River Avenue Blues

Game 155: Tanaka Returns

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(Brian Blanco/Getty)
(Brian Blanco/Getty)

After more than three months on the shelf, Masahiro Tanaka returns to the rotation this afternoon. The treatment for his partially torn ligament is complete, so the elbow is as healthy as it’s going to get. This afternoon’s start — as well as his next start in five days — is about testing the ligament in game action. It still might blow out and require Tommy John surgery. If it does, the Yankees want it to happen now rather than next April.

The Yankees are out of the postseason race — they are still mathematically alive, but they’re an extreme long shot — so results don’t matter this afternoon. If Tanaka gets rocked, fine. It’ll suck, but whatever. The healthy of his elbow is the most important thing. If he comes through the start feeling strong and the ligament holds up, then it’s a major win in the grand scheme of things. The Yankees could certainly use some good injury news after these last two seasons. Here is the Blue Jays lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

  1. CF Brett Gardner
  2. DH Derek Jeter
  3. C Brian McCann
  4. LF Chris Young
  5. 3B Chase Headley
  6. 1B Francisco Cervelli
  7. 2B Stephen Drew
  8. RF Ichiro Suzuki
  9. SS Brendan Ryan
    RHP Masahiro Tanaka

Not the best weather for Tanaka’s return — it’s overcast and humid as hell, plus there is some scattered rain in the forecast throughout the day. Hopefully nothing that causes any kind of delay. The last thing the Yankees need is Tanaka’s first game back to be cut short by the weather. This afternoon’s game will start at 1:05pm ET and you can watch on YES. Enjoy the game.

Updates: Joe Girardi said Derek Jeter will play every game the rest of the season, even if he only starts as the DH … Carlos Beltran (elbow) will not have his surgery until after the season, though it remains unclear if he will be healthy enough to play this last week … Jacoby Ellsbury (hamstring) wants to play again this season, even if the team is eliminated … Chaz Roe was designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Tanaka, who was activated off the 60-day DL.

Sabathia nominated for Roberto Clemente Award, Beltran nominated for Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award

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CC Sabathia has been selected as the Yankees’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, MLB announced. It is given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” Here are the 30 nominees. Derek Jeter won the award in 2009 and Carlos Beltran won it last year.

In other news, Beltran is one of six players nominated for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, the MLBPA announced. The award is given annually to the player “whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement.” Mariano Rivera won it last year. Beltran is up against Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Josh Hamilton, Adam LaRoche, and Anthony Rizzo. Congrats to both Sabathia and Beltran. It’s a honor just to be nominated for awards like this.

Bad sixth inning sends Yanks to 6-3 loss to Jays

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Source: FanGraphs

The little three-game winning streak was fun while it lasted. A rough sixth inning sent the Yankees to a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. Let’s recap:

  • Answer Back: Toronto scored a quick run in the first inning but the Yankees rallied to take a 2-1 lead by the fourth. Brian McCann singled in Derek Jeter in the third after Jeter reached on an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Then, an inning later, Frankie Cervelli singled in Chase Headley. They had first-and-third with two outs thanks to singles by Headley and Ichiro Suzuki. Five of eight Yankees reached base against Marcus Stroman at one point spanning the third and fourth innings.
  • Meltdown: After allowing the first inning run, Chris Capuano kept the Blue Jays off the board for the next four innings. Then things completely unraveled in the sixth. A walk (Jose Bautista), an infield single (Edwin Encarnacion), and another walk (Dioner Navarro) loaded the bases with no outs, which usually means bullpen time. Instead, Capuano remained in the game to serve up a two-run ground-rule double to Danny Valencia, erasing the lead. He also stayed in to allow a long sacrifice fly to John Mayberry Jr., stretching the deficit to 4-2. Either Joe Girardi got caught off guard and didn’t have a reliever ready or he gave Capuano way, way too long of a leash at that point in the game.
  • Late Innings: The Jays tacked on some runs with a Bautista solo homer in the seventh and then a walk, a wild pitch, and a single in the ninth. The insurance runs ultimately did not matter even though Jeter doubled in Brett Gardner in the bottom of the ninth. The Yankees did manage to bring the tying run to the plate that inning, but Brendan Ryan struck out and Chris Young flew out. Hard to believe Ryan was allowed to hit in that spot even with Carlos Beltran hurt. Zelous Wheeler or John Ryan Murphy would have been better options. Oh well.
  • Leftovers: Jeter scored the 1,920th run of his career, breaking a tie with Alex Rodriguez and moving him into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time runs scored list … Gardner snapped an 0-for-27 slump with his first inning double. He had another hit later in the game … Ichiro (two), McCann, Headley, Cervelli, and Stephen Drew had their other hits. Headley drew the only walk … Chase Whitley and David Phelps allowed the insurance runs. Esmil Rogers and David Huff threw a scoreless inning each.

MLB.com has the box score and video highlights, FanGraphs has some other stats, and ESPN has the updated standings. The Yankees are 4.5 games back of the second wildcard spot with only eight games to play. Their elimination number is five and FanGraphs has their postseason odds at 0.2%. All eyes will be on Masahiro Tanaka in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. He is returning to the mound after missing three months with a partially torn elbow ligament. Drew Hutchison is starting for the Jays. RAB Tickets can get you in the door if you watch to catch that game or any of the other four final home games of the season/Jeter’s career live.

Carlos Beltran unavailable due to nagging elbow discomfort

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Carlos Beltran was unavailable for today’s game due to continued discomfort in his elbow, Joe Girardi told reporters. I figured he was unavailable as soon as Brendan Ryan was allowed to bat for himself as the tying run in the ninth inning. Girardi said it is “possible” they will shut Beltran down for the remainder of the season. Makes sense. Get the surgery over now.

Saturday Night Open Thread

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Here is your open thread for this gorgeous Saturday night. Pretty great weather in New York these last few days. The Mets are playing tonight, MLB Network will air a regional game later on, and there’s a ton of college football on as well. Talk about those games or anything else right here.

Update: Mark Teixeira leaves game with sore wrist

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6:16pm: Teixeira left the game with soreness in his right wrist, the Yankees announced. He is being evaluated by team doctor Dr. Ahmad.

5:41pm: Mark Teixeira left this afternoon’s game for an unknown reason in the fifth inning. I assume he’s hurt. Teixeira missed a game with soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist last week and someone told me he was flexing his wrist during one of his earlier at-bats this afternoon. I didn’t see it myself though. Stay tuned for any updates.

Game 154: Go For Four

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(Presswire)
(Presswire)

The Yankees have won three straight games and hey, they’re still mathematically alive in the wildcard race. It’s probably a little late to make a run but wins are fun at any point of the season. Keep the winning streak going and see what happens. Hopefully something wild. Here is the Blue Jays lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

  1. CF Brett Gardner
  2. SS Derek Jeter
  3. DH Brian McCann
  4. 1B Mark Teixeira
  5. LF Chris Young
  6. 3B Chase Headley
  7. 2B Stephen Drew
  8. RF Ichiro Suzuki
  9. C Frankie Cervelli
    LHP Chris Capuano

It’s a little cloudy in New York but otherwise it’s a nice cool afternoon for baseball. Great day to spend at the ballpark. This afternoon’s game will begin a little after 4pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network nationally, depending on where you live. Enjoy the game.

Injury Update: The Yankees did not announce the MRI results, but both Joe Girardi and Jacoby Ellsbury (hamstring) said they hope he will play again this season. I guess that means good news?