Wow, you agree with me? It's going to pour today, isn't it? :wink: Seriously though, like I said, I see something in this kid. He's got an uncanny level of composure under pressure for a rookie. He got into some pretty big jams last night, but he stayed cool, and didn't give up on his money pitches. I truly believe that a guy with strong offspeed stuff will beat a guy with a really great fastball more times than not. Major League hitters are conditioned to handle balls coming at 90+ in the zone. It's significantly harder to hit a ball that drops late for them. Obviously, if you drop them from shoulder to belt over the middle, you're in deep trouble, but Clippard throws them at the corners, and they drop from the letters to below the knees. He's probably never going to throw a perfect gem, but he's going to have a very good career. Add to that his quirky motion, and it's even harder to read the pitch coming out of his hand. I'm really pumped about this kid. Wang, Hughes, Clippard is going to be a dominating front three in the rotation for a long time. Hopefully Karstens can come back well. I think he can be a quality 5 man. We just need to get a #4 and the rotation should be solid. So far, at least for next year, we still have Andy, so we don't have to worry until 2009. ------------------ I really hope last night was a sign of the things to come for us this year. We need to get a good winning streak together. If we can take the next two in Chitown, then head into Pittsburgh and sweep. These are lofty goals, but with the DBacks and Mets coming to the Stadium after that we need to have some momentum, and a little bit of leeway to drop a few of those 6. If the lineup performs like last night every night, we are still in good shape. But that's the key. We have to hit consistently well, or it doesn't matter who we have pitching for us.
We can all say that every win is a sign of turning things around, but we've been saying that whenever they win any game nowadays. Time to put the talk aside and evaluate the results. It's hard for a naturally inconsistant team to turn it around.
Very true. That's exactly why I'm cautious to say that this game will "fix" anything, or even that it is a sign of things to come. The Yankees need to be on an absolute tear for the next few months to make it into the playoffs. It's going to be hard too. Coming up we play: Pittsburgh Arizona Mets Colorado San Francisco Baltimore Oakland Minny Angels And that's just the series left before the All Star break. Quite frankly, if we make the wild card, we will have seriously earned it.
If this was the Yanks of the past 10 years that is really not that tough of a schedule to finish up the first half. Arizona is playing pretty well right now, the Mets are the best team you will face and Anaheim always gives the Yanks trouble and they are pretty good. The rest the Yanks should be better than and should beat.
Eh, Colorado shouldn't be bad. Baltimore too. Obviously the Mets and Arizona are two of the best NL teams right now, so there's no guarantees there. The Angels, as you pointed out, always give us trouble. San Francisco is in San Fran, so obviously, Bonds is going to be a thorn in our side. That series could get ugly if we're not careful. Oakland is playing well enough right now, 4 straight against Minny and Boston isn't too shaby. Minny is only losing to the good teams, the true playoff teams. We're in for a very rough ride. We have to play some very good ball over the foreseeable future to have any hope of games in October.
I was listening to Bill Simmons' pod cast, and at the end, one of his friend's had a great nickname for Tylar that I'm shocked none of us have discovered on our own.... The Yankee Clippard
Dude I started saying that before the he beat the Mets in his first start, I think Alio and Type can verify that.
someone on espn pointed out that the yankees have played the toughest schedule to date sooo....i havent looked at the post-allstar game schedule, but maybe it gets a little easier?
Yeah, I thought the Yankees schedule had been a bit ridiculous so far. Thanks for verifying it. After the break, it does seem to get a bit easier. July @Tampa Bay Toronto Tampa Bay @Kansas City @Baltimore August Chisox Kansas City @Toronto @Cleveland Baltimore Detroit @Angels @Detroit Boston September Tampa Bay Seattle @Kansas City @Toronto @Boston Baltimore Toronto @Tampa Bay @Baltimore It looks a lot better in the second half, but we have to be in it when we get there for that to matter. I'm keeping the faith.
I doubt they're going to remove him from the park. He'll just have to sit somewhere else. (I'd be happy if I were the Sox, actually. That was easily a triple if he didn't grab it.)
