Green Pinstripestag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://32008-05-13T03:44:08ZIt was the best of franchises, it was the worst of franchises. My love affair with the Jets and Yankees.Movable Type 4.01Garza, Rays Stymie Yankeestag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.78022008-05-13T02:16:13Z2008-05-13T03:44:08ZThe final score doesn't reflect how one-sided this game was.Andy Pettitte self-destructed in the fourth, the offense couldn't put anything together and Matt Garza showed why he was a former first round pick as the Rays foiled the Yanks 7-1...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Andy Pettitte self-destructed in the fourth, the offense couldn't put anything together and Matt Garza showed why he was a former first round pick as the Rays foiled the Yanks 7-1 in St. Petersburg. Robinson Cano extended his modest hitting streak to seven games and Johnny Damon's RBI-ground out helped avert the shutout, but those were hollow achievements on this night. The loss drops the Yanks a game below .500 once again.
The Good:
Alberto Gonzalez. The Bombers managed only six hits and Berto collected two of them. So much for the good glove, no stick scouting report. Gonzalez looks confident at the plate and is a solid defender who can play the entire infield. The kid has showed he belongs in the Big Leagues and shouldn't have to shuttle back and forth to Triple-A anymore. Let's see what happens. Gonzo finished 2 for 3.
The Bad:
Andy Pettitte. Baseball is a numbers game, but sometimes numbers lie. Pettitte entered Monday night with a 14-3 career record against Tampa and an 8-1 mark with a 3.30 ERA at The Trop. But that trend didn't continue. The lefty recorded five strikeouts in the first three innings, but things quickly came unglued in the fourth. Andy has faltered the second time through the order in three of his past four starts and that's not a good sign. I don't know if he's tipping pitches, getting fatigued or is just plain unlucky, but this pattern has to be rectified. Pettitte fell to 3-4 with this: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
Hideki Matsui. Godzilla has been the most productive and consistent Yankee thus far, but he had a tough time Monday night. Matsui went down on strikes not once, not twice, but thrice! Hideki did work out a walk, but he still pulled off the hat trick. Matsui finished 0 for 3 with the walk.
The Ugly:
The time isn't right. The Yankee offense has been spinning its wheels without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada and it looks like they'll have to make due without those guys for a little while longer. A-Rod's right quad has improved, but not enough to have him back in the lineup this week. Rodriguez had an MRI on Monday and the results will be compared to an earlier image. The Yanks need A-Rod's bat in the lineup in the worst way, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
And it looks like Ian Kennedy's stay in Scranton will be a short one. The Yanks moved (banished) Kei Igawa to the bullpen and pulled Kennedy after just 12 pitches against Indianapolis on Monday. It's not official yet, but it looks like Kennedy will start Thursday against the Rays and Darrell Rasner will go Friday night against the Mets.
Chien-Ming Wang (6-1, 3.12 ERA) will try and bounce back from his first loss of the year and will battle Edwin Jackson (2-3, 4.04 ERA). Wang shut down the Rays at The Stadium back on April 6 and owns a stingy 1.64 ERA on the road. Jackson will be making his third start against the Yanks in 2008. He's 1-1 with a 4.90 ERA.
Time to get Wang and the Yanks back on the winning track.]]>
Washout in Detroit Rock Citytag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77902008-05-12T00:44:50Z2008-05-12T01:19:04ZMikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/
no go in Mo Town for the Yanks and Tigers Sunday.
No makeup date was announced and the Yankees aren't scheduled to hit the Motor City again, but there are two options to make up the game. The Bombers could play in Detroit on July 24, which is an off-day following a six-game homestand at The Stadium before they head to Boston, or Sept. 1 before embarking on a nine-game road trip that will take them to Tampa, Seattle and Los Angeles. If they opt for the July date, the Yanks will be playing 27 straight games coming out of the All-Star break.
Obviously, New York would prefer a day game on the September date, but the Tigers would rather play a night game in July to capitalize on a higher attendance figure.
I'm not sure who has the final say in the matter. Time will tell.
The rainout means the Yanks can skip Kei Igawa in the rotation. Igawa is scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Rays, but the Yankees could go with Darrell Rasner on regular rest instead. It seems like a no-brainer to bump Igawa and reshuffle the rotation, but I'm not in charge.
The Yanks will head to Tampa and take on the Rays for a four-game series staring on Monday. Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77 ERA) will take the ball and go against Matt Garza (1-1, 4.91 ERA). Pettitte was scheduled to go on Sunday and owns a sparkling 14-3 career mark against the Rays with a splendid 3.62 ERA in 23 games. This will be Pettitte's third start this season against Tampa. He's 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Garza came over from the Minnesota Twins as part of a six-player deal this past offseason. In two career games against the Yanks, the 24-year-old Garza is 0-1 with a robust 6.75 ERA.
This four-game set will be played under the roof in St. Pete so it looks like they'll be able to get the games in.
But you can never predict baseball. ]]>
Rasner Impresses Again as Yanks Top Tigerstag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77862008-05-11T06:07:03Z2008-05-12T18:39:29ZIt took five tries, but the Yanks finally got the best of Detroit.Darrell Rasner spun six quality innings, Derek Jeter went deep for the first time this season and the bullpen continued to post zeros as the Yanks dropped the...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Darrell Rasner spun six quality innings, Derek Jeter went deep for the first time this season and the bullpen continued to post zeros as the Yanks dropped the Tigers 5-2 at Comerica Park. The Bombers pounced on Jeremy Bonderman early and Mariano Rivera notched his 10th save in as many chances this year. The victory pulls the Yanks back to the .500 mark at 19-19.
I was at a Communion bash for this one, so my roundup will be spotty. But that's never stopped me before.
The Good:
Darrell Rasner. Second start, same as the first. Rasner gave up a homer in the first inning again, but settled down and controlled the Tiger lineup for the majority of the afternoon. I think it's safe to assume that Rasner will be hanging around if he keeps sticking to the script: trust your stuff, throw strikes and work quickly. Rasner picked up win No. 2 with this: 6+ IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
Derek Jeter. It's been a long time coming, but The Captain finally went yard. DJ's first inning wallop gave the Yanks a quick 1-0 lead and got the ball rolling against Bonderman. Johnny Damon has been getting most of the press with his hot-hitting at the top of the Bomber offense, but Jeter is also starting to heat up. Jeet is batting .385 in his past seven games. Jeter also made a nice diving stab off the bat of Edgar Renteria in the fifth that turned into a double play and snuffed a mini Tiger rally. Jeter finished 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.
Mariano Rivera. It's expected to watch Rivera slam the door on opponents in the ninth, but The Sandman is putting up awesome numbers so far this year (even for him). Rivera disposed of the Tigers on just 10 pitches Saturday and has yet to give up a run this season (or a walk). It's still early, but check out Rivera's stats so far: 15 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K, 10 for 10 in save opportunities. Keep doin what you're doin, Mo. Rivera's line: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.
The Bad:
Chad Moeller. Every Yankee regular reached base Saturday via either a hit or a walk, but Moeller has been scraping at the plate since he re-joined the Yanks at the end of April. Moeller is just 2 for 11 in the month of May. I know Chad was catching two straight days (including the dreaded day game after a night game), but I've got to keep the guys on their toes. Moeller finished 0 for 3 with a walk.
The Ugly:
Twice as nice. At some point the Yanks may want to bring in a priest (voodoo or Buddhist) to sweep out the club house. Another Bomber went down Saturday -- Wilson Betemit strained his right hamstring after booming an RBI-double to center in the fourth inning and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. It will be the second stint on the DL this season for the switch-hitting infielder. Alberto Gonzalez will take Betemit's place. I figured Gonzo would be back with the big club soon, but I didn't think it would be this soon.
The rubber game will feature Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77 ERA) and Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64 ERA). Pettitte pitched well in his last start against the Indians at The Stadium, but didn't factor in the decision as Joba Chamberlain self destructed in the eight inning. Pettitte has had a tough time at Comerica Park during his career -- 2-3 with a 4.65 ERA in five starts. The American League has had its way with Robertson -- 52 hits in 40 2/3 innings -- but he earned his only win this season against the Yanks on May 1.
Let's see if the Yanks can make it two in a row against the Cats.]]>
Tigers Maul Igawa, Hang On For Wintag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77792008-05-10T03:57:16Z2008-05-10T05:48:57ZThe bar was set low for Kei Igawa Friday night and the lefty pitcher meet those expectations.Kei Igawa was smacked around repeatedly, Wilson Betemit had a horrible night and a ninth inning rally fell short as the Tigers edged the...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Kei Igawa was smacked around repeatedly, Wilson Betemit had a horrible night and a ninth inning rally fell short as the Tigers edged the Yankees 6-5 in Mo Town. Jason Giambi went yard and the bullpen continued to be the backbone of the team, but it wasn't enough to keep the Yanks from falling a game under .500 for the umpteenth time this season.
The yo-yo year goes on.
The Good:
Jason Giambi. The Giambino stroked his second homer in two days in the second inning to tie the score at 1-1. The Yanks would get no closer. I was a tad surprised that Joe Girardi opted for Giambi at designated hitter and sat the hot-hitting Johnny Damon, but the move worked out. To call Jay's season disappointing so far would be a gross understatement, but the big guy never lost his confidence. Good thing, because I stopped believing in him long ago. But maybe there's some life left in his bat. Giambi finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
The pen. Giardi has done a nice job utilizing the bullpen recently -- everyone he trots out there seems to toss goose eggs. Jonathan Albaladejo, LaTroy Hawkins and Edwar Ramirez got the call on Friday night and all three relievers kept the Yanks in the ballgame. It's unfortunate that the damage was too great to overcome. The mighty three combined for this sparkling line: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP.
The Bad:
Kei Igawa. Throw a soft-tossing lefty who keeps everything up in the strike zone against a team loaded with right-handed sluggers and you got yourself a recipe for disaster. Igawa gave up a double to Ivan Rodriguez to lead off the bottom of the first and you could just smell doom in the air. The Yanks didn't play good defense behind him, but that's not the reason Igawa was sent to the showers early. Igawa is slated to make his second start on Wednesday against the Rays in Tampa, but I wouldn't be shocked if a change was made before then. Sometimes box scores don't tell the whole story, but this one delivers on all of its ugly numbers. Igawa's night: 3+ IP, 11 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 0 K.
Wilson Betemit. The switch-hitting infielder was reportedly cured of the conjunctivitis that sidelined him for two weeks, but you couldn't tell by his play at third base and on the basepaths. Betemit was charged with only one error Friday night, but he looked lost at the hot corner. He also got picked off first base after reaching on an infield single in the second inning. I think it's just a matter of time before the Yanks jettison either Wil or Morgan Ensberg from the roster. And so far it looks like Betemit has one foot out the door. Betemit picked up two hits on the night, but it wasn't enough to offset his poor defense. Betemit finished 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Ugly:
And that makes six. Reliever Chris Britton was sent down to Triple-A to make room for Igawa on Friday night, but the burly right-hander will be back with the team by Saturday. Why, you ask? That's because Jonathan Albaladejo is headed to the DL with soreness in his right elbow. He felt his elbow bark in the sixth inning. Albaladejo will fly to New York and have an MRI performed. Hopefully, it's nothing serious -- he's done a good job this year. And if you're keeping track at home, JA is the sixth Yankee to hit the disabled list this year.
Darrell Rasner (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back in the win column on Saturday and will square off against Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 4.17 ERA). Bonderman pitched his best game of the season in a win over the Yankees on April 30. Rasner was efficient in his only start against the Seattle Mariners and has no real numbers lifetime against Detroit (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K).
The push toward .500 goes on.]]>
Yanks Use Three-Prong Attack To Down Tribetag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77672008-05-09T01:01:47Z2008-05-09T01:59:44ZSolid starting pitching, four homers and shutout relief -- these are the three components teams use to win ballgames.Mike Mussina went five strong, Johnny Damon homered and doubled in the go-ahead run and the bullpen combined to throw four scoreless...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Mike Mussina went five strong, Johnny Damon homered and doubled in the go-ahead run and the bullpen combined to throw four scoreless innings as the Yanks doubled up the Indians 6-3 to salvage one out of three against Cleveland.
The Bombers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in this one only to have the Tribe tie it in the fifth, but Damon's double in the bottom of the frame and back-to-back jacks by Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit in the seventh was too much for the Indians. The Yanks blasted four bombs in all -- even Jason Giambi went deep -- and evened their record to 18-18 on the season.
I was at work for this one, but I was listening to John and Suzy call the action. I was also reading Brian's live blog throughout the afternoon. Let's round this bad boy up.
The Good:
Mike Mussina. The Moose continued to show he hasn't forgotten how to get batters out. Mussina gave up only one hit through the first four innings before hitting a rough patch in the fifth. You can complain that Mussina only went five (if you want to be pessimistic), but since this is his fourth straight solid outing and he's gone less than five innings only once this season, I'm going to be optimistic. I would have signed up in a heartbeat for a 10-win season from The Moose at the start of the year. Well, don't look now, but he's halfway there. Mussina improved to 5-3 with this line: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 hit batsman.
Johnny Damon. Positively Damonic! Johnny D got the Yankee home run barrage going with a solo blast in the fourth inning. Then with the score tied at 3-3 in the fifth, Damon blooped a two-out, opposite-field double to bring in the go-ahead run. Check out this stat: in the Yankees wins this season, Damon is batting .377, but he's batting just .188 in losses. Keep on hitting, Johnny! Damon finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI.
The pen. The Yankees greatest strength so far this season has been the bullpen and the guys in the outfield flexed their muscles again on Thursday afternoon. The trifecta of Ross Ohlendorf, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera combined to shut down the Indians for four innings. Ohlendorf went two solid, Chamberlain showed no ill-effects from his meltdown Tuesday night and Rivera has yet to give up a run in 2008. The three relievers combined to produce this: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
The Bad:
Melky Cabrera. There were only two Yankees who didn't reach base on Thursday and Melky was one of them. Jose Molina was the other, but he escapes the "bad" place since he was on the receiving end of an impressive pitching performance. The Yanks trotted out four hurlers and not one of them issued a walk. I'll give Molina some credit for that. Cabrera finished 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Stuck at work. I was lucky enough to listen to the game while performing my duties (some fans aren't as fortunate), but it still sucked. I mean people still expected me to work for some reason. Are they crazy? There's a game going on!
The Yanks are hitting the road and the first stop is the Motor City. Kei Igawa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his first appearance of the year and will lock horns with Kenny Rogers (2-3, 6.27 ERA). The Gambler defeated the Yanks on April 29 in the Bronx, but he owns a 7.71 ERA at home and a 6.75 ERA at night so far this season. Igawa went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in Scranton and will be facing the Tigers for the first time.
Give me a reason to believe, Kei.]]>
Wang Suffers First Loss of the Yeartag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77472008-05-08T03:32:04Z2008-05-08T03:42:57ZI guess you can't win 'em all.Chien-Ming Wang was good, but Cliff Lee was better as the Indians pieced together single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings and shutout the Yanks 3-0 in the Bronx.I have to be...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Chien-Ming Wang was good, but Cliff Lee was better as the Indians pieced together single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings and shutout the Yanks 3-0 in the Bronx.
I have to be honest Yankee fans, I've failed you once again. I stepped out with some friends after work and that means I get home after 11 o'clock in the p.m. My plan was to watch the game (which I recorded) when I got in, but I'm feeling much too weary. I've become everything I've ever hated.
Therefore, no roundup, but Hideki Matsui did extend his hitting streak to 16 games with a base hit in the second inning.
The Bombers will try and avoid the sweep on Thursday and will give that assignment to the resurgent Mike Mussina (4-3, 4.23 ERA). The Tribe will counter with Paul Byrd (1-2, 3.74 ERA). The Moose has won his last three starts and if you take out his two starts against the Red Sox (I know you can't, but I'm going somewhere with this), he hasn't allowed more than three runs in his other five outings. Byrd beat the Yanks on April 25, but he's 0-2 in four career starts at The Stadium (despite a respectable 3.46 ERA).
The game is a businessman special (1:05 p.m. start time) so if you can, sneak away from work and catch some rays at the game.
As for me, I'll be listening to the action at my desk.]]>
Chamberlain Falters as Indians Shock Yankstag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77322008-05-07T02:30:21Z2008-05-07T03:50:32ZThis isn't how the formula is supposed to work!Andy Pettitte pitched well after two subpar starts, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano provided the lead, but Joba Chamberlain gave up a pinch-hit, three-run homer to David Dellucci as the Indians surprised...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Andy Pettitte pitched well after two subpar starts, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano provided the lead, but Joba Chamberlain gave up a pinch-hit, three-run homer to David Dellucci as the Indians surprised the Yanks 5-3 in the Bronx. Hideki Matsui went 3 for 3 and extended his hitting streak to 15, but his perfect night can't take the sting out of this loss. The Yankees winning streak ends at three and they find themselves back at .500 on the year.
The Good:
Andy Pettitte. The veteran lefty had a bit of a roller coaster night at The Stadium. Pettitte retired the first six batters he faced and was given an early 1-0 lead, but the home run bug continued to rear its ugly head. Jhonny Peralta ripped a two-run bomb in the fourth to give the Tribe a 2-1 lead. It was the fifth dinger Pettitte has given up in his past three starts. But Andy righted the ship and turned in a top-flight performance. Pettitte really wanted this one as evidenced by his animated discussion with Jorge Posada in between the sixth and seventh innings. I'm not sure what they were talking about, but I don't think it had anything to do with dinner reservations. He deserved a better fate than a no decision. Pettitte's line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1 HR.
Jason Giambi. The Italian Stallion returns! OK, there's only one Italian Stallion, but The Giambino was responsible for 66% of the offensive output Tuesday night. Giambi picked up a hustle ribbie in the first when he beat out a relay throw on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. Jay Jay then doubled deep to left in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2. It's usually an accident if Giambi hits the ball the other way, but he actually looked like he was trying to shoot the ball to left on his RBI-double. Maybe this is the start of something big. Giambi finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored an 2 RBIs.
The Bad:
Joba Chamberlain. It's going to happen -- Joba can't be perfect every time he toes the rubber -- but his pitch selection was a bit perplexing. Chamberlain threw his curveball way too much and his control was off almost from the get-go. How off was he? On one pitch, Jose Molina set up for a fastball on the outside corner, but Joba missed so badly inside that Molina didn't have time to react and the ball drilled the home plate ump Gerry Davis in the shin. Still, Chamberlain was one out away from pitching out of it, but David Dellucci turned on an inside fastball and deposited it into the right field seats. It actually wasn't that bad of a pitch, but them walks almost always come back to haunt you. Chamberlain suffered his second loss of the season with this: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
Johnny Damon. It's a tad unfair to dump on Damon since he's been swinging the bat well, but I can't in good conscience have two "good" things and only one "bad" thing after a game like this. This isn't personal, Johnny, but I have to sleep well at night. Damon finished 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.
The Ugly:
It's only a game. Rivalries can sometimes turn heated, but they should never end this way. If you haven't heard, a 43-year-old woman in New Hampshire struck and killed a 29-year-old man with her car following an argument about the Yankees and Red Sox outside a bar. The woman, Ivonne Hernandez, allegedly gunned her car at a group of Red Sox fans after a chant of "Yankees suck!" started. Supposedly, she only wanted to scare the group, but she wound up killing Matthew Beaudoin. Hernandez refused to take a breathalyzer test.
I don't really know how to segue from such stupidity.
The Yankees made a roster move before Tuesday's game (there have been a lot of those lately) as Wilson Betemit was activated from the 15-day disabled list and infielder Alberto Gonzalez was sent down to Triple-A. Tough break for Berto, but I think it's just a matter of time before he gets called back up. I don't see the Yanks keeping Betemit and Morgan Ensberg on the roster for the entire season.
It will be a battle of the undefeated on Wednesday night. Chien-Ming Wang (6-0, 3.00 ERA) will go against lefty Cliff Lee (5-0, 0.96 ERA). Wang bested C.C. Sabathia and the Indians 10 days ago in Cleveland and will put his stellar lifetime record in the Bronx (29-9, 3.13 ERA) on the line. Lee has been God-like so far this season (37.2 IP, 19 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 32 K), but he's 1-2 with a 8.79 ERA in his career at Yankee Stadium.
Should be a good one.]]>
Rasner, Six-Run Third Propel Yanks Past Seattletag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.77072008-05-05T03:59:11Z2008-05-06T10:10:53ZSeems one man's loss in another man's gain.Darrell Rasner went six workmanlike innings, Melky Cabrera and his buddy Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks in the third and the bullpen twirled three innings of shutout ball for the third consecutive day...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Darrell Rasner went six workmanlike innings, Melky Cabrera and his buddy Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks in the third and the bullpen twirled three innings of shutout ball for the third consecutive day as the Yanks thwarted the Mariners 8-2 to complete the weekend sweep. The top of the Yankee order punished Seattle pitching for the second straight day -- the first four hitters combined to go 11 for 18 with four runs batted in -- and the bottom of the lineup dropped the hammer with two home runs.
It was a strange week for the Bombers -- they went from being the sweepees to being the sweepers. It's much better to be the latter.
The Good:
Darrell Rasner. The newest Yankee starter fell behind the eight ball early by giving up a two-out, two-run bomb to Adrian Beltre in the top of the first, but settled down nicely. Rasner doesn't have an overpowering fastball or tremendous movement on his breaking stuff (his arsenal is actually very similar to Ian Kennedy's), but he worked quickly, believed in his stuff and threw strikes. He was rewarded for his fortitude. The biggest plus for Darrell -- he didn't walk anyone. Rasner probably could have gone deeper in this game (he left after only 76 pitches), but I'm guessing Joe Girardi wanted to get him out while his confidence level was at its highest. Rasner picked up his first victory of the year with this: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR. I'll sign up for those numbers from him every day of the week.
Melky Cabrera. The Melk-Man collected only one of the 14 Bomber hits on Sunday, but his two-run blast in the third extended the Yankee lead to 5-2 and really changed the tenor of the ballgame. Cabrera is really turning into a complete player before our eyes. It's amazing to think the Yanks considered unloading him the past two offseasons. Melky's dinger was his sixth of the year (he had eight all last season) and he's hit safely in eight of his past nine games. Cabrera finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and the two RBIs.
Robinson Cano. I've been frustrated with Robbie's season thus far (I'm sure I'm not alone) and it looked like the poor start was starting to weight on Cano. But Canu followed Melky's two-run blast with a solo shot to give the Yanks a 6-2 advantage. Hitting a home run doesn't mean Cano has broken out of his funk (in fact, I'd rather see him put together a few multi-hit games in a row), but things have been so rotten for him so far I'm willing to give him a pat on the back. Cano finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in.
Derek Jeter. I usually like to keep the "good" section limited to three players, but how can I not acknowledge The Captain's four-hit day? This fourth "accolade" could have gone to Johnny Damon (2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base), Bobby Abreu (3 for 4 with a run scored and a ribbie) or Hideki Matsui (2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI as he extended his hitting streak to 14), but Jeter gets the nod because he's banged out seven hits in his last 10 at-bats. DJ finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.
The Bad:
Chad Moeller. Every Yankee regular contributed to this victory on offense with either a hit or an RBI. All but one. Moeller went hitless in his four ABs. Moeller did guide Rasner and the pen behind the dish so it wasn't all bad for the Bomber catcher. But I still have to mind everyone's Ps and Qs. Moeller finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
What youth movement? The Yanks sent struggling pitcher Ian Kennedy down to Scranton on Sunday to work things out. The Yankees didn't give a timetable for his return. Hank Steinbrenner's claim that the team was going to stick by their young pitchers didn't last long, did it? I was a little surprised with the move, but Kennedy hasn't exactly looked sharp (even though he's pitched "better" in his last two starts). This is a real test for the kid. Kennedy didn't take his demotion well which is a good sign (shows he's got fire in the belly), but this comment is a bit confusing:
"I guess if I can pitch under a smaller microscope down there, I guess it
might put a little less pressure on me. You are on a
bigger scale here. In Scranton, I'm struggling, but here, the world is going to
end."
I'm hoping this quote is taken out of context because Kennedy better learn how to pitch under pressure if he expects to succeed in the Bigs. Everything is always going to be magnified in New York (right or wrong), but there should be pressure to perform on every Major League team. This isn't Little League where having fun and giving it everything you got is all that's expected. Screw your head on right, Ian. Kennedy's departure also means that old favorite Kei Igawa will most likely get another shot. May God have mercy on us all.
Monday is an off-day for the Bombers. On Tuesday the team will welcome in the Cleveland Indians for a three-game set. Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.93 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Yanks and go against Fausto Carmona (3-1, 2.60 ERA). The Tribe signed Carmona to a four-year, $15 million deal earlier in the season and so far Carmona has been worth it. His walk total is too high (26 free passes in 34.2 innings), but he's holding righty hitters to a tiny .233 average on the year. Pettitte has dropped his past two starts and has struggled in his career against Cleveland -- 6-8, 4.63 ERA in 17 starts.
Time to rectify those stats, Andy.]]>
Mussina, Damon Help Yanks Topple M'stag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76952008-05-03T20:07:55Z2008-05-03T23:55:35ZSeems the rumors of The Moose's demise were highly exaggerated.Mike Mussina turned in his third straight solid game, Johnny Damon went uppper deck and the bullpen spun out three more innings of shutout relief as the Yankees cruised to a...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Mike Mussina turned in his third straight solid game, Johnny Damon went uppper deck and the bullpen spun out three more innings of shutout relief as the Yankees cruised to a 6-1 win over the Mariners on an overcast afternoon in the Bronx. The Bombers jumped on King Felix early, scoring four runs in the first three innings, and the top four in the order combined to go 10 for 19 with five runs batted in. Hideki Matsui extended his hitting streak to 13 with a 2 for 5 day and the unlikely trio of LaTroy Hawkins, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras (yep, the Yanks now have nine relievers) closed the door as the Yanks captured their second straight win and moved back to .500 on the season.
The Good:
Mike Mussina. The magician was back in form for the Yanks. There are still times when it looks like Mussina is one pitch or one batter away from allowing things to slip away, but it didn't happen (again) on Saturday. The Moose started strong (retiring the first six hitters), tap-danced out of some hairy situations in the middle innings and then struck out the side to complete his day. It may never look pretty when Mussina is on the mound, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Moose improved to 4-3 with this effort: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Johnny Damon. If the Yanks expect to score runs with Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada out of the lineup then guys are going to have to step up. Mr. Damon to the rescue! Johnny got the Bombers off and running with a double to lead off the bottom of the first and came around to score on a Bobby Abreu single. Damon ignited another rally with a one-out double in the third and later scored on a Derek Jeter double to give the Yanks a lead they would never relinquish. Then Johnny put the game out of reach in the sixth with a two-run bomb into the upper deck in right to extend the Bomber lead to 6-1. Johnny D's bat is starting to heat up (he was batting .400 in his last seven before Saturday) and that can only mean good things for the Yanks. Damon finished 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs.
Derek Jeter. The Captain is still searching for his first home run of the season, but there's no shame in collecting a multi-hit game. Jeter's RBI-double in the third gave the Yanks the lead after the Mariners tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the frame. It should come as no surprise -- Jeter entered the game batting .440 with runners in scoring position. DJ finished 3 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Bad:
Jason Giambi. It was a close call between Giambi and Robinson Cano (who went 0 for 3 with an intentional walk), but the Giambino gets the nod for his continued baffling play at first base. Morgan Ensberg's throw pulled Giambi off the bag in the sixth, but it looked like the big guy still had a chance to touch the base before the runner. Negative. Giambi almost turned an ankle trying to get back as Ensberg was charged with an error. In the seventh inning, Jeter's return throw on a potential double play ball was wide of the mark, but Giambi committed too early at first base. The miscue went to DJ as the runner advanced to second. Giambi wasn't charged with any errors, but if this was a murder case, Jay Jay would be fingered as an accomplice in both instances. Giambi finished 0 for 3 with a walk.
The Ugly:
Steady! It seems like the Yanks are getting an injury scare on a daily basis. Jeter slid into second on a double play ball hit by Bobby Abreu in the sixth, but he was slow getting up. It was difficult to tell what happened (even with a replay), but it looked like Jeet may have gotten kicked on the way in. It turned out to be nothing and it could be that I'm starting to get a bit paranoid, but with the recent rash of injuries on the roster I think I'm justified.
The Yanks will pull out the brooms on Sunday and give the ball to Darrell Rasner (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Rasner will be taking over for Phil Hughes for the next few months (maybe). He went 1-3 with a 4.01 ERA last season and is 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in two career starts against the M's. Carlos Silva (3-0, 2.79 ERA) will try and salvage a win for Seattle. Silva was an off-season pickup from the Minnesota Twins and has pitched well thus far. He's gone at least six innings in all of his starts this season, but he's 0-2 in two lifetime starts in the Bronx with a portly 8.68 ERA.
Time to seize the day, Darrell.]]>
Wang & Co. Shut Down Marinerstag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76882008-05-03T03:59:03Z2008-05-03T04:37:49ZA few more games like this and everything is gonna be allllllllright.Chien-Ming Wang was fabulous, Melky Cabrera drove in two and the trio of Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera sealed the deal as the Yanks vanquished Seattle 5-1...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Chien-Ming Wang was fabulous, Melky Cabrera drove in two and the trio of Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera sealed the deal as the Yanks vanquished Seattle 5-1 on a raw, blustery night at Yankee Stadium. It was a nip-and-tuck affair through seven and could have been closer if M's starter Erik Bedard received any help from his defense and bullpen. The Bombers scored three runs in the first three innings thanks in large part to four Mariner errors and Morgan Ensberg and Jose Molina touched up the Seattle pen for two runs in the eighth to help move Wang to a perfect 6-0 on the season and 7-0 lifetime against the Mariners.
The Good:
Chien-Ming Wang. Ace was called to stop a three-game skid and give the team a lift in the process. Done and done. Wang's pitches were up early in the contest (which is usually a precursor to a poor outing), but he found his rhythm and mixed in all his pitches and became the first six-game winner in the American League. There will be pressure for The Wanger to be "on" in every start and (so far) he's handling the heat just fine. Wang's totals: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
The pen. Wang was masterful and the trio of Farnsworth, Chamberlain and Rivera did a great job keeping in step. Don't look now, but Farnsworth has settled down after a rocky beginning of the year. He threw gas in his one inning of work as he struck out two and lowered his ERA to 3.77 on the season. Joba, who hadn't pitched since April 28, came in for the eighth and gave up a measly single before handing the keys over to Rivera. The Sandman (who still hasn't given up a run in 2008) needed 15 pitches to send the fans home happy. Too bad it can't always be this easy. The pen's effort: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
The Bad:
Jason Giambi. The Giambino continued his quest to stay under .200 for a second straight month. Giambi "muscled" his average up to .186 after a 2 for 3 night in Cleveland on April 25, but he's gone 1 for his last 16 and now sits at .160 on the year. Jay Jay finished 0 for 2 with a walk.
The Ugly:
Near misses. Chien-Ming Wang was cruising until the fifth when he called catcher Jose Molina to the hill. The talked briefly and then Molina waved for the coaching staff. I think I heard the collective groan from every Yankee fan during the mound pow-wow. It looked like Wang was having a problem with his thumb. He finished the fifth and the sixth so I'm going to assume everything is cool, but if The Wanger misses any time it could spell doom for the Yankees. The Yanks also got another scare in the seventh when Kyle Farnsworth took a stroll around the mound after delivering a pitch to Wladimir Balentien. Joe Girardi came out with Gene Monahan, but the meeting was brief and Farnsworth stayed in the game and struck out Balentien on the next pitch. Farnsworth may be a favorite punching bag for the fans (and I'm no exception), but the Yanks need him to stay healthy.
In other health-related Yankee news, it looks like Jorge Posada won't need season-ending surgery. Jorgie was diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. A little R&R is what the doctor(s) ordered. Posada could be back in five weeks if all goes well (fingers crossed). And it looks like Phil Hughes can't see so good. Turns out the kid is "slightly nearsighted" and will be sporting spectacles when he returns from the disabled list.
It will be the old vs. the new on Saturday -- Mike Mussina (3-3, 4.73 ERA) vs. Felix Hernandez (2-1, 2.22 ERA). The Moose will try and make it three straight strong starts in a row and, believe it or not, is holding lefty batters to a minuscule .176 average on the year. King Felix pitched in bad luck to begin the season -- his first two starts went down as no decisions despite going 15 innings and giving up no earned runs.
Let's see if age and experience can beat piss and vinegar.]]>
Tigers Complete Three-Game Sweeptag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76802008-05-02T11:27:51Z2008-05-02T19:00:25ZDifferent month, same results.Ian Kennedy couldn't make it past the fifth, reliever Jonathan Albaladejo wasn't much better and the middle of the Tiger lineup combined to go 7 for 13 with five RBIs as Detroit doubled up the Yanks 8-4...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Ian Kennedy couldn't make it past the fifth, reliever Jonathan Albaladejo wasn't much better and the middle of the Tiger lineup combined to go 7 for 13 with five RBIs as Detroit doubled up the Yanks 8-4 on a rainy night in the Bronx. The Bombers jumped out to an early lead for the second straight night, but allowed Nate Robertson to regain his bearings as he earned his first victory of the year. The Yanks "battled back" from a one-run deficit in the fifth, but super-sub Ramon Santiago tripled in two runs in the sixth to extinguish all hope of a comeback.
The Good:
Bobby Abreu. Bobby ripped a three-run laser in the bottom of the first to give the Yanks a quick 3-0 lead. That would be the high point of the night. Abreu added a base hit in the fifth, but he badly misplayed a ball in right field during a four-run Tiger third inning that resulted in the go-ahead run. The Yanks may have the most uncoordinated corner outfielders in the league. Abreu finished 2 for 4 with a walk, run scored and 3 ribbies.
The Bad:
Ian Kennedy. It started well for the kid, but it all unraveled in the third inning. Kennedy was on the verge of escaping with only one run allowed, but couldn't get that elusive final out. Kennedy doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he seems to shy away from contact -- especially when hitters foul off pitches. Maybe that mentality will change with seasoning, but right now it's painful to watch. Anyway, a 3-1 Yankee lead quickly evaporated and became a 4-3 Tiger lead when all was said and done. And once again, the bullpen was called upon too early. Kennedy picked up a no-decision, but throwing 96 pitches in less than five innings isn't going to cut it. Kennedy's totals: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 K.
Jonathan Albaladejo. JA has been solid during his shuttle from Triple-A to the big club, but he was off on Thursday night. The Yanks tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth and Albaladejo gave it all back in the top of the sixth. Very disheartening. Still, a 6-4 deficit isn't insurmountable (even with the Yankees National League lineup), but then Johnny gave up a two-run bomb to Miguel Cabrera in the seventh. Game, set, match. Albaladejo was tagged with his first loss in pinstripes with this: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR.
The Ugly:
Worse than expected. I'll admit it -- I rolled my eyes when Phil Hughes was placed on the disabled list with a strained oblique during Wednesday night's game. Well, turns out it was a little more than just a strain. An MRI and X-Ray taken Thursday revealed a stress fracture to his right side -- his rib. The kid will be out until at least July. Two schools of thought on this and it depends on what type of person you are. The broken rib (even though when it occurred is a mystery) could explain why Hughes has pitched so poorly this season. Then again, this is starting to become a trend for the 21-year-old. Hughes pulled a hamstring last season and then turned his ankle during his rehab. At least the injuries aren't shoulder or elbow related. But no matter how you look at it, the Yanks are down a starter and the solution (so far) will be Darrell Rasner. Rasner will make his first start of the year for the Yanks on Sunday against Seattle. Let's see if he can seize the opportunity.
The Yankees welcome in the Seattle Mariners Friday night for a three-game set and the first game should be a good one. Chien-Ming Wang (5-0, 3.23 ERA) will face off against Erik Bedard (2-0, 2.04 ERA). Wang was masterful in his last start against the Cleveland Indians and is 6-0 in six career starts against the M's with a 2.51 ERA. Bedard missed most of April with a hip injury, but came back last week and pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball in a win against the Oakland A's. Hideki Matsui is the only Yankee in the everyday lineup with good numbers against the hard-throwing lefty (5 for 16, .313). The next highest average belongs to Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi (.231).
And with all the negativity surrounding the Yanks, a bit of good news. Bobby Murcer will be back calling the action for Friday's game. Murcer has missed time recovering from fatigue after a recent biopsy showed scar tissue and no signs of the brain cancer he battled at the end of 2006.
Welcome back, Bobby.]]>
Pettitte Falters as Offense Continues to Slumbertag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76602008-05-01T02:03:04Z2008-05-01T16:33:27ZMikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ The bats fell into hibernation after a two-run first, Placido Polanco belted two dingers and Marcus Thames homered and drove in two as the Tigers tamed the Yanks 6-2 at The Stadium. Andy Pettitte pitched well until he gave up a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings and the offense allowed Jeremy Bonderman to find a groove after a rocky beginning as the Yankees wrapped up the first month of the season a game under .500.
The Good:
Melky Cabrera. The Melk-Man delivered a key RBI-single in the first to give the Yanks a short-lived 2-0 lead. I say "key" because the Bombers were in danger of scoring just one run after loading the bases with no outs. In the end in didn't matter, but Cabrera is showing Joe Girardi that his name should be penciled in the lineup everyday. Let's hope G.I. Joe gets the message. Melky finished 2 for 4 with a run batted in.
The Bad:
Andy Pettitte. The old sage was on his way to another gritty performance until the fifth. Then former Yank Marcus Thames (ever notice how many former Bombers are floating around the league?) stepped up and ripped a two-run homer to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. The home run bug bit Pettitte again in the sixth when Placido Polanco led off the frame with the first of his two blasts on the night. This was the second straight start where Pettitte lost it in the fifth. I'm not sure what that means, but it ain't good. Pettitte fell to 3-3 with this: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR.
Robinson Cano. Another day, another hitless night for Robbie. I think I've beaten this dead horse into pudding, but Cano has to start hitting if the Yanks have any chance of scoring runs. There is no way Canu should be hitting .151 on the final day of April. He's not even batting my weight. The Yankees are already down their best hitter and their second-best hitter from a year ago. Guys are going to have to step up and that means you Robbie. Cano finished 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
It happens in three's. The whispers about Phil Hughes' spot in the rotation didn't have a chance to turn into a roar. The Yankees placed the struggling 21-year-old on the disabled list during Wednesday's game with a strained right oblique. Conspiracy nuts will have a field day with the timing of placing Hughes on the DL and I really couldn't argue with them. Honestly, I hope his poor performance is due to a nagging injury, but in my heart of hearts I believe the Yanks are trying to take the pressure off Hughes without undressing him and sending him down to Scranton. The Yankees didn't say who would take the kid's spot, but I would be shocked if it wasn't Darrell Rasner. Rasner is 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA and was named the International League's pitcher of the week for the period of April 21-27.
In other roster news, the Yanks brought catcher Chad Moeller back to the Bronx. Moeller passed through waivers and became a free agent for about five minutes when he rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A before re-signing with the Yankees. It doesn't sound like a big move, but Chris Stewart was a disaster in his debut in pinstripes Tuesday night. Stewart was sent packing on Wednesday. With Jorge Posada on the shelf and Jose Molina not used to carrying the load, Moeller becomes an important component. How sad is that? To be fair, Moeller has played well so far this season: .350, 1 HR and 3 RBI. Welcome back, Chad.
Ian Kennedy (0-2, 8.53) will try and help the Yankees avoid the sweep on Thursday. The Tigers will go with lefty hurler Nate Robertson (0-3, 6.91 ERA). Robertson has been smacked around so far this season, giving up 35 hits and 22 runs in 28 2/3 innings. Lefties in particular are hitting a sizzling .419 against him. Kennedy had a rough second inning in his last start in Cleveland, but managed to last five innings in a no decision. If Kennedy wants to break into the win column, he's got to stop walking hitters. He's allowed 17 free passes in 19 innings this year.
The calendar will read May when the Yanks take the field Thursday.
Maybe the change will do them some good.]]>
Hughes Struggles (Again) as Yanks Fall Shorttag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76412008-04-30T03:33:26Z2008-04-30T04:18:18ZIt was a game of disappointment and frustration.Phil Hughes continued to be his own worst enemy, Gary Sheffield belted a two-run homer against his former mates and the Yanks couldn't take advantage of eight hits and eight walks as Kenny...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Phil Hughes continued to be his own worst enemy, Gary Sheffield belted a two-run homer against his former mates and the Yanks couldn't take advantage of eight hits and eight walks as Kenny Rogers and the Tigers downed New York 6-4 in the Bronx. Robinson Cano drove in half of the Yankee runs with his line drive dinger in the second and the Bombers mounted rallies in the final two frames, but it wasn't enough.
The Good:
The bullpen. Once again the pen was called upon to stop the bleeding and once again it responded. The trio of Ross Ohlendorf, Edwar Ramirez and LaTroy Hawkins combined for 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Ohlendorf was the first guy out of the gate and really impressed, striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Ramirez was called up before the game (Chris Britton, who was brought up on April 25, was sent down without throwing a pitch) and looked sharp. The Hawk finished things off for the Yanks with a nine-pitch ninth. The triumvirate's totals: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. That's two stellar performances in a row for the bullpen, but if the starters can't get go at least five, the relievers are going to be cooked before June.
The Bad:
Phil Hughes. It was the same old story for the kid -- too many pitches and not enough quality strikes. Hughes walked the first batter of the game and it went downhill from there. You can make excuses and say the Tigers didn't hit him hard during their two-run first inning, but Hughes continued to get into trouble after that frame. Hughes also had problems getting in sync with the newest Yankee catcher Chris Stewart. It seemed like Stewart was crossed up on every other batter as Hughes finished with two wild pitches. The one positive for Hughes this season was he kept the ball in the park. Well, he gave up his first two gopher balls of the year in the third inning -- a solo shot by Curtis Granderson and a two-run blow by Gary Sheffield. Hughes fell to 0-4 with this mess: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 2 WP.
The Ugly:
Another bat hits the DL. The Yanks placed Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list after Tuesday's game. A-Rod strained his quad on April 20 and returned to the lineup on April 25 in Cleveland. But Rodriguez felt his leg "pull a little bit" running out a grounder in the fourth inning last night. A-Rod also said that he "probably" came back too soon from the original injury and that it took
him "a couple of months" to recover from a similar injury when he was a senior
in high school. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain that will keep the MVP out at least two weeks. This lineup is already struggling to score runs and now they'll be without two of their best hitters. On a positive note, the news on Jorge Posada seems to be better than expected. I say "seems" because his shoulder has gone from OK to shot to not that bad. But even in a best-case scenario, it could be a while before Jorgie comes back.
Andy Pettitte (3-2) will try and get the Yanks back in the win column (and give the pen a much-needed day off) on Wednesday. Pettitte wasn't sharp in his last start and lasted only five innings in a loss to the Indians. Andy has pitched well against the Tigers in his career. He owns a 10-8 record with a 3.49 ERA. Detroit Rock City will counter with the talented, but inconsistent Jeremy Bonderman (1-2). Bonderman has kept the Tigers in games this year, but he's allowed 28 hits and 21 walks in 27 1/3 innings so far. And three Yanks that are still in the lineup have excellent numbers against him -- Johnny Damon (.438, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Hideki Matsui (.526, 3 HR, 9 RBI) and Bobby Abreu (.667, 1 HR, 3 RBI).
Things may look bleak right now in Yankee Land, but considering the injuries, shaky starting pitching and 18 out of the past 20 games played on the road before Tuesday night, a .500 record at this point isn't that bad.
But it's time to start turning things around.]]>
Rounding up the Jets 2008 Draft Pickstag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76252008-04-29T03:39:52Z2008-04-29T04:22:56ZThe third year of the Tangini draft era wrapped up on Sunday and time will tell if the Jets found any contributors.Gang Green went into the draft with needs at defensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback and running back (other...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Gang Green went into the draft with needs at defensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback and running back (other than that, things are just fine with the Green and White). I kid, I kid. Anyway, here's what general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini's 2008 draft looked like:
Round 1. Vernon Gholston DE (Ohio State) Round 1. Dustin Keller TE (Purdue) Round 4. Dwight Lowery CB (San Jose State) Round 5. Erik Ainge QB (Tennessee) Round 6. Marcus Henry WR (Kansas) Round 7. Nate Garner OT (Arkansas)
As you can see, needs were addressed (in theory). I liked the Gholston pick even though he might be the top candidate for biggest potential bust out of the first ten picks. The story is that Vern gets up for big games, but disappears in others. Well, I guess every game is going to have to be a big one for The Ghol.
I saw some more highlight film of Dustin Keller and the kid doesn't look like a tight end. And sure enough, he started his collegiate career at wide receiver. He's been compared to Dallas Clark of the Indianapolis Colts. Hey, I'm all for that. The Jets haven't had a reliable, big-play tight end since Mickey Shuler.
The word on Dwight Lowery is that he's better in zone coverage. That means he has nickel back written all over him. But he did lead the nation in picks in his junior season.
Erik Ainge is the nephew of former professional basketballer and baseballer and current Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge. Anige threw for 3,522 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his final year as a Volunteer. But scouts questioned his arm strength (even though he's a big kid -- 6'5, 223), ability to handle pressure and overall mental and physical toughness. Other than that, he has the chance to be a real star.
Marcus Henry is the big wide receiver (6'4, 207) the Jets desperately need. Henry has long arms and could be a real asset in the red zone. His biggest drawback is that he fails to gain separation and doesn't rack up those important yards after the catch.
Nate Garner is big (6'6, 326), but raw. It looks like another Jacob Bender "pet project" situation.
There it is -- the Jets Class of 2008.
Check back in a few years to see if the right choices were made.]]>
Moose, Bullpen Shut Down Indianstag:www.greenpinstripes.com,2008://3.76242008-04-29T02:12:53Z2008-04-29T04:32:09ZThe offense didn't exactly explode, but they did enough to earn a split of the four-game set.Mike Mussina turned in his second straight strong start and the bullpen slammed the door as a bizarre four-run sixth helped the Yanks to...Mikehttp://www.greenpinstripes.com/ Mike Mussina turned in his second straight strong start and the bullpen slammed the door as a bizarre four-run sixth helped the Yanks to a 5-2 victory over the Indians on a cold night in Cleveland. The Bomber bats continued to struggle as they mustered only five hits on the night, but it was enough to lift the Yanks back over the .500 mark at 14-13 as they ended their three-city road trip at a 5-5.
The Good:
Mike Mussina. Smoke and mirrors, playing with fire, gutting it out -- whatever you want to call it, The Moose is getting the job done. He may keep you on the edge of your seat when he delivers a pitch, but you can't argue with the results. The Indians didn't even really tattoo Mussina during their two-run fifth inning. It ain't gonna be pretty whenever Moose toes the rubber, but if you're a Yankee fan, you have to sign up for this type of performance every fifth day. Mussina earned career victory No. 253 (tying Carl Hubbell for 41st place) and evened his record to 3-3 with this: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP.
The bullpen. Mussina pitched well, but he only went five. That meant the pen had to piece together 12 outs to get the job done. And they came through with flying colors. Jonathan Albaladejo was the first guy out there and got himself into a first and third, two-out jam, but escaped by striking out David Dellucci to end the inning. That would be the last time the Tribe would have any baserunners. Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera zipped through their innings to seal the win. Rivera earned his eighth save in eight opportunities. The pen's sparkling totals: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
Hideki Matsui. The Yanks didn't tear the cover off the baseball Monday night, but Matsui knocked in two runs. Godzilla's not-so-very-sexy ground out to first drove in Bobby Abreu from third to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the sixth. Matsui's RBI-double in the eighth was hit a little harder and capped the Bomber scoring. Matsui finished 1 for 4 with the 2 ribbies.
The Bad:
Robinson Cano. If it reads like I'm kicking Cano in the ribs repeatedly, well, I guess I am. Cano continued to struggle at the plate and went hitless (again). Robbie did get on base on Monday, though -- he was drilled in the back in the fifth inning. Canu finished 0 for 3 and went 4 for 32 on the road trip. Maybe a return to Yankee Stadium will help turn things around.
The Ugly:
Rally time? The Yanks had zero hits as they entered the sixth inning and were down 2-0. What transpired during that frame was one of the ugliest rallies on God's green earth. Melky Cabrera broke up the no-hitter with an infield hit between short and third. Jeter followed with another infield hit. Then Bobby Abreu lined a hard single to left (the only "real" hit of the inning). Alex Rodriguez stepped up with the bases loaded and nobody out and was plunked on a 1-2 pitch. Then Jason Giambi and Matsui hit back-to-back RBI-grounders to first for two runs. Morgan Ensberg finished the scoring with another infield single. The Yanks tallied four runs in the inning and only one ball left the infield. It's a good thing there aren't any style points in baseball.
The Yanks will back home on Tuesday (finally) to start a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers. Phil Hughes (0-3) will get the call for the Bombers and will go against former Yank Kenny Rogers (1-3). Hughes had his past start in Chicago cut short due to rain, but looked good in his two innings of work. The kid has been inconsistent to say the least, but he pitched well in his only start in the Bronx earlier this the year -- giving up two runs in six innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays. Rogers has been smoked so far this season and brings a bloated 7.66 ERA to The Stadium. The Gambler lasted only 3 1/3 innings in his last start against Texas and is 5-7 with a 6.45 ERA in 35 career games against the Yanks.
The Good:
Obviously, New York would prefer a day game on the September date, but the Tigers would rather play a night game in July to capitalize on a higher attendance figure. 
I was at a Communion bash for this one, so my roundup will be spotty. But that's never stopped me before. 
The yo-yo year goes on.
Wilson Betemit. The switch-hitting infielder was reportedly cured of the conjunctivitis that sidelined him for two weeks, but you couldn't tell by his play at third base and on the basepaths. Betemit was charged with only one error Friday night, but he looked lost at the hot corner. He also got picked off first base after reaching on an infield single in the second inning. I think it's just a matter of time before the Yanks jettison either Wil or Morgan Ensberg from the roster. And so far it looks like Betemit has one foot out the door. Betemit picked up two hits on the night, but it wasn't enough to offset his poor defense. Betemit finished 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Bombers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in this one only to have the Tribe tie it in the fifth, but Damon's double in the bottom of the frame and back-to-back jacks by Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit in the seventh was too much for the Indians. The Yanks blasted four bombs in all -- even Jason Giambi went deep -- and evened their record to 18-18 on the season.
The pen. The Yankees greatest strength so far this season has been the bullpen and the guys in the outfield flexed their muscles again on Thursday afternoon. The trifecta of Ross Ohlendorf, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera combined to shut down the Indians for four innings. Ohlendorf went two solid, Chamberlain showed no ill-effects from his meltdown Tuesday night and Rivera has yet to give up a run in 2008. The three relievers combined to produce this: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
I have to be honest Yankee fans, I've failed you once again. I stepped out with some friends after work and that means I get home after 11 o'clock in the p.m. My plan was to watch the game (which I recorded) when I got in, but I'm feeling much too weary. I've become everything I've ever hated.
The Good:
Johnny Damon. It's a tad unfair to dump on Damon since he's been swinging the bat well, but I can't in good conscience have two "good" things and only one "bad" thing after a game like this. This isn't personal, Johnny, but I have to sleep well at night. Damon finished 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.
It was a strange week for the Bombers -- they went from being the sweepees to being the sweepers. It's much better to be the latter.
Derek Jeter. I usually like to keep the "good" section limited to three players, but how can I not acknowledge The Captain's four-hit day? This fourth "accolade" could have gone to Johnny Damon (2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base), Bobby Abreu (3 for 4 with a run scored and a ribbie) or Hideki Matsui (2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI as he extended his hitting streak to 14), but Jeter gets the nod because he's banged out seven hits in his last 10 at-bats. DJ finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.
Derek Jeter. The Captain is still searching for his first home run of the season, but there's no shame in collecting a multi-hit game. Jeter's RBI-double in the third gave the Yanks the lead after the Mariners tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the frame. It should come as no surprise -- Jeter entered the game batting .440 with runners in scoring position. DJ finished 3 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Good:
The Ugly:
The Good:
The Good:
The Good:
As you can see, needs were addressed (in theory). I liked the Gholston pick even though he might be the top candidate for biggest potential bust out of the first ten picks. The story is that Vern gets up for big games, but disappears in others. Well, I guess every game is going to have to be a big one for The Ghol.
The Good:
The Ugly: