Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

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First Place and a Janer!

May 19, 2019

I take full credit for the weekend series win against the Rays at the Stadium. Why? Because when I went to see the two teams tee off at the Trop last Saturday night, the Yanks lost and I vowed to stop jinxing them. Even though this weekend’s series was televised on our local sports network here in Tampa/St. Pete, I did not watch on Friday night and the Yanks won. Yesterday, I couldn’t help myself and turned on the TV – and we lost. Today I compromised by listening to the audio only and we won.

And it was a satisfying win to say the least. Following the Rays’ playbook and trotting out a bunch of relievers instead of using a starter, the Yanks were dealing in risky business. And with the score tied at 5-5, I was sweating. But the boys prevailed 13-5.

It amazes me how this cast of mostly supporting players has rallied together to put themselves in first place, even if it doesn’t last long. Gardner, Hicks and Sanchez had a nice offensive day, but it’s the no-names who impress me the most. Kudos to Cashman – and I don’t usually “kudos” him – for pulling together guys like LeMahieu, Morales, Urshela, Estrada, Maybin and, of course, Voit.

As the team heads down to Baltimore for four games, I hope the winning will continue. Let’s go, Yankees. Clap clap clap.

 

 

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: First Place, jinx, Orioles, Rays, Yankees

SEVEN Homers

April 8, 2019

Yesterday was a Janer, as we call it when an offense hits 10 or more runs in a victory. The score against the O’s was 15-3 – my kind of game. No stress. No nonsense. Just homer after homer. Clint Frazier is fulfilling the mantra of “guys will step up with all the injuries.” And Gary Sanchez is making up for all his defensive woes (except I still get mad when he makes errors). The boys needed a game like yesterday’s to at least boost their confidence after a dismal first week or so. Torres, in particular, has to feel good about the way he’s contributing. And all the offense has to alleviate some of the pressure on Judge to be the strong man.

Tonight’s matchup of Tanaka vs. Verlander should be a good one.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Clint Frazier, Gary Sanchez, Gleybar Torres, Janer, Orioles, Yankees

Happy Opening Day!

March 29, 2019

I’m back and so was Judge yesterday!


I turned on the TV (we get ESPN here in FL but no YES, except on MLB.TV) and watched the pre-game ceremonies, and my heart skipped as if there was a big present under my tree at Christmas. There’s nothing better than Yankee Stadium on a sunny Opening Day — especially when they win in decisive fashion.

The Orioles aren’t the O’s of old — I didn’t recognize a single player except Chris Davis — but I focused on our guys. It was fun to see Mo throwing a cutter for the first pitch, making it look as effortless as ever. And when Tanaka took the mound I was full of confidence. He may not be our official ace, but he sure looks like it at times. And then came the Judge-Stanton-Voit combo and BOOM. I was glad Bird homered later in the game, and I think having both Voit and Bird in the lineup is brilliant. But one of these days, Boone will have to choose between them for first base — like when he wants to DH other players — and it’ll be a sad day.

Meanwhile, the only negative for me is using Gardner to lead off. I know Hicks will probably lead off when he’s back, but Gardner isn’t high-percentage enough in terms of getting on base. I’d almost rather see Gleybar kick things off.

But mostly I wanted to get back on this blog, greet anyone who’s reading and cheer the Yankees on. The blog at this point in its long life doesn’t have enough readers to keep it going, so I doubt it’ll go back to being a regular diary of Yankee doings. Let’s see how it goes.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Greg Bird, Luke Voit, Masahiro Tanaka, Opening Day 2019, Orioles, Yankees

Poor Didi. Poor Us.

September 24, 2018

Didi’s headfirst slide into home plate won Saturday’s game against the O’s. It also cost us his services, most likely for the WC game. When I read that the Yanks not only lost the finale of that series yesterday but also announced that Didi’s slide caused torn cartilage in his right wrist, all I could say was, “A kick in the gut.” That’s what it felt like. He’s the lynchpin of the infield and in the lineup. Sure, Gleybar can move to shortstop or Hechavaria can start there, but there’s no replacing Didi at such an important time. Boone said they’re giving him a cortisone shot to see if it alleviates the pain/inflammation enough that he can still play. I’m doubtful. Torn cartilage hurts and usually requires surgery.

But onward. I’ll be at the Trop tonight for the start of the series against the pesky Rays. Obviously, I’d like to see a win.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Didi Gregorius, Orioles, Rays, Yankees

Luuuuuuuke!

August 27, 2018

It seems the Yankees have a new Shelley Duncan, a kid who came up to provide reinforcements late in the season and not only hits home runs but is built like a linebacker and exudes a joyfulness around his new teammates that’s infectious. Luke Voit was a pickup from the Cardinals, and now he’s made it to the Bronx. Well, his first stop was Camden Yards against the O’s, a series that resulted in a delicious sweep. With Bird just not delivering at first base on a consistent basis, it’s nice to have Voit as an option there. (Poor Bird. He has such a sweet swing, but alas he just can’t get on a roll.)

With the core group of hitters sidelined (Judge, Didi, Sanchez), it’s been guys like Walker, Andujar, Hicks, Torres and Romine who’ve stepped up to keep the Yankees closer to the Red Sox than I ever imagined. Six games! That’s all that separate the two teams at the moment.

Last night’s ESPN finale against the hapless O’s was the perfect time for Severino to show his old flashes of brilliance. And Happ has made me nothing but happy.

But optimism aside, if we’re really going to contend for the division or even for home advantage in the Wild Card spot, we need Chapman back. We need Judge. We need the Sanchez who gets hits and doesn’t make pitchers nervous with his tendency to allow passed balls. We need Didi in the lineup and at short.

And we need to keep beating the teams we should beat, the way we did with the O’s. Next up are the White Sox, a team we should thrash. Let’s hope.

 

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Luke Voit, Miguel Andujar, Orioles, White Sox, Yankees

Too Depressing to Write About

April 9, 2018

So I’ll leave yesterday’s recap and the general malaise I’m feeling about the Yankees (the losses, the injuries, the strikeouts, the bullpen) to Erik Boland of Newsday. Yes, I know it’ll get better, but right now the team is not firing on all cylinders and it shows. If the losing continues, will Aaron Boone last the season? Musing on that….

Giancarlo Stanton strikes out five times as Yankees lose to Orioles in 12

The Yankees squander an early 5-0 lead and waste a bases-loaded, none-out threat in the 12th.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery reacts

(New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery reacts as Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Danny Valencia rounds the bases on his two-run home run during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Photo Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke)

As ugly as it gets.

On a day when they scored five runs in knocking out the opposing starting pitcher after two-thirds of an inning, the Yankees fell to the Orioles, 8-7, in 12 innings at the Stadium — and failed to score after loading the bases with none out in their final at-bat.

Bearing the brunt of the frustration from what was left of the thoroughly iced crowd of 37,096 — the wind-chill by the end of the 4-hour, 48-minute game was 32 degrees — was Giancarlo Stanton, who endured another nightmare day at his new home ballpark.

Stanton went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts, his second five-strikeout game in the last six. The final one came with runners on first and second in the bottom of the 12th after Aaron Judge grounded into a 1-2-5 double play to short-circuit the rally. Stanton personally stranded nine runners and the Yankees left 14 on base as a team.

“They’re not going to cheer for that, so what do you expect?” Stanton said of the booing he heard all of Sunday and most of the homestand, one he finished 3-for-28 with 16 strikeouts.

It was not the way the Yankees (5-5) — who dropped three of four to the Orioles (4-6), including a 14-inning loss in the second game of the series — wanted to hit the road for their first 2018 series against the AL East-leading Red Sox (8-1).

“Any time you throw five up there in the first and then aren’t able to muster much after that, [it’s frustrating],” Aaron Boone said. “Had a chance to finish off a good homestand there and just couldn’t get much going.”

The Orioles scored off Adam Warren (0-1) in the 12th. With one out, Pedro Alvarez pinch hit for Danny Valencia and drew a walk. After Warren struck out Tim Beckham, Anthony Santander singled and Craig Gentry won an 11-pitch at-bat, bouncing a single to left to make it 8-7.

“Can’t put the guy on with a walk there,” Warren said. “That’s what’s most frustrating.”

Orioles righthander Brad Brach somehow worked out of a massive jam in the bottom of the 12th in earning his second save.

Austin Romine, who had three two-out RBI singles, and Didi Gregorius led off with walks against Brach. When Brett Gardner’s two-strike sacrifice bunt was booted by Brach, the Yankees had the bases loaded, but Judge hit a comebacker on an 0-and-1 splitter that Brach turned into a double play and Stanton struck out on four pitches.

“That’s the situation you want to be up in, but I hit it right back at him,” said Judge, who went 2-for-5 with two walks. “The one spot you don’t want to hit it.”

Lost a bit in Stanton’s bad day and the overall odd afternoon was Jordan Montgomery’s failure to hold the 5-0 lead he was given before throwing a pitch. He was pulled with one out in the fifth after Valencia made it 5-4 with a two-run homer to deep left-center on an 0-and-2 pitch. It was the Orioles’ 10th hit off Montgomery.

He still did far better than his counterpart, Baltimore righthander Mike Wright Jr., who allowed five runs (two earned) and five hits in two-thirds of an inning, including a two-run single by Miguel Andujar and an RBI double off the leftfield wall by Ronald Torreyes.

Santander’s two-out, two-run homer on a 3-and-0 pitch from Domingo German gave the Orioles a 7-6 lead in the seventh, but Romine’s single tied it in the bottom of the inning.

“We had a lot of opportunities and we couldn’t come through,” Gardner said. “Have to learn from it and forget about it. Off day tomorrow comes at a great time and then we’ll be ready for this week.”

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Giancarlo Stanton, Orioles, Yankees

Mt. Crushmore!

April 4, 2018

Ok, Greg Bird is out of the picture for now, but how about the murderer’s row on display in today’s finale against the Rays? Stanton, Judge and Sanchez all hit bombs and Didi put on a HR show yesterday. Good job, guys.

Severino was impressive even if the Rays are notorious underachievers at the plate.

The important points were that Stanton rebounded from the booing he earned yesterday, Sanchez woke up from his slumbering start to the season and Judge continued to flex his muscles. If I were an opposing pitcher, I would have nightmares thinking about facing this lineup even if they do go into slumps now and then.

Speaking of offense, the O’s come to the Bronx for our first matchup with them this year. They can hit, but can they pitch? We shall see.

Oh – I forgot to mention – I’ve been spending the winter in St. Petersburg, FL (actually I did mention it in a previous post about going to the first spring training game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa), and now I’ll be living here full time starting in June. So whenever the Yanks come into town to play the Rays, I hope to be at the Trop. I also hope to catch a glimpse of the players while they’re coming and going at their hotel. Recently, I snapped this pic at the Vinoy while the Red Sox were in town.

Do you honestly think I’m NOT going to take a photo of our heroes? Not a chance.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino, Mt. Crushmore. Yankees, Orioles, Rays, Vinoy Hotel

Soooo Frustrating!

September 18, 2017

Yes, we won the series against the Orioles. Yes, Didi was an absolute stud. Yes, Judge hit more homers. But we lost yesterday’s finale and the Red Sox lost their game to the Rays, so guess what? We’re still 3 1/2 games back! It’s enough to make a person crazy.

When will we ever gain ground? When will that perfect combination of our wins and their losses amount to anything? Will we overtake them as the division leaders or not?

Our series (weather permitting) over the next few days against the Twins would have been a relief in the good old days when we owned them. Not anymore. They’re contenders too, and they’re hungry. They want that Wild Card spot. Girardi switched the rotation around, so Jaime Garcia could pitch against them tonight. I really hope he and Joe have worked through their little spat after Garcia was pulled early. I also hope he has the inside track against his former team and can pitch his heart out.

 

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Jaime Garcia, Orioles, Red Sox, Twins, Yankees

Stuck in a Ditch

September 13, 2017

Are the Yankees ever going to push the Red Sox out of the division lead? We win, we lose, we win, we lose. We won the series against the Rays with today’s “W,” but no matter what we do, we’re still 3 1/2 games back in the standings. It’s frustrating!

The good news is we’ve pulled ahead of the Twins for the Wild Card, so that’s something. But I’d still love to take the AL East. I’d also like to see Judge, Sanchez, Holliday (so glad he’s back), Castro, Didi and the rest of the gang get hits, hits and more hits. No more of these one or two-runs a game. Poor Sonny Gray gets no run support. I want runs, I tell you. Janer after Janer.

And I want pitching – from the starters as well as the relievers. Robertson had a great game the other night and Chapman seems nearly back to his old self. Girardi has had a quick hook with CC and Garcia, and I don’t blame him; these are all must-win games from here on.

Now it’s time again for the Orioles. They’re free-swingers but they can bash. And they’ve been on a slide. (How about the Indians, btw? Who wins all those games in a row? What a season they’re having.)

Not much else to say except it’s crunch time. I can’t believe we’re in mid-September already, but the leaves on the trees here in CT don’t lie. So let’s go, Yankees. For real.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Orioles, Rays, Red Sox, Twins, Yankees

A Series Win and a Huge Yankees Loss

September 8, 2017

Taking two of three against the O’s was great, and we could/should have won the middle game too if not for Betances’s blown save. I hope the Yankees will carry the momentum into the Texas series. They seem stuck at the 3 1/2 games back of Boston mark, and I’d like to see them finally close the gap.

The huge loss I referred to above is, of course, the death of Yankee legend Gene “Stick” Michael. Here’s the obit from today’s NYT.

Gene Michael, Whose Yankee Teams Won 4 World Series, Dies at 79

By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN

Photo

Gene Michael on Old Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium in 2009. CreditJim McIsaac/Getty Images

Gene Michael, a Yankee for nearly a half-century, rising from sure-handed shortstop to general manager and building teams that won four World Series championships, died on Thursday at his home in Oldsmar, Fla. He was 79.

The Yankees reported his death on theirwebsite, saying the cause was a heart attack.

For much of Michael’s time with the Yankees, George Steinbrenner ran a revolving door that sent players, coaches, managers and front-office personnel spinning in and out of Yankee Stadium. Michael was fired a couple of times, then hired back.

As a player he anchored the infield for seven seasons for the Yankees in the late 1960s and early ’70s, when baseball’s most storied franchise went into decline. Nicknamed Stick for his slender frame — 6 feet 2 inches tall and 180 pounds or so — he was a light hitter but quick, smooth and deft defensively.

After Michael’s playing career ended, in 1976, Steinbrenner, whose syndicate had taken over ownership from CBS three years earlier, earmarked him for a future in the Yankee organization, having viewed him as a smart and hard-nosed player.

Michael had two stints as the Yankee manager and another as general manager in the early 1980s, then managed the Chicago Cubs later in the decade.

He served as the Yankee general manager again from late in the 1990 season through 1995. In that second go-round, he assembled the core of the teams that won a World Series championship in 1996 and consecutive titles from 1998 to 2000. Joe Torre, who managed those teams, was hired in large part on Michael’s recommendation.

Michael also was a Yankee coach, oversaw scouting, and in his later years was a senior adviser in the front office.

As general manager, Michael looked for young players who showed promise, a departure from Steinbrenner’s penchant for spending heavily on free agents and at times trading away budding talent.

He gained unusual autonomy for a top Yankee official after Steinbrenner was ordered by Commissioner Fay Vincent to resign as the team’s general partner and relinquish control of on-field baseball decisions on July 30, 1990 — his penalties for paying a confessed gambler for damaging information about the Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield, with whom Steinbrenner had been feuding.

Through the draft, trades, free-agent signings and retention of the most promising Yankee minor leaguers, Michael created the path putting Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, David Cone and Joe Girardi in pinstripes for many or all of those four Yankee championship teams.

Michael’s first stint as a Yankee manager came in 1981, when he reluctantly stepped down as general manager at Steinbrenner’s behest after one season in that post.

He succeeded Dick Howser, whom Steinbrenner fired after the 1980 Yankees, winners of 103 games in the regular season, were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.

Michael reflected on his playing days when he replaced Howser.

“I realized I couldn’t hit very well — I was never very strong in my upper body; today’s players work out more — and I started to learn the game,” he told The New York Times. “Toward the end, I guess I would say I came to love baseball, or at least to know it better. I started to think about managing.”

Eugene Richard Michael was born on June 2, 1938, in Kent, Ohio. He played baseball and was also an outstanding basketball player at Kent State University, then signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization in 1957.

His survivors include his wife, Joette, two sons, two daughters and several grandchildren.

Michael made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1966 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers sold him to the Yankees after the 1967 season.

Michael’s best season came in 1969, when he batted .272.

His baseball savvy included mastery of the hidden ball trick, which, he said, resulted in his tagging out at least four or five unsuspecting runners leading off second who assumed the pitcher had the baseball.

Michael was also a battler.

“If there was ever a team fight, the players always told me that they wanted Stick on their side,” Steinbrenner once said.

In one memorable brawl, in August 1973, Michael took on Carlton Fisk, the Boston Red Sox catcher, who outweighed him by at least 20 pounds and had the added advantage of a chest protector. The fight was touched off when Michael, at the plate, missed a squeeze bunt as Thurman Munson was barreling home from third base. Munson crashed into Fisk and the benches emptied. Michael held his own in the skirmish, in which nobody was hurt.

Michael ended his playing days with the 1975 Detroit Tigers under Ralph Houk, his former manager with the Yankees. He signed with the Red Sox after that season, but they never put him in the lineup and released him in May 1976.

He retired as a player with a career batting average of .229 and only 15 home runs.

Michael was a special assistant to Steinbrenner and a coach after that and managed the Yankees’ Columbus Clippers to an International League pennant in 1979.

“I’m not looking for somebody to say yes to me,” Steinbrenner said when he named Michael to succeed Howser. “Gene is loyal — that’s his greatest asset — but he’ll tell me if he thinks I’m wrong.”

But Michael soon fell out of favor.

His Yankees were assured of a 1981 playoff berth for topping their division in the first half of what became a split season as a result of a players’ strike. But when they had only moderate success in the second half, Michael publicly voiced disgust over Steinbrenner’s complaining.

“It’s not just now or earlier in the season,” Michael told reporters in late August. “It started in spring training. Every ballgame you lose, you could’ve done something differently.

“It’s not fair that he criticizes me and threatens to fire me all the time. I’d rather he do it than talk about it. I told him exactly that today — don’t wait.”

Steinbrenner took up the challenge, firing Michael and naming Bob Lemon to replace him on Sept. 6.

The Yankees lost to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series. Steinbrenner fired Lemon in April 1982, then rehired Michael, who had been scouting, as his manager.

But Steinbrenner fired Michael for a second time, in August, and replaced him with Clyde King, one of his advisers.

Michael managed the Chicago Cubs from midseason 1986 through early September 1987, when he resigned, having gone 114-124.

Steinbrenner’s banishment ended in March 1993. Michael’s second term as the Yankee general manager ended after the 1995 season amid a contract dispute with Steinbrenner.

“I always had a great regard for his baseball knowledge, and secondly, how he handled the stress working for George that many years,” Torre said in a statement on the Yankees’ website. “He kept the thing afloat when George was away; he did more than that because he built a heck of an organization.”

Buck Showalter, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who faced the Yankees on Thursday, was hired by Michael as the Yankee manager in 1992 and became Torre’s predecessor.

In a statement, Showalter called Michael “the best baseball evaluator I ever saw.”

“Never missed on an infielder,” he added. Referring to Jeter’s time in the minors, Showalter said Michael “knew Jeter made 40-something errors, and he’s telling me, ‘This guy is going to be an All-Star shortstop.’ I’m like, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘Yeah, he’s got a little footwork issue.’ How do you project those things and then stand by them? The right kind of stubborn.”

Michael was a vice president of major league scouting for the Yankees from 1996 to 2002, then remained a vice president until he was promoted to senior adviser. He worked with the current general manager, Brian Cashman, and visited Yankee farm teams to evaluate prospects.

“Obviously statistics are used more than ever,” Michael told the publication Commerce, the Business of New Jersey, in December 2014. But turning to his reputation as an exceptional judge of talent, he added, “Numbers are important only to the degree you can blend them with what a scout has seen with his own eyes.”

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Gene Michael, Orioles, Rangers, Yankees

Welcome Back, Matt Holliday!

September 4, 2017

Just having a little fun with the name, but did the Yankees ever miss the bat of Matt Holliday. He came back not a moment too soon – contributing mightily to the crucial series win over the Red Sox. Now we have a true DH or even a first baseman, if necessary.

Chase Headley’s hot streak at the plate also comes at the perfect time. And how about Severino’s pitching in this series? Inning for inning, he bested the great and powerful Chris Sale. Good for him and good for the Yanks. CC is showing what a crafty pitcher he’s become too. His spat with Nunez over the bunt on Friday night was comical – as was Jim Rice’s retort to him – but it doesn’t matter now since we won’t play the Sox again (thankfully). I was happy for Judge’s homer last night, but he really has fizzled out. Which is, again, why Holliday’s offense is so important.

Too bad Hicks is now gone with an oblique strain. He had cooled off lately, but he’s had his share of injuries this season.

So now? We have the always-difficult Orioles to deal with. I hope there’s no letdown and the Yanks keep playing great baseball. I want the division, not the Wild Card!

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Chase Headley, Chris Sale, Luis Severino, Matt Holliday, Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees

Murderers Row 2.0

June 11, 2017



Who scores a gazillion runs per game? Against tough division rivals yet? The 2017 Yankees do – and did. They destroyed the Orioles this weekend with an offensive barrage the likes of which we haven’t seen since the guys in the photo above. Instead of them, insert Judge, Sanchez, Hicks and Castro. And throw in Holliday and Didi too.

But what’s truly astonishing about this team is they’re not just homer happy. Not that I don’t love homers, especially at the Stadium where the warm weather and inviting short porch are a tonic for the players. It’s that they can also score runs by taking their walks, hitting singles and doubles, stealing a base – the complete package. Judge, in particular, is so impressive that I ordered a Judge jersey from the Yankees store today, hoping I wouldn’t jinx him.

Once again, the starting pitching has been surprisingly good. Chad Green, taking Tanaka’s spot in the rotation today, wasn’t sharp and I have no idea if he’ll stick around, but the rest of them have been superb.

Can this team power through in first place until and after the All-Star break? Who knows, but I’m enjoying the ride in the meantime. Who wouldn’t?

P.S. Audrey just sent me pics of her Judge sugar cookies. They’re brilliant and look so delicious. I, for one, would love a batch. And Audrey, you could sell $$$ of them at the Stadium!

 

 

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Murderers Row 2.0, Orioles, Yankees

I Blame Joe

April 30, 2017

Photo: John Munson/The Star-Ledger

I was so hoping to post the image of a broom in this edition of the blog. After the first two rousing games in the home series against the O’s during which I began to think this Yankees team would never lose (unrealistic, but they were that inspiring), today’s finale was a major letdown for me – especially since the boys pulled off yet another miracle and tied up the game in the ninth.

But my cheers turned to sighs as I watched Girardi do what he often does: over-manage. Forget the binders for once. Stop babying pitchers. Chapman’s a big, strapping guy who isn’t made of glass. He could have hung around and pitched another inning. There was no need for Mitchell to play first and then pitch, as entertaining as it was to watch Mitchell field the ball. There was no need to fiddle with the lineup, taking out Matt Holliday, the hero of Game 1. Would the Yankees have won the game if Girardi hadn’t tinkered? Who knows, but sometimes it’s okay to leave well enough alone.

Let me be clear. I have nothing to complain about. The Yanks finished the week with a piece of first place and they’ve played great. It’s just that once I get a taste of winning, it’s hard to lose a game in extras that we could have/should have won.

But onto the next series. The Blue Jays are always a handful. I hope the Baby Bombers can rise to the occasion.

Oh, have I mentioned I’m crazy about Aaron Judge? Don’t let me down, Aaron.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Aaron Judge, Aroldis Chapman, Bryan Mitchell, Joe Girardi, Matt Holliday, Orioles, Yankees

Yanks Save Face Vs. Orioles

April 9, 2017

Somebody had to stop the Orioles from winning every game this season. Why not the Yankees? In today’s finale, we did just that: beat them to prevent getting swept in Baltimore.

Aaron Judge had a good day. So did Holliday, Castro, Torreyes and Ellsbury, among others. But the bad news involved Gary Sanchez. Just when he was getting on track at the plate, he was pulled with a bicep strain and put on the DL. And his baby bomber cohort, Greg Bird, is also ailing.

Injuries. Here we go again. I know, I know. They happen. They’re part of baseball. They’re just so disappointing.

On a positive note, tomorrow is Opening Day at the Stadium. Maybe – again, I’m trying to stay positive – Pineda will have a decent outing and mow down the Rays. If not, I fear he’ll be booed. I’ve been noticing on social media that fans have lost patience with him. I hope he proves us all wrong.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, GregBird, Opening Day, Orioles, Rays, Yankees

Goodbye Tex and Goodbye 2016 Season

October 2, 2016

Photo: Danny Wild/USA TODAY Sports
Photo: Danny Wild/USA TODAY Sports

It would have been sweet if the Yankees had won their last game of the season and Teixeira’s last game as a professional baseball player, but it wasn’t to be. The Orioles got the better of us in terms of the score. Tex, however, had a lovely farewell from the Steinbrenners, his teammates and coaches and the fans. I’ll try to remember his earlier years in pinstripes when he was so productive at the plate and so skillful at first base, not the most recent years when he was injured so often.

In any case, it’s on to the playoffs for several teams while the Yankees braintrust figures out how to craft a winning team for the future. It’ll be interesting to see what, if any, moves are made in the off-season and I’ll certainly blog about any newsworthy events in Yankeeville. But for the most part, I guess I’ll be putting “Confessions” on hiatus. Feel free to stop by with any comments and I’ll be sure to respond and, as I said, check back after news breaks and I’ll weigh in.

Meanwhile, have a healthy and happy off-season!

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Mark Teixeira retirement, Orioles, playoffs, Yankees

Oh Well

September 29, 2016

-eliminated-

Even though the Yankees played great against the Red Sox, they were knocked out of the postseason for real tonight. How to evaluate….

Not enough offense. The team just didn’t score runs. Period. Yes, Cashman sent our key bullpen guys to contenders, but, relievers aside, the hitters just didn’t hit.

It’s sad to be left out of the postseason and I’d rather not make a habit of it, but it’s not a shock. The 2016 Yanks didn’t have the talent or the talent didn’t perform up to potential.

Will the kids turn us into winners next year? Probably not without the addition of key players. But they were the bright spot in an otherwise dreary season. Just the thought of Gary Sanchez makes me smile.

So it’s time to finish up against the Orioles this weekend and wait to see who plays whom in the playoffs. I usually root for the Dodgers if the Yankees are out of it, but this year? The Cubbies have to be the sentimental favorite.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Cubs, Dodgers, Elimination, Orioles, playoffs, Red Sox, Yankees

Labor Day Kick-Off Against the Blue Jays

September 5, 2016

bluejays

After avoiding being swept by the O’s yesterday in Baltimore (whew), the Yankees now take on another tough opponent. I admit I was puzzled by Girardi’s lineup on Sunday, but it paid dividends as the Yanks finally scored some runs with the little used Romine, Refsnyder, Severino contributing.

Every game at this point is a “must win” with so few left to play, but there’s always a chance that Gary Sanchez will snap out of his little funk and save us again :)

I would have felt a little more hopeful if the Yanks had swept the Orioles, making up real ground for the second Wild Card, but at the moment I’m not as optimistic. Especially with Green, who was pitching nicely for us, suddenly the latest to go down with an arm injury.

Toronto is always tricky to play, but if everybody’s intensity level is there and we get a little lucky, maybe????

Meanwhile, I’m hooked on the US Open, so my sports attention is over on Ashe Stadium. Last night’s match between Nadal and Pouille, the French kid, was spellbinding.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Blue Jays, Orioles, US Open, Yankees

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About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.

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