he already had more than a solid outing his last start... 6 innings 1 ER is a great start for any pitcher... i think Joba's gonna be fine... i was hesitant to pre-judge him as a starter cuz we'd only seen him dominate in 1-2 innning spurts, but after seeing his velocity stay in the high 90's even in the later innings his last time out i have a lot more confidence he'll be able to sustain his stuff deep into games.
yanks have to just keep this up for the next month while the schedule is somewhat easy. wang being out will hurt, but hopefully they can postpone the hurt for another month or two. looks like the swagger is somewhat back.
7th straight... Joba looks dominant in only his 2nd real start while striking out 9 in only 5.2 innings w/1 ER... ARod gets the game winning clutch hit.
gotta beat who's on the schedule & right now the Yankees are doing a great job of that... here we come guys... told ya not to sleep on this team.
here are the 9 K's if you missed the highlights:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/media/vid...[Edited by - TMS on 06-19-2008 6:53 PM]
Joba's having some problems with his control, but pretty soon he's gonna get his walks and pitch count down. He's given us a nice boost two times out in a row now, helping us win low scoring ballgames.
what i really liked was when he got tough & got out of a bases loaded no outs situation in the 2nd inning w/o giving up a run... that's bigtime clutch right there.
BTW, I can't believe we signed that fat toad Ponson again
he was doing a pretty good job for TEX before they let him go... i guess it's a low risk proposition... just DFA LaTroy Hawkins to clear a roster spot, he's not doing a thing for us anyways.
btw, good to finally see this team starting to steal bases & being aggressive on the basepaths.
ARod is on fire (June totals in only 17 games):
.443 BA / 7 HR / 19 RBI / 1.389 OPS
that's just sick
EDIT: forgot to add in today's game winning RBI... make that 20 RBI in 18 games
[Edited by - TMS on 06-19-2008 10:16 PM]
another young prospect to keep your eyes on:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222008/spo...A weekend before the Subway Series, there is an interesting matchup today between the New York Double-A teams because Binghamton will start lefty Jon Niese, probably the Mets' No. 1 starting prospect, at Trenton vs. Alfredo Aceves, who has become one of the minors' most intriguing prospects. One scout literally said, "He is like 'The Natural,' he has come from nowhere."
Between Single- and Double-A, Aceves has a 6-3 record this year with a .194 batting average against and a 1.88 ERA. If he pitches well today, the Yanks New York Yankees might promote him to Triple-A and position him to be the next call-up if they suffer another rotation setback. Not bad for a guy the Yanks spotted and signed out of the Mexican League last winter.
One scout likened Aceves to former Orioles standout Mike Boddicker, saying, "His stuff is fringy average, but he has a real feel, he adds and subtracts on his fastball anywhere from 84-91 mph. He has a good changeup (a pitch he developed this year with the Yanks). He is accurate to both sides of the plate. He has a little better than average curve. He will throw that to both sides, including backdooring it to lefties. I would feel very comfortable calling him to the majors because of his feel and command."
The Yanks actually purchased five players off the Monterrey (Mexico) roster when they obtained Aceves. That includes a name to put into long-term memory, Manuel Banuelos, a 17-year-old lefty who made his debut Friday in the Rookie Gulf Coast League with 32/3 shutout innings and a victory. Even before that, Banuelos had impressed Yankees officials.
looks like we got ourselves a possible ace in the making... too early to judge yet but Joba's stuff was still nasty even at 110 pitches... great sign guys!
nice win today! Cashman made the right call in bringing Andy back this year... he's been pitching lights out of late... 9W - 5L
Mariano is still perfect on the season in save opportunities... back to 7 games over .500.
(btw, Johan's 7W - 7L... just sayin)
Brett Gardner called up!
http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2008/06...Holly Hill's Brett Gardner called up to New York Yankees
By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports EditorSunday, June 29, 2008
Don’t believe dreams can come true?
Just talk to Brett Gardner. Because, Sunday afternoon, Gardner’s big-league dream came true when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Dave Miley called him into his office and informed him that he had been called up to the team’s parent club, the New York Yankees.
“It really hasn’t set in yet,” Gardner said as his team traveled back from it’s game against Buffalo. “Absolutely, it’s a dream come true. Growing up as a little kid, you get older, and you realize how far away it is. It really hasn’t set in yet, but I think (Monday) when I get there it will definitely happen.”
Gardner is scheduled to drive from Scranton to New York Monday and be in uniform for the Yankees 7:05 p.m. series opener against the Texas Rangers. The former Holly Hill Academy, St. George Post 105 and College of Charleston standout has been on the radar for a promotion to the big leagues for some time. In 80 games with Triple-A Scranton this season, Gardner was batting .287 with three home runs, 29 RBIs, 34 stolen bases and had a .412 on-base percentage. His play and injuries to New York outfielders Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui opened a door in the Bronx Bombers’ outfield.
“Before the season started I told myself, ‘If it happens it happens,’” Gardner said. “I just worry about what I can control and try to prove to them that I am ready. And, with this happening in the last year of Yankee Stadium…it’s very special to get to play there.”
Gardner said he called his parents, Jerry and Faye Gardner, in Holly Hill shortly after learning of his call-up.
“They are really excited,” he said laughing. “I think they are more excited than I am.”
“It was emotional for me,” Jerry Gardner said. “Just from the standpoint that…I know what kind of work he has put himself through, and to see him get rewarded with the ultimate promotion…is special.”
With the door opened and his dream fulfilled, Gardner said he is ready to focus on doing what it takes to make his mark in the major leagues.
“I’ve always been told, ‘The hard part is not to get to the big leagues, it’s to stay in the big leagues,’” he said. “I don’t know what my role will be. It could be to come in as a defensive replacement once a week or come in and run bases. I have no idea what to expect, but I am sure I will find out in the next few days.
“I will be working hard,” he added. “And, I am going to try my best to help the team win some ball games.”
i'm really stoked about this... so refreshing to have some speed on the bench for a change... something we haven't really had since Homer Bush was here... GO GET EM BRETT!
[Edited by - TMS on 06-29-2008 10:43 PM]
& now the bad news... Matsui's knee may require season ending surgery.
updates on other players:
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ss...Dave Robertson became the third pitcher from the Yankees' 2006 draft to make the majors.
Robertson, 23, was a combined 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees drafted Robertson in 2006 in the 17th round -- 16 rounds after Ian Kennedy and Chamberlain. Robertson threw a slider in college, but the Yankees had him scrap it recently and taught him a curve, which has become his best pitch. His fastball is 88-92 mph with movement.
Alfredo Aceves, who could reach the majors before the season is out, was placed on the Scranton disabled list before he could pitch there. Aceves, a right-hander signed out of the Mexican League, was a combined 6-3 with a 1.95 ERA at Class A Tampa and Trenton before earning a promotion to Scranton.
Although the Yankees took a chance on Ponson after his troubles with the Rangers, they are not interested in Shawn Chacon, recently waived by the Houston Astros after a physical confrontation with GM Ed Wade.
Reliever Ross Ohlendorf, sent down between games of Friday's doubleheader, will start at Scranton. The team still sees him as a reliever, but starting will allow him to work on his split-finger and slider pitches and have side sessions.
Phil Hughes, recovering from a broken rib, is about three weeks from pitching in a game. That means he is about seven weeks -- or until mid-August -- from being ready to return but Cashman wouldn't promise that Hughes will return to the majors when healthy.
Kennedy, recovering from a strained lat muscle, last night pitched five scoreless innings for Class A Tampa (74 pitches, 37 strikes). He allowed two hits and a walk and stuck out four.
gardner hopefully can stick around as a 4thOF/pinch-runner type, i've been following his stats on the baseballamerica emails and he looks like he could be a pretty good player.
i hope this guy robertson is the real deal, sweating bullets w/ farnsworth is not good for my health. robertson apparently never let up a HR in the minors and had a staggering K/IP ratio throughout his career in the minors. getting a more effective/reliable bridge to riviera would be nice.
hopefully they can take 2/3 from the rangers and have some momentum going into the red sox series. i cannot wait for joba to face the red sox on sunday night baseball in a week.
surprisingly enough Farns has been pitching very well for us of late in the 8th inning setup role, but i agree in a big game he will still make me sheet cinder blocks... Jose Veras has been doing a solid job as well, but it's always good to give our other kids a shot to see if they can do the job.
on Gardner, that .412 OBP in AAA is very impressive... we already know he can steal bases w/the best of them... i think he can grow into a nice leadoff batter for us someday, especially when Damon's contract runs out after next season.
the 1 game i'm really nervous about is Rasner vs. Beckett in the upcoming Boston series... every other game i like our chances.
Pettitte vs. Lester
Rasner vs. Beckett
Mussina vs. Masterson
Joba vs. Wakefield
i'm hoping we can take 3 of 4 this series.
Posted by VDesai:
BTW, I can't believe we signed that fat toad Ponson again
surprisingly Fatboy gave us a nice outing... walked a bit of a tightrope for a couple innings but he settled down nicely... hope he can replicate whatever he did in his next outing.
Gardner is leading off and starting in LF tonight. Melky is still in center. They optioned Christian to Scranton to make room for Gardner.
It'll be interesting to see Gardner trying to steal a base if he gets on. I want to see how fast he really is. I'll be at the game tonight.
think Brett Butler... he's not exactly Jose Reyes but he's quick & has good instincts on the basepaths... gets on base at a good clip, works counts at the plate & has a good batting eye... not much pop in his bat but as long as he gets on base that's all i care about... we got enough guys that can drive him in.
Just got back from the game. The kid is really really freaking fast.
First AB he hit a simple groundball and turned it into a really close play by busting his ass down the line.
Second AB he turned a routine double play ball into a force out as he easily beat the throw to first. He was one 1st with 2 outs and Jeter up. We all knew he was going and so did the Rangers. Gardner watched Jeter take a pitch before they threw over to first. Next pitch he was gone, the Rangers pitched out but he was flying and the catcher threw the ball into centerfield trying to rush the throw. The catcher had no chance even on a pitchout.
It was pretty much the most excitement of the night. Actually watching Giambi collapse at third base for a triple was right up there. The crowd was buzzing when he was on first waiting for him to go. It reminded me of when Rickey Henderson was a Yankee. Everybody in the Stadium knew he was going to go, including the other team but they had no chance of stopping him.
This kid can be a great weapon off the bench as a pinch runner. If he can hit .275 with a decent OBP he'll have a nice little career. Brett Butler is a good comparison but I think this kid is faster.
