any news anywhere on the internet.
Sheff says he's feeling much better. But he won't be taking BP until he's seen by another doctor and given the all-clear.
probably the dumbest post ever...
Remember that game where Wang had 9 assists? I think it was the same one that ended with Bubba's walkoff homerun.
The DeRosa one was a pretty good one, too. Didn't get the out, but it was a good job by A-Rod anyway. Nice diving grab that kept it from getting into the outfield.
It's a good thing.
I missed the last 3 plays.
These guys (MLB) have a monopoly?
he'll probably be shut down for another 2 months and then throw 3 pitches and strain his toe nail, require surgery and out for the season.
Robby is struggling tonight.
46 Honestly, I was hoping he will come back but never really expected him to really come back. I can't even recall how Pavano pitches at all anymore.
OK. Back to baseball. Nice DP fellas!
he will get checked out by doctors tomorrow
This from Rick Monteleone's press conference
And what player was it, years ago, who went on the DL (I think) with a strained eye lid? did Pavano strain an eyelash?
But why are the Yanks heling Loe to save pitch counts?
Next thing you know he'll tear his rotator cuff in a bar fight.
That's a weird injury.
I think he ripped the seat out of his lucky pair of pants sliding into 2B.
It was a pitty since the first 20 minutes were fantastic.
Barca was pressing all game and finally got rewarded on two great plays by larsson. Dihno was pretty bad, even showing off a few times. Solid game by Mexico's own Marquez and very well managed by Rijkard.
Nobody will sleep in Barcelona for the next couple of days, probably through the weekend. they got la liga and the champions.
Henry is amazing, he has 3 speeds (cruise, very fast and turbo).
67 That was Lew Ford of the Twins. Soon to be of the Yankees! Lewwwwww!
"Third baseman Randy Johnson strained his back putting on his socks."
And Cano has started making it up.
Yowza
Robby, you're giving me an ulcer tonight.
But I noticed Wang has a much better control over the location lately. The pitches that the batters are putting to play are mostly very very close to the strike zone.
Last time, Torre said that he'd have let Wang try for a CG with a four-run lead, maybe with a three-run lead.
Damn — we got ourselves a game here...
Can Mo pitch today?
It ain't as 'over' when Mo come in as it used to be.
"With Trot Nixon batting, Willie Harris caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Ramon Hernandez to shortstop Miguel Tejada. "
So game over.
O's hold on to win 4-3, the last out coming on Harris thrown out at 2nd on a steal attempt.
149 Cool, me too. I thought you might be a friend of mine who guys by the nickname Bear, but I guess not. Thanks!
156 Different kind of enjoyment. Though there were more nerve-wrecking moments last night.
Late in on this one. Wang looked good except for a couple of pitches?
Pavano = Meat?
163 How long has it been now? I lost track.
He did struggle a bit with men on, but Posada went out, told him something, and that fixed it.
_Avg HR RBI Runs SB
.341 5 23 17 1
Nothing like being able to go to sleep before 10PM with a Yanks win fresh in mind. Wang was the man tonight.
Can't believe Pavano might have hurt himself AGAIN. That's beyond a cliche now. If this goes on much longer, he'll be a far worse signing than Wright.
And to think, Pavano was the centerpiece of the Expos's package in return for Pedro. Great work, Jim Beattie, what a great GM you were.
http://tinyurl.com/pb8us
Just to be on the safe side, from now on, they should send Pavano out to the mound in a bubble.
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