Wednesday, June 27, 2007
6/27/07: New York Yankees (36-38) at Baltimore Orioles (33-43) - 7:05 PM ET **Liveblog**
**Larry In**
Lineups!
Yankees
DH Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
LF Hideki Matsui
3B Alex Rodriguez
C Jorge Posada
RF Bobby Abreu
CF Melky Cabrera
2B Robinson Cano
1B Miguel Cairo 
SP Clemens (1-2, 5.09)
Orioles
2B Roberts
SS Gomez
RF Markakis
C Hernandez
DH Huff
3B Mora
1B Millar
LF Gibbons
CF Patterson
SP Bedard (5-4, 3.60)
Are you ready to step up? Because the Yankees apparently aren’t.
**Larry OUT!**
**Cutter IN**
Thanks Larry. Good luck with the game tonight. Don’t screw up.
And now to anoint a new temporary mascot:
Pre-game chatter: As you probably know by now Larry has the Gameday for tonight’s game in Baltimore. So check it out even if you have the game on the tube. And let’s hope his presence brings the team good luck.
Top of the 1st: Damon leads off and an out of some sort is expected. A DH as leadoff seems completely against logic to me. Damon strikes out looking. What a surprise.
With a lefty on the mound, I’d say the Yankees might not reach the 3 runs/game they are averaging on this road trip. Jeter strikes out swinging. This game is starting off swimingly.
Matsui in the 3-hole today doesn’t make much sense to me. I guess, it doesn’t make much sense most days but still. The Yankee batters are at least working Bedard’s pitch count up. But Matsui strikes out looking. Fantastic. Wonder if they care.
Bottom of the 1st: Think Clemens can match Bedard k for k? Guess not as Roberts grounds out to Cairo.
Gomez lines one up the middle. That was put on a tee for him. Not a good sign. Oakland is up 3-0 in the first. Have to root against them Indians now. Clemens induces the 4-6-3. That’s nice.
Top of the 2nd: I’ve seen that Select Dental commercial about 5,000 times now. I can recite word for word. And the guy who plays the husband is definitely gay. A-Rod strikes out looking. This game sucks already.
Posada rules. He lines a single to left center. The rest of the lineup will probably strike out, however.
Abreu exceeds my expectations, but just barely as he flies out to left.
The strike zone seems a bit stingy for both teams. Melky grounds out to second.
Bottom of the 2nd: Hernandez flies out to center.
Tapper to 3rd off Huff’s bat and A-Rod makes the play at first. Ooo, its thundering outside here in NYC. If the liveblog stops suddenly, its because my building got hit by lightning.
Mora knocks one off Clemens leg, he scrambles after the ricochet and gets it to first from his knees in time. Good play and he looks alright.
Top of the 3rd: Cano strikes out looking on 3 pitches. Helluva job, Robby.
Wow, 3-0 to Cairo. Does he inspire fear in opposing pitchers? Now 3-1. Cairo grounds out to 3rd.
Damon grounds out to 1st. I know Bedard is good. But he really doesn’t have to be because the Yankees’ offense is terrible. They have 3 hitters in this lineup. The rest suck or are sucking.
Bottom of the 3rd: Jackass grounds out to Cano.
Gibbons flies out to Melky.
Patterson flies out right to Abreu. 1-2-3 inning.
Top of the 4th: 7-0 A’s in the 2nd already in Cleveland. Jeter swings at the first pitch and flies out to right center.
Matsui dinks one to 3rd. Mora has to come in and loses a grasp on the ball in an attempt to get it to 1st quickly. Ruled a hit. He wasn’t even bare-handing the ball.
A-Rod grounds to 3rd and Mora gets the out at 2nd but A-Rod beats the throw to first. Inning alive…..for now.
Posada strikes out looking on a pitch right down the middle. I have no idea what he was thinking there. It looked like he was taking all the way….. 
Bottom of the 4th: Roberts singles to left. Matsui caught it on a bounce running in. I had flashbacks of the dive that broke his wrist.
Flyout to center.
Roberts has been dancing off first this whole time and he gets a huge jump, stealing second with no problem. Markakis grounds out to first and now Roberts is only 90 feet away from home.
Hernandez walks on 3-2. Clemens had him 3-0 to start.
Huff ends the inning with a groundout.
Top of the 5th: Abreu grounds out to second. Yawn.
Melky bunts to third, but too hard and he’s out at first. Double yawn.
After falling behind 0-2, Cano actually works a walk with 4 straight balls. Color me amazed.
But the pitcher is up. Kay is describing Cairo as a life saver for the Yankees because of Doug M.‘s injury. That’s not what I would call him, although he filled in admirably. Hey look, another weak grounder to short, thrown to second for the out. Kill me.
Bottom of the 5th: Sox lost in extras out in Seattle. Doesn’t matter much anymore does it? Mora grounds out to Jeter.
Jackass pops out to Cano. And, if I may shed the sarcasm for a moment, I really don’t think the AL East is out of reach. Stranger things have happened. But I don’t see it happening unless changes are made to the roster.
Gibbons walks.
Patterson, who isn’t good, doubles to the corner in right. Men on second and third.
The Rocket gets a ground out to Cano. No runs were scored….
Top of the 6th: Damon hits a come-backer to Bedard who makes the stab and throws to first.
Remember when the Orioles were a pretty good team back in the 90’s? Those were some good games between these two teams. Now, well, its like watching two old dogs fighting over table scraps. Bedard strikes out Jeter. Yawners.
Matsui swings on 3-0 and pops up to shallow center. This offense is boring as hell.
Bottom of the 6th: It really is amazing that the Yankees are so offensively deficient right now. You’d think with the few very good hitters that they have in the lineup, they’d average more than 3 runs a game this passed week. Trainers are out to look at Roger for some reason. And now play continues. Although the umpires had to have a meeting about how many balls there are. Only one. Gomez singles to center. Torre is just dying to put Vizcaino in.
A walk. I can see where this is going….
A not so hard hit grounder up the middle and Jeter of course can’t get it so a run scores. Men on 1st and 2nd. 1-0 Orioles
Huff homers to left center. 4-0 Orioles
Game over, in theory.
And I bid you good day.
**Cutter out**
***Keith in***
There is a brutal thunderstorm here in the Bronx. If this were a home game, they’d have called it by now. Food for thought, that….
Top of the 7th
Faced with a four-run deficit, it’s time for the Yanks to step up. But these aren’t the Yankees, these are the Washington Nationals. A-Rod strikes out, Jorge grounds out, and Abreu (though he sees eight pitches in the at-bat) grounds out.
The word of the evening is “sad.” Or maybe “pathetic.”
Bottom of the 7th
Clemens out, Bruney in. Let’s see how few strikes he throws…..
He faces the top of the order. Roberts grounds out on a 1-1 pitch to Cano. A quick out.
Another 1-1 pitch gets hit, this Gomez to Abreu. Two quick outs.
Markakis swings on the first pitch, and pops out to A-Rod. That may the best inning of Bruney’s life. Okay, it probably isn’t, but right now it seems that way….
Top of the 8th
I mentioned this in the comments earlier, but it’s worth bringing up here: during the fifth, when a Daily News beat writer joins Sterling and Waldman in the radio booth, the name of Shea Hillenbrand came up, and John Sterling, so help me St. Brigit, said he’d be a good fit with the Yanks because he’s had high on-base percentages “always.”
It impresses me how spectacularly wrong Sterling is capable of being. I mean, it doesn’t get any wronger than that. Man oh man.
Bedard out (rejoice!), Walker in to face Melky. He inspires no confidence by quickly going 0-2.
That’ll teach me to doubt Melky. He gets a base hit to center field. I bet he never leaves first base for the rest of the inning.
Cano—who I want to nickname “Can’to,” but that doesn’t really scan—strikes out, to the lack of surprise of the entire Western Hemisphere.
Phillips in to pinch hit for Cairo, who swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep left. Heavy sigh.
Sexy Calves up to make the third out. I wrote that sentence before Damon actually stepped up to the plate, but it seemed a reasonable prediction, and sure enough, he grounded into a force out. My prediction about Melky was equally valid.
You know, I considered the possibility of renewing my Sunday season ticket package—had it in 2002 and 2003—this year, and wound up not doing it. I’m suddenly grateful.
Bottom of the 8th
Bruney out, Mo in.
Say what?
WHERE THE HELL WAS MO LAST NIGHT WHEN WE FUCKING NEEDED HIM?????????????????
And then Mo goes 3-0 to Hernandez. That’s just so encouraging….
Then he goes to 3-2 and induces a groundout.
Huff flies out to Melky. Sterling has yet to grow tired of pointing out that, if the Yanks don’t score tonight, they’ll have averaged one run per game for the past four games. Be nice if he mentioned how stupid it is that Mo didn’t pitch last night, but that would require, y’know, thought.
Mora grounds out.
Top of the 9th
El Capitan, Gojira, and A-Rod due up, which is who you want up in this situation, at least.
Walker out, Bradford in.
El Capitan starts things off with an infield single. That brings up Gojira in a perfect GIDP situation.
Instead, it’s “just” a forceout. So now there’s an out and a slower runner on first.
A-Rod up. Let’s see if he has the ninth-inning mojo going tonight. Apparently, he does: he gets a single. First and second, one out for Jorgie.
Jorgie runs the count to 3-2 for maximum cliché value—and then strikes out swinging. Sigh.
Abreu up. Let’s see if he bunts….
No, instead he grounds out weakly, which is the touchstone for the 2007 New York Yankees.
Ballgame over. Now three games under .500 and sinking fast. Losing two in a row to the Orioles is like—well, being swept by the Rockies, honestly.
I was hoping that my come-in-to-liveblog-in-midgame mojo might be working—prior to this, the Yankees only lost when I liveblogged the game from the very beginning—but there’s apparently only so much I can do. It was worth a shot.
Goodnight everybody!
***Keith out***
Comments
Ron “White Flag” Villone warming.
It’s interesting to note how much run support can really affect pitchers.
To wit, with run support - would Clemens even still be in the game to give up that home run?
Same with Pettitte’s meltdown in Colorado last week. If the Yanks had scored runs for Pettitte, no way would he be in to self-destruct in the late innings.
It just seems so unfair for these guys to be losing these games because they don’t want to leave the game with the Yankees not scoring (this game is probably the worst example, though, as Clemens really ought to give them at least six).
It probably balances out over the long haul, so I’m most likely just letting my anecdotal evidence totally trick myself, but it does seem like a factor.
i don’t even feel that usual anger or need to blame or anything. it’s just very sad.. i want to watch fun baseball. i feel sad for these shmoes. they are making themselves look so silly. roger gives up a bunch of dribblers and then that. but i think if we get on the board he probably hunkers down a little more. what a shame.
Tabata and Jackson homered for Tampa. That’s good.
And Jeter almost fucks up another routine groundball. It’s bad enough he’s a statue out there, this year he’s sucked on errors, too.
It’s unbelievable how bad this team can play. How did this team win 9 in a row?
Anyone else notice that Loney is on fire? I’d like him rather than Teixiera.
Cutter, mind if I cut in on the liveblog? I’m listening to this monstrosity anyhow….
Of course not. Go ahead. I’m already working on something witty and derisive for tomorrow’s post…
Okay, this is weird—this entry isn’t showing up under “Most Recent Weblog Entries.” *confused*
Anyone else notice that Loney is on fire? I’d like him rather than Teixiera.
But the Dodgers aren’t selling. They have a shot at October.
Abraham:
UPDATE, 8:56 p.m.: Could help be on the way? The Angels told Shea Hillenbrand tonight that he will be DFA’d on Friday. He could be a Yankee by the weekend.
what a fucking doodie pie.
bedard with a grand slam lead is even more of a pain in the ass.
It’s absurd it took LA so long to make Loney their everyday first baseman.
If the Yankees had him, though, Torre would still start Cairo.
Okay, this is weird—this entry isn’t showing up under “Most Recent Weblog Entries.” *confused*
Hold on….lemme see wuzzup.
I think Abraham is using the term “help” extreeeeeeeeemely loosely.
What’s up with Bradley? I see that a deal to the Royals fell through because he was hurt. He would fit in well with the Yankees. He and Damon could take turns at being the hurt CF playing DH!
This team will be suck to watch even more if we get Hillenbrand. It’s bad enough that he sucks, but he’s one of the biggest jackasses in the game. I’d rather start Enrique Wilson at 1B.
Try now, Keith.
Got it.
Yup, Hillenbrand’s arrival would not reflect well on Cashman.
I cant believe the Red Sox got swept by Seattle and the Yankees aren’t even going to gain any ground. Well, I guess they gained a half game on Monday. bleh
Yup, Hillenbrand’s arrival would not reflect well on Cashman.
I’m not a believer, but how the hell can we play Cairo at 1B, be interested in Hillenbrand, call Phillips back up to the majors, and not even consider Shelley Duncan? He most likely does suck, but the first two guys have proven they do and Phillips didn’t do anything to change that opinion last year. It’s not like Teixeira is just going to fall in our laps. Might as well see if you can get a Spencer ‘98 or something out of Duncan.
Bruney is good when he throws strikes.
I’m not a believer, but how the hell can we play Cairo at 1B, be interested in Hillenbrand, call Phillips back up to the majors, and not even consider Shelley Duncan? He most likely does suck, but the first two guys have proven they do and Phillips didn’t do anything to change that opinion last year. It’s not like Teixeira is just going to fall in our laps. Might as well see if you can get a Spencer ‘98 or something out of Duncan.
And Britton and Ramirez have pitched effectively at SWB, but can’t get a shot even though several members of the pen have ineffective.
Something is terribly wrong.
I am no Hillenbrand fan.. but would you rather keep running Cairo out there? Hillenbrand will provide more offense than Cairo.
Ah, one run. An insurmountable lead.
Never mind a one run lead. A 0-0 game against a good pitcher seems insurmountable these days. I’m genuinely surprised when they score.
As for Hillenbrand, could it be any more of a “who cares” type of move? It makes me sick thinking of that guy wearing pinstripes…then again it’s no less appetizing than Abreu at this point.
At least the Yankees will get a crack at Chris “Walk Off Homer” Ray.
I am no Hillenbrand fan.. but would you rather keep running Cairo out there? Hillenbrand will provide more offense than Cairo.
Ignoring his personality, I’d prefer him. But I’d also prefer Phillips or Duncan get the chance to prove they suck while we see what else becomes available.
Hillenbrand will provide more offense than Cairo.
There are amoeba on Saturn who can provide more offense than Cairo. That’s hardly saying anything…
If Torre doesn’t pinch hit for Cairo coming up, then what the hell. I mean, at least give Phillips that shot you were talking about a little while ago.
As someone who considers consistently playing Cairo at first base a good enough reason to fire any manager in the game, I would rather have Cairo at first then Shea on the team.
Why do you suck Cano
That looked gone off the bat. This game sucks ass.
What a bunch of eunuchs.
Keith, fix the title.
Whoops. Fixed. Stupid Firefox.
Too bad. If Phillips ball had gone out at least the 9th would be worth watching. What an embarrassment the Yankees are.
I sure am glad Mo was saved for this game.
This is lunacy. Whoever said Mo would pitch if the Yanks were up big or down big was right. He’s too precious to pitch in the 9th last night but he can throw tonight?
Torre is senile. Seriously.
w00t!! MO IN FOR THE HIGH LEVERAGE APPEARANCE!
Fire Torre now. Fire him now.
I seem to remember someone writing that Mo would get in the game today with the Yanks either up or down 5 runs. Dead wrong. It’s only 4.
Yeah, this is much better use of Mo. Brilliant.
Jesus, just let me manage the Yankees for christ’s sake.
CF Melky
SS Jeter
3B ARod
C Posada
LF Bradley
DH Matsui
RF Abreu
2B Cano
1B Phillips
That line up is better offensively and defensively than what we’re running out there now. DL Damon and hope that he and Giambi come back with a vengeance.
That was far more useful to have in today’s game that it would have been in yesterday’s game.
And if the Yankees sign Hillenbrand, I will actively root for them to lose every game he plays in. I can’t stand him, and he sucks.
Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time?
Baserunners…
Alright let’s fucking go. make this interesting at least, douches
Matsui should bunt here.
“That line up is better offensively and defensively than what we’re running out there now.”
If we’re going to do crazy things like maximize efficiency in the Yankee lineup, might as well put Cairo at SS and Jeter at first.
BTW, in case anyone hasn’t read the latest on Giambi. From Rotoworld:
“Foot specialist Dr. William Hamilton examined Jason Giambi last week and said there wasn’t any change in the torn tendon in his left foot.
“He didn’t have any tests and he is still in the boot,” general manager Brian Cashman said.”
I believe it’s taken from the Post a few days ago.
Sounds to me like Giambi’s done for the year.
Please Jorge.. PLEASE
hey chad, balk for a second will ya?
Ouch.
Posada was walking back to the dugout before that pitch hit the glove. Dammit.
“true yankee” time baby!
Abreu walks. Cano homers.
It could happen.
I wouldn’t pick up Abreu’s option even if he didn’t make another out this season.
This just in… we suck.
it’s annoying that they’re gonna show the matsui yankeeography now, with all the highlights and whatnots. it’ll just make me more angry and confused at our present state. they should replace 2/3rds of this roster with snowmen made of shit.
When the Yanks had their nine game winning streak, every said it was only because they were playing bad teams. Now they’re playing bad teams and they can’t even win.
They’re looking at a 1-8 road trip against three crappy teams.
“they should replace 2/3rds of this roster with snowmen made of shit.”
Best suggestion I have seen all season.
I wouldn’t pick up Abreu’s option even if he didn’t make another out this season.
Me either. Even if you stick Kevin Thompson out there, the difference between him and Abreu isn’t $16 million.
As awful as this is, they’re still 8 out in the Wild Card.
Would anyone REALLY count them out if that was 5 at the All-Star Break?
That’s why I am willing to stick with them until it’s 10 out in the Wild Card (unless, of course, however unlikely, they hit 10 out in the Wild Card at the same time they are under 10 in the division).
They’re 8 out in the wild card, but they’re behind a lot of teams that are going to be playing each other.
The problem with that is, you aren’t going to be able to pick up ground that easily, because when one team ahead of you loses, it likely means another one wins.
I guess it’s time for another playoff odds projection.
To be fair, from my perspective, Bedard was incredibly nasty tonight. The only thing I can really blame them about was that they started to become less patient after the first couple of innings, even though it was still 0-0. If they’d worked the pitch count a little more, they could have gotten into the bullpen earlier—and Baltimore’s bullpen will give up runs if you face them enough.
that’s agreed larry. i just wonder, because cabrera can also be incredibly nasty, and even if he walks someone every inning, i just don’t have confidence they can necessarily score those guys. he almost no hit us last year.
let’s hope he goes down with some gout and bruce chen has to fill in.
has anybody seen the lottery ad where the shmo buys and starts playing for the baseball team and the manager’s taking questions from the press? is joe starting to remind anybody else of that guy?
Torre: “There are no pieces that we are going to replace out there. The guys who are out there are going to have to get it done.”
Cairo can’t be replaced? WTF?
Why Hillenbrand?
1B with .275 OBP and 3HR? He really sucks
Said last off season that I would not pick up Abreu’s option for 2008.
i would really consider playing phillips more for awhile. he’s got solid D, more power when he makes contact and most of all- well you couldn’t do much worse now could you? give his crippled mom something to smile about. in fact… have HER replace cairo
Said last off season that I would not pick up Abreu’s option for 2008.
NOone wanted them to pick up Abreu’s option before first seeing what kind of year he had in 2007, Don.
I mean, if you had said something like “We shouldn’t trade Sheffield. He is bound to have a great year next year, and we will need a DH because someone is bound to get hurt,” then sure, I’d praise the heck out of your precognition.
But Abreu’s 2008 option? That’s a bit of a reach.
And SG, there is no doubt that the Yankees are in huge trouble, playoff-wise, even if they cut the Wild Card lead, due to all the teams ahead of them.
Just saying that with the (relatively) reasonable lead at the moment, I am not ready to count them out just yet.
You’re darn tootin’ I’m just about ready to, though! 
Brian -173- What the heck are you yammering about? Abreu cannot play the OF, his numbers were already declining when he came to the Yankees. See, some guys want to be right later on, I wasn’t afraid to say no to Abreu early on. That’s all. Thanks, Brian, for adding nothing. And for telling us that even the WC is slipping away. Duh!
Don, you’re asking for people to give you credit for saying you wanted to decline Abreu’s 2008 option last year.
That is a silly thing to ask for credit for, as there were a great number of people saying they wanted to decline Abreu’s 2008 option.
It would be akin to asking for credit for saying last year, “Hey, I think the Yankees should try to get A-Rod to agree to an extension!”
Generally, if you ask for credit for making a prediction, it helps if the prediction you made was something unique, or else, why bother asking for the credit?
“Would anyone REALLY count them out if that was 5 at the All-Star Break?”
Yes.
Next entry: A Little Exercise about Reliever Utilization (plus Playoff Odds through June 27)
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