Tag: New York Yankees (Page 10 of 52)

      Cliff Lee, one of the postseason’s best ever, puts the Yankees in deep hole

      October 19, 2010 /
      Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers pitches to the New York Yankee in the first inning during game three of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2010 in New York. UPI/Monika Graff Photo via Newscom

      I wonder what was going through Cliff Lee’s mind on Monday night when Josh Hamilton reached out and poked a two-run homer off Andy Pettitte out of Yankee Stadium to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 3 of the ALCS.

      “Thanks offense – that’ll do.”

      Coming into Game 3, Lee owned a postseason record of 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA. Believe it or not, he actually lowered his ERA last night in yet another magnificent outing, throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out 13 in Texas’ 8-0 win over the Bombers. He overwhelmed Yankee hitters the entire night and even when the Rangers broke out for six runs in the top of the ninth, you already had the sense that the game was over because Lee was set to come out in the bottom half of the inning.

      Lefty Gomez is the only other pitcher to have a perfect win-loss percentage in the postseason and he pitched 14 less innings than Lee. Mariano Rivera has the best ERA in the postseason, is third for win-loss percentage at .889, is first in saves and third in WHIP. Because he’s done it over 92 games and 137.2 innings, you can make an argument that the Yankee closer is the greatest postseason pitcher of all-time. But if Lee continues to do what he’s doing, then Rivera will have some company soon enough.

      Speaking of Rivera’s club, they’ve got some work ahead of them now. Lee has put them in a 2-1 hole and while they’re still two losses away from elimination, they’ll start a shaky A.J. Burnett tonight in essentially a must-win situation (it’s not “must-win” in that they don’t have to win to stave off elimination, but no team wants to go down 3-1 and have to win out).

      If ever there was a time when Burnett wanted to silence his critics, it’s now. A win won’t only tie the series, but will also shift the momentum back in the Yankees’ favor.

      A loss and the Bombers may be watching Texas play in the World Series in two weeks.

      External Sports, MLB

      The Rangers could have a huge advantage if they can win Game 3

      October 18, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee pitches against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas July 10, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Yankees may have accomplished their goal of stealing a game in Texas, but their work has just begun.

      Game 3 is Monday night in the Bronx and the Rangers will throw Cliff Lee, who is 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA in the postseason. And if you think he gets freaked out pitching at Yankee Stadium – think again. His lone playoff start in New York came in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series when he threw a complete game, yielding just one run on six hits while striking out 10 and walking none.

      If the Rangers can win tonight, their opponent in Game 4 is A.J. Burnett, who gets the nod because manager Joe Girardi doesn’t want to use CC Sabathia and then pitch youngster Phil Hughes on short rest. To say that Burnett has struggled this season is like saying that Brett Favre struggled getting a date with Jenn Sterger in New York. (What? You mean you got my text-o-junk and you still don’t want to go out with me? Your loss, lady.)

      Girardi is sticking by the struggling Burnett and even went as far as to say, “We believe in A.J.” But the starter went 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP over 33 outings during the regular season this year and has shown no signs of turning things around.

      With a win in Game 3, the Rangers could be setting themselves up to take the series. One day at a time, though – tonight is pivotal.

      External Sports, MLB

      Yankees announcer Michael Kay accuses Cliff Lee of cheating

      October 15, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the New York Yankees in the first inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas August 11, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      With the Yankees set to take on the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALCS in a matter of hours, it stands to reason that they should be mentally focused and prepared for their mission ahead.

      So it only makes sense for one of their TV announcers to open his mouth and accuse their opponent’s ace of cheating.

      From the New York Daily News:

      The lead singer of the chorus, the loudest yodeler, is Michael Kay, the television voice of the Yankees who also hosts a show on ESPN-1050. Kay’s association with the Bombers brings added significance to the controversy.

      Kay insists the combination of resin on Lee’s hat and the pitcher’s sweat produces a “tackiness,” making it easier to grip the ball. “I would think that’s illegal,” Kay said on 1050 Wednesday. “If I’m Joe Girardi, I’m telling the umpires he (Lee) has got to wear another hat.”

      “I would think that’s illegal.” What Kay meant to say is he thinks Lee is cheating.

      This is pretty smart on Kay’s part, as he’s probably managed to piss off the Rangers and distract the Yankees all in one fell swoop. His comments also won’t do New York’s front office any favors when they try to woo Lee this winter when the pitcher becomes a free agent.

      Well done, Mikey.

      External Sports, MLB

      Can A.J. Burnett be trusted to start in the ALCS?

      October 14, 2010 /
      New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of game two of their MLB American League baseball doubleheader at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts October 2, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      If A.J. Burnett’s simulated game on Wednesday is any indication of how he’ll pitch in the ALCS against the Rangers, then Texas is about to be spotted one game in the best-of-seven series.

      In his simulation start yesterday, Burnett threw 80 pitches in four-plus innings and apparently threw the first pitch over Francisco Cervelli’s head. Later on, he hit Greg Golson and Austin Kearns.

      This, of course, is coming from a guy that is tentatively scheduled to pitch Game 4 against the Rangers.

      The Bombers signed Burnett to a five-year, $82.5 million contract last year and he repaid them by going 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA. But things haven’t been the same for him since he lasted just two innings against the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series last year. In that outing, he allowed six runs on four hits and walked four batters in an 8-6 loss.

      The defeat must have stuck with Burnett this year, because he posted a 10-15 record with a 5.26 ERA and is now the black sheep of the starting rotation. He was left off the ALDS roster, but Girardi wants to pitch him in Game 4 of the ALCS if Burnett can show he has the mental fortitude to handle such a big situation.

      Right now, it doesn’t look like he can, which is a problem considering the ALCS kicks off in two days.

      External Sports, MLB

      The Twins were finished before they got to Yankee Stadium on Saturday

      October 10, 2010 /
      Minnesota Twins' Nick Punto (L) and Jim Thome look out from their dugout late in Game 3 against the New York Yankees in their MLB American League Divison Series baseball playoffs in New York October 9, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      I witnessed one of the stranger sights on Thursday night after Game 2 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Twins.

      There some of the Twins were immediately after the game, hanging out at the top step of the dugout watching the Yankees congratulate themselves after their Game 2 win. It was the same scene you see when a team is officially eliminated from a playoff series, yet Minnesota hadn’t been eliminated yet. It was almost like they knew the series was already over and there was no point heading to New York for Game 3.

      Well, now the series is officially over, as the Yankees beat the Twins 6-1 on Saturday night. Phil Hughes pitched seven scoreless frames while allowing just four hits and striking out six batters. Kerry Wood crapped on the party by giving up a run in the eighth, but at that point the game was pretty much in the bag for New York.

      Getting back to the Twins, maybe I’m overacting a little but it seemed to me that they believed the series was over on Thursday. That’s probably not right to say that about all of their players, but after the club’s effort last night, it’s hard to argue that they weren’t out of it mentally.

      Of course, it’s not like Yankee Stadium is an easy place to play and I don’t want to take anything away from Hughes’ gem. If the Twins’ heads weren’t in it, give the Yankees credit for taking advantage of the situation and not wasting any time putting Minnesota out of its misery. Now they can rest up (which is huge for an older team) and wait to see who emerges from the other ALDS series.

      External Sports, MLB

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