Game #77 - New York Yankees @ Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Yankees @ Pittsburgh Pirates
NEW YORK YANKEES

Melky Cabrera, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Álex Rodríguez, 3B
Jason Giambi, 1B
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Justin Christian, LF
PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Nate McLouth, CF
Freddy Sanchez, 2B
Jason Bay, LF
Ryan Doumit, C
Adam LaRoche, 1B
Doug Mientkiewicz, RF
Jose Bautista, 3B
Jack Wilson, SS
PREGAME NOTES:
Johnny Damon is out of the lineup because has a problem with the arch in his foot and is expected to miss a couple of games.
Hideki Matsui is out of the lineup because he has had issues with his left knee lately and Girardi doesn't want him playing the field.
Yanks have promoted speedy outfielder Justin Christian from Scranton. For those not familiar with him, he's generally viewed as a non-prospect at 28 yrs old, but he can really motor and always a base-stealing threat.
He is also a right-handed bat - which is likely the primary reason why he got the call over Brett Gardner. They also want Gardner to play every day instead of sitting on the bench at the big league level.
Chad Jennings has a great piece on Christian here. To make room for Christian, Billy Traber has been demoted once again to Scranton.
Don't look now, but the Yanks have won their last 4 games against lefty starters and 8 of their last 10.
Darrell Rasner has never faced the Pirates.
Tom Gorzelanny is a lifetime 0-0, 5.68 ERA, 1.42 WHIP in one start against the Yanks.
Pirates' hitters vs. Rasner can be viewed here Yanks' hitters vs. Gorzelanny can be viewed here.
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Comments
Grrr
If Matsui and Damon are on the bench, then Gardner’s lefty bat won’t really unsettle the lineup, will it?
You know, the media portrayed the choice between Mattingly and Girardi as a choice between Torre II and brilliant energetic manager of the year. I’m starting to think that what we got was Torre minus ice cream.
I think we got the wrong guy.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 6:44 PM EDT 0 recs
Followup
Gardner: .295/.411/.444 29SB 8CS
Christian: .309/.360/.455 18SB 3 CS
They’re the same player, but Gardner gets on base (doesn’t make an out) an extra 5% of his PA, is fast, and is 4 years younger.
Christian is a great story- an indy ball refugee in his final shot at the bigs, I’m not denying that. But we’ve got a better player at AAA who could be getting MLB ABs this week. If we sent him down to make room for Ponson on Friday would it really be such a detriment to his maturation?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 6:58 PM EDT
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I don't get why Melky is leading off
He’s got NL pitcher-esque numbers against lefties (.218 /.303 /.333) and doesn’t get on base when he’s not hitting. Seems kind of moronic to me.
Girardi and the organization seems blind to Melky’s lack of production.
by anaconda on
Jun 24, 2008 6:58 PM EDT
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Melky
“doesn’t get on base”...
Stats are great to analyze the season, but game to game anything can happen.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:07 PM EDT 0 recs
without Damon, who would you lead off?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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eh
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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Damn straight
My ideal lineup (in general) runs:
Jeter, Abreu, Arod, Giambi, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Melky, Damon.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:15 PM EDT
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Unreal....
C’mon, Jeter. The pitcher throws 6 of 7 pitches out of the zone and you swing on 2-0?
That’s Cano and Melky-esque.
by anaconda on Jun 24, 2008 7:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Sickening
Gorzelanny threw 12 of 19 pitches out of the zone that inning. Yet, he only faced 4 hitters.
by anaconda on Jun 24, 2008 7:15 PM EDT 0 recs
And
that was not a good sign for a first pitch from Rasner.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:16 PM EDT
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Rasner's
got a ton of sink on his pitches.
It might be a night for Posada to hold the glove in the center of the plate and then go get it, whereever it goes.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:18 PM EDT 0 recs
Another reason
to want Gardner over Christian.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:19 PM EDT 0 recs
Sigh...
It wasn’t a good throw, but Cano should have snagged it.
by anaconda on
Jun 24, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
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Alright LaRoche
You hurt my fantasy team last year-
you owe me an out right now.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:22 PM EDT 0 recs
Depends how he recovers
if he can sit down with Jorge and Eiland between innings and adjust the game plan to the way his stuff is moving then the magic continues.
If he can’t, then we’re depending on the bullpen to keep us close.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:26 PM EDT
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Wait
I just caught this: Minky is playing RF? Maybe we should consider trading for him…
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:29 PM EDT 0 recs
And he's hitting .244, 1 HR, 18 RBI
Those are JD Drew numbers from last season.
by anaconda on
Jun 24, 2008 7:34 PM EDT
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OBP?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:37 PM EDT
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Mmm
Rasner magic… delicious.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:39 PM EDT 0 recs
Rasner batting magic
That’s like gourmet cooking.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:42 PM EDT
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No argument here
If it were my team, that might be a rule- if the guy in front of you walks, you’re not allowed to swing until he throws a strike.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
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I
would like to get my hand on it no matter what.
grrr… Abreu, another DP.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 7:48 PM EDT
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So I just realized
I forgot to do a Bronx Bound this week.
Humberto Sanchez is finally active. He went 0.2IP 1H 1R 1BB for the rookie league Gulf Coast Yankees today.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 7:49 PM EDT 0 recs
Now A-Rod swinging at the first pitch
Do they want to go home early tonight or something?
by anaconda on Jun 24, 2008 8:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Cano
gets a hit with Posada running?
I guess beggers can’t be chosers.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 8:06 PM EDT 0 recs
this seems like little league stuff
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:07 PM EDT
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Is that
2 walks for Rasner?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 8:10 PM EDT 0 recs
2
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:11 PM EDT
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unbelievable
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on Jun 24, 2008 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs
This is a game of luck
as well as a game of skill.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:12 PM EDT
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Via LoHud
Just spoke to one of the Japanese reporters who follow Matsui. They watch his batting practice swings pretty closely and Matsui was favoring his left knee quite a bit. He also had it wrapped up before the game.
Godzilla is obviously a gamer but this injury appears to be something fairly significant.
Gardner Gardner Gardner.
When he finally gets the call, you can count on a Grendel reference.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 8:16 PM EDT 0 recs
Gah
5-1
So much for Rasner,
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs
he's trying
to make sure IPK gets called back up
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
by Cbeck3 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:24 PM EDT
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Sigh...
tonight ranks up there with that Baltimore game as the low point of the season. They couldn’t look worse.
by anaconda on Jun 24, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs
Plenty of time
fpr the offense to wake up. They have to…
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:22 PM EDT
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Juan Pierre
but able to work the count and take a walk.
Good range, average arm, great eye and OBP, below average power.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:26 PM EDT
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Sounds good
So do you think with Matsui hobbling around, do we see him soon?
by MedFan on
Jun 24, 2008 8:28 PM EDT
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Apparently not
I still want to see Daniel McCutchen (righty starting pitcher).
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:33 PM EDT
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We need to score more runs with the way this gorzlanny guy pitches.....
And walks our guys….
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:24 PM EDT 0 recs
MLB average this year
is to score 36.6% of all baserunners. We’re at 11.1%,
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:31 PM EDT
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I hate it...
How do we make horrible pitchers like this clown look so good.
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs
If we want to get back in this game why is Rasner still pitching?
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs
They are short on starters already
Rasner is going to have to bite the bullet and eat some innings.
by anaconda on
Jun 24, 2008 8:31 PM EDT
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Anaconda
Its just painful watching this whole debacle…....
by MedFan on
Jun 24, 2008 8:31 PM EDT
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Either
he’s tipping his pitches or the league has scouted him enough to figure him out.
Either way, it’s time to take Rasner out.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Jun 24, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs
Put in Ohlie
Lets just pull everyone, we folding like a cheap suit tonight…...
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:36 PM EDT 0 recs
I'd save Ohly
Put in LaTroy…
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:40 PM EDT
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I don't know about him?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:38 PM EDT
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Jscape2000
I have to put my faith in someone. Who do you honestly think is the best pitcher of the Trinity?
by MedFan on
Jun 24, 2008 8:42 PM EDT
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If he's uninjured
Hughes.
As things stand, Joba.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:43 PM EDT
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I like Hughes
I love his control, and I think that his command of his 3rd and 4th pitches (for Hughes, change and slider) are better than Joba’s command of his 3 and 4 (change and curve).
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:45 PM EDT
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Do you think he is gonna be good to go when he comes back?
by MedFan on
Jun 24, 2008 8:47 PM EDT
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I hope so
But I don’t really know anything more than you do.
He obviously had some flaws in his delivery and his approach early this year.
Does he need to move to a more over the top delivery? Does he need to vary his arm angles? Does he need to adjust the frequency of his secondary pitches? All of the above? None? Some combination?
I can only guess at those, and it’s what Hughes and the Yanks decide to do that will determine his effectiveness.
For my money, I think a wider variety of arm angles and a different pitch frequency could right the ship.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:51 PM EDT
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I just thought I would ask.....
I really respect Anaconda and yourself, you both have a wealth of information for this Yankee fan from Oregon. I have a tough time getting to watch any Yankee games, Stupid black out rules.
by MedFan on
Jun 24, 2008 8:53 PM EDT
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I hear you
I’m getting ready to move to North Carolina- I’ve already started to check out different cable packages.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 9:01 PM EDT
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Take off
the Hughes beer goggles. It ain’t even close. Hughes is a good pitcher when he’s healthy, but Joba makes hitters look anemic.
"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death
by matthaggs on
Jun 24, 2008 9:35 PM EDT
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Maybe
But I watch that curve, and I saw last season when Hughes gave up 64 hits in 73 innings in 13 starts.
I think that’s closer to the real Hughes than the six starts 22 innings 34 hits that we’ve seen this season.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 9:39 PM EDT
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Nowhere near
The Yanks are saying mid August, so I’m saying September.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:47 PM EDT
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Who is the Number 1 Starter next year?
I really CMW but I just wonder if one of these two Phil or Joba?
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:49 PM EDT 0 recs
Wang
unless Joba shows that he can go 7 innings in nearly every start.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:52 PM EDT
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From the start of last season
Wang has averaged 6.54 innings per start. Joba has to do that or better.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:53 PM EDT
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Ok if we score 2 runs an inning
We can Win lets go Yankee’s
by MedFan on Jun 24, 2008 8:56 PM EDT 0 recs
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime....
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 8:59 PM EDT
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Hmm
I guess you can’t post youtubes into the comments…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g76HLHzobDc
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on
Jun 24, 2008 9:00 PM EDT
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