This was a strange game for me because I was in the car driving home from Boston.  Although I was able to pick up AM 880 all the way up in the so-called Red Sox Nation, the reception was fuzzy enough that I opted for the Boston feed of the game.  Then, somewhere just south of Hartford, CT, I switched stations so I could get the more familiar sounds of Sterling and Suzyn.

There’s really not much to talk about in terms of the game.  The Yanks lost 8-4 and thus conceded the division title to the Tampa Bay Rays.  Making the playoffs and having a chance to repeat as champions is great but a part of me definitely feels like it’s “only” the Wild Card.  While I understand the whole “losing the battle to win the war” line that Girardi was feeding to anyone that would listen, I’ll never stop wondering if things could’ve been handled differently.

Anyway, that’s 162 games in the books, folks.  The Yanks are back in the playoffs and open in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Lest we forget…the Yankees have lost 17 of their last 26 games this season. And, that should lead to some questions on how they’ll do this post-season.

Of course, to the Yankees faithful, at least those who turn a blind eye towards the perils of exaggerated self pride or self-confidence, the questions are more along the lines of “Why so serious?” and/or “What me worry?”

But, back on planet earth, the question remains – can the Yankees get it up for the ALDS?

What do you think?

Filed under LDS 2010 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Via Kevin Kernan -

General manager Brian Cashman said setting up the roster is a bit like a Triple Crown race.

“It’s kind of like the Derby, Preakness, Belmont, races are longer, shorter,” he said. “We won the long race in terms of qualification, whether it’s the wild card or Eastern Division title. Now we have a shorter race we have to run in a five-game set, so your roster strengths get analyzed differently or get weighted differently.”

When he was asked what he makes of the way his horses have limped to the finish line, Cashman, showing his TV side, said, “I liken it to the Brady Bunch and when they had the phony football playbook. If you are advance scouting us here in September, I think we are holding back all our big plays.”

Branch Rickey, Brian Cashman, is not. Any time he’s hinting that he’s trying to out-smart anyone, be afraid Yankeeland. Be very, very, afraid.

Filed under LDS 2010 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Via Bryan Hoch –

The final out of the Yankees’ regular-season schedule was recorded on a Sunday, but it was “Saturday Night Fever” in the clubhouse afterward.

The Yankees dressed their rookies in polyester 1970s attire for the flight back to New York after ending their three-game series with the Red Sox at Fenway Park, with Kevin Russo playing the role of John Travolta’s Tony Manero.

With songs like the Trammps’ “Disco Inferno” and the Bee Gees’ “Night Fever” pumping out of the clubhouse stereo, fellow rookies Colin Curtis, Greg Golson, Ivan Nova and Eduardo Nunez were also roped into the exercise.

While veterans took photos amidst laughter, the rookies donned their dated dancing pants, platform shoes and faux gold chains in place of their regular travel attire.

The annual exercise was originally planned for Saturday by clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza, when the rookies would have had to travel back to their Boston hotel in funky get-ups, but a day-night doubleheader prompted the Yankees to push the fun back.

And, via Chad Jennings -

The Yankees clubhouse was fairly subdued for a while. Then the disco music started playing from an iPod speaker in the corner of the room.

Kevin Russo was wearing a massive wig and fake gold chain. Colin Curtis had on white pants so tight they had to be fastened with safety pins. Ivan Nova’s bellbottoms were bright yellow, Greg Golson’s sunglasses were perfect circles and Eduardo Nunez wore a wig of long dark hair that hung in front of his eyes.

The five rookies were forced to dressed up on the final day of the regular season, and as they paraded through the clubhouse, the mood seemed the lighten.

Ah, good times…

Filed under Off The Field News ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Please consider taking the following poll:

Thanks in advance. And, please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section.

Filed under Surveys ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Well, that’s what I saw when I googled the Twins just now (at 5:26 pm ET).  See below:

Filed under LDS 2010 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

The Tampa Ray Rays.

Hey, sometimes, you just have to tip your cap, right? The Yankees had their shots, but, just couldn’t come out, on top, in the end this season…

Filed under Rivalry Snapshots ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Click here to follow the Yankees-Red Sox game today.

And, click here to follow the Rays-Royals game today.

Lastly, of course, feel free to chat up both games in the comments section herein.

Filed under Rivalry Snapshots ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

This is the last installment of the photograph collection from my recent trip to Cooperstown, New York.

For “Part 5″ of this series, click here.

This installment somewhat speaks for itself – as it’s some plaques that caught my attention when viewing those in the Hall of Fame.

(more…)

Filed under Cooperstown Trip '10 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

This was a game the Yankees could’ve won, should’ve won but didn’t win because they played atrocious defense and gave Boston far too many chances to score.  In the end, the Yanks lost Game 2 of the doubleheader 7-6 in 10 innings, a reversal of fortune from Game 1 played just a short while earlier.

Although this didn’t turn out to be the key play of the game, AJ Burnett’s momentary lapse of reason in the bottom of the fourth inning will be this game’s most memorable moment.  After Lance Berkman bobbled Josh Reddick’s grounder and then rushed his throw to the covering Burnett, first baseman Brian Runge called Reddick safe at first.  A stunned Burnett turned around to argue the call, turned his back on the advancing Daniel Nava and Nava scored on a bit of heads up baserunning.  It was reminiscent of Chuck Knoblauch’s own brain fart in the 1998 ALCS against Cleveland where he famously yelled at the first base umpire while Cleveland took advantage of a sleeping defense to steal a run.

Burnett (6 6 4 2 2 5) has been bad enough this year that he’ll get no quarter from the fans or the press but, really, this loss cannot be pinned entirely on him.  It seems like there’s just a bit of bad luck following AJ around these days.

So, here we are, down to game 162 for all the marbles.  In the unlikely event that Kansas City can beat Tampa and the Yankees can propel Dustin Moseley to victory, it will mean another division title.  Sure makes you wonder what could’ve been if Girardi hadn’t pseudo-forfeited all those games earlier this month when he was managing with one eye towards a playoff spot he hadn’t yet clinched.  Chad Gaudin, I hold you responsible.

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

The Yankees loss earlier this morning leaves them now tied for first in the A.L. East with the Tampa Bay Rays at 95-66. Each team has one game left to play, today. While both teams have locked-up playoff spots, the division title will be decided this afternoon. New York needs to win today and hope for a Rays loss (in K.C.) to win the AL East. If the Yanks lose, Tampa gets the crown as they have won the tiebreaker match-ups. And, on the hill for the Yankees, today, in this must win game will be Dustin Moseley.

That’s the drama that you get in a situation like this thanks to the wildcard. The Yankees might as well start booking hotel rooms in Minnesota – as that’s where they’ll be opening up the ALDS this year.

Filed under Trap Door Items ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Four hours and sixteen minutes and a whole lot of drama later, the Yanks beat Boston 6-5 in 10 innings.  As I write this from my cousin’s apartment in Somerville, MA there’s just a slightly heightened level of satisfaction knowing that I’m one of the only happy people in this miserable town right now.

Despite the victory, there were still some things which leave me somewhat uneasy as we head into postseason play next week.  Andy Pettitte managed to strike out eight batters in four innings but also found a way to allow 11 baserunners.  All told, his line (4 9 3 3 2 8 ) paints a picture of results all over the map.  Along the same lines, Kerry Wood’s three-walk, two-strikeout 8th inning really gave this game the schizophrenic feel of Yankee pitchers in complete command…except when they weren’t.

Game 2 (AJ Burnett vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka) commences sometime in the next hour.  Hopefully AJ Burnett finds it within himself to pull a rabbit out of his hat and save the bullpen for what could be the division-deciding game tomorrow.

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Hey, they just might win this thing after all, eh?

Filed under Trap Door Items ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Yeah, today was the day… Scooter’s got the wrap up.

Just image what they would do with such a homer today…

Filed under Yankees History ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Well they waited and waited…and waited some more.  Finally, mercifully, the idiots powers that be called the game and announced a split admission doubleheader for tomorrow.  Game 1 will be played at 4:10 p.m. and Game 2 will be played shortly thereafter.

Should be a long day in Boston for everyone.

On a related note, the Rays somehow managed to get two-hit by Royals pitcher Bruce Chen and lost the game 7-0.  Suddenly, miraculously, the AL East division title is back in play.  Should the Royals and Rays split the final two games of their series and the Yankees win two games in Boston, the Yankees will have backed into their 11th division crown since 1996.

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

As this is being posted, it’s now 3 hours and 13 minutes past when this game was scheduled to start.

Are they insane, waiting this long? Even if they started playing this second, you’re looking at an end time around 1 am ET on Saturday.

Thank goodness that Saturday is a 4 pm ET scheduled start and not a 1 pm ET game…

Then again, maybe that’s the problem? You’re not going to do a day-night DH on the last day of the year, on Sunday…and, the 4 pm start (on FOX) means you can you can’t do a day-night DH on Saturday.

Any way you slice it, this is a mess. And, I feel for the fans at the Fens sitting around in the rain tonight – and for anyone who was expecting to watch this whole game back in Yankeeland too.

Filed under Game Commentary 2010 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Via Chad Jennings

Some of the biggest stars of the 2010 Major League Baseball season will be spending the Postseason at MLB Network. Torii Hunter (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Chris Young (Arizona Diamondbacks), Eric Chavez and Dallas Braden (Oakland Athletics) will serve as guest analysts on MLB Tonight throughout October as the network plans for more than 125 hours of live coverage in October.

Dallas Braden doing commentary on the post season? I think I vomited a little in my mouth just now…

Filed under Corey Italiano ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

As we head into the Yankees last series of the regular season, with the ALDS to follow soon after, here’s what some of the authors of this blog are thinking about the Yankees chances this post-season:

Via Jeff F. -

One of the reasons the Yankees were so successful in last year’s postseason was that they won Game 2 in the ALDS, the ALCS, and the World Series. In my eyes, Game 2 is more important than Game 1 because it is such a game-changer in a short series. It’s all about momentum. And the Yankees’ Game 2 starter this year is…well, we don’t know yet. Other than Sabathia, the starting staff is in shambles. Pettitte has a nagging injury, Hughes has been unreliable over the past few months, and I’m not even going to mention Burnett/Vazquez. I hope that somehow the starters go on a hot streak over the next few weeks and lead the team back to the promised land. Time will tell.

Via Corey Italiano -

Regardless of whether the Yankees draw the Twins or the Rangers, there are 3 (non-obvious) key ingredients to their playoff chances.

1) Phil Hughes. They need their young starter to come up big, especially with concerns over the health status of Andy Pettitte. He’s shown them what he’s capable of early in the season, and as late as last Sunday against the Red Sox. If the Yankees plan on going anywhere in the playoffs, they are going to need Hughes to pitch to his potential.

2) Joba Chamberlain. I know many have grown to detest “#62″ but he’s going to play an important role in this bullpen. Wood and Mo Rivera are entrenched in the 8th and 9th innings, respectively. Boone Logan is in there to get the tough lefites. David Robertson, in my opinion, should be saved for tough jams with men on base where a strike out is needed. This leaves Chamberlain as the important bridge from the starter to the set up men.

3) Ian Kennedy. Just kidding, got caught up in the theme. Marcus Thames. With the all the tough left-handed starters the AL playoff teams will be throwing the Yankees way, Thames is going to play a major role doing what he does best, mashing lefties. Hopefully someone throws his glove in the garbage, though.

Via Jim TreshFan -

The Yankees take one of the final three games at Fenway to finish the season with 95 wins (just like whazzis name predicted).

Qualifying for the Post Season as the AL Wild Card they take on the Twins in a grueling series that goes the full 5 games—with the Yankees coming out on top in the end (whew!)

Unfortunately the Yankees are no match for the Rays whom they meet in the ALCS. They lose in six.

The Rays then go on to lose to the Phillies – who join the 1906-1908 Cubs, the 1921-1923 Giants, and the 1942-1944 Cardinals as the only NL teams to win 3 pennants and 2 World Series in 3 years.

So that’s it. The Yankees make the ALCS for the 9th time in 15 years. Not bad, not bad. But there’s really good news ahead…Brian Cashman’s contract runs out after the 2011 season.

Via Dan LaTorraca -

It has been a tumultuous and statistically ugly season for the Yankees and as they slowly limp into the ALDS, I can’t help but think that 2010 is not their year. The poetic justice of “winning one for The Boss” would have been sweet, but the Giants and Phillies are just too strong. Still, if the Yanks can get hot this weekend, maybe we’ll see a World Series run akin to the 2000 playoffs. Doubtful, bus possible.

Prove me wrong Yankees, prove me wrong.

Via “Jeteupthemiddle” Allie -

I am noticing a lot of people worrying about the upcoming playoffs. The biggest complaint, it would seem, is that this year’s team is no where near the 2009 playoff team. Well no, it is not the same as last year’s team. I would put last year’s team up against any playoff team in history, and I would like its odds.

This past month, which I will surely review after these final three games, it looked as if the Yankees had to beg for a win. They went 12-15 this month. Probably more disconcerting, however, is the 3-7 record the Yankees had against the Rangers and Rays – possible playoff foes. I, however, am looking at those games as positives. Before the Yankees played these teams, they lost 3 in a row to Toronto and Baltimore. After the games were over, they lost again to Toronto and to Boston as well.

But really, what I think is important to note, is that the games were close. Only the 10-3  loss to Tampa Bay on September 23rd seemed out of hand. With the way the pitching staff has looked, with the way the hitters have played, with the injuries the Yankees were enduring, I think during the final stretch the Yankees just had to close their eyes and hope for the best. Their best didn’t necessarily produce regular season wins, but it showed me what the team was capable of.

I think that in the post season, when players such as Teixeira, Swisher, Rodriguez, and Posada are all playing at the same time, everyday, and when we can count on Andy Pettitte, and when we can expect Rivera to forget about these September hiccups, the Yankees may fair better.

I am cautiously optimistic about the playoffs this year.

And, finally, from yours truly, Steve Lombardi -

This is the first time ever, since the ALDS has bcome part of the post-season process, that I don’t feel like the Yankees will win and advance forward into October. Even in 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005, and 2007, heading into those ALDS match-ups, I expected the Yankees to win and advance. This season, because of the issues with the Yankees starters outside of Sabathia, and the recent lackluster play of the team, I don’t see the Yankees getting through the ALDS. Yes, I know that the Twins and Rangers are far from perfect. But, again, I’m just not feeling it for the Yankees this year – for the first time in the last 15 times that they’ve been in the post-season. Maybe, just maybe, they will get past the ALDS? But, even if they do, the Rays will run all over them in the ALCS. And, even if I’m wrong there, the Phillies with Roy/Roy/Cole will take them in the World Series.

Last year, everything went right for the Yankees. A-Rod had a gazillion huge hits. Damon and Matsui came through in big spots. And, the Yankees were able to only use three starters and Burnett did throw one good game. Is that all going to happen again this year? Maybe. But, probably not.

My expectations for the Yankees this post-season are zero. I’ll be happy if they win. However, I’m not confident that they get past the ALDS – much less win it all.

How about you? What are your thoughts towards the chances in the ALDS this year?

Filed under LDS 2010 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Just by chance, I came across the above ticket stub today. I had no idea that it was saved. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

This was the Yankees game that the guys in my wedding party took me to, as a prelude to my batchelor party (which was held in a subsquent weekend).  I’ll always remember this game because (a) it was part of my batchelor celebration and (b) because it was Sam Militello’s first game.  After the way he pitched that day, we thought he was going to be the next Whitey Ford.  (Just goes to show what we knew.)  It was also the day that Danny Tartabull made a lasting impression on me.

And, today, I made a connection that I should have made a long time ago.  Sam Militello and I were born on the same day – albeit in different years.

How cool is that – same birthday and I saw his first big league game in person as party of my batchelor celebration?  Cool beans.

Filed under Trap Door Items ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

It’s going to be rainy and breezy in Boston this evening with an AccuWeather RealFeel® temp of 48°.

If Andy Pettitte’s stiff back can survive that, he should be fine for the playoffs, no?

Filed under Trap Door Items ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

This is the next to last installment of the photograph collection from my recent trip to Cooperstown, New York.

For “Part 4″ of this series, click here.

This installment is a quick viewing of some Otsego Lake pictures. Next up, in the final installment of this collection, we will get back to “baseball” and have some plaque snapshots from the Hall.

(more…)

Filed under Cooperstown Trip '10 ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

As the title of this post suggests, Baseball America has released its all-star picks for each level of the affiliated minor leagues.  The Yankees had four players and one team honored.

Triple-A:
SP – Ivan Nova (Scranton-Wilkes/Barre)
RP – Jonathan Albaladejo (Scranton-Wilkes/Barre)

High-A:
SP – Dellin Betances (Tampa Yankees)
Team Of The Year: Tampa Yankees

Short-Season/Rookie:
OF – Ramon Flores (Gulf Coast Yankees)

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Yesterday, I wondered why C/DH JR Murphy and RHP Jose Ramirez of the Low-A Charleston Riverdogs were excluded from Baseball America’s top-20 prospects list for the South Atlantic League.  Today, I have my answer*:

[Q]:  Hi Bill, Did Yankees prospects J.R Murphy or Jose Ramirez get any serious consideration for the Top 20 list?  Also, would Graham Stoneburner have been on this list had he not been promoted? Thank you.

[Bill Ballew, BA]: Yes, both received quite a bit of attention.  Murphy attracted praise of his bat speed and his ability to put the ball in play, but managers were had neither positive nor negative reactions to his defense.  Most believed he was behind Sebastian Valle, Christian Bethancourt and Kyle Skipworth in the league.  Ramirez has good size at 6-foot-5 but his stuff right now is fringy across the board.  Stoneburner would have been in the discussion but probably would not have made the top 20.

Well, that answers that.  I haven’t seen Ramirez pitch so I can’t speak to the comment about his stuff being “fringy” but, again, it does fly in the face of what was previously reported on Ramirez.  I guess we’ll find out next year.

Separately, in lieu of a stand-alone column, here is a story* about Charleston Riverdog alumnus, RHP Andrew Brackman (Double-A, Trenton Thunder).  Keep in mind, this is a fluff piece so it’s merely for informational and entertainment purposes only.  There is nothing of any scouting value written therein.

*Both stories require a subscription to Baseball America.

Filed under MJ Recanati ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Richard Sandomir’s 50 Years Later, a Slide Still Confounds. Great stuff on a little talked about piece of Yankees history.

Filed under Yankees History ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post

Via Tampa Bay Online -

The Yankees, by virtue of Thursday’s off-day, pulled into a tie with the Rays for first place in the American League East. The magic number for both teams to win the division is three with three games remaining, though the Rays hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series from the defending World Series champions.

The winner hosts the Rangers in the first round of the American League Division series, while the runner-up gets the wild card and opens the ALDS on the road against the Twins.

So the long season, often referred to by the players as a marathon, is down to a sprint for the tape. The winner of the division could finish with the best record in the American League, which would give them homefield advantage in both rounds of the playoffs.

The National League, having won the All-Star Game, has homefield in the World Series

Too bad the Yankees have Burnett and TBD to start two of their next three games in Fenway Park.

Filed under Rivalry Snapshots ·  Print This Post ·  Email This Post