I'm not upset over this choice, however. These are ridiculously small samples, but Veras has pitched better. He has 5.7 IP, 0 BB, 4 K, vs 4.7 IP, 4 BB, 0 K for Britton. Veras has, in another small sample, the better minor league numbers this year too: 21 K, 4 BB, and 1 HR in 13 IP, vs 10 K, 4 BB, and 1 HR in 10 IP for Britton.

When we look back at this season and ask "when did the turnaround start?" the answer is going to be "that first game against the Orioles in May."

He had a nice start against them this year, but was 1-3 with a 6.67 ERA last year.

Let's hope that A-Rod is the panacea. Yankee management is sure acting like he is.

I sit down and I here that Jeter's mad at Robby and Mike has to settle down?

I think Alex was right; the off day was an act of mercy.

Can we just forfeit now?

(I'm talking the season, btw.)

I just fucking sat down and the game's over already?

I mean at least let's have a ballgame for, I don't know, three or four innings, at least.

Errant throw, I gather?

Jeter botched a play that a high school SS would make...if it was an isolated incident, you could excuse it. The Yankee season is heading to a bad place. At the very least, the Yankees can start preparing for 2009, part of which is to find Jeter another position to play.

God, at least we're all being tortured from the comfort of our own homes.

Not even like an in the dirt deal, but a fucking eephus pitch over Giambi's head?

Oh my God.

7-0.

Triple.

Bye bye, Mike.

Better luck next time.

Is this really happening?

I hope they hit a lot of balls to Jason.

Maybe the team should replace some of the fielders with trained seals, that might be good for a hoot.

Instead of complaining about Chris Britton's lack of an oportunity, maybe we should just be happy for him. He doesn't have to watch this crap.

You up for that?

(Or perhaps if the math doesn't quite work out there, I'll settle for a three-run shot this inning and a grand slam the next.)

Good one, Simone, tell another!

Guess A-Rod is going to have to hit a 9-run homer tonight.

...and there may be some bitch-slapping going on in the clubhouse later tonight!

Cashman NEEDS to pay more attention to getting good defensive players. Offense is fum to watch. People remember HRs. But we are losing games on defense, and making our pitchers look shittier then they are.

A 3-1 basehit.

Nice job, Johnny.

Four.

Three!

Yes!

I ran to the store to buy a twelve-pack and now it's 8!!!

And Damon dropped the baseball!!!

aha hah ah ah ah ah ah ah aha h!!!!!!

I wondered if ARod signing his LT contract upset Jeter. ESPN used to talk about 'Jeter and the Yankees'... now it's 'ARod and the Yankees'. NY IS turning into an ARod town. Is Jeter that cool that this doesn't upset him? I think he's bummed that ARod is on the team.

Again, if Jeter is moved, 1B is the place, not LF. We have no idea is he can gauge long flies. But we know he is excellent on popups, a very good cut of man, and can catch ground balls. His 'less then good' range as a SS will be fine for 1B. All of his current skills translate to 1B.... but LF is a guess.

This has to be decided before we sign Tex.

God, what's the record, like 30?

I remember a game when the Mets lost 26-7 against Philadelphia, I think it was.

But that's since been surpassed, right?

Maybe we can make some history tonight.

What a surprise...three pitches, two swings. The Yankees new philosophy in action.

In this situation I blame the players. You have a day off to catch your breath and to focus on coming out fired up. And this game isn't about being out played, it's about not playing well and not focusing to make the plays and pitches. The only hope is that these guys have a sense of pride and are embarrassed.

I'd love to see Jason drift over into foul territory to catch a ball only to slip on a banana peel and land with a great, great thud butt-down on the grass.

Oh, God, I'd actually pay money to see that.

Oh, even Singleton's cracking up now, reminiscing about Earl Weaver, "Even 9-0, he'd be out there screaming."

And can Jeter's aging knees handle the OF? Will he be as good on D as JD or Melky? To make our defense even worse because Jeter is not the prototypical power 1Bman is silly. How about Youk? Is he OK at first? Seems to me he helps his team.

Jeter's defense was easy to ignore in the past, but it's becoming a pink elephant.

Even before the article came out about him being the worst defensive SS in baseball, wasn't he already adjusting his workout routine to increase his range? I thought that's the kind of thing we ask for from Melky, Cano, Giambi and others. It's not like he's just sitting on his ass.

If I hear one more player say they're trying, I won't be responsible for what I might do!

Sweeeeettttt!

next pitch ... down goes jeter

what a year

Imagine if this were Yanks-Red Sox?

They all tipped over, on top of the Yanks.

It must be the '08 Yanks when Daniel Cabrera is pitching, and the hitter in the lineup who's seen the most pitches in an AB so far is Jose Molina.

Imagine if Paula Abdul teamed up to do the broadcast with Waldman!

(evil grin)

146 At this point, the Yankees play is making the pessimism into realism. I saw these past 3-4 weeks coming, so I can't say that I am shocked. I also see a parallel to 1978, so hopefully I am right on that one too.

;-P

...but seriously - Cabrera plunked him bad.

My dad and I have tickets to see a game vs. Toronto in early June. I really hope this pathetic shit is over by then.

Its a team in transition ... there is some young talent, and some good veterans. Its just an incomplete puzzle.

Acquiring Santana might have stabilized 1/5th of the rotation, but you still need 24 other players.

I mean there are teams that carry more suckage than we do. Even now.

It might seem crazy, but I wish someone like Arod would be outspoken here and really take control of this team. He'd be sticking his neck out, but it might get the attention of the other players.

Man, rough night for the captain.

Did it look really bad?

I'm so glad I spent $1,300 for plane tickets, a hotel and tickets for 2 game in June so my wife and I can come watch us get bitch-slapped by the reds.

I hope our fans Boo the living shit out of this lifeless, uncaring collection of shit. I never understood booing Arod but this whole team Fucking sucks.

If I was Hank, I'd fire Girardi tonight and Cashman tomorrow. Paging Buck Showalter!

(that's my story)

171 At least the Padres have an excuse - that stadium is death to offense. No one hits there. What is the Yanks' excuse?

174 Right now, I'd settle for a bat boy going bat shit crazy, anything to light a fire under their asses. Hey, maybe someone would be willing to literally start a fire, like Proctor did . . .

Jeter dives in all the time, leading to a lot of HBPs. Many pitchers try and back him off. Cabrera may have been trying to do that ... AND he's had a history of HBPs.

It exasperates me to no end.

I feel lied to, you know? lied to by those I thought I could trust....

But he is a lifetime Yankee. An iconic HOFer. We can't let him walk... but we can't put him at SS for 2011 and 2012. The bottom line is if Jeter plays beyond his current contract, he will have to be a decent defensive player at whatever position he plays.

We have 2 good (AJax, Tabata) and 1 OK (Gardner) OFer who will/could be up by 2010. But we have no 1st baseman in the system. Miranda is all bat, already known as a below average glove. I think he's trade bait. Shelly obviously ain't it.

1B might not be the best place for him, but if he's on the team, I can't see him playing anywhere else.

Welcome back Arod.

We scored, we scored!

How'd it look?

Is Ralph Houk still with us? I think he is.

Welcome back, Alex.

given his choice of undergarments, I could see him going both ways ...

Melky, by the way, is back to being an impatient hitter with no power. I really think we should consider giving Bret Gardner a chance. He's got a good glove, great patience at the plate. Crazy enough that it might work.

He should buy the entire team gold thong undies, and they can wear them on their heads!

;-P