Melky Mania! Yanks-Os Gamer II

Things have been pretty blah this season. The Yanks have been playing what looks like, feels like, and is, in fact, .500 baseball. That's unacceptable in Yankee Universe. Just check out some of the comments up at Lohud. The Bombers are playing like bums.

But then there's Melky(!) Cabrera. It is early yet, I know. And the small sample police will tell me that I shouldn't get excited about his .314/.373/.510 line. But I am. Mostly, I am excited because my eyes are telling me that Melky has improved from last year. He looks like a different player out there. He seems to be in greater control of his at bats. Speaking of which, is it just me or does Melky step up his game against the better pitchers?

Out in the field, the Melkster also seems to be getting to more balls, running better routes. I've been a skeptic in the past about Cabrera for reasons not entirely rational. This season--all 18 games of it--is making me a believer. The other Yanks, on the other hand, are boring the hell out of me.

Tonight's game is against the oddly decent (thus far) Orioles. Last night's affair smelled like a crap sandwich and depressed me. Yet Melky still makes me smile. So we have that to look forward  to and maybe a win, too. You want info on the game, you say? Posada is at first base to spell Giambi, who is turning into a poor man's Steve Balboni without the charm. Joba returns. Hey, that's another thing to look forward to! Ian Kennedy looks to build off his last start. Line-ups are after the jump (when I find them). Enjoy the Melky!

NY Yankees
J. Damon lf	.203
M. Cabrera cf	.314
D. Jeter ss	.304
A. Rodriguez dh	.296
J. Posada 1b	.262
H. Matsui rf	.328
M. Ensberg 3b	.385
R. Cano 2b	.171
J. Molina c	.364
I. Kennedy	8.74
Baltimore
B. Roberts 2b	.258
M. Mora 3b	.231
N. Markakis rf	.345
K. Millar 1b	.238
L. Scott lf	.389
A. Huff dh	.233
A. Jones cf	.259
R. Hernandez c	.163
B. Fahey ss	.071
B. Burres	5.40

Comments

[Adrian-YF]

I've got to say, I really like the way the lineups have changed a lot this April. Instead of feeling like I'm watching the same guys go out there and stink it up night after night, I actually get to see different people playing different positions and, for example, develop a man-crush on our entire back up catching corps.

[Dionysus]

Line ups are irrelevant Adrian. Baseball Propsectus determined, in Between the Numbers - which I am reading now, that at MOST an OPTIMAL lineup garners you 5 runs or so over an entire season.. and thats over the LEAST optimal lineup (ie a lineup made by a retarded chimpmunk)

[Dionysus]

Very nice pickoff move to second by Kennedy. Sweet indeed.

[Dionysus]

And the leadoff ranger gets a basehit.

Fuck this pitchign staff.

[Dionysus]

Sorry wrogn tab.

[Brad]

Can Melky pitch?

[Nick-YF]

brutal. we're going to be seeing Darrell Rasner or Kei Igawa in the rotation soon.

[Adrian-YF]

Dio, I'm not claiming it has any statistical benefit. I'm saying that I like it. You will note that these are not equivalent propositions, at least, not for me. Also, the whole comment was meant to be a bit sarcastic, what with the "stinking it up" (see also, Inning: 3rd, bottom).

[Dionysus]

Ah. Well fair enough, Adrian. Honestly,m I was just tyrign to make conversation. I have no one to discuss the stuff in this book with plus both threads are dead.

[attackgerbil]

Dio.. please do keep cross-posting.. makes these Yanks threads seem fatter than they really are, kind of like the batting! HAR! Ugh.

Mrs. Gerbil bought tickets (musta wanted me outta da house :) ) for two buddies and me to the Portland Beavers game tonight against the Salt Lake City Bees (PDX farm to Padres, Bees farm to Angels). It hailed/sleeted hard for 15 minutes one hour prior to start and rained a bit thereafter, which sucked because I rode my bike downtown, but the game was on. First pitch temp was about 40F with a 10mph wind blowing in from center, as if the hitters weren't already in pain. The Bees' starter had a no-hit (4 walks, one error) going into seven, and the Beavs were down 7 (8? 7? anyway down at that point; we were cold too, too cold; and when did minor-league beer go to $8.50???).

The Bees adjourned their starter, quite appropriately due to low temps, high pitch count, and the fact that it is AAA ball, after seven. Portland struck a double in the eighth to put a run on the board based on an earlier walk. The 300 fans still there gave a standing O for the break-up of the no-no, though I must admit I was kind of liking the idea of being at a no-hit, regardless of the fact it was split over multiple pitchers and it twas the bad guys. Oh well.

Bottom nine saw a weird thing; a home run over the right field foul pole that even every Portland fan thought was foul; there's a large structure (an athletic club) behind the right field wall. Based on where that ball caromed off that wall, there's no way the ball could have been fair, but the first base ump and home plate ump called it fair. I think the first base ump missed the call because he was _literally_ wearing a ski mask. Home ump didn't overrule, and no challenge from the Beavers. I think everyone wanted to go home. But that was the end of the Portland rally.

Final: Salt Lake 8, Portland Beavers 3

P.s., the new Beaver Unis are kind of nice in a throw-back style, but the powder blue accent just sucks, as does the newest version of the mascot. Gosh, I'm cold. What must it feel like to make contact on a heater in on the hands in this weather?