Same problems, same shit from A-Rod. Thank God football and hockey start soon.
Fuck this team, man.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
This is it
This is where the Yankees can make their statement. 3 games against the Wild Card leaders, and quite probably the last time the Red Sox will step foot in Yankee Stadium. It should make for one hell of a series.
It all starts tomorrow night, Andy Pettitte against Tim Wakefield. Wakefield is coming off the DL and making his first start since August 6th against Kansas City. Pettitte will try to build on his last 3 starts, going 7 strong innings in each outing.
The Yankees can put themselves right back into the playoff conversation heading into the last month, let's see if they can do it.
It all starts tomorrow night, Andy Pettitte against Tim Wakefield. Wakefield is coming off the DL and making his first start since August 6th against Kansas City. Pettitte will try to build on his last 3 starts, going 7 strong innings in each outing.
The Yankees can put themselves right back into the playoff conversation heading into the last month, let's see if they can do it.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Big Day
Carl Pavano is starting tonight. Let that sink in.
I for one, am looking forward to this start. Rumor has it that at one point he was a major league pitcher, and even won a World Series. It'd be nice to see him do something to earn the $40 million dollars he's been paid.
I'm not expecting anything big out of him, but it really is a great unknown as to what he's going to do. So it'll be interesting to see what he has. Baltimore has a shitty lineup, he might be able to take advantage of that.
For the record, I would have started Hughes today, but Girardi and company seemed to know that he wasn't ready yet. He was bombed last night in Triple A again, and seems to be suffering from a combination of the flu and a tired arm. I think he'll be back in the rotation around when Joba returns in 2 weeks.
I for one, am looking forward to this start. Rumor has it that at one point he was a major league pitcher, and even won a World Series. It'd be nice to see him do something to earn the $40 million dollars he's been paid.
I'm not expecting anything big out of him, but it really is a great unknown as to what he's going to do. So it'll be interesting to see what he has. Baltimore has a shitty lineup, he might be able to take advantage of that.
For the record, I would have started Hughes today, but Girardi and company seemed to know that he wasn't ready yet. He was bombed last night in Triple A again, and seems to be suffering from a combination of the flu and a tired arm. I think he'll be back in the rotation around when Joba returns in 2 weeks.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sign of the apocalypse?
Carl Pavano is confirmed as Saturday's starting pitcher against the Orioles.
Going to the game Kevin?
Going to the game Kevin?
Taking care of business
Pretty straight forward win tonight. Pettitte was rock solid, Jeter continued his hot hitting, and the Yankees won a game they were supposed to.
I haven't gotten into too much detail about the last two games, because I've only seen bits and pieces of them.
The Sox and Rays bailed the Yankees out by losing, and the Yankees will have a chance to close the Wild Card gap to 5 games, as Boston has an off day Thursday night.
Ponson vs. Halladay
I haven't gotten into too much detail about the last two games, because I've only seen bits and pieces of them.
The Sox and Rays bailed the Yankees out by losing, and the Yankees will have a chance to close the Wild Card gap to 5 games, as Boston has an off day Thursday night.
Ponson vs. Halladay
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
It's simple
If the Red Sox only go .500 down the stretch, which is a possibility considering injuries, the Yankees would have to go 25-12 to make the playoffs.
Have they shown you any reason to think they can do that?
With the loss last night, they now are required to beat Purcey and Halladay. They're going to need to step it up at some point.
If they are going to make it, it is going to be dramatic as shit.
Have they shown you any reason to think they can do that?
With the loss last night, they now are required to beat Purcey and Halladay. They're going to need to step it up at some point.
If they are going to make it, it is going to be dramatic as shit.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What to do from here- the August 19th Gameplan
Step 1-
They're going to need to take care of business against the teams they should beat- Seattle, Oakland, Baltimore, Toronto- and take care of business in matchups they shouldn't win, like tonight Burnett against Rasner. If they do all that, it will give them a chance to move to step 2.
Step 2-
They Yankees are going to need to play very well against Boston and Tampa, something like 9-3, 10-2 to really make this close. Anything much less than that, short of an epic collapse by one of the two, and it's going to start being football season much earlier than usual.
Take care of business tonight and build some confidence going forward.
They're going to need to take care of business against the teams they should beat- Seattle, Oakland, Baltimore, Toronto- and take care of business in matchups they shouldn't win, like tonight Burnett against Rasner. If they do all that, it will give them a chance to move to step 2.
Step 2-
They Yankees are going to need to play very well against Boston and Tampa, something like 9-3, 10-2 to really make this close. Anything much less than that, short of an epic collapse by one of the two, and it's going to start being football season much earlier than usual.
Take care of business tonight and build some confidence going forward.
Why they won't
5.5 games is a lot when you don't hit. Lots of road games, games left of the West Coast won't be easy. And Boston and Tampa don't give away many wins.
Why they'll make the playoffs
The Yankees will make the playoffs because they're not as bad as they've been playing most of the season. The offense is showing signs of turning around, and can carry them for a month and a half. Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui will be two huge parts down the stretch. Derek Jeter has stepped his game up the last few weeks, and Alex Rodriguez has hit a few clutch homeruns. Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and maybe Chien Ming Wang will be back before or during September to help this team down the stretch.
They've also got 6 games left with Boston and 6 left with Tampa. Chances to make up games head to head is how you get back into the race.
Remember, the Mets blew a 7 game lead with 17 games to play. The Yankees just need to make up 5.5 in 40 to catch Boston.
The team is ready to explode, and they can show that soon. Keep an eye on Gardener.
They've also got 6 games left with Boston and 6 left with Tampa. Chances to make up games head to head is how you get back into the race.
Remember, the Mets blew a 7 game lead with 17 games to play. The Yankees just need to make up 5.5 in 40 to catch Boston.
The team is ready to explode, and they can show that soon. Keep an eye on Gardener.
Why they're not done yet
Why isn't this season already over? There are a few reasons for that too.
1) Mike. Mussina.- Just look at all that. Soak it all in. It is flat out amazing what he's done this year. Most people, myself absolutely included, had Mussina completely donions. He looked shaky through May, and became a completely different pitcher. He's been one of the best pitchers in the American League and is probably the Most Valuable Player on this year's team. Hopefully he gets to 20 wins for the first time in his career, and helps build his Hall of Fame case.
2) Mariano Rivera- His numbers have been sick, as they usually are. This is one of Rivera's best seasons, and that is saying an awful lot. With his 0.75 WHIP and his near 13-1 K/BB ratio, he's been dominant again.
3) Sidney Ponson, really- Say what you will, but 7 of his 9 starts with the Yankees have been good enough. Bad outings against Boston and Texas skew his overall good numbers since joining the Yankees. He's been Aaron Small '08, and will keep pitching this year.
4) Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter- You're looking at the only 2 regulars who are hitting above their season average with RISP.
Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui also apply, but need more at bats. They may be big down the stretch.
5) Joe Girardi, Dave Eiland- Girardi certainly hasn't been perfect, but his bullpen management has been superb. He turned a glaring weakness under Joe Torre into a strength, no small feat. Edwar Ramirez, Dave Robertson, Jose Veras and Brian Bruney have all been better than expected, so give credit to Eiland as well.
1) Mike. Mussina.- Just look at all that. Soak it all in. It is flat out amazing what he's done this year. Most people, myself absolutely included, had Mussina completely donions. He looked shaky through May, and became a completely different pitcher. He's been one of the best pitchers in the American League and is probably the Most Valuable Player on this year's team. Hopefully he gets to 20 wins for the first time in his career, and helps build his Hall of Fame case.
2) Mariano Rivera- His numbers have been sick, as they usually are. This is one of Rivera's best seasons, and that is saying an awful lot. With his 0.75 WHIP and his near 13-1 K/BB ratio, he's been dominant again.
3) Sidney Ponson, really- Say what you will, but 7 of his 9 starts with the Yankees have been good enough. Bad outings against Boston and Texas skew his overall good numbers since joining the Yankees. He's been Aaron Small '08, and will keep pitching this year.
4) Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter- You're looking at the only 2 regulars who are hitting above their season average with RISP.
Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui also apply, but need more at bats. They may be big down the stretch.
5) Joe Girardi, Dave Eiland- Girardi certainly hasn't been perfect, but his bullpen management has been superb. He turned a glaring weakness under Joe Torre into a strength, no small feat. Edwar Ramirez, Dave Robertson, Jose Veras and Brian Bruney have all been better than expected, so give credit to Eiland as well.
What's gone wrong
How have the Yankees gone from one of the most feared teams in baseball to a club that is seriously considering a start from this guy? Let's give the quick list.
1) Injuries- Posada and Matsui, who average 96 and 107 RBIs per 162 games have missed most of the season. Jorge was not only a force in the lineup, but a leader in a clubhouse that is in need of direction. Matsui, who is finally back in the lineup tonight, was tearing the cover off the ball before his injury.
With those two players out, we saw significant at bats handed to Chad Moeller, Justin Christian, Brett Gardener and Jose Molina.
2) Situational hitting- This to me is the biggest problem all season. They're batting .272 overall as a team, which ranks better than the best in baseball Angels, who are hitting .264. They also have a significantly higher on base percentage and slugging percentage as a team. But with runners in scoring position the Yankees have been flat out brutal.
.260 as a team with RISP, and .252 with RISP and less than two outs. They're not getting the job done in the clutch, and that's why they've struggled. Rodriguez, Cano and Giambi have been the worst culprits.
3) Melky Cabrera- After a great April and drawing comparisons to a young Bernie Williams, Melky was abominable as a hitter. Maybe he starting trying to hit homeruns too much, maybe he started pressing once he got into a slump, but for 65% of the season, the Yankees had an automatic out in centerfield. The fact that he's now in Scranton is not a surprise. Despite his excellent defense, he's going to need to rediscover his hitting if he wants to get back to the big leagues.
4) Hughes, Kennedy- Injuries played a big part with Hughes, arrogance a big part with Kennedy. Either way they have not gotten anything near what they were supposed to this season. I pictured Hughes' stats to be somewhere around where Mike Pelfrey is this year.
Kennedy is just not a very good major league pitcher. He has to work on commanding both sides of the plate, and needs an out pitch.
5) Wang, Chamberlain- These injuries have been the most devastating to the team's psyche in my opinion. Despite Wang's struggles before getting hurt, he was dependable for solid starts and eating up 200 innings.
I don't need to say anything about Joba. He was the ace the Yankees haven't had for years, and watching him come out of the game in Texas holding his shoulder definitely impacted the rest of the club.
1) Injuries- Posada and Matsui, who average 96 and 107 RBIs per 162 games have missed most of the season. Jorge was not only a force in the lineup, but a leader in a clubhouse that is in need of direction. Matsui, who is finally back in the lineup tonight, was tearing the cover off the ball before his injury.
With those two players out, we saw significant at bats handed to Chad Moeller, Justin Christian, Brett Gardener and Jose Molina.
2) Situational hitting- This to me is the biggest problem all season. They're batting .272 overall as a team, which ranks better than the best in baseball Angels, who are hitting .264. They also have a significantly higher on base percentage and slugging percentage as a team. But with runners in scoring position the Yankees have been flat out brutal.
.260 as a team with RISP, and .252 with RISP and less than two outs. They're not getting the job done in the clutch, and that's why they've struggled. Rodriguez, Cano and Giambi have been the worst culprits.
3) Melky Cabrera- After a great April and drawing comparisons to a young Bernie Williams, Melky was abominable as a hitter. Maybe he starting trying to hit homeruns too much, maybe he started pressing once he got into a slump, but for 65% of the season, the Yankees had an automatic out in centerfield. The fact that he's now in Scranton is not a surprise. Despite his excellent defense, he's going to need to rediscover his hitting if he wants to get back to the big leagues.
4) Hughes, Kennedy- Injuries played a big part with Hughes, arrogance a big part with Kennedy. Either way they have not gotten anything near what they were supposed to this season. I pictured Hughes' stats to be somewhere around where Mike Pelfrey is this year.
Kennedy is just not a very good major league pitcher. He has to work on commanding both sides of the plate, and needs an out pitch.
5) Wang, Chamberlain- These injuries have been the most devastating to the team's psyche in my opinion. Despite Wang's struggles before getting hurt, he was dependable for solid starts and eating up 200 innings.
I don't need to say anything about Joba. He was the ace the Yankees haven't had for years, and watching him come out of the game in Texas holding his shoulder definitely impacted the rest of the club.
The 2008 New York Yankees
So apparently I had a blog about the Yankees a few years ago. With a fresh coat of paint and a wheelbarrow full of problems, I figured I'd write about them again down the stretch, of what could be their first missed postseason since 1993. I need to vent somehow.
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