Game 66: Nationals at Yankees

YANKEES (37-28, 2nd place in the AL East)
Gardner CF
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Matsui DH
Cervelli C
Pena SS

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.84).

NATIONALS (17-46)
Guzman SS
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dunn DH
Kearns RF
Patterson CF
Harris LF
Belliard 2B
Nieves C

Pitching: RHP Craig Stammen (0-2, 5.86).

THIS JUST IN, IT IS RAINING: It's been pouring here in Jersey all day, and it is in the Bronx as well. Apparently there is the theoretical "window" to fit the game in. They need to get this game in because there are no mutual off-days between the two teams the rest of the season. So for now, I'm stuck listening to Mike Francesa and he is now calling out people for second guessing Girardi. That's the pot calling the kettle black.

SPEED DEMON: Gardner, who stole second and third base in the ninth inning last night, has stolen 14 bases in 16 attempts so far this season.

A-ROD IS A-WFUL: A-Rod only is 8-51 this month, and only has 2 home runs over his last 79 at-bats.

RUBBER MATCH?: I don't think anyone expected the Yankees to have to work hard to take two out of three, but here we are. If they don't win today's game, however, there is going to be hell to pay.

UPDATE 1:53: One of Mike Francesa's arguments for A-Rod not stealing second: He could fall down. Now that guy gets paid a crap load of money to bring us insight like that.

UPDATE 2:00: Well the US Open Golf Tournament postponed everything until tomorrow, and this radar map from Weather.com does not make it look promising for this game to start soon.

UPDATE 2:04: While we wait for this game, we're going to Five Guys Burgers and Fries, but we will be back.

UPDATE 3:45: Well, we didn't miss much, or anything at all. They are saying that first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm, so I guess we will have some baseball today.

UPDATE 6:23: First pitch is going to be 6:30. Lineups are still the same.

UPDATE 6:29: If I were running the team (which I am obviously not) any and every fan that waited through a 5 1/2 HOUR rain delay would get moved up to the front rows, given all the free food they want, and a ball autographed by the entire team (and a real one, not those fake ones that have the signatures printed on by a machine).

UPDATE 6:37: Well Joba is getting hit pretty hard right now. Luckily they turned that double play or this could be much worse.

UPDATE 6:40: The Yankee brass is obviously reading this blog, as they just let all the fans move up to the lower deck. So they finally make a decision with the fans in mind.

UPDATE 6:47: I think we just had our quote of the night and it's only the first inning.

UPDATE 7:28: Joba needs to eliminate that one inning where he throws 30 pitches and gives up runs. This is the second start in a row where he has given up a run without giving up a hit in an inning.

UPDATE 7:42: He has to hold them at 3 runs, because obviously the Yankees will have to struggle to put anything together against a pitcher who belongs in AAA.

UPDATE 7:53: Why is Nick Swisher such a stupid baserunner? Is he taking tips from Jose Reyes?

UPDATE 8:07: Damon doing his best to make sure Louisville Slugger stays in business as he has his daily broken bat.

UPDATE 8:18: I know the weather sucks, but the Yankees don't need to rush to Florida. They really need to throw up 4 or 5 runs in the next three innings and win this game.

UPDATE 8:39: Jeter gets the chance to play hero with the bases loaded and two out in the 7th inning.

UPDATE 8:42: With the real fans in the better seats, it is actually just as loud as it is when they have a full house.

UPDATE 8:44: And we are back to not hitting with runners in scoring position.

UPDATE 8:46: So the fans get a free ticket to any non-suite, non-premium, non-expensive seat for a future game. And somebody has to catch that ball.

UPDATE 8:50: Brett Garnder his that wall hard and that plexi-glass did not move at all. Let's just hope he is okay.

UPDATE 9:10: Does someone want to remind the Yankees that they are playing the Nationals? And that the Nationals suck?

UPDATE 9:17: Cano cost them a chance at two there, but was able to at least get one. As the great John Wooden said, "Be quick, but not in a hurry."

UPDATE 9:19: The fans, for some reason or another, appear to be chanting, "Mich-ael Ka-ay!" and then cheering when he acknowledges them. It's weird how Kay and Flaherty both seem to be ignoring it when we can clearly hear it on air.

UPDATE 9:30: The Yankees should be embarrassed that people waited 5 1/2 hours to watch the highest-paid team in baseball lose to the WORST team, BY FAR, in the league. The fact that they lost one game was pathetic, but losing the series is horrible.