YANKEES (93-53) Jeter SS Hairston LF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Matsui DH Swisher RF Cano 2B Cabrera CF Molina C
Pitching: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0, 3.42 with Yankees).
BLUE JAYS (66-79) Scutaro SS Hill 2B Lind DH Wells CF Overbay 1B Encarnacion 3B Barajas C Bautista RF Snider LF
Pitching: LHP Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.26).
TIME/TV: 7:05, YES.
Just getting in, and Gaudin in a bit of trouble. Let's see if he can escape.
There's been a change from the original report from my Fight Club post, as Posada and Carlson were both suspended 3 games with a $3,000 fine. And Shelley Duncan gets 3 games for bashing skulls with his forearms (just kidding, he only forearm smashes his own teammates).
Last night, the Yankees and Blue Jays engaged in a bench-clearing brawl. Unlike most times the benches clear in the MLB, they didn't just stand around, as there was an actual scuffle. It was apparent on TV that some of the involved, including manager Joe Girardi, had some cuts and bruises. Girardi, in an interview with Mike Francesa a little while ago, said that he was struck on the side of the head, but not by the Blue Jays' John McDonald (who he accidentally called Mike McDonald) as had been reported, but by one of his own players, though he didn't mention which one.
This was all ignited by Jorge Posada. After Mark Melancon hit Aaron Hill, Jess Carlson threw behind Posada. Jorge stepped towards Carlson, clearly saying, "You don't want to do that," while shaking his head. After reaching base, Posada ended up scoring on a single. As Carlson was backing up home, Posada bumped into him.
You can say what you want about Carlson being where he was, which was out of position. He was there, but that didn't mean Posada didn't need to hit him.
It was a cheap shot. I know it's hard for Yankees fans and Hip, Hip Jorge! fans, as I am, to hear, but it's true. Umpire Jim Joyce called it "very unsportsmanlike" and I'm inclined to agree with him. Posada does so much charity work off the field and has shown better values than this before. In short, he's better than this.
There are times when a fight can spark a team that's down. Think about the Red Sox in 2004. The A-Rod-Varitek fight (speaking of cheap shots by catchers) happened, and Boston bonded together and went on to win the World Series that year.
But this team doesn't need a spark. They aren't down on their luck. They are 5.5 games up in the division, and have a magic number of 12 until they clinch the AL East title. This team is well on it's way to the playoffs and has an excellent chance to make a run at the World Series. If anything, this fight could be a detriment to the team. It's September 16. If someone gets seriously injured (broken bone, pulled muscle, etc.) they could possibly miss some or all of the playoffs. When you see CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte (who is already skipping a start because of a sore shoulder) pulling people off of the pile, you've got to cringe.
It's one thing for Shelley Duncan (who I would obviously want on my side in a fight) to be out there, but when Jeter, Damon and A-Rod are in the middle of it, it could be a huge problem. And you cannot say, "Oh, well those guys should know not to get in the middle of it so they don't get hurt." You have to realize that these guys are a team, and those top guys aren't going to stand on the sidelines because they (especially A-Rod) need to prove to the other guys on the team that they have their teammates backs.
It's not usual in sports where you can blame one person without an argument( like Bills fans are trying to do withLeodisMcKelvin), but this is the case here. All Posada did was put his head down and run by Carlson, the situation would have been over right there. Even if had said something to him quietly as he ran by, the situation probably wouldn't have escalated like it did. But because he initiated the contact, it turned into a brawl.
In the time it took for me to write this, the NY Daily News reported that Posada was suspended 4 games with a $3,000 fine. Carlson received the same suspension. I believe that Posada was lucky only getting four games, considering some of the weird suspensions Bob Watson has handed out in the past.
Here's a video of the fight, in case you missed it, or wanted to catch it again. It looks like someone took video of the TV, so the quality isn't great, but it's the only option.
YANKEES (62-40, First Place AL East) Jeter SS Damon LF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Matsui DH Posada C Cano 2B Cabrera CF Hinske LF Pitching: RHP Sergio Mitre (1-0, 5.91).
WHITE SOX (52-51, Third Place AL Central) Podsednik CF Beckham 3B Thome DH Konerko 1B Pierzynski C Quentin LF Kotsay RF Nix SS Getz 2B Pitching: RHP D.J. Carrasco (3-1, 3.58).
Sir Sergio: Sergio Mitre makes his third appearance since being called up. He is 1-0 but has allowed 17 hits and 7 runs over 10.2 innings. Slammin Shelley: Shelley Duncan has been called up from AAA to provide a right-handed bat. Duncan dominated AAA Scranton with 25 home runs and 70 runs batted in. However, with the acquisition of Jerry Hairston Jr. he may only be up for tonight because for some reason the Yankees love Cody Ransom. Dreadful Defense: The Yankees have committed seven errors in the last 7 games. Summer Sizzlin': The Yankees are 18-8 in the month of July.
UPDATE 8:25: Yankees stomping on the throat of the spot-starter for the White Sox early with a 3--0 lead. Also important to get runs with Mitre pitching, being you don't know what you will get out of him.
UPDATE 8:37: Mitre was making everybody sweat that inning. Got himself into a bases loaded jam but ended the inning on a pop up from Kotsay. 3-1 Yankees.
UPDATE 9:00: This is not a good game for Mitre, and I am sure Cashman is already working the waiver wire. 4-3 White Sox, Mitre on 2 outs into the second inning.
UPDATE 9:15: This is such a frustrating game to watch. Now down 5-3 after Quentin hit a bomb off Mitre to lead off the third. And Mitre is still pitchng. Ugh. Yanks offense better score 8 runs next inning, I swear.
UPDATE 9:29: Best move before the trade deadline? The Yankees getting Hinske (joking). But really, another HR for the lefty and 5 of his 7 hits since joining the Yankees ahve left the park, this time to tie the game at 5.
UPDATE 9:37:Well that's it for Mitre. David Robertson on for what is basically a clean slate. Mitre didn't evevn get past the third inning. NOT GOOD.
UPDATE 9:59: This game is extremely frustrating to watch. Robertson can't throw strikes here in the fifth and he has let the White Sox get back ahead 6-5.
UPDATE 10:50: This game is the absolute worst. The White Sox just pulled a Little League move stealing home as Posada threw to second to try and get the runner out. It's 9-5 White Sox, Aceves is still hurt, and now it's 10-5 as Cano had Getz out by a mile but Posada couldn't hold on.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tommy Hanson. He wasn't great, but he held the Yankees to just 4 hits in 5.1 IP. He is just lucky the Yankees couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat knowing they had RISP.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Garrett Anderson's 2 out 2 RBI double. The hit extended the Braves lead to 3-0, which was plenty of insurance of the Braves.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter's inning ending double play in the sixth. It was the last chance the Yankees had with runners on base to get a rally going. Once that happened the Yankees seemingly just quit.
GAME NOTES:
Yankees have lost 5 of their last 6 and are 4-6 in interleague play, a part of the schedule they normally dominate.
Phil Hughes is better than Chien-Ming Wang. The Yankees cannot seriously be sending an 0-6 pitcher with a 12 ERA out against the Mets Sunday night on national television. But they will anyway.
A-Rod still sucks. And he let a groundball get by him that he could have had which led to 3 runs for the Braves and he didn't get a hit. He's now our own Big Papi.
This offense needs a spark. Shelley Duncan anyone?? I mean freakin Angel Berroa and Brett Tomko are on the team. They are not helping the team in any way possible.
Are we still ahead in the wild card? Holy #%$! we are! I guess that's what will be playing for...that is if they decide to start winning again.
The owners, operators, and writers of the Michael Kay's Successors blog are in no way sponsored, endorsed or affiliated with the New York Yankees or the aforementioned Michael Kay. Because if they were, we'd be on World Series championship #39 by now.
Also, anything written about broadcaster/on-air personalities is all in good fun and meant to be taken as a joke.
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