Tuesday Thoughts- Three in a Row

There were certainly different sentiments surrounding the Yankees after Friday's loss and Monday's win. After Friday's drubbing at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, there were questions of whether AJ Burnett should stay in the rotation or not. Sure, these questions still exist, but after three wins in a row, you tend to feel better about things. Since Burnett was trounced in Chi-town, the Yankees got clutch offensive performances, and key outings on the mound by Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, and even Javier Vazquez in relief.


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Why do the Yankees have such a great record this season without Alex Rodriguez? It has nothing to do with A-Rod being a jinx or a poor player, it just shows that the Yankees have clutch offensive players that can step up when they are needed. We saw this on Monday night against a strong pitcher in Trevor Cahill. Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Marcus Thames all had monster nights after Dustin Moseley did not have a strong outing. Cano has filled in beautifully in the cleanup spot, and all of a sudden, Tex has 92 runs batted in before September 1st.
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John Sterling is out of control. We all love his different nicknames and sayings for different players when they hit a home run, but Monday's postgame was completely ridiculous. After Marcus Thames' three run bomb in the fifth inning, Sterling did his usual song of "Happy THAMES are Here Again," but then he went on to shout: "Marcus timed a fastball, no, he THAMESED a fastball!" What does that even mean, John? At least he provides a nightly laugh for anyone listening.
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Speaking of Thames, how great of an acquisition has he turned out to be? He's one of the few Yankees with an average over .300, and he has cracked four homers in the last three games. His two homers on Friday were critical in a 12-9 victory, he hit a solo blast in a 2-1 victory Sunday, and Monday night, he put the game out of reach for the Athletics.
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Here's a good topic for debate: should Ivan Nova be one of the four Yankees' post-season starting pitchers? This year, MLB has ensured that teams will have to work with three pitchers, as there are not as many days off as the 2009 season, which the Yanks obviously used to their advantage. Even if Andy Pettitte does return this year, the Yankees can throw out a rotation of CC Sabathia, Pettitte, Hughes, and Nova. Vazquez seems effective in relief, and at this point, you really cannot take a chance with AJ Burnett. I'd almost rather see Dustin Moseley at this point. Nova has looked strong and fearless over two starts, so the playoff atmosphere shouldn't bother him at all.
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Kudos to the New York Yankees staff. I had a chance to attend the game with my father, uncle, and friend Monday night. My dad, who has had a couple of knee surgeries, needed to stretch his knee in our seats, so an usher allowed him to sit in the unoccupied handicapped seats behind our section, which gave him the chance to stretch his leg and enjoy the ball game. Sometimes, I feel a bit annoyed when ushers are constantly checking my tickets after I run to grab food, but Monday night, they did a nice thing for a nice guy.
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The Yankees need to win 7 of their next 9 home games. I went into this homestand against Oakland, Toronto, and Baltimore thinking that the Yankees needed 8 out of 10, and I stand by that sentiment. Boston is now 7 games back, but there is still time for the Sox to catch up. Tampa Bay keeps on winning, and the Yankees' last three weeks of the schedule are completely brutal. Not only do they have to make another trip to Texas, but they play the Rays 7 times and the Red Sox 6 times. As stressful as it may be, every day the Yankees win is another day off the schedule while remaining on top.

Great Night in Yankeeland

Even before the Bronx Bombers drubbed the Blue Jays north of the border, it was already a perfect day for Yankee fans. Johnny Damon snubbed the Boston Red Sox and rejected his trade from the Detroit Tigers, preferring to remain in Michigan rather than enter in a playoff race with his former team. To me, that just shows you that Damon is tired of the Red Sox fans' antics and playing in Fenway Park. Not only was it a slap in the face of Beantown, but it kept the surging Red Sox from adding a clutch October player.

After the great news about Damon, it was announced that the young Ivan Nova would remain in the rotation, while the atrocious Javy Vazquez would head out to the bullpen. Great move by the Yankees. Who cares about Javy's self-esteem in the midst of a pennant race? Nova looks like he has a great future and a lot of guts, challenging the over-confident Jose Bautista on Monday.

Then, the game started, and the offense showed up to back up Dustin Moseley. Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada, and Marcus Thames had monster nights. Curtis Granderson hit another homer, and Derek Jeter waited until it was an eight run game to contribute, but he did hit a ball over a fence, something he hasn't done in almost two months. Coming off of a difficult 3-2 loss on Monday, the team responded perfectly with an 11-5 drubbing.

Dustin Moseley has been just what the doctor ordered for the Yankees' ailing staff. No, he hasn't been lights out and he hasn't won all of his starts. But he's been solid. The guy throws strikes, and without joking around, he's been better than AJ Burnett and Javier Vazquez. We aren't hearing much about Andy Pettitte, so we really don't know if we can count on him for the stretch run or even the post-season. In my mind, Moseley or Nova will be a fourth starter come October. Ideally, we'd see a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, Pettitte, and Nova/Moseley. Notice how Mr. Burnett and Mr. Vazquez have not been included.

A lopsided victory, a Beantown embarrassment, and a smart decision removing a horrible pitcher from the starting rotation. Just an ordinary kind of day.

Ace of the Diamond

CC Sabathia is the ace of the New York Yankees. He's the ace they did not have during their postseason struggles between 2002 and 2008. You could even argue that he's the sole ace that they lacked during their Dynasty run of 1996-2000. He is the stopper. He is the guy who gives the Yankees innings. And in my mind, he's the guy that will be the first Yankee since Roger Clemens (2001) to bring home the Cy Young Award.

Tuesday's game was the kind of game the Yankees needed. They got distance from Sabathia, clutch hitting from Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, and even Derek Jeter. When things looked bad after CC surrendered a leadoff homer to Austin Jackson, the Yankees worked the count and got two quick runs against Justin Verlander, the ace of the Tigers. CC took over from there.

The Rays were victorious, and the Red Sox were too. That's the way it's going to be in the American League East for the rest of the season. It must be nice to have a worse record, but close to a ten game lead in your division, like the Texas Rangers, who were trounced by Tampa. Tampa is a great team, and the Red Sox simply do no go away, especially when guys like Buchholz or Lester are on the hill.

The solid victory over Detroit Tuesday doesn't mean much unless the Yankees can go on a run. Their record at home over the last two months has not been impressive, and it has not been anywhere near their 2009 mark in the Bronx. Unfortunately, Andy Pettitte is very far away from a return to the mound, so Dustin Moseley will throw for the Yankees on Wednesday. The offense needs to carry the team sometimes. This would be one of those times.

One MO THAME(S)

No matter what happens to the Yankees this season, Wednesday night's 7-6 victory in Texas can be the next edition of "Yankees Classics." A game that looked lost before and after it started thanks to the unbalanced pitching match-up turned into a dramatic, team win that hopefully leads the Yankees to a winning streak. Javier Vazquez was awful, but Cliff Lee was not his normal brilliant self.

Thanks to clutch hits by Lance Berkman, Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, and Marcus Thames, Kerry Wood picked up his first Yankee win after another solid outing, and Mariano Rivera showed why there is no one in baseball quite like him. The biggest at bat of the game, in my mind, was Lance Berkman leading off the ninth inning. His Nick Johnson-like at bat and leadoff walk set up the Yankees to tie the game and eventually take the lead.

Marcus Thames has filled in the number three hole beautifully as Mark Teixeira is too busy being a daddy to play baseball this week. He seems to be the one Brian Cashman offseason acquisition that is working out. Javier Vazquez is not. Curtis Granderson doesn't deserve to be in the lineup. No one really knows where Nick Johnson is. But Marcus Thames has been clutch, hitting over .300 and delivering some big RBI's. When most other hitters in the Yankee lineup have trouble getting in runners from third with less than two outs, Marcus Thames showed us how it's done in the ninth inning.

A few negatives from tonight. One was just touched on: leaving runners on base. When Austin Kearns hit into an inning ending double play in the eighth inning, I really started having doubts about this team, especially with the red hot Boston Red Sox, who seem to score 9 runs a game despite a shortened lineup. They have heart. They have an outstanding manager, and a good starting rotation. The Yankees do not have a great starting rotation. Javier Vazquez stinks. He and Burnett are enormous head cases who are afraid to put the ball over the plate in big spots.

We can only hope that Wednesday night's victory leads to a winning streak, something the Yankees really haven't had in quite a while. Although they picked up a big win in the two game series finale, the Yankees haven't won a series since they took 3 out of 4 in Cleveland back in late July. They need to win 3 out of 4 in Kansas City this weekend to make the road trip a success. Wednesday night's game was certainly a potential playoff preview. It has gotten a little bit sickening hearing announcers and reporters talk about what a lock the Yankees are to reach the playoffs. Those sentiments had been dwindling a bit over the last week or so. Wednesday's game is a start in restoring some of that early season confidence.

Push the Button

Friday night's Yankees-Red Sox game showed us a lot about the remainder of the 2010 season. If not for a Tampa Bay loss in Toronto, the entire evening would be a total wash. Fortunately, the Yankees remain in first place for another day, but one thing is for certain after the last two series and the opener against Boston: the 2010 Yankees are NOTHING like the 2009 World Champions. Let's take a look based on comparisons between Friday's game and last year's series opener between the Yankees and Red Sox (August 6, 2009).

Back on August 6, 2009, the Yankees got three big home runs to blow the game open against the Red Sox, from Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Jorge Posada. Flash forward to 2010, the Yankees get a big homer from Mark Teixeira, and then the offense completely dies. In 2010, the Yankees do not have Johnny Damon for no apparent reason- they have Brett Gardner, a decent fourth outfielder who reminds me more and more of Bubba Crosby every single day.

They don't have Melky Cabrera either, who was traded for Friday's losing pitcher, Javier Vazquez. And Jorge Posada didn't play Friday. Francisco Cervelli did, and his error on a simple pop up led to three unearned runs, the difference in the game. The 2010 Yankees simply do not have the same look as the 2010 Yankees. They don't work the count, not many come through in the clutch, and you don't get the feeling that the team is ever going to come back and win a game, even at home.

That game back in August of '09 also featured a clutch two run double by Hideki Matsui, who is no longer with the Yankees. Does anyone out there actually think that Lance Berkman is a better DH than Hideki Matsui? Berkman is horrible, and hitting coach Kevin Long has decided that after a 13-year career, it's a good time to change up Lance Berkman's batting stance. Nice job not giving the new guy too much to think about while he's up there putting up 0 for 4 performances every night. He fits right in with the likes of Curtis Granderson, Francisco Cervelli, and Brett Gardner.

Over their last four games, the Yankees have hit a two run homer in the first inning to take a lead, and they have found a way to lose all but one of those games. Why? Pitching, pitching, pitching. They only won the game that Phil Hughes pitched, because AJ Burnett, Dustin Moseley, and Javier Vazquez are simply not very great pitchers. That is why I have chosen to hit the panic button. Right now, out of the three teams fighting for these two playoff spots, the Yankees (without Andy Pettitte) are clearly outmatched by the other teams' rotations.

Saturday's Yankees-Red Sox game, in my mind, is the most important game of the season. They have a chance to maintain sole possession of first place, and put the Red Sox back to seven games out in the loss column. Should the Yankees drop another with their ace on the mound, they'll try to salvage a series split with AJ Burnett against Josh Beckett, followed by Dustin Moseley against John Lester. I think that's all you need to know about the importance of Saturday's contest.

Number 600

Alex Rodriguez's 600th home run could not have come at a better time. Besides the fact that it is finally over with, A-Rod hit it in a game the Yankees HAD to have before taking on the Red Sox this weekend. He also contributed to one of those John Sterling "you can't explain baseball" facts. Three years ago, August 4, 2007, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium, and Phil Hughes earned the win. On August 4, 2010, A-Rod hit number 600, and Phil got himself another W. Congratulations to Alex. Regardless of what you think of his past activities, the guy has admitted he was wrong, and carried on, leading the Yankees to a championship last season. I'm happy that number 600 is over, and the Yankees can move on.

Phil Hughes was solid, but it's very painful to watch him pitch. He takes an eternity in between pitches, but it's tough to complain when someone finally shuts down the Blue Jays and ends a miserable three game losing streak. The starters have been nothing but shaky over past week or so, but the Yankees bullpen is really coming together. Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain, and David Robertson have turned it up since the All Star Break. Mariano Rivera is Mariano Rivera. Damaso Marte hasn't been seen in quite a while, but right now, Boone Logan is filling the lefty role perfectly. You have to imagine when and if Marte comes back, Girardi will keep two lefties out in the 'pen.

While A-Rod will be the headline for today, I'd like to do something I haven't done very much since the inception of this blog: credit Derek Jeter. The offense has been scuffling, and the team is out of first place. So what does Derek do? He has a 4-4 afternoon at the Stadium, raising his average to .280. Derek goes on these tears sometimes and all of a sudden, he's up around .300. He scored three runs, setting the table for every Yankee rally of the day. With Swisher and Tex heating up behind him, maybe Alex can get on a power surge now that the flashbulbs will die down.

The Yankees have an off day Thursday before an enormous series with Boston begins on Friday night. It's not enormous because of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. It's enormous because the Yankees, Rays, and Rex Sox are probably baseball's three best teams. Even with the Red Sox decimating injuries, they have hung in there. Two of these three teams will reach the playoffs, while one will go home. In my mind, if the Yanks can take 3 out of 4, Boston becomes buried in the standings. However, despite their injuries, the Yankees will still have to take on Josh Beckett and John Lester. Whatever happens, get ready for a long, long weekend full of four hour games and see-saw battles.

RAYSing Eyebrows

It's August 1st, and even after today's debacle in St. Petersburg, the New York Yankees are still in first place by themselves. That's normally no cause for concern, especially after the "successful" trade deadline moves made by Brian Cashman and the Yankees' front office. Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood are certainly upgrades over Marcus Thames, Colin Curtis, and even the great Chan Ho Park. Things are looking up for the most part with a tough last two months of the regular season remaining.

Today, however, was one big question mark. After an emotional, thrilling win Saturday night fueled by several clutch home runs, Joe Girardi and the Yankees had the chance to take their second consecutive series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team with the second best record in baseball, and the team right behind them in the A.L. East Standings. The ace of the team was on the mound, but the lineup was outrageous. I respect Joe Girardi's willingness to rest veteran players to keep them fresh for the stretch run, but was it necessary against the Rays? Couldn't this have waited until the Yankees return home Monday against Toronto?

Sunday's lineup did not feature Alex Rodriguez, who is beginning to show signs of frustration due to his pursuit of home run number 600. It did not feature Brett Gardner, a spark plug at the plate and on the bases, despite having a right handed pitcher on the mound for Tampa Bay. Finally, the lineup did not feature the American League Gold Glove Award winner at first base, Mark Teixeira. Instead, Girardi stuck Lance Berkman at first base, giving the new Yankee a shot in the field, and he inserted Austin Kearns into left field, who failed to reach base at all.

Lance Berkman did pick up his first hit as a Bomber, but his play in the field likely cost the Yankees two runs. Early on, a bloop pop up by Kelly Shoppach went off his glove, allowing the game's first run to score with two outs. If that ball is hit to Mark Teixeira 100 times, Tex makes the play 100 times. Hands down. Later in the game, Berkman failed to scoop up a relatively simple one hop throw from Robinson Cano. That runner eventually came around to score. If Tex gets that throw 100 times, he probably makes it about 90 to 95 times. I know Tex deserved a "half day" off, but this could have waited until tomorrow.

CC Sabathia was not great, but he just always seems to pitch well enough to win. In his last two outings, the mighty New York Yankees have not been able to score a run in support of him. Tough to win that way. Sabathia probably deserved to pitch seven innings and surrender only one run, but he still would have lost anyway. I was impressed with Kerry Wood's debut. The guy hasn't pitched since July 11, and he showed how good his stuff was by striking out three batters. Chad Gaudin had to help him get out of the eighth inning, but Wood is clearly an upgrade over Chan Ho Park, whom he replaced on the roster.

As good a day as Saturday was for the organization, Sunday was almost that bad. The Yankees got a great start from their ace against a tough lineup, but their lineup was missing some key elements, and most hitters failed to make contact against James Shields, who despite his 9-9 record and ERA over 4.00, has been pretty brilliant against the Yanks in 4 starts this season. It will be interesting to see how Joe Girardi sets up the lineup this week against Toronto before a Yanks-Sox showdown begins on Friday. Does Lance Berkman deserve to be hitting second? Should the red hot Swisher have been moved out of his original spot, where he has been putting up a fabulous season? The Yankees' roster greatly improved over the weekend, but many questions remain to be answered.