1
Wasn't Gardner in play the FIRST summer we were looking to trade Washburn?
Also, how about Pauley for a 5-6 inning start? He piched OK at the end of last year.
Michael Pineda vs NYY: Irresistible Forces & Immovable Objects, Dept.
Keys to the game Dept.
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KEY 1: Michael Pineda's poise.
"Psychologically, you must be very confident - and this confidence must be based on fact." - Bobby Fischer.
If Pineda blows away the Yankees, it will be his "coming out" game on ESPN. I'm looking forward to it.
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KEY 2: The extra rest day for the Juggernaut rotation.
No sooner did we write it up that Felix was on pace for 39 starts ... than did Felix out there flatter than Chone Figgins' swing, have a terrible game, and then a lukewarm one the game after. We wondered at the time whether Felix' workload was becoming a bit too compressed.
Immediately after that, the Mariners stopped cycling Felix to earlier spots in the rotation, and last time out, he looked like he had the bite back...
It's not necessarily an injury-risk thing. It's just sometimes needing an extra night's sleep to get the zip-and-pop back into your muscles.
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Geoffy asked Wedge for us, why Pineda's velo has been down a bit the last two starts. Wedge said, doesn't matter, it's just this and that.
But Pineda HAS an extra rest day here, and let's see if he's not back to 96-98 today. If he is, that pretty much confirms the "slight dead-arm" issue that we suspected.
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Starting today, the M's play what, 17 games in a row. I'd love to see them stretch Wilhelmsen out -- if not him, simply French or the starter du jour -- and give the Juggernaut one rest day in that stretch.
I don't aspire to be a GM and don't keep up with the rules. Is it tough to get a French up, and back down, off the 25-man?
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KEY 3: Dr. K's fire-and-retreat syndrome.
Kelly Gaffney has pointed out that enemy lineups have struck out in hordes during Pineda's first inning or two -- and then struck out less the rest of the game, as they went to their cowardly pepper swings.
But guess what: the Yankees' swaggering Nike shoe salesman are not going to back down from a rookie. All the ingredients are there for a possible 11-K (and, we hope not, a 2-HR) game for the Yanks.
Let's watch.
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KEY 4: The broken-MLB-system batting order.
The Yankees' payroll, and batting order, is beyond ridiculous.
Their #3-4 hitters* are true MVP candidates, a slightly-scaled-down Ruth and Gehrig:
- ARod - 135 OPS+ ... will hit 800-900 homers lifetime
- Teixeira - 140 OPS+ ... true MegaBucks "Teixeria Inc." player
After mini-Ruth and Gehrig, the Yankees have three more Justin Smoaks:
- Curtis Granderson - 165 OPS+
- Robinson Cano - 120 OPS+, was the #3 MVP last year
- Russell Martin, c - 140 OPS+
And after that they have
- Brett Gardner, Taro's big trade target
- Nick Swisher, about the #7 OF in the AL per Justin's 20-team mixed format
- Derek Jeter, HOF
We've got a real Irresistible Force meets Immovable Object weekend.
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Comments
2
If you had some way to be sure your 'pen would be okay... as you know JPax that would not only remove Pauley from the pen for 4 games after, but would also create an immediate need for a long bullpen rescue that night...
Still, let's say you waited until you got 3 great starts in a row, like 8 innings, and big wins wherein you could use Ray etc...
If you timed it right, you could make it happen...
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Don't remember on Gardner... what a shame if we missed out on that one :- )
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3
After mini-Ruth and Gehrig, the Yankees have three more Justin Smoaks:
Curtis Granderson - 165 OPS+
Robinson Cano - 120 OPS+, was the #3 MVP last year
Russell Martin, c - 140 OPS+
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There were three catchers I had interest in over the off-season.
Victor Martinez - biggish contract required, older player, had 4 years left in him easy IMO especially with a DH/C share situation. OPS+ this year between those two positions? 130.
Russell Martin - have to give up something in trade, but a 2 year player at minimum, and even injured he was better than our healthy catchers - and it's a buy-low situation. OPS+ this year? 140.
Chris Iannetta - low batting average but walks a ton, has decent power, as was an improvement on our situation. 2-3 years on his contract. OPS+ this year? 102.
Instead, we got one of two guys (the other being Torrealba) I was sure we WOULDN'T get, Olivo. OPS+ is 83.
Glad he's apparently calling some good games, because this particular comparison makes me frown.
~G
4
Russel Martin hurts.. He was clearly a better fit for Safeco than Olivo and wouldn't have cost much.
Iannetta or Napoli would have been nice too.. V.Mart is too expensive relative to his production/age.
If Olivo is responsible for a calling the non-fastball reliant games though, its not too huge of a loss.
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And couldn't get it done. And as for Martin, I wanted him too, but he was coming off 2 straight seasons of single digit home runs and was subject to injury last season after playing the most games as a catcher of anyone for 3 straight seasons. And is just as right handed as Olivo, all of his power is to left field.
And it's hard to bemoan Olivo vs. Martin too much - yes, Martin has the much better OPS now, but he's hit only 3 home runs since April 23.
Since April 23
Martin .224/.347/.365 in New Yankee Stadium in Murderer's Row 9.0
Olivo .271/.343/.447 in Safeco in Murdered Row 3.0
6
No argument there. I'm hoping that the last month of Olivo is the one we get going forward, and not the first month.
He and Ryan have both been much improved. I actually like Ryan a lot - did even in his slump. He worked his at-bats, ran HARD and well around the bases, and his defense has been steadily more impressive as he goes. I like how vocal he is and the energy he brings...
It's kinda like watching Bloomie, if Bloomie had a great glove and could take a walk. Hopefully Ryan and Olivo can both be their more recent iterations going forward. Asking for David Bell at shortstop and the early Dan Wilson years behind the plate doesn't seem like a lot, but it would help a lot, especially against LHP.
~G
7
The always-terrifying infield ground-out? Because we devastated the Bronx Bombers with that. You may hit more HRs than us, NY, but nobody can out-grounder this team...
Welcome back to .500, Mariners. :)
~G
8
throwing stones at Goliath's shoes, and Goliath slipping on one and breaking his neck