Game 46. Today’s lineup

This Memorial Day weekend, take time to remember what this weekend is for.

Here’s today’s lineup and stats.

Yanks 24-21, 3rd in A.L. East, 4 1/2 back.
Right now, in the 2nd W.C. slot. OPS+ 111, ERA+ 104.
Even with their Pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/att  OPS+
Comments at side and bottom

Jeter SS .339-5-16  3/4   127    leads AL in hits             
Granderson CF .262-14-25  1/3  141    still should run
Rodriguez DH  .285-7-18  6/6  118
Cano 2B .294-6-19  1/1  122
Teixeira 1B .231-6-23  1/2  86
Ibanez LF  .270-9-27  2/2  132
Swisher RF .243-8-29  0/0  110
Chavez 3B .279-3-6  0/0  105    .217, 1 RBI in last eight games
Stewart C .242-0-5  0/0  45     8 for 33

Sabathia LHP  5-2, 3.78  ERA+ 112

Jeter still at 3152 hits, tied with Paul Waner and two behind George Brett. Since May 4th, .240-0-1 in 75 at bats.

A-Rod is tied with the demoted (and now Dl’d) Nunez for the team lead in steals.

In his last twelve games, Teixeira is .286 with 2 HR. Maybe it’s a sign he is finally getting over the bug and coming around.

 

Game 45. Tonight’s lineup

A 10 p.m. Eastern start since the Yanks are in Oakland. I hate those West coast times (they mean staying up really late) but what can you do?

The Yanks signed John Maine to a minor league deal today. Maine didn’t pitch in the majors in 2011, nor has he this year. In 2010 the 31-yr. old RHP went 1-3, 6.13 in nine starts for the Mets. He is 41-36, 4.35 in his MLB career, ERA+ 98. His best year was 2007 for the Mets when he went 15-10, 3.91.

From Lohud’s blog:

Former Yankees outfielder Chad Curtis has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct after accusations he inappropriately touched two students at a Michigan high school.

Now that’s odd. Curtis was a person who sort of ticked off some teammates because he was, as they put it, too pushy as far as his religion and beliefs. You may remember him for his two HR (one a walkoff) in Game 3 of the 1999 WS, and for catching the last out of that WS. Now to let the system find him guilty or not.

Yanks 23-21, 4th in A.L. East, 4 1/2 out. OPS+ 110, ERA+ 103. Even with their pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/attempts  OPS+

Jeter SS .348-5-16  3/4  134 Granderson CF .256-14-25  1/3  140 Rodriguez 3B .281-7-18  5/5  119 Cano 2B .297-5-18  1/1  122 Teixeira 1B  .226-5-21  1/2  79 Ibanez LF .263-9-27  2/2  130 Swisher RF  .236-7-27  0/0  102   really slumping lately Chavez DH .293-3-6  0/0  113 Martin C .173-4-10  1/1  74   needs to get off the “Interstate”

RHP  Nova   4-2, 5.69  ERA+ 74     Needs to do better

Jeter has 3152 career hits, tied with Paul “Big Poison” Waner and two behind George Brett on the all-time list.

A-Rod is 180 hits from 3000, and 89 RBI from 2000. The HR count is at 636, and he is 152 runs scored away from 2000.

Game 44. Alex and Andy lead Yanks, 8-3.

Andy Pettitte proved that last week was no fluke, as he pitched seven strong innings against the Royals tonight in the Yankees’ 8-3 victory.

The win was #242 of Pettitte’s career, and enabled him to surpass fellow Yankee lefty great Herb Pennock on the all-time list. It’s Pettitte’s 205th win as a Yankee.

After Andy put down the Royals 1-2-3 in the first, the Yanks struck vs. Will Smith of the Royals. Smith, making his MLB debut, may turn out to be the Prince of KC, but he wasn’t the Prince of the Bronx—at least tonight.

Granderson homered (#14) to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. This after he showed bunt. After a walk to Teixeira, A-Rod, who had hit only one HR since April 27th, finally hit #635 (sixth of the year) to give Pettitte an early 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, Jeter doubled for the first of his three hits for the night. Granderson singled him to third but Teix GIDP. The run scored, no RBI, Yanks up 4-0. A-Rod then homered again. #7 of the year, #636 for his career and the Yanks went up 5-0.

Pettitte gave up solo HRs in the fourth and fifth to cut the Yanks’ lead to 5-2.

The Yanks got three runs on only one hit in the fifth to push it to 8-2. Nix HBP, Jeter got a bunt hit (YAY! Littleball!) and an E-5 put men on 2nd and 3rd, no out. Granderson walked to load the bases and a walk to Teixeira forced in a run. A-Rod grounded into a force at the plate. He is still one behind Lou Gehrig’s record of 23 grand slams. Cano hit into a force, run scored. Swish HBP. Jones walked, forcing in a run.

Pettitte wound up going 7+, 2 R, 7 H, 1 walk and 8 K. He improves to 2-1, ERA to 2.53 (from 2.51).

Jeter’s 3 hits tonight tie him with Paul Waner on the all-time list at 3152. 16th on the all-time list. Next up? George Brett at 3154.

Phelps went the last two innings. 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 2 K. ERA to 2.87.

Hopefully this starts A-Rod on a streak where he can carry a team.

The Yanks are off Thursday as they head to the West coast. Yuk. Late night games.

One bad thing about tonight? The continued struggles of Martin, who left seven on and is down to .173.

Game 44. Teix back to 3rd in lineup today

The Yanks try to stay above .500 today. Teixeira is back up at 3rd in the lineup.

22-21, 4th in A.L. East, 5 1/2 back. Even with the Pythagorean mark, OPS+ 108, ERA+ 102.

Jeter SS .341-5-16  3/4  130  Hit count: 3149
Granderson CF .250-13-24  1/3  134  Still want him to RUN!
Teixeira 1B .229-5-20  1/2  78   Needs to get it going. 
Rodriguez 3B .276-5-15  5/5  109   See below
Cano 2B .304-5-17  1/1  127
Swisher RF .239-7-27  0/0  102  See below.
Jones DH .217-4-8  0/0  93    See below.
Martin C .179-4-10  1/1  79   See Below.
Nix LF .263-2-4  0/1  129  5 for 19. 

Pettitte LHP  1-1, 2.51. ERA+ 171.   3rd start of his comeback.

Jeter leads the AL in hits. 3 behind Waner and 5 behind Brett on the all-time list. But since May 4, hitting .231 (15 for 65), with last night’s RBI as his only RBI in that period (16 games). All hits are singles except for one double, and there have been 6 GIDP.

A-Rod has just 1 HR since 4/27. Of his 43 hits, only 10 are XBH. Where’s the power?

Swisher:  .177 since 4/28, 1 HR, 4 RBI.  11 for 62, 17 strikeouts in that span (compare lack of HR to A-Rod; same time period).

I have to wonder if Mustelier, at this point, would be a better option than Jones. Mustelier in 42 games AA/AAA? .337-8-29. 5/9 in SB.

I also have to wonder if a 40 year old Posada could hit better right now than Martin. (Not catch better, mind you…)

Pettitte is looking for career win #242, Yankee win #205.

Game 43. Still problems, but a 3-2 win.

The Yanks went to 22-21 tonight, but the offensive woes continued.

Phil Hughes was strong through six,  2 R, 5 H, 2 walks and 7 K. He goes to 4-5, 4.94. It’s still below average, but from where he once was at, it marks improvement.

On the down side, it also marks the ninth straight start in which he has given up a HR. The guys on My 9 noted that it is one behind “Black” Jack McDowell in 1995 with 10 straight starts.

After a 1-2-3 first, I got ticked off right away. In the bottom of the first, with one out, Granderson walks. He doesn’t even try to steal. Now, the Royals did pitchout with A-Rod up. Ok. But Grandy is still just 1 of 3 this year. You can’t just wait on Cano or A-Rod to do something. MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! I miss Gardner. I miss the times when Rickey Henderson would MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Grandy doesn’t go. Nothing happens.

Down 1-0 in the third, I really got ticked off. Martin walks to lead off the inning and Wise is up. Wise strikes out. For most of the at bat, Wise, 2 for 20, does NOT try to bunt. Are you kidding me? You are having trouble scoring runs, and a 2 for 20 AAAA player isn’t bunting? He makes out. Jeter GIDP. Aaaaaargh.

Hughes gives up a HR in the fourth. 2-0 KC. In the bottom of the inning, Cano hits #5. 2-1. A-Rod singles and steals second. 5 for 5 in steals. Do you know A-Rod is second on the team in that? Behind Nunez’ 6 for 7? Why isn’t Jeter or Grandy going?

So he is on second, one out. Ibanez and Swish can’t get him in.

To the fifth, and the biggest play of the game may be on something the Yankees have NOT been doing—-bunting.

Teix singles. Martin HBP. Two on, none out. Wise bunts, as he (2 for 21) should. It actually goes for a HIT!

Bases loaded, none out.

Jeter singles, hit #3149, to tie the game. Bases still loaded, and the Yanks still don’t take advantage.

Granderson grounds out, which leads to the game-winning run. But no one knew it at the time, and the Yanks don’t pad their lead.

Cano is walked intentionally. Bases loaded & one out. Do the Yanks tack on? Are you kidding me? A-Rod & Ibanez both strike out.

It could have been fatal.

Girardi worked the pen. Wade 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 2.18.

Logan 1/3, 0 R, 1 h, 0 walk, 1 K. 3.12.

Eppley 1/3, 0 R, 0 h, 0 walk, 0 K. 3.24.

Rapada 2/3, 0 r, 0 h, 0 walks, 0 K. 3.95.

Soriano 1 IP and gave us a scare. For with one out he gave up a double. He got a groundout. Runner to third. A grounder to A-Rod. The throw. Teix made a GREAT play in stretching for the throw and keeping his toe on the bag. Just got him. Yanks win 3-2.

Soriano 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and K. Save #3, ERA 2.35.

Swisher is slumping so badly, he is down to .239.

…and to think. Wise’s bunt may be the play of the game…

Game 41. The lineup

We’ve hit the quarterpole, and the Yanks are just 21-19. Mediocre. They have to start picking it up soon, in every facet of the game.

21-19, 4th in A.L. East, 5 1/2 back of those surprising (best record in A.L.) Orioles. Even with the Pythagorean record, which says that they are what they should be. 21-19, no better or worse via some kind of luck. OPS+ 110, ERA+ 103, and that’s not too much above the mean (100). Hence, once again, the 21-19.

Jeter SS .355-5-15  3/4   140
Granderson CF .256-13-23  1/3  136
Cano 2B  .302-4-16  1/1   119
Rodriguez 3B .278-5-15  4/4  112
Ibanez DH .264-8-25  2/2  132
Swisher RF .260-7-27  0/0  117
Chavez 1B .288-3-6  0/0  111   15 for 52
Wise LF   2 for 17 (.118) 1 SB  .118-0-0  1/1   -8 (Minus 8)
Stewart C   6 for 30, .200-0-5  0/0  24

Sabathia LHP   5-1, 3.77   ERA +  113

Notes: Jeter’s 59 hits lead the majors. 3147 career, five behind Waner, seven behind Brett.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why Granderson has decided to stop stealing bases. Since August 9th of last year, he has only attempted to steal SIX times, going 4 for 6. In other words, in the last 90 games, Granderson is just 4 of 6 in SB. This from a guy 26 for 27 in 2007, 20 for 26 in 2009, and 25 for 35 last year. This lineup is struggling to score runs. Struggling to get a hit with RISP. It seems as if Granderson is power only now, and that is just wrong. Curtis must run!    

A-Rod has just one HR since 4/27. Stuck on 634. He needs 185 hits for 3000, 92 RBI for 2000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q2Qx6gVXq0

Check the link. If only the Mick were alive to teach this to Granderson, Gardner, Wise…

Interesting horserace. Could this be like 1978, the last year a horse won the Triple Crown? Affirmed over Alydar that year by what, length, head and nose? Here we have I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister, with I’ll Have Another winning by a length and a neck. Apparently Bodemeister may not race the Belmont. That’s too bad. It’d be great to see those two repeat the great Belmont stretch run of 1978, where the Triple Crown was won by a nose by Affirmed. Alydar was a great horse. In any other year…. much like Bodemeister appears to be now.

 

Game 38. A-Rod off.

Last night Jeter had the night off. Tonight it is A-Rod.

Yanks 20-17, 3rd, 3 1/2 out. One game better than Pythagorean,
OPS+ 113, ERA+ 103.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/Att/OPS+

 

Jeter 6  .366-5-15  2/3 150    Hit count: 3144
Granderson 8 .248-13-23  1/3  136    Remember when he used to STEAL?
Cano 4 .302-3-14  1/1  114
Teixeira 3  .234-5-20  1/2   83
Ibanez 7  .263-7-22  2/2  128
Swisher DH  .258-7-26  0/0  123
Chavez 5  .295-3-6  0/0  120
Jones 9  .226-4-8  0/0  107
Martin 2 .172-3-9  1/1  72

Hughes 1  3-4, 5.50   ERA+ 78

Hmmm. See my previous post regarding aggressive baserunning. With Alex (4 for 4) out, Gardner DL’d and Nuneeeeez down, you don’t see any baserunners in the lineup. 12 attempts (8 successful) by the WHOLE lineup. Jeter isn’t running much. One guy who can and doesn’t is Granderson. He had 25 steals last year and doesn’t run anymore.

The Yanks picked up Matt Antonelli off of waivers. The second baseman is 27, a righty hitter, and has 57 major league at bats (2008 Padres), hitting .193-1-3. He’ll go to AAA.

Game 36. Robertson to DL

Cody Eppley has been recalled. David Robertson (of the incredibly shrinking bullpen) has been D’L'd. He won’t pick up a ball for 7-10 days. Strained left oblique for D-Rob.

Yanks 20-15, 3rd place. 1 1/2 out. OPS+117, ERA+ 106.
They are one game BETTER than their pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/attempts, OPS+

Jeter 6 .367-5-15  2/3  151   9 hits behind Paul Waner, 11 behind Brett.
Swisher 9  .277-7-26  0/0  138
Cano 4 .303-3-14  1/1  113
Rodriguez 5  .292-5-14  3/3  122  See Below
Teixeira 3 .231-5-19  1/2  83   Need to get him going.
Granderson 8 .257-12-21  1/3  142   12 HR, 21 RBI mean solo HRs
Jones DH .240-4-8  0/0  115
Nix 7    1 for 10; hit a HR, 2 RBI
Stewart 2  .240-0-5  0/0  49     6 for 25

Sabathia 1   5-0, 3.51   ERA+ 123

Alex has 38 hits, 30 singles. The average is ok, but you wonder about the power. 3 doubles, 5 HR.

Game 35. Banged up Yankees post an 8-5 win.

So, where to start? Ivan Nova took one off his leg and although he went 5 1/3, he limped off with a bruise & could miss a start. Teix has been playing through illness, now it appears that Rapada has picked up a viral infection. Ibanez was HBP tonight and was removed from the game.

The Yanks did pick up a game on the Orioles with an 8-5 win. Nova wasn’t great, got hit by a liner, may miss a start but a W is a W. Teixeira, struggling through an illness, hit a 2-run HR to break a 5-5 tie, then later doubled and scored.

Nova was off from the get-go. He gave up two in the first. The Yanks tied it in the fourth on a two-run double by Swish, then went ahead the next inning on a HR by Granderson (12).

Nova however, gave up 3 in the fifth. It is unknown whether the injury hurt him in that inning or not.

Nova 5 1/3, 5 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 4 K. Not impressive. A no-decision, ERA to 5.44 (yuk) despite the 4-1 record. He may need to miss his next start because of the bruise.

If so, hopefully David Phelps takes the start. Phelps got his first MLB win tonight.

Down 5-3, the Yanks bounced back in the sixth. An error enabled the Yanks to tie the game, but with the bases loaded and one out, Jeter whiffed and Granderson flew out. Opportunity wasted.

Teix hit his two-run HR (5) in the seventh to give the Yanks the 7-5 lead. In the ninth Teix doubled and scored on a SF for the final tally, 8-5.

Nova’s stats are above.

Rapada 1/3, 0 R, 0 h, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.60.

Phelps 1 IP, 0 R, 3 h, 0 walks and 1 K. Shaky, but his first MLB win. ERA 2.96.  (1-1).

Logan 1 IP, 0 R, 0 h, 0 walks and 3 K. 2.30.

Wade 1/3 IP, 0 r, 0 h, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.59.

Soriano the 9th. Save #2. 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 k. ERA 2.57.

Jeter got hit 3143 to pass Yount.

A-Rod three hits, but it’s interesting to see the O’s play him as if he were Jeter. Not for power, and not to pull. Playing him to hit singles to RF.

The Yanks (20-15) won despite going 1-11 with RISP and stranding 10.

Robertson has been out with a sore rib cage. Sheesh.

A win tonight. We will see how this M*A*S*H* unit is tomorrow.

 

Game 28. Cano, Hughes right selves in Yankees win.

Robbie Cano came into the game with just 4 RBI. With one swing of the bat, he doubled his RBI total.

A third inning grand slam sparked the Yankees to a 10-4 win. It was HR #2 for Cano for the season. Nick Swisher, just off the DL, added a solo shot (HR #7) in the third, and A-Rod hit his fifth of the year, career #634* in the eighth.

Getting Cano on track is vital. Just as vital was seeing a decent outing from Phil Hughes, who went 6 2/3, 3 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 7 K. Hughes improved to 2-4, 6.67. Even in the seventh, Hughes was hitting 93.

Hughes’ outing was important in another way: Andy Pettitte (see the minor league post coming up later tonight) wasn’t that impressive today. Granted Pettitte’s D didn’t help, but Andy may need another AAA outing.

Derek Jeter got two hits to up his career total to 3136, five behind Tony Gwynn on the all-time list. Jeter 3136, Gwynn 3141, Yount 3142, Waner 3152, Brett 3154 and Ripken 3184.

Logan went 1/3, 0 R, 1 h, 0 walks, 0 K. ERA 2.31
Soraino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 h, 1 walks, 0 K. 1.80
Wade 1 IP, 1 R, 2 h, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.02