Posada drives in 4 as Yankees win another

(Originally written for Baseball Digest)

Jorge Posada went 4-for-5 with a home run, double and four RBI in the Yankees' 10-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday night at Rogers Centre.  Alfredo Aceves picked up his 10th win of the season with 2 1/3 innings of relief.

The Yankees scored four quick runs in the first inning against starter Ricky Romero.  With the bases loaded, Hideki Matsui singled.  Three runs scored, aided by Travis Snider's fielding error. As a result, Matsui was only credited with one RBI.  Posada followed with an RBI single of his own to increase the lead to 4-0.

Chad Gaudin couldn't escape the fourth inning, allowing three earned runs while only retiring 11 batters.  With one out in the fourth, Gaudin allowed three singles, he hit a batter and allowed a sacrifice fly to cut the Yankees' lead to 5-3.

Aceves entered in relief and allowed two runs (one earned) in his 2 1/3 innings of work.  David Robertson, Brian Bruney and Damaso Marte each followed with a scoreless inning of work apiece.

In addition to Posada's four RBI, Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs on two hits, including a solo home run in the ninth.

The Yankees have now won seven games in a row and are 38 games over .500.  Joba Chamberlain takes the hill tomorrow night in Toronto.

Yanks hit 5 home runs, win 9-6

Jorge Posada hit two home runs and drove in three runs in the Yankees’ 9-6 victory over Baltimore Tuesday night.  Robinson Cano, Eric Hinske and Nick Swisher joined in on the home run fun as well.

A.J. Burnett did not fare as well, allowing six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.  He allowed a two-run home run to Felix Pie and a three-run home run Luke Scott.

Damaso Marte earned his first win of the season after retiring all three batters he faced.  David Robertson, Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera also had scoreless outings, with Rivera earning his 38th save of the season.

The Yankees will go for the sweep tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.

Teixeira, bullpen ensure sweep of White Sox

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

Mark Teixeira drove in four runs and the Yankees bullpen pitched six innings, allowing only one earned run, in the team’s 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Teixeira hit a sacrifice fly in the first and then hit a three-run home run in the five-run seventh inning to pass 100 RBI on the season.  He has now reached 30 home runs and 100 RBI in six straight seasons.

Starter Joba Chamberlain only went three innings, as the Yankees instituted their revised version of the “Joba Rules.”  They are essentially simulating spring training and will get him up and around 100 pitches near the end of the season.  He threw 35 pitches, allowing four hits and two earned runs.

Alfredo Aceves relieved Chamberlain, pitching three shutout innings, to earn his ninth win of the season.  Damaso Marte, David Robertson and Phil Hughes combined to pitch two shutout innings.  Phil Coke allowed a solo home run in the ninth.

On the offensive side, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada each had two hits, while Johnny Damon was the other Yankees aside from Teixeira to drive in more than one run (he hit a two-run home run in the third to give the Yankees the lead).  The home run, which was his 24th, ties a career-high.  Damon left the game in the seventh with cramping in both calves.

With the sweep of the White Sox, the Yankees are now 34 games over .500.  They now embark on a seven-game road trip with the first stop being in Baltimore for three games starting tomorrow night.

Marte’s back; Jim Rice is a fool

First, Damaso Marte is finally back up with the big club.  He had been on the 60-day disabled list with left shoulder tendinitis since April 26.  Ramiro Pena was sent down, as the Yankees have decided to carry 13 pitchers.  Remember, the rosters expand to 40 on Sept. 1.

However, this isn’t the biggest news of the day.  One of the newest Hall of Famers, Jim Rice, is none too pleased with today’s major leaguers, calling some of the big names self-absorbed.

It was fine when he cited Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez as examples.  I dislike both and agree with him there.  But then he put Derek Jeter in that category.  I honestly have no idea how he gets off lumping Jeter with Ramirez and Rodriguez.

"You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez], you see [Derek] Jeter ... Guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare," Rice said to Little Leaguers gathered in the cafeteria.

Have at it, Yankees fans (even A-Rod die-hards).

Posada to the DL

Jorge Posada re-aggravated a hamstring injury when sliding into second base last night.  He was set to have an MRI today, and obviously the results were bad enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, according to Sweeny Murti on WFAN.

Posada joins Damaso Marte, Cody Ransom, Brian Bruney, Chien-Ming Wang and Xavier Nady as Yankees who were placed on the disabled list during the regular season.  Alex Rodriguez has been injured since spring training.

This is bad news all around.  The Yankees obviously missed Posada last year, and will continue to miss him while he’s out this year.

Marte to the DL

Damaso Marte has been placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, according to Peter Abraham.  Anthony Claggett has been called up to replace him.

Marte hasn’t pitched since April 25 and has given up nine earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched this season.  However, Marte said he hurt himself in Boston.

What a disaster

That is all I have to say.

Nice job of ruining everyone’s memories of opening day in the new Yankee Stadium, Jose Veras and Damaso Marte.

Yankees FML: April 12

I’m debuting a new feature on Scott Proctor’s Arm today.  It’s called “Yankees FML” and will only be used when the Yankees lose.  Thus, I hope I don’t have to write these more than 70 times.

For those who are not familiar with what FML means (the definition is not exactly safe for work), please visit Fmylife.com to get a better idea.  Each post begins with “today,” and ends with “FML.”

Today, my manager decided to over manage and ended up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  Up 4-3 and with two outs and no one on base in the eighth inning, he decided to get cute and take out Damaso Marte in favor of Jose Veras.  Three runs and another pitcher later, the Yankees lost 6-4 to prevent a sweep of the Royals.  FML

This one is on Girardi

Can someone explain to me why Joe Girardi took out Damaso Marte after recording two outs on 11 pitches in the eighth inning?

Exactly.

It didn’t make sense at the time and it still doesn’t, after The Mexecutioner struck out the side to record the save and prevent a sweep.

Girardi used three pitchers in the eighth to record three outs.  If you want to remove Marte, put in Mariano Rivera.  He didn’t pitch yesterday.

Billy Butler, a righty, came into to pinch hit for Mike Jacobs, a lefty, when Jose Veras was brought into to pitch.  Butler only has one hit this season thus far.

Following Butler was Brayan Pena.  Pena's splits against lefties and righties aren’t all that different.  Yes, Pena hits slightly worse against righties (.222 vs. .234), but that difference is negligible and the sample sizes on both sides are awfully small.  And it doesn’t mean anything when your right-hander, Veras, is wild as can be. 

And I forgot to mention this originally: in 2008, righties hit only .196 against Marte, as compared to the .247 lefties hit against him!

And please, don’t even bring up the "Joba to the pen” argument.  He was decent today and will only get better.  The ‘pen would’ve held this lead if Girardi didn’t turn into Tony LaRussa before our eyes.

I’ll leave it at this: there was no reason to make all of these moves.  Marte wasn’t struggling and it wasn’t a tight game at the end of the year.  Marte started the inning; let him finish it.

I’m too angry to write a full recap.

(Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

Yankees win 3-1

Andy Pettitte was stellar in the Yankees' 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon.

The lefty gave up one earned run over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven, walking none and scattering five hits.

Mark Teixeira added to his hot spring with a 2-for-3 day, including his sixth double in Grapefruit League play and two RBI. Derek Jeter and Angel Berroa also hit doubles.

Damaso Marte, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez each had scoreless outings to help close out the game.

Joba Chamberlain will start for the Yankees tomorrow afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds.

Yankees win 4-1

This game seemed like a regular season game: CC Sabathia to Damaso Marte to Mariano Rivera.

Sabathia pitched 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking none in the Yankees' 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night. He allowed only four hits and one earned run.

Marte retired the only batter he faced, and Rivera shut the door in the ninth.

Derek Jeter went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in the leadoff spot. Mark Teixeira went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Yankees will face the Braves tomorrow afternoon at 1:05. The game will be on MLB Network.

Yankees win 7-1

A.J. Burnett was solid once again Tuesday night, allowing one earned run in 5 2/3 innings in the Yankees' 7-1 victory over the Red Sox. Burnett struck out four, walked two and allowed one earned run, as he seemed to tire toward the end of his start.

Brett Gardner hit his second triple of the spring and Austin Jackson hit an eighth-inning grand slam before being sent to the minor-league camp.

Jorge Posada threw out Jacoby Ellsbury as he attempted to steal second base. Ellsbury stole 50 bases last season, so this is a nice achievement for the recovering Posada.

Mariano Rivera pitched another perfect inning, striking out two. Jonathan Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez and Damaso Marte each had scoreless outings as well.

The Yankees are off tomorrow. Joba Chamberlain will start for the Yankees against the Phillies on Thursday.

Cano, Marte to have MRIs; Posada returns behind the plate

Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte will have MRIs today to examine their injuries resulting from carelessness during the World Baseball Classic. Cano has been reported to have right shoulder tendinitis, while Marte is considered to have left shoulder inflammation.

Meanwhile, Jorge Posada will make his debut behind the plate this afternoon.

I will be at a conference in Manhattan today until Tuesday, so posting could be a little sparse. Please bear with me!

Cano, Marte hurting

Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte have returned from the World Baseball Classic, and they aren't feeling 100 percent.

From George King:

Cano has tightness in the back of his right shoulder, an injury that apparently occurred before he joined the Dominican Republic's WBC team.

"It started before I left for there," Cano said. "It was a little tight and it never went away."

Cano, the Bombers New York Yankees starting second baseman, was checked out earlier by the Dominican's physician who said, "It's just tight."
...

Marte, who also played on the Dominican team, is feeling tightness in his left pectorial muscle, which is between his (throwing) shoulder and chest.

The injury occurred while Marte was lifting weights Tuesday afternoon, but he proceeded to pitch one inning for the Dominican team against the Netherlands that night anyway.

"I don't think it's that serious - three to four days," Marte said.

If Cano was feeling tightness before he left for the WBC, he shouldn't have gone at all. Marte shouldn't have pitched if he hurt himself before the game also. This is just stupid.

Dominicans stunned by Netherlands

For those who watched the Dominican Republic/Netherlands game on MLB Network, you witnessed an instant classic.

The Dutch beat the Dominicans 2-1 in 11 innings after falling behind 1-0 in the top half of the frame. Simply incredible.

The Yankee angle: they get back Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte now. Cano went 1-for-5 with a strikeout in this game, and Marte pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two and allowing one hit.

Yankees lose 13-11

The offense - particularly Robinson Cano and Brett Gardner - shined Sunday afternoon in Sarasota against the Cincinnati Reds. But the pitchers didn't, as they gave up 13 runs, including three runs charged to starter Alfredo Aceves in one inning of work, to lose 13-11.

Gardner went 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run in the third inning. Derek Jeter and Cano went 3-for-3; Cano hit a home run, a double and drove in four. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez each added two hits - Rodriguez hit two doubles and drove in two runs.

Mark Melancon was the only pitcher who didn't give up an earned run on the day. Damaso Marte gave up two earned runs in one inning.

The Yankees will play the Astros tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. in Kissimmee. Chien-Ming Wang will start.

Yankees win 5-1

The Yankees are 2-0 and have outscored their opponents 11-2. Too bad it's only February.

Phil Hughes started today, and pitched two shutout innings, despite hitting two batters. He threw 33 pitches for 22 strikes and struck out one batter. Hughes was consistently reaching 92 mph with his fastballs. The two hit batters are a concern, but he was able to work out of trouble in the first inning.

Phil Coke also pitched two shutout innings, so did Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, Mark Melancon and Jonathan Albaladejo. J.B. Cox gave up one run on three hits in his one inning of work.

At the plate, the Yankees hit two home runs, including a solo home run by Jorge Posada in the third inning. He also drove in a run on a ground-rule double to center in the fifth. Shelley Duncan followed with a three-run home run of his own in the seventh.

Mark Teixeira also hit a single in his first game as a Yankee.

The Yankees travel to Fort Myers tomorrow to face the Twins at 1:05 p.m. Ian Kennedy will go for the Yankees.

Veras, Ramirez drop out of WBC

According to Bryan Hoch, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras have decided against participating in the World Baseball Classic.

"I don't think it's a good idea to go over there right now," Ramirez said. "I've got to stay here. I've got my mind-set here with the Yankees."

Ramirez and Veras are both Dominican nationals. Another Dominican, Damaso Marte is undecided on playing, mainly due to stiffness in his legs. Although he would like to play, he said he would need time to determine if he could actually pitch.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Francisco Cervelli are the only four Yankees on the active roster who are already committed.

WBC provisional rosters

The following Yankees have been named to their respective countries' provisional rosters:

Alfredo Aceves - Mexico
Melky Cabrera - Dominican Republic
Robinson Cano - Dominican Republic
Francisco Cervelli - Italy
Derek Jeter - United States of America
Kai Liu - China
Damaso Marte - Dominican Republic
Edwar Ramirez - Dominican Republic
Alex Rodriguez - Dominican Republic
Jahdiel Santamaria - Panama
Jorge Vazquez - Mexico
Jose Veras - Dominican Republic
Zhenwang Zhang - China

Ex-Yankees Bobby Abreu (Venezuela) and Ivan Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) were also named. Bernie Williams was given a spot on the Puerto Rican team, but he suffered a leg injury in Winter Ball at the end of December.

Here is the United States' provisional roster. I like the infield and catching spots, but the pitching and outfield definitely could have been better. If the U.S. medals, I'll be happy.

All Nady and Swisher, all the time

Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher have become the new Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia around Yankees Universe lately. Will the Yankees trade one of them? Will they stand pat? Time will tell.

Jon Heyman believes one is easier to deal than they other.

The Yankees are looking to trade either Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher. But from here, Swisher would be difficult to deal, with $20 million left and coming off a .219 season. The Braves and Pirates showed some interest before the Yankees took him as logical first-base insurance. While Nady is a year from free agency, his market should be much stronger.

I know some people disagree with me (Jane), but I wouldn't mind keeping both and having Johnny Damon patrol center for the year.

I don't see the need to trade Swisher or Nady. Depending on the players the Yankees get back, I don't think the Yankees traded for these two players to trade them away. The Yankees gave up some nice pieces for Nady and Damaso Marte, and while Swisher struggled last season, he draws walks and has put up better numbers in the past.

It's a tough call, and I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make the ultimate decision.