06/10: Yanks Fall to 0-7 vs. Sox
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees fell to the Red Sox in another frustrating affair at Fenway, this time going down by a score of 6–5 and falling a full game behind the Red Sox in the A.L. East. This loss was brought to us in part by some bad starting pitching, bad defense and bad fundamental baseball early on in the game.
Chien-Ming Wang didn't even make it through the 3rd inning, as Joe Girardi couldn't take it anymore after watching his starter throw 69 pitches in 2 and 2/3 and allow 4 runs. Wang got some help from his defense, as Nick Swisher let a ball get away from him in the 2nd that could've been caught that ended up bouncing in front of him and over the right field wall for a ground rule double. Swisher also cost the Yankees ealier in the inning, when he went too far off of 1st base on a line drive that was caught by the shortstop and was gunned down for a double play (Swisher did, however, make an amazing diving catch on Mike Lowell in the 7th).
Despite Wang's performance, the Yankees did manage to hang around and Phil Hughes was respectable in relief, although he did allow 2 runs in his 3 and 2/3 innings of work. A two-run homer off the bat of Kevin Youkilis caused the blemish on Hughes' line score for the night.
The Yankees did make it interesting in the 7th, as Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira opened up the inning with back-to-back home runs off of Ramon Ramirez to pull the Yankees to within 6–5. That would be as close as they would get, though, as Hideki Okajima was able to work himself out of some trouble in the 8th and Jonathan Papelbon got Jorge Posada to fly out with the tying run in scoring position to end the game.
Pretty amazing that the Yankees are 0–7 against the Sox but are still just one game out of the division lead. It's not uncommon for teams year by year to have that thorn in their side that they just can't seem to handle no matter which team may be hot or cold going into a series. Unfortunately for the Yankees, it seems like right now that thorn in the side is the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees will finish up their series in Bahstun tomorrow night and will try to salvage a game in this one before coming home to take on the crosstown rival Mets this weekend. CC Sabathia will try to help turn things around against the Sox, who will be sending Brad Penny to the mound. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–8, Seamus: 14–12, Andrew: 4–5
Chien-Ming Wang didn't even make it through the 3rd inning, as Joe Girardi couldn't take it anymore after watching his starter throw 69 pitches in 2 and 2/3 and allow 4 runs. Wang got some help from his defense, as Nick Swisher let a ball get away from him in the 2nd that could've been caught that ended up bouncing in front of him and over the right field wall for a ground rule double. Swisher also cost the Yankees ealier in the inning, when he went too far off of 1st base on a line drive that was caught by the shortstop and was gunned down for a double play (Swisher did, however, make an amazing diving catch on Mike Lowell in the 7th).
Despite Wang's performance, the Yankees did manage to hang around and Phil Hughes was respectable in relief, although he did allow 2 runs in his 3 and 2/3 innings of work. A two-run homer off the bat of Kevin Youkilis caused the blemish on Hughes' line score for the night.
The Yankees did make it interesting in the 7th, as Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira opened up the inning with back-to-back home runs off of Ramon Ramirez to pull the Yankees to within 6–5. That would be as close as they would get, though, as Hideki Okajima was able to work himself out of some trouble in the 8th and Jonathan Papelbon got Jorge Posada to fly out with the tying run in scoring position to end the game.
Pretty amazing that the Yankees are 0–7 against the Sox but are still just one game out of the division lead. It's not uncommon for teams year by year to have that thorn in their side that they just can't seem to handle no matter which team may be hot or cold going into a series. Unfortunately for the Yankees, it seems like right now that thorn in the side is the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees will finish up their series in Bahstun tomorrow night and will try to salvage a game in this one before coming home to take on the crosstown rival Mets this weekend. CC Sabathia will try to help turn things around against the Sox, who will be sending Brad Penny to the mound. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–8, Seamus: 14–12, Andrew: 4–5
Posted by: Patrick
For those interested, day 2 of the MLB draft has come to an end. You can check out the Yankees picks, with some video, on MLB.com. From the tallest Yankee drafted department: with pick 525, they took a 6'8'' righty named Chad Thompson from El Toro High School in California.
For more insightful coverage, check out the NoMaas draft blog.
For more insightful coverage, check out the NoMaas draft blog.
Posted by: Patrick
AccuWeather.com's Tim Buckley publishes the site's findings in analyzing the home runs hit this season at Yankee Stadium. The reason? The dimensions of the park.
The right field wall is shorter by an average of 4-5 feet, but as much as 9 feet in certain areas and the wall itself is approximately 2 feet less than at the old stadium. Accordingly, their research indicates that 19% of home runs hit this season, at the stadium, would not have left the old park. This is about 20 out of the 105 that have been hit out of the yard.
On the current pace, they point out, 293 home runs would be hit at Yankee Stadium this season and as many as 56 of those could be due to the fence adjustments.
MLB.com's Bobbie Dittmeier has stats for 2009 and the last four seasons through 25 games. Even if you take out 20 homers, the 85 home runs would still be the highest of the five seasons - by 12.
Earlier this year, Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues and Steve Lombardi of WasWatching.com discussed the fence dimension theory in detail.
The right field wall is shorter by an average of 4-5 feet, but as much as 9 feet in certain areas and the wall itself is approximately 2 feet less than at the old stadium. Accordingly, their research indicates that 19% of home runs hit this season, at the stadium, would not have left the old park. This is about 20 out of the 105 that have been hit out of the yard.
On the current pace, they point out, 293 home runs would be hit at Yankee Stadium this season and as many as 56 of those could be due to the fence adjustments.
MLB.com's Bobbie Dittmeier has stats for 2009 and the last four seasons through 25 games. Even if you take out 20 homers, the 85 home runs would still be the highest of the five seasons - by 12.
Earlier this year, Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues and Steve Lombardi of WasWatching.com discussed the fence dimension theory in detail.
Posted by: Patrick
I just wanted to note a small update to the post I made earlier. My mistake - I read it wrong. Sorry for the confusion.
Posted by: Patrick
Mark Feinsand of the Daily News reports that Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez confronted former pitcher and ESPN personality Rick Sutcliffe on Tuesday, displeased with remarks that he had made a couple of weeks ago.
Sutcliffe said that Teixeira had been giving A-Rod verbal signals when he was on-deck (and A-Rod was at the plate), supposedly giving A-Rod the catcher's location before a pitch. Update: Sorry, it was the other way around, actually. A-Rod feeding Tex.
Via Peter Abraham.
Sutcliffe said that Teixeira had been giving A-Rod verbal signals when he was on-deck (and A-Rod was at the plate), supposedly giving A-Rod the catcher's location before a pitch. Update: Sorry, it was the other way around, actually. A-Rod feeding Tex.
Via Peter Abraham.
Posted by: Patrick
Let's recap the Yankees hits on Tuesday night. In the fourth inning, Robinson Cano singled. In the eighth, Brett Gardner singled. Recap done.
A.J. Burnett lasted just 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs - 3 earned - on 5 hits and 5 walks. He threw 84 pitches. The Yankees pitching for the rest of the game was good - 2 earned runs over 6 and 1/3 - but the offense did nothing with Josh Beckett holding them to 1 hit over his 6 innings of work, leading to a 7-0 loss.
Brett Tomko pitched 2 and 1/3, allowing a run. Jose Veras pitched 2 and allowed a run. Finally, Dave Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth - lowering his ERA to 1.86.
Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 14.46) goes against Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50) tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–8, Seamus: 14–11, Andrew: 4–5.
A.J. Burnett lasted just 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs - 3 earned - on 5 hits and 5 walks. He threw 84 pitches. The Yankees pitching for the rest of the game was good - 2 earned runs over 6 and 1/3 - but the offense did nothing with Josh Beckett holding them to 1 hit over his 6 innings of work, leading to a 7-0 loss.
Brett Tomko pitched 2 and 1/3, allowing a run. Jose Veras pitched 2 and allowed a run. Finally, Dave Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth - lowering his ERA to 1.86.
Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 14.46) goes against Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50) tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–8, Seamus: 14–11, Andrew: 4–5.
06/09: Yankees First Two Picks: Zachary Heathcott (CF, Texas HS) and John Murphy (C, The Pendleton School)
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees first two picks in the 2009 MLB Draft are center fielder Zachary Heathcott, a high schooler from Texas and catcher John Murphy from The Pendleton School. Video is available on MLB.com and Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues has a profile of Heathcott.
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Tom Singer has an update on the American League All-Star voting. Derek Jeter maintains his huge lead in the shortstop race, with 1,511,418 votes - over 800,000 votes more than second place Jason Bartlett.
A week ago, Mark Teixeira was 93,836 votes behind Kevin Youkilis at first base. Tex now has a slim 1,209 vote lead with 833,960 overall.
Robinson Cano is a distant third at second base, A-Rod is 882,131 votes behind Evan Longoria at third, Jorge Posada is in fourth, well behind Joe Mauer at catcher and Johnny Damon is ninth in the outfield.
Finally, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Melky Cabrera was named the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month for May. He notes that 11 of Melky's 23 RBI have tied the game or put the team ahead in the seventh inning or later.
A week ago, Mark Teixeira was 93,836 votes behind Kevin Youkilis at first base. Tex now has a slim 1,209 vote lead with 833,960 overall.
Robinson Cano is a distant third at second base, A-Rod is 882,131 votes behind Evan Longoria at third, Jorge Posada is in fourth, well behind Joe Mauer at catcher and Johnny Damon is ninth in the outfield.
Finally, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Melky Cabrera was named the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month for May. He notes that 11 of Melky's 23 RBI have tied the game or put the team ahead in the seventh inning or later.
06/08: People's Court Judge Marilyn Milian Presents Kangaroo Court Judge Mariano Rivera With Robe and Gavel
Posted by: Patrick
In May, the Yankees held their first clubhouse kangaroo since 1995 with Mariano Rivera as the judge.
In honor of Mo's new found role, Marilyn Milian, the judge on TV's People's Court, paid a visit to the Yankees today, presenting Mo with a judge's robe and gavel. MLB.com's Jared Diamond has the story and a picture.
In honor of Mo's new found role, Marilyn Milian, the judge on TV's People's Court, paid a visit to the Yankees today, presenting Mo with a judge's robe and gavel. MLB.com's Jared Diamond has the story and a picture.
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees were able to take the final game of their abbreviated three-game series with the Rays, as four home runs in the game by the Bombers helped them to a 5–3 win and a series victory over their A.L. East rivals. The Yanks are now a full game ahead of the Red Sox going into their three-game set in Fenway beginning tomorrow.
The Yankees jumped ahead in the 1st via a solo shot by Mark Teixeira, who now leads the American League with 18 home runs. A two-run homer by Nick Swisher in the 3rd made it 3–0.
The Rays were able to tie the game up in the 4th, however, as they got an RBI single by Michel Hernandez and a two-run blast from Gabe Kapler to even things up against Andy Pettitte. Andy labored a bit in his 6 innings of work, but was able to escape with allowing only 3 runs on 5 hits.
The Yankees went ahead for good in the 6th after a solo home run by Johnny Damon put the Yanks back on top, and Derek Jeter gave his team some insurance in the bottom of the 8th with a home run of his own. All five Yankee runs tonight came via the home run.
Mariano Rivera pitched in his third straight game and retired the Rays in order for his 14th save of the season.
The Yankees will be heading into Fenway tomorrow night for another series with their arch nemesis(es). The Yanks are 0–5 against their rivals, despite being ahead after 26 defensive outs in the first contest and having a 6–0 lead in the second. For the other 32 innings or so the teams have played against each other, the Sox have dominated. A.J. Burnett will try to get that turned around tomorrow night against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–7, Seamus: 14–11, Andrew: 4–5
The Yankees jumped ahead in the 1st via a solo shot by Mark Teixeira, who now leads the American League with 18 home runs. A two-run homer by Nick Swisher in the 3rd made it 3–0.
The Rays were able to tie the game up in the 4th, however, as they got an RBI single by Michel Hernandez and a two-run blast from Gabe Kapler to even things up against Andy Pettitte. Andy labored a bit in his 6 innings of work, but was able to escape with allowing only 3 runs on 5 hits.
The Yankees went ahead for good in the 6th after a solo home run by Johnny Damon put the Yanks back on top, and Derek Jeter gave his team some insurance in the bottom of the 8th with a home run of his own. All five Yankee runs tonight came via the home run.
Mariano Rivera pitched in his third straight game and retired the Rays in order for his 14th save of the season.
The Yankees will be heading into Fenway tomorrow night for another series with their arch nemesis(es). The Yanks are 0–5 against their rivals, despite being ahead after 26 defensive outs in the first contest and having a 6–0 lead in the second. For the other 32 innings or so the teams have played against each other, the Sox have dominated. A.J. Burnett will try to get that turned around tomorrow night against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–7, Seamus: 14–11, Andrew: 4–5
