Did a stress fracture give way?

What happened to cause Derek Jeter’s broken ankle is the conjecture today. Jeter mentioned that a bone bruise led to a stress fracture that finally split apart. When asked about it, neither GM Brian Cashman or Manager Joe Girardi knew anything about a stress fracture. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jeter did have a stress fracture and continued to play on it until it gave way.

Mariano Rivera dropped hints that if he were able to make it back from his ACL tear to pitch in last year’s postseason that he probably would have ten retired. Is this a precursor to his thinking now? Will 2013 be it for the 43 year old Rivera? Mo is the last player left who was born in the 1960s.

Finally, country singer Mindy McCready committed suicide yesterday. I’m not a big country fan and don’t know her music. But she made headlines years ago by admitting that she had an affair with the married (and still married) Roger Clemens when she was still a teenager. Clemens denies it, but Clemens has been denying lots of things. The thing with Roger is, what do you believe?

Game 61. The Big Man gets to hit.

CC Sabathia gets to hit tonight, and the Braves should beware the Big Man. CC is 25 for 100 in his MLB career (.250) and although there is just one walk as opposed to 27 strikeouts, he does have 3 doubles, 3 HR and 14 RBI. So if the big man gets a hold of one, look out. He could become the first Yankee pitcher to HR since Lindy McDaniel at the end of the 1972 season.

The yanks enter the game tied for 1st in the AL East at 35-25. This is one game better than their Pythagorean record. It also is tied for the best record in the AL.

Believe it or not, the ERA+ (113) is better than the OPS+ (111).  It’s a My9 game. A “homecoming” for Andruw.

Jeter 6 .315-6-20  5/6   112   3167 hits, 17 behind Ripken
Granderson 8 .251-18-34  3/6  128
Teixeira 3  .252-11-36  1/2  110
Rodriguez 5 .277-9-25  6/6  114
Cano 4 .300-11-30  1/1  135
Swisher 9  .245-9-37  1/1  103
Jones 7 .232-6-13  0/0  110  19 for 82
Stewart 2  .239-0-7  0/0  39  11 for 46
Sabathia 1   7-3, 3.69  ERA+ 115  career batting stats above

David Robertson threw a 1-2-3 inning today at AAA. More in the minor league report to come but it looks as if he’ll be back soon.

Boston released Marlon Byrd. The Blue Jays released Vlad Guerrero. CBS’ Jon Heyman reports: Jays chose not to call him up & agreed to grant him his release. so Vlad will look for different opportunity. There is no thought of retirement.

I like Vlad but see no spot for him on the Yanks. If he was a lefty hitter and could play the OF, then… but…

at this point, Mustelier, as a righty hitting OF, makes more sense than Vlad.

WFAN Sweeny Murti: Andy Pettitte going to throw bullpen session today. Said his hand feels great. Still on schedule for Sat in DC.

Clemens trial over. Now to the jury.

Teofilo Stevenson, Cuban boxer (and gold medal winner 1972, 1976, 1980, heavyweight) dies at 60. You wonder what may have happened had he fought Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Shavers, Holmes, etc.

Game 24. Rain a concern. Once again, Alex DH, Chavez at 3B—a trend?

It’s a raw, drizzly day, so the weather could play a factor tonight.

First off, a shocking day as NFL great Junior Seau has apparently committed suicide. I’d love to know the reason(s) why. Seau last played in the NFL just a few seasons ago, in 2009.

Mark Prior, who attempted a comeback with the Yanks minor league system last year, has signed a deal with Boston.

I don’t know if this will be a trend or not. Maybe only because Swish is out, and Ibanez is in the OF and not DH, but once again, Chavez is at 3B while A-rod DHs. No Nunez tonight. Girardi going for the power, with Jones in LF and Ibanez in RF.

Yanks 13-10, 3rd in A.L. East, 2 1/2 back. OPS+ 115, ERA+ 102. Even with the Pythagorean record.

1/7th of the season is over.

1. Jeter SS  .400-4-13  1 sb/2 att.  OPS+ 173.  3128 hits, 13 behind Gwynn.
Leads majors in H, AL in BA, OBP
2. Granderson CF  . 276-9-17  0/2   169     Leads AL in HR

Here is where the lineup gets disappointing.

3. A-Rod DH  .256-4-11   2/2  108   See below.
4. Cano 2B  .255-1-4  1/1  82    Ditto.
5. Tex 1B  .233-3-12  1/1  74    Once more.
6. Ibanez RF .237-3-12  2/2  93
7. Chavez 3B .310-3-5  0/0  145   9 for 29
8. Jones LF .182-3-5  0/0  98   6 for 33
9. Martin C  .158-2-6  1/1  68

Nova RHP  3-0, 5.18  ERA+ 85

Look at the middle of the lineup. A-Rod, 37 in July, may never be the old A-Rod again (in other words, to pull off a renaissance the way Jeter is doing now). Maybe all Alex is anymore is a Swisher-like offensive player, meaning .265-27-85. Not bad, but not $30 million worth, and not cleanup hitter worthy or #3 worthy. More like a 6 or 7 hitter. The problem is, there are too many years left on his contract, and the decline has probably started. Put it this way, do you expect .300-40-120 from A-Rod anymore?

Cano, what can you say? 1 HR and 4 RBI in 1/7th of the season? Granted players get hot and cold. But do the math. 7x what he has now… Pathetic. It’s safe to say that he has been 75% worse than we expected so far. Teix .233. He usually starts slow, but look at those OPS marks for Cano and Teix. 100 is average. You have an 82 and a 74 in the middle of the lineup, meaning 18 and 26% worse than average. Then you get Ibanez at .237. Jones is all or nothing at .182, and Martin has been a disaster with the stick so far at .158.

Yes, the starting pitching has been a problem. Nova is going for his 16th consecutive regular season winning decision tonight, but even at 3-0, his ERA is a 5.18. But it’s also time to mention and get on the lineup. They lead the league in HR, are 3d in B.A., 2nd in OPS… but it’s been the gigantic effort of a few, and one of them—Swisher—is out.

You know a correction is coming.

But it’d be nice to see the middle of the lineup start producing.

Minor league pitcher Manny Banuelos comes off the DL. He’s scheduled to start for the AAA club tonight.

Clemens may have received a gift today. When asked if it’s 50/50 that he “misremembered” the conversation about HGH that he had with Roger, Andy Pettitte stated, “I think that’s fair, yes.” Meaning that the seed of reasonable doubt has been sown. So what is it? Yes or no? Did that conversation take place or didn’t it? What a mess.

 

 

Verlander first pitcher to win an MVP in 19 years. Nathan goes to Texas.

Justin Verlander won the MVP award today, adding to his CYA this year.

The last pitcher to win an MVP was reliever Dennis Eckersley in 1992. The last starter? Roger Clemens in 1986.

In the NL, the last pitcher to win an MVP was Bob Gibson in 1968.

One ironic thing is this: since 2B Charlie Gehringer won the MVP in 1937 (an award I think Joe D. should have won that year), every Tiger that has won the award since has been a pitcher.

1944-1945 (WWII years) Hal Newhouser 29 and 26 wins.
1968 Denny McLain, 31 wins.
1984 Willie Hernandez
2011 Justin Verlander 24 wins.

As far as Yankees are concerned, it’s interesting that big $$$$ personnel like Jeter, CC and Alex got nothing.

Instead:

Granderson finished fourth. Cano sixth (how could four writers leave Cano out of the top 10 on their ballot?)

Mark Teixeira finished 19th despite the .248 B.A. (39 HR, 111 RBI).

No Mo.

But David Robertson got a 10th place vote, putting him 22nd in the voting.

In other news: Joe Nathan signed with Texas as a free agent. I don’t know where Texas would put him (Feliz) but it makes their BP that much stronger.

Update: Judging from Twitter, (SI’s Heyman, ESPN’s Olney) Feliz is to be moved into the rotation. Well, that’s one way to counter the loss of Wilson (also to counter the collapse of Feliz in WS Game 6).

Game 120. Bad outing for Nova…but he gets an ugly win, 9-7. Yanks take over first place.

Boston won this afternoon over the Rays in game 1 of a dh. The Yanks start 1/2 game out for the division lead at 73-46. They are 9 1/2 up on the Rays and Angels for the wild card.

A-Rod is in SWB (AAA) on rehab. Check the minor league post later for how he did.

Did you know? Jim Thome hit #300, 400, 500 and 600 for four different teams (Indians, Phillies, White Sox and Twins).

The Phils’ Cole Hamels will miss a start, maybe more. Shoulder inflammation.

Nice. Security guards get Clemens autographed balls in the middle of a trial. Justice?

Yanks four games worse than Pythagorean. OPS+111, ERA+ 120

Jeter SS .283-4-44  13sb/17 att  OPS +92   3039 hits
Granderson CF .273-33-94  22/32  149
Teixeira 1B .249-32-88  3/4 125
Cano 2B .305-20-81  8/9  133
Swisher RF .269-14-64  2/4  119
Jones DH .246-7-24  0/0  110
Martin C .225-12-46   8/9  85
Nunez 3B .264-4-26  18/23  89
Gardner LF .285-5-30  36-47  107

Nova P 11-4, 3.85, ERA+ 110

Jeter’s B.A. & OPS+ are higher than what he ended 2010 with.

Rough start for Nova. After two out in the first, single, double, single and 2 runs. Gardner is up with the bases loaded, two out in the second, but pops up.

The Yanks score in the 3rd. Granderson is HBP, Teix walks, Cano singles in a run.  A walk to Swish and the bases are loaded—again—. There is one out. Jones strikes out. Martin comes through with a 2-run single to give the Yanks the lead.   3-2 Yanks after 2 1/2.

Nova is struggling tonight. Leadoff triple and a groundout for the Royals in the bottom of the 3rd and it’s tied. Not for long. Nova gives up a gopher ball to Melky and the Royals take the lead. In his last eight starts, Nova was 7-0, 3.10, so maybe he was due for a clunker. Single, WP, double and it’s 5-3 Royals after three.

The Yanks come right back with five in the fourth. Gardner sparks things with a leadoff drag bunt for a hit. Jeter doubles him home, 5-4. Granderson lays down a sac but everyone is safe. Teix singles, tie game. Cano fouls off something like seven straight pitches before hitting an absolute bomb of a 3-run HR and the Yanks go up 8-5.

Nova stays in there. I’m a bit surprised, but he does have a scoreless fourth and fifth. Fine, let him get a chance for the ugly win.

But Girardi puts him out there for the sixth. Mistake. After an out, a single and a walk. Pull him here, Joe. He doesn’t and gets burned. A 2-run double. I wouldn’t have had Nova start the sixth. Instead, it’s 8-7, tying run on second, one out. Logan comes in and does the job. K and a groundout.

Nova 5 1/3, 7 R, 9 H, 1 walk, 2 K. ERA to 4.21.

In the top of the 7th, Gardner triples with two out and Jeter singles him home. 9-7. 3041 hits for Derek.

Logan gets a flyout to start the 7th, then Soriano comes in. Soriano gets a flyout and a K.

Logan 1 ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K, ERA to 2.87.

Soriano 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. ERA 4.03.

Robertson has a 1-2-3 8th. 1 K. 73 K in 48 2/3. ERA to 1.29.

Mo. A 1-2-3 9th. His second consecutive 1-2-3. Save #32, #591 of his career, ERA to 2.30. 2 K in that 1-2-3.

Sheesh. One bad half of a week and people wanted to throw him under the bus. I need more than a bad four days to give up on the Greatest Closer Ever. I need four to six weeks. He’ll get old one day, but it’s nice to see Mo stick it to all who jumped off his bandwagon.

With the win, the Yanks go into 1st place in the AL East by 1/2 a game over Boston, who split a DH today.

Jeter 2H (3041 now), 2 RBI. Cano 2 H, HR #21, 4 RBI.

Clemens case has mistrial.

Roger Clemens’ trial was declared a mistrial on its second day when the prosecution showed jurors evidence that the judge had ruled out. I have to wonder about the government’s prosecutors there. You can’t allow that evidence, were informed of such, and after all the money and time spent making your case, getting a jury, etc., you do this and have a mistrial on the SECOND DAY OF THE TRIAL?

The judge scheduled a Sept. 2 hearing to determine whether to hold a new trial. There may not be one, what with double jeopardy and all. If there is one, the prosecutors better not be so inept.

Jeter/Clemens

This tweet yesterday from Joel Sherman is interesting:

Who knows if this matters, but just watched Jeter take, by far, best BP I’ve seen all yr, driving balls out with authority to LF and RCF. He cleared high wall in LF and Progressive bunch, going 3/4s way up on 1 swing.

Jeter being Jeter, you wonder how long that right calf might have been bothering him and how it would have affected his power. He still only has 13 XBH this year. Maybe the rest was good for him and we’ll see a little more of the Old Jeter sometimes rather than an Old Jeter. The slugging average is .324 as opposed to a career .449. That’s 72% of normal. Granted it’s going to go down with age, but it’ll be interesting to see if some pop now comes back after what Sherman reported.

Pennant Races, the All-Star Game, great performances…baseball is wonderful. Unfortunately, the game is going to be dragged through the gutter soon as the Roger Clemens trial will be starting up this week, with all the sordidness that will bring.

Pettitte subpoenaed for Clemens’ trial; Rain in forecast for today

Come July, the retired Andy Pettitte won’t be on a mound, but perhaps in a courtroom.  

The weather doesn’t look good for tonight’s Yankees game. In fact, it doesn’t even look for tomorrow. 

For us fans, yuk. For A-Rod, trying to get over the flu or players like Jeter, Posada (swing) or Hughes (pitching/velocity) it may be welcome.

We’ll see what happens with both the major and minor league schedules today. Brackman was supposed to pitch for SWB vs. Rochester tonight.  

Outside the lines.

Interesting stuff going on elsewhere in baseball.

A lot of rib cage injuries, Jason Bay being the latest. It’s funny how Suzyn Waldman on the radio said to stop the weightlifting. She does have a point. I remember a comment made years ago by Tony Kubek advising flexibility and not muscle-boundness. Interesting.

The sordidness of the Bonds trial is also interesting. The Giambis testimony. Jason’s testimony casts a dark spell on his time in 2003 with the Yanks (but then you wonder how it also affected his poor 2004 and therefore the ALCS of that year). So much went on then, with so many players that all you can do is shake your head. Sad. If you think this is bad enough, what happens when Clemens goes to trial?

Now the Phils have Lidge out 3-6 weeks. Utley already a question mark. Polanco has problems. … and more. Bad Karma there. I wonder what the Phils’ fans that I heard not long ago who predicted 105 wins are saying now? Hey, it’s like I’ve been saying. You have to play the games.

   

The body was fine, the desire was gone.

I didn’t get to see/hear too much of the press conference, but in checking out some reports (notably LoHud):  

Pettitte’s arm and body feel great. But (Cue B.B. King) the Thrill was gone. The Drive, the Desire, weren’t there anymore. Andy felt an obligation to the Yanks, especially after Lee went to Philly, but it didn’t feel right.

That’s what kind of hurts. He feels fine after working out. Hearing that, you figure he was good for another 14-9 season or so. But hey, if the heart, drive, and desire aren’t there, do you really want that player on your team?

To his credit, Andy did answer some questions about the Clemens’ trial. There had been speculation about it, and I’m one of those who was wondering. Andy stated that he hasn’t been contacted and doesn’t think about the trial.

As you may have guessed, after informing the Yankees’ front office, Pettitte contacted Derek, Mo and Jorge to let them know before word got out.

Meanwhile, if Kevin Millwood is interested in the Yankees, (and vice-versa), he’ll have to lower his price. He is looking for $4 to $5 MM a year. Now if he took a Colon/Garcia-like minor league deal, take a chance and see what he has. But $4-$5MM guaranteed after having three of his last four seasons end with ERAs over 5.00? No.

Millwood is an extreme flyball pitcher. Didn’t play well in the bandbox of Camden Yards. How would it play in Yankee Stadium?

This tweet from Sweeny Murti, responding to Ken Davidoff:

AL team exec, on #Yankees: “Millwood is not a help. He’s just a name people know.”

Some recent signings. All to minor league deals. Ron Mahay to the Dodgers, Pedro Feliz with KC and Lastings Milledge with the White Sox.

One rumor–that Gary Matthews, Jr. may have interest from the Phils. Matthews dad, Gary “Sarge” Matthews, is a broadcaster for the Phils and helped the Phils to the 1983 NL title. The Phils could use a righty bat to help offset the loss of Jayson Werth. Matthews, Jr. is 36 and had only 58 AB with the Mets last year.        

Update: More News. Bob Griese is retiring from broadcasting. He was as good in his second career as he was in his first.

Mark Kotsay signed a minor league deal with the Brewers. Randy Winn signs with the Orioles on a minor league deal.  

Lastly, a bizzarre story.