Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
While panic sets in across town and to the northeast, the Yankees come off a restful, mid-homestand off-day looking to extend a four game winning streak with their ace on the mound looking for win number 19.
The bad news is that their opponent is the very same Blue Jays team that just swept the Red Sox, and that Toronto will send its four top starters to the mound in this series, beginning with ace Roy Halladay tonight. Halladay has failed to complete the seventh inning just once in his last dozen starts (going six full in the one exception), posting a 2.82 ERA with five complete games, one of them a shutout of the then-hot Mariners, and a 1.15 WHIP over that stretch. He's faced the Yankees twice during that run, holding them to one run in seven innings in the Bronx in mid-July and allowing just seven base runners in seven innings while striking out eight in a match-up against Wang in early August (though Halliday did give up four runs in that game on a pair of home runs by Robinson Cano and another by Hideki Matsui).
That August 8 game saw Chien-Ming Wang struggle through 2 2/3 innings in what was easily the worst start of his career. There's been an alarming symetry to Wang's starts since then as his earned run totals in his seven stars since look like this: 5, 3, 1, 0, 1, 3, 5, bringing him back to the rematch with Halladay tonight. Here's hoping he breaks the pattern.
As for the Blue Jays, they've finally shut down Vernon Wells in anticipation of his shoulder surgery. Wells had gone 0 for 17 in the Jays' recent series against the Red Sox and Yankees, so that's hardly a loss to the Jays. They also managed to sweep Boston without the help of Troy Glaus, who was shut down prior to Yankees series in Toronto and has since been placed on the 60-day DL with a season ending foot injury, or Lyle Overbay, who's been limited to pinch-hit and defensive-replacement duty over the past week in anticipation of his having four pins removed from his hand when the team travels to Baltimore on Tuesday.
Matt Stairs has become the regular first baseman in Overbay's stead, but he was just 1 for 10 with a pair of walks and three Ks against Boston. Russ Adams, who has filled in for Glaus, was more troublesome, going 3 for 8 with a double and that back-breaking grand slam off Jonathan Papelbon on Wednesday night. Adams had seven RBIs altogether in the Boston series and was 4 for 10 with a double and three walks against the Yankees when they were in Toronto last week. Alex Rios is the only Blue Jay other than Wells to play center field this year. That means the Jays will replace Wells in the lineup with a corner outfielder. With Stairs already in at first base, that means the Jays will have Reed Johnson and Adam Lind in the corners, which fully exhausts the supply of outfielders on their roster, though recent addition Joe Inglett, who was claimed off waivers from the Indians to take Glaus's place on the roster, and Hector Luna, who preceeded Inglett in making the move from Cleveland to Toronto, are both legitimate utility men who can play both infield and outfield if needed.
As for Johnson and Lind, Johnson only drew one start in each series against Boston and New York, going 0 for 8 with no walks and three Ks in those games, but he went 7 for 15 while starting all three games against the Orioles in between. Adam Lind went 1 for 7 with a pair of Ks in two starts against Boston and 0 for 2 as a pinch-hitter against the Yanks, but did walk and homer in the finale against the O's.
As you might suspect by now, the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox with pitching, holding Boston to just five runs over three games. Dustin McGowan, who will face Roger Clemens on Sunday, set the pace with a complete game on Monday in which he allowed one run on five hits and no walks while striking out nine. A.J. Burnett, who will rematch with Phil Hughes in Monday's makeup game, followed by striking out 11 and falling one-out shy of another complete game in a contest decided by an Eric Gagne blown save in the eighth (lefty Scott Downs struck out Jacoby Ellsbury to earn an easy one-out save). In the finale, fifth-starter Jesse Litsch limited the Sox to just two hits, one of them a J.D. Drew solo homer for the only Boston run, over 6 2/3 innings, then got 2 2/3 innings of one-hit/no-walk relief from his bullpen with closer Jeremy Accardo striking out three of the four men he faced (Mike Lowell, Drew, and Jason Varitek) to earn the save.
To that end, this series is a great test run for the playoffs as the Yankees will have to hit great pitching and out-pitch great pitching to come away with a win. The Red Sox, meanwhile, face their nemesis Scott Kasmir in Tampa. Kazmir, who has more starts again Boston than any other team in his young career, has a 2.62 ERA with 109 Ks, just 76 hits, and six hit batsmen in 96 1/3 career innings against the Red Sox. Most recently, Kazmir held the Sox scoreless for seven innings while striking out ten and allowing just seven baserunners in a 1-0 Devil Ray win on September 10. The Sox counter with Josh Beckett, who's looking to become the majors' first 20-game winner this year.
Just for good measure, the Mets send Pedro Martinez to the hill in Miami, while Cy Young contenders Jake Peavy, Fausto Carmona, and Johan Santana also toe the rubber, though the last does so without any postseason implications. Should be an interesting night of baseball.
Update: Per Peter Abraham, Ian Kennedy's been scratched from his start on Saturday with a tight upper back. That moves everyone in the rotation up a day starting with Clemens. No word on whether or not the Yanks will try to have Kennedy start in the final week, or if they'll just shut him down for the season. If this were Hughes, I'd think the latter would be the no-brainer decision, but Kennedy has been pitching better than Hughes recently and could be valuable as a long man out of the pen in the postseason. Balancing the current year's run for an unlikely championship against the long-term health of the young franchise arms will likely continue to be a major story throughout the postseason and all of 2008.
Toronto Blue Jays
2007 Record: 77-75 (.507)
2007 Pythagorean Record: 81-71 (.534)
Manager: John Gibbons
General Manager: J. P. Riccardi
Home Ballpark (2007 Park Factors): Rogers Centre (103/103)
Changes:
Joe Inglett replaces Troy Glaus (DL)
Matt Stairs replaces Lyle Overbay at first base
Alex Rios replaces Vernon Wells in center field
Reed Johnson replaces Rios in right field
Adam Lind replaces the platoon of Stairs and Johnson in left field
25-man Roster:
1B – Matt Stairs (L)
2B – Aaron Hill (R)
SS – John McDonald (R)
3B – Russ Adams (L)
C – Gregg Zaun (S)
RF – Reed Johnson (R)
CF – Alex Rios (R)
LF – Adam Lind (L)
DH – Frank Thomas (R)
Bench:
L - Lyle Overbay (1B)
S - Ray Olmedo (IF)
R - Hector Luna (UT)
L - Joe Inglett (UT)
R – Curtis Thigpen (C)
R - Sal Fasano (C)
R - Vernon Wells (CF)*
Rotation:
R – Roy Halladay
R – Shaun Marcum
R - Dustin McGowan
R - A.J. Burnett
R - Jesse Litsch
Bullpen:
R – Jeremy Accardo
R – Jason Frasor
L – Scott Downs
R – Casey Janssen
R – Brandon League
L – Brian Tallet
R – Josh Towers
R - Brian Wolf
L - Joe Kennedy
R - Josh Banks
60-day DL: R - Troy Glaus (3B), L – B. J. Ryan, L – Gustavo Chacin, L – Davis Romero
*out for the season
Typical Lineup:
R - Reed Johnson (RF)
L - Matt Stairs (1B)
R – Alex Rios (CF)
R – Frank Thomas (DH)
R – Aaron Hill (2B)
S - Gregg Zaun (C)
L - Adam Lind (RF)
R - Russ Adams (3B)
R - John McDonald (SS)
I don't see why Hughes against the Angels is any more a recipe for disaster than Kennedy would be...
Alright off to go pick up my gf. Maybe back later guys.
What`s the Banter consensus? Rest some of the guys or go full on for the division title? Does it really not matter?
I'm having a hard time paying attention this evening. And it's not because it's Friday and I have a lot of other interesting stuff to do, either.
It's nice to feel like we don't really really need the wins, though, I must say! (I'd love to pass the Sox, but mainly because I live in the middle of RSN.)
Indians don`t seem scary, even with that rotation. Awful defense as well...
I guess I'll settle for the Angels and Red Sox. We shouldn't be afraid of the Angels - if we're not good enough to beat them, we don't deserve to go to the WS.
Wang: 10 GB/ 3 FB
Last time Zack brought up HFA, I sarcastically stated that because the Marlins have twice! won the WS without HFA, it clearly must not be an advantage. It's an argument I've seen made several times on the internet lately. I think anyone watching today's game can understand why HFA would be important for this Yankees team.
I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you mean.
69 Gotcha. I don't really care too much about what happens in the NL until the World Series I guess. And how could anyone here cheer for the Marlins?
It seems we're not doing so well.
Nice hit, Alex!
That 0-1 to Matsui was sick.
I take it Halladay's been spotting the ball like that all night.
Damn.
:)
Of course.
Well, it has been awhile.
Old times' sake, maybe.
Is this an audition for Edwar?
Find the plate, please.
I have faith in you.
No breaks tonight.
OK Matsui, bombs away (forgive me)
Don't tell me I'm the only one still watching...
REMEMBER CLEVELAND!!!
If they can't score again, Joba for 2, no doubt about it IMO.
UN - FUCKING - BELIEVEABLE!
What the hell are the odds? I can't believe they have two Casey Janssens!
And how about Giambi going the other way!
Lets beat this shitty team in the tenth.
"Here we are, getting a great outing from Beckett, scoring a few times off Kazmir, in great position to win this game... and I'm doing all I can to harness my rage about the mother f*cking yankees."
Tells me that Joe really wants the division.
it seems like everybody...
is named Janssens.
And Kay just jinxed us.
Please don't let this man beat us.
Lets end it.
Heh.
Bobby, just take a base.
I'm getting worried now.
FARTS!
No way do the Yanks lose this one.
The sad thing is I really don't think Kay gets the whole Joba thing.
Let's go Joba.
:)
Lets win it now!
20 pitches for him. Matsui better hit a bomb.
"God Joba is already extremely unlikeable. What a punk."
"I'll give you a fist pump you won't forget you fat f%&$."
And then a lot of derogatory comments about his father. Yikes.
I think I'll just stick with BB for the rest of the night.... I was just curious to see the reaction when the Yanks tied it up, but now it's just getting scary and awful.
gotta love LA ...
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Joba, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
TB 1
Final
I would have Front
Joba Rules?
Back
Damn Right He Rules.
We need to win this already... I've got shit to do.
Come on, Robby!
Joba 42:10
... The LORD gave Joba twice as much as he had before.
Is Viz warming up yet?
Oooooooh. Sweet heat.
Damn!
Where's my Joba Da Hutt t-shirt?!?!
Joba 32:1
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Remember when the signs used to say, "In Mo We Trust"?
Joba 31:40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Joba are ended.
Yes, I just stated the obvious.
335 I knew it!!! YEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!
In a walk off situation, I have the power to end it on one swing if I run into one.
GET ON BASE
305 LOL
Is Toronto's bullpen supposed to be this good?
"It takes a very steady hand..."
Sal seems like a great guy and I wish him the best.
326 No, I think Viz. will be sure not to give Rios a pitch he can hit...
http://tinyurl.com/ypysng
Here's the article.
OK, forget about Rios, get the guy WITHOUT AN AB THIS YEAR!
348 Thanks!
Wow, good thing Rios didn't steal.
Thanks be to Cashman for bringing Molina unto us.
So you know it's gunna be number 13 in the 13th, right?
Let's Go Yan Kees!
Maybe the moral world as well. The hell do I know about his private life.
This is it, there is no luckier number for the Yankees than 13.
"Looks like a prison photo."
382 I like both. But then, I'm a particular afficianado of the O.
AROD HOMER!
402 No, scratched. Tight upper back muscles.
Dammit.
Goddamit!!!!
It would have been nice to have Jorgie up there, huh?
As a side note, that is probably the worst Joe Kennedy has ever made a hitter look.
I'd settle for his gut staying within his waistband.
Hey! Well, Bruney tried his best to walk him. What can you do if they insist on swinging?
Well.
Now the walks don't sound so bad.
No, I in fact did not.
Kay: "You might say why not Farnsworth"
(Trying to squeeze as many AitO quotes as possible.)
Oh, and Bruney K's the side?
Yeesh.
There's no danger of them finishing 2nd and no danger of them finishing 4th. Just leave the guy in.
You.
Shitting.
Me?
Oh well.
The Jays' pen is also burnt. We'll nail them tomorrow.
See youse.
They HAVE TO win the next three.
This will just make me cranky for the whole day tomorrow...ugh.
2 in the loss column? I'd rather catch 'em at the very end of the chase. Still could happen. We'll see.
Odds are there will October baseball in The Boogie Down, and I'm diggin' this year's version. Like 'Cap says, let's just try to win every game and see what happens...
Then, LOOK OUT!
But the second the first pitch of the PS is thrown, this will all be forgotten. We can still win the AL title, we can still win the WS title.
We have the best hitting of the PS teams, but we probably have the worst pitching. The last thing we need are tired, overworked pitchers entering the PS.
Frankly, the second we clinch the WC, I would sit Jeter for rest, ARod a few days for perspective, Mats ASAP, Posada every other day, and give Minky, Shelly, Betemin, Molina and the rest of the scrubs a chance to swing the bat. And DH Giambi EVERYDAY. We MUST get Giambi feeling good at the plate.
We WANT to win the division.
But we HAVE to win in the PS.
Lets remember that forrest and trees thing.
How many AL East Division Champions banners are hanging in Yankee Stadium again?
Mr. Barry Bonds is looking for work.
Last year his salary was around $15m.
He will have around 350 ABs, or 2/3rds of a full season when done. And the old bastard has ONLY posted an OPS of 1.050.
More then anything he wants a WS. A few mil means nothing compared to winning a WS in maybe hus 1 or 2 remaining years.
If he got 350 ABs as an OFer, how many can he handle as a DH? Probably 450?
My guess is the Halos will offer him $12m+/- to DH. Maybe Minn. will take a stab at it.
Love him, hate him or really hate him, he will fill seats. Lots of them. And if LA gets him for $12m it will be a steal. And they will be much better. Think Vlad, with Barry on deck.
Honestly, I'm glad Boston has a full time DH who can't play the field.
I think as a DH on a winning team, Bonds will be awesome in 2008.
There are a LOT of players who did steroids. And while he has sullied his career, he is still a superhuman ballplayer.
And look at the NL- great races are going on because there's a WC to play for AND because there are divisions up for grabs.
And yeah, see 537 .
The WC itself generates meaning to a lot of games at the end of the year. As it's intent IS to offer some smaller market teams a greater chance of making the PS.
Detroit (not so much right now), Philly and many other teams are still playing meaningful games. If you count the number of fans who benefit, we are talking many millions.
Maybe if there was a $50m minimum cap and a $120 maximum cap, we could do away will this.
Also, there are benefits to the team of the 4 PS teams with the best record. We already have a HFA and I believe they will continue to try and reward this team more in the future.
I would like to see:
The team with the best record PICKS their ALDS competition. This would be a big benefit. And the WC winner NEVER has HFA, correct?
Personally, in thinking about winning vs lsoing the Division:
If we WIN, we get HFA in 2 series and get to pick... 'Cleveland'...regardless of how Cleveland/Angels/Boston places. Or maybe we pick Boston. Our choice. That would be nice.
If we LOSE, we never have HFA, and we play whoever the Best Record does NOT want to play. In these short series, I believe both those advantages have meaning.
Also... the Division race is ONLY watered down in the division with the WC winner. So 2 of 3 Divisions are still an all out fight. And sometime the WC is not determined until the last minute. Remember last year?
It ain't perfect and the system was designed to MAKE MORE MONEY for MLB, not to make for better baseball. But I think, even with it's flaws, the WC does make for a better end-of-season.
Also, the WS HFA should go to the team with the better record (fuck this ASG bullshit). That's a little more incentive too.
Interesting choice of words. 'Superhuman' would, in fact, acccurately describe a person as juiced as people think Bonds has been.
Playing for home-field advantage will never, ever provide real excitement going down to the wire. It's a nice thing to have, but it's not a win-or-go-home situation.
Did you guys dig that inside-out swing by Jason!?
Wow.
Some ninth, eh?
That way they'd get to play in the postseason, but they'd really have to overwhelm the opposition to advance.
Every word.
He turns, screams, pumps, composes himself, turns around and walks back to the dugout like a professional.
I love this kid.
The WC is at MINIMUM the 4th best record... and sometimes better. It's no different then taking the division leader from 4 divisions, or the top 2 from 2 divisions.
And HFA does have value. I'd much rather play the Sox in NY then at Fenway.
Perhaps, but historically HFA advantage has proven to be less important in MLB than in other major sports.
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