The Magic Carpet

By Matthew Storey

When last we spoke, we'd looked at 2009 New York Yankee games through Game #98.

At that point, the Yankees were 60-38, a record they've added to by going 13-5 in Games 99-116, which break down as follows:

Game 99 - @ Tampa Bay Rays W 11-4
Game 100 - @ Tampa Bay Rays L 6-2
Game 101 - @ Tampa Bay Rays W 6-2 (New York leads Season Series 6-5)
Game 102 - @ Chicago White Sox L 3-2
Game 103 - @ Chicago White Sox L 10-5
Game 104 - @ Chicago White Sox L 14-4
Game 105 - @ Chicago White Sox W 8-5 (Chicago leads Season Series 3-1)
Game 106 - @ Toronto Blue Jays W 5-3
Game 107 - @ Toronto Blue Jays W 8-4 (New York leads Season Series 7-2
Game 108 - Boston Red Sox W 13-6
Game 109 - Boston Red Sox W 2-0
Game 110 - Boston Red Sox W 5-0
Game 111 - Boston Red Sox W 5-2 (Boston leads Season Series 4-8)
Game 112 - Toronto Blue Jays L 5-4
Game 113 - Toronto Blue Jays W 7-5
Game 114 - Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 (New York leads Season Series 9-3)
Game 115 - @ Seattle Mariners W 11-1
Game 116 - @ Seattle Mariners W 4-2

Through 98 Games - Yankees 60-38 (.612)
Games 99-116 Yankees 13-5 (.722)

Leaving them at 73-43 (.629/1st Place/AL East 6.5 Games over Boston Red Sox)

They are on a pace to finish at 102-60. They have gone 22-6 (.786) in the Second Half and 35-11 (.761) since losing the 1st of 3 against the Atlanta Braves on June 23. They've won 38 come-from-behind games, lost only one game they were leading after the 7th Inning. They lead MLB in Runs, HR, RBI, Slugging Percentage, On-Base Percentage and are 2nd in Batting Average. Since Phil Hughes went into the Bullpen, the Pen has an ERA of 2.06.

What Has NOT Gone Well...

Chien-Ming Wang is done for this year and next and may never again be in Pinstripes, a sickening blow to lose a Pitcher in his prime who came into this year 54-20.

Mike Mussina, retired, after rejuvenating his career with a 20-9 2008 Season and discovering a way to dominate with control and change of speed.

Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu, who combined for 52 HR and 196 RBI were let go.
Xavier Nady blew out his elbow in week one, ending his Yankee career.

Damaso Marte, who came with Nady in a 2008, trading deadline deal with Pittsburgh which cost the Yankees prime OF prospect, Jose Tabata, signed a 3 year offseason deal with the Yankees, then blew out his arm in the World Baseball Classic and looks like he may be done.

Brian Bruney, who suffered the same 2008 broken Lisfranc injury to his foot that ruined Wang, has also gone through dramatic reduction in effectiveness and two protracted stints on the Disabled List, forcing the Yankees to move Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves to the Bullpen, and thus leaving the Yankees with retread arms, Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin in the 5th slot in the rotation and as spot-starters for use when Joba Chamberlain is skipped a turn to keep him under a pre-established Innings Limit. Aceves and Hughes have been dominant in the Bullpen, Mitre and Gaudin represent the Yankees Achilles Heel in the Rotation.

Alex Rodriguez had Hip Surgery and has been playing at 2/3 of function all season and has only two HR (albeit critical game-winning types in the recent Red Sox series) in the last month.

What HAS Gone Well...

The Glory of the Middle Infield

In 2006, Derek Jeter hit .343 and Robinson Cano hit .342 and the Yankees used an August sweep to blow past the Red Sox on their way to a runaway in the AL East. In 2009, both are hitting .318, and have combined for 32 HR and 110 RBI with Derek Hitting leadoff. Defensively, Jeter has 6 Errors and Cano 4, playing middle infield every day with six weeks left in the Season. Jeter also has 20 Stolen Bases.

Beaten Up Outfielders on the Final Year of Big Deals...

4 years ago, the Yankees signed 30 year old Johnny Damon to be their CF and resigned 29 year old LF Hideki Matsui to identical 4 year/52M contracts. Both have hit consistently well throughout the ensuing years, but Matsui has been injured in every season and required knee surgery after both 2007 and 2008, which reduces him to a full-time DH Role. For his part, Damon lost the starting CF job to Melky Cabrera in 2006 and has played LF/DH since, and has seen both his Stolen Base and Defensive Ball Tracking skills go from elite to mediocre in 2009.

So, there was little reason to believe these two players would produce much Offensively in the final year of contracts, with beaten-up bodies. Damon, with the weak arm and reduced ball tracking ability is a part-time OF at best and a full-time DH in waiting. Matsui is one knee from Retirement.

Here is what they have done Offensively:

Damon .286 Average/ .367 On-Base/ .526 Slugging 22 HR/67 RBI/ 8-8 Stolen Bases

Matsui .266 / .361/ .509/ 19 HR/58 RBI

These old men can flat out RAKE!

At 35, Damon is on a path to 3,000 hits once someone signs him to another long term deal as DH/Parttime OF/Fultime WINNER. You can never say enough about this guy and, while it still seems unlikely the Yankees would keep him, given Melky/Gardner/Jackson and Damon's Defensive liabilities, what he brings Offensively and in the clubhouse is going to be extremely hard to replace.

Also 35, Matsui's Physical limitations make his retirement seem a certainty.

But, even with TWO bad knees, his Power, Plate Discipline, Baseball IQ and ability to perform in the Clutch are all still at Elite levels. If there is ANY player I wish I could have seen in his prime, it is Matsui, whose ability at this stage and career in Japan make is clear he would have been a Hall of Famer if he had played his whole career in MLB. A great, great player and a sayonara reminiscent of Mussina's glorious goodbye in 2008.

The New-Style Yankee Kids...

For decades, the Yankee system has consistently produced one-dimensional Power Hitters, who played OF/1B/DH and whose Defense and Base Running was secondary and below-par. Players like Steve 'Bye-Bye' Balboni, Hensley Dan Pasqua, 'Bam-Bam' Meulens, Kevin 'No' Maas, Shane Spencer, Shelley Duncan come immediately to mind, as does that big Power Hitting they traded to the Reds, who was traded to the Red Sox who was traded to the Nationals, who had as much Power as ANYONE ever has and had so little else to offer, I can't remember his name!!!! (Wily Mo Pena!).

This is NOT to dismiss the top level talents they have produced, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Alfonso Soriano, Robinson Cano...only to note, that when they swung big, they overemphasized raw power. Jeter was can't-miss, Posada is driven, Soriano and Cano are freaks overlooked by scouts who are seduced by false hustle and showy athletes and miss the natural flow of perfect motion. The same scouts, in another era, missed on a player named Joe DiMaggio.

Watch BJ Upton move after a fly ball and you don't need to look at his statistics. - you know what he can do to you. And yet scouts and many media and fans have been doubting these players half decades into their careers, while celebrating lesser lights with grunting styles. What we New Yorkers saw in the Mid '80s when the absurd debate about who was superior between FBHOF Rickey Henderson and wall-charging, chaw dipping, roid raging good ole boy, Lenny Dykstra, like Dustin, the plucky lil' fella got himself an MVP and a WS run. Rickey was MVP back in Oakland, and won a WS there, then went to Toronto and did it there, then played another decade ending it first ALL-TIME in Walks, first ALL-TIME in RUNS SCORED and first ALL-TIME in Stolen Bases, by 500 or so.

The Yankees, in the days they were developing the Bashers who moved like Glaciers of the World, sent Rickey away in his prime to get those HR, SB, RUNS, WALKS elsewhere and win World Series elsewhere.

And Yankee fans, like Guru, said...what if we KEPT THE TRANSCENDENT TALENTS, kept the instinctual types who excel on Defense and situational baseball and signed players in their prime who had the ability, work ethic and desire for NYC that would not be denied.

2009 is that year.

Melky Cabrera, 25, is a switch-hitter with a huge arm who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense at all three OF positions, has hit for the Cycle, and .350 after the 7th Inning. Ramiro Pena, 23, is a switch-hitter who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense at SS and solid at 3B and 2B, Francisco Cervelli, 23, is a Catcher, who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense and handles the bat like a veteran (think Kurt Suzuki, Jason Kendall). Injured 25 year old OF, Brett Gardner, has Carl Crawford speed, hits .280 and catches everything hit.

These are not transformational players, the Yankees have those all over the field. But they are young, agile, smart, fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball and do the things that teams need to win.

Run. Throw. Catch. Think. Compete. Speedster, Gunslinger, Utility Infielder/Switch-hitter, Utility Outfielder/Switch-hitter. Backup Catcher with complete Defensive game.

Unlike the machismo and random efforts of the past, these are precise, surgical moves to fill holes and complete a diverse roster that can win. Cano is a star, Melky is a role player, but their contributions are equal on this team. That is scouting, that is development, that is planning.

The Newbies

Mark Teixeira has been Alex Rodriguez in a year that Alex is hurt and cannot carry the Yankees. He is a switch-hitting, Gold Glove, HR hitting, clutch machine who plays like a man on fire and dreams in Pinstripes.

CC Sabathia has been a Horse, a LH power pitching, 98 MPH, devastating slider, a knee-breaking change-up, deep in games, low-hit, dominant-in-big-games, instant charisma, zero drama, team leader.

AJ Burnett has been a dominating, intimidating, strikeout inducing, deep game pitching, Yankee loving, Pie in the face breath of fresh air in the rotation and clubhouse.

Nick Swisher has been a switch-hiting, power hitting, league leading walk getting, charismatic, Yankee loving, clubhouse transforming, good guy goofball just happy to be a Yankee.

Jerry Hairston, Jr. came over at the 2009 Trading Deadline, he plays 3B and LF, runs well, hits well, knows the game. An ideal Utility veteran.

Jose Molina and power hitter, Eric Hinske are both honorable Veterans with good, solid games (Molina is a Defensive catcher with a gun for an arm, Hinske hit 5 HR in his 1st 20 at-bats. But Pena/Hairston/Cervelli/Gardner is an ideal, versatile, athletic bench and inter-changeable, versatile pieces like Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher back up both OF slots and 1B. That should be your playoff bench.

Oh, by the way, the Yankees Pitching Staff, has more strikeouts than any other and, since 6/1 the best Batting Average against, most saves, lowest ERA of any Bullpen.

A team managed by and led by players with multiple rings who were on a 113 win team in 1998.

A team that is on its way to a strong postseason.

Take a bow, Brian.

Wow!

Wang, a healthy Alex, Nady, Marte, Bruney...would have made this one of the greatest teams in Baseball history.

Without that, they are on their way to a Division title, with the best record in Baseball.

Quite a season, thus far.

The Arms from the Farm...

Joba Chamberlain is 23, he gets a lot of press because of the variety of rules associated with his development. The Joba Rules are always fodder for debate. Joba dominated in the Bullpen, he has been the Yankees best Starter in his first two years in the rotation. But he hurt his arm last August and seemed to sag in June. Verlander was 101 and dominant in his 2nd year, 2007, and was 91-92 in 2008 before bouncing back to his previous form this season. The Yankees have good reason and the effect is he will miss 3 of his last 9 starts on a team in comfortable position. Non-story. Like the one that USED to follow Joba, something about the Bullpen? (97 MPH)

Phil Hughes turned 23 in June, in the Pen through no fault of his own as Chien-Ming Wang moved his .700 ass back in. Phil had put 8 innings and zero runs on the Twins just ten days earlier. He went into the pen, has thrown (97 MPH) and has a 1.35 ERA two months later. Rotation in 2010 for the as long as his arm is healthy.

Phil Coke is a bit of kid, he gets too pumped up, follows up strings of strikeouts with fat strikes that get smacked.
But...he is a power LH (95 MPH), strikeout machine, low batting average against, strike thrower who can go multiple innings or be a LH specialist, and is 26.

David Robertson is 24, he has the best Strikeouts Per 9 Innings of ANY MLB PITCHER in 2009. He is inexperienced, walks too many and is a work in progress, but his ERA is 3.24 and those 47 K's in 33 Innings are a nice way to start a career in Pinstripes (95 MPH).

Alfredo Alceves, 25, the one Bullpen stalwart who does NOT possess a big arm. All Aceves can do is start, long relieve, short relieve, close, strike people out, get double plays, pop people up, throw strike in every situation, keep hitters off balance. A gem, a find, a long term solution.

Then, there are the FREAKS!

Jorge Posada is 38 on Monday, has been a regular catcher since 1997, playoffs every year from 1996-2007. He was lost early in 2008 to Shoulder Surgery (the same Surgery that Chien-Ming Wang has just had, one year after having the same surgery as Brian Bruney). He has 15 HR/50 RBI, hits .285, slugs .500, throws runners out. Leads.

Andy Pettitte, 37, was the kid LH star of the '96 World Series, yesterday he struck out 10 Mariners and has a 2.04 ERA in the Second Half. He just became the all-time MLB pickoff leader. He will be a rotation regular somewhere as long as he wishes, possibly back in The Bronx.

Mariano Rivera will turn 40 during Thanksgiving football. He has saved 73 of 75 opportunities the past two seasons, has a CAREER WHIP of 1.02, has 132 Strikeouts and 13 Walks (10/1) last two years, over 120.1 Innings.

Posted by Matthew at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Summer in the City...temperatures have been milder than normal, making for 80 degree days in the Sun that can't be beat and the Yankees have been taking care of business.

Through 91 games - 54-37

Game 92 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 2-1
Game 93 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 6-4
Game 94 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 6-4 (win series 3-0, lead season series 11-4)
Game 95 Win versus Oakland A's 6-3
Game 96 Win versus Oakland A's 8-3
Game 97 Loss versus Oakland A's 6-4
Game 98 Win versus Oakland A's 7-5

Games 92-98 - 6-1

Overall through 98 Games - 60-38 (Ist Place AL East by 2.5 Games)

Since Alex Rodriguez came off the DL after hip surgery on May 8 and hit a 3-run HR on the first pitch he saw, the Yankees are 47-23 for a cool .671 Winning Percentage. They've lost their regular RF and their #3 Starter to season-ending injuries, but Alex is stable, Posada is Posada, Mo is Mo, and even Brian Bruney seems to finally be rounding into form. They lost 4th OF/speedster, Brett Gardner, to a broken thumb this weekend, but he will be back in a month for the stretch drive and they have added Hinske (and perhaps Shelley Duncan from Triple A, where he has put up 25 HR/75 RBI in 2/3 of a season?) so they have plenty of depth in the OF (they may choose to bring up Ramiro Pena for pinch-running/backup IF and use Cody Ransom in OF).

The key to the surge has been the pitching. Yankees came into the season with a strong bullpen on paper and that bullpen fell apart early, with Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras and Jonathan Albaladejo walking the ballpark and serving up HR's when they had to throw middle-of-the-plate strikes. Set-up stalwarts Damaso Marte and Brian Bruney both went on the DL...and Yankees were losing game after game in the bullpen.

Brian Cashman brought up former starter Alfredo Aceves and Joe Girardi gave a larger role to former starter, Phil Coke, then when Chien-Ming Wang went back into the starting rotation, they placed starter Phil Hughes in the bullpen.

Aceves has given them 26 appearances, 46.2 Innings, 39 K's and only NINE walks to the tune of 6-1, 2.89 (coming off his worst effort as a Yankee to blow the game Saturday and actually inflate that ERA). Overall, Aceves has a 2.70 ERA in 76.2 Innings.

Coke has now pitched in 59 games as a Yankee, over 57.1 Innings to a 2.98 ERA with 48 K's and only 16 BB's while surrendering only 37 hits.

Hughes, of course, gave up a 2 run HR to Kevin Youkilis in his 2nd relief inning and now has thrown 23.1 scoreless innings and has an overall 0.70 ERA as a reliever, with 31K, 6 BB and only 13 hits in 25.2 Innings.

Add to the bullpen's sterling work with the consistent length the Yankees have received from CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett and post All-Star Break work of Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte and you have the guts of a prolonged winning streak. Chien-Ming Wang is out, he needs surgery, and Sergio Mitre is simply a 'filler' at the #5 slot, either Aceves or Hughes could slot into a rotation slot with success, but the stability they've brought to the Bullpen can't be messed with in-season, which makes it likely we'll see the Yankees make a minor move for a #5 Starter along the lines of the Late Cory Lidle's pickup at Deadline day back in '07.

In the lineup, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira have been consistently excellent. Jeter, hitting .321 with 11 HR and 18 SB out of the leadoff slot leads the AL in Batting Average against LH pitching (.441) and has played sterling SS (4 errors in 363 chances). Cano is at .309/14/52, hitting .326 against LH, mirror numbers at home and on the road and a Gold Glove 2B with his rocket arm, unparalleled range (3 errors in 462 chances). Teixeira is a magician with the glove has a strong, accurate throwing arm that has cut off runners at 2B, 3B and home from every angle and in critical situations. He has 25 HR/72 RBI, hits for average from RH side (.314) and power from the LH (20 HR) and has 1 error all season.

Outside of those three, the Yankees have been streaky. Nick Swisher (14/50), Hideki Matsui (15/44) and Johnny Damon (16/55) all have put up representative power numbers to go along with Jorge Posada's strong return season (.287/13/45/.525 Slugging). Alex is not 100%, running at about 2/3 speed and not as versatile offensively, but his Defense has been there and the power is a given (19/55 despite missing 31 games). Melky rounds out the everyday lineup at .287/8/37 from both sides of the plate, slugging a healthy .434. Molina is back at backup C, providing effective defense, as does Ransom in the Infield. Eric Hinske has been on a power surge (4 HR) in limited time since joining the Pinstripes three weeks ago.

In the just completed homestand, to begin the 2nd Half, the Yankees got 10 successive solid starts from their rotation through two turns, with AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte and Sergio Mitre all giving the team a chance to win.

Now it is on to Tampa Bay for the Rays who have put on their own surge with comeback win after comeback win and trail the Yankees by seven games in the Loss column. The Rays need a bump from this series and will counter AJ, CC and Joba with Shields. Kazmir and Garza. It should be exciting baseball and we'll catch you back here when it is completed.

Posted by Matthew at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Yankees opened the 2nd Half of the 2009 Season at home against the AL Central Division Leading Detroit Tigers at the new Yankee Stadium, and the two teams put on a clinic with three well-pitched, nail-biting ballgames. Coming into the break, the Yankees had squandered some of the momentum of a 13-2 stretch that brought them into a first place tie with a sweep at the hands of the LA Angels in Anaheim and renewed questions about the back end of their rotation, which lost Chien-MIng Wang just as he found himself again and has seen an ineffective Andy Pettitte struggle with good lineups. With the rest of four full days off for the bulk of the squad (SS Derek Jeter, 1B Mark Teixeira and Closer Mariano Rivera were All-Stars), New York was hoping to get off to a strong 2nd Half start.

Game 89

NY Yankees 5
Detroit Tigers 3

Winning Pitcher: Phil Hughes (4-2)
Losing Pitcher: Joel Zumaya (3-3)

HR: Granderson (19)
Teixeira (22)

AJ Burnett was the Yankees most reliable starter in the six weeks leading up to the All-Star break, with a 5-1 record and 1.74 ERA, but he struggled mightily with his control in his start against the Tigers, walking 5 against only 1 Strikeout. Still he managed to limit the damage to 3 runs over 6 innings, getting critical help from Melky Cabrera in CF who threw out Miguel Cabrera from the RF wall trying for a 2B and completing a DP on a sinking liner to RCF that looked like the start of a rally, only to end a threat. Burnett, for all his travails, did what Starters need to do to give the Yankees a chance to win. Trailing 3-2 after 6, Yankees brought in Phil Hughes, who closed the 1st half on a roll, with 16 scoreless innings, and he kept that up with a dominating two innings of 97 MPH gasoline, surrendering three hits on curveballs but retiring six of six outs on Strikeouts.

For Detroit, Rookie LH starter, Lucas French, befuddled the Yankee bats with an assortment of 88 MPH 'fast'balls, curves, changeups and stayed in the strike zone to give the Tigers a major boost and hand over a 3-2 lead to his bullpen in the 6th Inning, which Reliever Fu-Te Ni of Taiwan held through an adventurous 2 hit 6th Inning. The Tiger bullpen unravelled in the 7th, however, when fireballing Joel Zumaya came in and the Yankee bats, who'd been chasing the junk of French and Ni all evening, got a chance to see some heat and took advantage with a Derek Jeter single, a Johnny Damon double and a Monstrous 3-Run BOMB into the 2nd Deck in RF from Mark Teixeira to move a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead, a lead that held up when Hughes finished off the 8th and All-Star closer, Mariano came in and closed it out for his 24th Save. 5-3 Yankees win.

Game 90

NY Yankees 2
Detroit Tigers 1

Winning Pitcher: CC Sabathia (9-6)
Losing Pitcher: Justin Verlander (10-5)

HR: Rodriguez (18)
Thames (10)

This was a gem of a Baseball Game. The sort of pitcher's duel that lives up to the billing and makes for a thrilling watch. Yankee Starter CC Sabathia faced off against All-Star Jason Verlander and fought through his own early wildness to give the Yankees 7 shutout innings. For his part, Verlander worked through his own 6 shutout innings, before leaving a fastball over the middle of the plate to leadoff hitter, Alex Rodriguez, which he deposited into the first row of seats behind the RF Wall for a 1-0 Yankee lead. Verlander, who came into the game stating that he was unconcerned about the short RF porch in the new stadium, flashed a broad grin when the ball went out and proceeded to get a bit rattled as he allowed a couple of baserunners and a Nifty deke by Nick Swisher on a soft ground ball to SS Adam Everett allowed Melky Cabrera to reach 1B with the insurance RBI as Robinson Cano came home for a 2-0 lead. Alfredo Aceves came in for the 8th Inning and sandwiched Strikeouts of Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez around a HR to DH (and former Yankee) Marcus Thames, which also landed in the 1st row of seats, this time in LF for a 2-1 game. Mariano Rivera came on for his second consecutive save (25).

Game 91

New York Yankees 2
Detroit Tigers 1

Winning Pitcher: Joba Chamberlain (5-2)
Losing Pitcher: Edwin Jackson (7-5)

HR: Rodriguez (19)
Teixeira (23)

Another gem. All-Star Detroit starter Edwin Jackson, stolen from the Tampa Bay Rays in the head-scratching offseason trade, continued to throw peas at AL hitters and completely shut down the Yankees, except for a low inside pitch that Alex Rodriguez golfed about 440 feet into the Tigers bullpen in CF in the 4th Inning and a 3-1 pitch to Mark Teixeira, that followed a questionable strike on 3-0, that Teixeira sent screeching into the 2nd Deck in RF for the 2-1 lead.

For his part, Yankee starter, Joba Chamberlain had seemed fatigued in his recent outings, his energetic demeanor and upper '90s fastball seemingly gone prematurely in only his 3rd MLB season (he's 23). But he opened up his 2nd half stomping around the hill and dominating Tiger hitters, getting stronger throughout the game. He made one mistake, a hanging 4th Inning curve to Detroit Rookie Clete Thomas (a nice looking LH power hitter with a big RF arm) that he hit in the seats and overcoming a soft line drive single in the 5th that Nick Swisher butchered into a leadoff 3B by Curtis Granderson. Joba got out of the jam, ending it with a 95 mph fastball to Marcus Thames and a patented fist pump and primal scream, as previously parodied by Oriole Aubrey Huff. Apparently, Joba is learning the most important lesson ANY of us can ever learn - if you let the opinions of idiots like Huff stop you from expressing yourself - you are destined for nothing.

Phil Coke relieved Joba after 6 2/3 and got a 1 pitch out, and Phil Hughes was back for the 8th Inning, extending his scoreless innings streak to 19 with 2 more strikeouts, giving him 8 K's in the 9 outs he got from Detroit this weekend. Mariano provided the replay with his 3rd successive Close (26) on OldTimers Day in The Bronx to send the generations of Yankee legends, 50,000 fans in the yard and Millions at home into Sunday night feeling mighty fine about the 2nd Half that begins with a sweep of the Tigers and a pair of BlueJay wins over the Boston Red Sox, moving the Yankees within 1 game of the lead. The only downer being the collapse of the Kansas City Royals bullpen to blow three successive leads against wildcard pursuer, Tampa Bay, meaning the Yankee sweep did not result in a single game of gain over the Rays.

Next Up:

Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles for three game set in The Bronx and then the Oakland A's come in for 3 on the weekend.

Posted by Matthew at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

When last we spoke, the Yankees were through 57 games, sitting at 34-23. Since then:

Game 58 Loss at Boston Red Sox 7-0
Game 59 Loss at Boston Red Sox 6-5
Game 60 Loss at Boston Red Sox 4-3 (Lose series 3-0, Trail season series 8-0)
Game 61 Win vs. New York Mets 9-8
Game 62 Lose vs. New York Mets 6-2
Game 63 Win vs. New York Mets 15-0 (Win series 2-1. Lead season series 2-1)
Game 64 Win vs. Washington Nationals 5-3
Game 65 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-2
Game 66 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-0 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 67 Win at Florida Marlins 5-1
Game 68 Lose at Florida Marlins 2-1
Game 69 Lose at Florida Marlins 6-5 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 70 Lose at Atlanta Braves 4-0
Game 71 Win at Atlanta Braves 8-4
Game 72 Win at Atlanta Braves 11-7 (Win series, season series, 2-1)
Game 73 Win at New York Mets 9-1
Game 74 Win at New York Mets 5-0
Game 75 Win at New York Mets 4-2 (Win series 3-0, Win season series, 5-1)
Game 76 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-5
Game 77 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4
Game 78 Lose vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4 (win series 2-1, lead season series 2-1)
Game 79 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 4-2
Game 80 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 6-5
Game 81 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 (Finish 1st 81 Games, 50% of Season at 48-33, 96 win pace)
Game 82 Lose Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 (Win series 3-1, lead season series 5-2)
Game 83 Win at Minnesota Twins 10-2
Game 84 Win at Minnesota Twins 4-3
Game 85 Win at Minnesota Twins 6-4 (Win season series 3-0, season series 7-0)
Game 86 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 10-6
Game 87 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 14-8
Game 88 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 5-4 (Lose series 0-3, trail season series 2-4)

Yankees were 34-23 (after 57 Games)

Games 58-88 17-13

Current Record 51-37 (.580/94 Win Pace) 2nd Place (3 Games Boston), 1st Place WildCard (2 Games Texas)

Recap

Yankees went through their worst stretch of the season, followed by another surge and capped it all of with their typical drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, the only team to hold a winning record against the Yankees in the decade and who have now beaten them to the tune of 17-5 in Anaheim last Five seasons!

Individual Player Updates, First Half Grades and Second Half Projections

Note: Grade is based upon Players OWN potential. How much of what he CAN do has he done.

Outfielders/Designated Hitters

LF Johnny Damon (B)
.276 Avg/.362 On-Base/.510 Slugging/16 HR/50 RBI/8-8 Stolen Bases

Johnny is a horrible Defensive player at this point, his bad arm now matched by vision issues that have made his vaunted Ball-Catching skill more of a hit-or-miss thing. But boy can he RAKE. He has slumped badly in July, but even so, his numbers speak for themselves. He has hit for power, hit in the clutch, hit in situations and taken advantage of being moved out of the leadoff slot to put up 50 RBI's in little more than a half-season while continuing to be a source of excellent baserunning (5th in AL Runs, 8-8 in Stolen Bases). Johnny needs to be a full-time DH at this stage, but a team that gives him that chance can expect Edgar Martinez sort of DH performance. No reason to project any change for Johnny in the 2nd Half.

RF Nick Swisher (B)
.237/.360/.434/14/47

Nick has been an upgrade Defensively from Bobby Abreu, but the loss of Xavier Nady has made him the fulltime RF and his Offensive output is a steep downgrade from Abreu. In the midst of an awful July, Swisher is an On-base machine (5th in AL, just ahead of Abreu, who outhits him by 80 points) and his spirited, knucklehead presence has gone over well with his buttoned-down teammates, making him a positive intangible in a way the low-key Bobby was not, since he just added to the sleepy atmosphere. Not a knock on Bobby (there really aren't any, except his ball tracking in the OF), just a roster composition issue for the Yankee clubhouse.

Nick is a hit-and-miss, streak hitter and can't really be relied on day-in, day-out to contribute. Of course, the 70 Strikeouts that provoke that dire review of his contributions would only make him 4th Worst on the Rays (Pena 111, Upton 99, Longoria 77) or 3rd Worst on the Red Sox (Papi 78, JD Drew 74), so maybe I should be gentler?

CF Melky Cabrera (B)
.285/.347/.439/8/34/5-7 SB

Melky has been the Starting CF, but his versatility move him to RF or LF when Girardi sits Damon or Swisher. At any of the three OF slots, Melky is a Defensive Star, providing Gold Glove heroics in all three slots with a big arm that has so thoroughly proven his point - nobody runs on him anymore. Offensively, he is much improved from last season's fiasco and is back at the proven performance level of 2006 and 2007. He hits equally well from either side of the plate for Power and Average, plays the game with intelligence and has proven to be a terrific situational/clutch hitter throughout the first half. He rarely strikes out and runs occasionally (5 of 7 SB) and has been one of the Yankees best performers. With his glove, arm and smarts, if he can slug .439 - they should keep him his whole career, the versatility of playing all three OF slots with that skill, the big arm and the switch-hitting
make him the sort of asset the Yankee system never used to develop and now seems to do so from every corner.

Melky's next HR will be a new Career high and he will only turn 25 on August 11 so no reason not to expect continued improvement.

CF Brett Gardner (B)
.282/.352/.404/3/19/18-22 SB

Originally the starter in CF, Gardner lost his job to a hot Melky early on and skeptics (like Guru) clamored to forget him and ship him to the NL destination his Speed/Slap hitting seem to be destined for. But, like Melky himself, Brett didn't use the demotion to sulk, but rather has contributed every time he has been in the lineup. His blinding speed is on the short list of the AL's fastest (Crawford, Span, Gomez) and his ball-tracking skill and base-stealing are as good as it gets. His arm is weak, however, and were he a more experienced MLB player - LF would be the ideal spot for him (he replaces Johnny Damon's old role as a Basestealer/Table Setter/Ball Tracker). Offensively, he has gone out and PROVEN that he belongs in MLB. With his legs and glove, if he can post .280 with .400 slugging, he will always have an MLB role.

Brett is 25 and in his first full MLB season, so he should only improve.

RF Eric Hinske (Inc)

This recent pickup was a bit of a head-scratcher, Yankees have Swisher who is a similar OF/IB/DH type with thump and have better options to back up Alex Rodriguez when he rests his Hip at 3B (Ramiro Pena, sent to minors and Cody Ransom). But Hinske cost nothing (Pirates just dumping him) and is a professional power hitter (3 quick pops already) who has played in the AL East his whole career and been in last two World Series, like all Yankees, he is thrilled to be given the shot at wins and riches and will benefit from the RF porch. But his Defense already cost them the final game in Anaheim, which was ironic since it looked like an Abreu moment while Abreu was watching from the LA Bench. His presence makes one wonder if there may be another move before the trade deadline with one of the other marketable OF types listed above.

No clue what to expect from Hinske, his role or his potential tenure.

DH Hideki Matsui (B)
.265/.367/.517/14/40

At every one of these updates, I've pointed out how fragile Hideki's two surgically repaired Knees looks and how likely it is that the magnificent warrior is one slip away from retirement. But the NL Games provided and unwanted but, as it turned out, wonderful chance for Hideki to get a mid-season respite (he pinch-hit in each game) and he has been frisky since returning to daily DH. Despite his leg woes, that keep him from playing OF anymore, his production is comparable with other AL DH's and he hits in situations, hits in the clutch and walks as much as he strikes out (36/40).

Matsui will rake as long as he can stand, how long that will be is impossible to say, but Damon/Swisher/Hinske are similarly productive DH options and would allow the full-time presence of Melky/Gardner on Defense and the bases, so Yankees are not vulnerable in the OF.

Infielders/Catchers

1B Mark Teixeira (B)
.275/.378/.535/21/63

Mark has had an uneven beginning to his Yankee tenure as the latest in a string of great Yankee 1B from Chris Chambliss to Don Mattingly to Tino Martinez to Jason Giambi....While Teixeira's switch-hitting power and spectacular glove make him a worthy heir to the line, all players go through an adjustment to playing in The Bronx and all families/individuals go through an adjustment period as well. Roger Clemens took two years to fit in, Randy Johnson knew after two years, he never would. Teixeira is not only gifted, he is INTO IT...he wants it so bad and is so pumped over the moon about being in Pinstripes, he forgets to breathe...he struggled in April, flourished in May, playing like an MVP, then sagged a bit in June. His numbers are huge even though and his Defense, coupled with the two youngsters in the OF and suite of young, slick-fielding back-ups, gives the Yankees impact Defensively at every spot on the field. Mark has been outspoken about the lethargic approach the Yankees bring to the field, what he calls 'thinking we can just throw our gloves on the field', but he doesn't yet understand the Yankees play it that way because their season is designed to go long into October every year and the hype around the team makes every....single....day....high drama if you let yourself get caught up in the flow. They will always run into more energetic, competitive squads, particularly early in the year...but the Yankee way is just to show up, punch the clock and put the better players on the field, counting on talent, not desire, to win the day.

When Mark stops trying to 'make' things happen (like Alex does) and just LETS it do so, like Derek and Damon. The Yankees will hoist flags in The Bronx.

2B Robinson Cano (A)
.308/.341/.490/13/46

Cano has had a dominant year Defensively, with 3 errors in 87 games, while being 3rd in Total Chances for a commanding lead in fielding Percentage (.993) over his closest rivals in balls reached (Hill, Kinsler) both of whom have twice as many errors. His arm, range and double play prowess are unmatched in the game by any 2B. Then, there is the bat! Cano has ridden torrid 2nd Half Streaks to lift up sub-par first-half numbers in each of his previous 4 seasons, with his .300 plus 2008 2nd half salvaging a brutal early season slump. In 2009, the slow-start was avoided, putting down a solid foundation for his second half heroics. If Cano has his typical 2nd Half, the Yankees are looking at .320/30/100 and a Gold Glove from their 26 year old Second Baseman.

Cano, as noted, has been a 2nd Half/hot-weather player all his career, no reason to expect that to change. He will likely settle in with his infield mates in 2010 for an all Infield top-of-the-lineup of Jeter-Cano-Texeira-Alex that could be in those slots for 5 years, or until Derek breaks Rose's record.

SS Derek Jeter (A)
.321/.396/.461/10/37/17-20 Stolen Bases

Wherever Derek goes, he is the man. In every marriage, there is, since 1996 a contractual agreement that if Derek shows up at the door, the man will provide his wife and prepare food and drink for afterwards, and an understanding that to do anything less would be to deprive a woman and her daughters of a world where there ARE good men. Derek goes to the WBC and is the man, comes back to The Bronx and is told he will hit leadoff, so he goes back to stealing bases and hitting for average, clubs HR's when needed, responds to the lesser men who criticize his Defense with a 4 error (2nd) first half, while being 5th in Total Chances and 2nd in Fielding Percentage to a guy who plays indoors (Scutaro).

Likely to finish with an average close to his career number (.316), 20 HR, 30 SB and fewer than 10 Errors.

3B Alex Rodriguez (B)
.256/.411/.548/17/50

Alex should have listened to his body and had the hip surgery in the offseason, and should have had help with those decisions from a Yankee front office which mishandled every injured Yankee on its roster this winter. That said, his incredible healing powers and ability to maintain a pharmacological edge on MLB's testing regimen (for you Paranoids out there!), led to his surreal return in Early May and a 1st Half with numbers that any OTHER 3B would feel pleased with. He slumped badly as he was overplayed in his first 35 games back, but once rested adequately, he went on a typical Alex tear and blasted by MLB's greatest all-time sluggers on the all-time list, which will have him sometime in the next few days nestle into 9th place ahead of Harmon Killebrew, before his 34th Birthday on July 27. His hip has sapped his speed and burst on the bases, but he has been spectacular at 3B (5 errors) and the booming power is all the way back.

Will likely feel more comfortable with greater rest and the All-Star downtime for the first time in his career, he remains the indispensable Yankee. Call it .290/40/125.

UT Cody Ransom (D)

Cody was awful at the plate and in the field when filling in for Alex early in the year, then blew out his quad for two months, which revealed Ramiro Pena as a switch-hitting contributor with Gold Glove prowess in the IF. When Ransom returned, the Yankees sent Pena down and gave Cody back his job and he has thus far continued to show rust, but DOES have skills with both the bat and glove and is likely to reward the faith with steady 2nd Half contributions, OR be demoted and allow Pena to be that guy. Either way, Yankees are well covered around the entire Infield.

C Jorge Posada (B)
.285/.369/.508/11/40

Jorge has been the lone Yankee to return from 2008 Surgery with his game intact, as Joba, Wang, Bruney, Alex and Mariano all went through varying stages of after-effects in 2009. Jorge missed a few weeks with a hamstring pull, but the time off did his shoulder well and allowed the Yankees to discover the Defense excellence and Offensive pluck they have in Rookie Francisco Cervelli (threw out 10 of 21 SB attempts) and Jorge never missed a beat from either side of the plate or behind it either before or after the pulled hammy. He is one of four regular switch-hitters with power in the everyday lineup (Teixeira, Swisher, Cabrera), has been effective as a pinch-hitter or DH when called upon and been the leader they missed without him in 2008. Defensively, he has worked through shoulder surgery to throw out 30% of runners, many of them running to test his arm and succeeding early in the year. If the Yankees have a healthy Jorge and Hideki throughout this season, they may come to point to their unexpected time off as a key to their fortunes.

If Jorge is healthy, he rakes, defends and leads. He is healthy.

C Jose Molina (Inc.)

Molina blew out his leg right after Jorge and Cody did, Cervelli is the future backup and, perhaps, Jesus Montero, is the heir to Jorge, but Jose provides the veteran glove, smarts and top-gun wing to contribute the rest of 2009.

Starting Pitchers

LH CC Sabathia (B)

See Mark Texeira's summary for the reality of adjusting to life as a Yankee/New Yorker, its a big deal and a big change and takes awhile. CC is a horse, throws 98 mph heaters at the knees, sliders, curves, change-ups...he pitches deep in games, leads in the clubhouse, shows up, stands up, speaks calm. He can dominate with stuff or moxy, pitch a complete game with 10 K's or 2. Everything you could ask for.

CC will be his typical self in the 2nd Half.

RH AJ Burnett (B)

AJ pitched in some poor luck at times in the first half, as the Yankees went through some valleys with injuries and production that often found him being victimized by poor run support. Lately, however, he has been cruising and winning, striking people out and pitching deep into every start. Has embraced being a Yankee and being in New York more than anyone could have imagined, the Blue Jay players said they were amazed at the AJ they see in Pinstripes - a talented young person who has come into his own skin.

AJ looks good from here.

RH Chien-Ming Wang (D)

Poor Chien. Dominant throughout his Yankee career, he broke his damn foot in a freakish accident last June, sat out extra months to insure its healing and managed to rust from inactivity, then have to try and recapture his stuff on a big -league hill (Catastrophe), in the minors (worked), the bullpen (worked well) and finally, back into the rotation where, in his last start, he FINALLY looked like the Chien-Ming Wang who piled up the 54-20 record as Yankee ace from 2005-08. Then, he injured his arm. He's only 29, so even a lost year is no biggie, the important thing is to get him HEALTHY and bring him back to the guy he still can be, too young, too strong, too good to lose.

No idea what to expect, Yankees have lost Chien and Mussina, their best two starters from '08, defeating the purpose of the new 'depth' - with Wang, Joba and Bruney at a fraction of their previous ability, the entire staff has been shifted to plug Hughes into the spot Bruney occupied and the back end of the rotation has gone from the anticipated strength to the glaring weakness of this Yankee team.

RH Joba Chamberlain (C)

So much nonsense is written about this kid 'needing to learn how to pitch'. That is bullshit. He is smart on a hill and knows what to do, but his stuff is simply not the same since he walked off the mound with a sore shoulder last August 4 in Texas. As a starter in 2008, he threw 34% of his pitches at 95MPH or better, and with the other 2/3 of his pitches being the biting slider and change-up, that led to low BAA, low pitch counts and the ability to work in the strike-zone. In 2009, the loss of velocity has turned Joba into a nibbler, trying to work off-speed on the corners, getting into bad counts and managing walks and thumped baseballs from middling fastballs left over the plate. The Yankees and Joba insist his stuff is fine, but that is childish. The naked eye and the radar gun do not lie and, while an Andy Pettitte or Mike Mussina can be expected to adjust to becoming a finesse pitcher in their mid '30s, to watch the Yankees most exciting homegrown starters in decades BOTH (Wang, Joba) lose their arm-strength in the same season and battle to overcome injury has been the scariest thing about the season. Power pitchers go through this. Justin Verlander went from 102 to 92 last year and is back to his dominant stuff this season, so it CAN be done and Yankees have to hope it will be by Joba, because if he is bringing the stuff he has now to the mound, he aint Joba and they might as well call him 'Jason' and ship him to Kansas City.

The key not only to the Yankees season, but to many Yankee seasons. A dominant homegrown power pitcher with a brilliant future or an early-career blown arm?

We'll see.

LH Andy Pettitte (C)

This grade may be a bit harsh. Andy has been what he was in 2008, a guy who can win and cruise when he is feeling great and playing a team with young hitters he can fool or who lack lineup depth, but lacks the stuff to get outs against elite teams and hitters who are familiar with his arsenal. A decent back of the rotation starter, but of no value in a playoff setting, which points out the critical importance of getting Wang or Joba right during the 2nd half. He needs to make the adjustment that Cone, Mussina and other power arms made late career to throw more soft stuff and more variety to allow his bread and butter cutter to be more effective. If they keep trying to throw a ball by hitters who know their movement well, they get THUMPED (check out Schilling's 2006 HR numbers trying to throw his old heater by hitters, then his 2007 numbers when he figured it out).

Andy is strong, healthy and a winner. He'll win more than he loses, but struggle with the best teams.

Bullpen

RH David Robertson (C)

Called up to replace the previously brilliant but hopelessly lost Jose Veras (Cleveland Indians on waivers) and Edwar Ramirez (11 k's per 9 innings in his Yankee career, but walks by the bushel in '09). 24 year old Robertson has actually begun to pitch just like Edwar. He gets lots of Strikeouts with his biting curve and sneaky 93MPH (34 K's in 22.2 Innings), he can strike out any hitter...WHEN he throws strikes! (16 walks). He is young enough, talented enough and deep enough in the bullpen mix to be given the rest of the Summer to figure it out, but come September, he needs to be throwing strikes or be back in MiLB.

Up to him.

RH Alfredo Alceves (A)

Was great as a September starter for the Yankees in 2008, was great in the Rotation in Spring Training, was great back in the minors, was great as a long-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great a a short-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great throwing long relief (4 innings) and spot-start (3 2/3) in back-to-back emergency duty when Wang shifted from pen to rotation, Hughes went from reliable starter to short inning relief and then Wang hurt his wing after Hughes had been reconditioned as a short-guy. Aceves isn't the guy they plan around, he is simply part of the solution whatever the plan requires. The sort of guy they have suddenly come up with in abundance in this year when the bigger name, bigger gift guys are fighting their bodies. Aceves has the experience of pitching in regular rotation for YEARS in the Mexican leagues and is like El Duque working over hitter after hitter. Implacable and professional, just the way Yankees should be.

A gift. Will he keep on giving? He is only 26 and has a 2.45 ERA in 73 Yankee innings, as well as a ratio of 36 K's to only EIGHT walks in his 43.1 Innings this year. A strike throwing machine.

LH Phil Coke (B)

Yet another mid '20s Yankee arm with a terrific arm. Coke controls hitters (26 hits in 38.1 Innings), but can begin to cruise and leave pitches up in the zone. He has been victimized by control issues, resulting in walks (14, to 31 K's) and HR balls (6). Needs more experience and command to be a dominant force in the Bullpen for a long time.

Already solid, could be great or go backwards.

RH Brian Bruney (D)

Like Wang and Joba, Brian got hurt in 2008 and has struggled with his health and unable to return to previous arm strength in 2009. When right, Bruney is 98 mph heat and biting sliders on the black. Unhittable stuff and precision command. But he is clearly not there in his second return from the DL this season. Instead of 98 on the black, its been 94 in the middle, with predictable results. His issues have forced Yankees to move starter Hughes into Bruney's role, thus depriving themselves of a stud young starter just as Wang, Joba and Pettitte are wavering.

Not good.

Difficult to feel confident about Bruney, since his broken foot and strained elbow are fresh in all our minds. That said, he's another power arm who is only 27 and has proven stuff (200 K's in 199 MLB innings) and has worked to return from injury and remake his once portly body. He may not contribute in 2009, but should be kept healthy and given the chance to return to the dominant arm he was so recently.

RH Phil Hughes (A)

Phil had the same basic route as Aceves. His arm is a given and the wait with him has been about his experience and health. He did a serviceable job in the Yankee rotation early with 5 good starts and only one bad (a 5/9 Debacle against the Orioles at the Stadium) that is almost all of his 2009 ERA (8 ER in 1.2 IP). Once Wang reclaimed his Rotation slot, Hughes was moved into a short, late-inning role and has thrived. He surrendered a 2-Run pop to Kevin Youkilis in the first inning of his second relief stint against the Red Sox at Fenway and those have been the only runs he has surrendered in 13 relief appearances over 18.1 Innings, he has struck out 19 and walked only 5 and 5 hits in the 15 innings since Youk went yard. He is three weeks into his 23rd year, throwing 96 mph gas at the knees with what might be the best curve ball South of Halladay. A dynamic talent, who is HEALTHY, which is critical with Wang and Bruney down and Joba on the ropes.

Phil will be in the pen for now, perhaps all of 2009 and will move into a long-term starters job in 2010. Brian Cashman had the only word that makes ANY sense on the whole debate between the relative merits of staff members stating 'any decent starting pitcher is going to be effective in a set-up role, but only a few set-up guys can be effective front-end starters. Nobody in Baseball doubts that is what Phil Hughes will be for long and long.

RH Brett Tomko (C)

Veteran filler has adequate stuff (96 mph) but has never performed to it in 15 big league seasons or as a Yankee, purely a mop-up the slop guy who will be displaced by Labor Day from within by a returner (Damaso Marte) or a call-up (Mark Melancon).

RH Jonathan Albaladejo (B)

Big Jon is an effective middle guy who gets ground balls, throws strikes and can provide multiple innings in situations when the starter has left early or game is in need of a hold while the bats make hay. Another young (27) arm with moxy, who can help the Yankees now and in the future. He slipped early in the year, but made the most of his send-down and has been terrific since returning and could be here to stay.

Look for Jon to solidify a secondary role in the Bullpen in the 2nd half and continue packing donuts by the box full!

RH Mariano Rivera (A)

Mo had some hiccups after his typical brilliant Spring, with poor outings in 3 of his 36 appearances (4/24 in Boston, 5/7 and 6/6 against Tampa Bay), but has been casually brilliant for the rest of the time. He adds 43 K's and 3 Walks in his 37 2009 Innings to his 2008 totals, giving him a ratio of 120 K's to 9 BB's in his last two seasons, over 107.2 Innings, a period in which he has saved 62 of 64 chances. MOney in the bank and showing no signs that he won't be signing yet ANOTHER contract as Yankee closer come the end of 2010.

MOre Mo. The greatest of the great in all of sports, Derek may have privileges with your wives and daughters, but Mo has full access to your home, car, possessions and slave labor upon request. He owns you as he has owned the American League and makes the histrionics of men like K-Rod and Pap-B seem almost as dated as those of Al Hrabowsky, despite being a dozen years older than either man. Will remain long enough to outlast Trevor Hoffman and become the first man to save 750 games and to be a closer past his 50th Birthday. Will retire in October 2020 after his 26th Year.

Manager, General Manager and Coaches

Joe Girardi (A) is the ideal guy for this team. He leads by example, being the fittest Yankee with pipes, abs and ridiculous body fat. He has been masterful with the bench and the platoon of young CF'ers Melky and Gardner, and adjusted on the fly when the bullpen standouts of 2008 and arms they counted on for 2009 (Bruney, Marte, Veras and Ramirez) ALL failed to reasons of health and ineffectiveness and rebuilt things by switching from short-guys to recast starters (Hughes, Coke, Robertson, Aceves) who could pitch multiple innings and throw strikes. Juggling the health of veteran position guys nursing injuries and getting production from minor league call-ups. Has Yankees running the bases (5th in Stolen Bases, succesful 80% of the time) and been an arbiter of relaxation in the sometimes tense world of NY clubhouses where the hostile media (National and Local included) cover the team like the Nixon White House, thinking about making careers with nonsense and gossip. The new chemistry, that has been an adjustment for Yankee veterans AND Yankee fans has been an unqualified success. They have more fire but still have professionalism, are loaded with guys who LOVE being Yankees, play through pain and put their teammates first. The kind of team Joe Girardi PLAYED on. This is the best Defensive and Situational Yankee team since 1999, and, if healthy - the best lineup in MLB. The rotation problems with Wang and Joba are the only issues which can derail Joe from his first of many, many Championships. If Derek has dibs on your wife, and Mo on your assets and activity, think of Joe Girardi as the person who can come into your community and provide you and your neighbors with plans for the coming decades, all in about an hour.

He has seen all, done all, won all in the Uniform, but also been on terrible teams, on NL squads, managed a young, small market outfit as well as the Yankees. Knows everyone, knows everything about the situation he is in, remains in control of himself in all situations. Has less interest in the spotlight and is less fascinated by the media than Torre was, so silly little dramas don't pop up and appears genuinely in sync with his contemporaries Cashman and Yankee principal owner, Hal Steinbrenner. Yankee-haters speculate Joe might be on the hot seat if 2009 does not put the world of Baseball back on the footing it lost in the awful last half-decade, but the locker the team built for Joe's son in the clubhouse should signal everyone that Joe is here for a decade or more and will retire in the company of Stengel, McCarthy, Huggins and Torre for Yankee longevity and success. There is no greater bet in Professional Sports than betting on Girardi, and the Yankees know what they have.

Hitting coach, Kevin Long (B) has dealt with a lot of injuries and nonsense in the typical early season Yankee adjustments, but the team leads MLB in runs, homers, slugging, on-base percentage, OPS....they walk almost as much as they strike out and have yet to really see anyone perform at a higher level than previously established form.

Pitching coach, Dave Eiland (C), has managed to oversee devastating injuries to critical performers and varying degrees of unreliable performance from previously reliable arms. That said, the 3.82 staff ERA after the 15-17 early season struggles makes it clear the team has a comfortable position in all facets of the game.

GM Brian Cashman (B)

A nice job for a guy who will spend the next two decades with Manager Girardi and Owner Hal Steinbrenner counting championships, producing Yankeeographies and adding to the miseries of New England men and women who have suffered for eons from the deficiency of their menfolk between the temples and the hip flexors. Unable to achieve satisfying sexual interaction and limited to choices of programs about Dancers, programs about Fat people and programs about Fat people who dance - the 'Nation' will begin the post-Manny decades without continued on-field success, but at least they have clams AND cranberries!

In Conclusion

Yankees have answers at Bat, on the Hill, on the Bases and in the Field and control their own destiny. If Wang and Joba are healthy and contribute, the World Series is a formality. If not, they will scratch and claw and be in the mix. Either way, the future is bright and the present fruitful and the Yankees appear poised to lift the Black Cloud that has covered the game since 2001 the same way Obama has removed the stain of the Bush years. When America looks back on the these past years, in both Sports and Life - this time will be known as 'The Worst Time Ever', but the time since November 2008 will soon make it as forgettable as the years between 1981-1992 (previous worst time ever).

Luckily, the Yankees are here to insure all will be well in the future!

Posted by Matthew at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Story
First it was an early April series at Fenway, Yankees blew a two run lead in the 9th with Mariano and a 6-0 lead behind AJ Burnett, who had an 0.40 ERA in Boston before surrendering 8 runs that game and 7 more on Tuesday!

Then it was a two game sweep in The Bronx, as Joba battled 1st Inning woes before trotting out his all-world arsenal to strike out 12 Red Sox in 5 2/3, only to be undone by the 4 First Inning runs in the end.

Now its a 3 Game Sweep at Fenway, Beckett at his best on Tuesday, but some tough, gritty play by the Red Sox and some tight, pathetic performances by veteran Yankees like Chien-Ming Wang and Nick Swisher, seemed to doom the Yankees on the 2nd and 3rd nights.

E-I-G-H-T losses in 8 games.

But only 2 out of First Place, while distancing the other AL wild cards.

Interesting.


The Red Sox are more competitive than the Yankees will ever be, so are the Angels, the Indians, Twins and Rays. If it was a war, these are the squads like the Confederacy, the Taliban, the Viet Cong, WW II Japanese - dedicated, small fire, innovative, never-say-die...such competitors thrive on close combat, that's why the Mujahadeen are so incensed the Americans don't want a 'fair fight' - they've internalized Western customs that ran from the Crusades to the Victorian Age.

America don't play that.

Neither do the Yankees.

Better resources, better roster, the long slog.

Is there any Red Sox you'd trade for?

The Players

1B Teixeira or Youkilis?

No knock on Kevin, who has made himself into a premier MLB Player. But when he hit .312/29/115, it was his first trip above each plateau in his career. He's 30. Teixeira is a switch hitter on another level entirely. The difference between an All-Star and a Hall of Famer.

Teixeira .289/.391/.628/19/52
Youkilis .350/.472/.631/10/37

2B Cano or Pedroia?

Despite the absurd MVP award for a guy with 17/83 in power numbers who lost the batting title to a Gold Glove CATCHER and still prevailed in the 'Manny Ramirez Protest Vote' by the idiots in the BBWAA (Moron's Association), just look at the data. Cano is a better player across the board. Pedroia is a hard worker with heart. Heart don't matter in The Bronx, or on The Magic Carpet.

Cano .293/.327/.463/9/35 - 2 Errors in 269 Chances
Pedroia .306/401/.406/2/24 - 4 Errors in 254 Chances

SS Jeter or Green? !

3B Alex or Lowell? !

C Posada or Varitek? !

LF Damon or Bay?

Well here is the best case for a current Red Sox over a previous one, but the disparity is slight...Bay is the guy who will kill a mistake and have big RBI games when the arms are mediocre, but Damon can hit anyone, at anytime and go deep in the deepest of doo-doo.

Damon .286/.361/.537 with 13 HR/35 RBI/5 for 5 SB
Bay .277/.399/.592 with 16 HR/57 RBI/5 for 6 SB

CF Ellsbury or Melky?

Ellsbury for all his Base Stealing heroics remains a guy with one weapon - his legs making a comparison to Brett Gardner more appropriate than one to Switch-Hitting/Rocket Armed Melky, with thump from both sides. Ellsbury is a .370 Slugger, with ONE HR.

RF Swisher or Drew?

Can you choose 'Neither'? Swisher and Drew are both mistake hitters. Swisher a great guy, Drew a creep, Swish hits both ways, Drew a LH hitter. No opinion from the Magic Carpet here...

Drew - .267/.391/.500/8/30
Swisher - .255/.394/.538/12/35

DH Matsui or Ortiz?

Ditto! Hideki and Papi are noble warriors whose bodies have betrayed them. Matsui runs on knees that barely stand, his Hall of Fame skill set just a memory, running into a few fastballs over the wall and few hooks into LF. Papi is stripped of Manny in the lineup AND the clubhouse, his knee and wrist hurt...

Matsui - .260/.350/.475/8/23
Papi - .203/.299/.338/4/25

The Starters

Josh Beckett or CC Sabathia?

There are maybe ten guys in the top rank of Starters and both these guys are on it (Johan, Halladay, Lincecum, Zambrano, Verlander, Greinke, Peavy, Volquez). Beckett is RH and has an indomitable persona and breathtaking stuff, a proven Champion. Sabathia is an Offensive Linemen playing with Cornerbacks, a bruiser LH who mixes, mesmerizes and goes all day long.

AJ Burnett or Jon Lester?

Burnett has stuff that is the equal of any MLB RH pitcher, but that is all he has. He lacks the mental preparedness of an Ace and his ball moves so much it often leads to walks or out pitches that suddenly lurch over the plate. Lester is an assassin, a great LH arm, control, composure. A MUCH better pitcher than AJ.

Chien-Ming Wang or Daisuke Matsusaka?

Wang's struggles have been well documented. But let's take a deeper look, this is a guy who broke his foot last June 18 and only Weds did he return to the 95-96 mph that made him 54-20 in his first four MLB seasons. He is big, strong, healing and will dominate as he always has once he gets innings under his belt and gets a feel for the Strike Zone. Dice-K is hard used, in part because of his style of throwing TONS of pitches (unlike Wang who cruises late on low pitches) and reminds me of Hideki Matsui, who is HOF all the way, but left too much back in Japan to last at this level once his body started claiming him.

Andy Pettitte or Tim Wakefield?

Andy is a borderline Hall of Famer (check the incredible numbers) and one of MLB's all-time winners, who is also LH. Wakefield is a Knuckleballer, who reliably takes the ball every five days, dominates when it dances and struggles when it doesn't.

Joba Chamberlain or Brad Penny/John Smoltz?

Joba is Smoltz twenty years ago. No comparison in 2009. Penny, despite his heroics tonight, is just a guy today.

Phil Hughes/Alfredo Aceves vs. Justin Masterson/Daniel Bard?

Four good young arms, with different strengths.

Jose Veras vs. Manny Del Carmen?

Equal on arm, Del Carmen has been far better on a hill. Veras needs to be able to throw strikes or the oohs and ahhs his stuff provides are useless.

Phil Coke vs. Hidkei Okajima?

A flamethrowing (96 mph) LH with 4 pitches who was a starter vs. a crafty veteran with a freaky motion and a sterling MLB record.

Mariano Rivera vs. Jonathan Papelbon?

Jon is ten years younger, and throws 4-5 MPH harder. Mo has far better control (30K, 2 BB (1 intentional) in 25 IP), Papelbon (29K, 13 BB in 27 IP). Mo is cool, PapB is hot. Either way, you are probably toast.

The Rest

Joe Girardi vs. Terry Francona?

The brilliant engineer Girardi, who is fitter than 75% of MLB players and has both a Manager of the Year trophy and 3 World Series Rings versus the classy survivor Francona, who has brought Boston two rings in five seasons.

Brian Cashman vs. Theo Epstein?

Brian heads for the shadows, the ultimate organization man in the ultimate organization, Theo is his own man in a loose group of executives. The two cultures are as opposite as the fan bases, ballpark and rosters and really cannot be compared, neither guy could do the other ones job. Brian 'swings for the fences' envisioning Rings and Yankeeographies and Theo craftily prefers guys who suit the Nation and will drive through glass of the B crew.

Hal Steinbrenner vs. John Henry?

Again, the culture clash is severe. The Steinbrenner belief (like Jerry Jones in NFL) is create top shelf conditions, ultimate amenities for fan and player and demand accountability for top dollar, John Henry openly campaign for a salary cap that will reign in the need to expand his payroll, tries to chisel dollars from HOF free agents in his grasp (Alex, Tex) while signaling his closer he'd prefer to pay a reduced salary for his continuing services. As different as any two management philosophies could be.

Empire vs. Nation?

I don't really know any Yankee fans, I am a loner, most of my close friends are actually Red Sox fans! I think the biggest difference is the sense of companionship Nation fans have for one ANOTHER. To be 'Red Sox Nation' is to be bonded to something larger than the Red Sox results, to be a Yankee fan is only about Wins and Losses. And Championships.

Posted by Matthew at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Recap

Game 48 - Win 5-3 @ Cleveland Indians
Game 49 - Win 10-5 @ Cleveland
Game 50 - Lose 5-4 @ Cleveland
Game 51 - Win 5-2 @ Cleveland (Win Series 3-1, Win Season Series 5-3)
Game 52 - Win 12-3 over Texas Rangers
Game 53 - Lose 4-2 to Texas
Game 54 - Win 8-6 over Texas (Win Series 2-1, Win Season Series 4-2)
Game 55 - Lose 9-7 to Tampa Bay Rays
Game 56 - Win 4-3 over Tampa Bay
Game 57 - Win 5-3 over Tampa Bay (Win Series 2-1, Season Series tied 4-4)

Record through game 47 - 27-20
Games 48-57 - 7-3

Current Record 34-23 (.597/97 Win Pace)

Injury Report

Alex Rodriguez - Continues to play 3B 5x per week, DH 1X per week. Stole first base since return from Surgery, feels OK and is probably at 80%.

Jorge Posada - Returned from pulled Hamstring and is hitting with usual stroke, he appears to be struggling with his throws more than he was before hamstring injury, which is a concern. Girardi will continue to catch him 2 games, DH 1, catch 2, sit 1.

Hideki Matsui - Caught a couple of fat pitches in Texas, but has been struggling mightily since. Managed to leg out potential Double Play ball to win a game against Tampa Bay, but still seems to be moments away from career-ending problem with knees.

Xavier Nady - Hitting regularly in extended Spring Training games, but has not thrown the ball with intent, seems weeks away.

Jose Molina - Badly damaged Quad is likely to drag out past All-Star break.

Brian Bruney - Impossible to assess after aborted first comeback, has an elbow issue that cannot be treated and has to be discounted from plans, if they get something from him - it's gravy.

Damaso Marte - Who the fuck knows?

Cody Ransom - Who the fuck cares?

Looking Ahead

Yankees are in Boston for three games (T-W-TH) and will throw (AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, CC Sabathia) against (Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny), then Yanks are back home for the NY Mets over the weekend (F-S-S) with (Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte, AJ Burnett) against (John Maine, Livan Hernandez, Johan Santana). Then the Washington Nationals come in for three (T-W-TH) to close out the Homestand before Yankees hit the road for the Inter-League tour with three in Florida, three in Atlanta and the final set with the Mets at the new Citifield.

Player Capsules

Pitchers

CC Sabathia (3.56) - CC was rolling along in dominant fashion but hit a speed bump in his last start against Tampa Bay, getting beaten for a 3 Run HR by backup Willie Aybar and a solo shot from Backup Ben Zobrist as well as 2 of a 3 hit day from 34 year old, Career Minor Leaguer, Joe Dillon. Ouch! Still, despite giving up the HR to Aybar, CC settled down and allowed only the 5 runs in 8 Innings.

AJ Burnett (4.69) - AJ has been tighter his last few turns, throwing more strikes and staying out of the middle of the plate where his ball tends to drift and create LONG HR chances. His stuff has so much movement, he is almost at its mercy when it moves into the middle. He got a suspension for throwing behind the monster talent, Nelson Cruz, when the idiot Padilla was plunking Teixeira. Currently on appeal, seems he will miss the start against the Mets.

Chien-Ming Wang (14.46) - The electric stuff returned for Chien while working out of the bullpen for three appearances. He surrendered a long HR in his first inning against Raul Ibanez, but really settled in after that and was dominant against Cleveland to earn a return to the starting rotation. His first start, he was dominant for the first two innings, got nickle and dimed in the 3rd for 2, then settled down and shut the door, gave up 2 more in 4th, then shut them down, then gave up a HR to Cruz in 5th as he tired. His sinker, slider and change are all working, only needs to rebuild stamina at this point. Appears to be more Strikeout capable since the time in the pen, may turn out to be a blessing. Not likely to be at full speed Wang until late June.

Andy Pettitte (4.22) - Andy walks the tightrope in his starts, but continues to do so effectively and go deep into games. Had a scare with his back, three starts back, but was whistling the ball last night against Tampa Bay (7 K) before leaving a lazy pitch over the middle to Gabe Kapler (barely hanging on to MLB slot). Reliable in the back of rotation, but suspect against better lineups/hitters.

Joba Chamberlain (3.79) - Alternates between dominant (8 innings, 2 runs against Cleveland) and competent (6 innings, 3 runs against Rays), but never surrenders a lot of runs even when he is 'off'. Velocity is solid (up to 98 against Cleveland) but control has not been what we've seen previously.

Phil Hughes (5.30) - Phil finally got a regular turn in the rotation and was looking terrific, also alternating between dominance and competence, but Wang needs to be in rotation and Andy has not done anything to warrant demotion, so Phil goes to the bullpen. Last night he made his inaugural pen appearance and dominated the Rays 1-2-3 with 95 MPH heat and wicked curves, has the perfect arsenal for one time through any lineup and makes the Yankee pen MUCH stronger with his ability to throw strikes, go several innings and get K's.

Alfredo Aceves (2.70) - Another starter out of the Pen, and he has brought stability and multi-inning appearances every time called upon. An indispensable member of the staff.

Phil Coke (4.24) - Emotional pitcher, Phil needs to do a better job of controlling his adrenaline and the strike zone. That said, he has a BIG LH arm and, when right, casually dominates LH hitting. Needs to work on keeping calm, throwing strikes and avoiding fat strikes. A project, but a promising one.

Jose Veras (6.65) - Veras has become the forgotten man in the Yankee bullpen, his 98 MPH notwithstanding, like demoted Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladejo and Mark Melancon, he just has not demonstrated enough strike throwing ability. Can strike out the side or walk the bases loaded, which is too much uncertainty for a team who want to win.

Brett Tomko (2.16) - Yet another starter in the pen, Tomko has the live arm (mid '90s) and vast MLB experience. He is able to go multiple innings and get a lineup for one time through.

David Robertson (2.08) - The most consistent strike thrower of the pen callups, Robertson can strike out any hitter from either side and avoids cripping walks that have derailed other bullpen arms. Likely to see innings that used to go to Veras.

Mariano Rivera (3.20) - Had a few horrific outings, but continues to roll for the most part, with 30 K's to only 2 walks, and a perfect 6-6 in closing out Yankee victories both Sunday and Monday after Saturday's blowup. Ball is 93 and moving two feet at the last moment, can't complain.

Players

1B Mark Teixeira (.286/18/51)

A beast. A brilliant glove, great arm, great instincts, huge power from both sides, clutch, loves being in NYC, loves being a Yankee. Stop me, I'm drooling.

2B Robinson Cano (.300/9/34)

Robby has been a Superstar on the road, where he has twice led the AL in Hitting, but continues to be mediocre at Yankee Stadium as he was in the old building. No idea what the difference is for him at Home, but glad Yankees are going on the road - they need Robby hitting. His Defense (2 Errors in 57 games) continues to be incredible, great range, great hands, great arm, great turn on DP.

SS Derek Jeter (.306/8/26)

The Captain was on a tear for awhile (16 game hitting streak, 7 multi-hit game streak) and has cooled off a bit, likes to swing for power when not hitting for average and hit long HR last night. His Defense has been nothing short of OUTSTANDING with terrific plays one after another (highlight play on slow roller last night to save Pettitte with bases loaded) - just 2 errors in 53 games at SS.

3B Alex Rodriguez (.248/8/23)

Still only 80%, Alex does a lot of guessing at the plate, when he gets it right - he crushes the long ball, otherwise he sort of dips and darts, takes his walks, tries to work counts. He has such a good sense of his body and of the situation, is sort of 'faking it till he makes it' - nobody should pitch to Teixeira until Alex proves he is back healthy, but they continue to avoid him and that helps the Yankees. Solid on Defense, has to be careful to avoid re-injuring the hip.

C Jorge Posada (.297/8/27)

A HR/BB guy from the LH Side, and an high-average type from the RH side, Jorge is valuable in every at-bat. He continues to rake, hit in the clutch and play through damage to his shoulder, hamstring. Defense has been off a bit of late, throws sailed on him during the last two series, but threw better last night.

LF Johnny Damon (.299/12/34)

Tough to complain about a guy who is this good Offensively, hits for average, hits for power, runs deep counts whether he is hitting or not, hits in the clutch, steals bases, scores runs...he is consistent as a ball catcher in LF but his atrocious right arm continues to be a run scoring opportunity for opponents.

CF Melky Cabrera (.297/6/23)

Melky smashed his Right Shoulder into the CF wall in Texas and has gone into his first slump of the season since the bump. His Defense and clutch hitting have continued to be terrific, but he needs to bring that average back up above .300 and thump. Hits equally well from both sides of the plate, but has been much better at Home than on the Road thus far.

RF Nick Swisher (.257/12/35)

Nick was an April hero and a May zero, and has gotten hot again in June (.500). He provides consistent On-Base and spurts of BIG Power, then goes through two weeks of strikeouts. Happily for Yankees, he is in a 'good' phase now. His Defense has been consistent and an upgrade from Abreu.

DH Hideki Matsui (.246/8/23)

The noble warrior, fighting his body, fighting to contribute and be part of the Yankees winning...his legs are just hanging on and every time I write one of his ten game summaries, I feel like its the final one. How long he lasts is anyone's guess, Guru's guesses he won't make it to September.

OF Brett Gardner (.265/2/9)

Gardner has improved greatly as a hitter and is no longer an automatic out. His speed is a given and his Defense is a plus, an ideal 4th OF type.

IF Ramiro Pena (.243/0/4)

Pena has played much less now that Alex, Derek and Cano are there on a nightly basis, but his glove is a given when someone needs rest. His Switch-hitting bat has struggled with sporadic time, but he doesn't cost the team when he is in there and is likely to hold off Cody Ransom when he returns early July.

C Francisco Cervelli (.271/0/4)

A premier defender/thrower who covers for Posada when he needs downtime for the Shoulder, Cervelli is similar to Pena in being a situational Offensive player who lacks thump but not savvy, ideal backup.

IF Angel Berroa (.150/0/0)

Hasn't done a damn thing, should be released to allow an OF for the National League swing.

That's it for now, Yankees pull into Boston tonight and we'll have those game summaries for each of the three contests.

Posted by Matthew at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

The last time we checked in on the Yankees, they had won the first three games of a 4-Game set against the Minnesota Twins and were at 20-17. They went on to sweep Minnesota, then sweep Baltimore in 3, then they lose 2 of 3 to the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in a THRILLING early season contest between two teams playing at a very high level. That closed the Homestand out at 8-2.

Then they travelled to Texas to face the AL West leading Rangers, who had not lost a Home series since April 14 (KC Royals) and won 2 of 3 to win their 4th successive road series. After losing their Season Opening road series to the Baltimore Orioles, 1-2, behind dreadful starts from CC Sabathia and Chien-MIng Wang, the Yankees have now won 6 of 7 road series (Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Baltimore, Toronto, Texas) with the one series loss coming to the Boston Red Sox, a series in which they held a 2 run lead with Mariano Rivera and a 6 run lead with AJ Burnett, and managed to lose both games.

Not likely to recur.

So the Yankees are playing good baseball now, that is clear. Let's look in-depth and take their temperature;

1.) Injury Report

Alex Rodriguez - Appears to be healthy.
Derek Jeter - Appears to be healthy.
Johnny Damon - Slammed his battered shoulder into a wall in the Twin series and his hot streak died immediately, ran into wall in Texas last night and is playing through, but obviously hampered (3 K's last night, just waving at balls he was driving all over the field before jamming shoulder).
Melky Cabrera - Another OF who slammed his shoulder into a Texas wall, MRI showed no structural damage but he is too sore to play, calling for 3-6 games at this point.
Jorge Posada - Caught 5 Innings in simulated game, pronounced Hamstring 100% and shoulder strength closer to 100% than it was before DL.
Xavier Nady - Playing simulated games, difficult to project how the elbow will respond. 2nd Half at BEST. Yankees desperately need OF help, but Nady is facing surgery and unlikely to play field.
Jose Molina - Not ready to play, another month? May have lost job to Cervelli.
Cody Ransom - Not ready, at least a month and no spot when he's healthy.
Hideki Matsui - Looks like he is about to collapse from the two bad knees, than, when you are resigned to losing him - hits two long HR's in Texas. May be bionic.
Damaso Marte - The new Brown, Igawa, Pavano - exists to provide meaningless health updates for the length of his 3 year deal, calls Brian Cashman at 3AM every night and says 'Sucka!'.

2.) Individual Capsules - Player by Player Updates

Players

Yankees finally have their entire Infield playing together, all healthy, and the results have been impressive. In the Outfield, injuries of varying severity to Nady, Damon and Cabrera have forced a lot off shifting and decreased productivity. Catcher Cervelli, filled in admirably for Posada and kept the line moving all through the recent hot streak. Defensively, Cervelli has been terrific, as is Melky Cabrera in CF, and Yankees have gone a franchise record 14 games without an error (MLB record is 17, by the Red Sox).

1B/Mark Teixeira - A BEAST. He was hitting .191 on May 12 in Toronto. Since then he has gone 26/61 for a cool .426, raising his anemic average all the way to .275 in an EYEBLINK, while bouncing 8 HR off every wall from both sides and driving in 22 runs. Since Alex returns, teams pitch to Mark, he's only had 6 walks in this stretch, or one less than he had in one GAME against the Red Sox (5) on 4/25, when Alex wasn't around. His Defense is extraordinary, everything he was advertised to be. .275/.382/.596

2B/Robinson Cano - Cano's curse is to be so talented that no progress feels like ENOUGH to accommodate that talent. However, even as he continues to waste periodic at-bats by determining to swing at the first pitch and grounding harmlessly to 2B (trying to pull instead of taking his natural stroke to LF), he is hitting .320/.351/.536, with 9 HR/28 RBI and has made only 2 errors at 2B in 47 Games while being 3rd in Total Chances at 231 (Aaron Hill, Ian Kinsler tied with 236).

SS/Derek Jeter - Derek bottomed out at .264 in Baltimore on May 8, since then he's gone 24/67 (.358) with 3 HR/9 RBI. He's stolen 10 of 11 bases, and is now at .297/.372/.464 for the season. Like Cano, he has committed only 2 Errors in 44 games at SS, making the absurd claims about his Defense go
P-O-O-F!

3B/Alex Rodriguez - Completing an Infield without peer, Alex has stormed back from Surgery with THUMP, smacking 7 HR/17 RBI in his 66 At-Bats, while compiling an overall of .258/.410/.636 and playing his typical sterling Defense. Yankee infield has combined for 40 HR and only F-I-V-E Errors.

CF/RF Melky Cabrera - He has been a revelation, coming into his own in his 4th MLB season with a
.323 AVG/.368 OBP.481 SLG, hitting over .300 in April and May. He has won three games with walkoff hits and tied the Extra Inning loss to the Phillies in the 9th the day after one walkoff, but hurt his shoulder in the first inning at Texas. Yankees need his Defense, his switch-hitting, reliable bat and his young legs.

CF/Brett Gardner - Seeming overmatched at the plate in April, after winning the CF job in Spring Training, Gardner took a cue from Melky and stayed focused, worked hard and took advantage of his playing opportunities to post an unlikely .357/.449/.619 over his last 30 days (22 games). He has twice come in to replace an injured OF and, in each case, had 3 hit games. His legs have never been the question, as his blistering speed leads to errors, forced decisions and 9 of 11 Stolen Bases. His Defense is consistently terrific, and he compensates for poor arm strength with a tremendous jump and fundamentally solidly positioning. He will be an essential contributor as the Yankees move through 2009, as Damon and Matsui both will require extensive downtime, and Nick Swisher's struggles are likely to force the Yankees to make a move, either through a trade or a callup of one of their Minor League OF Options. If Brett can continue at .277/.339/.416 and contribute 40 Stolen Bases, he will be an asset.

LF/Johnny Damon - Damon carried the Yankees through the worst stretch of their young season, when Teixeira and Cano were not hitting, and Rodriguez and Posada were both out of the lineup, winning AL Player of the Week in the process. But, as has happened seemingly every year of his MLB career, he sent his fragile shoulder into a wall and came out a reduced Offensive player. Johnny is such a terrific hitter, baserunner and leader, and his place on the team is secure, but he clearly needs to play LESS in order to be at top strength in August/September, his body is battered and too much could leave the Yankees without legitimate production from LF.

RF/Nick Swisher - Swisher is the weakest link in the Yankee lineup. A mistake hitter who is incapable of handling top pitching, Nick strikes out 40% of the time. He ran into some hangers and straight fastballs earlier this year, while he carried NY before Damon took over the role. But that is six weeks past and Nick has hit just .173/.343/.370 since assuming the everyday RF role in the wake of Xavier Nady's injury. No MLB team with championship aspirations can afford that sort of production from a corner OF slot, even the Yankees, who get production from their Infield and Catcher other teams cannot match, need more than that. If Melky is healthy and Brett continues to contribute, Yankees need to cut Swisher back to a part-time OF with occasional DH duties when Damon and/or Matsui need a blow.

UT/ Ramiro Pena - Pena proved his value with sterling Defense at 3B, SS and 2B and has cemented a hold on the Utility Infield position. His Switch-hitting, glove and fresh legs insure Girardi will be confident if any of his regulars need time off, Alex will need time off for his Hip, Cano for his wandering focus and Derek from the assortment of plunks, dinks and collisions he endures annually. Pena is ideal for his role.

UT/ Angel Berroa - With Alex back playing every day and Pena firm in the utility slot, Berroa might want to go week-to-week with his rent payments - his time is almost up - Yankees are likely to call up an OF and designate Angel any day now.

C/Francisco Cervelli - Cervelli is no Jorge Posada, he lacks thump and is a RH hitter. BUT, he also has provided the Yankees with a complete backup, who calls a great game, throws darts to all bases and avoids striking out while hitting .300. Yankees got almost NOTHING from Catcher in 2008, as Jorge was injured and backups Jose Molina, Ivan Rodriguez and Chad Moeller all failed to do ANYTHING.

C/Kevin Cash - Awful early, Cash is coming off a productive couple of games in Texas, but his situation mirrors that of Angel Berroa, Posada is on the way back and Cash will no longer be King, or a Catcher for the New York Yankees.

DH/Hideki Matsui - Hideki has his surgically repaired left knee drained earlier in the season, and immediately went on a serious roll...but then the leg stiffened back up and he went into a tailspin. His bat is incredible, but his health is day-to-day, even at the best of times. He hit 2 HR last night in Texas, and may be about to go off on one of his notorious hot streaks (hit 14 HR in July 2007 to be Player of the Month), or, he could take a bad step and retire. That is his reality in 2009.

Pitchers

CC, AJ and Andy are providing veteran outings every start, going deep into games and keeping them close enough for the Yankees to win every time they are on the hill. Joba, 23 and Hughes. 22 have been electric at times, with low-hit/big K games, and also been ineffective or wild at others. Both are waiting for their experience levels to catch up with big arms and composed demeanors, they are already effective MLB starters, sometimes dominant, as they learn. Chien-Ming Wang and Alfredo Alceves are starting insurance while providing reliable innings in the Pen. Mariano has been Mo. Coke, Albaladejo, Ramirez, Tomko and Veras have been erratic and unreliable, and Girardi has been shuffling them with David Robertson, Mark Melancon and Anthony Claggett in search of a better group performance.

LH/CC Sabathia - He has been dominant.

RH/AJ Burnett - He has struggled with control, either with walks or bad location, that has led to erratic performances, but he goes long in games and strikes out a ton of hitters, and when he gets the ball over the plate, casually dominates. Gives them a chance every outing.

LH/Andy Pettitte - Just battles, has average stuff, deep experience and incredible competitiveness. Seems to have critical mid-game lapses in each start, sometimes he overcomes them, other times he struggles through, but always provides length.

RH/Joba Chamberlain - Was rolling along, a la Melky, when BOOM, he took a wicked liner off his shin in the 1st inning of a start against the Orioles. He looked flustered and uncomfortable in his one start since being hit with that ball, going only 4 innings against the Rangers, but surrendering only 3 runs despite the struggle. He never gets beat up, but hasn't been consistently reliable with his control or his fastball, which can hit 97 at times, or languish at 91-92, seems to need a little time in starts to warm up his arm, which is odd since he was so effective in the Pen. Also has a lot on his mind, with his sick Dad and imprisoned Mom, and there really isn't any way to measure that sort of stress. Still, despite the questions, like Cano, his talent is vast and his ERA of 3.97 and 46 K's in 45.1 Innings are certainly more than acceptable.

RH/Phil Hughes - 22 year old Phil seems to have made his breakthrough to permanent MLB duty. He followed up a 5 Inning/9 K effort against Baltimore with 8 Shutout innings in Texas (3 Hits), and has now given up more than 3 runs in only one of 6 MLB starts in '09. His Fastball has been consistently at 94 and his curveball is the best on a staff that has wicked CB's from Joba, AJ, CC and Andy. Has only to do a better job with adversity to become a star. May still be moved to the Bullpen in '09, but there is little doubt he can dominate in either role and that he will be permanent rotation fixture from '10 forward.

RH/Alfredo Aceves - 26 year old Ace has been overused by Girardi, due to his excellence and the unreliable '09 contributions from Veras, Ramirez, Coke and Albaladejo. He managed to win 2 games in short relief, handles middle relief and filled in for Joba with 3.1 after throwing 2 the night before, all scoreless. Girardi finally went to the well one too many times in the second game at Texas and they got to him as he began his 3rd inning, a day after 2 innings. If the rest of the pen stabilizes, he can be a great asset all season - if not, he will blow out his arm and become too familiar to opponents.

LH/Phil Coke - 26 year old Phil is better than he realizes. He doesn't trust his 94 MPH fastball enough and constantly gets beaten by throwing multiple offspeed pitches in at-bats. He has great potential but the performance on the mound has been less than the sum of his ability, it remains to be seen how big a role he will play the rest of the year - he needs more consistency, better control and less big bombs.

RH/Jose Veras - Veras came into an 8-0 game last night, gave up a 2B, a 2 Run HR and a walk and was dismissed by Girardi. He is in need of a role with a team who have more time for him to find his control. Likely to be gone by the All-Star break.

RH/Chien-Ming Wang - I was deeply skeptical about Joe Girardi's approach to his young CF tandem, and watched in amazement as BOTH players got stronger from competition and seemed to grow up in Girardi's system that rewards good play with playing time and poor play with a reduction in role (D'uh!). I was originally skeptical, as well, about the plan to place Chien-Ming Wang in the bullpen, Wang, who has always been a starter since he was a teenage phenom leading the Taiwanese international team and was the Yankee 'Ace' the last four years, is seemingly the LAST guy who should/could/would go to the bullpen. But then, I thought about Girardi, and his approach, and realized that Wang hasn't EARNED his job back and his major problem has nothing to do with his arm, it has to do with his being tough enough to overcome some reduced capacity after the injury that can ONLY be repaired with consistent innings that can ONLY be provided if he proves he knows how to get hitters out, regardless of his 'comfort level'. Joe didn't insult him or coddle him, he is inviting him to take his place through his play. Last night, Wang came into a blowout and blew through the final six hitters. Maybe this will work?

RH/Mariano Rivera - Mo is dominant.

3.) Looking Forward

After an off-day on Thursday, Yankees begin a 4 Game Wraparound series in Cleveland (F-S-S-M) and will throw (Pettitte-CC-Phil-Joba), then come home for a 3 game set with Texas (T-W-TH) behind (AJ-Pettitte-CC) and then they begin a Gauntlet that will tell them exactly where they stand in the AL East race, with 4 at Home against the Tampa Bay Rays (F-S-S-M) and then a quickie trip to Boston for 3 games with the Red Sox (T-W-TH).

We'll check in with features as they go through this stretch and be back to recap in about ten days.

Posted by Matthew at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

In the Summer of 2005, a Yankee team reeling from major injuries to two starting Outfielders, brought up a 20 year old, emergency Minor League replacement named Melky Cabrera...

He proceeded to overrun a fly ball and look like a Deer caught in Fenway's headlights, on his way to a forgettable MLB debut (6 games, .211).

The next season, given an invitation to Spring Training at 21, his smiling, energetic personality, switch-hitters bat and booming left arm put him on Joe Torre's radar, and he found himself back in The Bronx by Spring and playing important innings, at first as a late-inning Defender, then as the everyday LF and, eventually, supplanting Johnny Damon in CF, a move Damon himself approved since the dramatic difference in their respective arms made it a 'no-brainer'.

That 2006 season, at 21, Melky led AL OF in Assists with twelve (12) despite playing only 127 Games at 3 OF positions. He made one of the All-Time Highlight reel plays to rob Manny Ramirez of a LCF HR, which led noted Yankee-hater, Curt Schilling, to note 'You have to hand it to them, they bring up winners like Cano and Cabrera'.

He hit .280, with 8 HR and 50 RBI (460 At-Bats) (compare with Jacoby Ellsbury, last season at 24, who hit .280 with 9HR and 47 RBI in NINETY FOUR more at-bats (554). It's true that Ellsbury, stole 50 bases from 61 tries that season - Ellsbury has Gardner speed, Melky is 37 of 50 tries in his career...but it is ALSO true that Melky's 12 assists as a Rookie compare to 5 for Ellsbury in 212 games played and that Melky had 4 assist in one 4 game playoff series against Cleveland in 2007.

Melky came back in 2007, at 22, and put up .273, with 8 HR and 73 RBI, while placing 3rd in AL OF Assists with SIXTEEN, then followed up with the 4 assist playoff and what appeared to be a game winning Playoff HR before the swarm ate Joba and the Yankee victory.

Melky began the 2008 season, at 23, with an impressive .299/6 Start and then...fell apart, slumping all the way to .249 with only 8HR and 37RBI. Even ending up in the Minor Leagues late in August...

At that point, he'd played MLB OF for 2 full seasons plus 4 months and proven to be an effective player for all but the final three of those months (he still had 7 Assists from CF, which, while a STEEP drop for Melky, was still one more than Torii Hunter (4) and Grady Sizemore (2) had COMBINED in 2008, while battling for the 'Gold Glove', a total of 288 games).

Over the Winter, the speculation was that NY would trade Melky to Milwaukee for Mike Cameron, a player TWELVE years older than Melky, who had never managed to top Melky's .273 from his 22 year old season or reach his .280 from his 21 year old season, despite playing 14 years of MLB baseball. Cameron, hitting solely from the RH side, DOES have 20 HR power, but that power comes at the cost of an average of 135 K's per each of his 12 FULL MLB Seasons (Melky's career high in K is 68).

If Melky's .249 in '08 was a slump, Cameron's LIFETIME Avg. of .251 was hardly the antidote, and Melky's 'worst of three seasons' Assist total (7) was one less than Cameron's career BEST (8). His lifetime Ratio of Assists/Errors is 68/64 (Melky's? 35/10). As for RBI, Cameron topped Melky's 73 only 3 times in his 15 seasons, and only broke 100 once (2001).

Guru spent most of the Winter writing about the above numbers and the ABSURDITY of trading away a young player with that combination of skills, who was an INSTANT fan favorite in NYC and is beloved by his teammates, amongst whom are his Idol, Alex Rodriguez and his best friend, Robinson Cano.

What I found interesting about those columns was the RESPONSE. People wrote in to say what a 'terrible player' Melky is and screeched when confronted with the statistical rebuttal...'everyone KNOWS he sucks'! Which struck me as odd. Here is this kid, with a million watt smile, a HERO to his Dominican fan base in Washington Heights and throughout NYC. His T-Shirts adorn the backs of thousands of New Yorkers ('Got Melky?') T-Shirts are amongst the best-selling items for the Yankees, who sell 25% of ALL MLB merchandise.

Still, people outside of NYC and in the local media seem to truly DISLIKE the guy, despite the evidence.

My preview magazine, written by a guy named Scott Gramling, who is an Oriole fan and lists his writing staff as 'six world-class writers' (although three of the six are from the Gramling FAMILY!). His review of Melky Cabrera, had this to say 'The offseason acquisition of Nick Swisher likely pushes Johnny Damon to CF and Cabrera to the bench, where he belongs. He's atrocious Offensively and good Defensively, only in comparison to Damon and Bernie Williams'. Now, overlooking the fact that Bernie Williams won FOUR Gold Gloves as a Yankee CF, given the statistical and anecdotal evidence, its safe to say that Melky is indisputable as a Defender. And, given the numbers Offensively, it is hard to understand the intensity of criticism, given his age and established ability as a productive MLB hitter.

Of course, the same group of Oriole fans said of Jeter 'his Defensive deficiencies won't kill your fantasy team the way they do the Yankees' (UPDATE: Jeter is 2nd in AL Fielding Percentage with 2 errors in 37 games, while being 5th in Total Chances and trailing a guy who plays fulltime on the rug...). That would be fewer errors than Julio Lugo, made in a single inning for Boston or Oriole kid, Robert Andino, made at SS during the just-completed SWEEP at Yankee Stadium). Interesting to note this is another 'fact' that 'everyone' knows, but is an absolute JOKE to those of us who have seen every inning, every game and understand that, in New York, NOBODY lasts if they aren't doing the job - not even Derek could survive if his Defense was porous, which it isn't - it happens to be terrific.

Happily, the Yankees avoided trading away the Switch-Hitting 24 year old Melky for the 36 year old Cameron, throwing open the Spring competition and awarding the starting spot to speedster Brett Gardner, who promptly lost the job to Melky when it became apparent he lacked a serious CF arm and was not an everyday Offensive threat, while Melky was streaking to a season, in which he's hit successfully in 25 of his 28 starts, hitting .319/.370 On-Base/.500 Slugging, with 5HR/19RBI.

But, just today, a friend on Facebook, called Melky 'one of those guys who is a dime a dozen', and I wondered - where are there are other switch-hitters with that sort of an arm, who don't strike out, can hit .280, drive in 73 RBI and slug .500, before they turn 25?

On MLB, recently retired, Sean Casey, a favorite of the White-Boy Press (Joe Buck, Peter Gammons) opined that he saw Gardner last year and thought he brought more 'energy' than Melky, which is interesting phrasing since Melky is, perhaps, the most demonstrative of Yankees, while Gardner is a stoic, crew-cut sort...

Is it all possible that the critics, like Casey, are really talking about the TYPE of energy?

Melky speaks no English, and the NYC media have proven time and time again that this makes them FURIOUS (they despised El Duque Hernandez). In Casey's world (and in Boston) the bouncing, laughing, stylin' Dominican approach has not exactly been the local favorite! When Melky mugs for his buddy, Cano, hops into his big brother, Alex's arms or leaps skyward after the final out for a butt bump with Robby...lots of us see 'Energy' (Joe Torre said 'I love the energy and charisma this kid brings to the team'), but apparently, lots of folks see something else...something they do NOT like, something lots of them also saw in class-act Bernie Williams, whose gentle, Guitar Playing self did not keep him from being a hated Yankee for a decade and a half.

It was nothing short of bizarre to watch the disconnect between the urban Yankee fans (who adore Melky, as we do Manny, Cano, Alfonso Soriano...) and the conservative, anglo press (NY Daily News staff, Yankee Announcer Michael Kay, MLB Network Casey and fellow Right Winger, Al Leiter) when it came to the Gardner/Melky contest - the latter were rooting HARD to see the South Carolina kid to win the job and only grudgingly have admitted how superior Melky's play has been, while Melky's teammates insisted all along that the reports of Melky's demise was WAYYYYY overdone (Damon said, in Spring 'Melky is going to be here a long, long time').

Which is NOT to say that Melky is in the same class Offensively OR Defensively with the Tampa Bay Rays phenom, BJ Upton OR the Orioles duo of CF Adam Jones and RF Nick Markakis...those are all Superstar type players with power that dwarfs Melky's.

Melky will remain a solid everyday player, but never be a superstar. He can hit .300, hit 20 HR, drive in 100 runs, steal 15-20 bases and throw out a bushel full of Baserunners, however, and that is MORE than enough to insure he remains a Yankee for longandlong. Happily, he and Gardner get along beautifully and his teammates adore him, as do Yankee fans who live IN the City. CF is likely to be patrolled by 5 tool Minor League Phenom, Austin Jackson (hitting .341 at AAA) who Reggie Jackson compared to Devon White, Defensively, in the coming years, but Melky's big arm and defense figure to make him a RF fixture as Damon and Matsui move on, and Swisher/Gardner shift over to LF.

As for his Manager? Joe Girardi said 'Melky is a different player than he was last year, he's patient at the plate, driving the ball with authority from both sides and his Defense has always been there. He's so young, and it is not unusual to see struggles from a 23 year old, regardless of how many seasons he has under his belt. We challenged him to compete and do better, and now he is playing everyday and winning games for us. We like everything we've seen.'

As for Guru, I love Melky, always have and believe that The Magic Carpet was the ONLY voice sticking with him when the critics were circling.

I have no problem saying 'I told you so..'.

Posted by Matthew at 05:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Hey kids!

For a writer who has become accustomed to writing about Baseball nearly daily, my recent sabbatical has been a strange break from routine...I filed Game reports through the first game of the last Red Sox series (Game 25) and then...

Nothing.

Or, to be more precise, Manny Ramirez, was suspended (my last column deals with this) and my fury at MLB just took the F-U-N away. I always chat up the Doormen on my Dog Walk routes and several are Dodger fans (old time NL fans in NYC, whose dads were either Dodger or Giant fans back in the day, are still loyal to Dem Bums), they share my revulsion at the moralizing tone this sets and the incredible damage it does to the PRODUCT - obviously, nobody wants to watch Juan Pierre play, but urbanites aren't the only ones in the mix and its clear there are passionate voices on the other side of the argument. As New Yorkers, we are not accustomed to having accommodate such voices - we've got them right here in our Right Wing tabloids (New York Daily News and New York Post) and are used to ignoring their racist, culture war way of covering the sports scene. Nonetheless, Manny is on the sidelines and the NL season has become a non-event as a consequence, but LA is certainly the class of the West in any case, so the ultimate cost may not be so prohibitive.

I've got two tickets for the LA Dodgers against the NY Mets (my first game at Citi Field) on July 9, and his suspension is scheduled to end a week before that date - so HOPEFULLY, the New Yorkers who love the guy and could not let him know when he was wearing that ugly hat with the 'B', will have a chance to see him and Joe Torre, back where they belong. Otherwise the tickets are give-aways...

I've said all that needs to be about the reasons it made me mad, no reason to rehash here. What I DO want to do is catch up with the Yankees and touch on what we've learned in Games 26-37 and go through the roster to talk about who IS getting the job done and who is NOT.

Schedule Recap

Yankees were 13-12 through 25 games, since then;

Game 26 - Loss to Red Sox @ Yankee Stadium (Yanks lose series 0-2, trail Red Sox 0-5 on season)
Game 27 - Loss to Rays
Game 28 - Loss to Rays (Yanks lose series 0-2, trail Rays 2-3 on season)
Game 29 - Win against Orioles in Baltimore
Game 30 - Lose to Orioles
Game 31 - Win against Orioles (Yankees win series 2-1, tied on season 3-3)
Game 32 - Lose to Blue Jays in Toronto
Game 33 - Win against Blue Jays
Game 34 - Win against Blue Jays (Yankees win series, lead season 2-1)
Game 35 - Win against Twins @ Yankee Stadium
Game 36 - Win against Twins
Game 37 - Win against Twins

Yankees 7-4 in this period, overall 20-17, 3rd Place in the AL East, trailing Toronto by 3 games in Loss Column and Red Sox by 1.

Injury Update

RH Ian Kennedy, had Aneurysm surgery and is lost for the season.
RF Xavier Nady, is just beginning to work on Baseball drills and his return is currently unknowable.
C Jose Molina, has a deep thigh issue and is probably a month away from return.
UT Cody Ransom, has a blown out thigh and is six weeks away.
P Damaso Marte, has shoulder problems and return is indefinite.
C Jorge Posada, is close to returning from a simple Hamstring pull, probably this weekend.
P Brian Bruney, is close to returning from a sore elbow, any day.
P Chien-Ming Wang, is ready to return from complications to his hip allignment, following foot surgery. Will be slotted into rotation.
3B Alex Rodriguez, returned in Game 29.
SS Derek Jeter, pulled oblique, missed two games, returned.
1B Mark Teixeira, aggravated his Left Wrist injury in collision at 1B, played one game at DH and played 1B yesterday, sore.

This Week

Yankees close out 4 game set with Minnesota tonight (M) at the Stadium (Andy Pettitte, pitches), then welcome the Orioles for a three game set on (T-W-TH) (CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain) and then the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies are in for 3 game set (F-S-S) to usher in the Interleague schedule and close out the 10 game homestand. (Wang would be scheduled to throw on F, but so is AJ Burnett, Yankees will replace Hughes and insert Wang in the rotation slot that makes sense).

Roster Review

Pitching

CC Sabathia - (3.70) Has settled down into his new routine and is providing the Yankees with low ERA while going deep into games. His early season control problems have disappeared. Ideal 'Ace'. Consistently at 97-98 mph and extremely effective with offspeed and breaking stuff. Given Yankees a chance in 6 of 8 Starts thus far.

AJ Burnett - (5.02) Has been pitching effectively, but not getting any run support. Gives Yankees a chance to win and goes deep.
High ERA mostly attributable to meltdown against Boston, where he blew 6-0 lead and surrendered 8 earned runs. Stuff is always there and his focus and obvious excitement to be a Yankee has made his transition a dream. Needs to walk fewer hitters. He's given Yankees a chance in 6 of 8 Starts thus far.

Joba Chamberlain - (3.76) He's had to overcome 1st Inning jitters and some wildness, but provides low ERA. Needs to be more economical with pitch count to get deeper into games. Has given Yankees a chance to win in 6 of 7 starts.

Andy Pettitte - (4.00) Old reliable, Andy shows up every five days, takes ball and competes. Also given Yankees 6 good starts from his 7 tries.

Phil Hughes - (7.56) Phil is still struggling with the mental toughness required of a MLB Starter, his big arm allows him to dominate for stretches and, when things go his way - he's capable of going deep into games with low hit/run counts. BUT...when hitters get on through walks, bloops or Defensive mistakes - he tends to unravel and lose the Strike Zone. Needs to B-R-E-A-T-H-E on the mound but has not yet mastered the skill of relaxation under pressure. Likely headed to the Bullpen, where his big arm will be an upgrade and the shorter stint will make him more effective - has nothing left to learn/prove in the Minors and can serve his apprenticeship out of the pen. When he gets it (and at 22, he will), Yankees will likely allow Andy to retire/leave, the question will be up to Phil - who could move into a permanent rotation slot as soon as '10 and remains a solid #6 option if anyone goes down. Phil has given the Yankees a chance to win in 2 of 4 starts and is likely making his final one for the foreseeable future this week.

Chien-Ming Wang - (34.50) Chien was simply mishandled by the Yankee staff. Coming into the season, his health status was as important an issue for the training/pitching staffs and his abysmal and atypical performances made it clear that he was NOT ready and NOT feeling 100% and, given his value and the damage those three starts did to the team/bullpen - someone screwed up. Happily, he is coming off a typically dominant effort against an AAA team stacked with MLB hitters (Hafner, Marte, Graffanino) and seems to be in a better place physically and mentally. He is not ALL the way back (only at 92 mph, he usually operates at 95), but he can be effective at this point. Chien has been blown out early in 3 of his 3 starts, failing to give the Yankees ANY chance in all.

Jose Veras - (6.75) Veras has a dominant arm, but like former Yankee relievers with such 'stuff' (Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth) he is simply too erratic with his control to be dependable. Does not get hit hard (Slugging against .390), but walks SO many guys, that even singles lead to runs against. He'd be the first to be demoted/moved if Yankees move Hughes to the pen. It seems like it is time for that to occur.

Edwar Ramirez - (4.86) Edwar has also struggled with his control, but his power changeup/fastball array is more reliable than Veras more dynamic power and his incredible production (110 K's in 93 Innings as a Yankee) and previous success make him worthy of retention. He HAS to throw more strikes however, as he is getting pounded when forced to throw 'get over' strikes. In his defense, he has been forced to absorb long stints in blowout losses that have derailed his numbers. Still an important answer in Pen.

Jonathan Albaladejo - (4.82) Alba is a ground ball/control specialist who ALSO has simply walked too many guys. His sinker is reliably effective, but those singles he surrenders are deadly with walked runners on base. Not a focal point in the pen, might be vulnerable if some of the more dynamic arms who've yet to hit their MLB stride do so (David Robertson, Mark Melancon).

Phil Coke - (4.60) Coke is in the same situation as Phil Hughes (a 'Phil' thang?), he's dominant at AAA and occasionally so in MLB, he simply needs more seasoning and to avoid the middle of the plate. He has good control and throws strikes, but he needs to work on the command of those strikes, he can shut lineups down for awhile and then will leave 0-2, 1-2 pitches in the Zone and get
POPPED. Experience is the cure and his power LH arm will allow him enough wiggle room to get that experience in Pinstripes.

Alfredo Aceves - (2.16) 'Ace' has the least impressive 'stuff' on the staff, but is a polished product on the mound. Exactly the opposite of the rest of these great throwers who need more seasoning and EXACTLY what the Yankees need right now.Throws strikes, goes after hitters and stays away from the middle of the plate. Can start, provide long or middle relief and is coming off back to back Late inning wins out of the pen. A terrific job thus far in his Yankee career.

Brian Bruney - (3.38Brian is dominant, strikes out tons of hitters, doesn't walk guys...but he's just gotten HURT in each of the past two seasons. If he is healthy, the Yankees are set in the 8th and 9th inning.

Mariano Rivera - (2.76) Mo is still Mo (22 K's/1 walk in 16.1 Innings), surrendered 4 April HR's, but those hitters (Jason Bay, Curtis Granderson, Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria) are all capable of doing that against anyone and lack of consistent early season due to Yankee struggles and rounding back to best shape after surgery are all understandable excuses for slight drop-off. Been dominant of late, as per usual.

Infielders

1B Mark Teixeira (S) - Mark struggled mightily after hurting his Left wrist in opening series and was below .200 earlier this week, although his power, on-base percentage and Defense have all been there. However, since Alex Rodriguez, is back in the lineup, he has burst out and his average looks ready to climb towards more typical levels. Provides Gold Glove Defense Yankees haven't had since Tino, switch-hitter with Power and enthusiastic Yankee, he benefits more personally from Alex's return than any other Yankee. The two are close friends, familiar with one another and forces pitchers to 'pick their poison', Yankees have been 2nd in Slugging and HR's with limited production from Teixeira and Alex, and injuries to Posada and Nady. An extremely good sign.

2B Robinson Cano (L) - Cano has been the same guy we've become accustomed to seeing. His Defense is unmatched at 2B, he simply covers an incredible amount of ground (overwhelming lead in total chances for AL 2B last two seasons), has a rocket arm and turns a smooth Double Play and has avoided the 'brain cramp' mistakes on easy chances thus far. Offensively, he can look like the best hitter in the game for long stretches, as he did for much of April...but he can also fall into lazy habits and give away bushels of at-bats when he is a little off, as he has in May. Girardi gave him the day off yesterday and the emergence of Pena allows for Cano to get more pine time and refresh his approach periodically. He is HR threat and covers the field from foul line to foul line with line drives, has taken more pitches, only needs to have a better situational approach and focus to be a perennial Batting Champ threat.

SS Derek Jeter (R) - Derek has been terrific at SS, with only two errors in his 35 games, his arm has looked fully healed after issues in each of the past two seasons and his much maligned range is actually terrific. Offensively, he was hot early, has cooled off considerably (like Cano, Swisher) but is still a great situational hitter who moves runners, uses the whole field, can go deep when needed (5 HR) and doesn't panic in clutch. He's stolen 8 of 9 bases.

3B Alex Rodriguez (R) - Alex is still in Spring Training mode after a week of baseball, returning from his surgery. His Defense has been solid and he's caught three mistakes with that power of his, but he is not the force we all expect in the batter's box just yet. He will continue to get his HR as Damon and Teixeira put stress on pitchers and his walks as they opt for Matsui and slumping Swisher instead. When he gets his stroke back, he will HR/walk MORE. Yankees will be happy to see Cano start hitting, Posada return and Swisher do SOMETHING, so Alex can have what he provides for Mark - protection.

UT Ramiro Pena (S) - 23 year old Pena has been the surprise of the young season. He's an effective LH hitter, who hits from both sides of the plate and plays slick Defense at SS, 3B and 2B. With Alex recovering, Derek needing periodic days off to recover from his linebacker approach to the game and Cano needing mental health days - Pena is the IDEAL utility man. A great job by the minor league system getting this AA kid MLB ready. Injury to Cody Ransom, who blew his chance with terrible Offense, turned into a blessing when it got Pena a look. He'll be here for a long time.

Outfielders

LF Johnny Damon (L) - Damon has been the Yankees MVP, incredibly clutch and productive (.627 slugging). He is made for Yankee Stadium the way Mike Lowell, Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia are made for Fenway and he KNOWS it, will do anything humanly possible to force Yankees to keep him in NY (final year of his contract) and keep Michelle happy. Leaving NYC is obviously not what he or they want, and his play has at least made it less of a longshot.., but realistically, with Austin Jackson looming for CF and excellent two-way play from Melky, it is going to come down to a choice between keeping Johnny or Brett Gardner and Damon's Defensive shortcomings are likely to push that choice to the younger player, with the speed and defense. Yankees will benefit from Damon's contract year throughout the season however, and someone will sign him for as long as he wants - a 3,000 hit player if he can find a DH gig for a few seasons.

CF Melky Cabrera (S) - Melky has been terrific since Spring Training. He came in knowing his job was on the line, and early Spring success by Gardner pushed him to the bench, but he hit-hit-hit and EARNED his way back to the everyday job. Moves his Gold Glove level Defense and big arm easily to LF or RF when Girardi gets Gardner in the game and they blanket the OF. He has shown consistent Avg/On-Base/Slugging all season and would be Yankee MVP if not for Damon's recent explosion. Only flaw has been his and Cano's production in games after they've had Walk-Off winners and headed up to Washington Heights for coronations from beautiful Dominican women! Take away those 0 for occasions, Melky would be hitting .340!

RF Nick Swisher (S) - Nick is a breath of fresh air, happy to be a Yankee, relaxed and versatile (1B, OF), he even gets down effective Sac Bunts when called upon. For the first two weeks of the season, he put on a tear that was almost surreal, from both sides of the plate. BUT...for the past month, he has done Z-E-R-O, striking out every other at-bat and looking completely lost at the plate. All of his damage has come on the road and his inconsistency has illustrated how much the Nady injury hurt the middle of the lineup. Swisher is not a threat at the plate right now, and Girardi would be well served to go with Melky/Gardner for a few days in a row and allow Swisher to clear his mind.

CF Brett Gardner (L) - Brett was overmatched in the every day lineup, but handled the move to the bench well and has become a decent contributor with his speed and defense. He has game changing legs and is a weapon off the bench or with a glove, he will play as much as his bat allows. Likely to be the 4th OF or starting LF once Austin Jackson joins the team, either later this season or next.

DH Hideki Matsui (L) - Likely in his final season, Matsui has continued to be effective at the plate, shown power, been clutch. He will always be able to hit, his knees are on their final strides however and a career ending recurrence could happen at any moment. He is certainly done as a defender. Difficult to see how he can hold up for the duration, but will be productive as long as he does. Nady may inherit some time if he heals up or Jackson could be the one to replace him, freeing up DH time for Damon/Posada/Jeter.

Catchers

C Jorge Posada (S) - One of the Yankees amazing F-I-V-E switchhitters (Pena, Melky, Teixeira, Swisher), Posada came off the injury without missing a beat. He threw the ball effectively, caught his regular innings load and provided more thump and offense in five weeks than they got from Catcher all last year (5 HR/20 RBI/.582 SLG/.312 AVG). Then he pulled his hamstring! But, alas, the Yankees actually benefited when Francisco Cervelli (like Ramiro Pena) got MLB playing time and proved to be a dynamic Defensive catcher with a power arm and a productive bat. Posada will also likely benefit from the break and appears ready to return.

C Jose Molina (R) - Jose has been a much better hitter this season than last, he does well in a backup role and continues to be one of the best Defensive catchers in the game. His injury is not close to healing, however, and Cervelli has probably pushed himself into the eventual backup job, although that will wait one more season due to Molina's contract.

Manager/Coaches

Manager Joe Girardi is SMART. A graduate engineer from Northwestern, he can be deceptively 'aw shucks' with media, but his players realize how intelligent and accessible he is and they adore him for that balance. Has instilled a '90s like focus on team production and gotten impressive results from benched starters and young position players and blended a group of new parts into the larger Yankee whole with little drama or difficulty. This is HIS team in a way that last year's group was not and with veterans moving on through injury or contract (Matsui, Damon, Nady, Molina all likely in final Yankee year) that will only continue.

Pitching Coach Dave Eiland has to GO. He has gotten less out of more than any pitching coach in Baseball. Proven performers were either not ready for the season start, unable to throw strikes or injured on his watch. Yankees have depth and quality across their staff and in their system, but Eiland is not the guy. Guru would love to see Girardi's old batterymate, David Cone, bring his FIVE rings and depth of knowledge from the broadcast booth into the Pitching Coach job.

Hitting Coach Kevin Long has to GO. Guys go into twilight zone periods (Cano, Swisher) that linger without correction and seem to be coaching themselves. As with Cone, Guru would love to see Tino Martinez in the permanent chair, bringing HIS four rings, bilingual ability and universally respected approach to hitting. So would all the Yankee hitters, as Teixeira credited work with Tino for breaking his slump before Alex's return made it moot.

Bench Coach Tony Pena and 3B coach, Rob Thomson, are respected and in the right roles for this team.

And that's where they stand, as we near the 1/4 pole of the 2009 season.

Posted by Matthew at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Remember 1998?

It was probably the greatest season in MLB history.

It was probably the greatest year the American Economy will EVER know.

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa put on a bi-cultural HR festival and the Yankees won 125 games.

In St. Louis, Heartland types were tripping over themselves to publicly opine on the 'wholesome' quality of the slugger who took the HR record for the Redbirds and how fitting it was that Native son Roger Maris, a crew cut smalltown boy was passed by a man who could comfortably fit in with Maris's family.

You know...not one of 'them'.

Not a guy like Sammy, in a place like Chicago.

Aw shucks Mark, who'd escaped from that communist country by the San Francisco Bay.

Aw shucks Roger, who'd hated the city he set the record in, and was thrilled to be back where people still knew what matters in life.

That season was five years after the 1993 World Series, which featured an 'All-American', scrappy type who was his generation's Dustin Pedroia. Lenny Dykstra and his NY Met running mate, Wally Backman, were the toast of the sorts of fans who sneered at Mets like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, or his CF counterpart with that era's Yankees, Rickey Henderson.

There were people back in the '80s who would argue that Dykstra was actually a better PLAYER than Rickey, the same sorts who made Pedroia, a scrappy overachiever who was 4th in Total Chances and 2nd in OPS amongst SECOND BASEMEN, the American League's MOST Valuable Player.

That was a message from the Baseball Writers who, for some reason, are the people who select MLB award winners. A not-so-subtle message to a certain Manny Ramirez, and those people who prefer his OUT OF THIS WORLD ability. NY Daily News, lead Baseball writer, Bill Madden (who was one of those who adored Lenny and loathed Rickey) OPENLY admitted as much, while calling Manny's success in Los Angeles and legions of adoring fans 'stomach turning'.

These same writers will tell you that Alex Rodriguez, who made one more Error than Pedroia, playing a more difficult position, stole 2 fewer bases, had twice as many HR's (in 19 fewer games) and finished 24 slots (3rd) above him in OPS (On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage) with .965 to .869 actually HURT his team.

Sure he was. Sure he did. In the Bizzarro world these folks live in.

Think about 1998 again. As I mentioned, it was that year and the year that followed that saw the American economy and America's position in the World at their greatest point.

And how was this received by a wide swath of the American population?

Did they rally behind the brilliant young President who'd reversed the nightmare of the Reagan/Bush years, and help use America's strength to tackle her logistical needs?

No, they spent tens of millions of Taxpayer dollars to analyze every aspect of the President's SEX LIFE.

That was what mattered to them.

Not excellence. Not success. Not intellect.

What they were interested in, and outraged about, was where he chose to put his cigar.

Or his cock.

Not just on the right, there was plenty of moralizing on the left as well. The current President's wife dismissed the man's spectacular success with an allusion to the Monica affair. The progressive columnist for the NY Times, Maureen Dowd, won a Pulitzer sneering at Bill for having an affair with a younger woman and Hillary for failing to smack him down on behalf of sisterhood.

The American people, however, in their collective wisdom adored Bill and sent Hillary to the Senate twice and nearly into the White House herself. Much to the dismay of the legions of Clinton Haters on both sides of the aisle, who portrayed her support and supporters as being in some sort of deluded minority.

Perhaps where you live.

Where I and 22 Million Americans live. The Clintons are heroes and the people who dislike them are, essentially, invisible.

Which brings us to Manny Ramirez, who follows Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez in the crosshairs of those who once rooted against Rickey, Jim Rice, Darryl and Doc.

When Lenny pumped himself from 165 with those '86 Mets to 225 with those Phillies, nobody failed to understand how that was accomplished.

When Sammy, McGwire and his fellow basher, Jose burst the buttons on their uniform shirts, the 'integrity of the game' was not on the line - turnstiles were humming, dollars were flowing and books and column inches were devoted to the games new 'Golden Age'.

Heck, in Bal'more, a sideburn wearing folk hero named Brady Anderson, was sending young girl and young girl's fathers hearts equally atwitter with a combination of boy-band looks and a 50 HR season. Dear old Dad wasn't dumb, he knew Brady seemed to be an odd candidate for such exalted territory, but he was a 'respectful' kid and, after all - the sort 'I'd love to see my daughter bring home'.

But then an arrogant Black guy, who had little time for the press or interest in the approval of Small Town America, broke 'Good Guy' McGwire's HR record and began to threaten Hank Aaron's career mark.

And all of a sudden, the cry went out 'There appears to be Drug Use in Baseball!'.

Gee, ya think?

Nothing changed. No new insight was brought to the debate, no scientific breakthrough...

But Barry Bonds, like OJ or Bill Clinton, was already 'Guilty' of SOMETHING...and the pursuit was on to find a way to lynch him, regardless of the hypocrisy involved.

Sort of like the folks who demonized Rickey Williams for smoking weed, while celebrating the fair-haired QB who dumped his pregnant Girlfriend for a supermodel. You can hear them going after T.O. when the season turns, but no longer after Randy, of course, since he now catches what the fair-haired one heaves.

Not his sperm, silly - the Football!

They used to like that Mississippi QB kid who played in small town Wisconsin, but now it almost seems like the guy cares about Money! They used to like that long-haired fellow who helped slay the demonic Yankees, until he shaved his head and became their biggest supporter. And, as it turns out, HE likes Money also!

See...We told ya!

So Barry is no longer smacking HR's into the Bay, or over the wall anywhere else.

Those teeming crowds have left San Francisco, and TV viewers no longer will see that gorgeous ballpark on their screens.

And Fred Lewis is playing LF for the Giants.

Who?

Exactly.

And those who went after Barry? In the media and in their living rooms...even the Owners whose stadium and franchise SURVIVAL were a result of Barry, but were forced to actually PAY him for that sort of prowess.

They'll tell you this is GOOD for the game. They'll also tell you that those people who packed the Stadium and cheered for Barry were BAD for the game (did Peter MacGowan return a single dollar?).

Meanwhile, anyone want to guess how long it will be until a SF Giant LF matches the 28 HR a 'finished' Bonds put up in his final year, before the witch-hunt put him into an undesired (and undeserved) retirement? Or when any MLB player will match his .480 On-Base Percentage from that season?

Point being - it isn't about what you actually DO, its about who you ARE.

The moralizers feel empowered to sort out the good and bad for us, and they write the story to suit their take.

That's why Alex Rodriguez, the greatest player most of us will ever have the pleasure to watch play, is the ONLY one of 104 names on a positive test list to be revealed.

It suits their worldview. The propriety and legality involved in unsealing those documents, an offense that dwarfs the supposed 'crime'? Those rules don't matter - 'we' GOT him!!!

And Baseball fans got a great look at what 3B for the Yankees looks like without Alex in the 105 homerless at-bats his replacements contributed in his absence.

All the better, say his detractors. Like Barry, they think Alex Rodriguez, is actually BAD for the game.

Like Clinton was for the Country.

Getting this?

Steroids were cool, until they had an arrogant minority face.

Sentencing guidelines were critical, until OJ came before the court.

And Manny is a bad guy, because he dared to dislike Boston, smack his redneck teammates literally and figuratively and engineer a departure to a big city where he'd be ADORED, instead of demonized.

Because he takes the sort of Drug you take, if you find you need a little more wood in YOUR stick.

Only when YOU take it - it's 'Male Enhancement', in Manny's blood - it's 'girl stuff'.

So now, the game and its 'integrity' have been protected from Barry, in favor of Fred Lewis, the hunt is on to replace Alex with the Cody Ransom's of the World...

And, instead of Manny, delivering Hall of Fame performances, while salsa dancing with his devoted MannyWood fans - the first time LA Dodger Baseball has meant ANYTHING in a Generation - a beloved figure to the largest growing segment of American society and of MLB fandom...

Dodger fans get Juan Pierre, who will steal 2B, if he can figure out how to get to 1B.

Which is a comfort to the fastest declining segment of American society, whose voice has lost any impact in every arena, EXCEPT Sports. Remember, when Rush is on the air or FOX News, that is like speaking to like - only in Sports, can the likes of Bud Selig, Curt Schilling or Jake Peavy actually force themselves to be heard and impact upon the lives of other Americans.

And not surprisingly, like everything ELSE they touch - they make something beautiful - U-G-L-Y.

Somewhere in St. Louis, Joe Buck just popped a couple of female hormone pills and is rubbing off the resultant stiffy thinking ....'We got him!'.

Just don't try to tell anyone who can THINK that this is a 'good' thing.

Posted by Matthew at 06:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Boston Red Sox - 6 (16-10)
New York Yankees - 4 (13-12)

Winning Pitcher: Lester (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Hughes (1-1)

HR: Lowell (6)
Bay (6)
Damon (5)
Teixeira 2 (5)

Another dreary, rainy night in NYC, the 5th straight day of grey skies and soggy Yankees.

The rain drowned the Kentucky Derby, with the high-priced, pedigree types balking at the grinding, dirty effort required in such conditions, allowing the garland of Roses to go to an overlooked grinder ridden by an overlooked jockey, trained by an overlooked trainer...instead of a glamorous and glorious stallion, with a Hall of Fame Jockey/Trainer combo...we got an out-of-nowhere Gelding with a cadre of inarticulate slobs whooping it up.

The rain is drowning the Yankee homestand, with the high-priced, pedigree types balking at the grinding, dirty effort required in such conditions, once again watching the early season games go to a roster of overlooked grinders who've overcome much and relish the effort.

Instead of the sleek, pretty-boys in Pinstripes, each of whom has known all his life he would someday make serious coin and play serious ball, each of whom inspires waves of high-maintenance tail and ushers directly from The Bronx to the arms of a spectacular woman who would never DREAM of a misplaced pound, or an unplucked hair (horrors!), sliding into the premium booth at some magnificent restaurant, or nightclub...

...the sparkling Yankees are again undone by the overlooked ones, who've had to grind it out through long careers in the minors (Youkilis), overcome doubts about size and athletic ability (Pedroia), beaten Cancer (Lowell, Lester), found their game mid-career (Papi), toiled in MLB obscurity (Bay) or who harbor deep-seated resentments towards their wealthier, prettier rivals (Varitek)...managed by an afterthought retread who has turned his career around in Boston (Francona) and is a rare class act in the tired Beantown script.

These are the guys who have never 'gotten the girl', who struggle to compose sentences, whose demeanor, absurd facial hair and troll-like visages will never and have never been mistaken for the glamour side of the game. But they are winners - ugly ones, but the 'W' counts just the same, and the bottom rung women they escort don't demand attractiveness and style, they LIKE their men grungy (ewww...).

They've had to FIGHT just to have MLB careers and they resent those who coast and preen, and treat them like they are less than - even when THEY are the one's winning. You can just picture the hideous Red Sox, with their porcine women, stuffing gruel into their unwashed faces, wiping filthy hands on their shirts, belching and babbling on in some semi-coherent garble. This is Sarah Palin's America!

Yankees versus Red Sox is more than just Baseball, it is two completely contradictory approaches to life and work, more so now that the last of the HOF Superstars who DID walk in the same places as the Yankees has shipped off to L.A. (Manny Ramirez) and has joined up with former Yankee Manager, Joe Torre to have the dream season in the sun the Yankees believe is their birthright.

Once again, the Yankee season has begun with a nightmare of twists and unforseen turns, injuries to their power hitters, injuries to critical pitchers, rainouts, a sparkling new stadium left half-empty by the devastated wallets of Wall Streeters...the best laid plans, undone. Asking the expensive colt with the royal pedigree, who likes to be unencumbered in his races and to be allowed to run off alone, unchallenged...to grind it out in the mud with the claiming horses?

Not going to happen.

That isn't Yankee baseball. These guys are never going to be able to out-compete, and I suppose that makes on wonder if maybe Joe Girardi, isn't the right guy for them after all. Girardi is a plugger, a hard worker who had to fight for everything HE got in the game, too small, too this and too that...he used his intellect to understand the game better than his opponent and molded his body with harder work in the gym. He was part of a Yankee team that featured grinders and pluggers, but lacked in the Glamour the city demands of its champions. These Boston Red Sox have more in common with workmanlike Girardi and those old Yankee teams...and they inspire the sort of fan interest those teams did, but neither has the feel of a real YANKEE team. They are the champions of people like them, the sorts of folks that guys like Guru and Alex wipe from their shoes contemptuously, regardless of result.

This game was like a lot of games lately - a lot of unexpected barriers. Home Plate umpire was calling a tight zone and Phil Hughes, who had electric stuff - 95 MPH darts and bending curves, simply could not solve the zone...forced to come in, he gave up single runs in each of the first four innings and was unable to get quick innings, running his pitch count way up. For the Red Sox, Jon Lester was brilliant, an older version of Hughes, in his 66th MLB start (to Phil's 23rd), he's solved the zone and locked in his position in the rotation. He was dominant for awhile, until a pair of terrible calls led to a Jeter strikeout and a flustered Girardi, with his left-side infielders all sitting on the disabled list, had to run out to protect Jeter from getting run...

The obligatory shouting match ensued, the strain of having to struggle etched on the face of Joe, who'd imagined that year two could not POSSIBLY contain the challenges of year one (Surprise!)...when Joe was given the thumb, Lester relaxed for a moment and Damon and Teixeira took advantage with back to back bombs to bring it to 4-3, Sox.

Alfredo Alceves, who pitched so well for the Yankees last year in his MLB debut, came on and pitched well for several innings, only surrendering a 2 run HR off the Foul Pole to Jason Bay, who always gave the Yankees a hard time in Pittsburgh and has continued to be a hot hitter in Boston, 6-3, Sox.

Yankees added another on Teixeira's 2nd HR, as his wrist is apparently feeling better after costing him most of the first five weeks. 6-4, and despite a Yankee 9th Inning threat, Papelbon struck out Cano with bases loaded with Yankees to move the Bombers two back in the 'L' column and make 4 straight losses to the Sox on the young season.

Par for the course, really. The Yankees have started this way just about every season since '05 (had a decent start in '06) and Boston has OWNED them in April/May baseball, although they haven't been able to sustain it or win the season series. The problem, as it was in those other years, is that, even if they once again manage to right their ship, get healthy and get on a roll - these early season struggles take away from the season they were BUILT to have - the season the Dodgers ARE having. Yankees and Yankee fans alike, are not interested in a long, competitive slog - like those high-ticket Colts, they want to run free and alone on the lead.

Having to work hard sullies things.

But work hard they must, if they want to make anything of their year. As difficult as it to even LOOK at the likes of Pedroia and Youkilis, they are going to have to make the best of it and try to fight back (keep LOTS of 'Purell' around, Guys!).

Posted by Matthew at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Los Angeles Angels - 8 (10-13)
New York Yankees - 4 (13-11)

Winning Pitcher: Palmer (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Sabathia (1-3)

HR: Morales (4 )
Posada (5)

An inexcusable Yankee loss, as CC Sabathia, throwing 98 MPH was unable to defeat career Journeyman, Matt Palmer, a 30 year old rookie reminiscent of Aaron Small (2005), shut the Yankees down throwing 88 MPH and reminding everyone that this is a team likely to spent the hours after a wee-hours victory celebrating, NOT getting ready to win the next day.

An absolutely awful performance by the whole team.

Posted by Matthew at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 10 (13-10)
Los Angeles Angels - 9 (9-13)

Winning Pitcher: Albaladejo (2-1)
Losing Pitcher: Fuentes (0-2)

HR: Posada (4)

This one was really three games.

Yankees took a 4-0 lead in the 1st against Jered Weaver, who then settled into a dominant groove and shut them down.

Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte cruised for 5.2 Innings before the Rain got hard and the Yankees started to look around towards the umps looking to be let off the field...

The Umps decided to 'play on' and the Yankees went into sleep-mode, just as the Angels surged and took the lead over two innings all the way up to 9-4.

Then the Yankees, inexplicably, rallied and won the game.

Woo-Hoo!

Posted by Matthew at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 7 (12-10)
Los Angeles Angels - 4 (9-12)

Winning Pitcher: Coke (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Speier (0-1)

HR: Napoli (4)
Damon (4)

VagabondGuru.com is an effort that includes many, many contributors, but the site itself came about through a 3 person effort between Guru, Red Sox Steve and Mary Hannington - known by many as Mal Volio. Guru and Mal have been famous friends for longandlong and Mal is the one who took the world that Guru carries in his oversize head (see logo!) and made it the place we know and love.

Mal, who lives in Detroit, and Guru, here in Manhattan, had collaborated entirely online and by phone.

Until yesterday.

Mal arrived early in the day, we did some work, did some visiting with my brood and Red Sox Steve and then we headed up The Bronx for our first look at the New Yankee Stadium.

I was with one of my favorite people, who I never met before, going to one of my favorite places...

Where I'd never BEEN before.

It was thrilling. It was amazing. It was disorienting. It was wonderful.

And, they played Baseball. Which, of course, is the point of the exercise.

AJ Burnett was on the hill for the Yankees, who'd overcome the short starts that plagued them with Wang, earlier in the season and seen Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain provide consecutive solid starts, going deep into the games and giving the Yankee bats a chance to win.

Burnett, never really in that dominant mode he can feature, nonetheless provided grit and balance and fought himself and the Angels well enough to keep the game at 4-4 through his 7 innings.

In the Bottom of the 8th, Robinson Cano hit a single, extending his hitting streak to SEVENTEEN games, he has still had only ONE hitless game this season (21/22) and ONE hitless game last season (14/15) after his benching by Girardi. Guess the right button was pushed, the kid looks like an MVP right now and the Defense is sterling. Jorge Posada then blasted a drive to the wall in CF that bounced over the wall for a ground rule double. 2nd and 3rd. Swisher was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Melky Cabrera, who has emhatically wrested back the starting CF job (gee, who was his lone Champion during the long winter of Mike Cameron rumors and Brett Gardner insurgencies?)...

Where was I?

Oh yeah, Melky stepped up and laced an RBI 1B to drive in the go-ahead run. 5-4. Yankees.

Next up was 23 year old Ramiro Pena, a revelation who came into Spring Training with a reputation as a defensive wizard at Shortstop but only AA experience (with two time Minor League Organization of the Year, Trenton Thunder) and was not expected to compete for a job. After seeing his slick glove and switch-hitting bat, however, Joe Girardi and staff knew they could not leave such a talent in the Minors and brought him North to fill the Utility Infield slot that belonged to Cody Ransom, who was thrust into the starting lineup by Alex Rodriguez's injury. Pena, like Melky, sat on the bench, saw the guy in front of him struggle and waited his chance. When he played, his glove sparkled and after a slow start, the quick bat and situational awareness has been evident. After three weeks of Ransom and Gardner being automatic outs in their lineup, Melky and Pena have solidified the back of the lineup and joined Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher to give the Yankees F-I-V-E switch-hitters in the everyday lineup, which effectively renders the opposing managerial options nill in terms of same side matchups.

Pena stood in and pulled a laser into the RF corner to plate 2 and seal this deal.

Mo cleaned up.

On a special night, in a special place, with a special friend.

Posted by Matthew at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 8 (11-10)
Detroit Tigers - 6 (10-11)

Winning Pitcher: Chamberlain (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Porcello (1-3)

HR: Swisher 2(6,7)
Granderson (7)

In the aftermath of Phil Hughes sterling effort as a starter the night before, the bizarre life of Joba Chamberlain - in which every person in the World has an opinion about his job that conflicts with the one that he AND his employer have - blew up once again. Manager Joe Girardi was, once again, forced to deal with questions about moving Joba back into the bullpen.

Blah...Blah...Blah...

Never mind the roster of terrific young arms who HAVE those jobs in the Yankee bullpen, recent damage, circumstantial rather than serious, notwithstanding...

Joba has been training to be a STARTER since the Winter, was an effective starter last season and would have to go through a transition to accommodate the return to the pen.

But, more importantly...in now SIXTEEN MLB Starts, the guy has surrendered more than 3 Earned Runs...

T-W-I-C-E.

23 year old Starters who can turn into quality starts 88% if the time, and pitch deep into games on low pitch counts (88) with only one run surrendered, as he did last night - are FAR more valuable than any set-up man in the HISTORY of Baseball.

Let's let that one drop, OK? It may be sexier to see Joba throwing 101 mph and pumping his fist on a 15 second ESPN highlight, but having him for 7-8 innings per start is infinitely more valuable. Throw in the fact he is homegrown and under team determination for years, balancing out the high-ticket Free Agents at the top of the rotation...his ability as a starter, one who is nearly unbeatable when 'on' and who is able, even when he has little (as he did in Boston last start) to manage the Game and limit damage. Try and learn to enjoy the idea of the Yankees with four homegrown starters of different ages, all capable and effective (Pettitte, Joba, Hughes, Wang) to mix and match with the brilliant acquisitions (CC, AJ).

Joba nibbled early and got himself into some trouble in the Bottom of the 3rd, walking the bases full by being too shy about the plate and getting into a pissing contest with Ed Runge, the 187 year old Umpire who seemed to delight in tweaking the kid. Joba fought back and struck out the dangerous Miguel Cabrera on a BEAUTIFUL slow curve to end the threat and then sat through a 7 Run outburst from his Offense in the Top of the 4th. Thus freed from restraint by the rare (for him) run support, he abandoned the nibbling and went into the strike-throwing, attack-mode Yankee fans have been waiting to see all season and dominated casually from that point forward.

Final tally, 7 IP, 3H, 1R, the 3 BB and 6 K's.

Phil Coke threw an effortless 8th, but Jonathan Albaladejo, ran into trouble in the 9th Inning of an 8-1 game, and was unable to right himself - forcing an unprepared Mariano Rivera to unpack his overnight bag, minutes from a plane ride and walk in to face the dangerous Curtis Granderson, cold.

That had predictable results in the form of a 3 run bomb, pissing off Mo, but only putting 1 run on his ERA and, shortly thereafter, the team was able to pack for the return to the East Coast with a series win in Motown.

Offensively, the Yankees took one turn through the lineup to see the stuff of impressive 20 year old Detroit Starter, Rick Porcello, and then took him to task in the 4th, with the decisive blow being the first of Nick Swisher's two HR's (this one, a 3 run shot RH, later a solo shot LH). Swisher, for his part, has now come close in 75 April at-bats to matching the production of the guy who was traded for him (Wilson Betemit) who produced 10 HR in TWO HUNDRED NINETY Yankee at-bats. Nice job, Brian.

Hideki Matsui, extended his hitting streak to 9 games with a 3 run 2B, Derek Jeter's 8 game streak went by the board with an 0-5 and Robinson Cano, extended his streak to 16 games and has now gone hitless in a total of TWO games since his benching last September and made several sterling plays at 2B.

Yankees come home today and Guru and Mal Volio will be there TOGETHER! Can't wait to share our impressions of the new Palace and the ballgame tomorrow.

Posted by Matthew at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dallas Cowboys 2009 Draft Picks

3 (5) JASON WILLIAMS/ OLB/ WESTERN ILLINOIS
3 (11) ROBERT BREWSTER /OT /BALL STATE
4 (1) STEPHEN MCGEE/ QB/ TEXAS A&M
4 (10) VICTOR BUTLER /DE /OREGON STATE
4 (20) BRANDON WILLIAMS/ DE/ TEXAS TECH
5 (7) DEANGELO SMITH/ CB/ UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
5 (30) MICHAEL HAMLIN/ FS/ CLEMSON
5 (36) DAVID BUEHLER/ K/ SOUTHERN CAL
6 (24) STEPHEN HODGE/ SS/TCU
6 (35) JOHN PHILLIPS/ TE/ UVA
7 (18) MIKE MICKENS/ CB/ UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
7 (20) MANUEL JOHNSON/ WR/ OKLAHOMA

By Matthew Storey

In order to appreciate the Cowboys 2009 NFL Draft, it is important to understand what has happened to this team since the 2008 Draft brought 5 Impact players to Dallas (CB Mike Jenkins, CB Orlando Scandrick, TE Martellus Bennett, RB Felix Jones, RB Tayshard Choice).

Jenkins and Jones flashed the speed that made them the fastest members of the entire draft on their respective sides of the ball. Jones, playing in 5 games, averaged 8.9 Yards/Per/Carry and scored from 33 yards and 60 yards Rushing and added a 102 Yard Kickoff return. He was ready to form the best combination of speed (his) and power (Marion Barber) of any NFL team's RB tandem. Then he got hurt and was never seen again.

Jenkins flashed his big speed from the start, and when Pacman Jones imploded, stepped in opposite Pro-Bowl speedster, Terrence Newman and Cowboys thought they were set. He struggled mightily in his first start, then looked like a veteran in a critical road win at Tampa Bay and looked like a star in the next game, against the Giants when he took an Eli Manning pass to the house for his first NFL TD.
Then HE got hurt and was never involved fully again during the season.

Scandrick moved inside as the Cowboys slot CB in Nickel and Dime packages and played beautifully from the beginning, proving the Cowboys with good interior pass coverage for the first time in several seasons, but with the injuries to Newman, Jenkins and the Pacman circus, was never able to play as part of a cohesive group of CB's. It was always putting out fires for the Defense without it's full compliment of coverage guys, but the Cowboys know they've got two long time starters from Jenkins and Scandrick.

When Jones and Barber BOTH got hurt (the RB and QB situation was every bit as injury ridden as CB), 3rd string Rookie Tayshard Choice was forced into the starting job, a job nobody had any idea if he would be ready for...he put 57 on 11 carries on the depleted Seahawks, then faced the NFL's best defenses in Pittsburgh, Giants, Ravens, Eagles to close out his first NFL experience with 92 Carries for 472 Yards (5.1 y/p/c) and caught 21 more passes, in only 4 1/2 starts.

Bennett, 6'6", 265 lbs of fast, powerful Tight End compliment to Pro-Bowler, Jason Witten, was a revelation with 20 catches for a lusty 14.2 y/p/c and 4 TD's as a 22 year old Rookie.

With those five in place, and secure at all the skill positions but wanting to secure a long-term answer at WR, given Terrell Owens, age (35) and volatility, Jerry Jones traded his early round draft for the services of WR Roy Williams, the #1 Pick from the Detroit Lions, whose 6'3" frame, hands and speed made him the Texas dream boy at Permian High School and Texas University and was, seemingly, BORN to be the Cowboys WR. Owens, reading the tea leaves, freaked out and the season went down the hole, but the Boys cleared the decks and prepared to go with Roy as their #1 for the next several years and to promote the squadron of good young WR prospects they've stockpiled behind the scene-stealing T.O.

That set the Cowboys up with a chance to turn away from the high-ticket Draft pieces, they don't need RB's, STARTING caliber CB's, WR's, TE, or Offensive Lineman. They've got their franchise QB (Tony Romo) and Defender (DeMarcus Ware)...

So what DO they need?

They need some 'Football Players'! The Cowboys are, perhaps, the DUMBEST NFC team, a team that features the most penalized, turnover prone group imaginable who played, consistently, some of the worst Special Teams in Cowboy history.

When a team loaded with marquee talent struggles, their are always interior reasons. And the 2008 Cowboys had them all...the Injuries, the Penalties, the Distractions, the Turnovers, the poor Special Teams and they had 12 Draft Picks to address the need to rebuild that Special Teams unit, draft pairs of proven College players who PRODUCED ON THE FIELD, rather than astounded in the drills.

They want to continue to add Pass Rushers to their NFL Leading 59 Sack Defense (led by 8 sacks) and went out and got the Big 12 Conference Sack Leader, DE Brandon Williams of Texas Tech and the Pac-10 Conference Sack Leader, DE Victor Butler of Oregon State and added IAA stud, OLB, Jason Williams of Western Illinois. All of whom figure to see time swarming passers as Cowboys gave up on the unproductive Chris Canty and signed Olshansky to handle the run responsibilities so they can unleash Anthony Spencer, Ware and the three kids from all angles. All three make HUGE upgrades to the Special Teams mix.

Then they smartly addressed niche weaknesses that KILLED them in '08, drafting freakish USC Placekicker, David Buehler, to serve as a Kickoff specialist with a HUGE leg. Cowboys have a terrific and accurate young Kicker, Nick Folk, who they love, but he is not a booming kickoff guy and had ZERO Touchbacks in '08, Jerry Jones specifically targeted Buehler to pump kicks into opposing end zones and to play special teams on other coverage units (has to be a first!). Buehler is 6'2", 227, runs a 4.65 40 and outlifted 3 Offensive LINEMEN in the combine. Sometime this season, you are going to see some fast kick returner think he is deaking a 'kicker' and get PLASTERED by the freak on a tackle.

Somewhere, Jerry Jones AND Guru will smile.

Boys grabbed a 3rd TE to block and make up for the TERRIBLE Tony Curtis, whose lazy blocking cost the Cowboys a game in Arizona when he failed to block ANYONE and allowed a game winning punt block, in the end zone, in overtime. New guy, John Phillips of Virginia, is more of an extra Tackle than pass catcher, but Witten and Bennett give the team all the receiving they need and he will be a godsend for the protection.

Seeking to upgrade at their weakest position, Cowboys took FS Michael Hamlin of Clemson, SS Stephen Hodge out of TCU and took BOTH Cincy Bearcats CB's Mike Mickens and De Angelo Smith, all of them multi-year starters with strong statistics. Mickens is the best player, but is coming off an injury that dropped him from a top 15 slot.

From there it was a series of flyers, strong armed RB/QB, Stephen McGee of Texas Tech, who will be asked to run the 'Wildcat' formation where his powerful running and 65 yard arm can make big plays while gaining experience behind Tony and new backup, Jon Kitna. HUGE OT Robert Brewster of Ball State and WR Manuel Johnson of Oklahoma, productive players on winning teams.

A SMART draft by the DUMB Cowboys is enough to put a smile on Guru's face during Baseball Season!

Posted by Matthew at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 11 (10-10)
Detroit Tigers - 0 (11 - 9)

Winning Pitcher: Hughes (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Perry (0-1)

HR: Molina (1)
Swisher (5)

On May 1, 2007, 20 Year Old Yankee prospect, Phil Hughes had his 2nd MLB start and promptly threw into the 7th Inning with a dominating No-Hitter in the launching pad that is The Ballpark at Arlington, facing the Rangers bomb squad, featuring a power hitting Switch-Hitter named Mark Teixeira.

With Teixeira in a hole at 0-2, Hughes snapped his Hamstring and lost three months.

He came back in September, pitched well and won a Playoff Game against the Cleveland Indians, the only game the Yankees won in that series. The last Playoff game they've won.

Off that performance, the Yankees placed the strapping, professional Hughes into their Starting Rotation for 2008 and resolved to baby-sit him through any bumps.

From the outset of the 2008 season, however, the cool, effective Hughes was never in evidence. He lost serious velocity, struggled with the strike zone and was every bit the positive for the rotation that Chien-Ming Wang has been in 2009. In his final start, he was walking half way towards the plate on every pitch and, mercifully was pulled from yet another blowout.

What the Fuck?

Turned out, Phil had a broken rib AND was desperately in need of glasses. D'uh! How is it that a prized thoroughbred could be walking around, unable to see and in agony and not think to tell someone is a question that will remain in the pantheon of such inquiries, unanswered for all eternity...

He was gone for another three months, returned in September, pitched effectively, went to Arizona Fall League, pitched effectively, came to Spring Training, pitched effectively, went to AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre, dominated and waited his turn. Which arrived when the injured Wang aped Hughes, HURT/STUPID act, harming the team and himself in the process.

Last night, the 20 year old Kid who showed so much promise showed up in Detroit and something was different.

He was a man.

You forget how young some of these kids are. Hughes was 20 and those 2 years of adversity have left their mark. He was in complete command from the start last night, throwing 6 innings of 2 H, 2 BB shutout and would certainly have pitched in the the 7th if it wasn't for the inconvenient 35 Inning the Yankees put up in the Top of the 7th to turn the game from a tense pitchers duel (Edwin Jackson was equally impressive for the Tigers, shutting the Yankees out for HIS 6 innings) into a laugher.

After the barrage (10 runs), Hughes fellow strong armed AAA phenom, reliever Mark Melancon, added to his dominant 2 inning stint in his Boston debut with an easy 7th, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras, now well rested after three solid starts, each pitched a scoreless frame to close it out.

Offensively, Yankees got another multi-hit game from Robinson Cano (4 in a row), 2 hits and an unlikely 3B! from Hideki Matsui, whose knees are obviously feeling better and is positively raking, 2 hits and his 5th HR from Nick Swisher and 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs and an RBI from Melky Cabrera, who has responded to losing his starting job in CF with .325 AVG/.413 OBP/.625 SLG.

Melky is another one who began his Yankee career at 20, and looked like a boy amongst men. His dominant Defensive ability and big arm kept him in the lineup through his first two seasons and he took Fausto Carmona deep to seemingly win a Playoff Game in that same Cleveland series, before a magical Yankee pitcher of 21, named Joba, was swarmed by a scene from a Horror movie. P-O-O-F!

Melky showed up in '08, ready to build on his .280/.273 Averages and to move beyond his 8 HR/73 RBI totals, while still patrolling the Yankee stadium CF and cutting off runs with his arm.

He opened April/May with 5 quick HR, was hitting near .300 and Yankees were set for a decade.

Then, he collapsed, his numbers fell off a cliff and he found himself in the minors in Late August watching Brett Gardner, playing CF for the Yankees.

He had a nice Spring, but Gardner beat him out and he didn't sulk, he mashed, he played all three OF slots and mashed from both sides of the plate. When Gardner's slap-happy NL style didn't result in any thump. Melky was back in CF and, like Hughes, the time for childish things has passed. He's had a near-death experience (almost ended up in Milwaukee! Guessing those hottie Dominican mamas that drape themselves over Melky and Cano up in Washington Heights don't DO Wisconsin...) and come back stronger and more mature.

There's more, there's always more...but for now, that'll do.

He's all grown up now

Posted by Matthew at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Detroit Tigers - 4 (11-8)
New York Yankees - 2 (9-10)

Winning Pitcher: Verlander (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Sabathia (1-2)

HR: Ordonez (2)

Yankees may have set a MLB record in their Monday night game in Detroit, although we have no way to check on it, by losing their 2nd successive game to a starting pitcher named 'Justin' (which was always sort of a weenie name for mouseketeers, until one of them grew up to be 'America's sexiest' and date a succession of hottie starlets, now Justin's are ruling the Earth!).

Ahem...sorry, the BASEBALL game was a real treat for MLB fans, after the ugliness of Saturday in Fenway Park when the delicious pitchers duel between Josh Beckett and AJ Burnett degenerated into one of the ugliest, slo-pitch Softball sorts of games you'll ever suffer through (16-11). This time, the marquee matchup lived up to its billing as CC Sabathia, gave the Yankees all they need with 8 innings of complete game to give the Bullpen it's 2nd night off, striking out 7 and walking Z-E-R-O (the big number), CC was throwing darts all night and closed out the the heaving 96mph - so there is no worry there.

Unfortunately for CC, the struggling Verlander, who came into the game with a surrealistic 9.00 ERA (what is the deal with the former studs of the AL Pitching corps so far this season? Wang, Beckett, CC, Verlander...taking time to get things going). From the first moment, this was the Verlander of two season ago, throwing strike after strike, focused, working quickly and featuring that ridiculous stuff that only Joba can match. Like Joba now, Verlander mysteriously dipped down last year from near 100 MPH to a pedestrian 92-93 and got smacked, on Monday night, the gas was at 99 and the curve was criminal, the hot Yankee bats managed to hang in an get a decent number of Hits, but they were purely of the 1B variety and there never was a real threat of scoring until they got into the bullpen late and put on a mild comeback in the 9th, which died when Jorge Posada, hit into a Double Play with 2-on and none out. If Verlander is back to this form, he goes right back to his accustomed spot as Cy Young capable and the Tigers may be ready to have the season they planned on having LAST year.

Robinson Cano continued his sick hitting with another 2 hits, and Melky got another start and hit (the final one off Verlander) to continue strengthening his hold on the CF job he lost in Spring to Brett Gardner. Gardner has a role to play, with his solid Defense and breathtaking speed, but he simply cannot supply ANY thump in the batter's box (2 of his 3 extra base hits, in EIGHTEEN games, came in successive at-bats against Tampa Bay when Crawford and Upton dared him to hit it over their heads and he hit modest fly-balls that would have been easy outs with normal positioning).

Damon hurt his chronic left shoulder, foolishly running into the Green Monster chasing Papi's game-turning 2B on Sunday night. He is moments away from the DL or the bench, and Gardner is likely to play in his place (unless they call up Austin Jackson!), so both Yankee kids will continue to get chances, but this is the Melky we saw LAST April, playing shutdown CF, making laser throws and stroking it, with power from both sides of the plate. With Melky in the lineup, Yankees have a fantastic F-O-U-R Switch-Hitters in the everyday lineup, all of whom have power from both sides of the dish.

Kudos are due to Jose Molina, who struggled mightily at Bat, when asked to be the regular catcher last year upon Posada's injury. While he led MLB in runners thrown-out with a sick 50%, he just didn't give them ANYTHING offensively. This year, returned to a backup role, he has been getting his hits and holding up the bottom of the order better (.280), if he can continue that, Yankees will have best Catching duo in AL, outside of Cleveland (Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach both RAKE).

Tough Edwin Jackson (easily the worst trade of the offseason by Tampa Bay) goes for Les Tigres tonight and will face 22 year old, Phil Hughes, returning to the Yankees to cover Wang's spot while he heals. Hughes looked strong last September in his return to MLB, pitched well in Arizona fall league, well in Spring Training and dominated in AAA. He belongs, needs to stay calm, and deliver a 6 inning outing to give the bullpen more rest. Anything outside of that is gravy, Jackson can, and has, shut down the Yankees before, making his ouster from the Rays all the curiouser.

Perhaps, after the bitter disappointment of '08, the Tigers were simply due for something to go their way.

Posted by Matthew at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Boston Red Sox - 4 (12-6)
New York Yankees - 1 (9-9)

Winning Pitcher: Masterson (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Pettitte (2-1)

HR: None

Yankees lost their 3rd straight of the weekend in Fenway, to be swept by the hot Red Sox, when Andy Pettitte's 4th consecutive quality start was not backed up with another quality Offensive showing. Facing the weakest pitcher of this group (having faced Ace quality Lester and Beckett, with Verlander on deck) in Red Sox kid, Justin Masterson, who despite having thrown a no-hitter in MLB and having had good early career success, doesn't really have the 'stuff' profile you look for. Nonetheless, he shut down the Yankees hot bats (only Cano and Melky had multi-hit games) and the Sox nibbled enough to gain the win.

Sox highlights included an RBI 2B from Papi and a daring steal of home by Jacoby Elsbury (in a bases-loaded situation, if a Yankee ever ran in that spot - I think Guru might K-I-L-L him, too risky for my taste!).

Yankee highlights came on the hill, where Pettitte is simply CRUISING thus far in '09, as with Games 1 and 2, each Yankee starter provided the sort of work that will win the majority of their games.

Joba, in game 1, had little on his 'stuff' but nonetheless handed the bullpen a winning hand, if Brian Bruney had been available (15 day DL out of nowhere, right before game), Yankees would have had Game 1 and when they send Mariano to the 9th with a 2-run lead they win 97 of 100. This was one of the 3 he'll blow this year (margin of error +/-2).

AJ, in game 2, was cruising as well, but got undone by the rotation reshuffle, instead of following Chien-Ming Wang and his sinkers, he's ended up following Joba, whose stuff mirrors his own, after going 9 innings in two games seeing that sort of fastball/curveball, power game (same as Beckett, Verlander), Sox hitters finally caught up with AJ. But, again, give AJ 6-0 leads and how many will they lose? Maybe 2 of 33 times?

The pen crumbled a lot in game 1 and 2, but with Bruney out and the sorts of innings they've had to absorb, they get a pass - there isn't a bullpen in Baseball with the sorts of innings/k ratios those young arms can put up, they've proven in '08 what they can do and been brilliant when rested thus far.

To replace Bruney, Yankees brought up their #1 Relief prospect, Mark Melancon, and he gave them two strong innings in his debut, securing a 5 pitch 1-2-3 in the 7th and loading the bases with wildness in the 8th, before shutting down the threat.

Yankees fall to 9-9 with the loss, and head to Detroit for the tough Verlander coming off two bad outings, which can't be a good thing for Yankee hitters!

Posted by Matthew at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

Boston Red Sox - 5 (10-6)
New York Yankees - 4 (9-7)

Winning Pitcher: Ramirez (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Marte (0-1)

HR: Bay (4)
Youkilis (5)

It was an odd night at Fenway. The Yankees and Red Sox were playing their first game of the 2009 season, amidst the usual hoopla and adrenaline the rivalry provides, and the game was a close, back and forth affair that the Red Sox salvaged with a 2 Run HR by Jason Bay in the 9th to tie (Mariano Rivera's 2nd blown save since 2007!) and a GW HR by Kevin Youkilis in the 11th to seal the comeback triumph for the Red Sox. But from the beginning, you could sense the Yankees issues really have little to do with the game tonight, they are starting to feel like they've already lost before they even GET to the field.

Tonight's starter, 23 Year Old, Joba Chamberlain, pitched as a Starter last July 25 at Fenway and was absolutely BRILLIANT, mixing his 4 pitches with pinpoint control and easily bringing 98-99 mph heat to set up his 90 mph slider. That guy was nowhere to be seen on this night. Joba had no ability to throw the fastball on the corner or to throw the ball past anyone, and survived on guile and fortuitous Double Play balls. For whatever reason, his dynamic stuff, the stuff that had blown away the American League in his first two seasons, has not been seen since August 4, when his arm gave out against Texas.

Tonight, he was gritty and managed to be effective, besides the lack of stuff...he's smart and knows how to pitch and he is still getting the respect his arm earned him from hitters. But that won't last, with the stuff he is throwing now - he's just a 'guy', not the Joba the Yankees expected to lead their rotation for a generation. Something is wrong there, and this is a guy, like Chien-Ming Wang, that cannot be replaced. Home grown Starters with dominant arms and makeups, in their TWENTIES, and they are hurt, or damaged...

It cast a pall over the game ON the field from the beginning and made it hard to get too interested in the proceedings. There was no excitement when the game appeared to be won, and no despair when it was lost. With Alex Rodriguez having surgery, Xavier Nady blowing out his elbow, Chien-Ming Wang not recovered from last year's injury, Mark Teixeira nursing a poor wrist and now Brian Bruney, who has been the brilliant 98 mph guy in the bullpen HURT and heading to NYC for an elbow scan AND Cody Ransom, Alex's understudy blowing his Quad and heading to the DL...

The Yankees advantage has unraveled, after 16 games. They are now forced into the SAME position they've experienced in each of the past 5 years - having to patch it together on the fly, compete with what they have and grind it out.

That can't work.

These Yankees are not the '90s Yankees, they are not a close-knit group of grinders, they are Thoroughbreds built to dominate and there is not going to be any way they can do that with what they've already lost. As in this game, the season has already changed its complexion and the Yankees know they are in for a grind, depleted, and will have to rely on competitiveness.

Yankee players are never going to 'outcompete' the Pedroias and Youkilis' of the world, these are guys who have had to fight, scratch and claw just to HAVE MLB careers -grinding and competing is the Red Sox game, and you'll never succeed playing another man's game. Guys like Cano and Swisher are the polar opposites of their Red Sox counterparts, smooth, natural talents who've known they'd be pro-stars since 10th Grade and grew up with MLB Dads (Jose Cano, Steve Swisher). In a grinding game, as we saw tonight, always bet on Boston and if this season comes down to grinding and dealing with adversity, that is simply not going to be something the Yankees are going to be able to do.

As for this game...Joba had nothing, worked in and out of trouble for 5.1 IP and got some good Defensive help from Jeter and Cano, who repeatedly bailed him out of jams with sleek DP work. His natural ability to throw the ball by hitters was nowhere in evidence, however and he looked like a 45 year old Roger Clemens, trying to get by on smarts and presence, not a 23 year old who looked unbeatable seemingly, moments ago...

Yankees clawed out a pair of runs, and were stymied themselves by three diving Red Sox plays that saved runs, Mike Lowell, diving to snare a sharp line drive ticketed for the LF corner and two runs, Jason Bay, diving and saving two runs on a Cano SF and Dustin Pedroia, diving to snare a go-ahead 1B by Derek Jeter up the middle that would have scored a run. Then, leading 4-2 in the top of the 9th, the Yankees loaded the bases, only to see Cano and Melky fail to bring in any of the runs, which would seal their fate.

Yankee bullpen was fine, Coke saved Joba's mess, Albaladejo was terrific and Mo was mowing them down in typical fashion before he left a lazy one to Bay that stung, Damaso Marte was his most effective since coming to the Yankees, but Girardi was forced to ask him to do things that are not his job in the 11th, with Brian Bruney and his RH stuff on a plane to NYC, Marte was asked to get the white-hot Youkilis out in his 2nd inning of work, and you knew that wasn't going to go well for Marte who is strictly a LH guy when the pen is healthy.

For the Sox, Jon Lester WAS throwing hard and had his good stuff, but not his command and the Yankees worked his pitch count way up and got him out early. They handled all of the Boston pitchers on this night, but the depleted lineup was 4-19 with Runners in Scoring Position and that always leaves a team feeling like it is 'waiting to lose', in this case, that is exactly how it turned out.

As always, the game and the series mean a lot more on the Boston side of the rivalry...the Yankees are probably lost for a couple of weeks after today's events and the season is already looking like a grind, rather than the one the Yankees worked so hard to make happen. For whatever reason, thoughts of a special year probably died tonight in Boston and the long slog is going to be their reality.

How you feel about that probably depends upon the type of fan you are. Some players go the race track to see the Stakes horses run, they are of noble-breeding, come from the preeminent breeders, have the best trainers and elite jockeys...and they often blow the doors off inferior competition to win at low odds, establishing their greatness and mark on history, but not providing much of a competitive spectacle. Other players are not interested in the mismatches at the top tier, but prefer the competitive and evenly matched races amongst claiming horses and lesser breeding stock. No big money purses, No fancy talent, but plenty of hard fought competitive betting races.

Its the difference between Pre-Salary Cap NFL teams laden with superstars at every position (SF 49ers, Dallas Cowboys) and Cap Era teams who play a 'system' and outcompete similarly talented squads with smarts and grit (New England Patriots),

When a brilliantly talented Stakes horse gets injured, its best to retire him, because he isn't accustomed to grinding it out with the more common animals on the track and won't compete to the wire if his typical burst of speed is no longer available.

Incredibly, after 16 games, it now appears that the 'Stakes Horse' that was supposed to be the 2009 Yankees is not going to be at full speed, and, for Yankee fans, that probably signals a year that will be yet another disappointment.

With Wang gone, the team will bring up effective RH reliever David Robertson to cover for Bruney and then bring up Phil Hughes to cover for Wang on Tuesday and then take his turn every five days. Hughes is dominating again at AAA and has nothing left to prove there, but, even at his best - he's no Wang or Joba, at THEIR best and there really is no way to know if we will SEE them throwing that way again. With Ransom now hurt, they'll have to bring up Angel Berroa, who has a better MLB bat but no longer can play MLB level Defense and they will have to live with that gaping hole, as they have been thus far, until Alex can make it back.

Sadly, it looks like his return will not be enough to help this team, whose season has probably died before it begins.

Posted by Matthew at 04:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 9 (9-6)
Oakland A's - 7 (5-9)

Winning Pitcher: Jose Veras (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Dan Giese (0-2)

HR: Suzuki (1)
Matsui (2)
Jeter (4)
M. Cabrera (3,4)

This was ugly.

Another brutal start from CC Sabathia, whose ball is humming with it's normal velocity and bending with it's normal torque, but not yet being placed for strikes...he's a B-I-G man and grinding his way through the first week of his Bronx life. You can see how the smaller confines/stage of Spring Training was an easier fit for him, the circus aspects and the lifestyle adjustments are simply going to take time - the STUFF (unlike Wang) is there, but, right now - the results are not, he is walking everyone in sight, and given his career as one of the most accurate power pitchers the game has seen - it's ugly.

CC managed 6.2 innings, and gave up only 6 hits, one of them a pop-fly HR to white-hot Kurt Suzuki, (his first HR since last August!) that gave the A's half of their 6 ER against him. He got some shoddy Defense from Johnny Damon (who was one of several players to struggle with pop-ups in the driving rain this game was played in - for five hours!) and Jorge Posada, who had a brain-cramp on a potential play at the plate - vacating his position to back up 1st base as slow-footed Jason Giambi waltzed home with a gift run and Derek Jeter's relay home beat him easily, but found no Catcher!

Yankee Offense was solid early, with HR power continuing to be a positive and covering for the Black-Hole in their lineup that has been Cody Ransom/Brett Gardner thus far.

Hideki Matsui had a long HR and has been his accustomed hitting machine since having his Knee drained last week...his skills are truly superior. It has been a pleasure watching him perform in his Yankee career and seeing his easy power, fundamental soundness, baseball instincts and sheer toughness as his body has broken down in front of us and he STILL contributes - it's inspirational, he reminds me of Andre Dawson. It's easy to see why he is Japan's biggest Baseball hero - as good as he is, here at the end, he must have been incredible when his legs were young - if he's spent those years in the Bronx, he'd have Hall of Fame written all over him. In his current condition, with both knees shot - every game could potentially be his last and while we all hope he can make it through, we have to enjoy him while he is around.

A Pro.

Jeter, another pro, but one whose legs are feeling frisky, made some terrific plays at SS and hit a long HR to CF and Melky Cabrera, a baby whose game is still developing, followed up his huge April from 2008 (5 HR) with an even better April 2009, by clubbing a 420 foot HR to Left Center field in the 2nd inning hitting RH (back end of back-to-back with Matsui) and later smacked the Game Winner in the 14th, a 2 Run HR, from the LH side. This gives him 4 HR in 23 At-Bats and an unlikely place in 2nd place amongst AL Sluggers at .826 (although his limited at-bats disqualify him). What matters, from a Yankee perspective is he is providing the bottom of the order with some desperately needed THUMP to cover for Ransom/Gardner/Pena/Molina, who have all been ANEMIC offensively.

Still, for all their power and Offensive success in this game (Yankees had 15 hits through 7 innings), the bats went into a deep chill from there and managed only two hits the rest of the way, with Melky's close-out the 17th and exclamation point.

For their part, the Oakland team has a nice blend of elements that are just not working NOW, but certainly figure to improve as the season moves forward. Orlando Cabrera, Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday are not yet hitting, but they are all proven producers and they have enough role players, young guys and rehabbers to suggest they'll be competitive with more time. They also have their typical array of young hurlers with big arms, none bigger than Reliever Andrew Bailey and Starter/Lefty Specialist, Josh Outman. The starter in this game, Brett Anderson, is their #1 prospect and you can certainly see why, he has a terrific arm and presence and only requires time to get his feet under him in MLB (he reminds me of Phil Hughes, not an 'if', but a 'when', at 21 - that is a guess?).

Yankee relievers picked up CC and the slumbering bats through the late and extra sessions and benefited from the slumping A's hitters and the damp, wet conditions to post 7.1 innings of shutout ball. Phil Coke picked up CC to close out 7th, then Jonathan Albaladejo and Mariano Rivera each had a shutout inning. Damaso Marte did what he does, by walking one and striking one out, before giving way to Edwar Ramirez, who gave them 1.1 IP and then Jose Veras came in, promptly walked the first batter and went 2-0 on the next one and Yankee fans groaned....

But Posada came to the mound for an animated discussion and Pitching Coach, Dave Eiland (who must be feeling pretty tense these days...with a guy named David Cone sitting in the booth and a perennial Cy Young contender having fallen apart on his watch...) joined them and, lo and behold! Veras pitched the way a guy with 98 MPH heat, 75 MPH change-ups and darting curves SHOULD pitch and gave the Yankees ten straight outs in his longest MLB stint to seal the win.

So, for a Yankee team that has seen just about EVERYTHING go wrong, from Alex Rodriguez's injury to Chien-Ming Wang's disintegration, while being blamed for the recession, the corruption of American youth, both World Wars and the plight of the American family...the record is actually decent. This is a team that is neither playing well nor at anything close to full strength and has fundamental problems in figuring out Wang and surviving the injuries to Nady and Matsui. But it has done some winning, despite these problems and shown some grit, early, that was missing last season.

On to Boston, for the typically Hot-Early Red Sox, we'll see what they get from Joba tomorrow, but the rotation shuffling has left Joba and AJ back-to-back, which is a problem, there are very few pitchers in baseball with the stuff to prepare a lineup to face AJ - but if you wanted to draw up the perfect guy to face before him - it'd be Joba. They are going to have to separate those two, as designed, with Andy Pettitte at the first opportunity to do so.

Posted by Matthew at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

New York Yankees - 5 (8-6)
Oakland A's - 3 (5-8)

Winning Pitcher: Andy Pettitte (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Dana Eveland (0-1)

HR: Damon (2)

Coming into the season, the Yankee rotation featured four guys who there really weren't any questions about, and one guy who they figured would be 'good enough'. After fourteen games, AJ Burnett has been as advertised, CC Sabathia has been erratic, but showed brilliance in one of three starts, Joba Chamberlain has not settled into a regular turn or regular feel, but his velocity does not appear to be at mid-season levels and his control is not his accustomed level either. Chien-Ming Wang, erstwhile Ace, is lost somewhere in a fog - not prepared for the season and searching for answers, with half the Yankee losses attributable to him.

Andy Pettitte, meanwhile, has been much more than 'good enough'.

Last night, in his first start in the New Yankee Stadium, that was the biggest reason for his return, Andy shut down meaningless chatter about 'wind tunnels' that has arisen from a SINGLE FOUR GAME SERIES! with a crisp, unchallenged 7 Innings - no K's, no BB's, 2 Runs. He got beautiful Defensive plays from Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, Cody Ransom and Mark Teixeira and looked effortless and in sync for the third successive, impressive start to his 2009 season, the sort of antidote a rotation NEEDS when one of its spokes goes off form.

Yankees opened things Offensively, with a 4-spot in the 2nd Inning, highlighted by slap-hitter, Brett Gardner, happily encountering a drawn-in infield with men on 2B and 3B. In this formation, a slap is just what you need and his 1B resulted in 2 RBI.

Andy cruised from there until the A's plated 2, utilizing one of Kurt Suzuki's 4 hits for the first run and then being thwarted by some terrific defense and a call that wiped out a chance for a run on an comeback squibber to Pettitte on which Chavez ventured inside the baseline and was plunked by the throw for an automatic out.

The replay made it obvious that Chavez's foot was completely on the infield grass, later on, ESPN's Baseball Tonight - center of the Yankee-Hating Universe, reported that although the replay they SHOWED made it look like Chavez was on the grass, they had heard reliably that ANOTHER replay (from the A's?) showed he was 'clearly inside the line, they blew the call!', to which, John Kruk, hero to all slobs with lazy minds chimed in 'that's huge there, they're ready to change that game!'. No evidence, no interest in what happened, no research to back up claims - they just RUN WITH IT if it has a slant that will please a large segment of the audience. Like FOX covering the Clintons.

That's journalism in America, 2009.

After that inning, Johnny Damon took Andrew Bailey off the facing in RF for a 5-2 lead. Bailey has a Joba-like arm, scintillating 98 mph Heat and table-splashing curveballs, he has a big future. The Damon run was his first surrendered in 10.1 Innings, and only his 2nd HIT to go against 13 K's. Don't be surprised to see Mr. Bailey making his way towards the 9th Inning soon, be aware those Fantasy GM's needing save options. Mr. Bailey is legit, and no Mariano blocks him by the Bay.

Brian Bruney, came on for the 8th, the Yankee RH has been lights out of late, and he extended his consecutive outs streak to 23 by getting two quick outs, before surrendering a run on two consecutive A's 2B's to close the scoring at 5-3.

Mariano came in. Light's out. 4th Save.

Posted by Matthew at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees - 7 (7-6)
Cleveland Indians - 3 (4-9)

Winning Pitcher: Jonathan Albaladejo (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jensen Lewis (1-2)

HR: Choo (3)
Garko (1)
Posada (3)

Yesterday we got a fascinating and surprising answer to the age old marketing querie;

'How do you spell Relief?'

A-L-B-A-L-A-D-E-J-O, it seems, is the answer.

As the Yankees sought to cobble together 9 innings from a staff that has been battered by the sudden collapse of its most consistent performer (Chien-Ming Wang), the onus has fallen on Starter AJ Burnett to follow him by going deep into games and saving the overworked bullpen.

Mission accomplished.

Burnett was even WILDER than CC (5 Walks) and Joba (5 Walks), and with Wang's fiasco, its safe to say this is about as poor a beginning this highly valued staff could have imagined for their first four in the New building. AJ gave up an unseemly SEVEN Walks, but only three hits - including two HR, to Sin-Shoo Choo and Ryan Garko. Both Choo and Garko did what you have to do against guys like Burnett, guess fastball, zone an area and swing all out if you get it there - what players call 'running into one' since your bat is already headed to the spot the ball arrives in. Sweet swings for both, and no knock on AJ who was otherwise unhittable (the third hit, by Hafner was a bloop).

AJ gave the Yankees 6.1, but when he finally lost the strike-zone completely (a la the 'bad' AJ of Marlin days), he walked the bases loaded in the 7th with only the one out and Albaladejo came on, with the Yankees trailing 3-1 and the possibility of losing 3 of 4 staring them in the face.

He got two weak ground balls to end the threat and risk injury from a pumped up High-5 from the hulking AJ on the top step of the dugout. This game was salvaged right there.

For their part, the Indians had received a strong start from Yankee pariah, Carl Pavano, who effectively shut them down on a harmless 4 hits, 1 run over his 6 innings.

After Albaladejo did his Houdini act, Yankees welcomed stud reliever, Rafael Perez, rudely, with a 2B from Robinson Cano and an RBI 1B for Hideki Matsui to make it 3-2. Indians then went to Jensen Lewis, Friday's tough-luck loser and Joe Girardi decided to pinch-hit for Catcher Jose Molina with Jorge Posada.

Posada launched a high-arcing fly ball to the RF wall and Indian RF Crowe leaped...

Two fans were reaching for the ball and they and Crowe all whiffed on the catch, but the ball caromed off one fan and into the seats for a 2 Run, go-ahead, pinch-hit, HR.

'Hip, Hip, JOR-GE!'

The play was impossible to diagnose, even with replay (if the fan had interfered, it would be ground-rule 2B), but the Umpires did the right thing and called for Replay review, and 8 1/2 minutes later...

It stood. 4-3 Yankees.

Brian Bruney was perfect, again, in the 8th and the Yankees tacked on 3 runs when poor Cody Ransom matched Hafner's early bloop into sun-drenched LF for a bases clearing 3 RBI, 2B. 7-3.

Mo came in to get the work, in a non-save situation and that was that.

Yankees survive the series, 2-2, and the week, 4-3, despite being BLOWN out three times.

Posted by Matthew at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees - 6 (6-5)
Cleveland Indians - 5 (3-8)

WInning Pitcher: Brian Bruney (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jensen Lewis (1-1)

HR: Mark DeRosa (2)
Johnny Damon (1)
Mark Teixeira (2)
Melky Cabrera (1)
Robinson Cano (3)
Derek Jeter (3)

A Strange Game.

Yankees had Joba Chamberlain on the hill, facing journeyman, Anthony Reyes, and got FIVE HR's from the Offense, but had to scrape from behind to eek out a 1-run victory. The result, while indicative of a certain grittiness on their part, is a cause for some slight concern, as Joba (like CC the game before) was really not sharp and was without excuse, facing a team of big swingers who should be tailor made for his arsenal. The issue, as it was with CC - is strikes, or rather, their inability to THROW them...Joba had five walks to match CC's output and that allowed the few hits he gives up to be of the RBI variety.

The Yankees expect FAR better from their young power pitcher and, this outing, certainly makes one wonder if his shoulder may have some residual issues that he isn't admitting to. HIs velocity, which reached 95 at times, was 91-92 for most of the game and that just will not do. Until we see more of what we saw last season in his 12 starts, there are going to be concerns about his arm health - 23 year olds who lose 6-7 MPH after an injury shutdown cause Guru to lose sleep!

Joba battled through it, as best he could, but really could not muster the sort of stuff he is accustomed to and the Indians, a fastball hitting group not asked to cope with the better heat, took advantage and a 5-3 lead by the time of Joba's exit, after 4.2 innings.

Unlike the previous game, when two Yankee relievers (Marte, Veras) poured accelerant on the fire...this time the Yankee relief was exceptional, providing the final 4.1 innings of scorelessness that was needed to allow the Yankee Offense to come all the way back and win. Phil Coke, Jonathan Albaladejo and Brian Bruney all were in complete control and Mariano Rivera, entering to his signature 'Enter Sandman' for the first time, across the street from his old office, got touched (the nerve!) for two hits by the Indians #8 and #9 batters (81 year old Tony Graffanino, Asdrubal Cabrera) and had to clamp down to strike out Grady Sizemore and Mark DeRosa (twice due to a missed call) and secure the win.

Offensively, the Yankees reached the seats those five times, but each was a SOLO affair, causing the closeness of the contest. Damon and Teixeira went back-to-back early, Melky got his first of the year on a no-doubter, Robinson Cano sent one to the 2nd deck for his 3rd and the Captain, Derek Jeter, who is hitting .600 this season in the 8th and 9th inning, took Lewis out to RF for his 3rd and the game, his third 'decider' in 4 games this week.

Today it's Chien-Ming Wang trying to rediscover the magic against the team that first revealed he was not superhuman in the 2007 playoffs - the Indians will not help him, he'll have to be on his game to handle a strong offensive team that knows him well.

Posted by Matthew at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Cleveland Indians 10 (3-7)
New York Yankees 2 (5-5)

Winning Pitcher: Cliff Lee (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Jose Vera (0-1)

HR: Posada (2)
Sizemore (3)
Martinez (3)

The day finally arrived.

For months, Guru's daily trip to Yankees.com has been greeted by the countdown to Opening Day at the New Yankee Stadium and the Date 'April 16, 2009' has been emblazoned on my noggin. The sun was glorious in a cloudless sky and the anticipation was high, the ceremonies grand (Bernie WIlliams standing alone in Center Field, how else? - playing a self-composed Jazz Guitar version of 'Take me out to the Ballgame' had me crying real live Pinstriped Tears...Bernie was hurt being cut and chafed at missing this as a player, most organizations would have made him persona non grata, the Yankee way was on display.)

Ultimately, the setup was better than the follow-through, as the Yankees looked a little tight all afternoon, hung on by their fingernails through a gritty but uneven (5 Walks) by LH/CC Sabathia (the 2007 AL Cy Young Award Winner for the Cleveland Indians) and took their at-bats, typically long, drawn-out affairs as if they had someplace better to be - as if that was even possible, on April 16, 2009.

Facing CC, was LH/Cliff Lee (the 2008 AL Cy Young Award Winner for the Cleveland Indians), coming off two horrendous losses and Lee was in control from the beginning, taking advantage of Yankee impatience to send them chasing and surrendered only a long BOMB HR to dead CF by Jorge Posada, who continues to R-A-K-E with thump. Lee pitched 6 Innings, 7H, 1R, 3BB, 4K and got the decision.

For his part, CC pitched 5.2 Innings, 5H, 1R, 5BB, 4K, but his 122 pitches forced him from the game in the 6th inning, which would play a huge role in deciding this one.

With a 1-1 game on the line, Edwar Ramirez relieved and gave up a 1B, loading the bases, he, in turn, was relieved by Phil Coke who got the 3rd out, after the Yankees went out in the Top of the 7th...

The game blew wide open.

Jose Veras, who has brilliant stuff but seriously erratic results, walked 1 and gave up 2 hits, without retiring a batter and only avoids being the subject of Preschool Death Squads (Steinbrenner device for dealing with wayward relievers) due to the HORRENDOUS performance of the next pitcher, Damaso Marte, who was misused and ineffective in 2008 after coming over in the Nady trade with Pittsburgh, was resigned (mystifying Yankee fans) for big dollars in '09 and has been awful, dreadful and looking every bit of the Red Sox version of Eric Gagne...On this day, he 'held' the Indians to SIX runs, on 3 H, 1 BB and 2HR (one of them a Grand Slam by Grady Sizemore on a frisbee slider...).

In an instant, an interesting 1-1 game between the two Cleveland Cy Young LH turned into a joke, pretty tough to survive NINE run innings!

And that, in terms of the game itself, was that.

For the Yankees, roster moves await, Xavier Nady is done, David Robertson, who pitched very well last year is back up from AAA to take his slot and pitched the 8th and 9th scoreless yesterday, certainly Veras is a candidate to go down for a stint, Marte is a serious veteran and poses more problems, he may chafe at Minors, has no trade value and looks, more and more, like this year's version of Latroy Hawkins, who was a Yankee catastrophe but landed in Houston and dominated after being cut by Yankees. As someone who has seen them come and go for decades, the reality is some guys just don't like it here and don't perform well in this environment...going from Pittsburgh to this day in the Bronx is about as big a contrast as the results for Marte - better to take the hit and send him away too soon, then wait...wait...wait and watch these scenes unfold. If they are committed to him, Girardi needs to use him as INTENDED - as a LH specialist, not a set-up man - Phil Coke, who was a dominant starter in Minors, has the arm and the repertoire to be stretched out, he should be the set-up LH and Marte can come in an do his thing (K or BB to LH hitter). Minors offer help with Melancon and Hughes dominant arms to bring up.

Yankee numbers point to the illusion of small-sample statistics. The OVERALL show a team that has been hitting (5.4 runs per game) and not pitching (5.4 ERA), but the reality is the Offense is ailing with all the power hitters hurt (Alex, Tex, Nady) and only 4 batters contributing (Swisher, Jeter, Posada, Cano), the lineup is filled with holes right now, particularly with all the RH thump gone - its no accident their two worst games came against LH studs (Kazmir, Lee), they don't have the horses there.

As for the pitching, its a reverse situation, with all BUT 4 pitchers throwing well, only (Marte, Veras, Wang and Coke) have struggled. Wang, Coke are not concerns and Veras, Marte offer options.

10 game diagnosis?

Pitching looks great. Offense needs Alex and a healthy Tex. Until then, Pitching will have to carry things.

More day baseball in the beautiful new palace today, we'll be here afterwards.

Posted by Matthew at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees - 4 (5-4)
Tampa Bay Rays - 3 (4-5)

Winning Pitcher: Brian Bruney (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Troy Percival (0-1)

'The Battle of the Andy's' took place at The Trop on Wednesday afternoon, as longtime Yankee stalwart, Andy Pettitte, faced off against Tampa Bay's surprising rotation survivor, Andy Sonnanstine.

Both pitched well.

Sonnanstine, who is one of those guys who lights up opposition eyes with is seemingly mundane arsenal and then shuts them down with pinpoint control and change of speeds, did just that, surrendering only a monster BOMB HR to white-hot Robinson Cano, wearing #42 (they all were) in honor of the man he was named for - Jackie Robinson. Cano's 2 run blast tied the game in the Top of the 3rd after the Rays had scratched out a couple of their own, and the Rays took the lead in the Bottom of the 4th on a HR by Carlos Pena - who looks locked in on the field and in the batter's box - a terrific player, who, for whatever reason, took years to develop it at the MLB level - he spent time with Oakland, Detroit, Boston and the Yankees and the opportunity and success never came together, but he has been a FORCE since arriving in Tampa Bay and provides and anchor for years to come.

For his part, Andy Pettitte, kept the game close, pitching 7.1 Innings of 3 run baseball for his second consecutive strong start, although he did not factor in the decision. Brian Bruney, came in and struck out Pat Burrell and Carlos Pena on 8 pitches, giving him 5 strikeouts from 5 batters faced in this series, having struck out Upton, Crawford and Pena in the 9th Inning on Tuesday. He threw just 18 pitches to get the 15 strikes and only 1 ball.

No need to belly-ache about the 8th Inning Guy - its clearly Bruney and you have to wonder why Girardi used him in the 7th in the KC game the pen blew, his perfect innings, control and 97 MPH look good to Guru!

Yankees tied the game in the top of the 8th on back-to-back 2B's by Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon.

Cody Ransom, benched for the past two over his weak start, got a chance at redemption, pinch-hitting in the 9th and responded with a ringing 2B to CF and then, the Captain, who had made a circus play earlier (Cano also made a highlight play) and put the Rays away the day before with a 3 Run BOMB, finished them off again with an RBI 1B that drove in Ransom with the winning tally.

Then it was time for the only MLB Player who still wears #42 EVERY day, Mariano Rivera, who was his customary self for an effortless close-out to a successful road trip.

Yanks won 5 of final 7, survived 3 Home Openers for opponents, took 2 of 3 from the Rays in Tampa Bay and have gotten consistent Offensive production even while carrying some struggling sticks and missing their #3 (Teixeira is playing and playing good defense, but his wrist is clearly hurting and he is a shell at the plate) and #4 (Alex) hitters. They blew one late to KC, had no chance on the two bad Wang starts and the opening day CC fiasco, but they seem to be responding to Girardi and the new elements seem to have created a NEW team, rather than the situation last season where veterans were trying to deal with the change from Joe Torre.

It's Joe Girardi these days.

There was some bad news, however, as Yankee RF joined the near surreal list of injuries this team has suffered in recent years, blowing out his surgically repaired elbow on a seemingly harmless toss to 2B in KC - the Yankees have the depth to survive, but its a player coming off .297/25/97 and in his final year before Free Agency, and that certainly makes it tough to replace the production. Bad news for X.

Yankees will probably bring up AAA player of the week, 1B Juan Miranda, who is just one of the rampaging Scranton Wilkes/Barre club that has opened their defense of their back to back International League titles with a crisp 7-0, led by CF Austin Jackson and Miranda. Yanks don't need another OF, but with Swisher playing every day in RF and Tex hurting, they will need Miranda to back-up 1B. They are going to need Alex healthy when he returns, losing Nady makes them a bit LH biased, but with

F-O-U-R Switchhitters (Melky, Tex, Posada, Swisher) they should have enough RH thump.

Posted by Matthew at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees - 7 (4-4)
Tampa Bay Rays - 2 (4-4)

Winning Pitcher: AJ Burnett (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: JP Howell (0-1)

A night after a blowout, filled with sloppy defense and still-in-Spring-Training Pitching, the Yankees and the Rays played an instant classic at the Trop last night - a scintillating pitcher's duel between two hard throwing RH studs (AJ Burnett, Matt Garza).

And, on this night, although Garza had the advantage of a terrific first name - AJ got the cake.

Yankees loaded the bases right away in the Top of the 1st inning on back-to-back singles from Brett Gardner/Derek Jeter and a walk to Mark Teixeira (nursing a sore wrist). Garza then got tough and struck out the sizzling hot bat of Nick Swisher before Jorge Posada fought off an outside pitch and drove it to deep left to score Gardner with the critical first run in a game that was clearly not going to see many.

From there, Garza settled in and began mowing down Yankees and strutting around the mound, going so far as to buzz Swisher under the chin when he arrived at the plate during the 4th Inning. Refreshingly, Swisher, one of three Yankees who are 2nd Generation MLB (Shelly Duncan, Robinson Cano) did NOT stare at the mound, grab his crotch, charge the hill...he just stepped back, got his bearings, stepped back into the box...

And hit the next pitch 400 Feet over the Right Centerfield wall, his 4th HR in his 6th Yankee start, replacing a guy who had 4 HR in 189 at-bats in 2008.

2-0 Yankees.

Meanwhile, AJ Burnett was CRUISIN'...with only a harmless walk to Pat Burrell marring perfection over the first 6 innings. Burnett just looks like a different guy than the rattled, wild-eyed, emotional power pitcher whose body seemed as out-of-control as his temper for all those years of underperformance and injury. Now, with his Roy Halladay-inspired calm, he looks like a Zen master..quietly rocking his body back and firing those cannon shots with an easy toss. He mixes in two speeds of curve-balls, an occasional change-up and can dart the heat up or down. The contrast between the low '70's curve, the mid '80s slider and the high '90s gas makes it tough on the hitter and the calm motion and self-control keep him in the strike zone.

He held the no-hitter until the bottom of the 7th, when Carl Crawford put a BEAUTIFUL at-bat on him and laced a clean 1B to LF, then, momentarily...the old 'Bad' AJ surfaced, as a clearly shaken Burnett lost his focus and left two successive pitches out over the plate against two terrific hitters (Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena) and they each smacked singles...when Pat Burrell flied-out, it was a 2-2 game. The No-Hitter, Shutout and Lead all lost...

In the top of the 8th, the Rays brought in last year's stud set-up man, JP Howell (who looks 12 years old), and Brett Gardner burned Crawford in LF by smashing a 2B over his head - there is NOTHING that a hitter likes better than getting to see the OF's Number, when he has tried to play you short and you've forced him to retreat with his back to the plate...on Monday, the Rays did so twice and came up with circus catches - on this night, the balls kept flying. With another hit from Jeter and the Yankees sitting with 1st and 3rd, Teixeira came up, hitting RH for the first time since the wrist injury, it was obvious that he was feeling uncomfortable and JUST as obvious what a critical situation this was. Teixeira did the best he could with a long, lazy fly ball to break the tie. 3-2 Yankees.

Burnett came out for the bottom of the 8th and dominated, finishing his night with 8IP/9K/1BB/3H/2R, the kind of performance the Yankees needed with a tired bullpen coming off innings of Monday relief.

In the 9th, facing Dan Wheeler, Cano and Melky Cabrera (hitting for Nady, who he'd replaced in RF during the 8th) had a 1B and Brett Gardner smashed a 2B to dead CF, this time burning BJ Upton who turned to chase as Crawford had the inning before. This was Gardner's best game as a Yankee and, if he can swing with authority - he is a keeper, his legs are a given. 4-2 Yankees.

Derek Jeter stepped in, with 2 soft 1B's already in the game and blasted a 3 Run HR into the RF seats that the OF never moved on, the 'no-doubter' that gave Gardner and Jeter 6 hits combined on the night and put the game out of reach.

Brian Bruney, who pitched a dominant 7th Inning on Sunday, before the 8th inning meltdown by Phil Coke, came in to face the formidable top of the Rays order and mowed down Upton/Crawford/Longoria on just 10 pitches, striking out the side and sealing the Yankees best win of the first week of 2009.

Today its afternoon baseball at the Trop, the battle of the Andy's - Pettitte and Sonnanstine, should be one to be decided by the offenses...

Posted by Matthew at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Tampa Bay Rays - 15 (4-3)
New York Yankees - 5 (3-4)

Winning Pitcher: Scott Kazmir (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Chien-Ming Wang (0-2)

This one looked like a blowout before it began, and lived up to its billing once the teams hit the field.

For the Rays, one of the few things that did NOT go right in 2008 was their play against the Yankees, who handled them 11 of 18 times and did better as the season went on.

On a night when they hoisted their AL Pennant and AL Eastern Division Crown in their mausoleum of a Concrete Box - 'The Trop' (like a wedding in a Mall)...

...and sent out their fire-balling LH Ace, Scott Kazmir, against a Yankee lineup missing its #3 and #4 hitters (Rodriguez and Teixeira) from the Right Side and carrying a left side of the infield (Cody Ransom and Derek Jeter) both from the Right Side, who had combined to go a combined 2 for their last 37 against far more modest arms.

For the Yankees, coming off a brutal loss the day before on an 8th Inning meltdown by reliever Phil Coke (who was horrible again and is, as mentioned yesterday, in need of some AAA time to sort out his delivery from the stretch...) and relying on Chien-Ming Wang to be back in form in his 2nd MLB start since his June 15 broken foot, the chances seemed iffy from the outset.

Ten minutes into the game, those chances had all but evaporated.

Chien-Ming Wang was making his 97th MLB Start and had only lost two in a row ONE time before last night (although he lost 2 straight to Cleveland in the '07 ALDS), but has yet to look comfortable or throw at his accustomed velocity (94-96) or location (D-O-W-N, down, down...) and he had that lost deer look he gets when his stuff isn't there...if you watch as much Yankee baseball as Guru does, and have seen every inning Wang has ever thrown...you knew, and you also knew something ELSE that was important...

'Chuck' was on at 8PM, so there was an alternative...

Wang is proven, so there is time to get him right and, the Yankee minds/hearts were almost certainly not in Tampa Bay but on their historic Thursday date...one of the biggest moments in the history of sports greatest franchise - the opening of the New Yankee Stadium in The Bronx.

On the field, the carnage was mainly inflicted by Carlos Pena (Guru cannot tell a lie, Pena, Upton and Longoria are fantasy stalwarts for his teams...and with the outcome never in doubt, it wasn't such a bad night for some stat-padding at my Yankees expense!). Pena had a Grand Slam off Wang's 'relief' that brought in the final of his 8 runs surrendered in 1 Inning plus, giving him 6 RBI in the first two innings!

BJ Upton is 100% healthy, hit the ball, stole bases and simply made one of the greatest catches you will EVER see in a baseball game running, Willie Mays-like directly into the dead CF wall with his back completely turned to the plate and snatching a monstrous blast off the fence at the last possible second off the bat of Xavier Nady one of the only three Yankees with thump from the RH side in this configuration. Carl Crawford, hit the ball, stole bases and made his OWN masterful play to steal a 2B from Nick Swisher, who continued his torrid hitting with his 3rd HR (10th RBI) and the blast Crawford caught to go with another Walk - he even pitched a scoreless inning in Gar-BAGE time and recorded his first MLB Strikeout off bodybuilding immortal, Gabe Kapler.

Swisher, in 7 games and 20 at-bats, has SEVEN Extra Base hits, replacing a guy, Wilson Betemit, who had 4 HR and 24 RBI in 189 at-bats in 2008. Given the unexpected losses of Alex and Tex, he is an irreplaceable part for a lineup that is designed around those two in the middle. The Yankees are going to have to pitch and catch during the injury period, while those two heal, Matsui and Wang re-acclimate and Jeter finds his stroke.

One player who apparently does not need more time is Jorge Posada, who drove in multiple runs for the 3rd consecutive game, with yet another monster 2B in the gap. Posada, a freak who caught deep into the playoffs every year for a decade without ONCE going on the DL, has now come back from tricky Shoulder surgery looking like his All-Star ass never left. He's got 5 Extra Base hits in his first 20 at-bats, to go with 8 RBI's returning to his spot in place of Jose Molina who managed only 18 RBI in 286 at-bats in 2008 and 20 extra base hits - meaning that Posada, like Swisher, will provide more production by mid-May than his predecessor did all year long.

Yankees have AJ Burnett on the hill next up, facing Matt Garza, which should give the LH-heavy lineup a better opportunity to score some early runs and close the preview series and the road trip with a battle of Andy's, sending Pettitte to face Sonnanstine - who, inexplicably, was retained over Edwin Jackson (shipped to Detroit for a bucket of warm spit named Matt Joyce).

Two more before the big game...we'll be here to chronicle all of them.

Posted by Matthew at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Kansas City Royals 6 (3-3)
New York Yankees 4 (3-3)

Winning Pitcher: Cruz (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Coke (0-1)

On a day when Joba Chamberlain made his 2009 Debut against Royal Ace, Gil Meche, there were a couple of Yankee concerns;

1.) With Alex Rodriguez rehabbing his surgically repaired hip, new slugger Mark Teixeira has now missed successive games with a bum wrist.

2.) With Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui off to slow starts, Jorge Posada and Johnny Damon resting, the Yankee lineup was dangerously thin against the solid Meche, with Cody Ransom, Brett Gardner, Jose Molina and Melky Cabrera all swinging light wood - this was not a day for letting cheap runs score.

3.) With Meche on the hill and Joakim Soria as their closer, the time for a thin lineup to break through was going to have to come towards the end of Meche's start in the 6-7-8 innings.

For the most part, Joba set the Yankee up for success with 6 effective innings, 5 K's and only 1 Walk, being touched only for a solo HR by John Buck on an ill-advised (Buck can't catch up to the fastball) Slider that hung in the zone like a pumpkin.

Things looked good for Joba, but a bizarre ground ball that scooted off the wet ground, under BOTH 1B Nick Swisher and 2B Robinson Cano, allowed two unearned runs to be plated by the Royals.

Still the Yankees will take this sort of outing, every time. He threw all his pitches, threw first pitch strikes, was able to ramp up his velocity to high '90s on demand and seemed relaxed and fluid throughout, probably having his best inning in the final frame (6th).

As expected, the Yankee lineup looked anemic against an effective Meche, but DID find a way to break through in the top of the 7th on a clutch RBI 2B by Xavier Nady, an RBI single from Cano to tie and a modest DP ball from Melky that nonetheless plated the go-ahead run.

When Brian Bruney dominated the Royals in the Bottom of the 7th, the Sweep was in the air...

Girardi brought Damaso Marte in for the Bottom of the 8th and he did his job, getting two quick outs, but Joe brought in Jose Veras to face Billy Butler, and Veras - who has electric stuff, but struggled in '08 with back-to-back outings (he pitched yesterday) committed the sin of walking Butler with two outs and Girardi went to Phil Coke to get the last out of the 8th, which, with Mariano lurking could be seen as the Royals last shot.

Coke, who dominated in 12 September innings last year (1 run surrendered) and has casual LH heat in the mid '90s, is a strikeout pitcher who makes hitters miss (19 k's in 17 Yankee innings, 5 in 2.2 IP this season). But he was touched up by the two weakest hitters in the Oriole lineup earlier in the week (Cesar Izturis, Greg Zaun) and against Kansas City, who'd managed only 3 Earned Runs in 25 2/3 Innings against Yankee pitching, Coke managed to surrender 3 Earned Runs to the next three hitters -
Brayan Pena (as 3rd String Catcher, holding his MLB job by a thread and career sub .400 Slugger) hit a 2B to tie the game and score Butler, then Alberto Callaspo (another sub .400 Slugger) followed with a bloop that Gardner broke poorly on to take the lead and John Buck (the 5th of 5 '09 hitters, with sub .400 Career Slugging that hit Phil Coke to drive in runs) adding insurance with another 2B.

Ouch.

Coke's arm is live, no question, and he is not one to give up on after a poor first week, but Pitchers know there is something wrong when the sort of stuff he brings is being handled by a series of hitters who have proven to be weak. Usually, it comes down to location - leaving the ball too far over the plate, but it can also signal that he is tipping his pitches (something Girardi will be expert in recognizing). Yankees have serious depth at AAA and should not hesitate to give Coke a tune-up stretch at Scranton Wilkes/Barre is things don't quickly reverse themselves...this was a 'Win' that turned to a 'Loss' due to Coke's issues and, with 3 coming up in Tampa with the Rays - a win they needed to book. The schedule makers were exceedingly kind to the Yankees, sending them to play two last place clubs in Baltimore and Kansas City and they can't be happy with .500 Baseball against them.

So...it's on to Tampa Bay. 4 Good Starts from the rotation in a row and solid work from the rest of the bullpen, but the lineup is a concern with all that thump on the sidelines healing and the predictable failures of Ransom and Gardner. Melky, like Wilson Betemit, is simply not a player with the sort of makeup or skill set to play off the bench - they are asking him to do something, at 24, that is not going to work out. If they remain committed to Gardner, they need to ship Melky for a lower upside OF who CAN play once a week effectively.

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Matthew at 03:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees - 6 (3-2)
Kansas City Royals - 1 (2-3)

Winning Pitcher: CC Sabathia (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Horacio Ramirez (0-1)

HR: Swisher (2)

After the first hitter of the ballgame, last night in Kaufman Stadium, Guru reflected upon the tendency to 'overweight' Opening Day and, how little the absurdity of high drama that Sports Media attributes to all things 'Yankees' changes with new evidence. With the PREPONDERANCE of evidence.

I found this piece, from May 20, 1999...the writer, Jack Curry (currently recovering from a hit-and-run injury), reacting to the Yankees slow start...somehow overlooked that they'd won 2 of the previous 3 World Series and were coming off a year when they'd gone 125-50...

.After witnessing a listless performance by Hideki Irabu and a lethargic effort by the Yankees against a 23-year-old pitcher who was recalled from Class AAA today, Joe Torre might want to reconsider his decision to return to manage this sputtering team. It would have been easier for him to watch this torturous display on television.'

...Torre, of course, managed to survive his suffering well enough to win the next two World Series, 4 of the next 6 American League Pennants and the next E-I-G-H-T AL East Divisional Titles.

Teams 'sputter' on occasion, that is Baseball. These are Professionals, every one, they get up the next day and, more often than not, they play to their ability - which can be ascertained by a look at what they've done, their health and age (has their been a pattern of decline) and the relative strength of the opponent. You do the same thing at YOUR job after an off-day, or week...

29 year olds don't lose their spots overnight.

Chien-Ming Wang didn't 'pop' like a bubble, a 54-20 mirage...

CC Sabathia proved the theory for him. That first hitter, wicked knee high 95 MPH lasers an inch from the corner of either side of the plate. He's healthy. Yawn.

Because when a guy like CC is feeling good, you need more weapons than the ones the Royals bring to the park. Facing a loaded Oriole lineup with your weak stuff is a smackdown waiting to happen, as CC and Wang BOTH discovered. Kansas City with your nasty on, is a mismatch.

And it was, the third night of great starting pitching, sharp defense, and stellar bullpen work and the fifth night of THUMP. Don't these guys know the AL's Leading Slugger is missing?

Well, they do. After all, poor Cody Ransom, who HAS ability, is wilting in the spotlight...unable to buy a hit, even when he strokes it clean and playing tight in the field, the opposite of what he gives when called on as a utility guy. Each day he chokes on it, then reads about Alex (superhuman) is building small villages with his bare hands, running triathlons and hitting off a tee now that his Rehab has been moved up from 10 weeks to 15 minutes (why is this, exactly?). This is his CHANCE to get noticed by someone and get a J-O-B of his own somewhere, I am rooting for him...

But the Yankees have hardly noticed the gaping hole in the bottom of their lineup, due mostly to the thump they are getting from Jorge Posada (another 3 RBI last night, on 2 booming doubles), Nick Swisher (6 extra base hits, 2HR, NINE RBI, On-Base Pctg. MACHINE...a younger, switch-hitting, versatile defending, healthy Giambi...who Cashman got for a guy who struggled in NY and Robinson Cano, who continued to rake last night.

At least against Horacio Ramirez, the veteran retread who has been a punching-bag his whole career. The Royals always seem to have guys like this around, and then they bring in someone from the bullpen who looks like he should be in 10th grade and the kid throws high '90s gas, dominates routinely and you ask yourself 'Why don't they put this guy in the rotation?'. They finally did so with Zack Greinke, when he got things stabilized, and he looks like a long-time winner, don't be surprised to see Robinson Tejeda (how cool to see two baseball players from a foreign country named 'Robinson', the things we do here get noticed there, everywhere...do good? ! do bad? !!!) make a 'spot-start' one of these weeks. He added 6 dominating Strikeouts against a startled Yankee lineup who had dreams of 'Stats Night' facing Ramirez, giving Tejeda 47 K's, 22 BB' in his 42 KC innings.

Got to be a better option than Horacio Ramirez.

Mark Teixiera missed the game for NY with a sore wrist, not what you hope to hear, but with Swisher hot and needing at-bats, it is covered, for the time-being. We'll see, the imaging says no damage, so it is probably the tendinitis all athletes endure at some point. Caution should prevail with Mark (and Alex, push him back a MONTH, Brian!).

Joba today against Meche, should be fun.

See you afterwards.

Posted by Matthew at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Mattew

New York Yankees 4 (2-2)
Kansas City Royals 1 (2-2)

Winning Pitcher: Andy Pettitte (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Sidney Ponson (0-1)

Everything.

Up to date.

At the newly renovated Kaufman Stadium.

It was always gorgeous and now looks even better, a sparkling palace on the plains.

For New York, this was the sort of crisp, well-pitched victory that put smiles on the faces of all who dream in Pinstripes, as LH Andy Pettitte was in fine form and controlled play from the start - hurling 7 innings of 3 hit ball, 6 K's and only 1 BB. He was charged for the cheapest of runs when the wind took a pop-up out of the reach of a diving Nick Swisher, making his 2nd straight start in RF. Swisher later ripped an RBI 2B to atone, in part, for a transgression that mattered not at all...

At least on this day.

Robinson Cano, continued his torrid hitting, with another two hits, one to LF and one to RF, AND another W-A-L-K, which is only news if you've been following the career of the free-swinging Cano, who took about a month to walk the same 4 times he has in his first 4 games this year. Since being given a wake-up benching for two games last September, Cano is a sizzling 28-56 (.500) and, when he is on a tear like this (as he was during the Yankees 8-0 run after the '08 All-Star game), he's as good a hitter as there is in the game. He also put on another clinic at 2B with a circus grab on a high line drive and several far ranging nabs to his left.

Nice start for him, keep it up, Robby.

Despite getting into a quick hole on Jorge Posada's 2 run 1st inning single, Royal starter (and '08 Yankee) Sir Sidney Ponson, followed up his WBC heroics with a decent start and largely kept his team in the game, striking out the side to keep the score at 4 after a lead-off 2B by Teixeira had Yankee announcer (Met, Blue Jay, Yankee AND Royal legend) David Cone noting he was 'probably' on his last hitter.

Ponson has the stuff to be an effective back-end rotation guy, he needs to throw strikes and avoid the constant tight-rope act, but made a good start on his 2009 endeavors with this respectable effort.

And that's about all I got.

A good game for the Bombers, we'll take about 98 more just like it and then get ready for October!

Posted by Matthew at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

New York Yankees 11 (1-2)
Baltimore Orioles 2 (2-1)

Winning Pitcher: AJ Burnett (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Alfredo Simon (0-1)

HR: Scott (1)
Teixeira (1)
Swisher (1)
Cano (1)

All that Florida baseball, mostly in the sunlight, was kind to the Yankees.

Baltimore had been relatively kind to the sticks, but stalwarts CC Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang failed to menace and left the Bombers ohfer Niner.

That silliness is finished.

Behind textbook power baseball, the Yankees rode AJ Burnett's overwhelming arsenal, 3.1 more innings (8.0 straight) of hitless relief pitching from Monday's disappointers (Phil Coke, Brian Bruney) and homeboy studs, Jose Veras and some guy named Mo to a redemptive 11-2 score.

It's pretty wild to see Burnett in the Bronx.

I remember back in 2003, when the Yankees survived 7 games and extra innings against Boston, in the first of their back to back ALCS drama and rolled into a World Series against the Florida Marlins nobody imagined they could lose. Things went well for awhile, and late in Game 4, the Yankees looked like a 3-1 leader on their way to a title. Then the karma that gaveth with Aaron Boone, lefteth with Alex Gonzalez, who took Jeff Weaver over the wall, as Yankee fans threw up their hands about Weaver being left in a second inning, having worked his ass off to prove to Joe Torre how utterly worthless he was (think MLB version of Trent Dilfer, sure he won a title later, but neither guy was around the next season). At 2-2, the Marlin pitching simply took OVER and shut the Yankees down - cold.

A young staff that featured phenom Dontrelle Willis (anxiety ridden in Detroit), stud Brad Penny (rehabbing with Red Sox), precise Carl Pavano (tatooed in his Tribe debut today after 4 lost years with the Yankees) and an instant Superstar named Josh Beckett (Red Sox Ace).

Guru sat in the Aerie, shaking my head at their pitching depth and variety, and the thing I remember the MOST is the way all the announcers and Marlins themselves kept talking about the guy who was NOT there. Somehow, someway, they insisted this missing guy had an arm that outshone the others, even though the others were shining brilliantly on the biggest stage of all.

That kid ended up getting big dollars to come to the AL East, but still, it seemed like he was always hurt (and it's interesting to note that ALL of those guys have suffered injury after injury and missed critical amounts of time) and I never took him that seriously. Then, last year, all the sudden, it seemed, he shows up looking like the guy they were talking about back in '03 - blowing 98 MPH pellets on the knees and in the eyes, and a darting curve that can't be overstated. The guy's stuff is FILTHY.

Still...despite the way he dominated, he never had the mind of a Beckett or the grit of Penny.

But, apparently, he went to school with Roy Halladay, got a clue about pacing himself instead of forcing it (the difference between Beckett in '06 and '07) and - here he is.

He was terrific today, clutch when he needed it, and he picked up his rotation and his club.

Nice job.

Speaking of which...take a bow, Joe Girardi. He talked of the 'value of competition' all Winter long and openly pushed the on-field position battles in Center and Right Field.

Guru was skeptical.

Then I watched Brett Gardner come into camp a greatly improved Offensive player, and, out of nowhere, won the job with a brilliant .446 On-Base .621 Slugging .379 Average. Gardner's speed is a given that makes him a game changer, if he hits at ALL - he's valuable, hitting like that, when pressed to perform, was impressive. And it wasn't just him, Melky Cabrera, asked to compete for what had been HIS for three seasons, responded with his OWN brilliant Spring .408/.508/.349 and 13 RBI, a third of what he managed in 400+ at-bats last season. In seven weeks, two question marks with one outstanding characteristic (Melky's arm - how good? Nick Markakis has 38 OF assists in the past three years over 463 Games, Melky has 35 in just 408!) became players the team feels great about, Gardner is 25, Melky is 24 - Joe pushed the right buttons and it shows.

Gardner had 2 hits today, and stole a base.

Over in RF, Nick Swisher, displaced by the Mark Teixeira at 1B, and blocked by Johnny Damon in LF and Hideki Matsui at DH, was asked to compete with Xavier Nady for the RF job. Instead of pitching a fit and pointing out that, 'Hello! I was a STAR just two years ago, and I'm a 28 year old Power Hitting, Switch Hitter who can play 3 positions well and one adequately...', he complimented his teammates, loved on the whole Yankee vibe and kept the energy level up. Joe sat Matsui today, moved Nady to DH (he had a ringing 2B) and gave Nick the start in RF.

Swisher responded to the challenge to prove himself with a 2-Run Bomb into the RF seats, an RBI single down the LF line and an RBI 2B down the RF line. 3-5, 5 RBI's, every inch of field, plus over the wall.

That's how you insure more playing time.

Turn it up Nick.

The team has interesting problems with its OF. They have six names - two kids, two vets in their final contract years who are consistent and productive (Damon, Matsui), and two guys in their prime with thump and leather. The veterans make serious coin and aren't going anywhere, the kids have too much upside and are too affordable to ship, but the prime guys are a duplication, and Austin Jackson looms for '2010 as Damon/Matsui leave. Swisher would make a HUGE impact in San Francisco, Nady, who has a .300/30/100 bat works anywhere, and that's why he's moved around so much.

Tough not to be seduced by Swisher's skills...we'll see how they play it. Guru sees both Gardner AND Swisher as NL style players with tremendous upside for the right situation, but 'against type' in the Bronx. That can be a good thing...

Yankees hit the ball all three games, with HR's from Posada, Matsui, Jeter, Teixeira, Swisher and Robinson Cano, who came into camp looking like a lion, came back from the WBC focused and smoking the ball and has opened up the '09 season with 6 hits, 3 WALKS and Softball numbers all around, not to mention the typically and casually brilliant range/arm combination at 2B. Like Burnett, Cano is never going to be mentally aware like a Jeter, Alex or Teixeira, but, also like AJ, his physical gifts are ridiculous, he was 3-4, with a HR, 2 RBI and 4 Runs this afternoon.

As for the Orioles, a successful series, and the satisfaction of seeing their plans start to take shape. Adam Jones looks like a blossoming star, Markakis and Roberts already are, Huff and Mora are reliable veteran contributors, Izturis gives them reliable glove work and smarts at SS, Luke Scott is Nick Swisher by the Bay (but not Swisher's bay, where he belongs...). Matt Weiters is on the way to solidify the Catching for long and long...they have two genuine MLB arms up top with Guthrie and Uehara, and now they wait on their farm system to churn the young, high-draft-pick arms into those top slots and fill up the Pen.

They are closer than they've been for a decade.

And Guru? Done. See you after Game 4.

Posted by Matthew at 01:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Baltimore Orioles 7 (2-0)
New York Yankees 5 (0-2)

Winning Pitcher: Koji Uehara (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Chien-MIng Wang (0-1)

HR: Nick Markakis (1)
Derek Jeter (1)

Guru wrote a column over the Winter, 'The Changing Face of Baseball'.

You see it everywhere you look, on this 35th Anniversary of one of the greatest moments in Baseball History, when Hank Aaron went over the wall for #715 - sending a 10 year old Guru into leaping ecstasy and bringing the racial integration of Baseball full circle.

Tonight at Camden Yards, the Yankees and the Orioles, naturally, had a combined fifty players...

...from N-I-N-E countries (USA, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan, Venezuela, Panama, Cuba, Taiwan and Mexico).

20 Million Japanese watched this game at 8AM, watching their biggest Star, Hideki Matsui, from their biggest franchise, the Yomiuri Giants face off against his former teammate, 34 year old, Koji Uehara, making HIS MLB debut (Uehara was the winning pitcher, Matsui was 0-5).

8 Million Taiwanese watched this game at 8AM as well, watching THEIR biggest Star, Chien-Ming Wang, make his comeback from surgery that broke millions of hearts in Taiwan AND The Bronx (Wang was rusty and took the loss).

Globalization works.

On the field, the Yankees were thrilled to see their erstwhile Ace on the Hill, despite the dreadful results (3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 HR). Wang came into the game with a career mark of 54-20, 25-9 on the road and the Yankees had won 30 of his last 38 starts - they'll live with an occasional clunker, just as long as he takes the ball every five days. If he loses his next start, he 'drops' to .750 for his last 40 - guessing they'll let him take the hill for #41.

For the Orioles, Adam Jones continued his torrid start, showcasing the sorts of skills that may make him a perennial 40/40/Gold Glove threat and Nick Markakis became the 3rd of the top 3 Oriole hitters in the lineup to have a 3-3 start, highlighted by a HR to finish off an empty Wang.

On the Hill, Koji Uehara, a two-time Japanese Pitcher of the Year, whose skills have eroded from those accomplishments, but who hasn't FORGOTTEN a thing about how to get hitters out - especially those who've never seen you before (think 'El Duque' Hernandez). Uehara was efficient and once the lead got huge, was able to relax and reel it in, like the veteran stud he is. The reality of the Orioles is they have MORE than enough lineup, any time a pitcher gets them into the 6th inning, they have a chance.

For the Yankees, Derek Jeter hit a long HR in the 9th, and has taken to the leadoff role with a .600 On-Base pctg and 5 hits in his first two games. Posada looks strong and is throwing the ball with authority. Robinson Cano looks locked in at bat and made several sparkling plays at 2B, but he also failed to run hard on a ground ball to Melvin Mora at 3B that he anticipated would be the third out, only to have Mora overthrow it and Cano not score.

In a blowout, those things get lost - unless you pay attention, Guru does - so does Joe Girardi.

Not running out an automatic ground-ball out is no great sin, but running when you have a chance to SCORE is something that needs to be ingrained and, if it isn't, needs to be coached. In a game that ended with Mark Teixeira on 2nd and Hideki Matsui at-bat, that run would have changed the at-bat for Matsui - when a single would have tied it, instead of him needing a HR.

Game 2, for sure, but a lesson that Joe will surely communicate.

Yankee bullpen was terrific, with Jonathan Albaledejo, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras combined for 4.1 IP scoreless, a silver lining on a tough night for the pinstripes.

Tomorrow, Yankees send AJ Burnett to the hill, looking to avoid the O-Sweep, game starts at 1:05PM and we'll see you back here afterwards, with the recap.

Posted by Matthew at 03:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Baltimore Orioles 10 (1-0)
New York Yankees 5 (0-1)

WP: Jeremy Guthrie (1-0)
LP: CC Sabathia (0-1)

HR: Posada (1)
Matsui (1)
Izturis (1)

Thud!

That's the sound of a team that swaggered into Baltimore's Camden Yards, off a 24-10-1 Spring Training, having won the final 10 games, enjoyed a two-game power display in a preview for their 1.5B new Palace, hit .295 in Spring, with a 3.35 ERA...

Thud!

That's the sound of 6'7", 310lb, Lefty, newly signed to lead the rotation of the New York Yankees in a rich, long-term contract, casually dominant just five days ago, 5-0, sub 3.00 era lifetime against the Orioles...

Thud!

That's the sound of a 33 year old, career minor-leaguer, a terrific athlete, defender and seemingly unflappable type asked only to replace the Sports Biggest Star on the Sports Biggest Franchise...

Thud!

That's the sound of Switch-Hitting Superstar, born and raised in Maryland and lustily booed by the local crowd...

That was the sound emanating from Camden Yards, where the feisty locals, seemingly relegated to the role of Washington Generals, took advantage of some 'Welcome-to-the-Yankees' jitters from the above referenced players and stormed to a big lead, endured a Yankee comeback and then, improbably...got the big outs with tying run on 3rd Base and only 1 out, then pushed across a clinching 4-spot with the unlikeliest of candidates playing a leading role.

It was that kind of day.

Bummer.

CC Sabathia was flat-out TERRIBLE, worse really than you might imagine he COULD be. He was in trouble from the start, gave up 6 hits in 6 at-bats to Oriole leadoff man, Brian Roberts and his talented follow-up, Adam Jones...walked FIVE and struck out ZERO, with two first inning wild pitches to boot.

His ball had nothing on it and he couldn't throw a strike.

He held a heating pad against his stomach/chest from the 3rd Inning on and Joe Girardi needlessly stayed with him despite the evidence that he had nothing and might be hurting...

It was that kind of day.

A reminder about what one can find on Paper and its value when they hit the field.

Nada! At least on this day.

Cody Ransom misplayed one ground ball from an out into a deflection that scored a run, then muffed a double-play grounder when CC was on the ropes, leading to two more runs. He managed to avoid being charged for any 'errors' (hometown scoring providing O-RBI). He was lost at the plate as well, with an 0-3 against the modest Oriole staff.

Mark Teixiera was worse, booed at every turn by the oddly partisan Oriole crowd (Yankee fans usually make up at least 1/3 of Baltimore crowds, but the O's bundled the opening day tickets with other, non-Yankee games, insuring they'd be purchased by the hardest core Oriole fans and block out those annoying, condescending Yankee fans).

People like Guru.

Even with CC's non-performance and all the disappointment provided by Ransom and Tex in their debuts in Pinstripes, the Yankees came back from 6-1, with a 420 foot BOMB by Jorge Posada (who threw the ball well and looked remarkably like the All-Star stud who used to be Jorge Posada), a nice way to come back from surgery and another one, a 2 run shot from fellow surgical recovery patient, Hideki Matsui, who, ALSO, looks like...himself. Those reassurances from the old guard would have to be the solace for the flopping newbies.

At 6-5, the numbers were all in the Yankees favor once again as Pinch Hitter Nick Swisher smashed a pinch-hit 2B to LF (hitting LH) and was sacrificed over by Brett Gardner (a nice debut, with a line drive single, two good bunts and an accurate throw to double off Melvin Mora at home). Pinch Runner (and MLB debuting new kid in town), Ramiro Pena. 1 out, tying run on 3rd, due up...Jeter...Damon...Teixeira.

To face - Jim Johnson, seemingly the ideal patsy to allow the appropriate script to play out.

But Johnson induced Jeter (who had 3 hits) to ground into a drawn-in SS for out #2, then walked Damon after a tough at-bat, bringing Teixeira in, 1st and 3rd, 2 out...

Tex weakly ground to 2nd, score remained 6-5, Orioles.

A closer look at Johnson shows a reliever who pitched to a 2.23 ERA in 2008, surrendering only 54 hits in 68.2 Innings - who knew the Orioles were actually attempting to W-I-N?

Didn't we have issues with this LAST year? And what gives with the crowd getting on Teixiera, when they've heard he grew up a Don Mattingly fan - why would someone think THEIR dreams would be HIS?

Small-town stuff, for sure, but Baltimore is certainly no small-town.

The bottom of the inning saw another surprise, LH Phil Coke, who was cruising along, began the bottom of the 8th with a wicked K of Luke Scott and got set to face possibly the two weakest-hitting regulars in the AL East - Geoff Zaun, entering his 16th MLB season with a .386 slugging percentage and facing a 95 MPH LH reliever who'd surrendered ONE run in MLB SMOKED a massive 2B to CF and Guru thought...

Huh?

Then, Cesar Izturis, entering HIS 10th MLB season with an even more pathetic .332 slugging percentage and coming off a 414 at-bat season with O-N-E HR and facing Coke, who had never surrendered a MLB HR...hit a long arching fly-ball that Johnny Damon tracked to the wall and LEAPED...

And then, from the dreary confines of Camden Yards, the Orioles, perhaps the least 'sexy' franchise in the American League...a team of plodders and grinders and kids whose gifts will be wasted, a team that has been on an endless downward spiral since Game 1 of their 1996 Playoff series against the unheralded Yankees and their rookie SS, who hit an arching fly ball that wasn't QUITE going to make it over the wall that would be helped by the Sainted Jeffrey Maier, providing the little push that led to Derek Jeter, folk hero with 4 rings...got a little revenge!

As Damon leaped...his glove tracked true and it looked like a catch, but NO!!! A woman in the stands grabbed for the ball, moving his glove aside and then other hands pushed the ball itself those final 10 or so inches it needed to make it into the stands.

Izturis had his '09 HR already! Coke had doubled his runs against from '08 in an instant and surrendered his 1st HR (as long as that's the ONLY one you ever surrender, kid!) and the Yankees were effectively DONE.

Set-up man, Brian Bruney, came in and pitched like a high school kid all hopped up on nerves, throwing pitches to the backstop and walking 2 of the 3 hitters he faced before a disgusted Girardi came out and, mercifully took him out.

And that's that, Yankees smoked on opening day, script rewritten by the angry locals, who've apparently grown tired of losing (11 straight years) tired of the Yankee fans overrunning their park, tired of being considered after-thoughts in the division, tired of Millions of New Yorkers assuming they would happily consent to being stooges for our glory.

Why any of that would tire someone out is something a New Yorker like Guru could never understand, but on this opening day, that's the way it played out...the Mouse jumped up and bit the Elephant and the Orioles are now undefeated!

Posted by Matthew at 01:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Friday, we looked at the 16 National League Teams, today, its time to rank the 14 AL Clubs, using the same method of separating the 'Contenders' and 'Pretenders' and listing them in descending order from 14-1.

The American League divisions are in three very different conditions, with the Western Division dominated in recent years by an Angels team that features brilliant Manager Mike Scioscia, a deep pitching staff, a power-laden Free Agent Outfield and a young, potentially dynamic homegrown Infield. The Angels have had a series of injury questions with a broad swath of their starting rotation (Kelvim Escobar, Ervin Santana, John Lackey) but they've managed to plug holes with minor league depth and cruised through Spring Training at a cool 25-8, Spring certainly is no barometer, but poor teams can't play .750 Baseball for a month under ANY circumstances. The injuries might make it interesting for half a season, but Guru likes the Angels to pull away comfortably and be the only Western representative in the playoffs.

Conversely, the AL Central is a 'cluster-fuck' scenario, where the Detroit Tigers have gone from pre-season favorites in 2008 to last place finish and now appear to be transitioning their roster, on the fly, to try and get younger and more flexible (Gary Sheffield was cut and added to our NL #1, the Mets, after I filed the NL Preview - the VERY reason that I publish the previews at the LAST possible moment!). The Tigers are a mystery...the Twins were a young team that Guru liked to surprise last season and they DID so, narrowly missing the postseason, but they are dealing with a scary injury to their key player (Joe Mauer) that not only threatens the Twins '09 fortunes, it might threaten his brilliant young career (lets ALL hope not, he is special). The White Sox have reshaped their roster and can follow up their '08 Divisional Title in any of the 5 slots. The Indians have picked up a couple of nice pieces (Kerry Wood, Mark De Rosa, Carl Pavano) and have the dynamic Grady Sizemore and slugger, Victor Martinez around some interesting role players. The question for Cleveland will be Cliff Lee and his ability to emulate his '08 Cy Young form and NOT his '07 lost year. The Royals have pieces but no puzzle, they are the only club listed who cannot win this division.

Then you have the AL East, the marquee division in MLB, with the rival Yankees and Red Sox, joined by the '08 AL Champion Rays and rebuilding programs filled with exciting kids in Toronto and Baltimore. Guru will be covering all 162 Yankee games in-depth and will break down the Eastern contenders more completely on Weds., sandwiched between Game 1 and Game 2 of the Yankee season.

The Divisional breakdown is a bit of a crapshoot, too many variables, too much competition, too many stylistic differences that will each gain their own share of believers. The list breaks down those who CAN win and those who CAN NOT, at least in Guru's view and the Divisional Dart Board can be found at the bottom of the summaries.

2009 American League

Pretenders

#14.) Seattle Mariners
#13.) Kansas City Royals
#12.) Baltimore Orioles
#11.) Toronto Blue Jays
#10.) Detroit Tigers
#9.) Oakland A's

Contenders

#8.) Texas Rangers
#7.) Minnesota Twins
#6.) Cleveland Indians
#5.) Boston Red Sox
#4.) Tampa Bay Rays
#3.) Chicago White Sox
#2.) Los Angeles Angels
#1.) New York Yankees

Summaries

#14.) Seattle Mariners

It's a credit to the state of the American League that even those teams listed here as being 'Pretenders' feature LOTS of talented ballplayers. Seattle certainly qualifies, 3B Adrian Beltre is an excellent glove man and has serious power, 2B Jose Lopez is as productive as ANY AL 2B although you'd never know it (he needs a better publicist!) and C Kenji Johjima can be forgiven a horrible '08, he's proven MLB from his previous two seasons and was brilliant in the WBC and Spring Training. When healthy, LH Erik Bedard and RH Felix Hernandez are as talented a 1,2 as any.

Then things get muddled. Superstar CF Ichiro Suzuki has a bleeding ulcer, which Guru has dealt with and there is simply no way he will be back at anything like Ichiro-like shape anytime soon, a devastating blow for a club trying to scratch its way back up the ladder. Brandon Morrow, is a power arm who can be an effective weapon in the late innings, but it remains to be seen how many leads he will have a chance to close out.

#13.) Kansas City Royals

To the heartland we go, where smart young Manager Trey Hillman will try and mold his young crew to a Central Division surprise, and with all the turmoil elsewhere, it isn't an impossible scenario.

But it sure as hell is a tough one to make a case for.

The problem isn't that the Royals haven't built a nice team, this Royal squad is light-years ahead of recent versions. But there still doesn't appear to be enough talent to move them up. SS Mike Aviles (from the Bronx!) had a brilliant debut season and supplanted terrific defender, Tony Pena, Jr. (his dad works in the Bronx!). He will be needed. 3B Alex Gordon is a stud, but still probably would be a minor leaguer in another franchise, ONE of these years, he will blossom to be a top 3B, but 2009? DH Billy Butler is a decent young hitter, but has no usable glove or noticeable power. 2B? Mark Teahen, is one of the Royals who HAS grown into his MLB bat and should be ready to rake is the experiment that has moved his glove from 3B to 1B to RF finally ends at 2B, he will certainly be, at A-Rod size, the 2B opposing runners will least wish to run into at the bag. The rest of the team is OK, LF David De Jesus (another NYC kid) is a solid two-way player, CF Coco Crisp is as well, and should thrive away from Boston, which he was poorly suited for from the outset and RF Jose Guillen has a gun in the OF and a solid run-producers bat. C Miguel Olivo and backup John Buck are both backups, to be honest. Free Agent 1B, Mike Jacobs, is a power hitter they desperately needed and will help Guillen see more strikes.

The staff is OK as well, RH Gil Meche was a good Ace last season, RH Zack Greinke has a BIG arm and got starting experience, Davies, Ponson and Ramirez are just warm bodies. Closer Joakim Soria is the best player on this team, a mini-Mo who can be any kind and will be heavily sought by contenders, which may end up being a ticket for more talent for the Royals.

#12.) Baltimore Orioles

Let's put it out there, Guru dislikes this team, its owner Peter Angelos, who is the Anti-Steinbrenner, asking his team to make do on a minor-leaguers facility in Spring Training and its Manager, who had the guts to say as much, without the intellect to understand that HE is part of the 'cheapo' approach.

It's called 'Irony', Dave.

Angelos spent freely for a decade or so and had nothing to show for it, so he is now trying to catch lightning in the bottle. Oriole fans would be better off DRINKING the bottle than waiting.

Now, all that gloom and doom should not diminish the fact that the Orioles have some SERIOUS talent. 2B Brian Roberts was on his way to being one of the best middle-infielders in the game when he suffered a brutal injury, but has come back (sans some power) to be amongst the annual AL leaders in both extra base hits AND stolen bases, he was WISELY extended by the O's. RF Nick Markakis is an All-Star caliber player, he has a gun for an arm and a productive powerful bat, these two are the core on the Eastern Shore. CF Adam Jones seems poised to join them this season, he is a 5-tool STUD with brilliant Defensive skills, a big arm, speed and power...he only needs more consistent contact to be a star. LF'ers Luke Scott (Power) and Ryan Freel (speed) make a versatile duo and are joined by highly touted (but yet to produce) Felix Pie, who will be given every chance to join Jones and Markakis in what could become one of the best OF's in the game. The corners feature two slugging veterans coming off big seasons, in 3B Melvin Mora and 1b Aubrey Huff.

Lots of good there, so what gives with the negative? The Orioles #1 Starter is a #3, and he is the ONLY starter who could make any of the other staffs in the division.

Ouch.

The pen is ordinary, the Catchers are career backups, holding place for Phenom, Matt Weiters. When Weiters is up, the O's will thump and be the opposite to the pitching rich/weak hitting SF Giants, but in the AL East, that will not be NEARLY enough.

#11.) Toronto Blue Jays

Bad Karma?

No team in MLB has consistently been derailed by poor health than the Blue Jays. Stud CF, Vernon Wells was signed for 7 years, broke down and has been a shell of himself. Stud Closer, BJ Ryan was signed, blew out his arm, Stud starter AJ Burnett was signed, got hurt, healed, turned into what they thought they had and said 'C-Ya' for the Yankees, stud starters Dustin McGowan and Shawn Marcum looked good enough to make up for his loss, but both are now recovering from surgery and gone for 2009. They signed Scott Rolen to make up for frequently (and again) hurt Troy Glaus and found his body broken down...Rolen rocked in Spring, so he may be feeling better. 1B Lyle Overbay, 2B Aaron Hill (all together now - 'returning from injury...') is terrific, as is fellow 2B/OF prospect Joe Inglett and kid LF Travis Snyder and DH Adam Lind. RF Alex Rios LOOKS like a superstar and has the tools, he wasn't that in '08 and the Jays NEED that. If all that talent gels under 2 time World Series winning Jay Manager Cito Gaston, the Jays will rake and their deep bullpen will hold leads.

But...behind Superstar RH Roy Halladay, the rotation is just not up to the divisions standards and they, literally, have nowhere to go but 4th place.

#10.) Oakland As

The A's have made some serious and important strides and their Offensive performance will be GREATLY improved. That is the good news. But the reality is their '08 lineup was Triple-A, they have nice free agent signings with stud LF Matt Holliday, vacationing by the Bay on his way to a big contract somewhere else, like Reggie Jackson with the '76 Orioles ( those of you who remember, Reggie won 3 World Series in Oakland, went to Baltimore for a year, produced, then signed with the Yankees for 2 more championships and 3 more World Series, before taking the retirement years in LA with the Angels). 1B Jason Giambi didn't win in HIS time in NYC, but he produced and handled himself well despite the steroid drama, he's a good guy (Guru favorite) and has serious thump. SS Orlando Cabrera is another serious PRO who will solidify the Oakland Infield and lineup and if 3B Eric Chavez is remotely healthy (H-U-G-E 'if') then the likes of DH Jack Cust will benefit from the rest of the talented lineup and the A's will contend to August.

As for the rotation? Guru has no opinions, they are all too young and have too small a track record for me to make sense of. Sorry, I try to be comprehensive, but I don't cover the minors for all the teams and I don't measure single season performances as definitive. Suffice it to say, these are some talented kids who lack experience and would have to FREAK to make September meaningful on the East Bay.

#9.) Detroit Tigers

Last year's darlings have proven the difference between 'Fantasy' and reality is R-E-A-L.

In fantasy, brilliant youngsters like LH Dontrelle Willis win 20 games, and don't end up on the DL with 'Anxiety Disorders' (taking 100,000 suffering MO-types with him), brilliant power pitchers like Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman don't turn into batting practice dummies overnight and former SS like Carlos Guillen don't lose their defensive skills so completely that the team needs to make an emergency cut and eat 14M of Gary Sheffield to accomodate the reality AND HOF hitter in his mid 20's like STUD Miguel Cabrera doesn't eat himself from being a MLB 3B to being a DH in waiting.

All that said, Verlander has one of the best arms in the game, Carbrera, Guillen, CF Curtis Granderson and RF Magglio Ordonez are four superior offensive talents. 2B Placido Polanco, 3B Brandon Inge and LF Marcus Thames can all thump as well. C Gerald Laird just waits to die or be replaced and SS Adam Everett is under strict orders to take 3 strikes before taking his Gold Glove back out to the field.

The rotation behind Verlander CAN work, it just hasn't yet. RH Edwin Jackson has a BIG arm and figured things out in '08, he is a nice pickup, Armando Gallaraga is a legit arm, the others? The symbol says it well. The pen? The symbol works there as well.

Contenders

#8.) Texas Rangers

Boom! That's the sound of CF Josh Hamilton, RF Nelson Cruz, 2B Ian Kinsler, 1B Chris Davis, 3B Michael Young...the Rangers are what they always seem to be, an Offensive juggernaut. And we've yet to mention DH Hank Blaylock or young thumping C Jarrod Saltamacchia and Taylor Teagarden. Throw in all-time Glove man, SS Omar Vizquel and hot rookie, SS Elvis Andrus, backup OF Marlon Byrd and lost-boy OF Andruw Jones, who used to be on his way to the Hall of Fame with his all world, 10-time Gold Glove and 50 HR power before he...P-O-O-F...disappeared. The Rangers are an elite AL team in terms of its position players.

But Guru, how can you rank them 8th?

Pitching.

Same as ever was. (Obligatory 'Talking Heads' reference...).

#4 Brandon McCarthy has a live arm and might turn into something. The rest of them?

Suck.

Lots of runs, but not enough to make the playoffs with this staff.

#7.) Minnesota Twins

Guru was an early prophet on the Twins talent in '08.

And they still have a young, improving LF Delmon Young, CF Carlos Gomez, 2B Alexei Casilla, OF Denard Span and young veteran studs RF Michael Cuddyer (who won the RF job from Span) and 1B Justin Morneau (one MVP). But their BEST player, C Joe Mauer (should have TWO MVP's as a catcher whose won two batting titles...) has that serious injury and leaves a GAPING hole on this team.

Free Agent signee, 3B Joe Crede is a two-way stud if HE can stay healthy, the rest are just 'guys' (IF Brendan Harris, SS Nick Punto and C Mike Redmond).

The closer is top tier (Joe Nathan) and the rotation is young and versatile, enough to make it ZERO surprise if the Twins win the Central...but Mauer out makes me believe they will slip a notch.

Twins fans take heart, I am certainly the LAST guy to buy-in to the Minnesota vibe, Guru don't do baggies (that don't have green buds inside) or the whole all-for-one small market vibe, so my bias may have downgraded a good team. If you find Guru in the Upper Midwest, he's running from the SEC!

#6.) Cleveland Indians

I think about the East/Central as being about brother acts. The Twins and Rays are similar, the Red Sox and Indians are also and the White Sox and Yankees have a mutual admiration society and big city vibe.

The Indians are tough for a guy like Guru to root for, with Manager Eric Wedge, pro wrestling fanatic, DH Travis Hafner and small market minds like 1B Ryan Garko...

But there is no mistaking, this is a good baseball team, and the Buckeye Babe loves them, so I have a soft spot for them!

All-World CF, Grady Sizemore has shown far more power than thought possible and is a lineup anchor, SS Johnny Peralta is a slugger with no range, RF Sin-Soo Choo is terrific, LF Ben Francisco looks good, 3B Mark De Rosa is a top-tier all around player and C/DH Victor Martinez is as good a slugger as the AL has to go with rehabbing DH Travis Hafner, Garko and C Kelly Shoppach.

The Tribe can mash.

And...they can pitch, Cy Young miracle man, LF Cliff Lee is unlikely to be NINETEEN games above .500 but obviously, should be a solid starter and so should RH Fausto Carmona (a 19 game winner in '07) and finally healthy, RH Carl Pavano. After that, it gets sketchy but the bullpen is nice with set-up studs Perez and Betancourt around to hold leads and Closer Kerry Wood around to close them.

The Tribe could easily win the division and compete for the Wildcard.

#5.) Boston Red Sox

Peter Gammons likes the Sox to win the East.

Stop the presses!

The Sox have gone for a GM's delight, with a bunch of lower risk/high reward signings that COULD pay off (OF Rocco Baldelli, RH John Smoltz, RH Brad Penny) joining rehabbing homeboys DH David Ortiz, RH Josh Beckett. If ALL of them are healthy enough to play at their established high levels, the Red Sox are a playoff team.

But...Beckett has a mid 4 ERA in his Boston career and is a tough call to make 30+ starts, Penny is a stud, but missed most of '08, Smoltz is a Hall of Famer as a starter OR a reliever, but he'll be 42 in May and missed all but a slice of '08, Papi has lost his close friend and mentor in Manny and, more importantly, lost the 'fear factor' that Manny brought. His knees and his wrist are both concerns and, if he reestablishes his dominant stroke, he becomes a latter day Bonds, as the rest of the lineup doesn't intimidate. Homegrown stars 1B Kevin Youkilis and 2B Dustin Pedroia are solid MLB types, but their games are complimentary, they are both overrated as PLAYERS. Ditto LF Jason Bay and RF JD Drew, border line All-Stars, for sure. C Jason Varitek is a defensive stud and a switch hitter who can NOT be as bad as '08, look for a bounce back from him. CF Jacoby Ellsbury is slap hitter with speed and little arm, another complimentary type. Ditto SS Jed Lowrie.

On the mound...Beckett when healthy is as good as there is, Matsusaka is a terrific starter, but those pitch counts worry (as they do with Kazmir), LH Jon Lester is a star, RH Knuckle Baller Tim Wakefield continues to baffle AL hitters and is a solid #4, Penny, Smoltz or young Clay Bucholz make an impressive array of back end possiblilities.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon has all-world stuff, but needlessly antagonizes his opponents and the set-up staff is rock solid, with former closer Takashi Saito joining Manny Del Carmen and Hideki Okajima.

The Red Sox will hit it, they will pitch it, they will catch it and they will strut around in their role as the saviors of White-Boy culture. Whether that will overcome the clubs in Florida and NYC is a guess.

In the mix, take you picks.

#4.) Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays looked younger and better than the Red Sox last season and the Sox are even older now.

Advantage Rays.

They lack the same thunder in their rotation, but LH Scott Kazmir is a legit Ace, although he throws too many pitches to go deep enough into starts, RH James Shields is a nice starter as is RH Matt Garza and soon-to-be-in-the-rotation LH David Price, they all are young and healthy. The last spot is unknown as of this writing, the Rays made a trade today and we'll see how they fill it (Andy Sonnanstine?).

Closer in waiting, Grant Balfour is a dominant force in the pen, not an if but WHEN he replaces Troy Percival.

On the field, the Rays have 4 studs (LF Carl Crawford, 3B Evan Longoria, 1B Carlos Pena, CF BJ Upton) and are joined by role players (C Dioner Navarro, 2B Akinori Iwamura, RF Matt Joyce (acquired from Detroit for Edwin Jackson in a head scratcher, but has thump) and RF Gabe Gross. They get no Offense from Defensive SS Jason Bartlett, but outside of Derek Jeter, none of the other AL East clubs do either.

The Rays showed in the playoffs what they can be when Upton and Longoria join Pena in Power, they are young and it will come again in '09. They struggled with the Yankees head to head (8-11) and must find a way to beat a bolstered NY and an always tough Red Sox for a playoff spot. Two of the three make it, choose amongst them.

#3.) Chicago White Sox

Mgr. Ozzie Guillen and GM Ken Williams are Guru's sort of guy, so my bias shows through here...I am ROOTING for the White Sox to repeat in a jumbled Central.

That said, I am not sure they have enough.

They have thump. LF Carlos Quentin supposedly put up MVP numbers, although Alex Rodriguez had identical ones while playing 3B and having only 3 more errors than Quentin had playing 100 feet deeper, but that doesn't make Quentin bad, only points out the distortion. He is young and a stud, he will mash, as will RF Jermaine Dye, 1B Paul Konerko, SS Alexei Ramirez, DH Jim Thome.

The Chisox have experiments at 3B (Josh Fields, Dayan Viciedo, Wilson Betemit), 2B (Getz, Lillibridge) and CF (Wise, Anderson). C AJ Pierzinski is solid both ways.

On the hill, the White Sox have a solid top 4, with Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Gavin and Jose Contreras and Closer, Bobby Jenks adds to the solid staff. How the rest of the bullpen, the #5 slot and those position battles play out will determine how the Central breaks down. Any of the four could be the one, I've chosen Chicago, but I am biased.

#2.) Los Angeles Angels

No bias here. I despise the Angels. No team has given Guru's Yankees the fits the Angels do.

None.

The Angels have had nightmarish problems with their rotation health, and, if they were in the East, that might be enough to cost them a playoff slot. But they are not, and, in the West, they simply have too much for their rivals.

This is a team with a perfect blend of Free Agent studs (LF Bobby Abreu, RF Vladimir Guerrero, CF Torii Hunter) and homegrown talent 2B Howie Kendrick, 3B Chone Figgins, C Mike Napoli/Mike Mathis and Cuban star, 1B Kendry Morales and SS Erick Aybar looks to be on the verge of stardom.

DH (4th OF) Juan Rivera does everything well and they have more reinforcements at AAA.

On the hill, they will need to deal the rehabbing Kelvim Escobar and injured John Lackey/Ervin Santana, but they have the arms (Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders) and the depth (Moseley, Adenhart, Loux) to hold the fort and allow what should be the best Angel offense ever to slug their way into the West lead until the top-tier staff seals the deal.

No 100 wins this time, but another comfortable Western division, before losing to an Eastern team in the playoffs is the call here.

#1.) New York Yankees

The difference in the Yankees from the Torre years of this decade is the Minor Leagues.

While the Yankees CONTINUE to suffer inexplicable injuries to critical players (nobody more critical than Alex Rodriguez) the dominant programs they have at AAA (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and AA (Trenton) provide the team with layers of depth they didn't have for Torre.

As close as it figures to be between the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees in the AL East, there are no teams who will stay close with EITHER of the Yankees minor league juggernauts (Triple A Scranton will field a better starting five than many MLB teams...). The MLB Red Sox will stay with their NYC counterparts, but the Pawtucket Paw Sox cannot hope to stay close to Scranton, nor can the AA Portland Sea Dogs, the talent runs DEEP for this Yankee organization. That is why, whatever happens in '09, the Yankees will be stronger in '10.

Stronger than 1st?

Yup.

As it is, the lineup is filled with question marks. CF Brett Gardner is Juan Pierre/Joey Gathright, a freakishly fast ATHLETE who plays baseball. His speed in undeniable and he will steal as many bases as he can as long as his bat allows. His bat is pure slapdash, and, like those others, it says here he will eventually surrender the CF slot to a proven Melky Cabrera, whose Defense, switch hitting, thump and BIG arm make him a more versatile option. Both are keeping the spot warm for phenom, Austin Jackson, who looks like the CF for the next decade with 5 tools, awesome power and arm and the endorsement of Reggie Jackson who paid him the ultimate compliment by comparing his Defensive ability to Devon White, of the Blue Jays and Angels, back in the day.

Surrounding the CF kid are LF Johnny Damon who had 29 Stolen Bases to go with .303 Avg/.375 On-Base Percentage/ .461 Slugging in '08 and will thrive in the #2 hole. Damon can still run down any ball in the OF, but his pathetic arm makes him a defensive liability just as his bat and tireless Yankee-ness make him a plus. His last year in NYC and all systems 'go', he is backed up by Switch-Hitting thumper with a big arm, Nick Swisher, who will back up LF, RF and 1B and play some DH while waiting for the new mix in '10 - they like Nick and he will probably outlast the rest of the corner types and compete with Melky and Gardner for AB's when Jackson moves into CF for good. RF Xavier Nady is coming off .300 with 25/97, plays a nice OF and throws well, he is solid. DH Hideki Matsui has had both knees done and is through as an every day OF, but is still a 100 RBI guy with a versatile bat (was leading AL in hitting at .323 when injured last June) he showed typical power in Spring.

The Infield is an assemblage of stars, with perennial SS Derek Jeter moving his .300 bat and top-five RISP into the leadoff slot. Jeter should be up 10-20 points in '09 and also bring his stolen bases back into 25-35 territory, leading off. 2B Robinson Cano has led the AL handily in total chances the past two seasons and has the range and arm you dream of, while possessing one of the games purer strokes, his 'down year' in '08 consisted of .151 in April and .297 from May to September, he's .300 plus with 20 HR/100 RBI in '09. Alex is Alex, but he is hurt and will be replaced by 3B Cody Ransom for the first few weeks of the season, Ransom is fast and has power and can play the position, but he is not Alex - nobody is. 1B Mark Teixeira is a switch-hitting power guy who hits .300 and carries a gold-glove.

Ramiro Pena, a sleek fielding, emerging hitter from AAA will man the Utility role until Alex returns (when Ransom will be in that slot). Pena beat out Angel Berroa, who mashed all Spring but looked slow in the field. Catcher Jose Molina led MLB in throwing out baserunners in '0, but is a poor hitter and the Yankees suffered without C Jorge Posada, Posada was mashing in Spring and threw out 50% Stealers, if he is healthy - the Yankees are set offensively, with or without Alex. If Jorge is hurt and Alex takes a long time to return, the last three in the lineup (Molina, Ransom, Gardner) will not scare anyone, placing more pressure on the first six and the pitching.

On the hill, the Yankees have no holes, and go three levels deep. Unlike '08, no injury to an arm can derail them. Rotation of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain is the best in the 39 years Guru has watched the team. The bullpen of LH Damaso Marte, LH Phil Coke, RH Jonathan Albaladejo, RH Jose Veras, RH Edwin Ramirez, RH Brian Bruney and RH Mariano Rivera is the best I've seen them have and, like the starters, is backed up by volume of talent in the minors.

The Yankees will pitch and they will catch. Their offense gave up a lot in Giambi/Abreu (combined 52HR/196 RBI with high OBP%) and losing Alex for any length of time is not helpful, the team will go as far as its Offense can take them - if they hit, they will win it all.

Posted by Matthew at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Baseball has changed.

The dynamism of Free Agency and an unprecedented pool of international talent has resulted in variables that didn't exist 15 years ago. The talent is so deep, impact players can develop from unforseen quarters and we've seen it in season after season. Accordingly, the traditional 'Preview' column is likely to be an exercise in the absurd, or at least - an early irrelevance.

SO, its a challenge to place the teams in perspective, given that many of the 'key' components are likely to develop over the course of the season and can't be identified with any certainty here on this final day of March...a problem that I have chosen to address by minimizing the placements of the divisions (which you can find at the bottom of the column) and instead focus on the larger, NL-specific landscape, seeking to sort out those teams who are CONTENDERS and those who are, unlikely to contend - PRETENDERS.

Pretenders are likely to be the places new talent will develop first, but lack the existing structure to impact on the playoff chase in 2009. Contenders are based on what they have visible, and can additionally shift up or down through the addition of an unknown quantity, either through a trade of call-up from the Minor Leagues. All we can look at now is where they ARE, we'll all have to follow the season closely to determine where they'll FINISH.

And that, is that.

From the bottom to the top, your 2009 National League Preview...

First, the List.

Pretenders

16. Padres
15. Astros
14. Pirates
13. Braves
12. Nationals
11. DiamondBacks
10. Rockies
9. Marlins

Contenders

8. Cardinals
7. Giants
6. Brewers
5. Phillies
4. Reds
3. Cubs
2. Dodgers
1. Mets

And now a team by team capsule with the reasons why...

16.) San Diego Padres

The early candidate for 'Worst Team in Baseball', the Padres feature one of the best young Starting pitchers in MLB (Jake Peavy) and one of the best young sluggers (Adrian Gonzalez).

After that. Not much. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff is young enough and has shown some power (he had a HUGE Spring) and LF Chase Headly, looks to have some game....but that is about all there is to discuss with the Padres. They've made a mysterious signing of David Eckstein to play 2B, a position where they have an able incumbent (Edgar Gonzalez) and a minor league successor-in-waiting (Matt Antonelli) and have let go of talented SS Khalil Greene and left SS in the hands of Luis Rodriguez, who will turn 29 never having played 80 MLB games in a season or slugged higher than .383 - utility man numbers.

They will struggle to score runs and, after Peavy, there just doesn't appear to be NEARLY enough starting pitching to prevent a last place finish in the West and perhaps, the entire league.

The GOOD news? Manager Bud Black is a seriously smart baseball mind, who masterfully managed Angel pitching for years and knows talent. The ownership muddle has cleared with former agent/Diamondbacks executive, Jeff Moorad, taking the helm. All of which means the Padres should be able to build off the weak 2009 season with intelligent drafting and internal development.

That will be then. This is now. The Padres belong in the rear spot.

#15.) Houston Astros

The Astros are much better than San Diego.

But who else are they better than?

Like SD, they feature a Stud Starter (Roy Oswalt) and thumper 1B (Lance Berkman) and they have serious thump to go along with them in SS Miguel Tejada and LF Carlos Lee. They have a solid closer in Jose Valverde, insuring that games they have a chance to win can be converted.

But it's pretty bare after that. AND recent reports of a serious problem with Berkman's bicep injury that is likely to cost him early-season time is a gut shot for this team, that depends upon their star as much as any team in Baseball. The pitching is poor behind Oswalt, the lineup away from the middle-thumpers, is modest and the thumpers are Defensive liabilities.

Guru pegs Houston for the bottom of the Central division scramble.

#14.) Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are better than the Astros.

Catcher Ryan Doumit and CF, Nate McClouth are exciting young players with serious upside. 2B Freddy Sanchez is a former Batting Champion who had horrific health problems in 2008 and is healthy, the LaRoche brothers man the corners, with Adam at 1B and Andy at 3B, both are capable - Adam has established 25 HR power and Andy is young enough to see the talent he flashed in the Dodger minor-leagues develop in a lower-pressure atmosphere with a full season of at-bats. SS Jack Wilson is slick fielder and capable MLB hitter, who forms a dynamic double-play duo with Sanchez. Prospect Andrew McCutcheon looks ready to be the fulltime LF and Jose Tabata may follow him into the RF job by the end of 2009, the cast of veteran OF at the corners is uninspiring with Eric Hinske, Nyjer Morgan, Brandon Moss and Craig Monroe all failing to get anyone's pulse moving.

The pitching has been uneven, but has potential. LH Paul Maholm, RH Ian Snell and LH Zack Duke have all taken regular turns for enough MLB starts and shown enough ability that they may be ready to move forward as a group in '09, the way the Tiger kids did back in '06. Behind them, Yankee farmhands, Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens have enough ability to hold the #4 and 5 rotation slots, Ohlendorf has a big arm and upside, Karstens is smart, modestly gifted, but knows how to pitch - about what you'd expect from an NL Central #5.

I like the Pirates next wave and some of the things they have in place, 2009 does not figure to be the breakthrough year, but they do seem to be moving in the right direction and could modestly surprise to the upside.

#13.) Atlanta Braves

Guru, are you kidding? The Atlanta Braves ranked below Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins?

Yup.

3B Chipper Jones is a HOF player coming off a Batting Title and C Brian McCann is an elite player. 1B Casey Kotchman, 2B Kelly Johnson and RF Jeff Francoeur are decent, if uninspiring MLB players (Francoeur has a big arm and power bat, needs to make more contact). Free Agent LF Garret Anderson is a professional hitter/run producer and OF Matt Diaz and Gregor Blanco can rake a bit....the team is counting on Rookie Jordan Shafer to bring speed and excitement to the top of the order and will start over Blanco in CF.

On the hill, phenom Tommy Hanson should grab a rotation slot by mid-season and will join Jair Jurgens as part of the Braves rotation future. Veteran Derek Lowe is a reliable presence and the perennial disappointment, Javier Vasquez will look good in spots, fail in others and end up pitching .500 baseball. Japanese Free Agent, Kenshin Kawakami, is a veteran who handled Spring well and should be competent. Tom Glavine is Guru's age and throws softer (80 MPH in Spring), but so is Jamie Moyer, who was #3 on a World Series Champion.

So what does Guru know?

The Braves have some players, they have some hope, they just don't seem to be structured to compete for a playoff slot in 2009.

#12.) Washington Nationals

This is an interesting team with a terrific young manager (Manny Acta) who have a nice blend of young veterans (Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman, Ronnie Belliard, Nick Johnson, Christian Guzman, Austin Kearns) and hi-ceiling 5-tool types (Elijah Dukes, Lastings Milledge) and a revamped rotation that features guys who will bring big arms and reliable innings. They are lacking in experience, have no proven results to point to and have a patchwork bullpen...so...

They are, in no way, ready to compete for a playoff spot, but they are on the right track and appear young and talented enough to outdo some of the more experienced clubs below them on this list.

#11.) Arizona Diamondbacks

This is a controversial opinion, I know the D-Backs are considered to be a stockpile of top-tier youngsters and endured great criticism on TSN when I suggested their early start last season was an illusion (which, of course, is what happened...). There are no questions about SS Stephen Drew or OF Justin Upton, who both look to be serious studs for the next 15 years or so. Stephen is already better than his brother (J.D. of the Red Sox) and, while I'd take Justin's Brother (B.J. Upton of the Rays) over just about ANY other young player, Justin can ball as well. C Chris Snyder has shown steady improvement and looks like a long term answer behind the dish. Top starters, RH Brandon Webb and RH Dan Haren, both have Cy Youngs to their name and are still young. Max Scherzer is a big-arm wonder with a ton of upside, Doug Davis and Jon Garland take up space and the Pen is leaky, having traded every decent arm it developed.

However, 1B Conor Jackson seems to have plateaued and seems to be similar to Braves 1B, Casey Kotchman - which is to say, 'not bad', but also not the sort of thumping 1B you need. CF Chris Young has that same 5-Tool promise as the Nationals pair, but has been at-it longer and shown less ability to make contact. He HAS power and speed, and is still young, but will need to hit above .243 to matter in a division with the Dodgers. 3B Mark Reynolds is the poor man's Adam Dunn (if Oakland A, Jack Cust isn't...) with a surrealistic combination of 204 Strikeouts and 34 Errors to go along with his 28/97 production. He's a DH in the NL and with the modest Jackson/Tracy pairing at 1B, perhaps the D-Backs need to be moving Reynolds across the diamond and targeting a legitimate Defensive 3B. With 2B Felipe Lopez replacing Gold Glove caliber, Orlando Hudson and Offensive SS, Drew, the D-Backs, for all their youth, will field perhaps MLB's WORST defensive infield - and with pitch-to-contact Webb and Jon Garland in the Rotation, that looks like a recipe for un-earned runs against on a team that struggles to put up its own runs.

That means losing.

At least, from the Magic Carpet's vantage point, which, admittedly, is 3,500 Miles away...

#10.) Colorado Rockies

The differences between the 2007 NL Playoff combatants, Arizona and Colorado, are minimal and I expect them to finish within 5 games of one another in 3rd and 4th place in the NL West.

The Rockies have more established young talent (3B Garret Atkins, RF Brad Hawpe, SS Troy Tuowitzki, 2B Clint Barmes and C Chris Iannetta) are all solid and still improving...their Bullpen looks pretty well set, with Huston Street and Manny Corpas on the back end and RH Ubaldo Jimenez is an All-Star starter.

But...the rest of the Rotation, LF Seth Smith and CF Ryan Spillborghs are tough to believe in, at least to this point. If they contribute, the Rockies could surprise to the upside, leapfrog the deep Giants pitching and threaten the mighty Dodgers. I'm betting they'll need reinforcements before that can happen.

#9.) Florida Marlins

Yet another NL group of youngsters who could easily take the LEAP forward (Nationals, D-Backs, Rockies), but its tough to forecast such moves...the Marlins have tremendous production from their power hitting Double Play combo of SS Hanley Ramirez and 2B Dan Uggla (no truth to the rumor that Dan's name refers to his Defensive game...), both guys are Nomar in the Infield - which is to say, terrific hitters. Perennials OF Jeremy Hermida and C Cody Ross are solid contributors and CF Cameron Maybin is the finest of the young 5-Tool types that we've looked at, unlike Young in Arizona and Milledge in Washington, Maybin is a sure thing.

The rotation is young and dynamic and 1-5 could outperform, which would have the Marlins right at the throat latch of the Champion Phillies in the NL East.

#8.) St. Louis Cardinals

I originally had the Cardinals below some of these young clubs, but the news that RH Chris Carpenter is throwing BB's in Spring and feeling healthy puts them at the fringe of contention, and Tony LaRussa and 1B Albert Pujols proved in 2006 what they can do if they get a sniff and things fall right. OF thumpers Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan put plenty of thunder around Phat Albert and SS Khalil Greene is an absolute STEAL who can play in St. Louis for a half dozen years.

The Birds will hit.

C Yadier Molina will do the Molina thang and provide brilliant defense and sporadic offense, new 2B Skip Shumaker and 3B fill-in Ryan Freese (for inevitably broken down thumper, Troy Glaus), the rotation behind Adam Wainwright and Carpenter and the entire bullpen are the obstacles for the Redbirds in a competitive NL Central.

#7.) San Francisco Giants

The Giants are probably the most difficult NL team to diagnose. They have a rotation that is a thing of beauty, balancing styles, sides and Cy Youngs from 3 of the 5 (Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito), with Cy like ability in another (Matt Cain) and more promise from Jonathan Sanchez. The pen looks diversified and competent, if lacking in Q rating.

The Giants will pitch.

C Bengie Molina will do the Molina thang and provide brilliant defense and sporadic offense. As will RF Randy Winn and CF Aaron Rowand. The Giants hopes depend upon the development of young, promising players (LF Fred Lewis, 3B Pablo Sandoval and 1B Travis Ishikawa) and a bounceback (expected) from SS Edgar Renteria, who needs to move to the AL and flop every few years before going back to the NL where he thrives. If those guys do their job, the Giants pitching has them a distant 2nd in the NL West, at least that's my take.

#6.) Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are the established young club in the Central division mix with homegrown, power-laden Superstars LF Ryan Braun and 1B Prince Fielder signed multi-year and ready to send horsehide into Orbit under the Miller Park roof. Capable 2-way Veterans like CF Mike Cameron, SS JJ Hardy, 3B Bill Hall and 2B Rickie Weeks leave the Brewers looking strong in the batters box, affording them the ability to survive the powerless C Jason Kendall (this team, more than ANY, needs to trade with Texas or the Yankees for one of their young stud catchers...).

The problem for Milwaukee is on the hill. Highly thought of youngsters RH Yovani Gallardo and LH Manny Parra would look SWEET in the middle of any rotation, but with the departures of top-tier arms, CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, the kids will slot up into the top slots and be supplanted by the mass of mediocrity known as RH Braden Looper, RH Jeff Suppan and RH Dave Bush (the first two proved me wrong with fellow whipping boy, Jeff Weaver on that '06 Cardinal staff...). The pen is dependent upon the health of health-challenged Stud, Trevor Hoffman and the whole pitching question seems headed towards a negative answer in 2009.

That leaves the talented Brewers just outside the playoff picture, in my estimation.

#5.) Philadelphia Phillies

The World Champions feature three terrific studs SS Jimmy Rollins (I'd take Hanley in Florida and Jose in NY before him...), 1B Ryan Howard (give me Prince) and 2B Chase Utley (state of the art, but recovering from A-Rod Surgery) and a nice player in LF Raul Ibanez. 3 of them are LH hitters, however and their principle competition (NY Mets) feature two starters and two relievers who, essentially, shut down LH hitting - it is one of the reasons that departed RH power hitter, Pat Burrell was the designated Met killer in residence. With him gone, the Phils will need something from CF Shane Victorino, RF Jayson Werth, 3B Pedro Feliz and C Carlos Ruiz.

Says here that won't be enough.

The Pitching features Postseason stud, LH Cole Hamels, who is battling some injury issues that should not cost him too many starts, RH Brett Myers whose big arm finally showed up on the field and three journeymen who came up solid last year, but could each flop completely as they have in other destinations (LH Jamie Moyer - older than Guru!, RH Joe Blanton and RH Chan-Ho Park)...if these three don't make it in the rotation, they would be ideal to throw BP for the All-Star Home Run Derby!

The pen featured a timeless season from previously erratic closer, RH Brad Lidge, but he'll have to put another gem together to shut down his long-time critics (like Guru) and even at his best, he falls short in comparison to the Mets new pair.

Says here that won't be enough. No playoffs for the Champs.

#4.) Cincinnati Reds

Dusty Baker's Reds are loaded.

Young stallions (LF Chris Dickerson, RF Jay Bruce, 2B Brandon Phillips, 1B Joey Votto) are in the infancy of their MLB careers and already productive, Dickerson looked like monster-in-the-making this Spring. They are supplemented by a well thought out assemblage of Veterans, with C Ramon Hernandez (benefiting from the move to the NL), 3B Edwin Encarnacion, CF Willy Tavares and Glove Man, SS Alex Gonzalez. The Red starting 8 are solid and formidable with improvement from the kids, which appears certain.

And the news on the mound is even BETTER. Despite his historically poor 2008 season, RH Aaron Harang is a legitimate stud and is followed up by Dominican sensations Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, both of whom have Cy Young 'stuff' and are joined by talented Micah Owings and Homer Bailey in the mix with retread innings-eater, Bronson Arroyo - look for Arroyo to be the odd man out and for the Reds rotation to be intact for at least a couple of seasons until the contract time rolls around. Closer Cordero is solid as well, but the shaky middle of the bullpen may be the factor that places the Cubs in the Division winners position.

#3.) Chicago Cubs

Year 101 begins. Will this be the Cubs year?

Maybe! The legendary Lou Piniella will get a lot from a nice bunch...

The Cubs have serious thump from S-I-X slots (LF Alfonso Soriano, CF Kosuke Fukodome, 1B Derek Lee, 3B Aramis Rodriguez, RF Milton Bradley, C Geovany Soto) and two role players manning the DP combo (SS Ryan Theriot, 2B Mike Fontenot). The bench is efficient and balanced.

Ace RH Carlos Zambrano is a stud as is the fragile but brilliant RH Rich Harden, if both are healthy is will help buffer the expected return to established mediocrity from LH Ted Lilly and RH Ryan Dempster and spot guy RH Sean Marshall. Both the closer, Kevin Gregg and set-up man, Carlos Marmol are filthy and will hold the many leads Cub thump will hand them.

A playoff team, for certain.

#2.) Los Angeles Dodgers

Joe Torre has to be smiling.

Manny is back. The young pitching looks deep and the young veterans seem to be moving to the next level, all in his 2nd season in LA. The more you look at the Dodgers, the more it seems that Torre is going to collect his surrealistic 14th straight playoff appearance and 12th Division title and be on the short list for his 7th Pennant and 5th World Series title.

Take a bow, Joe!

Manny is smiling. Moving from provincial, anglo New England to the live-and-let-live, latino Los Angeles has the expected effect, as did going from a clubhouse where teammates wanted him to conform to THEM to one where teammates look UP to him.

Night and day. Reflected in his demeanor and production.

With Manny and stud kids like OF Matt Kemp, OF Andre Ethier, 1B James Loney, C Russell Martin joined by solid two-way veterans SS Rafael Furcal, 2B Orlando Hudson and 3B Casey Blake....

The Dodgers will hit it and they will catch it as well.

Which leaves the Pitching, and the story is positive there as well. While they lost reliable Veteran Derek Lowe and rehabbing stud, Brad Penny...they have an abundance of young, powerful arms who've proven they can get MLB hitters out and are just scratching the surface. Rotation of Hiroki Kuroda, Chad Billingsley, James McDonald and Clayton Kershaw might start a bit shakily but, with legs under them - they should be rolling come playoff time. They are joined by filler veteran, LH Randy Wolf who should provide innings. The Bullpen is an international assemblage with young stud, Jonathan Broxton, as closer and set-up by Hong-chih Kuo, Guillermo Mota, Cory Wade and Jeff Weaver, who came in from the bullpen for Torre to move the Yankees close to a World Series title in 2003, only to surrender an 11th Inning HR and see it all fall away. Apparently, Joe and Donnie Baseball have more forgiveness in their hearts than Guru does, but Weaver is certainly capable in a long relief role with modest expectations.

The Dodgers are good and probably will be better in 2010, a nice problem for the skipper AND the slugger to have.

#1.) New York Mets

The Mets feature three of the most dynamic two-way players in MLB (CF Carlos Beltran, SS Jose Reyes, 3B David Wright) and two of them are still mid '20s kids with 4-5 years of proven production. That is the foundation. Around them, the Mets have aging but productive slugger, 1B Carlos Delgado, Defensive specialist Catcher Brian Schneider splitting time with thumper Ramon Castro, RF Ryan Church, LF David Murphy - a good looking young player with a .300 AVG/.400 OBP game and Comeback Player of the Year, Fernando Tatis, whose thump returned to stay (?) in '08. The weak link is 2B Luis Castillo, who was on those '03 Marlins and looks several steps slower today - he's signed for three years so a poor start might entail a huge GULP for Madoff-weary Mets ownership. If Castillo is NOT done, he can stabilize a modest back end of the lineup and scamper around with the thunder at the top of the order.

The Mets Starting pitching begins with the brilliant LH Johan Santana, whose September heroics were lost amidst the Bullpen collapse. RH John Maine, LH Oliver Perez, RH Mike Pelfrey are all strong armed and young enough to move forward with the strong team and solid pen behind them. Filler, Livan Hernandez, is an innings-eater at #5.

The biggest problem last season, the Bullpen, has been addressed, brilliantly, with RH Francisco Rodriguez, RH JJ Putz and RH Sean Green, all of whom look ready to contribute right away.

The Mets are a team without a weakness, with brilliance in several spots, they could be on their way in 2008. The question, as it always does, will be how they handle the September pressure that has wilted many of them these past two seasons of collapse and how Manager Jerry Manuel matches up with his illustrious competitors (Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre) in the 2009 NL Playoffs.

East

Mets
Phillies
Marlins
Nationals
Braves

Central

Cubs
Reds (WC)
Brewers
Cardinals
Pirates
Astros

West

Dodgers
Giants
Rockies
D-Backs
Padres

Guru will post the American League Preview on Sunday.

Posted by Matthew at 05:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

His Strikeout totals reach the Magic 3,000, his ERA is solid and the Postseason success and performances are Hall worthy to say the least. The weak areas of his resume have more to do with the health issues he dealt with that limited him to 8 full seasons from his 20 years in the game (1988-2007). Ordinarily, that would be enough to prevent his induction if he hadn't overcome the injuries to post dominant seasons when he WAS healthy and a look at the 8 complete seasons shows he was everything a HOF Pitcher should be, posting a 143-69 (.675) during those years. The fact that he had his most successful years later in his career and won championships as a lead performer in 3 of his final 7 seasons, in both leagues, with different clubs, cinches the HOF argument for me.

When physically sound, he was a durable #1 starter with pinpoint control, power fastball, devastating splitter, gutty and dependable on a Baseball mound. Everything you want in that spot.

Which concludes the discussion about his BASEBALL career.

Now I am going to talk about Curt Schilling, the Union member, the Media critic, the Political advocate, the citizen of the game, and the country...As I am an advocate for keeping the discussion of players focused on their ON-FIELD lives, I will explain that, for Guru - that is a right that extends to EVERY person - the right to be judged on your work, solely on that work.

However...

The criticisms of Schilling do not come from an intrusion into his private life, from the beginning of his career, he has made a point of speaking out on any and every topic and thus, moved his PRIVATE life and belief systems into the Public sphere. Schilling's OWN words make the point...

"...people with so little skill in their profession that they need to speculate, make up, fabricate, to write something interesting enough to be printed. What makes them bad people? I am sure I cannot nail the exact reason, but I know some. Jealousy, bitterness, the need to be 'different,' I am sure there are others, but those are the ones I know off hand. You just kind of have to realize that there are people that don't like you and, unfortunately, sometimes those people have a voice, disliking me probably matches my dislike for him (Gomez), but I have a problem with people who don't have integrity and principle, so that stuff happens. You just kind of just have to let it go."

It has been Schilling who has consistently inserted himself into the lives of OTHERS, be they teammates, opponents, fans of other teams, ownership, press, politicians...

The diatribe quoted above came from a dispute he had with Pedro Gomez and Jon Heyman, writers who 'dared' to point out the careful construct of image-making that Schilling engages upon and the diametrically opposed reality of who he IS. For such daring, Schilling responded with the above. It seems only fair to point out that Gomez and Heyman are, far from 'lacking skill' at the very APEX of Professionalism in Sportswriting - beyond reproach in terms of their personal and professional conduct and the writing they produce.

For Schilling, like the Bush administration he so admired, the job of the Press is to shovel his shit in the form he designs it and stand with him in his views - a careful look at the Press (and fans) who supported him PERSONALLY and have contributed to his 'legend' reveals that, just as the Fox acolytes who relentlessly and consistently stood with Bush despite the data - the ones who 'don't have integrity and principle' are the ones who ignore the reality of what Gomez noted made Schilling “the consummate table for one.”

Everywhere Schilling has played, the dynamic of Image-making versus reality has reared its ugly head, how YOU feel about the guy is likely to depend upon where you sit in the 'Culture War', and, if you are someone who finds themselves admiring him - chances are pretty good, you and Guru would quickly end up at each other's throats. He is a person who has invoked religious faith in his public life (like fellow bad guy, Kurt Warner) and actually had the unmitigated gall to opine the presence of God's 'will' in the Red Sox 2007 World Series victory - a series and year which marked the all-time low point for the Religious Right's destruction of America as two teams loaded with Right-Wing evangelicals squared off in a matchup largely ignored by those of us who live in Blue places outside of New England.

Thankfully, those days are O-V-E-R and like all people of conscience we can be grateful...the Worst day under Obama is infinitely better than the best one under Bush and treating a bigoted scumbag like Schilling as a good guy because of his charity work for ALS is akin to calling Bush a 'humanitarian' for the African AIDS funds he delivered - at the same time he was working with the Religious Right to stop family planning efforts globally that distribute life-saving condoms and sex-education to these same populations.

For pukes like Curt, Kurt and Dubya (Palin, Huckabee, Youkilis...), America is a Christian Nation founded by White Protestants that should echo the values of those puritans. Every time you see an Anti-Immigrant, English-First, Anti-Gay-Marriage, Anti-Intellectual, Anti-Secular mindset - you are seeing the 'values' this piece of shit holds and understand how damaging his public life has been for America.

He associated himself with the Anti-Immigration types in his native Arizona (he was born in Alaska, claims Pittsburgh and lives in Boston, but the bulk of his life and advocacy occurred in Arizona...) and, upon his arrival in Boston, the HEART of Blue State America and progressive political thought, ingratiated himself to the worst elements of New England society and split the Red Sox clubhouse apart - dividing the latinos and minorities from the Rednecks. Derisively referring to HOF Red Sox hero, Pedro Martinez by the anglicized 'Petey' and openly assessing his private clubhouse existence, Schilling made it clear he intended to be the Cock of the Red Sox Walk and created a climate that has made the Sox the darlings of the White-Boy universe just as that universe disappears forever - short term Q rating thus rising while long-term impact destined to lead to a severe decline.

For Boston, the days of finding a talented Latino player have ended - permanently. In the wake of the Pedro demonization/Curt deification and Manny fiasco - Theo can't get an ear in the DR and a look at this lily-white roster illustrates the conundrum. No mid-career Latino star will consider Boston again and no top-tier kid will sign there, they have created a white, evangelical ghetto that speaks to the worst of what America is and, while that makes sense in the cesspool that is the Rocky Mountain West with the Colorado Rockies - it is an unforgivable sin in the very places where freedom and secular thought found their greatest expression.

It is a shift that has turned the Red Sox from one-time darlings of the Dominican fans, during the heyday of Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz into a hotbed of Redneck thought and white-boy roster...where one once saw Red Sox hats by the hundreds in a latin communities, those hats have disappeared and been replaced by Los Angeles Dodger (Manny) and Cinncinnatti Reds (Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto) hats.

And it has also resulted in an erosion of Red Sox sentiments amongst progressives, even life-long Sox fans like our own Red Sox Steve have seen their joy dimmed by the move from the honorable Nomar, Pedro, Manny types to the current, Curt-inspired roster of douchebags (when Papelbon pops off, remember who taught him that was somehow acceptable and it might very well be - in TEXAS! (But in New England????). Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt can be pukes, because they live amongst human garbage - but the Garbage of Red Sox Nation are decided minorities and diminishing daily, their time has passed, but their damage will endure.

The Culture War is over, a surely as the Civil War ended with triumph for Enlightenment, and now, as then, those who remain on the losing side face lives of abuse and irrelevance...wherever there exists Right-Wing, Christian fundamentalists, bigots, homophobes, xenophobes...people like Curt Schilling...

...folks like Guru will be there to crush them with a 2 X 4 of TRUTH. Their days of destroying America and making us a source of derision throughout the World for parochial, ignorant, racist, supernatural thought are O-V-E-R. Americans of character cannot afford to let the worst of us continue to drag us down to their despicable levels.

For Red Sox fans, facing the end of their winning years in 2009, the inevitable demand for a trade from Big Papi and the beginning of an extended period of losing - you have Curt to thank. And, despite the fantasy of minor-league talent on the way, the Baseball season begins with Red Sox AA and AAA teams knowing they have no chance of competing with their Yankee rivals and, in fact, hoping to finish the season at the MLB, AAA and AA levels within 10 games of them.

At least you can be grateful you had Manny long enough to win the only two championships you will know in your lifetime.

Don't believe Guru? Stop back in October and let me know...

Posted by Matthew at 09:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

On Friday, we looked at some Position Players who have potential to outperform their standing in the 2009 Fantasy Baseball Season. Today we look at the 'Battery' - Pitchers and Catchers.

First, the Backstops.

Guru is an American League analyst, first and foremost. In the AL, there are three Catchers who usually stand out Offensively. Cleveland Indians, C/1B/DH - Victor Martinez is the only one who is healthy as of this writing (and how, Slugging .739 in Spring), as fellow Switch-Hitter, New York Yankees, Jorge Posada, seeks to return from Surgery for a Torn Labrum (he caught 4 innings yesterday) and Two-Time AL Batting Champ, Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer, had internal surgery offseason and now is coping with serious back issues that have him off the field.

Of them, Martinez should be long gone early and Posada should be fine Offensively, even if his arm doesn't allow him to catch as much as he'd like - from a Fantasy perspective, that makes him a 'Catcher' and his Bat is a weapon, making him a decent reach in your draft. As for Mauer, he's the guy I'd want if he was healthy...his problems seem severe, but he can be thrown into the back of your roster as a contingency if your #1 is mediocre. IF he makes it back on the field, he's as good a Hitter as anyone in the game.

Oriole Rookie, Matt Weiters, has been touted as a 'Phenom' and his Spring numbers reflect that assessment. Still, the place to find rookies is in the 'Overlooked' bin, NOT at the top of Drafts and Weiters offers no 'value' as the hot new thang.

Outside of them, in the AL, I suppose I'd look at Two Catchers for 'Sleepers'...

Taylor Teagarden, Texas Rangers
Jarod Saltalamacchia, Texas Rangers

Not sure what the Rangers were thinking in not moving one of their three young backstops when the Red Sox came calling this Winter, but perhaps they need to see if Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has had some recurring health issues, is truly healthy. He is positively raking in Spring and has the sort of skills to blossom big time. His ability is blocking the full-time Role that Taylor Teagarden, appears to deserve (3rd String, Max Ramirez is a horse, but for the future...). Teagarden is a power hitter in a power hitter's Paradise down in the hot Texas air. Either of these guys is capable of being your lead catcher, but you'll need to have a backup handy for the days off their platoon will create. If Teagarden rakes anywhere as much as he did last year in his cameo (.809 SLG, .318 AVG) and this Spring (3 HR's), you are looking at a kid catcher who can hang with Weiters, at a far more reasonable draft slot.

Kelly Shoppach, Cleveland Indians

This guy has been an effective Backup with steadily improving Power numbers each of the past three seasons, since coming to the Tribe in the Coco Crisp deal with Boston. Last year, he finally forced himself into regular playing time and smoked 21 HR in fewer than 400 AB's Slugging (.517) and has picked right up in Spring (.625 SLG/ 3 HR). The Indians want both Victor AND Kelly in their everyday lineup and that makes Shoppach an excellent pickup for your Fantasy squad.

In the NL, Russell Martin of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves are the main early round attractions, but there is another guy who is getting some 'chattah' and he's the one I'd target....

Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates

Doumit just signed one of those 'lock 'em up' deals with the Pirates, under terms that seem awfully modest for someone his age and ability (same thing for Red Sox Pitcher, Jon Lester). He's had some health issues and perhaps those fears played into this thinking. If he IS healthy, he is a LOAD of Offensive talent for your Fantasy C spot, capable of hitting well above .300 (.318 in a full '08) with improving Power (15 HRs) on a team that needs his bat every day in the heart of their lineup.

I should note that Jason Varitek was simply too-bad-to-believe in 2008 and is a prideful sort forced to take a humiliating contract, his previous Offensive production, friendly ballpark and burning desire to prove himself should lead to some decent production early in the season if you've missed out on one of your more desirable Catchers. You can squeeze Varitek dry early while he fuels on emotion and then slot one of these platooning kids into your lineup when there are inevitable injuries/trades.

Onward we go to the Mound...

(Once again, my AL bias should be taken into account when you read through these picks...)

As a general rule, Guru likes to build a staff that has some elements of a REAL Staff, which is to say that style variety can be important. Strikeouts ARE important in Fantasy, but the pursuit of K's often can be satisfied away from the very top of the Rotation (and Draft) as Pitching is deeper today than at any time in Guru's 38 years of MLB fandom. One rule I believe in - ALL Relief Pitchers must be of the High K, low ERA/WHIP variety...2-3 flamethrowers in your Bullpen getting you Saves with strong numbers in those power-pitching stats can allow you to take overlooked 'Win-Machine' Starters who reliably take the ball and WIN for decent teams and maintain the type of solid ERA/WHIP numbers to offset the low K numbers of their style (pitching to contact), additionally, these sorts are usually not injury-prone...NOTHING kills your fantasy team, your REAL team or your Softball team like injury.

Nothing.

I like these guys as 'Sleepers'.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees

'Wait a minute, Guru! Joba? He gets more hype than almost anyone, how can he be a 'Sleeper'?'

'I'm glad you asked!'

Joba is a dominant #1 type who will pitch for the Yankees against other teams, #5 starters. His K, ERA and WHIP numbers are going to be in Ace territory and he should be good for 15 wins from the back-end of NY's rotation...But there are enough questions in the casual fan's mind about his status (coming back from injury, he's FINE...and whether he will Start/Relieve, he's in the rotation) that he won't be treated the way a guy who can bring 101 MPH, throws Strikes and can be unhittable with his breaking stuff SHOULD be.

Chien-Ming Wang, New York Yankees

One of those 'Win-Machines' I spoke of. Will show up every five days and win more than 2/3 of his starts with low ERA and modest WHIP figures. He'll never give you BIG K numbers, but he also won't disappear in the category and he is healthy and fit for a full season after his freakish foot injury in '08. Like Joba, he is likely to be overlooked for the Ace he is and be underestimated, but at the end of the season, you'll be sitting there with 15-20 wins and you'll S-M-I-L-E.

Fausto Carmona, Cleveland Indians

Like Wang, a 19 Game winner in his last healthy season ('07) and healthy again (dominating in Spring), Carmona really gives you top-of-the-rotation reliability in terms of Wins and should be similar to Wang in WHIP/ERA, while lagging somewhat in terms of K's. AND, like Wang, he will be overlooked in Drafts because of the K's and get you those coveted Wins for your staff.

Edwin Jackson, Detroit Tigers

This guy is NASTY. He has big time stuff and has improved each year, winning 14 last year for the upstart Rays and being traded (in a mystifier?) to the Detroit Tigers over the Winter. He's a power arm guy who has figured out how to pitch, a guy who will give you Wins, K's and decent ERA, his WHIP will depend upon control - which has been an issue at times, but his ERA and W totals should move up with the move to Cavernous Detroit where those fly-ball HR's in the Tampa Mausoleum will now drop harmlessly into Curtis Granderson's glove.

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

This guy looked like the best pitcher in Baseball for much of '06 and '07 and was HORRIBLE in '08. He keeps trotting to the hill, so he must be healthy...yet to recapture the dominant form in Spring as of this writing, but he is a legitimate Ace with a huge arm who can turn around and be a league leader in W and K and will slot far below Ace level due to last year's disappointment.

Oliver Perez, New York Mets

The NASTY just keeps on coming! Perez may have slipped further from notice due to his abysmal performance last night against the rampaging Koreans (10-2 in WBC play over two tournaments). But this is guy who has compiled more K's and fewer Walks at the same age as Randy Johnson, and this is the age (29) when it all came together for the Big Unit, as big, tall, rangy LH starters with Strikeout stuff take time to get their mechanics in a place where they can find enough control.

Perez will get you Wins with a good Met team, will benefit from LH heavy lineups in the NL East (he is dominant against LH hitters) and be amongst the K leaders in the NL. His WHIP suffers from too many walks, but he gives up far fewer than a hit-per-inning (846 hits in 999.1 MLB Innings) so that flaw is somewhat ameliorated.

Like some of the others, you get Ace stuff and upside without having to use a high pick - a 'Sleeper'.

Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays

Balfour is a dominant K guy who will have low ERA and WHIP due to his arsenal and sits in prime position to take over permanently as Rays closer. He will give you big time numbers as a set-up guy and vulture a couple of wins for you while you await the inevitable anointing as Closer. Then you've got a huge arm guy closing for a defending Pennant winner. Definition of a Sleeper.

That's a decent smattering for you 'Sweathogs', Mariano Rivera appears to be healthy so you may not be able to get Saves from Yankee relievers Phil Coke and Brian Bruney, but they can both dominate in terms of K, WHIP and ERA and should be considered if their is ANY issue with Mo going forward.

Posted by Matthew at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Twas chatting with Nick, an old High School friend and a genuine good guy, and the subject moved from Hockey to Fantasy Drafts and 'Sleepers' - those tasty multi-tool morsels who have a chance to outperform their current assessments. You know, Pitchers with low WHIP and ERA and high W and K or Hitters who can get you serious RBI, with AVG and, as Tevye's Daughter says 'if he SB's, I wouldn't holler!' (the whole family were serious fantasy players, back before the pogrom...).

Since my current interest in Hockey is limited to my New York Islanders holding onto their tenuous grasp on LAST place, so they can grab the new 'savior' Jon Tavares, in the next draft I won't screw up a good spring by lingering on Ice. Naturally, the Islanders season long dominance in the NHL's WORST category has come undone with an unexpected late-season surge as their kids seem to finally be coming around - note to Islander kids, SAVE THAT FOR 2009/10 and lose your way to a talented teammate!

Sorry, Guru is a multi-topic sort...

Back to the matter at hand...I've composed a small list of players who I think qualify as 'Sleepers', the list includes those who are overlooked for their level, which means you have young lesser knowns and well known veterans who may be overlooked for circumstances that are unlikely to prevail in this season. Position Players today, Pitchers on Monday.

1B

Chris Davis, Texas Rangers

This kid turns 23 on Monday (3/17) and is an ideal sort for your 1B needs. He is a young power hitter in a HR hitting Ballpark who has 1 season under his MLB belt. His slugging (.549) in some 300 at-bats of debut hints at serious things to come statistically and that is reinforced by seeing him hit live, the ball absolutely EXPLODES off of his bat. A good one, probably for a long time...and never again this available.

2B

Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays

Here's a young player who put together two solid seasons in the Middle Infield, before getting hurt last year in a washout. The cobwebs have cleared (Concussion) and Hill is a late-round steal who will get you middle-infield numbers comparable to top-tier sorts.

Joe Inglett, Toronto Blue Jays

Not often you'll see two teammates competing for the same position make a list like this, but in this case, Inglett is another Blue Jay Middle Infielder with serious upside and limited profile. I suspect that Hill may be moved to another position, or take over SS (being nursemaided by Utility type, Marco Scutaro) - I expect both of them to get 500 At-Bats (Cito Gaston understands Offensive talent as well as anyone in the game).

You can also make a case for other BlueJays as Sleepers.

OF, Alex Rios, is a HUGE talent who dipped badly last year, should rebound under the radar.
OF, Adam Lind, is a natural .300 hitter who only lacks experience, if he gets hot early - grab him!
OF, Travis Snyder, has similar upside potential to Chris Davis, could blow up with power numbers OR blow up at the buffet table (5'10", 245!).

SS

Alexei Ramirez ,Chicago White Sox

Another gut who could be facing his last moments as a 'Sleeper', he had comparable power numbers to AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, playing the same 2B and now shifts to SS with the departure of SS Orlando Cabrera. Very few Middle Infielders break 20 HR as Rookies and he has the speed to match that with 20 SB's in 2009. Doesn't strike out much and runs well, which bodes well for AVG and his Manager was the master of crafty in HIS days as a Chisox SS, meaning he should improve dramatically with experience.

3B

Kevin Kouzmanoff, San Diego Padres

Not nearly as strong an endorsement for KK of the SDP's, but he is only entering his 3rd MLB year and has already demonstrated 25/100 sort of power. Needs to cut down the Strikeouts to help with the AVG and walk more to help with the power, but the tools are there and the hype isn't. He belongs.

OF

Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Here is another 23 year old, who might have more raw ability than anyone else on this list and as much as almost anyone in the game. He's THAT good. You won't be able to benefit from his spectacular Defense in Fantasy Ball, but if you get caught watching an Oriole game and listening to the oohs and ahhs over C Matt Weiters, check out this guy. On offense, he has freakish power and speed and is just learning to hit...he will be overmatched by top notch pitchers who can get to the holes in his evolving swing, but will hit enough mistakes and mediocrities to make your investment (minimal), well worth it.

Carlos Gomez, Minnesota Twins

Ummm...as good as Jones is, Gomez is bigger, stronger, faster and has more holes in his swing! He is a 6'4" man-child with a penchant for childishness, but is coming off a 33 SB campaign when his AAA skills were exploited by AL pitchers. They better enjoy that memory. He is filling in that big body and looking like a Young A-Rod physically, could hit 20HR and steal 50SB if he can stay focused and cut down on Strikeouts. Outstanding bargain.

Eijah Dukes. Washington Nationals

Yet another drool-worthy kid with sick skills. He can flat-out PLAY, and unlike the first two guys - he knows the game, understands the strike-zone and has no holes. ON the field. Off the field, he has had a hard time remaining a free man and there is the possibility you could have him on your team, see him put up All-Star numbers for awhile and then ...poof...10-15 years in the pen. If he can shed the nonsense and stay on the field, he is on his way to perennial All-Star.

Posted by Matthew at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew

Guru lives in Manhattan, 68 blocks North of where he grew up on the East Side.

As I walk around the city, walking dogs, feeding cats, visiting friends, girl-watching...I walk by fields, playgrounds and ballparks where I grew up playing.

On the FDR drive, on concrete in the Financial District, on Grass on the Lower East Side and uptown in Spanish Harlem at Jefferson Park...in Tompkins Square Park, 11st Park, Stuyvesant Town, 15th Street and Avenue C, 19th Street and 2nd for Punchball and 20th Street and 2nd Avenue for Fastpitch Softball on my 'Home Field', 35th Street and 1st, 59th Street - under the Bridge...West 25th, John Jay at 54th & 11th Avenue, 135th off the Madison Avenue Bridge to the Bronx...

From the 1920's until the 1980's, those ballparks, grass or cement, could count on being swarmed by every manner of Baseball, Softball, Stickball, Punchball...a game played with bases, a ball and bat, a pitcher and batter...sometimes with a catcher, others with a 'Strike Zone' spray-painted onto a wall.

You would always see certain kids in the different neighborhoods who had paint stains on the knees of their jeans and the pits of their t-shirts and you knew...

That kid was the Strike-Zone Model!

Just by comparing yourself to him, you'd know if the local 'Zone' would reward a high or low strike when YOU were in the batter's box. A not inconsiderable consideration for Guru who destroys anything high and outside and sits down on the low and inside stuff. If the 'Strike-Zone Model' was a short guy - I was going to be needing to walk another neighborhood if I wanted to go deep, usually over a chain-link fence, into or over a lane of traffic and two lanes of parked cars, two sides of pedestrians and onto the building across the street. How high a floor depending upon whether you 'Got it' or not...and then those same cars and people got to dodge the carom. The whole time, anywhere from 10-100 people would be yelling...'Head's UP!!!!!!'.

When there weren't enough guys for a game, we played Home Run Derby, or Pepper, or took turns at Pitcher/Catcher, practiced sliding and running bases, took infield and outfield practice...

If it rained, we spent hours with the Old-timers (guys about Guru's current age upward...45+), talking about the game...MLB, the local league, different angles and types of players...then the evening's Yankee and Met games would be starting and the group would disburse, next to meet at lunchtime from school - where we had a daily game, kept stats and league records and whose results were known by most of the kids in school, even though it had nothing to do with school programs.

These Baseball games, in all their variety, were not organized by any 'authority'.

Sure, we had Little League for kids in the shadow of the Con Ed plant on East 15th and you can still find 'Beer Leagues' and Corporate Leagues in Central Park and on Randall's Island. Guru still plays ball with the cronies of 'Morty's Game' on Sunday Mornings at Heckscher Field, and we all play the same game we always did. But Guru is on the young side of the crowd, at 45, and the number of really savvy and talented younger players is spare.

The game has all but died at the Grass Roots level in Urban Areas. You hear a lot about the decline of Baseball amongst African-American kids, but its the same with White kids...both prefer hoops, or video games...or Facebook. Skateboarding, which Guru loved as well, has actually got more 'players' going on then the American 'Pastime'.

Is it?

Is it 'Past-it's-Time' for the grand old game here at home?

Sure, there are still well manicured ballfields in suburban areas and community sponsored leagues, coaching clinics, high-school and college programs and a considerable amount of talent will continue to flow on to the MLB game...

But the passion FOR that game has changed.

One of the things you notice if you've been around to see the game through multiple generations is how fewer and fewer fans actually WATCH the games, let alone PLAY them. The four hours per night, pitch by pitch of observation and hours of statistical work and strategic conversation have, to some degree, been augmented and replaced by the wealth of technical and informational tools available. This is one of the reasons why the SPORT - MLB itself, is actually in good health. People are still interested in the SPORT...its the 'Game' that they've lost passion for. Ask someone their opinion of a team or a division, and, if they are a 'fan' - they will offer you many. Ask them about the particulars of a player's game or the nuance of a matchup, they might gloss over.

Guru probably spends 1,000 hours per season on Baseball. I watch every Yankee game possible, always at least 150 of them - pitch by pitch, I might watch the replay once, might be twice. I spend as much time on the statistics as I ever did, only now that I don't have to work them out on a pad in long division, as we used to, I can get so much more information. I read the league-generated content in print online and catch scores, replays, highlights at MLB.com or, now, on MLB.TV, but I almost NEVER tune into ESPN, ignore the opinions being bandied about on radio, TV or online...I watch the GAME, so I know what the deal is.

You can bet the bulk of conversation is about gossip and prediction, not about what goes on between the lines. My local papers print more copy by five-fold relating to payroll issues, drug tests, personal lives of the players, feuds between players and/or fans etc., etc., ETC...

Ad Nauseum.

The writers who fill these endless lifestyle columns, filled with amateur economics, dimestore medicine and frat-boy culture flounder THEMSELVES when they have to write about the G-A-M-E. No wonder the raised eyebrow and pithy phrase have replaced 'Kiner's Korner' - Old Ralph never asked someone who he was dating, how much money he made, what he used to get 'up' for a game.

Nobody cared about those things.

For REAL.

In fact, the current fan may spend as much TIME as we once did (and some still do), they just spend it talking about things other than the Pitching, Hitting, Fielding and Base Running.

Still, nothing can replace WATCHING the game itself. From playing - thousands and thousands of innings, you learn nuance and flow that cannot be grasped in highlight reels or by listening to talking heads chattering.

Its the same complaint you hear about a lot of things in the 'Information Age', we all know a little about a lot of stuff and sometimes a LOT about one or two things, but stuff that is S-L-O-W and requires great deals of time and interest to maintain, seems to be moving further and further away.

The World Baseball Classic is a fascinating development, and really is an eye-opener.

It reminds me of watching Americans develop interest and proficiency in Olympic Sports that were not part of our traditions. I watch every Olympiad and am always surprised when I see Americans competing at the highest level in a Sport I can remember being more of a novelty for Americans the first time I saw it contested. We learned the game, taught it to our kids and got better at it.

That is what has happened in Latin America and Asia for Decades and that is now spreading to Europe, Africa and Canada. American kids are playing less, for sure, but others are playing MORE, and better, than they ever have before.

In Caracas, Venezuela, San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Pedro de Marcoris, Dominican Republic...kids gather all year long, from morning till night, to play Baseball..they eat and sleep the game, talk long into the night with the older men about the game, devote their time and their passion to the game...which is a relief. The game may have changed its vibe, its hue, its rythym...but it survives, and that is a comfort.

Now if they would just turn DOWN THE MUSIC when you go to the ballpark.

Don't get me wrong, we loved loud tunes back in the day - shit, we STILL DO. But the GAME requires concentration and a modicum of quiet. They open a new Yankee Stadium in about a month (April 16, 2009) and a new season starts on April 6.

Lets hope they start a new, old tradition and turn down the speakers and turn up the ballgame.

Quiet or not, we'll be here. We'll have each and every Yankee game, broken down for you in DETAIL here on The Magic Carpet @ VagabondGuru.com and dozens of columns about every facet of the Greatest Game.

We'll take you back to the way the game was dissected when Guru was a boy, using all the modern tools to make the point and to teach the game.

We hope to see you here. Often.

Posted by Matthew at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We've already discussed the injury...Alex is hurt and he MUST have the surgery, he is the Franchise player and has eight more years after 2009 - that Hip won't heal itself, there is nothing to discuss.

Go have the operation. Rehab. Rest. Get ready. Return, but only when READY to be Alex.

(he has announced a modified procedure that is slated to have him on the field around Memorial Day and will involve a follow-up surgery in the off-season.)

The Yankees will survive.

But how?

Cody Ransom is a solid player, he will make all the plays and contribute. He is a lot like Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers, a superior athlete who pays rigorous attention to his craft. He will hold the place at 3B and hit 9th. It seems that Alex will likely miss Four Months - April, May, June, July - 100-110 Games worth, which means there will be 400 or so At-Bats for Ransom and any others covering for Alex.

A BEST-case scenario for Ransom would be something on the order of .275/10/50, which puts the Yankees, even in the rosiest view, in the position of replacing 50 runs, or a half-a-run per game.

That is tough, as they learned when Jorge Posada was, essentially, lost in the opening week last season. Jose Molina led MLB in throwing out runners trying to steal and is a beloved figure to the Pitching staff for his Defensive wizardry, but his anemic production created a vacuum in the bottom third of the order, where Melky was in a season-long slump and Robinson was lost for the first-half, when the Yankees lost the essential ground they could not recover.

Ransom will hit more than Molina, but not enough to make up for Alex. Nobody can do that.

The lineup that makes the most sense is this one:

DH Johnny Damon LH
SS Derek Jeter RH
2B Robinson Cano LH
1B Mark Teixeira SH
C Jorge Posada SH
LF Nick Swisher SH
RF Xavier Nady RH
CF Melky Cabrera SH
3B Cody Ransom RH

Cano is, despite last season's first-half struggles, the Yankees best 'pure' hitter. He has terrific power and line to line plate coverage, Damon and Jeter live on-base and Cano will see good pitches in front of Tex. It will be asking him to take responsibility for his vast talent, but this is his 5th year and his ability dictates such a step. I saw one analysis that dismissed him with 'coming off a bad season, he is unlikely to recover' - huh? T-A-L-E-N-T doesn't disappear, Cano is the only one who has the all-around Offensive game to step into the #3 hole and Tex is the only logical #4.

With Alex out, the RH power is reduced, but with F-O-U-R Switch-Hitters in the lineup mix, the Yankees will still see RH production from Tex, Swisher and Posada. Both Melky and Brett Gardner have tools that help the team and, had Alex been healthy, there might have been opportunities to play both of them and create opportunities Defensively and on the base-paths. Without Alex, it is likely that the Yankees need Swisher in the lineup for his Power and the kids will have to platoon.

Matsui and Damon are both LH hitters, Damon should sit when Gardner plays, since Brett is an ideal leadoff type with that speed. They can almost pair off Damon/Melky/Swisher and then shift to Swisher/Gardner/Matsui, and Posada will need lots of rest time from Catching, so he will get DH At-Bats also.

The real problem is that bottom 3rd of the order. If Posada is sitting and Molina is playing, and Melky struggles, they are right back to last season's struggles with Melky/Molina/Ransom scaring NOBODY in that 7-8-9 zone.

The antidote, however, is good pitching and the Yankees are LOADED, not only with the marquee Free Agent signings (CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett) but with a healthy Chien-MIng Wang and Joba Chamberlain and the sterling work of Hughes, Alceves, Coke behind Andy Pettitte if anyone is injured, they've gone from being three starters DOWN to being three starters backing up. The Bullpen is loaded to the gills from both sides and the MInor League System that had the best overall record of any MLB team, won Championships at AAA and AA and saw AA Trenton Thunder win their second successive MiLB Franchise of the year is bursting with Pitchers and Catchers.

Ironically, the one place they are NOT deep (due to the nature of the big-league team with a quartet of long-term fixtures in the Infield) is where Alex plays - on the Left Side. That is why Ransom, like Molina - an great type to have as a backup, is forced into full-time play that will expose his limitations as a hitter. As long as he plays the sort of Defense we have seen from him, the overall Defense should be strong, with Nady replacing Abreu and Swisher in LF, Teixeira at 1B and the two wizards in CF. Jeter is healthy and feeling good and Cano has led the AL in chances by a WIDE margin in each of the past two seasons at 2B.

They will pitch it and they will catch it.

They will need to make sure they score enough runs to make it matter.

We shall see.

Posted by Matthew at 02:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

'We decided that we weren't going to obsess over our competitors, but we were obsessed with our CUSTOMERS.'

Jeff Bezos, CEO - Amazon

I'm guessing that Los Angeles Dodgers Owner, Frank McCourt, hasn't been watching 'Charlie Rose'.

I'm guessing that Dodgers General Manager, Ned Colletti, is more of an 'American Idol' kind of guy.

Reading the commentary here on TSN, its pretty clear that the Staff and the bulk of the blogosphere are a lot like Ned. Who is a lot like them. This is not for those folks, like Ned, and perhaps, Frank...

It's too much for them.

You see, Guru knows about some things.

Economics, Business and Baseball are at the top of the list.

I know more Economics than Baseball writers, and more than most Baseball executives.

I know more Baseball than Business writers, and more than most Baseball writers.

Here is what I know.

Business is built around these basics.

* Paying Customers
* Brand
* Product
* Service

Baseball is built around these basics.

* Offense
* Defense
* Pitching
* Base Running

The most important 'asset' from a Business standpoint is a player who has Superstar name recognition, Hits for Power (Pitchers play every five days, or for a few innings at a time) and, it would be nice if the player was:

1.) An FBHOF (First Ballot Hall of Fame) Player, denoting one of the greatest to ever PLAY.

2.) A proven resume of winning and bringing winning to places that hadn't won in awhile.

3.) A built-in Supplementary fan-base.

If a business requires ready access to its customers, as Baseball Clubs do, and Real Estate, then the old maxim holds.

Location...Location...Location.

The kind of Location that would make an organization that was the 2nd Best Brand in MLB in 1958, playing in the United States Biggest City decide to leave for the 2nd Largest City and convince their NYC neighbors to leave as well, for San Francisco - providing a ready-made rivalry and a chance to go from being #2 and #3 in NYC to being #1 and #2 on an entire COAST.

Los Angeles, California is the Dodgers location.

4 Million People live in Los Angeles, 13 Million live in the Metropolitan region.

Split the surrounding regions with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (13M x .5 = 6.5M) and split the city residents 80/20% for the Dodgers (4M x .8 = 3.2M). 6.5M + 3.2M =

9.7M Potential Paying Customers.

Let's say that 1 in 3 of these customers is at least a potential paying customer for Dodger Baseball.

Drop the extra 100,000 and call the 'Pool' - 3.2 Million Customers.

It is from this pool that the revenue for your baseball club will predominantly derive.

An extension of the Dodger brand, however, is an easy extrapolation. No other franchise has a built in audience on both coasts, in the first and second largest cities. Nobody this side of the Yankees has placed as many Hats on heads that have no interest in Baseball than the ubiquitous 'LA' white on Dodger blue. It's practically a stylist requirement for the latest LA hottie...

Or it was.

In their first 30 years in Los Angeles (1959-1988), the Dodgers went to the World Series N-I-N-E times.

9 times in 30 years - 30% of National League Pennants.

5 Rings in 30 years - 16.66% of World Championships.

In the preceding 41 years, in Brooklyn, the Dodgers won 12 Pennants, but only the 1955 'Holy Grail' Title, usually at the hands of their neighbors, be they NL (Giants) or AL (Yankees).

21 Pennants overall. 6 Championships.

All of them between 1890-1988. 99 years, 21 pennants.

In the last 20 years?

Z-E-R-O Pennants.

No rings.

Starlets wear Laker Caps.

Oh, one more important bit. Los Angeles is 48% HIspanic, in the City alone, that equals 1.9 Million People, and that is those who make the Census, which means the actual numbers cannot be calculated, but the anecdotal evidence, the PREPONDERANCE of it, suggests that number is likely closer to 2.5M.

Not in the surrounding suburbs, where there are millions of more, but in the CITY.

For contrast, lets choose another American City, say....Boston.

600,000 People live in Boston. 7.5 Million in the extended area.

There are 14 Million in New England, but at distances that, if we were to include the same range for LA, would bring the discussion into tens of millions.

In Boston, the population is 16% Hispanic (600,000 x .16 = 96,000), lets add for those who are not census-friendly - another 24,000?, which makes 120,000 people.

The rest of New England? New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont? Not Hispanic hotspots. Rhode Island is urban and WOULD BE a magnet, except that the Manufacturing collapse and Economic crisis have killed ALL the jobs. Let's say the rest of Massachusetts is 10% Hispanic and call it, generously, 500,000 Hispanics who might have been potential Red Sox fans.

Got all that?

Manny Ramirez came to Los Angeles from Boston last August, fortuitous circumstances that cost the Dodgers Z-E-R-O dollars.

His Manager, Joe Torre, the most universally respected in the game, spoke glowingly of Manny's impact on his clubhouse. Don Mattingly, another instantly respected figure, who played with HOF players (Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson) and coached others (Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez), said he had never seen a player make the impact with young teammates, work harder on the business of hitting or transform a clubhouse like Manny did.

ON the field? .396/17/53 in 53 Games. Slugging a surrealistic .743, On-Base of .489.

A talent so vast that in his last month in Boston, where the chattering class has agreed by acclamation to brand him with the label of 'Jaking It', he hit .347, slugged .587 and had an on-base of .473.

Ignore the numbers in LA, if ANY team in Baseball could have the 'Bad' Manny numbers from July in Boston, they'd be printing playoff tickets.

Speaking of which...

Manny came to Cleveland in 1993, and became a starter for good in 1995. That was the 41st Season since the Indians had last been to the World Series.

They went to 2 of the next 3.

In his last 3 seasons in Cleveland, he hit 127 HR's and drove in 432 Runs. The Indians were a powerhouse, playing to packed Jacobs Field Crowds, in a place that had been baseball dead for DECADES.

Indian management decided they didn't NEED an HGFBHOF (Home Grown First Ballot Hall of Famer) in his prime and let him go to Free Agency.

Needless to say, the Indians lost for awhile, nibbled in '07 and now have sent away their latest HGFBHOF type, charismatic minority and hope to find a way to win without retaining any of the game changing talent they develop. Good luck with that.

Manny, of course, signed in Boston.

When he arrived, the team had not won a Championship in 83 years, or been to the World Series in 15 and a guy named David Ortiz was a stiff who the Minnesota Twins would unload for nothing.

When he left, they'd won Two Championships in two tries and were eliminated from another on an extra-inning/7th Game HR (probably not Manny's fault, but you never know...oh wait, it was Pedro's fault...or Grady Little's...it always has to be someone's FAULT). Oh, and Ortiz is now 'Big Papi' after feasting on his buddy Manny's work ethic, hitting advice and presence behind him in the lineup.

Then he went to LA, singlehandedly lifting the Dodgers to a Division Title.

In the playoffs? Manny Hit .533, On-Base 682 and Slugged 1.067. His OPS was 1.749.

Beyond Belief. And THAT was against a Pitching Staff that went on to Win the World Series and KNEW Manny was the key to the Dodgers.

Knowledge doesn't help you get Manny out. Ask Mike Mussina!

The best in every business eventually get to dictate WHERE they play and dictate how MUCH they will be paid. Ask Jennifer Aniston, who got paid $1M an episode and got each of her cast mates the same money just so NBC could hold onto 'Friends'.

Do you think NBC suddenly believed that Matt 'Joey' Leblanc, was worth 6M MORE than Alex Rodriguez makes? Or were willing to throw nearly 200M at six sitcom actors?

They did it because their CUSTOMERS wanted that talent, and their ADVERTISERS wanted to see those customers before ponying up their cash. In simple terms, they PAID money to MAKE money.

Business is like that.

Manny is a franchise player who has been badly mishandled by two successive organizations who were more interested in bending him to the local marketplace than making him the centerpiece. In Cleveland and Boston, General Managers, Mark Shapiro and Theo Epstein, barely disguised their contempt for Manny. Shapiro shipped him out, Theo TRIED to in 2003, which would have precluded either championship, but if you ask Theo and Larry Lucchino, you'd think Manny was a bit player in all that.

Whatever...

In Los Angeles, with Torre, in a big market (a REAL one, not a media construct) where people live-and-let-live and celebrities are about as novel as mini-vans, a place with roughly 20 times as many Hispanic fans who LIKE his style, appreciate his look...on a team that announced in the fall, would carry a payroll of 120M but are sitting with less than 80M today...

They offered Manny Ramirez two years, with deferred money over a course of five years PAST the two years of the deal.

Do you think the Dodgers have offered their fans a full REFUND if they do NOT sign Manny?

Do you think the young Dodgers who REVERE Manny won't miss him? Russell Martin says they'll win anyway, so do the Red Sox. Nobody ever has so far, but I suppose it might happen.

But isn't this all just smoke and mirrors and spin?

The numbers and the arguments make Scott Boras point for him. They are inarguable, which is why the arguments you read are of three types;

1.) From people who believe that players should be treated like employees.

2.) From people who believe that he should have been GRATEFUL to be in Boston, humbled himself, cut his hair and ignored the things that he disliked. In other words, put the Boston ownership, who he gave championships and who tried to cut him, the Boston players, who went from an urban/ethnic mix to a redneck/frat boy one during his time in Red Sox and the Boston fans, who forgot Pedro the MOMENT Schilling got to town and began giving the finger to New Yorkers (like Manny) and immigrants (like Manny) ABOVE his own needs and the needs of his family.

3.) From people who think players should suffer along with the rest of us, regardless of the underlying economics.

All of these arguments are EMOTIONAL.

Emotions have no place in business.

All of you who call Scott Boras names? He is a WINNER. Ask Alex. Ask Teixeira. Ask Derek Lowe.

His job is to cut through the GARBAGE that the Clubs and the Media and the Fans are spreading, and make no mistake, that is EXACTLY what it all is (see above) and, calmly, demonstrate to the team, the media and the fans that IF the Team was serious about winning and making money, they would not only sign Manny but they would start PROMOTING him for all the reasons listed here and as a positive role model, a guy married to his HS Sweetheart who lives for his family and to hit baseballs, instead of devaluing the brand they depend upon.

Just because the Dodgers are stupid, doesn't mean YOU have to be.

Posted by Matthew at 08:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

...sigh...

The endless peace and quiet of another Manhattan Winter begins to fade...

The subtle inaction of another Yankee offseason is all but lost...

The limitless calm of Big City life and Yankee fandom are about to be swallowed up by the clamor and tumult of endless Florida sunshine, Tampa Bay Golf Courses and Stripper Bars, fresh cut grass, 20,000 adoring Yankee fans, the feel of tapered wood, of stitched hide...

Or something like that!

Of course, the City NEVER sleeps and neither do the Yankees. They've retained Damaso Marte and Andy Pettitte, signed Free Agent Pitchers, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett and 1B Mark Teixeira, traded Utility Infielder Wilson Betemit for 1B/OF Nick Swisher and taken a flyer on 2003 Rookie of the Year, Angel Berroa, to compete with incumbent Cody Ransom for the Utility IF job that belonged to Betemit.

They also bring back a bevy of critical performers in varying states of rehab, after 2008 injuries or maintenance procedures during the offseason. Of those, #3 starter, Chien-MIng Wang, has been handled with suitably delicate care and given an entire Winter to rest an injury that Brian Bruney returned from in three months - he will be ready. Similarly, Closer - Mariano Rivera, who had an effortlessly dominant 2008, had a straightforward procedure on calcified bone in his shoulder, not impacting on structure - he should be ready to go.

Not as assured, but with a strong track record for healing, being honest with everyone about his health and finding a way to contribute is DH Hideki Matsui, who carried the moribund Yankee offense until injuring his knee in June, while leading the AL in hitting at .323. Matsui will be what he says he can be and the depth at corner OF makes it of little concern, if he can go - he will, if not Damon slides to DH and Swisher is in LF.

But the one critical and irreplaceable Yankee part is the injury that causes the most uncertainty. Unlike Mariano, C, Jorge Posada's shoulder injury was serious and his surgery a major procedure. Despite optimism around his devotion and diligence, the Yankees will not know about Posada for two months and cannot realistically replace what he brings Offensively if he cannot go. In no other area do the Yankees hold as large an edge over their AL rivals as they do with a healthy Posada, anything less than a legitimate Posada year cannot be accounted for and will narrow whatever Yankee advantages exist.

Oh, and this year?

The big, bad press corps is reallyreallyREALLY going to make those Yankees sweat over 'this year's steroid drama' (stop me if you've heard this one before!)...

Those mean, tough vocal fans in opponent ballparks are reallyreallyREALLY going to rattle the Yankees...

Those crafty, worldly, economic geniuses who own and run other MLB clubs are reallyreallyREALLY going to get serious about a Salary Cap that will reallyreallyREALLY help the game...

blah...blah...blah

In other words, or better still, let's use Jason Giambi's words, the former Yankee and former Steroid accusee/center of the circus/source of predicted fan/media ire had this to say about all the 'difficulties' of being a Yankee;

"All 25 guys got along in New York, that was what we had to do. I had a great time and a lot of fun there. In New York, there was always something going on. There were 55,000 fans in the stands every night and it was fun to be a rock star. That's what it felt like."

Like Manny's glowing reviews in LA or Damon's unabashed love for all things 'Yankee', positive reviews from former Yankees are about as welcome in the Yankee-hating Universe as naked photos of Barney Frank (and escort)! So lets not expect these remarks to penetrate what 'everybody knows'. I loves me some Jason, always did, still do. Wish you well Big G!

So much for excitement from THAT angle, lets stick to what we know...the GAME!

Catcher

Jorge Posada
Jose Molina
Francisco Cervelli

We discussed Posada. He is the critical Yankee, and shall remain an unknown hanging over this team. Molina is a brilliant Defender with a rocket arm, but an anemic Offensive player who killed the back end of the lineup in '08. Cervelli will get some exposure as one of the few MLB level players on the Italian World Baseball Classic team. He is one year removed from the horrific, and wholly unnecessary Broken Wrist he suffered in Spring '08 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in September and in Winter and he is ready, if Posada cannot go - Cervelli will play a lot.

First Base

Mark Teixeira
Nick Swisher

Both guys are under 30, have big power from both sides of the plate and can handle the leather.

Enough said.

Teixeira, will play 150 games and Swisher will spell him, while getting serious AB's in LF, RF and DH.

Giambi gave the Yankee serious thump and OBP, but Tex is younger and infinitely more agile with the glove and arm. Swisher is three seasons removed from 35 HR and stardom. As solid as any position on any team in MLB.

Second Base

Robinson Cano

Cano had a down year in '08, but its been overblown. He still hit .307 in the second half and finished with .271/14/72, while handling SIXTY ONE more chances at 2B than his nearest AL competitor. He has the sweet swing, the power, the rocket arm and endless range you dream about at 2B and is only 25.

Short Stop

Derek Jeter suffered two nasty beanings on his left hand on 95 MPH darts from former Oriole starter, Daniel Cabrera that interrupted and then finished his season. Outside of those periods, he was his typical .317 self, spraying the ball, avoiding rally-killing, reliable Defense (I know, I know...one of these years, the Bill James smears are reallyreallyREALLY going to stick!). Just not this year, even with the hand, Derek hit .300 and was an AL Silver Slugger, he turns 35 in June and looks the same as ever.

A rock.

Third Base

The Anti-Christ, Destroyer of Worlds, Devourer of Virgins, Rationalizing, Needy, Awkward...he may be all those things (hey, it worked for Bill Clinton!), but Alex Rodriguez is also a 3B with unrivaled SS range, with a rocket arm, who made only T-E-N errors all season, led the AL in Slugging % (.573), hit .302/35/103 while undergoing constant scrutiny (even I am yawning...).

Like him. DON'T like him. But you cannot get away from his game, which is H-U-G-E.

Left Field

Johnny Damon had a big-time year for the Yankees last year, he was dynamic at Leadoff, hit for power (.461 slugging) and speed (29 SB's), was typical clutch (6-6 game with a walkoff hit!) and did a decent job tracking balls and scaling walls in LF. What he didn't do, what he CANNOT do is throw, and that makes him a liability anytime he has to play the field. Swisher is a solid OF with a decent arm who would be an upgrade Defensively and offer OBP and power from a Switch Hitter. Anytime the Yankees can keep Damon and Matsui OFF the field, it is a plus for the team and with Hideki's knee, it is likely Damon will get lots of DH AB's and allow Swisher to play in LF.

The loser of the CF battle will get innings as a Defensive stopper here at times.

Center Field

The battle is ON!

Speedster Brett Gardner (think Juan Pierre, Joey Gathright....) can run like the wind and steal bases at will...but his bat has little thump. He's an excellent ball tracker with those legs, showed the ability to climb walls and has a solid arm. If he can hit .270, his legs make him an asset, but his Offensive limitations make him a part-time player.

Gardner will compete with deposed incumbent/fan favorite, Melky Cabrera, a wall scaling Defender with a rocket arm who switch hits and has shown promise Offensively, but who bottomed out in the latter months of '08 with terrible mechanics and slothful habits. Like Cano, he had the fear of Yankee banishment put into him and has worked feverishly to retain his job, declining to be the starting CF for the loaded Dominican WBC team in order to compete for CF. If Guru gets a vote, he starts, on a short leash and looks to reproduce his hot April of '08 when he slugged 5 HR and hit .299. With the Yankee offense as strong as it appears on paper, no reason not to carry Melky's arm AND Brett's legs - both are weapons that winning teams need.

Swisher and Damon have both played CF in MLB, if needed.

Right Field

Xavier Nady is simply a solid MLB player. He hits for serious power, 2B's from line to line and HR thump. He plays a better OF than deposed RF Bobby Abreu, but will not hit for as high an average. He should be good to replicate his '08 numbers and the Yankees will sign on for them (25/97).

Swisher and Melky may see time in RF as well.

Designated Hitter

Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada all figure to get plenty of AB's in this catch-all slot for the Yankees. Each is capable Offensively, for reasons we've already discussed.

Utility Infielder

Cody Ransom has good thump and plays reliable Defense anywhere in the IF, but is weakest at SS.

Angel Berroa was once a promising SS but has lost the ability to hit in recent years. Ransom is the sort of reliable reserve Girardi likes and relies upon, seemingly his job to lose.

Starting Pitching

CC Sabathia
AJ Burnett
Chien-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Joba Chamberlain

The #1 is an Ace who is used to carrying his team on his prodigious back and throwing an obscene number of innings in so doing. The Yankees will not push him that way, they have plenty of pitching depth and an ample bullpen, they will seek to limit him to 7 innings per start and hope to have a fresher, more representative CC in the playoffs then he was able to be after brutal workloads in '07 (Cleveland) and '08 (Milwaukee). His larger than life persona was MADE for the big stage and it is tough to imagine him NOT thriving. He will bring 98 MPH from the LH side every five days.

The #2 is a dominant thrower, he has the 98 MPH heat from the RH side and the backbreaking curveball and can make lineups fold up. He is also not a strong instinctive thinker on the mound and can overthrow or encounter stretches of wildness at times. Like CC, he will not be asked to work any miracles or carry the club, just to show up every five days, take the ball, take care of his health and give the team a chance to win. If he does that, with his stuff, they will win more than lose.

The #3 is an Ace who has been pitching his whole career against opponent #1's and has gone 54-20 in that slot. Presumably, facing #3's, he should be similarly effective. He brings 96 MPH sinkers from the RH side, has extensive Yankee experience and has thrown shutout 2-hitters at Fenway and outdueled new teammates CC and AJ on numerous occasions.

The #4 is a veteran LH winner, whose cutter/slider/sinker mix contrasts beautifully with the power arms around him in the rotation. He gives the Yankees veteran poise, presence, 200 Inning consistency and, like Wang, will be pitching against the weakest opposing starters of his career in the #4 slot. He's proven and a beloved team leader for his former catcher/Manager Joe Girardi, his teammates and the fans and can counsel the big baby at 3B on the 'horrors' of the Scarlet 'S'!

The #5 has the best stuff of them all. Throws 101 RH heat with 4 plus pitches to accompany that, command of the strike zone, poise...the whole package. Joba Chamberlain against #5 starters is practically unfair.

Phil Hughes, 22 and Alfredo Alceves, 26, are both capable MLB ready RH starters who will absorb the bulk of spot starts and injury starts as well as play a role in long-relief.

Relief Pitching

LH specialist, Damaso Marte is dominant when left in that role and struggled when the Yankees tried to expand it last season after joining New York.

Lesson learned. Girardi spoke honestly about the misuse and the Yankees went out and retained him. meaning they intend to use him in an optimum, specialist role.

LH, Phil Coke, was originally part of the Marte deal but instead came up to the Yankees in late Summer and was Mike Stanton reborn, whistling 96 MPH past AL hitters like they were tied-up. If he can be ANYTHING like that guy, he will be the LH answer at set-up.

RH David Robertson, Jonathan Albaledejo, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras all have strikeout stuff and complimentary styles, expect each to get serious innings in the Yankee pen. Robertson is a 4 pitch artist, Albaladejo a grinding strike thrower, Ramirez a power-changeup strikeout machine (better K's per 9 innings than Joba) and Vera brings 98 MPH low heat with a wild windup that unsettles hitters.

RH set-up man, Brian Bruney, showed up from Arizona three years ago with a 98 MPH heater, a chip on his shoulder and fat belly. He followed up a sizzling 0.87 ERA debut in late '06 with a mediocre, overweight '07 and you wondered if that was why an arm like his was available in the first place.

Then he showed up last spring, 25 pounds lighter, focused like a laser beam and dominating to the tune of 1.59 ERA in the early going, before suffering the freakish injury to his Lisfranc that Wang suffered a month later. The old Bruney would have been surly and gotten fat while rehabbing, the new Bruney worked his ASS off, showed up late season and dominated again (1.96) while clearly establishing himself as the primary setup guy. In 2009, he claims that he is even fitter and more focused, a new dad who 'gets it' and is fully healthy. His stuff is as good as any closer and if his head is where it appears to be, the Yankees are set in the bullpen.

Mariano Rivera, can be 20% less effective than he was in '08 and still be a huge plus at Closer. No human being should be able to Strike out 77 to 6 walks and surrender only 47 total base runners in 70+ innings, blowing only ONE save along the way... Mo does it so casually and with such quiet grace...it's hard to overstate. The best player, at his role, I've ever seen in Baseball. If his performance DOES decrease by 20%, his ERA would 'balloon' to 1.68!

Coaches

Former Manager of the Year and Yankee World Series hero, Joe Girardi is back for his second go-around. Last Spring, the Yankees left camp loaded for bear, only to spend a month in the rain, watch the never-before-hurt Posada blow out his shoulder in Game 2 and miss the first couple of games in his office under quarantine with the flu! He's been a Yankee, so the circus is as second-nature to him as it is to the rest of us and the experiences of '08 and seeing Sydney Ponson and Darell Rasner trot out for 25% of his team's starts HAVE to make any 'problems' he is facing now seem miniscule. He knows what he has and knows, if he keeps them healthy and avoids fueling the distraction machine - his team will win 100 games and return to the postseason.

Former Manager of the Year, Tony Pena slides over to bench coach, providing the team with more of a players perspective and a second Spanish speaker (Girardi) as well. Rob Thomson moves from the bench, where he was miscast, to 3B. Newcomer Mick Kelleher, takes over for Pena at 1B and Kevin Long (hitting), Dave Eiland (Pitching) and Mike Harkey (Bullpen) return to their roles.

Ownership

GM Brian Cashman has done everything humanly possible to stock this team and its farm system (AAA Scranton-Wilkes/Barre won its league and finished Second overall for the level, AA Trenton repeated as league Champion, AA Champion and MiLB Organization of the Year) and should be able to concentrate on the draft and international signings, that is IF nobody makes a pitch for one of the Yankee corner OF's and brings the specter of Manny back into his ear!

Hal Steinbrenner seems to have taken the reins as the public voice of the Steinbrenner family, after Hank's boozy bluster. Hank's outbursts were often distractions, but he was right about Moose and right about Joba, if he has something else to say - let him say it and lets see if he's right again.

The Yard

We'll find out on April 16...the moment it opens its gates, the clamor, the nonsense, the haters will...poof...disappear and perhaps, if the WBC doesn't get anyone hurt and the calamities of early seasons recent don't rear their ugly heads - the Yankees can avoid spotting their rivals the first two months of the season and get off strong early. If they do, and are well positioned on June 1, it should be a magical first season in the new Palace in the Bronx.

Guru will be there for every one of the 162 games with Game reports that go in-depth, pitch by pitch, to bring you the best Yankee coverage possible...with NO Gossip, NO Payroll and NO Drug Tests.

If you like the G-A-M-E, and only the game - I'll catch you here on The Magic Carpet!

Posted by Matthew at 09:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As most of you realize by now...that OTHER stuff that has the Baseball media and SAH* twisting to keep their VG booty-shorts from getting all twisted up (hint: Let 'em ride up the hips, they stay better and look wonderful~!~!~!) isn't going to get much air here on The Magic Carpet, but I will post that old quote which explains why...written by the best dialogue guy ALIVE, David Milch, for his 'Deadwood' character, Al Swearengen, who was immortalized by the incomparable, Ian McShane;

"I'm a purveyor of spirits, dope included, and when chance affords, a thief, but I ain't no fucking hypocrite"

Whatever Guru's flaws may be, and they are too numerous to catalog - they do NOT include judging people I do not know for behavior that does not offend me. Bill can spend his days turning young things into humidors and ballplayers can do whatever it is they do to prepare, we're cool.

Oh, and to this observer, the hard-body workaholic who treats his job and body like a finely tuned tool-of-the-trade is no concern - as opposed to the talented schlub who reports 20 lbs. overweight, sheds 10 and proclaims himself 'ready' - he is screwing me AND his team far more.

Guru is a SS/3B and the difference is WEIGHT...fit and trim are what you need to play baseball at whatever YOUR best is. That mattered to me when I was in my athletic prime and the most I ever got paid was $400 a month and a monkey-free room in Costa Rica...today, in my mid-'40s and relegated to only Softball, my skills will always separate me from the modest competition and the belly isn't going to change that. But every step on the field is not what it can be because of the weight and the impact it makes on a players center of gravity. Moves that have been second-nature since little league are altered when you aren't trim, you risk injury and you cannot achieve excellence (unless you're Babe Ruth or Tony Gwynn!).

Bottom line? Spring Training is Boot Camp, try and shut out the noise about gossip, drugs and paychecks and focus on what really matters about this process - all are FIT and stay HEALTHY.

Let's hope that the World Baseball Classic and the SAH* do not take any important players out due to health or stupidity, let's see HEALTHY rosters doing their fighting on the field, in the GAME. I cannot remember the last season the Yankees didn't have serious injuries change the season before June and with 4 Starters playing big innings in the WBC.

1.) Yankees in the World Baseball Classic

13 Yankees will be on WBC rosters.

Jeter is the lone USA player (more in a minute)

2 - Mexico (Alfredo Alceves, Jorge Vasquez)
2 - China (Zhenwang Zhang, Kai Liu)
1 - Panama (Jahdiel Santamaria)
1 - Italy (Francisco Cervelli)
6 - Dominican Republic (Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Damaso Marte, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez)

I will be watching warily...happily (for health reasons), Chien-Ming Wang (Taepei's Ace), Jorge Posada (Puerto Rico's Catcher), Hideki Matsui (Japan's LF) and Mariano Rivera (Panama's, well really the WORLD's Closer) will all remain safe in the Tampa Sunshine with their trainers.

What is SO amazing about the game and the way it has changed, is the Yankees have a team that actually looks like the City they play in...with players on 6 of the 16, representatives from 3 others kept out and have also had players who would have been eligible to play for Australia (Graeme Lloyd, '96 World Series hero), Cuba (current 1B/DH backup, Juan Miranda COMES from the national team, but his defection precludes him playing..., and of course, El Duque!) and Venezuelan Bobby Abreu was a terrific Yankee who we wish well (LOSE THE WEIGHT, Bobby...love ya, but if you want to know why Bobby struggles at the wall - check above his belt).

They've had 4 Canadian Players, the first in '05 and the last in '06, that's 1905- Jim Cockman (hmmm...stop it!) and 2006 - Aaron Guiel. Guru cannot find any Korean-born Yankees, but certainly Byung-hyum Kim has carved out a memorable place in their history.

So that is 14 of the 16 Countries who've been represented in Pinstripes. Cannot find any from The Netherlands, and no player has yet come to MLB from South Africa.

2.) The Mighty Dominican Republic

While we are talking about the WBC...how about the Dominican Team?

Vladimir Guerrerro is out. Carlos Pena can't play. David Ortiz may not play.

That's a T-O-N of offense to lose, right?

This is how they might roll with such debilitating losses:

LF Alfonso Soriano
2B Robinson Cano
1B Abert Pujols
3B Alex Rodriguez
DH Manny Ramirez
SS Hanley Ramirez
RF Jose Guillen
C MIguel Olivo
CF Melky Cabrera

Not to mention 2B Placido Polanco, SS Jose Reyes, 3B Aramis Ramirez, 3B Adrian Beltre...

They don't scare you with Offense at C and CF, but Olivo and Melky will provide Defense. They are overwhelmingly RH offensively (that is where they need Papi and Pena...) and the USA will try and give them a steady diet of Oswalt, Peavy and Verlander to take advantage of the lack of balance...

Still, Pujols, Rodriguez, Ramirez at 3-4-5 is a historic assemblage of lumber.

The story on the Hill is just as impressive...Fausto Carmona, Edinson Volquez, Francisco Liriano, Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnny Cueto in the rotation mix with a FEAST of power arm relievers.

The DR is loaded and likable.

3.) So Gu, WhoYaRootinFer?

Didn't I just give it away?

I love my Captain, but #2 is in deep with a cast of creeps on the USA roster.

Guru don't root for the likes of Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy, AJ Pierzynski, Chipper Jones, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis...can't hide those boys behind Red, White and Blue...

I must commend Youkilis, for his remarkably adult and sensible comments re: Affair d'Alex, but did you hear Oswalt? That guy is a piece of shit from the bottom of the pits of hell.

How perfect that he and Houston found one another!

Anyway, with Alex, Cano and Melky in the lineup, joining Alfonso and Manny and Pujols and Marte, Veras and Edwar in the pen...make this Yankee fan's WBC cap read;

'DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - 2009 WBC CHAMPIONS'

* Society of American Hypocrites (no, no, no..this is NOT another name for the 'Cato Institute!)

Posted by Matthew at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

February 12.

The Second Anniversary of The Magic Carpet.

The 400th Column.

Cool!

What a ride it has been.

Guru didn't actually start WRITING the column until April 23, but I joined TSN and began meeting many of you in the Topic areas on 2/12/07 and began to think about what I wanted to say.

It didn't take Guru long to determine that the perspective he has on Sports and Life was SERIOUSLY under-represented at TSN, in fact, in the entire Sports Media - which is certainly odd, given that Guru lives in America's largest city, roots for America's most popular Baseball Team and most popular Football team, has mainstream tastes in most of life and knows his stuff.

So I decided, from column O-N-E that I was going to take the matter on DIRECTLY...

There are two resources I've recently used in Columns for my website (with our friend Malvolio)...

VagabondGuru.com

The first one, a quote from legendary comedian, Lenny Bruce, captures my approach to the world perfectly...



The second one, a quote from Rabbi Sherwin Wine, explains why we do so much fighting...here on The Magic Carpet, on TSN, in our lives and in American society...

'There are two visions of America. One precedes our founding fathers and finds its roots in the harshness of our puritan past. It is very suspicious of freedom, uncomfortable with diversity, hostile to science, unfriendly to reason, contemptuous of personal autonomy. It sees America as a religious nation. It views patriotism as allegiance to God. It secretly adores coercion and conformity. Despite our constitution, despite the legacy of the Enlightenment, it appeals to millions of Americans and threatens our freedom.

The other vision finds its roots in the spirit of our founding revolution and in the leaders of this nation who embraced the age of reason. It loves freedom, encourages diversity, embraces science and affirms the dignity and rights of every individual. It sees America as a moral nation, neither completely religious nor completely secular. It defines patriotism as love of country and of the people who make it strong. It defends all citizens against unjust coercion and irrational conformity.

This second vision is our vision. It is the vision of a free society. We must be bold enough to proclaim it and strong enough to defend it against all its enemies.'

- Rabbi Sherwin Wine


That first column pretty much says what NEEDS to be understood by the legions of Fans and contributors here on TSN (and elsewhere) whose approach to NYC and Sports is based upon 'Fantasy'...

NYC aint a Fantasy, its R-E-A-L-I-T-Y.

And that pisses a lot of people off.

New York City Sports: Money & Reality...

So has Guru in his two years here. A LOT of people!

Some of those angry confrontations I regret, seriously. I've written here often of my mistake in being harsh and creepy with a thoughtful young man named 'Blake Street Bomber' in my early writing and I've tried to learn the lesson of my mishandling of that conversation ever since.

'But Guru, you still go OFF on other people all the time and say nasty things...what gives?'

Guru is a thinker, and a gentleman and does not believe in EVER throwing the first punch.

But, if someone self-identifies as a 'Hater', of my teams, my city, my viewpoint...they are going to take a 2 X 4 upside the head on The Magic Carpet - I don't throw the first punch, but once you get in my face, I will RAIN DOWN on your (expletive). Without fail. I know it can be ugly, but there is a lesson in the madness...

It's this...if you tell someone to 'Go (expletive) Yourself' - you need to know they are going to respond, forcefully.

You see, there are a lot of 'givens' out there in the Site readership...belief systems that many of you take as GOSPEL, but that are really just OPINIONS and BIASES - this mythology is something Guru has observed all his 45 years and, in my view, it is the single biggest cause of American decline in my lifetime.

Many of you spend your energy HOPING...agitating, conniving, arguing for a world that looks like your fantasy...its why when Steroids were pumping up gritty white guys like Lenny Dykstra, boy-next-door white guys like Mark McGwire and pretty-boy white guys like Brady Anderson, the clamor was pretty tame. But when the target is surly, cocky, black Barry Bonds or arrogant, graceless Alex Rodriguez, many of you are desperately concerned with the 'integrity of the game'.

I've yet to hear a call for the Phillies of '93 to return their Steroid addled NL Pennant, but I've read so much nonsense and outright stupidity about Bonds and Rodriguez, it makes me sick. If you say you're about 'rules', then they have to apply to ALL and, by allowing it to have been an open-secret for decades, a slap-on-the-wrist in the NFL, we've all acknowledged that is allowable.

The O-N-L-Y reason that we hear it about Bonds and Alex is that many of you HATE THEM and would use any excuse to go after them. Same reason Manny hears it about nonsense, while providing HOF performances, winning teams and a work ethic that is unrivaled. Same reason Terrell Owens is treated like a freak show and never appreciated for what he IS, the 2nd Best Wide Receiver in NFL history.

It's all there is Rabbi Wine's quote.

And it isn't just YOU.

Sports figures like Curt Schilling, Mark Attanasio, Tom Hicks...Announcers like Joe Buck, Peter Gammons, Bob Costas (a guy from Queens who lives in St. Louis - you know we are going to struggle!)...Sports media and TSN are vast oceans of White Conservatives talking to one another and reinforcing their own biases. You can almost taste the idea of the world they desire...

Scrappy white ballplayers (Dustin Pedroia)...respectful, QUIET minorities (Garret Anderson) and immigrants (Albert Pujols)...Salary caps for ALL, with no guaranteed contracts, loads of small-market winners and small-market values. Nobody having sex with anyone but their spouse, overt Christianity, no Gays, no chatty 'look-at-me' types, no rich, big-city owners paying H-U-G-E dollars for top talent, no drug use - recreational or performance-enhancing...

If some of that hits home with you, chances are you are going to be offended by Guru.

Guru likes EXCELLENCE. Guru would rather see Barry Bonds hit than Sean Casey, Guru doesn't care that Pujols is a quiet guy - he knows that the numbers point to Albert as one of the greatest to ever play and the best hitter in the game since Bonds. Guru would rather watch Alex Rodriguez play 3B for the Yankees - a cat-quick, 6'3" stud with a booming bat, rocket arm, fast legs, lightning reflexes than nice-guy, former Yankee 3B Scott Brosius, who was undeniably CLUTCH but possessed pedestrian gifts.

I am interested in the best athletes, not the overachieving little guy - I barely notice those types. The reason I am a Sports fan is to see the biggest, the fastest, the BEST. I'm a fan of anyone who is GREAT, I may despise Schilling, probably more than any other American - but that is for his POLITICS and personality, both of which are pure human garbage...but I greatly admire his work on a Hill, he is a stud. 25 years ago I came up with something called the 'Dwight Gooden Rule', which simply means that even if a guy is Met (or Red Sox...), if he is undeniably GREAT - I want to see him play and respect him as a player. You won't here Guru ripping on those types here on The Magic Carpet.

Guru doesn't 'hate' places, every place has its own merit and flavor.

Guru doesn't 'hate' teams, every team has its fans and its history.

Guru DOES 'hate' individuals, if you are an outspoken bigot, evangelical, homophobe, small-minded, xenophobe, jingoist...you are not going to like what I say here, best to avoid it and we won't have to have a 'go'.

Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra...they all were Red Sox and they beat the Yankees again and again, but their greatness was undeniable AND their respect for the Opponent was never in doubt. Men like those consider Yankees like Jeter to be COLLEAGUES and conducted themselves accordingly. When Manny or Pedro are 'stylin', they are celebrating themselves but not going at the opponent - unless the opponent has been in their face. I used to LOVE those Red Sox teams, when they were built upon those types of players.

When the Red Sox got Schilling, Millar, Papelbon, Youkilis, Pedroia...they changed, instead of Manny, Pedro, Nomar, the leader was Jason Varitek - sort of the Anti-Guru, and his trogolodyte moron friend, Trot Nixon. Guys like Varitek think the Yankees and NYC are their 'enemies', they resent having to hear so much about them and get angry when the Red Sox WIN and the talk is still about...the Yankees.

Thing is, Jason...Derek Jeter doesn't need to wear a 'C' for everyone to know who the Captain is.

It's no coincidence that Red Necks like Red Sox. Guru knows Red Necks, he's got a trailer-park living, beer swilling, pickup truck driving Cousin named John William Hines whose sitting in a Limestone County hospital right now who he loves to pieces and is praying he recovers. John is a Red Neck and we're cool, because John is NOT a bigot, NOT a homophobe, NOT an evangelical, NOT anti-immigrant.

Nothing to fight about.

Besides, JW is 6'5", 280 - so fighting with him would just not be smart.

Guru is smart.

An old High School Baseball buddy who I recently discovered on 'Facebook' and I had an argument about politics (he is FAR to the Left of Guru) and he called me a 'Self-righteous, know-it-all'.

I liked that so much, and found it so accurate that I've placed it on my TSN Profile and I might have a T-Shirt made!.

Being on Facebook and getting pounded by those on the Left and being on TSN and hearing it from the right tells me something...

I must be getting it correct. Driving down the middle of the road, between the two force that are driving us off the cliff...and I expect to be doing it for a long time. Those of you who enjoy the ride, strap in your Carpet-belts...the ride is going to continue to be bumpy, but I hope you'll agree...

It's worth it.

Posted by Matthew at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ahhhh....Spring is here and that means the Sports media bring us talk of...

Steroids!

The now annual rite of 'Blockbuster' revelations (that are years old!) and the ensuing witch-hunt...

A cynic might say, it almost seems like a ploy to sell media products!

Still, this is The Magic Carpet, where we observe our promise to you..

'5. NO Gossip

6. NO Payroll

7. NO Urine Tests, NO Blood Tests'

Guru doesn't care about what is in ANYONE's bloodstream and doesn't find 'evidence' in the form of a computer file of names relevant (as I suspect any Judge would agree).

In fact, I've developed a theory over the years listening to more and more of the talk time that used to go towards things like Pitching, Hitting and Fielding wasted on Gossip, Salaries and Drug Tests...the Theory is that ANYONE who is;

a.) Male

b.) Heated up about these topics

Clearly has one (or more) of the following deficiencies;

a.) Insufficiently sized apparatus between the Ears.

b.) Insufficiently sized apparatus between the Legs.

This is easy to test for, IF you are one of the aforementioned types who get exercised about such things, pull down your pants...IF the object you find there is of sufficient length and girth...

THEN you know you are a Moron!

If, however it is extremely small, you might STILL be a moron.

Going through life with a small brain AND a small cock must be trying. I suppose your tired act is somewhat understandable!

Now, while Guru cannot and WILL NOT speak on this topic yet AGAIN, he has invited the 'Great Weitz', Herbie the Bookbinder, who will begin a regular column on The Ice Flow called 'From the Right...' on next Mondays pages, has written a brief missive relating to these allegations. The sentiments, as will soon be clear, are HIS and HIS alone.

Enjoy!

So A Rod tested positive in 03 ..Whatever he took at whatever risk to himself he did it to provide a better show for the fans.

Why do we all act as if we expect him to be the Virgin Mary

Let him drink jet fuel and hit a ball 900 feet.

One has to take some risks to earn $ 27,000,000

I go to watch the game

Everybody remembers Alzado.

Everybody knows what can happen with steroids.

I sort of admire a guy who risks death for my entertainment

Wouldn't it be great if amphetamines were MANDATORY before a game

Players might not last as long ..but that should be their own choice.

Performance enhancing drugs are here to stay

Let the fans benefit by great performances

Ballet dancers now jump lots higher , trapese artists accomplish feats

Why the puritanical crap from the lushed up pot heads who write our sports columns

And let the crooked scum in Congress have hearings about economy, foreign policy, public health, etc

750 people (25 players on 30 teams) don't need government oversight