Man, the Twinks have a bad ass pen. 4 in the top 14.
Of course those fellas kind of suck against us. I’ll take it.

Someone is going to buy high on George Sherill. Am I the only one getting scared of what Baltimore could be in 2-3 years?

If the Yankees had more pitching depth, it might have been possible to gauge the market for Aceves. I’m not sure that he is as good as he has pitched.

McAllister may be hurt. The Yankees have either been victimized by bad luck and/or the way they handle their mL pitchers needs to be reassessed.

Ashmore’s latest update has McAllister not complaining of anything specific (in public), just needing some rest because of a dead arm period, though also getting a medical workup.  It’s a little hard to judge from here if it’s just precaution or a bit of a coverup of something concerning.

So Rafael Perez is the least valuable reliever in the AL, too bad he was almost unhittable in the 07 ALDS.

SG, I am shocked that you did not take this opportunity to comment on Snacks Pontoon’s line.

A lot of terrible Oakland relievers some of whom are highly touted prospects, Gallagher and Gonzalez.

SWB Yankees update.

Actually played a game at home last night.  You could see in RF, a perfect rectangle where they put new sod down after putting in the patchwork drainage system.  Field seemed in great shape, and actually a decent crowd (helped by several groups having bus trips in).  From reading some comments in the local papers I thought not a lot of people would show in protest, but fortunately a good crowd.  Note I had to leave game after top of the 8th; my son was hyper and literally bouncing off the steps, so I had to get him home before he took a tumble.  Apparently, too much sugar in the lemonade!

Kei Igawa started, and looked decent.  6IP/3ER/8K’s, only walk came in his last inning.  At least one K every inning.  Romulo Sanchez, not so good.  Fine in the 7th, after a leadoff single got a GIDP and a K.  Next inning completely lost the zone.  3 walks, WP, and a double.  Only out was a sweet Cervelli throw to catch a base-stealer.  Alby came in and let up the lead on a GB double up the middle; 2b was covering second for a steal and it went to his left, but hit slowly enough for the batter to take 2nd.  But then got out of it, and from the box pitched an uneventful ninth.

On offense, the hero was Yurendell de Caster (the 8 yr old “guest announcer” had to say de Caster’s name leading off the third; poor kid), who got the offense started with a leadoff double in the third (eventually scoring on a Reese SF), and then hitting a leadoff, walk-off HR in the bottom of the ninth.  Shelley Duncan also had a 2-run blast.  When he came up I turned to my son and told him Duncan would hit one.  When Duncan hit it out, I turned to him and said, “see, Daddy is ALWAYS right!” 

Our favorite backups (Pena and Cervelli) had so-so nights.  Pena K’d three times, Cervelli only had a single.  Though one of his outs was a lined-out to deep right (Braves RF covered a TON of range all game).  Cervelli’s single was for a RBI, and he did have a big hustle play.  1st and 2nd 1 out, de Caster hit a GB to the third-baseman.  The fielder stepped on 3rd and rushed the throw to first and put the ball up the RF line.  Cervelli hustled around 2nd, around 3rd, and came home ahead of the tag.  Only other player that did anything of note is Colin Curtis (who may have a future as a 4th/5th OF) who had a couple of singles, and was HBP ahead of Duncan’s HR.

Defensively, Pena had some good and bad.  First baserunner against Igawa was in the 3rd, on a GB up the middle.  Pena got to it but rushed the throw and it sailed on him for an E6.  Later though he started a sweet DP getting a ball in the hole and whipping it to 2nd.  He’s got about as quick of a transfer as you can getting the ball to 2nd for a DP.  Cervelli had a good night.  2SB against him, but the first he had no chance as the runner ran first move on Igawa.  Made it REAL close though throwing a strike from his knees.  I didn’t see the second.  He also threw two runners out.  There were two WP, the first by Igawa he almost threw the runner out (runner left for 2nd as soon as the ball hit the dirt), one by Sanchez got by Cervelli.  The runner Pena let on with an error, Cervelli picked off of first when the next batter struck out.  Had him be 2 feet.

So basically you are saying AJax don’t have HR power, right?

From reading some comments in the local papers I thought not a lot of people would show in protest

Protest of what?  The Yankees’ off-day?

So basically you are saying AJax don’t have HR power, right?

?

He didn’t play last night.  Apparently there was a problem and he didn’t catch his plane back to PA in time to make the game.

Protest of what?  The Yankees’ off-day?

Do a Google search of “scranton yankees drainage problems”.  In a nutshell, the drainage system had passed its useful life.  Combine that with an unusual amount of rain, and the field had been unplayable several times in the past month.  Games were being canceled even if it was bright and sunny all day, and then last week 4 home games were moved (2 to Allentown, 2 to Syracuse). 

A lot of local people were (and still are I think) angry.  Angry at the Yankees because often you didn’t know if the game was postponed until you got the the stadium.  Angry at the local officials for being cheap when the stadium’s field was replaced a few years ago.  (And I’ve read some conspiracy-theories that they intentionally put a bad system in place as an excuse to fund a new stadium)  I’ve ready comments from people who claimed they were season-ticket holders who were going to just sell their tickets and cancel their subscriptions, etc.  Probably some just blowing off steam.

And you know what I don’t understand?  Why no one is on here talking about the most important baseball game ever!

RA Dickey is going to be one of those guys who pitches on the fringes of baseball for decades, with varying degrees of success.  One of those guys who, around 2020, you’ll think “Damn.  Wasn’t he pitching in the bigs when I was in college?”

He’ll be one of those players both you and your kids will have watched play.

Am I the only one getting scared of what Baltimore could be in 2-3 years?

No, you are not alone.  After years of crippling incompetence, Angelos seems to have finally let his GM run the team.  Unfortunately for the AL East, MacPhail seems to be quite competent.  They’ve got a good young core of hitters/fielders and have slowly built up their pitching after some disappointments (Loewen and Penn).  If MacPhail can pull a few trades by the deadline to get some missing pieces, they’ll be ready to compete sooner rather than later.  And Angelos has the money to spend if he can get a top FA to spurn the Yanks and Sox and sign with them.

The Jays have some good young players as well.

It’s only going to get harder for the Yanks.  The AL East is going to be a beast for years to come.

I’m feeling good about the second half after the break. They got humiliated last week and I think they’ll come come out really strong, tying Boston for first before getting swept again sometime down the road.

<music>Lowered expectaaaaaations</music>

Is the summer off-season over. Surely it must be raining in NY today so our guys can get really stale. (A little sarcasm)

Who is this rook they are facing tonight?  Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks Mike K for your Scranton post BTW.

Some tough pitching competitors follow tonight with Verlander Sat and is it Porcello Sunday?

Apparently Julio Lugo has apparently been designated for assignment.

Phil Hughes for Pope.

[17] Wait, that would mean Theo is admitting he made a mistake signing Lugo to $9M per season, and Theo doesn’t make mistakes, only Cashman does.

Kris Benson has a job? In baseball?

At least the Yankees are well rested, having been off since Thursday last week.

This will be the only game the rest of the season that doesn’t feature Cody Ransom in the starting line-up.