The Kila Kaaihue Award: July 2010

post from The Baseball Opinion on 03 August 2010 09:02:49 AM. © The Baseball Opinion

The Los Angeles Angels were dealt a sizable blow when slugger Kendry Morales was sent to the disabled list for the remainder of the season. Replacing a bat like Morales' is tough mid-season during a pennant race and typically it would mean a trade that[...]

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Does he belong in the Hall of Fame Cecil Travis

post from Baseball: Past and Present on 03 August 2010 09:00:58 AM. © Baseball: Past and Present

Claim to fame: Travis broke in with the Washington Senators in 1933 and quickly emerged as one of baseball’s best infielders. Playing primarily at shortstop, Travis hit above .300 eight of his first nine seasons, making three All Star teams. He peaked in 1941 at 28 when he hit a career-high .359, led the American [...]

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Mets Drop to .500 to Braves!

post from My NY Mets Journal Blog on 03 August 2010 08:03:48 AM. © My NY Mets Journal Blog

IT'S WALLY TIME!!!!!!

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Seven Back

post from TigerBlog on 03 August 2010 06:57:32 AM. © TigerBlog

The trade deadline has come and gone and the Tigers pretty much sat on the fence. I kind of like this move (or lack of moves). They did enough to say they weren’t giving up (there’s still two months worth of tickets to be sold) but they didn’t sell the farm. And this was before [...]

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The Mets, The Wilpons and the Lessons of George
Steinbrenner

post from Love My Team on 03 August 2010 06:44:36 AM. © Love My Team

Love him or hate, George Steinbrenner had made a lot of mistakes in his ownership of the New York[...]

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Happy BirthdayAugust 3

post from The WGOM on 03 August 2010 06:30:54 AM. © The WGOM

Silver Flint (1855) Ed McFarland (1874) Harry Heilmann (1894) Jim Hegan (1920) Roger Repoz (1940) Dan Meyer (1952) Bob Davidson (1952) Jim Gott (1959) Mike Jeffcoat (1959) Sid Bream (1960) Mackey Sasser (1962) Kevin Elster (1964) Rod Beck (1968) Troy Glaus (1976) Travis Bowyer (1981)

Right-hander Travis Bowyer made eight relief appearances for [...]

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Video: Lincecum kisses heart struck fan

post from 22gigantes on 03 August 2010 06:04:20 AM. © 22gigantes

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Yanks Fall To Jays as Rays Move Into Tie For 1st

(Getty Images)

Final123456789RHEToronto «0100700008100N.Y. Yankees2000210016100WP: B. Morrow (8-6) LP: A. Burnett (9-9)
SV: K. Gregg (24)
At what point in last night's game did you want to punch A.J. Burnett in the face?

After pitching so well for the month of July, A.J. started off August with one of his worst starts of the season. In 4.2, Burnett gave up 8 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks as his record fell to 9-9.

He was handed a 2-0 lead when Nick Swisher hit his 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first off Jays starter Brandon Morrow. But he quickly gave one right back when Vernon Wells took him deep for a solo shot in the top of the second. After getting into and out of more trouble in the inning, Burnett settled down had two fairly easy innings. Then, things got ugly.

Instead of going through each at-bat of the inning, I'll turn things over to ESPN's play-by-play:

(click to enlarge)

Yes, that's six doubles. It tied an AL record.

The Yankees offense did battle back to make a game out of it. Mark Teixeira cut it to 8-4 with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Lance Berkman drove in his first run as a Yankee with an RBI single in the sixth. And later, Nick Swisher hit his second homer of the game, a solo shot in the ninth to cut it to two. But that was as close as they'd come.

There were other opportunities along the way, but the Yanks went 1-for-8 with RISP and left 7 men on base. After Berkman's RBI single in the fifth, Marcus Thames singled off reliever Scott Downs' foot to put runners on the corners with one out. But Downs got both Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter on ground outs (Gardner's was comebacker and Berkman was forced out at the plate) and the Yankees didn't score.

In the eighth, the Yankees put two on with two out with Gardner coming up. Cito Gaston decided to go with left-hander David Purcey, so Joe Girardi countered with the right-handed Austin Kearns as a pinch-hitter. After working the count full, Kearns went down looking on a backdoor slider to end the inning.

What I want to know is why Kearns had to pinch-hit in this spot? I'm sure Girardi knows that Gardner is hitting better against lefties this year than Kearns, right? Besides that, the move also significantly weakened the outfield in the top of the ninth. Luckily, Joba kept the ball on the ground.

Besides the double Sergio Mitre allowed, the bullpen was actually very good tonight. Mitre, David Robertson, Boone Logan, and Joba Chamberlain combined to throw 4.1 scoreless innings and at least gave the Yankees a chance to come back. That comeback effort came to an end when Alex Rodriguez finished off his 0-for-5 night with a grounder to short.

Tampa beat Minnesota 4-2 last night so for the first time since June 19th, the Yankees will be sharing first place in the division. Let's hope they can get back in the W column tomorrow when Dustin Moseley faced left-hander Ricky Romero. First pitch is at 7:05 pm, and the game will be on YES.

HittersABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVGDerek Jeter, SS5220014.275Nick Swisher, RF-CF5223001.301Mark Teixeira, 1B5112020.255Alex Rodriguez, 3B5000020.266Robinson Cano, 2B3100110.328Jorge Posada, C4020011.267Lance Berkman, DH3011112.243Curtis Granderson, CF1000111.245 a- Marcus Thames, PH-LF^RF2020000.302Brett Gardner, LF-CF3000022.292 b- Austin Kearns, PH-LF1000012.270Totals376106312

a-singled for Granderson in the 6thb-struck out for Gardner in the 8thBatting2B - Jorge Posada (16, Morrow)HR - Nick Swisher 2 (22, Morrow, Gregg), Mark Teixeira (22, Morrow)RBI - Nick Swisher 3 (66), Mark Teixeira 2 (76), Lance Berkman (50)2-OUT RBI - Mark Teixeira 2 (31)RISP - 1-8 (Derek Jeter 0-2, Curtis Granderson 0-1, Brett Gardner 0-2, Lance Berkman 1-2, Austin Kearns 0-1)
Team LOB - 7FieldingDP - Cano-Jeter-Teixeira
PitchersIPHRERBBSOHRERAA.J. Burnett (L,9-9)4.28882424.93Sergio Mitre1.12000003.58David Robertson10001204.30Boone Logan10001103.33Joba Chamberlain10001205.48HBP - Lewis (by A.J. Burnett)WP - A.J. Burnett (11)Pitches-Strikes - A.J. Burnett 95-58, Sergio Mitre 10-5, David Robertson 21-14, Boone Logan 30-19, Joba Chamberlain 15-9Ground Balls-Fly Balls - A.J. Burnett 5-4, Sergio Mitre 2-1, David Robertson 1-0, Boone Logan 1-1, Joba Chamberlain 1-0Batters Faced - A.J. Burnett 24, Sergio Mitre 5, David Robertson 4, Boone Logan 4, Joba Chamberlain 4
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Vernon Wells (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
HONORABLE MENTION: Travis Snider (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, R)
GOAT OF THE GAME: A.J. Burnett

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Did You Know

In their inaugural season of 1993, the Florida Marlins won just 64 games with closer Bryan Harvey playing a significant role in 72 percent of them, saving 45 games and winning one while posting a 1.70 ERA in 59 appearances. **factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’ My take – Man, the Marlins could use more [...]

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