Thursday, September 30, 2010

CC vs. Felix for Cy

I’ve been hearing a lot on the radio about how King Felix with his 13-12 record in no pressure pitcher friendly Seattle deserves the Cy Young award over our Ace, CC Sabathia. Such proponents point to Felix’s league leading ERA, which is quite impressive at 2.27 and his league leading innings and strikeouts. They also note that when his team scores 4or more runs he has had a 9-1 record. (CC was 19-2 in those situations). Felix has had a very nice year but in the final analysis, I believe CC is deserving of another Cy for the following reasons:

1-Winning still is the name of the game
2-Pitchers pitch to situations – e.g., you are not going to be worried about giving up a few runs when your team has you ahead. Thus, you would expect CC’s ERA to be a little higher.
3-CC pitches ½ his games in hitter friendly Yankee stadium while Felix pitches ½ his games in one of the best pitcher’s parks in baseball. Felix was 5-8 with a 2.46 on the road this year. CC was 11-2 at home with a 3.00 ERA.
4-CC pitches in the toughest division in baseball, Felix arguably in the worst.
5-The less runs the Yanks score, the lower CC’s ERA –
0-2 Runs support – 3.60
3-5 runs support – 2.85
+6 runs support – 3.23
Proves point #2 above.
6- The less runs Seattle scores, the worse Felix pitches
0-2 runs support – 2.84
3-5 runs support – 2.05
6+ runs support – 0.76

The major difference between these 2 great pitchers is that CC is a winner and Felix still needs to learn how to win. Great pitchers pitch better when their team scores less runs to keep them in the game.

Conclusion: Felix may win Fantasy baseball pitcher of the year but CC should get Cy Young.

World Series Schdule

Here's the scheduel via LoHud:

Date

Game

Host League

First Pitch/Pre-Game

on FOX (ET)

Weds., 10/27

Game 1

National League

7:57 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thurs., 10/28

Game 2

National League

7:57 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Sat., 10/30

Game 3

American League

6:57 p.m./6:30 p.m.

Sun., 10/31

Game 4

American League

8:20 p.m./8:00 p.m.

Mon., 11/1

Game 5

American League

7:57 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Weds., 11/3

Game 6

National League

7:57 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thurs., 11/4

Game 7

National League

7:57 p.m./7:30 p.m.

“I am extremely pleased we are able to provide our fans the earliest World Series start time since 1987 with Saturday’s Game Three,’” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “The changes we made with FOX last year to start the World Series games earlier helped increase viewership including more young fans and we are optimistic that the earlier start time for Saturday’s Game Three will keep us moving in the same direction.”
Apparently, FOX and Major League Baseball have wanted to move up the start times for these games for years, but companies weren't willing to hand over prime time money for ads.
“We’ve said over the years that if advertisers were willing to support earlier starts at prime time levels, we’d be able to begin games earlier,” said FOX Sports president Eric Shanks. “We’re excited to be working with MLB and Chevrolet, along with our FOX-owned stations and affiliates to make this happen.”

And Now, for Some Good News - Sickels on Phelps

The full article and other interesting links and tidbits can be found over at Minor League Ball, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in prospects and the minors in general. Here's what prospect guru John Sickels had to say about David Phelps today:
Double-A Transition Monitor

**New York Yankees prospect David Phelps had a very good 2009 season, going 13-4, 2.38 with a 122/31 K/BB in 151 innings in A-ball. I wrote him up as a sleeper and breakthrough candidate for 2010 in the book this year. Yankees Vice President Mark Newman gave me this rundown on Phelps when I interviewed him in March:

"We also like David Phelps, who we drafted out of Notre Dame (14th round, 2008). Like Bleich and Warren, he throws harder now than he did in college, 92-95 last year. He's improved his curveball and change, and if the secondary stuff keeps developing he will really emerge this year. He has a clean simple delivery, another thing we like."

Phelps' Double-A transition was an outstanding success: 6-0, 2.04 in 14 starts with an 84/23 K/BB in 88 innings, just 63 hits and two homers allowed. Promoted to Triple-A Scranton at mid-season, he remained very effective with a 3.07 ERA and a 57/13 K/BB in 70 innings, 76 hits allowed. His K/IP and H/IP deteriorated at the higher level, but overall his transition to top minor league competition was a big success: 10-2, 2.50 ERA, 141/36 K/BB in 159 innings, 139 hits, 2.94 FIP overall.

Even with strong pitching over the last two years, Phelps has received less attention than other pitchers in the Yankees organization. Dellin Betances and Manuel Banuelos get more press and have better pure stuff. But Phelps needs to be tracked closely too, and for most teams, he'd be in the mix for 2011. We could see him as trade bait this winter. I don't see any reason why Phelps can't be a solid number four starter for a lot of teams, given the progress he's made with his secondary pitches.

My ALDS Roster

Position Players (14)
Jorge Posada C
Francisco Cervelli C
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner OF
Curtis Granderson OF
Nick Swisher OF
Marcus Thames OF/DH
Lance Berkman DH
Austin Kearns OF
Eduardo Nunez INF
Ramiro Pena INF or Greg Golson OF -- Not sure about this one, and not really sure it matters anyway. They both have speed and can both play defense, it just depends on what the Yankees feel they need more: another outfielder or infielder.

Starting Pitchers (3)
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes

Bullpen (8)
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Kerry Wood
David Robertson
Boone Logan
Royce Ring
Ivan Nova
Sergio Mitre

- I think the combination of Vazquez's start last night and Mitre's relief appearance earned him that final spot.

- AJ Burnett belongs nowhere near the rotation until they actually need a 4th starter.

- Bringing Royce Ring gives the Yankees two lefties, which can always be valuable in a short series.

What are your thoughts and predictions?

Pettitte Dealing With Some Back Stiffness

From Mark Feinsand:

Having made only two starts since returning from a two-month stay on the disabled list with a groin injury, Pettitte has been dealing with some minor back problems this week.

Pettitte’s back stiffened up on him during last Friday’s start against the Red Sox, a game in which he allowed seven runs in only 3 1/3 innings. Pettitte said he was “pretty stiff” throughout the game, which could have led to his lack of location.

“The next day, I knew I was going to be fine,” Pettitte told the Daily News. “But you don’t want to have anything going on, especially after what I’ve been through with my groin.”

...

“It’s always a concern whenever a guy is dealing with something,” Girardi told the News. “But it was muscular, so you have to believe he’ll bounce back. It’s a little concern.”
Let's hope Girardi and Pettitte are right and the left-hander will be fine.

I'm not too confident in this team's chances to repeat with a healthy Pettitte, without him they'd have no chance.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Tonight's Post Clinching Lineup

Remember guys, tonight's game is starting around 7:30 pm due to some pregame ceremonies honoring Jays manager Cito Gaston.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Austin Kearns LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Greg Golson CF

Pitching RHP: Javier Vazquez

Better Know a Prospect: Corban Joseph

Corban Joseph
Born: 28 October 1988 in Franklin, Tennessee
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Height/Weight: 6'0"/168 pounds
Acquired: 2008, 4th Round MLB Amateur Draft

2010 Stats
Tampa - .302/.378/.436, 27 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 5 SB (8 CS)
Trenton - .216/.305/.342, 6 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 1 SB (0 CS)

Corban Joseph is a prospect that has interested me from the moment the Yankees drafted him, as I had never before heard of a high school player spending hours pouring over video in order to make adjustments at the plate. While I cannot say with any level of certainty that Joseph is unique in this regard, I was impressed nonetheless. In scrounging up information on Joseph's first three seasons of professional ball, there have been two commonalities, the first of which is his hours spent analyzing his own performance and making adjustments from the video room. The other? His tremendous line-drive stroke.

Prior to hitting a bump in the road with the Thunder, Joseph performed quite well while advancing through the system. In addition to garnering attention for high line-drive rates (between 19 and 22%), Joseph showcased solid contact skills, striking out in about 17% of his plate appearances (while maintaining an impressive walk rate over 10%). Despite a poor stolen base success rate, Joseph is an average baserunner with enough speed to improve with experience. The main issue here is his lack of power, as few expect him to develop into a player that can consistently reach even double-digits. As a second baseman, this may not be an issue - particularly if he can continue to bat around .300, draw walks, and drive the ball into the gaps. However, that raises the question of whether or not his fate lay elsewhere.

Based upon both scouting and defensive metrics, Joseph has been a below average second baseman. His arm strength and athleticism are rarely questioned, but his reaction times and first step have not shown much improvement over his professional career. There exists a fairly popular sentiment that he could become a passable second baseman with continued work, but most seem to believe his future lies at the third. While both the scouts and the numbers indicate that Joseph is a decent third baseman, his lack of power could significantly lower his ceiling here.

Despite Joseph's shortcomings, I cannot help but view him as a solid prospect. He reminds me a great deal of Michael Young who, while never really being a top flight player, has been a consistent contributor to the Rangers for the better part of a decade. I also believe that his floor is considerably higher than many other prospects in the system (such as Melky Mesa), as his offensive skill set and work ethic are indicative of future success. In the end, that may be the best sort of praise that can be tendered to a prospect.

Clinch Celebration Pics


A Couple Pitching Updates

Much to the surprise of nobody, Joe Girardi announced after tonight's game that CC Sabathia will be the Yankees ALDS game 1 starter.

In other pitching news, Andy Pettitte's start tomorrow will be pushed back. He said during the postgame that he will not pitch tomorrow. Girardi confirmed Pettitte's comments and said that Javier Vazquez will start in his place. Pettitte will start one of the games in Fenway and be lined up for what I assume will be game 2 of the ALDS.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Yanks Clinch..... Finally


With tonight's 6-1 win over the Blue Jays the Yankees have finally clinched a playoff birth. Now we can spend the next week wondering if the Yankees are better off winning the division and what they should do with A.J. Burnett.

Tonight's Lineup: Is today finally the day?

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching LHP CC Sabathia

Longoria Calls Out Those Pathetic Rays Fans

From Martin Fennelly:
"Another thing I want to say," Longoria said, completely unprompted. "We only had like 15,000 fans out there. In 2008, when we clinched, this place was packed. We played 155 games this season and it's kind of like what else do you have to do to draw fans in this place. It's actually embarrassing for us."

...

"It doesn't have any bearing on the effort we bring to the table every day," Longoria said. "But we're talking about a team in a playoff hunt with the opportunity to clinch. You could at least get 30,000 in here to cheer you onto it.

"Again, it's disheartening. It's something I've been wanting to say for a long time. It's not a jab at the fans. It's not a kick below the belt. Obviously, you want to bring a championship to Tampa and we'd like for more than 12- to 15,000 to know about it."

...

"It's a tough situation for us," Longoria said. "A lot of the visiting teams come in and wonder where are all the fans. It's actually a little bit embarrassing for us. We're one game away from clinching a postseason spot. We have enough guys in this room to celebrate with, but we'd love to celebrate it with the fans, too.

"Of course, I've thought about this a long time. I'm not trying to take a low blow at the fans. I'm actually trying to rally the troops and get more people in here. I'm not trying to say that we have bad fans or any of that because, believe me, I've been here since '06 and I love the Tampa Bay community. It's just tough to see and I feel like I was the right guy to be able to say that."
Those quotes should go over well with the Tampa faithful...Well, that's if any of them are paying attention.

Playoff Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow

Here's the press release from the Yankees:

Tickets for potential 2010 American League Division Series (ALDS) and American League Championship Series (ALCS) games at Yankee Stadium will go on sale to the public online at yankees.com and via Ticketmaster phone at (877) 469-9849 and Ticketmaster TTY at (800) 943-4327 on Wednesday, September 29 at 10 a.m.


Please note that ALDS and ALCS tickets will not be available for purchase at Yankees Clubhouse Shops or through Ticketmaster outlets.


Due to the limited number of tickets available for sale, those purchasing tickets will be limited to two tickets to one game of the ALDS or two tickets to one game of the ALCS, subject to availability. Orders exceeding the assigned ticket limits will be cancelled without contact from Ticketmaster or the New York Yankees.


Tickets purchased via the Internet for Division Series Home Game 1 and Home Game 2 must be purchased utilizing "print at home" technology. There will be no option for Will Call or express shipping.

Burnett Continues to Struggle, Yankees Fail to Clinch Playoff Berth

Despite my best efforts, I found myself unable to spin the few positive aspects of this game into a positive game summary. Yes, the bullpen allowed only four baserunners in 5.2 IP - this despite 'B' relievers Jonathan Albaladejo, Dustin Moseley, and Chad Gaudin toeing the rubber for four of those innings. Yes, the offense showed signs of life, driving a fair amount of balls, taking pitches, and working counts. That being said ... there's really nothing positive left to say.

A.J. Burnett has been nothing short of atrocious for the vast majority of the season, and tonight was no exception. The anomalous righty allowed seven earned over 2.1 IP, struggled to find the strikezone, gave up hard contact, and seemed to have no discernible movement on his pitches. Since his excellent run to open the season (that's right, he had a 1.99 ERA, 2.5 K/BB, and four quality starts in his first six outings), Burnett has a 6.30 ERA over his last 140 IP. That includes 162 H, 65 BB, and only 112 K. His FIP over that time sits at around 5.36, to boot, meaning that there's really no way to place an optimistic spin on the last four-plus months. The idea of him starting a game in the postseason makes me shudder, regardless of his fine performance last Fall. Here's hoping something clicks.

I'm quite certain that many are going to fault the Yankees offense for this game, but it's difficult to dig out of such a deep hole. Marc Rzepczynski may not be a household name, but his stuff is very good, and that was on display tonight. It seems as if Toronto has the Yankees number this season, and their 9-7 record against the pinstriped patsies is indicative of that. Granted, the Blue Jays have a very good team - one that could likely fight for a playoff spot in any other division ... but this feels like a season series the Yankees should have won, rather than one that they'd be fighting to tie Tuesday and Wednesday.

Player of the Game: Marc Rzepczynski, Vernon Wells
Honorable Mention: John Buck
Dishonorable Mention: A.J. Burnett


Monday, September 27, 2010

Tonight's Lineup: A Time To Clinch

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Austin Kearns LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Francisco Cervelli C

Yanks-Jays Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:07 PM | TV: YES, MLBN | Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-14, 5.05) vs. LHP Marc Rzepczynski (2-4, 5.75)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:07 PM | TV: MY9/MLBN | Radio: WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (20-7, 3.26) vs. RHP Kyle Drabek (0-2, 4.91)

Game 3: Wednesday @ 7:07 PM | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
Undecided vs. LHP Brett Cecil (14-7, 4.20)

Thoughts About Last Night and Next Week

Last night's win wasn't one of the better wins in recent memory. Mo blew his fifth save of the year, the Yankees sleeping bats almost wasted a solid start by Phil Hughes, and Jorge Posada throws like a girl. Still, whether it was a "good" win or not is irrelevant because it was an important win.

Had the Yankees gone on to lose that game 3-2 last night, all of Yankeeland would be losing its collective mind right about now, and they'd probably be justified. I wouldn't be feeling to good about things right now if the Yankees were just one bad series in Toronto away from a do-or-die series in Fenway this weekend.

Luckily, that didn't happen. They responded to Mo's blow save by tying the game off Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th, and then literally walking-off in the 10th. The magic number is down to one, the fears of an epic collapse are gone, and thanks to a surprising Mariners win the division is even still in play (although still a long shot).

It's not easy for a fan like me to forget all that horrible baseball we've had to endure over the last two month, but I'm going to try. For now I'm going to hope that it was just a slump, something like that bad September the 2000 Yankees went through before easily winning another ring. And who knows, maybe this slump could actually end up being a good thing. That all depends on which team you feel more comfortable playing in the ALDS, Texas with homefield or Minnesota without homefield.

So who do you feel is the better matchup for the Yanks?

....Also, I know I didn't mention A-Rod's homer, but is anyone else amazed that he's now just one homer shy of 30 again?

This Week in Yankees History (9/26-10/2)

This Week in Yankees History 

September 26th - October 2nd

September 26th

1921 - Babe Ruth hits HRs #57 and #58 plus a double and a walk to beat the Cleveland Indians by the score of 8-7, as the Yankees take a 2 game lead. George Burns adds a triple and 3 singles for New York in the come-from-behind win. The Indians load the bases in the 9th inning, but Steve Neill strikes out on a Carl Mays fastball in the dirt to end it.

1925 - Former Yankees P Bobby Shantz (1957-1960) was born. Bobby was obtained from the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957. He was a starter who injured his arm and later became a very successful relief pitcher. He originally came up with the A’s. His best season with the Philadelphia A’s was in 1952, going 24-7, winning the 1952 AL MVP award and The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. Then he injured his pitching arm. As a Yankee, Bobby went 30-18 with 19 saves. In 1957, he was the 1st Yankee player to win an AL Golden Glove Award. Bobby would win it again for AL pitchers during the 1958-59-60 AL seasons. Also in 1957, Bobby led the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.45 mark. Bobby appeared in the 1957 and 1960 World Series for the Yankees going 0-1. In 1960, his brother Billy Shantz, a catcher appeared with the Yankees for 1 game. The A’s had signed him. The Yankees lost Bobby in the 1960 AL Expansion draft being selected by the new Washington Senators, who then traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 3 players.

1926 - The St. Louis Browns beat the New York Yankees twice, by the scores of 6-1 and 6-2, in a total time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, a MLB record for a twin bill. The 2nd game is the fastest in AL history: 55 minutes. The Yankees total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 hits in the 2 games. Babe Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses 2 scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in game 2 and, when the Browns score 4 runs in the 8th inning, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers twice the runner-up, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Babe Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie Manush, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns coach Jimmie Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nightcap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his MLB final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th inning.

1949 - Before 67,434 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Boston Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled, 7-6 victory, when Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. Leading by 1 game, the Red Sox move on to Washington for a 3-game series with the Senators before the last 2 games of the year with the New York Yankees.

1952 - The New York Yankees clinch their 4th AL straight pennant, an 11-inning 5-2 win at Philadelphia, beating the A’s behind the pitching of starter Ed Lopat and reliever Johnny Sain.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday Night Baseball Lineup

Here's tonight's Yankees lineup:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Lance Berkman DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Phil Huhges

Hughes Starting Tonight

From Marc Carig:
Phil Hughes has been moved back into his regular spot. He'll pitch tonight against the Red Sox.
And from Buster Olney:
Phil Hughes was told on Saturday evening about the change of plans in the NYY rotation, after the Yankees' staff held a meeting.
I guess the team decided this game does matter. Although, I'm not sure messing with Hughes' head like this is the best way to get him to pitch well. If he gets bombed tonight, you can add that to list of things that Girardi is being blamed for. Also, is it just me, or does this change of plans just make Girardi look even more clueluess?

Nike BOOM Spot with Robinson Cano



Nike is releasing some new commercials for their upcoming BOOM campaign today featuring sports superstars and celebrities. BOOM is the moment when the game changes. It’s what makes people talk. It’s the moment you want on replay. One of the commercials features our boy Robby Cano paired with Bo “Knows” Jackson. You can see the posts before they air for the 1 O’clock games here.

To go along with the new campaign, Nike is sponsoring a BOOM Moments contest where you can submit your moment to win some shoes. Go here and check it out – and hopefully win great shoes!

It's Just One of Those Days in Yankeeland

These are some of the headlines from this morning's news: 

Klapisch: Joe Girardi has slumping Yanks as tight as his crew cut
  
Girardi can’t manage to send right message to Yankees  

Girardi hogging spotlight down stretch: Yanks manager's bewildering decisions, nonsensical explanations taking center stage
    Clearly, this hasn't been Joe Girardi's best few day or weeks as Yankees manager. After being just a win or two away from locking things up against the Rays, the division race has swung in the other direction and is all but over, the Sox are a win away from handing the Yanks their 5th straight loss, and the Yankees are starting to look like the '07 Mets. Defending or even rooting for this team has become extremely difficult for me, so with that I'm going to turn on the Giants game.

    Out Of Left Field....Lemmings Edition

    Do you see that big black pit in the center? That is the pit of despair. It leads to an offseason of anger and frustration. There are many of them all over the world, but the biggest ones seem to be located in the North Side Of Chicago, a small field just outside of Pittsburgh, and near the coast of Puget Sound in Seattle.

    Please refrain from joining the masses, and forgetting to stand behind your Bronx Bombers. Sure Girardi may be managing like he's already negotiating a contract with those North Side Cubbies, and Jeter is down to being able to do only two things lately, striking out and grounding into DP's. Hell, even Mariano has had a couple of yips here in September. Still...and NOW MORE THAN EVER...grab that good karma and get behind your Yankees!

    Anyone who knows me from writing around here knows me as the lighthearted one....the voice of reason. Yogi always said "It ain't over till it's over", and we a not at that point right now. During the 6 game stretch against Texas and Tampa, we lost 5 out of 6. 4 of those games were decided by ONE RUN! The other by just 3. We are 8-10 against Tampa this year, with a run differential of -7. That's over 18 games folks. We play them pretty evenly for the most part. We are 4-4 against Texas with a run diiferential of +6. Once again a team we play pretty evenly. Add to that a 4-2 record against Minnesota with a + 3 run differential, and I'd say that we stand a pretty good chance of standing toe to toe with those teams. And I like our chances in the postseason experience department as well.

    What I am saying boys and girls, is that to me karma can be a real MO-FO. Yankees fans are spoiled rotten sometimes, and when the going gets tough, a lot of us seem to get going. Why not take some of that bad karma and kick it to the curb? What happened to Yankees Universe? Seems like Red SUX nation is getting behind their team more that us.

    Come on now....

    Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO! And it's not over now!

    Besides, do you hear Kirstie Alley singing? I don't.

    So get out there today and root for your Bronx Bombers....and rememeber.....

    One more thing....this was a missive from "The Boss" from early in the 2007 season, and I think it holds true now.

    “I believe in them. I am here to support them in any way to help them accomplish this turnaround. It is time to put excuses and talk away. It is time to see if people are ready to step up and accept their responsibilities. It is time for all of them to show me and the fans what they are made of.”


    NOW GO KICK SOME RED SOX ASS!

    Saturday, September 25, 2010

    Today's Lineups

    YANKEES
    Derek Jeter SS
    Nick Swisher RF
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Marcus Thames DH
    Austin Kearns LF
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Francisco Cervelli C

    Pitching RHP Ivan Nova

    RED SOX
    Marco Scutaro 2B
    JD Drew RF
    Victor Martinez C
    David Ortiz DH
    Adrian Beltre 3B
    Jed Lowrie SS
    Ryan Kalish CF
    Daniel Nava LF
    Lars Anderson 1B

    Pitching: LHP Jon Lester

    Tony Dungy To Give Yanks A Pep Talk

    Via the NY Post:
    Every year Chad Bohling, the Yankees' director of mental conditioning, chairs a late-season team meeting to prepare the club for the postseason.

    With the Yankees on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs their magic number over the Red Sox is three to claim the wild card entry Bohling will gather the Yankees for a motivational session before today's game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

    And there is a strong possibility that former Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy will address the Yankees.
    This team does need some sort of kick in the butt, because like I said before, they look old and tired.

    Vaccaro: Pettitte Not Concerned By Rough Outing

    From Mike Vaccaro:

    “Look,” he said, “I’ve said it a hundred times. There are times when I’ve been awful heading into the playoffs and been great once the playoffs started, and times I’ve been terrific heading in and I’ve struggled my first start in the postseason. I don’t think you can read too much into one start.”

    It’s better to read into 40 starts: 40, as in the number of times that Pettitte has taken the ball in the postseason, 36 of them as a member of the Yankees, five more starts than any pitcher in the history of postseason baseball. Pettitte is the all-time postseason leader in wins (18), innings pitched (249), and he’s third in strikeouts (164). Yes, he has had as much opportunity to play postseason baseball as any pitcher who ever has lived.

    ...

    “I have to have better command of what I’m throwing, my pitch sequences against them tonight was just terrible, and I wasn’t able to throw my cutter at all,” Petitte said, and through a different prism this might be a bit more worrisome but through Pettitte’s shrugged shoulders it delivered another message:

    This isn’t his first rodeo. Even if it might be his last.

    “Andy,” Joe Girardi said, “knows what he’s doing. Even when he isn’t having a whole lot of success.”

    These are uncomfortable times around the Yankees, and with reason. The Rays won again last night, so the Yankees awaken this morning, officially, as a second-place team again. The Red Sox, now six games behind the Yankees in the loss column, saw their tragic number shrink to 3, but realize that at the very least they can stave off the gallows with at least one more win this weekend, and maybe throw a genuine jolt of concern at the Yankees with a sweep.

    So it wasn’t the ideal time for the Yankees to see their projected No. 2 playoff starter get lit up, even as Mark Teixeira hit his first two September homers, even as Alex Rodriguez continued to swing a hot bat with two homers of his own, even as the offense perked up and very nearly stole a game the Yankees had no business being in. Not now. Not a day after CC Sabathia got drilled by the Rays. Not with the rest of the Yankees rotation turning its lonely eyes to Petttite.

    “I wasn’t great tonight,” Pettitte said. “But I have one more [regular-season] start, and I believe that I’ll pitch well then, and then we have October and ... well, I’ve got 40 starts in my career in the postseason.”

    No, I'm not too concerned about Pettitte either, or Sabathia for that matter. What concerns me is the attitude this team has taken onto the field everyday for the last two months. A stretch of time that has seen them go 26-25. Sure, there was an 8-game winning streak in the middle of it, but since that streak ended, they're just 6-12.

    This isn't exactly a team that's hitting its stride as they enter October. It's more like a team that looks old and tired and is extremely lucky both the Red and White Sox had terrible Septembers.

    Friday, September 24, 2010

    Yanks-Sox Pitching Matchups

    Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 PM | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
    LHP Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.81) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (5-5, 5.71)

    Game 2: Tomorrow @ 4:10 PM | TV: FOX | Radio: WCBS
    RHP Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.37) vs. LHP Jon Lester (18-8, 3.06)

    Game 3: Sunday @ 8:05 PM | TV: ESPN | Radio: WCBS
    RHP Phil Hughes (17-8, 4.31) vs. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.86)

    What Would You Give Up for Zack Greinke?

    According to multiple sources, the Royals may look to move Greinke this winter. While the rumors remain largely unsubstantiated, there are two reasons to believe that the writing is on the wall. First, Greinke's salary will jump $6.25 M in 2011, to $13.5 M. One could certainly argue that the Royals would not have signed Greinke to this extension last season had they not intended to keep him around for the next two seasons, but that leads into the second issue - Greinke's frustrated. It was reported last month that Greinke is not a strong believer in the Royals' rebuilding efforts. So far as I know, he hasn't really backed off of these statements.

    I, for one, would hope that the Yankees are involved should Greinke hit the market. His previous issues with depression are a bit worrisome, considering the voracious nature of both the fans and media in New York, but his talent is simply undeniable. I wouldn't sell the farm for Greinke (Montero remains untouchable), and the Royals would be justified to hold out for a considerable haul ... but I'd keep an open mind. Nova, Warren, Laird, and Gardner, perhaps?

    What sort of package would you offer?

    Thursday, September 23, 2010

    Did last night's loss cost them the division?

    There's really no need to go over the game in detail. If you saw it you know what happened, and if you happened to miss the game you should consider yourself lucky. Basically, CC Sabathia pitched pretty well through five, the Yankees gave him a 3-1 lead, and then it all fell apart. CC gave up six runs in the 6th, the Yankees bats gave up, and the Rays won the game, the season series, and in my opinion, put themselves in the AL East driver's seat.

    Not only do they now own the tiebreaker, but they're even in the loss column, and have a very easy final ten games (Mariners, Royals, O's). On the other hand, the Yankees face the Red Sox six more times, with three games against the Blue Jays in the middle.

    You figure the Rays will win at least six of their final ten, which means the Yankees have to go 6-3 over their final nine to win the division. Can they? I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling too good about their chances.

    What do you think, did last night kill the Yanks chances at the division?

    Game 153: Yankees vs. Rays

    Regular Season Game 153
    Yankees vs. Rays
    Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY
    Game Time: 7:05 PM
    TV: YES | Radio: WCBS | XM: 175


    Here are the lineups:

    YANKEES (92-60)
    Derek Jeter SS
    Nick Swisher RF
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Marcus Thames DH
    Jorge Posada C
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Greg Golson LF

    Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (2010: 20-6, 3.05 | Career vs. TB: 8-4, 2.90)

    RAYS (90-61)
    B.J. Upton CF
    Jason Bartlett SS
    Carl Crawford LF
    Evan Longoria 3B
    Ben Zobrist 1B
    Rocco Baldelli RF
    Willy Aybar DH
    Kelly Shoppach C
    Sean Rodriguez 2B

    Pitching: LHP David Price (2010: 17-6, 2.79 | Career vs. NYY: 2-1, 3.22)

    News & Notes

    - David Robertson is still listed as day-to-day, although Joe Girardi says his back is feeling better.

    - The Yankees are 8-9 vs. the Rays this season.

    - AL EAST STANDINGS
    YANKEES
    --
    RAYS
    1.5 GB
    RED SOX
    8.0 GB

    - Click on the team name for the Yankees or Rays 2010 stats.


    - Come sign up for the forums. And like always, the chat room in the forums is open.

    Stick around and discuss the game
    as it happens in the comments section.

    Tonight's Lineup: No Gardner or Berkman vs. the Left-Hander

    Derek Jeter SS
    Nick Swisher RF
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Marcus Thames DH
    Jorge Posada C
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Greg Golson LF

    Pitching LHP: CC Sabathia

    Cash Gives Girardi Green Light to use Brackman

    From Mark Feinsand:
    Cashman said he gave Girardi the green light to use Brackman. Innings are not an issue with him.
    That's pretty interesting. I hope he can actually get into a game.

    (Update: 4:55 p.m.) Here's another update via Marc Carig:
    Cashman says to expect Brackman to get some work.
    I guess he will get into a game.

    Better Know a Prospect: Andrew Brackman

    Andrew Brackman
    Born: 4 December 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height/Weight: 6'10"/240 pounds
    Signed: 2007, 1st Round MLB Amateur Draft

    2010 Stats
    Tampa - 60.0 IP, 67 H, 9 BB, 56 K, 5.10 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.12 FIP
    Trenton - 80.2 IP, 77 H, 30 BB, 70 K, 2.90 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.32 FIP

    It would not be terribly hyperbolic to suggest that Andrew Brackman may be the definitive high-risk, high-reward selection in the history of the amateur draft. In the weeks leading into the draft, few questioned his fantastic stuff and potential for dominance. Brackman's college arsenal consisted of a high-90s fastball with two-seamer action and a knee-buckling breaking ball in the mid-70s. His tremendous height allows him to throw on a downward plane, and his sheer size and extension is capable of baffling batters. At the same time, however, Brackman had had injury problems in high school and at NC State, and his size does lend to the possibility of bone, tendon, and ligament issues. Further, many feared that lingering elbow issues would lead to surgery in the near future. As a result of the latter, the Yankees snatched Brackman with the 30th pick of the draft ... and he went under the knife shortly thereafter, with Dr. Andrews performing Tommy John Surgery.

    Brackman's 2009 season was nothing short of horrific. 6.41 BB/9, a 5.91 ERA, a 4.66 FIP, and sloppy, inconsistent mechanics left Brackman tumbling down the Yankees ladder in the minds of many. His previously dynamic fastball sat in the mid to high-80s, his breaking ball had little to no bite, and there wasn't much of a change-up to speak of. However, a silver lining did exist, in that most pitchers take until year two post-TJS to recover their stuff (see: Liriano, Francisco). It was also worth noting that he maintained a roughly 1.5 G/F ratio and almost a strikeout per inning ... but the results remained poor, at best.

    As any reliable optimist would have expected, Brackman rebounded tremendously in 2010. Brackman's ERA at Tampa is sort of ugly, but his peripherals indicated a fairly dominant showing - 8.4 K/9, 6.22 K/BB, 3.12 FIP, and 54% GB are very good, at the very least. His promotion to Trenton was handled with gusto, as well. While his numbers did regress a bit, the jump from High-A to Double-A is oftentimes the most difficult within the minors, and Brackman handled it quite well - while his strikeouts and walks went the wrong way, both remained solid, and his 51% GB is quite good, to boot. Most importantly, Brackman's stuff appeared to be all the way back. His fastball sat between 93 and 96 with good command, his curveball was showcased as a swing-and-miss pitch with excellent movement (and solid control), and his change-up is en route to being an average offering, sitting around 86 with a decent delivery.

    The important lesson to take away from Brackman's 2010 is that visions of a quality starting pitcher are no longer a pipe dream. Brackman's progress is simply undeniable, and his arsenal is the stuff that hitter's nightmares are made of, to be a bit cliché. While I would not by into the Randy Johnson comparisons, as there's no real foundation beyond their respective heights, I do think that Brackman's ceiling is considerable ... and his floor is much higher than anyone previously expected.

    A Look at the Playoff Pitching Staff

    We got a sneak peak of who the Yankees are expecting to bring with them to the ALDS via Jack Curry last night:
    Yanks expect 11 pitchers for DS. CC, AJ, Andy, Phil, Mo, Wood, Joba, Logan, Rbrtsn r locks. Nova, Vazquez, Gaudin, Mitre fight 4 2 spots
    I'm going with Nova and Vazquez for those final two spots. They've been the two most effective of the final four, and if given the chance, I think Nova could be a valuable reliever in the playoffs. When Gaudin and Mitre enter a game I instantly feel like the Yankees have lost and I don't need that in October.

    Who are your final two?.

    Robertson Had Back Spasms

    From Bryan Hoch:
    Dave Robertson went for a MRI today, showed no structural damage. Unavailable w back spasms.
    And that's why Chad Gaudin came in for the 7th.

    Wednesday, September 22, 2010

    Game 152: Yankees vs. Rays

    Regular Season Game 152
    Yankees vs. Rays
    Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY
    Game Time: 7:35 p.m.
    TV: YES | Radio: WCBS | XM: 176


    Here are the lineups:

    YANKEES (92-59)
    Brett Gardner LF
    Derek Jeter SS
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Nick Swisher RF
    Lance Berkman DH
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Francisco Cervelli C

    Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (2010: 10-13, 5.08 | Career vs. TB: 12-6, 3.16)

    RAYS (89-61)
    John Jaso DH
    Ben Zobrist CF
    Carl Crawford LF
    Evan Longoria 3B
    Dan Johnson 1B
    Matt Joyce RF
    Jason Bartlett SS
    Reid Brignac 2B
    Dioner Navarro C

    Pitching: RHP Wade Davis (2010: 12-9, 4.19 | Career vs. NYY: 2-2, 4.18)

    News & Notes

    - The Diamondbacks named Kevin Towers their next GM. He has spent 2010 as a special assistant for the Yanks.

    - The Yankees are 8-8 vs. the Rays this season.

    - AL EAST STANDINGS:

    YANKEES

    --

    RAYS

    2.5 GB

    RED SOX

    9.0 GB



    - Click on the team name for the Yankees or Rays 2010 stats.

    - Come sign up for the forums. And like always, the chat room in the forums is open.

    Stick around and discuss the game
    as it happens in the comments section.

    Tonight's Lineup: No Posada, Gardner Leading Off

    Brett Gardner LF
    Derek Jeter SS
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Nick Swisher RF
    Lance Berkman DH
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Francisco Cervelli C

    Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett

    If you ask me, winning tonight would basically wrap up the division. What do you think?

    Heyman: If Girardi leaves, Bobby V may be Bronx bound

    From Jon Heyman (hat-tip to WasWatching):
    Joe Girardi will probably stay with the Yankees rather than go to the home state Cubs (he's from Peoria and went to Northwestern). But if he leaves, Bobby Valentine likely would be one candidate to replace him in the Bronx.
    Like Heyman, I find it hard to believe that Girardi will leave the Yankees for the Cubs job, but I guess anything is possible. If he does, I like the idea of Valentine, especially since Mattingly and Showalter are off the market. What are your thoughts?

    Yankee Brass Discuss The Boss's XL Monument



    From the NY Daily News:
    Not even the Yankees can deny the monument unveiled in honor of late owner George Steinbrenner on Monday dwarfs legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in Monument Park.

    However, they aren't about to apologize for it, either.

    "We think the monument is a tribute to the man The Boss was, larger than life. His spirit is encompassed by that monument, and there was no intention to make it bigger than the others just for the sake of doing it," team president Randy Levine told the Daily News before Tuesday night's game against the Rays. "We just felt that it was The Boss, the greatest owner in sports. He built (the new) Yankee Stadium. He did so much for so many people. And he made the Yankee brand a worldwide one and took it to heights that never have been reached.

    "It was not made bigger in an attempt to have it be larger than the others. We just wanted to represent the spirit of George Steinbrenner."

    Steinbrenner's bust measures seven feet wide by five feet high - not including the base - and weighs 760 pounds.

    Chief operating officer Lonn Trost said he and Senior VP of marketing Debbie Tymon worked with U.S. Bronze to commission the piece and that everything about the monument ultimately was approved by the Steinbrenner family.

    "Mr. Steinbrenner always was so proud of Monument Park and now it's as if he's overseeing the other monuments and plaques and the tradition that reside there," Tymon said.
    Is the monument too large? Yes, and it would have made more sense to me if it was like the other monuments. But at the same time, I can't say I'm upset by it. It is what it is, let's move on to things that matter.

    MLB Playoff Highlights Coming to a Subway Car Near You

    From the AP:
    Riding New York City's Times Square Shuttle subway cars will be a lot more interesting next month.

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it will be airing video clips from Major League Baseball broadcasts on the shuttle that runs between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal.

    The campaign is an effort by the MTA to raise its advertising revenue. The cable network TBS is paying to air the highlights of the previous day's playoff games to promote its coverage of the playoffs.

    MTA Chairman Jay Walder says it is the first time the agency has offered video images on subway screens.
    Kinda cool. Here are a few images via RAB:


    Tuesday, September 21, 2010

    Tonight's Lineup & Other News

    Jesus Montero is joining Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances will the big club. Earlier, we heard that they were all just here to be with the club and soak in the MLB atmosphere, but now Sweeny Murti just tweeted this:
    Andrew Brackman, Jesus Montero, Dellin Betances all set to join Yanks, but Brackman is only active one. Other 2 here to see ML atmosphere.
    Sweeny might mean he's the only one active on the 40-man, not sure yet..... For now, here's the lineup:

    Derek Jeter SS
    Nick Swisher RF
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Jorge Posada C
    Lance Berkman DH
    Curtis Granderson CF (This month: 18 games: .290/.397/.645 with 6 HR, 17 RBI)
    Brett Gardner LF

    Pitching: RHP Phil Hughes

    Brackman & Betances Are Bronx Bound, But Not To Pitch

    There have been reports floating around since yesterday that Andrew Brackman was going to be called up, well here's the deal from Josh Norris:
    Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances are headed to NY to get a taste of life in the show, not to pitch at all.
    So there you have it.

    Cash and Torre Finally Bury the Hatchet

    From Mark Feinsand:
    Consider the fences mended.

    Joe Torre came to the Bronx to pay tribute to George Steinbrenner Monday night, but the trip served a dual purpose, as the former Yankees manager made amends with Brian Cashman and, in effect, the entire organization.

    ...

    Monday marked the first time Torre seemed remorseful over the fallout.

    "I know he was offended by some of the stuff he read in the book," Torre said prior to his conversation with Cashman. "I anticipate that we'll certainly shake hands and hopefully be done with whatever there was that came from that being the case."

    Torre's words proved to be prophetic. Cashman greeted Torre and Mattingly, then Torre and Cashman disappeared into the clubhouse for a long awaited sit-down.

    "I think we've agreed to just put it behind us," Cashman said. "We had a long, terrific run. I would put our relationship while we were working together up against any GM/manager combination in the game. We both agreed it's just not healthy. It's time to turn the page. Whatever happened on that side, it's a small sample compared to the huge sample of all the good stuff that took place."

    ...

    "When I left, that was a very dark time for me," Torre said. "I was hurt, and yet if you try to be rational about it, you had two parties not knowing how to say goodbye. That's what it turned out to be.

    "It's going to mean a lot to be back here and walk on that field, even though I didn't work on that field. It's Yankee Stadium. It's pinstripes."
    Last night was long overdue, but at least it finally happened. Now the Yankees can finally schedule Joe Torre day.

    Monday, September 20, 2010

    Yankees Honor the Boss with a Monument(al Win)

    On a night of remembrance and reverence, Curtis Granderson led the Yankees to an important victory with what may very well have been his best game donning the pinstripes. Granderson went 2 for 3 with two homers, five RsBI, two walks, and a stolen base, and is now batting a solid .273/.369/.578 with 11 HR since re-tooling his swing in mid-August.

    The Yankees offense performed quite well as a whole. Granderson, Derek Jeter, and Nick Swisher each had two hits (with Swisher also drawing two walks), and Francisco Cervelli had three hits and three runs. Only Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez failed to reach base, though Rodriguez did drive in a run with a sacrifice fly.

    Ivan Nova pitched well until the sixth inning, where he began laboring despite a fairly efficient pitch count (78). The bullpen kept things interesting, with Boone Logan, Chad Gaudin, David Robertson, and Mariano Rivera combining to allow 6 hits, 2 BB, 2 ER (and an inherited run from Nova) in only 2 IP. Were it not for Kerry Wood's four out effort, I'm not quite sure that the team would've held on. While I'm not terribly concerned, it's sort of awkward to see Rivera's September line - 9.1 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HBP, 3.86 ERA, and two blown saves in seven opportunities. Here's hoping this is random variation and not a late-season swoon.

    Game two is a rematch of last Wednesday's game, with James Shields taking the hill for the Rays and Phil Hughes starting for the Yankees. The game is set to start at at 7:05 pm on MY9.

    Player of the Game: Curtis Granderson
    Honorable Mention: Francisco Cervelli and Kerry Wood


    Game 150: Yankees vs. Rays - Two Great Yankees Come Back Home

    #6 Welcome back, Joe and Donnie! #23

    Regular Season Game 150
    Yankees vs. Rays
    Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY
    Game Time: 7:35 p.m.
    TV: YES | Radio: WCBS | XM: 176


    Here are the lineups:

    YANKEES (90-59)
    Derek Jeter SS
    Curtis Granderson CF
    Mark Teixeira 1B
    Alex Rodriguez 3B
    Robinson Cano 2B
    Nick Swisher RF
    Lance Berkman DH
    Brett Gardner LF
    Francisco Cervelli C

    Pitching: RHP Ivan Nova (2010: 1-0, 4.30 | Career vs. TB: 0-0, 11.57)

    RAYS (89-59)
    John Jason C
    Ben Zobrist 2B
    Carl Crawford LF
    Evan Longoria 3B
    Dan Johnson DH
    Matt Joyce RF
    Carlos Pena 1B
    B.J. Upton CF
    Jason Bartlett SS

    Pitching: RHP Matt Garza (2010: 14-8, 3.88 | Career vs. NYY: 1-3, 4.11)

    News & Notes

    - The Yankees are 6-8 vs. the Rays this season.

    - AL EAST STANDINGS:

    YANKEES

    --

    RAYS

    0.5 GB

    RED SOX

    7.0 GB



    - Click on the team name for the Yankees or Rays 2010 stats.

    - Come sign up for the forums. And like always, the chat room in the forums is open.

    Stick around and discuss the game
    as it happens in the comments section.