Game Thread: Rays vs. Yankees, 8/12/2011 (7:05PM EST on YES)

By On August 12, 2011 · 30 Comments · In Game Thread

Hope everyone is enjoying their Friday!  Tonight looks to be a good game as two dominant lefties face off.  Use this as your game thread for the evening!

Tonight’s lineup (compliments of BaseballPress.com):

1. (R) LF
2. (L) DH
3. (R) 3B
4. (S) RF
5. (R) CF
6. (R) 2B
7. (L) 1B
8. (R) C
9. (S) SS

1. (R) SS
2. (L) CF
3. (S) 1B
4. (L) 2B
5. (S) DH
6. (R) RF
7. (R) C
8. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
9. (L) LF

And on the mound:
vs

Tagged with: •
 
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Delicious Digg

30 Responses to Game Thread: Rays vs. Yankees, 8/12/2011 (7:05PM EST on YES)

  1. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    Here’s the test: Johnny Damon. Shit, CC got beat on an inside fb, 96 mph.
    The test was: could he use the slider effectively against a lefty. The second pitch wa a slider, but it was low, for a ball.

    The second homer was on a change that went straight, instead of dropping and fading from the righty Shoppach. The first was on a fb to Kotchman, inside and high, unless it was a slipped slider that was straight.

    Reply
    • smurfy says:
      August 12, 2011 at 8:08 pm

      Haven’t seen CC’s sweeping slider to the outside corner or beyond, dekin’ lefties, his stock-in-trade.

      Reply
  2. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    Fourth inning: they are smacking CC’s pitches silly. Flyout to the track, line drive single. Kotchman missed it: fly a few feet in front of the track.

    Reply
  3. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    The ump ran interference on Tex going after the ball. Oh, baby, where’d that mojo go? See if you can pick it up, Tex.

    Reply
  4. Professor Longnose says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    Hit! Hit! Hit!

    Reply
  5. Phil C says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    What the hell is it with all these HRs from guys with little power the last few games?

    Reply
    • smurfy says:
      August 12, 2011 at 8:18 pm

      CC’s got so little working, they, like Boston, are sitting on his fb, which he has to throw.

      Reply
      • T.O. Chris says:
        August 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm

        It’s really not his stuff, it’s his control. With Boston he simply didn’t have good stuff, that isn’t the case tonight. He’s thrown some nasty backdoor sliders, his fastball has great life on it, and his changeup is nasty tonight. He just can’t locate that well.

        Reply
        • smurfy says:
          August 12, 2011 at 8:49 pm

          His control is off, no doubt, but he threw a changeup to Shoppach that sat there. I’ve seen some front door sliders, but no sweepers. He’s throwing hard, but that’s all I see.

          Reply
          • T.O. Chris says:
            August 12, 2011 at 9:17 pm

            Pointing out one bad changeup isn’t an argument for having no change. In fact it’s kind of an argument for the lack of control. Other than that one pitch his change has been really good, and he’s had several swing and misses on it. He’s made several hitters look foolish on the backdoor slider. It hasn’t been quite as sharp as the past few weeks, but it’s been far from a bad pitch. He’s had his stuff, the control simply wasn’t there.

            Reply
            • smurfy says:
              August 12, 2011 at 9:23 pm

              After Boston, in which he thew solid fballs while he was getting drubbed, I said his slider was missing in action. CC said on the postgame, “My fb command was poor.” You said, “Aw, that’s his go-to excuse.”

              Reply
              • T.O. Chris says:
                August 12, 2011 at 9:39 pm

                Not really sure what that has to do with anything. I said he didn’t have anything last week, I said his control was the main weak point this week. One doesn’t exclude the other. I’ve also already said his slider isn’t 100% in this game, but it’s nowhere near as bad as last week, since last week he couldn’t hit those backdoor sliders at all. Let alone for swing and misses like that. Last week he also had no change whatsoever, this game he had a very solid change minus one pitch.

              • smurfy says:
                August 12, 2011 at 9:47 pm

                Yeah, I was complaining of your dismissive attitude of my opinion, which is that CC has a problem, considering the sweeping slider against lefties has been a major weapon, and he appears to have lost it.

                I hope his change-up has revived. That used to be very effective for him, but has been MIA most of ths year. Wasn’t enough tonight, along with the occasional left-corner slider that I saw tonight.

                I was concerned coming into the game, and that concern has defintely not been mollified.

              • T.O. Chris says:
                August 12, 2011 at 9:59 pm

                That’s not the case, if you want to see it as I dimissed it then that’s your perogative. I said his slider wasn’t top notch today, but you can’t act like the pitch simply wasn’t there like it was last week. He was able to use it effectively, just not in the manner we are use to. It certainly wasn’t the best pitch in his arsenal as it has been at times over his last 10 starts or so, but that happens over the course of the year. He really hasn’t had as strong a changeup this season as we are use to seeing over the past 2 seasons.

                Now if your point is there is something hugely wrong with Sabathia, and we need to worry the rest of the year because his slider is gone I certainly disagree. In 2009 Sabathia’s best pitch throughout the course of the year was his changeup, for the majority of this season it’s been the slider. These things come and go, and I see no reason to panic becase he had bad stuff in one start, and an average slider in another. If he had had better control in this game things probably look a lot different. CC is still CC, and he should bounce back to another dominant start in another turn or two through the rotation.

                As good as he was pitching he was due to regress, you can’t have some 10 starts as perfect as he did without a couple of off games afterwards. Just like Curtis hit 4 home runs in 3 games, and then struggled tonight. Surging and regressing is the name of the game.

              • smurfy says:
                August 12, 2011 at 10:47 pm

                Don’t worry, Chris, I won’t worry the rest of the year. I agree with most of what you’ve said. My only position is that CC is missing the slider that has been a large part of his success. Since I have no practical solution, I suppose it is just that, a worry, till he finds it.

  6. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    I was ready to say they found it; three soloes answered, almost , by a double, but Swish was just beat by the relay.

    Reply
  7. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Great play on the bunt pop foul by Mssr. Russell!

    Reply
  8. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    Did you see that bunt by Zobrist? No mojo at all, right now. Sorry to be annoying, but…

    Reply
  9. T.O. Chris says:
    August 12, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Sabathia’s lack of home runs on the year was bound to regress eventually, but I had no idea it would happen all in one game.

    Reply
  10. smurfy says:
    August 12, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Tha YES_MO of Kotchman’s face while he swung at the hit was priceless.

    Reply
  11. Duh, Innings! says:
    August 12, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Nice last at-bat, Captain Can’t Hit Anymore.

    He swings on a 3-1 count with a man on, no one out, and the Yanks down 4 runs when he should take a pitch for a possible men on 1B and 2B and no outs for Granderson or good full-count pitch to hit.

    The least Jeter can do is beat out the play at 1B. When was the last time he beat the throw to 1B on a fielder’s choice?

    What a cipher in the leadoff slot.

    Once again Sabathia shows that while he is worth the next four years, he is not worth giving seven or eight years to. He can’t beat good teams. The Yanks should let him go when he opts out and asks for seven or eight years.

    Btw can the Yankees smack around an ace or #2 for once? Name me the last ace or #2 they smacked around.

    Reply
    • T.O. Chris says:
      August 12, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      He can’t beat good teams? Really? Before this season he had a dominate record, ERA, and BA against versus the Red Sox in his time with the Yankees.

      Also how does today have anything to do with what he would or would not be worth in years 5-7 of his next deal?

      You seem to love any player who has one good game, yet turn around and bash any player that has one bad game. I’ve seen you defend, and bash Jeter alone on multiple occasions this year. Almost the definition of a fair weather fan.

      Reply
      • Duh, Innings! says:
        August 12, 2011 at 10:48 pm

        I’m a fairweather fan? I’m not. Love how you put “almost the definition of a fairweather fan” so you could say you didn’t call me one. Cuz I don’t want the Yanks to give 7 or 8 years to Sabathia when he opts out? Cuz I don’t agree with you is more like it. Get over yourself and do you ever wonder why barely anyone replies to you? Cuz you’re a knowitall.

        I don’t “seem” to do or do anything of what you’re talking about. Jeter blows and I have said he blows from the time I came on this blog including after each of his two five-hit games which shut up alot of you including you. Where have I “defended” him? I never wanted him signed for more than a year and I even said the Yanks should’ve let him walk if he refused a one-year deal cuz what’s he gonna do, collect his 3000th hit elsewhere/in another uniform and win a World Series with who? So you can stop that noise about me defending then bashing Jeter right now. I said Hughes blows before he rejoined the rotation and after it. I did say I’d ease up on him. I’ve said Posada sucks since a month or so after his great start (I cut him some slack.). I’ve said Cervelli blows since I came on here. Burnett fooled me for awhile like he fools most Yankee fans, but I clamored for him to be removed from the rotation wayyy before many of you came on here and did that. Those are the only Yankees I can think of that I’ve got on. I have never bashed the rest of the rotation (until CC after tonight’s awful start by him) or bullpen. I think I might’ve bashed Soriano but only because he was a crybaby which he was. I’ve been disappointed with Teixiera and A-Rod, I think both are overpaid and will hurt the Yanks long-term. A-Rod’s 36 and there’s six more years on his contract, that’s scary. Less scary but disturbing is Teixiera is hitting below .250. As much as I like Cano, think he’s a very good player, I don’t think he’s a star worth prime Jeter or A-Rod money. He’s David Wright at 2B. That isn’t bad, but it’s not 7 or years $20M per year good. Cano has yet to have a truly breakout year. It’s getting late with him (two more years under contract?)

        Yes, I am bashing Sabathia because he’s 0-4 vs. the Red Sox and sucked again tonight in a walk year. He dominates the bad teams and in interleague play but turns to medicore or worse crap against the good teams. I can understand a #3, #4, or #5 pitching like that against the good teams, I don’t tolerate it from the ace esp. one who will opt out and ask for 7 or 8 years at my guess $25-27M per. He’s 31 and 260 or some shit pounds and I don’t want 7 or 8 years of him, ok? You do, whatever. I don’t care what you think. You’re a nerd who posts 5-15 times an entry. You never shut up, you always think you’re right, and you always want the last word. Who died and made you an expert on the Yankees and baseball (what I’ve never claimed on here)?

        And didn’t Larry Koestler tell you to ignore me (as I have ignored you)? Please continue to if you’re gonna post in a nasty manner to me with your “He can’t beat good teams? Really?” and namecalling crap ok?

        Now, here is my backing what I wrote about Sabathia re: good teams after I got personal with you in response to you getting personal with me. Note he has done best against the weak-sisters of the AL East and Central and in interleague play (where he sometimes doesn’t draw the DH and superior 7-8-9 batting order), if you even bothered to look at his career splits at baseball-reference.com.

        CC’s lifetime records with ERA against good teams:

        6-9, 4.19 vs. the Red Sox. His 0-4 this season vs. Boston counts every bit as much as his pre-2011 vs. the Red Sox. He was 6-5 vs. them before this year, hardly beating a good team (one win over .500.)

        6-7, 4.37 vs. the Angels.

        15-12, 4.54 vs. the Tigers.

        9-8, whatever his ERA is after tonight vs. the Rays. He’s barely beaten them.

        1-8, 6.16 vs. the Yanks

        13-8, 2.94 vs. Minnesota who have won a decent amount of AL Central titles despite a lousy 2011. The ONE good team since say 2002 he’s beaten a decent amount of times. Also the weakest one listed so far by number of World Series appearances or titles since 2002 (zero – as Boston has two WS titles, the Angels one, the Tigers one WS appearance, the Yanks one WS title and one WS appearance since 2002.)

        2-1, 4.23 vs. the Phillies but he lost Game 1 of the 2009 World Series against them.

        He’s not even good against a team who in recent times can’t hit:

        7-8, 5.03 vs. the As.

        So put that in your pipe and smoke it, nerd.

        I’m not talking about tonight’s start or that it should be the sole basis for not signing him for 7 or 8 years. I’m saying he will be too old and fat to commit three or possibly four years to (2016-18/19.) The fact that he can’t beat good teams or barely beats them further reinforces this belief.

        Larry you will see as plain as day this guy started with me after I have ignored him for weeks.

        Reply
        • Duh, Innings! says:
          August 12, 2011 at 10:59 pm

          Correction: Potential walk year for Sabathia with the opt-out clause. I’d say it’s an unofficial walk year.

          Oh yeah – TB has one WS appearance since 2002, too (2008.)

          15-12, 4.54 vs. the Tigers is garbage for an ace.

          His record vs. the Yanks counts even though he’s a Yankee cuz the Yanks are a good team and if Sabathia signs elsewhere after this year, he’s still 1-8, 6.16 against them, a good team.

          If you bothered to read my entry which you didn’t, I said something to the effect that I think he’s worth the four years remaining on his contract, just not the final three or four he could get from a new seven or eight year contract. You disagree, fine. It’s my opinion like your opinion is yours and you know what people say opinions are like. ‘Thing is you have one and are one.

          “Once again Sabathia shows that while he is worth the next four years, he is not worth giving seven or eight years to. He can’t beat good teams. The Yanks should let him go when he opts out and asks for seven or eight years.”

          This is what I think, too bad if you don’t like it. I don’t want the Yanks to give this guy a blank check in years or money. Hopefully they don’t.

          Reply
  12. Duh, Innings! says:
    August 12, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Is it me or does Toronto suck whenever they play the Angels as well as (4-8) suck when they play the Red Sox?\

    I’d be curious to know who the worst team against the Angels, Red Sox, and Rays is. I bet it’s Toronto or Toronto is one of them.

    Reply
  13. Duh, Innings! says:
    August 12, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    A-Rod got a decade-long record new contract from the Yanks for what he did through 2007 and what they thought he’d do after 2007 as well as that ridiculous homerun record which will have two asterisks: one *he cheated 2001-2003 and *he’ll be a full-time DH 201X-17. How has that new contract paid off? He has been a shadow of his through 2007 greatness since the new contract began. The acquistions of Sabathia, Teixiera, and to a lesser extent Burnett and Swisher had WAYYYY more to do with the Yanks winning the 2009 World Series than A-Rod’s pedestrian 30 HR and 100 RBI season where yes he missed a month but also had to post 2 HR and 7 RBI in the final game of the season to finish with 30 and 100. 2009 was the beginning of A-Rod becoming Mr.Overpaid which he is.

    A-Rod age 36 with six more years to go on his contract is looking more and more like a contractual albatross. What do you think Sabathia at age 36, 37, 38, and possibly 39 will be? A-Rod is a 27-33 HR, 100-115 RBI guy now. Nice, most teams will sign up for that from a guy year in year out, but that’s not cutting it for a guy pulling down $30M a year or around that. Oh wait, that extra money is for the one friggin’ homerun he hits more than Bonds who countless people thinks was a cheater thus not the true homerun king. How could any of us say A-Rod breaking the record will be pure when he cheated for three years and was a full-time DH for x years? Isn’t that the point of the record, for it to be pure? Otherwise what good is it? It’s a record in stats only. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays still played every game on the field and never cheated. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. still played most of their games on the field, the latter never cheated. Bonds might’ve (I’m still waiting for ironclad proof he did. The writers voting him NLMVP for four straight years seriously undermines their credibility for why didn’t any of them holler about him then?)

    Sabathia could very well be the starting pitcher version of A-Rod: instead of an ace or #2, he’s a #3 at $25-27M per.

    If Sabathia wants 7 or 8 years, I’d offer him 5 years at $25M per for $194M across 8 years ($69M for 2009-11 + $125M for 2012-16), still a record sum money-wise and if he doesn’t take it, thanks for 2009 (and maybe 2011.) If his agent Casey Close or whoever laughs and says “That’s only $2M more per year for the next four years and a one-year extension for $25M” I’d shoot back that’s still a record sum for a starting pitcher per year and Sabathia will have made more money than any pitcher has in an eight-year span, before I tell him it’s our first and final offer. He’s not getting six or more years and $25M per is as high as we’ll go. He can go back to the NL or sign with the Angels, but the Angels won’t be able to afford him and Weaver long-term, besides that they can’t hit. The Red Sox? Ok, I make 2012 a rebuilding year and go after Weaver and Cain for 2013. Who knows what Beckett will be like next year? How much does Wakefield have left? Will Lackey pitch better? Matsusaka? What if Lester blows? What if Bucholz doesn’t come back the same? Sabathia a Red Sock does not guarantee the Red Sox AL East supremacy for many years to come, not if the Yanks have a Weaver/Cain 1-2 for 2013. Or they get Felix Hernandez or Justin Verlander.

    Bottom line is the Yanks already have five huge contracts by money to pay out through 2013: A-Rod, Teixiera, Jeter, Burnett, and Cano. They’re on the hook for A-Rod through 2017, Teixiera through 2016. Next year will be Granderson’s walk year and I doubt he’s re-signing for a year or two. They cannot give another huge contract to a 31-year old heavy guy. Any of you who tell me “Mussina got 6 years at age 31.” Right, 6 years not 7 or 8 then a 2-year extension (or new contract? I forgot which.) He was also as lean as the day he entered the league at the end of his first contract with the Yank.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Set your Twitter account name in your settings to use the TwitterBar Section.