Andy outshines young Lefty!

Over the last couple of games the Yankees dropped 2 out of 3 with Texas and then dropped the first 2 against the Nation. They battled back to take the next 2 before 1st place Tampa arrived at the Stadium last night. The match up was the young stud Kazmir vs the old veteran lefty Pettitte and it was a good one. It was a great game from the start. Jeter came up huge with a 2 out 2 run double to give Andy all the runs he would need. Kazmir struckout alot of batters early but as with most strike out pitchers that means his pitch count was climbing up and up. By the 6th inning he was gone. Kazmir K'd 9 in 5 innings and only gave up 2 runs but that was plenty. Pettitte was just plain better. The Rays didn't hit more then 2 balls hard all night. As it was Andy only gave up 4 hits in 8 STRONG innings. In the 8th the Yanks tacked on another 3 runs and it was good night the lights. I hope the yankees can build on this game. They had a lot of good things happen for them. Melky hit a solo shot in the 8th after having a rough go of it with 3 K's prior. Cano is starting it heat up and he has been for a the last month or so. He had another 2 hits. Jeter added 2 hits as did Posada, Molina, and Abreu. Today Fat Sidney takes the ball. I the Yankees can get a bunch of runs today. Let's close out the 1st half strong and make a run in the 2nd half.

J-O-B-A gets his first W as a starter

Last night Joba took to the mound in hopes of righting the ship after a disaster of a game on Tuesday. He did just that. He pitched well seemingly getting stronger as the game went on. His control was spotty at times but he only ended up walking 1 guy. As it got late in the game and the Yankees extended there lead I sent a text to a good friend of mine saying Joba is great. He came back with a wonderful quote from a rap song, "we played our cards right and we got the ace" and that is exactly what I believe the Yankees have. As great as Joba was in the bullpen and believe me he was lights out him taking the ball every 5th day and giving us 6 to 8 innings of well pitched baseball is better then him shutting down the 7th and/or 8th innings. I've said all along that I wasn't against him starting. I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot. As much as I loved the Joba/Mo back end of the bullpen I think having a true ACE is even a bit more important. I hope he continues pitching as well as he is. The offense was provided by basically the whole team. Giambi drove in a couple of runs, Abreu snapped out of a funk with 3 hits, Jeter remains hot as his hit streak grows. Cano seems to be awaking. The only issue right now for the Yankees is health. Damon and Matsui have bothed missed the last 2 games. Matsui is having an issue with his knee and can't really play the field. So in the NL park he is sitting. As for Damon he has developed a pain in the arch of his foot. I hope it isn't serious because he has been leading the man for the offense. All in all the Yankees are playing much better baseball. They lost a series last weekend to the Reds and it was the first series loss since late May. Tonight Old Man Moose takes the ball looking for win # 11. Hard to believe really but a very pleasant surprise. Let's keep it rolling before the double dip on Friday versus the scumbag Mets.

Starting to roll and I like it

The Yankees are winners of 6 in a row and go for 7 this afternoon with the Joba taking the ball. They will need him to be good because over the weekend the Yankees were dealt a serious blow to the starting rotation. Wang will be out until September and maybe for the season. He suffered a Lisfranc sprain of the foot while running the bases. God damn interleague play. Right now we need to move forward and keep winning games. The offense is red hot. Giambi continues to sizzle and A-Rod has been unstoppable. Hitting a homer in 4 straight. I hope he makes today 5 straight. Cano may be coming out of his season long slump. I can't be sure with him. Matsui has cooled of a little bit and has is missing his 2nd straight game due to his knee. Let's hope he is ok and won't be out for long. Posada has been great since he has been back. The lineup is just to good to be shut down with A-Rod and Po in it. Totally different team. Over his last 2 starts Andy has allowed 1 run in 15 innings while only walking 2 and K'ing 15. The Yankees are going to need that from him with Wang out. Moose continues to win games as he won # 10 over the weekend. Hard to believe Old Man Moose has been this good but he has. Overall the team is starting to come together. Its not a coincidence the Yankees are 19-9 with A-Rod back. He is that damn good. Let's continue beating up these bullshit NL teams before next weekend. I want to take 3 of 4 from the dirty bag Mets.

32-32 .500 God how I hate that number

The Yankees are yet again sit at .500 after last nights loss. Rasner didn't pitch well last night. It was his worst start of the season. We were behind all night after quickly grabbing a 1-0 lead after 2 innings. Not much to write about here. Giambi had 2 hits including another homer. He really has turned around his season. Matsui is in a mini slump right now as he is only 3 for 18 in the last few games. A-Rod K'd 3 times and the offense was firing on all cylinders. Throw the game away and come out fighting tonight. Tonight Andy Pettitte takes the mound. He has had a very up & down season. Just like the Yankee record sits at .500 so does Andy. He actually has pitched worse then that with his ERA just a tad below 5. I got a feeling though that he is ready for a good start tonight. Let's hope so.

Hold up on covering that casket with dirt!! 30-30

Bottom 9 2 outs nobody on down 2 runs the casket has been closed and lowered into the dirt. As the man reaches for his shovel A-Rod singles. The man stops for a second to see what may transpire. A-Rod goes to 2nd on fielders indifference and Matsui singles him home. Still 2 outs the man turns back the burial of the Yankees while Giambi steps to the plate. He digs his shovel deep into the dirt as Giambi falls behind 0-2. As the man is about to dump the pile of dirt onto the casket the ball is drilled to deep right. The shovel drops to the ground as the ball soars deep into the upper deck. REJOICE MY FRIENDS! As the Yankees show a heart beat. They show life, they show this season has only just begun. Yesterday's game was ugly. After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead the Yankees then surrendered 7 runs. Wang was bad again yesterday. It didn't help that Melky dropped a sure double play ball but even before that Wang was struggling again. The offense is really starting to do some damage. Damon is red hot and if it wasn't for a great defensive play in the bottom of the 8th he might have been the hero and not his mustache wearing buddy the Giambino. Overall this game is one where you are so annoyed that you are about to lose and so god damn happy that you win. I really hope the Yankees can build on this. We stole the series from the Blue Jays and now face a poor Royals team. Posada is his first game back had a single on the first pitch he saw. He added a walk later in the 8th inning only to be erased by Cano, who failed twice at getting a bunt down and then proceed to hit into a DP. Cano will be hearing from me tomorrow if he doesn't hit. I've had enough of his .215 average. So of course right after Cano's DP Betemit singles. This guy has been stroking the ball ever since I started posting blogs again and called him out. He hit a big 2 run homer yesterday to pull us within 1 run. For all the steriod stuff and injuries Giambi has had with the Yankees he really has had a solid career with us. The guy has hit 41, 41 , 12, 32, 37, 14 homers. Obviously the 2 years of 12 and 14 homers are a disappointment and he certainly isn't the player who hit .315, .333, & .342 with the A's but he is a homer run threat who walks alot. I'm glad to see him having another solid season thus far. Let's hope the Yankees can take care of business in these next 4 games. Anything less then 3 out of 4 is unacceptable.....I'm headed to the Bronx tomorrow with my partner in crime aka the birthday boy MJD, Young H, and Big Glenn. I look forward to seeing a win.

Old Man Moose gets it done again

Ever since Mussina signed with the Yankees back in the winter of 2000 he has always been one of my favorites. Last night he showed me why again. He dominated the Blue Jays while never even touching 90 mph on the radar gun. His command was top notch and his movement was the best I've seen all season from him. On a night when the team needed him badly he really stepped up. Over 6 innings Moose allowed 5 hits, a walk and 1 run. He struck out 6 and only had about 3 balls hit hard off of him. At 9 & 4 with his ERA just over 4 he has been a great surprise for the Yankees. Most fans including myself didn't think he had this in him. Glad he has. The offense was pretty well spread out last evening. With the Yankees racking up 12 hits. Damon had a 3 for 4 night with an RBI and Matsui went 2 for 3 with a walk and a RBI. Damon is up to .310 while Hideki is leading the league with a .337 average. Betemit (who I singled out in yesterday's post) hit a line drive yankee stadium homer and Derek Jeter had a hit pushing him past Mickey Mantle on the all time Yankee hit list. The list reads Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter. Pretty sick company to be part of. With Jeter's track record he should pass Ruth this season. Its really only a matter of time before he is # 1 on that list. Its been a pleasure and a privilege to be able to watch Jeter day in and day out. Today the Yankees play an afternoon game and lucky for me I'm the only person in my office. I'll be sitting in front of the TV hoping to see Wang get back on the winning track. Since we just lost 3 in a row before lasts night win I'm guessing we will win today to get back to .500

Roller Coaster Season Continues

Its been a while since my last post and a lot has happened. The Yankees got A-Rod back from the DL and Joba has gone to the starting rotation. Phil Hughes is out until July and Kennedy recently hit the DL as well. Reports are Posada could be back as early as tonight. I hope that's true. The Yankees can't get anything going. After a few good wins they have fallen right back to losing. Surprisingly Mussina has the most wins on the staff. If you would have told me that before the season I would have laughed at you. After a 6 & 0 start from Wang he hasn't won a game since. He has lost a couple and hasn't pitched as well as we need him too. Andy has also had an up and down season. 2 good starts, 2 bad, 1 good, 1 bad....it's just been that type of year thus far. Jeter got real slumpy over the last 15 games or so but the last 3 he has shown some life. Abreu has cooled off since a great start but still has his average near the .300 mark. Matsui has done nothing but rake this season. He has been the most consistent player all year long. Damon has been hitting the shit out of the ball as well. Giambi had a great May after just an awful April. The catching position misses Posada badly. He can't be replaced. Melky has had an up and down season as well. Basically if you look around the team that is what you will see. Then look at the record and that is what you get. The players play well at times, they play like shit at times and that's pretty much how you get to be a .500 ball club. The guy that is driving me crazy is Robinson Cano. After a great spring this guy hasn't done jack shit. He doesn't walk and right now he sure as hell doesn't hit. I know in the past he has started very similar to this but come on now. The team needs him to turn it around. The bench has done nothing all season. Betmit, Duncan, Ensberg (just designated), Gonzalez are certainly not helping the cause when called upon. As for Joba, he started his first game last night last a big 2.1 innings and was gone. The whole thing was a sham. Why start the kid his first start ever at Yankee stadium? The Yankees could of gave Pettitte an extra day and started him on the road. Instead he goes up against the Blue Jays at home in front of a berserk crowd and the other guy pitching is Halladay. Not to mention we limited his pitch count to 65.... It was a recipe for disaster from the very start. The Yankees have a need in the starting rotation with the injuries to Kennedy and Hughes so I don't have any problem at all in giving Joba a shot. I hope it works out but what it does is leave a huge hole in the bullpen. With Joba in the bullpen the game could easily be a 6 inning game with Joba & Mo taking care of the last 9 outs. Now forget about it. Its a nail biter till Mo enters the game. Farnsworth is back to worthless, Hawkins is a piece of shit nigger. Who will never get an important out for us ever. We have no lefty out of the pen which amazes the shit out of me when our payroll is over 200 mill. All in all lots of games left and lots of things to correct. Hopefully Joba will be the ace of the staff in a month from now. Hopefully Cano will get his head out from his ass. Hopefully A-Rod starts hitting homers. Right now I'm hopefully.

Bullpen & Offense gets it done!

So Wang gives up 8 runs in 4 innings that has got to be a lose for the Yankees right? WRONG, the bats were out last night as the Yankees scored 15 runs! They scored early, they scored in the middle, and they scored late. Everyone in the lineup was either driving in runs or scoring them. Abreu got us started with a 2 run jack in the first followed by an A-BOMB from A-Rod, and boy was it a BOMB! Wang just didn't have his good stuff. It happens the offense picked him up and that's good. Hawkins stepped up and pitched 2 scoreless innings, he was followed by Traber who came into to get Papi out and did. Right now Papi doesn't look right. Anyone could get him out so let's see what happens later in the season when Traber is matched up against him. For last night Traber got the job done. Bruney then followed and came through with 1.2 shutout innings. It was good to see these 2 bounce back from the Tampa game. Let's see what the offense has tonight versus Beckett. I would like nothing more then to knock this guy around.

Old Reliable to the Rescue!

Nothing like watching Andy get us back on the winning track. After a little bit of a rough start Andy settled down and delivered a very well and much needed pitched game. He went 6 & 2/3 giving up 5 hits while walking 2. Only 1 hit was an extra base hit. The offense hit 3 solo shots, one each from Melky, A-Rod, and Posada, who DH'd last night. Joba and Mariano pitched so you know it's a winner. They combined for 2.1 innings of no run ball. To date the 2 have combined to pitch more then a full game of shutout ball while only walking 1 guy. That my friends, is a winning formula. Tonight the first series of Yankee/Red Sox get under way. Let's take it to this bums!

Yikes! someone get Franchise a map! 4 &4 after 8 games

Yesterday afternoon turned out to be a bad day for the Yankees. Hughes was all over the place. He just wasn't throwing strikes. A big difference from his first start. A-Rod was lost, striking out 4 times. Betemit K'd 3 times and all in all a BAD game. Posada left the game in the 6th with a "dead arm" and before he did the Royals ran all over him. Gaithright runs like a deer. I hope Posada can get better soon. The Royals don't seem to be the same push over Royals. I really like there closer and after a shaky start to the game Bannister settled down. Tonight Greinke takes on Kennedy. I'll be very interested to see what Kennedy does tonight. He pitched against the Royals last season so I think this should be a good test. Let's hope he doesn't pitch like he did the first time out

Moooooose! 4 & 3 after 7 games

Now that was a pleasant surprise last evening. As Mike Mussina pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball. The only blemish a solo shot by dirt bag Johnny Gomes. Mussina was moving the ball in and out and changing speeds very nicely. I don't think I saw a pitch hit higher then 86 mph on the gun but last night that didn't matter. Not to many balls were even hit hard off old man Moose. He only allowed 1 other hit besides the homer. All and all a very solid 6 from Moose. Bruney pitched the 7th and he continues to impress me. Farnsworthless had a 1-2-3 8th, now that's a shock. The Yankees could really use a nice season from this overpaid bum. Hawkins was shaky in the 9th but he escaped unscathed. The offense was out early as Bobby Abreu hit a 2 run homer in the 1st. He has had a really nice start to the season and last night was no different as he went 3 for 3 with a walk. Matsui stayed hot with 2 more hits and 2 more RBI's. A-Rod chipped in a rbi and was not to pleased with a called 3rd strike late in the game. In my opinion for good reason, the ball was outside! Cano is off to a horrible start. He isn't hitting and has already made 3 errors. The young man needs to get it together. He had a great spring and I hope some warm weather will get his bat going. The only issue with the game last night was Jeter. He left after the 1st inning with a strained quad. Early reports are he isn't playing today and could miss up to a week. Let's hope that is the most he misses. This afternoon the Yankees take on the Royals for there opening day. My man Phil Franchise takes the hill vs former Met Brian Bannister (mets could use this guy). If each pitch how they did there first times out runs will be at a minimum. Let's build on the 2 game winning streak today! Get is done Franchise!

3 & 3 after the first week

So the bats are still sleeping and besides Phil Franchise and Wang the starters have been bad. Hawkins and Farnsworthless are up to there old tricks giving up lots of runs but I'm not worried. Not in the least. The Yankees are bound to start hitting. Tonight the Yankees send Old man Moose back out to the mound to start the week off. He wasn't terrible last time he pitched but he was far from good. I don't know how long or how many bad starts this guy is going to get before he is exiled. I've supported Moose for almost his entire career with the Yankees but there comes a time when a pitcher just doesn't have it anymore (see David Cone) I'm not saying the Old Moose is done just yet but he could be. I'll hold off burying him until the end of May. The early season feel for this team is 1996. If you haven't watched any of the 3 wins this season it's simple JOBA + MO = WIN. Yesterday Wang went 6 strong innings before getting a little tired and getting into trouble in the 7th. Not to worry JOBA to the rescue. An inning earlier then his previous 2 outings but the result the same - LIGHTS OUT! This guy is nasty! I hope the Yankees leave him in the bullpen. With him and Mo out there the other teams have to get a lead early and hang on. Cause if they don't they will lose. I hope to see Kennedy bounce back his next start because he was awful Friday night. Andy will be fine, at least I hope so and Wang looks like the 19 game winner he was the last 2 seasons. All in all a very average 6 games with lots of upside and a few spots of concern. Let's see what old man Moose has tonight

Phil Franchise shows promise of bright future

So last night I attended the Yankee game and got a nice up close look of the future. His name - Phil Hughes. The young 21 year old went 6 strong innings giving up 2 runs. He ran through the first 3 innings setting down the jays in order. He consistently jumped a head in the count pumping strikes in. He was composed and didn't seem to get rattled when the Jays put together a threat. I really liked what I saw. The bats still need to wake up. I'm sure the cold weather isn't helping at all. Let's hope the offense can exploded real soon. I met Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants at the game. Very big man and extremely nice. Plenty of people got his autograph and if it wasn't for Yankee stadium security I think he would have kept on signing away. SUPER BOWL CHAMPS BABY! Sorry but that still has not gotten old! Now back to the game, the lefty Traber came in for 1 batter and did his job. Striking out the 1 man he faced. Next up was Bruney who got the next 2. The 8th inning clearly belongs to one man - JOBA. The Yankees are basically playing a 7 inning game. With JOBA in the 8th and Marinao in the 9th I've got a hunch that the Yankee record when leading after 7 innings is going to be something along the lines of 85 & 1. So after the home opener was pushed back the yankees got 3 games in and walked away winning 2 out of 3 and only scoring a total of 8 runs. Good sign in my opinion.

Opening Night? No April's fools joke here

After a rain filled day on Monday that forced the Yankee home opener to be delayed a day, baseball was played last night at the big ballpark in the Bronx. I was lucky enough to be in attendance for my 12th straight home opener and it was well worth it yet again. The Yankees won there home opener for the 11th straight time and it was done in a quick manner. A nice 3-2 win to send all the fans home happy. Wang pitched a strong game, he gave up only a few hard hit balls while going 7 innings of 2 run ball. Any team will take that from there starter. Next up was the phenom JOBA and although he walked a batter he didn't give up a hit and he struck out 2 of the 3 hitters. Then it was time for Mariano. GAME OVER! Drive home safely. The offense started early with a 2 out RBI double from A-Rod for the Yankees first run. A solo shot from Melky (who also had some nice catches) in the bottom of the 6th got the Yankees back to 2-2. They were able to get another run across the plate an inning later for the 3rd and decisive run. Tonight it is Old man Moose vs AJ Burnett. Let's hope the offense has more then 3 runs in them tonight.