* A direct quote by this man.
I was listening to Sterling’s post-game wrap-up and he must have repeated a zillion times what a crazy game it was today at Wrigley. I watched the first few innings – shockingly, FOX granted me access instead of showing me a contest between two west coast teams I don’t care about – but I had to go out and, therefore, relied on my MLB AT BAT app on my iPhone for the rest.
I have to agree: it was a nutty game.
Nunez is such a perplexing player. He’s terrific offensively – I mean seriously good in a way that almost makes me forget about Jeter being out of the lineup – but his defense is so bad it’s contagious (I’m blaming Cano’s error on Nunie). He can hit, run the bases, even bunt. But every time he handles the ball at short I wince.
And while I’m on the subject of running the bases, have the Yankees collectively turned into Posada? Take A-Rod. What was he doing trying to stretch that single into a double? Bizarre.
Amazing throw by Gardner to get Pena at the plate. I just hope Martin’s back is okay after the collision. Pena went into him hard, and all credit to Russell to hang onto the ball, never mind his marbles.
A.J. pitched really well, except for his high pitch count, and our newbies in the pen (Wade and Noesi) were sensational. Mo, on the other hand, had a couple of lapses, but he did get the save so all was well.
I guess the takeaway from this game, other than the fact that the Yankees managed to win it, was the number of men stranded on base – again. What is up with that?
I feel lucky that we squeaked by.
I feel even luckier that while I was out listening the game I was at my nearby Patagonia store.
The sales people had no problem with me blasting the audio while I was trying on stuff. There was even a Yankee fan or two among them – always a happy occurrence in California.
I told ya they’d win today, Jane… :)
I actually got to watch the whole game at work today. Not that it wasn’t busy, mind you. But it was on as a ‘background’ as I did my work. (and what a crazy day to go along with a crazy game!)
That play at the plate with Martin was awesome! I actually slammed my fist on my desk when I saw that! That saved the game right there. People still think they can run on Brett Gardner, but soon they’ll learn that while he may not have a very strong arm, he’s accurate and he knows how to get behind the ball and prepare himself for the throw. What a great baseball play!
This series has been something else. Everyone has been talking about the energy and the excitement about it all. Even McCarver was talking about how this was one of the most energetic atmospheres he’s ever been involved with in his almost 60 years of baseball. But they’re forgetting that we just did this in 2003! That was the time to be there. And I remember the same kind of talk about how special this all was. And it truly was because it was the first time the Yankees had been there since the 1938 World Series. Maybe they’re all trying to add hype to this series? Not that it needs any extra. Just funny how there’s been only a mention here or there about 2003. And that year the Cubs were pretty good!
In any case, it’s been fun seeing these games here. I’m looking forward to Sunday night’s game with CC on the mound!
http://yankeecase.mlblogs.com/
i love that you were listening while trying on clothes in a store. what you missed from the telecast was the announcer calling the game tied up after rivera gave up the homerun. i very briefly worried that i had somehow missed there being a runner on base for the homerun. but no a solo shot with a two run lead doesn’t tie the game even in a national league park! throwing runners out at home has been very fun this week!
Hi Jane & Fellow Baseball Fans….
I just wanted to wish all the Dads on the blog a happy Father’s Day. I hope you get to share some time with those you love most …your children. If you can’t be together …I hope you can think of the wonderful memories of past years.
I was at a Japanese restaurant while the game was being played …I was able to see the first inning before I left and the final two innings when we went back home for cake (a graduation celebration for a nephew). I had my trusty iphone on the table at the restaurant the whole time with my eye on the score. Thankfully my family is very understanding of my Yankee addiction .. :o)…
Lots to do today so I can watch the game tonight….I better get moving. Have a wonderful day everyone …especially the Dads !!!!
Go Yankees 2011 !!!!
Glad the sCrUBS were willing to lay down for the Yanks (they’re quite willing for any team it seems).
You did predict the Yanks would win that one, YankeeCase. Good job. Glad you were able to watch the game after all. You’re right about Gardner’s accuracy on that throw. It was perfect. And the fact that Martin held onto the ball (I loved how he showed Pena the ball after the play, as if to say, “Don’t try to knock me around because it won’t work!”) was a miracle. I just hope his back is okay. As for McCarver sounding caught up in the excitement of the series, nothing could counter-balance the deadpan delivery of Joe Buck. I had them on for the first few innings before I left the house. I really do think it’s time for FOX to get a new duo in the booth.
I loved listening and shopping, Barbara. The only problem is I spent way too much money! Actually, I did hear about Buck getting the score wrong after Mo gave up the homer. Talk about mutli-tasking, while I was waiting for the sales person to ring up my bill, I had the game on AND I was on twitter. Everybody was tweeting about how Buck said the score was tied. So relieved it wasn’t!
What would we do without our iPhones and that At Bat app, Peggy. It frees us up to take the games wherever we go. Hope the cake and the graduation celebration was fun and that you have a nice day today.
The sCrUBS weren’t willing to lay down for the Yanks in the first game, Jeff, but at least they got the message yesterday. I couldn’t believe how long that game was. All those walks! Crazy.
Fun game. Frustrating at times, but ultimately fun. Here’s hoping The Yanks give the dads as nice a Father’s Day as the Mother’s Day we moms got (Jeter had two home runs and Cervellie hit a grand slam, if I recall correctly). Go Yankees!
Jeter had two homers on Mother’s Day, Audrey? I remember Cervelli’s grand slam (although I didn’t remember it was on M’s Day), but I’m blanking on the Jeter HRs. I’ll have to miss the first part of the game as I’m speaking on a panel this afternoon at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, but I’ll be back for the rest and hope the score will be 10-0 Yankees.
I agree, Jane (et al.), the game was strange. I will add this: the home plate umpiring has been woefully inconsistent. Grandy had two curves thrown to him that were called wrong–one ball called a strike, and another terrific pitch called a ball. Johnson should have been out the pitch before the HR, for Mariano painted the inner part of the plate right at the knees. Lots of high strikes, too.
The BG throw/Martin tag play was the difference-maker. I also agree about Nunez, Jane. His bat has some pop and he has had some big hits of late. But his fielding is atrocious–8 errors thus far is terrible. Hopefully CC can settle things with a typically excellent, long stint tonight.
Since I was mostly on audio for the game, Jason, I can’t weigh in on the umpiring. But inconsistent calling of balls and strikes is maddening for both pitcher and hitters. If you’re going to call a high strike, for example, call it for both sides! I would think Mick Kelleher would be working with Nunez on his fielding. What’s weird is that his natural position is shortstop, isn’t it? I could understand the errors if he were being moved around to other infield positions but I thought he was comfortable at short. He’s just not getting it done on defense.
I didn’t imagine it – here are the details: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_08_nyamlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap&c_id=mlb
My memory is not my greatest asset so it’s nice when it comes through!
No, you sure didn’t imagine it, Audrey. I would have trusted your memory over mine any day, especially when it comes to stats or milestones on specific dates. I’m hopeless.
I disagree, Jane – you’ve probably forgotten more than I’ve ever known about the Yankees and baseball. I learn a lot from you and our blogmates.
I’m glad the blog has an educational purpose, Audrey!
I had the pleasure of traveling to Chicago for the weekend to see Saturday’s game. There really is something about baseball at Wrigley Field. We wore our Yankees jerseys with pride, as always, and didn’t receive the ribbing expected at every other visiting park. Maybe it’s that their fans don’t get too worked up about losses after all these years, maybe it was the excitement of the series, maybe they’re just more tolerant people. It’s just simply fun to be there. The stadium was rocking with fans in New York pinstripes–some man at our hotel told me he started the role call! It was a strange game–I can do without all the stranded runners and clumsiness at short. And to see Mo give up a homer–my husband gave me a look that said, “That’s not supposed to happen, right?” But it was all good in the end, with a W to show for it. Wish I could’ve been there for all 3!
You were there, Jane? Woohoo! It looked like there were a whole lot of Yankee fans so you must have had company. I love that they did the roll call at your hotel. HAHA. I had the same reaction to Mo giving up the homer as your husband did. It’s always a shock when he’s not perfect.