- Mariners at Mets 7:10 p.m. (SNY) - Johan Santana faces off against Felix Hernandez in a battle between the two best Venezuelan pitchers in baseball. (We figured Freddy Garcia isn't quite on their level).
- D. Spell
Monday, June 23, 2008
A Draining System Would Be Nice
The picture on the left is an image of what Yankee Stadium looked like in the sixth inning of Sunday's game. I know because I was there. I sat in the bleachers with my brother when in the sixth inning, the skies opened up and it started to pour. The wind was obscene. In fact, it was so strong, it actually took my Coca Cola bottle, which was calmly resting on the bench in front of me, and sent it flying in the air across my section. Now, here's where the Yankee Stadium architects are really brilliant. You have to walk up a small ramp to get from the indoor concessions to the bleachers. Naturally, water will stream down the ramp, considering liquid will rarely flow uphill. They delayed the game - seeing the grounds crew trying to put the tarp on the field in the wind was hilarious - and people started to go inside to get shelter from the rain. Of course, as my brother and I set foot inside, we felt a pool of water up to our ankles. All the water was draining into the Stadium. It was completely flooded, which led to a great time for me and an even greater time for my socks, who were accompanied by water and peanut shavings.
Cheers to the builders of 1976, who are responsible for turning Yankee Stadium into a pool today. And for the record, the water was pitch black.
- D. Spell
And We're Back
Well, after quite the hiatus, Mose and I are back for some more blogging. We apologize for such a long break between columns, but know that starting today, we're here for good. We thought you might want to know what we were doing in our three weeks off. Here was our average daily schedule:
2:00 p.m. - Wake up
2:03 p.m. - Bathroom call
2:10 p.m. - Movie of choice (usually something along the lines of "Gangs of New York" or "Kids Bop"
3:30 p.m. - Get really pissed because Skip Bayless has no idea what he's talking about on "First and Ten". If he says something, I automatically disagree with it, whether I think it's a good point or not. I just feel like I'm stupid if I agree with Skip Bayless on any given issue.
3:47 p.m. - Bathroom call
3:52 p.m. - Go back to wondering how Skip Bayless can be so wrong about LeBron James, when he argues that he is not a top 20 player in the NBA. (Yes, he actually said that).
3:56 p.m. - Another four minutes of Bayless
4:45 p.m. - Eat something sweet and completely unhealthy.
5:45 p.m. - Finish eating sweet and completely unhealthy food and go for another bathroom call.
7:05 p.m. - Watch the Yankees' game and listen to The Great Michael Kay single-handedly take on being the number one PR guy for the Yankees. Boy, Bayless and Kay in one day...And Bissinger thought only bloggers could produce bad journalism.
10:30 p.m. - Sleep for the next 16 hours.
So I guess now you can understand why we had so much trouble getting to the blog. We had such busy schedules we just weren't able to fit it in. However, we've now made room in our lives for it, and we'll be writing everyday. And check out this piece on Bayless from deadspin.com. It really describes him better than I ever could.
- D. Spell
Monday, June 2, 2008
Why Do the Yankees Always Rush Things?
Joba Chamberlain will make his first start tomorrow against the Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium. Ironically, Joba made his Major League debut out of the bullpen against the same Blue Jays' team on August 7th of last year. Because of an injury to Ian Kennedy, who was just placed on the disabled list, Chamberlain was forced to move into the rotation earlier than anticipated. Chamberlain has never thrown more than 40 pitches in a game. Joe Girardi expected that Chamberlain would have a 55-pitch relief appearance and then a 70-pitch appearance before joining the rotation. Now, Joba is starting on Tuesday and being held to a very strict pitch count - probably around 65 pitches, which is still too big of a jump from 40.
Joba has been struggling in the second inning of his appearances this year. How is he going to do in the rotation if that's the case? Probably not very well. Neither his legs nor his arm is in good enough shape to be throwing so many pitches. If the Yankees want to make him into a starter, they need to either do it over the off-season, or take it very slowly during the season. In the meantime, they can call up Dan Giese, who has a 1.98 ERA in 59 innings at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Giese should be making the start tomorrow, not Joba. You can get five innings out of him and then have Joba throw 55 pitches in relief. In Giese's next start, Joba can throw two or three simulated innings in the bullpen and then take the mound, throwing a total of around 70 pitches. You have be gradual when working such a stellar reliever into the rotation. The Yankees are rushing him. It will lead to ineffectiveness on the mound and a possible injury.
- D. Spell
Posada Should Take His Time
Jorge Posada, who has been out since the end of April with a shoulder injury, is expected to rejoin the Yankees by Thursday of this week. Posada will catch two straight games, have an off day on Wednesday and then rejoin the team on Thursday in Yankee Stadium. However, Posada should not be coming back to the team so soon. The Yankees are not having his catch on Wednesday, because they don't trust that he can catch three days in a row. If the organization still trusts his shoulder so little, why would they activate him so soon?
The team is forcing him back because of problems it has had against lefties. With Posada back in the lineup, it can break up the tandem of Matsui - Giambi - Cano, which has been terrorized by lefty specialists since the Yankee catcher left the lineup. Posada can slide Cano down the eighth slot, which he is more comfortable.
Still, if the Yankees don't trust Posada to catch three days in a row, then he is being rushed back. It wouldn't surprise me if he re-injures his shoulder on a throw down to second base. Clearly the Yankees know this, since they have said that they will be carrying three catchers on their roster (Posada along with Jose Molina and Chad Moeller). The Yanks should wait a week until Posada is completely healthy. Then, they can take the risk of sticking him behind the plate.
- D. Spell
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