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New York Yankees: Houdini to DL

Posted by on 15 May 2012, 6:15 pm

Talk about some bad luck as the New York Yankees have placed another on the ever-growing DL (disabled list).

David Robertson on April 24, 2011

David Robertson on April 24, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This time it is reliever/interim-closer David Robertson who has a strained left oblique and will be out for 15 days at least.

It is not surprising that the Yankees did not acknowledge that Robertson was hurt publicly until their backs were against the wall, as skipper Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman have a knack for not revealing anything in full.

I guess this explains why Yankee fans haven’t seen Robertson throw a pitch since last Friday, as he was nonchalantly unavailable.

After watching Rafael Soriano close the game beautifully last night in Baltimore, questions started swirling about why Robertson did not pitch.

Than Wallace Matthews at ESPN New York reported just after midnight that Robertson had felt a tug on his left side during his outing last Friday night vs. the Mariners.

Robertson said he was “not too concerned,” as he described the pain as “a little sore, but it wasn’t like one pitch and I felt like something rip or tear or anything like that.”

He was hoping it would disappear but unfortunately it did not and the MRI from earlier today revealed a strain.

This is a big blow for the Yankees, as Robertson is a key arm out of the bullpen and his absence will not go unnoticed.

Since the start of the 2012 season, the Yankees have been hit with the injury bug like you read about. If the DL list keeps growing at this rate, it will be more competitive than the real active roster.

My guess is Yankee fans are now thanking their lucky stars that owner Hal Steinbrenner forced Cashman to sign Soriano last off-season because otherwise the Yankees would be in a real hole right now. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Houdini to DL’ »

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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: Time to start hitting

Posted by on 10 May 2012, 4:43 am

It was a long, rainy night up in the Bronx as the Yankeeslost a 4-1 heartbreak to the Rays.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Yankees beat the Rays 5-3 on Tuesday night, so the tonight’s rubber match couldn’t be a more perfect stage for CC Sabathia and David Price to face off.

Here is what I took away from last night’s game:

  • David Phelps was better in his second Major League start; and I think he will continue to get stronger as he adjusts. Overall the starters are getting better, as Nova looked solid on Tuesday night.
  • The Yankees middle relievers are still dominant, and are tops in baseball for a reason, thank God.
  • Closer David Robertson deserves a little breathing room to adjust to his new role, and I do not think anyone can base his future off last night’s blown save. He is not Mariano Rivera, but he is good and Yankee fans need to appreciate the position he has been thrust into here. Compassion is not a word New York fans are familiar with but this qualifies as the exception.
  • The Yankee bats left eight runners on base in the loss, and that is just unacceptable. The only run scored came off a Robbie Cano double in the first inning that scored the Captain.

So, what is going on here with the Yankees and how can they avoid losing fewer games?

As I thought about it, I remembered a quote I once heard from motivational speaker Paul J. Meyer:

“Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your problems.”

The Yankees biggest strength is their hitting, and compared to the rest of the American League their stats give off that impression. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Time to start hitting’ »

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Yankees got a win but there are still issues

Posted by on 10 April 2012, 1:26 am

Yankees finally got a win in 2012....

The New York Yankees finally got their first win, down in Baltimore beating the Orioles 6-2.

No doubt that a win was needed because New York fans had hit panic, yesterday.

Even my doorman, who never fails to have the Yankee game on the radio, said he could not listen after this past weekend.

Well, now that those three long, losing days are history Yankee fans will sleep well tonight but before I do I have to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD

1) Ivan Nova looked great tonight, and after posting an 8.06 ERA in Spring Training there was plenty of reason heading into the game that the Yankees were about to get a fourth loss.

Nova threw seven solid innings, giving up two runs, striking out seven and walking none. As the game went on, Nova got better and looked like his old self again. His breaking ball was so nasty, and I believe Nova will only get better as the season goes on.

2) Derek Jeter is playing like it is 1998, and that is totally fine by me.

Jeter went 4-4, scored in the first inning off Mark Teixeira’s single, and had a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. And I must say, the Captain looked as good as ever.

Just in case you hadn’t heard this fact from a Yankee fan yet, 1998 was the last time the Yankees started a season 0-3 but went on to win the World Series.

3) David Robertson is insane, as he loves to stir up trouble but never seems to get caught.

After striking out two Orioles, Robertson gave up two hits and looked like he was about to walk a third to the load the bases but in true Houdini form came back from a 2-0 count and struck him out.

THE BAD

I really like Joe Girardi, always have but he has managed to make me question his moves more in the last four days than in the last four years.

Specifically, why is he resting guys in the first four games of the season? Continue reading ‘Yankees got a win but there are still issues’ »

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New York Yankees: Mid-spring injury updates

Posted by on 20 March 2012, 3:03 am

Mid-Spring Injury Updates

Injuries are not what anyone wants to hear, read or speak about but they are an unfortunate reality that is unavoidable.

Unlike other sports, MLB has the 70 Spring Training games to play before the start to the ones that count and as players warm up their bodies to prepare for the grueling regular season, injuries can start to stockpile.

So far in Tampa, the New York Yankees haven’t had any big blows but plenty of players are banged up, but things can change in a nanosecond.

Reliever David Robertson gave Yankee Universe their first spring panic attack when he fell down the stairs and was seen in a walking boot the next day. Thank goodness it was not broken, but it was diagnosed as a bone bruise to his right foot and that is still a serious injury. Robertson is already throwing bullpen sessions and says he will be good to go on Opening Day.

Another scare came from Captain Derek Jeter who is currently resting a sore left calf. The good news is it is not the same leg that sidelined Jeter last season, but still you have to wonder how bad it really is. Jeter has a history of omitting the extent his pain, which is also a team trait. Let’s hope it really isn’t “a big deal” this time. NY Daily News reported that the Captain should be back on the field today. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Mid-spring injury updates’ »

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New York Yankees: Bad news from Bombers camp

Posted by on 8 March 2012, 10:30 am
David Robertson steps

David Robertson steps (Photo credit: Dinur)

The first bad news out of New York Yankees camp came today, as it seems that All-Star pitcher David Robertson is scheduled to have an MRI on his foot.

This is the last thing any Yankee fan wants to hear, as Robertson was virtually indispensable in the team’s success last season.

Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch broke the news just minutes ago on MLB.com that Robertson was diagnosed with a right mid-foot sprain after falling down a flight of stairs while moving boxes at his residence.

Robertson has already had an x-ray, which came out negative but that doesn’t explain why he is already wearing around walking boot.

Skipper Joe Girardi said that he thinks Robertson will still be ready for Opening Day on April 5th and that he should miss only two weeks of camp. But Girardi did add, “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Yikes! Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Bad news from Bombers camp’ »

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New York Yankees: Robertson + Joba = Hughes

Posted by on 19 January 2012, 12:56 am
David Robertson

David Robertson probably throwing a strike. Image via Wikipedia

No wonder everyone wants to be a New York Yankee, as who wouldn’t want a boss that hands out half-million dollar raises based on poor performance due to laziness?

You can be sure Phil Hughes isn’t complaining.

Last season, Hughes showed up to Spring Training out of shape, and sat on the DL with shoulder and back injuries for the majority of the season. Ironically, Hughes not pitching was far more productive for the Yankees, all while earning $2.5 million in salary.

So, obviously the logical thing to do was for the Yankee brass to give Hughes a raise and agree to pay him $3.5 million, plus $300,000 more in incentives for the 2012 season, right?

Hughes’ raise certainly doesn’t explain why David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain are making $1.6 million and $1.65 million respectively in 2012.

Chamberlain made $1.4 million in 2011, and has been out since last June due to Tommy John surgery. So I am sure any raise was welcomed with open arms. Still prior to his elbow issues, Joba had finally settled in as a reliever and had become extremely effective. He was more vital to the team than Hughes was without a doubt.

Now regarding Robertson, the Yankees tripled the $460,450 he made in 2011. When considering a player’s overvalue to their team, Robertson was the unsung hero. He is a winner, and even coming out of the bullpen he won five games, same as Hughes.

Robertson was easily a top three middle reliever in 2011, as he was hailed to be what a young Mariano Rivera was to closer John Wetland. Just to give you an idea of how good he was, Robertson’s strikeouts per nine-innings average was 13.5 in 2011. He is literally a strikeout machine. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Robertson + Joba = Hughes’ »

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