Tagged: Yankees Universe
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 …
Yanks Fall !!! …. Texas Rangers Win AL Crown !!!
“The New York Yankees ultimate goal every year is to win the World Series; anything less is a failure.”
… New York Yankees, Mission Statement,
Every New Baseball Season !
The final out has been made by the Yankees this year. And its official. The New York Yankees 2010 season was a failure.
As Game Six in the ALCS was approaching with the Texas Rangers leading the Yanks three games to two, everybody seemed to be talking about the great task the Yankees had in front of them facing Cliff Lee in the deciding Game Seven of this series. But all the focus should have been on the other Ranger starter with the initials C.L., Colby Lewis, who tossed a gem over eight outstanding innings, leading the Rangers to a 6-1 victory in Game Six that clinched the American League Championship for the Texas ball club, and positioned them into the World Series for the first time in their history.
The defending World Champion New York Yankees were out-pitched, out-hit, and out-played in every way possible in this series, and really deserved to leave Texas with only the final outcome that became a reality because of their bad play and the great play of the Rangers. All we can do in the Yankees Universe, is just “tip our collective hats” to the Texas Rangers, and wish them well in their upcoming World Series appearance.
As the “Captain” Derek Jeter said, of the Rangers, “They hit better, they pitched better, they played better. What else can you say?”
The Yankees did enter the bottom of the fifth in this game with the score tied 1-1. And Phil Hughes was pitching okay up to this point. But then the damage occurred. With two outs and a runner on base, Joe Girardi decided to intentionally walk Josh Hamilton, again, to bring Vladimir Guerrero up to the plate.
Over-managing? Well, Guerrero is one of the best hitters in the baseball. And you can only go to the “well” so many times. It was just a matter of time before the Rangers clean up hitter was going to get a big hit. And boom! Guerrero stroked a solid line-drive double over the head of center fielder Granderson to drive home two runs for a 3-1 Texas lead.
Girardi then decided to bring David Robertson into the game to pitch to the next batter Nelson Cruz, who blasted a two-run homer to increase the Rangers lead to 5-1. That was the final knockout blow, or so it seemed, as the Yankees never really recovered from that four-run inning. The rest of the way it was all Rangers, and just a matter of ticking off the remaining innings before the Ranger players celebrated their fine performance on this October night in Texas.
The Rangers scored their final run in the seventh inning to cap the score at 6-1.
Colby Lewis (W,2-0), ended up tossing 102 pitches in his eight innings of brilliance on the mound, allowing one run, on only three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. A worthy performance for the C.L. initialed starting pitcher.
Rangers closer Feliz pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game, which started a victory celebration for the Texas faithful.
Josh Hamilton was named the MVP of the series. He hit .350, with four home runs, seven RBI’s, and all those walks.
So a very disappointing ending to an overall very good Yankees season. And the season ends without our 28th World Championship. At least all in the Yankees Universe will know what uniform number Joe Girardi will be wearing next season.
On that note, I will give Manager Joe Girardi the final words on this ALCS …
“We didn’t accomplish what we set out to. As I told my guys, this hurts. It’s not a lot of fun watching other teams celebrate. They beat us; they out-hit us; they out-pitched us; and they out-played us.”
Only four months to pitchers and catchers !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Rise Up From The Dead; Cut Texas’ Lead To 3-2
The Yankees cut the Texas Rangers lead in the ALCS to three games to two, with a 7-2 win in Game Five at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The series now heads back to Texas for Game Six, and, hopefully, Game Seven.
CC Sabathia did not have his best stuff in this “must-win” game, but pitched well enough to earn the victory. CC tossed 112 pitches over six “battling” innings on the mound, allowing only two runs, on 11 hits, seven strikeouts, and “zero” walks.
The key to victory for the Bronx Bombers, though, was taking an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning. And increasing that lead to 5-0 in the third on back-to-back homers by Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano (his fourth of this series). Curtis Granderson also hit a solo homerun in the eight inning to cap the score at 7-2.
Sabathia gave all the effort an “ace” could give through six innings. Then it was time for the bullpen to take over. Kerry Wood delivered two scoreless innings of relief in the seventh and eight, building a solid “Bridge to Mariano Rivera”. The “Great Mariano” then entered the game, and closed out this victory by pitching a scoreless ninth to keep the Yankees alive in this series.
So, everything looks a little brigher for the Yankees and all in the Yankees Universe today, as the Bronx Bombers get ready to play Game Six tomorrow night (Oct. 22) in Texas.
And the 2010 ALCS continues …
“Go Yankees” !!!
— Jimmy “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Not Wild About Yanks Wild Card Finish …
But …
The Yankees did hold on to make the Playoffs, even though they finished the season with a (9-17) record over the final 26 games.
This weak finish resulted in the New York Yankees (95-67) not winning the AL East, the toughest division in all of Baseball, which placed the Bronx Bombers in second place behind the first place Tampa Bay Rays (96-66), who also did not play very well down the stretch. Thus, the Yankees entered the 2010 post season via the “wild card” route.
Overall, though, it was a great season for the Yankees. And with all the talk about who the Yanks MVP was this season, in my view, that honor belongs to CC Sabathia (21-7) with a 3.13 ERA. This opinion also extends to CC being honored with the American League MVP Award, as well as the AL Cy Young Award.
Without Sabathia’s great pitching performances throughout the 2010 season, the Yankees would not be playing in the post-season this year. CC was “Money” all year long. Especially considering A.J. Burnett’s (10-15) lost season on the mound; Andy Pettitte’s injury at mid-season; And Phil Hughes not pitching as well in the second half of the season as he did in the first half. The rest of the starting rotation was okay at best, while CC was the Yanks “Ace”, “MVP”, and should be awarded the AL “Cy Young Award”, and AL “MVP” Award.
My opinion about CC being the Yanks MVP takes nothing away from the Yankees great lineup which was “awesome” this season. It’s just, I think, without CC Sabathia pitching as well as he did this year, the New York Yankees would not be playing ball this October. CC was the main key to victory for the Yanks in 2010. He was the one Yankee, at least in this season, and in my opinion, that was “indispensable”, even more so than the “Great Mariano” Rivera.
Anyway, its great that September finally ended. There were way too many “mixed messages” being sent out by the Yankees braintrust about wanting to win the AL East. But if the Yankees finished second, that seemed to be okay with Manager Joe Girardi and General Manager Brian Cashman, as the Yanks would enter the playoffs as the wild card team. And so, that ended up being the result. A second place finish by the Bombers. A wild card berth into October baseball.
Of course, the ultimate goal for the Yankees every year is to win the World Series. Anything less would be a failure. So seeing the Yankees playing important games in October once again puts their second place finish this season into a distant memory.
Another “Fall Classic” is clearly in sight for the Yankees. And when the sun sets on this Baseball Season, all Yankee fans hope the #27 will fade into the horizon of the great Yankees history and tradition, with a new number, #28, raising up to take its place center stage in the Yankees Universe, “shining” for all to see, and glowing proudly …
“New York Yankees, 2010 World Champions” !!!
Enjoy the “Playoffs”, everybody …
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
* 600 … Does It Really Matter Anymore?
After the Yankees big 5-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday afternoon at the Stadium, the only numbers that I am concerned about are: 67-40 and 67-40, which are the records of the Yanks and Tampa Bay Rays, tied for first place atop the AL East.
Alex Rodriguez’s homerun in the first inning was only a side note as far as I’m concerned, except for the fact that it helped the Yankees win a very important game, avoiding the Yanks being swept by the Blue Jays. Also, the win kept the Bronx Bombers on pace with the Rays, who lost to the Twins 2-1 last night in 13 innings.
When these milestone Home Run records are reached in this era of baseabll, such as A-Rod’s 600th yesterday, my thoughts always turn to Babe Ruth, reflecting on true greatness. But, it seems most fans have forgotten about The Babe of late.
In my view, maybe it’s time for Major League Baseball to do a better job of promoting Babe Ruth, and refocusing attention on the greatest player and homerun hitter in the history of our National Pastime.
My suggestion would be to encourage MLB to release a statement sometime before the end of this season, proclaiming the greatness of Babe Ruth [I know, as if this really is necessary]. But, the statement would acknowledge this very real fact. And maybe it is something that is needed to done at this time – something that is long overdue.
Included in the statement should be a missive informing all in the Baseball World that starting at the beginning of the 2011 season, the great Babe Ruth’s #3 will be permanently retired throughout all of Baseball … the same honor that Baseball has bestowed on Jackie Robinson by retiring his #42 throughout all of Major League Baseball.
Numbers are very sacred in the history of baseball. And with the many records being broken in recent years, many tainted because of alleged or admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs, these records should probably have an asterisk attached to them [in some form or another] for the overall good of the “Game”.
Retiring Babe Ruth’s #3, and issuing asterisk’s on tainted homerun records and other questionable baseball records, will be a great start to fully putting the Steroid Era behind us, while also honoring Baseball’s “Greatest Player”.
So, congratulations to Alex Rodriguez, ’cause he helped the Yankees win a big ballgame yesterday.
In the Yankees Universe, though, as the season continues, the only number that Yankee fans will care about, and be focused on, will be #28, as in the New York Yankees winning their 28th World Championship.
To view Babe Ruth’s lifetime stats, click on: Babe Ruth
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
George M. Steinbrenner III … “Passing of a Legend”
Sadness has fallen over the Bronx and throughout the whole baseball world as New York Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner III, the greatest owner in the history of “all” sports, has passed away at age 80.
Now, within two days of the passing of legendary Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard (1910-2010), who passed away on July 11th at age 99, the New York Yankees Universe and Family has lost two of the most iconic figures of the past century, not just in baseball, but in all sports and parts of our society.
“An era of greatness has ended” !!!
It is a sad time for all Yankee fans. But, also, a fitting send-off for these two iconic giants, leaving this great earth on their journey into eternal life in Heaven during Baseball’s All-Star break, and just a week before the Yankees organization celebrates their annual Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium this upcoming Saturday, July 17th.
The Boss leaves us all as a winner [which he was his whole life], as his New York Yankees are defending their 27th World Championship this season, getting off to a great start heading into the All-Star break in first place in the AL East.
There are many wonderful memories and great things that can be said about Mr. Steinbrenner. And, I am sure we will all enjoy reading and viewing these stories and reports today, and in the days and weeks ahead.
For me, my memories began when I first started following the New York Yankees in 1967, as a young boy, during the Horace Clarke days and CBS ownership era. Mickey Mantle was at the end of his Hall of Fame career; Phil Rizzuto was in the broadcast booth always talking about the great Yankees history and tradition; and, the next “Mickey Mantle”, Bobby Murcer, my favorite Yankee player of all-time, was just beginning his great Yankee career.
The Yankees had many losing years and teams during my early days as a life-long, die-hard Yankees fan in the late 1960’s. But, it was the great New York Yankees “history” and “tradition” of “winning” with Hall of Famers: Ruth, Gehrig, Dickey, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Ford, and many other great players throughout the years, that created the foundation of support by many fans [including myself] of the Yankees during those days.
Then in 1973, a little known ship builder from Cleveland, Ohio, George Steinbrenner, purchased the New York Yankees franchise, and brought the awesome Yankees tradition back to life, which had been dormant for many years since their last World Series appearance in 1964.
And the rest is history …
“Thirty Eight” years as owner [and, still owed by the Steinbrenner family].
“Thirty Two” Winning Seasons.
“Nineteen” Playoff appearances, including …
“Sixteen” AL Division Titles and “Three” Wild Card berths.
“Eleven” American League Championships.
“Seven” World Championships.
Which all enhanced the great history of the New York Yankees …
Increasing their World Championships to 27 !!! [and, counting].
Also, Mr. Steinbrenner was a very generous and charitable person, helping and supporting many different people and causes throughout the years.
From “The House That Ruth Built” to “The House That George Built”, Yankee Stadium is “The Home of Champions” and “Home of Championships” !!!
George M. Steinbrenner III is truly one of the greatest of any Yankee in their history !!!
I look forward to the tributes that will be given in honor of Mr. Steinbrenner and Mr. Sheppard at this year’s All-Star Game and Yankees Old-Timer’s Day celebrations.
But, the greatest honor I look forward to seeing George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard receive, is when both are enshrined into Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”. This is an honor that is long overdue for both these great icons. And, the Hall of Fame will not be complete until both George M. Steinbrenner III and Bob Sheppard grace the sacred walls of the “Hall” in Cooperstown, New York.
Thank you, Mr. Steinbrenner !!!
Thank you, Mr. Sheppard !!!
May God always bless you, and reserve a very special place in Heaven in which you will both enjoy eternal life, peace, and happiness !!!
Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …”
Damon, Boras, Cashman, All Strikeout …
… to end the game. The game of high stakes baseball negotiations.
With the signing of Randy Winn by the Yankees for a reported one year / $2 million contract, Johnny Damon’s stay in the Bronx has come to an end. And, in a lot of ways, Johnny has to take much of the blame for his sad New York departure. It seems he was the only one who believed his agent, Scott Boras’ sale pitch that the market for Damon would yield at least $13 million per year, for at least two years, and maybe even for as many as four years.
Of course, Scott Boras was surely sailing the boat in the talks to re-sign the Yankees left fielder. Tacking back and forth — first, Boras asked for two years at $13 million per year, while telling the Yankees that Damon would not accept any offer less than $13 million per year; Brian Cashman countered with an offer of $14 million for two years; then, Boras started to read the market a little more accurately by dropping Damon’s asking price to $20 million for two years, which led to a windless halting of Johnny Damon’s ship.
Cashman continued his active winter, which included: trading for Curtis Granderson; letting Hideki Matsui walk away from the Yanks; signing Nick Johnson; and, trading for Javier Vazquez. These moves resulted in a so-called “halt” of the money stream from the New York Yankees supposedly “ironclad” budget, except for a remaining $2 million that was earmarked for the 2010 Yankee left fielder, whoever that player may be. Of course, that player turned out to be Randy Winn.
Only Johnny Damon knows what his motivation was during these negotiations. Money, to be sure. But, it seems Johnny just got caught up in the middle of the crossfire of hardball talks between Cashman and Boras. If Damon really wanted to stay a Yankee, though, [which I do think he did], he should have taken full control of the negotiations, and taked directly to George, Hank, and Hal Steinbrenner. The “money” is certainly “always” available in the Yankees Universe.
It is fair to say, the real budget is “cloaked”; and, in my view, money is not the main reason that Johnny Damon was not re-signed by the Yanks. But, I guess, that reason will also remain cloaked.
The new Yankee Stadium was perfect for Johnny Damon’s swing; Johnny was always a clutch player for the Yanks; and, a fan favorite who was always available after games to be interviewed, win or lose. It will be interesting to see who will be hurt more by this decision [move] – the New York Yankees or Johnny Damon. In any case, Damon, as well as Matsui, will be missed.
But, the Yankees will be fine this year and into the future. Granderson, Johnson, Vazquez, and Winn are all great additions, and will be a major part of the 2010 Bronx Bombers as they defend their World Championship of last year.
I look forward to the Yankees playing hardball “on the field” this upcoming season, as this winter, once again, has provided way too much hardball “off the field” for my liking.
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
A Tale Of Two Starting Pitchers …
After beating the Blue Jays 10-5 in the first game of this four-game series in Toronto, the New York Yankees were stopped right in their tracks by the good doctor, Roy “Doc” Halladay, on a masterfully pitched, one-hit, complete game, 6-0 shutout.
Roy “Doc” Halladay
This game could really be called “A Tale Of Two Starting Pitchers”, as Halladay delivered a performance that once again showcased why he is one of the best pitchers in baseball, while the Yankees braintrust are still dabbling with the “Joba Rules”, trying to find the right formula that will limit Joba Chamberlain’s innings pitched [this year] in the range of 150-160 innings, and, also, win ball games during this experiment.
In this era of baseball when the “complete game” is a very rare feat indeed, Roy “Doc” Halladay (14-8, 2.98 ERA), pitched his sixth CG this year by tossing 111 pitches, over nine brilliant innings, allowing no runs, on only one hit, a double to Ramiro Pena in the sixth innng, three walks and nine strikeouts.
In his 12-year Major League career, all with the Blue Jays, Doc Halladay has started 282 games; has a record of (145-74, 3.46 ERA); 46 complete games, including 13 shutouts, with two shutouts in 2009.
Halladay had a perfect game going with two outs in the fifth inning when he walked Jorge Posada, ending his bid for perfecton. But, Doc struck out Robinson Cano to end the inning with a no-hitter still on the scoreboard.
Then, in the sixth inning with a 4-0 lead, Halladay had his most trouble of the night, loading the bases on Pena’s one-out double, which broke up the no-hitter; and, back-to-back, two-out walks to Eric Hinske and Mark Teixeira that brought Alex Rodriguez up to the plate.
But, A-Rod could not deliver a big clutch hit, striking out on four pitches, with the third strike being a pitch right over the middle of the plate that fooled Rodriguez as he was called-out [looking] to end the Yankees only threat of scoring in this game.
At this point, Joba Chamberlain (8-5, 4.41 ERA), was already out of the game, lasting a pre-determined three innings, in which he threw 59 pitches, allowing three runs (two earned), six hits, and two walks, while striking out only two batters.
Joba Chamberlain
Well, maybe it did not mean much, as Joe Girardi said after the game, “Roy Halladay was great; if we gave up one run, we wouldn’t have won tonight.”
But, the Yankees did use four relievers out of the bullpen after Joba’s early departure; and, in his next three scheduled starts, Chamberlain is projected [?] to pitch only four, five, and six innings in successive order of those games.
This all adds extra pressure to the Yankees bullpen, as well as, not giving Joba enough innings of work to go the distance [at least seven or eight innings] in his future starts this season, and in the post-season.
I guess the only reason the Yankees (86-49), can continue this experiment is because they are in first place, up by seven and a half games over the second place Boston Red Sox (78-56) in the AL East.
It would have made a lot more sense, though, to limit Joba’s innings in April and May so these ridiculous set of “rules” were not in effect at this late stage of the 2009 season, in the middle of a pennant race.
I look forward to the 2010 season, for Joba’s sake, and all in the Yankees Universe, when the “Joba Rules” will be no more.
— photo credits:
* google images
* http:// www. rightfieldbleachers. com/
* http:// blogs. mycentraljersey. com / yankees
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks Sweep ChiSox; Joba Rules Only Three Innings
The New York Yankees completed a three-game weekend sweep over the Chicago White Sox with an 8-3 win on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium in the Beautiful Bronx.
Joba Chamberlain was the Yankees starting pitcher; but, really, he was only a three-inning set-up man for construction of a very long bridge by the bullpen that thankfully led to victory.
In the “new and improved” [?] version of the Joba Rules, Chamberlain was slated to pitch only three innings — no matter how well he pitched. The top secret “rules” which are known by fewer people than those who know the top secret recipes of Coca Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken have left all of us in the Yankees Universe, and I’m sure other baseball fans as well, to wonder: what exactly will be Joba’s innings limitations and pitch counts for the rest of the 2009 season?
I mean, come on already. Is it too much to let Chamberlain pitch at least five innings in games that he starts?
Joba threw “only” 35 pitches over three innings of work. He gave up two runs on four hits, walked none and struck out one, and, then, was replaced by Alfredo Aceves at the start of the fourth inning with the Yankees leading 3-2. Joba Chamberlain’s effort earned him a “no decision” without any chance of getting the win in this game because he did not pitch five innings [a decision made by the Yankees braintrust].
It is not only the fact that Joba was allowed to pitch only three innings that is annoying. The limited time on the mound by Joba meant the bullpen would be given extra pressure to perform perfectly; and, it was annoying to sit through a parade of five Yankee relievers entering the game starting from the fourth inning with our starting pitcher sitting on the bench.
The Yankees only had a 3-2 lead at this time; and, the odds are: the more relievers that take the mound in a game, not every relief pitcher is going to pitch well. Also, using some of these relievers in this game would prevent them from appearing in the next game or two, when they may be really needed.
Until the Yankees reach the eight inning in a game, where Phil Hughes has performed brilliantly; and, of course, the ninth inning, in which the “Great Mariano” Rivera is having one of his best seasons of his career — a Cy Young Award type season — it is in the best interest of the New York Yankees to have their starting pitchers work [at least] seven innings in every start they take the mound.
As it turned out, though, in this game …
Johnny Damon hit a two-run homer (#24, which tied his career high) that gave the Yankees the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third.
Alfredo Aceves (9-1), pitched very well in three innings of relief to earn the win in this game.
Derek Jeter had two hits in three at-bats, walked once, and scored three runs, raising his batting average to .335.
The Yankees broke this game wide open when they scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a three-run homer (#32) by Mark Teixeira; a RBI double by Melky Cabrera; and, a sac-fly by Jerry Hairston, Jr., that increased their lead to 8-2.
Mark Teixeira was (1-for-3), with four RBI’s, which moved his season RBI total to 101. This is Teixeira’s sixth straight season with 30+ homers, and 100+ RBI’s. Only Mark Teixeira and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals have accomplished this feat over the last six seasons.
Phil Coke ended the five scoreless innings streak by the bullpen when he allowed a ninth inning homer to Dye (#25) that capped the scoring in this 8-3 Yankees victory.
This win increases the first place New York Yankees record to 82-48, still six games ahead of the second place Boston Red Sox (76-54) who just completed a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Well, as we reflect on the “Joba Rules” the one good thing is: next year there will be “no more” Joba rules. Joba Chamberlain will be allowed to be a real starting pitcher without innings limitations, and hopefully, also, without an unreasonable pitch-count limitation, that will advance Joba’s progress into the 200+ innings pitched neighborhood.
Then, the new discussion that everybody will be focusing on, will be:”Innings Usage Rules for Phil Hughes” who the Yankees project as a starting pitcher next season.
What will these rules be called?
“Innings Use Rules For Hughes”, or some other ridiculous version of this year’s Joba Rules.
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks 0-8 vs. Red Sox, Trying To Make Sense Of It All
Yankees 0-8 vs. the Red Sox [so far] this season
June 12, 2009
Game 1 — Red Sox 5, Yankees 4
Game 2 — Red Sox 16, Yankees 11
Game 3 — Red Sox 4, Yankees 1
Game 4 — Red Sox 6, Yankees 4
Game 5 — Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
Game 6 — Red Sox 7, Yankees 0
Game 7 — Red Sox 6, Yankees 5
Game 8 — Red Sox 4, Yankees 3
How do the New York Yankees unravel this puzzle ?
Photo Credits:
Google Images
The Jam Factory – Oxford, England
Artist: Lisa “Miss Doubleyou” Whitehead
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 