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Jorge is back and the Yankees have sent Cash down to the minors.  So, Berroa still has a role with the team, though I can't figure out why. 

Cervelli is going to catch Sabathia tomorrow, but he probably will be headed to the minors soon- Molina is getting into a game tomorrow in the minors.  

Now we just need the rain to clear and we are ready to play.   

UPDATE: How's this for a stat via Kim Jones?  This is the first time the Yankees have had Posada, Matsui and A-Rod in the lineup at the same time since June 22nd of 2008.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

So Melky "should" be ready to go after 5-7 days of rest.  That's the good news, the bad news is the Yankees are going to do nothing with the roster for now.  So, for the next week or so the Yankees are going to play with three outfielders- Damon, Gardner and Swisher.  That's it, so if someone gets hurt, like Damon almost did in tonight's game, you probably can expect to see Ramiro Pena trying to play the outfield. 

Now, add in the fact that Shelley Duncan has hit 15 homers in AAA and I don't get it.  Do we really need Angel Berroa clogging up a roster spot? Isn't the logical move to DFA Berroa and add Duncan to the Yankee roster?  I would guess that Berroa's time with the club is going to come to an end Friday when the Yankees hopefully activate Posada, but I am hopeful the memory of Damon crashing into that wall spurs the Yankees to change plans.  I understand wanting to keep three catchers on the roster right now, but how about this?

DFA Berroa, promote Duncan, activate Posada and DFA Tomko or Veras.  They can go with 11 pitchers until they feel Posada is ok.  Then DFA Cash and bring up another reliever.   Or, bite the bullet and DL Melky now, just don't fool around with only 12 position players- it's too dangerous. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Maybe it's because the game was in Texas, but Phil Hughes looked awesome today.  Personally, I was most impressed with his curve ball, but the whole thing looked great.  Yes, he has been uneven. But he struck out nine guys his last start and dominated the Rangers and their potent offense today. 

So the question is, how do you remove this guy from the rotation?  I don't think you do, at least not yet.  Wang didn't look great the other night and he was supposed to get one more minor league start.  I would keep him in the pen and see if he improves.  Give Hughes another start and see what happens.  If he keeps pitching like this, you have an interesting decision to make. 

My only gripe today was using Aceves in the ninth.  Bruney is probably gone for awhile and you need to develop someone for the 8th, why not try Aceves?  More to the point, why waste him in a game that is a blowout?  I don't get it at all. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Or should I say Bruney is back?  Thankfully, they put at least a temporary end to the Edwar era.  I like the kid, I wish him well, but he doesn't belong in a big league pen. Yes the strikeouts are nice, but 19 HR's in 93 IP is not good enough for the bigs. 

Now, the question is who is going to step up behind Bruney and Mo?  Coke has been bad in May.  Albie doesn't look like he wants to throw strikes.  Veras is the same way and Tomko just strikes me as a sucker's bet.  I would like to see Aceves get a shot, see him try some late inning situations.  The guy seems to have the nerves for it and he gets the job done.  Of course that leaves you without a long guy, but isn't that a role Tomko could fill? 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported recently that the Red Sox inquired about Cleveland's Victor Martinez.  Talks never progressed.

If the rumor is true, it means the Red Sox either don't like George Kottaras or are really worried about David Ortiz.  My guess is they are/were worried about Ortiz.  No matter what the Front Office's thinking, the Red Sox line-up struggled badly on their recent 6-game road trip.  They scored 3.8 runs per game putting up: .235/.322/.376  We know that David Ortiz struggled, Kevin Youkilis wasn't available and Dustin Pedroia missed 2 games.

This combination of events really exposed the Red Sox line-up.  Jeff Bailey struggled (.143/.280/.286), Rocco Baldelli struggled (.077/.143/.077), Mike Lowell struggled (.167/.200/.208), Jason Bay struggled despite 2 home runs (.167/.259/.458).  What that Red Sox lack right now is depth.  With Ortiz an unknown, if any of the other regulars goes down, the Red Sox don't have much to fall back on.

I expect Ortiz back in the line-up tonight and this home stand will probably spell his last opportunity to salvage his starter status.  If he is unable to get things going, I expect we'll see a trade.

---

A few thoughts on the Red Sox.  Jacoby Ellsbury, despite hitting .300, is still refusing to work the count (3.77 pitches per plate appearance, team average 3.89).  His 8 walks and .330 OBP suggests to me he is best suited for 9th in the order.  He has a home run swing, but isn't a home run hitter.  He refuses to take pitches or slap the ball the other way.  It drives me nuts.  He either needs to start setting the table, or he'll be the one doing the dishes (I have no idea what that means).

I have grown to hate watching the following Red Sox pitchers pitch:  Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon.  With men on, they are slow, ever so slow and it makes the whole thing unpleasant.  You three, please think of me and what my preferences are.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

MLB announced today that games for this year's World Series will start just before 8:00 pm ET, compared to recent start times which were about 40 minutes later on average.

This is a long time coming and while it might hurt revenues in the short run, it will help expand fan loyalty for years to come.  We've talked about this at length, but just how, in the past, did MLB expect to get young kids interested in baseball if the first pitch was just around bedtime?  Sure the West was in good shape, but the population density on the East can't be ignored.

I still think compressing all US times zones into 1 during the World Series would be far easier.  Heck, let's compress all international time zones too while we are at it.  Baseball is, after all, the 2nd (or 3rd) most popular sport in the US and must be in the top 15 worldwide...top 25?  It has to be top 50.  Come on now.

Good work MLB.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I find it fascinating Cal Ripken is going to "make it his business" to find out what Alex Rodriguez's motives were for using steroids.  After all, Ripken was a teammate of Rafael Palmeiro and as a lifetime Oriole, shouldn't Cal concern himself with that?

It's an odd comment coming from somebody who certainly had the standing to speak up years ago.  Can you imagine how different the steroids era would have ended up being if Ripken had stood up in 1998 and called foul on what was going on? 

I will give Ripken credit, he says the steroids era is a dark cloud that is "hanging and hanging" over baseball.  Are you listening Bud Selig?   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've largely avoided commenting on David Ortiz’s slow start, mostly because I figured we are looking at too small a sample size to worry.  But after Thursday’s game, where he left more men on base (12) than the entire Angels team did (11), I think it’s time for a change.

It could just be mental, he might be injured, or worse, he might just be old.

My favorite all-time baseball was Jim Rice.  To watch him fade so quickly at just age 34 was so disappointing.  For whatever reason, Rice had a short, albeit great, career.  Perhaps Ortiz falls into this category.  I don’t know.

Now let me delve the darker possibilities of Ortiz’s situation.  On talk radio and message boards (I believe everything I read on message boards), there are 2 main avenues of focus on David Ortiz’s plight:  Steroids and Age.

To date, David Ortiz has not been accused of, linked to or caught using steroids.  Other than his association with Manny Ramirez while both were in Boston, there has been no talk aside from the “you have to be juicing to hit 54 home runs.”

As for his age, many wonder if Ortiz is really just 33 years old.  Many international players (and perhaps homegrown players) have taken steps to conceal their actual age for obvious reasons.  Again, no smoking gun.

My feeling is I want to believe he is 33 and has always been clean, but as Peter pointed out a few days ago, no baseball fan can really overlook the fact that steroids greatly impacted baseball over the past 15 years without being considered naïve and no one can be removed from speculation.

No matter what the reason for his struggles, the fact is, he is terrible right now and hurting his team.  He is occupying a very important spot in the Red Sox line-up hitting 3^rd and producing with a .208 average, .318 OBP and .300 SLG.  To put that in perspective, a .300 SLG means he is getting only 3 tenths of the way to first base per at bat.  That’s a convenient distance as a 90 degree right turn takes him directly into the dugout.

Sean McAdam is reporting that Ortiz will be given the game off tonight and when he returns, Terry Francona needs to put him farther down the line-up, low enough to take expectations off of him, but not too far as to humiliate the guy.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

There is a lot of chatter in the New York papers today about how Phil Hughes had better pitch well tonight or he will be back in the minors soon.  The thinking is that with Chien-Ming Wang almost ready, Hughes has to show the Yankees something to stick in the rotation.

But where is the spot in the rotation that Hughes can hold onto?  Even if he pitches a gem tonight, the Yankees are going to pick Wang over him.  Hughes isn't going to bump any of the other starters out of the rotation either.  And you can pretty much forget about the bullpen, Hughes is a starter and he will go back to AAA as a starter when Wang returns.

What Hughes is really pitching for is 2010.  We know the 2010 rotation will have Sabathia, Burnett and Wang in it.  We can be 95% certain it will have Joba in it.  What we don't know is if it will have Pettitte in it.  The Yankees could choose to give him another one year deal or they could decide that Hughes is ready to be a starter in the bigs.  I imagine they would rather go with Hughes, but that will be impossible unless he shows some success in the majors soon.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Sabathia started the road trip and ended it with the same result: a huge win.  There are a lot of things not to like about the Yankees right now, but Sabathia rounding into form is a reason for hope.  The Yankees haven't had a pitcher with his ability in years and if he lives up to that potential, they will be right there throughout the summer.

For now a 4-2 road trip is pretty good and taking 2-of-3 in Toronto is a good sign.  I know the Blue Jays probably won't be there in the end, but they are in first and picking up ground is what it is all about.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So Pete Rose thinks A-Rod belongs in the Hall of Fame.  What's next O.J. Simpson saying he is a great husband? 

A-Rod doesn't look like a Hall of Famer right now, but he isn't alone on this team.  The Yankees are 15-17 and can't seem to build any consistency.  When they hit, they don't pitch and when they pitch they don't hit.  Actually, it really isn't the hitters fault, the Yankees are 6th in baseball, scoring 5.4 runs a game.  It's the pitching that's killing them, 6.2 runs allowed a game, tied for worst in baseball.  

I don't know what the answer is for the pitching woes.  AJ Burnett isn't helping, CC has been mediocre, if they pitch to their ability things will be a lot better.  The bullpen is a different story.  I would send Edwar away, use Coke in the 8th (if his back is healthy-ugh) and hope Bruney returns soon.

It's early, but the Yankees need to put together a winning streak soon.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Reports out of Toronto have Derek Jeter scratched from the lineup because of an oblique pull.  Considering yesterday was an off-day and the fact that Jeter is one tough SOB, this leads me to believe he is hurting.  We will never hear him say it, but it's not a good omen.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 05:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

With the recent news of Manny Ramirez's suspension another blow to baseball, I got to thinking about the 4 major sports, MLB, NFL, NHL and the NBA, and the role steroids has played in each.

With the NFL, steroids were an early subject and it in turn implemented testing much earlier than the other sports.  Each year we learn of a handful of players getting suspended.  One cannot say their system is flawless, but it does yield tangible results.

MLB has received by far the most scrutiny based on the fact that we are slowly but steadily piecing together the number of the modern day power records were aided by steroids.  Baseball was slow to acknowledge and react to steroids and as a result it is paying the price.

The NBA and NHL have largely avoided the fray.  I wonder why that is and if we need to take a closer look.

The NHL was embroiled in a minor controversy when it was learned many of the players took Sudafed prior to games back in the '90s.  The active ingredient in Sudafed acting as a stimulant.  But I cannot recall one NHL player being nabbed for steroid use.  How can that be?

A quick search reveals that as of December 2007, only 1 NHL had been caught using steroids all the while the NHL refusing to believe steroids could be an issue with NHL players.

NBA commissioner David Stern said he doesn't think steroids are a concern in the NBA.  The idea being NBA players prefer leanness and athleticism, not bulk or power.  Well, have you seen Dwight Howard?  He looks to be both powerful and athletic all in one.  One can't help but wonder how NBA players can have such developed deltoids and biceps without some kind of aid.

NHL players are protected by the equipment they wear, not only from physical harm, but judgment by the fans as we cannot see their physical appearance beyond broad assessments.

The fact remains that athletes in all sports, especially sports that reward play with hefty salaries, will and do try to gain any competitive edge possible.  To think NHLers will stop at Sudafed and smelling salts is naive.  And to think a fringe NBA player wouldn't be tempted to use steroids and HGH all the while trying to cover his tracks is laughable.

I wonder if we will ever get inside these 2 leagues to learn the truth.  I find it hard to believe we are seeing a drug free NBA and NHL when nearly every other sport, both professional and amateur has had to deal with the issue.

Your thoughts?

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

In a surprising move, the Red Sox have promoted Daniel Bard to the big club.  To make room for Bard, the Red Sox designated Javier Lopez for assignment.

You could tell the Red Sox were ready to make a move on Lopez as they have been using him quite a bit in hopes he turn his season around, but he just couldn't get anyone out this year and with Bard mowing them down in AAA, they made the move.

This move also puts some pressure on Jonathan Papelbon.  Papelbon hasn't been able to work out a long-term deal with the Red Sox and has been making his outings a bit more interesting than one would want so far in 2009.

I don't know if Bard has the make-up to handle 9th inning duty, but he'll likely be given the occasional try.

Sad news on the passing of Dom DiMaggio.  He was from my grandfather's generation and his loss sort of makes those days seem farther away in the rear view mirror.  I think had DiMaggio not missed 3 full seasons in his prime to WWII, he'd have had a legit shot at the Hall of Fame.

Also, best of luck to Jerry Remy in his recovery.  He has some of the best insight in all of baseball.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees have added Brett Tomko and sent David Robertson down.  I haven't seen an official move for the 40-man, but since Ian Kennedy is having surgery this week it makes sense that he would be sent to the 60-day DL.

Tomko has been closing in AAA and he has 17 K's in 14 innings.  Very impressive numbers, but this is also a guy with a 4.68 ERA in almost 1800 innings of pitching in the bigs.  Has he reinvented himself?  At this point the Yankees might as well find out.  Worst case scenario, Tomko is released in a few weeks.

UPDATE: They have DFA'ed Eric Hacker.  Apparently Kennedy cannot go on the 60-day because he is in the minors. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Molina is headed to the DL and Kevin Cash is coming up to the bigs.  Cash played for Boston last year and hit .225.  I can't say this enough, but Brian Cashman YOU HAVE TO TRADE FOR A CATCHER WHO CAN ACTUALLY HIT.  Sorry to freak out there.  The Yankees haven't announced a 40-man move yet to get Cash on the roster. 

In other news, Mark Melancon has been sent to the minors to make room for A-Rod.  This means we only have 12 pitchers active which is progress.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

I am too young to remember when George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, so I got a real kick out of this article that I spotted on SI.com.  It's an entertaining read and presents a very different picture of George Steinbrenner, he sounds like the nicest guy in the world!  I also enjoyed learning that John DeLorean was an owner of the team at one point.  Anyway, it's an entertaining read.

Still no word on Molina. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 03:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees welcome back A-Rod tonight, but there are questions that linger over his return.  Chief among them, can Alex play third everyday? 

The Yankees have to hope he can, because they face a very serious logjam at DH in the coming weeks.  Hideki Matsui's knee swelled running the bases and while the Yankees say he can play the field in June, it's hard to imagine he will be able to do so with any consistency.  Xavier Nady is also expected back in the next few weeks and when he returns he won't be able to play the field immediately.  Throw in Posada's hamstring injury, squatting with a bum hamstring is hard to do, and the Yankees may have four players who can really only DH.  

This is a problem the Yankees are going to have for a long time.  If they are smart, they will cut ties with Matsui after this season.  His bat still looks good, but he is breaking down physically and the Yankees will need that DH spot.  Posada is the logical candidate to move to DH next season, but unless the Yankees have a viable alternate at catcher, that won't happen.  Throw in Jeter's range problems and he might be a DH candidate as well.  And of course we have nine more years of A-Rod.  At some point, he will have to become a DH.  So, we can pretty much assume the DH spot is closed until 2018. 

Back later after we hear about Molina.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

About the only good thing that has happened to the Yankees this season is Ramiro Pena.  Despite never playing above AA, he has hit .280 and provided solid, if not spectacular, defense so far in 2009. There is no doubt that he can help the 2009 Yankees, but the 2010 Yankees and beyond might be better served by having Pena playing every day in AAA.

New York has to make a decision about this tomorrow, but it might be a moot point right now. Before Molina left tonight's game you could argue the best use of Pena either way, but now Molina may miss some time.  With no other catchers on the 40-man roster, the Yankees need an insurance policy and the best way to get one is to DFA Angel Berroa and add a catcher to the 40-man.  You can activate A-Rod tomorrow and DFA Berroa to do that.

Before Molina left the game, I would have argued for the Yankees to send Pena down and see what he does everyday at AAA.  Jeter grows more immobile by the day and you need to see if Pena can replace him in the future.  Now, you don't have that luxury. This team needs all hands on deck.  Pena stays, A-Rod arrives and you have to hope something clicks. 

UPDATE: Molina is in a MRI machine right now and Girardi assumes that means he is headed to the DL.  I guess that means Kevin Cash is the catcher for the next few weeks and validates my thinking above.  <gulp>

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yup, I read the book and I had planned to write a review on it, but Murray Chass did a much better job than I ever could. 

For those who don't know Chass' work, he was the baseball reporter for the New York Times for years.  In that role, he was also a co-worker of Ms. Roberts, as he mentions.  

I agree with everything he says.  The thing that struck me by the book is how little concrete proof there is of anything.  I understand that history books use footnotes, not sports books, but this book badly needs some footnotes.  Anonymous quotes, illogical reasoning, unsupported conclusions, this book has them all.  

I have no doubt that A-Rod isn't a saint, far from it, but he deserves better than this.  Don't buy the book and apart from the 2003 steroid test, I wouldn't believe much that Selena Roberts says.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, looks like we have another big star who tested positive for steroids a banned substance.  Only this time, he will be suspended 50 games. 

UPDATE: Ok weird addition to the story here.  Peter Gammons is reporting that Manny has been suspended for using a drug other than steroids that he had a prescription for.  If it was legally prescribed, why the suspension?

UPDATE 2:  Manny has issued a statement where he says he took a prescription drug that was not a steroid but was on the banned list.  He points out that he has passed 15 drug tests in the past 5 years and apologizes to the Dodgers, fans, etc..  Now, will Manny take questions on this and if so, you have to assume that question #1 is going to be about whether or not he has ever taken a banned substance.  Also, I would assume he is going to produce the Dr. involved in this mess if he really wants to clear his name. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees are 13-14 and not a very good team right now.  Unless something bad happens, A-Rod will join them in Baltimore on Friday and have a chance to be the hero of 2009. 

Let's face it, the only "good" thing about the Yankees' performance so far is that it takes the pressure off of Alex.  If he was returning to a 20-7 team and they then slumped, it wouldn't matter what he personally did, Alex would be blamed.  Now the opposite is true.  If the Yankees go on to make the playoffs this year everyone will point to May 8th and how the team was .500 without him and then caught fire when he returned.  

It's the perfect scenario for Alex considering his offseason.  Just come back, hit and hope the team wins.  Everyone in New York will forget the other crap and the fans outside of New York were never going to forget it anyway.  Is Alex up to this? I sure hope so.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Brian Bruney is going to be out at least two more weeks according to Kim Jones on YES.  Considering the mess that the bullpen is, this is not good news.  Add in the fact that they say the elbow is "grabbing" and your guess is as good as mine as to when he will really return.

Let's review.  Wang injured hip.  Nady injured elbow.  Marte injured elbow.  Bruney injured elbow.  Posada injured hamstring.  A-Rod injured hip.  Ransom injured hamstring.  That's quite an injury bug for a team to go through in the first month of the season. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Can a team "sweep" a 2-game series?  I think so.

Glad the Red Sox took both games.

My impression of Joba Chamberlain has only worsened.  He plunked Jason Bay with a straight shot to the back after painting the corners for 4 innings and after Bay did serious damage.  I don't care what outside influences he is/was dealing with, Joba threw at Bay and I suppose we'll see a Yankee get plunked next time the these teams meet.

With Josh Beckett pitching tonight, I fully and completely expected fireworks following Bay's HBP, but Beckett, in unusual fashion, kept his cool and decided to pitch.  I thought Mark Teixeira would get the next ball in the rib cage, but alas, nothing happened, just a win.

If MLB had professional wrestling as a component, I think a Beckett folding chair across a Yankee batter's head would have been not only a great storyline, but a necessity.  No?  Good drama in my book.

I think we'll see a benches clearing incident later this season as a result.  Joba, you started things off and your teammates have you to thank...

David Ortiz, while still struggling, has seemingly managed to get himself out of the "in-between" status.  He isn't behind on the fastball and way ahead of a normal off-speed pitch.  He did swing and miss at a few very nice change-ups Tuesday night, but I'd rather see that than late on fastballs and way too early on off-speed stuff.  Time will tell if Ortiz has figured anything out.

Jacoby Ellsbury left with a hammy injury and Kevin Youkilis sat with a chest/oblique injury.  NESN's broadcast suggested Youk would be back Wednesday vs. Cleveland at Fenway while Ellsbury's status is unknown.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Despite hitting .190 in Trenton (AA) Cervelli has been called up to the Yankees.  Why did they do this?  I can think of two reasons.

1- Cervelli is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster

2- Kevin Cash is on the DL in the minors.  Chris Stewart is hitting .175 in AAA and PJ Pilittere has a noodle for an arm.  

This leads me to believe that the Yankees will try and swing a deal because they don't like their AAA options (obviously) and Cervelli seems like a move they made because it was the easiest one to make (no 40-man move) and not because they believe in him.  We shall see.

BTW- Posada was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring tear.  Not that it's the same body part, but A-Rod was diagnosed with a Grade 2 quad tear last year when he went on the DL in April and he missed about 3 weeks. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 05:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

WFAN is reporting that Posada is headed to the DL with a hamstring strain. 

This is the worst possible news for the Yankees and now they have to, have to make a trade for a new catcher.  Posada is 37, he is not going to catch 120 games a year anymore and Austin Romine and Jesus Montero are in A ball.  The Yankees never should have let it come to this, but they have and now Cashman has to figure it out.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees showed some fight tonight, but they ultimately failed and did it in a way that makes it extra painful.  Thanks, just what I needed at 1AM.

A couple of things from tonight's game.  I am beginning to think the only way the Yankees go back to 12 pitchers is if they have to play a game with only 8 fielders.  Considering the injuries they have suffered so far this year, it could happen soon. Either way, another night with way too short a bench.  

Edwar Ramirez isn't helping right now.  Why do they keep him in the majors?

Aceves made a mistake, but generally pitched pretty well.  He gave the Yankees the length they needed in this game.  Hopefully, they keep him around the rest of the year.  

Now for some sleep.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees have apparently recalled Alfredo Aceves and demoted Anthony Claggett.  I am all for a long reliever, it's a move that should have been made a long time ago, but why are we sticking with 13 pitchers? 

Hopefully, we get a game tonight, but the weather in New York is awful.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am fed up with the whole steroids issue in baseball.  Do I think the majority of the players in the game were using them in the 90's and up until they were tested for in 2004?  Absolutely, and I likewise think that most players are probably using HGH right now because there is no test for it.  My problem is, I love baseball too much to stop watching, so I keep watching a product that I know is flawed.  I wish I had the power to turn it off, but I don't.

That doesn't mean I can excuse certain things.  Hearing Bud Selig say that anyone shamed the game when he ruled the league during this whole period makes me sick.  When players stand up and try and explain why they did this stuff it makes me sick too.  I wish baseball would just step forward and admit that they all screwed up and that they all have blood on their hands.  None of them are innocent here, from the players to the managers to the owners, they all participated in this.  

Despite my weariness over all of this, I tuned into the MLB Network interview with Selena Roberts tonight.  It was done live on the eve of the publication of her new book.  

Now, before I comment on the interview, let me set a few things straight.  I am not an A-Rod fan.  I hoped the Yankees would wash their hands of him when he opted out in 2007.  But, I am also a Yankees' fan and I understand that I need Alex to produce if the Yankees are going to win.  One thing the steroids and free agency eras have taught me is you truly do "root for the laundry".  A-Rod may be the biggest phony and biggest jerk in the game, but as long as he wear the pinstripes, I am going to hope he gets that hit, drives in that run, etc..  It's not an easy position to take and I wonder how I will explain that to my daughter when she becomes old enough to cast a critical eye on the players her father roots for.

With that being said, Selena Roberts makes me feel cold.  I am not sure what the reason is, but I draw the conclusion that she simply doesn't like Alex and she wants to ruin him.  She uses a lot of anonymous sources and there are a lot of people (like the Rangers Michael Young) who have come out and questioned her story.  Jason Whitlock, who also works for Fox Sports, wrote a very interesting piece on Roberts today.  I have no doubt that A-Rod failed that steroids test in 2004, but I have a lot of questions about the other claims Roberts makes.  His life has been ripped apart by everyone, why has Roberts escaped that kind of criticism, especially as Whitlock says, in light of the Duke case?

I don't know what the answer is, but right now I get the sense we are all pawns in a game between two very flawed players.  Roberts has her agenda, A-Rod his.  I just want to get back to baseball.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

So, I went up to the new place yesterday and I wanted to share some impressions I had of it.

It's a wonderful stadium, really comfortable, excellent food and a great experience, but it doesn't have the history.  Now, part of my experience was definitely colored by the sight of the old stadium sitting there, empty and forlorn.  You come up on the 4 train and see the old stadium just like you always did.  You sit in the new place and you see the old stadium sitting there.  It makes you compare the two and reinforces the history you lost.

But enough about that, the new place is a wonderful place to watch a game.  The concourses are huge and open, so you can watch the game while waiting in line. There are more places to eat and buy things than you can imagine so the lines are short. The people working at the stadium are friendly!  (How did that happen?) They smile, ask how they can help and generally must not be from New York.  

The food options are tremendous, but bring your wallet.  A hot dog is $5.50 and as an added bonus they now serve Nathan's!  The garlic fries are a must and there are burgers, tacos, pulled pork, cheese steaks, sushi...tons of food.  Plenty of beers, fresh lemonade, gourmet popcorn, fresh roasted peanuts and thanks to NYC laws, you can see the calories of everything you consume. (That is good, right?)

There are stores everywhere that contain intersting and ridiculous things.  (You can buy freeze dried sod from the old place for $75.)  There is a Yankee museum which contains interesting artifacts, Munson's locker and signed baseballs by thousands of Yankees.  I am a little confused about the layout of the balls because Mickey Mantle's ball is followed by Morgan Ensberg's.  There is also an Armando Benitez ball but I couldn't find Enrique Wilson.  

One intersting thing is that with the open concourses you can watch the game from the lower level as long as you don't mind standing.  So, you could buy a cheap seat and then just stand by the rail for the entire game.  I did it for an innning and nobody told me to get moving.  The seats are wider, the rows more open and there are cupholders for every seat, so no more kicked beverages.  

In short it is a pleasure to go to a ballgame there, but they need to improve on two things ASAP.  The first is Monument Park which looks like a cave underneath the Mohegan Sun Bar.  It looks terrible and sends a terrible message about what the Yankees think of their history. The second is the retired numbers which can't be seen and have been put above the bleachers in left.  Could you paint them on the walls or make them visible please?

Other than that, check the place out, it is wonderful.  Now the Yankees just need to create some history there.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Pete Abe is reporting the Yankees are DL'ing Marte and bringing up Claggett.  So, they have a chance to delete a pitcher from the roster and they use it to add another pitcher?  Did anyone notice they haven't used Marte since last weekend?  Did anyone notice that Steven Jackson sat unused on the roster for 8 games?  Why carry 13 pitchers and keep squeezing your bench? Ugh, I am frustrated.

My review on the new place will be up this afternoon.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I think Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi need to have a meeting.  I understand why Girardi felt he had to throw Sabthia 120 pitches today, he doesn't trust his bullpen.  But, you just can't do that right now and it was painful obvious that Sabathia was running on fumes.  I am sure C.C. wanted the ball, he always wants the ball, it's the managers job to take it from him. Giardi needs to tell Cashman he doesn't trust the pen.  Cashman needs to tell Girardi not to burn out the starters in May and then they need to figure out a plan going forward. 

I am not sure what the answer is, but the Yankees need to come up with one.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I am headed up to the Bronx for my first look at thie new place.  I will try and get some camera phone pics and I will detail my impressions of the new place later tonight.]

Big start for C.C. today.  He has been mediocre this season and his two starts at home have been dreadful.  If you want a very hopeful sign for the 2009 Yankees consider that they are 13-10 with Sabathia and Burnett both with ERA's around 5, Wang in the minors, Teixeira hitting .189 and 0 AB's from A-Rod.   

More later 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 09:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Nice to see the Angels' bullpen blow up like that.  Actually, the Yankees deserve a lot of credit, especially Cano.

Caught Nick Swisher on YES after the game, it sounds like he will be ok, but he may miss tomorrow's game depending on how bad the swelling in his elbow is in the morning.  I am not sure if a roster move is coming or not, but it should.  The problem is Miranda only plays first.  The Yankees don't have any other options right now on the 40-man.  One move I hope they strongly consider when A-Rod comes back is dropping Berroa from the 40-man and getting a more useful player on it.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The way I see it Veras and Ramirez are little more than kindling right now.  They can't get the job done.  Marte is pretty much the same and Albie can't be trusted.  Melancon has looked good, but looked bad tonight. 

Coke is the only guy in the pen, other than Mo, that you can trust right now.  Bring back Bruney and you have three.  Keep sending Melancon out there and let's see what Robertson can do as well.  Jackson is in the minors again, Claggett got one shot and was lousy, but it was only one shot.  There are plenty of other places to turn to, why keep trying the same tired options? 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Yankees will keep their fingers crossed tonight that Nick Swisher's elbow is fine.  We will learn more after tha game, but the fact that he has been pulled in the third inning is not good. 

What's extra bad is the fact that the Yankees now have some ugly choices if another outfielder has to come out.  They could lose the DH and try Matsui in the outfield (unlikely) or put someone into the outfield like Angel Berroa.  

The problem is they are carrying 13 pitchers, way too many and it leaves the bench exposed if anything goes wrong.  The Yankees need to pick one of their righty relievers with options and send him down to the minors and bring back a position player.  You know who would be perfect right now?  Shelly Duncan who could play outfield or first.  But, adding Duncan to the roster would require a 40-man move and I don't see the Yankees doing it.  Instead, I think they will wait until A-Rod is ready (probably next week) and then bring him back in exchange for one of those pitchers.  That means another week or so of a perilously thin bench.  Let's hope it doesn't cost them tonight. 

UPDATE 8:55pm- Maybe the Yankees are considering this?

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)