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

SUBWAY SERIES II ~ Citi Field Showdown

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

The Battle For Bragging Rites

Fourth of July Weekend

SUBWAY SERIES

Bronx vs. Queens

New York Mets:  Stand Or Fall..

It's time for the Mets to play better at home.  The Flushing Fighters are back from a good road trip; an outstanding road trip.  And it's time for them to control their House.  This series has aligned itself nicely for the Mets to start tonight against the Yankees of all teams. 


July is upon us.  That means hard, cold decisions will have to be made before the month expires.  The Mets have avoided being broken up for at least two weeks now.  The clock is still ticking though.  In the mean time, they've seemingly done everything they can to convince the minds of those in the Front Office that this team is worth keeping together; if only for another three months.





So, Here's To Living In The Moment:

OK; - So we lost the last game to Detroit...  I promise you, this isn't me speaking in hind-sight; but Mike Pelfrey's style versus the Tiger line-up is a really bad match-up for the Mets.  I believe his start could have been worse. 


But the Mets have done well to get to this point.  After a loss, now we have to start the next two to three game burst of wins.  That's the way it needs to be done.  It's the way they've been getting it done.  They may have lost Thursday, but it was the Mets' third series win in a row against good teams.  Win two; lose one - that's manageable in the short term.  When you project that, it's fun to think of the possibilities.


From a Met point of view, the starting rotation couldn't have been set-up any better for this weekend's Subway Series against the Yankees.  Mike Pelfrey won't be facing the Yankees, which, for Met Fans, is a good thing.  And C.C. Sabathia will also miss the series as both pitchers threw on Thursday.  For Met Fans, not facing C.C. is also a good thing.


The Mets will have their three most consistent pitchers throwing against the Yankees.  Jon Niese; Dillon Gee; and R.A. Dickey will all take their turns at the visiting cross town rivals.  Those three must carry the Mets if they are to be carried at all.


I do think the Mets will rough up the Yankee pitchers they'll be starting against us this series.   Nova; Garcia; and Colon?   Bring it!   I'll take my chances against them any day. But it all goes back to the pitching.   The Mets starters, helped along the way with some timely hitting, must carry the club.


And Subway Series specific, it would be nice to jump out early against the Yankees' starters.   It's their bullpen I'm more concerned with.   I don't want to have to play catch-up against their reliever corps.  And YES! - I do have a realistic expectation for the Mets winning this series.


At the mid-point of the 2011 season, I think there's a distinct possibility the Mets recent surge in hitting is more indicative of the Mets being a well-adjusted bunch that has finally meshed, than just being a freakish and transient phenomenon and a team that will not be able to over-come the loss of Wright; Ike; (and Johan).  I stated the other day, there is something to be said for entering mid-season form.  Maybe the Mets are hitting their own personal stride, with the line-up they are working with.  This line-up has now been a relative constant for much of May and June.  That's a huge positive and maybe that's why they are hitting so well together lately.  Additionally, Terry Collins should be commended for his juggling act in handling catcher; third base; and first base.


Last season, the return of Carlos Beltran turned out to be more disruptive than the Mets bargained for.  Many of the call-ups and some of the remaining regulars found a zone together and rose as high as eleven games over .500 in July.  But I still believe as I did when he returned to the line-up last season, Carlos Beltran did more harm to the offensive chemistry than good.  In truth, it had nothing to do with Beltran.  The matter rested more as to what the line-up became in his absence and how they played once they were left for a time to gel.


With respect to Carlos Beltran this year, he's been busting it since Opening Day.  There is no issue with him today.  He's a 2011 constant.  My point merely was to point out, with the lengthy absence of Ike and Wright this season, the line-up has grown on one-another over that time.  They've adapted and have over-come the setbacks and the results are being displayed on the field and with their bats.  That's my feel.


The fact is the Mets have proven their ability to string together hits, and manufacture runs in the absence of the long ball.  They still had ten hits in their last loss to Detroit; seven against Verlander.  Detroit aside, they aren't dinking and dunking their way towards wins.  They're hitting the ball solidly and running the bases smartly.  They also have shown they can score late in games and mount comebacks.




This is shaping up to be one hell of series.  Both teams have an awful lot to play for.  For the Mets, they need to stay above .500; - not at, or falling below that level.  The Yankees are not without their problems, and no matter what they do, they'll never be able to shake the Red Sox.  Therefore, look forward to a tightly contested series.


I'm breaking out for the weekend, and this was my post for the series.


Let's Go Mets!!!

TONIGHT

THE N.Y.C. SUBWAY SERIES RESUMES

"Old School"

The Bronx Bombers

New York Yankees

vs.

The Flushing Fighters

NEW YORK METS

From the Willets Point Stop on the 7 Train

FLUSHING, NYC

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone!

Mike.BTB

SUBWAY SERIES ~ Round One; Mets Visit The Bronx

From the desks of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET - and - BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE 2011 NEW YORK CITY
SUBWAY SERIES

TONIGHT
NEW YORK METS

(SP - R.A. Dickey)

vs.

new york YANKEES
(SP - Freddie Garcia)

YANKEE STADIUM III
161st Street and River Avenue

BRONX, N.Y.

Once Security makes sure your cell phone is really a cell phone, The New York Bankees Spankees Dankees Yankees do not allow fans to bring ANYTHING into the Stadium.  So if you aren't wearing it, Leave It Home!  And don't stand in one place for longer than five seconds.  You'll get yelled at by Security because that's some one's expensive Standing Room Only section you'll be loitering in...., so beat it!  And don't touch anything.  That will get you in trouble also.  Just shut-up, spend lots of money and don't draw any attention to yourself by rooting out loud.  Security doesn't like that either.  Oh yea..., don't look at anyone on the other side of the moat.  It makes the aristocracy feel uncomfortable when we do that.  Otherwise, if you're going to the House Across The Street From Where The House Where Sparky Used To Spit was, have a great time tonight!

The Metropolitan Mash Unit takes on the Bronx County Geriatrics tonight in the 15th installment of the annual home and home Subway Series.  Round One will be played in The House That No One Can Afford To Go.

Who cares which team these games means more to.  I'm tired of them and want to see them go away.  I was much happier when these teams played each other in the Mayor's Trophy Game.  I'm just tired of inter-league all together.  Basta!

But it is what it is....

The Yankees sport a record of 23-19, while the Mets have stormed back from an atrocious April start to gain themselves a 21-22 record entering this series.  The Mets are coming in Hurt and the Yankees are just Old.  Pick your poison.  Age is only two games better than Hurt right now.  In that respect, these teams are a wash.

R.A. Dickey is tonight's X-factor.  The plan is to baffle the Yankees' hitters all night and ruin their swings for the next two games.  But that's only if Dickey's knuckle ball shows up tonight.  That pitch has been coming in very flat this season and as a result he's been going to his non-existent fastball more.  So, if his knuckle ball doesn't flutter, the Mets can forget it.  Then tonight just may be the night Jeter, Posada, and ARod all get invigorated and kick-start their seasons. 

Freddie Garcia means nothing to me.  He's as negligible as any other hurler hanging onto his career.  If he winds up throwing an impressive game tonight, it's because it came against the AAAA-Mets.  But these quadruple-A Mets have been a gritty bunch under Terry Collins.  So maybe Terry's Sub's tenacity and a Freddie Garcia stinker, gets Mets fans happily through the night and back home safe.

LET'S GO METS!

Mike.BTB