 Thursday, May 08, 2008
Can Wang be Wonderful for the Seventh Straight Time?
Chien Ming Wang was 6-0 in his first seven starts. The Indians Cliff Lee is 5-0 going into the game. Two aces on a beautiful early May evening at the Stadium. It promises to be a classic.
Wang gave up an early run even before I got to the Stadium. Indians 1 - Yankees 0.
Lee was brilliant throwing a one hitter through three innings. Matsui hit an early pop fly single to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.
Peralta scored on Blake single to center to make it 2-0 with two outs in the fourth. Darn it!
Jeter leads off in the fourth. The Yankees go down in order.
The Indians get two on in the fifth. When Francisco tried to bunt on 1-1, Shelley Duncan sprinted down to home plate and almost got the ball as Francisco bunted to foul territory on the third base side. Wow!
Dellucci singles to center. Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Martinez swung and missed. Sizemore caught stealing at third. You gotta love Molina's arm and Jane's Addiction "Caught Stealing" playing over the speakers. Indians lead 3-0 after the top of the fifth.
The Melk Man singled to right with one out in the fifth. Cano fouls a couple of pitches and then hits a single to shallow right. Ensberg strikes out. Better than a double play. Oh no, Molina is hitting .226. He hit a ball to the warning track in right field. Ouch! At the end of five innings, Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Since it is now an official game, the Yankees invite former manager Buck Showalter to turn the Met Life sign from 65 to 64 games remaining at Yankee Stadium. Good job Buck! Buck is in town for the ESPN Wednesday night game. I became a big fan of Buck when he managed the Oneonta Yankees to NY-Penn League titles in the 1980s.
My fellow Bleacher Creatures yell "Take the Wave to Shea" as the Wave dies at the Bleachers. Speaking of Shea, it will be my next game on Friday. Steve will be joining me for the first time in over a season as he is finishing up his MBA. Congratulations Steve!
Damon grounds out to second. Jeter flies out to right. Abreu beats the pitcher to first. Good hustle "El Come Dulce" - translation "Just Like Sugar". Duncan doubles down the left line. Abreu advances to third. The crowd rises to its feet in the Right Field Bleachers as Matsui comes to the plate but strikes out. Darn it!
It was good visiting JR in between innings. It's great to be back home in the Right Field Bleachers. Since I am a 20 game Flex Plan holder, most of my tickets are in Left Field Bleachers or Tier. Darn it!
Cabrera flies out deep in Death Valley. Cano grounds out to second. Ensberg hits a nubber down the third baseline. The Indians bullpen starts to warm up. Molina strikes out swinging. After seven, Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Kyle Farnsworth starts the eighth. He hasn't been bad this year, touch wood. Francisco grounds past Ensberg. Dellucci flies out to Damon. Farnsworth's throws back to first don't work. Farnsworth has to keep focused on batter. Martinez flew out in front of me to Melky. Peralta swings and Molina guns out Martinez. Nice!
Perez replaces Lee. Damon promptly grounds out to short. Jeter comes up to the "Humpty Dance", one of my favorite songs. Jeter held his swing but called out swinging. The crowd rightly boos the blind ump. Abreu doubles down the left field line. Duncan flies out to right.
People start to leave the Stadium. Not The Tank but this is a disturbing trend. Only the most die-hard fans give the Yankees a chance. Part of me can't blame them as the Yankees are without Posada and A-Rod, or Ego-Rod as Steve wrote yesterday. I don't have any children of my own but I'll give him a pass on fainting in the delivery room. His wife should have kept the story private. As for giving his daughters the middle name of "Alexander", I don't know what was thinking but he's still my buddy. 
Albaladejo starts the ninth. Peralta singles to left. Cabrera walks. Blake bunts to third and is out at first. Shoppach walks. Hafner comes in for Marte. Hafner's slump continues as he grounds out in front of home to Molina who throws to first to complete the double play and keep the game at 3-0.
Betancourt tries to close it out. Time for the Rally Cap. Matsui fouls off to stay alive. Betancourt is lulling me to sleep because he is almost as slow as Aaron "The Human Raindelay" Heilman. Matsui grounds out to third. Melky comes up as the Red Sox unfortunately tie the Tigers 8-8 in the 7th according to the left field scoreboard. This is not good for us as the Tigers will probably catch fire again when we visit them this weekend, counter tooch wood. Melky pops up to the third baseman. Cano is out to end the game. The Indians win 3-0.
Bottom Line: The Yankees are under .500 again at 17-18. Ugh! Tuesday night's loss was a heart breaker as it exposed Joba and cost a chance to go two games above .500 and keep the Mariners' sweep momentum going.
Posted by a depressed Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Ego-Rod
Tonight A-Rod's wife goes on TV and says how it took A-Rod 3.5 weeks to build up the courage to ask her out and how he passed out in the delivery room when his first daughter was born. More importantly, avid reader Jack figured out that both of A-Rod's daughters have "Alexander" as their middle name. To quote Jack: "Are you freakin kidding me? The middle name of BOTH of his daughters is Alexander? Not even Alexandra, but his name. Man talk about ego." Well Said Jack-o. Posted by Steve in New York
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
So What Exactly Did Roger Clemens Apologize For?
The New York Daily News reported last week that the Rocket had a 10 year affair with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was 15. The news also linked Clemens with former bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette Dean Daly, a former wife of pro golfer John Daly. In a statement yesterday, Clemens apologized for "mistakes." "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry," Clemens said via a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton. "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws." You're telling me. What is it you are apologizing for? Sex with a minor (he denies that part)? Steroids? (he denies that part too) Then what is it Roger? Why not just come clean about everything and maybe, just maybe, you will avoid jail time. Forget the Hall of Fame now, you can hang out with Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds. Memo to Roger, Brian McNamee is not out to get you, the US Congress is not out to get you, Mindy McCready is not out to get you, Andy Pettitte and his wife are not out to get you: your own ego is out to get you. Nobody believes you anymore. Come clean about steroids (and the affairs.) Posted by Steve in Montreal. (And yes the French Canadians don't believe you either.)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Ian Kennedy to minors
It was bound to happen. The 23 year old Ian Kennedy is 0-2 with an 8.37 ERA in six games, including five starts. The gamble to start the season with the youngsters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy was a good one but unfortunately has failed for the Yankees. The decision to push Kennedy back to AAA was a good one, allow him to work up his confidence and control in a low risk and low pressure environment. The experience will be a good one for him. Remember when Wang was 23 he was in AAA and saw no time in the big leagues. What is next for the Yankees? There are not many options for them, but I am sure that they will think of something, they are the Yankees after all. The new Boss wanted to go with Santana but I agree that the Twins wanted too much for him. If the result is a year of limbo where Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain mature, that is ok. Probably not ok for the win now front office and fans but it should be. Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Billy Wagner Does Need to Keep it In-House
Oliver Perez is my favorite Mets pitcher. He is for two reasons, first is when he is on, you just can't hit him. The second reason is for the Russian Roulette you are playing with him on the mound, since when he is off, he is off.He can't find the plate and gets roughed up. Oliver had one of those games on Wednesday night. He lasted just 1 and 1-3 innings the night after the Mets bullpen outlasted the Pirates on Tuesday night in 11 innings. So Billy Wagner decided to call out Perez on his weekly radio show. Memo to Wagner: don't air your dirty laundry, handle this in the clubhouse. Willie agreed, “I wouldn’t go that route, but that’s Billy,” Willie said. “Billy gets a little emotional at times. If he feels that way, it’s fine. Billy doesn’t speak for the team. That’s just him. That’s just his opinion.” Willie is right, close ranks and take care of this internally. Anyway, why do pitchers have radio shows, or blogs from that matter?Just pitch damn-it. PS I think Kathleen should do the dishes more often. Oh wait that was Billy Wagner talking...... Posted by Steve in New York.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Sportsmanship Carries the Day and an Opponent Home
The sports world has been filled with steroids, dog fighting, gambling, and other scandals over the past year.
It's refreshing to learn of and write about the women's college softball game in Washington State. Hard luck senior, Sara Tucholsky, never hit a home run in her career. When Sara finally hit her home run, she collapsed before reaching second base from an injured leg. Her teammates could NOT help her as she would be called out and credited with a single.
After a few tense moments, her opponents, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, carried her around each base, she touched it with her leg, and then they carried her home. Sara was greeted by emotional teammates at home plate.
Sportsmanship carried the day. Good job ladies!
Posted by an uplifted Tank in NY. Mega thanks to PermaGuest Outlaw Jack for the links and story idea!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Yankee Starters need to go longer
Another Yankee loss last night and another Yankee starter not going 6+ innings. Ian Kennedy went only 4.2 innings and then the tired Yankee bullpen took over. The banged up Yankees lost Phil Hughes and will need an innings eater. If not they will suffer the fate of the Mets bullpen last season. Could this be the year that the Mets and Yankees don't make the playoffs? Both teams face pretty large holes, the Yankees with starting pitching and the Mets with hitting. Both teams are in this position mostly because of injury, but both teams seem to lack the fire to win, the desire to grind out at-bats, to fight to the last out. They both need to get that soon or "it is only May" will turn to "holy cow it is September". Posted by Steve in New York
Thursday, May 01, 2008
April Showers and Injuries Increase The Tank's Anxiety Level
The Yankees loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the first and "only" score two runs off of Bonderman. Yankees 2 - Tigers 0.
It's my first time in the third baseline Tier seats. It's a little steep but a great view of the field. There isn't a bad seat in the House that Ruth Built.
Thames hit a two run shot over Damon at the wall in left field. Tigers 3 - Yankees 2.
Polanco hit a solo shot down the left field line with the wind blowing in. Tigers 4 - Yankees 2. A fan made a nice throw to the second base umpire. He's got a better arm than Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon. Sign him up.
Sheffield comes up to a chorus of boos but singles to left. Ordonez singles to left and Sheffield advances to second. Cabrera hits into a 6-4-3 double play. Sheffield advances to third. Guillen grounds to Gonzalez who can't grab it. Sheffield scores. Tigers 5 - Yankees 2. Pettitte picks off Guillen to end the top of the sixth.
Abreu, Matsui, and Giambino go down in order to end the bottom of the sixth.
LaTroy Hawkins comes out to pitch the top of the seventh. Renteria goes down looking on strike 3. Granderson walks. Congratulations to Yankees radio engineer Carlos Silva for becoming an American citizen. My parents still remember their citizenship days with great joy.
Pudge grounds out to first. Get up and stretch.
Melky flies out to right. Cano flies out to center. Molina grounds out to third. Another three up, three down. Tigers 5 - Yankees 2 at the end of seven.
Farnsworth comes out for the top of the eighth. Polanco hits a solo shot to the Monuments in left. It's his second home run of the night for a guy hitting .221. Darn it! Tigers 6 - Yankees 2. Sheffield hits one past Jeter. As Ordonez comes to the plate, Sheffield steals second. Ordonez strikes out swinging. Guillen strikes out after fouling off a bunch of balls.
Gonzalez strikes out. Damon walks on a full count. Finally! It's the first base runner since the first inning. Jeter flies out to right. The pitching change doesn't make any difference as Abreu grounds out.
Edwar Ramirez comes in to pitch the top of the ninth. He got Renteria but Granderson doubled to right. Inge is hit on the leg. Pudge Rodriguez strikes out. Will Polanco hit his third home run of the game? Hope not. Polanco thankfully flies out to Abreu. The Yankees go down in the ninth and lose 6-2.
Bottom Line: Pettitte wasn't his usual self but the Yankees aren't scoring runs -- only 15 in the last five games. They had Bonderman on the ropes in the first but didn't close the deal. The weather is still cool but the Yankee bats need to heat up ASAP.
What Should Be Done: The Yankees need to bring up Rasner for Phil Hughes who went on the DL Wednesday. Igawa may deserve a shot if Kennedy doesn't improve. It would the Yankees an excuse to reshuffle the rotation.
The injured include A-Rod, Bruney, Posada, Hughes, etc. My right hamstring is tight and my fingers finally thawed out after Tuesday night's chilly extra inning game at Shea. Speaking of the Mets, Billy Wagner called out Oliver Perez publicly after Wednesday's game and on his weekly spot on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN 1050 AM. Things aren't rosy with the Mets either.
Posted by an anxious Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A pitchers duel at the Big A
I battle the infamous Los Angeles traffic as I crawl down the I-5 to Anaheim to watch the Los Angeles (of Anaheim) Angles take on the Oakland As, to battle for the first place position in the AL West. I left the office in downtown LA early to make the game on time. I get to the big A with 5 minutes to spare. A friendly neighborhood scalper sells me a nice field box in the right field corner by the foul pole about 10 rows behind Vladimir Guerrero. 
I know things are going to be good when I get an Alexander Hamilton tattoo in my Cracker Jacks, my favorite founding father is now tattooed on my left arm. Oh yes the game. What a game! Only 7 hits, Oakland did not even have a runner advance beyond second base. The classic pitchers duel, my absolute favorite: Joe Saunders (5-0) out-pitched Greg Smith (2-1). The only scoring was in the bottom of the 3rd, when Smith issued a one-out walk to Brandon Wood, who advanced to third on Chone Figgins’ double and scored on a wild pitch. Figgins then came home on a fielders choice by Gary Matthews Jr. Smith got the complete game loss while only allowing 3 hits. Vlad made a really cool grab in the seats right in front of me by a few rows. (I keep an eye out for the Mets score knowing that the Tank is at that game. This is my second west coast game this month and the second time the Tank and I were at games at the same time on different coasts.) The Big A is an old school stadium and like Shea, it lacks character. It does the job and makes up for the lack of charm with the best looking ball girls and tee shirt cannon girls in the major leagues. The hot dogs are actually grilled so they taste good. On the way out I visit the 2002 World Series Trophy. 
Posted LIVE! by Steve at the Big A.
 Live! | MLB
 Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:26:12 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Barry Zito Revisited
Steve and I co-wrote an post last year about Barry Zito. We warned of the "caveat emperor", or buyer beware, of Barry Zito changing his delivery prior to 2007 Spring Training.
Zito's first season with the Giants last year was a bust. It's even worse this year and the Giants have sent him down to the minors.
Zito's greed got him on a bad team with the Giants. The Giants are now getting burned for signing him.
The Mets were lucky not to sign Zito. Steve and the Tank know that Mets GM Omar Minaya will be calling us soon to thank us for the advice and maybe even offer us a job.
Posted by a philosophical Tank in NY on my way to Shea to see the Mets new real ace, Johan Santana.
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