Baseball’s Savior

A Biased Look at the New York Yankees, the Greatest Franchise in the History of Sports

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July 31, 2006

Yankees Deal Shawn Chacon for Craig Wilson

by @ 5:35 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

Like the Abreu and Lidle trade, I like this deal.  It gets Jason Giambi off of first base and it gives the Yankees another bona fide hitter in the lineup.  Chacon became expendable because he has pitched like garbage and we traded for Lidle.

This will also give us some insurance in the event all doesn’t go well with Gary Sheffield’s and Hideki Matsui’s recovery.  Once again, we should all thank the Boss for putting the Yankees in yet another position to win a World Series.

July 30, 2006

Yankees Take Two of Three Against Devil Rays, Trail Red Sox by One Game

by @ 12:05 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

With the Bobby Abreu deal still in limbo, the Yankees did their job and took two of three against the hapless Devil Rays.  The Red Sox play tonight but at this moment in time, we trail the Red Sox by a single game.

Chien Ming Wang was unhittable on Friday.  He threw a two hit shutout and he won his twelth game of the season.  Bernie Williams homered in the game for the eighth time this season and Derek Jeter had three hits and two RBIs. 

Yesterday’s game didn’t go quite as well and I think for now, it’s best not to talk about it.  Let’s just say, Randy Johnson nor the bullpen threw very well.  Thankfully, the Yankees got back on track today.  Mike Mussina picked up win number thirteen and he gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.  Mariano Rivera picked up save number 26 and even Kyle Farnsworth appears to be throwing better.  He struck out the side in the eighth.  Most of the offense was by Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter.  Damon scored three of the Yankees four runs and drove in two while Derek Jeter drove in the other two runs.

Next up is three against the Jays.  It would be nice to bury them since they keep hanging on a few games back of the Yankees.

Yankees Trade for Bobby Abreau and Cory Lidle

by @ 10:39 am. Filed under 2006 Season

The rich always get richer.  The Yankees solved two of their problems assuming this trade goes through.  The Yankees get All Star outfielder Bobby Abreau and starting pitcher Cory Lidle for the Yankees first round draft pick in 2005 (C.J. Henry), reliever Matt Smith and a player to be named later.  This was a classic salary dump by the Phillies as it looks like the Yankees will pick up the entirety of both player’s contracts.

Obviously this is huge, and tips the scales back in to the Yankees favor in the AL East.

July 27, 2006

Yankees Lead Wild Card After Sweep of Rangers

by @ 2:14 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

It is inevitable.  The Yankees will be in the playoff mix every year forever.  Even in the years where it looks like they have no chance.  It doesn’t matter because it’s the Yankees and Yankees equal playoffs.

Their sweep of the Yankees put them in first place for the Wild Card, al beit by a half game.  Sweating it out are the Red Sox, who are now only a game and a half in front of the Yankees, and two games ahead of the White Sox and Twins for the Wild Card.  Like last year, it should be a very interesting final two months of the season.

Monday’s game was all Yankees.  Randy Johnson did his job and improved to 11-8.  Melky Cabrera went three for four with two runs and Aaron Guiel homered.  Johnson struck out seven in six innings, and the pen threw three shutout innings.

Tuesday’s game was a little closer.  The Rangers took a 2-0 lead but the Yankees answered with three in the fourth and three more in the fifth.  Mike Mussina improved to 12-3 and he gave up three runs on five hits through six innings of work.  Rivera pitched the ninth and picked up his 24th save of the season.  Guiel homered again and drove in three runs.

Yesterday’s game was crazy.  The Yankees took the lead 2-0 and the Rangers tied in the second then took a two run lead in the fourth.  In the eighth, the Yankees leapfrogged the Rangers and took a two run lead with four runs and the Rangers answered with three in the bottom half of the inning.  Then Jason Giambi hit homerun number 29 to give the Yanks an 8-7 which held.  Jaret Wright was acceptable and Shawn Chacon picked up the win with an inning of relief.  Mariano Rivera picked up save number 25 and A-Rod homered for the 22nd time this season.

Just what the doctor ordered, the Yankees play at home against the Devil Rays.  Time to bury those AL Central pretenders and leave them in our dust.

July 25, 2006

No Help Coming From Octavio Dotel

by @ 2:20 am. Filed under 2006 Season

We all knew this was a risky signing, and according to this Baseball Injury Report, it looks like Octavio Dotel’s season is over.  So add a middle reliever to the list of needs for the Yankees heading into the trade deadline.

July 23, 2006

Yankees Continue to Struggle, Drop Three of Four to Blue Jays

by @ 1:24 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

Talk about downers.  The Yankees came out of the box after the All Star break and swept the White Sox.  Since then, they’ve been dog shit.  They’re now closer to the Jays who are behind them then they are to the Red Sox and the only good news is the White Sox have been struggling, so we’re still barely in second place in the Wild Card race, 2 1/2 games back.

The Yankees scored a run in the eighth to tie it on Thursday, and they sent the game into extra frames, but Mariano Rivera gave up a run in the eleventh and took the loss.  Mike Mussina was mediocre but he lasted seven innings.  Jorge Posada had three hits and that eight inning RBI.

Alex Rodriguez was the Yankees offense on Friday.  His three run homerun was all the Yankees put on the board in the 7-3 loss.  Jaret Wright was gone before the end of the third inning and Shawn Chacon wasn’t much better in relief. 

The Yankees finally won yesterday, but the big news was A-Rod’s four strikeouts.  Bernie Williams homered and drove in two runs in the 5-4 win and Derek Jeter had two hits and an RBI.  Chien Ming Wang gave up four runs on ten hits and one walk through six innings but he picked up his eleventh win.  Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera all pitched a shutout inning to close out the game.

This afternoon’s game was ugly.  Sidney Ponson and the Yankees pen were shelled to the tune of 13 runs on 15 hits.  Jorge Posada hit a three run shot and while the Yankees managed 13 hits, they stranded eight guys.  The Jays hit five homeruns in the 13-5 loss.

Next up is a three game series in Texas, who are currently in second place in the AL West.  It’s time to put together a nice little winning streak because August is right around the corner.  Time to win.

July 20, 2006

Yankees Win Series Against the Mariners

by @ 2:58 am. Filed under 2006 Season

Two out of three isn’t bad, it’s just unfortunate that the game we lost was when we had our ace pitching.  And just when we start making up some ground, the Red Sox go on a winning streak.  So heading into the series with Toronto, we trail the Red Sox by a game and a half and the White Sox by two and a half.

On Monday, the Yankees scored only four, but Chien-Ming Wang had a nice outing so we picked up the win.  He gave up two runs on seven hits through seven innings of work and in the process, he picked up his tenth win of the season.  Mariano Rivera got into trouble in the ninth but he held on and picked up save number 22.  Jason Giambi hit homerun number 22 and Miguel Cairo drove in two runs.

Tuesday, the Yankees needed extra innings to win.  They were down 5-3 heading into the ninth before the Yankees scored two to tie and send the game into extra frames.  Then in the bottom of the eleventh, Melky Cabrera went yard with a walk off solo homerun to win it.  Sidney Ponson was roughed up in his start but the bullpen was excellent.  Four relivers combined to throw 4 1/3 shutout innings. 

Yesterday’s game was a downer.  Randy Johnson had a good outing but we couldn’t give him the runs.  And it was an unearned run in the eighth that cost Johnson.  He did strikeout eleven through eight innings.  Derek Jeter and Andy Phillips drove in the two runs.

Next up is four games with the Blue Jays, who are still hanging around behind the Yankees.  It’d be nice to bury them right now.  I like today’s pitching matchup of Mike Mussina vs. Roy Halladay.  That should be a good one.

July 16, 2006

Just What the Doctor Ordered

by @ 4:29 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

You gotta love the All Star break.  Whatever it did, it helped.  The defending world champs flew into town for a three game set and left with their tails between their legs.  To make it even more sweet, the Oakland A’s took three of four against the Red Sox.  At the end of the week, the Yankees are now a half game back of the Red Sox and they’re three games back of the White Sox for the Wild Card (only two back in the loss column).

On Friday, the Yankees beat the unbeatable.  Jose Contreras’ 17 game winning streak came to an end and if not for a two run ninth by the White Sox, this one would have looked even worse.   Six different Yankees drove in the six runs and six different Yankees scored.  Randy Johnson threw seven decent innings, but it was Kyle Farnsworth who picked up the win.  Mariano Rivera saved his 20th game but made things interesting by giving up two runs in the ninth.

Yesterday, we laid the wood down on the White Sox.  Mark Buehrle lasted only three innings and some Yankees put up some big time lines in the box score.  Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams each drove in three runs and Johnny Damon scored three times.  Mike Mussina picked up his eleventh win of the season and he gave up three runs on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

This afternoon, the Yankees jumped out to a 6-2 lead but the White Sox slowly picked away at it and eventually made it 6-4.  The Sox also out hit the Yankees 14-9 but we got the runs when we needed them.  Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both homered and Jaret Wright picked up his sixth win of the season.  Mariano Rivera got into trouble in the ninth, but he buckled down and saved his 400th career game.

Next up is a three game series against the Mariners who have had a tough stretch of late.  Hopefully the Yanks will be able to keep that bad stretch going.

July 10, 2006

Yankees Drop Series Finale to Devil Rays, On Outside Looking in Heading Into Break

by @ 4:25 pm. Filed under Uncategorized

As we used to say as kids, close only counts in horseshoes and hand gernades.  The Yankees almost swept the Devil Rays this weekend but came up just short yesterday.  Last year, it means we get in as a Wild Card instead of the division winner.  This year, things are different and every game counts.

On Friday, Jaret Wright was phenomonal.  Six shutout innings with ten strikeouts and Proctor, Farnsworth and Rivera finished things out with three perfect innings to complete the shutout.  Way back in the fourth inning, Bernie Williams singled home Jason Giambi, and that was the only run of the game.  Seven hits total between the two teams, but a win is a win.

Saturday was more great pitching.  Chien Ming Wang outdueled Scott Kazmir and gave up only one run on six hits through 8 1/3 innings.  Johnny Damon tripled home two runs in the seventh and Melky Cabrera finished the game with three hits, one run and an RBI.  Another nice game.

Then Sunday happened.  Sigh.  The Yankees jumped out to a 5-0 lead in a third inning that was capped off by Jason Giambi’s grand slam.  Then the Devil Rays picked and picked and tied the game up in the seventh.  Then in the seventh, Scott Proctor gave up the go ahead run, and just like that the Yankees let one slip through their fingers. 

Tomorrow is the All Star game, which is mostly Yankees as it should be.  Next up after the break will be a huge three game series against the Chicago White Sox.  While the Red Sox are closer, it would be nice to make up some ground on the Wild Card six of things and right now we’re six games back of the White Sox.  Should be some good baseball.

July 7, 2006

Yanks Pick Up Game on Red Sox With Two Wins Against Indians

by @ 4:36 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

At least the Yankees finished on a winning note.  The Indians took the first two in the series and then the Yanks took the final two. 

On Monday, Jason Giambi hit a two run shot in the first inning, and then the bats went completely cold.  In the meantime, Chien-Ming Wang got touched up for five runs and he dropped to 8-4.  Johnny.

Tuesday was downright embarassing, and it was on the boss’ birthday no less.  Shawn Chacon got things started by giving up seven runs in the first two innings and it actually went further downhill from there.  By the end of the game, the Indians had 19 runs on 21 hits.  The Yankees scored their only run when Johnny Damon scored on Jason Giambi’s double play.

Mike Mussina righted the ship.  Three runs on five hits and he picked up his 10th win of the season.  The bats gave Moose a ton of support.  Melky Cabrera homered and finished the game with five RBIs.  Andy Phillips and Miguel Cairo both scored twice and Jorge Posada had two RBIs.

Yesterday was more of the same.  Randy Johnson had a decent start and the Yanks put ten runs up on the board.  Giambi hit homerun number 26 and both he and Derek Jeter drove in three runs.  Some guy named Guiel scored three times and Cairo had three hits, two runs and an RBI.

Next up is a three game set with the Devil Rays.  Even better, the Red Sox have the White Sox.  Sweeps on the right end would put us into a tie for first heading into the break, which would be very, very nice.

Sports and Entertainment Junkie

by @ 12:24 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

Speaking as somebody who travels to see a lot of baseball, I would like to say a few words about particular games and venues that have me excited this season. As a regular buyer of Yankee Stadium tickets I have been surprised by the exciting action seen at Texas Rangers games and Rogers Stadium games this year. Although I�m sure a lot more people went out to fetch Red Sox tickets after last year�s success, there have been other exciting games in the National League such as the Mets at Phillies games of May last. Speaking of which, what about those Mets! Sorry Yankees fans. But wow! The Mets have been hot and Mets tickets have been proof this season.

Although New York offers so many opportunities to see live sport, I would be tremendously excited to have either Athletics versus Angels tickets or Diamondbacks at Padres tickets given the tensions between these teams as we enter the final stages of the season. After a 0-3 series for Chicago against the Twins it would also be interesting to hold White Sox versus Tigers tickets for their upcoming series. I am planning a trip to the capital city and am already very excited to own Nationals at RFK Stadium tickets. The fact that Baltimore keep escaping so many tight games, 35 one-run games this season so far in fact, means that I also have one eye on obtaining Orioles tickets before the end of the season.

I have also been traveling to many different sports events around New York. I plan to purchase either Jets tickets or tickets to Giants Stadium for the upcoming season. I believe that the Giants in particular have a very strong choice of players for the QB position, Eli Manning and Rob Johnson especially, and will repeat their performance in the NFC East this year. I�m also keen to see the Knicks improve upon their last-place finish of last season as well as buy New York Rangers tickets. I believe the Rangers are headed for good things this season and will improve upon their 6th place finish immensely.

As well as witnessing baseball and football of superlative quality, I have also been made aware of the great number of fantastic theater and music shows that New York has to offer. Broadway tickets offer opportunities to see musical theater in the most unique venues around. There seems to be a plethora of hot shows at the moment, I have been recommended both Jersey Boys tickets and The Producers tickets recently. I have also heard great things about the Pageant of the Masters shows. The music scene in New York is also as vibrant and exciting as ever, with a never ending market of concert tickets for all tastes. As well as home-grown talent there are a number of more established acts touring this year, I myself am particularly exited by the prospect of The Who tickets and Eric Clapton tickets. There is so much to do in New York there�s never a dull moment.

July 3, 2006

Yankees Take Two of Three Against Cross Town Rivals

by @ 3:29 pm. Filed under 2006 Season

It could be Mets vs. Yankees again in the World Series.  This is one good team and in my opinion, they’re the best team in the National League.  Unfortunately for them, that’ll be good for second place this year because the Yankees are going to end their “drought.”

On Friday, rain cost Mike Mussina an official start but the pen kept up what he started and Mussina and four relievers combined for a one hitter.  Jason Giambi hit a solo homerun and Andy Phillips singled home Bernie Williams for the two runs.

Saturday was the downer.  Randy Johnson was knocked around and he dropped to 9-7.  It’s hard to believe that Johnson is still on pace for 17-18 wins this season.  He gave up eight runs on eight hits and three walks through six innings in the 8-3 beatdown.  Alex Rodriguez went deep for number 17 and he drove in two runs. 

The Mets wish last night’s game was rained out.  The Yankees scored 16 runs by the end of the fifth inning.  A-Rod homered twice and drove in seven runs and six different Yankees scored at least two runs.  Jorge Posada went yard and Nick Green, who’s filling for Robinson Cano, went deep for his first homer of the season.

Next up is the Indians and we’re up 2-0 in first inning tonight.  The Red Sox finally lost but it was only one game so we’re four games back.  And the White Sox aren’t giving us much of a chance for a fall back plan.  Guess it’ll be the Red Sox who get left out of the playoff picture.

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