The Yankees lost a torturously long and delayed game 9-6 in 11 innings. Read below for more info.
By KAT O’BRIEN
Kat.OBrien@Newsday.com
DETROIT – The longest and latest of games came to a conclusion at 3:32 a.m with a three-run walkoff homer in the 11th inning by Carlos Guillen. The Tigers were the elated and relieved winners in this 9-6 defeat of the Yankees, for whom this loss will sting for some time.
“I don’t know what to say,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “I’m a little spent right now.”
The Yankees got a valiant effort out of their bullpen, as Roger Clemens lasted just five innings. But they burned through all their best relievers and had to turn to Sean Henn in the 11th. He couldn’t keep the Tigers down, even with the gift of Placido Polanco getting caught stealing. Henn gave up a two-out single to Sean Casey, then a single to Magglio Ordonez. And finally, Guillen ripped a pitch beyond the bullpen in left field for the win.
“Definitely, it’s tough, whether I’m on the mound or not,” Henn said. “It’s even that much harder to take when I’m the one walking off the mound and they’re celebrating.”
Clemens defended Henn, saying: “It was a good pitch. It was down and (Guillen) golfed it out. (Henn) has nothing to hang his head about.”
The game began at 11:06 p.m. after a four hour, one minute delay due to torrential rains, thunderstorms and tornado warnings. It then proceeded to last nearly 4 ½ hours. Players said the umpires were good about keeping them updated on time.
A surprisingly large and rowdy crowd, some of them fueled by many hours at the concession stands, remained at Comerica Park until the very end, when they burst into cheers. And they got to see some feisty players. Jorge Posada was thrown out by home plate umpire Bob Davidson after arguing a called strikeout at 2:28 a.m. At the time, the Yankees had Melky Cabrera on second base and two outs.
Mariano Rivera came through in the trickiest of situations. The American League’s top hitter, Ordonez, led off the ninth with a double to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch. Guillen’s groundout moved Ordonez over to third. Rather than have Rivera face Ivan Rodriguez or even Ryan Raburn, the Yankees had him intentionally walk both players to get to Brandon Inge. That nearly proved disastrous as Inge ripped a liner towards right field. However, Andy Phillips made a phenomenal catch and came down with enough awareness to keep Ordonez from scoring. Rivera then struck out Cameron Maybin swinging to get out of his huge jam.
“Our bullpen was outstanding,” Posada said. “It’s just tough to take a loss at 3-something in the morning.”
The Yankees lost 1 ½ games in the American League East, as the Red Sox swept a doubleheader against the White Sox. The Yankees are now 6½ games out in the AL East and three games behind the Mariners in the wild card chase.
It was a battle of the bullpens, as neither team scored from the sixth through the ninth innings. Yankees relievers Edwar Ramirez, Joba Chamberlain and Kyle Farnsworth allowed a single baserunner among them in three innings, that a walk by Ramirez in the sixth.
The Tigers finally managed another baserunner in the ninth. After striking out the first two hitters, Luis Vizcaino gave up a single to Curtis Granderson, who stole second on the following batter. Vizcaino issued a full count walk to Placido Polanco, with the final pitch a checked swing. But he got Marcus Thames to pop out to Abreu in rightfield to end the inning.
The Tigers’ bullpen of Tim Byrdak, Jason Grilli, Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney was not quite as unhittable. They allowed at least one Yankee to reach base in every inning except the sixth. The Yankees never pushed a runner home, though.
“We had a couple of opportunities, there weren’t very many of them,” Torre said.
The Yankees had a chance to take the lead in the eighth and perhaps give rookie Joba Chamberlain his first victory. Robinson Cano led off the inning with a single, and he advanced to second on Phillips’s sacrifice bunt. Bobby Abreu pinch hit for Shelley Duncan and lined a hard-hit ball towards left field that Tigers third baseman Inge leapt to pull in. Seay then struck out Johnny Damon swinging on a 2-2 pitch.
Neither starting pitcher looked dynamite. Yet everyone involved in last night’s – oops, this morning’s – game, should be cut a little slack under the circumstances.
Roger Clemens gave up six earned runs in five innings, allowing six hits and walking three. And the hits he allowed were hard ones, including a two-run homer to Magglio Ordonez in the first inning, and a double and a pair of triples to Granderson.
“I thought the bullpen was outstanding,” Clemens said. “If I could just get command and control of what I was doing out there …”
Tigers starter Andrew Miller was even worse than Clemens. The rookie gave up six earned runs on seven hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. He needed 100 pitches to get through the 4 1/3 innings.
Miller gave up a run in the second inning on a Phillips RBI single. The Yankees scored two runs in the third on Alex Rodriguez’s 43rd homer of the season.
The Tigers regained the lead in the fourth on Granderson’s two-run triple. It was the first time all season that Clemens had given up as many as six earned runs. He did, however, allow eight runs (three earned) in 1 2/3 innings against the White Sox Aug. 2nd. Clemens gave up only three earned runs in his next two starts combined.
Tigers second baseman Polanco committed his first error since July 1, 2006, when he made an off-the-mark throw to first base on a chopper from Melky Cabrera. That ended his streaks of 147 games and 725 consecutive chances without an error, both of which were records for a second baseman.
Comments (69)
Ooooh the first post wow what an honor
I find it amazing that everyone in baseball: fans,writers, analysts except steve phillips who I hate, are giving the M's no chance and yet here we are with 30 something games to go and the yanks are now 3 games out f the wild-card.
I am getting worried- not so much because of how the Yankees are playing - not great but not aweful either- but with how well seattle is playing. Remember this team lost their manager half way through the year and they are doing this with a 20 year old ace and jeff weaver --ugggghhhh
The team played well enough to win and this murderers row can at times look very pedestrian. Sometimes it seems that in late tie games they are all trying to hit a game winning homerun rather than trying to manufacture something. They have the team speed to play small ball at times, but they rarely do - that bothers me a lot especially after watching a team like the Angels who play the game the way it should be played.
I saw people bashing jeter in a previous thread because he isnt hitting.
He is in a slump - they do happen even to him. There is no reason to think that it is anything more than just a slump. Sure he may be hurting a bit, but they call it the Dog Days for a reason. He will be fine, but a couple more hitless games and they should think about maybe giving him an off day or play him at DH.
He is not a youngster anymore despite the fact that many Yankee fans still see him as a kid. My hope with him is that maybe next year he considers a move to a new position - 1st base maybe? His defense is lacking any many scouts are saying that he might have the worst range of any full time SS at this time in his career.
Pete Rose moved to 1st later in his career and wound up prolonging his career long enough to break the hits record - something Jeter has a legit shot at doing if he can hang around that long.
Making the move next year is maybe premature with Giambi still on the roster, so we may have to wait to 2009 to see that.
As for replacing him at SS that is another problem all to itself. No way you can put AROD there as he too is getting up there and has gotten maybe too big to have great range. It would also cause too much controversy to have AROD replace Jeter.
There is a SS in the minors who has potential and hit well in AA, but not AAA. He is not a stud, but projects as a servicable player, but certainly not for next year. There is a Japanese SS, Tomohiro Nioka, but he is 31 and doesnt seem to be a viable alternative either.
It defenitly will not happen next year and probably not the year after although I think Jeter could wind up being a Gold Glove first baseman for them and add quite a few productive years to his career.
Please don't take this as me bashing the captain. I just think that its time to start planning ahead for 2009 and beyond. It would help the team and help Jeter.
That simply was an amazing game!
Kat
I like most of your articles but this one was my favorite.
Nice work.
(Especially sleep deprived)
GO IRISH!!
LOL...I'm not sure we're gonna be that good this year...;-)
1. Sean Henn
2. Kei Igawa
3. Eric Gagne
4. Sean Penn
hilarious
I dont know about the rest of you......but I have blocked off the evenings of next Tuesday-Thursday.
I have looked at the match-ups...this is what I came up with:
Tues:
Dice-K 13-10, 3.76 era, 1.27 whip 11 er's in last 4 games.(month of august)
Pettite 11-7, 3.69 era, 139 whip 8 er's in last 5 games
Wed:
Beckett 16-5 3.21 era, 1.13 whip 7 er's in august-4 games
Clemens 5-5 4.34 era 1.31 whip 12 er's in august 4 games
Thurs:
Schilling 8-5 4.11 era 1.30 whip 10 er's in august 4 games
Wang 14-6 4.10 era 1.32 whip 17 er's in august 4 games.
Bostons era from 7th inning on is 2.97, NY team era from 7th inning on is 4.34
NY team ba and runs scored is better overall, but from the 7th inning on it is almost even.
Looks to be one heck of a series...but I give the Sox an edge with their bull pen.
What a loss ... I could not stay up ...
Even extra innings till 3 something in the a.m.
What a heart breaker ...
No sin to lose that game.
And Farnsworth pitched a scoreless inning.
It's a rare thing, like a comet ...
The Yankees, for the first time since the 2004 meltdown, are on the right track again ... lots of youth, tough, hungry ...
The future is good.
Even if we don't make the Playoffs it doesn't matter ... a new dynasty will be put in place.
Casually Casual
Where did you go?
Why do you return now?
Seriously we have a guy named "Sully" who in your absence claimed the single designated Redsox Fan seat on the panel
WE HAVE A PROTOCOL CAS!!
I'll let it slide this time...but I cant make any promises.
B..B..B..BBBBBuhye...THE WAY
I find it highly suspicious that you'd make your return on the dawn of one of the worst losses suffered all season...
And youre "SOULPATCHED" PRIZED PITCHER BEAT UP ON THE POOR LITTLE DEVIL RAYS!!!
VARITEK SUCKS
SO DOES THAT CHIUAUA PERSON AT SHORTSTOP
Anyway (if it is you_...It's nice to see you ;-)
I'm pissed you left without warning but you are not alone.
The list of fallen commrades grows and reaches back some weeks now.
It got real bad right around the trade deadline...
IMO
Sorry Phuck...
Really.....
I have had an incredibly busy summer...alot of stuff going on...most of it very good, but it has kept me from the computer...so I ahve to hit and run, so to speak. I'm impressed with the Yankee resurgence, and look forward to Sept.....still think my guys pull it out in the end, but at least it aint "a lock" anymore.
Does the all knowing Dan from East Islip still Melky Cabrera is wrong for the Yankess?
what's that brown stuff coming out of Casual Observer's ears?
On Newsday's on line Sports page there is a picture of D. Wright. On his uniform it says "Los Mets"
Is that real?
Are those the new jerseys?
I think this loss cost the Yankees a playoff spot. Any Yankee fan who thinks they can still win the divison, that pipedream is over. It's wildcard or bust and the Mariners aren't going away.
Yankees won't make the playobbs beacuse of too many losses against the Orioles and Devil Rays and have had several heart-breaking losses throuhgout the season. Combine that with a lackadasical team in teh first two months and there you have it.
Torre has worn out his welcome. Rebuild the team through the farm.
I think I've seen enough of Sean Henn.
Losses against the Devil Rays? Exactly what rock do you live under? We massacred the Devil Rays.
Lackadaisical play in first two months? You don't know anything about the record-breaking number of injuries to almost the entire Yankees pitching staff forcing us to practically wipe out our AA farm system.
Get the facts straight. You are posting nonsense.
Is it possible that both Outsider AND Anonymous are right?
There were a lot of injuries early on... especially to Wang who started the year on the DL, guys like Karstens, Hughes and Mussina missed some starts in April forcing the team to bring up guys from the farm ahead of time.
But also remember Farnsworth and Myers were pitching the 7th and 8th and Vizcaino was lousy the first half (he's been great if overused the second half). Remember Rivera didn't get his 10th save until June 28th!
And oh yeah, Igawa was pitching every 5th day.
So there were pitching injuries, but Abreu and Damon were batting in the .230 (remember all the calls to get rid of Abreu?) and Cano wasn't hitting either.
Oh yeah, they were using everyone up until and including Michael PTRS at firstbase.
And the team has been energized by the emergence of Cabrera, Phillips, Cano, Duncan and Joba.
Remember this team was sub .500 at the break and now people are talking realistically about playoffs.
The lousy first half and the great second half was a combination of injuries and lifeless play.
Ant... it was Latino night
On latino night in San Francisco the Giants wear jerseys that say GIGANTES
It's kind of cool
Irish night, they show up drunk
(I'm Irish. I can make that joke. Please don't call the Irish Antidefamation league!)
Torre's total disdain for little ball once again reared up and bit him in the ass, as Cano bounced into a DP in surely what would have to be a thought about moving the runner to play for a run situation. Not saying you have to play small ball but you have to at least have the possibility on your plate. Torre refuses to attempt this in any situation so the Yanks will continue to play the high scoring game. This type of game does not translate well in post-season. Take the Angels for example this is a team that can score in bunches and also will play small ball when necessary. The ability to be well rounded offensively puts pressure on the other teams defense, the Yanks are a strictly power driven club and this is why they hit periods where the offense hibernates. During the slow power periods the Yanks can't manufacture runs and it is because they do not philosophically believe in get em on, get em over, and get em in! The teams that win it all do believe in this strategy and therefore they win the tight pitching battles that invariably surround the post-season. Last night was once again a snapshot of why the Yanks have a sub .500 record in 1 run games. DOn't fool yourself, one of the yardsticks of post-season success are found in 1 run games, low scoring or not the ability to manufacture a run late in a game is the difference maker for Championship teams. The Yanks don't possess this tactic.
What seems to be lost in last nights nightmare was another bad performance by Clemens. The guy is being payed to be the ACE, and he looks more and more like a Mussina to me.
He goes 5 innings and gives up 6 runs. The team gets him a lead and he immediately turns it over again, etc. Other than the differences in body language while on the mound, I don't see much difference in the pitching lines!
He has a losing record. There are dozens of SP in the bigs that can give us that. Meanwhile, Lilly is 13-6. By the way, how's Pavano and Igawa doing these days?
Great point msg4ever!
Agreed msg...
Torre is a Hall of Fame manager and obviously has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, but it is odd how he abandoned manufacturing runs which he DID do in 1996.
I always thought the two worst games Torre ever managed were games 5 and 6 in 2004 versus the Red Sox.
Wakefield was pitching and Varitek could NOT catch his knuckleball. In fact he dropped a third strike allowing Sheff to get on board. They had 2 on base, the knuckleball goes like 50 MPH and there was a 50% chance Varitek was going to drop it... oh yeah, if the Yankees scored and held on they'd win the pennant.
And Torre NEVER sent the runners. I held my breath every pitch expecting them to run and Tek dropping the ball.... and it never happened and Wakefield got out of the inning.
The next day I went with a friend to the game in the Bronx with Schilling pitching and I said to my friend "They are going to bunt the hell out of Schilling, forcing him to play his position."
They didn't drop a single bunt.
The Yankees HAD to win either of those games because they knew only Brown and Vasquez were available for game 7.
But I must say... Torre has adapted to trusting young players now (unlike earlier in the year). Maybe he'll see you can't just wait for the big homer.
And while they could have used some small ball yesterday... they DID score 6 runs for Clemens. That should be enough
Rick,
No arguments about Clemens performance thus far. At best, it has been inconsistant. But I'd rather have him on the roster than not have him... contract aside.
The one comment I'd like to make is that Lilly is 13-6 pitching in the weakest division in baseball, the NL Central. Do you think he'd have the same numbers in the AL East? Look at Roger Clemens record pitching in that division.
Clearly Clemens has not been the savior you were hoping for...money well spent............
Clemens has been a step up from the Clippards, Igawas, DeSalvos, Karstens and Wrights of the world.
I know, not HUGE praise, but having Clemens in the rotation as opposed to a close your eyes and cross your fingers chump has helped in their second half surge
Rick are you really beat the Ted Lilly drum? Really? Common dude, he's mediocre and was not worth that money. He is a one hit wonder in the worst division in the NL, and if the mediocre Cubs somehow make it, he will do NOTHING in the playoffs. Give it up dude, you're embarassing yourself...
It was I who said get Lilly all year. And Josh Hamilton (16 HR, playing CF, best arm and bat speed in the NL) Get Ankiel. Get Ludwick. Get Catalanatto.
I missed on Gagne and Joe Kennedy.
I saw Lilly pitch. He's good.
I don't care what anyone says.
If you played the game or ever pitched, you can see his improved arm angle and control and how his ball moves. Hitters are just not comfortable against him.
Other guys like Marcum ... same thing ... AJ Burnett ... you just never feel comfortable.
AJ blew away Piazza in his prime. What an awesome pitcher when healthy.
With Lilly instead of Igawa we'd be only 3 out.
But we "NEEDED" Japanese players for marketing, globalization, Third World-ing and the rest of the social transformation towards the World State ...
Everyone is welcome here of course, but deep down we all know why Igawa was brought in. What a waste when we should have guys like Jeremy Sowers.
It's kind of sad at what's going on and how so many are so blind to it ...
Down to the fact that the Politburo in Beijing is trying to buy your mortgage by taking over Bear Stearns ... lil' things like that.
If we'd had Lilly, none of this would be happening ... ha, ha
Clemens was ok but not for the money ...
He was needed at the time for stabilization ... the season was falling apart.
Clemens has proved to be just what many of us thought he would be.....another inexplicable knee-jerk reaction by Cashman and the Yanks to spend far too much money on over inflated egomaniacs that USED to be really good. The list is fairly extensive over the past 4-5 years.
Doesn't mean he wont help to some degree...but there are guys out there making in a year what "Rahgah" makes for a game, with similar stats.
IF...and it is a very big IF, the Yanks make the post season...you can lay the credit on the young pitching that has, to this point, made a huge impact to the Yankee resurgence.
The Yankee offense is what everyone expected...best in MLB....but, pitching wins. The defense is decent, better than decent even...better than expected...that helps, but pitching wins.
In the end...it is, as it always has been, and will always be...pitching, pitching, pitching...that separates the winners from the losers...and the Yanks have some quality young arms that bodes very well for their future, if not this season.
Gitmo
Lilly had similar numbers last year for Toronto pitching in the AL East AGAINST the Yankees and Red Sox 19 times each.
Yes, he would have made a better #4 SP for us than any of the crap Cashman penciled in...Pavano, Igawa, etc.
Gitmo
Clemens was a .500 SP in that division too.
Once again MO looks mediocre. This is now the "norm", not an anomaly. He jumps ahead of hitters 1-2, and no longer can "put them away". There are countless foul balls, and before long the count has gone 3-2. Even if Rivera gets lucky like last night, and escapes without allowing a run, his pitch count is 20-30 pitches. The word has gotten around the League that Mo is hittable, and hitters are no longer fearful\intimidated when he enters a game. Chamberlain intimidates hitters, is dominating, and should be "closing" when he makes his 1 inning "cameo" appearance.
For those of us without access to Yankee telecasts, it looks like MLB.TV will televise the Sunday game for free in celebration of its 5 year anniversary.
Roy,
Please take your meds and be done with it.
Joba's not going to be the "closer" when he's on a limited pitch count.
Mo will be back for another two seasons after this year and retire after 2009.
By then, Joba will be one of the top young starters in the game.
Besides, maybe you should be the "last" guy advocating for Joba to be "the man" out of the pen because it reminds everyone how you were the biggest advocate for "trading him" less than a month ago for Teixeira.
Remember, Roy?
It was a "no-brainer" to trade Joba because he was a rookie who was "unproven."
I see Mussina said "Who's going to replace me?" He should remember the words of Charles DeGaulle - when asked if he was France's "indispensable" leader, he replied that the graveyards were full of indispensable men.
For those of you who like to visit OTB or make an on-line wager, watch out for King of the Roxy on ESPN at approx 1:35 pm
Why is this dumb Ted Lilly argument always trotted out after a Yankee loss?
The Yanks already don't have room for Chamberlain or Kennedy in the rotation, so Ted Lilly would be just be more dead weight and blocking the progress of the youngsters.
If Lilly was simply a stop-gap for one season until the kids were ready, I might be on board.
But, that was never the case. It would have taken 4 years to get him -- and he would be dead weight on this team for 3 more seasons after 2007 because he would be blocking Chamberlain or Kennedy from the rotation.
Would that be worth one season of Ted "Mr. Career .500 Record" Lilly?
Absolutely not.
I'm glad Cashman didn't make that move at the time and I'm ECSTATIC now that the kids are ready to contribute sooner than everyone expected.
Odds on K of R are 10-1.
1:35 pm is Pacific time. 4:35 Eastern.
The young players and pitchers have revived this team.
Remind Mussina that Proctor and Myers shown the door in favor of Chamberlain and E. Ramirez (underrated)
Remind Mussina that superstars Giambi and Damon are eating sunflower seeds on the bench watching Cabrera and Phillips and Duncan give the team a burst of energy
And tell him there's a guy named Ian Kennedy waiting in the wings
Mussina is the 2000 version of David Cone. A veretan talented pitcher clearly on the downside.
If Mussina gets bombed yet again, bring up Kennedy!
And please get rid of Henn and call up Britton! The onyl reason why Henn is on this team is beacsue he's a lefty. What a joke!
Henn has no business in a major league uniform
Sully
The shout out about the pitching was funny.
;-)
What if he bought a major league uniform?
Which shout out?
I was very displeased to see him out there last night
Sully
-The one where you mentioned me being part of the rotation...
Henn is and always was garbage. I could not believe my eyes last night.
Ah yes. Thanks man.
In April they were using Fantasy Camp to recruit starters
We're in such deep $hit.
We gotta beat Bonderman tonight and then Hughes has to beat VERLANDER?
No, Moose has to beat Verlander.
If it makes you feel any better, Bonderman has been atrocious in his last 6 starts (0-5, 8.41).
The Yanks usually handle him and I expect them to bounce back tonight after a tough loss.
I think today might be one of those 14-13 games. Bonderman has been wetting the bed ESPECIALLY in the first inning
Get to him early and you've got a great shot
Is FOX piping in the good news from Chicago?
7 1/2 out by the end of the night!
I can't beat Verlander.
MLB.TV celebrates five years of growth
Free live Webcast of Yankees-Tigers offered on Sunday
By Mark Newman / MLB.com
[quote]http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb
It was five years ago this Sunday that the Next Big Thing in baseball consumption was introduced, and once again it was the national pastime that paved the way for the technology and reshaped the average fan's life. On Aug. 26, 2002, exactly 63 years after that first televised Major League game, the Yankees withstood an Alex Rodriguez homer and beat Kenny Rogers and the Rangers, 10-3, at Yankee Stadium. The YES Network's full broadcast was streamed as a live Webcast for free exclusively at MLB.com, meeting immediate excitement, probably slowing worker productivity a bit and most definitely leading to the ultimate curtain call.
To commemorate that historic first and the five years of technology excitement that followed, MLB.com will provide a free live Webcast of Sunday's series finale between the Yankees and Tigers from Comerica Park in Detroit.
"We are excited to celebrate this historic occasion for baseball fans by providing this broadcast featuring two storied franchises," said Dinn Mann, Executive Vice President, Content and Editor-in-Chief of MLB.com. "The first live broadcast five years ago was the foundation to offering fans the opportunity to watch games anywhere, anytime and on any device. We remain committed to our charter goal of expanding that reach to as many fans as possible and will build from that foundation by leveraging innovative and interactive multimedia platforms and continuing to foster meaningful partnerships."
The rematch of last year's American League Division Series will be available to fans residing outside of each team's local television market exclusively on MLB.com at 1:05 p.m. ET on Aug. 26, exactly five years to the date when MLB.com presented that initial historic broadcast. There was an audience of more than 30,000 viewers for that Rangers-Yankees game, and its initial success was followed with a nine-game package of games featuring playoff contenders in September, and a playoffs and World Series package that was only available to users outside the U.S. and Japan.
The technology was formally dubbed as MLB.TV for the start of the 2003 season, as MLB became the first sports league to stream live games online for a full schedule. It started with about 1,000 games that year, and now, millions of viewers later, every out-of-market Spring Training and regular season game is included and a subscription to MLB.TV or MLB.TV Premium is simply part of the game's culture for people everywhere.[/quote]
Yes.... Thank you!
Dude we're trying to panic about our team!!
THERES NO USE FOR WHATEVER RIDICULOUS MLBTV PROMOTION!!
PS.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IS AN UTTER JOKE!!!
PUT THE METS BRAVES CARDINALS DBACKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES WITH THE D-RAYS AND THEY PULL IT OUT (MAYBE!!) IN GAME 7.
ABSURD
The Tigers thought the same thing last year
Yeah i know but that was an abberation.
oops i was still in character...in those posts.
what i meant to say was.
PLEASE TRADE ME TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE THIS IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT!!
I can't figure out why Torre continues to use Damon, and sit Giambi. Giambi should be the full-time DH, which leaves Damon almost permanently on the "pine". Tonight Torre has got Betemit starting, and Phillips on the bench. Phillips has been a very good "clutch" hitter for the last 2 months. I know guys need days "off", but the Yanks can't afford that luxury being 4 back of Seattle in the loss column.
Very impressive month of August for Jeff Weaver who is 4 - 0 I believe through last night.
Three wins in August for another ex Yank, Jake Westbrook.
Since Cardinals pitchers started batting 8th, they are hitting .296 combined.
Rick Ankiel has 4 home runs in 40 AB's. "Give me a break" on the BEST BASEBALL STORY of the summer and maybe the last 25 years!
Cardinals were 43 -1 when leading after six innings, through the game in Atlanta the other night. LA Dodgers were 52 - 3. But now they have Proctor.
Piazza almost hit for the cycle twice in two weeks.
Tulowitski on the Rockies leads the NL in chances 656, assists 440 and DP's 96.
Jeter and Reyes are good but what about Hanley Ramirez, very good range, speed and arm ... he could become the first player EVER to hit .340 and have 20 HR's and 35 stelals ... he leads the NL in BA at .340, hits with 163, multi-hit games 49 and is tied or second in total bases with 277 and third in stolen based with 38.
He has 20 errors and made 26 as a rookie.
With Florida so down trodden, why doesn't Boston try to get him back?
You want super numbers?
What about this kid Colt Brennan .... 5,549 yards and 58 TD's last year. He backed up Matt Leinart in high school (strange) and his coach says he's better than Jim Kelly and Warren Moon ...
Back to baseball ...
On the bad side, John Maine has a 8.68 ERA in August ...
On the good side, another ex Yank Tim Redding is doing well with the Nats, 2.53 ERA in nine starts since July.
You just never know when things will come together or fall apart.
I don't get why Cabrera is batting 9th
NO JOBA TONIGHT
I'm with Roy, Giambi should be the regular DH. He is a run producer. Damon can spell each OF 1 game a week and Giambi 1 game at DH. That'll get him 4 games per week. Spot Betemit and Duncan in there whenever you can to give the others a breather (like 1 start a week and in blowouts). Phillips has earned the right to play at least 4 times a week.
Rick you're in agreement with Roy?
SHOCK!!!
I kind of agree with both of you in the Giambi talk.
However I think Andy Phillips is on borrowed time and has been since he got up.
I just don't think he's good enough.
(offensively)
He cant get over the "Warning Track"
How many times did he hit the ball "on the screws" this year just to see it 5 to 10 feet short of a homerun?
...I dont know but I know it's a lot.
As for tonight, Damon is a .429 career hitter off Bonderman.
By comparison, Giambi is a .200 career hitter against Bonderman.
Fair enough... but a lot of those hits for the .429 average were in years where he was... well... hitting!
I cannot believe the Yankee fans. Its a 162 game season and you guys climbed back into this thing. I am a red sox fan and I hate you all(not really)and I fear your team. My team jumped to 20 games over 500 real quick. I am guessing in June and we have not gotten over 30 games over 500 yet while you guys have jumped back into this thing. Feel good about your team and support them. Your team is gritty and have clawed back. I respect that.
I see Sully has both the day and night shifts again. Man, Newdays is working this poor dude to death.
Sully, I hope you're making good money with these long hours.
Another fair and honest comment by SULLY who is still traumatized by the Yankees signing DAMON.
The fact is that DAMON is hitting.Get over it....