Monday, October 19, 2009

Looking at the bigger picture helps

Today was a brutal loss... part of me thinks Girardi brought in Aceves just to get that game over with (kidding obviously). But if you look at the bigger picture, which is, the Yankees having a 2 games to 1 lead against the Angels with CC Sabathia going tomorrow.

...Let it sink in...

Makes you feel better right?

The one thing i did notice watching the game however, was that Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera are basically free outs at the bottom of the lineup right now, actually... so is everyone whose name isn't Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui.

The Yankees can't rely only on their pitchers to get it done if they want to win the world series... they'll have to step up their offense and Girardi will have to stop playing baseball by the book.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Notes from ALDS game 2

-Damaso Marte can't be relied on to get outs in the postseason... bring on Bruney.

-David Robertson getting out of that bases loaded no outs jam was not only a huge play in the game, but it must have done loads for his confidence.

-Alex Rodriguez is officially clutch.

-Mark Teixeiras single in the 9th was important for several reasons... had he made an out, that would be an 0-8 to start the postseason and the Yankees may not have tied the game. We all know that if the Yankees lost that game and Teix was 0-8 going into Minnesota, there would be alot of pressure on him to produce.

-A.J. Burnett pitching to Jose Molina was a success.

-Having the third catcher in Francisco Cervelli comes in very handy in games that Jose Molina will start.

-Johnny Damon needs to step up and show the Yankees why they should bring him back for 2010. He's been pretty bad so far this postseason and honestly, when the Yankees had runners on the corners and 1 out last night, i didn't think he could get Gardner in (which he didn't).

-Nick Swisher had a huge headsup up play early in the game yesterday to save a run... like i said before the series started, he was going to be a huge factor in beating the Twins.

-Derek Jeter.The Captain #2. Enough said.

-Is anyone else hoping the Red Sox somehow manage to beat the Angels this series? I really don't want to face the spirit of Nick Adenhart... and playing the Red Sox is just alot more interesting.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

In-game update ALDS game 1

Update 7:08: ... ummm Posada? you don't do that in the playoffs.

Update 7:20: 2-2 as captain clutch comes through!

Update 7:43: What did i say? Swish would come up big for us in this series.... 3-2 Yankees and i am starting to lose my voice.

Update 8:04: 4-2 Yankees... A-Rod came through??? Kate Hudson was very pleased.

Update 8:10
: it's 6-2 after Matsui Jacked one to center. I officially no longer have a voice... and i'm loving it.

Update 8:34: There have been an unusual amount of balls hit up the middle at Sabathia in this game...

Update 8:47: HUUUUUUUUUUGHES

Update 9:46: Game 1 goes to the Yankees! 7-2 as Mariano closes it out.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Molina will catch Burnett

Yes, it's true, Molina will be catching Burnett... and Posada doesn't seem too pleased.

I'm not one to bet on baseball... but if you're into sports betting... i would hold off on placing high bets on the Yankees to win this game.

Burnett's numbers with Posada are much worse, but he's such a streaky pitcher it's hard to tell if he was uncomfortable, or he was just being his inconsistent self.

One thing i will say about Burnett, you probably want to get him to start his games at home, take a look at these splits. AJ has a 3.5 ERA at home as opposed to 4.6 on the road... this means instead of having Andy go for game 2, you have Andy hold off and go on the road.Pettite actually pitches better on the road, here are his splits.

Personally, i think the Yankees best bet is to have Andy go for game 3 @ detroit/Minnesota, and have Burnett go at home in game 2.

*Update 4:50*

It seems like Joe Girardi made the right decision and is going with Burnett for game 2.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Who would you really want to play?

When i first realized the AL central was within the Twins' grasp, myself as well as most Yankee fans got excited. Why wouldn't we be? Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn or Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson? Morneau is on the DL, and you wouldn't have to worry about pesky Curtis Granderson or Miguel Cabrera.

Now, the Yankees did dominate against the Tigers this year, but still, who would want to take the risk of having to face Verlander twice?

Then I started to think more into the matchups recently, and i'm starting to have second thoughts:

-Joe Mauer > Gerard Laird- enough said.

-The Metrodome > Comerica Park- 60,000 drunk fans screaming at the top of their lungs in a dome during a playoff game? no thankyou.

-Joe Nathan > Fernando Rodney - enough said.

-The Twins have been on a hot streak, even without Morneau, i'd much rather face the slumping Tigers. Not to mention their star slugger Miguel Cabrera is having some troubles of his own.

-The Yankees are 7-0 against the Twins this year, remember when the Yankees were 6-0 against the Indians in 07? yea... i don't think i need to say anything else.

-Edwin Jackson has been terrible over the last month entering September with an ERA under 3, and finishing the season with a 3.62.

-Justin Verlander won't be pitching game 1 - facing him in games 2 and 5 is much more manageable than in 1 and 4.


It should be an interesting game tomorrow, i'm probably going to be rooting for the Tigers, you know you want revenge for the 2006 ALDS. Honestly, you just don't want to be messing with the Twins right now.

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Also, if you have a few minutes, check out this link. Kevin runs a great site called Zells pinstripe blog, if you haven't checked it out, i reccomend you do.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

In-game update 10/4/09

2 HRs and 7 RBIs in one inning = 30 HR and 100 RBI on the season.... Alex Rodriguez is a god.



The End.

My bold predictions...

So as some of you may remember... but probably not, i made some predictions back in early January as to how the season would unfold. Well... i'm not exactly proud of them, take a look for yourself.

Maybe it was the bold predictions i made for Dan Geise (Giese?), Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney or even Jose Veras. Most of those guys weren't even on the team for the majority of the season... definitely well predicted there...

Robinson Cano didn't hit 105 RBI, nor did Xavier Nady make it through April. Also, it seems I completely forgot to include Nick Swisher in my predictions, I'm not really sure what happened with that.

Oh well... I also made predictions with the standings, which you can checkout here.

...not too bad, who would've thought predicting the Yankees for 101 wins would be undershooting it? ...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Back up and running!

Hey everyone, so as you may know i've taken a few months off, along with Ace... and it's about time we get this blog up and running again. Just thought i would mention that Ace won't be returning to the blog, this is now a one man show.
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Just because i've been out of blogging for the last few months, doesn't mean i didn't watch the games, or hear about them... somehow. I've watched almost every game, and i know that this team is more ready for the postseason than they have been in years.

Now you may be a little worried with CC's last start at Tampa Bay, which i don't blame you, but you may as well get his bad start over with before the postseason. Honestly, i feel better knowing he's bombed a start before the playoffs going in than knowing he hasn't. The last thing anyone wants is to throw CC out there for game one against the Tigers or Twins and have him blow up... figuratively and literally. I mean, the guys been absolutely unhittable for almost two months, it was bound to happen. But i'm expecting alot of fist pumping from CC this postseason, and definitely looking forward to it.

A.J. Burnett is a different story, you don't want to throw him out there after a string of bad starts, he's too streaky. Though he may snap out of it--it was very important they had him feeling good and on a decent roll before sending him in for game 2.

Regarding the offensive concerns, of course A-Rod will be on the top of that list, but i think it's about time he snaps out of it. Having Teix hit in front of him, i think help takes off a load of pressure to have him produce. I know all of you remember the last few postseasons with him, he was pressing and trying too hard. Now, i'm not saying he won't be pressing this time, but having Teix there in front of him, must take off a load of the pressure.

Look for Nick Swisher to have a huge ALDS, i can feel he's ready for it. He's just one of those guys you know can come through for you in these types of games...

Naturally having success in the playoffs relies on dominant starting pitching... if the Yankees get decent starting pitching, these teams are in trouble.