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2007-07-26 16:07
by Alex Belth

The Yankees have already won this four-game series against the Royals but man it sure would be nice if they win again tonight. Greed is good, cousin. The very iffy Kei Igawa goes for the Yanks, while Jorge De La Rosa is on the hill for K.C. As you may have already heard, Alex Rodriguez hit career dinger #499 against De La Rosa. Everyone in the park will likely know this fact by the time Rodriguez comes to hit and I'm sure they'll remind us a couple of several times on the YES broadcast too. I wouldn't count on A Rod getting too much to hit but who knows? The way he's been going this year, De La Rosa just better not make a mistake.

Let's Go Yan-Kees!

Comments (301)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-07-26 16:40:55
1.   rilkefan
0 499=400.

(Easily provable using a lemma I gave in an earlier thread.)

2007-07-26 16:49:10
2.   Vandelay Industries
So tell me, am I rooting for Cleveland here? I just can't bring my self to root for Boston, but part of me feels like we should cross the Wild Card bridge first. One at a time, no?
2007-07-26 16:53:02
3.   rilkefan
My feeling is that Boston is a more difficult opponent and it's better for them to lose.

My feeling before the series was that I hoped for a split, so that agrees.

2007-07-26 16:55:25
4.   Cliff Corcoran
3 My feeling is that Boston is a more difficult opponent and it's better to chace Cleveland. Root for the Sox, hard as that may be.
2007-07-26 16:56:36
5.   Vandelay Industries
Manny HR. Boston 1-0.
2007-07-26 16:57:18
6.   weeping for brunnhilde
2 Listen, VI, I'm going to say this for the last time:

Never. Root. For Boston.

Do we understand each other?

2007-07-26 16:57:46
7.   weeping for brunnhilde
4 Bah.
2007-07-26 16:58:15
8.   Vandelay Industries
4

Good point, but hard to do. But it may be prudent going into a series against the smokin' hot O's. But on a happier note, we shouldnt have to face Bedard, right?

2007-07-26 17:00:12
9.   Vandelay Industries
6

If you take Manny and Tek out of the scenario, I might be able to pull for them against Cleveland. But so long as they are there, I just cannot do it. They have Frank Robinson in the booth, making it even more obvious how bad for this game Manny is.

2007-07-26 17:05:42
10.   joe in boston
6 so true -

Ahhh, kids are in bed, wife out with the ladies on our block for their monthly
drink ... wine (or is it whine?!) social and ...

the remote, couch, chips and TV (Yanks) are mine !!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-26 17:13:13
11.   weeping for brunnhilde
Look at my man Leche!
2007-07-26 17:13:35
12.   joe in boston
Next up for my kid: a "Got Melky" shirt....
2007-07-26 17:13:42
13.   williamnyy23
6 I don't know...while I hate the Red Sox, it's not to the point that I can't root for them if it benefits the Yankees. I could be wrong, but I think that level of hatred is more on the Red Sox side. Sometimes, I think Sox fans would prefer the Yankees lose than Red Sox win.
2007-07-26 17:13:55
14.   RIYank
Ah, the Melkman, what a beautiful start to a game.
Maybe he doesn't stick, but I wouldn't mind watching him for a dozen years.
2007-07-26 17:14:20
15.   weeping for brunnhilde
Ah, yes, and speaking of Derek, we still owe these muts one, don't forget.
2007-07-26 17:14:36
16.   williamnyy23
Seeing Jeter in the box and Utley out for 4-6 weeks makes me realize how fortunate he has been over his career.
2007-07-26 17:16:31
17.   weeping for brunnhilde
13 Right, this from Mr. Sleeps-with-Schilling Bobblehead-Doll-Under-the-Pillow.

You're only making it worse for yourself.

2007-07-26 17:18:01
18.   williamnyy23
17 I'm branded now...with a scarlet #38 no less.
2007-07-26 17:18:41
19.   weeping for brunnhilde
18 :)

Ah, you fuck.

Nice play.

2007-07-26 17:19:17
20.   Vandelay Industries
10

Agreed. Ok.....DVR'ing the game, so can't hang here. Go Yankees! Enjoy the game, I hope!

2007-07-26 17:19:38
21.   weeping for brunnhilde
Come on, Alex, get it over with.

Aw, well, fine.

Next time.

Pitch to Hideki, you tools.

2007-07-26 17:19:47
22.   williamnyy23
A-BONDS
2007-07-26 17:19:51
23.   RIYank
Whoa.

I'm sorry, this is just plain stupid. Hideki Matsui is the hottest home run hitter in baseball!

2007-07-26 17:20:28
24.   RIYank
lefty v lefty, I guess.
2007-07-26 17:21:55
25.   weeping for brunnhilde
Ha!

3-0, Alex steals.

The walls are closing, you tools.

2007-07-26 17:22:27
26.   weeping for brunnhilde
Aggggggggghhhhhh!

Damn it.

2007-07-26 17:23:21
27.   RIYank
Grrrr. The Royals don't deserve to get out of that alive. They set it up, Matsui at 3-0 with two runners in scoring position.
A walk would have been fine, giving Andy a big chance against a lefty.

Oh well.

2007-07-26 17:23:28
28.   Shaun P
18 I'll bet the brand never shuts it mouth either. ;)

BTW in 13 - sometimes? I know tons of Sox fans for whom their greatest pleasure is the Yanks losing.

6 C'mon weeping, let's say the Sox were out of the race entirely, and the Yanks were a game in back of the Angels for the Wild Card, with one game to play. And that the Yanks had won the season series, so they got the tiebreaker. And the Angels were playing the Red Sox. If the Angels win, the Yanks are out of the playoffs. Wouldn't you cheer for Boston then? I know I would.

2007-07-26 17:24:58
29.   rilkefan
4 My thinking was that we'll pass Cleveland regardless of the result of the Boston game. But a loss by the RS might help our chances of taking the division a lot.
2007-07-26 17:25:27
30.   williamnyy23
The Quest begins...
2007-07-26 17:26:19
31.   williamnyy23
Kei really gets squeezed...it seems like he rarely gets close calls.
2007-07-26 17:26:47
32.   weeping for brunnhilde
O-kei, Iwaga. Do it up.
2007-07-26 17:27:37
33.   williamnyy23
29 I think part of my thought process is the Yankees are more likely to quickly overtake the Indians than the Sox and I want to be able to say "if the season ended today...".
2007-07-26 17:28:32
34.   Shaun P
31 FWIW, by Gameday, DeJesus ought to be sitting on the bench right now. Those were strikes, in my Gameday-judgement book. But RIYanks' MMV.
2007-07-26 17:28:46
35.   RIYank
Hm.

Well, if you're gonna walk a crappy hitter, may as well hit him.

2007-07-26 17:28:55
36.   weeping for brunnhilde
28 :)

What do you want me to say? I'm not going to go around rooting against Boston, but if you're going to ask...

Ah, did Igawa just do us a service?

No.

He didn't mean that.

Or maybe he did?

2007-07-26 17:29:08
37.   OldYanksFan
10 Ain't marriage grand!
2007-07-26 17:29:54
38.   weeping for brunnhilde
28 Yes, certainly I whould hope Boston would win, but maybe "cheer" is going a bit too far.
2007-07-26 17:30:24
39.   RIYank
34 No doubt about it. According to Gameday. And as I said, I'm not good at calling balls and strikes, so I won't contradict you or it. (I think the Yanks also got some good calls, by the same criterion. Yeah, Jeter got one.)
2007-07-26 17:30:51
40.   weeping for brunnhilde
37 :)
2007-07-26 17:30:55
41.   williamnyy23
Butler is a great off speed hitter...Igawa hangs curves...
2007-07-26 17:31:03
42.   RIYank
36 I don't think it was on purpose. Molina set up outside.
2007-07-26 17:33:58
43.   Jim Dean
Does this tool need to throw 20 pitches every inning?
2007-07-26 17:34:20
44.   weeping for brunnhilde
Maybe Sanders is the guy to plunk.

Though not here.

Ah, good. Nice job, Kei.

2007-07-26 17:34:52
45.   RIYank
Okay, Jim D. if you're paying attention:
Sterling did not go into a home run call on that fly ball.
2007-07-26 17:35:26
46.   rconn23
Cliff Lee is horrible. Sox up 4-1 in third.
2007-07-26 17:35:35
47.   OldYanksFan
Well... Boston just won their game. WC, here we come.
2007-07-26 17:35:39
48.   RIYank
43 Ah, you showed up just in time.
And, yes, of course he does. What, you have no memory at all? De La Rosa, too, he threw 24 pitches.
2007-07-26 17:36:06
49.   Shaun P
43 Way to support the guy pitching for your favorite team, Jim.
2007-07-26 17:36:47
50.   williamnyy23
Is this Kei's last start? The next time the Yankees need a 5th starter is 8/4.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-07-26 17:37:09
51.   OldYanksFan
Here that? Phillips laid down a blunt!
2007-07-26 17:37:58
52.   williamnyy23
Is Singleton going to pronounce De La Rosa the same way every time :)?
2007-07-26 17:38:03
53.   RIYank
50 Yes, I'm almost sure it is.
2007-07-26 17:38:38
54.   williamnyy23
Small nit pick...I want Cano ahead Phillips. Who cares about the lefty...when Cano is hot, he's hot.
2007-07-26 17:39:14
55.   Mattpat11
49 Thats about as supportive as you can get
2007-07-26 17:39:46
56.   Shaun P
47 C'mon OYF - it ain't over . . . and Kabbard isn't the second coming of Sandy Koufax. Indians could still come back.
2007-07-26 17:40:22
57.   Hocakes
Singleton always says the Latino names with an accent. I wish he'd do that for the Japanese players too.
2007-07-26 17:40:25
58.   RIYank
Uh.

De La Rosa took some kind of juice between innings.

2007-07-26 17:41:06
59.   weeping for brunnhilde
Poor Shelley.

That was really funny.

Of course, he could hit it out next time...

Shelley's my new comic hero.

2007-07-26 17:41:15
60.   williamnyy23
Yikes...maybe De La Rosa is the second coming of Koufax? This is not the game to slumber...it seems like Jorge's absence really drags the lineup down.
2007-07-26 17:42:51
61.   williamnyy23
The Quest continues...inning 2.
2007-07-26 17:42:51
62.   rconn23
Please don't let this clown shut us down tonight.
2007-07-26 17:43:27
63.   SF Yanks
I don't understand how anyone can root for Boston at this point. If the Yanks win tonight and Boston loses, then they're 5! back in the loss column. IMO that is very doable. It's just not time to start rooting for the Sawx.
2007-07-26 17:43:51
64.   williamnyy23
You can't analyze every pitch, but Kei threw 3 pitches up in the zone to start off.
2007-07-26 17:44:35
65.   weeping for brunnhilde
Wow. How did he swing through that pitch?
2007-07-26 17:44:37
66.   williamnyy23
63 It's not rooting as much as seeing a very bright side when they do.
2007-07-26 17:45:20
67.   williamnyy23
65 That's the adventure that is Igawa...he hangs alot of pitches that hitters swing through, but eventually it catches up with him.
2007-07-26 17:46:12
68.   weeping for brunnhilde
Well, Gordon sure didn't miss it.
2007-07-26 17:46:15
69.   Shaun P
65 Not only can the Royals not hit that well, they really don't hit lefties well.
2007-07-26 17:46:21
70.   williamnyy23
67 And that pitch was one of them! I'm watching this game with my hands covering my eyes.
2007-07-26 17:47:00
71.   weeping for brunnhilde
66 My rational mind agrees with you.
2007-07-26 17:47:51
72.   Shaun P
First pitch to Pena: strike on my Gameday view, called a ball on the outside

Second pitch to Pena: called a strike on the inside, looks just like the first pitch on Gameday, except in not out - what the heck is the ump doing?

2007-07-26 17:48:24
73.   williamnyy23
Igawa's OPS by inning: .765; .824; 1.037; .966; .895; 1.246
2007-07-26 17:49:41
74.   Shaun P
73 So he could be an effective one inning reliever!
2007-07-26 17:49:56
75.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice effort, Melk.

Damn it.

2007-07-26 17:51:14
76.   williamnyy23
74 I think that's his limit...the same trend holds for plate appearances against. It's a shame that this game is put in jeopardy by Igawa, but this has to be the last time he takes the mound this season. Even giving away this game could be costly.
2007-07-26 17:52:01
77.   Yankees Brasil
everything up, it's going to be a long night
2007-07-26 17:52:20
78.   Shaun P
76 Thank God for the Yanks' offense, which might bale Quest out. Meanwhile, I'm going to stop saying anything about the Royals' hitters, because they do good things when I do.
2007-07-26 17:52:43
79.   williamnyy23
Not to beat a dead horse, but that's another K on a poor pitch. When your Ks are ugly, that's a real bad sign.
2007-07-26 17:53:08
80.   Paul in Boston
It's painful watching Igawa pitch. He always seems to be laboring, and when he gets outs, they appear to be lucky -- a hard-hit ball hit right at someone, or a foul hit straight back that showed the hitter just missed.

I won't miss him when he's gone from the rotation.

2007-07-26 17:53:55
81.   rconn23
Cliff Lee is not even trying. How is he still in the majors.

Igawa is just torturous to watch. I honestly don't think he could get Single A hitters out.

2007-07-26 17:54:07
82.   williamnyy23
80 Hopefully, it wont be too hard to forget that he was ever in the rotation.
2007-07-26 17:54:24
83.   weeping for brunnhilde
For a mediocre pitcher, Igawa sure induces a lot of weak hacks.
2007-07-26 17:54:36
84.   williamnyy23
My goodness...what do the umpires have against Kei!
2007-07-26 17:55:31
85.   williamnyy23
If I am Joe I try to use Villone, Myers and Henn to get me through 5-6 innings...I just can't see Igawa being effective.
2007-07-26 17:55:33
86.   weeping for brunnhilde
79 Yeah, you mean the fastball high and away?

It was quite hittable.

2007-07-26 17:55:39
87.   Mattpat11
84The game is probably as hard to watch for them as it is for us.
2007-07-26 17:55:44
88.   OldYanksFan
56 Bizarre. I'm watching NESN, and the TV score said 6 to 1, which I saw, when it was 4 to 1. Anyway... 5 to 1 now, bases loaded, no out for the Sox.
2007-07-26 17:56:09
89.   RIYank
Kei Igawa isn't good.
2007-07-26 17:56:11
90.   weeping for brunnhilde
Just like that.
2007-07-26 17:56:35
91.   williamnyy23
It's 3-0 Royals and it was entirely predictable. Is Torre going to lose a battle to win the war or be proactive?
2007-07-26 17:56:46
92.   weeping for brunnhilde
Fastball right over the dish.

But Girardi said it was a breaking ball.

Sure looked like a fastball to me.

2007-07-26 17:57:03
93.   Mattpat11
Well, he hasn't given up a HR.
2007-07-26 17:57:47
94.   OldYanksFan
Iggy has no command. That was a dream pitch for a batter.

Lowell singles. 7 to 1. Game over now?

2007-07-26 17:57:56
95.   RIYank
I didn't want to win this game anyway.
2007-07-26 17:58:10
96.   vockins
When does Hughes come back? Yesterday?
2007-07-26 17:58:12
97.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh Jesus.

This is really fucking painful.

Stop the bleeding.

We need this game.

2007-07-26 17:58:57
98.   williamnyy23
That's an awful play by Abreu...but, the more I think about it, the more I can't understand why Igawa was allowed to make this start. If the Yankees really are trying to win every game, why would they give Igawa another start. Why?
2007-07-26 17:58:57
99.   Mattpat11
How much did we pay for Igawa again?
2007-07-26 17:59:00
100.   Shaun P
93 You had to say that?

This is why Henn is on the team, right, to be the long guy? I hope he's warming up.

Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2007-07-26 17:59:01
101.   weeping for brunnhilde
Note how all their guys are going the other way?

Like taking candy from a baby.

2007-07-26 17:59:09
102.   Jim Dean
RIYank -

And on that play the crowd was cheering before Sterling could figure out what the hell was going.

2007-07-26 17:59:20
103.   pistolpete
Buh-bye, Kei. Hope there's a good sushi place in Scranton.
2007-07-26 17:59:20
104.   RIYank
Oh, so by the way, the answer to Jim's question is actually: no, he doesn't take 20 pitches every inning. This inning is a good example, he's already thrown 31 pitches.
2007-07-26 17:59:28
105.   rconn23
I would rather have any scrub from Double AA rather than Igawa pitching. What an atrocious misread by the Yanks brass.
2007-07-26 18:00:06
106.   weeping for brunnhilde
Mercifully.
2007-07-26 18:00:25
107.   Mattpat11
100 I'm being positive.
2007-07-26 18:00:33
108.   OldYanksFan
92 Curve ball, waist high, right down the middle. Abreu blew that one. It was catchable, but he was so far from it, it didn't appear that way.
2007-07-26 18:00:39
109.   RIYank
102 The one in the corner?
Uh, the second one in the corner?

He didn't know whether it was fair or foul.

2007-07-26 18:00:50
110.   williamnyy23
Igawa can never throw another pitch in the 2007 season...if he does, the Yankees as an organization aren't giving a 100% effort.
2007-07-26 18:01:54
111.   Jim Dean
109 But somehow the entire stadium knew?
2007-07-26 18:01:55
112.   RIYank
Jim, click on Home Hits. An amusing little scattergram.
2007-07-26 18:02:29
113.   weeping for brunnhilde
108 Curve ball without the curve part.
2007-07-26 18:02:30
114.   Jim Dean
Igawa teh sucks.
2007-07-26 18:02:41
115.   RIYank
111 No idea. I can't tell when the whole stadium is cheering and when just 2000 people are. I'm dumb that way.
2007-07-26 18:03:11
116.   OldYanksFan
I don't get it. Iggy threw 2 very good games. He had good command. His curve looked very tough to hit. His FB was either high or low.

Where is that guy? He looks lost out there.

2007-07-26 18:03:16
117.   RIYank
Great trade, Cash!!!!
2007-07-26 18:03:32
118.   williamnyy23
Wow...Molina might be the slowest Yankee...ever.
2007-07-26 18:03:32
119.   weeping for brunnhilde
Yay!

What an auspicious first hit!

Linedrive double the other way with 2 strikes!

That was very good hitting.

2007-07-26 18:04:31
120.   pistolpete
He's already off to a 900 times better start than Nieves
2007-07-26 18:04:42
121.   weeping for brunnhilde
HA!

New life, Melk!

2007-07-26 18:04:43
122.   Mattpat11
116 The good games from April?
2007-07-26 18:04:44
123.   Jim Dean
115 Even 2000 is 2000 more than Sterling. Meanwhile if he can't figure it out, he can watch the fucking monitors.
2007-07-26 18:05:09
124.   williamnyy23
Make 'em pay melky.
2007-07-26 18:05:24
125.   OldYanksFan
9-1 Sox. It's batting practice in Cleveland.
2007-07-26 18:05:49
126.   Mattpat11
113 As is his specialty.
2007-07-26 18:06:23
127.   Shaun P
107 It take it back. Be negative, you and Jim both, when it comes to Quest. This is sad.

110 Even as a reliever?

If I'm allowed to dream, I could see Kei taking over the lefty short role in the pen. He can't be any worse than Myers, can he?

BTW - if anyone doubts the thing about Sox fans preferring the Yanks losing to the Sox winning, go take a look at Kei Igawa's b-r.com page.

2007-07-26 18:07:00
128.   williamnyy23
116 Which ones? I remember a couple of decent games, but nothing that encouraging.
2007-07-26 18:07:19
129.   Jim Dean
116 Igawa? The dofus-looking lefty? In pinstripes?
2007-07-26 18:08:24
130.   Shaun P
116 Iggy Pop pitched for the Yankees!?!? (Falls off chair in disbelief.)

The Cap'n owes these guys, doesn't he.

2007-07-26 18:08:25
131.   williamnyy23
127 Yes...I dont want to experiment with Igawa as a reliever...he'd probably just rot down there. I think they should let him pitch in Columbus and then convert him to a reliever starting next Spring.
2007-07-26 18:08:37
132.   weeping for brunnhilde
Damn.

Nice hitting, Derek.

2007-07-26 18:08:51
133.   vockins
103 Scranton? Forget it. There's definitely a good sushi place in Japan.
2007-07-26 18:08:53
134.   williamnyy23
The Yankees have to get this run in...you can't waste to lead off doubles with Igawa on the mound.
2007-07-26 18:09:00
135.   Yankees Brasil
Its going to be one of those games..
2007-07-26 18:09:29
136.   uburoisc
If Igawa commits seppuku, would we get out of his contract? Can someone send him a copy of "Mishima"?
2007-07-26 18:09:49
137.   Shaun P
How to Get The Lead-off Man to Second Base, But Not Score

I'm afraid that could serve as this game's recap title if things don't change soon.

2007-07-26 18:09:51
138.   Mattpat11
127 What is there to be positive about?
2007-07-26 18:10:40
139.   weeping for brunnhilde
Damn it.

Focus, Bobby!

2007-07-26 18:10:43
140.   fansince77
116 what games are you talking about- if you watched pitch by pitch you would realize that Igawa was flirting with disaster in nearly every at bat. Even his strikeouts were nowhere near his targets- he won despite himself and this performance has been A LONG TIME COMIN'! It's a wonder this guy is still anywhere near a big league park.
2007-07-26 18:12:19
141.   fansince77
116 what games are you talking about- if you watched pitch by pitch you would realize that Igawa was flirting with disaster in nearly every at bat. Even his strikeouts were nowhere near his targets- he won despite himself and this performance has been A LONG TIME COMIN'! It's a wonder this guy is still anywhere near a big league park.
2007-07-26 18:12:24
142.   weeping for brunnhilde
Damn it.

Focus, Bobby!

2007-07-26 18:13:22
143.   Shaun P
138 With Quest, nothing right now. Well, there is one thing - he could be headed for the showers.

135 Let's hope not.

2007-07-26 18:13:49
144.   williamnyy23
You just know the rest of the team feels the same frustration about Igawa that we do, which probably makes hitting and playing defense all the more difficult.
2007-07-26 18:14:26
145.   RIYank
Cool, 139, 140, 141, 142:
ABBA.
2007-07-26 18:14:37
146.   williamnyy23
You can't send Igawa back out there...not if you want to win this game.
2007-07-26 18:16:20
147.   Jim Dean
144 And, well, facing a left-handed pitcher thing.
2007-07-26 18:16:42
148.   Marcus
Cashman should feel ashamed for Igawa. Is the scout that recommended him fired yet?
2007-07-26 18:17:03
149.   weeping for brunnhilde
145 ha ha ha haah ah !

146 Agreed. Wholeheartedly.

2007-07-26 18:17:44
150.   RIYank
Sorry, I think Joe's making the right call. The chances of winning this game are now quite small. Destroying the bullpen too, that would be a mistake.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2007-07-26 18:17:48
151.   Shaun P
147 Maybe the Phils will want to dump Burrell now? With Utley out long-term, they have no chance at competing this year. He could be a big boost at taking out lefties.
2007-07-26 18:18:26
152.   williamnyy23
I would love to get my hands on an entire game from his days in Japan...could he have really had success pitching the same way?
2007-07-26 18:18:39
153.   weeping for brunnhilde
Again, Kenny called that a breaking ball and again, I honestly thought it was a fastball.

Good God.

2007-07-26 18:19:04
154.   Mattpat11
144 I wouldn't be shocked if that explained some of the umpiring as well. He throws shit, he takes forever to throw shit, and when he does throw said shit, its rarely near the plate. Thats not a recipe for getting close calls.
2007-07-26 18:19:27
155.   williamnyy23
150 You dont think the Yankees can score 5 runs in six innings? Pitching Henn, Myers and Villone wont destroy the bullpen.
2007-07-26 18:19:37
156.   weeping for brunnhilde
159 But isn't that the point of having a long man?

Oh man, check out Molina!

2007-07-26 18:20:39
157.   Mattpat11
153 The intent is there, I suppose.
2007-07-26 18:20:44
158.   williamnyy23
Thank you Jose Molina...that was a seed.
2007-07-26 18:20:48
159.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh my God!!!!1

Jose, where you been all my life!

2007-07-26 18:20:50
160.   pistolpete
MO-LINA!
2007-07-26 18:21:34
161.   tommyl
Wow, Jose's BFOG+ has to be like 160 after that.
2007-07-26 18:21:37
162.   Shaun P
155 Especially since Henn last pitched 4 days ago.

156 Yes.

2007-07-26 18:22:15
163.   randym77
Wow. I've been out of town for awhile, and didn't hear the Yanks had acquired a new catcher.

I think I like this guy.

Meanwhile, in Scranton, TJ Beam is pitching batting practice. The announcers are amazed at how far the home runs are going...

2007-07-26 18:23:48
164.   OldYanksFan
9-4. Cleveland at bat. 2 out. Bases loaded. Pronk up.
2007-07-26 18:24:38
165.   RIYank
155 I think we might score 5. But I think it's really unlikely that we'll score 5 and hold the Royals for the rest of the game.

159 Henn? I guess. If you consider it giving the kid a chance, I guess I'd go for it. Esp. considering that Henn won't get a chance to pitch in any other way.

2007-07-26 18:25:34
166.   weeping for brunnhilde
163 I liked him the second I heard he was from California's system.

Let's hope he works out.

2007-07-26 18:26:24
167.   OldYanksFan
Hafner HBP. 9-5. Pitching change.
2007-07-26 18:26:25
168.   RIYank
Look, Henn won't pitch five innings anyway. Bring him in after four or five innings. Igawa's pitch count will be up to 100 by then.
2007-07-26 18:27:16
169.   Shaun P
167 The wheels just fell off Kason, huh?
2007-07-26 18:27:30
170.   RIYank
(Sterling didn't go into his HR call for A-Rod's fly out.)
2007-07-26 18:28:04
171.   Shaun P
167 And here comes Tavarez!!!!!
2007-07-26 18:28:22
172.   weeping for brunnhilde
Wow, did Singleton hit 500+ homeruns?

I had no idea.

2007-07-26 18:29:23
173.   Jim Dean
Freddie Sez was just in a MasterCard commercial!
2007-07-26 18:29:24
174.   weeping for brunnhilde
Yay Andy!

Beautiful hitting.

2007-07-26 18:29:48
175.   weeping for brunnhilde
You do the same, Robbie, split the left-centerfield gap!
2007-07-26 18:29:51
176.   OldYanksFan
Inning over in Cleveland. 9-5.
2007-07-26 18:29:58
177.   Shaun P
171 Shoot.

But here comes Robbie!!!

2007-07-26 18:30:28
178.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice foul ball.

Excellent.

He's getting a hit...

2007-07-26 18:30:39
179.   Jim Dean
170 Sorry - not listening. My wife got me for The Office.
2007-07-26 18:31:24
180.   weeping for brunnhilde
Aggggggh.

Damn, nice pitch on the outside corner.

2007-07-26 18:31:49
181.   RIYank
179 My son tried to get me for The Office!

172 Huh??? No, he didn't hit 500 HR.

2007-07-26 18:31:49
182.   weeping for brunnhilde
Shoot.
2007-07-26 18:33:26
183.   weeping for brunnhilde
181 Ah, ok.

The Aflac quiz is about a KC pitcher giving up number 500 and Girardi seemed to imply that Singleton was a candidate.

Maybe I misunderstood him.

2007-07-26 18:35:14
184.   Jim Dean
181 And Scrubs is fucking hilarious - almost as much as Jorge De La Rosa shutting out the New York Yankees.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

2007-07-26 18:38:10
185.   williamnyy23
The Yankees don't have to lose this game, but it seems as if they want to.
2007-07-26 18:38:38
186.   OldYanksFan
Apr 28 BOS W 3-1, 6ip, 2h, 1er and 3 games going 5ip and 2er.

The game against Boston he was sharp. Its hard to get lucky against that lineup. The point is, he had 'some' upside at one point. Now, he is all over the map.

2007-07-26 18:42:08
187.   Jim Dean
186 Two big differences: He didn't start that game. And I was in attendance.
2007-07-26 18:43:42
188.   williamnyy23
186 He was good against Boston, but I think you give their lineup too much credit.

Igawa's best game score is 58 and only two are above 50. He hasn't really had an outing that made you raise your eyebrows.

2007-07-26 18:44:35
189.   RIYank
This Molina guy is awesome. Cashman is a genius. Who knew we were getting a 1.000 OBP guy?
2007-07-26 18:44:43
190.   tommyl
So Jose for MVP?
2007-07-26 18:44:47
191.   OldYanksFan
186 So it's HIS fault that you're to lazy to attend his games? :-)
2007-07-26 18:46:01
192.   weeping for brunnhilde
Wow, Jose.

My new favorite player.

So I was thinking about how I might pitch to Derek if I were an opposing pitcher and it occurred to me that he's not ripping that inside fastball down the leftfield line with authority as he was doing back in April and May.

Anyone else notice that?

2007-07-26 18:46:22
193.   OldYanksFan
What's the difference between Molina getting 2 hits in a game and a solar eclipse?
2007-07-26 18:46:55
194.   weeping for brunnhilde
Yeah, Melky!!!
2007-07-26 18:47:21
195.   weeping for brunnhilde
You know, when he gets stronger his average will go up a lot with those grounders.
2007-07-26 18:47:26
196.   RIYank
Two on with our murderers coming up. What do you figure, a K and a GIDP and it's over?
2007-07-26 18:47:46
197.   weeping for brunnhilde
Come on Captain 1-3!
2007-07-26 18:47:55
198.   williamnyy23
192 Not really...I think Jeter always has a game plan based on who he is facing. He can definitely handle fastballs inside.
2007-07-26 18:48:10
199.   RIYank
193 Frequency.
But you had something funnier in mind.
2007-07-26 18:48:48
200.   weeping for brunnhilde
Aaaaaaaaaah!

Damn it!!!

So close.

That's two well-struck outs.

Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2007-07-26 18:48:58
201.   Jim Dean
196 Remember, just so you don't get your hopes up, Abreu doesn't qualify tonight. He's wearing Damon's power panties.
2007-07-26 18:49:01
202.   williamnyy23
Damn that sucks...so close to a double in the gap...this just might be one of those games.
2007-07-26 18:50:00
203.   weeping for brunnhilde
198 That's good.

I just haven't seen him do it in awhile.

2007-07-26 18:50:00
204.   williamnyy23
Jim Wolf is horrible.
2007-07-26 18:50:19
205.   RIYank
201 Huh? Oh, the lefty?
2007-07-26 18:50:33
206.   williamnyy23
Jim Wolf sucks.
2007-07-26 18:50:37
207.   weeping for brunnhilde
Damn, Bobby.

Come on, put it in play.

We need you.

2007-07-26 18:50:52
208.   tommyl
202 You mean one of those Igawa starts games? Yeah, I think it might...
2007-07-26 18:51:09
209.   williamnyy23
207 Both pitches were balls.
2007-07-26 18:52:12
210.   weeping for brunnhilde
How come Bobby suddenly can't hit?
2007-07-26 18:52:23
211.   williamnyy23
Take a look at Buck...he seems to look down at the signs as he is giving them...kind of like looking at your feet while you dance.
2007-07-26 18:52:51
212.   weeping for brunnhilde
Not Bobby's day.

Let's hope he rebounds tomorrow.

2007-07-26 18:53:01
213.   williamnyy23
That's an awful AB by Abreu.
2007-07-26 18:54:01
214.   RIYank
Ouch.
De La Rosa taking no chances, huh?
2007-07-26 18:54:02
215.   williamnyy23
Damn it!
2007-07-26 18:54:05
216.   weeping for brunnhilde
All right, that's two we owe these goons.
2007-07-26 18:55:12
217.   tommyl
motherfucker
2007-07-26 18:55:16
218.   RIYank
216 Wait, Kei already hit a guy today. And Bruney got one yesterday.

Oh, carp. Dammit Gojira, run faster.

2007-07-26 18:55:24
219.   weeping for brunnhilde
Fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Same as his last ab.

Exactly the same.

So close.

Damn it.

A big Zero.

2007-07-26 18:55:39
220.   williamnyy23
Incredible...Igawa sucks, but to not score off De La Rosa is inexusable.
2007-07-26 18:55:44
221.   51cq24
looked like a tie
2007-07-26 18:55:46
222.   Jim Dean
210 212 213 Let's refresh:

Abreu vs. LHP:
Career: .274 .371 .392
2007: .233 .302 .291

2007-07-26 18:56:08
223.   JimCobain
With blown calls and no timely hitting this feels like a 1st half game...
2007-07-26 18:56:33
224.   weeping for brunnhilde
218 Oh, I think I missed Bruney. And you told me Kei's wasn't intentional so it doesn't count.
2007-07-26 18:57:21
225.   Yankees Brasil
seriously, it's fucking De La Rosa!!
2007-07-26 18:57:32
226.   weeping for brunnhilde
222 Thanks, Jim.

Great hustle by Hideki, btw.

2007-07-26 18:59:03
227.   OldYanksFan
That play at first looked like a tie. Should have been safe.
2007-07-26 19:00:06
228.   RIYank
224 You don't think De La Rosa intentionally hit Alex with 1st and 2nd and two outs up by four runs???
2007-07-26 19:00:12
229.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice job, Kei.

One more.

2007-07-26 19:01:28
230.   weeping for brunnhilde
228 No, I don't.

Yet still I think we should retaliate.

Show some swagger.

2007-07-26 19:01:36
231.   RIYank
They're hitting De La Rosa, but not, as 223 notes, in a timely way.
2007-07-26 19:02:34
232.   weeping for brunnhilde
Great play by Robbie, but man, that Butler's one slow mf.
2007-07-26 19:02:40
233.   pistolpete
I take back everything bad I said about Cano's fielding - he truly DOES make it look easy.
2007-07-26 19:02:59
234.   RIYank
So, good move by Joe not pulling Igawa after the second, huh? What a freaking genius he is. It's like he can see the future.
2007-07-26 19:04:17
235.   weeping for brunnhilde
233 Yes he does.
2007-07-26 19:05:06
236.   weeping for brunnhilde
HA!

Ok, Team, here's our chance!

They want to give this game back to us!

2007-07-26 19:06:45
237.   weeping for brunnhilde
Come on, Shelley!

Crank one out.

2007-07-26 19:07:51
238.   williamnyy23
dont swing!!
2007-07-26 19:07:58
239.   RIYank
No! The HR is a rally-killer here. We want a single. Preferably opposite field.

Or a walk is fine.

2007-07-26 19:08:34
240.   RIYank
And now, the might Molina...
2007-07-26 19:08:46
241.   williamnyy23
Damn it...they kept letting him off the hook and now he's out of the game.
2007-07-26 19:08:46
242.   weeping for brunnhilde
NIce ab, Shelley.

Come on, Jose, another linedrive, nice and easy.

2007-07-26 19:11:27
243.   RIYank
Oooooooooh.
2007-07-26 19:11:29
244.   weeping for brunnhilde
Look at this guy hit.
2007-07-26 19:12:15
245.   weeping for brunnhilde
Good eye, Jose.
2007-07-26 19:12:53
246.   williamnyy23
Fuck...this game sucks.
2007-07-26 19:13:12
247.   weeping for brunnhilde
Aggggggghhhhhhh!

Damn it.

Another well-struck ball and another out.

Damn it damn it damn it.

2007-07-26 19:13:22
248.   pistolpete
Soooooo the offense is taking the night off then?
2007-07-26 19:13:25
249.   RIYank
Man. How many runners is that stranded this game? All of 'em, I guess. Eight?
2007-07-26 19:14:14
250.   BklynBmr
Tony should have slipped his kid some bad fish or something for lunch...
Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2007-07-26 19:14:21
251.   weeping for brunnhilde
All of 'em, indeed.

This is excruciating.

2007-07-26 19:15:08
252.   Yankees Brasil
kinda obvious, but Molina is really slow..
2007-07-26 19:15:19
253.   weeping for brunnhilde
248 They're hitting the ball hard, for the most part.

Hideki and Cano both hit a couple of weak grounders, but mostly they've been hitting the ball.

2007-07-26 19:16:34
254.   RIYank
253 They are. And for that matter, they're getting hits. It's just that the hits haven't been bunched up.
2007-07-26 19:19:50
255.   RIYank
Hey, I have a new nickname for Kei...
2007-07-26 19:19:58
256.   Mattpat11
That was another Melky Triple.
2007-07-26 19:20:27
257.   weeping for brunnhilde
Ah, so close, Melk. Good effort.
2007-07-26 19:20:53
258.   RIYank
Amazing. Are all of their hits for extra bases??
2007-07-26 19:21:20
259.   weeping for brunnhilde
256 You think his route was bad?

Maybe it wasn't perfect, but I didn't see anything egregious on that play.

2007-07-26 19:22:34
260.   Mattpat11
257 I disagree. One of the big flaws in Melky Cabrera's game is that he's unable to identify balls he can't catch. That's the fourth double that I can remember this year that he played into a triple by charging into the wall and letting it roll past him on the rebound
2007-07-26 19:22:46
261.   williamnyy23
too late Joe...that should take care of the comeback. I really hope the Igawa Project is now officially over. He shouldn't have started the game, much less come out for the 6th inning.
2007-07-26 19:23:02
262.   pistolpete
I hope Igawa runs into Hughes at the airport and they share an awkward moment...
2007-07-26 19:24:26
263.   pistolpete
260 I can't believe we're actually arguing over fielding routes when the issue should be that the ball shouldn't have been hit that far in first place!
2007-07-26 19:24:27
264.   marc
Igawa wasn't really that bad. After all he didn't give up all that many singles (grin)
2007-07-26 19:24:41
265.   williamnyy23
260 I'll risk the extra base for a chance at an out.
2007-07-26 19:24:53
266.   nemecizer
Fuck Igawa. Fuck him right in the ear.

I hate this guy. Phil Hughes can't come back soon enough.

2007-07-26 19:26:14
267.   RIYank
262 Hah! Excellent.

264 Yeah, just one. Also, four of those extra base hits were in one inning, yeesh.

2007-07-26 19:26:45
268.   BklynBmr
264 His location was good, too. Sweet spot, right on the screws, the fat part, etc...
2007-07-26 19:26:53
269.   weeping for brunnhilde
That strike, that Cano took on the outside corner? I realize it was a ball, but if he'd just sliced that into left, he might have gotten a hit.

Not saying he should have, but that pitch was the whole ab there and that was a critical ab.

2007-07-26 19:27:06
270.   williamnyy23
These games anger me more than, say, if Clemens or Wang got hit hard because the Yankees did not put their best possible lineup on the field. Igawa is like playing Russian roulette...how many times do Cashman/Torre have to blow their brains out before finding a new game?
2007-07-26 19:27:27
271.   RIYank
265 I agree.
Remember when he robbed Manny last year? Those are worth a whole lot of extra bases.
2007-07-26 19:28:31
272.   marc
Let's see down 5 in the 7th. Remote but not impossible
2007-07-26 19:28:34
273.   tommyl
270 This is it, skip him on Monday and Hughes will be brought up.
2007-07-26 19:28:47
274.   weeping for brunnhilde
260 Oh, I agree, that's a weakness, but I don't think he's worse than any other centerfielder.

Those are tough plays. A great centerfielder makes them, but I don't think most do.

Playing the ball off the wall, though, I think you're right. That he can learn, though.

2007-07-26 19:29:21
275.   BklynBmr
270 Ted Lilly made more sense for a #5, and at $30M less...
2007-07-26 19:29:30
276.   williamnyy23
273 I hope...but this loss stays on the record all year.
2007-07-26 19:30:21
277.   OldYanksFan
Yankees are 0 for 12 with RISP.
2007-07-26 19:31:03
278.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh, Derek.
2007-07-26 19:31:08
279.   williamnyy23
275 I didn't want Lilly at the time, so I am not going to change my tune now. I don't think you need to go that far back...it should have been obvious that another arm from the system would have been better than Igawa.
2007-07-26 19:33:25
280.   williamnyy23
Jim Wolf has definitely left a mark on this game...he's been so bad, the score could be drastically different with a competent umpire behind the plate. Wolf is always bad...I wish umps could be fired.
2007-07-26 19:33:26
281.   williamnyy23
Jim Wolf has definitely left a mark on this game...he's been so bad, the score could be drastically different with a competent umpire behind the plate. Wolf is always bad...I wish umps could be fired.
2007-07-26 19:36:03
282.   Mattpat11
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is tasty
2007-07-26 19:37:49
283.   RIYank
282 So the evening isn't a total loss.
2007-07-26 19:40:02
284.   RIYank
Bobby saves Henn's eggs.
2007-07-26 19:47:32
285.   RIYank
Henn's doing great. They can't hit him at all.
2007-07-26 19:48:16
286.   RIYank
I may have spoken too soon.

Okay, I'm hanging it up for the night. I'm about to post my fourth straight, and the game is no longer interesting.

2007-07-26 19:48:56
287.   weeping for brunnhilde
All right, Team, I've had enough. I think I'll take my friend up on her offer to have a drink.

Until later...

2007-07-26 19:49:14
288.   williamnyy23
Time for bed here too...if the Yankees are sleeping, I might as well join them.
2007-07-26 19:52:17
289.   weeping for brunnhilde
Oh, but you know what?

Before I go, I'll leave on a positive note:

How 'bout that Molina?

Nice addition.

2007-07-26 20:02:44
290.   yankz
Can't win 'em all. Anything can happen on any given day in sports. Haven't you seen Miracle?

That said, it's not over yet. Remember, earlier this year they came back down 6 runs with 2 outs, bases empty in the 9th. And they're a better team now.

2007-07-26 20:06:59
291.   Mattpat11
Well, thats rock bottom.
2007-07-26 20:23:47
292.   yankz
Um, I'm going to have to go with being several games below .500 as rock bottom. Maybe 14.5 games out of 1st.
2007-07-26 20:33:39
293.   Mattpat11
No, I'll still go with walking Tony Pena. You have to TRY. Even then its 50/50.
2007-07-26 20:35:04
294.   JL25and3
293 I'd have to disagree. Being several games below .500 is a perfectly plausible situation. Walking Tony Pena...
2007-07-26 20:35:06
295.   Max
Losing 7 out of 8 to the Rockies, Giants and Orioles after winning 14 of 17...and falling back to 4 games under .500 in June...that was rock bottom. Hopefully we're way past that now.
2007-07-26 20:35:24
296.   Jim Dean
289 Yup. But just in case, Nieves cleared waivers.
2007-07-26 20:35:59
297.   JL25and3
294 D'oh!!! That should have read "agree."
2007-07-26 20:36:46
298.   JL25and3
296 He cleared waivers? No one scooped up Wil Nieves?
2007-07-26 20:56:51
299.   Vandelay Industries
Oh well. I was really hoping for a win tonight. In case no one has noticed, the O's are playing some good ball. Please GOD don't blow that 8-6 lead in the shortened game!
2007-07-26 22:29:38
300.   weeping for brunnhilde
299 What inning was it, seventh? eighth?
Show/Hide Comments 301-350
2007-07-26 23:14:49
301.   Vandelay Industries
300

Top eighth I believe. I think Arod is on deck.

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