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New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Opinions Wanted On Matt Garza

Posted by on 30 November 2011, 1:37 am

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza is the latest name floating around the Yankees Universe, as the Chicago Cubs are supposedly willing to hear trade offers for the right-hander according to Tom Loxas over at Cub Insider and confirmed via tweet from ESPN’s Buster Onley.

Here are Garza’s numbers from 2010-2011 (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

IS A GARZA TRADE WORTH THE YANKEES TIME?

The Yankees, along with the other 29 MLB teams are shopping in a pitcher’s market, which means no Black-Friday or Cyber-Monday sales this off-season.

In terms of Garza, his age is right on as he just turned 28-year old, but can he handle the heavy-hitting AL East now?

Garza spent his first two seasons in Minnesota, until the Twins traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays where he was from 2008-2010.

Any baseball fan knows that 2008 was the year the Rays went from bottom feeders to AL East champs. Garza went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA and throwing 185 innings during the regular season; and in the 11 wins his ERA was 0.64.

The Rays made it to the World Series in 2008, and Garza took home the ALDS MVP honors after he beat-up the Boston Red Sox. Also, last season the Rays avoided getting swept by the Rangers the night Garza took the hill, so he definitely has exhibited postseason success.

So, how has Garza fared vs. the AL East teams from 2008 till now?

Take a look (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

Garza’s numbers are just so-so against the AL East, but scouts say that he should be better but just hasn’t been. He features a two and four-seam mid-90’s fastball, a curveball that is wicked far less than hittable, a decent change-up and a slider.

Garza improved from being a pop-up to a ground-ball pitcher before coming into hitter friendly Wrigley Field, but in even more batter friendly Yankee stadium without more improvement….it could spell disaster.

He does have youth on his side, as remember that Cliff Lee did not come into his own till age 28-29. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Opinions Wanted On Matt Garza’ »

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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: Losing But Not The Losers

Posted by on 29 September 2011, 4:01 am

No baseball fan could dream up a better finish to the regular season that is unless you are a Boston Red Sox, or Atlanta Braves fan.

Over the last month we saw the mighty Red Sox go from leading the AL East to destination unknown. It was hard to watch, even as a Yankee fan because truthfully I felt bad, the same way I did for the Mets in 2007.

This was the Red Sox team that Sports Illustrated proclaimed would win 100 games, on route to winning another World Series Championship in the magazine’s annual Baseball Preview issue.

Just try to conceive the mutiny that must be going on at ESPN?

ESPN is the sports equivalent of CNN, and minus my favorite expert Skip Bayless, the kitten caboodle made up of ex-players and the game’s most respected analysts must be in shock. Just Gordon Edes’ bold predictions alone are enough for any network to hang their heads in shame.

And let’s not forget about ESPN’s predicting machine that simulates a full season of 162 games, for all 30 teams and it picked the Red Sox too. Just read my preseason article, ESPN’s Baseball Machine Even Hates The Yankees to see exactly what a robot that was MADE IN BEANTOWN forecasted for this 2011 MLB season.

Truthfully, at the start of this historical Wednesday all my pity and heartfelt sentiments for my Yankees hated rivals had still not completely out the window.  The real moment it did was at the top of the 2nd inning; with two outs on the board and the bases loaded, Mark Teixeira had to go to hit a grand slam of ace David Price. And suddenly the scoreboard read 5-0; and I wanted the Yankees to lose.

Call me whatever you want because I deserve it. Anyone with a brain knows that the Yankees would be better off in the ALCS playing a team who went 7-20 in September, over a hot team like Tampa Bay who went 17-10 respectively; but during this game I did not care. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Losing But Not The Losers’ »

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New York Yankees Fans Are You Ready For Some Baseball

Posted by on 28 September 2011, 2:31 pm
Bench-clearing brawl on June 5, 2008 game betw...

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight baseball nation will be watching, as four teams will be battling but not against each other for the last two coveted Wild Card postseason spots.

In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays (90-71) are tied with the Boston Red Sox (90-71) so if both teams win or lose there will be a sudden death game played tomorrow between these to AL East powerhouses.

Same scenario in the National League, as the Atlanta Braves (89-72) and St. Louis Cardinals (89-72) are both striving to clinch a playoff berth tonight, but if tied the two will also duel it out against each other tomorrow to determine the winner.

This is about as good as it gets for baseball fans, and if you have any friends who are on the fence about loving America’s Pastime this would be the night to make sure they are tuned in.

Here is the TV schedule for tonight’s match-ups courtesy of MLB.com (EST listed):

Wed, Sep 28 7:05 pm Boston Red Sox Baltimore Orioles ESPN
Wed, Sep 28 7:10 pm Philadelphia Phillies Atlanta Braves

ESPN2
Wed, Sep 28 7:10 pm New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays ESPN
Wed, Sep 28 8:05 pm St. Louis Cardinals Houston Astros ESPN2

As the best athlete of out generation once said:

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” – Michael Jordon

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New York Yankees: Fans Say On Road To A Championship

Posted by on 28 September 2011, 2:54 am

Baseball fans everywhere have spoken and New York Yankees was their answer.

At least according to the Marist Poll’s latest nationwide survey conducted on September 13th and September 14th, where baseball fans were asked who they favored to win the 2011 World Series.

The Marist Poll results were reported as follows:

Well there is a lot of baseball to be played before the World Series Champs hoist a trophy up.

As a Yankee fan, I can’t deny that the added faith from this poll isn’t agreeable, but it is undoubtedly unexpected. Not many baseball analysts, fans and even the Yankees own GM Brain Cashman thought the 2011 Yankees were the complete package. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Fans Say On Road To A Championship’ »

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New York Yankees: Red Sox Are Still Alive

Posted by on 26 September 2011, 2:23 am

The New York Yankees have had a lot to smile about this past week, from winning the AL East division to fortifying home field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Knocking the Boston Red Sox out of the top spot in the AL Wild Card would have been the icing on the cake, but after fighting for 14-innings in the second game of a double-header that mission failed.

Now with three games left in the regular season, the Red Sox remain a game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card standings.

Why should any Yankee fan be complaining?

Worried would be the more proper word because back on September 1st, the Red Sox were the team atop the AL East. On September 2nd, the Yankees stole first place and never looked back but with a nine game lead in the Wild Card it seemed inevitable that Boston would still be around in October.

That is until Boston broke a franchise record for the worst September slump by losing 18 of the next 24 games.

Still, the Red Sox fought hard to beat the Yankees last night and that might have been just what the doctor ordered.

If you recall the Red Sox started the season 0-7 until they swept the Yankees in Fenway Park and Boston started beating everyone.

Let’s hope history does not repeat itself in this case; or in the case of Yankees ace CC Sabathia not making a start for two weeks before taking the hill in Game One of the ALDS next Friday night.

Ironically, the Yankees will finish the season down in Tampa Bay for a three game set against the Rays. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Red Sox Are Still Alive’ »

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New York Yankees: Do You Like The 2011 Playoff Hats?

Posted by on 25 September 2011, 11:34 pm

Have you seen MLB’s 2011 Playoff Hats yet?

In case you didn’t catch the new lids last Wednesday night, when the New York Yankees clinched a playoff spot and won the AL East Division, here they are:

Not my personal favorite, as it seems that either someone got lazy or stumped because these hats are far from special. Maybe the black and white is what makes these lids so darn dull.

Regardless, won’t be adding this one to my collection of ALDS and ALCS hats over the years.

 

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