Padres Archives - Jane Heller

The Calm Before the Storm

May 29, 2019

After last night’s cruel and frustrating one-run loss to the Padres, the Yankees are only one game in front of the Rays for first place. I know. Given all the injuries and the fact that Boone is playing musical chairs with the lineup and the starting rotation, first place is a major accomplishment.

But I hate losing one-run games, especially since the Yanks mounted a late comeback only to fall short.

Also, it’s the Padres. I mean come on. We really need to beat them in today’s finale.

Because Boston comes in for the weekend. No, they’re not the big, bad Boston of old, but they’re 6 games back and 6 games can disappear in a hurry. They’re hungry to topple the order of things – and to right their miserable start to the season. Besides which, the Rays just don’t lose very often.

Paxton is making his return from the I.L today, but he’s said to have lingering problems with his knee and that he’ll have to “play through the discomfort” for the rest of the season. Does that sound promising to you? Me neither.

CC is said to be returning in time to pitch Sunday’s game, but he, too, has knee issues.

Management seems thrilled with the tag team approach to pitching, with Chad Green as our opener and God only knows who to follow him. That method works for the Rays, but I’d much prefer a steady diet of starters – i.e. a real rotation.

But it’s only May, I keep reminding myself. Almost June. Plenty of time for our players to get healthy. Plenty of time for Judge. I’m waiting for Judge. I miss Judge.

Chad Green?

July 4, 2016

Yes, Chad Green. The rookie was our savior in the finale yesterday against the Padres. Yes, the Padres, the lowly Padres, who beat the Yankees in a couple of heartbreakers in Games 1 and 2. Why we don’t beat the teams we’re supposed to beat beats me, but at least we salvaged the last game with the help of Betances and Chapman and – surprisingly – two homers by Teixeira, including homer #400. Maybe the California weather agrees with him. I’ve come to stop counting on him for his power or even for his presence in the lineup, but he certainly delivered both yesterday.

Miller and the AWOL offense were the problems in Game 2, and Evo was just awful in Game 1 – again. What happened to that guy? Earlier in the season, it looked as if he was going to be a solid, even great, starter for us. Now? He loses. That’s what he does. He gives up runs, particularly homers, and put the Yankees hitters in a hole from which they usually can’t come back.

And so the season of mediocrity continues in Chicago for a July 4th matinee. We’re almost at the All-Star break. Are the Yankees buyers or sellers? Or, in the case of A-Rod, releasers? We’ll know soon enough.

Two Walk-Offs Made for Exciting Baseball

June 30, 2016

And Didi figured in both wins against the powerhouse Rangers. (I won’t mention the first two games in the series; they were definitely forgettable. I mean that first one with the long rain delay? Just ugly.)

On Wednesday night, the Yankees were down and out, and I was heading for bed when lo and behold they came all the way back to win on Didi’s homer in the ninth.

Today, after a brilliant start by Pineda (so good to see him throw well again, especially against such a contender), Didi tied the game with a homer and Headley came home on a walk-off passed ball (I’ll take it).

I wasn’t expecting a split with the Rangers, but maybe the two back-to-back wins will galvanize this team and propel them to play well the rest of the way. It doesn’t help that Beltran, our best power hitter, has a hammy issue or that McCann, despite his heroics during this series, is hobbled by a bum knee, or that Teixeira is being treated as if he’s made of glass or that A-Rod is hitting like a guy who’s about to be released. That said, the rest of the guys can pick up the slack, and the pitching can still get better. With a trip out west, anything is possible. They should be able to beat the Padres at the very least.

I’m With Jeter: “This season has been a nightmare”

August 4, 2013

Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports

The Captain called it when he spoke to the media after being diagnosed with yet another muscle strain, this time in his calf, and most likely going back on the DL. I can’t imagine what his level of frustration must be. He just wants to play and yet his body keeps letting him down. So awful.

Speaking of awful, that’s what Hughes was today in what could have been his audition for the Padres. After all, his old buddy Ian Kennedy is now a Padre and Hughes is a California boy and Petco is supposed to be a pitcher’s park. Still, he couldn’t get hitters out and was gonzo before I blinked.

The lack of offense isn’t worth talking about at this point. It is what it is.

So after dropping the series to a team they should have creamed, the Yankees head to Chicago to face the circus that will be A-Rod. I’m exhausted contemplating all the media waiting for Mr. Biogenesis to say, “No comment. I just want to help my teammates.” Someone on Twitter said it’s kind of sad that Mo and his farewell tour are the only things worth savoring this season, and I have to agree. I wish we could fast-forward to next year.

I'm With Jeter: "This season has been a nightmare"

August 4, 2013

The lack of offense isn’t worth talking about at this point. It is what it is.

I Called This One

August 3, 2013

Nova and the Padres’ pitcher were locked in a scoreless battle tonight. At one point the Yankees hadn’t so much as managed a hit or a walk and I feared we’d get perfecto-ed. But then I said to Michael with Granderson coming up, “Our only chance of winning this is if someone runs into one” – i.e sticks his bat out and goes deep. Which is exactly what happened. Granderson struck the ball with the power he used to and suddenly it was 2-0.

With the lead, Nova continued his mastery over the Padres until Robertson and Mo took care of the eighth and ninth, and he finally got the win he should have had the last couple of times. Good for him and good for the Yankees. The offense is still anemic, but maybe Granderson’s blast is a sign of things to come from him. Is it enough to move the team into contention? Doubtful.

And now there’s Jeter’s calf. Apparently, running gingerly wasn’t enough to keep him from injuring himself yet again. What a mess, along with the A-Rod mess, which only gets stranger by the hour. The Yankees really must despise him.

Poor CC

August 3, 2013

I had just flown back to CA and was unpacking while the game was on in the background. Every time CC gave up a hit to the weak-hitting Padres I cringed. I think Michael Kay said he’d never lost to the Padres during his short career in the NL, so last night was a first in a season of so many disappointments for the big guy. What’s there left to say about him? He’s had ample time to figure out what’s wrong, but maybe it’s just the loss of velocity and wear and tear and an inability to locate where he wants to. If his problem is that he misses Cervelli as his valet catcher, he’s out of luck there; sounds like Cisco is about to be suspended.

It was nice to see Granderson again. That was something positive. But Joba’s painful to watch, truly. And sad to say the A-Rod situation does hover. This “any day now” saga that MLB has put everybody through is ridiculous. Just issue the suspensions and let the players who want to appeal do their thing, and let’s get on with it already.