The Yanks need to be reminded what a squeeze looks like.
Recap: Does anyone play baseball anymore? Hey guys, the squeeze play is still a part of baseball. In a game where they squandered numerous opportunities, the Yanks had a big one in the 9th. Tie game, 1st and 3rd, one out. Three good runners. Damon at third, Melky at 1st, Jeter up, Alex on deck. The one thing you DO NOT WANT is a GIDP. How to avoid? How about a squeeze? Get the potential winning run in, Jeter out at first, Melky into scoring position, and A-Rod still has a chance to get some insurance. Do that, then it’s “Enter Sandman” time. The one thing you don’t want is a GIDP. What does Jeter do? He GIDP. You gotta be kidding me. Rizzuto is turning over in his grave. The next time someone questions Scooter’s HOF credentials, remind them of something like this. Remind them of the importance of doing the little things and that the reason the Yanks won was because of guys like Rizzuto doing the little things. I want to scream.
Besides not squeezing, Jeter didn’t even work the count. 2 walks all year by Derek. In that 9th inning, he didn’t even work the count…and if he walks, you get Alex up with the bases loaded.
That is another thing that’s inexcusable.
Ian Kennedy wasn’t good, he wasn’t bad, he was so-so. 3 R in 5 IP. 4 hits but 4 walks. He has to get better, but had I told you in pre-game that is what you were going to get, you would take it. A Mussina-like performance, really. With this Yankees offense, it should be enough. Not the way this offense is going however. Still too much swinging at the first pitch (Molina, Jeter and Cano…members of the “Thou shalt not pass” squad). A.G. proved us right in saying he should get a start. A hit, a fine defensive play. Damon had 4 hits as our tough love (Brett Gardner) seems to be working. Even Farnsworth and Hawkins each somehow threw 2 scoreless innings each. Ohlendorf lost it in the 9th. For details, and NFL draft tidbits, hit more…
Seriously.
The lineup. Girardi must be listening.
YANKEES
Damon LF
Cabrera CF (Nice. I like this. But then, given the bottom, necessary).
Jeter SS (draw a walk, Derek).
Rodriguez DH
Giambi 1B (Good move keeping him in there after last night.)
Duncan RF (the return …)
Ensberg 3B (ok, don’t want to overdo A-Rod’s quad)
Molina C (day game after night game)
Gonzalez 2B (as we wanted; with the lefties get A.G. a game and give Cano a game or two off)
Kennedy RHP (HUGE start for him).
More news: Joba apparently tweaked a leg on the wet mound in Chicago Thurs. night. He and Farnsworth(less)’ tweaks s/b minor.
Why to protect the youngsters: The Twins’ Francisco Liriano missed last year with TJ. He was just sent down. 0-3, 11.32.
From Pete Abraham, a surprising move:
In a bit of a surprise, the Yankees optioned LHP Billy Traber to Scranton. It certainly was deserved given his poor performance this season. The final straw was last night when he walked Grady Sizemore with two outs then barely paid attention as he stole second. He then scored on a single. If you can steal second on a lefty that easily, something has to be done.
Now the Yankees have a bullpen without a lefty or a long reliever.
Traber was 0-0, 4.50 in 8 IP this year, but he wasn’t doing the LOOGY job. Righties were hitting .200 off him, but lefties were hitting .375.
First big move in the draft. Falcons bypass Dorsey to go for QB Matt Ryan of BC. Turn the page on the Michael Vick era. Get the new QB. Raiders—McFadden or Dorsey? It’s McFadden, and Jets fans are ticked. McFadden and Russell? Could the Raiders be resurrected? Dorsey faalls to KC, and I expect the Jets to take Gholston. Have to say, I hate the Jets (sorry, Jet fans). Their fans on draft day are such jerks, and outside of SB III, their team’s football history is SPARSE. If they weren’t a NY team, they’d be as relevant as…the Saints or something. It’s Gholston.
One thing about the NFL Draft (besides wanting Berman to shut up)…it means I’m not watching the Three Stooges (Zelasko, Karros and Kennedy) on Fox.
Hmm…Buck with Ratso Rizzo today (thanks Jason, for that comparison).
Is it me, or is that guy in the Yanks dugout (clubhouse guy, batboy or whatever) a dead ringer for Irabu?
Good enough start for Ian. A walk, a flare, but out of it. Yanks got a hit by Jeter but nothing else in the 1st. Alex hit a rope, but right to LF Dellucci.
BTW, Trenton is going to extra innings. I’ll have the minor league report late tonight, but just to let you know, David Robertson went 3 scoreless innings of relief, no runs (ERA now 0.53) and 3 Ks. (Now 24 K in 17 IP).
Giambi going? What was that about?
Interested of course in my alma mater, PSU, and where their boys go…and also where Rice from Rutgers goes.
C’mon Ian. Throw strikes. You are better than this. Walks in a run. SF.
BTW, Ty Clippard at Columbus (Washington’s AAA…not NY’s Sterling)… 0-3, 7.32.
Bad break for Ian. A flare brings in another run. Even when he makes a good pitch, a flare or a broken bat hit. 3-0 Tribe after 2. Ian won’t be long for this game. Question is, is he long for the rotation?
More so than maybe Kennedy having his rotation spot in jeopardy, is Kevin Long’s status in jeopardy? I mean, the Yankee offense hasn’t been clicking, and this is Game 25. Only 1 game so far with a 10 spot from what was dupposed to be a devastating offense. Good risk by Damon getting the double.
Ouch. Jeter and A-Rod get on. 1st and 2nd, none out. They don’t move. That’s not getting it done, offense.
Ian starting to settle. One bad inning, compounded by wildness (bases loaded walk) and bad luck (RBI flare). But offense needs to wake up.
Molina still doesn’t have a walk. A.G. gets a hit, justifying our wanting him to get a game and sit Cano.
Ouch. 2nd GIDP for Melky.
OK, Ian wasn’t pretty. He did get through 5 IP, 3 R. Had I told you that at 3 p.m. (Eastern), would you have taken it? Truth is, he gave about what you want, but the offense hasn’t done diddly.
My Steelers get Mendenhall from Illinois. Help for Willie Parker at RB. You may recall that the Steelers were without Willie for last year’s playoff game vs. Jacksonville.
2 on again, Shelley got to come through here. 3-0 pitch and he walks. Patience! Molina, Jeter, Cano—take notice. Bases juiced, Sowers out, & opportunity knocks.
Cano PH takes strike 3. What are you looking at, Robbie? Posada PH, and the Yanks get a break. Delucci dives for the ball, and turns a one-run single into a bases-clearing, game-tying triple. Tied after 5 1/2.
Sadie In. Not good. Giambi D hurts Yanks, but A.G. makes a great play to save 2 runs and turn it into an inning ending DP.
Looks like the tough love on JD is working. He’s starting to heat up. Just keep whispering “Brett Gardner” in his ear.
You think with his speed, Melky would know how to bunt. Rizzuto is turning over…
Damn it. Alex 2 on and Whiffs. 3 for 21(???) now with RISP? & Giambi’s out closes out another scoring chance.
Nice. Jorge guns down Grady trying to steal. Guess the arm’s ok?
Yes, I knew the answer to the trivia question was Herb Score. Sad what happened to his career. Struck by a line drive 5/7/57 off the bat of Gil McDougald, and never the same after that.
Friggin’ Cano. Swinging at the first pitch again. Kobayashi (you know what THAT reminds me of) has an easy inning.
Ugh. Farnsworth(less). Bottom of the 8th. Sure enough, leadoff walk.
WOW! Did the Yanks get a break. Cano didn’t have control on Jeter’s force attempt, and wasn’t on the bag. A forceout and Wedge is ejected. Wedge had every reason to argue. It was a terrible call.
I wonder how Ty, Joe and Tony feel about the Giants’ pick. A Safety.
Nice breaking stuff by Farnsy today.
A break on Melky’s hit. 1st and 3rd, one out. Jeter up. I wonder if they have the guts to squeeze? Just don’t GIDP, Derek.
WHAT DID I JUST BLEEPIN’ SAY??????? Lay down a bunt there, get the potential winning run in, and stay out of the DP! Doesn’t anyone play BASEBALL anymore???? C’mon, Girardi!
Ohlendorf in.
51 responses so far ↓
1 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 2:49 pm
are bull pen seems to be falling apart.
2 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Don’t hate on the J-E-T-S Mike.
3 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I’m still ticked my Steelers actually lost to them last year.
Shouldn’t Mel Kiper Jr. be in a mob movie or something?
4 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Can’t ESPN ever suspend the endless NFL coverage? NFL Live is never off the air.
5 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Oh my god, tomorrow’s game is on TBS. There should be a law against having to deal with Tim McCarver and Chip Caray in two days.
6 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Agreed. They’ve analyzed the NFL Draft more than Eisenhower anayzed Omaha Beach.
7 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
**analyzed**
8 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Funny about Kiper. I still recall his being ripped by Irsay, who mocked him for never putting on a jock strap. I suspect Irsay regularly wears one on his head, but that’s besides the point.
It’s true, Tim. Their draft coverage feels like it’s a month long.
9 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:07 pm
The Chiefs got a stud in Glenn Dorsey.
10 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The NFL ESPN every day of the year. It is retarted. How can you talk so much about a sport that is on day a week. Then there’s college football, don’t even get me started….
11 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:16 pm
The NFL is on ESPN*
12 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:20 pm
See above. David Robertson kicked ass again.
13 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:20 pm
See my post last night on McCutchen’s night last night?
14 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:26 pm
12 K’s in 7 IP, that’s a pretty brisk pace Mike.
I sure hope that Giambi’s attempt at second was a missed hit-and-run call.
15 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Kennedy is going to single-handedly wear the bullpen thin at this rate–57 pitches through 2 IP.
16 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Good point about the Jets, Mike. They’re history of success begins and ends with Super Bowl III–and good for them and the AFL for it–but their fans are positively horrible in the draft room.
17 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I am going to go get take out. I will be back in 30 minutes. Ian better game himself straightened out ASAP. Otherwise he is going to find himself at AAA.
18 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 4:59 pm
You’re exactly right about Kennedy, Tim.
19 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Eagles fans at the draft and where I live are just as bad, Jason.
20 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I know, Mike. The booing of McNabb was the bottom of the barrel.
21 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Eagles fans are the bottom of the barrel for fans. They booed Santa Claus. City of Brotherly Love my ass.
22 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I call it the city of blundering losers.
23 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Ian wasn’t that good, just so-so, but he settled in. Truth is, (and I write it above), had I told you in pregame he’d go 5, give up 3, you’d take it. This offense needs to wake up though. Sometimes it seems 3 runs down is like 30.
24 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm
The good news is with all the innings Perez threw last night they shouldn’t see him. It is time to score some damn runs!
25 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Cano is slumping horribly
26 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Posada Clears The Bases 3-3
27 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Finally. We need to hold the Tribe down. Come on boys…
28 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hawkins…not good
29 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hawkins blames it on the mound.
30 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:15 pm
The attorney general flashing the leather!
31 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:17 pm
HUGE play by Gonzalez. Awesome
What a catch!
What a DP
32 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Johnny D with a leadoff double. He’s now hitting
33 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:31 pm
and it was a waste
34 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Po Po guns down Grady.
35 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Farnsinator punches out Gutierrez. Inning over.
36 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tough Love Spring continues! Nuke fanned Gutierrez on three pitches to end the eighth. How about runs, guys?!?
37 Tim The Wizard // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Jeter hits into a DP. *Sigh*.
38 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:12 pm
That was terrible from Jeter top of the 9th 1 out runners on 1st and 3rd. Jeter hits in to a DP
39 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:13 pm
The Yankees have outhit the Indians 12-5 but are tied–two DPs, 9 LOB, 4 RISP left. Horrible hitting in the clutch. Horrible.
40 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Ohlendorf in.
41 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Sizemore base hit.
42 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:17 pm
hope Posada guns him down
43 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Winning run now on 2nd
44 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Good point about not bunting and the DP. I let loose a brief but good profane fit.
Now it’s first and second with one out to Hafner.
45 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I am PISSED. Same as what we saw from Torre. Whatever happened to SQUEEZING the potential winning run in? Good runners on the bases and at the plate. The one thing you DO NOT DO is GIDP, which Jeter did. One way to stay out of the DP and get the run in, lay down a decent bunt. But they almost never squeeze. I’m pissed. You must get the run in there. If I’m managing there, Derek is laying it down…esp. with A-Rod up next. THAT really hurts. Inning ending DP with Alex on deck. Now Ohlendorf gives up 2 hits and a WP. Use the squeeze, guys.
46 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I hear you loud and clear, Mike. So much for that aggressiveness the organization said it wanted. The Yankees have been disgraceful with RISP.
47 Mike Sommer // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:24 pm
…and you KNEW the Indians would win after that, didn’t you.
Wait for my recap. I’m gonna show the Yanks what a squeeze looks like.
48 Nick.K // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Your not the only on pissed Mike I am close to smashing my keyboard to pieces typing this. That was pathetic
49 mike f // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:27 pm
hey guys- checking in from my bro’s house
what a sad affair- we gave them this game on a silver platter. very depresssing
50 mike f // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:32 pm
i guess i missed everyone…ok lata…
51 Jason // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I did know it, Mike, especially when Ohlendorf entered. I don’t want to dump on the kid, but I knew it.
The Yankees were outhitting the Indians 12-5 going into the 9th, but got only three runs and lost. 9 LOB, 4 RISP stranded, scoring chances squandered. This was the worst loss of the year, to me, by a mile.
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