09/16: Yankees Rotation
Posted by: Patrick
Kat O'Brien says that this is what our rotation will look like after the Sox series is over:
Monday: Hughes
Tuesday: Mussina
Wednesday: Pettitte
Thursday: Off
Friday: Wang or Kennedy
Saturday: Wang or Kennedy
Peter Abraham says that Wang will pitch before Kennedy. So, it'll be something like that. Does that mean that Clemens goes next Sunday? Probably depends on what happens today and how he feels. I'd be a little surprised if he is able get us 6 innings today, but if he can, then we could see an inning of Farnsworth, an inning of Joba and an inning of Mo.
Monday: Hughes
Tuesday: Mussina
Wednesday: Pettitte
Thursday: Off
Friday: Wang or Kennedy
Saturday: Wang or Kennedy
Peter Abraham says that Wang will pitch before Kennedy. So, it'll be something like that. Does that mean that Clemens goes next Sunday? Probably depends on what happens today and how he feels. I'd be a little surprised if he is able get us 6 innings today, but if he can, then we could see an inning of Farnsworth, an inning of Joba and an inning of Mo.
Posted by: Patrick
Yeah, that pretty much covers it. Yucky badness.
After 4 and 1/2 innings, the game was a pitchers duel, with Wang and Beckett both holding the respective offenses to 1 run, both of which were scored in the 1st. Jeter hit a deep solo shot to center in his first at bat and Mike Lowell singled in Dustin Pedroia to tie it up. Then, we had the zeros. The Red Sox got to Wang again in the bottom of the 5th, as J.D. Drew singled with 2 outs to score Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury had got into the game because Wang hit Youkilis with a pitch. Looking at the replay, it just looks like a high pitch that tailed in that Youkilis falls into because of his swing and the way he stands. At any rate, that didn't stop Beckett from plunking Giambi, our first baseman, the next time he came to the plate. Whatever.
Wang just couldn't get out of the 6th. After allowing a lead off double and then a single that pushed the runner to 3rd, he got Julio Lugo to fly out. Pedroia hit a ground ball to Cano which Cano picked cleanly, making a great throw to the plate. Jorge caught it and had just a split second to turn and tag Eric Hinske, who barreled into him, forearm up into Posada's neck, knocking his mask off, at full speed. It was a terrific, terrific play by Posada and you can watch it here. Looking at that replay, it appears that Posada was signaling to Cano to take the out at 1st.
With that second out, it looked like we might get out of the inning. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Jacoby Ellsbury signed in Crisp and Ortiz doubled in Pedroia and Ellsbury to make it 5-1. By the end of the inning, Wang had been relieved by Edwar, who struck out Lowell for the final out.
In the 7th, Ramirez walked Drew and struck out Varitek and was then relieved by Ron Villone. Villone walked Hinske and was taken out of the game in favor of Bruney. The first batter he faced, Coco Crisp, hit a ground rule, RBI double. Bruney walked Lugo and struck out Pedroia before being pulled for Sean Henn. Henn allowed a 2 RBI single to Ellsbury and then walked David Ortiz. This brought in Ross Ohlendorf for his second major league appearance. He walked Mike Lowell with the bases loaded, allowing the 9th Red Sox run to cross the plate. Finally, J.D. Drew was struck out and the half inning was over. All told, it took more than 30 minutes for the Red Sox to score those 4 runs, thanks to 4 walks and 4 pitching changes.
Ohlendorf would come out and pitch the 8th in garbage time, allowing a solo shot to Eric Hinske. The Yankees offense looked terrible, making it that much easier for Beckett to win the Cy this year. We had 4 hits and 3 walks. 2 of those hits came from Jeter. 1 came from Abreu and the other was provided by Cano.
With the loss, the Yankees will fall back to 5.5 games back in the division, giving the Red Sox a magic number of 9 with 27 combined Yankees and Red Sox games left in the season (with 2 of those being tomorrow in 1 game, of course). It'll be Clemens vs. Schilling tomorrow in the rubber game.
After 4 and 1/2 innings, the game was a pitchers duel, with Wang and Beckett both holding the respective offenses to 1 run, both of which were scored in the 1st. Jeter hit a deep solo shot to center in his first at bat and Mike Lowell singled in Dustin Pedroia to tie it up. Then, we had the zeros. The Red Sox got to Wang again in the bottom of the 5th, as J.D. Drew singled with 2 outs to score Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury had got into the game because Wang hit Youkilis with a pitch. Looking at the replay, it just looks like a high pitch that tailed in that Youkilis falls into because of his swing and the way he stands. At any rate, that didn't stop Beckett from plunking Giambi, our first baseman, the next time he came to the plate. Whatever.
Wang just couldn't get out of the 6th. After allowing a lead off double and then a single that pushed the runner to 3rd, he got Julio Lugo to fly out. Pedroia hit a ground ball to Cano which Cano picked cleanly, making a great throw to the plate. Jorge caught it and had just a split second to turn and tag Eric Hinske, who barreled into him, forearm up into Posada's neck, knocking his mask off, at full speed. It was a terrific, terrific play by Posada and you can watch it here. Looking at that replay, it appears that Posada was signaling to Cano to take the out at 1st.
With that second out, it looked like we might get out of the inning. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Jacoby Ellsbury signed in Crisp and Ortiz doubled in Pedroia and Ellsbury to make it 5-1. By the end of the inning, Wang had been relieved by Edwar, who struck out Lowell for the final out.
In the 7th, Ramirez walked Drew and struck out Varitek and was then relieved by Ron Villone. Villone walked Hinske and was taken out of the game in favor of Bruney. The first batter he faced, Coco Crisp, hit a ground rule, RBI double. Bruney walked Lugo and struck out Pedroia before being pulled for Sean Henn. Henn allowed a 2 RBI single to Ellsbury and then walked David Ortiz. This brought in Ross Ohlendorf for his second major league appearance. He walked Mike Lowell with the bases loaded, allowing the 9th Red Sox run to cross the plate. Finally, J.D. Drew was struck out and the half inning was over. All told, it took more than 30 minutes for the Red Sox to score those 4 runs, thanks to 4 walks and 4 pitching changes.
Ohlendorf would come out and pitch the 8th in garbage time, allowing a solo shot to Eric Hinske. The Yankees offense looked terrible, making it that much easier for Beckett to win the Cy this year. We had 4 hits and 3 walks. 2 of those hits came from Jeter. 1 came from Abreu and the other was provided by Cano.
With the loss, the Yankees will fall back to 5.5 games back in the division, giving the Red Sox a magic number of 9 with 27 combined Yankees and Red Sox games left in the season (with 2 of those being tomorrow in 1 game, of course). It'll be Clemens vs. Schilling tomorrow in the rubber game.
Posted by: David
The story of the game until the eighth inning was one of missed opportunities and sloppy defense for the Yankees. They trailed 7-2 and were looking at Okajima and Papelbon in the bullpen if they got any closer.
Okajima started the eighth and gave up home runs to Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano to make the score 7-4. He walked Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon followed with a double up the gap in left to put runners on second and third with no outs. Papelbon relieved and Derek Jeter fought off an inside fastball and looped it to right to score Cabrera and put the tying runs on base. Bobby Abreu followed with a booming double off the wall in center field, just missing a homer and both runners scored to tie the game. A-Rod followed with a line single to left center to put the Yankees ahead 8-7.
The Yankees had an opportunity in the first inning with the bases loaded vs. Dice-K and only one out but could not score. The Red Sox got a run early and added another on an error from Giambi. In the fourth, the Yankees struck back for one but left runners on base again.
Andy Pettitte simply was not sharp all night and left after four with a high pitch count. He would surrender three more runs and left with his team behind 5-1. The Yankees closed to 5-2 but couldn't get any closer.
Jose Veras pitched well but had an opportunity to get out of an inning with no runs, but Jason Giambi dropped a throw from Abreu in right which would have doubled off Ortiz to end the inning. J.D. Drew followed with a hit and another run. The Red Sox would add another to make it seem safe until the Yankees erupted in the eighth.
The Yankees could not add any insurnace and Vizcaino pitched a scoreless eighth and Rivera saved the game in the ninth only surrendering a single to Drew.
The series resumes tomorrow afternoon with potential Cy Young candidates Josh Beckett and Chien-Ming Wang the probable starters.
Okajima started the eighth and gave up home runs to Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano to make the score 7-4. He walked Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon followed with a double up the gap in left to put runners on second and third with no outs. Papelbon relieved and Derek Jeter fought off an inside fastball and looped it to right to score Cabrera and put the tying runs on base. Bobby Abreu followed with a booming double off the wall in center field, just missing a homer and both runners scored to tie the game. A-Rod followed with a line single to left center to put the Yankees ahead 8-7.
The Yankees had an opportunity in the first inning with the bases loaded vs. Dice-K and only one out but could not score. The Red Sox got a run early and added another on an error from Giambi. In the fourth, the Yankees struck back for one but left runners on base again.
Andy Pettitte simply was not sharp all night and left after four with a high pitch count. He would surrender three more runs and left with his team behind 5-1. The Yankees closed to 5-2 but couldn't get any closer.
Jose Veras pitched well but had an opportunity to get out of an inning with no runs, but Jason Giambi dropped a throw from Abreu in right which would have doubled off Ortiz to end the inning. J.D. Drew followed with a hit and another run. The Red Sox would add another to make it seem safe until the Yankees erupted in the eighth.
The Yankees could not add any insurnace and Vizcaino pitched a scoreless eighth and Rivera saved the game in the ninth only surrendering a single to Drew.
The series resumes tomorrow afternoon with potential Cy Young candidates Josh Beckett and Chien-Ming Wang the probable starters.
Posted by: James
This is not amusing. So far, this month, you have three good hitters - Abreu, A-Rod and Posada. Everyone else...if you have children, don't let them see this.
W Betemit .850
J Damon .758
R Cano .652 (a ground ball machine this month)
J Giambi.580
M Cabrera .552 (GB ratio over 1.5)
D Jeter .485 (wow)
H Matsui .454 (bigger wow)
25 XBHs for the top three guys versus 14 total for the 7 guys listed there. This isn't going to get it done for the rest of the month, let alone in the playoffs. Let's hope most of these guys turn it around because we've gone through extended hitting slumps (see 2007, April-May) and no one was amused.
W Betemit .850
J Damon .758
R Cano .652 (a ground ball machine this month)
J Giambi.580
M Cabrera .552 (GB ratio over 1.5)
D Jeter .485 (wow)
H Matsui .454 (bigger wow)
25 XBHs for the top three guys versus 14 total for the 7 guys listed there. This isn't going to get it done for the rest of the month, let alone in the playoffs. Let's hope most of these guys turn it around because we've gone through extended hitting slumps (see 2007, April-May) and no one was amused.
Posted by: Patrick
This is how the Red Sox scheduled starters have fared against the Yankees this year:
Dice-K: 3 GS, 2-1, 6.98 ERA, .253 BAA
Beckett: 3 GS, 1-1, 5.49 ERA, .353 BAA
Schilling: 4 GS, 0-2, 5.76 ERA, .337 BAA
For comparison, here is how the Yankees scheduled starters have done against the Sox:
Pettitte: 6 G, 5 GS, 2-1, 4.75 ERA, .305 BAA
Wang: 4 GS, 3-1, 3.24 ERA, .255 BAA
Clemens: 1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, .111 BAA
Dice-K: 3 GS, 2-1, 6.98 ERA, .253 BAA
Beckett: 3 GS, 1-1, 5.49 ERA, .353 BAA
Schilling: 4 GS, 0-2, 5.76 ERA, .337 BAA
For comparison, here is how the Yankees scheduled starters have done against the Sox:
Pettitte: 6 G, 5 GS, 2-1, 4.75 ERA, .305 BAA
Wang: 4 GS, 3-1, 3.24 ERA, .255 BAA
Clemens: 1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, .111 BAA
Posted by: James
Well, that was annoying (thought it makes for a very easy wrap-up). First the good points.
Ian Kennedy was great. He started the game off shakily by giving up a two-out RBI double to the Big Hurt (but who hasn't? He's got 486 2-baggers in his career for a reason) but then settled down and proceeded to shut down the Blue Jays line-up (admittedly one of the weakest in the AL especially when Glaus isn't in there). Still, whenever a young pitcher one-hits any team over 7 innings, it's an impressive thing.
As sharp as Kennedy was, A.J. Burnett was just as dominating, giving up four hits over eight innings (walking 2 and and striking out 8). Burnett made one mistake in the sixth and Johnny Damon (!) made him pay, taking him him deep to right and tying the ball game at 1. Still Burnett went 8 strong (on 120 pitches) though he might have been taken out an inning earlier had not the Yankees gone down in order (Cano-Cabrera-Betimit) on 7 pitches in the 7th.
Kennedy started the eighth but was pulled after walking the lead-off batter for Luis Vizcaino. Viz, who made his first appearance since being shelved for arm discomfort, gave up a sac bunt but then proceeded to strike out Reed Johnson and Russ Adams.
The Yankees put men on in the top of the ninth but as they did all game, they couldn't come through with the clutch two-out hit. Abreu singled to start it off but A-Rod K'd and after a Matsui infield single to put runners at first and second with one out, both Cano and Cabrera grounded out to end the inning.
Chris Britton came on for the bottom of the ninth to face the only good hitters in the Jays line-up. Britton, who hadn't pitched since the 8th (not making excuses, just stating a fact) gave up a single to Alex Rios, who promptly stole second and then gave up the game-winning single to Frank Thomas. Why Thomas wasn't intentionally walked when first base was open is a good question though. I'll take my chances with anyone else on that roster and when the Big Hurt is running, there's always a shot to turn two.
Finally, as an aside, I get that "theee Yankees win" is John Sterling's bit but does he really need to get so excited about the other team winning too? If you heard him last night, it was as if the Jays had just won the division or something. John, calm down before you hurt yourself.
Ian Kennedy was great. He started the game off shakily by giving up a two-out RBI double to the Big Hurt (but who hasn't? He's got 486 2-baggers in his career for a reason) but then settled down and proceeded to shut down the Blue Jays line-up (admittedly one of the weakest in the AL especially when Glaus isn't in there). Still, whenever a young pitcher one-hits any team over 7 innings, it's an impressive thing.
As sharp as Kennedy was, A.J. Burnett was just as dominating, giving up four hits over eight innings (walking 2 and and striking out 8). Burnett made one mistake in the sixth and Johnny Damon (!) made him pay, taking him him deep to right and tying the ball game at 1. Still Burnett went 8 strong (on 120 pitches) though he might have been taken out an inning earlier had not the Yankees gone down in order (Cano-Cabrera-Betimit) on 7 pitches in the 7th.
Kennedy started the eighth but was pulled after walking the lead-off batter for Luis Vizcaino. Viz, who made his first appearance since being shelved for arm discomfort, gave up a sac bunt but then proceeded to strike out Reed Johnson and Russ Adams.
The Yankees put men on in the top of the ninth but as they did all game, they couldn't come through with the clutch two-out hit. Abreu singled to start it off but A-Rod K'd and after a Matsui infield single to put runners at first and second with one out, both Cano and Cabrera grounded out to end the inning.
Chris Britton came on for the bottom of the ninth to face the only good hitters in the Jays line-up. Britton, who hadn't pitched since the 8th (not making excuses, just stating a fact) gave up a single to Alex Rios, who promptly stole second and then gave up the game-winning single to Frank Thomas. Why Thomas wasn't intentionally walked when first base was open is a good question though. I'll take my chances with anyone else on that roster and when the Big Hurt is running, there's always a shot to turn two.
Finally, as an aside, I get that "theee Yankees win" is John Sterling's bit but does he really need to get so excited about the other team winning too? If you heard him last night, it was as if the Jays had just won the division or something. John, calm down before you hurt yourself.
09/13: Clemens Will Pitch Sunday
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Roger Clemens will pitch Sunday against Boston. This gives us the following match ups:
Pettitte vs. Matsuzaka
Wang vs. Beckett
Clemens vs. Schilling
Pettitte vs. Matsuzaka
Wang vs. Beckett
Clemens vs. Schilling
Posted by: Patrick
From The New York Times:
Starter Jeff Karstens will report to Arizona in October to train with the United States Olympic team. Karstens, who missed most of this season after breaking his leg in April, needs to build up his innings and expects to pitch for the team in an international tournament in Taiwan this fall.
09/13: Duncan Update
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
The link between the Yankees' Shelley Duncan and his brother, Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan, took a bizarre twist this week. Both players were diagnosed with hernias that figure to put their playing time in jeopardy.
Shelley Duncan, a 27-year-old who made an immediate impact with an initial power barrage, had an MRI exam administered on Wednesday at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, where Yankees team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and Dr. George Todd diagnosed the rookie as having a bone bruise on his left pelvis and a small inguinal hernia.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said he was told that the hernia will not immediately require surgery, if at all, and Duncan was expected to fly back to Toronto on Wednesday.
Shelley Duncan, a 27-year-old who made an immediate impact with an initial power barrage, had an MRI exam administered on Wednesday at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, where Yankees team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and Dr. George Todd diagnosed the rookie as having a bone bruise on his left pelvis and a small inguinal hernia.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said he was told that the hernia will not immediately require surgery, if at all, and Duncan was expected to fly back to Toronto on Wednesday.
Posted by: Patrick
I'll be on MaristRadio.net out of Poughkeepsie, NY tomorrow (Thursday) night. It's the AM radio station (though it's not available on AM at the moment - it would usually be 1630 AM) for Marist College. I'll be on the "Sports Nation" program, hosted by Ryan Schneider and Dustin Aglietti, which runs from 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET. I'm supposed to be coming on at around 9:40 PM. I should only be on for 10 minutes or so. You can webcast the show from the station's website (listen here). We'll be discussing the upcoming Red Sox series. If you can listen in, please do. Thanks to them for having me.
