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Ready Freddy? New York Yankees Sign Garcia For 2012

Posted by on 26 November 2011, 12:33 am

The New York Yankees and pitcher Freddy Garcia had something to be thankful for, as the two sides agreed on a one-year, $4 million +incentives deal according to the New York Post; and confirmed via tweet by SI’s Jon Heyman.

Last season, Garcia won 12-games in his first year as a Yankee; and he did it on the cheap too.

Garcia made $1.5 million in 2011, and compared to other 12-game winners, the Yankees certainly got their money’s worth and then some.

Garcia made a total of 25 starts in 2011, where the team won 15 games; and in 13 of those Yankee wins Garcia pitched 6 or more innings. He posted a 3.62 ERA, giving up 16 home-runs, 45 walks, 59 earned runs, with 96 strikeouts and pitched just shy of 147 innings in total.

The 35-year old Garcia doesn’t try to live in the past when he pitches and he has adjusted himself so. He relies on throwing an arsenal of off-speed pitches to make up for his loss of speed, and it has prolonged his career.

Bringing back Garcia for 2012 almost had to happen for two reasons:

  1. The bleak availability in the free-agent market.
  2. Banuelos and Betances.

The Yankees don’t want to overpay for a starter in desperation, only to be stuck with another huge contract for god knows how many years. Garcia gives them a solid, backend starter for one season. Continue reading ‘Ready Freddy? New York Yankees Sign Garcia For 2012’ »

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New York Yankees: Not Enough To Trust Phil Hughes

Posted by on 3 August 2011, 2:53 am

Location was the word New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes used about a zillion times following his first good start this season.

The Bombers beat-up on the Chicago White Sox for the second night in a row, but the 6-0 win only went lasted six innings due to rain.

What almost superseded the game itself was the fact that the Yankees are running a six-man rotation and Hughes was pitching for his spot. Hughes has been pretty much ineffective or on the DL since the 2010 All-Star Break.

Without question, Hughes pitched well vs. the White Sox. No doubt, this was his best start since but that was not too hard.

Still the question remains, was Tuesday night’s performance enough for you to trust Hughes again?

My answer would be no because you have to look at the bigger picture in this situation, and here are my four reasons why:

  1. It would be ludicrous to let one adequate start wipe Hughes’ slate clean. Reality is that Hughes has been a mess for so long that tonight’s win against the White Sox should be viewed as a fluke until proven otherwise.
  2. Winning 18 games in 2010 is an easy number to cling too, but realize Hughes got some major help from the Yankee bats who averaged 6.75 in run support. That number was the highest across the majors last season. A 18 game winning pitcher does not normally post a 4.19 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP unless he has had some help. There is nothing wrong with a pitcher getting some wins due to run support, but what about in the playoffs or in late September when that becomes almost obsolete?
  3. In the post game, Hughes said that once he saw 94 and 95 mph on the radar gun in the first inning against Chicago his confidence went up. This kid needs to stop focusing so much on his fastball’s speed because it cannot dictate his performance. Hughes needs to consistently win, which entails learning how to win without depending so much on his fastball’s velocity or else he will have a short shelf life.
  4. This is the nitty-gritty part of the baseball season, as games really matter in August and September. Skipper Joe Girardi tends to give guys multiple chances to prove themselves worthy. Hughes has had proven success coming out of the bullpen and due to the timing that is where he should be. Not forever, just for the rest of the 2011 season and then start a clean slate for next year. When Hughes moved to the bullpen in 2009, his dominance was a vital turning point that led the Yankees to winning the World Series. That is a fact.

So, looking at both sides of this argument you cannot deny that Hughes looked great against the White Sox. He threw first strike pitches to 14 of 19 batters, didn’t allow a walk and struck out four.

This positive start was almost mandatory for Hughes, as it was what needed to happen. For me, it proved that Hughes can have good stuff; at least once in a while. Hughes still has a lot of work to do, but this is not the right time for this kind-of drama.

This Hughes situation will not be fixed after one almost great start, as he doesn’t even know what he is capable of and that is never a good sign.

Please note that I am not insinuating Hughes as un-fixable, not even close. This is unfortunately just not the right time, as it is totally unfitting.

Just mark my word, if this charade continues it will cost the Yankees games they can’t afford down the stretch and I would hate to see it cripple them in getting to October.

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New York Yankees: One Sox Down, Six Soxs To Go And A New Attitude

Posted by on 2 August 2011, 6:05 am

The New York Yankees won the first game in Chicago 3-2, as Ozzie and his White Sox just couldn’t muster much even against off a so-so CC Sabathia.

An off night for Sabathia was still good enough to earn him his MLB leading 16th win, with just enough help from the Yankee bats to make sure that it happened.

So one SOX down and six SOXs to go, as the Yankees have three more in the Windy City before heading to Boston for a three-game weekend series against the Red Sox.

This is just not any old road trip because their team and fans pride will be on the line against the Red Sox. Remember the Yankees are now 1-8 against Boston, and the last two series were sweeps in the Bronx.

It makes me sick to even type the above; and it doesn’t help when every media outlet has preached how overmatched the Yankees in comparison to their division rivals.

Look no one can negate statistics, as they clearly confirm that Boston victimized the Yankees like you read about and that is just not going to fly in Yankee Universe.

Add that to the Yankees just acted so out of character by standing firmly at the trade deadline that they are confident with what they already have.

Whether GM Brian Cashman was acting sensibly or stupidly has Yankee fans spilt down the middle.

Being an outsider, while other teams improve themselves is clearly not something that Yankee universe is used too. Especially with teams like the Phillies behaving so Yankee-like by nabbing Hunter Pence from the Astros. I mean wasn’t getting Cliff Lee during the offseason enough?

I am intrigued and proud that the Yankees are going to see what these youngsters can do instead of making some desperate trade in a panic.

A few days before last Sunday’s deadline YES Jack Curry tweeted that Cashman said:

“We aren’t going to do anything stupid.”

Personally, this new attitude of sticking with the homegrown talent could be just what the doctor ordered in the Bronx.

Is it enough for the Yankees to get in the playoffs?

In my opinion, Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Austin Romaine bring an unpolluted enthusiasm that the Yankee players are not accustomed too. It is the kind of eagerness that can’t be unmatched, no matter the clubhouse; but something the Yankees have craved for years.

These players are also uber-talented and trust me get to know their names now because they are the future.

I can’t verify that all Yankee fans agree with my sentiments, but for some reason the way Cashman has handled this, just feels very right.

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New York Yankees Freddie Garcia Vs. Boston Red Sox Jon Lester

Posted by on 7 June 2011, 7:22 am

The New York Yankees are looking for some revenge against the Boston Red Sox, who are in the Bronx to play a decidedly scrutinized three-game set.

Right now the Yankees are hanging on to the top sot in the AL East by just a game over the Red Sox.

Boston has been working hard to get back into a position to pounce. Now, the perfect opportunity to finally dethrone New York, who has been sitting pretty above them all season long, is now.

The Yankees as they say, can kill two birds with one stone. Not only does this open the door to sweep ahead by four games in the division, but also yields their 1-5 record against the Red Sox. Don’t think I forgot to mention how Yankee fans would love to forget about the Boston May 13th series, when they brought out the brooms in the Bronx.

NYY FREDDY GARCIA (4-4, 3.34 ERA) vs. BOS JON LESTER (7-2, 3.94 ERA)

To start this three-game set, the Yankees send veteran Freddy Garcia to the hill to face 27-year-old Boston Red Sox Jon Lester.

Garcia is looking to get some revenge, which falls right in line with Yankees overall theme for this series, after his two awful starts this season vs. the Red Sox.

In the two losses, Garcia faced 24 Red Sox batters who posted a .292 batting average, while allowing seven hits, three doubles, two home-runs and three walks. Garcia needs to pay special attention to Big Papi and Kevin Youkilis, while also remembering that Carl Crawford’s bat has officially arrived.

If Garcia’s off-speed stuff gets going, along with his 13-seasons of experience he should have not problem prompting strikes. Garcia has an arsenal of pitches to choose from and is looking to keep his team in the game, but the Yankee bats have to give him some cushioning.

Not if Lester has anything to say about it, as he will try to tame the Yankees line-up. Lester will pay particular attention to the Captain, who is 14 hits away from being Mr. 3000 and has a .316 batting average in his career vs. Lester.

My bet would be that with a .333 batting average against the Red Sox ace, Andruw Jones will be in the Yankees line-up Tuesday night to shake the lefty up. Jones could be key for Yankees, as Lester has baffled the Yankees in his four-year career keeping the Bombers hitting just .235 against him.

Lester lost his last start Chicago White Sox, who tossed him around by scoring seven earned runs in eight hits, with one homer, four walks before hitting two batters causing his five-inning exit.

The outing incorporated him to throw 127-pitches and why he was left in so long is a darn good question. He also has a very un-Lester like 6.52 ERA over his last five starts; add that to laying 56 runners on base in 29 innings, and that could spell trouble.

Lester will have to improve drastically against the Yankees line-up that is the hardest hitting so far this season, posting the most home-runs with 88, second overall, but top in the AL in RBIs with 285 and also lead the AL with 293 runs total. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Freddie Garcia Vs. Boston Red Sox Jon Lester’ »

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Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2011 MLB May Monthly Power Rankings

Posted by on 1 June 2011, 1:30 am

With one-third of the 2011 MLB season under their belts, how did your team stack-up in the moth of May?

The hottest team was without question the Arizona Diamondbacks; while the biggest losers on the list goes to the Colorado Rockies.

Agree or disagree? Please feel free to share with a comment below.

LAST MONTH MLB TEAM THIS MONTH COMMENTS? REASONS WHY?
1 Philadelphia Phillies 1 Utley is back and Hamels is partying like it’s 2008.
4 St. Louis Cardinals 2 Crazy that the Cards are 2-9 when Chris Carpenter’s on the bump and win without Matt Holliday.
2 New York Yankees 3 Wait ESPN experts said the Yankees would stink…. Guess the meant stinking good. Tex is hot, hot, hot…but so is Grandy.
13 Boston Red Sox 4 Finally, team is winning and Crawford wins the AL Player of the Week. 45 of 45 ESPN Experts picked Red Sox as the best team, but still not quite there yet.
6 Florida Marlins 5 Season rests on Hanley Ramirez’s stiff back, but a bettered team with a big future.
10 Milwaukee Brewers 6 Here come the Brew-Crew and I am hoping on this bandwagon.
15 Atlanta Braves 7 If this team gets a big bat, watch out.
24 Arizona Diamondbacks 8 Yes, it does feel nice to be the best team in the AL West. Loving JJ Putz too.
8 Cleveland Indians 9 Reality bites and poor Cleveland fans seeing Indian players’ wearing LeBron jerseys pre-game….not good.
5 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 10 Can’t wait for Kendrick and Wells to return.
7 Texas Rangers 11 Better win games before Josh Hamilton goes on the DL again.
11 Cincinnati Reds 12 Jay Bruce, welcome to the gun show with 12 HRs, 32 RBIs and is batting just under .350 for the month of May.
12 Tampa Bay Rays 13 Feasted on the bad teams for long enough and question is can the Rays hang with the +.500 teams.
9 Detroit Tigers 14 Ah-oh here come the White Sox.
16 San Francisco Giants 15 Posey loss will start to show the reigning champs weaknesses; skipper Brian Bochy is team’s best catching option. SOS Sandoval.
25 Chicago White Sox 16 Bats are officially hitting; let the climb to the top of the AL Central begin.
29 Seattle Mariners 17 Hitting might not matter now, but Figgins, Smoak and Ichiro need to start to contribute or Mariners will fall fast.
19 Toronto Blue Jays 18 Bautista is a one-man wrecking crew.
17 Kansas City Royals 19 Closer Joakim Sori can’t close and that will sting.
3 Colorado Rockies 20 Jorge De La Rosa needs Tommy John and rotation needs some help.
21 Baltimore Orioles 21 Still hanging in last place; but not like before as the O’s remain in the AL East hunt.
20 Oakland Athletics 22 Starters have best ERA in baseball with 2.88 ERA, but you wouldn’t know it with the Yankees in town.
22 New York Mets 23 Jose Reyes is an awesome baseball player, who the Mets want to trade or if not let him walk at the end of 2011. Dumb.
26 Pittsburgh Pirates 24 April showers brought May flowers, as the Pirates ship is not sunk yet.
18 Chicago Cubs 25 Not this year Cubs fans.
14 Los Angeles Dodgers 26 The best bullpen on the DL in all of baseball.
23 Washington Nationals 27 Jayson Werth is trying to jump start a team without a spark, as he listens to “Goin’ Back to Philadelphia, PA” on his ipod.
27 San Diego Padres 28 A-Gone all the hitting to Boston and Padres feeling it.
30 Houston Astros 29 New owners want their money back please.
28 Minnesota Twins 30 Keep blaming it on Joe Mauer, who is the most overrated and overpaid player in baseball.
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2011 New York Yankees: What Do May, June And # 28 Have In Common?

Posted by on 29 April 2011, 4:34 am

New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia earned his second win, as the team whacked the Chicago White Sox right out of the Bronx after Thursday night’s 12-3 win and spilting the four game set with Ozzie’s boys.

The Bombers have been cruising right along in April, and certainly earning their nickname leading the Majors with 41 homeruns. Just so you get how good a number that is, following behind the Yankees with 33 homers is the Texas Rangers, who have played three more games due to all the rain delays in New York.

The Yankees also lead in slugging percentage with .485; rank third in RBIs with 125; fifth in OBP posting a .335; fifth in runs with 126 and they are tied, with the Minnesota Twins for second to last in strikeouts with 145.

Look I am well aware that these are just April’s numbers, but something has to be said after all the negative pre-season talk surrounding the 2011 Yankees.

Having a bench of veteran All-Stars might be brilliant and I expect it to continue through the season because between Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez they have 16 Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers and appearing on the MVP ballot in nine seasons.

Sorry, I have even had enough of my new Brian Cashman fixation when in essence the man was just doing his job.

My point is that as fun as April has been and about to be was, in the next 24 hours the calendar will read May and looking at the Yankees schedule to say they will be tested is an understatement.

May gradually gets pretty tough, as the Yankees play a series against all four AL East teams, who all want to kill each other.

Then the Yanks hit the road three times to visit the Tigers, Rangers, squeeze in a Subway Series at home and end the month out West with three game sets against the A’s and Mariners.

The above is accurate, except the AL East series are scattered but all are happening in May.

Why am I bothering to recite the Yankees schedule, like some babbling idiot?

Well, have you looked over the Yankees schedule for May and June?

If your answer is YES, than you must understand exactly where I am coming from.

The months of May and June could very well decide the Yankees fate because the summer is going to be brutally hard.

Don’t think I am jumping the gun here.

In June the Yankees, like every other team, play four inter-league series and they will face the Cubs, Reds, Rockies and Brewers. All four are hot NL teams with pitching that the Yankees are entirely unacquainted with, which does NOT work in their favor.

Then throw in series against the Red Sox, Angels, Indians and Rangers before even wishing America a Happy Birthday.

So, now do you get what Do May, June And # 28 Have In Common?

Simply, that the next two months will prove a lot and it could end any hope of #28 in 2011.

Hey maybe this first month’s courteous start is officially over, but it surely doesn’t mean the honeymoon phase has to end.

Let’s go Yankees!!

 

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New York Yankees: Mark Teixeira Leaves Game Listed As Day-To-Day

Posted by on 28 April 2011, 5:45 am

ESPN New York is reporting that New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira had to leave the 3-1 Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox because of shoulder discomfort.

Tex exited that game in the middle of the eighth inning, instead of finishing the last inning and a half.

Losing Tex would be a HUGE blow to the Yankees, as he is the part of the Yankees 3-4-5 heart of the batting order.

Tex has five homeruns, 13 RBIs and five doubles already this season. It was the best start to a season in Tex’s career.

ESPN has changed Teixeira’s player profile status as DAY-TO-DAY.

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