New York @ Texas GameThread, Aug 5, 2008 8:05 PM EDT

Game #113 - New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 6:59 PM EDT in Game Threads

New York @ Texas

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Álex Rodríguez, 3B
Xavier Nady, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Richie Sexson, 1B
Jose Molina, C
Justin Christian, CF

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
Andy Pettitte	12-8	23	23	0	0	0	0	144.1	157	74	67	16	36	111	4.18	1.34

TEXAS RANGERS

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Gerald Laird, C
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, DH
Marlon Byrd, CF
David Murphy, RF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Chris Davis, 1B
Travis Metcalf, 3B

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
Matt Harrison	2-2	5	5	0	0	0	0	24.1	31	24	20	4	14	4	7.40	1.85

PREGAME NOTES:

The Yankee bullpen has been horrific of late with a 7.34 ERA over their last 9 games.

Yanks have lost 6 of their last 9 after winning 8 straight.

Matt Harrison has never faced the Yanks or any of their hitters. He is 1-1, 6.91 ERA, 1.74 WHIP in 3 starts at home this season.

Andy Pettitte is a lifetime 9-7, 5.36 ERA, 1.59 WHIP 19 starts against the Rangers. He is 7-3, 3.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 11 starts on the road this season.

Rangers' hitters vs. Pettitte can be viewed here.

GIAMBI OUT, SEXSON IN: Here's another case of Joe Girardi overmanaging his starting lineup. I get that Harrison is a lefty and all - but he's an inexperienced lefty who has been absolutely dreadful and Giambi had his first good game last night in a month.

Seems a bit counter-productive if you ask me especially when you consider that Richie Sexson has been utterly useless during his short stint with the Yanks.

JOBA TO SEE DR. JAMES ANDREWS: Pete Abe reports that Joba Chamberlain did have his MRI today and is now headed to see uber-specialist Dr. James Andrews for a second option on his ailing shoulder.

Not surprisingly, Cashman and Co. would not release any further details on the MRI.

While this is certainly not good news, we shouldn't jump to conclusions and speculate on his future. The one thing we could probably count on is Joba going on the DL and missing at least a couple of starts. Postseason be damned, the Yanks will not take any chances on the crown jewel of their franchise.

I'm sure we'll find out more details tomorrow.

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Comments

Let's put the FU in Texas...

Why are Yankee pitchers suffering serious injuries in Texas?

Hughes last season. Wang in mid-June against the Astros. And now Joba again in Arlington.

Weird.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs

they’re still playing .647 ball since the break, which isn’t bad, if they can keep that up and win the games they are supposed too (last night, Ponson’s last start against the Angels) it should hopefully work out

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 7:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Is Dr. Andrews

a doctor that players who see end up having a larger problem?

by Dave Hunt on Aug 5, 2008 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Sometimes...

but not always. He tends to be the guy who confirms what the team doctors already know after reviewing the MRI.

Andrews is renowned as the top orthopaedic specialist in the sports world.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dr. Andrews is who you see when you are screwed for the season.

I hope we get it right next year

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

oh man

That is not what I wanted to hear. I assume he’s done for the year. If he needs surgery … I can’t even finish that sentence. This year can’t end fast enough.

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Giambi not playing

Giambi is actually better against lefties than righties this year, but try telling that to Girardi. He seems to go by “the book” exclusively and has no use for actual stats. (In Girardi’s defense, Sexson, if you include his Seattle time, is actually better against lefties this year than Giambi is.)

by cph on Aug 5, 2008 7:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Kennedy to pitch Saturday....

So says Suzyn Waldman.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs

good screw Rasner

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

They sure are playing some uninspired baseball this series

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 8:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Anaconda this team has mailed it in for the year

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

They've mailed in a lot of games

But neither TB or BOS wants to take control and run away with the division.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 8:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

unreal

by seanp23 on Aug 5, 2008 8:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Sigh...

Jeter really has been horrific this season.

No idea why he didn’t take a couple of pitches to let the runners take off.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 8:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Does anyone believe he's still injured?

This is the worst at the plate for Jeter I’ve ever seen.

by John Amato on Aug 5, 2008 9:05 PM EDT 0 recs

The decline of a great player

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

No - he's not injured, he's definitely on the back 9 though

His hitting has deteriorated considerably over the last 3 years. His fielding, which is always questionable, has never been worse. Time to say goodbye Derek?

by cph on Aug 5, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

That ain't happening

That would be like the Orioles telling Cal Ripken to take a hike when he was clearly in decline.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s difficult to be sooo clutch for that extended of a period…I think he’s done well

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

They've got a double standard

They told Bernie to take a hike, and he had a lot more to contribute to the team than Jeter does today.

by cph on Aug 5, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just like Giambi's stache, old Yankees Stadium doesn't seem to have any more championships left in it

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Maybe they can keep it open another year

or until they win again.

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

This team needs to get younger real quick

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 9:24 PM EDT 0 recs

they need to want it

they seemingly step up to the plate looking for BP fastballs…their demeanour says it all when they strike out, it’s like since they’re not trying, they’re surprised the pitcher is…I don’t know this season’s a mess

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

what do you know

the Yanks making another shitty lefty look brilliant.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Aug 5, 2008 9:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Well hope they enjoy the offseason

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

why is everyone suddenly giving up

i still think the playoffs are a long-shot, but it’s strange that people are ready to declare the season dead after last night’s loss to Texas. was a walk-off Grand Slam by Marlon Byrd in the first week of August really the death blow to the season?

by Clutch like Leyritz on Aug 5, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Body language sir they just look like they wanna collect a paycheck.

by MedFan on Aug 5, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

it’s not just the walk-off, but that just sums it all up

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

Relax everyone. I can’t believe some of you are talking like this. If you haven’t noticed, the Yanks have added a bunch of new faces of the last couple of weeks. Rough patches tend to happen during such transitions. Give them a little time to gel. I am pretty positive it will happen.

by bronxbound on Aug 5, 2008 9:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

* of = in

by bronxbound on Aug 5, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know the idea of Girardi has been picking up steam…he’s got to go in the offseason (wouldn’t mind a firing right now though). He thinks he’s some kind of Bill James disciple or something. He’s not, thought so when he was hired, proven right when he left Mussina in against Manny at the beginning of the season

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

if i would've told you before the season

that Matsui, Posada, and Wang (likely) would all suffer season-ending injuries and the Yankees would still be 2 1/2 out of the Wild Card and within shouting distance of the Division race, would you have taken that?

i wouldn’t give Girardi an A+ by any means, but I think he’s at least been satisfactory considering the hand he has been dealt.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Aug 5, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's another thing....

Girardi is essentially going to get a pass because of all the injuries this season.

No matter what happens, I really want to see Giambi, Abreu, and Moose gone.

They will go hard after Sabathia, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll sign. I’d stack the rotation with Sabathia, Wang, Pettitte, Joba, and Hughes and then use some of the young arms as trade chips to find another bat or two.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

You think we could afford

both Sabathia and Teixiera? I want them both. However, Teix is asking for a 10 year deal, of which I know Neither team will offer. I’m thinking a 7 or 8 year deal at 19 mil/per. I don’t know what Sabathia will command.

by bronxbound on Aug 5, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

santana money

especially if the worst-case scenario is true re: Joba

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

it's not

it was 150 degrees last night. he’s fine.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Aug 5, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

They could afford both

but that doesn’t mean they’ll go after both.

Since we don’t know how Posada is going to recover from his surgery, he might not be able to catch everyday next season. With Matsui the everyday DH, Posada would have to play somewhere – and I would expect 1B to be the fall back option.

Teixeira will never get a 10-yr contact. Not a chance. He’s a very good player, but he’s not a superstar. No team is going to sign him to more than 6 years.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know Sheets isn’t the youngest, but he’s a free agent as well – the money spent can’t be worse than the money on Pavano

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't touch Sheets

He’s a great pitcher and all when he’s healthy – but that’s his biggest problem – he can’t stay healthy.

It’s been a few years since he’s pitched a full season.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

That’s why I say a 7 or 8 year deal. A 6 year deal would be in reach for the Angels to re-sign him.

by bronxbound on Aug 5, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't sign him for that

One of the Yanks’ biggest problems is age. I’d rather not see a non-superstar signed to a long term contract until his 36th birthday.

Damon, Jeter, Abreu, and Matsui are all roughly 34 and have been showing their age for a couple of years now.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Girardi wasn't my first choice to manage this team

But Cashman hired him and he’s going to be the manager for awhile. They aren’t going to fire Girardi after the whole Torre fiasco last offseason.

Girardi is a big part of the youth movement just like the other youngsters.

The odds of Girardi getting fired over the offseason are zero.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

if he goes that route and doesn’t fire him, they need to sit down and have a serious talk about:
1) alternating right hand bats and left hand bats in the lineup
2) relief pitchers and the distance they can go
3) that move to start the relief pitcher at the beginning of the game and bring the sp after the rain delay…etc etc etc

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't know about that

GMs don’t usually tell their managers how to manage.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’m only saying that there have been an inordinate amount of questionable calls Girardi has made and albeit hindsight is 20/20 something should be done to limit those

by emille2 on Aug 5, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

But it's up to Girardi to learn from his mistakes

Generally, GMs don’t get into a habit of telling their managers how to manage ballgames.

I’m with you that Girardi drives me nuts sometimes with his strange decisions. But I don’t see the major flaws that would justify firing him.

And, again, the Yanks are certainly not going to fire Girardi after one season given the way Torre was treated last offseason.

The old Boss doesn’t run the team anymore. Cashman has more patience than that.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

better than a double play

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Mark Melancon tonight:

2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K—28 pitches, 19 strikes

Continues to impress.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 10:10 PM EDT 0 recs

so good it was like they couldnt see him?

by seanp23 on Aug 5, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

He allowed a single to the leadoff guy

then induced a GIDP. The third guy hit a weak comebacker to the mound.

He then struck out the side in the next inning.

This kid is a horse. I really can’t wait to see him in the Bronx.

by anaconda on Aug 5, 2008 10:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

grand slam for Melky

I can dream, can’t I?

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 10:26 PM EDT 0 recs

juuust missed it

by seanp23 on Aug 5, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

ha

better than a double play, which is what I was worried about

by long time listener on Aug 5, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't get him or Cano for that matter.

Cano can’t hit worth a lick in the cold. The weather heats up, so does his bat. Melky is the polar opposite. He started out on fire (in the cold) the his bat went cold when it got warmer.

Who could explain such a quandary?

by bronxbound on Aug 5, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up 0 recs