Yanks are down in Tampa—at their very own house of horrors—for the weekend. Hey, at least it’s got air-conditioning.

Never mind the bloomin’ onions:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

What is there to say? CC, showing obvious signs of being a real pitcher, was let down once again by the lineup (and some would say The Binder, which is steadily taking on more significant (if not welcome or tactful) connotation. Let’s not waste too much time on this: despite feasting on weak teams like any Yankee team should, they have a hard time (as usual of recent seasons) dealing with competitive teams.  Toronto may not necessarily be as competitive as they were last year, but they have more operative pieces than the Yanks do this season, and those came to use for the Jays today, enough for a 3-1 victory.  Meh.  This is what mediocre looks like. If the plan goes the way most hope, we won’t have to look at this for too long (as long as a a couple years is not too long for you).

Some news of note, Chad Jennings also reports that Slade Heathcott has again been released by the team. The popular, but oft-injured outfielder was removed from the 40-man so A-Rod could return from the 15-day DL, also noting that while the team had other options, they chose to release Heathcott.  Being that he’s currently on the DL, is this merely a procedural move in order to sign him to another deal as before, or has he basically run out of time? With Ben Gamel coming off the bench for the big team and a plethora of OF options, it’s hard to tell, but it’s not a good look.  (Update: looks like a big fat Nope) Also, catching über-prospect Gary Sanchez has a displaced thumb fracture on his throwing arm.  While this is a blow to SWB as he was very productive to this point, there is actual (if not exciting) organizational depth to cover his absence for the time being.  All this, plus Greg Bird gone for the season and now Sanchez in limbo, it’s been a very forgettable 2016 overall.  Yet .500 is within reach and at least… well, at least… I dunno, it’s not that cold anymore?

The Go-Figure Yanks continued their winning ways last night blanking the Jays.

Do we dare ask for more? (Dare, Dare)

Never mind the warmth:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

The bad guys. Who are sort of sucking this year.

GIT ‘EM, BOYS.

Never mind the chirpin’:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

…with your impressive selves. The Yanks have had a good couple of weeks. Won again yesterday to complete a four-game sweep in Oakland. They are sniffing .500.

For this we are pleased, we truly are because you got to take what’s there to be had. Every little bit counts, as they say on the telethons.

Dag, what do you know? The Yanks are out there on the west coast winning ballgames, y’all. I have to say I’m thrilled that C.C. pitched so well on Friday night. Sober, pitching well at home, man, it must have been a special moment for him.

In the meantime, the Yanks won again yesterday and have a shot at a sweep this afternoon.

Never mind the afternoon shadows:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Second of four tonight in Oakland.

Never mind the sunsets:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

You know, I watched about 95% of the games in 1998 but one that I missed was the comeback where Straw hit the grand slam. I might have even started watching it but I missed the comeback, one of their best of the season. I just remember waking up like it had been a happy dream, which is what that whole season was anyway.

Point is, it’s hard to stay up for games in Oakland. Least it’s always been for me. At least on a school night.

That said, I like that I have a choice and sometimes I’ll just hang on and watch a game until it’s over just because.

Never mind the peppermint tea:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

I’m happy when Nathan Eovaldi does well. Happy for him, beyond the usual reasons I mean. The guy just seems to ride that fine line between clever and stupid and I always feel like he’s just going to implode, like Big Mike Pineda seems to be doing these days. And yet Eovaldi hangs in there, he tries. He’s got a big cumbersome body and he is soft-spoken—seemingly withdrawn—with the press. He’s like Bernie Williams as a big galoot pitcher from Texas. His stuff is amazing but he is not an amazing pitcher. It’s hard for him and he lacks that certain something that comes to other great pitchers so readily. He doesn’t trust himself. He’s not a killer. Yet.

But hope is the thing with a 99 mph heater and behind another solid outing from Eovaldi, with the usual showing from Three Times Dope (even though Miller gave up a dinger), the Yanks manage to get out of Arizona with a 4-2 win.

Good Gosh, I’m remiss. Really lagging behind events these days. The Yanks lost last night cause Sluggo Pineda can’t get his lumbering ass in gear; they’ll need to grab a “W” tonight in order to avoid being swept in Arizona of all places.

We’ll be up late root-root-rooting them on—at least some of us will.

Never mind the warm milk:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Well, okay, so things didn’t go so well for young Chad Green last night. He took a thumping but he’s not the first and won’t be the last.

Back at it again tonight in the desert:

Never mind the ghosts:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Welcome to the big leagues, Hoss.

Never mind the memories:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Carlos Beltran hit his 400th career home run and Dellin Betances worked out of a jam. Brian McCann went deep as well and Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman were tough as the Yanks won another game and another series—7-5 was the final. A 7-3 homestand against the Red Sox, Royals and White Sox ain’t nothing to sniff at.

Of course, the moment of the day came in Texas when a little guy slugged Jose Bautista right in the face. I caught some of the talking heads on ESPN and the MLB Network. They were all fired up, talking big and loud. Amazing what violence does to excite us, even when we say it’s uncivilized and not good for the game and all that reasonable stuff.

Kinda sorta overcast. And cooler today. Ah, spring.

More baseball as the Yanks look to win their third straight series (and against good teams too, no foolin’). Yesterday, their dynamic bullpen trio of Betances, Miller and Chapman (already dubbed, “No Run-DMC”), worked for the first time together and they were as good as advertised as the Yanks won, 2-1.

Never mind the showers:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Last night was Chris Sale and bad luck for Luis Severino.

Drag.

Back at it this afternoon.

Never mind the sunblock:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Yanks go out and take 3 of 4 against the World Champs. Not bad.

It’s rainy and supposed to stay that way all weekend. A winning White Sox team is in town. Let’s see how many they get in.

Never mind the puddles:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Michael Pineda gets hit hard early then settles down. He takes his time between pitches, talking to himself, brushing things away with his hands. He looks like he’s dragging ass, like he’s lallygagging. I’m not sure it’s fair to say he’s actually lallygagging but something sure seems to get in his way. He couldn’t recover from an early pounding and the Yanks took it on the chin, 7-3.

They still have a shot to win the series. Let’s see what they’ve got for us tonightski.

Never mind the pollen:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

I was on the subway today and I started to laugh when I thought about the Banter. I didn’t have time to post a recap of last night’s entertaining game and instead of being pissed or upset I just laughed about it. We’re worse than the old New York Times when you wouldn’t get the west coast box scores until three days later. Ha.

The Banter is like having a country house that you don’t go to so much anymore but you can’t get rid of it, it means too much. I’m just so busy elsewhere these days I don’t have the availability to maintain a steady posting schedule here. Don’t take it personally. It’s not you, it’s me.

That said, the reasons I’m not posting as much here are great—I’m busy and enjoying the hell out of my work. That doesn’t happen often so I’m appreciating that as much as I can.

Yanks back at it tonight, going for a third straight. Is that too much to ask?

Never mind the gorgeous weather!

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Tanka Time.

Never mind the chill:

Let’s Go Yan-Kees!

Five solo home runs (McCann, Gardner, Hicks and Beltran, twice) were enough behind a strong, albeit brief, outing by Ivan Nova, to give the Yanks a 6-3 win. Aroldis Chapman made his season debut with “oohs” and “ahhs” coming from the crowd after seeing each pitch hit 99, 100, 101 mph. He gave up a run, struck some guys out, and his season is underway.