Again the season ends all to early

Well Yankee fans this won't be the year of the 27th title. Unfortunately the Yanks just didn't get the job done. To me it starts with Wang. The guy won 19 games the last 2 season but you sure wouldn't think he was any good if you saw him pitch games 1 & 4. He just didn't have it. That simple. Pitching wins championships and I thought we would have enough of it to get the job done this season. After Wang you have to put the blame on 2 of the greatest Yankees we have ever seen. Jeter & Posada. They just didn't get it done. It was the worst Posada and Jeter had looked all season. Now I will turn my attention to Joe Torre. I want him back. The man did a great job this season and has done a great job for a long long time. To me it's very rare that a manager is the reason why a team loses. Every now and then the manager might make a bad choice that can cost a team a game but that wasn't the case at all in this series. I'm a Torre backer. I didn't want him fired after the 2006 first round exit and I don't want him gone now. He handles the media and players very well. Besides who is going to manage the team? Mattingly? I don't think he is ready yet. He has no experience of managing and only has 1 year as a bench coach. If the Yankees want to "groom" Mattingly for the position then who would be better for that then Joe Torre. Give Torre 2 more years, maybe 3. Let Mattingly be the bench coach for a couple of more years. Then Torre can retire and we can all embrace Donnie Baseball. I hear Tony LaRussa's name being mentioned. I don't want any part of him leading my ballclub. I know he has won 2 rings but the guy has issues. The New York media will eat him up. Thanks but no thanks Tony....Stay in St. Louis....The other name being tossed around is Joe Giradi. I like him a lot and he has shown he can manage. The only issue I see with Giradi is if the Yankees want Mattingly to be the manager in the near future. Why would Giradi want to come in and groom Donnie? Giradi is younger then Donnie and I would think he would want to be a part of the Yankees for a long time. Only time will tell what the answers will be. I for one think Torre is coming back and I will believe that until I'm proven wrong.

I can't tell a lie

I'm fucking nervous for game 1 tonight. Its been years since the Yankees have faced C.C and the guy is a much better pitcher now then he was then. He is a lefty. That alone scares me. Throw all those numbers we have against C.C out the window. All the wonderful numbers that were produced during the regular season mean zero now. The players know this. Basically we start a new season tonight. It becomes what have you done for me lately. I've sailed with this ship through the rough seas and I won't bail now or even (god forbid) we do happen to catch an L tonight. I watched the Yankees win game 1 last year and 3 games later the season was over. It's like I said yesterday every pitch every inning, every game matters. 1 good game will not get you into the ALCS. It takes 3. Win 3 before you lose 3 and move on. Wang needs to bring his A game. If he does I won't be nervous at all and I feel we can't be beat tonight. If we can score 4 runs this evening I think that might be enough. 5 runs and I'm sure that will be enough. Normally you can tell with Wang early if he has it. Hopefully tonight he will be on. He has big game experience, he has been here before. Get the ball to JOBA for the 8th and Mo for the 9th. Win the first 7 innings maybe even 6 if you want to go to JOBA for 2 and I'll sign right up for that. The mission, the dream, the journey starts TONIGHT!

WE RIDE AGAIN!

I'm fired up my friends! As today the Yankees had there pre-sale of playoff tickets. I again failed miserably in obtaining tickets. I just don't have any luck with this shit. One might ask why is this kid fired up if he didn't get any playoff tickets? Well the answer is easy if you know me. I have a partner in crime, a tag team partner, a great friend who I've spent countless hours, innings, and games with at and around the holy grounds of Yankee Stadium. He was able to obtain tickets to the ALCS and the World Series. Granted this will all mean nothing with another disastrous first round exit but this year is different. I've got a feeling those tickets are getting used this year. The Yankees still have yet to "officially" clinch a post season berth but that is just a matter of time. Then the real fun starts. The REAL SEASON! The season that all Yankee fans have been a part of now since 1995. Some years we have been lucky enough to play the last baseball game of the season and come out as the World Series Champs. Other times we have seen our season end all to early. Deep down I believe that this season the Yanks are playing in the last game of the year. They have come up from the grave and been the best team in baseball over the last 100 games or so. I don't care who the Yankees have to play. Teams should worry about having to play us. We are rolling. We are ready. Put the women and little kids to bed and prepare yourself for long October nights. As the Yankees are set to ride again.

A-Rod AL MVP but........

That is the regular season MVP. I'm not going to sit here and act like what he has done thus far isn't amazing. It is unreal. A season unmatched by any Yankee but the immortal ones. Without A-Rod's performance this "regular season" who knows where the Yankees would be in the standings. I doubt they would be sitting with a Magic # of 15. He has played well from the start of the season. His numbers are insane and with 19 games left they will get even more disturbing....but what does that matter come October? To put into words I come up with one, NOTHING.....When the calendar turns to October it all doesn't matter anymore. It becomes a new season. A season the Yankees have had plenty of experience in but as of the last few years leave with no cause for celebration. A-rod has helped contribute to the failures the last few seasons but he wasn't alone. He has been labeled a man who can't handle the pressure. A man who crumbles under the spotlight. Well folks, I got a feeling that is all about to change. This isn't the A-rod from 2004, nor is it the A-rod from 2005 and it isn't the A-rod of 2006. This is a new man who has been embraced by the Yankee fans. A man who has once again shown his joy for playing the game of baseball. You can actually see the amount of fun being had in the dugout between A-Rod and ALL his teammates. Even the guys in the bullpen have been involved in joking with him. This is the first time he has been this way since he arrived. Finally comfortable in the Bronx! Will this translate over to him coming up big with the game on the line? Only time will tell but this Yankee fan believes A-Rod is going to do some special things this October. He can't win the world series all by himself. This is still a team game but with the help of the other 24 guys they sure as hell can win it all. Get ready for the ride. It won't be like the last 2 years when our season was cut short....No no no, not this year. It's a different A-Rod and a different Yankee ball club. Prepare yourself for many long October nights as the Yankees are playing late into October....This year my beloved Yankees will be WORLD CHAMPS yet again!

Have you seen Joba pitch? If not, I feel sorry for you

It's just that simple. If you haven't seen Joba pitch you are missing out. He has only pitched 8 innings but what has happened in those 8 are really very impressive. He has gone up against some of baseball's best hitters and mowed them down. This kid looks to be something VERY special. He throws gas, not 94, 95 gas. We are talking 98, 99, 100. Then he drops this slider between 85 and 89. I have watched major league hitters swing and miss at this pitch by a foot. Right now he is coming in from the bullpen and dominating. I would love to see him start but in the bullpen is where the Yankees need the most help and god damn it-HE IS HELPING. I wish the Yanks would take the training wheels off him though. The other day he throw 9 pitches (in the process he K's 2 guys) but the Yankees say he can't pitch the next day. So what happens, the Yankees go to extra innings against the Angels. Joba can't come in and we take an L with Sean Henn on the mound. That might be ok if we had a playoff spot locked up or if it was May but it isn't. We are into late August. I can't and won't believe that since Joba threw 9 pitches the day before he can't pitch the next day. In closing I will quote a fan favorite from 1996 "we play today, we win today"

Ahead of Schedule.....as the ship sails on!

As I type this blog on August 13th, my beloved Yankees sit in a tie for the Wildcard. Back on June 27th, or near that date some of my faithful readers will recall a blog I wrote that said by the end of August I wanted to be less then 5 games back in the Wildcard! Well, so far so good. Not only are we tied for the wildcard we are only 4 games in back of Boston for the AL east crown that I so badly want. The Yankees didn't just beat the bad teams they exploded on them. The team on the field now doesn't much resemble the team we put out there in April. Cano is the all star player he was last year, Melky is better then last year. Abreu has turned his funk around and looks like the player we traded for. I must admit I was quick to write the guy off around the all star break. I don't mind be wrong when in turn it makes my ballclub better. I love JOBA! This guy throws heat with a sick slider. He could be what the bullpen was missing all season. My guy Hughes turned in a dominate performance on Friday and Moose has been lights out his last 4 starts. Throw in the old reliable duo of Andy and Roger plus Mr. Groundball and our staff isn't the same that struggled in the early months. The camaraderie in the Yankee dugout is also something that has been fun to watch. We aren't the business as usual bunch of years gone by. The young guys are bringing some emotion to the dugout and it is catching on with the veteran players. I would also like to thank Roger Clemens for standing up for A-rod in Toronto. Anyone who has a clue knows Roger drilled Rios in the back on purpose and I loved every single second of it. They took a shot at A-rod the day before, then again the next night. Once is enough. Twice and then we have a problem. Thanks Roger for doing the dirty work. Someone had too! This week Baltimore comes to town and then the Tigers. I will be back blogging after the week. Let's see if we can pick up anymore ground on a reeling Red Sox Nation!!

Tomorrow is the future and that bitch is bright

Tomorrow I return to Yankee Stadium and I can't wait. As I type, A-rod has still not hit 500 and I get to watch Phil Hughes. The future of the Yankees. I got a feeling I'm going to be a happy man leaving that game tomorrow. A-Rod will go deep for 5 hundo and I'm getting a preview of the future. Phil Hughes will not only be good he will be great. You don't hear this many people sweat a player and the guy suck. Not only that but he already has done some sick shit. How many guys pitch 7 innings of no hit ball in there 2nd start? Not many... Going to be fun....Enjoy it tomorrow fans, where ever you may be get a radio or a tv because A-rod is joining the five hundred club and the future is showing up in the present form. On another note love the spot the Yankees are in right now. They have smashed up the bad teams for the most part and I look forward to the tougher part of the schedule. Bring it!

Mid Season Report Card

The Yankees hit the all star break with a record of 42 & 43, not good but certainly not dead. They are 10 games in back of Boston and 8.5 in back of the wildcard. As I have said in a previous blog the Yankees must come out of the break and beat up on the bad teams that they will be facing. I still believe there is enough talent on the roster to make the playoffs. Time obviously will tell but I will keep the faith. Here are some mid season grades for most of the players. Shout out to my dogs Kevin and Eric Deutsch, look forward to seeing you guys at the wedding this weekend. You can tell me what you think of my report card. Remember keep the faith. We will go down with the ship or sail along to the promise land (October baseball)



A-Rod A+, simply put an outstanding first half. Not only has A-rod hit in the clutch but he does lead the majors in homers and rbi's. Don't forget the guy is playing a gold glove type 3rd base with only 5 errors.

Jorge Posada A+, Hip Hip Jorge has been fantastic this season. He is hitting for an average he has never come near so I do expect that to dip in the 2nd half but he plays almost everyday, throws people out and he had to deal with a revolving door of pitchers to start the season.

Derek Jeter A, if it wasn't for the 13 errors he already has then he to would have been given an A+. Still a great first half of baseball by the Captain.

Hideki Matsui B, A bit inconsisent in this first half but he did drive in 53 runs. If it wasn't for a DL stint earlier this season he could have had 60. Not bad for inconsisent. Expect a better 2nd half.

Melky B-, He got off to a very slow start but has since turned it around. His defense is above average and running on his arm can be very costly. As his 7 assists show. Still a young player with a lot of upside. I hope he is a Yankee for many years

Abreu D, In my mind the biggest disappointment on the team. After watching this guy come over last year and hit .330 I thought Cashman was a genuis and couldn't careless that we were trading Sheffield in the offseason. Boy was I wrong. Hitting .264 with 5 homers and only 16 doubles in the 1st half while playing a bad outfield is just plain terrible. What is even worse is I can smell what Sheff is cooking in the D from here.

Damon D, Getting real tired of this guy always being banged up. Hitting .245 is unacceptable. He can catch just about everything but needs 2 throws to reach the infield. Perhaps he picks up a firstbase glove and gives that a shot. Remember we are stuck with this guy for 2 more years, his arm won't be getting better, only worse. Best stat he has this 1st half is 15 steals without getting caught. Guess his legs aren't that hurt. Stop being a baby and start being the pest you once were.

Cano C+, Robbie has turned it around a little bit as of late but that doesn't make up for his K rate being much higher then last season nor does it make up for his slow start. His defense has been ok and with a good 2nd half he will hit .300 again so keep the faith on Cano. Needs to take more pitches and draw more walks.

Cairo C, He has filled in when needed and done an average job. Average to me is a C some may say a B.

Giambi C-, When he wasn't hurt he was hitting some homers and getting on base a lot. I can't take that he can only DH. He isn't much of an asset on this team anymore. If he comes back this season he needs to be the power hitting on base machine that he once was. Otherwise he sucks

Mientkiewicz D, I don't care how good your glove is, when you hit .225 you suck. End of story

Phillips INCOMPLETE, He has only played 15 games so I can't grade him. I will say I like him at first better then Mientkiewicz or Cairo.

Nieves F, This guy sucks and that is all I have to say about that.

Pavano, I can't put a letter next to a man I want dead. He should be in jail for robbery.

Pettitte B, Up until his last couple of outings Andy had been Dandy! What the hell happened I don't know but my guess here is that he will bounce back with a good 2nd half.

Wang A, He has shown last year was no fluke. His K rate is up this year he hardly walks people and doesn't give up to many homers. Plus he has an ERA under 3.50. With a great 2nd half back to back 19 win seasons are possible. Nothing not to like here

Clemens B , Only 2 bad starts in 6 with the other 4 being good to great. Let's hope he doesn't get an injury and he will deliver.

Mussina D+, 3 good starts out of 14 isn't getting you more then a D+ on my report card. The pharse of pulling a Mussina has started to grow. If you don't know what that is I will explain. When the Yankees score runs to give this guy a lead he proceeds to go out the next inning and give it back.

Igawa F, Whoever scouted this guy and said that the Yankees had to have him should be fired immediately, end of story.

Marinao B, After a slow start has been pretty solid. Needs to get some more work.

Bruney B, One of the few good things coming out of the Yankee bullpen

"Fold up" Farnsworth C-, Just one I would like to see this guy come in and go 1,2,3.

Proctor B-, Unlike most Yankee fans I like what I see out of Proctor. He will pitch everyday and he wants to do good. I respect the burn of his gear. Shows he cares. His walk rate is up and hopefully that comes down in the 2nd half.

Vizcaino D+, Way to many walks. Has more in the first half then he did all of last year. On pace for a lot more innings as well.

Myers F, This guy blows. His job is to get a left out and it seems like he never ever does. Lefties are hitting over .300 against him. Get this bum off my god damn team. I would rather bring Sean Henn in then this guy.

It only takes 1 bad week......

To kill a good month. From June 1st to June 17th the Yankees won 13 out of 16 games. It was during this time that I thought the season was turning for the better. Well my friends a little over a week later and this baseball team went from looking like the championship ballclub they should be to the lousy, can't do anything right, under .500 team that they currently are. The idea of catching Boston has come and gone in my eyes. Obviously I would love to eat my words about that in a few months but I don't see it happening. I know a lot of people want to throw dirt on the Yankees and if you do I can't blame you. They haven't given much of a reason not too. The only thing going for this team is the season still has a lot of games left. I'm not writing this blog on August 27th, it's still June...barely.... After the all star break the season will be determined in 2 parts in my eyes. The first part is July 12th to August 8th. During that time the Yankees will play Tampa 8 times, KC 7 times, Toronto 7 times, and Baltimore and Chicago each 3 times. I would think that the Yankees could turn it around against those teams. Then again after watching them get swept by the Rockies and dropping 2 of 3 from San Fran who the fuck knows. If the Yankees can manage to put together a good stretch of baseball during this time that will set them up for Part 2. From August 10th to August 30th the Yanks will play games against the best AL teams. 8 against the Tigers, 3 against Indians, 3 against the Angels, and 3 against Boston. Mixed in between is a 3 game set against Baltimore. Come the end of August the Yankees need to be within 5 games of the wildcard can't be anymore. Less would be great. That is how I see it folks. Then again, 15 days ago I saw a glimpse of a championship team. Bottom line is I will not turn my back on my beloved Yankees. Nor will I jump ship. I will ride through the storm with a hope that the sun will comeback out. Until next time this is Brother P saying good day everyone.

Winning cures all

6 wins in a row and 9 out of 11. Not to bad for a team left for dead a little over 2 weeks ago. In less then a week the lead that was 14 1/2 games has now been cut to 9 1/2. That is still a nice lead to have. I know if it was my team leading by that many I would be pleased. After this week of games the Yankees get a little bit of a break with the schedule. Just like my good friend Mr. Bean said "it's got to be 2 out of 3". So let's see the Yankees win 4 out of the next 6. Of the past week one game I would like to talk about is Saturday's game. The Rocket RE-Launch game as many people have called it. Over 50,000 were on hand to cheer the Rocket wildly and those fans were not disappointed. Clemens started out a little shaky at first but by the end of 6 innings he was finishing up a quality start and the fans were on there feet cheering him wildly. As Clemens notched his 7th and final K of the day he gave a nice fist pump. A fist pump I remember seeing back in 2000 against Seattle. Back when the Yankees were champs. Clemens can't bring us a title by himself but with some help from the other starters the Yankees can get it done. Get ready for a fun summer friends as the Yankees will chase down the hated rivals. We have only just begun!

Going to be a fun summer

I see flashes. It comes and goes. One day a terrible baseball team, who look just like there record. Then the following day I watch the great Yankees show up. For what it is worth I believe this is going to be a fun summer. What I envision could easily be deemed unrealistic but this my blog and I don't give it a shit. The Yankees currently sit 11 and a half games back in the AL east. Still 6 games under .500. A lot of work ahead but lots of games still to be played. Maybe I feel this way because today is June 6th, the b-day of 1 of my best friends who just also happens to be my Yankee game companion since we could drive. Maybe it's because the Yanks won last night, maybe it's because I believe the flashes of greatness will become bright shiny stars. I can't call it but just stop and envision what I'm about to type....The baseball season enters the final week of August and the Yankees find themselves still 8 games back with Boston coming to town. Then it happens! It's September 1st and the Yankees have just completed a 3 game sweep of the Red Sox and sit 5 games back of Boston with a month to go and another series to be played against the arch rival. Would you sign up for that Yankee fans? I know I would. Don't give up this season is far from over.

We can't be this bad.....or can we?

After being in attendance for Saturday's Yankee game I needed a few days to recover. Plus I wanted to see how the squad would bounce back. To say I'm disappointed would be a complete understatement. So far this season nothing seems to go right at the same time. Early on we scored a lot of runs but had horrible starting pitching. Then the starters got better and the bullpen was crap. Now the hitting is awful. Poor Andy Pettitte, the guy has 2.51 ERA and a losing record! When do the Yankee turn this thing around? I for one will not throw dirt on the grave just yet. Baseball is a long season and although the AL east is a complete long shot at this point a wild card would be just fine with me. Since I was 15 years old all I know is postseason baseball. I will be damned if I quit on my team now. Till next time your devoted Yankee fan Brother P

The turn around has started

Last night was the first time I can ever remember the Yankees having a "must win" game in May. Yet that was the feeling before the game started. To the delight or relief of almost all Yankee fans Andy was taking the ball for us. As he has done many times before Andy was on his game in the big spot. It certainly didn't hurt that Schilling was bad and the Yankees jumped out to a nice early lead. As a die hard fan I will not concede the AL east to Boston just yet. There is still way to much baseball to be played. If the Yankees can put together a nice 10 game game stretch say 7 out of 10 and Boston one bad 10 game stretch, the lead that is 9 1/2 games could easily be 5. This weekend the Angels come to the Bronx. In past years they have certainly gotten the better of the Yankees. Let's hope for 2 out of 3 before we head to Toronto and possibly witness a Rocket sighting.