Results tagged ‘ Sabathia ’
Yankees Turn the Page: Top 5 Reasons This Trip to Fenway Won’t be Déjà Vu
The calendar reads June 9, and the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are once again prepared to battle over a three game series.
New York will certainly be looking for payback after a Fenway sweep the last time around from April 24-26, and come in playing much more consistent baseball.
Terry Francona’s Sox are far from slumping, however, and should pose as challenging an opponent as is always expected of them–especially in a home ball park they seemingly never lose in.
This time around, the Yankees are determined to prevent a repeat of recent history. Luckily for them, there are at least five reasons why they can begin to calm their nerves.
The countdown will run readers through a quick list of extenuating circumstances from the first Fenway series that should no longer be factors over the next few days.
Any feedback and suggestions are always welcomed and requested, especially from the always confident members of Red Sox Nation. Enjoy the list, and I hope to talk to all of you soon.
5. The Presence of CC Sabathia
While the Red Sox have been able to deploy Josh Beckett and Jon Lester a combined four times in five games against New York this year, the Yankees have yet to release ace CC Sabathia into the rivalry.
Boston will not miss Sabathia during this trip, and will likely have a much tougher time scoring runs. A matchup with Brad Penny should also benefit the Yankees, and could provide a nice end to the three-game set.
Even is Sabathia has faced Boston in their April series, they would still be seeing an entirely different pitcher on Thursday night.
He was 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA on May 2, but has since gone 4-0 with a stellar ERA–returning to the dominant pitcher New York thought they had signed this offseason.
Sabathia was coaxed into the Bronx to win games exactly like this one, and Boston should provide the first test as to whether or not the Yankees made the right decision.
4. Red Sox No Longer Aided By “The Streak”
The last time New York visited Fenway Park, Boston was in the midst of one of the more impressive win streaks in recent memory.
They had just finished winning seven games in a row before the Yankees arrived, and stretched the overall streak to 11 before it was said and done.
Momentum and confidence are as important to baseball as balls and strikes, and winning does wonders for a team’s overall play. Instead of wondering who is going to deliver a clutch hit, each player begins to expect it to occur.
Boston has recently lost two of three against the Texas Rangers coming into the series–a team New York has handled rather easily thus far this season.
By no means are the Red Sox lacking in confidence or swagger, but there is a stark difference between a seven-game win streak and losing a series at home.
3. No Jon Lester:
The Red Sox are not armed with their talented young lefthander for the series with New York, and the Yankees could not be happier.
The hard throwing southpaw is 3-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over the last two seasons against them. Lester also boasts a remarkable 41:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 2/3 IP.
In 2009 alone, the Red Sox are 2-0 in Lester’s starts against the Yankees, and he managed to shut down their lineup even without his best stuff for the majority of the games.
To further emphasize the relief of avoiding Lester, he is currently 16-2 with a 3.30 ERA in his career at home.
When coupling his tremendous home success with the Red Sox 18-8 record in Fenway in 2009, it will be comforting to instead stare out at Tim Wakefield or Brad Penny.
2. The Cooling of the “Jason Bay Factor”
Shortly after the last Yankees-Red Sox series in Fenway, Jason Bay peaked at a .523 OBP and .359 AVG on April 28.
Bay hit the biggest home run of the 2009 rivalry to this date–a two out home run off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. It clearly shook New York’s confidence, and provided the fuel needed to finish the April massacre.
The Red Sox slugger remained hot for many more weeks, but has since cooled drastically on the heels on the Yankees return to New England.
Bay is just 19-for-86 since May 14, which calculated to an anemic .221 batting average. His power numbers have sustained themselves throughout the decline, eerily similar to Teixeira’s April struggles.
The Yankees will be facing a lineup without a healthy David Ortiz and a struggling Jason Bay, which should help to somewhat reduce the potency of an always dangerous Red Sox offensive attack.
1. The Return of Alex Rodriguez
The Yankee lineup that faced the Red Sox in April was struggling, and was forced to battle without their best hitter.
Furthermore, the absence of Alex Rodriguez helped to spiral new acquisition Mark Teixeira into an unimaginable slump.
When the final out was recorded in April’s three-game sweep, “Big Tex” was hitting just .218–representing a virtual automatic out in most games. He was as susceptible to the strikeout as any point in his entire career.
Rodriguez’s return has reenergized the entire lineup, as well as placing a true “fear factor” back into the middle of the batting order.
Since A-Rod’s return on May 8, Teixeira is hitting .374, and now leads the American League with 18 home runs. He has undoubtedly entered the MVP discussion, and truly appears as though he has been reborn in pinstripes.
The domino effect resulting from A-Rod’s return has finally delivered a feeling of self-assurance to the Yankee clubhouse, which should help to erase the current 0-5 head-to-head record from their minds.
Also seen at: Heartbeat of the Bronx
Yankees Awake to See May 1: Players Feel Differing Emotions
As the clock struck midnight on Friday morning, the calendar had officially flipped over to the month of May.
The Yankees awoke from a fulfilling night’s sleep, basking in the positivity of their recent three-game winning streak.
Currently sitting at 12-10 in the standings, New York has climbed back into striking distance of the leaders in the American League East.
The team’s record is rather remarkable considering the turmoil and misfortune that suffocated the Bronx during March and April.
The Yankees have won 54.5 percent of their games, on pace to finish 88-74 over a full 162-game season.
Virtually identical to New York’s 2008 finish of 89-73, it has done so without the luxury of even one at bat from Alex Rodriguez.
It seems more impressive when reflecting on the additional losses of Xavier Nady and Brian Bruney to elbow injuries, as well as the incompetence of the Yankees bullpen and high-priced free agent acquisitions. Chien-Ming Wang did not quite succeed as a No. 2 starter this season either.
Mark Teixeira, Damaso Marte, and Wang feared becoming the stars of their own version of Groundhog Day, unable to escape the nightmare of a never-ending April.
Many other Yankees, including Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Melky Cabrera, would have leaped at the opportunity to avoid the arrival of May 1.
Swisher and Cano combined for 12 HR, 35 RBI, 21 BB, and 39 R in just 22 April games. Cano had added 34 hits and a .366 AVG to his list of accolades.
Cabrera, on the other hand, has entirely rejuvenated his Yankee career. In hitting .327 with 4 HR, he has won back the starting center field job in the Bronx, and subsequently rediscovered his confidence and swagger.
While assuming the reasonable statistical comebacks of Teixeira, Burnett, and Sabathia, it is easy to see why Yankees fans have reason for optimism and hope.
The ultimate success of Wang, A-Rod, and the bullpen are still in doubt. The simple return of A-Rod to the lineup, however, should help the team’s overall lineup depth. Teixeira should also feel more comfortable and assured at the plate with legitimate protection behind him.
If “April showers bring May flowers,” then perhaps the Yankees will be purged of their troubles; once again able to perform at the highest of levels.
May will almost certainly “come in like a lion” in terms of scheduled opponents, as the month’s first seven games are against the Angels, Red Sox, and Rays. A three-game series with the World Champion Phillies also looms later in the month.
The Yankees will be tested early and often in the season’s second month, but can feel very fortunate to be in their current position.
April “showered” the Bronx with controversy, injuries, underperformance, boos, and even a strange wind current dilemma.
I’m sure those players sad to see May’s arrival will be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. I, for one, am not waiting until Cinco de Mayo on May 5 to start celebrating.
Yankee Stadium Premiere Becomes a Nightmare: Bullpen Duo Self-Destructs
Yankee Stadium’s long-awaited debut was supposed to be filled with action, drama, and awe.
Thanks to two members of the Yankees struggling bullpen, it quickly turned into a tear-jerker before ending with nothing but nervous laughter.
After Phil Coke escaped a daunting jam in the top of the sixth inning, it appeared that the new stadium may open with a bit of the magic displayed for 86 years across the street.
Once Jose Veras took the mound, however, the team’s hopes for a victory sank deeper than the Titanic.
It all started with a leadoff walk; the death sentence of so many games of the past.
Before fans were able to finish squirming in their couches, the Yankees already faced a rapidly escalating deficit.
Damaso Marte was supposed to stop the bleeding. He instead decided to perform an amputation without the use of a tourniquet; a medical mistake New York was never able to recover from.
By the time Marte had finally left the mound, the Yankees had flat-lined with no hope of revival.
The Cleveland Indians had enjoyed an in-game version of batting practice, and were now embarrassing New York by a score of 10-1.
The only true bright spot of a dreadful afternoon was the guile displayed by ace C.C. Sabathia.
Clearly left unarmed in terms of dominating stuff and pinpoint location, Sabathia battled for most of the game.
In a performance inspired by Andy Pettitte, he was able to limit the damage and maintain striking distance.
Sabathia threw 122 pitches in just his third start of a very young season, which may earn manager Joe Girardi many negative reviews in the mainstream media.
Regardless of that fact, it was encouraging to watch the Yankees ace pitch well enough to win without any true weapon to go to.
This is an invaluable talent that fellow starter Chien-Ming Wang has thus far been unable to master.
Thursday’s game will go a long way in reigniting the seemingly endless debate regarding Joba Chamberlain’s status.
Whispers and water cooler chatter have quickly developed into a haunting crescendo.
Chamberlain will now be viewed as the only hope for a besieged bullpen, and New York’s already limited patience will become nonexistent. The pressure will continue to mount if Chamberlain is unable to perform at the highest of levels in his next start tomorrow.
The Yankees had finally begun to breathe a sigh of relief with the recent dominance of relief pitcher Brian Bruney. The team had seemingly found its eighth inning mainstay, ending concerns of an immediate bridge to Mariano Rivera.
The recent performances of the Yankees middle relief have created an entirely new list of worries, and represent issues that may not be solved quickly.
Though I suggest leaving the panic button inside of its protective casing, it is unlikely that many fans will be able to remain lucid amidst so much failure.
Who would have ever imagined that fans could begin wishing Kyle Farnsworth was still around?
The Yankees Are High on Coke: May Need a Trip to Rehab
Yankees relief pitcher Phil Coke was left pinching himself on Sunday night, hoping to awake from an early season nightmare.
After allowing three hits and two runs in just one-third of an inning pitched, Coke’s current ERA has ballooned to 13.50.
More importantly, his failures represented the Yankees first blown save of 2009.
One of the true “darlings” of the Yankee bullpen, Coke earned the respect and trust of manager Joe Girardi following a sterling 2008 rookie campaign.
In his first Major League season, he went 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in 12 September appearances.
After throwing nearly 136 innings of minor league baseball as a starting pitcher, Coke was moved to the bullpen to attempt to stimulate a late run at the AL Wildcard.
Coke was nothing short of dominating, and consistently reached 94-96 MPH on the radar gun. The ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes simply elevated his worth.
While his control has remained strong in his sophomore season, his velocity has experienced a noticeable drop-off.
The Yankees originally told Coke to prepare to be a starting pitcher in 2009, potentially competing throughout spring training for the team’s fifth starter role.
Upon acquiring both C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett in free agency, the plans were quickly revised. Coke was now being thrust back into the Yankees late-inning bullpen mix.
Part of the problem lies in his offseason preparation.
This does not at all discount Coke’s work ethic or dedication to his craft, but instead highlights the limitations that his new role placed on his initial arm strength.
By entering the season as a reliever, Coke was unable to build up power and lasting stamina in his pitching shoulder.
In the minor leagues, he was consistently throwing six to seven innings per game. This allowed him to regularly approach 100 pitches.
Coke could then make a seamless transition into the Yankee bullpen, as his previously mentioned control allowed him to jog onto the mound throwing strikes.
Due to his increased and established arm strength from his innings as a starter, Coke could now let loose for an inning instead of conserving energy and velocity.
The same does not hold true in 2009, as Coke has been generally clocked between 88-92 MPH.
It is likely that Coke will gradually regain his velocity as time wears on, but there should be concerns in the season’s initial months.
Coke earned an important role in this year’s Yankee bullpen, but he may have to regain Girardi’s trust in order to find himself on the mound in a meaningful eighth inning again.
The Yankees have always been high on Coke.
I just hope that they do not suffer a painful relapse before he can figure out his problems.
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.
A Day of Firsts: A Look into Attending the Yankees True “Opening Day”
The early morning fog and clouds cleared to reveal nothing but blue sky and sunshine.
The baseball gods would not allow anything to ruin the unveiling of the most remarkable structure its sport has to offer.
Crossing over the Macombs Dam Bridge as I have done hundreds of times before, my eyes grabbed hold of the place I once called my second home.
I could not help reflecting on all of the timeless moments that I had witnessed within the stadium’s high walls, and was forced to realize that there would be no further stories to tell.
Having to almost wrestle with the steering wheel in order to leave “The House that Ruth Built” in the rearview mirror, I quickly approached the new stadium.
At first it appeared much like a stepfather, forced into your life as a replacement for what you once loved.
Your mother would comfort you by saying, “Everything will be ok. It will just take time to adjust.”
You didn’t want to learn to like this new part of your life. You wanted back what you always had.
After parking the car in a newly built garage next to the stadium, I looked for a way to get back to ground level.
An elevator stood just twenty feet from my parking spot. Wow, the Steinbrenners had really ensured comfort to the finest of details.
Upon approaching the stadium’s Gates, I realized that I was standing within Babe Ruth Plaza.
What better way to attempt to appease the ghosts of Yankee past than to pay tribute to the man that began the franchise’s legacy?
Still somewhat uneasy about taking my first steps inside, I felt as though I was cheating on a long-term girlfriend.
As soon as I entered the stadium, however, I was welcomed by “The Great Hall.”
A miraculous passageway lined with huge banners of Yankee greats, it made me forget my trepidation and begin to drop my jaw closer and closer to the floor.
Everything around us was an impressive sight, from the record-breaking center field video board to the pinstriped hot dog boxes.
Even the team’s memorabilia stores are lines with countless HD televisions so that no game action is missed while you max out your credit card.
After working my way around the stadium, I began to catch my first glimpses of the players and field surface.
Equally as magnificent as its amenities and awe-inspiring façade, the field is as well-groomed as the front lawn of the White House.
The backdrop of the stadium is far superior to its older version, with the exception of no longer displaying the beloved black seats in center field.
As the stretching was completed and the workout began, I was able to witness a bevy of stadium “firsts.”
Ranging from C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett’s first stadium tosses to Mariano Rivera’s first bullpen appearance, everything I saw was being done for the first time.
Most notably, Rivera chose to jog out of the bullpen after his tour was completed.
Metallica’s Enter Sandman began to play louder and louder in my head. I could imagine the stadium beginning to shake as he makes his first real appearance on the mound.
Batting practice commenced shortly thereafter.
Derek Jeter continued the trend of firsts, as he fittingly took the stadium’s first swings. As if the Yankees would have had it any other way.
Johnny Damon then christened the new right field porch, making sure fans did not have to wait long to witness the cathedral’s first home run.
Just when I thought that this day could not possibly get any better, Robinson Cano casually fielded a deep drive into center field.
He turned and smiled into the bleachers, and tossed a ball high into the air. As soon as it was released, I knew that my 20 years of playing baseball was about to come in handy.
I jumped into the air with the aid of an obnoxiously long wingspan, and came down with a baseball in my hands. I did receive a right cross to the temple which knocked my hat to the ground, but it was well worth it.
Thrown balls into the stands quickly led to another Yankee Stadium first. This is of course referring to the breakout of the first fight.
A wrestling match over another Cano souvenir resulted in violent pushing, countless threats, and the utilization of five security guards to escort the men from the building.
That certainly did not take long…and between two Yankees fans no less?
Every day has its end, regardless of your wishes for its continuance. As it was time to leave, I was again forced to pass by the eerie view of the original stadium.
Its grass appearing as grotesque in color as Nick Swisher’s spit tobacco residue, Yankee Stadium looked nothing like I had always hoped to remember it.
Though somewhat against my will, I decided one last photo was needed to complete the stadium’s timeline.
As I lifted the camera to my eye, however, the screen turned black. At that exact moment, the camera had run out of power.
The timing was almost impeccable, as the spirits of “The House that Ruth Built” sent a clear message to one of its most passionate fans.
They wanted me to remember the greatness of their home the way I always had. They wanted the final photographs in my Yankees album to consist of the farewell ceremonies of September 21.
It is ok to feel saddened at the removal of the Bronx’s most famous sanctuary, but it is also ok to appreciate what lies in front of us.
Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, and Gehrig sent their message loud and clear. It is time for us all to attempt to follow their advice.
“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.
Joe Girardi Is Learning from the Tom Coughlin Instruction Manual
Two seasons ago, Tom Coughlin sat in a dark office, wondering what he could possibly do to save his job.
He had ultimately lost his locker room, and the veteran presence was beginning to shut him out.
The implementation of a leadership council, coupled with the brightening of a stern personality only a soldier could love, eventually paved the Giants path to a Superbowl title.
After similarly losing touch with the countless stars in the Yankee dugout, Girardi watched as his team finished six games out of the AL Wildcard race.
Even more concerning were reports of Derek Jeter’s displeasure with the locker room and coaching situation in the Bronx.
Permanently stuck within the league’s strongest division, Girardi knew that cosmic changes were necessary during this past offseason.
While $423.5 million of expenditure seems cosmic enough in itself, it has been the changes Girardi has made with his own attitude that may loom even larger.
Enter Tom Coughlin playing the role of Socrates, and Joe Girardi trying out for the role of his finest pupil Plato.
Actually, with as much talent as is present within the Giants and Yankees locker rooms, it is more so a revised copy of Coaching for Dummies.
Girardi’s job is even more simplistic than Coughlin’s. Coughlin needed to show a team’s core how to win, while Girardi needs to remind his core how to win.
Girardi’s “leadership council” has already been in power for fourteen years. By allowing Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera to handle their business, the Yankees will be far better off.
This is what Joe Torre always did best. He knew that he had the keys to a Ferrari, and he set it on cruise control. He never belittled his players, nor attempted to fix the unbroken.
Girardi has cancelled practices for team social gatherings, attempting to create a unified dugout. His relaxed demeanor has also been very well received by his players.
Aside from Girardi’s own behavioral changes, the Yankees have brought in an excellent compliment of personalities to the clubhouse.
Nick Swisher has already been dubbed the Yankee jester, making sure there is never stale air in the room.
He also works as hard as anyone on and off the field, showing a normally businesslike roster how to work and play. Damon will finally have a partner in crime.
CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira are two of the true fun-loving players in the league as well, and will deliver as many smiles and laughs in the dugout as they will victories on the field.
Even AJ Burnett has already made an impact on the Yankee roster. His relentless recruitment of Andy Pettitte during his contract negotiations made him realize how important he could become as one of the final pieces to the puzzle.
The likes of Brett Gardner and Cody Ransom will bring a toughness and gritty intensity from its role players that have been missing since the dynasty years.
Beasts from the Far East: Wang and Matsui Revive Yankee Confidence
After a tumultuous 2009 season that saw the Yankees finish six games out of the Wild Card race, the Bronx called for change.
It is well documented that Brian Cashman gave $423.5 million in commitments to just three players in hopes of revitalizing the roster.
On Friday night, one of those investments gave a glimpse into the kind of performance that is to be expected of him this season.
CC Sabathia pitched two strong innings in his Yankee debut, and virtually went the entire outing without throwing a pitch outside of the strike zone. He also collected two strikeouts.
The “three-headed blank check” of Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira will undoubtedly play a major role in the success or failure of the Yankees this season. The uncertainties surrounding Alex Rodriguez have only added to the pressures they face.
Meanwhile, two players used to being at the center of the team’s core have gone somewhat unnoticed this spring.
The recent comebacks of Chien-Ming Wang and Hideki Matsui will be as important to the 2009 Yankees as the health of Alex Rodriguez.
Wang is a pitcher that has compiled a 46-15 record over the past three seasons, which represents a winning percentage of 75 percent. His heavy sinker is the perfect compliment to the flame-throwing of Sabathia and Burnett.
Matsui is a patient and disciplined hitting machine, collecting 100 RBI seasons in his sleep when healthy. He has arguably been the best clutch Yankee over the last six years.
Yankee supporters can find an excellent silver lining in Saturday’s spring training loss to the Braves. Wang and Matsui were a part of the same game for the first time since June 15 of last season.
Wang looked fantastic is his second start of the spring. His fastball had great life, and it was on a sharp downward plane all game long. Seven of the nine outs that he recorded were via a groundout or strikeout.
More importantly, Wang bounced off of the mound to field a bunt from the first batter of the game. He showed solid mobility, and shoveled the ball with his glove to Teixeira for the out.
Matsui’s day could be considered a success simply by his participation. However, he did show signs of his improving health.
With a runner on first in the fourth inning, Matsui was able to drive the ball through the right side of the infield. Though seemingly routine, this is a great sign for Yankee fans.
To drive an inside pitch to right field, Matsui is forced to rotate his hips and apply large amounts of torque to his knees.
It is this same torque that allows a hitter to generate power, something Matsui struggled with last season while attempting to play through injuries.
Sportswriters will continue to use names like Teixeira, Sabathia, Burnett, Rivera, Jeter, and Rodriguez ad nauseum for the duration of spring training.
Do not forget about the “beasts from the far east”, as the Yankee season may hinge on their success.
Bronx Bombers Earn Nickname Before Splitting Up for the WBC
In the final game that the Yankees powerful lineup will play in as teammates for quite some time, the score became more reminiscent of Giants-Bengals than Yankees-Reds.
Before separating to compete for their countries in the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico, Yankee starters made sure that they left on the highest of notes.
Derek Jeter (USA), Alex Rodriguez (DR), and Robinson Cano (DR) combined for an impressive 7 hits and 6 RBI.
Cano was 3-3 with 4 RBIs on his own, including a home run off of former Yankee reliever David Weathers. His dedicated winter work ethic appears to be paying large dividends.
The first five Yankee hitters went a combined 12-15 in a preview of the excitement that this potent lineup could bring to the Bronx.
Included in this success yet again was CF hopeful Brett Gardner. The gritty leadoff man collected two more extra-base hits, including his second homer of the spring.
Gardner has continued to push the gas pedal to the floor every chance he gets. Thus far, Melky Cabrera has been left at the starting line and surrounded by a cloud of dust.
The Yankees were able to rough up Aaron Harang, the Ace of a talented young Reds pitching staff. Harang surrendered six hits in just three innings of work.
This was an important showing for a Yankee team about to see seventy-five percent of its infield depart the continental United States.
However, the World Baseball Classic could prove to be a blessing in disguise for New York as they prepare for the upcoming season.
While their captain and leader by example is leaving camp, so is the team’s lightning rod of negativity.
The Yankees will be able to focus on their development and consistency without the distracting questions about A-Rod’s steroid use.
Although a good barometer for CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixeira on the media scrutiny New York can provide, all players will be glad for camp to return to ‘normalcy’.
The center of attention moving into next week will once again be fastballs and sliders as opposed to syringes and secrets.
Sabathia and Burnett will make their first starts in pinstripes, and will hope to wow the Florida crowds.
I’d like to wish the best of luck to Derek Jeter and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
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