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Yankees vs. Rays: Series deux preview

Posted by on 8 May 2012, 12:44 am

The Yankees are back in New York after a 5-5-road trip to host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game set at the stadium starting tonight.

James Shields at Yankee Stadium.

Last time these two teams met was the start of the 2012 season, and the Rays swept the Yankees right out of Tropicana Field.

The Rays stand atop the AL East, tied with the Orioles with a 19-10 record but are coming to the Bronx on a two game losing streak.

Still, the 15-13 Yankees are the ones looking up at the Rays and have a perfect opportunity to make a move in the division and get some of their pride back.

The Rays are without third baseman Evan Longoria, and possibly Desmond Jennings too; but the Yankees will be without Mariano Rivera for the first time at home since 2003 along with a slew of others, including Brett Gardner, on their lengthy DL list.

The pitching match-ups are as follows, along with my predictions:

Tuesday: James Shields (5-0) vs. Ivan Nova (3-1)

Shields is clearly the better pitcher, but the recent awaken of Robbie Cano’s bat could give him some problems as Cano has hit four homers, five doubles, two triples and posts a .400 batting average against Shields. Cano was not a factor for Shields in their earlier meeting this season.

Nova is coming off his first loss after a 15-game winning streak but I do like the way he has pitched lately. He is reminding me of a 2010 Hughes, as he is getting a ton of run support. He has held the Rays to a .170 batting average, allowing two homers, three RBIs, three walks, while striking out 10 of the 47 total at-bats he has logged against them. Continue reading ‘Yankees vs. Rays: Series deux preview’ »

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2011 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays

Posted by on 12 February 2011, 7:18 am

The Tampa Bay Rays finished last season with 96-66 record, the top in the AL and were the AL East champs for the second time in the last three seasons.

Heading into the off-season, as expected this homegrown, dynamic group was going to take a hit.

Rays fans are complaining, but they shoulder a lot of the blame for the team’s $40-$45 million dollar payroll. The Rays were awesome the last three seasons, but no one came to watch. Yes, they play in a dumpy dome known as Tropicana Field, but for only 12,000+ fans to show up on the night the Rays clinched the AL East is sad.

Winning normally fills ballparks, which means more revenue for a team to invest in good players.

No Rays fans can criticize that the 2011 season is already over because the door was open for three seasons to give their stars a reason not to want to leave.

The Positives:

The Rays still have 3B Evan Longoria, who is arguably the best in baseball. Longoria was named Rookie Of The Year in 2008; he has also won two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger all before turning his current age of 25. Longoria is only going to get better.

Voted second behind King Felix in the 2010 CY Young ballot, the Rays still have their staff ace David Price. He finished 19-6, with an ERA of 2.72, with 188 strikeouts and only giving up 15 home-runs pitching just shy of 205 innings.

Price is the leader of a still very viable starting rotation.  Trading Matt Garza for a slew of prospects was a move that the Rays could afford with the emergence of ace prospect Jeremy Hellickson, who scouts say will dominate in his first full season, at the bottom of the order. In between sits Wade Davis, James Shields and Jeff Niemann, which is still a solid group.

Skipper Joe Maddon is an oddball, but he has molded so many youngsters into superstars that it overrides anything else. For two seasons straight, not one Rays starting pitcher went on the DL for an arm issue and that is all due to Maddon.

The Rays signed old teammates Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, which give them a needed veteran presence. Nothing calls for incentive more for these two than sticking it to both the Red Sox and Yankees. This was a great move by the Rays front office, as it gives the youngsters something to get excited about.

The Negatives: Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays’ »

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New York Yankees Vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Can CC Break The Shields

Posted by on 1 August 2010, 8:06 am

New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia will square off against Tampa Bay Rays James Shields, in the third and final game of this series.

Let’s checkout this match-up:

Tampa Bay Rays: James Shields (9-9)

Rays James Shields is a lights-out pitcher if you are referring to his high strikeout numbers.

In 2010 Shields has posted 122 strikeouts over 135 innings. He maintains a minimal number of walks with 31.

So what explains Shields ERA being 4.79?

It is because Shields has given up 22 home-runs this season, along with 72 earned runs. His weakest pitch is his fastball and it gets hit hard. Shields change-up is his strongest pitch, but without it he is very hittable.

Over his last three starts, Shields is 2-0, pitching 19 innings, allowing nine earned runs, while walking five and striking out 13. Still, he has been better after a horrible June and he has won his last two starts.

If Shields doesn’t shield his pitches and is predictable the Yankees bats will eat him alive. Jeter and Cano have done it in the past, so look for them to go after Shields from the start.

New York Yankees: CC Sabathia (13-4)

Yankees ace CC Sabathia had his first loss since May 23rd, but he actually pitched very well. Lack of run support, along with some sloppy fielding behind him was to blame for the result.

Sabathia has a 3.15 ERA in 151 innings this season. The Yankees ace has two complete games, giving up 53 earned runs, 12 homers and 124 strikeouts. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Can CC Break The Shields’ »

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New York Yankees Need AJ Burnett To Lose The Attitude

Posted by on 19 July 2010, 1:01 am

Saturday afternoon New York Yankees starting pitcher AJ Burnett took the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Burnett was pulled in the third inning, marking his shortest outing in pinstripes. This time Burnett’s frustrations got the better of him which certainly did not go over well with his teammates.

In the first inning, Burnett gave up a double to Carlos Pena, which scored Evan Longoria. Top of the second inning Rays Reid Brignac, hit a two-run homer and the Rays lead the Yankees 3-2.

It was not keen, but against the Rays, it is not the end of the world.

Then to start the third inning, Burnett hit Evan Longoria with a pitch and gave up an RBI single to Carlos Pena. Burnett’s location was a problem causing Joe Girardi to go out and remove Burnett from the mound.

Concerned fans waited for the verdict which was revealed as lacerations on both his hands. Burnett said the cuts were from a fall the previous evening, which seemed odd.

Later-on, Burnett admitted that, after the second inning, he took out his anger on a clubhouse door. This was the real cause of the cuts on both his hands. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Need AJ Burnett To Lose The Attitude’ »

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Reviewing Top Three American League East Teams

Posted by on 28 June 2010, 5:37 am

The AL East is proving itself worthy of it’s reputation as the toughest division in baseball.

It is difficult to imagine the post-season will be without either the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays, who have each have won the ALCS the last three seasons. (2007-BRS; 2008-TBR; 2009-NYY)

Let’s take a look at this three-headed-beast:
 Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox were counted out way too soon, as they have been on a leap to get back into the AL East race. The crucial difference has been Boston’s middle line-up is finally hot , as Big Papi, Victor Martinez and Marcus Scutaro are taking some pressure of Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia.

The Red Sox have missed the rapid lead-off bat of center-fielder Jacob Ellsbury. Ellsbury has only played for nine games this season due to broken ribs. He is set to return after the All-Star Break, which will only help the Red Sox get better.

The greatest surprise is the pitching rotation, sans ace Josh Beckett, who’s been plagued by a bad back for a few seasons. John Lester has filled in as the team’s ace, with solid starts by Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lackey, Tim Wakefield and the pleasant surprise of Clay Buchholz, who leads the team with a 2.45 ERA.

Buchholz left during his last start after hyper-extending his left knee but is said to be fine. Boston has gotten solid outings from the Boston bullpen, and closer Jonathan Papelbaum has been substantial, but he cannot give up back-to-back saves like he did in Colorado anymore.

J.D. Drew is back since being on the DL since June 18th, but the Red Sox recent luck has not fared regarding injuries. All-star second-baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day DL with a fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot, which is typically a minimum six-week recovery. This is a monumental loss as Pedroia is the best player, both athletically and emotionally on the team.

Add Victor Martinez  to the injury list, but not the DL yet as the catcher took two foul tips off his left thumb. Martinez says it is just pain and plans not to miss any time, but will know more after he gets checked out.

Terry Francona is saying all his prayers before bed tonight.

The replacements players like Bill Hall , Darnell McDonald and Daniel Neva are getting the job done, but Youks and Big Papi have to take this team on their shoulders right now.

One thing is for sure it’s doubtful anyone will ever question GM Theo Epstein again.

Tampa Bay Rays

Heading down south to Tampa Bay, home of the Rays who finally proved that their human by losing. The problem is their also developing and can’t seem to grasp the concept of defeat. It took them an entire season after losing the World Series in 2008 for the Rays to stop pouting, so Joe Madden needs to get attitudes in control now. Continue reading ‘Reviewing Top Three American League East Teams’ »

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Two Teams, One Goal, Same Season

Posted by on 11 January 2010, 4:17 pm

From a Yankees fan’s point of view, the Mets and the Rays players should be hungry as ever to get back some respect in baseball.

Commonly, both team’s seemingly share a lack in leadership internally within the players.

That makes David Wrights job very hard with the Mets continuing to fail over the last few seasons. The Mets need everything and everyone to make something go right to get the trend going again.

David Wright finds a way to do his job, even it entails wearing a bigger helmet to get back out on the field. A field where once fans filled every seat and winning was a common theme.

Tampa Bay Rays started becoming dominant in 2006 and by 2008 made it to the World Series. Tropicana Field had become a home for fans.

For the Rays, playing in the AL East with the two power-house teams of the Yankees and Red Sox is no easy feat. As a Yankee fan, the Rays made me shake in 2008 and were the team to beat in 2009.

The question remains to be answered, were the Rays a threat or are the Rays a threat?

Evan Longoria is the player on the Rays who can collaborate with their dynamic manager, Joe Madden to get back to the World Series again.  To a fan, the Rays acting like spoiled brats in 2009 still sulking over their lose to the Phillies.
keep reading….

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Who Are Baseballs Biggest Critics?

Posted by on 5 January 2010, 12:19 am

As Spring Training nears, all baseball teams have made adjustments in the off-season. The reality for fans will start to sink in that some of their hero’s will only be seen by them wearing another uniform.

The Yankees were no different as there will be no more ‘Got Melk’ or ‘Thrilla For Godzilla’ cheers at the stadium in 2010. Unfortunately, for Brian Cashman the weight of success falls on his shoulders.

Is Nick Johnson better fit than Matsui? Is Melky worth giving-up along with more prospects? Did the Yankees throw away minor league players to soon?

Also, for Cashman’s sake let’s hope that Yankee prospect Austin Jackson isn’t a natural in center field for the Detroit Tigers. Nothing will ignite fans fire more than watching another homegrown Yankee thrive on another team’s ball-club.

If the last decade baseball did learn lessons about winning. The first being the word ‘farm system’ became common lingo for fans, GM’s and the media chit-chat. The second is attitude means more than skills. For a team to win, it has to work.

The farm systems have been proven a key element for any MLB franchise’s success.

As a Yankee fan it is only natural to want to hate the team that proved everything that the Yankees did not do actually works. Even more annoying was that the team was the Boston Red Sox.

Boston’s 30-something GM, Theo Epstein truly believes team and the players that the Red Sox are grooming.

Think about it, the youngsters play Double-A and Triple-A ball for years together, learn together which makes it inevitable that they become familiar with each other.

Sometimes we tend to forget the baseball is a team sport. Play as a team and win as a team. It’s pretty simple.

With regard to the Yankees, paychecks and payrolls have nothing to do with camaraderie. It can attract big name players or aging superstars but that gives a team no guarantee for anything.

It takes so much to get through the long season overall. So to make the playoffs and to get to the World Series takes each part of a ball-club working. Not just showing-up everyday but going to extra mile whether it’s Skipper Joe Girardi, Arod, the bat-boy or the fans.

Each individual player needs to come together, while not relying on another picking up the slack for being lazy, but appreciating it when a player might be having an off day.

The fans watch everything and that’s what is at risk each season. Sports teams successes, profit and spirit lays with their fans.

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