Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees GameThread, May 7, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game #35 - Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 6:29 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 52 comments

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees, May 7, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Grady Sizemore, CF
Ben Francisco, RF
David Dellucci, LF
Victor Martinez, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
Casey Blake, 1B
Kelly Shoppach, C
Andy Marte, 3B

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
Cliff Lee	5-0	5	5	1	1	0	0	37.2	19	5	4	1	2	32	0.96	.56

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Shelley Duncan, 1B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Melky Cabrera, CF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Morgan Ensberg, 3B
Jose Molina, C

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
Chien-Ming Wang	6-0	7	7	1	0	0	0	45.0	38	15	15	1	13	32	3.00	1.13

PREGAME NOTES:

Care to guess who currently ranks #2 in the AL in hitting? It's none other than Hideki Matsui (.342), trailing only Victor Martinez (.347) of the Tribe.
Pete Abe reports that A-Rod feels no pain after working out today doing sprints and taking grounders before hitting the cage. A-Rod, along with Hughes and Posada, is expected to head to Tampa tomorrow and will likely see some extended Spring Training games on Monday and Tuesday. If all goes as planned and there are no setbacks, he's expected to be activated next Wednesday.
In a rather impressive feat, Chien-Ming Wang has made 34 starts during his career following a Yankee loss and the team is 27-7 in those games, including the past 11 in a row. Coming into tonight, opponents are 0 for their last 15 against Wang w/ RISP.
Cliff Lee is a lifetime 2-3, 6.82 ERA in 6 starts against the Yanks, including 1-2, 8.73 ERA in 3 starts at Yankee Stadium.
Wang is a lifetime 3-1, 2.73 ERA in 4 starts against the Tribe, including an outstanding 1-0 victory over Sabathia on April 27.
Yanks' career numbers vs. Lee can be viewed here. Tribe career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.

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who killed cliff lee

and took over his body?

by Clutch like Leyritz on May 7, 2008 7:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lord Voldemort ?

by Raven King on May 9, 2008 5:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wang ain't too sharp tonight

I sure hope he settles down.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's looking better this inning,

(knock on wood)—let’s hope it continues. It seems like runs may be hard to come by today for the Bronx

by NYinCalifornia on May 7, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Cone and Flaherty both made the point that he looks much more comfortable now and is getting into a groove.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow...

I really like the “new and improved” wang.

Looking at Fransico’s at bat…

87 mph change outside
86 mph slider outside
93 mph fastball way outside (ball)
92 mph fastball on the hands

So he saw three different pitches in his at bat, all coming in at about the same speed, (they were all within 5 mph of each other) but three very different breaks on them. He missed that second pitch because he thought it was a second changeup only to have it be a slider.

Thats cool, very cool.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That splitter to strike out Sizemore

was flat out nasty as well.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep commenting on those pitches please!

Unfortunately i can’t watch the game, so I’m following this online.

by NYinCalifornia on May 7, 2008 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got all my info from MLB's gameday

I’m in the le moyne college library… final’s week

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad those days are over for me

College was a helluva lot of fun, but I don’t miss finals week.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny, I'm in the library at school too

Cal’s final week starts next week, but it’s crunch time.

by NYinCalifornia on May 7, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He mixed his pitches so neatly against other batters

then throws cabrera 7 straight fastballs.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am more interested in this lineup

Shelley Duncan hitting 4th? I mean I know he hit well for a week last year and that he rocked AAA this year, but Melky Cabrera is having a great season this year in the majors.

I think Matsui who is 2nd in batting in the American League should be batting 4th, or if you really want to have a righty in the middle it should be the Melk man.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think a lot of people would have you committed

if you had suggested Melky hitting clean up just a few weeks ago.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am not saying for the

whole season, but for a single game while melky is in a hot streak, I would take him over Shelly Duncan.

There are hidden gems, but most people who languish in the minors their entire careers do so because they just aren’t that good.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Girardi often tries to out think logic and tinkers with the lineup far too much. Pick a damn lineup and stick with it for several games.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather him shift around a lineup than

do what Joe Torre used to do. Alot of times it seemed like he made a lineup, and if someone had to miss thier start he would simply plug their replacement into the batters spot in the order. Johnny Damon misses a start and Melky leads off. Jeter misses a start and Cairo ends up in the two whole. That used to drive me crazy.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand the changes against lefties

but Girardi has had 24 different lineups against 25 right handers too. Right now, especially since they are having trouble scoring runs, there is no need to sit Matsui, Damon, or Melky.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

IDK the position players on the yankees are old

I would definately agree with you that there is no need to sit melky, but sitting Giambi, Matsui, Damon, Jeter, I am all for rotating giving them days off.

I mean whats the point of going out and getting a decent bench if you aren’t going to use them. The old guys need the time off, maybe they will be a little bit fresher by the time we reach the end of the season.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a problem with that

But the team is at a major disadvantage without A-Rod and Posada. I don’t have a problem with sitting Giambi because he’s playing like the other team is paying him anyways.

Girardi sat Matsui twice last weekend against the Tribe when he had an 8-game hit streak going. He sat Damon in the midst of bringing his average up 100 points over a 10 game span. Seems a little counterproductive to sit them while they’re red hot.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Abreu started hot and hasn’t been quite the same since the first time he sat early in the season. That’s not to say he would have continued at the same pace but he was their hottest hitter. Sit them when they need a break not to kill momentum. I also agree that Giambi plays like the other team is paying him.

by Rusty23 on May 7, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now I am not positive

but wasn’t the first time Abreu sat against a tough lefty? I fully support sitting Abreu against tough lefties because it has seemed that he can go into terrible slumps after facing a lefty. I remember RAB doing a piece on it, but I don’t have the energy to look it up right now.

Native American History is kicking my butt right now. I just proofread my paper, ouch. Big Foot was the leader of the Ghost Dancers who got massacred at Wounded Knee, Little Foot was the baby dinosaur in Land Before Time. Long night.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 8, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The manager

from The Natural handled his lineup the same way. When Malamud does it, it’s satire; when Torre does it, it’s stupid.

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

by jscape2000 on May 8, 2008 6:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do agree that Matsui should be hitting #4 until A-Rod comes back

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah at least untill

he shows some signs of slowing down.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just looking at the line

but does Wang seem to be a little out of whack again this inning?

by NYinCalifornia on May 7, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he is definately

gutting out a start with his B stuff, if thats what you mean

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For a right fielder...

Abreu doesn’t have much more than an average throwing arm. Seems like he should’ve had more juice on that ball since he was throwing from short RF.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not very accurate either

His throws always seem to be up the line.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on May 7, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’ve been firmly on the “let Abreu walk” bandwagon after this season.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matsui is horrible too

but he’s not afraid of the wall and his arm, while weaker, is much more accurate plus he has a quicker release.

In a place like the Stadium, where you don’t really need a cannon arm in RF, Matsui might be the better option. At least a couple of days a week anyway. There’s too much ground to cover in LF in the bronx – leave that to Damon.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on May 7, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be opposed to

signing Abreu for another year. I think after that we might have one of the prospects able to take over one of the outfield spots.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think there's a chance in hell

that Abreu signs a one-year deal. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see it.

I’d rather sign a stop gap until one of the kids like Jackson is ready – perhaps in 2010.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

As long as he keeps hitting, and there’s no reason to think he won’t, Abreu is gonna get paid well by somebody. It might be the Yanks, but I don’t see it.

If they get a bopper to play first, they could probably get away with Damon, Melky and Matsui as the everyday outfield for a season.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on May 7, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Is Teixeira a free agent at the end of this season? I would like to see him here next year if he is.

by bronxbound on May 7, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't disagree with that

However, and this is something the Yanks need to think about, is where does Jeter play when his range continues to diminish?

If they sign a guy like Teixeira, Jeter can’t be moved to 1B for the foreseeable future.

It will be a very interesting story to watch.

by anaconda on May 7, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 on base, no outs.

Not a good day for Wang

by NYinCalifornia on May 7, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nope. But not that bad either.

It could be worse. We need some runs.

by bronxbound on May 7, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is the bullpen rested enough

to let Wang be done for tonight? Or should we run him out there for a 6th inning. He is only at 86 pitches, but I forsee bad things happening if we put him back out there.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 7, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs