Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yankees arrived in Baltimore looking to build on a five-game winning streak and continue their climb into the thick of the AL East race. Instead, they find themselves sending Andy Pettitte to the mound tonight in an attempt to avoid a sweep, while being guaranteed to arrive in Minneapolis as a last-place team, even if they pull out a win tonight.
Pettitte's opponent, Jeremy Guthrie, is the only Baltimore starter who has not yet faced the Yankees this year. Guthrie beat the Yanks twice amid his 2007 breakout season, but stumbled against them in their final confrontation in August. With Erik Bedard in Seattle, Guthrie has responded to the responsibility of being the O's best starter this year, following a poor Opening Day outing with eight quality starts in ten tries (and just missing in the other two). Guthrie has a 3.22 ERA over that span. Unfortunately, his teammates have only scored 3.09 runs per game for him, saddling him with a losing 2-4 record over that stretch. In his last two starts, Guthrie allowed just two runs in 13 2/3 innings, but lost both games by scores of 2-1 and 2-0. Given that the two teams just played an exhausting 10-9 11-inning affair last night, I wouldn't be surprised to see a similarly low-scoring game tonight.
Pettitte is coming off a pair of quality starts in which he struck out 16 men in 12 innings against just two walks and no home runs. Chad Moeller caught both of those starts and he'll catch Pettitte again tonight. Moeller is 4 for his last 12 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, and in catching Darrell Rasner's and Andy Pettitte's recent successes could indeed be securing his roster spot beyond Jorge Posada's expected return next week. This is why giving Jose Molina a two-year $4-million deal was a dumb idea. As I concluded my post suggesting the Yankees resign him: "Jose Molina is as good a choice as any, and he can be easily replaced mid-season if he fails to maintain a replacement-level performance."
BTW, does anyone find it weird that when IPK had a sore muscle they immediately DLed him and rushed him off for an MRI but when A-Rod had a sore muscle they waited two weeks before getting an MRI? You'd think A-Rod is kind of more important to the team, no?
I do hope we DFA Hawkins because he's horrible.
And (though I'm a broken record on this isseu), Duncan is awful and needs to go to AAA. I don't have a good solution for a replacement (besides Lane, the AG or Gardner, which might require some shifting) there are rumors that Eric Hinske is about to be DFA'd in favor of Aybar. Hinske is fairly versatile and has a line of .257 .340 .542 this season.
I actually DOUBT that Hinske will really be released, but surely there must be something on the wire that's better than Duncan (even a defensive player).
The Yanks just signed Ben Broussard, but he (like Hinske) is another lefty, which the Yankee bench doesn't need (same goes for Gardner, really).
The question of where he goes in 2011? One of 2 places. To the Yankee's bench IF he can be a UINF or to KC. We are unhappy with a .750 OPS from the still speedy JD is LF, but you think a 36+ year old Jeter will be better there?
It's sad, but I lived through Mantle and Donnie retiring and Thurms death. The worst thing that can happen is to repeat the GOB situation just to try and squeeze another year of 2 from Jetes. He just may NOT make 3000 hits.
M. Tajada is a little older then Jetes and tearing it up. Derek is actually looking older then his 34 years (check out ARod). At $20m/yr ($21m in 2010) he will be the worst bang for the buck in MLB if this downward trend continues. I'm not saying Jeter is done. He is smart enough to reinvent himself. However, since his SLG has been slipping for years, how can he suddenly become the WORST on the team at walks (this with Cano and Melky in the lineup)?
If he is in decline, how long can he hit in the #2 hole for? Until 2010? I love Jetes, but I love the team more. I can't see his bad, over 35 years knees in the OF. At least at 1B, he might prolong he offensive value.
Hopefully this year with his minor injuries is an aberation. He could work more on walks and bunts for basehits. He could see a lot more pitches and add some value there. But so far this year, his trend have become very ominous.
He is used to being DEREK JETER, and getting a bit of a ride. Over the next three years, I hope his attitude changes and he realizes he will need to earn his playing time.
AG will never be a great hitter, but with his glove at SS, posting a .650 OPS may be more valuable then Jeter with a below .750 OPS. The whole situation sucks, but I hope the Yankees don't simply ignor it like they did with Bernie.
As fans, we should be prepared for the possibility that 2010 is Jetes last year in Pinstripes.
After that, though, he'll be relegated to an afterthought until he's sent down again.
M. Tejada is also under suspicion of being a big PED user. Even if he stopped recently (if he used), I'm guessing the enhancements (if any) would have a negligible drop-off if he continued to work out hard. Assuming Jeter never took anything, it's hard to compare the two. I kinda suspect Jeter is having nightlife issues again, but that's none of my business...
6 Jeter is 34 years old. He's not exactly a rookie, but he's also not exactly ancient. And considering he's in pretty good shape (i.e., he's not a fat guy), there's nothing to suggest to me that he won't age well. You're basing your conclusions on 2 months of the 2008 season.
Last year's line for Jeter 206 hits .322/.388/.452 were well in line with his average hits over a 162 game schedule and .316/.387/.461 averages.
I simply cannot conclude that Jeter's done after two subpar months. Granted, I don't think he needs to play shortstop past next year, but he'll get 3,000 hits for sure (he only needs 592 hits) and I'll bet you money on that.
What bothers me though is what you hit on --- what position is he going to play -- cause it sure won't be shortstop.
Maybe if Cano keeps putting on weight, Cano becomes our first baseman and Jeter moves to second. Presumably he could do less damage there. Maybe center? he lacks the power for 3rd and 1st (assuming we expect 25+ homers there).
By the way, someone on here mentioned that they're going to Camden yards to catch a Yankees game. If you get chance, go. The park is unreal, the tickets are cheap, and there's a lot of Yankee fans there. (I was there on kids night and by handing my son the money, all the tickets were $5 each).
The only thing I did not like was the bozo's yelling "yankees suck" in front of my 6 year old and "Steroids!!" (at Giambi). There was one guy who looked at me and kept yelling Yankees suck and I started laughing and asked him how he liked last (or next to last) place compared to first (this was in the fall of 2006). He responded with "Nice shoes, man!"
Nice shoes, indeed. (They were sperry's with holes in them, but dammit I was on vacation!)
Did we really sign Broussard? Does anyone have a link?
Guys get old and they either age well or not (GOB). There's still a case to be made for Jeter aging gracefully, but the stats are not on his side.
1st: .184/.262/.287
2nd: .359/.375/.359
3rd: .250/.349/.278
4th: .357/.414/.500
5th: .325/.372/.650
6th: .286/.310/.393
i haven't looked it up, but i would venture to guess with jeter being in the postseason every year since he came up, almost no one has played as many games as he has (even with missing extended time in 2003)over the last 12 years. his body (and he's a fairly thin guy) has taken a lot for a baseball player.
And Arod grounds to third...AGAIN!
ba-dum-bum
Gotta luv the big lug!
(I hope that guy the criticized my shoes and yelled steroids at Giambi saw that one!)
5:58 p.m.: Some good injury news for a change for the Yankees. Kennedy does not have a strained lat muscle according to Joe Girardi. An MRI showed he has bursitis under his scapula. That can be controlled with medication and he could be throwing again in a week. He's on the DL but he could be back after 15 days.
ANOTHER UPDATE ON IAN KENNEDY
6:16 p.m.: Joe Girardi knows baseball. Not medicine. According to Brian Cashman, Kennedy does in fact have a strained lat muscle along with bursitis under the scapula. But there still does seem to be a chance he could be back after 15 days.
By the end of the night Kennedy might need a glass eye and a hip replacement.
Just announced he will miss his Monday start against the O's. The unusual thing was he was yanked in the 5th yesterday. People don't usually getted pulled out of the middle of a game for 'tired shoulder'.
And I can't stand Daisuke mainly because of how the Sox fans rubbed our noses in it when they got him.
What the heck, let's hope he's got the clap too.
If management/FO think that they can be better served with him in another position, I can't defend him for not moving or doing what is best for the team.
"If our A-Rod does hitteth thine home run, thou shalt refrain from critique for two games, inclusive."
Nice play there, Alex.
D`oh!!
We don't need no water, let the motherfucker burn.
Burn, motherfucker. Burn.
150 I don't know...I could see Pettitte being upset if he loses a win because of the move. Also, if players perceive things are being done for the future at the expense of the present, there could be some unhappy campers, especially those guys not likely to be around past this season.
Plus today's OFER.
The guys needs to sit for 2 games.
Get him a hooker for the dugout if need be, but we need him healthy. He is NOT doing us any good right now.
See below
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/851551.html#comments
How weird that I was also responding to #134 in THIS thread!!!!
My reference to 134 was 999,998. Shucks.
/dr evil voice on
1 million objects
/dr evil voice off
170 Sure, where do I sign up?
Joba's at 28 pitches FWIW.
181 That's what I'm thinking! What do they do when Randy Johnson bats?
158 you could be right, William, but the first time Joba goes 7 and strikes out a bunch of guys, don't you think that'll also be popular in the clubhouse?
Cano, wait fer ya pitch!
Now Melky, made them pay!
Preparing to be a starter is not only pitch count but routine, maybe that's it?
Melky is battling.
and as i am typing this mo is in the game wtf?
223 he looks like he is from scottsboro ;}
why couldn't you go batter to batter with Joba?
I don't see why Joba couldn't hold a two run lead - against the 8 and 9 hitters, no less!
in other words, it's stupid.
(not saying joba would blow the game or anything)
I don't see why JOba would have to be pulled if he walked the first guy, though. Its not like he has shaky control, or can't strike guys out. (Cf. Hawkins.)
"Given how he was going, I might have kept Chamberlain in the game. But managers are so tied to their closers these days, so you can't blame Girardi. Ninth inning, two-run lead, use your closer. By the book."
Oh, I can blame Girardi, believe me. I'd rather see him manage from the John McGraw/Joe McCarthy/Casey Stengel book, than the frickin' Tony LaRussa book. The first manager who has the right pitchers and avoids LaRussa's bullpen overspecialization is going to look very, very smart.
Is that allowed for an O's-Yanks matchup?
anyways, nice to puck up the W. Mo is gold!
Oh well, can't complain about the results.
Of course, Terry Francona, who is among the most progressive-thinking of managers, left Papelbon on the bench last night instead of bringing him to pitch the 9th in a tie game on the road, when he damn well knows better . . . so maybe we're being hard on Girardi?
Also, I am not sure if Joba has ever gone 2 1/3 before, so I can fully understand Girardi not wanting to experiment. It's not like a failure to pitch the 9th is a huge setback anyway. I think the bottom line is Joba needs to go into the rotation immediately and simply progress with each start.
i just re-read my post and it was strangely written.
This is one of the more unique situations any teamwill encounter. You can't blame Girardi for how he is handling it.
He did throw a couple of curves today. I don't think they were huge, dirty curves, but sandwiched between 99 mph heaters they were vicious.
Kenny Williams absolutely stole Quentin from the D'backs. Its too bad the Yanks didn't have a grade-B power hitting prospect to have gotten Quentin.
284 Or Hamilton from the Reds...it's funny, the worm seems to be turning as marginal players from the NL seem to be having great success in the AL.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, good win for our boys and congrats to SF Yanks on the millionth object...
Good night, all.
Just Think everyone. We'll be able to hear John sterling for 70 more years!
But I guess the reds needed pitching and they got a good starter from Texas to go with cueto. If homer Bailey ever pans out the reds might be the next d-backs.
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