How clutch are the Yankees? Short-sighted people said that this afternoon’s game was a “must win,” and the Yanks delivered. Powered by 13 base hits, including three home runs, they rolled over the Orioles for their first victory of the season. A.J. Burnett had a successful debut in pinstripes, going five and a third to pick up the W. The bullpen went the rest of the way without allowing a baserunner.
A.J. looked absolutely filthy in the first two innings. His fastball ran in the mid 90s, and his breaking stuff was on for the most part. He ran into a little trouble with control in the third, and was a little shaky in the fourth, but managed an easy fifth before hitting 100 pitches with one out in the sixth. The Yanks were up 7-2 at that point, and A.J.’s victory was all but assured.
Nick Swisher, 1 for 1 with a double and a walk heading into the game, took advantage of his opportunity today, going 3 for 5 with a go-ahead homer and a double. It looked like Nick Markakis had a chance to catch the homer, but a fan ended up snagging it once it was out of play. He seemed proud. I’m guessing he was a Yanks fan.
Robinson Cano continued his impressive start with a 3 for 4 performance of his own, including a walk and a home run. After a slow start last year Cano is proving it’s not an April thing. He’s 6 for 11 right now with a double, a homer, and three walks. Best of all, his plate appearances are a lot better than they were at the beginning of last year. He’s working deep counts in some ABs, and when he swings early in the count he’s usually making solid contact. It’s early, of course, just a three game sample, but it’s a welcome sight to see a more discerning Robinson Cano at the plate.
Not to be overshadowed by the offense and A.J., the bullpen did about as well as it could, tossing 3.2 perfect innings, including six strikeouts. Mark Teixeira had two hits, including a game-tying homer in the fourth, his first as a Yankee. Ramiro Pena picked up his first Major League hit in his first Major League at bat. Melky got…an at bat. Way to spoil the fun, Melky.
We’ll do it again tomorrow when Andy Pettitte takes the hill for his season debut in Kansas City for their home opener. Game time is 4:10, so plenty of us will hear John Sterling’s voice for the first time this year on our commute home. Joy.
I heard Sterling and Susan for the first time last night. Unfortunately each was exactly as I remembered.
Swisher needs to play everyday!
Cool thing about going to Catholic school: I get tomorrow off.
I wish I was getting YES announcers tomorrow. Instead I get KC announcers who blow big time. YA!
Cool thing about going to middle school: I have Spring Break.
Bad thing about going to middle school: Being in middle school.
it’s like ‘lol, u awkward.’
Cool thing about going to a Jewish school and not being Jewish…I have today through next Friday off, lol.
Mark delivers a TEX MESSAGE!!!!
This is a nickname that should not be encouraged. Terrible.
Hah you heard that buffoon Sterling right?
You got a better idea?
I’d prefer “Mark Tex the spot” or “Tex Marks the spot” for a cheesy homer call.
However, just about anything is better than “Tex message.”
Sterling already patented “x marks the spot” for nady.
“Teixeira hits a home run!”
The batter has struck the ball with the bat and it has landed outside of the field of play!
Standard Tex messaging rates apply.
Tex HOMER to number 25252525.
What did he say for Swisher?
I heard something about saint nick but that might not have been the HR call.
Sterling still has nothing for Swish. Francesa did an hour on his show today looking for a call. Most of the suggestions were horrendous.
Francesa did an hour on his show today looking for a call. Most of the suggestions were horrendous.
Sadly, that was probably the best hour of radio on his show in years.
he said jolly ole’ saint nick but it wasn’t a homerun call it was just after the hr
This is the Yankees we all knew would be around this year. A good performance by Burnett, although 100 pitches for 5.1 innings is less than desirable. But, then again, I’m just nitpicking. Swisher showed he should be starting every day instead of Nady.
Maybe the “TEX MESSAGE!!!!” is bad, but let’s not forget the classic home run call:
IT’S AN A-BOMB, FOR A-ROD!
With an ump calling any of those close ones for strikes he would have gone longer. This ump did not like the low or slightly off the plate strike. But, liked them high. It was weird.
He was consistent at least. Thats all you can ask for. But yes, he was definitely not giving in to slightly off the plate pitches.
Swisher everday and Nady off the bench makes me more comfortable as a fan. Hopefully Joe G sees this.
I can also picture Nady being very clutch off the bench if he doesn’t K.
Why not Swisher at DH everyday instead of Matsui? Why not play both Nady and Swisher?
Because Matsui’s a better hitter than Nady, and Swisher’s a better defensive outfielder than Nady.
Great outing by Carl Pavano today, btw. Idiot.
I love it when the ERAs of ex-yankee pitchers are in the range of the average age of grandparents…
Days like today are the reason I’m president of the Nick Swisher Fan Club.
I’m happy to be on the board of directors. I believe I was anointed sometime in February. Hope the Giants are really interest in Nady, because while I expect Swish to take over at some (hopefully soon), I don’t want Nady wasting away on the bench if we are considering trading him. If they’re going to keep Nady all year, Swish ought to be starting tomorrow.
I have no problem with outfield depth.
Days like today are the reason I’m president of the Nick Swisher Fan Club.
Wait, YOU’RE president of the Nick Swisher Fan Club?
Honestly, I wasn’t the biggest Swisher fan going into the season, but he’s making me a believer!
Same here. I was a Nady supporter for Spring, but after seeing the game today I think I change my mind. Not just because of the ‘good-game high’ but he just seems like an awesome person and really easy to root for
Cano has 3 walks in 3 games and has the highest batting average of any regular starter on the team. Is this really happening? Or am I dreaming?
Some alternative HR calls
I wanna Tex you up.
Big fly for Big Tex.
That’s why you don’t mess with Tex.
Mark it up to Tex.
Holy George Michael! I want your Tex!
That ball took the Tex-press out of town.
Don’t mess with Tex. I like it.
Agreed. The best one on the list.
shouldn’t it be “Tesh” though?
you can’t mesh with Teix?
I want your tex, hahaha.
If the baseball Gods have any humor they will allow Sidney Ponson to be relieved by Kyle Farnsworth…
Please happen……
Last year i had a job where i worked the night shift and i couldnt watch tv so my only option was to listen to Sterling and Waldman on the radio, i tried for the first couple of games then i found myself just going home and checking the boxscores, they are truly terrible.
Brackman off to a flying start. 2 strikeouts in the first inning, no hits, no walks.
sweet, keep those updates coming if you can….
So far
3 IP
1 H
0 BB
1 R
3 SO
From what I can gather, Ware hit a triple, scored on a sac fly and that’s all he’s given up.
Ooooofffff. Wheels came off in the 4th.
2 wild pitches, 2 walks, Double, fielding error by Brackman, 4 runs scored.
Tack another one on for the 5th.
Brackman’s night is done. Not pretty.
IP 5.0
H 5
R 6
ER 6
BB 3
SO 5
ERA 10.80
The answer is:
the sculptural portrayal of a person’s head and shoulders; the breasts and upper thorax of a woman; the act of arresting someone for a crime, or raiding a suspected criminal operation: a narcotics bust; a failed enterprise; a bomb; alteration of burst; to break something; to arrest for a …
Very nice. Took me a minute to get that one.
As long as he builds innings and strength the first half of the year without getting injured, I think that’s a success.
Brackman doesn’t have that great a pedigree in terms of experience, I would be surprised if he pitched many more then 100/120 innings max this year. He is going to take some time to re-develop.
While we’re doling out the Swisher love, let’s here it for the nice running catch early in the game, and the bodacious back-up of the over-zealous Gardner in the middle. That was certainly a triple, and if it rolled at all, inside-the-park was not out of the question. Swisher did a wonderful thing by being where he was.
that was a very good play when he backed up Gardner. it was a little thing, and i’m not sure anyone in the booth picked up on it. i had the sound off.
Watching the game with the sound off is the greatest thing I ever started doing.
I was listening to the Orioles broadcast. Those guys are excellent, but they did not mention Swisher’s effort at all.
Kay mentioned it. He said, “good job by Swisher to back up Gardner and he fires it in.”
Swisher is a smart player, and with how hot he’s been to start the season I think Girardi would be a retard if he didn’t start him again tomorrow.
Yankees face Sidney Ponson and Horacio Ramirez the next 2 games. Royals can pitch but cant hit a lick (actually wouldve swept the White Sox if it wasnt for Farnsworth) so with only having to face Meche on Sunday (who the Yankees I believe usually hit good) the Yankees should have their first series win of the season, if not their first sweep of the season.
Sidney Ponson and Horacio Ramriez can pitch?
I know we’re now only 1-2, but 21 runs in 3 games ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at either…
Hey can someone explain the difference between control and command? I hear those two terms a lot and I was wondering if there’s anything different between them.
Control is the ability to throw strikes
Command is being precise with your pitches. If the catcher calls for a slider low and away, and you leave it right over the middle of the plate, you didn’t have command of it, though it was a strike, which falls under control.
Thats a good question. I always just assumed command was really really good control. Dividing the plate into 4 quadrants as opposed to 2 halves. As usual, I’m probably wrong about it.
control = ability to get it over the plate
command = ability to put pitches where you want to.
Okay people.
Over/under:
Burnett 17 Wins
Wang 18 Wins
CC 17 Wins
Pettitte 15 Wins
Joba 14 Wins
Coke 5 Wins(from BP)
over
push
over
under
under
Wat about Cokeman
Ah, I deleted it by accident I’d say under. It’s hard to be in the right place at the right time to vulture a win as a reliever. I also don’t see him blowing a lot of leads which tends to get relievers wins when their offense picks them up.
I also see Burnett having a sick sick year. Its kinda crazy to think but even as a 32 year old he still has untapped upside.
True. Today he was leaving some fastballs up and over the middle. When he has all his shit together, he’s really unhittable. If he can stay healthy for the majority of the year it will be a great season for him and us.
Agreed. If he can come off the bench and drop that slider for strike one he will have a long and illustrious career in pinstripes. He was definitely a pleasant suprise. I guess thats what happens when you just straight stockpile power arms, some actually work out.
Under
Push
Over
Under
Under
Over
I would guess Joba 12 wins and Burnett 14-16 and Pettite 13-14.
Didn’t get a chance to watch the game so I’m watching the replay on YES. Right after robbie’s dinger they cut to a shot of everybody shaking Kevin Long’s hand in the dugout. That was pretty cool.
I had an AMAZING time at Camden Yards. Weather was perfect, got to see a lot of “firsts” and a win of course!
Never went to my club level seats..spent the first 8 innings 2nd row from the field down the 1b line and spend the 9th 2nd row behind the dugout!
Haha awesome. Tis a shame that gorgeous stadium goes to waste.
I agree…I love that place. There is so much hatres toward Angelos that people dont want to go there. I have co workers that live there and are O’s fans, but refuse to go.
Melancon 2 innings 3 k’s.
Ugh Brackman didnt look so good in his debut with the yankees either
Don’t be jealous… I’ll be at all three games in KC! The Yankees are my religion. That’s why I have to see them on Good Friday and Easter.