Game #156 -- Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 12:36 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

Toronto Blue Jays

Reed Johnson, LF
Matt Stairs, RF
Álex Ríos, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Greg Zaun, C
Curtis Thigpen, 1B
Héctor Luna, 3B
John McDonald, SS

Jesse Litch, RHP (6-9, 4.16)

New York Yankees

Johnny Damon, DH
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, LF
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
Melky Cabrera, CF

Andy Pettitte, LHP (14-8, 3.79)

The next pitching change Joe Torre makes, the Yanks will set a new AL record with 455 pitching changes (and counting) in a season. The previous record of 454 was held by the Texas Rangers in 2003 -- a team that finished with a record of 71-91.

Pettitte has been dominant against the Jays during his career (16-8, 4.10 ERA in 32 games) and has been excellent again this season (1-1, 2.25 ERA in 3 starts). Yanks have won 9 of his last 10 starts (8-1, 3.12 ERA).

As Jscape already noted, the Yanks do indeed catch a break because scheduled starter A.J. Burnett went home for personal reasons and has been replaced by Jesse Litsch. No doubt this development will piss off RSN because Litsch has not pitched well against the Yanks this season (0-1, 12.71 ERA in 2 starts).

Yankees' career numbers vs. Litsch can be viewed here. Jays' career numbers vs. Pettitte can be viewed here.

The featured graphic for today's game is an alternate jersey logo of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1994 to 1996.

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Comments

this day game is killin me!

i got classes to go to!

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Sep 24, 2007 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

where do you go to school?

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Vassar college...

in Poughkeepsie (my hometown as well) where, despite being a mere 65 miles north of Yankee stadium, most people could care less about what the yankees do.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Sep 24, 2007 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha....

I've been a Midwest guy myself.

Purdue University -- Class of '99.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

how the yankees fandom then?

family from the area? lived here before? just love for the greatest sports franchise ever?

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Sep 24, 2007 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Donnie Baseball

I was a huge fan of Mattingly beginning in 1984 and the team grew on me.

Same thing happened with Dan Marino because I idolized him and the team grew on me.

Unfortunately, the Dolphins suck now and have sucked for a few years.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

My brother was concession manager for the Dolphins

in those days. He has a couple of superbowl rings.

Seeing teams like the dolphins fall on hard times makes the Yanks sustained success more remarkable. To succeed in sports you need smart coaches and smart player personnel people.

The Opera ain't over til the fat lady sings

by Cbeck3 on Sep 24, 2007 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

No question....

Parity is also far greater in the NFL than in MLB with the salary cap and all of that stuff.

The Dolphins haven't been the same since Marino retired and haven't had anyone stable at that position for several years now.

It didn't help that they had one of the worst coaches in the league with Dave Wannstedt after Jimmy Johnson skipped town.

They got screwed by Nick Saban last season as well when he left for Alabama.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

i too, unfortunately am a

fins fan.. rough year.. also a notre dame fan-- sure you get a kick outta that..

now you see why it is absolutely necessary for me for the yanks to do it this year.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Sep 24, 2007 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You're in college?

You don't have to go to class, you know. It's college, right?

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Sep 24, 2007 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

haha

back from class.... I would have learned more from watching the yankees than I did in class.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Sep 24, 2007 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Setting that particular AL record ain't something to write home about. Definitely a tribute to the offense that we're still contending.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Sep 24, 2007 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

re:

dare I say the this record might suggest Torre did a good job handling the staff and bullpen? particularly the younger pitchers? ... or will the naysayers just say Torre got lucky?

(of course I concede he hasn't handled every instance right, but look at our record today. He must have done many things right.)

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Sep 24, 2007 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh, everyone will see this as

supporting their preconcieved opinions.

I think it means Torre, made a lot of pitching changes.

The Opera ain't over til the fat lady sings

by Cbeck3 on Sep 24, 2007 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Litsch

Having lucked into facing a crappy pitcher on their staff, I have no doubt he'll take a no-hitter into the 8th.
Yankees baseball: Making bad pitchers look good since 2002.

by SP on Sep 24, 2007 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Rumor has it....

that Ian Kennedy will be shutdown for at least the rest of the week -- if not the season.

Someone on another board said they heard it straight from Torre's mouth on the pre-game show but I didn't watch it.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

Alright

I'm home from work. They can start scoring now.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Sep 24, 2007 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Ah, Kay

Claims that Posada worked a walk on a 2-2 count because he didn't see the HPB.

by SP on Sep 24, 2007 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

All I can say is....

S-L-O-P-P-Y

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

This is sad

how are they gunna catch a break like this and shit the bed. Its pathetic to make this guy look this good.

It is HIGH! It is FAR! It is! GOOONNEEE!!!

by yankeesRfirst on Sep 24, 2007 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

Egad

I agree with Suzyn Waldmn! The Yankees should close next season at home against the Red Sox.

The schedule currently has us ending the season at Fenway.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Sep 24, 2007 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

Something must be

wrong with Gameday.

I just got out of a meeting, and it says the Yanks are down 4-0 in the 6th.

What's up with that?

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Sep 24, 2007 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

what did mussina say?

what are the YES guys talking about vis a vis Mussina's controversial comments?

by narcpress on Sep 24, 2007 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

LoHud confirms....

that Ian Kennedy has been shutdown for the remainder of the season.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Bummer

You think it's serious, or the Yanks are just being extra cautious?

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Sep 24, 2007 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like the latter....

He is already very close to his innings cap on the season, so I have to believe they are just being extra cautious with him.

I can't imagine upper back stiffness could be all that serious.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah,

I think if Moose melts down, he'll make a quick recovery.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Sep 24, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

and nothing to do with

his weeding-- scheduled for october 6th??

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Sep 24, 2007 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

*wedding

jesus i can't type today

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Sep 24, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Farnsworth

I guess Torre has written this off as a loss

by sambrightman on Sep 24, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

I certainly don't trust Farnsworth

but who else are you going to use in this situation?

He's going to be on the playoff roster and hasn't been out there much lately.

This was the perfect situation to put him out there.

by anaconda on Sep 24, 2007 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeter

There's been a good deal of discussion regarding his health and the impact it's had on his performance at the plate. I wonder how much his injuries have impacted his fielding?

I hate to say it, but he's had a dreadful year in the field by any measure. He's always had limited range, but combine that with an erratic arm and some shaky glove work this year and he ranks near the bottom of the league defensively among shortstops.

(Feel free to ignore the actual question and simply pummel me for daring to criticize the Captain)

"God, I just love baseball." - Robert Redford in The Natural

by uflyibuy on Sep 24, 2007 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

only thing i'd

disagree with is the range thing. when healthy he gets to a lot of balls in the whole

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Sep 24, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If you look at stats...

like "range factor" and "zone rating", Jeter ranks near the bottom of the league almost every year. We're used to him dazzling us with his flair for the dramatic (e.g. leaping pirouette from the backhand side), but this likely clouds our judgment--not to mention the fact that he's exceedingly likeable, marketable, and that he's the freaking Cap'n.

But, if you put any stock in the current metrics that are available to measure a fielder's range, than there's really no way to argue that Jeter has good range. He simply does not.

"God, I just love baseball." - Robert Redford in The Natural

by uflyibuy on Sep 24, 2007 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions