If you're at the ballpark for three hours, what would be the difference if it were 3:07 and the calls were right? -- Michael Kay

I never thought I'd say this, but... well put, Mr. Kay.

After catching a break from the umps on Sunday when a Carlos Delgado homer was incorrectly called foul, the Yanks were on the cheated end of a play tonight. During the bottom of the sixth inning, A-Rod, who had already homered back in the third, hit a long one out above the wall in right-center field. It didn't go out of the park, though -- it hit off the yellow staircase above/behind the wall and bounced back into the field, where it was played as a base hit. A-Rod was trotting around the bases in home run style, but had to catch himself at second when he realized his homer wasn't being played as such.

Continue reading Yankee Stadium Umps Blow Another One

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Question: Why aren't Yankees fans fired up with frustration this season? The team is three games under .500 and they've taken up residence in the lonely AL East cellar.

Answer: I do not know.

After getting rained out last night, the Yanks played the Mets at home today, and it was an important game for both teams. The Mets' recent slide has many fans speculating that Willy Randolph's job may be on the line at this point, and the Yanks simply need to prove to themselves that they can indeed score some runs. Despite giving up three homers -- to Jeter, Abreu, and Giambi -- Santana held the Yanks off and led his team to a 7-4 victory.

Continue reading Mets Help Yanks Continue Their Suck Streak

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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The Yankees gave Ian Kennedy the boot a little over a week ago, sending him to AAA to let him take a break from the pressures of New York (and to give themselves a break from his apparent inability to get batters out), but he's been working hard to prove he doesn't belong in Scranton -- he wants back in New York as soon as possible. After just two appearances with Scranton he can declare mission accomplished (the exact opposite of Bush's definition of the phrase): he'll be starting the game against the Rays on Thursday.

Continue Reading "Stupid" Yanks Bringing I-Ken Back

Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes have put the Yanks (not to mention us fans) through a lot of heartaches and headaches this year, leading many to question all those scouting reports that made them out to be can't-miss stars. Hughes recused himself by fracturing a rib, thus avoiding both the ever-increasing pressure and/or embarrassing and confidence-shattering move to the bullpen or AAA. The latter turned out to be I-Ken's fate after a miserable season start.

Being demoted is surely a blow to one's self-esteem, but in this case it might be just what Kennedy needs to BOOST his confidence. He made his first start with Scranton today, and he didn't waste any time showing the Yanks that he's still got the talent we all saw last year. In his Scranton debut today he went 7.1 innings, gave up just one hit (he had a no-hitter going through 5 2/3), struck out eight and didn't walk a soul (although he did hit a dude) and threw 90 pitches. Rather than sinking into a depression or beating himself up about being sent down, IPK is using his time wisely to show the Yanks that he can and will turn things around when he is recalled.

Continue Reading There's Still Hope: I-Ken Starts His AAA Trip Off With a Bang

It's been a rough season for Phil Hughes. He's struggled since the get-go, can't seem to locate the strike zone to save his life, and even garnered a chorus of boos last night -- a sound I never would have thought to hear directed at Hughes, who is (was?!) so beloved by the fans. And oh yeah, he has night vision problems, too! The poor kid has looked like a lost and/or wounded pup on the mound.

Luckily, before things could get TOO out of control (not that 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA isn't out of control...) the Yanks found a way to get Hughes a break: the 15-day DL. It was announced during the seventh inning of tonight's game against the Tigers (a pathetic display, BTW) that the Yanks had put Hughsie on the DL for a "strained oblique muscle."

Continue reading Hughes Gets a Vacation Trip to the DL

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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It's nice that he feels so bad and all, and obviously it's not his fault that's he injured, but this little snafu does put the Yanks in a bit of a pinch. The only catcher left on the roster is Jose Molina, who has proved to be a perfectly adequate backup catcher in Posada's stead, but the Yanks are going to need a backup catcher if Molina is going to be the starter for the foreseeable future. They had journey man Chad Moeller while Jorgie was taking his break, but when they thought he was ready to come back they designated Chad for assignment.

Continue reading Jorgie Porgie Pudding and Pie!

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Will someone please tell me why teams refuse to bring in their closers when the game is tied??? WHYYYYYY?!

I'm very upset right now. Furious, even.

After beating the Yanks 6-4 last night, the Indians pulled it off again today and topped the Yanks 4-3. This one irritated me even more than the last, my friends (and foes, I suppose...), and not just because it was the second night in a row such a pathetic display had been forced upon my eyes. No, there is much more vexing me tonight, namely the waste of a lovely effort on the part of the lineup to tie up the game (forget about the fact that they left 23 batters on base; that's fodder for another tirade) that could very possibly been parlayed into an extra-innings win had Girardi not opted to have Ross Ohlendorf pitch the bottom of the night instead of Mo.

Continue Reading SAVE ME!!!

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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The seventh inning just came to a close in Chicago, and guess what? Mike Mussina pitched all seven of them. And guess what else?! He only gave up two runs -- solo homers to Joe Crede and Carlos Quentin.

Seeing Moose make it through seven for the first time this year is a comforting -- if surprising -- sight for Yankees fans to behold. Coming into the game tonight he was 1-3 with a .575 ERA and hadn't made it out of the sixth inning in any of his starts yet this year. It was by far the best he's looked all year, as he scattered just four hits and a walk while striking out three in those seven innings.

Continue reading Moose Goes Seven; Yanks Fans Hold Off on Moose-Hunt (For Now)

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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If you've been hanging out in a dark, isolated cave without the technological wonders of cable television, internet, telephone, radio or carrier pigeons, check out the previous episodes in this "Cashman vs Steinbrenner: Should Joba Chamberlain be put into the rotation right away?" saga before you read on:

Part the first: Hank Steinbrenner calls Cash an "idiot" for not having Joba start to begin with
Part deux: Cash responds by saying no sir
Part tres: ...making Hank backpedal as he realizes what an idiot HE sounds like

All caught up? Good! Onward!

Continue Reading Rotation vs 'Pen: Joba Weighs In

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Young pitchers are the hottest commodity in baseball these days, with more and more teams hitching their wagons to their prospect stars every season. The Yankees are one such team, even going so far as to put two of their youngsters off-limits when it came to trying (half-heartedly, if you ask me, but that's a whole 'nother post) to acquire Santana. Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain are the three golden boys the Yanks were planning on having shoulder a hefty portion of the burden this year, and unfortunately, two thirds of that Golden Boy Brigade hasn't come out of the gates running at top speed.

The aforementioned struggling duo of Yankee Youngsters is Hughsie and I-Ken, whose combined age is younger than Julio Franco. Hughes has had four starts now and Kennedy three, and their pitching lines ain't pretty:

See those lines and more after the jump :)

Continue reading Don't Let an 8.82 ERA Get Ya Down!

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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The Yanks finally picked up a win tonight, avoiding a sweep in Baltimore and putting a stop to a three-game losing streak. The bats showed some signs of life at long last, but it was the starting pitching -- for once -- that kept the team in the game and propelled them to their 10th win.

In the previous four games, none of the starting pitchers made it past five innings -- three of the four didn't even make it that far -- forcing the Girardino to use the poor bullpen like it was going out of style (it wasn't). For a while there I was actually having flashbacks to poor Scott Proctor's arm falling off. Dandy Andy Pettitte brought his A-game to Baltimore tonight, though: seven IP, four hits, five K's, and not a single walk issued; his record is now 3-1 and he's got a super-sweet 2.45 ERA. It was just what the bullpen doctor ordered, leaving them with just two innings to cover (sidenote: Joba Chamberlain finally gave up his first run of the season... I tend to forget that he is a mere mortal). Andy actually had a no-hitter going through five, but kept his always-humble eye on the prize of winning instead of getting caught up in the excitement/pressure of a potential milestone like that:

See what Dandy Andy had to say about it after the jump!

Continue Reading Dear Andy Pettitte: Thank You for Not Sucking. Love, the Bullpen

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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It's still just April, and the Yanks have certainly gotten off to a hot start, but that isn't stopping some of my Yankee fan brethren from stressing out, fretting that they won't be able to top the Sox. Case in point, my dear friend and a man whose work I greatly admire, Peter Abraman of the Journal News, has suggested that the Yanks sign Manny Ramirez after this season is over (of course neglecting the fact that the Sox have a club option for 2009 and 2010, which they're likely to use).

Pete's reasoning is that since Manny is such a Yankee killer, what better way to stop that then to bring his hot bat over the the Bronx?

Manny Being Manny is an insane 52 of 110 (.473) against the Yankees since the start of the 2006 season with 12 homers and 35 RBI in 32 games. He has 53 homers and 153 RBI against the Yankees in his career. I asked Mike Mussina last week what the Yankees have done to try and stop this. "Everything," he said. "Nothing works."

Vote in the poll after the jumpity!

Continue Reading Manny Being Yankee??

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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After a 2-1 series loss to Boston over the weekend, the Yanks headed down to Florida today to start a two game set -- and what a game it was. When all was said and done, the teams had combined for 26 hits, 15 runs, and hit an incredible Colorado-worthy seven home runs.

The Yanks won the game 8-7, but it wasn't an easy win. Girardi had an interesting lineup out there tonight, one that barely looked like it belonged to the Yanks at first glance. With both Jorge Posada and Jose Molina unable to catch -- Posada because of the nagging shoulder issues and Molina because he strained his hammy sliding into home yesterday -- the Yanks called up journeyman Chad Moeller at the last moment to put on the catching gear, the young Alberto Gonzalez was at second (Cano was taking a much-needed mental health break a la Big Papi), and Morgan Ensberg was playing first. Jeter was back in the lineup after missing a week, but usual suspects Giambi and Posada were both out.

Continue Reading B-Squad Bombers Best the Rays (Barely)

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Philip Hughes may have given up seven runs in two innings, but I'm blaming this one on Kyle Farnsworth.

The Sox were all over Hughes from the very first inning, smacking six hits and scoring seven runs, but the Yanks put on a decent display themselves, scoring four off a shaky Daisuke Matsuzaka. They scored another in the eighth inning off Timlin thanks to a solo shot by Giambi -- the second homer Timlin served up to Giambi in this series -- to put the score at 7-5 with a win just two runs out of sight for the Yanks.

What happened next? Clicky the jumpy and read more!

Continue Reading Yanks Come So Close Yet So Far

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Rain rain, go away
The Yankees fail after a delay.

Sigh.

Is it too much to ask for the Yankees to put together a few timely hits? Last I checked their roster was chock full of capable hitters, even with a bit of a b-squad lineup.

The Red Sox took game two of the 18-game season series this afternoon, scoring four runs off nine hits. The Yanks fell short of ensuring a series win by scoring three on six hits, but in their defense a portion of their lack of hitting today can be attributed not just to their collective slump but to Beckett's good outing. After today's game the team is only scoring an average of three runs per game. That might be alright when they're playing the Tigers, but for the most part they're going to need to do better than that.

Continue Reading Dear Yankees: 3 Runs Every Game Does Not a Win Make. Love, Yankees Chick

In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos!
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Everybody loves Derek Jeter (how could you not?!), but ever since Alex Rodriguez joined the team many fans have lamented the fact that the better shortstop of the two was relegated to third base. After yesterday's injury to Jeet -- he left the game after the second inning due to a strained quad -- those fans might be getting a sneak peek at what the team might look like in MVP-Rod was indeed our starting shortstop.

There's no point in playing the "what if?" game, but I'm going to play it anyway.

Play along after the jump!

Continue reading Let's Play the What-If Game: A-Rod at SS?

Alright folks... I hope you're all crossing your fingers that the rain holds off long enough to let the Yanks get their game in tonight!

Assuming they do indeed play, join me at the FanHouse whilst I live-blog!

Linky: Opening night LIVE BLOG


See you there!

Like I did this afternoon for the Rays-O's game, I'm live-bloggin the Padres-Astros game tonight. Come on over to the FanHouse with me and follow a great pitching matchup: Peavy vs Oswalt.

Update 3:00pm EDT: In lieu of my Yanks live-bloggin', I'll be covering the O's-Rays instead. Join me!
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/31/odlb-rays-orioles-innings-1-3/

Update 2:30pm EDT: Game has been postponed. What a way to start the season, huh? Sigh. They'll play tomorrow evening instead. Details to follow.

It may be a rainy day in the Bronx, but don't fret, my pets: the game will be played, albeit a tad late.

I'll be live-bloggin' the game over at FanHouse, so please come join me as I update obsessively after each at-bat, pontificating about everything from Girardi's debut to A-Rod's homers (he shall hit... 3? 7? Let's aim for 10) to the how the Jays' injuries are affecting their team.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/31/odlb-yankees-blue-jays-innings-1-3/

PLAY BALL!