Of course, Damon still has a few weeks to show he's something more than a pinch hitter or runner. And meanwhile Melky and Andy HAVE to stay hot. There's little doubt there's no room for a slump from either of them.

But it would be really fun to see Giambi and Damon battle for playing time at DH.

"After 49 pitches through four, Phil said he was fatigued, but not gassed. Billy Connors then said basically the same thing. That's a bit of a concern. As Phil put it, going from 49 to 90 isn't really an option. So he's going to have to work through I would guess two Scranton starts before he's back."

I wouldn't count on seeing him in pinstripes next week...sigh.

And can someone whack me on the head with a nail-embedded club next time I even start to think about reading posts on Pete Abraham's blog? OMFG...

Team chemistry poison ACTIVATED!

2 Just stick to the updates, then move along.

I posted this in the last thread - cult of basebaal, tommyl, JL25and3, monkeypants, Count Zero and I were talking about the lineup - sorry its so long:

IIRC, "The Book" concluded that lineup construction doesn't amount to even a win's (ie 10 runs') worth of difference over the course of a year. Given half the season is already gone, and you'd have to fully optimize the lineup (like "The Book" guys describe) to get those ~5 runs, not just alter the leadoff spot, I'm really not worried.

For kicks, here's what the lineup optimizer tool David Pinto has at Baseball Musings says when you use season stats up to today:

Lineup Yanks are using tonight (Damon leadoff, Melky last): 5.655 Runs per game

Lineup Yanks are using tonight with Melky and Damon switched: 5.671 runs per game (gain of 0.016 runs)

Optimal lineup (ie scores most runs/game, at 5.797, or a gain of .143 runs/game):
Jeter
A-Rod
Phillips
Posada
Matsui
Melky
Abreu
Cano
Damon

Using the just since May 1 numbers for Melky (.311/.369/.445) and Damon (.241/.336/.330):

Tonight's lineup: 5.752

Tonight's lineup with Melky and Damon switched: 5.813 runs/game (a gain of .061 runs/game)

Optimal lineup, which scores 5.911 (1) runs/game and will never, ever see the light of day:

Jeter
A-Rod
Melky (!!!!!)
Posada
Matsui
Phillips
Abreu
Cano
Damon

Have fun playing around with this thing if you want: http://tinyurl.com/2q8qum

Long story short - I'm not worried about Damon hitting leadoff.

BTW: Anyone notice that PeteAbe talked to Farnsie and Lord Wacker told him that he plans to throw the slider more because hitters are sitting on the fastball? Did this strike anyone as a major flaw of hick logic? Hasn't throwing the slider more always been his problem? He moves away from the fastball then they really sit and wait for it, especially when he's not locating said slider. It seems like Farns is most successful when he sprinkles in the slider. I fear things are going to be getting much worse for Sgt. Flame.

2 Which post? the Mustache one?

Farnsy? He just rears back and throws as hard as he can, even if its right down the middle (or over Posada's head). Did he ever stop to think that if he just sat at 94-96 instead of 96-100, with some better command that he'd be unhittable? Of course not. That's why Hughes is a phenom and Farnsy is a bum.

His analysis is terrible....as is his mocking of posters who say anything he disagrees with (such as using Rivera in a tie game on the road, or all last season when several people were saying Kevin Thompson would be better than Terrance Long)

Still, the blog is a must read for updates...it is the only "insider" blog that consistently does it....and with extra stuff such as audio.

Vernon Wells voice does not match his face

But if the Yanks do lose by .142 runs, don't blame it on me - I'm just the messenger. ;)

5 Sgt Flame, huh? How about Private Flame (or Pvt Flame)? A sergeant ought to know better; a private almost never does.

"News and Notes

Jul 14 - Ken Rosenthal, of FOXSports.com, reports the Cincinnati Reds are scrambling to create a market for OF Adam Dunn. The market for Dunn might not develop until closer to the trade deadline July 31."

Adam Dunn vs just RHP: .279/.388/.637, 21 HR, 37 BB, 67 K in 204 ABs (and 5 SB)

The dude is essentially a left-handed A-Rod when he faces righty pitching. Sure his numbers against lefties are bad (.217/.309/.375, 4 HR, 14 BB, 44 K in 120 ABs). But who cares? There are only two lefty starters of note in the AL East: Bedard and Kazmir.

Sure he strikes out a lot - but the dude can MASH. And Krivsky is desperate to get rid of him, and get bullpen help in return.

Its not necessarily a bad thing, because its dur to hustle, but he seems unable to determine when he's not going to be able to catch it. So he charges into the wall and the ball bounces back and and rolls by him.

Don't we usually lose on his birthday?

weeeping, your boy Glaus did it again.

2006: W 5-4 in extra innings (vs SEA)
2005: W 11-10 (vs TEX)
2004: L 2-4 (at DET)
2003: W 10-4 (vs CLE)
2002: W 6-5 (vs DET)
2001: W 8-5 (at DET)
2001: L 4-12 (at DET) (a double header)
2000: W 3-1 (vs PHI)
1999: W 6-0 (vs MON) (Cone's perfect game)
1998: W 10-3 (at TOR)
1997: L 4-6 (at MIL)
1996: L 4-16 (at MIL)

Overall: 8-4 (.667)

It's nice that the Yankees are winning the close ones now, but a few blowouts would be nice.

http://tinyurl.com/2l5uu2

Compare to his Yahoo! pic, where he looks a little old, but more distinguished that anything else:

http://tinyurl.com/dtj36

Hot rumor today: Arroyo for Saltalamacchia.

Speaking of the Reds...some creative managing in their day game today. In the 10th, Mackanin put CFer Ryan Freel in front of 2B.

I like the McDonald's commercial. It's creative.

The Yankees need to be aggressive...they have to avoid a DP here.

I can't understand why you wouldn't have Jeter on the move there.

And I always found creative to be the new age way of saying "well, there's no merit to it, but its different

Apropos of nothing - Kevin Whelan gave up no hits in 5 innings with Tampa tonight (4 K and 1 BB). Got pulled for Bama's new favorite - David Robertson.

It's been painful to watch.

I hate watching Robby go back on balls, though.

I always feel like something terrible's going to happen, yet he always makes the catch.

No, seriously, I'd rather see Hideki because as you say, at least he's accustomed to it.

Or at least, he looks much worse throwing the baseball than Bernie ever did.

But if we don't win this game, it's true, we don't deserve to be in the race anyway.

I've seen Matsui make almost the same catch at least twice since he's been back.

He never calls off Robby.

Sheffield fined by MLB for umpire criticism

July 18, 2007

When the suspension was reduced from three games to two last month, Sheffield still wasn't happy and lashed out at the umpires.

"It just goes to show you it wasn't true and how corrupt the umpiring system is," he said then. "They can make a statement, and that means it's true."

I wonder if Myers just saved his job with that AB?

Beautiful.

"Clueless Joe (Morgan)"

http://tinyurl.com/3ymjdx

Unfortunately, it's not what you think.

BTW, the latest NoMaas interview is a great read.

Is it crazy to think he should poke the next one into left?

Terrible swing, Alex.

I love that we all saw that coming.

Last year if he'd started an ab with such a terrible swing, he'd have struck out.

Nice job, Alex.

:)

The Banter motto for '07....

I love that Arod is sticking it to the Jays. Whiners.

Nice hitting, Hideki!

Ha!

Damn it.

He has no clue.

We caught a break there.

I think he lucked out, though. It was the same pitch he took for strike on 3-1 or whenever it was, just a bit more outside.

If the pitch had been a strike, I doubt he'd have swung and would have been punched out.

It's through!!!!!!!!!1

Andy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice fucking play.

I rock!

Ha!

For Christ's sake, Mo should be getting up if you think someone needs to get up.

Not tonight.

Christ, just one fucking night, is that too much to ask?

Two out triple for Crisp.

Kidding, kidding.

The tension's killing me.

Give 'em a break.

Joe...can we please try Edward.
Cashman...can we please try Britton.

How much more do these guys need to see????

It's like Joe doesn't want to win.

You have to make that play.

It would be nice to see his Yankee rehab pick up at least one game for the team.

so ... it can't have been the wrong idea when it doesn't work anyway? brilliant!

Mo.

\

I'm the greatest in all of history this evening in calling baseball happenings!!!

Ha!

Very fluid and confident.

YEs!

Jorgie up, first and third, two outs.

1-1 to Jorgie.

1-2.

374 Thanks.

Alex scores, 5-1.

Matsui scores, 6-1.

6-1.

I say 95%...

No way he should be pitching.

He's got to come in.

We've lost the luxury of fucking around.

We need to nail it down here and worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

2?

366 The smell of fear has permeated RSN for a couple of weeks now. But now that smell of fear is a fetid stench of fear.

The best part? It may 7 games back when Mo closes this one out, but it will be only 6 in the loss column.

:)

No, you're right, it would be unlikely, but these days, with these guys...

W!

Yay!!!

7 games back.

Weren't we 6 1/2 back a month ago?

Here we go again.

Dare I begin to dream?

And how many face-to-face games do the Yanks have left with the Sox, you may ask? Why, I believe its six.

Terry is usually pretty cool, but tonight he was pretty pissed. While 7 games would normally be considered a huge lead, the Yanks are now a big part of the coverage now.

Ithink we have a long way to go, and it's still a long shot to catch the Sox, but they are sweating.

Maybe we will see Edwar...

A man can dream, can't he?

The last time I begin to dream, the team got on a plane to Colorado...

Just saying.

It will be an interesting year.

But even Girardi says "the Yankees need Farnsworth." No guys, we dont need him. He was always a meathead, is a meathead, and will always be a meathead. The sad fact is that there are far more talented pitchers in every system throwing 89MPH, but they never see the light of day, because managers and GM's love the gas, even if its not ever effective.

If Joe had found a more creative use for Mo, just to get him in more games, surely we might have picked up another couple of Ws along the way, right?

He just never got to pitch and thus never got to help his team win.

Another potential learning experience.

Yes. But he trusted Zimmer. Joe has been on his own for a few years, and you see the result.

Gimme Myers!
Get me Villone!
Bring in Proctor!
Farnsworth is my 8th inning guy!
Can someone find Alan Embree!

And on and on and on....

I have increasing faith in this team.

My new favorite is how Torre can bench Hall of Famer Wade Boggs for not hitting in 1996 - but won't bench or DL ex-Idiot Johnny Damon when he's not hitting and is hurt in 2007.

Its unreal. I'm at the point where I think even if the ghosts of Karsay and Quantrill's arms were to haunt Torre, a la Dickens' Christmas Carol, that even then Torre wouldn't change his ways.

That said, they'll fade but they're better than their run differential.

Sweep.

I don't know how long this will last, but following baseball is now fun again.

6-1 final - so Rodriguez was just padding his stats after all.

As to the discussion above about Rivera pitching the ninth: tommyl and I were talking earlier about the use of the "closer." If you simply call Rivera your "best reliever," then the way you use him changes considerably. Bases loaded, 7th inning, 1-0 game, two outs...does bringing Mike Myers in really give you the best chance to win?

In this case it worked out fine. Myers got the guy out, and the Yankees started scoring. But if Myers gives up a hit - hardly an unlikely occurrence - the game may well be over right there, with your best pitcher watching from the bullpen.

It makes no sense to me at all.

As for the qustion in 404, I'm not a believer just yet, but things do look better these days. Remember how quickly they lost all the ground they made up in May...and not because Boston suddenly got hot. So, for now, very cautious interest. But if they can put Damon out of our misery, it might change to cautious optimism.

Hell no! The next manager will actually use him. God willing we sign him on for another year, but yet, see 460, Boy Wonder won't sign him, what am I thinking. While you're at it, ask Brian how Lilly is doing.