He’s been a great Yankee.

Curtis Granderson CF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Zoilo Almonte RF
Ichiro Suzuki DH
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind tomorrow: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Hey, the Yanks won last night. A spring training game in late September. Man, these kinds of games are unfamiliar, huh?

Open thread for an afternoon of interesting games–Rays and Indians are tied for the wildcard with the Rangers just one back.

Relax, enjoy the day, and listen to this old jam.

“Sweet Virginia” (Live) – The Stones

[Photo Via: Film is God]

Hey, at least there’s still baseball to watch. So we’ll watch.

Never mind the meaninglessness of existence:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Via: This Isn’t Happiness]

For the Yankees, it was a nothing game. It was waiting to see Mariano Rivera who came in the game in the 8th inning, the Yanks trailing 4-0. But what we’ll remember came in the 9th. Mo had retired all four batters that he’d faced and here was Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter walking to the mound in place of Joe Girardi. Big smiles. Pettitte signaled for a relief pitcher. When Rivera saw them coming he smiled too. Jeter said, “Time to go.”

Mo gave the ball to Pettitte, hugged him and that’s when he began to sob.

Jeter stood there grinning as if he was uncomfortable by the emotion.

For all of the manufactured sentiment this was the real thing. The next twenty minutes was Mo’s long goodbye. Walking off the field to an ovation, hugging his teammates, saluting the Rays, who clapped for him along with everyone else in the building. When the game was over,  Mo stayed in the dugout. He wasn’t alone because there were what looked to be a few dozen photographers feet away taking his picture. They were just doing their jobs, of course, but I couldn’t help but think they were missing the point. A close-up shot wasn’t the image there–a long shot of Rivera by himself in the dugout, that was the picture. A man alone in public, saying goodbye, privately but in front of everyone too. The photographers cleared a path when Mo walked to the mound for a final time, stood on the rubber, poked his foot into the earth and then bent down and took a handful of dirt before walking off and doing a final interview.

Bless him, Michael Kay tried to sound stately on the YES broadcast. And if he doesn’t have the chops to pull that off he deserves credit for being a minimalist for once.

It was a melancholy scene. The air was cool, October coming, but for just the second time in 19 years, there will be no playoffs in the Bronx. That’s Mo’s time. He has to settle for an outpouring of affection, genuine or processed, that few players ever enjoy. It is enough. He was, and is, our man and it’s hard to image that we’ll miss another player more.

[Photo Credit: Howard Simmons/ N.Y. Daily News; William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports; Elsa/Getty Images North America; Craig Robinson]

Tonight is the final home game of the season for the Yanks. Got to figure we’ll hear “Enter Sandman” for the last time–or at least until Mo comes back for Old Timer’s Day. Which begs the question–in the future, who will be announced last, Jeter or Mo? I think they’ll announce Jeter to get the big applause and then as the cherry on top, bring out Mo to his theme song.

Four more games. Let’s try to enjoy them for what they are–free baseball.

Ichiro Suzuki RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Zoilo Almonte LF
Brendan Ryan SS
J.R. Murphy C

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

[Photo Via: New York Magazine]

Eduardo Nunez hit a double and home run in his first two at bats last night. So David Price threw one high and tight to start Nunez’s third at bat. Nunez jerked his arms back and let go of the bat. It popped in the air and fell on the ground.

That amusing moment is all I’ve got from last night’s game. Oh, there’s one more memory. The sight of Phil Hughes sitting in the dought, pulled early again, embarrassed and mad, looking as if he was about to cry. He’s had an awful season and he lost his manager’s confidence. Watching him pitch this last month is like being a student driver with the instructor sitting next to you, their foot inches away from the break.

I felt for him.

The Rays beat the Yanks 8-3. Evan Longoria hit two home runs, giving him nine against the Yanks this year.

It’s official, the Bombers won’t be in the playoffs. Now, all that’s left is to play the next four games like professionals.

That said, it wasn’t a season without some pleasure. And I am looking forward to the playoffs. So long as the 2013 season doesn’t end with a championship in Boston I’m cool with whatever happens.

[Photo Credit: Christophervu]

Chad Jennings has some interesting stuff from C.C. Sabathia:

“I don’t think I’m ever going to be that same guy again,” he said. “I’m 33 this year, but pitching against San Francisco the other night, I felt like back to myself more so than any other start. It wasn’t velocity — I was 90 to 93 — but just pitching inside, being aggressive, throwing fastballs in hitters’ counts. Just going out there and being a bully. That’s something I feel like I was before and kind of lost that this year.”

…“I’m just talking about going out and pitching like I did the other day (against the Giants),” Sabathia said. “Grinding games out. That’s something I feel like I didn’t do a good job of this year. Getting runners on base and being able to get a double play. Giving up a run or two, and being able to shut the inning off. I feel like I gave up too many big innings and big situations. We come out and score a couple of runs off a tough pitcher, and I come back and give the lead right back. That’s stuff that I didn’t do, or I don’t do, and it happened this year. I think that’s what I say when I talk about coming back and being right.

“I think I’ll be back to myself. I know a lot of people have written me off and said I’ve thrown too many innings and whatever, whatever, but I’ll still be here and still be accountable and still be the guy that signed up in 2009.”

He’s a likable guy, easy to root for. We’ll be pulling for him.

Meanwhile, here’s tonight’s lineup. Phil Hughes gets the start. Will it be his final outing in pinstripes?

Eduardo Nunez 3B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Vernon Wells RF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the chill in the air:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Michael Wolf]

With a whimper. The Rays whupped the Yanks 7-0 last night.

With a whimper, folks.

[Photo Via: This Isn’t Happiness]

It’s the last home series of the year. The Yanks are all but cooked. They’ve got to sweep the Rays to even stand a chance.

Still, there are six more games left. We’ll be watching and rooting.

Ichiro Suzuki CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Vernon Wells RF
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

It’s our man Hiroki.

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

[Photo Credit: Rafael Alejandro Rodríguez]

From Twitter:

oh, okay. Yankees announce that CC Sabathia suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain in last start, and is done for the season.

[Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]

What’s the old saying? Baseball is designed to break your heart.

Well that played out this afternoon. The Yanks paid tribute to Mariano Rivera before the game in a ceremony that had all the subtlety of a buffet on a cruise ship. And then there was the game. Andy Pettitte was beautiful. Gave up two hits and left in the 7th inning with a man on second and the game tied, 1-1. David Robertson let the run score and then Mariano got the last two outs.

Which set it all up nicely for a happy ending. Alex Rodriguez singled to start the 8th and moved to third on Robinson Cano’s double. Second and third, no out. And wouldn’t you know it but they didn’t score. Didn’t score, man.

Mo didn’t allow a run in the 9th but Sergio Romo retired the Yanks 1-2-3 and that was that.

No dice. Giants 2, Yanks 1.

Season over.

And that’s baseball, Suzyn.

[Photo Credit: Joel Zimmer]

Andy Pettitte’s final regular season start at Yankee Stadium comes on Marian Rivera Appreciation Day. Nobody does self-congratulatory schmaltz like the Yankees. But still, for one afternoon, I’ll play along since it’s for a good cause–giving thanks to a peerless career.

It’s gorgeous in the Bronx. Blue sky, no clouds, autumn chill in the air.

Ichiro Suzuki RF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the preamble, enjoy the festivities and:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

The Yanks scored 3 runs in the third, a couple more in the fourth, and Lil’ Sori added a solo home run a few innings later. It was more than enough for Ivan Nova who went the distance and tossed a shutout. It made for a tension-free afternoon in the Bronx. Two-and-a-half hours, folks.

Tidy.

Final Score: Yanks 6, Giants 0.

Only drag is that the Rays beat the O’s again.

[Photo Via: toiletwolf]

Ivan Nova looks to recover from his last outing which was, well, it was shitty.

It’s a cool, overcast day in the Bronx.

Ichiro Suzuki RF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the scoreboard:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Bernice Abbott via Je Suis Perdu]

We’re at the well-take-what-we-can-get stage of the season and so what’s not to like about Friday night’s game? C.C. Sabathia pitched his best game in recent memory, Alex Rodriguez broke a 1-1 tie in the 7th with a grand slam, and Mariano Rivera retired the Giants in order in the 9th. Yup, a tidy, send-’em-home-happy win if there ever was one.

Too little, too late? M’eh, let’s not think like that. It was a good time.

Especially nice to see Sabathia in control. Rodriguez, who has been in a terrible slump with his leg injuries, was able to use his upper body to smack a fly ball to the shallow part of the park in right for his grand slam. He’s now the career record holder with 24, passing The Iron Horse.

And Mo, ah, Mo. A strikeout, broken bat pop out and a ground out. Made to order.

Final Score: Yanks 5, Giants 1.

(Story of the night in the AL playoff race was that the Rays outlasted the O’s, 5-4 in 18 goddamn innings.)

[Photo Credit: Mike Fitzpatrick/AP]

The Giants are in town, and while the Yanks aren’t completely out of it, they sure are almost dead, especially the way they’ve played this past week.

Andy announced his retirement again. He will be missed for sure.

Never mind those Giants fans in the stands:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Via: Street Iphoneography]

That’s all, folks.

Sure Hiroki Kuroda wasn’t great but he toughed it out again. Sure, Joe Girardi didn’t help matters when he brought Joba Chamberlain in a two-run game. And of course it isn’t all Joba’s fault either. He’s just being himself. Tonight that meant walk, base hit, three-run homer. Yet that wasn’t the worst of it because the Yanks only managed one lousy run, on a solo home run of all things. Apart from one inning last night they haven’t done dick in this series. Just got their asses handed to them and went out like lambs.

The final score: Jays 6, Yanks 2.

Pathetic it what it was.

It’s our man Hiroki.

Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Vernon Wells RF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Mark Reynolds 3B
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C

Never mind nuthin’:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture Via: Renato Tamaoki]

Cool GIF post on Mo’s cutter over at Fangraphs.

Funny thing happened on the way to another loss, for a brief moment the Yankee offense woke up, scored four quick runs, and wouldn’t you know it but it was enough to give them the win.

The final score: Yanks 4, Jays 3.

“Tonight (gives me hope),” said Vernon Wells. “When nothing’s going our way, just in the blink of an eye we take the lead again.

Here’s the funky part: Rays beat the Rangers 4-3, Twins beat the White Sox, 4-3, Cards beat the Rockies 4-3, and the Marlins beat the Phillies 4-3. There was a 3-2 game, 5-4 game and 6-5 game too. Not that it means anything, just sayin’.

Phil Hughes gave up a 2-run homer in the fourth inning and was pulled. Had to feel bad for the guy, Joe Girardi has zero confidence in him. David Robertson pitched the 8th but when he allowed a base runner with 2 out, Mariano was called in to get the final out. Two flat cutters resulted in a couple of singles for the Jays to start the ninth but Mo worked out of it without allowing a run. Hey, we’ve got precious few Rivera performances left, nothing like a nail-biter thrown in the mix, right?

[Photo Credit: Aberrant Beauty]