HDLR 4/4/08: Rays Versus Yankees

the prob with being a Sox fan with a Yankee on my fantasy roster. I have to pull for Kennedy tonight.

-Dan
http://fansonthefield.mlblogs.com

I am really excited to see Kennedy pitch tonight. I think he and Phil Hughes are going to really step up and have huge years for the Yankees.

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/thebronxdaily/

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/yankeesredsox/

hey guys, i'm here for a while...i may go watch with a friend.

hey fans on the field...love your site

Hey guys, how is everyone? I'm in.

Lead-off BB, 3-6 force with Crawford now on 1st.

To the surprise of few, Crawford stole 2nd, though Molina made it close despite the breaking ball and him slipping on the plate during the throw.

Jeter well-positioned behind second steals a base hit, Crawford to third two outs.

Kennedy is struggling to throw strikes, and in none of the games have the home-plate umps given the corner. Upton BB, 1st and 3rd.

Nice sinking change to Floyd makes it 2-2. Get the K.

Grounder through the hole, 1-0 Rays, 1st and 3rd. Kennedy centered that for Floyd for the 2-out RBI.

3U finally ends it after Kennedy threw 29 pitches. Yankees need to rip through Sonnanstine.

not a very promising start for the bats again except for bobby.
lets hope IPK settles down; he admits he is never comfortable in the 1st inning

ian looks like he's being squeezed a bit

ok...i guess he's right. settling in nicely

Nice 2nd for Kennedy--three up and down, 2 K's, only 15 pitches. Let's warm up the bats, guys.

Hey Mike, i stepped away for a few minutes. How are things?

i'm good, i was very tempted to run up to the bronx since the rain didn't materialize, but i decided to stay in...very comfy here with beer and snacks

bj upton robs big G

Upton robbed Giambi of a broken-bat bloop single.

I'm about to grab a beer myself, probably a barleywine.

it looks like your fears that cano would use up all his hits in ST were well founded

sonnenstine getting all the calls

Why in the world do the Yankees have problems with this junk-balling slob?

It's still early, and the Yankees have faced good pitching. But Spring is Spring, and that's why I had to laugh about how enamored the small contingent of slack-jawed reprobates at Bombers Beat was with Woodward. When it counts, I get psyched. Until then, everything is warm-up.

who knows? the bats have been dead since that phillies game

"poor man's ichiro" i love kenny s.

heck of a play!!

Cano showed TREMENDOUS range in robbing Crawford.

PB gives Iwamura third with one out--eeeesh.

how impressive was phil hughes last night though!

god damn. another walk

The walk to Pena probably wasn't the worst thing there, at least setting up the DP. Hold it here, Kennedy. It's not what your team can do for you...

Kennedy has lost the strike zone.

Cheap infield single scores Iwamura. Upton's speed made the difference on that. Kennedy is already up to 62 pitches.

what a mess this is turning into

Now bases loaded with one out. I'd consider warming up someone if Kennedy allows a hit here. He's struggling badly.

and he's not getting ANY calls

67 pitches--37 balls. Terrible.

alby is warming already

nice 3 run double for a pinch hit minor leaguer

That last pitch was definitely a strike. Terrible umpiring, and inconsistent. Now a bases-clearing double, ensured when Cano dropped the ball. 5-0. Wake up, guys!

If he walks in a run i will scream. Never mind, it just got ugly.

Albaladejo in to make an impression before being sent down for Pettite.

this beer isn't working for me...i wonder where he keeps the hard stuff...

Hey Dianna. What a lousy start thus far, eh?

Get the whiskey, Mike. Or some Stoli.

The barleywine is working fine for me, strong and smooth, unlike the Yankees' pitching thus far.

6-0 Rays. The Yankees can take a lesson and steer the ball the other way once in a while.

Is it just me, or was that an out?

Hi guys. I just poured a glass of wine . Let's hope the offence wakes up, or I'll be into the brew myself.

i found tequila.

the inning mercifully comes to an end.

K ends the third after a brutal third. Ahem, Yanks, bats please and fast.

hey dianna

Dianna, since you're from Canada the great neighbour to the north, have you ever had Unibroue? It's a beer from Quebec, and they make excellent beers.

Mike, you need to do a hot for every hit the Yankees get. If this turns into a comeback like June 21, 2005, you're in big trouble.

do a shot, that is.

zilla!!!

Bottoms up, Mike!

Hi mike. Only 5 more to tie.

Jose doubles, Mike, keep the bottle handy.

jose molina has turned in to a star since moving to the bronx!

and who said i needed a glass J? the bottle is just finje :)

fine, that is..

i guess JD did go around...

Damon did go. That's OK, keep the line moving, Captain.

gotta plate this run or just hang it up

a triple?...fine by me

ok let me repeat...gotta plate THIS run now

Jeter triples 6-2. Shot glasses are for weaklings, Mike. My bad. Grab the rocks glass.

BS call from the ump!

I don't like complaining about umpiring, but Sonnanstine is getting the outside calls Kennedy wasn't. I can't stand that.

No mike I haven't. I live in Dartmouth N.S. I drink Molson Canadian.

That's a 4-3 I'll take, 6-3 TB. Keep it going, A-Rod.

im taking it straight from the bottle.

bobby does his job

I like Canadian. Unibroue makes some excellent Belgian-style brews.

A-Rod singles. Keep it rolling, Big G.

BIG G!!!!

Come on guys, keep the rally going. Yes Giambi

Big G!! RBI double to left-center, 6-4! Outstanding comeback. Keep it going, Cano.

at this rate i'll be passed out by 9 pm

Is the bottle empty, Mike?

Cano has had a terrible start, but 6-4 is waaaay better. Nice job, guys.

Sonnanstine threw 24 pitches in the third.

nice play jeter

Come on Jeter. Don't give them gifts.

E-6, c'mon Captain.

Big K, one down. Albaladejo stays, send down Mariano.

we gotta get this inning over with quickly and get back on the offensive

2-1 high strike, at least the ump was finally consistent.

Amen, brother Mike.

I could really enjoy this, if my computer wasn't running like a snail crawling up a tree.

strike'm out, throw'em out: my favorite phrase.

( other than split the outfielders...)

Strike 'em out, throw 'em out! I knew it as soon as Pena fanned. Great job, Albaladejo and Molina!

Dianna, where exactly is Dartmouth, Nova Scotia? I know anything Nova Scotia is by the ocean, but are you shore side?

i have to admit, sonnenstine has a beautiful delivery
very smooth looking

Plus, I take it there is a need for high-speed Internet in Nova Scotia.

His delivery makes up for mediocre stuff, Mike.

...and of course, I just cursed Matsui.

I see on a mamp, Dianna, you're right by Halifax.

Thats funny, Jason. Have you heard of Halifax? I am right across the harbour. Ten minutes from Sid The Kid's house. My computer is ancient and my kids always do something to cause problems

Great change freezes Upton for the K. Albaladejo looks good. Why couldn't he be the long reliever should they choose to use one? Now two down. The kid is performing admirably. He's keeping them in the game.

I sure have, Dianna. One of my favorite blues bands, the Carson Downey Band, is from Nova Scotia. Plus, I'm hopeful to maybe get a teaching job in Canada if need be. I used to live in Western NY, close to Canada. Ah, kids sure do work over computers, I know.

alby making his case for sure

Great fifth for Albaladejo. Just two runs down, guys.

I agree, Mike. For a minute, I thought the tequila got the best of you. But I know you're tougher than that.

the voice of bob sheppard!

Damon has had a slow start. He's hit the ball hard, but at people.

Get things going, Abreu.

That stinking junk-baller Sonnanstine. The Yankees really should sit on the change-up. His fastball won't blow anyone away, so why not?

The maritimes are where its at. Absolutely beautiful. Did you get to go see the boys play in the Bronx? Thats one of my dreams.

F7 deep, one down. I've not been.

Ohlendorf in and looking good.

Nice pick, A-Rod, 5-3 two down.

Lets get out of this inning and get another rally going.

Ohlendorf looked very sharp. The bullpen has been very good this year. Ahem, bats, let's get things going and fast.

Get things going, A-Rod.

Not the way to start a rally.

No, and the Yankees have cooled off at the plate. They're struggling when Sonnanstine keeps the ball down.

and cano's brilliant season continues. i hear he's trying to recreate last year's stunning start. doing a good job so far

Have a good night guys. My daughter needs computer. Go Yanks!

Traber in against the three lefties.

Big G has been making some incredible stretches this year!

All best, Dianna!

Big G has indeed, Mike. He's played a pretty good first, good enough that's for sure.

how BOUT our bullpen this year?!

very encouraging to say the least

3-2 is a great time to introduce Pena to good ol' Uncle Charlie. Sit down, kid.

Mike, this is as confident as I've been in the bullpen in some time. The Yankees have some arms, some quality and most of all, are DEEP.

now if only we had some power bats like wil nieves or cairo...

Dan Wheeler in, the Yankees need to pound him.

Matsui showed poor patience. Don't make it easy on these guys.

HORRIBLE inning for the Yankees at the plate. Swinging at the first pitch, skying fly balls. Terrible.

Hawkins is in.

disgusting inning. hacking away

another bad play by jeter.

Giambi got away with a phantom swipe, nice sell. The Yankees got a break.

Jeter hasn't had a good start, for certain.

Hawkins missed his spot away and it cost him, Floyd's homer made it 7-4.

Now two outs. The Yankees' offense better warm it up when they get up.

Hey, everybody !!!!

Excellent performances by the bullpen....check, that...except for Hawkins! ...That HR hurt!!!

poor old matsui...

Matsui's subpar speed cost him on that fly ball. Damon would have had that. The defense has had some letdowns today.

Hey Jimmy. I hope you brought some good karma with you.

well i shouldn't have opened my mouth about the pen

i'm not sure he did, but i'd rather blame hawkins than jimmy...

Come on, Hawkins !!!!...Maybe he should be sent down after this game !!!

Tough start to the year for Hawkins. Tough spot for the Yanks.

I feel badly for Hawkins getting grief for wearing #21 because it was O'Neill's number.

Hawkins....the new Farnsworth this year!

i hope i never see hawkins again.

jimmy, you're being too kind.

I think it's too early to affix Hawkins for that. Nuke has had a long string of poor performance. Hawkins has had two.

they should have just left hawkins in until he either got the 3rd out or died..

breaking news

and farnsy decides he won't be outdone by hawkins!!

Nuke coughed one up, 13-4.

On a more positive note....

How about Kei Igawa's 6 perfect innings in last night's season opening (AAA) SWB game.....also, Patterson, Ramirez, and Veras out of the bullpen to complete the 4-0 shutout!!!

the only consolation is that the sox are losing to toronto