Posted by: Patrick
Let's tackle some news.
Mark Teixeira wasn't exactly happy with Red Sox owner John Henry tweeting about the "MT curse" (seeing as the Yankees haven't beat the Sox since they signed Teixeira). But, he played it off and didn't get into it, which is a good way to go. The Post has more.
Joe Girardi feels that Brad Penny's plunking of A-Rod last night was intentional.
Johnny Damon was held out of tonight's game after his eyes experienced "fluttering" sensations when he dropped a fly ball last night. He's going to get looked at, to be safe.
Finally, Peter Abraham shares that the Yankees toy wrestling belt has been replaced with the real deal, thanks to Jerry "The King" Lawler, a wrestler who is an acquaintance of CC Sabathia. Lawler is having a special Yankees belt made up, presumably to give to the team.
Mark Teixeira wasn't exactly happy with Red Sox owner John Henry tweeting about the "MT curse" (seeing as the Yankees haven't beat the Sox since they signed Teixeira). But, he played it off and didn't get into it, which is a good way to go. The Post has more.
Joe Girardi feels that Brad Penny's plunking of A-Rod last night was intentional.
Johnny Damon was held out of tonight's game after his eyes experienced "fluttering" sensations when he dropped a fly ball last night. He's going to get looked at, to be safe.
Finally, Peter Abraham shares that the Yankees toy wrestling belt has been replaced with the real deal, thanks to Jerry "The King" Lawler, a wrestler who is an acquaintance of CC Sabathia. Lawler is having a special Yankees belt made up, presumably to give to the team.
Posted by: Patrick
From FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
Rosenthal notes that it's unlikely the Rockies would trade Street before the July 31 trade deadline - assuming they move him at all.
Via Steve Lombardi.
The Yankees, in dire need of a setup man, eventually will target the best available late-inning relievers — the Rockies' Huston Street, Diamondbacks' Chad Qualls and Astros' Jose Valverde. In fact, they already have expressed interest in Street, according to major-league sources.
Rosenthal notes that it's unlikely the Rockies would trade Street before the July 31 trade deadline - assuming they move him at all.
Via Steve Lombardi.
Posted by: Patrick
Tyler Kepner of the Times reports:
Via Steve Lombardi.
Miguel Angel Sano, a top shortstop prospect, will work out for the Yankees at their academy in the Dominican Republic next Thursday, according to Sano’s agent, Rob Plummer. Sano, who turned 16 last month, is said to be drawing significant interest before the signing period for international players begins on July 2. ...
Plummer said the Yankees had maintained steady interest in Sano, who is 6 feet 3 inches and bats right-handed. Sano has been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote last month that he had already been offered more than $3 million. The record bonus for a Dominican player is $4.25 million, which Oakland gave pitcher Michael Inoa last summer.
Plummer said the Yankees had maintained steady interest in Sano, who is 6 feet 3 inches and bats right-handed. Sano has been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote last month that he had already been offered more than $3 million. The record bonus for a Dominican player is $4.25 million, which Oakland gave pitcher Michael Inoa last summer.
Via Steve Lombardi.
Posted by: Patrick
The 2009 Yankees Draft Class can be viewed at MLB.com. In the 48th round, the Yankees took Pat White, who was taken in the NFL draft by my Miami Dolphins. Check out The NoMass Yankees Draft Spot for in depth coverage on the Yankees picks.
Posted by: Patrick
CC Sabathia and Brad Penny squared off in a pitcher's duel on Thursday night - and Penny won. That doesn't mean CC was bad - he wasn't. He pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 earned runs, two of which scored after he left the game thanks to the bullpen giving up the lead in the eighth.
The Red Sox would score first, thanks to a David Ortiz home run (yes, again) in the second. But, besides that, it was all goose eggs for both teams until the seventh, after Penny left the game and the Yankees finally broke through. Francisco Cervelli scored Melky Cabrera on an RBI single and A-Rod doubled scoring Cervelli and Johnny Damon. Yankees leading, 3-1
After allowing a single, walk and an RBI single to start the eighth, CC's night would be over with Alfredo Aceves making his second appearance in as many nights. He wasn't up to the task and after a single, RBI single and RBI sacrifice that gave the Sox the lead, Joe Girardi had seen enough. Phil Coke was next and, after a walk to load the bases, he retired Jason Varitek and Rocco Baldelli to keep Red Sox within 1.
In the ninth, unfortunately, the top of the order was not up to the task: Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Teixeira were retired in order by Jonathan Papelbon. And the Yankees fall to 0-8 against the Red Sox this season.
Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui (1 walk) and Melky Cabrera all had two hits on the night.
The road trip is now over and we're headed back home to face the Mets, starting at 7:05 PM ET tomorrow. Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79) will face Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88).
The Red Sox would score first, thanks to a David Ortiz home run (yes, again) in the second. But, besides that, it was all goose eggs for both teams until the seventh, after Penny left the game and the Yankees finally broke through. Francisco Cervelli scored Melky Cabrera on an RBI single and A-Rod doubled scoring Cervelli and Johnny Damon. Yankees leading, 3-1
After allowing a single, walk and an RBI single to start the eighth, CC's night would be over with Alfredo Aceves making his second appearance in as many nights. He wasn't up to the task and after a single, RBI single and RBI sacrifice that gave the Sox the lead, Joe Girardi had seen enough. Phil Coke was next and, after a walk to load the bases, he retired Jason Varitek and Rocco Baldelli to keep Red Sox within 1.
In the ninth, unfortunately, the top of the order was not up to the task: Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Teixeira were retired in order by Jonathan Papelbon. And the Yankees fall to 0-8 against the Red Sox this season.
Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui (1 walk) and Melky Cabrera all had two hits on the night.
The road trip is now over and we're headed back home to face the Mets, starting at 7:05 PM ET tomorrow. Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79) will face Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88).
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Brian Bruney threw 25 pitches of BP today and was fine. On Tuesday, he'll be at Double-A Trenton to begin a rehab assignment.
06/11: Wang to Start Wednesday
Posted by: Patrick
What's next for Chien-Ming Wang? Peter Abraham has the answer:
I think this is a good call - let's hope it's a turning point.
Wang was told my Girardi today that his next start was very important. Wang fully understands. “I’m getting one more chance,” he said. “I have to pitch good.”
I think this is a good call - let's hope it's a turning point.
Posted by: Patrick
* - But only in my household.
ESPN.com reports that "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez," the much discussed book by Selena Roberts has only sold 16,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks approximately 75% of the U.S. book market. The first printing of the book had been 150,000 copies.
ESPN.com reports that "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez," the much discussed book by Selena Roberts has only sold 16,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks approximately 75% of the U.S. book market. The first printing of the book had been 150,000 copies.
Posted by: Patrick
After last night's loss, Joe Girardi was noncommittal when asked if Wang would make his next start, reports Erik Boland of Newsday.
The pitcher's arm slot is "all over the place," according to pitching coach Dave Eiland. "One time it's in the right place, one time it's too high, next time it's too low," he told Boland. "Just has varying arm slots and you can't command the baseball when you have that."
Wang is disappointed, of course, even saying that he'd understand if the Yankees sent him back to the pen, says Peter Abraham.
But, Jorge Posada feels that Wang should get another start and I'm not sure I disagree. As Tyler Kepner and Abraham noted, he hit 95-96 miles per hour several times last night. And Eiland says that Wang looks good in the pen before the game - arm slot and all.
Abraham pitched the idea of bringing in former Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry to work with Wang. When Guidry was on the staff, Wang had consecutive 19 win seasons. I've heard worse ideas, but you wonder if it would undermine Eiland. At any rate, the Yankees need to continue to find work for Wang and to get his mechanics under control.
The pitcher's arm slot is "all over the place," according to pitching coach Dave Eiland. "One time it's in the right place, one time it's too high, next time it's too low," he told Boland. "Just has varying arm slots and you can't command the baseball when you have that."
Wang is disappointed, of course, even saying that he'd understand if the Yankees sent him back to the pen, says Peter Abraham.
But, Jorge Posada feels that Wang should get another start and I'm not sure I disagree. As Tyler Kepner and Abraham noted, he hit 95-96 miles per hour several times last night. And Eiland says that Wang looks good in the pen before the game - arm slot and all.
Abraham pitched the idea of bringing in former Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry to work with Wang. When Guidry was on the staff, Wang had consecutive 19 win seasons. I've heard worse ideas, but you wonder if it would undermine Eiland. At any rate, the Yankees need to continue to find work for Wang and to get his mechanics under control.
06/11: Yanks vs. Rays Rescheduled
Posted by: Seamus
I'm a little bit late on this because it was mentioned during the game on YES, but the Yanks have announced that the game that was postponed this past Friday against Tampa Bay will be played as the second game of a doubleheader on September 7, which also happens to be Labor Day.
I was assuming they'd play it on the 10th because both teams are off that day, but the Yankees do play 16 days in a row before then and they should be OK getting fans to the stadium on Labor Day.
I was assuming they'd play it on the 10th because both teams are off that day, but the Yankees do play 16 days in a row before then and they should be OK getting fans to the stadium on Labor Day.
