get well indeed, jorge.

with an infield of Grudzielanek, Mientkiewicz, and Graffanino, i wonder if Baird has looked into a trade for Bloomquist, Betancourt, Omar Quintanilla or Tony Giarratano.

I wait patiently for your team previews Cliff, well done as usual.

I don't think there's any way German sits tonite. He may be the only one out of the lot to scratch a hit against Moose.

Johnny's back in CF, and Melky gets another try at LF.

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Gary Sheffield DH
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodríguez 3B
Robinson Canó 2B
Bernie Williams RF
Kelly Stinnett C
Melky Cabrera LF
SP: Mike Mussina

3 And Shawn is right, Germán is in.

Esteban Germán CF
Shane Costa RF
Reggie Sanders DH
Emil Brown LF
Tony Graffanino 3B
Angel Berroa SS
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
John Buck C
Andrés Blanco 2B
SP: Scott Elarton

This cat has 9 lives.

Cubs call up veteran Womack

May 26 2006

CHICAGO (AP) --The Cubs called up veteran infielder Tony Womack from Triple-a Iowa on Friday and optioned Ryan Theriot to the minors.

Womack began the season with Cincinnati, which designated him for assignment
April 24. He signed a minor league deal with Chicago on May 17 and batted .467 for Iowa.

The 35-year-old Womack has made five postseason appearances in his 12 major
league seasons and helped Arizona win the 2001 World Series.

Womack has a .273 career average with 362 stolen bases. He played briefly for the Cubs in 2003.

Theriot appeared in six games with the Cubs since he was called up on May 8.

Womack is the least of the Cubbies' worries.

Zambrano had a no-no broken up with two outs in the 7th when Jacques Jones lost a ball in the sun, a ball which almost hit him he was so close to it.

And then they gave up three in the top of the 9th to lose -- the last two came on a fly-out to right. Yes, that's right, Andruw Jones tagged and scored from 2nd.

It's like watching the keystone kops.

Why does Joe bat the best hitter in the AL in the 5 spot?

7 I caught a little the 7th on Gameday. It's probably a good thing for Zambrano's arm that Jones lost that ball in the sun. Zambrano was up to 124 pitches when Baker took him out with two outs in the 7th. My guess if Jones catches it there, Zambrano at least comes out for the eighth with a pitch count climbing beyond 130.

5 Where'd you get that line-up from? It's entirely wrong:

L – Shane Costa (CF)
R – Mark Grudzielanek (2B)
L – Doug Mientkiewicz (1B)
R – Reggie Sanders (LF)
L – Matt Stairs (DH)
R – Emil Brown (RF)
R – Tony Graffanino (3B)
R – Angel Berroa (2B)
R – Paul Bako (C)

4 Also, Melky's batting eighth ahead of Stinnett.

And while I'm at it, 10 the best hitter in the AL is Jim Thome.

9 Z's a horse tho. IIRC he often gets high pitch pitches in the 130 neighborhood, b/c he walks a lot of men and he strikes out a lot too.

Proof that he can handle it is the fact that even Dusty hasn't managed to blow his arm out.

10 Bah, Sanders is in right, Brown in left, still . . .

And the second line of 11 references 8. I'll shut up now.

Thome is far from the best hitter in the AL. He probably won't even finish out the season. Give me a break.

I don't understand why we're not winning yet

14 Actually, both for 2006 and historically, he qualifies as the best hitter in the AL, with Giambi his closest challenger. Check this piece I wrote two years ago:

https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/12076.html

Oh Christ.

12 I think you're right about his high pitch counts. And the walks; he walked Jeff Francoeur to force in a run in the first. It's a challenge to walk Francoeur. 6 BBs for Zambrano on the day.

I guess this cinches it that we'll trade for Sanders this season.

17 Crap I forgot about Manny, but however you slice it, last year was a peak season for Rodriguez, he's a great hitter, but Thome, Giambi and Manny are typically better (Sheffield was, but I think he's dropped to even with Alex).

Reggie Sanders: Yankee killer. I'm just waiting for the Yankees to trade for him.

Man, I just keep missing the numbers, 20 references 16, not 17.

7 pitch first inning for the Yank bats.

I hope this isn't another game where the scouting report says swing at the first pitch.

For some reason I didnt think E-Mail was on the royals anymore.

Wow, the Yanks brough up Hill, not Nieves. Koyie, at least acording to Michael Kay, who says "Rojreegez" "Phillups" and "fift," is pronounced "Koy." ESPN.com confirms.

Smith is indeed the player sent down.

22 I was thinking the same damn thing. That never seems to work out for the Yanks.

Do scouts really suggest that though? When would that be a good suggestion (honest question)? When a pitcher throws a lot of first pitch strikes?

What the hell kind of throw was that?

Did he just walk Angel fucking Berroa?

Graffanino was out and Berroa had drawn one walk all season before this game.

26 I hear LeCroy is available...

24 Hill was hitting .141/.200/.219 in Columbus.

10 Sorry if it was wrong. That was what was posted at YESNetwork.com for tonight.

29 He can hit, all they'd need then is someone who can catch.

I seems to have been well documented that Mussina's success this season is due in large part to his ability to get ahead in the count. This inning it seems he's had some trouble throwing first pitch strikes. Let's hope he settles in.

32 Exactly ;-). I felt bad for him watching those throws down to second. That was brutal...

25 Yeah, some guys throw strikes early to get ahead and if you don't go after them you see nothing but junk after that, but you have to protect because you're down 0-2 or 1-2, but I don't think that's the case with a guy like Elarton who has more walks than Ks thus far this season.

GOD FUCKING DAMNIT MIKE.

Wow, that last ball four was about 3 inches outside max. He's just missing.

Isn't this what we're supposed to be doing to them? Long ball, working the counts, etc?

easy now

Did he just walk the bases full? 0_o

36 Dude, it's the second inning, against the Royals, calm down.

Perhaps Mike isn't aware that the Royals are really, really hideously bad.

41 Yeah, he's going to throw 50 pitches over two innings against the Royals This is absurd.

That was the weirdest hit, I thought it had a chance to go out off the bat and it fell like 20 feet in front of Bernie in right.

43 Yes, but the odds of him settling down are very high.

By the way, if that runner on third scores his streak of quality starts is over.

I hate Kay, I mean its well known that Moose doesn't like him (and who can blame him) but he loves to trash Mussina.

this inning should have been over 3 batters ago with the "stolen" base.

45 We'll blame it on Alex for jinxing him with the last blog entry title.

This had to have been the "Reverse Lock" of the day. Damn you, statistics.

This may be one of those 12-10 games. Moose probably won't get past the 5th.

That hit about a foot from the top of the wall, maybe less.

Robby to the rescue.

That went about a foot from the plate, maybe more.

Are the Yanks going to make this guy look like an allstar tonight?

Cliff, interesting reading your Who's The Best etc post given the last few years of steroids revelations.

Also I think it doesn't make much sense to compare A-Rod and Wagner, coming as they did/do from such different eras. And given the widening of the talent pool, I rather suspect Wagner would be just an ok player today, esp. relatively speaking.

ROFL. Bernie's hitting lefty, I assume.

50 52 I don't know if that's funny or tragic.... Ok very funny.

Melky's feeling better out there, aye?

57 I dunno, can't watch the game. Was that a tough catch?

57 what a catch!! wow. he showed serious cojones, I mean concentration and focus.

58 Great running catch heading back into the gap, his reach made him fall on his chest as he made the catch.

60 Thanks. I'm sorry I missed it. I love that kind of play.

meanwhile in Boston, Kazmir v Wells.

should be interesting. bosox fans should be holding their breath to see what wells is able to do. I don't think they can afford trotting DiNardo or whomever replaced him.

Kazmir has been amazing this season v. other teams except the yankees.

Stinnett sucks. Should have given the start to the new call up.

these damn flyouts are killing me.

This is ugly. Let's go Yanks!

63 see 30

Moose wants that QS.

Any idea why they took Hill?

66. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. Can't be much worse than Kelly.

That went about as far as Bernie's.

Was that Jeet's 2000th hit?

Congrats to the Captain!

Did Jeter bunt or what?

Here's to another 2k.

great stadium moment there.

he is definitely THE Captain.

I'm not watching. Was that an error or a hit for Derek?

Kazmir's defense letting him down.

A-rod comes through in the clutch!

Wow the Captain 2000 hits, SB and a big run.

A-Rod big hit, not much difference there beteen that and coming up small. This is a wierd game.

they are all making fun at jeter for that "hit"

ARod keeps hitting rockets right at people. Fortunately, the CF'er ain't to good.
Clutch 1 for ARod

How many career hits does Arod have? He should be getting close to 2k.

I can't understand why MLB Extra Innings doesn't show Friday games. (Tomorrow's game isn't on, either.) I have to listen on the radio.

Good job, A-Rod.

81 1949

84 - including 440 home runs.

Key just said about Tiger Woods and Jete's 2000th hit: "He's probably had putts longer then that hit". At first I thought he said: "He probably has a putz longer then that hit".

They need Giambi to heat up again.

Does the DH have to be used for the pitcher in the AL or can it be used for any position player?

Moose has recovered nicely. 82 pitches through 5. that damn bloop single....

everybody hang on, here comes stinnett and the breeze of his swinging strikes!!

78 Stats in baseball as very much results oriented. Jete's hits the ball 20 feet... and it's a hit. ARod hits a rocket 350 feet that's barely in the air 2 seconds, and it's almost an out.

When you hit the ball, where it goes is luck/fate. ARod has hit the ball hard in the last week, with little to show for it.

Melky is beginning to uppercut the ball. That's a very bad idea.

Does that SOB even have a hit this year?

Hill was really hitting .141 and got called up? Ouch. I've really taken Posada for granted all of these years.

Good god Stinnett is bad.

92. (I am talking about Stinnett.)

Hell, let's make Cairo a catcher, it can't be any worse.

And there's your quality start. Three innings to go, who pitches? Probably depends on what the top of the order does here.

C'mon, Yanks. It's getting late early around here.

Great play by Moose! Another QS, 11 out of 11.

He shook off many calls there by Stinnett and came after batters. the hit by stairs was a lucky reach down hit off a breaking ball. he's at 98 now.

top of the order. now please get some runs!!

Sheff adds to his foul home run total.

Why did he swing at that awful pitch way way up and away?

Is the YES gun still slow? Jason's swinging through high "heat" that's in the upper 80s.

Off the top of the wall, tie game!

OK, Giambi!!!! Sterling had that one in Southern Vermont...

Wow, replay shows, off the very top of the wall, like it came down on top of the wall, didn't hit the front of it.

Nice work, Giambino!

104 I would have too, I thought he had it.

The Royals just showed up.

Is it possible to come any closer to a HR?

Rodriguez needs to run harder out of the box if you ask me. I'm a defender of his, but he jogs rather than sprints to first.

107 It sounded like it was going to leave the Stadium...

Too early to call that clutch, Alex. Sorry...

They didn't check but boy did it look like Giambi missed the bag....

Off the bat I also thought it would land in vermont. I died a bit in the air. if Giambi had been running at full he would have had a triple.

get them!!

109 Only getting robbed by the outfielder.

Well that explains a lot. Ouch.

2 clutch hits A-Rod.

Now that was clutch.

82Tomorrow's game isn't on because of a deal with FOX. No other games can be aired live during the FOX 1pm-7pm window, except for local coverage. We buy Extra Innings and spend a good part of the season without any Friday or Saturday games. Blows.

110 - what's this new flip thing his doing today too..that's twice now...

113 Ditto Rodriguez on his single+error.

110 Agreed.
Could he have had 3 on that one?

113 should read "it died a bit"...

Common Bernie. We could use one more!

Nice, A-Rod and Giambi.

Boomer just got hit on his reconstructed knee by a ball and is out of the D'Ray/Boston game. This may be it for his career.

So? Try to get a quickie inning out of Moose, then Farns Mo? Or go straight to Farnsworth? Or Proctor? Bottom of the order up, Moose is at 98 pitches.

123 Don't worry. He'll be back in pinstripes after his outright release...

Decision time: I would bring out Moose, and let him "empty his tank" as torre would say.

the classic formula if he gives up a hit or a walk he gets the hook and should give way to proctor/myers.

123 - ouch, that's not how I would have liked to see him leave the game - he did a lot of great things as a Yankee.

Proctor is Torre's call, I was just going to say I give Moose until the first man reaches the go to Farnsworth.

proctor in. 126 nobody listens to me

123 Wells was pitching very 'well'. 1 run, 4 hits after 4. After the shot off his knee, he was rolling on the ground in pain... almost looked like he was crying.

Don't know if he will come back from that one. TB up 1-0 after 4.

Just as well. Moose turns into a pumpkin at 100 pitches and he was at 98.

I dunno about Proctor, though.

Just as well. Moose turns into a pumpkin at 100 pitches and he was at 98.

I dunno about Proctor, though.

Proctor almost gave Cano Brian Roberts disease.

That lead was nice while it lasted.

Sigh.

YES has article about Dotel. He expects to join the Yanks June 15.

Is it my ISP or is the Banter slow tonight?

It was really slow for awhile, but seems to be fixed now.

Proctor is beginning to come back to earth. I think Manny scared him.

Thanks, randym. 3-1 Red Sox. Ortiz cleared bases with a double in the 5th...

Wow. BB and MLB go down at the same time. 30 seconds of sheer terror. MLB still down for me.

If Arod was having Sheff's game tonight, he would be getting killed by the boo-birds.

141 Me too. Very annoying.

I'm tired of this MLB shit. Monopoly! Price fixing! I say class action suit! Any lawyers out there (and MLB still down).

MLB has been fine for me.

Farnsy's taken over for Myers...

Methinks Joe is going to pitch Proctor's arm off this year. It might be my imagination, but it seems that he is in every stinking game. Keep this up and the Yankees will have to open a credit line w/ Dr Andrews.

Geez. Stairs just creamed that pitch from Farns. C'mon, guys. Y'all seem like you're wearing leaden uniforms tonight.

BP

142 Sheff has not been very impressive since he's been back. I think people are cutting him some slack because of his injury, or he would be hearing it.

Sox up 5-1 on Lowell HR.

MLB and the BB were out for me too.

now BB back on and MLB tells me I have logged in too many times. no shit, if your system wouldn't die every inning I would only log on once.

144 I'm a lawyer. No case.

Shef has been swinging at everything. He should have about 4 more walks. Very over-anxious.

Is the video on the MLB.com any good or is it some shitty streaming video deal?

149 Common. They'ld settle for lifetime sunscriptions for all of us. Bad PR. MLB still down.

No excuse to walk Graf on four pitches. Geez. Farnsworth - he's gonna give me a stroke this year.

BP

Why do we struggle against such shitty teams?

Angel Berroa?

You gotta be kidding me.

FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

Arrrgh. C'mon, Farnsy. Get it together.

aw crap.

Off Cabrera's glove. Off the pinky.

149 Don't have MLB, but Gameday Audio will tell me I've logged in too many times if I shut off of my desktop and try to log on with my laptop. The entire media delivery is horsesh*t backend development.

This bullpen is awful.

WEll even teams that have lost 13 in a row have to win sometime, right?

CRAP!

Arrrgggh!!!!!!!!!

Okay WTH is goin on here! We need to take this game back, NOW.

Hit Melky's glove.

Should Melky have gotten that?

A-Rod. Way to keep the string moving. The rain is coming down. I smell a comeback.

167 It was well over the wall, would have been a tremendous catch, particularly for a guy who's 5'3" like Melky. He could have, but I wouldn't say "should."

a rod has been big tonight. important hits.

Alex is having a good game. See, slump over all ye doubters.

Alex is hitting the crap out of the ball the last week or so. The hits are starting to fall in. Bout time they did.

163 The bookie will tell you "never bet against the streak"... That's how they get you coming and goin', however...

"Wells comes off DL, gets injured, leaves game". ESPN headline. Poor guy is hit in the knee that was just operated on.

DAMMIT!
Man on 3rd with no out is like a curse for us.

Melky is 5'-3"? He's listed at 5'-11".

Awful AB by Cano.

And Farnsworthless is really pissing me off. I miss Tom Gordon.

That was really bad. Fry an egg on the manager's head. Jesus there is something to at least seeing if he can throw a strike.

he looks 5' 3"
his porcelain doll face doesn't help, either.

...

did i just get my man card revoked?

Melky was playing shallow. He did not have much time to time his lead once he got back to the wall. Had he been playing deeper, he would have had a better shot... but he just got to the wall when he had to leap.

Would have been a great play. Tipped his glove. Missed catching it by about 2 inches.

Cashman needs to deploy the Batsignal and summon Dotel.

This is making me so sad.

At least we have Kelly "O-fer" Stinnett to start a 9th inning rally.

joe will pinch hit for stinnett.

my guess is T-Long.

2nd and 3rd with n0 out against the worst pitching staff in the league... and we manage to squeeze only one. Pathetic.

Shit. Moose against the worst team in baseball.

Is Hill really on the roster now? Then they can at least go to a pinch hitter.

What an embarassment.

I must say, Melky doesn't look 5'-11" and 170 pounds.

No way Stinnett leads off the 9th, unless KC busts out for about 6 more here...

After high-intensity series on the road, with the Mutts and Sox, you could see this let down coming. Torre should have come down with a '24-hour flu' and let Bowa manage this one, if you know what I mean...

I hope I'm eatin' these words 20 minutes from now...

The field is an accident waiting to happen. Look out.

Rain delay.

I really, really miss Tom Gordon.

I don't believe it. Half an inning to go, and there's a rain delay? It must really be raining.

for those of you watching or in NY. do you think they'll resume play?

193 Pouring. The field is soaked.

It funny (or probably not) I'm working on a document that is a waterfall mechanism...

Weather service says rain will end around 10:15.

its 10:15 now.

Hey, will Jorge heal with extra to rest due to rain delay? Sorry I am SERIOUSLY dreaming here.

But really, how bad is the rain? The game will come back on right?

It's kinda hilarious that I can watch Channel 9 news on mlb.tv.

It's like The Natural.

When Stinnett steps up after the rain delay the air will be charged and he'll tear the cover of the ball. Or get HBP. Then Damon singles. The the real life Natural comes up, three-run tater for Mr. 2002, Number 2, Derek Sanderson Jeter. Cue music. Live happily ever after with Glenn Close instead of Kim Basinger. That's like picking Suzyn Waldman over Miss Universe.

According to Channel 9, we are ready to wrap up in the Bronx after the break.

I just got home. I was hoping for extra innings.

Our best pitcher against a historically bad team... Hmmmm

Nope, still in delay. They showed the Stadium, it's still pouring.

Anyone watching the Sox-Rays on NESN? I had the sound down, but Foulke was pulled in the 8th after letting up a run (now 7-4 Sox), and he seemed to get into it with some Sox fans sitting in the first row over the dugout. It appeared they said something as he was about to walk down the steps, but stopped and engaged them. Then slams his glove onto the bench and storms down the walkway. Just wondering if anyone caught it?

203 Our best pitcher settled down, the bullpen however is falling apart.

Joe should flip-flop Sheff and Arod.

Just looked at the box score. what is going on with Farnsworth? How soon will Dotel get here?

208 He's pitching like Kyle Farnsworth.

He strikes out Ortiz with bases loaded on the road and then lets a weak hitting KC Royal jack one out with 2 on at home. Go figure. I guess Mo has just spoiled all Yankee fans with his total domination over the years. There must be a reason that relief pitchers are not starters.

I predict Torre pinch hits Cairo. I would probably use Andy or maybe even Long(that saying something...).

210 The situation leading up to Ortiz was completely is own doing.

I miss Tom Gordon.

212 Same here, and I didn't even like him.

The rain is definitly worse.

Will they be able to finish this game?

couple of frustrating things tonight:

- Moose pitched very well after the second inning. I don't understand why he did not start the 7ht. Probably Joe is over-protecting him.
- Melky changed his approach, as someone mentioned he is now trying to get the HR instead of getting on base (which he was doing great).
- The yanks were 1 hit away of getting a nice lead in two occassions and failed with runners on 2nd and 3rd.
- Farnsworth and Proctor.
- last but not least, this rain that will probably keep the game from finishing.

anyway, let's just hope they win this series. take care

Christ help them if they invent a way to lose the series. Its bad enough that they're not seeping

Does anyone here ever read the posts on the YES website? Those folks over there are the most negative people I have ever seen. I don't understand how most of those people can even claim to be Yankee fans.

I take it they're not thrilled with being on the losing end against perhaps thr worst team ever?

WCBS News bimbo: "The Yankees are in a rain delay because of the rain."

Does anyone near the Bronx can estimate when the rain can stop for a bit? The Weather Channel says "scattered rain," any chance they can finish the game? How long before they decide to end the game without finishing the 9th?

Melky's catch was a Webgem on ESPN.

Too bad he couldn't rob that 3-run homer. (I miss Bubba Crosby.)

They talked about Derek Jeter's 2000th hit, but didn't show it.

221 I'd much, much, much rather Melky than Bubba Crosby. I keep forgetting Bubba is gone.

222 Amen.

219 ROFL. Nothing gets by them, eh?

Can anyone explain mlb.com's recent obsession with music promotion?

Any ideas if they are going to continue?

Any ideas if they are going to continue?

Game will be back on in 3 minutes, (11:49 est) according to WCBS...

Action will resume at midnight (est) according to Sterling...

T. Long in for Stinnett...

Stones' "Start Me Up" on the PA system. Long will lead off. Time to turn that 'streak breaker' into a pumpkin. Joe Nelson pitching for KC...

qaqswwdgf Long wtdfvcfjxkgjsd Long eqwsdtrxfg

do we have anyone else on the bench?

Cairo and Phillips

Base hit to short center for Long!

Damon up...

234 Anyone good?

237 Sadly, I was OK with Long batting against a RH.

Damon skies out to right. Crowd of 48,000 down to maybe 1,000, Sterling estimates...

I don't think I've ever seen Jeter pull a HR. It almost startled me when he almost did it.

Jeter walks. Something good may happen here.

Cap walks on 3-2 pitch... Iron Sheff and Giambi up next...

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

The Royals CF really, really suck.

Yeah, Sheff. It is on you, Jason. I believe.

Come on Jason, at least hit it in the air.

Sheff singles to center, Long scores. Jetes to third...

Pitching change for KC...

Can Giambi get a Fly Ball here?

I think Sheff should be standing on 2nd. why are they not running hard? would have avoided the DP ball.

anyway 1 more run and we have extra baseball for everyone!!

C'mon Jason, a flyball will do!

250 Everyone thought it was going to be caught. Cant advance too far.

Just a fly ball, Jason...

No.

Fireballer Cisco on for KC. Giambi hits into 4-6-3 DP...

^#%#$#@!

Damn. Oh well, the Royals were due. The Yankees will get them tomorrow.

Well, that was a waste of two hours of my life.

I hope the Yankees are as embarassed as I am. You just lost to what may be the worst team ever. What a fucking joke.

damn, I can't believe we waited this long for a stupid DP ball.

ay giambi

I really thought they were gonna win that one.

And If I hear the words "due" from anyone on this team I'll lose it. They are a disgustingly bad team. You want to win the world series. You find a way to beat them.

Absolute joke.

damn.

259 Chill out, it's baseball, this'll happen. They do have to win the next two, however.

261 I just wasted five hours of my life on this bullshit game. I'm not going to go "Oh well, its just baseball!" Part of me hopes that that these games that don't matter and no one should get upset about cost us the division.

I don't even care what they do the rest of the weekend. Get swept for all I care. They don't.

261 Very true. If they do happen to either lose this series or get swept, I'm expecting some deals/roster moves — M*A*S*H unit or not...

262 I don't mean "it's just baseball" I mean terrible teams beat good ones all the time in baseball (unlike in Football). That's why they play so many games. You just can't get this upset over a single game in May, I don't care who it is who beat them. I could understand if they did something wrong, made a bunch of errors, if Joe pulled the wrong strings, but Angel Berroa hit a 3-run homer off Kyle Farnsworth in the eighth, that's just tough luck. Get over it. But above even that, don't acuse the players of not trying to win. That's just absurd. Fercryinoutloud, after a two-hour rain delay they had three outs to make up a two-run deficit and they almost did it.

263 Dunno about that, didn't happen last year when the Royals swept 'em, and they had a much worse record then.

Look on the bright side, Mussina will be fresh for his next start after being inexplicably pulled after the 6th.

I realize Torre probably knows more about what's going on with his players, but that was a real head-scratcher.

264 I'm sure they care. It just drives me batty that they play like this against Scott fucking Ellarton and what could be the worst team ever.

266 Eh, I thougt he should have left him in, but I don't think it was that inexplicable, Moose was at 98 pitches and he only needed three innings out of the pen.

Well, I guess when one of those innings has to come from the struggling Proctor, it gets into that territory. Can't blame him for Farnsworth though. A three-run homer to Angel Berroa? Yuck.

269 I'm also very sick of Farnsworth.

265 Have to check last year's W-L at that time, but my fading memory recalls us finally getting a few games above .500 and looking to feast on KC and really get on a roll. Then boom. Could be wrong about that.

This year could be different. Injuries are big difference from underpreforming. Zilla's gone. Jorge is still a big question. Unit hasn't found it yet. Wright's groin is barking. What about Chacon? Even Bubba, like him as a 25th man or not. Giambi is almost back to "please go to the minors".

I dunno either, but I can't see the FO letting this team get any deeper than 5 back with this crew before shaking things up. Hopefully we won't get to that point...

270 Other than tonight and the near-loss in Texas, what has Farnsworth done wrong this year?

KC - 2 HR, 4BB
NY - 0 HR, 2BB

That won't happen very often. It's just one of those games. The sun'll come out tomorrow.

One thing to look out for is the return of the Mussina gopher ball. He's been excellent this year but he's given up 6 HRs in his last 4 starts.

How far do you have to go to see the guy leading the team in OPS (and 6th in the AL)as: Giambi is almost back to "please go to the minors"?