Posted by: Patrick
This is my weekly recap of the performance of the YanksBlog.com teams in the Yankees Bloggers Fantasy Baseball League.
Last Week
In a 1st vs. 3rd place showdown, James came out victorious over Mike (River Ave. Blues) in a 6-4 final. James took 4 out of 5 offensive categories (failing to win stolen bases). Although, runs, home runs and average were all close. Manny Ramirez led James' offense with 7 runs, 3 home runs, 10 runs batted in and a .393 average. Garrett Atkins hit .435. Orlando Hudson (5 R, 2 HR, 7 SB, .286 AVG) contributed the most on Mike's side.
Mike took 3 out of 5 pitching categories with a very impressive week of 6 wins, 5 saves, 59 strikeouts, a 2.45 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Even so, wins, saves and WHIP were all close with James taking saves (7) and WHIP (1.13). James picked up wins from Ted Lilly, Bobby Jenks, Chad Billingsley (10 K), Jake Peavy and Jeremy Guthrie and saves from Bobby Jenks (4), Billy Wagner (2) and Jose Valverde. Meanwhile, Mike's wins came from Yovani Gallardo (9 K), Fausto Carmona, Francisco Rodriguez, Daisuke Matsuzaka (11 K), Felix Hernandez and John Smoltz (10 K). His saves were turned in by Joe Nathan (2), Jeremy Accardo (2) and Kevin Gregg.
I took a 6-4 victory over Seamus. I won the offensive part of the match, taking 4 out of 5 categories with none of those 4 being close. Seamus was able to take stolen bases, though, 4-2. Carlos Lee gave my offense 6 runs, 3 home runs, 6 runs batted in, 1 stolen base and a .385 average while Eric Byrnes (5 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .320 AVG) was the primary force on Seamus' side.
Seamus took 3 out of the 5 pitching categories (wins, ERA and WHIP). My pitchers, with the exception of strikeouts, just had a terrible week in general. My wins came from Mark Buehrle (11 K) and Kevin Millwood and my saves came from Manny Corpas (2), Joe Borowski and Octavio Dotel. Scott Kazmir had 16 strikeouts. Seamus had wins from Brandon Webb, Jered Weaver and Mike Mussina to go along with a single save from Todd Jones.
Top 3 teams in the league:
1. Mike (96-69-5)
2. James (89-72-9)
3. Dave (Pride of the Yankees) (87-74-9)
This Week
James (2nd, 89-72-9) vs. Dave (3rd, 87-74-9)
Patrick (6th, 81-83-6) vs. Joseph (River Ave. Blues) (T4th, 84-73-13)
Seamus (10th, 64-96-10) vs. Ben (River Ave. Blues) (T4th, 88-77-5)
Last Week
In a 1st vs. 3rd place showdown, James came out victorious over Mike (River Ave. Blues) in a 6-4 final. James took 4 out of 5 offensive categories (failing to win stolen bases). Although, runs, home runs and average were all close. Manny Ramirez led James' offense with 7 runs, 3 home runs, 10 runs batted in and a .393 average. Garrett Atkins hit .435. Orlando Hudson (5 R, 2 HR, 7 SB, .286 AVG) contributed the most on Mike's side.
Mike took 3 out of 5 pitching categories with a very impressive week of 6 wins, 5 saves, 59 strikeouts, a 2.45 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Even so, wins, saves and WHIP were all close with James taking saves (7) and WHIP (1.13). James picked up wins from Ted Lilly, Bobby Jenks, Chad Billingsley (10 K), Jake Peavy and Jeremy Guthrie and saves from Bobby Jenks (4), Billy Wagner (2) and Jose Valverde. Meanwhile, Mike's wins came from Yovani Gallardo (9 K), Fausto Carmona, Francisco Rodriguez, Daisuke Matsuzaka (11 K), Felix Hernandez and John Smoltz (10 K). His saves were turned in by Joe Nathan (2), Jeremy Accardo (2) and Kevin Gregg.
I took a 6-4 victory over Seamus. I won the offensive part of the match, taking 4 out of 5 categories with none of those 4 being close. Seamus was able to take stolen bases, though, 4-2. Carlos Lee gave my offense 6 runs, 3 home runs, 6 runs batted in, 1 stolen base and a .385 average while Eric Byrnes (5 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .320 AVG) was the primary force on Seamus' side.
Seamus took 3 out of the 5 pitching categories (wins, ERA and WHIP). My pitchers, with the exception of strikeouts, just had a terrible week in general. My wins came from Mark Buehrle (11 K) and Kevin Millwood and my saves came from Manny Corpas (2), Joe Borowski and Octavio Dotel. Scott Kazmir had 16 strikeouts. Seamus had wins from Brandon Webb, Jered Weaver and Mike Mussina to go along with a single save from Todd Jones.
Top 3 teams in the league:
1. Mike (96-69-5)
2. James (89-72-9)
3. Dave (Pride of the Yankees) (87-74-9)
This Week
James (2nd, 89-72-9) vs. Dave (3rd, 87-74-9)
Patrick (6th, 81-83-6) vs. Joseph (River Ave. Blues) (T4th, 84-73-13)
Seamus (10th, 64-96-10) vs. Ben (River Ave. Blues) (T4th, 88-77-5)
07/31: Gagne To The Red Sox
Posted by: James
MLB Trade Rumors has the story. Gagne has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and go to Boston to serve as the setup man. That's a pretty good bullpen now with Okajima, Gagne, Papelbon and barring injury, shortens the game for the Sox.
Posted by: Patrick
Mark Feinsand reports that, according to sources, Edwar Ramirez will be recalled and Chris Basak will be sent down.
Posted by: James
ESPN is reporting that the trade is essentially done:
Naturally, the trade made me think of this from Dodger Thoughts last year:
As for Betemit the player, well, here's some good stuff: After starting off the year .125/.297/.167/.464, he's hit a ROBUST .278/.391/.611/1.002 since May 1st (of course, that's only 108 ABs) and .387/.500/.677/1.177 in July (31 ABs). He just turned 27 a couple days ago, he can play third, short and second (hmm, kind of makes Miggy Cairo redundant, no?) and while he's a switch hitter, he's clearly more dangerous as a lefty.
The Dodgers and Yankees have agreed in principle on a trade that would send reliever Scott Proctor to the Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Naturally, the trade made me think of this from Dodger Thoughts last year:
Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o' clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over
She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a Betemit
She dreams in color, she dreams of Reds, can't find a Betemit
Can't find a Betemit
Can't find a Betemit
Ohh ...
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over
She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a Betemit
She dreams in color, she dreams of Reds, can't find a Betemit
Can't find a Betemit
Can't find a Betemit
Ohh ...
As for Betemit the player, well, here's some good stuff: After starting off the year .125/.297/.167/.464, he's hit a ROBUST .278/.391/.611/1.002 since May 1st (of course, that's only 108 ABs) and .387/.500/.677/1.177 in July (31 ABs). He just turned 27 a couple days ago, he can play third, short and second (hmm, kind of makes Miggy Cairo redundant, no?) and while he's a switch hitter, he's clearly more dangerous as a lefty.
Posted by: Patrick
Chad Jennings mentions that Joba threw 13 pitches (10 strikes), striking out the side and reaching 99 MPH.
Via Andrew Fletcher.
Via Andrew Fletcher.
07/30: That Farnsworth...
Posted by: Patrick
Kyle is a funny dude:
There are plenty of Joe Torre critics out there (well, among bloggers, anyway). But, even so, I think it'd be pretty hard to find a couple that feel that Farnsworth has been underused. Granted, 4 other relievers on the team have appeared in more games than him. But, he's pitched in 44 games and, of Yankees pitchers that have appeared in 25 or more games this season, Farnsworth has the worst ERA (4.57), the worst WHIP (1.65) and the worst BAA of any of them (.283). Torre has continued to give him the ball and has even spoke publicly about how he doesn't see anything wrong with Farnsworth, etc. etc.
He didn't come here to sit on the bench? What did he come here to do? Not to pitch like this, for sure. Not to complain publicly about Clemens contractual benefits, not to show up his manager or his catcher. His trade value is probably the lowest it has been in a long time right now and, yet, that is what is going to happen, most likely.
And then the erratic reliever may have done with his mouth what his ineffective pitching hasn’t been able to do: Punch his ticket out of The Bronx by complaining about not being used.
“I don’t like it at all,” said Farnsworth, who appeared in three games in 12 days going into yesterday’s debacle when he forced Joe Torre to use Mariano Rivera in the ninth. “I didn’t come here to sit on the bench.”
“I don’t like it at all,” said Farnsworth, who appeared in three games in 12 days going into yesterday’s debacle when he forced Joe Torre to use Mariano Rivera in the ninth. “I didn’t come here to sit on the bench.”
There are plenty of Joe Torre critics out there (well, among bloggers, anyway). But, even so, I think it'd be pretty hard to find a couple that feel that Farnsworth has been underused. Granted, 4 other relievers on the team have appeared in more games than him. But, he's pitched in 44 games and, of Yankees pitchers that have appeared in 25 or more games this season, Farnsworth has the worst ERA (4.57), the worst WHIP (1.65) and the worst BAA of any of them (.283). Torre has continued to give him the ball and has even spoke publicly about how he doesn't see anything wrong with Farnsworth, etc. etc.
He didn't come here to sit on the bench? What did he come here to do? Not to pitch like this, for sure. Not to complain publicly about Clemens contractual benefits, not to show up his manager or his catcher. His trade value is probably the lowest it has been in a long time right now and, yet, that is what is going to happen, most likely.
Posted by: Patrick
From Ed Price:
Senior VP of baseball operations Mark Newman said Chamberlain will pitch one inning in tomorrow's game in Rochester, then likely have a day off before throwing another inning in Wednesday's game.
"We're going to see how he responds to it and see how he feels," Newman said, "and see if he's an option at the major league level."
"We're going to see how he responds to it and see how he feels," Newman said, "and see if he's an option at the major league level."
Posted by: Patrick
Lisa Kennelly reports on Hughes second rehab start in Scranton. His line? 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 4 K, 3 BB, 91 pitches (57 strikes). His next start should be back in the Majors.
07/29: Yankees Fall to Orioles, 7-5
Posted by: Patrick
The Orioles took the lead quickly in the first, as Miguel Tejada doubled in Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to make it 2-0. No one would score again until the bottom of the 5th when the Orioles made it 3-0 on a Markakis RBI single.
The Yankees would finally get on the board in the 7th, when Matsui hit a solo shot to right. 3-1, Orioles. But, the Orioles came right back in the bottom of the frame, scoring another 3 runs. Again, both of them were driven in by Tejada - this time, on a single. Clemens started the inning and got a ground out before giving up a single to Brian Roberts. Mike Myers was called on to face Corey Patterson. Patterson singled and then stole second, making it 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Myers struck out Marakakis next to get the second out.
This led to Luis Vizcaino entering to pitch to Kevin Millar. He walked him to load the bases and that's when Tejada came up and delivered the single. 5-1, Orioles. Vizcaino retired Aubrey Huff to end the inning. The bullpen was pretty ineffective tonight and that wouldn't be the end of it.
The bottom of the 8th saw 2 more runs score. Brian Bruney came out to start the inning and failed to retire any of the first 3 batters he faced, allowing a single, having a man reach on an A-Rod error and then another single. His first out was Brian Roberts, whose sacrifice fly scored Ramon Hernandez. Corey Patterson singled next, loading the bases with 1 out. Ron Villone came in to relieve Bruney, getting a ground out from Markakis that allowed Jay Payton to score. Villone retired the next batter to end the 8th. 7-1, Orioles.
The Yankees would make it close, though. Facing Cory Doyne in just his 4th Major League appearance, the Yankees put together a rally, started by a Hideki Matsui single. This was followed by a Jorge Posada home run, to make it 7-3. Cano doubled and Andy Phillips singled to make it 1st and 3rd with no outs. A Melky Cabrera single scored Cano. 1st and 2nd with no outs for Damon, down by 3. The Orioles brought in Jamie Walker to pitch to Damon.
Damon, unfortunately, killed the rally. He grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to make the first 2 outs of the inning and move Andy Phillips to third. Ouch. Derek Jeter singled Phillips home and took second on fielder's indifference. Bobby Abreu came up with the tying run at the plate and struck out to end it.
In other relevant games, the Indians lost and the Red Sox won. So, we're back to 9 games back in the division, but only 5 games back in the wild card. We've officially lost this series. But, we can avoid the sweep tomorrow with Chien-Ming Wang (11-5, 3.57 ERA) starting against Daniel Cabrera (7-10, 5.04).
The Yankees would finally get on the board in the 7th, when Matsui hit a solo shot to right. 3-1, Orioles. But, the Orioles came right back in the bottom of the frame, scoring another 3 runs. Again, both of them were driven in by Tejada - this time, on a single. Clemens started the inning and got a ground out before giving up a single to Brian Roberts. Mike Myers was called on to face Corey Patterson. Patterson singled and then stole second, making it 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Myers struck out Marakakis next to get the second out.
This led to Luis Vizcaino entering to pitch to Kevin Millar. He walked him to load the bases and that's when Tejada came up and delivered the single. 5-1, Orioles. Vizcaino retired Aubrey Huff to end the inning. The bullpen was pretty ineffective tonight and that wouldn't be the end of it.
The bottom of the 8th saw 2 more runs score. Brian Bruney came out to start the inning and failed to retire any of the first 3 batters he faced, allowing a single, having a man reach on an A-Rod error and then another single. His first out was Brian Roberts, whose sacrifice fly scored Ramon Hernandez. Corey Patterson singled next, loading the bases with 1 out. Ron Villone came in to relieve Bruney, getting a ground out from Markakis that allowed Jay Payton to score. Villone retired the next batter to end the 8th. 7-1, Orioles.
The Yankees would make it close, though. Facing Cory Doyne in just his 4th Major League appearance, the Yankees put together a rally, started by a Hideki Matsui single. This was followed by a Jorge Posada home run, to make it 7-3. Cano doubled and Andy Phillips singled to make it 1st and 3rd with no outs. A Melky Cabrera single scored Cano. 1st and 2nd with no outs for Damon, down by 3. The Orioles brought in Jamie Walker to pitch to Damon.
Damon, unfortunately, killed the rally. He grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to make the first 2 outs of the inning and move Andy Phillips to third. Ouch. Derek Jeter singled Phillips home and took second on fielder's indifference. Bobby Abreu came up with the tying run at the plate and struck out to end it.
In other relevant games, the Indians lost and the Red Sox won. So, we're back to 9 games back in the division, but only 5 games back in the wild card. We've officially lost this series. But, we can avoid the sweep tomorrow with Chien-Ming Wang (11-5, 3.57 ERA) starting against Daniel Cabrera (7-10, 5.04).
Posted by: Patrick
Update: This situation has been resolved - for now, anyway. Thanks.
I just thought that I would confirm that yes, we're being threatened by SFX Baseball (Mariano Rivera's agent). I've written a post at MarianoRivera.com explaining the situation. Thanks for reading.
I just thought that I would confirm that yes, we're being threatened by SFX Baseball (Mariano Rivera's agent). I've written a post at MarianoRivera.com explaining the situation. Thanks for reading.
