Posted by: Seamus
It was a little bit gut-wrenching towards the end, but the Yankees won a nail biter by the score of 2-1 and moved to within a game and a half (1 in the loss column) to the Red Sox, who were swept in Toronto. Detroit also lost, giving the Yankees a 5.5 game lead in the wild card race.
The Yankees jumped ahead 1-0 in the 2nd with a solo shot to right field by Hideki Matsui, and went ahead 2-0 in the 5th after Doug Mientkiewicz scored on a wild pitch by Brian Burress.
Mariano Rivera labored in the ninth, as he entered the game with a 2-1 lead and took 34 pitches before finally striking out Scott Moore with the bases loaded to record his 30th save in 33 chances.
Andy Pettitte improved his record to 14-8 with a stellar performance, allowing a hit per inning but still only allowing 1 run to cross the plate in 7 and 2/3, and as James mentioned, became the first Yankee draftee to win 200 games (163 with the Yankees, 37 with the Astros).
So now a 10th straight A.L. East crown becomes so much more realistic. Most were saying that the Yankees would have had to sweep this past weekend to have any chance, but that was obviously contingent upon the assumption that the Sox would not be swept in Toronto and the Yankees would take all three at home against the Orioles. If the Red Sox go 4-5 the rest of the way, the Yankees could take it down with a 6-4 finish, or 7-3 if the Red Sox go 5-4. Heck, the Yankees now have a magic number of 11 to clinch the A.L. East (sure, you can have "magic numbers" when you're behind, why not?), which is only two higher than Boston's number.
The Yankees will get today off before beginning a three-game set against the Blue Jays tomorrow night at the Stadium. The pitching match up should be a great one, with Chien-Ming Wang facing Roy Halladay.
The Yankees jumped ahead 1-0 in the 2nd with a solo shot to right field by Hideki Matsui, and went ahead 2-0 in the 5th after Doug Mientkiewicz scored on a wild pitch by Brian Burress.
Mariano Rivera labored in the ninth, as he entered the game with a 2-1 lead and took 34 pitches before finally striking out Scott Moore with the bases loaded to record his 30th save in 33 chances.
Andy Pettitte improved his record to 14-8 with a stellar performance, allowing a hit per inning but still only allowing 1 run to cross the plate in 7 and 2/3, and as James mentioned, became the first Yankee draftee to win 200 games (163 with the Yankees, 37 with the Astros).
So now a 10th straight A.L. East crown becomes so much more realistic. Most were saying that the Yankees would have had to sweep this past weekend to have any chance, but that was obviously contingent upon the assumption that the Sox would not be swept in Toronto and the Yankees would take all three at home against the Orioles. If the Red Sox go 4-5 the rest of the way, the Yankees could take it down with a 6-4 finish, or 7-3 if the Red Sox go 5-4. Heck, the Yankees now have a magic number of 11 to clinch the A.L. East (sure, you can have "magic numbers" when you're behind, why not?), which is only two higher than Boston's number.
The Yankees will get today off before beginning a three-game set against the Blue Jays tomorrow night at the Stadium. The pitching match up should be a great one, with Chien-Ming Wang facing Roy Halladay.
09/19: Andy Gets His 200th
Posted by: James
With tonight's win (WOOT!), Andrew Eugene Pettitte became only the 27th lefty in the history of baseball to notch his 200th career win. For anyone wondering, he's now tied with Chuck Finley (who ended up having a much better career than I remember) and George Uhle at 108th on the all time list. 207 wins would put him in the top 100 all-time.
Andy's win also moves him into sole possession of 7th place on the all-time Yankees win list. His next win will tie him with Mel Stottlemyre for 6th all-time. Way to go Andy, it's a heck of an accomplishment and even with the talk of your retirement, I sure hope you decide to stick around for a year or two more.
Update: Mike A. points out that Pettitte is the first pitcher ever drafted by the Yankees to win 200 games. Wow. That makes this even more impressive.
Andy's win also moves him into sole possession of 7th place on the all-time Yankees win list. His next win will tie him with Mel Stottlemyre for 6th all-time. Way to go Andy, it's a heck of an accomplishment and even with the talk of your retirement, I sure hope you decide to stick around for a year or two more.
Update: Mike A. points out that Pettitte is the first pitcher ever drafted by the Yankees to win 200 games. Wow. That makes this even more impressive.
Posted by: Patrick
I just wanted to mention that I'll be on The Sports Docket tomorrow (August 20) night. The show starts at 8:00 PM ET and I should be joining in at 8:30 for a few minutes or so. If you have the chance, check it out.
Posted by: Patrick
From the Daily News:
The article notes that preliminary copies of the schedule have been sent to teams, allowing them an opportunity to request changes. It also includes quotes from Mo and Jeter saying it'd be nice to finish in Yankee Stadium. I think there is no doubt that a finish in the Bronx is the best way to go here.
Via Joseph.
According to sources, the Yankees had assumed that they would finish the season at home, and they had planned a host of festivities around the event. Yankee officials declined to comment on the schedule, citing the fact that the official schedule had not yet been released.
Katy Feeney, MLB's senior vice president of scheduling and club relations, said that, to her knowledge, the Yankees had yet to file a complaint with the league. But one source said the Yankees are believed to be lobbying for a change in the schedule.
Katy Feeney, MLB's senior vice president of scheduling and club relations, said that, to her knowledge, the Yankees had yet to file a complaint with the league. But one source said the Yankees are believed to be lobbying for a change in the schedule.
The article notes that preliminary copies of the schedule have been sent to teams, allowing them an opportunity to request changes. It also includes quotes from Mo and Jeter saying it'd be nice to finish in Yankee Stadium. I think there is no doubt that a finish in the Bronx is the best way to go here.
Via Joseph.
09/19: Well, He Wasn't The Only One
Posted by: James
Yes, I know - most people don't exactly consider Steve Phillips a bastion of credible baseball info...but remember, he was the GM of the NY Mets for from July 16, 1997 until June 12, 2003 so there's gotta be something there, right? In any case, Deadspin's getting on him for the following comment at the end of August about the Yankees and their playoff chances.
Well, looking back at the standings on that day, the Yankees were 1.5 games back of the Mariners (3 games on the loss side) with a +156 run differential (Seattle had a +21 RD). Yeah...probably not the best time to call the Yankees season over...though he certainly wasn't the only one.
August 22
...
SportsNation Steve Phillips: The Yanks looked good beating an undermanned Tigers team, I agree with you. But I think the Mariners will hold on and win the Wild Card. Their starting pitching is just good enough and their bullpen in unreal. They have one of the best defenses in babseball, and they are starting to produce on offense. I think it is too little too late for the Yankees to make the playoffs."
...
SportsNation Steve Phillips: The Yanks looked good beating an undermanned Tigers team, I agree with you. But I think the Mariners will hold on and win the Wild Card. Their starting pitching is just good enough and their bullpen in unreal. They have one of the best defenses in babseball, and they are starting to produce on offense. I think it is too little too late for the Yankees to make the playoffs."
Well, looking back at the standings on that day, the Yankees were 1.5 games back of the Mariners (3 games on the loss side) with a +156 run differential (Seattle had a +21 RD). Yeah...probably not the best time to call the Yankees season over...though he certainly wasn't the only one.
Posted by: Patrick
I don't know how reliable this report is, but it says that Jorge's dad says that he's looking for a 3 year extension worth $36 million.
Via Steve.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that, according to a report from Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe, Gagne denied throwing at Mo. He also had a suggestion as to who it might be.
However, Gagne did reveal that there was a wild pitch and that it came from Devern Hansack, who was warming up at the same time he was.
Posted by: James
The Yankees are sending 4 guys to the Hawaii Winter Baseball League and each one of them is an interesting prospect. The 4 guys are the just drafted Brad Suttle, Austin Jackson, George Kontos and Mark Melancon (coming off TJ surgery). All four will be playing for the Honolulu Sharks, whose season begins September 29 and runs for 40 games until November 19.
Hat tip to the always awesome Chad Jennings (he's the Times-Tribune beat writer and covers the SWB Yankees). If you're not reading/subscribed to his blog - you're missing out.
Hat tip to the always awesome Chad Jennings (he's the Times-Tribune beat writer and covers the SWB Yankees). If you're not reading/subscribed to his blog - you're missing out.
09/18: Orioles Break for Moose
Posted by: Patrick
Moose was on tonight against the only other team he's ever played for, throwing 7 innings of 0 run, 3 hit ball. It's win number 10 this season for Mussina, marking his 16th consecutive season with a win total in the double digits.
The Yankees offense made sure he had plenty to work with, putting up a 6 run 4th and a 5 run 7th (and a 1 run 6th) to win, 12-0. Cano was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs and 2 runs batted in. Jeter was 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs and a walk. Matsui may be breaking out of that slump - after going 1 for 5 with a homer yesterday, he was 2 for 5 today with a double, 2 runs and 3 runs batted in. Doug Mientkiewicz was 2 for 4 with a homer and 4 runs batted in. Besides that, Damon was 0 for 4, Abreu was 1 for 4 with 2 runs and a walk, A-Rod was 0 for 4, Posada was 0 for 1 with 3 walks and 3 runs and Melky was 1 for 4 with 3 runs batted in.
Jose Veras and Ron Villone pitched a scoreless and hitless 8th and 9th, respectively.
But, the night got better. Eric Gagne allowed 3 ER in the 8th inning to hand the Sox a 4-3 loss in Toronto. We're now two and a half games back. And the Indians homered Verlander (who I benched in the Yankees Bloggers League, believing/hoping that just such a thing would happen), to hand the Tigers a loss which, in turn, hands us a 4.5 game lead in the wild card. Couldn't have gone any better.
Tomorrow, we'll have Pettitte (13-8, 3.89 ERA) against Brian Burres (6-5, 5.47 ERA) at 7:05 PM ET.
The Yankees offense made sure he had plenty to work with, putting up a 6 run 4th and a 5 run 7th (and a 1 run 6th) to win, 12-0. Cano was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs and 2 runs batted in. Jeter was 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs and a walk. Matsui may be breaking out of that slump - after going 1 for 5 with a homer yesterday, he was 2 for 5 today with a double, 2 runs and 3 runs batted in. Doug Mientkiewicz was 2 for 4 with a homer and 4 runs batted in. Besides that, Damon was 0 for 4, Abreu was 1 for 4 with 2 runs and a walk, A-Rod was 0 for 4, Posada was 0 for 1 with 3 walks and 3 runs and Melky was 1 for 4 with 3 runs batted in.
Jose Veras and Ron Villone pitched a scoreless and hitless 8th and 9th, respectively.
But, the night got better. Eric Gagne allowed 3 ER in the 8th inning to hand the Sox a 4-3 loss in Toronto. We're now two and a half games back. And the Indians homered Verlander (who I benched in the Yankees Bloggers League, believing/hoping that just such a thing would happen), to hand the Tigers a loss which, in turn, hands us a 4.5 game lead in the wild card. Couldn't have gone any better.
Tomorrow, we'll have Pettitte (13-8, 3.89 ERA) against Brian Burres (6-5, 5.47 ERA) at 7:05 PM ET.
Posted by: Patrick
A-Rod is up for his 4th Hank Aaron Award. Vote here.
