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Little Lefty Lupe Lou
2007-04-18 12:36
by Cliff Corcoran

Kei Igawa makes his third Yankee start tonight hoping to get the Yankees a series win over the Indians. Igawa's last start in Oakland looked a heckuva lot like Chase Wright's outing last night:

Igawa 4/13: 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 K, 95 pitches

Wright 4/18: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 3 K, 104 pitches

Is that a compliment to Wright, a fresh-faced rookie out of double-A? An insult to Igawa, a seasoned Japanese veteran whose line above actually represents a significant improvement over his MLB debut a week earlier? A little of each? Curiously Igawa and Wright are both lefties whose best pitch is a changeup. Does that mean the Indians will benefit from seeing similar pitchers two nights in a row or that Igawa should have similar success against the Cleveland lineup because of his similar stuff, with hope for improvement because his Opening Day jitters are now two starts behind him?

So many questions.

Then there's Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers, a 23-year-old lefty in his first full season in the majors. Taken out of Vanderbilt with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft, Sowers shot all the way to triple-A in his first professional season in 2005 and joined the major league rotation in late June of last year, finishing the season with a 7-4 record and a 3.57 ERA in 14 starts, two of which were shutouts. In Sowers' second major league outing, he faced the Yankees at Jacobs Field and held them to two runs over seven innings, those two runs coming on a first-inning Jason Giambi homer. Sowers is a finesse pitcher who fits the description of "crafty lefty" to a T and conjures up comparisons to Jamie Moyer and Tom Glavine, but his rate stats are troubling. In sixteen major league starts between last year and this, Sowers has struck out just 3.46 men per nine innings (Moyer and Glavine's career K/9 rates are both about 5.35). Seeing as he lacks the extreme groundball tendencies with which Chien-Ming Wang has survived a similarly miniscule strikeout rate, it would seem Sowers is going to have to figure out a way to miss more bats in order to keep winning. Indeed, his .257 opponents' batting average on balls in play last year is bound to snap back to league average (around .300), taking his ERA with it. Still, he's excelled in his two starts thus far this year, holding the White Sox to just one hit (but two runs on five walks) over six innings in his first start and the Angels to one run over seven innings in his last. Just because a correction seems inevitable doesn't mean it will happen tonight.

Comments (279)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-04-18 13:26:15
1.   Sliced Bread
Yo, Henn! Give Iggy yer mitt!

Iggy! Need ya to go six tonight!

Farnswacker! Drop the crayons, yer workin' tonight.

2007-04-18 13:27:11
2.   Sliced Bread
Did Minky get to keep his home run ball last night, or did the Red Sox grab it?
2007-04-18 13:33:20
3.   standuptriple
Looks like we're getting treated to a rare Phelps sighting. Cherish it boys.
2007-04-18 13:50:32
4.   pistolpete
Hey, what's the term we used last year for the unknown/rookie pitcher that inevitably no-hits the Yanks for 7 innings & strikes out 10...?
2007-04-18 13:54:37
5.   Jim Dean
1 Nicely done with Farns.

2 Or is it in the HOF?

2007-04-18 13:58:58
6.   Bama Yankee
4 URP
It stands for "Unfamiliar Rookie Pitcher"
or Unheralded, Unknown, Unbelievable, Undocumented, Unconstitutional or UnPavanoish ;-) if you prefer

https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/421158.html

2007-04-18 14:05:48
7.   Bama Yankee
Man, this URP thing is starting to be the new Karim Garcia... ;-)
"Who is URP?"

1 & 2 Good ones, Sliced.

2007-04-18 14:06:41
8.   Chyll Will
Well I could understand if it was "Unfinished Rutabaga Pasta"... urp fits quite naturally then...
2007-04-18 14:11:08
9.   Chyll Will
6 (ssshhh... we have no Undocumented Rookie Pitchers, remember?)
2007-04-18 14:19:15
10.   Bama Yankee
8 LOL. I'm sure our bullpen has a few Burly Unknown Relief Pitchers... ;-)
2007-04-18 14:33:56
11.   Chyll Will
And one LOOGY if I recall, though I think that usually follows the above-mentioned URP...
2007-04-18 14:40:17
12.   Chyll Will
When is a LOOGY also a LIDR?
2007-04-18 14:40:30
13.   OldYanksFan
It's funny that with all the talk of our pitching woes, there seems to be little talk of Mr. Matsui. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure of the extent of his injury, or when he's projected to be back.

Mats has been a quiet, but consistantly clutch .850 OPS performer. With Melky in there, we give up 100-150 pts of OPS, 20 HRs and many RBIs. Yet I hear little about us 'missing' Matsui.

Are we that in love with his youth?
The better glove and great arm?
We're happy to suffer Giambi's defense for (hopefully) better offense. We would never replace Jeter and his poor glove with AGon, even though SS is a more important defensive position the LF.

Matsui seems invisible. Am I wrong? He seems to be forgotten.

2007-04-18 14:42:07
14.   Chyll Will
Or rather, when is a LOOGY a LIDR?
2007-04-18 14:46:31
15.   Chyll Will
When you yell "Maple Leafs Suck!" at a Blue Jays home game...

Okay, I have to work. It's safe to come back to the computer >;)

2007-04-18 14:55:46
16.   Chyll Will
13 I believe that with Matsui, who does his work quietly anyway, you know that barring his extremities literally falling off, he's going to come back soon anyway, and besides, Having Melky replace Matsui is easier to accept and easier to do than having Cairo replace Jeter. With Melky, you get a superior arm to replace Matsui's average-at-best arm. Cairo offers no such advantage over Jeter, even if Jeter commits 6 errors a week. The outfield seemingly will be okay with or without Matsui. Yes, you miss his OPS, but Melky's arm keeps the opposition relatively honest.
2007-04-18 15:20:56
17.   Bama Yankee
14 FWIW IIRC, your LOOGY can become a LIDR if your low OPS BUC goes to DH and your URP with the good VORP just off the DL tears his ACL while ROFL and needs an MRI ASAP...
2007-04-18 15:26:46
18.   Simone
2 Good one.
2007-04-18 15:28:48
19.   C2Coke
I have a question. Is Henn now officially converted to a reliever or he can still go back to be a starter if it's necessary? (I have this flashback of rumered move of converting the man who will be eating with his feet when he's 50 to a starter this spring.)
2007-04-18 15:31:04
20.   C2Coke
13 He is in Tampa now, I believe.
2007-04-18 15:35:21
21.   C2Coke
13 And I am saving you the trouble to look for updates. The following was copied and pasted from Pete Abraham's blog.

"Here is the plan for Hideki Matsui:

Thursday: Hard workout.
Friday: Class A game.
Saturday: Class A game
Sunday: Extended spring game or simulated game
Monday: Play left for the Yankees against Tampa.

Here is the plan for Chien-Ming Wang:

Thursday: Pitch in Class A game.
Sunday: Bullpen
Tuesday: Start for the Yankees against Tampa Bay."

So, they are both coming back very soon.

2007-04-18 16:00:57
22.   Mattpat11
I'm ready for some fine Yankee baseball.
2007-04-18 16:03:53
23.   Vandelay Industries
Nice to give Jorge some love.
2007-04-18 16:08:29
24.   Jim Dean
Excellent! The insight of "The GM" Steve Phillips tonight!
2007-04-18 16:11:13
25.   BklynBmr
Kay not wasting any time tonight: "A-Rod always has trouble with pop-ups"...
2007-04-18 16:11:54
26.   monkeypants
MLB.tv Mosaic works like crap on my Mac--does anyone else have the same probems (constant freezing and rebuffering; never works on the best video quality; etc.)?
2007-04-18 16:12:15
27.   Zack
What happened there Jonny D?
2007-04-18 16:12:38
28.   monkeypants
And more elegant defense...
2007-04-18 16:12:56
29.   JimCobain
Funny, looked like Damon was joking around with Cano after he caught the pop up saying, "those are mine!" And then of course the next guy dunks one in, in front of JD.
2007-04-18 16:14:04
30.   Zack
Igawa has a very bad chin...just saying
2007-04-18 16:15:05
31.   Mattpat11
That may have been Igawa's best inning yet
2007-04-18 16:15:09
32.   JimCobain
Solid inning for Quest.
2007-04-18 16:15:16
33.   BklynBmr
Not a thing wrong with that start!
2007-04-18 16:15:29
34.   Zack
Nice pitch by Kei there to K him!
2007-04-18 16:15:42
35.   Vandelay Industries
I know! I'm torn. Watch in HD on ESPN and listen to Phillips, or watch on EI with a worse picture, but will Paulie.
2007-04-18 16:17:34
36.   JimCobain
The Indians look off balanced again. If Igawa can keep them tha way and hand it to the 'pen who throws hard it will be a fun night.
2007-04-18 16:18:32
37.   Zack
Didn't realize game was on tv, Ill see how long I can take ESPN
2007-04-18 16:19:28
38.   BklynBmr
35 Same decision here. Better karma with YES ;-)
2007-04-18 16:20:54
39.   RIYank
Igawa did look good.
Now, the Indians don't suck, right? Because if they don't suck, then I'm very encouraged by the way our hurlers are handling them.

Uh, also the way the Injuns catch fly balls.

2007-04-18 16:23:01
40.   RIYank
Donuts with a productive out.
2007-04-18 16:25:07
41.   its430
Phelps is playing tonight?

Cripes, Torre is even more diabolical than I thought. First he tortures all of us by making us sit through Minky's 0-April then the day after he actually plays decent, he benches him!

2007-04-18 16:26:54
42.   JimCobain
Yankes let the kid off the hook there, I hope it doesn't bite them as the game goes on.
2007-04-18 16:31:33
43.   RIYank
41 Dougie's sitting because of Sowers, who's a lefty.
42 I was just thinking that.
2007-04-18 16:32:05
44.   Mattpat11
Am I the only one who thinks Peralta looks like Cousin Skeeter?
2007-04-18 16:32:22
45.   Knuckles
Thanks ESPN, I'd have never enjoyed tonight's baseball game if I hadn't found out who got the Duke women's hoops coaching job...
2007-04-18 16:33:31
46.   RIYank
Wow, Quest really is looking good. And efficient: he could go a long distance at this rate. I think that's 21 pitches for the two innings.
2007-04-18 16:33:40
47.   Jim Dean
That was a nice hook.
2007-04-18 16:33:59
48.   RIYank
No, it's 30 pitches, sorry. 21 strikes.
2007-04-18 16:35:44
49.   rbj
Well this fucking sucks. ESPN2 is blacked out here, as well as Fox Sports Ohio. "Channel not available is your area"

Why the hell good is getting EI if a bunch of games gets blacked out? Rot in hell, Bud Selig.

2007-04-18 16:36:57
50.   RIYank
Crud. Good shot by Rob.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-04-18 16:37:09
51.   Zack
Boy, I really wanted to see that replay of 1997 playoffs...

And nice catch by Delluci to make up for the Jeter misplay

2007-04-18 16:38:52
52.   Zack
Does anyone else feel that everytime Phelps is up he needs to perform really well or Torre will use it as an excuse to bench him? It makes me pull for him even more

And like that, a hit!

2007-04-18 16:38:59
53.   OldYanksFan
By the end of May, we will have the best 5th starter in the league... if Iggy-San is still our 5th.
2007-04-18 16:39:23
54.   BklynBmr
49 Besides ending the broadcast 2/10ths of a second after the last out is recorded, that's the major issue I have with EI, as well. Out here, EI is blocked when the Yanks play the A's, or the Mutts play the Giants. But — 99 times out of 100, the game is on a local channel.
2007-04-18 16:41:44
55.   Zack
Is it jsut me or does Sowers look like he is stepping towards first base slightly when he throws from the stretch?
2007-04-18 16:41:58
56.   BklynBmr
Anyone have the feeling it should be about 5-0 Yanks right now?
2007-04-18 16:42:45
57.   JimCobain
56 yup.
2007-04-18 16:43:48
58.   RIYank
Yeah, we're ripping the ball. Everyone except that disappointing 3B guy.
2007-04-18 16:44:56
59.   RIYank
K-Quest!
2007-04-18 16:45:15
60.   JimCobain
Great pitch for the strike out, he has these guys really off balance.
2007-04-18 16:46:10
61.   rbj
54 The thing is so screwed up. Last year, the cable system had Fox Sports Detroit & Ohio, so while Yankee - Tigers/Indian games were blacked out on EI, I'd get the game on FSD/O. Not to mention ESPN/2 games wouldn't be blacked out. This year, if I had cable, I'd be getting this game, but not the non Tiger/Indian games. No way to get every game unless I get DirecTv and cable. And ESPN(2) games gettting blacked out-- never had that before.

Sigh, maybe I'll go to the basement & do some woodworking, listen to the game on the radio.
Selig is a dumbass.

2007-04-18 16:46:38
62.   BklynBmr
58 He's still here? I thought we ran him out of town already!
2007-04-18 16:47:11
63.   Zack
Wow good throw by Bobby made that way clsoer than I thought it would be...guess it helps that its a slow catcher
2007-04-18 16:47:57
64.   Vandelay Industries
61

But MLB is "overexposed."

2007-04-18 16:48:10
65.   C2Coke
56 I know! With all those left on base.
2007-04-18 16:48:21
66.   JimCobain
63 I think he slipped when he threw it, it bounced a few times... nice play though I thought it was an easy double.
2007-04-18 16:48:27
67.   Zack
Woah, crazy pitch!
2007-04-18 16:48:58
68.   JimCobain
Just a bit inside.
2007-04-18 16:49:47
69.   RIYank
How quickly everything changes.
2007-04-18 16:49:48
70.   Mattpat11
What is the little baseball pac man supposed to be chasing on MLB TV?
2007-04-18 16:49:57
71.   chris in c-bus
Igawa sure is a handsome devil.
2007-04-18 16:50:15
72.   JimCobain
That's too bad, 1 strike away three times to get out of the inning and he gives up the run.
2007-04-18 16:50:23
73.   Vandelay Industries
I like Damon, but it is a shame that any single to center will score a bear with a busted leg from second base.
2007-04-18 16:51:07
74.   C2Coke
Second time around the order?
2007-04-18 16:51:30
75.   Zack
Igawa getting ahead of hitters, just not putting them away...
2007-04-18 16:52:50
76.   Zack
Man, igawa is getting burned on some pretty weak hits
2007-04-18 16:53:04
77.   Mattpat11
Well, this Igawa looks a lot more familiar
2007-04-18 16:53:36
78.   BklynBmr
61 That sucks. For whatever reason, no change here from past seasons. When Yanks-A's is blocked on EI, Fox Sports Bay Area or the A's local channel will air, same for the Giants. Last season, all 162 Giant games were broadcast, between their over-the-air station (local CBS affiliate) and FSN Bay Area. All you need is basic cable and you're in business.
2007-04-18 16:53:51
79.   Zack
WEird...
2007-04-18 16:53:54
80.   Simone
Igawa doesn't have the velocity to get the ball past this hitters. Lucky DP there.
2007-04-18 16:54:05
81.   RIYank
I agree, weak hits. And nice DP, very nice. Good thing our defense is so studly.
2007-04-18 16:54:07
82.   williamnyy23
What a frustrating inning...but these things happen to pitchers without dominant stuff.

Very interesting play...good thing the umps didn't rule he threw the glove on purpose.

2007-04-18 16:54:42
83.   BklynBmr
That was one of the sickest DPs I've ever seen! Now if the offense can get serious, we'll have another relaxing game here...
2007-04-18 16:57:09
84.   Zack
Why the heck is it a three base penalty to throw your glove at the ball?
2007-04-18 16:57:49
85.   JimCobain
82 I was thinkig the same thing about throwing the glove, I bet if he touched the ball it would have been called.. Is it a 2 base or three base penalty when that happens?
2007-04-18 16:58:16
86.   RIYank
Sweet. Good start, Jetes.
2007-04-18 16:58:32
87.   JimCobain
84 I don't know but it would be funny to see someone throw it at a sure homerun ;)
2007-04-18 16:58:52
88.   C2Coke
82 But it only ended with 2 runs. It could be worse.
2007-04-18 16:58:52
89.   OldYanksFan
Tough break for Iggy. Only 1 ball hit well. But he looks much more confident and is obviously feeling more comfortable.

VERY nice DP there. Didn't think they had a chance.

Mr. Lightning needs a staff meeting to discuss 0-2 pitches. An 0-2 pitch is for chasing, not hitting.

2007-04-18 16:59:03
90.   RIYank
84 I dunno, but didn't you feel really knowledgeable and hip-to-baseball by knowing that fact when you were a kid?
2007-04-18 16:59:15
91.   Knuckles
Bobby- stop bunting!
2007-04-18 17:00:02
92.   RIYank
Ahhhh. That's more like it.
Now if only somebody besides Donuts can get a RBI, we're gonna be sailing.
2007-04-18 17:00:11
93.   joejoejoe
Somewhere a Philly fan is crying.
2007-04-18 17:00:34
94.   BklynBmr
Why this kid isn't being smacked around like that by every batter is beyond me...
2007-04-18 17:00:35
95.   BklynBmr
Why this kid isn't being smacked around like that by every batter is beyond me...
2007-04-18 17:01:17
96.   williamnyy23
I thought he did make contact with it...if you touch a batted ball, it's three bases. If you touch a thrown ball, it's two bases.
2007-04-18 17:01:50
97.   JimCobain
Number 13 is in a slump, can Minky play 3rd?
2007-04-18 17:02:14
98.   williamnyy23
93 They are probably crying, but today it's because Manuel decided to move Brett Myers to the bullpen to make room for John Lieber. That would have me in tears too.
2007-04-18 17:02:57
99.   C2Coke
93 I doubt Abreu would perform like this in Philly. He was unhappy the last year or so in Philly, if he stayed there, it would've been a waste of his talent.
2007-04-18 17:05:01
100.   joejoejoe
Five bucks says Steve Phillips has a poster of A-Rod in his room.
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2007-04-18 17:05:34
101.   BklynBmr
That's more like it with 2 outs!
2007-04-18 17:05:39
102.   RIYank
Cranked that one. Looked too hard to plate A-Rod, huh? But he scored.
2007-04-18 17:05:45
103.   C2Coke
Kay just said he makes Arod laugh. Is he sure Arod was really laughing at his "jokes" not mocking him?
2007-04-18 17:06:28
104.   C2Coke
I am so happy it was Arod running not Giambi...
2007-04-18 17:07:03
105.   Zack
90 Sadly, I don't think I ever knew that, making me not cool or hip...sigh...
2007-04-18 17:07:05
106.   RIYank
101 Dude, there's one out.
What are you, Ron Gardenhire? He gives away outs, too.
2007-04-18 17:07:41
107.   williamnyy23
I wonder if Giambi and Posada are the slowest runners back-to-back in any lineup.
2007-04-18 17:08:38
108.   RIYank
94 95 Hey, saying it twice made it happen! That's very cool. You must promise to use your power only for good.
2007-04-18 17:08:41
109.   Zack
Nice Robbie!
2007-04-18 17:08:50
110.   Knuckles
107 I think Phelps might make either of them look like Michael Johnson...
2007-04-18 17:08:50
111.   C2Coke
The guys sure look happy to home.
2007-04-18 17:09:05
112.   williamnyy23
107 Actually, probably Bengie Molina and WHOMEVER is batting behind or in front of him would be slower.
2007-04-18 17:09:12
113.   williamnyy23
107 Actually, probably Bengie Molina and WHOMEVER is batting behind or in front of him would be slower.
2007-04-18 17:09:13
114.   BklynBmr
100 Phillips may be on some serious clinical trial medication. Pre-season, he predicted the following: A-Rod wins MVP and World Series MVP, then invokes his opt-out clause...
2007-04-18 17:09:20
115.   RIYank
107 I bet they are. They give "Here comes the heavy lumber" a whole new meaning.
Of course, I love them.
2007-04-18 17:09:30
116.   JimCobain
let's go Mr. Phelps!
2007-04-18 17:10:23
117.   williamnyy23
Yikes...Dellucci's arm is awful...any chance the Yankees can sign him?
2007-04-18 17:10:24
118.   RIYank
Yeahhhhh!
Dougie, get comfortable, my boy, you'll be sitting for a while.
(Well, I can dream, can't I?)
2007-04-18 17:10:24
119.   Zack
Nice, 2-2 and an rbi for Phelps..he's already in this game more effective than Minky!

Posada is so so so slow and funny of a runner

2007-04-18 17:10:34
120.   Simone
Is it wrong that I feared that Jorgie wouldn't make it there?
2007-04-18 17:10:44
121.   BklynBmr
Joe: "Hmmm. Phelps at first. Minky DHs. That'll work..."
2007-04-18 17:11:19
122.   C2Coke
Party! Party! Party!

Phelps is making his case, no? Now he just has to work on his scooping skills.

2007-04-18 17:11:24
123.   JimCobain
117 He was once on the team and I think they were thinking about him before the '06 season and after the injuries last year.
2007-04-18 17:12:12
124.   Zack
Oh Melky, once again not invited to the party...
2007-04-18 17:12:29
125.   RIYank
120 We won't tell Jorgie, Simone. You know, you can say ANYTHING here.

Come on, Melky. Dang, crummy swing.

Okay, here comes a dinger from Damon.

2007-04-18 17:12:34
126.   rsmith51
Phelps has a .400+ OBP and still isn't playing way more than Minky.
2007-04-18 17:13:21
127.   williamnyy23
117 Yep...he was awful. Of course, if he would hit like he did the last two seasons, I'd make room for another lousy OF arm.
2007-04-18 17:13:49
128.   Simone
Nice inning.
2007-04-18 17:13:51
129.   Zack
Crappy bounce off the tarp there...
2007-04-18 17:14:04
130.   RIYank
Good enough (even though you didn't live up to my prediction). Darn, Sowers is leaving. I'm gonna miss him.
2007-04-18 17:15:12
131.   Zack
I love chasing a SP before the 4th!
2007-04-18 17:15:24
132.   Knuckles
Whoever plays the Tribe next should send the Yanks a nice fruit basket, for, ya know, trashing their bullpen.
2007-04-18 17:15:58
133.   C2Coke
130 It took me a few seconds to realize we are still in the 3rd inning.
2007-04-18 17:16:05
134.   BklynBmr
106 My bad. I've got one eye and ear on the game, one eye on my monitor, and a client p*ssing in my other ear. I'm back now ;-)
2007-04-18 17:17:13
135.   rsmith51
If Torre pinch hits Minky for Phelps...
2007-04-18 17:17:16
136.   seamus
hey, i'm good luck. turned the game on with 2-2 and arod on first.
2007-04-18 17:17:47
137.   Zack
134 Did you ask the client to please stop doing that, as its rather rude and unhygienic?

Yeah, here all week...

2007-04-18 17:19:12
138.   JimCobain
Can't wait to hear more about Jeter's f'ing bat... Tune in tomorrow, when Michael Kay discuss the intracacies of batting gloves, "hey Paul did you know that the first batting glove was actually a golf glove..." No response from O'neil because he jumped.
2007-04-18 17:21:37
139.   williamnyy23
138 The only time I come close to enjoying Kay is when he works with O'Neill, mostly because Paulie pretty much dismisses most of what he says, which makes the broadcast somewhat amusing.
2007-04-18 17:22:24
140.   JimCobain
139 which is why I love Kornheiser in the MNF booth, because he pushed Theisman over the edge.
2007-04-18 17:22:25
141.   RIYank
Okay, now strikes, Quest, all strikes.
2007-04-18 17:23:59
142.   BklynBmr
Body language alone, Igawa looks night and day from his first start...
2007-04-18 17:25:15
143.   RIYank
Dang, not good. Come on, KI, strikes please.
2007-04-18 17:26:38
144.   BklynBmr
140 Literally, and long overdue.
2007-04-18 17:28:34
145.   williamnyy23
AFLAC: Pujols, Chipper and Andruw.
2007-04-18 17:29:37
146.   OldYanksFan
Wow... Iggy-San looks solid against a good lineup. Didn't someone here predict a quality start from him tonight? Who knew?
2007-04-18 17:31:16
147.   C2Coke
142 He really looks like he's coming along well. Each outting, he seems a bit better.
2007-04-18 17:31:33
148.   BklynBmr
Is that a 'Boston Sucks' chant from 39?
2007-04-18 17:31:52
149.   RIYank
Damn, Bobby is just tremendous tonight.
2007-04-18 17:32:03
150.   williamnyy23
146 He was actually very good against Oakland too, although the As don't have a great lineup. In that start, he really only made two bad pitches (Piazza's 2B and Chavez' HR), and I actually blamed Posada more for calling for the wrong location on both.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2007-04-18 17:33:25
151.   RIYank
Ortiz solo homer. 3-0 Sox.
2007-04-18 17:33:54
152.   BklynBmr
Alex got jobbed on that AB...
2007-04-18 17:35:13
153.   RIYank
No outs in the seventh, Boston has just three hits, but three runs. Mean while, Wakefield is baffling the Jays.
2007-04-18 17:37:16
154.   BklynBmr
Mutt's Maine half way to a no-no vs Fish. Just sayin'...
2007-04-18 17:40:28
155.   seamus
154 apparently my brain cells are dying. Took me a long term to interpret what the heck the Mutts were.
2007-04-18 17:41:02
156.   williamnyy23
I think Randolph may have made a deal with the Devil. For a second season he is managing to get results from a staff that looks pretty weak on paper.
2007-04-18 17:43:33
157.   kdw
Make it stop, make it stop. Discussing David Ortiz and ignoring the game that you're actually covering.
2007-04-18 17:43:54
158.   OldYanksFan
There have been a number of games (previous years included) where we are ahead by 5 runs or more in the 8th. Shouldn't we pull Jorge in the games and give his knees 2 innings of rest?

Standing in the OF for 2 innings is no big deal, but catching is work every minute of the game. I hate seeing him in the game late in blowouts.

Opinions?

2007-04-18 17:45:04
159.   seamus
sweet Igawa!
2007-04-18 17:45:06
160.   rsmith51
Nice scoop by Phelps..

Phelps has 3 ab vs. RHP
while Minky has 29.

In Torre's defense, Phelps doesn't have a hit.

2007-04-18 17:45:36
161.   JimCobain
158 Jorge will sit tomorrow... so it's doubtful he'll get much of a breather tonight.

But yes I agree, that he should get more of a break, but then again he needs to be there to catch proctor everyday ;)

2007-04-18 17:46:11
162.   rsmith51
158 That makes sense especially since he comes and PHs in some games that he doesn't start.
2007-04-18 17:46:41
163.   nemecizer
Damn, that inning by Quest was like, what, 10 pitches?
2007-04-18 17:46:52
164.   RIYank
Quest can get through the sixth now, right? That was a very, very good half inning for him. Efficient, and he got another K.
2007-04-18 17:47:34
165.   BklynBmr
155 Join the club ;-) The game we're watching already feels like the back end of a double-header, and I can't keep track of the outs...
2007-04-18 17:48:40
166.   OldYanksFan
Just a reminder: Because the posting fee is 'Tax Free', Iggy is costing us the same as signing a player for 5 years for $32.9m, or $6.6m/yr. Considering salaries like Pavs, Wright, RJ, Lilly, Meche and many others, isn't Iggy-san a steal? And this IS a guy who should go 180-200 innings/yr.
2007-04-18 17:49:52
167.   Zack
Well, that Phelps K will clearly give Joe all the motivation he needs to bench him
2007-04-18 17:49:54
168.   RIYank
166 If he's this good, then yeah, he's a steal.
2007-04-18 17:50:03
169.   rsmith51
Josh, you are not helping our cause.
2007-04-18 17:50:19
170.   seamus
this pitcher is dominating us.
2007-04-18 17:51:29
171.   rsmith51
Is it time to give KT some starts. Considering the production from the LF, 1B, and DH. It is amazing the Yanks are scoring so many runs.
2007-04-18 17:52:36
172.   rsmith51
Maybe Melky should get sent down and leave KT up when Matsui comes back.

Thoughts?

2007-04-18 17:53:38
173.   williamnyy23
171 Entering this game, the Yankees were scoring a lot of runs despite a relatively low OPS. When you think about it, production from LF, SS, 1B and DH has been well below average, so I think this team's best offensive days are still ahead, especially if Arod stays hot (maybe 80% of what he has done so far).
2007-04-18 17:53:57
174.   RIYank
171 Hideki will return soon.
2007-04-18 17:54:01
175.   seamus
172 KT will go down. Melky has shown that he can perform. An early season slump isn't grounds to suddenly give up on him.
2007-04-18 17:57:04
176.   BklynBmr
172 I wouldn't give up on the Melkman this early. I agree with 175, he's proved he can get the job done on this level, let him work through whatever he needs to work through...
2007-04-18 17:58:21
177.   Zack
Nice play Iggy!
2007-04-18 17:58:28
178.   williamnyy23
Igawa looks like he can really field the position.
2007-04-18 17:58:50
179.   RIYank
Oh, Robbie!

Well, nice start, no doubt about it. Quality start. Let's get a couple more runs to make Proctor feel confident.

2007-04-18 17:58:54
180.   BklynBmr
Robbie: best 2nd baseman arm in the bigs!
2007-04-18 17:58:55
181.   seamus
sweet igawa!
2007-04-18 17:59:44
182.   RIYank
178 Yeah, but Cano really gets credit for that DP.
2007-04-18 18:00:29
183.   nemecizer
Igawa in the 7th? Torre would be crazy not to at least let him start it, what with a 4 run lead at least.
2007-04-18 18:01:58
184.   RIYank
183 Maybe, but his pitch count is over 90.
2007-04-18 18:03:01
185.   Zack
Def. Iggy for the 7th...How many pitches?
2007-04-18 18:04:13
186.   OldYanksFan
Wow... Just 2 years ago EVERY pundit around described our Farm as barren. No one saw either Wang or Robbie as an impact player, as opposed to a solid #2 and potential all-star.

Now we have a LOT of good young arms, and hopefully 2 stars ny 2010 (Tabata and that catcher... whats his name). And there are a few others, including maybe Duncan.

I think, as long as Cashman is around, our future is bright.

2007-04-18 18:04:25
187.   nemecizer
184 Agreed. But put him out there for the first batter and see how he does. The worst that can come out of that is 1ER. If he is looking sharp then keep him in. Rest the bullpen. We need our starters to expect to go as long as possible.

My guess is Torre sends out someone else. Maybe Henn?

2007-04-18 18:05:36
188.   rsmith51
Sorry, I didn't mean to give up on Melky. I figured he might be able to straighten out of his funk in the minors since he probably won't be playing regularly once Matsui returns. Melky just hasn't hit at all this season.
2007-04-18 18:06:00
189.   Zack
A-Rod NEEDS a hit here or I write him off...
2007-04-18 18:06:04
190.   RIYank
187 It will be Proctor. But I'm with you, I'd see what Igawa can do. Bottom of the order...

OH YEAH!!!!!

2007-04-18 18:06:23
191.   williamnyy23
Rasner, Karstens and Wright are pitching 3 of the next 4...lets milk Igawa for as much as he can give us.

Arod is officially ridiculous...that ball almost bounced!

2007-04-18 18:06:37
192.   Zack
Damn, right as I sent it!
2007-04-18 18:06:37
193.   Mattpat11
MVP
2007-04-18 18:06:40
194.   Simone
Yeah, Alex! The fans who used to boo him should feel like doodoo.
2007-04-18 18:06:42
195.   BklynBmr
It was only a matter of time...

Go, A-Rod, Go!!!

2007-04-18 18:06:54
196.   seamus
YES BABY! AROD IS THE KING!
2007-04-18 18:06:59
197.   3rd gen yankee fan
188 But Melky's so cute!

Sorry, I'm a bit drunk.

2007-04-18 18:07:46
198.   RIYank
189 Excellent work, Zack. :-)

Sumbich, this 3B's a keeper. Seriously, this is incredible. It's scary. It's touching. It makes me want to watch every damn game.

2007-04-18 18:07:55
199.   rsmith51
186 Thank goodness the Yanks signed Womack, otherwise Cano may have been in a deal for Average Joe Pitcher.
2007-04-18 18:07:57
200.   nemecizer
A-Rod OPS with runners on this season is 1.8+

...

... I was just typing that when he hit the dinger.

Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2007-04-18 18:10:09
201.   RIYank
199 Gulp. Yeah, either he or Wang could easily have been dealt. We have to remember to give Cashman credit for some deals not made. (Where's Jim Dean?)
2007-04-18 18:10:22
202.   williamnyy23
199 I've hated Womack since his tenure in the Bronx, but you make a great point. If he wasn't so damn awful, Cano may have never seen the light of day. After further review, Womack was in deed a great Yankee.
2007-04-18 18:10:51
203.   3rd gen yankee fan
Are they pulling Mastny?
2007-04-18 18:11:06
204.   williamnyy23
Giambi is getting hot at just the right time...
2007-04-18 18:11:16
205.   Mattpat11
NOT QUITE THE MVP BUT STILL DAMN GOOD
2007-04-18 18:11:18
206.   BklynBmr
The Giam-A-Rod!!!
2007-04-18 18:11:19
207.   RIYank
Oh man.
If Giambi has found his groove, we're gonna be scoring a lot of runs.
2007-04-18 18:12:13
208.   RIYank
205 Uh, catchy chant, Mattpat.
2007-04-18 18:13:18
209.   williamnyy23
Bad pitching? The Yankees team ERA is under 3.80! Kay is on the ball.
2007-04-18 18:13:27
210.   Zack
IIRC, Wang and Cano were offered in the RJ trade, but turned down...
2007-04-18 18:16:15
211.   seamus
is maine still pitching the nono?
2007-04-18 18:16:21
212.   Zack
AAANd, no surprise, its EDSP
2007-04-18 18:16:33
213.   OldYanksFan
Jeez...
ARod hits another selfish, stat padding, meaningless HR.
Giambi! CLUTCH HR!
2007-04-18 18:16:36
214.   Zack
211 Lost it in the 7th
2007-04-18 18:16:51
215.   RIYank
210 I think that's right, Zack. Scary thought.

186 Good discussion-starter, OldYanksFan. And (I guess this was partly your point), the pundits are now saying, "The Yankee system used to be depleted but now they are building it back up." Instead of admitting that they simply were wrong about the system two years ago.

2007-04-18 18:17:00
216.   monkeypants
Silly BP use, methinks. Oh well...

m.

2007-04-18 18:17:16
217.   williamnyy23
210 You are correct. Had the D-backs selected more wisely, I shutter to think about the consequences. Then again, in Navarro, we'd have a decent BUC.
2007-04-18 18:17:17
218.   rsmith51
Wasn't Peralta supposed to be the next great SS? Or maybe that was Bobby Crosby?
2007-04-18 18:17:45
219.   OldYanksFan
I'm sorry.
I am no longer going to watch Yankee games.
From now on, I'm gonna watch ARod and those other guys.
2007-04-18 18:17:53
220.   williamnyy23
Proctor in this game is plain stupid. Henn is the long man...use him here.
2007-04-18 18:19:26
221.   nemecizer
187 Knew green tea guy would waste another bullpen arm without need.

JOE WE ARE UP 9-2!!! LET IGGY PITCH UNTIL HE HITS 102 OR SO. WTF ARE YOU DOING?

That's it, Torre is killing me. I am going to go to bed and channel surf until Lost is on. Unless something goes badly, statistically-unlikely wrong, this game is won.

NoMaas is right about Torre. Here's to Donnie B as our manager come June.

2007-04-18 18:20:34
222.   RIYank
Papelbon in for the save with a 4-1 lead.
2007-04-18 18:21:00
223.   BklynBmr
210 FWIW, throw Navarro in there, too. Best deal that was never made, ever. 100 years from now, when the D-Backs will have not returned to the World Series, in the oceanfront city of Phoenix, it will remembered as 'The Curse of caNO Wang'. They'll still be hatin' life...
2007-04-18 18:21:38
224.   nemecizer
222 Good. Wear him out, he'll break down by August. Another stupid pitching move. They could always bring him in after 1 out.
2007-04-18 18:22:05
225.   RIYank
Dudes, chill. Sure, Iggy could maybe throw another ten pitches, but let's not flip out over ten pitches!
2007-04-18 18:22:07
226.   Zack
223 Thos eof us who live in San Diego prefer you not mention such things...although it would get those dang 'Zoners off our backs in the summer...
2007-04-18 18:27:24
227.   RIYank
Papelbon having trouble. One out single followed by a walk.
2007-04-18 18:27:32
228.   nemecizer
Okay, off to bed.

I want to make a prediction, given the A-Rod mania (which I believe in).

I predict that A-Rod will, this year, be the first hitter to ever hit a home run OUT of Yankee Stadium. And I mean, clear out of the Stadium (it's okay if it bounces out).

You heard it here first.

G'night.

2007-04-18 18:29:26
229.   seamus
228 i predict ARod hits the first Yankee Stadium homer with his arm after deciding that bats are for wimps.
2007-04-18 18:30:03
230.   RIYank
So Sean Henn will pitch the eighth?

Jason Smith pinch hitting fans, three pitches, three swinging strikes. Papelbon just needs to get Adam Lind.

2007-04-18 18:30:09
231.   yankz
The Arod illegal counter is now at 38 states.
2007-04-18 18:30:33
232.   RIYank
Wel-come-to-the-PAH-ty! Mel-ky-Ca-Breee-ra!
2007-04-18 18:30:38
233.   Simone
Bernie!!! It is Bernie!!! Yes, it is sentimental and irrational, but I miss Bernie.
2007-04-18 18:31:43
234.   BklynBmr
226 Hey, half of my property is on the Pacific Plate, the other half on the North American Plate, so I'm not looking for that anytime soon myself ;-) I'm not even worried about the San Andreas...
2007-04-18 18:32:08
235.   RIYank
Papelbon smokes Lind to end the game.
Kid can throw.
2007-04-18 18:32:40
236.   kdw
233 Me too.
2007-04-18 18:33:17
237.   yankz
229 I predict Arod will catch a Joel Zumaya fastball and throw it out of the stadium. He will then run around the bases and the umpires will be too scared to stop him. The scorers will have no choice but to award him a run.

Shit, is Arod the new Chuck Norris?

2007-04-18 18:33:29
238.   Zack
229 Heck, I predict A-Rod becomes the first player to hit a home run using MINKY for a bat, which is ruled to count twice, Bugs Bunny Style..
2007-04-18 18:34:01
239.   williamnyy23
235 It helps when you have batters swinging at pitches well out of the zone. It's way too early to scoreboard watch this closely. Let's worry about Boston on Friday.
2007-04-18 18:35:14
240.   Zack
And, for some rason, Minky has come in...

Oh yeah, Cairo, thankfully, I had forgotten about him

2007-04-18 18:35:27
241.   yankz
Woohoo, Stink enters the game with the scrubs!
2007-04-18 18:39:07
242.   RIYank
I'm trying to deceive myself into thinking that when Joe sends Minky in with the scrubs, that means he's realized that Phelps is the valuable player and should get his rest when the game is in hand.
2007-04-18 18:39:51
243.   seamus
242 me too. i've told myself that five times already...
2007-04-18 18:39:54
244.   OldYanksFan
238 LOL!
2007-04-18 18:40:39
245.   BklynBmr
Nice job, Henn!
2007-04-18 18:41:23
246.   yankz
Wonder if this is the only time Cairo has ever been penciled in at cleanup...
2007-04-18 18:43:07
247.   OldYanksFan
Well... we already have POG.
I propose the SOJ award.
The 'Sleeping Over at Jeters'.
Tonight's winner: Iggy-san
Tonight's latenight snack: Sushi w/tahini sauce
2007-04-18 18:43:29
248.   nyyfan22
238 Gashouse Gorrillas in the house!
2007-04-18 18:45:12
249.   OldYanksFan
Hey... Has anyone noticed that Baseball Tonight is a MUCH better show this year?
2007-04-18 18:45:18
250.   RIYank
242 So how's it working for you so far? I keep laughing at myself, then telling myself to shut up and not be annoying.
Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2007-04-18 18:46:31
251.   seamus
250 so far, not so good. i almost got into a fight.
2007-04-18 18:48:51
252.   RIYank
251 We should probably stop drinking.
2007-04-18 18:49:46
253.   seamus
252 or stop watching the scrubs...
2007-04-18 18:51:15
254.   RIYank
253 Yeah, as long as we're watching the scrubs, I guess I'll keep drinking.
2007-04-18 18:51:40
255.   Zack
This game has officially reached "tune out and do other things while Steve Phillips blabs on" mode
2007-04-18 18:53:04
256.   RIYank
Who pitches the ninth? Henn?
2007-04-18 18:53:37
257.   BklynBmr
255 Pretty much the same for those of watching YES and Kay...
2007-04-18 18:54:42
258.   joejoejoe
It's been weeks since I've heard 'Dice-K' Matsuzaka's real name on ESPN. Is it that hard to even try to say Daisuke? I'm pretty sure the American 'Dice-K' pronunciation and/or nickname drops a syllable that should be in the original Japanese.
2007-04-18 18:54:45
259.   BklynBmr
256 Pettitte?
2007-04-18 18:55:14
260.   seamus
255 really. hadn't noticed. so intently watching.
2007-04-18 18:56:12
261.   RIYank
Ah, Britton, that makes sense.

258 Well, someone has told the American broadcasters that you don't pronounce that syllable. We should ask Mike Plugh. My bet is that it's a barely audible syllable in Japanese, an unstressed and collapsed vowel.

2007-04-18 18:57:29
262.   seamus
261 first minky a scrub, and now britton in in a blowout? maybe we are drinking too much...
2007-04-18 19:01:33
263.   yankz
Yeah, what are you alcoholics talking about, they moved Giambi to 1B and that's Mo on the mound.
2007-04-18 19:01:41
264.   claybeez
Check out the White Sox game. Buehrle trying to join a certain special club. He just finished the 8th.
2007-04-18 19:02:38
265.   RIYank
263 Whoa. Okay, that does it, no more green tea for me.
2007-04-18 19:03:39
266.   yankz
Quest looks pissed...
2007-04-18 19:05:15
267.   joejoejoe
261 Agreed. Commissioner Gordon, put out the Plugh signal!
2007-04-18 19:05:39
268.   seamus
ok. night all.
2007-04-18 19:06:15
269.   Mattpat11
Goodnight, ladies and gents.
2007-04-18 19:07:22
270.   RIYank
Ciao.
264 Huh. I bet he regrets walking Sammy Sosa in the fifth.
2007-04-18 19:07:46
271.   Simone
Good game. Night, all.
2007-04-18 19:11:16
272.   BklynBmr
261 There's no alphabet 'letter' in the Japanese language for our letter "u". When you see the name 'Daisuke' in English language print, it's more of an attempt to translate Japanese to English phonically.

The proper pronunciation of Ranger's pitcher Akinori Otsuka is "Oat-ska", for example...

2007-04-18 19:13:18
273.   yankz
264 Thanks for the tip
2007-04-18 19:14:59
274.   claybeez
He does it! Buehrle tosses a No-No.
2007-04-18 19:15:05
275.   yankz
Buehrle throws a no-no! Congrats!
2007-04-18 19:15:28
276.   RIYank
Buehrle gets the no-no!
2007-04-18 19:15:40
277.   claybeez
273

Glad to.

2007-04-18 19:18:21
278.   BklynBmr
274 Wow! One pitch from a perfecto! Good for him...
2007-04-18 19:23:20
279.   tommyl
Just got in from the game sitting in loge, under the roof, left field. That A-Rod shot was incredible, Giambi's was a laser. Kei looked very good, worked fast, good command. Much better than his first start.

Anyone catch Hughes line tonight? Seems he's adjusted to AAA:

6 IP, 2H, 0R, 0 BB, and 10 Ks!

This included at one point retiring 15 in a row (8 on strikeouts).

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