The Yanks are in San Diego this weekend. Hey, our pal Grandy is back! And C.C. gets to hit. That should be fun. He’s due for a good start, too.
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Curtis Granderson LF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Chris Stewart C
CC Sabathia LHP
Never mind the sunset:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via: Foulest]
Today is the 34th anniversary of Thurman Munson’s death. Dip over to The Stacks and read Michael Paterniti’s memorable 1999 Esquire appreciation of the Yankee captain:
I give you Thurman Munson in the eighth inning of a meaningless baseball game, in a half-empty stadium in a bad Yankee year during a fourteen-season Yankee drought, and Thurman Munson is running, arms pumping, busting his way from second to third like he’s taking Omaha Beach, sliding down in a cloud of luminous, Saharan dust, then up on two feet, clapping his hands, turtling his head once around, spitting diamonds of saliva: Safe.
I give you Thurman Munson getting beaned in the head by a Nolan Ryan fastball and then beaned in the head by a Dick Drago fastball—and then spiked for good measure at home plate by a 250-pound colossus named George Scott, as he’s been spiked before, blood spurting everywhere, and the mustachioed catcher they call Squatty Body/Jelly Belly/Bulldog/Pigpen refusing to leave the game, hunching in the runway to the dugout at Yankee Stadium in full battle gear, being stitched up and then hauling himself back on the field again.
I give you Thurman Munson in the hostile cities of America—in Detroit and Oakland, Chicago and Kansas City, Boston and Baltimore—on the radio, on television, in the newspapers, in person, his body scarred and pale, bones broken and healed, arms and legs flickering with bruises that come and go like purple lights under his skin, a man crouched behind home plate or swinging on-deck, jabbering incessantly, playing a game.
With suspensions rumored to come down today, William Rhoden writes that Bud Selig’s bullying almost makes Alex Rodriuez a sympathetic figure:
According to people briefed on the negotiations between Rodriguez and Major League Baseball, Selig has discussed several options, ranging from a lifetime ban to a suspension that would begin this season and end after next season. Rodriguez has never been known as a player who cares about anyone besides himself. But if there were ever a time for A-Rod — and the once-powerful players association — to step up and fight the impending suspension, that time is now. Rodriguez should challenge the credibility of the evidence. If Major League Baseball has compelling evidence, force the league to show it.
There are no vials of evidence. There are no eyewitnesses to Rodriguez’s alleged performance-enhancing drug use. Investigators have the word of two questionable characters connected to Biogenesis, one of whom, the former owner, Anthony Bosch, once impersonated a doctor. Investigators may indeed have compelling evidence — phone records, shipping receipts, e-mails. If they do, A-Rod and the players association should force those investigators to reveal what they have gathered.
This exhaustive investigation is less about A-Rod and performance-enhancing drugs than about power and control. Major League Baseball is attempting to impose its will on high-profile players by possibly circumventing due process to make an example of them.
[Photo Credit: STEVE NESIUS/STEVEN J. NESIUS PHOTOGRAPHY]
Today’s Alex Rodriguez mishegoss is brought to you by Jonathan Mahler, Buck Showalter, and what the hell, Jeff Pearlman.
Kuroda and Kershaw were both terrific last night. Kuroda gave up 5 hits, a walk and struck out 8 in 7 innings; Kershaw gave up 5 hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out 5 over 8 innings. And so the game was tied in the 9th when Lyle Overbay got a pinch-hit single and then Mark Ellis and Yasiel Puig screwed the pooch on a fly ball allowing 2 more runs to score.
That was more than enough for Mo who got a couple of strikeouts and a ground ball as the Yanks said goodbye to Hollywood.
Final Score: Yanks 3, Dodgers 0.
Chad Jennings, as always, has the notes.
[Photo Credit: Dimelo]
Sure, our boy Hiroki’s going tonight. Trouble is so is Clayton Kershaw.
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Vernon Wells RF
Brent Lillibridge 1B
Jayson Nix 3B
Chris Stewart C
Hiroki Kuroda RHP
Never mind the odds:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via: Gruesome Twosome]
Alex Rodriguez is the subject of Scott Price’s SI cover story this week:
Rodriguez, once seen as baseabll’s great clean hope, is now viewed as hopelessly dirty.
Others have come back from such stigma: Mark McGwire is the hitting coach for the Dodgers; Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte, old teammates and admitted users of PEDS, are treated these days as elder statesmen. Rodriguez figures to be different–and knows it–but last week maintained the front of a blissed-out Candide. He insissted that he doesn’t wonder, Why me?
“I never say that,” Rodriguez said. “But maybe there are a couple of chapters where I can become that person again. I’m not giving up. I have tremendous faith, and hopefully there’s a couple more chapters to this book. And hopefully there’s a happy ending somewhere. I have faith.
And:
Asked, last week, if he understood Cashman’s famously profane rip, Rodriguez shot back, “Do you understand it?”
Yes. Because Cashman knows; Rodriguez’s gift, his unprecedented completeness, was never really his; it’s called a gift for reason. Sports is a collective of time as well as talent. Six generations of baseball players and fans, billions of dollars worth of stadia and TV time, an infinity of minor and major leageurs working for untold lifetimes–all of it combined to create the game, the numbers, the interest and the hothouse environment in which Alex Rodriguez was going to be the best.
People care so much about sports greatness because, deep down, they know that it’s a reflection; something there belongs to them. We gave Rodriguez his chance. We urged him not to waste it. Cashman knows, better than anyone: We hate when we make so big a mistake.
Here’s more from Price at SI.com.
If you stayed up late you saw more of the same from the Yanks: good pitching, no hitting. In fact, you didn’t have to stay up too late. The game was played in less than 3 hours and the Dodgers won 3-2 when Mark Ellis singled with 2 men out in the 9th against Shawn Kelly.
Five hits in all for the Yanks, who resemble the old Dodger teams in that they can pitch they just don’t score much.
[Photo Credit: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports]
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jayson Nix 3B
Chris Stewart C
Andy Pettitte LHP
It’s Andy in L.A.
Never mind Alex Rodriguez vs. The World:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via: It’s a Long Season]
More Mo–this one from Ben Bolch in the L.A. Times:
Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford uses just any old bat when he faces Mariano Rivera. The more rickety and age-worn, the better.
He knows there’s a good chance his bat — and his at-bat — will be doomed by what many consider the most devastating pitch in baseball.
Rivera’s cut fastball, or cutter, is often the only pitch hitters see when facing the New York Yankees closer. It’s a pitch that he throws almost exclusively, its late movement as it approaches the plate shattering bats and hitters’ hearts alike.
Why waste good wood on that?
“I don’t use the same bat that I’ve been playing good with because chances are real high” it’s going to get broken, Crawford said with a chuckle. “So I just take an old, cheap bat that I don’t really care about and try to stay as short as possible” with the swing.
The clock is ticking on Alex Rodriguez and his showdown vs Major League Baseball. Here’s the latest from the Daily News, the Associated Press and ESPN.
Sometimes being from the Old School doesn’t work. Rough day for the former Yank, Tino Martinez.
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The Yankees honored Hideki Matsui before the game today and then Derek Jeter made like Derek Jeter and hit the first pitch he saw from Matt Moore over the wall in right field for a home run.
It was the first time a Yankee had homered since the All-Star break, the first time a right-handed Yankee batter homered since Christ was a cowboy.
By the end of the first the Yanks had a 3-0 lead. But then Phil Hughes made like Phil Hughes and he gave it away. Not once, but twice, both on impressive home runs by Wil Myers. The first, a 3-run job, came off a hanging slider that Myers hit it deep into the left field seats. Second one came off a fastball that Myers punched well over the wall in right.
Not to be outdone, Alfonso Soriano hit a 2-run homer–of the cheap-o right field seats variety. He got 4 of the Yankees’ 12 hits (Jeter had 2) including the game-winner in the 9th, a clean single up the middle. He didn’t whack any of them except his homer but hey, 4 hits be 4 hits, right?
So Jeter returns and is a stud, Soriano has a big day, our man Hideki is celebrated. A nifty win on a cool day in the Bronx. Should be mentioned that the Yanks don’t win this game without the stellar work by the bullpen. Preston Claiborne got six straight outs and then Boone Logan, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera each pitched a scoreless frame.
Final Score: Yanks 6, Rays 5.
Thanks, Yanks.
[Photo Credit: Brad Penner; Kathy Willens]
…You’ve got me in between the Devil and the deep blue sea.
Brian Cashman didn’t want to trade for Soriano writes Joel Sherman. Derek Jeter is due back in the lineup today.
The Yanks look to score some runs today…against Matt Moore. Ooof.
Never mind the obstacles:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Film is God]
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Tampa always seems to have good, young starting pitchers. This year we can add Chris Archer to the crop. He was outstanding today against the soporific, gluten-free Yankee offense. He allowed two hits, faced just two men over the minimum, and pitched a shutout. His fielders didn’t rescue him with memorable plays and the Yankees did not hit the ball hard. Archer just kicked their asses.
Another fine outing for the resurgent Ivan Nova wasted.
[Photo Via: Jacina Russell]
Nova, matinee, Yanks look to recover from last night’s drubbing.
Never mind those damn Rays:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Paul Bailey]
It’s hard to watch C.C. get abused but that’s what has happened over and again this year. Tonight, he got smacked around again–this time by the first place Rays. I don’t know about you but I don’t get angry with Sabathia, I feel bad for him. He’s a gamer, he doesn’t give up, but this year, man, he just hasn’t been his usual self.
Tough to watch as the Rays beat up on the Yanks.
Our boys trailed 10-1, then scored twice in the 8th and got a couple more runs in the 9th. The bases were loaded for Lil’ Sori, score 10-5, with 1 out. Those who stayed at the park now had something to cheer about. Jake McGee, the hard-throwing lefty came in the game to face Sori.
First pitch, Sori fouls off a fastball and has a good hack at it. Fouls off another heater, 97 mph. Got to figure, McGee will throw something out of the zone, try to get Sori to chase but he stays with the heater—misses upstairs for a ball and then Sori fouls another off, followed by another high fastball up and out of the zone. The next pitch is 98 and also high. Six pitches, all fastballs. The seventh pitch is also cheddar but this one is low and Sori grounds it to short. He’s fast enough to reach first without the game ending on a double play. Run scores and it’s 10-6 for Chris Stewart who has to wait for the bow-and-arrow man, Fernando Rodney to enter the game.
Stewart grounds out on a 3-2 pitch and the comeback falls short.
Final Score: Rays 10, Yanks 6.
[Picture by Bags]
C.C. gives it another try. I’ve got a good feelin’ about him tonight.
Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Eduardo Nunez SS
Travis Hafner DH
Brent Lillibridge 3B
Austin Romine C
Never mind the bollocks:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Via: Getty Images]
