Yankees unload on Seattle to win 3rd straight

I predicted yesterday that it was going to be a low scoring game, and Pettitte did his part, holding the Mariners to just 2 runs in 6 innings while striking out a season high 9 batters. The bullpen continued to do a fine job, shutting out the Ms the rest of the way.

The explosive Yankees offense did just that, putting up a baker's dozen 13 runs
based on 13 hits, including a couple doubles, and my personal favorite weapon--the 3- run homer. Shelley Duncan provided all the offense Pettitte and the Yankees would need with his big fly in the second. The team put the game away in the 5th with 8 runs to chase Bedard.

This is my type of game. While I enjoy a tight 2-1 game as much as any purist, my favorite game is as described by the late Jacob Ruppert; the Yankees score 10 runs in the first and then slowly pull away.

Every starter reached base, and every one except Jeter reached via a base knock.

And the good Yankee news keeps on coming. Giambi, of the traveling gold lame thong, continues his hot hitting with a single, double and a pair of walks to raise his average to .217. Cano continues his rise to respectability with another pair of hits and 3 RBI. Just a few days ago, half the team was below the Mendoza Line, but as of today, they are starting to show the signs that they are one of the powerhouses in the AL.

Mussina starts today at 1:05 on YES. Moose will be going for his team high 7th win.

In other news, Posada is due back in 3 weeks or so. And Bobby Murcer's autobiography, Yankee for Life, is out. Old time fans remember the day he was traded for Barry Bonds with sadness. He came back after a few years, and has been a member of the family ever since.



Go Yankees

Yankees win again, two in a row

Generation Trey finally came through with a start good enough for a victory.
Ian Kennedy pitched his best game as a Yankee, and while it was good enough for the win, the offense was so lame, he came away with just the satisfaction that he can pitch on a major league level. Kennedy turned in 6 strong innings, scattering 4 hits and allowing one run. The pen held the O's at bay, until Cano knocked in Matsui in the bottom of the ninth with a 2-out single.

Tonight, Pettitte is handed the ball against the Mariners. (7:05 on My 9)

The Yankees face the always tough Bedard, so look for a low scoring game.



Go Yankees

Crowley is lucky to have a f&%$#@* job, Yankees win

I was watching the game tonight on YES, and the announcers started talking about the hitting instructor for the O's, former major leaguer Terry Crowley. Just some filler, nothing important. In the background, clear as can be, someone in the booth said "Crowley is lucky to have a f'ing job." Only he didn't say f'ing. He dropped the "F" bomb over the air. Someone has to learn that mics are pretty sensitive today.

As for the game, both the offense and the defense showed up on the same night. Rasner (4-0) pitched very well, tossing 7 innings of shutout ball with 6 strikeouts. Joba closed it out with 2 shutout innings and another 3 Ks.

On to the offense. A-Rod is back, and he is leading the Yankees as only he can. He hit another homer tonight, and a bad call by the umpires cost him a second one. When the umps blew the call against the Mets robbing Delgado of a HR, at least it was close. This was in the stands, as it hit the steps, and bounced out. To his credit, Alex took it in stride. He led the hitting attack with a pair of doubles (one should have been a HR) and a homer. The team totalled 13 hits and 5 walks, and pushed across 8 runs.

Oh yeah!!!

In Joba news, he pitched 2 innings tonight, and according to Girardi, this is part of the process of turning him into a starter.

Tomorrow, Kennedy (oy vey) pitches the rubber game against the O's (7:05 on YES.)



Go Yankees

Yankees lose, Jeter hurt

Just when it looked like the Yankees offense would be getting back on track with the return of A-Rod, the defense fell apart. Jeter's 2 out first inning error opened up the floodgates as the Birds pushed across 7 runs (6 unearned) in the inning. Mussina only recorded those 2 outs for his shortest outing since 1995. The bullpen allowed another 5 runs over the course of the game, resulting in a 12-2 drubbing. To make matters worse, Jeter was hit by a pitch on the hand, and left the game.

It's hard to find any bright spots in the game. But all is not lost. (I'm such a fan)

X-rays showed no breakage, so Jeter is day to day. A-Rod went 1-3 with a homerun. Abreu had a couple hits, and Giambi, of the gold lame thong, got two hits to raise his average above .200.

Rasner takes the mound today at 7:05 (on YES) as he tries to stop the bleeding.

Time to cleanse all bad thoughts and get ready to enjoy today's game. This is the start of a big streak. I have that feeling.

And, as for yesterday, here is a reasonable facsimile of the Joe Pepitone memorabilia at the Yesterday's Heroes Ballpark Cafe in Cape May. I couldn't find the exact picture, but you get the idea.



Go Yankees

A-Rod is back

A-Rod rejoins the Yankees today against Baltimore, and not a moment too soon.
When Moose takes the mound at 7:05 tonight (on YES) at the Cathedral, he'll be able to see Alex at 3rd, rather than whoever is wearing Giambi's gold lame thong.

A-Rod just makes the entire lineup better. Look for them to start putting up some runs. I'm looking for the whole team to be up, and knowing Jorge Posada is on the way only makes the future brighter.

I have my A-Rod jersey on, sitting here at 9:30 a.m. and I can't wait for the first pitch. Rain is a possibility, but I'm pretty sure they'll get the game in.

Just because I was thinking about vacations on my other blog, (Joy of Toast) I thought I'd do a tie in. At Yesterday's Heroes Ballpark Cafe in Cape May, NJ, my favorite piece of a former Yankee player's memorabilia is on display. It belonged to Joe Pepitone. Any idea what it is? Check back tomorrow, I'll try to find a picture of this unique, one of a kind, bit of Yankees nostalgia.

Oh and congrats to Lester of the hated Red Sox for pitching a no hitter. He was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma around 2 years ago,and he has come back, not just to play, but to excel.

Stupid Red Sox.

Alex gives a final test for his quad. He's feeling good.


Go Yankees

No Joy in Mudville

Rather than discuss the embarassment of the 2 games against the Mets (yesterday it was 11-2, as the mighty Yankee offense mustered 3 hits in a blowout) I'd rather focus on the positive. A-Rod will be back tomorrow against the Orioles.
But the big news is that Giambi will be getting out of his slump any day now.

How do I know this? Simple. Whilemostsluggers take extra BP, or even skip it to get back in the groove, Giambi does something, well, different.

According to Friday's Daily News:

Yankee slugger Jason Giambi wears a gold lamé, tiger-stripe thong under his uniform when he wants to break out of a slump - and he shares it with hitless teammates who want to get back on track.

"I only put it on when I'm desperate to get out of a big slump," he tells Portfolio.com.

Over the years, the 37-year-old All-Star has left the "golden thong" in the lockers of slumping teammates Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Johnny Damon, Robin Ventura and Robinson Cano.

"All of them wore it and got hits," he reports. "The thong works every time."

Yankees have the day off. I'll be back tomorrow. I'll spend the rest of the day wirebrushing and then bleaching my brain.

Go Yankees

Oh, the pain--Mets win

Andy Pettitte just pitched one bad inning, and that was enough to tag him with his 5th loss of the season. His overall line was pretty good, 3 runs in 6 innings of work, along with 7 strikeouts, including 5 in the first 2 innings.

But, oh, that 4th inning. Andy tossed 41 pitches, and even walked in a run with the bases loaded, on the 7th pitch of the at bat. It was followed by a booming 40 foot blast to left. OK, it resembled more closely a swinging bunt, but it got the runner in.

Pettitte held the Mets scoreless for the next 2 innings, but then Farnsworth got rocked in the 7th. He gave up back to back HRs that put the game away. Joba got tagged in the 9th for one more run, but with the prospect of Wagner coming in to close the game, it didn't matter.

It's hard to find a turning point in the game, other than the 4th inning, but it seems like the momentum shifted in the 3rd. Damon was thrown out at the plate on an Abreu double. It was a close play as the Mets catcher did a great job of blocking the dish. Replays showed the ump got it right, too. I hate when that happens.

The offense did show some signs of life against a very good pitcher, with a couple doubles, and 3 HRs.

Tonight, Giradi hands the ball to his stopper, Wang (6-1) on ESPN @ 8:05.

In A-Rod Watch news, he made a rehab start yesterday, and it was all good news. He played 5 innings in the field and did well. At the plate he managed a HR in 4 plate appearances against a Rays pitcher, David Price, who was throwing in the 95-97 MPH range. Price is also rehabbing, and is considered one of the top minor league prospects for the pitching rich Rays. That's as hard to type as division leading Rays.



See you Tuesday

Go Yankees