Given the day of the week and the omnipresence of Bryce Harper in the minds of most every Yankees fan heading into this series, it seems prudent to keep this short and sweet. I highly recommend this FanGraphs interview with Tyler Clippard, in which he discusses the ‘closer mentality’ and other aspects of pitching in relief, and this interview with Mason Williams (which is fairly fluff-filled, but interesting nonetheless).

Onto the lineups:

New York Yankees Washington Nationals
Derek Jeter, SS Stephen Lombardozzi, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF Bryce Harper, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B Adam LaRoche, 1B
Nick Swisher, RF Mike Morse, RF
Andruw Jones, LF Ian Desmond, SS
Russell Martin, C Danny Espinosa, 2B
Jayson Nix, 2B Jesus Flores, C
Phil Hughes, SP Gio Gonzalez, SP

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., on My9 and MLB Network. Let’s go Yankees!

 

119 Responses to Game 63: Pleased to Meet You, Mr. Harper

  1. Michael says:

    Gio lookin pretty sharp in the first. I just look at him and think wow I hope Banuelos can become this guy

  2. Phil C says:

    Hughes also looked pretty good. Nice FB, good velocity 94/5. Unfortunately, I have more confidence in Gonzalez being able to maintain that for 7+ innings.

  3. Michael says:

    Gio just looks filthy. I mean I still don’t know if at the time I wouldve given up Montero, Banuelos and then some for him after he just led the league in walks for 2 years straight but wow. He is impressive.

  4. Phil C says:

    He does. But he’s also thrown 23 pitches in 1st 2 innings and only 23 strikes.

  5. Michael says:

    How about that huh? Lets see if Hughes can hold this lead

  6. Phil C says:

    Not very good base running by A-Rod. But at least they got 2 hits w/RISP.

  7. Michael says:

    When is the obligatory home run going to be given up by Hughes?

    • Phil C says:

      They say that all good things must come to end, well so do bad things. Let’s hope it’s tonight on the gopher balls by Hughes.

  8. Phil C says:

    Poor fielding, hanging CB, and OMG!! Hughes got a GB?????? Lucky it was only 1 run.

  9. Phil C says:

    Nice pick by Tex on that throw by Nyx. How does he not win a Gold Glove every year?

  10. Michael says:

    I don’t know who else would even take it from him this year. He surprisingly doesn’t score well on UZR. I don’t get why

    • Phil C says:

      I don’t pay much attention to UZR (frankly I don’t really understand it) because it seems to be all over the place on too many players. Defense still needs some better stats.

  11. Michael says:

    I don’t really want to click the post button as I type these words but I am pretty impressed so far with Hughes tonight. Hope I don’t jinx him

    • Phil C says:

      I have that same feeling. If this continues then Pettitte should be the Yanks MVP for his work with Hughes.

  12. Professor Longnose says:

    Hey, how’s it going? Just got here, and may not make it much further. Has Hughes been as good as the line score suggests?

    • Michael says:

      Actually yes. The Nats are totally behind on his fastball and 2 hits can be blamed on bad luck/poor defense.

      • Professor Longnose says:

        I just have this strange feeling that if I start to believe in Phil Hughes again, he’ll tank.

  13. Michael says:

    Pettitte really seems to have solidified the staff especially given CC’s struggles this season. I wonder if he will come back next season too. Him and Mo going out together for one last year. Storybook stuff

  14. Michael says:

    97th pitch was a 94mph fastball with a little rotation on it. He doesn’t seem to be throwing those straight as an arrow fastballs and his curve is good tonight too. Still only two pitches but as long as hes sitting 92-95 he will be okay

  15. Phil C says:

    I’d at least let Hughes start the 7th. No. 8 hitter leads off.

  16. Phil C says:

    I swear it sometimes see like the Yanks get more errors than hits w/RISP.

  17. Professor Longnose says:

    RISPsuccess!

  18. Phil C says:

    Granderson’s being going to left a lot more recently. Or is it my imagination?

  19. Phil C says:

    The Yanks are in danger of breaking that 0-12 streak of not winning a game w/o an HR.

  20. Phil C says:

    Do the official rules allow Hughes to get a win tonight?

  21. Michael says:

    I really want to keep this no wins unless there is a home run streak going. Cmonnn someone do it!

  22. Professor Longnose says:

    They sent down Phelps? What did Girardi have aginst him, anyway?

  23. smurfy says:

    Hey, fellas, Great game, very RISPy. Hughes did alright. I think Phil would get the win, since he did 5, and left with a lead, right?

    You gotta see this photo of Robbie by Chad Jennings. http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/06/15/pregame-notes-just-a-day-off-for-cano/

  24. Professor Longnose says:

    Hughes didn’t give up a homer and the Yankees didn’t hit a homer…weird. This really must be NL baseball.

  25. Phil C says:

    Eppley & Rapada looked like shut down set up men tonight.

  26. Phil C says:

    Granderson keeps that 0-12 streak intact.

  27. Michael says:

    YEEESSSSS homers!

  28. smurfy says:

    Robertson made a great play on that first grounder: Tex flip was too high, yet he snagged it and kept his run. Then he had to dodge that runner’s elbow.

  29. smurfy says:

    Dave looks a bit rusty, but that’s the way to start knocking it off, dissolve with coke, whatever.

  30. Phil C says:

    Now hoping for Braves to beat the Os and stretch the lead.

  31. Phil C says:

    Chat y’all tomorrow!

  32. Phil C says:

    GAME 64: I’m very disappointed with TYA and their game posts this year. They’re late too often. Anyways…..anyone else there?

  33. Phil C says:

    Watching the game on MLBN. Using the Nats feed. OMG!! Hate these announcers. Almost as bad as Jerry Remy.

    • Professor Longnose says:

      Blacked out here. I subscribe to Gameday Audio, so I can get all the crappy radio announcers, but I remain ignorant of most of the local TV guys.

  34. Professor Longnose says:

    You know, the Yankees are really looking good. They don’t seem destined to lose if they’re behind a run or two.

  35. Phil C says:

    Nats scored two runs on a broken bat 380′ fly ball that Ibanez couldn’t reach, and I think Gardner would have. Andy hasn’t hit 90 yet, but still effective.

  36. Phil C says:

    I wonder if we’ll see Robertson in the 8th?

  37. Phil C says:

    Hmmmmm…Cory Wade. Any word on Swisher?

  38. Phil C says:

    I hate blowing the W for Pettitte.

  39. Phil C says:

    Ugh…..Nyx & Wise in the OF! VLHs (Very Light Hitters)

  40. Professor Longnose says:

    I can’t figure out what they’re saying. Did Girardi blow the double switch?

  41. Phil C says:

    Just how Girardi & Logan drew it up. Great throw by Wise, I didn’t know he had it in him. Good tag by Martin.

  42. Phil C says:

    Nats announcers are complaining about the call at home. Moore’s hand looked like it was over, not on, the plate to me.

  43. Phil C says:

    Up to Granderson!

  44. Professor Longnose says:

    Back to RISPfail. 0 for 11 today.

  45. Professor Longnose says:

    This would be a good time.

  46. Phil C says:

    Damn.
    On that last pitch:
    Announcer: Crowds on their feet now.
    Camera pans the crowd, 3 people are standing. lmao!!

  47. Phil C says:

    Cliff Lee, 5 runs in 7 innings, no win today!

  48. Phil C says:

    A-Rod to hit in the 10th!

  49. Professor Longnose says:

    Ugh. They’re back to not scoring runs.

  50. Phil C says:

    Professor, I have to take my dog for her walk. If the game is till on I’ll see you then, if not tomorrow! Go Yankees!!! We a homer to win!

  51. smurfy says:

    How about that, Professor? You got your wish, Freddie.

  52. smurfy says:

    No more pinch hitting.

  53. Phil C says:

    I’mmmmm back. Go Freddy! Leads off the inning. Long ball!!!

  54. Phil C says:

    Jeter can NOT be doing that!

  55. Phil C says:

    Damn Nats relievers, 7 innings NO hits.

  56. Phil C says:

    Lidge???!!! They can hit this guy!

  57. smurfy says:

    Man, Jeter’s foul hit Flores hard.

  58. smurfy says:

    Alright! Man on third, no outs!

  59. smurfy says:

    Ya-de-ha-hoooooooo!

  60. Phil C says:

    NIIIIIIICE!!!

  61. Michael says:

    If you bet Tex would win it with a triple then you just won!!

  62. Phil C says:

    Why didn’t Girardi have Garcia bunt????????

    • smurfy says:

      Not much utility? I know the bunt was s’posed to keep out of the dp, but maybe they’re so tired, they just let him.

      Soriano’s gonna pitch, right?

  63. Phil C says:

    Now up to Soriano. Can he get a 1,2,3 inning?

  64. Phil C says:

    Just get the third out!

  65. Phil C says:

    YEEEES….But that save was what Earl Weaver would have called a three pack inning.

  66. Phil C says:

    OMG!!! First win without an HR!

  67. smurfy says:

    Oh, what a relief! Soriano was very good against strong desire.

  68. Phil C says:

    Chat y’all tomorrow. Maybe TYA will even post a game thread.

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.