Skip to content

New York Yankees: Are the bats the problem?

Posted by on 16 May 2012, 3:44 am

Cano - Cano - Cano don't you know?

After watching CC Sabathia struggle and the Yankees lose pathetically, 5-2, to the Baltimore Orioles last night I realized that the pitching was not the problem here.

Even with a bad start, Sabathia allowed four runs to score but the Yankee hitters can easily beat that number; and this reminded me of a something MLB veteran Andy Van Slyke once said:

“Every season has its peaks and valleys. What you have to try to do is eliminate the Grand Canyon.”

Now, the Yankees have not quite hit Grand Canyon level but the ups and downs are now a recurring theme.

While injuries have become a viable problem, it is not an excuse for the level of doubt but the staggering offense is.

The Yankees bats are arguably are the best in the Bigs, on paper. Up and down the order is supposed to be feared but for some reason the vibe is not coming across like it has in seasons past.

And other than Brett Gardner, the batting order is relatively healthy minus Mark Teixeira’s chest infection, which could very well be whooping-cough, and still they can’t seem to hit a stride.

So, what is the problem with the offense?

Multiple times this season the Yankees bats looked to be breaking out, only to be blanked the very next night; and usually by a pitcher they have not seen much of, or at all.

The Yankees beat Mariners King Felix but not Kevin Millwood; and they lose to the Rays Jeff Neimann but not aces David Price or James Shields. They get blanked by Orioles Jake Arrieta (2-4; 5.21 ERA) for eight innings but beat reining MVP and CY Young winner Tigers Justin Verlander. Catch my drift?

Actually finding a reason as what is happening here probably has a lot has to do with experience, or lack-of, if anything. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Are the bats the problem?’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

New York Yankees: Wounded but winning

Posted by on 15 May 2012, 12:39 am
Mark Teixeira swings at a pitch during a game ...

Mark Teixeira swings at a pitch during a game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles on August 28, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As if there weren’t enough already, the New York Yankees suffered even more injuries during their big, 8-5 win against the Baltimore Orioles last night.

The wounded Bombers are literally dropping like flies, and it is going to make it tough for skipper Joe Girardi to give Mark Teixeira, who was hacking up a lung after his big two-run homer, a much-needed day off.

So, here is a quick list of the Yankees latest casualties with the most updated DL list from MLB.com.

-       Starting pitcher Ivan Nova had to leave the mound in Camden Yard and was diagnosed with a bruise and a sprain of his right ankle but MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch did report the x-rays came back negative. I presume that means Nova didn’t really damage anything but he is obviously still hurt.

-       Lefty reliever Clay Rapada faced two batters, and finished his outing but had to be helped to the locker-room, as he has a viral infection.

-       DH/LF Raul Ibanez got hit with a pitch in the right elbow but still managed to get on first due to a defensive error but was immediately replaced with a pinch runner. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Wounded but winning’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Comment

Yankees vs. Rays: Series deux preview

Posted by on 8 May 2012, 12:44 am

The Yankees are back in New York after a 5-5-road trip to host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game set at the stadium starting tonight.

James Shields at Yankee Stadium.

Last time these two teams met was the start of the 2012 season, and the Rays swept the Yankees right out of Tropicana Field.

The Rays stand atop the AL East, tied with the Orioles with a 19-10 record but are coming to the Bronx on a two game losing streak.

Still, the 15-13 Yankees are the ones looking up at the Rays and have a perfect opportunity to make a move in the division and get some of their pride back.

The Rays are without third baseman Evan Longoria, and possibly Desmond Jennings too; but the Yankees will be without Mariano Rivera for the first time at home since 2003 along with a slew of others, including Brett Gardner, on their lengthy DL list.

The pitching match-ups are as follows, along with my predictions:

Tuesday: James Shields (5-0) vs. Ivan Nova (3-1)

Shields is clearly the better pitcher, but the recent awaken of Robbie Cano’s bat could give him some problems as Cano has hit four homers, five doubles, two triples and posts a .400 batting average against Shields. Cano was not a factor for Shields in their earlier meeting this season.

Nova is coming off his first loss after a 15-game winning streak but I do like the way he has pitched lately. He is reminding me of a 2010 Hughes, as he is getting a ton of run support. He has held the Rays to a .170 batting average, allowing two homers, three RBIs, three walks, while striking out 10 of the 47 total at-bats he has logged against them. Continue reading ‘Yankees vs. Rays: Series deux preview’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
4 Comments

New York Yankees: TGIF

Posted by on 5 May 2012, 8:04 am

Waking up yesterday morning, I had that pit in my stomach and you can bet I wasn’t the only New Yorker with that feeling.

On Opening Day 2010 at Yankee Stadium, Derek J...

I had realized that last Friday night might have been the last time I ever would hear ENTER SANDMAN blasting over the speakers at Yankee Stadium.

Like most baseball fans, I was distraught and now would have the weekend to think about things.

That is until Mo confirmed in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, “I’m coming back. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going out like this,” and all of a sudden I smiled again.

Yes, losing Mo for a season stinks, but it doesn’t compare to the feeling it left when it was possibly for forever.

Friday continued to get better as the Yankees snapped a three-game losing streak beating the Royals 6-2.

Ace CC Sabathia took charge throwing for eight solid innings, and Captain Derek Jeter went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and drove in two runs.

All that came to my mind was TGIF…thank God it’s Friday.

And that is when I started digging around the web for some other Yankees-positives, a tad silly yes but figured I might as well would share a few: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: TGIF’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

New York Yankees: David Phelps to start

Posted by on 3 May 2012, 4:04 am

It is no secret that the New York Yankees plethora of starting pitchinghas been whittled down to scrambling to fix holes left by the absence of Michael Pineda and the inefficiency of Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes.

And thanks to Hughes, Garcia, and after last nights 0-5 defeat at the hands of the Orioles, Ivan Nova, the Yankees starting rotation’s numbers, thus far, are alarming:

Yankees starters 2012 stats to date.

Reality is everything falls on the Yankees bats when any pitcher not named CC Sabathia is on the hill, and that is not only unfair but it won’t work. The Yankees can kiss October ta-ta if the pitching cannot pull its own weight.

Skipper Joe Girardi finally kicked Garcia to the bullpen, and he proved to be almost as useless in that role as last night. Garcia had to throw 31 pitches to get out of two innings.

Hughes should not be far behind, but until the Yankees stop daydreaming of 18-wins, fans will be forced to endure watching him implode every five-days.

And now Nova seems to have caught the 2012 Hughes syndrome, of performance being masked by run support.

Yikes….but wait all isn’t lost yet as there is still hope and his name is David Phelps. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: David Phelps to start’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
12 Comments

New York Yankees: Garcia and Hughes nightmare continues

Posted by on 29 April 2012, 2:29 am

Following his last disastrous start, New York Yankees pitcher Freddy Garciahad another horrendous outing; as he gave up six earned runs

GARCIA - HUGHES

in less than two innings to the Detroit Tigers, who eventually won the second game of this three game set, 7-5.

Once again skipper Joe Girardi had to go to the bullpen in the second inning, just like he had to do three days earlier down in Texas when Phil Hughes couldn’t get the job done vs. the Rangers.

Following the Tigers win, the media asked Girardi, for the second time this week, what he was going to do about tonight’s starter, and he said, “I like to sleep on things before I really do a lot of stuff.”   

This is where I got confused because what exactly does Girardi need to sleep on?

All I keep wondering is what was Girardi thinking prior to this series?

When you think about it, no one is supposed to beat Justin Verlander as losing is to him is almost expected. So how do you feel good about starting Garcia in the second game with Verlander starting the first in a three game set?

Logically you would think the Yankees skipper is deciding how to replace both starters and dreaming of…whom to bring up from the minors? Giving David Phelps a go? And when exactly will Andy Pettitte be ready?

Enough time has been spent on Garcia and Hughes because reality is both need to go now, and there is no need to sleep on it unless you want nightmares.

Facts are Garcia is totally useless; and Hughes is as close to useless you can be. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Garcia and Hughes nightmare continues’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
3 Comments

New York Yankees: Why Rangers Yu has advantage over Bombers

Posted by on 24 April 2012, 2:13 am

MLB fans worldwide can thank April showers in the Northeast for giving them the most anticipated pitching match-up so far this season because this one that

Yu Darvish begins his pitch.

Yu Darvish begins his pitch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

was not supposed to happen.

As the Yankees Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will now face his fellow countryman Rangers Yu Darvish in the second game of this three game set down in Arlington; and all due to the Yankees postponed game in Fenway Park this past Sunday.

Just in case you missed last night’s game, CC Sabathia pitched a gem and the Yankees bats backed up their ace, as they beat the Rangers 7-4. It was an all around great team effort from New York, as the Yankees look better with every passing game.

Now back to tonight….

This match-up could be the most watched of the season because the entire country of Japan is sure to tune in, as both Kuroda and Darvish are two of their most famed countryman.

Neither pitcher has been stellar this season, but expect them to put on big show tonight.

KURODA

Kuroda has shown what he capable in both directions, as he was phenomenal in his Yankee Stadium début but got shelled in his other two starts.

So far Kuroda is posting a 5.00 ERA, giving up three homers, 10 earned runs, six walks and 12 strikeouts over 18 innings pitched. Kuroda went into the ninth inning in one start and couldn’t get through the fourth in his other two.

This has left Yankee fans wondering which Kuroda will show up tonight, the great one or the bomb?

You can bet the Yankees bullpen is on high alert and ready to go because if Kuroda is not dominant the Rangers bats will hit him hard and score runs from the get-go.

In his career, Kuroda has only faced the Rangers for 31 at-bats where he struck out six, walked two, gave up two doubles and allowed zero homers. It is a very small sample size to even attempt to predict what could happen.

DARVISH: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Why Rangers Yu has advantage over Bombers’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. ...
  8. 17