Why I'd pitch CC in Game 4

Going into the top of the ninth inning, it was 2-0 Rangers, and Cliff Lee was dominating. I was prepared to just be "Lee pitched a helluva game, nothing you can do about that." But then that monstrosity of a 9th inning happened and really pissed me off. You can't let a team score tack-on runs, especially 6 of them, in the playoffs. We all know that the Yankees can score in bunches to win games in the late innings (see: Game 1) but not when they're down 8. If it's a 2-0 loss, you just tip your hat and come back the next day, but 8-0 leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Then there's the AJ Burnett situation. Joe Girardi immediately told the media Burnett is starting tomorrow. I disagree with this decision 100%. The Rangers are throwing Tommy Hunter, who gave up 3 runs in 6 innings against the Rays in the ALDS, but isn't in the same ballpark, zipcode, state, country, or even continent of Cliff Lee. The Yankees should (if they wake up) hit him well. But do you really want to have to try to win a 10-9 game with Burnett pitching? I say they throw CC to shut down the Rangers and tie this thing up 2-2.

John disagrees with me (which, believe it or not, actually happens from time to time.) His concern (and I have to admit, it is a valid one) is that if CC loses, do you really want AJ pitching Game 5 down 3-1? The answer to that is obviously no. But, to me, it's like when a pitcher's pitching in a tough spot; when they have the option between their best pitch and their fourth-best pitch, they pick their best pitch every time (or at least they're supposed to). If you are going to get beat, you have to lose with your best. If the Yanks go down 3-1 with CC on the mound, at least you know they weren't screwing around went all in and they play "all hands on deck" the rest of the way. If AJ loses, sure you have CC to pitch Game 5, but you still have to win 3 games in a row, 2 of them on the road.

The reason CC isn't starting this game outright is Girardi and the Yankees don't want to use Hughes and Pettitte (who also pitched a helluva game tonight) on 3 day's rest. Hughes because he's already thrown a lot more innings than he ever has and Pettitte because he was injured most of the second half. Here's my solution to that: CC pitches Game 4 and wins. AJ starts Game 5 with Hughes ready to come out of the bullpen for 2, maybe 3 innings (it would be his throw day), you go Pettitte Game 6, and CC Game 7, if necessary. I would still throw Pettitte on 3 days rest for a few reasons: 1) I think his performances so far in the postseason prove he's healthy, 2) the Yankees have no long-term investment in him. I know it's not a nice thing to think about, but Pettitte's contract is up after the season, and he's been hinting at retirement for about 5 years now. If something happens to Pettitte, he just goes off quietly into the sunset waiting for his number to be retired and possibly be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Chances are that's what is going to happen anyway.

Now, this is baseball, so AJ could channel his inner Sandy Koufax tomorrow and pitch a gem and make me come back tomorrow night and eat my words. I hope to the Great Yankee Fan in the Sky that happens, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

SEE YA!

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One is the loneliest number...

After last night's Yankee-Red Sox game last night that surely took a few years off my life, the Yankees magic number to make the playoffs is 1. More importantly the Yankees pull within a half game of the Rays for 1st in AL East. A couple of points from last night:

• Joe Girardi desperately wanted to win this game. After initially saying Dustin Mosely would start so they could skip Phil Hughes in the rotation. Then yesterday afternoon it was announced that Hughes would take the ball to star the game. Then he brought Mariano Rivera in to pitch for more than one inning for only the fifth time this season.
  
• Speaking of Mariano, he's struggling. In September he's thrown 10.2 innings, giving up 12 hits, 6 earned runs, 3 blown saves and a loss. Hopefully this is just one of those phases that Mariano goes through from time to time, but it's disconcerting that its happening in September.
  
• I don't usually like to curse on here, but the only thing Jonathan Papelbon does better than blowing saves in big games is whining like a bitch.

  "It was tough considering the fact that I was not only pitching against their lineup, I was also pitching against the ump. When you do that against this lineup, you are never going to be successful."

  He's talking about the 1-2 pitch to Tex, who eventually singled. But you know what Papelboner? Bad calls happen. You still had one out, and the chance to get A-Rod and Cano out, but you didn't. I hope the Red Sox don't re-sign him just so I don't have to listen to him anymore.

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New Poll Question: How'd AJ get the black eye?

If you saw the game last night, you probably saw that big bruise around AJ Burnett's right eye.( I apologize if you didn't, I couldn't find a decent picture of it online) After the game, he and Joe Girardi had no comment on how it happened. So that's just going to let me speculate on how it happened. Here's what I've come up with:

1) AJ pulled a David Wells, went out bar hopping the night before a start and got into a fight.
2) After doing something wrong, he got frustrated and somehow hit himself in the face.
3) Joe Girardi pulled him aside and told him that he needs to start pitching better...or else. And to drive the point home, he punched him in the face.

Let us know what you think in the poll in the top right hand corner of the page. The poll closes at 7:05 next Wednesday, the day of AJ's next start, assuming he doesn't receive any more mysterious injuries.

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Will Joe Girardi be the Yankees manager next season?

So as many of you know by now, Lou Piniella, manager of the Chicago Cubs, stepped down after yesterday's game. The Cubs are pretty much out of the race, so it doesn't affect this season so much as it affects next season. The search for his replacement will begin and the Cubbies might be looking in the Bronx for their next skipper.

Joe Girardi, before, and after, his stint with the Yankees, played for the Cubs. He's actually from Illinois and went to Northwestern University. Girardi is always portrayed as a family man, and if all these factors (plus, of course, the money) combine to pull Girardi to Chicago, the Yankees will be without a manager once again. I'm obviously hoping the Yankees win the World Series again, and resign Girardi, but it is something to be watchful of when the off season comes around.

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Pettitte Not Quite There

Just tuned into the Yankee game and saw a great play by Brett Gardner to throw somebody out. But the news I want to talk about is Andy Pettitte. Pettitte threw a simulated game today and threw 50 pitches. However, Pettitte said it was a 75 percent effort. Girardi has said Pettitte will ahve to throw one more simulated game before making a rehab start, and the date that is set for that game is Wednesday. So it's looking like about another week-and-a-half before Pettitte returns.

So this seems like a semi-setback for Pettitte, but as any Yankee fan will tell you, all we need to do is hold our ground on first place and let Pettitte not rush his way back to the rotation. Pettitte is a vital part of this team's postseason rotation and the Yankees need to make sure he's 100 percent healthy and vintage Pettitte when October comes.

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"Began with Horace Clarke and died World Champion" Remembering The Boss(Updated with more reaction)

There are many quotes I could use as the headline, but the above is what MLB analyst Peter Gammons wrote on his twitter and I thought that speaks volumes of how far Steinbrenner has come when he first bought the Yankees, and how appropriate it is that he leaves us as a reigning World Series Champion. Here are some more reactions from players, writers, coaches, and friends of Steinbrenner:

"Steinbrenner was a fascinating figure: Charitable and cruel at the same time, stubborn yet visionary. He changed all of sports. In my 1st year covering the Yankees, most of spring training was spent chasing George down hallways. He was bigger than any player." Peter Abraham, Boston Globe. Former Yankees beat writer.

"George Steinbrenner was one of the most giving n generous person I ever met-he had a special fire in his belly to win and a Big HEART!...In my years in sports I have met many winners- the 3 people I knew that hated losing more than most were Steinbrenner ,Knight, n Bo Schem." Dick Vitale, NCAA Basketball Analyst, Baseball Fan.

"George was The Boss, make no mistake. He built the Yankees into champions and that’s something nobody can ever deny. He was a very generous, caring, passionate man. George and I had our differences, but who didn’t? We became great friends over the last decade and I will miss him very much." Yogi Berra, former Yankee catcher, manager under Steinbrenner.

"Few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than George Steinbrenner. George had a deep love for New York, and his steely determination to succeed – combined with his deep respect and appreciation for talent and hard work – made him a quintessential New Yorker." NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg


Mark Feinsand of the Daily News also has more reactions. It seems nobody has any current player reactions right now. Once I find some I'll add them to this post.

"He was bigger than baseball. Everybody knew who The Boss was. Anywhere you went with him, people wanted his autograph or to talk to him." Gene Michael, former Yankees GM.

"I will always remember George Steinbrenner as a passionate man, a tough boss, a true visionary, a great humanitarian, and a dear friend. I will be forever grateful that he trusted me with his Yankees for 12 years. My heart goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed in New York, Tampa and throughout the world of baseball. It’s only fitting that he went out as a world champ." Joe Torre, former Yankees manager.

"George redefined professional sports ownership with his vision, his ability to build a champion and a passionate approach that lifted the visibility and popularity of his franchise and his sport. From an interest level, baseball was always better when the profile and the performance of the New York Yankees was at a high level, and George always made sure that was the case." Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys

"He expected to win every day. I remember my first or second year I got doubled off third base on a line drive, but we won the game. Afterward he’s yelling at me, ‘Don’t get doubled off again.’ I said, ‘We won the game.’ But he expected perfection.” Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop

"Winning the World Series meant a lot to him, but the next day he was back to work – ‘OK, how are we going to win next year? He loved winning the World Series, thought it was a huge accomplishment, but never rested after it." Joe Girardi, Yankees manager

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Game 87 Yankees at Mariners

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Colin Curtis RF
Brett Gardner LF
RHP Javier Vazquez

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chone Figgins 2B
Russell Branyan DH
Jose Lopez 3B
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Justin Smoak 1B
Michael Saunders LF
Rob Johnson C
Jack Wilson SS
RHP Felix Hernandez

Stacking Lefties: Joe Girardi is batting three lefties in a row tonight. Girardi usually likes to split them up.
The Only King I Know: King Felix Hernandez is on the mound tonight. In his last appearance against the Bombers he absolutely dominated them pitching a complete game two-hit shutout.
YES3D: Tonight's game will be the first MLB game to be broadcasted in 3D. Who has a 3D TV anyway, and do you really have to wear stupid glasses to watch that tv?

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Swisher to Compete in HR Derby

Nick Swisher will be competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday July 12. His announcement comes two days after the fans selected him as the final All Star for the American League team. Obviously, this will become an issue inside the Yankees clubhouse after the coaches already expressed dismay when Robinson Cano was going to compete in it before a minor back injury caused him to pull out. (I think they faked it). Now Girarde and Kevin Long will be getting questions on whether Swisher should compete or not.

I think they'll have less of a problem with Swisher competing than with Cano. I know I do. The Yankees coaching staff has put so much work and effort into making Cano a complete hitter over the last two years, they did not want to see it all go away because of the Home Run Derby. Swisher, on the other hand, is a born power hitter. That's what he's done his entire career up until this year, when the Yankees finally got him to start hitting for average. The only thing I'm worried about is if this will cause Swish get in a habit of swinging for the fences every at bat. Hopefully not, and if he's quickly eliminated we won't have to worry.

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A-Rod Has Tendonitis in Hip Flexor

The title is pretty much self-explanatory. According to Chad Jennings of the LoHud Blog, it's in a different spot than where Rodriguez had surgery last year. Joe Girardi commented saying it's as good of news as we could have hoped for. He did not rule out A-Rod being available to pinch-hit, but Girardi would like to avoid using him at all costs right now.

Back later with game post.

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Pettitte Pitching Like It's 1999

NYY 3 10 1

MIN 2 8 0



WP: Pettitte (6-1)
LP: Rauch (1-1)
S: Rivera (10)


Player of the Game: None other than Andrew Eugene Pettitte. Pettitte went deep into the game, going eight innings, allowing two runs, and striking out four. Would have liked to see him get the complete game, but Joe decided to go to Mo with a one-run lead.


Play of the Game: Nick Swisher's ninth inning, go-ahead BOMB. That ball was crushed and it couldn't have come at a better time.


Turning Point of the Game: Andy Pettitte getting Joe Mauer to ground into a double play in the bottom of the eighth. With the go-ahead run on third, Pettitte got out of a major jam by getting the reigning AL MVP to ground to short. Pettitte was pumped up and the Yankees took the lead soon after.

Notes:

• Kevin Russo continues to make the most out of his time up in the majors, with an RBI double in the fourth. Have to wonder if they keep him around when Granderson returns.
• Rivera looked shaky in the earlier game, but he got an easy 1-2-3 in the nightcap. But now is he unavailable for tomorrow? Have to watch the postgame on YES for that answer.
• Even though the Red Sox have been playing well lately, it has actually helped the Yankees by beating the Rays, and now they are just only 4.5 games back of them.

Tomorrow

Yankees at Twins 7:10 p.m. ET

Vazquez vs Blackburn

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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A-Rod's Grand Slam Powers Yanks Over Twins

MIN 4 9 0

NYY 8 14 1

WP: Marte (1-0) (even though he had the worst performance of the day)

LP: Baker (4-3)

Player/Play/Turning Point of the Game: I think it's safe to say A-Rod earned all these honors today with his seventh inning grand slam to give the Yankees a 7-4 lead and the eventual victory. Gardenhire decided to intentionally walk Mark Teixeira thinking a slumping A-Rod could hit into a double play. Not happening. A-Rod took Matt Guerrier (who he has great numbers against) deep into the left field seats for a grand slam. He also went 2-for-3 with a walk.

Notes

• I know he got some big outs in the 2009 postseason, but it's 2010 and I hate Damaso Marte. His job is to get lefties out, instead he almost blew the game (thank you, A-Rod). You can also target Girardi for taking Burnett out. I know Burnett gave up a home run to Mauer, but Mauer hit a good pitch by Burnett, and honestly I trust Burnett over Marte to get that out. Heck, I trust Boone Logan over Marte to get that out.


• Twins fans must be really skeptical of Ron Gardenhire after this game. Walking Tex to face A-Rod who he is 4-for-6 with three home runs lifetime against him? I don't understand that, but I'm happy he did it because it paid off for the Yankees.


• The Yankees have the Twins number. It's gotten to the point where it feels like the Yankees are thinking, "okay we can comeback" and the Twins are thinking "don't blow this." Nonetheless, these two teams play exciting, close games against each other every time out and it's great baseball.


• Francisco Cervelli continues to impress. Two-for-4 with an RBI triple. He's 10-for-13 with RISP.

Tomorrow

Yankees vs Twins 1:05 p.m. Yankee Stadium

Liriano vs Pettitte

See Ya!

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Hughes is HUUUGE

Yankees 8 10 0
Tigers 0 6 1

WP: Hughes (5-0)
LP: Bonderman (1-2)

Player of the Game: Once again, it's Phil Hughes. He went 6.2 IP, allowing no runs on 4 hits and one walk. Hughes is turning into the ace the Yankees project him to be.

Play of the Game: Completely forgot about this before, but I'm adding it now: Joba Chamberlain's under flip and flop. Very impressive play by the big man.

Turning Point of the Game: Brett Gardner's stolen base in the first inning. It put him in scoring position to score on A-Rod's single and give Hughes all the run support he would need.

Game notes:

• Yanks were able to pick up the split of the doubleheader, and at least give them a chance to split the series with a win tomorrow.
• Hughes has been absolutely amazing so far this season. He hasn't given up more than 2 runs in a start all year. If he keeps pitching like this, the rest of the league better watch out.
  
• Francisco Cervelli continues to step up when called upon. A 2-4 game tonight bumps his average up to .408. It's gonna be tough for Joe Girardi to not give him more playing time, especially with Johnson on the DL, which would open the DH spot for Posada.
  
• Mariano Rivera pitched for the first time since April 30, despite the fact that it was not a save situation.
  
• I started working on this post when the game was 3-0, and this game got out of hand very quickly.
  

Tomorrow:
Yankees at Tigers, 1:05 PM


SEE YA!

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Hughes Continues to Impress in Win

NYY 10 11 0
BOS 3 9 0

WP: Hughes (4-0)
LP: Beckett (1-1)


Player of the Game: Phil Hughes. Man has Hughes put together a good start or what. Seven innings, seven hits, two earned runs, and seven strikeouts while only walking one. Seventy of his 101 pitches were strikes.

Play of the Game: Nick Swisher's 3-run home run. It was the only home run of the game and it put the Yankees up 3-0 early, and Beckett began to get rattled.

Turning Point of the Game: Francisco Cervelli's bases loaded walk. The walk made it 4-1 and signaled that Beckett had lost control of the ball and couldn't find the plate if he had a GPS.

Notes:

• The fact that Beckett lost the plate in the sixth was a bit nervewracking and infuriating, to both the fans, and the Yankees. Robbie Cano left the game, although Girardi said he'll play tomorrow, he came close to Cervelli twice, and Jeter got hit. When Jeter got hit it looked like the Yankees bench was a bit fed up and were up on the front step yelling out onto the field. Now, it's tough to determine if he was throwing on purpose being the bases were loaded, but nobody likes to see their players get hit. Beckett was pitching more like Daniel Cabrera or Vicente Padilla today, guys known for not having control and hitting batters. And nobody likes those pitchers.
• Phil Hughes did not retaliate, and we'll see what happens tomorrow, since CC looked very agitated during that sixth inning. But Hughes has been brilliant. He just went into Fenway Park and basically shut down the Red Sox, bringing his ERA down to 1.69 and is a perfect 4-0 on the season.
• Another disheartening outing from David Robertson. In a 10-2 blowout you don't want to walk two batters and give up a run. If he allows a 3-run homer after those two walks, it's 10-5 and suddenly the Red Sox have life.

Tomorrow

Yankees at Red Sox 3:05 p.m. Fenway Park

Sabathia (4-1) vs Buchholz

UPDATE: One more thing I want to add. I was listening to the last inning on the radio and when the final out was made John Sterling just simply said "Yankees win." What's up with that? I know it was a blowout but he always at least half-asses a "Thheee Yankeeees win!" A bit disappointing if you ask me. I wonder what the IT IS HIGH blog will say about this.

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Yanks Show Weaknesses in Win

The Yankees won today thanks to the bat of Nick Johnson, and if it weren't for him, they would have lost the game thanks to the incapable arms in the bullpen. Both Joba and Mo were unavailable to pitch today and Girardi had to use four guys to get the last five outs. It's days like todya when you appreciate how good and great Mo has been for over a long period of time. Now, I didn't catch the end of the game because of finals, and I'm glad I didn't, but it sounded ugly.

Over to Andy Pettitte. Pettitte left the game after five innings and went to NY Presbyterian Hospital to get an MRI on his left elbow, which he has had problems with before. The results came back and revealed he has a mild inflammation of the left elbow and will be treated day-to-day. The Yankees are really starting to show their age with Pettitte, Posada, and Rivera all nicked up, rumors of A-Rod with an achy Knee, and Granderson (albeit he is young, 29) on the DL.

The Yankees were blessed with limited injuries last season, and I think that played a huge factor into winning the World Series. It's only May, so the Yankees must be careful with how they handle these injuries, because if they are not, it may come back to haunt them in the long run.

Also, if Pettitte does have to miss some time, it would be the perfect time for Mr. Javier Vazquez to step up his game and redeem his reputation.

So although today was a victory in the standings, the shaky bullpen (outside Mo and Joba) and injuries are the main headlines that will be all over New York as they enter a 3-game set against the Red Sox on Friday.

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Ringing in the new season

Angels 5 11 0
Yankees 7 13 0

WP: Pettitte (1-0)
LP: Santana (0-2)
S: Rivera (3)

Player of the Game: Nick Johnson. Despite the fact that he has the Stadium crew play Miley Cyrus as he walks to the plate (apparently it's his daughter's favorite song), the new DH went 2-3 with a homer and three runs scored.

Play of the Game: The Jeterian home run to right center field by the Captain in the third inning.

Turning Point of the Game: The infield single by Derek Jeter with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The ball bounced off Ervin Santana's hip and a run scored to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

Notes

• The Yankees received their World Series rings prior to the game today. It was an emotional moment all around when Head Trainer Gene Monahan, who is currently away from the team to undergo treatment for cancer, came out of the dugout to get his ring. World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, now a member of the Angels was on hand, as was current Padres Jerry Harriston Jr, who flew cross country on a red eye.
  
• Prior to the ceremony, Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi presented the Boss, George Steinbrenner, with his World Series Ring. They continue to maintain the curtain of secrecy around the Boss, because as far as I know, they didn't show him on TV.
• Derek Jeter played a prank on his old buddy Matsui. Apparently, the gave a way fake rings to fans, so Jeter put a fake one in Matsui's box, because Hideki wouldn't have anyone to compare it to and wouldn't realize until afterward. Girardi gave Matsui the real ring when the teams came on the foul lines for pre-game introductions.
• And Chan Ho Park pitched out of the bullpen, and was able to control all of his bodily functions.

TOMORROW:
Yankees vs. Angels, 1:05 PM
Vazquez vs. Pineiro

SEE YA!

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Game 6: Yankees at Rays

Well I guess neither me nor Jim was able to get to a computer yesterday afternoon during CC's bid for a no-hitter. According to Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland Sabathia was leaving the game no-hitter or not. Yeah, right. Anyway here are the lineups for today's game via Chad Jennings.

YANKEES
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
RHP A.J. Burnett

RAYS
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Ben Zobrist RF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Sean Rodriguez 2B
RHP James Shields

Rubber Game: The Yankess look to win their second consecutive series today after losing Friday night and winning yesterday afternoon.
Robbie Cano, don't ya know?: James Shields sure does. Cano is off to a hot start already and is 11-for-23 (.478) against Shields with 2 home runs and 6 RBI.

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Bullpen Bounces Back

Yankees 6 9 3

Image via Wikipedia

Red Sox 4 9 1

W: Aceves (1-0)
L: Okajima (1-1)
S: Rivera (1)

Player of the Game: The Bullpen. After a poor outing from the relievers on Sunday, the 'pen held the Sox to 2 hits, 0 walks, and 0 runs over 4 innings. Aceves picked up the win out of relief, Joba looked like the Joba of old, and Mo just did what he always does.

Play of the Game: Robinson Cano's home run to put the Yanks up 6-4 in the 9th inning.

Turning point of the Game: Nick Johnson's bases-loaded, go-ahead walk in the top of the 8th. Johnson doesn't have a hit yet this season, but has a .500 OBP.

• Joe Girardi might be over-managing again. He started the 8th inning with Robertson, and then decided to mix and match by bringing in Marte to face Ortiz.
• Cano was my 2nd choice for player of the game, but I wanted to give props to the bullpen after Sunday's debacle. Cano went 2-3 with a homer and 2 RBI. He's gonna have a good season in the five hole.
  
• It's the first win of the season, so there's a little bit to celebrate, but there's still work to be done. And now the Red Sox will be relatively quiet for a little while.
  

Tomorrow:
Yankees at Red Sox
Pettitte vs Lackey

SEE YA!

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A few Yankees battling injuries

One of the most important things heading into Spring Training is to keep everyone healthy. But, inevitably, there are some injuries.

Image via Wikipedia

Alfredo Aceves is day-to-day with a back injury. It is apparently a flare-up from injury that was bothering him last September, so this may be cause for concern. And the Yankees have not ruled out starting Aceves on the DL.

Mark Teixeira was hit on the right elbow with a pitch in a Spring Training game against the Orioles yesterday. He left the game and experienced soreness, but should be in the lineup on Thursday.

Check back tomorrow for my predictions on the Yankees infielders and catchers.

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News and Notes

We are now days - not weeks - away from Opening Day and the excitement is building towards the season. Joe Girardi only has a few decisions to make regarding the bullpen and the bench, but the roster is almost finalized.

• As John talked about earlier, Joba seems like he is going to be the headline for a little while, at least until the beat writers actually have games to write about. Over the weekend, Director of Professional Scouting Billy Eppler stirred the pot a little more saying that the Yankees were leaving Joba in the bullpen for good. Brian Cashman later said that wasn't an official team decision and just Eppler's opinion. Now Cashman may have used "opinion" instead of "Eppler's running his mouth without listening to the people in charge," but he is the Pro Scouting Director, so he's pretty high up there. Cashman's statements lead us to believe that Joba will be reevaluated as a starter at the end of the season. So two important Yankee officials talk about 2 of the 3 options I presented last week, but still leave out what I believe to be the best option.
  

• According to our friend over at LeNYy's Yankees, the fans agree that Phil Hughes should be the fifth starter.

• After being released by the Yankees last week, Chad Gaudin wasted no time in finding a new home with the Oakland A's.

• Buster Olney talks about the possible options if Major League Baseball were to realign the divisions.
  

• President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park on Opening Day when the Phillies play in Washington. They should leave him out for the real first pitch too, since left-handed Commander-in-Chief (get the parallel?) will probably be better than anyone the Nationals can run out there.
  

• Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com takes a look at the Yankees Prospects to Watch going into the 2010 season, while Keith Law of ESPN talks about the breakout players around the league in 2010.

• And Mike Axisa at River Ave Blues has a preview of the season and the Yankees getting help from within the organization.
  

Read more...