Archive for June, 2011
Trenton walks its way to blowout win
Posted by: | CommentsRemember when Steve Garrison pitched in relief for Short Season Staten Island last night just two days after starting? That wasn’t him, it was Caleb Cotham. The box score has been updated. David Phelps‘ shoulder injury is being described as simply “shoulder discomfort.” That sucks. Kei Igawa is heading back to Triple-A Scranton as well.
Triple-A Scranton (2-1 win over Durham)
Austin Krum, LF: 1 for 3, 1 BB
Kevin Russo, 2B & Brandon Laird, 3B: both 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
Mike Lamb, 1B & Jordan Parraz, RF: both 0 for 4, 2 K – double sadface
Jesus Montero, C: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
Terry Tiffee, DH: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K
Greg Golson, CF: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI – 12 for his last 38 (.316) with one double, two triples, and a homer
Doug Bernier, SS: 1 for 4, 1 K
Adam Warren, RHP: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 6-2 GB/FB, 1 E (fielding) – 60 of 96 pitches were strikes (62.5%) … two runs allowed in his last 29 IP (four starts)
Eric Wordekemper, RHP: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2-0 GB/FB – 18 of 31 pitches were strikes (58.1%)
Randy Flores, LHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB – 11 of 15 pitches were strikes (73.3%)
Open Thread: Hooray for CC
Posted by: | CommentsTwo game losing streak? Kaput. CC Sabathia made sure of that this afternoon with eight splendid innings, giving up just one run in garbage time. Eight times he’s started after a Yankees loss this year, and six times he’s ended the schneid and pitched them to a win. That’s what the man is here to do. Bravo.
Anyway, here is your open thread for the night. A game will be shown on MLB Network, but the teams depend on where you live. Talk about whatever your heart desires there though, go nuts.
Cashman: Jeter could ramp up rehab today
Posted by: | CommentsVia Conor Orr, Brian Cashman said there’s a chance that Derek Jeter will ratchet up his rehab from a calf injury today to include “more functional stuff.” All Jeter has done so far is throw and get treatment, so I assume “functional stuff” includes some running and hitting. There’s a pretty good chance the Cap’n will need more than just the minimum 15 days on the disabled list, especially since calf problems can linger for a while. He’s eligible come off the DL on Wednesday.
Game 75: Big Stoppa
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Photo © Samara Pearlstein
The Yankees are nursing a baby two-game losing streak, so it’s up to the big man to step in and show everyone who’s boss. He’s won six of his last seven and is looking to become the first pitcher to rack up 10 hyper-important W’s in 2011. To stop him, the Rockies send out Aaron Cook (4.67 ERA/3.36 FIP). Meanwhile, I continue on my nefarious weekend writer plot to take over the entire website. Muahahaha. Nothing to see here, folks, just the lineup…
Brett Gardner, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, DH
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Francisco Cervelli, C
CC Sabathia, P
You can catch the game on YES at 1:05 pm. Woo.
Rival execs think Cashman’s ready to leave
Posted by: | CommentsBuster Olney spoke to executives from around the league recently (Insider req’d), and the feeling is that this season will be Brian Cashman‘s last as Yankees GM. “I think maybe he’s finally had it,” said one GM. “That’s a job that will take a lot out of you.” “I don’t think he has any idea how different his life would be if he wasn’t general manager of the Yankees,” said said another exec.
Cashman said yesterday that’s he’s not worried about his future, only that he doesn’t intend to talk about a new deal until after the season, per team mandate. Olney says it’s the uncharacteristic honesty that has him thinking Cashman’s ready to leave, echoing what I said last week. He also reminds us that it appeared as if Cashman was going to leave on three other occasions, only to return at the behest of the Steinbrenners. I think it’s 50-50 that he stays, the lowest odds I’ve ever given these situations.
Giambi goes deep, Yankees drop opener to Rox
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Just like old times, sorta.
Let’s recap…
- It did not look like Ubaldo Jimenez was long for this game early on. He walked Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira in the first inning, then Alex Rodriguez doubled down the left field line to drive in Grandy. Charlie Blackmon bobbled the ball in left, but for whatever reason Tex stopped at third. Maybe he didn’t see the bobble, maybe third base coach Robbie Thompson held him up, who knows. Someone definitely made a mistake though. Grandy created their second run with a walk, stolen base, move to third on a sac fly, then score on a sac fly in the third inning.
- That’s was it though, Jimenez settled down after that and retired 11 of the last 14 men he faced. One of the three that reached base did so on an error, and another one of the runners (Eduardo Nunez) was erased on a caught stealing. A-Rod got doubled off second on a Robinson Cano line drive to end the first, and I can’t help but wonder what could have been if he got back to the bag in time and Tex had scored on the double. Oh well.
- A.J. Burnett walked five and struck out five, and four of those whiffs came in the sixth inning**. He’s the first pitcher in team history (!!!) to strike out four in an inning, and it’s all thanks to a wild pitch strike three that allowed the runner to reach instead of ending the inning. Jason Giambi murdered a 2-0 fastball for a solo homer in the second, then Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo shot in the fifth on a pitch out over the plate. The other runs came on a Todd Helton single and Ty Wigginton grounder, and both rallies started with walks. Free baserunners are bad news.
- Granderson (three walks) and Nick Swisher (two singles) were the only Yankees to reach base twice. Tex walked, A-R0d had the double, and both Russell Martin and Nunez singled. Cano’s eleven game hitting streak ended. Grandy also stole two bags. They had their chances earlier in the game, for sure. Ubaldo wasn’t great, he definitely wiggled out of some jams. Such is life.
- Boone Logan retired three of the four left-handed batters he face (two strikeouts), the one exception being a ground rule double to Carlos Gonzalez. He retired one righty and walked another. Fluke, or the start of a turn around?
- Here’s the box score, here’s the WPA graph, and here’s the hilarious strike zone plot*. Seriously, Ed Hickox must have been double parked or something, he was calling everything a strike.
Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon, when CC Sabathia will look to end this little two game losing streak against Aaron Cook. RAB Tickets can get you there dirt cheap, if you want to head up to the Bronx.
* I love that you can see Boone Logan’s pitch to the backstop above the legend.
** Update: That was actually the second time Burnett has struck out four batters in one inning in his career. He also did it with the Marlins way back in the day. He and Chuck Finley are the only guys to do it twice. Ever.
Hughes Rehab Tour makes a stop in New Britain
Posted by: | CommentsAdam Warren (#6) and Corban Joseph (#13) both made this week’s Prospect Hot Sheet, which is pretty cool. As for the rest of the news…
- Mikey O’Brien was promoted from Low-A Charleston to High-A Tampa while Scottie Allen went the other way. I thought they’d give O’Brien the full year with the River Dogs, but I guess not.
- Addison Maruszak was demoted from Triple-A Scranton down to Double-A Trenton. Corey Maines went fromCharleston to Short Season Staten Island.
- Jason Place has been released. Not surprising, he was just filler despite his former first round pick status. Warner Madrigal was released as well.
- Josh Norris posted video of Bryan Mitchell as well as Cito Culver, Mason Williams, and Angelo Gumbs.
Now for the games…
Double-A Trenton (3-2 loss to New Britain, walk-off style) Brian Cashman was in the house
Ray Kruml, CF: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E (fielding) – ten for his last 23 (.435) with a triple and two homers
Corban Joseph, 2B: 0 for 4, 2 K
Austin Romine, C: 1 for 4, 1 SB – good to see him back after the concussion
Cody Johnson, DH, Bradley Suttle, 3B, Rob Lyerly, 1B & Damon Sublett, RF: all 0 for 3 – Johnson walked, scored a run, and struck out twice … Suttle walked … Lyerly got hit by a pitch and struck out twice … Sublett whiffed once
Jose Pirela, SS: 1 for 3, 1 RBI
DeAngelo Mack, LF: 1 for 2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K – got picked off second
Phil Hughes, RHP: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3-3 GB/FB - he was sitting 92-93 early and 91 in the third … he threw 72 pitches overall but 27 of them came in the fourth inning, when he struggled to put guys away … Hughes said he threw more cutters than usual but felt good, and Cashman said he just needs to work on fastball command and will make a “few more starts” … oh, and today is his 25th birthday, so happy birthday to him
Cory Arbiso, RHP: 0.2 IP, zeroes, 1 K
Shaeffer Hall, LHP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 4-4 GB/FB
Naoya Okamoto, LHP: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 er, 2 BB, 0 K – brutal way to lose, the walk-off walk
Game 74: More Rain
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(Photo Credit: Flickr user notladj via Creative Commons license)
The weather isn’t very good at the moment and there’s a chance tonight’s game will begin in a rain delay. It does look like there’s enough of a window to get this one in though, at least eventually. I suppose that’s better than nothing. Here’s the lineup…
Brett Gardner, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Eduardo Nunez, SS
A.J. Burnett, SP
Tonight’s game can be seen on YES locally or MLB Network nationally. Enjoy.
The RAB Radio Show: June 24, 2011
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Now that we’re on the weekly format there’s plenty more to cover. Here are your bullet points for this week’s show.
- Opening statements: state of the Yankees since the Red Sox series.
- Derek Jeter: he’s going to be out for a little longer than expected, but for now that’s working.
- Brett Gardner: elite player.
- Francisco Rodriguez: Why the Yanks might be interested, but why he’s low on the priority list.
- Maibag: your questions answered. Includes Swisher, Jairo Heredia, and more.
Podcast run time 1:05:59
Here’s how you can listen to podcast:
- Download the RAB Radio Show by right clicking on that link and choosing Save As.
- Listen in your browser by left clicking the above link or using the embedded player below.
- Subscribe in iTunes. If you want to rate us that would be great. If you leave a nice review I’ll buy you a beer at a meet-up.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Intro music: “Die Hard” courtesy of reader Alex Kresovich. Thanks to Tyler Wilkinson for the graphic.
Just 23 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
