By Matthew Storey
Recap
Game 48 - Win 5-3 @ Cleveland Indians
Game 49 - Win 10-5 @ Cleveland
Game 50 - Lose 5-4 @ Cleveland
Game 51 - Win 5-2 @ Cleveland (Win Series 3-1, Win Season Series 5-3)
Game 52 - Win 12-3 over Texas Rangers
Game 53 - Lose 4-2 to Texas
Game 54 - Win 8-6 over Texas (Win Series 2-1, Win Season Series 4-2)
Game 55 - Lose 9-7 to Tampa Bay Rays
Game 56 - Win 4-3 over Tampa Bay
Game 57 - Win 5-3 over Tampa Bay (Win Series 2-1, Season Series tied 4-4)
Record through game 47 - 27-20
Games 48-57 - 7-3
Current Record 34-23 (.597/97 Win Pace)
Injury Report
Alex Rodriguez - Continues to play 3B 5x per week, DH 1X per week. Stole first base since return from Surgery, feels OK and is probably at 80%.
Jorge Posada - Returned from pulled Hamstring and is hitting with usual stroke, he appears to be struggling with his throws more than he was before hamstring injury, which is a concern. Girardi will continue to catch him 2 games, DH 1, catch 2, sit 1.
Hideki Matsui - Caught a couple of fat pitches in Texas, but has been struggling mightily since. Managed to leg out potential Double Play ball to win a game against Tampa Bay, but still seems to be moments away from career-ending problem with knees.
Xavier Nady - Hitting regularly in extended Spring Training games, but has not thrown the ball with intent, seems weeks away.
Jose Molina - Badly damaged Quad is likely to drag out past All-Star break.
Brian Bruney - Impossible to assess after aborted first comeback, has an elbow issue that cannot be treated and has to be discounted from plans, if they get something from him - it's gravy.
Damaso Marte - Who the fuck knows?
Cody Ransom - Who the fuck cares?
Looking Ahead
Yankees are in Boston for three games (T-W-TH) and will throw (AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, CC Sabathia) against (Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny), then Yanks are back home for the NY Mets over the weekend (F-S-S) with (Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte, AJ Burnett) against (John Maine, Livan Hernandez, Johan Santana). Then the Washington Nationals come in for three (T-W-TH) to close out the Homestand before Yankees hit the road for the Inter-League tour with three in Florida, three in Atlanta and the final set with the Mets at the new Citifield.
Player Capsules
Pitchers
CC Sabathia (3.56) - CC was rolling along in dominant fashion but hit a speed bump in his last start against Tampa Bay, getting beaten for a 3 Run HR by backup Willie Aybar and a solo shot from Backup Ben Zobrist as well as 2 of a 3 hit day from 34 year old, Career Minor Leaguer, Joe Dillon. Ouch! Still, despite giving up the HR to Aybar, CC settled down and allowed only the 5 runs in 8 Innings.
AJ Burnett (4.69) - AJ has been tighter his last few turns, throwing more strikes and staying out of the middle of the plate where his ball tends to drift and create LONG HR chances. His stuff has so much movement, he is almost at its mercy when it moves into the middle. He got a suspension for throwing behind the monster talent, Nelson Cruz, when the idiot Padilla was plunking Teixeira. Currently on appeal, seems he will miss the start against the Mets.
Chien-Ming Wang (14.46) - The electric stuff returned for Chien while working out of the bullpen for three appearances. He surrendered a long HR in his first inning against Raul Ibanez, but really settled in after that and was dominant against Cleveland to earn a return to the starting rotation. His first start, he was dominant for the first two innings, got nickle and dimed in the 3rd for 2, then settled down and shut the door, gave up 2 more in 4th, then shut them down, then gave up a HR to Cruz in 5th as he tired. His sinker, slider and change are all working, only needs to rebuild stamina at this point. Appears to be more Strikeout capable since the time in the pen, may turn out to be a blessing. Not likely to be at full speed Wang until late June.
Andy Pettitte (4.22) - Andy walks the tightrope in his starts, but continues to do so effectively and go deep into games. Had a scare with his back, three starts back, but was whistling the ball last night against Tampa Bay (7 K) before leaving a lazy pitch over the middle to Gabe Kapler (barely hanging on to MLB slot). Reliable in the back of rotation, but suspect against better lineups/hitters.
Joba Chamberlain (3.79) - Alternates between dominant (8 innings, 2 runs against Cleveland) and competent (6 innings, 3 runs against Rays), but never surrenders a lot of runs even when he is 'off'. Velocity is solid (up to 98 against Cleveland) but control has not been what we've seen previously.
Phil Hughes (5.30) - Phil finally got a regular turn in the rotation and was looking terrific, also alternating between dominance and competence, but Wang needs to be in rotation and Andy has not done anything to warrant demotion, so Phil goes to the bullpen. Last night he made his inaugural pen appearance and dominated the Rays 1-2-3 with 95 MPH heat and wicked curves, has the perfect arsenal for one time through any lineup and makes the Yankee pen MUCH stronger with his ability to throw strikes, go several innings and get K's.
Alfredo Aceves (2.70) - Another starter out of the Pen, and he has brought stability and multi-inning appearances every time called upon. An indispensable member of the staff.
Phil Coke (4.24) - Emotional pitcher, Phil needs to do a better job of controlling his adrenaline and the strike zone. That said, he has a BIG LH arm and, when right, casually dominates LH hitting. Needs to work on keeping calm, throwing strikes and avoiding fat strikes. A project, but a promising one.
Jose Veras (6.65) - Veras has become the forgotten man in the Yankee bullpen, his 98 MPH notwithstanding, like demoted Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladejo and Mark Melancon, he just has not demonstrated enough strike throwing ability. Can strike out the side or walk the bases loaded, which is too much uncertainty for a team who want to win.
Brett Tomko (2.16) - Yet another starter in the pen, Tomko has the live arm (mid '90s) and vast MLB experience. He is able to go multiple innings and get a lineup for one time through.
David Robertson (2.08) - The most consistent strike thrower of the pen callups, Robertson can strike out any hitter from either side and avoids cripping walks that have derailed other bullpen arms. Likely to see innings that used to go to Veras.
Mariano Rivera (3.20) - Had a few horrific outings, but continues to roll for the most part, with 30 K's to only 2 walks, and a perfect 6-6 in closing out Yankee victories both Sunday and Monday after Saturday's blowup. Ball is 93 and moving two feet at the last moment, can't complain.
Players
1B Mark Teixeira (.286/18/51)
A beast. A brilliant glove, great arm, great instincts, huge power from both sides, clutch, loves being in NYC, loves being a Yankee. Stop me, I'm drooling.
2B Robinson Cano (.300/9/34)
Robby has been a Superstar on the road, where he has twice led the AL in Hitting, but continues to be mediocre at Yankee Stadium as he was in the old building. No idea what the difference is for him at Home, but glad Yankees are going on the road - they need Robby hitting. His Defense (2 Errors in 57 games) continues to be incredible, great range, great hands, great arm, great turn on DP.
SS Derek Jeter (.306/8/26)
The Captain was on a tear for awhile (16 game hitting streak, 7 multi-hit game streak) and has cooled off a bit, likes to swing for power when not hitting for average and hit long HR last night. His Defense has been nothing short of OUTSTANDING with terrific plays one after another (highlight play on slow roller last night to save Pettitte with bases loaded) - just 2 errors in 53 games at SS.
3B Alex Rodriguez (.248/8/23)
Still only 80%, Alex does a lot of guessing at the plate, when he gets it right - he crushes the long ball, otherwise he sort of dips and darts, takes his walks, tries to work counts. He has such a good sense of his body and of the situation, is sort of 'faking it till he makes it' - nobody should pitch to Teixeira until Alex proves he is back healthy, but they continue to avoid him and that helps the Yankees. Solid on Defense, has to be careful to avoid re-injuring the hip.
C Jorge Posada (.297/8/27)
A HR/BB guy from the LH Side, and an high-average type from the RH side, Jorge is valuable in every at-bat. He continues to rake, hit in the clutch and play through damage to his shoulder, hamstring. Defense has been off a bit of late, throws sailed on him during the last two series, but threw better last night.
LF Johnny Damon (.299/12/34)
Tough to complain about a guy who is this good Offensively, hits for average, hits for power, runs deep counts whether he is hitting or not, hits in the clutch, steals bases, scores runs...he is consistent as a ball catcher in LF but his atrocious right arm continues to be a run scoring opportunity for opponents.
CF Melky Cabrera (.297/6/23)
Melky smashed his Right Shoulder into the CF wall in Texas and has gone into his first slump of the season since the bump. His Defense and clutch hitting have continued to be terrific, but he needs to bring that average back up above .300 and thump. Hits equally well from both sides of the plate, but has been much better at Home than on the Road thus far.
RF Nick Swisher (.257/12/35)
Nick was an April hero and a May zero, and has gotten hot again in June (.500). He provides consistent On-Base and spurts of BIG Power, then goes through two weeks of strikeouts. Happily for Yankees, he is in a 'good' phase now. His Defense has been consistent and an upgrade from Abreu.
DH Hideki Matsui (.246/8/23)
The noble warrior, fighting his body, fighting to contribute and be part of the Yankees winning...his legs are just hanging on and every time I write one of his ten game summaries, I feel like its the final one. How long he lasts is anyone's guess, Guru's guesses he won't make it to September.
OF Brett Gardner (.265/2/9)
Gardner has improved greatly as a hitter and is no longer an automatic out. His speed is a given and his Defense is a plus, an ideal 4th OF type.
IF Ramiro Pena (.243/0/4)
Pena has played much less now that Alex, Derek and Cano are there on a nightly basis, but his glove is a given when someone needs rest. His Switch-hitting bat has struggled with sporadic time, but he doesn't cost the team when he is in there and is likely to hold off Cody Ransom when he returns early July.
C Francisco Cervelli (.271/0/4)
A premier defender/thrower who covers for Posada when he needs downtime for the Shoulder, Cervelli is similar to Pena in being a situational Offensive player who lacks thump but not savvy, ideal backup.
IF Angel Berroa (.150/0/0)
Hasn't done a damn thing, should be released to allow an OF for the National League swing.
That's it for now, Yankees pull into Boston tonight and we'll have those game summaries for each of the three contests.
