Game 83: Yankees at Twins

Yesterday the Yankees were unable to pull of a sweep of the Blue Jays, dropping the final game of the series by the score of 7-6. The game was very interesting, and the Yankees probably could have won if some blatant mistakes weren’t made by the umps. I’ll have more on that below. Anyway, tonight the Bombers take on the Twins in Minnesota – unless the Yankees play the Twins in the playoffs this will be the last time the Yankees play in the Metrodome because the Twins are moving into their new ballpark next year. The last time the Yanks met the Twins was in the Bronx, if you recall that was the series in which the Yankees had all those walk off wins. I’m sure Ron Gardehire is happy to be playing the Yankees at his team’s home this time. The Yankees will send the following lineup out via PeteAbe to face Scott Baker:

SS Derek Jeter

LF Johnny Damon

1B Mark Teixeira

3B Alex Rodriguez

DH Hideki Matsui

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

CF Brett Gardner – I prefer Melky, especially when Cervelli is catching because the lineup is already weakened

C Francisco Cervelli

And on the mound, Carsten Charles Sabathia

Aceves to start on Thursday

According to PeteAbe, Alfredo Aceves was told he will be starting in Wang’s place on Thursday. Once he starts on Thursday, he won’t be needed again until well after the All Star Break, because the Yankees can strategically skip him on certain off days. While many of us would have liked to see Hughes start, Aceves is more stretched out after throwing 4 innings on Sunday. If he can keep his pitch count down on Thursday, maybe Aceves could go 6 innings.

Halladay rumors

All throughout the day there have been rumors that Jays are looking to trade Roy Halladay. While Bule Jay’s GM said that he is not actively shopping Halladay, he told Buster Olney, “We’re going to see what’s out there.” According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees and Phillies are the early favorites, followed by the Angels. I personally just don’t see the Yankees trading for Halladay, even though he is arguably the best pitcher in the majors. The starting point for this trade if the Yankees were to make it would be Phil Hughes and Jesus Montero, and more (Austin Jackson…). I don’t think Brian Cashman would give away so much potential for one pitcher, no matter how good he is. I wouldn’t make that trade either. Well, we just have to wait and see.

“Marty Foster’s got some explaining to do”

Yesterday’s third base umpire, Marty Foster, seriously screwed up yesterday when he called Jeter out at third, telling Jeter that he did not have to be tagged. Here’s what Jeter said after the game:

“I was told I was out because the ball beat me, and he didn’t have to tag me. I was unaware they had changed the rules.”

While attempting to steal third with no outs didn’t seem like the smartest baseball move, what Foster said was even dumber. After the game Foster asked the crew chief, John Hirschbeck, if he could address the media for him (pretty cowardly of Foster). Hirschbeck had this to say about Jeter’s claim about what Foster said:

“It would make his actions seem appropriate if that’s what he was told. The best way I can answer it is to talk to Marty about it. Not here at the ballpark, but if I see him tonight, or if not, we’ll have lunch tomorrow and we’ll discuss it. Getting a play right is one thing, but how you handle it is also important. Nowadays, with the cameras, ESPN and the reporters, I say the media, I actually mean television — it used to be if the ball beat you, you were out, but it isn’t that way anymore. It’s not a reason to call someone out. You have to make a good tag.”

I don’t expect much more to come from this, Major League baseball will probably just have a private talk with Marty Foster that no one will ever hear of, and that’s that. But, there’s no denying that Foster really screwed up.

“Bye, Bye, Berroa”

According to PeteAbe, Angel Berroa was released today. I don’t this too many Yankee fans will miss him. Hey, but the Mets could use him.

“Remember that guy?”

Do you remember when the Yankees signed this guy named Kei Igawa out of Japan, in a move that looked like a counter attack to Boston signing Dice-K? Well, Mr. Igawa recently tied Evan Thomas for the most wins in Scranton franchise history at 26. Now this signing is becoming a real joke, I wonder if we will ever see him in the Majors again (he’s on contract for 2 more years). Here’s what Kei had to say via PeteAbe who got the story from Chad Jennings:

As long as there is a record that I have chance of setting, it’s something the process to get through. It’s a stepping stone, not a final goal of mine.”

Game 71: Yankees 8, Braves 4

Tonight the Yankees defeated the Braves by the score of 8 to 4. While it may look like an ordinary win, it was not quite. Through 5 innings the Yankees did not have a single base runner, and it looked like another night of losing to Cy Young. However, the story changed in the 6th inning. Brett Gardner led off the inning with a walk (the Yankees first base runner), then he got called out on a pick off on first. Joe Girardi immediately came out to argue. Gardner was clearly safe as seen on the replays, but from Girardi’s view he probably couldn’t really tell. Still, Girardi gave the first base umpire his money’s worth and was ejected. Seeing the manager ejected always seems to get a team fired up. Anyway, the next batter was Francisco Cervelli who hit a solo home run to tie the game at one (his first career home run). From there on almost everything went the Yankee’s way. They went on to score two more runs in the 6th, one in the 7th, two in the 8th, and then 2 in the 9th.

On the pitching side things also went well for the Yanks. Joba Chamberlain went 6.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned. Phil Coke came in to finish the 7th after Joba got in a bit of trouble. Then Bruney came into the 8th inning and right from the get go he didn’t look right, to me his fastball wasn’t there. Bruney allowed a run and could not finish the 8th after getting 2 outs. Enter sandman who stroke out the first batter he faced to end the 8th. Mo actually batted in the top of the ninth, he came up with the bases loaded and two outs and he actually hit a hard liner to center. In the bottom of the 9th Mo was smoking. He faced three batters, and struck out all three. So for the night Mo faced a total of 4 batters and stuck them all out. Vintage Mariano. So the Yankees won the game 8 to 4.

Side Notes

• The Yankees held a closed door meeting after last night’s game. Supposedly it was basically a pep talk. Jeter and Teixeira were the two guys to step up and talk during the meeting.
• Brian Cashman unexpectedly was in Atlanta tonight. He also had a little closed door meeting in Girardi’s office with Nick Swisher and Girardi himself. The original lineup posted tonight had Swisher on the bench and Melky in right field. After that little meeting with Cashman, Swisher was in the lineup and Melky was on the bench. The Yankees did not really comment on the situation, so we’re just left to speculate. All I could think off would be that Cashman and Girardi wanted to let Swisher know what the situation would be once Xavier Nady returns (which should be soon, he actually played right field tonight for Scranton). Maybe they told Swisher that he would become a bench player once Nady comes back. I really don’t know, but I would think there was more to Brian Cashman being with the Yankees on the road than just to tell Swisher something. But you know the Yankees, they are quite secretive.
• Cody Ransom is back with the team, Angel Berroa was DFA’d.
• Jose Veras was traded to the Indians for “cash considerations.”

Game 25: Red Sox at Yankees; When was the last time we saw a game?

 

Yesterday’s game was rained out. Today’s game could eventually be played, but it will definitely be a delayed start. The forecast does not look promising, but hopefully there is a “window.” 

Lineup via Peter Abraham (you can also check out the pre-game press conference on Pete’s blog)

SS Derek Jeter

LF Johnny Damon

1B Mark Teixeira

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

DH Jorge Posada

CF Melky Cabrera

C Jose Molina

3B Angel Berroa 

And on the mound, Phil Hughes

Side Notes

• Girardi callled Teixeira “gritty” in his pre-game press conference. I thought only the Red Sox were “gritty”? What is this blasphemy!
• Phil Hughes was scheduled to start yesterday, but he has been pushed back to tonight. I am not sure what the Yankees will be doing  with the rotation, but Aceves could factor into it for a spot start, I am not saying he will but it could be possible.
  

  "I wonder if I'll pitch tonight?"

   

• Alex Rodriguez played another extended Spring Training game today. He went 1-6 with a home run (it was probably un-clutch). He played the field for 7 innings, but somehow did not get to make a play. He could possibly return this Friday. Yay!
• I really don’t like that Berroa is playing today. It may be something personal, but I would rather see Pena out there. If it were up to me, Pena would play everyday (until Alex gets back) and Berroa would be a bench warmer. I just think that Pena’s defense would be worth more than anything Berroa can give us on offense.

Update 9:02

According to Peter Abraham, we will have baseball. First pitch is scheduled for 9:20.

Game 17: Hopefully Yankees can bounce back against Red Sox

Lineup via Peter Abraham:

Mark Melancon

Yankees

SS Derek Jeter

LF Johnny Damon

1B Mark Teixera

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

C Jorge Posada

DH Hideki Matsui

3B Angel Berroa (called up today)

CF Brett Gardner

And on the mound, AJ Burnett

Red Sox

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

2B Dustin Pedroia

DH David Ortiz

1B Kevin Youkilis

RF JD Drew

LF Jason Bay

3B Mike Lowell

C Jason Varitek

SS Nick Green

And on the mound, Josh Beckett

As I wrote about in my previous post there were many callups and disabled list trips today. Angel Berroa, David Robertson, and Mark Melancon were called up. Chien-Ming Wang, Cody Ransom, and Brian Bruney join each other on a trip to the DL. No word yet on any 40 man roster moves.

Update via Peter Abraham:

Cody Ransom was placed on the 60 day DL so that cleared up the 40 man spot for Berroa. Humberto Sanchez was released. He was not even DFA, he was released. Brian Bruney has a strained flexor mass, which Girardi said was just muscle not a ligament. Girardi said Bruney will take a week off, then rehab for a week (possibly two) before he comes back. Mark Melancon will not be at the game until around 5:30.

Update

Ball game over, Yankees lose16-11. Missed opportunities, blown calls, you name it, this game was full of them. Wrap up over at Yankees official site.