Game 45. 3 Hrs lead Yanks, Nova, 6-3.

The Yanks beat Oakland 6-3 behind homers by Teixeira, Cano and Swisher.

Ivan Nova went 7 and improved to 5-2, but with a still too-high ERA of 5.46. He went the 7, 3 R, 6 h, 1 walk, 4 K and 2 HR given up.

Boone Logan for the 8th, 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K, 2.95.

Soriano got his 4th save. 1 IP. 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 2.20.

The Yanks got 1st and 2d in the 1st, one out but got nothing.

They got a one-out double by Swisher in the 2nd, but nothing.

In the third, they got a break and capitalized on it. You never want to give a team four outs (or more) in an inning. With two out and Granderson on first, Coco Crisp (the Cereal Boy) misplayed Cano’s drive into a two-run error. 1-0 Yanks. Teix made them pay even further with a 2-run HR (#6, 320 of career). 3-0 Yankees.

The Yanks could have tacked on in the fourth. Chavez walked, Martin doubled. After Jeter made an out, Granderson was intentionally walked to load the bases. A-Rod, still looking for Grand Slam #23 to tie Gehrig’s record, GIDP.

Nova gave up a HR in the bottom of the fourth. 3-1.

The Yanks got three in the fifth. Cano led off with a HR, #6 for the season. Teix doubled but was thrown out going for 3 after the ball got away from the left fielder. Ibanez doubled and Swish hit HR #8 on the year to make it 6-1.

Nova gave one run back in the bottom of the fifth, then gave up a solo HR in the seventh.

That was it for the scoring. 6-3 Yanks, and they go to 24-21.

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 40. Nova gets Ks but no W. Yanks lose 6-5.

Ivan Nova had a strange line today. 12 K in 6 IP, but his ERA went UP and his ERA isn’t good.

6 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 2 walks and 12 K. 1 big 3-run HR given up to 2010 MVP Joey Votto. His ERA is 5.69. He falls to 4-2.

Despite striking out the side in the first and second, Nova also gave up a run in each of those innings.

In the third, Russell Martin and his .167 average got HR #4 to cut the lead to 2-1. Raul Ibanez got an RBI double to tie it in the fourth, but then Nova gave up Votto’s HR in the fifth.

Jayson Nix got his second Yankees hit and second Yankees HR in the fifth to cut it to 5-3. The Reds got an unearned run in the 8th.

In the 9th, Ibanez doubled, Swish singled to make it 6-4. A one-out single by Jones put Nix up as the winning run. Nix singled to make it 6-5, two on, one out. Jeter just avoided a game-ending GIDP, beating it out. But a force. Granderson up, tying run on 3rd, winning run on first. Jeter stole second to take away the force, and the Yanks then had the winning run on second, but Granderson grounded out to end the game.

Eppley 1/3, 0 r, 0 h, 1 walks, 0 K. 3.52.

Rapada 2/3, 0 r, 0 h, 0 walks, 0 k. 3.75.

Phelps 2 IP, 1 R (Unearned), 1 H, 1 walk and 3 K. 2.76.

This drops the Yanks to 21-19. 1/4 of the way in, that basically translates to 85-77. That is nowhere good enough. The Yanks need to step it up.

 

 

Game 40. Teix out again.

Well, we are nearing the quarter-pole. Teixeira is out again today. Hopefully it’s helping that ailment go away.

If you didn’t hear, Kerry Wood retired yesterday. He announced it before the game, faced a batter during the game, struck the batter out, and that was it. You may recall that Wood did a nice job in relief for the Yanks for a short time in 2010. A great young talent (who had a 20K one-hitter back in 1998), it’s too bad injuries kept him (and Prior) from realizing their full potential.

Yanks 21-18, 4th in A.L. East, 4 1/2 out. Even with their Pythagorean record. OPS+ 111, ERA+ 104.

They are 3 for their last 48 with RISP.

Cano DH today.

Jeter SS .360-5-15  2/3  144   3146 hits, six behind Waner
Granderson CF .263-13-23  1/3  142   Run, Curtis, Run!
Cano DH .310-4-16  1/1  125  Average getting there, now for the RBI
Rodriguez 3B .286-5-15  4/4  118  Only one HR since 4/27
Ibanez RF .255-8-24  2/2  127
Swisher 1B .252-7-26  0/0  116   slumping lately
Martin C .167-3-9  1/1  67  needs to get off the Interstate 
Wise LF 2 for 15, 1 sb
Nix 2B  Also 2 for 15, 1 HR, 2 RBI

RHP Ivan Nova 4-1, 5.44   ERA+ 78   hope that ankle is ok

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 35. Trying to pick up ground.

The 19-15, 3rd place Yanks get to try and make up ground on the first place Orioles tonight in Baltimore.

The Yanks are 2 1/2 back. Dead even with the Pythagorean record.
OPS+ 115, ERA+ 108.

Derek Jeter is tied with Robin Yount with 3142 hits. Next up: Waner 3152, Brett 3154 and Ripken 3184 (more after he passes Cal).

Nothing major in the lineup. A-Rod Dh-ing, Chavez at 3B.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/ATT/ OPS+

Jeter 6 .372-5-15  2/3  155
Granderson 8  .258-11-20  1/3  138
Rodriguez DH .280-5-14  3/3  118
Cano 4 .299-3-14  1/1  111
Teixeira 3  .223-4-17  1/2  71   Killing the Yanks right now.
Swisher 9 .275-7-24  0/0  134
Ibanez 7  .273-7-21  2/2  136
Chavez 5  .316-3-5  0/0  137
Martin 2  .182-3-9  1/1  71

Nova 1   4-1,  5.02   ERA+ 87

Game 29. Ibanez 2 HR leads Yanks, 5-3.

Raul Ibanez had 2 HR and 3 RBI, and Curtis Granderson added a solo shot as the Yanks held on to beat the Rays 5-3.

The Yanks got a taste of life without Mo as both Soriano and Robertson staggered in the 8th and 9th before closing it out.

Ivan Nova started and hopefully has started a new streak. The last time out, his loss snapped a 15-game regular season winning streak going back to last year. Nova, 4-1, 5.02 (ERA still ugly) went 7, 2 R both on HR, 6 h, 2 walks, 8 K.

In the 4th, Ibanez hit a 2-run HR to put the Yanks up 2-0. Granderson’s solo shot in the 5th (10) made it 3-0.

Nova gave up a HR to our old buddy Jose Molina in the 6th, then one to Luke Scott in the 7th. 3-2 and here things got hairy.

After the HR to Scott, Nova gave up a walk and a double. 3-2 Yanks, but the Rays had 2nd and 3rd, one out. A short fly couldn’t bring the runner home. Then Nova got the strikeout of the last batter he faced.

Ibanez’ 2nd HR of the game (5; 257 career) in the bottom of the 7th made it 4-2.

The Yanks would need that HR. Soriano came in and gave up a leadoff triple. He then struck out the next two hitters but then drove you nuts by letting in the run anyway on a wild pitch. 4-3. A walk, then another K.

Soriano 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 3 K. ERA 2.45.

The Yanks got an insurance run in the 8th when Alex singled, went to second on an e-8 by Upton and scored on Teix’s double. 5-3.

Jeter got hit #3137 in the game.

To the 9th. Life without Mo. Robertson in. GO, walk, single. K. Walk. Bases loaded, tying run on 2nd. Pena up. K. Nothing like making it interesting.

Robertson 1 IP, 0 R (ERA 0.00), 1 hit, 2 walks and 2 K.

Yanks go to 16-13.

Congrats to Josh Hamilton. 5 for 5, double, a record-tying 4 HR, 8 RBI. I couldn’t even do that in wiffle ball.

Game 29. Rain. Will it be played? Pettitte returns Sunday (Mother’s Day)

Tonight’s lineup.

Yanks 15-13, 4th in AL East. 3 1/2 out.
OPS+ 115, ERA+ 101

It has been raining all day in Eastern PA (about 100 miles from NYC). Tonight’s game could be ppd. There is also rain in tomorrow’s forecast, and possibly Thursday. The only surprise, if any, is that Nunez, a righty batter, is in LF instead of Wise, a lefty hitter against the righty Shields.

Jeter leads the AL in B.A., and the majors in hits.

Jeter SS .397-5-15  1sb/2att  OPS+ 175, 3136 hits, 5 behind Gwynn.
Granderson CF .284-9-18  0/2  157
Rodriguez 3B .269-5-14  2/2    118    634* HR; 2803 hits
Cano 2B  .261-2-8  1/1   84  hopefully Sunday’s slam woke him up. 
Teixeira 1B  .222-4-16  1/2  73   He and Cano need to pick it up. 
Swisher RF  .279-7-24  0/0  155
Ibanez DH  .254-3-13  2/2  98
Martin C  .192-3-7  1/1  82  see Cano and Teix.
Nunez LF .261-0-5  4/5   80

Nova P   3-1, 5.58    ERA+ 78    Some ugly OPS and ERA+ numbers here.

No word on Pettitte yet, or what those “complications” are regarding Mo’s knee.

UPDATE ON PETTITTE: He will be called up Sunday.

Gardner was supposed to start a couple of rehab games yesterday. Rainout last night, and there is supposed to be a DH today. It’s unknown whether he’d play in one game or both. Heck, with the rain, the whole DH could be washed out.

Game 24. Nova’s streak ends; Yankee offense nonexistent.

You knew Nova’s streak would end sometime, and it did tonight. After 15 consecutive regular season winning decisions, Ivan Nova finally lost, snapping his streak one win short of Roger Clemens team record.

Nova pitched well for six innings, giving up two runs, but fell apart in the seventh, when he gave up three more in a game the Yanks lost 5-0.

Nova (3-1) went 6 1/3, 5 R, 9 H, 4 walks and 3 K. His ERA actually went up. From 5.18 to 5.58. Not good.

Rapada 1/3, 0 R, 1 H. 0 walks, 1 K. 3.68.

Wade 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 Walks, 0 K. 1.46.

Then, garbage time duty for Garcia, who at least lowered his ERA if nothing else. 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. ERA from 12.51 to 10.91.

Nova losing his streak is one thing. But the Yanks are now 13-11, and you know what, they DESERVE to be 13-11.

The starting pitching hasn’t been good. The bullpen has saved them, and you hope that bullpen won’t get taxed. It says something about your rotation when your savior, riding in on the white horse, is someone who’ll be 40 soon and who didn’t pitch last year.

But what is going underreported is the lack of offense. Consider this: Yes, the O’s are off to a good start. I, for one, am waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, the Orioles have not had a winning season since 1997.

But the Yanks, in the three games AT HOME vs. Baltimore, scored 2, 1 and 0 runs. That is just unacceptable.

We are 24 games in.

Robbie Cano has 1 HR, 4 RBI. A middle of the order presence? .255. More like a middle of the order GHOST. Granted Robbie won’t continue this pace. He better not, for this pace would yield 7 HR and 27 RBI. For someone batting 3d or 4th.

The Yanks had 5 hits all night, 2 by A-Rod. Teixeira is down to .226. Andruw .167. Martin .150. Unacceptable.

Kevin Long, you must be held as accountable as the players.

One thing of concern: Eric Chavez, in diving for a ball, received whiplash and a possible concussion. With 13 pitchers and Swish sidelined but not DLd, the Yanks cannot afford an injury. Should he be DL’d, a possible callup is Steve Pearce (see the minor league report).

 

 

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.