May
30
And All is Right With the World
Filed Under Analysis, Game Previews, Game Reviews | 1 Comment
The Yankees are finally in first place in the AL East after a 3-1 win over the Indians and a 6-3 loss by the Red Sox at the hands of Toronto. Our current record is 28-20, only half a game better than Boston’s 28-21, so we aren’t in the clear just yet, but looking at the way we have been playing over the past couple of weeks, we are definitely the hottest team in our division, if not the entire American League. We play the Indians again at 7 PM EST tomorrow, with C.C. Sabathia taking on his old team which is starting Fausto Carmona. Should be a good one.
Aug
9
The Kennedy Conundrum
Filed Under CraZy Facts, Game Reviews, Players, Speculation | Leave a Comment
Ian Kennedy is one of the top prospects in baseball right now. He has played extraordinarily throughout his career at all levels. All levels except one. In his “second chance” in the bigs, Kennedy failed miserably, lasting under three innings. The Angels’ batters were all over him and he wasn’t able to catch a break. It is still early in his career and he will certainly have more shots at proving himself, but sadly when -if- he breaks through is unknown.
For the Yankees this is devastating news, as we really needed him to do well in place of Joba. Hopefully this was just a one night thing, but looking at Kennedy’s performances thus far this year, we can’t count on it. Currently, we are still in third place, but are now 7 games behind Tampa. With the season flying by, we really need to pick it up and start winning soon if we want to make the playoffs. Joba did tell reporters recently that he plans on being back later this month, but until then we really need Rasner, Kennedy, and Ponson to pretty well as a unit.
Even after the outcome of this season is decided, the Kennedy question will still exists (unless he is able to make a quick turnaround of course.) How long will it be until we see IPK develop into a major league pitcher?
Jul
6
Yankees win game/ split series
Filed Under Analysis, Game Reviews | Leave a Comment
With the first place Tampa Bay Rays looking as if they are not going to lose another game, the New York Yankees set their sights on the current wildcard leader Sunday night, the Red Sox. Thankfully we came away with a win to split the four game series at the stadium. As the Rays won their 7th straight game, the Yankees knocked off Boston 5-4 in ten innings. Tampa is now 5 games up on Boston, while the Yankees sit 9 back, but just 4 back of the AL Wildcard.
Alex Rodriguez’s solo shot in the bottom of the second put the Yankees on top first. The home run was his 18th of the season. Boston then grabbed three runs in the fifth off a wild pitch and a Dustin Pedroia single to make it 3-1 Red Sox through 5. Derek Jeter got an RBI single in the 6th to cut the lead back down to one. Kevin Cash would double home Julio Lugo to increase the Sox lead back to 2 runs. The Yankees would come back though as Robinson Cano hit a two run triple that tied the game in the 7th at 4-4. The game remained 4-4 until the 10th inning when Brett Gardner drove home Robinson Cano.
Mariano Rivera picked up the win for the Yankees, pitching a scoreless 9th and 10th, allowing just 1 hit, and striking out 2. Joba Chamberlain pitched six strong innings for the Yankees, allowing 4 hits, and 3 runs. For Boston, Johnathon Paplebon took the loss, giving up 2 hits in 0.2 innings.
The Yankees will take Monday off before starting a two-game series with Tampa Bay before traveling to Toronto before the break.
Jul
5
Yankees hold on, win game!
Filed Under Analysis, Game Reviews | Leave a Comment
What a ball game at Yankee Stadium! After Mariano Rivera loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth, he was able to strike out the side and hold on to a 2-1 win.
Melky Cabrera put the Yankees on top early with a RBI single, scoring Giambi in the second. Brett Gardner, leading off in the game, then gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly which drove in Wilson Betemit. The Yankees kept the 2-0 lead all the way until the ninth, when Mike Lowell singled home J.D. Drew to cut the lead in half. That’s when Rivera put on his dominant shoes and saved his 23rd game.
Mike Mussina was solid, pitching 6 innings, and only allowing 4 hits. Jose Veras and Kyle Farnsworth both pitched hitless innings to keep the 2-0 lead going into the 9th. For Boston, Justin Masterson was the tough luck loser, falling to 4-3. Masterson pitched 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, and 2 runs. Javier Lopez and Mike Timlin each pitched a scoreless inning for Boston.
Both teams had six hits on the game, as Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew had two hits, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Lowell each had a hit. For the Yankees, Melky Cabrera picked up two hits, while Jeter, Rodriguez, Betemit and Cano grabbed a base hit.
The Yankees will look to split the series tomorrow! Go Yankees!
Jul
5
Red Sox knock off Yankees
Filed Under Analysis, Game Reviews | Leave a Comment
The night started well for the New York Yankees. Scoring three runs in the first inning, it looked very promising to win the second of the four game series Friday night. But after three runs in the first inning, New York did not score again until the 9th, and lost 6-4, to fall to 45-42 on the season. The win for Boston puts them at 52-37. Tampa Bay won again, dropping the Yankees back to 9 games out, tied with Baltimore.
Alex Rodriguez doubled in the first inning, driving in Damon and Abreu, followed by a Giambi sac-fly to put the Yankees up 3-0 quickly. The Red Sox matched that three, with three of their own in the third off a Mike Lowell sac-fly and a Kevin Youkilis triple. Lowell was back at it again in the 5th, hitting a three run home run to make it a 6-3 game. The Yankees bats were quiet once again, until the ninth when Derek Jeter doubled in a run, but it was not enough.
Darrell Rasner took the loss for the Yankees and is now 4-7 on the year. Rasner went 5 innings, allowing 10 hits and 6 runs. Josh Beckett picked up his 8th win of the season, pitching six strong innings. Jonathon Paplebon picked up his 25th save of the season, pitching the ninth inning and only allowing the one run.
Of the six Yankees hits, Jeter and Rodriguez both had two hits, and Damon and Cabrera picked up the others. They also took 6 walks on the night.
The same teams will go back at it today at 3:55, with Masterson and Mussina on the hill.
Jul
2
Yankees out slug Texas
Filed Under Analysis, Game Reviews | Leave a Comment
In a wild, offensive outburst the New York Yankees were able to out slug the Texas Rangers to escape the three game series with one win. The Yankees pounded out 16 hits, and 18 runs in a 18-7 win.
Robinson Cano got the offense started in the 2nd on a RBI double, scoring Alex Rodriguez. The Rangers came back strong by putting up three runs in the third. Michael Young singled home a run, followed by Josh Hamilton knocking in two. The Yankees then answered with four of their own in the third, on a Jason Giambi grand slam. That was the 18th homerun of the season for Giambi.
In the fifth the Yankees added another run on a walk for Posada, plating home Bobby Abreu. Things got scary for New York in the sixth, as the Rangers pounded the ball, scoring 4 runs, to take a 7-6 lead. A pair of two run home runs from Milton Bradley and Chris Davis did the damage. Then, the Yankees grabbed seven runs in the bottom of the 7th to put the game away, with a comfortable 13-7 lead. Giambi would drive home two more, Posada ripped a RBI single, Johnny Damon drove home one more, and Alex Rodriguez topped the inning off with a three run bomb. Damon then drove in another run in the 8th, to make it a 16-7 game. Bobby Abreu also drove in two more runs in the 8th, to make the game 18-7.
Both starting pitchers struggled due to offensive outbursts in the game. Luis Mendoza for Texas only lasted 4.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, and 6 runs. Bullpen specialist Warner Madrigal also struggled, only going 0.1 innings, allowing four hits, and 6 runs, before Jamey Wright cleaned up the damage allowing three of his own runs in that same inning. For the Yankees, Sidney Ponson lasted five innings but surrendered 9 hits and 7 runs. Edwar Ramirez threw two scoreless innings out of the pen, while Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless 8th for the Yankees. LaTroy Hawkins finished the ninth to wrap up the Yankees’ 45th win of the year.
Texas’ bright spot was Frank Catalanotto, the designated hitter, who went 3-3 on the night to raise his average to .291. For the Yankees Damon, Rodriguez, Giambi, Abreu and Cano all had multiple hits.
The Yankees will take on the BoSox in a huge four-game series starting tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium!