Monday, May 21, 2007

One In A Row


The Japanese call it saving face, here closer to home it may be about saving Joe Torre's job, but at least the New York Yankees staved off an embarrassing sweep at the hands of their crosstown rivals, taking the last game of the overhyped Subway Series 6-2 behind righthander Tyler Clippard making his big league debut. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriquez all homered, but the story of the night was the 22-year-old rookie pitcher dominating the first place Mets with impressive poise and command of his pitches, including a biting breaking ball that helped him strike out six and keep the Mets off balance all game. "Best day of my life," said the new Yankee Clippard.

Just 42 games into the 2007 season and already the Yankees have had an unbelievable seven rookie starting pitchers making their MLB debuts, the first time that had happened this early in a season since 1884, which is before even Roger Clemens was born. Now the hated Boston Red Sox storm into town with the major league's best record at 30-13, making it almost imperative for the Yankees to win the series, if not sweep all three games. And unless it's 1978 all over again, with the Yankees already trailing the AL East division leaders by double digits, the Yankees at this point have to focus on the wild card spot in the AL. But with the starting rotation now rounding into shape, it's not unrealistic to expect a turnaround.

Offensively, the Yankees have been carried just about all year by a trio of players: the amazing Derek Jeter, hitting .365; Jorge Posada, hitting a blistering .382 with power, and A-Rod, who after a sizzling start of his own came back down to earth in May before showing signs this weekend (2 HRs) of getting hot again. But other hitters are starting to come around, including Hideki Matsui, now hitting .295 after his 3 hits last night. If Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and Bobby Abreu have just average years from here on in, then the offense will be fine.

Assuming The Rocket has not fired all his boosters yet at age 45, the rotation of Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, and then either Philip Hughes or Tyler Clippard to round it out seems pretty formidable. However, given the Yankee's continuing propensity to lose starting pitchers via freakish injury, as well as the advanced age of the pitching staff, I wouldn't exactly chisel this rotation in granite for the remainder of the year. Limestone, or maybe sandstone, but not granite...

And with a quarter of the season already spent, the Yankees can't afford to lose many series from here on out.
Beginning tonight we find out if Boston, fresh off an Interleague series win over the Braves (thanks for nothing, Atlanta!) at Fenway, is as good as their nearly .700 winning percentage would indicate. If they are, so be it, but the Yankees still have an opportunity to put a much-needed dent in the Red Sox swagger. The first game pitching match-up would seem to be in favor of the Yankees, with Yankees ace Wang facing Tim Wakefield, but the ancient knuckleballer from Boston, who will turn 41 later this season, sports a solid 2.44 ERA and is never a walk in the park for the Yankees, pun intended.

10 comments:

Gonzovin said...

I thought you might like


Because being employed by the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings wasn't enough to hammer convince Quincy Carter that he needs to pull it together, the Battle Wings have suspended him two games for missing team meetings.

Quincy Carter, if you don't recall his brief but glorious tenure as a Dallas Cowboy, threw 32 career TDs against 32 career INTs before running into all sorts of drug problems. He had ranked an impressive 4th in af2 in passing efficiency, with a 117.9 rating,

Do we get the same story on Tony " I can't hold an extra point " Romo in three years?

Denier said...

Man, that's so negative on your part, dude. Romo is on a mission this year. With a whole training camp under his belt, an improved offensive line and running game, the sky's the limit. Look up Quincy's W-L record after taking over a very mediocre team. It's not too bad; we'll also get to see if Brady Quinn can ever win 10 games in his first full year and throw for 3,300 yards. ALso, Romo will not hold this year on PATs or FGs. I'm telling you: Romo goes to the Pro Bowl again this year, mark it down. Go down the rosters of NFC teams and then tell me who you would rather have than Romo? Marc Bulger? Vick? Eli Manning? Grossman, Hasselback, McNabb, Favre, Delhomm are all old now... maybe Matt Leinert; all the good young QBs are in the AFC: Vince Young, Manning, Brady, Palmer, Cutler... Get ready for Romo-Mania in 2007!

jimithegreek said...

whoa there boys! this is a yankee blog, eh? the tyler kid done good now we gotta beat the bosox at least 2 outta 3 GOOOO YANKS!!!

Denier said...

So I guess you're not a Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings fan? Arena League Football is taking the nation by storm I tell you!

Gonzovin said...

The problem is it is not arena football its arena footballs minor leagues something called a2 so that makes it even better . and this post has everything to do with the yankees if they shit the bed against the red sox it 's footbal season !!!

Which is a better investment a Tony Romo cowboy jersey or a Jason Giambi Yankees Jersey? In the end which will cause me less shame when i look back

Denier said...

Dude, you gotta go Romo jersey, no contest. Then I can trade you my size L Sixers Aaron McKie #8 jersey (no kidding!) that I bought at the Crosby's in Madison Square Garden when the Sixers had their finals run back in innocent, carefree 2001! That was also about the last time I wore it. Giambi once again put his foot in his mouth and he not be a yankee past this season. I would go totally retro and go Lance Alworth #19 powder blue San Diego Chargers jersey or how about an O.J #32 Buffalo Bills shirt with fake blood stains! Just trying to help here. Maybe a Paul Smith or Andy Pickup Manchester United jersey to wear around the office...

Gonzovin said...

What do I do with my Dat Nguyen Jesrsey ???? You never had a (shit who was that sixer who did nothing but rebound and then they traded him because he was always hurt) I'll know the name when i hear it but you were a big fan of his!!!! My friends kid has a birthday so i bought him a R. Willimas jersey for $40 bucks and a membership in the Dallas Cowboys FanClub for $15 bucks he got a letter from jerry jones welcoming him and a card saying he is in the fan club what a rip off didnt those t hings use to be free ??? Now im pissed !!!!

Denier said...

I think the 76er you're speaking of is either Tyrone Hill or George Lynch, two good role players on those Larry Brown coached squads. Next year the Sixers take the Atlantic Division crown (big deal!), after we get enuf ping-pong balls tomorrow nite to get either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant...

Gonzovin said...

Nope the guy I was thinking of was
Theo Ratliff He was going to change the face of the NBA
HA HA

basketball is dead or at least basketball in nyc

Denier said...

Oh yeah, I forgot about Theo... I'll admit I loved Ratliff's game. Then he got a series of horrible injuries and was never the same. He broke his wrist the year we went to the finals. Great shot blocker and rebounder. What a shame. He was no Jerome James, though, I';; give you that! I thought you woulda jumped on the Nets bandwagon by now and would be sporting a Mikey Moore jersey by now.