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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: Mariano Rivera’s August Tales

Posted by on 12 August 2011, 12:14 pm
Photo by Googie Man 14:33, 10 May 2006 . . Goo...

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The recent slip-ups by way of home-runs off the famous cutter of New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has caused much scare this week.

It masked the fact that Rivera tied closer Trevor Hoffman for saving 30 games for 10 years in a row, which is a huge accomplishment.

Look there is no denying that Rivera is the greatest closer to ever play the game, but at 41-years old mistakes don’t get brushed off as easily anymore.

Who could have foreseen back in 1990 that this skinny, amateur free agent pitcher from Panama would have such a big impact on the Yankees?

Now 17 seasons and five World Series Championships later, reality has inevitably started to bite even harder because lately Mo has not been doing his job.

Mo has made five appearances in the month of August, and is posting a 7.71 ERA, allowing two home-runs, four earned runs, while fanning three in 4.2 innings pitched. He has also tacked on a loss, but managed to earn three saves in four opportunities.

Plain and simple, Mo’s delivery is off on his cutter and that makes it hittable.

Is this cause for major concern?

No, it is not cause for concern because Mo will get his timing and release back on track.

The proof is in the stats and over Mo’s 17-year career he has given up the most runs, earned runs, homers and walks in the month of August. Also if a hitter is going to get Mo, this is the month to do as batting average against that cutter is at a high as well, sitting at .225.

Below is a chart of Mo’s career monthly numbers, courtesy of baseballreference.com:

So, Yankee fans can stop imagining life without hearing Enter Sandman blasting at the Stadium to start the ninth inning; at least for now.

To be honest, life without Mo is so unfathomable already that there is no need to rush.

Trust me, there are still many more Mo-memories to be made and Yankee Universe needs to chill, myself included.

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New York Yankees: Losing Is Contagious

Posted by on 10 August 2011, 3:58 am

As I headed to the Bronx on Tuesday night, to watch the New York Yankees take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the last thing on my mind was the possibility of losing.

I certainly didn’t expect to witness Mariano Rivera blowing his second save in a row, which resulted in another loss for the Yankees.

Well reality does bite, as the Yankees did get beat-up again at the hand of the Halos who won the game 6-4, thanks to a two-run blast off ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu in the ninth.

What made it more painful was that Mo was to blame; as Yankees Stadium takes on the worst kind-of silence on the rare occasions he makes a mistake.

Even more now because the reality is that Mo is 41-years old and saying goodbye is just unimaginable to any one who swears loyalty to the Yankee pinstripes.

When I talked with my father after the game, his first statement was, “The Yankees can’t trust Rivera anymore.”

I responded by saying he was being way to dramatic, only to be refuted with the fact that Mo’s cutter has not been cutting for some time like it used too.

Thinking about what my father said made me so sad. I literally had to force myself to stay focused on today, which spells S-L-U-M-P or at least the start to one.

There isn’t a less perfect time for the Yankees to start losing by beating themselves. This skid has to halt tomorrow because losing is even more contagious than winning.

NOTES ABOUT THIS SERIES….

When the Halos came into the Bronx Tuesday night boosting a 21-12 record since the start of July. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Losing Is Contagious’ »

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MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Are Dumpster Diving Again

Posted by on 14 July 2011, 2:06 pm
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 08: General manager Brian...

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ESPN’s Buster Onley has confirmed that the New York Yankees signed another washed-up pitcher, as GM Brian Cashman inked ex-Philly, and now ex-National pitcher JC Romero to a minor league deal.

I say enough already.

To his credit, Cashman did find some luck this season with the likes of Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia, but these two are different monsters compared to a JC Romero.

The fact that it is to a minor league contract gets Cashman off the hook because it costs the Yankees no money nor does it take up a roster spot; and if it works Cashman gets another gold star sticker on his résumé.

This is no longer the beginning of the season where tweaking and trials can go on. The Yankees are in a three-team pennant race and this is not the time for Cashman to keep pressing his luck, or the team will not be playing in October. If that happens Cashman is as good as gone.

Romero is a 35-year-old lefty, who was previously suspended in 2008 for 50 games for using PEDs. Romero has held left-handed batters to a .215 batting average and a .312 on-base percentage, striking out about one of every four-lefty bat.

Before the Phillies let him go, Romero faced a total of 75 batters, posting a 3.86 ERA, allowing 16 hits, 12 walks, while striking out 10 over a total of 16.1 innings.

Does Cashman know that just having a lefty in the bullpen doesn’t mean much if he can’t get guys out?

If Romero could do that job why did the Phillies and Nationals, who are in dire need of a lefty reliever, not keep him but instead both teams let him walk?

The Yankees are starting to look like dumpster divers and it is humiliating.

The Yankees have prospects that can fill this role better, but it seems, that the Yankee brass is never going to promote them.

I am starting to wonder about the purpose of building up a farm system if all you are going to do is talk about them. The Yankees act so selfishly in regards to these youngsters’ futures (aka. Hughes/Joba/Kennedy) by repeatedly contradicting what they are going to do with them.

Why not go get a guy like Health Bell from the Padres?

I know Bell is not a lefty, but he is without question lights out and is willing to take a set-up role on a contending team.

With Mariano Rivera’s recent soreness making him unavailable, Bell could come right in and pick up where Rafael Soriano could not.

It is something to think about, but Cashman would have to trading a significant prospect to bring Bell’s talents to the Bronx. So, my question is what’s the hold-up.

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MLB Trade Rumors: K-Rod Moving From Queens To The Bronx

Posted by on 5 July 2011, 2:08 pm

The New York Yankees have been spoiled.

Not because of their paychecks or where they play, but for having the ninth inning locked up for 17 straight seasons.

Mariano Rivera is without question the greatest closer in the history of baseball. Named to his 12th All-Star earlier this week, the 41 year-old is hasn’t missed a beat.

It was brought to our attention on Monday night, following the Yankees 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians, that Mo was not available for the game.

This was confirmed, but played down by Yankees skipper Joe Girardi in his post-game press conference that Mo had soreness in his right triceps.

Not knowing the true severity of this injury, it certainly makes you think whether the Yankees need to go get some insurance. Most of the bullpen is on the DL (Joba, Feliciano, Soriano), and even though David Robinson has flourished in the 8th inning role, I would hate to rush him into filling Rivera’s shoes if he was unavailable.

Looking around at the trade market, one name from the other New York team, the Mets have a pitcher named Francisco Rodriguez (aka K-rod) who the Yankees are supposedly eying.

Does trading for K-rod make sense for the Yankees?

Here are my first three thoughts on this whole scenario:

  1. Rafael Soriano was supposed to fill that eighth inning role and that certainly hasn’t worked out. Soriano has been sitting on the DL for almost two months, but even when the 2010 AL Saves leader was active things were very up and down. He posted a 5.04 ERA, with 10 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. Soriano’s attitude has seemed to be even more of a problem, as he is very feisty, not a great clubhouse guy and has already made two apologies since wearing the pinstripes for remarks he made to the press. K-rod has a temper. In case you forgot and need a refresher, read Dan Martin of the New York Daily News article about the 2010 assault on his baby-mama’s dad, at Citifield following a loss. Regardless how K-rod is preforming, attitude is everything and his antics have to be considered after not listening to the warning given from the Tampa Bay Rays regarding Soriano clearly laid out in NYDN Bill Madden’s article.
  2. If the Yankees were ever to have to go without Mo for a period of time, the team would be in trouble and K-rod can clearly fill the role if needed. The 29-year-old already has 21 saves this season, pitching 40+ innings, with 44 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA. K-rod is happy to pitch more than one inning when asked, which is more than can said for Soriano. K-rod also spent seven years with the Los Angeles Angels, so he has plenty of experience with AL teams. Continue reading ‘MLB Trade Rumors: K-Rod Moving From Queens To The Bronx’ »

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New York Yankees: Injury Update On Mariano Rivera

Posted by on 5 July 2011, 12:49 am

Following the game, I was driving back to the city from the long July 4th weekend listening to 1010 News for traffic updates.

As the news anchor was going over the sports scores, he was summing up the New York Yankees 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. He said AJ Burnett was perfect through six innings until he gave up a three-run homer to ex-Yankee Austin Kearns; how Curtis Granderson hit his 23rd home-run in the eighth…. this was all true.

Then the one-thing Yankee fans don’t want to hear was uttered; that All-Star closer Mariano Rivera was not available even if skipper Joe Girardi needed him. It was due to a sore left triceps and the newscaster went on to say that no tests were scheduled for Rivera at this point.

AP Sports Writer, Tom Withers confirmed the news after Girardi revealed it following the game in Cleveland. This is not comforting for Yankee fans, as masking the severity of injuries is a Bomber specialty.

The Sporting News is insinuating that this is enough of a reason for the Yankees to really explore obtaining the New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, better known as K-rod.

K-rod has already said that he would happily accept a set-up role if traded to the Yankees.

The question that remains whether the Yankees trade for another possible closer, or just use should-be All-Star David Robertson for the time being, while keeping their fingers crossed down the stretch.

Regardless, the 41-year-old Rivera is the rock of this ball club posting 21 saves and a 1.91 ERA on the season so far.

All fans can do is just pray that the Yankees are not down-playing this one because as of right now, this is not encouraging at all.

All I know is that life without Rivera is no life at all.

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New York Yankee Rumors: Righty Prospect Who Can Fan Lefties

Posted by on 24 June 2011, 4:28 am

The New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman has some work to do, but not as much as initially thought but he might not have to go to far to do it.

Other than skipping Brian Gordon’s next start, the need for a starting pitcher will be filled when Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes return; and if all goes well that will be before the All-Star Break.

So, looking at the team the obvious problem is the lefty reliever Boone Logan can’t get batters out. Logan is currently the only left-arm in the bullpen, but what good is having a specialist who lacks a forte?

Lefty-arms are coveted in the world of pitching for obvious reasons; they are are less of them in existence.

Like any MLB skipper, Joe Girardi yearns for a reliable lefty specialist. The guy that can get one or two outs in the eighth inning and preserve a one-run game before handing the ball the great Mariano Rivera in the ninth.

Right now this is a luxury that Girardi doesn’t have, but certainly one he will need with more than half the season to still play.

You might be wondering how this relates to prospect Dellin Betances, who currently takes the bump in Double-A for the Trenton Thunder and throws right?

My answer is because Betances could be that guy for Girardi to call on, and the proof is in his numbers.

WHY BETANCES?

Betances might not throw with his left arm, but when facing them he has an ERA of 1.09 this season.

In just shy of 25 innings pitched, Betances has held left-handed batters to .191 average, giving up two home-runs, three earned-run, while striking out 28.

To make it easier, below are Betances split stats from MILB.com from this season:

Betances stats against lefties are solid, and even though the information is limited it is still accurate.

One thing I noticed was Betances’ 2.91 GO/AO vs. lefties, as it is almost double in comparison to vs. righties.

What is GO/AO?

GO/AO stands for Ground Ball/Fly Ball Ratio (also denoted by G/F) represents how often a pitcher gets batters out on ground balls versus fly balls; formula: (ground outs) / (fly outs).

To put it in perspective, Rivera currently has a 2.33 GO/AO; David Robertson posts a 2.09 and Joba Chamberlain’s GO/AO before he got sidelined was a 3.64.

Another asset of Betances is his mound presence, and particularly smooth delivery for someone who stands at 6’8.

Without question his best pitch is a fastball that averages 95mph, but he easily knocks it up to 96-98 mph. Betances throws his fastball with complete confidence, and has no problem using it as his out pitch.

Betances, also has a wicked mid-80’s curve-ball, which dips late and gets a batter to swing…that is when he is focused. He has been known to get lazy when delivering and you have to finish strong in order for a curve to be effective.

The last in Betances arsenal is a change-up that clocks around the low 80’s, but as time goes on it is getting closer to becoming a plus pitch.

Pitchers who have Betances height have to work harder than the average because they can get Gumby-like and their mechanics look unnatural, hindering their delivery. Continue reading ‘New York Yankee Rumors: Righty Prospect Who Can Fan Lefties’ »

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