Game 54: Alabama Getaway

The Yanks look to bust out the brooms this afternoon and go for a sweep of the lowly O's. It'll be a match up of former teammates on the Cleveland Indians, as CC Sabathia and Kevin Millwood face off.

Millwood was arguably the better of the two pitchers on that 2005 club, posting a 2.86 ERA and despite a 9-11 record, finishing sixth in the AL Cy Young voting. Millwood was worth 3.9 WAR that year, third on the Cleveland staff to Sabathia's 4.1 WAR.

Millwood hasn't been quite as unlucky this year, but he certainly has deserved a better fate than what he's received so far. He enters today 0-5, despite a 3.89 ERA (110 ERA+) and a 3.99 xFIP. The woeful O's offense just hasn't given him any run support.

On the flip side, CC Sabathia hasn't pitched all that well of late. He enters today at 4-3, despite a 4.16 ERA (98 ERA+) and a 4.11 xFIP. His last win came one month ago today, and in his five starts since he's gone 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a .291/.346/.538 batting line against. He'll look to get away from that sort of performance this afternoon.

The conclusion of today's game marks the end of the first third of the season. It also marks the end of the Yankees' seven game homestand. A win today would give them six wins on the homestand, five in a row, and put them on pace for 102 wins on the year. For Alabama native David Robertson and the rest of the Yankees, it's getaway day in the Bronx, as they look to make it three in row against the O's.

Twenty-third Psalm Majordomo
reserve me a table for three
in the Valley of the Shadow
just you, Alabama and me

Alabama getaway
Alabama getaway
Only way to please me
turn around and leave
and walk away

[Song Notes: It's a good day for some Grateful Dead. This tune is the lead track from their 1980 album Go To Heaven, the first to feature keyboardist Brent Mydland. Keyboardist for the Dead has been the real life equivalent of drummer for Spinal Tap, as Mydland was the fourth in a line of five keyboardists in Dead history, all of whom have now in fact gone to heaven. This performance comes from their appearance on Saturday Night Live on April 5, 1980, three weeks before the album was released.]

-Lineups-

Yankees:
Nothing to report here. Same deal as yesterday.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner LF

Orioles:

Julio Lugo SS
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 3B
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Adam Jones CF
Craig Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS

Game 114: The Meeting

It's the rubber game of the series. It's getaway day. It's a weekday matinee. It's another hot day as summer finally comes to the city. There are tons of angles to today's game.

A.J. Burnett opposes his former club for third time this season. On May 12th in Toronto, Burnett gave up five earned in seven and two thirds. He was far better on July 3rd in the Boogie Down, as he went seven, fanned seven, and allowed just two earned. I'm hoping we get the latter today, and it seems like a good possibility. In his last 10 starts, Burnett is 6-2 with a 2.32 ERA. He's gone 66 innings, with a WHIP of 1.24, is fanning 7.77 per 9, and is holding opponents to a .203/.310/.274 batting line.

Burnett will be opposed by Blue Jays' rookie southpaw Ricky Romero. Despite our newfound love for Tigers rookie Rick Porcello, Romero has to be considered the premier rookie pitcher in the AL - he or Brad Bergesen at least. Romero is 10-5 with a 3.66 ERA (120 ERA+). Romero faced the Yanks the last series in which these two teams met. Interestingly it was another getaway day matinee, and Romero picked up the win, giving up 3 ER in 6.1 IP. I had tickets for that game and was going to go until a work situation necessitated my presence at the office.

There will be no such situation today. I'm in the last day of a little mini vacation. While I spent the majority of it in Red Sox Nation, I started it Thursday evening at the Stadium and will end it this afternoon at the Stadium. I'm hoping it'll be book-ended by victories.

Also of note this afternoon, after nearly three months of bloggity goodness and cooperation, Jay and I will finally meet up in person. Friend of the blog Crazy Yankee Chick will also be there, so it will be something akin to a blogo-dork-a-rama. Given our collective presence at 161st & River Ave, there will be no live chat for this afternoon's game. As always though, feel free to use the comments to discuss the events as they unfold.

We're going to the meeting. See you on the other side (with a recap of course).

We're going to the meeting
Going to the meeting
Going to the meeting
On the other side.

If you ain't right
You better get right.

Game 82: (Only) Halfway To Everywhere

It's a getaway day matinee as the Yanks play their first Monday game since topping the Rays on June 8th. That win put the Yanks up one game in the AL East. Today they enter down a game as they go for the sweep against the Jays. Unfortunately, the Cablevision/Optimum in market live streaming doesn't start until Wednesday; it'd be awfully nice to ease our way back into the work week while watching today's game from the office, cubicle, etc. I have tickets for today, but employment responsibilities will keep me from attending. So once again it'll be GameCast from the cubicle. Commiserate with us as we live chat it starting at one.

Andy Pettitte goes for the Yanks. The thirty-seven year-old lefty is coming off his best start yet at the new Stadium, going seven strong innings of two run ball against Seattle last Wednesday. He beat Toronto on May 13th in one of his bend-but-don't-break starts, giving up two runs - just one earned - over six innings, despite allowing nine baserunners.

Southpaw rookie Ricky Romero takes the mound for the Jays. He's been very impressive at 6-3 with a 2.85 ERA (151 ERA+). Romero's been lights out over his last two starts, a combined fifteen shutout innings, six hits and five walks against fourteen Ks. He's turned in six consecutive quality starts, going 4-1 in that stretch.

Eric Hinske will start in right field, making his Yankee debut. It's a curious choice to start him against a lefty as he's hit .221/.298/.363 against them in his career. Lefty Johnny Damon gets the day off; Teix gets a half day as the DH as Nick Swisher mans first.

The Yanks have won three in a row and seven of eight. They've won three straight series, and are playing with house money in today's game, having already taken the first three of this four game set. They have the third best record in baseball, lead the AL Wild Card by 2.5 games, and despite going 0-8 against the team ahead of them, they are just a game out of first in baseball's toughest division. They lead the league in runs per game and despite some mediocre numbers, the pitching staff is as good as it's been in years.

And while all of that is encouraging, the mathematical second half of the season starts today. There's much still to be done; we're only halfway to everywhere.



I'm thinking positivity
Positively
This is possible
They can say right or wrong
Never hear this song
Or look you in the eye
I'm getting rid of negativity
Lose the loss in me
Call it equality
Good luck is a frame of mind
Call it humankind
And say it's destiny

I'm only halfway to everywhere

Game 9: Stop That Train

The rubber match in this series pits Andy vs. Andy, Pettitte vs. Sonnanstine, Veteran vs. (Somewhat) Young Gun, Lefty vs. Righty. You get the idea...

Pettitte was brilliant in his first performance (7IP, 1ER, 6K) while Sonnanstine was less so (4.2IP, 5ER, 8H).

It's also a classic getaway game, with the Yanks wrapping up the 9 game road trip with which they began their season. Sitting at 4-4 right now, in the middle of an upside down-looking division, this game determines whether they enter their new digs with a winning or losing record.

Also, if you are stranded at work, be sure to check out the [Update:] comment thread to fill up on some good natured John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman fun-poking, along with up-to-the-moment overreactions to whatever happens.

Yeah, this game brings another Marley song, but it's a live version of one you that you might not have heard. I promise not to use more than one per series.

So I got to say,
Stop that train, I'm leavin' (oh, baby now!)
Stop that train, I'm leavin' (don't care what you say!)
Stop that train, I'm leavin' (and I said)
It won't be too long, whether I'm right or wrong,
Said, it wont be too long, whether I'm right or wrong

[Update: Apparently, there is some sort of crazy power-related delay going on...]