Posted by: Patrick
Yesterday, Yankees prospect Alan Horne was pulled just two innings into a start, due to injury, sending shock waves through Yankees fan dom (being overdramatic here). Good news: Yanks VP of Baseball Ops, Mark Newman, says that he has a pulled muscle. "Of all the things to happen to the arm, that’s by far the least significant," he told Mark Jennings.
04/11: Shirt Story: A Myth?
Posted by: Patrick
Earlier today, the Post reported that a Boston fan, working in construction at the new stadium, threw a Red Sox shirt in the concrete in the visitor's club house, in order to curse the team. I decided to skip this story, seeing it as a bit goofy, but the Yankees have responded now.
"We noticed that the New York Post wrote a fun and interesting story about a T-shirt today -- but it never happened," said Alice McGillion, a spokesperson for the Yankees. "Yankee fans know that burying something in concrete in the basement is never a good thing. Memo to the Post: You're 10 days late for April Fool's Day."
04/11: Yankees @ Royals; 4/10/08
Posted by: James
In what some people (including on the team) were apparently deeming a "must-win" (which I happen to think is ridiculous this early in the season), the Yankees beat Kansas City 6-1 in a game that probably got a lot of people off the ledge. The game was closer than the final score would indicate and the Yankees were behind the 8-ball early as Andy Pettitte struggled in the first inning of his second start of the year. Andy threw 30 pitches in the first but ended up only giving up one run (on a Jose Guillen RBI double). He threw up zeroes after that until he was relieved by Joba with two outs in the seventh and with the victory, Pettitte takes over sixth place on the Yankees' all-time wins list (164).
As for the main story of the night, the Yankee offense showed up in the third and provided enough to win the game. Melky Cabrera, batting in the #2 spot in the lineup shakeup, tied the game when he took Royals starter John Bale deep for his second home run of the year (he only had 8 Hrs last year so this could be construed as a power surge for El Leche).
The Yankees took the lead in the 4th when Jorge and Hideki singled to put men on first and third and Posada came home on a Molina double play. The Yanks scored 2 more in the 5th to take a 4-1 lead and tacked on 2 more in the ninth against Hideo Nomo (yes, that Nomo). A-Rod and Posada teed off on back-to-back solo homers. While Jorge's shoulder might not be well enough to catch, it's good to see that he can still hit. Mo then came on and got the 1-2-3 in the ninth for the win and the Yankees got back up to .500.
As for the main story of the night, the Yankee offense showed up in the third and provided enough to win the game. Melky Cabrera, batting in the #2 spot in the lineup shakeup, tied the game when he took Royals starter John Bale deep for his second home run of the year (he only had 8 Hrs last year so this could be construed as a power surge for El Leche).
The Yankees took the lead in the 4th when Jorge and Hideki singled to put men on first and third and Posada came home on a Molina double play. The Yanks scored 2 more in the 5th to take a 4-1 lead and tacked on 2 more in the ninth against Hideo Nomo (yes, that Nomo). A-Rod and Posada teed off on back-to-back solo homers. While Jorge's shoulder might not be well enough to catch, it's good to see that he can still hit. Mo then came on and got the 1-2-3 in the ninth for the win and the Yankees got back up to .500.
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees have switched up some of the titles given to the Steinbrenner family They now look like this:
George M. Steinbrenner III, Chairperson
Harold Z. Steinbrenner, Co-Chairperson
Henry G. Steinbrenner, Co-Chairperson
Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, Vice Chairperson
Jessica Steinbrenner, Vice Chairperson
Joan Steinbrenner, Vice Chairperson
"I am excited to announce these titles," George M. Steinbrenner said in a statement. "I am pleased to work with my two sons, Hal and Hank. With me, they will jointly oversee the club on a day-to-day basis. I am also gratified to recognize the leadership of my daughter, Jenny, in the club's charitable endeavors and her involvement with new stadium matters; as well as the contributions of my wife, Joan, and daughter, Jessica, in assisting me."
George M. Steinbrenner III, Chairperson
Harold Z. Steinbrenner, Co-Chairperson
Henry G. Steinbrenner, Co-Chairperson
Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, Vice Chairperson
Jessica Steinbrenner, Vice Chairperson
Joan Steinbrenner, Vice Chairperson
"I am excited to announce these titles," George M. Steinbrenner said in a statement. "I am pleased to work with my two sons, Hal and Hank. With me, they will jointly oversee the club on a day-to-day basis. I am also gratified to recognize the leadership of my daughter, Jenny, in the club's charitable endeavors and her involvement with new stadium matters; as well as the contributions of my wife, Joan, and daughter, Jessica, in assisting me."
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees lost their second straight game against the Royals, this time falling by a score of 4-0 in a game that was just, well, a bit different. Ian Kennedy was the scheduled starter Wednesday night, but because of an expected rain delay, Joe Girardi started Brian Bruney instead in an unorthodox move which gave us four shutout innings with three different pitchers.
The rain was coming down in buckets last night and there was no letup in the forecast, so Girardi figured it would be best not to use Kennedy for let's say two innings, and then have to go to his bullpen after a long delay, or just waste his start completely in a game that doesn't count. In the end, they did get all nine innings in without a delay, so Kennedy entered the game in the 6th and finished the game.
The Yankees' "bullpen" was great. Bruney pitched two scoreless innings, striking out the side in the second after giving up a leadoff double. Billy Traber pitched a scoreless third, and just so we could get some of the "same old" in a very weird game, Kyle Farnsworth put the Royals on the board by allowing a leadoff homer to John Buck in the 5th. The Royals would score again in the 5th on an RBI single by Jose Guillen, and Ian Kennedy would come into the game in teh 6th, inheriting a 2-0 defecit.
Kennedy struggled in the 6th, but settled down in the 7th and 8th, and finished with a line of two runs off two hits in three innings. (the Royals didn't bat in the 9th).
If you've read up to this point, you're probably wondering why I haven't mentioned the Yankees' offense at all yet. Well, that's because there really was none. The Yankees failed to have a runner reach third base in what was likely a combination of the Yankees' struggling, hobbling, banged up lineup and a lights out performance by Zack Greinke, who's allowed just one run so far in 15 innings (0.60 E.R.A.)
Well, in the end Girardi is going to be second guessed a bit for starting his bullpen because the Yankees lost, but I think it was a pretty brilliant move on his part. They only used four pitchers which is not at all a far cry from the norm, and it's not like his maneuvering with his pitching staff cost them the game. After all, you can't win a game when you score 0. Personally, I can't for the life of me figure out why the tarp was never put on the field, as you could see puddles forming on the infield during play. And as I mentioned, if Kennedy were to pitch just two or three innings and have to come out of the game, we probably would have seen four or five different pitchers used anyway.
The two former rivals MIGHT go back at it again tonight, as there is more rain in the forecast (turns out the game wasn't called because this is the Yanks' only trip to Kansas City and today's forecast is not much better). If it does happen, we'll see Andy Pettitte make his second start of the season while the Royals will be sending out John Bale. Scheduled start is 8:10 ET.
The rain was coming down in buckets last night and there was no letup in the forecast, so Girardi figured it would be best not to use Kennedy for let's say two innings, and then have to go to his bullpen after a long delay, or just waste his start completely in a game that doesn't count. In the end, they did get all nine innings in without a delay, so Kennedy entered the game in the 6th and finished the game.
The Yankees' "bullpen" was great. Bruney pitched two scoreless innings, striking out the side in the second after giving up a leadoff double. Billy Traber pitched a scoreless third, and just so we could get some of the "same old" in a very weird game, Kyle Farnsworth put the Royals on the board by allowing a leadoff homer to John Buck in the 5th. The Royals would score again in the 5th on an RBI single by Jose Guillen, and Ian Kennedy would come into the game in teh 6th, inheriting a 2-0 defecit.
Kennedy struggled in the 6th, but settled down in the 7th and 8th, and finished with a line of two runs off two hits in three innings. (the Royals didn't bat in the 9th).
If you've read up to this point, you're probably wondering why I haven't mentioned the Yankees' offense at all yet. Well, that's because there really was none. The Yankees failed to have a runner reach third base in what was likely a combination of the Yankees' struggling, hobbling, banged up lineup and a lights out performance by Zack Greinke, who's allowed just one run so far in 15 innings (0.60 E.R.A.)
Well, in the end Girardi is going to be second guessed a bit for starting his bullpen because the Yankees lost, but I think it was a pretty brilliant move on his part. They only used four pitchers which is not at all a far cry from the norm, and it's not like his maneuvering with his pitching staff cost them the game. After all, you can't win a game when you score 0. Personally, I can't for the life of me figure out why the tarp was never put on the field, as you could see puddles forming on the infield during play. And as I mentioned, if Kennedy were to pitch just two or three innings and have to come out of the game, we probably would have seen four or five different pitchers used anyway.
The two former rivals MIGHT go back at it again tonight, as there is more rain in the forecast (turns out the game wasn't called because this is the Yanks' only trip to Kansas City and today's forecast is not much better). If it does happen, we'll see Andy Pettitte make his second start of the season while the Royals will be sending out John Bale. Scheduled start is 8:10 ET.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports:
the lingering weakness in his shoulder was diagnosed as merely a strain by Royals team doctor Steven Joyce. Posada is expected to miss no more than a week. ...
Joyce based his opinion on an MRI taken yesterday. Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Posada in 2001, will examine the results of the test today, as will Yankees doctor Stuart Hershon. Unless their opinion is different, Posada should be spared a stint on the disabled list.
Joyce based his opinion on an MRI taken yesterday. Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Posada in 2001, will examine the results of the test today, as will Yankees doctor Stuart Hershon. Unless their opinion is different, Posada should be spared a stint on the disabled list.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that shortstop Alberto Gonzalez has been brought up from the minors to fill in for the injured Derek Jeter. To make room, Shelley Duncan was optioned to Scranton.
Posted by: Patrick
Craig Nettles had surgery for prostate cancer yesterday. His agent, Tim O'Neill, said that Nettles is "very positive, upbeat." That's good news. He'll be released tomorrow.
04/09: Posada May Hit DL
Posted by: Patrick
After being pulled from yesterday's game due to lacking arm strength, Jorge will have an MRI. Pending results, he may end up on the DL.
Posted by: Patrick
Shane Figueroa reports that Tampa Yankees pitcher Eric Hacker threw seven innings of perfect baseball against the Dunedin Blue Jays, before he reached his pitch count, despite needing only 78 pitches to go through the 21 hitters. Sean Henn relieved him and retired a batter in the eight before allowing a hit.
The Yankees ended up winning - 1-0 - but, Hacker didn't even get the win, as the game was tied when he left and remained that way until the 10th inning. In that inning, Edwar Gonzalez hit a walk-off RBI single to score Chris Kunda. Jonathan Hovis picked up the W.
The Yankees ended up winning - 1-0 - but, Hacker didn't even get the win, as the game was tied when he left and remained that way until the 10th inning. In that inning, Edwar Gonzalez hit a walk-off RBI single to score Chris Kunda. Jonathan Hovis picked up the W.
