Results tagged ‘ Hideki Matsui ’
Brian Cougar Show: Week 2 — Staying on Schedule!
Do not doubt me!
Well, after a 5-1 homestand for the Yankees this week, I think the great Joe Posnanski has the perfect summary of their season after 12 games:
“The Yankees look absurdly good as expected.”
I think that statement is especially true for the starting pitching … outside of Javier Vazquez. CC Sabathia won Friday’s rain-shortened game against the Texas Rangers — which I attended (hooray me) — where he allowed one run and struck out nine over six innings. A.J. Burnett then followed that with seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings on Saturday; Phil Hughes, in his first start of the 2010 season, was charged for two runs on six hits over five innings on Thursday. Hughes, not surprisingly, was a bit amped up and walked five batters, but the velocity on his fastball looked pretty good, and the only extra-base hit he allowed was the homer to Hideki Matsui. And Andy Pettitte, Andy friggin’ Pettitte, won two starts this week, throwing six scoreless innings during the home opener and then eight innings of two-run ball against Texas yesterday. Pettitte’s stats over three starts:
20 innings pitched, three runs, 15 hits, nine walks and 14 strikeouts for a 1.35 ERA
Now it’s early, and Andy’s an old man (excuse me, crafty veteran), so I’m sure that ERA is going to head near the 3.5-to-4.5 area by the end of the season, but to see Pettitte pitching like this, at his age, after winning his fifth World Series title only a few months ago, well, it’s pretty impressive (I’m aware he’s made piles of money and is making a good chunk of change this year, but his work ethic and the results are impressive).
Vazquez is the only blot (great word) in this rotation. He received a few boo’s and got to see his name in print with the “he can’t pitch in New York” angle already, but, come on now, it’s two starts! I realize he left on a bad note in 2004 and hasn’t really done much (anything) to impress so far in his second go-around, but he’s the friggin’ No. 4 starter. I feel much better watching Javy struggle as opposed to, say, CC or A.J. (Not that I don’t like Javy, it’s just him being slow out of the gate doesn’t really concern me). His velocity did look a bit low in the game on Wednesday, so that’s something to keep an eye on, but I’m giving him two more starts before I get worried. Again, they traded him for Melky Cabrera (The Melk Man!), who’s hitting .119 with a .245 OBP for Atlanta right now.
Highlights: Everything. I even think the vendor accidentally gave me two free beers at the game on Friday (It still hasn’t showed up on my statement. I’m not sure how long that’s supposed to take).
Lowlights: The only lowlight this week (outside of Vazquez) would be Nick Johnson (Mark Teixeira avoids it due to the home run and slick defensive plays yesterday), especially after his three strikeout game to close out the week, however he was able to, for the second time this season, drive in a run via a bases loaded walk earlier this week (OBP .407!) and … AND … he comes up to the plate to “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. I know he’s not the only one doing this (Cameron Maybin of the Marlins is apparently doing it as well), but to walk up to home plate in Yankee Stadium, in front of 50,000 people, with that song playing … well, that’s amazing. Especially since, even though he said it’s his daughter’s favorite song, I’m sure it’s one of his top-five favorite songs of all-time as well (UNPROVABLE CLAIM).
So, a very relaxed week two of the season. Rings were handed out (both real and fake), Godzilla returned (standing ovation!), homes were opened and the Yanks are 9-3, tied with the Tampa Bay Rays at the top of the AL East. The Yanks head out west this week for a battle with the hot-start A’s and a rematch with the Angels. I’m sensing a couple of series wins. And some A-Bombs. Five A-Bombs this week. UNNECESSARY PREDICTION THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COME TRUE.
Joba Joba Joba
The stars at night, are big and bright…
*clap* *clap* *clap*
Deep in the heart of Texas!
I know that has some greater meaning for people from that state, but I, as a New Yorker and someone who’s never been to the Lone Star State, know it from the great movie, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.”
So, A.J. Burnett gets his first win in over a month, and the Yankees open the short road trip with a series victory over the AL West-leading Rangers. Sweet! (Did I mention that I picked Texas to win the AL West in my season preview?)
This was, not surprisingly since he hasn’t won in over a month, the best Burnett has looked in a while. He still walked a few too many batters, but he kept the ball in the yard and racked up seven strikeouts. Hideki Matsui, who’s also been struggling, added two homers, and the offense looked great overall. Chien-Ming Wang also came out of the bullpen for the final two innings and easily looked better than he has all season. Speaking of Wang…
I am firmly on the Joba Chamberlain as a starter side of the starter/reliever argument. I think, in the long-run, he will be a starter, and has the stuff to be very good in the rotation. However, and I’ll probably change my mind on this tomorrow, if Wang is ready to go back in the rotation, the Yankees are confident Phil Hughes can produce as a starter in the bigs and Brian Bruney can’t remain healthy…the Yankees should…I can’t believe I’m typing this…consider putting Joba back in the setup role this season. The big risk with this move is the Yankees putting him in the ‘pen, then one of the starters getting injured, which would force them to possibly move him back out again, but, with this team on a bit of a roll recently, especially on offense and in the rotation, the only real weakness right now is the bullpen, and Joba could fix that (he definitely can’t hurt it. I’m looking at YOU Jose Veras. Throw strikes!).
Now I think people ignore the fact that one of the reasons Joba was so dominant in 2007 was the fact that he was making his first tour through the Majors, and he didn’t look as dominant in ’08 (and the weak rotation didn’t give him enough opportunities to pitch in the eighth with the lead), but, unless the Yankees can make some kind of move to bring in a strong reliever to take over the setup role, or someone they have on the roster right now or in Triple-A can take it over in the near future (hasn’t happened yet, except for Bruney, who can’t stay healthy), they might have to consider it. Again, it’s a short-term fix, but the Yankees aren’t exactly a young team, and the goal should be to win NOW, so maybe…MAYBE…they should consider moving Joba Joba Joba back into the bullpen.
Either way, they’re playing great baseball right now (tied for first in the AL East!) and hopefully it continues in Cleveland this weekend.
The return of the Bronx Bombers? 2009 Lineup preview
Yes, I am putting out two posts in one day. Not only one day, but within hours of one another. Don’t act like you’re not impressed.
1. Derek Jeter:
When I first heard that Joe Girardi was batting Jeter leadoff, it struck me as odd, and slightly unnecessary, especially with Johnny Damon on the team. Then I thought about it some more, and, especially when I remembered how many double plays Jeter hit into last year, I didn’t mind it so much. I don’t think there’s a huge difference between having Jeter and Damon in this spot. I might still prefer Damon, as he has better speed and generally sees a decent amount pitches most at-bats due to his ability to foul off a ton of pitches, but I’m interested to see how this works out. I just hope Girardi gives this at least a few weeks to see how it works out. If the Yankees open the season 0-3 while scoring only two runs a game, I don’t want to see him flipping them immediately, then this move will look pointless. For Jeter, I expect another season with an average somewhere near .300, 20-something doubles, and about 10 homers. Fielding issues aside, Jeter still knows how to hit.
2. Damon:
Damon’s numbers will likely look close to Jeter’s…as long as he stays healthy. Damon is one of three hitters in this lineup who you don’t worry about production wise, as long as he’s in the lineup he’ll hit.
3. Mark Teixeira:
How freakin’ huge is the Tex signing, not only keeping him out of Boston for seven years, but also, for ’09, with A-Rod having to miss the first month and a half because of his hip surgery? Without Tex, where is the power bat in this lineup during the A-Rod absence? I will stop thinking about that now. Talk about his tendency to start slow out the gate with his hitting aside, Tex should put up his usual big power/batting average numbers during his first season in pinstripes. And if the right-field porch looks as short to him all season as it did on Saturday, maybe Tex will celebrate his first year as Yankees first baseman with an AL MVP.
4. Matsui:
Matsui is in the Damon camp. If they can keep his legs fresh as the everyday DH, then Matsui will hit for a decent average with decent pop. I’m hoping for a big year out of Godzilla, especially since it might be his last with the Yanks.
5. Jorge Posada:
The final of the three “Should hit as long as he’s healthy” crew. Outside of that brief setback in the beginning of Spring Training, Hip Hip Jorge seems to be recovering nicely from his shoulder surgery. His bat and leadership was missed big time last year.
6. Robinson Cano:
Will this be the bounce back year for Cano? I’m actually shocked he hit .271 last year after somehow following what I thought was the slowest start ever in 2007 with an even slower start last season. If he can get that early-season struggles monkey off his back, I can see him getting back near his ’06 form. If not, I will continue calling him Canofer.
7. Xavier Nady:
The X-Man! I am extremely glad he won the right-field job over Swisher (no disrespect to Swish). Nady seems to go from overrated to underrated and back more than any other player, and he’ll probably hear his name in trade rumors all season. However, he’s in a contract year and is a solid power right-handed bat. I’m a big fan of the X-Man.
8. Cody Ransom:
I’m not going to pretend that I know enought about Cody Ransom to make a prediction for his season. He’s spent the vast majority of his career in the Minors and is keeping third base warm for the return of A-Rod. He’s also got nothing to lose and everything to gain from his (at least) month-long stint as the Yankees third baseman, so maybe he’ll surprise some people.
9. Brett Gardner:
Gardner went out and earned the starting center field job during Spring Training, and got his first taste of the Major Leagues last season, so hopefully he does his job of getting on base and causing havoc with his speed.
These aren’t the Bronx Bombers, but I like the balance, especially once A-Rod gets back. This team doesn’t need to score 900-plus runs (And almost certainly will not), but, again, this team is built on pitching. If the starters produce like they’re expected to, this offense should score more than enough runs to win.
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