Posts Tagged ‘Blue Jays’

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Eaten Up By The Blue Jays

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

I went out with a friend for drinks this afternoon, so I managed to avoid most of what turned out to be the latest fiasco. It was still a close game when I got home in the 7th inning, but that little bomb Cory Wade gave up put things out of reach for the Yankees’ non-existent offense.

Wow. They’re bad. Not every opposing pitcher is Sandy Koufax, so what’s the problem? Yes, tonight’s hurler was an unknown and we know how much trouble they have with unknowns. But still. What is the problem?

In the past when the team has gone into a collective slump, I’ve said, “Well, it’s cold.” Or: “Well, they’re banged up.” Or even: “Well, these things happen.” But now? Other than Tex’s respiratory issues, what’s the excuse?

I guess I could chalk it up to the month of May; if memory serves the Yankees don’t hit in May. At least that’s what happened in 2007 when I was writing the “She-Fan” book. They rallied and came on strong in June and beyond. Maybe the pattern will repeat itself.

Meanwhile, Hughes pitched well enough to win. I guess we should be grateful for that.

 

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Not Worth Watching

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

I usually stick it out till the end, even when the Yankees are way behind, but tonight felt like a waste of my time. There was nothing about the game against the Jays in Toronto that held my interest or made me care. Nothing. Not Kuroda, whose pitches were like giant orbs begging to be smacked, and not the hitters, who seem incapable of generating runs with men in scoring position.

The Yankees are stuck right now. They just are.

Can Kuroda adjust to the American League? Will the offense figure out how to score runs the way we know they can? The answer is “yes” to the latter but “maybe not” to the former.

Losing a few games isn’t the end of the world, but the truth is the Yankees are just not fun to watch right now.

But just so I won’t be a downer for everyone, here’s a little clip courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel – and Chan Ho Park, of course. (Notice Mo off to the left. He’s laughing. He can’t help it.)

 

 

 

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Shut Out

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

When I saw today’s lineup (no Jeter, Granderson or Tex), I figured the Yanks wouldn’t score a lot of runs. I just didn’t expect a complete wipe out. I mean it wasn’t as if none of our “stars” were playing. And we weren’t facing a Cy Young winner in Brandon Morrow. And yet all we could muster was a big fat ZERO, plus Garcia was pretty mediocre. (Nice job by the bullpen though.)

So.

  1. No record-breaking save for Mo.
  2. No win today.
  3. No series win against the Jays.
  4. No chance to put further distance between us and the Red Sox, who lost again to the Rays.
  5. No smiling for me when I got out of the movie screening I went to and saw the final score.

It could be worse. We could be Red Sox fans tearing our hair out. But frankly I’m not too comfortable being in our shoes right now because after tomorrow’s makeup game against the Twins we head into dangerous waters.

There’s a reason they call them stingrays. Tampa must be giddy with the prospect of taking some games from us in the Bronx. And then after we’re done with them, we face the team we haven’t been able to beat into submission this year.

And then after that, we have three more against the stingrays at their place – turf and catwalks and all.

It should be a nerve wracking finish, but maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised and we’ll just coast to a division title.

Well, it could happen.

Maybe.

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Welcome Back, A-Rod

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

I’m such a hypocrite. In last night’s post I was all mad at A-Rod, but today I’m being nice to him. Totally two-faced of me.

I was skeptical that he could miraculously appear in his first game in awhile and pick up where he left off. I figured his timing would be screwed up, not to mention that his thumb would affect his swing. Wrong. That three-run homer lifted the offense up after Colon’s miserable start, and the Yanks were right back in it.

Great to see Granderson’s bat come alive too. I do love those evil homers.

Excellent job by the pen, holding the one-run lead. Kudos to Laffey (gulp – did I really compliment him?) and to Proctor (ditto), and to Soriano (such a strikeout machine lately) and, above all, to Mo.

#601. One more save to go and he’ll be the all-time leader – forevah! Can’t wait to see if he’s as nonchalant when he gets #602 as he was today or if he’ll allow himself a little more self-congratulation. It’ll be cool to see Mrs. Mo and the Junior Mo’s come onto the field to celebrate with him. I think it’s cute that he brought them to Toronto just in case.

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What’s Going On With CC?

Friday, September 16th, 2011

Photo: AP/Chris O'Meara

Tonight was yet another example of the Yankees’ inability to win a close one. It was painful to watch.

I expected the hitters to have trouble with the Jays’ starter, since he was relatively unknown to them. I expected the defense to be sluggish, despite the off-day yesterday. I expected Boone Logan, our lefty specialist, not to get out a lefty. I expected Cory Wade to give up the walkoff gapper (to Jose Molina, of all people) because Wade doesn’t inspire confidence in those situations. I even expected A-Rod to continue to sit on the bench, and I have to admit I’m beginning to harbor an irrational resentment of his injuries.

What I didn’t expect was the ineffectiveness of our ace. He hasn’t been himself lately. And here’s why: he’s been pitching on extra rest. He likes going every fifth day, but Girardi has insisted on not narrowing the rotation down to five and the result has been to throw off the routine of our best starter. It’s insane. Why would you screw up the guy that’s more important to the team than any other pitcher?

I don’t mean to sound grouchy, but I am. We should have won this one.

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Sweeping Is So Much Fun

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Photo: oldandinteresting.com

I’d gotten sort of used to losing the first game of a series and coming back and winning the rest, but I’ll take a nice clean sweep any day. Michael Kay kept saying how the Blue Jays are a “decent” team but the Yankees made them look not-so-decent.

Thanks to yet another gutsy outing by CC, plus power from Jeter, A-Rod and Swisher, a multi-hit day for Montero and clutch at bats all around, today’s game was very relaxing (except for the homer Soriano gave up to Bautista).

I was heartened to hear CC say in his post-game remarks that “this is the best place to play in baseball,” referring to Yankee Stadium. I always have the threat of his opting out in the back of my head, so I hope he meant what he said and doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

Jeter looked about as comfortable at the plate as he could get, didn’t he?

Great to see Tex and A-Rod get back into it, especially with Granderson getting a day off.

After the game Girardi made his announcement about the rotation – an announcement that nothing’s changing, if you can call that an announcement. Talk about an anti-climax. I guess he can’t bump AJ after the success in Boston. So all six starters will be playing musical chairs for awhile longer.

As for me, I’ll be in transit during tomorrow’s game and then flying back to California during Tuesday’s contest, so I’ll pick up the blog posts on Wednesday. (I can reply to comments via the handy WordPress app on my iPhone but haven’t figured out how to write posts from it.)

Have a great Labor Day, everyone, and I’ll see you Wednesday from the other coast!

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So The Yanks Won Again, I See

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

I was out today, so I didn’t watch or listen to the game. But I jumped for joy when I got home and read about it. Woohoo!

Sounds like special applause should go to:

  1. Cano
  2. Swisher
  3. Jones
  4. Cervelli
  5. Montero (sweet that he got his first hit)
  6. Robertson.

But where’s the Colon that shuts teams down? I know, I know. He gave us innings and he pitched well enough to win. I’m just a little worried that he’s a bit out of gas.

Anyhow, I love that we got the “W” and that A-Rod’s back in the lineup. Life is good in Yankeeville. Now if the Rangers could do more damage at Fenway, things would be even rosier.

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Brett The Jet

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Barton Silverman/The New York Times

He did it all tonight against the Blue Jays – from his amazing defensive plays (is there a better left fielder in baseball right now?) to the display of power that put the Yankees into the ballgame to the double steal with Jeter. What an asset he’s been this season.

And how about Nova? I was a little worried when he got the ball up in the zone during the later innings, but then he came back in the seventh and pitched lights out – another great outing for him.

Did anyone notice how exhausted Curtis Granderson looked?

I know all the Yankees must have been dead tired after flying back from Boston so late and feeling the after effects from that bruising series, but Granderson’s eyes were like mine after a bout of insomnia.

Mo, too, had sort of a dazed expression. I wasn’t expecting to see him, given how many pitches he threw in last night’s ninth inning, but there he was doing his job. He needs to go right home and get plenty of sleep.

I was hoping Tex’s knee would make a miraculous recovery; Swisher did his best at first base, but he only reminds us how lucky we are to have Tex. Maybe he’ll be better tomorrow? Yeah, probably not.

Oh, one more thing. Is it me or did Eduardo Scissorhands play a very good second base tonight? I didn’t even have to hold my breath whenever the ball was hit to him.

Boston got pummeled by the Rangers, so we’re in good shape again. More, please, Yankees. Pour it on.

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A Reason To Smile

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

(courtesy: sitesbyal.com)

I don’t know if the Yankees are out of the woods on the Hughes thing, but he sure pitched better in today’s win over the Jays. If he keeps it up, I think we’ve got ourselves a very good second half pitcher. That said, he’s still an “if.” Colon is an “if” right now. Garcia is an “if.” And AJ is a perennial “if.”

Which is my long-winded way of saying I’ve been kind of excited reading about the trade rumors lately. I know, I know. They’re just rumors. Maybe Cashman will end up sticking with what we have, but I doubt it. I think that if we’re really making a run at winning it all, we need another front line pitcher behind CC for the stretch. Is that pitcher this guy?

Photo: AP/Gregory Smith/espn.com

Jimenez hasn’t been as effective as he was last year, but he’s still pretty good and he’s only 27. The Rockies claim he’s not trade bait, but don’t all teams say that?

And what about this guy?

Photo: Christian Peterson/Getty Images North America

Garza’s been successful in the AL East, which doesn’t hurt, and he’s pitched on the big stage, another advantage. The Cubs say he’s not trade bait either, but see above. (Personally, I’d have to learn to deal with that flutter motion he does with his glove – ugh.)

It all comes down to which players we’d have to give up, and I’m just glad I’m not a GM.

Back to reality, how hot is Gardner right now? He does look comfortable leading off, doesn’t he?

Nice job by the pen today too. Boone Logan seems to have straightened himself out (no jinx).

Now it’s on to Tampa. As Audrey pointed out in a previous post, our record is only average against our division rivals, so it’s time to step it up and remedy that by winning the series against the Rays. I’m talking to YOU, guy.

(courtesy: bronxbaseballdaily.com)

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A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

That was my view today as I took an afternoon walk. Gone was the fog that we’ve had forever. No worries about “carmageddon” since I didn’t have to get to LA for any reason. And best of all, CC Sabathia is a Yankee.

Seriously, how lucky are we to have him come to our rescue time and time again and pick the team up after a loss or two? He’s about as dependable as it gets and deserves every penny the Yankees pay him. (Well, it’s not my millions so I can be generous.) He had an All-Star break just like everybody else, but aside from some first inning shakiness he looked like he didn’t miss a beat.

Nice day for Gardner, Jeter got more hits, Cervelli showed some life and Swisher had a pulse.

Nunez? Yup. Another error for Eduardo Scissorhands. I know he knocks in runs, but I continue to miss you know who.

Mo made us sweat a little in the 9th but got the save. Is there any way we could have him and CC pitch every day? That would really work for me.

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