Bombs away as Yankees top Tigers again
ByThey don’t call them the Bronx Bombers for nothing. Two days after relying on a pair of homers to win the first game of the season, the Yankees clubbed three more en route to a 10-6 win on Saturday afternoon. The game was never really as close as the score implies; they jumped all over Brad Penny early and often, and it wasn’t until the later innings that the Tigers mounted a threat, when the third tier relievers let things get slightly out of hand.
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Biggest Hit: A-Rod opens the scoring
The Yankees haven’t been particularly kind to Penny in recent years, and they took the screws to him again in this one. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira followed Brett Gardner‘s leadoff fly out with a single and a walk, respectively. Alex Rodriguez wasted no time getting his team on the board, lacing the first pitch he saw (a 93 mph fastball outside) into the right field corner to score Jeter and put two men in scoring position with just one outs. It was early, but at +.124 WPA, it was the biggest play of the game for the Yankees. A Robbie Cano single and a Nick Swisher sac fly followed, and New York had a three-zip lead before the second inning.
Honorable Mention: Tex & Martin each add three with one swing
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Mark Teixeira wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to get off to a fast start this year. He clubbed a three-run homer for the second straight game, taking Penny deep on a 1-0 fastball in the second inning to put the Yankees up by six. The Tigers drew to within three by the fifth inning, but Russell Martin effectively put them away with a three-run shot of his own in the bottom half (with two strikes on him and two outs in the inning), his first homer in pinstripes. He’s looked pretty good behind the plate, blocking balls and framing pitches and what not, but his offense has been a pleasant surprise in the two games so far. Martin’s homer was worth 9.4% of the win, Tex’s 9.0%.
Biggest Out: A.J. gets Magglio
The half-inning before Martin’s blast, Detroit mounted a little rally off what had been a cruising A.J. Burnett. The right-hander retired eight of the first nine he faced (four strikeouts) before Austin Jackson took him deep for a solo homer, his lone blemish to that point. The fifth inning rally started rather quickly. Brennan Boesch lined a first pitch fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single, then Jhonny Peralta singled to left on the first pitch of his at-bat. Alex Avila also put the first pitch in play, grounding to Derek Jeter’s right to score Boesch. It looked like a tailor made double play ball off the bat, but Jeter couldn’t reel it in.
After three straight hits on first pitch fastballs, Burnett and Martin went to the hook against Brandon Inge. He ended up bunting the runners to second and third, then A.J. loaded the bases by walking Jackson. It was a classic Burnett meltdown, the kind we’ve seen plenty of times before, so Joe Girardi had David Robertson warming up in the bullpen. With lefty Will Rhymes up with a chance to tie the game with one swing, Burnett did something I don’t ever remember seeing him do: he threw three straight changeups. The first was over the plate for a called strike, the second down below the zone for a ball. Rhymes made contact with the third, grounding it towards first. Tex didn’t have enough time to start the 3-6-3 double plate or get the force out at home, so he just took it to the bag for the sure out.
The heart of the order was due up and two men were still in scoring position, so A.J. was hardly out of the woods. He started Magglio Ordonez out with a curveball for a strike, when got him to foul off a fastball for a quick 0-2 count. Ordonez has always been a high contact guy, never striking out as many as 90 times in a single season and only once striking out more than 80 times. He fouled off a curveball to stay alive, prompting a meeting on the mound between pitcher and catcher. Burnett gave Magglio another curve, the third of the at-bat, but he swung over top of it for the strikeout. A.J. had a tendency to let innings like that unravel last year, but holding Detroit to two runs in that spot was fine work. The strikeout improved the Yankees’ chances of winning by 6.2%.
Curveball. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Same Ol’ A.J. (on the surface)
Three earned runs in five innings is nothing special. It’s a 5.40 ERA, which is worse than A.J.’s 2010 mark (5.26), so in that regard it was the same old Burnett. However, the real issue last year was the sudden decline in strikeout rate, so it was good to see him fan six guys in those five innings. Of his 86 pitches, 55 were fastballs, 25 were curves, and the remaining six were changeups. Detroit batters swung and missed at eleven pitches total (seven fastballs and four curves), a well-above-average 12.8% rate. Burnett has been around 8.0% swings-and-misses in his two years with the Yankees after being close to 10% with the Blue Jays. One game isn’t enough of a sample to say anything definitive, but it was good to see A.J. get those strikeouts and swing-throughs.
And just to follow up Thursday’s recap, Burnett started five of 21 batters he faced with curveballs (23.8%) and just two with changeups (9.5%). Last year he threw a first-pitch curveball 19% of the time and a first-pitch changeup 2% of the time. After the game, Jim Baumbach reported that Burnett was pitching with a throat infection, a sinus infection, and clogged ears. Give him some points for fighting through it, but sheesh, get that man away from the rest of the team.
Leftovers
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Whenever you score ten runs, it takes a total team effort. Brett Gardner and Jeter combined for four hits (two singles each), and Tex narrowly missed his third homer of the year when a ball just curved foul in the ninth. He also drew a walk and is hitting .286/.444/1.143 on the year. Hooray for small sample sizes. A-Rod drove in the first run of the game with that double, and also greeting Brayan Villarreal to the big leagues with a solo homer to left-center. Cano had a single and a double, Jorge Posada singled and walked twice, and Curtis Granderson singled as well. The only one who didn’t get in on the party was Swisher, who is 1-for-8 with three strikeouts so far. That’ll correct itself. Gardner and Grandy each stole a base too.
Eric Chavez and Eduardo Nunez came in as defensive replacements once the score got out of hand while David Robertson, Luis Ayala and Boone Logan threw garbage time innings, so the only players that still haven’t gotten into a game yet are Andruw Jones, Gustavo Molina, and Bartolo Colon. Of course Nunez made a throwing error on the routine play that would have ended the game, forcing Mariano Rivera into the contest. He retired Miggy Cabrera on three pitches, the only man he faced, for his second save in as many games.
ESPN has the attendance at 41,462 (79.4% of capacity), but I have a hard time believing that. The Stadium looked maybe half full on television and based on those at the game and on Twitter. Yeah, it’s cold and the weather wasn’t great, but show up and support your team people!
Believe it or not, the Yankees are 2-0 for the first time since 2005. Ayala and Logan made it more interesting than it needed to be during the last few innings, but a win is a win is a win.
WPA Graph & Box Score
I love it when they’re nice and boring like this. MLB.com has the box score and video highlights, FanGraphs some other cool stuff.
Up Next
The Yankees will look to complete the sweep tomorrow afternoon, when Phil Hughes and Max Scherzer each make their first start of the season. YES will carry that one at 1:08pm ET.
41 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
Looking forward for to see the yanks Sweep.
I smell sweep in this series.
Can you please cease wit the endless worship of Fangraphs. The notion that ARod’s first inning double was the most important moment of the game is absurd.
Care to explain instead of mere bashing?
Please expand. What was the most important moment of the game, if not A-Rod’s double?
I agree with Arod’s hit, but Tex’s 3 run homerun was a very close second.
I’d rank them in that order, too, though FanGraphs says Martin’s dinger was bigger than Tex’s. I don’t agree with that, but whatever.
Like Mike said, Arod’s hit set the game in the Yanks favor, but Tex’s really put the game out of reach early. Martin’s was great, but the Yanks have the bullpen now to stop the Indians if they got any closer to tying the game.
Agreed.
The Indians were not close to winning this game
Didn’t Martin walk out of a cornfield once somewhere in Iowa? http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3240529664/ch0009408
Man this was a good game. I was at a cookout and everyone went crazy when Tex homered.
Yanks are 2-0 and look great, Red Sox are 0-2 and look dreadful. Life is so good right now.
FWIW, at least on Thursday, a lot of people ended up on the concourse to try to stay warm, the same might have happened today
We’ll lose a game eventually but how sweet it is to win the first two games of the season! We must savor our beastly victories and celebrate the suckage of the Saux.
Yankees>Everyone
John Lackey’s in the best shape of his life and the Yankees are getting old. I think this is more of a job by the national media and even NY media. Listening to Peter Gammons on Francesa, he was basically saying that the AL East will be very close and people are making a bigger deal out of the Red Sox offense than they deserve. Sometimes his love for Boston players is obnoxious, but he does a good job at analysis. Obviously he’s gonna be rooting for the Red Sox in 2011, and I will be rooting for the Yankees, but its gonna be a close race and I’ll thoroughly enjoy Red Sox losing streaks, even in April.
posada’s adjustment to the dh role is intriguing
most likely shakes out in the middle, but there are two outlying scenarios:
the lack of fatigue is a revelation, jorge’s bat stays quick all year, ops 905
he overthinks every at-bat, never gets into the flow of the game, ops 725
If it is scenario #2 that makes next year easier-especially if Jesus has a big year with the bat.
If Jorge OPS’s .905, I’ll eat my hat.
Really, I will, and I’ll put it on Youtube for the world to see.
Russell’s Got MUSCLE!
“but show up and support your team people!”
I can’t afford it!
That’s probably directed to the unused tickets rather than people who can’t afford it.
Another quality win,
Positives: Russell Martin going deep, Mark Teixeira doing work in April, Alex going deep, Jeter and Gardner getting things started, Robbie looking good, AJ looking markedly better, and Girardi correctly using mop up men
Negatives: Infield defense, this all happened against Brad Penny so it may all be for naught, Luis Ayala (though he’ll likely be gone by May, but they kept Veras around for a bit so who knows) and the weather.
Quality win, team’s looking pretty good. It isn’t like there’s no name players like Anderes Torres, Shane Spencer, or Freddy Sanchez getting things done it’s big name legitimate all star caliber players. If Burnett’s improved command is for real and Alex and Jeter are back I don’t think this team needs another starter to win the East. However, were Yankee fans and we’ll eventually find something to bitch about. Until then let’s hope for the first sweep of 2011 tomorrow!
I agree with your review of the infield defense. Jeter looked like a statue at short stop.
“…and, past a diving Jeter…”
Awesome Mike, but not to put too fine a point on it, the proper way to use the expression is “put the screws to Brad Penny”. Just a little constructive criticism, for an otherwise excellent article. Just returning the favor for the corrections I’ve received here myself.
Granted we only played two games so far but I have to wonder are the Red Sox overated by everyone or are the Rangers just that good?
Great to see some offense & pitching so far. Im gonna do some prdictions here:
AJ: wins 17 games & under Dr. Rothschild becomes the pitcher & true #2 we all thought we all thought & hoped we were getting
Cano: Wins it big this yr as MVP. After flirting with .400 for most of the summer he ends up at .368 BA & 32HR & 120 RBI season
Jeter: Finishes at .330 wanting to show Cashman last yr was a fluke. Dont mess with the Captain
Joba: After a return to form of 2007 & chasing the Sox, during the All-Star break Hank calls an emergency meeting & demands Joba & Garcia switch positions. This time Joba finsishes half the season with 10 W’s & secures himself into the rotation.
Betances : Called up after the break & is simply dazzling hitters out of the pen. A similar version to Joba 07. Yanks release Garcia & Colon
Granderson – In his sophmore yr in pinstripes he becomes the player the Tigers always thought one day he could develop into & hit lefties. Finishes up with .275 BA /41HR/ 115 RBI
BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE SUMMER
After Tex is having a monster first half yr hitting 19hr and at .302 during thee break the Yankees announce a trade with the Cardinals Tex for Albert
What are you on, and can I have some?
I could see Grandy with 41 jacks but prob more of a .260ish average and right at 100 RBIs. He is the KING of the solo shot!
Jeter at .330, while I’d love to see it, I just can’t. I’d be escatic if he was around .300, that would still be a vast improvement over LY.
AJ with 17 wins, yes oh yes oh yes! I see this but prob with a 4.10 ERA and still double digit loses.
Tex for Albert. Wishful thinking, but Alby sucks he had 3 GIDP two games ago, he’s done! Washed up! Old news!
ManBan in the pen. This could happen, just like Posada could leg out a triple. I’d love it if ether happens, but which is more likely by AS Game?
Joba’s stuff plays better in relief, per Cash. Since Cash said that he’ll prob be the number 5 by late June.
HA
I wish.
I’d kill if one of these things came true, let alone all of them.
I was really impressed by AJ’s start. Pitching with a nasty cold has to be pretty tough. Great job, AJ.
projected totals for Tex..162 homeruns..486 rbis…should be in the running for MVP…
Too bad they don’t give MVPs to role players.
I guess they’d have to give it to Robbie then, but Lazy Dominicans who hit in a bandbox don’t fare well either.
I’d say Alex, but he was fed popcorn by Cameron Diaz. And murdered baseball.
Hey Mike my company has Season tickets but at $125 a piece and $35 bucks to park supporting the team is not in the budget. I’ll happily be supporting the Trenton Thunder where I have a 10 game package that was $10 a seat and includes food for each game, 4 hats, tickets to opening day and 2 Phillies tickets and I’ll see two of the killer B’s.
Actually, I hope attendance tanks, until the FO changes their pricing structure. It’s NY, and it’s a new stadium, and it’s the Yankees, so tickets shouldn’t be cheap. But their current pricing scheme is geared to attract rich, executive non-fans, at the cost of real, lifelong baseball fans.
I’ve read about too many fans who, unfortunately, gave up their season tickets, for both pricing and seating reasons. Having 1/3 of the stadium filled with suits on their cell phones is not exactly the Yankee experience.
Due to poor attendence, prices have already come down a few times. I hope it keeps up until fans want to fill the stadium again. Compared to the old stadium, considering the new smaller size, with better parking and transportation, there is no reason the stadium shouldn’t be at 90%+ every game.
A rockin’ stadium is a big part of the Yankee experience. I hope the brass get their shit together and make things right.
But their current pricing scheme is geared to attract rich, executive non-fans, at the cost of real, lifelong baseball fans.
Yeah, because the fans who sit in the upper deck with “Jeter” on the back of their “authentic” jerseys are real fans right? Can we stop with the “rich people can’t be real fans” nonsense? Who do you think boo’d ARod & Jeter & Mo & everyone when they go 0-4 or blow a save? The “regular real fans”
25 cent tickets, free crack at the door.
water is wet, yankees win.
As for the attendance, I was there yesterday and I can buy the 41,000+ number. The bleachers were packed, but the second and third levels were only 2/3 full. What’s happening is that a lot people are buying upper-level seats for cheap and then watching the game while standing in the 100 levels, especially on cold days. That’s the curse of the wider and more open councourses, they invite people to stand and watch the game at a better angle. If you get tired, you can always go sit in the food court or at the tables behind the 200 levels.