Game 5 A.J. Showed Up

I wasn't closely following this game so I'll just go over a few things on my mind.

• In a World Series rematch, the Yankees were hoping for Game 2 A.J. to show up and shutdown the Phillies. Instead he woke up a slumping offense by pitching more like the A.J. Burnett that got lit up in Game 5. I don't remember the last time Burnett had a solid start. April maybe?
• The good news is the bullpen did a fine job today. Boone Logan and Chad Gaudin were able to shut the Phillies down and keep the Yankees in the game. The Yankees ninth inning rally fell just short as Lidge struck out Posada who represented the tying run.
• What can I say about Robinson Cano? Did you see the home run he hit? It hasn't landed yet. The guy is on fire and it's safe to say he is the best second baseman in the league right now. Maybe even best hitter? Definitely in the discussion.

Tomorrow

Andy Pettitte vs Kyle Kendrick 7:05 p.m. Yankee Stadium

See Ya!

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Papelbon Serves Up a Pie for Yanks

Red Sox 9 13 0
Yankees 11 13 0

WP: Vazquez (2-4)
LP: Papelbon (1-3)

Player of the Game: Gotta give it to Marcus Thames. He went 2-4 with 4 RBI's. Oh yeah, and he hit the game-winning home run off of Papelbon.

Play of the Game: Thames ending the game, and earning the first pie of the season with his bomb to left. So much for only being able to hit righties huh?

Turning Point of the Game: A-Rod's game-tying homer in the 9th. When I was talking to John before the inning I said, "Down two runs, we just need a bloop and a blast." Well Gardner got the bloop, and A-Rod supplied the blast. Luckily the ceilings in my basement are relatively high, or I might have hit my head when I jumped off the couch.

Notes:

• Hughes was probably due for a sub-par start. 5 runs on 6 hits in five innings is not what we've come to expect from him, especially after getting spotted 5 runs in the first inning. Facing the Red Sox for the second time in 10 days might have also factored in. But the Yankees offense stepped up and bailed him out.
• Vazquez came in to get one BIG out. He struck out Youkilis with first and third and got the win. He will also be available to start on Friday against the Mets, according to Joe Girardi's post-game presser.
  
• I'm sure Brian Cashman has been getting a lot of crap about his three big off-season acquisitions (Curtis Granderson, Nick Johnson, and Javy Vazquez) but he put together a great bench. Jorge Posada can't play tonight? You plug Francisco Cervelli in there and he picks up 2 hits, 3 runs, and an RBI. Nick Swisher can't swing the bat? Marcus Thames steps in, picks up 4 RBI's and becomes the hero of the game. Randy Winn and Ramiro Pena also picked up hits today.
• This was obviously a slugfest, but the bullpen is a little scary right now. Actually it's a lot scary. Chan Ho Park comes off the DL to give up 3 runs and Boone Logan didn't do much better. Marte was able to go 1.2 innings with only a hit and a walk, but left Vazquez with a first and third situation to get out of. Vazquez was in the bullpen tonight to be the long man, but he may not be out there again.
• Picture by Reuters.
  

TOMORROW:
Sabathia vs. Beckett
7:05 PM


SEE YA!

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Slow and Painful Loss

CWS 7 9 0
NYY 6 11 0

WP: Linebrink (1-0)
LP: Robertson (0-2)
S: Jenks (5)

Players of the Game: A.J. Pierzynski and Andruw Jones. Jones had 2 home runs for the day while Pierzynski went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead double in the seventh.

Play/Turning Point of the Game: A.J. Pierzynski's go-ahead 2 RBI double in the seventh inning off of Damaso Marte. The Yankees had just taken the lead and the White Sox were able to take it right back.

Notes

• Curtis Granderson left the game with a strained left groin. Should be interesting to see how further results will come out on this. He may end up on the 15-day DL.
• Javier Vazquez had another rough outing, and you can tell he's nervous out there when he couldn't field a groundball after allowing a home run. He just needs to pitch with some more confidence.
• Speaking of pitchers struggling, David Robertson and Damaso Marte have been nothing but disappointments this year. They were the unsung heroes of the 2009 postseason, but it seems like they can't get anyone out now. Boone Logan actually had a pretty good outing today, hitting 97 mph on the gun so Marte better watch his back.
• Nick Swisher finally broke out of a slump at home by hitting a go-ahead 2-run home run which seemed like it would be enough for the Yankees to win.
• Mark Teixeira certainly happy it's May as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• The game was almost 4 hours long. It was "embarassing and pathetic" for Joe West. It was a slow and painful loss for Yankees fans as it appeared we may have pulled off the comeback victory during the sixth.

Tomorrow

Yankees vs White Sox 1:05 p.m.

Hughes (2-0) vs Buehrle (2-3)

See Ya!

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Too Little Too Late

NYY 4 9 2

BAL 5 9 2



WP: Castillo (1-0)
LP: Robertson (0-1)
S: Simon (1)


Player of the Game: Cesar Izturis. Despite almost blowing the game for the Orioles with an error in the ninth, Izturis drove in 3 runs and singled twice in the win.



Play of the Game: Curtis Granderson made an outstanding play in the first inning robbing Miguel Tejada of a base hit by diving forward to make the catch.


Turning Point of the Game: When David Robertson hit Ty Wiggington in the seventh inning. It set up a 2-out, 3 run rally for the Orioles and Robertson just didn't have his stuff tonight.


Notes:

• The Yankees made an effort to comeback in the ninth, scoring 2 runs off Alfredo Simon on an error by Cesar Izturis and RBI single by Teixeira. But it was too little too late (hence the headline) as A-Rod made the last out grounding into a fielder's choice at second.
• Jorge Posada hit his fifth home run of the year which gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead at the time.
• Curtis Granderson is looking awful at the plate. He is hitless in his last 16 at bats and could use a day off. Meanwhile Cano looks hot as he went 3-for-4 today, however, he couldn't capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity in the third.
• Boone Logan was unable to get the job done as he allowed the tying run to reach base.
• The Yankees have now lost 4 of their last 5 games...it's official, first slump of the season.

Tomorrow

Yankees at Orioles 7:05 p.m.
Sabathia vs Guthrie

See Ya!

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Yanks Announce Final Roster

Nothing shocking, the only thing worth noting is that the Yankees will take Chan Ho Park instead of a second lefty Boone Logan. Otherwise, there's nothing to really question. Chad Jennings has the roster:

Lineup
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner LF

Bench
Francisco Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena INF
Marcus Thames OF
Randy Winn OF

Rotation
CC Sabathia LHP
A.J. Burnett RHP
Andy Pettitte LHP
Javier Vazquez RHP
Phil Hughes RHP

Bullpen
Mariano Rivera RHP
Joba Chamberlain RHP
Dave Robertson RHP
Damaso Marte LHP
Chan Ho Park RHP
Alfredo Aceves RHP
Sergio Mitre RHP

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Yanks trade Melky to ATL for Vazquez

According to Buster Onley of ESPN, the Yankees have sent Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and $500,000 in cold hard cash to the Atlanta Braves for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan.

My first reaction: "No, not the Javier Vazquez from the ALCS-that-shall-not-be-mentioned."

My second reaction: This is actually a very good trade for the Yankees. After the Top 3 of CC, AJ, and Andy, there were question marks. Hughes and Joba were in line to fill the last spots in the rotation, and this sures up one of those spots. Now one of those two will head to the bullpen, and my money is on Joba (but more on that later, and likely all off-season). Vazquez comes in after posting a 15-10 record and a 2.87 ERA (keep in mind that was the NL, and the NL West, one of the weaker divisions in MLB). He also was second in the NL with 238 strikeouts.

The Yankees rotation now looks like this:

1. CC Sabathia
2. AJ Burnett
3. Andy Pettitte
4. Javier Vazquez
5. Hughes (or Chamberlain)

I believe that's the best rotation in the Majors, but I'm obviously biased.

The fact that they pick him for Melky (who despite being a fan favorite, was a career .269/.331 hitter with 36 career homeruns) and a minor league reliever, is a plus. Cashman is being very shrewd this off-season, making some bargain deals and short-term contracts. Vazquez is due $11.5 million this season, so after you take out the $3 million Melky will likely get in arbitration, that adds about $8.5 million to the Yankees payroll.

With Melky gone, and Gardner not exactly everyday left fielder material, the Yanks will likely go after someone to play left. Mark DeRosa is looking for about $6 million and can also play several positions, so he may be a target for the Yankees.

As John and I discussed, the worst part about this trade will be having to watch highlights of Game 7 of You-Know-Which-ALCS for the next 2 days, the first time Vazquez starts for the Yankees, the first time Vazquez starts against the Red Sox, and anytime Vazquez faces Johnny Damon.

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