17 replies to this topic

[jon abbey]

NY finishes their night/day doubleheader against the second of Baltimore's stud pitching prospects, Matusz. Damon is out again, along with Matsui and Posada. Nice to see Shelley Duncan DH against the lefty, as long as he's up here and not helping Scranton in their playoff series, good to see him get some ABs.

For Baltimore, both Pie and Mora left yesterday's game with injuries, neither are playing today.

YANKEES (91-51)
Jeter SS
Hairston LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Duncan DH
Cabrera CF
Molina C

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (11-8, 4.19).

ORIOLES (57-83)
Roberts 2B
Fiorentino CF
Markakis RF
Reimold LF
Scott DH
Wieters C
Wigginton 3B
Aubrey 1B
Andino SS

Pitching: LHP Brian Matusz (4-2. 5.26).

[Aeneas]

So...AJ Burnett...do yankee fans trust him in game 2 of a playoff series?

[jon abbey]

So...AJ Burnett...do yankee fans trust him in game 2 of a playoff series?

What choice do we have? Do Red Sox fans trust Beckett in game 1 or 2 of a playoff series?

[Foulkey Reese]

What choice do we have? Do Red Sox fans trust Beckett in game 1 or 2 of a playoff series?

Yes

[jon abbey]

Beckett obviously has far far more of a track record to trust, but neither of them have done anything in the past month to merit any faith.

[ngruz25]

The grand slam to Roberts was on a really, really bad pitch. Why would he try to throw an inside fastball on 1-2? Of course, it tailed right back over the heart of the plate, which is the last thing you want to do with two strikes.

[Trlicek's Whip]

I think it's bullshit that the Yankees just give up whenever they play BAL. Contract them.

[jon abbey]

The grand slam to Roberts was on a really, really bad pitch. Why would he try to throw an inside fastball on 1-2? Of course, it tailed right back over the heart of the plate, which is the last thing you want to do with two strikes.

Yeah, he had trouble that whole inning putting guys away. He just seems to lose focus sometimes, which would concern me more if NY didn't have a big lead.

[ngruz25]

Yeah, he had trouble that whole inning putting guys away. He just seems to lose focus sometimes, which would concern me more if NY didn't have a big lead.

Well, at least he doesn't have Posada to blame today. Maybe that'll shake him up or something, make him reevaluate his approach.

[InsideTheParker]

Well, at least he doesn't have Posada to blame today. Maybe that'll shake him up or something, make him reevaluate his approach.

What do you mean? His approach is perfect. He shouldn't change a thing!

[moonshotmanny]

I see the O's have gone back to being the Yankees kryptonite.

[SemperFidelisSox]

$16.5 million for 11-9, 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP.

Burnett is also six walks shy of setting a new career high.

[RIrooter09]

$16.5 million for 11-9, 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP.

Burnett is also six walks shy of setting a new career high.

And a 4.49 FIP. He's actually pitched worse than his numbers show.

[Trlicek's Whip]

$16.5 million for 11-9, 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP. Burnett is also six walks shy of setting a new career high.

He's already set a new career high in HR allowed, with 24 this year. Sgt. Rock probably refers to this as "AJ on the verge of doing something special here."

Speaking of Girardi, if Pettitte or Joba (a stretch since how can he at 3-4 inning burps at a time?) pitches better and more consistently between now and the playoffs, does Girardi have the balls to push AJ to third starter? There's certainly face-saving ways to do this ("we like the matchups Pettitte gives us against so-and-so's lineup etc.). Be interesting to see if there's such a thing as Playoff Girardi, and if this version is an assassin or not.

Edited by Trlicek's Whip, 12 September 2009 - 04:43 PM.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Check out Burnett & Pettitte's home/road splits. Burnett starting Game 2 at home and Pettitte in Game 3 at Comerica Park is absolutely the right move despite his recent struggles.

[jon abbey]

I'm hesitant to take too much out of Burnett or Pettitte or Joba's recent pitching, good or bad, as I have to think they're all in second or third gear at this point before revving up for the playoffs again in a week or two.

[ngruz25]

Check out Burnett & Pettitte's home/road splits. Burnett starting Game 2 at home and Pettitte in Game 3 at Comerica Park is absolutely the right move despite his recent struggles.

I can't figure out why the righty has performed demonstrably better at Yankee Stadium and the lefty much better away from Yankee Stadium. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

[SemperFidelisSox]

I'm hesitant to take too much out of Burnett or Pettitte or Joba's recent pitching, good or bad, as I have to think they're all in second or third gear at this point before revving up for the playoffs again in a week or two.

Joba was 92-93 in the 1st inning the other night when he gave up a few hits and a run to Tampa, and then was 95-96 in his final two innings when he retired the side in both frames. The concerns going into the postseason are real, but I wonder how much of his struggles can be attributed to him (or the team) holding back in anticipation for the playoffs so theres still bullets left in the gun.