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See you on the... Morrow gets lit up for five runs in 7-3 Yankees win

The AL leader in K-rate (11/9 ip) was a shadow of his former self today. Instead of the mid-90s heat he usually features, Brandon Morrow was frequently in the high-80s and topped out at 94 MPH. The guy that struck out 12 Yankees 10 days ago had his worst start of year, lasting just three innings and conceding five runs.

There are three reasons why his velocity would drop so much: 1) he is fatigued from the long season, 2) he's injured, or 3) he was purposely taking it easy because it was his final start. My money's on #3.

Ivan Nova didn't look great either, and was pulled two outs into the fifth. In his defense, the strike zone shifted as the game wore on. It went from being tight to loose and then tight again. There were several pitches I couldn't believe were called balls. Anyway, it's all part of the learning process he's going through. You have to love his confidence: he's not afraid to challenge hitters, works quickly, throws strikes and doesn't like being taken out.*

Star-divide

The biggest hits came off the bats of Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson, whose doubles in the early going gave the Yankees a comfortable lead. Each run scoring double followed a gutty, gritty walk. Does anyone think GGBG shouldn't be batting leadoff regularly?

A big honorable mention to the bullpen that held Toronto hit-less and scoreless the final 4.1 innings. Logan, D-Rob, Wood and Mo allowed four walks and K'ed five in the Yanks seventh straight win, tying their longest streak of the season.

Eduardo Nunez flashed some of that defense that made Baseball America name him the top defensive SS in the IL. His throwing still makes you hold your breath, but everything else is as good as advertised.

Play of the Game: Grandy's two-out, two-run double in the second (+16%).

Comment of the Game: nyyrocks29, because breaking up is hard to do.

 

* We're seeing a polished rookie pitcher. Nova's been fortunate, in a way, that he was never that highly touted - it allowed him to spend five months in Triple-A refining his game, a luxury never afforded to top prospects like Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, who have combined for less than half the Triple-A innings of Nova. We should remember that more often when watching them pitch.

(Please forgive the headline.)

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Considering the Jays have seen him twice now

and are a pretty good hitting team I’d say he pitched pretty well.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Sep 3, 2010 4:53 PM EDT reply actions  

prior to this game

Curtis Granderson’s OPS+ in the 2nd half of the season was 130. That’ll be going up a tad after today.

Is he still driving the bus?

I believe in the Church of Baseball

by Frank Campagnola on Sep 3, 2010 5:05 PM EDT reply actions  

I'll go ahead and admit that I don't understand OPS+

I think 100 is average, right? So 130 would be great then?

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 3, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

130 is roughly 15% more productive than the average hitter.

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

by jscape2000 on Sep 3, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yay I win again!

Thats two in three games.

Yes, I think GGBG should be leading off regularly. He’s earned it. That means one of Jeter or Swisher gets moved down. Right now, I don’t see how you could move Swish down the way he’s hitting. I want him at the plate. I hope Jeter turns it around, but at this point maybe he is the one who should be batting in the bottom third right now.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 3, 2010 5:27 PM EDT reply actions  

For now:
Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Cano-Posada-Jeter-Berkman/Thames-Granderson-Nunez

Once Arod returns:
Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Arod-Cano-Posada-Jeter-Berkman/Thames-Granderson

Or you could do:
vs RHP: Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Arod-Cano-Posada-Granderson-Berkman-Jeter
vs LHP: Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Arod-Cano-Posada-Thames/Kearns-Granderson-Jeter

I’m ready to see:
vs RHP: Gardner-Swisher-Cano-Tex-Granderson-Arod-Posada-Berkman-Jeter
vs LHP: Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Cano-Arod- Posada-Thames/Kearns-Granderson-Jeter

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

by jscape2000 on Sep 3, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t know about what you’re ‘ready to see’ and I really don’t know about splitting up the Tex – A-Rod – Cano monster in the middle of the lineup.

GGBG definitely needs to be leading off, but I don’t have a huge problem with sticking with Jeter at #2 in the lineup. His spot in the lineup is going to come up no matter where you stick him, there’s really no reason to create the massive shitstorm that it would cause to be batting him in the bottom 3rd of the lineup.

I think they have to stick with Jeter and hope he turns it around going down the stretch, but definitely, GGBG to leadoff needs to happen just about every game.

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Sep 3, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hey, I've been promoting Gardner in the leadoff role since the beginning of the season

Great plate discipline + connection to the Speed Force = Win.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Sep 3, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well A-Rod will be hitting fourth once he comes back

and he won’t ever leave it. That won’t be an issue. Tex-A-Rod-Cano in the middle of the lineup is going to stay throughout the postseason. The rest of the lineup is in question.

Gardner needs to be leading off. The havoc he creates on the bases and his ability to see a lot of pitches, and get on base, are all traits of a quality leadoff hitter. Swish has done great in the 2 hole. I don’t think he should be moved out of it.

What I would like to see is, once Alex comes back.

Gardner-Swisher-Tex-Alex-Cano-Granderson-Posada- Jeter-Berkman

Although, that really isn’t likely. Girardi isn’t going to move his captain to the bottom of the lineup. I’ll be very surprised if he is. He’s stuck with him despite having a subpar season to this point. He’ll probably stick with him the rest of the way. Once A-Rod comes back you’re going to see-

Jeter
Swisher
Tex
A-Rod
Cano
Posada
Granderson
Berkman/Thames
Gardner

Thats most likely I think. I want Gardner to lead off. I guess Jeter could move to the 2 hole and have this-

Gardner
Jeter
Tex
A-Rod
Cano
Swisher
Grandy
Posada
Berkman/Thames

There’s a lot of possibilities, thats for sure.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 3, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jeter is not getting moved down. The Yankees are in first place with the best record in baseball...

No offense, but anyone who is in favor of creating that kind of drama at this point in the season is an idiot. J/S

by garp on Sep 3, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

no he probably won't be

But seriously, the Yanks need to do what they can to win games. Gardner needs to be leading off. He’s earned it. The only other place Derek can go is the 2 hole, which Swisher has occupied for most of the year. It comes down to, who would you rather have getting more ABs at this point in a pennant race? Swisher, who is having a career year, or Jeter, who is having the worst season of his career by far and is hitting below .270 with an awful OBP?

I guarantee you that Jeter is a leader, a captain, and a man, and that he won’t care. The only “drama” that would be created is by the media and fans. That comes with any debatable move that happens with this team. The Yankees can’t let the media drama dictate how they handle their team. And if moving Jeter down is what is best for the team, then so be it.

Again, I doubt he moves down in the lineup at all, so I just hope he turns it around and gets on a roll for the playoffs.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 4, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

nunez

is it too early to wonder if he could be the shortstop of the future?

by lacroon on Sep 3, 2010 5:37 PM EDT reply actions  

Or next year?

Sorry just a thought.

Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."

Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."

by RolliePollieKovy on Sep 3, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

yeah i know

it’s still too small a sample size, but you never know…

by lacroon on Sep 3, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

no.

I dunno what the deal is with Jeter. Will he hang on for 3000 hits? 4000 hits? Pete Rose’s record? Who knows?

But it all depends on Jeter. I don’t think its really out of the question for him to retire as soon as this year given the contract situation, but we’ll see.

I think Nunez has the talent to start; good glove, pop in the bat and the arm I think has accuracy issues due to the Farving of SS and 3B…the guy’s a SS not a 3B, that throws you off.

But who knows? I think he’s got the talent to start as soon as now tho.

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 3, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

yeah

it really makes me wonder what sort of contract the yankee brass is going to offer jeter. i mean, after all he’s done for the organization, it’s hard to give him a torre-esque offer, but at the same time, how long should he be starting for the yankees if this year’s numbers mean anything?

by lacroon on Sep 3, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nova hasnt sucked for you.
Pretty good.
Sad Id take him over Beckett

2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Sep 3, 2010 5:57 PM EDT reply actions  

You must really really really hate Beckett

to take a guy who has started only 3 games over him

by Yankees10 on Sep 3, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

yes

2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Sep 3, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

Is that a haiku?

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Sep 3, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nova has been very good
He doesn’t need to go to pen
I’m thinking of Oasis song

One day you will find him striking out the Sox side in a Champagne IvanNova in the sky

I am Curtis Granderson, and so should you

http://twitter.com/MattF15

by MattF15 on Sep 3, 2010 6:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

rec'd

They didn't let me out, they just gave me a day pass.

by TheMelkman on Sep 3, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

you make me laugh Free

2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Sep 3, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

hmmm.

"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama

by BL3ACH on Sep 3, 2010 8:11 PM EDT reply actions  

Seriously? No new comments

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:40 AM EDT reply actions  

hello, Edgware

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

will you go to prom with me, Edgware

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

nah, also, sabermetrics are da bomb ya know

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

oh yes definitely, they show that ken griffey junior was not very good

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

btw btw JERSEY SHOREEEEE

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

you are odd

2010 Red Sox Playoffs.... We Can Do It!
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog

by bestbostonsports on Sep 4, 2010 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

+1

Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com

by Lord Duggan on Sep 4, 2010 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

what, you don't get the reference?

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Sep 4, 2010 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

You're suprised?

One day you will find him striking out the Sox side in a Champagne IvanNova in the sky

I am Curtis Granderson, and so should you

http://twitter.com/MattF15

by MattF15 on Sep 4, 2010 9:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Just consider #9

As the top of the order, with GGBG leading off. The Yankees have a circular lineup, so the top of the order is subjective. Sadly, with the amount of ill-timed Jeter GIDP’s, it’s probably better that he bats first. I think he’s going to suffer no matter where he bats, until he can work out the issues with his mechanics. Either that, or he is hurt and isn’t telling. I can’t believe Jeter would decline that dramatically in one year. I mean the guy isn’t THAT old.

by qtopplings on Sep 4, 2010 11:33 AM EDT reply actions  

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