8.31.06 - DET@NYY: All Pregame Info & Discussion

[TheBamTino24]

Despite being 1 strike away from completing a sweep of the doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers (83-50), the New York Yankees (78-53) had to settle for a split as Craig Monroe laced a 3-run HR off Scott Proctor following 2 walks in the 9th inning. The good news for the Yankees is Chien-Ming Wang won the first game on 7.2 IP of scoreless baseball and Jaret Wright put forth his longest outing of the season - 2ER over 6.1IP - yet received a no decision. New York also increased its division lead to a full 8 games over the Boston Red Sox (71-62) with just 31 games remaining. This afternoon's final and decisive game of the series pits Randy Johnson (14-10, 4.96) against Detroit's 23 year old RH Jeremy Bonderman (11-6, 3.92).

August has proven to be Bonderman's most challenging month of 2006. As he approaches a career-high in innings, he is suffering through a winless month with a 5.17 ERA. In 31.1 IP, he's allowed 38 hits, 2HR, and a 32K:10BB mark. He has allowed 9 ER and 18 hits over his past 11 IP. Over the course of the entire season, Bonderman has a WHIP of 1.23, a GO:AO of 1.59, an 8.76 K/9 against a 3.44 BB/9, and is averaging just under 99 pitches per GS. LH hitters boast an OPS of .805 against him, while RH hitters at just .570. He is 7-2, 3.14 on the road this season and allowed 4 ER over 7.1 IP against the Yankees earlier this season, losing the decision.

Randy Johnson took a no-hitter into the 6th inning at Detroit on Memorial Day in shut them out for 6 innings in winning the decision. He is 6-6, 4.83 at Yankee Stadium in 2006.

Johnson vs. DET:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Ivan Rodriguez	69	18	4	0	1	5	3	15	.261	.292	.362	.654
Neifi Perez	39	14	3	0	3	5	0	10	.359	.359	.667	1.026
Placido Polanco	35	12	5	0	0	2	3	6	.343	.385	.486	.870
Sean Casey	12	3	0	0	0	0	1	4	.250	.308	.250	.558
Dmitri Young	8	3	0	0	1	1	0	4	.375	.375	.750	1.125
Vance Wilson	8	3	1	0	0	0	0	5	.375	.375	.500	.875
Magglio Ordonez	7	1	0	0	1	2	0	1	.143	.143	.571	.714
Carlos Guillen	6	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.500	.833
Marcus Thames	5	1	0	0	1	2	1	1	.200	.333	.800	1.133
Brandon Inge	4	1	1	0	0	0	4	1	.250	.625	.500	1.125
Craig Monroe	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Omar Infante	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	199	60	15	0	7	17	12	49	.302	.340	.482	.822

Bonderman vs. NYY:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Johnny Damon	21	7	2	1	0	3	1	3	.333	.348	.524	.872
Derek Jeter	20	4	0	0	2	6	1	4	.200	.238	.500	.738
Alex Rodriguez	19	5	0	0	2	4	1	2	.263	.300	.579	.879
Gary Sheffield	17	3	0	0	0	2	0	2	.176	.167	.176	.343
Jason Giambi	15	3	0	0	0	0	5	4	.200	.429	.200	.629
Hideki Matsui	15	7	0	0	3	4	1	1	.467	.500	1.067	1.567
Jorge Posada	14	5	1	0	0	3	2	4	.357	.438	.429	.866
Robinson Cano	10	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.400	.400	.400	.800
Bernie Williams	9	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	.111	.273	.111	.384
Aaron Guiel	9	1	0	0	0	0	2	2	.111	.273	.111	.384
Miguel Cairo	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Melky Cabrera	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
Bobby Abreu	2	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	.500	.667	2.000	2.667
Nick Green	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	159	42	3	1	8	23	16	28	.264	.331	.447	.778

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

AL East
NYY 78-53 ---
BOS 71-62 8

AL Central
DET 83-50 ---
CHW 78-54 4.5
MIN 76-55 6

AL West
OAK 74-56 ---
LAA 70-64 7.5

AL Wild Card
CHW 78-54 ---
MIN 76-55 1.5
BOS 71-62 7.5

*NYY is 4 games behind DET, 3 in the loss column, for the American League's best record. If the AL Playoffs began today, the Yankees would host the White Sox while the Tigers hosted the Athletics.

Today's Schedule: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/scoreboard/sb_20060831.html

[knickfan23]

Neifi Perez = RJ Killer

3 HR's??? Are you kidding me?

[TheBamTino24]

Neifi Perez = RJ Killer

3 HR's??? Are you kidding me?

LMAO...I was shocked to see that. He and Placido Polanco...

[gold23]

Neifi Perez = RJ Killer

3 HR's??? Are you kidding me?

Pretty certain they were all in Colorado before they dehumidified the balls. I'd take them all with a grain of salt.

[gold23]

I swear the Thames numbers are wrong. Pretty sure he hit a GS off of Johnson as a Yankee- that would be 4 rbi

[allstarcano22]

too bad matsui isnt back yet.....

[knickfan23]

Pretty certain they were all in Colorado before they dehumidified the balls. I'd take them all with a grain of salt.

Is there really truth to that? I refuse to believe that. I just think the Rockies finally got better pitchers. Nothing to do with that dehumidifing stuff.

[knickfan23]

I swear the Thames numbers are wrong. Pretty sure he hit a GS off of Johnson as a Yankee- that would be 4 rbi

You mean the one on Yankees Classics? Nah. Just a solo or two run shot I believe.

[TheBamTino24]

I swear the Thames numbers are wrong. Pretty sure he hit a GS off of Johnson as a Yankee- that would be 4 rbi

I definitely remember the HR, but I do not think it was a GS.

[nydeano]

Like Jaret, hopefully RJ will benefit from the free swinging Tigers-assuming, of course, his slider has some bite, and he's keeping pitches down.

This team always seems to rebound from tough losses. Let's hope they come out and jump on the Tigers and BEAT THEM DOWN!

[TheBamTino24]

Today's Official Lineup, per YES:

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

[pre73]

Today's Official Lineup, per YES:

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

What a slap in the face for A-rod... I feel bad for him... I would have batted cano at cleanup rather than posada

[powerpinstripes]

I definitely remember the HR, but I do not think it was a GS.

It was a solo shot in his first ML at bat(I think)- Diamondbacks in June 02 as YS during interleague play.

[keithf1]

What a slap in the face for A-rod... I feel bad for him... I would have batted cano at cleanup rather than posada

He isn't producing. We have no choice.

[TheBamTino24]

What a slap in the face for A-rod... I feel bad for him... I would have batted cano at cleanup rather than posada

Rodriguez is lucky he's still batting 5th with the way we put runners on base.

[gdn]

No problems with this lineup, well, except Bernie.

[TheBamTino24]

No problems with this lineup, well, except Bernie.

I'm wondering what's up with Giambi. He supposedly had an MRI yesterday between games.

[gdn]

I'm wondering what's up with Giambi. He supposedly had an MRI yesterday between games.

Yeah, it was on his wrist. Maybe they're just resting him.

[nydeano]

Rodriguez is lucky he's still batting 5th with the way we put runners on base.

Exactly. Having Cano behind him, maybe he will see some pitches. Who knows what he will do with those pitches...

As Billy Joel laments..I'm keep'n the faith, Yeah,yeah,yeah. yeah, keep'n the faith...

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

Neifi Perez = RJ Killer

3 HR's??? Are you kidding me?

Its like everybody who is complete garbage owns him. It is really quite hilarious...

[gdn]

Its like everybody who is complete garbage owns him. It is really quite hilarious...

They also all seem to have the last name Perez.

Neifi...Eduardo...

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

They also all seem to have the last name Perez.

Neifi...Eduardo...

And it always seem like they come up with RISP in big spots like every game.

[stephsamps]

Yeah, it was on his wrist. Maybe they're just resting him.

Hope so!

[knickfan23]

Rodriguez is lucky he's still batting 5th with the way we put runners on base.

TBT, I'm telling ya, this Alex thing has to be corrected soon. I'm of the view the Yankees will not win the Series without a legit contribution from him. In the world of the short playoff series and limited at bats, a 2 for 15 situation with 4 DP's and pop ups with RISP with him batting in the middle of the lineup can be a killer against these teams they are better than.

[Smokey]

Over on the YES boards they are saying the Kenny said that Mo was going to have an MRI. I'm not in front of a TV, is this true?

[knickfan23]

Over on the YES boards they are saying the Kenny said that Mo was going to have an MRI, is this true?

Yea. It was in the paper this morning.

[Smokey]

Yea. It was in the paper this morning.

Which paper? Post ? News ?

[knickfan23]

Which paper?

NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/sp...=1&oref=slogin

For those that wanted him to pitch twice in the DH yesterday, this is part of the reason. Gotta watch this guy's innings down the stretch with this big lead. Instead, you saw the lunacy that was the Joe Torre thread in the 30 minutes after the game last night.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

A-rod will have a good day with the bat today. My prediction in the A-rod thread was that he will start out slow when he came back from the infection but eventually start getting hotter and hotter until he just goes ape ................ in the playoffs. If my prediction is right he should be around 2-4 today if not then tommorow or sometime soon.

[Bub]

What a slap in the face for A-rod... I feel bad for him... I would have batted cano at cleanup rather than posada

I don't think 5th is a slap in the face. 8th maybe.

[stephsamps]

A-rod will have a good night with the bat today.

I hope he has a good day .

BTW with someone prediciting this every day, someone is BOUND to be right one of these days!

[pre73]

A-rod will have a good night with the bat today.

I am 100% sure of that as well... He's going to be great on nights when there is no game

[gdn]

A-rod will have a good night with the bat today.

I don't care how he does at night. I just hope he does well during the day

[TheBamTino24]

TBT, I'm telling ya, this Alex thing has to be corrected soon. I'm of the view the Yankees will not win the Series without a legit contribution from him. In the world of the short playoff series and limited at bats, a 2 for 15 situation with 4 DP's and pop ups with RISP with him batting in the middle of the lineup can be a killer against these teams they are better than.

I couldn't agree more. What is going on with him at the plate is truly mind boggling. Obviously it is a slump or an extended slump or whatever you want to call it and rationalize it as, but the depth of this is absolutely incredible given who we're talking about.

I don't understand it. It's more than just a simple slump to me. There's a lot of crap going on with Rodriguez.

[backstop20]

http://www.lohud.com/blogs/lohudyankees.html

YANKEES
Johnny Damon DH
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Jorge Posada C
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Bernie Williams CF
Aaron Guiel 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Randy Johnson LHP (14-10, 4.96)

TIGERS
Pudge Rodriguez C
Craig Monroe DH
Marcus Thames LF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Carlos Guillen 1B
Neifi Perez SS
Brandon Inge 3B
Curtis Granderson CF
Omar Infante 2B
Jeremy Bonderman RHP (11-6, 3.92)

[allstarcano22]

po batting clean up??? ahhrgfddsds

[pre73]

I don't think 5th is a slap in the face. 8th maybe.

The reason i said that was because posada who is slower than him and has much less talent level (as a hitter) is batting ahead of him. I am not saying that alex deserves to hit 4th but just the fact that po is hitting ahead of him

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

Screw you guys

[allstarcano22]

i would rather cano or bernie in clean up then posada

[pre73]

i would rather cano or bernie in clean up then posada

If joe ever put bernie in cleanup against righty, he is going to get killed

[allstarcano22]

If joe ever put bernie in cleanup against righty, he is going to get killed

o i forgot it was a righty today

[stephsamps]

If joe ever put bernie in cleanup against righty, he is going to get killed

If Joe ever put Bernie in cleanup he would get killed!

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

If joe ever put bernie in cleanup against righty, he is going to get killed

The funny thing is I think he did once early in the season. Of course it was after Sheff and Matsui went down and before the Abreu trade.

[knickfan23]

I couldn't agree more. What is going on with him at the plate is truly mind boggling. Obviously it is a slump or an extended slump or whatever you want to call it and rationalize it as, but the depth of this is absolutely incredible given who we're talking about.

I don't understand it. It's more than just a simple slump to me. There's a lot of crap going on with Rodriguez.

And the strange part about this is that, lets just say this issue lingers the rest of the season. That first playoff game on October 3rd in The Stadium. The pressure that will build in that place when he comes up for those first at bat will be nothing like he's hearing now. The first pop out, strikeout or DP will not be pretty. Alex has to earn himself a little leeway by having a good September and feeling good going into the playoffs.

[TheBamTino24]

And the strange part about this is that, lets just say this issue lingers the rest of the season. That first playoff game on October 3rd in The Stadium. The pressure that will build in that place when he comes up for those first at bat will be nothing like he's hearing now. The first pop out, strikeout or DP will not be pretty. Alex has to earn himself a little leeway by having a good September and feeling good going into the playoffs.

I think everything that has transpired with him this season has definitely gotten deep within his pysche. We would probably all agree on that point. You know when a player's morale has been beaten down just by observing him everyday. I often have the perception that he's a nervous wreck more often than not at the plate, which is reflected in his approach. I am mentioning all of this at the sake of redunancy because maybe playoff baseball is the psychological "reset" he needs.

The ALDS will begin a clean slate for Rodriguez. He can simply say, "The regular season is over, no sense in dwelling on it." And, most importantly, all will be forgotten if he leads us to our 27th World Championship. Should be interesting...

[keithf1]

The funny thing is I think he did once early in the season. Of course it was after Sheff and Matsui went down and before the Abreu trade.

Yep he did, I remember the game.

[TheBamTino24]

Hopefully we get a great outing from the now stache-less Johnson.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

A-rod will have a good day with the bat today. My prediction in the A-rod thread was that he will start out slow when he came back from the infection but eventually start getting hotter and hotter until he just goes ape ................ in the playoffs. If my prediction is right he should be around 2-4 today if not then tommorow or sometime soon.

I delcare myself messiah of baseball