September 2 Yankees vs Athletics

[riverside sluggers]

Yes it is very early to start this game thread up. But I thought Id do since in about half an hour heading out to Boston with my friends to Fenway God I hope Rafael is in his lineup, his earplugs will be of no use from the Fenway Faithful.

 

A's draw Wild showdown with Yanks

New York (75-58) at Oakland (75-58), 10:05 p.m. ET

 

The last time Ken Macha and Joe Torre spoke, in mid-May, both managers' teams were struggling, beset by inconsistent performances and criticism from outside. Torre noticed that Macha looked a little worn and asked him about it. "Macha was certainly frustrated," Torre recalled Friday. "But he stayed the course with what he knew about managing."

Torre, a veteran of managing in the constant cauldron that is New York, gave the Oakland manager some advice on keeping an even keel. Macha, speaking Friday, seemed to appreciate the words.

 

"He's a positive guy. He said, 'Trust yourself. Don't let any little things on the outside bother you,'" Macha said. "He deals with a lot of things that are on the outside, too. He seems like a calm guy, and I'm right there with him." Patience has paid dividends for both men since the Yankees visited McAfee Coliseum from May 13-15. Prior to that series, which the Yankees swept, the two teams were a combined nine games under .500 (30-39); today, they're 34 games over (150-116). "It'll be interesting to say hello to [Torre]," Macha said, "because when we played him way back when, we were struggling and so were they."

 

Both teams enter the weekend as part of an unusual four-team shakedown on the West Coast. The Yankees, Angels and A's are all tied for first place in the American League Wild Card race, while the Angels and A's are also tied for first in the AL West. The Yankees, who open a three-game set in Oakland on Friday, lost Thursday to the Mariners, who will play the Angels on Friday. The A's will wrap around the end of their rotation this weekend, as No. 4 man Danny Haren throws Friday, fifth starter Kirk Saarloos starts Saturday and ace Barry Zito pitches Sunday. The matchups appear favorable all three days for Oakland: waiver claim Al Leiter starts Friday for New York, longtime Minor Leaguer Aaron Small pitches Saturday and Colorado castoff Shawn Chacon starts Sunday.

 

And yet, while the A's unproven youngsters -- such as Haren -- have impressed this season, so too have the Yankees' retreads. Leiter had a 6.64 ERA with Florida this year, but with the Yankees, he's earned a winning record and a 4.28 ERA. Small, in his 17th professional season, is 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA, and Chacon, after going 1-7 with the Rockies, is 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA in pinstripes. Despite those revitalizations, Torre said, Macha's A's are the story of the year in the American League. Macha, of course, wouldn't say that just yet. "Every game right now is extremely important. I don't watch the scoreboard or anything, but I had the Yankee game on tonight," Macha said. "Still, with 30 games to go, there's a lot of head-to-head."

 

Pitching matchup

NYY: LHP Al Leiter

• 7-10, 5.75 ERA in 2005

• Has not faced OAK in 2005

 

OAK: RHP Danny Haren

• 11-10, 3.99 ERA in 2005

• 0-0, 6.00 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

[riverside sluggers]

pitcher vs batter matchups

 

Al Leiter vs: (career against Atlhletics in 7 games a 1-1 record with a 3.90 ERA)

Keith Ginter, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Walk

Scott Hatteberg, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) Double, K

Jason Kendall, 4 for 20 (.200 avg) 8 Walks, 4 Ks, SB

Mark Kotsay, 5 for 14 (.357 avg) Double, RBI, 4 Ks

Jay Payton, 3 for 10 (.300 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 Walks, K

 

Danny Haren vs: (career against Yankees in 1 game a 6.00 ERA)

Mark Bellhorn, 0 for 2, K

Robinson Cano, 2 for 3 (.667 avg)

Jason Giambi, 0 for 2, K

Derek Jeter, 3 for 4 (.750 avg) RBI

Tino Martinez, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg) 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, Walk

Jorge Posada, 0 for 3, K

Alex Rodriguez, 0 for 3, K

Gary Sheffield, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, K

Tony Womack, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) 2 SBs

[Manny Goes Boom]

This should be an entertaining game and series. Haren vs. Leiter should be a good matchup.

[snb988]

This is the most important series of the year so far for the Yanks. Should be fun to watch.

[elsrbueno]

I still haven't forgotten the fact that Danny Haren was the one Cardinal pitcher in the World Series last year who really dominated us.

 

Not that it helps now, but I've expected great things from him ever since. I know how illogical it is to base performance predictions on one week's worth of games, but on the greatest stage of all, he stood out above all their other guys.

 

He was pretty awful earlier this season, but he's back now and pitching well.

 

Haren's a better pitcher right now than Leiter, but the A's offense is far far worse than the Yankees' especially without Crosby. With both of these teams fighting for their playoff lives, it should be a great series.

 

I hope Oakland sweeps it. Oakland caught a break in that they're not going to face Randy Johnson or even Mussina.

[snb988]

Last year doesn't matter anymore.

6.00 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

[Yanksin2010]

LOL, how many different ways are there to say loss? Yanks might win the series, but they have a 0% chance of winning this game.

[CrespoBlows]

Last year doesn't matter anymore.

6.00 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

 

Anyone else speak dumbass? Please translate.

[snb988]

Anyone else speak dumbass? Please translate.

 

I still haven't forgotten the fact that Danny Haren was the one Cardinal pitcher in the World Series last year who really dominated us.

 

I said that what happened last year doesn't count and gave an example why (Haren has a 6.00 ERA in 2005 vs. NYY)

 

Now that wasn't so hard was it?

[ORS]

Last year doesn't matter anymore.

6.00 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

This warrants being repeated, in bold type. That was in May when the A's were horrible and the Yankees were riding Tino's inexplicably hot bat during a 16-2 stretch.

 

Haren had a 2.76 era in the month of August, which is head and shoulders above his 4.54 May era. Leiter's was 4.35 in Aug. Leiter will be facing a very patient team at the plate tonight and that doesn't bode well with his 5.96 BB/9 and 1.59 WHIP since joining the Yankees.

 

Does that mean the Yankees have no shot at winning the game? Of course not. But you have to look at the stats objectively to get a true sense of what could happen in tonight's matchup.

[Optimist]

LOL, how many different ways are there to say loss? Yanks might win the series, but they have a 0% chance of winning this game.

 

"Alex, ridiculous statements for $500."

[yankeessuck013]

haren is nasty, expect an A's win, but that's why we play the game....go A's

 

hopefully we can extend our lead in the divison this week.

[yankeessuck013]

Here are the pitching matchups/time/TV coverage for this weeks series at the Oakland A's.

 

Tonight: Al Lieter, LHP (7-10, 5.75) vs Danny Hearn, RHP (11-10, 3.99) 10:00 pm ET - YES.

 

Saturday: Aaron Small, RHP (5-0, 3.03) vs Kirk Saarloos, RHP (9-6, 3.98) 4:00 pm ET - YES.

 

Sunday: Shawn Chacon, RHP (4-9, 3.72) vs Barry Zito, (12-10, 3.37) 8:00 pm ET - ESPN.

[Optimist]

Sunday: Shawn Chacon, RHP (4-9, 3.72) vs Barry Zito, (12-10, 3.37) 8:00 pm ET - ESPN.

 

I look forward to that one.

[New York Man]

Go Yankees!

[redsoxrules]

I look forward to that one.

 

yeah same here should be a guaranted win for oakland

[yankeessuck013]

heres the yankees game notes, I will post oaklands as soon as they come out

 

http://presspass.mlb.com/docs/77/122/3000_1233_1.gif

[HOFer51]

yeah same here should be a guaranted win for oakland

C'mon man, how can you say that? When you consider the success the Yankees have had against Zito and the fact that their best starter in the past month (Chacon) is going on the mound, how do you consider that a "guaranteed win for Oakland"?

[redsoxrules]

well chacon oh btw has a 4-9 record got his ass kicked by a crappy ass team (seattle)and zito has been pitching great this second half

[ARod2212]

well chacon oh btw has a 4-9 record got his ass kicked by a crappy ass team (seattle)and zito has been pitching great this second half

So, you are going to penalize Chacon for pitching in the worst pitcher's ballpark in history for most of the season? I guess you were one of those people who thought Russ Ortiz should have won the Cy Young award back in '03 because he won 21 games.

 

He's 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA with the Yankees. That is all that matters.

[redsoxrules]

So, you are going to penalize Chacon for pitching in the worst pitcher's ballpark in history for most of the season? I guess you were one of those people who thought Russ Ortiz should have won the Cy Young award back in '03 because he won 21 games.

 

He's 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA with the Yankees. That is all that matters.

 

did i say that? no i didnt but a better chance than a 4-9 record

[HOFer51]

well chacon oh btw has a 4-9 record got his ass kicked by a crappy ass team (seattle)and zito has been pitching great this second half

That was pretty much one of the most biased posts I've read all day. Playing for the rockies for four months would have nothing to do with the W-L record? Granted, he had a bad game against the Mariners where his curveball wasnt working, but if you consider how well he did previously and factor in his state of mind with pitching in NY and dealing with teh media, he has the ability to be dominant for the Yankees. I dont think anyone should jump ship because of 1 bad start after 5 or 6 stellar performances.

[redsoxrules]

That was pretty much one of the most biased posts I've read all day. Playing for the rockies for four months would have nothing to do with the W-L record? Granted, he had a bad game against the Mariners where his curveball wasnt working, but if you consider how well he did previously and factor in his state of mind with pitching in NY and dealing with teh media, he has the ability to be dominant for the Yankees. I dont think anyone should jump ship because of 1 bad start after 5 or 6 stellar performances.

it dont matter wich team you play on a 4-9 record sucks , hell look pedro martinez with the mets the team sucks but yet he still has a pretty good record

[HOFer51]

did i say that? no i didnt but a better chance than a 4-9 record

Ok, let me be like you, except as an overtly biased Yankee fan:

 

I lik Chacon just becuz Zito is our bitch and suks azz and we are teh Yankees. OMGz !!!111!

[HOFer51]

it dont matter wich team you play on a 4-9 record sucks , hell look pedro martinez with the mets the team sucks but yet he still has a pretty good record

I guess pedro martinez pitching in a pitchers park, and chacon being a curveball pitcher pitching in a hitters park where the thin air prevents the breaking ball from breaking has nothing to do with that?

[redsoxrules]

[CrespoBlows]

I said that what happened last year doesn't count and gave an example why (Haren has a 6.00 ERA in 2005 vs. NYY)

 

Now that wasn't so hard was it?

 

You actually believe that Haren is the same pitcher he was back in April?

 

It seems hard enough for you.

[HOFer51]

You actually believe that Haren is the same pitcher he was back in April?

 

It seems hard enough for you.

Just like how some people here believe Chacon is the same pitcher now as he was in Colorado. :thumbdown

[Optimist]

it dont matter wich team you play on a 4-9 record sucks

 

Put down the red Kool-Aid and act like a baseball fan for 5 minutes, if you can. A record is not the 'be all end all' pitching stat, most people know that. A great pitcher can have a horrible record. Why? Well let's look at some of Chacon's losses from Colorado:

 

May 1, Vs. Dodgers: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER

May 8, Vs. Florida: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER

May 12, Vs. Arizona: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER

July 19, Vs. Washington: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER

July 24, Vs. Pittsburgh: 7.0 IP, 8H, 3 ER

 

And then there are his NDs:

 

April 12, Vs. Arizona: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER

April 18, Vs. Arizona: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER

May 18, Vs. San Francisco: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER

 

If he was playing on a decent team, he easily wins most, if not all, of those starts.

[redsoxrules]

sorry dude i dont drink the red kool aid