Thanks XS, hope you had a good day!
Young was throwing batting practice, Wow. Little Yankee boy is chuffed. I got a text that basically implies he is excited about Chapman and says to go with Tanaka Tanaka tomorrow (even though he gets shit run support and less than a week ago Vin said our offense trades 'games where we hit the ball' and 'games were we lay an egg.' Putting this one in now as I think the juice will olny get jucier.)
5/10/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 964 New York Yankees -155* <small>vs</small> Kansas City Royals (K Medlen - R must Start M Tanaka - R must Start)
On: 10-8
Against: 9-2
Totals: 0-1
$: +6.85
Young was throwing batting practice, Wow. Little Yankee boy is chuffed. I got a text that basically implies he is excited about Chapman and says to go with Tanaka Tanaka tomorrow (even though he gets shit run support and less than a week ago Vin said our offense trades 'games where we hit the ball' and 'games were we lay an egg.' Putting this one in now as I think the juice will olny get jucier.)
5/10/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 964 New York Yankees -155* <small>vs</small> Kansas City Royals (K Medlen - R must Start M Tanaka - R must Start)
On: 10-8
Against: 9-2
Totals: 0-1
$: +6.85
Last night was one of those black cat running across the field games, said Vin when I saw him. Shit went down that just doesn't happen. Just gotta be glad your team winds up on the right side. The Royals are on of the best fielding teams in the league and they make errors, Tanaka gets knocked around and Miller serves up a homer. Good thing their pitching was even worse than ours.
Exciting game, I agreed. I do feel like we deserved the win.
Well you don't always get what you deserve, said Vin wistfully, ogling a few young women passing by. But if you're willing to shell out a few bucks you just might find you get what you need. Mick Jagger said it before me but it's still true. (I'm pretty sure Mick never paid for it. -Stand)
I'll be glad when it gets warmer and the sun dresses come out, said Vin. I know all the best spots for ogling tail around here. Most of the rest of the city too. People would pay to know these things! he declared. (No they wouldn't. -Stand) Show me a man who doesn't covet a good ogling spot and --
OK, point taken, said I. Game three with the champs tonight. What say you?
Can we win three games in a row? We ain't done it yet but I really think we do it tonight. Pineda's (1-3, 5.73 ERA, only 2 earned runs in 4 of last 5 starts. -ESPN) been lights out against KC (only 1 earned run in last 2 starts/13.5 innings against KC, 3-3 in his career w a 2.52 ERA. Yankee Stadium -- 0.66 ERA in two games. -ESPN&MLB) and like I said Monday, we got the hoodoo over these guys.
Besides, the KC starter, Ventura has been serving up a lot of walks lately. He's good at home but crap on the road. (Ventura: 2-2, 4.65 ERA, given up 5 runs in 4 innings in each of his last two starts, walking 11 -- both road games. 2 wins were his first two start -- at home. -ESPN)
Our boys can be patient and will take all the walks he can serve up, Vin continued. That means we'll have runners and the way we've been hitting, we should be able to give the pen a decent lead. Nothing's automatic but I like our pen to bring it home if the bats can get them a lead.
Besides, tomorrow don't look good, said Vin, so we need this one tonight for the series win. Robovaldi is a power pitcher and this Royals lineup can eat the heat like an old woman in Trinidad with a plate of fresh hot peppers and three fingers of homemade hooch.
GLTA!
5/11/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 922 New York Yankees -144* vs Kansas City Royals (Y Ventura - R must Start M Pineda - R must Start)
Exciting game, I agreed. I do feel like we deserved the win.
Well you don't always get what you deserve, said Vin wistfully, ogling a few young women passing by. But if you're willing to shell out a few bucks you just might find you get what you need. Mick Jagger said it before me but it's still true. (I'm pretty sure Mick never paid for it. -Stand)
I'll be glad when it gets warmer and the sun dresses come out, said Vin. I know all the best spots for ogling tail around here. Most of the rest of the city too. People would pay to know these things! he declared. (No they wouldn't. -Stand) Show me a man who doesn't covet a good ogling spot and --
OK, point taken, said I. Game three with the champs tonight. What say you?
Can we win three games in a row? We ain't done it yet but I really think we do it tonight. Pineda's (1-3, 5.73 ERA, only 2 earned runs in 4 of last 5 starts. -ESPN) been lights out against KC (only 1 earned run in last 2 starts/13.5 innings against KC, 3-3 in his career w a 2.52 ERA. Yankee Stadium -- 0.66 ERA in two games. -ESPN&MLB) and like I said Monday, we got the hoodoo over these guys.
Besides, the KC starter, Ventura has been serving up a lot of walks lately. He's good at home but crap on the road. (Ventura: 2-2, 4.65 ERA, given up 5 runs in 4 innings in each of his last two starts, walking 11 -- both road games. 2 wins were his first two start -- at home. -ESPN)
Our boys can be patient and will take all the walks he can serve up, Vin continued. That means we'll have runners and the way we've been hitting, we should be able to give the pen a decent lead. Nothing's automatic but I like our pen to bring it home if the bats can get them a lead.
Besides, tomorrow don't look good, said Vin, so we need this one tonight for the series win. Robovaldi is a power pitcher and this Royals lineup can eat the heat like an old woman in Trinidad with a plate of fresh hot peppers and three fingers of homemade hooch.
GLTA!
5/11/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 922 New York Yankees -144* vs Kansas City Royals (Y Ventura - R must Start M Pineda - R must Start)
FYI likely no Miller or Chapman tonight as they've throw two straight days. Joe almost never pitches relievers more than two straight days. So Pineda has to go deep and get it to (I believe) Yeats (our next best pen guy) and to Betances to close. Sorry for not posting earlier. Vin forgot to tell me. That doesn't do wonders for my confidence but let's hope Michael has a strong starts and the bats show up.
Gotta love it when they're over in the first inning. A 4-run first from a starter is just not acceptable. I feel and hope some 'against' picks are coming on. Vin did tell me today he had a feeling the Royals would win tomorrow or tonight or both and predicts Sale will definitely eat our lunch in the first game of the White Sox series Friday.
Baseball is so different from the sport I know the best- football - in that the coaches/managers simply don't want to win every game (as there are so many).
But, it's spring/summer in America and baseball is what we play! And Vin is a Yankees insider -- he sits inside and watches every game!
On: 11-9
Against: 9-2
Totals: 0-1
$: +6.41
Baseball is so different from the sport I know the best- football - in that the coaches/managers simply don't want to win every game (as there are so many).
But, it's spring/summer in America and baseball is what we play! And Vin is a Yankees insider -- he sits inside and watches every game!
On: 11-9
Against: 9-2
Totals: 0-1
$: +6.41
Goddamn Pineda giving up four in the first... growled Vin when I saw him today. I thought we might have gotten back in it but it's like our bats have got the high school curse - we can get to 2nd and even 3rd but we just can't score. Both Miller and Betances available last night, I didn't think they would be, but we never got the chance to use them. Castro's ball up the middle that hit the grass lip and the Royals second baseman caught and tagged the bag for an out to end the inning could have turned the game. But he hit it too soft. We almost had lady luck's pants unbuttoned but we fumbled it and then she changed her mind.
Blew balls, said I. Former Yankee Ian Kennedy on the hill for the Royals tonight. He's been great lately - among AL leaders in ERA-7th, opponents' batting average-.209/10th and WHIP-1.08/11th.
We fucking blew it, said Vin. And there might not be any relief for a while. Nathan's Famous is the kind of pitcher KC likes, sure he's been throwing it well lately, and the whole bullpen will all be available if we get a lead. If... That's a big if considering lady luck buttoned up her pants last night and stormed off back home. You gotta get that girl when she's in the mood and her moods change quick. Forever the curious schoolgirl with a fear of being labeled a slut she is, said Vin. And we pissed her off last night.
Tex might be back tonight, said I.
If he could play third and we could get rid of Headley I might be excited, answered Vin.
Last game of the set, said I, and KC has another road series on deck.
Sure lots of times on long road trips, a team will just want to get out of team and half-ass it the last game of a series, Vin says. KC goes to Atlanta after the game where they're likely to get at least two wins or sweep. But it's the Yankees in the Bronx, and I think the KC manager will really want to leave town with a split. (Also, Braves just traded veteran starting pitcher Chacin to the Angels for a kid from the minors... further dismatling the team and insuring they suck for the next few years. -Stand)
You know tonight wouldn't be a bad place to take a mulligan, said Vin. You've got a few really strong plays on the Whitesox the next few days. Sale is facing El Mal de Ojo tomorrow night, for God's sake. (I wonder what the juice on Sale will be? Hopefully the fact that the Yankees are a big public team will work in our favor for a change. -Stand)
So you're going to pass, I asked. Stop being a pussy!
OK ok, gun to my head, said Vin lighting a cigarette and doing the 'deep thought' face. Joe has to know it's very likely that we drop the first two against the WhiteSox (Sale and Quintana) so he will want this one and run the dogs if he gets a chance. But I don't think he will, said Vin. Royals get out of town with a split, said he, and they go south to beat up on a bad Braves team and we go out of the frying pan into the fire.
So there we have it. Pants firmly buttoned, they like the fastballs, getting out of town with a split, and a frying pan and a fire. Honestly, passing on tonight and waiting for Friday and Saturday might be the smart thing to do, but as Vin is fond to say, "smart is as stupid does. If it wasn't, then no one would know."
I can't figure it out either.
GLTA!
5/12/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 959 Kansas City Royals +122* vs New York Yankees (I Kennedy - R must Start N Eovaldi - R must Start)
Blew balls, said I. Former Yankee Ian Kennedy on the hill for the Royals tonight. He's been great lately - among AL leaders in ERA-7th, opponents' batting average-.209/10th and WHIP-1.08/11th.
We fucking blew it, said Vin. And there might not be any relief for a while. Nathan's Famous is the kind of pitcher KC likes, sure he's been throwing it well lately, and the whole bullpen will all be available if we get a lead. If... That's a big if considering lady luck buttoned up her pants last night and stormed off back home. You gotta get that girl when she's in the mood and her moods change quick. Forever the curious schoolgirl with a fear of being labeled a slut she is, said Vin. And we pissed her off last night.
Tex might be back tonight, said I.
If he could play third and we could get rid of Headley I might be excited, answered Vin.
Last game of the set, said I, and KC has another road series on deck.
Sure lots of times on long road trips, a team will just want to get out of team and half-ass it the last game of a series, Vin says. KC goes to Atlanta after the game where they're likely to get at least two wins or sweep. But it's the Yankees in the Bronx, and I think the KC manager will really want to leave town with a split. (Also, Braves just traded veteran starting pitcher Chacin to the Angels for a kid from the minors... further dismatling the team and insuring they suck for the next few years. -Stand)
You know tonight wouldn't be a bad place to take a mulligan, said Vin. You've got a few really strong plays on the Whitesox the next few days. Sale is facing El Mal de Ojo tomorrow night, for God's sake. (I wonder what the juice on Sale will be? Hopefully the fact that the Yankees are a big public team will work in our favor for a change. -Stand)
So you're going to pass, I asked. Stop being a pussy!
OK ok, gun to my head, said Vin lighting a cigarette and doing the 'deep thought' face. Joe has to know it's very likely that we drop the first two against the WhiteSox (Sale and Quintana) so he will want this one and run the dogs if he gets a chance. But I don't think he will, said Vin. Royals get out of town with a split, said he, and they go south to beat up on a bad Braves team and we go out of the frying pan into the fire.
So there we have it. Pants firmly buttoned, they like the fastballs, getting out of town with a split, and a frying pan and a fire. Honestly, passing on tonight and waiting for Friday and Saturday might be the smart thing to do, but as Vin is fond to say, "smart is as stupid does. If it wasn't, then no one would know."
I can't figure it out either.
GLTA!
5/12/16 7:05pm MLB Baseball 959 Kansas City Royals +122* vs New York Yankees (I Kennedy - R must Start N Eovaldi - R must Start)
Thanks Natti. BOL today and enjoy the games.
Another dread blow from the left hand of darkness hangs over us, said Vin when I saw him just now. We're getting another slice of deep dish in the puss today.
5/14/16 1:05pm MLB Baseball 965 Chicago White Sox -142* <small>vs</small> New York Yankees (J Quintana - L must Start I Nova - R must Start)
Our team reminds me of lesbians, he continued, hot to trot in the movies and media and by reputation (who doesn't love lesbians -Stand) but take a closer look and it's just some skinny, mousey looking broad with a no-nonsense haircut and wrinkly pants suit and some wanna-be lumberjack butch with a cut off plaid shirt who looks like Pete Rose. Neither one really has the right stuff to stretch the gaps and get something going; they just play around and suck and are just plain ugly to watch.
Many of our finest softball players are lesbians, I said.
And now the government's letting them use the mens room, Vin wailed. What the hell is that about? You want to know what sex you are you should look at your goddamn passport, said he. And we've got a worse record than the goddamn Phillies. The Phillies! They were supposed to be awful this year. Nothing makes sense anymore!
Forget the Phils, said I. We're carrying a worse record than the Padres.
The Pods, repeated Vin slowly, hanging his head in shame. Have things really gotten that bad?
I'm afraid so, I said. But it's a long season. Got Tanaka on the hill tomorrow and a road trip to the left coast on tap Monday. Both those things could do us some good.
Vinny shook his head and took a long drag off his cigarette. You're right, said he. But I'm going to tell Soo Ki to have a friend with her tonight just the same. It's gonna take two good righties to make me forget about these two damn lefties.
GLTA!
Another dread blow from the left hand of darkness hangs over us, said Vin when I saw him just now. We're getting another slice of deep dish in the puss today.
5/14/16 1:05pm MLB Baseball 965 Chicago White Sox -142* <small>vs</small> New York Yankees (J Quintana - L must Start I Nova - R must Start)
Our team reminds me of lesbians, he continued, hot to trot in the movies and media and by reputation (who doesn't love lesbians -Stand) but take a closer look and it's just some skinny, mousey looking broad with a no-nonsense haircut and wrinkly pants suit and some wanna-be lumberjack butch with a cut off plaid shirt who looks like Pete Rose. Neither one really has the right stuff to stretch the gaps and get something going; they just play around and suck and are just plain ugly to watch.
Many of our finest softball players are lesbians, I said.
And now the government's letting them use the mens room, Vin wailed. What the hell is that about? You want to know what sex you are you should look at your goddamn passport, said he. And we've got a worse record than the goddamn Phillies. The Phillies! They were supposed to be awful this year. Nothing makes sense anymore!
Forget the Phils, said I. We're carrying a worse record than the Padres.
The Pods, repeated Vin slowly, hanging his head in shame. Have things really gotten that bad?
I'm afraid so, I said. But it's a long season. Got Tanaka on the hill tomorrow and a road trip to the left coast on tap Monday. Both those things could do us some good.
Vinny shook his head and took a long drag off his cigarette. You're right, said he. But I'm going to tell Soo Ki to have a friend with her tonight just the same. It's gonna take two good righties to make me forget about these two damn lefties.
GLTA!
Man, that Yankee bullpen is just ruthless when Joe runs the dogs. Ivan pitched a great game though. He sees his chance to get in the rotation permanently and he's making the most of it. So did Jose but that one homer cost him. El Mal de Ojo on the DL for 15 days. The removing of that taint from the team could have been the difference. Frustrating game for Sox backers.
On: 11-9
Against: 10-4
Totals: 0-1
$: +4.99
On: 11-9
Against: 10-4
Totals: 0-1
$: +4.99
A surprise to no one, Vin is on the Yanks today:
5/15/16 1:05pm MLB Baseball 916 New York Yankees -180* <small>vs</small> Chicago White Sox (M Gonzalez - R must Start M Tanaka - R must Start)
Tanaka to bounce back from getting knocked around in his last start texts Vin from church. Done B-M-C to give the home crowds a rousing goodbye before we go out west. Too bad we're not facing Danks today but I think we can get it done against Gonzales to win today and take the series. We've turned the corner, and will take a 7 of 10 run out west!
GLTA!
5/15/16 1:05pm MLB Baseball 916 New York Yankees -180* <small>vs</small> Chicago White Sox (M Gonzalez - R must Start M Tanaka - R must Start)
Tanaka to bounce back from getting knocked around in his last start texts Vin from church. Done B-M-C to give the home crowds a rousing goodbye before we go out west. Too bad we're not facing Danks today but I think we can get it done against Gonzales to win today and take the series. We've turned the corner, and will take a 7 of 10 run out west!
GLTA!
You ever notice the papers don't give the players nicknames like they used to, asked Vin when I saw him today.
The bullpen is Done BMC, I said. Like RunDMC, the famous rap group from the 80s. That's a nickname.
Aaaah - each guy should have his own nickname, says Vin. Sheriff Matt Dellin regulates in the seventh. Machine Gun Miller mows 'em down in the eighth. Then Master Blaster blows them off the face of the earth in the ninth!
I guess 'Blaster' has a better ring to it than 'Beater' I said of Vin's proposed nickname for Chapman. 'Beater' sounds pretty cool though - imagine 30000 people or more chanting "Beater! Beater! Beater!" However, I don't think the name wouldn't be too popular with Aroldis or the rest of the team.
What are you talking about you idiot, spat Vin. Don't you read the papers? (No. -Stand) Aroldis was never accused of hitting anyone. Him and his girl got into an argument, things got heated, and he removed himself from the situation to cool off.
So what the hell was the problem, I asked. Why was he suspended for 30 games?
Well, it was the way he let off steam, sighed Vin. It wasn't really politically correct, or even permissable according to most municipal ordinances. He cooled off by going to the garage, getting out a gun, and firing several rounds into the ceiling.
Jesus. Master Blaster, said I. Apt. Anyway, whatever you want to call him or Miller or Betances, none of them will be pitching tonight. They've all thrown two straight days.
True, said Vin. But I think Joe might pitch Miller in the ninth if they can get a win. And of course it's still early but when you're seven games out you need to rack up the wins anytime it's possible. Miller only threw 12 pitches yesterday so he should be ready to go. If all of them were available tonight it would be a much easier call, says Vin. This kid we called up from Scranton - Chad Green - has been mowing some AAA batters (1.22ERA in 7 starts). What a better side to get your big league debut against than the Diamondbacks who have had cold bats lately (7 runs in their last 4 games). And he's away from the scrutiny he'd be under in the Bronx. He's gonna be loose and relaxed. Well a bit moerso anyway.
Besides, said he, this Arizona side's in a mess, and they're still shuffling around their line-up looking for something that works. And us, we've found some combinations that work. We're in a sweet spot right now. And I'm not overly worried about Green since their pitcher is a rook too. And their pen isn't great to boot.
But Robbie Ray's at least got some starts under his belt (1-2, 4.84ERA), and he's a lefty.
Lefty schmefty, says Vin. He's pretty good the first time through the side but then he goes downhill and picks up speed as he reaches the bottom. He hasn't gone through five innings in three of his last four starts! (ERA 7.94 in last four starts. 9 hits, 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings v Colorado in last start. ) and the DBack stadium has a retractable roof that should be open tonight so balls should be flying.
Even with 2/3 of Hollis Queens stuck in the dugout, said Vin. Take the Yanks and the kid tonight. His first start in the bigs is going to be a great experience for him!
GLTA!
5/16/16 9:40pm MLB Baseball 965 New York Yankees +104* vs Arizona Diamondbacks (C Green - R must Start R Ray - L must Start)
The bullpen is Done BMC, I said. Like RunDMC, the famous rap group from the 80s. That's a nickname.
Aaaah - each guy should have his own nickname, says Vin. Sheriff Matt Dellin regulates in the seventh. Machine Gun Miller mows 'em down in the eighth. Then Master Blaster blows them off the face of the earth in the ninth!
I guess 'Blaster' has a better ring to it than 'Beater' I said of Vin's proposed nickname for Chapman. 'Beater' sounds pretty cool though - imagine 30000 people or more chanting "Beater! Beater! Beater!" However, I don't think the name wouldn't be too popular with Aroldis or the rest of the team.
What are you talking about you idiot, spat Vin. Don't you read the papers? (No. -Stand) Aroldis was never accused of hitting anyone. Him and his girl got into an argument, things got heated, and he removed himself from the situation to cool off.
So what the hell was the problem, I asked. Why was he suspended for 30 games?
Well, it was the way he let off steam, sighed Vin. It wasn't really politically correct, or even permissable according to most municipal ordinances. He cooled off by going to the garage, getting out a gun, and firing several rounds into the ceiling.
Jesus. Master Blaster, said I. Apt. Anyway, whatever you want to call him or Miller or Betances, none of them will be pitching tonight. They've all thrown two straight days.
True, said Vin. But I think Joe might pitch Miller in the ninth if they can get a win. And of course it's still early but when you're seven games out you need to rack up the wins anytime it's possible. Miller only threw 12 pitches yesterday so he should be ready to go. If all of them were available tonight it would be a much easier call, says Vin. This kid we called up from Scranton - Chad Green - has been mowing some AAA batters (1.22ERA in 7 starts). What a better side to get your big league debut against than the Diamondbacks who have had cold bats lately (7 runs in their last 4 games). And he's away from the scrutiny he'd be under in the Bronx. He's gonna be loose and relaxed. Well a bit moerso anyway.
Besides, said he, this Arizona side's in a mess, and they're still shuffling around their line-up looking for something that works. And us, we've found some combinations that work. We're in a sweet spot right now. And I'm not overly worried about Green since their pitcher is a rook too. And their pen isn't great to boot.
But Robbie Ray's at least got some starts under his belt (1-2, 4.84ERA), and he's a lefty.
Lefty schmefty, says Vin. He's pretty good the first time through the side but then he goes downhill and picks up speed as he reaches the bottom. He hasn't gone through five innings in three of his last four starts! (ERA 7.94 in last four starts. 9 hits, 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings v Colorado in last start. ) and the DBack stadium has a retractable roof that should be open tonight so balls should be flying.
Even with 2/3 of Hollis Queens stuck in the dugout, said Vin. Take the Yanks and the kid tonight. His first start in the bigs is going to be a great experience for him!
GLTA!
5/16/16 9:40pm MLB Baseball 965 New York Yankees +104* vs Arizona Diamondbacks (C Green - R must Start R Ray - L must Start)
