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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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2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 4

Posted by on 4 May 2012, 1:35 pm
Rays logo

Rays logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Texas Rangers have been kicked out of the #1 spot this week by the Tampa Bay Rays, who took two of three down in Arlington.

The Rays are 18-8, best record in baseball and have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games earning them the right to be on top.

Also, it has been a tough week for Yankees fans, as the great Mariano Rivera tore his ACL and will be out for the season. Luckily for the Yankees they have depth in their bullpen to cover the loss of Mo, but he is irreplaceable in every other way and it is not just a sad day for New Yorker’s but for baseball in general.

Otherwise, the Yankees and Phillies still remain in my top 10, as I think both teams will end up atop the AL East and NL East respectively by the time October comes round.

Here are Lady Loves Pinstripes week 4 power rankings: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 4’ »

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2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 2

Posted by on 20 April 2012, 1:26 am
The 2012 MLB season is still so young and you can bet that these rankings will look a lot different come June.

So far, in just two weeks this season is already surpassing baseball fans expectations as the competition is at an all time high.

Here are how things are looking at the end of Week 2…..wonder where your team ranked?

Enjoy!!

And feel free to disagree….

RANKS TEAM COMMENTS LAST
1 Texas Rangers Won 6 in a row; 9-1 in last 10. 5
2 Detroit Tigers Close second. 1
3 St. Louis Cardinals Who needs Albert when you got Freese? 3
4 Los Angeles Dodgers Owners brought some Magic, literally. 9
5 New York Yankees Yanks are just warming up. 4
6 Arizona Diamondbacks Ian Kennedy is the real deal. 6
7 Tampa Bay Rays Sweeping of Yanks finally wearing off. 2
8 Washington Nationals Marlins & Dodgers are coming…oh my. 11
9 Toronto Blue Jays Kyle Drabek looking a little like Roy Halladay. 10
10 Atlanta Braves Jones returns and team gets chipper. 22
11 New York Mets Mets fans feeling amazin’ again, watch out. 16
12 Philadelphia Phillies WANTED Ryan Howard, we are behind the Mets. 8
13 Los Angeles Angels Still waiting to click as a team. 7
14 Boston Red Sox Valentine’s Day is not a holiday in Beantown. 13
15 Milwaukee Brewers Bats are doing well but sloppy defense is unacceptable. 17
16 Miami Marlins Drama is settling…back to baseball again. 20
17 Baltimore Orioles Halos will test if the O’s are for real. 18
18 Chicago White Sox Finding themselves but tested Tigers. 23
19 Cincinnati Reds Is the little red machine breaking broken? Mediocrity doesn’t win games. 12
20 Seattle Mariners Thank you Yankees, we love your prospects. 19
21 San Francisco Giants Things have gone from freaky to scary. 14
22 Minnesota Twins M & M boys have played for two weeks with no DL stint. 27
23 Colorado Rockies Age before beauty. 26
24 Oakland A’s Yoenis Cespedes could really help a good team. 28
25 Cleveland Indians 1-4 at home?? Come on boys… 21
26 Kansas City Royals Falling fast in their own house. Regretting Zack Greinke trade now…?? 15
27 Pittsburgh Pirates Waiting for Burnett to revive them…with his bat. 24
28 Houston Astros Imagine this team in the AL? 2013…yikes! 29
29 Chicago Cubs Still rebuilding, is Epstein the messiah? 25
30 San Diego Padres You have to hit the ball in baseball. 30

Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 2’ »

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Do you think the Yankees are in trouble?

Posted by on 9 April 2012, 2:50 am

Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Do you think the New York Yankees are in trouble?

Well, the Yankees are off to a horrid start to the 2012 season, as they got out pitched, out hit and out managed by the Tampa Bay Rays who swept the Bombers right out of Tropicana Field this past weekend.

Even though it is the beginning of the season, I was embarrassed for the Yankees, as it seems like the same old story from the end of 2011 to many men left on base, 26 in total.

Since there are 158 games left to play to say anyone is in trouble would be ridiculous but getting swept to start the season certainly doesn’t feel good.

Here are two things to ponder over in the wake of this semi-concern:

1) Anyone watching the three games will tell you that Rays skipper Joe Maddon might have just taught the rest of baseball how to beat the New York Yankees by employing defensive shifts.

Righty or lefty bat didn’t matter, as the Rays scouting reports had an answer for almost every Yankee hitter as they kept hitting right into the shifts.

All I can say is that Joe Maddon’s moves from this past weekend were the most successful at stopping the Yankees from scoring runs.

I can promise you it is a blueprint that the other 28 managers in baseball will certainly get copies of even if it doesn’t work as well because it probably won’t.

The counter to this argument is that the Yankees could start hitting home-runs and unless Maddon hangs Rays players from the rafters at the Trop there is not shift that can block knocking it out of the park. Continue reading ‘Do you think the Yankees are in trouble?’ »

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2012 MLB Power Rankings: Preseason

Posted by on 4 April 2012, 1:51 am

The 2012 MLB Season has technically already started but since today is the official Opening Day in the states, I deemed it still proper to post my preseason power rankings.

Lady Loves Pinstripes Weekly Power Rankings will be up every Friday, all season long and please note that giving your opinion in a comment is encouraged.

Please note that just because the power rankings are posted weekly does not necessarily mean the rankings are based on that week’s results. For example, if the Astros sweep the Phillies that does not mean the Astros move up to the top 10 teams; nor does it mean the Phillies be moved to the bottom. UNLESS the series is part of a pattern, like if the Astros have swept multiple series in a row, or if the Phillies have lost multiple series in a row.  Catch my drift…I am looking at the bigger picture, and teams will be ranked accordingly.

2012 MLB Power Rankings: Preseason

Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings: Preseason’ »

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New York Yankees: Opening Day at Tropicana Field

Posted by on 31 March 2012, 8:02 pm

Opening Day in MLBis one of the best days of the season.

Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field (Photo credit: Kwong Yee Cheng)

I don’t know if you have ever been to an Opening Day, but I have been to many at Yankee Stadium and highly recommend going because it is a memorable experience.

The excitement in the air is undeniable, as it is only other game where each player gets announced like it does in the postseason.

The Air Force flies usually planes overhead, or shots are fired by military before the first pitch. Along with a ceremony that pays either tribute to the military or honors something important. This tradition varies at every ballpark.

There is always a live singer to perform the National Anthem, which most fans only experience before postseason games, the All-Star game or if a team is having a special tribute.

Still there is one thing that has never faltered about Opening Day, and that is all teams are considered equal, like a clean slate for both players and fans alike.

The game is mesmerizing like in the postseason but without the intensity, as everyone is just happy to have baseball back again.

2012 OPENING DAY at The Trop:

The Yankees open the season next Friday, April 6th against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

This is a travesty in my opinion because no one should be subjected to starting the season at the Trop, not even the Rays.

The fact that baseball fans in Central Florida don’t run to see the Rays was beyond me until I went to a game at the Trop.

I will cut to the chase by saying the Trop is a total dump. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Opening Day at Tropicana Field’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays

Posted by on 8 March 2012, 12:16 am

Tampa Bay Rays logo.

The Tampa Bay Rays had a typical quiet off-season, as they don’t have the money to be flashy or newsworthy but you wouldn’t know it from the way this team competes.

Through utilizing high draft picks after years of losing as the Devil Rays, the franchise has built a team that is a force to be reckoned with. The Rays have proven this by playing in the postseason three of the last four years and ironically it all happened the day the word devil came off their jerseys.

The youngsters have a few years under their belts now, including losing to the Phillies in the 2008 World Series and evidently they are hungry to get back there after watching them fight their way into October last season.

The Rays have made the AL East a three-team race and have certainly earned the respect of the Red Sox and Yankees, as well as being now considered one of the élite teams in baseball.

So, will 2012 lead to another postseason berth for Tampa Bay?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

The Rays starting rotation features young and electric arms that only look to be getting better. In 2011 the starting five held batters to a .234 and averaged a 1.24 WHIP, which was second best in all of baseball in both categories. Expect James Shields and David Price to be bigger studs this season, as neither of the two has even peaked yet. Following them is Jeremy Hellickson who had a great rookie campaign last year, making 29 starts, and finishing 13-10, with a 2.95 ERA and pitching just shy of 190 total innings. After Hellickson comes Wade Davis and Jeff Neimann who won a combined 22 games, as the duo is one of the more solid four and five in baseball. The real buzz everyone is watching is 22-year-old Matt Moore who is one of the most promising pitching prospects.

In my opinion the Rays batting line-up will be better this season, and that they are getting undervalued. Led by homegrown star Evan Longoria who at just 26-years old is already deemed one of the best hitters in baseball. The Rays need big seasons at the plate from BJ Upton who hopefully can stop free swinging at everything. And I like that they brought back Carlos Pena, who played for the Cubs last season, as he should bring some added power. They need solid performances from Matt Joyce, Ben Zobrist and xxx. Also, expect big things from rookie Desmond Jennings who finally provides the team with the everyday leadoff hitter they have needed.

The biggest strength that the Rays hitters have is speed, as they stole the second most bases in baseball in 2011 with 155 in total. Nothing irritates or agitates an opposing team more than pesky base runners, as it can be a game changer. The Rays should focus on stealing bases more successfully this Spring, as they also got caught 62 times last year.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays’ »

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