Results tagged ‘ Brett Gardner ’
Are We Going to Be Left Out?…
The left field conundrum continues…
Maybe GM Brian Cashman has the perfect solution already set in motion, but then again, maybe not. I am not quite sure how you could spend $200 million on salaries and then suddenly become very frugal over $3 or $4 million as an insurance policy to protect your investment. From the sounds of it, the Yankees are willing to go to camp with Brett Gardner and Jamie Hoffmann as a projected platoon in left. I know that it’s a bluff, designed to await the lowered salary expectations of free agent options in January.
But if you have a left fielder who has proven that he can handle New York, thrive atop the Yankees’ batting order and carries the intangibles necessary to bring a championship to New York, why can’t you work out a deal for a few pennies more? It just doesn’t make any sense. I agree with the logic that the Yankees don’t need a superstar in left, but they need something better than a fourth outfielder looking for his fifteen minutes of fame.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
If the Yankees successfully cause Johnny Damon to sign elsewhere, and are left to be scrounging through the bargain bin, they’ll regret it in July when they attempt to make a trade for an upgrade at the high cost of key prospects. Again, I’d rather pay more now and protect the farm system now and later.
John M. Setzler, Jr.
I was disappointed to see the San Francisco Giants successfully sign one solid option in Mark DeRosa. With DeRosa, the Giants get a very versatile player who will fit well into their lineup. His ability to play third base allows them to slide Pablo Sandoval to first which fills a big need. Had the Yankees been successful in luring DeRosa to the Bronx, he could have been the primary option for left field with the potential to back up Alex Rodriguez from time to time. Isn’t that worth a few dollars more? Congrats to Giants GM Brian Sabean…he scored one over his former team.
Jeff Roberson/AP
If Johnny Damon is my first choice, Xavier Nady would be the remaining option in my eyes. Another guy who has proven he can handle New York albeit not the injury bug. If healthy, Nady would be a great fit for the Yankees. Prior to his injury last season, he was slated to be the starter in right field.
Cataffo/New York Daily News
Outside of the organization, there just isn’t much to be excited about on the free agent market. I really don’t want a ‘past his prime’ player like Brian Giles or Garret Anderson. I’d rather take a chance on a sleeper like Cleveland’s Shin Soo Choo or Atlanta’s Matt Diaz, although I doubt either team would be willing to let either player go cheaply. In a blast from the past, the Angels’ Juan Rivera is another attractive option. But I seriously doubt that Cashman would be able to pry any of these options from their respective teams.
Los Angeles Times
Hopefully, the left field question is answered sooner rather than later. The Yankees still need to replenish their bullpen options for 2010 after several key departures this off-season. Plus, bench strength is another area that needs attention before the Yankees head for Tampa.
Jeff Zelevansky
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Greater Boston Area, a Red Sox fan is gleefully enjoying the Yankees’ indecision and financial constraint…and listening to Toby Keith singing “Whiskey Girl”…
In a departure from baseball, I’d like to weigh in on the decision by Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell to rest his key starters like Peyton Manning in the second half. Everyone knows that the result was a New York Jets’ 29-15 victory over the Colts to end their pursuit of perfection. Of course, the company line is the decision was made to protect the health of their key performers and ensure going deeper into the play-offs with the Super Bowl as the key objective.
I’ve heard both sides of the argument, but I am inclined to believe that Caldwell blew it. He had a chance to do something that no team has done before (19-0, capped by a championship). The 1972 Miami Dolphins were 17-0 since the regular season consisted of only 14 games. Had they accomplished what the New England Patriots could not, the Colts would have gone down in history as one of the greatest teams ever. Now, they’ll just be another Super Bowl champion if they happen to win it all. Sure, a championship is great, but to be among legends is immortal. The Colts missed a great opportunity…
AP
All things considered, I am glad that University of Florida coach Urban Meyer made the decision to take a leave of absence rather than step down as the Gators coach. College football needs guys like Meyer, but he needs time to repair his health. If a year from now, Meyer decides that it’s time to hang it up, so be it. But I’d rather see Florida go a year with an interim coach to make sure that Meyer makes a decision that he’ll never regret. I am not a Gators fan, but Meyer has been great for college football and the Florida job is clearly one of the best. It’ll be strange seeing new coaches patrolling the sidelines at both Florida and Florida State next season.
One final thought…if the Chicago Cubs can successfully trade Milton Bradley, why can’t the Yankees unload Kei Igawa? I still think the guy could thrive in a low-pressure environment like San Diego or Pittsburgh…
I hope everyone has a great new year! I have enjoyed your friendship and support in 2009 and I look forward to be being a part of the great MLB Bloggers in 2010. It’s a very talented and impressive group of writers, and the sum total of all makes MLB.com the best blogging environment on the internet! Keep up the great work everyone!
You Traded Me for Randy Freakin’ Johnson?…
The answer to the question is an old friend from the past…
Bill Kostroun/AP
It was no secret that the Yankees were actively seeking to fill an open spot in the rotation and the word was that it would be accomplished by year end. As it were, the Yankees wrapped the package up prior to Christmas. The result is the return of Javier Vazquez….
When I first heard the deal, I was a little upset at what the Yankees gave up (Melky Cabrera, Michael Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino). However, after having time to let it sink in, I am okay with it so long as the Yankees can come up with a decent alternative for left field. Brett Gardner is not an every day player, and at this point, neither is Jamie Hoffmann. Perhaps Gardner can be part of a platoon, but the other half is not currently on the roster.
Vazquez was a Yankee for one brief season. But it was a very painful season. For years, we had grown up knowing that the Boston Red Sox had been suffering from the Curse of Babe Ruth prior to our own births. However, in 2004, the Red Sox finally shook the curse and defeated the mighty Yankees despite being down 3 games to none in the American League Championship Series. The defining moment occurred in Game 7 when Johnny Damon hit a grand slam off Javier Vazquez. The win propelled the Red Sox to the World Series and an eventual championship that could have belonged to the Yankees. After the season, the Yankees packaged Vazquez in a deal to Arizona that netted Randy Johnson. At the time, Vazquez didn’t want to leave the Yankees but “public opinion” was clearly against him and the Yankees fans didn’t cry too much as Vazquez headed for the Sonoran Desert.
Nevertheless, spin forward 5 years, and Vazquez has proven consistency and durability. 2009 was perhaps his finest year with Atlanta Braves as he went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA. Injuries, including pink eye, kept 2009 from being even more successful. When you are throwing around names like Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer, Aaron Harang, and others, I have to admit that Vazquez is the best case scenario. Admittedly, I would have preferred a Bronx return by Ted Lilly but there probably wasn’t any way that the Chicago Cubs were going to let him go. The Yankees tried hard for Cliff Lee, but the Phillies felt they needed to send Lee as far from Philly as they could given the backlash they’d receive by dealing him. Understood. So all things considered, Javier Vazquez as your number 4 starter is a pretty good situation. I’d take Vazquez in a head-to-head match up against John Lackey so I think the move was a good counter to Boston’s free agent signing.
Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal Constitution
It is ironic that Damon’s departure is met by Vazquez’s return. It is equally ironic that Vazquez and DH Nick Johnson will be teammates given they were once traded for each other. Hopefully, this ends the Yankees’ attempt at a 2003-04 reunion tour. We really don’t need to see a return performance by Jason Giambi. Sorry, G, I loved you in pinstripes but that day has passed.
AP
The Yankees did manage to secure a bullpen part with the Vazquez trade. They also acquired pitcher Boone Logan. Gotta love the name. Logan is a lefty but is probably more of a one batter specialist. The Yankees are hopeful that Damaso Marte will continue at the level he displayed late in the season. Logan was acquired by the Atlanta Braves in the same trade that brought Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox. So, once again, Logan and Vazquez are intertwined…and hopefully the duo will prove to be very successful in the Bronx. Vazquez is a free agent after 2010, so it’s possible that this is another one-and-done Yankee performance, but it is my hope that he proves he belongs in pinstripes.
The Yankees also signed free agent catcher Mike Rivera (formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers). So long as Rivera is slotted for the third catching spot, I am okay with the move. I feel that Francisco Cervelli deserves the primary shot to be Jorge Posada’s backup, but a veteran influence like Rivera can’t hurt.
So, now the question is what the Yankees will do about left field? The Vazquez trade brings the payroll to nearly $200 million which is the alleged budget for 2010. Perhaps they’ll need to offload Chad Gaudin and/or Sergio Mitre (among others), but room can be made for a capable left fielder. Alas, it won’t be Matt Holliday or Jason Bay (or even Johnny Damon), but I have confidence that GM Brian Cashman won’t leave the team shortchanged.
All these moves do have the potential of disrupting team chemistry so I am hopeful that the team is able to mesh in spring training. From a character standpoint, I have no reservations with Curtis Granderson, Nick Johnson, or Javier Vazquez, so I think they’ll be fine. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding…
Win Some, Lose Some…
I hate it when I am right…
I knew that the Toronto Blue Jays series was going to be tough, and I had predicted a split at the start. After the Yankees had taken 2 out of 3, I was hopeful of another win today but it was not meant to be.
Sergio Mitre reverted to the pitcher that I fully expected him to be and why I felt that Brian Cashman should have been more aggressive at the trading deadline to secure a proven, reliable #5 starter. If the Los Angeles Angels can rummage through the bargin bin to find a Scott Kazmir, why couldn’t the Yankees find someone?
Here is Mitre’s line for Sunday’s 14-8 loss to the Blue Jays:
4 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 11 runs (9 earned), 2 walks, and 5 K’s.
I agree that the Yankee defense did absolutely nothing to help Mitre’s cause. The Yankees had four errors in the game. A throwing error by Jerry Hairston, Jr., and fielding errors by Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, and Ramiro Pena. A lost ball in the sun and other poor fielding decisions added to the follies. But I wasn’t a fan of Mitre’s before, and I am certainly not one now…
Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press/AP
Nevertheless, the Yankees are still 7 ½ games up on the Boston Red Sox so they are in good shape. But I hope the decision to stay with Mitre/Gaudin doesn’t come back to haunt the team. The Los Angeles Angels did win today (7-2 over the Kansas City Royals), so they’ve cut the deficit to 5 games for best record in the AL.
Charlie Riedel/AP
The Yankees will face a challenge on Monday with a day/night double-header against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia will pitch the first game, while A.J. Burnett, with Jorge Posada on the bench, will pitch the nightcap. Posada won’t play the second game because of the double header, not because of Burnett, but I am sure that A.J. will be glad to see Jose Molina behind the plate.
Derek Jeter went 3-for-3 in today’s game, and now stands just three hits away from Lou Gehrig for the franchise’s career hits record. It will be special to, hopefully, see the record fall at the new Yankee Stadium.
Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press/AP
I was glad to see the Jays’ Randy Ruiz is okay after getting hit in the face by Yankees reliever Josh Towers. It was a scary moment, but Ruiz was able to walk off the field. After the game, Ruiz said he had a bruised left cheek and some bleeding in his mouth. He is very fortunate that he was not more seriously hurt.
Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press/AP
Monday should mark the return of Brett Gardner. He has finished his rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues and appears ready to go.
Simmons, NY Daily News
Mariano Rivera, who has been suffering from a groin injury, is also ready to return. He was available today, but was obviously was not needed…
William Perlman, The Star Ledger
The Minnesota Vikings did what I had hoped would not happen. They cut former USC QB John David Booty. There are many who believe that Booty will never be more than a #3 QB, but I felt he showed talent and potential. This leaves Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson as the back-ups for starter Brett Favre. Favre initially cost Booty his number and ultimately his roster spot. Hopefully, this is not a move that will come back to haunt the Vikings, but it very well could. Just ask Shaun Hill or Tyler Thigpen…
–Scott
Maybe I Should Go Away More Often…
A great day for a birthday…
Sipkin/NY Daily News
Today is my birthday, and it couldn’t have had a happier ending than a Yankees win combined with a Red Sox loss. All week, a certain blogger from Boston kept telling me that I couldn’t have a Red Sox loss for my birthday since she would be in attendance at Fenway Park. Hey Julia, how did that work out for ya? 
AP
This is my first blog in a week so I don’t really plan to delve into breakdowns of the games that have been played since my last blog. I recently took a job with a new company that allowed me to return home to Silicon Valley, California. I had been in Wilmington, Delaware for the past year. For the past week, I packed my belongings and drove across the country (3,000 miles in 3 ½ days). Since the focus of the week was the move, I did not take my laptop with me and as a result, I have been silent on this blog for a week.
In seven days while I’ve been gone, the Yankees lost only one game. The Oakland A’s snapped the Yankees’ winning streak on Saturday, when Alfred Aceves failed to bail out Andy Pettitte. It was the end of the Yankees eight game winning streak, as well as an eight game streak against the A’s dating back to 2008 (they had taken the first four games of the series this year).
Mitsu Yasukawa/The Star Ledger
Beating up the Tigers, Twins, and A’s has allowed the Yankees to extend their lead in the AL East to 2 ½ games over the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees do have a challenging schedule for the remainder of the season, and it won’t get any easier with a 9-game road trip that begins in St. Petersburg, Florida against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. The Rays are currently in third place, 6 ½ games back.
Jason Behnken/Tampa Bay Tribune
I have been pleasantly surprised about the Yankees’ success so far in the second half of the season. Admittedly, I was down after the Yankees had been swept by the Los Angeles Angels to close out the first half. Prior to that series, the Yankees had tied Boston for the AL East lead. While the Yanks were getting swept, Boston was doing their own sweeping so the first half closed with a three game Boston lead. But as quickly as the Yanks went from a first place tie to three games back, they surged back to overtake Boston with only one loss since the All-Star Game. I suspect that the lead will change hands a few more times before this is all said and done, but it is nice to see the Yankees reach 60 wins faster than any other AL team at this point in the season.
Christopher Pasatieri/US Presswire
The news regarding Chien-Ming Wang has not been good. He will meet with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday. Wang had a second MRI last week, according to Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog, and it revealed a possible rotator cuff tear. If it is not a scar from Wang’s prior surgery in 2000, and has rotator cuff surgery, he will be lost for most, if not all, of next season.
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
I do not think that Sergio Mitre is the answer in the rotation, and apparently neither do the Yankees. According to Jenifer Logosch at MLB.com, the Yankees had scouts in attendance to watch Ian Snell pitch. Snell struggled for the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, going 2-8 in 15 starts, with 5.36 ERA. He was demoted to AAA Indianapolis and has pitched lights out. In four starts for Indy, Snell has pitched 26 1/3 innings with a 0.34 ERA and 34 strikeouts. Snell apparently has no interest in rejoining the Pirates, and feels that he was made a scapegoat for their early season problems. I am not sure if Snell is the answer or if his AAA success can equate to Major League success after past difficulties, but, for the right price, he is probably worth trying. I’d rather go there before taking a chance with Kei Igawa. I read that the Seattle Mariners wanted both Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner for Jarrod Washburn, so there’s no way that deal is happening unless the Mariners drop their asking price. The Yankees won’t be contenders for either Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, so they’ll continue to rummage through the bargain bins over the next couple of days as they continue to seek possible replacements for Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation.
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Speaking of Brett Gardner, he landed on the DL after suffering a fractured thumb in the first inning of Saturday’s game. Of course, in that game, he had a run-scoring triple and played excellent defensively AFTER the thumb injury. He is a huge loss for the team, but hopefully he’ll be out no more than three weeks or so. I hope that Melky Cabrera maintains a high level of play during Gardner’s absence, and doesn’t lose any motivation or ambition without Gardner competing with him every day. Hopefully, Gardner’s recovery will be as speedy as he is on the base paths…
Frank Franklin II/AP
Boston has a chance to make up ground on the Yankees during the upcoming 9-game road trip, but I have to admit that I am very shocked that John Smoltz is 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA. I liked Boston’s pick up of Adam LaRoche (well, not as a Yankees fan, but looking at the trade objectively and knowing what it means for the Red Sox). Of course, with Theo Epstein, you know that the next few days will be very interesting as Boston continues to seek upgrades.
Jim Davis/Boston Globe
I am sure that most people have become familiar with Batting Stance Guy but I wasn’t. I saw him on David Letterman this week and he was hilarious (his impression of Kevin Youkilis is priceless). You can check him out at www.battingstanceguy.com. His posts can also be found on YouTube. Here is his impression of the 2009 Yankees:
As much as I will miss the close proximity to Yankee Stadium, I am looking forward to my first visit to AT&T Park this year when I attend next Sunday’s match-up between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. After a year in Phillies country, I am excited about the opportunity to watch Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, J-Ro, and the other Phillies without being surrounded by those “calm and quiet” Philadelphia fans! Seriously, there aren’t many things better than watching baseball near the Bay…
Have a great week!
–Scott
Clean Sweep by the AL East…
Feelin’ way too damn good…
It may be the name of a great song by Nickelback, but it also describes the feeling watching last night’s 9-1 rain-delayed win over the New York Mets by the Yankees.
Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger
Any concerns about the tendonitis in CC Sabathia’s biceps were put to rest early. Perfect through four innings, Sabathia showed why he deserved the ridiculously excessive contract in the off-season. Outside of the leadoff home run to former Yank Gary Sheffield to open the fifth inning, he shut down the Mets on 3 hits over seven innings with 8 strikeouts. He was consistently throwing 95 mph, and did not walk any batters. He even contributed to his own cause with a RBI single in the second inning. With the win, CC improved to 7-4. Brett Tomko pitched effectively for the final two innings in relief.
Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger
Speaking of the second inning, it was a very ugly one for the Mets. Three errors allowed the Yankees jump out to a 4-0 lead and with CC dealing, the game was essentially over.
Simmons/New York Daily News
Admittedly, I do not follow the Mets and if I had a preference in the NL East, it would probably be the Philadelphia Phillies. So, I haven’t been keeping up with the Mets this year. Derek Jeter had a bad cough, and was given the night off (which was also his 35th birthday). I was a bit concerned with the insertion of Ramiro Pena into the starting lineup, particularly considering that Francisco Cervelli was playing in place of Jorge Posada (worried about the loss of potential offense). But then I browsed the Mets’ order and was surprised to see names like Alex Cora, Nick Evans (who?), Omir Santos, and Ryan Church playing center field. I knew that the Mets had been hurt by injuries, but I didn’t realize the decimation was this bad.
Alex Rodriguez homered again to officially signal that the slump is over. Kate Hudson was even in attendance, but fortunately she wasn’t wearing a pink A-Rod shirt like certain other celebrity girlfriends…
The home run by A-Rod, in the 8th inning, was the 564th of his career, which allowed him to pass Reginald Martinez Jackson. Reggie was in attendance to watch as he fell to 12th place on the All-Time HR List. Next up for A-Rod is Rafael Palmeiro in tenth place with 569 HR’s. I know that A-Rod is an admitted PED user, but it will still be nice to see Palmeiro bounced out of the top 10. A-Rod should also pass Harmon Killebrew at 573 home runs later this summer. Mark McGwire’s 583 will be more difficult to reach this year, particularly with A-Rod’s limited mobility.
Team PED All-Stars…
Reuters
Brett Gardner has re-surfaced as a force in center. He is batting .387 over the past 27 games. Batting lead-off in place of Jeter, he had 5 hits, with 3 runs scored. He was a double short of hitting for the cycle, but raised his batting average to .303 with the great performance. When Gardner is hitting, he’s scary with his speed. He is making it very difficult for Joe Girardi to keep him out of the lineup.
Melky Cabrera will benefit from Xavier Nady’s misfortune (lost for the season), and will continue to platoon with Nick Swisher in right (barring any deadline trades by the Yankees).
The world looks so much better when the Yankees are winning. Right, Julia?
Despite the win by the Yanks, there was no change in the AL East standings. It was a rare night that saw the AL East sweep the NL East, 5 games to none.
Yankees 9, Mets 1
Red Sox 4, Braves 1
Blue Jays 6, Phillies 1
Rays 7, Marlins 3
Orioles 11, Nationals 1
Of course, I am wondering why the Rays’ pitching staff was so inept compared to the others. LOL! It was definitely a good night for the AL East, which is why I am truly feelin’ so damn good! And, oh yeah, I am going home to California! Woohoo!
Other News…
Speaking of Xavier Nady, he’s told friends that he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and will need surgery. He’s headed to California (like me!) for further medical evaluation, but he’s done for the year. Given that he is a free agent at the end of the year, his time with the Yankees may be over. Personally, I hope not. I’d like to see the team work out a new deal. However, given that there is doubt Nady will be able to play in 2010, the chances of returning to the Yankees are probably not good. Nady has been a good player and I hope we have not seen the last of him in pinstripes.
Chris Faytock/The Star Ledger
Per Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog, Mariano Rivera will be on ESPN’s Sunday Conversation. Mo was asked about performance enhancing drugs, and he replied, “The reason why I’m laughing is because I don’t even drink coffee. And if I don’t drink coffee, I would never put in my mind or think to put that in my body. If the talent that God has given me is not enough, well, I’ll have to quit. When I leave this game I know deep in my mind, deep in my heart that I was clean.”
John Munson/The Star Ledger
I remember being somewhat disappointed when John Wetteland left, breaking up the deadly late inning combo of Rivera-Wetteland. Little did I know that it was the dawn of greatness, the creation of a new Yankees legend. It will be a sad day when #42 is no longer in the bullpen, but it won’t take very long for it to make its way to Monument Park…and Cooperstown. Mo can stand next to Jackie Robinson and be proud.
AP
No updates on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings, but I am taking much abuse from my friends…
–Scott
Making His Presence Felt in Atlanta…
To borrow the words of Johnny Cash, the Man Comes Around…
Posted on YouTube by MadSin69
The other Cash arrived in Atlanta, and made his presence known.
DeCrow/AP
GM Brian Cashman, who apparently was supposed to watch AAA-Scranton/Wilkes Barre play, opted to travel to Atlanta for the Yankees game against the Braves. He did not go with axe in hand, but he met with manager Joe Girardi and the players. Clearly, he, like the rest of the fans and organization, is frustrated with the Yankees recent offensive slump and knows that the team is better than this.
Cash insists that the team does not need to make any player acquisitions to improve. As I said yesterday, the team has the talent and ability to succeed so the answer lies within. I still think the bench could use some upgrade, along with the pen. But from the top to the bottom of the order, the team is fine so long as they can snap out of the recent slide that has left them tied with the Toronto Blue Jays, 5 games behind the Boston Red Sox.
Xavier Nady should be back soon, and that will certainly help. But after watching the continued play of catcher Francisco Cervelli, I have to admit that I really do not want to see Jose Molina come back. I liked Cervelli’s throws to first, his intensity, the way he was openly communicating with pitcher Joba Chamberlain in the dugout between innings, his energy, his excitement…and of course, his first home run! So perhaps the Yanks should look to move Molina upon his return from the DL. As for Damaso Marte, I am hopeful that we’ll see the reliever who was among baseball’s best when he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates upon his return. There is no reason that he can’t be that player again. Cash might be right that the answer lies within. If the team’s response to Cash’s visit, an 8-4 win over the Braves, can be sustained in the coming weeks and months, I like the Yankees’ chances come October.
As for the game, I do want to send Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami best wishes for a speedy recovery. I am thankful he was not more seriously hurt when he was struck at the base of the neck by a ball hit by Joba Chamberlain. At the time, Kawakami had pitched three perfect innings and it looked like he was in the midst of a great game. He has a contusion, but it sounds like the ball didn’t hit a bone. Kawakami will be re-evaluated in a couple of days to determine if he’ll be able to make his next start. Hopefully, he is back in full action shortly.
John Bazemore/AP
The Braves scored first on a 5th inning home run by Jeff Francoeur. Considering that Francoeur hasn’t really hit anybody this year, it was disappointing to see him get untracked against the Yankees. Nevertheless, the Yankees came back at the top of the next inning. Brett Gardner walked to start the inning, becoming the Yankees first base runner. After a few pick-off throws, the Braves got lucky when Gardner was called out even though his hand had clearly reached first base before he was tagged out. The play brought manager Joe Girardi out of the dugout and although his tirade got him tossed, it served as the catalyst the Yankees needed to snap out of their offensive doldrums. Cervelli followed with his first career home run, and a few batters later, Alex Rodriguez, who had entered the game with a .207 BA, drilled a two-run single.
Curtis Compton/MCT
Although the Braves kept fighting back, the Yankees never relinquished the lead. In the 8th inning, with Brian Bruney struggling (two walks, a single and a run scored), Girardi brought Mariano Rivera into the game with two outs. Rivera struck out Kelly Johnson to end the inning. Rivera, who hadn’t pitched since June 16th, showed no signs of rust. The Yankees scored a couple more runs at the top of the 9th to pad their lead, but they were unnecessary runs as Rivera struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to end the game. Vintage Mo, and it was sweet!
The Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays all won, so there were no changes in the standings. But the victory was definitely something for the team to build upon. One game at a time. The path to the Red Sox is not that far away…
Jim Davis/Boston Globe staff
As expected, the Yankees designated Angel Berroa for assignment prior to the game to make room for infielder Cody Ransom. I was surprised to see that the Yankees were actually able to get cash for reliever Jose Veras (from the Cleveland Indians). I thought the Yankees would have to pay to get someone to take him. Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog had the best line when he said that the cash involved was “at least three figures”. Good luck in Cleveland, Jose…you won’t be missed. Of course, now that you are in Cleveland, you’ll probably start pitching lights out…
Denny Medley/US Presswire
Winning Cures All Ailments…
No A-Rod in the line-up? No problem, just call Andy…
Hans Deryk/Reuters
Andy had a run-scoring double in the 2nd inning to put New York on top of the Florida Marlins, 3-0. It was a lead that the Yankees never relinquished. They won the game, 5-1, behind Pettitte’s other skills….a solid pitching performance that saw only three hits in 7 innings, with 7 strikeouts. He had good control as he did not issue any walks, and became the first Yankees pitcher to reach 7 wins. He was, of course, quite winded after the long run to second base! Hahaha! The lone Marlin run was a homer by outfielder Cody Ross. Pettitte did say after the game that several other fly balls would have been home runs in Yankee Stadium. Nevertheless, they were in Miami and the Yankees easily won, snapping a two game losing streak.
AP
The Yankees also got great production from their bullpen with two innings of hitless relief provided by Brian Bruney and Brett Tomko. I can’t say that I was excited to see Tomko enter the game, but he did his job.
The Yankees only had one home run, a solo shot by Melky Cabrera in the 3rd.
Before the game, it was announced that Alex Rodriguez would sit the first two games of the series in Miami against the Marlins. Alex has been struggling lately, and his batting average has plummeted to .212. Kevin Long tracks swings that are considered reaches, and indicated that since early June, A-Rod has extended his arms from his body in his swings nearly 85% of the time. He wants to work with A-Rod to bring his arms back in for a tighter, more compact swing. Hopefully, the rest will do A-Rod some good, although I am sure it’s frustrating for him to sit while the team is in his hometown. Angel Berroa filled in for A-Rod at third, while Jorge Posada batted clean-up.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
It was a good game for the Yankees, beginning to end. I had some concerns that they were facing a pitcher they had never seen before (Sean West), but they easily figured him out and scored all 5 runs against West in his four innings of work.
Derek Jeter was back in the lineup Friday night, but you could tell that the ankle is still bothering him.
It was a reunion of sorts for manager Joe Girardi, who got his first managerial job with the Marlins in 2006. He was named NL Manager of the Year, and was subsequently fired by owner Jeffrey Loria. Girardi and Loria chatted briefly outside of the Yankees clubhouse prior to the game. Per Girardi, it was a pleasant conversation with Loria and they have a good relationship. Still, you just know that Girardi took satisfaction in taking the first game of the series with the Marlins…
AP
The Yankees picked up a game on both first place Boston and third place Toronto as both of those teams lost on Friday night. The Yanks are two games behind the Red Sox and two games ahead of the Blue Jays. I wonder if the Red Sox could start Dice-K again tonight? I kinda like it when he pitches… Seriously, I have faith in the Braves’ Derek Lowe even though he is facing Josh Beckett. Vindication is always a sweet feeling, and Lowe is a gamer. Good luck to him as he faces his former teammates!
UPI
Despite watching Pedro Martinez pitch in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees expressed no interest in signing the 37 year old pitcher. Whew!
Jeff Roberson/AP
Brett Gardner is still feeling the effects of the collision with the outfield wall on Thursday, but is improving.
It has nothing to do with the game, but Miami always reminds me of one of my favorite singers, the late great Keith Whitley. This is one of my favorite Whitley songs…
Posted on YouTube by Victorcoral
Have a great Saturday!
–Scott
No Fair, It’s Not Supposed to Happen to Me!…
Aarrgghh, I hate walk-off wins…
Well, at least when the Yankees are on the road! For some reason, they just seem so much sweeter at Yankee Stadium…
Frank Franklin II/AP
Without going into all the gory details, David Robertson gave up a run-scoring single by Jhonny Peralta in the bottom of the 9th inning to allow the Tribe to escape with a 5-4 victory. Robertson and Phil Coke both walked a batter in the 9th to set the table for Peralta’s game-winning hit.
Tony Dejak/AP
But the burden of defeat cannot be placed squarely on the shoulders of Robertson and Coke. Brett Gardner was also responsible with several poor plays. In the 5th inning, Gardner misplayed a fly ball by Asdrubal Cabrera, which turned into a double. He wasn’t charged an error, but I’d have to say that I am a little ashamed that the Yankees tied the Boston Red Sox with their 17th consecutive game without an “error” when, in my mind, it was an error in judgment.
Gardner also helped extinguish a 9th inning rally by the Yanks. Hideki Matsui walked, and Ramiro Pena came into the game to run for him. Nick Swisher sacrificed Pena to second. Gardner then reached first base on an infield single. Despite the steal sign from the dugout, Gardner stayed at first and did not attempt a steal. Jorge Posada subsequently hit into an inning ending double play. Had Gardner stolen second, the Yanks would have had two men in scoring position with two outs. By scoring a run or two, the Yankees would have brought Mariano Rivera into the game to close it rather than relying upon the unproven late inning duo of Coke and Robertson.
Larry W. Smith/EPA
Mark Teixeira almost single-handedly pulled the game out for the Yanks. He hit a two-run homer in the 6th inning against Carl Pavano. He also hit a two-run double in the 8th against Matt Herges (one of the runs was charged to Pavano, who allowed a single to Derek Jeter earlier in the inning). Clearly, the Yankees had their opportunities against Pavano. I guess if there’s a positive in the loss, it is that Pavano walked away with a no decision thanks to Teixeira.
Tony Dejak/AP
Phil Hughes had a disappointing outing, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings.
Tony Dejak/AP
Chien-Ming Wang continued his audition for regaining his spot in the starting rotation by relieving Hughes with three innings of shutout ball. If this game is the determining factor, I’d say that Hughes next start will be in Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Wang will be back in his regular spot in the rotation.
Greg Fiume/Getty Images
With the loss combined with a Red Sox win, the Yankees lead in the AL East has fallen back to ½ game over Boston.
As of 5/31/09
|
AL East |
W |
L |
Pct |
GB |
Home |
Road |
Last 10 |
Streak |
|
Yankees |
29 |
21 |
.580 |
— |
14-9 |
15-12 |
6-4 |
Lost1 |
|
Red Sox |
29 |
22 |
.569 |
0.5 |
17-6 |
12-16 |
5-5 |
Won1 |
|
Blue Jays |
29 |
24 |
.547 |
1.5 |
18-7 |
11-17 |
2-8 |
Lost1 |
|
Rays |
25 |
28 |
.472 |
5.5 |
13-11 |
12-17 |
4-6 |
Lost1 |
|
Orioles |
23 |
28 |
.451 |
6.5 |
16-13 |
7-15 |
7-3 |
Lost2 |
I know, Julia, I hear your footsteps…
With one run scored, Derek Jeter now stands two runs away from 1,500. Once he achieves that mark, he’ll join the exclusive trio of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle as the only players with 1,500 runs scored during their Yankee careers.
To my disappointment, Buster Olney mentioned in his ESPN column that the Yankees probably will not be aggressive in their pursuit of Boston left fielder Jason Bay (wipe that grin off your face, Julia!) since they’ll be looking to keep the spot open for a possible switch of Derek Jeter from short to left as he continues to advance in age.
Speaking of Jeter, his current hitting streak now stands at 15 games with a lead-off single in Monday night’s game against the Indians.
Catcher Jose Molina re-injured his left quad during an extended spring game today, so he’ll head back to New York for further evaluation. This most likely means that his return is not imminent. The Yankees may be disappointed, but I’m not. It means that Cervelli will remain on the roster, and will have the opportunity to continue to show why he deserves the backup spot to Jorge Posada.
Tonight’s starting lineup has Alex Rodriguez at DH, and Angel Berroa at third. Ugh, that’s not a good sign…
I know, I need an attitude adjustment…
–Scott
Once, Twice, Three Times a Walk-Off…
Holy Cow! Not one, not two, but three walk-off wins in a row!
Johnny Damon’s 10th inning shot to the right field stands gave the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The home run was hit on a 95 MPH fastball, with a full count. These games are fun, but man, nothing like that to get your blood pressure up…
The Yanks missed an opportunity to win it in the bottom of the 9th when Brett Gardner tried to score from second on an infield hit by Francisco Cervelli and was thrown out at the plate.
Kathy Willens/AP
It was a great pitching performance by A.J. Burnett, who did not give up any runs until the 7th inning.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Alfredo Aceves, 2-0, was the winner for the second consecutive day. He’s liking these walk-off wins too!
The Yankees conclude their four game series with the Twins on Monday. Surely, the walk-off win streak cannot continue. I’d settle for one of those 10 run innings early to put the game out of reach. I don’t want much!
The Mighty Melky at Bat…
I like walk-off hits…
Melky Cabrera won last night’s game against the Minnesota Twins with a two-run single in the 9th inning. The inning had began with the Twins up 4-2 and ace closer Joe Nathan on the mound. Brett Gardner tripled to start the inning, and Mark Teixeira drove him in with a single. Alex Rodriguez worked the count and walked. Nathan struck out Hideki Matsui and retired Nick Swisher. Swisher’s ground out moved Teixeira and Rodriguez to second and third. The Twins issued a free pass to Robinson Cano which loaded the bases, with two outs. Melky Cabrera came up and promptly delivered the game winning shot with a single between center fielder Carlos Gomez and left fielder Denard Span. The Yankees, who had never held a lead in the game, won 5-4.
Richard Perry/The New York Times
The bullpen finally did a good job as starter Phil Hughes only went 5 innings, giving up three runs. The bullpen only gave up one more run, a homer by Joe Mauer against Phil Coke in the 7th. The winner was the generally unreliable Jose Veras, who struck out the only batter he faced in the 9th inning (Michael Cuddyer).
Meanwhile, Hughes is probably packing his bags for Scranton as Chien-Ming Wang nears his return…
Other game tidbits…
The Twins’ Justin Morneau hit two home runs on a day he celebrated his 28th birthday…
There was some drama when Mark Teixeira took exception with Carlos Gomez and his ‘inside path’ to first base (the second time he had run that route in the game, which resulted in a collision with Tex’s wrist at first). The players had words and it brought out both managers in defense of their respective players.
Justin Lane/EPA
The game also saw the Yankees’ first inside the park home run when speedy Brett Gardner hit a ball to shallow left that took an unexpected bounce and went to the warning track on Denard Span. It was the first inside the park homer for the Yanks since Ricky Ledee did it in August 1999.
http://multimedia.play.it/m/audio/22303394/brett-gardner.htm?widget=true
View Full Clip
It was an exciting game. Unlike the Yankees’ depressing loss to Doc Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays (where I felt that the Yankees were never going to get back in the game), I had the sense last night that it “wasn’t over until it’s over”. You could see and feel the rally in the 9th, so it almost would have been a surprise had Cabrera not come through. It was a feel-good victory, and it pushed the Yankees to a winning record at 18-17. The Blue Jays also won so the Yanks remain in 3rd place, 4 ½ games behind. Until the Yanks play again later today, life is good…
This, of course, brings me to the second place club. I had gotten a message from my friend that the Boston Red Sox were leading the Seattle Mariners 2-0. But there were no follow up score updates. Of course, I woke up this morning and saw that the Mariners had rallied from a 4-0 deficit against Jon Lester, and had pulled a victory by the same 5-4 score the Yankees had. I think it was even an ex-Red Sox pitcher that saved the game for the M’s in David Aaardsma. So, Julia, yes, it was a perfect night!
AP
SOME OFF-TOPIC COMMENTS –
FAVRE AND THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS
I know, how can I be a Vikings fan but not like the Twins? Well, that’s what happens when you grow up in a “free agent” state (a state which does not have any professional teams). C’mon, how many professional teams are itching to build a new stadium in Des Moines, Iowa? LOL!
I have been following the Brett Favre story with some interest. I have to admit that I have very mixed feelings. Obviously, the Jets failed down the stretch last year, and much of it has been attributed to Favre and the partially torn right biceps tendon in his throwing shoulder. Brett opted not to have surgery, and is still recovering from the injury. This week he consulted with Dr. James Andrews to determine his options.
A leading shoulder specialist was quoted in a Minnesota newspaper that minor surgery to correct the problem is the worst case scenario. Favre is apparently amenable to minor surgery, but not arthroscopic surgery. Minor surgery would allow him to be ready for training camp (and of course miss the OTA’s and mini-camps).
It would be weird seeing Favre wear a #4 purple jersey. But his leadership and experience would be invaluable for the younger players on the team, including QB Tavaris Jackson. Jackson is still young enough to learn a great deal from Favre who would be expected to play no more than one year.
And of course, I like the Green Bay Packers about as much as I like the Boston Red Sox, so there’s not much that would be sweeter than watching Favre lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.
I wanted Matt Cassel and Jay Cutler at various points this off-season, but both were traded elsewhere.
Favre represents the next best option. The team has a strong defense, good offensive line (depending upon how well the younger players like new starting center John Sullivan and rookie tackle Phil Loadholt perform), good receiving corps that will feature a new look with the presence of the talented Percy Harvin, and, of course, the best running back in the league. I expect the special teams to be improved with some of the talent in the draft pick selections, so the key to the 2009 season is clearly the quarterback position. I am not convinced that T-Jack is the man for the job, and Sage Rosenfels is not going to suddenly blossom into the elite level. So, why not try Favre?
Fid
Recent Comments