Yanks vs A's: Game 11-open thread

Come on John,

we have the savior, Chris Britton!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow,

Jeter's on fire in the field

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe the folks at the stadium can give him the same showering of boos they give #13 and see if that will get him going. Thought process being this: "hey, if he makes $20 mil a year, he should be able to at least field his position."

by wellblessed on Apr 15, 2007 4:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How dare you blame Jeter

He is the golden boy. Besides it is clear that Jeter's errors are A-Rod's fault.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

I forgot about that.

by wellblessed on Apr 15, 2007 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh no,

the last think the Yanks need is a short outing from Pettitte

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not the way that I wanted

to start my Sunday afternoon. Fuck!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

if you stayed up late last night, but the person they were going to bring in after Bruney was going to be Cairo. Hopefully, he'll be able to pitch today and can blow out his arm

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Every cloud

has a silver lining

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harden

looks filthy

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

He is fucking sick.....until he gets hurt in a few weeks.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's Time For The Yankees To play...

you know what that means...it's time to start my math home work!

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rough stretch

MIN, OAK, CLE, BOS right in a row. Not the best time to have 60% of your rotation on the DL. I say call Clemens and offer $5M/month!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pettitte looks off today

He is leaving a lot of pitches up

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's

not finishing up his pitches

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is

going to be a long game if Pettitte keeps this up

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When I looked at the pitching matchups

for this series, I expected to get swept, so I guess two out of three isn't bad. Hopefully Harden just broke his hand!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even if he broke it

He could still get Doug out.

by onehitwonder on Apr 15, 2007 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, the following at

the A's blog is even greater than this one. They already have well over 100 comments.

doug M is awesome!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Minky

sadly that was just about as far as he can hit the ball. Can of corn.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a catch

by Abreu. give him a gold glove!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damon

Same old Damon in OAK...take two fastball right down the middle for an 0-2 count...then foul off a few balls out of the zone, and then either pop up or K.

by wellblessed on Apr 15, 2007 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From what I've

seen of Damon, when he is off his game, he doesn't really do anything productive at the plate

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is absurd

How many triples can one team allow?

by onehitwonder on Apr 15, 2007 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume

Abreu does not mean "hustle" in Spanish. Our defense is fucking terrible.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like how Damon

tried to take the ball instead of Abreu. Great plan, noodle-arm.

by onehitwonder on Apr 15, 2007 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love how the

A's say they have a sellout for all of these games. Nice job putting a tarp over the entire upper deck.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it does look weird

i can partly see their point. the stadium was screw-up when the raiders returned. they added the 2nd/3rd deck in outfield and they also excavated and lowered the field to add more seats on the first deck, increasing the distance to the 3rd around the infield. still, but completely closing down the upper tier, they lowered capacity from 50K to 35K

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

on another note..

If the yanks call up Phil Hughes to pitch on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, I'm gonna BEG my parents to take me. I know it's a school night, but my dad will have to take me to see phil's debut...I don't care if it's raining. If I have to i'll pay for the tickets, i'll even pay for the gas that the car needs to get to the stadium. I'll do anything.

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that's the spirit

besides, there's only 7/8 weeks left in the school year. tell'em, you've banked most of the year.

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The A's

announcers are annoying to listen to...is Manky rubbing off on Damon?

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The A's Blogq

was thre first SB nation bog...Blez got it rolling when he got to Billy Beane and did an interview with him..He interviews player all teh time now..They have two papers in the bay area..Access matters, but he's very good..

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice home run trot by Jeter

on that steal. What the fuck was that jog?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thankfully Andy has settled down

too bad Harden is dealing though

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Please explain

If you spend the winter piling up pitching prospects so that they can start at AAA, why would you call a kid up from AA to make a spot start?

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 15, 2007 5:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know it sounds odd

but some people are promoted directly from double-A, especially if they had college ball under the belt.

I'm trying to think, but I can't remember anyone promoted directly from A ball. but I'm sure its happened.

and in the very, very rare occassion, some are promoted directly from high school (sandy koufax).

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What a catch

by Abreu! Awesome

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How can a team possibly

have Keilty batting 3rd? Is that even in money ball?

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kielty murders lefties

That's how

by Willton on Apr 15, 2007 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah

done with my math homework

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's go Mink-y!

Ha ha.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did he

just get a hit?

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's right, Minky!

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay, here we go

Make up for the error(s), Jete.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ken Singleton

is nearing Michael Kay level for me.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The line that they

say "well if the game was your dinner, stick around for dessert with the postgame" is nauseating

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jeter

What a choker.

by SP on Apr 15, 2007 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Word

Boos are in order next error he makes in the Bronx.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

unfortunately (or fortunately)

that's unlikely because everyone loves jeter and no one would boo him. Unlike A-Rod...jeter has built-up a good relationshop

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hear you on that

I just think he deserves it - he needs to be brought down a peg.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

as pfisty said in an above comment "How dare you blame Jeter
He is the golden boy. Besides it is clear that Jeter's errors are A-Rod's fault."

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and my point is

that that is how many yanks fans think

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A few more errors

and I think they'll think differently.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jeter won 4 rings

I agree, he's been terrible in the field, but give me a break with the booing Jeter...ARod doesn't deserve the treatment he got, but ...

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I think he does

I remember the rings, don't get me wrong. But he's making really bonehead mistakes - a little booing won't hurt.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look, most people

don't agree with the constant booing of Arod. But booing Jeter because Arod gets booed is retarded.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's not what I'm saying

This has nothing to do with A-Rod. And I agree with most people that he doesn't deserve constant booing. This has to do with Jeter making dumb errors. I'm saying if he makes a few more dumb errors - especially if they cost runs - then maybe a little booing will let him know that we're frustrated with his fielding. Not him, his fielding. We love him for everything else he does.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jeter's been booed before

when he had an 0 for 40 something a few years ago he heard it from the fans.

If he keeps playing defense like this he'll get booed again. Same with Abreu - he looks clueless out there.

by matthaggs on Apr 15, 2007 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he was safe

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hard to take

Arod up,ahead in the count, Giambi on deck. Out trying to score on a PB/WP?

Yanks making a lot of mistakes.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pettitte has

settled down very nicely. Unlike Mr. Meltdown.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you gotta be

kidding me...

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm on gameday WHAT'S UP

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me, too

John's comment has got me curious.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bring him home, Giambino!

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alright!

A run! There we go!

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice at bat

by Cano

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alright!

Two runs! There we go!

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What was Swisher doing on the one?

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that one I meant

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alright!

Three runs! There we go!

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

OK, nice job of productive outs

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Finally, Yankees

playing some fundamentaly sound BB

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Think Andy is on a pitch count?

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He is at 97 pitches right now..

... so my guess is that this is that last inning for him.

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who'll pitch the eighth

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably mix

and match with Myers and Proctor. Knowing Torre, he probably won't throw Britton into this.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully not Farny

But I'm guessing it will be.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Pfisty,

Harden has just had his yearly shoulder injury

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wish I could take credit

for that prediction, but I hardly went out on a limb there

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was his hand

I thought he hurt himself trying to bare-hand the chopper up the middle.

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, its

geat to have Andy back

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How was

that a strike to Damon?

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Igawa is

warming up?

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Really?

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is not good news

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

When was his next start supposed to be?

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Throw day? he pitched Friday didn't he?

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yup, same thing

they did with Pettite last week

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More runs would be excellent

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a productive

at bat by Abreu

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very productive outs...

... by the Yankees. I'm glad to see that we haven't gotten men on base, and then left them there.

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What was alex so upset about?

Reading his lips walking in the dugout he said, "god *#&$ it, F#&@ing cocksucker..."

that was a productive out, and it was almost a homer.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 15, 2007 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

kinda like DiMaggio

kinda like that clip of Joe kicking the 2nd base dirt after Al Gionfriddo took away a homer in '47 series.

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Productive outs are still outs

and there's very little productive about making the inning shorter on offense.

by Willton on Apr 15, 2007 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"it was almost a homer."

That's my guess why he was pissed.

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whoa, Pettitte for another inning?

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We're up 4-2 now. Let's get 6 outs.

I'm only worried about 3, the #42 will get us 3

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn A-Rod

he never has productive at-bats and never drives in runs in close games. I can't wait for him to opt out.

Sincerely, Matt Haggs

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This version

can stay as long as he wants.

He & Posada (mostly Alex)are carrying the offense right now. It's been a pleasure watching him play, even with a tissue rammed up his nose.

by matthaggs on Apr 15, 2007 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is up with that tissue?

Anybody heard anything?

Posada has been great. I still remember a few years ago when my Chowderhead friends would honestly argue that their captain was the better player. It still makes me laugh. Unless "keeping your mask on to fight" is now a meaningful stat?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 16, 2007 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its going to be tough

to watch when Proctor's arm physically falls off this year. Poor guy.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How about Andy Pettitte...

7IP, 6H, 2R and only one walk... very impressive performance by what looks to be our only solid starter for a while.

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and only 1 ER

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep! We need to pull for Igawa.

What makes a good manager?....Good Players. (Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 15, 2007 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two quick outs

Nice

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very nice inning...

...by Proctor.

by skwire on Apr 15, 2007 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Enter Sandman

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 6:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is Mo's

first save situation of the year! Crazy!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on Mo, strikes

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1 HR in 3

years for Kendall. How does that happen to someone that hit 16 one year. Oh, the juice.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Juice had nothing to do with it

It was his wrist injury back when he was a Pirate that sapped his bat strength.

By the way, next time you want to drag a good player's name in the mud, have some real fucking evidence that he did steroids.

by Willton on Apr 15, 2007 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, not a wrist injury

He just slowly declined in power as a catcher.

by Willton on Apr 15, 2007 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good player?

What, are you fucking this guy? Kendall is a fucking joke in all aspects of the game. Dragging a good player in the mud, hahahaha. Nice one.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 16, 2007 6:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly you didn't watch baseball

prior to 2000.

by Willton on Apr 16, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Kendall the guy

who had that nauseatingly horrific ankle injury a few years ago where he was basically running to first with his broken ankle flopping all over the place?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, Here

are the stats of Econolodge's "good player" Kendall http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3401 He has a slamming OPS lifetime of .777 but even closer to .700 the last 6 years. It is pretty easy to see now why he thinks Melky is the second coming of babe ruth.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 16, 2007 6:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to direct your attention

to Kendall's position and his career OBP: .379.

Kendall has also had a number of years where his OBP was well above that mark (6 to be exact) and 3 years where it was above .400 (1998-2000). That's excellent for a leadoff hitter, and it makes up for his lack of power.

He also plays catcher, perhaps the toughest position on the diamond and certainly the most physically demanding, and he's regularly played over 140 games at catcher almost every year, something Jorge Posada has done only once in his career. At a position where many teams are content to have offensive zeros, Jason Kendall has been a very good producer. Kendall also plays average defense to boot.

No, Kendall isn't a good hitter anymore, although he can still get on base somewhat. But just because we're used to seeing Mike Piazza and Jorge Posada play at such a demanding spot doesn't mean that that's where we should set the bar at what a good catcher is. Jason Kendall was a good producer for his position in Pittsburgh, and his declining performance in Oakland should not take away from that.

by Willton on Apr 16, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who cares if

you play more than 140 games and you suck. Its great that Cairo or Womack can play over 140 games, but they suck. Even before 2000, he was an extremely overrated player, now he just plain sucks. You calling him a good player is even funnier.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 16, 2007 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then you clearly don't know

what a good hitting catcher is.

What you fail to grasp is that the catcher position is typically devoid of good hitters. How devoid? Paul Lo Duca is considered an average hitter among catchers - that's how bad the position is offensively. So when you can find a catcher that can consistenly get on base over 37% of the time, you tend to boost your offense considerably.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/kendaja01.php

From 1997-2000, Kendall was one of the best hitting catchers in the game, usually falling behind Mike Piazza and Jorge Posada, and ahead of Ivan Rodriguez. Then he had two down years in 2001 and 2002, only to follow those years with two fine performances in 2003 and 2004, where his OBP just touched .400 (it was .399 each year.) In those years Kendall was one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. You won't find many better than he during those 6 years.

Jason Kendall has a career 63.6 WARP (that's wins above replacement player) for the 10 years he's been in the league. His career WARP3 (adjusted for all time) is 68.0. To give you some perspective, Jason Varitek has a career WARP3 of 43.9, and he's only been in the league 2 fewer years.

By the way, the games played do matter. Having a good hitter at catcher for a full season is much better than having a great hitter at catcher for only half a season. The games played means he provided more value to his team than someone comparable for a shorter period of time.

You seem to be the only one who thinks that Kendall was a bad hitter, and yet you offer very little proof to support your disdain for him, other than what he is today. Yes, he's not a good hitter anymore, but that doesn't mean he wasn't one in his prime. You can babble on about how much he sucked, but until you actually show that he sucked, all it is is babble.

by Willton on Apr 16, 2007 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm the only

one that thinks Kendall sucks. I'm sure that no one else on the blog thinks Kendall sucks. You just said Kendall was better than Ivan Rodriguez from 97-2000. Enough said, you maid your point on how ridiculous your statement was. Melky going for 61 in 09!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 17, 2007 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regarding Pudge

I said that Kendall was a better hitter than Pudge, not an overall better player. You're jumping to conclusions. Plus, I don't see you refuting that either.

By the way, I never "maid" a point. I made one.

by Willton on Apr 17, 2007 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good, then you will realize

your points are pointless. You consistently do this, have an argument, but completely forget by the end what you are arguing about. I said he has hit 3 homers in the last 3 years, after hitting more before, and said it was because juice. You then said I should do some research (you threw the word fuck in there somewhere) before I throw "A GOOD" player under the rug. You didn't say good player from 96-00, you said good player meaning now. HE SUCKS NOW. And Kendall was not, is not, and never will be a better hitter than Pudge (another juice player).

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 17, 2007 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The funny thing about this blog

is that you don't have to guess at what I said; you can actually scroll up and see what I wrote. I know it's really hard to scroll up on a web browser, but if you actually did the work, you'd see that I never made a distinction of whether Kendall was a good player now or in the past. I made a general classification, and that classification encompasses his entire career. And if you look at his career, you'll find he was an above average player at his position.

By the way, a point of contention:

Kendall

.294/.391/.434 in 486 AB's; OPS = .825
.327/.411/.473 in 535 AB's; OPS = .884
.332/.428/.511 in 280 AB's; OPS = .939
.320/.412/.470 in 579 AB's; OPS = .882

Rodriguez

.313/.360/.484 in 597 AB's; OPS = .844
.321/.358/.513 in 579 AB's; OPS = .872
.332/.356/.558 in 600 AB's; OPS = .914
.347/.375/.667 in 363 AB's; OPS = 1.042

You may disagree with me on who was a better hitter during that time, but based on those numbers you can't call Kendall a bad hitter, and you absolutely can't ignore that Kendall was better at getting on base than Pudge.

By the way, Pudge is not a good hitter anymore, but I seriously doubt you would call into question me calling Pudge a good player.

What bothers me is that you're extremely willing to say that players were juicing. Do you have any proof? Or are you just making wild guesses? You're only basis is that Kendall had a sharp decline in performance, something that happens to tons of ballplayers. You know, Mattingly had a sharp decline in performance too, and at around the same age that Kendall did as well. Did Mattingly do steroids too? Did everyone that played baseball do steroids? Let's indict the entire league!!!

by Willton on Apr 17, 2007 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, I didn't

scroll up because I already hit the reply button. But this is what you said - By the way, next time you want to drag a good player's name in the mud, have some real fucking evidence that he did steroids. Yes, you called him a good player. It doesn't matter if he was a good player in 97. I guess that makes Bernie a good player now also. Craig Biggio is a good player also because he was good in 98. And Yes, Pudge is still a better hitter than Kendall. Mattingly wasn't the same player after the back. People don't suspect players that hit 10-15hrs and now don't hit anymore of juicing. That really doesn't make sense to me. Do I have proof? No. But it is hard to go from 14 hrs to not hitting any at all. Do they have proof on Bonds? No Do they have proof on Giambi? No (you are not seeing the Goverment agreeing that Giambi did steroids). Did they both juice, YES!

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 18, 2007 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Large fluctuations in performance

are the NORM, not the exception. First, players get old and decline, and catchers especially don't age gracefully due to the toll the position takes on the knees and back. See Pudge Rodriguez, Jason Kendall, Jason Varitek, Javy Lopez. Second, many players have performances that seem out of line with their standard performance, and there's usually no good reason for it other than it's a result of the nature of the game of baseball. So pointing to changes of performance as evidence of steroids is folly.

Pointing to the fact that a player doesn't hit many homeruns anymore as evidence of steroids would say that Brian Roberts, Adrien Beltre, Hank Blalock, Marcus Giles, Tony Clark, Chuck Knoblauch, Kevin Maas, Omar Vizquel, as well as a number of other players did steroids. So unless you're willing to indict the entire league, I'd stay away from the changes-in-HR-totals argument.

by Willton on Apr 18, 2007 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You said Kendall's

decline started with age. Not really, his decline began at 29,30. All of the players you mentioned did not decline at 30. Tony Clark hit near 30 hrs a few times, difference is he is in his late 30's. I wouldn't be surprised if Roberts juiced.
Nice example of Maas, that was great. The guy had one good half season in his career. Kendall was someone that hit 10-14 hrs for a few years and now hits 0. Big difference

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 18, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have you never seen

a player decline early? It usually happens with catchers because their bodies take a lot of abuse from catching. Is that so surprising to you that a decline like that causes you to believe that Kendall did steroids? Would you be willing to make the same argument for other catchers who declined quickly, like Mike Lieberthal, Robert Fick, Todd Hundley, Darrin Fletcher and Eddie Taubensee? Or did all those guys do steroids too?

By the way, you say you wouldn't be surprised if Roberts juiced. But does that me you think he did? You seem to be ready to jump to that conclusion with Kendall, yet not with Roberts. Why? If you don't think Roberts juiced, can you think of other reasons why he's not the same power hitter anymore? If so, why can't that apply to other players, like Kendall?

In the midst of your qualifying those players you mentioned, you also fail to give reasons for Blalock, Giles and Beltre. Does this mean that you're willing to accept that players experience highs and lows for no identifiable reason? Or do those guys just run counter to your argument, so you omitted them in the hopes that I wouldn't notice?

by Willton on Apr 18, 2007 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at the text

when I made the original argument. Look at your response. You called him a good player. Beltre's decline is puzzling, Leiberthal 33 or 34 when his decline began. No player has started a dramatic decline like his at age 29,30. Obviously Bernie and Biggio aren't players now but were in the past. For you to even mention Jason Kendall's past career in the same breath as those 2 is absurd.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 19, 2007 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Biggio and Williams

were great players. Kendall was merely good. You don't have to be on the echelon of Biggio and Bernie in order to be good.

by Willton on Apr 19, 2007 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But that is the

example you gave. You said Bernie and Biggio were good before, so that means they are good players, even though they suck now. Surprisingly, I agree with you on that. Unfortunately, as usual, you has forgotten that you compared Kendall to that saying since he was once good, that means overall he is a good player. He had 3-4 years max that were good. His entire career makes him at best an average player. So NO, he is not a good player.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 19, 2007 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

You're the one that brought up Biggio and Bernie. And I basically challenged you to refute me calling either player "good" without referencing a time frame. And you didn't.

Now I suppose you could have challenged my classification in that I wasn't specific enough and should have called them great, but I find that the word "great" tends to encompass "good." So if a player is great, he is then necessarily good. I don't really see a problem calling either player "good" if they are great, because technically, they are good; they just also happen to be more than good.

Great includes good; good doesn't necessarily include great. Is that so hard?

I disagree with you on Kendall, obviously. He had at least 6 years where he was a good player. (Any player that can come close to eclipsing a .400 OBP while playing the most demanding position on the diamond in my mind is quite good.) I think you clearly don't understand how rare it is to find a decent hitter who can also play catcher, and if you were to rank all catchers in the years Kendall has played, you'd find that he fell within the top 10 best hitters among catchers at least 6 out of the 10 years he's played ('97-'00 & '03-'04).

Kendall was not a great player; he was a good player. And you also don't have a shred of evidence that he did steroids, outside of some misguided notion that changes in performance indicate steroid use.

by Willton on Apr 20, 2007 4:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You also fail

to distinguish the other catchers I mentioned. I'd love to hear the convoluted argument you have on this one.

by Willton on Apr 20, 2007 4:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On good players

If you were to make the same juiced comment about Bernie Williams and I were to say that you shouldn't slander a good player, would you take issue with me saying that Bernie Williams, a possible HOFer, was a good player? How about Craig Biggio? Sure they aren't any good now, but would you really contest me calling them good players? Would it be so hard to see that I'm talking about their careers, not just what they are now?

by Willton on Apr 18, 2007 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this argument started

when Kendall was a rookie!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 18, 2007 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup,

that was when econo was making Kendall's hall of fame plaque. Underneath his picture, it said -Jason Kendall, a good player-

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 19, 2007 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, that was him

and his injury was grotesque. Thankfully he recovered from it, but it's still shocking to witness replays of it.

by Willton on Apr 16, 2007 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's one account of it

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/07/04/brewers_pirates/

by Willton on Apr 16, 2007 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate GameChannel!

by docgonzo on Apr 15, 2007 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a fitting way to make

this game interesting

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you have

to be fucking kidding me

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuck me

I wish the red sox the best in their 2090 playoff campaign

by roatti on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ohhh, FUCK

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

SHIT FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What an awful

way to blow a game after playing the entire game so well. Pathetic.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First save opportunity...

... first blown save.

Not your best work, Mo.

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What happened?!

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

three run homer - hit the foul poll

walk off homer off Mo.
A's won.

2-outs - and an 0-2 pitch.

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfuckingbelievable

How the hell can Mo blow that.

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was so ready to pop open a cold open

now, I need some coffee - BLACK

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro hit a 3 run homer...

... to walk off.

by nyg2008 on Apr 15, 2007 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at the A's jumping up and down

they act like they just won game seven

This comment was brought to you by the NY Yankees - America's last Empire.

by Al Rodgers on Apr 15, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

OMFG

You have got to be fucking kidding me!

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It was Fucking Scuttaro, give me a break. Pathetic

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marcus Scutaro?!

He was hitting .050 this season. How the hell does he hit a HR?!

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuck

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FUCKING SCUTARO

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Apr 15, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It gets even better, this

all happened with 2 outs and no one on.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stings...

We had so many opportunities, Minky tagged out at the plate... Arod's almost homer... Blown save....

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 15, 2007 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro

I just heard that Scutaro lead the AL in walk-off hits last year. Anybody know?

by Lushenko on Apr 15, 2007 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sick feeling in my stomach

This one hurts. Everything went accordingly to plan: wait out the other team's ace and pounce on their bullpen, then hand it over to Mo. The best laid plans.........

Andy deserved to win that game after sacking up giving the team a great start, especially in light of the way he started the game.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 7:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I keep on telling

myself its only a game in April, but still, it fucking blows

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't like how this April is going

By the end of the month, the whole damn rotation may be on the DL, and the bullpen arms will be worn out already.

by PsiFighter37 on Apr 15, 2007 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Each game is the same

and counts for 1/162 of the season. If they miss the playoffs by one game, I say we track down Scutaro and beat him to death.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching!

Keep in mind we did just play the 2nd best AL pitching team. Goes to show that bats are not always enough. Right now we're a 2nd or 3rd place team. We need arms.

by Lushenko on Apr 15, 2007 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To be realistic,

all of this evens out. Just like the grand slam that Arod won the game last week (2 outs, no one on), it happens to the Yanks too. If they keep playing like they did today though, they should be fine. Except everything after the 2 outs in the 9th, they had good pitching as well as great situational hitting.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro

did lead the league I think in walk off..Moe has been blowing games like this early forthe last three years...What was Posada calling? 0-2 inside fastball? just bad baseball on his part. You never throw it inside like that in case you miss...Mo was hitting 96 on their gun..Last pitch 93, no movement right in his wheel house...The freaking baseball Gods hated us today..What di ANdy do to deserve that?

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Posada's

target was higher than where the ball went

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 15, 2007 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't write

game highlights now...lol damn...

by John Amato on Apr 15, 2007 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Rivera

working on a circle changeup during spring training? Perfect time to pull it out instead of a straight fastball.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax."

by YANKtheTitle on Apr 15, 2007 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good call

When you possess one of the single most dominant pitches in the history of baseball and are facing a guy hitting under .100, you should go ahead and break out the experimental stuff. Brilliant idea.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 15, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs