Spring Game 20: Phillies at Yankees

Joba will try and keep it going today. Nick Swisher is playing 1b today and this is his biggest assett to the team, that he can play multiple positions, I think both he and Nady will get plenty of playing time. We will start seeing the regulars playing more as more and more guys head to minor league camp. The MRI's for Marte and Cano revealed no structural damage which is a sigh of relief. They will rest, and I am sure we will find out later for how long.

Spring Game 20: Phillies at Yankees

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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Yankees at Phillies-World Series Game 3

The Yankees will try and take the lead in the series 2 games to 1. The game starts at 7:57 on FOX. Andy Pettitte is on the mound against Cole Hamels who was the MVP of last years World Series but this postseason has been horrible pitching to a near 7 era. Here are the notes and lineups via Sam Borden and Chad Jennings of the Journal News. The Yankees are 3 wins away from their 27th World Title and first in 9 years.

People often talk about Game 3 as the swing game in a World Series and there's some truth to it: The team winning Game 3 has gone on to win in 35 of 53 World Series that were tied at 1, including each of the last two and nine of the last 10. The lone exception? You probably already know it. The Yankees won Game 3 of the 2003 World Series but then lost three straight to the Marlins to lose the Series.
I really like Andy Pettitte in this spot and the Yankees really have a pitching advantage tomorrow so to me this is a big big game.

The approximately 108 miles from Yankee Stadium to Citizens Bank Park is among the shortest distances between World Series sites. It was 1 1/2 miles from the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium (Yankees/Giants); nine miles from Yankee Stadium to Shea (Yankees/Mets); 15 miles between Ebbets Field and Yankee Stadium (Yankees/Dodgers); 22 miles between Candlestick Park and Oakland Coliseum (Giants/A's); and 98 miles between Memorial Stadium and Veterans Stadium (Orioles/Phillies). Of course, the shortest distance between World Series sites is zero: In 1921 and ‘22, all World Series games were played at the Polo Grounds and in 1944 all games were played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. It is so close in distance the teams have been taking trains to travel from one city to the other.

Tonight is Andy Pettitte's 11th World Series start for the Yankees, which is the second-most in team history. Pettitte passes Waite Hoyt and Red Ruffing, and is now only trailing Whitey Ford, who made an insane 22 World Series starts. He is 3-4, 3.90 in his 10 previous starts for the Yankees, and 0-0, 4.26 in one World Series start with the Astros. Andy has pitched really well in these spots and has been great on the road this season. He is a guy that just blocks everything out and the crowd won't bother him.

Alex Rodriguez had a hit in all nine playoff games leading up to the World Series but is 0-for-8 with six strikeouts in the first two games of the World Series. In case you were wondering, the World Series record for strikeouts is 12, set by the Royals Willie Wilson back in 1980 against - yes - the Phillies. The Yankees would like to see him get going but he is a huge reason they are here to begin with. It will be intersting in this park as the ball really flys.

More evidence why Derek Jeter should always be hitting, instead of bunting: After going 4-for-8 in the first two games, Jeter's career World Series average is .314 (43-for-137) which is fifth-highest all-time among players with at least 100 ABs. Who's ahead of him? Only Lou Gehrig, Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth and Steve Garvey.

Yankees Lineup:
Jeter(SS)
Damon(LF)
Tex(1B)
A-rod(3B)
Posada(C)
Cano(2B)
Swisher(RF)
Cabrera(CF)
Pettitte(P)

Phillies Lineup:
Rollins(SS)
Victorino(CF)
Utley(2B)
Howard(1B)
Werth(RF)
Ibanez(LF)
Feliz(3B)
Ruiz(C)
Hamels(P)

Joe Girardi said in his press conference that Matsui was never really an option and isn't necessarily the first pinch hitter off the bench. He will pick his spots to who to use, Hinske and Matsui will be the main guys I would think. He also announced CC Sabathia will pitch tomorrow on 3 days rest and that Burnett and Pettitte probably would also though he will wait tomorrow to announce the rotation further. He said he would like to save Gaudin until later on in the series out of the bullpen but if he has to be used tonight or tomorrow as a long man he could. Posted by Gary W. Marchese Jr. at 6:55 PM 0 comments Labels: A-rod, Andy Pettitte, baseball, blog, CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Derek Jeter, homeruns, MVP, New York Yankees, offense, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitching, runs

Monday, November 2, 2009

Yankees at Phillies-World Series Game 5

The Yankees will play tonight at 7:57 on Fox, they are one win away from their 27th title.
The Yankees have held a 3-1 lead in the World Series eight previous times and they've won the title each time (six times in Game 5, two times in Game 6). I think tonight is going to be a tough task with Cliff Lee on the mound against them but A.J. Burnett pitched brilliant in game 2 and has done very well in the past on 3 days rest. Here are the pregame notes and lineups via Sam Borden of the Journal News.

The Yankees have used only three starters throughout the postseason and they are the first team to reach the World Series with a three-man rotation since the 1992 Braves (Maddux, Glavine, Avery). The last team to win the World Series with three starters came a year before that, when the 1991 Twins (Morris, Tapani, Erickson) beat Atlanta.

The 15 runs scored by the Yankees in Games 3 and 4 marks their biggest World Series outburst since they scored 18 runs over Games 1 and 2 of the 1998 World Series against San Diego. The Yankees haven't been hitting but I think it is a combination of who is pitching for the Phillies and th small ballpark in Philly.

Mariano Rivera made his 11th appearance of the postseason in Game 4, matching his career high (also 2001). The only games in which he hasn't pitched are Game 4 of the ALCS and Game 1 of the World Series. Rivera has thrown more than one inning five out of 11 times and more than two innings three times, recording a 0.63 ERA in 14 1/3 innings while striking out 13. I wonder with a lead if the Yankees will go to MO in the 8th tonight with a chance to wrap things up, i am guessing yes but we will see.

The middle of the Yankees order hasn't been a consistent producer during the World Series with Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez combining to go 3-for-28 with 13 strikeouts. Rodriguez's two hits, at least, have been meaningful - he homered in Game 3 and drove in the decisive run in Game 4. It looks like A-rod has awoken maybe by getting hit all these times they woke a sleeping giant.

When Johnny Damon stole second and third base in the ninth inning of Game 4, he became the 13th player to record two stolen bases in an inning in the World Series. The last was Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton in Game 3 last year. That was such a heads up play by Damon but I think he gave a lot of people heart failure.

The Yankees have been hit by five pitches in the World Series, one shy of the World Series record. Pittsburgh was hit by six in 1909 and Arizona was hit by six (from Yankees pitchers) in 2001, both of which were seven-game series.

Yankees Lineup:
Jeter(SS)
Damon(LF)
Tex(1B)
A-rod(3B)
Swisher(RF)
Cano(2B)
Gardner(CF)
Molina(C)
Burnett(P)

Phillies Lineup:
Rollins(SS)
Victorino(CF)
Utley(2B)
Howard(1B)
Werth(RF)
Ibanez(LF)
Feliz(3B)
Ruiz(C)
Lee(P)

Ramiro Pena is replacing Melky Cabrera on the roster as he is out with a hamstring injury. The Yankees are able to replace him on the roster with approval by MLB if they feel he won't play anymore games this season. He injured himself late in last nights game running to first base. Posted by Gary W. Marchese Jr. at 5:32 PM 0 comments Labels: A-rod, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, baseball, blog, Derek Jeter, injury, Joe Girardi, Lineups, Mariano Rivera, Melky Cabrera, New York Yankees, notes, Philadelphia Phillies

New York Yankees-World Series Champions

The New York Yankees are once again World Series Champions defeating the Phillies 7-3 last night in Game 6. Hideki Matsui got the well deserved MVP especially after tying the World Series record for most rbi's in a single game with 6, Bobby Richardson was the other one to do it. Andy Pettitte continued to add to his most wins in postseason history with 18 and now has also closed out 6 series in his career also a record. Andy Pettitte also became only the second pitcher to close out all 3 series in the postseason, the other one was Derek Lowe for the Red Sox in 2004 which we try to forget about. Order is now restored to the Universe with the Yankees becoming the 27 time World Champions and making it 2 titles this decade which ties the Boston REd Sox, I hope you beaneaters were watching last night. Derek Jeter had a great World Series, what else is new and A-rod had a lot of huge hits and had the highest avg on the team for the postseason. I will have a lot more later as I am punchdrunk from being at the game last night and I have no idea how I am functioning today. Here are some pictures from the celebration above and now the Parade is tomorrow at 11.









Posted by Gary W. Marchese Jr. at 12:28 PM 0 comments Labels: A-rod, Andy Pettitte, Boston Red Sox, celebration, Championship, decade, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, universe

Friday, January 22, 2010

Baseball News

The New York Mets made a trade today to get another outfielder with the absence of Carlos Beltran for at least the beginning of the season. They traded right handed pitcher Brian Stokes to the Anahiem Angels for Gary Matthews Jr. He isn't the same player he was at one time, but should provide pretty good defense. The reason this deal is ok for the Mets is because the Angels were so happy to get rid of him that they are paying 21 million of the 23 million owed to him over the next 2 years.

This story is fascinating to me if not a little strange. A 23 yr old prospect from the Oakland A's is leaving baseball for the priesthood, this is something you don't see everyday. The really strange thing about it is that he had a great year last year and appeared to be closing in on getting to the big leagues.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed pitcher Jose Contreras. He was ok at one time, never really made it with the Yankees. I guess this is a good move for depth reasons but I just can't see him succeeding in that park. The thing to me is how are the Mets not making any moves for a pitcher when that is what they really need.

Here is a nice article with Curtis Granderson, the new Yankees centerfielder. One of the quotes that came out of this article was this " When you wear it, man it is something, it pops." That was Granderson on wearing the Yankees cap.

Jim Edmonds who was an elite centerfielder at one time but hasn't played since 2008 is trying to get a job, several teams have called him and apparently the Yankees are one of them. I just don't see the Yankees going for this guy, they can stick with what they have or hope to get Damon back or maybe just sign Reed Johnson or someone like that for leftfield or to caddy with Gardner out there. Posted by Gary W. Marchese Jr. at 11:51 PM 0 comments Labels: article, baseball, big leagues, blog, Carlos Beltran, Curtis Granderson, injuries, Johnny Damon, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitching, priesthood, prospect, story, teams

Joba steps up as Yanks fall down

The New York Yankees lost to the Philadelphia Phillies today by the score of 6-2. The big story of the day though was the way Joba Chamberlain pitched. He looked really good today and has now not eliminated himself from the 5th starters competition. I am going to recap the pitchers and then the hitters and then have some notes.

Andy Pettitte made the start for the Yankees, it was his first start against live competition. He pitched 4 innings and gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. I would say it was a pretty good outing for being his first time out with real competition. He was throwing simulated games because of the rainouts. Damaso Marte pitched in relief of Andy and just had a terrible day. He didn't record an out and gave up 4 hits and 3 runs. He left the game after getting hit in the back by a Ryan Howard line drive. He should be ok but he is going to be sore for a while after that. Joba Chamberlain finished the game off with 3 innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run. He walked a batter and had 3 strikeouts.

Francisco Cervelli who survived a scare after getting beaned in the head is tearing it up offensively. He had 3 hits today and is batting 582 in the spring. He has the second highest average on the team. Brett Gardner had 2 hits and Nick Johnson had a hit and rbi. Mark Teixeira, Marcus Thames and Randy Winn each had a hit.

• Andy Pettitte had this to say "I threw a lot of good stuff, a lot of good pitches. My location I thought was fairly good. The balls that they hit, were just balls that I just didn't quite finish on a couple of them."

• Damaso Marte said he is fine after getting hit by a line drive off of Ryan Howards bat. Joe Girardi asked him if he had Bud Seligs signature on his back and he said no just seams.

• Andy Pettitte threw 55 pitches, 36 of them were strikes and Joba threw 47 in the game and about another 15 in the bullpen afterwards.

• Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain are on the same schedule so Joe Girardi said that there is a good chance that Andy Pettitte will pitch in a minor league game in his next start so Joba can make another start

• Tomorrow night against the Rays none of the 5th starter candidates will pitch. Joe Girardi said we will see some of the relievers. Dave Robertson and Chan Ho Park are expected to pitch. Javier Vazquez will start the game.

Posted by Gary W. Marchese Jr. at 9:45 PM 0 comments Labels: Andy Pettitte, competition, concussion, Francisco Cervelli, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, New York Yankees, notes, offense, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitching, story, strikeouts