Yankee bats are coming alive

A-Rod, Giambi and Posada all belted homers in yesterday's battle with the Royals. This is the team I expected, one with power, and the ability to put up a lot of runs in a hurry. So, I'm pretty happy about that. The staff is ailing, though. While it may have been Andy Pettitte's worst game in years, if the pen wasn't in such disarray, he would have been gone long before the Guillen grand slam.
Today, Joba takes the hill in his second start. I'm not sure how many pitches he is scheduled to throw, but it is pretty damned stupid to announce it before the game like they did last time.
Melky Cabrera is becoming one of my favorites. He seems to get lost in the shuffle, and yet, his upside is so tremendous. It's hard to believe he is only 23 and this is only his 3rd year as a full time player. His predecessor in center, Bernie Williams, was sent to the minors at age 23.
I know Melky's name was bandied about over the winter in trade talks, but I firmly believe he will be, one day, mentioned in the same way other great former Yankee players are-- joining Mickey, Joe D., Bernie, and Bobby Murcer as legendary players who have patrolled centerfield in the Bronx.



Go Yankees

Yankees lose a tough one

Back when he managed the Mets, the Ol' Perfessor, Casey Stengal, once asked, "Can anyone here play this game?"

That keeps turning over and over in my mind following some of the recent debacles in Baltimore. Monday, the team couldn't buy a hit, it seemed, and last night, they couldn't get anyone out. Twice, the pitching staff blew 4 run leads.

And, in extra innings, Hawkins blew a save.

The Yankee hitters exploded for 15 hits an 9 runs, including HRs by Giambi, Abreu, Rodriguez, and Damon. But it wasn't enough as Ian Kennedy gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in his 3 innings of work. He suffered an injury (surprise, another Yankee on the DL) and Ohlendorf came in. He was even worse than Kennedy, and that's saying a lot. Ohlendorf was rocked for 3 homers in the bottom of the 5th. He managed to turn an 8-4 Yankee lead into a tie in his 2.1 innings. That was all the scoring until the 11th when the Yankees took the lead in the top of the inning, only to have Hawkins come in and get tagged for 2 runs to lose the game.


Some highlights:

Damon continued his hot hitting with 4 hits in 5 trips to the plate, including 2 doubles and a HR. Giambi belted a HR to go with a double, as his average creeps towards respectability. In fact every Yankee starting player had a hit (except, as usual, Molina)

Today, Pettitte starts, and Joba is expected to get some work as he continues getting ready for his starting role. (7:05 YES)

Go Yankees

Yankees Make it 4 straight

Mike Mussina pitched well enough to notch his 7th victory yesterday as he hung on for 5 innings while giving up 4 runs. It wasn't exactly a quality start, but it was good enough as the Yankees continued their assault on Mariners pitching with a 16 hit, 12 run blowout. The final score was 12-6, but it wasn't even that close. The bullpen did well, allowing only 2 runs in 4 innings of work (Farnsworh gave up a 2-run HR in the 8th.) Joba Chamberlain continued his program to get in shape for the starting rotation by tossing 40 pitches in his 2 shoutout innings.

Giambi continued his hot hitting by belting a big HR in addition to a double and a single as he has raised his average 50 points or so since A-Rods return. Cano also had a multi-hit game, going 4-4 including 3 doubles.

The only starter without a hit, for the second game in a row, was Jeter. His average has dipped into the .280's. Even Molina got a hit, so it looks like it's time for the Captain to man up and put on the thong.

The only thing that bothered me about all this is the pitching coach for the Mariners was one of my favorite Yankees when I was a kid. Mel Stottlemyre was a really good pitcher with some of the worst Yankee teams of all-time. During the mid-late 60's, he won 20 games 3 times, and his ERA was around a half-run per game under the league average. I hate to see him look bad. I hope after the Yankees drub the Mariners today, the M pitchers toss a few shutouts to make Mel happy.

Today, Wang is on the hill, going for his 7th win (1:05 on TBS and YES.)





The Giambino is on a hot streak

Go Yankees

Rasner Tames Tigers

YA real New York Post or Daily News style headline. Darrell Rasner pitched great yesterday afternoon at Comerica, and ended the Yankees winless streak against Detroit. Going back to last year, it was at 6 straight Yankees losses. Rasner, who has been a hard-luck guy, was injured last year in May, and missed the rest of the year. He was the last cut in this year's spring training but he just kept the faith. He worked hard, and made it back to the big club. He has been fantastic in his 2 starts this year, winning both, and pitching to a 3.00 ERA. If he keeps pitching like this, he'll be the surprise of the staff, and could easily slide into the number 3 hole vacated by an injured Phil Hughes, and a terrible Ian Kennedy.

Yesterday's game was a good one. The Yankees beat Bonderman. While he is inconsistent, he does have overpowering stuff. The Yankees jumped out to an early lead as Jeter homered (first of the year) in the top of the 1st and they never looked back. Detroit threatened a few times, but the staff followed the blueprint; 6 strong innings, on to Farnsworth, then Joba, then Mo (save 10 ERA 0.00) to close it out. To quote Hannibal Smith, from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together.

Again, the offense did just enough to win. Giambi and Cano are starting to hit, and while 9 hits (4 for extra bases) along with 5 walks isn't a power explosion, it does indicate that the team may be coming out of the doldrums.

Today, Andy Pettitte (3-3) takes the mound. Andy pitched well enough to win last time out, but a late inning pinch HR against Joba cost the Yankees the game,and deprived him of the win. That's not going to happen today.

Game is at 1:05 on YES, and TBS.

Go Yankees

Igawa is horrible as Yankees lose

AAs predicted yesterday Igawa was going to be terrible. He lived up (or wold that be down) to the advance billing. He surrendured 11 hits in 3 innings of work, and wasn't helped by less than spectacular fielding. Betemit was terrible at 3rd, making them miss A-Rod as much for his great glove work as for his MVP bat.

The only good news, and it's hard to find any good new when the team is below .500 nearly a quarter of the way into the season, is that Cano and Giambi seem to be coming out of their protraced slumps. That, and A-Rod's workout went well yesterday. He is scheduled to come back with the big club on Thursday against the Rays. Posada has been working out, but is believed to be about a month away. Karstens is also due to make a rehab appearance or two, and may be back with the squad very soon.

Today, Rasner takes the mound at Comerica Park at 3:40 on Fox 5 in NY against the talented, but inconsistent, Bonderman.

Despite the Yankees mediocre play, they are still within hailing distance of the league leading Red Sox.

Just a few more days until:



Go Yankees

Yankees follow blueprint and win

Yesterday everything went according to plan, which means the Yankees blasted home runs, and the starting pitcher gave them almost 6 innings (actual blueprint for success calls for 7 strong innings, but at this point, take what we can get.)
Moose did ok, then Ohlendorf held the lead until turning it over to Joba and Mo. Mo continues to be "lights out" as he has not allowed a run yet in his 9 saves.

It would be nice to say the offense really came through by scoring 6 runs, but I am a little disappointed. Giambi, Cano, Damon, and Betemit all homered, while Cano chipped in with a double, too. With that kind of power explosion, the team should have pushed across anywhere from 8 to 12 runs or more.

Today, the Yankees go into Comerica Park and try to get even for getting swept last week by these same Tigers.

Igawa gets his first start of the season against Kenny Rogers. I'm looking for a lot of Yankee runs, and, unfortunately, probably a lot of Yankee relievers.

Matsui quietly continues having a good year. His average is up to .345, and once the offense gets going, I'm sure his RBI total will start to rise. Right now, he is on a pace for a respectable total, but below his usual 100+.




Go Yankees