Smoked in KC

Mark, Harry from LA. I think Jeter does better with RISP when he's on the field rather than the DH, what are his numbers respectively do you know? Though he might've DH'd just four times this season?

It's odd how the back end of rotation did well against the twins, while the front end are struggling against the royals. But hey, that's baseball rite?

Seems like u're enjoying kansas city....

OK. What is it with Americans and their "rites, lites, nites"??? I have a friend who does it all the time and I feel like shaking her everytime I see it.

Is there some kind of boycott against the letters "ight" that I'm unaware of? lol :-)

LOL, angel, i always type Tonite, but its a bad habit...i try not to type it in official stuff (off course)...i dont say rite though, unless i say shoprite...

Here's hoping for a good outing by Johnson. I cannot beleive that the Red Sox have taken two from Chicago. It just goes to show how overhyped that central division really is.

Random thoughts:

I feel like every contending team in the AL East and AL Central has been sputtering a bit lately. The White Sox just happen to be doing the worst of the 5 (or 6, if you still think Toronto has a run in them).

Consequently, I think the White Sox offense owes Javier Vazquez a big freakin pizza. Not many people go 8 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 11, and STILL get the loss. Unless you're on Houston, I guess.

So, how about the glorious return of Sean Henn? I see he was already back to his old ways, getting all three outs on high fly balls near the warning track.

Btw, another inning, another strikeout for Brian Bruney, who now has a 1.08 ERA. How did the Diamondbacks cut this guy loose?

Question for people out there: can anyone confirm that Randy Johnson allegedly said he would retire after this year if the Yankees won the World Series?

I understand your plite, Angel. I hate when words are not rite in my site. It is the hite of indifference. Yet not worth the fite. Better to use flite.

Hope I could shed some lite. And we hope for a good game tonite and the Yanks show some mite and the pitching is tite.

swo - I don't think randy will retire at the end of the year if the yanks win the series - he's not that far away from 300 victories, and that may be just a little too sweet for him to retire.

Don't know about the Big Unit's retirement schedule, but I do think it's a bad day to trash the AL Central, i.e., the day after the Yankees got blanked by the worst team in that division. Bruney looks great right now, but let's see how he does down the stretch run on the big stage.

Mark, Kansas City is one of the best eating cities I have visited. Great beef almost everywhere and relatively inexpensive compared to the coasts.

Used to go to Country Club Plaza a lot where there are lots of good restaurants. Too bad the Mr. Putch steakhouse is long gone. But a more recent favorite place was Lou Piniella's Longhorn Steakhouse, though someone told me he no longer owns it.

This is the stretch run and it is the big stage and Bruney has looked great.

Good point Swo about the teams sputtering. Angels have also though not playing the Yanks. It seems all the top teams have struggled in the AL. But then it is also a long season and a lot of players are tired by now.

For a while, it looked like there may be 5 teams with 96 or more wins in the AL and one or two wouldn't make the playoffs. That usually doesn't happen. As for the AL East and Central "sputtering", I think things are just sifting out a bit. The law of averages catches up and everything gets back to the normal order of things. You'll have your division winners with 95-100, and your runnerups in the 88-92 range. Just things evening out.

Randy would have to have a good 2007 AND ALSO COME BACK in 2008 to get to 300 wins. He has 278 now. Maybe he gets 3 more this year to make it to 281. I don't see the fading RJ winning 19 next year, so it will be very difficult for him to make it to 300.

Agree, Mike. No way Randy can reach his 300th victory next year. If he can win his 300th game, it won't be until 2008

And I'm not sure if he will be on the mound for the 2008 season.
So, maybe it's true what Swo told us. Randy could retire this year with another ring

Agreed Jorge. I just don't think that there is enough left in the tank for Randy to reach 300. Especially since he turns 43 on Sunday.

Oh. My. God.

Paul, I want to dig my eyes out with a spoon after reading that "blite" you inflicted upon the English language. I blame Shoprite, Lola. Ack! I am thinking that post was almost more offensive to my eyes than Courier font.

Careful, Angel, you'll only encourage him to reach new hites.

Great insite, Andy.

Did I miss a fite in here?

Don't be contrite even though you mite have, at least you are not in the Isles of Wite.

By the way, when does Jaret Write pitch?

The erstwhile Knite, Jaret Write, will pitch in a fortnite....Tuesday would be rite.

Will Jaret Write take an earlier flite or will he stay with the team through the nite and wither the fite?

I tried to warn you what you mite start, Angel, but I guess it was all for naut.

It mite be a good idea for me to do some homework, even though I'd much rather fly a kight.

Just the thought of Jaret Write causes ample frite even though sometimes his starts were brite though most were slite.

Angel is responsible for the plite of the blog tonite.

7 pm tonite...Portland @ Trenton. (AA playoff gm)

Pitching...Phillip Hughes

DH...Hideki Matsui

Can anybody explain to me why I dont hear about Charlie Chaplin in the US as much as I heard abt him in other countries? Is he not from the US?

If the Yankees start the playoffs at home then I would go with:
Game 1: Wang

Game 2: Johnson

Game 3: Mussina

I agree wholeheartedly, Alex.

Vik, maybe because he was before the time of most of us, if not all of us.

His movies were in the time of my grandparents I think.

He was an actor and a mime, or is that mighm?

Charlie Chaplin? Who mite that be? Oh yeah, the silent movie guy. Don't know why you never hear about him in this country, Vik. Maybe because most American youth are uncultured idiots? (Generally speaking. Don't mean to imply that any young person on this blog is in that category.)

This ugly blite on the Yankee offense had better end tonite. 4 or 5 runs in the first would be a great site.

oops, tighm

Rob, isn't that what we go to school for? That and to get an edumacation.

Charlie Chaplin was British, although most of his well-known work was done in the U.S. Basically, he's "old news" - popular American culture tends to focus on the present and recent past. Any discussion of old movie stars will include Chaplin, but those discussions are few and far between.

Some channels in India runs Charlie Chaplin shows for an hour every sunday. Especially kid's channels. Here I watched most other really really old cartoons and shows but I've never watched Charlie Chaplin on TV. Not even on Turner Classic.

He was British and never got his citizenship here in the US. During the Red Scare in the 1950's he was not let back into the USA and lived in Switzerland for the rest of his life.

I desperately want Wang to be a 20 game winner. What do people think his chances are?

that makes sense. a lot of brit influence on India. Thanks Gabe, Andy, Rob and Paul.

Hes got about 5 starts left falejandro so if the Yankees can score some runs for him his chances should be pretty good.

Charles Spencer Chaplin, 1889-1977, was born in England and came to the U.S. as a lad. A lot of his films had the me vs.society label.

Chaplin's political leanings were heavily leftist-leaning, thus irking J. Edgar Hoover (Chaplin's private life, esp. his womanizing very young girls drew reprimand also). When Chaplin went overseas in 1952, Hoover used the occasion to urge the IRS to not renew Chaplin's visa. Chaplin then settled in Switzerland, and didn't come back to the U.S. until 1972, when he was presented an honorary Oscar. This was in early 1972, and ironically, Hoover (the long-time FBI director) died shortly thereafter, in May.

Chaplin died on Dec. 25, 1977. Soon after his death, his body was kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers were eventually caught and the body recovered. No ransom was paid.

I think I got the details right. I am a big fan of his films, if not his politics.

He liked long walks on the beach as well as cheese, as long as it was strate from the shaker.

Everybody irked J. Edgar Hoover.

Thank you Mike. Very informative. I am a big fan of his too. Although I am not a very funny guy, He was my childhood hero and I wanted to be a comedian. Did not know anything abt his political side but I knew he was a womanizer. most popular stars are. Aren't they.

And we'd better not get into politics or we mite really have that fite tonite.

When I taught US History a couple of years ago, I made sure my class learned about Charlie Chaplin, among other early silent film stars.

I don't think all teachers do the same, though. Of course, a proper History teacher also makes sure his students learn at least a little about the greatest sports franchise in the world, too.

When the history of baseball is written, you know who will be on the cover? The New York Yankees, and of course, Nick Green.

****, Angel see what you started :-D

or rather, should i say hc97 started it all with an innocent comment...LOL

I think people that are not already participating on this blog find this to be a blog of mad people. Poor Mark. Pays $5 a month (right Lola) for crazy people to talk to each other. hahaha.

Here's a very interesting rule. Why cant AL adopt this rule. It is very useful.

National Association leagues may adopt a rule providing that one or both games of a doubleheader shall be seven innings in length. In such games, any of these rules applying to the ninth inning shall apply to the seventh inning.

Not trying to sound Mr Negative, but don't you think the Yankees need to win tonight? This will mark the 3rd game in a row we are facing pitchers that have ERA's above 6 and 7 and if we lose 2 out of 3 to KC it really doesn't bode really well. I don't think the likes of Minnesota or Chicago will be throwing 3 pitchers w/ERA's above 6 at us in the playoffs.......getting shut out last night I know isn't the end of the world, but wasn't very good....what do you guys/gals think?

I don't think there is such a thing a "must-win" game right now. We need to win enough games to get into the playoffs, period. Home field advantage would be nice, but not essential. So, realistically, 12 - 15 wins in our last 25 will get us in. If one of those wins comes tonight, great.

Some teams play up or down to their level of competition. It's only human.

More on Chaplin. He founded United Artists with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and others.

He was once married to film star Paulette Goddard.

His last marriage was to Oona O'Neill, daughter of playwright (playrite? LOL) Eugene O'Neill. I believe they got married in 1943, when Chaplin was 54 and O'Neill 18.

He was knighted in, I believe, 1975.

The theme song of the Muscular Dystrophy Association is "Smile", made famous in a Nat King Cole version. (Smile, though your heart is breaking....). The melody of "Smile" was written by Chaplin for one of his films. I forget which one it was, but I think it was 1937's Modern Times.

Turner Classic Movies showed the 1940 film "The Great Dictator" a few months ago. I taped it.

You still have a VCR? ;)

Sam. No way this is a must win game, even if the Red Sox beat the White Sox tonight. The Yankees aren't playing bad or hitting poorly, they are just in one of their "not getting timely hits" modes right now. In fact look back to the Homestand and see they didn't bat so well with runners on, and they did quite well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I will only think a game is a "must win" if the Red Sox are within 4 games on the eve of their series in the Bronx, till then I don't care if the lead it 10, 7, 5 or 9, the Yanks are comfortably in front.

Hey, I've still got 8-tracks and LP's.

I think it all boils down to the fact that the Yankees don't have as much scouting information on the Royals as we do on the contending teams...which is why we will destroy Barry Zito or Bartolo Colon one day and then get shut down by Luke Hudson or Adam Loewen the next. Considering the tendencies of Zito and Colon to pitch well and the non-tendencies of Hudson and Loewen to pitch well, it makes sense to focus your attention (scouting-wise) on certain teams than others.

I'm not saying the Yankees didn't try as hard against the Royals...I'm sure they did...they just don't know as much about the team, and the Royals used that to their advantage.

Yeah, I got a VCR/dvd. Actually, I still have 2 others I had before this one, including a VCR I bought in 1986. It still works, too.

I must have about 450 LPs and 45s, incl. some original 45s from the late 50s, early 60s. (I won't go into what a 45 is for you youngsters out there...LOL)

...plus hundreds of cds....

Absolutelly agree with your recent post, Swolansky. You're completely "rite".
I still have a lot of LP's and 45's too, Mike. My father (80 years old) still plays his LP's. Incredible. Of course, he has no CD's at all.

Our old friend, José Contreras, will pitch against the Red Flops tonite. Hope he looks totally rite. And that his eyes don't be disturbed by the lites at Fenway

I'm saving my LP's for use with my grandkids - you know the old "when I was your age we had it so rough" stories.

We need to win today guys. Detroit lost. We will be tied in the loss column if we win today.

anyone else listening to the Trenton - Portland game?

Hughes K's the side in the 1st

Isn't Portland Boston's AA affiliate?

Listening to internet radio. Hughes gave up a hit in the first but struck out the side.

Yup. Portland is. I saw a Trenton-Portland game last year and Hanley Ramirez was the SS for Portland. Of course in the offseason the Bosox traded him to the Marlins.

Hughes first inning.

Single

K

Runner stole second.

K

K

Matsui is Dhing and hitting cleanup.

Our big guys kick their big guy's a$$e$ and out kids kick their little guy's a$$es. I like it.

is there a website I can follow the Trenton game? milb.com doesn't have a detailed scorecard.

minorleaguebaseball.com

Hideki up

Matsui struck out.

Strikeout for Hideki

Go to milb.com. Click on multimedia. Click on listen live. You will see a list of games, incl. Portland at Trenton. To listen to Trenton's announcers, click on WBUD.

Oh boy...I have a bad feeling this blog post is going to be really long...can we keep the play-by-play to a minimum tonight, guys?

Wouldn't you love to be a major leaguer on AA rehab. You think maybe you'd get a little respect? They'd treat you like you're Nick Green!

Sure..in fact..no posting during the Yankee game either

Just updates on Hughes and Hideki.

Well shawn, as much as I'd like that, we all know that's just not gonna happen. And considering Hughes already has 5 Ks through 2 innings, there's going to be some noise, in the blog world and elsewhere!

So why complain if there is nothing that can be done about it?

Hughes 2nd inning

Single, K, single, flyout, K

3-0 White Sox...top of 2nd

Shawn, don't you have something better to do than microanalyze my comments?

Hughes inning 3

K, walk, flyout, K

Clippard will pitch tomorrow.

Think there will be

HUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHEEEEEES

Cheers like

MOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEE

for Mussina and Skowron?

I dont appreciate the fact that Mike's Hard Lemonade is not a twist off cap bottle. I almost chipped my tooth!

not really no

But Lola...I think it IS a twist-off cap bottle! I've never known it to be otherwise!

:-P

I also look forward to shouting "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHES" in a year or two, especially if he's going to be having games like this one!

it isn't, unfortunately. And i cant find my bottle opener for some reason. Figures...first time i really had a use for it, cant find it.

Yankee lineup tonight.
From Pete's blog.

YANKEES

Johnny Damon CF

Derek Jeter SS

Bobby Abreu RF

Jason Giambi 1B

Alex Rodriguez 3B

Jorge Posada C

Robinson Cano 2B

Bernie Williams DH

Melky Cabrera LF

Randy Johnson LHP (15-10, 4.94)

I do like our lineup for tonight's game:
Damon, CF

Jeter, SS

Abreu, RF

Giambino, 1B

Alex, 3B

Jorge, C

Canó, 2B

Bernie, DH

Melky, LF

They must give RJ run support

Hey, Mike. You stole the credit I deserve!!!!!!!!!!

You may have it, Jorge.

I've got a NYY bottle opener. How I would like to borrow it to you, mi amiga loca

Hughes inning # 4

K, K, Lineout

Pale Hose lead Colored hose 4-0 in the 2nd.

José strucked out Lowell, Tek and Hinske. Great. Still 4-0

In fact, José has 5 strikeouts in a row. Last 2 outs of 1st inning and the side of the 2nd

OK, I have to mention it. Hughes has 9 Ks through 4 innings.

I'll always remember the interview with Thunder manager Bill Masse. When asked,

"When do you think Phillip Hughes will be able to pitch in the Majors?"

he replied,

"Right now."

Hughes has the stuff, that isn't even questionable. He just needs to be brought up slowly and have his endurance built up gradually. We'll be shouting HUUUUUUGHES in April 2008 at the latest.

Kyle "I have to pitch 5 innings to win?" Snyder is falling apart.

Surely Hughes will make it at Columbus next year. And maybe we won't have to wait 'till 2008, Swo. He could be on the mound of the Stadium next September

Matsui lines out to right his 2nd time up.

Thanks for the update, Mike. When will Godzilla join the guys? Next homestand?

5-0 ChiSox. Snyder out.

And still runner on 2nd with one out at Fenway. Crede to the play and Podsednik on deck

Next homestand. I hear Sheff may take BP with Yanks in Baltimore. Andrew will be there Sat., and so will I. If we get there early enough, maybe we can see the Yanks (and Sheff) take BP.

Sorry. I meant Crede to the plate

No I heard he might join them on the current road trip.

Where do you go to get the play by play for trenton?

I'd like to see Hughes in the playoffs next year, helping us go on to win our second world series in a row! =D

Jorge, i'm going to go to the yankee store on 5th ave and maybe i'll find one too :-D

Rats. Thunder can't give Hughes any runs. 0-0 after 4.

About Sheff, we still don't know when he will be able to play? I imagine it is depending on how he feels during that BP you're telling us Mike. Am I "rite"?

Go to milb.com. Click on multimedia. Click on listen live. You will see a list of games, incl. Portland at Trenton. To listen to Trenton's announcers, click on WBUD.

Posted by: yankeefan1@enter.net | September 6, 2006 07:27 PM

I'd rather we make sure Hughes is ready for 2008 than bring him up next year just to get a look at the majors.

Yes, Sheff won't have the advantage of a minor league rehab. So hopefully he is cleared for BP in Baltimore and see how that goes.

Ok, amiga. But do not use it to open your Mike's Hard Lemonade. PLEASE!!!!!!! It is done to open a really COLD BEER

1 pitch 1 out for damon

Thanks for the info . Go Godzilla,Trenton yah!!

MVP MVP MVP MVP

17 games and counting.

That's 17 in a row for DJ. Rite?

LOL, Jorge, i only drink "feminine beer"..smirnoff, mikes, bacardi silvers etc.

Looks as if Hughes has gotten the stare-down right.

Same post. Same time, Pinstripes. BTW, your name is.....?????

BACARDI. You've said the magic word, Lola

Don't you dirnk Tequila, Lola?

My name is Libby.

Typing dirnk instead of drink, and all of you will think I am drinking Tequila and Bacardí right now

Hughes just gave up a run :/

Abreu falls behind 0-2, takes 2 balls, then fouls off 4 in a row. Way to make him work.

Rats, Hughes gave up a run.

Hi, Libby. If you don't mind:
Female? Age? Hometown?

Another almost ten pitches at bat for Bobby

ewww, for my going away party from my last job last month, my old co-workers made me do tequila shots...sowwy, i thought it was gross! they also made me do shots of red headed sl*t, lol. also very gross.
i really only drink smirnoff ice, mikes, bacardi silvers, plus ammeretto or midori sours when in clubs/bars that dont serve those.

10 Ks for Hughes.

Ok. Let's see how Randy comes. I'm expecting a great outing.

I wonder if they'll still limit Hughes' innings for the playoffs? Regardless, they better score some runs for him in the bottom of the 5th, because it's not everyday a guy strikes out 10 in 5 innings!

Female, 30, north of Boston
I live in Red Sox Nation, but I am not a citizen!

And yes, I enjoy long walks on the beach.

If they don't score for Hughes he and Vasquez can form a support group.