Saturday, April 30, 2011

Harper: Jeter is is getting painful to watch

From John Harper:
The fans were doing their best Friday night to summon up one of those classic Derek Jeter moments they've witnessed over the years. They were on their feet, chanting the captain's name as he came to bat with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.

But it's hard to imagine Yankee fans anywhere had anything approaching the feeling they once had when Jeter was up in a clutch situation. How could they?

The truth is, it's getting painful to watch him at the plate these days, as he continues to get beat by the same fastballs he once slashed every which way. Jeter has managed to keep his batting average respectable, thanks in part to a bunch of infield singles and then a bunt single Friday night, but if you are watching with an objective eye, you know how old he has looked with the bat.

Friday night it was just a little more glaring because he had a chance to do something special, something to make everyone believe he still has the old Jeter magic, and he couldn't even make contact.
Harper went on to describe Jeter's pathetic 8th inning at-bat with the bases loaded and eventually concluded the article with this:
The batting average, which is now .258 after Friday night's 1-for-5, doesn't begin to explain the concern. It's the way Jeter can't seem to get the bat head out against less-than-overpowering fastballs, as if he's swinging a bat that's too heavy for him.

Even in the clutch, where he has always been at his best, he looked old on this night.
I know half of you are already angry at the article, but you know it's true. At least in the few second before all your Jeter is a god defense mechanisms start firing at full blast you know it's true.

Yes, he can turn things around, I'd be silly to suggest that he can't, but as of this moment Jeter looks like an aging veteran who is closer to retirement than anything resembling his past glory. Probably because that's exactly what he is. And while he figures out his approach at the plate he shouldn't be doing it from the leadoff spot, especially not on a team that is trying to contend for another world series.

I've been saying this for about a year and a half now, but it's time to finally move Jeter to the bottom of the order. If he starts hitting, then move him back, but at this point we all know he's a liability at the top of the order.

Feliciano's Time Table Pushed Back

From Brian Costello via Twitter:
Feliciano said doctors pushed him back from throwing this week. He'll play catch next week
Regardless of the optimism he has shown, this seems like this is going to be the trend until he finally decides to bite the bullet and have the surgery.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Tonight's Lineup: Cervelli Activated

Francisco Cervelli was activated from the DL. To make room on the roster Gustavo Molina was optioned to Triple-A.

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Andruw Jones DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

Pitching: Freddy Garcia RHP

Pitching Matchups for Yanks-Jays

YANKEES (14-8) vs. BLUE JAYS (12-13)

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 PM | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
RHP Freddy Garcia (1-0, 0.69) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (1-3, 3.00)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 4:05 PM | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (3-1, 3.52) vs. RHP Kyle Drabek (2-0, 3.30)

Game 3: Sunday @ 1:05 PM | TV: YES/TBS | Radio: WCBS
RHP Ivan Nova (1-2, 5.82) vs. RHP Jesse Litsch (2-1, 3.86)

Yanks Bats Show Up, Beat White Sox 12-3

Final123456789RHE
Chi. White Sox000000300390
N.Y. Yankees «00206130x12132
WP: C. Sabathia (2-1) LP: E. Jackson (2-3)
HR: CHW - None   NYY - B. Gardner (3),N. Swisher (1)


It was a nice and easy win for the Yanks last night in the Bronx, blowing out the White Sox 12-3. Every Yankee starter pitched in, with everyone besides Eduardo Nunez driving in at least one run (Nunez did have two hits and three runs scored). 

The biggest night came from the slumping Nick Swisher. He went 3-for-4, with a walk, a homer, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored, and hopefully will put that slump behind him now.
 
Brett Gardner, who has shown the power stroke lately, also went yard, his third of the season.

CC Sabathia had another fine start, allowing three unearned runs on 7 hits in 7 innings, while walking 1 and striking out 6. The win was CC's second of the season and his ERA drops to 2.25.

Lance Pendleton took over from there, allowing just two hits over the final two innings.

The Yanks will now host a three-game weekend series against the Blue Jays. Freddy Garcia will face Ricky Romero tonight in the Opener. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.

HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
C Granderson CF31121124.273.329.649
N Swisher RF-1B43341024.237.351.303
R Cano 2B41210015.308.309.582
A Rodriguez 3B41110018.313.432.656
0000104.316.350.526
E Chavez 1B-3B30012118.308.419.385
R Martin C40110113.290.364.594
1010003.167.167.333
J Posada DH40011024.130.231.391
B Gardner LF33211119.169.229.385
E Nunez SS33201016.400.500.600
Totals3312131284178
BATTING
2B: E Nunez (1, E Jackson); A Rodriguez (7, T Pena); B Gardner (3, J Gray); G Molina (1, J Gray)
3B: C Granderson (2, E Jackson)
HR: B Gardner (3, 5th inning off E Jackson 0 on, 0 Out); N Swisher (1, 7th inning off J Gray 1 on, 2 Out)
RBI: N Swisher 4 (12), R Cano (19), B Gardner (6), C Granderson 2 (14), A Rodriguez (18), R Martin (17), J Posada (12), E Chavez (4)
SF: C Granderson, R Cano
2-out RBI: N Swisher 2
GIDP: R Martin, E Chavez
Yankees RISP: 5-13 (E Nunez 1-2, C Granderson 1-2, R Martin 1-2, B Gardner 0-1, A Rodriguez 1-3, E Chavez 0-1, J Posada 0-1, N Swisher 1-1)
Team LOB: 7
BASERUNNING
SB: E Nunez (2, 2nd base off E Jackson/R Castro); B Gardner (4, 3rd base off E Jackson/R Castro)
FIELDING
E: E Nunez 2 (3, bobble, throw)
Outfield Assist: N Swisher (C Quentin at 2nd base).

PitchersIP H RERBBSOHRPC-STERA
C Sabathia
(W, 2-1)
7.0730160100-652.25
L Pendleton2.020000017-110.00
Totals9.0930160117-76
PITCHING
Balk: C Sabathia
First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: C Sabathia 17/30; L Pendleton 4/8 
Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes: C Sabathia 18-10-14-23; L Pendleton 2-0-1-8 
Ground Balls-Fly Balls: C Sabathia 6-8; L Pendleton 1-5
Game Scores: C Sabathia 62
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Nick Swisher
HONORABLE MENTION: CC Sabathia