Game Thread | Yankees at Rays | Thursday, July 21, 2011

65 Responses to Game Thread | Yankees at Rays | Thursday, July 21, 2011

1. Duh, Innings! says:

   July 21, 2011 at 6:52 pm

   Here’s to the Yankees and Red Sox winning tonight so the Rays are 7.5 games behind the former for the wildcard and 9 games behind the latter for the division title, and the Yanks are still right there 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the division title.

   If the Yanks and Red Sox win tonight, the Rays are done as a postseason contender cuz don’t see the Yankees giving up a 7.5 game lead with 66 games left to play esp. if they play 7-3 or better ball to close July with or without acquiring Ubaldo Jimenez by month’s end. I don’t see the Red Sox giving up a 9 game lead with 65 games left to play.

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2. Duh, Innings! says:

   July 21, 2011 at 7:17 pm

   Hey, Captain Can’t Hit Anymore is batting second today. He just drew a walk in his first plate appearance. Take him out of the game when his turn in the batting order comes up again haha.

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3. Professor Longnose says:

   July 21, 2011 at 7:17 pm

   Why root for the Red Sox? Sure, if the Red Sox win the Rays will have less chance of catching them, but that makes no difference to the chance the Rays have of catching the Yankees. Root for the Sox to lose.

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   Duh, Innings! Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 7:30 pm

   I’m rooting for Boston to win tonight only.

   Them and the Yanks winning tonight, I think, allows the Yanks to focus 100% on winning the division instead of X% winning the division and Y% winning the wildcard/fending off the Rays and everyone behind them, going into the ten-game homestand against the weaker AL teams to end the month. The Yanks see Boston is 9 up on TB and think TB isn’t catching Boston. The Yanks see they’re only 1.5 games behind Boston and think “We can take the division.” No more concerns about TB or as many before this series in TB.

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   Professor Longnose Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 7:37 pm

   I doubt that’s what’s on their minds. But I guess that’s one way to look at it.

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   Duh, Innings! Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 7:56 pm

   I’m pretty sure the Yanks think and talk about the Red Sox quite alot, how could they not when the Red Sox are their biggest obstacle to making the 2011 World Series, or I should say could be if they draw the Red Sox in the ALCS?

   First you have to put distance between yourself and the team on your back then you have to decide when to not concern yourself with that team on your back and focus solely on the team you’re trying to catch. A Yankee win tonight would or could, I think, be the start of that thinking, and a Boston win would further reinforce that thinking.

   The more distance the Red Sox put between themselves and the Rays, the more the Yanks think the Red Sox could be their ALCS foes regardless of who the division winner is between them. I’d rather the Yanks know their potential future enemy sooner rather than later. More time to plan how to beat them.
   I want TB toast by month’s end so it’s solely a Yanks-Red Sox dogfight for the division, no distractions.

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   Professor Longnose Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:01 pm

   How is this thinking going to manifest itself in games? In September, maybe they’d rest someone extra, or change the rotation, but in July? I can’t see how it will make one bit of difference.

   If the Red Sox lose, the chance of the Yankees making the playoffs goes up. That’s what I root for.

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   Professor Longnose Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:07 pm

   I just looked. The Red Sox aren’t even playing today.

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   Duh, Innings! Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 9:30 pm

   Oh so now you want to argue with me? Over opinion.

   I’m ignoring you, too, bye.

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   Yanks #1 Fan Reply:
   July 22nd, 2011 at 2:37 pm

   They will know their opponent. Wether its the Red Sox or someone else. HOWEVER, whoever they play, the Yankees will come out on top and be victorius just to prove, once again, that the New York Yankees are the best team in the MLB!
4. Professor Longnose says:

   July 21, 2011 at 7:31 pm

   Go, Posada!

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5. Matt Imbrogno says:

   July 21, 2011 at 7:46 pm

   CC has a .000 BABIP.

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6. Matt Imbrogno says:

   July 21, 2011 at 7:51 pm

   Is it just me or does Shields want a new ball after every one put in play?

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   Professor Longnose Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:05 pm

   Remember Mark “The Bird” Fidrych? He refused to pitch with the same ball that had just been hit for a hit. He said the ball needed to mix with other balls before he’d use it again.

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   smurfy Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:23 pm

   I think it’s mlb policy to reject any ball hit or that hits the dirt.

   That’s funny, about the Bird. I ought to do some reading.

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7. Professor Longnose says:

   July 21, 2011 at 8:08 pm

   Go, Posada!!

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8. Professor Longnose says:

   July 21, 2011 at 8:09 pm

   A single for Posada! Atta boy!

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9. smurfy says:

   July 21, 2011 at 8:17 pm

   BJ let that dribble thru his wickets. Po couldn’t go for fear of getting hung out like the trout caught earlier.

   Rumor is BJ is available, but, by now, I’d pass. I love the long strides, but not the every day ho hum f’ups. (Besides, Grandy has morphed into the most spectularly successful trade Cash has ever done.)

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   Professor Longnose Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:32 pm

   At least Posada’s learned not to try to take the extra base unless at least two fielders die on the field.

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   smurfy Reply:
   July 21st, 2011 at 8:40 pm

   HAhaha! Thank goodness.

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10. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    CC’s BABIP went up a bit. The 1st inning, there were three hard hit balls, counting the homer. Coney mentioned the flat slider. But CC improved his form, struck out Kotchman with a beauty, until Zobrist last inning, now Fuld.

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    Professor Longnose Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    The Yankees are going to have to hit to win this game.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    It’s been a hard thing.

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11. Professor Longnose says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    I nominate Granderson to hit a 2-run homer.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    I think Joe was thinking similarly.

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12. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    Damn, I think Nunie has a magnet in his pocket!

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13. Matt Imbrogno says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    There are clearly magnets along that 3B line.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    Another Tropicana concession to the Rays, an electro-magnet, can be switched at the half-inning.

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14. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    “Too close to take” : a very good expression.

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15. Professor Longnose says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    The only hope for the Yankees is if the Rays bring in Fransworth.

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16. Professor Longnose says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Damn! Why couldn’t Gardner get on in front of that??

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    yeah, he doesn’t try to slash at Shields.

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17. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    That couldn’t have been CCH that hit that 400′ to center, was it?

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18. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Damn – Tex needs to see Coach Long.

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19. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Swing low, sweet chariot. Won’t you double me ho-ome.

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20. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Swish was juust late on that one.

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21. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Come on, boys, get ‘em out quick. We got a bit of hitting to do!

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22. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    Wait, wait! Not soo quick! Whew, thank you, Gritster.

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23. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    And Farnsworth with a very good slider – all right, Russell!

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24. Professor Longnose says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Tying run on. A single from Nunez could put the tying run at third with one out.

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25. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Got Nunie withzee high cheese. Now then, Curtis…

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26. Professor Longnose says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    What a crappy at bat by Nunez.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    the exuberance of youth, used against.

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27. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Wouldn’t give Grandy a fastball. Dry shucks!

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28. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Hey, Prof – they took away your portrait. Problems with management, or has Duh hacked the system?

    Hunh, it’s back now.

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    Professor Longnose Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    What portrait?

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    I should have said, “non-portrait.” The ananoymous sillouette next to your posts. For some while, yours were not there, replaced with a small red “x.”

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    Professor Longnose Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    Duh’s angry with me. I had the temerity to argue opinions on a baseball blog. I should be shot!

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    you deserve a blue ribbon for patience under fire.

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    Professor Longnose Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Maybe a purple baseball.

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Um, thanks for proving my point about you.

    You argue opinion when there’s no sense in doing it. It’s opinion.

    The Rays now have momentum to overtake the Yankees and the other teams chasing the wildcard will be gunning for the Yankees, too. Better fatten up on Oakland, Seattle, and the Orioles, Yanks, since you once again showed you can’t lay the hammer down on a good team for once.

    Split with Toronto, split with TB, 4-4 roadtrip, and 1-8 vs. Boston. What drives me nuts about that 1-8 is even if the Yanks went just 3-6 vs. Boston which is still crap, they’d be tied for the division and 7.5 ahead of TB.

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    From a dude who is biting off my nickname for Jeter by removing the “A” in CCHA with his “CCH”. Shame shame!

    I don’t acknowledge people who want to argue over opinion which is pointless.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Ha, i’m so ashamed. Single and stolen base, last night; double tonight: maybe we had the wrong guy!

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Wow, he got on base once one night and twice the next, but only once after his first appearance at the plate between the games. Granderson, Garcia, and Nunez made it happen last night, not Jeter. The Yanks would’ve still won 3-0 last night had Jeter not got on base to lead off the game.

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29. smurfy says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Duh, you figure they should have lost last night, so CC would have stopped ‘em?

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    No I don’t figure that. Why would I?

    They should’ve won when Colon and Sabathia gave them excellent starts which they did. I blame neither for the losses. I don’t even blame the damned grey ceiling at Tropicana Field. I blame the offense outside of The Killer Gs (Granderson and Gardner and again, my nickname for them) which sucks.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    I was being facetious, meant to be parallel to your prior argument that we should want the Red Sox to win.

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30. Duh, Innings! says:

    July 21, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    What an awful game and series by the Yankees. My optimism has been deflated with this brutal loss which it was (is.)

    Congrats to them on officially giving the Rays hope: 5.5 games behind the Yanks instead of 7.5, 7.5 behind Boston instead of 8.5 (I forgot Boston wasn’t playing tonight.) Whatever with the Yanks two behind Boston.

    This Yankees team lacks comeback and killer instinct and I have to question if they have what it takes to go all the way because of it.

    How do you go down 1-2-3 to Kyle Farnsworth like that? Gutless!

    Shields was NOT unhittable tonight: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 BB.

    This lineup outside of Gardner and Granderson cannot hit plain and simple and as much as I like Nunez, I don’t think he can hit well enough to hold down 3B for the duration of A-Rod’s absence. If the underachievers, namely Teixiera, Jeter, Swisher, and Posada don’t wake up the Yanks will miss the postseason no matter what their pitching does.

    This offense has pissed away at least three good starts by Sabathia, two by Burnett, two by Garcia (both against the Mets), and one by Colon for at least eight good starts pissed away. If they won just even HALF of those games, they’d be 9.5 games ahead of TB and two ahead of Boston.

    They need Ubaldo Jimenez for the simple fact that they can’t hit outside of the Killer Gs who I’m officially calling Granderson and Gardner from hereonin, so Yankee Analysts, credit me if/when you use that ;) They need as much good starting pitching as possible. I’m resigned to think they can’t get a bat outside of Ty Wigginton, but he doesn’t exactly excite me. I don’t see the Mets trading Beltran to the Yanks and he’s not worth giving up a top prospect for.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    nah, Shields and Farnsworth were both excellent, tough nuts. No disgrace.

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    Tough nuts? Shields blew last year, put nine men on base tonight, and Farnsworth could blow up at anytime.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:36 pm

    Well, THIS game, Shields was tough, as was Farnsworth. Can’t hit against a past reputation.

    Duh, your reasoning was flawed earlier, when you debated with the Professor. Maybe, relax, the Yanks are doing the best they can. Doing very well, I think.

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:50 pm

    So? I expected the Yankees to score more than one measly run against them. I also expected them to do better vs. Shields the second time around in terms of runs scored (they did the same as last time) and better vs. two guys they never faced before (1-1 vs. Cobb and Hellickson where they almost lost the first one cuz Cobb was good.) You have low standards for the Yanks if you think two splits is good or championship caliber when it’s not. I expected at least 5-3 on this roadtrip before it even happened.

    How is my arugment flawed? I want the Yanks distance themselves from the Rays so they can focus on Boston more.

    The Yanks are doing very well? They are a 5-5 record and the Rays 8-3 to close out the month away from being only 3 games ahead of TB for the wildcard going into August.

    They begin August with a seven-game roadtrip vs. the Chi-Sox (4 games) and Boston (3) followed by six at home vs. the Angels and Rays (3 each) then another seven-game roadtrip (3 @ KC and 4 @ Minny), a quick pit stop back at home with Oakland where they might draw Cahill and Gonzalez, then yet another 7-game roadtrip (4 @ the Os and 3 at Fenway.) FOUR more 4-game series including one with the Os to close out this month before the three at Fenway 8/30-9/1. Things could get ugly quick.

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    smurfy Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    I say again, relax. Try the Mentalist on CBS, with me.

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    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    July 21st, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    The Mentalist? LOL. What’s that? TV?

    Btw off the subject I wish I could just subscribe to Yankee game broadcasts as I don’t watch tv outside of the Yankees at all (I get all my news online an in print.)

    I did find myself watching two hours of “Cops” followed by an hour of “Campus PD” on G4 (tv channel) the night after the All-Star Game. What I don’t get about the latter show is why don’t the cops go after the people who sell kids the booze as well as the kids? I mean, say I’m a cop on patrol and I see an 18-year old kid stumbling in the street. I not only get his i.d. from him, but I get his credit card so I can run a check on what he’s purchased recently. If I stop him at 1:30am and see he bought a six pack of booze with his c.c. at 9:30pm four hours earlier, I could care less if he didn’t get wasted from the booze in that six-pack, I’m nailing that store for selling alcohol to a minor. And yet this show doesn’t once come after a bar or store.
31. Game Thread | Yankees at Rays | Thursday, July 21, 2011 | New York … | Yankees News Source says:

    July 21, 2011 at 10:46 pm

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