Louis Badolato
Lieutenant General
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2005
- Messages
- 18,494
The Yankees won, and won big (10-1), but I have rarely seen a more poorly umpired game in my life. Tim McClellen, the third base umpire and crew chief blew two potentially huge calls, one for either team. Perhaps most disgracefully, he wasn't even looking at Nick Swisher when he tagged up, so not only did he blow the call, he clearly intended to do so as a make up call for the blown call by Dale Scott at second base on the pick off earlier in the inning. Tim McClellen should never be allowed to umpire another game at any level, he is that incompetent. Then you have Dale Scott. Swisher was so obviously out, it wasn't even close. And, despite the commentary by Tim McCarver, the worst announcer in baseball history, he also clearly blew the call on Gardiner stealing second. None of these calls had any effect on the outcome of the game, but they could have turned the whole game if it was close. Frankly, major league baseball better do something about these terrible umpires soon, or its going to join boxing and wrestling as bad jokes in the sports world.
Girardi sure has a quick learning curve. Last night we are ready to kill him for overmanaging the game, tonight (despite the fact he obviously wanted to make several moves - he kept running over to check his notebook everytime CC put a couple of guys on base after the 5th inning) he wisely sat on his hands and let Sabathia pitch.
I also think that Girardi has realized that Aceves, while fine in the regular season against an average lineup, just doesn't have the stuff to get big outs in the post-season. I think Gaudin has replaced him in the long reliever role, and you will not see Aceves again unless the game is a blow out either way.
By the way, the two guys I was most worried about in this post-season, A-Rod (5 homers, 11 RBI's, .407 batting average) and CC Sabathia (3-0, 1.11 era) have absolutely carried the Yankees. The only other player I was concerned about, A.J. Burnett, has pitched well in both his starts, both of which the Yankees won.
Finally, I hope Girardi realizes that Nick Swisher needs to be benched. He is both an offensive and defensive liability, and I hope Girardi has the sense to shift Melky to right and start Gardiner in center for the next game. Gardiner has as many hits (2) in 3 at bats as Swisher has in 18 this series. I think if you bring him in off the bench after he gets a wakeup call he might bare down and come out of this terrible slump (he is hitting .077 in the post season).
Girardi sure has a quick learning curve. Last night we are ready to kill him for overmanaging the game, tonight (despite the fact he obviously wanted to make several moves - he kept running over to check his notebook everytime CC put a couple of guys on base after the 5th inning) he wisely sat on his hands and let Sabathia pitch.
I also think that Girardi has realized that Aceves, while fine in the regular season against an average lineup, just doesn't have the stuff to get big outs in the post-season. I think Gaudin has replaced him in the long reliever role, and you will not see Aceves again unless the game is a blow out either way.
By the way, the two guys I was most worried about in this post-season, A-Rod (5 homers, 11 RBI's, .407 batting average) and CC Sabathia (3-0, 1.11 era) have absolutely carried the Yankees. The only other player I was concerned about, A.J. Burnett, has pitched well in both his starts, both of which the Yankees won.
Finally, I hope Girardi realizes that Nick Swisher needs to be benched. He is both an offensive and defensive liability, and I hope Girardi has the sense to shift Melky to right and start Gardiner in center for the next game. Gardiner has as many hits (2) in 3 at bats as Swisher has in 18 this series. I think if you bring him in off the bench after he gets a wakeup call he might bare down and come out of this terrible slump (he is hitting .077 in the post season).
