While writing the title for this game thread, I was torn between the tasty pun that you see before you and a reference to the ever-shuffling line-up. Given that I am mostly depressed by any references to Mark Teixeira’s offensive production at this point in time, I stand by my decision.
With Swisher likely out until next week and Gardner being for a few more days, it’s nice to see the Yankees add another capable outfielder to the roster … though, it is sort of bothersome that it came at the expense of Eric Chavez. Yes, with Chavez being placed on the new 7-Day DL, the team had to replace him with a position player – but having two long relievers and two lefty specialists in the bullpen seems a bit much when Curtis Granderson and Andruw Jones are the only players that can competently roam the outfield right now. Nix adds a tiny bit of versatility to the roster, having seen a fair bit of time at 2B, 3B, and the corner outfield spots, as well as a decent amount of pop.
Despite my aimless rambling to the contrary, I am far more interested in David Phelps’ first Major League start than any of the team’s roster machinations … at least for the next few hours. Mark Simon wrote an interesting read about Phelps for ESPN today – I suggest checking it out.
Onto the line-ups:
| New York Yankees | Kansas City Royals |
| Derek Jeter, DH | Jarrod Dyson, CF |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | Alex Gordon, LF |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | Billy Butler, DH |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | Eric Hosmer, 1B |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | Jeff Francoeur, RF |
| Andruw Jones, RF | Mike Moustakas, 3B |
| Eduardo Nunez, SS | Humberto Quintero, C |
| Russell Martin, C | Chris Getz, 2B |
| Jayson Nix, LF | Alcides Escobar, SS |
| David Phelps, SP | Danny Duffy, SP |
The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 pm, on YES and the MLB Network- let’s go Yankees!
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Right now, once you get past Granderson, this lineup does not scare me at all. Hopefully that will change tonight.
Russell Martin had two great months last year and four crappy ones. But his first great month was April, so his season numbers never looked awful. Maybe this year he’ll have a great May.
The two LOOGYs are a bit much irrespective of the circumstances.
Holy crap. Mariano is hurt.
I just saw the film on MLBN. OMG!!
This season just isn’t going well, is it?
No, but it’s still early. When they get hot, they can get HOT!!
Agreed. And given that just about everything that could go wrong has, and they haven’t collapsed, they’re in decent shape.
And I doubt that Balt and TB can keep up the pace they’re on right now.
Why couldn’t Tampa keep up the pace? They’ve been one of the best teams in baseball since 09 and they have one of the deepest pitching rotations in the game.
I liked that tag by Jeter. It should be done more often.
I missed it.
OK, I rewound and saw it. Yeah, the outfielder didn’t expect that at all. Nice running.
I think players should do that more often. You’ll reached 2nd much more frequently than the OF will miss the ball. Now with Nix’s catch, he was still running to the ball so the runner had to go at least half way.
Yeah, I see that a lot–the outfielder is waiting under a high fly and the runner is halfway.
Phelps’s first big K! Nice!
Yankee batters should be sitting on the FB, Duffy’s having trouble getting his CB over.
Derek Jeter > lefties.
Not overly impressed by Phelps. Too many pitches, too many balls, not putting away batters. Seems to be following the Hughes method tonight. However, his FBs have great movement.
Potential, I suppose.
I’m not writing him off, he should get another start. But there’s no way he’ll go 5 innings tonight.
No problem. We got Garcia out there now.
His secondary stuff isn’t great, he’s always going to have problems putting guys away with Ks. Everything about him can be described as good but not great, which isn’t the best recipe for a starter, fastball control will be everything for him.
Wowee! I just had to celebrate Andruw Jones’ over-the-shoulder, running at the wall, sweet catch!
Just don’t think about what Ibanez would have done.
You made me: I imagine a double clutch, a hurry to compensate, get there a bit before the ball, and oops! Shame, comes from prior ballups, current worry.
The sweet contrast was the smoothness that Andruw strategically retreated, no rush, but a surprise that he got there.
Like how the strike zone for Yankee pitching is the size of a golf ball…for Royals pitchers? A golf cart.
Butler got caught waiting on the bus there.
Like the Nix coverage on that one.
The runner stopped before he made the throw. I think Nix had trouble getting the ball out of his glove for a half a second.
good thing by then, he’s stopped already. Nix was all charge, great momentum, you could only expect a good throw. You say he bobbed it? I missed that part, and I can’t wind it up, no DVR.
Not a bobble, just sort of reached into his glove for the ball but took an extra step before pulling it out.
bobbed on the ball, then bobbed his mo. Know what you mean. Like I say, good thing he charged it so hard. Throw came home real nice, plenty time, too, I think.
Jeff Francouer walked???
97 from the left side, as a starter, that’s special.
oh, yeah, he overpowered lots. Great sweeper curve, too. That was probably a slider, er.
Someone on RAB was saying that the gun in KC is hot a few mph.
Tying run at the plate!
Come on, Russell, show your muscle…
Not giving up on the game, but I have to leave the computer for a while. If I don’t make it back during the game, have a good one, everybody.
Wunnerful song, on the commercial: “I know we’re going to make it tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll be alright.
Let go! Let go-o.
Pathetic clutch hitting again tonight except for 2 SFs by Tex.
well, we got two innings left, so we could tie it at that rate. But, yeah, be nice if Tex could double sweet on Jeter’s again, but what we got? Jones, he could get one on the nose, but let’s get some baserunners. Nunez, Martin, Nix then Jeter? Yeah, Let Go!
Oh, no, no, Nuney!
Grandy was all over that liner deep in left center.
You know you have problems when Ibanez is your late inning defensive replacement!
LOL
Jeterrific, really amazing.
b – baserunners!
No shift – unh!
it was a damned strike, Alex.
Girardi absolutely MUST shake up the line up!!! Good night all.
I feel good for Broxton. We destroyed him in LA.
Phelps should develop a fading pitch, either a two-seamer or an effective change. His stuff is good, could either do the Cory Wade -like thing, or develop.
Oh, no…no Mo, no mo’.
Hu-u-u-ughes, to set up David, or prior to So, fireman, like.
Phelps said a good thing, about letting guys hit ground balls, that last inning, loosening up, not trying to conquer the world. Hope Phil was listening.