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New York Yankees: Spoke Too Soon

Posted by on 6 September 2011, 12:38 am

Who spoke to soon?

Just about everyone did at the start of the MLB Season when the subject was the 2011 New York Yankees. Described by most, as being way to old, not being a playoff contending team and the never-ending payroll can’t buy championships was the overall theme by most baseball experts. So it was nothing new for us Yankee fans, as the negativity is what we expect and are used too.

Just as a quick refresher, here are a few pre-season quotes from around the web about the state of the Yankees heading into 2011:

“The New York Yankees? Reaching the postseason is anything but guaranteed. Age isn’t just creeping up on them — it’s an undeniable detriment: Mariano Rivera, 41; Jorge Posada, 39; Derek Jeter, 36; Alex Rodriguez, 35.” – Tony DeMarco; NBC SPORTS

“Yankees: Only question is which starting pitcher — or two — they will acquire.” – Ken Rosenthal; FOX SPORTS

“I’d give the A’s an edge over the Yanks in a potential Division Series matchup.” – Dan Flarety; Real Clear Sports

Sean Casey, MLB Network pre-season picks for the AL division winners: Red Sox, White Sox and A’s

Mitch Williams, MLB Network pre-season picks for AL division winners: Red Sox, Tigers and Rangers

“They’re (Red Sox) the Phillies of the American League and the Yankees of recent history.” – Alden Gonzalez; MLB.com

“Having lost out on Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee, the rapidly aging New York Yankees will not reach the postseason… Without the Yankees to lose to in the division series, the Twins will win the World Series.” – Jim Caple; ESPN Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Spoke Too Soon’ »

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New York Yankees: A-Rod To Return Means You Gotta Go

Posted by on 11 August 2011, 1:31 am

The latest non-poker news on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is that he is scheduled to make two rehab starts this weekend; first as a DH on Friday and at third base on Saturday.

Bryan Hoch at MLB.com reported that skipper Joe Girardi confirmed this prior to the Yankees 9-3 win vs. the Angels on Wednesday evening:

“It looks like he (A-rod) could possibly start a game Friday as the DH and then go from there. Hopefully, he’ll play the field on Saturday and we’ll see where he’s at.”

That is good news for the Yankees, who have gone 18-10 since A-rod had knee surgery back on July 14th. Still, a player of A-rod’s caliber makes any line-up better and any team would welcome him with open arms.

And if history serves, A-rod usually comes off the DL swinging. He could offer that extra bang that the Yankees did not acquire at the trade deadline, by no fault of their own.

So, with A-rod aiming to return next week, Girardi and GM Brian Cashman have a critical decision to make about who will be sent packing.

With the Yankees already carrying the max number of players (25) allowed on a MLB roster, A-rod is one guy to many so someone will be sent packing to allow the three-time MVP to be activated again.

So, who should start packing?

RHP Hector Noesi

RHP Luis Ayala

RHP Cory Wade

One of the above relievers will be heading to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre next week. It makes sense, as the Yankees are flooded with righties in the bullpen. Also, with Girardi manning a six-man starting rotation there is no other option.

Adding the extra starter is a genius move by Girardi, as it gives guys like Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia an extra day of rest cause lord knows the Yankees need these veterans to stay healthy down the stretch. If Girardi has not been in the Manager of the Year discussion, he should be now. No joke. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: A-Rod To Return Means You Gotta Go’ »

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Press Needs To Lay Off New York Yankees Derek Jeter

Posted by on 28 June 2011, 2:33 am

New York Yankees Derek Jeter has a lot more working against him than turning 37 this past Sunday, and I am referring to the local New York press.

In my opinion, age is just a number and the Captain is without a doubt hitting the later part of his torrid career. Instead of embracing Jeter before he returns from the DL just six hits short of making baseball history, the NY media extorts him.

How do I know this for a fact?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation 2011 Golf Classic. This event’s purpose is to raise money for the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation; a program that enlists professional counselors to teach children about abuse while providing a safe haven for them to talk about any problems they are facing.

As a press-newbie, I was so excited to here from Mr. Torre about this wonderful program that has already helped over 10,000 kids. I had my questions written out, and even if my nerves got the best of me, I could always just record responses to the other reporters’ questions.

Well, was I dumb to ever think that the press was actually reporting on the Charity in hopes of getting as much exposure to it as possible?

Instead, when Mr. Torre got to my group of print and internet reporters, NOT one asked him anything to do with the huge issue of domestic violence in homes.

It was all about Derek Jeter, and the two minutes when it wasn’t about the Captain being a failure it was about the Dodgers going belly-up and if Don Mattingly, who replace Mr. Torre in 2011 as the skipper was scared or distraught and would he make any trades.

This un-classy clan kept asking Mr. Torre would move him in the line-up or if he thought Jeter should step-down and demotes himself?

Torre, being the class act as always answered honestly without giving his opinion. He rightly replied that he is not the Yankees skipper and ask Joe Girardi if they were in such dire straits.

One example of how the event was not the headline, New York Post’s Tim Bontemps story titled, Torre says Jeter would move in Yankees lineup, if asked only mentioned the event as the locale that is it.

Maybe Bontemps missed when Jorge Posada had a temper tantrum after learning he was moved to ninth in the batting order a few weeks back.

Posada got benched, but apologized and admitted it was a bad decision. It was refreshing because it was an honest reaction from a baseball player who is struggling, because he is used to playing everyday.

Jeter, like other Yankee player, will do the job they are given. Understandably it will be hard to adjust but Posada’s immaturity did not last even 24 hours because he is a team player and baseball is a team sport. Continue reading ‘Press Needs To Lay Off New York Yankees Derek Jeter’ »

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Coo, Coo, Ca-Choo, David Robertson The Yankees Win

Posted by on 18 May 2011, 3:26 am

Finally the New York Yankees land in the column on the left, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 and snapping a 0-6 losing streak.

Was it a great win?

It was a necessary one that is for sure, as there might have a riot if the Yankees lost another game.

To no surprise the team got their legs back due to Alex Rodriguez. A-rod finally hit not one, but two bombs in the fourth and sixth innings respectively.

While, the struggling Jorge Posada came up big with two hits, even as the tacky Rays stadium brass blasted John Forgery’s “Centerfield”…Oh put me in Coach, I’m ready to play, today.

That was really classy.

Still, the most impressive player in pinstripes award on Tuesday night goes to relief pitcher David Robertson.

Robertson was summoned in the bottom of the sixth inning, replacing starter Ivan Nova on the bump who had loaded the bases and with just one out. Not an ideal situation, and talk about the pressure weighing on the 26-year-old. It made it almost to hard to watch.

Then Robertson struck out BJ Upton, followed by Casey Kotchman, with a four-seamer that clocked 96 mph.

What was so arousing was the Joba-esque fist pump and ‘YEAAAA’ by Robertson after he fanned the two Rays like it was the playoffs. Very appropriate because for the Yankees it kind-of was.

Still, what the 2011 Yankees seem to be missing is the fight to win.

The two games prior to the Tuesday’s win, the Yankees lost 5-7 to the Red Sox on Sunday night and followed with a 5-6 loss on Monday to Tampa.

If you watched these two games they looked uninspired the moment they were ahead and their opponents capitalized on it. Remember the way we used to watch the Yankees do in 2009 and 2010.

Please, don’t fool yourself into thinking that the Yankees are back on track because they have to land in the ‘W’ column about 70+ more times to be in contention for October baseball.

Just imagine heading into this weekends Subway Series with a worse record than the Mets?

Well, that can’t happen anymore and that is looking way to far ahead, as the Yankees have to take it one game at a time.

There are still two games left to play against the Baltimore Orioles before they play host to the ‘other’ New York team, who have two games in Queens against the Washington Nationals.

Hey nothing like a good kick in the rear to get things going again and that they certainly got.

Let’s hope this 1-0 win streak continues…

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The New York Yankees Are Not That Old

Posted by on 16 May 2011, 3:44 pm

It has not been a fun home stand in the Bronx for the New York Yankees, as the Boston Red Sox swept them and makes that a five ‘L’s’ in a row for the stumbling Bombers.

This happens every season, but the sting stays consistent as fans wonder if this might never end, but it will.

Add the Jorge Posada drama that was just sad, selfish but certainly very human as we can all relate to his situation in some sense.

Everyone from ESPN to the NY Post to the Boston Globe has turned on the Yankees already, capitalizing off a team and stirring up chaos for their own benefit.

The reference that is becoming a broken record is the age of the Yankee players and the toll it is taking on the team. I get that age as a professional athlete does take its toll but the media is acting like the Stadium is a nursing home and the player are in depends getting rolled onto the field.

So, I made a short list of the in-field players of the Yankees, Red Sox and the Phillies because they also make up each team’s daily batting line-ups.

I didn’t include pitching because Mariano Rivera defies all odds and older pitchers can still be effective. All around the majors pitching is dominating hitting so it just makes sense.

Shockingly the Yankees have lowest average age of the three power line-ups, not by much but you would never know it from the way they are portrayed.

Recall when Cliff Lee said he signed with the Phillies because the Yankees were getting too old, but obviously he must have failed math class.

What really got my blood boiling was one particular article, written by Michael Silverman of the Boston Globe, called Yankees: Start to finished.  Mr. Silverman is making big proclamations and he portrayed the Yankees in such a demeaning way that I can’t tell if he is delusional or scared.

Mr. Silverman pitching stats are outdated as the Rays took a beating from the Orioles 9-3, so how relevant can his opinion really be.

Opinions please???

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New York Yankees Are Not Immune To Slumps

Posted by on 15 May 2011, 12:25 pm

THE LATEST:

As if listening to FOX’s Joe Buck for nine innings wasn’t bad enough, the New York Yankees tacked on another ugly loss, as they fell 6-0 to the Boston Red Sox for the second straight night.

Add that to some internal Yankee drama with ex-catcher, now DH Jorge Posada removing himself from the line-up, about two hours after he was moved to the ninth spot in the order.

It’s no secret that Posada has not been happy in his new role, nor has he been exceling in it either. To his credit Posada has posted 6 home-runs, 15 RBIs, two doubles, 18 hits and 15 walks so far in 2011, which is not horrific but his last home-run was back on April 23rd. Posada has the lowest batting average for players who have more then 100 plate appearances with a .165.

Posada needed a night to clear his head, nothing wrong or nuts about that as we have all been there before. So, try to give Posada a break, end of story.

THE SLUMP:

Overall the bigger problem is that Yankees are not playing well. The good news is that if the team hasn’t hit rock bottom already, they are darn close. For once the media’s antics will actually help the Yankees get their sooner.

Without a doubt it absolutely sucks when a team is slumping. For players it can’t be fun, but speaking as a fan I try to remind myself that this is standard and unavoidable bearing in mind the extent of a 162 game season.

The Yankees are not immune to slumps. Trust me, I know how maddening it is to witness, as it seems never ending. Then you turn on ESPN or pick-up the Sunday paper only to be reminded how ugly it is.

Remember how bad things were for the Red Sox or the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants the first few weeks of 2011? Or look at what is going on in Minnesota, as the Twins are 12-25 and sitting in the cellar of the AL Central.

I was actually really bummed for the Red Sox because I love the rivalry. I even defended the Red Sox because I knew that this was a temporary situation up in Boston and had no doubt in my convictions.

Look, truth is the Yankees are flirting with a mini-collapse if things don’t change now. This is due to their upcoming schedule, as the Bombers face the hot Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays over the next 10 days. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Are Not Immune To Slumps’ »

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New York Yankees Breaking News: Is Jorge Posada Calling It Quits? Or Throwing A Fit?

Posted by on 14 May 2011, 8:28 pm
Photograph taken by Googie Man 05:48, 21 March...

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New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman held an impromptu announcement during the second inning of the Boston Red Sox game talking to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal.

What everyone thought was skipper Joe Girardi scratching DH Jorge Posada out of the line-up was not the case, as Cashman said that Posada pulled himself out of the line-up prior to the game.

Cashman went on the say that Posada will be addressing the media after the game, at his own request.

When Rosenthal asked Cashman what Posada’s actions meant for Posada’s future, he declined comment. Said he did not want to speak for Posada.

Cashman look grim and while the twittering universe is going nuts; some tweets are speculating that Posada might ask for a trade.

I disagree and think it sounds more like a retirement announcement. Since Posada has moved from being the Yankees starting catcher to full-time DH things haven’t fared so well for the 39-year-old Posada.

Either way it will be a very sad state of affairs for the Yankees and their fans, as Posada is one of the core four and he was on five World Championship teams for the pinstripes.

Guess all anyone can do is just hold out breath till the game ends.

Here are some interesting tweets to consider:

@JackCurryYES Jack Curry

If Posada retired, it would be strange, sad way for to go. I’ve asked multiple team officials what they expect. None could speak w certainty

@JackCurryYES Jack Curry

According to person briefed on Posada’s exchange with Girardi, Posada told mgr he was “insulted” about hitting 9th and “threw a hissy fit.”

@PeteAbe Pete Abraham

Complicating the issue: Jeter and Posada are best of friends. If Girardi loses Jeter, it’ll get even more ugly

 

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