In the last 14 years or so there has never been such a sense of panic around the Yankees like there has been lately. At this time of the year the Yanks usually go on a roll and make things happen and get themselves in a position to make a serious run at October.
This season was no different. They came out of the All-Star break with an 8-game winning streak. The Yankees were alive and well. A few weeks later, they’re left for dead.
Losing 11 of their last 16 would do that, especially an inconsistent team like the 2008 group we have in the Bronx. I’ve gone on the record as saying this team needs more than luck to make it to October…a point I can’t stress enough and it’s as realistic as I can be with this team. But they have shown if everyone does their part, this team can go on a roll in a hurry.
Over at Peter Abraham’s Yankee Blog he …
You know, some things just boggle the mind no matter how hard you try to understand them. Last night Joe Girardi did a mind boggling thing: He sat down Johnny Damon in favor of Justin Christian. Yes, you read that right. Why he would make such a move when the Yankees DESEPERATLY needed a win, I have no clue. Especially against a team that they need to pass in order to gain control of the wild card.
Girardi’s explanation:
“The turf sometimes can beat up his body,” Girardi said before the game. “We’ve got three days in a row with a short turnaround on Wednesday.”
His replacement, Christian, went 0 for 4. Girardi then added this to reassure all of us why sitting Damon, who leads the American League in hitting was the right move to make..
“It’s tough, but the other thing you have to deal with is Johnny’s shoulder’s banged up,” Girardi said. “There’s a lot of things that go on that make the lineup the way we …
Now what I saw yesterday was just downright terrible. The combination of Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson and Jose Veras did their best Kyle Farnsworth impression. They blew a 3-1 lead and, most importantly, they blew a solid performance by Dan Giese. That’s something the Yanks can not afford to do given their situation. With 45 games to go, the Yanks must close out the games their starters put them in a position to win.
During their 8-game winning streak a few weeks ago, everything was firing on all cylinders. The arms, the bats, the bullpen, the defense, the clutch-hitting. Now, the Yanks have lost 9 of 14 and are really pushing towards the possibilty of missing the postseason. While everyone, myself included, waits for the Rays to fall on their face, it doesn’t appear that’s going to happen any time soon. Time is running out. The past few seasons, this is usually the time the Yankees go and make up their ground and win the games …
Yesterday was a special day at Yankee Stadium. It was the 62nd Old-Timer’s Day and more importantly, it was the last one at this stadium. It’s always a special event and always a joy to watch guys from back in the day don the pinstripes one more time to bring back the memories of some of the greatest moments in Yankee history.
With all due respect to everyone else, there is no organization that can assemble the quailty of players and memories like the Yankees can. Old-Timer’s Day lets you remember and relive the greatest moments, it never lets you forget them.
A nice addition this year was the 1996 Yankees. 13 members of that championship team were on hand for this year’s festivies. At least one player from each of the last 16 world championship teams was represented. Here’s a list of players…
The Yankees are in it to win it this year. All it took was an 8-game winning streak and GM Brian Cashman was ready to make some moves – some serious moves. With Thursday’s 4 pm trade deadline looming Cashman seems to be working 24-7. As a result, the Yanks went from being left in the dust to serious heavyweights.
On Wednesday afternoon the Yankees traded reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Detriot Tigers for Ivan Rodriguez. All I can say is “wow.” This is an excellent trade and Brian Cashman once again shows why he’s one of the smartest men in baseball. This is the second major trade that the Yankees have pulled off in less than a week. With less than 24 hours to go, Cash may have one more trick up his sleeve. Is that going to be Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn? We’ll find out before Thursday’s deadline.
It’s a great move and came at the right time. It addresses the catching …
Did Sidney Ponson pitch his last game as a Yankee last night? It’s very possible. The Yankees have been lucky with Ponson thus far but last night’s performance is a reminder of how much of a risk he really is.
The winning streak eventually had to come to an end and the Yanks did take 2 of 3 in Boston, but it was still a game the Yanks needed to win. A win last night would have put the Yanks into a tie for the Wild Card with Boston and they would have gained a game on the Rays leaving them 2 out. But Ponson started in a big game spot. I’ll excuse him for the fact that he was due to get hit around at some point. He has given the Bombers more than they could’ve imagined so I’m not upset with him. It does however raise some questions about Sir Sidney in big spots. The much rumored-to-be-Yankee Jarrod Washburn pitched 8 innings and gave up …
Boy is my face red. Last week I wrote how the Yankees need more than luck to make the playoffs. Well, they haven’t lost since I wrote that article.
Since my post was written, the Yankees have been on a winning streak of 8 straight, they’ve made one trade that filled two big needs and it appears they are not done. Reports have the Yanks ready to acquire Jarrod Washburn from Seattle and this morning the Kansas City Star is reporting a potential deal with the Kansas City Royals that could bring Brain Bannister to the Bronx for Melky Cabrera.
Well, it appears the Yanks are going for it. Why wouldn’t they? They’re the Yankees. I didn’t sense a fight in this team and now they are red hot. The winning streak comes at a time where the Tampa Bay Rays have faltered a bit and the Red Sox are slip and sliding their way down the divison as well. The Yanks …
With the 2008 All-Star game behind us, the second half of the season is upon us. This is where the contenders show their worth and the pretenders fade away. The Yankees have been known as a good second half team over the past few seasons but this might very well be the toughest second half of recent memory.
The Yankees are 51-45 and 5.5 games out of first place. 66 games to go. Now granted this is no reason to be alarmed, BUT do you really think Sidney Ponson is going to continue to pitch effectively throughout the second half? Do you think Richie Sexson will be that much of a help in the lineup? Those two are replacing ace Chien-Ming Wang and slugger Hideki Matsui. Mighty big shoes to fill. How much longer is Mike Mussina going to pitch like its 1999? All of these are BIG questions going into the second half. How about Melky Cabrera in CF? When the heck is he going to …
The 2008 HR Derby was one for the ages. If you didn’t see the first round you missed the whole show.
Texas Rangers’ Outfielder Josh Hamilton hit an amazing 28 HR’s in the first round. Josh’s 28 HR’s was the most ever in the first round. Bobby Abreu previously held the record with 24, set in 2005. It was quite simply an outstanding performance. Some of the HR’s he hit went places you didn’t think were possible. He hit them 500 feet on several occasions, he hit them all the way in the cheap seats in the right field upper deck. He went deep into the black seats in center, he hit the Bank of America sign in right, and he almost hit the 4 train! (ok, he really didn’t but it looked like he sure was aiming for it, and came close).
“If the balls had been juiced, I would have had it,” said Hamilton, whose teammates had been prodding him to knock one out of the …
Bobby Murcer has passed away due to complications from brain cancer. It’s a sad day in the baseball world because Bobby touched so many people in so many different ways.
Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Dec. 24, 2006, and underwent surgery just a few days later. He returned to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day in 2007, and recieved a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 55,000 plus. On May 1st, he was back in the broadcast booth for the YES Network.
The Yankees were informed of his passing after the game. Here are some quotes regarding Bobby:
Michael Kay:
“Bobby was one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met. He handled his battle with a grace and class that was hard to fathom. For me personally, it’s an incredible loss. He was my idol growing up. I was lucky to work with him as a broadcaster, and it showed me that I had great taste as a kid. He was everything that you’d want …
The rosters for the 2008 All-Star Game were announced yesterday afternoon. The hometown Yankees are going to be represented by 3 of the game’s best. The crosstown Mets, however have only 1 representative. Let’s take a look at the rosters.
AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Kevin Youkilis (Boston)
Second base: Dustin Pedroia (Boston)
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (New York)
Third base: Alex Rodriguez (New York)
Catcher: Joe Mauer (Minnesota)
Outfield: Josh Hamilton (Texas)
Outfield: Manny Ramirez (Boston)
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle)
DH: David Ortiz (Boston) …
Mariano Rivera is still the best closer in baseball. Sometimes it takes a near disaster like the 9th inning yesterday, to make you realize how good Rivera is.
With the Yanks up 2-0 and Rivera on the mound you thought the game was going to over. One thing you learn from watching Yankees-Red Sox is that it’s NEVER over until the final out is recorded, no matter what the score is and what the situation is. That’s what makes baseball so great. That’s what makes this rivalry so great. So Rivera hits two guys, gives up two hits, one run and the bases are loaded and no one out. He strikes out Coco Crisp, gets Jason Varitek to pop up, and strikes out Julio Lugo. He did all that with the same calm, expressionless demeanor he always carries.
For a moment in the 9th inning you could see Rivera was worried. Dave Eiland came out and spoke to the Yankee closer and the rest of the infield. …
