Jesus Montero demoted as Michael Pineda, finally, gets close to return

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
jesus-montero

Jesus Montero made a big splash when he joined the Yankees for 18 games in 2011 and hit .328/.406/.590. That’s why it was so hard to see him traded for a pitcher who almost immediately landed on the DL with a major injury almost immediately.

However, in the year and a half since Michael Pineda went on the DL, Montero has struggled quite a bit in Seattle. Last year he hit a weak .260/.298/.386 while playing mostly DH as a rookie. He’s been even worse this year at .208/.264/.327 in 29 games so far. Montero even got a chance behind the plate this year, but was a colossal disappointment as he allowed 23 stolen bases in 25 starts and just one caught stealing.

This caused the Mariners to demote Montero to Triple-A on Thursday and by most accounts it is not going to be a short trip. His bat, which was supposed to be can’t-miss, needs to be revitalized and, more importantly, they need to find him another position. That’ll most likely be DH, but he’ll get some work at first base too as ..read more

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Hiroki Kuroda knocked out of game in loss to Orioles

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
Hiroki+Kuroda

Hiroki Kuroda was knocked out of the game in the third inning after getting hit with a line drive in the calf and the Yankees offense could not make up for his absence as the Orioles went on to win 6-3 to win the series in Camden Yards Wednesday.

Kuroda had already given up a pair of homers in the first inning that made it 3-0 when he entered the third. He gave up a leadoff double to Adam Jones before Chris Davis lined a shot off his calf. Preston Claiborne came in for relief and promptly gave up a three-run Matt Wieters homer that made it 6-1.

The Yankees got a run in the fifth on Curtis Granderson‘s first homer of the year and another in the ninth off David Adams‘ second homer of the season. Obviously it wasn’t enough though as Jason Hammel kept a comeback out of reach.

After the ..read more

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BBDP May 22nd: All’s well that Enns well

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Greg Corcoran
dietrich-enns-540x359

BBDP MVP: Dietrich Enns: 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 K

Double-A Trenton: L 4-5 at Richmond. L: Ramirez (0-2)

Walt Ibarra: 3/5, R, K (.340) Tyler Austin: 0/5, 2 K (.241) JR Murphy: 1/4, R, K (.286) Kyle Roller: 3/4, 2 R, HR (6), K (.290) Jose Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, K (2.10 ERA) Little implosion here. Jeremy Bleich: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, K (3.96 ERA)

High-A Tampa: L 4-12 at Bradenton. L: Allen (4-2)

Mason Williams: 0/4, R, BB, K (.224) Angelo “Gumbsy” Gumbs: 3/4, R, 2 2B, BB (.234) Now 12 for his last 30 (.400) with five doubles and a triple in the last seven games since returning from injury. Robert Refsnyder: 0/3, 2 BB (.319) Going in the opposite direction as Gumbs, seven for his last 41 (.170). He did turn a double play today though. Gary “Sanchize” Sanchez: 2/5, R, HR (8), 2 RBI, 2 K (.276) 13 for his last 40 (.325) with three homeruns. Ben Gamel: 1/4, RBI, BB, K (.262) Carmen Angelini: 2/5, R, HR (2), RBI (.310) Dan Fiorito: 0/4, K (.301) Scottie Allen: 3.0 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 3 HR (4.96 ERA) Rigoberto Arrebato: 3.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 4 K (2.21 ERA)

Low-A ..read more

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Not So Classic Yankees: Ben Chapman

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Mike Sommer
Chapman-and-Jackie-Robinson

As we watch Mariano Rivera make his farewell tour and receive gifts in each major league city, we are reminded about how Mo has conducted himself with class, and of the respect he commands throughout baseball.

Not every player has or will conduct himself with class. Some have, and will, tarnish their legacy by their misdeeds. As the recent movie 42, about Jackie Robinson, shows, one such person was Ben Chapman.

The movie shows what happened on April 22, 1947, when Chapman, as the Phillies manager, tormented Robinson with a savage array of racial slurs. Robinson, of course, looks more heroic as a result while Chapman comes across as pond scum.

In writing this article, I don’t defend Chapman in any way, but want to point out how he sadly ruined his legacy. For as despicable a person he was, he was a fine ballplayer. He was selected to each of the first four All-Star teams, got MVP consideration twice and led the majors in stolen bases three consecutive years (four times overall) on his way to a ..read more

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Yankees lose to the Orioles in 10 innings

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
Nate+McLouth

The Yankees and the Orioles went into the 10th inning tied until Nate McLouth homered off Vidal Nuno in the bottom of the inning to send the Yankees home with a 3-2 loss at Camden Yards on Tuesday.

The Yankees offense was sparse leading up to that. They scored one run in the first and another in the fourth, both times on a Travis Hafner RBI-single. They got just three hits in 10 innings besides Hafner’s base hits.

Phil Hughes started and was good except for a pair of solo shots by former Yankee Chris Dickerson in the third and then in the fifth. Boone Logan, Shawn Kelley, David Robertson, and Preston Claiborne kept the O’s scoreless until Nuno started the 10th and gave up a homer to the first batter he faced.

• The series is now even at a game a piece with both teams winning in the 10th inning.

• The Yankees ..read more

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BBDP May 21st: Three shutouts as pitching is lights out

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Greg Corcoran
Matt Tracy6

BBDP MVP: Matt Tracy: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K

Triple-A RailRiders: L 1-5 at Columbus. L: Wang (2-4)

Melky Mesa: 2/5, K (.253) Zoilo Almonte: 2/5, SB (4) (.273) Ronnier Mustelier: 3/5, R, SB (4) (.247) 15 for his last 45 (.333) Thomas Neal: 1/3, 2 BB, K (.323) Chien-Ming Wang: 5.2 IP, 7 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K (3.07 ERA) Chase Whitley: 1.1 IP, H, ER, BB (4.91 ERA) Second game back from injury, still shaking off the rust. Cody Eppley: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, K (5.06 ERA) I think he’s played his last game in pinstripes will all of the prospect options the Yankees have right now.

Double-A Trenton: W 3-0 vs Richmond. W: Daley (1-0) S: Kahnle (4)

Ramon Flores: 1/4, R, 2 K CS (3) (.244) Jose Pirela: 1/2, R, 2B, 2 BB, SB (5) (.206) Tyler Austin: 0/4, K (.248) JR Murphy: 0/3, R, BB (.287) Slade Heathcott: 1/4, 2B, 2 RBI (.236) Had an RBI double late in the game to put the game away. Matt Tracy: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (6.43 ERA) Over his last four starts, he has a 2.42 ERA with 24 K in 22 1/3 innings pitched. Matt Daley: ..read more

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An early 17 for Yankees’ Mariano Rivera warrants appreciation

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Larry Fleisher
New York Yankees pitcher Rivera waves to fans after their MLB American League baseball game against Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium

(Syndicated from Gotham Hub Baseball).

We just passed the 17th anniversary of Mariano Rivera’s first save on May 17, 1996 when he filled in for John Wetteland and ended it by getting Garret Anderson on a double play.

Since then he’s racked up 624 more, including 75 against the Orioles, which is an astounding number but also is a testament to how the Yankees have handled Baltimore over his career.

Starting with the 1996 season, the Yankees are 169-95 against the Orioles and 84-45 in Baltimore. Rivera has saved 75 of those wins, converting 75 of 83 chances while facing 540 hitters.

Not bad for a guy whose first appearance against the Orioles was a sixth inning grand slam to Bobby Bonilla on September 15, 1995. Not bad for someone who had a 5.79 ERA in six appearances against the Orioles in 1996 as a setup man.

In his first season as closer, he faced them once. Until last year that was Baltimore’s previous winning season and that also ..read more

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Mark Teixeira plays sim game but he’s not out of the injury woods yet

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
mark-teixeira

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira took a big step toward a return on Monday when he went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk during a simulated game against minor leaguers.

This is indeed a big step, but it’s not one that signals that he’s fine. First of all, this is not even an Extended Spring Training game yet. So it’s not like he’s poised to begin playing in rehab games just yet. First is probably another simulated game or two, or three, and then he’d probably play in a few Extended Spring Training games.

Only after that, which will take at least another week, will Teixeira get to the point where he begins his official 30-day rehab clock with one of the Yankees minor league teams.

Once Teixeira gets to the point where he is playing in actual rehab games, he’s still going to be prone to a setback. Keep in mind that this is a wrist injury which is a big deal for hitters, especially power hitters. Not only a wrist injury, but a torn tendon sheath which is even more notorious for setbacks.

..read more

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Yankees beat the Orioles in 10 innings

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
David+Adams

Travis Hafner hit a home run to tie the game in the top of the ninth and the Yankees added two more in the top of the 10th beat the Orioles 6-4 after 10 innings in Camden Yards Monday night.

Hafner’s was actually the fourth homer of the game. Robinson Cano, David Adams, and Lyle Overbay each hit solo shots as well. Hafner’s shot tied in at 4-4 in the ninth. Ichiro Suzuki leadoff the 10th with a double, Vernon Wells doubled him in and Hafner hit a RBI-single to right that made it 6-4.

CC Sabathia started the game, he did so so considering how it ended, but it was the bullpen that really saved this game. Shawn Kelley came in and kept the damage from burying the Yankees in the seventh. Kelley along with Boone Logan, David Robertson, and Mariano Rivera combined for this line: 3.2 IP, 2 H, ..read more

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Hal Steinbrenner discusses the budget, Cano and more

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Rob Abruzzese
hal-steinbrenner

Hal Steinbrenner has recently been making the rounds and doing interviews with different members of the media. Here’s what he had to say:

• The biggest news: Hal says the Yankees have not and will not abandon the $189 payroll goal. ”The math works to me if the young kids do their job,” he said. “It has to happen. And I’ve been saying that for over a year now — that’s the goal we’re going to push for. But again, I’ll reiterate what I always reiterate, which is we’re always going to field a championship-caliber team.”

• Hal also confirmed that the Yankees have had several conversations with Robinson Cano and his new agent Brodie Van Wagenen. ”A lot of it’s procedural. I keep saying, it’s not a process we’ll be reading about in the paper every day. If anything significant happens, everybody’s going to know, but we’re going to continue in the weeks to come to work though things and try to come to an agreement,” he said.

• Hal did say that giving out a seven, eight, or even a 10 year ..read more

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