Posted by: Patrick
Scott Boras is gonna sleep like a baby tonight, that's for sure. His boy, Alex, hit his 50th and 51st home runs for the Yankees. This marks the first time that a Yankee has hit 50 home runs since 1961 (and yes, Justin, the first right handed Yankee of all-time). Awesome. Congrats to Alex, who finished the night 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and a walk.
The rest of the offense wasn't bad, either. Damon was 3 for 6 with 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R and 2 RBI. Abreu was 2 for 4 with 2 2B, 1 R and 2 RBI. Cano was 2 for 4 with 1 SB. Betemit was 2 for 4 with 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI and 1 BB. Melky was 2 for 4 with 1 R and 1 BB. The only Yankees to go without a hit were Jeter (0 for 3), Matsui (0 for 4) and Posada (0 for 3), but both Matsui and Posada (1 BB) scored a run. Jeter was taken out in the 5th with a stiff right knee and was replaced by Alberto Gonzalez, who scored and drove in the first runs of his career by reaching on a fielder's choice. Congrats to Alberto, as well.
Pettitte had a solid outing, throwing 6 and 1/3 innings, allowing 2 ER. The bullpen wasn't so great - Britton allowed 1 ER in 1 and 2/3 IP, Bruney allowed 2 ER in 1/3 IP and Edwar allowed 0 ER in 2/3 IP. The Red Sox lost, putting us at 5.5 games back. The Tigers won, so they remain 3 games back in the Wild Card (the Mariners are now 5 games back). We play the Royals again tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET.
The rest of the offense wasn't bad, either. Damon was 3 for 6 with 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R and 2 RBI. Abreu was 2 for 4 with 2 2B, 1 R and 2 RBI. Cano was 2 for 4 with 1 SB. Betemit was 2 for 4 with 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI and 1 BB. Melky was 2 for 4 with 1 R and 1 BB. The only Yankees to go without a hit were Jeter (0 for 3), Matsui (0 for 4) and Posada (0 for 3), but both Matsui and Posada (1 BB) scored a run. Jeter was taken out in the 5th with a stiff right knee and was replaced by Alberto Gonzalez, who scored and drove in the first runs of his career by reaching on a fielder's choice. Congrats to Alberto, as well.
Pettitte had a solid outing, throwing 6 and 1/3 innings, allowing 2 ER. The bullpen wasn't so great - Britton allowed 1 ER in 1 and 2/3 IP, Bruney allowed 2 ER in 1/3 IP and Edwar allowed 0 ER in 2/3 IP. The Red Sox lost, putting us at 5.5 games back. The Tigers won, so they remain 3 games back in the Wild Card (the Mariners are now 5 games back). We play the Royals again tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET.
09/08: Joba vs. Gagne (9/8/07)
Posted by: Patrick
Gagne hasn't pitched since August 26, so Joba has caught him in games pitched since the trade deadline.
Joba: 11 G, 1-0, 0 S, 0 BS, 14.1 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 18 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, .143 BAA.
Gagne: 11 G, 1-1, 0 S, 2 BS, 10 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 13 K, 9.00 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, .383 BAA.
Edit: From Peter Abraham:
Joba: 11 G, 1-0, 0 S, 0 BS, 14.1 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 18 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, .143 BAA.
Gagne: 11 G, 1-1, 0 S, 2 BS, 10 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 13 K, 9.00 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, .383 BAA.
Edit: From Peter Abraham:
“How did my boy do for you, Joe?” the proud father asked as he shook the manager’s hand.
“Pretty damn good,” Torre said. “We’re going to keep him.”
“Pretty damn good,” Torre said. “We’re going to keep him.”
Posted by: Patrick
From MLB.com:
You can vote here.
New York Yankees: Derek Jeter
A team leader on the field and in the clubhouse, Derek has been at the forefront of myriad charitable efforts as well. His Turn 2 Foundation, which the Yankees' captain established 10 years ago, has raised more than $7 million to help children across the country. The organization is considered a model among sports charities. Turn 2 creates and finances programs that promote the development of sound academic, fitness and leadership habits among children and to caution against the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
A team leader on the field and in the clubhouse, Derek has been at the forefront of myriad charitable efforts as well. His Turn 2 Foundation, which the Yankees' captain established 10 years ago, has raised more than $7 million to help children across the country. The organization is considered a model among sports charities. Turn 2 creates and finances programs that promote the development of sound academic, fitness and leadership habits among children and to caution against the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
You can vote here.
09/08: Give Us Your Cash!
Posted by: Patrick
Kevin Thompson was traded to the Athletics for cash considerations.
Posted by: David
Ian Kennedy struggled through five innings, but only gave up two runs and left with the game tied at two. Farnsworth, Chamberlain and Rivera pitched four scoreless innings and the Yankees added a run in the seventh to pull out a 3-2 victory.
Kennedy escaped a bases loaded jam in the first and had runners on in almost every inning. In the second, he gave up two runs to tie the score.
The Yankees had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on homers from A-Rod and Posada, but the Royals were able to tie it early and it remained so until the seventh.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche got out of a bases loaded jam of his own in the sixth when he was able to strike out Robinson Cano looking to end the inning.
In the seventh, Jeter got a two out single and Abreu followed with a double off the wall in left center with Jeter scoring.
Farnsworth pitched a solid sixth with two strikeouts and Joba Chamberlain pitched the 7th and the 8th without giving up a run. Chamberlain had his father and about 120 of his family and friends in attendance from Lincoln, Nebraska to support him. He was obviously pumped up and was overthrowing but got through the two innings unharmed.
Rivera was awesome in the ninth, retiring the side on seven pitches including a game ending strikeout of Mark Grudzielanek to preserve a 3-2 Yankee victory.
The series resumes tonight with Andy Pettitte squaring off against rookie Brian Bannister.
Kennedy escaped a bases loaded jam in the first and had runners on in almost every inning. In the second, he gave up two runs to tie the score.
The Yankees had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on homers from A-Rod and Posada, but the Royals were able to tie it early and it remained so until the seventh.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche got out of a bases loaded jam of his own in the sixth when he was able to strike out Robinson Cano looking to end the inning.
In the seventh, Jeter got a two out single and Abreu followed with a double off the wall in left center with Jeter scoring.
Farnsworth pitched a solid sixth with two strikeouts and Joba Chamberlain pitched the 7th and the 8th without giving up a run. Chamberlain had his father and about 120 of his family and friends in attendance from Lincoln, Nebraska to support him. He was obviously pumped up and was overthrowing but got through the two innings unharmed.
Rivera was awesome in the ninth, retiring the side on seven pitches including a game ending strikeout of Mark Grudzielanek to preserve a 3-2 Yankee victory.
The series resumes tonight with Andy Pettitte squaring off against rookie Brian Bannister.
Posted by: Patrick
We won coin flips with both the Tigers and the Mariners, making it so that if we need to do a wild card tiebreaker with either team, we'll be at home.
Posted by: Patrick
I thought that I would mention that I'll be on Sports Talk Live with Frankie the Sports Guy tomorrow, Saturday, September 8. The show is broadcast live online from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET on BlogTalkRadio (listen here) and it will be rebroadcast from 6:00 PM ET to 7:00 PM ET on MVN Radio.
Other guests on the show will include Sensei John Kreese from noMaas.org and Mike Lindsley from Pinstripe Passion. The focus will be the Yankees, of course, but also our sites. So, if you get a chance, please listen in.
Other guests on the show will include Sensei John Kreese from noMaas.org and Mike Lindsley from Pinstripe Passion. The focus will be the Yankees, of course, but also our sites. So, if you get a chance, please listen in.
09/07: It's Been Done Before...
Posted by: Patrick
Mark Kelly has the largest deficits, in September, that have been overcome to win a division title. We're 6.5 back on September 6. The only one that matches up with that is the 1995 Mariners (yes, THOSE Mariners), who were 6.5 games back on September 8. Of course, then we're talking crazy numbers (they went 16-3 in their last 19 games while the Angels went 8-11).
What's happened since we swept Boston (losing 1.5 games) has most likely sealed the deal. That said, we both have 6 games before we meet again. If we can gain two games in that stretch (and, as such, gain the 1.5 back), we'll have a shot. We'll need to sweep them in Fenway, of course. It's not much, but it's out there.
Via Steve.
What's happened since we swept Boston (losing 1.5 games) has most likely sealed the deal. That said, we both have 6 games before we meet again. If we can gain two games in that stretch (and, as such, gain the 1.5 back), we'll have a shot. We'll need to sweep them in Fenway, of course. It's not much, but it's out there.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
Kennedy and fiancée Allison Jaskowiak have their wedding planned for Oct. 6, in St. Louis -- smack in the middle of the playoffs. It's a date they'd set long before Kennedy made his debut in pinstripes last Saturday, and one that may have implications beyond "death do us part." ...
"I didn't get one of the invitations," Torre joked. "We just hope his prospective wife is very understanding."
"I didn't get one of the invitations," Torre joked. "We just hope his prospective wife is very understanding."
Posted by: Patrick
According to Mark Herrmann, CMW will start Sunday against the Royals, in place of the Rocket. He'll be pitching on his normal 4 days rest.
If the schedule stays in line, it seems that after his start on the 9th against the Royals, he'll pitch the 14th against the Red Sox, the 19th against the Orioles, the 24th against the Blue Jays and the 29th against the Orioles. So, that would mean 5 more starts. If he can get 3 wins, he'll be our first 20 game winner since 2003, when Pettitte went 21-8.
If the schedule stays in line, it seems that after his start on the 9th against the Royals, he'll pitch the 14th against the Red Sox, the 19th against the Orioles, the 24th against the Blue Jays and the 29th against the Orioles. So, that would mean 5 more starts. If he can get 3 wins, he'll be our first 20 game winner since 2003, when Pettitte went 21-8.
