Right now, the Yankees are playing the Detroit Tigers and trying to avoid a three-game sweep in Comerica Park. As this is happening, I figured it would be the perfect time to do a free association post of sorts and just write down what comes to my mind, baseball related and maybe not-so-baseball related.

Enjoy!

This week has been pretty terrible for the Yankees. I mean, losing two out of three to the Red Sox at home to open the season is bad enough but then attempting to fight off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers and facing Justin Verlander? And I thought my week was bad.

I’m having computer issues. My four-year-old MacBook’s hard drive is on its way out and I’m crossing my fingers it lasts one more day until the new hard drive I ordered arrives. You can cross your fingers too if you’d like. Right now, I’m using my dad’s laptop which stinks of cigarettes and is making my hands and room smell but desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m a full-time blogger so I need a computer in order to work.

I don’t know about you guys but I’m finding myself turning Yankee games off in the middle innings – save the Pettitte game because it’s the only game they won and the only game in which the starter pitched well. The games have been torture. And not’s like I’m surprised by this. I figured they’d start off slowly because of all of the injuries but I was hoping the pitching would be okay. So far, it hasn’t been.

I’m also finding it hard to stay on Twitter during the games because some people are acting as if it’s September and the Yankees are in the middle of a pennant race. It’s April, it’s too early to panic and everyone needs to chillax.

The other thing that’s been bothering me this week is the reaction to the lineups when they’re posted. It’s not like we didn’t know Tex, Granderson, Jeter and A-Rod would be out so why all of the outrage? I mean, it’s every single day. This is how it’s going to be until May. It’s now April 7 so we have a while to deal with it. Get used to it already for the love of God.

I’m actually not in a bad mood but some of the stuff I’m seeing from my fellow fans and fellow bloggers makes me want to shake my head.

Let’s talk about something good that’s happening now: the weather. It’s gradually becoming more Spring-like which is nice. At this moment, it’s 55 degrees and I have both windows open in my room. It’s very pleasant. Although, I’m sure my nose and head will be angry with me later when I start sneezing and I develop a pounding headache.

A week from today, I’ll be attending my first Yankee game of the season. I went to Citifield on Thursday to see the Mets take on the San Diego Padres. The Mets lost. It’s amusing but I actually was watching the game but really don’t recall much of what happened. I think it was because I didn’t have a list of players in front of me and I had no idea who anyone was. It could have also been the 100 kids who were seated behind me who were yelling the whole time. They were there on a school trip. From looking at them I assume they were early high school or possibly late junior high/middle school aged. Who knows? I’m so bad at that. As much as the yelling and screaming was irritating me, I wanted to thank them for making me not feel bad about the fact that I am probably not having kids.

Back to the Yankees, it’s 3-0 in the bottom of the second. What the hell happened? Oh, I should point out, it’s 3-0 Yankees. Interesting, huh?

More interesting stuff, R.A. Dickey gave up five runs in the first inning to the Red Sox at the Rogers Centre. Oops.

I love baseball, don’t you?

Come on, you can admit it, you thought there was no way the Yankees would come back and win today’s game.

Bartolo Colon looked awful in his four innings of work and Robinson Cano made a base running blunder while the Yankees were trying to get something going in the fourth that ended the inning and seemed to seal the whole, “Maybe this just isn’t their day,” storyline.

The Yankees had cut it to 4-1 and with Mark Teixeira on third and Cano on second, Nick Swisher hit a long fly ball that looked to be heading for the right center field gap. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Colby Rasmus had other ideas. He caught the ball and Cano who was clearly not paying attention, passed Teixeira on the base paths and they were both called out.

And it certainly didn’t look too good for the boys when the Blue Jays scored two more to make it 6-1. But then the man with the bum thumb helped pull the Yanks to within one in the sixth inning with a home run. Alex Rodriguez had seen fastball after fastball from Henderson Alvarez and in his third at bat of the day, Rodriguez deposited the first pitch he saw into the left field bullpen. And yes it was a fastball.

Thanks to Alex Rodriguez’s taped up thumb, the Yankees were only behind 6-5 and it was the sixth inning. There was plenty of time for the Yankees to pull ahead.

And they did in the next inning, thanks to the guy who doesn’t hit home runs who hit his 40th of the year. Curtis Granderson fouled off about 1,856 pitches with two strikes in the count before finally hitting a two run home to put the Yankees ahead for good 7-6.

Big props to the offense for not giving up and to the bullpen who pitched five scoreless – including a three up, three down strikeoutapalooza from Rafael Soriano in the eighth.

Then enter Sandman in the ninth who did his thing. You know, a strikeout, broken bat and a fly out to end the game to give the Yankees a big comeback win and to pick up his 601st save which puts him with Trevor Hoffman on the all time saves list.

The Yankees have one more game left on the road trip of doom. Or at least that’s what it’s felt like.

Mariano Rivera is Better Than You (And you and you and you)
5 time World Champion
601 Saves
42 postseason saves – he has more postseason saves by himself than some franchises do
1999 WS MVP & 2003 ALCS MVP
12 time All Star

Thanks to the YES Postgame show for those Mo stats – though I did actually know them on my own.

The Yankees completed a three game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with the aid of good pitching and good hitting.

The good pitching came from CC Sabathia who picked up his 19th win behind seven and 1/3 strong innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and only surrendered one walk. He threw 111 pitches – 79 for strikes – and recorded ten strikeouts for the second game in a row.

The good hitting came from a couple of guys. First up, the Captain Derek Jeter who had five RBI, including a three run HR in the third inning. Jeter is hitting .371 following days off.

Alex Rodriguez hit a home run he thought was a fly out – he said the word that rhymes with duck and threw his bat down in disgust and then trotted around the bases to make the score 5-2 in the sixth.

During postgame interviews when Kim Jones asked Rodriguez about it he laughed and said, “It was a fly ball to right. I got very lucky that ball sailed over the fence. I still can’t believe it.”

Rookie Jesus Montero who was penciled in as the number nine hitter was 2-3 on the day – he scored on Jeter’s home run. In the past two days he’s 3-6 with one RBI and one strikeout.

Nick Swisher provided more offense in the eighth with a two run home run, his 22nd of the year.

For the Blue Jays, Jose Bautista was silenced by Sabathia, he was 0-3, but as soon as Sabathia left the game, Bautista belted his league leading 40th home run off Rafael Soriano in the eighth. No harm, no foul though as Soriano settled down and was able to get the remaining two outs of the inning. Edwin Encarnacion finished 3-4 for the Jays and they head back home to face the Boston Red Sox in a four game series starting tomorrow.

Cory Wade closed the game for the Yankees who are now 85-53 on the year and who – at the time of this post – have a full game lead in the AL East over the Red Sox.

Tomorrow, the Yankees welcome the Baltimore Orioles to the Stadium. Joe Girardi announced that Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett will pitch the series.

And guess what? IT’S SUPPOSED TO RAIN THIS WEEK!

My brother James came up with the recap title

Sorry!

I left the house as soon as the game ended to head down to see the baby bombers in Staten Island. (They are leading 1-0 in the second inning.)

It was a nice come from behind win for the boys today to keep their slim first place lead intact.

Robinson Cano was the hero of the game and put the Yankees ahead for good with a two run double. Nick Swisher followed with a single which scored Cano.

I will write more when I arrive home sometime tomorrow. Just kidding. I should get home at some point tonight.

Dante Bichette Jr. just flied out here in SI.

GO YANKS!

Tonight’s contest was an interesting one. It was a low scoring affair, there were lots of defensive gems – two from Brett Gardner in the first inning alone – and both starting pitchers had strong outings.

Ivan Nova got the better of Brandon Morrow and earned his 15th win of the season. Tonight’s victory also put the Yankees in sole possession of first place.

The Blue Jays scored their two runs in the first inning and only had four hits total. The Yankees scored two on a Gardner home run in the third and they added another run in the fifth on a Robinson Cano single.

Both starting pitchers were strong. Morrow lasted six innings and gave up all three runs but also struck out eight.

After a shaky first inning, Nova finished only having given up three hits in seven innings while striking out four. His record is now 15-4 and his win total is the most wins by a Yankee rookie since Stan Bahnsen won 17 in 1968.

So the Yankees didn’t suffer from a Boston series hangover! It’s a miracle!

I’ll admit, I was a tad worried that the Yankees would be a little sluggish after their series with the Red Sox and well, they kind of were but they were still able to earn a victory. Good sign.

Tomorrow’s scheduled starters are Bartolo Colon (8-9, 3.63 ERA) and Ricky Romero (13-9, 2.84 ERA)

Some Facts
This was Yankees’ 42nd win at home. Texas leads the league with 44…Mariano Rivera earned his 37th save of the year. He is now five away from tying Trevor Hoffman for the all time record…The Yankees are 30 games over .500

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuughes

People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
‘n’ over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguise…

I’m quoting a song from Rick Nelson in my recap. Is it the heat? Am I crazy? Is it both? We’ll say both…

Anyway Yankees fans, who among you had July 17 in the Phil Hughes‘ first win pool? Yeah, I thought so. No one could have predicted the way this season has gone for Hughes but in his second outing since coming off the DL he looked much better on the mound.

When asked about his first win of 2011, Hughes said, “It’s not 18 but it’s a start.” His curveball was working and he had better command this time around. Hughes came out of the game after six innings and 80 pitches – 45 fastballs, 25 curveballs and ten cutters. Joe Girardi said it was a combination of the long break between starts and the heat today in Toronto. Hughes gave up four hits, two runs, surrendered two walks, struck out five and retired eight of the last nine batters he faced.

Helping Hughes pick up his first win of the year were Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher, and Curtis Granderson.

Gardner continued his hot hitting in Canada finishing 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases today. He was 10 for 16 in this series. The speedy Gardner now has 12 steals in a row, hasn’t been caught stealing since June 19 and he now has 26 on the season – two behind MLB Leader Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox.

Curtis Granderson pitched in with an RBI double in the fourth and finished his day 2 for 5 with that double, three RBI and one run scored.

Nick Swisher got the scoring started today with an RBI single in the first which scored Gardner. He also scored on a Russell Martin double in the fourth and finished 2 for 4.

David Robertson and Boone Logan came in to finish the game for Hughes. Robertson picked up one strike out and Logan – I can’t believe I’m typing this – struck out the side to end the game. No, you’re not seeing things. Boone Logan struck out the side to end the game. That’s more insane than me quoting a Rick Nelson song!

And it’s a great day in Yankeeville as the boys were able to split the series after dropping the first two games.

A Random Thought (That nearly everyone on Twitter had this afternoon)
What the hell is on Russell Martin’s face? Russ, seriously dude. Shave it now. Please. And thanks.

Next up for the Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays, again. This time they’re battling in Tampa – well, technically St. Petersburg – and it’s a four game series.

Happy Sunday fans!

“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.”

At first glance, this afternoon’s lineup looks strange but once the shock wears off you will realize that Joe Girardi just wants his aging – and recently injured – shortstop to take a break during this stretch of eight games on turf. Although the prospect of Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez on the left side of the infield is pretty frightening.

So while Derek Jeter gets the whole day off Mark Teixeira gets half rest at DH which means Jorge Posada will be at first base. Poor Phil Hughes is looking for his first win of the season and this is what Girardi does to him?

Okay, so the first paragraph was really meant to be a pep talk for me. Someone hold me, I’m scared.

Maybe it will be one of those games you expect to be a total nightmare that in the end turns out to be okay. Or maybe I’m totally delusional.

We’ll find out at 1:07pm.

Today’s Lineup
Gardner LF
Granderson CF
Teixeira DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Posada 1B
Martin C
Nunez SS
Pena 3B

Good morning Yankee fans. It’s Sunday July 17, 2011 and this is your daily rundown.

Today’s starter Phil Hughes (0-2, 10.57 ERA) is looking for his first win of the season today in Toronto against the Blue Jays. In his career Hughes is 2-3 with a 4.84 ERA vs. the Jays. This will be his first start against them in 2011.

His opponent is Carlos Villanueva (5-1, 2.99). Villanueva won his last start against the Yanks on May 23, 7-3 against Bartolo Colon at the Stadium. Hughes will be making his second start since coming off the disabled list earlier this month. In that last outing, Hughes lasted only five innings but also only gave up two early runs. He was not sharp but his velocity was higher than it was in April before he went on the disabled list.

Brett Gardner went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base and a run scored in yesterday’s win. He now has seven hits in 12 at-bats since returning from the All-Star break, boosting his batting average to .279 for the year. He ranks fourth in the American League with 24 stolen bases.

Mark Teixeira is 6 for 30 in his last eight games. He has no extra base hits or RBI in that span and his average has dropped to .240. He finished last night 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Derek Jeter was voted America’s Favorite Sports Star. In the Harris poll, 2163 adults were surveyed online between June 13-June 20, 2011 and Jeter came out on top for the first time in his career, moving up from number three last year.

Hello Again

Both Rafael Soriano and Eric Chavez are both scheduled – for now – to begin rehab assignments on Tuesday. Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger writes:

Manager Joe Girardi said Soriano threw a bullpen session today and is to pitch in the first of what’s expected to be at least two minor-league games. It’s the closest he has come to coming off the disabled since he went down with inflammation in his right elbow on May 14.

He added about Chavez:

Meanwhile, general manager Brian Cashman said today that Chavez is scheduled to appear in a minor-league game Tuesday as a designated hitter. It’s a major step for Chavez, who has endured setbacks in his return from a broken toe in his left foot. He has been on the disabled list since May 6.

This Date In Yankees History: 1987, Don Mattingly becomes the first AL player to homer in seven straight games. 1956, Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak comes to an end.

A Minor Glance

Triple-A Scranton lost to Toledo 7-4

Double-A Trenton lost to Reading 13-2

High-A Tampa lost to Palm Beach 3-2

Low-A Charleston lost to West Virginia 13-6

Short Season Staten Island lost to Tri-City 5-3

The GCL Yankees beat the GCL Blue Jays 14-12

Yes, only one of the Minor League teams won last night.

I figured I’d post this in honor of Russell Martin and Joe Girardi accusing the Blue Jays of stealing signs.

The Jays are only 20-21 at home so if they are stealing signs, they should probably start doing it better against the Red Sox. It’s just a thought.

Hopefully the Yankees’ ace CC Sabathia, who is looking for his seventh straight win, will put an end to this losing nonsense. During his streak Sabathia has a paltry 1.77 ERA and has struck out 33 over his last three outings. He also hasn’t given up a run in three starts (I totally just jinxed him).

Today’s lineup
Jeter SS
Granderson DH
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Jones LF
Gardner CF
Nunez 3B
Cervelli C

The Yankees hitters will face Ricky Romero (7-8, 3.09 ERA). The Yankees are 18-9 against left handers this year, but Romero is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against them this season. He is also 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA at home.

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE!!

“So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say…”

First things first, with today’s victory, the Yankees won the series. They also finished up this latest homestead 4-2. The Yankees needed this kind of home stand. They have had a rough month of May and tonight’s walk off and today’s victory were the perfect way to go into an off day before a West Coast swing.

Starter Freddy Garcia picked up his third win of the season. He called his day “Lucky” in his postgame interview with Kim Jones on YES but it was more than that. For much of the day, he was able to limit the damage and get out of some tough spots. His first test was a first pitch lead off triple by Yunel Escobar who was left stranded after Garcia was able to get Corey Patterson to ground out and both Jose Bautista and Juan Rivera to pop out.

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