Yanks Begin Second Half In Good Position
Despite some key injuries and a heavy reliance on home runs, the New York Yankees lead the AL East with the best record in baseball and absent a total collapse should be headed to the playoffs. Winning the division is very important as the Yanks will not want to be involved in the wild card play-in game.
Before we begin planning the Canyon of Heroes parade route, this team is flawed. While Joe "The Binder" Girardi pooh-poohs the heavy reliance on home runs, the fact remains that homer reliance teams run into trouble in October. As I have mentioned in a previous post, no one is having a career year offensively. In fact, as was pointed out in a New York newspaper article, Alex Rodriguez and Russell Martin need to pick up their game at the plate. ARod is the bigger concern in my mind because of where he hits in the lineup. If he is able to put up solid numbers in the second half, the Yankee offense becomes even more difficult for opposing pitchers.
Tonight's series against the Angels will be a good test. If the Yankees continue to get solid pitching from Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia, they should win the division going away. But nothing is a given. Just ask last year's Boston Red Sox.
Got Melky??
In 2005, Melky Cabrera made his major league debut with the New York Yankees. As I recall, he had an inauspicious start that included misplaying a fly ball against the hated Red Sox. Melky came back the following year and played a part in the 2009 World Championship run. And by the way, entering spring training in 2009, he battled Brett Gardner and won the centerfield job. There was something about this kid that I liked.
Unfortunately, Brian Cashman decided to trade Cabrera for Javier Vazquez. There have been reports that Melky liked the nightlife and that was what made him expendable but Cashman denies that. However, Kevin Long has basically said that was the case. So my question is this, if the Yankees believed that this kid could be a starting outfielder why couldn't they have straightened this kid out?? The richest team in all of sports should have been able to hire someone to keep this kid on the straight and narrow. With all of the former Yankees around, they couldn't have one of them get to this kid. How about Bernie Williams or Reggie Jackson??
What Cashman won't admit is that he made a choice: Gardner over Cabrera and he came out on the short end of the stick. For a team that has not had a homegrown outfielder since Bernie, the Yankees should have done everything in their power to improve Melky's work habits. The kid has enthusiasm, a great arm and can hit. He is not going to be a premier power hitter, but he certainly could be possibly a 20-20 guy and drive in 80-100 RBI's depending on where he is hitting in the lineup. How would the Yankee lineup look with Melky in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Nick Swisher in right. With Swisher's contract up at the end of this season, the Yankees could be looking at holes in right and left field next season.
Oh well, I guess there is no sense crying over spilled Melk.
All-Star Game Is Tonight: Who Cares
There was a time when the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was something special. That is why it was called the Midsummer Classic. Seeing Roberto Clemente face Jim Palmer or Mickey Mantle step in against Bob Gibson was special because unless their teams were in the World Series, you would never see these match-ups. Of course, with interleague play, its quite possible you would have seen Derek Jeter face R.A.Dickey or Joey Votto step in against Justin Verlander this year. So much for being special.
I have not watched all of the All-Star Game for years. To me it means nothing anymore. There was a time when there was a ton of pride playing for your league. Why do you think Pete Rose slams in to Ray Fosse at a play at the plate?? (Fosse was never the same after that collision). Could you see that happening tonight??
With free agency, you could be in the NL tonight and in the AL next season. Case in point: Prince Fielder. You didn't see that before as players stayed with the same team their entire career. There was pride in your league and you wanted to win the game just for that reason.
Of course, Bud Selig has tried to give the players soemthing to play for (and a reason for fans to watch) by giving the league that wins the game home-field advantage in the World Series. What a joke. In a sport with the longest schedule, excellence throughout a 162 game season means nothing. The other sports give the advantage to the team with the best record, with the exception being the Super Bowl which is played on a neutral site. Even the alternating year home-field advantage for the World Series was better that the current farce that Selig has created.
As you can tell, I won't be watching much if any of tonight's game. It really doesn't excite me and the whole home-field gimmick pisses me off. The Midsummer Classic is no more. It's just another exhibition game that has fallen into the same category as the Pro Bowl, NHL & NBA All-Star games. Too Bad.
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By the way, the fans in Kansas City are morons for booing Robbie Cano and cheering every time he didn't hit a home run. Once again, Selig screws things up. Have each league pick who will be in the Home Run Derby.
Yanks Split And Lose No Ground
The New York Yankees got a good pitching performance from Freddy Garcia in Game 1 of the split doubleheader but self-destructed in Game 2 and ended the night with a split of the twin-bill with the Red Sox. You would have thought the Yankees got swept based upon some Yankee fans after the 9-5 loss. Quite frankly, it's very difficult to win a doubleheader and you had to think that Boston was due to breakout. In fact, tonight will be a tough one as teams that usually break a losing streak win a few in a row.
With all the issues that the Yankees have had, it is impressive that they are in first place in the AL East and have the best record in baseball. All of this without their staff ace, their second best pitcher, the all-time best relief pitcher and no regular positional player having a career year. None of this means that a trip down the Canyon of Heroes is guaranteed. Plenty of things can happen between now and the end of October and regular season performances mean nothing in the playoffs. The key for the Yankees will be to win their division, have no more injuries and hopefully be firing on all cylinders heading into October. So until then, let's enjoy where the Yanks are sitting right now as we head into the All-Star break and take a chill pill if they happen not to win this evening. Remember, baseball is a marathon not a sprint.
Yankees Draw First Blood With 10-8 Win
The New York Yankees erupted for four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-8 at Fenway Park. In a game that has become familiar when these two teams meet, especially at Fenway, the Yanks blew a 5-run lead and and fell behind 7-6 heading into the 7th. After Robinson Cano was called out on strikes, Mark Teixiera delivered with a long triple to center field which put the Yankees ahead 8-7. Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez added to the lead with RBI's and the team of David Robertson and Rafael Soriano held the fort to secure the victory.
The Yankee victory gives them an 8 1/2 game lead over Boston and a 5 1/2 game lead over second place Baltimore. As a fan, the length of Red Sox - Yankee games is borderline ridiculous. It makes it pretty difficult to watch. The hype build-up for these games is over the top and you really need to take a step back and realize that this is not a playoff series. The criticism of Hiroki Kuroda by some Yankee fans is not justified. Kuroda has pitched well up to last night and it was evident that he did not have his best stuff. However, he did give the Yankees nearly 6 innings which allowed Joe "The Binder" Girardi to conserve his bullpen with a doubleheader today.
A split today would be great ensuring that the Yanks could be in the same position as they were on Thursday, 7 1/2 games ahead of Boston. The key for the Yankees is to get ready for the second half of the season and not worry about their blood rivals. Freddy Garcia will start Game One and Phil Hughes will go in Game Two. Of course the late game is on FOX which means we will have to endure the authoritative duo of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.
I’m Back
Been awhile since my last post but I will be back tomorrow with post on Yanks-Red Sox game.
End Of An Era
The New York Yankees suffered more than a 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals last night. They lost the one constant they have had for the last 15 years. The one advantage they have had over every team in major league baseball. When Mariano Rivera crashed into the outfield wall at Kaufmann Stadium, the greatest closer in the history of baseball probably ended his career. It shouldn't end this way but it is hard to imagine that the 42 year old first ballot hall of famer will ever pitch again. A torn ACL and meniscus is hard to overcome for a younger man let alone a 42 year old.
Rivera had it all: class and excellence. He is respected by teammates and opponents. The Yankees will never be the same and now the heat will be on to find his replacement. The obvious choice will be David Robertson. Robertson has been outstanding as the Yankees main set-up guy, a similar spot that Rivera held back in 1996 for John Wetteland. The pressure will be on this young man from Alabama. It will be his job to replace a legend, not an easy task.
This Yankee team is floundering now. The middle of the line-up, particularly Robinson Cano and Mark Teixiera, are struggling. The starting pitching is in disarray. And now the bullpen will be put to the test as their main constant is gone for the season and possibly for good. We will learn a lot about this Yankee team. Will they be able to overcome this devastating blow?? Or with an aging line-up and inconsistent starting pitching will they fade away? The way things look now, this team is in trouble and someone will need to step up and start producing.
Yankees Limp Out Of Bronx
The New York Yankees dropped 2 out of 3 against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium as they head to Kansas City for a 4 game series against the Royals. The three game series against the Orioles saw poor pitching and poor hitting. The Yankees only scored 3 runs against the young Orioles. The height of ineptitude was being defeated by Brian Matusz, who had not won a game in a year.
Mark Teixiera is having one of his typical slow starts and Robinson Cano is struggling big time leaving the Yankees middle of the lineup totally unproductive. The starting pitching has been brutal and tonight will send rookie David Phelps to the mound to face the young Royals. You would think that the Royals would be the perfect tonic for the Yanks. But without Nick Swisher in the lineup, weak production from the 3-4-5 hitters and getting no production from Russell Martin, it's difficult to know what to expect. It's still early, but something needs to turn around soon or the natives in Yankeeland are going to be looking for some scapegoats. Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi anyone???
Browns Take Richardson & Weeden
The Cleveland Browns had an interesting first round of the NFL Draft by moving up from number 4 to number 3 and selecting Alabama running back, Trent Richardson and then using their second number 1 pick to select Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden. In the second round, the Browns picked right tackle Mitchell Schwartz from California and in the third round selected defensive tackle John Hughes from Cincinnati.
The selection of Richardson made sense to me. In January, I was not in favor of drafting Richardson because I thought that the Browns should re-sign Peyton Hillis and then draft Justin Blackmon. Once Hillis went to Kansas City, I then changed my mind and felt that the Browns could get Richardson and then select a wide receiver with their second pick in the first round. This leads to Brandon Weeden.
It is evident that the Browns were not comfortable going into the 2012 season with Colt McCoy as the quarterback. Mike Holmgren and Company tried to acquire the second pick of the draft so that they could draft Robert Griffin III. When Washington out bid them, the Browns obviously started to look at Plan B. Apparently, Plan B was Brandon Weeden.
Weeden is 28 years old and has had a successful college career. He stood toe-to-toe against RGIII and Andrew Luck this past season with Weeden's Oklahoma State team defeating Baylor and Stanford. Weeden is bigger than Colt McCoy and has a stronger arm than McCoy. I have given McCoy the benefit of the doubt. By that I mean that I believed that he suffered from a lack of receivers, a lack of a consistent running game and a struggling offensive game plan. However, physically McCoy may not have the ability to compete as a starting quarterback in the NFL or at the very least as a starting quarterback on a team with many needs.
There is an opinion on the part of some that a franchise quarterback brings up the level of play of those around him. I think it's safe to say that McCoy does not have the ability to do that. The big question now is whether or not Brandon Weeden has that ability. Weeden will come in with a rookie running back as the number one guy in Trent Richardson and the selection of Schwartz would seem to mean that he will be starting at right tackle. The wide receiving corp remains the same. Weeden will not have a Justin Blackmon to throw to and instead will have Greg Little as his go-to-guy.
Whether Weeden knows it or not, the direction of this franchise will weigh heavily on his shoulders. His success or failure could also impact the future of Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur. Holmgren's reputation is that of an offensive guru who knows quarterbacks. The selection of McCoy was in the third round and he basically took a chance on him. But the selection of Weeden is different. He picked Weeden in the first round. He's 28 years old so he will be expected to start right away. There will be no apprenticeship.
My patience with Holmgren & Company is wearing thin. I think they have made plenty of mistakes and I did not appreciate the comments made by Holmgren when he said that we as fans just need to get over what happened in the past. Sorry Mike, as a fan the past does matter particularly when last season we saw no hope. Instead what we saw was an offense that was worse than the Brian Daboll-led one in 2010. I can take losing if I see some progress. If I see some young players who give you the belief that things will get better. The Browns have some of those type of players on defense. But in today's NFL, it's all about being able to score. That's why there will be plenty riding on Brandon Weeden. If Weeden does not succeed, this franchise will go backwards for another 5 years and Holmgren, Heckert & Shurmur won't be long for Cleveland, Ohio.
Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering how long it will be before Kim Kardashian dumps Kanye West, here's what is on my mind this morning:
* The Yankees opened up their series against the Texas Rangers with a 7-4 win last night highlighted by a strong performance by CC Sabathia, a 4 hit game by Derek Jeter and a 3-run homer by Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees have a tough week ahead as they have two more games with the Rangers before they go home to take on the Detroit Tigers.
* Have to wonder why Joe "The Binder" Girardi used Sabathia in the 8th inning last night raising his pitch total over 100, the most he has thrown this year. It's a long year and with David Robertson fully rested I wonder whether if it made sense. I guess we will find out later in the season if CC begins to falter.
* Eric Chavez' performance at Fenway Park on Friday is why I felt it was important for the Yankees to bring him back. This guy is a professional hitter and if not for injuries would have had some pretty impressive numbers for his career. It seems like he loves playing at Fenway Park as evidenced last season in a late August series against the Red Sox.
* John Kruk continued his Yankee bashing on Sunday as he ripped Nick Swisher for over celebrating his double that put the Yankees ahead in Saturday's game against the Red Sox. Kruk said that Swisher's actions were totally uncalled for and it might set Nick up for getting plunked. The former Fat Phillie (he's still fat just not a Phillie anymore) went on for quite a bit. My question for Kruk: what did you think when John Papelbon would scream on the mound after he completed a save?? Or how about the gyrations of Jose Valverde?? It seems the Fat Phillie doesn't like the Yankees. This is the same Fat Phillie who last season picked the Red Sox to win the AL East and that the Yankees would not even make the playoffs. Kruk is a joke who tries to create this persona as a beer swilling regular guy just talking sports. Terrible.
* With Phoenix knocking out the Chicago Black Hawks last night, the Western Conference survivors are not your traditional NHL powers. The Coyotes will take on the Nashville Predators while the St. Louis Blues will face-off against the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings-Blues series should be a good one.
* Heard an interesting stat about Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick: in 30% of the games he played in this season he allowed only 1 goal or less. That is simply incredible and would seem to give Team USA another option in goal for the Sochi Olympics along with Ryan Miller and Jimmy Howard.
* So happy that the New York Rangers defeated Ottawa last night to force a Game 7 for Thursday night at MSG. I really dislike the Senators and I think Chris Neil is a huge punk. Here's hoping the MSG faithful can inspire the Rangers to a big win.
* I don't understand why these NHL games are spread out so much. The only game tonight is the Florida-New Jersey contest. Washington and Boston don't play until tomorrow and the Rangers series resumes on Thursday. No reason why the Bruins aren't playing tonight and the Rangers on Wednesday unless both arenas are occupied by their respective NBA teams.
* Will be interesting to see what happens in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver and Detroit as a result of their first round defeats.
* Kudos to the University of Arkansas for firing Bobby Petrino. Read an interesting article about how Petrino hired his mistress over a much more qualified woman which once again illustrates the unbelievable power that these college football coaches have at these universities.
* The NFL Draft begins on Thursday and it appears that the number 4 pick owned by the Cleveland Browns is the most unpredictable at this point. Rumors abound as to what the Browns may do including the possibility that they could make a trade with St. Louis or Miami. If it were up to me I would keep the pick and take Trent Richardson and then use their second pick in the first round and take the best wide receiver available.
* And finally, as an NHL fan you have to love the coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs on the NBC family of networks. Gary Bettman had quite a coup making this deal with NBC. Now if he can do something about the inconsistent officiating that has taken place he will have really done something. But what do you expect from a marketing guy who doesn't have a clue about hockey.
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