GAME 134: THE STARTING/ENDING PITCHER WAS BACK
I’m trying to get a second wing as a blogger and I just witnessed another great baseball moment even if the Yankees had a hard time this last game against Roy “the DOC” Halladay are on my side of the border (Canada).
Doc suffered three straight losses recently but apparently he did choose the Yankees to come back throwing a one-hitter to shut down and the Yanks and every discussion that started with: “what’s the matter with Roy?” In this last game, the DOC showed that his role in baseball is being a starting and ending pitcher: a pitcher that starts a game and finishes what he’s started.
As a Yankee fan I must thank my boy Ramiro Pena for hitting the New York’s only hit of the game on his first start on the lineup since he got called back from AAA on the September call. Pena was replacing Derek Jeter who got the day off on manager Joe Girardi’s decision.
I’m not going to blame anybody for this last loss because there is simply no one to blame. Halladay is the guy you don’t want to meet in the playoffs. He’s like Pedro back in his Expos days: he makes teams glad they’re not likely to meet him in the playoffs because of the team he’s playing with. I don’t call the Blue Jays and Expos bad teams but I objectively have to class them as no regular postseason-makers.
Michael Dunn had his major league debut, retired two batters but still made this look like a…debut. He walked three and left the bases loaded which earned him two runs on his own count but his numbers in the minors speak for themselves and remind us he’s a future head to report on. He’s a minor-leaguer; I don’t consider him rookie in this league so whatever what happens when he comes out, his appearances in games for this season mean TESTS and all we are going to do for now is take the results from those and revise it in the post-season.
What else is there to say about last game if that’s not Halladay-related. I got one: Joba’s looking tired and the baby rules don’t fit any major leaguer I’m sorry. Join the team and keep reading my posts: on next game veteran Andy Pettitte is facing young blood Brett Cecil for the probable next Yankees’ win.
GAME 124: SOX RESPONDED TO SARCASTIC CHEERS
The series between New York and Boston have looked like a cat and mouse’s race so far. The Yankees outscored the Red Sox on Friday to win the first of the three-game set and Boston ended their losing streak against the Yanks yesterday with a big score of 11-1.
AJ Burnett has set a career-high (not the type of career-high a Yankees’ fan would look for though) allowing nine runs on nine hits, through five innings. He threw a lot of balls and his location was missing but you can expect him to come back with a good next start as he never fails twice. I just hope that the day that the day he’ll miss the start next to good one won’t come.
Kevin Youkilis is a real pest and definitely is one rival to watch. Every time he hits against New York, it’s like he makes the rivalry live on. Like they said on FOX: ”he used to be a hitter with power but now he is a hitter with power and discipline” and that sure helps him and his team very much.
The only run of the game for New York came off the seventh inning when Nick Swisher hit his twenty-fifth long ball of the season. He had such a good game with a 3 for 5 day in at-bats.
Damaso Marte has unexpectedly rejoined the bullpen and had a chance in Friday’s game. He passed his first back-from-rehab test not allowing a hit in two thirds innings pitched. I feel good about it because his coming back was such an interrogation for some as he failed his first rehab in test in the minors and he pitched good… well for this time at least. There’s a limit to keeping these guys in the minors so I guess that as Marte said he was feeling ready for a comeback, Girardi simply made some room for him in the club. Utility guy Ramiro Pena is the one who was optioned down to Triple-A.
Brian Bruney has been good in recent days but left a suspect note after his last Friday game’s appearance.
Tonight Sunday night baseball is hosting another Yanks on Sox final. The Yanks have a chance to win the series if they get this one with the help of CC Sabathia who has the ball against Josh Beckett. The rivalry is still alive and Yankees are still the best of the two, don’t you forget this.
GAME 122: MORE READY THAN EVER
Like I said in Game120′s report, Brett Tomko had a good time on Tuesday’s game winning against the team he says he never really had a chance with but the Yankees are far from being an organization that is susceptive to suffer from that type of minor inconvenient.
The Yankees are so good right now that every test they make result positive. I don’t know if the Chad Gaudin‘s introduction to the starting rotation was a test but whatever it was he’s been up to solve the Mitre’s interrogation. Because of the Lousiana kid (who can thank the Yanks for shaving the paintbrush), Mitre turns into a regular relief pitcher instead of what some call a suspect fifth starter on the Yanks’ rotation.
Gaudin did very well (4 shutout innings in first NY’s start) and seems to be the kind of player that makes you focus more on his new Yanks’ stats whether than his past numbers with other teams (whether they’d be good or average). He would have liked to go deeper in the game but he’s playing for a role in New York so he’s part of those that the coach is talking to him and the only word he’s credible to say is ”yes” or nothing at all before executing.
Playing with the Yanks is already what any baseball player wishes to say ”yes” to. Repeat what you did yesterday for the team as most as you can Gaudin and who knows what you might say yes to in a near future.
This team is just as good as it can be nothing negative about it. If you are looking for problems over this team well you have to go to the minors’ affiliates and still…
Tonight the team is going to meet their rivals in Boston where Andy Pettite Brad Penny. Let’s try what we did against them last time, but at their home this time.
GAME 120: A MESSAGE FROM BRETT
What is this about? Who would have imagined such an improbable scenario like this? Well I did, hehe! Of course I’m kidding, what we witnessed tonight as Yankees fans was simply another improbable baseball scenario. The fact that Brett Tomko found a job after the Yanks dropped him for inefficiency in the bullpen wasn’t that much big of a surprise, but to have him pitching against us as a starter was already good for a future headline title.
You must admit that the title: “Tomko fails against Former team” was quite a probable and desirable one to read on the papers tomorrow but still too easy to foretell.
Good for him but this is still the type of scenario that comes and goes: we still didn’t him that much, he showed he was good for Oakland. It’s true he wasn’t he first one I would’ve sent down or designate for assignment (maybe the second or third though) but to me he was still classed as “not that much of a deal”. So maybe we paid the price for it tonight in a way, but when the Yanks will win the series against the A’s the papers reading the headline: “Tomko beats Yanks…” will already be on their way to recycling.
The Yankees have been on bases seven times while the A’s got six but managed to beat them 3-0, Brett Tomko picked up a win against his former team and the Yankees lost two straight. AJ Burnett threw the whole game but allowed three runs in the fourth that cost the game. What can you do as a pitcher when your team doesn’t score?
CC Sabathia, which has set a new career-high his last outing with a number of ten strikeouts will face RHP Vin Mazzaro for Oakland. The Jays won the first of their last three-game set against Yanks but remember what happened: we won the series anyway and that’s probably what is going to happen again tonight at the Oakland Coliseum.
GAME 116: A STORM UNDER CLOSED ROOF
The Yankees probably had a good batting practice yesterday (I’m talking about the one before the game, no confusion) because they had such an easy time scoring eleven runs against one to win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Hideki Matsui played that last game like a great designated hitter is supposed to. He drove two homeruns and reached a total of five RBI in the game. The more he and his teammates are hitting and win games like they actually do, the less I see a possibility of not making the playoffs.
Derek Jeter quickly made that bruised foot a history of the past as he was part of the starting lineup and had another multi-hit game.
Jerry Hairston Jr. had the start at third base for Alex Rodriguez and had a good game. It didn’t take much time for him to become partner with the rest of the club. Maybe the fact that it’s not the first time being traded helps him to adapt to new teams. He is a luxury utilitiman to me and he also had a multi-hit game last night. Jose Molina had a good backup game too.
Brian Bruney has impressed me recently as he seems to have found a way to reconcile with his location. It looks like just when he was on the edge of the bullpen’s suspects’ list, he knew how to come back in time and had a 1,2,3 inning in the ninth.
CC Sabathia reached a new season-high with a total of ten strikeouts. It looks like he gave those Mariners a hard time to hit against him.
I’m afraid I am probably going to miss the first innings off tonight’s game for the reason that I’m participating in a Baseball tournament and planning to have some beers with the dudes after but I think that I should be able to catch in the late innings. Jorge Posada should return to the lineup to catch Andy Pettite tonight; which is facing Rowland-Smith.
GAME 115: HARDBALL IN THE BRONX
The Yankees have once again won the series against the Toronto Blue Jays last day for the last game of their home stay. It hasn’t been easy though, as the Jays have showed up with their dominant face and were up to take the in overtime but New York managed to rally and score the winning run on a walk-off double by Robinson Cano.
That last win had a price though as the Yanks get out of that one with two big names both got hurt being hit by pitches: Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Jeter was able to run the bases after the pain off his bruising right foot eased and also to score the first of the game but couldn’t continue playing after that so he had to leave the game and Ramiro Pena came to replace him at shortstop.
A-Rod remained in the game and happily the X-rays for him and Jeter were negative.
Another Yankee had a bad time with the ball yesterday: Jorge Posada‘s right throwing hand met the bouncing ball off his glove while he wasn’t placing it behind him the way coaches are teaching young catchers to do so.
AJ Burnett was pitching in a confident way but then allowed the tying run on a wild pitch in the sixth which made so he couldn’t get the win. Chad Gaudin, the latest player to put on the pinstripes made his Yankee debut and completed the two overtime innings allowing only one hit and struck out three Jays. Just like Joe Girardi, I was very happy to see the new relief guy doing good out there. Gaudin is likely to start on Sunday which means that Sergio Mitre will head to the bullpen. This might be temporary like this could be the last step down for him but Girardi knows and seems to trust him very much.
Robinson Cano showed what a .317 AVG hitter is like when he hit that walk-off double in the eleventh inning and as you know or guess he earned that walk-off whippy cream on his face. It’s almost hard in this moment to remember him having a bad season last year now that he plays so cleverly. Keep it going Robi!
Now the Bombers took a flight to the West. Destination: Safeco Field in Seattle where they will meet the Mariners to start the weekend series. CC Sabathia has the ball and will face RHP Ian Snell who has a record of two wins and eight losses. That’s a “help me relief” type of record so on paper CC and the rest of the team are likely to win the opener tonight.
GAME 112: KISS THAT SWEEP GOODBYE
Even if the Red Sox weren’t still beaten for eight consecutive games by the Yanks this season, well their fans have to agree that thirty consecutive scoreless innings through a 4-game sweep while the Yanks are number one in the division and pretty comfortable there looks pretty much like the recess is over. Yanks are back and there isn’t anything you can do it about it, it seems pretty clear.
Homeruns were back at Yankee Stadium last night: Alex Rodriguez went deep off Lester in the seventh inning to score the first run of the game. A-Rod passes Harmen Killbrew on the All-Time homeruns hitters’ list.
Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira did it again while they hit two homeruns consecutively with Boston who gained a one-run lead the previous inning. From there the bombers made the eighth a 4-run inning and Mariano Rivera closed the show.
Andy Pettitte showed he was still about domination. He was confident and had very good command through his outing. Like I said in my short preview in my last post: he’s been there, done that, he’s seen those Sox before and still wasn’t impressed by them. He threw seven scoreless complete innings.
Some thought Sergio Mitre‘s job was in danger because of Chad Gaudin‘s arrival will learn that Joe Girardi confirmed it was safe. He’ll pitch tonight against Pzerciensky of the Blue Jays, who are in town tonight to try to get the best over the Yanks again. Good luck, you will need it.
GAME 111: YANKS UP, SOX DOWN
It didn’t take fifteen innings for the Yankees to beat the Red Sox last night, but it took five and two-thirds innings for Boston to get a first hit against them and CC Sabathia. Four hits are all what the Sox could get as they got blanked for the second straight game. That makes twenty-three consecutive scoreless innings for Boston against the Yanks so let’s call it like this: dominance.
We’re reminded by commercials that Dustin Perdroia can’t hit an inside pitch right? But yesterday he couldn’t hit Yankees pitches either as he went 0 for 4 in at-bats.
Umpires got argued several times into the game, including the ejection of Boston’s pitcher Ramon Ramirez by home plate umpire Jim Joyce for hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. Joyce said the reason of the ejection was because he found Ramirez was pitching around while he threw a pitch near the head of Teixeira in the at-bat just preceding Rodriguez.
Derek Jeter helped his team in the eighth inning with a 3-run shot while Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira and Jose Molina and drove RBI through the game.
Josh Towers stepped in the clubhouse yesterday and stepped out today. Damaso Marte’s placing on the 60-day disabled list was the main reason of his call-up as it left an opened spot on the 40-man roster. The recently acquired Chad Gaudin will replace him today and will be the next reliever to be tested. Mark Melancon got his call-down prematurely on Saturday to leave the spot for Towers.
Yankees and Red Sox are starring in tonight’s nationally broadcasted Sunday night baseball game. On the menu is Andy Pettitte against Jon Lester and the Yanks, who have already won the series will try to complete the 4-game sweep.
GAMEE 110: GREETINGS FROM THE CHAMPS
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Date |
Innings |
Score * |
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8/29/1967 (Game 2) |
20 |
NYY 4, BOS 3 |
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9/5/1927 (Game 2) |
18 |
BOS 12, NYY 11 |
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4/16/1967 |
18 |
NYY 7, BOS 6 |
|
8/2/1978 |
17 |
BOS 7, NYY 5 |
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9/29/1923 (Game 2) |
16 |
BOS 3, NYY2 |
|
9/9/1962 |
16 |
BOS 5, NYY 4 |
|
6/4/1966 (Game 2) |
16 |
BOS 6, NYY 3 |
|
4/19/1930 (Game 1) |
15 |
BOS 4, NYY 3 |
|
4/18/1931 |
15 |
BOS 5, NYY 4 |
|
7/23/1932 (Game 1) |
15 |
NYY 4, BOS 3 |
|
5/30/1951 |
15 |
BOS 1, NYY 10 |
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6/1/1997 |
15 |
NYY 11, BOS 6 |
|
8/7/2009 |
15 |
NYY 2, BOS 0 |
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* Home team in bold |
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Baseball fans had their share yesterday and especially Yankees and Red Sox fans who could observe their team playing fifteen innings of pure rivalry competition. This time what was expected to be a pitcher’s game has been one and we could also call it pitchers’ game as well. Yankees saw six of their pitchers go on the field to extend the scoreless matchup while the red Sox have sent eight of theirs to finally see the longest game between the two teams since 1997 ending on a walk-off homerun by no one else than Mr. Alex Rodriguez in the fifteenth, good for two runs.
I told you that AJ Burnett never fails twice and in this last game he proved it right once again. Though he couldn’t get a strike off the pie he attempted to toss at Alex Rodriguez, he delivered an incredible performance even if he got to walk a lot of batters.
Both teams brought good efforts and never gave up but in those types of games, the best always wins it. That’s exactly what happened last night when A-Rod ended his homerun’s slump to make his team win a second straight game against Boston and finally go get some sleep.
Brian Bruney really impressed me in the two innings he pitched in overtime (13th and 14th). When I first saw him out there I was thinking to myself like “oh my gosh…”, kind of unsure of what type of delivery he was going to bring but finally he knew how to extinguish any doubts I had while he fitted perfectly good in the hot pitchers’ showdown. He allowed only a hit in two complete innings.
Ace (Alfredo Aceves) has been terrific with his commands and is every day making the nick “Ace” fit him even better. He was the star pitcher in overtime where he saved the first three innings striking out three SOXs and allowed only one hit too.
Anthony Claggett wasn’t enough convincing on the game he pitched on Thursday so it didn’t take too long before Joe Girardi swapped up his thirteenth pitcher to bring somebody back among the benchers. Ramiro Pena is back and hearings are that his trip to Scranton/Wiles-Barre paid off as he has now become a bigger piece of the puzzle for the Yanks. His outfielder’s learning program worked well in the minors so now he is up to help his team even in the outfield if they need him there for a pinch. He precised the fact that he is still learning but to me his infield abilities already made me really appreciate him as an utilityman.
It’s now time for CC Sabathia to make his appearance today at the Stadium where he’ll start against Bucholz for Boston. Is Bucholz going to hold CC the way Josh Beckett did with AJ yesterday? I doubt it but we’ll see.
GAME 109: KINGS AGAIN
The Yankees got a monkey off their back that was there since last June 11: the date the Red Sox had beaten the Yanks for an eighth consecutive time. Last night was the night the Yanks became kings again in front of 49 005 fans (this year’s biggest crowd at the stadium including personalities like Muhammad Ali, Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson and HOF Eddie Murray), while they whacked the Red Sox so hard it cost John Smoltz‘ job.
That game was a good reply to some Red Sox’ fans who, since having broken a curse that took 86 years, are sometimes mistaking their team for God. This year is the coming back down to earth for them as they visibly lost their luck.
Good chances are that Yankee Stadium has just hosted the last game in career for John Smoltz, who damaged his earned run average to 8.32 in eight starts this season. Some knows to retire in time and some doesn’t. He served the worst outing I heard he ever did especially in the fourth inning (which lasted 34 minutes) where Yankees’ base hits were flying like bullets. The damage rose to eight runs allowed in 3.1 innings pitched before he left the game and the team to go Atlanta home. If that doesn’t mean retirement well I wonder what it means but he had a good career and stayed clean unlike some of his teammates. The game will miss you John, see you around.
Joba Chamberlain struggled at some moments of the game, allowing hits and leaving the impression he didn’t have good command on his pitches. He was still able to minimize some damage while he got out of bases loaded situations but still allowed four runs in five innings pitched. That wasn’t his best his best performance since he came from his trip home to Nebraska but no blame at all, only cheers as he became the first Yankees’ pitcher to pick a win off the Red Sox this season.
Johnny Damon (3 for 5) and Mark Texeira (3 for 4) are becoming what should be the most dangerous pair in a lineup a pitcher has to face. How many times have you seen those two going back-to-back with hits recently? A lot of times, too many to be ignored and that’s the less we can say.
Anthony Claggett had his first test since his call-up in an out-of-reach situation in the ninth where the Yanks had nine runs over Boston. He got out of the inning but allowed two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out one. That’s the third time he’s been called up this season.
Second meeting is setting up and AJ Burnett will start tonight. His last appearance wasn’t really better than a disappearance (ohoh) but like I said he’s never expected to fail twice so let’s expect another win against the Sox instead. Josh Beckett will start for Boston and is not expected to pitch like Smoltz did but there’s a first time for everything.
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