Results tagged ‘ Carl Pavano ’
Babe Ruth was not the greatest Yankee…
He has been and always will be my hero…
72 years…
It has been that long since the great Lou Gehrig departed this universe. Yet, his legacy still burns brightly and strongly throughout the world. He made a difference on and off the field and his model has continued to set the example for others to live their lives.
June 2, 1941. I will always remember it as well as August 2, 1979 even if I was only alive for one of those tragic days. 1941 was not a good year for the country nor was it a particularly good year for my family. My dad’s brother, then 21, died while moving out of his mother’s house after she had “evicted” him when she learned that he had secretly married. My uncle didn’t carve a life or legacy that others outside of the immediate family will remember, but he strived to be the man that Lou Gehrig. But like so many, we fail miserably.
Gehrig continues to be my all-time favorite Yankee. Mariano Rivera has long been my favorite current Yankee, but even he will have to take the bench when compared to Gehrig. Sorry Mo, I know you are the man that Gehrig was but there is only room for one at the top.
I’ve been a baseball fan since I was about 5 or 6 and read a book about Lou Gehrig. It was his story that propelled my interest in baseball. I didn’t become a Yankees fan because of him (I owe that to Catfish Hunter) but I would have never been a Catfish Hunter fan if not for Gehrig. So, I fully understand that the core root of my love of baseball and the Yankees lies solely with the Iron Horse.
Lou, I miss you even if I didn’t have the opportunity to meet you. My world is better because you were in it, and I thank you for simply being you.
The Ice Man Cometh…
I have to admit that I was/am a bit concerned about Mark Teixeira’s late start to the season. Granted, he hit a grand slam in tonight’s win over the Cleveland Indians, but he is a notoriously slow starter. To start slow at the beginning of June is not good. Tex needs to hit the ground running. I can only hope that the grand slam will propel him forward and bypass the usual ice freeze that starts any Teixeira season. I feel bad for Lyle Overbay. He’s done everything asked of him, and he has won a few games with his bat. Now, he takes the back seat to Teixeira which, given the aforementioned history of slow starts, might not be a move for the better…at least in the short run.
As much as I want the return of the other injured players, I still do not want the return of Alex Rodriguez. I have never dreaded seeing a player put on pinstripes as much as I do him. Well, maybe Ed Whitson or Carl Pavano, but as for as $30 million a year players go, I’d rather see A-Rod elsewhere.
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all…
I am still making bets with Julia of the former MLBlog’s Julia Rants. The latest bet, thanks to the Yankees series failure, has me sporting a picture of Carl Yastrzemski as my profile pic on FaceBook for a week. Sometimes, I just wish the Yankees would come through for me on these bets! I am getting tired of getting the short straw…
Oh well, it’s June and we’ve moved past the start of the season. The Yanks need to shake off the doldrums of getting swept by the New York Mets and the series loss to the Red Sox to propel themselves to a 10-game win streak to regain some momentum…
Let’s go, Guys, we can do this!
–Scott
In Red Sox We Trust?…
Once you’ve failed Boston, come to New York…
Okay, I admit it. I am not overjoyed to see the Red Sox reunion on the Yankees roster. First, there was former Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, then reliever Manny Delcarmen, and now utility infielder Bill Hall. Of the three, Okajima is actually the only who’s last team was the Red Sox but still, the three have served their time in Beantown and are now “enemies” in a friendly camp.
If Okajima can win a job, that’s fine but I don’t really see him beating out Cesar Cabral unless the latter is a complete washout in camp. Delcarmen, in my mind, is simply fodder for the spring with no hope of seeing the major league roster come Opening Day. Hall is an interesting pickup. I am concerned because I want to see the return of backup third baseman Eric Chavez, who is the perfect as a substitute for Alex Rodriguez when A-Rod takes his usual spot on the DL. Indications are that the Yankees are still interested in Chavez despite the Hall signing and I hope so. Reports have also indicated that the Yankees are in deep conversation with Raul Ibanez. If both Hall and Ibanez are signed, is there room for Chavez? I really hope that Chavez is independent of the other decisions.
Nevertheless, even if the Yankees break camp with Okajima, Delcarmen and Hall, they are still inferior to what the Yankees could have had with long reliever/spot starter Alfredo Aceves. At the time the Yankees cut bait with Aceves, I thought it was a mistake. I realize that he had been hurt and subsequently suffered a setback that cost more time. But never once did I consider him to be the second coming of Carl Pavano. I thought that once he was healthy, he’d return to being the effective reliever he was prior to the injuries. Of course, that’s exactly what he did…only in a Red Sox uniform. That’s why I always hate to see ex-Yankees go to Boston. Sure, it would be fun to see Okajima, Delcarmen or Hall thrive in the Bronx, but I just don’t see it happening. I’d have to score this one as ‘Advantage, Red Sox’.
Swisher deserves compensation!…
I enjoyed seeing pitcher Jeremy Guthrie’s quote after being traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Colorado Rockies. He said the loser in the trade was Nick Swisher’s batting average. Hopefully, Swish can find a replacement pitcher to pick on!
$19 Million? Put it on the tab…
Good move by the Los Angeles Dodgers to lock up arbitration-eligible starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw for two years. It helps buy some time for the new ownership group to take control and do what’s right by ensuring Kershaw is a long-term fixture in Chavez Ravine. I am sure these are tenuous times for Donnie Baseball given the uncertainty regarding the ownership picture and the current financial constraints. But the Dodgers have done well in securing Matt Kemp and now setting up Kershaw for discussions on a longer-term deal under a time frame that will suit the new owners.
RBI, or IBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR….
It’s hard to believe that we are just a few weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. The temps in Minnesota have dipped back into the 20’s with some sub-zero temperatures looming on the horizon. Target Field is looking a bit frigid to think the lights will once again be illuminated in two short months. Nevertheless, I am glad to see the return of the America’s Favorite Pastime. No offense to Eli Manning, but I’ll be glad when the “star of New York” is someone like CC Sabathia, Robinson Cano, or Curtis Granderson rather than Peyton’s little bro.
–Scott
Land of 2 Seasons: Winter is coming, Winter is here…
I don’t have a beret to throw in the air…
I am finally living in an American League city once again. Today is my first day as a resident of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Somehow, recent years have found me in National League cities, which is tough as an American League fan. Nevertheless, I persevered and now reside in a city that houses good baseball tradition. In fact, from my living room window, I can see the lights of Target Field. Sweet! Of course, I will never be able to admit that I am a Yankees fan in public given the bad blood between the Yankees and Twins. I’d probably have better luck wearing a Sox cap…
I am looking forward to learning about my new city, and I am excited about the opportunity and potential the area provides. Yes, I’ll have to get used to winters again, but after living in areas where winter meant a 20 or 30 degree dip in average temps, I am looking forward to true changes of seasons. Growing up in the Midwest, I never complained about snowfall and it was always one of my favorite enjoyments. The only issue I have with winter is ice. Outside of that, I can deal with the cold temps and the white, frosty surroundings.
Oddly, as a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, this will be the first time that I’ve been surrounded by Vikings fans. Admittedly, that’s going to be very strange. Growing up in southeast Iowa, Vikings fans were mixed among fans of the Bears, Packers, Chiefs, and the then St. Louis football Cardinals with the Bears as perhaps the predominate favorite. I’ve seen the Vikings play in person over the years, but they’ve always been road games. I never made it to the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington nor have I been to the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. That’s obviously going to change, but admittedly, it will be strange seeing everyone around me wearing purple and gold.
I am glad to be in Minnesota, and I am looking forward to a very long stay. And, no, I am not suddenly going to become a fan of Carl Pavano…
Fundamentals, is it really that hard?…
I was very disappointed to see the Yankees lose a close game to the Tampa Bay Rays last night due to errors. When you are playing one of your key rivals, anything less than your best is unacceptable. The Yankees had a chance to bury the Rays and couldn’t do it. While the Boston Red Sox are running away with the AL East, the Yankees need to make sure that they put distance between themselves and the other wild card challengers like the Rays. Losing a game because you are outplayed is one thing, but to lose a game because of your own incompetence is wrong. The Rays had encountered a tough stretch of games with the 16 inning loss to the Red Sox, followed by the baseloaded walk loss to the Yankees. Another loss last night could have started driving a stake in the heart of the Rays. But the Yankees allowed the Rays to resume their Wild Card drive, and last year those types of games allowed the Rays to best the Yanks in the East.
Mike Carlson/AP
The Rays clearly have the superior pitching rotation, but the Yankees are the offensive club…even with Alex Rodriguez on the DL. With the series tied after two games with two to play, the Yankees have to ensure that they leave St. Petersburg with no less than a split.
The price of an ace…
The trade rumors involving the Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez are great, but I am hesitant given the high cost that would be involved. I get that Jimenez is young (27) and has a very affordable contract for the next few years, but giving up Manny Banuelos and Jesus Montero (and others) seems like such a high price to pay. I like Jimenez and his road splits away from Coors Field are ridiculous, but I simply cannot condone giving away the farm to bring him to the Bronx. That’s tough because who really knows if Banuelos and Montero will be genuine stars. The cool demeanor of Banuelos seems like a perfect play in Yankee Stadium, and I do really believe that he is destined for greatness. I also recognize that if CC Sabathia opts out of his contract and signs elsewhere this off-season, the Yankees will be lacking an ace. Nevertheless, I do not think the Yankees should make the Jimenez trade unless the price is right. Given the completion for the pitcher, I just don’t think that will happen. The best deal for the Yankees would be one that no one is talking about. Once the talk goes public, there is too much potential for other teams, like the Red Sox, to muck things up for no other reason than to drive up the price it would cost the Yankees.
When the Red Sox acquired Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins, there was not much speculation ahead of the trade. The Yankees need that same stealth like approach to their next major acquisition.
And the young respond…
I am glad to see some of the guys from the Yankees farm system get their opportunity. Guys like Brandon Laird, who was called up when Ramiro Pena went on the DL, and pitcher Steve Garrison. I’ve really wanted to see what Laird could do in a platoon situation with Eduardo Nunez at third so now is his chance.
Yes, I thank my lucky stars every night for David Robertson…
Charles Wenzelberg/NY Daily News
Mutual respect…
I was listening to MLB Radio this week and I heard a Red Sox fan give kudos to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. I was glad to hear those types of comments because I hold a similar high respect for certain Red Sox players like Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester. It seems so un-Yankee like to respect a Sox player, but Pedey and Lester play the game the way it is supposed to be played. There’s no way that I could ever root against those guys. If I was a team owner, they would be among the first players that I would want to acquire for my team.
You have to go back to the 1920’s? Really?
The Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates in first place? I can’t believe how much media attention that has gotten. I do not expect either team to be a factor come October, but it’s nice to see their fans having reason to cheer this late in the season. I enjoyed the early 1990’s when the Pirates were a factor in the play-offs every year. After years of trading stars for prospects, it is nice to see the team thriving on those prospects. But much of the credit has to go to first year manager Clint Hurdle. Similarly, the Tribe’s success has to be attributed to Manny Acta. Both men know how to get the most out of their guys. It is very refreshing to see. Nevertheless, I still do not see anything that’s going to derail a Boston Red Sox-Philadelphia Phillies World Series.
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Yes, I am finally home…
“…You can have a town, why don’t you take it. You’re gonna make it after all.” I finally get what Mary Tyler Moore was saying after all these years…
–Scott
Late Inning Magic Resides at 161st and River…
Merry Teix-mas!…
Barton Silverman/The New York Times
As the saying goes, “All’s well that ends well”! Friday night certainly proved the point as the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in Game 2 of the ALDS.
The game featured a pitching duel between A.J. Burnett and Nick Blackburn. It was scoreless until the 6th inning. The Twins broke out first in the top of the frame on a run-scoring triple by Brendan Harris.
Julie Jacobson/AP
The Yankees countered in the bottom of the inning when Alex Rodriguez singled to score Derek Jeter from second.
Kathy Willens/AP
At that point, the Yankees went to the pen. Joba Chamberlain retired the first two batters in the top of the 7th, but surrendered a single to Joe Mauer. He was relieved by Phil Coke who struck out Jason Kubel to end the inning.
After a ’3-up, 3-down’ bottom of the 7th, Phil Hughes was on the mound to start the 8th. Like Chamberlain, he retired the first two batters but then got into trouble. After walking Carlos Gomez, Brendan Harris singled to move Gomez to third. Nick Punto followed with a single that scored Gomez, and Hughes headed for the showers at Joe Girardi’s “suggestion”.
Mariano Rivera entered the game but he promptly gave up a single to Denard Span that scored Harris. Mo struck out the next batter, Orlando Cabrera, to end the inning but the damage had been done as the Twins had taken a 3-1 lead.
Kathy Willens/AP
The Yankees were retired easily in the 8th, and Mo had no difficulty with the Twins in the top of the 9th despite a Michael Cuddyer single. So, the stage was set for the bottom of the 9th inning. Enter Twins closer Joe Nathan…
Mark Teixeira was up first and he lined a solid single to right. That brought the much criticized post-season “underperformer” to the plate. A-Rod silenced his critics by coming up big. His home run off Nathan tied the game, and the Yanks were back in business.
Julie Jacobson/AP
Nathan retired the next 3 batters so the game moved to extra innings. The Twins had a chance in the top of the 10th against Alfredo Aceves but they left runners stranded at the corners.
The Yankees followed with what I thought was going to be the victorious moment. After Melky Cabrera grounded out, Jorge Posada singled. Of course, that brought Mr. “Make It Happen” (Brett Gardner) into the game as a pinch runner. When you talk about certainties in life, Brett getting his jersey dirty when he is on the base paths is a given. As expected, he stole second with a huge burst of speed. An errant pick off throw by Nathan sent Gardner to third although he did stumble to make it close. So, with just one out, the speedy Gardner stood at third. It wouldn’t take much to bring him home. With Gardner on third, the Twins opted to intentionally walk Derek Jeter. Nathan was relieved by Jose Mijares. The stage was set for Johnny Damon to be the hero. If he couldn’t get the job done, Mark Teixeira was on deck. Much to my chagrin, Damon hit a smash right at Orlando Cabrera. Brett Gardner had already broken for home, so the Twins were able to easily record the double play to end the threat.
The next inning would prove to be very memorable. Joe Mauer opened with a double to left off Damaso Marte except there was a small problem. The umpire (Phil Cuzzi) ruled the ball foul, however, replays clearly showed that the ball landed a foot inside of the foul line.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Nevertheless, Joe Mauer was still able to reach base with a single. But his placement at first instead of second would prove to be very significant. Jason Kubel singled to move Mauer to second (he should have been on third if the double had stood). David Robertson, boyish face and all, entered the game in relief of Marte but gave up a single to Michael Cuddyer which loaded the bases. Had Mauer been on third, the Twins would have taken a 4-3 lead. Robertson proved to be a magician with the next 3 batters. Delmon Young lined out. Carlos Gomez hit a fielder’s choice to Mark Teixeira who threw Mauer out at home. Brendan Harris, with several key hits earlier in the game, came up with a chance to save the day for the Twins. But his weak fly ball was caught by Nick Swisher and the Twins had failed to score despite loading the bases with no outs.
Julie Jacobson/AP
With Jose Mijares still pitching for the Twins, Mark Teixeira came to the plate. As great as Teixeira has been this year, it is hard to believe that he didn’t have any walk-off hits during the course of the season…well, at least until Friday night. He connected on what appeared to be an extremely hard liner but the ball never dropped until it reached the left field stands. After the game, Teixeira called the ball a “wall scraper”. Whatever it was, it gave the Yankees the 4-3 victory and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Julie Jacobson/AP
Have a pie, Mr. Teixeira! You deserve it…
Kathy Willens/AP
I have to admit that I do empathize with Twins fans. During football season, the majority of those fans share my passion for all things purple and gold. We cheer together when Adrian Peterson breaks a long run for a TD, Percy Harvin makes a key catch, Brett Favre zips a pass for a game winning touchdown or Jared Allen getting up from sacking yet another quarterback. The Twins had every opportunity to win Game 2, but the ghosts of Yankee Stadium ensured that it didn’t happen.
Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger
The series now moves to Minnesota for Game 3 at the Metrodome on Sunday. Andy Pettitte and the Yankees will face former teammate Carl Pavano. I remember the comparisons of Pavano to Pettitte when he joined the Yankees, as they are both similar physically. But clearly Pavano does not have Pettitte’s heart. The Yanks have a chance to close out the series and it wouldn’t get any better than a victory against the former American Idle.
A funny thing happened last night watching the Angels-Red Sox game. I have been giving Julia (of Julia’s Rants) a hard time and repeatedly telling her “Go Angels!”. But truth be told, I really do not like the Angels. I have never cared for the team. It’s not to say that I have found new love for the Red Sox, but I found myself cheering for Boston and rooting for a late inning comeback. It was not meant to be as the Angels emerged with a 4-1 victory against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox to take a 2-0 advantage in the series. I will pull for the Red Sox when the series resumes in Boston. I really want to see the Red Sox and Yankees in the American League Championship Series. I have no desire to see a team that couldn’t win 90 games in the World Series, so I wouldn’t pull for the Twins if they are able to successfully overcome the Yankees in the ALDS. My dislike for the Angels would prevent me from cheering for them, so the only two choices in my mind are Yankees and Red Sox. As a member of the AL Eastern Division, the Red Sox would be my second choice for AL representatives in the World Series if the Yankees cannot be there. I hope that doesn’t happen, believe me, as I am hoping to see the 27th World Championship for the Yankees…and nothing would be better than beating the Red Sox to advance. So, Julia, I’ll say this for you, Go Red Sox! (statement expires at the conclusion of the Angels-Red Sox series).
Mark J. Terrill/AP
Speaking of the Minnesota Vikings, I’d like to say Happy Birthday to quarterback Brett Favre! The graybeard is now 40 years old. For your birthday, we’d like to give you a Super Bowl Championship! J
Courtesy Star Tribune
The Game That Wouldn’t End…
It was a masterpiece by A.J. Burnett…
Frank Franklin II/AP
Unfortunately, it was an equal masterpiece by Boston’s Josh Beckett, as the Yankees and Red Sox ended regulation play deadlocked at 0-0.
Bill Kostroun/AP
A.J. went 7 2/3 innings and gave up only one hit. He had 6 strikeouts, but also had 6 walks. I guess he was watching Joba Chamberlain too closely last night. Nevertheless, he did what he was paid to do. He put his team in position to win, so there’s not more that you can ask.
Beckett went 7 innings, and gave up 4 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts.
But it became a game where neither team seemed to want to win. Both teams left double-digit runners on base (Red Sox 10, Yankees 12). As the game advanced into extra innings, neither team seriously threatened. The Yankees would get a few runners, but then they’d be left stranded.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, had some difficulty getting base runners but when they did, they failed to advance them like the Yankees.
The game seemed to drag on for hours (5 hours, 33 minutes to be exact). My favorite comment of the night was by Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog:
UPDATE, 12:06 p.m.: This just in: Bill Clinton flying to the Bronx to negotiate the release of 48,262 people held hostage by this game.
Finally, in the bottom of the 15th inning, Derek Jeter singled to start the inning. After Johnny Damon popped out on the foul side of first base and Mark Teixeira struck out, Alex Rodriguez came to the plate. Much as been talked about A-Rod’s homerless streak, but with one swing of the bat, the streak, like the Yankees losing streak to the Sox a day earlier, became a distant memory. A two-run homer to left gave the Yankees a walk-off win. Yes, Julia, I was right about the walk-off…I just had the wrong inning!
Bill Kostroun/AP
So, the Yankees have guaranteed that they will not lose this series. So, it is now a question whether the Red Sox can win the final two games of the series to invoke the tie-breakers. The Sox are certainly a capable team, but right now, this minute, I’d say ‘Advantage Scott!’.
John Munson/The Star Ledger
Here are the revised totals of the series so far:
RUNNING TOTALS (8/06 – 8/09) FOR TIE-BREAKER:
Runs
Red Sox 6
Yankees 15
Home Runs
Red Sox 2
Yankees 5
Wins
Red Sox 0
Yankees 2
Winner: T.B.D.
The Yankees, at 66-42, now lead the American League East by 4 ½ games over the Red Sox and 6 games over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Life is good for a Yankees fan…
Boston.com (Yankees fan Steve Macary)
A Very Busy Day…
It was a blood bath today in Major League Baseball. A friend indicated that it felt like the Trading Deadline, but I’d have to say that I was quite surprised by the moves that were made. Granted, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that John Smoltz’s time in the Red Sox starting rotation was nearing its end. However, I did not expect that he’d be DFA’d. I really thought that he would move into a long relief role, or perhaps help set up Jonathan Papelbon. If this is truly it for Smoltz, I am saddened that his final appearance was a loss to the Yankees. Well, the Yankees victory was nice, don’t get me wrong, but for Smoltz the man, he deserved better. I always thought that he’d be the one to know when to exit the game. Maybe he gets another chance, but then again, maybe not. Either way, he is a class guy and I am honored that I had the privilege to watch him play.
Paul Bereswill/Getty Images
Boston also DFA’d pitcher Billy Traber, a former Yankee or Oriole, who relieved Smoltz in yesterday’s game and, in Julia‘s words, took a bullet for the team to save the bullpen. Of course, his thanks was a one-way ticket out of a Red Sox uniform.
Wikimedia Commons/UTC
Another cut that caught me by surprise was the release of Jason Giambi by the Oakland A’s. I had bought tickets for the Yankees visit to Oakland to play the A’s later this month, and I had been hopeful that Giambi would be off the DL and in the game. But unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Oakland released Giambi from the DL, due primarily to his .193 batting average. I didn’t expect the A’s to pick up Giambi’s option this fall, but I never expected he’d be cut before the season was over. He’s not a fit for the current Yankees roster, so coming back to New York will not be in the cards. But hopefully, he’ll catch on somewhere so that he can go out his way.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Bill Kostroun/AP
The American Idle, a/k/a Carl Pavano, was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Minnesota Twins. I guess it was an admission by the Twins that they aren’t really interested in making the play-offs since they just acquired a guy who thrives in losing environments. From Cleveland’s perspective, the deal makes sense since it opens a slot in the rotation for Justin Masterson who was recently acquired from Boston in the Victor Martinez trade.
AP
The Toronto Blue Jays attempted to push RF Alex Rios through waivers, but he was claimed by another team. They now have to decide whether they’ll trade Rios to the other team if they can work out a trade or perhaps they just hang on to him. It’s unlikely that they’d simply let Rios go to the other team for nothing.
Pitcher Vicente Padilla was also DFA’d by the Texas Rangers. Ah, I feel so bad for the headhunter. Um, not really…
On the bright side, the Yankees didn’t acquire another pitcher with a losing record and a plus 5.00 ERA to go with Chad Gaudin and Russ Ortiz so the day wasn’t a total loss…
He Didn’t Mean To Do It…
Mark Melancon insists that he did not intentionally hit Boston’s Dustin Pedroia in Thursday’s game. Personally, I liked Manager Joe Girardi’s explanation. “Some pitchers are much more capable of throwing the ball exactly where they want to on a consistent basis. Those guys are called Hall of Famers.”
I do believe that it was unintentional. Melancon is trying hard to earn a roster spot, and it would be foolish for him to risk his opportunity by purposely allowing a Boston base runner in a critical game regardless of the circumstances.
Kathy Willens/AP
Finally…
Hey Julia, don’t look now but here comes Carsten Charles Sabathia… J
Nick Laham/Getty Images
A Gift From Boston…
When does not playing a game mean a Yankees win?
When the Red Sox lose, of course! Thanks for the Red Sox loss to the Texas Rangers, 5-1, on Friday night, the Yankees find themselves back in sole possession of first place.
Posted on YouTube by ShaBiCaoNiMa
Taking the glass is half empty approach, I had assumed that the Sox would pull in the front of the Yanks in the AL East Standings last night. Fortunately, Elvis Andrus continued to impress, Ian Kinsler hit a huge three-run homer, Kevin Millwood pitched a terrific game, and Julio Lugo is the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox…
The Boston Glob
Friday’s rainout against the Tampa Bay Rays has allowed manager Joe Girardi to reset the starting rotation in anticipation of the Red Sox series next week. A.J. Burnett, currently appealing the 6 game suspension for throwing near the head of Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz, will open the series on Tuesday. Chien-Ming Wang has been pushed from Tuesday to Wednesday (heck, David Ortiz is probably even salivating about the facing Wang), and CC Sabathia, today’s starter against the Rays, will close the series against the Sox on Thursday. Will it be enough to keep me out of a Jason Bay t-shirt and Julia in a Mark Teixeira t-shirt? Time will tell, but I like my chances. I don’t think this will be a sweep for either team but Julia will be in for a surprise if she thinks that this is the same team she saw in April and early May.
Reuters
Friday night’s game has not been re-scheduled and it will not be made up during the current weekend series in New York. All these make up days are going to take their toll later on the season due to double-headers or lost off-days.
OTHER NEWS…
I understood why the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Jason Bay to the Red Sox and Xavier Nady to the Yankees, but I do not understand the trade of Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates are only 6 ½ games out of first place, yet they move one of their best players for young talent. It feels like they are giving up the race before it starts. I think Andrew McCutchen will be a great player, but now wasn’t the time to make this type of move. Of course, it just makes you wonder that when McCutchen finally puts it all together at the major league level if he’ll just simply be moved on for more prospects. Is there a plan in Pittsburgh? I realize they have financial constraints, but the moves are very suspect.
AP
Carl Pavano threw a three-hit shutout against the White Sox? Incredible. I still see the day where the Tribe puts all their eggs in the Pavano basket and come away greatly disappointed.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
Shame on the Atlanta Braves for the way that they handled the release of Tom Glavine. It is sad to see the departures of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine end so poorly. Both guys deserved better treatment from the organization for their years of loyal service and high production. I can’t say that all Yankee careers have ended in a positive manner, but Smoltz and Glavine were poster boys for doing things the right way. Hopefully, Glavine will land on his feet and be allowed to exit the stage on his own terms.
Elsa/Getty
There is speculation that the Boston Red Sox are interested in Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson. I would really prefer to see Johnson traded elsewhere. It hasn’t been fun watching onetime Yankee top prospect Mike Lowell prosper in Boston, particularly since the Yanks do not really have anything to show for the trade. Of course, who did the Yankees get for Johnson? Atlanta Braves pitcher Javier Vazquez, who had a very short stay in the Bronx as he was part of the three-way deal that brought Randy Johnson to New York for two uninspired years. All things considered, I would have preferred to keep Nick Johnson…
Considering that Jason Bay is a “West Coast” guy (born in Trail, British Columbia), I’d like to see the San Francisco Giants pursue him in the off-season.
It would be the perfect setting for him to play in the Bay Area. It doesn’t get any better than that! I wouldn’t mind checking out a few games to see Bay by the Bay. From a marketing standpoint, this makes way too much sense!
Hey Julia, thanks for First Place! Your generosity, as always, is impeccable! Please keep up your spirit of giving! I’ll gladly take it all…
Go Yankees!
–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
An Ace, A Legend, and a Few Mosquitoes…
The view from the top is excellent!
The Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians, 10-5, on Saturday to extend their AL East to 1 ½ games over the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays (the Red Sox lost to the Jays, 5-3).
As of 5/30/09…
|
AL East |
W |
L |
Pct |
GB |
Home |
Road |
Last 10 |
Streak |
|
Yankees |
29 |
20 |
.592 |
— |
14-9 |
15-11 |
7-3 |
Won 3 |
|
Red Sox |
28 |
22 |
.560 |
1.5 |
17-6 |
11-16 |
4-6 |
Lost 2 |
|
Blue Jays |
29 |
23 |
.558 |
1.5 |
18-6 |
11-17 |
2-8 |
Won 2 |
|
Rays |
25 |
27 |
.481 |
5.5 |
13-10 |
12-17 |
5-5 |
Won 2 |
|
Orioles |
23 |
27 |
.460 |
6.5 |
16-12 |
7-15 |
7-3 |
Lost 1 |
The Yankees have played much better since I saw them personally in Baltimore, so maybe I am responsible for the turnaround! Okay, that’s probably not it. The Yankees have been a different team since Alex Rodriguez returned to the team. Mark Teixeira started to hit like fans in Texas, Atlanta, and Anaheim had become accustomed to, and the pitching has been great. The defense, which has been a liability in recent years, has been excellent. Saturday’s game was the Yankees’ 16th consecutive game without an error. If they avoid any errors on Sunday, they’ll match the major league mark set by the Boston Red Sox in 2006.
Against the Indians, CC Sabathia breezed through the first few innings, not allowing a hit until the 5th inning. The Indians scored two runs in the 5th, thanks to a few hits and RBI singles, but the Yankees had built up a 7-2 lead by that time.
Dejak/AP
Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher hit solo home runs in the second inning. The Yanks added five runs in the 4th inning, primarily on two-run singles by Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano. Johnny Damon also had a run scoring single in the inning. In the 6th, Damon picked up another RBI on a groundout to first which brought home Brett Gardner.
AP
Sabathia gave up a home run to Grady Sizemore in the 6th, but you knew that Grady would be heard from sooner or later in this series (even with his sore elbow). The guy is definitely a warrior…
Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer
The Yankees scored a couple of runs in the 9th on a run-scoring single by Cano, and a double by Hideki Matsui that scored Cano.
David Robertson pitched a perfect 8th inning, facing just three batters. However, Jose Veras came out for the 9th and showed that he is, well, Jose Veras. Despite the 10-3 lead, Veras gave up a homer to the first batter he faced (Shin-Soo Choo). He hit the next batter, Mark DeRosa, to put a man on base. DeRosa moved to second on a groundout, and then scored on Ben Francisco’s double. All of sudden, I started to get flashbacks of the Indians’ 7-run 9th inning to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 11-10 on May 25th. Fortunately, Veras retired the next two batters to end the game. Joe Girardi showed much more faith in Veras than I ever would have, but the end result was a Yankees win and adding a game to the AL East lead so all is good…
After the game, Indian manager Eric Wedge, when asked about Sabathia, responded, “He was very good tonight. Better than he was when we saw him in New York [April 16th]“. Hey Julia, that applies to the entire Yankees team! See you on June 9th! The Red Sox may be a team built for Fenway Park, but the Yankees now boast the best road record in the American League.
Derek Jeter now has 1,497 runs scored for his career. There are only three active major players with 1,500 runs (Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, and Ken Griffey, Jr.). With three more runs, he’ll join a very exclusive club of players who scored 1,500 runs as Yankees (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle).
MPI/Getty Images
I was surprised to see Jorge Posada catch on Saturday, given he had played on Friday night. I expected to see Francisco Cervelli play, with Posada perhaps at DH. Nevertheless, it sounds like Posada will take a seat in Sunday’s game when Phil Hughes faces the American Idle…
Nope, not that guy! This one…
The Plain Dealer
Pavano has pitched fairly well for the Indians, and has already appeared in 10 games for them (as opposed to 26 in four years with the Yankees). He has won five of his six starts this month, and has defeated AL East heavyweights Boston and Tampa. Let’s hope his May ends on a down note…
It was a tough night for Cleveland as the Cavaliers were easily eliminated in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Orlando by the Magic. King LeBron will have to wait at least another year for a trip to the finals.
Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer
And what’s up with those mosquitoes and midges in Cleveland?…
Posted by pvictory on cleveland.com
He’s Still A Headcase…
The 4-game series with the Cleveland Indians brings pitcher Carl Pavano back to the forefront…unfortunately.
With the Indians this year, Pavano has been effective, and has beaten both the Red Sox and the Rays this month. His record is 5-4. Compare that to the fact that it took him until the third year of his 4-year, $39.95 million contract to win his 5th game with the Yankees. Of course, the Indians are paying just a fraction of the price (1-year, $1.5 million).
AP
I have never disputed that Pavano has a quality arm. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the head to match. Time will tell if he implodes with the Indians, but you expect that it will eventually happen. For now, the Indians going along for the ride, and reaping the rewards. Good luck with that…
Some guys just aren’t cut out for New York, and Carl Pavano proved that he is just another Ed Whitson. Cleveland is probably a much better environment, with much less pressure, for Pavano.
Had he still been with the Yankees, I am sure that he would have found his way to the DL by now…
Barring a possible rainout tonight, Pavano is scheduled to pitch on Sunday against Phil Hughes. Hopefully, Phil will prevent the Yanks from becoming the latest AL East giant to fall to the American Idle…
Pavano! Pavano! Pavano! Pavano!
Other News
Jorge Posada was activated from the DL today, and is in the starting lineup for tonight’s game with the Cleveland Indians. Kevin Cash was sent down to Triple A-Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Francisco Cervelli will most likely catch CC Sabathia on Saturday against the Tribe. The Yankees have an interesting decision to make when Jose Molina returns. They’ll probably go the conservative route and send Cervelli down, but I’d rather keep Cervelli than Molina. Then again, there’s a reason that Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi draw paychecks from the Yankees and I don’t…
The Yankees briefly held a share of first place. Following Wednesday’s win in Texas, combined with a Red Sox loss, the Yankees had drawn even with the Red Sox. However, it was short-lived as the Red Sox won on Thursday (the Yankees were off, or rather at a basketball game). So, entering tonight’s action, the Yankees remain in second place, a ½ game behind the Red Sox.
I saw that the Yankees might be one of several possible suitors for Cleveland’s Mark DeRosa. He would be an upgrade over Ramiro Pena and Angel Berroa, and I admired the intangibles and the play that DeRosa brought to last year’s Chicago Cubs. The Cubs haven’t been the same this year, and I think the loss of DeRosa is one reason. Of course, it wouldn’t surprise me if either the Atlanta Braves or Chicago Cubs re-acquired DeRosa
.
AP
Two ex-Yankees were DFA’d today. Cleveland designated outfielder David Dellucci for assignment to make room for reliever Rafael Perez. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, catcher Chad Moeller was the victim of the much hyped major league arrival of top baseball prospect Matt Wieters.
I liked Joe Girardi’s comment when asked about a possible move of Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen (the ongoing debate that will not die): “That’s why the Presidential debates are better,” Girardi said. “They end.” I have not been a proponent of moving Chamberlain, but he does need to figure out how to pitch in the first inning and when he doesn’t have his best stuff.
Melky Cabrera is back with the team, and is listed as day-to-day. He won’t play for a few days, but he shouldn’t be out as long as initially projected so that’s a good thing.
How come Boston never has to face Roy Halladay when they play the Toronto Blue Jays? I don’t get it. The schedule is perfectly aligned in their favor. I realize this isn’t Yankees news, but it obviously affects the team since Halladay is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. And, of course, Julia is loving every minute of it…
I agree with Dodgers manager Joe Torre, I don’t think that Manny Ramirez should play in the All-Star Game if selected…
What was up with the six wild pitches thrown by the Boston Red Sox the other day?
The Yankees have played a franchise-record 14 games without an error. That’s an amazing stat, particularly given how weak defensively the team has been in recent years. But I have to admit, offensive stats aside, I love watching Mark Teixeira field at first base. I can’t even say that he’s an upgrade over Jason Giambi because that would be a huge understatement. I know the phrase “defense wins championships” is specific to pro football, but I’ll take it for the Yanks. Works for me!
Cavs over Magic
Yankees fan LeBron James led his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to victory over the Orlando Magic in a home game that was attended by Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Brian Bruney, Brett Gardner and Joba Chamberlain. The Cavs now trail the Magic 3 games to 2 in their best-of-seven series. I am not a Cavs fan, but I am a LeBron fan and it would be fun to see him in the NBA Finals. Nothing against Dwight Howard and the Magic, but LeBron is the best the NBA has to offer. It’s just a bonus that he’s a Yankees fan too.
Ironically, it was Yankees reliever Brett Tomko’s dad who gave the Cavaliers their name. The Cleveland Plain Dealer held a contest in 1970 that drew 11,000 entries, and Jerry Tomko had the winning selection: “The name Cleveland Cavaliers represents a group of daring, fearless men whose life’s pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds.” That’s an interesting bit of trivia that I did not know…
Good luck to LeBron and the James as they continue their quest to overcome impossible odds in beating the Orlando Magic!
–Scott
Fugetaboutit, It Was a Home Run!…
Brian Cashman, did I mention how much I appreciate the investment you made in A.J. Burnett?
The Yankees salvaged the final game of the four game series with the Cleveland Indians to settle for a split in the first series ever played at the new Yankee Stadium. Considering that the Yankees lost games of 10-2 and 22-4, taking 2 of 4 sounds like a fairly good deal. The last time the Yankees gave up two big innings in a series like this, they were known as the New York Highlanders and it was 1907.
Branch Rickey, who is best known as the Dodgers GM who broke the color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, was a left fielder on the team.
The Sporting News
Jack Chesbro, who had won 41 games three years earlier, was winding down a great career. San Jose’s own Hal Chase was the Yankees first baseman.
Courtesy Hal Edward Chase III
Sunday brought the return of Carl “American Idle” Pavano, and he pitched the way he should have when he wore pinstripes. He pitched six innings, gave up 4 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 4. He turned over the game to the Cleveland bullpen, with a 3-1 lead. Fortunately, the Yankees rallied against the Tribe, thanks in large part to a disputed two-run pinch hit homer by Jorge Posada. The play represented the first time the officials used the video replay, but the upon review, the homer stood. The Indians had claimed fan interference.
Newsday
A.J. Burnett had gotten into trouble earlier in the inning, when he loaded the bases with one out. A.J. struggled with his control today, walking 7 batters and throwing three wild pitches. But he kept the Yankees in the game, until he couldn’t go any further. Joe Girardi went to reliever Jonathan Albaladejo who did a great job in retiring the next two batters. Then, it was time for Posada’s heroics.
Cody Ransom (he’s still a toad) hit a three-run double in the 8th to provide the final margin of victory, 7-3. I am not quite sure why Shin-Soo Choo slowed up and let Ransom’s hit drop, but I’ll take it. Maybe the ghosts of The House That Ruth Built finally moved across the street after seeing Saturday’s debacle.
The game was closed out by the dynamic duo of Brian Bruney (8th) and Mariano Rivera (9th). It was not a save situation for Mo due to Ransom’s insurance runs. Albaladejo got the win (1-0).
A.J. Burnett may not have had his best stuff today, but again, he has proven he is a warrior and the guy knows how to pitch. I have great confidence when Burnett pitches. He may not get the decision and he might take the loss, but you know that he’s going to give it everything he’s got and clearly he’s nobody’s fool. The guy has heart, and the last guy who pitched like that in pinstripes (David Cone) had a memorable Yankees career.
Reuters
The Yankees are in second place, 2.5 games behind the AL East Leader, the surprising Toronto Blue Jays. Julia‘s Red Sox are a half-game back, tied for third with the Baltimore Orioles.
Next up at Yankee Stadium is an old friend. Jason Giambi returns to the Bronx to check out the new Stadium with his team, the Oakland A’s.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Nomar Garciaparra will be in tow. I think he’s played a meaningful game or two in the Bronx.
Speaking of old friends…well, maybe less emphasis on the “friends” part, congratulations to Randy Johnson for his stellar performance against his old team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had a no-hitter into the 7th inning before giving up a double to Augie Ojeda. Johnson stranded Ojeda at third, and left the game after 7 innings. He gave up just one hit, Ojeda’s double, and struck out 7. It was Johnson’s first victory of the season (1-2) and the 296th of his career. As one who never minds seeing the D-Backs lose, congrats to the Big Unit for the vintage performance!
AP
I had told some Dodger friends that the Yankees would have a better record than their team by the end of week. The only problem? The Dodgers haven’t lost since. Yikes! Joe Torre and company continued their 8-game winning streak with a 14-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Manny Ramirez may be all that, but Matt Kemp is finally becoming the man for the Dodgers. Credit Donnie Baseball for his help in Kemp’s realization of his five-tool talent.
Getty Images
The Red Sox won. Bummer…
Just kidding, Julia! 
Have a great week!
-Scott
Fid
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