That's All She Wrote

I know Yankee fans (well, I am) are circulating around the blogosphere to make themselves feel better. The fact is the Texas Rangers just outplayed the Yankees. Their offense kept piling on runs and their pitching stifled the Yankees bats. Sure there are moments we can blame Girardi or a player or two, but the bottom line is the Rangers were just the better team.

The Yankees did win the World Series last year so, for me personally, it doesn't sting as it has in years past. But the team just didn't seem to have that special feeling it did last year. The second half of the season was a mess, and injuries (Pettitte) and underperformance (Burnett) were hard to overcome this season.

And I have the postgame on the YES Network and they just interviewed Andy Pettitte. Man, that was tough to watch. It sounds like he may not come back and we've seen the last of Pettitte. He's been debating retiring for a few years now, so it would be no surprise if he retires. There's going to be a lot of questions in the offseason and moves to be made.

I do want to say one more thing. When Mark Teixeira went down with that hamstring injury in Game 4, that changed the whole dynamic of the series. It seemed like it was the final nail in the coffin for a series that didn't have anything go right except for 15 pitches in Game 1.

We will do our best to keep the blog going through the offseason and into the 2011 season. It's a place where we've been able to vent our frustrations and share our excitement, whether anyone actually reads it or not.

There's only one thing to say...See Ya!

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SWEEP THE NATION! Yanks Complete Bronx Beatdown

I can't think of any song that can relate to a four-game sweep of the Red Sox and being in total domination of the American League right now, so I'll just let this picture do the talking:

(NOTE: I found a song on iTunes called Sweep the Nation by Time Tells All. I hate this type of music, but the title fits, and I'm one of the most superstitious people around, so I'm using it- Jim)

We were at the game and it was crazy, playoff-like crazy. The place went nuts when A-Rod hit a home-run, but when Damon and Tex went back-to-back with 2-outs in the eighth it was the loudest I've ever heard the new stadium. If there was a roof, it would have blown off after Tex's home-run. And the "Sweep, sweep, sweep" chants at the end were priceless. Also I cannot forget to mention the job Andy Pettitte did tonight. He was the unsung hero of the night, pitching 7 shutout innings outdueling Jon Lester, who gave up 1 run in seven innings.

The Yanks take on the Blue Jays tommorow, but who cares? Six and a half up!!! And now the Sox are tied with the Texas Rangers in the Wild Card! What a great weekend.

See Ya!

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Enough About the Roid Sox, We've Got A Game To Play

GAME 102 Yankees at White Sox

YANKEES (62-39, First Place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (8-6, 4.67).

WHITE SOX (51-51, Third Place AL Central)
Kotsay CF
Beckham 3B
Dye RF
Thome DH
Konerko 1B
Pierzynski C
Quentin LF
Getz 2B
Nix SS
Pitching: RHP Gavin Floyd (8-6, 4.24).

Standings Update: The Boston Red (Roid?) Sox defeated the A's today so the Yankees enter the game only 3 games ahead of them. The Yankees have won 3 of their last 4 and 11 of 13 since the All Star Break.
The Other Sox: We all know Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game last week, but they've been reeling lately. They are on a 3-game losing streak and have lost 6 of their last 7 and have fallen into third place in the AL Central.
The Teixecutioner: Mark Teixeira currently has an eight game hitting streak and is hitting .346 with 5 HR, 11 RBI, and 7 runs scored since the All Star Break.

UPDATE 8:10: Looks like there is going ot be a rain delay. Sounds like a passing storm, so it shouldn't be too long.

UPDATE 9:09: Word is the tarp is off the field and they should start the game at 9:15.

UPDATE 10:39: Well that game is tied up 1-1 going into the bottom of the sixth. For the second straight game Pettitte is not getting any run support. The Yankees only have 3 hits off Gavin Floyd.

UPDATE 11:02: Another solid outing for Pettitte with some bad luck in that inning with 2 errors. Lets hope the bullpen can bail him out this time. But it's Phenom Phil Hughes coming in, so I like out chances.

UPDATE 11:09: Well Cano mad eone of the worst throws of all-time and now it is 2-1 White Sox heading to the eighth. I hope teh Yankees win, if not, it will be two tough losses for Pettitte, and he has pitched remarkable his last two starts.

UPDATE 11:34: Swishalicious getting some revenge on his former team hittng a game-tying 2-out HR in the top of the ninth.

UPDATE 11:50: Well, that sucked.

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Game 76: Mariners at Yankees

YANKEES (43-32, 2nd place AL East 3.5 GB)

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.81).

MARINERS (39-36, 3rd place AL West 3.5 GB)
Ichiro RF
Branyan 1B
Lopez 2B
Griffey LF
Sweeney DH
Gutierrez CF
Woodward 3B
Johjima C
Cedeno SS

Pitching: RHP Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.64).

TIME/TV: 7:05, YES.

Vote Teixeira: Ok, Kevin Youkilis has moved back into first place in the AL All Star Voting for the starting first baseman spot. WE CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN! I will not watch if Pukilis gets the starting nod over Tex. Go here to vote for Teixeira. Don't worry, I will be harping on this all night.

A-Bombs A-way: A-Rod seems to be fresh and ready to go, as he is 8 of his last 23 with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs.

New guy in town...well not yet: Eric Hinske is supposed to be arriving for tonight's game, but his plane is stuck in Pittsburgh, so there has been no roster move yet. If I was Hinske and was being traded away from the Pirates, I don't care if I needed to walk, ride a bike, or hitchhike, I would just get out of Pittsburgh as fast as possible.

Weather Report: We'll go to Ollie Williams for our forecast.

UPDATE 6:13: YES WE CAN! VOTE TEIXEIRA!

UPDATE 6:35: The Yankees are going to try and play this game, but the tarp is still on the field. And when they do start, Mariano Rivera will throw out the ceremonial pitch.

And I hope a foul ball hits Tony Romo in the head, I don't care if he's there with a sick kid or not.

UPDATE 7:00: Game will be delayed, first pitch scheduled for 7:45.

UPDATE 7:50: OK, so the game is now scheduled to start at 8:05. I spent the rain delay voting for mark Teixeira 75 times. (Hint, you can vote more than the "maximum" 25 times if you use different e-mail addresses.) And yes, I hate Kevin Youkilis that much.

UPDATE 8:00: I wonder if the first pitch thrower will throw it from the rubber?

UPDATE 8:05: WHAT!? Did he really just throw from halfway up the mound with Jorge in front of the plate? Come on Mo, I was joking with the last post.

UPDATE 8:17: I just had one of those What If? thoughts. Imagine Ken Griffey, Jr. in his prime playing 81 games a year in the new Stadium.

UPDATE 8:24: Wow! Now you can get Michael Kay anywhere! Who wouldn't want that?

UPDATE 8:29: So we're back to letting that ball drop in. Is there any reason they can't go out before the game and work on that for an hour? That happens much more often than it should.

UPDATE 8:39: Wait, I thought we were done playing the Mets.

UPDATE 8:43: Now I know why the Mariners have such a low team ERA, all their runs are unearned.

UPDATE 9:05: Ok, so he grounded into a double play, but you should still vote Mark Teixeira for the AL All-Star Game. He's change you can believe in. Kevin Youkilis was the starter last year, he's just more of the same.

UPDATE 10:03: This game is taking forever as the M's go the pen. O yea, Mark Teixeira was just up and I'm here to remind you to Vote for Him!

UPDATE 10:35: Hughes gets out of that inning with only 9 pitches. You have to send him back out there for the 8th right?

UPDATE 10:42: I think it's safe to say that A-Rod's hip isn't fatigued anymore.

UPDATE 10:53: This is why he should have left Hughes in. And how come Bruney doesn't have a patch on the back of his hat?

UPDATE 11:04: OK Michael Kay, I only mentioned the Hughes thing a half hour ago, and then again 10 minutes ago. Nice rip by Matsui.

UPDATE 11:05: Wow, I didn't think Swisher could bunt. He could have been called out for stepping out of the box, but the never make that call. I remember the White Sox lost the ALDS on a bunt like that in 2000 on a no-call. If I remember correctly, it was against the Mariners, so that ties in nicely.

And Melky continues to come through in the clutch.

UPDATE 11:09: Best part about this rally? We don't have to get asked whether the Yankees have a rally in their bones.

UPDATE 11:18: After all that, Mo better not blow this save. That would suck.

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RIVERA PICKS UP SAVE #500 Yankees 4-Mets 2

Yankees 4 4 0
Mets 2 5 0

WP: Chien-Mien Wang (about time) (1-6)
LP: Livan Hernandez (5-3)
S: Mariano Rivera (18, 500th of his career)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mariano River

Googie Man 14:33, 10 May 2006 . . Goo..." style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 168px; height: 275px;">Image via Wikipedia

a. He picked up the 500th save of his career with a four out save while wriggling out of a jam in the bottom of the 8th. He also picked up the 1st RBI of his career by drawing a bases loaded walk against Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez getting the force at second on a bunt by Argenis Reyes. It was not only a nice play by A-Rod and a nice pick by Derek Jeter, but it kept the tying run out of scoring position.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Mark Teixiera RBI double in the first inning. It set the tone for the game after the first two games and gave Wang some breathing room before he even took the mound.

GAME NOTES:

• The Yankees showed up at Citi Field at the perfect time. The Yanks needed a little boost and the Mets were ready to play the part of a doormat.
• Today was not a dominating performance in any stretch of the imagination for Chien-Mien Wang, but he finally picked up his first win of the season. That will surely help him out mentally and he pitched well enough for Girardi to leave him in the rotation.
  
• The Mets are in trouble. They need reinforcements as soon as possible and they need to start executing the fundamentals better if they are going to succeed the way Mets fans want them to.
  
• Sad note as many of you may have heard, Billy Mays of OxyClean commercial fame passed away this morning. Mays poked a little fun at himself with some ESPN360 commercials a couple of months ago.

TOMORROW:
OFF DAY

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The Game That Wouldn't End ...Yankees 11 Braves 7

Yankees 11 16 1
Braves 7 13 3


WP: Aceves (5-1)
LP: Lowe (7-6)
S: Rivera (17)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez. Could he finally be out of his slump? He went 3-5 with 4 RBIs and a home-run today.

PLAY OF THE GAME: There was a lot of shoddy defense early on...but Mark Teixeira's diving catch in the eigth inning to rob Garret Anderson of a single was a "pretty play."

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: A-Rod's home-run. The home run put the Yankees up 2-0 in the first inning and established that he, alogn with the rest of the team, have finally awaken.

GAME NOTES:

• Everyday there is a new pitcher who wants to be the most frustrating to watch. AndyPettitte had an 8-1 lead and was only able to pitch 3.2 innnings. The rotation has not been awful of late, but they need to establish some consistency.
• Mark Teixeira was the only Yankee not to get a hit tonight. Hopefully if A-Rod is officially no longer slumping, he will start getting better pitches to hit and heat up again.
• Derek Jeter reached base 6 times and scored 4 runs. Probably the runner-up for player of the game.
• After losing the series to the Natinals and Marlins, Yankees win 2 out of 3 against the Braves.
• A-Rod said he would let Reggie Jackson know he tied him tonight. If they are as close as it appears, Reggie will probably not say anything publicly, but I just can't imagine him being happy with a known steroid user tying and passing his accomplishment he earned without any help from PEDs.
• Did Derek Lowe think he was still on the Red Sox. Did the Yankees think he was still on the Red Sox? I say this because this game finished jsut short of 4 hours, which is the norm in a Yanks-Sox series.

Tommorow: Yankees at Mets 7:05 ET Shea St...er...Citi Field.

Sabathia (5-4, 3.71) vs Pelfrey (5-2, 4.74)

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GAME 72: Yankees at Braves

YANKEES (39-32, tied 2nd place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Swisher RF
Gardner CF
Ransom 2B
Pettitte LHP

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.26).

BRAVES (34-37, 4th place NL East)
McLouth CF
Prado 2B
Jones 3B
McCann C
Escobar SS
Anderson LF
Francoeur RF
Kotchman 1B
Lowe RHP

Pitching: RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 4.09).

I'm posting this too late to put game notes, as the Yankees are already up 2-0 on a double play by Tex and a home run by A-Rod.

UPDATE 7:29: Despite what he might say publicly, I think Reggie Jackson is probably pissed off, because I sure would be. Guys like him and Hank Aaron are being passed by guys who used illegal substances to enhance their performance.

Image via Wikipedia

UPDATE 7:48: Hey! Who's this guy and what has he done with Alex Rodriguez?

UPDATE 8:09: Now Michael Kay is commenting on how the bat boy does his job. It's only the 3rd inning and he's reaching for stuff to talk about.

UPDATE 8:13: My man Jonny Flynn (from Syracuse) just got picked 6th by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Draft.

UPDATE 8:39: The Yankees are piling it on here as Ransom shoots one into the gap to make it 8-1. And as of 2 minutes ago, MKS is now on Facebook, become a fan today.

UPDATE 9:02: So much for this being a blowout. Pettitte out.

UPDATE 9:47: This is John taking over. Unlike Jim, I probably won't write anything about the NBA draft in my updates because I am sure nobody from Quinnipiac will be drafted. Anyway, even though the Yankees are winning this game is pathetic. Up 8-1 you'd expect Pettitte to go at least 7, eat up some innings, and semi-rest the bullpen. Instead Aceves pitched, who you might need tommorow if Sabathia's arm is bothering him, and now Coke, Bruney, and probably Rivera if it stays at 8-6.

UPDATE 9:58: 2-run single for A-Rod. I guess those 2 days of rest are finally showing. He's now 3-4 with 4 RBIs.

UPDATE 10:09: Web Gem nominee for Mark Teixeira right there. I wonder how many hits/errors Teixeira has saved compared to Giambi last year? It seems like every other day Tex impresses with a nice defensive play.

UPDATE 10:50: I have the game recap all finished but David Robertson refuses to let this game end. He gave up a monster shot to McCann now an Anderson single. If Mo has to come into this game that would be very disapointing.

UPDATE 10:54: This is ridiculous. Robertson can't get the last out and now it is a save situation. 1 out to go with Mo coming in. First and second 2 outs, this game better end soon.

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GAME 67: Yankees at Marlins

YANKEES (37-28, 2nd place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Berroa 3B
Pettitte LHP

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (6-3, 4.52).

MARLINS (37-28, 3rd place, NL East)
Coghlan LF
Helms 3B
Ramirez SS
Cantu 1B
Uggla 2B
Paulino C
Hermida RF
Ross CF
West LHP

Pitching: LHP Sean West (2-1, 3.00).

Cy No-name: I've never heard of the Marlins starter, so it looks like it is going to be a long night.

A-Rod Homecoming: A-Rod will play the first regular season game of his career in Miami, his hometown. (Oh, so that's where the confusion about the World Baseball Classic comes from. I forgot that the border of the United States and the Dominican Republic ran through Miami).

.333 is a good batting average, not winning percentage: The Yankees are 3-6 in their last nine games.

Rain drops are falling on my head: So the Yankees leave here and it stops raining (it's still crappy, just not raining) and, according to PeteAbe, it is raining in South Beach.

Extra cavalry: With the game being in a National League park, there is no DH. So Matsui is available as a pinch hitter.

Vote Tex: Mark Teixiera needs help getting into the All-Star game starting lineup. If you needed any extra motivation, Kevin Pukeilus of the team-that-shall-not-be-named is in first place.

UPDATE 7:15: I just got back home, and the lineup is different. A-Rod will get today and tomorrow off. Jeter looked winded after running hard out of the box. I guess that's what happens when a guy used to playing everyday rides the pine for two days. And with that double, Jeter tied Babe Ruth on the all-time Yankees double list.

UPDATE 7:21: The Yankees are very adept at grounding into double plays to kill big rallies. They only push one run across when it should have been more.

UPDATE 7:23: I just realized that the last time the Yankees were here was Game 5 of the 2003 World Series. That was the game where David Wells only went 1 inning and the Yanks screwed up the rundown play that gave up two runs. I remember my baseball coaches going over rundown for 30 minutes the day after that happened.

UPDATE 7:30: Whoever is in charge of selling the naming rights for the Marlins and Dolphins stadium must really suck at his (or her) job.

UPDATE 7:32: Am I hallucinating? Did Angel Berroa just get a hit? And an RBI? On the same play?

UPDATE 7:33: Am I hallucinating? Did Andy Pettitte just get a hit? And an RBI? On the same play?

UPDATE 7:35: Great, now Pettitte has to run (if you can call it that) the bases.

UPDATE 7:40: Good to see that the Yankees finally tried looking at some film of the opposing pitcher.

UPDATE 8:36: Pettite got through the 4th inning with 68 pitches. He needs to get through 6 and maybe into the 7th.

UPDATE 8:42: Just looked at the box score and every Yankee is "at the party," as Ken Singleton would say. Everyone has a hit, which is weird with Berroa and Pettitte in the lineup.

UPDATE 9:10: Pettitte gets through 6 with 97 pitches, and 3 hits. He's been grimacing a lot today, so my guess is he's done.

UPDATE 9:25: Well, I was dead wrong about Pettitte, as he gets through the 7th.

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