Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Tuesday night's Yankees-White Sox game was postponed twice and ultimately rained out, which means they're playing two today. I've been conditioned by the first six weeks of the 2007 season to say "this will give the bullpen some much-needed rest," but for once that's not the case here; the pen, such as it is, is relatively fresh, and now the Yankees will need to call up a starter to face the Mets on Sunday. Perhaps Chase Wright will get the chance to break his historic consecutive home run record! On the plus side, I suppose Jason Giambi's foot and roughly 75% of Johnny Damon's body parts might benefit from the days off.
Per LoHud, Mike Mussina will go against John Danks at 2 P.M. -- there's a pun in there somewhere, but I can't quite find it -- followed by Chien-Ming Wang against Jose Contreras at 8. You've gotta think that second match-up favors the Yankees, but nothing would surprise me: by now we should all be used to the Ghost of Ineffective Yankee Pitchers Past coming back to haunt the team.
*Disclaimer: despite the presence of Steve McQueen, not actually a very good movie.
"Yanks interested in Molina
The New York Yankees, apparently looking to upgrade backup catcher, have spoken with the Los Angeles Angels about the availability of Jose Molina.
According to a source, the Angels are reluctant to deal Molina right now, since they are not sold on Mike Napoli as a starter. Napoli is batting .218 with two homers and five RBI in 78 at-bats, getting the bulk of the playing time for the Angels."
At this point I've lost track of how many molina brother/catchers there are, but going after that family is probably more fruitful than our current stellar BUC.
A few interesting tidbits I've read this morning:
1) Rotoworld.com, via the Daily News, is reporting that Cashman has approached the Angels about trading for Jose Molina for BUC. Um, duh!
2) The Boston Globe's Eric Wilbur has a nice little article about Beckett's "blister" woes and ends with this nice little piece of info:
"Whatever the Red Sox choose to call it in order not to freak out the fan base that their star pitcher is having the same problems that have plagued him throughout his career, it's got to be a concern. Here Beckett had Cy Young material written all over him, and now, who can be sure that he isn't going to revert to the pitcher he was last season, when he shied away from breaking pitches in the fear that this might happen to him. Again."
YANKEES
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Phelps 1B
Abreu RF
Cabrera LF
Cairo 2B
Mussina RHP (2-1, 4.76)
WHITE SOX
Erstad CF
Uribe SS
Pierzynski C
Konerko 1B
Dye RF
Mackowiak DH
Crede 3B
Iguchi 2B
Sweeney LF
Danks (1-4, 4.33)
I think one of my brothers has it.
Pete also has likely for Sunday: If it ain't Wang, it's Wright.
Emma - while what I'm adding has not much to do with with anything except the Steve McQueen reference, "Bullitt" = awesome Steve McQueen movie, and ITCO (In This Chick's Opinion), contains THE best car chase scene EVER!
Not to mention that it is a certainty that Posada will not start Game 2.
After a pitchers' duel: Danks, the Mousse was Delicious
ChiSox blown out: After Dank Tuesday, Yanks feel Moose
Yanks blown out, Red Sox win: Did the Yanks lose a Moost Win? Red Sox Lead now at 9
He is hitting incredibly hot right now, and it is tempting to keep his bat in the lineup, but I would love to keep his bat as effective for as long as possible.
9 I considered going with something along the lines of "John 'You're Welcome!' Danks", or something involving "Danke Schoen". Then I curled up in a ball and started whimpering.
And is it me, or has the Gameday strike zone box shrunk.
But let's face it, if you had his hair, you would too.
;-P
"Steve McQueen learned the martial art Tang Soo Do from ninth degree blackbelt Pat E. Johnson, and served as one of the pall bearers at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973. Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee taught McQueen's son Chad karate and Jeet Kune Do (respectively). Later on, McQueen persuaded Norris to attend acting classes."
So that has to count for something...
35 I think he worries so much about intonation he forgets to DO THE FUCKING JOB! I'm listening to him because I can't watch the game, so tell me what's happening. I can figure out when to get excited if you DO YOUR FUCKING JOB of telling me what's happening.
One time through the line-up and not one hard hit ball. How long does the futility continue?
It is HIGH! It is FAR! It is caught at the wall.
It is high, it is far, it is caught...SHOULD NEVER happen.
WCBS does not air Yankees games...it has the rights to the John Sterling Show...with a special guest appearance by those boys in pinstripes...the New York Yankees!
Cut to Susan Waldman sitting on a couch...
"Hereeeeee's Johnnnny!"
Season: 36 IP 36 K 12 BB 22 H 5 ER 2.2 GO/AO
And ick, 1-0.
You know, I keep thinking I should spring for Gameday Audio - and then I remember that Sterling can drive me nuts, too, so I don't.
Perhaps because Abreu has been so cold lately, and because it was to opposite field Bobby's shot surprised the announcers.
That ties it all together nicely, doesn't it? ;)
Totally caught me off guard.
At least we got one there!
88 Yeah, it is a great deal. But I have a hard enough time concentrating on work between the Banter and Gameday! ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sterling_(sportscaster)
Sterling is anything but today. Holy crap.
110 Probably not
Bobby!! Welcome back, dude!
There's my Melky
Maybe he needs the rest (so he'll stop pressing!), but given how other lefties have been hitting Danks, why not pinch hit with Cano?
I don't know if this is a deadhorse yet, but is it possible Cashman WON'T resign ARod?
Sigh.
Wait...
Does Damon get moved to 1B? It would save his body, and we might get 4 years out of him.
I can't laugh, though. Vizcaino has been a nightmare.
Clearly that was a spot (1st & 3rd less than 2 outs) for Bruney and his K/BF ratio.
Shut down man Bruney would have been a good call, too.
But things are looking grim.
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/authors/author/653
/I'm ready to toss my computer out the window if I have to hear that one more time.
giggle
Sterling just mentioned that as I started typing this, but I knew it before.
It's midnight dark out there. A hard rain's gonna fall.
Befitting the mood in here.
What the fuggin' fug, Moose?
185 Who do they fire? Cashman? Torre? Make Kevin Long - who was hailed as a savior during A-Rod's Amazing April - a scapegoat after just 6 weeks?
I just don't see a firing as accomplishing anything.
/FTFY
Shoot, if Wang doesn't have anything tonight, Proctor is ready to pitch 6 innings, right? ;)
That Moose outing wouldn't have been so aggravating, if the current BEST hitter in the White Sox lineup were hitting above .260.
Now a bloop & another blast and it's a whole new ballgame.
Phelps!!!
So that leave 1B and RF. 1B has been a problem since 2005.
Fine, sign Andruw Jones for RF.
The starting rotation is what it is. And bsides drop huge cash on Zambrano?
As for the bullpen, they've tried to rebuild it for years.
The bench, meanwhile nothing's been done about that in a long time.
So, what rebuilding?
I guess my main point is I am going to pretty much wind up watching most of the 162 anyway...instead of watching an old uninspired team limp to .500, I'd rather get to see a couple of promising young prospects be given a chance.
True, its almost unsustainable over the course of 162 games, but its a heck of a lot better than, say, 2003, when the Yanks were 13th in the AL.
The last 'untradeable' money contract the Yanks gave out was to Giambi in 2001. They've been a lot smarter about long term big money deals since then.
I'd say adding Clemens and Hughes will help the staff's K rate significantly, wouldn't you?
Don't forget too that Wang is a huge outlier on K rate, and it may be best to exclude him altogether when looking at the numbers.
I guess the sampler just shows excerpts from the DVD -- to induce you to buy the whole thing.
Time to catch up on some work so I can get home in time to watch another dismal performance...this season really does suck.
Product Details
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Team mascot?
But this year, I see nothing that inspires me. I see Jeter and Posada having out of their mind seasons so far. I see A-Rod being A-Rod.
Beyond that, I see Giambi missing games due to injury, which is fine, if the Abreu's and Cano's and Damon's of the world do their thing. But they aren't doing their thing, and I'm starting to think it's more than just unluckiness.
More frustrating, is that when we hit decently the pitching seems to fail spectacularly, and when we pitch decently the offense takes the day off.
It's going to take a breathtaking tear for this team to get back into it. It sucks that in May, every loss feels like a nail in the coffin.
Anyway, I'm still keeping the faith, for now...
Boston will fall down to Earth somewhat, and the Yanks will not be a sub .500 team. I mean, a great 2 week stretch and we're right back in the thick of things.
We started with a lineup that in theory could carry ManCaveItch because we have so many above replacement players. Now it is down to counting all the automatic outs we have: A-Rod, Abreu, Cano, Melky, MCI, today Cairo, Matsui, Damon
Outside of Jeter and Posada, we really suck right now. The Loss of Giambi has hurt A-Rod with no one protecting him.
So it was commendable that Torre batted Posada 4th with A-Rod 3rd.
But I am confident that this will pass and the Yankees will start hitting again like they did in Apri. Its inevitable, but it painful waiting for it. Hopefully when they do, it wont be too late.
When the majority of the lineup is slumping, it's hard to do much. You can't really accredit it to not caring.
It is still frustrating though to have 2 run leads seem insurmountable.
8 out of 18 is 44% which doesn't seem horrible. David Ortiz scores 37% of the time he is on base. Manny Ramirez scores 34%.
So maybe the problem is lower in the lineup than the guys hitting immediately behind A-rod.
Looking at it from the outside in, yeah, it seems as though someone has sucked all the air out of the clubhouse and that the FO is flying by the seat of their pants, plus the manager seems to be entombed in tea leaves.
Not that I blame him upon further inspection. I'm beginning to believe a lot of bad karma has built up for this team from last season on that has affected every aspect of the organization. Hate saying I've seen this coming, but I would not feel like everything is all right even if we do make the playoffs.
The patching needs to end at some point, and I won't mind seeing it end now if it means a really strong team in 1-2 years that can last as long as the late-90's teams. I haven't given up on this season, but obviously the results have indicated serious attention needs to be paid to the team from top to bottom.
George has absolutely not helped at all by allowing the uncertainty with him and future ownership/management of the team to build into a media frenzy. If there is anyone I'll be glad to see let go off the Yankees, it's Steinbrenner; money or no, attitude or not, history or whatever. Complacency has run amok this season and in recent seasons and it starts with him. I wish upon all wishes that we could have some knowledgeable baseball heads informing the team once again and not career politicians, accountants and entourage rejects. Hiring baseball-worthy people has not been the problem, keeping them has.
I have no use for the sports gatekeepers in NYC, so I'll leave that issue to Deadhorse if he doesn't mind. But I'll say that as hard as it is to watch our team as it goes through the motions right now, I can't bring myself to brutalize Torre or the players for it. I think that Torre is the only reason that this team hasn't imploded or had massive meltdowns in full view of the rotten mediaheads who revel in this malaise. When that happens, then I'll know the season's over. Until then, I will remain chill (still holding on!)
I'm believe I'm being fair when I say Cashman deserves to take some hits for what's happening right now (bad luck versus poor planning and bad decisions?), but it's not all on him; more-so the burden is on the entire executive department for allowing the team to transform into a suspended egg cream. Torre has made some unfortunate and head-scrathing in-game moves, but I can't criticize what I don't know well enough with the players. In fact, this whole rant is based on perception, not fact, so take that into consideration when you think about what I've said.
I guess this makes me a bad Yankee fan now. I'm just feel idiotic because I can't do anything to help besides yell 'Go Yanks' when it seems like the people in the office are yelling 'Go To Hell' at each other, if anything at all. Sorry for the cynical steam; all-in-all this is supposed to be entertaining, but it's not. Let's just beat the fool out of them in the next game. Please??
[Cue maniacal laughter]
Unless these guys are going to provide a few PH HRs, I'm not sure we will win consistantly just because these guys are aboard.
Today was one of our poorer pitched games, but still... 5 runs? That's should not be too much for us. Whatever pitching woes we have (and it seems the majority are behind us), whatever part Joe and Cashman play, I don't know how you can blame anything other then: WE HAVE NO OFFENSE!
OPS Player
.632 Abreu
.595 Cano
.717 Damon
.583 Melky
.690 DougOut
.829 Matsui
.910 Jeter
1092 ARod
.837 Giambi
So our lineup is:
Womack
Jeter
Womack
ARod
weak Giambi
weak Matsui
Womack
Womack
Womack
Womack - PH,sub
I don't want to hear about Joe or Brian until Womack is off this team!
Please Note: .690 DougOut is better then Abreu, Cano and Melky.
anyways, here's the lineup, if the game gets played:
Abreu RF
Jeter SS
Giambi DH
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Mientkiewicz 1B
Nieves C
so, by my reckoning, that's:
slumping
hot
hurt
last year's version, suddenly
hitting
whiffing
tepid
double-play-a-licious
o-fer-the season
don't we have to win a few games before we get to field a "house-money game"?
"Robert Leroy Head of Maquoketa, Iowa, was selected as one of three finalists for a Portland Beavers' promotion that will immortalize a real Bob L. Head with a bobblehead."
Nieves may be averse to being on base so when he finally got on base, he had to get himself out ASAP. I am sure if he were safe at 2nd, he would have tried for third base...
For tonight's lineup, IF Giambi is still hurt, why not have him sit and let Posada DH? Posada is ridiculously hot right now.
I have gone into "dogged loyalty" mode. I'm not happy, but I'm hangin in there. Will support this team til the end. Gimme another beer (or, kool-aid?) please.
Anyone else watching?
Leadoff single for Matsui.
Gets a hit, runs into an out.
Clobbers a ball, robbed at the wall.
Not too crazy about the broadcast team, but I guess if that's what we've got, that's what we've got.
C'mon, Jason. Keep it going...
This game was Wang to Mo...
Farns always makes this shit interesting.
(**censored to avoid a jinx)
abreu still looks like shit, his leg kick is landing him half way to right center field...
I'm hating to think 'save some for tomorrow'. Let's do this again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, etc...
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