Away we go . . .
- Bruney up, Veras DFAed:
Brian Bruney rejoined the Yankees’ bullpen mix after being activated from the disabled list on Tuesday, and the right-hander isn’t looking for any adjustment period in working his way back in. . . .
“I feel really good; ready to go,” Bruney said. “I don’t envision him taking it easy on me. I think if there’s a situation where we need to get some outs, I expect him to call on me.”
In a corresponding roster move, the Yankees designated right-hander Jose Veras for assignment. Veras was 3-1 with a 5.96 ERA in 25 appearances, allowing 23 hits and 17 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings. He walked 14 and struck out 18.
- A.J. Burnett has had a very tough road to hoe thus far in 2009:
A.J. Burnett was supposed to avoid being a victim of Yankee Stadium v2.0, but that was before he stopped inducing significantly more grounders than fly balls. This year has seen Burnett’s G/F drop to its lowest point since 2002, and to go along with that he has also stopped getting hitters to pop up on fly balls. Sure, it doesn’t help that he’s faced the stiffest competition in the league according to this stat report (composite of batters he has faced have the highest OPS in the majors), but at the same time, Burnett’s not doing himself any favors by handing out free passes to 4.6 hitters per nine. Combine that with the homer rate, and it’s easy to see why Burnett hasn’t had an easy time of it for his new team. I’m not so sure Burnett is going to have a serious rebound during this season, as he’s fooling fewer hitters—his strikeouts have dropped by over one full K per nine, and opponents are swinging at fewer pitches out of the zone while making more contact. Getting his walk rates back under control would be a good first step, but as it is he has actually been a little lucky, as his FIP is over a half-run higher than his ERA; improvement would move him from the level of a 5.00 ERA pitcher down to his current level.
- Would Matsui go back to play in Japan next season?:
Comments made by an unnamed member of the Hanshin Tigers front office about the possibility of Hanshin going after Hideki Matsui this offseason are making the rounds in the Japanese media. Here’s what was said in Sponichi:
“There’s a feeling that if he comes back to Japan, it will be with Hanshin. He’s had knee issues, and if he’s going to play in Japan the natural grass at Koshien would be good.”
- PeteAbe has the stork report on new daddy Chien-Ming Wang.
- The Yanks’ 1st round draft pick, Slade Heathcott, took BP at the Stadium:
Heathcott, who had never been to New York before, arrived with area scout Mark Batchko around 1:30 p.m. ET and will be in town until Thursday, when his high school team will be honored for winning the state title.
Heathcott took several rounds of BP with the final group and demonstrated some of the power the Yankees hope he will one day bring to the table, driving several balls hard, including a few over the fence.
Afterward, Heathcott set up shop at a locker in the Yankee clubhouse next to future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and giddily began calling everyone in his cell phone address book, just to tell them where he was and what he had just did.
“I guess at first,” Heathcott said when asked if he was nervous taking batting practice with the Yankees. “After that I got kind of settled in, and it got kind of fun.”
- Here is the transcript of the MLB.com on-line fan chat with the Yanks Director of Scouting Damon Oppenheimer.
- Last-minute Father’s Day gift idea . . . the brand-new DVD collection of Yankee perfect games and no-hitters.
- On this date in 1936, Red Ruffing of the Yankees set an American League record for pitchers by recording ten total bases. Ruffing hit two home runs as part of a four-hit day, helping the Yankees to a 15 – 4 crushing of the Cleveland Indians.
- On this date in 1941, Joe DiMaggio was credited with a hit in his 30th consecutive game when an easy grounder to shortstop bounced up and hit Luke Appling on the shoulder. The Chicago White Sox beat the Yankees 8 – 7.
- On this date in 1978, Ron Guidry struck out 18 batters in a four-hit, 4 – 0 shutout of the California Angels, to set an American League record for a left-handed pitcher in a single game. Guidry, who struck out 15 in the first six innings, posted his 11th consecutive victory without a loss. The performance will help coin a new nickname for Guidry as Phil Rizzuto began to refer to him as ‘Louisiana Lightning’.
- On this date in 1987, former Yankee player, coach and manager Dick Howser passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 51.
No NOTD tomorrow . . . I’ll be at the Stadium Wednesday night, and will need time to recover from Wang’s start. Back on Friday.
“There’s a feeling that if he comes back to Japan, it will be with Hanshin. He’s had knee issues, and if he’s going to play in Japan the natural grass at Koshien would be good.”
I agree! I mean, who wants to be buried under fake grass?
"I’ll be at the Stadium Wednesday night, and will need time to recover from Wang’s start."
LOL
AJ's problem, at least from what I have observed, is that he has trouble consistently repeating his mechanics throughout a game because any number of situations get him too amped up.
That's why his last start was encouraging. Although he lost his command after the Yankees got him a lead, he was able to work out of a self-induced bases loaded jam.
Although he bears primary responsiblity for his problems, he seems to be yet another pitcher that Eiland can't reach.
I'm surprised you don't have anything on Jeter's injury. Here's a snipped from MLB.com:
"Manager Joe Girardi said after the game the injury likely dates back to Sunday's 15-0 win over the Mets, when Gary Sheffield slid hard into Jeter's legs trying to break up a double play in the fourth inning."
So, racist d-bag Sheffield (Jeter "aint all the way black") has taken his grudge out on the field. Whacking that stupid f*ck upside the head is worth a six-game suspension. Wish we played the Mets again, but he probably would have been released by then anyway.
Farnsworth bitten by his OWN dog
http://tinyurl.com/msf5gk
Although he bears primary responsiblity for his problems, he seems to be yet another pitcher that Eiland can’t reach.
In fairness to Eiland, Burnett has been that way the bulk of his career.
[3]
Sorry .... I just didn't come across any mention of it in the sources I usually consult by the time I put the post to bed (prior to 11:30).
Oh, and CMW now has a friend in the "AL pitcher getting injured while batting" club:
http://tinyurl.com/lrgzg8
So, racist d-bag Sheffield (Jeter “aint all the way black”) has taken his grudge out on the field.
wat? Where'd that come from? And what about the other times that Sheff faced off against the Yanks since the trade? What about when they played together? I'm sure that if Sheffield had issue, he would've said/done something while they both shared the same clubhouse...
Diane (#6), no need to apologize. Your reports are fantastic!
Raf (#7), that statement came from my belief that Sheffield is a racist d-bag. That quote about Jeter is from Sheffield, said to a reporter after the trade. Apparently, he didn't feel the need to discuss those things with Jeter (or Torre, whom he also criticized) with them while he was in NY or at any other time. Apparently, he thought those grievances were best aired in the media after he departed. That's the basis for my conclusion that Sheffield is a racist d-bag. As for the other times he has faced the Yanks, perhaps this is the first chance he had to take a hard slide into Jeter in a way that it would appear unintentional. Or perhaps he was just trying extra hard to break up a double play in a 15-0 ballgame. Either way, he's a racist d-bag, IMHO.
[5] In fairness to Eiland, Burnett has been that way the bulk of his career.
He has been inconsistent, but according to BP, his peripherals were significantly better.
Joba, Pettitte, and Wang have also struggled at times. Who can Eiland reach?
[8] Wait, I'm not sure I'm clear on your opinion of Sheff.
Jeter was laughing and looking back at Sheff after that play. I don't think there was any intent to injure jeter on the play, any more than there was intent when Tex did it last week to whoever. It's part of the game.
As far as Sheff being racist - he definitely brings up race a lot and said that latin players are "easier to control" than black players.
Is he a d-bag, probably.
[10]
Sheff never has grown up, sadly.
Joba, Pettitte, and Wang have also struggled at times. Who can Eiland reach?
It's Eiland's fault that Joba is 23 and has less than 200 IP in the majors? It's Eiland's fault that Pettitte is 37 and has back problems? Maybe there's something to be said about Wang, assuming there aren't lingering issues with his foot, but I still think it's ridiculous to put the pitching problems on Eiland.
[11] Hell, I'm grateful he doesn't wear Jheri Curls these days!
"Just let your Soul Glow!"
http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/resources/2007/07/young_sheffield.jpg
: )
[10] I agree. Speaking as a brothah for a moment, there are reasons for us to be mad about injustices we've suffered as a collective, and I have my own experiences that have soured me on certain nouns (persons, places and things), but it is imperative on you as a person to deal with those things in as constructively as you can to combat the hate, perceived or real, or you will become that which you hate and not the person you want to be treated as. Some of us have an audience to be able to express on our behalf the feelings of injustice and how to deal with that, but some us again are too overwhelmed by the bitterness to either act or express these things in a way that will positively change the behavior of others. But then again, some of us in the position to be listened to have not the ability or interest to say something positive, contructive or otherwise defending our rights, so the opportunity is wasted.
I don't look at Sheffield or most other athletes as role models because they have not proven to me they are capable of carrying a message that helps me in my life, and at the same time the things they do say that would otherwise be embarrassing at the least are non-factors in my opinion. Jeter probably has it right to just ignore his rantings, just like I would ignore the rantings of a John Rocker. Ultimately, it only really affects their own lives. There are a lot of other people to speak for me concerning what I want to say when people can't or don't hear me.
[3] we play the Muts in Queens next weekend...
[0] I’ll be at the Stadium Wednesday night, and will need time to recover from Wang’s start
Because you'll be giddy with excitement that Wang threw 8 innings of 1 hit ball.
There are a lot of other people to speak for me concerning what I want to say when people can’t or don’t hear me.
From a public standpoint, for me it was Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali. These two are/were head and shoulders above everyone else. In a completely different league.
And speaking of Cano (in my head), what do we think about converting him SS?
[18] I wouldn't be against switching him & Jeter. Depending on whether Cano can make the transition. Or move him to third & A-Rod back to SS (when healthy).
Why would they move Jeter from SS when his UZR/150 is 6.1 and other metrics rate him as improved as well?
[20] He can't play shortstop forever.
[21] I have wanted him moved out of the position since 2004, but: 1) It seems strange to bring it up when his defense has improved; and 2) neither Cano nor Alex are likely to replace him. In fact, I don't think his replacement is currently in the organizaiton.