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Game #114 - New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers

Mick_05_tiny by anaconda on in Game Threads

New York @ Texas


NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  CF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Álex Rodríguez,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Xavier Nady,  LF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Ivan Rodriguez,  C
Wilson Betemit,  3B

 

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
Sidney Ponson 2-1 6 6 0 0 0 0 33.2 40 18 18 4 16 13 4.81 1.66


TEXAS RANGERS

Ian Kinsler,  2B
Frank Catalanotto,  DH
Michael Young,  SS
Josh Hamilton,  CF
Marlon Byrd,  RF
David Murphy,  LF
Gerald Laird,  C
Chris Davis,  1B
Ramon Vazquez,  3B

 

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
Tommy Hunter 0-0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5.0 8 6 6 2 2 4 10.80 2.00


PREGAME NOTES: 

Yanks have lost 7 of their last 10 after winning 8 straight.

Tommy Hunter has never faced the Yanks or any of their hitters.

Sidney Ponson is a lifetime 8-2, 5.22 ERA, 1.46 WHIP in 18 games (16 starts) against the Rangers.

Rangers' hitters vs. Ponson can be viewed here.  

 

JOBA TO THE DL:  By now, most of you already know that Joba Chamberlain is headed to the DL with his ailing shoulder.  

Joe Girardi has not divulged any further details on the condition or the results of the MRI he had yesterday so the news cannot be good.

Brian Cashman is flying back to NY from Oklahoma City and is expected to report the extent of Joba's injury.

Personally, I no longer care if the Yanks make the postseason in 2008 or not.  The only things I care about is Joba's long term health and this team making the necessary changes to the roster over the offseason to make this team younger and strengthen the starting rotation for 2009.

I'll go into more much detail on the latter in the coming days.

 

KENNEDY TO START FRIDAY:  Ian Kennedy will now pitch Friday against the Angels this weekend and Dan Giese will be pushed back to Saturday.  Sounds like a logical move since Kennedy last pitched on Sunday and his turn in the rotation for Scranton would have also fallen on Friday.

MELKY SITS AGAIN:  Obviously, it appears Girardi and the Yankee brass is finally getting tired of Melky Cabrera.  He's now sitting for the third straight game and has been the subject of many trade rumors the last several weeks - and not in a good way.


ANOTHER JOBA UPDATE: 

Here is the latest from Brian Cashman via Pete Abe:

This from Brian Cashman: Chamberlain has what is being described as rotator cuff tendinitis. He will be rested for “about a week” and then start a throwing program after being evaluated again.

He will return to New York.

Just for your own reference: “tendinitis” is a nice way to say he has a little tear in his rotator cuff.

Joe Girardi said before the game he was optimistic Joba would play again this season. But a rotator cuff issue is nothing to mess around with. Don’t expect to see Chamberlain any time soon this season, if at all.

So there you have it. 

I wouldn't be shocked if Joba misses the rest of the season because the Yanks are going to be ultra-conservative with his injury.  And that's not a bad thing. 

We've already seen one shoulder injury get worse this season (Jorge Posada) because he wasn't shut down long enough and rushed his way back into the lineup.

That's not going to happen with Joba.  No chance.  They will absolutely make sure Joba is 100% healthy before he sets foot on a mound again.

This team would rather miss the postseason than risk the long term health of the jewel of the franchise.

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Why can't we get guys like Karstens?

Retired 23 straight on his way to a 2 hit shutout against AZ today. That follows 6 shoutout innings against the Cubbies. Record for Pittsburgh: 15 scoreless innings. Plus he got 2 hits. Marte’s record: 4 games; 2 games in which he was responsible for the team’s loss. Way to go, Cashman.

by cph on Aug 6, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I wouldn't make too much of it

Karstens was not in the Yanks’ long term plans. It goes to show you how bad the NL competition is and they probably didn’t have much of a scouting report on him.

Karstens was no jewel in the Yankee farm system. No worries.

Keep in mind that Darrell Rasner is essentially the same pitcher as Karstens and was nearly unhittable for a few starts in May until the league quickly caught up to him.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:12 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You may be correct

I expect to see Karstens back in a Yankees uniform in about 8 years, after he’s had a moderately successful career in the NL and is on the decline. They’ll overpay him as a free agent (as they always do) and he’ll win about 3 games for the Yanks before he goes down with an injury.

by cph on Aug 6, 2008 8:15 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Here's a thought....

I hope Karstens pitches well the rest of the season.

That could inadvertently drive up the value of other Yankee farmhands in the system for trade bait during the offseason.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Anaconda

What do you think let Abreu walk at the end of the season?

by MedFan on Aug 6, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I would definitely let Abreu walk

Giambi too.

If they do sign Sabathia – certainly not a given since he has to want to sign with them – they could use some of the young arms on the farm to package for a bat or two.

They need to get younger. They need to replace Abreu and Giambi this season. And they will need to replace Matsui and Damon after next season.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:29 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Anaconda

I was talking about the current Yankee season with a friend of mine here at work. He really feels the Red Sox are good at letting ballplayer’s walk example Johnny Damon? What do you think about their method of letting guys walk?

by MedFan on Aug 6, 2008 8:32 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It's a good move

Even more so now that the game has really changed the last couple of years.

I’m a big believer that the banishment of greenies has really had an adverse effect on older players. 35 yr old players are clearly showing their age now and may not have showed it a few years ago.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

So we let Giambi & Abreu walk

Lets go after Texiera at first & do we resign Nady to replace Abreu? Do you think Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner will be ready by next year for the MLB? How far off is Jesus Montero from being MLB ready?

by MedFan on Aug 6, 2008 8:36 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Sign Abreu

Or tell me who’s better that we can get.

I’m less sure of Giambi, but I think I’d sign him if he’ll sign short. I think he wantsto be a Yank.

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 Aug 6, 2008 8:40 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I think Cashman has already put that into motion

by trading for Nady. He’s probably going to be the right-fielder next season.

Abreu is going to want a multi-year deal and he can get it somewhere else.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:42 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

ok Who

Plays left

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 Aug 6, 2008 8:48 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Damon plays left

He’s signed through 2009 already.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and you stay with Melky?

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 Aug 6, 2008 8:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hell no....

I wanted Melky traded at the end of 2006. I wanted them to sell high on him two years ago.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:51 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Ok here is humble opinion

Nady & Matsui RF Platoon
Damon LF
Melky & Gardner CF Platoon maybe
Texira 1B
Cano 2B
Jeter SS
Arod 3B
Posada & Pudge C Platoon whoever isnt catching have them DH

by MedFan on Aug 6, 2008 8:53 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

no way

first of all pudge is not going to be back.
Matsui will be mostly DH with a little left field
CF will be interesting I doubt they go get a big name b/c A-Jax is coming up in a year or two
I am not sure about 1b depends on Posada’s health
I like Nady as RF (he is not a Platoon player)
C is the most interesting position becaue of Posada’s health but Molina is still signed as a backup.
I see the new rotation for next year the most exciting position for us. The potential for a CC, Wang, Andy, Joba, Franchise is huge. Keep IPK as a number 6 in case of injury. Thats a great rotation. With the pick up of maybe one good bullpen guy we would have a money team.
( by the way did anyone put money on Andy and Moose being our healthy starting pitchers?)

Cano is a Pimp

by yankeechaser on Aug 6, 2008 11:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

here we go

another day, another beating for our starter

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Don't be hard on Ponson

He lasted a whole inning.

by cph on Aug 6, 2008 8:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Well

I guess I don’t have to worry about Joba’s innings cap.

Think there’s any chance they turn Joba back into a bullpen guy because they don’t feel his shoulder has 200 innings per season in it? A la Papelbon? I know that Pap Smear wasn’t the starting pitcher prospect that Joba is, but desperation and concern for his shoulder is what led them to move him to the pen and keep him there isn’t it?

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

by matthaggs on Aug 6, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

No

Joba is a starter. And he’ll remain a starter.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I know

that he is more valuable as a starter, I get it.

But he’s more valuable in the bullpen throwing two pitches and 80 innings a season than he is on the 60 day DL with a broken shoulder.

We’re not anywhere near this point right now, but I think there’s at least a chance they could get there.

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

by matthaggs on Aug 6, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I'm not sure about that

A relatively minor shoulder injury probably isn’t going to raise a red flag that Joba can’t be a starter.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I'm not sure

that relatively minor and shoulder injury go together in the same sentence.

My fingers are crossed though.

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

by matthaggs on Aug 6, 2008 8:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Anaconda said in the game thread that

tendonitis is a small tear. That’s not true, unless he was being sarcastic because of the yankees tendency to under report injuries. All tendonitis really is is an inflamed tendon making it uncomfortable to glide like it normally does. I’ve had tendonitis in my shoulders pretty badly before (they were so inflamed that it started pinching a nerve in my shoulder and I lost feeling in my fingers) that went right away with rest.

Of course if its a misdiagnosis or underreported like it was with Posada then its very serious.

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

by Edwantsacracker on Aug 6, 2008 9:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I’ve torn my labrum and had surgery twice…when I point to my pain it was in the same spot…but Joba’s a horse he’ll be ok

by emille2 on Aug 6, 2008 9:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Those weren't my words

They were taken directly from Pete Abe.

I’m no expert on that stuff.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 9:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I didn't mean anything by it

if they were PeteAbe’s words then it definitely was sarcasm because he hates when the yankees don’t tell him exactly what is wrong with their players.

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

by Edwantsacracker on Aug 6, 2008 9:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The only thing that scares me about this injury

is that Pete is right that the Yanks always tend to downplay injuries. It seems like they are never upfront about that stuff.

Posada supposedly had tendinitis and Wang’s injury wasn’t viewed as anything too serious until they acknowledged something completely different a few days later.

Not to start a political rant, but the Yanks are often like the US government. Can’t get a straight answer out of them no matter what you do.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 9:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

cool to watch

by emille2 on Aug 6, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

BTW...

Cano had another mental error on that line drive.

Instead of immediately flipping the ball to Jeter and getting the force out – he decided to argue with the ump and it cost them an out.

I probably wouldn’t shop Cano – but I’d most definitely take the “untouchable” label off him. If other GMs want him, I’d certainly listen to offers.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 8:44 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Cano

fell down in the opposite direction of second base after he caught the ball. Once he got up and got the ball to Jeter the runner (unless it was Molina) probably would have been safe at first.

Plus, arguing the way he did might have had some effect on them reversing the call, which, for a minute anyway, prevented a run from scoring.

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

by matthaggs on Aug 6, 2008 8:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

great

Now Pudge is dead.

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:44 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Long time listener

What happened to Pudge?

by MedFan on Aug 6, 2008 8:45 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

collision at home plate

Both guys were down when they went to commercial. Got the 3rd out, though.

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

he's one the bench now

looks a little shaken up, but both guys are on their feet.

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

scratch that

Pudge is out of the game. Opening Day 2009, please come soon.

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

hope Damon gets at least a double so Jeter doesn’t have an opportunity to hit a DP

by emille2 on Aug 6, 2008 8:53 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

all I know is the new Steinbrenners aren’t George so we’ll see

by emille2 on Aug 6, 2008 8:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Gonzelez was expendable

There’s a kid by the name of Ramiro Pena playing in Trenton right now who is essentially a younger Alberto Gonzalez.

Pretty much the same kind of player – great glove and range but not much of a hitter.

Pena played in the Futures Game a few weeks ago with Jesus Montero – probably the top hitter on the Yankee farm.

by anaconda on Aug 6, 2008 9:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Alberto Gonzalez

He’s a nice glove but his bat keeps him from being an everyday prospect.

by Pride O' Ireland on Aug 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Nice inning

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 Aug 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

hey a clutch hit!

I thought baseball outlawed them this year

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

eh, a hit's a hit

He hit the ball pretty hard last night with the bases loaded and it was just an out. It all evens out in the end.

by long time listener on Aug 6, 2008 9:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Clutch my ass.

That’s an out if Ron Washington doesn’t bring the infield in

by Pride O' Ireland on Aug 6, 2008 8:58 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

RBI either way

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 Aug 6, 2008 9:00 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Jesus Christ

Bad News Bears vs. Worse news bears.

by seanp23 on Aug 6, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs