7/5 @ New York - Masterson in the Bronx

[a700hitter]

Gardner is a LHH speedster whose 2008 MiLB MLE suggests he's very suitable to lead off. Against Masterson' date=' I don't fault Girardi.[/quote']I disagree. Until the kid gets a few hits and starts to get a little confidence, he should be batting 9th.

[Jayhawk Bill]

I disagree. Until the kid gets a few hits and starts to get a little confidence' date=' he should be batting 9th.[/quote']

 

 

Oh, pooey.

 

***

 

Masterson is getting the same outside calls vs. LHH that Mussina got to strike out Ellsbury. Masterson hasn't yet thrown on the inside half of the plate to LHH...he may not try to.

[schillingouttheks]

Varitek is a shmuck. McCarver is an even bigger shmuck. That pitch looked a bit high... right JHB?

[a700hitter]

The announcers are talking about how Youk is intense on every AB. That is an exhausting task over the course of 162 teams, and probably explains why he has better first halves than second halves. Intensity and heart has made Youk and Pedroia above average players despite their very average physical skills. Yaz was an intense player, although he was criticized for not running out grounders in his first couple of years. He had above average skills, but his work ethic and intensity made him into a star and a Hall of Famer.

[a700hitter]

It will be interesting to see how Masterson handles the Yankee lefties.

[a700hitter]

JayHawk, did all of those pitches to GiamBalco miss?

[Soxfan1]

Damnit.

[Jayhawk Bill]

JayHawk' date=' did all of those pitches to GiamBalco miss?[/quote']

 

Not all, but Masterson was denied two strike calls in the lower part of the zone where Mussina was getting them.

[a700hitter]

McCarver is an ass. Tek reached out to grab the ball. Otherwise it was going to hop and it was going towards his righ leg so he would have had a longer swipe to make the tag.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Close play on Cora...could've gone either way.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Ellsbury puts an outside pitch into play, badly, because they're all being called strikes.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Pedroia stays at first base this time.

 

Had Cora been called safe, it'd be first and third, one out.

[VA Sox Fan]

Dustin is da man

[a700hitter]

Has Ken Rosenthal ever been right about anything?

[a700hitter]

It looks like Moose had just the right amount of fiber today. With the help of the umpire, he could be tough today.

[a700hitter]

Throw strikes to this guy. He's not going to take him deep.

 

Edit: nice play by Lowell.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Has Ken Rosenthal ever been right about anything?

 

Valid question.

 

You know, Youk is a better-ranging third baseman than Lowell, but Lowell is devastatingly good coming in towards the batter. Super play.

[a700hitter]

Bill, my son is a bit of a statboy. When I discussed the Yankees position this season as compared to the same time last season, he said that last year their run differential suggested that they would make a run and play better. He said the run differential doesn't support a similar run this season. What say you?

[Jayhawk Bill]

Gut check time for Masterson. ARod is a RHH...Masterson can win this one, but he's a rookie playing in the Bronx.

[a700hitter]

I think I'd rather he be facing ARod.

[a700hitter]

The kid has something in his belly.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Bill' date=' my son is a bit of a statboy. What say you?[/quote']

 

I say that you've raised a good son. :thumbsup:

 

When I discussed the Yankees position this season as compared to the same time last season, he said that last year their run differential suggested that they would make a run and play better. He said the run differential doesn't support a similar run this season.

 

I say that the Yankees are so far back that it'll be tough, but that they're still a very good team, probably as good as any team except the Red Sox, the Rays, the Angels, the Phillies, or the Cubs. Their third-order run differential is a bit better than their straight run differential, and they've got several players underperforming who might come back in August and September.

 

Nine games behind is a lot of games, though, especially with the Red Sox between you and the leader.

[a700hitter]

Moose hits Manny twice? Curious.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Ummm...Kerwin, that's TWICE Mussina has hit Manny...?

[a700hitter]

That pitch to Lowell looked low.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Nice catch by Melky.

 

I say it again: Yankees fans underestimate Melky Cabrera.

[a700hitter]

Ediit: I don't think that Melky got such a great jump. He took half a step back before he came forward, but the announcers saw something else.

[a700hitter]

Nice catch by Melky.

 

I say it again: Yankees fans underestimate Melky Cabrera.

He should be batting lead off today instead of Gardner.

[Jayhawk Bill]

I thought Melky got a bad jump. He took half a step back before he came forward' date=' but the announcers saw something else.[/quote']

 

I thought that he gauged the fly ball in time and made a great play.

 

FWIW, Melky is third in RZR among AL CF in 2008:

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main/index.php?view=fielding&linesToDisplay=50&orderBy=zone_rating&direction=DESC&qual_filter=1&season_filter%5B%5D=2008&league_filter%5B%5D=1&pos_filter%5B%5D=8&Submit=Submit

 

Coco is only 6th.

[Jayhawk Bill]

He should be batting lead off today instead of Gardner.

 

I wouldn't've faulted that call.