Starlin Castro Archives

We Won a Series!

July 23, 2017

After losing the series against the Twins, a team we used to beat regularly (the less said, the better), I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about facing the Mariners, who’ve been nipping at our heels for the Wild Card slot.

The trade happened and we got D-Rob, etc., but I was still wondering about a starter. It turned out the resilient, bounce-back Yankees of 2017 won three of the four games in Seattle and they just kept showing how they don’t quit. Judge seems to have rediscovered his home run stroke and Chapman was back to his high-velocity self today, but everybody’s contributed lately. Tanaka continues to be a puzzle; he had a rough inning on Saturday giving up four runs, but then he settled down and pitched well. CC has been pitching his heart out this season, and I wouldn’t mind keeping him when his contract is up – at least for the short term. Severino has earned the “ace” moniker for now. Will we sign Yu Darvish as has been rumored? Okay with me.

Not good news about Castro re-injuring his hamstring, by the way.

Again, what I love about this team is that they went through a long rough patch but never folded. And now, just maybe, they turned a corner in Seattle this weekend. Winning can become a habit for a team. As a fan, it’s a habit for me. More, please.

9th Inning Meltdown

September 14, 2016

Dellin Betances?!!!???!!!

Why can he not throw the ball to home plate if he can fire a 100-mph fastball to a batter? I’m asking, of course, because this sort of short throw has dogged Betances since spring training and it came back to haunt him in tonight’s finale against the Dodgers. Talk about a heartbreaker.

The Yanks had a chance to capitalize on last night’s win and draw even closer to the Wild Card and the division. But they were locked tonight in a 0-0 battle until the end when they had a complete and utter meltdown. Why wasn’t Headley playing closer to the bag at third? Why did Castro not catch the ball at second? And why oh why did Betances have to throw home like a third grader? GRRRRRRRR.

I’m not a happy camper right now, especially with the long road trip ahead and the days/nights slipping away. The Yankees begin a huge series in Boston tomorrow night and the future is in their hands. If they beat the Red Sox, good for them. If they don’t, it’s so long until next year. Which is another way of saying tonight was a must win and a doable win but they didn’t make it happen.

Yankees Have Extra-Inning Hocus Pocus in KC

September 1, 2016

Wow. Two back-to-back wins in extras over the Royals. I’m impressed.

I wasn’t feeling so great after losing that last game to the Orioles. Ditto: the first game to the Royals. But the Yanks came out of KC with another series win and drew a tiny bit closer to the second Wild Card spot. I’ll take it.

Gary Sanchez’s bat seems to have cooled off (how could it not), but others have picked up the slack. Castro has been a beast lately and Didi continues to be an offensive weapon for us. McCann has lifted his game. Ellsbury too. And Tanaka and Cessa were great the past couple of nights. It’s Pineda who’s always a question mark.

After today’s off day, it’s back to work against the O’s, this time at Camden Yards where the homers will be flying out. I hope they’re our homers, not theirs, and by the end of the weekend we’re right where we need to be in the playoff race.

Two Janers in a Row and Then We Score….

August 28, 2016

The first two games against the O’s this weekend were a thrilling display of offense, featuring the miraculous hitting of Gary Sanchez along with Castro and others. It felt good to gain ground against a Wild Card contender. Which is why today’s shutout by Baltimore was such a letdown. I thought the Yankees might actually sweep them. Instead, the team wasted a pretty decent performance by CC and didn’t score a single run. Days like today were bound to happen. It’s just much more satisfying when we win in a blowout. At least we won the series.

Now it’s on to KC to take on the Royals. Sanchez can’t possibly keep up his torrid pace, but wouldn’t it be nice if he did? It seemed to be contagious and get everybody else fired up, including me. Suddenly, it’s fun to watch the Yanks again.

A Walk-Off Saves the Yanks

June 22, 2016

Starlin Castro walkoff — Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty

Starlin Castro had never had a walkoff to win a ballgame, but he had one this afternoon to salvage the Yankees’ home series against the Rockies. The win wasn’t pretty, but it did show some grit on the part of a team that was about to go down to defeat for the second day in a row against a team they really should beat.

CC wasn’t as sharp as he’s been and he rolled his ankle in the process – not a good day for him. In fact, when I saw the score – that the Rockies had scored a bunch of runs while the Yankees’ bats were silent – I figured we were doomed. But there was a comeback in store and Chapman held the opposition in check for the save.

Little victories. That’s all we can expect this season, I’m afraid. But even little victories have their pleasures and I’m sure Castro is celebrating his big moment. He deserves it.

Why Even Pitch to Ortiz?

May 9, 2016

I’ve never understood the Yankees’ strategy against David Ortiz, who hits homers at Yankee Stadium the way I hit this computer to write about it, which is to say: a lot. Last night’s two homers in the series finale against Boston was a case in point. Severino, who hasn’t exactly been Cy Young this year and will probably be sent back to the minors, is over-matched when facing a guy like Ortiz. So why not walk him?

Moreover, why not walk the guy every time he’s up? He kills the Yankees – particularly at the Stadium, as I said – so isn’t it a waste of everybody’s time to sit there and watch him go deep?

Ok, rant over.

Now I’ll start on the Yankees’ inability to hit knuckleballers. Aside from Tim Wakefield in his later years, knuckleball pitchers baffle Yankees hitters and Steven Wright, last night’s starter for Boston, was no exception. We managed – what – a measly three hits? I’m not saying it’s easy to hit a ball that’s dancing all over the place, but there must be videotape to watch, tips from the hitting coach, something. Having said that, why don’t the Yanks have a knuckleballer of their own?

And what’s up with all the injuries? Last night’s casualty was Darlin’ Starlin with an oblique. Sigh.

On a brighter note, the first two games of this series ended in victory for the Yankees, and it seemed as if they were finally getting on track. Maybe whoever’s healthy will be inspired against the Royals in the series that starts tonight. KC is a really good team, obviously. Sometimes the Yankees play up to the competition. I’m hoping this series will be one of those times since I’ll be at the Stadium on Wednesday night and don’t really want to shiver in the cold and see them lose.

Darlin’ Starlin!

April 7, 2016

If I was excited about our new Yankee before, I’m super excited about him after the first two games of the 2016 season. Wow. What a way to make friends in New York. In last night’s Janer, the Yanks beat the Astros 16-6 and Castro was a good reason. Pineda clearly has work to do on his control (or maybe it was the cold weather), but there was nothing wrong with the bats. Even old warhorse Carlos Beltran was a beast at the plate.

It wasn’t the most tidy of games, but beating a contender for the pennant and beyond is always great. I was a happy fan last night.

News & Notes from Tampa and Elsewhere

March 23, 2016

As the spring training season winds down, there’s actually stuff going on! For starters, our President went to Cuba as everyone knows, and among his esteemed delegation was our own Jeets. I love the above photo. You can just hear them ribbing each other about their golf games. Jeter did an interview with ESPN that day and reiterated his desire to buy a baseball team. Are the Tampa Rays be on his radar? I would think so unless MLB is planning to move the team to a bigger market and more hospitable stadium.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, A-Rod told ESPN’s Andrew Marchand today that he would retire after his contract is up in 2017. Not exactly a shocker, unless he planned on playing for another team, but at least he put a finite end to his career, which allows him to have some version of a victory tour in ’17. Of course injuries could derail his plans, but if he’s still productive for the next couple of years and conducting himself as he did last year, good for him.

Starlin Castro has created a buzz at camp, so I’m eager to see him play in the Bronx. And Luis Severino continues to impress. CC, on the other hand, has been having his problems on the mound. Will he end up in the bullpen? Stranger things have happened.

In the feel-good department, there was a terrific story today in Tampa! If anyone needs a lift – and given the horrors in the world this week, who doesn’t – just read this.

Welcome Starlin Castro

December 9, 2015

When I read last night that we traded Adam Warren for someone named Castro, I joked that maybe it was Fidel. The Cuban leader was said to be a pretty good ballplayer back in the day and I hope Starlin Castro is too. In the above photo, he was the Cubs shortstop, but he’ll be our new second baseman. He has to be better than Stephen Drew, right?

For one thing, he’s young (26) and athletic, and was an All-Star before having a down season last year – the reason, I assume, that the Cubs made him expendable by signing Ben Zobrist. Maybe a change of scenery and good Yankees coaching will nudge him forward in his career and he’ll turn out to be a good get for us.

As for Adam Warren, the poor guy deserved a real shot to be in the starting rotation, but his versatility made him hard to resist as a bullpen bolsterer. The question now is – once again – which arms we’ll be able to depend on. We need pitching. I’d be amazed if Cashman doesn’t go after another young guy like Evo, a starter with upside potential who won’t cost too much.

Yes, this is the cost-conscious era of the Yankees – not a rebuilding, per se, as we have too many expensive veterans on the payroll, but a slow acquisition of younger talent. I’m OK with that as long as a pitcher or two are part of the equation.

As for Jeter (the photo made me wistful), I wonder when he’s tying the knot with his swimsuit model fiancee? Shouldn’t we have gotten a wedding invitation by now or did mine get lost in the mail?