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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Who do the Yankees want to face in ALDS?

Right now the Yankees are 2.5 games ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Rays are 6.5 games ahead of the Red Sox in the Wild Card. So barring a Mets-like collapse that would end in me taking a long walk off a short bridge, the Yankees should make the playoffs. The only question now is whether they go in as the AL East Champ or the Wild Card.

I'm working under the assumption that the Twins will win the Central, and the Rangers win the West. Let's take a look at the scenarios:

If the Yankees win the AL East, and the Rays win the Wild Card:

• Yankees play the playoff team with the worst record, the Texas Rangers.
• Rays play Minnesota, with Minnesota having home field advantage.
• If Yankees advance to ALCS, they will have home field advantage, regardless of who they are playing.

If the Rays in the AL East and the Yankees win the Wild Card:

• Rays play the playoff team with the worst record, the Texas Rangers.
• Yankees play Minnesota, with Minnesota having home field advantage.
• If Yankees advance to ALCS, they will NOT have home field advantage, regardless of who they are playing.
  

So which is a better situation for the Yankees?

Twins:

• The Yankees won the season series 4-2
• Yankees outscored Twins 24-21.
• Likely playoff rotation: Baker, Liriano, Duensing, Slowey.
• Record since Aug 1: 25-11
  

Rangers:

• The Yankees lead season series 4-1 (with a 3-games to play, starting tonight)
• Yankees have outscored 27-16.
• Likely playoff rotation: Lee, Lewis, Wilson, Hunter.
• Record since Aug 1: 16-20
  

So this question might be easier to answer on Sunday after the 3 game set against the Rangers, but I'm asking now; who would you rather play?

Case for wanting to play the Twins:

1. You don't have to face Cliff Lee in a short series
2. Sweeping the Twins in the ALDS is an annual right of passage for the Yankees
3. Starting rotation is kind of weak.
4. Not a powerful lineup, especially if Justin Morneau doesn't return the season.

Case for wanting to play the Rangers:

1. They've struggled down the stretch.
   
2. Pitching staff behind Lee isn't anything special.
3. The away games are in Texas, where average early October temps are between 60-80, instead of Minnesota, where average early October temps are between 40-60.
4. Playing the Rangers means the Yankees finished strong, and have good momentum going into the playoffs, and will have home field advantage in both ALDS and ALCS.
   

So as the next three weeks of the baseball season wind down, these situations are going to be talked about a lot. Only time will tell which one comes to fruition.

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Really Joe West?

So, as John told you earlier, Cowboy Joe West called the Yankees and Red Sox games a "disgrace to baseball" because of how long they take. I just wanted to give you my take.

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Really Joe West? Are you kidding me?

So games between baseball's biggest rivals is a disgrace to the game? Well there's a couple million people who disagree with you, since that's how many people watched the game on Sunday night. So the Commissioner wants to speed up the games? Okay, I buy that. But, to go so far as call it a disgrace to baseball is ridiculous. A four-hour game between the Nationals and Pirates is a disgrace to baseball. (Actually, any game between the Nationals and Pirates could be considered a disgrace to baseball.)

Yesterday, the Yankees and Sawks play 10 innings, with the Yanks pulling out a 3-1 win. The game lasted an unmanageable (as Michael Kay used to say) three hours and 21 minutes. You know what I call that? A GREAT BASEBALL GAME!

Now, I am a huge baseball fan, so I could sit there and watch a five-hour game and be satisfied, so I'm not your average fan. Even if you agree with what he said, it was extremely hypocritical. How do you think Joe West would react if say Derek Jeter called the umpires embarrassing and pathetic? First of all, Jeter wouldn't do that, because he has class. But West, and the rest of the umpires, would go ballistic. The umpires would probably hold it against Jeter for the rest of his career. But West gets a free pass because he has all the power during a game. But he should be fined by Major League Baseball or who ever is in charge of fining umpires for saying stupid things.

Sorry I ranted a little bit. You can tell I don't like umpires too much, right? You're talking to a kid who almost got thrown out of a Little League game for arguing with an umpire.

Just a few more links on an off-day

• David Wright doing some GTL with The Situation for a Vitamin Water commercial.
• The Yankees Organization is worth $1.6 billion, according to Forbes. $1.6 BILLION! That's twice as much as the second-highest team, the Red Sox, and about the same as the Mets and the Red Sox combined. Those guys in the Front Office obviously know what they're doing.
  

That might be it for today, but the Yanks head to Tampa to take on David Price and the Rays tomorrow night.

SEE YA!

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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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Lucky Town

I'm going to put off doing my home work for a little while so I can get a blog post in for what is a huge win for the Yankees.

First of all, the win gives the Yanks the series win in Anaheim, the first time they've done that since in forever.

Second, it gives the Yankees a 6.5 game lead over the Angels for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Third, the Yankees lowered their Magic Number to 5 to clinch the division. Now, if the Royals can finish off the sweep (yes, you read correctly the SWEEP) of the Red Sox, it will be 4.

Fifth, AJ Burnett finally remembered how to not give up a boatload of runs. He went 5.2 innings, which could be better, but he struck out 11 and walked 3 so that drove his pitch count up. The most important thing is he only allowed 2 runs after the Bombers had already spotted him 3. Now if Joba can get back on track we might be a little more confident about the starting rotation headed into the playoffs.

Sixth, Robinson Cano finally got a hit with runners in scoring position! (It's the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine). His two-out, 2-run single in the fourth inning was the difference in the game.

Seventh, Ian Kennedey returned to the mound after having surgery to remove an aneurysm earlier this season. He pitched a scoreless inning where he walked two (which can be expected in an appearance like that, especially in your home town) and struck out one.

Other notes (Not big enough or related enough to the game to get a number):

• Jorge Posada's x-ray on his right foot came back negative. He fouled a ball of his foot last night and did not play in today's game. Girardi said Posada may not play Friday against the Red Sox.
  
• Boston is up 6-2 over the Royals in the sixth inning, so the magic number may stay at 5 heading into a 3-game Battle in the Bronx. I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but how sweet would it be if the Yanks swept the series to clinch the division and reach 100 wins against the Sox? I can't say I expect that to happen, but it would be amazing.
• Happy Birthday to the "other" Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who's song Lucky Town came off the 1992 album of the same name.
  

We'll try to get something out to you tomorrow, so until then...

SEE YA!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I take that SEE YA! back, I just noticed we are at 98 fans on our Facebook page. Come on people, just two of you need to become a fan for us to reach 100. (Well technically 4 of you do, because John and I are already fans, but that's just semantics)

What would do if I said the 99th and 100th fans get fabulous prizes?

If you answered "Call Jim a big, fat liar," you're correct. While we don't have prizes, imagine the pride you'll feel knowing you became our 100th fan.
Or you could just do it to make John and I feel good, that works for us.

We're also on Twitter (because at this point who isn't?). @KaysSuccessors is where you can find us.

Ok, I'm sure this time...

SEE YA!

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Can we please win a game in LA. PLEASE!

YANKEES (95-56)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner CF

Pitching: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0 3.68).

ANGELS (90-60)
Figgins 3B
Izturis 2B
Abreu RF
Guerrero DH
Hunter CF
Morales 1B
Rivera LF
Aybar SS
Mathis C

Pitching: vs. RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.43).

TIME/TV: 10:05, MY9/MLB Network.

Do you believe in magic, in Greinke's heart?: Zach Greinke is currently shutting down the Red Sox as the Royals are ahead 5-0 in the 5th inning. If the Red Sox lose, the Yankees magic number will drop to 7.

Maybe it's the time difference: The Yankees are 0-4 in Angel Stadium of this season. This is the main reason why the Yankees need to secure home-field advantage.

UPDATE 10:12: So Syracuse doesn't have MY9, it has MY43. While I have an MLB.TV subscription, it says I can't watch because I'm in the Yankees home television market, despite the fact that the game isn't on TV here. So right now I'm listening to a stream of John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman from the Lowe's Broadcast booth. ( I just increased the value of Lowe's sponsorship by 0.000001% by mentioning it on the blog.)

The Yankees can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a Texas loss. Texas is tied 0-0 with Oakland in the 1st inning.

UPDATE 10:30: I am now updated on the personal lives of a couple of members of the Yankees family, thanks to Jon and Suzyn. Hunter Gardner, the son of Brett, enjoys the swimming pool and Ken Singelton is now a grandfather.

And I give Michael Kay crap for going off topic this early in the game? My apologies, Michael.

UPDATE 10:34: A picture says a thousand words.

UPDATE 10:50: IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR...... IT IS GONE. It's an Arodian home run.

Ok, that makes Jetarian sound good.

UPDATE 11:14: So apparently there is some gimmick where the Yankees and Red Sox radio announcers switch for an inning in one of the upcoming games.

I can only imagine the possibilities for this with TV.

And leave it to Jeter to steal second after picking up his 200th hit of the season.

UPDATE 11:50: Here we go again. Can Mo go 4 tonight?

UPDATE 11:57: So Sterling takes the place of Kay with the broadcaster jinx. They were just talking about how Gaudin deserved to be the 4th starter in the playoffs before this inning unfolded.

And he's also picking up in the "beating the dead horse" department, as he keeps mentioning how Swisher went to the wrong side of the foul pole on Figgins's home run.

I might just see the Yankees through this inning and then head off to bed, cause sleep is at a premium these days.

UPDATE 12:19: Having not been able to watch this inning, I haven't had a complete nervous breakdown yet. But I'm getting close.

UPDATE 12:25: THANK YOU A-ROD!

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When it's over: Jays snap Yanks streak

Well, I don't know about the Yankees, but I felt a little burnt out today after that game last night. They kept the game close, and had chances to win, but couldn't pull through. They just need to make sure this hangover doesn't last too long, because you can't count the Red Sox or Rays out until they are mathematically eliminated. The Yankees know better than anyone that you can make up a lot of ground on a team without actually playing them.

We'll be back and recharged for tomorrow's game. Until then, I'm Jim Geant saying,

SEE YA!

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Yankees find Peace of Mind against Boston

Red Sox 6 8 1
Yankees 13 18 0

WP: Chamberlain (8-2)
LP: Smoltz (2-5)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: It's too hard to pick just one guy, so I'm just giving it to the entire lineup. They pounded out 18 hits and four home runs on their way to scoring 13 runs.

PLAY OF THE GAME: The Jeterian play by Robbie Cano in the top of the eighth inning on a ground ball to short right-center field by David Ortiz.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: I'm going out on a limb here, but I think the turning point was the 8-run 4th inning. After Casey Kotchman homered in the top of the 4th to give Boston a 3-1 lead, the Yankees scored 8 runs on 8 hits, including 2 home runs.

GAME NOTES:

• The Yankees pitching staff allowed 12 walks. That is horrible. 7 of them were from Joba, and he only pitched 5 innings.
  
• While Joba did not pitch well, I'm not worried. He's been pitching very well lately, but he isn't going to dominate every time out.
  
• Now, the Yankees are 3.5 games ahead of the Red Sox and because the Rays were idle, Tampa Bay falls to 6 games behind.
• In case you had turned the game off by that point, Dustin Pedroia was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the 8th. He decided to be dramatic about it, despite the fact he's shorter than me (and I'm pretty short) by barking at Mark Melancon. So, with Beckett and Burnett on the mound tomorrow, don't be surprised if there are some fireworks.
  
• Now that they finally got the first win against the Red Sox out of the way, the Yankees can just worry about beating up on them all time.
  

TOMORROW:
Round 2
Red Sox at Yankees
Beckett vs. Burnett

SEE YA!

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GAME 107: Yankees at Blue Jays

Lineups, as always, courtesy of PeteAbe

YANKEES (64-42, 1st place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Hairston 3B
Molina C

Pitching: RHP Sergio Mitre (1-0, 7.80).

BLUE JAYS (51-55, 4th place AL East)
Scutaro SS
Hill 2B
Lind DH
Overbay 1B
Wells CF
Rios RF
Encarnacion 3B
Barajas C
Inglett LF

Pitching: LHP Mark Rzepczynski (1-2, 3.25).

TIME/TV: 7:07 p.m., YES.

Don't get caught looking ahead: The Yankees begin a four-game series tomorrow against the Red Sox, but they need to win this game first. And Mitre throwing some decent innings tonight to save the bullpen certainly wouldn't hurt for the upcoming series.

Divide and conquer: The Yanks are 21-18 against teams in the division, including 6-2 against Toronto.

One more to decide it all: The Yankees are 4-4 on the current road trip, so tonight's game will decide if they go home up one, or down one on the trip.

UPDATE 7:30: Mitre didn't help the cause there, with 2 runs on four hits. Hopefully he can settle down and give the Yankees some innings.

UPDATE 8:02: So the Yankees got the 2 runs back, Mitre just needs to make sure he doesn't keep putting the team in a hole.

UPDATE 8:45: I have to ask: Why Aceves? His shoulder has been bothering him, and they brought Anthony Claggett up just for tonight's game, and I assume it wasn't to just eat sunflower seeds in the bullpen.

UPDATE 9:05: Looks like the Yanks have locked in on how to hit this guy, and so he's gone.

UPDATE 9:58: That was a nice play by Melky starting off the inning. Let's hope Hughes can get out of this inning pretty quickly.

UPDATE 10:12: Robertson in to get the last 3 outs. Rays up 6-4 over the BoSox with JP Howell in for Tampa Bay.

UPDATE 10:17: The Rays held on to win, 6-4. The Yanks can go up 2.5 games on the Sox with a win here.

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New Poll: What do the Yankees Need for the Trade Deadline?

We are just 8 days away from the July 31 trade deadline, and the rumor mill is buzzing with all sorts of news over a bunch of different teams and players. Right now, the Yankees stand 2 games over the Boston Red Sox and 5.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. However, many believe the Yankees should make some sort of move. With the Red Sox sounding like they are going to make an effort for Roy Halladay or Victor Martinez, it is expected the Yankees will counter. Cashman has gone on the record saying he will solve problems internally first, but we've all heard that before.

So, we ask you, what would you like to see the Yankees do by the trade deadline? Acquire a starter? Reliever? Outfielder? Improve the bench? Or should they just stand pat? Vote on the poll to the right and feel free to comment on who you would like to see them get.

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