Gustavo Molina Archives

12 Runs Are Better Than, Say, 2

April 28, 2011

For awhile it seemed as if the Yankees might get no-hit by Edwin Jackson and the White Sox and still win the game, didn’t it? But I kept saying, “We need to score on more than walks.” And then we did.

It all started with our slugger, Babe Gardner.

Babe Ruth Wearing Crown — (courtesy: moderndaypirates.com)

Okay, so Gardy isn’t exactly the Sultan of Swat, but he’s gone from not hitting at all to smacking balls into the seats. Odd but welcome.

He got things started and once the floodgates opened they stayed open. I do love blowouts, I really do. Here’s what else I love:

When CC notches a win without having to labor through it.
When a sub like Nunez gets on base a lot.
When a sub like Molina contributes.
When a kid like Pendleton pitches to the finish line.
When Swisher finally joins the home run derby.
When we don’t have to watch Lillibridge annoy us with great lucky catches.
When we can win a game even without Tex at first (although I’m not into making a habit of that).
When I can listen to the game on my iPhone while I hang out at the beach and wait for the sunset.

“You Just Can’t Predict Baseball”

March 25, 2011

I know. That’s John Sterling’s favorite line. But as I was reading about the latest developments in Yankeeville, I couldn’t help utter the same words myself.

By the time I wake up tomorrow morning, Girardi will have already announced his roster for breaking camp, or so I assume. Judging by the buzz among the beat writers, it sounds like:

Nova is our #4 pitcher.
Garcia slots in at #5.
Colon goes to the pen in long relief.
Nunez gets the reserve job instead of Pena.
Gustavo Molina is the backup catcher, not Jesus Montero.

Could anybody have predicted the above? Well, except for Nova? Seriously, didn’t Ramiro Pena have the infield job locked up before Nunez beat him out? Wasn’t Montero the second coming of Joe Mauer while Molina was the so-so, non-Molina-brother catcher? Wasn’t Garcia supposed to be a long shot to make the rotation? And how about Eric Chavez? I remember writing on this very blog that I was excited about him coming off the bench, and lots of people said, “Forget it. He’s always injured. He won’t give you anything.”And yet look at the spring training he’s had, including his first ST homer in tonight’s game. Yes, I like Jorge Vazquez and I hope we’ll see him in the Bronx one of these days, but Chavez has such a good glove.

It’s all coming together. I’m still not crazy about Andruw Jones and I honestly don’t know what his contribution will be, but things could look a lot different in another month or two.

Meanwhile, the rehearsals are winding down and the show is about to start….Any day now.

"You Just Can't Predict Baseball"