Tuesday marked the 50th day since the 2009 baseball season was launched. Today, May 28th, both New York teams finally find themselves in first place. The Mets own sole possession of the NL East by a half game, leapfrogging the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees are tied at the top of the AL East standings with the Boston Red Sox. The Bombers haven’t been in sole possession of first since 2006’s final game, but that could change as quickly as a David Ortiz lineup switch.
The Mets are winners of five of their last six games and are 17-8 in the month of May. Johan Santana improved his record to 7-2 with a six inning win over the Washington Nationals Wednesday. The five run victory completed New York’s three game sweep of the dreadful Nats. Santana spurned Washington with 11 strikeouts and 120 pitches. He walked six batters, including one with the bases loaded, but limited the damage to three runs. His ERA rose from 1.50 to 1.77, but Santana secured his third straight start in the win column.
The Mets have had five disputed homerun calls this season. Two were reversed and all five went New York’s way, including last night’s Daniel Murphy long ball in the sixth inning. Murphy was awarded a two-run homer after video review overturned the umpires’ original ruling. It was the Mets second homerun replay win in less than a week and Murphy’s fourth shot out of the park on the year. The Mets put together a trio of hits to open the bottom of the first. Second baseman, Luis Castillo and third baseman, David Wright, drew singles off Nationals’ starter, Jordan Zimmerman. Gary Sheffield, hitting over .400 in May and collecting his 1,652nd RBI, roped a double to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Sheffield tied Tony Perez on the career RBI list for 25th place with the bash to right-center field in the first. Excuse the pun, but the Sheff is cooking. If this is indicative of what he can still do, the acquisition appeals to Met fans.
Murphy lined a single in the third to drive in Angel Pagan. Adam Dunn hit a mammoth homerun of 465 feet off Santana in the fourth inning to trim New York’s lead. Later in the inning, Johan loaded the bases and walked Cristian Guzman. Santana issued four free passes during the frame, the first time he’s done so in his career. The Mets left-hander threw 41 pitches in the fourth inning but got Nick Johnson to fly out to end the inning. Johnson registered three hits and drove in one run for the Nats. Although he could not put Washington ahead in the fourth, the Nationals tied the score with New York’s commanding ace on the mound.
Santana had seven no-decisions last season mostly due to lack of bullpen depth and strength. This year, he twice lost while giving up no earned runs. Last night, Johan did not have his best outing but still won the game. He wasn’t getting some calls and thought he was a bit squeezed by the home plate umpire. Nonetheless, the Mets snapped the 3-3 tie on Murphy’s reviewed homerun. Sheffield walked to start the bottom of the sixth before Murphy clubbed the ball over the arc in right field. The ball seemingly scratched the porch and Sheffield was thrown out at the plate when the ball caromed back into play. After the latest stroke of luck for the Mets, catcher, Ramon Castro, doubled to left field. Ron Villone was summoned from the Nationals’ pen to face rookie right fielder, Fernando Martinez. The 20 year old with a big power bat was playing in his second major league game. He popped the ball behind the plate to Wil Nieves. The Nationals catcher did not make the routine grab, but Martinez never ran on the hit. Thus, he was thrown out at first base and the crowd showered the rookie with his first well-earned boos. The mental mistake cost the Mets an out and they failed to add to the lead when Fernando Tatis’ pinch-hit liner resulted in an inning-ending double play. Pedro Feliciano fanned Dunn to end the top of the seventh and preserve New York’s two run lead. Feliciano has 15 strikeouts this season.
Murphy came through with his bat again in the seventh on a bases loaded double off reliever, Jesus Colome. It would be the final runs scored by New York. Washington would add a run in the ninth on Johnson’s single. Francisco Rodriguez struck out Ryan Zimmerman to end the game. The Nationals fell 20 games below .500 and dropped 15 of their last 18 games last night. The Mets have won 9 of their last 11 at Citi Field. The injured-ravaged team still managed to overtake Philadelphia in the standings. They are playing without Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Ryan Church. You cannot understate the impact of the injured players but Jerry Manuel’s back-ups are flourishing and providing a lift. A healthy Wright struck out four time for the first time in his career, but the offense produced seven runs to back Santana. They have scored 21 runs in the CY Young winner’s last three outings. Santana remained tied for the NL wins lead and reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season. He doesn’t have to be concerned about being a victim of bullpen damage this year. The Met relievers upheld even a mediocre start from their number one arm last night.
Wilson Valdez made his Mets debut last night. Omar Minaya signed Valdez when Reyes was placed on the disabled list. Valdez brings extra insurance and is a decent fielding hitter. He won’t provide the pop and spark of Reyes, but is a candidate to fill in while the shortstop is sidelined. With Alex Cora also ailing, Valdez can be a viable replacement. Murphy broke out of a slump with a career-high night in RBIs. His five runs driven in gave the Mets the bulk of the scoring they needed. He did prolong the game with a ninth inning error, but is still getting accustomed to the Met infield. It’s good to see the orange and blue in first place. Optimism omits feelings of odd omens being the reason for this team’s recent luck. I think the Mets are a for-real ball club. If management inquires about adding another ace to the rotation, (Peavy, Holladay?) New York would be in line for at least a pennant title.
The Yankees are in first place for the first time this season and have won 12 of their last 15 games. A.J. Burnett won his first start since April 14th to give the Yankees a share of the AL East with Boston. The Yanks are 1.5 games ahead of Toronto, who fell for the ninth straight game to Baltimore with Roy Halladay on the mound yesterday. The 9-2 Wednesday night Bomber win saw Burnett shutting out the Texas Rangers through six innings in Arlington. He had not won in his last seven starts, but only allowed three hits last night to snap his longest winless drought. Burnett looked sharp and much more aggressive last night. He went after a hard-hitting Texas lineup to give the team the start they needed. Burnett made several mistakes by placing pitches down the middle to the vaunted Rangers. He fell behind on several batters and threw 118 pitches, only 59% for strikes. But Texas could not string together consistent hits and the Yankees came through with the long ball. They were put in an early hole hard and struggled to dig themselves out. A flick of the leather and a run-in with the wall by outfielder, Johnny Damon, also aided Burnett on Wednesday night. The Yankees’ systemic scheme and active approach are successful. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth noting Nick Swisher’s supreme effort to create clubhouse chemistry. Swisher has swagger and the team is meshing well.
The offense began the series finale with ready wood at the plate. First baseman and former Ranger, Mark Teixeria, knocked his 15th homer with a first inning bomb good for two runs. Hideki Matsui emerged from his slump with two taters to blow the game open Wednesday. Coming into the series, Matsui was in a 3 for 23 funk. He plunked a homer with the first offering from Texas pitcher, Derek Holland and added a seventh inning dinger off Warner Madrigal. It was Matsui’s third career multi-homerun game. Second baseman, Robinson Cano’s ninth inning slam tied the Yankees with the Rangers for the top homerun hitting team in baseball. Both clubs have 77 long balls in 2009.
Holland allowed 10 hits and 6 runs in his second career start. The Texas hurler committed an error on Brett Gardner’s bunt for a base hit, allowing New York runners to advance. His day was done once the error evolved and Jason Jennings took the mound for the Rangers. The Yankees lashed out 15 hits on the evening against the first place AL West club. Derek Jeter snared a single to lead off the game and scored on Teixeria’s drive over the fence. Jeter went 3 for 4 and reached base five times. The captain’s average is now .297. Jeter and Kevin Cash extended the Yankee lead to 3-0 with consecutive two out doubles in the next inning. After Matsui’s first solo shot, New York tacked on two in the sixth. Cash ripped a two run single off Jennings and Matsui’s second round-tripper increased the Yankee lead to eight. Jose Veras gave up Ian Kinsler’s 13th homerun in the bottom of the seventh for Texas’ only score. The ball barely cleared the wall but made it a six run game. Dave Robertson took over to clean up for Veras’ mishap and put the clamp on the middle of the Texas order. Cano plastered a pulverizing homer to cap off the rout in the ninth for New York’s ninth run. Chien-Ming Wang, still a tad rusty, also came in to pitch two hitless innings. Wang struck out two in only his second appearance since returning from the disabled list. Wang’s sinker was in the low 90’s and his fastball a notch above as he continues to rework his velocity and accuracy. The Yankees took the series 2-1 in Texas as the Rangers lost for only the second time in their last 11 at home.
Jorge Posada and Brian Bruney are expected to return to the team against Cleveland on Friday. But, it all starts with substantial, stand-out pitching. Good pitching steers teams to victory, and as long as the Yankee starters take care of business, the team will float at the top of the AL East into October. I am still dubious about the relief pitching. The Yankees can overcome bullpen blemishes with stellar starts. Hopefully getting swept for six games against Boston this year was the only snippet of staggering we will soon see.
Parting points: “We’ll always have each other when everything else is gone” -Incubus
Showing posts with label yankees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yankees. Show all posts
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hughes Handed Home Hype & High Hopes
Phil Hughes posted his first win of the season when he was the pitcher on record against the Detroit Tigers last week. Hughes was supposed to face the Halos Sunday, but the game was rained out. He will start tonight in a two-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox. Phil shut down the Tigers in six innings in his season debut as the Yankees routed Detroit. The 22 year old doesn’t have the pressure on him this year like he experienced in 2008. Last season, Hughes was slated to start every five days and be one of the aces on the mound. He did not live up to those expectations after the Yankees handed him the number three spot in the rotation. Hughes was shipped back to the minors and accepted a demotion before the year was over. Last Tuesday he filled in for the ineffective Chien-Ming Wang and proved to be the better option for New York. The Bombers got a huge boost from the righty in his Comerica Park outing. Hughes struck out six and tamed the Tigers to two hits. Phil has an opportunity to grow from that fine start. The Yankees have so much invested in Hughes and his unlimited potential has to be realized.
Hughes is a competent pitcher and I saw potential when he first debuted for the team in 2007. He looked like a kid just stepping out of high school, and still goes. That May, he flirted with and nearly threw a no-hitter.
Phil has endured a few setbacks so far in his young career since that dashing debut. He has been wildly inconsistent and twirled some dreadful games. He still showed a flippant fastball but Hughes was very unstable in his second year campaign. The 6’5” righty went 0-4 in 8 starts in 2008. He gave up 43 hits in 34 plus innings, issuing 15 walks. His ERA soared to a wretched 6.62 after keeping it under 4.50 his rookie year. The Yankees would like to see more of the 2007 version of Hughes when he went 5-3 in 72 innings of work. He was once the organization’s top prospect and believed to be as gifted as Roger Clemens. Hughes has a long way to go and many games to endure before he draws those unreal comparisons, but you had to like what you saw against Detroit. Having a surplus of starters would be a problem the team would embrace.
The Yankees were swept in Boston in their first series with the rivals of 2009. Hughes cannot afford any hiccups tonight because the Red Sox will take advantage of any minor mistakes. Tonight, Hughes will be contested as he faces the AL East’s best. Although they do hold the lead (Toronto is in first place), Boston does have a 15-10 record. Encouragingly, they are only 5-8 on the road in 2009. The team always plays to win. They are, however, 9-4 against AL East teams. The Yankees are only 3-6 in those games. Hughes has only one appearance against the hated Sox. Last April, he lost up in Fenway 8-5. He only lasted two innings and was charged with 7 of the 8 Boston runs.
The relief pitching is most important as the Yankees open the two game set, especially with left-hander, Damaso Marte on the DL. New York called up Anthony Claggett from Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to take Marte‘s place. Robinson Cano’s 18 game hitting streak ended in Saturday’s tough loss with the Angels. Robinson’s defense has improved drastically and he is tearing the cover off the ball. Cano has been creaming and crushing the baseball since he took his first swing in April. The same is true for outfielder, Nick Swisher. Swisher may miss this series due to injury though. Mark Teixiera is notorious for slow spring starts. He was signed this winter to be the Yankee heavyweight in the heart of the order, and it would be delightful if he chose this series to pound it out. The Bomber bats will compete against Jon Lester in the Sox first appearance in the new Yankee Stadium. Lester dominated New York last year with his 1.19 ERA against the Bombers in three starts. He threw a shutout last July I am still trying to forget. Lester threw in the 11 inning affair this season between the two teams. He tossed six innings of two run ball. Which Lester will show up tonight? The one who beat New York a few weeks ago or the one who flopped in his last start? Hopefully the men in pinstripes won’t be his latest casualties. Which Hughes will take the ball? The bright dazzler of 2007 or the dim, doleful and dejected disappointment of 2008? It would be great to see Hughes welcome the Boston bats with un-hittable stuff.
Boston is coming off a losing effort against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sunday night, Boston allowed speedy Rays slugger, Carl Crawford, to steal six bases. Crawford tied the major league record for most in a game with his half dozen swipes. The bullpen is just as important for the Red Sox. In the first series up in Beantown, Boston’s bullpen out pitched New York and kept the Yankee bats silent in all three victories. The games were closer than the scores indicated, but the Red Sox relief pitching compensated for any Boston blips. During last evening’s 5-3 loss in Tampa, the bullpen could not sustain a strong outing from starter, Brad Penny. Reliever, Manny Demcarmen gave up his first earned run of the year and the team is now losers of 3 of their last 4 games. Delcarmen hit two Rays after giving up back-to-back singles when he was called into the game.
Terry Francona, the Sox skipper, fields one of baseball’s top starting lineups. The Red Sox can hit, field and do the little things needed to win. Pitcher, Josh Beckett, isn’t having a Beckett-like year, but the pitching is still very deep and accomplished. Penny is already 2-0 on the year, and Tim Wakefield’s knuckler stunned and shunned the Rays last weekend for his third victory. Righty, Justin Masterson is 2-1 and lefty, Lester is 1-2. Lester’s ERA is above 5 but Francona believes he will find his velocity and command again. He has been topsy-turvy on the hill as of late. Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox closer. He has 6 saves on the season. Boston will not wilt as long as they can depend on their arms.
Centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, is the stud leadoff hitter. Ellsbury is hitting .276 and stole home on Andy Pettitte in an embarrassing Yankee moment at Fenway. The versatile Ellsbury exhibited Boston’s proactive playing style. Dustin Pedroia hits behind Ellsbury with a .309 batting average and dapper glove at second base. Pedroia peppers pitchers and plays with intensity. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis pack the power in the three and four hole. Youkilis is particularly good with two outs in getting base hits, and his patience is a frustrating aspect for pitchers. DH Ortiz is not off to a good start, only batting .215. Big Papi realizes he is slumping early in the season and it is only a matter of time before he breaks out of it. Ortiz is looking for his first four baggers of the year and hopes to get it in the new stadium. His batting average has plummeted to .208 in the beginning of May.
Youkilis is lighting up the league with an over .400 average and spewing out 5 homeruns. J.D. Drew and Jason Bay play the corner outfield positions and bat next to each other in Francona’s lineup. Bay has been the most recent “Yankee killer” with his knockout blasts. The bleeders he sent out in the first series with New York are still being felt by fans. Bay has 20 RBIs on the season and steps to the plate with a respectable .316 average. Drew is batting under .250 but is a homerun hitter capable of starting rallies or finishing off teams with late game heroics. He has three long balls so far. Veteran third baseman, Mike Lowell, enjoys a bottom-of-the-order slot with his five homers. His team-leading 24 RBIs come with a .312 average on the young season. Catcher, Jason Varitek and SS, Julio Lugo round out the nine batters Hughes will face tonight. The pervasive captain, Varitek, clubbed four homeruns for 10 RBIs and Lugo is batting an even .300. Lugo is useful in turning the lineup over and getting important hits with runners on base. The Red Sox have been light-hitting and struggling offensively other than their outburst Saturday. The bottom four hitters went 0-14 yesterday for Boston. The team is being walloped and outscored but I think they will have success in the hitter friendly Bronx home.
Parting points: Befitting song for tonight- “Know Your Enemy” by Green Day
Link of the day:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-253478
Hughes is a competent pitcher and I saw potential when he first debuted for the team in 2007. He looked like a kid just stepping out of high school, and still goes. That May, he flirted with and nearly threw a no-hitter.
Phil has endured a few setbacks so far in his young career since that dashing debut. He has been wildly inconsistent and twirled some dreadful games. He still showed a flippant fastball but Hughes was very unstable in his second year campaign. The 6’5” righty went 0-4 in 8 starts in 2008. He gave up 43 hits in 34 plus innings, issuing 15 walks. His ERA soared to a wretched 6.62 after keeping it under 4.50 his rookie year. The Yankees would like to see more of the 2007 version of Hughes when he went 5-3 in 72 innings of work. He was once the organization’s top prospect and believed to be as gifted as Roger Clemens. Hughes has a long way to go and many games to endure before he draws those unreal comparisons, but you had to like what you saw against Detroit. Having a surplus of starters would be a problem the team would embrace.
The Yankees were swept in Boston in their first series with the rivals of 2009. Hughes cannot afford any hiccups tonight because the Red Sox will take advantage of any minor mistakes. Tonight, Hughes will be contested as he faces the AL East’s best. Although they do hold the lead (Toronto is in first place), Boston does have a 15-10 record. Encouragingly, they are only 5-8 on the road in 2009. The team always plays to win. They are, however, 9-4 against AL East teams. The Yankees are only 3-6 in those games. Hughes has only one appearance against the hated Sox. Last April, he lost up in Fenway 8-5. He only lasted two innings and was charged with 7 of the 8 Boston runs.
The relief pitching is most important as the Yankees open the two game set, especially with left-hander, Damaso Marte on the DL. New York called up Anthony Claggett from Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to take Marte‘s place. Robinson Cano’s 18 game hitting streak ended in Saturday’s tough loss with the Angels. Robinson’s defense has improved drastically and he is tearing the cover off the ball. Cano has been creaming and crushing the baseball since he took his first swing in April. The same is true for outfielder, Nick Swisher. Swisher may miss this series due to injury though. Mark Teixiera is notorious for slow spring starts. He was signed this winter to be the Yankee heavyweight in the heart of the order, and it would be delightful if he chose this series to pound it out. The Bomber bats will compete against Jon Lester in the Sox first appearance in the new Yankee Stadium. Lester dominated New York last year with his 1.19 ERA against the Bombers in three starts. He threw a shutout last July I am still trying to forget. Lester threw in the 11 inning affair this season between the two teams. He tossed six innings of two run ball. Which Lester will show up tonight? The one who beat New York a few weeks ago or the one who flopped in his last start? Hopefully the men in pinstripes won’t be his latest casualties. Which Hughes will take the ball? The bright dazzler of 2007 or the dim, doleful and dejected disappointment of 2008? It would be great to see Hughes welcome the Boston bats with un-hittable stuff.
Boston is coming off a losing effort against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sunday night, Boston allowed speedy Rays slugger, Carl Crawford, to steal six bases. Crawford tied the major league record for most in a game with his half dozen swipes. The bullpen is just as important for the Red Sox. In the first series up in Beantown, Boston’s bullpen out pitched New York and kept the Yankee bats silent in all three victories. The games were closer than the scores indicated, but the Red Sox relief pitching compensated for any Boston blips. During last evening’s 5-3 loss in Tampa, the bullpen could not sustain a strong outing from starter, Brad Penny. Reliever, Manny Demcarmen gave up his first earned run of the year and the team is now losers of 3 of their last 4 games. Delcarmen hit two Rays after giving up back-to-back singles when he was called into the game.
Terry Francona, the Sox skipper, fields one of baseball’s top starting lineups. The Red Sox can hit, field and do the little things needed to win. Pitcher, Josh Beckett, isn’t having a Beckett-like year, but the pitching is still very deep and accomplished. Penny is already 2-0 on the year, and Tim Wakefield’s knuckler stunned and shunned the Rays last weekend for his third victory. Righty, Justin Masterson is 2-1 and lefty, Lester is 1-2. Lester’s ERA is above 5 but Francona believes he will find his velocity and command again. He has been topsy-turvy on the hill as of late. Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox closer. He has 6 saves on the season. Boston will not wilt as long as they can depend on their arms.
Centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, is the stud leadoff hitter. Ellsbury is hitting .276 and stole home on Andy Pettitte in an embarrassing Yankee moment at Fenway. The versatile Ellsbury exhibited Boston’s proactive playing style. Dustin Pedroia hits behind Ellsbury with a .309 batting average and dapper glove at second base. Pedroia peppers pitchers and plays with intensity. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis pack the power in the three and four hole. Youkilis is particularly good with two outs in getting base hits, and his patience is a frustrating aspect for pitchers. DH Ortiz is not off to a good start, only batting .215. Big Papi realizes he is slumping early in the season and it is only a matter of time before he breaks out of it. Ortiz is looking for his first four baggers of the year and hopes to get it in the new stadium. His batting average has plummeted to .208 in the beginning of May.
Youkilis is lighting up the league with an over .400 average and spewing out 5 homeruns. J.D. Drew and Jason Bay play the corner outfield positions and bat next to each other in Francona’s lineup. Bay has been the most recent “Yankee killer” with his knockout blasts. The bleeders he sent out in the first series with New York are still being felt by fans. Bay has 20 RBIs on the season and steps to the plate with a respectable .316 average. Drew is batting under .250 but is a homerun hitter capable of starting rallies or finishing off teams with late game heroics. He has three long balls so far. Veteran third baseman, Mike Lowell, enjoys a bottom-of-the-order slot with his five homers. His team-leading 24 RBIs come with a .312 average on the young season. Catcher, Jason Varitek and SS, Julio Lugo round out the nine batters Hughes will face tonight. The pervasive captain, Varitek, clubbed four homeruns for 10 RBIs and Lugo is batting an even .300. Lugo is useful in turning the lineup over and getting important hits with runners on base. The Red Sox have been light-hitting and struggling offensively other than their outburst Saturday. The bottom four hitters went 0-14 yesterday for Boston. The team is being walloped and outscored but I think they will have success in the hitter friendly Bronx home.
Parting points: Befitting song for tonight- “Know Your Enemy” by Green Day
Link of the day:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-253478
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Big Blasts Bust Bombers Bullpen
Robust rigthy, Jason Bay, sent a two-run Mariano Rivera pitch deep into the Fenway stands to clear the Green Monster and tie the game in the ninth inning as Boston went on to beat the Yankees in extra innings. A Kevin Youkillis solo sendoff lifted the Red Sox 5-4 in the bottom of the 11th. Youkillis’ homerun came off New York reliever, Damaso Marte. Friday’s Fenway flick was Kevin’s fifth homerun of the year, and the team’s eighth consecutive victory.
Rivera came into the game in the eighth inning with two outs and two on. He struck out Dustin Pedroia to end the threat. The Yankees loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with an opportunity to increase their two run lead, but failed to score. Rivera was one out away from closing the game, but bafflingly blew the save in the Boston ninth. The usually light-out closer was pressed in serving up the Bay blast that evened the score at four. Mo has an amazing arm, but he is only human. Not surprisingly, the storied rivals found themselves in extended innings. Red Sox closer, Jonathan Papelbon succeeded in stranding two Yankees in the top of the 10th and reliever, Ramon Ramirez got out of an 11th inning jam with runners on first and second. Marte managed the mound in the 11th as Youkillis mangled a monster walkoff on his 2-2 pitch.
Jon Lester pitched six innings for the Red Sox and Joba Chamberlain threw 5 1/3. Joba walked four batters and gave up nine hits and one earned run. Lester allowed two runs and fanned seven Bombers.
The Yankee bullpen was tested but held the lead, even without the injured Brian Bruney. Phil Coke and Jonathan Albaladejo each did their job, working their way through a peevish and potent Boston lineup of patient hitters. The definitive defense kept it a game for Boston, as they squandered several Yankee shots. The game came down to situational hitting in crunch time and the team whose bullpen made the fewest mistakes.
Rivera came into the game in the eighth inning with two outs and two on. He struck out Dustin Pedroia to end the threat. The Yankees loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with an opportunity to increase their two run lead, but failed to score. Rivera was one out away from closing the game, but bafflingly blew the save in the Boston ninth. The usually light-out closer was pressed in serving up the Bay blast that evened the score at four. Mo has an amazing arm, but he is only human. Not surprisingly, the storied rivals found themselves in extended innings. Red Sox closer, Jonathan Papelbon succeeded in stranding two Yankees in the top of the 10th and reliever, Ramon Ramirez got out of an 11th inning jam with runners on first and second. Marte managed the mound in the 11th as Youkillis mangled a monster walkoff on his 2-2 pitch.
Jon Lester pitched six innings for the Red Sox and Joba Chamberlain threw 5 1/3. Joba walked four batters and gave up nine hits and one earned run. Lester allowed two runs and fanned seven Bombers.
The Yankee bullpen was tested but held the lead, even without the injured Brian Bruney. Phil Coke and Jonathan Albaladejo each did their job, working their way through a peevish and potent Boston lineup of patient hitters. The definitive defense kept it a game for Boston, as they squandered several Yankee shots. The game came down to situational hitting in crunch time and the team whose bullpen made the fewest mistakes.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bludgeoned, Beaten Bomber Bullpen Bits
Unquestionably, the two biggest problems for the Yankees are the lack of bullpen production and the right field position. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call the relief pitching pathetic, shaky and embarrassing. Joe Girardi has the resources at his disposal but the talent is not manifested on the field. Girardi seems to over-manage the bullpen. He is hesitant to infringe on the unwritten rule of pitting lefty against lefty and right against righty, etc. Relief pitching should not be rocket science. Professionals should know how to do their job.
Xavier Nady might be out for the season if he needs Tommy John surgery on his elbow, and the Yankees do not have an adequate replacement for his bat. Nady’s absence not only leaves a hole in right field, but lineup is deficient a right-handed power hitter. The injury affects the Yankee bench because they are not as deep with Nick Swisher playing everyday. Instead of Swisher being used as a fill-in, Nick will take over the role of right fielder. New York did not configure the outfield with Swisher as a regular to begin the year and it throws off Girardi’s strategy.
Swisher is experiencing the hottest start of any player in baseball. It’s only a matter of time before he cools off and comes back down to earth. He was a dispensable player less than a month ago, but now will have a starring role. I like having Nick on this team for his enthusiasm and charisma. Swisher is useful because he resembles a flea at the plate, running up the pitch count and making pitchers work hard. However, his peskiness and persistence render Nick more valuable as a bench player. One positive he brings is switching hitting ability. He has been historically more effective against left-handers than Nady.
Melky Cabrera is now the first reserve option on the roster. While Melky’s arm is spectacular, Cabrera is not going to suddenly morph into an exceptional offensive player. He sometimes looks like he’s daydreaming out there to me. It’s one thing to absorb the temporary loss of Alex Rodriguez (Arod’s bat should be back in May) It’s now a liability for New York because they take a hit from the right side of the plate. The Yankees, with Nady, had a solid right-handed hitter. Now, they have to rely on Jorge Posada being an everyday catcher instead of being relegated to occasional DH duties. In addition, the injury-prone Hideki Matsui has to stay healthy and in the lineup. First baseman, Mark Teixeira, cannot expect too many more off-days. If Mark’s wrist continues to nag him, Girardi will move Swisher to the infield and Melky will start in right. It’s a risk to have no surplus on the bench when facing one and two run ballgames. The Yankees did call up a player from Scranton who can play first base in a pinch today. Juan Miranda will replace Nady on the active roster. The move allows Teixeria some flexibility. Giradi said today Matsui will be limited to pinch hitting duties for a few more days. Also, Mark will only bat left handed instead of from both sides of the plate until he is recovered from a cortisone shot.
Stranding runners in scoring position and the lack of offensive power pales in comparision to the Yankee relief pitching. The definitive issue is the bullpen. The middlemen are already in shambles for Girardi. The more the relievers perform like they did Thursday at home against Cleveland, the more chants for Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen will be heard. On one level, it would be an effortless move to concede the late innings to Chamberlain. The Yankees could bring Phil Hughes up from the minors to fill his rotation spot if the kid continues to pitch well. It seems logical to have Joba shut down lineups if the other relievers can’t handle the grunt work.
Yesterday, Yankee reliever, Jose Veras couldn’t record a single out and Damaso Marte was responsible for the icing on the cake, a grand slam by Grady Sizemore. Both were lit up and Yankee fans can’t say with conviction they are confident in either guy. Everything went up in smoke as soon as Veras entered the game. He was brutal to say the least. Veras was more vulnerable than vicious, never a good thing. This is the second time Jose has single-handedly cost the Yankees a game. The first time, he walked a batter in Kansas City during the third game of the series that enabled the Royals to score and win.
Marte managed to let six earned runs cross home in a single inning of work. His command was entirely off and the lefty was as inconsistent as he was erratic.
If you aren’t utterly unconcerned at this point about the middle relief, you should be. There is no firm bridge to Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera. The Yankees cannot pin their hopes on Marte being a damage-control reliever. Nothing about the bullpen arouses belief. Edwar Ramirez has a devastating change-up but Girardi doesn’t use him very often. Phil Coke recorded an out in relief yesterday and has been performing better than a week ago. The lefty has much more to prove though, including throwing to more than one batter in a game. Jonathan Albaladejo probably can handle a long relief role but he seems fragile to me. If the Yankees figure out how to ensure their relievers will not blow games, things will turn around. The good news is Bruney and Rivera seem to be nailing their pitches. The back end of the bullpen is not an issue because they haven’t been truly tested, but both pitchers at least have the respect factor working for them. Also on a positive note, the rotation is still reliable, despite a few ugly starts early.
C.C. Sabathia threw an unusually high amount of pitches in just over five innings Thursday. He fired 122 pitches overall. C.C.’s walk totals and pitch count woes so far are worrisome. He hasn’t been dominating, especially in two-strike or two-out situations. Last year, he did not seem to struggle under those pressurized conditions. He hasn’t been putting the pitches where he wants to and was behind on batters. He couldn’t allow a hiccup yesterday because the Yankee offense was non-existent. The Bombers were 1-11 with runners in scoring position, stranding 15 on the bases. The large lefty did lower his ERA to 3.57 and kept it a game in the Yankee opener. It is too early in the season to be overly concerned about the starting pitching. Sabathia’s standout season in 2008 and his driven desire to dominate will surface in time.
Parting points: “Under the boardwalk, down by the sea…”
Today is gorgeous. It’s 75 degrees and I am taking the bike out after the Yankee game.
Xavier Nady might be out for the season if he needs Tommy John surgery on his elbow, and the Yankees do not have an adequate replacement for his bat. Nady’s absence not only leaves a hole in right field, but lineup is deficient a right-handed power hitter. The injury affects the Yankee bench because they are not as deep with Nick Swisher playing everyday. Instead of Swisher being used as a fill-in, Nick will take over the role of right fielder. New York did not configure the outfield with Swisher as a regular to begin the year and it throws off Girardi’s strategy.
Swisher is experiencing the hottest start of any player in baseball. It’s only a matter of time before he cools off and comes back down to earth. He was a dispensable player less than a month ago, but now will have a starring role. I like having Nick on this team for his enthusiasm and charisma. Swisher is useful because he resembles a flea at the plate, running up the pitch count and making pitchers work hard. However, his peskiness and persistence render Nick more valuable as a bench player. One positive he brings is switching hitting ability. He has been historically more effective against left-handers than Nady.
Melky Cabrera is now the first reserve option on the roster. While Melky’s arm is spectacular, Cabrera is not going to suddenly morph into an exceptional offensive player. He sometimes looks like he’s daydreaming out there to me. It’s one thing to absorb the temporary loss of Alex Rodriguez (Arod’s bat should be back in May) It’s now a liability for New York because they take a hit from the right side of the plate. The Yankees, with Nady, had a solid right-handed hitter. Now, they have to rely on Jorge Posada being an everyday catcher instead of being relegated to occasional DH duties. In addition, the injury-prone Hideki Matsui has to stay healthy and in the lineup. First baseman, Mark Teixeira, cannot expect too many more off-days. If Mark’s wrist continues to nag him, Girardi will move Swisher to the infield and Melky will start in right. It’s a risk to have no surplus on the bench when facing one and two run ballgames. The Yankees did call up a player from Scranton who can play first base in a pinch today. Juan Miranda will replace Nady on the active roster. The move allows Teixeria some flexibility. Giradi said today Matsui will be limited to pinch hitting duties for a few more days. Also, Mark will only bat left handed instead of from both sides of the plate until he is recovered from a cortisone shot.
Stranding runners in scoring position and the lack of offensive power pales in comparision to the Yankee relief pitching. The definitive issue is the bullpen. The middlemen are already in shambles for Girardi. The more the relievers perform like they did Thursday at home against Cleveland, the more chants for Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen will be heard. On one level, it would be an effortless move to concede the late innings to Chamberlain. The Yankees could bring Phil Hughes up from the minors to fill his rotation spot if the kid continues to pitch well. It seems logical to have Joba shut down lineups if the other relievers can’t handle the grunt work.
Yesterday, Yankee reliever, Jose Veras couldn’t record a single out and Damaso Marte was responsible for the icing on the cake, a grand slam by Grady Sizemore. Both were lit up and Yankee fans can’t say with conviction they are confident in either guy. Everything went up in smoke as soon as Veras entered the game. He was brutal to say the least. Veras was more vulnerable than vicious, never a good thing. This is the second time Jose has single-handedly cost the Yankees a game. The first time, he walked a batter in Kansas City during the third game of the series that enabled the Royals to score and win.
Marte managed to let six earned runs cross home in a single inning of work. His command was entirely off and the lefty was as inconsistent as he was erratic.
If you aren’t utterly unconcerned at this point about the middle relief, you should be. There is no firm bridge to Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera. The Yankees cannot pin their hopes on Marte being a damage-control reliever. Nothing about the bullpen arouses belief. Edwar Ramirez has a devastating change-up but Girardi doesn’t use him very often. Phil Coke recorded an out in relief yesterday and has been performing better than a week ago. The lefty has much more to prove though, including throwing to more than one batter in a game. Jonathan Albaladejo probably can handle a long relief role but he seems fragile to me. If the Yankees figure out how to ensure their relievers will not blow games, things will turn around. The good news is Bruney and Rivera seem to be nailing their pitches. The back end of the bullpen is not an issue because they haven’t been truly tested, but both pitchers at least have the respect factor working for them. Also on a positive note, the rotation is still reliable, despite a few ugly starts early.
C.C. Sabathia threw an unusually high amount of pitches in just over five innings Thursday. He fired 122 pitches overall. C.C.’s walk totals and pitch count woes so far are worrisome. He hasn’t been dominating, especially in two-strike or two-out situations. Last year, he did not seem to struggle under those pressurized conditions. He hasn’t been putting the pitches where he wants to and was behind on batters. He couldn’t allow a hiccup yesterday because the Yankee offense was non-existent. The Bombers were 1-11 with runners in scoring position, stranding 15 on the bases. The large lefty did lower his ERA to 3.57 and kept it a game in the Yankee opener. It is too early in the season to be overly concerned about the starting pitching. Sabathia’s standout season in 2008 and his driven desire to dominate will surface in time.
Parting points: “Under the boardwalk, down by the sea…”
Today is gorgeous. It’s 75 degrees and I am taking the bike out after the Yankee game.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Your Yankees
Baseball season can’t come soon enough. I’m really anticipating an incredible year in New York, especially on the AL side. The Yankees assembled a club this winter with unlimited potential. The Bombers are my preseason AL champion favorites. I do think this year’s version of the pinstripes will excel and return to the playoffs after being absence in 2008. I am going to try to break down each team position-by-position throughout the next month. I begin with my favorite team. The Yankees will tackle the task of downplaying distractions surrounding the steroid saga this summer.
The starting lineup options for manager, Joe Girardi couldn’t be any more enticing really (unless perhaps Manny were manning the outfield instead of Melky). The most puzzling predicament for the second-year skipper will be creating the batting order, especially the first five. A stable lineup is crucial because too many different arrangements could result in inconsistent efforts. I always considered Derek Jeter an ideal leadoff man, but he isn’t really the team’s true table-setter. Derek hits well and is good in getting on base but he works well out of the two slot best because of his knack for run production. He can advance the leadoff man effectively and usually avoids being doubled up. LF, Johnny Damon should bat first because he is an experienced and patient player. Damon struck out more often than he walked in 2008, but still managed a .303 average at the plate. On the field, Damon’s arm is uninspiring and poses problems at times. He is a veteran, however, who can still run down fly balls and get to hard-hit grounders efficiently enough Jeter is a solid, sure-handed and slick shortstop. He does lack range and gets knocked for his defense but still has that signature spin move unmatched in all of baseball. Derek’s bat more than makes up for any defensive lapses he will endure. The captain obviously isn’t going anywhere and boasts a career 1,002 RBIs as a Bomber He is responsible for being the leader on and off the field.
Alex Rodriguez or the newly acquired, Mark Teixeria, will hit third. I think Girardi will go with Teixeria because Mark will be protected and see better pitches with Alex hitting behind him. The addition of Teixeria to the infield will have immeasurable affect on NY’s defense. He makes all the plays at first base and will make other infielders look good by stopping errant throws. Mark can scoop any bad hops heaped his way. A switch hitter, he nailed 33 homeruns last year for two teams and those totals warrant a huge winter contract. I’d love to see #25 hit the first Yankee Stadium long-ball. Arod is going to go yard more than any other slugger on the team, so placing him at cleanup makes perfect sense. It would be nice if he cleaned up off the field too. Alex will be facing a different type of distraction as the takes the field in pinstripes this year. Rodriguez’s skills shouldn’t be questioned no matter how often he used PEDs in the past. His mental game and ability to handle pressure are another story entirely. Unfortunately he will likely face questions about it for the rest of his career and his teammates will suffer and struggle to defend him.
Robinson Cano, the starting 2B, might figure into the number 5 spot, but it would not be a surprise if he hit lower. Cano is playing in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. Rumors about his off-season conditioning are notable. He supposedly dropped some weight and his hitting and seeing the ball better than ever. I expect his .271 average to climb as the pressure is shifted to other players and the new starting pitchers. He scored only 70 runs last year. Cano should cross the plate 100 times in 2009. Jorge Posada’s health concerns me. The catcher’s bat is the reason the Yankees need him in the lineup though. Posada stubbornly wants to remain the NY backstop but isn’t going to be the same catcher he was earlier in his career when Giradi was schooling him. Jose Molina makes a sufficient backup for Posada, but he is too slow and sluggish offensively.
Xavier Nady is not an everyday LF. He will see the majority of the time in left and is a consistent bottom-of -the-order bat for NY. Nady quietly hit 97 RBIs for a .305 average in limited at-bats during the past year. He earned a one year $6.65 million deal to return for the Bombers in 2009. The X-man comes back mostly as an insurance policy if young Brett Gardner doesn’t pan out or if Nick Swisher decides to go in a slump. Swisher was signed this off season as one of the Yankees’ first moves. I am sure he will ride the pine or see most of his appearances as a late-game fill in or pinch hitter. He can makes things happen and is better than average off the bench, so I like his presence. He’s good enough to be considered a starter on any other team but after Teixeria was signed, those plans were squashed. The Yankees committed to Cabrera as their CF. Melky bats ninth in this impressive NY lineup. As far as CF goes historically for the Yankees, Cabrera does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as past players. But the Yankees do not need him to be great and do not want to give up on this very average player.
The Yankee rotation is set and well-rounded. C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte are the starters. Phil Hughes could be a spot starter or compete for a spot, but will pitch from the pen. He joins fellow righty relievers, Alfredo Aceves, Humberto Sanchez, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson and Ian Kennedy. Damaso Marte and Phil Coke are the only left-handed specialists. I cite that as the main pitching weakness if all the starters are healthy. The Yankees should sign another lefty and maybe another backup catcher.
Mariano Rivera returns as the shut-down closer and Hideki Matsui completes the Yankees as the DH and occasional outfielder.
Parting points: “Hate Me” by Blue October
The starting lineup options for manager, Joe Girardi couldn’t be any more enticing really (unless perhaps Manny were manning the outfield instead of Melky). The most puzzling predicament for the second-year skipper will be creating the batting order, especially the first five. A stable lineup is crucial because too many different arrangements could result in inconsistent efforts. I always considered Derek Jeter an ideal leadoff man, but he isn’t really the team’s true table-setter. Derek hits well and is good in getting on base but he works well out of the two slot best because of his knack for run production. He can advance the leadoff man effectively and usually avoids being doubled up. LF, Johnny Damon should bat first because he is an experienced and patient player. Damon struck out more often than he walked in 2008, but still managed a .303 average at the plate. On the field, Damon’s arm is uninspiring and poses problems at times. He is a veteran, however, who can still run down fly balls and get to hard-hit grounders efficiently enough Jeter is a solid, sure-handed and slick shortstop. He does lack range and gets knocked for his defense but still has that signature spin move unmatched in all of baseball. Derek’s bat more than makes up for any defensive lapses he will endure. The captain obviously isn’t going anywhere and boasts a career 1,002 RBIs as a Bomber He is responsible for being the leader on and off the field.
Alex Rodriguez or the newly acquired, Mark Teixeria, will hit third. I think Girardi will go with Teixeria because Mark will be protected and see better pitches with Alex hitting behind him. The addition of Teixeria to the infield will have immeasurable affect on NY’s defense. He makes all the plays at first base and will make other infielders look good by stopping errant throws. Mark can scoop any bad hops heaped his way. A switch hitter, he nailed 33 homeruns last year for two teams and those totals warrant a huge winter contract. I’d love to see #25 hit the first Yankee Stadium long-ball. Arod is going to go yard more than any other slugger on the team, so placing him at cleanup makes perfect sense. It would be nice if he cleaned up off the field too. Alex will be facing a different type of distraction as the takes the field in pinstripes this year. Rodriguez’s skills shouldn’t be questioned no matter how often he used PEDs in the past. His mental game and ability to handle pressure are another story entirely. Unfortunately he will likely face questions about it for the rest of his career and his teammates will suffer and struggle to defend him.
Robinson Cano, the starting 2B, might figure into the number 5 spot, but it would not be a surprise if he hit lower. Cano is playing in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. Rumors about his off-season conditioning are notable. He supposedly dropped some weight and his hitting and seeing the ball better than ever. I expect his .271 average to climb as the pressure is shifted to other players and the new starting pitchers. He scored only 70 runs last year. Cano should cross the plate 100 times in 2009. Jorge Posada’s health concerns me. The catcher’s bat is the reason the Yankees need him in the lineup though. Posada stubbornly wants to remain the NY backstop but isn’t going to be the same catcher he was earlier in his career when Giradi was schooling him. Jose Molina makes a sufficient backup for Posada, but he is too slow and sluggish offensively.
Xavier Nady is not an everyday LF. He will see the majority of the time in left and is a consistent bottom-of -the-order bat for NY. Nady quietly hit 97 RBIs for a .305 average in limited at-bats during the past year. He earned a one year $6.65 million deal to return for the Bombers in 2009. The X-man comes back mostly as an insurance policy if young Brett Gardner doesn’t pan out or if Nick Swisher decides to go in a slump. Swisher was signed this off season as one of the Yankees’ first moves. I am sure he will ride the pine or see most of his appearances as a late-game fill in or pinch hitter. He can makes things happen and is better than average off the bench, so I like his presence. He’s good enough to be considered a starter on any other team but after Teixeria was signed, those plans were squashed. The Yankees committed to Cabrera as their CF. Melky bats ninth in this impressive NY lineup. As far as CF goes historically for the Yankees, Cabrera does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as past players. But the Yankees do not need him to be great and do not want to give up on this very average player.
The Yankee rotation is set and well-rounded. C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte are the starters. Phil Hughes could be a spot starter or compete for a spot, but will pitch from the pen. He joins fellow righty relievers, Alfredo Aceves, Humberto Sanchez, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson and Ian Kennedy. Damaso Marte and Phil Coke are the only left-handed specialists. I cite that as the main pitching weakness if all the starters are healthy. The Yankees should sign another lefty and maybe another backup catcher.
Mariano Rivera returns as the shut-down closer and Hideki Matsui completes the Yankees as the DH and occasional outfielder.
Parting points: “Hate Me” by Blue October
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Casting Chamberlain
The drama of Joba Chamberlain is already starting to unfold and unravel in the Yankee theater. Joba will probably take the stage and begin his 2009 campaign as a designated starting pitcher. The great debate is whether Chamberlain should be used solely as a starter or pulled purposely from the pen.
The Yankee rotation is a good one. The Bombers resigned veteran lefty, Andy Pettitte, and added two bonifide performers in C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Last season’s ace, Chien-Ming Wang, returns to the rotation in a lesser role as a healed hauler. The health of the staff is going to be the main question in ultimately deciding if Chamberlain is chained to start games. I think with Joba as the fourth starter, ahead of Pettitte, the Yankees have a solidified backend rotation. Andy as the fifth starter only makes him better. Chamberlain’s presence and move to the starting front would take pressure off Pettitte to perform at high levels. He fumbled down the stretch in 2008, but now the focus will be shifted to the big three and the evolution of Joba. Chamberlain will evolve as long as he keeps a consistent schedule and can contain his emotions on the mound. He is equipped to be a starter but his emotional makeup as a reliever concerns many fans. He was so successful in the role of reliever fans wonder why Brian Cashman would mess with what works. But Joba has all the goods to deliver a variety of quality starting stuff.
Phil Hughes is coming off a mediocre first season in which the expectations failed to produce a lock in the starring role. Hughes is efficient and can be a go-to arm every fifth game but he also could use some time to work out the kinks in his mechanics. Meanwhile, Joba would have the chance to prove himself and show us more. The Yankees will know quickly if moving Joba into the rotation or back to the bullpen is the right choice. Hughes or Alfredo Aceves could replace him in the rotation if the choice to keep him as a reliever is made.
It’s true Joba would ensure a dynamic duo if given the opportunity to be the 8th inning pitcher. Mariano Rivera remains the team closer, but he is coming off shoulder surgery. Number 42 could start slow coming out this Spring and Chamberlain could help close games early in the season. However, that role would mean Joba using only two pitches. If the Yankees relegated the righty to a starting position, he would need to mix in malicious alternatives. I would hate to miss out on seeing Joba work the count on hitters with his devastating curve and cool changeup.
The good part about the Yankees being somewhat undecided (even though Cashman told Joba and insists he will start) is they have enough pitching to be flexible and have a trial and error period. However, the organization cannot hesitate or wait it out too long to decide the fate of Joba. One way or another, Joba deserves an convincing answer. He commands respect in either role because of his ability and resourcefulness as a pitcher. It is likely one of the current pegged starting pitchers will suffer an ailment at some point in 2009. That is just the nature of the long baseball year. A guaranteed Joba would grant a gifted gamer and shutdown solution against opponents. The bullpen is weaker without Joba but the starting rotation also suffers without his talent on display. He is built to start and accustomed to being in there. Imagine opposing teams with the fear factor instilled before the first pitch is thrown instead of the final inning leading up to his entrance.
Parting points: The Devils are still on a roll in hockey land. I see few weaknesses in this team but they are probably going to let me down come playoff time anyway.
The Yankee rotation is a good one. The Bombers resigned veteran lefty, Andy Pettitte, and added two bonifide performers in C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Last season’s ace, Chien-Ming Wang, returns to the rotation in a lesser role as a healed hauler. The health of the staff is going to be the main question in ultimately deciding if Chamberlain is chained to start games. I think with Joba as the fourth starter, ahead of Pettitte, the Yankees have a solidified backend rotation. Andy as the fifth starter only makes him better. Chamberlain’s presence and move to the starting front would take pressure off Pettitte to perform at high levels. He fumbled down the stretch in 2008, but now the focus will be shifted to the big three and the evolution of Joba. Chamberlain will evolve as long as he keeps a consistent schedule and can contain his emotions on the mound. He is equipped to be a starter but his emotional makeup as a reliever concerns many fans. He was so successful in the role of reliever fans wonder why Brian Cashman would mess with what works. But Joba has all the goods to deliver a variety of quality starting stuff.
Phil Hughes is coming off a mediocre first season in which the expectations failed to produce a lock in the starring role. Hughes is efficient and can be a go-to arm every fifth game but he also could use some time to work out the kinks in his mechanics. Meanwhile, Joba would have the chance to prove himself and show us more. The Yankees will know quickly if moving Joba into the rotation or back to the bullpen is the right choice. Hughes or Alfredo Aceves could replace him in the rotation if the choice to keep him as a reliever is made.
It’s true Joba would ensure a dynamic duo if given the opportunity to be the 8th inning pitcher. Mariano Rivera remains the team closer, but he is coming off shoulder surgery. Number 42 could start slow coming out this Spring and Chamberlain could help close games early in the season. However, that role would mean Joba using only two pitches. If the Yankees relegated the righty to a starting position, he would need to mix in malicious alternatives. I would hate to miss out on seeing Joba work the count on hitters with his devastating curve and cool changeup.
The good part about the Yankees being somewhat undecided (even though Cashman told Joba and insists he will start) is they have enough pitching to be flexible and have a trial and error period. However, the organization cannot hesitate or wait it out too long to decide the fate of Joba. One way or another, Joba deserves an convincing answer. He commands respect in either role because of his ability and resourcefulness as a pitcher. It is likely one of the current pegged starting pitchers will suffer an ailment at some point in 2009. That is just the nature of the long baseball year. A guaranteed Joba would grant a gifted gamer and shutdown solution against opponents. The bullpen is weaker without Joba but the starting rotation also suffers without his talent on display. He is built to start and accustomed to being in there. Imagine opposing teams with the fear factor instilled before the first pitch is thrown instead of the final inning leading up to his entrance.
Parting points: The Devils are still on a roll in hockey land. I see few weaknesses in this team but they are probably going to let me down come playoff time anyway.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Bronx Bound
Anyone up for “Win George Steinbrenner’s Money”? Yes, it’s a knock-off version of “Win Ben Stein’s Money” on the Game Show Network. Okay, seriously now…
I have already expressed how ecstatic I am Mark Teixeira is going to be donning the pinstripes in 2009 and beyond. I am sure writers and fans will have a tremendous time trying to spell Mark’s surname. I thought the general rule was “i” before “e”, except after “c”? I guess those language laws do not apply to the latest long-baller.
I compare the signing of Mark Teixeira with the exhilaration of acquiring Tino Martinez from Seattle in 1996. The fan reaction is much different, but I believe the impact and fan insanity will be the same. Mark and Tino are likable players with just enough pizzazz to pull off being fan favorites. Tino was the most adored fan favorite during the great Yankees dynasties. Heck, I even named my cat after the man. If I were to adopt another animal, I would consider naming him “Tex” or maybe “Markie”. Ok, now I am getting out of hand...
It is hard to criticize signing Tex, even with the steep price tag tagging along. Good players come at high costs and aren’t easy to find. Teixeira is the only really good free agent first baseman on the market this year and on the near horizon. The Yankees were smart to act this winter instead of holding out for someone better next year. The had a glaring weakness in the infield at first base and Mark is the best is baseball at the position. Yes, Albert Pujols puts up better offensive numbers for the Cardinals, but Tex is so solid and has endless potential.
New York needs Mark for his bat, glove and demeanor. He won’t make headlines the way headcase, Manny Ramirez, would have. Teixeira won’t be targeted for illegal steroid use like former Yankee first bagger, Jason Giambi. Instead, he will simply take the field everyday and flash his two-time Gold Glove winning arm. He will step to the plate three to four times every game and find some way to get on base 1/3 of the time. Mark will likely hit third in front of Alex Rodriguez. He does not have glaring speed, but the Yankees don’t need Mark to steal bases. Fans will appreciate this player’s work ethic and good-guy attitude. He has a Jeter-like character with a little less charm. He has that baby face to go along with the former attributes. Mark Teixeria will be in the Bronx for the next eight seasons and I cannot think of a better way to open the new stadium than seeing him take the field opening day. He has the talent to be mentioned in the same sentences as the great Yankee first basemen—Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez and even Lou Gehrig.
Parting points: “Just keep staring at the sun, pray for summer’s end”- Foo Fighters
I have already expressed how ecstatic I am Mark Teixeira is going to be donning the pinstripes in 2009 and beyond. I am sure writers and fans will have a tremendous time trying to spell Mark’s surname. I thought the general rule was “i” before “e”, except after “c”? I guess those language laws do not apply to the latest long-baller.
I compare the signing of Mark Teixeira with the exhilaration of acquiring Tino Martinez from Seattle in 1996. The fan reaction is much different, but I believe the impact and fan insanity will be the same. Mark and Tino are likable players with just enough pizzazz to pull off being fan favorites. Tino was the most adored fan favorite during the great Yankees dynasties. Heck, I even named my cat after the man. If I were to adopt another animal, I would consider naming him “Tex” or maybe “Markie”. Ok, now I am getting out of hand...
It is hard to criticize signing Tex, even with the steep price tag tagging along. Good players come at high costs and aren’t easy to find. Teixeira is the only really good free agent first baseman on the market this year and on the near horizon. The Yankees were smart to act this winter instead of holding out for someone better next year. The had a glaring weakness in the infield at first base and Mark is the best is baseball at the position. Yes, Albert Pujols puts up better offensive numbers for the Cardinals, but Tex is so solid and has endless potential.
New York needs Mark for his bat, glove and demeanor. He won’t make headlines the way headcase, Manny Ramirez, would have. Teixeira won’t be targeted for illegal steroid use like former Yankee first bagger, Jason Giambi. Instead, he will simply take the field everyday and flash his two-time Gold Glove winning arm. He will step to the plate three to four times every game and find some way to get on base 1/3 of the time. Mark will likely hit third in front of Alex Rodriguez. He does not have glaring speed, but the Yankees don’t need Mark to steal bases. Fans will appreciate this player’s work ethic and good-guy attitude. He has a Jeter-like character with a little less charm. He has that baby face to go along with the former attributes. Mark Teixeria will be in the Bronx for the next eight seasons and I cannot think of a better way to open the new stadium than seeing him take the field opening day. He has the talent to be mentioned in the same sentences as the great Yankee first basemen—Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez and even Lou Gehrig.
Parting points: “Just keep staring at the sun, pray for summer’s end”- Foo Fighters
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Newsworthy Nicknames
C.C., A.J., J.J., and K-Rod are the nicknames New Yorkers will soon become acquainted with. Baseball fans may or may not know much about the four free agent signings that sparked the Las Vegas winter meetings this week. They soon will be muddled with the monikers as each takes the mound in March. Nicknames are shortened ways to identify a person. They are supposed to be friendly, unique callings or christenings. I like nicknames and think each of the players acquired will have a unique “calling” for their team in 2009.
C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett are both legitimate aces. Sabathia carried the Brewers on his bulging back last fall. Without C.C.’s mound presence, it’s highly likely Milwaukee would have missed the post-season. The hefty hurler will command respect from the other Yankee starters. Sabathia is number one and I assume A.J. is number two for Joe Girardi’s staff. The Sabathia signing is a sure-thing as long as he can endure the New York media and press. I think C.C. will win twenty games next season and live up to his big time contract of $160 million over seven years. I still think the Yankees were better off going after Johan Santana in 2007’s off-season, but C.C. is capable of just as much. He is a workhorse with all the key pitches. I worry only about him coming through in big spots, such as defeating Boston or in the playoffs. His past seasons with the Indians in the post-season were less than spectacular. Sabathia was solid during the 2008 playoffs considering the low run support he received.
Burnett is a hard to figure out. He was arguably the second best pitcher available on the Hot Stove. Derek Lowe is older than A.J., but was probably the better choice for his durability. Jake Peavy also has more quality pitches than Burnett, but indicated to his agent he would have preferred remaining in the National League. The best part about A.J. in pinstripes is he will no longer be pitching against them. In Toronto last season, he and Roy Halladay baffled the Bombers all year. Burnett in particular has a knack for striking out hitters, especially ones from New York. The Bluejays will have to acquire another starter to fill Burnett’s role and that is a good thing of the Yankees. But I worry about Burnett’s health. Signing him for five years at $80 plus million is a risk for Brian Cashman. Burnett has not proven he can stay healthy all year and his ERA is unusually high for a pitcher who whiffs hitters as often as Burnett. I am sure he will be effective enough to win over a dozen times in 2009. But, don’t look for A.J. to be the stopper he was last season.
As far as the Metropolitans go, Omar Minaya deserves an A plus for his off-season so far. The Mets boasted the post-season’s worst setup-closer combination last season. Now, you could argue they have the best in all of baseball, let alone the National League. With Kerry Wood switching from the National League Cubs to the American League Indians, the Cubs no longer can claim they have a better bullpen. The Met added two more relievers in addition to K-Rod and J.J. Putz too. Now all they need is another solid starter, preferably a lefty and a right-handed bat for the outfield.
Obtaining K-Rod for three years at the price they did, the Mets got a bargain. Granted there were no other offers out there for Rodriguez but credit Minaya for pulling off a good deal. K-Rod is ten times better than most closers in baseball and with J.J. setting him up, the game is shortened to at least seven innings. J.J. was a shut-down closer for Seattle so the move to setting up should not be a problem. He was injured last year and played for a team that lost more games than they won. I expect Putz to bounce back beautifully. He throws smoke when he is on and Mets’ fans should enjoy seeing him take the ball at the new Citifield.
Both New York teams still have work to do but they were the only clubs making noise at the winter meetings. Despite a few minor signings and trades, the Mets and Yankees were the clear winners. Nicknames or not, 2009 will be an exciting time for baseball in the Big Apple.
Parting points: Tonight the Heisman trophy will be handed out to the best college football player. The three quarterbacks are all well-deserving. I think Tim Tebow is the best all around player but have a suspicion Colt McCoy will win out. Texas seemed to get the shaft this year and a McCoy Heisman selection would make up for some of that.
Song of the day: REM’s “Losing My Religion”.
C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett are both legitimate aces. Sabathia carried the Brewers on his bulging back last fall. Without C.C.’s mound presence, it’s highly likely Milwaukee would have missed the post-season. The hefty hurler will command respect from the other Yankee starters. Sabathia is number one and I assume A.J. is number two for Joe Girardi’s staff. The Sabathia signing is a sure-thing as long as he can endure the New York media and press. I think C.C. will win twenty games next season and live up to his big time contract of $160 million over seven years. I still think the Yankees were better off going after Johan Santana in 2007’s off-season, but C.C. is capable of just as much. He is a workhorse with all the key pitches. I worry only about him coming through in big spots, such as defeating Boston or in the playoffs. His past seasons with the Indians in the post-season were less than spectacular. Sabathia was solid during the 2008 playoffs considering the low run support he received.
Burnett is a hard to figure out. He was arguably the second best pitcher available on the Hot Stove. Derek Lowe is older than A.J., but was probably the better choice for his durability. Jake Peavy also has more quality pitches than Burnett, but indicated to his agent he would have preferred remaining in the National League. The best part about A.J. in pinstripes is he will no longer be pitching against them. In Toronto last season, he and Roy Halladay baffled the Bombers all year. Burnett in particular has a knack for striking out hitters, especially ones from New York. The Bluejays will have to acquire another starter to fill Burnett’s role and that is a good thing of the Yankees. But I worry about Burnett’s health. Signing him for five years at $80 plus million is a risk for Brian Cashman. Burnett has not proven he can stay healthy all year and his ERA is unusually high for a pitcher who whiffs hitters as often as Burnett. I am sure he will be effective enough to win over a dozen times in 2009. But, don’t look for A.J. to be the stopper he was last season.
As far as the Metropolitans go, Omar Minaya deserves an A plus for his off-season so far. The Mets boasted the post-season’s worst setup-closer combination last season. Now, you could argue they have the best in all of baseball, let alone the National League. With Kerry Wood switching from the National League Cubs to the American League Indians, the Cubs no longer can claim they have a better bullpen. The Met added two more relievers in addition to K-Rod and J.J. Putz too. Now all they need is another solid starter, preferably a lefty and a right-handed bat for the outfield.
Obtaining K-Rod for three years at the price they did, the Mets got a bargain. Granted there were no other offers out there for Rodriguez but credit Minaya for pulling off a good deal. K-Rod is ten times better than most closers in baseball and with J.J. setting him up, the game is shortened to at least seven innings. J.J. was a shut-down closer for Seattle so the move to setting up should not be a problem. He was injured last year and played for a team that lost more games than they won. I expect Putz to bounce back beautifully. He throws smoke when he is on and Mets’ fans should enjoy seeing him take the ball at the new Citifield.
Both New York teams still have work to do but they were the only clubs making noise at the winter meetings. Despite a few minor signings and trades, the Mets and Yankees were the clear winners. Nicknames or not, 2009 will be an exciting time for baseball in the Big Apple.
Parting points: Tonight the Heisman trophy will be handed out to the best college football player. The three quarterbacks are all well-deserving. I think Tim Tebow is the best all around player but have a suspicion Colt McCoy will win out. Texas seemed to get the shaft this year and a McCoy Heisman selection would make up for some of that.
Song of the day: REM’s “Losing My Religion”.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Shopping Season
Black Friday came and went with the usual hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Retailers rushed to open shops as early as 4 a.m. and shoppers snatched up bargain buys by the bagfuls. The Major League Baseball shopping season has been extremely slow thus far. I expect teams to start signing free agents and proposing trades following December 7th’s GM meetings. In New York, the Yankees are trying to capture C.C.’s attention with a lucrative offer. The Mets have hibernated but expect to be major players for a consistent closer, right handed bat and second baseman.
Here is a list of stores the New York teams should be hitting up this shopping season:
The Disney Store: Mark Teixeria is the hottest hitter on the market but still remains in Disneyland. With the Red Sox also on the radar, the Yankees need to use their imagination to sign the former Angel. Mark will likely listen to what Anaheim is willing to give before signing with an East Coast team. Southern California probably is hard to pass up, but Teixeria would look great in Yankee pinstripes and knows it. Before the Yankee brass steps foot in the magic kingdom, they better consider who Mark’s agent is. The price for Teixeria will exceed any other hitter this season.
The Big & Tall Men’s Store: C.C. Sabathia is number one on the Yankees Christmas list. Santa (and everybody else) knows this. NY has already dished out their offer to C.C. and the Angels just announced they would like to sign him too. Who knows whether Sabathia even wants to play in New York. He is durable despite being one of the biggest major league starters since David Wells. A long-term deal is what Sabathia seeks and I am somewhat skeptical of signing someone for more than three years. But if C.C. brings a World Championship to New York, it will be worth the price.
Circuit City: The giant electronics retailer is going out of business. The time to find certain items is now. Manny Ramirez’s career also won’t last forever. The right-handed RBI machine is asking for a long-term contract. He’s a big ticket item, not unlike a high definition flat screen TV. Both the Mets and Yankees could consider signing Ramirez. The Dodgers want Manny back after his huge impact during the second half last year. However, LA is only offering the disgruntled player two years. I think Manny will listen to more offers but end up back in Dodger blue. It just really worked out there with his laid back style and competitive team spirit. The Mets could use Manny more than the Yankees. David Wright is their only real deep right handed threat. I do not think Ramirez should be signed for more than two seasons but Omar Minaya likes him and Manny is originally from NY. Before this star player runs out of business, the Mets should get all they can out of his bat.
The used book store: Sometimes the best gifts are second-hand ones. A.J. Burnett is like a used book looking for a second chance after being read through. His career has been up and down and he spends more time on the DL than you would like. Like a used book, you get what you pay for. The Yankees were prepared to offer the pitcher a five year contract according to recent news stories. This would be an incredible mistake in my opinion. Burnett has shown great command against the Yankees and the Red Sox. There is no question he could be a terrific addition as a back end rotation option. But I really hesitate to have him in New York. I think his best days are gone and he is washed up like a torn used gift.
The jewelry store: Francisco Rodriguez, aka K-Rod, is the gem of the Mets offseason. KRod shines like silver and his pitchers are golden. He would definitely be a factor for the Mets bullpen. With their closer situation, signing Rodriguez would fill the Mets’ biggest need. Anyone looking at this diamond should expect to pay. Like any luxury and rare commodity, a good closer is hard to find and usually overpriced. Even though the Mets need a solid closer, there are other options on the market. KRod doesn’t have too many really good seasons left to be as effective as he has been. If the Mets rotation under performs and the bats go dormant like they did in 2008, it doesn’t matter who closes games because it won’t get that far. So before going all out, Omar Minaya should look at the other jewels on the table. (Brian Fuentes, Houston Street)
The discount store: When shopping on a budget, it’s wise to browse discount stores. Often you can find some quality products for less. Andy Pettitte is still a very valuable player despite is dismal post-Allstar break record. Andy is no longer a top of the line pitcher but he knows how to win. If he took a hometown discount, the Yankees should sign him. Mike Mussina is retired and the Yankees need to install at least one veteran pitcher. At the very least, he could be a solid number five pitcher and would not cost the team very much.
The toy store: It is so much fun shopping for toys and re-discovering your youth. Second baseman free agent, Orlando Hudson, is like that shiny new toy train or doll. He guarantees to be a number one present on any team’s wish list. The Mets have to replace Luis Castillo at second base. If Daniel Murphy does not figure into the equation, the Mets are going to have to acquire someone. Hudson would fit perfectly in the infield with David Wright and Jose Reyes. The only drawback to Hudson is he has been injured in the past. But like any good toy, you take a risk in its longevity and running power. Hudson needs to refuel his batteries and he will be in good shape to play.
The homemade gift: Creativity is admired. Ideas arise for specific people on our Christmas lists and the perfect gift can be concocted. The Yankees may not be thinking about him, but Jake Peavy would add an original punch on the mound. The crafty Padre wants to return to his hometown and play for Atlanta. The Braves are unwilling to trade their prized pitching prospect and it looks like Peavy will go elsewhere as of now. It’s time for Brian Cashman to think outside the box and paint a picture to lure Peavy to the pinstripes. I think he’s the second best pitcher available. He is more efficient and eats more innings than Derek Lowe and would be more reliable than Burnett. Even if the Yankees overspend for Sabathia, they should be players in the Peavy stakes.
Parting points: I hope everyone is not too stressed out about the holiday shopping season. I do not enjoy the crowds so I try to get some gifts online or make them myself. I know I am looking forward to seeing how this baseball offseason plays out with the economic situation in the country.
Here is a list of stores the New York teams should be hitting up this shopping season:
The Disney Store: Mark Teixeria is the hottest hitter on the market but still remains in Disneyland. With the Red Sox also on the radar, the Yankees need to use their imagination to sign the former Angel. Mark will likely listen to what Anaheim is willing to give before signing with an East Coast team. Southern California probably is hard to pass up, but Teixeria would look great in Yankee pinstripes and knows it. Before the Yankee brass steps foot in the magic kingdom, they better consider who Mark’s agent is. The price for Teixeria will exceed any other hitter this season.
The Big & Tall Men’s Store: C.C. Sabathia is number one on the Yankees Christmas list. Santa (and everybody else) knows this. NY has already dished out their offer to C.C. and the Angels just announced they would like to sign him too. Who knows whether Sabathia even wants to play in New York. He is durable despite being one of the biggest major league starters since David Wells. A long-term deal is what Sabathia seeks and I am somewhat skeptical of signing someone for more than three years. But if C.C. brings a World Championship to New York, it will be worth the price.
Circuit City: The giant electronics retailer is going out of business. The time to find certain items is now. Manny Ramirez’s career also won’t last forever. The right-handed RBI machine is asking for a long-term contract. He’s a big ticket item, not unlike a high definition flat screen TV. Both the Mets and Yankees could consider signing Ramirez. The Dodgers want Manny back after his huge impact during the second half last year. However, LA is only offering the disgruntled player two years. I think Manny will listen to more offers but end up back in Dodger blue. It just really worked out there with his laid back style and competitive team spirit. The Mets could use Manny more than the Yankees. David Wright is their only real deep right handed threat. I do not think Ramirez should be signed for more than two seasons but Omar Minaya likes him and Manny is originally from NY. Before this star player runs out of business, the Mets should get all they can out of his bat.
The used book store: Sometimes the best gifts are second-hand ones. A.J. Burnett is like a used book looking for a second chance after being read through. His career has been up and down and he spends more time on the DL than you would like. Like a used book, you get what you pay for. The Yankees were prepared to offer the pitcher a five year contract according to recent news stories. This would be an incredible mistake in my opinion. Burnett has shown great command against the Yankees and the Red Sox. There is no question he could be a terrific addition as a back end rotation option. But I really hesitate to have him in New York. I think his best days are gone and he is washed up like a torn used gift.
The jewelry store: Francisco Rodriguez, aka K-Rod, is the gem of the Mets offseason. KRod shines like silver and his pitchers are golden. He would definitely be a factor for the Mets bullpen. With their closer situation, signing Rodriguez would fill the Mets’ biggest need. Anyone looking at this diamond should expect to pay. Like any luxury and rare commodity, a good closer is hard to find and usually overpriced. Even though the Mets need a solid closer, there are other options on the market. KRod doesn’t have too many really good seasons left to be as effective as he has been. If the Mets rotation under performs and the bats go dormant like they did in 2008, it doesn’t matter who closes games because it won’t get that far. So before going all out, Omar Minaya should look at the other jewels on the table. (Brian Fuentes, Houston Street)
The discount store: When shopping on a budget, it’s wise to browse discount stores. Often you can find some quality products for less. Andy Pettitte is still a very valuable player despite is dismal post-Allstar break record. Andy is no longer a top of the line pitcher but he knows how to win. If he took a hometown discount, the Yankees should sign him. Mike Mussina is retired and the Yankees need to install at least one veteran pitcher. At the very least, he could be a solid number five pitcher and would not cost the team very much.
The toy store: It is so much fun shopping for toys and re-discovering your youth. Second baseman free agent, Orlando Hudson, is like that shiny new toy train or doll. He guarantees to be a number one present on any team’s wish list. The Mets have to replace Luis Castillo at second base. If Daniel Murphy does not figure into the equation, the Mets are going to have to acquire someone. Hudson would fit perfectly in the infield with David Wright and Jose Reyes. The only drawback to Hudson is he has been injured in the past. But like any good toy, you take a risk in its longevity and running power. Hudson needs to refuel his batteries and he will be in good shape to play.
The homemade gift: Creativity is admired. Ideas arise for specific people on our Christmas lists and the perfect gift can be concocted. The Yankees may not be thinking about him, but Jake Peavy would add an original punch on the mound. The crafty Padre wants to return to his hometown and play for Atlanta. The Braves are unwilling to trade their prized pitching prospect and it looks like Peavy will go elsewhere as of now. It’s time for Brian Cashman to think outside the box and paint a picture to lure Peavy to the pinstripes. I think he’s the second best pitcher available. He is more efficient and eats more innings than Derek Lowe and would be more reliable than Burnett. Even if the Yankees overspend for Sabathia, they should be players in the Peavy stakes.
Parting points: I hope everyone is not too stressed out about the holiday shopping season. I do not enjoy the crowds so I try to get some gifts online or make them myself. I know I am looking forward to seeing how this baseball offseason plays out with the economic situation in the country.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Anticipating Another Acquisition
The hot stove league sure inspires inquisitive intellect. Buyer beware is this year’s mantra. The free agent class is one of the best in my recent memory. There are bargains to be had if GMs are willing to negotiate and compromise. For the most part, however, teams are going to pay through the roof to haul in hefty contracts. One of the heftier options (literally) is the reigning 2007 Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner already made their money pitch to the Brewers’ ace. If Sabathia chooses to return to the American League, I can’t see him signing anywhere else except the Big Apple. C.C. does not guarantee the Yankees return to the World Series nor does acquiring the shut-down Sabathia even mean playoff baseball in NY. It would signify an upgrade in the starting rotation. The Yankees do not know what they have in their young pitchers, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Jaba Chamberlain is not a shoo-in for a starting job because the Yankees organization has not decided what direction they will go with him. Wang will become the second best pitcher on this team if C.C. is brought in. Still, the Steinbrenners are looking for more depth on the mound and will go hard after other free agents.
A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are on the Yankee radar. Each player has quality stuff but I wouldn’t sign either one over the Padres’ Jake Peavy. Peavy has said he would like to play for a National League team and the Padres will hear offers from those clubs first. The Yankees can and will outbid all other teams for Peavy if they truly believe he will provide a missing link to the club. But if Peavy really doesn’t want to be a part of the NY environment, it is a waste of time. San Diego alluded to opening the door to American League teams once the Braves closed the door on the Peavy rumored deal last week. I do think Jake will hear what the Yankees want to offer him.
As for the position players on the Yankees, they filled a need in the outfield by trading for Nick Swisher. What does Swisher bring to the table? If he can transform himself into the player he was in Oakland, he brings much. He can play any outfield position well and is patient at the plate. Swisher reminds me of Scott Brosius in a way. Both played for the A’s and are usually in the middle of big plays. Both are stellar teammates and aren’t afraid to get their uniforms dirty. I don’t know whether the Yankees intend on using Swisher at first, but it seems like Mark Teixeria is out of the free agent signing mix now. From all I’ve heard and read, the Yankees do not want to tie up first base for the long-term. With Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada slowly becoming too slow and old for their respective positions, it’s likely one of them will take over first base. If Teixeria is reeled in from the west coast, where would Posada and Jeter keep their heads above water in the field? The most logical place would be first base.
Austin Jackson seems to be the Yankee centerfielder of the future. No one is going to declare him the next Mickey Mantle just yet. He is still a little over one year away from becoming a major leaguer. Time in the minors to smooth over the rough spots would do him well. With Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon, the Yankees can get by for one year. I still see the need for some top of the line bench players and quality relief pitchers here in NY. Every team is going to be shopping for bullpen help, so the Yankees will have to get creative if they want to compete. They do not have the prospects to trade for any really good relievers. That being said, now is the time to look for the type of pitcher who has had major league experience and is coming off a contract year. Maybe even signing a former starter and regulating him to the bullpen would be a wise decision.
I really like how the Yankees are making a statement and holding nothing back this hot stove season. I anticipate some more acquisitions in the near future. I only hope they play out. We know from years’ past, some of the more prominent signings have not lived up to the hype.
Parting points: Ohio State beat Juice Williams finally. Penn State rallied for another win. This Big 10 conference is going to get very interesting next week. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw the Florida-South Carolina score. Wow. Is there any doubt what team deserves to play for the championship?
Song of the day: “Float on” by Modest Mouse
A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are on the Yankee radar. Each player has quality stuff but I wouldn’t sign either one over the Padres’ Jake Peavy. Peavy has said he would like to play for a National League team and the Padres will hear offers from those clubs first. The Yankees can and will outbid all other teams for Peavy if they truly believe he will provide a missing link to the club. But if Peavy really doesn’t want to be a part of the NY environment, it is a waste of time. San Diego alluded to opening the door to American League teams once the Braves closed the door on the Peavy rumored deal last week. I do think Jake will hear what the Yankees want to offer him.
As for the position players on the Yankees, they filled a need in the outfield by trading for Nick Swisher. What does Swisher bring to the table? If he can transform himself into the player he was in Oakland, he brings much. He can play any outfield position well and is patient at the plate. Swisher reminds me of Scott Brosius in a way. Both played for the A’s and are usually in the middle of big plays. Both are stellar teammates and aren’t afraid to get their uniforms dirty. I don’t know whether the Yankees intend on using Swisher at first, but it seems like Mark Teixeria is out of the free agent signing mix now. From all I’ve heard and read, the Yankees do not want to tie up first base for the long-term. With Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada slowly becoming too slow and old for their respective positions, it’s likely one of them will take over first base. If Teixeria is reeled in from the west coast, where would Posada and Jeter keep their heads above water in the field? The most logical place would be first base.
Austin Jackson seems to be the Yankee centerfielder of the future. No one is going to declare him the next Mickey Mantle just yet. He is still a little over one year away from becoming a major leaguer. Time in the minors to smooth over the rough spots would do him well. With Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon, the Yankees can get by for one year. I still see the need for some top of the line bench players and quality relief pitchers here in NY. Every team is going to be shopping for bullpen help, so the Yankees will have to get creative if they want to compete. They do not have the prospects to trade for any really good relievers. That being said, now is the time to look for the type of pitcher who has had major league experience and is coming off a contract year. Maybe even signing a former starter and regulating him to the bullpen would be a wise decision.
I really like how the Yankees are making a statement and holding nothing back this hot stove season. I anticipate some more acquisitions in the near future. I only hope they play out. We know from years’ past, some of the more prominent signings have not lived up to the hype.
Parting points: Ohio State beat Juice Williams finally. Penn State rallied for another win. This Big 10 conference is going to get very interesting next week. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw the Florida-South Carolina score. Wow. Is there any doubt what team deserves to play for the championship?
Song of the day: “Float on” by Modest Mouse
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
First Fixings
Yankee GM, Brian Cashman, will control and construct the team for at least three more years. He just signed a contract to remain in New York’s front office. He’s been a mediocre manager since taking over. Cashman experienced everything from buying belligerent and battered superstars to profiting from passionate players. He’s capitalized on acquiring free agents and the contributions haven’t always worked out.
I think there needs to be some significant shakeups and a few key switches next season. I would start at first base by not resigning Jason Giambi. The Giambino has a great eye, great discipline and can still hit productively, but he is overpaid and defensively deficient. Mark Teixeira would be money well spent if he entertained a NY offer and decided to join the 2009 Yankees. Texieria would be an upgrade in the field and provide a big bat in an already lush lineup. The Yankees need a reliable defensive first baseman reminiscent of Tino Martinez and Don Mattingly . Texieria is a switch hitter and happend to like Donnie Baseball growing up. Watching Mark whack the ball for Atlanta and the Angels this season makes me hunger for his homerun ability at Yankee Stadium. I am sure the cost for Teixeria will skyrocket once he officially meets the market. Scott Boras, his agent, is going to command the bucks. I think this is one player the Yankees could get away with overpaying. They are in desperate need of a solid, diligent corner infielder.
Curtis Granderson is a standup citizen and athlete. His savvy plate power only added up to a .280 batting average in 2008, but Granderson would be a great addition in centerfield. If Detroit were willing to trade with New York, the Yankees would sure up their outfield for years in a young player like Granderson. There are other in-house options of course. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Brent Gardner are all taking up roster space. I do not think Matsui has anything left except his bat so playing him in the outfield is out of the question. Johnny Damon can get by in left field. His arm is weak and base runners take advantage of him all day but his bat is needed. I think with Jorge Posada as the team’s potential 2009 DH, the Yankees should consider releasing Matsui. I loved the trade deadline pickup, Xavier Nady, and think he should be included in the Yankees outfield next year. With Nady in right field, Bobby Abreu is the odd man out. Abreu has solid numbers at the plate but he is sometimes feeble and frail in the field. But I don’t agree with paying him to stay on this club. The Yankees should also let him go. Brett Gardner is an option as well and he should get a chance to make the team in spring training. Perhaps a platoon in left with Damon would be beneficial. At catcher, the Yankees might be best retaining Jose Molina. There are very few options on the free agent market at the position and the Yankees are not grooming a backstop on the farm from what I’ve heard.
Pitching probably potentially poses a problem. Wang will be the team ace once he bounces back from the DL. Jaba Chamberlain has to be included in the starting rotation. That makes a solid one and two. I have a feeling Mike Mussina will eventually decide to retire and Andy Pettitte I can see taking the same road. If neither returns, the Yankees are going to need at least one more pitcher. They have Phil Hughes pegged for a spot so I fully expect him to contribute in 2009 more than he did this year. I am high on Hughes’ potential in the long-term. With Wang, Chamberlain and Hughes the Yankees are set for years to come if the three are reliable. The Yankees must make a pitch for C.C. Sabathia. They require that shut-down, dominant starter and C.C. would make the rotation a complete one. A fifth starter shouldn’t be difficult to find if Mike and Andy are gone. I actually believe the relief core and late inning hurlers are good enough. There are going to always be injuries though, and Cashman needs to solidify certain areas of the bullpen. Next season is going to come down to production. Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter are the foundation of this team. A premier centerfielder would provide an added insurance player. The supporting staff of players like Nady and Teixera certainly would make this team click on all cylinders.
Parting points: I am stoked for the ALCS and NLCS. The most enticing matchup will be Beckett vs. Kazmir in the second game of the ALCS in Tampa Bay.
I think there needs to be some significant shakeups and a few key switches next season. I would start at first base by not resigning Jason Giambi. The Giambino has a great eye, great discipline and can still hit productively, but he is overpaid and defensively deficient. Mark Teixeira would be money well spent if he entertained a NY offer and decided to join the 2009 Yankees. Texieria would be an upgrade in the field and provide a big bat in an already lush lineup. The Yankees need a reliable defensive first baseman reminiscent of Tino Martinez and Don Mattingly . Texieria is a switch hitter and happend to like Donnie Baseball growing up. Watching Mark whack the ball for Atlanta and the Angels this season makes me hunger for his homerun ability at Yankee Stadium. I am sure the cost for Teixeria will skyrocket once he officially meets the market. Scott Boras, his agent, is going to command the bucks. I think this is one player the Yankees could get away with overpaying. They are in desperate need of a solid, diligent corner infielder.
Curtis Granderson is a standup citizen and athlete. His savvy plate power only added up to a .280 batting average in 2008, but Granderson would be a great addition in centerfield. If Detroit were willing to trade with New York, the Yankees would sure up their outfield for years in a young player like Granderson. There are other in-house options of course. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Brent Gardner are all taking up roster space. I do not think Matsui has anything left except his bat so playing him in the outfield is out of the question. Johnny Damon can get by in left field. His arm is weak and base runners take advantage of him all day but his bat is needed. I think with Jorge Posada as the team’s potential 2009 DH, the Yankees should consider releasing Matsui. I loved the trade deadline pickup, Xavier Nady, and think he should be included in the Yankees outfield next year. With Nady in right field, Bobby Abreu is the odd man out. Abreu has solid numbers at the plate but he is sometimes feeble and frail in the field. But I don’t agree with paying him to stay on this club. The Yankees should also let him go. Brett Gardner is an option as well and he should get a chance to make the team in spring training. Perhaps a platoon in left with Damon would be beneficial. At catcher, the Yankees might be best retaining Jose Molina. There are very few options on the free agent market at the position and the Yankees are not grooming a backstop on the farm from what I’ve heard.
Pitching probably potentially poses a problem. Wang will be the team ace once he bounces back from the DL. Jaba Chamberlain has to be included in the starting rotation. That makes a solid one and two. I have a feeling Mike Mussina will eventually decide to retire and Andy Pettitte I can see taking the same road. If neither returns, the Yankees are going to need at least one more pitcher. They have Phil Hughes pegged for a spot so I fully expect him to contribute in 2009 more than he did this year. I am high on Hughes’ potential in the long-term. With Wang, Chamberlain and Hughes the Yankees are set for years to come if the three are reliable. The Yankees must make a pitch for C.C. Sabathia. They require that shut-down, dominant starter and C.C. would make the rotation a complete one. A fifth starter shouldn’t be difficult to find if Mike and Andy are gone. I actually believe the relief core and late inning hurlers are good enough. There are going to always be injuries though, and Cashman needs to solidify certain areas of the bullpen. Next season is going to come down to production. Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter are the foundation of this team. A premier centerfielder would provide an added insurance player. The supporting staff of players like Nady and Teixera certainly would make this team click on all cylinders.
Parting points: I am stoked for the ALCS and NLCS. The most enticing matchup will be Beckett vs. Kazmir in the second game of the ALCS in Tampa Bay.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
An Acquiescence Autumn Afternoon
Yogi Berra once said, “It gets late early”. Yesterday afternoon in NY was one of those days as the Yankees won their second to last game in front of the hometown crowd. The game was scoreless through nine innings, surging speedily on a Fall day. The leaves on the trees here in NY are starting to scatter on the ground, and there is that smell of the new season in the air already. One of the best things about this time of year is, of course, the Fall Classic. It will be difficult to follow the playoffs without the Yankees for me. As an avid baseball fan though, I can certainly cope.
Robinson Cano drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded to seal the deal for the Yankees. Cano is no Steve Sax in my book (Sax was never terrific at second base either but he appealed to me as a child) but he has so much ability and potential. He reminds me of a young Alfonso Soriano who started out lackadaisical in NY before he got it all together. I really hope Cano continues to develop as a player, defensively and at the plate. His immaturity and cockiness have overshadowed his play this year. I think he misses Larry Bowa’s presence, but hopefully Joe Girardi will put the kid in his place.
Speaking of stellar second basemen and moving on to a team in contention, I loved Ryne Sandberg when he played for the Cubs. Maybe this is finally the year for the Chicago Cubs. After all, isn’t the hype around the nation about the economy and the bear market? Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Cubs won the World Series? The Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly tandem sure sounds solid. Lou really has that club together. I am a big fan of Pinella, so I am pulling for the paws this postseason.
Are you looking for a scare this October? How about Manny Ramirez and what he is doing out in L.A.? The former Red Sox slugger is putting up frightening figures for Torre and the Dodgers. Trick-or-treating in dreadlocks this Halloween could be fun. He is one of the most popular men in L.A. recently. Another five runs driven in behind a three run and two run homerun is impressive. The Dodgers lack the depth of the Cubs but you have to like their chances. The NL is very weak overall.
Are the Rays really respectable? I think so. Joe Maddon makes me mull over what Tampa Bay can accomplish in the post-season. It’s nice to see Rocco Baldelli back on the field. He was one of the most hyped players when he was drafted but his ailing health has set him back. The team does not have a standout player nor do they have any experience in playoff situations. If they are able to win the AL East, they have a good chance making the ALCS. However, if they fail to win the division and only clinch the wildcard, I cannot see them overtaking the Angels in round one of the playoffs.
The Brewers meltdown is similar to what happened in 2007 to the Mets. How does a pitching staff surrender seven homeruns to the Cincinnati Reds? I guess firing Ned Yost helped very little and it’s safe to say the Brewers will miss the playoffs.
Does Derek detest getting dinked by opposing pitchers? It doesn’t seem he minds at all. Jeter was hit by a pitch during the Yankees win yesterday. It’s like he’s trying to break Craig Biggio’s HBP record.
Parting points: My song of the moment is Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. The playoff picture curves clearer as Autumn arrives.
Robinson Cano drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded to seal the deal for the Yankees. Cano is no Steve Sax in my book (Sax was never terrific at second base either but he appealed to me as a child) but he has so much ability and potential. He reminds me of a young Alfonso Soriano who started out lackadaisical in NY before he got it all together. I really hope Cano continues to develop as a player, defensively and at the plate. His immaturity and cockiness have overshadowed his play this year. I think he misses Larry Bowa’s presence, but hopefully Joe Girardi will put the kid in his place.
Speaking of stellar second basemen and moving on to a team in contention, I loved Ryne Sandberg when he played for the Cubs. Maybe this is finally the year for the Chicago Cubs. After all, isn’t the hype around the nation about the economy and the bear market? Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Cubs won the World Series? The Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly tandem sure sounds solid. Lou really has that club together. I am a big fan of Pinella, so I am pulling for the paws this postseason.
Are you looking for a scare this October? How about Manny Ramirez and what he is doing out in L.A.? The former Red Sox slugger is putting up frightening figures for Torre and the Dodgers. Trick-or-treating in dreadlocks this Halloween could be fun. He is one of the most popular men in L.A. recently. Another five runs driven in behind a three run and two run homerun is impressive. The Dodgers lack the depth of the Cubs but you have to like their chances. The NL is very weak overall.
Are the Rays really respectable? I think so. Joe Maddon makes me mull over what Tampa Bay can accomplish in the post-season. It’s nice to see Rocco Baldelli back on the field. He was one of the most hyped players when he was drafted but his ailing health has set him back. The team does not have a standout player nor do they have any experience in playoff situations. If they are able to win the AL East, they have a good chance making the ALCS. However, if they fail to win the division and only clinch the wildcard, I cannot see them overtaking the Angels in round one of the playoffs.
The Brewers meltdown is similar to what happened in 2007 to the Mets. How does a pitching staff surrender seven homeruns to the Cincinnati Reds? I guess firing Ned Yost helped very little and it’s safe to say the Brewers will miss the playoffs.
Does Derek detest getting dinked by opposing pitchers? It doesn’t seem he minds at all. Jeter was hit by a pitch during the Yankees win yesterday. It’s like he’s trying to break Craig Biggio’s HBP record.
Parting points: My song of the moment is Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. The playoff picture curves clearer as Autumn arrives.
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