MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

[MBMavs20]

Game: MLB 09 The Show. Replaying the 2008 Season.

Team: Yankees

Rosters: Default rosters, added minor league players for AAA and AA teams. Did pitch edits as well.

Sliders: TNK (found them in old thread)

After 20 games, the Yankees are 10-10. Game 21 was at Detroit. Carl Pavano vs Justin Verlander.

Carl Pavano was making his first start of the season after taking over for Chien-Ming Wang. He was released after 4 starts because he was 0-3 with a 9.96 ERA. Pavano pitched 5+ innings, giving up 5 runs but got the victory 7-5. Bobby Abreu, hitting .141 entering the game, hit a 3 run homer off Verlander in the 2nd inning. Hopefully Abreu is breaking out of his slump. Jeter added a 2 run shot thanks to a hanging Slider. BTW, Magglio Ordonez is hitting over .420! Impossible to get him out. He's leading the league with 10 homers as well.

My middle relief, which has been a problem so far, pitched well and didn't give up any runs. Brian Bruney and Edwar Ramirez both have 6 ERA's and one of them may take a trip to AAA where Scott Patterson and Dan Griese are pitching well.

I turned off the PCI so I am calling my own game and not accepting advice from the catcher. Feel like I have more control. Some calls by the catcher don't make sense to me.

I will post some stats soon and take a look around the league. Might be the most fun I have had playing MLB the Show in years. :-)

So far, overall numbers for the league are favoring offense but I am hoping it will even out over the season.

[Stout]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

The classic days of MLB 09 and the 2008 Yankees...very interested to see how many homers A-Rod has in the early going.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

The classic days of MLB 09 and the 2008 Yankees...very interested to see how many homers A-Rod has in the early going.

A-Rod is currently our best hitter in the early part of the season. He has 5 HR's and 19 RBI's. He is hitting .308. The Yankees struggled early in the season hitting only 1 HR in the first 6 games but have picked it up since then. 18 HR's in as a team in 21 games so far.

Hoping to get 2 more games played in the next couple of days and then I will post some stats for the month of April.

BTW, in a 10-2 home win against the A's on April 20th, A-Rod went 3 for 4, 3 HR's and 8 RBI's.

[johnstone1987]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Nice to see another old school chise on here.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

MLB Standings - Updated: May 1, 2008
AL EAST	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Boston Red Sox	16	6	-	135	85
New York Yankees	11	12	5.5	99	122
Tampa Bay Rays	11	12	5.5	106	93
Toronto Blue Jays	10	14	7.0	102	121
Baltimore Orioles	8	14	8.0	97	128
AL CENTRAL	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Detroit Tigers	17	5	-	161	81
Cleveland Indians	13	9	4.0	108	86
Chicago White Sox	13	9	4.0	88	85
Minnesota Twins	8	14	9.0	77	90
Kansas City Royals	7	15	10.0	75	119
AL WEST	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Los Angeles Angels	12	10	-	100	94
Oakland Athletics	10	12	2.0	79	92
Seattle Mariners	10	12	2.0	95	117
Texas Rangers	10	12	2.0	107	116
AL WILD CARD RACE	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Cleveland Indians	13	9	-	108	86
Chicago White Sox	13	9	-	88	85
New York Yankees	11	12	2.5	99	122
Tampa Bay Rays	11	12	2.5	106	93
Oakland Athletics	10	12	3.0	79	92
Seattle Mariners	10	12	3.0	95	117
Texas Rangers	10	12	3.0	107	116
Toronto Blue Jays	10	14	4.0	102	121
Baltimore Orioles	8	14	5.0	97	128
Minnesota Twins	8	14	5.0	77	90
Kansas City Royals	7	15	6.0	75	119
NL EAST	W	L	GB	RS	RA
New York Mets	11	10	-	103	87
Washington Nationals	11	11	0.5	100	104
Miami Marlins	11	11	0.5	98	108
Atlanta Braves	10	11	1.0	88	97
Philadelphia Phillies	10	12	1.5	121	116
NL CENTRAL	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Houston Astros	15	7	-	83	96
Milwaukee Brewers	13	9	2.0	115	104
St. Louis Cardinals	13	11	3.0	119	97
Chicago Cubs	12	10	3.0	87	87
Cincinnati Reds	8	14	7.0	115	122
NL WEST	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Arizona Diamondbacks	14	8	-	114	82
Los Angeles Dodgers	13	10	1.5	109	70
San Diego Padres	13	10	1.5	82	68
San Francisco Giants	7	13	6.0	45	96
Colorado Rockies	6	14	7.0	70	113
NL WILD CARD RACE	W	L	GB	RS	RA
Milwaukee Brewers	13	9	-	115	104
Los Angeles Dodgers	13	10	0.5	109	70
San Diego Padres	13	10	0.5	82	68
St, Louis Cardinals	13	11	1.0	119	97
Chicago Cubs	12	10	1.0	87	87
Washington Nationals	11	11	2.0	100	104
Miami Marlins	11	11	2.0	98	108
Atlanta Braves	10	11	2.5	88	97
Philadelphia Phillies	10	12	3.0	121	116
Cincinnati Reds	8	14	5.0	115	122
Pittsburgh Pirates	8	14	5.0	114	116
San Francisco Giants	7	13	5.0	45	96

Here are the standings from the first month of the season. As you can see, the Yankees are struggling to stay at .500.

Here are my hitting and pitching stats for the month of April.

2008 New York Yankees Stats - Hitting
NAME	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG
Cody Ranson	21	7	10	1	0	1	5	0	4	0	0	.476	.455	.667
Wilson Betemit	41	8	13	0	0	2	3	1	9	0	0	.317	.349	.463
Alex Rodriguez	82	14	23	4	0	5	19	3	16	0	0	.280	.330	.512
Derek Jeter	97	11	27	3	0	2	10	1	17	1	1	.278	.286	.371
Johnny Damon	80	13	20	7	0	1	11	6	14	3	1	.250	.307	.375
Hideki Matsui	66	8	15	4	0	2	8	0	11	0	0	.227	.239	.379
Jason Giambi	71	6	16	4	0	2	9	4	20	0	0	.225	.286	.366
Jorge Posada	72	7	16	3	0	3	7	2	8	0	0	.222	.253	.389
Robinson Cano	87	9	19	3	0	2	9	3	13	0	0	.218	.242	.322
Melky Cabrera	58	5	11	2	1	0	4	0	13	0	0	.190	.213	.259
Bobby Abreu	79	6	13	6	0	1	9	2	15	0	0	.165	.193	.278

2008 New York Yankees Stats - Pitching
NAME	GP	GS	W	L	SV	QS	HLD	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	ERA
Andy Pettitte	5	5	3	2	0	3	0	35.0	30	10	5	1	26	0.89	2.57
Phil Hughes	4	4	2	1	0	3	0	26.1	26	9	2	3	13	1.10	3.08
Ian Kennedy	4	4	2	1	0	2	0	23.0	23	11	0	4	13	1.17	4.30
Mike Mussina	5	5	0	4	0	0	0	29.1	37	23	12	1	18	1.30	7.06
Kyle Farnsworth	5	0	1	0	1	0	0	5.2	6	1	0	0	3	1.06	1.59
Mariano Rivera	5	0	0	0	5	0	0	5.0	5	1	0	0	4	1.00	1.80
Jose Veras	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	11.0	9	5	2	1	12	0.91	4.09
Edwar Ramirez	7	0	0	0	1	0	0	11.1	14	7	4	3	6	1.50	5.56
Brian Bruney	6	0	1	0	1	0	1	10.2	13	7	4	2	6	1.41	5.91
LaTroy Hawkins	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	10.1	15	7	1	0	9	1.45	6.10
Joba Chamberlain	7	0	0	1	0	0	3	10.0	15	8	3	1	9	1.60	7.20

April for a cold month for our hitters and pitchers as you can see. My best hitters, Ransom and Betemit, are my bench players. Don't know how much longer I can afford to keep Abreu in the lineup.

The Yankees released Chien-Ming Wang because he was 0-3 in 4 starts with a 9.96 ERA. He was picked up by Washington on waivers and lost his first start. Carl Pavano replaced Wang in the rotation. He won his only start 7-5 against Detroit but gave up 5 runs in 5.1 innings.

The Yankee bullpen may get some new faces soon if Ramirez, Hawkins, and Chamberlain don't turn it around soon. David Robertson is ready and waiting down in AAA.

Some highlights from the first month around the league:

Magglio Ordonez is killing the ball to the tune of .427 AVG, 10 HRS, 26 RBI's. Grady Sizemore leads the Majors with a .430 Avg. Detroit as a team is hitting .311. What is this? 1930? (look it up, teams went crazy that year) In Boston, Manny is hitting .231 and Ortiz is hitting .211. Once they start to hit, the Yankees are in BIG trouble...

In the National League, through 5 starts, Brandon Webb's ERA is 0.25 and Derek Lowe's ERA is 0.75. WOW! Even Rookie Clayton Kershaw has an ERA of 1.44. Oh to pitch in Dodgers Stadium...

The Yankees start May with a 4 game series against the Angels. We lost the first game 10-6 as Andy Pettitte pitched 7 innings, giving up 5 runs. Joba came in down 5-2 and gave up 5 runs in 2 innings. Shame to because the Yankees scored 4 in the 8th inning, 3 on Robinson Cano's 3 run homer but it was too little too late.

Next game is Jered Weaver (3-0, league leading 1.78 ERA) against Phil Hughes (2-1, 3.08 ERA)

[johnstone1987]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Are you using 08 or 09 the show?

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Are you using 08 or 09 the show?

I am using MLB 09 The Show. From what I remember, it was a big improvement from MLB 08.

[johnstone1987]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

I am using MLB 09 The Show. From what I remember, it was a big improvement from MLB 08.

Okay cause you threw me off when you said you're playing the 08 season so i assumed you were on 08 the show.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Finally got time to get a game in today.

The Yankees finally ended their 3 game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Jered Weaver and the Angels. With the win the Yankees climb back to .500 and are 12-12.

Phil Hughes pitched 6 innings of 1 hit ball and gave up 1 unearned run, walking 3 and striking out 3. Robinson Cano put the Yankees ahead for good with a solo HR in the 6th and Jorge Posada added a 2-run HR in the 7th innings off of Darren Oliver.

Game 3 of this 4 game series will see Joe Saunders vs Ian Kennedy.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Before our victory over the Angels in the above post, the Yankees made a couple of moves to help their struggling bullpen.

Billy Traber and David Robertson were called up from Triple AAA and Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney were sent down.

Traber now gives the Yankees a lefty they can use from the pen. Bruney and Ramirez can hopefully regain their form. Bruney pitched 4.0 innings in his first game in the minors and gave up no hits and had 5 K's but he did walk 3 batters.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

May 2nd Angels vs Yankees

After ending their 3 game losing streak with a win yesterday, the Yankees once again had bullpen issues and lost 6-5 to the Angels Saturday afternoon.

The Yanks jumped on Angels starter Joe Saunders for 4 runs in the 1st inning but could not close the deal. Ian Kennedy (6.0 innings, 3 ER) gave then a solid outing and left with a 5-3 lead but the bullpen still is struggling and could not hold the lead. David Robertson, just recalled from AAA, lasted on 1/3 of an inning and gave up 3 hits and a run. Kyle Farnsworth, out best setup man so far, had his worst outing of the year and gave up 4 hits and 2 ER in 2.2 innings.

A-Rod continues to be our best hitter going 3-4 with a HR.

Final game of the series will see Carl Pavano vs Jon Garland.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

May 3rd Angels vs Yankees Pavano vs Garland

Sunday afternoon saw the Yankees lose another close game to the Angels 6-4.

Carl Pavano went 6.0 innings and gave up 9 hits and 5 ER. After replacing Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation, Pavano is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA. If this continues, Darrell Rasner might be getting a call to join the Yankees.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Riding a 2 game losing streak, the Yankees open a 2 game series against the 1st place Red Sox today. Game one was a bloodbath as the Red Sox defeated the Yankees 15-4.

Mike Mussina never got on track and was lit up. He went 6.1 innings and was tagged for 11 hits and 9 ER. So far, he is 0-5 this year with a 8.07 ERA. Maybe Father Time is trying to tell Mussina to hang up his spikes. He barely hits 90 MPH on his fastball and his pinpoint control just isn't there...

Mike Lowell led the Red Sox hit barrage going 4-5 with 5 RBI. J.D. Drew 4-5 with 4 RBI.

The Yankees bullpen continues to pitch terribly. David Robertson pitched 2.0 innings and gave up 2 ER to raise his ERA to 11.57 in 2 outings. Newly called up Billy Traber fared even worse: 0.2 innings, 6 H and 4 ER for a 54.00 ERA...

Only bright spot again was A-Rod, who went 4-4 and has raised his average 38 points in the past 3 games.

Game 2 will see Andy Pettitte vs Daisuke Matsuzaka.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

Manager Joe Girardi called a press conference before today's game against the Red Sox to announce that veteran Mike Mussina cleared waivers and was demoted to AAA Scranton.

"Mike Mussina is a great pitcher and a great competitor," Girardi said. "We expect him back in the big leagues very soon." Mussina has been awful this year and is 0-5 with a 8.07 ERA. Darrell Rasner has been recalled from Scranton and will take Mussina's spot in the rotation. His first start will be Friday at Baltimore.

May 5th Red Sox vs Yankees

Red Sox 10 Yankees 4

The Red Sox finished a 2 game sweep of the Yankees at the Stadium as Daisuke Matsuzaka improved to 4-1 on the season. Dustin Pedroia went 4-5 with 2 RBI's and went deep along with Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek.

Andy Pettitte did not have his best stuff, lasting 6.2 innings, giving up 9 hits and 6 ER. Alex Rodriguez continues his hot hitting, going 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBI's. Wilson Betemit went 4-4 and is now hitting .357 on the season, causing Girardi to DH A-Rod a little bit more and taking at-bats away from DH Hideki Matsui.

Next up is a 2 game series against the Tampa Rays: Game 1 is Andy Sonnanstine vs Phil Hughes.

[MBMavs20]

Re: MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

May 6th Rays 2 Yankees 3

The Yankees finally got back in the win column today with a 3-2 victory over the Rays.

Phil Hughes was great today going 8.0 innings and allowing 4 hits and 2 ER. Mariano Rivera pitched out of trouble in the 9th before picking up save number 7.

Matsui and Giambi each hit solo homers and hopefully have turned the page after struggling for the first month of the season. Wilson Betemit continues his torrid hitting with 2 more hits to bring his average up to .366.

Game 2 of the series will see Edwin Jackson against Ian Kennedy. Then the Yankees will travel to Baltimore for a 3 game series against the Orioles.