Top 8, Down By 3, No Outs, Bases Juiced, A-Rod Up…Do We Have A Ballgame Here?
Posted by Steve L. on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (3)
Bang. Two ribbie single.
Yup. This one is now on and hot!
The Great Pumpkin Sabathia Pulls A Rock
Posted by Steve L. on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (4)
I’ve got no issue with Big CC wanting to play dress-up and doing the trick-or-treat thing. I’m sure his big bones ache for such holidays.
But, did he have to do it so early? And, worse, did he have to decide to go as A.J. Burnett? Really.
Meanwhile, on the other side of this game…well…do I have to say it? Granted, I type this in the top of the fifth inning and things can change…
Unacceptable
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (4)
No, the game isn’t over. Hell, it’s barely begun. But a three-run HR on a hanging slider over the plate? What is this, the 2007 and 2008 playoffs? Come on, CC. You weren’t sharp in Game 1 of the ALDS and found a way to work through six innings. This, however, is just ridiculous. Get it together!
Man up, fatso.
Simulations Don’t Favor Yankees In ALCS
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (5)
As the headline states, Dan Szymborski of Baseball Think Factory ran 1,000 simulations* of the Yankees-Rangers ALCS and, in 53% of the cases, the Rangers ended up winning the American League Pennant. Take from that what you will.
In 1,000 simulations of the ALCS, the Rangers came out on top 53 percent of the time; that’s the closest of the playoff simulations to date. In nearly two-thirds of the sims, the ALCS will go six or seven games.
Lee is a major factor here — and partially because the series likely goes deep (he’s not starting until Game 3, but could come back for a Game 7). First, consider this, as pointed out by one of ESPN’s main baseball researchers, Mark Simon, here: the Yankees lost their past nine regular-season games against a lefty starter. Of course, they beat Francisco Liriano in the ALDS, but there is no doubt that they are a bit more vulnerable to southpaws. And Texas features Lee and C.J. Wilson, two tough lefties.
In these simulations, the Rangers get to the World Series 77 percent — 77 percent! — of the time when Lee’s ERA is under 3.00 for the series; if it’s over 5.00, that number drops all the way to 31 percent.
A.J. Burnett is another major factor here. He will start in this series (Game 4). The sims don’t like that. CC Sabathia might be a better bet, even on short rest.
A third factor is home-field advantage. It didn’t come into play much during the AL division series (the home team only won a single game) and while home-field advantage is smaller in baseball than in other sports — enough to turn a .500 team into a .540 team — every small advantage is crucial when two teams are evenly matched.
Overall, both offenses did well in the simulations. Most of the Yankees, even Derek Jeter (.275/.346/.434) — coming off one of his worst seasons ever — did well.
I personally have the Yankees going to the World Series by beating Texas in six tense, agonizing games. That being said, the simulations do raise some valid points: Cliff Lee is a great pitcher, AJ Burnett is likely to get torched and Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano are, to varying degrees, neutralized by good left-handed pitching.
I stand by my prediction of Yankees in 6 but this computer simulation definitely reinforces my view that this series will be grueling. Hopefully, however, the final result will give more truth to the old saying “that’s why they play the games.”
Enjoy Game 1 everyone!
*Subscription required.
Tom Hicks Regrets Mistake In Career Full Of Them
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (2)
Straight from the “No S**t, Sherlock” department, Tom Hicks says that he regrets offering Alex Rodriguez his then-record 10 year, $252 million contract in 2001.
If I had to put one team (the Rangers) into bankruptcy, still owed Alex Rodriguez $25M and had a restive creditor (The Royal Bank of Scotland) pushing my sale of another team (Liverpool FC), I’d be in a pretty sour mood too. As such, it’s no surprise that Tom Hicks isn’t a big fan of A-Rod’s these days. One could argue that Hicks’s own stupidity — manifested most “brilliantly” by the A-Rod deal — has led him to where he is today.
In any case, Tom, it was nice knowing you. You no longer matter.
Drawing Party Lines In The 2010 ALCS
Posted by Steve L. on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (0)
We know that some of these guys will be very interested in the outcome of the 2010 ALCS. But, will all of them be interested? And, for those not involved in the games, which one of their old franchises will they be rooting for?
Alex Rodriguez John Ellis Alfonso Soriano John Kennedy Aurelio Rodriguez John Wetteland Bernie Allen Kenny Lofton Bill Skowron Kenny Rogers Bill Sudakis Kevin Brown Bob Tewksbury Marcus Thames Bobby Bonds Mark Teixeira Bucky Dent Marshall Bridges Cecilio Guante Mickey Rivers Chad Curtis Mike Kekich Claudell Washington Mike Pagliarulo Cliff Johnson Mike Stanley Dale Long Mike Stanton Dale Mohorcic Oscar Gamble Doc Medich Randy Velarde Dock Ellis Ricky Ledee Don Slaught Roberto Kelly Doyle Alexander Ron Hansen Elliott Maddox Roy Smalley Eric Soderholm Ruben Sierra Frank Fernandez Ryne Duren Gary Ward Sandy Alomar Sr. Gene Woodling Shane Spencer Goose Gossage Sparky Lyle Harry Bright Steve Hamilton Hideki Irabu Steve Howe Jay Howell Steve Karsay Jeff Nelson Steve Kemp Jeff Robinson Toby Harrah Jim Coates Todd Zeile Jim Leyritz Tom Sturdivant Jim Mason Wayne Tolleson Jim Spencer Xavier Hernandez
Source: Complete Baseball Encyclopedia.
[Note: This is not a complete list of those who fall into this bucket - just some of the more notable ones. Also, sure, some of these guys go back to D.C. days. So what? And, lastly, yeah, I know some of these guys are now deceased. And, if that's the case, just pretend that they were still with us and apply the question.]
Enjoy the games!
Yankees To Bleacher Creatures: Keep It Clean During YMCA
Posted by Steve L. on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (6)
O.K., Yanks, what about this one now?
2010 A.L.C.S. Prediction
Posted by Steve L. on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (4)
The first team to win two games in the ALCS this year will go on to win the series and advance to the Fall Classic.
You read it here first.
So, if Sabathia wins Game 1 and Lee wins Game 3, that puts all the pressure on Game 2 – and Phii Hughes for the Yankees and Colby Lewis for the Rangers.
Yeah, by Sunday morning, we’ll know which team will be representing the American League in the World Series.
Can’t Hardly Wait, Yankees Style
Posted by Steve L. on October 14th, 2010 · Comments (2)
For the story, start here and then see this one.
Big Stein was a regular Oliver Barrett IV, back in the day, eh?
“Man-Ban” Earning His Spurs
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 14th, 2010 · Comments (0)
That little play on the American West and cowboy attire is an allusion to the pleasant news filed by Keith Law* from the Arizona Fall League regarding Yankees LHP Manny Banuelos (Double-A, Trenton Thunder).
From K-Law:
In Wednesday’s night game, Yankees lefty Manny Banuelos showed a good combination of above-average stuff, command, and an easy delivery. He worked at 90-93 mph, locating the pitch to both sides of the plate, with a straight change at 79-81 with very good arm speed. His curveball has an 11/5 break and good depth, and he commanded the pitch about as well as he did the fastball, throwing it for quality strikes and putting it below the zone as needed. He throws from a 3/4-slot and the ball comes out of his hand very easily and deceptively quick. He’s 5-foot-11 but well built, certainly strong enough to be a starter; the only concern I’d have off this look was that hitters did square up his fastball when he came toward the middle of the zone, as the pitch has some downhill plane but not much lateral movement.
K-Law’s word isn’t the gospel but he’s got a pretty solid scouting eye. If he’s saying something positive, it makes me feel good.
*Subscription required
Frankie Piliere Scouts The ALCS
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 14th, 2010 · Comments (2)
Ex-Texas Rangers scout Frankie Piliere identified four matchups worth noting in the upcoming American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
The two areas of most interest to me are how Hughes will approach the potent Rangers lineup in Game 2 and how C.J. Wilson will attack Yankee batters in Game 1.
Regarding the two matchups (with emphasis added):
Phil Hughes vs. Texas:
Hughes put the Minnesota Twins to sleep in Game 3 of the Division Series primarily on the strength of his fastball. Odds are he won’t be able to use a similar approach against the Texas Rangers. The good news is, he is perfectly capable of changing his approach. Texas did most of its damage against Tampa Bay on the fastball and didn’t miss too many mistakes over the heart of the plate.
Hughes gets a lot of outs on his fastball, which sneaks up on hitters at 92-94 mph with his short arm action and big life through the zone. That fastball still won’t be an easy task for the Rangers bats, but his curveball and changeup will have to play a much bigger role. There is one particular hitter in the Rangers lineup that right about now would love to see a pitcher primarily throwing fastballs, and that’s Josh Hamilton.
I find this interesting because so much has been made of Hughes as a predominantly two-pitch pitcher (fastball/curveball). Granted, Hughes mixes in two different types of fastballs — a straight four-seamer (58% of all pitchers in 2010) and a cutter (16.6%) that tails away from righties — but the fact remains that Hughes tends to work in the 89-93 mph range with his two fastballs and still threw them a combined 75.8% of the time, against 16.6% for his curveball. Considering Hughes only threw 83 changeups all season (2.7%), I’m curious where Piliere gets the belief that Hughes “is perfectly capable of changing his approach.” In 2010, it doesn’t appear that such a belief is particularly well-founded.
C.J. Wilson vs. New York:
You could make the case that C.J. Wilson is the top X-factor in this series, period. Texas has a good shot at taking two games simply on the strength of Cliff Lee’s performances. If Wilson can pitch up to his potential and neutralize the Yankee lefties then suddenly the Rangers have a very legitimate chance to steal the whole thing.
Wilson did a superb job following Lee’s lead against the Rays, using many of the same patterns, particularly against their right-handed hitters. He’ll be facing New York this time around, and he’ll have to keep his command in check if he’s going to succeed. Most importantly, he has to prove very early on that he can throw his slider and changeup for strikes.
Against most lineups, you can get away with throwing strikes with your fastball and making hitters chase secondary offerings down and out of the zone. It’s not quite that simple against the Yankees. Wilson of course doesn’t have the pinpoint command of Lee, but he’ll have to be very fine with those secondary pitches to keep New York off his fastball.
As I noted yesterday, Wilson experienced mixed results against the Yankees in three starts this season. Although he struck out a high degree of the Yankees he faced (11.9 K/9), he was nevertheless hittable (6.91 ERA/1.81 WHIP) in his 14.1 innings vs. New York. Further, Wilson is prone to losing the strike zone, allowing 4.1 BB/9 with a less-than-stellar 1.83 K/BB ratio. Given the patience the Yankees exhibit and their ability to hit all types of pitches (see FanGraphs’ Pitch Type Values), I have confidence that the Yankees will present a far greater challenge to C.J. Wilson than the Rays did in his previous start.
THT’s Top 10 Yankees Prospects
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 14th, 2010 · Comments (2)
The Hardball Times has released their take on who the 10 best prospects are in the Yankee farm system. Take a look here at the 2011 list and check out the 2010 list just for comparison’s sake.
I not only agree with the names they’ve chosen but with the order in which they’ve chosen them. It’s a healthy mix of players in various stages of development, from the very nearly MLB-ready (Jesus Montero/Adam Warren) to the raw but talented (Cito Culver/Slade Heathcott/Gary Sanchez).
* * * * *
One of the joys of baseball is all of the different seasons one can enjoy: the excitement of the Hot Stove League, the hopefulness of spring training, the drama of postseason baseball set against autumn chill. For me, prospect season is one of those seasonal joys. As the regular season winds down and teams (and various baseball-interested media outlets) take stock of the year that was, we get more and more of these lists which rank prospects and give us names to look forward to and to watch for in the coming months and years ahead.
I will try to remain focused on the playoffs for as long as the Yankees in the running for their 28th World Championship. Once their run is over — no matter how it turns out — I will immediately turn my attention over to prospect season. Hope you don’t mind.
Why I Don’t Like The ALCS Playoff Rotation
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 14th, 2010 · Comments (0)
Let me begin by saying that this is merely a quibble and not an all-out beef…
I just don’t care for Girardi’s announcement that AJ Burnett will be the Game 4 starter for the Yankees in this round of the playoffs. I’d rather the team maintain the flexibility to pencil in CC Sabathia on three days rest if the situation — a 1-2 or 0-3 series deficit — necessitates such a measure. By announcing Burnett as the Game 4 starter, the team opens itself up to second-guessing if Burnett pitches horrendously (as one can fairly expect, given his 2010 performance) and, even worse, would appear to be in panic mode if Sabathia does end up taking the Game 4 start on short rest.
What’s the upside to announcing the Game 4 starter at this juncture? Unless there is an MLB rule requiring teams to announce their playoff pitching rotation I don’t see the benefit to locking in a course of action and then having to deal with the inevitable questions if changes are made thereafter.
Certainly external distractions are nothing new and no big deal. Oftentimes these so-called distractions actually appear to be a bigger deal to fans and media than to the team itself. Nevertheless, if conflict or the potential for distractions can be avoided, wouldn’t that be the smarter route to take?
The Rangers It Shall Be
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 13th, 2010 · Comments (22)
Cliff Lee dominated the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 last night, just as he did last week in the series opener. By pitching a total of 16 innings, allowing only 11 base-runners and striking out 21 batters, it’s safe to say that Cliff Lee was a one-man wrecking crew for the Rangers (although 2B Ian Kinsler’s .444/.500/.944 with 3 HR pitched in his fair share as well).
So there you have it, folks. The Yankees and Rangers commence their best-of-seven American League Championship Series on Friday evening at the oddly named Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. A few details to whet your appetites:
2010 Regular Season:
Yankees: 95-67, 2nd in AL East (52-29 home, 43-38 road)
Rangers: 90-72, 1st in AL West (51-30 home, 39-42 road)
Head-to-Head:
Yankees and Rangers split season series 4-4
Yankees 3-0 vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium
Rangers 4-1 vs. Yankees at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Yankees@home vs. Rangers: 17 RS, 6 RA
Rangers@home vs. Yankees: 27 RS, 22 RA
Game 1 Starters:
CC Sabathia: 21-7, 3.18 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 7.46 K/9
CC Sabathia vs. Rangers (2010): 1 GS, 1-0, 6 IP, 1.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 9 K
CJ Wilson: 15-8, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.50 K/9
CJ Wilson vs. Yankees (2010): 3 GS, 0-1, 14.1IP, 6.91 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 19 K
Most Yankee fans (myself included) were rooting for the Rangers under the notion that Tampa was a better team. Well, we’ve gotten what we wished for so let’s see if we were right to hope for Texas.
Yankees Among Baseball America’s Top 20 Prospects In International League
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 12th, 2010 · Comments (8)
Finally, Baseball America has released their final group of top-20 prospects for the affiliated minor leagues. In this edition, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees placed three members of their club on the exclusive list.
4. Jesus Montero, C, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’4″/225
Age: 20
Signed: Venezuela ’06
2010 Stats: 453 AB, 131 H, 58 XBH, 46 BB, 91 SO, .289/.353/.517In a league full of catching prospects, Montero was the IL’s postseason all-star at the position. After an uncharacteristically slow start, he batted .351 with 14 homers in 44 games in the second half. He was the youngest regular in the league.
In terms of hitting for average and power, Montero may have the highest ceiling in the minor leagues. He has tremendous strength and a knack for barreling balls when he gets in rhythm, as he did in the second half. He showed more patience at the plate in 2010 than he had in the past.
Scouts and managers still aren’t sold that Montero can be a regular catcher, however. He allowed a league high 15 passed balls and 99 steals while throwing out 23 percent of basestealers. He has maintained his athleticism and agility as he has gotten older, but he’s still below-average in both departments.
9. Ivan Nova, RHP, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’4″/210
Age: 23
Signed: Dominican Republic ’05
2010 Stats: 145 IP, 2.86 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 115 SO, .250 BAATwo years ago, New York left Nova off its 40-man roster and temporarily lost him to San Diego in the Rule 5 draft. But he didn’t stick with the Padres, and their loss is the Yankees’ gain. He went 10-1, 2.19 after May, prompting an August promotion to the Bronx.
“He throws nice and easy, (topping out at) 95-96,” Toledo manager Larry Parrish said, “with a power curveball and a nice little slider and even a decent changeup.”
Even with Nova’s fastball velocity increasing to a steady 92-94 mph, his fastball command and secondary pitches aren’t consistent enough for him to be a true frontline starter. He can rush his delivery and lose his feel for the strike zone, but he’s more hittable when he falls behind in the count.
13. Eduardo Nunez, 3B/SS, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’0″/155
Age: 23
Signed: Dominican Republic ’04
2010 Stats: 464 AB, 134 H, 32 XBH, 32 BB, 60 SO, .289/.340/.381After an erratic track record in the lower minors, Nunez put together his second fine season in a row at higher levels. Managers rated him the best defensive shortstop and infield arm in the IL, and he made just 10 errors in 101 games at short. He makes difficult plays in the hole and on the run look easy.
“He’s a very athletic shortstop,” Sarbaugh said. “I saw him last year too and really liked the way he played the game.”
Derek Jeter becomes a free agent at season’s end, but Nunez is more likely to fill a utility role for the Yankees. He’s a bottom-of-the-order who makes contact but doesn’t draw many walks or hit for much power. He’s an above-average runner and stole 23 bases in 28 attempts.
Montero’s presence on this list is a no-brainer. As for Nova and Nunez, there’s definitely some value there — specifically for Nunez in a utility role as Ramiro Pena’s replacement — but the upside is clearly more limited.
Follow Up To Baseball America’s EL Top Prospects List
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 11th, 2010 · Comments (3)
Given both the number of Yankees on Baseball America’s list of top prospects for the Eastern League and the number of Yankees that warranted consideration, it was to be expected that BA.com’s post-list chat would be extremely long and very Trenton “Thunder-centric.”*
*Access to this chat requires a subscription to Baseball America
(more…)
My Twins Fans Reaction To The 2010 ALDS Vs. Yankees
Posted by Rob Mains on October 10th, 2010 · Comments (5)
Here we go again.
As I said to a friend some time ago, watching the Twins play the Yankees in the playoffs is like watching a video of your kid getting into a car accident. Actually, for me, it’s too horrible to watch. I knew what the outcome would be, so I found other things to do when the Twins were on. Work. Clean out the basement. Catch up on emails. Go to bed early. Just avoid watching that car accident.
Going into the series, it really was easy to predict the outcome. I know the sportyak radio was dominated by talk about how poor the Yankees’ pitching looked at season’s end. And it’s true that over the last two weeks of the season, Yankee starters had an ERA of 6.68, worst in the majors. But you know who was second-worst? The Twins at 6.31. And while the starters stinking it up for you guys were not the guys starting in the DCS (OK, Pettitte, but he was pitching himself back into form), each of our three playoff starters had 6+ ERAs (Duensing 6.11, Pavano 6.55, Liriano 7.56). And there is the small matter about the Twins’ best player having a bad knee and second-best player out with a concussion. Imagine the Yankees with Cano playing on a bad wheel and Tex or A-Rod on the DL, with a rotation of Vazquez, Burnett, and Moseley. That’s why this seemed preordained to Twins fans.
Then there’s the whole caliber-of-play thing. The Twins won a division that had two teams playing over-.500 ball. The AL East had four. In our division, the third-place team’s No. 3 starter had a 5.53 ERA and they had only one player with over 15 homers. In your division, the third-place team was the Red Sox. The Yankees’ record was harder to come by than the Twins’.
But yeah, there’s more to it than that. The Twins under Gardenhire are now 18-57 against the Bombers. That’s not just bad, that’s historically awful. This year’s Pirates were the worst team in the majors. Their winning percentage was .352. You probably remember the terrible 2003 Tigers, who went 43-119, good for a .265 winning percentage. They wrote books about the 1962 Mets, who went 40-120, a .250 winning percentage. The Gardenhire Twins against the Yankees have a .240 winning percentage. Over the course of a season, that would put the Twins two games BEHIND the ’62 Mets. Marvelous Marv, Choo-Choo Coleman, a rotation with two 20-game losers…they played better ball than Twins have over the last 9 years against the Yanks.
So what is it? Don’t give me the Yankee mystique thing. We got that monkey off our backs when Killebrew hit the last-of-the-ninth, two-out, 3-2 count home run the day before the ASB in ’65. (Okay, I know, most of you probably weren’t even alive then, but play along with me here.) Twins as chokers? Well, maybe, but you don’t win six division titles in nine years by choking. Bad luck or timing? Losing Morneau for the season (and we hope not longer) on a freak play, and having Mauer hurt his knee in the season’s closing days, didn’t help, and we lost our closer before the season started. But would those three have bridged the 10-run gap over three games?
Nah, I go for the simple answer. As many of you probably know, the only two teams to have lost four Super Bowls are the Bills and Vikings. I once read a book about the Vikings’ misadventures. The author concluded that while the Vikes should’ve beaten the Chiefs in 1970 (I refuse to do the Roman numeral thing), their losses against the Dolphins in ’74, the Steelers in ’75, and the Raiders in ’77 were against the three dominant franchises of their era. Simply put, the better team won. I think the same thing is going on when the Twins play the Yankees. I can’t explain the .240 winning percentage, but I certainly can explain the losing record, and the oh-fer in the postseason. The better team won.
Just don’t ask me to watch it.
_______________________
Rob Mains is a native Minnesotan who started attending Twins games during the Kennedy Administration. As he is not blond, Lutheran, or a hockey fan, he was banished to the state of New York in 1980, where he has been subject to a daily bombardment of Yankee iconography ever since.
October 9th Vs. The Twins
Posted by Corey Italiano on October 10th, 2010 · Comments (4)
This game, in a way, reminded me of back in April and May when the Yanks were clicking on all cylinders. Hughes dominated in this outing and the Yanks bats came alive.
Boy did Hughes come up big tonight huh? As much as I hate seeing the same “WonderPhil” graphic every time Hughes strikes a batter our, there was really no other way to describe the outing from him. 7 innings, 0 runs and on 4 hits and a lone walk. There is not a single person that would have pegged Hughes for an outing like this back in April. The best part, for me? Chad Jennings had this gem :
Hughes was asked if this is a start he’ll always remember: “I hope not,” he said. “Hopefully it’s a World Series win that I’m remembering.”
That’s what I’m talking about.
I also want to give some “props” to David Robertson and Boone Logan. They bailed the Yanks out big time with the based loaded against the heart of the Twins order. Can’t really get on Wood too much, that’s his M.O. Strike a guy out, walk a guy, have the ball get hit hard and pray it finds a glove. But when he’s on, he’s on (as he has been).
Offensively, Marcus Thames came through with the huge “steak in the heart” home run. He’s been doing this all year, and was one of my key ingredients to the Yanks post season future in 2010.
One thing I want to say about the crowd. While playoff games certainly have an added level of electricity with the crowd, this crowd seemed to start to leave around the 5-6th inning. Not sure if you could see it from TV, but I’d say about a quarter of the crowd left by then if not more. To them, I ask, what is wrong with you?
All in all, it was a pretty awesome experience (first playoff game) and I had some great seats up in the Jim Beam suite. I had a pretty spectacular view of the game so I thought I’d share a couple of pictures after the jump.
When Ten Cubed Equals Two Large
Posted by Steve L. on October 10th, 2010 · Comments (10)
Yeah, I know, ten cubed equals one thousand…not two.
But, today is 10/10/10 – and that’s sorta like ten cubed. And, today is the 2,000th day that WasWatching.com has been in existence. Hence, “When Ten Cubed Equals Two Large.”
Two thousand days…and I don’t even want to think about how many hours over those days…it’s been alotta time. A whole heap of alotta time.
I started this blog as an outlet. A vehicle to share in the celebration of things in Yankeeland that I found enjoyable. Also, a mechanism to facilitate some venting on Yankees-related items that I found unpleasing. In the process, over these past five and a half years, I’ve also put myself “out there” to a fair degree…allowing many to get to know me, somewhat, through my sundry posts these last 2,000 days.
For the most part, it’s been a very interesting and fun journey. And, for sure, it’s been a learning experience. Related, whether you’ve been reading this blog for the last 5 1/2 years or for some portion of time less than that, please accept my thanks for your contribution towards those results.
Good lookin’ out. And, may you always hang wit’em.
Stepping Up & Beyond
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (5)
There were more than a few reasons, in my opinion, why Phil Hughes could have spit the bit this evening. However…man…did he step up…then some and beyond. In terms of proving something, #65 made a…may I say?…”Hughes Statement” in this game. All things considered, it’s probably the most impressive game I’ve ever seen him pitch. Yeah, I know, “house money” and all that. But, nonetheless the dude was throwing hand grenades in this one, and, pitching with a look on his mug that said “OK, go ahead, try and hit this!” Gotta love it.
So, now, for the 14th time in the last 35 years, the New York Yankees will play in the League Championship Series. Do that math. That’s a .400 batting average. And, in 11 of those 13 previous times, they won the ALCS. Yup, lost only twice in thirteen tries. Hopefully, that’s still stuck on “two” after the 2010 ALCS.
Enjoy the games.
No Lie This Time
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (4)
Today is the 25th anniversary of “Commando.”
Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?
I lied.
Com’on, a quarter-century, already? That’s crazy…but, true.
This Clinches It
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (0)
Have you seen Mark Simon’s Yankees’ All-Time Clincher Team? Great stuff.
And Phil Hughes Makes It 157…
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (1)
Enjoy the game tonight!
He Wore 13 Long Before A-Rod In Yankeeland
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (9)
One of my favorite all-time nicknames…
Walt “No Neck” Williams. You just don’t see nicknames like that in baseball anymore.
Here’s some trivia for you…No Neck has a tie to fellow former Yankees Dick Tidrow and Stan Bahnsen. Actually, there were a lot of former Yankees in this game. Can you count them all?
Add Berkman & Wood Deals To Cashman’s Cooperstown Plaque
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (13)
Via Brian Costello -
Brian Cashman ran into his old boss, Bob Watson, before Game 1 of the ALDS in Minnesota.
The two stopped and had been talking for a minute when Lance Berkman came up in the conversation. Cashman told his predecessor as Yankees general manager that Berkman had a rough start in New York, but felt positive about what the designated hitter would do in the playoffs.
“I just had a feeling he would get a big hit for us,” Cashman said.
It didn’t take long. Berkman came through in Game 2 Thursday night with a home run, a double and two RBIs, and made Cashman look good for making the deal at the trade deadline to get him from the Astros.
Cashman looked even better when Kerry Wood pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning to get the ball to Mariano Rivera. Cashman brought Wood over from the Indians at the deadline, too. Berkman and Wood were brought in to fix two flaws the Yankees had in the first half – the designated hitter spot and the bullpen.
Berkman was like a do-over for Cashman, who signed Nick Johnson to be the team’s DH after Johnny Damon’s asking price proved to be too high. Johnson went down with a season-ending wrist injury in May, and Girardi rotated DHs until Berkman and Marcus Thames emerged as a platoon combination late in the year.
It’s that last part which is the story here for me. Cashman wanted to go with Nick Johnson and Chan Ho Park this season – he went out and bought them to fill the roles of D.H. and trusted vet in the pen – and they both failed in a major way. So, thanks to the Steinbrenner Family Checkbook, he was able to go out and take on the salaries of Berkman and Wood – whose teams were looking to dump salary in a major way. That’s the Cashman “M.O.” – make a mistake and then spend money to cover up the mistake. (See: Going with Hughes & Kennedy in the rotation in ’08 and then going out and buyng Sabathia and Burnett for ’09.)
Yet, for some reason, when it comes to Cashman, it seems that only the “patches and fixes” get noticed and no one remembers why they were needed in the first place. The guy who said “For too many Yankees fans when it comes to Cashman it’s ‘heads he wins and tails somebody else loses.’” really nailed it. Brian Cashman truly is the Teflon G.M. And, without the Yankees dollars to cover his mistakes, he’d never be a winning G.M.
Yanks Jack Up Parking Fees From $23 To $40 For Post-Season
Posted by Steve L. on October 9th, 2010 · Comments (12)
Via the Daily News –
Welcome back to the playoffs, Yankees fans – and make sure you bring some extra cash for parking.
Pinstriped boosters were outraged by word that Yankee Stadium garages will jack up prices from $23 to $40 starting with Saturday night’s game against the Twins.
“It’s really crap,” die-hard Thomas Parker, 52, of Queens, griped about the 74% increase from regular season costs.
“The Yankees are a really high-priced team, and they’ve got to pay all of those high-priced players somehow. It hurts the little guy …. We just keep getting robbed.”
Manhattan student Christopher Berry, 21, suggested the Bronx Bombers’ greed was bigger than even their new $1.5 billion ballpark.
“It’s absolutely despicable that the average working man who’s trying to put food on the table for his family can’t treat them to a night of baseball in the Bronx because of the added cost,” he said.
“Not to mention the tickets. Disgraceful.”
The stadium’s 9,000 official parking spaces were a source of woe during the regular season – although not for the fans. About 40% of the spaces went empty as parking revenues only reached half of their projections.
I seem to recall this happening in the past too – with the price of parking being increased for a big game in the post-season. Funny, no one seemed to care about it then…enough to write about it. Nonetheless, I can understand why people are upset about it, for sure. And, I know, I know…”You can always take the train!” Man, I hate it when people tell me that. Yeah, to avoid the high cost of airfare to Los Angeles, I can take the train there too – but it’s going to be a hassle and take me a lot longer. Same deal for many who drive to Yankee Stadium, with respect to taking the train instead. It’s really not an option.
Hughes Concern For Yanks In Game 3?
Posted by Steve L. on October 8th, 2010 · Comments (9)
In his last 16 starts made at Yankee Stadium this season, Phil Hughes has allowed 19 homeruns and his ERA in these games is 5.06 (in 94.3 IP). Seeing this, how do you feel about Hughes chances against the Twins in Game 3 of the 2010 ALDS?
What The Twins Want & What Yankees Want To Avoid
Posted by Steve L. on October 8th, 2010 · Comments (7)
Here are the seven teams to comeback and win a post-season series after being down, 0-2, and then winning three straight postseason games:
1. 1981 N.L.D.S.: Dodgers over Astros
2. 1982 A.L.C.S.: Brewers over Angels
3. 1984 N.L.C.S.: Padres over Cubs
4. 1995 A.L.D.S.: Mariners over Yankees
5. 1999 A.L.D.S.: Red Sox over Indians
6. 2001 A.L.D.S.: Yankees over A’s
7. 2003 A.L.D.S.: Red Sox over A’s
I remember 1995 – very well. That one hurt like a mother. I’m not sure how I would feel if that happened again in 2010? How about you – would it bother you as much as 1995 did? How about compared to 2004?
Yankees Among Baseball America’s Top 20 Prospects In Eastern League
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 8th, 2010 · Comments (0)
Even with a 2-0 series lead in the ALDS and all eyes turned to the playoffs, there is still other Yankee-related news to report. As this headline suggests, the Yankees have placed four prospects among Baseball America’s list of the top-20 prospects in the Eastern League.
Yankees Post-Season Losing Streaks
Posted by Steve L. on October 8th, 2010 · Comments (8)
I thought this list was pretty interesting. The only times the Yankees have lost 4 games in a row in a single post-season were: 1942, 1963, 1976, 1981 and 2004. (Yikes, I got to see three of those five!) Yes, I know the Yankees lost the 1922 series, four games to none – but, that wasn’t a sweep since Game 2 ended in a tie.
And, the only times the Yankees have lost 3 games in a row in a single post-season were: 1922, 1955, 1980, 1995, 2002 and 2003. (I saw the last four here.)
So, of all the times the Yankees have lost 3+ games in a row, in a single post-season, I saw seven of the eleven such streaks. Hopefully, it will be a very long time before I see another – if ever.
| Rk | Strk Start | End | Games | Opp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 2006-10-05 | 2007-10-05 | 5 | DET,CLE |
| 2 | NYY | 1976-10-16 | 1977-10-05 | 5 | CIN,KCR |
| 3 | NYY | 1963-10-02 | 1964-10-07 | 5 | LAD,STL |
| 4 | NYY | 2004-10-17 | 2004-10-20 | 4 | BOS |
| 5 | NYY | 2003-10-22 | 2004-10-05 | 4 | FLA,MIN |
| 6 | NYY | 2002-10-02 | 2003-09-30 | 4 | ANA,MIN |
| 7 | NYY | 1995-10-06 | 1996-10-01 | 4 | SEA,TEX |
| 8 | NYY | 1981-10-23 | 1981-10-28 | 4 | LAD |
| 9 | NYY | 1942-10-01 | 1942-10-05 | 4 | STL |
| 10 | NYY | 1922-10-06 | 1923-10-10 | 4 | NYG |
| 11 | NYY | 1921-10-11 | 1922-10-04 | 4 | NYG |
| 12 | NYY | 1980-10-08 | 1980-10-10 | 3 | KCR |
| 13 | NYY | 1957-10-10 | 1958-10-02 | 3 | MLN |
| 14 | NYY | 1955-10-04 | 1956-10-05 | 3 | BRO |
| 15 | NYY | 1955-09-30 | 1955-10-02 | 3 | BRO |
| 16 | NYY | 2005-10-05 | 2005-10-07 | 2 | LAA |
| 17 | NYY | 2001-11-03 | 2001-11-04 | 2 | ARI |
| 18 | NYY | 2001-10-27 | 2001-10-28 | 2 | ARI |
| 19 | NYY | 2001-10-10 | 2001-10-11 | 2 | OAK |
| 20 | NYY | 1998-10-07 | 1998-10-09 | 2 | CLE |
| 21 | NYY | 1997-10-05 | 1997-10-06 | 2 | CLE |
| 22 | NYY | 1996-10-20 | 1996-10-21 | 2 | ATL |
| 23 | NYY | 1981-10-09 | 1981-10-10 | 2 | MIL |
| 24 | NYY | 1978-10-10 | 1978-10-11 | 2 | LAD |
| 25 | NYY | 1964-10-11 | 1964-10-12 | 2 | STL |
| 26 | NYY | 1960-10-09 | 1960-10-10 | 2 | PIT |
| 27 | NYY | 1957-10-06 | 1957-10-07 | 2 | MLN |
| 28 | NYY | 1953-10-02 | 1953-10-03 | 2 | BRO |
| 29 | NYY | 1947-10-02 | 1947-10-03 | 2 | BRO |
| 30 | NYY | 1926-10-09 | 1926-10-10 | 2 | STL |
| 31 | NYY | 1926-10-03 | 1926-10-05 | 2 | STL |
| 32 | NYY | 1921-10-07 | 1921-10-09 | 2 | NYG |
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