Yankees welcome back Granderson with a win
By
Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun, AP
Following Thursday night’s disappointing loss to the Twins, the Yankees had two things to look forward to: They were coming back home, and Curtis Granderson would be back in the lineup. Their centerfielder had missed just about four weeks with a groin injury, and during that time they went an unspectacular 12-11. After Friday’s game, it sure looks like Granderson is a key part of the Yankee offense.
Swisher Puts The Yanks On Top
The last time the Yankees won a game, they won because Nick Swisher came through big time with a 9th inning homer in Minnesota. His shot wasn’t as dramatic on last night, but it served the same purpose.
It was only the 2nd inning, and Robbie Cano had just reach base thanks to a blown call by first base ump C.B. Bucknor (more on that later). Fausto Carmona, who’s rebounded well in 2010 after two horrid seasons, started him off with a fastball off the plate for ball one, and he probably wishes he did the same with the second pitch. Instead, he hung a sinker that Swish jumped all over, wrapping it around the rightfield foul pole for two runs that felt like 20 given how the team has been swinging the bat.
The score was much more lopsided at the end of the game, but that two run homer increased the Yanks chances of winning by 15%, a sizable mark that early in the game.
Welcome Back, Curtis
Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun, AP
After all that time on the disabled list, Granderson returned Friday and instantly added some length to the Yankees’ lineup, not to mention some much needed lefthanded pop. He flew out in his first at-bat, but drew a five pitch walk next time up. After a grounder the third time up, Granderson took two swipes at bunting Derek Jeter over to second against a very tough lefty in the 7th, but when he couldn’t get it down he took a big cut at a 0-2 fastball right down the middle. The ball flew out to the right-center gap for a double, and reminded us all of what we were missing while Randy Winn and Kevin Russo and whoever else was playing the outfield during Granderson’s absence. He tacked on a hit by pitch to reach base three times in his return to the lineup.
The Goods
Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun, AP
Phil Hughes was pretty darn good tonight following two stinkers, striking out eight guys and allowing just six baserunners (five hits and a walk) in seven innings of work. He threw 76 of his 109 pitches for strikes (69.7%), and got twice as many ground ball outs as fly outs. Oh, and he started the game by striking out the first five batters he faced. That was pretty cool.
Robbie Cano cooled off a bit earlier this month after his molten hot April, but he’s back in the swing of things now. He went 3-for-4 on Friday night, including his third career four-run homer which broke the game wide open late. Cano’s now hitting .390 in his last 14 games, and he’s hit safely in his last 11 contests.
How about Juan Miranda working a bases loaded four pitch walk? Sure, Carmona made it somewhat easy for him, but it’s not uncommon to see guys who were recently called up try to do too much and expand their zone in a spot like that. Also, how about Ramiro Pena‘s 11-pitch at-bat with two men on two batters later? Even though he struck out, that’s great stuff from a guy swinging a a rolled up newspaper.
Mark Teixeira was kickin’ ass and takin’ names defensively in this game. He made several nice plays on balls that took weird hops or were right on top of him. That’s why he makes the big bucks.
Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun, AP
The Yankees certainly benefited from some blown calls by Bucknor at first base in this one. Cano reached in the 2nd despite being obviously out, and then crossed the plate when Swisher homered one batter later. Fast forward to the 7th, and Jason Donald was called out despite beating Hughes to the bag. The next half-inning, Jeter was called safe at first on a questionable call, igniting a four run inning. I’m not complaining, I’ll take the ump screw-ups when they come. They tend to even out over the course of a season.
And finally, nice debut for Chad Moeller. Just missed a homer early in the game, but ripped a double in the 8th. Maybe Joe Girardi won’t be so hesitant to sit Frankie Cervelli once a week now.
The Bads
Really not much to complain about in this one. Miranda smoked a ball to dead center and had nothing to show for it but an out because Trevor Crowe made an absolutely amazing catch (video). It’s good that he crushed the ball, but damn. Back to the dugout he went.
The wave. It can burn in hell. Take that nonsense to CitiField.
WPA Graph & Box Score
MLB.com has the box score, FanGraphs the nerd score.
Up Next
Same two teams tomorrow afternoon in a 1:05pm ET start. CC Sabathia takes on his former team, who will throw young lefty David Huff.
32 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
Time for all the hitters to get hot. We need to steamroll through this next month on a 2-1 clip.
Games like this make me happy.
Agreed. There were barely any frustrating things. It reminded me of how the Yanks played in the 2nd half last year. Easy and fun wins.
My god, do I hate the wave. People started doing it when the game was 4-1? Give. Me. A. Break.
More times than not, the Bleacher Creatures refuse to partake in the ‘waving’. Accurate?
i swore the bases were loaded with yankees when people started doin the wave. extremely annoying
They were. Pena was at bat.
Keyword in that sentence:
They were.
Now hopefully someone can explain why Russo didn’t get the start at 3rd?
So Pena can attempt to stay “sharp”.
I’ve been to 6 games this year, seen the wave at most of ‘em. Nothing you can do except stay in your seat and boo.
O’Neill seemed excited about it.
great win
can’t wait for the circular outcome to return come mid august
this team will be steamrolling
lineup, not outcome*
I effing despise the wave.
Is it just me, or is pitch f/x data not yet available for this game?
Brooks Baseball? Didn’t work for me, either.
Granderson couldnt have returned with better timing. DJ’s likely going to be given tomorrow off, yet, Granderson-Teix-Arod-Cano-Swish should still generate a ton of run.
btw was Swisher hurt after being hit by that pitch? Would’ve thought we’d hear about it by now if he was, but asking all the same anyway.
Thank you mike. Whenever I see the wave going on at the Stadium, I start screaming to bring that crap to Citifield. I hate it so much. Don’t you want to pay attention to the game?
Good, much needed win last night. Anyone think we try and go after a guy like David Dejesus to solidify the outfield or are we set for now after Granderson came back from injury?
Anyone think we try and go after a guy like David Dejesus to solidify the outfield
Not unless a starter goes down for the season, and maybe not even then.
1) DeJesus is good, so he won’t come cheap. Who do you think the Yanks should trade for him? (Remember, you’re trade proposal sucks.)
2) His salary is $4.7 mil (w/ a $6 mil option for 2011 or a $500k buy-out). Cash may not take that obligation, even if a starter goes down.
Yanks are fine as they are. If a starter goes down, I bet they look for a cheaper option in terms of both players and $$$.
(Remember, you’re trade proposal sucks.)
That works both ways. People are constantly over-valuing how much talent it will cost to get player X in a knee jerk response to those who undervalue.
That said, I don’t want any part of DeJesus.
Count me as another one puzzled by Russo not starting at 3B, especially with Cervelli sitting. Lineup looked like a black hole when it came to Peña/ Moeller (TG Randy Winn, albeit the nice guy that he is, got DFAd).
And why couldn’t Mitre go out for the ninth? Only eleven pitches in the 8th and a six-run (at that point) lead? Pitchers being thrown in to give them work and then not available when disaster strikes a day or two later. Is that why 13 pitchers are needed? The new religion of a 7th inning guy, 8th inning guy, etc?
I’d rather see 11 (Gulp!!!- to me that still sounds like a lot) pitchers and more flexibility (bats, legs and gloves) on the bench.
Mark Teixeira is proof that while the common impression is anyone can play first; not everyone can play it well.
It’s nice to see Curtis Granderson back in center again. Is there anyone on the team who looks like he’s having a better time out there than him? So much for New York being a tough place to play, for some guys.
Is there anyone on the team who looks like he’s having a better time out there than him?
Swish?
cervelli?
Favre?
Heh nice write-up, mike. I didn’t check who wrote it but the “kickin ass and taking names” line made me assume it was Mike. Is that weird? Anyway, great game, nice to see Phranchise get back on track.
Those “close” calls at first were pretty grievous. It seemed that every Yankee would end up safe and every Indian would be called out. It surprised me that Cleveland raised no complaints.
But what a good win. I was on the phone for Cano’s homer and started shouting about it before I even realized it was a grand slam. Robbie is just ridiculous this season. It’s hard to believe that last year he couldn’t maintain production at the five hole in the lineup and now he’s looking better than Tex.
“The wave. It can burn in hell. Take that nonsense to CitiField.”
Were you sitting next to me in the Beam Suite last night? Because I swear that’s exactly what my neighbor said. lol My comment was: “How 80s.”
But seriously — that was a nice getting-back-on-track kind of win. Taking the series opener with the B lineup is a nice start to the weekend.
That wave during Pena’s epic at-bat. Now that’s just cruel.
Did anyone else notice Hughes’ reduced velocity as the game went on. In the first two innings – when he was utterly filthy – he was sitting at 93-94, and that’s where we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from him this season. Yet as the game wore on I noticed his velocity go down to 92, and then to 90 in the later innnings. What could be the reason for this. Obviously, I’m concerned when a starter doesn’t maintain his velocity as the game goes on.
I don’t mean to dwell on the negative. It’s just something I noticed. Obviously, no one’s going to make a stink of it because the results were there. But a lot of that had to do with luck, the way the defense played behind him, and facing an inferior lineup IMO. I just wanted to get some thoughts on it…
“He now has one stolen base in the last 16 days. One! If he’s not stealing bases, then what is he good for?”
I don’t know…maybe scoring runs? (35, tied for team lead).
Above-average fielding, when OF has been a horror show at times, this year…
Hitting well over .300 for a month, when the big guns weren’t producing…
Playing every inning of every game for the past month….
Dude had a 2-wk slump.