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Congratulations 2011 MLB Rookie of the Year Award Winners

Posted by on 15 November 2011, 12:11 am

Congratulations to Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel for being named the 2011 Rookies of the Year.

Hellickson went 13-10 over 29 starts in his rookie season. The 24-year old righty posted a 2.95 ERA, with 117 strikeouts and pitched 189 innings total. That is no easy feat for any pitcher, but for a rookie to put up those numbers in the heavy hitting AL East makes it even more impressive.

Kimbrel set a new rookie record with 46 saves in the regular season. In 77 innings pitched, Kimbrel posted a 2.10 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and had 127 strikeouts. The 23-year old righty was named to the 2011 NL All-Star team, and he swept the ROY voting, getting all 32 first place nods.

Below are the 2011 ROY voting totals:

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

al voting results from mlb.com

Continue reading ‘Congratulations 2011 MLB Rookie of the Year Award Winners’ »

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New York Yankees: It’s Not You It’s Baseball

Posted by on 15 September 2011, 6:15 am

Even though I hate reporting on Yankee player’s personal lives, but exceptions are made when it is pertains to helping the team win.

Admittedly, I am sure most of us can relate to the havoc that being in an unhappy relationship can create.

So, it came as no surprise that another Yankee star choose baseball over his girlfriend, but the back-to-back timing on is just ironic.

First it was the Captain Derek Jeter, who kicked actress Minka Kelly to the curb post All-Star break and instantaneously ended his yearlong slump. Yes, there was the pressure of Jeter getting his 3000th career hit but the Captain was stinking it up last season too.

Pre-All Star break, Jeter was hitting .270, with 24 RBIs, 35 strikeouts, eight steal; while posting a .330 OBP and a .353 slugging.

Sans Minka, the Captain’s numbers have been superb. Jeter is posting a .330 batting average, knocking 71 hits, 33 RBIs with a .343 OBP and a slugging .428. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: It’s Not You It’s Baseball’ »

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New York Yankees: What Needs To Happen On The Road To October?

Posted by on 14 July 2011, 12:31 am

With 88 games down and 74 left to play, the New York Yankees head into the second-half of the season in a tight pennant race with both the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays.

At best only two of the three teams, presuming the Wild Card comes out of the AL East, will be playing in October; and the Yankees are looking to be one of them.

The Bombers got to the All-Star Break with a 53-35 record and in second place, a game behind the Red Sox and five in front of the Rays.

What needs to happen for the Yankees in order to not be the third man out at the end of September?

Well, making a list of possibilities, scenarios or musts for any team could go on forever and bearing in mind the length of the MLB season makes it nearly illogical to do anyway.

Still, there are various concerns to keep your eye on about New York heading into the second-half and here are seven that came to mind:

  1. The Yankees continue to battle injuries, with the latest being the biggest when slugger Alex Rodriguez’s injured body could take no more. Earlier this week, A-rod underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. In the past A-rod’s absence has miffed the rest of the Yankee line-up, as he hits cleanup and is a right-handed bat that the Yankees now are in need of . In the past the team was able to recover from an A-rod DL stint but time was on their side. Unfortunately, that luxury is no longer as there is no time to waste or else the Yankees could dig too big a hole before he returns. This is the perfect time for the début of top prospect Jesus Montero to come help out. Montero hits right, is all power and now GM Brain Cashman really has no excuse not too.
  2. Skipper Joe Girardi needs to fall out of love with relief pitcher Sergio Mitre. Mitre is a waste of a roster spot that could be used by someone who can actually be effective. Since Girardi and Mitre’s bromance started again, he has only used Mitre when the Yankees have a significant lead in a game. Mitre might not have blown either game but he certainly allowed runs to score, which is just adding avoidable stress for the players. It is inevitable that Mitre will lose leads in the future as he has done over and over in the past. Mitre needs to go to the minors now. Hey at least he would still technically be a Yankee so then everybody (really just Girardi) wins. According to many Yankee fans this one is now on Girardi, like over at Pinstripe Alley who says there are better options in Scranton. I completely agree.
  3. This is something I have avoided tackling, but now that Derek Jeter is over the 3000 hit hump it is time to start critiquing the Captain. If Jeter continues to slack in the leadoff spot, he has to be moved down the line-up. At least until A-rod returns, the line-up has to be set in an order that is most productive and reality is when Jeter was on the DL, the Yankees didn’t miss his bat at all. Well, you have to be worried with all the mental exhaustion that Jeter is suffering from lately as well. Hopefully skipping the All-Star Game to prepare for the second-half down in Miami will pay off and then this can be voided
  4. Another Yankee on probation is pitcher Phil Hughes. Hughes is just off a three-month DL stint, as he suffered from a supposed ‘dead arm’ but no one really knows. Regardless of the diagnosis, Hughes was totally inefficient. Hughes has made one start in the Bronx and though improved, I don’t think it is enough for him to stay in the rotation but it certainly could work in the bullpen. Hughes pitched in long relief in 2009 and he changed the team’s season around post-All Star Break. Why Hughes got an automatic spot, as a starter in the first place makes no sense to me. Rookie Ivan Nova was finally coming into his own, and displayed more talent than Hughes ever has and the 18 wins last season were very circumstantial. The NY Post reports that Hughes will be debuting a new pitch as early as this weekend in Toronto. I guess more accurately described as a reformed curveball, as Hughes has changed the way he grips the ball to add more slice. He has also been working closely with pitching coach Larry Rothschild to change his over mechanics and pitching delivery. Let’s see if it works, but whither way Hughes can help out somewhere that is for sure. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: What Needs To Happen On The Road To October?’ »

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New York Yankees Hey Captain You Are Welcome

Posted by on 12 July 2011, 3:00 am

Last weekend, Derek Jeter was the first New York Yankee (28th ever) in baseball history to join the élite 3000 hit club.

The Captain did it with class, hitting the mark with a homer and going five for five including the game-winning hit. Jeter’s achievement was amazing to watch, as he once again said he was so happy to do it at home in Yankee Stadium in front of the fans, who grew up with him.

Then there was the Yankee fan that caught Jeter’s 3000th ball. All he asked was for nothing more than to give it to the Captain, along with a signed ball and a handshake. Other than proving that classy Yankee fans do exist, it was the perfect ending and well-deserved.

All of the above is what made me so disappointed when I heard Jeter was not going to show up in Arizona for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game after being voted in by all the fans.

Look no one expected Jeter to play with his recent DL stint, but to not show up is like a slap in the face, especially after seeing that New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was there.

Reyes is now on the DL, which gives him a legit excuse not to go but Reyes is there and Jeter is not.

It is no big secret that only one of the two New York shortstops is having an All-Star season and if you don’t know it ain’t the guy in the pinstripes.

Jeter is popular and that is why the fans, including myself voted up to 25 times for the Captain to get the nod. It is an annoying process but one taken seriously enough because fans wanted the Yankees Captain in Arizona.

What was so disappointing is that Jeter obviously did not care enough to just show up. ESPN New York reported that his excuse was due to suffering from “emotional and physical exhaustion” from his pursuit of 3,000 hits.

It would be safe to guess that most of the All-Stars there are beaten up, so why is Jeter an exception?

I was under the impression that the Captain lived by the motto of team first, and that any individual achievements were because of the group of guys that battle with you.

The Captain understood the disappointment his absence would bring, as even ex-Yankees skipper and Jeter mentor Joe Torre tried to convince him just to come for the game but supposedly he wouldn’t hear it.

One major-league official told to the New York Daily News, “Derek Jeter has done everything right during his whole career. He was wrong on this one.”

Jeter is the biggest name in the game today. He just reached a milestone the weekend prior to the All-Star Game, but didn’t feel the need to say thank you back. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hey Captain You Are Welcome’ »

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Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2011 MLB First-Half Season’s Winners And Losers

Posted by on 10 July 2011, 11:53 pm

The MLB All-Star Break features a game played based on the fans favorite players and the winner gets home field advantage in the World Series. It also represents the halfway point of the grueling 162 game-season.

So, with 81 down and 81 to go, how was the first-half of 2011?

Well, it has exceeded my expectations, as it has been competitive across the board with all six divisions still up for grabs.

Without further a due, here are LADY LOVES PINSTRIPES HALFTIME BASEBALL AWARDS:

The Hottest Double Team Award:

1B Mark Teixeira/OF Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees have 51 homeruns combined and there are still three games left before the All-Star break so don’t be surprised if they tack on a few more.

“It’s Not My Job, Oh Yes It Is” Award:

C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants won the 2010 ROY Award doing his job behind the plate superbly. So, after an unfortunate collision in May that put him on the DL for the rest of 2011 Posey says that blocking the plate is not part of the job. Earth to Buster….it certainly is.

WAB Award (“What A Bust”):

The mighty Boston Red Sox were anticipating that SP John Lackey would show that he is worth the $82.5 million paycheck entering the 2011 season. Lackey just lacks everything he used to have. Lackey’s 6.84 ERA and 6-8 record has Red Sox fans booing. Many will say his last start was better, which is true but definitely not enough to trust him yet. Lackey heads into the break having hit 11 batters, which is the most in the Majors.

Kiss My Bat Award:

OF Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays is proving that his 54 homeruns in 2010 was no fluke, as the slugger has 31 already this season and remember Bautista has more three games to add to that total till it is officially baseball’s halftime. Joey Bats also leads the majors in walks (74), OBP (.468) and SLG (.702), so it’s fair that we should all be kissing Bautista’s bat.

Up My Ante Award:

A lot of good players contracts are set to expire at the end of 2011, so the better they play the bigger the paycheck. No one is upping his ante like SS New York Mets Jose Reyes, who is showing teams just how beneficial he can be. Everyone knew Reyes was a natural ball player, but not this good. If Reyes can get active right after the All-Star Break it won’t hurt his worth if he keep playing at the same level.

Batter’s Beware Award:

When any of these three pitchers take the hill, opponents tremble with every at-bat because these guys can flat-out pitch. Utter any of their names and you are almost guaranteed a win…Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies; Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers; and CC Sabathia, New York Yankees. Continue reading ‘Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2011 MLB First-Half Season’s Winners And Losers’ »

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New York Yankees: Do You Want The Truth About Pitcher Phil Hughes

Posted by on 6 July 2011, 3:23 am

Back in his old stomping ground of Progressive Field, New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia gave another All-Star performance on Tuesday night.

Throwing seven innings of shutout ball, Sabathia fanned 11 Cleveland Indians on his way to leading the Yankees to a 9-2 win and making sure to stop a three-game losing streak.

Since the Tribe beat the Yankees 6-3 on Monday, the series is up for grabs. The Yankees are putting the ball for the rubber game in the hands of pitcher Phil Hughes.

Hughes is another victim of GM Brian Cashman’s ‘pitching rules’ along with his buddy Joba Chamberlain just had Tommy John surgery and won’t be back in pinstripes till next season.

This will be Hughes’ first start since coming off the DL, a place he was sent all the way back on April 15th.

Skipper Joe Girardi blamed Hughes’ complete inability to locate his pitches, along with a drop in velocity on a dead arm, but which also can cause shoulder inflammation.

Hughes told the Wall Street Journal, “I don’t exactly know what went wrong, but I know something went wrong,” whatever the problem, his lack in arm strength was unmistakable and impossible to miss.

Three months later, and Hughes has worked his way back to the majors.

MLB.com reported that in his three-rehab starts, Hughes displayed marked improvement with his pitches reaching up to 92-93 mph. The last one in Trenton, he only gave up one earned run and threw 88 pitches in six-plus innings of work.

Two obvious scenarios can come of this:

1. Hughes can pitch like he did the first-half of 2010, which earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team.

2. Hughes will struggle and rookie Ivan Nova could be promoted after being demoted just two days ago.

It would be hard to justify the Yankees keeping Hughes in the rotation if he implodes on Wednesday in Cleveland.

This sounds strict because it has to be. The time for chances is over because the teams that get into the playoffs will do so by one or two games.

The Yankees are good enough to win it all this season, but that affords little room for mistakes here on out so if Hughes can’t get it done someone else will.

What Worries Me About Hughes?

Hughes’ major-league leading 25 home-runs allowed (this includes six from the postseason) in 2010, is what keeps running through my head.

Everyone keeps talking about Hughes 18 wins last season, but it masks the 4.19 ERA. Also, the fact that Hughes got the most run support out of all MLB starters, with an average of 6.75 runs scored every time he took the hill. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Do You Want The Truth About Pitcher Phil Hughes’ »

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New York Yankees: Ron Washington Is To Idiot As CC Sabathia Is To All-Star

Posted by on 4 July 2011, 12:50 am

The announcement of the 2011 MLB All-Star Rosters came about an hour before the start the final game of the Subway Series.

Even though the Yankees were going for the sweep, but lost in extra innings 2-3 after taking the first two games from the Mets, the bigger news was that ace CC Sabathia didn’t get named to the 2011 AL All-Star team.

Unfair?

Without question when looking at individual performances, Sabathia is easily All-Star worthy. The fact that he is a Yankees is what worked against him.

Texas Rangers skipper Ron Washington (AL All-Star Game Manager) should have realized that Sabathia is pitching the Sunday prior to the game, so he could not have participated anyway. It would have been the smart thing to do considering Sabathia would pass off his spot to another, available pitcher.

The above cancels out the fact that Sabathia plays for the Yankees, who are well represented already.

Still, should the fact of what uniform a player wears belittle their performance and deem it as less worthy because of it?

In my opinion, I understand that every team needs to be represented but in Sabathia’s case it almost seems like it was done on purpose.

What better an All-Star is there than CC Sabathia?

This guy is loved everywhere he goes; he is generous, kind and humble both on and off the field.

Currently, Sabathia is tied with Philadelphia Phillies Roy Halladay with 11 wins, which is the best in the Majors, has an ERA of 3.05 and 106 with one start still before the All-Star game down in Arizona.

Personally, I don’t know many players who represent a sport as well as Sabathia does for baseball.

So, I guess Washington must have a darn good reason for why he snubbed someone so praiseworthy because right now it doesn’t look so good and comes off as pretty personal.

Hey when a rival, like Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester, who could have easily made the All-Star roster, made this statement to Brian MacPherson at The Providence Journal:

“If CC doesn’t make it, I don’t think there’s too many pitchers that should make it.”

Evidently, something is not right and in this case it is not that surprising as Washington almost gets it right a lot. This time is not different. Party on.

 

 

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