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New York Yankees: To start Girardi needs to ban homers and move Tex

Posted by on 18 May 2012, 1:01 pm

Mark Teixeira manning 1st base.

The New York Yankees lost in Toronto for the second night in a row 4-1; and once again it was at the hand of the dead bats who left a total of 16 runners on base in both defeats.

The line-up couldn’t muster up anything to give Phil Hughes‘ a win after solid outing where he only allowed two runs to score in almost six innings of work.

Hughes was the only positive thing out of this mini-sweep at the hand of the Blue Jays, other than the unfailing bullpen.

The Yankees did kindly wake up Blue Jays slugger Joes Bautista who homered in each game and drove in three of the 12 total Toronto runs.

No doubt Yankee fans are pissed, which in New York actually means frustrated with a lot of passion, but can you blame them?

It would be one thing if the Yankee bats were swinging at air, or just getting out-pitched because at least than fans could feel sorry for them.

Problem is the Yankees can hit and get on-base, but scoring runs they cannot.

The Yankees love the home-run, as in their nine May losses they went homer-less in all nine of them.

Since power comes in waves and a team relies on going deep as their only way to score runs, they will be streaky and right now that is the Yankees in a nutshell.

Teams that are feared can beat you in many ways, consistently; but when the Yankees can’t go deep they can’t win. That explains why they are in the midst of their third three game losing streak  this season.

The team has scored 178 runs but they have now allowed 171, which is about right in line for a team who now sits in fourth place in the AL East. And with the Red Sox having won five of their last six, things better change the fast or the Yankees will find themselves living in the cellar of the division by the Sunday. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: To start Girardi needs to ban homers and move Tex’ »

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New York Yankees: Trusting Hughes too soon

Posted by on 14 May 2012, 12:57 am

Other than the New York Yankees winning their second series in a row over the weekend vs. the Mariners, once again it seems that pitcher Phil Hughes has managed to keep his spot in the starting rotation.

I will be the first to admit that Hughes pitched better in his last two starts, which were against the Royals and the Mariners.

Just so you know all the facts, here are the stats from Hughes last two starts:

Phil Hughes - 05/04 & 05/12 - stats.

As you can see from the stats, Hughes was not the only Yankee playing well in those two team wins. The bats scored 16-runs in total but to be fair, the Mariners and Royals are not exactly the stiffest of competition. And certainly not, in my opinion, the type of  teams I would base any decisions on regarding a player’s or pitcher’s performance against.

No offense but where did I get lost here.

The Yankees are not the only ones who have spoon fed Hughes, as the local media is eating it right up too, as the only reluctant group are the fans. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Trusting Hughes too soon’ »

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New York Yankees: What do you think Joe Girardi should do?

Posted by on 11 May 2012, 4:52 pm
Andy Pettitte

Andy Pettitte (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees have started of this 16-game stretch winning two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays, and are hoping to continue this streak over the weekend as they host the Seattle Mariners in the Bronx for a three-game set.

A lot of Yankee fans were awaiting this series to see how the franchise’s ex-top prospect Jesus Montero, who was traded away to Seattle for Michael Pineda, will perform.

It is no secret that Pineda has yet to pitch in the Bronx, as the coveted young pitcher is out for the season after he had a right shoulder anterior labral tear discovering, which required shoulder surgery. And who knows if Pineda will ever take the hill in pinstripes, as there is no guarantee he will be the same pitcher they gave up Montero for.

Regardless, Yankee fans would normally be all over this but the return of southpaw Andy Pettitte has provided some distraction. Pettitte will make his first start since he announced his un-retirement after a year away from the game.

With all the unexpected rotation issues that have occurred, if Pettitte comes out dealing and performs like he did in the good old days, Yankee fans will quickly forget about Montero and Pineda.

This is a toss-up as Pettitte is about to hit 40-years of age and if his recent starts in the minors mean anything it could be ugly.

Now this leaves another decision looming for skipper Joe Girardi, as the addition of Pettitte means someone has to go to the bullpen or minors.

So I leave you with this question…. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: What do you think Joe Girardi should do?’ »

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New York Yankees: Are you going to sink or swim?

Posted by on 7 May 2012, 3:17 am

Nick Swisher - 'roll call'

SUNDAY SUMMARY:

The New York Yankees wrapped up the four game series in Kansas City with a 10-4 win, splitting the series 2-2 with the Royals.

Phil Hughes got the win, and he did pitch better but reality is the Yankee bats were really responsible for the win yesterday.

As Ibanez and Granderson each had a RBI; followed by Cano’s much-needed grand slam and Swisher’s solo shot both in the third; and finally A-Rod joined the party with a three-run bomb in the eighth.

It was great to see Cano break out of his slump, as that was only his second shot on the season but hopefully a sign of good things to come.

The Captain’s hot bat showed zero signs of slowing down, hitting a double off the first pitch thrown in the game and had a successful bunt in the third. Teixeira also helped out by drawing two walks in the game.

REALITY BITES:

The excuse of ‘it still early in the season’ has about worn its welcome but even more so for teams who live in the AL East.

Reality bites and it will sooner than you think if the Yankees don’t get the ball rolling here. They sit at 15-13 on the season, fourth in the division and four games back of the 19-9 Orioles. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Are you going to sink or swim?’ »

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New York Yankees: You Are Not Alone

Posted by on 1 May 2012, 3:44 pm
Ryan Howard (left) and Albert Pujols

Ryan Howard (left) and Albert Pujols (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees are not the only team happy that April is finally over, as a few other MLB teams are hoping to turn things around in May.

So, here is a quick list of the Yankees and three other troubled teams who should be much better than they were in April:

1 -  Back in Spring Training, the New York Yankees were inundated with good pitching. Well, I don’t think skipper Joe Girardi anticipated that over the first month he would lose his newest star, Michael Pineda for the season; Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia to be completely ineffective; and now banking-on Andy Pettitte’s return to his All-Star self after a year off. Fans can pray that either DJ Mitchell or David Phelps will be the Yankees version of the Knicks Jeremy Lin. Hey you never know until you try.

2 -  The Los Angeles Angels are yearning for Albert Pujols to hit his first homer as a Halo; and you can expect the rest of the anemic offense to follow when the best player in baseball finally does. This is not the start anyone was expecting. Take a look at Pujols’ career April/March numbers below: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: You Are Not Alone’ »

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New York Yankees: Finally good news but more bad too

Posted by on 30 April 2012, 2:35 am
Yankees at Orioles August 28, 2011

Yankees at Orioles August 28, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In retrospect the New York Yankees survived an injury-riddled week, ending on a high with a 2-1 series win against the Tigers.

What happened?

Well, which do you want to hear first?

Kidding her is the bad news first, followed by the better or most improved news….

A WEEK FROM HELL:

The New York Yankees have had a rough week.

-        The latest came yesterday, in the Yankees 6-2 win vs. the Tigers. Nick Swisher got taken out in the second inning, and the MRI confirmed he has a low-grade hamstring strain. The Yankees said he will miss a few games, and that a DL stint has not been ruled out yet, so keep fingers crossed.

-        So with Brett Gardner on 15-day DL still that means Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez will be on either side of Curtis Granderson in the outfield until further notice.

-        The worst news came mid-last week when the Yankees got news that their big off-season pitching acquisition, Michael Pineda would be out for the entire 2012 season. Pineda has an anterior labral tear in his right shoulder and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow in New York.

No one could have anticipated Pineda was this injured. Hearing from Kurt Schilling and Al Leiter, who both came back from this same injury, brought a little comfort. Leiter made a point of stating how much work it takes to come back from and since no one knows how committed a player Pineda is leaves the possibility Yankee fans might never see him in the Bronx. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Finally good news but more bad too’ »

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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’ »

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