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Yankees Pick Up Options On Cano And Swisher

Posted by on 29 October 2011, 11:24 pm
Nick Swisher salutes the crowd during roll cal...

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It hasn’t even been 24-hours since the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2011 World Series, and the New York Yankees are already hard at work, getting ready for 2012 season.

The latest since the 6 ½ hours of executive meetings in Tampa, FL last Wednesday is that the Yankees picked up outfielder Nick Swisher’s $10.5 million dollar option.

Even though Swish has struggled in October, he has consistently produced offensively in the regular season. Since joining the Yankees in 2009, Swish gets on-base with a .368 OBP, and a total of 250 walks, 256 RBIs, 81 home-runs and 98 doubles in 1590 at-bats.

Swish has become a sergeant to the infamous Bleacher Creatures who span the right outfield at every Yankees home game. It is still a possibility that Swish gets traded before 2012 season, but with Swish’s persona becoming so important to the clubhouse’s atmosphere I doubt it will happen.

The other announcement comes as no surprise, as the Yankees have exercised Robinson Cano’s contract extension, which keeps the All-Star second baseman in pinstripes through 2013. Cano will earn $14 million in 2012 and $15 million in 2013, which is a major bargain considering Cano’s rising star as a top player in baseball.

So, now Yankee fans will have to just wait and hope that ESPN’s Andrew Marchand and New York Times David Waldstein claims are correct. As both reported that the Yankees are doing everything possible to keep ace CC Sabathia from opting out of his seven-year, $161 million contract, which still has four-years and $92 million left. Continue reading ‘Yankees Pick Up Options On Cano And Swisher’ »

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New York Yankees: Hurricane Irene Got Nothing On The Bronx Bombers

Posted by on 26 August 2011, 11:17 pm

Up in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon, the New York Yankees started a hurricane with their bats.

Not only did their bats beat the Oakland Athletics 22-9, they also made baseball history along the way. As Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson all hit grand slams during the game, which is the first time that has ever happened in the history of the baseball.

The Yankees are in Baltimore to play five games in four days against the bottom feeding Orioles. Problem is that Hurricane Irene didn’t come soon enough to save pitcher AJ Burnett.

The right-hander had another night to forget to add to an ever-growing list, as he gave up six runs in the second inning. Unfortunately, for Burnett, the bats didn’t have a repeat performance in the 12-5 loss.

Regarding Burnett, I am one of the few not worried so much about him righting himself. Burnett’s determination to fix himself is genuine, and he is working hard to make sure that happens. I believe the encouragement from both his teammates, as well as the coaching staff and GM will boost Burnett back to a respectable level again very soon.

**Hurricane Irene is heading up the coast so it is doubtful the weekend games will be played, which includes the double-header scheduled for Saturday that has already been postponed. The latest news on MLB.com is the Yankees/Orioles will play two on Sunday pending on the weather. The Yankees were hoping to get two games in on Friday or one very early Saturday morning but the Orioles wouldn’t do it. Go figure….

On – Off-The-Field Gossip:

Even though I discourage turning athletes personal lives into Hollywood gossip, exceptions are made when it affects a player’s performance on the field.

So, the recent gossip conveyed on JustJared.com that Derek Jeter dumped Minka Kelly is applicable because the Captain’s boosted level of play since the All-Star break has been remarkable; and getting out of a stressful relationship has to play a part. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Hurricane Irene Got Nothing On The Bronx Bombers’ »

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New York Yankees: Falling Asleep Watching The Red Sox Sweep

Posted by on 10 June 2011, 5:37 am

Getting swept is not fun for any team that. Doing it at your home ballpark, in front of your fans makes it sting a lot more.

Add the above to the culprits are your team’s biggest rivals, and what is even worse…this is not the first time, but the second time it has happened in four weeks.

Now, picture you are a player on that losing team. The embarrassment and shame must be overwhelming; especially because of the disappointment you see all over the fans faces.

Well, the above is the New York Yankees reality. As I can only imagine the players must be beside themselves, as the Boston Red Sox made fools of them once again.

As a fan, after the first loss on Tuesday I kept the faith, only to watch things get worse on Wednesday night.

Following the second loss of this series, fifth in a row if you include the last sweep, it felt like the Yankee team was playing like they had lost the fight before the bell.

Unlike the Red Sox who came ready to battle. After starting their season 0-7, my hat is off to Boston for leaving New York two games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East standings.

So, what happened to the Yankees?

1.Sloppy throws and miscommunication on the bases can’t happen. First place teams, like the Yankees were just two days ago certainly are no exception. The Yankees just had to win one of the three games to keep them at least tied with Boston, but obviously they couldn’t even handle that.

2.Don’t blame the pitching, as the Yankees didn’t hit…. again! I don’t care how many runs scored with Burnett on the mound because the Bombers should have crushed Tim Wakefield, but instead they went flat. The line-up is a mess; Cano and A-rod have been useless for way to long. Tex is in a slump, and without Granderson the Yankees would be in serious trouble. It is nice to see Jeter hitting again, but the 3000th hit needs to come when the team is winning or else it will lose some of its luster, at least in the eyes of the Yankee fans. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Falling Asleep Watching The Red Sox Sweep’ »

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New York Yankees: Pitching vs. Mets Schedule

Posted by on 20 May 2011, 2:32 pm

Here are the probable pitchers for this weekends Subway Series at Yankee Stadium:

Freddy Garcia (2-3, 3.22) vs. R.A. Dickey (1-5, 5.08)

Tonight (My9 HD, 7 p.m.)

THINGS TO NOTE:

  • Both the Mets and Yankees are playing good baseball.
  • The Yankees line-up is hot right now beating up the Baltimore Orioles 25-5 in runs total in their last two games.
  • The Mets have won nine of their last 13 games.
  • The Mets will be sans 1B Ike Davis and 3B David Wright.
  • Judging by how much broader Citi-Field is the Amazins could have a field day in the stunted, homer-friendly Yankee Stadium.
  • Both of Friday’s starters, Dickey and Garcia are coming off their worst performances of the season and neither pitcher has any significant familiarity with the others line-ups.
  • Dickey’s knuckleball has been flat lately and if he can’t keep it down Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano will feast on it.
  • In the eight at-bats against Dickey, A-Rod is batting .625, with five hits; Gardner is two for three, with a triple, two RBIs and .667 batting average.
  • Dickey has yet to give-up a home-run to any of the Yankees he will be facing on Friday night.
  • Garcia has to watch out for the blazing bat of Carlos Beltran, who just hit three-homers in one game against the Colorado Rockies. Beltran has faced Garcia 31 times, batting a .452, with 10 RBIs, three home-runs, two doubles and a triple.

UP NEXT……

A.J. Burnett (4-3, 3.99) vs. Chris Capuano (3-4, 4.78)

Saturday (FOX, 7 p.m.)

Ivan Nova (4-3, 4.33) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-3, 5.11)

Sunday (YES HD, 1 p.m.)

 

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New York Yankees: Cleaning Up This Team’s Mess

Posted by on 17 May 2011, 2:17 am

THANK YOU CURTIS GRANDERSON:

The only consistency other than losing for the New York Yankees has been center-fielder Curtis Granderson.

Without Granderson’s bat and glove the Yankees would not be in a slump, they ‘d be sunk worse than the 0-6 run the team is now on.

Grandy is easily putting up the best numbers in his career and MVP worthy with 14 home-runs, 31 RBIs, four doubles, three triples and 16 walks.

His last blast was off Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price, who had only given up a home-run to a lefty bat once before in is career to Phillies Chase Utley back in 2009.

It also gave the Yankees a comfy 5-1 lead, which was lost by the middle of the sixth inning, as they lost 6-5.

THE REAL DEAL:

Let me make something clear, the fact that AJ Burnett gave up a three-run homer in the sixth to Rays BJ Upton to give the Rays the lead and eventual win is utterly irrelevant.

Why?

The Yankees pitching has done plenty on their end to get the team in positions to win games, but the bats are completely dead.

Forget the older guys that the entire sports world has written off already; I am talking about Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira and Brett Gardner, who have been useless in May.

Robinson Cano is hitting well, but is not near his potential yet because Cano can rip.

Here is a chart compliments of Baseball-Reference.com of the Yankee bats in April compared to May. The drop-off is not hard to see.

This will be a long summer in the Bronx if the bats don’t wake up now.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ:

Despite of all the ageism banter about how Alex Rodriguez is 35 years old, I highly doubt he has all of a sudden forgotten how to hit. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Cleaning Up This Team’s Mess’ »

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Baseball Movie You Must See

Posted by on 7 May 2011, 1:26 pm

When we watch professional baseball players on TV or at the ballpark, none of us really understand what most had to go through to get to the top.

Getting there is even harder for the non-American players, who are in a totally unfamiliar place, without family and don’t have the words to communicate more than through actions on the field.

The movie SUGAR portrays a pitcher; Miguel Santos from the Dominican Republic drafted at age 16 by the Kansas City Royals and follows his steps through the minor leagues.  Santos’ nickname is ‘Sugar’ for his knuckle curveball was that sweet.

This movie will engross any baseball fan, as you fathom from the vast pressure put on someone so young to go all the way. From family you never knew to the realization that if this doesn’t work out that you are unequivocally uneducated to get anymore than a remedial job, if that.

SUGAR shows the little details of the everyday emotions and struggles faced in the minor leagues everyday. Not only is the baseball aspect fascinating, but also as an American you get to see how the country looks threw a young man’s raw viewpoint, which makes this movie all the powerful.

Trust me go and watch SUGAR. I can promise that you will walk away feeling like you really learned something about the sport of baseball that we tend to overlook or just never really understood in the first place.

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New York Yankees: Oh No Now Robbie Cano Is Day-To-Day

Posted by on 2 May 2011, 3:30 am

Brain Lewis of the New York Post reports that a bruised left-hand was the reason New York Yankees second-baseman Robinson Cano left the game in the eighth inning.

The Yankees had Cano get x-rays and they came back fine.

Cano is listed as day-to-day, which has Yankee fans on high alert, as Cano is one of the best hitters and all-around players in baseball. Losing Cano would be devastating, as he has been the most consistent bat on the team.

Cano is tied for fourth in the majors with eight home-runs, batting a whooping .320 and has 21 RBIs already this season.

Let’s hope that Cano gets a well-deserved night off on Monday night just to be safe, as he has played every game this season.

The Yankees flew to Detroit after the 5-3 win against the Blue Jays, to play a four game set against the Tigers.

 

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