55 replies to this topic

[terrynever]

Two No. 5 starters square off tonight in the middle game of this three-game series. Yanks send Freddy Garcia against Baltimore's Wei-Yin Chen, a 26-year-old lefty from Taiwan who went 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five spring training games. This will be Chen's MLB debut. He's no relation to KC lefty Bruce Chen, who is of Chinese descent but was born, strangely enough, in Panama.

Girardi will probably use the same lineup as last night, unless his binder has other ideas. Andruw Jones, who homered last night, will start in left with Brett Gardner on the bench for the second straight night. Gardner came in late in last night's game and contributed a RBI single. He can't be thrilled with this arrangement.

Besides Jones, Eduardo Nunez is also getting action in this platoon. Nunez has knocked in one run in each of his two starts and also provided heartburn with his erratic fielding.

Baltimore's Nick Markakis is 5-for-13 lifetime against Freddy. Mark Reynolds has four hits -- two doubles and two homers -- off Garcia.

Baltimore opened last season 6-1 before losing eight straight. Yanks have won 23 of their last 32 games in Camden Yards. They went 13-5 against the Birds last year.

[Shaky]

I think A-Rod will go back to third, Andruw will DH and Gardner will play left.

[terrynever]

I think A-Rod will go back to third, Andruw will DH and Gardner will play left.

I suspect you're right but here's what Girardi said in the Post today:

As he did Saturday against lefty David Price, Girardi started the righty-hitting Andruw Jones in left and sat Brett Gardner. Nick Swisher batted second. With the O’s starting lefty Wei-Yin Chen tonight, Girardi likely will stay with the same lineup.
“Eventually, Gardy will play against lefties,’’ Girardi said.

Edited by terrynever, 10 April 2012 - 12:08 PM.

[Shaky]

I suspect you're right but here's what Girardi said in the Post today:

As he did Saturday against lefty David Price, Girardi started the righty-hitting Andruw Jones in left and sat Brett Gardner. Nick Swisher batted second. With the O’s starting lefty Wei-Yin Chen tonight, Girardi likely will stay with the same lineup.
“Eventually, Gardy will play against lefties,’’ Girardi said.

Well Cano will be 37 in 8 years, so he's due for a rest at DH.

[terrynever]

Well Cano will be 37 in 8 years, so he's due for a rest at DH.

That would put Nuney at second base. I'm 64 and hope to see 65 and it ain't happening if Nuney keeps playing the infield. They ought to make the kid an outfielder with the thought of perhaps trading Gardner some day, if the right deal comes along. Not this year but down the road. Most scouts are saying Nunez belongs in the outfield because he can't be trusted in the infield.

[cromulence]

That would put Nuney at second base. I'm 64 and hope to see 65 and it ain't happening if Nuney keeps playing the infield. They ought to make the kid an outfielder with the thought of perhaps trading Gardner some day, if the right deal comes along. Not this year but down the road. Most scouts are saying Nunez belongs in the outfield because he can't be trusted in the infield.

I hear you - but then look at that adventurous popup last night. Nunez seems A-Rodian when it comes to balls in the air. He really did settle down defensively last year and his bat plays much better as a SS. I think they need to give him more chances.

[Shaky]

From LoHud:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
RHP Freddy Garcia

I like it.

Edited by Shaky, 10 April 2012 - 04:56 PM.

[rembrat]

Why is Granderson hitting so low?

[jon abbey]

That's what Girardi has done with him so far against LHP this year.

That is a scary lineup to make your MLB debut against.

[terrynever]

That's what Girardi has done with him so far against LHP this year.

That is a scary lineup to make your MLB debut against.

Cool point.

[derekson]

This Chen fellow doesn't seem very good.

[derekson]

Yankees may regret that squander.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Nick Johnson looks like a old timey pedophile.

[terrynever]

Nick Johnson looks like a old timey pedophile.

Nick was one of the greatest underachievers in pinstripe history. He could have been Mattingly with power and plate discipline. When Paul O'Neill retired, he told Nick to carry on the tradition. Never happened.

[cromulence]

Chen is getting some serious BABIP love.

[Saby]

Watching Bard is conflicting.

As a Yankee fan, I want this starting gig to crash and burn, further depleting an already weak back-end of the rotation.

As a pitching fan, though, his stuff could be amazingly fun to watch.

[cromulence]

Watching Bard is conflicting.

As a Yankee fan, I want this starting gig to crash and burn, further depleting an already weak back-end of the rotation.

As a pitching fan, though, his stuff could be amazingly fun to watch.

Yeah I'm not that much of a baseball fan that I want to enjoy watching him. If that makes sense.

Meanwhile, Chen settling in was extremely predictable. Lefty quasi-junk balller the Yankees haven't seen before, even if that seemed to not be as big a deal last year.

[terrynever]

I could give a shit about Bard. The Yanks have their own pitching problems.

[Saby]

I could give a shit about Bard. The Yanks have their own pitching problems.

NY will be fine, Garcia and Martin just having a rough night.

The only one I'm really concerned about is Hughes and, provided Pineda is healthy and back soon, that will sort itself out.

[Saby]

Nice play!

Now get some freaking runs.

[Saby]

5th WP, feel for Martin back there.

[Wingack]

Seriously, what the heck

[terrynever]

We don't need junkballers in the rotation this year. Freddy is more dangerous than Wakefield.

[cromulence]

Ugh Chen looks like he's decent but he's also given up a shitton of long fly balls and at-em balls, while the O's score on wild pitches. Being on the wrong side of games like this sucks ass.

[Saby]

Sensing an explosion here.

[cromulence]

Thanks for being a butcher Mark Reynolds. Chen's luck ran out.

[derekson]

The third base umpire in this game is a fucking joke. HOw do you call that a checked swing?

Pretty hilarious in juxtaposition to the one he called a swing on Chris Davis earlier.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Best strikeout ever.

[Wingack]

Weirdest strikeout ever. I do think it was outside, but it was close.

Tex looks like he lost weight.

[cromulence]

What in the hell is Rob Thomson thinking with that send? Bogar-esque.

[derekson]

For all of Teixeira's offseason talk about being a more complete hitter and not trying to jerk everything over the fence, he's still doing the same stupid uppercut swing from the heels thing.

[cromulence]

For all of Teixeira's offseason talk about being a more complete hitter and not trying to jerk everything over the fence, he's still doing the same stupid uppercut swing from the heels thing.

Yeah he's really frustrating to watch on a daily basis. Can't hit a changeup, pops up everything. When he gets in a groove he's awesome but they don't happen all that often and they don't last. Yankee Stadium is his best friend.

[terrynever]

This is torture but inevitably the Yanks will prevail.

[cromulence]

OK I'm falling for David Phelps. Don't burn me now.

[Wingack]

Can David Phelps get the next start instead of Freddy Garcia?

[Wingack]

Phelps is rollling.

[SemperFidelisSox]

It always starts with a bullshit Jeter hit...

[ThePrideofShiner]

Man, hitting with runners in scoring position so far this season is just atrocious. Very frustrating to watch.

[derekson]

Wade into a tie game in the 9th? I think Girardi's lost it.

[derekson]

Wade into a tie game in the 9th? I think Girardi's lost it.

Of course, Wade goes on to throw 2 scoreless innings.

[ThePrideofShiner]

At some point they have to get a hit with a runner in scoring position, right?

[SoxScout]

the bullpens in this game.... wow.

edit: 11.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 17 K

Edited by SoxScout, 10 April 2012 - 10:25 PM.

[derekson]

Mark Reynolds is doing his best to let the Yankees score.

[derekson]

I think I would IBB Granderson here.

[StuckOnYouk]

Is there a worse all around player than Mark Reynolds? No wonder the Orioles were trying to dump him on some sucker

[StuckOnYouk]

Why didn't they walk Ibanez to face the backup stiff C again? What the hell was Buck doing?

[Jed Zeppelin]

Or just throw fastballs by the 1000 year old man.

[derekson]

Why the hell do you throw that shitty offspeed stuff after tying up Ibanez with a fastball?

[strek1]

I think I would IBB Granderson here.

And you win the Kewpie doll

[derekson]

Should've IBBed Ibanez too. Stewart looked like a pitcher flailing at the 95 MPH fastballs there.