Split fine, but not in way imagined

      Alright, let’s get things straight.  When the Rangers beat the Rays, I though that we had a great chance at wining the first two games against Texas, but it was more likely to split the opening games at Airlington.  My thinking was that we would lose (if we were going to) to C.J. Wilson because of the long layoff.  But in actuality, the Yanks won the first game (but C.C. did falter in most likely due to the extra rest).  So when game 2 was soon to begin, I thought to myself, “Well, were about to go back home with a 2-0 lead on the series with the pitcher with the most ever playoff wins in the history of baseball, not bad at all.”
      But it wasn’t to be, as Phil Hughes stunk (Girardi did keep him in the game too long though) and the offense couldn’t come back again.  They continually left men on base (it seemed like every inning there were two guys on base with no outs) and I even got mad at Cano for hitting a home run with no one on.
However don’t worry Yankees fans, there’s still hope.  Cliff Lee could tank and give up 3 or 4 runs, because, I mean, come on, we gotta beat him one time right?  We DO have the best offense in all of MLB, right?  Andrew Eugene Pettitte, a likely hall-of-famer is throwing for us, so why he can throw 7 innings of shutout ball as much as anyone else can, right?
      Ahhh, the questions of baseball, and more specifically, playoff baseball.

Again, I apoligize

      I am deeply sorry and apologize for not writing sooner, but I had to go to a funeral and my mother’s birthday just happened, so I was very busy.  Since then, the Yanks had a 8-game wining streak, and got a bigger lead on Tampa Bay.  Javier Vasquez got back into the rotation, and Ivan Nova wasn’t exactly spectacular against Toronto.
      Here are some pictures from what those 2 days.
Mariano and Jorge.jpg

Jeter and Jackson.jpgThames watches shot.jpg

C.C. furthers Cy Young talk, Yanks sweep Athletics

      I had a good feeling about yesterday’s game, what with Sabathia being on the mound, and the Rays off, it felt like we were going to sweep.  As it turned out, the big man showed up.
Sabathia wins #19.jpg      He went 8 innings of SHUTOUT ball, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 5 to gone along with 3 walks.  Many Yankee-haters say that C.C. isn’t Cy Young quality, and that wins don’t count any more.  Well, I don’t care what team your on, if you go 8 innings and only give up one hit, your bound to win.  Joe Girardi even said that he would’ve left him in if not for the extreme weather.  “It was a hot day, and C.C.’s someone we need to take care of a little bit,” Joe said with a sly smile.
      On to the offense, Curtis Granderson started the game on the bench, thinking he might get in the game later on.  When asked if he thought he would hit 2 home runs, Curtis said “I don’t know I figured I might come in somewhere in the 7th or 8th inning but you never know,” Granderson said.  He hit two home runs, one in the 6th and then one an inning later in the 7th, a two-run shot.
      Again, this game was pretty much all C.C., and the Jonathan Albaladejo finish up the game throwing a perfect 9th.  Later today the rookie, Ivan Nova, faces the Blue Jays for a rematch from his first start.

Burnett starts September well, 5-game wining streak

      When I heard A.J. Burnett was pitching, I was scared.
Robinson Cano Scared.jpg      But the Yanks showed me there was no need to worry.  They scored 4 runs, (no double-digit scores today) and Burnett pitched well.  He went 6 innings, struck out a season-high tying 8 batters, and only gave up 3 earned runs.  Not great, but good enough.
      Mark Teixeira started the scoring with a RBI double in the first which scored Derek Jeter.  Then, in the 2nd, after a base hits by Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez, Brett Anderson, the A’s starting pitcher, missed a catch on a ball from Jeter which consequently scored Granderson and moved Nunez up to second.  After Eduardo stole third, Swisher walked to load the bases.  Tex followed up with a single and both Nunez and Jeter scored, making it 3-0.
      The A’s scored two in the 4th on a home run by Kevin Kouzmanoff and tacked on another run in the 5th, making it 4-3 Yanks, and that would end up being the final score.
      Mariano Rivera was one of the four relievers Joe Girardi used, as he closed the game out for his 28th save and the New York’s 83 win. 

In time gone, Yanks get lead, 2 wins

      Well, since I last posted, a lot of things happened in Yankees Universe.  On Monday, Dustin Moseley wasn’t great, going only 4 and 1/3.  He had given up 4 runs, and Girardi had seen enough.  He took him out and brought in… Javier Vasquez.  I know, I know, it’s him.  But he was actually very good, going 4 and 2/3 innings and saving the bullpen from getting depleted.  He got the win, while giving up only one earned run and striking out 6 on the way.

      Teixeira, Cano, and Thames all hit home runs in that game, and Trevor Cahill, the supposed Cy Young contender, was horrible.  He gave up 8 runs and pretty much stopped talks of the coveted pitching award.

      On Tuesday (yesterday), the Phil Hughes went 5, and wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad either.  He gave up 5 hits and struck out only 1.  Hughes said he was out of whack, and Girardi and the Yankees were happy that he battled through and managed to get the win.

      The Bombers offense did what they do best, hitting home runs.  They hit another 3 tonight with the contestants on the “Blasting Bombers” were Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, and Curtis Granderson.  Teixeira hit his 30th, Swisher his 25th, and Granderson his 15th.

      With the win, the Yankees (finally) moved into 1st place,

Yankees celebrating.jpg

yeah, I fell the same way fellas; since the Blue Jays bashed the Rays wining 13-5.  Also, the Red Sox lost, so they move 8 games behind us, so I think there season is almost done, but there is still a lot of season left.

      If everyone reading this could please pray for my neighbor, Sissy, her husband died on Monday from Cancer and Diabetes.

Nova fearless, helps Yankees win series 2-1

      Well, the Yankees won a nail-bitter yesterday, but what I’m really happy about is that Ivan Nova, the rookie who had only one Major League start before the game.  He went 5 and 2/3 (Girardi took him out to early again) while striking out 7 and only giving up 5 hits.  He seems to fear nothing, saying that pitching in the Major Leagues is the same baseball that he played in Scranton, and he dominated there.  Ivan seems like a great option for the Yankees in the postseason, and you have to believe Joe Girardi would have him in the playoff rotation.

      The Bombers must’ve taken some time off yesterday, only scoring 2 runs, with Marcus Thames (he’s been great this series, hitting 4 home runs) hitting yet another homer, and Gardner hitting the eventual game-winning RBI single.  The White Sox scored in the bottom of the 5th, with Juan-Pierre hitting a RBI single to shallow right, scoring Gordan Beckham.

      Kerry Wood made things interesting in the sixth when he threw a wild pitch moving Paul Konerko to third and A.J. Pierzynski to second.  He then walked  Alexei Ramirez before getting Mark Teahen to ground out to first.

      Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth and we all know how well he shut’s the door.  With the win, the Yankees were the first team in MLB to get 80 wins, but the pesky Rays beat Boston last night to stay tied with the Yanks for the most wins in baseball, and the AL East division lead. 

C.C. not dominate but good enough

      Let’s be honest, we all probably like C.C. Sabathia more than A.J. Burnett; and that’s fine.  It is most likely a cause of C.C. being a dominant pitcher while A.J. has been “eh” at best.  For example, if it had been Burnett pitching last night giving up 5 runs with 9 hits, we would all probably be saying, “Oh, another bad start by A.J., and, he;s no good.”  Instead, with C.C. pitching yesterday, we’re all saying, “Yes, Sabathia leads the league in wins, and did you see those 9 strikeouts?  Fantastic.”

      It looked early on that this was going to be a game consisted of tons of scoring by the Yanks, and C.C. shutting the White Sox down.  However, Sabathia couldn’t hold on but did give the Yankees length.  He pitched 7 innings and has improved his Cy Young candidacy even more, although his ERA did raise a bit.  He now leads the league in wins, is second in innings pitched, oh, and by the way, has the highest winning percentage in all of baseball.

      Unlike Friday, there was no shortage of offense for the Yankees yesterday, with 12 runs and 14 hits.  They hit three home runs; with Eduardo Nunez hitting one of them.

     

Eduardo Nunez.jpg

I am surprised he is hitting this well.  Grant it, he’s not hitting .400 with 5 homers, but when he gets his hits, they come at the right time. 

      The Yankees are still tied with the Rays, and hopefully they can pull away as we begin to enter September.