9.3.07 - SEA @ NYY: All Pregame Info & Discussion

[TheBamTino24]

Happy Labor Day.

The New York Yankees (76-61) followed up their impressive sweep of Boston by losing 2 of 3 to Tampa Bay over the weekend. Adding that to their difficult 2-5 road trip of last week and New York is just 6-7 in their past 13 games, losing 3 of 4 series despite the fact that NYY actually gained a game on SEA this weekend. The Seattle Mariners (73-62) have absolutely tanked over the same time period, allowing New York to overtake them for the Wild Card lead.

On August 19th, Seattle was 69-52 and led New York, who was 70-54, by 0.5 games. Over the next 14 games, the Mariners have gone just 4-10 with 9 straight losses. So this disappointing 6-7 stretch by the Yankees have remarkably allowed them to gain 2.5 games, propelling them into the lead.

Today is the first of a crucial 3 games at Yankee Stadium. New York leads Seattle by just 2 games for the AL Wild Card, 3 up on Detroit. RH Roger Clemens (6-5, 4.15) takes the mound for the Yankees against the Mariners' talented young RH Felix Hernandez (10-7, 4.08).

Hernandez - just 21 years old - has had an inconsistent season and an awful August. The flamethrower pitched to a 4.73 ERA last month, over 6 GS and 40 IP. He allowed 46 hits, 5 HR, and 30 K to just 6 BB with an impressive 2.56 GO:AO and a WHIP of 1.30. For the season, those numbers are: 150 IP over 24 GS, 169 H, 17 HR, 41 BB, and 135 strikeouts. Hernandez boasts an unbelievable 3.03 GO:AO, with a 1.40 WHIP and 2.46 BB/9 with 8.10 K/9. Hitters are clipping him for a line of .286/.334/.439, with LH hitters feasting on him with a .313/.379/.524 line.

Clemens vs. SEA:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Ichiro Suzuki	20	2	1	0	0	1	4	2	.100	.250	.150	.400
Jose Vidro	12	4	0	0	0	2	2	1	.333	.429	.333	.762
Raul Ibanez	11	2	1	0	0	0	0	4	.182	.182	.273	.455
Ben Broussard	10	2	0	0	1	3	0	3	.200	.200	.500	.700
Jose Guillen	9	4	1	0	1	1	0	3	.444	.444	.889	1.333
Jeff Weaver	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000
Miguel Batista	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Willie Bloomquist	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000	.333	.000	.333
Totals	70	14	3	0	2	7	7	18	.200	.273	.329	.601

Hernandez vs. NYY:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Derek Jeter	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000	.167	.000	.167
Jose Molina	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.200	.200	.200	.400
Jason Giambi	4	2	1	0	0	2	2	1	.500	.667	.750	1.417
Hideki Matsui	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Robinson Cano	4	3	0	0	1	3	1	0	.750	.800	1.500	2.300
Johnny Damon	3	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Alex Rodriguez	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000	.333	.000	.333
Jorge Posada	2	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Bobby Abreu	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Melky Cabrera	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Totals	33	11	1	0	1	8	7	8	.333	.450	.455	.905

Given the LH/RH disparity against Hernandez, either Jason Giambi or Wilson Betemit should be at 1B today. I would imagine it will be Giambi since he basically had a day off yesterday outside of 1 PH appearance.

LF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Abreu
3B Rodriguez
DH Matsui
C Posada
1B Giambi
2B Cano
CF Cabrera

[bennyc64]

1:05 game today?

[webassign]

1:05 game today?

yep, 3rd day in a row

[R.V.47]

Rocket just needs to do one thing today and thats keep Ichiro off the bases because if he gets on he will make Rogers day miserable.

[TheBamTino24]

I still cannot believe how poorly Seattle has done. We have to drop the hammer on them now.

This is the most important series of September. Each game is a 2 game swing.

[NavyTim]

Seattle has tanked - just beyond miserable. The blood is showing - 2/3 here for the NYY and the Left Coast team from Moonbat central will be done.

Nice job TBT

[bigjf]

Alright fellas, here we go! This is the series we've been looking forward to for quite some time now! Interesting pitching matchups. Let's hope Hughes can finally bounce back and have some better results. I think tomorrow's start for Wang is almost a guaranteed win. He stacks up pretty well against Seattle. After that offensive shutdown yesterday, let's hope the bats get real hot because it's time to put our feet on their throats.

[R.V.47]

Its always a little scary playing a team with a big losing streak because you know thier due to break out of it. I dont think Seattle will lose 12 in a row which would mean a sweep by us but 2 of 3 is an absolute must. Hopefully while thats happening Detroit will lose some games.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Its always a little scary playing a team with a big losing streak because you know thier due to break out of it. I dont think Seattle will lose 12 in a row which would mean a sweep by us but 2 of 3 is an absolute must. Hopefully while thats happening Detroit will lose some games.

the gamblers fallacy notwithstanding, I hate games like this as well.

[YanksFan1992]

Don't worry folks, we will win this one.

Im missing the first half of the game for soccer, and the last time that happened were the three games against Boston last week

[trentonthunder]

ESPN reported there is a little internal turmoil in the Seattle clubhouse
right now.

[R.V.47]

ESPN reported there is a little internal turmoil in the Seattle clubhouse
right now.

We will take anything we can get to have an advantage.

[Cheesyhoboe]

3 game sweep please.

[Abe Frohman]

i wouldnt be too optimistic guys... we tend to bring out the best in EVERYONE so lets just take it one game at a time. our team has trouble playing to the opponents weaknesses. hyopefully they can pull a 2-3.

[parkerstrong]

Its always a little scary playing a team with a big losing streak because you know thier due to break out of it. I dont think Seattle will lose 12 in a row which would mean a sweep by us but 2 of 3 is an absolute must. Hopefully while thats happening Detroit will lose some games.

Did anyone see Steve Phillips on ESPN yesterday? He said how Seattle is now due for a hot streak and will still beat the Yankees for the WC. Stephen A. Smith blasted him for it...and Phillips basically said the Yankees only have 2 good starters in Wang and Pettitte....but didn't mention the M's starting rotation. Who do they have? I'd rather have Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy than Weaver, Ramirez, and Batista. His hate for the Yankees shows everytime he opens his mouth.

[trentonthunder]

Did anyone see Steve Phillips on ESPN yesterday? He said how Seattle is now due for a hot streak and will still beat the Yankees for the WC. Stephen A. Smith blasted him for it...and Phillips basically said the Yankees only have 2 good starters in Wang and Pettitte....but didn't mention the M's starting rotation. Who do they have? I'd rather have Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy than Weaver, Ramirez, and Batista. His hate for the Yankees shows everytime he opens his mouth.

And perhaps that is why he is so loved at ESPN ? Isn't Berman and those other two baseball front men Red Sox fans ? I know Berman is. That other guy with dark hair is. And there is one more. If Berman had a say in who gets hired to do baseball, don't you think he may choose a Yankee hater ? I apologize if Chris would never do this, but ESPN has never had a Yankee outside of Tino and perhaps Al. Both never lasted long.

[parkerstrong]

And perhaps that is why he is so loved at ESPN ? Isn't Berman and those other two baseball front men Red Sox fans ? I know Berman is. That other guy with dark hair is. And there is one more. If Berman had a say in who gets hired to do baseball, don't you think he may choose a Yankee hater ? I apologize if Chris would never do this, but ESPN has never had a Yankee outside of Tino and perhaps Al. Both never lasted long.

There was another one....Harold Reynolds was objective. He wasn't anti-Yankee everytime he spoke.

[bannusvdk]

Clemens owns Ichiro. Lets just keep him off the bases. It would also be nice to see Cano continue with his success against Felix Hernandez. (3 for 4, HR) Lets set a quick tone—losing the TB is behind us now.

[Toaderly]

Here is the lineup:

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Clemens RHP (6-5, 4.15)

Pregame chatter: Yanks are facing Felix Hernandez (10-7, 4.08). … No word yet on Andy Phillips. … Clemens is still a go but Mike Mussina will be out in the bullpen ready to warm up, just in case.

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

[bennyc64]

I missed the game yesterday, what happened to Andy Phillips?

[Toaderly]

I missed the game yesterday, what happened to Andy Phillips?

HBP on his right forearm.

[cano24]

^ he was HBP and left the game

[bennyc64]

Ah I see. Did it look serious? X-Ray?

[hlrjr]

we gotta keep putting distance between us and seattle. love to see a sweep here.

go yanks.

[Tal Hawkins]

Did anyone see Steve Phillips on ESPN yesterday? He said how Seattle is now due for a hot streak and will still beat the Yankees for the WC. Stephen A. Smith blasted him for it...and Phillips basically said the Yankees only have 2 good starters in Wang and Pettitte....but didn't mention the M's starting rotation. Who do they have? I'd rather have Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy than Weaver, Ramirez, and Batista. His hate for the Yankees shows everytime he opens his mouth.

There's a reason Steve Phillips is working at ESPN instead of the front office of a major league club...nobody wants him making important baseball decisions. I heard his mindless drivel on the radio as I was driving home from the golf course yesterday...something about the Mariners being the only team to suffer 4 losing streaks of 6 games or more this season, and that their resiliency is what will push them past the Yankees. Nevermind the fact that they've lost 9 in a row now, and even when they do end this current slump there's no guarantee they won't become the only team to go through 5 losing streaks of 6 games or more. The Mariners are streaky in a bad kind of way.

Phillips usually picks one side of an argument and doesn't look objectively at the things that could blow his theories out of the water.

[MunsonNY15]

I like that lineup. I'm hoping Andy's wrist is going to be OK, but the fact that he's (presumably) unavailable makes Joe's job easier - he can get the three big lefties (Giambi, Matsui, and Damon) in the lineup without needing to make a decision on who has to sit.

Let's go Yankees. There's no room for lackluster play from here on out.

Heidi

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

I still cannot believe how poorly Seattle has done. We have to drop the hammer on them now.

This is the most important series of September. Each game is a 2 game swing.

Agreed. They are coming into our home, on a terrible slump. We have to take advantage of that.

[nnysiny]

needless to say, its time to solidify a playoff spot here and never look back

[junkman73]

Are there tiebreakers for the wild card? If so, the Yanks need at least 2 of 3 to even the season series. The only thing that makes me nervous is that after 9 losses, law of averages say they are due for a win. That's why Yesterday was so critical.

[GJones712]

We need to at least take 2 of 3 in this series.

This is looking to be the most important match up for us this season since the AL East crown is starting to get further out of reach.

[parkerstrong]

Are there tiebreakers for the wild card? If so, the Yanks need at least 2 of 3 to even the season series. The only thing that makes me nervous is that after 9 losses, law of averages say they are due for a win. That's why Yesterday was so critical.

No tiebreakers for the WC unless two teams are tied for the division and the loser gets the WC. (It happened in 2005-we tied with Boston but won the division because we won more head-to-head games) If we tie the M's or Tigers there will be a 1 game playoff.

[NYYFAN5388]

we need a win today and bounce back from this past weekend's diaster.

[Toaderly]

Ah I see. Did it look serious? X-Ray?

Andy Phillips was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for an MRI and CT scan on his right wrist. He was hit by a pitch. No word yet on his condition.

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

[tdel23]

* * * * * * * * * * BREAKING NEWS* * * * * * * * * *
Andy Phillips told us that he has a fractured right wrist, the result of getting hit by a pitch yesterday. He is about to be examined by a specialist. He is likely to be out for the remainder of the season.
It has been a bad 18 months or so for Phillips with everything that has happened to him. “It’s frustrating, very frustrating,” he said. “Just disappointing with the timing of it.”
The Yankees now have Jason Giambi as their every day first baseman with Wilson Betemit , Shelley Duncan and Doug Mientkiewicz backing him up.

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

[Toaderly]

And the hits just keep on comin'.

[MunsonNY15]

* * * * * * * * * * BREAKING NEWS* * * * * * * * * *
Andy Phillips told us that he has a fractured right wrist, the result of getting hit by a pitch yesterday. He is about to be examined by a specialist. He is likely to be out for the remainder of the season.

It has been a bad 18 months or so for Phillips with everything that has happened to him. “It’s frustrating, very frustrating,” he said. “Just disappointing with the timing of it.”
The Yankees now have Jason Giambi as their every day first baseman with Wilson Betemit , Shelley Duncan and Doug Mientkiewicz backing him up.

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

UGH!! That's horrible news. This guy has had to deal with so much these past few years. Just when he starts to get a little ahead, something terrible happens.

Get well soon Andy!

Heidi

[MassNYYfan]

Ouch. Tough break for Andy.

[the_coach]

Tampa Bay suspension pending?...I won't hold my breath.

[yankeesAZ]

Did anyone see Steve Phillips on ESPN yesterday? He said how Seattle is now due for a hot streak and will still beat the Yankees for the WC. Stephen A. Smith blasted him for it...and Phillips basically said the Yankees only have 2 good starters in Wang and Pettitte....but didn't mention the M's starting rotation. Who do they have? I'd rather have Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy than Weaver, Ramirez, and Batista. His hate for the Yankees shows everytime he opens his mouth.

We did just drop 2 of 3 to Tampa, so his prediction is not that off base.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Tampa Bay suspension pending?...I won't hold my breath.

I didn't see it. Was it on purpose?

It sucks for Phillips, but it doesn't hurt the team.

[MassNYYfan]

I didn't see it. Was it on purpose?

It sucks for Phillips, but it doesn't hurt the team.

It was up and in, HAD to be on purpose!

[roblyo33]

I didn't see it. Was it on purpose?

It sucks for Phillips, but it doesn't hurt the team.

It sure doesn't help..........he was playing well and contributing

[yankeesAZ]

Bad news, no Sexon today. That's at least 2-3 Ks less for Clemens and/or one less DP.

[NewEraYanks2527]

Let's go here Yanks! 2 out of 3 at the least is what we need. I want so badly to beat Seattle and make their biggest cheerleader Steve Phillips shut the ................ up.

[LIYanks]

This is going to be an interesting series. You got two teams fighting for the last playoff spot. One went on a 9-game losing streak and the other one still could not recover from the hangover after the post-Boston sweep parties.

As a biased Yankee fan, I see a 3-game sweep coming. The bats will wake up and eat up these Starbuck-drinking M's like they are their favorite M & M's.

[cid]

Let's go Yankees. There's no room for lackluster play from here on out.

there was no room for lackluster play for the last month, yet they continue to show otherwise.

[Messerwhitescooter]

[
As a biased Yankee fan, I see a 3-game sweep coming. The bats will wake up and eat up these Starbuck-drinking M's like they are their favorite M & M's. [/quote]
I sure hope you are correct. It kills me that we didn't win the Fish series. We should have swept them. I think something has to be done about the scouting reports when we face mediocre pitchers.

[JSG]

this should pretty much be the standard lineup the rest of the way out, subject to breathers, swapping LF, giambi/duncan @ DH from time to time, and dougie M late in games.

[MassNYYfan]

Reminder to Robbie:

After you tag the guy out 4 feet from the base, drop an elbow on the guy so the ump can see he's still 2 boroughs away from the base.