After three innings last night, with Yankee bats and helmets flailing across the field, the likelihood of a Yankee hit seemed much less than the likelihood of a no-hitter. Chris Sale, whose pitching motion suggests a constantly encroaching wedgie, was the full filth.

Despite facing the most dominant left-hander in the American League, the Yankees had a few things going for them. Jose Abreu is on the DL. Sale, in his first game back from injury, was limited. And David Phelps pitched very well. Phelps kept them in the game long enough that a little late magic could have proven decisive, but thanks to an insurance run against human turnstile Alfredo Aceves, the Yankees’ two runs in the ninth came up short. 3-2 White Sox.

The Yankees pitching staff has been well-decimated thus far and it’s especially apparent when running into two aces back-to-back. Jeff Samardzjia and Chris Sale retired 39 of the 46 Yankees they faced making the third base coach especially lonely as nobody ever visited him.  That the Yankees won one of these games lessens the sting somewhat.

The good news is that David Phelps has been getting better and going deeper into his games. Last night’s performance was the best of the year for him and he’ll need to pitch like this more often than not as all signs point to him becoming a mainstay in the rotation this season.

Phelps got tagged with the tough-luck loss when the White Sox staged a two-out opposite-field rally in the second. The key hit was a run-scoring double by De Aza down the left field line. Almonte executed the outstreched hero’s dive to near perfection, but the left-handed-spin had the ball tailing away from his glove and cozying up to the foul line. There were but a few square inches where the ball could have landed fair and also missed his glove, and there it landed. And there was the game.

The Yankees were relieved any time they saw relief pitchers these last two games and responded with runs. I hope the same applies for these other, more obviously mortal pitchers in Chicago.

Slow day here at the Banter. But the Yanks remain in Chicago for the weekend. They begin a 4-game series against the White Sox this evening. Their prize? They get to face Chris Sale.

Either way, we’ll be root-root-rooting them on.

Never mind the deep dish:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Chase Turner]

When the subway arrived in midtown this evening the Yanks were down 2-0 in the 8th. I didn’t check the score until I got to the Bronx and was surprised and happy to see that they’d tied the score. The game went to extra innings. I was home, cooking, listening, as Preston Clairborne got a big double play ball against Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the 12th.

Brendan Ryan led off the 13th against the former Yankee Jose Veras. I was sat on the couch and watched. That’s when it hit me–Brendan Ryan is one of my favorite Yankees in a long time. I don’t care that that is overall game is lacking. I love the fact that he’s expert at playing short stop and I dig watching him play. Makes him human that he doesn’t hit well. Let’s face it, he’s a scrub. But scrubs can be lovable and scrubs can be gamers.

I felt Ryan was about to do something good. And he did, ripped a one-hopper to third, too tough to field cleanly.  The ballpark was quiet, a lot of the fans already gone, which made the clear sound of the ball hitting the bat sound magnified. It was a sharp, definite sound.

Port Jervis walked and then Preston Clairborne laid down a fine bunt to advance the runners.

It was evening in Chicago now. Most of the infield was in the shade. A strip of light ran down the third baseline and across home plate. Looking at Wrigley Field at this time of day reminded me of being a teenager in the Eighties watching Cub games after school on WGN (which we got in New York). There was something so scrubby about those Cubs in a shaggy, appealing, budget, Chris Makepeace My Bodyguard kind of way. Jody fuggin’ Davis.

Now, my favorite scrub Brendan Ryan was on third and Jose Veras–a scrub’s scrub at this stage of his career–was on the mound. And since this is the Cubs and this is Wrigley Field, who do they think they are trying to sweep the Yankees? What does Veras do but uncork one behind JR Muphy’s head. Ryan scores the go-ahead run.

To add scrubbiness to scrubbery Murphy got jammed by Veras and hit a horseshit blooper to short right field. And since these are still the scrubby old Cubs it dropped in for a run-scoring base hit.

And you may ask yourself…

David Robertson pitched the 13th, got the save, and the Yanks leave Chicago with a split.

Final Score: Yanks 4, Cubs 2.

Well, that’s out of the way. Good.

Tanaka lost for the first time in forever on a rainy night in Chicago.

Final Score: Cubs 6, Yanks 1.

[Drawing by Larry Roibal]

Odd that the first time Tanaka faces a team for the second time it’s the Cubs.

Go figure with this weirdo scheduling.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Brian Roberts 2B
Masahiro Tanaka RHP

Never mind the ivy:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: sox_monkey via It’s a Long Season]

The Yanks split a double header with the Pirates by winning a close one (4-3) and then losing a close one (5-3). What I’ll remember most from the game is Derek Jeter. This year, pitchers are challenging him with fastballs and for the most part, they are beating him. He isn’t bent and fat in his old age, but his bat is slow (and so is Ichiro’s). After hitting a weak ground ball to second in the first game, I watched Jeter jog back to the dugout. For an old man he still looks trim. Yes, he is thicker in the face and he now wears his hair so low as to be practically bald, but he still looks good. Not DiMaggio never-make-a-mistake good, just fit, still hard-working.

Jeter didn’t play in the second game but was called on as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning, the Yanks down a run. He fell behind 0-2, then took 3 balls before he fouled off a couple of pitches. On the tenth pitch of the at bat he got a breaking ball. It was low, but Jeter handled it, and looped a base hit to center field. The 3,353rd hit of his career. It wasn’t the most dramatic or the most important–and he never scored–but it was the kind of hit that typifies Jeter. It’s the kind of at bat we’ve come to admire (even take for granted) over the years. Won’t be too many of these left.

Yesterday, I took it all in.

Thanks, Cap.

[Photo Credit: Andrew Theodorakis/N.Y. Daily News]

Our man Hiroki’ll pitch the first game.

Brett Gardner DH
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 2B
Kelly Johnson 3B
Zoilo Almonte LF

Never mind the long afternoon ahead:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Joel Meyerowitz]

I met my brother, my nephew, and a couple of my nephew’s friends yesterday outside the Stadium. Our first game of the year. Sat in the shade upstairs above left field–in fair territory–and we had a fine time of it watching the Yanks crank 5 home runs as they beat the Pirates, 7-1.

There were a few memorable images: Tony Sanchez going airborne as he slid headfirst into second base trying to stretch a base hit into a double. He was called safe. Jeter had tagged him and called for the replay himself–Joe Girardi didn’t even need to come out of the dugout. After it was reviewed the call was overturned. But seeing Sanchez’s body lift off the ground in the early evening shadows was cool, man. And we got a good laugh when Pirates reliever Jared Hughes sprinted from the bullpen to the mound. Brought John Rocker to mind. Hughes is a big dude and he was tearing ass. All of the Yankee home runs were fun to  celebrate (especially with 3 young kids)–but the most impressive to watch leave the yard was Zolio Almonte’s shot which was a bomb.

Port Jervis Solarte has been the pleasant surprise of the season–followed closely by Dellin Betances–but I gotta admit, I didn’t expect Mark Teixeira to hit the ball so well either.

We had a fine time. The weather was beautiful and we all left Heppy Kets.

It’s Phelpsie today against the Pirates.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Kelly Johnson DH
Brian Roberts 2B

Never mind the potholes:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Via: Vintage Everyday]

Warshed out already.

[Photo Via: This Isn’t Happiness]

Maybe the Mets and Yankees should trade ballparks. After whipping Yankee pitching but good on Monday and Tuesday the Mets were shutout for the past two nights in Queens. Last night, the Yanks won an improbable 1-0 game in which both starting pitchers made their big league debut. Chase Whitley didn’t get through the 5th inning but when he left with 2 outs in the 4th–with 2 men on base–he hadn’t allowed a run. Guy threw strikes, nothing overpowering, but he had a good changeup. Oh, and he got a base hit his first time at bat.

He was relieved by Dellin Betances who retired Eric Young on a ground out to Solarte at third base. In the dugout, Whitley was all smiles, as was his pal, David Phelps (which reminded me that I don’t recall ever having seen Phelps smile before).

Betances pitched 2 more innings and struck out 6 batters.

The Yanks scored their run when the Mets failed to complete a double play in the top of the 7th which left Brian McCann on first base with 2 out. Alfonso Soriano doubled to the gap in left-center and McCann scored. That was it. The Yanks had runners on second and third in the 8th with just one out but couldn’t get a run in. Adam Warren struck out 2 hitters in the 8th but also walked a batter and allowed a base hit. David Robertson relieved him, struck out David Wright, and then pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to give the Yanks a series split.

Final Score: Yanks 1, Mets 0. 

It should be noted that the Mets starter, Jacob deGrom, was mighty impressive. He has the easy cheese of a young AJ Burnett and is tall with longish hair sort of like Jered Wever. Anyhow, the Mets have an enviable stable of young pitching, man, and before long it could well be the Mets as the Kings of New York.

[Picture by Bags]

Couple of kids making their big league debut tonight.

Chase Whitley goes for the Yanks.

Brett Gardner LF

Derek Jeter SS

Jacoby Ellsbury CF

Mark Teixeira 1B

Brian McCann C

Alfonso Soriano RF

Yangervis Solarte 3B

Brian Roberts 2B

Chase Whitley RHP

As expected, Beltran to the DL.

Never mind the aches and pains:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Hari Roser via MPD]

Beltran and C.C. and the Big Ouch. Young or old–in this case, old–players are falling like flies in 2014.

I wonder what the Yanks can expect to get out of their two veterans. I like ’em both. But who knows how often they’ll be on the field this summer.

[Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/N.Y. Daily News]

Made to order. 

CJ has the notes. 

[Photo Via: CBS]

C’mon Masahiro. Time to put an end to the losing streak.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Brian Roberts 2B
Masahiro Tanaka RHP

Never mind nuthin’:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture via: Comically Vintage]

The Mets don’t have hitting, they can’t score runs but on Tuesday night they continued to batter the bejesus out of Yankee pitching. This time it was to the tune of 12-7 as David Wright got 3 hits and Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy hit home runs. The Mets have a six-game winning streak over the Yanks dating back to last season.

The game took forever and even Zach Wheeler couldn’t pitch through the end of the fifth to earn the win. Although there was plenty for Met fans to cheer about the game took on a sleepy feeling for its final hour or two.

A low point for the Yanks is a highlight for the Mets.

The two teams move to Citi Field and the Yanks turn their lonely eyes to Masahiro Tanaka.

[Picture by Bernardita Arís]

Let’s face it, apart from Tanaka, who’ll start tomorrow night in Queens, the Yanks starting pitching is outmatched for the rest of this subway serious. And even Tanaka’s gotta lose sometime. Wouldn’t it sum up a losing streak for the Yanks if Tanaka’s first loss in forever came against the Mets?

Right?

On the other hand, I’m excited to see what kind of fight the Yanks have in them. The team is being squeezed by injuries but still have not a terrible lineup.

It’s up to the bats to do the heavy-lifting for a minute.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira DH
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Kelly Johnson 1B
Brian Roberts 2B

That’s a half Good, half-Ass lineup if I’ve ever seen one.

Ah, never mind the gloom and doom:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Ivan Nova is done for the year. Michael Pineda is done for awhile and who knows if the guy will ever stay healthy (I doubt he will). C.C. Sabathia is on the DL and now Carlos Beltran may join him. Ichiro couldn’t go last night and neither could Shawn Kelly. Some of this is just what happens–guys get hurt, young guys, pitchers, doesn’t matter. But the Yanks have a lot of old guys so you can’t be surprised when their seniors’ get hurt.

Right now, the team is a hurtin’.

Our feelings were hurt by the end of the night as Hiroki Kuroda and bullpen could not hold leads of 4-1, and 7-4, as the Mets rallied for a 9-7 win.

Ouch.

The last insult came when Kyle Farnsworth almost shit the bed in the 9th inning. The Yanks were down by 2 and there were runners on first and third (and the only reason Mark Teixeira only made it to first on his drive to right field is because he’s hurting too). Brian McCann ripped a ball that looked ticketed to right. It’d be good for an RBI and another first and third situation. Except Lucas Duda made a sweet pick and started the 3-5-3 double play to end the game.

I’m sure Met fans expected Farnsworth to blow it. Yankee fans expected him to blow it, too.

So it goes.

Final Score: Mets 9, Yankees 7.

[Photo Credit: Quietly Writing]

Time for this dumb thing again.

This year the Yanks and Mets will play a couple of games in the Bronx and then a couple out in Queens.

Tonight gives our man Hiroki vs. our old pal, Bartolo Colon.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Carlos Beltran DH
Brian McCann C
Alfonso Soriano RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Kelly Johnson 1B
Brian Roberts 2B

Never mind the horseshit:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture by Bags]

Yeah, that happened.  A-gain. That moment that has happened more often than not lately, where defeat was snatched from the open arms of victory.  On Mother’s Day, too.  Oh, it’s fine if you’re a Brewers fan, you probably enjoyed a nice pick-me-up while enjoying the company or memory of your Mom on her special day (why are you watching a ball game on Mother’s Day by the way?), but if you’re a Yankee fan, it’s not as if C.C.’s injury wasn’t bad enough to make you realize that the season is in deep stink-stinkle unless the lineup reinserts Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in some way, shape or form while Cash works his Pokemaster skills on the MLB scrap heap for some starting pitching help. You had to endure yet another bubble monster who actually played for the team for a minute last season do them in at the last minute, and all you can do is just stare and say, “Really?”  A-gain.  How old is this? Too old.