Results tagged ‘ Matsui ’
Yankees Bench to Give Opponents Splinters All Season Long
Recent Yankee lineups have been packed with big names as tightly as a sardine can.
Whether intimidating or intimidated, it appeared that the name on the front of their baseball card was the driving force of the Bronx’s game plan.
During late-game situations, Joe Torre and Joe Girardi were unable to remove struggling stars from the lineup in favor of Miguel Cairo and Wilson Betemit.
The restrictions that the lineup provided caused the Yankees to lose many, if not most, of the chess matches between managers at the end of games.
Teams of the dynasty years were balanced offensively, and possessed consistency on the pitching staff that simply cannot be overvalued.
The lineup’s flexibility, however, was an integral part of the Yankees October successes.
Yankee benches of the past featured former superstars such as Darryl Strawberry and Cecil Fielder. It also included clutch role players like Luis Sojo, Chad Curtis, and Shane Spencer.
In 1996, even Hall of Fame 3B Wade Boggs came off the bench during a miraculous playoff run. The season of course ended with Boggs riding (a horse) off into the sunset with his first World Series ring.
The ability to mix and match a lineup to counteract an opposing manager’s pitching changes is vital in determining the outcome of a must-win game.
If Homer Bush and Red Sox OF Dave Roberts have taught us anything, it is that a pinch runner can help crown a victor as easily as a man wielding a bat.
During the 2004 ALCS, Roberts stole second base when everyone in the stadium knew he would try.
A line drive up the middle off of Mariano Rivera shifted the momentum of a lost series, and essentially sealed the fate of New York’s historic postseason collapse.
After years of bench players ending games with clean uniforms, it appears the Yankees have finally received the memo.
By adding skilled and versatile athletes into the equation, New York has given Girardi the tools necessary to utilize his National League pedigree.
Though part of a convincing loss at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day, Nick Swisher pinch-hit for Cody Ransom with a one-run eighth inning deficit.
Within seconds, he was standing of second base with a ground rule double.
His relentless energy can provide an emotional lift down the road, and his power can help to throw a wrench in an opposing manager’s strategy.
Girardi can pinch-hit for Ransom at any point during the game as a result of another member of the bench’s contingent.
Backup infielder Ramiro Pena is without a doubt the most talented defensive player on the roster. While Ransom is an athletic and skilled 3B, Pena will ensure that defensive liability is of no concern after a lineup change is performed.
The same flexibility holds true in the event that Brett Gardner is removed in favor of a power option. On any given day, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Xavier Nady, or Swisher could be available off of the bench.
If Gardner is replaced, the Yankees still have CF Melky Cabrera waiting in their back pocket for defensive purposes. His superior arm will force 3B coaches to be more conservative on shallow fly balls.
On the other side of the coin, Gardner can pinch-run in the event that he is given a day off against a left-handed pitcher.
His electric speed can change the game in ways the Bronx has not seen since Rickey Henderson was patrolling the outfield.
In no way am I comparing Gardner’s offensive skill set to that of Henderson’s, but his pure foot speed can wreak havoc on the basepaths.
Much talk has been made about New York’s wealthy starting rotation and star-studded lineup. Their astronomical paychecks make them worthy obsessions.
However, the Yankees bench and newly discovered lineup flexibility should provide a useful dynamic in returning the team to the top of the American League.
Do not sleep on the Yankee role players…because they just might haunt your dreams.
Yankees Victim of “Fowl” Play: Orioles Fly High on Opening Day
The 2009 season began with hopes and dreams of a deep October playoff run.
The Yankees hoped to turn back the clocks and recreate dominance reminiscent of the late 1990s.
Monday’s season opener was not quite the initial progress they had hoped for, as the Yankees were surprised by an upstart Oriole team with something to prove.
Prized pitching acquisition C.C. Sabathia had hoped to have a New York debut so successful that fans would think his initials stood for “Chevy Chase.”
Unfortunately for the hefty lefty, his pitching prowess reminded much more of the post-Friends acting career of “Courtney Cox.”
Though there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to hit the panic button after nine innings of baseball, the loss provides dissenters some early fuel for their Yankee-hater fire.
Even if you had not watched one pitch of yesterday’s game, a single statement could explain the day’s events for the Yankees.
Of all the high-priced free agents obtained by New York during the offseason, it was Nick Swisher (1-for-1, ground rule double) who had the most promising Opening Day performance.
Considering Swisher was not in the starting lineup, and managed to accumulate about 60 seconds of field time, it is clear that Sabathia and 1B Mark Teixeira struggled in game one.
When taking a much broader perspective on the game’s events, there were many positives to cling to.
Injury concerns Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui both hit mammoth home runs, and rookie CF Brett Gardner displayed the skills necessary to start in the league.
Additionally, the unveiling of the Derek Jeter leadoff experiment was a success. Both he and Johnny Damon had multi-hit games and helped to jumpstart a stagnant offensive attack.
The Yankees did nothing to quiet the voices of those who questioned their defensive abilities or bullpen depth.
They struggled mightily in each area, and will need to make adjustments quickly in order to keep pace in the league’s toughest division.
Luckily for New York, there are 161 games remaining on their schedule. It is only a matter of time before their talented roster straightens themselves out.
It could begin tomorrow night in Baltimore, as former Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang takes the mound to prevent an immediate 2009 losing streak.
Regardless of the Opening Day disappointments, it feels incredible to once again be talking about meaningful baseball.
Buckle your seatbelts. It is going to be a wild ride.
“The House that Steinbrenner Built”: The Yankees First Workout Digitally Captured
As one of the lucky 15,000-20,000 fans that walked through the turnstiles and into baseball Heaven yesterday, I was not sure what to expect.
My mind was overcome with a violent mixture of sadness, bitterness, excitement, awe, admiration, and amazement.
The adjectives stop there, because shortly thereafter I was rendered speechless.
There exists countless areas of the first base side of the stadium which provide an eerie glimpse inside “The House that Ruth Built”.
Joy quickly turns to depression as if I am struggling with bipolar disorder, but it was virtually impossible to remain in that condition.
Sadness brought a knife to a gun fight, and everyone in attendance was left scooping their jaws up off of the newly finished stadium floors.
Here is a glimpse into the team’s first steps, swings, and throws in their new home:
“The Great Hall”
The New Facade
Team Stretch
CC Sabathia Warms Up
Melky Showing Off His Cannon
Stadium View: Right-CF Bleachers
“The Captain” Turning a Double Play
Mariano Enters the Bullpen
Cue Metallica’s Enter Sandman
Damon Hits Stadium’s First Home Run
Teixeira’s First Cut
Swisher Acknowledging “The Bleacher Creatures”
Bleacher’s “Obstruct-O Vision”
Stadium View: Looking Out (CF Video Board Turned On)
Matsui Long-Tossing
Melky & Garnder Playing Nice in Center
Me Amids
t the Fans
…and we end the sneak preview with….
Babe Ruth Plaza: The Man We Can Thank for it ALL
I tried to use as many field/player shots as possible, as I know you are not interested in me posing all over the stadium.
Unfortunately, the bleacher seats do not have a great view of the monumentally large video board in center field, and the Yankee Museum was closed for construction.
I hope I provided a glimpse into what to expect upon your first entrance into the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
The players were having a blast out there, and I had one of the best days of my Yankees fanhood.
Posada’s Debut Provides Yankees a ‘Ray’ of Light for 2009
Although the weather near the newly constructed Yankee Stadium is more suited for a December football game than America’s Pastime, it certainly feels like spring again.
As the Yankees played the Rays in Thursday’s spring home opener at George M. Steinbrenner field in Tampa, fans were reminded how important Jorge Posada is to their success.
Posada crushed a home run deep into the right-field bleachers in his first at bat of the spring, before later lacing an RBI double in the 5th inning.
Not only were the results encouraging, but also the always important ‘eye test’. Posada passed with flying colors, as his bat speed and fluidity were as impressive as his prime.
Posada was batting from the left side, where his surgically repaired right shoulder absorbs a lot of stress after the bat explodes through the zone.
He showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever, nor any desire to be cautious with his swing. His approach was aggressive and his competitive fire was once again unleashed.
Derek Jeter is unquestionably the Yankee captain as a result of his on-field guidance and leadership by example.
However, it has arguably been Posada who has provided the tough love and locker room motivation equally as vital to a team’s success.
The Yankees were incredibly lucky that backup catcher Jose Molina was as defensively impressive and consistent as he was in 2009. The adverse effects of Posada’s absence could have been much worse.
Offensively, however, there is no comparison. When he is at the top of his game, it is difficult to compare Posada to almost any catcher in the league.
Posada provides both power and plate discipline, allowing him to generate 20+ home runs while maintaining a career .380 on-base percentage.
Posada’s on-base percentage is nothing short of remarkable considering the demands of his position.
His career OBP is higher than Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, and Mike Piazza. They are often considered the best hitting catchers in baseball history.
While it is unrealistic to expect results similar to his career year in 2007, it is not out of the question to anticipate a bounce back season from Posada.
Production in the neighborhood of 18-20 home runs, 75-80 RBI’s, and a .270-.275 batting average are fairly reasonable. Especially if he is able to DH in excess of twenty-five games this season to rest his rehabilitated throwing shoulder.
If Posada can return to representing a dangerous offensive threat in 2009, the Yankee lineup becomes that much more explosive.
The benefits begin with taking large amounts of pressure off of Xavier Nady, Hideki Matsui, and Robinson Cano to carry the bottom half of the offense.
It will not be known until the summer if Posada’s arm is strong enough to last a full season, returning him to the force that the AL East has come to expect.
Yankee Restraint: Patience with Pettitte and Abreu Lands Them Teixeira
The Yankees have long been considered an organization characterized by a drunken sailor, and rightfully so. They tend to throw their riches at every attractive option available, and answer to critics at a later date.
This offseason seemed to be no different, as ‘$423.5 million’ has been stamped into the brains of every baseball supporter. This time, however, the Yankees intertwined blind aggression and fiscal awareness into their negotiations.
When it came to obtaining the best pitcher on the market, the Yankees did whatever it took, regardless of the circumstances. These were the George and Hank Steinbrenner Yankees.
In denying arbitration to two established veterans in Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettitte, the Yankees showed a clear awareness of where the market stood. This was a glance back in time of the Gene Michael Yankees.
Instead of inevitably committing themselves to $32 million in aging talent, the Yankees made the difficult decision to let .300 20 HR 100 RBI 20 SB walk out the door. Then they used leverage and realism in not offering Pettitte ‘Ace’ dollars in his decline phase.
The result was a savings of $26.5 million in guaranteed money. Even if Pettitte reaches all of his incentives, the Yankees are netting a $20 million payroll reduction.
Brian Cashman could now address the Yankees’ one remaining weakness. He essentially turned a 35 year old outfielder with limited range into a slugger with gold glove defensive ability in Mark Teixeira.
What is the difference between what Teixeira and Pettitte will make compared to the 2008 version of Abreu and Pettitte? It is the cost of a Brian Bruney or two; nothing more than an arbitration eligible middle reliever.
New York may have spent their profits like Armageddon was approaching, but their payroll remains virtually unchanged from 2008.
What they did was replace Carl Pavano, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina, Abreu, and Pudge Rodriguez with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixeira.
Next year we are sure to see more of the same. Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte, and Johnny Damon’s nearly $40 million will be transformed into a star outfielder and middle of the rotation starter.
What the Yankees do is retool according to the financial flexibility that they earned through a century of success and cerebral ownership.
Is It Spring Training Yet?
The winter feels like an eternity without America’s Pastime. Football leaves fans with one day per week to be excited for, as opposed to the six or seven that baseball programs them to expect. Baseball season also allows for a quicker emotional rebound. It takes just twenty-four hours to wash the bitter taste of defeat from their mouths, as each day leaves their team with another chance.
As the Yankees officially moved their offices across the street to the new Yankee Stadium, fans were reminded that it is almost time to dust off their favorite jersey. It is almost time to stop debating about the upcoming season and successes in free agency, and begin to observe the final product first hand.
Valentine’s Day is centered on true and genuine passion, a day to express how much you love what matters most to you. After all, one-third of all the diamonds sold during the year are given out on February 14th.
What better date could have been chosen for the official start of spring training? Pitchers and catchers will report to Tampa on Valentine’s Day, risking the wrath of a woman scorned as a result of leaving their girlfriends and wives behind. While it may not involve chocolate, roses, and Hallmark cards, fans have the opportunity to show how much they truly care…about baseball.
The abrupt ending to the 2008 season left Yankee supporters with a long list of questions and concerns. Will A-Rod ever translate his MVP status to big games in Sept. and Oct.? Will Jorge Posada ever provide stability at the catcher position again? How will frail veterans Matsui and Damon hold up? Has Cano been exposed? Are Jeter’s best days behind him?
The offseason has helped to quiet many of the concerns, but the free agent frenzy has left fans with a few more. Are injuries going to continue to decimate the pitching staff, especially following the AJ Burnett signing? Will all those extra innings ever catch up to CC’s golden arm?
Regardless of these fears, it is important to remember that this is New York. It is a city with a sports foundation built on confidence, arrogance to a degree, and a steadfast sense of entitlement. Every single baseball season begins with a tunnel vision view toward October.
Yankees fans and players can finally begin to prepare for the long haul that is MLB’s regular season. They can look forward to the opening of their new stadium, otherwise referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. October dreams once again have the chance to become a reality.
Valentine’s Day will mean much more to New York this year than simply hugs and kisses. The smiles, pounding hearts, love, and possibly even tears of joy will still all be there. The difference is, for the biggest of Yankees fans, Cupid’s arrow hit us when we were standing outside of the House that Ruth Built.
mlblogsheartbeatofthebronx
Recent Comments