HDLR 4/7/08: Rays Versus Yankees

Mussina with a sharp 1-2-3, getting Iwamura on a 4-3, Crawford to pop to short, and fanning Pena. Excellent, efficient work.

hey are you here?

so i started the game on ESPN and their commentary is so bad that i was forced to watch on the extra-innings-YES coverage=good but no HD. the sacrifices ones makes.

i see jeter is out of the game. injured yet again.

I just got back in. I see that Abreu jacked a two-run shot. But I also see now that Jeter is out, Betemit moved to short, and Ensberg in at first. Now Gomes made it 2-1.

that ***ing johnny gomes

4-3, one out. Any word on Jeter's inury?

i wonder if girardi is stricter with jeter that torre was.
i'm hoping that is the case rather than jeter being really hurt; not that he's done anything this year so far

no word

that pitch was NOT low. moose getting squeezed. he can't afford that

On ESPN, I can't Herschiser. He's dull. Then there's Phillips, a whole separate breed of dense.

BB to Bartlett.

at least orel isn't a yankee hater

ESPN just showed a highlight, and it seems Jeter may have turned an ankle when in his first at-bat. It didn't look serious.

he'll be back by august

Bad throw from Molina. He should have had Bartlett.

Mike, it's a good thing you're such an optimist.

4-3, two outs, Bartlett to third.

so it will be interesting to see how ensberg does...

4-3 again ends the inning, 2-1 Yanks. How was your trip to NYC in all, Mike?

Exactly, this is a test for Ensberg, and a chance to show leather and get some meaningful at-bats.

oh i had a great time. three ball games- 2 wins and one loss.
( if only i'd gone sunday..)
i saw lots of old friends, went to movies, dinners etc..

Jose has been great. The Yankees haven't missed a beat with him. Great acquisition.

molina-star- what a treasure!

BTW i love your blurbs about the blogs on the side of your page.

you might have to edit joe's caption to : formerly great blog

JD pops to second, Molina still at second. JD's start is slow (though the hit tonight was helpful).

JD can't get the guy over...just when you get your hopes up for him...

LOL, Mike. Those used to be tags that would only appear when one would pass the cursor over the link. Now they're by-lines.

strained left quad on jeter...

is that bad?

Two poor at-bats in a row, and not a positive start for Ensberg--the sky-high pop that doesn't move the runner.

thank god for bobby this year

He might be out a few days, depending on the severity. Nice hit from Abreu, and Meacham did the right thing holding Molina. Upton has a gun.

yeah ensberg not making a good impression for girardi

Plate that runner and get the run back, A-Rod.

when you can't get a leadoff double across the plate you really should hang up your cleats. utterly atrocious.

More stranded RISP. Not good. Funny about Joe. I also see that you had an exchange with someone over there about Joe's brevity.

that guy paul is the most self-important blogger i have ever run across. he's also full of self-pity. a bad combo in my book.

4-3 shift helps, one out.

that was a close play at first...

6-3 on one pitch, two down. I've not read much of him, but his snotty comment to Joe was unnecessary.

Mussina has been outstanding.

Runs, guys. Start it off, Matsui.

go moose!

Mussina has thrown 44 pitches through 4, 29 for strikes.

that comment to joe was nothing compared to his usual stuff.

i felt compelled to defend joe, though it seems clear that he's lost interest in blogging

yeah, maybe this collection of "B" team " yankees will score some runs...

F8, one out. Now Hinske robs Cano of at least a double.

the problem this year is that they are hacking away...take some pitches for christ sake

what a catch for hinske

Nice patience, Betemit. Hammel threw four pitches that inning.

At least Cano is starting to get good at-bats.

and as i write that...not one of them could wait to swing...

what the F?

Amen, Mike.

i mean i can understand that guys go into slumps, but when a whole team changes its approach at the plate...i just don't get it

Mussina has the breaking ball dancing tonight.

I have to pick up GLG from soccer practice. I'll be back around 9 EDT. Hold the fort, buddy.

Don't get overexcited just because Moose is doing what he is doing agAINST the Rays , no slouches but no playoff contenders either.Still , good job so far .

Wow, how surprising . Moose gets ahead 0-2 and gives up a double . Get em' now boy ( I say this with such an empty feeling .

3-2 , 2 outs , and Moose ...

ok i'll check back then

Gets out of it !!! Looks good so far ...

But a 68 mph Curveball is hardly a finishing pitch . Moose was lucky no damage was done .

And I am blogging to myself once again ( sigh ) . Melky doesn't reach , 1 out .

Ahhhh Damon , wether to cheer or jeer ...

Ahhhh Damon , wether to cheer or jeer ...

i didn't realize you were here sentinel

sorry moose is disappointing you with his performance tonight.

nothing less than a no-hitter would do?

FFTD checking in.

hello vanessa, i hope you had a wonderful off-season

V- jason went to pick up one of his kids, will be back around 9

actuallt sentinel if you are still here , a 68 MPH curve is an excellent out-pitch. gets a lot of guys to swing through it

bad error there. but ensberg is hardly a good first baseman

hey mike. what an error by cano.

yeah it was V, But you would have to think that a guy like dougie would have scooped that right up. i wished they had re-signed him

moose is pitching much better tonight. only let one score on a homer and has only thrown 82 pitches after 6 innings. ill take that any day.

true true, he was great at first. giambi's been doing a lot better at first so far this year too. to bad he's not in the lineup.

lets hope the bats get something going...just as i write that bobby knocks one...

he's been amazing this year!

you're right, big G has been good at 1st

bobby is onnn tonight. double away from the cycle.

arod gets a hit now.... get this offense started

now that;s what we're looking for V!!!

niiice hit by matsui, and the yanks score another one. it's about time.

it's hard to imagine that betemit will be able to get this run in unfortunately

maybe ill be wrong

nope, i was right. what a bum

i really love molina, but did he HAVE to swing at the first pitch?

Argh, the Yanks plate two but I feel like they could've scored a lot more in that inning. I'll take it for now.

I hate that. I hate when there's like a moment in the game where you're really expecting a big hit or something, and then the batter swings at the first pitch. Even if the first pitch is good, I feel like the at bat is boring if you go for the first pitch.

yeah V, with the way the bats have been we're lucky to have 4 runs, but that could have been a huge inning.

lets hope bruney is good tonight

Hey gang, I just came in and see the Yankees added two in the sixth (could have been more, but still good).

it's just foolish to go after the first one in a crucial situation like that

Good to see Bruney in the 7th, letting Mussina end on a high note after a great start, and giving Joba a blow. Lots of heavy gas, F9 one out.

welcome back J

moose wasn't good enough for sentinel i guess, so he left

woah, they take mussina out after only throwing 82? does that make sense? the yanks don't have a day off for two weeks and god knows if there will be horrible starts that pitchers need to come out of the game in the early innings from. the bullpen is gonna be burned.

Bruney's slider clipped Aybar's shin.

jason, betemit's at bat was utterly pathetic

you have a good point V, but i'm gonna trust girardi on that decision

Mussina could have gone one more for sure, but I like the move to the pen for heavy heat, plus Girardi's confidence. He believes in the pen, and they're doing really well so far. After seeing Mussina, the Rays probably feel that Bruney is throwing 105.

6-4 force ends the top of the 7th. Bruney has been excellent this year, and hasn't lost any velocity after losing all that weight.

How are things, Vanessa?

as far as eiland/girardi reclamation projects go they are one for two...the bruney renaissance and farnsworthless redux

Betemit has had a bad start. He's making himself look bad.

There ok. I'm looking forward to spring vacation and the Boston games in New York, I just bought some tickets to it. :)

he's even making us look bad jason for defending him...

JD swings at first pitch. jeeeeeeeezzzzzz

Olney is saying that Jeter has a groin strain and is getting an MRI, which is apparently why he left.

OH GOD NO worthless warming in pen!!!!

Michael Kay is saying he has a quad strain.

It's true, Mike, though I'll stick by him considering that his critics wanted Woodward, who is playing in AAA for the Nats, I believe.

Really, Mike? They're actually going to put Nuke in. Good God.

Ensberg singles. Good.

ok ensberg gives us something. we have to score more runs with farnsy coming in the game

Abreu is a double away from the cycle.

i saw it with my own eyes Jason...he's warming up to give away the game

bobby up to the plate, complete tha cycle abreu

yeah, farns warming up, but just saw mariano getting ready.

traber was warming earlier so there is SOME hope for us

1st and 2nd, plate some runs, A-Rod.

now these are the kind of at bats that are interesting.

A-Rod knew that last pitch should have been a homer.

he just missed that one

that was a strike??

Pretty generous strike zone from Hoye gets an angry A-Rod. Terrible call.

BS BALL 4 that ***ing ump

they showed the overhead shot so i KNOW it was a ball

a-rod is angry...

arod is angrrryy. i would be too. he robbed him.

Clutch two-out RBI from Matsui adds on, it's about time.

godzilla on fire and ensberg with a helluva slide

niice hit by matsui, one of the few that keeps on hitting.

It's about time the Yankees scored five, added on, plated the two-out runner late in the game. Good sign. Just wait until the Yankees start to crank it.

hey that time i liked meacham being agressive ;-)

just noticed that ensberg is wearing sheffield old number. that's one number that i don't care if someone wears again.

aggressive that is

30th pitch of the inning coming up.

isn't ensberg wearing 11? that is dougie from last year vanessa

cano fouls off ball 4

I did too, Mike. Credit where due, Meacham made a good call.

It is, Mike.

i think girardi is going to entrust farnsworth to take the 8th and 9th.... the horror

heck of an at-bat! the hitters return! 11 hits so far

Cano with an RBI, two-out single, 6-1 Yanks. It's getting a little safer to bring in the Nuke.

The offense is getting warm.

here comes betemit home run or K...

50/50 odds

Vanessa, that would be a frightening thought.

oh right, i forgot dougie wore it, buh sheffield did wear it before him.

90/10 i meant

lol, and you're right again mike

ugh. i just don't like that guy

Wilson is waaaay off.

But the additional runs and hits are most welcome. Great sign, especially with two outs.

this is going to be a real make or break for farnsy...

i hope they have a quick hook if need be

they just played that joba commercial again. it still surprises me how much of the spotlight he's captured in so little time.

betemit- chevy player of the game!

traber is warming up again just in case

best to be prepared, though farnsy is throwing strikes

K of Iwamura, two down. Nuke for Mayor.

that was a BEAUT!

wow...will wonders never cease? i love it