I am so fucking pissed right now.

Does that mean you’ve given up on the division?

What can I say? What can anyone say?

WOE

I know we’re all angry about the ARod play in the 9th, but does anyone honestly think he wouldn’t just have been LOB like everyone else tonight?

Does that mean you’ve given up on the division?

Negative

I’m not as angry with the ARod play as I am with Damon dropping two balls in CF that hit his glove.

I know we’re all angry about the ARod play in the 9th, but does anyone honestly think he wouldn’t just have been LOB like everyone else tonight?

yes, i think this is pretty safe to say.

i didn’t think there could be any more comical of a loss than Friday night with Christian getting picked off.

i was wrong.

I posted this in the chatter thread:

In a way, I’m almost grateful for the Damon play, because he spared us having to watch this shit for another hour and lose on a walk-off errant pickoff throw.

I’m angry about the Damon play in the 8th primarily, and I’m angry that the team has gotten credible pitching performances from Snacks Pontoon and Darrell Rasner multiple times and haven’t done dick with them.

They are finished.

Michael Kay’s talking in the post game as if a better center fielder would have made those plays in center.  DAMON WAS THERE TO MAKE THE PLAYS.  The ball just popped out of his glove.  Those were just pure, physical errors.

Again, the ARod play was more bad baserunning to me than lack of hustle, though I admit that my first reaction watching the play unfold live was “Get your f-ing ass out of the g-damn box, ARod!”

Yeah, while A-Rod fucked up big-time, Damon is clearly the goat of the game.

As I mentioned earlier, on both plays, it wasn’t even one of those things where you say, “Melky or Gardner would have made the play!” BERNIE could have made those plays!

ANYhoo, like Miss O’Hara so wisely said, tomorrow is another day, although, frankly, it sure is hard to keep giving a damn.

This season sucks.  Daisuke Matsuzaka gets away with putting 35 men on base every game, every flyball Youkilis hits has a hurricane behind it to blow it out of the ballpark as 11 or 12 (depending on the homer he hit tonight) of his 24 home runs would not have been home runs in at least a majority if not most of all MLB parks, the Angels and Twins have terrible offenses yet they all significantly outdo their overall splits w/RISP, yet the Yankees offense can never get it done w/RISP for whatever reason, Robinson Cano (while he definitely has struggled this year) has been robbed of hits seemingly 15 times this year in addition to a lot of at-him balls, Derek Jeter looks like he’s toast, Mariano Rivera can’t hold a tie game to save himself, Pettitte has a lower xFIP, fewer BB rate, and a higher GB% this year than last year but a higher ERA and fewer GIDPs (I guess Jeter wants to hog them all), and now the team collectively is starting to either make bonehead plays or be sloppy.  I keep watching in the hopes that the law of averages will come into play but they never will.

I just hope Hughes can come back soon and show us the kind of pitcher he can be next year when the Yankees hopefully a) have better luck and b) don’t suck at the same time.

*fewer BB rate = lower BB rate

And for those of you curious about the cheapness of Pukelis’s home runs this year:

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/detail.php?id=2008_2214&type=hitter

I like Mooklis even less than I like Li’l Dusty…

If there’s a way to lose a game, this team will find it. What a mess tonight was.

Judging by these comments, thank god I wasn’t here to see these assclowns at their best.

How the fuck do you lose a game where Rasner and Co. only give up 2 runs? God I hate baseball.

How the fuck do you lose a game where Rasner and Co. only give up 2 runs? God I hate baseball.

to be fair, Burnett was absolutely nasty tonight.  completely filthy.

the frustrating point wasn’t the 1 run they scored in 8 innings, it was the run they gave up in the bottom of the 8th and the squandering of an opportunity in the 9th.

without those mistakes, i think we were still talking about trying to win the game in extra innings by waiting out Burnett and Ryan.

that said, the season is over.  i’ve made my peace with it.

until tomorrow night.

I don’t really have the time or the patience to pay attention to the Yankees right now. I don’t want to give up on the season (even though my brain tells me to) but I have to.

As an extension of this I won’t be thinking about the Yankees all that much either and will probably spend a good deal less time here. I’ll poke my head in from time to time, but most of my time will be spent on running and academics.

Anyway, I’ll be back. Eventually. As much as I like the Yankees I like the idea of graduating more. With a double major. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this season without you guys.

(who knows, by the time I return I may need to change my name to a different city)

An <strike>inspired</strike> insipid effort by a team that needs to win 3/4 of their remaining games to make the postseason…

Fixed that.

I think we all should be allowed to post as anonymous.

anybody wanna go to curacao with me

Joshua gone Barbados.

The really annoying part is that I’ve concluded that the Yankees’ playoff chances are nil but I still get frustrated by the inane ways in which they manage to lose ballgames.

It’s a crime to get what they got from Rasner and lose.  6.2 IP, 1ER.  The prosecution rests.  Hang ‘em high.

The really annoying part is that I’ve concluded that the Yankees’ playoff chances are nil but I still get frustrated by the inane ways in which they manage to lose ballgames.

Just because a team isn’t going to make the playoffs doesn’t mean that good players should drop playable balls or get caught stretching because they weren’t hustling. They should still be playing up to their ability—if that’s not good enough or if they run into bad luck or whatever, so be it, I can understand that. But to just goddamn blow it in the eighth and ninth? That sucks and makes me want to tune out until the offseason (which I won’t, but still).

Derek Jeter looks like he’s toast

Kinda funny how cooked bread is the AL’s best SS. He’s also hitting .556 over the last seven days so what the hell games are you watching?

Damon, I just don’t have words for it yet, but holy shit Damon.

I didn’t read the chatter, but I don’t see why anyone would be mad at A-rod. That’s a good play. It took a sweet slide and a perfect throw from Overbay to get him. That’s a worthwhile gamble against a guy like Ryan.

Well, on a positive note… Yankees deciding between Pavano, Hughes for Saturday’s start

Oh baby…

“Wouldn’t it be just like this team this year to score 15 Sunday and with a day off face Burnett and get 5 hits and maybe one run. BTW, Burnett is compiling a pretty good year. What again is the status on his contract?”

From yesterday. As Burnett came out of the game his totals were 5 hits allowed and one run.  I hate it when I’m right. Couldn’t agree more with all of you. How many times did Damon ever drop a ball when he was playing against the Yanks?

I suppose if NY signs Burnett he will promptly burn out his shoulder.

How is that a tough question deciding between Hughes and Pavano at this point. Pavano has no Yankee future and Hughes has been coddled for seemingly ever. Trot his ass out there and make him pitch. What are they worried about? He is either healthy or not. If his rib is ok and he goes out and gets hammered. So what? We lose most of the time and the season is over for all intents and purposes. All that remains to be seen is how far we fall.  With this much talent it isn’t 1991 but it sure feels that way.  Moose’s run is about all the entertainment left and if he plays for a multi year we’ll likely be rooting against him next year.

I didn’t read the chatter, but I don’t see why anyone would be mad at A-rod. That’s a good play. It took a sweet slide and a perfect throw from Overbay to get him. That’s a worthwhile gamble against a guy like Ryan.

We’re not mad at him for going to second - that wasn’t just a worthwhile gamble, it was an absolute must.

What we’re mad at him for is the fact that he didn’t bust it out of the gate. If he did, he’d have been at second base easily.

On top of not busting it out of the gate, he also took a bad turn at first base, which also likely cost him the double, but really, the main thing was that he was slow out of the box, thinking it was an out, and that is not good by A-Rod.

And for a guy who usually hustles, it was especially annoying.

On top of not busting it out of the gate, he also took a bad turn at first base, which also likely cost him the double, but really, the main thing was that he was slow out of the box, thinking it was an out, and that is not good by A-Rod.

I said to my brother while watching the game last night that it wasn’t like Alex was dogging it to first - like maybe Manny would have - but he wasn’t busting it down the line.  If he had been he would have been safe.  At the same time, it did indeed take a great play for him to be out.  The decision to go to 2nd was the right one, but he’s got to be out of the box better.

How is that a tough question deciding between Hughes and Pavano at this point. Pavano has no Yankee future and Hughes has been coddled for seemingly ever. Trot his ass out there and make him pitch.

The problem is he reported a tired-arm after his last game.  Which means he may not be ready yet.

Hughes has been coddled for seemingly ever. Trot his ass out there and make him pitch. What are they worried about? He is either healthy or not. If his rib is ok and he goes out and gets hammered. So what?

This is brilliant.

And for a guy who usually hustles, it was especially annoying.

I didn’t notice all that, but I was kinda drunk. I do remember yelling at him when he hit the ball, maybe that’s why. I get the feeling when I watch the replay (if I watch it) I’ll agree with you and be annoyed. I think I’ll skip watching it and take your word for it.

“Kinda funny how cooked bread is the AL’s best SS. He’s also hitting .556 over the last seven days so what the hell games are you watching?”

I don’t care how he’s been doing over his last 7 days.  His LD% is down 3 percent from last year.  His HR/FB% is down about 8% from 2 years ago.  He still doesn’t hit the ball hard with much consistency and his pop is totally gone.  The only thing he’s been doing well this year is defense.  That 4 for 4 the other day should have been a 2 for 4.

And the fact that he’s the AL’s best SS just goes to show you how weak AL shortstops are this year.

# 12 ” I keep watching in the hopes that the law of averages will come into play but they never will.”

As a not particularly agitated non-Yankee fan, who enjoys reading the banter on this site, the LAW OF AVERAGES ? Don’t you realize that some would point out, that from certain perspectives, the ” Law of Averages” might require the Yankees to miss the playoffs, for the next 35 years! I know what the commentator meant, but some of you folks need to understand that the Yankees are likely NOT to make the playoffs this year, and that doesn’t mean that they’ve been unlucky, or they haven’t hustled, or that they choked, but rather it means that this year it doesn’t look like they’re good enough. The fans of 75% of MLB teams accept that every year…...this year it’s your turn.

His LD% is down 3 percent from last year.  His HR/FB% is down about 8% from 2 years ago.

Irreversible trends no doubt.

He still doesn’t hit the ball hard with much consistency and his pop is totally gone.

And yet he’s a league average hitter.

And the fact that he’s the AL’s best SS just goes to show you how weak AL shortstops are this year.

It also goes to show that he doesn’t look cooked.

“As a not particularly agitated non-Yankee fan, who enjoys reading the banter on this site, the LAW OF AVERAGES ? Don’t you realize that some would point out, that from certain perspectives, the “ Law of Averages” might require the Yankees to miss the playoffs, for the next 35 years! I know what the commentator meant, but some of you folks need to understand that the Yankees are likely NOT to make the playoffs this year, and that doesn’t mean that they’ve been unlucky, or they haven’t hustled, or that they choked, but rather it means that this year it doesn’t look like they’re good enough. The fans of 75% of MLB teams accept that every year…...this year it’s your turn.”

You’re right they haven’t been as good of a team as in the past, but let me explain what I mean.  There is no conclusive evidence that clutch hitting or hitting with runners in scoring position is a repeatable skill.  Yet the Yankees are inexplicably a good deal worse with runners on.  Look MLB numbers overall vs. w/RISP.  Aside from a higher OBP w/RISP (intentional walks), the league hits virtually the same.  It’s a fluke.  Cano is my favorite player, and he has a .611 batting average on line drives this year when it’s typically around .720-.750 for any player.  Jose Molina is hitting .711 on line drives.  So that’s frustrating enough.  Add in the fact that Youkilis (who I hate) has hit 11 heavily weather-induced HR this year and Daisuke Matsuzaka is over 2 runs below his xFIP for the year, and that’s where I’m really frustrated.  I know it’s baseball and crazy shit can happen, but it just seems like it’s been crazier than usual this year.  That’s all that I meant.

“Irreversible trends no doubt.”

Exactly.  It was a little overboard to say he’s toast considering that he is league average, but he has significantly dropped off in just 1 year (30 pts in BA, 90 pts in OPS) and unfortunately for a 34 year old that isn’t too too shocking.  It doesn’t bode well for the future at all.

I don’t think Jeter is cooked - yet.  If the Yanks had SS waiting in AAA to take his place, I think Cashman and Girardi would move him.  But there is no one ready to take his place, so I think Jeter will be the 2009 SS.

I hope they have someone - from the farm or free agency - to replace Jeter after his contract expires.  I’d hate to have them sign him because there is no alternative.  I figure the pressure to resign the Yankee Captain/Face of the Yankees at any/all costs will be high regardless of Jeter’s successor, so they’d better have a plan to placate Jeter Nation.

It doesn’t bode well for the future at all.

Jeter has had other years where he’s declined quite a bit, and the talk has started that he was done as an elite player.  Of course, he bounced back.  Whether the decline in previous years was because of injury, luck, too many girl-friends, or just, “one of those years” I don’t know.  I also don’t know if any of those have anything to do with this year (though we know of at least two injuries that have affected him).

I’m not ready to write him off yet, because he has shown in the past the ability to bounce back.  If he has an OPS+ around 100 next year - I wouldn’t call him toast - but yeah, time to start considering a replacement for 2011.

I hope they have someone - from the farm or free agency - to replace Jeter after his contract expires.  I’d hate to have them sign him because there is no alternative.

If Fabian checks in he can probably answer this better.  I don’t think they have anyone right now that they’re considering on track for 2009.  Ramiro Pena looks like he could *maybe* be an average SS (offense+defense), but he’s got to pick up the offense some.

In A-ball I understand they really like Carmen Angelini (draft choice last year), who I think is talked of as a guy with a lot of raw talent but not much polish.  Based on his #‘s this year, I think he’s in Charleston - maybe Tampa - next year.  Only 19 though.

Then this year they drafted Garrison Lassiter, who the folks at Nomaas are really high on.  Again you’ll see he’s listed as “raw”.

Realstically within the orginization I think they have at best 4 years before a replacement is ready.  I have no problem (conditionally, of course) resigning Jeter after 2010, as long as the contract fits the skills.  E.g. if he has an OPS+ of 102, 97 the next two years he should only get a 2-year deal; but if he gets back to OPS+ of 115, 112 and his defense is still there I wouldn’t be against a 3-4 year deal.

on track for 2009

I meant 2010

but he has significantly dropped off in just 1 year (30 pts in BA, 90 pts in OPS)

I get 80 points of OPS, and if his batting average goes up thirty points, that’s 60 points of OPS right there since OPS double counts batting average. His power is down, but he can work to adjust his power upwards again, like he did in 04. I’m really not concerned about him, I feel pretty certain he’s going to bounce back.

“I get 80 points of OPS, and if his batting average goes up thirty points, that’s 60 points of OPS right there since OPS double counts batting average. His power is down, but he can work to adjust his power upwards again, like he did in 04. I’m really not concerned about him, I feel pretty certain he’s going to bounce back.”

Yeah sorry about that. 80 pts off last year, about 90 off his career norms.  I hope he bounces back too, but from what I’m seeing at the plate from him, I’m not very confident he will, at least this year.  Maybe he changes his offseason routine for next season and has a resurgent 2009, which would be awesome.  But right now, I’m not very confident in his LD% drop and his steady HR/FB% drop each year since 2005.  Plus, going by his approach at the plate, it looks as though he’s given up trying to hit for power.

If they do give Jeter a deal beyond 2010, 2011 could be a real bad season. An aging Posada, Jeter and Alex. Throw in no Mariano who is likely retired.

Goosebumps just thinkin’ on that.