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Yankees welcome Raul Ibanez spark Nick Johnson nightmares

Posted by on 21 February 2012, 3:32 am

I don’t think anyone was surprised when ESPN’s Buster Onley reported that the New York Yankees signed Raul Ibanezto a one year, $1.1 million deal with incentives, which could earn him up to $4 million. But does signing a DH even make sense?

New York Yankees DH Nick Johnson (Sipkin/News)

Well it is familiar song, as the Yankees have a habit of signing guys like Ibanez; remember how well the switch-hitting Lance Berkman and lefty Nick Johnson worked out in New York.

Here is why Ibanez won’t work out either:

  • INJURY HISTORY.

The Yankees were aware of the injury histories that came with both Berkman and Johnson, and the same goes for Ibanez.

Ibanez has suffered from a persistent bad left groin injury for years. The injury still bothered him throughout 2011, and eventually it sidelined Ibanez at the end of the season.

Back in 2007, Ibanez missed multiple games claiming he injured himself when sleeping and could not move according to article by Larry Brown on Larry Brown Sports.

  • PRODUCTION.

Many people will defend Ibanez’s production because he hit 20 home-runs in 2011, but he also posted a .245 batting average, with a .289 slugging percentage, 106 strikeouts and drew 33 walks. The reason behind his crappy BA has to do with his declining walk numbers, as in 2010 he walked 68 times, which is more than double but Ibanez did consistently post 100+ strikeouts in both of the two last seasons.

The 20 home-runs are deceiving because I can personally attest that Citizens Bank Park literally makes Yankees Stadium feel like as enormous as Citi Field. To put it lightly, CBP is a hitter’s dream and a pitcher’s nightmare.

If you really want to get technical, 15 of Ibanez’s 20 homers and 61 of his 84 RBIs from last season were done in Philly. This explains is why he had a batting average of .286 at home and a pathetic .211 BA everywhere else. His batting average vs. righties was .246, a measly six points higher than the .240 he posted vs. lefties. Continue reading ‘Yankees welcome Raul Ibanez spark Nick Johnson nightmares’ »

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New York Yankees: Big Puma Got Nothing On Alex Rodriguez

Posted by on 14 November 2011, 12:20 am

“The Yankees made two big moves this offseason. Keeping CC, and I expect to be who I have been in the past.”

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

Image via Wikipediapast.”

That was the first quote New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez offered up to the NY Post’s Joel Sherman in an exclusive interview from this past Sunday’s paper.

A-rod told Sherman how last year was the worst in his career and how humiliated he was of letting down the Yankees fans, as well as his own teammates.

Sherman reported that A-rod has started his off-season workout three weeks early, focusing on “functional movement” like he did back in his heydays of 2007-2008.

The article goes on to question if A-rod has become delusional about his own mortality, using age, his steroid omission and Derek Jeter to back up his reasoning.

Sherman is not far-fetched in doubting A-rod, but he never counter argued the other side of the argument; so I will and it starts and ends with the name Lance Berkman.

THE BIG PUMA:

If Berkman, aka Big Puma could come back in 2011, there is absolutely no reason that A-rod cannot do the same in 2012.

Berkman was a 35-year-old veteran and a Houston Astros lifer, who was without question a player on the decline after 2010.

The main reason is as the 2010 season progressed things continued to get worse for Berkman. His baseball demise really came to light after the Astros traded him mid-season to the Yankees, as Berkman could not produce at all as the team’s DH after hitting 29+ home-runs, and over 102 RBIs in the three seasons prior.

Essentially, the Yankees paid Berkman around $4 million for nine RBIs, one home-run, 13 walks and 15 strikeouts in 106 at-bats as a second-half rental. It was frivolous spending for a veteran who had come into the season after having knee surgery. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Big Puma Got Nothing On Alex Rodriguez’ »

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MLB: 2011 Comeback Players Of The Year Award Winners

Posted by on 15 October 2011, 3:16 am
Jacoby Ellsbury 01:32, 23 July 2008 . . Phredd...

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MLB announced that Red Sox’s Jacoby Ellsbury (AL) and Cardinals Lance Berkman (NL) as the winners of the 2011 Comeback Player of The Year Awards.

LANCE BERKMAN:

Berkman would have gotten my vote as his career looked to be in the toilet the moment he got traded from the Astros to the Yankees.

Berkman was useless in the Bronx, maybe being a two-month rental and not playing in the field hurt his routine because he is thriving in St. Louis.

In 2011, Berkman was voted to the All-Star team after hitting 31 home-runs, 94 RBIs, 92 walks and posting a .301 batting average. He is certainly in the 2011 MVP discussion and should get some votes, but it is doubtful he will win.

Still, it is a far cry from the Berkman of 2010 so the award is well deserved.

JACOBY ELLSBURY:

I do not feel the same way about Ellsbury, who only played 18 games in 2010 because of an injury.

Also, what exactly is Ellsbury coming back from?

He put up the best numbers of his five-year career in 2011, with 32 home-runs and 105 RBIs. In the four years earlier, Ellsbury hit 20 homers and drove in 125 RBIs in total.

Ellsbury’s 364 total bases was the highest number across both leagues this season, but it was another career best for the just turned 28-year-old outfielder.

Doesn’t this seem more like a first-time than a comeback for such a young player with just five seasons under his belt?

Where was the love for Yankees Bartolo Colon? Continue reading ‘MLB: 2011 Comeback Players Of The Year Award Winners’ »

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2011 MLB All-Star Rosters Announced

Posted by on 3 July 2011, 5:37 pm

American League:

Starters:

Alex Avila (C, Detroit Tigers), Adrian Gonzalez (1B, Boston Red Sox), Robinson Cano (2B, New York Yankees), Alex Rodriguez (3B, New York Yankees), Derek Jeter (SS, New York Yankees), David Ortiz (DH, Boston Red Sox), Jose Bautista (OF, Toronto Blue Jays), Curtis Granderson (OF, New York Yankees) and Josh Hamilton (OF, Texas Rangers).

Reserves:

1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 2B: Howard Kendrick, Angels, 3B: Adrian Beltre, Rangers, SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians, OF: Michael Cuddyer, Twins, OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox, OF: Matt Joyce, Rays, OF: Carlos Quentin, White Sox, DH: Michael Young, Rangers, C: Russell Martin, Yankees, C: Matt Wieters, Orioles

Pitchers:

RHP: Josh Beckett, Red Sox, RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners, LHP: David Price, Rays, RHP: James Shields, Rays, RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers, RHP: Jered Weaver, Angels, LHP: C.J. Wilson, Rangers, LHP: Gio Gonzalez, Athletics, RHP: Aaron Crow, Royals, RHP: Brandon League, Mariners, RHP: Chris Perez, Indians, RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees, RHP: Jose Valverde, Tigers

National League:

Starters:

Brian McCann (C, Atlanta Braves), Prince Fielder, (1B, Milwaukee Brewers), Rickie Weeks (2B), Jose Reyes (SS, New York Mets), Placido Polanco (3B, Philadelphia Phillies), Ryan Braun (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Lance Berkman (OF, St. Louis Cardinals) and Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers).

Reserves:

1B: Gaby Sanchez, Marlins, 1B: Joey Votto, Reds, 2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds, 3B: Chipper Jones, Braves, SS: Starlin Castro, Cubs, SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies, OF: Jay Bruce, Reds, OF: Matt Holliday, Cardinals, OF: Hunter Pence, Astros, OF: Justin Upton, D-backs, C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals

Pitchers:

RHP: Matt Cain, Giants, RHP: Roy Halladay, Phillies, LHP: Cole Hamels, Phillies, RHP: Jair Jurrjens, Braves, LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies, RHP: Tim Lincecum, Giants, RHP: Ryan Vogelsong, Giants, RHP: Heath Bell, Padres, RHP: Tyler Clippard, Nationals, RHP: Joel Hanrahan, Pirates, LHP: Jonny Venters, Braves, RHP: Brian Wilson, Giants

 

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New York Yankees: Top Seven Things Fans Don’t Understand Right Now

Posted by on 11 August 2010, 7:05 am

The New York Yankees lost a heart-breaker to the Texas Rangers in the 10th inning, final score 4-3.

It’s no big secret that the Yankees are losing, winning only 4 of last 11 games and falling fast.

The Bombers first place lead is dwindling down, now just a half-a-game over the Tampa Bay Rays. Now the Boston Red Sox are playing catch-up sitting at five games back and also making the AL East a three-team event again.

Yankees starting pitcher AJ Burnett looked really good…. again, but for how long is a total crap-shoot. Yankees need Burnett to perform more than ever because he could make or break whether October baseball happens.

Below you will read a list.  This list could be either interpreted as a fan’s cry for help, or a Yankees what NOT to do rant. Hey, my Yankees are slumping and at times a fan need to vent.

Whatever, let’s call it one fan’s observations:

  1. If the Yankees MVP is sick with the flu and running a fever…. why is he even at the ballpark? Especially when it is 120* degrees? Definitely a bad idea to pinch-hit Robinson Cano in the 6th inning.
  2. Skipper Joe Girardi decides to NOT start Jorge Posada, when Mark Teixeira is in NYC as his wife had a baby boy and Cano is “out” with the flu…. great idea. Girardi then claims that Posada’s shoulder hurt in the post-game, but he looked like he was fibbing and it was obvious. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Top Seven Things Fans Don’t Understand Right Now’ »

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Alex Rodriguez: Could Joe Buck’s Killer Wave Land A-Rod On DL?

Posted by on 8 August 2010, 4:59 pm

Before Saturday’s game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox word spread Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez was sidelined. The news was true, Rodriguez was placed on day-to-day status.

The announcement gave Yankees fans plenty of reason to worry, because anyone with a brain had the same thought….WTF?

How did this happen to Rodriguez?

Then the replay tape of batting practice visually explained that new Yankee Lance Berkman hit a line-drive that nailed A-rod in the ankle. A-rod fell to the ground in an agony of pain.

Berkman felt awful, as it was his ball that might have cost the Yankees the season. It was an accident and accidents happen, but this was not good.

Minutes later the game started, Fox Sports announcer, and known Yankees hitter, Joe Buck was openly proud of the fact that he was to blame for the injury.

Buck said he was waving to A-rod at the time, which caused the All-Star to turn and acknowledge Buck.

“I just said hello for literally one second to Joe and just got smoked,” Rodriguez said.

Fact is the Yankee line-up struggles without Rodriguez. To put it more accurately, the Yankee bats are better with A-rod active.

Whichever way it’s phrased, A-rod has proved time and time again his worthiness, while Joe Buck continues to prove he is not a Yankees fan.

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Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns Trades Prove Yanks Pick ‘Age Before Beauty’

Posted by on 2 August 2010, 10:59 pm

Bench, bench, and more bench is what New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman added right before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Will Cashman’s last minute moves help the team down the stretch?

Let’s hope so, but for now, we might as well get to know the two new Yankees hitters.

Other than adding Cleveland Indians pitcher Kerry Wood to help the bullpen, Cashman added fellow Indians outfielder Austin Kearns and Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman.

Austin Kearns is hitting .272 with eight home runs and 42 RBI, while stealing four bases in 84 games this season.

Kearns primary role is as the fourth outfielder, but he also brings another right-handed bat to the lineup.

Kearns is used to playing everyday and is very useful anywhere on the field, but watch to see him play against lefty pitching.

It will help Curtis Granderson, who is becoming an almost automatic out against lefties. Continue reading ‘Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns Trades Prove Yanks Pick ‘Age Before Beauty’’ »

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