'Inside Edge' Matsuzaka Scouting Report. Very interesting, although the fact that they scouted just 199 pitches (about 1.5 games for Daisuke) could be slightly misleading, considering it was mostly against one team - meaning that depending on the lineup (say good FB hitters), it would be approached differently than another lineup (good slider hitters).
Decent ESPN Matsuzaka article. Nothing new though.
Who? I'm watching a replay of Saturday's Florida State-Maryland game that the Terps won 27-24. The QB for Maryland, Sam Hollenbach, has one of, if not the best arms I've seen in all of college football this season. The ball seems to jump out of his hand. And he's accurate too, making several great throws where only his receiver could catch it. I haven't seen any other Maryland games this year, so I don't know if it's the norm, or a fluke. Going by his rating (128.6!), I'd say it's the norm. And he's had his best games against the best competition this year - Georgia Tech, Virginia, NC State & FSU. I hope this kid doesn't drop out of the first round. Yes, that's how good he looks. Not to mention his proto-typical size, 6'4", 214. The only downside is that he's 23, and will be 24 at the start of the 2007 NFL season.
A Seattle Times article that says the Mariners may be out of the serious bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Two humorous quotes, from Bobby Valentine, and Scott Boras: Valentine 'raved' about Matsuzaka, but frankly, Bobby V's player evaluation is not great (to say the least). He said that since Hideki Matsui hit 50 HR in Japan, he would hit 50 HR in MLB. (Matsui's high is 31, and he will never break 40.) Scott Boras, Matsuzaka's agent, said that this free agent crop is 'rare' because two aces are available - he's obviously referring to his two clients, Matsuzaka and Zito. Ok, so Matsuzaka is an ace? A guy who's never thrown a pitch stateside? And Zito is an ace? Yes, he WAS, but not less than 3 years ago. Anyway, there's also a couple discrepancies with the article: A. 'the posting process takes four days' - everything else I've read says three. B. 'Matsuzaka would become an international free agent (if he doesn't join MLB) after the 2008 season' - everything else I've read says 2007.
Phil Hughes has his own website. I bet it was his agent's idea. Anyway, the forum will not help. It gives the average fan/viewer a chance to rip Hughes, whether it be a Yankee fan upset over a poor outing, or an opponent's fan who just wants to rip Hughes for whatever reason. However, he does offer his address for autographs - as long as you include $5 (that he gives to a NYC charity).
That was the ugliest win of the season. But in the NFL, style points don't count. If a few close plays go Tampa's way, the Giants are lamenting a loss.
As an intelligent commentator said, "Most games in the NFL are lost rather than won." That was the case today, as the Bucs dropped pass after pass, comitted one huge unforced turnover, and even when the receivers were open, their rookie QB couldn't put the ball in their hands. Bruce Gradkowski completed just 20 of 48 passes (42%).
But the biggest discrepancies were in the running game and the turnover differential. With the latest version of 'Thunder & Lightning,' Tiki and Big J combined for 108 rushing yards, while Tampa ran for just 40. This also allowed the Gints to hold the ball 10 minutes more than Tampa. Jacobs had his usual assortment of punishing runs - including carrying Ronde Barber for 5 yards, and even Tiki had a particularly hard fought run, carrying a DB on his back as he gained a first down. It's really tough to see how any team can stop both of these guys. Maybe you stop Tiki, or maybe you stop Jacobs, but not both. The toughest test of the season is 2 weeks away as the Bears, having the #2 D in the NFL, come to town.
The Giants didn't commit any turnovers, and although Tampa had just one, it was HUGE. Gradkowski's pitch to Cadillac Williams was fumbled, and Fred Robbins recovered at Tampa's 28. The Gints scored 3 plays later to solidify the game with a 14-0 lead.
Tampa WR Joey Galloway dropped two big passes that hit him in the hands. The first drop I can understand, as Gibril Wilson was bearing down on him - and ended up drilling him anyway (what's the old saying? 'You're going to get drilled anyway, so you might as well catch the ball.') The second drop occurred without any threat of a big hit, so the blame lies squarely on Galloway (and the Giants D for letting him get open). If he makes one of those catches, the score might be very different.
In contrast to Galloway, Plaxico Burress made several great catches, including a spectacular grab to give the Gmen a 7-0 lead. It was a well designed play, and I expect to see it more often in future games: 2 WR shotgun, Tiki went in motion wide of Plax, Eli faked a screen to Tiki, the safety bought the fake, leaving Plax (6'5") one-on-one with Ronde Barber (5'10"), and Eli put it where only Plax could catch it, which he did with just his left hand.
Anyway, the D was mostly excellent (with help from the 40 mph wind). Despite missing 4 starters - DE Osi, CB Madison, LB Arrington and LB Short (who left in the 1st quarter), the D still held Tampa to just 174 total yards. Torbor, Wilkinson, and Emmons played well in the absences of Arrington and Short, while Kiwanuka filled in admirably (recording his first career sack) for Osi. Despite not getting a sack, Mike Strahan put continuous pressure on the QB, while Pierce, Robbins and Cofield held Cadillac Williams in check.
Next week is the lowly Texans, and the Gmen cannot look past them or they will lose. Houston has some dangerous offensive weapons, especially WR Andre Johnson, so they need to stay focused.
17-3 Giants (1 game lead over Dallas)
3*: Plaxico, 7 catches, 86 yds, 1 TD
2: Kiwanuka, 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QB hit, 1 forced fumble
2: Pierce, 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble
2: Strahan, 4 tackles, 4 QB hits, 1 pass deflection
1: Webster, 6 tackles, 2 pass deflections
1: Tiki, 29 touches, 88 yds
1: Big J, 7 carries, 41 yds, 1 TD
1: Cofield, 1 tackle, 1 QB hit, 1 pass deflection
NPB stands for Nippon (Japanese) Professional Baseball. This study is designed to get a feel for Daisuke (Dice-Kay) Matsuzaka's home ballpark, whether it's pitcher or hitter friendly, and how it compares to MLB parks, and specifically Yankee Stadium.
A list of MLB parks by size, using a very basic equation for the size of the field. Obviously, the size of the park does not directly make it hitter or pitcher friendly, e.g. Coors Field is the 2nd largest park according to my calculations, but is one of the best hitter's parks in baseball. And this list does not account for foul ground, where Oakland's massive foul territory helps pitchers, while Fenway has very little. But I do feel this list can give us a general feeling of park sizes.
Florida* (high LF wall 33 ft.) + 25 ft. (25 more than 8 ft. avg. ht.)
LF 330 +
LC 385 +
CF 434 +
RC 385 +
RF 345 +
Misc. 25 +
= Basic Playing Area: 1904
Colorado*(high RF wall 17 ft.)+9
347, 390, 415, 375, 350+9
BPA: 1886
Cubs* (high wall 15 ft.) + 7
355, 368, 400, 368, 353+(7 x 4) 28
BPA: 1872
Texas* (high LF wall 14 ft.) + 6
332, 390, 400, 407, 325+6
BPA: 1860
San Diego
334, 402, 396, 402, 322
BPA: 1856
Washington
335, 385, 410, 385, 335
BPA: 1850
San Francisco* (high RF wall 25 ft.)+ 17
339, 364, 399, 421, 309+17
BPA: 1849
Minnesota* (very high RF wall 23 ft.) + 15
343, 385, 408, 367, 327+15
BPA: 1845
Mets
338, 378, 410, 378, 338
BPA: 1842
Seattle
331, 390, 405, 387, 327
BPA: 1840
Kansas City
330, 385, 410, 385, 330
BPA: 1840
Atlanta
335, 380, 401, 390, 330
BPA: 1836
Milwaukee
344, 370, 400, 374, 345
BPA: 1833
Detroit
345, 370, 420, 365, 330
BPA: 1830
Angels* (high RF wall 18 ft.)+ 10
330, 387, 400, 370, 330+10
BPA: 1827
Dodgers
330, 385, 395, 385, 330
BPA: 1825
Yanks
318, 399, 408, 385, 314
BPA: 1824
Houston* (high LF wall 21 ft.)+ 13
315, 362, 435, 373, 326+13
BPA: 1824
Arizona
328, 376, 407, 376, 335
BPA: 1822
Oakland* (high power-alley walls 16 ft.)+16
325, 370, 410, 375, 325+16
BPA: 1821
St. Louis
336, 375, 400, 375, 335
BPA: 1821
Pittsburgh* (high RF wall 21 ft.)+ 13
325, 389, 399, 375, 320+13
BPA: 1821
Boston* (LF 37 ft.) + 29
310, 379, 420, 380, 302+29
BPA: 1820
Cleveland*(very high LF wall 19 ft.)+ 11
325, 370, 410, 375, 325+11
BPA: 1816
Baltimore* (high RF wall 25 ft.)+ 17
333, 364, 410, 373, 318+17
BPA: 1815
White Sox
330, 377, 400, 372, 335
BPA: 1814
Toronto* (10 ft. wall)+8
328, 375, 400, 375, 328+8
BPA: 1814
Cincinnati* (high LF wall 12 ft.)+ 4
328, 379, 404, 370, 325+4
BPA: 1810
Philadelphia* (high RF wall 13 ft.)+5
329, 374, 401, 369, 330+5
BPA: 1808
Tampa Bay* (wall 9.5 ft.) + 6
315, 370, 404, 370, 322+6
BPA: 1787
Outfield wall: avg. 8 ft. high
NPB Parks
Fukuoka
328, 387, 400, 387, 328+44
BPA: 1874
Chiba Lotte
328, 381, 400, 381, 328+20
BPA: 1838
Kintetsu
330, 375, 400, 375, 330+16
BPA: 1826
Orix
311, 383, 400, 383, 311+20
BPA: 1808
Hanshin
315, 390, 394, 394, 315-4
BPA: 1804
Tokyo (x 2) 2 teams share Tokyo Dome
318, 360, 400, 360, 318+20
BPA: 1796
Chunichi
318, 360, 400, 360, 318+20
BPA: 1796
Seibu Dome (Matsuzaka's home park) has high walls, 10 ft.
311, 373, 394, 373, 313+8
BPA: 1772
Yokohama
309, 365, 386, 365, 309+8
BPA: 1742
Yakult
297, 368, 393, 368, 297-8
BPA: 1715
Hiroshima
300, 360, 380, 360, 300
BPA: 1700
ML avg. 1834
AL East avg. 1812
NPB avg. 1789
So the Seibu Dome is one of the smaller NPB parks, and smaller than any ML park, and much smaller than both the average ML and AL East park, which all bodes well for his MLB career (considering he put up stellar stats in seemingly a hitter's park and league). However, NPB parks generally have large areas of foul ground, a pitcher-friendly aspect. But overall, NPB is a hitter-friendly league - there are some awfully small parks, and frankly, how else did Hideki Matsui hit 50 HR his last year there, yet his MLB high is 31 (even with the extended shedule (140 gms vs. 162) and The Stadium's short RF porch)?
Below are 'Park Factor' ratings for The Stadium. A number above 1.0 means hitter friendly; adversely, below 1.0 means pitcher friendly. So looking at the following numbers indicates that Yankee Stadium is a pitcher friendly park (at least over the last 5 years).
Park Factor
Yankee Stadium
Year - PF Rating - Rank
'06 .900 27
'05 1.051 8
'04 .922 21
'03 .933 18
'02 .957 16
'01 .805 31
Average .928 20
So The Stadium has been the 20th best hitter's park (or 10th best pitcher's park, or 10th worst hitter's park - take your pick) over the last 5 years, another indication that Daisuke Matsuzaka can succeed as a Yankee.
The M's fans are pretty psyched about what they see as their 2007 savior. In short, the report says all of Matsuzaka's pitches are a plus, and his curveball ('gyroball') is a plus-plus. The author predicts Seattle will win the posting bid with $28 million, and sign DK to a 3 year, $33 million deal. With Boras as his agent, I doubt he'll receive 'just' $11 million a year. Boras will probably start by asking for $16 million a year. He might settle for $11 mil, but that's the minimum.
Can I pick 'em or what? Timeline of postseason allegiance: First it was the Yanks (obviously), then Oakland, then St. Louis, then Detroit. If I was a betting man, I'd be in the hole a few grand.
In the World Series after learning that Jeff Suppan did a political commercial in Missouri against stem-cell research. I was inititally supporting the Cards, but now I'm pulling for Detroit. For all I know, Kenny Rogers may also be against stem-cell research (he seems like that type of guy), but as of WS game 4, he hasn't been in a political commercial spouting his beliefs.
Go Tigers!
Some good names on that list.
We know our 2008 rotation will include:
CM Wang
P Hughes
Then add in any 3 of the following and you've got a great rotation.
D Matsuzaka
M Mussina
T Clippard
C Zambrano ('08 FA)
C Carpenter ('08 FA)
November 3rd is the date we'll know who won the Matsuzaka sweepstakes (assuming they post him on the first available date - Nov. 1). Teams have 72 hours after that to submit their bids, and the winner has 30 days to work out a contract. I've read that exactly 12 teams 'have interest' in Matsuzaka. That's a lot...
Japan is 13 hours ahead - actually by November, it will be 14 with Daylight Savings. Assuming the Seibu Lions post him at 12:01 am Nov. 1 (NY time), we'll know by 12:01 am Nov. 4. If he's posted at 12:01 am Nov. 1 Japanese time (10:01 am Oct. 31 NY time), we'll know the winner Nov. 3 at 10:01 am NY time. Hopefully this isn't too confusing.
In other news, Sheffield is upset because apparently the Yanks are going to pick up his $13 million option for 2007, then trade him. I can't say I blame him for being upset, but it's the right move for the Yanks. Not only will they get something in return - as opposed to just free agency draft pick compensation, but they can choose where he goes (to keep him off the Sawx or Mets).
The Giants think that the hard turf in Dallas was a cause for all their injuries.
And here's a study showing the effects of cold weather in baseball. The conclusions are basically that pitchers fare better because they get to warm up more than hitters, and the cold, dense air prevents balls from traveling far. Is this why El Duque fared so well in October (being a fly-ball pitcher)? However, pitchers tend to walk more hitters in the cold, so a patient lineup should fare better (didn't work for the Yanks this year though).
PS: Matsuzaka has officially hired Scott 'Satan' Boras as his agent. I hate Boras, but this may actually help the Yankees. When some (small market) teams hear 'Scott Boras,' they'll drop them from the bidding. Hiring the best agent may actually hurt Matsuzaka's financial opportunity, because it's going to reduce the bidding war, from fear of Boras' notorious monetary demands.
So that brown substance on his thumb is obviously there on purpose. Pitcher's know their hands like batter's know their bats. In all likelihood, it's pine-tar.
I'm watching WS game 2. Kenny's trick is when he blows on his fingers he has to cup his hand, his fingertips touch the pine-tar, and then he grips the ball for the pitch. Watching his demeanor, he looks suspicious, like he's trying to hide something.
Just because he supposedly washed it off does not mean it wasn't under his brim, or inside his glove. Oh, and the excuse that he was doing it because of the cold weather is bullshit. He was doing it during the regular season too. Some examples.
Now part of the reason this isn't a huge story (like 'roids) is two-fold. 1. La Russa didn't make a big deal out of it probably because some of his own pitchers do it (maybe with suntan lotion and/or shaving cream), or because of his friendship with Detroit manager Jim Leyland. 2. MLB has had enough of the steroids scandal, and doesn't want more negative publicity - especially during the WS (which is already getting extremely low TV ratings).
Let's start with the bad, and shit is it bad. Lavar Arrington is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. It happened in the 2nd quarter. It was your normal running play and he was blocked and just rolled over on his ankle. I initially thought it was just a sprain. And the worst part is that he was having his best game of the whole season: he had a sack for a safety, and a pass deflected - big impact plays. So Reggie Torbor took over.
More bad. Osi Umenyiora, our Pro Bowl DE, also left the game in the 2nd quarter with a strained 'hip flexor.' He returned for one play but left again and didn't return. We'll see what the doctors say. He's even more valuable than Arrington (although Kiwanuka and Tuck are better DE backups than Torbor and Wilkinson at OLB).
- Kiwanuka played very well, showing tremendous drive, never giving up on plays.
- Strahan's best game of the year.
- The secondary has played much better since Seattle. Especially Madison, who has 2 ints.
- Torbor and Wilkinson are going to have to step up to replace Arrington. If Osi's down, so will Kiwanuka and Tuck.
- Tiki was the first RB to rush for 100 yds against Dallas.
- I love watching Big J. He literally carries defenders.
- TO gets EVERY call. He got the benefit of 2 pass-interference calls, both of which could have been called AGAINST him.
- Damn is Demarcus Ware good.
There were several turning point contenders: 1. Plaxico's 50-yd TD grab; 2. Madison's pick in the end zone; 3. TO's dropped first down; 4. Eli to Carter on 3rd & 11; 5. Big J's 4th & goal TD. We can eliminate #1 and 4.
Sam Madison's pick came a few plays after Tiki took a shot to the face and fumbled at his own 10-yard line. A few plays later, Bledsoe threw a poor pass and Madison picked it in the endzone. So instead of Dallas going ahead 14-12, it remained 12-7.
TO's dropped first down was on 4th and 2, and would've kept Dallas' drive going (obviously) at the Gints 30. The score was just 19-7 at the time.
The Gints drove back, and Jacobs' TD came on 4th and inches at Dallas' 3. I thought he was fucked when two Dallas defenders looked ready to tackle him, but he sidestepped past one, broke through a tackle, and got in for the score. That was really the nail in the coffin. It put the Gmen ahead 26-7 late in the 3rd.
My POG (play of the game) goes to Sam Madison. His int was huge and not only turned around the game, but caused Parcells to send in his backup QB (who threw 3 ints himself).
A HUGE win for the Giants, who vault into 1st place, pushing Dallas to 3rd. They also play 3 straight homes games and should win at least 2 of them (vs. Tampa and Houston).
36-22 Giants
3*: Strahan, 2 sacks, 5 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 pass blocked
2: Plaxico, 2 catches, 94 yds, 1 TD
2: Arrington, 1 sack/safety, 2 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 pass blocked
2: Tiki, 31 touches, 146 yds, 1 (costly) fumble lost
2: Big J, 10 carries, 40 yds, 1 TD
1: Madison, 1 (huge) int, 2 tackles, 1 pass blocked
1: Pierce, 1 int, 5 tackles, 2 passes blocked
1: Osi, 1 sack, 4 tackles, 1 QB hit
1: Kiwanuka, 2 QB hits (one causing an int)
Sorry about the 8-day-late recap, but I just watched the DVR replay today.
That was probably the ugliest 1st quarter I've ever seen! 4 turnovers! 2 picks thrown by Eli (in his defense, one of the passes was tipped at the line, but the other was his fault - a bad overthrow), with a pick and fumble by Vick. No one wanted to score.
Then finally in the 2nd quarter the offenses started to click - the Gints moved all the way inside the 5 but couldn't punch it in, while Vick scrambled for a 22-yard TD, and the halftime score was 7-3 Atlanta.
Warrick Dunn (who I was a big fan of when he was a Seminole) ripped off a 90 yard TD run, putting the Gmen in a 14-3 hole. That seemed like the turning point - and it was, but for the Giants. They completely dominated the game after that, outscoring Atlanta 24-0 the rest of the way. It was mostly due to Tiki, who had his best game of the year, racking up 227 total yards on 29 touches. It felt like every other run Tiki was gaining 8-12 yards. He's just so smart. He reads the defense, and uses his blockers, and breaks tackles with ease. Over the past 21 games, he's been the best RB in football: 2393 rushing yards, 459 carries, 720 receiving yards, 76 catches, with just 2 fumbles! That equates to 3113 total yards on 535 touches - 5.8 yds/touch. This season he leads the league in rushing yards and first downs (a big category). Don't forget about Big J either, who (as always) had a punishing 53 yards on 11 carries with a TD. J-Shock also had his best game of the year: 6 catches, 55 yards, 2 TD. Several of the catches were of the 'reach-behind-you-and-know-you're-getting-drilled' variety. I was astounded to hear that it was Shockey's first career game with 2+ TD!
Then there's the D. 7 sacks! 2 by Osi, 2 by Brandon Short. Outside of the 2 scoring plays, the D completely contained Atlanta's offense. If you discount Dunn's 90 yarder (to flukiness), he only gained 56 yards. Sam Madison had a pick (his 1st), while the surprising Barry Cofield had 1.5 sacks.
27-14 Gmen
3*: Tiki, 227 yds, 29 touches
2: Shockey, 6 catches, 55 yds, 2 TD
2: Osi, 2 sacks, 1 QB hit, 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble
1: Short, 2 sacks, 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble
1: Cofield, 1.5 sacks, 1 QB hit, 6 tackles
1: Jacobs, 53 yds, 11 carries, 1 TD
1: Webster, 1 sack, 4 tackles, 1 pass deflected, 1 forced fumble
Huge game vs. Dallas tonight. A win puts the Gints in 1st, a loss into 3rd.
Brian Cashman keeps saying Arod will remain on the team, but that really doesn't mean much. He knows what he's doing. If he says that, it ups the ante to get Arod because teams will feel that they need to pry him from the Yanks, instead of the Yanks trying to dump him. Bob Klapisch story here.
A link to a scout's take on Matsuzaka.
At worst he should be a #3 starter.
Will Moose's option be picked up? No, considering it's for $17 million! But I'm sure the Yanks will try to work out a 2 year deal for about $20 million. I expect the Sawx to also be interested.
Will Sheff's $13 million option be picked up? Almost certainly not. He's going to be 38 next year, is perennially injured, and Bobby Abreu is a better (and younger) all-around player.
Will Jaret Wright be released for $4 million? I doubt it. He's a 6-and-out guy, but his era was 4.49 (good for the AL), and the logical reason: why give a player $4 mil to NOT be on the team when for just $3 mil more, he could be a very solid 5th starter/long reliever?
Will Carl Pavano join the rotation for an extended period? No one really knows. Hopefully, because he would probably fare better than Wright or Randy, and he would cease being a drain on the Boss' checking account.
Will Karstens or Rasner make the team out of Spring Training? I hope so. Between them, I prefer Karstens - his FB should he touching 91 in ST next year. I'd rather give them a shot at the 4/5 starter spot than RJ or Wright or Pavano (depending on what he shows in ST).
Will Ty Clippard or Phil Hughes make the team out of ST? Very doubtful. Neither has had any AAA experience. I expect they'll have to get 4+ starts before they're ever considered for the Show.
How will Giambi and RJ come back from surgeries? I don't know. Hopefully Giambi's healed wrist can bump his ba a bit. He hit just .253 this year. Remember when he was a spray hitter who hit .290+ 7 straight years?
And hopefully RJ will retire and the Yanks can save $16 million. If not, he should be moved to the pen where he can throw gas for an inning (and dominate lefties) without worrying about getting through a whole game. By the way, he dominates Big Papi, to a .494 OPS against (with 0 HR in 27 pa career).
Will Daisuke Matsuzaka join the team? Hopefully. A $25+ million posting fee, plus $10 mil a year for at least 3 years is a big investment. Oh, and Mephistopholes himself is his agent (Scott Boras).
And the big one: will Arod be traded? I have faith in Brian Cashman. If he can't get what he feels is adequate value in return, then don't trade him. I would love a deal to a NL team for good, young pitching, but if no one offers, it's not a huge deal. It would be nice to get rid of the distraction, strike-outs, errors, and GDPs that he brings, but he's still a feared hitter that may rebound next year.
For waiting. I drank a LOT of wine in Italy. It's so cheap. There were bottles selling for only 4 euros, about $5. And it's not just shit table wine, it's DOCG, which is the highest grade an Italian wine can receive. The highlights were the Duomo in Florence and Siena, and of course Pisa's famous tower.
Anyway, I checked the scores a few times during the week: wow, the NLCS was something! I've got the last 2 games DVR'ed, so I'll be catching up soon.
The latest Arod rumors have him going to one of the Chicago teams. And the Giants surprisingly handled the Falcons with ease (at least after the 1st half).
So Oakland didn't make it. This is a tough one. I don't really care about Detroit or St. Louis, but seeing as how Albert Pujols is the best hitter (and possibly player) in the game, he deserves a ring. And the fact that I still dislike Kenny Rogers.
I'm leaving for a one week Italian vacation tonight. I won't be back until next Sunday (10/22).
I was going to have my friend DVR the Yankee LCS games, but alas, I won't be needing it now. Fortunately, it will tape both Giants games automatically. :)
If I have some time, you might see an update during the week.
Otherwise, my next post should be next Sunday or Monday, after game 2 of the Fall Classic. Good luck Oakland.
Who to root for? Some people say you should root for the team that beat you, because if they win the WS, it makes your team look better. That's nice and all, but it doesn't work for me. The Tigers just kicked our ass. How could I bring myself to root for that team?! Especially Kenny Rogers?
As for the Mets, no thanks. Maybe if their fans didn't hate the Yankees with such passion I could do it. Or maybe if I didn't feel a bit of jealousy at their postseason success (so far). Their pitching injuries will catch up with them though.
My allegiance for October has switched to Oakland. My friend is a SF fan, so he's pulling for them. And I want to see a great hitter like Frank Thomas win a ring (legitimately). And I just like their personas, like Nick Swisher, Mark Kotsay, Barry Zito and Danny Haren, who seem like they'd be fun to hang out with. Unfortunately, it looks bleak for them down 2-0 heading to Detroit. I was so hoping Thomas would hit a game-winning slam last night (has that ever happened in the playoffs, down by 3?). He was a tad late and popped out to end the game. Now the A's get to face the newest Yankee-killer, Kenny Rogers. However, I have a feeling he won't dominate twice in one postseason. And keep fighting Oakland! If I've learned anything from watching baseball most of my life, it's that Yogi was right, "It ain't over 'til it's over."
In case you don't know, Daisuke Matsuzaka is one of, if not the best pitcher in Japanese baseball. He is only 26. And he has just been 'posted' by the Seibu Lions, meaning he can seek employment in MLB. The Yankees are very interested. The only catch is that to negotiate with him, a ML team will have to give Seibu more than any other team. It's like a silent auction, with the winner acquiring the sole rights to negotiate a free agent contract with Matsuzaka. This 'posting' fee is expected to be in the range of $30 million!
Starting pitching is the Yanks biggest weakness, so I hope they can get this done. The Yanks already have a tradition of Japanese players, starting with Hideki Irabu, and currently with Matsui. This has jacked up the Japanese fanbase in New York. With Matsui already in his 4th year, he could certainly help Matsuzaka adjust to big league life.
Check out this video of him. (linked in title above.) Especially in the World Baseball Classic, where he dominated. His fastball touches 95, and he has a nasty splitter and slider (similar to Krod's), and also a changeup (I believe).
BA - OPS
RISP - Close & Late - Late Inning Pressure - Behind in Count - Full Count - Man on 3rd<2 out
- Jeter and Abreu were the best hitters with RISP - Damon and Sheffield the worst.
- However, Damon and Sheff were the best in close and late situations - Arod and Matsui the worst.
- Jeter and Giambi were the best hitters with a full count - Bernie and Sheff the worst.
- Cano and Jeter were the best when behind in the count - Matsui and Bernie the worst.
- And Giambi and Cano were the best at getting the runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs, while Arod and Matsui were the worst.
DamonTop ERA of 2006 (and 04-05)
Arod vs. 2004-06
EDIT: compiling yearly stats became too tough (I added wrong somewhere), but I'll hopefully be getting the Baseball Encyclopedia soon, so it should me much easier (and I can give OPS, ba risp, playoff stats, etc. as well). However, you can still get a general feeling, which is: Arod has hit surprisingly well against 'good' pitchers. There are a few he can't touch, like Halladay, Lackey, Schilling, Haren, E. Santana, Krod, BJ Ryan, Towers and Baez (just one lefty). But he dominates Arroyo, D. Lowe, Robertson, Moyer, Lilly, Radke, Meche, Contreras, F. Garcia, J. Nathan, Colon, Chacin and Pedro!
Totals
174 hits, 556 ab, .313 ba, 41 HR, 28 xbh, 74 bb, 123 k
J. Santana-2004: 2-6, 2 bb, k; 2005: 0-1, 2 bb; 2006: 0-2, bb
= 2-9, 5 bb, k
Halladay-2004: 0-1, bb; 2005: 1-4, 2 k; 2006: 1-8, 2b
= 2-13, 2b, bb, 2 k
Sabathia-2004: 0-2, bb, 2 k
B. Arroyo-2004: 5-14, 2 HR, 2 2b, bb, 3 k; 2005: 2-6, k
= 7-20, 2 HR, 2 2b, bb, 4 k
Lackey-2004: 1-5, 3b, bb, 2 k; 2005: 2-9, 3 bb, 4 k; 2006: 0-6, bb, 4 k
= 3-20, 3b, 5 bb, 10 k
K. Escobar-2004: 1-4, bb; 2005: 0-1, 2 bb; 2006: 1-5, 2b, bb
= 2-10, 2b, 4 bb
Verlander-2006: 0-4, 2 bb, 3 k
D. Lowe-2004: 7-17, HR, 2b, 3 bb, k
Zito-2004: 2-10, HR, 3 k; 2005: 2-6; 2006: 2-7, 2 HR, 2 k
= 6-23, 3 HR, 5 k
Bedard-2004: 3-6, HR, 2 bb, k; 2005: 2-5, 2 k; 2006: 2-5, k
= 7-16, HR, 2 bb, 4 k
N. Robertson-2004: 3-4, 2b, HR, bb, k; 2005: 0-4, 2 k; 2006: 4-10, 3b, bb, k
= 7-18, HR, 3b, 2b, 2 bb, 4 k
K. Rogers-2004: 1-2, HR, bb; 2006: 0-2
= 1-4, HR, bb
Schilling-2004: 4-13, bb, 4 k; 2005: 1-11, HR, k; 2006: 3-12, HR, 4 k
= 8-36, 2 HR, bb, 9 k
Bonderman-2004: 1-6, HR; 2005: 1-6, HR, bb, k; 2006: 3-10, 2b, k
= 5-22, 2 HR, 2b, bb, 2 k
Haren-2005: 0-5, bb, 2 k; 2006: 3-8, k
= 3-13, bb, 3 k
Westbrook-2004: 1-6, 2 k; 2005: 0-2, bb, k; 2006: 2-3, 2b
= 3-11, 2b, bb, 3 k
Contreras-2005: 3-6, 2b, k; 2006: 2-3
= 5-9, 2b, k
E. Santana-2005: 1-8, 3 k; 2006: 0-6, bb, 2 k
= 1-14, bb, 5 k
Moyer-2004: 5-6, 3 HR; 2005: 2-4, HR, bb, k
= 7-10, 4 HR, bb, k
Lilly-2004: 4-13, HR, 2b, bb, 3 k; 2005: 3-6, HR, 2 2b, 3 bb, 2 k; 2006: 3-7, HR, 2b, 2 bb, 3 k
= 10-26, 3 HR, 4 2b, 6 bb, 8 k
Radke-2004: 3-7, HR, k; 2005: 2-3, HR; 2006: 1-3
= 6-13, 2 HR, k
C. Lee-2004: 1-4, HR, bb, k; 2005: 2-4, bb; 2006: 2-5, HR, bb, k
= 5-13, 2 HR, 3 bb, 2 k
Meche-2004: 2-4, 2 2b; 2005: 1-2, 2b, bb; 2006: 2-3, 2b
= 5-9, 4 2b, bb
Millwood-2005: 1-5, HR, bb, 2 k; 2006: 2-6, 2b
= 3-11, HR, 2b, bb, 2 k
F. Hernandez-2005: 0-2, bb, k
F. Garcia-2005: 1-3, k; 2006: 4-6, 2 HR, bb
= 5-9, 2 HR, bb, k
Washburn-2005: 3-5, HR, bb; 2006: 0-3
= 3-8, HR, bb
Krod-2004: 0-3, k; 2005: 1-4, 2b, bb, k; 2006: 0-1, k
= 1-8, 2b, bb, 3 k
Jenks-2005: 0-1, bb, k; 2006: bb
= 0-1, 2 bb, k
BJ Ryan-2004: 0-3, bb, k; 2005: 0-1, bb; 2006: 0-1, bb
= 0-5, 3 bb, k
Jones-2006: 1-1
Street-2004: 0-2, k; 2006: 0-2
= 0-4, k
Nathan-2004: 3-4, 2 2b; 2005: 1-2, k
= 4-6, 2 2b, k
Putz-2004: 0-3, k; 2005: 0-1, bb; 2006: 0-2, k
= 0-6, bb, 2 k
Papelbon-2006: 0-2, bb, 2 k
2005
Buehrle-2004: 2-6, 2 k; 2006: 1-2, k
= 3-8, 3 k
Beckett-2006: 1-9, 2b, 3 bb, 2 k
Burnett-2006: 3-8, 2b, 2 HR, 3 k
Silva-2004: 1-6; 2005: 2-3; 2006: 2-3, HR
= 5-12, HR
Colon-2004: 1-2; 2005: 5-6, 4 HR, PS: 0-4, 2 k; 2006: 1-2, HR
= 7-14, 5 HR, 2 k
Towers-2004: 0-6, 2 k; 2005: 2-8, HR, bb, 2 k; 2006: 0-1, bb
= 2-15, HR, bb, 4 k
Chacin-2004: 0-2, bb, k; 2005: 2-9, HR, 3 bb, 4 k; 2006: 4-8, HR, bb, k
= 6-19, 2 HR, 5 bb, 6 k
Byrd-2005: 2-4, 2b, bb, k; 2006: 1-6, 3 k
= 3-9, 2b, bb, 4 k
Baez-2004: 0-4, 3 k; 2005: 1-3
= 1-7, 3 k
Cordero-2006: 0-1, k
Guardado-2004: bb
2004
hudson-2004: 0-3; 2006: 1-2, bb
= 1-5, bb
pedro-2004: 5-13, 2b, 4 k, PS 1-3, 2 bb, k; 2005: 5-7; 2006: 2-3, k
= 13-26, 2b, 2 bb, 6 k
harden-2004: 1-6, bb, 3 k; 2005: 1-4, HR, bb, k; 2006: 2-3, k
= 4-13, HR, 2 bb, 5 k
percival-2004: 1-1; 2005: 1-1, 2b
= 2-2, 2b
foulke-2004: 2-4, bb; 2005: 0-2; 2006: 1-3, HR, bb
= 3-9, HR, 2 bb, PS 0-2
hawkins-2006: 1-4
Totals
174 hits, 556 ab, .313 ba, 41 HR, 28 xbh, 74 bb, 123 k
2004
62 hits, 200 ab, .310 ba,
2005
53 hits, 161 ab, .329 ba, 14 HR
2006
64 hits, 186 ba, .344 ba, 13 HR, 9 xbh, 21 bb, 40 k
One call may have made the difference. A 2nd inning, 0-2 pitch to Irod was called outside, but it clearly looked like a strike. Wright eventually walked him, and allowed a HR to Monroe, putting the Yanks in a 3-run hole. With the way the Yanks were swinging the bats, 3 runs was big.
I've been reading that the Yanks were TOO patient, and that they should've been more aggressive. What I saw in game 4 contradicts this sentiment. Through the first 2 innings, the Yanks didn't get to one full count. And 3 hitters made outs on the first pitch: Jeter, Cano and Arod. Maybe if they HAD been more patient against Bonderman, they could have tired him out. Leyland said he has a kind of 'paint-ball' mentality: he'll be hiding behind a tree (cruising), and then he'll just get lazy or tired and step out into the open and get pounded by paint-balls (shelled). I guess anxiety got to them and they became unusually aggressive. Verlander has great stuff - that's easy to see. And Rogers pitched the game of his life, even hitting 94 mph on a few pitches. But I did not see the greatness in Bonderman - a moving fastball that barely hits 91, a very good slider, and an average-at-best change. The Yanks were in a funk though, and many times looked lost at the plate.
8-3 Detroit
2*: Posada, 2-4, HR, r, 2 rbi
2: Abreu, 2-4, r
1: Cano, 1-4, broke up the perfecto
1: Jeter, 1-4, r
This was a very nice all-around win. The only problem I might have is the red-zone futility.
The Skins scored first, but the Gints scored on each of their next 4 drives. Manning was great after a poor start - where he made 2 awful throws - to make some clutch throws under pressure for big gains. He led a very balanced offense. The most balanced it's been all year. Tiki started hot and had 123 yards on the day. The Big J, Brandon Jacobs, had only 26 yards, but they were all meaningful, picking up 3 first downs. The Gmen were able to sustain several long drives - 4 drives of at least 8 plays, while spreading the ball to 7 different receivers.
But the reason the offense was able to spread the ball around was the D, the story of the day. After the Skins amassed 500 offensive yards the last 2 games, the Giants D held them to just 164, and 3 points. Strahan, Osi and Robbins (the D MVP so far) all had sacks. They held Clinton Portis to 76 yards, and more surprisingly, held Santana Moss in check, with just 3 catches for 39 yards. Their weakness coming into today was the pass D, and they really stepped up. Washington had only 2 drives of more than 6 plays. And they were stopped on 3rd down (3-11), a huge factor in the win.
I'm not getting too excited about this win because it's following a bye week, against a team the Giants dominated at home last year. Eli's 4 bombs were successful, something that is very unlikely to happen every week. And most of all, Washington just didn't play well: they committed a lot of penalties, Brunell made some uncharacteristic bad passes, their D missed a lot of tackles, and the Giants recovered a fumble late in the game (that would have given new life to the Skins).
The positives were many. The pass rushers are starting to show life. Corey Webster improves every week. Sam Madison and Lavar Arrington played to their strengths - bump-and-run, and pass rushing respectively. Eli is making great passes more consistently. They committed fewer penalties. And the run D was still dominating.
19-3 Giants
3*: Eli, 23-33, 256 yds, 1 TD, 0 int, 4 carries, 6 yds
2: Pierce, 6 tackles, 1 pass deflection
2: Tiki, 26 touches, 139 yds
2: NY D, 0 TD, 3 sacks, 164 yds allowed
2: NY O-line, 0 sacks, 155 rushing yds
1: Toomer, 4 catches, 81 yds
1: Plax, 7 catches, 69 yds, 1 TD
A nice directional kick into the end zone for Feely.
Was. ball
1&10: Portis gets 2 yards. I'm not worried about the run defense.
2&8: Portis for 2. Short's starting today instead of Emmons.
3&6: 16 yard pass to Cooley. A good pass rush but the blitz left Cooley wide open, and Brunell back-pedalled to buy time.
1&10: Portis for 2. Osi got him.
2&8: Inc. pass. Play action, but good coverage forced a bad pass.
3&8: Loss of 2 by Randle-El. Almost an option play.
Punt: Morton let it bounce, but a decent little 8 yd return.
NYG ball
1&10: Tiki left for 9. Wow, is he good at avoiding tackles. He made 2 guys miss who were right on him.
2&1: Tiki up the middle for 2.
1&10: Burress for 6. Play-action roll out, Burress wide open.
2&4: Burress for 5. Quick pass to him, let him work.
1&10: Inc. pass. Play action, pass way too high off Amani's fingers, almost picked. Bad pass.
2&10: Tiki left for 15! He's making it look easy, breaking 2 more tackles.
1&10: Jacobs catch for 6. 5 WR set. Never seen that play before. At least they're trying new things.
2&4: Inc. pass. Eli had tons of time, and made another horrible pass. Let him go no-huddle.
3&4: Inc. pass. Eli with good time again. Borderline pass-interference on Marshall covering Tiki.
FG 47: Wide left. That drive came to an end FAST.
Was. ball
1&10: Portis for -4! Great play by Pierce.
2&14: Portis for 15. 4 WR set, draw play. Great, Short is injured. Another LB down. Wilkinson in.
1&10: Inc. pass. Good pressure from Robbins.
2&10: Portis for -1. Another great play by Pierce. He's reading this offense like a damn book!
3&11: Inc. pass. But 'roughing the passer'! Shit. Horrible call. Thanks refs.
1&10: Pass to Thrash for 4.
2&6: Inc. pass. Again good pressure from Robbins. Offensive Pass Int. (borderline) Great coverage by Webster.
2&16: Pass to Moss for 17. Great throw.
1&10: Portis up the middle for 3.
2&7: Portis sweep left for 3. TO Was.
3&4: Inc. pass, dropped by Portis. Would've been a 1st down.
FG 39: Made it.
3-0 Was.
NYG ball
Kickoff: Morton up the middle to the 42! Great return.
1&10: Tiki loses 1 to the right.
2&10: Tiki up the middle for 4.
3&6: Pass to Toomer for 44 yds! Eli took a big hit, but made a great pass to the open Amani, running a post down the middle.
1&G: Jacobs up the middle for 2.
2&G: Jacobs sweep left for 2.
3&G: TD, pass to Toomer. Penalty: Offensive Pass Int. on Shockey. TO NYG.
3&G (from the 15): Pass to Tiki for 9. Another drive stalls.
FG 24: Good.
3-3 tie
Sometimes I hate football, with all the ticky-tack penalties. It's FOOTBALL for God's sake!
Was. ball
Kickoff: Cartwright up the left side to the 27.
1&10: Inc. pass, play action, thrown RIGHT TO Pierce, but dropped. (turning point?)
2&10: Portis sweep right for 5.
3&5: Sack for Strahan! 1st of the year! Incredible jump, beating everyone.
Punt: Morton let it bounce, downed at the 32.
NYG ball
1&10: Buress over the middle for 46! Eli took another hit.
1&10: Tiki up the middle for 0. Who didn't see a run coming there?
2&10: Tiki to the right for 2. Almost broke a big run.
3&8: Pass to Carter for 5. Why is Eli throwing a 5 yd pass when he needs 8?
FG 34: Made it.
Why hasn't Shockey caught a pass yet? He hasn't even been thrown to.
6-3 NYG
Was. ball
Kickoff: Rock up the middle to the 31.
1&10: Portis up the middle for 6. Gibril missed a tackle for a loss.
2&4: Portis up the middle for 7. A few missed tackles.
1&10: Pass to Moss for 15. Big pass rush.
1&10: Portis up the middle for 3.
2&7: False start, triggered by the Giants rushing the line.
2&12: Portis draw for 4. Great tackle by Short.
3&8: Another false start, this time on a WR.
3&13: Wow. And a Delay of Game.
3&18: Draw to Portis for 12. Strahan made the tackle from behind.
Punt: Downed at the 2!
NYG ball
1&10: False Start on Tiki.
1&11: Tiki up the middle for 8. Nice little run.
2&3: Tiki up the middle for 2. Big play coming up... Nevermind. Tiki got the 1st down. Wow. He looked half a yd short.
1&10: Jacobs up the middle for 2.
2&8: Inc. pass to Tiki. He may have had the 1st, but he just dropped it.
3&8: Pass to Toomer for 10! A GREAT catch by Toomer. The ball was a high bullet, but he snatched it down. 2 min. warning.
1&10: Holding on Shockey. He had to to protect Eli.
1&20: Pass to Shockey for 13. His 1st catch of the day. Going no-huddle.
2&7: Pass to Carter for 6.
3&1: Draw to Tiki, nice 10-yd run but stripped by Sean Taylor. Luckily, the Gmen recover. (6 pt. swing?) TO Was.
1&10: Pass to Tiki for 2. A nice tackle by Carlos Rogers.
2&8: Another short pass to Tiki, for 6.
3&2: Draw to Tiki for 9. TO NYG. 0:18 left.
1&10: Pass to Carter for 27 yds! Great blitz pick-up by Jacobs (although Was. did tip it's hand early). last TO NYG. 0:11 left.
1&10: Inc. pass. Trying to hit Plax in the middle of the endzone. But pass was too high, and he was double-teamed.
FG 32: Perfect. Great drive - 99 yds.
9-3 NYG
I'm afraid these red-zone failures will hurt them.
Was. ball
Kickoff: Squib kick. Sellers return, slipped at the 40.
HALFTIME
NYG ball
Kickoff: Morton up the middle to the 30.
1&10: Tiki up the middle for 9. Good tackle by Archuleta.
2&1: Tiki to the left for 5.
1&10: Inc. pass. Shockey was open, but Manning underthrew him.
2&10: Screen pass to Jacobs for 9.
3&1: Jacobs up the middle for 2. Good little run.
1&10-Tiki sweep right for 7. Good blocking.
2&3-Tiki up the middle for 2.
3&1-Jacobs up the middle for 3. Another good lil run.
1&10-Pass to Plax for 5.
2&5-Draw to Jacobs for 5, on a fake screen to Plax. A punishing run.
1&10-Inc. pass. Penalty: Intentional Grounding.
2&20-Quick screen to Plax for 4. TO NYG.
3&16-Pass to Amani for 21! Awesome catch. He landed out of bounds, but it was ruled a pushout.
1&G-Tiki up the middle for 3. Ball at the 2.
2&G-TD, Pass to Plax. Nice touch pass up high where only Plax could get it.
16-3 NYG-Helluva long drive. 15 plays!
Was. ball
Kickoff-Rock to the 21. Great tackle by Blackburn and Torbor.
1&10-Pass to Cooley for 11. Wide open.
1&10-Portis up the middle for 3. Another good tackle by Short.
2&7-Inc. pass. Attempted screen to Randle-El, broken up by Madison.
3&7-Pass to Cooley for 10. Good coverage by Webster, but a perfect throw from Brunell.
1&10-Portis up the middle for 10.
1&10-Portis pitch right for 0. Great diving tackle by Cofield.
2&10-Inc. pass. Attempted screen, deflected by Arrington. His best play of the year?
3&10-Pass to Randle-El for 13. Perfect pass by Brunell.
1&10-Pass to Cooley for 5. Brunell almost sacked by Gibril. Short missed tackling Cooley.
2&5-Portis up the middle for 3. Kiwanuka with the tackle.
3&2-Inc. pass to Cooley. He tried to force it into double-coverage.
FG 42: Wide left. Nice stop Gmen.
NYG ball on the 33
1&10-False Start on Diehl.
1&15-Inc. pass to Shockey.
2&15-Pass to Shiancoe for 15! TE bootleg.
1&10-Tiki to the right for 6. Penalty: Holding on McKenzie. (Penalties!)
1&20-Tiki to the left for 13! Great block by Shockey.
2&7-Pass to Toomer for 5. Hot route on a blitz up the middle.
3&2-Pass to Carter for 5. Nice, keeps the drive going.
1&10-Tiki up the middle for 2. Finn is hurt.
2&8-Quick screen to Plax for 0.
3&8-Inc. pass to Amani. Hit as he threw.
Punt: Into the endzone. Touchback.
Was. ball
1&10-Pass to Moss for 7. A little curl.
2&3-Portis loses 1. Strahan made the first hit.
3&4-Sack by Fred Robbins! Strahan forced him up, and Robbins leveled Brunell.
Punt-Morton return to the 44. A 3-and-out. Is that the game?
NYG ball
1&10-Tiki up the middle for 1. No hole.
2&9-Pass to Shiancoe for 2. TE bootleg.
3&7-Inc. pass. Pass deflected, attempted screen to Toomer.
Punt-out of bounds at the 19.
Was. ball
1&10-Portis to the right for 3. (Ok, I'll take those runs.)
2&7-Brunell scrambles for 8. Penalty: Holding on Was. Everyone saw that one.
2&17-Pass to Cooley for 4. Good tackle by Madison.
3&13-Inc. pass to Lloyd. Good coverage by Madison. (Another 3-and-out.)
Punt-return by McQuarters to the 46
NYG ball
1&10-Tiki to the left for 1.
2&amp;9-Tiki to the left for 10!
1&10-Tiki to the left for 5.
2&5-Jacobs up the middle for 1. TO Was.
3&4-Eli scrambles for 6! (That should be the game!)
1&10-Jacobs up the middle for 6. TO Was.
2&4-Jacobs to the right for -1. No hole. last TO Was.
3&5-Tiki up the middle for 0.
FG 40-Made it. Feely's 4/5.
19-3 NYG
Was. ball
Kickoff-Rock to the 19. Another good tackle by Blackburn. Taunting by Torbor: 15 yds.
1&10-Sack by Osi! Loss of 9.
2&19-Inc. pass. No one even close to that pass.
3&19-Screen to Betts for 11. 2 min. warning.
4&8-Inc. pass into triple coverage. Pierce pulled Tuck back into coverage. That's the game!
NYG ball
1&10-Kneeldown-Kneeldown-Kneeldown
BALLGAME
19-3 Giants
Record 2-2
Detroit had the best AL era for a reason: they can pitch.
A best-of-5 is still too small a sample to determine who's truly the better team. Luck plays a large factor in short series. 'Anything can happen.' I know that contradicts some of what I add below, but the following are from the whole season, not just the LDS. A 154-game season with 3 best-of-7 rounds would be ideal.
Arod should be traded. He just can't seem to do it in NY, and he's way too big a distraction. Perhaps to the Angels for a combination of the following: Weaver, Santana, Shields, B. Wood, Aybar, Kendrick, Adenhart (A-ball).
Sheffield should not be back. His option ($13 mil) is too high. A glut of OFs, and he's injury prone.
Mussina should only be back for $10 mil or less. The Yanks will decline his $17 mil option.
Randy should be a reliever. He can still hit 98 and be dominating at times. Imagine him as a lefty specialist! And he can also get righties out. He could be a great late-inning reliever.
The team is built like the Braves: great in the regular season, but nothing in the postseason.
This is the 3rd straight year where a rainout may have cost the Yanks their season.
The pitching has to be upgraded. Zito, Schmidt, Matsuzaka, Karstens, Rasner, Cox, Clippard and Hughes; some or all of them should be on the team next year.
If Giambi can't be traded, Matsui should be the DH, with Melky playing LF full-time.
Wright SHOULD be on the team, only because his buy-out is so high. Preferably as the 5th starter, or a long reliever.
This team needs a motivator, and Torre doesn't seem capable (in the playoffs) anymore. I've heard the name Sweet Lou floated around, but I DON'T want him.
Was Don Zimmer that important? They haven't made the WS since he left.
I'll be out during the day tomorrow, so I've got to do this tonight.
2006 overall: Jaret Wright (age 30), 11-7, 4.49 era, 140.1 ip vs. Jeremy Bonderman (age 23), 14-8, 4.08 era, 214 ip
2006 2nd half: Wright, 6-2, 4.76 era, 68 ip vs. Bonderman, 6-4, 4.87 era, 94.1 ip
2006 Sept.: Wright, 2-0, 2.95 era, 18.1 ip vs. Bonderman, 3-1, 3.90 era, 27.2 ip
Both pitchers have fared worse in the 2nd half, but stepped up in Sept.
Bonderman vs. Yanks (2004-06)
6 starts, 2-4, 5.01 era, 41.1 ip
2006
2 starts (late May and late August), 0-2, 5.68 era, 12.2 ip
Yanks vs. Bonderman (career ops, at-bats)
Damon .967 (25)
Jeter .820 (22)
Abreu 2.067 (5)
Sheffield .343 (17)
Giambi .629 (15)
Arod .984 (22)
Matsui 1.567 (15)
Posada .796 (16)
Cano .615 (13)
Bernie .452 (12)
Melky 1.000 (6)
Perhaps Arod should hit cleanup, with Matsui fifth. And Sheffield may be out of the lineup again.
Wright vs. Detroit (2004-06)
1 start (late August this year), no decision, 6.1 ip, 2 er
Detroit vs. Wright (career ops, at-bats)
Granderson 1.167 (2)
Polanco .833 (6)
Casey 1.084 (11)
Ordonez 1.111 (18)
Guillen 1.750 (4)
Irod .500 (10)
Monroe .000 (3)
Thames ---
Inge .000 (2)
Perez 1.125 (8)
So Wright's got to be careful with Casey and Ordonez, but Guillen has also hit him well, albeit in limited action.
The only positive to take from this game is that the offense is definitely due. Oh, and the pen (besides Bruney) is rested.
Rogers DID pitch well, but the Yanks have 10 current/former All-Stars. They should still be able to scratch out A run against him. Look at my preview of this game - the Yanks have 5 guys hitting over 1.000 ops against Rogers. The team was 0-18 with runners on base! They couldn't buy a 2-out rbi, while Detroit got them almost at will. True, it may not be the 'same' Kenny Rogers as the Yanks last saw in '04 (as Joe Morgan said about 137 times tonight), but still - to get shutout by him?! He ain't that good, and the Yankee lineup ain't that bad.
The 1-5 hitters went a combined 1-17 with 2 walks (the only hit coming from the Capt. of course). In fairness, they didn't have much luck either. Jeter's liner nearly decapitated Rogers, but he fielded it for an out. Bernie missed a 2-run HR by several feet. And Detroit hit several seeing eye grounders to drive in runs. It seemed like every Detroit hit found a hole.
Poor defense too. Giambi made two bad throws on baserunners (one was safe, the other out), one of which allowed Detroit to score. Jeter misplayed a liner off his glove, resulting in another Detroit run. Cano barely missed a grounder in the hole that allowed Detroit's first run (a tough play admittedly). And Abreu bobbled a ball in RF that allowed Irod to go from 1st to 3rd (although the replay showed he was clearly out), where he later scored from.
I'm afraid we're going to look back at Game 2 as the turning point. We're down 2-1, and Magglio Ordonez hasn't even started hitting!
Tomorrow is a must win obviously. And it rests on the shoulders of Jaret Wright, only slightly less inconsistent than Randy. Maybe having their backs against the wall is what the team needs to get going. Again, the offense IS due.
6-0 Detroit
2*: Jeter, 1-3, 2b, bb, (robbed of a 2nd hit)
1: Posada, 2-4, 2b
Top 1
Rogers vs. Damon
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
curve, fly out 8 - 1 out
Jeter
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, high, 1-1
fb, double, jam shot to right center - runner on 2nd
Abreu
curve, low, 1-0
fb, high, 2-0
fb, called, 2-1 (wow. that's a strike?)
change, low, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2
curve, line out 8 - 2 out (bad luck)
Arod
slider, called, 0-1
change, groundout 6-3 - 3 out
Bottom 1
Randy vs. Polanco
fb, called, 0-1
fb, single, grounder up the middle - runner on 1st
Monroe
PO
slider, low, 1-0
slider, swing, 1-1
fb, called, 1-2 (97 mph!)
slider, low, 2-2
slider, foul, 2-2
fb, inside, 3-2 (98 mph!)
fb, fly out 8 - 1 out
Thames
slider, called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2
fb, high, 1-2 (borderline)
slider, swing, k - 2 out (great stuff so far)
Ordonez
fb, called, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1 (borderline)
fb, groundout 6-4 - 3 out (nice play by DJ)
Top 2
Giambi
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
curve, fly out 9 - 1 out
Posada
change, foul, 0-1
fb, called, 0-2
slider, single, liner to LF - runner on 1st
Matsui
fb, high, 1-0
fb, outside, 2-0
fb, swing, 2-1
slider, low/outside, 3-1
slider, swing, 3-2
slider, called, k - 2 out
Bernie
slider, line out 5 - 3 out
Bottom 2
Guillen
fb, low, 1-0
fb, low, 2-0
fb, single, liner to right center - runner on 1st
Irod
slider, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
slider, foul, 1-2
fb, high, 2-2
slider, foul, 3-2
fb, single, liner to RF - runners on 1st & 3rd
Casey
PO
fb, called, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1
slider, single, grounder betw. 1b & 2b - 1 run in, runners on 1st & 3rd (Irod looked out at 3rd... yes, he WAS out)
Inge
slider, swing, 0-1
slider, low, 1-1
fb, called, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, inside, 2-2
slider, swing, k - 1 out (let's get a DP)
Granderson
fb, outside, 1-0 (borderline)
slider, swing, 1-1
fb, groundout 4-6 - 1 run in, 2 out
Polanco
fb, low, 1-0
PO
fb, foul, 1-1
slider, called, 1-2
stolen base - runner on 2nd (bad throw by Giambi on PO attempt)
slider, single, grounde up the middle - 1 run in, runner on 1st
Monroe
slider, foul, 0-1
slider, fly out 7 - 3 out
Top 3
Cano
fb, called, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2
slider, outside, 1-2
fb, single, jam shot to left center - runner on 1st (1st of series)
Damon
slider, called, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1
PO
curve, fly out 9 - 1 out
Jeter
change, low, 1-0
PO
change, foul, 1-1
fb, inside, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2
slider, foul, 2-2
slider, foul, 2-2
change, groundout 4-6-3 DP - 3 out
Bottom 3
Thames
change, swing, 0-1
fb, fly out 9 - 1 out
Ordonez
fb, called, 0-1
fb, outside, 1-1
slider, groundout 5-3 - 2 out
Guillen
slider, high, 1-0
slider, called, 1-1
fb, swing, 1-2
slider, fly out 9 - 3 out
Top 4
Abreu
curve, outside, 1-0
curve, called, 1-1
curve, low, 1-2
fb, swing, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2
curve, inside, 3-2
slider, low/outside, walk - runner on 1st
Arod
slider, called, 0-1
slider, fly out 8 - 1 out (hit well, right at CF)
Giambi
fb, called, 0-1
fb, called, 0-2
fb, called, k - 2 out (what are you looking at Jason?)
Posada
PO
change, outside, 1-0
PO
change, foul, 1-1
slider, fly out 8 - 3 out (got under it just a little)
Bottom 4
Irod
slider, called, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2
fb, high, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
slider, inside, 2-2
fb, called, k - 1 out
Casey
fb, inside, 1-0 (borderline)
fb, called, 1-1
fb, groundout 1-3 - 2 out (squibber)
Inge
fb, low, 1-0
fb, inside, 2-0
slider, inside, 3-0 (borderline)
fb, swing, 3-1
fb, pop out 4 - 3 out
Top 5
Matsui
curve, called, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1
fb, double, liner to left center - runner on 2nd
Bernie
change, outside, 1-0
slider, low, 2-0
change, foul, 2-1
slider, foul, 2-2 (missed a HR by a few feet)
slider, inside, 3-2
change, swing, k - 1 out (Bernie swung at ball 4)
Cano
slider, low, 1-0
slider, foul, 1-1
curve, swing, 1-2
slider, low/outside, 2-2
change, swing, k - 2 out
Damon
slider, low, 1-0
slider, groundout 6-3 - 3 out
Bottom 5
Granderson
slider, called, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2 (attempted bunt)
slider, foul pop out 5 - 1 out
Polanco
slider, low/inside, 1-0
fb, high, 2-0
fb, low, 3-0
fb, called, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2 (clearly fair)
fb, inside, walk - runner on 1st
Monroe
slider, called, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2
slider, swing, k - 2 out
Thames
slider, foul, 0-1
PO
slider, swing, 0-2
slider, foul, 0-2
PO, Polanco caught stealing - 3 out
Top 6
Jeter
change, liner off Rogers, groundout 1-3 - 1 out
Abreu
fb, called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2
curve, low, 1-2
curve, inside, 2-2
change, swing, k - 2 out
Arod
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
curve, low, 2-1
change, swing, 2-2
fb, hbp - runner on 1st
Giambi
fb, outside, 1-0
PO
curve, groundout 3 - 3 out
Bottom 6
Thames
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1
slider, outside, 2-1
slider, high, 3-1 (borderline)
fb, high, walk - runner on 1st (not a good start)
Ordonez
slider, groundout 5-4-3 DP - 2 out
Guillen
slider, single, liner off Jeter's glove - runner on 1st
Irod
slider, low, 1-0
slider, double, grounder down the LF line - 1 run in, runner on 2nd
Casey
slider, called, 0-1
slider, double, liner to right center - 1 run in, runner on 2nd (RJ hung it)
Bruney vs. Inge
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, high, 2-0
change, called, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
fb, called, k - 3 out
Top 7
Posada
change, outside, 1-0
change, outside, 2-0
change, called, 2-1
change, double, liner over CF's head - runner on 2nd
Matsui
fb, foul, 0-1
curve, high, 1-1
curve, groundout 4-3 - 1 out
Bernie
slider, called, 0-1 (borderline high/outside)
curve, foul, 0-2
curve, low, 1-2
curve, swing, k - 2 out
Cano
change, called, 0-1
curve, groundout 4-3 - 3 out
Bottom 7
Granderson
change, outside, 1-0
fb, foul, 1-1
change, outside, 2-1
fb, HR to right center - 1 run in
Polanco
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, fly out 7 - 1 out
Monroe
change, low/outside, 1-0
fb, low, 2-0
fb, foul, 2-1
fb, high/inside, 3-1
fb, fly out 8 - 2 out
Thames
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, high, 2-0
fb, foul, 2-1
fb, outside, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, swing, k - 3 out
Top 8
Damon
fb, high, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
curve, swing, k - 1 out
Jeter
change, low, 1-0
change, swing, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
curve, foul, 1-2 (tipped it)
slider, inside, 2-2 (borderline)
fb, outside, 3-2
slider, inside, walk - runner on 1st
Abreu
fb, foul, 0-1 (attempted bunt)
curve, swing, 0-2
fb, called, k - 2 out (borderline outside)
Zumaya vs. Arod (shit)
slider, way high, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1 (only 102 mph)
fb, fly out 9 - 3 out (got a bit under it; at least he made contact)
Bottom 8
Villone vs. Ordonez
fb, low, 1-0
fb, inside, 2-0
fb, inside, 3-0
fb, single, grounder betw. 3b & SS - runner on 1st
Guillen
slider, high, 1-0
slider, foul, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, swing, k - 1 out
Irod
fb, high, 1-0
slider, outside, 2-0 (borderline)
fb, high, 3-0
fb, high, walk - runners on 1st & 2nd
Casey
fb, called, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1
slider, high, 2-1
fb, groundout 3 - 2 out, runners on 2nd & 3rd
Inge
change, low, 1-0
fb, inside, 2-0
fb, swing, 2-1
fb, fly out 8 - 3 out
Top 9
Jones vs. Giambi
fb, called, 0-1
fb, called, 0-2
curve, foul, 0-2
fb, fly out 9 - 1 out (got jammed)
Posada
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, pop out 6 - 2 out
Bernie
fb, called, 0-1
curve, foul, 0-2
fb, low, 1-2
fb, swing, k - 3 out
GAME OVER
Two lefties going. A combined age of 84.
2006 overall: Randy Johnson, 17-11, 5.00 era, 205 ip vs. Kenny Rogers, 17-8, 3.84 era, 204 ip
2006 2nd half: Johnson, 7-4, 4.85 era, 91 ip vs. Rogers, 6-5, 3.83 era, 89.1 ip
Randy pitched slightly better in the 2nd half, but Rogers was almost exactly the same - surprisingly consistent.
Kenny Rogers vs. Yanks (2004-06)
just one start, in June of '04: no decision, 4 ip, 6 er
Yanks vs. Rogers (career ops, at-bats)
Damon, .831 (49)
Jeter, 1.120 (20)
Abreu, .400 (5)
Sheffield, .863 (17)
Giambi, 1.567 (23)!
Arod, 2.046 (19)!
Matsui, 2.333 (3)
Posada, 1.563 (16)!
Cano, ---
Bernie, 1.009 (34)
Maybe Giambi, Arod and Posada should be hitting 3-5.
Randy vs. Detroit (2004-06)
3 starts: 2-1, 5.21 era, 19 ip
2006
2-0, 2.57 era, 14 ip
Detroit vs. Johnson
(bear in mind - normal lineup, not righty heavy)
Granderson, .000 (3)
Polanco, .870 (35)
Casey, .558 (12)
Ordonez, 1.000 (10)
Guillen, .556 (9)
Irod, .619 (73)
Monroe, .661 (7)
Thames, 1.189 (9)
Inge, .879 (6)
N. Perez, .952 (42)
Infante, 1.400 (5)
Look at Neifi Perez! Randy's got to be careful with that slider against those right-handed power hitters, especially Ordonez and Thames, who hit his first career HR off Randy - as a Yankee rookie in 2002 (a memorable game at the Stadium).
Mussina wasn't terrible, but made some crucial bad pitches, and that was all the Tigers needed. Is it just this series, or does Detroit always hit this many extra-baggers? They have more xbh than singles through 2 games: 12 xbh, with just 8 singles! They do swing hard.
The Yanks only hurt Detroit's pitching in one inning, and left many runners on. It wasn't like the Yanks were missing bad pitches; Verlander just made some great pitches when he had to, as did Zumaya (damn's he's good). Walker and Jones were just good enough to escape unscathed.
2 goats of the game: Arod and Cano, 0-8, 3 k, GDP, 9 lob! Wow. If one of them gets a hit, the Yanks might have a win. And what about Abreu's shot off the wall?; a few feet higher and the Yanks have 4 runs instead of 3.
We also have to look back at 2 horrible at-bats by Mussina: the game-tying HR by Guillen, where he fell behind 2-0 and grooved a FB; and the go-ahead triple by Granderson, where he had him 0-2, but instead of putting a FB up high, again grooved it allowing the triple.
Basically 4 reasons for the loss.
1) Verlander escaped when he had to (save for Damon's HR)
2) Mussina made a few too many mistakes
3) Arod and Cano did nothing (they need to step up)
4) Detroit's bullpen
4-3 Detroit
2*: Damon, 2-5, HR, r, 3 rbi
2: Matsui, 3-4, r
1: Posada, 1-2, r, 2 bb
Now we have to rely on Randy. Not a good situation.
Top 1
Mussina vs. Granderson
curve, called, 0-1
curve, low, 1-1
fb, high, 2-1
change, called, 2-2
curve, swing, k - 1 out
Polanco
fb, called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2
fb, inside, 1-2
curve, swing, k - 2 out
Casey
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
curve, groundout E-6 (low throw by Jeter. what is it about Moose and errors?) - runner on 1st
Ordonez
knuckle-curve, foul, 0-1
fb, outside, 1-1 (borderline)
fb, called, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
curve, foul, 1-2
fb, outside, 2-2
fb, swing, k - 3 out
19 pitches
Bottom 1
Verlander vs. Damon
fb, called, 0-1 (96 mph!)
change, single, blooper to left - runner on 1st
Jeter
fb, pop out 1 (attempted bunt) - 1 out (c'mon DJ, you're better than that)
Abreu
fb, outside, 1-0 (98 mph!)
change, outside, 2-0
fb, outside, 3-0
fb, outside, walk - runners on 1st and 2nd
Sheffield
fb, called, 0-1 (borderline inside)
fb, inside, 1-1 (99 mph!)
fb, foul, 1-2
curve, swing, k - 2 out
Giambi
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, outside, 2-0
change, called, 2-1
fb, high, 3-1
fb, called, 3-2 (100 mph!)
fb, outside, walk (101 mph!, borderline) - bases loaded
Arod
fb, swing, 0-1 (101)
fb, foul, 0-2 (101, good swing) (curve coming?)
curve, called, k - 3 out
20 pitches (at least they made him work)
Top 2
Guillen
fb, low, 1-0 (borderline)
change, fly out 8 - 1 out
Irod
curve, high, 1-0
kc, groundout 1-3 - 2 out
Monroe
kc, high, 1-0 (stop falling behind)
kc, outside, 2-0
fb, foul, 2-1
fb, high, 3-1
kc, double, liner down the left field line - runner on 2nd
Thames
kc, single, jam shot to center - 1 run in, runner on 1st
Inge
fb, high/inside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
fb, low, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2
fb, swing, k - 3 out (chased a high fb)
16 pitches
35 total
1-0 Detroit
Bottom 2
Matsui
change, single, liner betw. 1b & 2b - runner on 1st
Posada
fb, called, 0-1
change, low, 1-1
change, low, 2-1 (why is he messing around with a change?)
fb, foul, 2-2
curve, foul, 2-2
curve, foul, 2-2
fb, way high, 3-2
fb, foul, 3-2
pickoff attempt
fb, high, walk (great at-bat) - runners on 1st & 2nd
Cano
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1 (down the middle)
change, foul, 1-2 (that was hittable)
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2 (is the hook coming?)
fb, outside, 2-2
curve, groundout 5 (Inge stepped on 3rd, but ball was too slow to get 2) - 1 out, runners on 1st & 2nd
Damon
fb, high, 1-0
fb, foul, 1-1
fb, high, 2-1
fb, fly out 8 - 2 out
Jeter
fb, swing, 0-1
fb, outside, 1-1
fb, groundout 6-4 - 3 out
24 pitches
44 total (5 lob already)
Top 3
Granderson
fb, called, 0-1
curve, low, 1-1
curve, called, 1-2
curve, groundout 3-1 - 1 out (good play by Sheff)
Polanco (does he not have the biggest head?)
fb, called, 0-1
fb, groundout 5-3 - 2 out
Casey
fb, foul, 0-1 (just foul down the left field line)
curve, outside, 1-1
curve, groundout 5-3 - 3 out (nice quick inning)
9 pitches
44 total
Bottom 3
Abreu
fb, high, 1-0 (borderline)
fb, foul, 1-1
fb, single, liner that just missed a HR off the top of the RF wall - runner on 1st (talk about bad luck)
Sheffield
change, foul, 0-1
PO (very quick move)
PO
curve, called, 0-2
curve, groundout 4-3 DP - 2 out
Giambi
change, outside, 1-0
change, called, 1-1
curve, low, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
curve, swing, k - 3 out
11 pitches
55 total
Top 4
Ordonez
kc, low, 1-0 (check swing)
kc, foul, 1-1
fb, pop out 4 - 1 out
Guillen
curve, called, 0-1
fb, double, liner into the RF corner - runner on 2nd (Detrot hits a lot of doubles)
Irod
curve, outside, 1-0 (check swing)
curve, groundout 6-3 - 2 out
Monroe
fb, bunt groundout 1-3 - 3 out (another quick inning)
8 pitches
52 total
Bottom 4
Arod
curve, outside, 1-0
fb, low/outside, 2-0
change, called, 2-1
fb, fly out 7 - 1 out (nice sliding catch by Monroe)
Matsui
change, outside, 1-0
change, called, 1-1 (looked the same as the 1st pitch)
curve, low, 2-1
fb, single, line drive betw. 1b & 2b - runner on 1st (he's 2-2)
Posada
change, called, 0-1
curve, called, 0-2 (borderline inside)
curve, low, 1-2
fb, high, 2-2
fb, outside, 3-2
change, outside, walk - runners on 1st & 2nd (nice at-bat)
Cano
change, fly out 7 - 2 out (Cano and his impatience)
Damon
fb, outside, 1-0
fb, HR!!!, turned on an inside fb, crushed into the RF upper deck - 3 runs in
Jeter
fb, called, 0-1
curve, outside, 1-1
fb, low, 2-1
fb, double, liner to death valley - runner on 2nd
Abreu
change, called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2 (good swing)
curve, groundout 3 - 3 out
24 pitches
79 total
3-1 Yanks
Top 5
Thames
fb, double, liner down the LF line - runner on 2nd (damn, another double)
Inge
fb, swing, 0-1
fb, swing, 0-2
curve, outside, 1-2 - wild pitch, runner on 3rd
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, called, k (borderline outside corner) - 1 out
Granderson
curve, low, 1-0
curve, line out 8 - 1 run in, 2 out
Polanco
kc, called, 0-1
curve, low, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, single, grounder just wide of 1b - runner on 1st
Casey
curve, low, 1-0
curve, outside, 2-0 (shit)
change, pop out 5 - 3 out
17 pitches
69 total
3-2 Yanks
Bottom 5
Sheffield
fb, called, 0-1
change, swing, 0-2
change, low, 1-2
change, low, 2-2
curve, called, k (borderline inside) - 1 out
Giambi
fb, called, 0-1
fb, inside, 1-1
fb, long foul, 1-2
curve, groundout 3 - 2 out
Arod
change, called, 0-1
change, foul, 0-2
fb, high, 1-2
curve, called, k - 3 out
13 pitches
92 total
Top 6
Ordonez
fb, pop out 4 - 1 out
Guillen
fb, low, 1-0 (borderline)
curve, low, 2-0
fb, HR - 1 run in (that's what Moose gets for falling behind 2-0)
Irod
kc, outside, 1-0
kc, groundout 6-3 - 2 out (almost another E by Jeter)
Monroe
curve, inside, 1-0 (stop falling behind Moose)
kc, pop out 8 - 3 out
8 pitches
77 total
3-3 tie
Bottom 6
Matsui
change, outside, 1-0
change, groundout 4-3 - 1 out
Posada
fb, foul, 0-1
change, low, 1-1
change, low, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
curve, low, 3-2 (good eye Jorge)
fb, foul, 3-2 (100 pitches)
fb, foul, 3-2 (hook coming?)
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, single, jam shot betw. 3b & SS - runner on 1st
Cano
fb, called, 0-1
fb, high, 1-1 (wow. Verlander's gone...)
Walker (L) vs. Cano
slider, outside, 2-1
slider, low, 3-1
fb, groundout 6-4-3 DP - 3 out (a pretty bad day for Cano)
Top 7
Thames
kc, single, deep fly to LF - runner on 1st
Inge
fb, inside, 1-0 - passed ball, runner on 2nd (so many mistakes today)
curve, low, 2-0
fb, sac bunt, groundout 1-3 - runner on 3rd
Granderson
change, swing, 0-1
fb, called, 0-2
fb, foul, 0-2
curve, foul, 0-2 (hanger)
fb, triple, liner to death valley - 1 run in, runner on 3rd (terrible location. supposed to be up, but was over the middle)
Polanco
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, foul, 1-1
fb, inside, 2-1
curve, low, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, line out 5 - 2 out
Casey (no Myers?)
change, fly out 7 - 3 out
16 pitches
90 total
4-3 Detroit
Bottom 7
Damon
fb, foul, 0-1
slider, called, 0-2 (borderline outside)
slider, line out 4 - 1 out
Zumaya vs. Jeter
fb, high, 1-0 (100 mph!)
fb, high, 2-0
fb, called, 2-1 (borderline outside)
fb, foul, 2-2 (101)
fb, high, 3-2 (slider coming?)
fb, swing, k (foul tip) - 2 out
Abreu
fb, foul, 0-1
slider, called, 0-2 (77 mph!)
fb, high, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2 (102 mph!)
slider, groundout 4-3 - 3 out
Top 8
Ordonez
slider, called, 0-1
slider, called, 0-2
slider, low, 1-2
fb, high, 2-2
fb, low, 3-2
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, high, walk - runner on 1st
Guillen
curve, called, 0-1
change, deep fly out 8 - 1 out
Irod
fb, swing, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2
slider, foul, 0-2 (good swing)
fb, low, 1-2
fb, low, 2-2
slider, outside, 3-2 (borderline)
fb, foul, 3-2
slider, deep fly out 8 - 2 out
Monroe
curve, fly out 7 - 3 out (It looked like a HR at first)
Bottom 8
Sheffield
fb, line out 8 - 1 out
Giambi
fb, high, 1-0
fb, swing, 1-1
fb, swing, 1-2
fb, high, 2-2
fb, swing, k - 2 out (103 mph!)
Arod
slider, low, 1-0
fb, swing, 1-1 (103)
fb, called, 1-2 (borderline outside)
fb, swing, k - 3 out
Top 9
Bruney vs. Thames
slider, outside, 1-0
fb, foul, 1-1
change, foul, 1-2
fb, high, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2
change, foul 2-2
fb, swing, k - 1 out
Inge
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, inside, 2-0
fb, outside, 3-0 (borderline)
fb, called, 3-1
fb, called, 3-2
fb, swing, k - 2 out (98 mph)
Granderson
change, low, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1 (borderline outside)
change, swing, 1-2
change, low, 2-2
change, groundout 1-3 - 3 out
Bottom 9
Jones vs. Matsui
fb, high, 1-0
cutter, swing, 1-1
fb, low, 2-1
fb, single, liner to center - runner on 1st (3-4 today)
Melky pinch-running
Posada
fb, called, 0-1 (borderline outside)
cutter, called, 0-2
fb, foul, 0-2 (good swing)
fb, called, k - 1 out (right down the middle)
Cano
fb, called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2 (good swing)
curve, foul, 0-2
fb, foul, 0-2
curve, foul, 0-2
cutter, foul, 0-2
cutter, foul, 0-2
fb, fly out 7 - 2 out (horrible day for Cano, 0-4)
Damon
fb, called, 0-1
curve, foul, 0-2
cutter, low, 1-2
cutter, inside, 2-2
cutter, foul, 2-2 (fouled off his left knee, ouch)
cutter, pop out 8 - 3 out
GAME OVER
-To say the least. My wife and I got to our seats at 7:45, and were eagerly anticipating the game. I'd heard it might rain, but it wasn't supposed to happen until midnight or so. She got out of work early just for the game; we bought a shitload of snacks: cracker jacks, plantain chips, a Quiznos sub, candy, water and soda. They even did the Star-Spangled Banner and had Paul O'Neill throw out the first pitch. We were standing for 5 minutes, waiting for the Yanks to take the field. I realized it wasn't going to happen, so I assumed ESPN was just airing more commercials (I hate attending nationally televised games). Then the death knell: the grounds-crew pulled the tarp over the field, and we both sat back feeling like our whole night had been crushed.
It's the third rain delay I've been to this year (all with my wife). Whenever she attends a game, the rain follows. I considered taking an umbrella, but the weather at 6:45 was so nice we decided not to. It's Murphy's Law: if we take the umbrella, it doesn't rain; if we don't take it, it rains. You can blame us. So we sat there in our sweatshirts, reading our books - fortunately we'd brought stuff to read (for the subway). My wife had one of her romance novels (her favorite genre), and I had 'Stranger in a Strange Land.' We had no idea how long the rain would last - we were waiting for updates from the PA announcer. That didn't happen until 8:45, when Bob Sheppard told us the rain would last at least 45 more minutes, but we were assured that the 'game will be played.' So that kept us seated until 9:30 when the tarp was finally removed. I predicted first pitch at 10:05, what with the crew 're-doing' the field, the warmups, etc. Then again, about 9:55, the tarp was put BACK ON. No announcement. I tried calling my parents to see what ESPN was saying, but I wasn't getting any reception. A woman near us was listening to the radio; she heard that the game was cancelled and moved to Thursday at 1. We got the hell out of there, hailed a Gypsy cab (neither of us were in a packed, humid subway mood) and got home at 11. I bargained him from $50 to $25.
What pissed us off the most was that Yankee Stadium kept all of us fans in the dark about the weather, and completely misled us into believing the game would be played. ESPN was giving constant updates (as I watch the DVR), but the people that it really effected (the fans at the game) were never informed of anything outside of the one announcement at 8:45. Apparently we weren't the only ones - the Tigers were miffed because they were also kept in the dark: they were warming Verlander to start at 10, but the Yanks never bothered warming Mussina. How and why does that happen?
Anyway, we can't go tomorrow (because it's at 1 pm) so we sold them for face value to someone in my wife's office (who's giving them to a client). What a bummer... and we're both soured at the Yankee organization for it's handling of the delay. I want updates every 15 minutes, not once every 2 hours! And then they didn't even announce the game had been called. We had to have another fan relay a radio message to us. It took us 10 minutes to leave the stadium, and they STILL had not addressed the crowd.
Is it too late to add a retractable roof to the new Yankee Stadium? I don't see the downside to it. I know it's expensive, but c'mon, it's the Yankees. And Seattle did it. Toronto did it. Arizona did it. Houston did it. Most games it wouldn't be needed, but it'll be there when it is needed, like tonight, when it completely fucks up the nights of 55,000 fans (not to mention the players and coaches). I hope it's not too late.
This looks to be a pitching duel on paper.
2006 overall: Mussina, 15-7, 3.51 era vs. Verlander, 17-9, 3.63 era
2006 2nd half: Mussina, 5-4, 3.96 era vs. Verlander, 7-5, 4.54 era
Both pitchers pitched worse in the latter half of the year.
Verlander vs. Yanks (career)
1 start (June 1), no decision, 10.80 era, 5 ip
Yanks vs. Verlander (career ops, at-bats)
Damon, 1.000 (3)
Jeter, ---
Abreu, ---
Sheff, ---
Giambi, 2.333 (3)
Arod, .667 (1)
Matsui, ---
Posada, 1.667 (2)
Cano, 1.667 (3)
Melky, .333 (2)
So most of the lineup has never faced him. But in his only game against the Yanks, he got pasted, namely by Giambi, Posada and Cano. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the lineup (who haven't faced him) fare tonight. I'm anxious because our 2-4 hitters have never seen him.
Mussina vs. Detroit ('04-'06)
4 starts, 2-1, 3.54 era, 28 ip
In his only outing against Detroit this year (late May), he dominated: 9 ip, 0 er.
Detroit vs. Mussina (career ops, at-bats)
Granderson, .833 (3)
Polanco, .286 (7)
Casey, 1.667 (3)
Ordonez, .788 (35)
Guillen, .372 (29)
Irod, .599 (63)
Monroe, .500 (8)
Thames, 1.500 (4)
Inge, .500(12)
What scares me is that the middle of the lineup has seen Mussina a lot - yet with varying success. Granderson, Casey and Thames have hit him well in limited action - but that should drop off when they get more at-bats. Most of the lineup has not fared well against Moose: Guillen, Irod, Monroe, Inge and Polanco. But the guys who scare me are Casey and Ordonez.
I'll be at tonight's game behind home-plate (just to the 3rd base side). I'll wave to y'all.
Jeter becamse just the 6th player in postseason history to post a 5-hit game! He didn't just have 5 little singles - he was a triple away from the cycle: HR, 2 2b, 2 1b.
The Yanks won the game in the 3rd, when they turned a GDP with 2 runners on. Polanco hit a sharp grounder, Jeter stabbed it with his backhand, fired to Cano at 2b, who spun and fired to Sheff at 1b. Sheff made a great stretch/split to make sure they got 2. Then in their half, the offense opened up, beginning with a squibber by Damon. After Jeter's single, Abreu lined a double to right, Sheffield hit a rbi single, and then Giambi hit a long fly just over the right field wall.
Wang escaped jams several times early, but Detroit got to him in the 5th, which was his only bad inning. He hung some sliders and sinkers, and Detroit hit double after double. When Detroit got runners on, they (surprisingly) did not bunt them over. Jim Leyland seems like the bunting/NL-style type manager. By having them swing away, it let Wang escape a few times. I suppose this is respectful to the Yankee offense: Leyland didn't want to get a run here, a run there; he wanted a big inning to support his pitcher, hence no bunting. So the offense can actually help the pitchers, albeit it in a subtle way.
Wang seemed to be cruising through the 6th, when Torre pulled him with 2 outs to set up Myers against the lefty Granderson. I thought it was strange, but when you consider Granderson already had 2 hits off Wang, and Myers is a lefty specialist, it makes some sense. EDIT: Granderson went just 1-3 against Wang, so no, I don't understand the move actually. Myers lasted one hitter, hanging a slider that was crushed into the bleachers.
Proctor came in and allowed 2 hits, both on fastballs. Fortunately, he fooled Ordonez (with 2 on) with a slider just enough to get the pop out.
Then I disagreed again with Torre for bringing in Farnsworth. Proctor had only thrown 9 pitches; I would have at least let him start the 8th, and then have Farnsworth as backup. If he gets through the 8th, then at least Farnsworth is fresh for tomorrow. Now he can't be used. I expect Bruney to get some important innings if tomorrow's game is close.
Wang was good but not great. And the bullpen basically did their job, 2.1 ip, 1 er. But there's not enough you can say about DJ. If not for him, we might be looking at a loss.
Bad games at the plate for Matsui and Cano, going 0-8 with 9 left-on-base. Cano saw only 8 pitches in the game! If you're going to go 0-4, at least make the pitcher work a little.
I read the AP recap, and they wrote: "[Arod] was a quiet 1-4." Excuse me? Did you watch the game? Yes he only got 1 hit, but could have easily had 3. He hit two bullets, unfortunately they were right at defenders. Most other times, instead of a 'quiet 1-4,' he's got a 'great 3-4.' Rather unfair by the AP.
8-4 Yanks (up 1-0)
hmmmm..., who gets my 3*? Very tough.
3*: A. Phillips, 0-1
Just kidding.
3*: Jeter, 5-5, HR, 2 2b, 3 r, rbi, sb
2: Wang, 6.2 ip, 8 h, 3 er, 1 bb, 4 k
2: Abreu, 2-5, 2b, r, 4 rbi
1: Giambi, 1-1, HR, r, 2 rbi, bb, 2 hbp
Top 1
Wang vs. Granderson (fastball=sinker for Wang)
fastball, foul, 0-1
fastball, foul, 0-2
change, outside, 1-2
change, foul, 1-2
fastball, fly out 7 - 1 out
Polanco
fb, low/outside, 1-0
fb, strike called, 1-1 (if he gets that pitch, it should be a good night)
fb, groundout 1-3 - 2 out
Casey
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, groundout 4-3 - 3 out
10 pitches
Bottom 1
Robertson vs. Damon
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, strike called, 1-1
slider, groundout 4-3 - 1 out
Jeter
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, single, line drive to left - runner on 1st
Abreu
fb, high, 1-0
fb, strike called, 1-1
fb, groundout 5-6 - 2 out, runner on 1st
Sheffield
fb, strike called, 0-1
change, low, 1-1
change, outside, 2-1
slider, inside, 3-1
change, foul, 3-2
fb, fly out 8 - 3 out
14 pitches
Top 2
Ordonez
fb, strike swinging, 0-1
slider, double, line drive to left - runner on 2nd (hanging slider)
Guillen
fb, low, 1-0
fb, outside, 2-0 (c'mon, don't fall behind)
fb, outside, 3-0
fb, foul, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, low/inside, walk - runners on 1st & 2nd
Irod
fb, low, 1-0 (got to throw strikes)
fb, strike swinging, 1-1, attempted steal, runner nailed at 3rd - 1 out, runner on 2nd
slider, strike swinging, 1-2
fb, outside, 2-2
fb, strike swinging, k - 2 out
Monroe
slider, groundout 6-3 - 3 out
14 pitches
24 total
Bottom 2
Giambi
fb, hit-by-pitch - runner on 1st
Arod
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, outside, 1-1
slider, low, 2-1
slider, strike called, 2-2 (borderline high)
fb, high, 3-2 (nice, working the count)
slider, foul, 3-2
fb, foul, 3-2 (oooh, good swing)
fb, line out 4 - 1 out (hit well, but right at Polanco)
Matsui
fb, pop out 7 - 2 out (why swinging on the 1st pitch?)
Posada
fb, foul, 0-1 (better than popping out)
fb, single, grounder up the middle - runners on 1st & 2nd
Cano
fb, groundout 5-3 - 3 out (Cano and his impatience...)
13 pitches
27 total
Top 3
Thames
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2
slider, double, ripped down the left field line - runner on 2nd (Matsui fucked that play)
Inge
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, foul, 0-2
fb, groundout 5-3 - 1 out
Granderson
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, low/outside, 1-1
fb, single, grounder to right - runners on 1st & 3rd
Polanco
pickoff
fb, inside, 1-0 (wow. that's a strike. he called a worse pitch a strike in inning 1)
fb, groundout 6-4-3 GDP - 3 out (nice play all around; Jeter, Cano & Sheff all earning their $)
11 pitches
35 total
Bottom 3
Damon
slider, strike called, 0-1
change, low, 1-1
fb, inside, 2-1
slider, foul, 2-2
fb, single (really an E-1, a squibber mishandled by Robertson) - runner on 1st
Jeter
fb, strike called, 0-1
pickoff
slider, strike swinging, 0-2
fb, high, 1-2
fb, inside, 2-2 (wow. I wont argue but that looked like a strike to me)
slider, low, 3-2
fb, double, liner to left - runners on 2nd & 3rd
Abreu
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1
slider, double, line drive to right center - 2 runs in, runner on 2nd
Sheffield
slider, single, line drive to right center - 1 run in, runner on 1st
Giambi
pickoff (on Sheffield?!)
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, strike called, 0-2 (at least he's working the count)
pickoff
slider, way outside, 1-2
slider, foul, 1-2 (hit well into the upper deck)
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, HR, turned on an inside fb, just got over the right-center wall - 2 runs in
Arod
slider, high, 1-0 (Robertson might be unnerved)
slider, single, liner over the SS (Arod peeked at that very spot before the pitch) - runner on 1st
Matsui
fb, low in the dirt, 1-0
slider, strike called, 1-1
fb, fly out 8 - 1 out (2nd time he's a bit late on the fb)
Posada
pickoff
fb, high/inside, 1-0
fb, inside, 2-0 (borderline, a ball because he's struggling)
change, low, 3-0
fb, fly out 9 - 2 out (great running catch by Ordonez in the corner; swinging 3-0?!)
Cano
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, fly out 7 - 3 out (got a bit under it)
32 pitches
59 total
5-0 Yanks
Top 4
Casey
fb, foul, 0-1
fb, strike swinging, 0-2 (don't give up a hit here. you've given up enough 0-2 hits already on bad sliders)
fb, outside, 1-2
fb, fly out 7 - 1 out
Ordonez
fb, pop out 9 - 2 out (nice, a 1 pitch out; two fly outs in 1 inning?)
Guillen
fb, strike called, 0-1 (that pitch moved A LOT, from inside corner to outside corner)
fb, outside, 1-1
fb, double, line drive grounder just wide of 3rd - runner on 2nd
Irod
slider, strike swinging, 0-1 (nice start-off pitch)
fb, strike swinging, 0-2
fb, foul, 0-2 (just got a piece)
slider, outside, 1-2
fb, low/outside, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2 (again just got a piece)
slider, strike swinging, k - 3 out
15 pitches
50 total
Bottom 4
Damon
fb, strike called, 0-1
slider, fly out 7 - 1 out
Jeter
slider, single, liner over the 2b - runner on 1st (wow, 3 hits already for DJ)
Abreu
FOX didn't show pitch 1 (interviewing Torre), outside, 1-0 (borderline)
fb, inside, 2-0 (borderline)
fb, strike called, 2-1
fb, high, 3-1, failed hit & run, Jeter out at 2nd - 2 out (pitch was way too high to hit)
fb, fly out 7 - 3 out
8 pitches
67 total
Top 5
Monroe
fb, low/outside, 1-0
fb, strike swinging, 1-1
slider, low/outside, 2-1
fb, HR, just to left of the 408 sign - 1 run in (that fb was very straight)
Thames
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, inside, 1-1 (borderline)
slider, low/outside, 2-1
fb, groundout 6-3 - 1 out
Inge
fb, single, jam shot to right center - runner on 1st
Granderson
fb, strike swinging, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1
fb, fly out 7 - 2 out (got under it somehow)
Polanco
fb, high/inside, 1-0
fb, double, hit the right field chalk - 1 run in, runner on 2nd
Casey
fb, low, 1-0
fb, double, line drive to left center - 1 run in, runner on 2nd (that fb started too high, and broke right into the heart of the plate)
Ordonez
slider, strike called, 0-1
slider, low/outside, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, strike swinging, k - 3 out
20 pitches
70 total
5-3 Yanks
Bottom 5
Sheffield
change, low, 1-0
fb, low, 2-0
fb, strike called, 2-1 (borderline outside)
slider, low/outside, 3-1
change, pop out 4 - 1 out (fooled)
Giambi
slider, strike called, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1 (borderline outside)
slider, foul, 1-2 (setting up a fb?)
fb, hit-by-pitch - runner on 1st (Giambi's 2nd hbp!)
Arod
fb, strike called, 0-1 (borderline outside)
fb, strike swinging, 0-2
fb, high, 1-2 (borderline high)
fb, strike called, k - 2 out (borderline inside)
Matsui
fb, foul, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
slider, inside, 2-2, Giambi steals 2nd! - runner on 2nd (he wasn't being held)
slider, groundout 1-3 - 3 out
18 pitches
85 total
Top 6
Guillen
fb, outside, 1-0 (borderline)
change, low, 2-0
fb, outside, 3-0 (borderline)
fb, strike called, 3-1
fb, strike called, 3-2 (inside, same spot)
fb, groundout 4-3 - 1 out
Irod
fb, outside, 1-0 (stop falling behind)
fb, strike swinging, 1-1 (mistake high fb that Irod swung through)
fb, groundout 6-3 - 2 out
Monroe
fb, strike swinging, 0-1
slider, outside, 1-1 (borderline)
fb, low, 2-1
fb, groundout 5-4 - 3 out (THAT'S A WANG INNING)
13 pitches
83 total
Bottom 6
Posada
fb, strike called, 0-1 (borderline outside)
slider, groundout 5-3 - 1 out
Cano
fb, groundout 1-5-3 - 2 out (squibber deflected off Robertson's glove, Inge fielded and fired)
Damon
fb, foul, 0-1 (early, crushed)
fb, foul, 0-2 (late)
fb, inside, 1-2
slider, foul, 1-2 (just got a piece)
fb, single, liner over the SS - runner on 1st
Jeter
fb, high/inside, 1-0 (borderline)
fb, double, lined over the 3b - runners on 2nd & 3rd (wow, 4 hits!)
Abreu
fb, single, seeing eye grounder between 1b & 2b - 2 runs in, runner on 1st
96 pitches for Robertson
Grilli vs. Sheffield
pickoff, overthrow, E-1 - runner on 2nd
slider, outside, 1-0
fb, groundout 6-3 - 3 out
7-3 Yanks (nice 2-out rally)
Top 7
Thames
slider, strike swinging, 0-1
fb, strike called, 0-2
fb, inside, 1-2
fb, strike swinging, k - 1 out
Inge
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, low, 1-1
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, foul, 1-2
fb, low/outside, 2-2
fb, groundout 4-3 - 2 out
93 pitches for Wang
Myers vs. Granderson
slider, outside, 1-0
fb, strike called, 1-1
slider, strike swinging, 1-2
slider, low, 2-2
fb, foul, 2-2
slider, HR, crushed into the right center bleachers - 1 run in (great move Joe)
Proctor vs. Polanco
fb, strike called, 0-1
fb, single, lined to right center - runner on 1st
Casey
fb, high/outside, 1-0
change?, way outside, 2-0
fb, strike swinging, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
fb, single, turned on an inside fb - runners on 1st & 3rd
Ordonez
slider, foul, 0-1
slider, fly out 8 - 3 out (out in front)
7-4 Yanks
Bottom 7
Walker vs. Giambi
fb, high, 1-0
slider, called, 1-1
slider, outside, 2-1
fb, outside, 3-1
fb, called, 3-2
slider, outside (borderline), walk - runner on 1st
Arod
fb, foul, 0-1
slider, low, 1-1
slider, swing, 1-2 (way out in front)
fb, line out 9 - 1 out (again killed it, but right at Ordonez)
Matsui
slider, crushed foul, 0-1
fb, called, 1-1
slider, outside, 2-1
fb, foul, 2-2
PO
slider, groundout 4-6 - 2 out
Posada
slider, foul, 0-1 (just missed it)
fb, single, liner to center - runners on 1st & 3rd (Matsui barely safe at 3rd)
Cano
fb, called, 0-1
slider, swing, 0-2 (another slider coming?)
slider, way outside, 1-2
fb, fly out 9 - 3 out (jammed on inside fb)
Top 8
Farnsworth vs. Guillen (why not let Proctor start the inning?)
fb, low, 1-0 (get some control please)
fb, inside, 2-0 (wow. that was a clear strike to me)
fb, low, 3-0 (borderline. he wont get that call until he throws strike 1)
fb, outside, walk - runner on 1st
Irod
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, outside, 2-0 (borderline. the ump wants him to groove one before he gives him any close calls)
fb, called, 2-1
fb, fly out 7 - 1 out (I thought that was a HR for sure)
Monroe
fb, low, 1-0
PO
fb, called, 1-1
slider, low, 2-1
fb, swing, 2-2
slider, called, k - 2 out
Thames
slider, low/outside, 1-0
fb, outside, 2-0
fb, outside, 3-0 (borderline)
fb, called, 3-1
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, foul, 3-2
fb, foul, 3-2 (pulled it, at 94 mph!)
slider, pop out 6 - 3 out (got him out in front on a risky slider)
Bottom 8
Damon
fb, called, 0-1
slider, low/outside, 1-1
slider, foul, 1-2 (just missed a hanger)
fb, inside, 2-2 (borderline)
fb, foul, 2-2 (defensive swing)
slider, foul, 2-2 (def. swing)
fb, called, k (borderline) - 1 out
Jeter
slider, high, 1-0
slider, foul, 1-1
slider, HR, hanging slider belted just to the left of dead center (holy shit. 5-5!!!)
Abreu
fb, high, 1-0
slider, low/outside, 2-0
fb, groundout 3 - 2 out
Phillips
fb, low, 1-0
slider, swing, 1-1
slider, foul, 1-2 (missed a double down the left field line by inches)
fb, outside, 2-2
slider, fly out 8 - 3 out
8-4 Yanks
Top 9
Rivera vs. Inge (fastball=cutter for Rivera)
fb, high, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
fb, low, 2-1
fb, swing, 2-2
fb, high/outside, 3-2 (c'mon, dont walk him)
fb, pop out 3 - 1 out
Granderson
fb, inside, 1-0
fb, called, 1-1
fb, single, jam shot to left - runner on 1st
Polanco
fb, inside, 1-0 (how about a GDP to end the game?)
fb, called, 1-1
fb, groundout 6-4-3 GDP - 3 out
BALLGAME
8-4 Yanks
ALDS 1-0 Yanks
