Tagged: The Captain
Yanks Win Opener 6-3, “By The Script”
So, on a far from perfect weather day in the beautiful Bronx, New York, a new baseball season began yesterday at The Stadium with the Yankees taming the Tigers 6-3, by perfectly executing their 2011 “playbook script” that hopefully will be repeated many times this year, leading the Yanks to their 28th World Championship.
The Yanks received a solid start from their ace CC Sabathia, who tossed 106 pitches over six innings, allowing three runs (two earned), on six hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts, leaving the game with the score tied 3-3. Manager Joe Girardi then called on the bullpen to follow a script that was written well before the start of spring training. And the key relievers delivered by building and completing a perfect “bridge to victory”.
Joba Chamberlain (W,1-0), pitched a scoreless seventh; Rafael Soriano nailed down a scoreless eighth, rolling out a diamond studded carpet for the “Great Mariano” who closed out the 6-3 win by pitching a perfect ninth inning, recording his first save, and 560th save of his Hall of Fame career.
The Bronx Bombers also lived up to a script that was written in stone many years and championships ago by blasting two homeruns: a three-run shot by Mark Teixeira, off Detroit starter Jason Verlander in the third, that gave the Yanks a 3-1 lead; And a leadoff homer by Curtis Granderson in the seventh, off former Yankee Phil Coke (L,0-1), that broke a 3-3 tie, and proved to be the game-winning hit and run of the game.
The Yankees scored another run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Derek Jeter that scored Russell Martin that upped the Yanks lead to 5-3. The Captain did not get a hit in this game, and remains at 2,926 career hits, still 74 short of the magic 3,000 total.
In the eight inning, the Yankees scored their final run on a RBI single by Nick Swisher that drove home Alex Rodriguez with run number six. A-Rod reached second in this inning on a long shot to right-center that he though was going into the bleachers for a homer. But the ball ended up hitting the base of the wall, and then rolled back towards center with the Tigers outfielder trying to chase it down.
Rodriguez was in his homerun-trot at this time looking into the Yankees dugout as he headed to first base; then he realized the ball was not going out, so he hustled to second for a double on a hit that should have been a triple. Anyway, A-Rod did end up scoring the run. But for sure, a play like this is not part of the Yankees playbook, and hopefully will not be repeated by any Yankee player this season.
Finally, special mention must be offered about the outstanding defensive plays made by Curtis Granderson – three great plays by the defensive star of the game … A diving catch in the first inning; Another diving catch in the sixth; and, A beautiful over the head, running catch in the ninth with Mariano Rivera on the mound. Five Stars For Granderson !!!!!
So, overall, it was a great “Opening Day” for the New York Yankees.
And on a “cold and rainy” not so perfect day in the Bronx, it was a perfect way to start this new baseball season.
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Jeter Talks Have Gone On Way Too Long, Already
What are the Yankees doing? And what are they thinking? Sign Derek Jeter to a new contract, already. In my view, these drawn-out negotiations are starting to become an embarrassment to the whole New York Yankees organization.
No matter how anyone wants to spin these negotiations, it is very clear the next contract that Jeter signs with the Yankees has very little to do with his overall play on the field and at the plate [which is still better than most shortstops in baseball, by the way]. It’s all about the “Captain” as an all-time iconic player in the history of the Yankees franchise, standing along side the greatest of the greats in pinstripes: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Mariano Rivera, and many other All-Stars and Hall of Famers.
Of course, Jeter is near the top, right behind: Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, and Berra. And when he finally does retire, he will become the next great link to carry on the awesome Yankees history and tradition at future Old-Timers’ Days at Yankee Stadium over the next 40 or 50 years. It will be Derek Jeter who will be announced last at these events, called out onto the field from the dugout to thunderous rounds of applause from many different generations of Yankee fans. How will the Yankees Universe be altered if the these current contract talks are allowed to degenerate into any form of disrespect of the Yankees Captain?
The Yankees front office talks about staying within a certain payroll budget of around $200 million, and how these talks with Jeter are “strickly business” and “not personal”.
Well, to be perfectly honest, as a Yankees fan, I could care less about how high the payroll is. It is reported that the New York Yankees are worth $1.5 – $2 billion, and the YES Network is worth about $3 billion. So this is a $5 billion organization that just recently increased ticket prices at Yankee Stadium – ticket prices that are already outrageously way too high. Yet at the same time it seems they want to nickel-and-dime one of their best all-time players. I make this comment in context to the overall net worth of the Yankees, and the overall “value” of Derek Jeter to the Yankees franchise. And I really think this is a fair observation based on the facts that are being reported [so far] throughout the sports media.
In my view, I think it is very important for the New York Yankees to sign Derek Jeter to a contract he is totally happy with, somewhere in the range of four to five years at about $20 million per year, because this would be a very “smart” and “good” business decision.
If for some reason the “UNTHINKABLE” happens, and Derek Jeter does not re-sign with the Yanks – a truly unimaginable thought in my mind – I’m sure all Yankee fans will take this “very personally”.
So in the end, these talks with Jeter are personal, “very personal”. But it is also “good business” to give Derek what he wants!
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Three Hits By The “Captain”, Ties The “Captain” …
The “Captain” Derek Jeter collected three hits in the Yankees 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of their four-game series at Yankee Stadium [which was swept by the Yanks], that tied the Yankees first “Captain”, Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig, on top of the New York Yankees all-time hit list with 2,721 hits.
Derek Jeter
Jeter led off the game with a surprise bunt single on the first pitch by Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann that ended the captain’s 0-12 hitless streak.
In the third inning Jeter grounded out to short.
In the fifth inning Derek blasted a shot to straight away centerfield that sailed over the head of B.J. Upton before taking a bounce over the wall for a grounds-rule double.
And, finally, in the bottom of the seventh Jeter stroked a two-out, first pitch, single, past first base down the right field line for his Gehrig tying 2,721th hit.
Lou Gehrig
In the meantime, as this game headed into the eight inning, the Yankees were losing 2-0 to the Rays.
Without doubt, Jeter was happy that he had tied the “Great” Lou Gehrig’s all-time hit record; but, I’m sure Derek would be the first one to tell anybody: a Yankees loss would certainly take the shine off this outstanding accomplishment.
The Yankees had this in mind also, and, once again, provided some late-inning dramatics by first scoring a run in the eight that made the score 2-1, before Jorge Posada hit a solid line drive, one-out, three-run homer, off reliever Grant Balfour, into the lower right-field porch that moved the Bronx Bombers into a 4-2 lead.
Posada’s 21st homer kept the inning going; and, after Melky Cabrera made the second out, Derek Jeter had one more chance to travel past Gehrig’s hit record in this game.
Jeter had a couple of good cuts at the plate, but was walked on a 3-2 count by Balfour.
So, Derek would remain tied with Lou Gehrig until at least Friday night, September 11th, when the Yankees start a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at The Stadium.
The Yankees took their 4-2 lead into the top of the ninth inning; and, in a game that the “Joba Rules” once again limited Joba Chamberlain to only three innings on the mound, [in which he allowed both Tampa Bay runs in the first inning], the Yankees relievers: Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo (5-1), Brian Bruney, and Phil Coke, held the Rays hitless from the fourth inning on, with Coke earning his second save by closing out this win on a final out strikeout.
On this historic night that Derek Jeter tied the “Iron Horse”, Lou Gehrig’s all-time hit record, the Yankees 4-2 victory which completed a four-game sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays, made this special accomplishment even more “special”.
In Mike Puma’s New York Post article, Derek Jeter expressed his feelings on tying Lou Gehrig’s record:
“I was a Yankee fan growing up and to come up through this organization and what [Gehrig] stood for, being the captain, he’s probably one of the classiest people ever to play the game” … “To be alongside him, pretty much anything you can do to have your name next to his is quite an accomplishment” …
“We had so many special moments across the street”, Jeter said … “This is hopefully the first of many memorable moments here at the new Stadium. The fans have been tremendous and it’s just a lot of fun.”
— photo credits:
* google images
* photos. nj. com/star-ledger/2009/09/derek_jeter
* http:// yankeeology. com/yankeefans
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
A Game To Just Forget
Blue Jays 14, Yankees 8 …
With this loss, the New York Yankees split a four-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. But, this was a very successful road trip as the Bronx Bombers (87-50), won five of seven games to remain in first place in the AL East, seven and a half games ahead of the second place Boston Red Sox (79-57).
The Yankees return home to play a Labor Day day/night doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Beautiful Bronx.
The big story, of course, is Derek Jeter’s pursuit of Lou Gehrig’s all-time Yankees hit record.
The “Captain” Jeter is four hits away from passing the Yankees first “Captain”, the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig on the all-time New York Yankees hit list.
Gehrig has 2,721 career hits; and, Jeter with three hits in yesterday’s loss to the Blue Jays, now stands at a total of 2,718 hits.
“Best Wishes” and “Thanks” to Derek for his many great years in Yankee Pinstripes.
And, Best Wishes to all who have visited my blog …
I hope everybody has a very enjoyable Labor Day holiday weekend !!!
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks Win First Two Games Over White Sox
The New York Yankees (81-48), continue to play well as they won the first two games of their current three-game weekend series at Yankee Stadium against the Chicago White Sox, 5-2 (10 innings), and 10-0, to remain six games in front of the second place Boston Red Sox (75-54) in the AL East.
The Yankees won the first game on a 10th inning, walk-off, game-winning, three-run homer by Robinson Cano that lead the Bronx Bombers to a 5-2 victory, their 12th walk-off victory of the 2009 season, which is only one short of the Yankees record for walk-off wins held by the 1978 New York Yankees.
The game was tied 2-2, on Derek Jeter’s lead off homer (#17) in the first; and Johnny Damon’s 23rd homer leading off the third inning, for the Yanks off Chicago starting pitcher Mark Buehrle; and, a RBI double by Alex Rios, and a RBI single by Gordon Beckham in the top of the seventh by the White Sox off Yankees starter CC Sabathia.
Both starters pitched well, but did not get a decision in this very exciting game.
Buehrle lasted six innings, tossing 99 pitches, while giving up two runs, on eight hits, two walks, and one strikeout.
Sabathia threw 113 pitches over seven innings of work, allowing two runs, on eight hits, one walk, while striking out 10 batters.
The bullpens were very effective for both the Yankees and White Sox as the game entered the bottom of the 10th inning with the scored 2-2.
White Sox reliever Randy Williams (L,0-1), caused all the damage for the Chisox in the 10th by allowing back to back, two-out walks, to Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher, before serving up the game winning three-run homer to Robinson Cano.
Phi Hughes pitched a scoreless eight inning; Mariano Rivera threw a perfect ninth inning; and, Brian Bruney (W,4-0), shut down the White Sox with a scoreless 10th inning of work, that held the score until Cano delivered his extra innings heroic blast that gave the Bombers their 5-2 win.
Also, Derek Jeter set another record, as his home run in this game was the 223th of his “Hall of Fame” career, moving the “Captain” into 10th place on the all-time New York Yankees Home Run list ahead of another Yankee “great”, Don Mattingly.
******************
In the middle game of this series, the Yankees had a very easy 10-0 victory over the Chisox, led by Sergio Mitre (3-1), who was brilliant in his 6.1 innings on the mound starting this game for the Bombers.
Mitre allowed the only hit the White Sox would get on this day, a hard hit double by Jim Thome to right field that Mark Teixeira had no chance of catching.
Actually, Mitre had thrown only 73 pitches into the seventh inning, but had to leave the game when he was hit on his right arm by a hard line drive off the bat of A.J. Pierzynski. Sergio had a contusion on his arm, but X-rays were negative. So, it’s day by day for Mitre regarding whether or not he will take the mound in his next scheduled start.
Chad Gaudin pitched the remaining 2.2 innings, striking out four, to share the shutout victory with Sergio Mitre.
Highlights of the Yankees 10-run, 14-hit attack …
Derek Jeter was (3-for-4), raising his batting average to .333.
Robinson Cano was (3-for-5), that increased his average to .315.
Alex Rodriguez hit his 23th homer of the year.
The Yankees go for the three-game sweep, Sunday afternoon, August 30th.
“Go Yankees” !!!
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yankees Lose; Still Lead Red Sox By 7.5 Games
The New York Yankees did not have many highlights in their 10-3 loss to the Mariners in Seattle yesterday, as their bid to complete a third four-game sweep of the season [they swept the Twins earlier in the year, and the Red Sox last weekend], ended with very disappointing performances by the Yankee pitchers and hitters.
But, with that said, even in losing it still was not that bad of a day for the Yankees and all in the Yankees Universe.
The “Capatin” Derek Jeter was (3-for-4) in this game, with his lead off single in the top of the first inning tying Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for first place on the all-time hit list by shortstops; and, then, Jeter moved ahead of Aparicio on the all-time list with a RBI double in the third inning which was the major highlight of the game.
Derek Jeter now has 2,675 hits, and counting, passing Luis Aparicio’s career total of 2,673 hits while playing shortstop.
Derek Jeter
Luis Aparicio turning a double play while playing for the White Sox
Also, the Red Sox were defeated by the Texas Rangers 4-3, thus maintaining the Yankees seven and a half game lead over the Sox in the AL East, which also moved the Rangers into a half game lead over Boston in the wild card race.
So, as the Yankees continue their ten-game road trip with a three-game series in Oakland against the A’s, tonight, August 17th, the Bronx Bombers hold the best record in all of baseball with an outstanding mark of 74-44, which is two and a half games better than the L.A. Angels (70-45), and, four games ahead of Joe Torre’s Los Angeles Dodgers (70-48).
This game was a complete disaster for the Yanks, as all the scoring was produced by the RBI double by Derek Jeter in the second inning; and, a two-run homer by Nick Swisher (#20), off Mariners starter Doug Fister in the fourth, that gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead at the time.
But, Seattle scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth off Joba Chamberlain to regain the lead at 4-3, and, also, end Joba’s time on the mound in this game.
Joba Chamberlain (8-3), did not pitch very well, lasting only five innings, allowing four runs, on seven hits, three walks, while striking out only two batters during his ineffective 90 pitch outing.
The Mariners broke this game open with a big five-run inning in the bottom of the seventh, and their final run in the eight, off Yankee relievers Alfredo Aceves and Chad Gaudin who both got hit very hard as the M’s completed the scoring in this 10-3 embarrassing loss by the Yankees.
Doug Fister (1-0), pitched a very good game for the Mariners, tossing 101 pitches over seven strong innings, allowing three runs, on eight hits, no walks, and four strikeouts, to earn his first win of the year.
— photo credits:
* google images
* http;// www .insidescore .com
* mlb.mlb .com/images
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Melky “Cycles” A Path To Victory For Yankees
It was not a totally lost weekend for the New York Yankees as they won the final game of a four-game series against the White Sox, 8-5, thus avoiding what would have been a very embarrassing sweep by the Chisox in the Windy City.
The Yankees followed the “Melky-Way” in route to their must-win victory, as Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle — the first cycle by a Yankee since Tony Fernandez accomplished this rare feat in 1995. Also, his was the 15th cycle in Yankee history.
Melky put on a spectacular display, getting four hits in five at-bats, including a three-run homer off Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (L,11-5) in the second inning; a double and run scored in the fourth; a RBI single in the fifth; and, finally, a very exciting triple during his final at-bat in the ninth inning, a solid line drive in the gap over rightfielder Jermaine Dye’s head. The ball sailed to the wall as Melky Cabrera “cycled” around the bases at full speed.
After Cabrera slid safely into third base for the triple that completed his cycle, Melky quickly jumped up to his feet, pumping his arm into the air, as everybody in the Yankees dugout gave “The Melk-man” a standing ovation, cheering on this “very rare” historical baseball feat. A wonderful baseball moment, indeed.
Melky Cabrera scored the Yankees final run later on in the ninth inning, a very important insurance run, on a two-out RBI single by Derek Jeter that completed the scoring in this 8-5 Yankees victory.
This was Derek Jeter’s 2,084th game, which tied the great Babe Ruth for fourth place on the Yankees all-time games played list. It seems like “The Capatin” breaks or ties an all-time record at least once a week.
CC Sabathia was the Yankees starting pitcher, and certainly did not pitch one of his best games.
The Bombers staked Sabathia an early 3-0 lead on the Melky homer; but, CC could not hold the lead, giving up four runs in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Gordon Beckham; a long opposite field two-run homer by Jermaine Dye; and, another long opposite field homerun by the next batter Jim Thome [career homer #559], that moved the White Sox into a 4-3 lead.
The Yankees battled back, though, led by Melky Cabrera, scoring two runs in the fourth on a RBI single by Jose Molina that scored Melky; and, a RBI single by Johnny Damon that plated Molina with the fifth run, giving the Yanks the lead once again at 5-4.
Melky was part of another Yankee rally in the top of the fifth, driving home Alex Rodriguez with a RBI single, which was followed by a run scoring single by newcomer Jerry Hairston, Jr., that drove home Nick Swisher for a 7-4 lead.
As the game entered the bottom of the eight, CC Sabathia was still on the mound when the first batter, Gordon Beckham doubled. This hit knocked CC out of the game as manager Joe Girardi replaced him with Phil Hughes, who struck-out Dye; walked Thome; and struck-out Konerko to set-up a first and second situation for Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, now in the game to get a four-out save.
Rivera quickly allowed a RBI single to Carlos Quentin that cut the Yankees lead to 7-5. But, Mariano struck out the next batter Chris Getz for the final out of the inning.
CC Sabathia (11-7), ended up throwing 100 pitches over seven okay innings, allowing all five runs, on ten hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. The numbers are not great, but after the third inning, CC was very solid on the mound holding the lead into the eight inning.
After Melky Cabrera capped off his great performance with his historic triple in the top of the ninth, “The Great Mariano” closed out this 8-5 Yankees victory by pitching a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning recording his 30th save of the season, which is now seven straight seasons of at least 30 saves for Mariano.
All-in-all, not a bad weekend, as the New York Yankees remain in first place in the AL East, a half a game ahead of the second place Boston Red Sox, and five and a half games in front of the third place Tampa Bay Rays.
To view boxscore, click on: Melky hits for the cycle
The 15 “Cycles” in New York Yankees history (from the New York Post) …
1 — Bert Daniels (July 25, 1912) vs. Chicago
2 — Bob Meusel (May 7, 1921) at Washington
3 — Bob Meusel (July 3, 1922) at Philadelphia
4 — Bob Meusel (July 26, 1928) at Detroit
5 — Tony Lazzeri (June 3, 1932) at Philadelphia
6 — Lou Gehrig (June 25, 1934) vs. Chicago
7 — Joe DiMaggio (July 9, 1937) vs. Washington
8 — Lou Gehrig (August 1, 1937) vs. St. Louis
9 — Buddy Rosar (July 19, 1940) vs. Cleveland
10 — Joe Gordon (September 8, 1940) at Boston
11 — Joe DiMaggio (May 20, 1948) at Chicago
12 — Mickey Mantle (July 23, 1957) vs. Chicago
13 — Bobby Murcer (August 29, 1972) vs. Texas
14 — Tony Fernandez (September 3, 1995) vs. Oakland
15 — Melky Cabrera ( August 2, 2009) at Chicago
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
“The Captain” Thurman Munson, Always In Our Hearts
Thurman Munson
June 7, 1947 – August 2, 1979
view career stats on baseball-reference.com
click on: The Captain
In my view, I think Thurman Munson is a “Hall of Famer”,
and, it is long overdue, and about time,
that Thurman is honored by being enshrined into
Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
May God Always Bless Thurman,
and
May he rest in peace.
photo credits:
googe images
http:// images.marketplaceadvisor .channeladvisor .com/
www. romito .com
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 