Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Bobby Abreu and Chris Wilson make their Yankee debuts tonight as the Yanks begin a three-game series at home against the third-place Blue Jays. Since taking two of three from the Yankees in Toronto a little over a week ago, the Jays have gone 2-5 on a West Coast swing against the Mariners and A's, dropping their post-Hillenbrand record to 4-6. The Blue Jays did not make a deadline deal, but they did get Alexis Rios back in the line-up this past Friday only to go 1-2 against the A's over the weekend.
As far as the starting pitchers go, tonight's game is a rematch of the opening game of that last series, which the Blue Jays won 7-3 behind a strong performance by A.J. Burnett (7 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 K), while beating up on Jaret Wright (2 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K). Burnett followed that outing by getting rocked by the M's for six runs (five earned) on ten hits over four innings in his next turn. Wright, meanwhile, gve up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk in Texas in his last outing.
Myself, I can't wait to see the new Yankees decked out in their home pinstripes, regardless of the outcome, this is a banner night for Yankee fans.
Toronto Blue Jays
2006 Record: 57-48 (.543)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 58-47 (.549)
Manager: John Gibbons
General Manager: J.P. Riccardi
Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Rogers Centre (102/102)
Who's Replaced Whom?
Current Roster:
1B Lyle Overbay (L)
2B Aaron Hill (R)
SS John McDonald (R)
3B Troy Glaus (R)
C Bengie Molina (R)
RF Alexis Rios (R)
CF Vernon Wells (R)
LF Reed Johnson (R)
DH Frank Catalanotto (L)
Bench:
S - Gregg Zaun (C)
L Erik Hinske (UT)
R - Jason Phillips (C/1B)
R - Ryan Roberts (IF)
Rotation:
R Roy Halladay
R A.J. Burnett
L Ted Lilly
R Shaun Marcum
R Dustin McGowan
Bullpen:
L B.J. Ryan
R Justin Speier
L Scott Schoeneweis
L Scott Downs
L Brian Tallet
R Brandon League
R - Jeremy Accardo
DL: L Gustavo Chacin, R Pete Walker
Typical Lineup:
R Reed Johnson (LF)
L Frank Catalanotto (DH)
R Vernon Wells (CF)
R Troy Glaus (3B)
L Lyle Overbay (1B)
R - Alexis Rios (RF)
R Bengie Molina (C)
R Aaron Hill (2B)
R John McDonald (SS)
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Bobby Abreu RF
Jorge Posada C
Bernie Williams DH
Melky Cabrera LF
Miguel Cairo 2B
Jaret Wright RHP
Beam was sent down to clear roster space.
Bernie's OPS against RHP: .678
Craig Wilson's against RHP: .762
To me: 762>.678
See how easy that was?
Wilson hits lefties better than righties, which may be why he's sitting tonight.
I think I'd still put him in at 1B and DH Giambi, though. Righty be damned.
But alas, Bernie is in there, against a righty, and a righty with a 98 MPH fastball at that. Add to the fact that Abreu and Giambi should be switched and I'm already pissed off to no end at Torre.
Face it folks, we're fooling ourselves if we think Joe won't play Bernie everyday no matter what.
Even if Guiel were still around, it would be Bernie in tonight.
I love Bernie, but I'm starting to wish he'd retire. Until he does, Joe's going to be playing him a lot more than he should.
Like I said, I love Bernie to death. He could K every time from here on out and I'll still love him, but you don't get points for being nice in baseball. Bernie should be Darryl Strawberry or Ruben Sierra at this point.
PS how do you guys get the # you're responding to to come up?
Yes, Joe did start him in RF occasionally. But obviously, that is not going to happen now, with Abreu on the roster. So all that's left is pinch-hitter.
The scariest thing with Bernie is the rumor that he wants to play in 2007. I don't blame him for playing until they pry the bat out of his cold, dead hands - but c'mon dude, take one for the team and retire when this year is done.
At least with Craig Wilson on the roster, we won't be seeing Aaron Guiel at 1B any more.
I agree on Bernie. We all love him, and he's really not playing poorly. In fact, his bat has been pretty solid. However, NOT against righties and NOT against 95+ MPH pitching. He just looks ugly out there.
Also, there is NO way Guiel DHs on this team, EVER. Just like there's no way Andy ever DHs. Bernie sucks in the field, so we're lucky he's not starting in RF (and he really shouldn't ever, EVER again).
Quick Poll:
Over or under 25 GS for GOB for the rest of the season?
"I can feel that BB excitement coming out of my monitor, y'all!"
And of course, knowing Torre, he just can resist giving Bernie the DH spot instead of PH. But once again, thanks to Cashman, those days with
Johnny Damon
Derek Jeter
Jason Giambi
Alex Rodriguez
Jorge Posada
Melky Cabrera
Nick Green
Miguel Cairo
Andy Phillips
ARE OVER.
34 I am just afraid that Wilson sees more bench time than Bernie.
Playing Bernie against a righty is the equivalent of bringing in Myers to deliberately pitch to a righty. Its just dumb. Maybe we need an acronym for Bernie's role like LOOGY, say PHALHP. What do you guys think?
49 Tampa or during team workouts and practice before games probably.
If Wright gets bombed and Abreu has a shaky start, I'm afraid the Banter will go seriously bipolar. But I'm just as excited as anyone that we have a better looking offense, and that maybe (BIG maybe), life for the Yankees beyond the 3rd starter won't be such a black hole.
It has also been suggested that Williams will see a good amount of time at DH against righties. That would mean Phillips doesn't play, with Giambi playing first, and would also send Wilson to the bench. Such a move would make very little sense given how little Williams has hit from the left side. Wilson is better. Guiel is better. Like maintaining playing time for Phillips, keeping Williams in the lineup against righties will undo some of the benefit of these deals.
Of course there's nothing satisfying about missing out on the playoffs by a game or two for lack of runs, so I'm certainly not complaining about the trade. I just feel a pang now that all the spare parts that got us to this point are going to have to be cleared out to make room for the big guys.
Speaking of a square jaw, Wilson is a real straight laced Irish looking guy. (Is he Irish? Or German or something Scandinavian?) He spoke about it being bittersweet leaving the only professional team he's ever known in Pittsburgh. But he was naturally pumped to be playing for the Yankees in the heat of games that matter for the first time in his pro career.
I don't know if Abreu will be a flop or a hit. I know that I've always liked him, or at least the idea of him. I understand why Verducci thinks Abreu could be a flop, but that's okay. If you've coveted a guy as long as I--and other Yankee fans--have coveted Abreu, you've just got to be excited about the possibilities and don't dwell on what could go wrong.
Abreu talked about playing hard and blah, blah, blah, but I got the impression that being around hard-working, tone-setting stars like Jeter, A Rod, Giambi, Matsui, Mo, etc. is going to bring out the best in the guy.
Whatta ya say, couple of few hits off his old boy Burnett tonight?
Nice Tandori Red glove their Bob.
I'm also a little nervous about how the new guys will transition to the more competitive AL.
Go Yanks!
Proctor's rockin' a Red Bull in the bullpen. Make your own jokes.
No seriously, would it have killed Joe to do the thing that makes the most sense and switch Abreu and Giambi in the line-up.
Wright looks bad = Negative
You have to be kidding me...
:::GASP::: did I just say that out loud???
;-P
God, he's pissing me off!!!
Please, Cleveland - don't choke tonight
It's summer break in Japan, but I'm at my desk. The best part is that no one else is around and I can "watch" the game on Gameday.
No worries. We're going to score a bunch tonight.
I was kind of hoping he'd hit a home run, just to shut everyone up and then go back to doubling and walking a lot. ;)
What the hell? I thought we were supposed to kill guys with good fastballs like Burnett. And he's been getting killed lately.
Whatever, we get him second time through the order.
120 If we had Beltran, we probably never would have gotten Abreu.
Beltran was getting booed this season. Can you imagine that? A-Rod take note.
Great catch by Wells to keep the perfect game intact.
I hate Wells, both of them.
147 Just watch the outfielders.
154 It's alright..
Why can't we hit bad pitchers?!
Gourriel is currently with the national team playing in Holland. I haven't seen any box scores so I'm not sure of the latest.
He was the MVP of the Cuban league after his historical season, but Sancti Spiritus got knocked out of the playoffs in the semi-final round by division rival Industriales.
The next season doesn't start for a little while yet. The Cubans do the rounds of international competition about now.
I'm not worried about Jaret. I thing he'll go 6 tonight. What worries me is the offense.
Tell me about it. Why don't the writers just spit in a bucket and throw it in Goose's face.
Ok ok, I take it back.
I think me spokey too soon.
So so players who think they're something special.
Wow...a strikeout, but i still don't take back what I just said!
And can Cleveland score some off Jason Johnson already and actually WIN their game?
Alas, tonight's problem is the same as always: too many pitches up in the strike zone.
We're going to win this game.
Who cares! I would settle for more pitches IN THE STRIKE ZONE!
Wright gets out of it, but I dunno how much left in the tank he's got.
http://tinyurl.com/f3h55
Maybe they'll have better luck second time through.
THERE YOU GO!!!
But you give me a heart attack sliding in head first like that...
A RIPPED RBI Double for A-Rod.
IT'S NOT EVEN A CONSIDERATION!!!
BEST
IDEA
EVER
.500 On Breu Percentage for the Yanks.
Burnett 36 strikes, 34 balls
Welcome to New York.
Hmmmph!
BERNIE-F**KING-WILLIAMS!!!!!!
We're going to miss that man.
And I said before, I love Bernie, while he shouldn't be playing as much as he is, the fan in me will root for him every single AB.
Burnett has thrown just about as many pitches as Wright now and has less strikes.
NO!
Nice!
I'm still pissed at you though!
Wright threw 5 innings with a WHIP of 1.2, and an ERA of 1.80 tonight. It's not a quality start if it ends here, but the Jays really did nothing against him.
Do you think it was a success? Would you take that from him every 5 days if he could give it to you?
I would at this point, although I'd like the 6th inning too. 5 innings of 1 run ball is okay by me for a guy who is almost on the scrap heap.
Meet the Sawx new backup catcher -- Ken Huckaby, 35, is batting .207 (45-217) with two homers and 16 RBI in 68 games with Pawtucket this season. Makes Mirabelli look like Posada.
Sawx also designated HeeSeop Choi, who's been pvery poor at Pawtucket for assignment. Worth a shot for us?
That is some expensive scrap metal you're buying over there.
Hell yes I'll take it every 5 days!
Hell fucking no! He is a bum. I live in LA now and believe me, after watching him on a regular basis for a few years, there is nothing good that can come from having He Sop Choi on this team, unless they are trying to boost Kimchi sales at the Stadium.
I couldn't believe there were people that thought he could help this team at the beginning of the season.
One night he'll give up the granny and we'll have to hit our way back to a win, but there will also be games like tonight when he gives up one run.
Whatever the case, he kept a very good offensive team off the board.
Choi has had potential for 10 years now.
If you want a Korean firstbaseman go after The Lion King, Seung Yeop Lee, who is about to be the MVP in Japan and is making a run at the all time homer mark of 56....
"Fly ball to Abreu..." ::shiver::
One run in five innings, it's more than adequate. I mean, I'd love to have a really good pitcher, another C-M W, but for a #4 it's fine.
Heart.
Oh, sorry pistol ;-)
Alex! Here we go, we need to keep pace with Cleveland's lead...
Bobby Up.
Sorry, that was my own little Sterling moment.
LOL
Other than Arod vs. Tex I, I don't think I've ever seen Arod come in hard at home. I hate to say it but that reminded me of the slap play in the ALCS.
369 I know that Posada got a hit. Not a bad at bat. Gameday said he made an out on a pitch way outside, but I later learned that it was A-Rod out at home. I may live in the future, but Gameday keeps me slightly in the past to balance things out. ;)
I meant Tek, sorry.
Apparently Dotel threw a scoreless inning tonight.
Hm. Okay, I don't understand baseball. Why walk Bernie, exactly?
Now it turns out A-Rod should've held up.
The selfish, stat-padding pig.
CRAP!
To be fair, plays like Arod's at home can be crucial in the playoffs. He and Posada had to do a better job than that. If you are going to go home on a play like that, you have to expect to have to plow into the catcher, otherwise, DON'T GO!
To be fair, plays like Arod's at home can be crucial in the playoffs. He and Posada had to do a better job than that. If you are going to go home on a play like that, you have to expect to have to plow into the catcher, otherwise, DON'T GO!
not even papi can hit a 6 run HR/
Tribe up 6-1 in the 8th
Small sample size I guess. However, in the playoffs vs. the Sox, Arod had the baseline and should have levelled Arroyo, but didn't then either. I guess I'm just going on what I've seen from him, but he doesn't seem to be able to think on the run.
And by the way, every game is crucial right now, or there ain't no playoffs.
And who is thisguy Proctor? I haven't seen anyone by that name in like 5 days!
OK - I like this dude!
Let's go get that batting title.
I like a tired Sabathia better than, well, anybody in the Cleveland bullpen. No closer auditions tonight, please.
Looking GOOD!
I think Giambi was stiff or pulled something his last at-bat.
Jetes with the SB.
Nice play by, uh, Rios, or whoever that is.
Was MacDonald thinking about going home?
a 'SteveyPhillips'
And Abreu's pinstripe OBP drops to .333.
?
Why don't they just pick it up? Is John Henry a Vegan PETA boy or something?
Welcome to New York, kid!
Cocoa flies out, two to go.
Oh, nice Scotty, very nice.
Will he?
DO NOT LET ORTIZ get to the plate...
CRAP! Kapler walked1
Like that much.
Gabe Kapler walks. F*.
"Hello? Anyone home...?"
(insert evil laugh here!)
Tribe up 6-3, 1 out in the 9th.
I'm Gamedaying this -- some of you are obviously watching the Sawx game, huh?
Mark Loretta bunt grounds out, pitcher Fernando Cabrera to first baseman Casey Blake.
GAME OVER!
WHY is Farnsworth going in to close the game? WHY.
But Loretta bunts out, whew.
Minn DOWN 8-0 in the 7th.
A Pretty good Tuesday, all-in-all.
Bring the heat!
Farns' speed is above the temp tonight. Triple digits.
Thanks.
{wink, wink!)
well it's 5:1 not exactly a save situation.. using him in this situation is good.
And the Yanks take over first place by percentage points.
101 fastball
99 fastball
56 loogie
they might hit it out, but it would be funny as hell!
Pack your things and be out by tomorrow...
But whatever it is, he's bringin' it since the All Star Break, huh?
"I gave him a hug. I wanted him to feel welcome," Sheffield said Tuesday after Abreu reported to the Yankees, who acquired him in a trade with Philadelphia two days earlier.
This was discussed already, correct?
Let's win this bitch this year!!!!!!!!
I want to hear people tell me how we bought another championship and I want to reply with two very simple words, F- YOU!!!!
Yanks in 1st, Tek and Nixon out. Huckaby and Wells in. What a beautiful day. Gotta soak this one in a bit.
best Sheff quote of the day! :)
Anyway, I made a post tonight comparing the top VORP players from the Yankees and the Red Sox; however, I have no idea what any of it means...as in, I really don't know what I found (I like to think it just confirms my opinion that the Yankees are better than the Sox (duh)) but I really have no idea.
Figured, I would throw it here for the statisticians better than me.
jeteupthemiddle.blogspot.com
Here are a couple of interesting stats from tonight:
1. Wright throws 103 pitches in five innings; the pen threw 49 the rest of the way.
2. The BoSox were 1-for-9 with RISP tonight.
Speaking of records...we now have the second best record in MLB. Only Detroit is ahead of us.
Boston 63-41 -
Yankees 62-41 .5
I kid you not.
They are fixated on the Red Sox.
yay.
do you guys hear yourselves? YOU are fixated on the Red Sox. do you have real friends or only internet friends? you guys chat online all night like a bunch of schoolgirls.
Sawx new acquisitions underperforming...
Yanks newby with key at-bat...
Sawx tanking, Yanks winning, first place changes hands, Red Sox Nation shifting into Panic Mode...
Yep. It's August.
Here Here! I never liked real live people anyway.
We move into first place the day after Cashman makes the deals of the year, a Raven bounces around Fenway to portend dark days ahead, and Arod and Bernie have a big night. The Stars are aligning my friends.
Maybe we could all go to Waikiki and make friends...
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/454307.html [151, et al]
(um, I don't know how to do that tinyurl thing...)
Go to tinyurl.com and paste the cumbersome link in the space provided. The site converts it into a tinyurl thingy.
The Red Sox appear to be moving in the same direction as Fidel this morning. How grim.
to use an appropriate metaphor, "he who enjoys the occasional beer is not an alcoholic"
now continue painting each others toenails!
and then again at: 2006-08-02 05:30:57 619
(5:30 this morning)
I think the time stamps are a bit off, say three hours, but it is interesting that ric is posting late last night and again early this a.m. But he doesn't have a problem, no siree!
Ric, denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
ASL?
PixPLZKthx!
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