Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yanks lost a rain-shortened contest 6-1 yesterday afternoon, despite the best efforts of rookie Jeffrey Karstens, who allowed just two runs, one on a solo Torii Hunter home run, in seven innings. Today the Yankees throw another rookie to the wolves in Darrell Rasner. Because I'm on my way to the game and on my way out the door, here's what I wrote about Rasner when it was announced he'd start today.
Rasner looked sharp in a lone relief appearance for the Yankees back in that first loss to the Tigers in May, utilizing a nasty curve. He then landed on the 60-day DL with a sore pitching shoulder. After a brief rehab stint in A-ball in which the threw 13 innings across four starts, he was activated and optioned down to Columbus where he started this past Monday, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out five and walking none.Rasner made his only other major league start for the Nationals last year in his major league debut. He ran into trouble in the third inning of that game and got an early hook, but then followed that appearance with 4 2/3 scoreless innings out of the pen in which he allowed just one hit and walked none. Of course that's all tiny sample stuff, but in the minors, the 25-year-old Rasner has shown mid-rotation potential, displaying good control, a solid strikeout rate, and a knack for keeping the ball in the park. A good outing on Sunday could put him in the conversation for next year's rotation.
Opposing Rasner will be 22-year-old Twins rookie Matt Garza, who was drafted out of Frezno State in the first round (25th overall) just last year. Garza has steadily improved across his four big-league starts, though his competition has also been progressively weaker in each one.
Didn't see one pitch of yesterday's game due to a family thing - did the Yankees just look stupid against this Baker kid, or did the weather have any part to play?
This is bullshit, God, you hear me?!?
Andre's looking his age this morning. He's covering the court the way GOB covers CF.
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Giambi 1B
A-Rod 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Bernie DH
Melky LF
Rasner + Kaarstens > Pavano
As things now stand If Melky is our 4th outfielder next year is GOB the 5th? I know that's jumping the gun by a lot but what the heck it's a holiday.
Stupid Wind!
Rasner's still in, anyway.
Sometimes.
Two innings we've had Garza by the ball sack, and two innings we've let him go. Damn It.
Top of the line-up next inning, which means we score many runs the next inning.
OK, now we can score 6 runs off Garza and take this series.
Second time already!
First A-Rod then Damon!
@#$!
Even though they're running short of pitchers and outfielders...
(And Ryan Howard hit #50. He's awesome.)
Anyone catch this piece from the Orlando Sentinal on used Yankee gear you can buy:
http://tinyurl.com/qqw43
Everything is for sale...
He'll probably just walk.
Theft. But great swing after those two ugly ones.
Note to Rod: Tod Jones is no Mo.
STUPID VOODOO bullshit!
Nothing against Jones but how is he even in the same stratosphere?
Man, if Bartlett hadn't made that grab we would have been making Ron Burgundy's prediction come true.
Speaking of which, Colter Bean's jersey is relatively cheap. Only $250. Probably the most fabric for the buck, that's for sure. ;-)
I like what I am seeing of Rasner and Karstens. The Yanks have done a great job of dumpster diving- Rasner, Bruney, Veras looks OK.
30-100. Not bad for a "bad" year.
http://tinyurl.com/nh289
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Strangely, he is the youngest, but least promising of the five additions to the Yankees 40-man roster. Karstens is another pitcher and only just turned 23, but he hasn't really ever dominated at any level.
Karstens was a strange addition to the 40-man because apart from his first season in the minors, he has never had an ERA below 4 and he isn't a lefty. Furthermore, he has a .280OBA for his career.
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They didn't think he should even be on the 40-man roster.
Lester
Garza
What do they have in common? They're phenoms and they have been raped by the Yankees.
Remember that old commercial?
Somewhere Philips gets a sharp pain in his right temple - meanwhile, in the Bronx, A-Rod hits his 30th home run..
Coincidence?
(cue eerie music)
Oh, Robbie, tooo damn good.
Rasner 80 pitches. Does he start the seventh?
But I agree, we are actually in a position where Cashman could trade a pitching prospect! (Maybe that's part of the point of 'show-casing' Rasner?)
And we could easily run into the same sort of problem next year. I mean, Moose and Unit are both in the fragile years.
Mike Myers.
I hope it's not because Joe thinks his bullpen will get 'stale'.
Montero was generally thought to be too tall, but the word is that the Yankees do plan to have him catch.
I see we now have Villone warming, probably so he can "get back on the horse" after a bad outing, nevermind that he fell off in part because of overuse.
But we are going to need someone to bridge the gap. I was hoping the Pirates would throw in a young catcher to the Wilson deal. They've got more catching talent than they know what to do with.
Of course, he might not pan out. Maybe he can't hit a good curve. Maybe he won't be able to catch long term...
He's Hustlin'.
And I hope you do a better job pinch-running than you did the last time. :-P
Into the Black Seats!
"F*ck you guys, you were booing me 2 weeks ago for ground ball outs".
;-)
On a side note, is it me or is Torii Hunter musjudging everything today? Did he forget how to play CF at Yankee stadium while he was injured?
p.s. I hate those live-action replays when my back is turned. I heard the crowd reaction and thought Cano hit one out too.
Here's a drip pan for all the sarcasm oozing out of your post..
176 I've never seen that before! Too funny.
I like it, he needs a little test.
Career OPS of .638.
My guess is Nettles, but that's only a guess.
ARod's career OPS is .962.
What current players have a higher career OPS then ARod?
Bonds... Manny... Any guesses?
Nice game. Everything's good when you win 10-1.
Todd Helton 1.0404
Albert Pujols 1.0372
Manny Ramirez 1.0076
Frank Thomas .9947
Vladimir Guerrero .9771
Lance Berkman .9728
Jim Thome .9703
Alex Rodriguez .9625
Giambi has a carrer .9529 OPS
ARod is 20th all time, Giambi 23rd.
This will be even better if the Blow Jays do their job and rape-a-rize Beaver.
The Twins are battling for a playoff spot. Mauer's their #3 hitter. They can't afford to rest him. But he's their catcher, so instead of getting the regular off days Posada needs (you know how we all complain that the Yankees need a better back-up catcher so they can rest Posada even more, so he'll be fresh for the stretch/playoffs?), they have to DH Mauer on "off days." So they're down 8-1 or 10-1 or whatever and they pinch-hit for him and Gardenhire's a jerk because he's doing it to protect Mauer's average?
Please.
That said, gorgeous day, nice easy win. Props to Rasner. Alex will have the game wrap.
65 was a lot more obnoxious, IMO. Yeah, like we're really going to go beat up some baseball players for doing their job and catching balls. :-P
In 1939, he hit 46 doubles, 10 triples, and 14 HRs with an OPS+ 131 leading the league in doubles,as well as hits, with 213. Rolfe amassed 295 total bases, also good for first in the A.L. Interestingly, he finished 27th in MVP voting.
An unheralded Yankee, IMO, Rolfe was a key, if modest, component of the great Yankees of 1936-1939.
Of course, in Frank Baker's five seasons with the Yanks, he sported OPS+ of 116,129,105,99, and 98. Pretty good. Additionally, with the numbers presented at B-R., Baker's defensive numbers are B, B+, also IMO.
Think we start pulling a 7 man rotation now? ;) or at least try to keep a 6 man rotation more or less rest of the way? to give Moose/ Wang /RJ more rest.. while auditioning for the 4th starter ?
Also, I like to see Giambi get a little more rest , and audition to see which one of Andy / Wilson / Guiel is more ready for the playoff roster.
He was also a great defensive player (he moved to 3B from SS), an excellent baserunner, and drew a lot of walks.
He also said he considers Andy Phillips the best defensive first baseman on the team. :-/
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