Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
I recently returned from a trip to Taiwan, on which more later. (I’ve braced myself, and I’ll try not to take it personally when the inevitable slew of “Go back to Taiwan! Quick!” comments appear below.) I had no trouble following the Yankees while I was there, because ESPN Taiwan shows every game, first live (at 7 am or one in the morning), then repeated at least two or three times throughout the day. But it’s all in Chinese of course – with the occasional “wow” or “home run!” thrown in, or “ooh la la!,” which I think is like the ESPN Taiwan version of “booya!” - so I may have missed a few subtleties; if so, please don't hesitate to correct me.
Strangely enough, this is the Yankees’ first series against the Tigers since last October’s Series of Unfortunate Events, and things didn’t go any better this time around: Tygers 8, Yankees 5, and it wasn’t even as close as the final score would indicate. Is there an Onion jinx?
Last night’s Yankee starter was Mike Mussina, who I’ve always enjoyed watching (and listening to, even when he’s grousing about something), but who does, increasingly, strike me as a grouchy 85-year-old trapped in a 39-year-old’s body. When not yelling at the Tigers to get off his damn lawn, Mussina struggled with his control, and that combined with bad luck put the Yankees in a big hole before the first commercial break. Mussina allowed a single, and an A-Rod error allowed Sheffield to reach base. (By the way, if you were curious about the crowd’s reaction to Sheff: he was booed, but as far as I could tell, not too intensely. The Yankee pitchers seemed not to want any part of him, not that I blame them, and he went 0-for-3 with two walks.) With two on, Magglio Ordoñez up, and one out, the situation was unlikely to end well; sure enough Ordoñez and the fuzzy thing living under his batting helmet walked, and Carlos Guillen promptly knocked a grand slam just over the right-field wall. Mussina offered no excuses after the game and refused to blame the error: “I lost the game for us in the first inning… I have to do my job when it’s my turn to play, and today I didn’t do it.”
In the bottom of the first, Derek Jeter singled and reached second on a wild pitch. I’d like to take a minute here to appreciate the anonymous Yankee fan sitting in the front row on the third-base side, who made what happened next possible. Hideki Matsui popped up and Brandon Inge, an excellent fielder at third, threw himself into the stands to try for the catch. He would have made it, too – he had it timed perfectly – but a spectacled, slightly nebbishy young guy in a blue button-down shirt jumped, just barely got his fingers behind the ball right as it headed into Inge’s glove, and flicked it away. He was the anti-Steve Bartman. It was masterfully done, and perfectly legal – he never touched Inge, didn’t do anything obnoxious or dangerous, but single-handedly saved the Yankees from an out; and on the very next pitch, Matsui singled to plate Jeter. As it happened, that run didn’t really matter, but you never know... had things gone slightly differently, it might have been decisive. So, well done, anonymous Yankee fan. I guess not everyone who sits in the front row is a soulless corporate tool.
The way the Yankee offense has been playing lately, three runs are hardly insurmountable, but the pitching staff just couldn’t hold it there. Mussina was hit hard again in the top of the second, making it 6-1. He then settled down – a combination of better location and better luck, as several well-hit balls found gloves - and an inning later the Yankees got two back on a Bobby Abreu homer; but that would be as small as the margin ever got. It was a frustrating loss, in large part because Tigers starter Justin Verlander seemed vulnerable all night – lots of balls (not in the good way), deep counts, long at-bats, and a massive pitch count, with 90 thrown by the 4th inning. To his credit he held things together and slogged his way into the sixth inning, throwing 119 pitches in the process.
Unfortunate juxtaposition of the game, brought to you by Michael Kay: “He could tell you what his plans were for the 7th, 8th, and 9th inning - for pinch-hitting, hitting and running, the way he'd use his pitchers - in his office before the game. If there's such a thing as a genius in baseball, Billy Martin was a genius in baseball. He was a genius … and there you see Ron Villone beginning to throw...”.
Anyway. The Tigers added a run in the 5th, on singles off Mussina in his final inning of work, and in the 7th, with a Pudge Rodriguez home run off Villone. One interesting note: with two on in the bottom of the sixth, Joe Torre pinch-hit for Johnny Damon with Shelley Duncan. Now, Damon’s been very gracious about his recent lack of playing time, saying he’ll fill whatever role the team wants, anything to help - but man, that’s got to sting a little.
The Yankees staged a mini-rally in the ninth off Todd Jones – with the Padres' recent release of David Wells, Jones is perhaps now the reigning Major League Pitcher Who Looks Least Like a Professional Athlete, and I love him for it. The Yanks scored twice with two outs before Jason Giambi struck out to end the game; too little too late, though I suppose it at least it made the final score more respectable.
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On a very sad note, we learned in last night’s comments that passionate Banter commenter Jim Dean passed away July 27th – while watching the Yankees, in fact. Jim needs no introduction to any regular reader of this site; as many people noted during the game, he was a strong presence here, and he will be missed. My condolences to Kate Dean, and the rest of Jim’s family and friends.
On Jim Dean - what a way to go
Go back to Taiwan! Quick! ;-)
Without getting too nosy, what exactly did he die of? Gotta love that it was during a Yankees game, though.
Hope it was a win. ;)
I didn't think Moose's control was that terrible last night, he had A LOT of pitches 1 inch off the plate that ball called balls, where Verlander and particularly Zach Miner got it called for strikes even further out. I'm under the impression that the ump will get some bad reviews for that game.
it was a game of inches basically, A-rod booted a inning inning double play, after loading the bases Guillen poked one just out of the short porch on a breaking ball that went too far inside (but was far from smoked. in most other park that woulda been a deep flyout).. that was pretty much the difference of the game. and if Moose hadn't been so gased in the first, i though there would have been a solid chance for him to do better the rest of the way.
What has happened has happned, the Yankees need to forget about it and move foward.
i was always entertained by the man.
truly sad, truly shocking news.
my heart goes out to his family and friends.
he will be missed around here.
I found this quote by Emily Dickinson, I liked it:
"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality."
...and I think JD would appreciate this quote from Bob Feller:
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed upon the Yankees. Apparently it angers them."
So long Jim! Maybe you can play some pepper with Scooter.
Emma, it is good to know that there are some Yankee fans at the games who have good baseball fan IQ and act accordingly.
"The Yankees staged a mini-rally in the ninth off Todd Jones – with the Padres' recent release of David Wells, Jones is perhaps now the reigning Major League Pitcher Who Looks Least Like a Professional Athlete, and I love him for it."
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I vote for Bob Wickman ....
I know he'd have been thrilled to see some of his criticisms of the roster construction finally being taken care of by the FO, and I'm sure he would have been delighted to thoroughly point out how they could have done a better job.
I'd like to add my condolences to Kate and the rest of Jim's family. It touches me to no end to think that WE were part of his last and final moments.
I assume that none of us have ever met JD in person, but the Banter crowd is a sort of virtual family for many of us - and this community has lost a family member.
Jim Dean, R.I.P.
I'm glad his wife let us know and that she has this site to remember him being passionate and genuine.
spot on.
). With lefty Pettitte on the mound, the Tigers will probably start Thames at first and Maybin in left.
Perhaps we'll get a chance to see Joba pitch to Maybin. They probably faced each other earlier this year in the FSL.
Jim and I tangled hard, but I've missed the challenge. My condolences to his family.
I believe the question was asked if we will get draft picks if ARod opts-out. It appears that we will.
speaking of our dear friend, sheff:
They wanted me back. It was my choice to leave. I wasn't willing to play first base for a year," Sheffield said. "I didn't come here to play first base."
Cashman confirmed that the club would have kept Sheffield if he were willing to play first this season. Now, Sheffield said he's happy with his multiyear contract in Detroit -- even though he's had to adjust to being a designated hitter.
so wait, how is playing first any more not-playing-right-field than DHing is not-playing-right-field.
detroit and jim leyland respected you so damn much, sheff, they sat your immobile ass on the bench
Randy Johnson's 2007 VORP: 11.7 and done
How anyone can still think the Yanks got ripped off in that deal is beyond me.
damn angels, all they seem to do is find ways to beat us, but they can't get their acts together against the sox
[/ end jim dean voice]
i'll miss you around here jd, arguing with you was like trying to spar with a gelatinous cube ...
DHing is hitting, which is what Sheff has done his whole career. Playing first base is learning a whole new position. Huge difference.
With Santanna going tonight, this looks like a Red Sox sweep. In other words, another Yankee loss and we can put the division on the back burner once again.
This is why three game losing streaks in Aaugust are unacceptable, and why the Yankees organization really dropped the ball on Tuesday.
Yikes, another run! Ok, I'd say this game is about over with the Angels' offense. To be fair to the Angels, John Lackey isn't nearly the stud that his numbers sometimes indicate.
Well, Yankees win and a Seattle loss tonight, and we're in first in the WC. It might nearly be time to put the Bo-Sox out of our minds. Boston sweep today and a Yankee loss, and the lead is back to seven. Even Jack Lemon and Jane Fonda couldn't stop the meltdown required for the Yankees to overcome that lead this season.
No wonder he can't get a promotion.
No wonder he can't get a promotion.
Better than usual!
Of course, we always used to beat up on Baltimore & Detroit. This season is so twisted.
i only caught the first 2 innings at the gym... a little wild, good change, curveball was left up high, no hard hit balls.
I'm not real good at these kind of things, so I'll keep it brief and just add my condolences for Jim Dean's loved ones.
For the record, he didn't say anything bad about Cox or the Braves.
Indeed, I was inclined to cut more Sheff more slack than I normally would a player with that big of a mouth, just because his 2004 regular season was as memorable as any Yankee of recent vintage -- full of swagger, home runs and big, late inning dramatics. On a team full of pros like Jeter and Posada that media types found boring, along with more vanilla high paid mercenaries like Giambi and Moose, Sheff was a dream for the media and any fan who liked hot-blooded, hyper-competitive types that could back up their talk. Even loud mouthed Yankee haters cowered when talking about him. (Quite a contrast to A-Rod, to say the least).
Of course, it all turned sour by the end of the season, and he was obviously absent in the playoffs at a time when he was needed most. He completely squandered any remaining brownie points he had with the media when he went after Torre.
And 66 , you've earned the right to gloat and then some.
I always thought one thing about being a "man" was making lemonade out of lemons, not turning whatever into whine?
overall, though, i kinda enjoyed sheff's time in pinstripes, at least when he was at the plate. He's one of those guys who i love watching hit ... hell, just swing, to be honest ...
i could do without ever hearing his opinion, on well, just about anything, again, though ...
Maybe George was irked by Vlad refusing to learn a single word of english after twelve years in the big leagues?
;-)
http://translation2.paralink.com/
it gave me this:
"If you play that well, you can speak any language that you wish"
Google archive: "jim dean" site:baseballtoaster.com - http://tinyurl.com/36rdu7
Rest in Peace Jim Dean. My condolonces to all of Jim's family and friends.
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