It was another Opening Day for the books at Yankee Stadium, as fans got to welcome the players, say goodbye to a legend and watch the Bombers beat the Angels 5-0.
After a terrible first start against the Rays, pitcher Hiroki Kuroda took to the hill and he was brilliant.
Kuroda didn’t allow a run to score, pitching shutout ball into the ninth inning. He gave up five hits, walked two, struck out six and got a well-deserved, roaring ovation from Yankee fans.
Ironically, when I think about it Posada actually personifies this Giants team because he played old school baseball.
Jorge was tougher than nails, and brought a go hard or go home attitude that subconsciously motivates others to win.
So now, after 17 seasons, of going to a Yankee game to see Posada and chant “Hip, Hip Jorge” has to come to an end tomorrow. Even knowing that this day was coming still doesn’t change the fact that feels way to soon.
For now, let us all wish Jorge Posada the best in his future endeavors but I hope he knows the joy he brought everyday to his fans, this city and the Yankee pinstripes. And say Thank You.
I knew what it was, and it didn’t even come as a shock when earlier in the week ESPN’s Buster Onley reported that New York Yankee Jorge Posada was planning to retire. Even knowing the possibility of this happening, as it has loomed for some time, still didn’t make the reality of it any easier to swallow.
This is saying goodbye to one of the great ones, something that not just Yankee but all baseball fans will if not miss, certainly respect.
I feel very blessed to have grown up in New York City watching Jorge Posada’s entire 17-year career in pinstripes.
I was always in awe of his confidence as a player. Whether it was behind the plate or hitting from either side of it, Posada was a fierce competitor who aspired to win.
“It’s not gonna happen. I don’t think there is even a percentage of a chance that I can come back. “I will always be a Yankee. The New York Yankees, for me, is my second family. It’d be tough to put on another uniform for real and learn a new set of rules. But it’s one of those things where I have to see if I wanna keep playing.”
Well, let me tell Jorge Posada that it is just as hard for Yankees fans to see you go.
There is no doubt in my mind that the time for Posada and the Yankees to part ways is now. Yankee fans had an entire season to process this, but it is never as simple as it seems when the time comes to say goodbye.
So now all you can do is say thank you, for being a role model, a tireless competitor and for giving New York a reason to be proud.
The latest non-poker news on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is that he is scheduled to make two rehab starts this weekend; first as a DH on Friday and at third base on Saturday.
“It looks like he (A-rod) could possibly start a game Friday as the DH and then go from there. Hopefully, he’ll play the field on Saturday and we’ll see where he’s at.”
That is good news for the Yankees, who have gone 18-10 since A-rod had knee surgery back on July 14th. Still, a player of A-rod’s caliber makes any line-up better and any team would welcome him with open arms.
And if history serves, A-rod usually comes off the DL swinging. He could offer that extra bang that the Yankees did not acquire at the trade deadline, by no fault of their own.
So, with A-rod aiming to return next week, Girardi and GM Brian Cashman have a critical decision to make about who will be sent packing.
With the Yankees already carrying the max number of players (25) allowed on a MLB roster, A-rod is one guy to many so someone will be sent packing to allow the three-time MVP to be activated again.
One of the above relievers will be heading to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre next week. It makes sense, as the Yankees are flooded with righties in the bullpen. Also, with Girardi manning a six-man starting rotation there is no other option.
Adding the extra starter is a genius move by Girardi, as it gives guys like Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia an extra day of rest cause lord knows the Yankees need these veterans to stay healthy down the stretch. If Girardi has not been in the Manager of the Year discussion, he should be now. No joke. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: A-Rod To Return Means You Gotta Go’ »
Finally the New York Yankees land in the column on the left, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 and snapping a 0-6 losing streak.
Was it a great win?
It was a necessary one that is for sure, as there might have a riot if the Yankees lost another game.
To no surprise the team got their legs back due to Alex Rodriguez. A-rod finally hit not one, but two bombs in the fourth and sixth innings respectively.
While, the struggling Jorge Posada came up big with two hits, even as the tacky Rays stadium brass blasted John Forgery’s “Centerfield”…Oh put me in Coach, I’m ready to play, today.
That was really classy.
Still, the most impressive player in pinstripes award on Tuesday night goes to relief pitcher David Robertson.
Robertson was summoned in the bottom of the sixth inning, replacing starter Ivan Nova on the bump who had loaded the bases and with just one out. Not an ideal situation, and talk about the pressure weighing on the 26-year-old. It made it almost to hard to watch.
Then Robertson struck out BJ Upton, followed by Casey Kotchman, with a four-seamer that clocked 96 mph.
What was so arousing was the Joba-esque fist pump and ‘YEAAAA’ by Robertson after he fanned the two Rays like it was the playoffs. Very appropriate because for the Yankees it kind-of was.
Still, what the 2011 Yankees seem to be missing is the fight to win.
The two games prior to the Tuesday’s win, the Yankees lost 5-7 to the Red Sox on Sunday night and followed with a 5-6 loss on Monday to Tampa.
If you watched these two games they looked uninspired the moment they were ahead and their opponents capitalized on it. Remember the way we used to watch the Yankees do in 2009 and 2010.
Please, don’t fool yourself into thinking that the Yankees are back on track because they have to land in the ‘W’ column about 70+ more times to be in contention for October baseball.
Just imagine heading into this weekends Subway Series with a worse record than the Mets?
Well, that can’t happen anymore and that is looking way to far ahead, as the Yankees have to take it one game at a time.
There are still two games left to play against the Baltimore Orioles before they play host to the ‘other’ New York team, who have two games in Queens against the Washington Nationals.
Hey nothing like a good kick in the rear to get things going again and that they certainly got.
As if listening to FOX’s Joe Buck for nine innings wasn’t bad enough, the New York Yankees tacked on another ugly loss, as they fell 6-0 to the Boston Red Sox for the second straight night.
Add that to some internal Yankee drama with ex-catcher, now DH Jorge Posada removing himself from the line-up, about two hours after he was moved to the ninth spot in the order.
It’s no secret that Posada has not been happy in his new role, nor has he been exceling in it either. To his credit Posada has posted 6 home-runs, 15 RBIs, two doubles, 18 hits and 15 walks so far in 2011, which is not horrific but his last home-run was back on April 23rd. Posada has the lowest batting average for players who have more then 100 plate appearances with a .165.
Posada needed a night to clear his head, nothing wrong or nuts about that as we have all been there before. So, try to give Posada a break, end of story.
THE SLUMP:
Overall the bigger problem is that Yankees are not playing well. The good news is that if the team hasn’t hit rock bottom already, they are darn close. For once the media’s antics will actually help the Yankees get their sooner.
Without a doubt it absolutely sucks when a team is slumping. For players it can’t be fun, but speaking as a fan I try to remind myself that this is standard and unavoidable bearing in mind the extent of a 162 game season.
The Yankees are not immune to slumps. Trust me, I know how maddening it is to witness, as it seems never ending. Then you turn on ESPN or pick-up the Sunday paper only to be reminded how ugly it is.
Remember how bad things were for the Red Sox or the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants the first few weeks of 2011? Or look at what is going on in Minnesota, as the Twins are 12-25 and sitting in the cellar of the AL Central.
I was actually really bummed for the Red Sox because I love the rivalry. I even defended the Red Sox because I knew that this was a temporary situation up in Boston and had no doubt in my convictions.
first as a DH on Friday and at third base on Saturday.
