Are AL Teams More Vulnerable to the Bunt?

There has been some discussion on the blog recently about Joe Morgan's suggestion that the Yankees are more susceptible to the bunt because they are an AL team, and AL teams don't bunt. We thought we should investigate this claim. We sent out our team of intrepid under cover reporters, but it turns out eleven of them were Russian spies. Who knew? We still got plenty of great material for our report though. We asked Andy Pettitte, the player most victimized by the Dodger's bunting, whether he thought AL teams are more susceptible to the bunt.

"Look, it's like this. I go through my pitching motion, and all of a sudden the batter takes his top hand off the handle and places it on the barrel. I'm looking in at the ump like, 'What the #%*& is that?' I thought he was stepping out or something. Then the ball makes contact and rolls down the line. I go over to pick it up all casual, you know, Hanley Ramirez-like. Next thing I know Girardi is all, 'Throw to first! Throw to first!' I didn't know what was going on. I totally panicked. Turns out, it was a bunt. I'd heard of it, but I'd never seen one before. I thought it was one of those old-timey things that aren't allowed in the game anymore, like spitters and screw balls. But I guess not."

"It really caught all of us off-guard," explained Alex Rodriguez, who witnessed the bunts from third base. "It's like when you're thinking fastball, and they throw the hook. You just freeze. Nothing you can do. This guy hit the ball so gently, like a baby would. I wanted to laugh, but now I know that bunts are no laughing matter."

We were shocked that two of the Yankees' biggest stars were completely unfamiliar with what a bunt was. We talked to Joe Torre to find out whether he was aware of this profound ignorance.

"Oh yeah, definitely," explained Torre. "I was there for twelve years and I never bunted. I knew the Steinbrenner brothers would try to screw me over with an incentive laden contract one day, so I just kept the whole team in the dark about bunts. The whole organization even. Cashman didn't even know what they were. One time he came into my office all, 'Torre, what's this I hear about bunts. What is that?' I just played dumb. Then, when they came to LA, I pulled it out of my back pocket at the perfect time. They were totally confused. They're all, 'What is this strange new hitting motion? Why have we never seen this?' I'm why you've never seen this! Suck it Hal! Bwahahaha."

Cliff Lee Passes His Tryout

The Good

Cliff Lee pitched a complete game, allowing four runs; two of them in the ninth. When we trade for him/sign him in the off-season, we'll be getting one hell of a pitcher.

The Bad

Phil Hughes's attempt to spark the offense by giving up at least one run an inning after the second horribly backfired. Hughes took his second loss of the season, obliterating any chance he had of becoming an all-star. He is now a pedestrian 10-2.

The Ugly

Swisher had two home runs off of Lee today. If he'd had four home runs we might have won the game. Thanks for trying, loser.

The Nick Swisher Show

Swisher leads the Yankees in home runs hit on June 29th, 2010. Those two bombs were completely pointless. You know what isn't pointless? Our raffle. Click here to find out more and to donate to the Children's Health Fund.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 7hr = $14
Cano 15hr = $30
Swisher 13hr = $26
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 11hr = $22
Teixeira 13hr = $26
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $172

The Yanks-Dodgers Series Explained by Way of 'Return of the Jedi' Analogy

The Good

Luke Skywalker (the Yankees) had to defeat his estranged father (Joe Torre) while the evil Emperor Palpatine (the Dodgers) stood by trying to turn Luke to the dark side (being worse than the Dodgers). Luke defeated his father (game 1) but couldn't destroy him, because there was still 'The Good' in him.

The Bad

Then the Emperor is like, "If you will not turn to the dark side, then you will die." He starts kicking Luke's @$$ all over the place with lasers, which in case you didn't know, hurts like a mother#@&%*!. Our estranged/deadbeat dad just stands idly by. (That's game 2).

The Ugly

The Emperor continues to beat us like a rented mule (first 8 innings of game 3). But not a regular rented mule, where he would have had to put down a credit card to cover damages and he refused to take out the extra insurance that only puts him on the hook for a reasonable deductible. He beats us like a rented mule that was on somebody else's credit card. At this point (top of the ninth), our estranged dad can't take seeing his son like this anymore. He comes to our rescue, picking up the emperor and throwing him off a precipice (horribly mismanaging the bullpen and thus obliterating the Dodger's chance of defeating us). It wasn't so much ugly for us, but it was for the Emperor.

Ewoks Throw A Mean Party

A-Rod and Cano both hit home runs yesterday to help Luke defeat the Emperor. Cano's won the game, which meant the increasingly mad with power Cano didn't have to discipline A-Rod for trying to show him up. Don't forget to check out our raffle for a chance to win tickets to watch the Yanks-BoSox on August 7th.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 7hr = $14
Cano 15hr = $30
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 11hr = $22
Teixeira 13hr = $26
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $168

Yanks Split First Two Games With Dodgers

The Good

Sabathia and A-Rod have justified their giant contracts, replete with ponies, private jets, fast cars, and unnecessary bonuses. Cano still leads the majors in batting average, and Jeter is still the captain.

The Bad

Remember when AJ could pitch? April seems like such a long time ago.

The Ugly

After A-Rod hit his home run in the first game of the series, he went and sat down in the Dodger's dugout, right next to Joe Torre. He then turned to Torre and said, "Oh wait, I'm sorry. I play for a winner now." He then put his thumb and index finger in the shape of an 'L' squarely on his forehead. Torre calmly responded, "Whatever A-Fraud. Why don't you go walk on Dallas Braden's mound the way Jeter would never do. Oh. And that haircut doesn't make you look like Jeter." A-Rod bit hard, trying to hold it back, but the tears flowed anyways.

The Raffle

A-Rod hit one in the first game, Teix in the second. It seems that our three and four hitters may finally be coming to life. Figuratively that is. They've been literally alive all season. Do you also want to have the sort of incredible run that makes people think you're figuratively coming to life? Then sign up for our raffle. Click here for details.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 7hr = $14
Cano 14hr = $28
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 9hr = $18
Teixeira 13hr = $26
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $160

LA Dodgers Here We Come

Now that some time has gone by and a championship has been won, I'm wondering how people feel about our former manager Joe Torre. The way he left was not clean and people were angry at the Yankees organization, but then he released a book about his Yankee days, and people were angry at him for his not so shocking revelations. So now, a couple years later, how do people feel about Torre?

Personally, I love the man. He made the Yankees into annual contenders, and though I didn't love all his managing decisions, he was always classy, and made me proud to be a Yankee fan. He seemed critical of A-Rod in his book, but I think we as fans may have read into that more than was necessary. He said A-Rod had a single-white girl obsession with Derek Jeter, but I think everyone already knew that.

So what about you? Do you love our former manager? Hate him? Somewhere in between?

Vasquez Revert, but Yankees Persevere

The Good

A lot can be said of Vasquez's rough start, but the releivers really kept the Yankees in the game last night. Robertson-Chamberlain-Rivera pitched a combined 4 innings with Rivera getting the two inning save.

The offense came alive scoring 6 runs to edge out the D-Backs, most prominent of which was Granderson, who went 3-5 with a homerun last night.

Also good, we're finally done with this Arizona series. Onward to LA!

The Bad

Vasquez seemed to be trending upwards, but this last start was quite the step back. Among some of the theories I propose for his bad start are that he's either afraid of snakes, and was thus pitching in fear all night long, or he still thinks he's in spring training.

The Ugly

Why were Swisher and Teixeira trying to steal bases!? We had the perfect opportunity to score early and get a decent lead, but no, these guys decide that they're modern day Rickey Henderson's and get thrown out trying to steal.

Give to Kids, Win Tickets

Donate now to the Children's Health Fund, and tell them that you were referred by the RJG blog. You'll be automatically entered into a raffle for tickets to the Yankees vs. Red Sox game on August 7 in section 223! That is in fact where the cool kids sit.

The RJG is donating $2 for every homerun hit this season to the Children's Health Fund. Last night, Sir Granderson hit a homerun to help sick children everywhere. "I wasn't really interested in hitting a homerun." Explained Granderson. "But then I thought of the children."

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 7hr = $14
Cano 14hr = $28
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 8hr = $16
Teixeira 12hr = $24
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $156

Pettitte Sharp, Stomps Diamondbacks

The Good

A strong start from Pettitte who went 7 innings allowing 2 runs and striking out 7. A-Rod had a great game hitting a homerun and driving in 3 runs. Jeter had a 2 hit game.

The Bad

Dan Haren owned Pettitte....offensively. He had two hits and drove in 2 runs, bringing his batting average up to .452 on the season. Pettitte responded with a single of his own building enmity between the two.

The Ugly

(Insert Ugly Section Here)

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

Respect Jeter's Gangster is donating $2 for every homerun the Yankees hit to the Children's Health Fund this season. If you make a donation to the Children's Health Fund AND tell them you were referred by the RJG blog, you will automatically be entered into a raffle for tickets to the Yankees vs. Red Sox game on August 7. The seats are in section 223! Go get your benevolent on.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 6hr = $12
Cano 14hr = $28
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 9hr = $18
Teixeira 12hr = $24
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $158

Gardners Amazing Game Cannot Save Burnett's Horrendous Start

The Good

Gardner went 4-4, scoring 2 runs and stealing a base in the process. It was the greatest game of his career!

The Bad

Though it was Gardner's best game, it amounted to a loss. If we could have moved the lineup around, and batted Gardner in front of himself, we may have been able to score more runs.

The Ugly

So AJ Burnett has been really awful of late. 4 innings and 7 runs just doesn't meet the standards of a quality start, and the only thing I can think is that we knew what we were getting when we signed him. The man can be lights out, and he can get lit up. Right now, its more of the latter.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

The RJG is donating $2 for every homerun hit this season to the Children's Health Fund. Last night, the Yankees did not give us an opportunity to give.

But if you're feeling more benevolent than the Yankees, make a donation to the Children's Health Fund, AND tell them that you were referred by the RJG blog, and you will automatically be entered into a raffle for tickets to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game on August 7.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 6hr = $12
Cano 14hr = $28
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 8hr = $16
Teixeira 12hr = $24
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $156

Marky T in the Place to Be

The Good

In what was billed as the greatest left handed matchup in baseball history since Auto Von Lefty took on Fighting Joe Southpaw in World War I's Germany vs. America baseball classic, CC Sabathia pitched 8 shutout innings. Mariano closed it with a scoreless inning of his own.

Santana generally pitched okay, with the exception of an unfortunate inning where Gardner hit a single, Jeter followed up with an infield single, and Swisher on the first pitch laid out a drag bunt, confusing every infielder on the Mets, and forcing them to botch the out at first. With Swisher safe, and the bases loaded, Marky T remembered how much he truly loved the children, and hit a homerun just for them.

Also, Cervelli hit a triple which was pretty cool.

The Bad

Lady Gaga is now barred from the Yankees clubhouse after losses. After wins she can still have her whiskey there.

The Ugly

Posada was DHing yesterday, and he decided that that was the perfect opportunity for him to argue with the umps like never before. Getting in the umpires face after a strikeout call, Posada told him that he saw him blasting Lady Gaga's Alejandro before the game to get pumped up. The umpire wept.

Respect Jeter's Gangster is for the Children

For a second consecutive day, Mark Teixeira has shown his love for the children by hitting another homerun. Have you hit a homerun today? No? Well donate to the children, AND tell them that you were referred by the RJG blog, and you will automatically be entered into a raffle for tickets to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game on August 7. You still won't have hit any homeruns, but at least then you'll feel better about yourself.

Posada 9hr = $18
Granderson 6hr = $12
Cano 14hr = $28
Swisher 11hr = $22
Jeter 8hr = $16
Johnson 2hr = $4
Rodriguez 8hr = $16
Teixeira 12hr = $24
Thames 2hr = $4
Gardner 3hr = $6
Winn 1hr = $2
Miranda 2hr = $4
Total = $156

Certainly Puts Our Win in Perspective

And the world just ended.