Yankees 8, Tigers 6: Joba matches Phil

by Ed Valentine on Apr 29, 2009 10:19 PM EDT in Game Recap

The Yankees hope Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes will be cornerstones of their starting rotation for years to come. The last two nights have helped that vision seem a little more realistic.

On the heels of six shutout innings by Hughes Tuesday, Chamberlain (1-0) surrendered just three hits, struck out six and allowed just one run in an 8-6 victory. Chamberlain's ERA is 3.13, and if he pitches to that mark all season I don't think anyone can complain if he throws 92 instead of 98.

It was also nice to see some offense, particularly some clutch hitting, for the second straight night.

Nice night for Nick Swisher (two home runs, 4 RBI) and a huge bases-clearing double from Hideki Matsui.

The only blemish on the whole evening was Jonathan Albaladejo blowing up in the 9th inning and forcing Joe Girardi to use Mariano Rivera. Mo surrendered a three-run homer before finishing the game off, but I'm not going to obsess about that. I'm sure he never expected to be in the game.

I know this is the Tigers, but the lost weekend in Boston seems like a long time ago after the last two nights.

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Comments

There was already a pitcher

who had actually warmed up who was absolutely capable of getting one out in a five-run game. His name was David Robertson. Joe set Mo up to fail there. Inexcusable.

by DocBrown82 on Apr 29, 2009 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

Robertson is who i would of put out there

by Brian5517209 on Apr 29, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't understand Girardi's move at all

by BigSlim on Apr 30, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea Joe needs to remember

that Mo is a creature of habit. When he doesn’t warm up like he’s used to, he just never is the same.

He didn’t have much time to get ready in that Boston game either. Yea he cam in for an inning and a 1/3, but when he came in the 8th he really wasn’t ready yet.

Girardi needs to just trust the other guys some times. If Mo is not warm, its not goo.d

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 30, 2009 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Also

After the shoulder surgery it seems to take him a bit longer. Using Mo there was stupid. Now, if Robertson came in and gave up the home run then you go to Mo. Not in a 5-run game w/one out to go.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 30, 2009 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Damasco Marte is worse than the Fat Toad

I purely signed up for this “blogging site” because it pisses me off that the yankees resigned marte after he had a few shitty months with the team..wow no shit he still sucks hes another mediocre reliever..and that my friends is what grinds my gears

by bdp39 on Apr 29, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

so you're complaining

about a few shitty months and ignoring years of success? he has had no real drop in velocity and the slider is still there. who would you have signed? re-sign farns?

by tombradylikesdudes on Apr 29, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

althou they werent FA signings, u better throw in veras and alanbadejo too.......

by NF_nyy on Apr 29, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Mo

What is his Era up to now thanks to JoeG? Putting him in the 8th for no reason the other day and now putting him in now? Does Mo owe Girardi money? Don’t get me wrong, I am happy about the win. I just don’t like seeing my man put in situations to tarnish his era when unnecessary. Mo is the only player I am a start whore about.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Apr 30, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

since i last checked

girardi isn’t the one pitching out there. mo and only mo is capable of “tarnish[ing]” his era. if anybody put mo in a situation it was albaldejo who couldn’t throw strikes with a 7 run lead.

by tombradylikesdudes on Apr 30, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Girardi was the one

who panicked and brought Mo in before he was warmed up.

by DocBrown82 on Apr 30, 2009 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions

so you suggest

that he should have left albaladejo in to walk two more before mo comes in?

by tombradylikesdudes on Apr 30, 2009 5:01 AM EDT reply actions

Albaladejo

Is turning into a pile of crap.

I don’t know who else is down on the farm, but Melancon is here to stay. What ever happened to Humberto Sanchez?

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 30, 2009 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Sanchez

Got released. He’s hurt again.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 30, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Robertson

He had Robertson ready, too. He could and probably should have brought Robertson in w/a 5-run lead rather than Mo … especially when Mo wasn’t ready.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 30, 2009 7:17 AM EDT up reply actions

What we are losing

sight of here is that our good young pitchers just pitched two great games and stopped the Yanks’ slide. That shows how confident they are and has to give us hope that things can get on the right track. These guys aren’t even the top end of the rotation. Throw in the fact that Melancon looks like the real deal, Bruney & ARod will be back shortly, and that Mo’s failure was due to his mis-use and I think we should be looking at things in a positive way today.

by potroast on Apr 30, 2009 7:48 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Ah, ‘pot’ I am soooo glad you are a Yankee fan. You are a voice of reason both here and at BBV.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 30, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

AMEN

by NumberSeven on Apr 30, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Happy with the win but

Girardi failed miserably again last night when it came to how he handled that 9th inning. The guy just doesn’t get it at all. David Robertson should’ve been in that game last night no questions asked. Closers shouldn’t pitch with 5-run leads end of story. Wow Girardi is dumb. Good news is the starting pitcing has been really really good the last 2 games so that’s a positive. Good win but Joe has to learn to handle his pitchers better.

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on Apr 30, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

Amazingly

handling pitching was a Joe G. strength last year. Not so this year. I believe Girardi is feeling the strain of knowing damn well that he is out of a job if he doesn’t get this team to the playoffs, and he is managing with some desperation. A sad thing for April.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 30, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

Managing the pitchers

I think there are 2 main reasons that Girardi panicked and brought in Mo last night. One is the playoff deal- with all the money spent on this team if it doesn’t make the playoffs he’s gone. And two is that the bullpen has been shaky overall this year so he wanted to be safe. I understand that but I wouldn’t have brought in Mo to begin the inning but rather have him warming up in back of Robertson who should’ve been in there to start the 9th inning

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on Apr 30, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

Everytime you put Mo on the mound

It better be meaningful or he better be getting rusty and need some work. You never bring Mo on with runners, he is never as effective as when he starts an inning fresh. Sorry, Robertson should have come in, he gives up the hr and clear the bases? Well fine, bring in Mo. All you are doing is setting up for failure. He gets a couple outs with a 5 run lead? Well 85% of relief pitchers in the bigs should do that. Bring in Mo there and he twists and ankle, takes a liner, tweaks a shoulder and what do you have? An unemployed Joe Girardi. Mo should be put in a glass case with a sign “Break glass only in case of a 3 or less run emergency in the 9th”

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Apr 30, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

winning the Tigers series

“I know this is the Tigers, but the lost weekend in Boston seems like a long time ago after the last two nights.”

Let’s not forget the Tigers are tied for first in their division and are a pretty good ball-club over .500… It does feel good again to win a series! now heading back home to greet the Angels. let’s hope Burnett bounces back from his last pitching outing

by Frankie_JHawk on Apr 30, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

The Angels

Ain’t the Angels of years past. It still baffles me they are picked as a shoe in for the west. Remember when the Mariners for years used to torment the Yanks during the regular season and past couple years that little rivalry vanished because they started to diminish as a team. Same thing happening with the Angels.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Apr 30, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions