I don’t think there was ever a time when the Yankees weren’t seriously pursuing Masahiro Tanaka, but no matter how much they wanted him, there’s no way they could have predicted how invaluable he would become.

Let’s imagine you had a time machine. Because you would be ethically opposed to using this machine to make millions in the stock market or to win every sports bet on the board, you’d instead choose to blow people’s minds. Armed with newspapers and magazines and photographs, you’d pop up in various places to give people glimpses of the future, just for fun. For example, you might show up in this photograph and have a conversation with Governor Wallace: “You see, Governor, in my time the President of the United States is Barack Obama.” Or you might check in with Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992, drop off a VHS copy of the 2013 VMAs, and suggest that he keep a close eye on his unborn daughter’s career path.

Or you could simply go back to November of last year and pop in on Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

Cash: Who let you in here?
You: We don’t have time for that. You MUST sign Masahiro Tanaka.
Cash: Well, it’s not that simple. There’s the posting, the bidding war… And we DO have a budget…
You: You don’t understand. You MUST sign him. He’s our only hope.
Cash: Easy, Princess Leia. Our rotation is pretty solid. Tanaka would be a…
You: I know, I know “a third starter.”
Cash: Right! We expect big things from Nova, Pineda will be healthy, and CC’s our ace…
You: Wrong, wrong, and wrong again.
Cash: Excuse me?
You: Nova will start four times, then have Tommy John surgery on April 29th.
Cash: Well, Pineda will be great — he’ll make everyone forget about Jesus Montero.
You: You’re half right. Everyone will forget about Montero, but let’s stay on topic. Pineda will be great for three starts, then he’ll be suspended for pine tar…
Cash: Pine tar? But everyone uses pine — I mean, our pitchers don’t use illegal substances!
You: And then he’ll go on the DL for a month.
Cash: Well, at least we’ll have our ace, right?
You: Sabathia? He hasn’t been an ace for two or three years now.
Cash: But he’s lost so much weight — he’s in great shape…
You: That just means that instead of looking like Forrest Whitaker, now he pitches like him.
Cash: <silence>
You: And he’ll be on the DL by the middle of May with no estimated return.
Cash: <silence>
You: By Memorial Day your rotation will be Tanaka, Kuroda, Phelps, Nuño, and Whitley.
Cash: Whitley? Who the hell is Whitley?
You: Exactly.
Cash: Dear God.
You: Exactly.
Cash: But what do I do? How do I stop this?
You: Sign Tanaka. Give him whatever he wants. He’s your only hope.

And then you’ll invite Cashman to watch a DVD of Sunday afternoon’s game against the White Sox as your final argument. It’s the only evidence you’ve brought with you, so hopefully it will be enough to convince Cashman to do what he has to do. You crack open a couple beverages, slide the DVD into the machine, and guide Cashman through the game.

After Brett Gardner grounds out for the game’s first out, Derek Jeter comes to the plate and rifles a clean single to right center.

Cash: Look at this guy. He looks the same as he did two years ago. Guess I’m gonna be back at the table negotiating with him in November.
You: Actually he’s going to announce his retirement when Spring Training opens up. This is his last season.
Cash: Are you shitting me?? That’s great! Wait — you’re not a reporter are you? Are you gonna print that?

In the top of the second Yangervis Solarte singles to right to start a Yankee rally.

Cash: I was starting to believe you, but you’re telling me that this guy is our starting third baseman? And he’s hitting over .300? He has 25 RBIs? I call bullshit.
You: I know, I can’t believe it either, but keep watching.

Two batters later Ichiro singles up the middle, then Brian Roberts walks to load the bases for Gardner, who promptly singles in two runs. Jeter is up next, and he singles to right field again to make it 3-0 Yankees.

Cash: You’re sure he’s retiring? Brendan Ryan can be our shortstop now?

After Jacoby Ellsbury scores Gardner on a sacrifice fly, the Yankees have a 4-0 lead.

You: We’re gonna skip ahead to the top of the 4th. It’s still 4-0, but I want you to watch Jeter’s at bat here. Watch how he falls into an 0-2 hole, then takes a ball before fouling off three pitches. Okay, now watch this…

Jeter catches a pitch on the inside part of the plate, but somehow he does what he always does — he pulls his hands in and still manages to get inside the ball and drive it deep to right center field. Center fielder Adam Eaton races into the gap, but his dive is far short, and the ball bounds to the fence. Jeter coasts into third base with his first triple since 2011.

You: Did you see that? He actually broke it down a step before second base. He’s so cool he Cadillacked a triple.
Cash: So Brendan Ryan can really be our shortstop next year?
You: Focus, man. He’s gonna come home on a wild pitch in a minute to make it 5-0, but let’s take a quick look at your boy Tanaka.

In the bottom of the fourth Tanaka strikes out Gordon Beckham, gives up his first hit of the game when Conor Gillaspie singles to left, but rebounds to get Dayan Viciedo to foul out and Adam Dunn to ground out. In the fifth he gets Paul Konerko to ground into a double play and ends the frame by striking out Alejandro De Aza.

Cash: You’re right — he looks really good.
You: But here’s what you’re not getting — even though he’s gonna go 6.2 innings and allow just one run on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts, you’re not seeing him at his best. This is just average Tanaka, and it’s still better than anyone else on the staff. Do you understand what I’m saying?
Cash: But the payroll…
You: NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE PAYROLL!
Cash: Look, after we resign Canó, we’re going to be really limited…
You: We’ll talk about Canó later. Right now, let’s get back to the top of the sixth.

Alfonso Soriano doubles over Eaton’s head in centerfield, but he’s still standing on second with two outs when Jeter comes to the plate again.

Cash: Don’t tell me.
You: I’ll let you find out for yourself.

On a 3-1 count Jeter pounds a ball through the center of the diamond to drive in Soriano and pick up his fourth hit of the game.

Cash: So you’re saying he’s retiring? Do you think maybe I’ll be able to convince him to come back for another year?
You: Maybe you can try to get Rivera back while you’re at it.
Cash: That’s not a bad idea…
You: And Torre?
Cash: Let’s not get crazy.

Tanaka finds himself in some trouble following the seventh-inning stretch. He walks Dunn and gives up a single to Alexei Ramírez, then Konerko ropes a line drive — that Jeter snares and turns into a double play when he catches Dunn straying off second.

You: See? He’s still got that Gold Glove form!
Cash: Let’s not get crazy.

Tanaka walks De Aza, and Joe Girardi pulls him in favor of Adam Warren, who quickly strikes out Tyler Flowers to end the inning. You eject the DVD.

Cash: What are you doing? What about the rest of the game?
You: It’s not important. Brian Roberts hits a solo homer, some guy named Matt Daley gets the final three outs, and the Yankees win, 7-1.
Cash: Still, it would’ve been nice to see. I love when they walk out on the field to shake hands, I love when John Sterling screams out, “Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuuuh…”
You: Look, Cash, stay with me. It isn’t about this game. It isn’t even about Derek Jeter, if you want to know the truth. (Okay, it’s a little bit about Derek Jeter.) But mainly it’s about Tanaka. If you don’t sign him, if you don’t do everything in your power to make sure he’s in pinstripes, this season will be a complete disaster. You need this guy. We need this guy. So much depends on Masahiro Tanaka!
Cash: Okay, okay, you convinced me. I’ll get him. And what were you saying about Canó?

[Photo Credits: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images & Sim McIsaac/Getty Images]

My daughter turned one last week. She has been on this planet for exactly one Masahiro Tanaka loss. Today’s not the day for another.

I would like to have a Tanaka card from Japan. I’ve been there a couple of times now, and I always grab a few packs of cards to bring home “for the kids” but I went back through them this morning and nope, no Tanaka. Here are a couple of cool-looking ones.

A win that looks a sure loss is an effective tonic. Following a loss that looked a sure win, it’s a necessary one too. And that’s what the Yankees got thanks to a furious ninth inning rally and tenth inning game-winner from Jacoby Ellsbury – Yanks 4, White Sox 3.

Frankly this was shocking as the Yankees have looked like dead meat since coming to Chicago. Somehow, dead meat has emerged victors twice in five games and has a chance to play it even with a win Sunday and one pitcher who we actually expect  to deliver.

Sorry for the lack of threads and recaps these last few days, but we’ve ironed out the kinks and we’ll run light and smooth through the weekend and will be back to usual after the holiday.

Enjoy the win. Enjoy the Champions League Final (if you missed it live) and the NHL and NBA playoffs in hyperdrive.

The opposite of Chris Sale is Hector Noesi, so that means lots of hits, runs and a win for the Yankees tonight. Right?

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

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

Lineup via LoHud

Let’s go Yanks.

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]