Tagged: Andy Pettitte
ANDY PETTITTE IS COMING BACK!
How long has it been since my last post? Really, it’s been THAT LONG? The combination of trying to remain on the Dean’s List, and the fact that I just couldn’t fully get over trading Montero left me with a lack of time and a lack of desire to post. My spring break is winding down now, and I told myself that I wouldn’t put off my biology and political science papers any longer, but this is way too important.
For the first time since the Yankees traded away my baby Jesus, I’m excited again.
And it’s all thanks to a familiar face: Andy Pettitte.
Surely everyone is aware of the news by now: Andy Pettitte is out of retirement, and he’s coming back to the New York Yankees. I don’t care what anyone else thinks – I love this.
I first heard the news when I logged into facebook yesterday afternoon. My brother was beside me on the couch, and I gasped, “Whaa? Huh? Oh my God…dahh oh my GOD…”
He didn’t respond. He probably thought I was looking up pictures of Guns N’ Roses (I usually have a somewhat similar reaction…don’t judge). He made me say it.
“THE YANKEES SIGNED ANDY PETTITTE!”
Doubtful, he responded, “What? Virginia let me see that. You’re probably reading some fake thing.”
We proceeded to go to RiverAveBlues, but of course, Optimum Online failed me. After making the trek to the downstairs computer – and achieving the small victory of having internet access – RiverAveBlues confirmed that it was indeed true: Andy Pettitte was coming back.
Everyone in my house was elated over this news. Andy Pettitte has been a favorite of ours for as long as he’s been in pinstripes – and that’s a pretty long time. We all knew he could still pitch, and his retirement left us all with an empty feeling inside. He was my favorite Yankee pitcher, and one of the guys who was there since I started watching baseball. I vividly remember going to a baseball card shop as a young girl and buying just two cards – both really pretty shiny cards of Andy Pettitte. Saying goodbye was extremely difficult, especially because I knew he wasn’t a finished ballplayer. At age 39, many wonder what he can still do, but I know he can still do plenty to benefit my team.
I know a few people who are annoyed by Andy’s coming out of retirement, and I don’t understand that at all. Anyone who knows Andy Pettitte knows that he is a great man: a good Christian, Texan, family man, and teammate. He may not be perfect, but I avidly admire him. Andy, as far as I see it, has never been one of those guys who seeks attention. So when people criticize him for wanting to come back, I’m confused.
Andy Pettitte is not Roger Clemens. The Yankees didn’t “come and get him out of Texas.” Andy asked to come back, because he has the heart and genuine passion for this game. They didn’t pay him $28 million and make a big fuss over his return during a game. A mere $2.5 million is fine for him, although we all know that’s a steal if he pitches the way he did in 2010. Andy Pettitte is not coming back for any other reason than because he has the desire to pitch for the Yankees. Why should he hold back and miss out on something he wants, and something I know he can still do well? That’s another concern people have about Pettitte – that he won’t pitch well, or that he will disrupt the rotation. There is no doubt in my mind that Andy Pettitte will be successful. In 2010 he was an All-Star with an 11-3 record and a sparkling 3.28 ERA, which was his best since 2005. He did have an elbow issue, but he assured us that his retirement after 2010 was influenced by his heart, not his arm. At age 39, health concerns are not unreasonable. But injuries can happen to anyone in baseball. Pettitte works hard and is smart enough to keep himself in shape. And if he wants to come back this badly, he knows what he’s getting into – the vigorous workouts, exercise, practice – and he’s ready for it.
Pettitte wouldn’t start the season in the Bigs because he needs a full Spring Training of his own. I’m not worried about where he will fit into the rotation. The Yankee rotation may seem all well and good right about now, but a lot can change over the course of the season. Injuries and ineffectiveness must be considered, and that is why you can never have too much pitching. The safety net of knowing you have a crafty, veteran, future-Hall-of-Fame lefty who knows how to win in New York is quite comforting. Who knows when he’ll make his appearance in pinstripes? All I know is that when he does, he’ll be ready, I’ll be ready, and we’ll both be happy.
Another reason I just love this news is because Andy Pettitte is synonymous with championships. He is the best starter in the history of postseason baseball. When the pressure is on, Andy buckles down and gets the job done. If the Yankees make it to the postseason this year, Andy will definitely be a key player in the postseason rotation. I’ll never forget how he won each clinching game in the 2009 playoffs for my boys. I say it’s about time my Yanks get back there. Sure, the teams have been very good since then, but they were just lacking something to push them over the top and make them go all the way.
Andy Pettitte is just what the Yankees need.
And he’s just what I need, too.
It’s March, I’m on spring break, the weather has been giving me a tease of summer, and baseball is back – and oh, does it feel good to be excited for my Yankees again.
Thank you in advance, Andy.
PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a winter this winter-ish before. It has been the longest, most boring and depressing winter. My area has experienced record snowfall, and my school has closed so many times that my spring vacation now ceases to exist. My 200 foot uphill driveway is still covered with a 3 inch sheet of ice. Every day is gray and I miss seeing the sun. In a panic, my teachers have been assigning boatloads of work, realizing that the year is half over and the AP exams are approaching, desperately trying to make up for the lost time due to snow. Do I have anything to smile about?
The Groundhog says spring is on the way. The other day, bright and early, I left my house for school. Although bitter cold and gray like every other day, I sensed something was different. The outside air had that light scent of spring. I can’t explain it. It just smells so good, and it only happens in the spring.
Maybe the groundhog was right. I heard it’s going to get up to 50 degrees later this week. HEAT WAVE!!!
Last week was my first full 5-day week of school since BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I’m starting to get back into the rhythm of things. And things are finally looking brighter.
Today is the day I’ve been waiting for, and it’s finally here: PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!!!!!!
Ahh…It’s a beautiful thing.
Pitchers and Catchers Report. My Yanks have a lot of new faces this year who are pitchers and catchers. But one face who’s been part of the Yankee family for a long time will not be there…
Aw, Andy…I’m gonna miss you Andy.
Pettitte, along with Tino Martinez, was my first favorite. Saying goodbye to him is not an easy task – but at least he went out on his own terms. Knowing he can still pitch makes it even harder to watch him hang up the spikes. Andy Pettitte was the best pitcher I’ve had the pleasure of watching. It just doesn’t feel like it will be the same without him.
I think Andy is on his way to the Hall of Fame. I was challenged to a debate, where my opponent claimed that Andy WON’T make it. I say he will, and I have amazing reasons why. I suggest if you agree, vote for me! http://fanvsfan.com/claims/pettitte-won-t-make-hall
I can’t wait to actually SEE a baseball game again, even if it is Spring Training (where the Big Guys play like 3 innings). I don’t mind that. I like seeing the rookies.
I’m getting SO EXCITED! Spring Training is here! Which means SPRING is almost here! Which means WINTER is almost OVER!!!
WHICH MEANS MY YANKEES ARE COMING BACK TO MEEEEE!!!!!!!!
🙂
“Are We, We Are…Are We, We Are the Waiting…”
…AND SCREAMING!
“ARE WE, WE ARE…ARE WE, WE ARE THE WAITING…”
Billie Joe Armstrong said it best, even though he wasn’t talking about baseball.
Ever since the Yankees didn’t get Cliff Lee, I’ve been waiting for them to spend some money elsewhere. And every time I think they are going after somebody, they don’t get him. And honestly, I’m getting a little fed up with all this. The Yankees need to make some improvements.
WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR?
I’m waiting to hear that they got another starter, because now that it looks like Andy Pettitte won’t be back, it is clear that they need somebody. But I really shouldn’t get my hopes up. I heard that the Yankees were “slightly” interested in Freddy Garcia for some time now, and yet they still have not made a move. I mean, it’s not like I’m dying for him or anything, he’s not that great, but they’ve got to sign SOMEONE…or else Sergio Mitre is going to be in the rotation.
It seems that every single time I think the Yankees are going after somebody, the next day I see a headline saying, “The Yankees are not interested in [insert player’s name here].”
I saw this the other day, and thought I finally had something to be excited about:
.IE-6 #teamIcon40953789 {
FILTER: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src=’http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/NBCSports/Templates/RotoworldPlayerNews/TeamLogo/MLB/TB.png’, sizingMethod=’crop’)
}
Rafael Soriano is open to serving as a setup man on the Yankees, his agent Scott Boras told ESPN New York on Thursday.
Soriano would still prefer to act as a closer, but the Yanks can have him if the money is right. “I don’t think there is a team in baseball where he could be asked to be a setup guy other than the Yankees,” Boras said. “There is also a value in playing with Mariano Rivera.” Soriano has drawn interest recently from multiple clubs, but he is maintaining a lofty asking price. The righty posted a stellar 1.73 ERA and collected 45 saves last year for Tampa Bay.
on Newsvine
The Yankees are not really interested in Rafael Soriano
Jan 7, 2011, 8:25 AM EST
Rafael Soriano says he’d be willing to be a setup man for the Yankees. It takes two to tango, however, and Buster Olney says that the Yankees aren’t particularly interested in dancing:
Heard this: As of 6 p.m. on Thursday, the Yankees are not interested in Rafael Soriano. They’ve seen a lot of $ squandered on set-up men … Soriano would have to make himself absurdly cheap — on a very short-term (1-year or 2-year deal) — before NYY would even consider him
So there’s that.
Tough market for Soriano. I guess 45 saves and a 1.73 don’t go as far as they used to.
So I guess I’m still waiting…I don’t know what for. Yankees fans just need something to smile about, but the way things are going, I don’t think we’ll be smiling any time soon. I can’t guve up hope, though. I worry that the way the Great George Steinbrenner ran the team will cease to exist…but that just cannot happen. Something big has got to happen, it’s just got to.
Until then, I’m still “the waiting…”
On to the ALCS!!!
Yankees Sweep Twins…Again!
Remember in my last post when I said the Yankees were reminding me of the Yankees from last year? Well, last night, this statement proved to be even more true. The most apparent reason was because last night my Yankees wrapped up their 3-game sweep of the Twins to win the ALDS – just like last year. But more importantly, the Yankee have established an amazing 1-2-3 punch, which is Powerful at the beginning, Crafty in the middle, and Philthy at the end.
Pitching Analysis: Phil Hughes is the “Philthy” component of the 1-2-3 punch, in case you didn’t get my analogy. And BOY was he philthy last night. I didn’t know what he was going to give us, having not pitched since September 26, and starting in the postseason after struggling in postseason relief last year. Did I expect Hughes to throw 7 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and striking out 6 along the way? I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. Hughes was a beast.
Huuuuuuuuughes!!!!!!!!
If the starting pitching in this ALDS is a sign of things to come for my Yankees, then I think the team is in pretty darn good shape. Their chance of a repeat is within striking distance. The combo of CC, Andy, and Phil reminds me of the CC, A.J., and Andy the Yankees used last year. And when you can compare anything, especially pitching, to the 2009 Yankees, you definitely have reason to smile. Eeeeek!! I’m excited!
Offensive Analysis: JUST like last year, the Yankee offense got to Brian Duensing. I felt kind of bad for the kid…his family was in the audience, and he received the loss. The look on his face as he sat there, all dejected on the bench after being taken out almost broke my heart. The poor guy looked like he was going to cry. But really, it was not his fault that the Yankees won. Sometimes, you gotta give credit where credit is due. The Yankees are a pretty good baseball team.
The offense started in the 2nd inning, where Robinson Cano led off with a triple. He scored on an RBI single by Jorge Posada. In the 3rd, Nick Swisher doubled with 2 out, and Mark Teixeira drove him in with an RBI single. That was a bullet of a single…it hit off the wall too hard and too fast for Mark to advance. But that’s okay. The Yankees were up 2-0.
Tex’s big swing!
In the 4th with Cano on first, Marcus Thames took his turn. He did what he always does, only different: Thames homered, but it was to right field. Thames went oppo! And the Yankees led 4-0. I think that was the swing that ended Minnesota’s season. Minnesota was done…but the Yankee bats weren’t. Brett Gardner tacked on a run with a sac fly, and Nick Swisher homered in the 7th. The Yankees were up 6-0. They went on to win it 6-1.
Thames’s reaction to his homer.
Swish’s smiley reaction to his homer.
Aww
The Heroes for this ALDS-Winning Victory are Phil Hughes, for proving that he can start in the postseason and for solidifying the Yankees 1-2-3 punch, and Marcus Thames for providing what was in essence the winning blow.
The Somebody Needs a Hug goes to….hmm…..I guess the Twins. They got swept…again. But I really shouldn’t be feeling bad for them, I mean the Yankees HAD to beat them. Forgive me for having a heart.
Okay the REAL Somebody Needs a Hug goes to Mick Kelleher. The poor guy was in the wrong place at the wrong time…in the 4th inning, on Robinson Cano’s infield single, the Twins threw the bald wildly…and it hit Mick…yeah…no guy wants this…
Ouch…
I leave you now with some HAPPY images of my Yankees celebrating with the bubbly after their win. 3 wins down, 8 wins to go.
A-Rod gets double-teamed. Look all the way on the right…see that cutie with the goggles? CERVELLI!!! Hi sweetie!
OMG Curtis! Look at him…such an innocent little boy. You are my MVP of the ALDS, with that .455 batting average. Keep up the good baseball, darling!
The next time the Yankees play is on Friday. That’s a long time…I’m going to miss them. I hope they rest up, but stay hot at the same time. From here on, it only gets harder. But I’m ready!
GO YANKEES!!!
…And It’s Only Just the Beginning!
Yanks Up 2 Games to None in Intentisy-Packed ALDS
I’m going to be honest: I didn’t expect my Yankees to be up 2 games to none after the first two games against the Twins at Target Field, for a number of reasons: 1) The Twins had the best record at home, even better than my Yanks. 2) The Yankees had to face a tough lefty in Francisco Liriano in game 1, after losing their last 9 games against lefty starters. 3) I didn’t know what the Yankee starters would give, since CC was on extra rest and Andy had iffy starts after his injury. Add all that together, as well as adding the fact that the Yankees were horrible down the stretch, and the thought of elimination in the first round wasn’t too crazy. But after these first two games, I am confident in my Yankees’s ability to move on to the next round. They have proven to me that te regular season did not matter: the postseason is a brand new season, and they are going to make the most of it – just like last year.
I was worried in game 1, because CC Sabathia was not sharp, and the Yankee offense struggled mightily against Francisco Liriano – up until the 6th inning, that is. Down 3-0, with 1 out, Mark Teixeira doubled and Alex Rodriguez walked. Robinson Cano drove in Teixeira with an RBI single, and FINALLY, my Yankees were on the board. My family and I were starting to get excited.
Then it was Jorge Posada’s turn, and he delivered with an RBI single to score A-Rod, which made it 3-2. Out of her excitement, my Grandma, once again butchered a Yankee’s name. After Jorge singled, she yelled. “OOH NOW IT’S 3-2!!!! A SINGLE!!! A-ROD SCORED!!! OOH SAPADO!!!!”
You can guess what happened next.
My entire family broke into hysterics, and so did Grandma, once she realized we were laughing at her. She did her typical laugh: hands over heart, hysterical, laughing so hard we couldn’t even hear her. It was that silent laughter, the kind that happens when something is just SO funny. Through the laughs, she said, “Ooh POSADA!!!!” Yes, Grandma…POSADA…not SAPODO. He’s been on the team for how long now? But that doesn’t matter…she butchers everyone’s name. For more info, check out this post dedicated to my Grandma and her…interesting names for the Yankees: http://southernbelle.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/08/grandma-makes-me-laugh.html
LOL, good job Sapodo!!!
Anyway, the Yankees had inched closer, and everyone now believed they could win.
My sweet Curtis Granderson delivered witn a clutch 2-run triple to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead. It was so clutch, I screamed for like an hour. My throat still kind of hurts.
CURTIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥
After taking the lead in te 6th, my Yankees never looked back. Actually that’s not true: CC Sabathia walked in a run in the 6th, tying up the game at 4. But no biggy: Mark Teixeira added the final blow with his 2-run homer in the 6th, making it a 6-4 Yankee lead. The bullpen closed it out, and my Yanks came back to win the first game of this ALDS 6-4.
MAAAARK TEX!!!!!!!!!
Game 1 was so stressful. After the game I was so exhausted. I said to Grandma, “Thank GOD we won.”
She said, “Yeah. But it’s only the first game!”
True. If game 1 of the ALDS was so intense, what would the rest of the postseason be like? It was only just the beginning!
I was stressed out before game 2, because I had no idea what Andy Pettitte would do. My Dad said, “Don’t worry about Andy…He’s ANDY. He’ll give it his all and pitch a hell of a game just like he always does.”
Aw, Andy….you are such a cutie ♥
Well, Daddy was right, just like always. Andy did pitch a gem: 7 innings of 2-run ball, and just 88 pitches. And he received offensive support from his buddy Lance Berkman. I was hoping that Lance would do big things in the postseason, since Andy cracked him up to be a postseason clutch machine. He did. Game 2 was Lance’s Yankee moment. He drove in 2 of their 5 runs, with a monster opposite-field home run, and an RBI double the other way. Thank you, Lance!
FAT ELVIS HAS LEFT THE YARD!!!! Damn…he looks kinda sexy with high socks…♥
The Heroes for these ALDS Victories are my cutie-Curtis Granderson, for his extreme clutchness, Lance Berkman, for the same reason, and Andy Pettitte, for doing what he always does. Now the Yankees head back home to the Bronx, where they look for some of that good old Yankee Stadium Magic to spark them to another victory.
The Somebody Needs a Hug goes to…..the Twins! I want them to lose, don’t get me wrong, but I kind of pity them. They ALWAYS lose to the Yankees…it must be haunting their minds. Oh well…it’s really not my problem. And let’s be fair: It really ain’t over till it’s over.
Remember…it’s only just the beginning.
GO YANKEES!!!
“The Time Has Come To Test Thy Courage”
“The time has come to test thy courage,” said the Great Deku Tree to Link. Link, just a little boy, did what he had to do to try and save the Deku Tree in what is arguably the greatest video game ever made, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” He may have been frightened, but he was in no place to worry. Link just put aside whatever worries he may have had, and walked right into the tree into a mess of enemies. He didn’t sit there for days worrying or trying to hypothesize what would happen – he just did what he had to do.
Oh, if ONLY I was more like Link…
In these few days before the Yankees and Twins go at it in the ALDS, I have been a mess. I’ve been trying to predict who will pitch well, who will hit well, who will WIN, everything. It’s driving me insane. I wish I could just sit back, relax, and let what happens happen. But I just CAN’T.
One thing my mind has been wrestling over the past few days has been the Yankee pitching. CC Sabathia is going up against Francisco Liriano in game 1. Then it’s Andy Pettitte for game 2, and Phil Hughes for game 3. The Yanks are going with the 3-man rotation like last season…or is it.
I’m going to be honest: I had WAY more confidence in the Yankee pitching last year. This year? Not so much…especially down the stretch. I’m just so worried about these three guys the Yankees are sending out there. Phil Hughes, on paper, has had a nice season, but he has been pretty darn bad in the second half. Andy Pettitte has had just three starts since his long DL stint. He was good in the first game, but the last two were hard to watch. Then there is CC…Oh, CC…C”Cy,”….my sweet Hefty-Lefty. CC has been the best pitcher in baseball since he joined the Yankees…why should I worry about him?
BECAUSE HE’S BEEN SOOOO GOOD FOR SOOOO LONG THAT HE’S BOUND TO DO BADLY SOONER OR LATER!!!
And because the pressure is on him! Okay it was on him last year when he was the ace, but there is more pressure this year because EVERYONE ELSE SUCKS!!! Last year Burnett was a beast, and Pettitte was healthy and successful….This year is SO different and I really don’t like it.
Okay that’s a little unfair – everyone else doesn’t suck. I’m sorry guys…I’m just a little stressed out here…you know I didn’t mean that.
And who am I kidding? Pressure…CC Sabathia…Pshhh…yeah right. Hello! Earth to Virginia! You call him C”Cy” for a reason!
I’m not really worried about the offense…I’m more worried about Joe Girardi. He tends to do things his way…which backfires more often than one would think. He handles the bullpen well, but not so much the lineups. I saw that Austin Kearns is on the postseason roster…I can’t help but to worry if Girardi is going to utilize his lefty-pitcher-righty-hitters lineup, which would feature the strikeout king himself, Austin Kearns. I just wish Girardi will use his best players. I hope he listens to me. Just because the opposing team has a lefty pitcher doesn’t mean the Yankees had to send out subpar righties. It’s stupid.
Girardi, all I ask of you is to send out the Yankees best troops, no matter what the situation.
Well, tomorrow’s the big night. There is nothing I can do about it. I mustn’t worry, for what good will that do now? The performance of my Yankees is out of my control. I must accept this, and I must be brave.
-Deep breath, sigh-
Indeed, the time has come to test thy courage, MY courage, in this 2010 postseason.
GO YANKEES!!!
New Life
Yanks Headed in Right Direction
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, and it’s been awhile since the Yankees really looked good. The past few series have been hard to watch. After that 8-game winning streak, the Yankees just fell apart: They lost 2 of 3 to the Orioles, and would have been swept if it wasn’t for Nick Swisher’s walkoff heroics. They were swept by the Rangers. They lost 2 of 3 to those pesky Rays, and they had opportunities to win each of those games. And the first game against the Orioles in this series looked like it was going to continue this losing trend. Magically, the Yankees turned the tides. And just like that, it seems the Yankees have a new life.
The Yankee jumped to a 1-0 lead in game 1 thanks to an Alex Rodriguez solo homer, but that was all the offense for awhile. Despite being in line for the loss, A.J Burnett pitched well, and I was satisfied with his performance. I felt bad that he wasn’t going to win it.
Bottom of the 9th, Yanks down 3-1. Jorge Posada took his turn at bat, and 11 pitches later he was on first with a leadoff single. I was thinking “Oh…here they go again…getting my hopes up for a comeback that will never happen…”
Jo-Po ♥
Or so I thought.
Little did I know, that brilliant at-bat by Jorge would set the tone for the rest of the inning.
Curtis Granderson singled with 1 out. With 2 outs, The Drama King Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate. I wanted to watch, but I just couldn’t – I couldn’t watch A-Rod make the final out, because my Dad would never let me hear the end of it. (I thought so negatively because honestly, the Yankees were awful for so long. Even though I had the slightest feeling that A-Rod would do something big, I didn’t want to express it…I didn’t want to jinx him.)
With 2 strikes, A-Rod decided to wash away my worries. His 3-run homer revived both the Yankees, and myself. Finally, things were looking brighter.
Alex drove in all 4 Yankee runs in game 1.
Mariano nailed down the save, and the Yankees won 4-3.
I wondered: Could the Yankees string a few wins together? For game 2, the Yanks had the perfect guy on the hill: my sweet Hefty-Lefty, CC Sabathia ♥
The game 2 victory was a perfect team win. The offense was back, and it exploded for the first time in a LONG time. Jorge Posada set the tone once again with his clutch 2-run single in the first inning. Cano had a 2-run homer, Granderson had a 3-run homer, everyone contributed.
CC Sabathia wasn’t CC-spectacular, but he was still good. Yankee fans get spoiled with CC. Even so, CC’s 7 innings of 3-run baseball was good enough to earn himself that 20th win.
Congrats on this milestone, C “Cy.” You are the best ♥
The heroes for the 4-3 victory in game 1 are A.J. Burnett, for a solid start, and A-Rod for all that offense. For game 2’s 11-3 win, the heroes are Cano and Granderson, for their homers, and CC Sabathia for yet another quailty outing, and for winning #20. And Jorge is a hero for both, because he set the tone for both wins.
All of a sudden, things are looking brighter for my Yankees. They are back in first place. Burnett pitched well. CC pitched well. Jeter is hitting again. Gardner and Swisher are back in the lineup. And best of all, Andy Pettitte is returning today. If Andy can be good, then I think the Yankees have a great shot at going all the way. CC, Andy, and Nova seem like enough to win it. And if BURNETT can stay sharp…..wouldn’t that be something…
These 2 wins very well may be the start of something good for my boys.
GO YANKEES!!!!
Starting the 2nd Half
It’s funny how things change so fast in baseball. One minute, the Yankees had the best starting rotation in the Majors. Then all of a sudden, there are issues. Issues that may loom very large. The team managed to win the series against the pesky Rays. But they have dropped the first one to the Angels. They are 2-2 so far in the second half.
I don’t want to talk about Game 2 against the Rays. A.J. was cranky and cost the game. He had to smash his hand? Really? It’s no wonder these guys are athletes – they aren’t too bright.
Try using your brain? Please…no more violence to your pitching hand.
The only thing about that game that made me smile was seeing Francisco Cervelli steal a base. It was the first time I ever saw him steal and be SAFE! Oh, Francisco….you never fail to make me happy ♥
Old Timer’s Day was before that dreadful game 2, and that was fun. I got a kick out of seeing their 2 inning game:
– I LOL-ed when I saw David Cone playing third base. Then he threw the ball all weird. Haha, why was he playing third base? He was an amazing pitcher!
-Ron Guidry shading his eyes from the sun when he caught the popup. I don’t know why, but that was just funny.
-Rick Cerone purposely letting the ball hit him so he’d be safe at first base! I can’t say I’ve ever seen that before.
-Al Downing can actually still throw the ball! He’s 69 years old, and he looks like he can still pitch.
-Mickey Rivers. He misplayed about 7 balls in the outfield. But he got the walkoff hit for his team! Seeing him run the bases and kick it into “high gear” was pretty cool. I was waiting for A.J. Burnett to pie him, but he never did….
Speaking of A.J. and pie and his hand, Tim McCarver is a moron, which I’m sure you already know. He was “speculating” how A.J. hurt his hand. He was like:
“Maybe he hurt himself when he pied Swisher on Friday night. Maybe he cut his hand on the pie plate! That must be it!”
WHAT AN IDIOT! The pie isn’t on a plate, it’s not some decadent dessert. It’s whip cream on a towel.
The Yankees won the finale of the Rays series, but it wasn’t a very happy victory. Our most consistent starter, who to many is the MVP of the first half, got hurt and is on the DL. Poor Andy….my dandy Andy. He may be out with his groin issue for 4 or 5 weeks, but he’s hoping to return in 3.
😦
Andy will be replaced by Sergio Mitre, who is on the top of my list of hot Yankees. Of course, Mitre is no Pettitte. No one is a Pettitte. But honestly, I’m worried about Mitre taking over that spot in the rotation. Sergio has been on the DL since mid June with some oblique injury he got during batting practice. He hasn’t pitched in so long. Mitre, being a sinkerball pitcher, is more successful when he is a little fatigued because then his pitches sink more. I’m worried that he is too well rested and may be a little rusty. I hope I’m wrong.
Please be good, baby….we are counting on you ♥
Game 1 against the Angels worried me, too. Phil Hughes was just…awful. Truthfully, Phil hasn’t been his Philthy self in a long time. His record is very misleading, because the Yankees usually score for him (this was not the case in game 1). He got off to a great start, tossing to a 2.00 ERA in April. He was solid in May as well, posting a 3.03 ERA that month. June was rocky as Hughes had a 5.17 ERA. And so far in July, things have only gotten worse. His ERA this month is an ugly 6.00. He has gotten progressively worse as the season went on. How can I not be worried? It’s time for him to step up. The team is depending on him, especially with their starting situation. He can’t keep giving up 6 runs and hoping the offense will pick him up. The offense can’t do that every night.
Where is the Phil Hughes that I know and love? It’s not this guy….
Starting pitching is what won the World Series for the Yankees last year. And starting pitching is the reason why the Yankees have the best record in baseball. I’m not too thrilled about the starting pitching situation we have here.
-CC, I hope you continue your dominance. And Happy Birthday ♥
-A.J., PLEEEASE…don’t hurt your hand again. We need you.
-Andy, recover quickly, but don’t rush back. We need you strong and healthy for the 2nd half.
-Javy, just keep on doing what you are doing. Keep making me proud 😉
-Phil, pull yourself together! I want you to be Philthy good, not Philthy bad.
-Sergio! As long as you give us a few good innings, I’ll be happy.
Jeez…I’m wishing we had Cliff Lee a little more now……..
And That Concludes the 1st Half!
Yanks Take 3 of 4 in Seattle
Winning this series before the All-Star break is incredibly comforting. If anything else, it shows that my Yankees aren’t getting lazy – they stay focused no matter what time of year.
Here are my quick thoughts about each game:
Game 1 – Yankees win 3-1
Andy Pettitte continued to amaze me, but I wondered: Why can’t he field a bunt? Alex Rodriguez continued to be clutch. 3rd in the league in RBI? Pretty beast.
CLUTCH…
Game 2 – Yanekes win 6-1
Mark Teixeira’s hot-streak was not a fluke? 2 HR in one game is good Mark, but sadly not good enough to get you onto that All-Star roster. You’re a little late. And Phil Hughes! Bouncing back from some not-so-good starts…way to get back to your Philthy self!
I was praying that he’d be good. God, thanks for listening 🙂
Game 3 – Yankees lose 4-1
Javier Vazquez silenced all those idiots who wanted to trade him for Jayson Werth by tossing 5.2 no-hit innings before Ichiro got the first “hit,” a ball hit off Javy that he threw wildly (should’ve been an error.) Nick Swisher continued his hot-hitting with a big fly of King Felix. AND WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH JOBA CHAMBERLAIN???? He single-handidly destroyed the game for Javy and the Yanks.
Aw, Javy…it was an error! You pitched great. Thank Joba for spoiling your “W.”
Game 4 – Yankees win 8-2
A pitching rematch from the game I saw on July 1st. CC Sabathia dominated just like he did when I saw him. And I love when everyone is hitting! The entire lineup, including guys like Marcus Thames, contributed to this win. And when you add to this the Mariners’s sloppy defense and the bright shining sun, it gets even more fun.
Mark Teixeira’s “sun double.” Poot Saunders…that must be a helpless feeling.
The Yankees concluded te first half with a sparkling record of 56-32, 2 games ahead of the pesky Rays. Looking ahead to the 2nd half, these are a few things I’d like to see:
-Curtis Granderson heating up. He’s hitting around .350 over his last 6 games. Hopefully he can keep this up after the break.
-Maybe I should call this “things I WOULDN’T like to see.” I wouldn’t like to see Chan Ho Park anymore. Just get rid of him. Designate him for assignment, and bring up someone who can actually help this team, maybe Boone Logan.
-Continued dominance from our starters (duh).
-A healthy Mariano. He’s a little worn out, which is why he’s not going to be at the All-Star Game even though he’s an All-Star. Hopefully, he can rest-up over the break and be back to his regular robotic self for the 2nd half.
-#600. A-Rod is getting closer every day to that magic number. I remember his 500th home run against the Royals. It was an unforgettable moment. I can’t wait for this next milestone!
-Nick Swisher in the Home Run Derby! THAT’S TODAY! I spent a pretty nice chunk of my week voting for Swish in the Final Vote Campaign, and it paid off! I must have voted around 3000 times, give or take.
I honestly don’t think Nick is going to win the Home Run Derby, but hey – you never know. Nick has really surprised me with his outstanding first-half this year. I’m starting to believe that he can do almost anything. But no matter what happens tonight, I’ll be happy. Just seeing Nick at this event is going to make me smile.
I’ll have a big smile too, Nick ♥
I can’t believe the season is halfway over. That’s kind of sad. It’s been so much fun so far.
But I know that the best has yet to come.
Yankees, congrats on a great first half! Enjoy the break, enjoy the All-Star festivities, and I’ll see you again Friday 🙂
Trail of Tears 2010
Yanks Win 3 of 4 From Tribe
Trail of Tears: during Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the relocation and movement of Native Americans from their homelands in the Indian Territory in the Western United States. The phrase originated from a description of the removal of the Chocktaw Nation in 1831. Many died during the journey.
My AP exams are over, but I still have to review for the New York State Regents Exam for history, which is later in June. I know. I’m a nerd 😛 The Yankees just closed out their wrap-around weekend series with the Cleveland Indians. Aside from game 2, they really killed the Indians. The offense was superb, for the first time in a long time. Today was a prime example of the Yankees Offensive Explosion at best. But after awhile, I began to really feel bad for the Indians. I mean, they were so deflated, and the Yankees just kept piling on the runs. In 1831, Andrew Jackson did what he had to do because he thought it was the best thing for the country. Naturally, it was painful for many. The Yankees have to win, and the best thing for winning is to not give away at bats, hit hit hit, and get that confidence back. I honestly felt very bad for the Indians today. But I love my Yankees, and am glad they won. My Yankees beat the Indians 11-2 in this Memorial Day series finale.
Pitching Analysis: Andy Pettitte looked to follow up on his fabulous performance in his last start against the Twins. Today, Andy was as dandy as always. 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, ZERO WALKS, 4 strikeouts – just brilliant. The only run he allowed was on a solo home run by Jhonny Peralta in the 2nd. He was so sharp today. And although the game ended in blowout fashion, it was really close for most of it. Andy did a nice job of shutting down the opposition, and giving the Yankees a chance to win it.
He might be an All-Star this year if this keeps up!
Offensive Analysis: The game remained tight early. The Yankees struck first thanks to an RBI single by A-Rod, but then Peralta’s homer made it 1-1. Brett Gardner gave the Yankees the lead with his RBI single in the 4th. It remained 2-1 for what seemed like such a long time.
Things changed in the 7th inning, as they have in every game this series. After Gardner made the first out at 2nd base trying to steal, Jeet and GrandyMan singled. I was annoyed because they would have had another run if Gardner didn’t get caught, but I don’t blame him for running. He is the best at that. Anyway, with 2 men on and 1 out, Mark Teixeira got ahead in the count, and was intentionally walked. That brought up the big guy – Alex Rodriguez. Drama always seems to find Alex, or Alex always seems to find drama. Either way, the Drama King of the Drama Club struck again today.
With a 3-1 count, Alex got a ball right down the middle. He deposited it over the wall in dead centerfield. It couldn’t have been a more perfect swing. The curtain call was great. Above all, Alex’s grand slam gave the Yankees a 6-1 lead.
Beeeast
Robinson Cano was so good in the cleanup spot the other day. Now, he’s competing with A-Rod’s every swing. Following up the grand slam, Robbie Cano crushed a ball for a solo home run, making it 7-1 Yankees. He is so cute. Cano and A-Rod had a nice discussion in the dugout after their homers.
My baby Francisco Cervelli tacked on another run in the 7th with a sac fly. In the 8th, Ramiro Pena led off with a single, then Tex singled with 1 out, setting up an RBI opportunity for A-Rod. Again, Alex delivered. His RBI double made it 9-1. Cano didn’t want Alex to stay in the spotlight – he then singled in 2 runs, making it 11-1 Yanks. They held on to win it 11-2.
I know the Yankees are supposed to beat up on these teams, but I felt bad for them. They are a young, adorable group of guys. I wish them luck in the future. Aside from the pity factor, today’s game was beast. Seeing the Yankees play like the Yankees is comforting. The heroes for the victory are Andy Pettitte, for yet another spectacular start, A-Rod, for yet another grand slam and for 6 RBI today, and Robinson Cano, for yet another good game and adorable smile.
Keep up the good baseball, guys!
GO YANKEES!
Live, Eat, and Breathe Yankees 
