soxmuscle

The game was over, why waste a reliever?

He actually looked much better than Wang did, perhaps Swisher won't be on the bench all season afterall - not with that shit bullpen.

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

IainDaniel

It is bush league. period.

2000$ seats are bush league.

The Yanks are bush league

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

soxmuscle

It took a while, but we're finally on the same page

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

min0 lee

It's nice to know that even though we are not dominating like we normally do every decade or so that your teams that have won what.....4 World Series combined?....still see us as the Evil Empire.....it's good to be king.

min0 lee

Yankees OF Xavier Nady headed to disabled list, could be done for season

BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, April 15th 2009, 3:49 PM

ST. PETERSBURG - Xavier Nady's time in pinstripes appears to be headed for a sudden end, as the outfielder's first full season with the Yankees is likely over.

Nady underwent an MRI on his right elbow Wednesday morning in Tampa, and while the Yankees didn't release any official diagnosis, both Nady and manager Joe Girardi said the results were not encouraging.

Although nothing is official, Nady told several teammates that he was likely headed for Tommy John reconstructive surgery, the same procedure he underwent in Sept. 2001. That would knock him out for the rest of this season, leaving the start of 2010 in doubt for the free agent-to-be.

Nady will be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad before Thursday's home-opener, at which time a final diagnosis will likely be released.

"I've been down this road before and I was hoping not to do it again," Nady said. "We'll see what he thinks tomorrow. Surgery wasn't fun years ago. I would prefer not to go down that road again, so hopefully tomorrow will be some decent news."

Nady will be placed on the disabled list before Thursday's game, though Girardi said the team hadn't decided who will replace him on the roster. With Melky Cabrera already on the roster as a fourth outfielder, it's likely that the Yankees will call up either an infielder or another relief pitcher.

Nick Swisher steps in as the everyday right fielder in Nady's place.

min0 lee

Let me wash the dirt off this thread by cleaning it with good old Yankee news.


A.J. Burnett worth every penny as he stops another Yankee skid

Tuesday, April 14th 2009, 10:35 PM

ST. PETERSBURG - His reputation as something of an underachiever is fast being replaced by that of the new Yankee stopper. Injuries notwithstanding, maybe all A.J. Burnett needed to live up to his potential was the chance to pitch on a team like this that always seems to be playing big games.hint, hint...Ian

"I think he enjoys the stage," was the way Joe Girardi put it Tuesday night.

This wasn't Broadway, but the lights were pretty bright here at the home of the American League champs after the 15-5 smackdown the Rays gave the Yankees on Monday night, and Burnett responded with eight innings of dominance in a 7-2 victory.

The no-hitter Burnett took into the seventh inning would have been memorable, but even in April this was a night when the Yankees needed a win after the embarrassing series opener when Nick Swisher was their best pitcher. And they had a feeling, as Girardi indicated, that Burnett was the right guy for the job.

It goes back to the way he dominated the Yanks with the Blue Jays the last couple of years. The Yankees were willing to gamble $82.5 million on him because they saw a big-game pitcher with spectacular power stuff beginning to mature into more than just a flamethrower.

Already he's stopped a pair of two-game losing streaks for the Yankees, and indeed he gives off the vibe of someone who can throw 98 mph anytime he needs to. When asked about Girardi's feeling that he likes the big stage, Burnett shrugged.

"I've never been in that position," he said. "But I'm always up for it. I feel like I'm at my best when my back's up against the wall, when we go into somebody else's place, and there's a packed house. That brings out the best in me."

For the second straight night here, where folks suddenly love the Rays, there was indeed a packed house, the fans looking for more blood after the rout on Monday night.

Instead they saw a taut pitcher's duel, Matt Garza nearly matching Burnett with seven strong innings.

From the start, however, Burnett looked like a guy who could throw a no-hitter. He mixed his 94-98 mph fastball with hard and soft breaking balls, racking up eight strikeouts in six innings, to go with 10 of the most routine ground balls and fly balls you've ever seen.

He is the rare pitcher to admit how much he was thinking about the no-hitter, as well, laughing that it crossed his mind as early as the third inning.

"You can't not think about it," he said.

In fact, since throwing a no-hitter for the Marlins eight years ago that Burnett calls "embarrassing" because it included nine walks, he said he has had a goal to throw another "to wipe that first one away."

In the end, Burnett couldn't finish it off, leaving an 0-2 curveball up that Carl Crawford slapped to left to lead off the seventh. Candid again, Burnett admitted to a letdown over losing the no-hitter, which may have led to the Rays' two-run rally in that inning to tie the game.

But he showed guts by coming back out after the Yankees took the lead back, 3-2, to pitch a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

"That showed maturity," said Girardi.

It's a word nobody in baseball associated with Burnett for years. He admitted this spring his arm problems were largely the result of his stubbornness in trying to throw every pitch as hard as he could for years, and baseball people wondered if he'd ever grow out of that phase.

Furthermore, one of the knocks on Burnett over the years has been that he's had a tendency to "drift mentally," as one American League scout put it yesterday, and sometimes lose games as a result.

"It's no secret he went out there sometimes and just sort of winged it some days," the scout said. "He seemed to mature some last year, and I don't know if it was because it was his walk year or being around (Blue Jays ace Roy) Halladay for three years finally began to have a positive effect.

"But the thing about him is that he almost always raised his game when he was pitching against the big teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees. I don't know if he can stay healthy, but if he does, I think he'll be a stopper for them."

So far, so good. He still has to prove he can stay healthy, as he finally did in going 18-10 last season, but maybe this is truly the new Burnett, motivated to finally get to the October stage that he was denied in 2003 with the championship Marlins because of an injury.

"I'm definitely looking forward to New York," he said, "but I've never had that postseason stage. That's what we're all here for."

It looks like he's the right guy to lead the way.

IainDaniel

Burnett did great with the Jays, I would love to have him on our squad. However, his injuries always hampered him.

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

soxmuscle

I don't see the Yankees as the evil empire, I just despise their style and would love to see a team that has the most resources in baseball fail miserably like they did last year.

Hating the Yankees is part of baseball. They are most definitely not Americas team.

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

IainDaniel

HAHAHA a record of 14 runs against in one inning..... hahaha

currently 20-2 through 5. Against the Indians. HAHAHAHA

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

min0 lee

WTF......I'm going to hide....

soxmuscle

MLB.com:

"Indians unload on Yanks wang"

That they did.

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

IainDaniel

What a fuck up this organization is.

Seats that are empty for the first time in years.

Announced another price increase next year 4%

Have a park that infield flys carry to become homeruns, all the the small price of 1.5 billion.

Retards

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

I Are Baboon

No way. Are you serious? $2650 isn't enough?

IainDaniel

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/sp...er=rss&emc=rss

Last line.

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

min0 lee

Is this how you promote the sport?

min0 lee

.

soxmuscle

if were going to tout our correct opinions, I mine as well restate what I've said about this team all along.

That the bullpen isn't very good and the tail end of the offense has been pitiful.

The Yankees bullpen will get better when Bruney gets back, when they possibly punch Joba into the back end of it, etc. but it's been an absolute nightmare thus far.

Garnder, Pena, Berroa, Ransom... they're not Major League ball players. It's as simple as that, they don't belong on a professional roster.

Of course, this is all irrelevant because their offense will be much improved when A-Rod returns and the bullpen has a great chance to improve but I'll definitely take the time to point and laugh at the suck that this team is right now while I can.

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

min0 lee

Ransom looks like a career minor leaguer...way out of his league.

What a disappointment this the pitching has been.

MArtes or whatever really sucks.

min0 lee

Interesting seeing Joba as a starter, he looks more dominate as a reliever for some reason.

Phil Hughes is starting tonight...to stop a 4 game losing streak.

Watch for Giraldis job status come the allstar break.

soxmuscle

Ransom might be the best of those four.

Your infatuation with Gardner and Pena is mind boggling to me.

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

soxmuscle

It's easier to be a dominant reliever than it is to be a dominant starter and it's also (for the most part) less taxing, which is why Papelbon was originally converted into a closer.

I really hope Hughes pitches terribly tonight. He won't, I've accepted his talent, but it would be nice to see him shit the bed and the Yankees make some Min0 lee esque knee jerk reaction and send him back down.

It's too bad Girardi will be the first one to go. Management should be shot for building such a crap bullpen and not getting the depth they need when there are (even now) legitimate options out there.

When will Cashman take the fall for all the terrible decisions that have been made over the last decade? Who's cock is he sucking to stay on with them?

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

min0 lee

You sure do exaggerate. Take a chill pill, if you plan on sports writing your headed to the National Enquirer or the Post.

I still like Gardner for his defense and speed...now is he the future CF of the Yankees no. This may have lit a fire on Melky.

Ransom makes a lot of mental mistakes but he is in the spotlight and replacing a future HOF.

Pena has no bat but his defense is way better than Jeter.

min0 lee

Enough of the Character assassination. I like Hughes still do, stop being a kid....oh I forgot.
This is funny for someone dying for the Caption of his team to leave....


I give Cashman 2 years...

min0 lee

Yankees cut premium ticket prices in response to empty seats in new stadium
Yankees cut premium ticket prices in response to empty seats in new stadium
he Yankees are cutting some premium ticket prices and giving free seats to certain ticket holders in response to empty seats during the first homestand at their fancy new ballpark.
The team on Tuesday slashed the price of 48 first-row Legends Suite season seats on the outer half of the dugouts and photo cages from $2,500 to $1,250, and 68 others in the final three sections down each foul line from $1,000 to $650.
"There are a few hundred suite seats in our premium locations that have not been sold on a full season basis," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. "As a result, and for many of our fans who have already purchased full season suite seats in such premium locations, the Yankees are announcing today a program that adjusts certain prices and benefits."
New York said the reductions will apply to this season only.

min0 lee

If successful, Phil Hughes could put Joba Chamberlain back in Yankees' bullpen
So tonight Phil Hughes gets a chance to begin recapturing his can't-miss status of a couple of years ago, and maybe this is where the Yankee season begins to find its footing. Hughes could solve so many problems if he is ready to mature into a dependable major league starter, directly and indirectly.
Obviously he plugs the Chien-Ming Wang spot in the starting rotation, but beyond that, he gives the Yankees flexibility to make the move they may need to save their season.
Yes, Joba Chamberlain. It's an old debate but with a new twist, since Brian Bruney is out now with an elbow injury, leaving a bullpen - in front of Mariano Rivera - that could be hazardous to Joe Girardi's job status at some point.
I'm not saying the Yankees should move Chamberlain back to his set-up role immediately if Hughes delivers a solid start tonight.
They need to find out more about Bruney's elbow problem, and how long he is likely to be out. They need to see if the highly touted Mark Melancon can be a savior of sorts for the bullpen. And they need to see if Wang can be fixed in Tampa over the next couple of weeks.
But if the Yankees learned anything from their lost weekend in Boston, it's that they need a much better bullpen to match up with the Red Sox in the late innings, where their head-to-head meetings are so often decided.
For now, at least, they seem firmly committed to keeping Chamberlain in the rotation. But part of the equation here is that he shows no signs of being a dominating starter.
Indeed, during the weekend at Fenway Park full of ugly pitching numbers, the most alarming number of all came from Joba's pitching line on Friday night:
Of the 91 pitches he threw, only two produced a swing-and-miss. He used to get two per at-bat, it seemed, as a blow-away reliever.
Chamberlain did show plenty of grit in his start against the Red Sox, inducing four double-play balls that allowed him to escape big trouble and surrender one run over 5-1/3 innings. But where is the dominance?
Soon after his conversion from the bullpen at midseason last year, he blew away the Sox over seven innings, allowing three hits while striking out nine hitters as he outdueled Josh Beckett.
On Friday night, meanwhile, Chamberlain allowed 14 baserunners in 5-1/3 innings, and struck out two. In his three starts this season he has allowed 32 baserunners in 16 innings, while getting 11 strikeouts. Although he has managed to limit the damage to a 3.94 ERA, it's clear this is not the Joba who was automatic out of the bullpen.Since spring training the fastball velocity has been an issue, as he throws mostly around 92-93 mph now as opposed to 96-97 when he was relieving.
And while his celebrations as a reliever may have been a bit over the top, he seemed fueled by the emotion and let-it-go fire he could pour into a one-inning stint, as opposed to pacing himself as a starter.
The combination of lower velocity and a mostly placid demeanor have baseball people wondering what's wrong with Joba.
"There shouldn't be that kind of difference in velocity between starting and relieving," one AL scout said Monday. "When (Josh) Beckett is right, he's topping out at 96-97 from start to finish.
"It makes me think (Chamberlain) is worried about hurting his arm, especially after the shoulder problem he had last year. He's had injury issues before - that's what scared a lot of teams off of him the year he was drafted. I don't know, I just see a different guy out there as a starter. He doesn't have that swagger he had when he was coming out there, knowing he could empty the tank for one inning."
The Yankees have to be thinking this way themselves, so you wonder how long they'll give Chamberlain before deciding to try him in the bullpen again.
Perhaps it all depends on what happens in the next few weeks with Bruney and Melancon, as well as Wang and Hughes.
I still think the Yankees will be OK. Assuming Alex Rodriguez returns in a week or so with no complications to his hip injury, their lineup should be explosive, especially with Robinson Cano off to such a hot start.
Likewise, assuming that Wang isn't a lost cause and A.J. Burnett's meltdown at Fenway on Saturday wasn't an omen, the starting pitching should be among the best in the league over the long haul of the season.
The bullpen is the trouble spot. Even if Bruney returns in a couple of weeks, the Yankees don't have enough depth, unless Melancon's power arm is ready to make a huge impact.
At some point it's hard to see how the Yankees deny the obvious, that they need Chamberlain back there to have any hope of winning a championship. Maybe starting tonight, Hughes can help convince them.
jharper@nydailynews.com

min0 lee

He pitched real good tonight, and it's a good thing because I was going to place a call to George and have him sent to China.


It's funny but I think you hate the Yankees more than you like the Red Sox.

Let me fill you in on something, the Red Sox have been the better team the past few years and have won 2 World Series in the last 10 years, act like you won something before.

Such an inferiority complex, let it go.

min0 lee

I know your not high on Pena but he can catch....he needs to gain some weight though....I like his defense.

min0 lee

Cano is killing the ball and his defense is better.
Melky took over CF.
These 2 players learned their lesson.

Arod will be back sooner than expected.

The Yankees are hot.


Yankee haters inconsolable

IainDaniel

Come on.... lets not forget about the A-Roid

Stories surfacing about him Juicing in High School, and also with the Yanks in 2004. Heck Teammates nicknamed him Bitch Tits.... hahahaha

Then what about him tipping off opposing batters, in exchange for the same back?

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

I Are Baboon

Even I, Yankee Hater #1, think A-Rod gets way too much unfair negative media attention. Don't get me wrong...I still enjoy any Yankee misery.