Since the Red Sox have clinched the AL East by getting Billy Wagner, the Yankees need to shoot for the wild card.  Texas is their main competition for that, which makes this game important.

Top notch snark.

Sorry not to see a house money lineup.  Oh well, another excruciating NYY-RS playoff series to look forward to.

Sorry not to see a house money lineup.  Oh well, another excruciating NYY-RS playoff series to look forward to.

Wild Card Record - GB
Boston   71-53 -   
Texas   69-54 1.5  
Tampa Bay   68-56 3.0

W/ 6 games left between them.

Is it lunacy to think Sheffield might be a great fit?

Yes, yes it is lunacy, unless the plan is to complete disrupt the clubhouse by inserting a world class Wanghead into it, just to add a back-up DH to the roster.

And once again, why do they need to add a bat? Other than Melky/Gardner, what positional player would they actually PH for in the playoffs?

I understand the logic is something along the lines of Sheffield is a RHH and COULD be used to PH for a LHH if the opposing team brings in a LOOGY, but would Girardi actually PH for Damon, Matsui, or Cano in the playoffs?

Joba in Battle Mode instantly.

[3] BP_pecota has the RS at about 80% in the playoffs.

See your point Ted.  But Sheffield was a selfish, slightly crazed egomaniac when he was here, and the clubhouse didn’t collapse.

You’re right that they don’t really need to add a bat.  But they also don’t need 8 relievers in the playoffs.  But someone’s going to be the 25th man, and it doesn’t make much sense for it to be Ramiro Pena.

If there’s one guy who could come in cold and put a ferocious swing on a ball in a pressure-cooker environment, it’s Sheff.

19 pitches to get 1 out—awesome.

OK that’s better.

When I was in Seattle, Jeter hit a HR to deep, deep center.  Granted it was off Ian Snell, but I kind of had a feeling it meant that he was going to get on a really hot locked in streak.

Joba - 20 pitches, 11 strikes, 9 balls, BB, K, H, GIDP. Classic Battle Mode.

But Sheffield was a selfish, slightly crazed egomaniac when he was here, and the clubhouse didn’t collapse.

Well, reports were saying that he certainly didn’t help the clubhouse when he returned from his injury sabbatical in 06. And how do you think Sheff would react to sitting on the bench for long periods of time? Not whether he could still be productive offensively, but would he try to get into a fist fight with Girardi and/or Swisher?

Didn’t help the clubhouse in what sense?  Ate all the breaded fish sticks off the buffet table?  I’d think playing for the Mets would sober a man up, anyway.

Hideki is the baddest man on the planet right now.

Forget the clubhouse stuff.  For Sheffield to be a great fit, there would have to be situations where he would actually get into the game.  I don’t think any of us really want to see him patrolling the outfield, so where does he actually fit in this lineup?

Disgraceful!

[14] He certainly shouldn’t be brought in to take away ABs from Gojira at this point.

Should I be happy they are destroying the Rangers, or be sad they are sort of helping the Red Sox?

Hip hip

Well that was nice of Posada to hit a homer there so Matsui could job home after his sprint to second.

Millwood has had a very good year, but he may be running on empty. His pitches have no snap whatsoever. Very lifeless.

I’d think playing for the Mets would sober a man up, anyway.

Then why did he threaten to stop showing up if they didn’t extend his contract about a week ago? Or why did he threaten to not show up if he was traded to a team he didn’t want to play for?

“I don’t think any of us really want to see him patrolling the outfield”

He can play first, right?  And he has played third and short.

Job home.  Nice.  I need some food.

Yeah, Sheffield makes little sense, especially if he’s going to be angling for a contract extension.

This is a nice start and all, but who’s going to be the utility infielder in 2013?

[21] hahaha!

Well, he does run like Job after he got hit by the hammer of God.

Cano must be imagining runners on base…

[23] I heard something about a robot that will eventually be the 2B in the future, maybe he/it will start out as the UIF then?

I don’t want him.  I was just saying that he could masturbate in the bullpen or throw bleach on his teammate for all I care.  If he hit with power (which he wouldn’t) or if he could still field a position on a ballfield of ML dimensions (which he can’t), his cocaine fueled antics with Straw and Keith would be immaterial.

It sure would be nice to see more of those 95 mph fastballs on the outside corner.

Hopefully A-Rod’s D bounces back a bit after he finishes the surgery.

also, why is Garcia starting for CWS?  Seems like even Jimmy Gobble would be an improvement

Joba is annoying.

[27]  It will be the prototype.

Why would IRod steal right before a patented Yankee 4 Pitch Walk?

32. His tendency to mysteriously lose control of his fastball in the middle of a potentially easy inning reminds me of former Red Sox great Matt Clement.

  If he hit with power (which he wouldn’t) or if he could still field a position on a ballfield of ML dimensions (which he can’t), his cocaine fueled antics with Straw and Keith would be immaterial.

True, I would take him if I thought he could still be productive regardless of the headaches.  I just don’t think he’s a good bet to be.

Ugly defense by ARod this inning.

what the fuck Alex

So it’s gonna be one of those games, huh.

Joba does know he doesn’t have to throw exactly 20 pitch per inning, right?

Eh, two runs…forget it, move on.

Are the Yankees only allowed to give up runs with 2 outs?

Bad pitch there to Borbon. Not a good inning out of Joba.

Alex isn’t exactly distinguishing himself defensively tonight, is he?

This NY Lottery commercial just makes NYers looks like douchebags.

[33] So the UIF robot is the T-800 and the 2B robot is the T-1000?

The thing I don’t understand about the NY Lotto commercial is that at the fountain, there is more money taped there, but the dude don’t go for it. What gives?

Let’s go Swisher.

What is up with Yankee pitchers giving up two out runs?

I can see a college student or a bum going for the money in the fountain, but one guy they show is wearing a suit.

[44] Sort of making me think carrying an extra UIF (Pena) as the 25th man on a playoff roster who could be used exclusively to replace ARod defensively late in games with a lead might not be the worst idea ever.

MVP MVP MVP!

I like this strategy of walking Damon to get to Teix.

It appears that the veteran Milwood is trying to show Joba how to be truly inefficient.

[53] So basically what you are saying is: it’s a trap.

Anyone see Freddy Garcia’s headshot on the GD for da Sox vs. the Sawx?  He looks like he’s four bonghits to the wind.

Oh no, dreaded two outs.

Every other inning?  That was a nice (reverse) K. Gameday backs that up?

WTF?  You’re allowed to go from two outs to three outs WITHOUT giving up runs?  I had no idea.

Only 12 pitches this inning, Millwood is not going to be disappointed with your efficiency Joba. Better make up for it and throw at least 28 pitches next inning.

[57] I’d call that a bit generous to a RH by gameday standards.

Maybe it’s Millwood picking up cues from Joba.

No rest for young Joba.

Oh, THAT new Evony girl, Dapuj.

I had no idea.

Can’t predict you know what.

[61] But why would a veteran follow the lead of a youngster? Veterans “know how to play the game”, while youngsters generally freak out whenever a 2 out situation occurs and completely forget everything they have ever learned about baseball (some even have trouble remembering to breathe when there are 2 outs).

Can’t predict you know what.

I missed the bottom of the third, I was down at the East River.

some even have trouble remembering to breathe when there are 2 outs)

Is that why Joba looks purple sometimes?

I was kidding about the every other inning business!

2 out walk to a guy with a sub 700 OPS this year, sounds about right.

Oh no, 2 outs.

Walking Pudge is a pretty impressive accomplishment for Joba.

Walking Ivan Rodriguez? Not cool.

Chris Davis is not a veteran, so rest easy, he isn’t capable of getting a hit here. Wait, what?

Joba, I was joking. You don’t actually have to throw 28 pitches this inning.

Seriously this two-out crap has to stop.

jobberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

“So, he wasted two pitches way off the plate.”
-John Sterling

Just a drop in the bucket.

Does this count as battlekitty?

So annoying.

He’s not exactly getting hit hard, but this is painful to watch.

Not many of those were well struck balls, but they count.

[77] Real battle mode involves getting yourself into bad situations and escaping without damage, this is just plain throwing a game out of spite towards the Red Sox.

I hope Joba’s propensity for blowing 4-0 leads is just part of the growing pains.

blech

This performance by Joba should’ve been expected… you cannot rest a pitcher for the protracted time that he was and then expect him to be effective… just my two cents…

This is boring.

Stop.

I give up.

Joba sucks ass. His fastball is shit.

How does Melky’s throw to third bounce twice?

[83] But he had a similar rest over the AS Break and came out with three great starts after the break.

you cannot rest a pitcher for the protracted time that he was and then expect him to be effective

Joba after the all-star break was pretty effective.

RI,
  I disagree. He’s been pretty much like this all year. The good games have been the anomalies. his fastball is garbage

Man, what kind of fucking bullshit is going on with these two outs? It is driving me nuts!

Mr. Chamberlain, please get some outs. Preferably, get the third out after the second without letting anyone get on base.

This is annoying.

This sucks. So does Jersey.

Look on the bright side, if the Rangers end up beating the Sox for the WC by one game, we can personally thank Joba for giving this game away.

Just kidding about Jersey.

Unbelievable. What pathetic defense today.

This is unbelievable.

Everyone of these hits w/RISP has been weakly hit.

Great, Joba. You get to wear a dunce cap tonight.

The offense needs to wake up.

Suzyn harping on the extra rest.  The best evidence yet of its irrelevance.

No out pitch. Not missing any bats. Yeah, a lot of bad luck but you sometimes get shit luck when you are incapable of getting a strikeout.

[99] He does have 4 K in < 4 IP.