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.