ATTENTION FELLOW BLOGGERS:
I will be taking a few days off and I will not be able to post until Monday.
Hopefully , I will recap the Mini Boston series along with the Orioles series.
SAM I AM
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
The Yankees have just completed the first sweep of the year . Granted It was just a two game set , but it was a sweep non the less.
In game one I was extremely pleased with the way Kennedy bounced back with such a solid effort after getting hit pretty hard by Tampa in the first go round.
The offense started to percolate and I think the warmer climate of the dome in st peters-burg had a lot to do with it. Johnny Damon had himself a monster night with 2 hits 3 RBIs and a HR. Jeter after his 6 game layoff got himself going by also adding 2 hits and 2 rbis. Morgan Ensberg Did his best impression of Jeff Bagwell with that exaggerated crouch and hit a dinger also Bagwell like by taking the ball deep, into the left Field seats. Arod joined the HR party and added 3 other hits .
This game once a laugher, suddenly turned into a disaster. IPK took a liner off the hip . The Yankees then, precautionary gave Ian the hook. At that point it didn't make that big of a difference. One of the solid parts of the Yanks early this year is the bullpen right? That didnt prove to be the case. Billy Traber gave up a long ball on what I thought was a pretty good pitch. Girardi elected to go with Bruney to hold the Rays in check. Aside for Joba and Mo, Bruney has been the most effective and productive arm out of the pen. Brian kind of had himself a bit of a rough outing by giving up two bombs to blow the lead. Then Girardi did something which I think spoke volumes by letting him finish the inning then later go with him to start the eighth. By doing this Girardi must have been sending a message to Farnsworth and at the same time showing tremendous confidence in Bruney even after his lapse.
Robinson Cano delivered a mammoth blast Lenny Harris style. What impressed me most was when Cano was on his way back to the dugout after he touched them all he was greeted by non other than the person he pinched hit for Alberto Gonzalez. The Yanks showed good character and grit to win a game that they blew a 6 run lead. Oh by the way just in case anybody forgot. Mariano is the best closer in the game (still).
After coming off a roller coaster ride in game one of the series. Andy Pettitte needed to give the Yanx a solid outing.
That is exactly what he did. In the early stages of the game Pettitte was getting hit harder than a piniata at 6 year old's birthday party. As the game progressed so did Andy's "stuff". The cutter started to bite more and his curve (which Andy hasn't been using ) had allot more tilt to it.
The offense of the night was provided by the suddenly sizzling hot Jeter (just in time for the Boston series)and the new Devil Ray killer Matsui. Abreu helped with a RBI single as well.
To me, When I saw Kyle Farnsworth have an effortless 8Th was either a really good thing or the complete opposite. If Kyle can consistently string good outing after good outing then suddenly gains trust in Girardi I see this as a really bad thing. why may you ask? Because I simply don't trust him. He will implode sooner or later. Obviously I Hope I'm wrong. If Kyle finally succeeds and be what he is supposed to be it could be the difference in a Yankee championship. But to tell you the truth ....it ain't happening.
In the Ninth , Mo was just Mo.
The Yankees strung two games together and hopefully this momentum will carry them through the Bosox series.
In game one I was extremely pleased with the way Kennedy bounced back with such a solid effort after getting hit pretty hard by Tampa in the first go round.
The offense started to percolate and I think the warmer climate of the dome in st peters-burg had a lot to do with it. Johnny Damon had himself a monster night with 2 hits 3 RBIs and a HR. Jeter after his 6 game layoff got himself going by also adding 2 hits and 2 rbis. Morgan Ensberg Did his best impression of Jeff Bagwell with that exaggerated crouch and hit a dinger also Bagwell like by taking the ball deep, into the left Field seats. Arod joined the HR party and added 3 other hits .
This game once a laugher, suddenly turned into a disaster. IPK took a liner off the hip . The Yankees then, precautionary gave Ian the hook. At that point it didn't make that big of a difference. One of the solid parts of the Yanks early this year is the bullpen right? That didnt prove to be the case. Billy Traber gave up a long ball on what I thought was a pretty good pitch. Girardi elected to go with Bruney to hold the Rays in check. Aside for Joba and Mo, Bruney has been the most effective and productive arm out of the pen. Brian kind of had himself a bit of a rough outing by giving up two bombs to blow the lead. Then Girardi did something which I think spoke volumes by letting him finish the inning then later go with him to start the eighth. By doing this Girardi must have been sending a message to Farnsworth and at the same time showing tremendous confidence in Bruney even after his lapse.
Robinson Cano delivered a mammoth blast Lenny Harris style. What impressed me most was when Cano was on his way back to the dugout after he touched them all he was greeted by non other than the person he pinched hit for Alberto Gonzalez. The Yanks showed good character and grit to win a game that they blew a 6 run lead. Oh by the way just in case anybody forgot. Mariano is the best closer in the game (still).
After coming off a roller coaster ride in game one of the series. Andy Pettitte needed to give the Yanx a solid outing.
That is exactly what he did. In the early stages of the game Pettitte was getting hit harder than a piniata at 6 year old's birthday party. As the game progressed so did Andy's "stuff". The cutter started to bite more and his curve (which Andy hasn't been using ) had allot more tilt to it.
The offense of the night was provided by the suddenly sizzling hot Jeter (just in time for the Boston series)and the new Devil Ray killer Matsui. Abreu helped with a RBI single as well.
To me, When I saw Kyle Farnsworth have an effortless 8Th was either a really good thing or the complete opposite. If Kyle can consistently string good outing after good outing then suddenly gains trust in Girardi I see this as a really bad thing. why may you ask? Because I simply don't trust him. He will implode sooner or later. Obviously I Hope I'm wrong. If Kyle finally succeeds and be what he is supposed to be it could be the difference in a Yankee championship. But to tell you the truth ....it ain't happening.
In the Ninth , Mo was just Mo.
The Yankees strung two games together and hopefully this momentum will carry them through the Bosox series.
Monday, April 14, 2008
ANOTHER AVG JOE?
When Joe Girardi took the helm as the new Yankee skipper I was under the assumption that this Joe would be different.
In the first week of the season, we were already seeing some noticeable changes.
Myself , along with many other Yankee fans were getting excited that finally the small ball aspect of the game was being implemented into a system that hasn't seen it since the early days of the other Joe (Torre) era.
As the First round of the heavyweight match up between the sox and the Yanx has come to an end , I must say I am extremely disappointed with Mr. Girardi and in my mind he has taken a giant step backwards.
In Game one of the series Wang was making an early bid for the Cy young Award by improving his Numbers to 3 and 0 with a spectacular ERA of 1.23 and came within inches of pitching a no no. Bobby Abreu must be taken to a shrink for his fear of walls, its downright frustrating.
But overall , the Yanks have yet to get the hitting going. If it weren't for Cy Wang , game one would have been a disaster.
In Game two, is where I start to get pissed at The manager. The game was moving right along until a situation arouse. Manny Ramirez is up. A.K.A. The Yankee Killer and the Yankees had many choices but inevitably Joe made the poorest one possible. I know hindsight vision is always 20-20, but when he made the choice of leaving Moose in just because he said Moose said so in a mound visit made no sense what so ever. especially when you have Joba Freaking Chamberlain waiting in the pen. Plus , in his last At bat the ball Manny hit off moose landed somewhere in Kansas.
He also could have walked him, First base was open. It is so frustrating to watch the Ghost of Joe Torre lurk in the Yankee dugout. This decision lead to to the Yankee loss.
Game Three wasn't one to write home about.
I'm not going to take the easy approach and bash Philly Phranchise. His stuff was off the charts he just couldn't locate. These sorts of growing pains are expected and I am willing to experience for the greater good. But what I will not stand for is watching the manager mismanage. A classic "Joe Torre" blunder took place last night in a crucial part of the game. Johnny Damon had first and second with nobody out late in the game down by three. I was screaming at the T.V BUNT!!!!!! Then A thought crossed my mind..."what am I worried about. Of course hes going to bunt. Torre is gone, we got Girardi now. To my dismay , Damon was swinging. He swung himself right into a double play. My blood started to boil . What pushed me over the top was when I saw Krazy Kyle coming out to pitch. I felt like Girardi threw in the towel.
This series was very take able and I think Girardi just simply dropped the ball. Girardi better start reminding me why the Yankees hired him and why Torre was let go. Otherwise its all of the same once the post season hits...
In the first week of the season, we were already seeing some noticeable changes.
Myself , along with many other Yankee fans were getting excited that finally the small ball aspect of the game was being implemented into a system that hasn't seen it since the early days of the other Joe (Torre) era.
As the First round of the heavyweight match up between the sox and the Yanx has come to an end , I must say I am extremely disappointed with Mr. Girardi and in my mind he has taken a giant step backwards.
In Game one of the series Wang was making an early bid for the Cy young Award by improving his Numbers to 3 and 0 with a spectacular ERA of 1.23 and came within inches of pitching a no no. Bobby Abreu must be taken to a shrink for his fear of walls, its downright frustrating.
But overall , the Yanks have yet to get the hitting going. If it weren't for Cy Wang , game one would have been a disaster.
In Game two, is where I start to get pissed at The manager. The game was moving right along until a situation arouse. Manny Ramirez is up. A.K.A. The Yankee Killer and the Yankees had many choices but inevitably Joe made the poorest one possible. I know hindsight vision is always 20-20, but when he made the choice of leaving Moose in just because he said Moose said so in a mound visit made no sense what so ever. especially when you have Joba Freaking Chamberlain waiting in the pen. Plus , in his last At bat the ball Manny hit off moose landed somewhere in Kansas.
He also could have walked him, First base was open. It is so frustrating to watch the Ghost of Joe Torre lurk in the Yankee dugout. This decision lead to to the Yankee loss.
Game Three wasn't one to write home about.
I'm not going to take the easy approach and bash Philly Phranchise. His stuff was off the charts he just couldn't locate. These sorts of growing pains are expected and I am willing to experience for the greater good. But what I will not stand for is watching the manager mismanage. A classic "Joe Torre" blunder took place last night in a crucial part of the game. Johnny Damon had first and second with nobody out late in the game down by three. I was screaming at the T.V BUNT!!!!!! Then A thought crossed my mind..."what am I worried about. Of course hes going to bunt. Torre is gone, we got Girardi now. To my dismay , Damon was swinging. He swung himself right into a double play. My blood started to boil . What pushed me over the top was when I saw Krazy Kyle coming out to pitch. I felt like Girardi threw in the towel.
This series was very take able and I think Girardi just simply dropped the ball. Girardi better start reminding me why the Yankees hired him and why Torre was let go. Otherwise its all of the same once the post season hits...
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