Tampa Bay @ New York GameThread, Apr 6, 2008 1:05 PM EDT

Game #6 - Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 12:30 PM EDT in Game Threads

Tampa Bay @ New York

Tampa Bay Rays

Akinori Iwamura, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Carlos Peňa, 1B
B.J. Upton, CF
Cliff Floyd, DH
Eric Hinske, RF
Willy Aybar, 3B
Shawn Riggans, C
Jason Bartlett, SS

James Shields, RHP (1-0, 2.57 ERA)

New York Yankees

Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Álex Rodríguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Robinson Canó, 2B
Jorge Posada, C
Wilson Betemit, 1B
Melky Cabrera, CF

Chein-Ming Wang, RHP (1-0, 2.57 ERA)

No surprise here, but Jason Giambi is out of the lineup with a sore left groin he sustained during yesterday's contest. Melky Cabrera makes his return to the lineup after serving his two-game suspension while Shelley Duncan will begin serving his two-game suspension.

Joe Girardi returns to the bench today after a rough couple of days. For those of you anticipating the premiere of the Joe Girardi Show after the game, you will have to wait another week because it was canceled this morning due to Girardi's illness.

Wang is a lifetime 6-4, 3.82 ERA in 11 starts against the Rays, including 2-1, 4.42 ERA in 3 starts in 2007. The pen could really use a break, especially with Moose on the hill tomorrow, so here's hoping CMW can go at least 6 IP.

Shields has been hammered by the Yankee offense during his young career (0-4, 8.58 ERA in 5 games) and includes some serious ass-whooping in 2007 (0-2, 14.46 ERA in 2 starts).

Yankees' career numbers vs. Shields can be viewed here. Rays' career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.

Finally, Ed Price of The Ledger calls out Yankee fans in a blog entry from yesterday.

Poll

How long will Jason Giambi be out of action?

0 recs | Comment 48 comments

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Comments

CMW

Still early, but it looks like Wang's got good movement...we need him to be a big performance out of him today

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 6, 2008 1:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Welcome

I like the avatar. Good 'ol Zim.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 1:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

hopefully they'll be able to

actually score today.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 1:31 PM EDT 0 recs

And draw some walks

Yesterday we drew 2 walks against 5 different rays pitchers (one of which was Edwin Jackson). Thats not Yankee Baseball

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 6, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

there he is

hopefully this gets hideki going.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 2:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Not to beat a dead horse but....

this YES crew would be a lot better sans Michael Kay.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 2:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Not as horrible...

as the White Sox announcers so that helps me keep him in perspective. Most of the time it's like I tune him out anway. Well, except today when he made an @$$ out of himself by asking Flash if he ever threw his cather's mask at an opposing player while running for a pop-up. Nice.

by Rusty23 on Apr 6, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Could be worse

I guess TBS will be airing national games on Sundays this year, which is a good thing (today its Halliday vs. Beckett, 2-2 in the 5th). The bad part is you have to listen to Chip Caray and Buck Martinez, who are gawd-awful.

Not a bad Sunday for baseball. Santana vs. Smoltz is also on here in NY right now.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 6, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't mind Chip Caray

Caray and Steve Stone (who is one of the most underrated color analysts in the game) did Cubs' games for a few years and did a pretty good job.

Chip seems inclined to follow his relatives when looking for broadcast jobs.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really?

Caray drove me (and I thought everyone else) nuts during last year's ALDS against the Tribe. I find him nauseating.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 6, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

agree with you

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Apr 6, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

ALDS wasn't his best work

Just saying he doesn't bother me in general.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

WTF....

Not the best throw from Jeter, but Cano should have made that play.

Fortunately, the Rays immediately helped them out with that failed squeeze play.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 2:35 PM EDT 0 recs

Sqeeze

What the heck is the point of a squeeze there??? You're a better manager then that, joe madden. That being said, Ill take it

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT 0 recs

what can you hope for

when the guy puts a career .708 OPS guy in the minors on his team.... and his most noticable achievement is steamrolling over a Yankee prospect in ST.

by RollingWave on Apr 7, 2008 4:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

TOR now up 6-2 Top 6th

Frank Thomas just connected for a grand slam.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 2:54 PM EDT 0 recs

beautiful

welcome back josh

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Apr 6, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

hooray

i wonder if del carmen will ever live up to the hype

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's early

but the Blue Jays aren't screwing around. It wouldn't completely surprise me if toward the end of this season we may are rooting for Boston to beat them, and not the other way around.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 6, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Certainly true

But Toronto has a injury laden track record that they can't seem to shake. Health is always a big issue for them - even more so than other competitive teams.

They seem to be everyone's favorite team in March and April until the injuries start piling up and key players miss significant playing time.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's the thing

They already are missing key guys and are playing well.

If/when Ryan comes back they'll have the best bullpen and rotation in the East, and maybe the league. Ryan is due back next week. They will then be able to go starter-Accardo-Ryan.

If/when Rolen comes back they'll have that additional hitter their lineup needs.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 6, 2008 3:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re:

I really don't put anymore stock in the Jays' first 5 games than I do the Yanks first 5 games.

Are the Jays a really talented team? Absolutely.

Do they have the makings (if healthy) of a dynamite rotation and very good bullpen? Absolutely.

But a lot of things have to go right for all of that to happen. This team has several players with long histories of health issues and I don't expect this season to be any different.

Hallday is outstanding, but he's had his share of injuries in recent years. I also think it's just a matter of time before Burnett does down.

The team is talented - no doubt. But I'm not ready to jump on that bandwagon until they prove something they haven't been able to prove the last few years.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Beckett's pitching line

4.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 6 K - 92 pitches

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 2:58 PM EDT 0 recs

that's a 2006 line for him

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Exactly...

Beckett hasn't been dominant in back-to-back season yet. I don't think he'll be the same pitcher this season.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Little deceving

because he left with the bases loaded and 2 out. Delcarmen came in and served up a grand slammer.

He was an out away from having a decent first start. Like Pettitte, he's really still in spring training.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 6, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wang

We could really learn something about Girardi with veteran pitchers today. How long do he let him go? Does he pull the plug at 100 pitches if he is still dealing?

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 6, 2008 3:06 PM EDT 0 recs

better get proctor up, joe

oh wait...

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Or Vizcaino...

Oops. Probably the best non-signing of the offseason.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well...it was his choice

but I could think of a lot better intro songs than "Shout at the Devil."

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Man, that's not even fair

#1 - Drops a good curve

#2 - 97 MPH heater at the knees on the outside corner

#3 - vintage nasty slider in the dirt

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:28 PM EDT 0 recs

hey boys

I've been away all weekend...just came home and turned on the telly to Joba time.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Apr 6, 2008 3:29 PM EDT 0 recs

this kid is unreal

i cant wait to see what he can do over 7 innings

by Clutch like Leyritz on Apr 6, 2008 3:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Joba

For a second inning?

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 6, 2008 3:33 PM EDT 0 recs

No doubt

Only threw 8 pitches that inning

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Joba

this kid is pretty good

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Apr 6, 2008 3:42 PM EDT 0 recs

JOBA

making it look easy

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Apr 6, 2008 3:42 PM EDT 0 recs

16 pitches, 6 outs

He keeps that up and we won't have to worry about the 8th inning in his games -- he'll be going 9.

by Jugwine on Apr 6, 2008 3:43 PM EDT 0 recs

I can't wait

to see him pitch a CG

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Apr 6, 2008 3:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Michael Kay

made me laugh out loud with that snorkel coat comment.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Apr 6, 2008 3:56 PM EDT 0 recs

yeah

silence from kenny and flash

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Apr 6, 2008 3:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

This didn't happen much last season

The 3 wins have been 3-2, 3-2, and 2-0.

It would be nice to get the offense going, though.

by anaconda on Apr 6, 2008 4:01 PM EDT 0 recs

the thing is

the pitching is working pretty well and the bats are not hot yet. But they will be and we all know it. So long as the pitching is working we have nothing to worry about.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Apr 6, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up 0 recs