Big Changes to the Blog

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

You guys may have noticed some changes to the blog recently and you can expect more in the coming days. There are several things going on with the blog at the moment so please bear with me as I get everything ironed out.

The biggest change is the addition of a new writer. His name is Rodney K. and he will be doing the game preview and review posts. I believe that now with two bloggers we will be able to give you more quality content faster, which will make this blog much better. Don’t worry though, I will still be around posting about everything else Yankee-related in the gigantic baseball universe. You can see who wrote each post by looking under the title.

Another alteration is the change of our domain name (the web address.) There were a couple of reasons behind this, but I think our new domain is better and it will serve us well for the long term. In case you didn’t notice (if you came from a link or bookmark), the new URL is: http://www.nycurve.com. As part of the name change, I have had to move the files and I am still getting everything straight, so if you see any bugs or errors please let me the know. Also, the forums will be down for a little bit, while I get everything moved. A new header is in the process of being created and put up as well.

Thanks for your support and please stick around because there is a very bright future for this blog and we would love to share the experience with you.

Update: Forums are now back up and running :)

Posted in NYCurve.com | 1 Comment

Yankees Win!

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Rodney

Behind an impressive performance by Andy Pettitte, who went 6 innings, allowing just four hits, walking two and striking out four, the Yankees knocked off the Reds 4-1 on Sunday, to salvage one win in the three game series. After Pettitte, Edwar Ramirez threw a hitless seventh, Kyle Farnsworth was touched up by a Ken Griffey Jr. homer in the eighth, and Mariano Rivera went 1.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, but slamming the door for a 4-1 win. The win was Pettitte’s 8th, and the save was Rivera’s 21st.

Johnny Cueto was the hardluck loser for the Reds. The young righthander falls to 5-8, after going 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, and just 1 run, while striking out 7.

Robinson Cano got the scoring started in the 5th inning, with a sacrifice fly that scored Giambi, to put the Yankees ahead 1-0. After Jeter and Matsui reached base, Jason Giambi doubled them both in, in the 6th inning to make the score 3-0. That double would be enough to win it for the Yanks. Jorge Pasada would add a fourth run in the game on another double, and put the Yankees ahead 4-0. That score stayed in tack until the 8th when Griffey Jr. hit the solo homerun.

The win for the Yankees moved their season record to 41-35 overall, while the Reds fell to 35-42. The Yankees kept pace with the Red Sox, who are tied with the Cardinals at 3-3 currently.

The Yankees will take Monday off, before heading to Pittsbugh for three games starting on Tuesday. After their trip to Pittsburgh, the Yankees will come back home and play the Mets in the inner city rivalry between both the New York teams.

Darrell Rasner will take the mound for the Yankees on Tuesday, to face the Pirates lefty Tom Gorzelanny.

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Yankees Try to Avoid the Sweep

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Rodney

It’s time for a win! About time! The Yankees will try to avoid the sweep at home, at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds come in with a record of 35-41, while the Yankees currently sit at 40-35. The good news for the Yankees, is the Red Sox have lost their last two games as well, so the lead for the Sox sits at five games.

Tomorrow’s game features a contrast of two pitchers. On one side the Reds send rookie fireballer, the righthander Johnny Cueto to the mound. Cueto is 5-7, with a 5.19 era. Cueto’s last outing against the Dodgers, he went 7 strong innings, but was the hard luck loser to the Dodgers, 3-1. Cueto has never faced the Yankees. It’s time to rough him up!

On the other hand the Yankees will go with the wiley ole veteran of Andy Pettitte. The lefthander is 7-5 with a 4.29 era. Pettitte’s last start, he went 7 innings, as well shutting the Padres out in a Yankee 8-0 win. Pettitte has only allowed one run in his last 15 starts. Andy has not faced the Reds since 2006. Anyone else feeling a pitching gem from our boy Andy?

Go get them Yanks!

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , | 2 Comments

2008 Draft Picks: John Rye, Kyle Higashioka, William Mitchell

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

John Rye, is a 6’1, 200lbs. Senior out of Florida State University. Rye, who turned 22 in March can play any outfield position, but specializes in right field. Otherwise known as Jack, he played his high school baseball in Irvine, CA, at Woodbridge High School. He bats and throws left.

As a Junior, John was named the team captain at FSU, and started all 62 games for the Seminoles. He also hit 10 homeruns, and drove in 61 runs, which ranked second on his team in both categories. In his senior season (2008), John hit .371, which ranked fourth on his team, starting 61 of 62 games. He hit 7 homeruns, and drove in 52, ranking 6th in both categories for the ‘Noles.

John’s father was a collegiate baseball pitcher at UCLA.

Kyle Higashioka, a catcher from Edison High School in Huntington Beach California was selected by the Yankees as the 30th pick and the 230rd overall pick in the draft.

Kyle stands at 6’1, and weighs 180lbs, and has been a catcher his entire baseball career. His best attribute is of course his defensive prowess behind the plate, but he also seems to have potential to become a power hitting catcher. Some say Kyle reminds them of Victor Martinez. The Yankees would love to get a young catcher like that.

Higashioka, and his agent have told the Yankees they will need to sign him for $500,000 for him to pass up his opportunity to play collegiate ball for the Golden Bears of the University of California.

William Mitchell, a 6’2, 165lbs. righthanded pitcher was selected in the 12th round of the 2008 MLB draft. Mitchell, otherwise named D.J., turned 21 in May, and became the first Clemson Tiger to be drafted by the Yankees since 1990.

During the 2008 season, Mitchell went 6-5 with an ERA of 3.47, in 20 starts. He allowed 97 hits, while walking 40 batters, and striking out 106 in 98 innings. The strikeout total for Mitchell was the most since Kris Benson struck out 204 during the 1996 season.

Mitchell throws in the mid 90’s with great movement. He appears to be very versatile, and was used quite often in the outfield for Clemson. Projections show that Mitchell will be a mid to late inning reliever, with a shot at starting if everything shakes out well for him.

This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Game Preview: Back to Winning?

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

Let’s see if we can start another win streak today after our last one was snapped yesterday. Dan Giese is the man we are all looking to as he makes his first career start, due to the injured Chien-Ming Wang. From what we have seen of him thus far in relief he has been consistent and good. The Reds are starting an inexperienced pitcher too (Daryl Thompson), so that should help too.

Here is the lineup for the New York Yankees:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Giese P

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

It Had to End Some Time…

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

The seven-game win streak was snapped today as the Yankees opened a series against the Reds. It was a close one, but in the end Edison Volquez simply out-pitched Mike Mussina. That is definitely not something to be ashamed of for Moose though because Volquez is one of the top pitchers in the bigs this year. That is not to take away from Mussina because he too is having one of the best years, but in the end Volquez is just doing better. Both starters went late into the game today, with Moose pitching 8 innings and the Reds’ starter going for 7.

Mussina let up four runs on ten hits and Volquez allowed 2 on 7. That was the game. Final score: 4-2, Reds. In the end it was a loss, but we probably couldn’t have asked for a better end to the streak since the way we lost was so reasonable. The Yankee defense and pitching continued to do well and we can’t really blame the offense for two runs against Volquez.

Tomorrow at 1:05EST is game two against the Reds. Dan Giese will make his debut start, in place of the injured Chien-Ming Wang

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joba Gets 9 K’s in Yankees Win

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

Joba Chamberlain led the Yankees to victory today, but he got yet another no-decision. Joba pitched for five and two-third innings and looked solid for the most part. He struggled with his control on some pitches again, which led to three walks, but he was able to clean up his messes. Also, the majority of the pitcher’s throws were great and he ended with nine strikeouts! Joba was upset with the no-decision, but he understands the pitch-count limitations and accepts them. In addition, the Yankees won, which is what really matters at the end of the day.

After Joba was pulled, Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth, and Mariano Rivera efficiently pitched the rest of the game without letting up any runs. The final score of the game was 2-1.

As you can tell by the score, the Yankees offense had a bit of an off-day today. They combined for only five hits, the same as the Padres. Jose Molina and Alex Rodriguez got the two RBIs of the day as they drove in Melky Cabrera and Derek Jeter, respectively.

Again, what counts at the end of the day is that the Yankees got the W. Next up are the Cincinnati Reds, who we play at 7:05EST tomorrow.

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rasner Bounces Back, Yanks Win

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

Darrell Rasner bounced back to the form he showed earlier this year and with that he led the Yankees to our sixth straight win. The starter was in for five innings in which he allowed only two runs on three hits. He did walk five, but he was able to get out of his own jams.

Edwar Ramirez relieved for two innings in which the Padres scored two and Farnsworth threw a one-run inning after that. Mariano Rivera wrapped up the game with a scoreless ninth. The Padres scored five, but the Yankee offense outscored them with eight.

A-Rod helped with the offensive production one more by hitting a home run for his fourth straight game. Johnny Damon had a good night as well, with three hits and two RBIs. It looks like the team as a whole is finally up to par of what it should be offensively. We had a slow-start, but teams better watch out now as we are rolling through everyone in our path.

Tomorrow the Yanks look to get their second straight sweep, in the last game against San Diego. Joba Chamberlain and Josh Banks will make the starts. The game is at 1:05EST and will be aired on YES.

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Game Preview: Rasner vs. Padres

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

Game Time:7:05EST
TV:Ch4, YES

Apologies for being a little late with creating this preview post, but we are only two innings into the game thanks to a rain delay so it will suffice. The Yankees are looking to continue the surge tonight, with a sixth straight win. Darrell Rasner will try to rebound after a couple of sour outings, and I think the lackluster Padres are a perfect team to do it against. The Yankee offense may not do as well as in recent games because Jake Peavy will be on the mound for San Diego, but a win is certainly plausible.

Here is your Yankee lineup:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF
Rasner P

Injury note: Hideki Matsui is not in the lineup due to a swollen left knee. He is supposed to get the fluid drained out of the knee and will also receive an examination. Currently it looks like it won’t be too much of a problem, thankfully.

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Ponson Back With Yanks

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Yankees Blogger

The Yankees have re-signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract in an attempt to add some depth to the pitching staff after the Wang injury. Ponson was released by the Rangers on Monday for being a disruption to the team due to his off-field problems. It’ll be nice if he can put all that behind him because other than that he was pretty good for Texas thus far this year. He was 4-1 with an ERA under 4, and if he can keep that up he may turn out to be a great option for us while Wang is out.

Currently the pitcher is being sent to Scranton where he will likely make a start or two. Brian Cashman made it clear that Ponson was starting in the minors to make his way into the bigs. He will probably be called up in a few days to start in the bigs, perhaps against the Mets on Friday (in one of the doubleheader games.)

Posted in Yankees News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment