White Sox Archives - Jane Heller

A Slugger Comes to Yankeeville

June 17, 2019

I thought we were getting a starting pitcher. We ended up with a home run leader, who has clobbered the Yankees in the past. I’m not unhappy – why not get a DH who can clobber – but the acquisition of Encarcion does complicate things.

Brett Gardner will be the odd man out in the outfield with Stanton and then Judge back and healthy. Fine with me to use Gardy as a late-innings defensive replacement in left field and as a pinch runner, but it may not be fine with him. Poor Clint Frazier was sent down to Scranton because he really was deemed unnecessary. But I’m for anything and anybody who makes the team stronger.

I’m just not sure that acquiring sluggers makes us stronger.

Well, of course it does in the offensive department. But what good is bashing 10 runs (as we did in Chicago during a split of the 4-game series) if the pitching staff will give those 10 runs right back to the opponent?

I keep reading that Cashman is out there searching for a starter or two. Is it really detective work? How long does it take to zero in on somebody and just PAY HIM? The Yankees can afford to shell out some money for a couple of starters. They need to do it soon. Paxton bounced back yesterday with a decent game against the White Sox, but I still think he’s wobbly, as is CC, as is Tanaka, as is Happ, and Chad Green as our “opener” just doesn’t thrill me.

Now is the time to act. We have a big series at the Stadium with the Rays starting tonight. It’s been a seesaw battle for first place in the division, but right now we’re a half a game ahead. I’d love to put them in the rearview mirror and end the series with more daylight between us. Fingers crossed.

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.

Sweep!

August 9, 2018

A four-game sweep is especially sweet, but honestly the White Sox aren’t a very good team and if the Yankees hadn’t swept them I would have been really pissed off. (Why, oh why, couldn’t we have swept the Red Sox. Sob.)

Lance Lynn was a nice surprise, taking Sonny Gray’s spot in the rotation, and Gray did a nice job in relief filling in for Lynn.

Severino, while not dominant, pitched much better in his start last night. None of the pitchers has gone particularly deep into games, but that’s what bullpens are for. Which brings me to Chapman. I hope he enjoyed his night off last night, because we’ll need him down the stretch. He looked wretched the other night.

Good for Stanton on his first grand slam as a Yankee. And Andujar, despite his fielding woes, has hit well.

Texas is another team the Yanks should beat. We’ll see……

A Bummer Road Trip

July 2, 2017

The Astros are a great team, so I didn’t expect the Yankees to storm into Houston and sweep them. My spirits were buoyed though when we won Game 1 of the series. And then it all went to hell. Games 2 and 3 were heartbreakers in their own way, with Saturday featuring a meltdown of Betances and Chapman (along with the inspiring debut of Clint Frazier) and Sunday showcasing how fleeting good offense can be. (Sunday’s finale also was notable for another Sanchez error. I think Girardi is getting a bit impatient with Gary’s defense.)

In Chicago, the situation wasn’t much better against a team we really should have trounced.

So what now? The Yanks are home for the holiday with lots of All-Star vote getters, but can they climb back over the Red Sox, who finally seem to have caught fire? Another slide, another slump, whatever you want to call it, will have them sinking in the standings at the A-S break, and I’d much rather see them end the first half on a high note. What I keep asking myself, even given all the injuries, is which team is this? The one that got off to such a torrid start after an equally torrid spring training? Or the one that’s coming back to earth, having overachieved and made us believe?????

We’ll soon find out. They’re still fun to watch, because they don’t give up. They fight to win ballgames, and I like their spirit.

Nightmare in Chicago

June 30, 2017

As more and more Yankees succumbed to injuries during the four-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field (is that the worst name for a stadium ever?), more and more prospects were called up to the majors. One of the latest, an outfielder named Dustin Fowler, crashed into the right field wall last night, destroyed his knee and had immediate, season-ending surgery by the White Sox surgeon before he had a single at-bat. Now that’s cruel and it put a particularly awful period on what was an awfully wet night. Why wait over two hours in a rain delay? Just postpone the damn game for another date and let the Yankees move on to Houston.

But it was not to be and the Yanks lost the game and split the series against a bad team they should have swept. Ugh.

Back to the prospects, it was fun to see Baby Bombers Tyler Wade and Miguel Andujar make such memorable debuts, but Tyler Austin is on the DL already along with other hammy victims Starlin Castro and CC. And on the veteran side of things, I’m worried about Matt Holliday. He’s getting all sorts of tests for what they’re calling a “viral infection” (formerly a food allergy). I hope it’s nothing serious.

Luis Cessa started last night’s game and I have to say I’m never bursting with confidence when he pitches. He hasn’t impressed me much, but at this point I guess there’s not much of an alternative.

Back to Dustin Fowler, poor kid. What a bummer for him. What a bummer last night was for the Yanks after winning big in a Janer the night before. I, for one, am glad they’re getting out of Chicago.

It’s Infirmary Time Again

June 26, 2017

The injury bug has descended for real and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Yankees, who were already reeling from loss after loss (with one win wedged in there just to tease us). The long-time patients of the DL are CC, Ellsbury and Bird, but the latest arrival – and it pains me to utter this guy’s name because he’s been playing so well) is Aaron Hicks. Ugh. When I read about his oblique and that he’d be out for three-to-four weeks, my heart sank. And then we have Matt Holliday and his mysterious allergy. I’d thought that was a one-time problem after he ate breakfast in Oakland. (Something in the cereal, perhaps? Like maybe he’s sensitive to almond milk; my husband is.) He got a shot of Benadryl as we all would, and steroids too, but he’s still not feeling tip top, which is odd. Allergies don’t usually last unless the allergen is still in your system. OK, I’m not a doctor, but it’s weird.

The good news was that Tanaka pitched a gem over the weekend against his countryman, Darvish, and the Rangers. The bad news was that Pineda was homer-prone yet again yesterday. The Yankees nearly crawled out from the deep hole they were in, but they went down to defeat and it was depressing.

Aaron Judge aside, this current short-handed team isn’t strong enough to win ballgames on a regular basis the way the Yanks were early in the season. And I did enjoy the winning. Who wouldn’t? I’d love to be optimistic about this road trip, beginning with the White Sox, but I fear the good times are slipping away. Someone talk me out of it.

A New Winning Streak Started Tonight

April 19, 2017

Last night’s loss to the White Sox was disappointing, especially after the Yankees mounted a challenge against old friend Dave Robertson in the ninth and especially after the seven previous wins in a row made it feel as if we’d never lose. But tonight was another notch in the win column, and, I hope, it will lead to another streak.

There were homers aplenty: Judge, Hicks, Castro, Headley. There was more good starting pitching: Tanaka. And there was more good relief work: Mitchell, Layne. I’m encouraged.

After tomorrow’s off day, it’s on to Pittsburgh. I have to say I’m not and never have been wild about inter-league series and certainly not this early in the season. But the schedule is what it is. The first series against the Red Sox is just around the corner, so there’s that to look forward to (or dread).

Another Series In the “L” Column

July 7, 2016

If I were Joe Girardi, I’d scratch my head at this point too. What can he do with a team that scores a bunch of runs one night and then gets blanked the next…and the next and the next? Dropping another series, this time to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees looked once again like a team that was searching for answers to its inconsistency. Other than its offensive All-Star – Carlos Beltran – and his fellow A-S relievers, there’s no one I look to for help when a game is on the line.

And now we have a 4-game series against the first-place Indians in Cleveland. Is it possible there’s a win or two in there and the hunt to get over .500 and stay there happens? On the other hand, is being over .500 really the goal of a proud franchise that used to not only make the postseason but win championships?

I think we’ll see more clarity after the A-S break, but for now I’m guessing there could be a house-cleaning before the season is over. Maybe sweeping out the cobwebs and getting a fresh start is just what the Yankees need.

400 Homers Is a Big Deal

May 15, 2016

Carlos Beltran has joined the 400 club and an elite one it is. I don’t know how much gas he’ll have in the tank as the season progresses, but for now he’s delivered power when we’ve needed it and made a case for himself as a Hall of Famer. He’s also supposed to be a really nice guy. Bravo, Carlos.

Oh, and – no small thing – the Yankees took the series from the White Sox despite having lost to arguably the sport’s best pitcher, Chris Sale. Chase Headley of all people had a big hit today, and Chapman continued to throw heat in save situations. All in all, a good weekend for the Yankees.

As we move into the second half of May, I’d love to see them bust out of last place in the division. I’m not even asking for first place. Just please let them get out of the cellar. I’d say that maybe the warmer weather will help them, but it got colder again today and the coming week doesn’t look much better. Isn’t it supposed to be spring or am I just disoriented from living in California so long?

Our New Ace?

September 27, 2015

With Tanaka still recovering from his injury (will he be healthy enough to start the Wild Card game on October 6th?), is it possible that rookie Luis Severino will get the nod in the do-or-die one-game playoff? Evo’s gone. CC’s been better lately but inconsistent. Ditto: Warren and Nova. Severino, with just a couple of exceptions, has been a revelation and appears to be able to handle the stress of a pennant race. I guess it’ll all depend on how each pitcher matches up to the competition and how many days rest they’ve had. Right now, it’s voodoo math to me and I’m glad I’m not the one to have to figure it all out.

The one thing I do know is that with today’s win over the White Sox (they scored some runs – yay), the Yankees are counting down to October 6th. I’ve marked the date on my calendar, that’s for sure. I would have loved to win the division and avoid what promises to be a heart attack-worthy night of baseball, but they couldn’t overtake the Blue Jays. So here we are.

I’m still worried about the offense. It’s been pretty anemic. And against any team’s best pitcher, it’ll be tough to crank it up a notch. But again, here we are. These are our guys, and we just have to hope they’ll rise to the occasion on the 6th and play the game of their lives.

The Yankees Offense Was Crazy Good

August 2, 2015

It almost seemed automatic that the Yankees would keep having Janers. We’ve seen 21 runs and 13 runs and another 12 runs today. My anger (see last post) certainly wasn’t directed at this team’s offense, which has been better than I could have imagined. I mean Tex. Seriously. The guy will far exceed 30 homers this year. And Didi, who couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag when the season started, has become one of our most reliable hitters. It’s been a pleasure to watch both of them.

My problem continues to be with the pitching. While Evo and Nova were great, Saturday’s experiment in throwing one of the kids into the rotation was a bust. I’m sure Mitchell slayed everybody down on the farm, but in Chicago he showed he wasn’t ready for prime time. The much-heralded rookie Sevarino pitches Wednesday against the Red Sox; I hope he fares better. I still think we need a veteran arm to stabilize things if we’re going to keep that nice comfy lead in the division, never mind compete in the fall.

But right now I applaud the Yankees for coming out ahead during the long, arduous road trip. Welcome home, boys.

The Devil Doesn’t Wear Prado

August 22, 2014

Walkoffs are so exciting and Martin Prado’s single in the bottom of the ninth against the White Sox was no exception. I was on my feet cheering while Prado was getting mobbed by his teammates. He’s been playing well, both with the bat and the glove, and I’m glad he’s in pinstripes. Tonight’s heroics weren’t necessarily the start of the Yankees’ climb toward the playoffs, but the game was enjoyable nonetheless. Greene, like just about all the starters, was great after his initial floundering. The pitchers haven’t been the problem, as evidenced by McCarthy’s stellar performance against the Astros the day before to avoid a truly humiliating sweep. (I’m loving the fiery Cervelli as catcher. He seems to pull every last drop of energy out of his pitchers.) It’s the offense that’s been so frustrating. But for tonight at least the four runs were enough to get it done.

The Devil Doesn't Wear Prado

August 22, 2014

Heading into Memorial Day Weekend….

May 23, 2014

I really thought the Yankees’ fortunes might turn around after that stirring extra-innings win against the Cubs on Wednesday night, but last night’s smack down by the White Sox and Chris Sale was a bummer. Phelps did a credible job, but the Yankees can’t hit Sale, period.

Which brings me to the offense. I thought starting pitching would be the biggest problem, given all the injured starters. Now the hitters have caught the slump bug. Ellsbury had been so great as the season kicked off, but he’s looking grim these days. And – I’ve said this before – I’d like to see McCann start hitting up to his contract. But the real problem is Beltran: the lineup misses him in it. You take a power bat like him out of the equation, possibly for a few months, and it’s not so easy to fill his spot.

Still, the Yankees are only barely out of first place in the division as other teams have problems and liabilities too (except maybe the suddenly red-hot Blue Jays). And I remember they had a nightmarish trip to Chicago early last season, only to beat the Sox soundly later on. I just hope Kevin Long can spot flaws in guys’ swings and Joe can rally the troops and Jeter can inspire everybody to do their best.

It’ll be a busy weekend for me, so I’ll probably miss seeing the games, but I’ll be reading the wraps and keeping an eye out for news of the boys.

Don’t Kill Me But I’m About To Rant About Him

September 4, 2013

I know, I know. Dave Robertson has been great. He’s a great guy and a great humanitarian and a great husband. I get it. But do I want him to be the Yankees’ closer? No. Does he drive me nuts when he comes in for the eighth inning and turns games like tonight’s into a needlessly scary event? Yes.

Again. I know he’s normally reliable – in his way. And by that I mean he does have strike-out capability, but he also puts men on base and throws too many pitches to pitch on consecutive days.

Personally, I would have left CC in tonight. I feared a repeat of Sunday when Joe pulled Pettitte for the bullpen and we lost that one. Thank God for Mo. I wanted him fresh for the long Red Sox series, but we got the win.

I loved the way the offense took advantage of the White Sox’s rookie starter. I was worried that it would be one of those situations where the Yanks are flummoxed by a pitcher they’ve never seen, but it was just the opposite. Cano, especially, was fun to watch. When he’s hot, he’s hot.

So….a sweep. And now the Sox of the other color come to town. I’m ner-voussssssssss.

Don't Kill Me But I'm About To Rant About Him

September 4, 2013

Again. I know he’s normally reliable – in his way. And by that I mean he does have strike-out capability, but he also puts men on base and throws too many pitches to pitch on consecutive days.

So….a sweep. And now the Sox of the other color come to town. I’m ner-voussssssssss.

Nunie Gets The Gatorade Shower

September 3, 2013

There’s nothing like a comeback win. What a great game it turned out to be. I was all mopey before the Yankees scored their five big runs in the eighth. Chris Sale is a really good pitcher (Can we please get him, Cashman?), and things were looking bleak for the boys. I was taking a walk during the first couple of innings, listening on my iPhone, and a black cat ran across my path right before Jeter got hit on the ankle. I thought, Pleeeease no. So glad he was fine. At least he seemed fine.

When Cano knocked Sale out of the game, my mood brightened and I knew there was a chance for us. And then it was single, single single, single, single, single. (OK, I don’t know how many singles there were, but they were all huge.) I love homers – who doesn’t – but seeing the offense hit the ball up the middle and use the whole field was a lot of fun and something this team hasn’t always been able to do.

Yes, the White Sox are terrible defenders. I’ve never seen such sloppiness. But beating Sale and some hard throwers in their pen was an accomplishment. Every game is so crucial right now – every at bat, every chance in the field, every pitch. I think I was holding my breath for the past three hours. But I’m exhaling now. If the Rays lose again to the Angels over on this coast, I’ll be even happier.

I’m not unhappy that Huff will start in Hughes’ place on Saturday against the Red Sox. I just hope he doesn’t fold under the pressure.