Game 50 - Yanks Rally All For Naught

The Yanks rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game at 4-all, only to lose it late due to the inability to execute and questionable bullpen choices by Joe Girardi.  For most of the game, the Yanks were being haunted by Carl "American Idle" Pavano, who robbed the Yanks of nearly $40M the past 4 years due to his numerous, too many to count, trips to the DL.  He shut down the Yanks offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders lately, through 5 innings.  

Down 4-0 going into the top of the 6th, Mark Teixeira finally put the team on the board with a 2-run swat.  This came after Derek Jeter was wrongly called out on a close play at first and Johnny Damon singled.  The Yanks still trailed 4-2 going into the 8th.  Jorge Posada, who was given the day off following a night game, pinch hit and struck out.  Jeter singled, knocking Pavano out of the game, as Indians manager, Eric Wedge decided to go with matchups.  As usual, this failed miserably.  Damon followed with a double and Tex brought both runners in with another double to tie the game.  ARod and the clutchless Robinson Cano both stranded Tex to end the inning.  

In the meantime, Chien-Ming Wang, who relieved Yankee starter, Phil Hughes, kept the Yanks in the game with 3 shutout innings and 3 Ks.  He lowered his ERA four whole runs down to 16.07.  Hughes wasn't as sharp as his last start, but he was effective and kept the Yanks in the game.  He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings while striking out 6.  The 3rd inning was his downfall, when he gave up 3 runs - 2 coming from a bloop single and a sac fly.  His 4th run wasn't all his fault, with Brett Gardner misplaying a fly ball into a leadoff double that came around to score on another sac fly.  

Going into the top of the 9th, all tied up, Hideki Matsui led off with a walk against Indians closer, Kerry Wood.  Girardi had Nick Swisher bunt over pinch runner, Ramiro Pena, to 2nd.  Brett Gardner then followed with an infield single, giving the Bombers runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out.  Posada, who stayed in the game after pinch hitting, represented the Yanks best chance to put them up by 1 and give the great Mariano Rivera a save opportunity.  Mo never got the chance.  For reasons unknown at the time, Brett Gardner inexplicably never took a chance at swiping second to stay out of a potential double play with the slow-footed Posada at the plate.  Of course, Posada couldn't do what the Indians were able to do all game - hit a sacrifice fly.  He banged into the 4-6-3 double play to kill the rally.  

In the bottom of the 9th, for some strange reason, Girardi opted to go with Phil Coke.  Bad choice.  Coke promptly walked rookie, Trevor Crowe, who came into the game hitting .171 with an OBP of .237.  After a sacrifice bunt, Robertson relieved Coke, finally stepping into a game at a big moment.  Robertson failed, walking Ben Francisco and giving up the game winning single to Jhonny Peralta on a 3-1 count.  In the meantime, the Yanks best reliever, Mo, never came in.

During the post-game press conference, it was discovered that Gardner was given the steal sign and just failed to execute against Kerry Wood, a righty with a slow move to the plate.  If he's not going to utilize his greatest asset, his speed, what is he doing?  Wang was removed after 3 scoreless innings because he may still be used to spot start for Andy Pettitte, who is nursing a stiff lower back.  The question of why Mo never came in was never answered (maybe it wasn't asked?), but most, if not all, managers stick to the book of not using their closer on the road in a tie game.  Personally, I think it's a bunk call by teams - the team can't use the closer when they lose, so what are you saving him for?

Despite Gardner's gaffe (or gaffes counting his defensive lapse) and Girardi's management of his relievers, Posada is still the man to finger this loss on.  He literally took the day off, striking out and hitting into a double play in his 2 plate appearances.  I don't have any stats in front of me, but to watch this team day-in and day-out the last couple of years, it appears to me they struggle mightily in being able to hit a simple sacrifice fly and it continues to haunt them in 1-run ball games.

Other notes:  Alert!  Alert!  There was a David Ortiz sighting today.  He went 1-5 with a double.  He's still blistering the cover off the ball at a .185 clip.  My preseason pick for Cy Young, Jon Lester, finally looked sharp, struck out 12 Blue Jays in 6 innings.  He's only 4-5 this season with an ERA of 5.65.  I picked him for the this year's Cy and Big Nugget Youkilis for the MVP award.  Lester has been less than stellar and Youkilis was DL'd earlier this season.  Perhaps I should continue to "hex" the Sox players every year with my picks.

Yankees Record:  29-21

Blown Games:  4

Game 49 - CC Wins in Return to Cleveland

The Yankees continued their winning ways and CC Sabathia won in his initial return to Cleveland.  Every Yankee starter in the lineup had a hit except for Brett Gardner, who reached on an error and walked, in the 10-5 victory.  Robinson Cano had 3 RBIs, with Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon adding a pair each.  Jorge Posada, playing in his second game since being activated from the DL yesterday, hit a solo HR in the 2nd inning, with Nick Swisher following up with one of his own, one out later.  

CC though, was the story coming into the game.  In his second start against Cleveland this season, but first in his old stomping grounds, CC pitched 7 innings of 3-run ball, striking out 8 Indians.  He held them hitless till the 5th inning, when Cleveland finally touched him up for a pair of runs.  The Bombers, however, already built a 7-0 lead against Fausto Carmona, putting the game into cruise control.  Although Sabathia wasn't as sharp in his final 3 innings, he gave the Yanks another solid start, improving his record to 5-3.   

David Robertson came out of the bullpen and retired the side in the 8th inning, hopefully leading to more appearances.  Joe Girardi seemingly is reluctant to use Robertson in big spots, but the kid has pitched pretty well in his 2 stints with the team this year.  Jose Veras came on in the 9th and embarrassed himself, yet again.  On his first pitch, he surrendered a bomb to Shin-Soo Choo to dead center.  On the bright side, at least he didn't walk him.  He gave up another run in the inning and now sporting an ERA of 6.97.  

Veras is out of options and cannot be sent down to the minors without being exposed on waivers.  But how much longer can the Yanks keep rolling this guy out there?  Fortunately, they had a 7-run lead when he entered the game.  His of-speed stuff has been erratic all season.  Is anyone working with him on the side?  I know it's hard to have relievers work on the side because they might be called upon on any given night, but they have to get this guy right if they want to carry him on the roster all year.

Other good news for the Yanks today:  The Red Sox lost to Toronto and now both teams trail the Pinstripers by 1.5 games.  I don't think the Yanks are worried about Toronto, though.

Yankees Record:  29-20

Game 48 - Yanks Hang On For Win

For the first time since the 2006 season ended, the Yanks find themselves alone at the top of the AL East.  Last night, Andy Pettitte, Alfredo Aceves and Mariano Rivera clamped down on the vaunted Cleveland Indians offense, winning 3-1.  Pettitte would leave the game in the 6th inning after battling lower back stiffness.  He tightened up in the 4th, but hung on through 5+ innings.  It was a typical Pettitte performance, not overly sharp, but crafty enough to work in and out of trouble when he had to.  His improved his record to a team best 5-1.

Aceves relieved Pettitte with 2 runners on and a 2-0 count on Cleveland's Jamey Carroll.  Aceves would walk him (walk charged to Pettitte) to load the bases with none out.  He struck out Kelly Shoppach on a knee-bending curve, gave up a sac fly, and induced an inning-ending ground ball to Derek Jeter.  Mark Teixeira made the play of the game by ranging to his right and picking the terrible throw from Jeter which might have led to a second run and 2 runners in scoring position if the throw had skipped by.  Aceves pitched 3 shutout innings with 3 Ks, limiting the Indians to 1 hit.  Mariano pitched around a leadoff single, striking out 2, including the overhyped and overrated Grady Sizemore.  

The Yankee hitters nearly had Cleveland's Cliff Lee on the ropes in the first inning, loading the bases with 1 out.  However, Robinson Cano continued to follow his career trend of being terrible with runners in scoring position, particularly with the bases loaded.  He struck out on 3 pitches and is now 20-83 lifetime with the bases jacked.  Jorge Posada, back from the DL, followed up with a tough at-bat, having some good cuts, but looked a little rusty, and eventually struck out as well.

The Bombers, however, kept the pressure on Lee in the 2nd, and this time, broke through for 2 runs.  Jeter and Tex knocked in the runs to put them up 2-0, and Nick Swisher would hit a rarely seen sac fly in the 3rd.  I say rarely seen, because the Yanks appear to be the most inept team to hit that lazy fly ball to knock in the run.  But things have been different on this run, particularly with ARod's return, as the team improved to 15-5 with him in the lineup.  Last night marked the first time this season that ARod and Posada were in the lineup together, and it lengthens the lineup considerably.  Swisher, who has been struggling mightly in May, was knocked down to the 8th spot in the order.  As for Posada, he rebounded from his 1st inning strikeout to go 2-3 with a double and a walk.  

For the Yanks, everything's clicking and tonight, Crooked Cap faces his old teammates in a matchup against Fausto Carmona.  

Other notes:  The Big Sloppy has officially become the Big Floppy.  Another 0-4 performance in the Sox 6-3 loss to Toronto and now hitting an inexplicable .189.  The Blue Jays win snapped a nine-game losing streak.  Great timing, Toronto!   

Yankees Record:  28-20, first place by .5 game over Boston

Yankee News and Rumors

According to ESPN's Buster Olney (as read on River Avenue Blues), the Yanks are kicking the tires on Cleveland's Mark DeRosa.  I thought the Indians got him for cheap from the Cubbies during spring training, giving up 3 mid-level minor leaguers for a guy that can play anywhere in the infield and both corner outfield positions.  I thought the Yankees should have inquired about DeRosa during the offseason when the Phillies were rumored to be interested in him.  He's a good right-handed hitter with some pop, hitting 21 HRs last season.  

Mark DeRosa could provide the Yankees with many options.  He'd be an ideal guy to give ARod and Jeter breathers in the infield.  DeRosa could push Cano to the bench when Cano gets into his slumps or sit him against tough lefties.  That would also let Cano come off the bench to pinch hit late in games, something he's been pretty adept at in his young career so far.  The Yanks could really use in him the corner outfield spots right now, too.  Nick Swisher has been invisible for the month of May, hitting .127 with 9 hits and 26 Ks in 71 ABs.  And like the Cano situation, he could spot start for Johnny Damon against tough lefties.  

Yankee fans worry about this guy getting ABs, but I think the Yanks could easily start this guy 3-4 times a week.  As of now, he would be a vast improvement in RF over Swisher.  

On the injury front, Jorge Posada is coming off the DL Friday against Cleveland.  The Yankees haven't announced who's place he'd be taking on the roster.  My money is either Francisco Cervelli, because he still has options.  I don't believe Kevin Cash does and the Yanks probably don't want to lose him yet, until Jose Molina is fully recovered from his quad injury.  Another option would be to carry 3 catchers and drop seldom used Angel Berroa.  Posada could get some time at DH, particularly if Matsui goes into another one of his patented slumps where it looks like he doesn't belong anywhere near a MLB field.  

Xavier Nady played DH today in an extended spring training day.  He went 2-5 with a homer.  He will resume throwing Monday to test his right elbow.  Nady's injury is another good reason to look into a DeRosa trade.  If Nady is able to return, it may be as a DH platoon with Matsui for awhile.  

According to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News, Brian Bruney's right elbow was checked by the famous Dr. James Andrews and will not require surgery and doesn't appear to have any structural damage.  The Yanks need this guy to shore up that bullpen and stop all the ridiculous "Joba to the bullpen" talk.  

Melky Cabrera will miss about a week with a sore right shoulder he sustained while running into the CF wall in Texas.  The Bombers are pretty short-handed in the outfield right now.  Ramiro Pena and Angel Berroa are the emergency backups.  

Has anyone seen or heard anything on Damaso Marte and his injured shoulder?

Red Sox won today, 3-1 against the Twins, knocking the Yanks back a half game.  They play the Blue Jays this weekend.  Wouldn't you know it - they dodge Roy Halladay a second time this year.  Why does God shine on this crap team?

Game 47 - Yanks Tied For First Place

The Yanks beat the Texas Rangers in the rubber match, 9-2, taking 2 out of 3 against the AL West leaders.  It was AJ Burnett's first win since April 14th, and coupled with Boston's loss to Minnesota, ties them for first place in the AL East.  Burnett tossed 6 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits, 4 walks with 7 Ks, improving his record to 3-2 on the season.

The Yankee brought their bats this series, banging out 47 hits overall.  They slapped the Ranger pitchers for 15 tonight, as every Yankee but Johnny Damon was invited to the party (to quote Yankee announcer Kenny Singleton).  Hideki Matsui hit 2 HRs with 3 RBIs.  With his 2 hits yesterday, hopefully, he's ready to go on one of those streaky runs he's known for.  Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano also added HRs.  Tex's 2-run shot in the 1st put the Yankees on the board right away.  He leads MLB with 12 HRs in the month of May.    

The shutout was ruined by Jose Veras, who just continues to struggle in relief.  He served up a 2-run shot to Ian Kinsler in the 7th.  To compound matters, he walked the next batter with a 6-run lead, prompting Joe Girardi to pull him immediately.  Veras' slider is all over the place except homeplate.  David Robertson finished up the inning, but it was Chien-Ming Wang's performance that must have heartened the Yankee staff.  He came out for the 8th inning and retired all 6 batters he faced, including 2 Ks.  His sinker appeared to be working and he worked ahead of the hitters.  

I still think Wang could be an intriguing option for Girardi in the bullpen, if he overcome his early season struggles.  With Bruney DL'd again and no word about Damaso Marte who's been on the DL for quite awhile, the Yanks are in desperate need for another arm in the pen.  And Wang could give them 2-3 innings, sparing the workload of the bullpen some nights.  Will it happen?  I personally doubt.  I'm sure the Yankees would prefer the 2 time 19-game winner to return to the rotation.  I'm sure Joba to the bullpen talk will soon ensue, although I prefer to see Joba continue to grow as a starter.

Other notes:  What has happened to Tampa's pitching?  I know they've been hit by the injury bug, losing their middle infielders in the same week, but their vaunted pitching staff from last year are in shambles.  Scott Kazmir went on the DL, but before he did, he was dreadful.  Andy Sonnanstine got lit up by Cleveland tonight and his ERA is over 7.50.  And besides JP Howell, their bullpen is a frightening horror show.  They blew a 10-0 lead to Cleveland 2 nights ago, losing 11-10.  That had to be a devastating loss.  Cleveland went on to sweep them tonight, winning 12-7.  Their pitching isn't the only thing struggling - BJ Upton is hitting .191.  How much longer can Joe Maddon keep him in the leadoff spot?

Boston's Big Sloppy - 0-4 tonight and now hitting .193.  Manager Terry Francona finally dropped the Slop to the 6th spot in the order.  It could be a matter of time when the media starts asking him when Boston will find a cozy spot on the bench for the big fella.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox did replace Ortiz in the lineup.  I admire Theo Epstein's ability not to be sentimental with his aging stars and continuing to infuse youth into his ballclub.  The Dart Thrower, Matsuzaka, continued his old ways, throwing 102 pitches in 5 innings.  He's already matched last season's loss total, as he fell to 0-3.  Will Matsuzaka go the way of other Japanese hurlers - early success the first couple of years followed by average-to below average once the league catches up to the junk and gyrations they throw up there?

Toronto blew an 8-2 lead for Roy Halladay and lost 12-10 to Balitmore in extra innings.  They've now lost 9 in a row.  It was just a matter of time before they came back crashing to earth.  

Yankees Record:  27-20, tied for first with Boston.  

Game 46 - Yanks Visited By Old Friends

The Yanks allowed some old friends that were haunting them earlier in the season to come back and visit today - ineffective relief pitching and leaving men on base.  The game was delayed by rain for nearly 2.5 hours, and it looked like the Yanks weren't ready to play when it finally started.  Joba Chamberlain was visited by one of his old friends as well - his first inning troubles, as he surrendered 2 runs in that frame, despite having Ian Kinsler thrown out at the plate on a grounder with no out after leading off with a triple.   He was one strike away from getting out of a bases loaded jam when he gave up the 2-run hit.  Joba was also inefficient with his pitches, being pulled after 4 arduous innings, giving up 3 runs and 4 walks.

Yankee batters fared no better.  They began the game 0-5 with RISP and ended it by going a pitiful 2-12, stranding 12 men.  Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher would be the biggest culprits, both failing to drive in a runner from 3rd base with less than 2 outs.  Swisher has become a big cancer in the Yanks lineup, as his failure sealed the Yankees fate.  They were trailing 4-3 in the top of the 7th, when they loaded the bases with one out.  Swisher grounded out into a game killing double play ball, one of 3 hit by the team tonight, but none as damaging as that one.  

And just when you could hope that manager Joe Girardi would replace Swisher's big gaping hole of a bat in the lineup with Brett Gardner - Melky Cabrera injured himself running into the wall on Kinsler's triple.  Gardner replaced Melky and had a nice game, going 3-5 with 3 stolen bases.  His average is now a respectable .271.  Melky injured his shoulder and is currently listed as day-to-day, but unfortunately, that will mean another few days of watching Swisher look clueless at the plate.  

As for the relief pitching, Alfredo Aceves finally looked human, taking the loss after giving up 3 runs.  Lefty Phil Coke is still having problems with lefty batters, as Chris "leading the league in strikeouts" Davis took him deep.  Davis had also taken Joba deep earlier in the game.  The one bright spot - recent call up, David Robertson, retired the 3 batters he faced with 1 K.

Yankees Record:  26-20 - tonight's loss blew their chance to tie Boston for first in the AL East and tie Texas for best record in the AL.

Bruney DL'd Again

Brian Bruney's elbow still isn't feeling right and the Yankees placed him on the DL for the second time this season.  After throwing from flat ground today in Texas, Bruney still has issues with his elbow.  He will be replaced by David Robertson, making his second trip with the big club this season, on the roster.  Alfredo Aceves likely will begin to see more action as the 8th inning setup role.

Game 45 - Hughes, Yanks Mess With Texas

Playing a day game on Memorial Day in the hot Texas heat, the Yankee bats came out on fire, knocking around the Rangers for 19 hits in an 11-1 victory.  Phil Hughes tossed 8 shutout innings, limiting one of the best lineups in baseball to 3 hits while striking out 6.  If Hughes continues pitching the way he did today, the Yanks won't have to worry about Chien-Ming Wang returning to the rotation anytime soon.  

Hughes returned to the sight where he pitched his best game as a major leaguer, when he no-hit the Rangers for 6.1 innings before leaving with a pulled hammy after a pitch, ironically, to Mark Teixeira, in 2007.  He overcame his toughest jam today in the second inning, when he struck out the side after giving up a leadoff double and a hit batter with no out.

The Bombers bats were led by ARod's 5-5 day, with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs.  He entered the game hitting .189 and raised his average up to .259 when it was over.  Tex and Cano contributed with 2 ribbies and the struggling Nick Swisher chipped in 3 RBIs.  Every Yankee hitter had a hit, probably because Matsui was on the bench today.  Even Kevin Cash got in the act, going 3-5.

The only blemish of the day occurred in the bottom of the 9th, when Alfredo Aceves lost the shutout on a one out HR to Texas' Nelson Cruz.  Ironically, it was the only homer of the day, as the Yankees scored all of their runs by timely hitting.  It was a positive sign to witness the Yanks not rely solely on the long ball.  

With Toronto losing their 7th straight game today, the Yanks moved into second place, 1 game back of the Red Sox, and are leading the wild card standings.

Yankees Record:  26-19

Game 44 - Yanks Blow Another Walkoff Opportunity

The Yanks had a chance today to send the Phillies and their fans home disgruntled again, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth, but wasted their opportunities and lost 4-3 in 11 innings.  Ina much anticipated pitcher's duel between Phillies' Cole Hamels and CC Sabathia, they didn't disappoint, as Hamels allowed 2 runs in 6 innings and CC surrendered 3 runs in 8 innings.  Neither pitcher allowed a free pass.

The Phils struck first, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 3rd.  After retiring the first 2 batters of the inning (and first 8 of the game), CC gave up 3 straight hits.  The Yanks got one run back on a Johnny Damon double in the bottom of the frame.  Both teams would swap runs in the 6th, with Mark Teixeira hitting a broken bat HR to left field, providing more evidence that the new house that Ruth wish he built is a launching pad.  Yankee announcer, John Flaherty, said he never saw a ball go as far as Teixeira's shot after hit bat practically disintegrated upon contact.  

The score remained 3-2 till the Yanks final at-bat in the bottom of the 9th.  Robinson Cano would lead off with a single and Ramiro Pena came in to pinch run for him.  Pena would still second while Melky Cabrera failed laying down a sacrifice twice.  However, the Melk-man is still delivering, knocking in Pena with a game-tying single.  With a chance for the win, Matsui, who has been God-awful and finally knocked down to 7th in the lineup, struck out on 3 pitches.  Melky would steal second and move to 3rd on a groundout, but with 2 outs, Brett Gardner weakly grounded out to first.  

The Yanks had one more golden opportunity to win this game in the 10th inning.  Jeter and Damon would lead the inning off with back-to-back singles, giving the Yanks with runners on first and second.  Mark Teixeira, who's been the team's best hitter since the return of ARod and has risen his batting all the way to .268, hit into a demoralizing double play, leaving Jeter on 3rd with 2 out.  ARod was intentionally walked because Pena, who had run for Cano in the 9th, was on deck.  He would end the inning, and the Yanks best chance to win the game.  

The Phils would mount a 2 out rally in the top of the 11th, with newest Yankee killer, Carlos Ruiz, knocking in Chase Utley for the go ahead run.  Ruiz, Philadelphia's back up catcher who hit a blistering .219 last year, tore the Yanks up in this series.  He went 6-8 with a HR and 3 RBIs, essentially leading the Phils to both wins in the series.  He also gunned down Melky and Gardner attempting to steal second base.  The Yanks finished their homestand at 8-2 and are trailing the Red Sox by 1 game.

Other notes:  Toronto has lost 6 straight games and only lead the Yanks by .5 game for the wild card.  They are being exposed after beating up on the AL Central for the early part of the season.  

Yankees Record:  25-19

Blown Games:  3  

 

Game 43 - ARod, Melk-man Deliver

Going into the 9th inning, the Yanks were trailing 4-2, and facing Brad Lidge, last season's best closer.  Lidge didn't blow one save last season, including the playoffs, but came into the game only 8-10 in save oppportunities this year.   The Bombers added to his current season's woes, tying the game on a 2-run jack from ARod.  Melky Cabrera delivered his third walkoff hit of the year later in the inning, knocking in Robinson Cano on a single in the right field gap for a 5-4 victory over the phighting Phillies.  

For most of the game, Andy Pettitte and J.A. Happ engaged in a pitcher's duel until Phils' John Mayberry, Jr., making his major league debut, hit a 3-run shot to put the Phils up 4-1.  Derek Jeter would add a solo shot in the sixth to bring the Yanks within 4-2 and setting up ARod's and Melky's heroics in the 9th.  The Yanks are now 8-1 on their current homestand.  

Other notes:  Boston's Jonathan Papel-bum blew his first save of the season against the Mets, when Omir Santos hit a 2-run shot in the 9th.  It was initially ruled a double, but the umpires overturned and made the proper call after reviewing the replay.  Big Sloppy, 0-3, 2 Ks and hitting .201.  Francona for some reason, is still batting him third.

Yankees Record:  25-18 

Game 42 - Yanks Streak Snapped

It didn't take long - on AJ Burnett's first pitch of the game, Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins deposited one into the rightfield seats and the Yanks 9-game winning streak was doomed from the start.  The Phillies would hit 3 more HRs en route to a 7-3 victory.  

Burnett yielded 5 earned runs in 6 innings.  The 5 runs came on 3 pitches:  Rollins solo shot, and two-run HRs by Jayson Werth and light-hitting Carlos Ruiz.  Chien-Ming Wang, fresh off the DL and toting an ERA of 34.50, relieved Burnett to start the 7th.  He gave up 2 runs on 6 hits, including a bomb to Raul Ibanez, in 3 innings of work.  Although his fastball was hitting 93-94 mph consistently, he couldn't spot his pitches and looked shaky.  The good news is, he lowered his ERA to a "respectable" 25.00.

As for the Yanks offense, it consisted of an ARod HR,  Jeter HR, and a Tex HR - all solo blasts.  Other than that, they couldn't muster anything off of Phillies' starter, Brett Myers.  With the exception of 1 run, all scoring came courtesy of the long ball.  It's become more apparent everyday that the Yankee organization has built themselves a launching pad and any mistake by a pitcher will be crushed in this ballpark.  

Yankees Record:  24-18

Interleague Play:  0-1

Wang Recalled; Bruney Still Hurting

The Yanks recalled Chien-Ming Wang today, after the Yankee bullpen pitched 8.1 innings last night due to Joba taking a liner off his leg.  Jonathan Albaladejo was optioned down to Scranton to make room for Wang, who will be in the pen tonight.  

In other news, Brian Bruney's elbow is apparently acting up again after his one appearance since coming off the DL.  According to AP writer, Ronald Blum, he will take anti-inflammatories this weekend and reassess his condition Sunday when he plays catch.

The loss of Bruney for any stretch would be a critical loss for the Yanks.  Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and Jonathan Albaladejo have all pitched from erratic at best to down right horrible.  Yankee call-ups, Dave Robertson and touted rookie, Mark Melancon, didn't fare much better in their short stints with the club.

Maybe Yankee GM, Brian Cashman, might want to start "kicking the tires" out there.

Wang to Pitch One More in AAA; Hughes to Start Monday

The Yanks announced today that Wang will have one more start at AAA and pitch against Pawtucket (Boston's minor league affiliate) Friday night.  That will allow Phil Hughes to make his scheduled start on Monday. 

Wang's numbers in his 2 AAA starts have been nothing but dominant, giving up zero runs in 2 starts, but you get the sense the Yanks are still hesitant to throw him out there against big league hitters.  It could be they want to skip him against the lefty-laden lineup of the Phillies.  Hughes nice performance yesterday probably also intrigued team management to give him another start before he is demoted back to Scranton.  

What if Wang is terrible when he returns and continues to get pounded?   It sounds like he still isn't hitting the radar gun like he did before last year's season-ending injury to his foot.  Would the Yanks consider moving him to the pen and bring back Hughes for the rotation?  

I almost think Wang would be an intriguing option in the pen - he could be the long man and move Aceves to the 7th/8th inning.  Maybe he can find the missing mph on his sinker by letting it rip for an inning or two.   He could also induce the double play ball if he came in with inherited runners on base.  But if Wang does return to his old form, his talent clearly belongs in the rotation.  When he's on, he gives a solid 7-8 innings per start.  This would allow Hughes to continue developing his changeup and cutter in the minors while waiting for a potential injury call up or replace Joba when he nears his innings quota for the season.  

For now, Yankee fans will have to wait, and hold our breaths when Wang runs into his first sign of trouble.  

Game 41 - Joba Hurt - Can't Stop Yanks

Despite losing Joba Chamberlain after 2/3 inning tonight, the Yanks won their 9th straight for their longest streak of the Joe Girardi era.  In the top of the 1st, Joba took a liner off his leg from Baltimore's Adam Jones.  Joba recovered to throw him out, but after attempting to tough it out, he was taken out of the game after giving up back-to-back singles while clearly limping around.

Though it was a setback for the Yanks, it didn't slow them down as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 2 innings.  The hit barrage started with 3 straight doubles from Jeter, Cano and Teixeira in the 1st.  Cano would also tack on a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning en route to a 3 hits and 3 RBIs.  Matsui would add a solo blast to the upper deck in the 5th.

After going 2 pivotal innings last night, Alfredo Aceves came up big again, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings.  Jonathan Albaladejo relieved Aceves and looked terrible getting slapped around, giving up all 4 of the Orioles runs in 2.1 innings, including 2 dingers.  Jose Veras surprisingly made an appearance and even contributed, pitching 1.2 innings, and for a change of pace, didn't walk a batter.  The great Mariano finished up for his 9th save in the Bombers 7-4 victory.  

Aceves has been a Godsend for the Yanks bullpen (and their fans), giving up just 2 runs in 13.2 innings of relief this season.  He picked up his 3rd win tonight, all coming during this streak.  Aceves could prove to be a dual threat for Joe Girardi, able to be the long man out of the pen, or the bridge to Brian Bruney and Mariano.       

Big test for the Yanks win streak this weekend.  They'll be hosting the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies as they wrap up their 10-game homestand.  They'll be sending out their top 3 guns:   Burnett, Pettitte, and Sabathia.  It should be a good test for the Yanks.

Yankees Record:  24-17

Game 40 - Streak Reaches 8

Phil Hughes looked like a man who had nothing to lose tonight and the Yanks look like a team that refuses to lose again.  Hughes reared back and let it rip, striking out 9 Orioles in five innings of work, relying mostly on his fastball that had great movement up in the zone.  And a majority of his strikeouts didn't come against the weaker part of Baltimore's lineup, either.  At one point, he struck out Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff 6 straight times before Jones connected for a solo shot in the 5th.  He followed Jones HR by striking out Markakis for the third time.  

Hughes, who is rumored to be heading down to Scranton upon Chien-Ming Wang's return, certainly gave the Yankees and their fans a glimmer of the talent we've been hearing about since he was drafted #1 in 2004.  I think if Wang doesn't return to form in his next few starts off the DL, the Yanks should seriously consider moving him to the bullpen and return Hughes to the big club and rotation.    

The Yanks offense led 5-0 after 3 innings, with Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera providing the fireworks with back-to-back-to-back HRs against Oriole pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie.  The Orioles got as close as 5-3 after five innings, but Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera closed the door.  The Yanks would erupt for 6 more runs in the bottom of the 8th to go up 11-3 before Mo gave up a homer to rookie Nolan Reimold in the 9th, making the final score 11-4.  Mo earned his 8th save of the season when he entered in the 8th with 2 out and 1 on and the game was still 5-3.  The HR he gave up was the 5th he's surrendered this year - he gave up 4 all of last year and the season before that, too.  This new stadium is a bandbox!  5 more HRs in a game for the 8th team this season.

Other notes:  Big Sloppy finally connects for his first dinger in 149 at bats.  Maybe he should retire while he's on top.  Varitek hit 2 HRs tonight - does anyone know his pharmacist?  In a battle of small market teams (code for cheap ass owners), the A's defeated Tampa for the second straight game.  Tampa's Scott Kazmir has an ERA over 7.00.  Old Yankee, Jason Giambi, is on the interstate at .198.  Damn Dodgers are now 8-6 while their Mannyless.    

Yankees Record:  23-17

Game 39 - Lucky 7!

Crooked Cap helped keep the winning streak alive tonight, as the Yanks won their seventh straight game.  Sabathia mowed through the Baltimore Orioles lineup, striking out 7 while limiting them to 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings.  Two of those hits came in the first inning, when Baltimore scratched out their only run of the game.

The Bombers streak mostly can be attributed to ARod's HR streak, as he homered for the fourth straight day.  His 2-run shot in the bottom of the 1st put the Yanks ahead for good.  The score would remain 2-1 through 6 innings, as Sabathia and Oriole rookie pitcher, Brad Bergesen, looked untouchable, both holding their opponents to 3 hits apiece.  In the bottom of the 7th, the Yanks would blow the game wide open, perhaps not wanting to chance trusting their bullpen to hold the slim lead.

They would erupt for 7 runs in the frame, with a key 3-run, bases loaded double by Derek Jeter (the third run came in on a throwing error) and another HR from the hot hitting Mark Teixeira being the big hits of the inning, putting this game out of reach.  The Yanks and their fans welcomed the return of 8th inning setup man, Brian Bruney, who had an easy 1-2-3 inning.  And with an 8-run cushion, manager Joe Girardi felt it was even safe to throw Brett Tomko out there in the 9th to mop up the 9-1 victory.  

It's cannot be coincidence that the hometown heroes are 9-2 since the return of ARod.  He extends the lineup considerably, and as mentioned before in this blog, takes the heat off Teixeira, who admittedly has seen better pitches since ARod's return.  In those 11 games with ARod protecting him in the order, Tex's clubbed 6 HRs and now leads the Yanks with 11 HRs.  Their lineup should be even more formidable once Jorge Posada returns from the DL.  

Observations around the league:  Big Sloppy returned to the Sox lineup tonight after a 3 game absence and went 0-3 with 2 Ks.  His batting average is down to .203 and he's still stuck at zippo homers.  How much longer will Francona bat this guy 3rd in the lineup?  My guess is he's dropped in the lineup tomorrow and has seen the last of any left-handers.  He's being compared to Mo Vaughn and Cecil Fielder because of their sudden free fall from greatness at the age of 33.  Oakland's Matt Holliday hit a 3-run shot in the top of the 11th inning, his fifth of the season, to beat the Rays.  Tampa can't lose enough as far as I'm concerned.  Still surprised they haven't brought up pitcher David Price to turn things around.  Good to see good guy, Dontrelle Willis, pitch 1-hit ball for 6 1/3 innings tonight for Detroit.  Willis, when he was good, always seemed to be having fun out there.  Here's hoping he finds some of that again.  

I read today on the River Avenue Blues blog found on the Yes Network website that Joe Torre stated Scott Proctor has no one to blame but himself for his arm injury.  Ol' Padre Joe just continues to demonstrate what a lowlife dirtbag he really is and seems to forget the pile of dead arms he left in his wake:  Paul Quantrill, Flash Gordon, Tanyon Sturtze, Ramiro Mendoza, Steve Karsay along with Scott Proctor.  As for Proctor, Torre pitched him in 83 games and 102 innings in 2006, with 42 of those games being multiple inning appearances.  Brutal.  God knows how many times he had Proctor just warming up in the bullpen without entering the game.  Before the Yanks traded Proctor in 2007, he already had 52 appearances in July before being traded to the Dodgers.  What was the need for Torre to say anything at all?  First, a tell all book about the Yanks and now this.  Joe, please - just go away.  And for the record, I think Zimmer was the real brains during his Yankee years.

Yankees Record:  22-17           

Game 38 - Yanks Hang on For Win and the Sweep

The Yanks hung on for a 7-6 win tonight, after quickly jumping out to a 6-2 lead after the first inning against the Twins.  After Andy Pettitte got touched for 2 runs in the top of the 1st, the Bombers batted around in the bottom frame.  Mark Teixeira quickly put the Yanks up top with a 3-run shot and ARod followed up with a solo blast for back-to-back HRs.  The home team would tack on 2 more runs and knock out Twins starting pitcher, Glen Perkins.  In came RA Hickey and his 2-bit knuckleball and ERA over 5+, but the Yankee hitters decided to go on a siesta.  Hickey and his weak knuckler and even weaker 85 mph fastball would hold the Yanks scoreless on 3 hits in 4.1 innings.   

With the Yankee bats snoozing, the Twins began to chip away at the 4-run lead.  Pettitte surrendered a solo shot to Michael Cuddyer in the 4th and a bloop RBI single in the 6th to bring the Twins to within 6-4.  Teixeira woke up from his slumber and hit his second HR of the game to give the Yanks a 3-run cushion.  His homers came from both sides of the plate.  They would need it.  

Pettitte finally departed the game after surrendering 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings, including 4 to Yankee killer, Justin Morneau.  He departed after giving up a double to Morneau and a walk.  That's when the stress for Yankee fans started.  Enter Jose Veras, who continues to suffer from Walk the First Batter disease.  He walked Cuddyer on 5 pitches.  According to Yankee announcer, Ken Singleton, Veras has allowed 13 out of 19 first batters reach base on him.  TERRIBLE!  Fortunately for the Pinstripers, Carlos Gomez promptly popped up the first pitch with the bases loaded, ending the 7th inning threat.  

But wait - there were 2 more innings for the bullpen to get through.  In the 8th,  for some reason only God and Joe Girardi would know, Edwar Ramirez entered the game.  Like a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day, he continues to serve it up.  Denard Span's solo shot closed the score to 7-5.  Ramirez would walk Joe Mauer, allowing the 33 base runner to reach against him in only 17.1 innings.  He's now given up 6 HRs, too, after giving up 7 all of last year in 55 innings.  Phil Coke relieved Ramirez to face the tying run at the plate in Justin Morneau.  Coke proved Morneau was human after all, striking him out.

The fun or stress, depending on how you look at it, wasn't over.  Coke came out for the 9th, with Mariano having thrown 4 innings the previous 3 days and needing a much needed rest.  Coke would walk leadoff hitter, Joe Crede, allowing the tying run to come up to the plate.  After a wild pitch, he retired the next two hitters on grounders, with Cuddyer knocking in the Twins 6th run and trailing by 1 run.  Coke walked light-hitting Carlos Gomez to reach base and set the stage for an epic at bat by pinch-hitter, Mark Redmond.  On a full count, Redmond falled off what would have been ball four 3 different times before grounding out to Cano to end the game.  I thought Coke was going to throw up and collapse to the ground, throwing 30 pitches to get the final 3 outs.  

Hopefully, help is on the way for the relief corp - Brian Bruney should be activated off the DL tomorrow.  Crooked Cap is scheduled to face some no-name against Baltimore.   

Yankees Record:  21-17, and riding a season high 6 game winning streak.   

Game 37 - Walkoffs Are En Vogue

Since the Yankees returned home Friday night, they've been treating their fans to some exciting, nail-biting, ball games.  If anybody has left those games early, they must be kicking themselves.  For the third game in a row, the Yanks won walkoff style, with Johnny Damon providing today's heroics with a HR in the bottom of the 10th to give the Bombers a 3-2 victory over the Twins.  

Once again, the Yanks found themselves in a pitcher's duel, with AJ Burnett and Kevin Slowey matching zeroes for the first 6 innings.  The Twins broke through with a 2-spot in the top of the 7th, but the hometown heroes quickly responded in the bottom frame.  ARod led off with a HR, his second in 2 days, and third of the season.  Hideki Matsui followed with a double down the rightfield line.  Joe Girardi wisely had the slumping Nick Swisher sacrifice Matsui to 3rd.  As evidence of things going well for the Yanks lately, Matsui chugged in from third on a rarely seen Melky Cabrera sacrifice fly to tie the game.

For the second straight day, the game would go into extra innings, as Girardi mixed in his relievers at all the right times.  He had Albaladejo bailing Burnett out of a bases loaded jam in the 7th and Brett Tomko bailing Albaladejo out of the same predicament in the 8th.  I just thought Girardi was giving up the game when he brought in those 2.  He used Mariano in the 9th to face the heart of the Twins order and Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless 10th to pick up his 2nd win in 2 days.  The Yankees and Girardi may have found their 7th inning reliever in  Aceves, who's been a huge boon in their bullpen.  

Other notes:  The Bosox lost to Seattle, bringing the Yanks one game behind them in the loss column.  Toronto just can't lose, especially with Roy Halladay on the mound.  The Dodgers beat Florida, improving to a pedestrian 5-5 record without The Manny.  

Game 36 - Yanks High Priced Stars Come Through

Is it coincidence that since Arod's return, Mark Teixeira is starting to look like the hitter the Yanks thought they were buying for $180M in the offseason?  Tex went 4-4 today, with a HR and 4 RBIs, single-handedly keeping the Yankees in the game against tight-fisted Carl Pohlad's Minnesota Twins.  Arod would follow a Tex walk and win the game with a 2-run, walk-off HR in the bottom of the 11th to give the Yanks a 6-4 win.  This was the Bombers 2nd walk-off win in 2 days.  

Joba Chamberlain and Nick Blackburn engaged in a pitcher's duel, with Joba leaving the game leading 3-2 after 6 solid innings, thanks to a 3-run bomb from Tex in the 3rd inning.  The Yanks bullpen, better of late, could not hold on to the lead for Joba, as Phil Coke gave up 2 runs in the top of the 8th on a HR to Joe Mauer and Brian Buscher's RBI double.  Tex came up big again in the bottom of the inning, knocking in Ramiro Pena, pinch-running  for Hideki Matsui, who led off the inning with a double.  Tex's hit came with 2 outs after Johnny Damon failed miserably by grounding out  to the pitcher with Pena on 3rd.  

Mariano pitched 2 scoreless innings, escaping a 2-on, no-out jam in the top of the 10th.  Both hits were the typical nubber and bloop jobs that Mo gives up when he's busting hitters inside.  Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless 11th, assisted by the Captain who turned a routine grounder into a highlight play by "ranging far to his left", setting up the game's final theatrics in the bottom of the inning. 

When Tex led off the inning, was Twins manager Ron Gardenhire thinking back to a game 8 years ago, when then newly-signed and struggling 1B, Jason Giambi, hit an extra inning grand slam to earn the Yankee fans favor?  Twins pitcher Craig Breslow carefully pitched around Tex.  No matter, things are going the Yankees way these days, and Arod deposited an 0-1 pitch deep into the leftfield seats.  Their winning streak is now at 4 games and everyone seems to be contributing and players are coming up with the big hit when the games are on the line.

Yankees Record:  19-17 

Game 35 - Gardner & Cabrera Lead Yanks to 3rd Straight Win

During all of spring training, Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera competed for the starting CF job.  Gardner would win it when they broke camp, but lost it after he got off to a slow start.  Melky has been hitting well and looks like a different player then he was a year ago.  Competition can be a very good thing.  Tonight, both players would spur the Bombers in their dramatic come from behind 5-4 victory against the thrifty spending Minnesota Twins.  

Gardner wasn't even in the starting lineup, but came in when Johnny Damon was tossed for arguing a called 3rd strike.  Damon was called out on strikes twice on what appeared on replays to be on pitches that were a foot outside the first time and a foot inside the second time.  Damon immediately made his feelings known to the ump, deliberately pointing with his bat where he saw the pitches crossing in the batter's boxes.  Although Damon has been by far the Yankees best hitter this season, this worked to the Yankees benefit.  Gardner would go 3-3 including an inside-the-park HR .  It was the 1st one hit by a Yankee player since Ricky Ledee hit one in 1999.  I don't recall if I've personally ever seen a Yankee player hit one in my life.  His HR brought the Yanks to within 4-2.  

Gardner wasn't done though.  With the team trailing 4-2 in the 9th, and facing the dominating Joe Nathan, he led off with a stand up triple, despite slipping and falling coming around 1st!  Who knows, he might have hit his  second inside-the-park round tripper if he stayed on his feet.  Mark Teixeira followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3.  Arod would work a walk, overcoming 2 more bad strike calls by the home plate ump.  After a Matsui strikeout, Swisher was robbed of a game tying hit on a sensational play by 1B Justin Morneau.  Both runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd.  With 2 outs and 1st base open, the Twins made a monumental mistake - they intentionally walked Robinson Cano.  In my honest opinion, I feel Cano is one of the worse clutch hitters I have ever laid eyes on.  I would have told Nathan to go right at him.  Melky, who is also RISP-challenged, seems to be a different player when the game is on the line, coming through on numerous occasions.  On Nathan's first offering, he lined a single into left center, knocking in 2 runs to win the game. 

This win was the 3rd in a row for the Yanks and puts them 1 game over .500.  Wins like this can build a team's confidence and helps sustain winning streaks.  However, this game looked doubtful as they left dead soldiers all over the field, stranding 13 runners.  They started the game 0-7 with RISP before Teixeira's single in the 9th.  Victories always help gloss over the negatives.  Phil Hughes provided the Yanks with a working man's 5 innings, holding the Twins to 3 runs,  with 2 coming on 2 solo HRs by Justin Morneau.  The Yankee bullpen limited the Twins to 1 run in 4 innings, with the lone run coming on a Joe Mauer shot.  Derek Jeter got the Yanks on the board with a solo shot in the 5th.  But this night belonged to Gardner and Melky, who came up large against one of the league's premier closers.  Hopefully, both players will continue to push either other to be their best.  I anticipate both to start tomorrow, as Swisher has been struggling mightily since his magic genie returned back to its' bottle.

Other notes:  Big Sloppy sits and Mariners female softball player, Suzuki, embarrasses the Sox with 2 HRs, leading the M's to a 5-4 win.  Tampa overcame a 7-0 deficit against Cleveland and their crappy bullpen to win 8-7. 

Yankees Record:  18-17      

Game 34 - Sabathia Starting to Earn Big Paycheck

CC Sabathia began and ended the Yankees successful 6-game road trip with wins against Baltimore and Toronto. Tonight, Sabathia pitched 8 strong innings, limiting the Jays, the best hitting team in the AL, to 2 runs in the Yanks 3-2 victory. The Bombers went 4-2 on the road trip, winning both series.

Crooked Cap limited Toronto to 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking 4. His defense also bailed him out when Brett Gardner threw a strike to nail Jays catcher, Rod Barajas, at home plate on a John McDonald single, holding the Jays to a 2-1 lead after 5 innings. It was the Yankee gimps that came to the rescue on offense tonight. Derek Jeter, who sat out the last 2 games with a strained oblique, singled in the tying run in the top of the 7th. After the Crooked One escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning, Hideki Matsui led off the 8th with his 4th HR of the season. He left Tuesday's game with a pulled hammy and missed yesterday's game as well.

Sabathia evened his record at 3-3. I'll say this about the big fella - he's a workhorse and exactly what the Yankees need to rest their beleaguered bullpen at least once/twice a week. Against 2 of the better hitting teams of the league this week, he pitched 17 innings and only gave up 2 runs. In fact, with Burnett and Pettitte going longer in their starts, the bullpen has not been taxed as much, which may be a reason why they're pitching better of late. Mariano Rivera finished up tonight's game with a 1-2-3 ninth for his 7th save.

Of course, I can't end my blog without mentioning that the overrated Robinson Cano failed once again with runners in scoring position This time with the bases loaded in the first. He's now 19-81 in his career with the bases juiced (.235 average). He's just a different hitter with men on base, and not a good one.

Other notes: Dodgers improved to 3-4 without Manny, although they nearly blew today's game when Jonathan Broxton let the Phils tie it in the 9th. They went on to win in 10. Torre still sucks.

When will Boston fans begin booing Big Sloppy? 0-7 today with 3 Ks and 12, count them, 12 men left on base! It cost the Sox in a 5-4, 12-inning loss to the Angels. Sox left an astounding team total 17 men on base. Francona has to drop the Slop in the lineup. You can't win with your 3rd hitter in the lineup struggling like he is. Looks like Yoda Pedroia is back on last year's pace, going 4-6 and now hitting .336. His swing is still ridiculous.

The cheapskate Rays lost to Cleveland 11-7. BJ Upton is hitting a paltry .172 and the slick-fielding Aki Iwamura already has 5 errors. Cleveland had 18 hits in the game, but the media darling, Grady Sizemore, went 1-5 and is now hitting .221 with 40 Ks. I cannot stress enough how overblown this guy is.

The Mets stole 7 bases off of Bengie Molina. David Wright had 4 of those swipes. K-Rod has 10 saves. Do you think the Angels and their horrendous bullpen miss him? Arte Moreno, just another cheap owner. I hope it costs them the season.

Yanks Record: 17-17

Game 33 - Gardner Leads Yanks to Win

The game didn't start well, with Robinson Cano once again stranding a runner in scoring position in the top of the 1st and  Andy Pettitte walking 3 batters in the bottom of the 1st with a run scoring on Cano's throwing error.  To top it off, the Yanks once again had a depleted lineup with Jeter and Matsui nursing injuries.  The Yankee role players stepped up though, leading the hit parade in an 8-2 victory.  

Melky Cabrera got the show going with a leadoff double in the second inning.  Brett Gardner followed up with his first career HR.  Not to be outdone, Ramiro Pena, filling in for Jeter, hit a triple to right.  After Francisco Cervelli failed to knock in Pena, the Yanks hottest hitter, Johnny Damon tripled in Pena, making it 9 straight games with an extra base hit.  Nick Swisher, the only Yankee who didn't reach base tonight, in typical Yankee fashion, failed to knock in Damon.  However, there was a Mark Teixeira sighting, as he laced a double over Vernon Wells head in CF, scoring Damon for his 2nd hit in 2 innings. 

Andy Pettitte wasn't sharp tonight, but like a crafty veteran pitcher who could smell victory, he toughed out 6 innings, giving up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits and 4 BBs.  Alfredo Aceves, impressive in his long relief role against the Sox last week, pitched 2 scoreless innings and hopefully opened up some eyes for a potential larger role in the bullpen.  He threw a beautiful overhand curveball for a strike that had Jays' Alex Rios knees buckle and bailing out.  Jonathan Albaladejo came in the 9th to close the door, but not before giving Joe Girardi a stroke by loading the bases with 2 of the runners getting on via walks.  Walking hitters is inexcusable with a 6-run lead.  With Mariano having to start to throw, Albaladejo got Rios to end the game on a double play grounder.  

The Yanks combined for 8 extra base hits tonight:  4 doubles, 3 triples and Gardner's HR.  Gardner would also hit a triple and Damon had a triple and a double.  Other positives this evening:  Cervelli had his first major league RBI on an infield single.  That's his second infield single in a week, as Cervelli runs well for a catcher.  I'm sure the sloth-footed Posada and Molina haven't had 2 infield singles in a season.  Mark Teixeira finally cracked the Mendoza line, going 2-4 and is now hitting .202.  Not only that, he did something that is seldom seen in Yankeeland - hitting a sacrifice fly.  I almost fainted.  But then again, weird things were happening all game.  After my public flogging of the Yankees bench yesterday, they came up big tonight.  And is there a full moon out?   Because Cano had a 2-out RBI single.  Then again, the Yanks were up 4-1 at this point and had been batting for over 30 minutes in the 2nd inning, so maybe he didn't know how many outs there were and there was no pressure.  Call me cynical, but until I see Cano get a big hit in a clutch situation, I'll be all over him.

The Yanks need to take this series tomorrow with Crooked Cap toeing the mound.

Yankees Record:  16-17

Game 32 - Roy Halladay, Yankee Killer

Johnny Damon tried to stretch a single into a double in the first inning and was thrown out (replays showed he may have been safe).  After that, Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay retired the next 17 batters till Damon doubled in the 7th inning.  Arod would single him in after Mark Teixeira did his best impersonation of the Statue of Liberty, standing still looking at a called 3rd strike down the pipe for the second time in the game.  However, by that time, the Yanks were trailing 3-1 and there wasn't a chance they were going to rally against Halladay, now 16-5 lifetime against the Yanks.  He's now won 6 in a row against them.  

Halladay, already 7-1 this season and looking like he's wrapped up another Cy Young Award, pitched a complete game 5-hitter against the Yanks.  He clearly outdueled his former teammate and buddy, AJ Burnett.  Burnett held his own till the 8th inning, when he allowed 2 more runs and guaranteeing the Yanks would not overcome a 5-1 deficit.  He fell to 2-1 on the season.

The Yanks just continue to receive bad news, as Derek Jeter was scratched for a strained oblique muscle before the game (isn't that a steroid injury?) and Hideki Matsui left the game with a pulled hamstring.  But this is what you get when you field an ancient team, particularly when you put an old fossil like Jeter at an athletic position like SS.  And Matsui, is what, 53 years old?  This team is breaking down before our very eyes.  Once again, I'll point the finger at GM Brian Cashman for failing to resolve this issue during the offseason.  

Old players, along with the bullpen, were 2 major issues facing the Yanks after last season, but Cashman failed to resolve either problem.  Didn't he learn his lesson last year with the old timers?  Damon and Posada both went on the DL for the first time in their careers.  Arod missed significant time, as well as Matsui.  Instead, Cashman went into this season with Cody Ransom, Ramiro Pena and Angel Berroa.  Which one of these bench players puts the fear of God in their opponents when they're pinch-hitting or in the lineup?  The Yankees essentially had 3 minor leaguers in the lineup against the ace, Halladay - Brett Gardner, Kevin Cash and Ramiro Pena.  Inexcusable for a team with a $200M payroll.  They were a combined 1-9 tonight.

Other notes:  The Yankees loss was softened by another defeat for the socialist Rays.  They are struggling this year against the Orioles.  As long as the Rays are exposed this year for the frauds they are, I'll be happy.  Speaking of frauds, Joe Torre, is now 1-4 without Manny after losing to Philly tonight.  I thought a great manager (not really) like this guy would be able to rally the troops, but he's no better than the talent given to him.  

Yankees Record:  15-17, and 6.5 games behind the Jays

 

Observations Around the League

- Carl Pavano won his third game tonight for Cleveland in his 7th start.  No Yankee starter has 3 wins yet.  In 3 years with the Yanks, he was 9-8 in 27 starts.  It cost the Yanks roughly $4.5M per win.  So far, it's cost the Indians less than a million per.  Anymore wins and it will be a one heck of a signing for Cleveland.  

- Dodgers, 1-3 without Manny.  C'mon, Joe Torre, I've had to listen to the sports writers who swoon and faun over your Bob Gibson stories tell me what a genius you've been for the past 15 years.  I've said it since Luis Gonzales' bloop single beat the Yanks in the 2001 World Series - this man is a phony fraud.  Go Giants.

-  Yoda Pedroia pulled a groin muscle this weekend.   Probably did it on one of his ridiculous swings.  Is David Ortiz still playing?  I haven't seen him on the HR stat sheet yet.  He has 26 hits and 26 Ks - not good.  Jonathan Van Every, Nick Green, Julio Lugo and Jacoby Ellsbury have all hit 1 HR, in less at bats.

- More on Red Sox:  Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have ERAs  of 6.31 and 6.42 respectively.  Pitching coach John Farrell must be having some sleepless nights.  Something tells me it still beats watching the Dart Thrower, Matsuzaka, attempt to navigate 120 pitches through 5 innings.

- Poor Johan Santana.  He has an ERA of 0.78 and is only 4-2.  His first lost was a 2-1 decision with 2 unearned runs and he lost tonight to Atlanta, giving up just 2 more unearned runs, before departing with 1 out in the 7th, trailing 2-1.  His bullpen imploded and the Mets lost 8-3.  They just can't score runs for this guy.

- Ken Griffey, Jr., you can't go home again:  3 HRs and hitting .218 for Seattle.

- Is Tampa Bay really this stubborn and cheap that they won't bring up stud pitcher David Price yet?  I hope they miss the playoffs by a couple of wins.  Socialism sounds good, but doesn't work in reality.

- Why can't anyone hit in Oakland?  They're hitting .236 as a team.

Game 31 - Joba Overcomes Shaky 1st Inning

The Bronx Bombers defeated the Orioles, 5-3 today, using 3 long balls to account for all their runs.  Leading 1-0 on a Mark Teixeira HR, Joba Chamberlain surrendered another 3-run shot in the first inning to Aubrey Huff, giving Baltimore a quick 3-1 lead.  Earlier in the week, Joba yielded a 3-run blast to Boston's Jason Bay in a 4-run first inning, which cost the Yanks the game in a 4-3 loss.  Today, however, the Yanks were able to overcome his first inning failures, using a 4-run 7th inning on a solo shot from Robinson Cano (you don't expect this guy to hit with men on base, do you?), and a 3-run, 2-out homer from Johnny Damon.  

Damon's blast came after rookie catcher, Francisco Cervelli, beat out an infield single, and Derek Jeter beat out a dribbler to third.  Damon's swing came on a full count, after it appeared the ump made a questionable 2nd strike call on the previous pitch.  Fortunately, it worked out for the Yanks and Damon, unquestionably the best hitter on the team right now.  He's hitting over .300, and leading the team with 9 HRs and 25 RBIs. 

The game started with some drama when Aubrey Huff, not once, but twice, pumped his fist in mockery of Joba's emotional theatrics when he strikes out batters during intense moments of games.  Huff pumped his fist rounding 1B and really was demonstrative with the fist pump as he touched home plate.  Joba never retaliated, although Huff came to bat with men on base later in the game, perhaps limiting Joba's chances.  To Joba's credit, he did state after the game it's his job to get Huff out, but it will be something to monitor in future matchups.  

Joba pitched 6 strong innings, giving the Yanks another quality start, and after Hughes blow up yesterday, will keep the "Joba to the bullpen" fanatics at bay.  Phil Coke came up huge, pitching 2 shutout innings in relief.  Huge props to Joe Girardi, who kept Coke in the game in the 8th inning.  Instead of overmanaging and playing the mix and match game, especially with Jose Veras getting ready in the bullpen, he allowed Coke to stay in against the righty batters.  After allowing a single with one out, Coke got Ty Wigginton to ground into a double play.  Mariano Rivera pitched the 9th for his 6th save.  He did walk his first batter of the season, the legendary Felix Pie, who despite coming into the game hitting .158 on the season, is .400 against the Yanks.  Typical for this team.   

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Not much to pick on today, but the majority of Yankee runs lately are coming on the long ball.  Generally, that's not a sign of a good team.  This team needs to start manufacturing runs and it will start when they hit with men in scoring position.  I'm starting to believe Bill James analysis of Derek Jeter's defense as being one of the worse SS in baseball.  His range is atrocious and nearly non-existent, especially going to his left.  I watched 2 dribblers go by him which I thought for sure were easy grounders off the bat.  Please, Jeter, please tell the team you're killing them in the field and make the move to CF.  As I've said before - even Hall of Fame greats Cal Ripken and Robin Yount moved from SS, and you were never in their class as a fielder.      

Yankees Record:  15-16, 

Up next:  First place Toronto with Roy Halladay, who owns them, starting the first game.  The Yanks never seem to dodge this guy.

Game 30 - Yanks Blown Out in Baltimore

After CC Sabathia provided the Yankee bullpen which a much needed rest last night, Phil Hughes flushed it all away when he got knocked out of the game in the 2nd inning.  Baltimore would score 8 runs off of him in the 2nd en route to a 12-5 shellacking.  Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladejo and recently called up Brett Tomko pitched the final 6 1/3 innings, but the deficit was too much for the Yankee offense to overcome.  Tomko made his Yankee debut after having a 0.64 E.R.A. at Scranton-Wilkes Barre.  But, like his new teammates on the staff have done all season , pitched an ineffective inning, giving up 1 run on Adam Jones HR and 2 other hits.  Great, another guy who can't get anyone out.

Phil Hughes remains an enigma.  He's been projected as the Yankee future ace since he was drafted in the first round four years ago.  To his credit, he's still only 22.  However, I fear this guy may never reach his potential in the big leagues.  He has rapidly ascended through the Yankee farm system and really has nothing else to prove down in the minors.  He could be an AAAA player - a term applied to players considered too good for the minors, but not able to make any impact in the majors.

The Yankee offense didn't provide much spark either tonight, though they did score 5 runs with only six hits.  The red hot Johnny Damon and the slumping Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher hit HRs in the losing effort, but they didn't stand much of chance, falling behind 11-1 at one point.  Arod, in his second game back, went 0-3 with a walk.  

Yanks are scheduled to send Joba Chamberlain to the hill tomorrow.  As if enough injuries haven't already besieged this team, Joba popped a blood vessel in his right thumb today.  The Yankees believe he should still be able to make his start and hopefully, provide some length in the game.  However, Baltimore is another one of those teams that are boring to watch because they take pitch after pitch, making games a mandatory 3.5 - 4 hours long.  

Other Notes:  Nationals fans have something to root for after all - Ryan Zimmerman has a 27 game hit streak going.  Eric Stults pitched a shutout for the Dodgers today against the Giants.  He's 4-1.  Who is this guy?  Tampa and Evan Longoria still own the Sox.  Of Longoria's 44 RBIs this season, 21 are against Boston!  Hey Francona, time to pitch around this guy!  You'd think he would have learned something from the Yankees when they stubbornly continued to pitch to Manny Ramirez only to watch him clobber them for over 50 HRs lifetime.  

Yankees Record:  14-16  

Game 29 - Look Who's Back

To quote Eminem, "look who's back, back again".  First pitch, first swing, 3-0 Yanks.  Arod returned tonight after missing the first 28 games of the season and provided the jolt that this team desperately needed with his 3-run blast.  CC Sabathia was not to be outdone, finally demonstrating why the Bombers made him the highest paid pitcher in the game as he shutout Baltimore 4-0.  He allowed the first 2 batters of the game to reach base on singles and didn't allow another hit till he let the first 2 hitters leadoff with singles in the 9th.  He would end the game by striking out the side, giving him 8 Ks on the night. 

CC dominated throughout, and although the Orioles have a losing record, this team can rake the ball.  Brian Roberts is hitting .303 and Adam Jones and Nick Markakis both began the night hitting over .35o.  Aubrey Huff has 25 RBIs, which would lead the Yankees.  Sabathia constantly worked ahead of the hitters, walking just one, as he lowered his E.R.A. to a respectable 3.94 and improved his record to 2-3.  

The Yankees scored their 4th run when the hot hitting Johnny Damon doubled in rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli in the 7th.  Cervelli played exceptionally well, calling a great game, throwing out a base runner, and collecting his first major league hit.  The only real negative of the night occurred when the Yanks discovered a new way in failing to get a runner in from 3rd base with less than 2 out - Nick Swisher was picked off third.  He was actually safe, but called out because the Yanks 3B coach illegally pushed him toward the bag.  It's amazing how they find different ways to blow potential runs.  But tonight was all about the return of Arod, who's replacements at 3B were hitting a combined .202, 0 HRs and 10 RBIs, and CC, who provided the often-maligned bullpen a much needed rest.

Other Notes:  Jason Bay is NOT this good.  Why do teams keep throwing meatballs down the middle on this guy?  Rays pitcher, James Shields, was up 0-2 in the count when he allowed Bay to hit a 3-run shot to tie the game on a pitch right down the pipe.  Inexcusable.   

Uh, the Dodgers are now 0-2 without Manny.  Joe Torre is a fraud when he doesn't have talent.  I'll be keeping a close eye on the Dodgers as they go Manny-less.  Looks like Barry Zito may have turned things around this year.

Yankees Record:  14-15

 

Game 28 - Will This Team Ever Win Again?

Old Yankee stalwarts, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, had some firsts in their careers tonight - and it wasn't a good thing.  Pettitte surrendered 4 HRs for the first time in his career.  Rivera allowed back-to-back HRs for the first time in his career in an 8-6 loss to the Rays.  This marked the fifth straight loss for the Yanks, something originally thought impossible during the offseason with a starting rotation consisting of Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte.  

Except for the heroics of Johnny Damon, who went 4-5 with a HR and 4 RBIs, this team is dead from the neck up and no one is stepping up and getting the big hit.  In fact, no one can get a sacrifice fly or an easy ground ball when the defense is conceding the run on third.  Mark Teixeira has been absolutely horrendous, failing once again in the first inning after blowing last night's game in the 10th inning, and the Yanks already trailing 2-0.  With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, he grounded out to the pitcher.  The Captain has also failed repeatedly this season in the same situation - lining softly to the 2B in the 4th.  Johnny Damon, fortunately at the time, plated the runs with the hardly ever seen, 2 out RBI hit.  Robinson Cano continues to perpetrate a fraudulent baseball player.  Hitting over .300 this season, he's batting less than .200 with runners in scoring position.  If he's up with runners on and 2 out, consider the inning over.

Despite trailing 4-0 and 6-4, the Yanks came back twice to tie the game, largely in part to Damon.  However, this team just can't build on any momentum.  They haven't had a lead in a ball game since last Saturday.  No one wants to play the hero.  To compound matters tonight, Jose Molina strained a quad muscle and had to leave the game in the 6th.  If he goes on the DL, he will join Posada who also went on the DL this week.  Cashman should have made a move for a catcher this offseason, knowing Posada was questionable coming into the season and that he's 37 years old.  Cashman, instead, opted for the scrap heap with career .185 hitter, Kevin Cash, who likely will be called up if Molina is DL'd.  

Arod returns tomorrow and it couldn't come a moment sooner.  However, can he help the team overcome their mediocre starting pitching, horrible relief, and non-existent clutch hitting?  Even the usually reliable Mariano Rivera looks human this year, already matching last season's total of yielding 4 HRs.

Yankees Record:  13-15, 5.5 games back  and getting uglier

Manny Suspended 50 Games

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.  I only wish Manny Ramirez was popped for performance enhancing drugs while he was still with the Sox.  Manny is saying it was a prescription drug, but according to a MLB source, it was a female fertility drug that curtails the side effects that come at the end of a steroid cycle.  The body may stop producing testosterone when juicers go off the 'roids, causing testicles to shrink.  I guess Manny wanted his Lil' Manny to still be Lil' Manny.  

Let's see how much of a "genius" Joe Torre is now.  Luckily for him, the Dodgers are in the worse division in baseball and his team has more talent then anyone else in that pathetic division.  

Manny was tested during spring training.  Why does it take MLB over a month to announce a positive test?  Something tells me Manny will enjoy the break - it will be interesting to see how he responds on the road with fans taunting him upon his return.  I'm now thinking Manny was 'roid raging when he pushed down the 68-year old Sox traveling secretary last year.  Who normally does that besides criminals?  

Finally, someone not connected to the Yankees, Mets or Barry Bonds.  Baseball needs to look at all clubhouses - not just the ones where the clubhouse boy gets pinched by the feds.   

Game 27 - Yanks Losing Streak Reaches 4

The Yanks losing streak reached 4 games today, as they lost 4-3 in 10 innings to the socialist Tampa Bay Rays.  Their inability to hit a sacrifice fly finally cost them a game when they absolutely needed it, as Mark Teixeira failed to drive in Johnny Damon from 3rd with one out in the bottom of the 10th.  It initially appeared this game had no shot at going extra innings, as for 7 innings, the Yanks made Andy Sonnanstine and his 6.75 E.R.A. look like the reincarnation of Don Drysdale.  They looked lifeless, although AJ Burnett gave the Yanks a quality start, limiting the Rays to 3 runs in 6 innings with 8 Ks.  

Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the 8th, the rally started simply enough, with a single by Ramiro Pena and a double by Jose Molina.  "The Captain", Jeter, continued what is quickly becoming Yankee tradition - failing to knock in the runner from third with less than 2 out.  Rays manager, John Madden, played the ol' mix and match routine with the relievers.  Johnny Damon walked, loading the bases.  Mark Texeira, stuck in an 0-19 slump with runners in scoring position, laced a broken bat, bases clearing double down the LF line that tied the game at 3 all.  

The Yanks had ample opportunity to win the game, too, but continue to fail miserably in the clutch.  Matsui stranded Tex in the 8th.  In the ninth, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Molina flied out to right to end the inning, although it appeared Pena beat out a slow roller to 3rd, which would have loaded the bases with one out.  

Carlos Pena hit the game winning HR in the top of the 10th off of Phil Coke, who lately has been the Yankees best relief pitcher.  It was his first run allowed in his last 10 appearances.  Till the HR, Yankee relievers actually pitched well, hurling 3 shutout innings.  The Pinstripers will need a win tomorrow to split their 6 game home stand.   Andy Pettitte is slated to start.

Yankees Record:  13-14      

Posada Placed on DL

The Yanks placed catcher Jorge Posada on the DL with a hamstring strain.  He's expected to miss 2-3 weeks.  Posada joins pitchers Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, and Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list.  OF Xavier Nady and 3B Alex Rodriguez are also on the list, although Arod and the Yanks are hoping he can join the team in Baltimore this weekend.

The Yanks were derailed by injuries last year, losing their ace Wang in June and Posada for most of the year, leaving huge holes in their staff and lineup.  Arod also missed over 25 games last season.  It appears the Yankees may be suffering the same type of bad luck again this season.  Posada is leading the Yanks in RBIs with 20.  They recalled AA catcher, Francisco Cevelli, to take his place on the roster.  This is the risk when fielding an aging team.  The season's still young - time will tell.

Game 26 - Yanks Spanked Again

The Yankees lost this game by the fourth batter, with Joba Chamberlain giving up 5 straight hits and 4 runs to start the game.  New Yankee nemesis, Jason Bay, once again summoned the ghost of Manny with a 3-run blast.  He now has 3 HRs and 10 RBIs in 5 games this season against New York.  The Sox would tack on 3 runs against the Yanks weak-ass bullpen in the last 2 innings en route to a 7-3 victory.  

Despite Joba's shaky start, he would settle in and pitch a helluva ball game, recording a career high 12 Ks in only 5 2/3 innings and allowing only one hit after the 1st.  The Bombers pulled within 4-3 in the 3rd inning on Johnny Damon's 3-run blast off of Josh Beckett.  However, they couldn't muster anything the rest of the game and lost their 3rd straight game and 5th in a row to Boston.  

Out of Joba's 12 Ks, 9 were of the looking variety, as the Sox continued their tedious pitch-taking style.  They are brutal to watch.  Perhaps no more brutal then watching the Yankees these days.  These guys have no chutzpah, no bark, and no fight in them.  Their bullpen is a bad cliche.  Brian Cashman - please tell me you are looking into this.  Mark Melancon was worthless tonight.  It was good to see Jose Veras overcome his "Walk the First Batter" disease, retiring both batters he faced.  Phil Coke has been solid, too.  But Albaladejo has shown nothing in his last couple of appearances.  Plus, this bullpen is just worked over.  

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Ramiro Pena.  He has shown a tendency to make decent contact, however, he struck out badly on a pitch way out of the zone with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out in the 6th with the team down by 1 run.  That was the last real Yankee threat.  Pena also booted a grounder in the 8th, leading to 2 unearned runs and putting the game essentially out of reach.  Mark Melancon - 3 batters, 3 walks.  Nice work.  What is up with all the walks by the relievers?  It's worse than the swine flu pandemic.

Yankees Record:  13-13 and fading fast

Rain Out

The Yanks were rained out today - allowing them to take 2 out of 3 games from their arch nemesis Angels.  Tomorrow, Phil Hughes is scheduled to go against Jon Lester and the Red Sox.  This week may tell exactly where the Yanks fall in the American League East, with 2 games at home against Boston,  2 games at home against the socialist Rays and 3 in Baltimore.  

Yanks are currently 3.5 games behind first place Toronto, and 1.5 games back of the Sox.  Hopefully, the Yanks can make Lester work hard and knock him out early like his last start against them.  Yanks will need Hughes to pitch well again, like he did in Detroit, going up against one of the best left handers in the league.  It'd be nice to see the Yanks show some backbone this time, too.  That 3-game performance 2 weekends ago in Boston was a gutless effort.  Poor Yankee fans had to call out sick for the week to avoid public humiliation.  A nice 5-2 record this week could go a long way in keeping the ship righted.  

Game 24 - Yankees Mowed Down By No Name

The Yanks momentum from the previous night's comeback win lasted all of one inning.  The Yanks took a 1-0 lead in the first, only to have 30-year old rookie, Matt Palmer, yes the Matt Palmer, mow them down, holding them to 3 hits for the 6 1/3 innings.  At one point, he retired 14 straight batters.  Crooked Cap Sabathia held his own, till he tired in the top of the 7th against the Angels, giving up 4 runs in that frame.  Jeter's costly error in the 6th allowed the Angels to tie the score at 1 before their outburst in the 7th made it a 5-1 game.  Note to Jeter:  please find another position.  You're old and slow.  

As for the Yanks offense, it was non-existent, as they looked like a team that partied till the wee hours of the morning celebrating last night's victory.  Cano and Teixeira once again failed in situations with a runner on third and less than 2 out.  These guys are becoming a huge bore as I find myself writing the same thing almost on a nightly basis about these 2.  

The Yankees bullpen woes continued, as Albaladejo gave up a run scoring single on his first pitch, bringing in the Angels 5th run.  I can't recall the last time the Yankees bullpen didn't allow an inherited runner to score.  It may have been during President Clinton's first term.   Jose Veras stunk up the joint again, giving up a HR and 2 walks - he's become another bore, and little used David Robertson gave up 2 runs in his one inning, though only 1 run was earned due to Melky's horrendous gaffe in the 9th.  

The Yanks fruitless 3 run rally in the bottom of the 9th may have given Angel manager Mike Scioscia another ulcer, but it fell short as they lost 8-4 and kissed their nice 4 game winning streak good-bye.  It seems the Yanks are developing a pattern when CC pitches - they can't score any runs for this guy.

Yanks Record:  13-11

Game 23 - War of Attrition

Another game, another bonfire by the Yankee bullpen.  The Yanks were up 4-0 going into the 6th inning when Andy Pettitte, with 2 out and runners on second and third, gave up a single to Angels backup catcher, Jeff Mathis.  Pettitte departed with the bases loaded and a slim 4-2 lead.  Mark Melancon, on his first pitch, threw a meatball down the pipe that Gary Matthews, Jr. ripped in the gap for a bases clearing double.  From there, things got worse.  

Trailing 6-4 after Melancon’s terrible 1/3 inning performance, Jose Veras relieved in the 7th and apparently is still suffering with the “Walk the First Batter” disease.  From there, he kept adding kindling to the fire, giving up 3 runs in his pathetic 2/3 inning.  Edwar Ramirez acted as an accomplice during this act of arson, giving up a single to the first batter he faced, allowing the Angels to extend their league to 9-4.  Girardi looked like he was about to throw up in the dugout, watching the bullpen self implode, yet again.  The relievers are toting a hefty E.R.A. over 6.50.  They’re ranked 13th in the league.  Who’s worse?  Luckily for the Yanks - the Angels, as evidenced by their generous gift by handing the game to the Yanks tonight.

The rally began in the 8th inning.  Key hits by Cabrera, Pena, and a Jeter groundout brought the Yanks to within 1 run.  Suddenly, this team was showing life and someone must have kidnapped the real Cabrera, because he’s gotten bases loaded hits in back-to-back nights.  In the 9th, Yankee reliever, Jonathan Albaladejo did what many considered the impossible for any reliever tonight:  he had a 1-2-3 inning.  The Yankee comeback against Angel stopper Brian Fuentes started with a walk by Teixeira.  Tex may be hitting on the interstate, but he’s still getting his walks.  Matsui singled, and Cano, another guy hitting well but struggling in clutch, also singled.  Teixeira should have scored on the play, but froze for a second on the liner hit up the middle.  Posada came through with a 2-run single on a full count, giving the Yankees a well fought comeback win.   

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Picking on the relievers is too easy.  So is blaming the manager, Joe Girardi.   The finger pointing starts with GM Brian Cashman.  I don’t understand how a $200M team can be stocked with a $1.50 bullpen.  Cashman has not spent or traded wisely, when it comes to the pen.  His list includes Kyle Farnsworth, Damaso Marte, the second coming of an overaged Mike Stanton, Flash Gordon, Paul Quantrill, Scott Proctor, etc, etc.  This team is not shy about throwing money around - why start pinching pennies with the bullpen, especially in a league who’s main purpose is to wait out the starting pitchers to feast on bullpen fodder?  The bullpen will need to step in the coming week.  Games against the Bosox, Rays and Orioles may demonstrate exactly where this Yankee team will stand this season.

Other notes:  Evan Longoria owns the Sox - 4 HRs and 13 RBIs already this season.  Are the Nationals still a team in the National League?

Yankees Record:  13-10

 

Game 22- Yanks Win Rare Game vs. Angels

On a night AJ Burnett did not have his best stuff, the Yankees overcame an early 3-1 deficit and with the game tied late, rallied for 3 go ahead runs in the 8th for a 7-4 victory.  It looked like things were going to be status quo against the Angels early, a team the Yankees have historically struggled against.  Chone Figgins, another notorious  Yankee killer, led the game off with a triple and promptly scored on a single.  The Yanks responded with a quick run of their own when there was  a Mark Teixeira sighting last night.  He hit a double and was knocked in by hot-hitting Hideki Matsui.  

Burnett gave up 2 more runs in the top of the second with one of the runs coming on Mike Napoli’s HR.  The Yankees rallied back and took a 4-3 lead in the fourth, when a rarely seen, almost extinct, 2-out, RBI single was hit by Derek Jeter.  Burnett promptly coughed up the lead in the top of the 5th, till the Yanks big rally in the 8th.  

The miracles didn’t stop with the rare 2-out RBI hit, either.  What was thought to be the impossible, Melky Cabrera, the man who led the team with the lowest percentage of getting the runner in from third with less than 2 outs, hit an RBI single off of Justin Speier.  Ramiro Pena followed with a 2 run double, knocking in his first RBIs of his career.  Congratulations, kid, and good timing.  

Mariano Rivera, pitiful in his last 2 appearances, slammed the door with 2 Ks in the 9th after giving up a leadoff single.  

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Just one tonight - Cano continues to struggle miserably with runners in scoring position.  Kudos to Posada, who threw out 2 runners, including the Chone.  And I pronounce it the way it looks and sometimes I’ll throw in a long “e” at the end, as in “Choney”.  I still don’t know how you get “Sean” from that spelling.

Yankees Record:  12-10