08/30: Here's hoping...
Posted by: Jason
08/30: Matsui Can Take BP
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
Hideki Matsui was cleared to take full batting practice for the first time on Tuesday, a big step in his hopeful return to the Yankees' lineup this season. Matsui is scheduled to hit indoors on Wednesday.
Matsui had no problems with soft-toss hitting drills on Sunday, but he hasn't taken live batting practice yet. The Yankees originally thought Matsui wouldn't be ready until some time later this week.
"In terms of being pain free, that's something I definitely feel good about and very satisfied," Matsui said through his interpreter. "I'm still working on my mechanics and things like that."
Matsui had no problems with soft-toss hitting drills on Sunday, but he hasn't taken live batting practice yet. The Yankees originally thought Matsui wouldn't be ready until some time later this week.
"In terms of being pain free, that's something I definitely feel good about and very satisfied," Matsui said through his interpreter. "I'm still working on my mechanics and things like that."
Posted by: Seamus
Tuesday night's series opener between the Yankees and Tigers has been postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday. Chien-Ming Wang will start the first game (1 ET) and Jaret Wright will be moved up from his scheduled start on Thursday to pitch the night game (7:05 ET). Randy Johnson's next start has been moved back to Thursday. The second game can be seen on ESPN for those of you outside the New York market.
The Yankees open the series four games behind the Tigers for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.
The Yankees open the series four games behind the Tigers for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.
Posted by: Jason
...from the Yankees universe, who this morning collectively realize that Carl Pavano has managed to become a bigger recent Yankees in-house joke than Hideki Irabu and Kevin Brown combined!!
Posted by: Jason
...with the day off, let's review the remainder of the Yankees schedule:
3 w/Detroit
3 w/Minnesota
3 w/Kansas City
7 w/Baltimore
7 w/Tampa Bay
6 w/Toronto
4 w/Boston, including a doubleheader.
If the Yankees play as we know they're capable of playing, (i.e., 3 or 4 series sweeps in the remaining 33 games) 100 wins is a realistic goal.
4 of 6 from DET and MIN is an important start.
3 w/Detroit
3 w/Minnesota
3 w/Kansas City
7 w/Baltimore
7 w/Tampa Bay
6 w/Toronto
4 w/Boston, including a doubleheader.
If the Yankees play as we know they're capable of playing, (i.e., 3 or 4 series sweeps in the remaining 33 games) 100 wins is a realistic goal.
4 of 6 from DET and MIN is an important start.
Posted by: David
The bats came alive for the Yankees on Sunday afternoon in Anaheim and Mariano Rivera closed the door on a potential late inning rally as the Yankees completed a 7-4 road trip with an 11-8 victory.
Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter were the hitting stars each hitting two home runs as the Yankees catapulted out to an 8-0 lead after three innings. Jeff Karstens in only his second major league start was the winner for the Bombers. He pitched six strong innings allowing only three runs with two unearned due to another A-Rod error on a potential inning ending double play.
In the first Damon led off with a double over the head of center fielder Chone Figgins. Jeter followed with a home run to right center to put the Yankees up 2-0. Bernie Williams' first home run in the second inning made the score 3-0. In the third inning the Yankees put the game potentially out of reach with a five spot highlighted by a two run single from Cano and a three run homer from Bernie.
The Halos fought back with two runs when A-Rod fielded a potential inning ending double play ball but his throw to Nick Green at second pulled him off the bag and the runner was ruled safe. Green's relay throw to first was in time. The error opened the door for the Angels as Vladimir Guerrero doubled up the gap in left center to score two runs. The Angels added another run in the next inning and the score was at 8-3.
Bernie Williams added a two run double to his day and concluded the day with at 4 for 5 with two homers and six RBI. Jeter added his second homer for the Yankees eleventh run. Jeter also made a web gem type defenseive play when he went deep into the hole at short and made his patented jump throw to first to nail speedster Chone Figgins. Karstens pitched economically in the fifth and sixth and Scott Proctor took over in the seventh. Proctor was ineffective and was followed by Kyle Farnsworth who couldn't find the plate. Farnworth didn't get anybody out, walking three and surrendering a two run single to Adam Kennedy to make the score 11-5.
Mariano Rivera hadn't pitched in a week and was summoned for the final two innings. He faced Chone Figgins with the bases loaded and induced a perfect double play grounder to Green which bounced up over his glove for an error allowing two runs to score and pull the Angels to within 11-7. Rivera got Maicer Izturis to bounce to A-Rod and Mike Nepoli was called out after a rundown for running out of the base line. Rivera struck out Orlando Cabrera and got Guerrero to ground to Jeter at short for a force at second to end the inning.
Rivera gave up a run in the ninth when after two outs, he hit Howie Kendrick. He took second on defensive indifference (DI) and scored on a bloop single over second basemen Cano off the bat of Adam Kennedy. Kennedy also took second on DI but Rivera retired the next batter to end the game.
The Yankee win coupled with another Red Sox loss puts New York in front of Boston by 6 1/2 games. The Yankees head home for a three game series with the Detroit Tigers starting on Tuesday night after a much needed day off on Monday. Chien Ming-Wang takes the mound vs. Detroit lefty Nate Robertson.
Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter were the hitting stars each hitting two home runs as the Yankees catapulted out to an 8-0 lead after three innings. Jeff Karstens in only his second major league start was the winner for the Bombers. He pitched six strong innings allowing only three runs with two unearned due to another A-Rod error on a potential inning ending double play.
In the first Damon led off with a double over the head of center fielder Chone Figgins. Jeter followed with a home run to right center to put the Yankees up 2-0. Bernie Williams' first home run in the second inning made the score 3-0. In the third inning the Yankees put the game potentially out of reach with a five spot highlighted by a two run single from Cano and a three run homer from Bernie.
The Halos fought back with two runs when A-Rod fielded a potential inning ending double play ball but his throw to Nick Green at second pulled him off the bag and the runner was ruled safe. Green's relay throw to first was in time. The error opened the door for the Angels as Vladimir Guerrero doubled up the gap in left center to score two runs. The Angels added another run in the next inning and the score was at 8-3.
Bernie Williams added a two run double to his day and concluded the day with at 4 for 5 with two homers and six RBI. Jeter added his second homer for the Yankees eleventh run. Jeter also made a web gem type defenseive play when he went deep into the hole at short and made his patented jump throw to first to nail speedster Chone Figgins. Karstens pitched economically in the fifth and sixth and Scott Proctor took over in the seventh. Proctor was ineffective and was followed by Kyle Farnsworth who couldn't find the plate. Farnworth didn't get anybody out, walking three and surrendering a two run single to Adam Kennedy to make the score 11-5.
Mariano Rivera hadn't pitched in a week and was summoned for the final two innings. He faced Chone Figgins with the bases loaded and induced a perfect double play grounder to Green which bounced up over his glove for an error allowing two runs to score and pull the Angels to within 11-7. Rivera got Maicer Izturis to bounce to A-Rod and Mike Nepoli was called out after a rundown for running out of the base line. Rivera struck out Orlando Cabrera and got Guerrero to ground to Jeter at short for a force at second to end the inning.
Rivera gave up a run in the ninth when after two outs, he hit Howie Kendrick. He took second on defensive indifference (DI) and scored on a bloop single over second basemen Cano off the bat of Adam Kennedy. Kennedy also took second on DI but Rivera retired the next batter to end the game.
The Yankee win coupled with another Red Sox loss puts New York in front of Boston by 6 1/2 games. The Yankees head home for a three game series with the Detroit Tigers starting on Tuesday night after a much needed day off on Monday. Chien Ming-Wang takes the mound vs. Detroit lefty Nate Robertson.
Posted by: James
Update: Peter Abraham reports that Pavano is in fact injured but from reading his comments, it might not be too bad of an injury. As always with Pavano, it will be wait and see.
At this point, I'm fairly certain that everyone on the planet doesn't expect Carl Pavano to ever pitch again for the Yankees. Still, this is getting ridiculous as Pavano might have messed up his oblique in his latest start (and if that's the case, that's an injury that you don't come back quickly from):
Well, if this proves to be accurate, there go any ideas of getting the bullpen killing Jaret Wright out of the rotation.
Carl Pavano has what is being described as muscle pull on the right side of his rib cage near his armpit.
Joe Torre said the injury wasn't considered serious and that Pavano was scheduled to throw a side session tomorrow in Columbus. His next start is supposed to be Wednesday. The Yankees had been talking about bringing him to the majors to start Thursday or Friday. Those plans seem on hold now.
Joe Torre said the injury wasn't considered serious and that Pavano was scheduled to throw a side session tomorrow in Columbus. His next start is supposed to be Wednesday. The Yankees had been talking about bringing him to the majors to start Thursday or Friday. Those plans seem on hold now.
At this point, I'm fairly certain that everyone on the planet doesn't expect Carl Pavano to ever pitch again for the Yankees. Still, this is getting ridiculous as Pavano might have messed up his oblique in his latest start (and if that's the case, that's an injury that you don't come back quickly from):
Carl Pavano is running out of body parts to break down.
Following his rehab start for Columbus (Triple-A) Friday night, Pavano talked of a problem with an oblique muscle, and there is the possibility he will be shut down.
Asked to confirm the problem before yesterday's game, Joe Torre said he couldn't until he talked to GM Brian Cashman. After the 12-7 loss to the Angels, Torre said he still hadn't gotten in touch with Cashman.
Pavano, a $40-million investment who hasn't pitched in a big-league game since last June due to back, buttock and elbow troubles, threw six innings for Columbus. He allowed two runs, eight hits, walked one and fanned five. After the 89-pitch outing, Pavano said he felt he was ready for the big leagues.
Now, that's in jeopardy.
Following his rehab start for Columbus (Triple-A) Friday night, Pavano talked of a problem with an oblique muscle, and there is the possibility he will be shut down.
Asked to confirm the problem before yesterday's game, Joe Torre said he couldn't until he talked to GM Brian Cashman. After the 12-7 loss to the Angels, Torre said he still hadn't gotten in touch with Cashman.
Pavano, a $40-million investment who hasn't pitched in a big-league game since last June due to back, buttock and elbow troubles, threw six innings for Columbus. He allowed two runs, eight hits, walked one and fanned five. After the 89-pitch outing, Pavano said he felt he was ready for the big leagues.
Now, that's in jeopardy.
Well, if this proves to be accurate, there go any ideas of getting the bullpen killing Jaret Wright out of the rotation.
Posted by: Seamus
I have to admit, the only time I ever go into a game NOT automatically expecting the Yankees to win is when they play the Angels. There's a reason for that it turns out: going into yesterday's game the Los Angeles California Angels of Anaheim of the United States of Earth of the Solar System were 54-51 against the Yankees in the Joe Torre era. That makes them the only A.L. team with a winning record against the Bombers since 1996. That record improved to 55-51 yesterday as the Angels took another one from the Yanks by a score of 12-7.
Cory Lidle struggled a bit, allowing 5 runs and 9 hits in only 3 and 2/3. The Yankee offense was able to pick him up however and tied the game at 5 in the 6th via a sac fly by Jorge Posada. Howie Kendrick homered off Brian Bruney, who received his first Major League loss in the 6th to put the Angels back on top. Los Angeles of Anaheim (is that proper?) would add 3 more in the 7th and 3 more in the 8th. A two-run homer by Johnny Damon in the top of the 8th would be the last of the Yankee offense, although they did load the bases for Melky Cabrera in the 9th to get the tying run on deck.
I got nothing but love for A-Rod and I've been trying to stick up for him all year, but his performance today didn't help my case. 0-5 for the second straight day and has now struck out 7 times already in this series. One thing I must say is that maybe it would help just a little to get some of that anger out when he starts to get aggravated with himself. Not that little tossing the bat stuff, I want to see some fire. Everyone knows you're frustrated, Alex. I want to see you go back into the dugout and knock over some Gatorade coolers or something. Spill it all over the dugout. Let it all out. Just don't break your hand on the wall.
The Yankees will finally finish up this long stretch of 21 games in 20 days this afternoon as they'll try to salvage a game from the Angels before coming home for a series against Detroit starting Tuesday. The Yanks have gone 10-10 in the last 20, but thanks to that 5-game sweep in Boston, they managed to gain three games on the Red Sox in that span (since August 8).
Today's pitching matchup will feature a battle of rookies, as Jeff Karstens will make his second Major League start against Tony Saunders. Saunders is off to a good start, going 4-1 with a 3.06 E.R.A. in his first 6 starts in the bigs. He had a good start at Yankee Stadium on August 11, allowing 2 ER in 6 IP. Karstens was decent in his Major League debut in Seattle on Tuesday, leaving the game with the Yankees up 5-3 before the bullpen failed to hold the lead. Hopefully the Yankees can make something of this trip. 2-4 on a 6-game west coast swing and losing only .5 to a 1.5 games in the standings to the Red Sox is acceptable to me. Game starts at 3:35 E.T.
Cory Lidle struggled a bit, allowing 5 runs and 9 hits in only 3 and 2/3. The Yankee offense was able to pick him up however and tied the game at 5 in the 6th via a sac fly by Jorge Posada. Howie Kendrick homered off Brian Bruney, who received his first Major League loss in the 6th to put the Angels back on top. Los Angeles of Anaheim (is that proper?) would add 3 more in the 7th and 3 more in the 8th. A two-run homer by Johnny Damon in the top of the 8th would be the last of the Yankee offense, although they did load the bases for Melky Cabrera in the 9th to get the tying run on deck.
I got nothing but love for A-Rod and I've been trying to stick up for him all year, but his performance today didn't help my case. 0-5 for the second straight day and has now struck out 7 times already in this series. One thing I must say is that maybe it would help just a little to get some of that anger out when he starts to get aggravated with himself. Not that little tossing the bat stuff, I want to see some fire. Everyone knows you're frustrated, Alex. I want to see you go back into the dugout and knock over some Gatorade coolers or something. Spill it all over the dugout. Let it all out. Just don't break your hand on the wall.
The Yankees will finally finish up this long stretch of 21 games in 20 days this afternoon as they'll try to salvage a game from the Angels before coming home for a series against Detroit starting Tuesday. The Yanks have gone 10-10 in the last 20, but thanks to that 5-game sweep in Boston, they managed to gain three games on the Red Sox in that span (since August 8).
Today's pitching matchup will feature a battle of rookies, as Jeff Karstens will make his second Major League start against Tony Saunders. Saunders is off to a good start, going 4-1 with a 3.06 E.R.A. in his first 6 starts in the bigs. He had a good start at Yankee Stadium on August 11, allowing 2 ER in 6 IP. Karstens was decent in his Major League debut in Seattle on Tuesday, leaving the game with the Yankees up 5-3 before the bullpen failed to hold the lead. Hopefully the Yankees can make something of this trip. 2-4 on a 6-game west coast swing and losing only .5 to a 1.5 games in the standings to the Red Sox is acceptable to me. Game starts at 3:35 E.T.
Posted by: James
The negotiations are over. Mark Melancon, drafted by the Yankees in the 9th round of this year's draft, has signed on. He made his first appearance as part of the Yankees organization last night for the Staten Island Yankees and pitched an inning in relief, giving up one hit and racking up one strikeout.
Melancon put up some great numbers in college. Mark is the University of Arizona's career saves leader with 18 but was limited to a career-low 39 1/3 innings last season. He missed the last seven weeks of the season with an elbow injury (on his throwing arm). Still, before he went down, he was arguably the best college reliever in the country. He fell in the draft due to those injury concerns but the Yankees were quick to scoop him up. Let's hope he continues to be healthy and that we see him promoted as aggressively as J.B. Cox.
Given the chance, he (ERA: Mid-2008?) & Cox (ERA: 2nd half 2007) will be a great luxury for the Yankees bullpen and though I don't want to think about it, there's a good chance one of them will be the successor to Mariano.
Melancon put up some great numbers in college. Mark is the University of Arizona's career saves leader with 18 but was limited to a career-low 39 1/3 innings last season. He missed the last seven weeks of the season with an elbow injury (on his throwing arm). Still, before he went down, he was arguably the best college reliever in the country. He fell in the draft due to those injury concerns but the Yankees were quick to scoop him up. Let's hope he continues to be healthy and that we see him promoted as aggressively as J.B. Cox.
Given the chance, he (ERA: Mid-2008?) & Cox (ERA: 2nd half 2007) will be a great luxury for the Yankees bullpen and though I don't want to think about it, there's a good chance one of them will be the successor to Mariano.
Posted by: David
The Yankees battled back on Friday night in Anaheim to take a 5-4 lead but couldn't hold on and lost in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly 6-5.
The Angels took an early 3-0 lead when they were aided by a two run double from Vladimir Guerrero. The Yankees struck back for two off of Angels starter John Lackey. Anaheim extended the lead later to 4-2 but the Yankees took the lead late at 5-4.
Jaret Wright was awful and lasted only in to the fourth inning. Ron Villone releived him and gave up an additional run. Villone was relieved by Scott Proctor after the Yankees took the lead and he gave it back as the Angels tied the score in the seventh at 5. Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless eighth and Octavio Dotel was summoned for the ninth.
Dotel gave up a leadoff double to Garret Anderson to start the inning. Juan Rivera then singled to left and the Angels had runners on first and third with no outs. The next batter was walked intentionally to load the bases. Adam Kennedy popped out to short for the first out and then Mike Nepoli was up next. Dotel worked him hard and got to two strikes and didn't get the call on a 2-2 pitch. On the 3-2 pitch the ball was out over the plate and Nepoli hit it to left for a sacrifice fly to end the game.
A-Rod was simply awful all night. He struck out four times in critical situations and grounded out his last time up. Aaron Guiel contriubuted an RBI single but the Yankees missed scoring opportunities all night long.
The series resumes on Saturday afternoon with Cory Lidle facing Erwin Santana in a 4pm start.
The Angels took an early 3-0 lead when they were aided by a two run double from Vladimir Guerrero. The Yankees struck back for two off of Angels starter John Lackey. Anaheim extended the lead later to 4-2 but the Yankees took the lead late at 5-4.
Jaret Wright was awful and lasted only in to the fourth inning. Ron Villone releived him and gave up an additional run. Villone was relieved by Scott Proctor after the Yankees took the lead and he gave it back as the Angels tied the score in the seventh at 5. Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless eighth and Octavio Dotel was summoned for the ninth.
Dotel gave up a leadoff double to Garret Anderson to start the inning. Juan Rivera then singled to left and the Angels had runners on first and third with no outs. The next batter was walked intentionally to load the bases. Adam Kennedy popped out to short for the first out and then Mike Nepoli was up next. Dotel worked him hard and got to two strikes and didn't get the call on a 2-2 pitch. On the 3-2 pitch the ball was out over the plate and Nepoli hit it to left for a sacrifice fly to end the game.
A-Rod was simply awful all night. He struck out four times in critical situations and grounded out his last time up. Aaron Guiel contriubuted an RBI single but the Yankees missed scoring opportunities all night long.
The series resumes on Saturday afternoon with Cory Lidle facing Erwin Santana in a 4pm start.
