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New York Yankees: Remembering The Top 6 Headlines From 2011

Posted by on 27 December 2011, 12:45 am

The New York Yankees and their fans are trying to forget how the 2011 MLB season ended, as losing the ALDS in five games at home was rough on everyone.

Still, with a New Year just days away gives the perfect reason to reflect on the noteworthy, and in 2011 a lot of historic Yankee memories were made.

So, here are the 6 newspaper headlines, some to be etched in Yankee Universe forever, but all had a significant part in the 2011 season; and ones I will never forget:

START SPREADING THE NEWS…and in specific order:

1)    Mr. 3,000: Derek Jeter joins club with unexpected homer. – Big League Stew

2)    Rivera Notches Save No. 600 in Seattle as Yankees Win. – New York Times

3)    Yes, we Cano: Derby win is a family affair…Yanks slugger sets final-round record with father throwing. – MLB.com Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Remembering The Top 6 Headlines From 2011’ »

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New York Yankees: Granderson, Cano, CC, Tex, Houdini All On MVP List

Posted by on 21 November 2011, 11:38 pm
Justin Verlander

2011 MVP Winner..Justin Verlander Image via Wikipedia

Much to my dismay (click HERE to read why) , I obviously still extend my sincerest of CONGRATULATIONS to Detroit Tiger ace, and

recent CY Young receipt Justin Verlander for being named the 2011 Most-Valuable-Player.

There was no question that Verlander was the best pitcher across baseball this past season. Verlander finished the regular season 24-5 in 34 starts. He also boosted a 2.40 ERA, had four complete games and two shutouts during the 251 innings he pitched. Verlander gave up 67 earned runs, 24 home-runs, and 57 walks but managed to strike out a whooping out 250 batters of the 969 he faced. That explains why Verlander held opposing hitters to a .192 average and 283 total bases.

Not since Oakland Athletics Dennis Eckersley was named 1992 MVP has baseball given its most coveted award to a pitcher. Eckersley was just the 23rd pitcher in baseball history to win the MVP; and now after a 19 year drought, Verlander becomes #24.

The New York Yankees were represented with five players making the MVP final voting list: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Granderson, Cano, CC, Tex, Houdini All On MVP List’ »

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New York Yankees: MVP To Granderson, Honorable Mention To Verlander

Posted by on 21 November 2011, 4:57 am
Granderson Batting In 2011 ALDS Game 5 Vs. Tigers

2011 ALDS Game 5.

With the announcement of the 2011 AL MVP Award just hours away, the endless debate still continues about who is the rightful winner.

The  reason for all the hoopla is that Detroit Tiger, and recent crowned CY Young winner Justin Verlander has a good chance of taking the coveted annual award home later today.

So, everyone from baseball experts, MLB Players, and fans are weighing in with their own answer/opinion about pitchers winning the MVP Award over positon players…is it fair or not to give it to Verlander?

At this point, I have read a million answers from both sides of this argument, which at times have made me indecisive about my opinion in the matter.

Than after milling over pages and pages of stats and articles, here is why Justin Verlander is not the 2011 AL MVP and how New York Yankees Curtis Granderson is:

1999 Pedro Martinez vs. 2011 Justin Verlander

In 1999, Boston Red Sox’s ace Pedro Martinez was named the CY Young Award winner, just like Verlander was for this past season.

Both finished the regular season with impressive records, with Martinez going 23-4 in 29 starts; and Verlander going 24-5 in 34 starts.

The fact is the aces did not have comparable wins-losses; Martinez had an edge over Verlander due to making five less starts in 1999.

That is just one example of how Martinez edged out Verlander.

Now look at the two tables below to see that Martinez had a better 1999 season almost across the board in comparison to Verlander’s 2011:

All stats are courtesy of baseballreference.com

Martinez did not win the AL MVP in 1999; he came in second place behind Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: MVP To Granderson, Honorable Mention To Verlander’ »

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New York Yankees: In Defense Of A-rod Part Deux

Posted by on 22 October 2011, 3:33 am
Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees at Amer...

Image via Wikipedia

October 6, 2011 – It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Yankee stadium scoreboard read 3-2. With two out already posted, the fate of the season lied in the bat of baseball’s richest, three-time MVP New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez.

That was the calm before the storm in Game 5 of the ALDS, as Detroit Tigers Jose Valverde went on to strikeout A-rod, as Yankee fans couldn’t even muster the strength to boo.

That was the second time A-rod struck out in key spots that Thursday night, as well as the second season he would shoulder the majority of the blame for the Yankees early October exit.

If I were A-rod, I would have tried to run out the side door and avoid the counterattack that was about to in the Yankees clubhouse. Instead A-rod faced the media head-on and made no excuses:

“When you have opportunities like that, we talk about keeping momentum going, even if it’s a sac fly to at least get one run in there,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t get the job done.”

He went on to say:

“It’s devastating. This is going to hurt for a long time. This one stings, especially at home.”

Now, fast-forward to the top of the ninth in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series.

With no outs, the Cardinals were trying to hold a one-run lead, until Texas Rangers Elvis Andrus hit a line drive into center-field.

The single moved teammate Ian Kinsler from second to third-base, and just as Andrus was about to comfortable on first base, the unthinkable happened.

Cardinals fist baseman, Albert Pujols missed a textbook cut-off throw from the centerfield, and Andrus took off to second base, now leaving the Rangers with two runners in scoring position. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: In Defense Of A-rod Part Deux’ »

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New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason

Posted by on 11 October 2011, 4:06 am

Everyone is well aware that the 2011 New York Yankees season is over; to be precise it concluded last Thursday in a heart wrenching ALDS Game 5 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The 3-2 loss was about the worst thing I have ever saw at Yankee Stadium. It felt like a little of New York City’s heart broke that night and to say the fans didn’t do their job would be a crime, as the Stadium was as electric and more filled than the 2009 World Series…no joke.

Well, onward and upward as the postseason keeps moving forward with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.

Not sure how many New York, or East Coast viewers will be tuning into watch both Championship Series, but as a baseball fan you can bet that I plan to watch until the last out of the World Series.

My problem is that I have no answer for this one question that I have been asked about 20 times over the last three days by everyone from my Mom to the guy at Starbucks.

“Who do you want to win the 2011 World Series? You know since the Yankees lost.”

It is a legitimate question, but please note this does not entail me cheering for another team at all. Only which team would I not throw my remote at the TV with if they were to win.

For me no matter the sport, if my team is not in the championship there is usually one team that I wouldn’t mind winning a title. This has never been the easiest choice in the past, so why is it almost impossible this time?

Maybe because out of the four remaining postseason teams, somehow, individually have an aspect that bothers the hell out of me; and in turn, I just can’t commit.

MilwaukeeBrewers:

If you don’t know who T-Plush is by now, please accept my apology in advance.

T-Plush is short for Tony Plush, which is the self-appointed “name on the field” or his “gentleman’s name” of the outspoken, outfielder Nyjer Morgan.

Morgan annoys the hell out of me because his antics are so ridiculous that it takes away from his talent. Morgan has been known to start trouble for no reason with opposing teams, flicks off fans, and looks for trouble too much.

I get the love/hate thing Brewers fans have with T-Plush because he does come through in the clutch, followed by shouting some f-bombs in his post game interviews that I guess are amusing. Still, the day Tony Plush ran his mouth at Cardinals Albert Pujols was arrogance gone overboard. Funny thing is now look who his Brewers NLCS opponents are…guess Nyjer needs a tall glass of Shut-the Plush-Up.

Texas Rangers:

I have stuck to the theory that the Rangers are so overrated and get thrown bones left and right from ESPN, MLB Network etc. Excuses, and more excuses for a team that plays in the AL West. The Rangers will come back down to earth once the Angels get Kendry Morales back in 2012, and considering 37 of their 2011 wins were against the Mariners, A’s and Indians speaks volumes. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason’ »

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New York Yankees: Why ALDS Game 5 Was A Total Bust

Posted by on 7 October 2011, 12:57 am
Logos and uniforms of the New York Yankees

Image via Wikipedia

Well, ALDS Game 5 was a complete bust for the New York Yankees losing 3-2 to the Tigers at home.

I was at the game and it was heartbreaking, and frustrating at the same time watching how many Yankees were left-on-base. Twice the bases were loaded with only one out and the Yankees got blanked.

The Yankees can stew all off-season about how they screwed this one up. Personally, I need a day or two to let this one sink in, and hope for the best.

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New York Yankees: Welcoming The Detroit Tigers Back To Bronx

Posted by on 6 October 2011, 3:14 am

Welcome back to the Bronx… Tigers!

What happened to having the celebration in Detroit — 100 percent this past Tuesday night?

Well, I guess that the Tigers had to cancel the big party after getting waxed 10-1 by the New York Yankees, forcing them to come back to the Bronx to play the Yankees in the eleventh hour, ALDS Game 5.

The Yankees had their backs against the wall on Tuesday night in Comerica Park being down 1-2 in games.

Then AJ Burnett pitched a six-inning gem, at the same time the Yankee bats woke-up and the Tigers got a nice whiff of reality to realize the ALDS was not over just yet.

So, the Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the hill in the winner takes all ALDS Game 5; and the Tigers will counter with Doug Fister…. making it a rematch from last Saturday’s ALDS Game 1, Part 2.

IVAN NOVA:

Coming in relief after CC Sabathia’s start got rain out, Nova threw six+ scoreless innings of no hit baseball against the Tigers powerful bats. This 24 year-old seems to not get phased by situations, and the Yankees hope he remains calm and collected, but you can be sure that Yankee fans will be rocking at the Stadium particularly hard this time.

DOUG FISTER:

Fister took the loss, lasting just under five innings, giving up seven hits, six earned runs but struck out six Yankee hitters. This guy can without a doubt throw strikes, and at moments dominated over the Yankees line-up.

Fister has good control over the strike zone, as he doesn’t walk batters much, just two Yankees last Saturday. This might be Fister’s biggest problem too, as batters can hit him because he is easy to figure out. Even before he met the Yankees last weekend, he never has much success against them in the past but the stats are scarce, so it is hard to judge just yet.

BIGGEST FACTOR IN GAME 5:

This will come down to a battle of the bullpens, but realize that the bullpens include everybody with an arm.

And don’t believe Tigers skipper Jim Leyland statement that ace Justin Verlander will not be available for Game 5. Unless Verlander is secretly injured, there is no rhyme, nor reason that Leyland would give up going to the ALCS to keep the AL’s best pitcher on the bench. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Welcoming The Detroit Tigers Back To Bronx’ »

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