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New York Yankees: Not exactly the start I was hoping for

Posted by on 7 April 2012, 1:48 am
Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees deliver...

Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 2012 Opening Day between the Yankees and Rays was not exactly the start New York fans were hoping for, as the game was more than just a loss.

The Yankees were entering the bottom of the ninth with a 6-5 lead, and skipper Joe Girardi called on Mariano Rivera to finish off the Rays.

That is where things got ugly, as Mo allowed a single, a double, which led to a run scored, and no outs.

Girardi had no choice but to instruct Mo to walk the next two batters intentionally so the bases would be loaded. Next he swapped Nick Swisher for Eduardo Nunez to crowd the infield in hopes that the Rays Sean Rodriguez would bunt.

Regardless of what you have or will hear about Girardi’s decision, it was without question the Yankees best option at the time. The Yankees were looking for the double play at either first or third and home plate.

Rodriguez wound up not bunting, but Mo struck him out.

Than came up Carlos Pena, who was 0-11 lifetime against Rivera but he had the hottest bat of the night by far including a grand slam off Sabathia in the first inning.

Well, Pena came through again and hit a deep ball over Brett Gardner’s head and the Rays won the game 7-6.

 SHOULD YANKEE FANS BE WORRIED ABOUT MARIANO RIVERA?

Well, the Yankees and Rays are both playoff contenders and even though this is just one-game, remember that is what last season came down too.

I understand that players are adjusting but what made this loss sting was that Mariano Rivera could not do his job and that is something Yankee fans are not used too.

Rivera is by far the best closer ever to step on a mound, but he is almost 42-years old and in 17-seasons has yet to regress at all, so convincing myself that it is all good after a blown save plus a loss on Opening Day is hard to do.

When it comes to Mo it stings in the hearts of Yankee fans, and New Yorkers are not supposed to care like that about anything but championships but this time it is different.

Now getting back to answering my question of whether I am worried about what transpired at Tropicana Field yesterday afternoon…in my mind no I am not, but in my heart yes.

All I know for certain is that yesterday is over and hopefully the Yankees get a win today.

ABOUT CC SABATHIA?

The table below is for all Yankee fans, including myself, that got chills when Rays Carlos Pena hit a grand slam off ace CC Sabathia in the first inning of the 2012 season. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Not exactly the start I was hoping for’ »

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New York Yankees: Who likes criticizing Mo cause I do not

Posted by on 22 February 2012, 1:00 am
New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera before a...

Image via Wikipedia

Unfortunately it seems there’s always a first time for everything.

Good or Bad.

And criticizing New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will be a first for me.

FIRST, LET ME SAY HOW I FEEL ABOUT MO:

Rivera is not only the greatest closer to ever play the game; he is the paramount of a role model for the way he handles himself both on and off the field.

Baseball fans and players alike worship him, and you realize that this after hearing ex- Red Sox, now Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon once told MLB.com Ian Browne:

“I owe a lot of gratitude to him because of what he’s done. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him. I think everybody knows that. The closer’s role wouldn’t be as noted. More and more now, people and teams and fans are starting to realize, because of Mariano, how important it is to have that closer to win a World Series,” he went on to say, “When you look up closer, the definition, in the dictionary, that’s Mariano.”

Anyone who hears Rivera’s genuine humble demeanor after he just struck out the side in a one-run ballgame falls instantly in love with this man.

Never taking his job for granted, Rivera is a shoe-in, on a speed train heading straight into Cooperstown.

It is absolutely impossible to think of life after Mo, but at 42 years old his time to wave goodbye is coming but it just feels like it is too soon.

Having Rivera on the Yankees is the pride, power and the pinstripes.

MY CRITICISM:

It is no secret that Rivera’s contract expires at the end of 2012, but he does have the option to exercise a one-year extension, if he so wishes. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Who likes criticizing Mo cause I do not’ »

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New York Yankees: 3 pre-season reasons to be very afraid of this team

Posted by on 13 February 2012, 5:20 am
English: CC Sabathia (left) and Mark Teixeira

Image via Wikipedia

The 2012 New York Yankees have a team that is built to win the World Series, and offer plenty of everything for opposing teams to be very afraid about.

And here are the three reasons why:

1) MOTIVATION.

From CC Sabathia to Mark Teixeira to Alex Rodriguez, if the Yankees have made one thing very clear this offseason it is how unhappy they were with their 2011 ALDS early exit. I saw first hand back in December how hard Sabathia was training by his evident weight loss.

Tex is throwing out the BSOHL card, Best-Shape-Of-His-Life. He recently tweeted about his 14-pound off-season weight loss, and told the NY Post that he plans to be laying down some bunts this season, which would be a first for the switch hitter. With the way defenses shift over when Tex bats lefty, it could really be a difference maker even if he only bunts 10 times all season. The first basemen also tweeted “One of the greatest thrills of my life…the victory parade down the “Canyon of Heroes”, while watching the New York football Giants parade on February 7th. It is safe to say that Tex wants to stroll down the parade route in NYC once again.

A-rod went as far as Germany; on the advice of NBA star Kobe Bryant to have experimental procedures on his knee and shoulder. A-rod is doing everything possible to make sure he stays healthy this season, and regardless what some critics say, the Yankees are better all around with A-rod active.

And the NY Post confirmed that Spring Training has already started for the Captain, who has been hard at work at Steinbrenner Field for well over two weeks already. This is standard for Derek Jeter, who is always the first to arrive at camp, and is happy to help 19-year old shortstop Cito Culver who is taking full advantage by shadowing the Captain. Jeter is already in the batting cage, as he wants to start 2012 the way he ended 2011.

2) FLAWLESS. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: 3 pre-season reasons to be very afraid of this team’ »

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New York Yankees: Rivera’s Retirement…Really Rob?

Posted by on 10 January 2012, 1:46 am
English: Photo courtesy of Keith Allison on Fl...

Image via Wikipedia

On the heels of the news, via WFAN’s Sweeny Murti tweet, that New York Yankees Jorge Posada was retiring, reading the headline “Rivera will decide on retirement by spring training,” made me want to puke.

That headline came from an article by Rob Abruzzese over at the uber-popular Bronx Baseball Daily, also a personal favorite blog that I visit regularly. And Rob, you certainly got my heart racing.

Just the thought of Yankees Universe sans Rivera seems impossible, but he would never announce his plans in Spring Training that I can guarantee.

As that is not Mo, as the last thing he ever wants is for anything to be all about him. Also, if anything can change a person’s mind, it is 162-games yet to be played and honestly do we really have to go here yet?

This whole story stemmed from an article by Marc Craig of the Star Ledger and all that was reported was, Rivera has said he might know by spring training whether he intends to keep pitching when his contract expires after this year.

See, Rob from BBD might not realize that like many Yankee fans, Mo’s retirement has been on my mind for a few seasons, as I attempt to prepare for that dreadful day.

I have played out the context in my head like a broken record. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Rivera’s Retirement…Really Rob?’ »

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New York Yankees: 2012 Resolution That’s Easy

Posted by on 2 January 2012, 11:23 pm
Making a New Year’s resolution is a time-honored tradition, and after going to the gym today I can tell you that it is still done, as it was

jammed packed.

Certain resolutions are irresolvable; such as I will never win a World Series for the obvious reason that I am female. Regardless, the majority of living men in the world today are not even remotely talented enough to play in the minor leagues.

Now the above does not apply if your name is Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez or Mariano Rivera as not only have all three already been WS Champs, they have the opportunity to do it again but the window is closing.

The 2012 New York Yankees won’t look much different from 2011, as most know that this off-season has been lifeless thus far and I do not foresee any surprises prior to the start of Spring Training.

Luckily, the Yankees have the talent to be relevant without much change but with the looming retirement of Rivera, along with the ages of Jeter and A-rod make 2012 the last season that winning a World Series might still be manageable.

I don’t think fans realize what life in the Bronx will be like when Enter Sandman no longer plays at the Stadium in the ninth inning; or in two or three years when the team no longer has their Captain.

The time is now, and after being on-hand for the Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS one would hope that would be enough for the entire Yankee team to work harder this off-season. So at least the players would know that they did everything humanly possible not repeat another early exit again in 2012.

For now, all I hope is that the majority of active Yankee players have this same sentiment. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: 2012 Resolution That’s Easy’ »

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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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CY Young To Verlander Honorable Mention To Sabathia, Rivera & Robertson

Posted by on 16 November 2011, 10:23 pm

Congratulations to Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander for his historic 2011 season. Verlander won the CY Young Award by a landslide, just as expected and well-deserved I may add.

Verlander went 24-5 in the regular season, posting a 2.40 ERA, 250 strikeouts and pitched 251 innings.

In all honesty, the rest of the CY Young voting is really irrelevant this season because Verlander’s performance was that superior, as he unanimously won across the voting across board. Still, even in a rare circumstance it is nice to acknowledge the other top pitchers around the American League for their hard work too, which included three Yankee arms.

Congratulations to all the nominees!!

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