Odds and Ends.

Some odds and ends.

I saw an article that stated that according to insiders, Manager Joe Girardi did broach the subject of dropping Derek Jeter down in the batting order last season. Jeter hit just .256-4-50, OPS+ just 75 in his final season. The idea was shot down by upper management, and apparently Jeter wouldn’t go for moving him out of the #2 slot in the order either. Girardi knew that to do so would open a can of worms, so before it even hit the media, he apparently went through upper management and possibly Jeter himself. Would dropping Jeter have benefitted the Yanks? Possibly. Enough to make the playoffs? Possibly not. Enough to make the playoffs and soothe Jeter’s ego? Possibly not. But it’s interesting to note that the idea of dropping Derek (where to? 8? 9?) was considered.

Jason Giambi retired. He was with the Yanks from 2002-2008, hitting 209 of his 440 HR as a Yankee. Giambi, 44, hit 440 HR in his career, hit .277 with an excellent OPS+ of 139, won an MVP award with the A’s in 2000, was runner-up in 2001, and is one of five Yankees with back-to-back 40 HR seasons (2002 and 2003). He hit two homers off of Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. He won’t make the HOF however, because of his admitted PED usage and BALCO connection. It’s said he is a great teammate, and Terry Francona, manager of the Indians (Giambi’s most recent team) states that Giambi is a “manager in waiting.” His 162 g. average was .277-32-103, OPS+ 139, with 98 walks.

Alex Rodriguez issued a written “apology.” Really, I don’t want to hear it. Who believes anything he says or does anymore? He’s exhausted all credibility. Really, A-Rod, shut up and play. Show us you have something, if anything, left. It’s noted that he was suspended for all of 2014. What’s forgotten is that he played in only 44 games in 2013 and even then looked on the downside.

The Yanks signed Jared Burton to a minor league deal. The righty reliever is 33 and went 3-5, 4.36, ERA+ 91 in 2014 for the Twins with three saves. For his career he is 18-19, 3.44, 10 saves, ERA+ 123.  A depth move. He was 3-2 with a superb 2.18 ERA (ERA+ 189) and five saves for the Twins in 2012.

When I get time (I’ve been doing my taxes, need to do other family members taxes, working (of course) and …. well, shoveling snow and freezing my ass off…) I want to look at the future. I expect the Yanks to tread water for a while, but to me, the 2020 team could be interesting. Players (top prospects) would be in their primes (providing they prove MLB caliber players and aren’t traded away), old guys like CC, Teix, Beltran and A-Rod gone (maybe McCann as well)….it could be interesting to look at what could be the Yankee future. Stay tuned. Hopefully when Yoan Moncada signs (before the end of this month) I can include him on that 2020 future team I want to write about. Will the Yanks fork over the $$$$ to land Moncada?

Surprises in Division Series, Jeter Rumors, and Yanks hands tied

We’ll start with the Division Series. The Royals and Orioles are both in the driver’s seat, up 2-0 in a best of five, with two thrilling wins yesterday.

KC won its third straight extra-inning postseason game, setting a postseason record, by scoring 3 in the top of the 11th to defeat the Angels, 4-1. While Mike Moustakas had the HR in the 11th inning of Game 1, this time it was Eric Hosmer with the big blow.

I like the way KC plays. Not only that, although I admire Trout and Pujols, I can’t root for the Angels. I’m tired of seeing Mike Scioscia bitching all the time about balls and strikes. I admire Scioscia as a manager and think he’s one of the best in the game, but he (and when he was managing, Bobby Cox) are two of the biggest dugout whiners and crybabies I’ve ever seen.

Meanwhile, Baltimore, down 6-3 in the bottom of the 8th, scored 4 in that inning and went on to win 7-6. Delmon Young, who while with Detroit was the ALCS MVP in 2012 against the Yankees, got revenge on his old team with a bases-loaded double. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for seeing Buck Showalter do well (as well as Donnie Mattingly with the Dodgers).

In the NLDS, a shocker. You expected a pitching duel between Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. The Dodgers knocked out Wainwright in taking a 6-1 lead. But then Kershaw, 21-3, 1.77 in the regular season, lost it. St. Louis got one in the sixth and 8 in the seventh and hung on for a 10-9 comeback victory in Game 1 of the NLDS. The Cardinals’ mastery of Kershaw goes back to last year’s postseason. They have his number, or maybe Kershaw is tipping his pitches and only St. Louis knows how?

In the other NLDS, the SF Giants won Game 1, 3-2 over the Washington Nationals.

Some great, great games in this postseason so far.

There was a good article I read about the Yankees noting how they really are hamstrung in trying to improve the team for 2015. Yes, you’d like to improve the offense, but how when players are tied up into long-term deals, are declining and have no-trade clauses? Or, if you CAN trade them, you won’t get equal value or will have to eat much of their expensive contracts? McCann, Teix, A-Rod, Beltran, Gardner, Ellsbury, CC… all these guys are signed up for 2015 AND BEYOND. (Also, younger guys like Tanaka are, but Tanaka is a different story…). Which means these guys have to improve on 2014’s performances. You are stuck with them. For some guys who are aging, you have to wonder if they EVER will get back to what they once were. And that is a problem.

There are rumors that Derek Jeter has a big to-do this weekend. Some call it a retirement party. Others say he’s getting married to Hannah Davis. If it IS a wedding, it’s on short notice, since Derek really, if things would have gone right, would be having an off-day today in the middle of playing in the Division Series. In another words, the original plan was for him to be playing ON the field and not OFF of it. We’ll wait for confirmation on that wedding rumor.

Division Series/Jeter’s new venture.

Derek Jeter didn’t waste any time opening up a new venture. The Players’ Tribune will be a digital media site in which players take stories directly to the people, eliminating the middle man (or woman) of the media.

The ALDS started yesterday. Baltimore destroyed Detroit 12-3, while Kardiac KC did it in extra innings again, defeating the Angels 3-2 in 11.

The NLDS starts today. The two Game 1’s of the NLDS, combined with two Game 2’s of the ALDS mean wall to wall baseball today, weather permitting.

Game 162. Yanks win season/Jeter’s finale, 9-5.

The Yankees got off to a 9-0 lead and held on to win the season finale—also the last game of Derek Jeter’s career—9-5 on Sunday.

With the win, the Yankees ended the season at 84-78 and all alone in second place in the AL East (Toronto lost to Baltimore in their season finale and finished 83-79). The Yankees finished 12 back of Baltimore in the division, and 4 out of the final wild card spot.

In 2013, the Yanks finished tied for 3rd, but with 85 wins. So this year they finished better in the division, but with one less win. It was their worst record since 1992.

With the offseason moves (and lots of spending) on Ellsbury, McCann, Beltran, Tanaka, as well as the returns of Jeter and Teixeira, it was a disappointing season after a hopeful offseason.

Derek Jeter got an RBI infield single on a Baltimore chop in his last at bat to retire with 3465 hits (sixth all-time) and a .310 lifetime batting average. It was his 50th RBI of the season. He had lined to SS in the first. He was pinch-run for after his hit and finished his final game 1 for 2. His final season: .256-4-50 with 10 SB in 12 attempts. OPS+ 75.

The Yanks got four in the third on a two-run triple by Ichiro, Jeter’s single, and a SF by Teixeira.

They got five in the seventh on a two-run double by Jose Pirela, single by John Ryan Murphy, double by Austin Romine and single by Chase Headley.

Meanwhile, Michael Pineda was cruising. After he was pulled, the bullpen made things a bit sloppy by giving up five to Boston in the bottom of the seventh.

Pineda had an ERA of 1.89 this year. Too bad he only started 13 games and the Yanks didn’t give him much run support.

Pineda (W, 5-5, 1.89) 6 1/3, 1 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 10 K.

Rogers 1/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 2 walks, 1 HBP, 1 K. Overall ERA 5.72.

Warren 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 2.97.

Phelps 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 4.38.

The postseason now begins for 10 teams. In the AL Oakland (who barely held on to make the postseason) will be at KC for the wild-card playoff game, winner gets the Angels. The other ALDS has Detroit vs. Baltimore.

In the NL, SF will be at Pittsburgh in the wild-card game with the winner getting Washington. The other NLDS will be the Cardinals vs. the Dodgers.

 

Game 161. Yanks, Tanaka beaten, 10-4. Today is Jeter’s finale.

Masahiro Tanaka got knocked out in the second inning and the Yanks were beaten by Boston Saturday, 10-4.

They fell to 83-78 with the loss and into a second-place tie with Toronto heading into the final game of the season.

Of course, today’s game (on TBS) will be Derek Jeter’s final game.

Tanaka gave up a run in the first, then was knocked out in Boston’s 8-run second inning.

Tanaka 1 2/3 IP, (L, 13-5, 2.77), 7 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 walks, 2 K.

Claiborne 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 h, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.00

Mitchell 4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 walks, 3 K. 2.45.

Whitley 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 4 K. 5.23

Derek Jeter went 1 for 2 (career hit #3464) before being pulled from the game. He DH’d, as he wanted his last game at SS to be at Yankee Stadium.

Jeter ends his career in Fenway on 9/28/14. Mickey Mantle ended his career in Fenway on 9/28/68. Exactly 46 years ago.

Game 159. Hollywood ending for Jeter’s last home game.

For a whole career that seems like a fairy tale, why not a Hollywood ending for the hero’s last home game?

Derek Jeter hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th to win the game against Baltimore, 6-5. It couldn’t have been any different, right?

Hiroki Kuroda, possibly making his final MLB start, started the game off badly, giving up back-to-back HRs to the first two batters he faced. But then after that, he threw a one-hit shutout for eight innings.

Kuroda, 8 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks, 9 K. 3.71.

Meanwhile, the Yanks came back. In the bottom of the first, Gardner singled, and Jeter just missed a HR, doubling in Gardner. Jeter went to third on a WP and scored on an error to tie up the game.

In the seventh, Jeter came up with the bases loaded and hit a ground ball. In going for the force, the ball was thrown away and two runs scored. Error and RBI for Derek. Brian McCann then hit a SF to make it 5-2.

So to the 9th it went, and all seemed safe. Then things went crazy.

David Robertson gave up a walk, then got a strikeout.

Then he gave up a 2-run HR. 5-4.

Then a strikeout. With two out, I expected Girardi to pull Jeter to a standing ovation. Instead, he left Jeter in the game. Good thing, too.

For Robertson then coughed up the lead by giving up another HR. And it was to Steve Pearce (see my recent post, “You were saying?”).

Robertson (W, 4-5, 3.13) 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 2 K.

So Jeter now had another Yankee Stadium at bat. More if the game went extras. He was third up in the bottom of the ninth.

Rookie Jose Pirela, in his third major league game, singled to start the bottom of the ninth. Antoan Richardson pinch-ran.

Everyone knew what would happen next. Gardner bunted Richardson over to set the stage for Jeter.

It seemed so scripted. But, why not a Hollywood ending for the hero’s last home game in a fairy-tale career?

Jeter singled in the winning run. Career hit #3463.

The win ensured a winning season. The Yanks are 82-77 with three games in Boston to go. It put them one up on Toronto for 2nd place in the AL East.

Jeter probably won’t play today (Friday). I’ll be shocked if he does, simply because of all the emotion of last night. He will never play SS again, saying that is one thing he wants to take out of his home farewell—his last game at SS. In fairness to the Boston fans who want to say goodbye, he will DH in Boston this weekend.

Is an encore (like a HR over the Green Monster in his final MLB at bat) in the cards?

Game 158. Farewells forthcoming as Yanks are eliminated, 9-5

Cue Sinatra. “… and now, the end is near…”

The Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention with a 9-5 loss on Wednesday afternoon. Tonight’s (Thursday) game vs. Baltimore will be the final home game of Derek Jeter’s career. It also will probably be the final game of Hiroki Kuroda’s career, and probably the final game for Ichiro Suzuki as a Yankee in Yankee Stadium. As for David Robertson, who knows?

(Trivia: the Yanks, despite 27 World Series Championships, have never won a WS in a year ending in a 4 or 5).

Jeter, of course, is retiring at the end of the year and tonight will be the Yankees’ last home game of 2014. Ichiro most likely will not be a Yankee in 2015 and with him turning 41, you wonder who’d pick him up. Kuroda, 39, may be retiring.

One big question is when tonight’s game would start, and if it will start or be rained out. You know the Yanks will do everything in their power to play the game, for it is Jeter’s home farewell. Rain is in the forecast all day, and the question is, when will it be over. There is a chance tonight’s game starts after a delay.

As for yesterday, Shane Greene took a 3-0 lead into the third inning, but the O’s knocked him out of the box in the fourth with six runs on their way to defeating the Yanks 9-5.

The Yanks had scored a run in the first on a Teixeira double, another in the second on a Drew HR (overall 7), and one in the third on a Headley HR (overall 13).

Greene (L, 5-4, 3.78) went 3 2/3, 6 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 5 K.

Huff 2 IP, 0 R, 2 h, 0 walks and 1 K. Overall ERA 3.36 (1.85 as NYY).

Whitley 1 1/3, 2 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 5.38.

Phelps 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 4.42.

Claiborne 1 IP,  0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 3.05.

The O’s got 3 in the eighth to make it 9-3, and Mark Teixeira hit a 2-run HR (22, 363 career) in the bottom of the 8th to bring the Yanks to 9-5, the final score.

Tonight should be dramatic. The ovation(s) for Jeter should be huge. You wonder if and how Jeter will show his emotions.

It will be less so for Kuroda and Ichiro, but it could be their home Yankee farewells as well.

And what about David Robertson, who is a free agent after the year? Is this is last home game as a Yankee as well?

Derek Jeter went 0 for 4 in the loss, keeping his total hit total at 3461. His average dropped to .253. (.309 career)

The loss dropped the Yanks to 81-77 and into a second-place tie with the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.