The Good
Javy Vazquez left the game in the fourth, meaning we didn't have to watch too much of him. Both Posada and Cano had home runs in the game. Also, we're probably only a couple weeks away until there are calls for either Mitre, Ace, or Joba to be made a starter and Vazquez moved to the 'pen or another team.
The Bad
After watching yesterday and today's game, I don't think Marte and Cervelli work well together. Marte and Javy combined to allow eight runs. The Yanks dropped their first series of the season. The Angels, I think, have definitely shown that they are still the team to beat in the AL West.
The Ugly
Mo actually started to warm up today. Why? Because Girardi completely mismanaged the bullpen. Logan gave up a weak two out hit and was taken out too soon. Then Ace was taken out too soon to have Marte face Abreu. Then Marte imploded while Robertson waited to be called on in the 'pen. Then Mitre came in, not having pitched since some time around spring training, and struggled to make three outs. Great job, Joe.
Ugly Update
It turns out Joe couldn't decide whether to walk Morales in the seventh. On the one hand Morales is a very good hitter, on the other he is very cute. What's a girl to do? Here's a thought, the guy f-----g kills you, walk him!
The Wasted Effort
Both Posada and Cano hit home runs today. Good for them.
Posada 4hr = $4
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 5hr = $5
Swisher 2hr = $2
Jeter 3hr = $3
Johnson 1hr = $1
Rodriguez 2hr = $2
Teixeira 2hr = $2
Thames 1hr = $1
Total = $22
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17 comments:
Yeah there's not a whole lot of good to come out of this game. If you're serious about Javy going to the pen though, my only reaction is... (stare)
Maybe Javy is doing the anti-2004 thing where he's gonna be AWESOME out of nowhere.
I don't really want him in the 'pen. But if he keeps this up I don't really want him in rotation either. He's basically an automatic loss at this point. He had a lead and still couldn't be aggressive and stay in front of hitters.
You know how they say that it's better to part with a player a year early than a year too late, my biggest worry is that the Cabrera-Vazquez trade is Atlanta getting rid of a guy just in time.
Oh, I understand your concern. He doesn't look good out there... not at all. But I wouldn't have much faith in Mitre or Aceves starting long-term. I want Joba to be a starter eventually, but he's been so woefully inconsistent out of the bullpen. I don't really know if we can trust prospects, either, because I don't buy into the hype of a lot of them. I REALLY hope he's not hurt and hiding it.
Also, Melky has been horrible for the Braves this year. Look at his stats, be horrified.
Perhaps both teams made out like bandits, and now the gods are punishing them both for their hubris, thinking they could avoid a player's natural decline, and have thus restored order to the universe.
I suppose if Hughes pitches well and Javy basically becomes our fifth starter I could deal with the mediocrity. I share your long term concerns about an Ace or Mitre pitching, but at this point Ace has just as many pitches as Javy only with more velocity. Joba might take losing the fifth starter race as a wake-up call, and maybe he shows us something if he were given another chance. Maybe I'm just pissed we lost this game and that we got another awful performance from Javy, but I can only imagine that the Yankees are only going to give this guy so long to figure it out.
Obviously there's only one explanation for Javy: he is simply sufffering from Mark Teixeira syndrome. Following this logic, he should break out of his slump either next start or two starts from now, where he goes 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 8 k's, 1 BB. Or maybe he just really does suck now, and Atlanta did get rid of him just in time.
I couldn't believe how poorly Girardi handled the pen. It was especially glaring because it was so out of character for him. The Yankees are off today so why couldn't Girardi get a little more work out of Aceves? Marte should pitch to lefties exclusively if at all possible, and with D-Rob ready, it was possible. I was following the game in the NoMaas chatroom and I think everyone there predicted that the Morales at bat would end badly. In those kinds of situations, why can't the manager see it too?
You didn't mention the intentional walk debacle with Morales, which belongs in The Ugly. After Morales went 3-0 on Marte it was inexcusable to give Morales anything near the strike zone, let alone a pitch right down the middle.
It's also crazy that Mitre has gotten virtually no work. As we learned in the Torre years, if you leave a reliever on the shelf for weeks, he probably won't be good when you do use him. I'm not confident in Mitre, but we've had plenty of garbage time opportunities to give him work.
In terms of ability, Javy already is our fifth starter. I'm sure just about everyone has more faith in Hughes turning in a quality start than Javy.
That's what made the Javy trade so smart to begin with, it's low risk. He was brought in as our no. 4; I think a lot of teams would have pursued him to be as high as a no. 2. Worst case scenario is that Javy never improves, we promote someone out of the pen as you said or make a trade, and we are rid of Javy at the end of the year.
I still have some faith that Javy will improve, but yesterday wasn't encouraging. He throws nothing but junk that doesn't fool enough batters.
One more thing: Thames should never play the OF again. His only role on the team should be to pinch hit against lefties. I've never been a big Gardner fan but he's a good fielder, while Thames is embarrassing.
I have mixed feelings about Thames. He's obviously not a great fielder, but to be hitting .500 off the bench (he only plays against lefties after all) is impressive. I think I agree with your sentiment when we're playing tough teams like the Angels, where games are often close and a misplay in the field could make a big difference. But having him out there against lefties has largely paid off. It's a tough call.
The Morales call is now in the Ugly.
Where is Ian Kennedy when you need him?
Now that's the kind of real time updating I've come to expect from RJG.
NoMaas points out that Morales is a much worse hitter from the right side, so it wasn't entirely crazy to have Marte pitch to him. The pitch sequence itself was batshit crazy.
Steve, IPK has put up a respectable 4.43 ERA pitching for the DBacks, which would roughly translate to an unrespectable 99 ERA for the Yankees. I don't think it would be smart to have a pitcher with a 99 ERA on our team. Joe West would not be pleased with the long games that would result.
Bringing in Marte was not the bad move. Abreu is REALLY struggling against LHP this year and has been notably worse against them his entire year. Marte is much better than your average LOOGY and Hunter isn't some terrifying hitter, so I think he should get him out. Matsui against lefties makes me nervous, but he HAS been worse against them in his career. Then, if it got that far, Morales may be a switch-hitter, but he is weaker from the right side. Marte did not execute at all and the Morales at-bat was a cluster you-know-what. I am glad Girardi totally took the blame for that, though.
I have no problem with Thames DHing when we play really tough lefties. I get nervous with him instead of Gardner in LF with noted flyball pitcher Javier Vazquez.
been notably worse against them his entire career*
a. You should do a preview of the Orioles series.
b. You clearly updated this since the last time I put it but ewwww Kendry Morales is DEFINITELY. NOT. CUTE.
I think he has a certain something.
The Os series has been previewed.
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