Late Inning Lightning

Andy Pettitte pitched exceptionally to bring his record to 7-1 and his ERA to 2.48, but the big star today was Alex Rodriguez. Alex singled in Grandy in the first, hit a grandslam in the 7th when the score was only 2-1, then knocked in another run with a single in the 8th for 3-4 with 6RBI. He was also hit with a pitch. Cano was increased his hit streak going 2-5 with a homer and a two run single. Jeter also had a couple of hits but had to leave the game when his left hammy, where he too had been hit by a pitch tightened up. Gardy had three hits. Swish had some hits, Miranda had a big double, you get the picture. The O is really starting to come around. Andy left after 7 because of the long layoff between the top of the 7th and the top of the 8th. Park came in. The Yankee pitchers retired the last 19 Indians in a row before Park allowed a walk, two hits and a run with 2 out in the 9th. Yanks win 11-2. Javy Vazquez goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Welcome Back, Tex!

The Yanks looked like they were going to waste a great AJ outing (8ip, 8K, 1ER, 2HBP), through the first 6 innings. But in the 7th they got things going as Swisher singled, Gardy got on and stole second with 2 outs and Jeter up. Jeter singled them home. Grandy doubled him to third, and Mark Teixeira, who we have all been unusually patient with hit an absolute bomb to left center. The Yanks had gone from down 3-0 to up 5-3 in the blink of an eye. Cano and Swisher both singled and scored in the 8th, and Mo pitches a 1-2-3 9th for the team, as it was not a save situation. He also made a great play where he leapt over a broken bat to field the ball and record the final out of the game. Wow. Andy goes tomorrow. If Tex is back, we'll go on a tear. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose (Unbelievably)

In a game that CC started and the Yanks scored 1o, they still managed to lose. Up 10-5 in the 7th, Robertson started the inning and strained his back while giving up a run. Then, inexplicably, Joe Girardi started playing match up with his pen. Before the carnage was over they has scored 7 runs and taken the lead in the 7th. Joba was particularly awful. I hate to play the blame game, but if Robertson is okay, Joba should go to the minors and figure out who he is. What's more, if Girardi keeps managing the pen like that in what should be blowouts, he should not have his contract extended. Jeter seems to be waking up at the plate. AJ goes tomorrow. Let's see if we can get a lead and hold it. Go Yanks.

Ca-Boom!

Phil Hughes was sharp giving up 2 runs and K'ing 8 for his 6th win. Cano was even sharper, batting 4th for the first time in his career, he had three hits, including a grandslam, a walk, 4 RBIs and scored three times. Swisher also had a couple of hits including a homer. Jeter had two infield hits, a swipe and a walk. Tex had a couple of hits. Miranda hit into some bad luck, and Granderson doubled, walked and got hit by a pitch in his return. Cano's granny changed the score from 4-2 to 8-2 meaning that Joe Girardi would not have to use his best relievers in the first game of a four game series. Mitre pitched a 1-2-3 8th and Park worked around a one out single to pitch a scoreless 9th. Big win! The O may be waking up. CC goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Grandy Returns

Curtis Granderson is finally back today, and the Yankees made the right move by DFAing Randy Winn to make room on the 25. It's tough when it's the end of the road for a player, but it was for Winn, and the Yanks are better served keeping 25 year old Kevin Russo on the team, if they were unwilling to send down Pena to get the AB's he needs. Horrible line-up tonight, by the way, with Pena in for ARod and Moeller in for Cervelli. Hughes will have to be sharp, but at least the Yanks made a commitment to youth and the farm today. Go Yanks!

Yanks Win!

Andy Pettitte was fantastic in the regularly scheduled game tonight, with a somewhat compromised pen, Andy pitched 8 innings of 2 run ball. He may have pitched his best in the 8th when both Gardy and ARod misplayed balls, creating men on first and third on with no outs. Andy then caught a linedrive comebacker for one, and got Joe Mauer to hit into the DP. The game was tied at 2-2 at that point and with 2 out in the top of the 9th, Nick Swisher hit a homer to give the Yanks the 3-2 lead. Mo came in and pitcher a 1-2-3 9th for the save. Just a big win. Also, we hit the ball hard several times, but we just weren't bunching them. I have a feeling the O is about to breakout again. Javy throws tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Yanks Win!

The Yankee pitching staff of AJ Burnett, David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Mo River combined over two days to pitch a shutout. Derek Jeter's top of the 6th homer was the only run of the game. Let's hope the Yankee bats wake up for Game 2 it's Andy against Liriano and it's starting soon. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

Disgraceful. If the Yanks continue to miss 89mph cookies, they aren't going anywhere this year. CC seemed to be m0re geared up for hitting than pitching tonight. It seems that we not only have good and bad versions of AJ, but of the rest of the staff this year. Now might be the time for Brian Cashman to pay another visit to the clubhouse. The Yanks have an off day tomorrow, but they've had several off days lately. At least this one won't hurt their record. Go Yanks.

Dominance

Javy Vazquez had given up 1 hit through six innings when he had to leave the game after having his finger hit on his second successful sac bunt of the game. But he was great leading up to that. The Yanks scored their only 2 runs of the game on a two run double from Kevin Russo, after an error had put Yanks on second and third. Joba got 5 outs in a row in relief. Mo gave up a run on consecutive doubles in the 9th, before getting the final out for the 2-1 Yankee win. I think Phil goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

The Yankees are now 0-1 in the Moeller II Era. For the most part they didn't grind and as in every other game of this inexcusably lousy homestand, they couldn't buy a big hit. Andy was the latest starter to spit the bit. Let's hope they get it turned around soon, because some of the injured guys are going to be out for awhile and they are already 5 games back in the East. Go Yanks.

Ponderous

Moeller being called up instead of Montero? Ponderous. Moeller is a terrible hitter. The line-up has been short since Granderson went down, and when a hole opens at C they don't bring in their best prospect? Ridiculous. We'll be lucky if we're not 10 games out when we start getting hitters back.

Time For Jesus

Unfortunately, it looks like Jorge Posada is going to miss a month with a fractured foot. The Yanks should not screw around with scrubs. Since they are going to have to add someone to their 40, they shouldn't cut talent just to add a back-up catcher. They need to add their best hitting prospect since Mickey Mantle, and his name is Jesus Montero. Sure he hasn't gotten off to his typical hot start in AAA, but he will get better coaching from Tony Pena and Kevin Long than he woud get down in AAA. They should start the assignment by telling him no matter how well he does or doesn't do he's going back down when Jorge comes back. This would also give them a righty DH should Thames have to hit the DL, too. Do it, Cash!

Yanks Lose

I try not to play the blame game here. It's getting tough. To make matters worse, Marcus Thames, gut hurt tonight. At least he was busting it when he did. Mark Melancon continues to be unimpressive in the majors. We need some roster moves. Go Yanks.

Yanks Lose

The umpst were bad, and the bullpen was worse. Joba and Mo blew another one. Meanwhile, it would be nice if Mark Teixeira could square up a pitch or two. Now we have no chance of tying Tampa, who arrive tomorrow. Unacceptable.

Thames Time!

Wow! What could have been the absolute worst loss of the year so far, turned into a win, as the Yanks down 9-7 going into the bottom of the 9th got a pair of two run bombs of Papelbomb from ARod and Marcus Thames to win in 11-9! Thames had also struck an RBI triple earlier in the game. Thames homer also came right after Papelbum hit Cervelli to put him on. Firt pitch and BOOM! What a great win.

Now here's why it almost sucked. Phil Hughes didn't seem to realize that the Red Sox were just trying to foul of fastballs and hit cutters tonight. Thus he didn't mix in his curve and change enough and gave up 5 runs through 5. Ugh. He was still in line for the win until Chan Ho Park gave jacks. Still, Phil didn't have his trademark fastball command tonight and of the 6 hits he gave up, for, including 2 homers, came off the cutter. He's got to recognize that a little faster. But, at least the team came through with a win, and so Phil's lesson was not too expensive. CC throws tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Wrist Surgery

OBP Jesus couldn't heal himself, so he's having wrist surgery this week that will keep him out till July. As far as I know it's just to remove stuff and not repair anything. We should get a good, long look at Juan Miranda. Hughes goes tonight! Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

Mitre actually pitched well. Joba and Mo did not. The O took the day off. Unacceptable.

Andy Returns

It was another feel good win out at the Stadium. Andy returned and threw 6.1 2-hit, shutout innings. He was helped by great plays from Gardner, Swisher and Cano. Robertson was innefective. Marte came in and K'd Thome to end the 7th. The Yanks were up 3-0 going into their half of the 7th, then Swish, who can only bat righty right now, worked a walk off a righty, then Tex hit a tape measure shot. ARod just missed one, doubling off the Yankee bullpen wall. Cano was robbed on a great play from Hudson. Then Po hit one out to dead Center. 7-0 Yanks. Logan gave up a run in the 8th, then pitched a scoreless 9th. He'll probably be sent down when Chan Ho Park returns tomorrow. 7-1 Yanks your final. Mitre will pitch tomorrow, but we've already won the series, and all importantly Andy outpitched Liriano who was off to a terrific start. The big bats are starting to come around, and perhaps we can bludgeon our way to a sweep tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Remember This Guy?

The Twins didn't for a minute and up one, they intentionally walked Mark Teixeira to load the bases, then brought in Guerrier, who Alex has owned, to pitch to ARod. Alex obliged by blowing the game open with his 19 career grandslam. Up until then, it had been a weird game for the Yanks. They lost a run on a fan interference ground rule double by Cano, then had another run erased at the plate.

If that wasn't bad enough, after AJ did a pretty good job limiting the Twins to two runs through 6, with one on, in the 7th, Joe lifted AJ for Marte. Marte proceded to give up a game tying single to Mauer, and a lead taking double to Morneau. Alex fixed all that. Joba struck out the side in the 8th. Miranda doubled and Cervelli tripled him home, and Mo pitched a spotless 9th. Yanks win 8-4 and Gardner, Cano, Tex and ARod all had big nights at the plate.

Unfortunately, Swisher had to leave the game in the 4th to go get an MRI on that left bicep. Andy pitches tomorrow. Go Yanks!

UPDATE: Swisher's MRI was negative.

Yanks Claim Shane Lindsay

The Yanks today claimed Aussie RHP Shane Lindsay off of waiver from the Rockies. Lindsay is about 6'1" and is sort of similar to David Robertson. High K/9's. To make the move, they released injured pitcher Christian Garcia. Hopefully, his injuries will scare other teams off and he'll come back to rehab with the Yanks. Go Yanks.

And Here We Go!

Lebron is free! Don't blow it Knicks and find the right companion pieces. We need a PG and a C to go with him. A decade of excuses and mismanagement must end now. Go Knicks!

Yanks Lose

CC didn't have it today, and neither did the offense. One bright spot was that Ivan Nova made his big league debut with two scoreless innings of relief. Now let's go home and start dominating! Go Yanks!

The Stopper

Phil Hughes ended the Yanks' three game skid tonight with 7 innings of shutout ball. He gave up 5 hits, only two were hit at all hard, walked one and K'd 8. He got out of a two on jam in the second and a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning. He's now 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA. The Yanks were only able to get him 2 runs to work with, but he only needed 1 for his win. Joba ended up getting 4 outs in the 8th after the first base ump blew a call and put a runner on who was out. He was terrific, too. The Yanks woke up and scored 6 in the top of the 9th. Mo came in and got the final three outs, just because he hadn't worked since April. Let's hope the O is wide awake for awhile now. CC goes tomorrow afternoon. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

On a day when Javier Vazquez finally pitched well, the Yanks didn't hit. At all. They didn't grind. And they didn't run out their best available line-up. Ramiro Pena should basically never start a game over Russo. Russo can hit. Pena not so much. What's more, with Russo still up, the Yankees recalled Golson instead of Miranda, because Girardi was uncomfortable with his OF. I'd be uncomfortable, too, with Winn and Thames, but both Pena and Russo can play OF and have in the minors, so why did we need another OF? What's more, when a pinch runner was needed for Po in the 9th, Girardi used Russo instead of Golson. The bottom of the roster and the strategy are a mess right now. Hopefully, Phil Hughes can end this ridiculous losing streak later today. Go Yanks, please?

Miranda

Today the Yanks have recalled Juan Miranda. Miranda has been spinning his wheels in AAA for awhile, but the guy can hit. He has both patience and pop and if they platoon him at DH with Thames, we'll be in good shape. He can also spot Tex at first occasionally. Hopefully, he'll make a big enough impression to stay up, or increase his trade value.

Nova Gets the Call!

Ivan Nova has been called up to join the Yanks. Presumably he is long relief insurance for Mitre or Vazquez. We've been talking about Nova for years. He is a righty power pitcher with a good fastball, curve and change. Until the last year or so, those pitches were not creating a lot of K's for him, but that has straightened out lately. If the light is on, this is a guy who could be a much more valuable major leaguer than his minor league numbers would indicate. So let's hope he impresses. In what could be a related move, Graham Stoneburner was removed from his low A game after 1 inning today, and it was not for injury. He is most likely on his way to Tampa. That would mean the promotions are starting.

In other farm news, the Yanks signed 17 year old VZ catcher Rainiero Coa. I'll see what I can find out about him, and man, are we ever loaded at catcher. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

On a night when Bad AJ once again showed up at Fenway, the Yanks hit into some bad luck and just didn't seem be on. Girardi got tossed for challenging the homeplate umps varying strikezone, but even that couldn't wake them up. Cano may be coming out of it as he had 2 hits. Romulo Sanchez looked okay in long relief. Oh well, the pitching experiments start tomorrow in Detroit and we have to win at least three there. Go Yanks!

Tex Times Three

The headline was going to be "Break up Cervelli!" after the young back-up catcher notched his fourth hit and fifth RBI of the game, but then Tex had to hit his third homer, so he gets the honors. Tex started off the day by hitting into a first inning DP, that was one of the few times the Yanks did not score as they would eventually put up 14 on the kings of run prevention. But after than Tex had four hits including 3 homers. His final homer came off of position player Jonathan Van Every. Cano has hit a rough patch and didn't do much, he was DHing, and it was still good to see him in the lineup after last night's plunking. Jeter had a couple of hits and remembered to take a walk. Gardner had more hits, a walk and a stolen base. ARod had a couple of hits, a couple of walks and a stolen base. Ramiro Pena playing 2nd for Cano had a couple of hits and a walk. It was a nice game for the O, obviously.

CC had some bad luck. I rain delay was called with the Yanks up 6-3, and two outs in the 5th. What's more, he had two strikes on Victor Martinez at the time. CC gave up all of his runs in the 3rd, when he gave up a homer to McDonald, hit Pedroia, and gave up to a homer to Martinez. It was weird. Aceves came in after the delay, got the final out in the 5th, but had to come out in the 6th when he tweaked his back with two on and one out. The Yanks obviously got out of that and every situation. Robertson was bad again. Joba and Marte were good. AJ goes for the sweep tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Russo Up

Kevin Russo, who almost won the UT job coming out of ST got the call when Nick Johnson was put on the DL. Russo is a decent fielder at second, and a patient hitter would some pop. He'd been having bad luck so far this year, but don't be surprised if the promotion gives him a lift. He'll probably only be around until Cano can play everyday, at which point Miranda will probable replace Russo and become lefty platoon partners with Thames at DH. Interestingly, Russo has been playing some OF for SWB so far this year, so if he really rakes, maybe he can replace Winn on the roster. Good luck, Russo!

4 and 0

Phil Hughes wasn't the sharpest we've seen him, but he was still good enough tonight to easily handle the Red Sox. Josh Beckett, on the other hand, lost his mind after a Nick Swisher three run jack, and was hitting people and getting batted around on by the 6th. Yanks won 10-3, and nine of those were off of Beckett. Right now we are awaiting word to see how badly Robinson Cano was injured when Beckett hit him in the back knee. Robbie had to leave the game. Jeter got hit in the back, but stayed in the game. The Yankee bench, including CC, Jorge and ARod looked like they were ready to fight and were shouting at Beckett.

Putting Beckett aside, it really was a big deal for Phil Hughes to go into that house of horrors and beat them with less than his best cutter and curve. He gave up 2 runs, and one of them came after the long layoff created by the big inning. He's only going to get better, and keep rewarding the patience of Brian Cashman who just wouldn't trade him.

Let's hope Robbie's okay. CC goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!


UPDATE: Cano is day to day. Nick Johnson is apparently headed toward the DL with a wrist problem. They'll probably call up Nunez or Russo until Cano can go, then call up Miranda for Nick.

Ouch

The Yanks completed their sweep of the Orioles today, but not without some concerns. First, Andy Pettitte, who got the win, had to leave the game after the 5th inning with non-elbow arm stiffness. Apparently, it's not the first he's felt of it and they're going to do an MRI. Let's just hope it's adhesions. The other discouraging item was the performance of the pen. Mitre gave up a two run homer, and Dave Robertson gave up back to back homers. When Logan walked a man in the 9th, Aceves actually had to come in and face the go-ahead run for the one out save. Ridiculous. And it's really anyone's guess what is wrong with Robertson, but this has gone on too long. On the positive side, Nick Johnson may have had a breakout game with a single, a double, a homer and two walks. Nick Swisher also homered, and Mark Teixeira, remember him?, came through with a two run double. Yanks win 7-5. Off day tomorrow, then Phil Hughes goes against the Red Sox. Go Yanks!

Getting Gutsy

AJ Burnett seems like a different guy so far this year, instead of falling apart when things get tough, he's hanging in there and limiting damage. In the third inning, AJ committed a throwing errror that allowed a run to score and put men on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Last year that would probably have been a three run inning. This year, he stopped it where it was and K'd the next three men. He didn't really have any trouble other than that, going 7.1 and only giving up the one unearned run. Cervelli had another strong game recording three hits and a sac bunt. Gardner keeps getting on by any means possible. Cano had a couple of hits, but nothing became of them. Ramiro Pena had a sac fly and a run scoring ground out to account for half of the Yanks' 4 runs. Joba got his second save of the week as Mo continues to rest. He K'd 2 but gave up a groundball single before getting a flyball out to seal the deal. Day game tomorrow. Andy pitches. Go Yanks!

Beast

On a night when the Yankee O didn't do much, and the umpire was squeezing him like a tube of Crest, CC Sabathia hung in there, got grounders and gave the Yanks 8 innings of 1 run ball. Joba pitch a scoreless 9th for the save. His velo was around 95. He's still missing 5 to 7 mph, but it is trending up. Swisher and Gardy stayed hot, no one else did. Winn hit a 3 run jack, for a 4-1 Yankee win. AJ goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!

AL Player of the Month

On the other hand, Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long seems due for a lot of credit. His patience and hardwork has rewarded Robbie Cano's hardwork with patience, and we are seeing the benefits. People have laughed when I told them that Robbie actually had a pretty good shot at the HoF based on his early career. 2008 set him back a bit, but now he's entering his prime and poised for quite a run of good seasons. Of course, Long still needs to fix Tex and OBP Jesus, but both of them look like they are coming around. Tex had 4 hit's yesterday and Nick hit the ball hard 4 times, producing 1 double. Infleld coach Mick Kelleher should also be recognized for Robbie's outstanding defensive play. Let's see how many of these awards Cano can win this season! Go Yanks!

Skipped

The Yanks have decided to skip struggling Javy Vazquez's next star, whick would have taken place in Boston. And yes, the Yanks will be making their second appearance in Boston before playing them at all in New York. Putting the anual attempt at setting the Yanks back early aside, why have the Yankees been unable to fix Javy's mechanics thus far? Have they not done the tape work? Or do they havethe wrong guy at PC? Seriously, why have we seen longterm mechanical inconsistencies with guys like Javy and AJ? Aren't pitching coaches supposed to fix those? What's going on? Go Yanks! If Eiland can't do it, promote Aldred!

3-0 1.44

On a day that started with Granderson on the DL and Alex Rodriguez sitting out with a sore knee, the Yanks absolutlely clobbered the White Sox behind 7 more shutout innings from Phil Hughes. Hughes was routinely brilliant, K'ing 6 walking one and scattering 4 hits. And he's only going to get better. Mark Teixeira, remember him? continued his May breakout with a four hit game. Cano continued his age 27 rampage with a double, a 3-run jack and a walk. Brett Gardner hit his first homer and also had an RBI single and a walk. Nick Swisher had 3 or 4 hits including a 2 run jack. Jeter had a few more hits. Posada hit well. Nick Johnson made three hard outs before lining a 2 run double into the left/center gap. Melancon pitched a perfect 8th, then gave up a 3 run homer in the 9th. See ya. 12-3 Yanks. CC goes tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

Vazquez continued his innefectiveness, then after the Yanks were able to take the lead, they fell victim over overmanagement. Granderson got hurt, and if he needs to go to the DL, Golson should get the call. Hughes goes tomorrow. Go Yanks.