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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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New York Yankees: Latest on Brett Gardner’s elbow

Posted by on 24 April 2012, 2:46 pm
Brett Gardner makes a outstretched catch durin...

Brett Gardner makes a outstretched catch during a game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles on April 24, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees have been noticeably without out-fielding speedster Brett Gardner for the last week.

Gardner made a dynamic, diving catch last Tuesday night, which resulted in him injuring his right arm and being put on the 15-day DL immediately following an MRI that revealed it was bruise and strained elbow.

According to skipper Joe Girardi the elbow was good news, as at first glance it was thought to be his wrist.

“We thought it was his wrist at first, which came up a little bit sore but he landed right [on his elbow] and it got tucked under. The big thing is that we don’t have a setback — that the first time he swings, he doesn’t feel it.”

The latest update is that Gardner feels good and he hopes to back on the field immediately following his DL stint on May 3, when the Bombers will be in Kansas City to fact the Royals for four games.

As usual, Girardi is more optimistic about rushing the 2011 AL stolen base leader (49) back as he told MLB.com’s Jason Mastrodonato:

“My thought is he will [be ready],” Girardi said. “If it takes a few more days, it takes a few more days.”

Gardner started doing some throwing and running yesterday down in Arlington, and has had no issues. And the NY Post reported that Gardner won’t take until this Friday when the team is back in New York.

Veterans Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones have filled the void in left field with no significant issues as of yet, but everyone knows that Gardner is irreplaceable.

So far this season, Gardner is posting a .321 batting average, with two doubles, three RBIs, five walks and two steals.

Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Latest on Brett Gardner’s elbow’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

Posted by on 2 April 2012, 3:20 am

Cleveland Indians logo; aka 'the Tribe'

The 2011 Cleveland Indians came out of the gate hot last season, and were first in the AL Central up until July 20th having won 51 games.

Following that day, the Tribe only won 29 more games in 2011, and finished the season a distant second with 15 games separating them and the division leading Detroit Tigers.

Every team suffers injuries but in Cleveland players spent a total of 826 days on the DL in 2011, which certainly was higher than normal.

Now, with a new season just days away can a healthy Tribe finish off what they couldn’t in 2011?

Let’s take a look at the Indians heading into the 2012 season….

THE POSITIVES:

The emergence of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera going from good to All-Stat, hitting 25 homers and 92 RBIs in 2011. The 26-year old ranked first in RBIs and hits out of all AL Shortstops and second in home-runs and doubles, and it earned him his first Sliver Slugger Award. This guy has a really bright future in Cleveland and his natural baseball ability leads many to believe that Cabrera will only get better.

The Indians have to take advantage of the April schedule. The Tigers play the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Rangers in the first month so the Indians have to pounce from the start, as the Tigers bats, aka Miguel Cabrera; tend to need a month to warm up before blasting everything out of the park. The Tribe needs to capitalize off every single opportunity if they plan on contending with the Tigers come September.  So, another hot start is in order in Cleveland.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Atlanta Braves

Posted by on 25 March 2012, 9:28 am

Atlanta Braves logo.

Heading into 2011, the Atlanta Braves were a championship caliber team and played that way for the first five months of the season.

The Braves were the NL’s version of the Red Sox, arriving in September with an 8.5 game lead for the wild card only to blow it and land in a jam. The Braves had to win the last game left in the regular 2011 season just for a chance to play the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Wild Card but that never happened because the Braves lost again, and their October dreams went down the toilet.

It was ugly and while maybe not as embarrassing as the Red Sox, for any team who won 89 games the implosion surely must have humbled them.

The Braves did next to nothing in the off-season to improve, which means Atlanta is confident they can win with what they have. The question remains is the 2011 team determined enough to prevent another season with no October baseball?

Let’s take look….

THE POSITIVES: 

The Braves had all-around strong pitching last season finishing with the fourth best ERA (3.48), while pitching the most innings (1479.2) in the NL; and minus Derek Lowe being traded to the Indians the same group returns in tact in 2012.  Starting rotation looks to be featuring Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens , Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy. All are but 36-year old Hudson are 26 or younger and the veteran ace will be starting the season on the disabled list as he is coming back from off-season back surgery. They also had a recent blow this spring when top-pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino had to have Tommy John surgery and will be out till 2013. The Braves were expecting big things from Vizcaino this season, especially with Hudson still recovering. Luckily the Braves have some depth in the minors and 21-year old top prospect Julio Teheran will luckily step in until Jones gets healthy.

The bullpen looks rock solid with Johnny Venters setting up for the 2011 Rookie of the Year recipient closer Craig Kimbrel, who posted a 2.10 ERA, over 77 innings in 2011. He tied for second most saves in baseball with 46 and that was because he struck out 127 batters. Expect big things from this 23-year old in 2012.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Atlanta Braves’ »

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Eric Chavez You Look Hot In Yankees Pinstripes

Posted by on 23 February 2012, 3:16 am

Finally, the New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman resigned ex-Athletics hottie Eric Chavez.

Eric Chavez about to swing, May, 2005. Photo b...

E. Chavez as an Oakland A Image via Wikipedia

It is mind-boggling that this took so long, especially after reading a mid-January post on MLB Trade Rumors that there were a number of teams interested in him.

This was not surprising because when Chavez is healthy he is as solid a player as anyone.

From 2001-2006, Chavez was a baseball superstar, winning six straight Gold Gloves at third base, as well as knocking in a least 22+ homers and four times he smacked in 100+ RBIs to boot.

Unfortunately, staying healthy has plagued Chavez over his career, and after calling Oakland home for all his 13-years in the big leagues, the A’s had no choice but to release him following 2010 season.

Not knowing if his surgically repaired back would hold up, Chavez agreed to a minor league deal with New York for the 2011 season.

Tragically, Chavez’s injury woes wound up following him to the Bronx as on May 5th he hurt his foot and had to miss 29 games.

When he return in mid-July, Chavez’s role turned crucial as A-rod was hampered by a bum knee and needed surgery.

Chavez jumped right in at third base and demonstrated to New York fans why he won six Gold Gloves. He didn’t miss a defensive beat, and at times looked even better than A-rod. Continue reading ‘Eric Chavez You Look Hot In Yankees Pinstripes’ »

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New York Yankees hot stove: You want the down-low on Russell Branyan

Posted by on 9 February 2012, 1:17 am
English: Russell Branyan

Image via Wikipedia

Since six-time Gold Glover Eric Chavez seems to be AWOL, at least on the New York Yankees radar, GM Brian Cashman is up to his old tricks and I don’t mean off the field.

Once again Cashman is handing out minor league deals and 2012 Spring Training invites, and the latest recipient, according to the New York Post, is 37-year old Russell Branyan.

The left-handed batting Branyan can play in the outfield, and at first and third base if he makes the team this spring. The latest team Branyan got released from was the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the rest of his 14 MLB seasons reads like a bad wrap sheet.

Branyan started his career as a Cleveland Indian and from there has played for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Let me just say that this signing makes me think that Cashman is really pushing his luck, or is not thinking clearly.

Last season, Branyan split time between playing first and third base for the D-backs and the Angles. Combined, Branyan had 127 at-bats and posted a .197 batting average, five home-runs, 14 RBIs, 18 walks and struck out 41 times. His OBP was a mere .295, while slugging .370 in the 68 games he played in.

In 2010, Branyan did hit 25 homers, with 57 RBIs and 46 walks over 109 at-bats but he also struck out 131 times. This was again while playing for two teams, as the Indians traded Branyan to the Mariners.

This is almost making me sick knowing Chavez is sitting somewhere as a free agent.

The Yankees should not even waste five cents on Branyan, and here are three reasons why:

1) Throughout his career, Branyan has been prone to injuries but not just on the baseball field. One example dating back to late September 2010, while playing for the Mariners, Branyan reportedly injured himself while out a pizza parlor according to NBC Hardball Talk’s Craig Calcaterra. Calcaterra also broke the news when Branyan had injured himself back in July, this time a hotel table hit his foot at 5am. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees hot stove: You want the down-low on Russell Branyan’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Missing Eric Chavez

Posted by on 3 February 2012, 3:24 am

What happened to re-signing six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez?

Eric Chavez

Image via Wikipedia

Somewhere between the Pineda-Montero trade, Kuroda signing and the never-ending fifth starter debate, Chavez’s status got pushed aside.

Also, baseball in general has taken a back seat to Super Bowl XLVI but especially in New York with the football Giants playing in it.

Chavez had been an Oakland Athletic lifer until he signed with the Yankees last season to serve as A-rod’s backup at third base. A role he filled effortlessly when A-rod was sidelined.

Chavez’s natural talent has never been in question, but his lengthy and torrid injury history is what limited him to just a backup role. This bad luck continues to haunt him still, as Chavez spent most of May on the DL in 2011.

In his 160 at-bats, Chavez batted .263 for the Yanks last season, with 42 hits, seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 26 RBIs. Out of the 58 games Chavez appeared in, the Yankees as a team won 34.

Another interesting stat to note is that Chavez posted a .415 RISP (Runners In Scoring Position) in 42 at-bats. RISP measures a player’s batting average with runners on second or third base. The higher the number, the more ‘clutch’ a hitter is considered because fewer runners are left on base. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Missing Eric Chavez’ »

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