The Angels are probably my least favorite baseball team. It’s got nothing to do with the individual players or management, who I’ve got nothing against; it’s just the whole feel of the organization. Never mind that they were owned by Disney, and still have the painfully tacky fake-rock outfield fountains to show for it. Never mind that grating, flea-bitten disease carrier they call a rally monkey. But any team that needs Thunder Stix to get its fans appropriately loud during the playoffs… well, it’s been five years, and I’m still appalled.
As we all know, however, these Thunder Stixers absolutely own the Yankees. Today, after yet another sloppy loss last night dropped the Yanks still farther back in the playoff race, Chien-Ming Wang will try to change all that, pitching against the excellently named Kelvim Escobar. And it’s a good thing Wang’s a ground ball pitcher, because the Yankee outfield at the moment is like something out of Freddy Vs. Jason.
If, like me, you’re one of the 17 people still in New York City for the long weekend, comment away here.
I’d disagree with the Yankee outfield comparison, Emma. It’s much for like “Night of the Living Dead”
I can only see the game on MLB Gameday. Is anybody out there watching that can tell me if Wang is continuing to try this “sliders and change-ups” approach he used against boston last time?
If so, I’m going to be distressed. The only reason for him to change up his pitching style that’s been so successful for him is against teams and/or players that have hit him well.
There must be a pun on this man’s name the next time he has a shutout start.
Absolute Zeroes: 0 degrees Kelvim
A little awkward maybe…but there’s a good one in there somewhere.
Actually, the more I think about it, the outfield’s really got a “Leprechaun 4: Leprechaun in Space” feel to it.
Walein, my cable was crapping out and so I’m not yet sure what approach Wang’s taking today… although I’m already sure I don’t like it. Ugh. 3-0 already, again.
Hey Dev. Yes, I almost went there, but I just couldn’t quiiiite make it work…
Wang needs a double play here on Cabrera.
He DOESN’T need to try to develop into a K pitcher….just get me the ground balls and stay efficient with the pitch count!
instead a flyball to left. Both runners try to advance and Melky makjes a great throw which should get Willets, but Cano drops it. Runners on 2nd and third–two outs. Vlad will get intentionally walked.
He gets the out, but no DP
Now they are Intenting Guerrero. I know he’s scary and all.. but.. I mean… RThe Intenting hasn’t really worked out too well for y’all so far this series.
GAry MAtthews is a moron and swings and a first ptich for the out.
Angels load the bases but get nothing. I’m opff to do yard work before goign to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Hey back, Em.
Wang doing a good job of dealing with the leadoff hit past couple of innings (well, on Gameday anyway).
Completely off topic, but the Herald game story today is just awful. Not only does it get the Sox’ lead in the standings wrong, but it seems to completely discount the possibility that Matsuzaka was throwing up in the middle of the game. Sheesh.
Was anyone watching to see if that Giambi HBP was on purpose?
Wang settles down nicely after the first two innings, giving up 3 in 7. Meanwhile the Yanks have their hands full with Kelvim Escobar who has been excellent. I might even suggest that he’s one of the most underrated starters in baseball.
The bottom of the line-up is due up for the Yanks in the 7th. Escobar’s at 87 pitches, so Ihe’ll probably be in there.
Willets makes a nice catch on the Doug Mientiewicz foul ball fly out against the wall. Melky (automatic out) Cabrera at bat.
Rootbeer, I don’t think it was. Granted it’s a little odd because Escobar’s control has been so great all day — and the pitch hit Giambi square on — but under the circumstances, I don’t see why he WOULD have done it on purpose. Giambi gave him a look, but no one seemed to make too big a deal of it…
Escobar walks Cabrera. His first free pass of the day. Abreu to bat.
Kelvim just threw four messy balls to Cabrera. He’s had a great game but his pitchcount is high. It’s time to pull him, its a two run game
Farnsworth is up in the pen…
AGGGGGGHHHHH!
2-0
Is there activity in the Angels bullpen?
3-0 on Abreu
Kelvim is fried.
Abreu, mercifully Ks, but Cabrera steals 2nd.
Jeter up. Ugh, I smell runs.
Kelvim is fried, but Abreu is totally lost. I know lineup order doesn’t matter that much, but I still don’t get the logic of having him lead off at this point.
Damn, not Farnsworth… I didn’t want to start drinking this early in the day.
I was going to say this earlier, but wanted to wait until the inning was over, so as not to bring down karmic retribution.
I think it was probably a decent idea to leave him in there (unless he walked Abreu, in which case, yes, yank him). 95-105 pitches isn’t crazy or anything. It’s not like everybody is Pedro.
Wang back out to help protect the bullpen. I bet he does the Wakefield “save the bullpen/complete game loss” thing.
It hasnt ALL been how good Wang is, though he’s been awesome since the first. The Angel batters have VERY much helped him by not workign the count at ALL.
I’ve sung that song myself, Emma. Friggin’ Julio Lugo leading off for the Sox.
But I suppose I can live with the idea given that lineup order really doesn’t matter much, and he’ll steal some bases pretty often.
It was just horrible when Lugo and Crisp were at the top of the lineup.
Dio, did you just call the complete-game loss? Dude, they’re down two, have two innings left, and arguably the best lineup in baseball!
Case in Point.
Kendrick swings at the VERY FIRST PITCH HE SEES and groudns into a DP
I just saw what I did, Devine.
I should be shot, as he’s gonna get the win now.
I think you’ve safely reverse mojo-ed now, Dio…but I’ll wait till this inning ends to be sure.
Regarding the Angels again
How are they in first place in their division with that approach at the plate? I’m not sayign you have to be Youkilis and see 90 kajillion pitches, but .. really. Most of the time they were out by the third pitch.. and not even in 0-2 counts!
A-Rod as the tying run?
*whimpers*
MAtsui walks with ARod up. I smell a tie game and a beatdown for me
Oh sweet zombie jesus, thank you.
Still.. Posada now. I don’t liek Posada. He’s scary.
Phew.
Posada out.
Come on Angles. .open it up a little agaisnt whoever comes out!
“sweet zombie jesus”. That’s awesome. How had I not heard of this phrase until now? Is it yours, Dio?
hmm Mo in cause he needs work, I guess.
Yeah, its mine Devine. I’ve been using it for years. I love it.
That’s the Mariano I know and fear.
Another quality start from Wang. His Line today 8 innings ip 3 runs, and 6k.. Yankees Offense continues to be awful.
Mo makes fools of the dregs of the ANgels lineup.. but I think *I* could do that. Seriously.. two guys below .200? This is a Division-leading team?
Dio, it’s their pitching… though they wouldn’t be leading the division if half the damn A’s roster hadn’t been on the DL, I don’t think.
Anyway, it doesn’t say anything good about this season that I keep saying things like, “Well, at least it was a CLOSE loss today! And they didn’t even make any errors! Things are looking up.”
Uh Oh.. Damon singles.
Tyign run in the form of Melky. I’m nervous, I don’t know why.. but I am.
Gol dern…Abreu up. A shot wins it for the Yankees.
Heh… see what I did there?
I want Tyler Clippard PHing for Abreu. You think I’m kidding, but I’m… well, I kind of am. But still, not Abreu! Lean into it, Bobby…
Melky singles.
Runners at 3 and 1st for Abreu. 2 outs. I’m gonna vomit now.
Come on Fransisco.. your a closer! CLOSE!
wow – if I were Abreu, I’d be afraid to go out in public.
Ohhhhh, Abreu. Man, I’m sorry YF’s. Not in a passive-aggressive d*ck way. I’m just actually sorry.
Well, that was unsurprising… bad call from the ump, though, to be fair.
Emma you brign up somethign interesting, I’ve wondered.
IN say .. a logn NL game where the bench was used up.. has a pitcher ever pinchhit for another pitcher?
Another weird baseball question.
Popfly to just the fair portion of ,s ay, the right field line. However it bounces out of the players glove and lands in foul territory. Thats stilla fair ball.. right?
Abreu never removes the bat from his shoulder. Awesome. Jeter’s hit streak ends.
Not Abreu’s fault. The second and third strikes were actually balls.
I think the Rockies used to pinch-hit with Hampton on his off-days, actually, in nine-inning games.
I believe it would be a fair ball, but I’m not certain.
AH.,. I have GAmeDay and as we all know… it lies.
That sucks then.
just a brutal ninth inning of strikes and balls calling my that ump.
When you are 5 games under .500 and it’s almost June, complaining about the ump seems misplaced.
hmm, I’m specifically complaining about a series of bad calls in the ninth inning. In no way am I trying to explain away the awful season so far by complaining about what to my eyes were some awful awful calls. I’d argue that it’s never misplaced to complain about an ump if he’s bad.
On the radio after the game Sterling and Waldman spent about 7 minutes talking about the umpiring (and Waldman mentioned that Torre uncharacteristically complained about it during the postgame). Sounds like some serious frustration in general is being directed towards a target, and an easy one.
I am not saying the complaints aren’t justified (certainly bad calls deserve criticism), but that at a certain point they end up as noise and sound mostly like misdirected anger.