Washington Nationals owner Stan Kasten is rumored to be interested in rebuilding his team through getting younger and shedding expensive veteran contracts. Although they’ve been decent of late, it’s highly unlikely the Nationals will be true wild card competitors. So, you should expect a firesale sometime before the end of July. And we’re fortunate enough to be fans of teams who are always buyers at the deadline. It’s a very good possibility then that tonight you’ll get to watch Nationals who will play important roles in the stretch run to come. Will Alfonso Soriano return to the Yankees sometime this summer? Will Livan Hernandez be pitching autumn games in Fenway? These questions will be answered soon enough. During this series we will get a chance to scout and decide whether these players are worthy of our teams. Tonight the Yanks look to extend their lead on the Sox as they take on the Nationals in our nation’s capital.
Meet Future Yanks and Sox Tonight: Yanks-Nationals Gamer I
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How close was Giambi’s double to going out? I’m in the stupid library again watching on gamecast.
Soriano. That looked familliar. 24. Wow.
He definitely likes to bring his A game when he plays his old team. At least Wright retires the next two after the Sori bomb.
Ol’Tobacco Mouth draws a walk!
I’ll be so pissed if we get 1 run or nothing out of bases loaded no outs. Same shit happened yesterday w/Carmona pitching.
Jeezuz crap!!!
dammit
Thanks a lot Derek, WTF!? Inning ending DP by the Captain. Bases loaded, no outs = 1 run.
Unacceptable.
That 2-1 looked pretty good.
And Nick rips a double to right. He looks a lot older with the beard/moustache thing.
First and third as Zimmerman lays down an excellent bunt for a single. Nice barehand grab and throw by ARod but he was playing too deep to have a play at first.
Jose Guillen with no outs. Wright is behind 2-0. Check swing on the inside pitch: he didn’t go. 3-0. Takes the next pitch all the way for strike one. 3-1: high, ball four. Juiced and no one out to Schneider.
Schneider takes a strike on the outside corner. 0-1 is fouled back. 0-2: way inside as Wright missed Stinnet’s mark on the inside corner. Schneider throws his bat at the 1-2 and fouls it in the dirt. Another pitch inside to make it 2 and 2. 2-2 is a bit low to make the count full.
Payoff: the pitch is low, but Schneider gets under it and fouls out to first. IF rule in effect.
Byrd comes up with one away. Fouls it to shallow right. Long run for Bernie who misplays the jump and has to take a bad line. Nothing at all on the throw and it is cut off. The run scores on the tag.
Two away to Hill, the pitcher, who singled and scored a run in is first appearance.
Hill hits it to the hole between first and second but Cano covers a good piece of ground and snags the ball on the apron, throws to first, and makes the out to retire the side. Nice play, Robbie.
Bernie in right is absolutely killing us tonight. Nick Johnson isn’t the fastest guy in the world, and he’s running the bases like it’s tee-ball on Bernie. Ugh. Granted, he’s hot right now, but come onnnnn. Eventually this nonsense has to stop, no?
Yeah, Rich. That ball was so shallow. The throw home was completely anemic. Bernie was running from right towards third and the throw was across his body, but still. Urgh.
Robbie grounds out 4-3 to end the inning. Soriano is coming to the plate. At least no one will be on this time when he hits it out.
It looked like Bernie rushed that throw, as well. He didn’t stop and plant to get more on it.
Soriano takes a fastball right down the middle for a strike. Glad he didn’t Tee off on that one. Fouls a pitch off for strike two. Okay Jaret, no mistakes here. You’ve got him where you want him. High: ball one.
Ground out from Soriano 4-3.
Sit Down Sori!!
Clayton takes ball one away. Wright feeds another low and away for ball two. The 2-0 looked like a fastball at the knees fouled off third. 2-1 is outside but called a strike on the corner. Gift there. 2-2: strike three swinging on a pitch low and away set up by that last called strike.
No way Jose!
Do any of you guys think that Vidro is probably the best fielding 2B in the majors?
Jose Vidro takes ball one, then fouls off a fastball to make it 1 and 1. The 1-1: strike swinging on a pitch on the hands. 1-2 is a bit high. 2-2: low but fouled back. 2-2: low, trying for the corner on a breaking pitch. Full count is strike three swinging to end the 5th. Nice pitch, looked like a fastball but broke low and out of the zone in the middle-outside part of the plate.
K!! Wright’s best inning so far.
K!! Wright’s best inning so far.
odd. He usually starts to tire at this point.
Would you pinch-hit for Wright this inning?
Bloody: I might agree with you, but I also might lean towards Mark Grudzielanek.
Not PHing for Jaret was the correct move. The bullpen is tired and there’s a day game tomorrow. He really needs to go 6+ here. Will he do it? I highly doubt it. What’s his pitch count?
The best fielding 2b is Orlando Hudson..by a lot.
76 pitches. AWESOME.
Yeah, Hudson is a magician but Grud is posting amazing numbers this year on an incredibly mediocre team.
Finally saw a replay of RJ coming inside. Big F-n deal. Now I am pissed about how that came down.
Ouch. Johnson scores again as Zimmerman golfs a grounder to right and Bernie is not a threat to make the play at home. Look at the difference in velocity between Bernie’s throw to Cano and Cano’s throw home. Ugh.
I hope Joe Torre is watching this. NICK JOHNSON LOOKS LIKE JUSTIN GATLIN OUT THERE. I don’t care how great he’s hitting. HOW DO YOU GO 1ST TO HOME ON A GROUND BALL?!
How did Nick Johnson score from 1st on a grounder to right?
Man, this is so hard to say, because Bernie has been one of my favorite players for so long, but there is no way he can defend in right anymore. It hurts to watch.
He was running on the play. It wasn’t hit that hard either. Kind of went toward the corner, hit off the wall, Bernie sucks and took 3 months to get there, and he scored easily.
Also, what the hell are they doing to Proctor? Even if Small is available, he’s not pitching. Why not bring up someone? Anyone will do at this point, but I’d like to see Mendoza again (even though I don’t think he’ll be that great). This bullpen situation is getting annoying. Proctor is very hittable.
Proctor K’s Schneider looking.
Proctor gets Jackson to pop out off of first to end the inning. We need runs, boys.
Scott Proctor say, “I got your hittable right here, Rich!” ;)
leaving work, Attack, BY and Rich, keep it going. Let’s get a rally going!
Bray is still in there for the Nationals and misses outside for ball one to Cabrera to lead off the seventh.
Melky lines out to right for the first out.
DJ is up. The Captain looks at a fastball high for 1-0. Low for 2-0. Jeter rips at the next pitch but he is underneath the fastball for 2-1. Ball 3. 3-1: low and in for a walk.
It’s time for the high paid portion of line-up to earn their money and get us three runs.
Bray is conversing with his catcher as Giambi steps in and ARod is in the on-deck circle, doing his weird bat ritual. Jeter may run here. Strike one looking on the outside to Giambi.
0-1: Giambi loops a double to the right corner. Jeter holds at third but I think he could have scored. One out, 2nd and third to ARod.
That’s it for Bray.
2 out of the three rich boys have done their job, now it’s Arod’s turn.
Tough pitch. ARod K’s looking.
Dude, the poor man is cursed.
Rauch throws a WP in the dirt that pops off of Schneider’s mask. Cano with a quick bat cuts at the pitch but fouls it off left. 1-2, 2 away, 2nd and third, fans are on their feet: Cano chases a bad pitch in the dirt and is retired swinging. Robbie, not a good look there.
I’m so pissed right now I can even see. ARGHH!
I don’t know if that pitch was a strike that rung up ARod. Looked off but I didn’t see the replay.
Dude, the poor man is cursed.
Proctor is looking very effective tonight. 123 inning.
Thank you Scott, 1-2-3.
Majewski in his MLB Gameday pic looks like Jesus Christ.
Jorge in to PH after Bernie singles to center. Bernie is 3-4 on the night, with two runs allowed on D. :(
Ball one. Jorge takes the 1-0 for a strike at the knees. The 1-1 is just inside. Jorge is way on top of the plate hitting as a lefty. The 2-1: strike swinging on a fastball. The 2-2: fastball low for a full count. The payoff pitch: singled on the ground to right for a single. First and second with no outs to whomever NY is going to send up to hit for Proctor.
It’s AP.
Andy takes ball one outside. No outs as AP steps in with 1-0. He’s 2-6 with one dinger as a pinch hitter. He takes strike one on the inside corner. Stanton up in the pen for the Nats as AP fouls one off his ankle to make it 1-2.
The 1-2: low and away on a split(?) for 2-2. High to make it full. The payoff: fouled off on an inside fastball. Reset the full: strike three swinging.
Andy swung underneath a fastball at the waist.
LET’S-GO-JOHNNY!!
One away to Damon who takes the first pitch on the high outside(very outside) corner for strike one.
Swinging strike two on a fastball away.
Damon fouls off an 0-2. 0-2: hit on the ground between short and third for a single to right. Bases loaded to Melky.
Come on Johnny, you’re due! Yes! Thank you Johnny D! No rally killing!
One out, juiced to Cabrera hitting lefty. First pitch is a change on the hands that Melky is in front of, and fouls on the ground off first. Fastball on the 0-1 is fouled back left.
0-2 low fastball. Cabrera lays off for 1-2. Next pitch is a fastball on the outside part of the plate that Melky fends off with a defensive swing to foul it back. Man, this kid has rilly good bat control. 1-2: way low and inside.
MELKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-2: ripped past a leaping Royce Clayton to score a run. 5-4 Nats as the bases are still loaded. Melky went the other way on an outside fastball to score Bernie. Looks like Clayton jammed his shoulder on the play and is pulled. Harris in at short for the Nats.
Okay, computer crashed. While I was yelling at my dusty interior, the Yanks are mounting the comeback.
LET’S-GO-DEREK!! BOOM-BOOM…BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!
(I’m trying to make it sound like Yankee Stadium in this thread. =P)
Majewski stays in for Washington as the Captain comes to the plate. He’s 1-3 with a walk and a run tonight. One out, juiced. Fastball inside at the thighs for ball one. Jeter takes a high pitch for ball 2.
Also, really impressed with Melky’s patience with 2 strikes. Cano swings at that. As soon as he came up I was thinking, “This is why Jeets should be in the 2 hole.” No knock on Melky, but pressure usually gets you there.
It’s 2 balls, no strikes. Jeter takes a fastball low for 3-0. This is an interesting situation. Green light? No, Jeter is taking strike one all the way. The 3-1: almost hit him, but they called a strike as Jeter was twisting out of the way of the inside pitch. Full count.
Tie ball game boys.
(RJ got suspended 5 games for that same pitch). Jeter steps back in with a full count. The payoff, high. Walks in a run. Tie game.
Question during the commercial: Does Torre pull Wright after that walk to begin the sixth?
Yankees get to face Mike Stanton with bases loaded and one out. I have always liked Mike. I hope Giambi salamis right now. Sorry, mike.
Rich: yes, Proctor came on after that walk.
AG: The Mazz is coaching today. Torre is serving his suspension. I was curious if you guys thought he’d make the same move.
Let’s go JG!
Leche’s OBP is proof of his patience. When he drew that 11 pitch BB from Billy Wagner a few weeks back I was sold on the kid’s plate discipline.
Giambi fouls the first pitch, a fastball, back for strike one. Chad Cordero is in the pen for the Nats. Stanton misses for ball one. The infield is playing deep on the right side, in on the left. The 1-1 is away for ball two. The 2-1 is fouled back to even the count.
Rich: I don’t know if Torre would have made the move, but I agree with it.
BY: Agreed. He’s got a lot of patience, but sometimes in late game situations, anxiety gets the best of you (See: Rodriguez, Alex)
Like I said, in a similar situation, I don’t think Cano takes those pitches.
Bloody: His discipline has been remarkable.
Giambi fouls off two 2-2s before popping out straight up to the catcher. Robinson wants Cordero for ARod.
Come on Arod, makes us proud. I’m really pullin’ for him right now.
Me too. I hope he comes through. Not for the good of the team either. For him.
AG: I would have pulled Wright too. Then again, our bullpen is tired, so it’s a risk.
Alex is swinging on the first pitch and misses strike one. 0-1: low for ball one. The 1-1: low but called a strike at the knees. Blech. bad call.
The 1-2 is so low the ump can’t blow that call 2-2.
ARod is down on the K again. I feel sad.
Un-f’ing’believable.
3 K’s, 5 LOB. Sigh.
Damn. Sunday’s game is a 1pm start EDT. I have a tee time. I really want to see that game. Darn it. Jorge is catching Farns as we head to bottom 8.
I still will not boo that guy even if I was at RFK. He’s a Yankee and a struggling one at that. He’s do some huge things for this team while in Pinstripes and I’m still grateful that he is a Bomber.
Bloody: No boos from me either. My thought is he has not recovered fully from that flu. I think he started playing too soon when he was sick along with Giambi, and it got him out of his rhythm. His May was incredible.
Plate is very wide right now. This ump likes pitchers.
Crap.. Farns hurt himself on that comebacker. Trainer is out to check on him.
Farns is out with pain on his right side. Strained something. KFUC. What is with this damn injury bug that we have this Year?
Who’s hurt?! It says injury delay on Gameday.
Shit. To quote Eddie Mush, “if it wasn’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all.”
Farns twisted back across his body to field the comebacker.
Rivera is in.
I wouldn’t boo Alex either. He’s beating himself up a lot right now. He knows all eyes are on him. JD and Robbie both have 4 LOB. A-Rod will get the heat, though. Oh well, such is life in New York.
Stomach dropped a bit when Farns went down. REALLY can’t afford that one right now…
Think Mo bats if his turn comes up? I recall the team taking the out rather than letting him swing
Personally, I would like to see Mo bat, because it is with my keeping that pitchers should hit and the DH is an abomination, but for the team, I guess it depends on the situation.
Lefty Nick Johnson is up for the Nats, facing Mo. Cutters coming. First one is high and inside. Fouled off the 1-0.
Nick is now behind 1-2 on another foul. They just showed Rivera’s career line. Un-fricking-believable.
Jeter flags Johnson’s popout to shallow left center. nice play. One away.
Rivera vrings the first pitch to Zimmerman on the inside corner, strike one. looked a bit inside but we’ll take it. It’s now 0-2. Rivera looks amazing. Fastball high for ball one. 1-2: strike three looking on a PERFECT pitch. Wow. Scary. *bows* to the best.
Classic Mo, =). That cutter is hummin right now.
It must feel so futile to be standing in against Rivera when he is pitching like he did that inning. Might as well swing. He’s throwing it exactly where he wants to. Just guess and hope for the best.
Cano chops one to second for the first out, swinging on the first pitch. Bernie, make us proud.
BERNIE!!!!
Line drive home run on the first pitch over the right field wall. Bless you, Bernie.
BERINE IS ON FIREAHHHHHHH!!!!
Posada takes outside ball one.
The guy studying near me in the library right now must think I’m a f’ing lunatic.
Jorge is crowding and buckles at the 2-1 down the middle. 2-2 is lined to the left corner for a double. YES!
Double for Jorgie.
AP up with a chance to provide some insurance. Down 0-2 quickly.
AP singles to left. Jorge holds at third. One out to Damon.
Damon takes a pitch a good 6 inches outside that gets called a strike. Yikes. That’s just a bad call. Then a ball. 1-1: a foot off the plate but is called a ball. ;)
Damon plates Jorge on a long fly sac to dead center.
Melky up. Takes inside ball on with two away. Pops out to 8 to end the inning. Yankees lead 6-5.
BERNIE!
I likes that we hit Cordreo early in this series, it will give him something to think about.
Mo gets up 0-2 quickly on Guillen and then gets a pop out to center. 1 away. Schneider is in. Mo comes inside for ball one. 1-0: Cutter for a strike. 1-1: weak ground ball fielded and played by Phillips for out two. Mo is rolling.
Jackson comes up with two away. Looks at strike one on a tailing cut fastball. Check swing on the 0-1 is fielded by Phillips, tossed to Rivera (who got over to cover rilly rilly fast) to end the game. Final NYY 7, WAS 5.
Mo, you make me glad.
Yes! G’night guys, it was fun watching w/ya.
Good night all. See you tomorrow for game two.