Yankees 13, Orioles 3: Flex Those Muscles

by jscape2000 on Sep 13, 2009 4:47 PM EDT in Game Recap

Don't let the final score fool you- this was a tense game until the bottom of the 8th. But when it was all said and done, it felt like a game against the Orioles.

Only Arod went hitless, Every starter got at least one hit, and Arod got run for arguing balls and strikes after striking out in the 4th (who needs the bum anyway?) [sarcasm].

Jeter went 3 for 4 with a walk. Tex went 2-5 with 2 RBIs. Cano went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored. Swisher went 2-5. Matsui went 3-5 with 5 huge RBI on a bases loaded single followed by a 3 run homer a couple innings later. Melky went 2-4 with 4 RBI of his own.

Hideki Matsui is setting himself up to be the next Bobby Abreu. The Yankees don't want to pay him what arbitration would bring him (and shouldn't), so he'll wind up signing at a discount with somebody else (the Giants need offense, or he might like a reunion with Joe Torre). And then he's going to put up big numbers. I don't want to lock in a DH because I'd rather rotate Damon, Arod, Posada and Jeter throughout the season.

CC had a rocky second inning when the Orioles squeezed 2 runs out of a walk and a few singles. He settled down though, and pitched another 7 innings- 5 hit, 4 walks, and 3 runs (one of which should be unearned after the mental error by Damon).

Let's talk about CC's Cy credentials for a minute: He's pitched 7 innings in 22 of his 31 starts, and 6.2 another 4 times. He's pitched 213 innings with 3 weeks left in September (he was second in the league at the start of the day, 2 innings behind Doc Halladay). He's third in the league in WHIP behind only Zack Greinke and Halladay. He's 10th in the league in K/9 and 7th in strikeouts. Zach Greinke has been the league's most dominant pitcher, but I think Sabathia has had the biggest impact on his team.

Hughes came in to pitch the 8th and was very un-Hughes like. He gave up a hit and only struck out one.

Can we leave Brian Bruney off the post-season roster? I'm just afraid Joe G. won't be able to resist the temptation to let him pitch. Tony Pena didn't want to watch Bruney any more than I did, pulling him after his second walk of the inning with a 10 run lead. Seriously, I'd rather see Bruney do his Chase Wright impression than walk guys with a big lead.

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Comments

Alex had a hit, a 2B that knocked in a run.

by Peter Lacock on Sep 13, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

You are right. I forgot about it.

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

by jscape2000 on Sep 13, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

CC deserves that CY

7-0 in his 9 starts with a 2.48 ERA. Late in the season when it counts he is always dominate.

by TearsofaClown on Sep 13, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions

matsui

by next season he’ll be back in LF.
if its a choice btw hideki and johnny, i’lll take the guy from japan.

by NYer in a strange land on Sep 13, 2009 8:41 PM EDT reply actions

Don't think Matsui can play LF next year or ever

he hasn’t been on the grass this entire year and his knee still requires routine draining.

by BigSlim on Sep 13, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

he would have a -100 UZR in LF

by Brian5517209 on Sep 14, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

i'm sorry...

I like Hideki, but he’s gone next year. He WILL NOT be back in LF ever. The guy can hardly run the bases, let alone range for a ball in the gap.

The Yanks have too many aging guys, they need to keep that DH spot open so the can rotate and get guys pseudo days off. Johnny Damon gives them some flexibility, seeing as though he still moves well. I’d resign Damon in a heart beat, for the right price and contract length… something in the 1-2 year, less than $10 mil per year range..

by NumberSeven on Sep 14, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Another nice game by CC

and “needed” after 2 straight L’s.

More importantly however, the Offense showed up.

And I know Matsui probably is gone…but we are gonna miss him. Hopefully there is something worked out that he is kept. I don’t care if he plays 10 or 15 less games, I want that bat on the team. I don’t think he goes NL cuz he can’t DH.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 13, 2009 8:42 PM EDT reply actions

Loving CC right now, everytime he ptiches it feels liek we can win

Hope he keeps it up in the Post season

by lololol on Sep 13, 2009 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

One problem with CC & the Cy

CC isn’t even remotely close to Zack in any stat other than wins. I think that has something to do with the fact that CC gets almost a full three runs more support per game than Zack does. CC may have a lot of influence on the Yankees but, unfortunately, that’s not what the award is for. It’s for the best pitcher in the league and CC isn’t.

by imann08 on Sep 13, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

The writers have shown themselves willing to ignore better pitchers in favor of wins (see Colon, Bartolo).
As I said, Greinke has been the better pitcher, but at the most important part (keeping runners off base) Sabathia and Greinke aren’t that far removed. CC being on a contender will matter.

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

by jscape2000 on Sep 13, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

CC will garner a bunch of CY votes

but Greinke deserves it despite of his low win totals. To see what the Greinke hoopla was all about, I’ve watched bits and pieces of his starts on MLB.tv and he has been just flat-out dominant.

by BigSlim on Sep 13, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Zack doesn't pitch in the AL East

If he did, I wonder what his ERA would be? Every team in the AL East has a pretty formidable offense. The AL Central only has one team over .500. The West has 3 and so does the East.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Sep 14, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

The wins will obviously sway the voters. I think this unfortunate but that’s the way it is. Will it sway them enough though? Due to the fact that the voters are finally getting an idea of what the award is for as well as the national attention that Greinke has gotten, I still think that Greinke is the front runner. He has the best ERA+ in this decade and that’s hard to ignore.

by imann08 on Sep 13, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

while Greinke is most deserving

i still hope CC wins anyways

by Brian5517209 on Sep 14, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Half the Cy Young winners in year's past

were usually not the most deserving player.

As long as CC wins 20 and keeps the ERA under 3.5, he’s gonna be the front-runner, no matter what metric says he’s really the not the best pitcher (same reason why Tex will win the MVP).

Yanks are the best team, his numbers stand out to the idiots (and we all know how dumb sports reporters can be…) so all they got to do is put 2 and 2 together…bam, CC Cy Young.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 14, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions