Games 70 and 71. Yanks split DH.

Game 1: Yanks win 6-4. Lyle Overbay hit a 2-run double and Ichiro went 3-4, HR (3) and 3 RBI.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched 6 2/3. 2 R 8 H 1 walk and 2 K. He goes to 7-5, 2.78.

Shawn Kelley 1/3 IP. K. 4.73.

Preston Claiborne had a blip. 1/3, 2 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 1.69.

David Robertson 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 walks and 0 K. 2.86.

Mo got save #25 on the year and #633 for his career. 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 1.73.

Game 2: A 6-0 loss. The Yanks got just 3 hits & Phil Hughes was disappointing again.

Hughes fell to 3-6, 5.09. 6 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 0 walks and 3 K.

I’ve defended him (after all, he won 16 last year and 18 in 2010) but Hughes, a free agent after the year, won’t be back. You’d like to move him at the deadline, but who will take a two-month rental? Hughes, a flyball pitcher, may do well in a big ballpark, for example SD, SF or Detroit.

David Phelps has surpassed Hughes on the depth chart. If Nuno were healthy and not on the minor league DL, I’d advocate Hughes be pulled from the rotation for Nuno who had three very good starts.

Michael Pineda may be ready in a month or so.

One option is this: Swap Warren and Hughes. Give Warren a start and make Hughes the long man.

Warren tossed three innings tonight to lower his ERA to 3.11. You may remember that he tossed six scoreless in that 18-inning loss in Oakland last week.

Warren: 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K.

Vernon Wells is down to .224. Brignac is now 4 for 41 as a Yankee. Austin Romine is now 7 for 55 for the season.

The Yanks have to find another backup c. Romine needs more seasoning. He is an automatic out. Brignac is also bad. You have two guys on the squad right now a combined 11 for 96 as Yankees. That’s barely above .110. .110! Pitchers can hit better than that.

Game 69. Yanks snap losing streak, escape vs. Angels 6-5.

It looked good going into the bottom of the 9th. Yanks up 6-0 and CC doing well.

It ended 6-5 when Mo had to strike out Pujols with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Yanks got five in the third when Travis Hafner broke an 0 for 23 skid with a two-out, 3-run HR (11). Wells then singled, Overbay doubled him in and Nix (3 hits) singled in Overbay. For the way this team has been lately, it was an offensive eruption.

A double by Cano, groundout by Hafner and SF by Wells made it 6-0 in the eighth and the Yanks needed it.

The first two men reached on CC in the 9th.

CC (7-5, 3.93) 8 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 walks and 6 K.

Robertson could only get one out.

1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 2.93.

Mo finished it, barely, but was hardly vintage Mo. Save #24 and #632 of his career.

2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 1.80.

Reid Brignac (ugh) an 0 for 4 and he is now 4 for 40 as a Yankee.  I hate picking on him everyday but it is what it is.       

The Yanks are off Monday (travel day) as they come home. They welcome Donnie Baseball and the Dodgers for a two-game set Tues. and Wed.

Game 69. Lineup, stats and comments

Anything to shake up the lineup. Ichiro moves to #2 today. I don’t think he (OBP .304) should be there, but whatever works.

Yanks 37-31, 3rd in A.L. East, 4 games back. Three games better than Pythagorean record (they have scored just 3 more runs than given up, and the Pythagorean suggests that they should be 34-34 right now).

OPS+ 87, ERA+ 111. Average is 100, so you can see how weak the offense is.

No news yet on Teixeira. He could be done for the year. It’s obvious he rushed back too soon. (.151-3-12 on 8 for 53 hitting, 19 K & OPS+ 66).

BA/HR/RBI    SB/Total attempts   OPS+   Comments   Team leader
OPS+ way below average (100)

Gardner 8  .283-6-28  10/15  117
   Would you believe 4th on team in RBI and 2nd in OPS+? 1st in B.A.
Ichiro 9 .267-2-11  8/11  77    .304 OBP isn’t that suited for the 2 slot (and it’s even lower than Nix’s), but what can you do? Get speed up top.
Cano 4 .278-16-42  3/3  133    .278 is low for Robbie. 
Hafner DH .219-10-29  2/2  108    7 for 60 since May 21 (.117)
Wells 7 .229-10-26  4/7  78   Another year under contract. Not good. Since May 14, 12 for 97 (.124). Middle of lineup awful over the last month (that includes Teixeira and the Dl’d Youkilis).
Overbay 3 .240-8-29  0/0  94     6 for last 35 (.171)
Nix 5 .249-1-18  10/10  68   Slugging Ave (.297) worse than OBP (.311)
Brignac 6  4 for 36 as a Yankee (.111) with 16 strikeouts and just one walk. Don’t get me started on him. That sucks.
OPS+ MINUS 24. That’s worse than even Romine. Overall Co/NYY .190-1-6, OPS+ 32. 16 for 84. 4 walks. 29 strikeouts. Ugh.   
Stewart 2 .277-3-10  3/3  88   3rd in batting average on the team. Enough said.

Sabathia 1     6-5, 4.07   ERA+ 100.

CC hasn’t been an ace this year, just mediocre. Check the ERA. Right on the average line.

I don’t mean to rip but some numbers speak for themselves. All I do is report anved comment on the numbers THEY put up or don’t put up.     

 

Game 68. Lineup, stats, comments.

Yanks 37-30. 3rd in A.L. East, 3 g.b. They are three games better than their Pythagorean record.

OPS+ 88, ERA+ 112. 100 is average.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/total att.  OPS+   Comments   Team leader
Significantly Below average (under 100)

Gardner CF .283-6-27  10/15  117
Nix 3B .249-1-17  9/9  69
Cano 2B .281-16-42  3/3  135
Teixeira 1B .157-3-12  0/0  72   8 for 51, 19 K since return.
Overbay DH .245-8-29  0/0  98
Suzuki RF .263-2-11  6/8  74    If Granderson were Ok, how much would the fading Ichiro be playing?  Probably not much.
Neal LF 2nd game as Yankee. 1 for 2, one walk.
      Neal in his MLB career is 6 for 25. .240.
Brignac SS  Ugh. 4 for 33 as a Yankee. .121-0-0, OPS+ MINUS 18. 
      Overall (CO/NYY) .198-1-6, 0/0  37.
Stewart C .275-3-10  2/2  88

Phelps RHP   4-3, 3.90   ERA+ 105. As a starter, 3-2, 3.38.

Against a righty, Neal (a righty bat) is in there and Wells sits. Also, Overbay is in and Hafner is sitting tonight. Game on FOX, 715.

So we have a guy with 25 MLB at bats in there (and we don’t know what we’ll get. But he SHOULD have been up in place of Francisco a long time ago). Francisco is now gone.

Also, Brignac. UGH.

Teix got to heat up.   

 

Game 67. Offense continues to sputter, Yanks lose 4th straight, 5-2.

The Yanks’ offense continued to sputter as they got just two runs and six hits in losing 5-2 to the Angels out in Anaheim last night.

It was the Yanks’ fourth straight loss and dropped their record to 37-30. They are in third place, three back of Boston, with Baltimore in the middle.

Andy Pettitte was looking to tie Bob Gibson on the all-time list with win #251, but instead drops to 5-4, 3.95. He went 7 IP, 4 R, 11 H, 1 walk and 4 K.

Chris Bootcheck, a journeyman vet just called up from SWB, went one inning, 1 R, 2 H, 2 walks and 1 K. 9.00.

Earlier in the day the Yanks sent down Warren (who didn’t do anything wrong, but after pitching six scoreless innings in the marathon loss to Oakland would be unavailable for a while) for Bootcheck and put Kevin Youkilis back on the DL. Youk was signed to provide insurance in place of A-Rod but so far has been a bust himself.

OF Thomas Neal was called up to replace Youk. He should have been up several weeks ago to replace Francisco. Neal started in RF and went 1 for 2 with a walk. Hey, it’s better than a lot of guys have done lately.

The Yanks are 2-5 in their last seven games, scoring just sixteen runs, and one of those games went 18 innings.

Teixeira is at .157 since coming off the DL. Vernon Wells, who at least is playing good D, is down to .229. Travis Hafner is down to .219. That’s the middle of your order.

Reid Brignac is now 4 for 33 as a Yankee with 15 K. His OPS+ is MINUS 18. Austin Romine is 7 for 53 for the season (.132) and his adjusted OPS (OPS+) is MINUS thirteen. Talk about automatic outs.

The Yanks’ OPS+ is 88. Their ERA+ 112. The last time they had an offense (OPS+) under 100 was in 1991 and the last time it was under 90 was when they finished last in 1990. That’s how bad it is.

Thank goodness for the pitching, but the bats need to awaken.

I have to work early today. No minor league (Fri.) report for a while. 

The Yanks two runs were driven in by David Adams who snapped an 0 for 13 with his hit.

Game 66. Offense reaches new low in 18-inning loss, 3-2

I know I’m one of Mo’s biggest fans. I also know that he came in with a man on, one out, and gave up a hit, int. walk and hit and the Yanks then lost 3-2.

But he isn’t the story of this game. For he didn’t lose it (figuratively and realistically—-the L was put on Claiborne).

The Yankees offense lost it. For they reached a new low today.

In losing 3-2 in EIGHTEEN innings, consider this: Robbie Cano hit a 2-run HR in the first.

I had a 1/2 day of work today since I work a 1/2 day on Saturday. When I pulled into the parking lot at work today to start my shift, Robbie hit his HR. 2-0. 1st inning.

When I got out of work, it was 2-2 in the 15th. I drove to a bar for a few before heading home.

The Yanks lost 3-2 in 18. You aren’t dumb. You can do the math. The Yanks got 2 in the first on Cano’s 16th HR. They lost 3-2 in 18. You can figure out the rest.

The Yanks’ offense put up SEVENTEEN straight goose eggs on the scoreboard.

Mo should not have been in this game. Esp. after his ass picked up splinters off the bench for SEVENTEEN innings.

Kuroda was masterful. I feel most sorry for him and Warren (more on him in a bit). Kuroda 8 IP, 2 R, only 2 H. 2 walks and 3 K. 2.78 ERA but only a 6-5 record to show for it.

Robertson a scoreless 9th. 0 R, 2 hits, 0 walks and struck out the side. 3 K. ERA to 2.30.

Logan 2/3. 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.45.

Kelley 1/3. 0 R, 0 H 0 walks and 1 K. 4.62.

At this point, it became painful to watch. It was a war of attrition.

God Bless Adam Warren, who with this offense putting up nothing but zeroes, went out every inning knowing that if he gave up a run the game was over.

Warren tossed six shutout innings. 0 R, 4 H, 2 walks and 4 K. ERA to 3.12. He got some help when Wells gunned down a runner at the plate.

Six shutout innings in an extra-inning game. Where you knew in each one of those innings that if you gave up one run the game was over.

Great job.

Claiborne pitched a scoreless inning in the 17th but with one out gave up a hit in the 18th.

Then Mo picked out the splinters from his ass from sitting on the bench so long and gave up a hit, int. walk and a hit. Ballgame over and a 3-2 loss.

Claiborne 1 1/3, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 0-1, 0.86.

Mo’s ERA stays at 1.48. 0 IP, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 

The 4-5-6-7 hitters in today’s lineup, Teix/Hafner/Youk and Wells, went a combined 0 for 28 with 12 strikeouts.

Want to know their batting averages?  Teixeira (0-5, 3 K), just off the DL, is now 8 for 49, .163. Hafner (0 for 8, 3 K) is in a HUGE slump and down to .220. Youk (0 for 7 and 3K) is down to .219 and Wells (0 for 8, 3 K) is down to .229.

Read that last paragraph again. 4-5-6-7. 0 for 28. 12 K.

Averages now .163=.220=.219 and .229.

Need I say more?

On top of that, Brignac came into the game late. He’s now 4 for 30 as a Yankee.

But the Yanks don’t promote OF Thomas Neal, who was at what, .339 for SWB entering tonight? Granted he doesn’t have power (2 HR for he AAA club) but how long will they let Hafner/Youk/Wells struggle? They were ok in April but have coming crashing down to earth and in doing so are showing why their previous clubs let them go.

Today was painful and excruciating to watch. Great pitching performances were wasted by a pathetic offense putting up 17 straight goose eggs.

Today, the phrase “Bronx Bombers” was laughable.

“Bronx Banjo Hitters” was more like it.           

 

 

Game 66. Lineup, stats, comments.

The Twins signed Cody Eppley.

Catcher  J.R. Murphy was promoted by the Yanks from AA Trenton to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (SWB).

Yanks 37-28, 2nd in A.L. East, 3 games behind Boston. OPS+ 89, ERA+ 111. (100 is average).

BA/HR/RBI  SB/total att.  OPS+   Comments   Team Leader
Below Average

 

Gardner 8    .283-6-27  10/15  115 
Nix 6   .250-1-17  9/9  70
Cano 4  .277-15-40  3/3  128
Teixeira 3 .182-3-12  0/0  74     8 for 44 since return; 16K
Hafner DH .231-10-29  2/2  118     7 for last 51
Youkilis 5   .235-2-8  0/0  87       98 at bats. 7 for last 52 
Wells 7    .237-10-26  4/7  84         .129 since May 15
Suzuki 9  .259-2-11  5/7   72  
                  Wells & Ichiro signed through 2014. Bad move.  
Stewart 2  .282-3-10   2/2   93   Who’d have thought .282?

Kuroda 1         6-5,  2.84   ERA+ 144

Game 65. Yanks bats quiet again in 5-2 loss.

On April 8 and 9, the Yanks scored 11 and 14 runs in their games. Since then, there has been only one game in which the Yanks hit double digits in runs scored.

Last night was a night we’ve seen a lot of lately. Two runs on four hits as they lost to Oakland, 5-2.

The team’s adjusted OPS is 89. That means it is 11% below league average. The last time the Yankees finished a season with an OPS+ under 100 was in 1991, the year Stump Merrill managed the team for the whole year. Thank goodness the ERA+ is 111 or things could be ugly.

Phil Hughes started and was well, Phil Hughes. Meaning he gave up a HR (2-run shot in the 2nd) and couldn’t put people away and gave up big hits after getting ahead 0 and 2 (Jaso RBI double in the fifth). He went 4 1/3, 3 R, 4 H, 5 walks and 3 K in falling to 3-5, 4.89. If Nuno were healthy instead of on the DL, Hughes could have been in danger of losing his starting spot. After all, Nova lost his to Phelps.

It’s pretty much a given that Hughes and Joba, both free agents after the season, will be gone after this year. You wonder if either or both could be gone at the trade deadline for a bat.

Shawn Kelley 1 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 2 walks and 1 K. 4.68.

Boone Logan 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 1 K. 1.50.

Joba. 1 1/3 IP. 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 5.52.

Joba is losing his job to Preston Claiborne.

Claiborne 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 0.46.

Travis Hafner is down to .231. Vernon Wells .237. Kevin Youkilis .235.

Teixeira is just 8 for 44 since his return. 16 strikeouts.    

Ichiro had two of the Yanks’ four hits.

Austin Romine is now 7 for 50 for the season. That’s .140.

With the loss, the Yanks (37-28) stay in second, but fall three games behind Boston.

 

Game 64. CC fails in Oakland again, Yanks fall 6-4.

CC Sabathia, for whatever reason, always seems to struggle when he returns home to his Oakland roots. Tuesday night was no exception.

After the Yanks got nothing from a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the top of the first, Coco Crisp hit CC’s second pitch of the game for a home run.

CC gave up a run in the second and a 3-run HR to Derek Norris in the fourth. He threw a WP that let another run score in the sixth.

CC went 6, 6 R, 8 H, 1 walk and 3 K. He slumps to 6-5, 4.07. Certainly not numbers you’d expect from someone making $23MM or so a year. He’s been average, nothing more. Heck, right now David Phelps has been pitching better.

The Yanks woke up the offense too late. They got two in the eighth on singles by Teix and Wells and two in the ninth on a single by Teix.

Preston Claiborne tossed a scoreless seventh to lower his ERA to 0.47.

Joba pitched a scoreless eighth. 4.73.

The 6-4 loss kept the Yanks two behind Boston at 37-27.

Game 63. Phelps matches King Felix, Yanks win 2-1.

David Phelps matched Seattle’s King Felix, and Chris Stewart’s RBI single in the 8th  9th (oops) gave the Yanks a 2-1 win to up their record to 37-26.

Phelps went 6, 1 r, 3 H, 3 walks and 6 K as he lowered his ERA to 3.90. He has solidified a place in the rotation.

Brett Gardner had four of the Yanks’ 7 hits, and drove in the Yanks other run in the second inning. He now leads the team with a .284 batting average. Stewart had two of the other three hits and is now second at .276. The slumping Cano is down to .272.

It was a rough day for Teixeira, 0 for 5 with 4 K, and Vernon Wells (.238) continues to slump. The Yanks offense continues to struggle but the pitching is carrying them as you can see by the 3-1 win yesterday and 2-1 win today.

Boone Logan 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H,  0 walks and 2 K. 1.53.

Robertson escaped a man on third, one out jam in the 8th. He gets the W, 4-1, 2.39.

Mo 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 0 K. 1.48.

The Yanks are off tomorrow (Monday).