Yankees win again

The New York Yankees beat the New York Mets tonight by the score of 5-0. A.J. Burnett got the start and pitched 7 dominating innings allowing 1 hit with 3 walks and 10 strikeouts. Brian Bruney and Dave Robertson finished it off with 2 perfect innings to give the Yankees the 1 hit shutout. A.J. Burnett has really turned it around now and pitched 20 1/3 innings in his last 3 starts with 10 hits, one earned run, 10 walks and 26 strikeouts. CC Sabathia has pitched like an ace and the Yankees probably have the best 1-2 punch in baseball. If they could just get Wang going and have a good third starter they would really be in business. Offensively A-rod had a rbi single, Nick Swisher had a solo homerun and Jorge Posada had a 3 run homerun. Mark Teixiera had a booming double and Ramiro Pena had another double. The Yankees offense has been on a roll and will see if they can keep it going against Livan Hernandez tomorrow. The only problem for the Yankees is the flu bug running around. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter have it and Phil Hughes caught a touch of it also. The Yankees have to take it day by day and see how everyone is feeling but hopefully tomorrow Jeter will get back in the lineup. I hope Hughes is ok because they may need him to pitch behind Wang tomorrow. The Yankees will try and get the sweep tomorrow night at 8. The game is on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. I will have Citi Field Observations tomorrow with some pics.

Yankees at Mets

The Yankees will try to make it 2 in a row on this part of the Subway Series. Here are the notes from Peter Abraham. The game is on at 7:00PM on Yes network and WPIX 11 in NY. The Yankees are 3-1 against the Mets outscoring them 35-15. The Yankees have scored 28 runs in their last 3 games while hitting 328 with 19 walks and 12 extra base hits. Big Tex is in a slump batting 213 over his last 12 games with no homers and 4 rbi's. A-rod is 6 for his last 17 with 2 homeruns and 7 rbi's. This should help Tex out and maybe he will come out of it soon. MO needs one more save for 500 in his career. Enjoy the game everyone, I will be out at Citi Field tonight so I will have a nice review of the stadium and I will be unbiased, that should be up tomorrow so keep your eye out for it. Yankees Lineup: Gardner(CF) Swisher(RF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Cano(2B) Posada(C) Cabrera(LF) Pena(SS) Burnett(P)

Yanks take 1st game of Subway Series II

The New York Yankees came out swinging with some help from the Mets. A-rod had a strong game with 3 walks and a 2 run homerun. He also made several nice plays at third base, he really looked like he was moving well and had that extra bounce in his step. The story of this game though was CC Sabathia who had a perfect game going into the 5th inning when he gave up a solo homerun to Gary Sheffield. He ended up pitching 7 innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits with 8 strikeouts, he also contribued a rbi single offensively and got robbed of another rbi single by Alex Cora. Brett Gardner had 5 hits including a solo homerun as he looks to reclaim his center field job, i think right now he has to play with the speed element he adds to the team. Ramiro Pena started for the sick Derek Jeter and had 3 hits including a rbi double. Melky Cabrera could also play right field when you want to rest Swisher now that Nady isn't going to be back and Matsui will be back to being DH after this series. The Yankees will look to keep it going tomorrow with A.J. Burnett on the mound against Tim Redding. A-rod also passed Mr. October Reggie Jackson for 11th on the alltime homerun list.

Subway Series Round 2

The Yankees will try and take advantage of the bruised and battered Mets and also missing Johan Santana. Here are the pregame notes via Peter Abraham with lineups to come. The Yankees are 7-8 against the NL this year, there only losing season was the first one of interleague play. Mariano Rivera needs one more save for 500 in his career. Only Trevor Hoffman has more with 571 although he is a compiler in my mind. Mo in his last 6 outings has pitched 6 innings giving up 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. Johnny Damon is 6 of his last 9 with 5 rbi's. A-rod is 5 of his last 15 with 5 rbi's. Brett Gardner is 19 of 56 over his last 26 games with a 422 obp. He has only struck out 3 times in his last 39 at bats and 7 in his last 56. The Yankees offense has gone 26 of 79 in the last 2 games with 19 runs scored, 13 walks and 7 extra base hits. Cody Ransom has hit in 7 straight even though that started in April. Robinson Cano is 2 for his last 15, he does have a sore left wrist but should play tonight. CC Sabathia faced the Mets once in his career on June 16, 2004 at Shea Stadium. He allowed one run on 6 hits over 8 innings for Cleveland. Gary Sheffield is 5 of 18 with a homerun against him and Luis Castillo is 4 of 16. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 7.08 era in 4 June starts having allowed 16 earned runs on 28 hits and 8 walks over 20 1/3 innings. He has faced the Yankees once in his career beating them June 27 of last year. He did allow 4 runs on 8 hits and 4 walks over 5 innings. Alfredo Aceves since arriving from Mexico is 6-1 with a 2.27 era in 24 games. He has allowed 52 hits in 63 1/3 innings. He has 17 walks and 44 strikeouts. He is the opposite of the terrible signing of Kei Igawa, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose I guess. Yankees Lineup: Gardner(CF) Damon(LF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Cano(2B) Cabrera(RF) Cervelli(C) Pena(SS) Sabathia(P) Derek Jeter was scratched due to illness which has been running through the team, Melky and Hideki Matsui have had it the past few days. Xavier Nady needs another Tommy John and is done for the year, maybe next year also. This is just sad news for him and the Yankees, he is a good guy and his teammates love him and he is better then Swisher but the Yankees will have to make due with Swish, Gardner and Cabrera and just maybe now they will call up Shelly Duncan eventually.

Pitching Matchups for Subway Series Part II

Tonight- CC Sabathia vs Mike Pelfrey Tomorrow- A.J. Burnett vs Tim Redding Sunday- Chien-Ming Wang vs Livan Hernandez The games are all night games with Sunday night being a ESPN game, tonight is a MY9 game and tomorrow a YES game. The Yankees clearly have the advantage in the pitching matchups and should win 2 out of 3 if not sweep them. The Yankees bats have seem to awoken the last game and a half in Atlanta and if this is the case the Mets could be in for a long weekend as none of the pitchers going are too good. The Yankees catch a break by missing Santana although they did crush him in the first game they saw him this year. I wouldn't of expected that again though if he faced them. Mike Pelfrey has really been struggling lately and Tim Redding just picked up his first win the other day. Livan Hernandez has pitched well this year but he doesn't have great stuff and puts a lot of runners on base.

Derek Jeters Birthday

Happy Birthday to Derek Jeter who turns 35 today. He was born in Pequannock, NJ at the old Chilton Hospital same hospital I was born at 3 years later. I am really starting to feel old, it seems like just yesterday that he came up and started playing shortstop and winning world series and here we are 13 years later and he is becoming an old man, well not really but in baseball he is. Derek is having one of his best years defensively in a while though, so maybe he is getting better with age. I hope he celebrates his birthday with a couple of hits and a Yankees win tonight.

Yanks take series

The New York Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves by the score of 11-7 tonight taking 2 out of 3 in Atlanta. Andy Pettitte just didn't have it but the good news is the offense appears to be back. Alex Rodriguez had 3 hits and 4 rbi's and a walk. Derek Jeter had 4 hits and Johnny Damon had 3 hits and 4 rbi's. Brett Gardner and Cody Ransom had 2 hits each and Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada had a hit each. Alfredo Aceves did get the win out of the pen and is now tied for most wins out of the bullpen with 5. It is pretty late and it was a long night so I don't have much else to say. It is great to see Alex back and it sure looks like the offense is back and lets hope they carry it back to NY for the Subway Series at Citi Field. I will have more tomorrow with the Subway series, everyone rest up before a wild weekend. The Red Sox lost tonight so the Yankees are 4 out of first place.

Yankees at Braves(Rubber Game)

The New York Yankees offense awokened last night and they will try to keep it going tonight against a old foe in Derek Lowe. The Yankees will try and take the 3 game series with a victory tonight. Here are the pregame notes and lineup from Peter Abraham of the Journal News. The Yankees pitchers have a 3.83 era in their last 14 games. Mariano Rivera needs 2 more saves for 500 in his career and 29 strikeouts for 1,000 in his career. Mo has converted 32 of his last 33 save chances in interleague play. Derek Lowe is 8-10 with a 6.07 career era in 39 career regular season games against the Yankees. The last time he faced them was in the 2004 ALCS allowing one run over 6 innings. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, A-rod and Hideki Matsui all have good numbers off of Lowe in their careers. Derek Jeter has 16 stolen bases which is the most since 2006 when he had 34. The Yankees are 12-1 in games Bruney appears in. Nick Swisher has 17 hits this month with 11 of them being extra base hits. Yankees pitchers haven't fared that bad in their last 13 plate appearances going 2 for 11 with 2 sacrifices and only 2 strikeouts. 3 of the outs were lineouts. Yankees Lineup: Jeter(SS) Damon(LF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Posada(C) Swisher(RF) Gardner(CF) Ransom(2B) Pettitte(P)

Angel Berroa DFA'd

The Yankees did designate Angel Berroa for assignment as expected and reactivated Cody Ransom. The Yankees do have an interesting decision to make soon with Jose Molina getting closer, the way Francisco Cervelli has played I don't think the Yankees want to send him back down but Molina does have a contract and I don't think they will carry 3 catchers so it will be interesting to see what the Yankees do. Xavier Nady should also be back soon and I am guessing they will send Ramiro Pena back down when he is activated but they also really like Pena but he would benefit from playing everyday down in the minors.

Yankees come out fighting

It took the Yankees a while to get going tonight, they went 15 up and 15 down through the first 5 innings and then in the sixth it all changed. Brett Gardner led off the sixth inning with a walk and got picked off of first but he was safe and Joe Girardi ended up getting tossed from the game for arguing then Francisco Cervelli hit a homerun to tie the game and the Yankees added a couple of more runs on a Alex Rodriguez's 2 run single. Nick Swisher had a solo homerun and the Yankees started tacking on more from there. Joba Chamberlain pitched very well going 6 1/3 innings giving up 3 runs. He tired in the 7th and didn't help himself with a error but he really looked good tonight mixing in his breaking pitches with his fastball and controlling the Braves lineup. Phil Coke came in and got two outs. Brian Bruney struggled in the 8th getting two outs and giving up a run and then Mariano Rivera got the 4 out save by striking out all 4 guys he faced. Mo hasn't pitched in 8 days and he surely looked well rested, he even came up to bat in the ninth and lined out to centerfield, the bench was really going nuts over that. The Yankees will look to win the series tomorrow with Andy Pettitte facing Derek Lowe who they know well from his Boston days. Joe Girardi should get thrown out more often if this would happen but maybe this is what they needed and now they will relax and just play good baseball. I am realizing something though ,the Yankees pitchers are much different on the road then at Yankee Stadium especially Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte.

Yanks at Braves

The New York Yankees will try and get a win tonight in Atlanta with Joba Chamberlain on the mound against another guy they have never seen in Kenshin Kawakami. Before I get to the pregame notes and lineup via Peter Abraham, we have the news that Jose Veras was traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. I wonder how much cash they got for this guy. The Yankees are 4-9 in their last 13 games and have lost 5 out of 6. Cody Ransom rejoins the team today from the 60 day DL and if Angel Berroa isn't DFA'D I really don't know what this team has become, no reason for him to be on the team. The Yankees are now tied for the wildcard with the Angels and Texas. Toronto is only 1 game back in the loss column with Tampa 2 back. Atlantas pitchers have thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings. The Yankees are 10-9 in one run games, they were 9-4 before this bad streak. Joba is 3-0 with a 2.72 era on the road this year, I wonder if that has anything to do with the new stadium playing so small. MO hasn't pitched since June 16th, it may be wise to get him into the game tonight somehow. Brett Gardner is 16 of his last 46, now batting 285 with a 361 on base percentage. The Yankees are now 5-8 in interleague play this year which is not good at all, Boston is 8-5. CC Sabathia threw his bullpen, throwing 30 pitches. He said he is fine and ready to go for Friday so that is good news. Brian Cashman is in the house and after Melky was originally in the lineup he was pulled for Nick Swisher. I am not sure what is going on but apparently Joe and Cash had a meeting with Swish and then the new lineup was posted. The hitters are in a meeting at this time, i wonder with who and what can they be told, guys hit the ball, I mean Kevin Long should be giving them better strategies but I doubt he is doing that now. Yankees Lineup: Jeter(SS) Damon(LF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Cano(2B) Swisher(RF) Gardner(CF) Cervelli(C) Chamberlain(P)

Yanks look lifeless again

The New York Yankees continue to lose ground quickly and look like they are just stuck in neutral. They lost 4-0 to the Atlanta Braves tonight and just look lost. They can't hit a lick and I don't know how their hitting coach is still around. Chien-Ming Wang looked better I guess but the bottom line is this he is 0-6 and the team hasn't won any game that he has pitched, i think it is like 0-8 or something like that. The one bright spot continues to be Phil Hughes who came on in relief of Wang and pitched 2 perfect innings with a couple of strikeouts. A-rod continues to do nothing although he did hit two decent flyballs that if they were in Yankee Stadium may have gone out, i think that is also the problem they hit so many homeruns at home and think they are better because the ballpark plays small and then when they go out on the road they can't hit. This team needs to stop relying on homeruns and just look to get basehits, move runners over and manufacture runs. They have a good pitching staff and should be able to score 4 or 5 runs a game and win most of the games. I really think they need a shakeup and Kevin Long has to be the first one to get fired followed by Dave Eiland. I like Joe Girardi but he is also on the hot seat, I do think he will get the full season but he will be fired if they don't make the playoffs also. They have gone 2-5 against the Nats, Marlins and now Braves against pitchers they have never seen but other then Josh Johnson really aren't that good and they have done absolutely nothing. I don't see how the Steinbrenners or Cashman or whoever is in charge doesn't do something about this, they have fallen 5 games behind the Red Sox and depending on what happens tonight may have lose their lead in the wildcard also.

Yankees at Braves

The New York Yankees will start a 3 game series with Atlanta tonight at 7:00PM at Turner Field. The game is on MY9 at 7:00PM. Chien-Ming Wang will get the start and quite frankly needs to get a win, not just for himself but for this team who has been struggling badly. Here are the pregame notes and lineup via Peter Abraham of the Journal News. The Yankees are 5-7 against the NL this year and 15-15 with Joe Girardi as thier manager. This is not good, this is where they should seperate themselves and haven't done so which has cost them. Chien-Ming Wang has gone 373 days without a win. He really hasn't been the same since running the bases in Houston last June 15th, it would be wise for him to stay off the base paths tonight. A-rod will try to get it turned around this series as he is really struggling but has only played once in the last 4 days, so hopefully he is refreshed. Nick Swisher has hit 22 of his 30 extra base hits on the road this year and is hitting 302 on the road compared to 177 at home. The Yankees were 36-33 and 6 games out at this point last year, they have made a little improvement but should be much better. Yankees Lineup: Jeter(SS) Swisher(RF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Cano(2B) Posada(C) Cabrera(LF) Gardner(CF) Wang(P) Johnny Damon is still day to day with his calf problem, he could pinch hit though if needed. CC Sabathia did recieve treatment today and said he feels fine and is ready to go on Friday still, we will wait and see after he throws his bullpen tomorrow.

Pitching matchups for the Braves Series

Tonight-Chien-Ming Wang vs Tommy Hansen Tomorrow-Joba Chamberlain vs Kenshin Kawakami Thursday-Andy Pettitte vs Derek Lowe This doesn't look good as the Yankees will face guys they have never seen before tonight and tomorrow. They are 2-4 in their last 6 games which were all guys they haven't seen before. They better end this trend tonight because we also have Wang going and who knows what to expect out of him. JOba has to get it going also and stop being so wild and using up all of his pitches in 4 or 5 innings. Tonights game is on MY9 then the other games on YES all 7:00PM starts.

A couple of Yankee notes on off day

Xavier Nady is heading to AAA-Scranton to start his rehab. He will join them tomorrow and be ready to start his rehab assignment on Wednesday. He played in a simulated game today and went 2 for 3 with 2 singles as a DH. He made throws to second and third before the game and felt fine. Jose Molina completed a workout and Damaso Marte a throwing program but they still both seem a ways off. I am not sure how much time Nady needs but I would think without any setbacks it may only be a couple of weeks before he is back. The Yankees issued this release regarding Nady today. CC Sabathia did not get treatment today according to Peter Abraham, the reason was that Atlanta was playing a makeup game and the trainers room wasn't available, he will go about his normal schedule this week and it looks like he will be fine as the Yankees didn't send him for a MRI.

Yankees at Big Point of season

The New York Yankees have a off day today before starting a 3 game series in Atlanta tomorrow night and then the weekend subway series at Citi Field. The New York Yankees are at a point where they need to get this turned around or risk letting this season get away from them. They stand 4 games out of first place behind the Boston Red Sox who they are already 0-8 against, good thing they have 10 more against them and 7 at home. They now are tied for the wildcard with the Anaheim Angels and two games ahead of the Blue Jays in the loss column and 3 ahead of the Rays. A couple of weeks ago the Yankees were 1 game up in the division and way ahead in the wildcard and since they have been dreadful going 4-8, should be 3-9 if Luis Castillo didn't drop a popup. The Yankees pitching has been pretty good, bullpen also but they haven't been able to hit at all fo the most part against inferior teams. The Yankees had no business going 2-4 against the Nationals and Marlins, at worst they should of gone 4-2. Joe Girardi is the manager and will soon start to take the blame, I don't blame him but he better get hold of this team right now and get them back to playing good clean baseball. I would like to see a change in hitting coach and maybe even pitching coach but that doesn't seem like it will happen. I wonder how much longer this can go on without hearing anything from Brian Cashman, Hank or Hal Steinbrenner, it would be wise of the Yankees to not let anyone hear from them as they start winning starting tomorrow and get themselves back into the playoff picture ahead of the pack.

Yanks lose another series

The Yankees lost again to a team they shouldn't be losing too. If Luis Castillo didn't drop a popup they would have now lost 4 series in a row and three straight to National League teams that they are better then. They have not hit at all and I understand not hitting Josh Johnson yesterday but the rest of these pitchers they shouldn't have so much trouble with, I really wonder if someone is going to do something, at least come out and say something or just continue to be complacent. Kevin Long is a awful hitting coach in my mind and I think it is time for a change, I don't understand how you surround a young manager with a hitting and pitching coach with no experience, part of the reason Joe Torre was so successful is because he had Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer surrounding him. I am waiting for Hank or Hal to come out and say something but I don't think that is going to happen, but if the Yankees don't get this turned around quick they will be in trouble as Boston has not built a 4 game lead in the division and the Yankees are now tied with the Angels for the wildcard and only 2 on Toronto and 3 on Tampa Bay. The Yankees rallied late and cut the lead to 6-5 but after just walking Johnny Damon to make it 1st and 3rd Derek Jeter swung at the first pitch and grounded out to short ending the game. CC Sabathia was pulled in the second inning after coming up with tightness in his biceps, it doesn't appear to be serious and he expects to make his next start on Friday against the Mets. The problem started right there as the Yankees had to use their bullpen for a long time today and after Aceves pitched well Brett Tomko didn't and gave up 3 runs on 2 homeruns and Dave Robertson gave up a single to score a run and another run scored on Melky Cabrera's throwing error. The Yankees have tomorrow off and will try and win a series in Atlanta starting on Tuesday with Chien-Ming Wang on the mound.

Yankees at Marlins- The Rubber Game

The New York Yankees will try and win the series against the Florida Marlins today. CC Sabathia takes the mound against Chris Volstadt. Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there, I was busy enjoying my first Fathers Day today but will enjoy watching the Yankees game tonight and hopefully getting a win. I am sure most fathers out there had baseball somewhere in their day today and it should be as it is the American Pasttime and what better way to celebrate Fathers Day. Here are the pregame notes and lineup via Peter Abraham. CC Sabathia is 5-1 with a 2.92 era in his last 8 starts. He is 13-6 with a 2.72 era in 32 interleague starts in his career. This is the first time he will be facing the Marlins in his career. A-rod is back in the lineup and 0 for his last 15, he did draw a pinch hit walk last night. He is 8 of his last 55 overall. Yankee relievers have allowed one earned run in their last 18 innings with 20 strikeouts. The Yankees have grounded into 6 double plays in the last 2 games and 8 in their last 4. Maybe the Yankees will think of running more today or doing some hit and runs. Melky Cabrera has been struggling since running into that wall and bruising his shoulder. He is batting 190 with 11 strikeouts over 18 games. 5 of those hits are for extra bases and he has 8 strikeouts. Brett Gardner has 15 stolen bases which is most in the majors among rookies. He is 28 of 31 in his career. The Yankees have played their last 5 games in less then 3 hours. That is not a good sign as they are usually a patient club that hits well and they are 2-3 in those games which shows it is not a good thing for them. Phil since going to the bullpen has pitched 8 2/3 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks and 12 strikeouts. He is a good reliever but a good starter also, he has been having a good year and it is nice to see what all Yankee fans have been waiting for. A.J. Burnett had his suspension cut down to 5 games which starts today. Yankees Lineup: Jeter(SS) Swisher(RF) Tex(1B) A-rod(3B) Cano(2B) Posada(C) Cabrera(LF) Gardner(CF) Sabathia(P)