DAMON DISSES YANKEES
Damon tells Detroit press Tigers always his No. 1 choice

Boy, if anyone could’ve used a teleprompter yesterday while speaking in front of the press it was Johnny Damon. After signing a 1-year, $8 million contract to play baseall in the Motor City for the 2010 season Damon told those present that playing in Detroit was always his goal.

"This is where I wanted to be from Day 1," he told reporters at his coming out news conference. "I'm sorry it took so long."

Damon sounded like playing in New York for the past four seasons was just a hiccup in his journey from Boston to Detroit.

Apparently, Damon’s speech writer isn’t aware of the economic climate assailing this country nowadays. Damon complained that he was offered a pay cut by the Yankees after having what anyone would call a great season.

"We're coming off a great year and you're told you've gotta take a pay cut," Damon said to the media present. "You're kind of like, 'A pay cut? What the heck?' It's a little humbling.”

"You're like, 'Wow, is that what they really think of me? Or what I do for the ballclub?' I did a lot for the ballclub. I even recruited (free agents) for those guys. I did everything."

Talk about losing touch with reality. Does Damon realize there are people who have been out of work for years, losing their homes, businesses and having trouble putting food on the table or in their stomachs? How anyone could complain about being offered $14 million for two years, playing what in essence is a kid’s game, is ridiculous.

Gee, Johnny what were the Yankees thinking?

Maybe Damon should have spoken to Andy Pettitte before turning down the Yankees offer or making these insensitive statements.

In 2009, Pettitte took a sizable reduction in pay when the Yankees offered him a 1-year, $5 million contract to stay in the Bronx. Pettitte’s salary in 2008? $16 million.

However, Pettitte had to weigh out what was most important to him. Turn down the offer and move on or accept it and remain in pinstripes. Pettitte chose the latter.

“I had to eat a lot of pride,’’ Pettitte said in an interview this past Friday in the New York Post. “But they gave me a chance to make $5 million more in incentives.’’

Pettitte responded by having one of his better seasons over the past four seasons. After going 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA and 4-0 with a 3.58 ERA in the playoffs the Yankees rewarded Andy with a 1-year, $11.75 million contract to stay in New York.

After turning down the Yankees initial offer Damon remained on the market while the Yankees went looking elsewhere. After trading for Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers), resigning Pettitte, signing Nick Johnson (Florida Marlins) and trading for Javier Vazquez (Atlanta Braves) there wasn’t enough money to interest Damon.

“I was in the same position and I could see it coming,’’ Pettitte said about the smaller pot of money. “That’s where I was last year. You need to be careful in that situation.’’
Damon and his agent Scott Boras overplayed their hand with the Yankees and got burned. If Detroit hadn’t offered this one-year deal what then? Damon would probably still be sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring.

After the season was completed, the playoffs and World Series over Damon made it clear where he wanted to play.

On November 23 Damon was contacted by the New York Daily News and was quoted as saying,

"I want to continue to be on a team that can win and to play in front of great fans - and we know that the Yankees fill both of those," Damon said. "I think everyone knows my desire to come back. Still, every time I've been a free agent, I've ended up switching teams. It's the nature of the beast. If people are interested, I'm going to listen."

In another interview with Andrew Marchand of ESPN 1050 Radio in New York Damon told him, “I know where I want to be next year. I want to be here in New York.”

If Damon would’ve stepped back and looked at the big picture instead of having a myopic view he would probably be a Yankee today.

Perhaps, Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman summed it up best.

"When we signed him (for four years, $52 million), he was playing center field, a premium position, and the market was high. Now he's a left fielder, he's 36, in a collapsed market. Why would he not expect to take a pay cut?"

Hopefully, for Damon his ego didn’t get the best of him, because he is going to have to go through all of this again next year. The Tigers, in addition to Damon, got highly touted prospect Austin Jackson from the Yankees in the Granderson trade. Jackson will get a year in the Tiger organization and will be ready to go in 2011. Damon will be 37, and probably looking for a new employer. For the difference of $2 million ($8 million x 2) Damon let the Yankees slip through his fingers.

Damon will be missed, but he is not irreplaceable. If the new guys in pinstripes can play and hit up to their projected potentials Damon’s departure will be a distant memory.

In the end Johnny Damon will again wear the number 18 on his back, but he’ll wish he was playing for the number 28 in October.

© 2010 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited

TIME TO GO TO WORK
With off season moves completed Yankees focus on 2010

The “Hot Stove” has officially been turned off as pitchers and catchers officially reported to the New York Yankees’ spring training facilities in Tampa, Florida. Barring any last minute additions or trades the 2010 Yankees’ squad has been set. Gone are Johnny Damon (free agent – signed Detroit Tigers), Chien-Ming Wang (not resigned – signed by Washington Nationals), Melky Cabrera (traded to Atlanta Braves) and Hideki Matsui (not resigned – signed by Los Angeles Angels) from the 2009 championship squad. In the off season the Yankees traded for OF Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers), signed DH/1B Nick Johnson (Florida Marlins), traded for SP Javier Vazquez (Atlanta Braves) and signed OF Randy Winn (San Francisco Giants).

Adding Granderson to the outfield corps was an instant boost in defense, but he’ll also be judged at the plate where Johnny Damon excelled batting either in front of or behind Derek Jeter. Last year Damon hit behind Jeter and delivered. His numbers were .282/82/24 for average, RBI and home runs. He also had .365 on base percentage. Damon was also very instrumental in the Yankees winning their first World Series championship in nine years, as he batted .364 and had an on base percentage of .440.

Damon also had the single highlight moment in the World Series. In Game 4, with the score tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning and Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge on the mound Damon stole second, popped up and outran 3B Pedro Feliz (who was covering second on a defensive shift put on for batter Mark Teixeira) to an unprotected third base. The move seemed to unhinge Lidge who hit Teixeira allowing Alex Rodriguez to come to the plate. A-Rod delivered a 2-out double to left field scoring Damon and putting Teixeira at third. Catcher Jorge Posada smacked a 2-run single to left, which doomed the Phillies to their fate. Instead of possibly tying the Series at 2 games apiece the Yankees took a commanding 3-1 lead, and ultimately the Series in six games.

On Granderson’s side of the ledger he is only 28 (Damon is 36) and he is defensively head and shoulders above Damon in this stretch of Damon’s career. Granderson hits for power. Last season he knocked out 30 home runs and drove in 71. Of concern is his .327 OBP, which was lower than Damon’s. His batting average was 33 points lower as well. However, throw out Granderson’s overall numbers for last year and he is offensively on par with Damon in all the pertinent categories.

The one move that has everyone scratching their heads is not resigning World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to a one-year contract. Matsui wanted to come back to the Yankees, and it was reported he would’ve taken a one-year deal, around $7 million to make it happen. Nonetheless, the Yankees jettisoned the man affectionately known as “Godzilla” and signed ex-Yankee Nick Johnson to a one-year deal for nearly the same money.

In the six years Matsui played in New York he averaged a .292 BA. He averaged 23.3 HR per year, and that’s including an injury shortened 2008 season when he only hit nine round trippers. Matsui also nearly averaged 100 RBI per year. That’s a lot of firepower to let walk away. The liability with Matsui is his knees, which have both been surgically repaired. The injuries have basically relegated Matsui to a DH role.

Johnson, on the other hand, can play first base where he has a career .992 fielding percentage. Johnson also has a better on base percentage than Matsui, and a comparable slugging percentage. Where Johnson lags is in the power numbers. He has played two more seasons than Matsui and has 51 less home runs. He has also plated 218 less runs. It will be interesting to see where manager Joe Girardi places Johnson in the Yankee lineup in order to effectively use him.

Next on the list is Javier Vazquez, who returns to the Bronx after being traded away following the 2004 season. Vazquez was part of a three team trade, which sent OF Melky Cabrera to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Vazquez.

Vazquez had a mixed season in his one and only year with the Yankees. In the first half of the campaign Vazquez went 9-5 with an ERA of 3.42 (as of June 29). Vazquez’s performance earned him his first and only all-star appearance. After July 1 Vazquez developed shoulder problems and his ERA averaged 6.78 for the remainder of the year.

In the 2004 playoffs Vazquez was a mess. He gave up 12 earned runs in 11.1 innings earning Vazquez a one-way ticket out of town via trade.

Vazquez enters the 2010 season hoping to build upon the best overall season of his career. Last year Vazquez pitched to a 15-10 record. He attained career bests in win percentage (.600) and ERA (2.87). Over the past three seasons he has struck out 200 or more batters and has pitched 200+ innings in nine of the last ten seasons. The ability to eat up innings at the back of the rotation made Vazquez very attractive to New York.

The Yankees are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle and hope the pitcher they saw in the first half of 2004 and all of last year in Atlanta is the guy they traded for.

Lastly, the Yankees signed free agent Randy Winn to a one-year deal to play outfield. Winn comes to New York by way of San Francisco. His career numbers are very good. Touting a lifetime average of .286 Winn plated 50 or more runs in each of the past 4 seasons. He will probably share playing time with Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner.

Many observers think the Yankees are making these short term deals in order to make a run at Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford who becomes a free agent after this season.

As for the rest of the squad there are question marks as well. Posada is 37 years old entering the new season. He has been the full time catcher since 2000. In 2008 Posada, after signing a big 4-year contract, made two trips to the disabled list for the first time in his career. He had surgery on his throwing shoulder, and only played in 51 games. Last year Girardi rested his catcher often in order for Posada to make it to the finish line. He responded positively by hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI. One has to believe that Girardi will continue to rest Posada as often as he can so he can have his bat late in the season.

A-Rod is expected to have a monster year this year. He had the first significant injury of his career when it was discovered he had a torn labrum in his right hip. Rodriguez had corrective surgery and after missing the first 31 games of the season came back to hit 30 home runs and knock in 100 RBI. In his last game of the 2009 regular season A-Rod hit two home runs and drove in 7 runs in one inning to reach the 30/100 plateau for the 12th season in a row. He finally broke out of his playoff slump by hitting .378 while driving in 18 runs and hitting 6 home runs in 15 playoff games.

The biggest, potential, distraction to the upcoming season will come from Yankee captain Derek Jeter. Jeter has been the face of the Yankees ever since he came up to the big club for good in 1996. Jeter is coming off one of his best seasons, hitting a team high .334, while belting 18 home runs and driving in 66 runs all from the lead off position in the lineup. He also scored 107 runs and came in third in the MVP balloting last year.

Jeter is entering the last year of his ten-year, $189 million contract and if he has another year close to last year the Yankees will be put between the proverbial rock and hard spot. Last season Jeter earned his fourth Gold Glove award as well as the Silver Slugger award for being the best hitter at the shortstop position. He also broke Lou Gehrig’s Yankees hit record and is only 253 hits from reaching the 3,000 hit mark to become the only Yankee in history to do so.

The list of accomplishments goes on an on. Jeter is a 10 time all star, was the 1996 Rookie of the Year. He was the 2000 ALCS and World Series MVP and he has had 7 seasons of 200 or more hits. Without a doubt when Jeter hangs up his spikes he can punch his ticket into Cooperstown as a first ballot hall of famer.

The quandary for the Yankees is what to do with Jeter after this year. He will turn 36 on June 26. He is at an age where playing shortstop becomes more and more difficult. The Yankees have to determine how much longer can he play there and how long of a contract they will give him. Jeter has stood by and watched Mariano Rivera, Posada and A-Rod receive huge pay raises. In a climate of economic strife will Jeter get the money he deserves or will he be offered less because of the market?

The Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman better have a big bottle of aspirin ready. They’re going to need it.

Lastly, the pitching looks to be solid again this year. With CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Andy Pettitte anchoring the top and middle of the rotation Vazquez’s presence should improve it as well. Fighting it out for the fifth spot will be Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. Both have struggled as starters and pitched well as relievers. It should be a terrific duel during spring training.

The bullpen will also add concrete support. Alfredo Aceves, Damaso Marte, David Robertson, either Hughes or Chamberlain handing the ball to Rivera should all have good seasons.

The 2010 squad appears poised to defend their title going into the new decade. The road will not be easy. They play in the toughest division in baseball. Boston, Baltimore, Toronto and Tampa Bay have added depth to their teams and all have their sights set on the Yankees. Other teams looking to knock off the Yankees are the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners.

Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a bumpy and exciting ride to the finish line.

© 2010 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited

Repeating is hard to do
Yankees quest for No. 28 will be an uphill battle

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi stepped to the podium to address the crowd of some 2 million fans that invaded Manhattan to watch his team take a ride down the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate the Yankees latest World Series victory. He told the adoring crowd he had spoken on the telephone to “the Boss,” George Steinbrenner.

“I want to tell you, I got a call from The Boss today. He told me this morning, 'The only thing greater than this celebration, is doing it two years in a row.' So he asked me to remind everyone - pitchers and catchers report in 96 days. Be ready to defend it."

Nice sentiment indeed, but in reality a very difficult task to accomplish. Just ask the Philadelphia Phillies who, before falling to the Yankees 4-2 in the 2009 World Series, were the defending world champions. The Phillies were attempting to become the first National League team since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds to achieve that feat. That is 33 years without an NL repeat winner.

In the American League the history isn’t so far removed. The last team to defend their world title was the Yankees, who not only defended it once, but defended it twice after winning it (1998-2000). They almost made it three defenses and four-in-a-row in 2001, but fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 7 games.

Between 2000 and 2009 there have been eight different World Series winners. The only repeats were the Yankees (2000, 2009) and the Boston Red Sox (2004, 2007). The other one-time winners were the Diamondbacks (2001), Anaheim (Los Angeles) Angels (2002), Florida Marlins 2003), Chicago White Sox (2005) and the Phillies (2008).

Not helping matters will be the lie of the land in the off season. The Yankees as do other teams have a number of free agents who will be looking for multi-year contracts worth millions of dollars. Depending on how long and how much will determine whom the Yankees will retain and whom they will cut loose.

At the top of the list are left fielder Johnny Damon and Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui. Damon just concluded the season playing out a four-year, $52 million contract and already his caustic, yet effective agent, Scott Boras is making noises that Damon is the indestructible man and worthy of signing a contract in the area of what Derek Jeter is being paid ($18.9 million average per year). Boras is also looking at, a minimum, another four-year contract for his client. According to Boras potential suitors shouldn’t look at Damon’s chronological age (36), but his biological makeup. Damon has played an average of 140 games over the past four years.

Here’s the fly in the ointment. Most sideline watchers are saying that the Yankees don’t want to offer Damon more than a 2-year contract, and that with their goal to cut payroll any raise Damon might receive will be well below what Boras is shooting for. Using another of his clients, Mark Teixeira, as a lightening rod Boras told the media the Yankees are known for paying players their “fair market value.” The problem is whose gauge for what is “fair market value” is correct? Unfortunately for Damon, the Yankees may be unwilling to meet Boras lofty expectations. So now the ball will be Damon’s court. Will he be willing to take a shorter duration contract to stay with the Yankees and a great shot at repeating a world title or will he listen to his agent and look for a more lucrative payday? Secondly, who else has got the kind of money the Yankees do who would be willing to part with that big a chunk for one player?

Ah, the joys of being a general manager.

Hideki Matsui is somewhat of a more complex situation. First off, this guy, in Game 6 of the World Series, completely dismantled the Phillies to earn himself the series MVP trophy. He single-handedly kicked in the door to the Yankees’ 27th world championship. If the Yankees were to release Matsui he would be the first reigning World Series MVP not to return to his team since Jack Morris won the award with the 1991 Minnesota Twins and was on the Toronto Blue Jays roster for the ‘92 season.

Matsui came to the Yankees from the Yomiuri Giants in December of 2002 when he signed a 3-year deal to play left field for New York. He quickly became a fan favorite and forever etched his name in Yankee lore when he became the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium. That same year Matsui came in second to Angel Berroa in the “Rookie of the Year” balloting. Many felt that the voters for the award didn’t vote for Matsui, because they felt he wasn’t a true rookie having played professional ball in Japan.

Matsui also became the first Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series when he did it in Game 2 of the 2003 series against the Florida Marlins. In his first 3 seasons Matsui played in every game while hitting an average of .397 with an average of 110 RBI (106, 108, 116) and 23.3 home runs (16, 31, 23). Those numbers earned Matsui a new four-year, $52 million contract.

In May of 2006 Matsui fractured his wrist while attempting make a sliding catch in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox. The injury severely limited Matsui’s playing time and he ended the year playing in only 51 games.
Matsui rebounded in 2007 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI to help the Yankees make the playoffs for the 13th consecutive time as the wild card entry.

Nonetheless, injuries continued to plague Matsui as he eventually underwent surgeries on both his knees. In 2007 Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after the season ended, because the knee limited his playing time in the field and he was used more prominently as a designated hitter in the latter stages of the season.

The following season Matsui’s arthritic left knee became a problem. The knee had bothered Matsui throughout his playing days in Japan where he played on artificial turf for 10 years. In September of 2008 Matsui had surgery on the knee to help reduce the swelling and the pain caused by the constant stress of playing on it.

The plan for Matsui during the 2009 season was to use Matsui strictly as a designated hitter, at least until the middle of the season. However, Matsui’s approach and value to the DH position made it impossible for the Yankees to move him out of the role and put him in the field. Matsui had another productive year by hitting .274 with 28 homers and 90 RBI.

The situation for the Yankees is this. In 2006 Matsui signed a four-year deal with the Yankees who projected him as their long term left fielder. Unfortunately, the injuries and surgeries to Matsui’s knees have relegated him to a full time DH. How much value do you assign to a productive designated hitter versus a productive full time position player? And, at 35, how long do you sign Matsui for? These are the questions the Yankees, Matsui and his agent Arn Tellem have to answer during the off-season.

More questions for the Yankees will also determine the direction they go in the off season. In addition to Damon and Matsui the Yankees also have to contend with Andy Pettitte, Jose Molina, Xavier Nady, Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr.

Nady, Hinske and Molina are probably the easiest players to deal with. Nady who was slated to be the everyday right fielder when the 2009 underwent “Tommy John” surgery on his throwing elbow and missed the majority of the season. Nick Swisher, who was contracted from the White Sox in the off season, took over and performed admirably, earning the everyday slot.

Molina is a great defensive catcher, but not much to write home about offensively. Francisco Cervelli, who spent time with the club during the season, and was on the post season roster has proven he is great behind the dish, handles pitchers well and can hit major league pitching. He is ready for the big time, full time. The enthusiasm he brought to the team was a big boost in the dugout. Figure Molina and Nady will be playing elsewhere next season.

The same may be said for Hinske. Hinske began his career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 where he hit 24 home runs while knocking in 84 runs. That effort earned Hinske the “Rookie of the Year” award for that season and it showed the promise of a productive career.

Sadly, Hinske never lived up to that promise. He only reached the 20 home run plateau one other time and that was when he played for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. He hit 20 round trippers and plated 60 runs.

In eight seasons Hinske has hit a pedestrian .254 while generating a .334 lifetime OBP and .438 SLG%.

However, in the post season Hinske has shined when given a chance. He has played in 3 World Series (2007-2009), winning with Boston and New York. In his limited appearances Hinske has hit .333 with a .500 OBP and a 1.333 SLG%.

Hinske can also play first and third bases as well as the corner outfield positions. The Yankees may want to keep Hinske around as a multi-positional utility player.

Whether or not Andy Pettitte comes back will be up to Pettitte. If he wants to return for another season the Yankees will do their best to accommodate him, because of all what Pettitte means and has meant to the franchise.

Hairston is in the Hinske camp. He is a multi-positional player who can spell the big boys a game here and a game there. He was an important pickup during the season and performed well in limited action.

Hairston is two years older than Hinske and with similar numbers and less playoff experience may be the odd man out.

Other factors loom for the Yankees as well as their in house players. Other free agents from other clubs could help the Yankees in winning their 28th championship. Chief among those players is RHP John Lackey who will most likely garner the most attention. Depending on which other teams are interested in Lackey services the Yankees may or may not be motivated to make a move for him.

The Yankees also have to look beyond next year. The biggest name the Yankees will have to contend with is Derek Jeter. Jeter will be completing a 10-year, $189 million contract at the end of next season and will be looking for a significant pay increase.

As the captain of the team, a five time World Series champion, a ten time all star, a World Series and all star MVP, a Rookie of the Year award winner, and as the face of the franchise the Yankees of the will be hard pressed to cry poverty when it comes to dealing with Jeter.

In addition, Jeter is the Yankees all time hits leader passing Lou Gehrig this season for the top spot in history. He will undoubtedly become the franchise’s first 3,000 hit player, which will be the ultimate accomplishment on a team that has had the names of Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra playing on it.

In the top seven offensive categories for the Yankees Jeter ranks in the top 10 in six of them. He is 5th all time in batting average, 10th in home runs, 10th in RBI, 4th in runs scored, 1st in total hits, 4th in doubles, and 7th in extra-base hits.

It will be a delicate balancing act for the Yankees. On the one hand Jeter will be 37 when his current deal runs out. How much longer can he play shortstop? Even one of the all time premier shortstops in major league history, Cal Ripken, Jr., switched to third base in 1996 at the age of 35. The only other option open to the Yankees is the outfield, because Alex Rodriguez is holding down third base and Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira are much younger than Jeter and play a solid second and first base respectively.

Over the past two seasons Jeter has seen the Yankees dole out obscene contracts to A-Rod, Teixeira, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. None of those players mentioned is even close to owning the resume Jeter brings to the negotiating table. As arguably the most popular Yankee in franchise history Jeter will swing a heavy hammer to get a deal done with Yankees.

Lastly, since the Yankees have once again ascended to the top of the mountain every other team in baseball will be just that much more motivated to knock them off. It is the same with every team who calls themselves “world champions.” Every other team from the Red Sox to the Angels to the Tampa Bay Rays will be looking to dethrone the champs.

This has forever been the law of the jungle. It is always, always harder to defend a championship than to win it.

28.

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited

Another Chapter in Yanks 'Bronx Tale'
Bombers beat Halos in 13th; Take 2-0 ALCS lead

Another classic game and another nail biter between the two best teams in major league baseball. This game will end up on “Yankee Classics” for two reasons. First, the Yankees won the game in the 13th inning on a throwing miscue by Maicer, and secondly, because it was a classic duel between two longtime rivals striving for baseball supremacy.

The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (I liked it better when it was just the Anaheim or California Angels) have been cross country rivals ever since 1961 when the Angels, under the ownership of the “Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry, was granted a spot in the American League. The Angels shared digs with the Los Angeles Dodgers, first at the Coliseum in LA, and then later at Dodger Stadium. This arrangement lasted until 1966 when the Angels opened up their own park in Anaheim and became the California Angels.

When you hear of a team having another team’s “number” you don’t have to look any further than the Angels and Yankees. The Halos are the only team who has a historical winning record against the Bronx Bombers. And, not just by a little either. These two teams have met 586 times in the regular season and the Angels are 52 game over .500 against New York.

Living out here on the west coast, but still rooting for the boys in pinstripes I have seen my share of disappointments over the years. More times than not I, like a lot of other displaced Yankee fans in and around Orange County, California, have seen the Angels make the Yankees look like a second rate team. Whether the Angels were in last place or first they’ve always played the Yanks like it is the 7th game of the World Series.

Earlier this season was no exception. In July (10-12) the Yankees traveled to Anaheim for a 3-game set with the Halos. It was their last series before the All-star break and they were coming in with a hot hand. The Yankees had just won 15 of their last 17 games, but that didn’t matter to the Angels. In Game 1 of the series the Yankees had a 5-0 lead, but blew it, and the Halos won 10-6. In Game 2 the Yankees rewarded me on my birthday by allowing the Angels to erase a 4-1 lead by giving up 7 runs in the 5th inning as the Halos won going away 14-8. Game 3 saw the Angels overcome a 1-0 Yankee lead by scoring four runs in the 4th inning and squeaking out a 5-4 win to sweep the Yankees going into the break.

Fortunately the Yankees didn’t stay down long and they ended up by going 48-25 in the 2nd half to win the AL East Division by 8 games over second place Boston and they garnered the best record in baseball by six games over the Angels. In fact, in September (21-23) the Yankees returned to Anaheim to take 2-of-3 from the Angels, splitting the season series 5-5. There was room for optimism. A glimmer of hope was on the horizon.

Both teams went into the divisional series with different expectations. The Angels were facing the Red Sox who, like the Angels are with the Yankees, had the Halos’ number. As many so-called experts saw the Red Sox winning the ALDS as those picking the Angels. In 2004, 2007 and 2008 the Red Sox ousted the Halos from the divisional series with a combined 9-1 record. You don’t even want to ask any longtime Angel fan about 1986. The Angels lone win came during the ’08 series. Although they lost the Angels won, because they finally had beaten their longtime playoff antagonists in a divisional game. Now, at least they knew they could beat those pesky (no pun intended) Red Sox in a playoff setting.

The proof of that pudding came in this year’s divisional series as the Angels swept the Red Sox out of the playoffs and did so convincingly. This set up this year’s confrontation with the Yankees.

On the other side of the coin, the Yankees were expected to beat the Minnesota Twins in their half of the ALDS quite handily. Most experts predicted an easy series with the Yankees sweeping the Twins. After all the Yankees won the regular season series 7-0, and the Twins have never played well at Yankee Stadium. Well, the Yankees did sweep, but it was anything but easy. In fact in all 3 games the Yankees had to come from behind to beat Minnesota to set up the first ALCS meeting between the Bombers and the Halos.

Depending on who you asked, the predictions about which team would win this series was as varied as could be. A lot of people point to the Angels historical success as well as post season dominance. The Angels rotation is better than the Yankees. The Angels defense is better or the bullpen. You would hear the same thing said about the Yankees. The only area the Yankees were given a clear advantage was in the role of closer. Mariano Rivera versus Brian Fuentes was a no-contest. Rivera wins hands down. Much of this predicting has been regional. Los Angeles/Orange County area papers said the Angels would win, but newspapers in the east picked the Yankees.

In Game 1 the Yankees behind CC Sabathia handled the Angels very easily, winning 4-1. The Halos helped by playing very sloppy and uncharacteristically poor defense. However, for anyone who knows the playoff history between these two teams, the Yankees also won Game 1 from the Angels in the 2002 and 2005 ALDS only to lose those series in the end.

Last night, it appeared that the Yankees were going to follow past playoff scripts. Game 2 was very important for both teams. If the Yankees won they go to Anaheim up in the series 2-0 forcing the Angels to have to beat New York in 4 of the next 5 games. Lose, and the series is tied 1-1 with the next three games played at Angel Stadium. That would mean that if the Angels sweep the Yankees in their park they send the Yankees down to another humiliating defeat without ever getting the opportunity to get back to New York.

The Yankees jumped to an early 2-0 lead behind a run scoring triple by Cano in the 2nd inning, followed by a solo home run in the 3rd by Derek Jeter. Yankee starter AJ Burnett was cruising through the Angels lineup in the first 4 innings, but, as has been the case in the past, Burnett got into trouble in the 5th inning.

Burnett surrendered a leadoff double to Izturis, a single to Erick Aybar scoring Izturis, then hit Chone Figgins with a pitch. After getting Bobby Abreu to fly out to left for the 2nd out Burnett walked Torii Hunter to load the bases. With the ever dangerous Vladimir Guerrero at the plate Burnett uncorked a wild pitch past catcher Jose Molina allowing Aybar to score from third, tying the game at 2 apiece. Fortunately, Guerrero cooperated by grounding out to short to end the inning.

Once again, it appeared that the Yankees were right where the Angels wanted them. Lose Game 1, give the Yankees a lead in Game 2 only to come back to yank the rug out from under New York’s feet and steal another playoff series.

However, something different happened. The Yankees refused to cooperate. For the next five innings the Angels and Yankees threw up zeroes. In the 11th inning Yankees RHRP Alfredo Aceves took the mound to face the Halos. All through the 2009 campaign Aceves has been the one guy manager Joe Girardi could point to in order to get the job done. If he needed an emergency starter or a pitcher who could come into the middle of the game to give the Yankees length Girardi called on Aceves.

Nonetheless, Aceves committed the pitcher’s cardinal sin by walking the leadoff batter. He gave Gary Matthews, Jr. a free pass and after moving to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt Matthews scored on a soft liner by Figgins to left field in front of Johnny Damon. Oh how many times had Yankee fans seen the Angels come back like this.

Aceves got out of the inning without any further trouble, but the damage had been done. The Yankees had dug themselves into another hole against the team whom they’ve suffered their greatest failures.

For Yankee fans this game took on the look of a bad car crash. It was ugly, but you had to watch.

In the bottom of the 11th inning Angel manager Mike Scioscia sent in his closer Brian Fuentes. Fuentes lead the American League in saves in ’09, but had blown 7 as well. The first man he faced was Alex Rodriguez. This Rodriguez was different from the Rodriguez the Angels have faced in the past. This guy has been hitting and driving in runs.

Fuentes quickly got ahead of A-Rod by throwing 2 four-seam fastballs by him. With the count 0-2 Fuentes made the mistake of going to the well once too often and tried to jam a third four-seamer by Rodriguez. A-Rod did what all good hitters are supposed to do. He promptly punched the ball over the right field wall to tie the game.

Said Fuentes to reporters after the game. "I was trying to elevate and didn't get it up enough," Fuentes talking about the pitch allowing A-Rod to drive the ball. "I felt like I threw the ball really well minus the one pitch. Unfortunately, it cost us the game. I take full responsibility for that."

The two teams traded zeroes in the 12th, and the Yankees kept the Halos off the board in the top of the 13th. This set up another improbable finish for a club who has been doing the improbable all season long.

Girardi started the bottom of the frame by sending up pinch hitter Jerry Hairston, Jr. to face the hard throwing Ervin Santana. Hairston responded by lining a single to center. Reserve center fielder Brett Gardner did his job by sacrifice bunting Hairston to 2nd base. Santana intentionally walked Cano in order to set up a potential inning ending double play. Outfielder Melky Cabrera tried to cooperate with the Angels by hitting a hard grounder to second baseman Izturis’ left. With Hairston moving to third and Cano to second Izturis made a beautiful grab, but instead of going to first to get Cabrera he decided to go to second. The ball sailed by Aybar allowing Hairston to score the winning run.

It was the second game in a row where a team, which prides itself on playing sound defensive, has made a poor decision costing them a game.

"It shouldn't have come down to that," Chone Figgins said when reporters asked him about Izturis wild throw. "We had too many opportunities that got away from us. That's why we lost."

Neither team did a great job in potential run scoring situations. The Halos stranded 16 runners and the Yankees 12.

However, when it counted most the Yankees came through.

Hairston put a personal spin on his contribution.

"I knew if I got a chance to do something, I wanted to do something positive," Hairston said after the game. "This game isn't easy. I just wanted to enjoy the moment. My grandfather never had the opportunity that I've had. That was definitely for him."

A-Rod who has now hit three, dramatic, late inning home runs told reporters, "I know I had a blast out there today. That was a great game. That's what I've been doing all year -- trying to keep things simple and not trying to think too much."

Perhaps Joe Girardi summarized the game best.

“We're fortunate to come out on top in this game, because it was a great game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "And there were some miscues. Fortunately we were on the right side of it."

The series now shifts to Anaheim where the next 3 games are scheduled. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at 4:13 EST for the first pitch. It will be Andy Pettitte versus Jered Weaver. In order to return to the Bronx the Angels have to take 2 out of 3. On the other hand, the Yankees have the opportunity to do what no other team before them has done. Celebrate a playoff series win on the Angels home field.

This series is hardly over and both teams know it. That said the Yankees are now treading on heretofore unknown territory. They are half way to a series celebration over their most successful playoff opponents.

Just another chapter in the Yankees latest 'Bronx Tale.'

NOTE: Derek Jeter just keeps adding to his legacy. His home run in the 3rd inning was the 19th of his playoff career moving him past Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle (18) for third place behind Manny Ramirez (29) and Bernie Williams (22).

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

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500 Gets Mo One!
Rivera gets first ever RBI while recording 500th career save

It was a wacky 9th inning to be sure. The Yankees were holding on to a precarious one run lead going into the top half of the inning and the cat and mouse game between Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Mets manager Jerry Manuel began.

To set this up you have to go back to the bottom of the 8th inning when RHRP Brian Bruney took the ball from Phil Hughes. Hughes came into the game in the 6th and threw a scoreless and hitless 1-1/3 innings. Bruney was a mixed bag of tricks as he walked Mets third baseman David Wright to open the frame, and then induced OF Gary Sheffield to pop out to Derek Jeter. Bruney subsequently walked Fernando Tatis, moving Wright into scoring position before striking out Fernando Martinez.

Seeing a chance to sweep their cross town rivals Girardi pulled out Bruney and handed the ball to his closer Mariano Rivera.

Rivera, who has been the Yankees stopper since taking the reins from John Wetteland after the 1996 season, was on the verge of making history. Rivera was sitting on 499 saves with a chance to become only the second man in baseball history to record 500 saves. The leader in the saves category is Trevor Hoffman who currently owns 571 of them.

After Wright stole third Rivera buckled down and struck out Omir Santos to end the inning.

The weirdness began as the Yankees came to bat. Manuel realizing how bad his team needed this game against their home town foes brought in his closer, Francisco Rodriguez, to hopefully hold down the Bombers and keep the Mets within a run. Unfortunately, Rodriguez ran into bad luck…..again.

On June 12, Rodriguez entered a game against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez and the Mets were nursing an 8-7 lead. Rodriguez retired Brett Gardner before giving up a single to Jeter. He was able to strike out Johnny Damon with Jeter stealing second, and then intentionally walked first baseman Mark Teixeira in order to face Alex Rodriguez.

Things went according to script for the Mets as A-Rod popped the ball up into short right field. He slammed his bat down in disgust and ran towards first base as second baseman Luis Castillo drifted under the ball. He put his glove up, in went the ball, and then it came back out and landed on the grass at Castillo’s feet. Both Jeter and Teixeira raced around the bases and scored the tying and winning runs on Castillo’s muff. It was Francisco Rodriguez’s first blown save in 17 attempts.

The first batter Rodriguez faced in Sunday’s contest was Jorge Posada. Posada blooped a pop up into short center field as shortstop Alex Cora and Castillo went back on the ball. Cora looked at Castillo thinking he was going to get the ball and slowed down. When he realized Castillo wasn’t going for the ball Cora attempted to get to it, but ball made its way to the grass giving Posada a gift single.

Rodriguez had to be cursing Yogi Berra, because it was déjà vu all over again. He got Melky Cabrera to ground into a force play, eliminating Posada at second, but then allowed Cabrera to steal the bag on him. Rodriguez then walked Brett Gardner, putting the Yankees into somewhat of a quandary.

The next hitter was Jeter, but behind him Rivera was scheduled to bat. Attempting his best Houdini slight-of-hand Girardi tried to fool Manuel into believing the Yankees were going to have reserve catcher Francisco Cervelli bat for Rivera. While Cervelli stood in the on deck circle stretching, and going through the motions of acting like he was going to hit Rivera sat in the dugout with a batting helmet and gloves on. Somebody must have said something to him, because Rivera took off the helmet, but left the gloves on. He was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

It was difficult to tell if Manuel was taking Girardi seriously or whether Rodriguez and Santos (catching) misread a sign, but as Jeter settled in to face him Rodriguez threw the ball over the outside corner of the plate for a strike. Jeter backed out of the batter’s box and smiled, glancing toward the Mets dugout with a look of “are you kidding me? You’re going to pitch to me?”

Apparently, sanity returned to the situation and Jeter was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Up walked Rivera who was making only the third at bat in his decorated career, and the second of this season. It was a rare instant where the closer of one team was batting against the closer of the other team. It was just another bizarre moment in an odd inning.

Rodriguez worked the count against Rivera to 2-2. Rodriguez poured in a fastball, which Rivera fouled straight back. Appearing more dangerous now, Rivera evidently rattled Rodriguez who then threw balls three and four, walking his opposite number and forcing in an insurance run. It was Rivera’s first recorded RBI.

As Rivera trotted toward first and Cabrera crossed the plate to make it a 4-2 Yankees lead the Bombers dugout erupted into whoops and hollers. It was though Rivera’s teammates had seen Santa Claus for the first time. They were genuinely acting like a bunch of little kids reacting to what had just transpired.

The fact that Teixeira struck out to end the inning didn’t matter to him or the rest of the squad. They put a fork into their longtime adversary and now it was Rivera’s turn to show why he is the greatest closer the game has ever seen.

Rivera induced Castillo to ground to second; he struck out Jeremy Reed looking and ended the game by also getting Cora to ground out to second. As the ball nestled into Teixeira’s glove at first to record the final out Rivera sealed his name once again into the record books.

Teixeira was one of the first to reach him and handed Rivera the ball.

Posada, Rivera’s battery mate had a message for him. “I told him he’s the best ever,” Posada told reporters later. “The best I’ve seen. Nobody can even compare,”

Every member of the Yankees came out onto the field and gave Rivera a big hug and words of encouragement. Some of them commented on Rivera’s historic at bat against Rodriguez.

“He looks good up there,” longtime teammate Andy Pettitte said to reporters after the game. “I think in Atlanta they gave him a take sign and he swung anyway.”

Even Rivera remarked on the at bat.

“I had one thing in mind—just try to do something,” Rivera said, before talking about his save. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely special.”

Manuel, whose team has been ravaged by injuries, had to say this about Rivera’s night.

“He’s one of the premier closers in my time,” Manuel told reporters. “I wasn’t applauding him tonight, but you do have to applaud that.”

Another first happened in this game as well. Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang recorded his first victory of the season after staggering to a 0-6 start. Wang allowed two earned runs on four hits in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out three and walked three batters. The loser, Livan Hernandez (5-3), actually pitched better than Wang. He went seven innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out one.

The nightmare for the Mets didn’t end with this game. After getting swept at home by the Yankees and losing five of six overall in interleague play the Mets had to catch a flight for Milwaukee to play the Brewers tonight at 7:08 pm EDT as part of ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball. The Yankees fared much better, catching a bus for the Bronx where they will open a home stand on Tuesday night against the visiting Seattle Mariners.

Getting back to Rivera, anyone who has the chance to watch this remarkable talent play should take every opportunity to do so, because as much as Yankee fans will hate to admit it, Rivera’s career is winding down. No matter how much he’d like to Mariano Rivera can’t pitch forever. He has been at the top of his class for much longer than most closers are expected to last. To be in the upper echelon for nearly 13 years is mind blowing.

How much more gas is in the tank? Only God and Mo know the answer to that one.

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

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Yankees, Sabathia Stumble in Baltimore
Orioles hammer Yankee ace in 10-5 win

The highly anticipated debut of the New York Yankees $161 million pitcher ended up to be a major fizzle as the Baltimore Orioles took the Bombers and C.C. Sabathia to the woodshed with a 10-5 pounding before 48,607 screaming fans at Camden Yard Monday afternoon. It was the largest Opening Day crowd in the 18-year history of the park.

Sabathia, who signed with the Yankees in the off-season for the richest contract by a pitcher in baseball history, didn’t make it out of the 5th inning; a familiar sight to Yankees fans during the 2008 season. The Yankees are counting on Sabathia to eat up major innings during the year. However, Sabathia struggled with his command from the get-go and left the game after surrendering 6 earned runs on 8 hits. The six were the most runs he had given up in a game going back to July 25, 2008 against the Cleveland Indians (32 starts).

Opening Day saw Vice-President Joe Biden throw out the first pitch to kick of the Orioles and Yankees 2009 campaigns; a high fastball catcher Chad Moeller had to climb the ladder to get. He is the first sitting vice-president in history to do so at Camden Yard. Afterward, the O’s took the field and Derek Jeter strode to the plate to face Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie. Jeter got the Yankees first hit, singling up the middle, but was left stranded to end the inning.

Sabathia took the mound and immediately had trouble locating his pitches, especially his fastball. He gave up a leadoff single to Brian Roberts and later uncorked two wild pitches, although the second one should have been handled by catcher Jorge Posada. The two wild pitches equaled the amount he threw in 253 innings last year. However, Sabathia was able to keep Baltimore off the boards for the first two frames.

In the third the Yankees took a 1-0 lead on a manufactured run, when Brett Gardner singled to left, and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Johnny Damon.

That’s when the Orioles went to work on Sabathia.

Baltimore scored three runs in the bottom of the inning when César Izturis singled, Roberts walked, Adam Jones tripled and Nick Markakis hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones.

The Orioles scored 3 more runs off Sabathia in the 5th when Roberts doubled, and scored after Jones and Markakis hit infield singles. Third baseman Melvin Mora hit another infield single getting Jones to third and moving Markakis up 90 feet. Sabathia intentionally walked Ty Wigginton to load the bases. Jones scored on a ground out by Aubrey Huff with Markakis advancing to third. Sabathia’s afternoon ended after he walked Luke Scott force in a run and reload the bases.

The Yankees bullpen took a beating as well. After Jonathan Albaladejo threw a scoreless 1-1/3 innings in relief of Sabathia the Orioles tagged relievers Phil Coke and Brian Bruney for two runs each, capped by Izturis’ home run off Coke in the 8th.

The Yankees other big time signee Mark Teixeira had a rough afternoon also. Teixeira, who went 0-for-4 with walk, stranded four, including two runners on in the 8th after the Yankees had cut the Orioles lead to 6-5 in the seventh.

After the game, Teixeira remarked to reporters about his poor showing.

“I didn’t get it done there,” he said, referring to his ground out with runners at the corners and two outs.

Teixeira, who was born and raised in Maryland approximately 30 minutes south of Baltimore, was lustily booed by the hometown crowd every time his name was announced at the plate or when he made a play on the field.

After the game, Sabathia summed up his afternoon this way.

“I was terrible. I battled from the first inning on,” he told reporters. “At some point I’m usually able to find it. Today was just one of those days where I didn’t. When I have one of those days, this is the result you get.”

Yankee manager Joe Girardi took the game in stride.

“I guess we can’t go undefeated,” Girardi said. “Yeah, it’s one game. We didn’t execute today.”

Even with the loss the Yankees can point to some positives. Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui homered and Jeter and Damon went 3-for-5 and 2-for-3 respectively at the top of the order. So far Girardi’s flip-flopping of the Yankees shortstop and left fielder in the lead off and No. 2 spot in the order is paying off.

The Yankees and Orioles have Tuesday off before battling again on Wednesday and Thursday to complete their 3-game series.

Notes: Sabathia didn’t record a strikeout for only the 5th time in 253 career starts and Nick Swisher recorded his first official hit a Yankee by getting a pinch-hit double in the 8th inning.

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited