Vidal Nuno Archives - Jane Heller

Thanks, Minny

July 6, 2014

The Yankees always seem to rise to the occasion when they’re playing the Twins and the past four games were no exception, not counting yesterday’s loss. (Three out of four was damn good for this team.) In today’s marathon, which should have been a laugher but was made way too close by the bullpen, Jeter and Ellsbury strutted their offensive prowess. But overall in this series, we got just enough pitching and hitting to get the job done.

And what an eventful day it was off the field. The Yankees said goodbye to Soriano, which was necessary but got me choked up nonetheless. I always liked him and he was a big help last season. I’ll remember him fondly as a Yankee through and through and hope he comes to Old Timer’s Day once he officially retires. Bye, Sori. Keep smiling.

While Sori was going, Brandon McCarthy was coming.

(Yes, ESPN has already photo shopped his Diamondbacks pic.)

His stats with Arizona weren’t exactly spectacular, but he’s an upgrade over Vidal Nuno and he should give us innings. And he’s proven that he’s nothing if not gutsy. He was with Oakland when he was hit in the head by a comebacker off the bat of the Angels’ Erick Aybar and suffered a fractured skull. The fact that he’s pitching at all is pretty heroic.

I would hope Cashman still plans to make a deal for another starter (Cliff Lee?).

Meanwhile, I was excited to see that Betances and Tanaka will join Jeter at the All-Star Game. Congratulations to them.

The Yanks Head Home

June 15, 2014

Actually, the above photo is not the Yankees’ charter. It’s the private plane Tanaka flew to New York a while back. Not too shabby, right?

What was shabby was Vidal Nuno’s performance, if it can be called that, in today’s finale against the A’s. Every pitcher has a bad game here and there, but I just don’t see this guy getting it done over the long haul, and nobody seems inclined to do anything about it.

Still, there were promising developments on this road trip. The offense came to life, albeit not today, with Jeter and Ellsbury making a potent combination. Gardner too. And despite the constant injuries Teixeira comes down with (wrist, hammy, rib/obligue/lat/whatever), he’s still capable of hitting when he’s in the lineup. Beltran too. And the bullpen has been mostly good lately. So it’s not as if this team can’t win ballgames. It’s that they don’t do it consistently. They need to go on a tear now that they’re back in the Bronx, because it’s the division rivals they’ll be facing. I wish Tanaka could pitch every game. I wish….Well, never mind. The point is I’d like to see the 2014 Yankees settle into their own ballpark with its inviting dimensions and knock the ball over that short porch in right field. Early and often.

Ewwwww

May 13, 2014

I was out for dinner and kept checking the score and reading the summaries, and I nearly lost my appetite. Things are not looking good in Yankeeville. Between Beltran’s bone spur and Nuno’s pitching (I’d love to avoid trashing Aceves, but as I wrote in the last post he’s just not effective anymore), the Yanks were in trouble in tonight’s game from the get go. Yes, there was offense, and it was nice to see McCann start to come around, but if the pitching isn’t there, what good are the bats?

Calling Cashman. Please help us, Brian. We just dropped two to the Mets at the Stadium. The indignity.

All Hail Nuno

May 7, 2014

He doesn’t look like a pitcher. He’s sort of ungainly. And I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from him in tonight’s series finale against the Angels, but he very nearly shut them down completely. He was great – just what this team needed.

The tribute to Jeter before the game was very classy and respectful, and he seemed to enjoy it, especially the presentation of the pinstriped paddle board. I was hoping they’d do a funny scoreboard video starring the rally monkey, but it was a straightforward montage of clips – the same clips we’ll likely see at every stadium this season. It’s still hard to believe this is a farewell tour for the Captain, whether he calls it that or not. I can’t imagine the Yankees without him, but I do get that the time is right for him to walk away. I hope he puts together a group of investors and buys the Yanks someday. I loved his homer, btw.

Meanwhile, the poor Angels made a mess of the early innings tonight. It was a comedy of errors and miscues for them right from the get-go. Oh well. Not my problem. I was just glad we won. We left the bases loaded twice, but I can’t complain about nine runs.

Snatched From The Jaws Of Defeat!

May 25, 2013

That was fun. I tuned in with the score at 1-1 in the 7th, just as Nuno, who must have pitched a hell of a game, departed. Too bad he didn’t get the win, but how about that comeback victory for the Yankees.

With two down in the 9th and Rodney, the Rays’ iffy closer on the mound, I had hopes that the Yanks would miraculously score a couple of runs and tie the score, but I let out a scream when they actually did it. (Thank you, Brett Gardner, Lyle Overbay and Brennan Boesch.)

I groaned when Nova got into trouble, loading the bases, but – another miracle – he pitched out of it. And then it was Overbay’s turn to be a hero again. What a pickup he’s been, despite the error earlier in the game. And special mention must go to Ichiro for that spectacular, run-saving catch in right.

Mo notching another save was icing on the cake, talk about miracles. He’s having his best season yet.

Great baseball Memorial Day Weekend so far!

A Feel-Good Game Gone Bad

May 21, 2013

Ugh. I watched this game until I had to leave for a friend’s birthday dinner. The Yanks were tied with the O’s 2-2 and I figured our pen would take care of business until somebody – anybody – knocked in a run.

Wrong. It seems only Travis Hafner showed up with the big-boy RBI bat. And Vidal Nuno, who’d been so reliable, coughed up the game in the 10th. I didn’t find out until dinner was over. I left the restaurant, got into the car and checked my phone, which I nearly threw out the window when I read the wrap-up.

At least Hughes hung around longer than an inning and actually pitched well. That’s something.

Here Come The Baby Bombers! (With a P.S.)

May 13, 2013

It was quite a day for the next generation of Yankee players – AKA the Scranton team – as several of them got the call to help out with the doubleheader in Cleveland. While the Yanks did lose the opener in a shutout, Phelps pitched very well, minus his walks. It was in the second game that the Baby Bombers really did their thing. Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren, two pitchers who’d been impressive in spring training, were impressive today, shutting out an Indians team that had been red hot. And how about emergency infielder Corbin Joseph getting his first major league hit and Austin Romine getting in on the offensive action too. And then there were the usual heroics from Wells, Nix and Overbay (I still can’t believe it every time I type their names). I don’t know what magic pixie dust Girardi is sprinkling in their Gatorade, but it’s working.

The YES guys were talking about Granderson coming back and I’m glad, I really am, but I like the chemistry of this group right now. I don’t want the big stars screwing it up!

Now if I can just stop calling Austin Romine “Austin Romaine” and Vidal Nuno “Vidal Nunez,” that would be nice.

P.S. Just wanted to post this pic sent to me by Yankee Fan and FOB Cesare (he reads but doesn’t comment). I got a kick out of it.