Sanfran327

I saw a lot of comments in the game threads about how the Yankees can't hit, but they have playoff caliber pitching (in some spots). Yes, their closer throws a whiffle ball. Their starters can be feast or famine (depending on which side of the fence you're on). Prob 2 or 3 other very nice bullpen arms, including the most Bronx baseball name of all time, Ron Marinaccio. Ronnie Uncle Jimmy probably grew up breaking windows playing stick ball on Wilson Avenue. Anyway... Playoff caliber pitching with a somewhat toothless lineup could be great experience for us throughout the season. They'll continue to win games against bad teams and hang around in the division race all year, so each matchup we have with them will have some mild playoff intensity to it. In short, the Yankees could be a fun simulator for us this year. Finally, they're good for something.

Every single one of them.

Ball game? Two shutouts in a row? Will we score again this week/month/season?

Best pure hitter on the team.

Every now and then I'll look at my CC charges and check what I've spent on a sporting event. I don't do it often, because it's depressing. First game I took my 2 older boys to in the 2022 season got up around $700 with the tickets (200 level, but not the real club or a suite), snacks, actual food, adult beverages for me and my wife, and souvenirs. IIRC, tickets were about 40% of the overall cost. We don't go to as many games as I'd like to, but that's probably a good thing. I like to pretend I'll retire some day.

Obviously, the bit about me and you tossing 2 shut out innings was a joke. But the fact that our two worst bullpen arms went out and had 3 clean innings tells me just how flat the bats were for them last night. Again, I don't want to take away from Baumann, but we know who he is at this point. I don't think last night changes anything for him or anyone's perception of who he is, which at the moment, is probably the next guy in line to get cut when Means returns.

You said "no kid gloves, just let him pitch", which, no matter how much back tracking you want to do, is a very haphazard (really just a nice way of saying stupid) approach to handing a pitcher in his situation.

I don't think they'll do it either. Just makes some sense in my own mind. They'll let the game dictate their course of action, which is the smart thing to do anyway. Zero sense in creating a plan and sticking to it just because.

Sounds contradictory then that you'd even suggest a chuck & pray approach. Just try to be consistent.

Something tells me you are not familiar with the concept of progressive overload. Jumping into the deep end is never the answer. Bradish tearing his UCL is not inevitable at this stage. If anything, chucking him out there for 95 pitches because he pitched 80 last time could only make it worse. Also, the stress of a Spring Training or minor league rehab start is not the same stress as an MLB start against a division opponent with whom you'll be in a year-long division race.

I don't want to take anything away from Baumann, because his line last night was quite good. But last night's game was just one of those where ALL of the bats were silent. You or I could have tossed 2 scoreless last night IMO. That's just how that game went. Oswaldo Cabrera does not hit. He ambushed Burnes after a frustrating moment and ran into one that beat us by an eyelash. Outside of that anomaly, nobody did anything noteworthy.

Irvin hasn't pitched since Saturday. This is basically his start day. As I said in another thread, I think Irvin will kinda piggy back on Bradish's starts for a bit and Suarez could do the same with Means. Personally, I like the idea of flipping a lineup with a L/R duo, and it accomplishes a few other things. We get to stretch Bradish and Means out a bit while also having a starting-caliber pitcher behind them ready to go in case of a short outing. I wouldn't expect Bradish or Means to go longer than 5 innings virtually no matter what happens for their first few starts. And it wouldn't surprise me if they only got 10-14 outs for a while, either.

"Three years ago this would've been a foul ball and the game would've been tied..." The internet remains undefeated.

Something about how it was surprising for the best LH hitter since Barry Bonds going down faster than Alanis Morisette in an ice fishing shack.

WTF is Soto yapping about now? Sit down and shut up.

And now we are aware. Good info!

Soto plays for the other team, unfortunately.

You’d think this board - of all sports boards - would have a better handle on what a bad team looks like. We literally have Cy Young and MVP candidates going tonight, and you’d think this is 2006 all over again.

He doesn’t know. Everyone is just sulking because Burnes is human.

Shoot. Probably the whole season ended on that pitch. Let’s pack it in now and save everyone the trouble.

This is where I'm at as well. 2 starters returning - to the rotation, not the bullpen - and only 1 starter you really want to "demote" to the 'pen at the moment (sorry, Suarez). Buys time to see if either Means or Bradish need to go back on the IL and gives Grayson a blow.

Ramirez and Baumann have to be the most likely to go. Bullpen length is going to be important when Means and Bradish return, as I would not anticipate many outings beyond 5 full innings from either of them for a while. So potentially stacking Means/Suarez and Bradish/Irvin for a few turns.

I said the same thing in the game thread, minus the pitch clock. Good reminder.

I understand that, but the conversation was about HK pinch-hitting in the situation against the right handed picture.

Tell you what, 6:30 starts really jive with my middle-aged behind.