MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

[MBMavs20]

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

Thursday, May 7th. Rays 3 Yankees 0

After taking game 1 of a 2 game series with the Rays, the Yankees fell flat and got shutout by Edwin Jackson and the Rays. Jackson was great, pitching 7.2 innings of shutout ball before the bullpen closed it out for him.

Only bright spot for the Yankees was Ian Kennedy, who pitched 7.0 innings and gave up 5 hits and 1 ER.

The Yankees travel to Baltimore for a weekend 3 game series. Game one is newly called up Darrell Rasner against Radhames Liz.

[MBMavs20]

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

Friday, May 8th, 2008. Yankees 8 Orioles 1

The Yankees scored a run in the first and never looked back as they cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Orioles.

The offense banged out 16 hits, including 3 hits from Damon, Abreu, Betemit, Posada, and Melky Cabrera. Wilson Betemit hit a solo HR and Jorge Posada hit 2 HR's... They went back-to-back in the 3rd inning.

But the star of the game was Darrell Rasner. Making his first start after being recalled from AAA to take Mike Mussina's spot in the rotation, Rasner was awesome. He went 8.0 innings and gave up 6 hits and 1 ER. He walked 1 batter and struck out 6.

This was exactly what the Yankees needed as their rotation has been struggling all season. If Rasner can repeat this performance, he will make it very hard for the Yankees to send him back to Scranton.

With the Red Sox losing 2 straight, the Yankees are 6.5 games back. However, Joe Girardi will be happy just to get back to .500...

Game 2 of the series will see Carl Pavano vs Jeremy Guthrie.

[MBMavs20]

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

May 9th, 2008. Yankees 9 Orioles 6

Yankee bats exploded again for a second straight game, this time roughing up Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie to the tune of 8 hits and 6 runs in 4.2 innings. The Yankees blasted 5 home runs, one each by Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Wilson Betemit, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera.

Wilson Betemit continues his ridiculous hitting, and is now over .400 for the season.

Carl Pavano pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 ER. Joba Chamberlain pitched 1.1 innings for his first save of the year.

The lone bright spot for the Orioles was Aubrey Huff, who went 2-2 with 2 HR's. Guthrie is struggling this year. He is 1-5 with a 8.15 ERA.

The series finale will have Andy Pettitte vs Daniel Cabrera.

The 1st place Red Sox dropped 2 straight to 2nd place Tampa Bay so the Yankees gained another game. They are 5.5 games out of 1st.

[johnstone1987]

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

In 09 The Show do you have 30 team control? Im playing 08 and I don't.

[MBMavs20]

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

No, I don't think you can and if you can I couldn't figure it out.

I set the CPU control off and on but I couldn't make trades or change the lineups of other teams.

[MBMavs20]

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

Sunday, May 10th, 2008. Yankees 6 Orioles 4

The Yankees finished off a sweep of the Orioles with a 6-4 victory. Andy Pettitte (4-3, 3.58 ERA) pitched 6.0 innings, and gave up 9 hits and 3 ER, 2 BB's and 6 K's... Mariano Rivera pitched the 9th for his 8th save.

Jason Giambi had 3 hits, as did Jorge Posada. Robinson Cano went 3-4 with a HR and 3 RBI's... Bobby Abreu extended his hit streak to 13 games. During his streak, Abreu raised his average from .134 to .239.

After a day off, the Yankees travel to Toronto to open a 3 game series.

Game 1 features Phil Hughes (4-1, 2.45) vs Shawn Marcum (1-1, 4.02)

[MBMavs20]

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

Tuesday, May 12th, 2008. Yanks 4 Blue Jays 6

The Yankees 3 game winning streak went by the wayside as they lost the first game of the series 6-4 to the Blue Jays.

The Yankees defense will take the blame for this loss. Phil Hughes gave up 4 runs in the 3rd inning but thanks to throwing errors by Jeter and Cano, it led to 3 unearned runs. Johnny Damon was the lone bright spot for the Yankees, hitting a 3 run homer in the 6th inning.

Bobby Abreu went 0-3 with a BB and saw his hit streak end at 13 games.

The Yankee bullpen finally had a good outing, as David Robertson and Jose Veras combined for 4.1 innings of 1 hit ball and 5 strikeouts.

Game 2 of the series features Ian Kennedy (2-2, 3.75ERA) vs Roy Halladay (3-3, 4.08 ERA)

[spursup]

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

Only nine years ago but as a young Yankees fan this is quite the jump in the time machine for me. Looks like you're starting to find more success in the last few games, keep it up!

[MBMavs20]

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

Only nine years ago but as a young Yankees fan this is quite the jump in the time machine for me. Looks like you're starting to find more success in the last few games, keep it up!

Thanks man. I am having a blast playing even though I have a losing record. There is a reason the Yankees finished third in 2008. Pitching is a challenge but hopefully it will get better.

[MBMavs20]

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

Wednesday, May 13th, 2008. Yankees 0 Blue Jays 4

The Yankees ran into a buzzsaw today, and his name was Roy "Doc" Halladay. The Doc was his usual self as he pitched a 4 hit shutout against the Yankees. He kept everything low in the zone and the Yankees couldn't even get good wood on anything, getting just 4 singles.

Rest In Peace Doc. You were one for the ages...

Game 3 of the series will have Darrell Rasner vs A.J. Burnett as the Yankees try and avoid a sweep...

[johnstone1987]

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

I loved watching Doc pitch.

[MBMavs20]

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

Thursday May 14th, 2008 Yankees 7 Blue Jays 3

The Yankees managed to salvage the final game of the series against the Blue Jays with a 7-3 victory. The Yankees got to A.J. Burnett early, getting 4 runs in the 1st inning including a Jason Giambi 3-run HR in the 1st inning. Wilson Betemit added a 2-run HR in the 4th inning.

Darrell Rasner impressed again in his 2nd start of the season, going 7.0 innings and allowing 7 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB and 4 K's.

Wilson Betemit is hitting .396 and may force his way into the lineup as DH, replacing Hideki Matsui.

The Yankees are 17-19 for the season and they are in 4th place in the A.L. East, and 6.5 games out of the wildcard.

The Yankees play their next 7 games against the last place Twins and Orioles so hopefully this will allow them to get in a grove and pick up some much needed wins.

[MBMavs20]

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

Friday May 15th, 2008 Twins 3 Yankees 2

The Yankees weekend home stand did not start the way they hoped. Carl Pavano pitched well but not well enough and took the loss. The Twins got a solo HR from light hitting Jason Pridie and a 2-Run Homer from Justin Morneau.

The Yankees bats were held in check by Boof Bonser, who was making a spot start out of the Twins bullpen. All the Yankees could muster was 2 solo Homers from Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada.

Today was extra tough because we were facing a reliever and I did get some good cuts, and had at least 3 swings that were in my Wheelhouse with perfect timing and they went no where.

The Yankee hitters need to do a better job of working the counts and getting into counts that favor the batter. No way Boof Bonser should have beat them at home.

The pitch I threw that Morneau hit out to centerfield was a Forkball that I aimed low and outside. Pavano's Forkball control rating is 95. However, when I looked at the replay, the pitch got too much of the plate and Morneau crushed it. Frustrating...

Game 2 of the series will be Andy Pettitte vs Scott Baker.

[MBMavs20]

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

Saturday, May 16th, 2008 Twins 2 Yankees 7

The Yankees bounced back after yesterday's disappointing lose and took game 2 of the series behind Andy Pettitte. Pettitte was brilliant, going the distance in a complete game win. He gave up 6 hits, did not walk a batter, and had 4 K's. Pettitte had his Circle Change working today and frustrated the Twins hitters all afternoon.

J. Damon 3-5 HR
A-Rod 2-4 2 RBI's
M. Cabrera 3-4
H. Matsui 1-4 2-Run HR 2 RBI's

The offense looked better as well. They were more patient at the plate and worked the counts better. Matsui took Scott Baker deep on a 2-0 count as he was sitting on a fastball.
Johnny Damon hit his HR on a 1st pitch fastball when Baker was losing and was trying to get ahead of the hitters. Also drew 2 walks for the game.

Game 3 of this 4 game series will have Phil Hughes (4-2 2.86) vs Francisco Liriano (1-0 1.35) Liriano is making his 2nd start of the season after being recalled because Nick Blackburn is on the 60 DL with a shoulder injury.

[MBMavs20]

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

So, after a loss to the Twins (the last place Twins), my record was 18-21 and I was pretty much done. Couldn't hit, wasn't patient enough to draw walks, and my pitching, especially the bullpen, was terrible. I deleted the franchise file and popped in MLB 13 to start a franchise with the Pirates.

I started the season with the Pirates 2-0, but I did not control all 30 rosters and they were all out of wack. Teams were keeping 9 starters and 2 or 3 bullpen pitchers. Plus, I was still pissed at myself because I put a ton of work into my 2008 season and I didn't want to give up and end it the way I did.

So, I had a previous franchise save from my 2008 franchise on MLB 2009. It was May 5th, 2008. I was 12-16 and just lost a 2 game series against the Red Sox. So I loaded up my franchise and decided to give it another try.

Over my next 12 games, I went 11-1....

Maybe because i was pissed, or motivated, I don't know, but I felt like a new player.

I beat the Rays 2 straight, Sweep a 3 game series at Baltimore, won 2 of 3 at Toronto, then came home and sweep a 4 game series against the Twins.

During my streak, I hit .310 with 20 HR's, and my ERA was 2.94.

Phil Hughes was 3-0 during the streak with a 0.45 ERA. Ian Kennedy was 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA.

Jason Giambi in a 3 game stretch hit 3 Hr's and had 12 RBI's...

Granted, the teams I beat during the streak stink. (TB is in 3rd place, Orioles in 4th, and the Blue Jays and Twins are in last place) but you have to start somewhere.

I am re-energized and can't wait to keep going. My next series is a 3 game with Baltimore at home and then I go on the road for my first Inter-league series against the 1st place Phillies...

This 11-1 streak is by far the best I have ever done on any game or system.