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Yankees aren’t worried or winning

New York Yankees

New York Yankees (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

There is no way to sugarcoat this anymore because the New York Yankees absolutely stink.

Going over all the issues isn’t going to help anything because they can’t hit, they give up homers and any team can beat them; and I mean any.

All teams get a pass in the month of April, but it is Memorial Day Weekend and there is no sign of improvement as the Yankees are writing a book on new ways to lose.

Actually, the Yankees are getting worse and the fans are taking it really hard.

See, in the Big Apple we have the Giants, Jets, Mets, Rangers, Knicks, Islanders, and soon to be the Nets, and then there are the Yankees.

Since 1996 this is the team that embodies what New York City is all about, full of grinders, fighters and winners.

So, what exactly is going in here?

Is this the end of the Yankees as we know it, or are fans making mountains out of anthills?

HERE ARE MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 2012 SEASON?

Without using any stats to find connections to anything positive, my first thought is that the YANKEES NEED TO START BEING VERY CONCERNED NOW.

The AL East standings don’t bother me because with the crappy baseball the Yankees have played they are certainly not playoff contenders. And doesn’t the saying go ain’t no use putting up your umbrella till it rains right?

Still the Yankees I used to know didn’t tip their caps to anyone especially an opposing pitcher.

They never made excuses that there was still a lot of baseball to be played to feel good about stinking.

And the one thing the Yankees I knew always made very clear was that losing in any way; type or kind was not a major concern but the only one.

Overall, to be completely honest something just doesn’t feel right to me. Continue reading ‘Yankees aren’t worried or winning’ »

New York Yankees: Time to start hitting

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’ »

New York Yankees: TGIF

Waking up yesterday morning, I had that pit in my stomach and you can bet I wasn’t the only New Yorker with that feeling.

On Opening Day 2010 at Yankee Stadium, Derek J...

I had realized that last Friday night might have been the last time I ever would hear ENTER SANDMAN blasting over the speakers at Yankee Stadium.

Like most baseball fans, I was distraught and now would have the weekend to think about things.

That is until Mo confirmed in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, “I’m coming back. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going out like this,” and all of a sudden I smiled again.

Yes, losing Mo for a season stinks, but it doesn’t compare to the feeling it left when it was possibly for forever.

Friday continued to get better as the Yankees snapped a three-game losing streak beating the Royals 6-2.

Ace CC Sabathia took charge throwing for eight solid innings, and Captain Derek Jeter went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and drove in two runs.

All that came to my mind was TGIF…thank God it’s Friday.

And that is when I started digging around the web for some other Yankees-positives, a tad silly yes but figured I might as well would share a few: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: TGIF’ »

Yankees Sabathia vs. Rangers Holland

Rangers vs. Yankees - 2010 ALCS - Yankee Stadium

The New York Yankees didn’t get to go for the sweep up in Boston, as it hasn’t stopped raining here in the Northeast since late Saturday night.

So, the team heads to Texas to face the red-hot Rangers in a three-game set that promises to be a dogfight.

These are two of the best teams in the American League and it is a must-watch series for all serious baseball fans.

With CC Sabathia’s scheduled start in Fenway being a wash, the Yankees ace will instead open the series at Rangers Ballpark vs. Derek Holland.

Let’s breakdown this match-up:

Vs. Derek Holland:

So far in 2012, Holland is 2-0 over three starts, posting a 3.10 ERA and has pitched no less than 6 innings in each. He has given up 2 homers, seven earned runs, and six walks; while striking out 20 of the 79 total batters he has faced.

These numbers are solid but you have to take into account that his last two starts were against the offensively anemic Mariners and a severely troubled Red Sox team.

Holland’s first start, where he got a no-decision, was against the White Sox and he didn’t get through the sixth inning and gave up three runs and three walks. The Rangers also lost the game 3-4.

The active Yankees bats have a combined .326 average against Holland, but the real trouble could come from Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter. Continue reading ‘Yankees Sabathia vs. Rangers Holland’ »

Yankees captain wants his MVP

I WANT MY MVP?

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

Most people would say that the New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter has it all, but they are wrong.

Ok, so Jeter is rich, handsome, dates hot brunettes, has enough World Series Championship rings for every finger on his right hand, Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers and countless awards in just about everything.

Now, if you asked Jeter about what is missing from his trophy case he would probably say another WS ring because it is all about the championships; or so he says.

See, Jeter has never won the AL MVP Award; and even though I do believe in a team first attitude, anyone with a half-a-brain who could achieve that kind of personal accomplishment would strive for it.

Now, a lot of people feel that Jeter got swindled in the 2006 MVP voting, as he came in second behind Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau. After looking at both players’ 2006 stats, I have to disagree on this one.

I do think Jeter got robbed of the award in 2009 when he finished third behind teammate Mark Teixeira and the winner, who ironically was another Twin, Joe Mauer.

Winning an MVP would be the icing on the cake for the Yankees Captain, but the odds are stacked against him. Continue reading ‘Yankees captain wants his MVP’ »

New York Yankees: Are you loving David Phelps

The New York Yankeesgot there second win of the 2012 season, but it was far from pretty as leaving 12 runners on base is just not going to cut it.

Derek Jeter is playing better than ever!!

I could easily rant about all the Yankees missed opportunities in the 5-hour, 12-inning win vs. the Orioles but I was so impressed by someone not named Derek Jeter.

And that would be pitcher David Phelps, who has thrown 3 innings with five strikeouts in his two appearances this season.

The 25-year old righty had a great spring posting a 2.08 ERA over 17+ innings pitched. That earned Phelps the annual James P. Dawson Award given to the top rookie in camp, along with a spot on the 25-man roster as a long-reliever.

Phelps was a starter in the minors and that might be why he got overlooked because the Yankees have better options.

Even though Phelps doesn’t have lights out stuff to be a top starter, he certainly has displayed how effective he can be out of the bullpen.

Phelps has terrific command of his two and four-seam fastball, and he also has a sinker-slider combination that has improved. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Are you loving David Phelps’ »

Yankees got a win but there are still issues

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’ »