N.Y. Yankees: Trade Deadline Silence is Deafening

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Nothing Ventured; Nothing Gained

I'm sure Brian Cashman spent the weeks, days, hours, and minutes, leading up to Wednesday's MLB trade deadline negotiating very earnestly.  Cashman has been serving in his present capacity a long time and to coin a recent Aaron Boone quip, he's a savage in his general manager's office.  If Cashman feels teams were being unreasonable in negotiations, he's entitled to that opinion.  After all, the Yankees are dealing from a position of strength.  And so in his view preventing the Yankees from getting ripped off is justified.

Unfortunately, reasonable minded thinking makes fans break out in a rash.  They don't wanna hear that crap when the competition is making deals all around them.  Yankee bugs wanted a starting pitcher or two, if not another relief pitcher.  Coming out of this empty handed was completely out of the question, and at one time considered unfathomable.  Bewildered fans will spend the next few nights talking in their sleep asking themselves what in the name of Col. Jacob Ruppert were they thinking.

LUIS SEVERINO IS NOT WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR

Cashman leaves Aaron Boone to press forward with starters Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, C.C. Sabathia, J.A. Happ, and Domingo German.  The five account for 95 starts over the Yankees 107 games played to date.  Chad Green accounts for another eight other starts.  Not one of them presently sport an ERA below four.  Domingo German is their best at 4.08 through 17 starts and 97 innings pitched.  He also leads the staff with a 1.11 WHiP.  Here is the Yankees problem: Sabathia, Tanaka, Paxton, and Happ, together combine for a 4.88 ERA.  The Yankees offset that with a +119 run differential.  However, in a short playoff series we know the dynamics of baseball play out very differently.

When the Mets acquired Marcus Stroman they somewhat cornered the market on high end movable starters (if you include Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler).  However, the biggest news to impact the Yankees occurs when Houston acquires pitcher Zack Greinke from Arizona.

Brian Cashman is essentially telling Aaron Boone he had better win with what he has.  Thus the manager's toughest assignment lay dead ahead; negotiating his deep and effective bullpen through the next 55 games of the season and getting them to October all in one piece.  In other words prepare for more Sunny Gray days ahead. 

And don't @ Cashman if someone gets injured.  

Call Scranton.

N.Y. Yankees: C.C. Sabathia Adds to Milestone Season

From the desk of:  THE HOUSE HAL INHERITED

SABATHIA AT THE GATES

Solidifying Bid for Hall of Fame

It's mid June and there exists an American League East battle for first place which does not presently involve the Red Sox - at least not yet.  Instead, the Yankees are hosting the under spoken yet threatening second place Tampa Bay Rays whom after losing games one and two in the Bronx entered Wednesday's game 2.5 games back of the first place Yankees.  Looking to avoid a sweep the Rays face Yankees starter CC Sabathia who is making the 550th start of his career.

Suffice it to say things do not go Tampa's way as the Yankees jump out to a 6-0 first inning lead.  Once on the hill Sabathia faces 24 batters through six innings, throwing 94 pitches with 59 (62%) going for strikes.  He yields just one run on a mere three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts en route to his fourth victory of the season.

The victory marks the 250th win of CC Sabathia's 19-year career.  He now boasts a 250-157 (.613) career record with a 3.71 ERA.  This also marks his 133rd victory since joining the Yankees eleven season ago.  He previously won 117 games pitching for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers.

Sabathia becomes only the 48th pitcher in MLB history to achieve 250 wins.  Earlier this season, he became only the 17th pitcher in MLB history to achieve 3,000 strikeouts.  Moreover, he becomes only the 13th pitcher and only the second southpaw to achieve both 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts.

A six time all-star Sabathia won the A.L. Cy Young award in 2007 while pitching for Cleveland.  He then became a World Series champion and series MVP in 2009 while leading both the Yankees and American League with 19 victories.  In 2010, he led the American League a second straight season with 21 wins.

I can not say enough good things about the man.  He's an extremely influential person both in the locker room and on the field.  He adheres by old school standards knowing exactly when to apply traditional justice with unfailing duty and dedication to his mates.  He's also a husband and man of values who acts with conviction lest we forget he opted to attend rehab at his wife's behest despite the Yankees being in the midst of a pennant race.  That takes fortitude, and love.

One of the greatest persons to ever grace a New York City pitcher's mound ...

N.Y. Yankees: CC Sabathia Achieves 3,000 Career Strikeouts

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

CONGRATULATIONS

CC SABATHIA

He becomes the 17th pitcher in major league history, 

and only the third left-hander ever to record 3,000 strikeouts in a career.

CC Sabathia entered Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks just three strikeouts shy of one of baseball's all-time hallowed milestones.  After retiring Arizona in order in the first, Sabathia seized the moment with three strikeouts in the second inning.

The soon to be 39-year old would unfortunately exit on the losing side of a 2-1 game after yielding just two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched.  Sabathia previously topped out at five innings and 86 pitches in each of his last two starts.  Tuesday at Arizona he pitched into the sixth for the first time this season, while throwing 87 pitches with 51 (59%) going for strikes.

Sabathia has spent more than half his career pitching for the Yankees, with whom he twice led the league in wins (2009-10), and in 2009 helped lead them to a World Series championship.  He entered Tuesday's game with a career record of 130-80, and 3.73 ERA, and has now fanned 1,609 batters while donning pinstripes.

During his eight season with the Indians, Sabathia posted a 106-71 record with a 3.83 ERA.  He recorded 1,265 strikeouts while pitching for Cleveland, where he captured the 2007 American League Cy Young award.

#3000

N.Y. Yankees: Congratulations, Nonetheless

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

A Season To Be Proud Of

91-71 (.562)

WILD CARD

WINNER ALDS

New York Yankees: Young Bombers May Have Come Up Short, But Fans Have An Awful Lot To Look Forward To.

The Yankees are coming!

Not only did the young Bombers arrive ahead of schedule, but they knocked off the defending American League champions to boot.

The regular season also demonstrated just how slim the margin of difference is between the Yankees and Red Sox.  It looks like the American League East is a two team division again.  Both teams are young, and still upcoming.  Their respective farm systems are also well stocked.  Meanwhile, the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Rays, are all trending downward; all three finished the regular season below par.  In any event, the rivalry between the Yanks and Sox appears back on, and with potential to last for many years to come.

That's good for baseball.  It's also fun to watch.

Losing, however, is never fun.  Saying the Yankees and their fans should be proud of themselves despite losing to the Astros is easier said than done.  I know.  I root for the Mets.  When you get that close to the prize, one wants to win badly as ever.

Congratulations, nonetheless.

The BTB Top Three Concerns:

I)  Joe Girardi's Contract 

With most of the top managerial candidates being quickly gobbled up, it's unlikely the Yankees would risk parting with Girardi at this juncture.  Teams would line up to hire Joe should he become    available.  I'm sure if Girardi, or the Yankees front office, had any intentions of parting ways, we would have already known.

However, I can certainly see Hal Steinbrenner insisting Girardi come at a reduced price.  That in turn may put Brian Cashman in a pickle if, and when, he negotiates a new pact with Girardi.

As a Mets fan, I'll throw this into the mix - what if the end of season exit interviews go horribly wrong?  We Mets fans were under the impression Collins was well liked in the clubhouse, partly because the media defended him all these years.  The same media then kicked Collins when he was already down and on the way out with a scathing expose rife with anonymous sources.

II)  Gary Sanchez is a Defensive Liability Behind the Plate

That was made painfully clear, if not confirmed, against the Houston Astros.  Three particular instances stand out when he was unable to cleanly receive a rely throw to the plate, thus allowing a potential out to score safely.  All three plays directly affected the outcome of three respective games.  Joe Girardi makes no secret of his displeasure with Gary's defense.

III)  Yankees Got All The Pitching in the Post-Season They Could Have Hoped For

Luis Severino posted a fine regular season, and may have simply tuckered out the playoffs.  Masahiro Tanaka is signed through 2019, but can opt out.  He is clearly a better pitcher with extended rest.  Starters make one appearance a week in Japan.  Here, pitchers start every fifth day.  It's a somewhat taxing situation, which makes his potential price somewhat prohibitive.  Jordan Montgomery is up and coming, and the acquisition of Sonny Gray helped, but to what extent remains to be seen.  He is arbitration eligible.  The Yankees may potentially need another replacement in the starting rotation.  CC Sabathia's contract is finally coming off the books.  Capt'n Crunch is now a free agent to be.  He is 37-years old, and just might be asked back on a one year deal with an option.

In other words, questions abound.

N.Y. Yankees: Damn Yankees Heading Back To Texas

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa Flame Out at Yankee Stadium;

Astros Glad to Get Out of Town.

Yankees Lead Series 3-2

I - HOU 2; NYY 1

II - HOU 2; NYY 1

III - NYY 8; HOU 1

IV - NYY 6; HOU 4

V - NYY 5; HOU 0

New York Yankees: Tanaka Pitches a Gem; Bombers Gain Series Lead With Sweep at Stadium.

Holy Cow!

With Wednesday's 5-0 whitewashing of the Astros, the Yankees are now just one victory away from clinching the American League pennant, and advancing to the World Series.

After losing the first two games of the ALCS in Houston, the Yankees have stormed back to sweep three at Yankee Stadium.  And just like that ... the favored Astros find themselves heading back home under do or die circumstances.

Masahiro Tanaka delivered a gem in Game Five at Yankee Stadium, limiting Houston to just three hits and a walk, and fanning eight, through seven innings pitched for the victory.  He now owns a 1.83 ERA in two starts against the Astros, surrendering just two earned runs on seven hits and two walks, with 11 strikeouts, in 13 innings pitched.

After five games, the Yankees four starting pitchers collectively own a 1.28 ERA against the Astros.  They've joined to give the Yankees 28 innings, in which they've limited the Astros to just four runs, on 13 hits and ten walks, for an 0.821 WHiP, with 30 strikeouts.

Luis Severino is on deck for Game Six, and CC Sabathia is poised to pitch Game Seven, if necessary.

The Empire also struck back against Astros starter Dallas Kuechel, who struck out 10 Yankees over seven innings in Game One.  This time, the Bombers knocked him out of the box after just 4.2 innings pitched, but not before roughing him up for four earned runs on seven hits.

Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorious, and Greg Bird, all drove in runs.  Gary Sanchez homered in the seventh to ice it.

The Yankees will face Justin Verlander in Game Six at Houston.  He shut out the Yankees for eight innings until they touched him for one run in the ninth inning of Game Two.  Otherwise, Verlander surrendered just five hits, walked one, and fanned 13 Yankees, for a complete game victory.

The home team has yet to lose in this series.  And apparently, home is where the hits have been for both teams as well.

Yankee fans now have to wonder which lineup will show up for Game Six.  The one which previously batted just .158 (63 at-bats) at Houston, with only four walks, three doubles, one home run, and 27 strikeouts?  Or the lineup which batted .269 (93 at-bats) in three games at Yankee Stadium, with 11 walks, six doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 22 strikeouts?

While Yankees production spiked sharply at Yankee Stadium, the Astros lineup has remained somewhat more consistently unproductive.  They batted just .190 (58 at bats) in Houston, with four walks, two doubles, one home run, and nine strikeouts.  Then dipped even further to .119 (92 at-bats) in three games at the Stadium, with 12 walks, five doubles, no home runs, and 25 strikeouts.

The eyes of Texas will again be on Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa as the series shifts back to Houston.  Without them, the Astros do not win games One and Two.  After starting the series a combined 8 for 15 in the first two games, Houston's dynamic due has since gone just 2 for 22 in three games at Yankee Stadium.

Recall how the Astros barely outscored the Yankees in games One and Two by a 4-2 aggregate in Houston.  The Bronx Bombers, on the other hand, outscored the Astros by an aggregate 19-5 margin through three games at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees have two chances to win one game, whereas the Astros must win Game Six in order to force a Game Seven.

Fun!

N.Y. Yankees: Judge Wields His Mighty Gavel

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Series Tied 2-2

I - HOU 2; NYY 1

II - HOU 2; NYY 1

III - NYY 8; HOU 1

IV - NYY 6; HOU 4

WEDNESDAY

Houston Astros

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

161 Street and River Avenue

BRONX

New York Yankees: Judge Holds Court; Issues Stay Against Houston Astros.

Home Sweet Home is where the hits are.

For the moment, Aaron Judge and the Yankees have turned the tables on Houston.

As a team, the Yankees struck out an untenable 27 times (14 times in Game One, and another 13 times against Justin Verlander in Game Two).  That means exactly half of their 54 allotted outs came via strikeouts.  Headlining the futility were Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, who went a combined 1 for 14 in Houston, with seven strikeouts.  The Yankees otherwise totaled ten hits in the first two games at Houston, with only three going for extra bases.

The Astros wound up taking games One and Two by identically slim 2-1 margins of victory as a result.  In truth, Houston only managed just one more hit than the Yankees, and matched them with three extra base hits.  But it was Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa who profited most against Yankees pitching, going 8 for 15, with four runs scored and three RBI.

With a change of location, it is Judge, Sanchez, and the Yankees, now beginning to prosper, while Altuve, Correa, and the Astros, find themselves suddenly struggling at Yankee Stadium.

As a team, Houston only struck out a total of nine times through the first two games.  That changed upon their arrival in the Bronx, when they fanned seven times, with just four hits in Game Three, and struck out another nine times in Game Four.  Meanwhile, Houston's dynamic duo only went 1 for 14, with 3 walks, and just one run scored.

The formerly dormant bats of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, however, are so far 4 for 13 in the Bronx, with a double, three runs scored, two home runs, and eight RBI.

The Yankees outscored Houston by a 14-5 margin in games Three and Four.  All you need to know is that the Bombers cut down their strikeouts, when compared to games One and Two, by two-thirds. They struck out six times as a team in Game Three, and just three times in Game Four.  That's 18 fewer overall strikeouts than games One and Two.

Putting more bat on the ball in games Three and Four, in turn, has resulted in 15 total hits for a plus-five, and seven extra base hits for a plus-four, when compared against their production in games One and Two at Houston.

The largest questions now looming for the Yankees are can Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez carry over their Game Three and Four success at the plate, into their rematch against Dallas Kuechel and Justin Verlander in games Five and Six, whom dominated them in Houston?

Secondly, can the Yankees starting pitching sustain their overall success against the Astros?

The Yankees four starters, (Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Sevrino, CC Sabathia, Sunny Gray) have joined to post a 1.71 ERA, having allowed just four earned runs over 20 innings pitched, with nine walks, and 12 strikeouts.

Keep in mind, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa went 5 for 15 specifically in games One and Two against Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino, with five runs scored, and three RBI.



Game time!

N.Y. Yankees ~ Mother Nature Said Not Tonight

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN  LEAGUE

DIVISION  SERIES

GAME ONE

Detroit Tigers

(SP-Justin Verlander)

vs.

New York Yankees

(SP-C.C. Sabathia)

From

161st Street and River Avenue

Bronx, NYC

New York Yankees:  GAME CALLED.


Delmon Young quieted the Yankee crowd post haste with a first inning home run off CC Sabathia.  By the time Detroit's Justin Verlander took the mound in the bottom half of the inning, rain started to fall further dampening the Yankee crowd's spirits even more.  But then the Yankees tied the game at one when Derek Jeter slid home, and everyone was supremely confident again.


The skies started to pour as the umpires stood their ground with arms folded.  CC finished off the Tigers in the top of the second; striking out his fourth batter in two innings.


Puddles were forming in the dirt as the Yankees headed to the dugout for their turn at-bat in the bottom half of the inning.  But the tarp beat them onto the field.  By 10:30pm the game was postponed.


A feature match up between two League aces; wasted.  Now both managers must scramble to reset their starting rotations.


Game called.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees - Battle In Beantown

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

new york YANKEES:  Yet To Prove Their Mettle Against Sox.


The Yankees are one and one-half game behind the Red Sox in the American League East standings.  And if the Bombers intend to make a move on the Sawx, they had better do something other than what they have in their previous meetings with Boston; or, more preciclely, what they haven't done.


In twelve games so far this season, the Red Sox have won ten of those; the Yankees two.  If that doesn't grab your attention, maybe this will; Boston has beaten C.C. Sabathia this season like a dusty oriental throw rug.  In their last series, Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia proved up to the task, (I think I'm being kind).  But it was C.C. who wound up taking his lumps.  And not just last series; the Sawx have had C.C.'s number all season.  In four starts, the Red Sox have beaten C.C. four times this year.


While it's safe to say both teams will be making the playoffs, the Yankees still haven't proven they can hang with the Sox.  Both teams have been beating up on the rest of a rather mediocre League; which has gotten them to their present positions.  But in all likelihood this will be an October showdown the Yankees are still trying to prove (even to themselves) they should be a part of.  They still need to know if their pitching and aging players can play well against; for the moment; the best team in the American League.


Big name scratches in tonight's game will be Alex Rodriguez for the Yankees, and Kevin Youkilis for the Sox.

Final Score:

New York Yankees...5

Boston Red Sox.........2

C.C. SABATHIA - WIN

6 IP; 128 Pitches; 10 Hits; 2 ER; 2 BB; 10 K

MARIANO RIVERA - SAVE

Career Save #594

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Big Papi Sparks Big Comeback, Again

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY




new york YANKEES:  Lose Series and Share of First Place to Rival Boston Red Sox.


Freddie seemingly did his part Sunday night.  He labored through five innings but only gave up one run.  I'll reiterate this series meant absolutely nothing to either team by default of the Wild Card.  But Freddie Garcia and Bartolo Colon were both under scrutiny to pitch well against what will potentially be their competition in October.  All things considered, they both did well and passed what ever tests were imagined for them by the masses.  Between them, they held the Red Sox' number one offensive machine to 3 runs over 9.2 combined innings pitched.  In the two games they pitched, the final score was a low 3-2 final with each team winning one game. 


The lone blow-out of the series was suffered by the Yankees' staff Ace; C.C. Sabathia.  Saturday's loss made three times this season the Red Sox turned back Sabathia.  Not only do the Red Sox have C.C. Sabathia's number this season, the Sawx have always had Mariano Rivera's number.  And Sunday night, they dialed him up for another colossal blown save /SLASH/ comeback win at Fenway.


What's new is old.  And what's old really never quite gets old if you're Big Papi and the Sawx.


Boston's latest hero; Jeremy Reddick; is new to this.  He only doubled into the left field corner in the 10th inning to drive in the game-winning run.  What's not new is the Red Sox comeback.  What's old; or getting older; is Big Papi.  But what never gets old, is watching him destroy the Yankees.  He doubled off Mo to set up the game-winning RBI by Reddick.


And so the Showdown on Lansdowne Street goes to the home town team; three games to one.  The Red Sox end the weekend in first place.  But at least the Yankees come away from Boston with a little reassurance Colon and Garcia can contribute once the air gets a little cooler.


Of course losing two of three to the Sox shouldn't end on a positive note for Yankee Fans..., right?  Look what Big Papi did to you...again.  And what to make of C.C. Sabathia and Mariano Rivera's propensity to lose to the Beantown Nine?


Didn't anticipate that one....




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Red Sox Strike Back in Game Two

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE SHOWDOWN ON LANSDOWNE STREET

New York Yankees (1-1)

vs.

BOSTON RED SOX (1-1)

GAME THREE

SUNDAY NIGHT

new york YANKEES:  Two Pitchers Are Still Trying to Win Trust As Well As Games.  Bartolo Colon Represented Well Friday.  Now Freddie Needs To Master Sunday Night.

 

In my last NYY posting prior to the series start, I said a Hard Luck Loss; ...not a pounding loss, would still serve a Yankee pitcher's confidence well.  Sabathia's day isn't exactly what I had in mind. 


In the series that means nothing, I thought the Yankees' starting pitching was in need of dialing-up three rock solid performances on demand against the Red Sox.  If for no other reason, I felt they needed to do it just so they know they can.  After all, the Yankees haven't fared very well against Boston this season.  As the season enters it's final third, the Yankees still have a rotation to figure out with numerous bodies and limited jobs.  It's not a bad problem to have.


With two or three of them, it boils down to a matter of trust.  And two of them for sure; Colon and Garcia; to a large extent, got the Yanks in this position atop the division.  But did/do you trust them?  Now that Friday's game is out of the way, did Bartolo Colon's 94 pitch/4.2 innings pitched effort provide you with any more confidence he will still be effective through the remaining Dog Days of Summer and into October?


I'm not a Yankee fan as you know, but I'd feel good coming off Friday's win.  His performance is what you needed and it's what you got.  It was a shorter outing than you would have liked, but your bullpen is a strength and they picked him up superbly Friday night.  The point is, Bartolo dialed it up, and chipped in to keep the Red Sox under three runs for the game just when the Yanks needed him to; in game one of a series with both teams tied for first.

As you know, keeping the American League's number one offense under three runs a game is a monumental task; - Just ask C.C.  But let's be real on this one.  After all he's done, doesn't C.C. deserve a pass regarding Saturday afternoon's thumping?  Arguing your Staff Ace let the team down against your arch rival is your prerogative should you chose to go that way.  I'm not a fan, remember?


But, in my thinking, this series was never about C.C. and I'd be willing to deal with his little dip on Pitch-O-Meter; especially after a seven game winning streak.  This weekend is still about Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia, and how they were going to respond when the Yankees needed wins on demand; like if it was the playoffs.  This series was and is a great test to see how they would respond in a short series.  Because even Yankee fans have to admit, you have limited TRUST in the two pitchers.  Before playoff rosters are set and players can no longer be passed through waivers, you need more assurances don't you?


Freddie Garcia is next.  He'll throw his junk at the Sawx, opposing Josh Beckett Sunday night.


This isn't about winning two of three games this series.  This isn't really about occupying first place on August 8th.  This series is really meaningless in the grand scheme of things.  The Wild Card watered down races like this; look there for reasons why this series is meaningless.  That's why I wouldn't be too preoccupied with C.C.'s stinker against Boston Saturday.  Instead this now becomes about Freddie Garcia and can he dial up a game that takes the onus off the offense and places it squarely on his right arm's ability to stymie the Red Sox regardless of how well or how badly Josh Beckett handles his business.  Garcia is going to HAVE to do it eventually.  So like I said, this is a test. 


Bartolo Colon passed his.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. YANKEES ~ Beantown Showdown

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

NEW YORK YANKEES  vs.  BOSTON RED SOX

From FENWAY PARK

The Battle for the American League East starts now! 

Both teams are tied for first place; go figure.

BOSTON RED SOX.............68-42   *

NEW YORK YANKEES......68-42   *

 

new york YANKEES:  A matter of trust.

I gotta be honest with you; I don't know how the hell Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia have gotten the Bombers this far.  I really don't.  I've watched.  But I don't get it.  I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.  But I'm not trying to understand either.  When the post-season kicks in, I'd be terrified going into a short series with this consortium of hurlers.  But then again, I'm not a Yankee fan; am I (?).  However, to my dismay, even the Yankees are capable of capturing lightning in a bottle too.

 

C.C. is a horse.  No worries for Bomber fans there.  Now that Ivan Nova is back in the fold, he's your number two guy whether you like it or not.  Winning his 10th game of the season against the ChiSox Thursday night kinda seals the deal; no?  Then you got Phil of the future Hughes; Bartolo Colon; and steady Freddie Garcia.  Maybe you guys aren't that bad off after all....?  Oh..., that's right....; I forgot A.J.

 

Bwahahaha!

 

OK; but seriously.  The Yankee staff has options and depth.  It's a matter of trust that I'd be struggling with if I was indeed a Yankee fan.  More so for the Yankees than the Red Sox, this series will provide  three very telling appearances for these starters.  It's a very timely test during the Dog Days of Summer.

 

Can the Yankee starting pitchers make this series more about them, and their ability to contain the BoSox line-up, rather than leaving it up to the Yankee line-up to out-hit Boston's line-up and/or outlasting their starters?  Can they dial up shut-down performances on command?  That's what I'd be looking for on August 5th because that's what it will take later in the year.  Can they be the lead in this series?  I'd like to know if they can pitch three shut-down performances over the weekend.  Even a hard-luck loser would suffice.  But, if nothing else than to gain mounds of confidence, go out and stymie Boston's bats this weekend regardless what the offense provides.

 

Losing two out of three this series isn't something that should concern either team.  But for the Yankees, just as a matter of test, wouldn't you like to see them dominate the Sawx just so you know you can?

Alex Rodriguez:  MIAMI VICE Gets His Cover Blown.

I don't care if A-Rod, or if any grown man or woman, plays poker for money.  I'm just not interested in something like that, much less jumping all over A-Rod for it.  And believe me, you know I don't need much of a reason to besmirch him.

 

But time and again, the player formerly known as Alex Rodriguez, is the perpetrator of his own device; chasing after his never ending quest for Vice; Miami style.  Nothing more; nothing less.  He gets himself involved in these situations where there's no victims in a manner of speaking; only satisfying his passions are involved.  You know the word for someone like that.

 

Poker?  C'mon.  I get why Commissioner Selig would want to police something like that and I'm all for it.  But I personally, just can't get on him for poker.  I'll wait till he does something stupid again (he's like clockwork), and let him have it then.

 

Let's Go Red Sox!

 

Mike.BTB

N.Y. YANKEES ~ Big Papi, Mother Nature, and Sox Sweep Bombers

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

new york YANKEES:  Rain Only Delayed the Inevitable.

As far as Game Two, ...Look What Big Papi Did To You.... AGAIN.

There was no brush back.  There was no dusting off and hitting the dirt.  Papi picked up right where he left off Tuesday wasting no time depositing an A.J. Burnett pitch into the seats in right to make an early 1-0 lead, a 3-0 lead before the Yankees even came up to bat.  So much for backing him off the plate and moving his feet.  They moved his feet so much, he rounded the bases, and with all his ribs in tact.

...And the Stadium went silent.

But instead of David Ortiz being the center of attention again, the real story maker was A.J. Burnett, who's rapidly morphing into the Yankee version of Oliver Perez.  Two first inning home runs; a run in the second; and after three more runs given up in the fourth inning, Burnett was toast.  And at this point it must be acknowledged; the Yankees' pitching staff as a whole is in big trouble.  More on that maybe tomorrow.


(That was all meant for yesterday.  I fell asleep, too tired from softball last night and never published.  And so I resume today with some tweaks.)

Too bad the Yankees chose to wait three hours to get last night's game in.  Because the fact is, the Sox flat out rolled the Yankees like a drunk on 161st Street.  Not only C.C., but they rolled the whole team, all series long.


Last night was the big match-up between CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett.  Things were going fairly copacetically for C.C. the Yanks over the first six innings.  The Yanks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the home half of the first and made it last for the next five innings.


Along the way, Josh Beckett plunked another two Pinstriped milk bottles.  Then finally...Finally!... C.C. defended the Yankees' honor by drilling Big Papi with the pitch so many fans and Media talkies have been asking for.  After the game, when asked about getting hit, Big Papi told a group of reporters, "I hope you're f**king happy now."


But the damage inflicted by Papi and the S'awks had already been done.  The Red Sox sent a message received here in New York loud and clear by everyone. 


The Yankees relinquished their hold on first place and it has all the Yankee-leaning talkies in a full blown panic.  And why shouldn't they be?  Have you seen who's in the Yankees' bullpen lately?




The Joba Rules and Hughes Rules Got A New Spin:

In short work, which is how Cashman operates these days, he basically shook off any responsibility he might have had in the demise of Joba and Hughes.  Cashman said The Rules were always in place in their minor operations and that it was the Media who picked up the Who's Rules ball and ran with it because he implemented it on the Major League level.  And it's true; on both counts.  No one ever heard Cashman say these are "Joba Rules" per say.  But they were, no matter how much Cashman wants to deny it.  But my question was always why?  Why bring up the kid (Joba) after only 88 innings pitched in the minor leagues?  What equates to on-the-job training, is turning out to be a complete fail on many levels.

For all the babying they handled Joba and Phil Hughes with, the two still succumbed to injuries (as did Ian Kennedy when he came up as part of that much heralded trio).  Joba is done for the next year and a half if he has to get Tommy John surgery.  There is speculation now, Hughes will fill the bullpen role when he returns.  If that plays out, then the mismanagement continues in earnest.





Mike.BTB

BASEBALL ~ Meandering Around The Bases

New York Mets
New York Yankees
Atlantic League
Brooklyn Cyclones



NEW YORK METS ~ I didn't see the game tonight because I was in Yankee Stadium paying $9.50 for a bottle-o-brew, $6.00 for an ice cream, $12.00 for two sodas, $35.00 on a program and Yearbook, and $4.50 for a bag of nuts! 

A bag of NUTS I said! 

That's nothing.  My son bought a $7.00 bag of pop-corn and a $30.00 teddy bear for his girl.  Ugh! 
Whatever, ....it's his life.

But after winning six games in a row, there's not much I would have wanted to say about tonight's loss to the Nationals anyway.  And besides, Livan Hernandez was pitching.  That means we had no shot.  When ever he faces us he turns into Greg "freakin" Maddux.  I haven't seen anyone be more successful dealing junk since Sanford and Son was on TV.  He pitched eight innings; walked only one while striking-out five.  That's just another day in La Officina for Senor Hernandez when he pitches against us.  It's Amazin'.

But put the Nationals in the rear-view mirror now like I try and do with my son's girl.  Because we're headed to Philly for a weekend series.  Although he's finally coming off an impressive win his last time out, Mike Pelfrey hasn't been feeling at all well lately, but he said he's fine and ready for tomorrow's series opener.  He'll be followed by Jon Niese and Chris Young this series.  Jon Niese is still looking to find a groove.  But he and I are square.  Chris Young however, who is coming back from a passing arm situation, has looked quite good in his starts.  I'll definitely give him that.  But, I'll be honest with you.  I'm still indifferent to him.  He'll grow on me.

The Mets' win streak might be over, but it doesn't mean their hot-streak needs to take a hit along with it.  They've recovered nicely from a miserable start to the month and regained a large degree of respectability by the way they've rebounded when faced with rapidly mounting adversity.  Terry Collins is another individual who still needs to grow on me.  But just before they went on this latest streak, it looks now, like Panic Mode was just what the Doctor ordered.  Then stir in some wily early-April moves by Sandy Alderson and some late month clutch hitting along the way and.....

......Well, maybe now they can go into Philly and end this month on a most positive note.  They can't achieve a .500 record this month (11-14 with two games left in April), but they can change a lot of opinions about them with a strong showing against the Phillies.




NEW YORK YANKEES ~ As I mentioned, I was at the Stadium tonight for the final game of the Yankees/White Sox series.  It was Cousin's night out.  My cousin and I with our two sons made for a hilarious night.  Trust me on that one.  I was sporting a White Sox jersey.

The Yankees took the last two games of the series after dropping the first two.  Aside from the fun I had, tonight's game also turned into a laugher for the Yankees.  Ozzie Guillen didn't get tossed out this time but I'm sure he wanted to be somewhere else during a 12-3 Yankee undressing.

C.C. Sabathia (2-1) gave up three runs, all in the seventh inning, but non of them earned.  Before that, C.C. shut the ChiSox down over the first six innings he worked.  He only issued one walk and struck out six.  He did however commit a balk.

Brett Gardner hit his second homerun of the series and third of the season.  Nick Swisher also added a shot into the second deck in right.  Derek Jeter had the night off and Jorge Posada still can't hit.  Jorge was 0-4 tonight is now batting .130 for the season. 

Here's the nice part of that; I didn't hear not one person BOO Jorge.  That's a Good Job.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE BASEBALL ~ Friday is Opening Night for the fourteenth season of Atlantic League Baseball:

Road Warriors @ Lancaster Barnstormers
Camden River Sharks @ York Revolution
Somerset Patriots @ South Maryland Blue Crabs
Long Island Ducks @ Bridgeport Bluefish

After work tomorrow, I'll be Jumpin' the Trolley and heading up to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take in Game One of the season.  The Bridgeport Bluefish will host the Long Island Ducks in the first Atlantic League ballpark ever built; Harbor Yards.



Lover Boy Pookie Bear might tag along because his girl gotta work.  That's fine, just don't hold me up.  When I say it' time to Trolley-up, I'm out.  I have zero problem going by myself; do it all the time.  I just make friends there for the night.

Play Ball!

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

CYCLONES 2011 TICKETS GO ON SALE SUNDAY MORNING!

Mike.BTB

2010 ALCS ~ Rangers vs Yankees ~ Game 5

2010

AMERICAN LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME FIVE

Texas Rangers

vs

New York Yankees

Bronx, New York

C.J. WILSON (TEX)  vs  C.C. SABATHIA (NYY)

TEXAS RANGERS

Lead Series 3-1

In the heart of South Bronx sits a place synonymous with Autumn and Baseball's post-season.  There's a game today that will be played there, like so many October games played during a different era when America was still relatively unaffected by looming, dramatic changes.  Today's leg in the great Chase for the American League Pennant takes place under a gray, overcast, with a stillness in the air, Fall afternoon sky.

Championship Baseball in the October daytime shadows; Like it used to be.  There is nothing quite like it.

PLAY BALL!

Pre-Game; NYY ~ Win Three or Else.

The New York Yankees send CC Sabathia to the mound in the hopes he can stave off elimination from this year's post-season.  The Texas Rangers lead this series three games to one and pretty much have out-played the Yankees in just about every aspect of the Game.  The Yanks will have to do it without Mark Teixeira who stained his hamstring in last night's game.  The grade-2 strain will sideline Teixeira the rest of the playoffs, however long they last for the Bombers.

But the Yankees' backs are indeed backed up against the wall.  There is no game six without a victory today.

Outside of the five run eighth inning the Yanks had in game one, the offense has been out to lunch; all but Robinson Cano, who's been insanely hot.  If the Yanks are to win today and even-up this series afterwards, they need to hit; bottom line.  Say what you will about Girardi and his decisions or about the starting pitching let-downs.  These are the Bronx Bombers and it's high time they lived up to the name.

The Texas Rangers have been beating the Yankees playing and excelling at their own brand of Baseball.  The time is now, for the Yankees to start playing their own brand of Baseball and slug teams into submission.  Then with a lead you create the bridge to Mariano Rivera and make him a factor in this series again.  They have no choice.

Win three games or clean out your lockers.



RANGERS  2

YANKEES  7

FINAL

Texas Rangers lead series 3-2 after tonight's game.

New York Yankees:

JETER   1-4; single, walk

SWISHER   1-4; 2 runs, Home Run, rbi, walk

CANO   1-4; run, Home Run, rbi

RODRIGUEZ   1-2; run, double, 2 walks, stolen base

THAMES   0-3; walk

BERKMAN   0-2; run, walk, K, rbi
POSADA   2-4; run, double, K,  rbi
GRANDERSON   3-4; run, double, Home Run, 2 rbi
GARDNER   0-3; 2 K's

Pitching:

1) - SABATHIA - SP - WINNING PITCHER
112 pitches ~ 74 strikes
6.0 innings pitched
11 hits
2 runs/earned
0 walks
7 strikeouts
1 home run


2) - K. WOOD - RP - 7th inning
28 pitches ~ 21 strikes
2.0 innings pitched
1 hit
0 runs
0 walks
3 strikeouts

3) - MARIANO RIVERA - RP - 9th inning
Non-Save Situation
23 pitches ~ 15 strikes
1 inning pitched
1 hit
0 runs
0 walks
0 strikeout



POST GAME: It's Gonna Be a Good Ol' Time in Big Texas.

There is Life!  Game Six here we come.

The Bronx Bombers were in the house.  Home runs by Swisher, Cano and Granderson powered the Yankees to victory over the Rangers tonight at the Stadium.  Texas will not be doing any Square Dancing or Two Steppin' on the Yankees' home field or any where in the Bronx for that matter.  It's straight to the airport for everybody as the series shifts back to Big Texas for the next game, and if needed a deciding seventh game.

CC Sabathia, clearly more effective in this outing than last, mowed down 7 Rangers by himself as his team-mates helped with the rest over six innings.  Kerry Wood muted the Rangers for two more innings before Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth to finish Texas off and any idea they may have had about celebrating an American League Championship in New York City tonight.

C.J. Wilson got tagged for six runs runs, but only five were earned.  He was flat and right over the plate, coming in belt-high.  His ineffectiveness was evident early as he surrendered back to back home runs to Swisher and Cano.  But you knew the Yankee bats couldn't be silenced that long and by this Texas rotation..., right?

Whether C.J. Wilson was up to the task or not, the Yankees did what they have to do in order to win.  The Yankees hit home runs.  If they don't hit home runs, they're usually not winning.  Yankee Baseball is predicated on starting pitching, yes, but the are designed primarily to hit home runs in bunches.

The Rangers threw the ball around, committed an error and played unlike they have in this series till now.  Their defense was a liability tonight.  They did not run the bases well at all (actually, they were horrible).  The starting pitching was not effective as the Rangers fell behind early.  And the middle of the line-up was dormant.  All these factors contributed to the Rangers' inability to close this series out tonight.

The Rangers need a short memory.  They just need to get a good night's sleep over the next two evenings and take their home field with confidence.  If they do that and take what the game gives them, as Ron Washington says, they'll have two supreme chances to erase tonight's setback.

Hope lives for the Bombers.  For Texas however, the old adage rings true; The fourth game is always the hardest to win.

Mike.BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/



2010 ALCS ~ N.Y.Yankees vs TEX Rangers

2010 American League Championship Series

GAME ONE

NEW YORK YANKEES  vs  TEXAS RANGERS

October 15, 2010

The Ball Park at Arlington

FINAL SCORE:

Yankees 6

Rangers 5

N.Y. Yankees:
Jeter ~ 2 for 5, 2 doubles, run, rbi
Swisher ~ 0 for 4, run, walk
Teixeira ~ 0 for 4, run, walk
Rodriguez ~ 1 for 5, run, 2 rbi, 2 k
CANO ~ 3 for 4, Home Run, run, 2 rbi
THAMES ~ 2 for 4, Game Winning RBI in 8th inning
Posada ~ 0 for 4, k
Granderson ~ 1 for 3, walk
Gardner ~ 1 for 3, run, walk



CC SABATHIA
4 innings pitched
6 hits
5 earned runs
4 walks
3 strikeouts
1 home run


How about D.MOSELEY !!
2 innings pitched
0 hits
0 runs
0 walks
4 strikeouts


MARIANO RIVERA ~ SAVE
1 inning pitched
0 hits
0 runs
0 walks
1 strikeout





MARCUS THAMES; Another in a long line of role players coming up huge for the Yankees.

Do I really want to get into a Texas sized melt-down; bad managing, their bullpen's walks, belt high fastballs and brain cramps?  No.  Instead I'll do this:


The YANKEES do not win championships with-out unlikely heroes and roll players the likes of Chicken Stanley, Brian Doyle, Bucky Dent, Luis Sojo and Jose Vizciano.  They do not win championships with-out a bench featuring David Justice, Darryl Strawberry, Oscar Gamble or Jim Spencer.  Yankee fans, you know all the names.

Add Brett Gardner to that list, who got the winning rally started by getting on base; diving into first in the 8th inning.

In big letters, add Marcus Thames to that list.  This isn't the first time I've lauded him for taking advantage of just about every opportunity he's received, it seems, this season.  Marcus Thames has been flat out incredible for the Yankees coming through with clutch hit after clutch hit after clutch hit...time and time again.

He's been tremendously pivotal to the Yankees' success during his short time here and he will not stop being so.  Yankee championships were predicated on starting pitching; Yes.  But Yankee Championships were complimented by strong benches.  Marcus Thames is as strong a bench/role player as the Yankees have ever had.  He's already done that much.

But I'm going to tell you what really got me started thinking about Yankee heroes of the more recent past.  I could have sworn I was watching the '98 Yanks, or the '99 Yanks tonight.  That's not to compare this team to those.  I'm not.

But tonight the Yankees hung around and hung around, struggling against Texas' starter C. WILSON.  The first 7 innings didn't go the Yankees' way with the bats.  But they outlasted the starter and when they got to the bullpen, Texas was toast, reminiscent of the way those late 90's teams beat you.

Unbelievable is the word I'd use to describe tonight's loss by Texas.  Yes, I said the loss by Texas.  When you are winning a game after 7 innings by a score of 5-0, and 5-1, and do not come out victorious, you literally LOST a game; as in ~ Where did it go?

For the Yankees however, crisis narrowly averted.  C.C. Sabathia was not good tonight but the Yankees managed to win the game started by their ACE, like they so desperately wanted (think AJ Burnett or the added pressure on Hughes to do well).

Tonight, the Yanks roughed it out.  Remember how Jason Giambi kept the Yanks loitering around  in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS with two solo home runs?  That's what Robinson Cano did tonight.  He kept the Yankees in the game (by their standards).  Cano wrapped a home run around the right field flag pole in the 7th inning to make it 5-1 giving the Yankees bench something to clap about..  Then it was just a matter of time before the rest of the Bronx Bombers started feeding off the Texas bullpen.

Also, if you remember that Game 7 back in 2003...It was Posada's dinky dunk hit that proved most harmful of all, after Grady Little left Pedro in the game.  Tonight, Marcus Thames, like many Yankee late inning hits they manage to dink and dunk, broke his bat pushing a single into left field to plate the go-ahead run.

What an unbelievable loss if you're the Texas Rangers.

If you're a Yankees fan, "Holy Cow" or "See Ya!" ~  I could have sworn I was watching a game from Yankee Championship Teams of yore.



Mike.BTB