ny1.com
I don’t know what I was expecting. Well, that’s not true. What I expected was the rousing reception Pettitte got and some rust from his not having pitched in the majors for over a year. Both were the case. I also worried that he would be wild. While he did give up walks, he threw plenty of strikes. It was just those damn home run balls that did him in. So I’d rate his performance as good, considering his absence from the game, but I’m hoping he can do better – much better.
He certainly didn’t get much offensive help from his teammates. I mean seriously. Kevin Millwood?
Every time the Yanks loaded the bases, they’d blow it – not counting the walks that accounted for the two runs.
Rapada’s acrobatics didn’t help matters.
And then there was Swisher’s bonehead move in the ninth. How does a seasoned player, even one with an overly enthusiastic attitude, allow himself to get thrown out at third in that situation? I cringed.
I wasn’t happy with Tex either until I heard that he’s still having trouble breathing and can’t stop coughing, despite the prednisone. Why he waited so long to see a doctor is beyond me, but I’m not his mother or his wife so I’ll shut up about it. Should Joe drop him in the order? The skipper said he won’t. I don’t see why not – just until he starts hitting.
To sum up, we won the series against the Mariners and that’s what counts. And we have Andy back – a proven winner who should only improve with more time on the mound.
Tags: Andy Pettitte, Clay Rapada, Kevin Millwood, Mariners, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Yankees
You and me both! I denounced Ibanez after ST and silly me as I never usually take the results seriously. It’s nice to see Hughes give us a quality lengthy outing and following up with the momentum from his last start but I still can’t be fully confident in him. Not until he shows this type of outing again against a stronger offensive playoff bound team. I’m not a hockey fan but being a game 7 I just had to watch the Ranger/Caps and i was pleasantly surprised. My first ever hockey game I’ve watched and it was a close nail biter to the end. It was fun and I’ll continue to watch although I don’t think I can invest in another sport. Baseball and football are enough for me. Congrats to all the Ranger fans here. I could imagine how much fun that win was supposed to be for you guys.
Happy Mother’s Day to you, Jane, and your lovely mother. Just in case Im not in the blog tomorrow.
The Rangers game was thrilling all right. Now they get NJ in the ECF.
This is what’s maddening about Hughes. He’ll have a great start like this and we’ll think he might be coming around and then he’ll go out next time and give up 6 runs in 2 innings. If he can string a few of these together then i’ll be happy.
Well, a win’s a win. Can’t complain. Let’s get another one tomorrow, and happy Mother’s Day in advance to all the moms out there!
Ibanez is definitely doing the job. Maybe when we get Gardner back in the lineup, bench A-Rod for a few games and see if he can get his power stroke back? Maybe A-Rod just needs 2-3 games not in the batter’s box. As the great Yogi once said, you can observe a lot just by watching. Let him watch Ibanez blast a couple out of the park and figure out what Raul is doing that he isn’t. Just a thought…
Oh yes of course how could I forget. And a Happy Mother’s Day to all of our blog friends who are moms as well! It’s officially Mother’s Day in the East Coast.
Looks like Ibañez went to the Mark Teixeira School of Slow Starts, except his field of study is Spring Training instead of April. He’s been putting up some really great power numbers for a part time player. I hope he goes for extra credit and continues this all through the season.
Let’s hope Andy follows suit tomorrow and keeps the pitching on the roll it’s on. We’re finally five games above .500. Next stop is ten games. And then so on, and so on…
Oh, God. Those Rangers… I tuned in at work after watching the Yankees’ game, and it was tense all the way throughout! That quick first goal was big, but I was still on the edge of my seat. Leo, if you think you liked what you saw, I highly suggest going to a game. You will be hooked! Now on to the ECF against the Devils.
Alright, enough hockey. On to more important matters. A very Happy Mother’s Day to all you lovely mommies out there, and to everyone’s special mom, wherever she may be. :D
Now hows this for a really good day.
Sold a house yesterday morning (I am a Realtor).
Went with wife, daughter and son to Mohegan Sun Casino in the afternoon and had nice dinner.
Hit several nice jackpots.
Enjoyed awesome Beach Boys concert. (They served Geritol shakes at intermission)
And last but not least, thaaaaa Yankee win!
Life is good.
Happy Moms Day to all.
I only was able to watch a highlight reel of Hughes’ pitching yesterday but he seemed to me to have a more confident demeanor. I like this Hughes and hope he sticks around for a long time!
Ibanez has really been great – so nice for him and the Yankees that he is having such great success. And Jason Who? Having just heard his name in the last couple of days I must say I’m glad we’ve been inroduced. Here’s to many more at bats like yesterday’s, Jason!
Happy Mother’s Day to all and GO ANDY! I remember last Mother’s Day the Yankees really came through, winning big with a lot of offense from Jeter and Gardner (sob). Here’s hoping for a Janer!
Glad I wasn’t the only Ibanez doubter, Leo. And Hughes does need to show he can be just as tough on tougher teams, but for now he’s been building on his successes and going in the right direction. The hockey game was so exciting, as Game 6s always are, but also because I remember well the last time the Rangers won the Stanley Cup after so many years so there’s a thrill that they might do it again. I’ll pass along your Mother’s Day wishes to my mom.
I think A-Rod can see what Ibanez is doing without having to be benched, Sean. I actually have the opposite thought about him; that he should DH less and play third base more. Posada had trouble adjusting to the DH role, he said, because you lose the rhythm of the game when you don’t go out there for defense. Maybe A-Rod needs an everyday routine of playing the field and then batting. I agree about Hughes – he does need to string together outings like this one – but a very good showing for him nonetheless.
About the hockey game, YankeeCase, I kept yelling at the TV, “Get some insurance goals,” after that first quick goal, the same way I yell at the Yankees to do the same. A 1-0 score is just too tense and things can turn bad in a hurry. Fortunately, the Rangers listened, only to give the goal right back. ACK, as you would say.
Very good day for you, John. Congrats on the house and the casino jackpots. All I can say about the Beach Boys (I waited to say this until after you went to see them) is that they were awful at the Grammys – a shadow of their former selves – and while I loved their music when I was a kid, their voices just aren’t there anymore.
Happy Mother’s Day to you, Audrey, and may Andy and the Yankees come through for you. (A Janer would be nice for me too.) Jayson Nix, by the way, is a journeyman infielder whom you might remember from the White Sox or maybe the Blue Jays. He’s been around, in other words, and I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of him.
Wow. Today’s papers are really hitting Andy a bit harder than necessary. I really think it was only the 2nd home run that was bad. Overall, considering how much drama there was in The Stadium with all the fans welcoming him back, I think he did fine. Also, considering how long her was “retired” I think his placement, his speed and his depth into the game were remarkable. I’m not the least bit worried about him or what he brings to the team.
You think they were hitting him hard, Diane? I didn’t get that impression from reading the NYT, NYP and NYDN. I think there was just a general consensus that he was good but rusty and that the jury was still out on whether he’ll be able to return to form. He sounds very confident that he’ll get better with time, and I tend to agree. Or at least I hope so.
What a horrible time for our offense to go cold. Two runs that were both walked in? Embarrassing! I’m worried about Tex…when I heard he was having respiratory problems that were not going away, I thought ‘uh-oh.’ Hope I’m just being my usual Nervous Nelly….but it is troubling that it’s hung around for so long. It’s raining pretty steadily here, so not sure tonight’s game with the Orioles will go on, but hopefully. I thought Andy was pretty good, he sounded positive, and I expect even better things from him in the future. That game would have been very different if there had just been a little run support. I’m sure getting a few runs really helps a pitcher’s outlook. Jeter hitting into double plays for the FIRST TIME this season….what bad timing! Andy will win his next start! Have a great week everybody!
i hate that i was in a bad mood the rest of sunday because of the game but i was. andy looked ok to me–not great but pretty good especially considering he didn’t pitch last year. but if he is rusty and getting back to pitching well it might make more sense to do that in the minors. the issue is that offense was offensive. it’s hard to be mad at jeter but his double plays were costly. tex can’t hit right now and if he is just in there for defense needs to move down in the order. we looked listless and that’s not fun and put me in a bad mood. i got caught up in andy’s return excitement and then crash. hoping we can rebound in baltimore.
Ruth, how was last Sunday when you went to the Nats game? Did you have fun? I sure hope Tex feels better soon. No fun to be coughing and gasping for breath!
The offense was definitely offensive, Barbara – good way to put it. But we can’t be mad at Jeter since he’s been carrying the team up to now. I agree that Tex should slide down in the order. Why not take some pressure off him? He’s been so amazing defensively though.
Jane, we did go to the Sunday Night game (Nats/Phillies). It was great, but a little disappointing the Nats didn’t play as well as they had been playing up to that game. Maybe they had National TV jitters? That was the game where Cole Hamels gave Bryce Harper the ‘welcome to the league’ shot to the kidneys, and Jayson Werth broke his wrist. Both were such a bummer….Jayson Werth was taking a bunch of crap from Phillies’ fans in right field right before the injury…and they all cheered when he went down..Phillies fans tend to take over Nats Park (as Yankees fans probably will in June, when they come to town) and they are jerks. But it was fun…as usual, a day or evening at the ball park beats almost anything else!
Dear Jane & Fellow Baseball Fans…
ENJOY !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3qN9t4chs&feature=youtu.be
Go Yankees 2012 !!!
Thanks for the report, Ruth. So that was the infamous game. Well, at least it wasn’t dull!
Peggy, I just posted that video here. Diane sent it to me. Great minds…