Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
I can only imagine what must have been running through a Minnesota Twins fans' mind last night as they watched Alex Rodriguez hit two homers and a bases loaded RBI single--"This is the guy who is supposed to stink?" Now batting .282 with 29 dingers and 99 RBI, Rodriguez, according to my pal out west, Rich Lederer, "is having one of the best seasons for a bum in recent memory." Rodriguez had that good look back last night--even when he grounded into a double play his second time up, his frustration inspired confidence, instead of a "here we go again" feeling. Lee Jenkins reports in The New York Times:
"He looks more comfortable," Manager Joe Torre said. "I'm pleased and everybody else is pleased, too, because he makes a huge difference."After Rodriguez's first home run, the fans at Yankee Stadium begged him for a curtain call, but he did not respond. After his second, in the seventh inning, they begged again. Only when Torre told Rodriguez to acknowledge the cheers did he walk to the top step of the dugout and wave his helmet.
"Unless Joe tells me to go, it's not in my nature," Rodriguez said. "I don't feel comfortable doing that."
The Yankee third baseman was not the only offensive star--Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu had three hits apeice too, as the Bombers rolled over the Twins, 8-1 on a rainy night in the Bronx. Corey Lidle got ahead of hitters consistently and tossed six shutout innings. Meanwhile, the Twins committed three errors and played a sloppy game.
The rain held off enough for them to get the game in. The swirling winds made virtually every fly ball to the outfield an adventure. Late in the game, Jorge Posada hit a line drive to center field. On the crack of the bat, Torii Hunter turned and ran to the spot where he thought the ball would land (Charles Euchner has a fascinating chapter about how outfielders track fly balls in his book, "The Last Nine Innings"). When he looked up, he discovered that the ball had dropped in behind him by a good 20-30 feet. "Wow," was all he could say.
It's actually not raining right now, but the winds are fierce. Not exactly an ideal day for playing ball, forget about sitting in the stands. Both Cliff and I will be at the park tomorrow. Hopefully, the weather will improve some by then.
Jason Giambi was back in the line-up but Mariano Rivera was unavailable and, as Kevin Kernan reports in the Post, the Yankees are holding their breath that their star closer will be okay come October. However, it is possible that both Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield could return before all is said and done. A dizzing proposition, for sure.
But it doesn't look good. :-(
I suppose this means the U.S. Open will be rained out, too. Andre could probably use an extra day of rest...
3 Agassi played his heart out on Thursday. That was one awesome show. However, if it gets rained out today, he might have to play on Sunday and Monday if he keeps his skill up like he did this week.
Man, the National Tennis Centre would go insane if Agassi gets to play Roddick.
Now it's Schilling and Papelbon who are hurting. Makes you look at the Yankees' situation with a degree of thankfulness - that it all happened at the start of the season, and not now when the playoffs are soon arriving.
Hopefully Lester comes out of this okay - I wouldn't wish what he must be going through on my worst enemy - or any Red Sox player/fan for that matter. ;-)
Chacon v. Weaver.
hehe. : )
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera LF
Aaron Guiel 1B
Sal Fasano C
Jeff Karstens P
Nick Punto 2B
Luis Rodriguez 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Phil Nevin DH
Rondell White LF
Jason Bartlett SS
Scott Baker P
Just found this. Still gives me goosebumps, especially with that music in the background.
I wonder if Sheff can pick it up that fast?
31 I have no prob with that. I think Sheff is eager to take that role from him. Last night, after Guiel sacrificed, he was getting congrats in the dugout, and I don't Sheff even looked up at him.
Wonder if they're going to call up an OFer once the Clippers' season ends? It would probably have to be Bubba, with Jones DFA'd, Reese out for the season, and KT so sick. Unless they want to try Sardinha. He was an infielder, but has been playing mostly outfield lately.
35 Funny, I caught that too. Sheff was sitting right next to the bat rack, looking down and did not lift his head when Guiel passed by. Hmmmm.
I am going to watch from the warmth of my apartment with my good friend Johnny Walker. I am kinda hoping it will get rained out so I can take a rain check and go tomorrow.
If not, LET'S GO YANK-EES!
http://tinyurl.com/olwmo
http://tinyurl.com/kksz5
Nice link on Guiel by the way. I've seen him play a lot of games for the Omaha Royals.
Fly out Karstens is in effect.
One Boston writer seems to have gotten it right:
http://tinyurl.com/jv62y
Sal did a great job of tracking the wind blown ball about half way to the Yanks dugout. He bobbled it, but held on for the final out. Hunter was not pleased.
Giambi's the exact opposite:
.216/.356/.487 night
and an amazing .344/.523/.784 during the day
. . . and with that he pops up.
Also look for Giambi to suck in September -- hot April, June, and August, poor in May and July. The good news is that he could carry the team in October if the hot/cold month thing continues.
A-Rod's been the opposite of Giambi with a cold April, June, and August and hot May and July and looking good in Sept.
So corporate. So thoughtless. So Fox.
Is Karstens doing any good?
Is Baker holding someone's child hostage?
Let's play two!!!
Though according to the YES announcers, after Liriano, Baker is the pitcher everyone wants.
I'm guessing Johnny goes deep here.
Curse of the Gimpy Common Grackle? CGCG? (as opposed to CGBGs)
Gee, I'm actually getting the game on EI
and 39 You're pussy nemcizer. Just grab a sweater & rain slicker. /jk.
And as soon as I type that, Jeter comes through.
79 Way out west, we're getting the Giants-Cubs on FOX in a few minutes. I'm also getting the YES feed on EI, which is rare for a Saturday...
82 I like the simplicity of 'Crow' myself. Here's my new hero:
http://tinyurl.com/rohxn
There there was "Wheels" Wright, pinch-runner...
Agassi is supposed to play Becker today, not Blake.
Seriously, we knock this mo-fo out this inning and take a big lead.
Sorry. I just flipped the set on and had the sound off. I'm sure you're right.
This is SCOTT BAKER!
He has an ERA near 7.00!
He's even worse than Loewen!
WTF?!
Ron, you're going about it the wrond way.
C'mon Yankee hitters, step it up, this Baker guy has won 3 Cy Youngs. He's a sure fire first ballot HoFer.
Where is offense today?
BTW, it is ugly outside in SoHo.
Can anyone tell me how he has done in the minors?
If Karstens can finish up this inning OK I am MORE than happy with the job he has done so far.
That said, I've yet to see (or do) a study that confirms what we all claim to see by watching.
Not flattering.
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/482476.html
Meanwhile, here's what I said about Karstens before his first start, includes a summary of his minor league performance:
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/482476.html
Villone's cooked. Rest him already.
Nobody needs to go to El Centro.
Ever.
Do you have relatives in Calipatria?
In the face of all logic and common sense, we still have two cracks at it, assuming The Bruiser gets out of it here...
Not by choice. Sort of like how people come to live in Calipatria.
I've been outside, doing chores. Usually when I'm not watching the Yanks do well.
Santana, Liriano, Baker! Go Chicago go!
Feast or famine bro, feast or famine.
No, I was actually joking about the state prison.
Nope, that's it. Anyone know the extended forecast?
If that's not the case, it's game over!
Just call the fucking game. We don't need someone getting hurt out there today.
id they cancel all matches at the Open today? If not, anyone have a time estimate for Agassi's match?
Toronto's leading Boston 5-1 top of 9th.
Scott Baker? The guy who allowed 90 hits in 63 IP gave up 1 ER on 2 Hits against us and got the win? Why? Baseball is a weird game. Whatever, we'll win tomorrow.
With the solid draft, apparent quality international signings and undrafted college players they have signed the organization should get a nice little shot in the arm.
... The Yanks have only scored 20 runs in their last 5 games. Take away an 8 run win over Minn, and thats 12 runs in 3 games. Is anyone worried that our offense is runnung out of gas?
... We need to go 20/10 over the remainder of the season to win 100.
... We will need to win big, as I don't think we will see much of Mo at all in September. I don't think October means anything to us without Mo.
... Last I remember, Oakland was struggling to maintain their lead, 4 or so games ahead of the Angels. Now they are only 2.5 games behind the Yankees. When did this happen?
... We are 3 games behind Detroit, but with the WS home advantage and the ALDS home advantage, I'm not so worried about beating the Tigers for ALCS advantage. However, weak hitting as they are, I don't want to face Minn. (Santana and Loriano) in a 5 game playoff.
... Anything can happen, and I feel a little sorry for how beat up the Sox are, and the Lester situation, but I think the Sox are done for the year. Can't cry too much over that.
... Joe has been managing for the PS. While he is trying to win now, he is more concerned with resting players. This is a good thing. I suspect Proctor and Villion will get a lot of rest in September.
... I hope we will see more of Dotel, regardless of the situation or outcoming. We need him sharp and tested for October. I think part of the Villion overuse (to win now) is in hopes that in the future, he will be more of a Lefty specialist, and Dotel used more to eat innings.
... I think outside of Wang, out pitching, both starting and relieving (with Mo hurting and Dotel still wild) is fragile. We will not survive Oct. without having above average arms.
... Can it be true? Is ARod FINALLY being ARod? ARod being hot or not can be the difference between winning it all or not.
====
The Yankees trailed by one run when Villone started the eighth, but he allowed a one-out walk and a single. Morneau was the next batter and he might have recalled April 6, 2005. That is when Villone, who was pitching for the Seattle Mariners, plunked him in the head with an 0-2 pitch. Morneau missed 13 games with a concussion.
Seventeen months later, Morneau faced Villone for the first time since the beaning. Villone said he had never seen someone hit an outside fastball the way Morneau did. It was another liner that beat the wind. Morneau called it "pretty satisfying," the opposite of how the Yankees felt.
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I really don't get it. You'd think the team, most especially the offense, would be improved with Abreu and Lidle and Wilson added. Hasn't worked out that way.
Oakland is definitely the team to watch. They seem to be peaking at the right time. I wouldn't be shocked if we lose homefield advantage, not to Detroit, but to Oakland.
224 Joe is definitely managing for the postseason, and I hope to see a lot less of Villone in the coming days/weeks. He, Proctor, and Mo definitely need rest.
And you're right about Dotel. He needs work.
Giambi, and Abreu need rest too. Posada needs as much as he can get.
I think we'll see a lot of Fasano, Wilson, Guiel, and Phillips this month. What's the word on Cairo? Cano, Jeter, and A-Rod could use a few days off, too.
I don't think Jeter is going to get caught up in the batting title race, as it's not his style, but if it tightens up, I imagine he'll be forced to play more games than he needs to this month.
It's a perfect time for Matsui and Sheff to come back, as they need work, and the others need to sit.
Here's hoping Moose comes back sharp on Tuesday.
Hey, Cliff and Alex, and all other Banterers who are attending today's game: have a great time at the ballpark. Go Yanks!
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