Game 99: Twins at New York Yankees
Posted by ubelmann on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Blackburn vs. Ponson
Sidney Ponson is apparently an asshole, but posted a very respectable 4.38 xFIP (and 3.88 ERA if you're into that) with the Rangers. Nick Blackburn, on the other hand, has a 4.24 xFIP. So, the pitching matchup is really pretty even, talent-wise.
That is a disturbing thing to say; Blackburn and Ponson even talent wise. Sadly the numbers back that up. Hopefully Blackburn can create a little bit more room between the two of them tonight so that comparison won't be quite so accurate. The Twins are on tv in Buffalo tonight so I will be out enjoying some delicious beverages in a public setting. Let's start this series off on the right foot.
Only 1 more week, until I get to watch the Twins play on TV again.Hopefully as they take 1st from the Sox, so I can give all my friends a bunch of crap, after all the crap I got from when the Twins got swept by Chicago 598-4 earlier this year.
Some predictions for the game:
I don't see how I could possibly be wrong on any of these points.
Arod makes love to Madonna on the field.
That would add a kick to Yankees radio announcer John Sterlings call ' An A-Bomb, from A-Rod!'
Suzyn Waldman and Jeter?
I think it's more accurate to say so far this year these two pitchers have been pretty equally effective. Fortunately, the Twins' offense has been quite a bit better than the Yankees, which probably hasn't been true this late in a season since at least 1992.
The Yankees have a better team OBP and better team SLG than the Twins--I can't at all agree that the Twins' offense has been "quite a bit better" than the Yankees this year.
0.36 more runs per game so far. In the spirit of Bill Smith, which history would you rather have so far this year?
Posada put on the DL today.
good start to the inning
stupid A Rod
No sign of the Material Girl, but A-Rod poked that one.
which one?
I'm new to MLB.TV, so this is the first YES broadcast I've watched. I don't know who these Yankee broadcasters are--I didn't catch the names--but they are amazingly unprofessional. Especially the 'color' guy - my God he's terrible. Almost sounds like a minor league game or something. You'd think a big-time operation like the Yankees would have class A broadcasters.
The widescreen feed is quite nice, though, since they stream everything in widescreen anyway.
A threat!
a run!
safe! sweet!
all tied up
Wow! Harris was dead on the play at the plate and we get the call... in Yankee friggin' Stadium. Miracles do happen.
Gordo concurs.
Sterling surmised that since the throw beat Harris that he should have been out regardless of the presence of an in-time tag. He spoke of it as if it was one of those stupid unwritten rules.
way to go Laddie
2-2 so far
Boy Harris has no range at SS. On that last play it looked like he dove when he really didn't need to and was unable to recover.
Evening folks.
Blackburn needs to throw fewer fastballs.
Dazzle seems to have brought his 'A' game tonight
notes that its hot, and players are overheating
thanks
ummm
That is very nice.
In the interest of full disclosure, I jacked that from TwinkieTown sometime last year.
Do you think it would get a rise out of the New York's fans (undoubtadly with some Jersey fans interspersed) if the announcers paged for Jon Bon...Zer?
Harris is involved in sooooo many non-DPs. So many.
I noticed that when I was at the game Saturday night
the SS to 2B toss seems like it takes forever
Yeah, he can't get the ball to the second baseman quickly, and it seems like it takes him a long time to get to the ball, too. Almost like he's just being too careful or something.
Doing the little things....
Our defense is being overexposed right now.
something like this?
Not a good outing for Black Lips.
If I were a piece of clubhouse furniture, I'd be looking for a place to hide from Blackburn right now.
Well, Blackburn allowed one XBH and from the part I saw, got some pretty crap defense behind him. Just one of those days.
Liriano would of pitched a no hitter
just sayin...
Does Blackburn have options left?
Does it matter?
Real estate, insurance, used car sales....
Zing!
Dazz: That was one of those home run shots.
So that's what the kids are calling them these days.
Jeez, Bonser can't even throw it to first effectively. Had such high hopes for him coming into the season.
Boy this certainly isn't going well.
Thank God this is the LAST SERIES THE TWINS WILL EVER PLAY IN YANKEE STADIUM!
Melky respecting Gomez's arm.
Delmon certainly not with impressive range towards the line.
Delmon certainly not with impressive range
towards the line.Why do the Twins always morph into the Royals when they play NY?
The Grand Forks Royals.
Why do the Twins always morph into the
RoyalsWashington Generals when they play NY?The Twins only exist in order to lose to the Yankees.
It always seems that way, doesn't it?
Someone stop the bleeding!
You know, when Bonser strikes the batter out, things seem to turn out OK. He should consider striking out every batter.
Apparently the Twins didn't get the memo about Sir Sid starting tonight.
Ponson is not a bad pitcher.
I was surprised about something Gardy said during the radio pregame
Gardy said that Ponson seems to be more effective with his sinker this year, something that was not happening with the Twins last year because of an arm injury that was not quite healed. Gardy figuered his arm is very healthy this year
I'm off to drink (some more..)
Who says you can't drink right here in front of the computer? Heck, I'm thinking of moving the liquor shelf into the filing cabinet.
This has not turned out well.
These Yankees analysts are hacks--using Mauer's BA this season to surmise that he's better against LHP. Sure, guys.
kuuuuubes
Kubes!
or "coooo-BELL", per the Yanqui radio guys.
bS- you gotten into the black ale yet?
review is in the can, scheduled for Wednesday.
Did you hear when the stadium guy announced his first at bat?
"Kubble"
Things happen fast in the Big Apple, they can't be bothered with details like names.
Attaboy, Kubes.
3 1/3 for Boof with 3 K, 1 BB, 2 runs allowed. Not too bad in a pinch. If the Twins make a couple more plays for Blackburn on defense, this would be a much different game right now.
We certainly brought the ass-gloves on this trip. I had heard Punto was ready to go today, but no such luck. Having him at short tonight might have made a difference.
Sounds like Gardy's willing to use him as a defensive replacement, but must see something in Punto's hitting drills that makes him unwilling to send him to the plate too often.
I heard on the radio a little while ago that he only took BP from the left side, so it doesn't sound like he's 100% yet.
but must see something in Punto's hitting drills that makes him unwilling to send him to the plate too often.
A little something called 2007 would like to have a word with you about this.
Because Harris has totally been tearing it up at the plate this year.
I think you misunderstood me. I meant that based on the num