Posted by: Patrick
Back in May, the Yankees held their first Kangaroo court session since 1995. The judge? None other than Mariano Rivera.
On Tuesday, they held their second one of the season, reports Josh Thomson of The Journal News. There aren't many details included and Mo declined to name names, saying there were many. "Even the judge got fined," he admitted. Ha.
On Tuesday, they held their second one of the season, reports Josh Thomson of The Journal News. There aren't many details included and Mo declined to name names, saying there were many. "Even the judge got fined," he admitted. Ha.
Posted by: Patrick
Josh Thomson of The Journal News reports that Brett Gardner is now cast free - his broken left thumb will be put on a split and he hopes to be back in two weeks.
Also, Joe Girardi said that Chad Gaudin could start on Sunday - what would ordinarily be Joba Chamberlain's spot in the rotation.
Also, Joe Girardi said that Chad Gaudin could start on Sunday - what would ordinarily be Joba Chamberlain's spot in the rotation.
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees offense amassed 14 hits and 2 walks on Tuesday night against Toronto, scoring 7 runs which would be enough to beat the Jays, 7-5.
They grabbed an early lead when RBI singles from Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez scored Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon, respectively, in the first inning. Melky Cabrera sacrificed Robinson Cano home in the second, making it 3-0, Yankees.
Joba Chamberlain took the ball and threw 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. He left the game down, 4-3. Brian Bruney (1 inning), Phil Coke (.2 innings) and Dave Robertson (.1) picked up the slack in the seventh and eighth. But, the Yankees remained down a run.
They got to work quickly in the bottom half of the eighth, however. Hideki Matsui led off with a home run to tie it - and then Jorge Posada did the same to give the team the lead. For the third straight night, the Yankees had back to back home runs.
It wasn't over, yet, though. Eric Hinske doubled and Melky singled to bring in Jerry Hairston, Jr., who pinch ran. After Melky stole second and Jeter struck out, Damon singled to score Melky - but then got caught out at second. Nonetheless, the damage was done. Yankees leading, 7-4.
Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the ninth and he allowed a home run to Edwin Encarnacion. It was the first run that Mo had allowed since June 12 against the Mets. But, besides a single, the game was over. Save number 33 for Mo, win number 70 for the Yankees.
Tomorrow, at 1:05 PM ET, A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.67) goes against Ricky Romero (10-5, 3.66). Yikes. Would you believe me if I told you that Romero and Burnett have the same WHIP? Well, they do. 1.37.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–20, Patrick: 29–14, Andrew: 8–9
They grabbed an early lead when RBI singles from Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez scored Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon, respectively, in the first inning. Melky Cabrera sacrificed Robinson Cano home in the second, making it 3-0, Yankees.
Joba Chamberlain took the ball and threw 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. He left the game down, 4-3. Brian Bruney (1 inning), Phil Coke (.2 innings) and Dave Robertson (.1) picked up the slack in the seventh and eighth. But, the Yankees remained down a run.
They got to work quickly in the bottom half of the eighth, however. Hideki Matsui led off with a home run to tie it - and then Jorge Posada did the same to give the team the lead. For the third straight night, the Yankees had back to back home runs.
It wasn't over, yet, though. Eric Hinske doubled and Melky singled to bring in Jerry Hairston, Jr., who pinch ran. After Melky stole second and Jeter struck out, Damon singled to score Melky - but then got caught out at second. Nonetheless, the damage was done. Yankees leading, 7-4.
Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the ninth and he allowed a home run to Edwin Encarnacion. It was the first run that Mo had allowed since June 12 against the Mets. But, besides a single, the game was over. Save number 33 for Mo, win number 70 for the Yankees.
Tomorrow, at 1:05 PM ET, A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.67) goes against Ricky Romero (10-5, 3.66). Yikes. Would you believe me if I told you that Romero and Burnett have the same WHIP? Well, they do. 1.37.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–20, Patrick: 29–14, Andrew: 8–9
Posted by: Seamus
After looking unbeatable for about a week or so, the Yankees were finally solved for a night, this time by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees fell for the first time in 8 games despite plating more earned runs across than the opposition, and had their lead in the division cut to 5.5 games as the Red Sox .
Sergio Mitre's line wasn't terrible, allowing just 3 earned runs and 6 hits in 5 innings. Mitre's undoing, however, was in the 4th inning when he made a wide throw to second base after making a nice grab that turned what could have been a bases clearing double play into a run scoring fielder's choice. The Jays went on to score 3 runs in the inning to take a 4–2 lead.
The Yankees did tie the game in the bottom of the inning as they started their frame off with back-to-back home runs by Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston Jr. The Blue Jays quickly went back in the lead though in the next inning, as Lyle Overbay completely demolished a ball into right center field to put Toronto ahead 5–4, where the score would stay for the remainder of the game.
From the 5th inning on, the Yankees had only 3 hits (out of 11 total) and failed to put a runner in scoring position.
Alfredo Aceves pitched the last four innings of the game and was effective, but it was probably unnecessary to stretch him out like that. I'd imagine he won't be available again for the remainder of the series.
The series resumes tomorrow evening at 7:05 and A.J. Burnett will get a crack at his former team. He'll be up against the young Ricky Romero.
EDIT: Made a mistake with the pitching matchup. Tuesday's matchup is Scott Richmond vs. Joba Chamberlain. Burnett vs. Romero is Wednesday's matchup.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–20, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
Sergio Mitre's line wasn't terrible, allowing just 3 earned runs and 6 hits in 5 innings. Mitre's undoing, however, was in the 4th inning when he made a wide throw to second base after making a nice grab that turned what could have been a bases clearing double play into a run scoring fielder's choice. The Jays went on to score 3 runs in the inning to take a 4–2 lead.
The Yankees did tie the game in the bottom of the inning as they started their frame off with back-to-back home runs by Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston Jr. The Blue Jays quickly went back in the lead though in the next inning, as Lyle Overbay completely demolished a ball into right center field to put Toronto ahead 5–4, where the score would stay for the remainder of the game.
From the 5th inning on, the Yankees had only 3 hits (out of 11 total) and failed to put a runner in scoring position.
Alfredo Aceves pitched the last four innings of the game and was effective, but it was probably unnecessary to stretch him out like that. I'd imagine he won't be available again for the remainder of the series.
The series resumes tomorrow evening at 7:05 and A.J. Burnett will get a crack at his former team. He'll be up against the young Ricky Romero.
EDIT: Made a mistake with the pitching matchup. Tuesday's matchup is Scott Richmond vs. Joba Chamberlain. Burnett vs. Romero is Wednesday's matchup.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–20, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Merlyn Mantle, Mickey Mantle's widow, has passed away at the age of 77. She died due to the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. Our thoughts are with those who were close to her.
Posted by: Patrick
In the last couple of weeks, over at River Ave. Blues, Joseph Pawlikowski, Mike Axisa and a guest posting Rebecca have highlighted the impressive season that the Captain has been having; the latest in a career made up of impressive seasons. In doing so, they've sounded the alarm on the 2009 Derek Jeter for MVP campaign.
Though he has fallen in the rankings over the last week or so, Jeter still ranks as the 5th most valuable position player in the American League, by WAR or wins above replacement. He trails only Ben Zobrist, Joe Mauer, Evan Longoria and Marco Scutaro. All of which play for teams that would not make the playoffs if the season ended now. And Jeter could certainly gain ground.
Count me in. Not only is he deserving, but it would be a delight to see Jeter win the award at this stage of his career. I've always held out hope that Jeter would be able to collect one MVP award and Mariano Rivera would be able to nail down a Cy Young before both players leave the playing field behind.
The closest that Jeter has come was a second place finish in 2006 when he was just 14 points behind Justin Morneau. Mo also managed a second place finish in the Cy Young voting in 2005 when Bartolo Colon won (it wasn't particularly close). Make it happen, Cap'n. (Corny, yes).
Though he has fallen in the rankings over the last week or so, Jeter still ranks as the 5th most valuable position player in the American League, by WAR or wins above replacement. He trails only Ben Zobrist, Joe Mauer, Evan Longoria and Marco Scutaro. All of which play for teams that would not make the playoffs if the season ended now. And Jeter could certainly gain ground.
Count me in. Not only is he deserving, but it would be a delight to see Jeter win the award at this stage of his career. I've always held out hope that Jeter would be able to collect one MVP award and Mariano Rivera would be able to nail down a Cy Young before both players leave the playing field behind.
The closest that Jeter has come was a second place finish in 2006 when he was just 14 points behind Justin Morneau. Mo also managed a second place finish in the Cy Young voting in 2005 when Bartolo Colon won (it wasn't particularly close). Make it happen, Cap'n. (Corny, yes).
Posted by: Patrick
Chad Jennings reports that Cody Ransom, recently designated for assignment has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Posted by: Patrick
Matt Imbrogno of Bronx Baseball Daily did some research and concluded that Derek Jeter was the MVP of the Yankees 1996-2004 dynasty, exceeding Mariano Rivera by a good number.
Of course, this is just for fun as, at the end of the day, the team was a dynasty because of the players on the team - not because of one player. Jeter, Mo, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and others all played important roles and without any one of those players, who knows if we'd be calling it a dynasty at all.
Via Mike Axisa.
Of course, this is just for fun as, at the end of the day, the team was a dynasty because of the players on the team - not because of one player. Jeter, Mo, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and others all played important roles and without any one of those players, who knows if we'd be calling it a dynasty at all.
Via Mike Axisa.
Posted by: Seamus
Oh, how things can change in baseball in the span of two months or so. In early June, the Yankees hit what might have been the low point of their season thus far after they were swept by the Red Sox in Fenway Park. The series turned a one-game division lead for the Yankees into a two-game defecit and put their record at an atrocious 0–8 against the rival Sox. But that was then, and this is now. The Yankees have gone 35–16 since then (June 11) and after a convincing four-game sweep by the Yankees over the Sox at Yankee Stadium, and they now have a commanding 6.5 game lead in the A.L. East.
The Yankees came into tonight's game having shut out the Red Sox for 24 consecutive innings, and tonight it was Andy Pettitte's turn to keep the line moving. Pettitte did endure a few hard-hit balls and threw 112 pitches, but he still went on to post 7 shutout innings, allowing only 5 hits as he put the Sox' scoreless streak at an almost unimaginable 31 innings.
Pettitte was matched for 6 innings by his counterpart Jon Lester until Alex Rodriguez homered to left center field to give the Yankees a 1–0 lead. A-Rod at that point had driven in 3 more runs than the entire Red Sox team over that span of 31 innings.
The BoSox did finally get on the board, however, when Victor Martinez took a two-strike pitch over the left field wall for a go-ahead two-run homer off of Phil Coke in the 8th.
The Bombers would not be outdone. With two outs in the 8th and the Yankees facing hard-throwing Daniel Bard, Johnny Damon took the ball deep into the Yankee bullpen to tie the game at 2. Two pitches later, Mark Teixeira went deep to put the Yankees ahead 3–2. The Yanks added two more in the inning after Nick Swisher lined a soft line drive into center field for a two-run single.
Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th to record his major-league leading 32nd save. Rivera has not allowed an earned run in any of his last 20 appearances. The last time he allowed a run was on June 12 against the Mets.
The Yankees will try to become the first team to reach 70 wins this season and they'll be facing the Blue Jays and Marc Rzepczynski. The Yankees will send Sergio Mitre to the mound. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–19, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
The Yankees came into tonight's game having shut out the Red Sox for 24 consecutive innings, and tonight it was Andy Pettitte's turn to keep the line moving. Pettitte did endure a few hard-hit balls and threw 112 pitches, but he still went on to post 7 shutout innings, allowing only 5 hits as he put the Sox' scoreless streak at an almost unimaginable 31 innings.
Pettitte was matched for 6 innings by his counterpart Jon Lester until Alex Rodriguez homered to left center field to give the Yankees a 1–0 lead. A-Rod at that point had driven in 3 more runs than the entire Red Sox team over that span of 31 innings.
The BoSox did finally get on the board, however, when Victor Martinez took a two-strike pitch over the left field wall for a go-ahead two-run homer off of Phil Coke in the 8th.
The Bombers would not be outdone. With two outs in the 8th and the Yankees facing hard-throwing Daniel Bard, Johnny Damon took the ball deep into the Yankee bullpen to tie the game at 2. Two pitches later, Mark Teixeira went deep to put the Yankees ahead 3–2. The Yanks added two more in the inning after Nick Swisher lined a soft line drive into center field for a two-run single.
Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th to record his major-league leading 32nd save. Rivera has not allowed an earned run in any of his last 20 appearances. The last time he allowed a run was on June 12 against the Mets.
The Yankees will try to become the first team to reach 70 wins this season and they'll be facing the Blue Jays and Marc Rzepczynski. The Yankees will send Sergio Mitre to the mound. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 33–19, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
Posted by: Andrew
For the second straight game, a Yankees high-priced starter shut out the Red Sox for 7 2/3 innings. CC Sabathia followed A.J. Burnett's lead as the Yankees defeated Boston 5-0 Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia struck out nine and walked two over 7 2/3 innings, mimicking Burnett's one-hit effort over that span Friday night. He even took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jacoby Ellsbury broke it up with two outs.
Like yesterday's 15-inning pitchers' duel, this game was all pitching with minimal offense for the majority of it. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Mark Teixeira's RBI single. Melky Cabrera led off with a single and Jose Molina walked. However, Derek Jeter grounded into a double play which almost bailed out Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz. But he ended up walking Johnny Damon, which allowed Teixeira to come up with Cabrera at third.
The Yankees got a crucial insurance run in the sixth when Molina hit a sacrifice fly to score Robinson Cano who doubled to lead off the inning. They would score again in the next frame when Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded against Enrique Gonzalez. Ramon Ramirez started the seventh inning but was ejected immediately after hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. And for good measure, Jeter added a two-run home run that barely made it over the right field wall next to the foul pole to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead.
But the day belonged to Sabathia, who threw 123 pitches and left to an enormous ovation. After starting the season 0-8 against their rivals from Boston, the Yankees are now in position to sweep this four-game series tomorrow night. Andy Pettitte will face Jon Lester.
Recap records: Seamus: 32–19, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
Andrew Fletcher regularly blogs about the Yankees at Scott Proctor's Arm.
Sabathia struck out nine and walked two over 7 2/3 innings, mimicking Burnett's one-hit effort over that span Friday night. He even took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jacoby Ellsbury broke it up with two outs.
Like yesterday's 15-inning pitchers' duel, this game was all pitching with minimal offense for the majority of it. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Mark Teixeira's RBI single. Melky Cabrera led off with a single and Jose Molina walked. However, Derek Jeter grounded into a double play which almost bailed out Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz. But he ended up walking Johnny Damon, which allowed Teixeira to come up with Cabrera at third.
The Yankees got a crucial insurance run in the sixth when Molina hit a sacrifice fly to score Robinson Cano who doubled to lead off the inning. They would score again in the next frame when Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded against Enrique Gonzalez. Ramon Ramirez started the seventh inning but was ejected immediately after hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. And for good measure, Jeter added a two-run home run that barely made it over the right field wall next to the foul pole to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead.
But the day belonged to Sabathia, who threw 123 pitches and left to an enormous ovation. After starting the season 0-8 against their rivals from Boston, the Yankees are now in position to sweep this four-game series tomorrow night. Andy Pettitte will face Jon Lester.
Recap records: Seamus: 32–19, Patrick: 28–14, Andrew: 8–9
Andrew Fletcher regularly blogs about the Yankees at Scott Proctor's Arm.
