05/18: May 18th: Rangers 6, Yanks 2
Posted by: James
I'm at work so I doubt I'll be able to make a long post regarding the game so feel free to chime in on the comments if you see something exciting/annoying/etc.
-I'll start: WHY ON EARTH is Bernie in CF today? I don't have a problem with his being in the lineup - with the Yankees depth being what it is, it's understandable. However, if you're gonna run Bubba Crosby out there as well, why not put Bubba in CF and Bernie in left (or right for that matter - anywhere but center). Bubba is the best fielding outfielder on the roster so why not actually use him where it provides the most leverage!?! This absolutely drives me nuts (of course, having said that, Bernie will make a game saving catch and the local papers will laud Joe for his brilliance :)).
(Top of the third:) What was that I said about Bernie? ;) as he makes a very nice sliding catch.
-Regardless of what Jaret did against the hapless A's, I remain deathly afraid of some sort of implosion whenever he takes the hill.
(Bottom of the fourth:) Well, shut my mouth! He's pitching pretty well so far - 4 IP, 2 H, 40 pitches!
(Bottom of the fifth:) Not too shabby once again as he pitched out of a two on, no out jam - 5 IP, 4 H, 2 K, 58 pitches - get this man some RUNS!
(Bottom of the seventh:) The only guys who hit him all game hit him again - Mench with a single & Wilkerson with a home run, 2-0 Texas. Wright's final line is still encouraging: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 82 pitches (62% strikes) and an ERA under 5 for the first time in a while.
-ARRGGHHH!!! It looks like Bubba is hurt - I can't see the play so if someone has the game on, let me know how bad it looks. Also, if Bubba is out for a while, bring up Kevin Thompson immediately as Kevin Reese is not going to cut it. Vote NO on Terrence Long!
(Top of the sixth:) I bet KT makes that play ;) as Reese misplays a Texiera fly into a 2 base error.
(Top of the seventh:) Still no word on Bubba other than it looks like it could be a groin pull.
-After a Wright HBP, Torre brings on Erickson and I'll start right here by saying I'm not a fan. I can understand Joe wanting to see what he has in Erickson. I just don't like bringing up a washed up veteran when there are other options for the bullpen (ex. Matt Smith). A Cano miscue allows 2 more runs (only one charged to Wright) to score before Erickson gets Young & Nevin out - 4-0 Texas.
-Bases loaded for Johnny Damon and Francisco Cordero comes in. His 7.50 ERA is a bit misleading as all that damage was done last month. No matter - Damon promptly greets him with a 2 run single! 4-2 Texas now as Jeter Ks with runners on 1st & 2nd. At this point, I'd say bring in Farnsworth/Proctor/Villone to keep this deficit at 2 but again, I don't have much faith in Erickson.
-(Bottom of the eighth:) A-Rod up in a big spot after Giambi walks. Down 0-2 in the count, he fights off enough pitches to get to 3-2 before flying out to center...and the boos come out. Nuts. Fly out by Bernie, single by Cano and groundout by Melky and the Yanks are down to their final three outs.
-(Top of the ninth:) Erickson's still out there and gives up a homer to Rod Barajas. It almost feels like the Yanks are conceding this game after taking the first two. 5-2 Texas. Naturally, Villone is brought in now and procedes to walk the bases loaded twice but manages to stay the bleeding at only one run. 6-2 Texas.
-(Bottom of the ninth:) The Yankees go out with a whimper as Otsuka strikes out the side. Seriously, the Yankees looked like they just wanted to call it a day. This is the second straight day loss after 12 straight day wins to start out the season. Game over. Texas wins 6-2.
-Interesting seeing D'Angelo Jimenez on the Texas Rangers today. For those who don't remember him, at one point, this guy was supposed to be the second coming - he was part of a trinity of "great" Yankees prospects including Nick Johnson & Eric Milton. He was thought of more highly than Soriano for a while there.
-SG over at RLYW made a good point that Cano's power is down quite a bit from last year (.406 SLG this year vs. .456 last year). I've been thinking about that as well this month but have so far attributed it to Cano simply slumping a bit in May (.305/.349/.356). Hopefully, he'll start hitting with more authority sooner rather than later...especially if he's gonna be hitting in the 5 hole.
-I'll start: WHY ON EARTH is Bernie in CF today? I don't have a problem with his being in the lineup - with the Yankees depth being what it is, it's understandable. However, if you're gonna run Bubba Crosby out there as well, why not put Bubba in CF and Bernie in left (or right for that matter - anywhere but center). Bubba is the best fielding outfielder on the roster so why not actually use him where it provides the most leverage!?! This absolutely drives me nuts (of course, having said that, Bernie will make a game saving catch and the local papers will laud Joe for his brilliance :)).
(Top of the third:) What was that I said about Bernie? ;) as he makes a very nice sliding catch.
-Regardless of what Jaret did against the hapless A's, I remain deathly afraid of some sort of implosion whenever he takes the hill.
(Bottom of the fourth:) Well, shut my mouth! He's pitching pretty well so far - 4 IP, 2 H, 40 pitches!
(Bottom of the fifth:) Not too shabby once again as he pitched out of a two on, no out jam - 5 IP, 4 H, 2 K, 58 pitches - get this man some RUNS!
(Bottom of the seventh:) The only guys who hit him all game hit him again - Mench with a single & Wilkerson with a home run, 2-0 Texas. Wright's final line is still encouraging: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 82 pitches (62% strikes) and an ERA under 5 for the first time in a while.
-ARRGGHHH!!! It looks like Bubba is hurt - I can't see the play so if someone has the game on, let me know how bad it looks. Also, if Bubba is out for a while, bring up Kevin Thompson immediately as Kevin Reese is not going to cut it. Vote NO on Terrence Long!
(Top of the sixth:) I bet KT makes that play ;) as Reese misplays a Texiera fly into a 2 base error.
(Top of the seventh:) Still no word on Bubba other than it looks like it could be a groin pull.
-After a Wright HBP, Torre brings on Erickson and I'll start right here by saying I'm not a fan. I can understand Joe wanting to see what he has in Erickson. I just don't like bringing up a washed up veteran when there are other options for the bullpen (ex. Matt Smith). A Cano miscue allows 2 more runs (only one charged to Wright) to score before Erickson gets Young & Nevin out - 4-0 Texas.
-Bases loaded for Johnny Damon and Francisco Cordero comes in. His 7.50 ERA is a bit misleading as all that damage was done last month. No matter - Damon promptly greets him with a 2 run single! 4-2 Texas now as Jeter Ks with runners on 1st & 2nd. At this point, I'd say bring in Farnsworth/Proctor/Villone to keep this deficit at 2 but again, I don't have much faith in Erickson.
-(Bottom of the eighth:) A-Rod up in a big spot after Giambi walks. Down 0-2 in the count, he fights off enough pitches to get to 3-2 before flying out to center...and the boos come out. Nuts. Fly out by Bernie, single by Cano and groundout by Melky and the Yanks are down to their final three outs.
-(Top of the ninth:) Erickson's still out there and gives up a homer to Rod Barajas. It almost feels like the Yanks are conceding this game after taking the first two. 5-2 Texas. Naturally, Villone is brought in now and procedes to walk the bases loaded twice but manages to stay the bleeding at only one run. 6-2 Texas.
-(Bottom of the ninth:) The Yankees go out with a whimper as Otsuka strikes out the side. Seriously, the Yankees looked like they just wanted to call it a day. This is the second straight day loss after 12 straight day wins to start out the season. Game over. Texas wins 6-2.
-Interesting seeing D'Angelo Jimenez on the Texas Rangers today. For those who don't remember him, at one point, this guy was supposed to be the second coming - he was part of a trinity of "great" Yankees prospects including Nick Johnson & Eric Milton. He was thought of more highly than Soriano for a while there.
-SG over at RLYW made a good point that Cano's power is down quite a bit from last year (.406 SLG this year vs. .456 last year). I've been thinking about that as well this month but have so far attributed it to Cano simply slumping a bit in May (.305/.349/.356). Hopefully, he'll start hitting with more authority sooner rather than later...especially if he's gonna be hitting in the 5 hole.
Seamus wrote: