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New York Yankees: What do you think Joe Girardi should do?

Posted by on 11 May 2012, 4:52 pm
Andy Pettitte

Andy Pettitte (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees have started of this 16-game stretch winning two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays, and are hoping to continue this streak over the weekend as they host the Seattle Mariners in the Bronx for a three-game set.

A lot of Yankee fans were awaiting this series to see how the franchise’s ex-top prospect Jesus Montero, who was traded away to Seattle for Michael Pineda, will perform.

It is no secret that Pineda has yet to pitch in the Bronx, as the coveted young pitcher is out for the season after he had a right shoulder anterior labral tear discovering, which required shoulder surgery. And who knows if Pineda will ever take the hill in pinstripes, as there is no guarantee he will be the same pitcher they gave up Montero for.

Regardless, Yankee fans would normally be all over this but the return of southpaw Andy Pettitte has provided some distraction. Pettitte will make his first start since he announced his un-retirement after a year away from the game.

With all the unexpected rotation issues that have occurred, if Pettitte comes out dealing and performs like he did in the good old days, Yankee fans will quickly forget about Montero and Pineda.

This is a toss-up as Pettitte is about to hit 40-years of age and if his recent starts in the minors mean anything it could be ugly.

Now this leaves another decision looming for skipper Joe Girardi, as the addition of Pettitte means someone has to go to the bullpen or minors.

So I leave you with this question…. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: What do you think Joe Girardi should do?’ »

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New York Yankees: Introducing Prospect Jose Campos

Posted by on 24 January 2012, 11:04 pm

Jose Campos will have his personal cheering section this week. (Shari Sommerfield/MiLB.com)

In the midst of all the hysteria surrounding the Michael Pineda-Jesus Montero trade, the name Jose Campos might have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Campos was the other pitcher the New York Yankees received from the Seattle Mariners in the blockbuster trade.

The 19-year-old righty has only been in the minors for two years, and so far the reports are mixed about Campos’s potential.

POSITIVES:

  • Campos has the perfect pitcher’s frame at 6’4 and 200 lbs.
  • He throws a low-mid 90’s fastball, which he can locate; it can reach almost 100 mph.
  • Has a decent slider that is getting better and is developing into another plus pitch.
  • Has mound presence and displays confidence in tough situations at a very young age.
  • Seattle fans were not stoked to let this kid go.
  • Works hard and continues to take solid steps forward.

NEGATIVES:

  • Will Campos keep working hard on improving; and is he able to adapt easily?
  • Some scouts say he doesn’t use his legs and throws too much from his arm. This can cause rotator-cuff issues, and a build up of shoulder scar tissue.
  • His curveball is a mess, and needs to either get a different pitch or fix it so hitters actually swing at it.

Last year, Campos made 14 starts for the Mariners in Single-A ball. He posted a 5-5 record, with a 2.32 ERA, giving up 21 earned runs, four homers and walked 13 batters. Campos also struck out 85 batters and pitched a total of 81 innings in 2011. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Introducing Prospect Jose Campos’ »

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New York Yankees: Non-Trade Moves To Make

Posted by on 28 July 2011, 6:12 pm

Following a 9-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, which also helped them break a 17-game losing streak, you can bet the New York Yankees front office, is conceivably in a tizzy.

This is not because the Bombers line-up fell flat at the hands of the 2010 CY Young winner King Felix, as many teams do.

The alarm went off as Phil Hughes turned in another lackluster performance and against one of the most offensively anemic teams in all of baseball.

Fact is against almost any other team than the Mariners, and Hughes’ liabilities would have been exposed. The Yankees cannot afford to lose more games because they are hanging onto the 18 games he won last season, when out 14 of the 18 wins were when the bats scored 5 or more runs.

So, my advice is the Yankees needs to forget that MLB’s trade deadline is this Sunday, July 31st and instead explore internal changes that could really help over the next two months.

First priority would be moving Phil Hughes back to the bullpen.

Hughes thrived in the middle innings and if that move hadn’t been made the 2009 Yankees might still be searching for #27. Hughes offers added insurance, by pitching multiple innings; which allows the Yankees bats to go to work and give the team a better chance to win.

Hughes has a proven record in the reliever role, and he certainly displayed the most talent of his short career.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman can put rookie Ivan Nova back in the starting rotation, and just demote Sergio Mitre once he is off the DL because he is wasting a roster spot anytime.

The bottom line is…. the Yankees aren’t helping Hughes or the team by giving him any more chances.

Maybe a little fine-tuning could help the Yankees avoid trading away their farm system. It would be an anxious move to nab Rockies Ubaldo Jimenez considering the price tag.

I sincerely believe the Yankees can improve with a little rearranging and tweaking, and that starts with the above.

The Yankees have no choice but to look at whom they have, instead of worrying about who they don’t.

This is one of the weakest and slowest trade markets that I can remember and it doesn’t seem as if the Yankees are going to be buyer in it.

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New York Yankees Injury Updates: Chavez Looks Good To Go

Posted by on 26 July 2011, 4:02 pm
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Eric Chavez #12 of t...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

This Sunday marks MLB’s trade deadline and New York Yankee fans are not holding their breath.

The Bombers could use another starter or a lefty reliever, but some key players are almost good to go and will be coming off the DL to lend a helping hand shortly.

I am specifically referring to Eric Chavez, as NBC Sports Hardball is reporting that he is back in the Yankees line-up tonight against the Seattle Mariners, as there seemed to be no setbacks.

The Yankees could really use Chavez now, as he is a six-time Gold Glove third baseman, who also brings a consistent and potent left-handed bat.

Without a doubt, Chavez will be welcomed with open arms, but just pray he can stay healthy at least until A-rod returns.

Before going on the DL back on May 5th, Chavez was sporting a .303 batting average, with 10 hits, two doubles, one triple, six RBIs and six walks, over 33 at-bats. Chavez only struck-out three times during that short stretch in pinstripes.

Bottom line is Chavez is a dynamic player when healthy; and easily could make Yankee Universe forget about any “trade” the Yankees didn’t do.

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New York Yankees: Coming Home To No Relief

Posted by on 6 June 2011, 1:32 am

What started out with two avoidable losses against the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees are returning to the Bronx with a respectable 6-3 record from their West Coast road trip.

Well, things don’t get much easier for the Bombers who’s first task is to host their rival Boston Red Sox for a three-game set.

The last meeting between baseball’s most famous rivals was back on May 13th where Boston swept the Yankees at the stadium. So far the Red Sox have won five of six on the season, and trust me that is not sitting well with Yankee fans.

As usual, ESPN has hailed Boston the hottest team in baseball, even though the Red Sox have failed to take over first place from New York, who are currently ahead by one game in the AL East standings. This is typical for ESPN but when your main analysts consist of two ex-Red Sox (Garciaparra, Schilling) and one angry ex-Yankee (Boone) what else can you expect. Now the Yankees can numb my pain and not let the BBTN guys be right by winning…please.

Now it doesn’t take a genius to realize that the Yankees June schedule provides absolutely zero relief, as the team will be tested to the core. Just take a look for yourself:

Anyone who wants to know a hell of a lot more about the Yankees watch the next two weeks. Things are about to get even harder and questions will be answered as the top teams in the American League will be visiting the Bronx.

Here are three questions that will be answered:

  1. Are the first placing Indians for real?
  2. With both teams playing good baseball, who is hotter Red Sox or Yankees?
  3. Will the Rangers pitching hold up much longer? And can Josh Hamilton stay healthy for a full month?
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Yankees-Mariners: Pitching Match-up To Watch Burnett Vs. Seattle’s New Prince

Posted by on 27 May 2011, 2:45 am

The New York Yankees start this nine-game road trip with a three-game set in Seattle against an improved Mariners team.

SEATTLE MARINERS BABY STEPS:

The 2010 Mariners had one weapon, pitcher Felix Hernandez (aka King Felix) who barely brought relief every fifth day behind a dead offense.  Considering King Felix took home the 2010 CY Young Award, pitched 250 innings in total, with a 2.27 ERA and only finished with a 13-12 record explains just how bad things were going in Seattle.

This season the Mariners offense, while not comparable to the Yankees line-up, has slightly improved and I guess they have Cliff Lee to thank for that.

When the Mariners traded Lee to the Texas Rangers, they acquired rookie first baseman Justin Smoak. After a mediocre 2010, the 24-year-old Smoak seems to be developing posting a .263 batting average, with six home-runs and 24 RBIs.

The Mariners have such quality pitching they can get away with less stellar bats and still be a decent team, but they are still a bat or two away from being a playoff team. Even with Smoak providing some life to the line-up, he is still a season or two away from making a real impact.

Seattle still gives up a ton of runs, as the offense has the third lowest batting average in baseball with a .232; have the fifth lowest RBIs total with 170; are tied with Oakland for last place with just 27 home-runs on the season.

Still, for a team that finished with the worst record in baseball, 61-101 to be a game away from sitting at .500 is a marked improvement. The Mariners are not the same blasé opponents because if the pitching can shut down an opposing line-up, and if their little step forward offensively can score a few runs they can beat you.

MICHAEL PINEDA VS. AJ BURNETT:

Michael Pineda is a 22-year-old, right-handed rookie who is as tall as CC Sabathia and has been outstanding in his debut season.

The youngster has a 6-2 over nine starts; he is posting a 2.16 ERA, allowing 41 hits, 15 earned runs, three home-runs, walking 14 batters and fanning 61, in just over 58 innings pitched.

Pineda has pitched six innings minimum in all nine starts. Pineda’s last two starts were his most impressive, as he pitched seven solid, giving up no earned runs, allowing just one walk and striking out 16 batters. Mind you it was against the Twins, and Padres, who are two of the worst performing teams in baseball but Pineda won both the outings, and that is what counts.

Overall, Pineda is turning into a future ace very quickly and the Mariners would not be hanging on in the AL West without his young arm.

The Seattle Times reported that the Mariners do have Pineda on an innings limit, which most think is somewhere between 160-170 but skipper Eric Wedge stated that the number will not change pending on how the team is doing.

It is no secret that I have been watching this kid from the beginning, as in a recent post about Pineda as a trade option brought on a lot of angry comments from Seattle fans. I still think it would work for both teams, but that is for another day.

The Yankees will counter with AJ Burnett, who has been good this season.

Burnett’s mental game has vastly improved, as he doesn’t implode after giving a hit or a home-run like in the past because he seems to have more control.

Burnett is 5-3, with a 4.02 ERA so far in 2011.

Assessing Burnett it is pretty easy, he is a veteran that knows what he needs to do and with as weak an offense as the Mariners have; he should not have a problem holding them.

The Yankees will look for him to go deep into the game. This is something he has been doing this season, as he has gone minimum six innings over his last 10 starts.

MY PREDICTION:

Comparing the two teams line-ups is purposeless, with the Bombers leading baseball in home-runs with 75 and RBIs with 244 and the Mariners posting the lowest in home-runs with 27 and fifth worst in RBIs with 170.

The Mariners only scored five runs in their last two games and their decent walk rate has tumbled as well, which is not good heading into any series. Continue reading ‘Yankees-Mariners: Pitching Match-up To Watch Burnett Vs. Seattle’s New Prince’ »

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New York Yankees: West Coast Road Trip Schedule

Posted by on 26 May 2011, 1:21 am

Following winning the rubber game 7-3 to take the series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees are on their way out West for the first time in 2011.

Here is the schedule for the next three series on the other coast:

DATE VS. TIME (EST) PROBABLE PITCHERS
Friday, May 27th @ Seattle Mariners 10:10pm Burnett (5-3) Pineda (6-2)
Saturday, May 28th @ Seattle Mariners 10:10pm Nova (4-3) Hernandez (5-4)
Sunday, May 29th @ Seattle Mariners 4:10pm Sabathia (5-3) TBA
Monday, May 30th @ Oakland Athletics 4:05pm Colon (2-3) TBA
Tuesday, May 31st @ Oakland Athletics 10:05pm TBA
Wednesday June 1st @ Oakland Athletics 3:35pm TBA
Friday, June 3rd @ Los Angeles Angels 10:05pm TBA
Saturday, June 4th @ Los Angeles Angels 9:05pm TBA
Sunday, June 5th @ Los Angeles Angels 3:35pm TBA

The Mariners and A’s both have young and talented pitching staffs, so the Yankee bats will play a big role in these two series. Finishing off the trip in Los Angeles against the Angels who are never an easy win, especially for the Yankees

Where will the Yankees be when they return back home?

Honestly, this road trip will be a true test for the Bombers, who leave atop the AL East (27-21) by just a half a game above the Boston Red Sox (27-22). The Tampa Bay Rays (26-23), Toronto Blue Jays (24-25) and Baltimore Orioles (23-24) are all very much in the hunt, as the AL East is as tight as can be.

The one thing that is for sure is that the Yankees return to the Bronx to play host to the Red Sox, Indians and Rangers so there is really no room for error.

On one hand, Yankee fans will get to know what this 2011 team can handle; and so will GM Brian Cashman who will probably use these next few weeks to establish whether a trade is absolutely necessary or not.

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