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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: Reintroducing Girardi’s binder

Posted by on 12 May 2012, 4:03 am

Joe Girardi, the current Yankees' manager

Joe Girardi, the current Yankees' manager (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the devastating loss of Mariano Rivera now sinking in, which not only physically handicaps the Yankees but also mentally, skipper Joe Girardi’s job just got much harder.

The good ‘old comfort of the ninth inning now feels more like a Sergio Mitre start, and no one knows this better than pitcher David Robertson.

In time, everyone figured Robertson to be Mo’s successor, but not now and not like this.

When you consider all the Yankees recent history of screwing up young pitchers by pushing them too hard into uncomfortable roles, it makes you stop and think again.

Why the hell would the Yankees put all the weight on Robertson to fill Mo’s shoes when the timing isn’t right?

Robertson was invaluable to the Yankees last, and he got an All-Star nod to prove it. Also his 1.08 ERA, one homer, and eight earned runs in over 66 innings pitched made Robertson the best reliever in the Bigs.

Just think about it…. Robertson earned the nickname Houdini because he is an escape artist. He thrives when runners are already on bases, as that is where he always got the big strikeouts.

So, could this be the reason that Robertson blew his second save vs. the Rays? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Reintroducing Girardi’s binder’ »

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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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2012 MLB Team Preview: Seattle Mariners

Posted by on 16 March 2012, 3:45 am

Seattle Mariners old-school logo.

It has been a long and rough 11 years for Seattle Mariners fans, as that was last time the team gave them anything to celebrate about in October.

And in 2011 the Mariners teased fans by staying in contention in the AL West until a 17-game losing streak put an end to any hopes of a surprise run in the division.

The team finished last season with just 67 wins, as the club scored the fewest runs, 556 in total, in the AL for the third season in a row. And the Mariners found themselves as the AL West bottom feeders for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.

Now the question is can the Mariners take the positive start from 2011 and stretch it all the way into October?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

The big off-season move was a trade to help elevate their weak offense so the Mariners gave away pitching phenom Michael Pineda for New York Yankees promising young catcher, Jesus Montero. Montero’s catching still needs a lot of work but the kid without a doubt can rake and will bring power to the middle of the batting order even if it is as a DH.

The Mariners pitching rotation doesn’t need an ace because they already have a king, in 2010 CY Young winner Felix Hernandez who is one of the best in the game today. King Felix is about to turn 26-years old and has pitched well over 200 innings in his last four seasons. In 2011 the King finished 14-14, with a 3.47 ERA, had five complete games and 222 strikeouts. His 90 earned runs were uncharacteristically high, 27 more than in 2010 but considering the Mariners anemic offense his numbers are quite stellar.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Seattle Mariners’ »

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New York Yankees: Cashman you are losing it again

Posted by on 23 February 2012, 11:05 pm
David Aardsma

Image via Wikipedia

Are the New York Yankees in need of another right-handed reliever?

No, no…. the Yankees need a lefty to aid Boone Logan out of the bullpen, and even more so now that LHR Hideki Okajima failed his physical a few days ago.

Well, not when your GM is named Brian Cashman who is on his quantity vs. quality crusade again hoping to look like a genius; when in actuality it is skipper Joe Girardi & Co. who has to deal with another over-crowded camp in Tampa weeding through a plethora of has-beens.

And he can thank the Yankees GM for once again handing out invites to Spring Training to every injury riddled, washed-up or even old-for-a-veteran player who at one time displayed a little talent.

The latest in Cashman’s stockpile is injury-riddled player, right-handed reliever/closer David Aardsma.

Aardsma…Who?                      

Good question, as why would you know Aardsma; he didn’t pitch at all in 2011 but he did manage 31 saves over a total of 49 innings in 2010 and 38 saves in 2009.

That doesn’t explain why over his six-year career Aardsma got tossed to five different clubs the Giants, Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox and his last stint was as the Mariners closer from 2009-2010. He spent all of 2005 in AA because of total inefficacy.

Aardsma just turned 30-years old, and has suffered from serious hip and elbow injuries. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Cashman you are losing it again’ »

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New York Yankees: Tuesday Night Belonged To CC

Posted by on 27 July 2011, 6:35 am

Yankees ace CC Sabathia came so close to perfection last night in the Bronx, striking out 14 Mariners and winning his 15th game of the season.

Sabathia looked unstoppable, until a 30-minute thunderstorm erupted in the sixth inning, the first of two. The ace came right back out to the hill following Mother Nature’s disruption but he didn’t strike out another batter that inning.

In the seventh inning, Seattle’s Brendan Ryan hit a single to break up Sabathia’s flawlessness but he went on the strike out his 13th and 14th batter to end the inning, a personal high for Sabathia.

Following the game, marking the 17th straight Mariners loss in a row, Ryan had this to say about-facing CC to the New York Daily News:

“He’s always got Sabathia stuff. But today, that was by far the best I’ve ever seen him pitch. I almost feel disrespectful saying that, because we all know what he’s capable of. But when you’re locating the fastball and the way he’s throwing that slider, stealing strikes with curveballs here and there, he’s absolutely filthy.”

Sabathia is undoubtedly building a case for the 2011 CY Young; as he already has racked up 156 strikeouts and pitched 168.2 innings this season; and there is plenty left to go. Sabathia is posting a 0.92 ERA for the month of July.

Following the game, I was on the phone with my mother (who is NOT a baseball fan at all) and she asked me what was so special about CC Sabathia.

The only thing that came to mind was a quote by Aristotle that depicts who CC Sabathia is as a player perfectly, so I responded to her using his words:

“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

Look Sabathia’s reputation as an ace is founded on him being as close to perfect all the time as humanly possible.

GM Brian Cashman and the baby Steins should bend the rules this time and just hand Sabathia a blank check now.

I can’t conceive Sabathia not in Yankee pinstripes for the rest of his career. That means time for Cashman & Co. to drop the Grinch-act and grant us loyal fans a well deserved, early sigh of relief.

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New York Yankees: Bombers Vs. Bottom Feeders

Posted by on 22 July 2011, 1:44 am

The New York Yankees are back in the Bronx after splitting series against their AL East foes, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays.

After losing the first two games vs. the Blue Jays coming home 4-4 is a miracle, not ideal but keeps the Bombers just two games behind the Boston Red Sox.

Next up, the Yankees will host a 10-game homestand against the three bottom feeders in the American League, the Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles.

The A’s and Mariners have same 43-55 records, the second worst in the AL but still a lot better than the Orioles.

Once again the O’s are posting a 39-56 record (=19.5 games back in AL East), making the Birds not only the worst team in the AL, but in all of baseball. Well you can’t call Baltimore inconsistent, as the O’s continually find a way back down to the basement, season after season.

Still, don’t get any ideas that this homestand will be a breeze because it actually is the opposite.

HUH? WHY VS. THREE-BOTTOM-FEEDERS?

The reason is not one of these teams has anything left to play for this season; and that can be lethal. This theory applies even more so for the Yankees for three reasons:

1)   The line-up is still sans Alex Rodriguez, which is once again sending Mark Teixeira into a slump.

2)   Swisher and Posada are not hitting, again.

3)   The starting rotation is inconsistent, minus Sabathia who finished the road trip with a 1-2 loss to the Rays Thursday night; which was also his 31st birthday.

HOMESTAND SERIES PREDICTIONS:

Vs. Athletics 07-22/07-24:

First up is the A’s who come to town beat-up like you read about, and the Yankees should sweep them right back to Oakland. Yankees win series 3-0.

Vs. Mariners 07-25/07-27:

Next series is against Seattle. Everyone knows the strength of the Mariners is pitching, and it gives them a legit chance to win each night. So, the Yankees bats needs to wake-up ASAP. Even though the Mariners have lost their last 12 games in a row, the tides are bound to turn. ESPN reported that manager Eric Wedge held a closed-door team meeting following #12 with hopes to motivate his players, at least initially by lighting the first match. Yankees win series 2-1.

Vs. Orioles 07-29/07-31:

And lastly, Buck Showalter’s Orioles, who scare me the most. Hard to believe when Baltimore is awful more often than not. Problem is when it is the later; the O’s can beat anyone. Yankees win series 2-1.

WHY THIS HOMESTAND IS SO IMPORTANT:

Fact is the Yankees need to pounce because the schedule gets a heck of a lot harder. In August the Yankees will play 29 games, with 21 on the road. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Bombers Vs. Bottom Feeders’ »

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