Franklin Morales vs Doug Davis.
first pitch of the game, Mega-prospect Dexter Fowler drives one deep into the left field seats. 1-0 already. It was also just released that Brandon Webb has shoulder tightness, hence his monday asskicking, and will miss his next start vs the Dodgers this saturday.
Troy Tulowitzki follows with a pop out. Ryan Spillborghs grounds out to second and theres 2 down quickly, after Fowler's first career HR. Garrett Atkis works the count full before striking out on a very nice curve low and inside.
bottom 1st: Leading off is Felipe Lopez, who had 2 homers on opening day to make quite a splash with his new squad. A middling defender, at best however, Lopez swings at everything. And Lopez has struck out, as he is prone to do. Up next is Steven Drew, inarguably the best hitter on the DBacks, which does not bode well for this team, as he is a 290 hitter with less than 70 RBI's in 2008. Though he is good, I dont think he is good enough to carry this team into the playoffs. As I type that, he jacks one to deep rightfield to tie the game at 1. Now Chris Young strikes out , suprise, and up steps cleanup hitter Conor Jackson who, on the first pitch, swings and notches an opposite field single. Last year third baseman Mark Reynolds struck out over 200 times, an all time record. He is a solid defender with incredible power, but he has worse plate discipline than Rush Limbaugh, and he strikes out, as I expected.
top second. With the help of a double play, Davis faces the minimum 3 batters and we are on to the bottom of the 2nd.
One hit wonder Eric Byrnes steps up, I think its only a matter of time before he is a 2-3 game a week player. There is not room for him to play everyday in this outfield, not with up and comers CF Chris Young and RF Justin Upton. Byrnes draws a walk, however. 1 on, nobody out for catcher Chris Snyder, who pops one about 400 feet straight up. It comes down eventually though, into the waiting glove of Tulowitzki. Another mega-prospect comes up, Upton, who has sometimes been accused of being too patient at the plate. He promptly swings and misses at 3 straight heaters. Another K for Morales. Looks like another quick inning though, as the pitcher Davis comes to the plate and pops out, though it nearly drops for a single.
Top 3. Catcher Yorvit Torrealba hits a scareamer to third, which is dropped, but called a single. Morales striks out after failing to move the runner, and up comes Fowler again. After 5 pitches, 4 of which arent even close, Fowler works a walk. Tulowitzki comes up with 2 on and just 1 down.
Tulowitzki works the count full and I expect manager clint hurdle to send the runners, but on the first full count pitch , he does not.
Hurdle sends the runners on the next full count, but its another walk. Bases loaded, just 1 out.
Spillborghs is up and swings at the first pitch, into the right field corner for a 2RBI double. 3-1 Rockies. Atkins comes up and misses a homer by about 10 feet. Sac fly however, 4-1 Rockies, runner on 3rd and 2 down. RF Brett Hawpe k's and Davis avoids even more damage.
Bottom 3rd, the DBacks are going to need to answer soon because Davis looks bad today. Leadoff hitter Lopez comes up for the second time today. He rakes a sharp single to left on a 2-1 count. Will they try to steal second here? Or let Steven Drew try to drive him home? Im guessing he does not run versus the lefty. He is a solid base stealer however, capable of getting 30 sbs a year, though he is thrown out about 30% of the time. Suddenly Morales has lost control, nearly hitting Drew 3 times with fastballs before Drew flies out to shallow right. Jackson strikes out looking.
Bottom 4. Reynolds lines a single to left and Byrnes follows, swining at the first pitch, popping out to catcher. Snyder flys out to deep center. Upton pops out to first. The DBacks look very flat today, nothing but strikeouts and flyouts thus far.
On to the top of the 5th, I'm guessing this is the last inning for Doug Davis, as his spot in the order is due up next. Leading off is Rockies pitcher Morales, who singles to centerfield. Fowler is up again, and has had a great day so far! What a break for Arizona, Morales is picked off first by Davis. Fowler then strikes out looking, and tulowitzki is up for the third time today. and for the second straight time, draws a walk. Davis cant get rolling today at all. Spillborghs flies out to right and the inning, and probably Davis' start, has ended.
As suspected, Davis is done. Pinch hitter Ryan Roberts is hitting for him to start the bottom of the 5th, though his end result (a fly out to center) is no different than any of Davis' at bats. The Dbacks have not really threatened at all this game, with their only run coming on Drew's first inning solo shot. Lopez is up now, and if he gets on, perhaps he will be running this time. He works the count full, fouls off a few full count fastballs, and lines out to dead center. A great swing, a hard hit ball, but right at Fowler. Bad luck. 2 out. Drew is up. And he flies out to deep left field, just missing his second dong of the day. Not a very exciting game thus far. I am going to have start picking better games to write up because I've picked some shitty ones so far.
In comes Billy Bucker for Doug Davis, and he immediately retires Atkins on a groundout to Reynolds, before following that up by beaning RF Hawpe with a fastball. No matter though, as Jeff Baker grounds into a double play to end the threat.
Bottom 6th, CF Young leads off and pops out to short on an 0-2 count. Arizona is making Morales look like Randy Johnson right about now, they are unable to get good wood on anything (outside of Drew and Lopez). Conor Jackson strikes out looking and in steps Reynolds. The DBacks have only 10 more outs to work with now. Make that 9, as Reynolds flies out.
Top 7th
Torrealba drives one to deep left, followed by pinch hitter Ian Stewart going to deep right. Its 6-1 now and the DBacks look about done. Awful showing for AZ today. Bleck.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Rays @ Boston April 7th
James Shields vs Josh Beckett. Im a big Rays fan. I love how they play, I love their defense, I love how they win with timely hitting, a great pen, and not just mashing the ball (ie WhiteSox, Tigers).
I also hate the RedSox. I hate their obnoxious fans. But at least they are a good watchable team, who can pitch and play d, unlike the Yanks.
I think the Rays can repeat this year, most people seem to think they wont make the playoffs, count me as someone who thinks they win the wildcard, at worst.
Leading off vs Beckett is Aki Iwamura, one of the players I most enjoy watching in the entire league, great defender, solid hitter.
4 pitches later, he has struck out. I also expect Beckett to have a much better year than last. Carl Crawford grounds out to short and Lowrie makes a really nice snag to get the fastest runner in the AL by 2 steps. Evan Longoria is up, total badass. Great fielder, gonna be a great hitter too.
Beckett looks in playoff form already. WOW. Strikes out Longoria on 4 pitches also, including 2 very nice breaking balls, back to back.
Shields quickly strikes out Jacoby Ellsbury (overrated) and little man Dustin Pedroia steps to the plate and crushes one over the monster, as he often does. Big Papi singles up the middle. and after Youkilis flies out, JD Drew doubles off the wall. The RedSox always beat Shields in Fenway, and today may be no different. Jason Bay comes up with men on 2nd and 3rd and 2 down...
Shields better get Bay out here or they are digging themselves a nice early hole vs a great pitcher.
Bay walks on 6 pitches. Not good. Bases loaded, but 2 down for Mike Lowell. 2-2 count to Lowell, big pitch coming here. One run is not a problem, 5 runs is a problem!
And Lowell pops up to first. NICE
Another 1-2-3 inning for Beckett, another K (Carlos Pena) and 2 fly outs. He looks fantastic thus far. Very good for Tampa that Boston scored only once!
Shields bounces back in the second for a sub 10 pitch inning, 1-2-3 on a few grounders and a weak fly out by Varitek (done).
Catcher Dioner Navarro leads off with a groundout to Youkilis, and RF Gabe Gross follows with a nice at bat, pushing the count full with several foul balls. His AB ends with a walk, on a very close pitch that, to me, seemed to hit the outside edge of the plate. Beckett looks very very good.
SS Jason Bartlett steps up, this is the first chance the Rays have had thus far.....
Bartlett works the count to 3-1. Beckett laboring a little bit this inning with his control. Gross runs, Bartlett swings thru, and the runner is safe at second with 1 down, and now a full count...
and a walk to Bartlett. Wow, he gets 1-7 out very easily and walks the 2 worst hitters on the team, go figure. Up steps leadoff hitter Iwamura again. And the first hit of the game for the RAYS!! BAses loaded, one down for Carl Crawford. I personally guarantee a run scores here!
First pitch sac fly by CC and its a new ballgame, 1-1. 2 on (1st and 3rd), 2 out for Longoria.
Longoria flys out to right, and its still 1-1 to the bottom of the 3rd.
Pedroia leads off the 3rd with a walk, and Ortiz comes up. He flies out to short right. Youkilis hits one off the bottom of the wall and men are at the corners with just 1 down for Drew. Again, I expect a run to score here....
Drew grounds to first and Pena makes a great stab, saving another run. Too late to throw down to second, but he does touch the bag to nail Drew. 2 down, runner on second. 2-1 Boston. And Bay hits one thru the first base hole to score another run. Doggone it. 3-1 Bosox. Lowell hits one off the wall, scoring Bay. Shields had a bad first inning and lucked out. He has not gotten very lucky in the 3rd. Another Boston home win looking increasingly likely...
66 pitches so far for Shields, he wont be getting past the 5th at this rate. Jed Lowrie with a bloops single and runners now stand at first and third, still, 2 outs. A nice rally for the Bosox. Man, they are so tough at home. Varitek is up, if he gets a hit and breaks it open, then this game will suck. But he does not, he flies out to right instead.
Top of the 4th, Beckett comes back with a 1-2-3 shutdown inning. The Rays sure could have used more than 1 run back in the 3rd. damn.
Shields gets the bottom of the 4th going quickly, shutting down the first two hitters. Up steps Ortiz again. Shields needs to get thru this one quickly to save the pen. They dont need a 5 inning start in Fenway, thats never good for the next 2 games.
Ortiz flies out to center. Well done Shields.
Top of 5, Navarro leads off and strikes out on 5 pitches. 6 k's in 4.1 Ip thus far. The guy looks amazing.
Up comes Gabe Gross, 3 pitches later, another strikeout. up to 7 now for Beckett. TB is in some trouble. Jason Bartlett bloops out to short. I repeat, TB is in some trouble.
Bottom 5, Youkilis leads off with a double, and this is gonna be it for Shields if he allows another run, I'm guessing. A walk for JD Drew and the Rays bullpen is working hard. Last batter for Shields perhaps? This game is smelling like a blowout. We may switch over to the Giants-Brewers game, which is much more competitive.
Bay bloops a single to left but Youkilis was unsure if the ball would drop, and is thrown out at third. First and second, 1 out now. Shields got a bit lucky there. Lowell up now. And Lowell is always good for a double play grounder, and he obliges. A slow roller to third, Longoria touches the bag and fires to first, a Rays' crisis averted for now.
Top of 6, Iwamura leads off with a single. A rally coming? Crawford follows up with a gap double to left and Longoria comes up with runners on 2nd + 3rd and 0 outs. Hopefully he will put together a nice AB, which he has yet to do today.
This is the Rays best chance today to make a game of this!
And Longoria fouls out to catcher, horrible at bat, he doesnt even think about being patient. I love the guy but he does this an awful lot. If you want a good at bat, he is not the guy I want up. Id much prefer the current hitter, Carlos Pena, up with 1 out now.
Right now it seems I spoke too soon, Pena swinging at two pitches that are nowhere near strikes. This is the Rays best chance and they arent doing much about it. 1-2 to Pena now...
There are relievers up in boston's pen, but they wont be needed unless 2 more runners reach base, in my estimation.
Pena has worked the count even at 2-2, and Pena k's looking. What an awful game for Pena, 3 k's already! Former Phils leftfielder Pat Burrell steps up chops a grounder to 3rd. Wow!. 2nd and 3rd and nobody out and the 3-4-5 hitters cant get the ball out of the infield. This may not be the Tampa's day.
bottom 6. Varitek cracks a very close-to-the-foul-pole home run. My motto is this, if Varitek gets a home run, then the RedSox will probably win the game. I am not a fan of his. Shields has been pulled. Game is looking close to over, the Rays missed out on a chance you cannot miss out on in the top half of the inning.
Rays bounce back with 2 in the 8th on single by Longoria. 5-3 now, Bosox.
Top of the 9th, last chance for the Rays.
Papelbon in to face pink hitter Matt Joyce, batting from the left side. 2 pitches in, he pops out to 2b.
Next up Navarro strikes out. And then Gross strikes out. Thats the game. Lousy one at that.
I also hate the RedSox. I hate their obnoxious fans. But at least they are a good watchable team, who can pitch and play d, unlike the Yanks.
I think the Rays can repeat this year, most people seem to think they wont make the playoffs, count me as someone who thinks they win the wildcard, at worst.
Leading off vs Beckett is Aki Iwamura, one of the players I most enjoy watching in the entire league, great defender, solid hitter.
4 pitches later, he has struck out. I also expect Beckett to have a much better year than last. Carl Crawford grounds out to short and Lowrie makes a really nice snag to get the fastest runner in the AL by 2 steps. Evan Longoria is up, total badass. Great fielder, gonna be a great hitter too.
Beckett looks in playoff form already. WOW. Strikes out Longoria on 4 pitches also, including 2 very nice breaking balls, back to back.
Shields quickly strikes out Jacoby Ellsbury (overrated) and little man Dustin Pedroia steps to the plate and crushes one over the monster, as he often does. Big Papi singles up the middle. and after Youkilis flies out, JD Drew doubles off the wall. The RedSox always beat Shields in Fenway, and today may be no different. Jason Bay comes up with men on 2nd and 3rd and 2 down...
Shields better get Bay out here or they are digging themselves a nice early hole vs a great pitcher.
Bay walks on 6 pitches. Not good. Bases loaded, but 2 down for Mike Lowell. 2-2 count to Lowell, big pitch coming here. One run is not a problem, 5 runs is a problem!
And Lowell pops up to first. NICE
Another 1-2-3 inning for Beckett, another K (Carlos Pena) and 2 fly outs. He looks fantastic thus far. Very good for Tampa that Boston scored only once!
Shields bounces back in the second for a sub 10 pitch inning, 1-2-3 on a few grounders and a weak fly out by Varitek (done).
Catcher Dioner Navarro leads off with a groundout to Youkilis, and RF Gabe Gross follows with a nice at bat, pushing the count full with several foul balls. His AB ends with a walk, on a very close pitch that, to me, seemed to hit the outside edge of the plate. Beckett looks very very good.
SS Jason Bartlett steps up, this is the first chance the Rays have had thus far.....
Bartlett works the count to 3-1. Beckett laboring a little bit this inning with his control. Gross runs, Bartlett swings thru, and the runner is safe at second with 1 down, and now a full count...
and a walk to Bartlett. Wow, he gets 1-7 out very easily and walks the 2 worst hitters on the team, go figure. Up steps leadoff hitter Iwamura again. And the first hit of the game for the RAYS!! BAses loaded, one down for Carl Crawford. I personally guarantee a run scores here!
First pitch sac fly by CC and its a new ballgame, 1-1. 2 on (1st and 3rd), 2 out for Longoria.
Longoria flys out to right, and its still 1-1 to the bottom of the 3rd.
Pedroia leads off the 3rd with a walk, and Ortiz comes up. He flies out to short right. Youkilis hits one off the bottom of the wall and men are at the corners with just 1 down for Drew. Again, I expect a run to score here....
Drew grounds to first and Pena makes a great stab, saving another run. Too late to throw down to second, but he does touch the bag to nail Drew. 2 down, runner on second. 2-1 Boston. And Bay hits one thru the first base hole to score another run. Doggone it. 3-1 Bosox. Lowell hits one off the wall, scoring Bay. Shields had a bad first inning and lucked out. He has not gotten very lucky in the 3rd. Another Boston home win looking increasingly likely...
66 pitches so far for Shields, he wont be getting past the 5th at this rate. Jed Lowrie with a bloops single and runners now stand at first and third, still, 2 outs. A nice rally for the Bosox. Man, they are so tough at home. Varitek is up, if he gets a hit and breaks it open, then this game will suck. But he does not, he flies out to right instead.
Top of the 4th, Beckett comes back with a 1-2-3 shutdown inning. The Rays sure could have used more than 1 run back in the 3rd. damn.
Shields gets the bottom of the 4th going quickly, shutting down the first two hitters. Up steps Ortiz again. Shields needs to get thru this one quickly to save the pen. They dont need a 5 inning start in Fenway, thats never good for the next 2 games.
Ortiz flies out to center. Well done Shields.
Top of 5, Navarro leads off and strikes out on 5 pitches. 6 k's in 4.1 Ip thus far. The guy looks amazing.
Up comes Gabe Gross, 3 pitches later, another strikeout. up to 7 now for Beckett. TB is in some trouble. Jason Bartlett bloops out to short. I repeat, TB is in some trouble.
Bottom 5, Youkilis leads off with a double, and this is gonna be it for Shields if he allows another run, I'm guessing. A walk for JD Drew and the Rays bullpen is working hard. Last batter for Shields perhaps? This game is smelling like a blowout. We may switch over to the Giants-Brewers game, which is much more competitive.
Bay bloops a single to left but Youkilis was unsure if the ball would drop, and is thrown out at third. First and second, 1 out now. Shields got a bit lucky there. Lowell up now. And Lowell is always good for a double play grounder, and he obliges. A slow roller to third, Longoria touches the bag and fires to first, a Rays' crisis averted for now.
Top of 6, Iwamura leads off with a single. A rally coming? Crawford follows up with a gap double to left and Longoria comes up with runners on 2nd + 3rd and 0 outs. Hopefully he will put together a nice AB, which he has yet to do today.
This is the Rays best chance today to make a game of this!
And Longoria fouls out to catcher, horrible at bat, he doesnt even think about being patient. I love the guy but he does this an awful lot. If you want a good at bat, he is not the guy I want up. Id much prefer the current hitter, Carlos Pena, up with 1 out now.
Right now it seems I spoke too soon, Pena swinging at two pitches that are nowhere near strikes. This is the Rays best chance and they arent doing much about it. 1-2 to Pena now...
There are relievers up in boston's pen, but they wont be needed unless 2 more runners reach base, in my estimation.
Pena has worked the count even at 2-2, and Pena k's looking. What an awful game for Pena, 3 k's already! Former Phils leftfielder Pat Burrell steps up chops a grounder to 3rd. Wow!. 2nd and 3rd and nobody out and the 3-4-5 hitters cant get the ball out of the infield. This may not be the Tampa's day.
bottom 6. Varitek cracks a very close-to-the-foul-pole home run. My motto is this, if Varitek gets a home run, then the RedSox will probably win the game. I am not a fan of his. Shields has been pulled. Game is looking close to over, the Rays missed out on a chance you cannot miss out on in the top half of the inning.
Rays bounce back with 2 in the 8th on single by Longoria. 5-3 now, Bosox.
Top of the 9th, last chance for the Rays.
Papelbon in to face pink hitter Matt Joyce, batting from the left side. 2 pitches in, he pops out to 2b.
Next up Navarro strikes out. And then Gross strikes out. Thats the game. Lousy one at that.
Monday, April 6, 2009
yankees at baltimore (Sabathias first start)
I will have to pick and choose which games to cover, because there will be so many on simultaneously. I will do my best to pick the games that seem the most interesting. And the soap opera that is the New York Yankees are always interesting.
CC vs Jeremy Guthrie.
Yanks are leading off Jeter, a good move considering all he does is ground into double plays. He is good for 1-2 grounders to short or second per game.
Full count to Jeter. He does put together good AB's, which generally end in ground outs.
This at bat is a grounder, though up the middle for a single.
Johnny Damon steps up and flies out to center.
Free Agent 1b Mark Teixera steps up to voracious boos. He is from Baltimore and the fans apparently felt he would sign with the O's. He did not. On a 2-0 count he pops out to center.
Hideki Matsui is up, 2 outs, Jeter on first.....
Gentle grounder to second. Easy inning for Guthrie. GO BALTIMORE!
CC has allowed a leadoff single from Brian Roberts, then a wild pitch and Roberts is already on second with no outs. Delicious beginning!
Next batter Adam Jones walks on 4 pitches. 1st and 2nd , no outs!
** In other news, the Dbacks, who i think will regress a lot this year, potentially to maybe only 84 wins or so (I have them at 87 but its shaky), are down already to Colorado 4-2 , with Brandon Webb pitching. Not sure how AZ can score 5 runs. Mediocre offense dooms them again. Back to the Yanks game**
Orioles have 1st and 2nd and one out for Melvin Mora. They didnt move the runners over with no outs which is unwise.
2-2 count to Mora. Mora a lifetime .105 hitter vs Sabathia. Another wild pitch. 2nd and 3rd now for Mora, full count. Mora grounds to third and the play is at the plate. Roberts is out, 1st and 3rd, 2 down. Aubrey huff steps up, lefty on lefty. First pitch swining ground out to Jeter. Hard hit, right at Jeter though. Nice recovery for CC.
**May switch to the AZ/Rockies game because thats a barnburner. Who would have guessed two pitchers , groundball pitchers at that, would get lit up on opening day thru less than 3 innings. Wow. Didnt know AZ had 6 runs in em.**
Guthrie hits Posada but quickly retires the next two hitters, striking out Xavier Nady on an outside heater. On to the bottom of the second, still no score.
Ty Wiggington , first pitch pop out. Up steps Luke Scott, another lefty in the very heavilt lefty-laiden Orikoles offense. 1-2 count to Scott....two balls in a row, full count.
Scott lines out to center. Gregg Zaun steps up, switch hitting catcher. Grounds out to noodle armed Jeter.
Top of third:
Leadoff single for number 9 hitter Brett Gardner. Perhaps they will let him run since Jeter is up.
Jeter grounds to short but it was a hit and run, so 1st and 3rd with no outs. Total ground ball double play but the shortstop covered second so the Yanks luck out. Good call by Yanks manager Joe Girardi. Damon flies out to left but the run scores. 1-0 Yanks. up steps Texiera, again to big boos. Teixera with a 15 foot nubber back to the pitcher. Jeter on second, 2 down. Matsui is up with a chance for a big hit. And another fly out, though this one carries to the track.
1-0 onto the bottom of the third
I go downstairs to cook some fish, come back and Baltimore has 3 runs. Leadoff single, walk, then a triple by Adam Jones, followed by a Nick Markakis (Im a big fan) Sac Fly. Yanks fans already lament the CC signing!
Bottom 4, first two runners get on. Zaun misses a 3 run homer by about 5 feet.
Runner moves up from 2nd, 2 outs, runners on the corners. Luckily for the Yanks, a very weak hitting Cesar Itzuris is up to bat.
And he grounds into a 4-6-3 DP.
Top of 5th: Brett Gardner tries to bunt, but is thrown out. Up steps Jeter, who, to nobodys suprise, grounds out to short. 2 down. Johnny Damon hits a 400 foot triple to deep center just past CF Adam Jones' glove. Teixera is up again with 2 down and a runner on third. Full count to Teixera now, and he walks on a pitch that was a strike., a pretty obvious one at that.
Sidebar: CC Sabathia was headed to the locker room after 4, not sure if he is hurt or what.
2 on, 2 out for Hideki Matsui now, who has done zip today. Matsui fouls out to third.
3-1 into the bottom of five.
Sabathia is fine, i think he probably needed a snack. Leadoff hitter Brian Roberts with a double. Nice start once again for Baltimore, who has had one or more runners on in ever inning thus far.
Adam Jones hits a grounder to third but 3b Cody Ransom has to move too far to his left, and it bounces off his glove, moving Roberts to third. Runners on the corners, nobody out, with Markakis up. Sabathia cannot locate his pitches at all today, he has as many balls as strikes to this point...
All Markakis has to do is put it in play and a run will probably score.
Full count now... will they send Adam Jones from first? yes, they send him, Jeter is covering, and the ball squibs to short, which not only scores a run, but nets Markakis an infield single. 1st and 2nd, no outs, 4-1 Baltimore. Mora is up again, a grounder to third, bobbled by Ransom, bases loaded, nobody out. Aubrey Huff is up. They could rip this game open right now....
Huff grounds out to second, but its hit too slowly to turn two. 5-1 Orioles, 2nd and 3rd, one out. Intentional walk and we now have em loaded for Luke Scott with just one down still...
25 pitches so far for CC, he will not be going past the 5th inning today if he gets into anymore trouble at all. Id be willing to say this is his last inning either way, actually. He looks awful today. Truly bad. Im sure he will be fine this year, but he cant even throw his heater for strikes.
Full count to Scott now, this will be CC's last batter if Scott gets on.
And he walks him. And thats it for Sabathia. What an awful debut. Glad my team didnt spend $160,000,000 on a pitcher!
CC had no strikeouts and 5 walks, I dont think ive ever seen him have a game like that, he must be hurt. No other answer.
Its now 6-1 O's and this game can end right here. The Yanks lineup just doesnt look the same without A-Rod. Posada looks bad, nobody is afraid of Garner, Jeter, or Ransom.
Fly ball to center and Mora is gunned down at the plate.
6-1 , onto the sixth. Thats enough of this game for me, I simply wanted to see Sabathia, and it was not pretty.
CC vs Jeremy Guthrie.
Yanks are leading off Jeter, a good move considering all he does is ground into double plays. He is good for 1-2 grounders to short or second per game.
Full count to Jeter. He does put together good AB's, which generally end in ground outs.
This at bat is a grounder, though up the middle for a single.
Johnny Damon steps up and flies out to center.
Free Agent 1b Mark Teixera steps up to voracious boos. He is from Baltimore and the fans apparently felt he would sign with the O's. He did not. On a 2-0 count he pops out to center.
Hideki Matsui is up, 2 outs, Jeter on first.....
Gentle grounder to second. Easy inning for Guthrie. GO BALTIMORE!
CC has allowed a leadoff single from Brian Roberts, then a wild pitch and Roberts is already on second with no outs. Delicious beginning!
Next batter Adam Jones walks on 4 pitches. 1st and 2nd , no outs!
** In other news, the Dbacks, who i think will regress a lot this year, potentially to maybe only 84 wins or so (I have them at 87 but its shaky), are down already to Colorado 4-2 , with Brandon Webb pitching. Not sure how AZ can score 5 runs. Mediocre offense dooms them again. Back to the Yanks game**
Orioles have 1st and 2nd and one out for Melvin Mora. They didnt move the runners over with no outs which is unwise.
2-2 count to Mora. Mora a lifetime .105 hitter vs Sabathia. Another wild pitch. 2nd and 3rd now for Mora, full count. Mora grounds to third and the play is at the plate. Roberts is out, 1st and 3rd, 2 down. Aubrey huff steps up, lefty on lefty. First pitch swining ground out to Jeter. Hard hit, right at Jeter though. Nice recovery for CC.
**May switch to the AZ/Rockies game because thats a barnburner. Who would have guessed two pitchers , groundball pitchers at that, would get lit up on opening day thru less than 3 innings. Wow. Didnt know AZ had 6 runs in em.**
Guthrie hits Posada but quickly retires the next two hitters, striking out Xavier Nady on an outside heater. On to the bottom of the second, still no score.
Ty Wiggington , first pitch pop out. Up steps Luke Scott, another lefty in the very heavilt lefty-laiden Orikoles offense. 1-2 count to Scott....two balls in a row, full count.
Scott lines out to center. Gregg Zaun steps up, switch hitting catcher. Grounds out to noodle armed Jeter.
Top of third:
Leadoff single for number 9 hitter Brett Gardner. Perhaps they will let him run since Jeter is up.
Jeter grounds to short but it was a hit and run, so 1st and 3rd with no outs. Total ground ball double play but the shortstop covered second so the Yanks luck out. Good call by Yanks manager Joe Girardi. Damon flies out to left but the run scores. 1-0 Yanks. up steps Texiera, again to big boos. Teixera with a 15 foot nubber back to the pitcher. Jeter on second, 2 down. Matsui is up with a chance for a big hit. And another fly out, though this one carries to the track.
1-0 onto the bottom of the third
I go downstairs to cook some fish, come back and Baltimore has 3 runs. Leadoff single, walk, then a triple by Adam Jones, followed by a Nick Markakis (Im a big fan) Sac Fly. Yanks fans already lament the CC signing!
Bottom 4, first two runners get on. Zaun misses a 3 run homer by about 5 feet.
Runner moves up from 2nd, 2 outs, runners on the corners. Luckily for the Yanks, a very weak hitting Cesar Itzuris is up to bat.
And he grounds into a 4-6-3 DP.
Top of 5th: Brett Gardner tries to bunt, but is thrown out. Up steps Jeter, who, to nobodys suprise, grounds out to short. 2 down. Johnny Damon hits a 400 foot triple to deep center just past CF Adam Jones' glove. Teixera is up again with 2 down and a runner on third. Full count to Teixera now, and he walks on a pitch that was a strike., a pretty obvious one at that.
Sidebar: CC Sabathia was headed to the locker room after 4, not sure if he is hurt or what.
2 on, 2 out for Hideki Matsui now, who has done zip today. Matsui fouls out to third.
3-1 into the bottom of five.
Sabathia is fine, i think he probably needed a snack. Leadoff hitter Brian Roberts with a double. Nice start once again for Baltimore, who has had one or more runners on in ever inning thus far.
Adam Jones hits a grounder to third but 3b Cody Ransom has to move too far to his left, and it bounces off his glove, moving Roberts to third. Runners on the corners, nobody out, with Markakis up. Sabathia cannot locate his pitches at all today, he has as many balls as strikes to this point...
All Markakis has to do is put it in play and a run will probably score.
Full count now... will they send Adam Jones from first? yes, they send him, Jeter is covering, and the ball squibs to short, which not only scores a run, but nets Markakis an infield single. 1st and 2nd, no outs, 4-1 Baltimore. Mora is up again, a grounder to third, bobbled by Ransom, bases loaded, nobody out. Aubrey Huff is up. They could rip this game open right now....
Huff grounds out to second, but its hit too slowly to turn two. 5-1 Orioles, 2nd and 3rd, one out. Intentional walk and we now have em loaded for Luke Scott with just one down still...
25 pitches so far for CC, he will not be going past the 5th inning today if he gets into anymore trouble at all. Id be willing to say this is his last inning either way, actually. He looks awful today. Truly bad. Im sure he will be fine this year, but he cant even throw his heater for strikes.
Full count to Scott now, this will be CC's last batter if Scott gets on.
And he walks him. And thats it for Sabathia. What an awful debut. Glad my team didnt spend $160,000,000 on a pitcher!
CC had no strikeouts and 5 walks, I dont think ive ever seen him have a game like that, he must be hurt. No other answer.
Its now 6-1 O's and this game can end right here. The Yanks lineup just doesnt look the same without A-Rod. Posada looks bad, nobody is afraid of Garner, Jeter, or Ransom.
Fly ball to center and Mora is gunned down at the plate.
6-1 , onto the sixth. Thats enough of this game for me, I simply wanted to see Sabathia, and it was not pretty.
rangers indians opening day
Two of my favorite teams face off today. I wish they had shown GW Bush throwing out the first pitch, they did not. Millwood has a no hitter thru 3, which is worthless in Arlington, as we all know. The Rangers are up 4-0 with all their runs coming in the 2nd with 2 outs off Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. Very impressive. So far its been a flawless game by the Rangers.
I expect the game to get closer than 4-0 however.
4th inning, Grady Sizemore leads off with a single, first chance the Tribe have had thus far to do anything. 3b Mark DeRosa stands in, full count, Sizemore will be running.....
fouled off, but yes, he was running. Still full....
DeRosa grounds up the middle right near the bag, but because Sizemore was running, the only play is to first. 1 out, runner on 2b. Lets see if Millwood gets out of the inning. I expect a run, however.
Victor Martinez is up. The Rangers pitching will not get much better than this, which is sad, because Millwood defines the word average, or very very slightly above it.
Count runs to 2-2 on Martinez. Nothing but fastballs so far in this AB.
Breaking pitch on 2-2, a nice one, but in the dirt. Curious to see if he goes after this batter right here, or takes his chances with Hafner, who hasnt done a thing in 2 years.
Full count to Martinez and......opposite field single on a line. Runners at 1st and 3rd.
up steps Travis Hafner, who just cannot seem to get around on a 91 mph heater. Boy, this guy has fallen fast! Used to be a top tier power hitter, now he looks like Ken Griffey, just awful.
Hafner GIDP. Awful. The guy needs to have a huge year for them, or at least 270, 25 hrs.
5th inning. Hank Blalock hits a 3 run jack and its now 7-0. I am counting this one over and moving onto another game. If Cleve scores 3 runs, i will turn this one back on.
I expect the game to get closer than 4-0 however.
4th inning, Grady Sizemore leads off with a single, first chance the Tribe have had thus far to do anything. 3b Mark DeRosa stands in, full count, Sizemore will be running.....
fouled off, but yes, he was running. Still full....
DeRosa grounds up the middle right near the bag, but because Sizemore was running, the only play is to first. 1 out, runner on 2b. Lets see if Millwood gets out of the inning. I expect a run, however.
Victor Martinez is up. The Rangers pitching will not get much better than this, which is sad, because Millwood defines the word average, or very very slightly above it.
Count runs to 2-2 on Martinez. Nothing but fastballs so far in this AB.
Breaking pitch on 2-2, a nice one, but in the dirt. Curious to see if he goes after this batter right here, or takes his chances with Hafner, who hasnt done a thing in 2 years.
Full count to Martinez and......opposite field single on a line. Runners at 1st and 3rd.
up steps Travis Hafner, who just cannot seem to get around on a 91 mph heater. Boy, this guy has fallen fast! Used to be a top tier power hitter, now he looks like Ken Griffey, just awful.
Hafner GIDP. Awful. The guy needs to have a huge year for them, or at least 270, 25 hrs.
5th inning. Hank Blalock hits a 3 run jack and its now 7-0. I am counting this one over and moving onto another game. If Cleve scores 3 runs, i will turn this one back on.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
phils braves opening night
its here
im watching. Ive changed underwear twice already.
Brett Myers is dealing thru 2 batters, 3 pitches and Kelly Johnson popped out, one pitch and Escobar grounds out.
Chipper then works it full before an opposite field single drops in front of Raul Ibanez.
Three pitches later, Brian McCann drills a pull shot to deep right for a 2-0 lead.
damn.
3 up 3 down for the phils. Lowe with good stuff tonite.
Then Franceour with a homer. Braves now up 3-0
Gonna be a bad night for Mrs. Myers , again.
and now the first major league AB for Jordan Schafer , and another homer.
WOW
lowe is cruising right now. One of my predictions was braves over 83.5 wins. that was their vegas over under win total.
I think they will be in the hunt.
Phils have not hit a lick today. Lowe is dominating them. Myers has settled down and he willbe fine, but the Phils hitters look like they are happy they won the Series, and thats enough of that!
the only dent the phils made was in the 9th, once Lowe was out of the game. In comes lefty close Mike Gonzalez. Pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett leads off with a double, Rollins fly out to right moves Bruntlett to third. Jason werth hits a single to drive him in, then Chase Utley walsk on 5 pitches. Up comes MLB RBI Leader Ryan Howard who proceeds to strikeout looking, as the tying run. 2 outs now, up comes Raul Ibanez, who strikes out, swinging. Not much of a game to be honest, except for Derek Lowe.
im watching. Ive changed underwear twice already.
Brett Myers is dealing thru 2 batters, 3 pitches and Kelly Johnson popped out, one pitch and Escobar grounds out.
Chipper then works it full before an opposite field single drops in front of Raul Ibanez.
Three pitches later, Brian McCann drills a pull shot to deep right for a 2-0 lead.
damn.
3 up 3 down for the phils. Lowe with good stuff tonite.
Then Franceour with a homer. Braves now up 3-0
Gonna be a bad night for Mrs. Myers , again.
and now the first major league AB for Jordan Schafer , and another homer.
WOW
lowe is cruising right now. One of my predictions was braves over 83.5 wins. that was their vegas over under win total.
I think they will be in the hunt.
Phils have not hit a lick today. Lowe is dominating them. Myers has settled down and he willbe fine, but the Phils hitters look like they are happy they won the Series, and thats enough of that!
the only dent the phils made was in the 9th, once Lowe was out of the game. In comes lefty close Mike Gonzalez. Pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett leads off with a double, Rollins fly out to right moves Bruntlett to third. Jason werth hits a single to drive him in, then Chase Utley walsk on 5 pitches. Up comes MLB RBI Leader Ryan Howard who proceeds to strikeout looking, as the tying run. 2 outs now, up comes Raul Ibanez, who strikes out, swinging. Not much of a game to be honest, except for Derek Lowe.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Final preseason win totals and standings
Due to the fact that there have been signings and injuries, i will do an abbreviated standings and win totals right now
AL WEST. 1. Oakland 84-78 2. LA Angels 82-80 3. Texas 79-83 4. Seattle 75-87
Adjustments have been made because of injuries to the Angels pitching staff.
AL Central 1. Cleveland 88-74 2. Minnesota 85-79 3. Detroit 80-82 4. Chicago White Sox 79-83 5. Kansas City 74-88 .
Adjustments have been made due to the Twins injuries at catcher.
Al East. 1. New York 95-67 2. Tampa 91-71 3. Boston 90-72 4. Toronto 75- 87 5. Baltimore 71- 91
NL West 1. Dodgers 92-70 2. Arizona 87-75 3. San Francisco 78-84 4. Colorado 72-90 5. San Diego 68-94
NL Central 1. Cubs 96- 66 2. St Louis 85- 77 3. Milwaukee 83-79 4. Cincinatti 81-81 5. Houston 73-89 6. Pittsburgh 68-94
NL East 1. Philadelphia 90-72 2. New York Mets 89-73 3. Atlanta 87-75 4. Florida 80-82 5. Washington 75- 87
I am very very confident about the following projections: Yankees, Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, KC, Texas, San Francisco, Dodgers, San Diego, Cubs, St Louis, and the Braves
I am much less confident about the following projections: Philadelphia, Mets, Angels, Oakland, Minnesota.
I will be back tomorrow to discuss the Braves Phils game.
AL WEST. 1. Oakland 84-78 2. LA Angels 82-80 3. Texas 79-83 4. Seattle 75-87
Adjustments have been made because of injuries to the Angels pitching staff.
AL Central 1. Cleveland 88-74 2. Minnesota 85-79 3. Detroit 80-82 4. Chicago White Sox 79-83 5. Kansas City 74-88 .
Adjustments have been made due to the Twins injuries at catcher.
Al East. 1. New York 95-67 2. Tampa 91-71 3. Boston 90-72 4. Toronto 75- 87 5. Baltimore 71- 91
NL West 1. Dodgers 92-70 2. Arizona 87-75 3. San Francisco 78-84 4. Colorado 72-90 5. San Diego 68-94
NL Central 1. Cubs 96- 66 2. St Louis 85- 77 3. Milwaukee 83-79 4. Cincinatti 81-81 5. Houston 73-89 6. Pittsburgh 68-94
NL East 1. Philadelphia 90-72 2. New York Mets 89-73 3. Atlanta 87-75 4. Florida 80-82 5. Washington 75- 87
I am very very confident about the following projections: Yankees, Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, KC, Texas, San Francisco, Dodgers, San Diego, Cubs, St Louis, and the Braves
I am much less confident about the following projections: Philadelphia, Mets, Angels, Oakland, Minnesota.
I will be back tomorrow to discuss the Braves Phils game.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
AL CENTRAL Preview Part 2
Ive been busy, its been awhile.
2nd place. Minnesota Twins (88-74)
Probably the toughest team for me to predict because they are so young, The Twins lost a one game playoff last year to the ChiSox only because it was played in Chicago instead of the Dome. This year they may improve enough to make the playoffs. For a team like the Twins, who play such fundamentally sound baseball and win a lot of one run games, young pitching will have to make slight improvements to win the division. Their best starter and obviously one of the most talented lefties in the majors, Francisco Liriano (6-3, 3.91 era. 67k's in 76 ip), will have to stay healthy for the first time since 2006 for the Twins to have a shot at the Central. Liriano has made only 14 starts since 2006 ended and his arrival on the squad in july coincided with the teams run to the playoffs. I expect regression from Kevin Slowey (12-11, 1.15whip) but as long as he keeps his walks down again, he will probably pitch 200 innings in 09. I expect Scott Baker (11-4, 3.45era) to maintain his numbers from last year, at least, because he has more strikeout potential than any other Twins pitcher, save for Liriano of course. Rounding out the rotation are the completely average lefty Glen Perkins (4.41 era., 1.47 whip) and righty Nate Blackburn (4.05 era, 1.36 whip). If they maintain their pace from last year, the Twins rotation is no worse than any other in the central. The difference may come down to closers, and the Twins have arguably the best there is. Joe Nathan (39 saves, 1.33era, .90 whip) just doesn't blow games. Well, maybe twice a year, but you get the point. The guy is nails.
As for offense, the Twins arent going to turn too many heads in that department. They do have alot of upside in Carlos Gomez (258 ba, 33 sbs), a potential gold glover in center. Possibly the biggest question offensively is the return of right fielder Michael Cuddyer, the teams third best hitter after Joe Mauer (328ba, 413obp) and Justin Morneau (300 ba, 129 rbis). Cuddyer missed more than half of 08 and, if he can come back and simply hit the average of his 06-07 numbers (280ba, 20hrs, 90 rbis), then this team has the potential to win the division. Their are few bigger home field advantages in baseball than the Metrodome and the Twins regularly win over 50 home games a year there. So if the pitching simply hits last years numbers, and minor improvements from youngster 2b Alexi Cassila and LF Delmon Young, this could be a really good year in the Twin Cities.
2nd place. Minnesota Twins (88-74)
Probably the toughest team for me to predict because they are so young, The Twins lost a one game playoff last year to the ChiSox only because it was played in Chicago instead of the Dome. This year they may improve enough to make the playoffs. For a team like the Twins, who play such fundamentally sound baseball and win a lot of one run games, young pitching will have to make slight improvements to win the division. Their best starter and obviously one of the most talented lefties in the majors, Francisco Liriano (6-3, 3.91 era. 67k's in 76 ip), will have to stay healthy for the first time since 2006 for the Twins to have a shot at the Central. Liriano has made only 14 starts since 2006 ended and his arrival on the squad in july coincided with the teams run to the playoffs. I expect regression from Kevin Slowey (12-11, 1.15whip) but as long as he keeps his walks down again, he will probably pitch 200 innings in 09. I expect Scott Baker (11-4, 3.45era) to maintain his numbers from last year, at least, because he has more strikeout potential than any other Twins pitcher, save for Liriano of course. Rounding out the rotation are the completely average lefty Glen Perkins (4.41 era., 1.47 whip) and righty Nate Blackburn (4.05 era, 1.36 whip). If they maintain their pace from last year, the Twins rotation is no worse than any other in the central. The difference may come down to closers, and the Twins have arguably the best there is. Joe Nathan (39 saves, 1.33era, .90 whip) just doesn't blow games. Well, maybe twice a year, but you get the point. The guy is nails.
As for offense, the Twins arent going to turn too many heads in that department. They do have alot of upside in Carlos Gomez (258 ba, 33 sbs), a potential gold glover in center. Possibly the biggest question offensively is the return of right fielder Michael Cuddyer, the teams third best hitter after Joe Mauer (328ba, 413obp) and Justin Morneau (300 ba, 129 rbis). Cuddyer missed more than half of 08 and, if he can come back and simply hit the average of his 06-07 numbers (280ba, 20hrs, 90 rbis), then this team has the potential to win the division. Their are few bigger home field advantages in baseball than the Metrodome and the Twins regularly win over 50 home games a year there. So if the pitching simply hits last years numbers, and minor improvements from youngster 2b Alexi Cassila and LF Delmon Young, this could be a really good year in the Twin Cities.
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