July 20th @ The Rangers

I’m happy about the win tonight. To be honest, I thought (coming into this game) that today’s game entry, once the contest was in the books, would be:

And, if you would have told me, for fact, that A-Rod, Sheff and Godzilla would go oh’fer in the game, then perhaps even worse thoughts (if that was possible?) on the game outcome would have come to mind.

So, yes, obviously, the “W” was unexpected and is very much appreciated.

This all said, I don’t believe that “Small came up big.” In his career, before tonight, he averaged allowing 15.52 base runners per 9 innings pitched (BR/9). And, this evening, for this game, his BR/9 mark was 15.21. Folks, WYSIWYG. And, what I see was not something overly impressive - outside of the way Aaron Small handed the ball to Torre in the 6th (as I thought he did that hand-off like a classy pro).

On July 7th, I said that the Yankees would have to go 13-8 over the rest of the month to show “us” whether or not they were a good team. Since then, the team has gone 8-3 and only needs to split their next 10 games to make that 13-8 score. I like their chances.

July 20, 2005 | Filed Under Game Commentary 07/05

Comments

12 Responses to “July 20th @ The Rangers”

Joel on July 20th, 2005 11:29 pm

Small does not have great stuff. But at 33, he has composure and a plan about what he wants to do out there. He did a pretty good job of keeping the ball down and away from the center of the plate. That’s all you can ask from a guy like Small.

And, has Mo ever looked nastier? I think the splinters from Soriano’s bat are still flying around someplace.
urth on July 20th, 2005 11:59 pm

Smalls was fine…usually we get killed in these games…pavano is going to be coming back…brown could be better…moose and RJ are steady…we just need to shore up middle relief…

However, doesn’t anyone else feel its time for Mel to go? Our pitchers have never truly met their potential here under his reign…
Jason O. on July 21st, 2005 9:58 am

There has been entirely too little said about Tino and Giambi so far today on this fine site. It looks like we have the DH/1B thing solved until Ruben gets healthy.
philly phil on July 21st, 2005 10:25 am

I have been a-hooten and a-hollerin about Giambi since May. Tino needs AB’s to get in a zone.

Giambi could end up with 25+ HR’s and leading the league in OBP. Not bad for a #7 hitter.

A lot of fuss is being made about his low RBI total- but in all fairness- with Chef, A-Rod and Matsui cleaning up the bases befroe he gets up….we can’t expect him to drive in many runs.
josh on July 21st, 2005 11:36 am

Nice win last night. And it was good to see Gordon and Mo out there. But where was Wayne Franklin? That guy is terrific! What are we saving him for?
philly phil on July 21st, 2005 11:43 am

lol….

you used Wayne’s name in vain.
josh on July 21st, 2005 12:14 pm

Loved Joe’s comments re:Wayne’s demotion:

In a move that surprised Yankees Manager Joe Torre , New York optioned the left-hander to its Class AAA farm team and purchased the contract of LHP Alex Graman .

Torre was informed of the move in a telephone call from GM Brian Cashman , who wasn’t with the team in Texas.

“He says we’re going to make the switch, and that’s what we did,” Torre said. “When [Cashman] called and said that this is what we’re doing, that’s what we’re doing. . . . I work for people like everybody else.”

Franklin was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five games since joining the Yankees on July 1. He gave up three hits, including Hank Blalock ’s two-run homer, against Texas on Tuesday night.

“It’s not like I don’t belong here. It’s disappointing,” Franklin said.

Torre said he didn’t know if the move was based on how Graman pitched in Columbus, or on what Franklin did with the Yankees.

“We used him in key situations,” Torre said. “But you make a bad pitch and it negates all the positives that came on with the first three hitters. But that’s the nature of the game.”

Did Wayne have some compromising pictures of Joe or something? All the positives? Joe, we love ya, but please.
hopbitters on July 21st, 2005 1:25 pm

I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for using a poster from the original TCM and not any of the abominations that followed.
Steve Lombardi on July 21st, 2005 1:56 pm

Old School - only way to go!
Don on July 21st, 2005 2:08 pm

Good one, Josh.

All the positives, where, when? The first two hitters had hits, Joe. Then a fortuitous DP. Maybe Joe was napping for the first two hits?
Cliff on July 21st, 2005 2:15 pm

Joe didn’t mind the first two hits because they were ground balls. Could it be that Torre is a DIPS (defense independent pitching) disciple?
Steve Lombardi on July 21st, 2005 2:25 pm

Actually, I would say “yes” - but, not because he read the study - - more so, because, as a ‘baseball guy’ he knows that a grounder is a hit or an out, or an erroe, or a DP, and it’s luck in the end.