Results tagged ‘ Johan Santana ’
You had me at MRI…
A foot apart…
Yes, I admit it. I was genuinely concerned. Yesterday, news broke that David Robertson had hurt his foot in a mishap at his home. The Yankees sounded very concerned and of course they ordered a MRI and were making comments about the severity of the injury. The immediate thought was the Lisfranc injury suffered by former Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang. While Wang is pitching again, it took years and he is still not the same guy who won 19 games in successive seasons a few years back.
Today, it was announced that Robertson had a deep bone bruise after missing a step on the stairs at his home. The foot is a boot and he’s on crutches until Sunday, but it now sounds as though Robertson will be back sooner than initially thought. So, the best case scenario played out, but it’s another example of how conservative the Yankees are when it comes to injuries. That’s a good thing, I suppose, from the perspective of the players’ health, but it does cause a little angst among the fan base. The thought that we’d have to go to the guy who is being paid over $30 million for 3 years to set up (Rafael Soriano) to actually be the set up guy is terrifying!
I know, we’re spoiled but when you live in the midst of a ‘World Series or bust’ environment, it goes with the territory.
Heading into spring training, my concerns for injury resided with players like Alex Rodriguez, Eric Chavez and Joba Chamberlain. Robertson has been so clutch and reliable that you just don’t expect HIM to get hurt…and particularly not in such a freak accident. But of course, pitchers are fragile creatures. You don’t have to look much further than the Mets’ Johan Santana. Even Pittsburgh’s A.J. Burnett is down after suffering an at-bat injury in a bunt attempt. The Yankees have been very lucky that CC Sabathia has stayed healthy given the other injuries they’ve dealt with. Why can’t every pitcher be gifted with the elasticity of David Wells’ arm…
AL East or bust…
Hearing reports of the Baltimore Orioles’ hot and cold interest in Johnny Damon truly shows that Johnny has an interest in playing for every team in the AL East. I suppose that his agent has been calling the Toronto Blue Jays even if there haven’t been any sightings. Damon probably should have accepted that trade from the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox at the trading deadline a couple of years ago. I hate to see him bouncing from team to team. That’s probably a good indication that it’s time to go home. He can still hit, but there’s too many younger, cheaper options.
Have bat, will travel…
The Yankees’ desire to get salaries below the $190 million threshold by 2014, I have to wonder if we are seeing the final two years of Derek Jeter’s Yankee career. With so much invested in Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and CC Sabathia, the Yankees will no longer have the luxury of a huge investment in an aging shortstop. It’s also disheartening to think that the day will come when the Yankees have to make the decision to keep Curtis Granderson or Robinson Cano. If they manage to find a way to keep both, then there’s not much left for other key positions. Who would have ever thought that $190 million would be such a small amount of money…
Teams like the Minnesota Twins probably laugh at the Yankees being placed into a situation where they have to re-tool with less expensive options and make hard decisions on popular players given that’s been their business model for years.
I know, doom and gloom…it will work out. The Yankees will do what they need to do. I can’t see them allowing the team to become a modern version of the CBS ownership era of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Can Minneapolis keep the Vikings where they belong?…
After years, it feels like there finally may be movement in the plans for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. The proposal has been finalized and now needs city and state approval. The new stadium would be located next to the Metrodome, and the team would only be displaced for one season before moving into the new digs. I believe the target date is in 2016. This has been a very long road, and hopefully, the city and state will approve the plans so that the construction can begin and Minnesota can be assured of keeping the Vikings. The Los Angeles Vikings never really had a good flow to it anyway…
Whether it’s in the standings or not, losing still stinks…
If spring training games mean nothing, why do I feel excitement when the Yankees win and angst when they lose…
–Scott
Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad…
A “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” kind of weekend…
On Saturday morning, when I saw the Mets starting pitcher (an unknown, at least to me, by the name of Fernando Nieve), I figured that the Yankees were going to have an offensive field day. Unfortunately, I forgot that the Yankees just don’t play very well against pitchers they’ve never faced before. Nieve, a former Astro, got his first win since June 25, 2006 by allowing only 4 hits and 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte looked pathetic.
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Former Yankee minor leaguer Omir Santos hit a two-run homer in the second inning to set the tone for the day.
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
The Mets pounded out 17 hits enroute to the 6-2 victory. Every Mets starter had at least one hit, and Gary Sheffield homered against his former team for the second straight day. It was not a fun game, and it was obvious that the Yanks had mentally checked out of this game. When you watch the Boston Red Sox, they never give up and battle to the end. So, it was disappointing to see the Yanks throw in the towel…
On Sunday, after the Yanks disappointing performance the previous day and Johan Santana on the mound for the Mets, it didn’t look promising. My only hope was for A.J. Burnett to try and keep it close so that perhaps Tex or A-Rod could come up with a key hit in the later stages of the game. What I saw shocked me, to say the least. When you analyze the line scores for the two starting pitchers, you’d assume that Burnett must have had a bad day…
Pitcher A
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
PC-ST |
|
3.0 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
82-48 |
Pitcher B
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
PC-ST |
|
7.0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
0 |
111-66 |
Fortunately, Pitcher A was the Mets’ Johan Santana, who suffered the worst start of his career.
Nick Laham/Getty Images
A.J. Burnett pitched a terrific game. Of course, it helps when your team stakes you to a 13-0 lead after only four innings. But the Burnett of the last few starts, excluding the debacle in Boston, is the pitcher the Yanks thought they were getting in the off-season when they signed him to the big contract.
As the Mets did the previous day, the Yankees pounded out 17 hits, including three by catcher Francisco Cervelli. Jose Molina who?…
The Yankees got the scoring started in the second inning with run-scoring singles by Cervelli and Derek Jeter, as well as a two-run single by Johnny Damon. I guess he is over his “fluttering eye” issue…
What, no homers? Don’t worry; they were on the way…
In the 4th, the Yankees scored 9 runs and ran Santana out of the game. The weekend birthday boy, Hideki Matsui, hit a two-run homer to start the scoring. Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon knocked in runs with an infield single and a double, respectively. Jeter scored when Alex Rodriguez hit into a double-play. Robinson Cano followed with a two-run homer, scoring A-Rod. Melky Cabrera capped the scoring with a two-run double, but he ended the inning attempting to stretch out the double to a triple.
Sipkin/New York Daily News
Four innings, a 13 run lead, and Johan Santana in the showers…the game was effectively ended at that point. The Yanks did pick up a couple more RBI’s by Ramiro Pena and Robinson Cano in the 7th inning, but the Fat Lady had already sung…
Phil Hughes looked like he was going to ruin the shutout in the 9th inning, when he allowed two base runners. But he settled down, and got the final outs. So, thanks largely to Friday’s gift from Luis Castillo, the Yankees won the Subway Series, two games to one.
The Red Sox lost to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen’s Bank Park, 11-6, so the Yankees closed the gap back to two games.
Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer, Philly.com
The two teams have a much needed break on Monday, before they resume interleague play. The Red Sox return home to Fenway Park to face owner John Henry’s former team, the Florida Marlins. Meanwhile, the Yanks will see old friend Nick Johnson when the Washington Nationals travel to Yankee Stadium. Of course, I wonder who the manager of the Nationals will be…Manny Acta or someone else…
Brian Blanco/AP
It’s been a great day…almost perfect, in fact! The only thing that could be better would be the crowning of Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers as the 2009 NBA Champions!
Chris Carlson/AP
Go Lakers, but more importantly…
Go Yankees!
–Scott
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