Yankees Start the Second Half

[ndebord]

(ND: Let's see how we come out of the box when the break is over.)

That's all we can do!

Judy,

Not so bad. We reached 500 last night by beating up on Tampa Bay. Three homeruns (A-Rod, Jeter and Abreu) and Petitte straightened himself out for one night ( 5 2/3's, 3 runs).

The old Yankees would make this the start of a streak.

[Judy G. Russell]

Not so bad. We reached 500 last night by beating up on Tampa Bay. Three homeruns (A-Rod, Jeter and Abreu) and Petitte straightened himself out for one night ( 5 2/3's, 3 runs). The old Yankees would make this the start of a streak.We're sure going to see what kind of heart these Yanks have -- or don't have -- in the next couple of weeks.

[ndebord]

We're sure going to see what kind of heart these Yanks have -- or don't have -- in the next couple of weeks.

Judy,

Well the Rocket wasn't last night. Gave up 5 runs before being pulled and struggled through 5 plus innings. Kazmir was good.

Pluses? The Yankees came back to make a game of it before losing 6-4. And Wang is pitching tonight. (Will 2 out of 3 from everybody get us to the playoffs?) Quite a hole this team has dug for itself.

[Judy G. Russell]

.(Will 2 out of 3 from everybody get us to the playoffs?) Quite a hole this team has dug for itself.Well, if we managed to win two-thirds of the remaining games, we'd be at 93-68, and that's not shabby. But the way Boston, Detroit and Cleveland and even Seattle are playing... it might not be enough this year.

[Mike Landi]

Hey, we took 3 of 4 from the Rays and have won 8 of our last 11. Plus Boston dropped 2 of 3 to Toronto (where we head next, I think.)

Big milestone! We are now less than 10 game back from Boston!

(You gotta take whatever small thread of hope you find...)

[Judy G. Russell]

Big milestone! We are now less than 10 game back from Boston! (You gotta take whatever small thread of hope you find...)I'm not counting on anything, but gee... wouldn't a total Bosox meltdown right about now be nice?

[ndebord]

Hey, we took 3 of 4 from the Rays and have won 8 of our last 11. Plus Boston dropped 2 of 3 to Toronto (where we head next, I think.)

Big milestone! We are now less than 10 game back from Boston!

(You gotta take whatever small thread of hope you find...)

Mike,

Three out of four is what we need if we want to get to the wildcard. Toronto is not where I would want to go next, particularly after watching Boston lose 2 of 3 there. Their pitching is tough.

But meanwhile, a mini-winning streak!

<VBG>

[Mike Landi]

It would be great since we are playing better and supposedly have the weak part of our season coming up. (We'll see about that!)

[Judy G. Russell]

Three out of four is what we need if we want to get to the wildcard.Ulp... that ain't gonna happen.

[Judy G. Russell]

It would be great since we are playing better and supposedly have the weak part of our season coming up. (We'll see about that!)Yeah, well, the Rays are supposed to be weak too and night after night we kept barely escaping with the win...

[ndebord]

Ulp... that ain't gonna happen.

Judy,

Who knows? Wang, Petitte, Clemens. Mussina. Add Hughes and maybe one of the young ones (Matt DeSilva?) is pitching against Toronto.

And maybe Rasner and Karstens (sp) will be back soon too. If not starting, can you say better middle relief.

Now if ONLY we could get a good 8th inning leadin to Mo. Farnsworth is driving me crazy.

[Judy G. Russell]

Who knows? Wang, Petitte, Clemens. Mussina. Add Hughes and maybe one of the young ones (Matt DeSilva?) is pitching against Toronto. And maybe Rasner and Karstens (sp) will be back soon too. If not starting, can you say better middle relief. Now if ONLY we could get a good 8th inning leadin to Mo. Farnsworth is driving me crazy.I'm not ruling anything out as impossible. Just unlikely, I'm afraid.

[Mike Landi]

Judy,

Who knows? Wang, Petitte, Clemens. Mussina. Add Hughes and maybe one of the young ones (Matt DeSilva?) is pitching against Toronto.

And maybe Rasner and Karstens (sp) will be back soon too. If not starting, can you say better middle relief.

Now if ONLY we could get a good 8th inning leadin to Mo. Farnsworth is driving me crazy.
Farnsworth is a head case. He has great stuff, but does not trust it. When he comes in, no lead is safe.

[Mike Landi]

Yeah, well, the Rays are supposed to be weak too and night after night we kept barely escaping with the win...
And last night, Iggy was icky. If not for some heavy artillery from the big bats, we would have slipped a game.

The Red Sox have a gimme series with the Royals. We will be lucky to only lose a game this week.

[Judy G. Russell]

Farnsworth is a head case. He has great stuff, but does not trust it. When he comes in, no lead is safe.Sigh... this seems to be a pattern with the Yankees, particularly with the pitchers.

[ndebord]

Farnsworth is a head case. He has great stuff, but does not trust it. When he comes in, no lead is safe.

Mike,

Farnsworth and Proctor (for that matter) both have straight fastballs and they throw them high in the zone. Makes for lots of fly balls and when you don't hit your spot that translates into home runs.

<SIGH>


Whatever happened to Bruney (injury??)

[Mike Landi]

Whatever happened to Bruney (injury??)

He was in last night. Looked good to me.

The Yanks looked good yesterday also (other than Farnsworth.) They played little ball and were aggressive on the bases. That won the game for them.

[Judy G. Russell]

The Yanks looked good yesterday also (other than Farnsworth.) They played little ball and were aggressive on the bases. That won the game for them.Hottest team in baseball right now. May not be enough to carry the day, but it sure beats the alternative!

[Mike Landi]

The problem is, we have to win continuously just to have a shot.

[Judy G. Russell]

The problem is, we have to win continuously just to have a shot.Only three out of four or so...

[ndebord]

Only three out of four or so...


Judy,

Boston is only 7 games in front right now and playing just 500 ball.

<evil grin>

[Judy G. Russell]

Boston is only 7 games in front right now and playing just 500 ball. <evil grin>The AP lede:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Here come the New York Yankees.

Finally.

Maybe.
Let's hope...

[ndebord]

The AP lede:

Let's hope...

Judy,

If they can keep it up. We are getting those quality innings from experienced pitchers that we so desperately need. I speak of Andy (3-2) then Rocket (6-1). Neither pitcher won, but both pitched long into the game so the bullpen could come in for a shorter period of time. (Farnsworth is the snag of course.)

[Mike Landi]

Boston is only 7 games in front right now

<gulp>

ONLY!!!?

[Mike Landi]

The AP lede:

Let's hope...

Let's hope! (Get rid of Farnsworth and get Hughs up...fast!)

[ndebord]

Let's hope! (Get rid of Farnsworth and get Hughs up...fast!)

Mike,

Hughes and Karstens both make starts in Scranton today or tomorrow. Depending, you could see either or both by the end of the week.

<VBG>

[ndebord]

<gulp>

ONLY!!!?

Mike,

What? You prefer 11 or 12 out? Like it was at the first of the month?

;-)

[Judy G. Russell]

If they can keep it up. That, of course, is the operative issue...

[Judy G. Russell]

<gulp> ONLY!!!?It's a whole lot better than 11 or 12 games ahead!

[ndebord]

It's a whole lot better than 11 or 12 games ahead!


Judy,

Too bad. Wang lost 3-2 on a dribbler. Three out of four is good, but I felt greedy.

:-(

[Judy G. Russell]

Three out of four is good, but I felt greedy.Greedy is good when we need every game we can get!

[ndebord]

Greedy is good when we need every game we can get!


Judy,

It is very hard to sweep every game in a four game series. We've done it before and (grrrrrr. Every now and then, it has happened to us. I thought we had a good chance to sweep, but so it goes.

[Judy G. Russell]

It is very hard to sweep every game in a four game series. I know. And we "only" have to take three of four to have an outside chance...

[Mike Landi]

I know. And we "only" have to take three of four to have an outside chance...

I'm not so upset now, since Dice-K lost. We need to get back on track quickly in order to pick up more games.

Hopefully, Hughes will be back soon. I don't want to see Icky Iggy pitch again.

[ndebord]

I'm not so upset now, since Dice-K lost. We need to get back on track quickly in order to pick up more games.

Hopefully, Hughes will be back soon. I don't want to see Icky Iggy pitch again.

Mike,

Unfortunately against Tampa Bay that will be Iggy, Desalva (sp) and Moose.

<wry grin>

[Mike Landi]

I can handle the other two, but Iggy will stress the bullpen by the fifth inning...you watch!

[ndebord]

I can handle the other two, but Iggy will stress the bullpen by the fifth inning...you watch!

Mike,

Moose stunk out the joint and Iggy did five innings and two runs and the Bombers won 7-3 in the first game of the doubleheader!

[ndebord]

I can handle the other two, but Iggy will stress the bullpen by the fifth inning...you watch!

Mike,

All things considered, it might be Moose who sits. This from Scranton on Sunday.

"Making his third rehab start since breaking his right fibula April 28 in New York, Karstens gave up just one run through six dominant innings for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in a 7-2 victory against the Charlotte Knights at PNC Field."

[ndebord]

I know. And we "only" have to take three of four to have an outside chance...

Judy,

Well blow me away. After 45 runs against Tampa, on to the Royals (who are playing a lot better and even beat Beantown a bit). 9th Inning and up 4-2 and look what the Yankees are doing!

- J. Damon singled to third
- M. Cabrera singled to left, J. Damon to second
- D. Jeter struck out swinging
- A. Rodriguez singled to center, J. Damon scored, M. Cabrera to second
- J. Gobble relieved R. Braun
- H. Matsui walked, M. Cabrera to third, A. Rodriguez to second
- J. Posada singled to left, A. Rodriguez and M. Cabrera scored, H. Matsui to third, J. Posada to second on left fielder E. Brown's throwing error
- R. Cano hit sacrifice fly to center, H. Matsui scored, J. Posada to third
- A. Phillips safe at first on second baseman M. Grudzielanek's fielding error, J. Posada scored

And now it up to not Mo, but Villone with a new score of 9-2. WOW!

And talking about the bullpen. Vizciano (sp) is now the 8th inning specialist and he did one inning, no runs and Villone (sp) closed out the 9th. His new delivery (thanks to Gater) has improved him tremendously. Not just a leftie specialist anymore!

<VBG>

[Judy G. Russell]

Well blow me away. After 45 runs against Tampa, on to the Royals (who are playing a lot better and even beat Beantown a bit). 9th Inning and up 4-2 and look what the Yankees are doing!Delightful, seen by itself. But we're still seven #@$%$ games behind...

[ndebord]

Delightful, seen by itself. But we're still seven #@$%$ games behind...

Judy,

Or just 5 1/2 back in the wildcard and we play six games with Beantown.

<g>

[Judy G. Russell]

we play six games with BeantownMake or break time, for sure.

[ndebord]

Make or break time, for sure.

Judy,

Beantown lost to Cleveland and Moose won a game with a great Curve. Yeah.

Only 6 1/2 games back now.

[Judy G. Russell]

Only 6 1/2 games back now.And we need to keep narrowing that gap before we play Beantown again!

[Mike Landi]

You both forget that Icky pitches tonight. We need a huge offense to just stay in the game.

(I wish I was just joking.)

[Judy G. Russell]

You both forget that Icky pitches tonight. We need a huge offense to just stay in the game. (I wish I was just joking.)If they don't get him out of there soon, it's hopeless. It's already 4-0 and it's not even the end of the third inning...

[ndebord]

If they don't get him out of there soon, it's hopeless. It's already 4-0 and it's not even the end of the third inning...


Judy,

Well, one loss is not terrible. We can't win them all, but Iggy is toast. Phil Hughes will be back in the starting rotation next week!

<sigh>

[Judy G. Russell]

Iggy is toast.The sooner the better and don't let the door hit him on the way out.

[Mike Landi]

You know, Iggy was not good but the offense was AWOL. Iggy could have given up one run and still lost.

[Judy G. Russell]

You know, Iggy was not good but the offense was AWOL. Iggy could have given up one run and still lost.True, but you know as well as I do that good pitching can spark an offense. (Then again a lousy offense can take the heart out of a pitcher...) Tonight was ugly too.

[ndebord]

True, but you know as well as I do that good pitching can spark an offense. (Then again a lousy offense can take the heart out of a pitcher...) Tonight was ugly too.

Judy,

And what about that weird doubleheader. Up 8-6 in the 8th in the suspended game and we win 8-7, but at what cost? Mo had to pitch 5 outs and in the second game, Andy gave up three runs and Proctor another home run and so we lost 4-2. Today is the rubber game I think.

[Judy G. Russell]

Today is the rubber game I think.And it ain't going well, not at all.

[ndebord]

And it ain't going well, not at all.

Judy,

I've been so busy, what with this and that. Right now 6 innings and 3 runs later, Wang is still in the lead. Yankees 4, Baltimore 3 in the 6th inning.

[Mike Landi]

Well, we won and Tampa did their job. Yesterday, plus today, are a wash.

We have to keep winning.....

[Judy G. Russell]

I've been so busy, what with this and that. Right now 6 innings and 3 runs later, Wang is still in the lead. Yankees 4, Baltimore 3 in the 6th inning.That's today (and we won!); it was yesterday that was lousy.

[Judy G. Russell]

Well, we won and Tampa did their job. Yesterday, plus today, are a wash. We have to keep winning.....Cleveland lost today too.

[ndebord]

That's today (and we won!); it was yesterday that was lousy.

What did we do? Was it win the suspended and this one and lose three to Baltimore?

<shudder>

[Judy G. Russell]

What did we do? Was it win the suspended and this one and lose three to Baltimore? <shudder>Not quite that bad: we won the suspended game and lost the regular game Friday, lost Saturday and won today. So we "only" lost two to Baltimore.

[ndebord]

Not quite that bad: we won the suspended game and lost the regular game Friday, lost Saturday and won today. So we "only" lost two to Baltimore.

Judy,

Looks like Baltimore was an aberration. We're taking off where we left off with Tampa Bay. My God, 8 homeruns in the first game with the White Sox and then Andy was Dandy today and we win 8-1 (he improves to 7-7).

And they say that Proctor is this year's Sturtze. Burned out and so he is gone and Farnsworth stays. No justice if you ask me. And lots of new pitchers coming up and who is this kid as DH who seems to hit a homerun all the time? (Giambi should be looking over his schoulder.)

<g>

[Judy G. Russell]

who is this kid as DH who seems to hit a homerun all the time? (Giambi should be looking over his schoulder.) <g>I dunno but I sure hope the kid keeps it up!