Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
There is a serious mix of clouds and sun in Manhattan this morning and it is decidedly cooler than it has been for the past few days. The fall has returned. Now, this feels like weather for October baseball. It will be brisk and chilly out there this afternoon. Mike Mussina and Justin Verlander square off shortly after 1 pm at the Stadium.
Let's Go Yanks!
Mussina: ..................No comment.
Hating my job right now!!! >:(
I'm climbing the walls.
Idiot fans no matter where you go.
The real problem for the Twins is the A's two best pitchers are pitching the next two games, at home, and the A's only need to win one of those. Uh-oh.
I was actually offered a ticket for last night, and for some weird reason I turned it down. Guess I now know the weird reason.
hooray for america's small businesses!
mwahp-mwahp-mwaaahhh...
I was at the game last night, and I was furious. Not that they called the game, because they weren't going to be able to play it. But the way they handled it was downright insulting.
Long before I ever got to my seat, they knew that the first rain was coming, and they had to have seen the other storm behind it. They must have known that the odds of getting a game in were very, very long. (That's why Mussina didn't warm up.) But in the postseason, the Yankees don't make the decision, ESPN does.
I'm sorry, did I say ESPN? I meant the commissioner's office.
If they call the game beforehand, there's no show, and ESPN loses all that prime-time advertising. This way, though, they could have a pregame show, and recap, and interviews, and Joe Morgan bloviating, and ads. No game, and they knew it, but they wanted to squeeze every dollar out of it that they could.
Here's the final insult: ESPN made the announcement that the game was cancelled 20 minutes or more before anyone thought to tell the fans at the Stadium.
http://wcbstv.com/sports/local_story_277161016.html
Please, oh please do not let this new fame ruin my happy place.
WasWatching got the shaft.
http://www.viidoo.com/en/index.php
As long as you have downloading privileges at work, and a fairly fast connection, you should be good to go. Btw, was at the game last night and it SUCKED. I went up to the stadium two seperate times to get those tickets, waiting just about all morning in line the second time. Ended up having to sell at face value. I'm very unhappy at work today. Anyway, enjoy the feed.
http://DodgerSims.blogspot.com/
vr, Xei
30 I can totally understand your frustration, but enjoy today's game, there are a lot of ticked off people today. I just read the article on Tigers being mad from the other thread. I really felt bad for them, having to warm up like idoits and to look for places to stay last night. If the same thing had happened to the Yankees, expect NY fans break into riots...
From Abraham,
"I was watching the radar on a computer, I knew we weren't going to play," Mike Mussina told us afterward. "I'm not sure what happened."
nyny, you are my HERO.
[downloads with reckless abandon]
Someone at Athletics Nation (link on the right) found and posted the telephone numbers for the MLB offices in NYC, which are:
(212) 485-3444
(212) 931-7777
(212) 931-7800
They called to complain about the A's being on so early on the West Coast. I say call MLB and tell them exactly what you think of them screwing over the paying customers last night.
Good idea. Thanks.
Yo, it's brilliant and blue out now. Crisp but gorgeous.
I've got to ask: the average simulated score in the Santana-Zito matchup was 5.24 to 5.16? How does that happen, given those pitchers and middling offenses?
69 LOL! Wait until he plans to take annual anniversary trips...
69 Followed by a tell-all article in SI, where annonymous Toaster writers throw him under the bus? ;)
Oh yeah, go YANKS!
Damon: What's up, Skip?
Torre: Hit the ball, Jonny.
Damon: Hit the ball?
Torre: Hit the ball. Take a walk if you need to.
Damon: Hit it if it's there, walk if it's not. Got it.
Torre: Good.
I would like to see JD entertain the idea of bunting. Wet grass+speed=JD on base early. I know Damon loves to hit, but I really don't care how he gets on.
Damon: What's up, Skip?
Torre: Peas & Carrots...
Damon: Peas & Carrots?
Torre: Peas & Carrots.
Damon: Man, I hate Peas & Carrots!
Torre: Good. Now go and hit the ball.
Damon
Jeter
Abreu
Sheff
Giambi
A-Rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/6/yankees
Somewhere, Brandon Arroyo is crying.
Moose is on the mound, Bonnie Bernstein is babbling, and Granderson is stepping in... let's go Yankees!
STRIKE! Ha!
They've got to let last night's event go. Why wouldn't ESPN focus on the game for once?
104 I am sure Emily, as a baseball fan, would definitely say no to a October wedding.
I don't care - I am watching the game - I will tolerate Morgan today.
The roll call is rockin'!
Moose's curve is NOSTY.
If you can't throw strikes today, dude, it's perfectly understandable.
We shall see!
Sheff inexperience?
Uh oh, they're looking at his wrist.
Morgan: "That's why I don't like statistics anyway." You dumbass.
Hey, that was our Cap'n's error. Sheff is still good.
Morgan's right, throwing strikes is costing Mussina plenty.
And it was all so that Moose could strike out the side. How thoughtful of Jeter!
and thanks all.
Good job, Moose.
Hey, nice -- we'll take all the breaks you want to give us! "Miscommunication."
The enraged sabermatrician might be coming after Jetes, or Torre.
You've got to be kidding me!?!?!?
Someone slap that guy upside the head, I don't care if he's the Captain!
With a lineup like that and you bunt?
I saw 1 loss when Jeter bunted AND he was already 3/3 on the day.
I think he must have been bunting for a hit. Not a good reason, but a reason.
Don't forget: Jeter has never had an at-bat against Verlander. I mean, before that cruddy one.
I have turned the sound off. I will watch the picture but not listen anymore.
Still, nyny, I am in your debt.
I kid I kid ...
Now would be a good time, Mr. Rodriguez.
get 'em killah
201 Yeah, that was the best part.
Okay, clutch situation, baby. And the crowd seems psyched!
This makes Jeter's bunt even worse.
1st pitch clocked at 101!
Good curve for strike three, though.
We'll get 'em next time.
I still hate the Chevy commercial.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?
The Tigers PBP radio guys mentioned it ...
Is anyone else not getting the pitch speeds/3D effect on Enhanced Gameday?
Toggle into 'classic' mode.
He just needs to get them through 6 ... then Rodney, Zumaya, Jones ...
and ... he HAS been off the mound for 10 days ... so he is extra-fresh
One would think the fans in the Yankee Staidum watching a PS game should know better than reaching out with their hands.
Not to start a Bartman-like situation, but I think Monroe could have been held to a single if the fan doesn't touch that ball...
moving on.....he'll hit a homer to make up for it later
Good thing McClelland wasn't at first.
Now let's go Po and Cano!
Oh no, Godzilla!
Man, I was just thinking, "Well we're at the bottom of our order, so maybe the third will be the big inning." And then, I remembered.
That swing on the 79 MPH curve that Posada just did, fouling it off - that's what I wish A-Rod had done on the last pitch.
Unless you can crush the first one into the bleachers. Then, by all means, do that.
Even Morgan says don't bunt here!
Disciplined at-bat, the type that will grind a pitcher down quickly.
how is the Yankee batting order like a Florida congressional page?
Grind it out guys, grind it out.
I remain confident. Where's Ron Burgundy to balance my optimism?
2 innings, 5 LOB
On the other hand, if you don't capitalize on the starter's problems, you get the Tiger bullpen, so it will be important to cash in soon.
I must be the only one who doesn't see two innings and 5 men LOB as this huge moral victory. Yeah he threw 44 pitches. So fucking what? We got nothing accomplished.
The good thing about getting into the pen early is that we can make the top relievers unavailable tomorrow.
It's a bad thing. But it's a good sign.
Mean while, Moose is back in gear. Whew.
Vermin - 44 pitches thru 2
Man, this kid has nasty stuff... nastiest curve I've ever seen. Last break, sharp break, tremendous movement... basically unhittable.
When he can throw the fastball consistantly for strikes, he will be unbeatable.
I'd rather see their BP then this kid.
Maybe he will walk in a few runs.
372 I too am not worried. The Yanks will get to Verlander, just like they got to Robertson.
Moose, meanwhile, is just getting to 45 pitches. Nice.
How nasty were the pitches Verlander threw to A-Rod?
Man, that was a heck of a single.
If this kid finds the plate, we're in trouble.
Shit. DP for Shef.
There was no reason we shouldn't sweep this team.
Now I'm pissed off.
But Verlander looked good there, huh?
364 Thanks for the info. That first pitch was high, so I'm guessing it was the rising two-seamer.
Verlander does have a very nice curve. I can see why he's been so successful.
That's cold, man. Cold.
YAY!
This game is basically even.
C'mon. Hang in there Moose.
But Moose will get him.
Yes, the Twins are down 2-0, but that's because Zito pitched a great game to out-duel Santana and Torii made a rare mistake in center in game two. I'd still rather play the Tigers in round one.
Do you seriously not understand those things?
No worries here.
the sight of the guy gets me all edgy.
;)
423 Nope, it's always a stupid call.
Okay, Godzilla, you know the drill.
ORLY JOE?
C'mon now 'Zilla.
Godzilla is at it again . . .
Pitchers are worse after 80 pitches. And they're much worse after 100. Everyone knows this. I'm not making it up.
Also, Jorgie does good, again.
He did so well his first at-bat!
Let's go JD.
What'd we say? ^_^
I remember a similar hit from him in the playoffs, once upon a time (shudders).
YES. I'm happy now.
Free.
Agent.
Signing.
E-VAH.
Johnny explains more eloquently even than Travis 445 or mikeplugh 446.
...not that it matters, thanks to Damon. Nice to see those shots coming from our side for a change.
Crud, Jeter wasted. But three runs is good. Good.
And we want more baserunners next inning, and an A-Rod dinger.
Okay, now we want a pop-up.
Here are his stats in each park since the beginning of 2000:
Site AB Hits 2B 3B HR RBI BB K BA OBA Slug%
Comerica 538 139 26 3 11 52 43 74 .258 .316 .379
Yankee 103 40 3 1 6 20 15 11 .388 .462 .612
There may yet be hope.
Moose is not exactly coming undone, but he's not brilliant.
But okay, let's finish this half and then get back to scoring.
he hit .207 in September BTW
Morgan's babbling about the Yankees' lefties killing pitches down and in, despite the fact that Damon's home run came on an outside pitch.
Matsuzaka. I'm not sure at all. It's all about dollars, and anyone can spend them.
I've drafted Bonderman in the 2nd half of 2 consecutive roto drafts .... nice value.
I'm not sayin' it's right....but I understand.
Judging by how unproductive I've been so far today, I'd say we better stick to night games...
Cirque du Soleil stretch by Sheff there.
Matsuzaka will play in the bigs for whoever wins the bidding. He may engage in very tough negotiations with the club, if he doesn't like it, but he won't return to Japan.
Jorge's having a terrific year, just like his best buddy, the Cap'n.
Now, let's get the job done, Yankees!
He also insisted he would have thrived in Boston. I begged to differ, because the media is so much worse when it comes to criticizing players. "Nah, the NY media is FAR worse", he insisted.
I had to walk away at that point.
Bruney time, Joe.
I can't believe Moose is still pitching. He needs a K here, big time.
I remember a May game at Tiger stadium, Yanks won in 11. Zumaya coughed up the Tiger's lead because he was wild. the Kid throws hard, but he's interested in throwing harder, not pitching.
Let's bat around this inning.
Most of ARod's errors this year were throws, not catches.
Damage already done, though. Did Matsui not play Granderson's triple well? I turned TVU off - gotta get some work done. Or try.
Does anyone else think that Joe has absolutely NO feel for his pitchers right now?
Oh well, the Yankees are only need 2 runs. They can take the lead this inning.
Anyway. Damned class. I must go.
Let's go Yankees!
"If we can find NINE outs, we're in good shape"
Earlier, when Miller's stats said Moose throws 70% first strikes, and Morgan's stats said Moose throw 68% first strikes, Morgan replied "That's why I don't like stats".
Todd Jones.
This game sucks.
I wanted this series over in three so we could wait on the winner of Minnesota and Oakland. Everything fell apart.
Gotta agree with 740 though. If it stays a 1 run game, Todd Jones will help us out. I hope Proc/Farns doesn't help the Tigers out first...
We have some bats coming up.
Cory Lidle?!? Is Bruney on the roster?
Rally time.
Arod, the Baseball Gods have designed this moment for you. Giambi BB, Sheff deep flyout, A-bomb. Mo gets the call.
Yeah, keep dreaming, yankz...
I see a lof of nails and hair on the floor in the Stadium.
Well, I can't say I am optimistic about going into tomorrow with Johnson on the mound, so we better get to Jones!
Folks, let's not forget, Detroit's closer is Todd Jones.
Todd Jones vs the Yanks in '06:
2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
That's a 16.88 ERA, BTW.
Todd Jones career vs the Yanks:
34.2 IP, 33 H, 19 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 19 BB!, 27 K
Which is a 4.67 ERA.
I feel very calm, all of a sudden.
Zumaya is gone, Jones will come in - I will be flabbergasted if that doesn't happen.
And yeah ... Todd Jones isn't a Yankee-killer.
Pedro: "Who are you Karim Garcia?"
They need to win.
Mad props to Bruney. Nothing like young, strike-throwing relievers! I can't believe the Yanks got him for nothing off waivers.
Time for an offensive explosion!
Let's go guys.
Please no DP.
I thought you were telling us what HAD happened.
Let's go, Jorgie!
Let's go Yanks!!!
Holy fucking shit. What the hell was that?
Dang.
Okay, Johnny's pump is primed, anyway. Here we go!
Up to Damon now.
Well, Zumaya and Jones are probably not available tomorrow, huh? So they have an ordinary bullpen, and mediocre starter, and we have Unit, Farns, and Mo.
I wanted this game, though. Left too many RISP.
Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright coming up. Yankees lose the seriees and are the biggest embarassment in years.
Joe, you need make some changes in this line up pronto. Sheffield isn't hitting and Alex is slumping.
Go have your dinner, annoying ump.
Same here.
Joe, you need make some changes in this line up pronto. Sheffield isn't hitting and Alex is slumping.
Go have your dinner, annoying ump.
911 Go root for the Red Sox with that fatalism.
Anyway, really really have to get back to work. We'll get the Tigers back to their cage tomorrow.
Jon Miller doesn't make it easier to take the loss well by yelling about every play in the last two innings.
"HE TAKES THE PITCH! IT'S 1-0 AND THE SECOND PITCH IS ON THE WAY!!!"
Sheesh.
Time to impose the Unit Rule on this series and erase this loss, yeah?
Who in all hell sits slider on a two strike count? Seriously. What an idiot. When the man throws the fastball down the middle you can't swing.
never surrender, people.
never.
Yay!
Well. I agree with Simone... Mussina pitched himself into that loss. The lineup didn't help much, but not too much tinkering needs to be done; a boost here and a drop there and the motor's popping again.
Positives: The bullpen held up well, the defense is relatively decent and our pitching in general is rested. Bruney's a keeper. These guys just need a good hot shower, a decent night's sleep (no hanging out until the WS is a done deal) and some attitude. If they feel like we feel right now, Kenny Rogers is marked.
Hell with the negatives, I'm going home and looking forward to tomorrow.
I don't think I have the stomach to not win it all again this year. Call me spoiled, but it would certainly suck after this amazing season.
923 What Alex said and have you watched Sheffield? The guy clearly doesn't have his timing back. He should not be hitting 4th in this line up.
We need a retractable roof, I tell ya...
Confidence, people!
Joe Torre's teams after playoff rainouts:
1982:
Game 1 of NLCS (L)
Game 2 of NLCS (L)
1996:
Game 1 of ALCS (W)
Game 1 of WS (L)
2003:
Game 4 of ALCS (L)
2004:
Game 3 of ALCS (W)
2005:
Game 4 of ALDS (W)
2006:
Game 2 of ALDS (L)
the bigger the situation, the worse the pitch he throws. the triple by granderson wasn't even the worst. leading 3-2 in the sixth, you absolutely CANNOT groove a fastball to the Tigers' best hitter WITH TWO OUTS. the guillen solo HR was UNACCEPTABLE.
the yankees keep handing mussina leads in division series games, and he keeps blowing them (see: 2005 ALDS).
when the contract expires, see ya later.
Based on just observing the game today, should we bat Damon 4th or Matsui 4th, because they are the only ones who seemed to have any real success today.
Remember that game against Detroit we played at the very end of spring training? Zumaya took the loss...when he gave up a looong two-run homer to Bubba Crosby.
And the only player to get a hit off him during the regular season was Melky Cabrera.
I just want him to do well so bady but he doesn't really give fans much to work with
As for losing a postseason game, when you start over 20 PS games in your career, there are going to be good outings and bad outings, just like anytime else. For the record, Moose's ERA by level of postseason play:
DS: 3.38
CS: 3.34
WS: 3.00
He was officially 0-2 in the 2003 ALCS, yet somehow, came up absolutely huge when it most mattered. Go figure.
Don't try and paint a black picture of the guy's long history because you're upset about today's game.
Starting with the top of 6th, here's what Moose did:
Pop Out (Ordonez)
Ball
Ball
Homerun (Guillen)
Ball
Groundout (I-Rod)
Ball
Flyout (Monroe)
The 6th is over and Moose is at 76 pitches. He did not look sharp, however.
Top of the 7th:
Single (Thames - now 3 for 3)
Ball
Wild pitch
Ball
Sac Bunt (Inge out at 1st)
OK, Moose is now at 80 pitches but hasn't gotten a strike on anyone since the 5th inning. In fact, the last batter of the 5th, Casey, saw two balls before popping out. Moose's last called strike was his first pitch to Polanco, who hit before Casey in the 5th. (Polanco then saw a ball, fouled two pitches off, and singled.)
How is this not a huge red flag that Moose is loosing it, or has lost it? In fact, a bunch of folks noticed Moose losing it in the 6th: 601 605. Then 652 653 and so on.
Tuesday night, Wang - a 26-year-old - is cruising in the 6th inning. Only thrown 93 pitches. 2 outs. So what happens? Torre yanks him and puts in Myers to pitch to Granderson. I think we all remember what happened next.
So now its the 6th inning today, and 37-year-old Mike Mussina is clearly struggling. Sure, he's only in the low 80s in terms of pitches. But he looks awful, hasn't thrown a strike since the 5th inning, and Granderson is coming up.
If Wang - who was cruising! - couldn't pitch to Granderson, why could Moose who was clearly in trouble?
If you don't want to go to Myers, why not bring in Villone? Villone held lefties to a .179 batting average! Why is he on the roster if he isn't going to pitch?
Or, failing that, why not bring in Bruney (.115 BAA vs LHB, though small sample size of 8.2 IP) or even Proctor (.204 BAA vs LHP)?
Moose should have held the 3-1 lead, but Torre had more than enough info to tell him Moose was cooked, and a reliever needed to come in.
Sorry for the long post.
since 2001: 3-6.
it's not about the era. it's about winning. mike mussina does not make enough necessary pitches in enough necessary moments to do so.
ps -- how does claiming mussina was "officially 0-2" help your case? last time i checked, there ain't no wins and losses but official ones, and moose officially blew another one today.
Hence his 0-475 record in his 475 career starts, right? And his 0-21 record in his 20 postseason starts, plus his 1 postseason relief appearance.
We get it. You don't like Moose. You blame him for the Yanks' postseason failures since 2001. However, folks around here generally look past W-L records, to stuff pitchers can control (BB, HR, K), take run support and the effect of relievers into account, and so on.
Based on those objective, sound measures, Moose has been a very good pitcher for the Yanks, including in the postseason.
My memory's kind of foggy, but I think he was just fooled by the movement, not guessing slider.
Does that sound reasonable?
Some observations from the game:
1) Moose, love him or hate him, gave up one run of the two run lead because of a wild pitch. Gave up the remaining 1 run lead with an absolute bomb. And surrendered the lead by not finishing off the easiest man in the AL to whiff this year with an 0-2 count with the shadows in full effect. His game to win and he couldn't do it.
2) Where Granderson succeeded, everyone else failed. After the 6th, no one else could get through the shadows to come up with even a decent AB except for Matsui. The 102 MPH fasball didn't help matters.
3) Many people don't just boo Arod, and are not just disappointed when he does poorly. They HATE him. He sucked ass today, but 2 through 6 went 2-18 and Cano is 0-8 and looks worse than anyone right now. That doesn't really matter to them. If he has any heroics in him this year, it will be lost on a lot of the fans who were sitting in LF.
Moose coughed up the game, the bats could not save him, and the series is in grave doubt. Johnson's back is now of ultimate importance. If he can't deliver, it's a long shot to even get back to NYC. But I think Randy and Wright will pitch well enough to allow the Yanks offense to win 2 in Detroit.
Yanks in 4. Rest on Sunday.
977 That's a shame re: fans hating A-Rod.
"I didn't like him that well," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/baseball/20061005-1453-bba-a-rodschances.html
979 Thank you, ShaunP. I feel somewhat better now that I know that there is at least one sports reporter/commentator who is paying attention. I saw on Law's lead-in that he also called Jeter on his stupid bunt. Good.
Stop bunting Derek. Please.
Hang in there, Alex, you will have your moment in the sun.
Tonight: Dodgers @ Mets, 8:05, FOX
Friday: Twins @ A's, 4:05, ESPN
Yankees @ Tigers, 8:05, ESPN
Saturday: Padres @ Cardinals, 1:05, ESPN2
Yankees @ Tigers, 4:05, FOX
Twins @ A's, 4:05, FX
Mets @ Dodgers, 7:35, FOX
Sunday (if necessary): A's @ Twins, 1:05, ESPN
Mets @ Dodgers, 4:05, ESPN
Padres @ Cardinals, 4:05, ESPN2
Tigers @ Yankees, 7:35, FOX
Monday: TBA
That guy was unhittable--I have no idea how Hideki got around on him.
That said, Zumaya was unhittable, but Jones was very sharp himself. Hideki led off the ninth with a clean basehit against Jones.
Watching Jones mow through the next three batters without any of them making decent contact was what made me wonder how Hideki managed to get that first basehit.
I saw the tape of the pitch that Jorgie watched for strike three, which was a fastball. But that strike two that he watched go by him was, as I recall, a nasty, nasty cutter. I think the reason he didn't swing wasn't because he was guessing but because the break was so sharp and so late.
That's as I recall, anyway.
my argument is neither that mussina never wins, nor that he is a bad pitcher, but that he has a strong tendency to lose focus when pitching with a lead and make fat pitches in critical situations. today is simply further evidence of that.
It seems that he's willing to make sacrifices for the team moving to third (I not too sure he likes third as much as short), taking the blame for 99% of the teams loses and dropping down to 6th in the line up without making a fuss (although I do think he saw it as a demotion....and I didn't entirely get either since he was starting to hit the ball well). Yet all he hears are boos for 5 straight months....I gotta tell ya he handles it much better than I would have.
Do you think he (Alex) will opt out of his contract next year if he's with NYY? (I think he can unless then give him a raise)
Give Moose a fucking break.
1st of all, if you think you can run out and find a guy to make 30+ starts with an ERA below 3.5, a post season ERA around 3.25, go right ahead morons! WE only have 2 good pitchers for Christ's sake, you want to run one of them out of town, and sign who? Look around the league.
2nd, Detroit is a good team, are you forgetting that? Sure, he made a couple bad pitches, but Verlander handed us 10 runs in the 1st three innings and we laid an egg.
The offense cost us this game, no doubt about that. Jete was bad, Alex was awful, and no one but Damon could scratch out a hit with RISP. If we cant average 5+ runs a game this post-season, we will lose, and it won't have anything to do with Mussina.
Coming into this PS, anyone could see that we would have to score a ton of runs to win and move on, and with our offense, we sure as hell should score a ton of runs. We don't have El Duque, Clemens, Pettitte, and Cone anymore. That is why we haven't won, no matter how terrifying a lineup we throw out there. This lineup has to average 5+ Runs per game, or we're finished.
And Joe saying Rivera is only available for 1 inning baffles me yet again. So, if we need him to get 5 outs, we won't do it, because Joe hasn't a clue how to handle managing in the post season. You win today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Otherwise, there is no tomorrow. If we lose tomorrow, I can see Joe running Wright out there and going to bullpen junk if Wright gets banged around, instead of bringing in Wang on Saturday already. Its garbege like that that costs us series, not Mike Mussina.
Go Yankees!
(Though I'm glad I didn't call in sick today, given how the game turned out.)
Come on, Randy. Pitch us a good on.
And, by your logic, Moose would be a winner if his he gave up 17 runs a game and the offense always scored 18. That's BS and if you can't see it. . . The fact is that Moose held one of the best offensive temas in the game to 4 runs today. This Yankees club is about offense, and if they can't put up 6-7 consistently, then they are done. I hope no one is saying that Moose made good pitches on every pitch, but the Tigers are going to score some runs. I don't see anyone here complaining about the pitching Tuesday night, when it let in four as well. Guess Wang must be a "winner." Go hang out with Joe Morgan and the people who voted for Colon for Cy Young last year.
On October 1st, everyone knew if this team won, it would by offensively pounding our opponent.
Why then, when we score only three runs and have 9 LOB, are there people that think our pitching was at fault? Were you under the impression that we would outpitch Oakland, Minn. or Detroit? Yes, it can, and has happened, on any one given day. And if we get a great pitched game during the PS, its icing on the cake.
What this team brings to the plate is massive offense. Jeter, Abreu, Shef, Giambi and ARod going 2 for 18 ain't gonna cut it. As stated by a number of realists above, if we can't count on scoring 5+ runs every game, then there will be no parade this year.
Since Verlander's fastball tailed in on Jeter, he bunted the ball in the air, and it was caught by catcher Iván Rodríguez. Jeter said he was trying to at least move Damon to second and maybe even get a bunt hit because it was critical to score an early run.
"That's the way I play all year, so there's no reason to change anything now," Jeter said. "If I could it all over again, I would do the same thing. I probably just wouldn't have bunted at that pitch."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/sports/baseball/06curry.html
Much of what I love about Bronx Banter is the lack of use of words like idiot, clown, joke, suck, and anything in ALL CAPS.
Thought we were a more civilized crowd than that. Thought we were less Sox-esque than that.
We lost one game. We can still win it all. Nothing to get ANGRY about.
My goodness.
Go Yanks.
http://www.silive.com/sports/advance/index...7970.xml&coll=1
If "suck," "idiot," and ALL CAPS annoys you, avoid game threads on days the Yanks lose.
It's just venting. We'll get over it.
I don't think they can keep up that level of pitching. I sure hope our pitching is OK in the next two games.
Go Yankees!
Stop making sense!
(Since a lot of the phrases around here are music related, I thought using D.Byrne & Co, would be OK.)
I thought Verlander and the second guy completely dominated the righty hitters today, and when the lefties couldn't string together enough offense to score more than three...
993 A very similar argument used to be made about Jack Morris, that he 'pitched to the score', gave up runs whenever he had a lead by throwing bad pitches. Someone, Joe Sheehan of BP I think, actually went through every game Morris ever pitched and disproved this theory. If you want to do that kind of a study on Moose, and the results of the study back you up, get back to us with the proof. In the meantime, tell Joe Morgan I said hello.
1009 Ken, is there any reason the 'Comments' label at the top of the comments says "1006" when its clearly more than that? The things one notices at 2:30 am when one's baby girl doesn't want to sleep.
Thank you again for being a wonderful host.
Let's Go, Yankees!
Not that they can, of course. But I hate to see people walking around with elevated expectations. It makes for so much disappointment later. 2 for 18, hope the Yanks are pissed.
1013 The Yankees only scored 3 runs? Three runs is plenty against Verlander's heat. The Cardinals only scored 2 runs against the Padres and they won there game with Weaver pitching of all people. I'll repeat until the end: There is no justifying Mussina blowing the lead. He made bad pitches that were hit miles away. A-Rod was right that Mussina gets a pass when he messes up.
Ack, now Gammons trying to prop up the Tigers. How about calling out Mussina?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15146916/
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This is the first time that two 40-plus pitchers are starting in the same playoff game, and here are the matchups:
Randy Johnson, 43, has attacked one cameraman, is suffering from a herniated disk in his lower back and has an ERA of 3.28 in 18 postseason games.
Kenny Rogers, 41, has attacked two cameramen, has grabbed a fan by the collar, and is 0-3 with an 8.85 ERA in nine postseason games.
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He predicts this game will be a "slugfest" that can "go either way." How the Big Unit has fallen...
Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS Will Be A-Rod's Greatest Post-Season Game of All-Time
Here's what's currently forming for Game 3 of 2006 Tigers-Yankees ALDS.
On one front:
Alex Rodriguez, in his career, has faced (scheduled Tigers starter) Kenny Rogers 24 times. In 5 of those 24 times, Rogers walked A-Rod.
In the 19 times where Rogers did not issue a pass to Rodriguez, Alex has produced a hit 10 times. Yes, that's a batting average of .526. But...wait...there's more! Five of those ten hits for A-Rod were homeruns! Yes, in his career, when Rodriguez gets to bat against Rogers, half the time he gets a hit - and half of those hits are usually a homer.
On another front:
This is a post-season start for Kenny Rogers. In his post-season career, Kenny Rogers has pitched in 9 games - throwing 20.3 innings. During this time, Rogers has allowed 16 walks and 32 hits. Yes, over his entire post-season career, Kenny Rogers has allowed 2.4 baserunners per inning pitched. Further, Rogers' lifetime post-season ERA is 8.85!
If the batter-pitcher match-up in Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS is not the perfect storm for a huge A-Rod night at the bat, there's no such thing
Now if that does not bring hope, then I'm getting out of this savior business...
The waiting is the hardest part. . .
(except, unless, if the Yankees ah, um, er don't score more runs than the other team)
"When the Yankees signed Karim Garcia, Thames was optioned back to Columbus, never to return."
I knew he had his hand in this.
Alex Says Alex Sucks
To the detriment of my arteries, I stopped by my favorite diner this morning, and talked Yankees with Alex, the friendliest and most attentive waiter in town. Believe me, I'm not the only customer who knows this. If Alex has taken your order once, he remembers it forever.
This morning, Alex greeted me as always, with a smile and a handshake. But this is what he said -- twice, louder the second time to emphasize his point: "Alex sucks. Alex sucks!"
I shook my head and laughed at Alex, swinging an imaginary bat, "Strike three. Strike three."
Wiseguy in another booth mutters, "Yeah, when he swings."
It's bad for Alex the Great when Alex the waiter is goofing on him. I've never heard Alex say an unkind word about his Yanks. He usually just tips his cap to the opposing pitcher.
Later, Alex stops by with a fresh mug of coffee and tells me Nomar Garciaparra was in the place yesterday with his wife. Alex with the memory that never forgets couldn't recall her first name, but remembered "Ham." 5-foot-5 Alex reaches skyward describing how tall Nomar is. Alex reports Nomar stopped by once before, and ordered the same thing: pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon. Said he's a very nice guy, too, and opened his wallet to show me the $5 dollar bill Nomar signed for him. Garciaparra has one of those indecipherable autographs you have to take the holder's word for.
I got Buck Showalter's indecipherable autograph this summer.
We talked autographs for a sec. I said Mariano Rivera has a beautiful signature. I didn't use these words, but Mo's tag, if you've never seen it, is as precise and artistic as his cutter.
More importantly, Alex isn't worried about the Yanks. He thinks Johnson is going to get the job done tonight.
I told Alex I heard on the radio that A-Rod has smacked Kenny Rogers around good. But we agreed it's best not to speculate about Rodriguez.
i had blocked out the mariah carey "connection."
i know that some people are disappointed with the bunt attempt, but let's not get nasty.
(personally, i think that it wasn't a terrible idea after the 5 for 5 hype to remind the tigers that jeets can also lay one down... when he actually can lay one down.)
it took years for me to forgive jeets for that indiscretion, but now he could do just about anything and get away with it.
he could date ann coulter. he could slap my grandmother around. he could even mess up a bunt attempt in a playoff game.
they're winning today. i can feel it. i had a bad feeling yesterday. so, given the results, one can take my gut feeling as an indicator of future yankee performance.
you can rest assured that tonight's victory is a sure thing.
it's science.
Today's a new day - go Yanks!
If you don't have the stomach for A-Rod analysis and jokes, stay away from the TV, radio, newspapers, and blogs today. It's an A-Rod-a-thon out there. Soxaholix all over him today as you can imagine.
As an A-Rod supporter (which I'm) all you can do is chill, and hope he gets back in the groove soon, and not just for his sake. We need some of these guys to mash today. I believe the Motown mash is going down tonight.
If there was ever a night to DH Bernie, tonight's the night:
Bernie vs Kenny Rogers
.353 avg/.421 obp/.588 slg
12 for 34 with 10 RBI
Sheff vs Rogers:
3 for 17 .176 avg
two of his 3 hits were home runs
Giambi owns Rogers and should play 1B:
10 for 23 with 7 walks
4 HR, 9 RBI
.435/.567/1.000
Will Joe do it?
You also said the bats did "save" Moose by staking him a 3 run lead. I think we have different ideas about what that word means.
No, I'm a lifelong Yankee fan. My only regret is that the Red Sox were unable to pull off the A-Rod deal. The 2004 Sox with A-Rod minus Manny would have continued the curse.
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