05/18: Clippard to Start Sunday?
Posted by: Patrick
Dom Amore:
Torre is not a big detail guy, so he didn't know Scranton had a day game today. When we asked him about Clippard coming out after one inning, he was surprised we knew about it. Thought it was a night game for the Triple A squad. Anyway, it's not official but pretty obvious Tyler Clippard is pitching Sunday.
Posted by: Patrick
Steve points to an article over at ESPN.com by Gene Wojciechowski where he shares the comments made by scouts from one major league team (doesn't say what team) on some of the biggest stars of the past decade or so. A-Rod, Jeter and Clemens included. Interesting to read.
Posted by: Patrick
Report: Giambi says MLB owes apology for steroid issue:
"I was wrong for doing that stuff," Giambi said to the newspaper before a game against the Chicago White Sox. "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up - players, ownership, everybody - and said, 'We made a mistake.' We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. ...
"Unfortunately, (the rumors) are going to be a part of it, but that's OK. I'm probably tested more than anybody else," Giambi told USA Today. "I'm not hiding anything. That stuff didn't help me hit home runs. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you that gift of hitting a baseball."
"Unfortunately, (the rumors) are going to be a part of it, but that's OK. I'm probably tested more than anybody else," Giambi told USA Today. "I'm not hiding anything. That stuff didn't help me hit home runs. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you that gift of hitting a baseball."
05/18: Farnsworth on Clemens Perks
Posted by: Patrick
From Yahoo!:
Now, I agree with him as a general principle. The only question I have is why say it at all? I mean, he didn't say anything particularly bad, but why feed into the "frenzy" (if you want to call it that)? Do you need attention or something? Are you looking to stand out from your teammates and get noticed? I don't know.
"It might cause some friction," Farnsworth said on Chicago's 670 AM The Score of Clemens' deal. "Granted this is going to be his (Clemens') 23rd or 24th year and he can get the opportunity to do that, but still, I think if you're going to be part of the team you should be there always.
"You win as a team, you lose as a team. I respect what he's done and I respect him as a person and a player but to be a part of the team you have to be there with the team."
"You win as a team, you lose as a team. I respect what he's done and I respect him as a person and a player but to be a part of the team you have to be there with the team."
Now, I agree with him as a general principle. The only question I have is why say it at all? I mean, he didn't say anything particularly bad, but why feed into the "frenzy" (if you want to call it that)? Do you need attention or something? Are you looking to stand out from your teammates and get noticed? I don't know.
Posted by: James
Brutal. This team is absolutely brutal to watch right now. Remember when Yankees teams seemed to find a way to win? Remember clutch hitting and comeback wins? Well, these days, it's finding a way to lose while Boston does the exact opposite. Those among Yankees fans who still see the AL East as still being winnable...they must be counting on some major Boston injuries as that's the only foreseeable way a division title is happening. 9.5 games back (9 on the loss side) in the AL East race and 5.5 (5 on the loss side) in the AL wild card.
The game can be summed up pretty simply for those who couldn't catch it. Matt DeSalvo started out the game but didn't have the good command he showcased in previous starts. He walked four and struck out two over three and a third (76 pitches). He was taken out in the fourth after putting the first two batters of the inning to get on base. From that point on, for one night, the bullpen did it's part with Vizcaino, Bruney and Proctor combining to put up zeros for 4 and two-thirds innings.
However, the Yankees offense did absolutely nothing against Jon Garland. The only Yankees run came when Robinson Cano picked up a leadoff triple and came home on a Doug Mientkiewicz one-out double. That was it. They went quietly in the eighth and ninth and they coasted to another loss. 18-21 on May 18th (at this point in the comeback in 2005...21-19).
So far, this season, it's always been something throwing the team off. In the first month, the team couldn't get any starting pitching. This month, we're getting pretty good starting pitching (combined 3.5 ERA before today) but everyone except Jeter, Posada and Mientkiewicz seem like they're sleepwalking at the plate. Are they ever going to put both pieces of the puzzle together? I don't know the answer to that but I do know that it's getting late fast and that it doesn't get any easier and it won't for a while. If they keep playing this way, at the end of this stretch, it is pretty easy to see them being a good 12-13 games back.
The game can be summed up pretty simply for those who couldn't catch it. Matt DeSalvo started out the game but didn't have the good command he showcased in previous starts. He walked four and struck out two over three and a third (76 pitches). He was taken out in the fourth after putting the first two batters of the inning to get on base. From that point on, for one night, the bullpen did it's part with Vizcaino, Bruney and Proctor combining to put up zeros for 4 and two-thirds innings.
However, the Yankees offense did absolutely nothing against Jon Garland. The only Yankees run came when Robinson Cano picked up a leadoff triple and came home on a Doug Mientkiewicz one-out double. That was it. They went quietly in the eighth and ninth and they coasted to another loss. 18-21 on May 18th (at this point in the comeback in 2005...21-19).
So far, this season, it's always been something throwing the team off. In the first month, the team couldn't get any starting pitching. This month, we're getting pretty good starting pitching (combined 3.5 ERA before today) but everyone except Jeter, Posada and Mientkiewicz seem like they're sleepwalking at the plate. Are they ever going to put both pieces of the puzzle together? I don't know the answer to that but I do know that it's getting late fast and that it doesn't get any easier and it won't for a while. If they keep playing this way, at the end of this stretch, it is pretty easy to see them being a good 12-13 games back.
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees failed to gain or lose any ground on the Red Sox Wednesday night as they split a doubleheader against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. With the split and a rainout of the Red Sox-Tigers game, the Yankees remain at 8 games behind Boston in the division and fell to 5.5 games behind the Indians for the A.L. wild card.
The first game was back and forth for 6 innings until the White Sox lit up Mike Mussina for 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th, starting with a solo home run by A.J. Pierzynski. That's where the game ended offensively, as the 5-2 score at that point would stay intact for the remainder of the game. Mike Mussina was pretty solid for five innings before giving up those three in the 6th inning. Offensively, there wasn't much to talk about other than a decent afternoon for Bobby Abreu who went 2-4 with a home run, Melky Cabrera with a timely RBI double and a home run by Josh Phelps in the 9th.
The Yanks recovered and won Game 2 by a score of 8-1. Chien-Ming Wang bounced back from his rough start against the Rangers last Thursday with a very solid start, allowing a run on six hits in 7 innings. The Yankees jumped ahead early on a two-run double by Hideki Matsui. An RBI triple by Derek Jeter capped off a two-run 7th inning and Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada each homered in the Yanks' four-run 9th inning. Mariano Rivera capped off the victory with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees will be finishing up their series in Chicago tonight before heading to Shea this weekend to face the Mets. Matt DeSalvo will be going up against Jon Garland. Game starts at 2:05 ET.
The first game was back and forth for 6 innings until the White Sox lit up Mike Mussina for 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th, starting with a solo home run by A.J. Pierzynski. That's where the game ended offensively, as the 5-2 score at that point would stay intact for the remainder of the game. Mike Mussina was pretty solid for five innings before giving up those three in the 6th inning. Offensively, there wasn't much to talk about other than a decent afternoon for Bobby Abreu who went 2-4 with a home run, Melky Cabrera with a timely RBI double and a home run by Josh Phelps in the 9th.
The Yanks recovered and won Game 2 by a score of 8-1. Chien-Ming Wang bounced back from his rough start against the Rangers last Thursday with a very solid start, allowing a run on six hits in 7 innings. The Yankees jumped ahead early on a two-run double by Hideki Matsui. An RBI triple by Derek Jeter capped off a two-run 7th inning and Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada each homered in the Yanks' four-run 9th inning. Mariano Rivera capped off the victory with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees will be finishing up their series in Chicago tonight before heading to Shea this weekend to face the Mets. Matt DeSalvo will be going up against Jon Garland. Game starts at 2:05 ET.
05/16: Moves and Notes
Posted by: Patrick
With the impending free agency of Ron Villone, the Yankees opted to keep him by promoting him to the major league roster and demoting Sean Henn (they also moved Jose Veras to the 60 day DL).
Meanwhile, the Yankees have signed veteran reliever Pete Walker. Walker, who grew up as a Red Sox fan, had an offer from the Red Sox, but choose the Yankees. He has pitched in the majors from 1995-1996, 2000-2003 and 2005-2006, playing for the Mets, Padres, Rockies and Blue Jays. He was also a member of the Red Sox in the late 90s, but never pitched a game for them. He's pitched in 144 games (starting 31 of them) with a 20-14 record, 4 saves and a 4.48 ERA.
Finally, Mark Feinsand reports that, according to a source, the Yankees have spoken with the Angels about acquiring catcher Jose Molina.
Via Steve and Sx at River Ave. Blues via RotoWorld.com.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have signed veteran reliever Pete Walker. Walker, who grew up as a Red Sox fan, had an offer from the Red Sox, but choose the Yankees. He has pitched in the majors from 1995-1996, 2000-2003 and 2005-2006, playing for the Mets, Padres, Rockies and Blue Jays. He was also a member of the Red Sox in the late 90s, but never pitched a game for them. He's pitched in 144 games (starting 31 of them) with a 20-14 record, 4 saves and a 4.48 ERA.
Finally, Mark Feinsand reports that, according to a source, the Yankees have spoken with the Angels about acquiring catcher Jose Molina.
Via Steve and Sx at River Ave. Blues via RotoWorld.com.
05/16: 8 Games Isn't THAT Far...
Posted by: Patrick
Mark Feinsand mentions that going back to 2000, 8 teams have come back from 8 games down or more to win their division. I wonder how many teams down by 8 in their division managed to make the playoffs. So, suffice to say, we're not out of anything. That said, losing more ground wouldn't be good for our health.
05/16: Prospect Notes
Posted by: James
Ian Kennedy, welcome to High Expectations-Ville. Population: You (and Joba). Get this man to Trenton and give Mike A. a gold star for the nickname, Mini-Moose.
Also, in case you haven't caught Mike A.'s notes, Francisco Cervelli is trying to tell the world that the Yankees do indeed have a catching prospect. .355/.450/.473/.923 and he just hit his first home-run of the year...and it was a grand slam to boot.
Also, in case you haven't caught Mike A.'s notes, Francisco Cervelli is trying to tell the world that the Yankees do indeed have a catching prospect. .355/.450/.473/.923 and he just hit his first home-run of the year...and it was a grand slam to boot.
Posted by: Patrick
Our next (and perhaps the final one of this round) interview is with our own James Varghese.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Mostly at work as that is the other major passion in my life right now. It is a nice little cycle – work, gym, Yankees, sleep, repeat.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
Just a little over a season and a half now.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Mostly at work as that is the other major passion in my life right now. It is a nice little cycle – work, gym, Yankees, sleep, repeat.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
Just a little over a season and a half now.
