One Sweepy Afternoon: Twins-Yanks Gamer VII
Mike Mussina can tie Cliff Lee for the league-lead with 13 wins and the Yanks can win 10 straight home games for the first time since 1998 (they won a few games that year). But most importantly, the Yankees can extend a post-all-star-game mojo that has filtered through every part of the team - starting rotation, bullpen, and offense (let's not talk about the bottom third of the lineup) - before heading north to face-off against Boston.
Pitching for the Twinkies is southpaw Glen Perkins, who has won 5 straight decisions since the last game he lost on May 30 against...a Mike Mussina-led Yankee team. Hopefully the Yanks will stay focused on who is in front of them and not what awaits in Boston. Keep those bats warm fellas and let's all try to acknowledge roll-call in between plays and not during them today!
Work productivity about to go in the toilet for the next 3-4 hours...comment away!!!!


Rays already down 2-0 to the A's. [Borat voice] Very nice! [/borat voice]
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:00 PM
I was just going to say that! Also, with those two HRs, Shields' ERA is actually higher than Greg Smith's.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I was just going to say that! Also, with those two HRs, Shields' ERA is actually higher than Greg Smith's.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Before the current 9 straight at home, the Yanks were only 1 game over .500 at home. Now they are 10 games over .500 at home, and 10 games over .500 overall, which means they're .500 away.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I can see where you get your mastery of numbers, Lar ;)
Posted by: A YF | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Moose starts off with an out.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:11 PM
;P
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Casilla K's.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Moose with a quick 1-2-3, and here's JD leading off for the Yanks!
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Moose with 11 pitches, 9 for strikes thus far.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Hehe gameday keeps confusing Moose's fastball with his changeup!
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
JD grounds out easily. One out.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
There's supposed to be a huge storm coming later today. Didn't bring my umbella to work. D'oh.
But let's hope the Yanks score some quick runs, end the game quickly before we have to contemplate it..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Jeter runs the count full before lining out to Casilla.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Perkins didn't work harder than Moose - 11 pitches after 1. No score.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Moose cruising (knock on wood) so far - 20 pitches over 2 1-2-3 innings.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Oh ya, Sexson batting 5th this game, and Christian batting last.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:27 PM
ARod pops out, and here's Sexson.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Sexson lines out on one pitch. Way to work that one..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Sexson batting ahead of Cano is a joke.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Would be very very bummed is another Moose start got rained out, but supposedly it will be spotty t-storms and nothing really sustained...we'll see.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Cano singles, and then Melky is out on one pitch too. 20 pitches for Perkins.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:31 PM
I never ever ever understand why Cano throughout his still brief career hardly ever cracks the #6 spot in the order. The lefty-righty thing goes out the window for me when Cano is in one of his .500+ BA stretches.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:32 PM
I haven't tried this tactic in a while, but the Twins really don't deserve to be considered a Major League ballclub. Talk about overachievers so far this season - they'll be lucky to score a run today and I give them about a 1/100 chance of winning this game.
Posted by: SF | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Cano singles, but that's all the Yankees got. 19 pitches for Perkins.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Harris breaks up the perfect game.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Moose got out of that one quickly again - 33 pitches through 3.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:39 PM
27 pitches through 3 for Perkins. This is going to be a quick game if this pace continues.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:45 PM
The Yanks not hitting yet, and not driving up the pitch count either.. 27 pitches through 3 for Perkins.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Bloop single with one out and Morneau coming up...
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Moose pumping strikes.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Moose up to 50 pitches after 4. Still a good game, if the Yanks can start hitting..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Shit, Rays take the lead.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Jeter with a lead off singles, but a fielder's choice, a caught stealing, and a ground out later, Perkins at 37 pitches through 4. What the? At least get to their bullpen!
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Lamb with a lead off single as well.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Lunch time for me - let's hope I get back to a Yanks lead!
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Moose has been mostly efficient thus far, but with little margin of error to work with - Perkins is even more economical.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Punto grounds into double play, and Moose is at 59 pitches after 5. Okay, I really need to get lunch.
Still no score.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Moose looking really good out there, will go 7.0 easily barring a destructive inning.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Cano - another AB another H. It woudl be something if this kid could even out his performance just a little bit. I mean everyone is streaky at times, but he is either sub-zero or blazing hot.
Melky singles - men on 1st and 2nd with one out and.....Molina and Christian coming up. Yikes.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Molina "beats out" the DP - sort of - and Justin Christian with the biggest AB of his life - 1st and 3rd in scoreless game...
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Way to capitalize on Casilla's brain cramp
Posted by: rootbeerfloat | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:18 PM
2-RBI triple (double plus advance on throw) for Christian! Holy Christian! Totally didn't see that coming. And as soon as I heard "they're gonna send Molina, and here's the throw..." I thought, just count the out, but the throw was wide. Woo-hoo!!!! Come on Johnny - tack on that extra run and then let's get another Moose 1/2-inning to make this official before the rains come!
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Y'know, I have the stereotypical opponent attitude about Moose (he's kinda whiny), but boy howdy, I looooove how he's reinvented himself. Everybody had written him off and he becomes a control artist (a better one than Schilling was, as a counter-example).
That game where he beaned Manny twice...the last at-bat between them where he struck him out was perfectly representative of what I think of the guy. He thought he had Manny on a pitch low and away, but the ump called it a ball. He rolled his eyes, asked the ump where the pitch was. Next pitch was the same, about four inches closer to Manny, and wham he K's him. Put the ball right where he wanted to. That was a great moment, even though I was pissed.
Posted by: Devine | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:20 PM
I respect your ability to appreciate it even if he is wearing pinstripes. He has never been a favorite of mine but yeah - watching a freaky control artist is really fun, especially when you're rooting for him. His ball movement and placement this year makes it seem like he's tossing a wiffleball at times. It really is amazing.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:28 PM
DP ball after a leadoff single - nice. Let's go Moose...
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Fucking Justin Christian!
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Nice play by Sexson after letting one slip by him for a cingle and a wild pick-off by Moose put the runner on 2nd. Inning over.
Sexson's range is 35 feet without taking any steps - he just reaches out his glove and falls from side to side and he covers dugout to second base.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Jeter slams double off the wall. Meat of the order coming up with no outs...
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Ball 4. Abreu on 1st, Jeter on 2nd. A-Rod, inexplicably Sexson, and then Cano...
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:37 PM
F*$king Sterling with the premature HR call, but it nevertheless scores Jeter and Abreu and A-Rod advances to 3rd on the throw.
Me likey!!!!!! Smithers, release the hounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Sexson sac flies - 5-0 Yanks.
Drooling with crazed look in my eye.
Cano - working on his 14-25 hitting streak since the all-star break - up...grounds out. Oh well.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:43 PM
ARod doubles in a few more runs. I'm REALLY pissed my fantasy league fucked up and never took him off the DL back in May.
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Winning is fun.
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:47 PM
You guys should pay me to go to lunch! ;)
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:51 PM
It's simply amazing what Moose is doing this season...hard to imagine where we would be without him at the top of his game???
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:52 PM
In the meanwhile, the Rays are trying to hold a 4-2 against the A's in the 8th inning.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Comeback player of the year?
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Lamb, the .225 hitter, is 2-3 today after a double.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Did fat bobby have a play on that ball for those not stuck at work?
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:54 PM
should read, "for those of us stuck at work".
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:55 PM
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!! 7 strong.
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Moose at 90 pitches after 7. Give the pen work? Or out for another?
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:57 PM
I'm one of those at work so don't know about Abreu...I do know that Moose just racked up yet another K. He's a finicky corner-painting pouty pitching master and I love him!
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:57 PM
I guess if I can come back to loving Moose, I could give bobby another chance...but he HAS TO MAKE A PLAY IN RF! Dive or hit the wall, I don't care which...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Perkins is done after 6. Wouldn't have thought that before lunch! Was hoping though, haha.
This game is probably official, by the way, so it doesn't matter much if it rains, probably.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Christian works out a single..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Christian is saying "You don't need Gardner!" and steals second. Though they're up "only" by 5, so what's the book on that again?
Top of the order up. Another insurance run never hurts..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Derek Jeter...clap, clap, clap clap clap!!!
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:02 PM
The book Lar is score until they stop you...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Seventh-innign stretch question:
Is Bob Sheppard back, was that a tape of Bob or a guy who sounds a lot like Bob?
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:03 PM
It so different to see them steal bases...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Shields is going for the complete game.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
JD and Jeets not driving that run in. Bobby is up there now.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
They are probably deleting them on you A!!! Walk booby so ARod gets some more RBI's!!!
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Edwar in the 8th or Moose?
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:07 PM
that a boy fat bobby...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Abreu strikes out, so they wasted a leadoff "double" by Christian.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:08 PM
IBM, if it was on Jeter's AB that you heard Sheppard then yes, that is a recording. Jeter has said he never wants to be introduced by another voice, even after Sheppard retires, so he is alwasy introduced with a Sheppard recording.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Moose it is...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Moose out there, 99 pitches, 70 for strikes.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Moose with another K, trying to close out the 8th. Superb performance. Again.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Lar, thanks for the breakdown - that's amazing. 70% strikes is - well, yeah - amazing.
And he ends it with a K. Hoo-wahh!
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:17 PM
As script would have it, Moose out of the 8th with 105 pitches. Should he go back out there? Or if the Yanks lose, it's his fault?
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:17 PM
105 pitches, 73 for strikes. 6 hits, 7 K's, 0 ER in 8 IP for Moose. That's a pretty solid outing.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:17 PM
A - I don't think you were censored - I have random trouble with the posts too (sometimes I double post because of this..)
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:18 PM
No way Lar - at least not in my view. Our bullpen has been lights-out and a 5-run lead is huge. We are I think 37-1 when leading after 6 innings and most of those have required the pen to get much more than 3 outs. Moose left to a nice ovation and Eiland had checked in with him before the final batter so I think he is really done.
Posted by: IronHorse (yf) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Joe Nathan comes in to get some work.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Sorry, I was trying to draw some parallel to Santana.. ;)
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Who, by the way, pitched 8 IP, 105 pitches yesterday - which was the "as script would have it" part of the comment..
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:20 PM
.. and all over the NY newspapers for not finishing the game. I don't know why it took me three posts to explain it. Ah well.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Nathan grounds ARod out.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Percival comes in to save it out for the Rays - they won 4-3.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Damnit, Rays win!
Posted by: Atheose | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Nathan pitches 1-2-3 for the Twins and someone will try to close the game out. Mo getting in work?
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:25 PM
what ad hominem are you talking about A? This seems like a rather average game thread.
Posted by: rootbeerfloat | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Lar:
We have Terms of Service. This site has some standards that we try to hew to, sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of some regulars and they lash out, these instances we try to discourage. Certain posters have brazenly and repeatedly flaunted the Terms of Service and in insulting fashion, despite polite requests to cease this activity. We have, as moderators, a responsibility to do our best to make sure that people are held accountable for their actions. If posters refuse to contact us as requested in confidence and in private to discuss our concerns so that we can avoid any actions like unpublishing comments, then we have to take action. We can't allow commenters to post insults targeting anyone incessantly and in nasty fashion. We do our best to iron out all these issues offline and in confidence in the interest of as free a debate as is possible, but sometimes these efforts are unilaterally rejected. We are not interested in this as a regular practice, but sometimes things get a little out of control and we need to do something about it.
Posted by: SF | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:27 PM
hawkins SUCKS!!!! i'm having a hard time getting on the website and seeing the threads today...
Posted by: krueg | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Hawkins it is.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Casilla singles, and then to second on a wild pitch. Ack.
Posted by: Lar | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:31 PM