Liveblog 21: The Yankees Are In First Place

The Yankees stormed out of the gate in the second half and won eight straight, which along with Boston uncharacteristically losing a bunch gave them a two and a half game lead in the AL East. Yesterday though they trotted out a AAA lineup against a crappy pitcher who ended up doing a good job, and after Andy Pettitte and Alfredo Aceves coughed up six runs they couldn't muster a big enough comeback to prevent their lead from slipping to 1 1/2. Still, this is the best position they've been in all year, and today Sergio Mitre gets his second start for the Yankees.

The key to this run early in the half has been pitching, and even the journeyman Mitre was adequate in his first game, though I'd much rather see Phil Hughes getting these starts. He's been awesome in the bullpen, but I'm hoping Brian Cashman can acquire a good reliever at the trade deadline so Phil can be stretched out again. Even if he doesn't replace Mitre, Joba Chamberlain's going to come up on his innings limit sooner rather than later and I'd rather not have to call up someone like Kei Igawa to replace him. Chien Ming Wang's career isn't looking too good right now, facing the possibility of surgery after coming back from a foot injury and pitching terribly this year. It was only a little over a year ago I thought he was becoming a really great pitcher, and for all we know he might not even start for the Yankees again. In any case, I hope his replacement can have another decent game today.

Top 1 - I'm watching the Hall of Fame inductions on the computer while the game is on TV - good baseball day. It's funny to see the MLB Network try to justify Jim Rice's selection to the Hall. Wow, he compares favorably to Eddie Murray and Mike Schmidt! All you have to do is cherry pick the best years of his career while ignoring his decline along with his poor defense and Fenway's effect on offense! The Athletics really haven't been that good for a few years, but have a chance today to split a four game series with the Yankees. Their team's made up of young guys who haven't done much and castoffs from other cities. I haven't even heard of their pitcher. Mitre's ready to go against Adam Kennedy. Ball in the dirt. He then flies out to Johnny Damon in left. Orlando Cabrera bounces a single over Mitre's head. Scott Hairston of the amazing Hairston family (more major league players than any other) doubles between Melky Cabrera and Damon, scoring Cabrera who stole second on the previous pitch. After an annoying first pitch ball that exhibits umpires' tendency to call based on what the catcher does rather than where the pitch is, Jack Cust belts a 3-0 fastball to left field, now runners are on the corners. Robinson Cano boots a potential double play ball by Kurt Suzuki into center, scoring Hairston. Ryan Sweeney grounds into a force on Suzuki at second. I was distracted by some interesting Hall factoids, but Daric Barton (who?) makes the last out of the inning, 2-0 A's.

Bottom 1 - Derek Jeter begins comeback attempt #1 with a single on the first pitch. This is the second time I've heard Michael Kay say Jorge Posada's double play in the ninth inning last night took the "starch" out of a potential rally. I'm not sure it was so much that the rally wasn't stiff and connected enough, it's just that he made two of their remaining three outs with one swing. Come on, man. Damon draws a five pitch walk. Dallas Braden strikes out Mark Teixeira, currently tied with Carlos Pena for the AL home run lead, on a 2-2 changeup. Posada pops out to second. Always miss Alex Rodriguez when he's not in that cleanup spot. Hideki Matsui lines a single to left which scores Jeter. I'm a fan. Stupid auto-refreshing MLB website cutting off my Hall of Fame video feed. Kay mentions that Matsui has a .303 average with two outs and runners in scoring position, a telling stat. Not so much when it's only 33 at bats, man. Nick Swisher walks on four pitches. Bases are loaded for Robinson Cano, who hasn't done well in this position this year. He smacks a ball just in front of the diving center fielder though which clears the bases, and he's only out at third because he over-slides the bag, which seems to be happening a lot this year. We go the second with the Yankees leading 4-2.

Top 2 - They're introducing all the old Hall of Famers present at the induction. Mark Ellis flies out to center. Eric Patterson takes a couple balls before grounding out to Teixeira. Sergio Mitre's bread and butter is inducing a ground ball with his sinker, so that's what we should be seeing more of. Back to the top as Kennedy singles to center. Cabrera hits into a force out and the inning's over, nice bounce back by Mitre.

Bottom 2 - Cabrera pops out to the catcher. Cody Ransom, who inexplicably still has a spot on this team, flies out to right. This guy just called Hank Aaron "everyone's home run champion". I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean. Jeter works a full count walk on what looked to me like an easy strike. Damon grounds out to Ellis for an easy third out.

Top 3 - Hairston is plunked by a pitch, by Cust grounds it back to Mitre for a double play to erase the runner. The next hitter grounds out to Jeter, and now Mitre seems to have settled down a bit.

Bottom 3 - YES just had a poll question about whether Mike Mussina belongs in the hall of fame, and two of the choices were yes, but one on the first ballot and the other on a later ballot. That's such goddamn stupid thinking I can't even stand it. A player is either good enough to be in the Hall or they're not, they shouldn't have to wait a few extra pointless years before being elected. It's why one of the all time great players like Ricky Henderson only gets 95% of the ballots. I can't wait until these backwards thinking morons in the BBWAA die, because that's the only way for them to lose the vote. Also, have you seen their website? And more importantly, have they? It's the most garishly disgusting looking thing ever. What the fuck. Teixeira grounds out to short and Posada singles. Matsui flies out to Sweeney in right. Swisher strikes out to end the frame.

Top 4 - Woah, I just noticed the BBWAA site now forwards to a new one, that while still poorly designed, at least doesn't slowly murder your eyeballs. But why did that take so long, and why the hell does the original site still exist? Redirects aren't that hard, guys. Sweeney singles to left. Mitre sure isn't throwing a lot of pitches that aren't balls or put into play. Barton lines a full count pitch in between the fielders into right, runners on the corners and no outs. Joe Gordon's daughter is accepting his selection to the Hall by the Veterans Committee. He was a Yankee, you know. Word. Ellis hits a sac fly to swisher, and the Yankees' lead is down to one run. Mitre gets another potential double play ball, but he botches the throw, letting runners get to the corners again with still one out. The next batter hits one to Jeter though, and they turn a much more difficult double play to end the inning. Runner might have been safe, but hey, baseball.

Bottom 4 - I missed the first batter, but Cano lined out I guess. Cabrera, now secure in his role as everyday center fielder with Brett Gardner out with a broken thumb, singles to left. Ransom doubles down the left field line, things all set up for Jeter. He flies to short right though, unable to get the easy RBI. Damon pops out to second, threat over.

Top 5 - Good news as Boston's John Smoltz is getting hit around a bit by the Orioles, although it's still way too early to know that they'll win the game. Cabrera hits another single off Mitre. Jim Rice is making his speech. I don't begrudge him for making it in, and he was clearly a pretty great player. I just don't like all the logical leaps and back flips his supporters had to do to make his case for the Hall. Yet another double play ball to Jeter. They're really saving Mitre's ass today. Jesus MLB website, how hard is it not to refresh when there's a streaming video open? Cust becomes Mitre's first strikeout victim of the day, and now he's qualified for his second win.

Bottom 5 - Teixeira pops out to begin things. Posada grounds to Cabrera and Barton does a split to catch the ball in time to be the middle of things. Matsui works the count full and draws a walk. Swisher grounds out to end things.

Top 6 - Rickey Henderson is giving his speech. Suzuki hits one right up the middle for yet another single in this game of singles. That's Mitre's last pitch, as Phil Coke is given the ball to protect the lead. Coke gets the first out on a fly. Not paying much attention to the game, Henderson's speech is pretty entertaining. Kay keeps referring to pitchers being "geeked up", or too excited and overthrowing the baseball. I don't think he knows the expression usually refers to drug use. A ground ball gets another out, and Barton just beats out getting doubled up. He gets to second on a wild pitch. Ellis belts a two run homer to left, retaking the lead, 5-4. Good job, Coke. After a long period dominance, some of the relievers are starting to slip up. Patterson singles. Kennedy grounds out to Coke.

Bottom 6 - Comeback attempt #2 commences with a ground out by Cano, not the best start. Melky walks, though. Ransom gets his second double. We have a complete reenactment of the 4th inning here. Jeter makes right on his first screw up, singling in both runners and getting the lead back. He gets picked off first, unfortunate as Damon doubles to right. Teixeira singles him in. I don't understand why Braden is still in this game. Posada walks, and now we finally see a replacement. Matsui pops out against new pitcher Craig Breslow to end the inning.

Top 7 - Hughes in to pitch, hopefully two innings. Cabrera works a full count but flies out to center. Hairston strikes out. Cust follows suit to end the inning, though it took Phil 20 pitches.

Bottom 7 - You know a Yankee fan actually had to sue to prevent stadium security from forcing people to stay in their seats during "God Bless America"? Give it up guys, you're patriotic, we get it. And YES, you don't have to show it every game either. Swisher doubles down the right field line. He's still not hitting great anymore, but he gets on base enough to be a valuable contributor to the team. Cano hits a deep fly that allows Swisher to get to third with one out. Cabrera draws another walk, runners on the corners for Ransom. New pitcher coming in to face him. That's respect for the man with the .203 average. He strikes out, though. Jeter grounds out and thus ends the threat. I think I'm done for now. Back in a bit.

Wrap-Up - Hughes had to be taken out in the eighth inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd and only one out, but Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera held down the fort to complete the victory. Along with Boston and Tampa Bay losing, it was a pretty good day to be a Yankee fan, as they're back up to a 2 1/2 game lead in the East. Yeehaw.