Posted by: Patrick
George A. King at the Post reports that the Pirates sent scouts to the Yankees game on Thursday, leading to speculation that the Yankees might consider trading for LHP John Grabow, who is 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA in 36 games this season.
The teams were thought to have discussed Grabow in December of 2007 and the Pirates were shopping him at the trade deadline in 2006, as well. King says that the Dodgers and Rockies sent scouts to the game, as well.
At the end of June, it was reported that the Phillies had interest in Chien-Ming Wang. Add the Rangers to this list, SI.com's Jon Heyman. He even says that the Phillies have already made an offer, a prospect that the Yankees didn't like.
Via Mike Axisa and Mike, again.
The teams were thought to have discussed Grabow in December of 2007 and the Pirates were shopping him at the trade deadline in 2006, as well. King says that the Dodgers and Rockies sent scouts to the game, as well.
At the end of June, it was reported that the Phillies had interest in Chien-Ming Wang. Add the Rangers to this list, SI.com's Jon Heyman. He even says that the Phillies have already made an offer, a prospect that the Yankees didn't like.
Via Mike Axisa and Mike, again.
Posted by: Patrick
Steve Serby's latest Sunday Q&A for the Post is up and it's with Derek Jeter. As jimmyjack, a commenter on the article says, I think this is like a guide for how athletes should handle themselves, how Jeter has always handled himself, actually - it's nothing new. He avoids speculation and personal matters and answers meaningful questions. Some fans give him a bad wrap for not answering these sorts of questions, but it's his choice not to feed the machine and I can't say I don't respect it.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that, after being removed from tonight's game, Chien-Ming Wang went and had an MRI and the team says he has a strain with bursitis. Apparently, he's expected to be back within a month.
For the time being, Abraham says not to expect Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves to replace him. Instead, he suggests that Sergio Mitre could be the one to do so. Mitre is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 5 starts at Triple-A.
For the time being, Abraham says not to expect Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves to replace him. Instead, he suggests that Sergio Mitre could be the one to do so. Mitre is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 5 starts at Triple-A.
Posted by: Patrick
ESPN has released their 2009 rankings of professional sports teams, ordered by the amount that they give back to their fans. The Yankees are ranked a really low 107 out of 122 (the list is comprised of teams from the MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA).
Breaking it down by their categories - the team ranks worst in Affordability at 121, beating only the Toronto Maple Leafs, and 26th in Title Track, which is supposed to be an indicator of championships already won and expected to be won in a fan's lifetime.
Via Ben Kabak.
Breaking it down by their categories - the team ranks worst in Affordability at 121, beating only the Toronto Maple Leafs, and 26th in Title Track, which is supposed to be an indicator of championships already won and expected to be won in a fan's lifetime.
Via Ben Kabak.
Posted by: Andrew
The Chien-Ming Wang/Roy Halladay matchup didn't seem to favor the Yankees on paper heading into Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium. However, when the dust settled, the Yankees were able to come back against the Jays' big right-hander and eventually defeat them 6-5 in 12 innings.
The Yankees got on the board in the bottom of the first on Alex Rodriguez's two-out RBI single to right. Johnny Damon drew his first of two walks against Halladay and was in scoring position after a Mark Teixeira groundout.
However, Toronto was able to come right back and take the lead off Wang in the top of the second. Lyle Overbay walked with one out and Vernon Wells popped a ground rule double to right. Alex Rios followed with a two-run single up the middle to give the Jays a 2-1 lead.
Halladay, who has dominated the Yankees over the years, was a little rusty in his second start coming off the disabled list. He allowed a solo home run to Hideki Matsui in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 2. Jorge Posada then hit a leadoff solo home run in the fourth to give the Yankees the lead again. It would be short-lived, however.
Adam Lind hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to give the Jays at 4-3 lead. Wang would leave after throwing another pitch with a strained shoulder. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits. He walked one, struck out one and threw 67 pitches. David Robertson relieved Wang and promptly allowed two straight walks. After recording a strikeout, he allowed an RBI single to Rios to extend the Jays' lead to 5-3.
Halladay pitched a scoreless sixth inning to preserve the lead. However, Derek Jeter led off the seventh with a single. Johnny Damon was up next and proceeded to hit a patented "New Yankee Stadium home run" to right to tie the game at 5. This proved to be Halladay's last inning. All five runs were earned and he struck out three and walked three.
Aside from Robertson, all of the Yankees relievers - Brian Bruney, Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke and Brett Tomko - all pitched scoreless innings through the 12th.
The Yankees were hitless in extras heading into the 12th. Mark Teixeira got lucky when he hit a ball off the first base bag for a double to lead off the frame. Rodriguez was intentionally walked to face Robinson Cano, who finished the day 0-for-6 with 10 runners left on base. For some reason, he bunted on a 3-0 count, forcing Teixeira out at third. However, Posada was able to pick up his second baseman with an RBI single to center to win the game 6-5.
On a day the Red Sox lost, the Yankees pulled into within one game of first place while reaching 14 games above .500 for the first time this season. Joba Chamberlain starts for New York tomorrow afternoon as the Yankees look to win the first three games of this four-game series in the Bronx.
Recap records: Patrick: 23–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 6–7.
Andrew Fletcher blogs about the Yankees regularly at Scott Proctor's Arm.
The Yankees got on the board in the bottom of the first on Alex Rodriguez's two-out RBI single to right. Johnny Damon drew his first of two walks against Halladay and was in scoring position after a Mark Teixeira groundout.
However, Toronto was able to come right back and take the lead off Wang in the top of the second. Lyle Overbay walked with one out and Vernon Wells popped a ground rule double to right. Alex Rios followed with a two-run single up the middle to give the Jays a 2-1 lead.
Halladay, who has dominated the Yankees over the years, was a little rusty in his second start coming off the disabled list. He allowed a solo home run to Hideki Matsui in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 2. Jorge Posada then hit a leadoff solo home run in the fourth to give the Yankees the lead again. It would be short-lived, however.
Adam Lind hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to give the Jays at 4-3 lead. Wang would leave after throwing another pitch with a strained shoulder. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits. He walked one, struck out one and threw 67 pitches. David Robertson relieved Wang and promptly allowed two straight walks. After recording a strikeout, he allowed an RBI single to Rios to extend the Jays' lead to 5-3.
Halladay pitched a scoreless sixth inning to preserve the lead. However, Derek Jeter led off the seventh with a single. Johnny Damon was up next and proceeded to hit a patented "New Yankee Stadium home run" to right to tie the game at 5. This proved to be Halladay's last inning. All five runs were earned and he struck out three and walked three.
Aside from Robertson, all of the Yankees relievers - Brian Bruney, Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke and Brett Tomko - all pitched scoreless innings through the 12th.
The Yankees were hitless in extras heading into the 12th. Mark Teixeira got lucky when he hit a ball off the first base bag for a double to lead off the frame. Rodriguez was intentionally walked to face Robinson Cano, who finished the day 0-for-6 with 10 runners left on base. For some reason, he bunted on a 3-0 count, forcing Teixeira out at third. However, Posada was able to pick up his second baseman with an RBI single to center to win the game 6-5.
On a day the Red Sox lost, the Yankees pulled into within one game of first place while reaching 14 games above .500 for the first time this season. Joba Chamberlain starts for New York tomorrow afternoon as the Yankees look to win the first three games of this four-game series in the Bronx.
Recap records: Patrick: 23–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 6–7.
Andrew Fletcher blogs about the Yankees regularly at Scott Proctor's Arm.
Posted by: Patrick
ESPN.com has released letters written by Lou Gehrig and his wife, Eleanor, during the time when Gehrig's health rapidly declined. The letters are written to Gehrig's doctor, Paul O'Leary and the last one is dated March 3, 1941. Gehrig would pass away on June 2. There is a video presentation, as well. The letters are owned by a private collector. The letters make for difficult reading.
Posted by: Patrick
The AP reports that Major League Baseball honored Lou Gehrig today on the 70th anniversary of his famous speech, where he called himself the luckiest man in the world. The speech was played at all 15 games today and all players, coaches and on field personnel inside of the game wore patches.
Flowers were placed at his plaque in Monument Park by the Yankees, who also donated $25,000 to the league's "MLB 4 ALS" initiative. For more, check out the full article. It's nice to see.
Flowers were placed at his plaque in Monument Park by the Yankees, who also donated $25,000 to the league's "MLB 4 ALS" initiative. For more, check out the full article. It's nice to see.
Posted by: Patrick
Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reports that the Yankees are keeping tabs on Diamondbacks relief pitcher Chad Qualls. If the team decides it needs to trade for a bullpen arm, he could be one of the names that they target.
Via Mike Axisa via Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Via Mike Axisa via Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Posted by: Patrick
Don't look now, but A.J. Burnett is a man about his business. After holding his old battery mates to 2 runs on 6 hits over 7 innings on Friday, the righty is 3-1 in his last 4 starts, with an ERA of 0.98. His season ERA, now 3.83, is the lowest it's been since April 24 (3.20), just three starts into the season.
The Yankees offense wasn't great, but it just happened to be good enough. Robinson Cano homered in the second for the first run. Mark Teixeira walked with the bases loaded to score Brett Gardner and then Johnny Damon scored on a past ball. Alex Rodriguez earned a valuable insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth.
The Phils - Coke and Hughes - combined for a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera was flawless in the ninth. His 1-2-3 inning lowered his ERA to 2.67 for the year.
Offensive contributions were spread around as the team had 8 hits from 7 players - Derek Jeter was the one with two hits.
Game two is tomorrow at 1:05 PM ET. Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06) goes against Roy Halladay (10-2, 2.56), in just his second start since coming off the DL.
Recap records: Patrick: 23–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 5–7.
The Yankees offense wasn't great, but it just happened to be good enough. Robinson Cano homered in the second for the first run. Mark Teixeira walked with the bases loaded to score Brett Gardner and then Johnny Damon scored on a past ball. Alex Rodriguez earned a valuable insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth.
The Phils - Coke and Hughes - combined for a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera was flawless in the ninth. His 1-2-3 inning lowered his ERA to 2.67 for the year.
Offensive contributions were spread around as the team had 8 hits from 7 players - Derek Jeter was the one with two hits.
Game two is tomorrow at 1:05 PM ET. Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06) goes against Roy Halladay (10-2, 2.56), in just his second start since coming off the DL.
Recap records: Patrick: 23–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 5–7.
Posted by: Patrick
It wasn't CC Sabathia's night. The big guy lasted 5 and 2/3 innings, throwing 107 pitches and allowing 6 runs on 10 hits and 3 walks. Nonetheless, the Yankees were still in this one, tagging Mariners' starter Jason Vargas for 4 runs in his 4 innings of work.
But, the Seattle bullpen just silenced the Yankees bats, holding them scoreless for the final 5 innings. Alfredo Aceves pitched 2 and 1/3, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and Dave Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth. But, what's it matter with a punchless offense?
Robinson Cano had a good night, however, going 3 for 3 with 2 runs and a double. Hideki Matsui was the other ofensive star, going 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI. The rest of the lineup had a combined 7 hits (Jeter and Swisher had the others).
The seven game win streak comes to an end. The team will start a new series tomorrow as Toronto comes to town for a four game set. All four games will be at 1:05 PM ET. Friday's starters will be A.J. Burnett (6-4, 3.93) and Brian Tallet (5-5, 4.47).
Recap records: Patrick: 22–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 5–7.
But, the Seattle bullpen just silenced the Yankees bats, holding them scoreless for the final 5 innings. Alfredo Aceves pitched 2 and 1/3, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and Dave Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth. But, what's it matter with a punchless offense?
Robinson Cano had a good night, however, going 3 for 3 with 2 runs and a double. Hideki Matsui was the other ofensive star, going 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI. The rest of the lineup had a combined 7 hits (Jeter and Swisher had the others).
The seven game win streak comes to an end. The team will start a new series tomorrow as Toronto comes to town for a four game set. All four games will be at 1:05 PM ET. Friday's starters will be A.J. Burnett (6-4, 3.93) and Brian Tallet (5-5, 4.47).
Recap records: Patrick: 22–12, Seamus: 18–14, Andrew: 5–7.
