(Photo c/o Getty Images)
I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time with tonight’s recap. Frankly, there isn’t a much to say at this point. The Yanks enjoyed another fine pitching performance but still managed to lose thanks to some very timely non-hits. The lone run came in the bottom of third on a solo shot which was definitely assisted by the short porch in right field (and almost snagged by a leaping Carlos Beltran).
That’s not to say that there weren’t an abundance of opportunities though. In the bottom of the second, the Bombers had bases loaded but couldn’t capitalize. In fact, by the end of the game, the Yankees ultimately went 1-10 with runners in scoring position (exasperated by the team’s 11 strikeouts). (1-5, 5.08) allowed one run on four hits. His wholesale knuckleball (which has a -10.1 pitch value according to Fangraphs) was good enough to warrant six strikeouts. I don’t care who’s pitching; that’s entirely too many fruitless at bats. I think TYA’s very own Larry Koestler provided perspective best when he noted on Twitter that the Yankees have already accumulated seven one-run losses this season. Let those numbers resonate on your tongue for just a moment – especially as you consider the members of the rotation who have been contributing mostly solid outings.
Some credit certainly has to go to Jose Reyes who single handedly destroyed any hope of a rally in the bottom of the fifth. Thanks to an error (actually credited to Reyes) and another infield single for The Captain, Gardner and Jeter managed to reach base with no outs respectively. Granderson helped the wrong NY team’s cause as he promptly popped out. Teixeira struck out on three consecutive knuckleballs. Then Reyes made a spectacular diving catch on a sharp line drive from for the third out. Inning over (might as well been the game though!). Worse yet, after that inning, the Yankees would only manage one hit for the remainder of the game (a sixth inning double compliments of ).
While I’m griping about the offense, I’d like to just take a few seconds to point out how painful it was watching Gardner on the bases during that fifth inning. EVERYONE on the planet knew he was going to try and steal off Dickey Knuckleballer. That didn’t stop Brett from taking an enormous lead in-between each pitch sequence, which consequently, almost resulted in several very close (albeit unsuccessful) pick offs attempts. When he finally did go for the steal, he was also very close to being thrown out. Gardners basestealing struggles continue to be quite the enigma – queue the “You know what the say about baseball…” line please, Mr. Sterling.
The silver lining definitely came from the pitching. was everything one could hope for tonight and then some. His 88 mile per hour “fastball” hit the corners for the most part. The Chief (that’s Freddy’s nickname apparently) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. Other than a Fernando Martinez double (bottom of the fourth) and a Daniel Murphy homerun in the sixth, there really wasn’t a whole lot of threat from the Mets camp all night.
The relief core was also solid. Joba entered the game in the eighth and simply overpowered for his second out. Of the five pitches to Bay, four were fastballs averaging 95 miles per hour. After striking out Bay, he went on to throw an 80 mph curveball, a 96 mph four seam fastball, and an 86 mph slider to Fernando Martinez. It really wasn’t fair from the start. took over in the ninth in what felt like his 100th appearance of the season and largely dominated the inning; although, he did give up the obligatory single to . But nothing came of it.
In the words of the great Porky Pig, “That’s all folks.” Join us tomorrow for the second game of the Subway Series. Game starts at 7:10PM EST on YES. AJ Burnett (4-3, 3.99) is expected to take the mound for the good guys against (3-4, 4.78). Let’s hope the offense can muster some support this next go around.
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These losses with good or better pitching will come back to haunt the Yankees come September.
They are most likely not making the postseason this year because they have pissed away too many well-pitched starts.
Bottom line is the offensive side of this team is aging, fading, or underacheiving depending on who the player is.
Posada and Jeter are done. A-Rod looks like he’s having his 2010 Jeter season this year. He turns 36 July 27 and I think he will be done by the end of next year, which is why I say get rid of him in the offseason while he still has value. Let him hit meaningless homeruns and break the homerun record with Seattle. It’s not like breaking the all-time homerun record will mean anything because he cheated 2001-2003 and will need to be a full-time DH in the final 3 or 4 years of his contract to break the record. Hank Aaron didn’t hit a single homerun out of his 714 HR as a DH, ditto for Ruth and Mays, and how many did Bonds and Griffey Jr. hit as a DH?
Gardner is a singles-hitting so-so. I’ll stop short of saying he’s a super #4 OF, but he’s looking more and more like that every day. Granderson has some good qualities: Gold Glove candidate defense, power, speed, stolen base ability, but in the end, he cannot hit for average or post high enough OBP to 100% utilize his speed. The Yankees might want to consider trading him in the offseason to maximize his value. Swisher looks like a guy who has finally spit the bit after fighting off the naysayers who said he wouldn’t amount to shit in a Yankee uniform. I can’t get on him because I never expected him to turn out not one but two solid years for the Yankees. Maybe 2009-10 was all he is good for. I would trade all three of these guys for a new starting outfield if the right players were available.
Cano is starting to annoy me. He still hasn’t had his breakout season and I have to wonder if the Yankees will give him the minimum seven-year $20M per year contract he will surely want after the Yankees keep him at a bargain rate by exercising his 2012 and 2013 club options. I would trade him as well, but it’d have to be for a huge bounty (minimum starting 2B, starting pitcher, and a reliever.)
Teixiera short-term is fine, long-term, he looks like Jason Giambi After 2003 The Sequel: another .25X BA, homerun-hitting oaf who can post high OBP but can’t hit for average or drive in over half his runs on non-homeruns. He has .252/.373/.503 30 HR, 80 RBI in 2013 written all over him. Not bad but there’ll be alot of strikeouts and men left on base and his defense will not be as strong as it’s been so far.
Who knows how long Martin will hit like a combination of 1996 Girardi and
prime Posada?
Honestly, I’d trade or get rid of all nine of these guys over time.
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the Yanks need to make a change to shake things up. Bring up Jesus Montero to help spark the team, the lineup seems lifeless, there;s no reason why the Yanks should not be able to hit Dickey, its not that he pitched good, because other teams have touched him up…. if this happens now, what then in the playoffs when good pitchers are pitching…will they be held scorless, bring up a natural hitter like Montero…. Sit down Posada and Swisher,,,, Swisher has been horrible. Get that bat shaking out of Tex;s stance, he needs to hold his bat still and be prepared to hit, all that shaking has not been helping.
Yanks need to make a change to shake things up. Bring up Jesus Montero to help spark the team, the lineup seems lifeless, there;s no reason why the Yanks should not be able to hit Dickey, its not that he pitched good, because other teams have touched him up…. if this happens now, what then in the playoffs when good pitchers are pitching…will they be held scorless, bring up a natural hitter like Montero…. Sit down Posada and Swisher,,,, Swisher has been horrible. Get that bat shaking out of Tex;s stance, he needs to hold his bat still and be prepared to hit, all that shaking has not been helping.