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.

Impending free agency for Damon, Pettitte, Matsui

MLB Trade Rumors links to three separate articles talking about the impending free agency of Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui.  Keep in mind that I’m not looking toward next year at all – in fact, I hate articles like this during the season – but today is an off day.

We’ll go one-by-one, starting with Damon (Gordon Edes from Yahoo! Sports reporting):

“I realize the business side of it,” said Damon, whose four-year, $52 million deal with the club is approaching its expiration date. “But I hope at the end of the season we could lock something in for a couple more years.

“I mean, I don’t want to go anywhere else. I love this team, my family loves New York, six weeks of spring training in Tampa, close to my home, and three trips to Tampa (to play the Rays). Yeah, I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Out of the three players named, I’d want Damon back the most, but I don’t know how I’d feel about a multi-year deal.  I think the absolute longest I’d go with Damon is two years.  While he is still a terrific offensive player and clubhouse presence, he is an absolute adventure in the outfield.  Damon also said he doesn’t expect the Yankees to do anything during the season – which is how the team normally operates – so this is a conversation for another day.

*****

Onto Pettitte, who said he doesn’t want a repeat of last offseason where there was a lengthy back-and-forth between the two sides, via Christian Red of the Daily News:

"I wanted to come back here and it looked like it might not happen towards the end. In my mind-set, I was coming back no matter what," he said. "That's where I was at. It's tough when you're getting offers from other clubs, and it's not even comparable.

"As far as next year - I'm trying to get through this year. I hope I can stay healthy and try to help this club win. That's all we're looking at right now. I'm not through - we got a lot of starts left (this season). I want my arm to be healthy. Once I get closer, I can start thinking about that. Maybe start talking to my family and my wife about that."

I don’t think I want Pettitte back.  But if the Yankees are so inclined, I’d hope it’s a one-year deal at $7 million or less.

*****

And finally Matsui, who didn’t say too much about his future, with Anthony McCarron of the Daily News reporting:

"My honest answer is I don't know," Matsui said. "I don't have an answer. As a player, you just try to do better than what you've done before. It's not so much about how the organization or other clubs look at me. All I'm focused on is winning a championship."

Would he prefer to stay in New York? "I try not to think about that," he said. "I like New York, the Yankees, the Yankee fans. It's definitely someplace I feel comfortable."

Matsui is an interesting case.  He hasn’t played an inning in the field all season, his knees flair up every now and then, but he has 23 home runs this season.  Matsui is notorious for his hot and cold streaks, but the way he is playing this season, it will be hard for the Yankees to let him go.

To Matsui’s credit, he said in the article that he wants to play defense to help out his team.  He said it limits the team’s choices, which is completely accurate.  Unfortunately, he still had to get his knee drained this season without playing in the field.

If the Yankees want him back, they should go year-by-year with him.  When healthy, he’s a productive player, but that hasn’t been a certainty with him in his latter years.

Matsui drives in 7 in 20-11 victory

Hideki Matsui hit a pair of three-run home runs and every Yankee who played the majority of the game drove in at least one run in the Yankees’ 20-11 victory over the Boston Red Sox Friday night at Fenway Park.

As the score suggests, there was a lot of hitting and very little pitching.  Andy Pettitte only went 5+ innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits.  Brian Bruney, while not charged with any runs, walked three and hit a batter while the Yankees had a large lead.

Alex Rodriguez added four hits and an RBI while Derek Jeter (3-for-6, two RBI) recorded his sixth straight multi-hit game.  Over that span, he has also had four games of three hits.  Mark Teixeira also had a three-hit game with three RBI.

The majority of the Yankees’ runs were scored against starter Brad Penny (eight earned runs on 10 hits over four innings) and Michael Bowden, who allowed seven earned runs and eight hits in only two innings.

Overall, the Yankees recorded 23 hits, including eight doubles.

It wasn’t all fun and games for the Yankees’ offense.  Johnny Damon fouled a ball off his leg and had to leave the game.  He was replaced by Eric Hinske in left field.  The team called it a bruise and he’s day-to-day.

The Yankees’ lead over Boston is now 7.5 games.  They’ll do it again tomorrow afternoon at 4:10 p.m.  A.J. Burnett and Junichi Tazawa each get the ball for their respective teams.

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

CC cruises to victory

Despite allowing solo home runs to Kurt Suzuki and someone named Tommy Everidge in the first two innings, CC Sabathia was able to recover and dominate the Oakland Athletics over his next six innings to record his 14th victory of the season. The Yankees defeated the A's by a score of 7-2, as Oakland committed four errors.

Derek Jeter recorded his third straight three-hit game in the process, raising his team-leading batting average to .330. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera also added two hits apiece.

The game was tied at 2 until the sixth inning, when the Yankees broke the game open with five runs on four hits against Jay Marshall and Santiago Casilla.

The Yankees stay seven games ahead of Boston after they defeated Toronto last night 10-9. Chad Gaudin takes the hill for the Yankees in tonight's rubber game. First pitch is slated for 10:05 p.m.

Sabathia, Matsui power Yanks to victory over Seattle

(Originally written for Baseball Digest)

CC Sabathia struck out a season-high 10 Mariners and Hideki Matsui hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the Yankees’ 11-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Thursday night at Safeco Field.

Sabathia went eight innings, allowing one earned run and three hits while walking two and throwing 104 pitches to earn his 13th win of the season.

The Yankees recorded 15 hits, including four from Matsui and two from Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston Jr. The only Yankee starter without a hit was Nick Swisher, who went 0-for-3 with two walks.

In addition to Matsui’s two home runs (hit 18th and 19th of the season), Jeter hit his 14th home run to lead off the third inning.

New York got to Ian Snell, Seattle’s starter, early and often.  He settled down around the middle of the game, but the Yankees piled on as he continued to get tired.  He gave up eight earned runs in six innings, walking three and striking out four.  He has give up 13 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings in three starts since being traded to Seattle.

The Yankees are now 29 game over .500 and have a 6.5-game lead over Boston.  Andy Pettitte and Ryan Rowland-Smith get the ball tonight in a battle of southpaws.  First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET.

Yankees rally in sixth to cap 9-1 homestand

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

The Yankees came from behind twice Sunday afternoon to defeat the Oakland Athletics 7-5 and cap a 9-1 homestand that saw the team reach 22 games over .500.

The A’s scored quickly against starter Sergio Mitre in the first inning.  Orlando Cabrera hit a one-out single and, after he stole scored, scored on Scott Hairston’s double.  Hairston would then score on catcher Kurt Suzuki’s single to give the A’s a 2-0 lead.

However, the Yankees came right back, scoring four in the bottom of the first inning.  Hideki Matsui hit a two-out RBI single to halve Oakland’s lead.  Two batters later, Robinson Cano cleared the bases with a three-run double into the gap.  He then overslid third and was tagged out.  Nevertheless, the Yankees had a 4-2 lead.

Oakland got one run back in the fourth inning on Mark Ellis’ sacrifice fly.  However, Mitre was able to escape further trouble by inducing a double play to end the threat.  This cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-3.

After giving up a leadoff single in the sixth inning, Mitre was pulled.  He gave up nine hits and four earned runs in 5+ innings, striking out one and walking none.  After retiring the first two batters he faced, Phil Coke gave up a two-run home run to Ellis to give Oakland a 5-4 lead.

The Yankees roared right back in the bottom half of the inning.  Melky Cabrera walked with one out and third baseman Cody Ransom doubled.  Derek Jeter followed with a two-run single to center to put the Yankees back ahead 6-5.  Jeter was picked off, but Johnny Damon doubled and was driven home by Mark Teixeira to give the Yankees another insurance run at 7-5.

Phil Hughes pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief before being bullpen for Brian Bruney when he ran into trouble.  Bruney struck out his only batter and was replaced by Mariano Rivera, who retired all four batters he faced.  The save was Rivera’s 29th of the year.

Boston lost their game this afternoon, so the Yankees are back on top of the AL East by 2.5 games.  The Yankees begin a three-game series in Tampa tomorrow night.

Pettitte, with help from long ball, leads Yankees to victory over M's

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

The first two times the Yankees took the lead Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, Andy Pettitte gave it right back.  Once the Yankees took the lead for the third time, Pettitte was able to hold it, and the Yankees were on their way to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners to extend their winning streak to seven.

Pettitte pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs or six hits while striking out five.

The Yankees took the lead in the third inning on Johnny Damon's 15th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field.  He has now homered 11 times at new Yankee Stadium.

The lead was short-lived, as Pettitte gave it right back in the top of the fourth.  Jose Lopez led off with a double and advanced to third on a fly out.  After a walk put runners on first and third with one out, Wladimir Balentien hit a grounder to first that Mark Teixeira bobbled.  Though he was able to get the out at second, the bobble cost the Yankees a shot at the double play.  As a result, the tying run scored.

It stayed a 1-1 game until the bottom of the fifth when Melky Cabrera snuck a ball just fair for another solo home run.  In fact, the play was so close that the umpires had to review it.  Ultimately, the call was upheld and the Yankees had a 2-1 lead.

But just like the last time they took the lead, Pettitte gave it right back in the next half-inning.  Ken Griffey Jr. hit a solo home run to right to tie the game at 2.

The Yankees didn't wait long to retake the lead.  Teixeira led off the bottom of the sixth with a single.  He was then followed by Alex Rodriguez, who hit a long two-run home run to center, his second in as many days, to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.  The bullpen pitched two perfect innings after Pettitte left in the seventh, including Mariano Rivera's 20th save of the season.

The Yankees haven't trailed since Joe Girardi was ejected in the sixth inning Atlanta last Wednesday.  They are now 13 games over .500, which is their highest mark this season.

CC Sabathia takes the mound tomorrow night as the Yankees look for a sweep.

The Phils provide sturdy bridge as Yankees power way to victory

How about watching Phil Hughes dominate in relief like Joba Chamberlain did?  Hmmm…

Phil Coke also pitched capably in the eighth inning, providing a sturdy bridge for Mariano Rivera who recorded his 14th save of the season in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.  They are now 34-23 and have the best record in the AL, pending the outcome of the Rangers/Blue Jays game.

The Yankees hit four home runs (Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter), Andy Pettitte struck out seven in six innings for his sixth victory of the season and the Yankees have won their fourth series in a row.

The Yankees travel to Boston for a three-game series that begins tomorrow.  As you may recall, the Yankees are 0-5 against the Red Sox this season.  A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett start the opener.

Jeter leads AL shortstops in All-Star voting

Major League Baseball released the American League leaders in All-Star voting for the first time this season today, and Derek Jeter (664,630) has a commanding lead among shortstops.

Jeter doesn’t have much competition in the “name” category, as Marco Scutaro (273,589) is in second.

In their respective positions, Mark Teixeira is third, Robinson Cano is fourth, Alex Rodriguez is third, Jorge Posada is fourth and Johnny Damon was the only Yankee in the top 15 of outfielders, coming in 11th.

I honestly don’t care about All-Star voting at all, but the fact that Justin Morneau is in fourth among first basemen is an absolute shame.  And I’m not just saying that because I despise Kevin Youkilis, who just so happens to be leading for that position.

Hughes, offense dominate Rangers

Don’t be confused by the red hats.

Phil Hughes threw eight shutout innings and the Yankees recorded 11 runs on 19 hits to win the series opener against the Texas Rangers 11-1.  Hughes struck out six and only walked one in his 101-pitch effort.

Alex Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with four RBI to raise his batting average to .259.  Of the Yankees 19 hits and six extra-base hits, none were home runs, which is great to see.

You know it was the Yankees’ day when Kevin Cash had three hits.  Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano also had two hits apiece.

The 11 runs match a season-high and the team’s 19 hits set a season-high.

There’s not much more to add here.  Joba Chamberlain gets the start tomorrow night at 8:05 p.m.

AP Photo

Wang will pitch again in AAA

Joe Girardi told the media that Chien-Ming Wang will start tomorrow night for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

According to Erik Boland, the Yankees feel his stuff isn’t ready for the majors just yet.

Phil Hughes will start in Arlington, Texas, on Monday.

Meanwhile, Johnny Damon is not in tonight’s lineup after running into the wall last night.

Tex, big first inning lead Yanks to sweep

Mark Teixeira hit home runs from both sides of the plate and the Yankees scored six runs in the first inning to complete a four-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins tonight at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees won 7-6.

With Andy Pettitte on the mound, the Yankees fell behind 2-0 after the top of the first inning.  However, they forced Twins starter Glen Perkins out of the game after retiring only two batters.

Teixeira started the scoring with a three-run home run after both Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon reached with singles.  Alex Rodriguez followed with a solo home run and Melky Cabrera and Francisco Cervelli added RBI singles as well.

Pettitte wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but he essentially pitched to the scoreboard.  Up 6-2, he gave up 12 hits over 6 2/3 innings.  The Twins would score runs in the fourth and sixth innings off Pettitte before he was relieved by Jose Veras.  Veras walked a batter in the seventh to load the bases but got Carlos Gomez to fly out.

Up 6-4, Teixeira hit a solo home run in the seventh to extend the lead to three.  That would end up being huge.

Edwar Ramirez began the eighth inning and gave up a one-out home run to Denard Span.  After a two-out walk, Phil Coke was brought in.  Because Mariano Rivera had pitched three innings in two days, Coke stayed on for the ninth inning.

Coke walked two batters and gave up a run on a groundout, but because of Teixeira’s home run, the Yankees were up by two going into the inning.  Coke got Mike Redmond to ground out to second to end the threat and the game.

The Yankees are now on a six-game winning streak and will begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.  The Yankees have won eight of their last 10 games.

Another day, another walk-off

Today was Johnny Damon’s turn.  He hit a walk-off home run to right field in the 10th inning.  This was the Yankees’ third straight win in such fashion and fifth straight overall, as they improve to 20-17.

Alex Rodriguez also added a solo home run to first get the Yankees on the board after falling behind 2-0.

A.J. Burnett struck out seven and walked six in 6 2/3 innings in the no decision.  Jonathan Albaladejo got out of a jam Burnett created, and Brett Tomko got out of a jam Albaladejo created.

And how about that play by Joe Mauer?  That was unbelievable.  With Brett Gardner at second with one out in the ninth inning, Francisco Cervelli hit a ball off the pitcher that Mauer fielder in front of the plate.  He then pump-faked a throw to first and tagged out the running Gardner at home.

But the day belonged to Damon and the Yankees.  Melky Cabrera won the game Friday night and Rodriguez won it yesterday.  If this doesn’t set the Yankees off, nothing will.

Andy Pettitte goes for the four-game sweep tomorrow night.

Late-inning magic leads Yanks to victory

Heading into the bottom of the ninth tonight, the Yankees were down 4-2 with star closer Joe Nathan on the hill.

However, Brett Gardner quickly put a scare into him, tripling to lead off the inning.  It could have been worse, however, as he tripped over first base.  He actually had a chance for a second inside-the-park home run on the night, as he ran around the bases in the seventh inning for one.

Following the triple, Mark Teixeira singled to cut the Twins’ lead to 4-3.  Alex Rodriguez then walked (he had four walks in his first game in the new Yankee Stadium), advancing Teixeira to second.  However, Hideki Matsui struck out swinging and Nick Swisher was robbed of a hit by first baseman Justin Morneau.  With runners on second and third, Robinson Cano was intentionally walked to load the bases for Melky Cabrera.  On the first pitch, Cabrera hit a fly ball that dunked in in between Denard Span and Carlos Gomez to drive in the game-tying and the game-winning run.

Gardner, who went 3-for-3 and was a double shy of the cycle, wasn’t even in the starting lineup.  He entered the game in the fourth inning when Johnny Damon was ejected for arguing a call.  Home plate umpire Wally Bell had a rather inconsistent strike zone.

Phil Hughes started for the Yankees and only lasted five innings.  He walked four, struck out only two and allowed two home runs to Morneau.  Phil Coke also allowed a home run in his first game back from back stiffness.

Jose Veras retired the final batter in the top of the ninth inning and was rewarded with his second victory of the season despite his 6.89 ERA.  Relievers Jonathan Albaladejo, Brett Tomko and Edwar Ramirez also had scoreless outings.

The Yankees have won five out of their last seven and will look to take the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon with Joba Chamberlain on the mound.

Extra! Extra!

The Yankees recorded eight, count ‘em, eight extra base hits in tonight’s 8-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.  Amazingly enough, only one of those hits went for four bases and five of these came in their five-run second inning, including two triples.

Down 1-0 after the first, Melky Cabrera led off the second with a double.  Brett Gardner followed with his first career home run that just cleared the right field wall by the foul pole.  Ramiro Pena then hit a triple and scored on Johnny Damon’s triple.  After a ground out, Mark Teixeira doubled home the Yankees’ fourth run.  Robinson Cano added an RBI single for good measure.

This was all against Scott Richmond, a pitcher the Yankees have never before faced (which usually isn’t a good thing for the Yankees).  He only retired five batters, allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

Gardner hit an RBI triple in the fifth inning to give the Yankees three triples on the night.  The RBI gave him three.  Teixeira raised his batting average .011 points with his 2-for-4 night, driving in two runs.

Andy Pettitte pitched six innings, allowing only one earned run.  He walked four and struck out only two, but buckled down with runners on base.  Three of the four walks were in the first inning as well.

The Yankees are now 16-17 and will look to take the series tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.

Teacher defeats student

Roy Halladay was fantastic; A.J. Burnett, not so much.

The Yankees lineup with players like Brett Gardner, Kevin Cash and Ramiro Pena was no match for Halladay, as he retired 17 batters in a row at one point, throwing a low amount of pitches in the process.

For the first three innings, Burnett matched him.  Then the fourth inning happened.  Two doubles, two walks and a sacrifice fly scored three runs for the Jays, and that was all Halladay needed in the team’s 5-1 victory.

Burnett finished the evening pitching 7 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits.  He walked four and struck out three.

The Yankees were able to score their only run in the seventh on Alex Rodriguez’s two-out single with Johnny Damon on second.  Damon actually had two hits against Halladay.  He singled in the first inning but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

Scott Rolen was 3-for-4 with three RBI tonight.  Before tonight’s game, he was 0-for-18 against Burnett.

The Yankees are now 15-17, and will try to rebound with Andy Pettitte on the mound tomorrow night.

Yankees win rubber game with HRs

The Yankees scored all five of their runs on home runs Sunday afternoon, including Johnny Damon’s three-run shot in the eighth inning with two outs down 3-2.  That was set up by two straight infield singles after Robinson Cano’s solo home run in the inning.

Joba Chamberlain (2-1) struggled in the first inning once again.  But like he did against Boston, he settled down afterward pitching six innings, striking out five.  In the first inning, Chamberlain gave up a three-run home run to Aubrey Huff.  Huff proceeded to pump his fist and first base and when he reached home, an obvious jab at Chamberlain.  Chamberlain never retaliated.

He now has a 13.50 ERA in the first inning, which is something that needs to be addressed immediately.

The Yankees had a brief 1-0 lead after the top of the first.  Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run to right center, his seventh of the year.

Mariano Rivera settled down after his recent struggles, pitching a scoreless ninth to record his sixth save of the season.  Phil Coke pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings, allowing only one hit.

The Yankees are off tomorrow before traveling to Toronto for a three-game series against the Blue Jays.

Rivera falters in tie game

Mariano Rivera gave up back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning of what was a tie game.  The Yankees lost 8-6 and are now embroiled in a five-game losing streak for the first time under Joe Girardi.  The Yankees were on a four-game winning streak leading up to this rough patch.

Eight home runs were hit tonight between the two clubs, including Johnny Damon’s game-tying home run in the eighth inning.  Unfortunately, the Yankees continue to struggle with runners in scoring position.

Oh yeah, Jose Molina injured his quad the day before Alex Rodriguez is set to return.  Really, is there anything else that can go wrong?

Teixeira goes from hero to goat in 2 innings

After Mark Teixeira hit a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning to tie the score, it looked like he may have finally arrived.

Not so fast my friend.

He popped up with Johnny Damon at third with one out in the 10th inning down by one.  Terrible.  Just awful.

This team is pathetic, and I’m at a loss for words.

Well, at least Joba pitched a nice 4 2/3 innings

Yeesh, this team has just looked terrible.  0-5 against the Red Sox this season is completely unacceptable.

Joba Chamberlain struck out 12 including the final eight outs he recorded, but he still pitched a terrible first inning which counts too.  The offense couldn’t do anything aside from Johnny Damon’s three-run home run, and, once again, the bullpen was terrible.

As we saw early in the season last year, this team can’t run off a prolonged winning streak.  They have a lot of two-game runs followed by three-game drops, and so on and so forth.

I really don’t know where the Yankees go from here.  They are dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness, but the possible replacements in the minors aren’t that good.  I’m not ready to sound the alarm just yet, but it’s getting close.