June 26, 2007
The Orioles
Today the Yankees face Erik Bedard, the one of the most underrated pitchers in the American League. Bedard, 28, has improved every single season since his real debut in 2004. In 2005, he had an ERA of 4.59. In 2005, his ERA was 4.00. He improved to 3.76 in 2006. This Season Bedard currently has a solid 3.60 ERA.
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Posted by web editor on 09:11 PM
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The Back Page
The New York Post has launched a new blog called "The Back Page" about general sports. It is recomended that Yankee fans read the article on their first round draft pick, Andrew Brackman.
Posted by web editor on 06:09 PM
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Girardi A Better Manager?
Joe Girardi had an interview on Fox Saturday Baseball about declining the Orioles managerial job. He told Joe Buck that he was interested in managing again, but was waiting for the "right opportunity."
Buck then asked Girardi if the right opportunity was managing the Yankees. Girardi was coy in his response, saying that although he would love to manage the Yanks, Torre is the best manager a team could have. He argued the Bombers are fine with Torre and that Joe should stay for as long as he wants.
If Girardi wants to be the manager of the Yankees after Torre leaves, is he better than the other candidate, bench coach Don Mattingly? Girardi led the Marlins to a fantastic finish last year, but then was fired for not getting along with management.
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Posted by web editor on 11:55 AM
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June 22, 2007
Bombers Battling The AARP
The Yankees head to AT&T; Park, formerly SBS Park, formerly Pacific Bell Park, to play the San Francisco Giants this weekend. The Bombers hope to overcome their recent Western Time Zone struggles and break their losing streak.
The Yanks may have trouble with The Giants' Friday starter: young fireballer Matt Cain, who has a 3.15 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 91.1 innings this year. The other two pitchers the Yankees will face are curveballer Matt Morris and Noah Lowry, a lefty with pinpoint control. Both have ERAs under four. The Giants, even with that great pitching, sit at last place with a 30-41 record. Possibly because, according to Baseball Prospectus, they have the second oldest lineup in the history of baseball:
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Posted by William Vitka on 06:03 PM
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June 21, 2007
Rocket Vs. Rodrigo Lopez
Yankee fans should remember Lopez from his last four years as an awful starter for the Baltimore. His ERA in 2006 was 5.90. The Yankees are almost two to one favorites in Vegas for this game. If the Yanks lose here, they go 10.5 games back of the Red Sox. Lets see if Rocket can earn the obscene amounts the Yankees are paying him and stop this losing streak.
Watch the game here.
Posted by William Vitka on 03:17 PM
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June 20, 2007
Is Mariano The Greatest?
The Yesnetwork has an article about how Mariano Rivera hates to lose. As the Yankees stopper, he doesn't do that often. Watching the final game against the Red Sox where Mariano shut the door and struck out two batters, it is clear that he is back to his old self.
Although his ERA is still high, at 4.50, Mariano's peripheral numbers all point to a pitcher doing well. His WHIP is where it should be, at 1.23. He has 27 Ks in 26 innings, and only 5 walks, which shows that his control and "stuff" is still where it always has been.
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Posted by William Vitka on 06:23 PM
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More Yankee Rumors
The nearer we get to July 31, the more Yankee rumors fly.
Baseballthinkfactory reports that the Yankees have inquired about free agents to be Torii Hunter, and injury-prone Eric Gagne.
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Posted by William Vitka on 06:15 PM
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June 19, 2007
Coors Field
The Yankees enter Coors Field today for the first time in a very long time. Most fans consider Coors to be a wacky homer-filled park where every game has a football score like 21-17.
Coors has changed recently, however with the invention of the "Humidor" scoring has declined. For those who wish to read academic studies with lots of numbers, you can find them
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/home-run-park-factor-a-new-approach/" target="new">here and here.
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Posted by web editor on 06:45 PM
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Mark Teixeria to the Yankees?
Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports reports that the New York Yankees are seriously considering trading for Texas Rangers Gold Glove First BasemanMark Teixeria. They want Phil Hughes or Melky Caberera. The Yankees plan to hold onto both players, but hope a deal can be worked out.
Last season, Teixeria, 27, hit .282 with 33 homers, 110 RBIs, and a .514 slugging precentage. Teixeria is a good player, but would giving up a good young prospect be worth the price?
Posted by web editor on 06:44 PM
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Giambi Will Agree to Talk... A Bit
Jason Giambi is reportedly close to a deal to cooperate with Senator Mitchell and the steroid investigation, but he will not spill all the beans. Giambi has agreed to talk about his own use of banned substances as long as he is not forced to talk about other players' use.
Negotiations have been progressing gingerly because the MLB Player's Union would immediately fight any suspension issued by Bud Selig if Giambi were to decide not to cooperate.
Posted by web editor on 11:52 AM
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June 18, 2007
Yankees sign 2 Chinese teens
Reuters is reporting that the Yankees have become the first major league side to sign Chinese players after bringing in two teenagers today.
Left-handed pitcher Kai Liu and catcher Zhenwang Zhang, both 19, have signed for the team with the approval of the Chinese Baseball Association, the Yankees announced on their official Web site.
"This is an exciting opportunity for us to integrate Chinese players into the organization," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
"We believe that this is the start of something we can develop further as we work toward our commitment to help grow the game of baseball in China."
The players will be presented at a news conference at Yankee Stadium on July 6.
Posted by web editor on 02:58 PM
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Jorge Can't Throw
In addition to showing that New York has the greatest two shortstops in baseball, this week's subway series exposed
Jorge Posada's throwing as a defensive liability.
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Posted by web editor on 11:51 AM
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June 15, 2007
Jeter's Defense
A Mets fan seen at Yankee Stadium may claim that Jose Reyes is better than Derek Jeter because of his footspeed and the "excitement he brings to the game." A Mets fan with access to a computer and a lot of time on his hands will argue that Reyes is superior to Jeter because of his defense. This fan will bring out fancy stats like "zone rating, range factor, and fielding precentage" to make his case.
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Posted by web editor on 12:49 PM
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June 14, 2007
Pitch Perfect Future?
Yankee Expert Steven Goldman has an interview with prospect expert Kevin Goldstein. Goldman has great news for the Bombers: They are already developing a great pitching staff in the minors. When Moose, Pettite, Clemens finally head to pasture, the Yankees won't have to pay $9 million a year for Gil Meche or Jason Marquis. These four guys are under contract for next four years at least -- Phil Hughes, who had a no hitter against Texas before he pulled a hamstring, should be a no. 1 starter, Wang,, only 27, would be the two starter, Clippard (22 with a 2.73 minors ERA) a three, Ian Kennedy (23, 1.58 ERA) a four, and Joba Chamberlin (22, 1.80 ERA) fifth.
Posted by web editor on 06:24 PM
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Yankees At Work!
The Bombers play the Diamondbacks this afternoon in The Bronx. If you happen to be at work, watch the gamecast on nypost.com. Lets see if they can reach 9 straight.
Watch Live Updates Here
Posted by web editor on 12:55 PM
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June 13, 2007
Clippard vs Igawa
Joel Sherman speculated that after getting shelled for six runs by the lowly Pirates, Tyler Clippard could be replaced in the rotation by Key Igawa. Clippard, after a hot start, is now 3-1 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Igawa, who the Yankees spent 40 million dollars on, is currently doing very well at AAA, with a 2.89 ERA and 28 Ks in 29 innings. Brian Cashman was coy about bringing him up, saying "we're obviously happy with his progress, but we have to be patient with him."
Cashman then went on to say that Igawa needed more time to work on his change up. As Clippard makes almost nothing and the Yankees have to pay Igawa regardless of how he pitches, he will be given more chances than Clippard.
A Clippard supporter would counter this argument by stating that AAA is easy, and Clippard dominated it, going 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 41 ks in 39 innings. So both pitchers have pitched great in AAA and horrible in the majors, but they seem equal. If Clippard does well on Saturday, he should stay up, if he does poorly, he should get sent down.
UPDATE:
ESPN.com reports: "Igawa gave up just one run on four hits over six innings with four strikeouts and two walks for Triple-A Scranton on Thursday."
Who do you think the Yankees would be better off with?
Posted by web editor on 07:41 PM
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