Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Phil-Lees ...
There's only two things (one in two parts) to talk about from Game 1.
The Cliff Lee-induced coma the Yankees fell into. That guy doesn't look like he's doing much, but good crikey, he looks unhittable.
And CC Sabathia throwing not one, put to fastballs to lightning hands Utley. You'd think he learned his lesson from the first one Utley launched. But no, let's put our hand back into the fire to make sure it still burns.
That was a great game for 7 innings.
And that thing I said about Brian Bruney. Well, you could argue the guy hasn't pitched in three weeks, but wow, was he awful.
And Damaso Marte faces two and gets two. Yeeeaaaahh.
In 1996, the Yankees went down fast and hard to the Braves and Wade Boggs still ended up on that horse. So, this is far from over.
The Cliff Lee-induced coma the Yankees fell into. That guy doesn't look like he's doing much, but good crikey, he looks unhittable.
And CC Sabathia throwing not one, put to fastballs to lightning hands Utley. You'd think he learned his lesson from the first one Utley launched. But no, let's put our hand back into the fire to make sure it still burns.
That was a great game for 7 innings.
And that thing I said about Brian Bruney. Well, you could argue the guy hasn't pitched in three weeks, but wow, was he awful.
And Damaso Marte faces two and gets two. Yeeeaaaahh.
In 1996, the Yankees went down fast and hard to the Braves and Wade Boggs still ended up on that horse. So, this is far from over.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Do you know what's awesome about being right?
Everything.
Two days removed from the Yankees' inevitable triumph in Game 6 over the Angels, I still feel a sense of relief. 40 AL pennants. 40!
I stayed up until the last pitch was thrown and took a moment to enjoy the Yankees hugging and happiness. People assume Yankees fans are arrogant and presumptuous, we are, but not about winning the World Series. We're arrogant and presumptuous about WINNING BASEBALL. Yes, championships are great, but knowing your team plays smart and gutsty ... well, that's what we deserve. I felt the same way I imagine any baseball fan feels about his team going to the Series. Excited, happy, anxious. October 2003 was pretty miserable as my wife and I spent most of WS week in Florida, sick, with bandwagon-hopping fans lording it over us while the Marlins ... no, while Josh Beckett ... buzz-sawed a lethargic Yankees team that frankly was in the Series thanks only to inertia. Oh, and Aaron Boone.
It's no secret the Yankees are winning in spite of their manager. Great pitching makes anyone look smart, so when Joe Girardi says, "Get Mo," in the 9th after Sabathia has given him eight, or Burnett or Pettitte have gone six or seven and Phils Hughes and Coke and/or Joba have bridged that gap ... well, Girardi's a genius. When he starts playing the mix/match game he fails, he fails consistently and brutally. Name one switch, pitching or defensively, that have worked in the playoffs. Hairston's a mess in the outfield. Marte and Aceves look lost ... What's-his-name Guzman has gone missing.
By the way, Marte still has no business being on the WS roster. It should be Bruney. I said that a week ago, I still believe it. Brett Gardner needs to do more than pinch run, although there are signs Nick Swisher is coming out of his coma. Hideki Matsui's been deadwood too, so maybe there's a chance Damon DHs, while Gardner, Cabrera and Swisher man the outfield.
Jorge has been a mess as well, but the threat of his bat is probably greater than the reality of Molina's But who knows. If Molina gets hot in his start with Burnett, does he play the next night? Eh, probably not.
My prediction is Yankees is 5, which means a road celebration. Kinda lame, but whatever. I don't see the Phillies winning in New York, and their pitching just isn't that great beyond Cliff Lee and Brad Lidge, who could implode at any moment. I just get the feeling the Yankees are very much looking forward to facing Pete Martin on the biggest stage, and pounding him mercilessly. And the Dodgers just rolled over died. So, while the Phils may have an American League-type lineup, they haven't faced these Yankees, on this stage.
Cole Hamels could go nuts, or he could continue his slide into mediocrity ... I very much hope he does. And Joe Blanton is Joe Blanton.
While Ronan Tynan (and his debatable anti-Semiticism) is out for good, Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes are in for Game 1, which shoudld put everyone in an Empire State of Mind.
Images I can't shake from Game 6: Robbie Cano fielding Torri Hunter's surefire RBI single on the SS side of second base. Scott Kazmir's hand grenade up the rightfield line, followed by the pellet he unloaded later in the inning. Kate Hudson. So cute. So A-Rod inspiring.
Two days removed from the Yankees' inevitable triumph in Game 6 over the Angels, I still feel a sense of relief. 40 AL pennants. 40!
I stayed up until the last pitch was thrown and took a moment to enjoy the Yankees hugging and happiness. People assume Yankees fans are arrogant and presumptuous, we are, but not about winning the World Series. We're arrogant and presumptuous about WINNING BASEBALL. Yes, championships are great, but knowing your team plays smart and gutsty ... well, that's what we deserve. I felt the same way I imagine any baseball fan feels about his team going to the Series. Excited, happy, anxious. October 2003 was pretty miserable as my wife and I spent most of WS week in Florida, sick, with bandwagon-hopping fans lording it over us while the Marlins ... no, while Josh Beckett ... buzz-sawed a lethargic Yankees team that frankly was in the Series thanks only to inertia. Oh, and Aaron Boone.
It's no secret the Yankees are winning in spite of their manager. Great pitching makes anyone look smart, so when Joe Girardi says, "Get Mo," in the 9th after Sabathia has given him eight, or Burnett or Pettitte have gone six or seven and Phils Hughes and Coke and/or Joba have bridged that gap ... well, Girardi's a genius. When he starts playing the mix/match game he fails, he fails consistently and brutally. Name one switch, pitching or defensively, that have worked in the playoffs. Hairston's a mess in the outfield. Marte and Aceves look lost ... What's-his-name Guzman has gone missing.
By the way, Marte still has no business being on the WS roster. It should be Bruney. I said that a week ago, I still believe it. Brett Gardner needs to do more than pinch run, although there are signs Nick Swisher is coming out of his coma. Hideki Matsui's been deadwood too, so maybe there's a chance Damon DHs, while Gardner, Cabrera and Swisher man the outfield.
Jorge has been a mess as well, but the threat of his bat is probably greater than the reality of Molina's But who knows. If Molina gets hot in his start with Burnett, does he play the next night? Eh, probably not.
My prediction is Yankees is 5, which means a road celebration. Kinda lame, but whatever. I don't see the Phillies winning in New York, and their pitching just isn't that great beyond Cliff Lee and Brad Lidge, who could implode at any moment. I just get the feeling the Yankees are very much looking forward to facing Pete Martin on the biggest stage, and pounding him mercilessly. And the Dodgers just rolled over died. So, while the Phils may have an American League-type lineup, they haven't faced these Yankees, on this stage.
Cole Hamels could go nuts, or he could continue his slide into mediocrity ... I very much hope he does. And Joe Blanton is Joe Blanton.
While Ronan Tynan (and his debatable anti-Semiticism) is out for good, Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes are in for Game 1, which shoudld put everyone in an Empire State of Mind.
Images I can't shake from Game 6: Robbie Cano fielding Torri Hunter's surefire RBI single on the SS side of second base. Scott Kazmir's hand grenade up the rightfield line, followed by the pellet he unloaded later in the inning. Kate Hudson. So cute. So A-Rod inspiring.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Coming home, and that's just fine
Because I'm old, I went to bed after the Yankees "batted" in the 3rd. They went quickly and quietly in that frame, then went nuts in the 7th.
I thought the Yankees would finish the Angels in Anaheim, but taking one game out of three is fine. Coming back to NY, the Yankees are in the driver's seat still. Their pitching is fine, they're hitting, they haven't lost their resilience.
That said, Damaso Marte CANNOT be put on the mound again this season. He's a mess and he's untrustworthy.
Nick Swisher needs to sit, although he won't, because the Angels are likely sending Joe Saunders to the mound, and Brett Gardner won't get a start against a lefty, because, God forbid we travel down that statistical path. How Swisher popped that pussball up in the 9th off Brian Fuentes is beyond comprehension. How is this guy a closer? An IBB, a BB, an HBP in the same inning while throwing 76 mph? And he escapes. Really, Nick? Really?
I'll take Andy Pettitte in any big game situation, especially at home. This series end Saturday (yeah yeah, I said this yesterday), but give the Angels credit for getting this far.
Why haven't those Thunder Stix been banned yet? Is there a more obnoxious prop in all of baseball? Answer: No.
Winning Saturday still gives the Yanks time to rest and get set for the Series.
I thought the Yankees would finish the Angels in Anaheim, but taking one game out of three is fine. Coming back to NY, the Yankees are in the driver's seat still. Their pitching is fine, they're hitting, they haven't lost their resilience.
That said, Damaso Marte CANNOT be put on the mound again this season. He's a mess and he's untrustworthy.
Nick Swisher needs to sit, although he won't, because the Angels are likely sending Joe Saunders to the mound, and Brett Gardner won't get a start against a lefty, because, God forbid we travel down that statistical path. How Swisher popped that pussball up in the 9th off Brian Fuentes is beyond comprehension. How is this guy a closer? An IBB, a BB, an HBP in the same inning while throwing 76 mph? And he escapes. Really, Nick? Really?
I'll take Andy Pettitte in any big game situation, especially at home. This series end Saturday (yeah yeah, I said this yesterday), but give the Angels credit for getting this far.
Why haven't those Thunder Stix been banned yet? Is there a more obnoxious prop in all of baseball? Answer: No.
Winning Saturday still gives the Yanks time to rest and get set for the Series.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Girardi as genius?
CC Sabathia torching the Angels for eight innings is the best thing for my blood pressure.
I can't handle Joe Girardi running back and forth between the dugout and the mound, issuing instructions. I blame him for the Vlad touching up Pettitte. Whatever he said to Pettitte and Posada was the reason Vlad hit the home run. It had nothing to do with Vlad's preternatural ability to hit impossible pitches a long, long way. I wish Girardi would just park his butt and let his players play. Just try it, Joe. If your pitcher is getting guys out, let him get guys out.
With Sabathia, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I'd love to know what's in that giant book Girardi keeps on the bench, and, as one friend of mine pointed out, how does he find anything in it? Is it indexed? Bookmarked. He probably memorized. This would not surprise me at all.
There's a circle of Hell reserved for bad umpires, ruled by Doug Harvey, who goes home to his cushy pad in Umpire Heaven at the end of the day. Tim McClelland punched his ticket last night. Dale Scott, too. Jerry Lane didn't do himself any favors either. Oddly, Laz Diaz is the worst of that bunch and he's looked great by comparison.
Happily, I pronounce the Angels finished. Bring on the Phillies.
I can't handle Joe Girardi running back and forth between the dugout and the mound, issuing instructions. I blame him for the Vlad touching up Pettitte. Whatever he said to Pettitte and Posada was the reason Vlad hit the home run. It had nothing to do with Vlad's preternatural ability to hit impossible pitches a long, long way. I wish Girardi would just park his butt and let his players play. Just try it, Joe. If your pitcher is getting guys out, let him get guys out.
With Sabathia, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I'd love to know what's in that giant book Girardi keeps on the bench, and, as one friend of mine pointed out, how does he find anything in it? Is it indexed? Bookmarked. He probably memorized. This would not surprise me at all.
There's a circle of Hell reserved for bad umpires, ruled by Doug Harvey, who goes home to his cushy pad in Umpire Heaven at the end of the day. Tim McClelland punched his ticket last night. Dale Scott, too. Jerry Lane didn't do himself any favors either. Oddly, Laz Diaz is the worst of that bunch and he's looked great by comparison.
Happily, I pronounce the Angels finished. Bring on the Phillies.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Waiting for Friday
Why am I waiting for Friday?
Because MLB is making its best effort to stretch the playoffs into December. Seriously Bud, it's embarrassing enough to have a game postponed by snow, but to have teams wait an entire week to begin the League Championship Series(es?) is inexcusable.
CC Sabathia and John Lackey will have to wait nine days
I, like every Yankees fan, feel a bizarre sense of relief with the broadcast switching to FOX. Chip Caray and Ron Darling were brutal. If you watched the game and have functional ears, you know. It may have been worse for the hearing impaired trying to decipher Caray's thoughts via the written word.
TBS closed-captioner should get hazard pay.
I'm calling for a Yankees sweep.
Because MLB is making its best effort to stretch the playoffs into December. Seriously Bud, it's embarrassing enough to have a game postponed by snow, but to have teams wait an entire week to begin the League Championship Series(es?) is inexcusable.
CC Sabathia and John Lackey will have to wait nine days
I, like every Yankees fan, feel a bizarre sense of relief with the broadcast switching to FOX. Chip Caray and Ron Darling were brutal. If you watched the game and have functional ears, you know. It may have been worse for the hearing impaired trying to decipher Caray's thoughts via the written word.
TBS closed-captioner should get hazard pay.
I'm calling for a Yankees sweep.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Game 2 thoughts
If Burnett pitches well tonight, MLB can start polishing the trophy and package it for for shipment to the Big Apple, I'm that confident.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
That's one
Joe Girardi really wanted Game 1, I guess. Sabathia,, Hughes, Chamberlain and Rivera. I'm splitting hairs here, but didn't Hughes earn the right to be the bridge to Rivera? How does Chamberlain immediately slot into the eighth? Whatever.
The two runs the Twins pushed across show exactly why they are a pesky team. Get em on, get em over, get em in. Any way you can. Bloopers, passed balls, whatever.
I thought if the Yankees scored one against Duensing, they'd score 10. I was close. By the way, Brian Duensing looks like Johan Santana, just as Francisco Liriano did. Weird.
Great pitching and timely hitting for the Yanks, even from A-Rod. Ha!
What an odd pairing in what I can only assume are A-Rod's seats. Kate Hudson and Jay-Z? Who on Earth could wear those glasses and not look retarded? Harry Carey? Maybe? Mos Def probably.
If A-Rod's gonna hit, we need more starlets and rappers. More I say!
The two runs the Twins pushed across show exactly why they are a pesky team. Get em on, get em over, get em in. Any way you can. Bloopers, passed balls, whatever.
I thought if the Yankees scored one against Duensing, they'd score 10. I was close. By the way, Brian Duensing looks like Johan Santana, just as Francisco Liriano did. Weird.
Great pitching and timely hitting for the Yanks, even from A-Rod. Ha!
What an odd pairing in what I can only assume are A-Rod's seats. Kate Hudson and Jay-Z? Who on Earth could wear those glasses and not look retarded? Harry Carey? Maybe? Mos Def probably.
If A-Rod's gonna hit, we need more starlets and rappers. More I say!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
TBS is still weird
The logo for the American League Division series looks, at a glance, like this:
AIDS
when in fact it says:
ALDS
just wondering if there's a better way.
Even on EPSN Gamecast that was great game last night, made better by the victor depleting itself to win a chance to get spanked.
The Twins will start ... Brian Duensing in Game 1 against CC Sabathia.
Duensing stats aren't horrible, in 20-plus games and 9 starts. Sabathia stats are pretty good in 9 seasons.
Duensing is 5-1 in his last 10 starts, with a loss to Detroit and a 2.54 ERA.
I'm not saying this is going to be a massacre, you never know with baseball, and the Yanks traditionally have trouble against guys they've never seen. but given the stage, given with the Twins had to do just get into the post-season, the Yankees couldn't be in better shape.
AIDS
when in fact it says:
ALDS
just wondering if there's a better way.
Even on EPSN Gamecast that was great game last night, made better by the victor depleting itself to win a chance to get spanked.
The Twins will start ... Brian Duensing in Game 1 against CC Sabathia.
Duensing stats aren't horrible, in 20-plus games and 9 starts. Sabathia stats are pretty good in 9 seasons.
Duensing is 5-1 in his last 10 starts, with a loss to Detroit and a 2.54 ERA.
I'm not saying this is going to be a massacre, you never know with baseball, and the Yanks traditionally have trouble against guys they've never seen. but given the stage, given with the Twins had to do just get into the post-season, the Yankees couldn't be in better shape.
Monday, October 5, 2009
And it's over
The end of a baseball season is always very weird. It's around for so long, you never expect 162 to roll around.
Considering how awful the Yankees were to start this season, the injuries they sustained, I didn't think they'd be anywhere near the top of the American. But, then again, I did vastly over-estimate the talent and depth of the Red Sox.
The Rays were a flash in the pan. I said that at the start of the season. Last season, everyone on that team had a career years, the Yankees were terrible, frankly, the American League was pretty bad, so ... we got what we got.
But this year ... oh, this year. I still hate Joe Girardi, but despite him, the Yankees are going to plow through the playoffs. They have depth and speed and pitching. The offense is clicking. And the bullpen, with Joba finally slotting back to where he belong, will be lights out.
I'm pulling for Minnesota tomorrow night, because their pitching is a mess. When Carl Pavano is your go-to guy in a must-win game, you're not in a good place. The AL Central is much like the NFC West. Someone has to win, but whoever does probably is a step or 10 behind everyone else.
Justin Verlander in a short series is bad news. And you never know with Detroit's offense.
I'd rather see the Yanks take their chances against Joe Mauer and his merry backups. With no Justin Morneau, that team is a shell.
Lost, at least to me, in all this was Chien-Ming Wang. He was mentioned yesterday in the post game and my first thought was "Who?" He went from ace to trainwreck with startling speed.
Michael Kay keep saying Freddy Guzman will make the postseason roster. Why? His speed. Aaaaannnnddd?
I've seen Guzman play rightfield once. Every time he's gotten into a game, his run for Matsui or whoever, stolen second and that was that. What other value does he bring to a limited roster? What justifies his legs taking the spot of a complete player? Nothing in my estimation. Brett Gardner will be on the bench: he can run, hit, play center.
So, you have the regular nine, which includes Matsui at DH, Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Rivera, Chad Gaudin, Dave Roberston, then Gardner, Molina, Hairston, Hinske ... and, um ... damn, maybe Kay is right. There's no one else? Hairston and Hinske cover whatever positions you'd need ... so, yeah, maybe Guzman is an option.
But barely. This isn't over Michael Kay, not by a long shot!
Considering how awful the Yankees were to start this season, the injuries they sustained, I didn't think they'd be anywhere near the top of the American. But, then again, I did vastly over-estimate the talent and depth of the Red Sox.
The Rays were a flash in the pan. I said that at the start of the season. Last season, everyone on that team had a career years, the Yankees were terrible, frankly, the American League was pretty bad, so ... we got what we got.
But this year ... oh, this year. I still hate Joe Girardi, but despite him, the Yankees are going to plow through the playoffs. They have depth and speed and pitching. The offense is clicking. And the bullpen, with Joba finally slotting back to where he belong, will be lights out.
I'm pulling for Minnesota tomorrow night, because their pitching is a mess. When Carl Pavano is your go-to guy in a must-win game, you're not in a good place. The AL Central is much like the NFC West. Someone has to win, but whoever does probably is a step or 10 behind everyone else.
Justin Verlander in a short series is bad news. And you never know with Detroit's offense.
I'd rather see the Yanks take their chances against Joe Mauer and his merry backups. With no Justin Morneau, that team is a shell.
Lost, at least to me, in all this was Chien-Ming Wang. He was mentioned yesterday in the post game and my first thought was "Who?" He went from ace to trainwreck with startling speed.
Michael Kay keep saying Freddy Guzman will make the postseason roster. Why? His speed. Aaaaannnnddd?
I've seen Guzman play rightfield once. Every time he's gotten into a game, his run for Matsui or whoever, stolen second and that was that. What other value does he bring to a limited roster? What justifies his legs taking the spot of a complete player? Nothing in my estimation. Brett Gardner will be on the bench: he can run, hit, play center.
So, you have the regular nine, which includes Matsui at DH, Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Rivera, Chad Gaudin, Dave Roberston, then Gardner, Molina, Hairston, Hinske ... and, um ... damn, maybe Kay is right. There's no one else? Hairston and Hinske cover whatever positions you'd need ... so, yeah, maybe Guzman is an option.
But barely. This isn't over Michael Kay, not by a long shot!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Yanks lose BUT ...
This season has been so great for the Yankees that even former utility infielder Mike Blowers is in on the action.
Blowers predicted Matt Tuiasosopo's first home run ... the inning, the pitch, the spot. Now that's big time.
I'd give you the link, but I'm not allowed, apparently. Grumble.
But then there's the Yankee Bowl. The Yankee Bowl? The Yanks are that hard up for cash? This is awful, insulting, pathetic. Gotta pay for the billion dollar catastrophe though.
Blowers predicted Matt Tuiasosopo's first home run ... the inning, the pitch, the spot. Now that's big time.
I'd give you the link, but I'm not allowed, apparently. Grumble.
But then there's the Yankee Bowl. The Yankee Bowl? The Yanks are that hard up for cash? This is awful, insulting, pathetic. Gotta pay for the billion dollar catastrophe though.
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