YANKS A SUCCESS EXCEPT WHERE IT MATTERS MOSTPinstriped empire richest in all of baseball; but lacks recent trophiesBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 21, 2006The one thing you can say about George Steinbrenner is, love him or hate him; the man knows how to make money. He also knows how to spend it too.
Since becoming the principal partner of the New York Yankees Steinbrenner has turned his franchise into the most recognizable entity in sports. How has he done that? He’s done it with exposure, exposure and more exposure.
In 1973 Steinbrenner put together a group of 17 investors to purchase the New York Yankees from CBS for approximately $10 million. When the deal was finalized Steinbrenner declared, “I won't be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all." Yeah, right! From the time the man, who became known as “The Boss,” signed on the dotted line he became the stuff New York legends are made of. You can’t put the Yankees in a sentence without having Steinbrenner’s name associated with it.
Steinbrenner wasted no time in getting into hot water with the Commissioner’s office. In his second year, Steinbrenner pled guilty to a felony charge for making illegal campaign contributions. It was alleged others were involved, but Steinbrenner took his medicine alone. Steinbrenner was suspended by then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and fined $15,000. He was reinstated in 1974. Steinbrenner was later pardoned in 1989 by President Ronald Reagan.
Known for a short fuse Steinbrenner hired and fired 17 managers in his first 17 seasons as principal owner. His love-hate relationship with Billy Martin is well-known. It started in 1976 when Martin led the Yankees to their first World Series in 12 seasons and ended finally in 1988 when Steinbrenner fired Martin for the fifth and last time. The press derisively called that period in Yankees history, “The Bronx Zoo.”
The Yankees, under Steinbrenner, became the epitome of the team you love to hate. They had a certain swagger and it started with Steinbrenner. In his first ten seasons Steinbrenner’s Yankees won two World Series trophies, four American League pennants and five division titles.
However, not everything was warm and fuzzy in the Bronx. In 1977 the Yankees brought in Reggie Jackson from the Oakland Athletics by way of the Baltimore Orioles. Jackson’s resume came complete with World Series rings from Oakland as the Athletics won the Fall Classic in 1972-73-74. In fact Jackson was named the World Series MVP in 1973. Jackson came in with a New York attitude that didn’t ingratiate himself to Yankee captain Thurman Munson. Jackson declared he was, “the straw that stirs the drink,” which immediately put him on Munson’s bad side. Manager Billy Martin couldn’t stand Reggie either and took every opportunity to bench him. In one famous scene Martin called Jackson in from right field after Martin perceived that Jackson had loafed on a fly ball by Boston’s Jim Rice that fell for a hit. Jackson hit the dugout and both he and Martin got in a heated exchange. Both men had to be separated to avoid punches being thrown. It wasn’t the only time Jackson and Martin nearly came to blows.
Somehow, this cast of characters went on to beat the Dodgers in six games to win the ’77 World Series.
The Yankees repeated this feat in 1978, but finished out of the money in 1979. The ’79 season was one of personal tragedy for Steinbrenner and the Yankees. On August 2nd Munson, the man affectionately known as “the captain,” sadly died in a plane crash, while he was practicing touch-and-goes. The funeral was held four days later. That night the Yankees beat the Orioles 5-4 on “Monday Night Baseball.” Center fielder Bobby Murcer, Muson’s best friend on the team, drove in all five runs.
The Yankees returned to the playoffs in 1980, but fell to the Kansas City Royals who swept the Bombers in three games. Steinbrenner fired manager Dick Howser. Howser had led the Yankees to a 103-game win season. This was another example of Steinbrenner’s often maniacal desire to win.
In 1981, unbeknownst to Steinbrenner and the Yankees, the year would mark the last time for 13 seasons New York would be in the Fall Classic. During the ‘80s the Yankees would have the overall best winning percentage in baseball, but the team could never put that one season together.
Also in 1981 the Yankees signed Dave Winfield from the San Diego Padres. Winfield and the Boss never got along. In 1990 Steinbrenner was suspended for a second time by then-Commissioner Fay Vincent, because Steinbrenner paid $40,000 to a known small-time gambler named Howie Spira to dig up dirt on Winfield. Winfield sued Steinbrenner for not paying $300,000 due to a charity Winfield championed as was agreed to in his contract. Vincent initially suspended Steinbrenner for life, but rescinded the ban in 1993. When news of the suspension reached the fans at Yankee Stadium they reacted to the news with a standing ovation.
In addition, Steinbrenner who became increasingly more involved in the day-to-day decision making, got on the wrong side of Yankees’ legend Yogi Berra. Berra the most quoted baseball personality of all time was hired in 1984 to manage the Yankees. Nevertheless, Berra was fired after only 16 games into the 1985 season. He was replaced by Billy Martin. The firing set off a feud between Berra and Steinbrenner that lasted for 14 years. Berra refused to step inside the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium or be involved in any festivities involving the Yankees. It was Joe DiMaggio, who had his own rocky start with the Boss, who helped broker a truce between legend and owner. He convinced Steinbrenner to bury the hatchet for the good of the fans, baseball and the team. Steinbrenner called Berra and apologized for “messing up.” That was all Yogi needed and he was back in the fold.
After Steinbrenner’s reinstatement to baseball in 1993 the Yankees began their comeback as a force in the American League East. They brought in Paul O’Neill from the Cincinnati Reds and hired Buck Showalter is manager. Other players, such as Bernie Williams began emerging from the minor league system.
In 1995 the Yankees finally returned to the playoffs. They entered the post-season as a wild card team. Unfortunately, they were turned aside by the Seattle Mariners in five games. Another sad note was that 1995 was the only year Yankee captain Don Mattingly ever got to play baseball in October. Mattingly joined the Yankees in 1982 and was named captain in 1991. Mattingly’s career was cut short because of back problems. For seven years Mattingly looked like a lock for the Hall of Fame, but because, of his back ailments his last seven years dropped off. His career stats have left him just shy of making it into the Hall.
In 1996 Steinbrenner led the Yankees back full circle to the World Series. The Yankees added Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Tino Martinez as the core of their team. Another decision that helped turn around the Yankees fortunes was the hiring of Joe Torre as the new Yankee skipper. The New York press thought the hiring was a joke, and painted Torre as “Clueless Joe.” It is Torre and Steinbrenner who have had the last laugh. Torre so far has guided the Yankees to four World Series wins, six AL Championships, and eight division titles (seven straight). He is the winningest manager since Casey Stengel.
Ever since Steinbrenner and his partners purchased the Yankees thirty-three years ago the Boss has had an unquenchable thirst for winning. He loves to win and hates to lose. "Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next,” he once said.
Yankee fans, too, are used to winning. They expect it year-after-year. The New York Yankees are the most storied and decorated team in all of sports. As has been said many times, no team has won their holy grail more than the Yankees. But, now it is going on six years since the Bombers beat the cross-town Mets in the 2000 Fall Classic. George Steinbrenner is pacing like a caged panther for another trophy. He will be 76 this July 4th and he knows his window for collecting baseball’s prize is closing with each passing season. He has predicted his team will once again take the award this post-season. He has assembled, on paper, one of the scariest line ups ever put on a manager’s line up card.
Steinbrenner, the master moneymaker, has continued to peddle his product. The Yankees logo is on everything from clocks, to pencil cups. One of the smartest things he has ever done is to allow his team’s logo to be used in all facets of merchandizing. The interlocking NY has been seen in the furthest regions of the planet. You can’t walk ten feet in any direction where there are people without seeing that logo.
On top of all of that Steinbrenner started his own network. The Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network was launched on March 19, 2002. The YES network broadcasts approximately 130 Yankees’ games a year, along with broadcasting games of the New Jersey Nets. Through other broadcasting avenues such as “MLB Extra-Innings” the Yankees can be seen by an entire nation. Transplanted fans can now watch their team year in and year out.
George Steinbrenner continues to keep the New York Yankees at the forefront of exposure. The more coverage his team gets the richer it becomes. In an article published recently by Forbes Magazine the Yankees are worth an estimated $1.026 billion dollars, making the Yankees the first baseball team to top the billion dollar mark. That means in the 33 years since Steinbrenner began overseeing the operation the value of the New York Yankees has increased one-hundred fold. That is mind boggling. There is no doubt the Yankees have been and will continue to be a financial success. Like the Boss said himself, “Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa.”
However, ask him if he’d rather win another World Series trophy or earn another $100 million before he dies, and what do you think his answer would be?
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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TWINS HALT STREAKING YANKEES WITH 5-1 WINScott out-duels Mussina; Yankees offenseBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 15, 2006The best way to stop a good hitting team is to throw good pitching at them.
The Minnesota Twins did just that to the New York Yankees Friday night.
Sophomore pitcher Scott Baker, facing the Yankees for the first time in his career, pitched seven brilliant innings holding the Yankees offense to just one run on four hits; as the Twins went on to beat the Yankees 5-1 before a crowd of .
The Yankees scored first in the third inning after Robinson Cano went to third on Johnny Damon’s double to right-field. Cano scored on Derek Jeter’s ground out and the Yankees led 1-0.
Mike Mussina started out well, but got into trouble in the third inning when he gave up three straight singles to Lew Ford, Juan Castro and Shannon Stewart. Stewart’s single scored Ford as Castro advanced to second. Both Castro and Stewart advanced to third and second on a wild pitch thrown by Mussina to second baseman Luis Castillo. Castro later scored on Castillo’s ground out to shortstop Derek Jeter.
Baker continued to throw up goose eggs as he pitched four more scoreless innings. Mussina was nearly as brilliant, but ran into trouble again in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Twins, with two outs, manufactured an insurance run. Mussina got two strikes on Tony Batista before walking him. Ford followed with a single. Mussina then faced Juan Castro. Castro spoiled nine of Mussina’s pitches before singling to left field on a breaking ball Mussina hung over the plate. That was Mussina’s last batter as manager Joe Torre relieved him with rookie Matt Smith, who was making his major league debut. Smith walked Stewart before getting Castillo to bounce out to Robinson Cano to end the inning.
The Yankees appeared to have been the victims of a bad call in the fifth inning by home plate umpire Ed Montague. Catcher Jorge Posada reached second base on a single and an error when second baseman Luis Castillo knocked down Posada’s hit and made a hurried throw to first, which first baseman Justin Morneau failed to scoop up.
Posada moved to third on a fly ball to left-field as he took advantage of Shannon Stewart’s weak throwing arm. Bernie Williams hit a fly ball to right-field, which was flagged down by Ford. Posada tagged up as Ford wound up and threw a one-hop strike to catcher Joe Mauer as Posada slid around Mauer to avoid a tag. Montague called Posada out, but replays showed Posada avoided the tag and got his hand in to tag home plate. The run would have tied the game at two. Posada and Torre briefly argued, but the ruling by Montague stood.
The Yankees threatened once more in the top of the eighth when Posada was walked by Juan Rincon who replaced Baker to start the inning. Cano singled putting runners at first and second. However, Bernie Williams hit into a 4-6-3 double play, and Johnny Damon grounded to first to end the threat.
In the meantime, the Twins scored a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to make the score 5-1 where it stayed.
Mussina pitched well enough to win, but was abandoned by his offense. The Yankees only had one multi-base hit in the game; Damon’s double in the third. Clean up hitter Alex Rodriguez went 0-4 with two strike outs.
The road for the Yankees doesn’t get any easier as they go up against 2004 Cy Young award winner Johan Santana (0-2, 5.73) on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The Yankees counter with Jaret Wright (0-1, 4.50) who is making his first start of the year.
Notes: Randy Johnson, who left after the fifth inning and 87 pitches due to fatigue in last Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Royals is expected to make his next start Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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THE CENTER OF ATTENTIONYanks biggest off-season acquisition plays under media microscopeBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 13, 2006“Table setter,” “motor,” “accelerator,” “catalyst” - these are all names you’ve heard to describe the guys managers like to insert into their number one slot in the batting order.
These are the guys who are expected to get on base any way they can and make things happen. They’re supposed to make opposing pitchers and managers nervous. They are counted upon to reach base often and score a lot of runs. Yankees’ center fielder Johnny Damon is such a player.
Damon was signed by the New York Yankees in the off-season after he played the past four seasons for the Bombers’ fiercest rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The trade was heralded in New York and lamented in Boston.
Damon, who for the past four seasons was soundly booed in Yankee Stadium, now hears cheers in its place. However, such will not be the case when he steps out on the field at Fenway Park on May 1st in front of the crowd that adored him. Already there are shirts being worn in Boston depicting Damon’s caricature with the word “traitor” on it. There are shirts with the number 18 on them that have the international prohibited sign over the number.
These days Johnny Damon is known by the Red Sox nation as “Johnny Demon.” That’s what a rivalry, as nasty as this one is, will do for you. You are either canonized or demonized. It all depends where you play and whose uniform you are wearing. The ultimate sin is when one player goes from one camp directly to the other. In Boston Damon committed the final sin.
Fortunately for Damon playing in Boston is what has prepared him for playing in The Big Apple. At Fenway, where baseball is a religion second only to the Catholic Church, and the Red Sox are treated almost god-like, Damon became a leader of the team that Bostonians used to bitterly describe as ‘giving us hope only to tear our hearts out – again.’ Damon helped change all of that.
In 2001 Damon came over to the Oakland Athletics where he spent a year after playing six years in Kansas City. Damon went from the Bible belt to the ultimate frat house. There he met Yankees’ first baseman Jason Giambi, who was the Athletics clubhouse leader. In Oakland the players partied hard and played hard. Johnny learned lessons he used to motivate his future team in Boston.
Upon Damon’s arrival in Boston in 2002 he learned right away why the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry is considered the best and fiercest rivalry in sports. Damon jumped in with both feet. He let his hair grow long and developed a grizzly beard. He became known as “Caveman,” or “Jesus,” and shirts with the anagram “W.W.J.D.D.?” – meaning “What Would Johnny Damon Do?” appeared. He became a cult hero to the Red Sox Nation. What Damon did was galvanize the Boston clubhouse like no other player in their history had been able to do.
Year after year, and for 86 years the Red Sox continually broke the hearts and spirits of its fans. Not since the 1918 season had Boston raised a championship banner over Fenway. The number seven was very unlucky for the Red Sox, because they always lost Game Seven in the World Series when they got there. Boston’s uncanny lack of luck was tied to the selling of Boston’s Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for sum of $125,000.
Of course Yankees fans being the quiet, compassionate, fans they are took no small pleasure in lording over Red Sox fans the fact the Yankees went on to win twenty-six world titles after Ruth arrived in 1920. Chants of “1918, 1918, 1918” were heard in every ballpark in America. Boston’s team was truly “cursed.”
Funny thing about baseball though, fortunes can change with one game and that happened in 2004.
To set this up, one needs to go back to the eleventh inning of Game Seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series. It was Tim Wakefield versus Aaron Boone. Wakefield had already beaten the Yankees twice in the series and looked to be their savior again. Boone, who disappeared offensively for the Yankees, had knocked in only one run during the entire series. It all boiled down to one pitch. Wakefield threw a knuckleball that stayed straight and Boone hit into the left field seats for a game winning, walk-off, home run.
Instead of crying in their milk, the Red Sox spent the winter getting ready to even the score. Johnny Damon led the charge. Instead of “cowboy up,” and “why not us,” Damon simply called his team “a bunch of idiots.” He kept the clubhouse loose. Other guys grew their hair out and started beards. They looked like the east coast version of the Oakland Athletics. This time the Sox didn’t panic, didn’t freeze up, and didn’t roll over.
The Sox spent the entire 2004 season chasing the Yankees. They finally caught up with them in the AL Division Series.
For the first three games it looked like it was going to be business as usual. New York took three straight from the Boston, placing them in the precarious position of having every game be an elimination game. In fact, the 22 hit, 19-8 beating the Yankees gave the Sox in Game Three at Fenway had everyone in the country thinking sweep - everyone that is except the guys with the “Bs” on their caps. What Boston did in that series ranks as the greatest comeback in sports history. Teetering on the brink of elimination the Red Sox came back and beat the Yankees four straight times to win the series and propel themselves into the World Series for the first time since 1986. No team had ever done that before.
Johnny Damon, up until Game Seven had a miserable series, but helped hammer the final nails in New York’s coffin. Damon went 3 for 6, including a grand slam, and knocked in six RBI as the Sox finally exorcised their demons with a 10-3 drubbing of the Yankees.
As we all know, Boston went on to the World Series and swept the St. Louis Cardinals in four games to win their first world championship in 86 years.
Although the Red Sox weren’t able to duplicate the magic during the 2005 season their fans will never forget an improbable 2004. Now, as many of them put it they “can die happy.” Johnny Damon became the face of that championship team. That’s what makes his defection to the Yankees an even bitterer pill to swallow.
What the Yankees are hoping for is that Damon has some of that magic left in his bag of tricks. Damon signed a huge four-year, $52 million contract to be their catalyst. So far so good. In the first eight games, Damon has an OBP of .432 and a SLG% of .485, while batting .333. He has scored eleven runs and in that time. Comparing his stats to last year at the same time Damon had an OBP of .303 and a SLG% of .364 while batting .303. He had only eight runs scored and no RBI.
The one thing that is of concern is Damon’s throwing ability. He has an arm akin to Bernie Williams where runners will challenge him to take extra bases away from them. But, if Damon’s speed helps him get to balls that Williams could no longer reach then his throwing ability won’t be as much of a factor.
The other thing Damon brings to the table is his personality. On a club where the faces are shaven and the hair is short Damon has gone from caveman to shave-man. However, the “idiot” still lurks underneath his more polished look. Everyone from Derek Jeter to Jason Giambi has told him to be himself. Be careful what you wish for, because that will mean a looser clubhouse, and a more fun atmosphere.
Experts are saying that with Johnny Damon’s arrival in New York the Yankees line up has the potential of scoring over 1,000 runs this season. The results, to date, have been diverse. In games they have won, the Yankees have outscored their opponents by an average of 11.5 to 3.75 runs per game. In contrast, in games they have lost the ratio is 2.5 to 5 runs per game. Where New York has faced better pitching as in Anaheim and Oakland they have not fared well. Against Kansas City the Yankees have feasted, which has helped inflate their numbers.
Keep in mind, the season is young and the results so far come from a very small sampling. You can see the potential this team has, but you can also see its liabilities. It will take an entire regular and, hopefully, post-season to see how much of an impact Johnny Damon has in getting the Yankees their 27th world championship.
All the while Damon will remain a focus of the media and will continually be dissected under their microscope.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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HOME SWEET HOMEYanks flex muscle to beat Royals late 9-7By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 11, 2006Closer Mariano Rivera finally did something he hasn’t done all year – save a game.
A three-run home run by Derek Jeter in the 8th inning overcame a 7-6 deficit as the Yankees beat Kansas City 9-7
The game started well for the Yankees. Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon doubled, but didn’t advance as Kansas City’s Joe Mays got both Derek Jeter and Gary Sheffield to ground out. Mays walked Alex Rodriguez bringing first baseman Jason Giambi to the plate. Giambi, who hadn’t hit a home run yet this season, took care of that statistic by sending one of Mays’ offerings over the right field wall to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
The Royals got on the board in the top of the second when third baseman Mark Teahan doubled home Doug Mientkiewicz from second base.
The Yankees added a run in the top of the third after Mays walked the bases loaded with two outs and then walked Hideki Matsui to score Damon from third.
Kansas City finally got untracked, scoring three times in the top of the fourth. Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang gave up a solo home run to Reggie Sanders, and then surrendered two more runs on a wild pitch and three hits.
The Royals added three more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, making the score 7-4. Wang having his second rough outing was removed by Joe Torre after the sixth inning, bringing in Tanyon Sturtze to start the top of the seventh. Sturtze lasted all of a third of an inning, giving up a home run, double, a single and two runs before being relieved by Mike Myers. Myers picked off Sanders at first base and then struck out Mientkiewicz looking to end the Royals threat.
The Yankees were unable to score in the bottom of the frame and Kansas City failed to score in the top of the eighth as Scott Procter pitched a scoreless inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Yankees line up came to life. Giambi walked to start the inning, followed by Matsui who singled him to second. Jorge Posada walked to load the bases. Robinson Cano hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Giambi to score from third. Matsui was able to advance to third, but Posada was thrown out at second base. With Cano on first and Matsui on third Bernie Williams joined the party and singled home Matsui with Cano taking second base. Johnny Damon struck out and that brought Derek Jeter to the plate.
Jeter, who always has had a flamboyance for the dramatic took the first pitch he saw from reliever Andrew Sisco and sent it over the left field wall for a three-run home run and the first Yankees lead since the third inning. Gary Sheffield ended the inning by striking out.
For the first time this season Mariano Rivera entered the game in a save situation. Rivera ran into a little trouble. After getting Shane Costa to ground out Rivera gave up a single to Mark Grudzielanek and then hit Mike Sweeny. However, Rivera preserved the Yankees lead by getting Sanders to strike out and Mientkiewicz to pop out to him.
With the win the Yankees improved to 3-4 and trail Boston by 2.5 games. The Red Sox plays later today. Tomorrow the Yankees will send Shawn Chacon (0-1, 7.71) to the hill to face the Royals Jeremy Affeldt (0-1, 13.50). Game time is 1:05 p.m.
Notes: The familiar voice of stadium announcer Bob Sheppard was missing due to Sheppard throwing out his hip on Monday. He will miss the entire Kansas City series. Yogi Berra threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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YANKEES AVOID SWEEPBombers’ bats finally break silence as Yanks pound Halos 10-1By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 9, 2006The New York Yankees finally broke out of their hibernation behind the hitting of Jorge Posada, who hit two home runs and knocked in five RBI, as the Yankees defeated Bartolo Colon and the Los Angeles Angels 10-1 before a packed house of 44, 020.
The offensive onslaught helped New York avoid going home with a 1-5 record, which would have put them four games behind the division leading Boston Red Sox. However, that bit of good news hardly overshadows the fact that the Yankees lost two of three in Anaheim, as well as two of three in Oakland.
Not wishing to waste another stellar performance by one of their starting pitchers the Yankees came out swinging in the second inning against Colon. Colon, who was brilliant in 2005, was rocked early by the Yankees offense. Colon gave up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits in just two innings of work. Colon started the third inning, but was lifted after walking Jason Giambi, giving up a single to Hideki Matsui, and then a double to Jorge Posada who scored Giambi from second. Esteban Yan replaced Colon and gave up a double to Robinson Cano, which scored Matsui and Posada. Those runs were charged to Colon.
The game began innocently enough for Colon and the Angels as Colon was able to retire the side in order. Mike Mussina, starting for the Yankees, only allowed one base runner when he walked Vladimir Guerrero. However, Mussina was able to strike out Garret Anderson to end the inning.
The bottom fell out of the Angels boat in the second inning when Alex Rodriguez led off by hitting a solo home run to deep center field. Giambi singled and reached second on a throwing error by Colon trying to get Matsui at first base. Colon’s wayward throw pulled first baseman Casey Kotchman off the bag.
Jorge Posada came to the plate and cleared the bases by sending Colon’s 1-2 pitch into the right field seats to make New York’s lead 4-0.
Things didn’t get any better for Colon as he gave up a single to Robinson Cano to center field. Cano was sacrificed to second base by Miguel Cairo who bunted to Colon. Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon walked. Cano scored and Damon reached third on Derek Jeter’s double down the right field line to make the score 5-0. Gary Sheffield grounded to third and Damon was thrown out at home by third baseman Chone Figgins. The inning finally ended when Rodriguez grounded into a fielder’s choice as Gary Sheffield was eliminated at second base.
The Angels failed to answer the bell going down in the bottom of the second in order.
The Yankees continued abusing Colon as he walked Giambi and gave up a single to Matsui. Posada doubled scoring Giambi with Matsui taking third. Halos’ manager Mike Scioscia had seen enough and pulled Colon out of the game. Reliever Esteban Yan was also ineffective as he allowed Posada and Matsui to score on Cano’s double. With the score 8-0 Yan was able to get out the inning without further damage.
The Angels lone run came in the bottom of the third when Figgins singled scoring back up catcher Jeff Mathis from third base.
The Yankees added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth Jorge Posada hit his second home run of the day, a solo shot to deep center field. In the sixth Hideki Matsui singled in Alex Rodriguez from second base to increase the Yankees lead to 10-1. That is where the score stayed.
Mike Mussina was brilliant as he went 6 strong innings, surrendering only one run on five hits. He struck out five and walked two. The Yankees bullpen was solid allowing only one hit and no runs in the last three innings.
The Yankees head home to begin their first home stand of the new season. They open up against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, April 11, at 1:05 p.m. EDT. The Yankees are scheduled to start Chien-Ming Wang (0-1, 3.86) and the Royals will start Joe Mays (0-1, 12.46).
Notes: This was the 12th time in Jorge Posada’s career his has had a multi-home run game, and the first since last September 22nd. Alex Rodriguez’ home run in the top of the second inning tied him with Cal Ripken for 37th on the career home run list with 431 homers. It was also his eighth career home run against Colon. Although not a save situation manager Joe Torre inserted closer Mariano Rivera to close out the game in the ninth inning. Rivera surrendered a single before finishing the game.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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ANOTHER POWER OUTAGE IN ANAHEIMYankees offense continues to sputter against Angels pitchingBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 9, 2006ANAHEIM, CA – Ervin Santana out-dueled Randy Johnson in a rematch from last year’s division series by allowing one run over 5-1/3 innings, as the Angels hung on for a 3-2 win over the visiting New York Yankees. Johnson was handed his first loss of the season.
The night started well for the Yankees and their fans when with one out Derek Jeter homered over the left-center field wall to stake the Bombers to a 1-0 lead.
That was about the only mistake Santana made the rest of the night.
In the bottom of the first the Angels struck back when Orlando Cabrera singled with one out and stole second on a botched hit and run when Garret Anderson struck out. Vladimir Guerrero, who received his Silver Slugger award as the best hitter in the American League at the outfield position, singled in Cabrera to even the score at one.
Johnson and Santana traded zeros for the next three innings, but in the bottom of the fifth inning the Angels struck once again. Center fielder Juan Rivera led off the inning with a single. Johnson then struck out DH Tim Salmon and catcher Jose Molina. First baseman Robb Quinlan singled to set up a first and second situation with two outs. The Halos ninth batter, Adam Kennedy, hit a triple into deep right field scoring Rivera and Quinlan to make the 3-1. Johnson got Chone Figgins to ground out to end the inning.
Santana returned to the mound in the sixth inning. He got Yankees leadoff hitter Johnny Damon to ground out to second before Jeter got safely to first when Figgins had to range to his left to knock down Jeter’s ground ball into the hole. Figgins spun and made an errant throw to first base, which Quinlan couldn’t handle. Gary Sheffield got off the hitless list by lining a solid off the leg of Santana to set up runners at first and second.
Alex Rodriguez came to the plate and promptly grounded out to Santana, which allowed Jeter and Sheffield to move up ninety feet. Umpire Joe West, calling balls and strikes behind the plate, became involved in another controversy when Jason Giambi stepped in to face Santana. Giambi worked the count to 3-2 and then walked when West called a pitch, which replays showed to be a strike, ball four. West was embroiled in a call the night before when he ruled Alex Rodriguez was safe at first base when he said first baseman Casey Kotchman’s foot came off the bag on a throw by Orlando Cabrera. Replays on that call showed Kotchman’s foot was on the bag when he caught Cabrera’s throw.
With the bases loaded manager Mike Scioscia pulled Santana in favor of reliever J.C. Romero. Romero kept the Yankees off the scoreboard by getting Hideki Matsui to pop out to shallow center field for the third out of the inning.
Johnson pitched a scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth innings, keeping his punchless team close to the Angels. In the meantime the Angels bullpen kept the Yankees quiet by posting scoreless seventh and eighth innings.
The Yankees came up in the ninth inning to face closer Frankie Rodriguez. Rodriguez got Giambi to ground out before challenging Hideki Matsui. Matsui hit his third home run of the season into the right field seats before Rodriguez closed out the Yankees for his twenty-first consecutive save, which is a new Los Angeles Angels record.
Santana is now 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA versus New York. For the Yankees it was another exercise in futility at the plate as they only managed to collect five hits. Only Sheffield had a multiple hit night. Once again the 3-4-5 hitters failed to knock in any runs. Rodriguez remains hitless in the series.
The question begs why is Jason Giambi, who only hitting an anemic .125, batting in front of Hideki Matsui, who is batting .400? It has become a painful, irritating and yet all-to-familiar sight to watch these same Yankees game in and game out continually struggle in all facets of their game against the Angels. This team has been built to specifically score runs, but when they face the Angels, whether at home or in Anaheim, the Yankees disappear like Houdini.
No matter what Joe Torre says the boys from Anaheim are in the heads of his players. There is some sort of mental block that keeps them from swinging the bats and scoring runs. I don’t know if Sigmund Freud could figure this situation out.
The Yankees and Angels will close out their series today as the Halos look for the sweep. Game time is 3:35 EDT. The Yankees will fly home after the game to get ready to face the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Note: With tonight’s save Frankie Rodriguez has collected three for the year, but Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has not made an appearance in New York’s first five games.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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MORE OF THE SAMEYankees offense is again lifeless in AnaheimBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 8, 2006ANAHEIM, CA – Orlando Cabrera’s two-run home run off Shawn Chacon in the bottom of the first inning was all the offense the Los Angeles Angels needed as the Halos went on to beat the New York Yankees 4-1 before a packed house of 44,221 fans.
Picking up again from their defeat of the Yankees in the 2005 playoffs the Angels demonstrated their mastery over a team that inexplicably continues to show no life in their bats. The loss dropped the Yankees to 1-3 on their road trip.
Halos starter Kelvim Escobar dominated New York’s line up and was particularly effective against the heart of the order. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Hideki Matsui went a combined 4 for 11 while Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi went hitless in twelve at bats.
Sheffield was especially abysmal in his at bats.
In the first inning Derek Jeter singled with one out and was stranded by both Sheffield and Rodriguez as Sheffield flied out and A-Rod grounded out to end the inning. In top of the third Jeter, with two out, singled again and then put himself in scoring position by stealing second. That brought Sheffield to the plate and grounded to third to close out the frame.
The Yankees caught a break in the top of the fourth inning when Alex Rodriguez was ruled safe by first base umpire Joe West after West determined first baseman Casey Kotchman’s foot came off the bag while trying to corral a wide throw by shortstop Cabrera. Replays showed Rodriguez was actually out as Kotchman’s foot stayed on the bag. However, the Yankees couldn’t take advantage of the break as Matsui, Giambi and Posada all made outs.
The Angels added a run in the fourth to make the score 3-0.
In the top fifth the Yankees had a chance to make things happen only to fall short again. With one out Bernie Williams singled and was doubled home by Johnny Damon to make the score 3-1. Jeter grounded to second moving Damon to third where he was stranded as Sheffield flied out to left field.
The Angels added another run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 4-1.
The Yankees last, best hope to climb back into the game came in the seventh inning when reliever J.C. Romero replaced Escobar. After Robinson Cano struck out swinging Romero walked Williams and Damon. Halos manager Mike Scioscia brought in Scott Shields to face Jeter. Shields walked Jeter to load the bases. The sparse number of Yankee fans in the crowd began chanting ‘Let’s go Yankees’ as Gary Sheffield strolled to the plate. However, in the blink of an eye the Yankee rally was killed as Sheffield grounded into an inning ending double play. For the night Sheffield left six men on base.
The Angels sent the Yankees down in order in the eighth and ninth innings to record the win. It was their second of the new season as evened their record to 2-2.
For whatever reason, the Yankees just seem powerless to do anything positive against the Angels. Manager Joe Torre stated the obvious, “We’re flat right now.” Even making a good pitch to Cabrera only earned Chacon a 2-0 deficit on the scoreboard. Chacon threw a sinker that ran in on Cabrera, but somehow Cabrera muscled it enough to get it over Matsui’s head in left field and into the first row behind the left field wall. Every bounce seems to go the Angels way, and they aren’t complaining. The Angels’ victory now gives the club a 50-48 record against the Yankees since Joe Torre took the helm as manager.
Saturday the Yankees will send Randy Johnson (1-0, 1.29) against Ervin Santana (0-0, 0.00). Game time is 10:05 EDT.
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THE USUAL SUSPECTSYankees return to scene of 2005 playoff ousterBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 7, 2006Anaheim, CA - Last October is still in the memory banks of several of the New York Yankees, especially in that of third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, had a miserable Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was Rodriguez who, with the Yankees up on the Angels 1-0 in the series, turned his teams fortunes around by making a costly error in Game 2 when he let a bouncer hit by Angel shortstop Miguel Cabrera bounce off the webbing of his glove in the sixth inning. Ex-Angel catcher Bengie Molina knocked Cabrera in from second with a two-out single to tie the game. The Angels went on to win the game 5-3.
The two teams went back to New York where they split Games 3 and 4 to set up the deciding Game 5 in Anaheim.
The Yankees had the early advantage when they scored two runs in the top of the 2nd inning. Game 1 winner Mike Mussina was unable to keep the Angels off the board as they came back in the bottom of the frame scoring three times to take a 3-2 lead. Mussina fully imploded in the bottom of the third when he gave up two more runs on three hits and was replaced by the unlikeliest of relief pitchers – Randy Johnson.
In addition to his defensive woes, A-Rod had a miserable series offensively too. He went 2 for 15 with five strikeouts, and no RBI. He finished the series with a .133 batting average. Hardly MVP numbers.
Rodriguez put the entire blame for the ALDS loss on his shoulders. He admitted he “played like a dog,” but, he wasn’t the only high paid Yankee to fail. Hideki Matsui batted .200, Bernie Williams .211, Jorge Posada .231 and Gary Sheffield .286.
A new chapter has stared and A-Rod, along with his teammates, is hoping for a better finish this time out. Rodriguez said he is looking forward to going back to Orange County, because Angel Stadium is one of his favorite places to play. His history bears him out. He has a .347 career average there (93-for-268) with 25 homers and 59 RBI.
One of the things Angel fans like to rub in the faces of ‘arrogant’ Yankee fans is the fact the Angels are the only team in the Joe Torre era (since 1996) that has a winning record (49-48) against the Bombers. To a man the Yankees tell you that it’s nothing mental about the way they play against the Angels it’s just the Angels have played better. Sure, let’s go with that. If the Yankees are talking about their record of play against the Angels as nothing mental I have a feeling it’s something mental. The Angels do get inside their heads. After all, this is the team that has bounced them out of the playoffs two out of the last four years.
After starting the 2006 campaign with a series loss in Oakland the Yankees would like nothing better than to bounce back and take the series from the Angels. In order to do that the pitching and defense has to tighten up and play well. This spring the Yankees focused on playing the style of ball the Angels are known for - Stealing, bunting and taking the extra base. To be successful the players know they have to execute and play “small ball.”
The old adage is, ‘don’t get mad, get even,’ and if the Yankees can take two out of three from the Halos they’ll be doing just that.
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NOT VERY (G)LOVELYCritical errors by Jeter, Cano led to Yanks downfallBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 6, 2006Somebody needs to tell these Yankees it isn’t all about offense.
They’re expected to play a little defense too.
After building a 4-0 cushion on the Oakland Athletics, on the strength of Hideki Matsui’s solo bomb and Gary Sheffield’s three-run laser shot, Chien-Ming Wang went back to work in the bottom of the 4th inning with a comfortable lead. That’s when the wheels to Wang’s covered wagon came off.
Wang retired the first batter, Mark Ellis, with a ground out to shortstop Derek Jeter. Eric Chavez followed with a single and then the Yankees’ fortunes turned for the worst. Frank Thomas hit a ball to Jeter, as Chavez was closing in on second base. Jeter fumbled with the ball and made a poor transition to second baseman Robinson Cano, who dropped the ball. Instead of an inning ending double play Wang was no faced with two on and one out. Wang walked Dan Johnson to load the bases. That brought troubled Milton Bradley to the plate, and he singled home Chavez and Thomas. Oakland’s Jay Payton singled to left sending Johnson to third and Bradley to second. Jason Kendall then hit into a fielder’s choice when third baseman Alex Rodriguez took the grounder and forced out Payton at second. Johnson scored on the play making the score 4-3. Wang avoided further damage by striking out Marco Scutaro to close out the inning.
Unfortunately for the Yankees the offense was done for the night. They could only manage two hits after the sixth inning, and that’s after starter Dan Haren left the game.
Wang, obviously bothered by the play behind him, took the mound in the 5th inning and he fell apart. He gave up a lead off single to Kotsay, then got Kotsay at second on a force play when Ellis grounded to third. Chavez singled off Wang sending Ellis to third. Designated Hitter Frank Thomas struck out, but Wang walked Johnson and Bradley in succession to score Ellis from third.
Wang’s night was done as Joe Torre had seen enough and replaced his embattled young right-hander with Tanyon Sturtze. Sturtze did his job getting Jay Payton to pop out to first baseman Jason Giambi to escape further harm.
With the score tied at four the Yankees couldn’t muster a single hit as they went down in order in the 6th and 7th innings. They managed one hit on Sheffield’s single in the 8th, but couldn’t cash in when he stole second with one out as Rodriguez struck out (second time) and Giambi flew out to right.
In the meantime, the Yankees’ defense wasn’t through contributing to Oakland’s scoring runs.
In the bottom of the 8th, facing Jaret Wright, Milton Bradley led off the inning with a solid triple to left-center field as Johnny Damon ran out of real estate and the ball bounced off the wall and back out onto the field. By the time the relay went from the outfield to Rodriguez waiting at third Bradley was sliding into the bag. Cano was involved in the next costly defensive miscue as he booted a ball hit to him by Jay Payton allowing Bradley to score. Wright gave up singles to Kendall (Payton taking third), and Scutaro, who scored Payton from third. Myers replaced Wright and got Kotsay to strike out. Farnsworth replaced Myers and walked Ellis to load the bases before inducing Eric Chavez to pop out to first base.
With two outs DH Frank Thomas came to the plate. He showed everyone why he’s nicknamed the “Big Hurt.” Thomas took Farnsworth’s first pitch and doubled to left field clearing the bases in front of him. Ron Villone relieved Farnsworth and got Johnson hit a grounder for the third out.
The Yankees, waving the white flag, went meekly in the 9th inning, leaving Oakland taking the series two games to one.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Yankees as they use Thursday as a travel day to head down the coast to Anaheim where the Los Angeles Angels await them. The Angels, having their own problems in Seattle, are looking forward to a little home cooking and getting well against a team they have had their way with during the Torre era.
The series in Anaheim begins Friday at 10:05 EDT/7:05 PDT. The Yankees will have Shawn Chacon facing the Angels’ Kelvim Escobar. The Yankees are hoping for better results than they had there last October. Aren’t we all?
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OAKLAND GOES ONE BETTERScutaro’s ninth inning RBI single does in Bombers 4-3By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 5, 2006One night after putting on a monster offensive show the Oakland Athletics, behind Rich Harden and the bullpen, brought the Yankees back to earth with a 4-3 win on Marco Scutaro’s ninth inning, RBI game-winning, single.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel as Harden and Yankee starter Mike Mussina traded zeros in the first two innings. Harden had his fastball and changeup working to perfection, while Mussina countered with an array of knuckle curves mixed in with a few fastballs.
The Yankees struck first in the third inning as Harden, with two outs, walked Derek Jeter. It appeared that home plate umpire Kerwin Danley was squeezing Harden by not calling close pitches on the corners. Harden faced Gary Sheffield who hit a laser shot over the head of left fielder Nick Swisher for a double. The hit scored Jeter all the way from first base and the Yankees took the lead 1-0. The inning ended badly as Alex Rodriguez, who hit a line single to left, got caught trying to advance to second after a throw to home plate by Swisher. Catcher Jason Kendall fired the ball to second baseman Mark Ellis who tagged out Rodriguez to end the inning
As has been his trademark throughout his career Mussina served up a fat pitch to Swisher in the bottom of the frame and Swisher hammered it over the right field wall to tie the score. Moose got into more trouble as he gave up three consecutive singles to Marco Scutaro, Mark Ellis and Mark Kotsay, which scored Scutaro to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
The Yankees evened up the score in the fourth inning as Jorge Posada grounded out to shortstop, which scored Jason Giambi from third base.
In the top of the sixth inning Rodriguez led off with a single to center. He advanced to third on successive groundouts by Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui. Posada came to the plate and delivered a single to right to score Rodriguez.
Mussina went back to the mound in the bottom of the sixth with a 3-2 lead. However, as he did in the third Mussina gave up a home run ball to third baseman Eric Chavez to tie the score at three.
The Yankees had their chances to pull ahead in the seventh when leadoff hitter Johnny Damon singled and was sacrificed to second by Jeter. However, neither Sheffield nor Rodriguez could advance Damon. Rodriguez struck out to end the inning.
In the eighth inning the Yankees mustered a chance at scoring a go-ahead run, but with two outs Hideki Matsui was stranded at second base when DH Bernie Williams lined out to left field to end the inning. In the ninth inning the Bombers knocked on the door of opportunity one more time when Damon got himself into scoring position with a one-out double to right field. Unfortunately, the Yankees short-circuited again when Jeter grounded out, Sheffield walked, and Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice to the shortstop kill the scoring prospect.
Manager Joe Torre called on reliever Scott Procter to hold the A’s in the bottom of the ninth, but the right-hander had a rough inning. He walked leadoff Milton Bradley, allowed Kendall to sacrifice Bradley to second, walked Swisher, and then gave up the game winning single to Scutaro.
Procter who had just returned from being with his wife and newborn daughter, who underwent surgery to repair the aortic arch in her heart, said there were no excuses for not getting the job done. Although Procter failed to hold the A’s the Yankees certainly weren’t blaming him. The offense had more than their fair share of chances to score runs and didn’t execute properly. The Yankees were 1 for 15 in run scoring chances. That won’t get it done.
The Yankees close out their three-game series with Oakland tonight at 10:05 EDT, sending Chien-Ming Wang (8-5, 4.02 – 2005) to the mound to square of against Oakland’s Dan Haren (14-12, 3.73 – 2005). They travel to Anaheim to take on the Angels in a three-game weekend series before heading home to open their first home stand against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com
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YANKEES OPEN WITH A LAUGHER ON A-ROD'S SLAMReigning MVP leads Yankees onslaught over A'sBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 4, 2006Alex Rodriguez wanted to send a message.
He hasn’t gone anywhere.
And in last night’s game in Oakland, A-Rod proved it.
The American League MVP single-handedly dismantled the Oakland Athletics pitching with an impressive opening day offensive show. A-Rod went 3 for 5, which included a second inning grand slam effectively ruining the Athletics opening night in front of the home crowd of 35,077.
The bomb came off Barry Zito who hung a pitch in the middle of the plate, which Rodriguez promptly deposited in the left field seats making the score 7-0. Zito, the 2002 Cy Young winner, was removed from the game. The inning and a third stint was the shortest outing of his career.
However, Rodriguez wasn't the only Yankee to shine. Newly acquired center fielder Johnny Damon went 3 for 7, with two runs scored and an RBI. The other monster of the night was Hideki Matsui, who continued to tear up opposing pitching. After a productive spring training Matsui came into Oakland and made his presence felt. Matsui went 4 for 4, including a three run shot in the fourth inning. He also walked twice making him the only Yankee to successfully reach base in all of his plate appearances. Matsui also knocked in four runs.
Yankees' starter Randy Johnson dominated the Athletics' hitters. Johnson threw 106 pitches over seven innings, striking out three and walking none. The Unit's only blemish was giving up a solo shot to DH Frank Thomas in bottom of the second inning. The pitch the "Big Hurt" knocked out wasn't a bad pitch. It was down and slightly in, but Thomas went down and powered it out.
With the Yankees scoring early and often, the Athletics crowd fell silent while watching the Yankees' offense pound their team's pitching into submission. The game wasn't without controversy. In the top of the fifth inning with two on and two outs and the score 12-1 reliever Brett Halsey drilled catcher Jorge Posada squarely in the back on a 0-2 pitch. Catcher Jason Kendall immediately got between Posada and Halsey and escorted the Yankee backstop down to first base and the All-Star continued to glare at Halsey while standing on the bag, but no fireworks erupted.
Before the game ended the Yankees scored three more times, which tied a Yankees' opening day record for runs scored at 15. They also collected seventeen hits and nine walks. Every Yankee had a hit, with the exception of Posada.
As remarkable as this offensive onslaught was let's keep in mind it's only one game. We all seen it before where the Yankees look like Superman as in this game only to come back the next game and resemble Clark Kent.
Tonight the Yankees face Rich Harden who had a noteworthy 2005 campaign going 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA. The Yankees counter with veteran Mike Mussina, who is coming off a balky elbow injury last season.
Joe Torre had to be very pleased at the way his offense went to work. The manager has said this current roster is possibly the finest he's ever had assembled. They can affirm that accolade by taking out Harden like they did Zito. Nobody expects 15 runs every game, but the Yankees offense has the tools to make their influence felt every night.
Remember the 1998 team? This team has the makings of being as good as that, and even better.
PLAY BALL!
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GRAND OPENINGYankees begin quest for 27th world title tonight in OaklandBy: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 3, 2006TThe winter moves and spring training are officially done. The New York Yankees, along with the other 29 teams begin their marathon race for a spot in the "Fall Classic," otherwise known as the World Series. In a city where the most recognizable name in all of sports resides the only thing that matters is hardware.
Twenty-six times the Yankees have been the world champions of baseball. They have won more world titles than any team in any sport anywhere. To give a casual observer the enormity of this feat the onlooker only need look to the teams with the second most championships - the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia/Oakland Athletics. The Cardinals and Athletics have each won nine World Series since the dawn of the modern era of baseball.
Tonight, the Bombers open their 103rd campaign in Oakland against an Athletics team that many experts are pegging to wrest the West Division title away from the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees have one of the most formidable line ups ever assembled. This offense, if it remains healthy and performs at its best, could easily top 1,000 runs scored. However, the Yankees face an A's starting rotation many believe can propel them into the World Series.
Oakland GM Billy Beane has an uncanny knack of doing more with less than any other general manager in baseball. Beane has assembled, yet, another excellent starting rotation. Lead by 2002 Cy Young award winner Barry Zito the Oakland Athletics are poised to win 90+ games this year. Zito is joined by Rich Harden (10-5, 2.53), Esteban Loaiza (12-10, 3.77), Dan Haren (14-12, 3.73) and Joe Blanton (12-12, 3.53). Zito went 14-13 with a 3.86 ERA. Thank about that. That's five starters who have ERA's under four. That is a phenomenal statistic. That means these starters will keep their team in games. Throw in a good bullpen capped by closer Huston Street (2005 Rookie of the Year winner) and the Oakland Athletics are poised to make some noise.
The Athletics will open their season with Zito and he will be facing five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson. Johnson had a mixed bag of success for the Yankees in 2005. The second half of his inaugural season in New York was much better than the first half. Overall, Johnson went 17-8 with an ERA of 3.79, but for the Unit is really was a Tale of Two Seasons. In the first half Johnson struggled mightily going into the All-star break. Johnson's record was 9-6 and his ERA was 4.16. In the second half Johnson went 8-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.79.
This spring Johnson has thrown more innings getting ready to start the season, and he appears to be ready to deal to opposing batters. He seems more at ease with the New York press and all the pressures of playing for the Yankees. Johnson has assured everyone his is focused on winning games, which is exactly the reason he was brought to New York.
The Yankees have a lot to prove. Although, predicted to win their ninth division title very few prognosticators consider the Yankees to be the American League representative in the World Series. The Yankees have the line up to score a lot of runs, and beat up on lesser teams, but how will they fare against the quality pitching of an Oakland or Chicago White Sox in a short series?
Injuries are a big concern for the Yankees. With the exception of Shawn Chacon the Yankees starting rotation has issues. Randy Johnson (lower back), Mike Mussina (elbow), Chien-Ming Wang (shoulder) and Carl Pavano (shoulder and lower back) have all missed starts or significant time because of injuries. Jaret Wright, a starter last year, also missed months of the season, because of a reoccurring shoulder injury. Pavano will start the season on the disabled list, but is expected to be back by the middle of April.
If the staff can stay out of health problems and pitch to their potential, then the Yankees will be fine going into the post-season. Pitching and defense will win the World Series. Just ask the Chicago White Sox and the Florida Marlins. If this year goes like last year where guys were coming from and going to the disabled list through a revolving door, then the Yankees won't be around for the finish.
Tonight, the long road to the second season begins. Let's hope the Yankees will reach the finish line and beyond.
PLAY BALL!
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