Winter Wonderland

Well we've got about 8 straight days of snow in the forecast here in Syracuse, so I'm a little jealous of everyone in Orlando for the Winter Meetings, which start today.

• GM Brian Cashman is done playing Santa's elf, and now wants to bring Yankee fans a Christmas present in Cliff Lee.
• Lee's agent was surrounded by reporters today, but said there isn't anything to report or speculate on yet.
• Pat Gillick was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee, but late Yankee owner George Steinbrenner did not receive the requisite number of votes.
• Another ridiculous contract out of the Washington, DC sports market (after the McNabb-Redskins deal) as Jayson Werth signed a 7 year, $126 million contract with the Nationals. I can't find a quote from Werth, but if it says anything other than "I signed here because the Nationals were the only ones stupid enough to give me this much money" he is flat out lying.
• And as Jayson Stark writes, the only person who likes the Werth deal more than Werth is Carl Crawford, who is going to be swimming in money after this offseason.

There will probably be a lot more news this week than there has been this offseason, which of course MLB coincides with finals week, but we'll do our best.

SEE YA!

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Oh Canada...

We're back from our road trip to Toronto. We saw the games on Friday and Saturday in person, and of course the Yankees lost both games. So we started to getting a little annoyed at all the Canadians talking to us as we walked around the city with our Yankee hats on.

We've got some pictures from our trip, which included the SkyDome, CN Tower, and the Hockey Hall of Fame. You can take a look at the album on our Facebook page, and while you're there you should "Like" it, if you haven't already.

Tonight, the MLB First Year Player Draft starts. Only the first round and compensation round air tonight, so we get to see everyone else who gets picked behind Bryce Harper. The Yankees, as World Series Champions, have the 32nd pick in the first round. It's an exciting two days for the Washington Nationals organization, as they'll almost certainly select Harper tonight, and last year's number one overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, will make his Major League debut tomorrow night. Nationals Park is already sold out, and they are issuing over 200 media credentials.

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Strasburg in Syracuse

On Friday, 2009 First Overall Draft Pick Stephen Strasburg made his first start with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs. Since I'm here until my last final exam tomorrow, I went to see him in person.

He went 6 innings, threw 65 pitches, gave up 1 hit, and struck out 6. He also had a hit and 2 RBI's. His fastball was topping out at 98-99, but it was even more impressive how well he could locate it. He threw several 98 mph fastballs at the knees, leaving the Gwinett Braves looking like Little Leaguers. His "secondary" pitches were just as nasty, and yes, the quotes are necessary. People would kill to have his secondary pitches. His slider had tremendous horizontal and vertical movement. Then he throws his changeup at 81 mph. When batters are gearing up for 98 and get 81, they basically have enough time to swing at the pitch twice. And the only words I can use to describe his curveball are "sick and nasty." He should have to pitch lefty to these guys in the Minors, it's just not fair.

I've got a few camera pics from the game:

Some of the media that was there to watch Strasburg pitch



















Strasburg warming up in the bullpen
























This has nothing to do with Strasburg, but it was Triple A Safety Patrol night, so these are the people who would be pulling out the tazers if we decided to run across the field. (My friend's dad actually texted him and sarcastically told him he should run on the field. We told him we didn't think it was a good idea.)






















Yanks go for the sweep of the Sawks tonight with AJ Burnett on the mound. We'll be back with the lineups later.

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Yanks hated less than the Red Sox

A story in the Wall Street Journal this morning discussed a Nielsen report that uses some crazy math that I will never understand to figure out who the most hated team in baseball is. It measures positive and negative reaction on the internet. Here's the top 10 most hated teams.

1. Cleveland Indians
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Houston Astros
5. New York Yankees
6. Washington Nationals
7. Chicago White Sox
8. Baltimore Orioles
9. New York Mets
10. Los Angeles Dodgers

Now most of these teams have not been doing well lately, so their own fans are probably the ones bringing them down in these ranking. But the Red Sox and Yankees are the teams that you either love or hate.

I could look at this two ways. The first is that I could say that, since people hate the Red Sox more, this "Red Sox Nation" stuff is crap. But, I personally would have liked the "most-hated" title, because the reason people hate the Yankees is because they are so good. I'm conflicted, but the stats are what they are.

What do you think? Leave us a comment or send us an email (michaelkayssuccessors@yahoo.com).

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News, Notes, and a chance meeting

Little bit busy for us the past few days but I thought I'd just share a few stories from Spring Training.

• CC Sabathia had a rough start against the Pirates, going 4.1 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 2 runs, 2 Ks and surrendered a home run. He threw 57 pitches, 29 of them for strikes. Not good, but it is only the third start of spring training, and Girardi wasn't concerned, "He was very sound today. He was good. He was really good today."
• It's just a rumor about a wild discussion, but there are reports that the Phillies have discussed trading Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols straight up. As John said to me, the Phillies would be the one to get the best player at a position, and then trade away the second best player at the same position.
• Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg has been lights out in spring training, fueling speculation about whether he will open the season at AAA or with the big club. Personally (and selfishly) I hope he starts in AAA because the National's top club is in Syracuse,NY, so I would get a chance to see him up close.
• Speaking of Syracuse, the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament bracket was announced. I've got my bracket all filled out. You'll never guess who I picked to win it all.

And, I almost forgot to mention this, but I have a good story from my trip home for spring break. I took the Amtrak down from Syracuse, and it arrived late (surprise, surprise) so I missed the earlier NJ Transit train home. With a 45 minute wait, I grabbed a bite to eat and sat across from the Hudson News stand in the station. One second I looked up and walking by was none other than Michael Kay. It took me a couple of seconds to recognize him, and then I heard him talk to one of the people he was with, and that confirmed it was him. He was too far away by the time to say anything by the time I realized it was him (but I did get a few suggestions from friends, none of which I can repeat). But we will meet again one day.



That's all for now, but we've got less than THREE WEEKS until opening day!!!

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Brian Bruney Traded to Nationals

Just read on the LoHud Blog that Joel Sherman is reporting that Brian Bruney has been traded to the Nationals. Bruney will best be remembered as that average bullpen pitcher who smack-talked K-Rod and almost got into a fight with him.

Bruney is a MKS blog favorite as we met and got his autograph (that's me with Bruney below). Being he was on a championship team I guess I can sell it for like, 12 bucks. If only we can find out if this was really his car when we met him:

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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.

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News and Notes

• After the report of Sammy Sosa testing positive for steroids in 2003, Congress is investigating about possible perjury charges.
• Speaking of steroids, Manny Ramirez will play in some minor league games next week, before he is eligible to return to the Majors on July 3rd. Personally, I think that if you are suspended for 50 games for using steroids, there is no reason you should get the luxury of getting to come back and play in the minors a week before so that you could get ready. He should have to wait until July 3rd to go to the minors and get ready.
  
• Roy Halladay was placed on the 15-day DL with a groin strain. That is a huge blow to the Blue Jays rotation, as Halladay is the American League leader in wins with 10 while racking up 88 strikeouts and posting a 2.53 ERA.
  
• Pedro Martinez thinks that he will pitching in the Majors soon. According to Martinez, the Cubs and Rays are interested.
• Raul Ibanez is being placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin. Ibanez is tied for second in home runs and fourth in RBIs, so he'll be missed in the Phillies lineup.
  
• Since it has been pouring here for the past couple of hours, I would be surprised if there is a game today. If there is, we'll be back with the lineups and in-game updates tonight.
  

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Nationals 3- Yankees 2

Nationals (17-46) 3 7 0
Yankees (37-28) 2 4 0
Box Score

WP: John Lannan (4-5, 8.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
LP: Chien-Mien Wang (0-5, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
S: Mike McDougal (1, .02 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Lannan. Another unknown pitcher baffles the Yankees. Bad news: I have never heard of the Nationals starter for tomorrow.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Mark Teixera's diving play in the sixth inning. It would have been even better if he turned a double play, but it was still rather impressive.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Nick Johnson's triple in the 5th inning. Melky Cabrera's misguided attempt at a diving catch allowed the Nationals to score two runs instead of one, and that was the difference in the game.

GAME NOTES:

• The Yankees just lost to a team that only had 16 wins on the season, and it is June17. Washinton was 30 games under .500 until tonight.
  
• John Lennon may have been killed in New York City, John Lannan thrived in the Big Apple He had a no-hitter into the fifth inning and only allowed 4 hits and 1 walk.
  
• A-Rod needs a day off. He can't buy a hit right now (and if anyone in the league could actually buy a hit, it would be him.) He is batting .167 this month with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs. Not exactly what you want out of your cleanup hitter.
  
• Wang didn't pitch poorly, but not well either. In my humble opinion, he deserves another start. He should have only given up one run if the Yankee defense had shown up tonight. There were no errors, but there were two ground balls that Cano should have gotten to and the play that Melky should have made.
  
• Our research department (AKA John) tells me that both times Chien-Mien Wang has pitched against the Nationals, the Yankees have lost 3-2. The last time, in 2006, Wang lost the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after throwing 107 pitches. If I remember correctly, the Yankees bullpen was extremely depleated because of some poor starts and extra inning games and they needed Wang to try and go all 9, and he surrendered a 2-run homerun to Ryan Zimmerman.
  

TOMORROW:
Nationals at Yankees, 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium
Craig Stammen (0-2, 5.86 ERA) vs. Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.84 ERA)

SEE YA!

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GAME 65 Yankees vs Nationals

YANKEES (37-27, Second Place AL East, 2 GB)
Damon LF
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cabrera CF
Pena SS
Pitching: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-4, 14.34).

NATIONALS (16-46, Fifth Place in NL East, 20 GB)
Guzman SS
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dunn DH
Dukes RF
Patterson CF
Bard C
Harris LF
Hernandez 2B
Pitching: LHP John Lannan (3-5, 3.51).

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., YES

Good Luck Kid: Yesterday Chien-Ming Wang became a father as his wife gave birth to Justin Jesse Wang. In Taiwaneese culture, the birth of a child is meant to bring good luck. Maybe Wang's luck will change this season starting tonight, as he is pitching for a spot in the rotation right now.
1 Year and 2 Days Later: Chien-Ming Wang's last win was June 15, 2008. That day he hurt his foot causing him to miss the rest of the season, and has not been the same since. Wang is overdue for a win.
Speaking of Due: A-Rod is hitting .167 this month with 3 RBI in his last nine games. Somebody get his cousin on the phone now! (Just Kidding)
Coke Throwin' Smoke: In Phil Coke's last 5.2 IP he has given up 0 runs, 2 hits, and struck out 4. Yes I am as surprised as you are.
Jeter Injury Update: Derek Jeter had an MRI on his left ankle today and it came back negative. He is listed day-to-day.

UPDATE 7:17: Wang gets through the first inning with a double play. Still early, but it should be a good sign, he really battled with Zimmerman that at-bat. He probably walks that batter last week in Boston.

UPDATE 7:36: Wang's velocity is down and alot of his pitches have been up in the zone, but he is getting away with it so far. Lets see if he can improve his pitches.

UPDATE 7:46: Eli Manning is in the booth. Peyton is there and the rest of the Giants are there too. Although they are no where to be seen since batting practice. Odd.

UPDATE 7:49: Okay, there's some of the O-Line guys. I guess they still are here.

UPDATE 8:03: Wang was cruising up until Adam Dunn just hit a home run through my living room window in Jersey. It was a 3-0 count and he had the green light. Yanks need to get their offense going. That ball was crushed.

UPDATE 8:14: John Lannan has thrown 4 no hit innings against the team he grew up idolizing. I should have known the Yankees facing 3 consecutive young, relatively unknown pitchers would spell disaster. We saw it against Fernando Nieve the other day too. If only we could face Johan Santana more often...

UPDATE 8:24: Phil Hughes is warming up in the bullpen. Wang is through 4.1 and has first and third one out. It is one out short of his longest outing of the season so far.

UPDATE 8:25: If Melky doesn't dive you hold Guzman at third and Johnson at second. Instead it's a triple for Nick Johnson. Wang is at 80 pitches, he may be getting tired. 3-0 Nationals.

UPDATE 8:30: 5 innings for Wang. Wang went 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. It looks like he lives to see another day.

UPDATE 8:35: Robinson Cano ended Lannan's no-hitter and shutout all on one swing. Solo shot for Cano who has been red-hot of late.

UPDATE 8:51: Well, Jim and I are discussing the exact same things Kay and Flaherty have this inning. We really hit the nail on the head with our blog name. Might as well have us in the booth than those 2 guys. Then we would get to meet Eli Manning. :)

UPDATE 9:12: John Lannan is making getting through the Yankees lineup look easy. Even without Jeter they are are still a tough lineup. Maybe this guy likes pitching in New York he has a complete game against the Mets this year. Now, why take Hughes out after 2 innings?

UPDATE 9:22: Who is this guy? Phil Coke strikes out the side (Though he did walk a batter). Jim suggests he sold his soul to the devil to pitch well. Hey, wouldn't be the first Yankee to do that (Clemens).

UPDATE 9:26: Another 1-2-3 inning from Lannan. This Yankee team has got to be the most frustrating team to watch. They have 22 come-from-behind wins and tag a pitcher like Santana for 15 runs. Then they look hopeless against guys like Fernando Nieve and John Lannan. It's ridiculous.

UPDATE 9:42: Solo home run for Damon. Fly out by Swisher. Base hit by Tex. Lannan is out and Mike McDougal is in for the Nationals to face A-Rod. Gardner is pinch running.

UPDATE 9:54: 9 pitch at bat to Robbie Cano and he grounds into a game-ending double play. Yankees leave the tying run on third base. They should be ashamed of themselves for losing to the Nationals.

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Yankees 5- Nationals 3

Nationals 3 6 1
Yankees 5 8 1

WP: C.C. Sabathia (6-4, 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
LP: Ron Villone (3-4, 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: And the belt goes to....

Robinson Cano, 4-4, 2 RBIs, including the go-ahead double in the seventh inning.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Melky Cabrera's diving, shoe-string, snow cone catch.

TURNING POINT: Teixeira's RBI double in the 7th. Big Tex's double tied the score while putting himself in scoring position to score the eventual go-ahead run.

GAME NOTES:

• The Nationals have now lost four straight and thirteen of sixteen.
• The Yankees are now 15-5 in their last 20 home games.
  
• A-Rod continues to slump by going 0-3 tonight. He has not had a full day off since coming off the DL, maybe now is the time.
• This is the second game in a row that the Yankee starter has gone at least 7 innings. That's what you expect every time with a rotation like this.
  
• Mariano Rivera tied Allie Reynolds on the Yankee career strikeout list.
  
• Tonight was the 22nd come from behind win for the Yankees.
• Jeter left the game with "left ankle stiffness." We'll wait to see what the real story is and get a post up immediately if not sooner.
  

TOMORROW:
Nationals at Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
John Lannan (3-5, 3.51 ERA) vs Chien-Mien Wang (0-4, 14.34 ERA)

SEE YA!

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GAME 64: Yankees vs Nationals

YANKEES (36-27, Second Place in AL East, 2 GB)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (5-4, 3.68).

NATIONALS (16-45, Fifth Place in NL East, 20 GB)
Guzman DH
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dukes CF
Dunn LF
Kearns RF
Gonzalez SS
Nieves C
Hernandez 2B
Pitching: RHP Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.04).

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., MY9.

First in War, First in Peace, Last in the NL East: Back when the Washington Senators played, they used that phrase to describe the team (of course it used to be "American League" not NL East). The Nationals are no different. They are 16-45 and are 6-23 on the road. The Yakees have won 14 of their last 17 at home. By the end of the week the Nationals may need a government bailout more than any big company in the country to get them through the rest of the season.
Mr. Interleague: Derek Jeter has the most hits (293), at bats, and runs (162) in interleague play. He is hitting .337 against NL pitching. No wonder why he has had so much success in the World Series.
Bats are Hot: Jeter is 9 of his last 18 with 4 RBI and 4 runs. He has raised his average to .310. Hideki Matsui is 6 for his last 16 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 walks and 5 runs. And Nick Swisher is 15 of his last 46 with 11 runs scored, 8 RBI, 14 walks and 8 extra-base hits.
Not So Hot: Alex Rodriguez is 8-45 in June. He is .178/.339/ .356 in his last 9 games.
Injury Update: Brian Bruney was activated from the DL today. The "Latino Kyle Farnsworth" aka Jose Veras was designated for assignment.

UPDATE 5:32: Forgot to give this its own post, but the NY Times is reporting that Sammy Sosa is one of the names on the list of 103 players that tested positive for PED in 2003. Not really a shocker, I always associated him with steroid users, but this is the first hard evidence that Sosa used PEDs. Sosa was one of the players who tesitified to Congress in 2005. It will be interesting to see what kindof , if any, legal trouble he will be in.

UPDATE 7:12: Three former Yankees are in the Nationals lineup today. Nick Johnson, Alberto Gonzalez, and Will Nieve. Also Ron Villone is in the bullpen for the Nationals. Must be a completely different atmosphere going from the Yankees to the Nationals, meanwhile as I type this CC Sabathia just finished a 6-pitch first inning.

UPDATE 7:56: 2-0 Yankees. Line drive off the glove of Nick Johnson scores in a run. Nick Johnson also has the Jason Giambi moustache look going. I guess Giambi was somewhat of a mentor to him in more ways than one.

UPDATE 8:03: I want to say the Yankees got Javier Vasquez for Johnson. I think that is the answer to the trivia question. The answers to these questions YES has always surprise you though.

UPDATE 8:13: I was right with Vasquez. However, this answer forced Kay to bring up Game 7 of 2004 (shutters). Meanwhile, Sabathia has thrown 46 pitches through 4 innings.

UPDATE 8:32: Anderson Hernandez just hit his first home run since 2006, putting them ahead 3-2. Sabathia's pitch count is still low and don't expect the Yankees to not score another run off the worst team in the majors.

UPDATE 8:51: That's some play by Melky. I thought for a second that ball would fly out of his glove as he landed and tried to avoid a wrist injury. That's a difficult shoe-string catch to make, and the definition of a snow-cone catch. Elijah Dukes still can't believe it.

UPDATE 9:10: RBI double by Teixeira off the left-centerfield wall. That was off our old friend Ron Villone. I believe that's the first run he has given up all year.

UPDATE 9:16: Tough inning for Elijah Dukes in centerfield. Cano drives in Tex to take thelead. But he gets thrown out at third trying to make it a triple. The Yankees retake the lead nonetheless. Cano is 4-4.

UPDATE 9:21: Ramiro Pena is in for Jeter at short. They just showed a replay of Jeter running gingerly down the first base line during his last at bat. This is not a good sign. If anything is wrong, hopefully he misses the next two games against the Nationals. I can live without Jeter playing against the Nationals.

UPDATE 9:32: Bruney comes in and gets out Zimmerman for the final out of the inning. Bruney looks like he lost even more weight. He actually kind of looks skinny. Kind of scary. Oh, he also is rockin the stache.

UPDATE 9:36: They are saying Jeter left the game with left ankle stiffness. Jeter doesn't take himself out of games with "stiffness." It could be Girardi taking precautionary action. We'll see how serious it is during the postgame...oh wait, this game is on MY9, there is no postgame. I don't understand why not. They have it when they play good teams, like the Red Sox or Mets, but why not do it for every team.

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