New York Yankees sweep series 2-0
Game one of this series was supposed to be on 4/20, but due to Mother Nature, the game was postponed. This shortened the series to two games, and gave the Yankees an impromptu day off. This wouldn’t have been as big of a deal if Wang was pitching in an effective manner, but he hasn’t even been close to effective, so it was nice to get a chance to skip his turn in the rotation.
Game one of this series saw the third straight great start from Andy Pettitte this season. This is the first time in Andy’s career that he’s been able to go through seven innings in his first three starts of the season. He’s been around since 1996, but perhaps like Mike Mussina, he’s getting more refined with age. Andy P and Mariano Rivera tied the record for most wins/saves as a duo when Mariano closed out an Andy Pettitte win for the 57th time in their careers as Yankees. An epic milestone, that I hope to see them pass by a wide margin this season.
Game one also featured every starter reaching base (Swisher the only man w/o a hit), and seems to be a turning point in Hideki Matsui’s season. Up until this two game set with Oakland, Godzilla has not seemed himself at the plate, and with fluid being drained from his knee, everything seems to be running a little bit better, tighter. With Matsui bouncing back from the slow start, and Xavier Nady not going to miss too much time, the Yankees offensive depth seems situated once again.
Miss the stache, but Giambi is no Tex.
Game two was about as exciting of a 15th game in a baseball season as you can ask for. C. C. Sabathia struggled through 6.2 innings of work, walking four and only striking out two hitters. He’s not been great with the command this young year, but he still manages to get deep into a game despite that. If he can reverse his BB/K ratio from this game, he’ll be the monster the Yankees need at the top of the rotation.
For anyone who was worried about the bullpen in New York, this game should have calmed your worries a bit. The bullpen went 7.1 innings in this game, all of which were shutout innings. Six pitchers combined to blank the A’s, and give the Yankees the chance to win this game in fourteen innings. The gutsiest performance I’ve ever seen from Jose Veras, who pitched the final 3.1 innings of the game. I couldn’t be more impressed by the bullpen as I am today. Just love to see such perseverance, even early in the season.
Mo Money
The extra innings weren’t exactly necessary, as the Yankees blew bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the eighth. Both Melky Cabrera (who hit the first ever walk-off homerun in Yankee stadium history) and Brett Gardner (who was pinch hitting) decided to jump out of the way of two pitches that could have given the Yankees a lead on a HBP. When you’re a bottom of the order guy, and you want to make an impression on your coaches/teammates/fans, you take those pitches for the team. Instead of busting the game wide open, Melky strikes out, and Brett Gardner hits a routine ball to the defense. If the Yankees lost this game, I’d be very angry at both players. Would they have risked being injured by those pitches? Maybe, but they’re both replaceable, so just do it next time, ladies.
HOT
Dude can even pitch!
Nick Swisher: The guy has been on base for the Yankees in every game this season! If he’s not getting extra base hits, he’s walking to first. I love this guy as a Yankee, and think he adds more than anyone gives him credit for. Keeps the team loose with his personality, and keeps the Yankees moving forward with his plate performances.
Andy Pettitte: Seven innings of work, no walks, no strikeouts, and a big win. He’s modified his pitching style to suit his aging arm/shoulder, and it’s come with big results early this year.
Mariano Rivera: Seven innings of shutout work this year. Still the best pitcher on the Yankees staff.
Derek Jeter: Jeter has been getting clutch hits at a ridiculous rate. His batting average isn’t anything to be amazed by, but his average with RISP is the highest on the team. He put the Yankees ahead twice in game two against Oakland, and seems to be in top form early this season.
Robinson Cano: He has hits in all but one game this year, and is batting an impressive .367. He’s been moved up the order to the five slot, which is where he may remain for a large portion of the season. He’s a notoriously slow starter, who is starting hot, something I’ll take as a good sign of things to come.
NOT
Chien-Ming Wang: Skipped…
Who?
Cody Ransom: The Yankees are lucky they have Mark Teixeira at first, otherwise Ransom may have 5+ errors in the field already. His throws barely make it to first, his bat is laughable, and his confidence doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Ramiro Pena should be starting the majority of days A-rod doesn’t, and starting in Boston, I expect that to be the case.
C.C. Sabathia: One strong start this year, and a bunch of questionable work aside from that. He’s currently at 14 walks and 12 strikeouts. He’s going to have to step that ratio up, especially at Yankee Stadium, if he’s going to become a fan favorite in New York.
Yankees Series W/L/D Record: 3-1-1
Sean Avery rules! New York Rangers are 11-2 in first round playoff games while he’s in the lineup. Fact
