Weekend Edition

August 22, 2010
Russell Branyan, who had never had a hit against Javy Vazquez that didn’t leave the park, almost took him out of Yankee Stadium completely yesterday afternoon. Okay, not quite, but the first inning moon shot was the first into the upper deck of the new Stadium. Unlike the old Yankee Stadium, which still didn’t have the over-hang of old Tiger Stadium, the current upper deck is way back, back, back… Branyan, by the way, is also the only guy so far to hit what serves as the batter’s eye in the new place. In case you’re wondering: 10AB, 4HR Branyan vs. Javy.
So, during the game, Kay starts talking to Singleton about their upcoming trip to Chicago and what live music may be available in that city when they’re there. Iggy Pop? “Next,” said Singleton. Weird Al? “He’s funny.” The Smithereens? “Never heard of ‘em.”
Did I say Gaudin was the “last man in the Yankee pen,” and that, “he should be worried,” when Aceves and Marte return? Perhaps I even hinted that the only reason he’s there is to serve as Yankee enforcer in beanball wars? Well, that last man really saved the Yanks and Javy’s bacon yesterday with 3 innings of no-run ball in those pesky middle innings.
Baseball really seems intent on waiting for someone to get hurt from a shattered bat (ie Steve Yeager) before rendering a judgment and making changes as to what is an acceptable piece of lumber in MLB.
Eduardo Nunez, perhaps the Yankee shortstop of the future, got his 1st major league hit in the 7th to knock in what proved to be the winning run. When he was tossed the ball, he kissed it before handing it off …
Kay defends the wave and later informs us that it started at a bullfight in Spain many years ago, rather than “on the West Coast, probably” as he opined before looking it up. I have to admit: I would have thought it started out here, too…
Mo got his first 4-out save of the season although he gave up one. Yanks 9-5 W.
And then there was Randy Winn taking Lincecum deep. Really? Randy freakin’ Winn? If you need any more proof that the Freak ain’t right, well, there it is, even if the Giants announcers applauded his performance as improved.
Those same Giant announcers seem to have a lot of fun taking the piss out of Chris Carpenter, likening his mean disposition on the mound and berating his fielders who make errors behind him. For me it was nice hearing the name Gaylord Perry mentioned a few times. Krukow and Kuiper also like to make fun of Card fans in general, although they backed off the last bit a little.
But it was mostly Krukow getting on Carpenter with a bat in his hands: “Quit the whine. Get up there and hit.” And then on Holliday’s complaining “Gumby” shoulders: “It says a lot about you as a player, I think.” But the Giants fell to Carpenter.