Yanks not sleepless in Seattle

http://gmarchese.blogspot.comThe New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners last night by the score of 5-2. Sergio Mitre got the start and didn't pitch too bad going 5 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 7 hits. Dave Robertson came on and pitched 1 scoreless inning giving up 2 hits but striking out 3. Phil Coke pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings giving up 0 hits with 3 strikeouts. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for the save giving up a hit and walk but also striking out two. The offense was led by Derek Jeter who had 2 hits and 2 rbi's and Robinson Cano who had 2 hits. A-rod had a hit and a couple of walks. Nick Swisher had a 2 run homerun, Mark Teixeira had a hit, Jerry Hairston Jr had a hit and Jose Molina had a couple of hits and also a big play in the seventh throwing out Ichiro trying to steal third. The Yankees just keep rolling along now 7 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. Joba Chamberlain will get the start today after all and then not pitch again for another 8 days. The Yankees are now 23-6 since the all star break which is the best record in their history post all star break. Mariano Rivera has now completed 31 consecutive save chances matching his career high which he last accomplished in 2005. The Yankees bullpen has given up 1 run in their last 20 2/3 innings, this is just dominant and with that type of pitching you would expect to have a run like the Yankees have had. The other thing the Yankees pitchers do for the most part is get a lot of strikeouts, the bullpen had 8 last night and CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte had 10 in back to back games.

Yanks try to salvage a game in Chitown

The New York Yankees will try to win this last game of the series in Chicago before an off day tomorrow and then 2 in Toronto before coming home to face their blood rivals the Boston Red Sox. CC Sabathia is on the mound and needs to come up huge today, this is what he was paid for to be the stopper and they need him to go 7 or 8 dominant innings today and get out of town with a win. Here are some pregame notes from Peter Abraham. It all starts with pitching and in the last 2 games the Yankees have given up 24 runs on 24 hits and 11 walks. The Yankees have not lost 4 straight since May 2-7 when they lost 5 in a row. The White Sox have won 6 straight at US Cellular Field. CC Sabathia is 3-3 with a 4.62 era in his last 6 starts. He has allowed 45 hits in 39 innings. He is 14-4 with a 3.65 era in 26 career starts against the White Sox. He is 7-1 with a 2.98 era at US Cellular Field. This may be exactly what he needs to turn it around. Mark Buehrle is coming off setting the record by retiring 45 straight batters even though he did lose to Minnesota in his last start. He is 1-5 with a 6.11 era in his career against the Yankees. He is 0-4 with a 6.91 at home. The Yankees are batting 161 with RISP in this series. They are batting 200 on this roadtrip with RISP. This is what I hate about their offense, it is good but can be inconsistant. Big Tex has 10 homeruns, 30 rbi's and 26 runs scored in his last 32 games. A-rod is getting hot going 10 for 26 on this roadtrip with 4 rbi's and 3 runs scored. He has not hit a homerun in his last 49 at bats so he is due for a few quickly. Mark Melancon has not allowed a run in his last 4 1/3 innings so he is learning. I really like this guy but you have to remember he is young just like Dave Robertson but they will be go to guys in the future for this team. No lineup is posted yet, I will try to get that up later.

Yankees minor league updates

AAA Scranton reamains in first place with a 5 1/2 game lead in the division. Their record is 39-25. Austin Jackson is hitting 345 and playing a good centerfield as he looks poised for a September callup and a possible big league job next year with the Yankees. Shelly Duncan is hitting 309 with 20 homeruns and 61 rbi's. I really don't know what else he has to do to get another shot with the Yankees. I would think he would be nice to bring off the bench and more valuable then a Angel Berroa but that is just me. Mark Melancon continues to do well in AAA with a 2.73 era with 34 strikeouts in 26 innings and only 18 hits allowed. George Kontos has done well starting in AAA with a 3-3 record and a 3 era. He has pitched 48 innings allowing 38 hits with 19 walks and 38 strikeouts. Sergio Mitre who just came back from a suspension for PEDS is 1-0 with a 2.08 era. He has pitched 13 innings giving up 10 hits with 1 walk and 12 strikeouts. AA Trenton- Trenton is 32-30 2 1/2 games out of first place. Jesus Montero got called up not that long ago and is there big star. He is batting 281 with 1 rbi. He was batting 356 when he got called up from A-Tampa with 8 homeruns and 37 rbi. Reegie Corona is batting 306, he is the second baseman. Eduardo Nunez who impressed me in spring training playing shortstop is hitting 312 with 4 homeruns and 20 rbi's. Jorge Vasquez is hitting 294 with 7 homeruns and 33 rbi's. He was signed out of the Mexican league. The pitching is led by Zach McAllister who is 5-2 with a 1.60 era. He has pitched 67 1/3 innings giving up 54 hits with 20 walks and 49 strikeouts. Ivan Nova who was taken in the Rule 5 draft but given back to the Yanks is 5-3 with a 2.70 era. He has given up 56 hits in 60 innings with 26 walks and 40 strikeouts. Christian Garcia is 2-0 with a 0.71 era, in 25 1/3 innings he has given up 15 hits with 17 walks and 24 strikeouts. A-Tampa- Austin Romine is the star player there as the starting catcher with Montero moving up now. He is hitting 285 with 8 homeruns and 38 rbi's. Jeremy Bleich is the big pitcher, he is 5-4 with a 3.58 era with 73 hits in 73 innings and 21 walks and 50 strikeouts. Dellin Betances is also a big pitching prospect but has struggled going 2-4 with a 4.74 era. In 43 2/3 innings he has given up 45 hits with 24 walks and 43 strikeouts. A-Charleston- They are 38-26 in first place by 2 games. David Adams is batting 296 with 33 rbi's. He is the second baseman. Andrew Brackman is the big pitcher with a 1-4 record but a 3.90 era. He has pitched 62 1/3 innings giving up 55 hits with 37 walks and 58 strikeouts. Pat Venditte is the closer with a 2-1 record and 0.64 era, he has pitched 28 innings with 20 hits allowed and 1 walk and 38 strikeouts.

Yanks/Indians Recap

The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians by the score of 10-5. CC Sabathia pitched 7 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts. Dave Robertson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Jose Veras finished it off but gave up a couple of runs and hits in the ninth. CC had a no hitter going until the fifth when a ball went up the middle and off his hand, he struggled a little after that but got through it. I know Jose Veras has no options but he just shouldn't be on this team anymore. Hideki Matsui led the offense by going 3-5, Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada had solo homeruns. Derek Jeter had a couple of hits and so did Robinson Cano. It does seem like pretty much everyone is hitting right now. Brett Gardner was the only guy in the lineup tonight that didn't have at least a hit. The Yankees are now 2 up in the loss column over Boston and rolling along. They have Phil Hughes on the mound vs Carl Pavano. The Yankees also will try and tie a major league record tomorrow for longest streak without an error at 17 straight games.

April is over time for Yanks to roll

The Yankees finished the month of April 12-10, a winning record which usually doesn't happen. This is their best April since 2006. Mark Teixeira is happy the month of April is over as he struggled mightily I am sure dropping his career 256 April average. Robinson Cano is a guy who isn't happy as he had his first good April of his career, hopefully he can take it into May. CC Sabathia had his best start last time out and he is looking forward to the warmer weather and getting on a roll. The Yankees survived the month and A-rod should be back within the next week or so. The Yankees also lost Brian Bruney to injury, Wang to ineffectiveness and Xavier Nady and didn't come out too bad. They got off to a good start on their 8 game homestand and at the end of this homestand if it goes well they can be in good shape. Here is looking for a strong May and the Yankees begin to make their move. They currently sit in third place 2 games back of the Red Sox and 1 game back of the Blue Jays. Andy Pettitte will try to get May off to a good start tonight.