Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Thanks to Chien-Ming Wang's dominant outing last night, and the strong defense that enabled it, the Yankees ran their streak of scoreless innings pitched to 18 before the Devil Rays were finally able to break through with a single run in the ninth. It was too little too late as the Yankees capitalized on a Rocco Baldelli error for a run in the sixth, then drove Scott Kazmir from the game in the seventh when Johnny Damon, who scored that first run as a pinch-runner for Jason Giambi, tripled in Melky and Jeter to make it 3-0. Damon's triple was just the fourth extra base hit by a lefty off Kazmir all year. The Yanks got two more in the eighth off reliever Edwin Jackson and that was all she wrote, 5-1 Yanks.
Today the Yankees have a chance to both sweep the Devil Rays, who took three of four from the Red Sox in the series prior to this one, and extend their current winning streak to five games, tying their two longest winning streaks of the year. Not a bad way to enter the All-Star break, though one almost wishes they didn't have to take four days off the way they're playing right now.
The man trying to stop them will be Casey Fossum, who held the Yanks to two runs over 6 1/3 back on May 3, but wound up losing that game 4-2. More recently, Fossum's been pulling a Jaret Wright routine, lasting no more than six innings with ugly peripherals, but managing to minimize the damage, allowing two runs or less in four of his last five starts. Most recently, the ex-Sock held his former team to one run over five while striking out eight.
Kris Wilson will take the ball for the Yankees and will be backed up by a very well rested bullpen, with perhaps only Kyle Farnsworth, who pitched in each of the last two games, unavailable.
Melky Cabrera LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Bernie Williams CF
Andy Phillips 1B
Miguel Cairo 2B
Kevin Thompson RF
Kelly Stinnett C
Not so good considering we don't want him to fizzle out in August through October.
I think he already is. After going 3 for 30, or something ridiculous like that, he got hits in three of the last four games.
Now, if this really is a 'house money' game, Torre should experiment with Andy at 2B.
13 - Phillips has a good minor league record and hence should be given more slack, not less. He has hit better than GOB most of the year. He's been in a slump for a week - have patience.
Jeet's staying in, but he doesn't look happy.
Maybe it's really true that he sees better in The Trop than other batters???
Though Smallie had a pretty good game last night in Columbus. He seems to be getting together.
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Jorge Posada is not in the lineup today. His wife and kids were on that flight to Tampa on Thursday that was disrupted by an unruly passenger.
Understandably, his wife hasn't been able to sleep since the incident and Posada is worn out from staying up with her.
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Here's the story about the plane:
http://tinyurl.com/qdblz
Uh-oh, wheels coming off the Wilson wagon.
Wilson, 18 pitches, 13 strikes with a six run lead against the Tribe in 2 scoreless innings. Today, 65 pitches, 39 strikes in 2.2 innings. That inning definitely could have ended worse.
Ugh, we need more offense...can't let Fossum settle down now.
Hey, maybe Kris should pronounce his name: wil-SONE.
Nice job, Villone. And not too many pitches, he gets another inning.
Maybe we should try to get Huff. He can play OF this year, then switch to 1B when Matsui comes back.
But Proctor's warming.
Pronunciation: 'hel-pl&s; Southern often 'hep-l&s also 'he&p-
Function: adjective
1 : lacking protection or support : DEFENSELESS
2 : watching your long relief guy give up a tying homerun, and then watching players named Miguel Cairo, Kevin Thompson, and Kelly Stinnett bat for your team the next inning.
Why is Villone still in there? Just lefty-righty matchups?
Sox v. AL East, 25-19 ~ 55% WP
Sox v. Everyone else, 28-13 ~ 70% WP
Time to be clutch, Alex.
Bernie ended up catching it anyway, even being bowled over by KT.
Bet we'll see Damon or Posada next inning. (Bet, or hope?)
Ahh, and E.S.P. strikes again...
I sure hope they aren't only going to pitch MO one because of the All-star break.
Give me Carl Pavano any day over the crashing, double-barreled disappointments of Prior and Wood.
This innning is just classic Proctor, isn't it?
Damon in to PH for Miggy...
But I find it hard to believe Joe West would give us any breaks.
And what on earth are we going to do about our starting pitching?
Yuck. That was an ugly game. What if, what if, what if.
waiting on hughes in the futures game...
Michael Kay thinks the Yankees are going to trade for a new OFer, move Bernie to DH, play Giambi at 1B, and bench Andy.
But go, Chisox, anyway!
The Yanks say they aren't interested, and supposedly have concerns that Huff won't be able to cut it in NY. But maybe they're just saying that, as part of the bargaining process.
first time I've ever seen him...yikes
Jose Tabata ripped one of those singles up the middle. Almost took Hughes's head off.
Ah, now Pods steals second. Goad (who ran for Konerko) can win it with a single.
my fiance and by bro and his wife are heading to NYC next weekend and have yanks/chisox tickets for friday night...I assume it will be Moose versus Contreras?
Randy Johnson
Mike Mussina
Jaret Wright
Chien-Ming Wang
???????
Contreras vs RJ
Buehrle vs Moose
Garcia vs Jaret Wright
Any knowledgeable NYC subway riders around? I am staying on Lexington Ave between 48th and 49th and thought I could take the 4 train all the way but the hotel website says nearest subway station is 49th st with access to 6, E and V trains...Can I take the 6 train and catch the 4 at a another stop towards the stadium?
Of course, the WS keep p***ing away opportunities...
Just take the 6 Train and transfer at 86th onto the 4. It's your best option.
No, but seriously, the crazy stories from the last couple of weeks are so out of left-field. The subways are VERY, very safe these days. no worries.
The maps in the cars are very good, though. I've always found my way pretty quickly. The T in Boston is kind of confusing, but New York's subways are hard to get too lost on, IME.
Arrghh. I can't believe they didn't score there. They're playing a doubleheader in one game.
This game is torture...With neither team doing much to try and win, it kinda resembles the few moments of overtime soccer I caught on tv today...
http://www.repubblica.it/index.html
and click on "Zidane fuori". Funny or tragic.
ChiSox unable to score against Tavarez or Seanez, incredible.
Wow, that Repubblica series of pix is kind of wrenching. Is there a Youtube of it yet?
251 Same here. P-kicks is an idiotic way to end an important (to say the least) match.
Down in the depths of the ChiSox order. Well, maybe Seanez walks one or two and Podsednik gets a shot to win it.
Zizou clearly lost his mind. He got away with one head butt a couple games ago and it does it again. Terrible way to go out of the game.
Apparently not.
Thank you, Chisox. Thank you.
'see' yall after the break.
274 Yeah it must have been something very insulting, but he has had outburts like this in big games before
We were lucky to take 2 out of 3 since the white sox are better in every area (where's yankee fan in chicago? :)
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