It was the fifth inning and the Yankees were in trouble. CC Sabathia had protected a 1-0 lead since the second (in itself a minor miracle) but that lead was history. The Rays now led 2-1, had the bases loaded, and, if the root canal wasn’t painful enough sir, here’s a kick in the shin with a steel-tipped boot: Evan Longoria was at the plate with nobody out.

Sabathia threw a tub of junk at him and up 0-2 in the count, got Longoria to bounce to third. Alex Rodriguez, whose leather was strong and supple in all the right places tonight, charged. He had everything in front of him: the ball, the third base bag, the runner racing home and Longoria breaking for first. He had a fraction of a second to decide what to do and three options, none of them perfect.

He could fire home and prevent the run from scoring. That would keep the score 2-1, and with David Price on the mound for the Rays, every run is precious. But the bases would still be loaded and there’d only be one out. He could step on third and sling the ball across the diamond hoping for a double play. He’d concede a run but he’d give Sabathia the chance to end the inning with an out. Or he could step on third and still try to cut the run off at the plate. The degree of difficulty on that play is absurd. The runner might beat the throw home anyway, and to make a perfect throw, on the run, with no angle… and the catcher still has to block the plate and make the tag.

Alex chose the 5-3 double play and I immediately thought two things: 1) Good for you Alex. You are showing belief in your team that you can score a couple of more runs in this game. 2) The Yankees probably just lost this game.

The Yankees never did take the lead again, but it would be inaccurate to say they lost the game there in the fifth. No, the Yanks had some runs in their tank tonight. Curtis Granderson homered off David Price. Eduardo Nunez ripped a single off the leg of third base umpire Jerry Meals. The bad news is that it was clearly going to be a double. The good news is that it hurt. The bad news outweighed the good news unfortunately, because had the inning played out the same way with Nunez starting at second, he scores the tying run. As it was, he was rounding third when Elliot Johnson dove to snag Arod’s dribbler. It was ticketed for right field, but the ball was in no hurry to get there.

The Rays padded their lead in an especially disheartening fashion. CC Sabathia, if you remember from opening day, is supposed to have some kind of Jedi mind trick in place when pitching to Carlos Pena. Pena drew a crucial walk in the three-run fifth and led off the seventh with an infield single. Neither was as loud as the grand slam from April 6th, but CC’s inabilty to retire Pena was a big part of another loss.

Elliot Johnson tried to bunt Pena to second, only CC jumped on the bunt and erased the lead runner. Yay. Johnson stole second and scored by a whisker on a two out single to center. Fuck. Pena would never have scored on that hit. B.J. Upton hit a tall homer in the eighth. It was 5-2 and all those close decisions that would have made this an agonizing loss didn’t seem to matter so much.

Then Derek jeter pounded a single into the right field corner and Alex Rodriguez hit a vintage 2007-era blast to left and made the score 5-4. Oh it’s an agonizing loss again, that’s better. The Rays turned a bloop, a steal and an ghastly error by Nunez into an unnecessary insurance run and made the final score 6-4.

In the seventh, Ben Zobrist squared up a high fastball right down the middle from Sabathia and stroked a blue dart back through the box. It was a bad pitch, but Zobrist didn’t miss it. He also didn’t try to do too much with the high heat. The Rays scored a vital run with two outs. In the eighth, Curtis Granderson tapped a grounder to second with two outs and the tying run on second and go-ahead run on first. It was a lousy swing, but it was also an excellent pitch, a strike, but low and away where Granderson couldn’t get good wood to it. The Rays got the vital out and protected their slim lead.

It’s not that simple, but it’s not that complicated either.

It’s C.C. vs. David Price, fat vs. skinny, tonight in the Boogie Down. C.C., how we need ya, papi.

The Rays just got swept in Baltimore. Will they score runs this weekend now that they’re playing our boys? The Yanks are up against tough-ass pitching, can they rediscover the Score Truck?

So many questions.

1. Jeter DH
2. Swisher RF
3. A-Rod 3B
4. Cano 2B
5. Martin C
6. Jones LF
7. Granderson CF
8. Pearce 1B
9. Nunez SS

Never mind the Cy Young candidate in the Rays uniform: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture Via: Comic Book Artwork]

In three games against the Red Sox, the Yankees went 2-34 with runners in scoring position. They won two of those games which gives you an idea of just how bad the Sox are. That they didn’t sweep them is proof how how unstable the Yanks are.

Oh yeah, both hits with runners in scoring position came from Derek Jeter. His bloop double in the seventh gave the Yanks the slimmest of cushions and Phil Hughes did the rest, with some help from Boone Logan, David Robertson, and Rafael Soriano. Hughes was outstanding, never mind Boston’s anemic line up. Like David Phelps last night, Hughes delivered.

The Yanks win, 2-0 and remain tied for first with the Orioles.

Exhale.

[Photo Credit: Joel Zimmer]

Phil Hughes goes against the Boston Red Sox C Squad tonight. No excuses, just win.

Derek Jeter DH
Nick Swisher RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Russell Martin C
Andruw Jones LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Steve Pearce 1B
Eduardo Nunez SS

Never mind dem angry boids’: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Creative Review]

Chad Jennings has the skinny on the tentative 2013 schedule.

[Photo Credit: N.Y. Daily News]

If DJ can stand tonight, he’ll play tonight.

Meanwhile, over at River Ave Blues, Mike Axisa maps out the starting rotation for the rest of the year.

[Photo Credit: N.Y. Daily News]

It ain’t easy. The Yankees held a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the ninth tonight. Rafael Soriano was on the mound. Minutes earlier, Nate McClouth pegged a line drive off the right field fence down in Baltimore to give the Orioles a 3-2 win over the Rays. Because, as we all know by now, the Orioles don’t lose one-run games.

Cody Ross, Bobby Valentine and coach Jerry Royster had all been thrown out of the game in the bottom of the eighth when Soriano’s 3-2 slider was called strike three. The pitch was low though it may have crossed the plate in the strike zone. It was enough to make Ross, and Valentine go batshit crazy.

The biggest concern for Yankee fans, however, was that Derek Jeter left the game with an apparent ankle injury after hitting into a double play to end the top of the eighth. Early word has it as a bone bruise in his left ankle with Girardi saying Jeter will try to play tomorrow (he’ll have to be unable to walk to stay out of the game).

So Soriano gives up a solo home run to Jared Saltalamacchia. He gets the next two outs and then botches a ground ball putting the tying run on base. Then Jacoby Ellsbury hits another one right at Soriano. He fielded it this time, underhanded the ball softly to first, and the Yankees had the game, 5-4.

Curtis Granderson hit two long home runs, Robinson Cano had a two-run shot over the Monster, Nick Swisher had a couple of hits, and David Phelps pitched a fine game. Best start of his career. The first part of the game sailed by, the last half was plodding, a typical, Yankee-Red Sox affair.

We exhale for now.

[Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images; Elise Amendola/AP ]

No speeches, no bitching, just rooting.

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chris Stewart C

Fuck Everyone: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

As Jon mentioned in the previous thread:

Yanks record by month:
13-9
14-14
20-7
13-13
15-13
4-5

Apart from the 20-7 run, this is a mediocre team. Yes, they’ve been hurt by injuries but right now they are a group of underachievers.

[Image Via: Photo Blur]

Who knows if this is rock bottom or not but if Saturday night was a punch to the stomach this one here’s a kick to the balls.

The Yankees put the first two men on base, scored one, then left the bases loaded against Jon Lester in the first inning. They went 1-637 with runners in scoring position tonight and got what they deserved against an inept Red Sox team when they couldn’t score more than three runs and the Sox won it on a base hit in the 9th inning.

I’d recap the game but most of you saw it and reliving it would just angry up the blood. Going to be hard enough to fall asleep as it is.

Sox 4, Yanks 3; O’s 9, Rays 2.

We’re tied again.

The Yankees have not won two games in a row since August 14-15th. Believe it.

We’ve talked a lot about the Yankees reaching rock bottom lately. Worst case scenario, they miss the playoffs. Worser case: the Red Sox knock them out. Boston has nothing to play for other than to inflict pain on the Yankees.

Three game series starts tonight in Boston and their ace, Jon Lester, is on the hill. The Yanks counter with Hiroki Kuroda who is due for a good start.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Russell Martin C
Steve Pearce 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix 3B

Never mind the paranoia: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Word is Mark Teixeira will be out 10-14 days.

The Yanks staked Freddy Garcia to a 5-0 lead but he couldn’t get out of the fourth inning. Joba Chamberlain relieved Garcia after the veteran allowed three runs. Then Curtis Granderson hit a pinch hit home run to give the Yanks some breathing room. Next time up, he blooped a single to left field, driving home two more. And to cap it off he hit a two run double later in the game. Three-for-three, five RBI, now, that’s the way to bust out of a slump. Alex Rodriguez continued to look good as does Russell Martin. Robbie Cano and Derek Jeter had terrific games.

And it helped make this one a laugher as the Yanks cruised, 13-3.

It precisely the way to respond to last night’s loss. Mark Teixeira is going to have an MRI tomorrow, will miss the series this week in Boston, and I’m guessing much more. Still, the news today was good–Joba Chamberlian, Boone Logan and Corey Wade put in quality work and the offense did the rest.

Onward and upward.

[Pictures by Bags]

Concerns and complaints from the Yankees after the game last night. Chad Jennings has the notes.

In the meantime, the Bombers turn to an unlikely source to stop stop the bleeding: Freddy Garcia.

He’ll need plenty of support, from his fielders, the bullpen, and especially the offense.

Never mind that hangover: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Luca Pierro]

The Yanks have two reliable starters–C.C. Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda. Neither have been terrific of late and right when the team needs them the most. This especially true of Sabathia who has been their Little Big Man. Tonight, a win would put the Yankees two games ahead of the Orioles with a chance to make it three tomorrow. But Sabathia did not pitch like an ace, giving up five runs in 6.1 innings. The Orioles hit three home runs against him.

Meanwhile, the Yanks scored a run in the first and a run in the second against Joe Saunders but then he tantalized them with an effective combination of change-ups and breaking pitches (his fastball topped out at 87-88 mph), retiring ten in a row at one point. Yankee hitters just missed hitting home runs and they struck out in key situations. Example: they had men on first and second with one out in the sixth when Russell Martin whiffed and Curtis Granderson, you guessed it, struck out too.

Nick Swisher is 0-for his last-23, 2-38.

Mark Teixeira was called out on a close pitch against Pedro Strop with one out in the eighth. It was a full count and the damn pitch looked outside. I don’t know about you but I was screaming from my couch at home. Ken Singleton, ever the diplomat, said on the YES broadcast that it was too close to take.

Alex Rodriguez crushed the first pitch he saw from Strop, a fastball, over the center field fence for a homer and when a 1-1 breaking ball to Robinson Cano looked outside Rodriguez started yelling from the dugout at the ump. Cano walked and Russell Martin got ahead, 3-1, fouled off a fastball right over the plate, just a little too high to do anything with, and then lined a base hit, off another high fastball, to right center.

That put runners at first and third and ended Strop’s night. Brian Matusz relieved him and faced Curtis-5-for-his-last-42-Granderson. Eduardo Nunez pinch running for Martin. A ball, a called strike, a ball, then a fastball over the plate and Grandy got under it: a harmless pop up to the catcher.

Fail.

In the ninth, Ichiro singles to left to open the inning against Jim Johnson. Eric Chavez singles to left on the first pitch he saw.

Hey, Now.

Jeter and nerves a plenty round my way. Does he bunt? The Orioles play the infield in. He bunts…and gets a base hit.

Swisher. Bases loaded, nobody out. Soft ground ball to short, too slow for a double play. Run scores, 5-4. The relay throw to first bounced and Mark Reynolds made a nice play to field it and stay on the bag. They just get Swisher.

Ball one in the dirt to Teixeira. Fastball low, 2-0. Change up, up in the zone, outer part of the plate and good for a called strike. Fastball, same spot, called strike two. Curve ball, fouled off, barely. And then, a sinker. Teixeira hits a soft grounder to second, they go to second for the first out. Teixeira hobbling down the line dives head first into the bag and beats the play. Easily.

And Jerry Meals calls him out.

Orioles 5,  Yankees 4.

During this string of poor play, this has to count as one of the most dispiriting losses. It went from disappointing to infuriating.

The ump may have cost them a chance to win at the end but the majority of this one rests on Sabathia’s shoulders. There’s no way to soften it, unless he’s pitching hurt, which is a possibility, who knows? Regardless, he’s supposed to be The Stopper, The Ace, and right now, he’s a Grade A Dud.

As a side note, Sabathia hit Nick Markakis in the thumb with a pitch. Markakis left the game and was later seen in the dugout with his hand wrapped. Buck Showalter came over and gave him a hug. He’s a likable player and a damn good one too. But Markakis is out six weeks, and man, you hate to see that.

There was pain to go around tonight, even for the winners.

[Photo Credit: Brechtbug]

We’re expecting big things from C.C. Sabathia tonight. Not three runs over six or seven innings, more like one or two runs over eight.

No way around it. He’s their stud and he needs to perform accordingly.

Teix is back. The rain should clear up this evening so even if there is a delay, let’s hope they get ‘er in.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Russell Martin C
Andruw Jones LF
Ichiro Suzuki CF
Jayson Nix 3B

Never mind the rain drops: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Live Carefree; mOrtality]

The Orioles had runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the first inning tonight and it was easy to imagine the score being 2-0 in no time. But then Robinson Cano made a beautiful, sprinting catch in center field–followed by a strong, one-hop throw to the plate just in case–to save Phil Hughes’ ass. Matt Wieters got ahead 3-0 and here-we-go-again is what I was thinking But he swung at the next pitch and lined out to center and what do you know, today is a new day.

Russell Martin put the Yanks on the board in the fourth with a three-run homer to left and Steve Pearce nailed a two-run shot before the inning was over. Then Alex Rodriguez hit a long home run in the fifth (his 300th as a Yankee) which gave the vistors a 7-0 lead.

The O’s chipped away of course. Adam Jones hit a three-run homer against Hughes in the sixth, Robert Andino hit a solo shot against Cody Eppley in the seventh, and Manny Machado hit a line drive dinger against Rafael Soriano in the ninth.

By that time, however, it was too little too late. The Yanks scored an insurance run in the top of the inning and about the only ball hit to left that didn’t find it’s way into the seats came when Nate McClouth robbed Nick Swisher of a two-run homer in the ninth. Swisher had been 0-17 on this road trip and he could only smile at his dumb luck.

Fortunately, for the Yankees, it didn’t matter. Maybe he’ll save a couple of hits or three for tomorrow.

Yanks back in sole possession of first for now.

A good, much-needed win. Oh, and it should also be noted that David Robertson faced two batters in the eighth and retired them both. Jones took him deep last night but went down on three pitches this time: an overhand curve that buckled his knees for a called strike, and then two sweeping curves, breaking low and away, swung on and missed. Wieters hit a long line drive on the first pitch he saw but it fell harmlessly into Curtis Granderson’s glove for the third out.

Final Score: Yanks 8, O’s 5.

Is you ascared to watch Phil Hughes pitch tonight?

I am.

The Yanks’ll need runs–and lots of them. Hughes must for to deliver a strong performance.

We want to cheer, dammit (looks like Tex will be back tomorrow and Nova might return on Sunday).

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Russell Martin C
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones LF
Steve Pearce 1B
Casey McGehee 3B

Never mind the Bugaboo Boids: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture Via: Comic Book Artwork]

The Yankees have not won a game that they have trailed in the eighth inning (or later) all year long. This wouldn’t matter so much except that they’re behind in the eighth and ninth almost every night these days. Tonight they trailed 6-1 with two outs in the top of the eighth and looked deader than disco. Alex Rodriguez stroked a double. Eric Chavez and Russell Martin worked gutsy walks around an RBI single from Curtis Granderson. Pinch hitter Chris Dickerson faced the erratic Pedro Strop with the bases loaded and took four straight balls to push the tying run to second. Ichiro Suzuki bounced a game-tying single to right.

The Yankees had just completed their most important comeback of the season and sent out the best of their bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. David Robertson quickly got ahead of Adam Jones 0-2 and went for the kill with his great curveball. But that pitch is gone. When he attempted to throw it to Jones, it slipped out of his hand and he nearly plunked him in the noggin. I thought he needed to go right back to curve because a) no way Jones is looking for a curve when he just gagged one so badly, and b) might as well see if he’s got any feel for it whatsoever for the rest of the outing. Instead Martin called for a fastball up out of the strike zone. Robertson put it on a fucking tee. I threw batting practice for fifty kids today, mostly underhand, and I didn’t throw a pitch that hittable.

After Adam Jones homered, Robertson kept sucking. He let up a single and another homer before he spun dizzily into the showers. In a show of solidarity, Boone Logan let up another homer as soon as he got in there. Robertson’s stats aren’t as good as last year, but I don’t think we had any business expecting that kind of year again. He’s still been pretty good. It’s his timing that has been so shitty. Robertson’s 4-0 record last year has turned into a 1-6 tally this year. That swing in the standings has been crippling for the Yankees.

In the fourth inning of this game, when I finally tuned in, David Phelps allowed the first three batters of the inning to hit the ball a combined 1200 feet. It was just dumb luck that two of them ended up as outs. The third was a homer by Robert Andino which made the score 5-1 and officially designated Phelps outing as “dogshit.”

The Yankees have played the Orioles four times recently, with the division title clearly on the line, and the Orioles would have swept all four if Pedro Strop could throw a few strikes. Even with Strop screwing things up for them, the Orioles have kicked the Yankees asses in three of the four games. They crushed three homers tonight on their way to an easy win. Strop made things complicated, so they smacked three more to win comfortably, 10-6.

The Orioles have looked the bully in the eye and found out he’s not so tough. The Orioles are playing great baseball and I can’t think of any reason why they would stop. I’m usually ok with the phrase “may the best team win.” But the best team is usually the Yankees.

Big four game serious in Baltimore starts tonight.

It’s Dave Phelps as we hope for a delivery from the Score Truck.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Eric Chavez 3B
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C
Raul Ibanez LF
Ichiro Suzuki RF

Never mind the upstarts: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Images Via: JBK Fletcher; Supdavid]