05/16: Rangers 4, Yankees 2
Posted by: Jason
Last night's game featured questionable lineup and player moves, offensive atrophy and a superior performance by Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood, who looked for my money like the best pitcher the Yankees have faced this year.
The highlights:
1) Bottom 2: Cano, (on third after a single and a strange baserunning play that took him from 1st to 3rd on a fielder's choice) is driven home by Bubba Crosby's single.
2) Bottom 4: Alex hits a 2B that could have been a 3B due to CF Gary Mathews Jr.'s speed. Cano drives him home with a single.
3) Mussina: Ceteris paribus, Mike pitched well enough to win. However, a mini-breakdown in the 5th began with Wilkerson's close eyes/swing bat opposite corner HR. The Rangers tied it 2-2 on a sac fly to Bubba, who made a jumping, turning, spectacular catch.
4) Jim Kaat/Ken Singleton: I understand the announcing weaknesses of these guys and that they are purveyors of the Joe Morgan school of conventional baseball wisdom (manufacturing runs and all that). However, I like them a lot. Kaat's style and pitching insights are great and I would like to play a round of golf with Singleton, because he would likely be relaxed and in good spirits for the entire round...I can't stand uptight people who swear, throw clubs, et al.
5) The irony of my place filled with layers of cigar smoke while the "stop smoking" promos run on YES.
Lowlights (an abridged version):
1) Bernie and Bubba in the lineup? That's an obstacle to the offense.
2) Rangers score 2 to take the lead 4-2, top 8. Jim Kaat (correctly, in my view) sees Guidry's frustration with Farnsworth's pitch selection, i.e., becoming too cute with the slider when his primary weapon is overwhelming gasoline.
3) The Phillips for Giambi substitution is being called "neck stiffness." This is worrisome in that we can't afford 3 sluggers to go on the DL in a 7 day span.
4) Millwood: Excellent performance. Baffled the Yankees most of the night with clinical pitch location.
That's it...21-15.
The highlights:
1) Bottom 2: Cano, (on third after a single and a strange baserunning play that took him from 1st to 3rd on a fielder's choice) is driven home by Bubba Crosby's single.
2) Bottom 4: Alex hits a 2B that could have been a 3B due to CF Gary Mathews Jr.'s speed. Cano drives him home with a single.
3) Mussina: Ceteris paribus, Mike pitched well enough to win. However, a mini-breakdown in the 5th began with Wilkerson's close eyes/swing bat opposite corner HR. The Rangers tied it 2-2 on a sac fly to Bubba, who made a jumping, turning, spectacular catch.
4) Jim Kaat/Ken Singleton: I understand the announcing weaknesses of these guys and that they are purveyors of the Joe Morgan school of conventional baseball wisdom (manufacturing runs and all that). However, I like them a lot. Kaat's style and pitching insights are great and I would like to play a round of golf with Singleton, because he would likely be relaxed and in good spirits for the entire round...I can't stand uptight people who swear, throw clubs, et al.
5) The irony of my place filled with layers of cigar smoke while the "stop smoking" promos run on YES.
Lowlights (an abridged version):
1) Bernie and Bubba in the lineup? That's an obstacle to the offense.
2) Rangers score 2 to take the lead 4-2, top 8. Jim Kaat (correctly, in my view) sees Guidry's frustration with Farnsworth's pitch selection, i.e., becoming too cute with the slider when his primary weapon is overwhelming gasoline.
3) The Phillips for Giambi substitution is being called "neck stiffness." This is worrisome in that we can't afford 3 sluggers to go on the DL in a 7 day span.
4) Millwood: Excellent performance. Baffled the Yankees most of the night with clinical pitch location.
That's it...21-15.
Joseph P. wrote:
I'm no pitcher, or pitching coach for that matter, but that's how I view it.