As expected, Mauer wins MVP

Congratulations go out to Joe Mauer who won the American League MVP award with 27 of the 28 first place votes.

The one surprise of the voting was that Miguel Cabrera – who finished fourth overall – received the other first place vote.  I’d love to see that writer try to defend that vote.

On the Yankees’ front, Mark Teixeira finished second and Derek Jeter rounded out the top three.  Alex Rodriguez came in 10th.

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.

Yanks turn 3 double plays behind Pettitte, win 9-2

(Originally written for Baseball Digest)

When Andy Pettitte loaded the bases with Texas Rangers with one out in the top of the first, it didn't look like he would be long for Wednesday night's game at Yankee Stadium.  However, he was able to induce a 5-4-3 double play with Ivan Rodriguez at the plate to end the threat.  After a Jorge Posada three-run home run against Texas starter Derek Holland in the bottom half of the frame, the Yankees were on their way to a 9-2 victory.

Jerry Hairston Jr. added a solo home run in the fourth, and his 12-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning helped start the Yankees' five-run rally after Robinson Cano led off with a double.

Pettitte went seven strong, allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking three.  He threw 103 pitches and was aided by three double plays behind him.  The Yankees would turn another with Brian Bruney pitching in relief.

In addition to Posada's three RBI, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira drove in two runs apiece, while Hideki Matsui and Cano were the only Yankees with multi-hit games.

It wasn't all good news for New York.  Posada left the game in the top of the eighth after taking a foul tip off his glove hand.  X-rays were negative, and the team's report is that he aggravated his ring finger.  The Boston Red Sox also won on David Ortiz's walk-off home run.

The Yankees will look to take this three-game series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch slated for 1:05.  A.J. Burnett will get the start.

(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Teixeira on Letterman [Video]

I mentioned last night that Mark Teixeira was going to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman last night.  CBS.com has since put up a clip of the appearance, including him batting outside on 53rd St.

Teixeira on Letterman tonight

For those who are still awake, Mark Teixeira will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight.  He taped an outdoor batting demonstration.

The show starts at 11:35 p.m.

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)

Teixeira drives in all 3 in Yanks' victory

Ho-hum, the Yankees win another series. But what made last night's 3-2 win against the Oakland A's interesting was that Chad Gaudin started, allowing no runs and one hit, but only pitched 4 1/3 innings. He was removed by Joe Girardi, later citing his pitch count (91), largely due to his five walks, as the reason he was taken out and not because he loaded the bases.

Alfredo Aceves relieved him and quickly induced a 1-2-3 double play to end Oakland's threat.

The Yankees were up 3-0 thanks to an RBI groundout and two-run home run from Mark Teixeira who is now at 89 RBI on the season.

After Aceves got out of the fifth inning, he allowed a solo home run to Jack Cust in the sixth and gave up three hits (including an RBI single from Mark Ellis) before being removed. Phil Coke, Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera combined to record the final seven outs of the game, with the latter earning his 36th save.

The Yankees are off today before beginning a three-game series in Boston tomorrow.

As Pettitte settles down, Yanks come back

Andy Pettitte’s evening began rather inauspiciously at Safeco Field Saturday night.  Though the Yankees eventually won 4-2, it didn’t look like Pettitte would hang around for a while.  Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single, followed by a Franklin Gutierrez single, a Jose Lopez RBI single and an RBI groundout from Ken Griffey Jr.

After retiring four of his next five batters via the strikeout, he had trouble with the Mariners’ top of the order in the third inning.  Suzuki led off with a single and Gutierrez walked.  But after that, Pettitte closed the door.

When the dust settled, he struck out a season-high 10 batters over six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs.  For the second straight game in Seattle, the Yankees’ starting pitcher struck out 10.  Pettitte, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett now each have one game of double-digit strikeouts this season.

The Yankees began their comeback in the second when Jorge Posada doubled off the top of the right center field wall.  The play was reviewed, but the call stood.  Jerry Hairston Jr. eventually drove Posada home on a fielder’s choice to halve the Mariners’ lead.

For the next few innings, Seattle’s starter, Ryan Rowland-Smith, held the Yankees in check.  However, in the fifth, he was hit with some bad luck.  Melky Cabrera singled with two outs and took second on a wild pitch.  Derek Jeter followed with a single through the left side of the infield, somehow getting under both Josh Wilson’s and Jack Hannahan’s gloves to score Cabrera and tie the game.

The game remained tied at 2 until Mark Teixeira led off the ninth with a solo home run against Mark Lowe.  The Yankees would add another on Nick Swisher’s RBI single following Robinson Cano’s bloop double.

New York is now 30 games over .500 and remain 6.5 games ahead of Boston following a dramatic comeback of its own in Texas (they scored six runs in the ninth to win by four).  Sergio Mitre gets the ball tomorrow night.

Teixeira: Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Pettitte: AP Photo

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.

Failing to get clutch hit, Yanks get swept in Anaheim

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

When the Yankees began their series in Anaheim on Friday, they were tied for first place in the AL East.  Now as they head into the All-Star break, they are three games behind the Boston Red Sox after getting swept at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels.  The Yankees lost Sunday’s game by the score of 5-4.

The Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh and eighth innings, but they failed to get clutch hits to put them on top.

Down 4-2 in the seventh, Mark Teixeira struck out and Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end the threat.  And in the next inning, after CC Sabathia allowed the Angels to score another run to make it a 5-2 ballgame, the Yankees came within one run, but Nick Swisher lined back to the pitcher for a double play.

For the third straight game, the Yankees had a lead only to lose it soon after.  Derek Jeter drove in a run on the fielder’s choice in the third inning.  But Sabathia gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth, including RBI doubles from Bobby Abreu and Howie Kendrick, as well as an RBI from Robb Quinlan and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Brandon Wood.

John Lackey only allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings.  He struck out six and walked three.  On the other hand, Sabathia gave up five earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, bringing his season ERA to 3.86.

Jeter and Melky Cabrera had two hits apiece, but the nine combined runners left on base by Teixeira and Rodriguez effectively sealed the Yankees’ fate.

After the All-Star break, the Yankees will begin a 10-game homestand with three-games against the Detroit Tigers on July 17th.

Jeter, Teixeira named All-Star starters; Rivera also named to team

Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira were named American League All-Star starters at their respective positions.  Teixeira was in a hotly-contested race with Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

Mariano Rivera was the only Yankee named to the pitching staff of the American League.  No Yankees were chosen as reserves.

The complete roster can be found here.

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.

Rivera saves 500th, drives in run as Yanks sweep Mets

(Originally written for Baseball Digest)

Mariano Rivera entered Sunday night's game at Citi Field in search of one milestone.  When the game was over, he came away with two milestones: his 500th career save and his first career RBI.  Yes, I said RBI.

Rivera, who entered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, drew a based loaded walk against Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez in the top of the ninth inning.  The run gave the Yankees valuable insurance headed into the bottom of the frame.  Rivera wouldn't need it, however, as he was able to nail down the Yankees' 4-2 victory to sweep their first series at Citi Field.

Another story seemingly lost in all this (as Rebecca pointed out on Twitter) is that Chien-Ming Wang picked up his first win of 2009.  But how did we get here?

The Yankees got on the board early and often in the first inning against starter Livan Hernandez.  Derek Jeter, playing in his first game of the series, led off with a double off the left field wall.  Nick Swisher then grounded to first, but Daniel Murphy threw to third in an attempt to get Jeter.  It turned out to be a mistake, as both runners were safe.  Mark Teixeira followed with a two-run double and Alex Rodriguez walked.  Robinson Cano was up next, and was bailed out by another Murphy miscue.  He grounded into a sure double play, but Murphy dropped the ball at first.  Jorge Posada hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the Yankees' third run.

Wang wasn't great, but he pitched a season-high 5 1/3 innings.  He allowed four hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out three.  He gave up his runs in the fourth inning on a Fernando Martinez RBI double and a Luis Castillo RBI single.

Wang was relieved by Phil Coke and Phil Hughes in the sixth inning.  Hughes would also go on to pitch a scoreless seventh before being replaced by Brian Bruney in the eighth.  Bruney's control failed him, as only six of his 15 pitches went for strikes.  This caused Rivera to be brought in for a four-out save.  But that's where the fun began.

Posada reached on another botched pop up by the Mets with Rodriguez on the mound.  Eventually, the Yankees loaded the bases on walks, bringing up Rivera with the bases loaded and two outs.  He only swung at one pitch and had a full count before taking a pitch inside for the walk.

Rivera only gave up a two-out single in the ninth before inducing a grounder to second for the third and final out.  His 500th career save was his 18th of 2009 in 19 chances.

After a day off Monday, the Yankees will begin a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at home.  Joba Chamberlain takes the ball in Game 1.

Principal Cano goes 4-4, Yankees win

Robinson Cano, who served as principal of PS 55 for the day, went 4-for-4 with two RBI – including the game-winning RBI – in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Things were kind of hairy for a while when CC Sabathia gave up a three-run home run to Anderson Hernandez, the 16-46 Nationals’ No. 9 hitter.  Hernandez only had one career home run going into that bat, and that home run came in 2006!

But alas, the Yankees were able to come back due to big hits by Mark Teixeira and Cano as well as bad center field play by Elijah Dukes.

Sabathia went 7 2/3 innings and dominated the game otherwise.  He threw 109 pitches while striking out two and walking one.  Brian Bruney made his return, retiring the only batter he faced.  Mariano Rivera then came in and pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save of the season.

Chien-Ming Wang gets the start tomorrow night.

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.

Teixeira’s slide inspires Yankees to victory

Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch twice tonight in the Yankees’ 12-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.  On the second one, he snapped, eventually breaking up a double play with a hard slide in the fourth inning.

After that slide, the Yankees scored five runs, giving enough breathing room for A.J. Burnett.  He gutted through seven innings, striking out eight on 110 pitches.  He allowed three earned runs, all on a long home run by Nelson Cruz.

Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter each had three hits.  Posada drove in four runs, including three on a long home run to right.  Robinson Cano and Hideki Matsui had two hits apiece.  Like Posada, Matsui hit a three-run home run as well.

All in all, it was a nice win for New York, even though the errorless streak ended when Posada air-mailed a throw to second base attempting to catch a runner stealing.  They are now 10 games over .500 and maintained their one-game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East.  The 12 runs scored were a season-high.

Andy Pettitte will face Scott Feldman tomorrow night at the Stadium.

Joba pitches 8, Yankees set errorless record in victory

Well, well, well, look who pitched eight innings and only needed 106 pitches to do so.  Yup, that’s what Joba Chamberlain did tonight, striking out five, walking only two and allowing two earned runs in the Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.  The Yankees took three of four from Cleveland.

In the process, the Yankees played their 18th straight errorless game, setting a major league record.

Nick Swisher, on the first day of the new month, went 2-for-4 with two doubles, including the game-winning two-run double in the top of the seventh.

Interesting observation from looking at today’s boxscore: the Yankees recorded six hits tonight, and all them came from the top four sports in the order: Derek Jeter, Swisher, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.  However, the 10 walks issued by the Indians’ pitchers were significant.

Mariano Rivera earned his 11th save of the season after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Yankees are now 30-21 and will begin a three-game series against Texas in the Bronx tomorrow night.

AP Photo

Aceves stars in relief, propels Yanks to first place

Andy Pettitte left with lower back stiffness in the sixth inning with runners on first and second, no outs and a 2-0 count.  Alfredo Aceves came in to protect the Yankees’ 3-0 lead.  He walked the batter, struck out Kelly Shoppach on a nasty curveball, induced a sacrifice fly and got Asdrubal Cabrera to ground out to end the Indians’ threat.

Aceves would go on to pitch two more innings, allowing only one hit in the process to save the Yankees from using any other relievers.

Pettitte walked five in his five innings and didn’t have his best stuff at all.  But he only gave up one earned run, and the three runs the Yankees scored over the first three innings were enough.  Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher had the RBI for the Yankees.

Mariano Rivera recorded his 10th save of the season.  This was the 58th time that Rivera saved a win for Pettitte, setting a new major league record.

With the Red Sox’s loss, the Yankees have sole possession of first place by a half-game.

CC Sabathia makes his return to Cleveland tonight at 7:05.  Fausto Carmona will oppose him on the mound.

Yankees win, move into first place

A.J. Burnett won for the first time since mid-April and the Yankees moved into a tie for first place with the Boston Red Sox after defeating the Texas Rangers 9-2 tonight.  The Yankees won two out of the three against the Rangers, recording 47 hits in the process.

The Yankees hit four home runs (two from the struggling Hideki Matsui and one each from Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano).  Kevin Cash went 2-for-4 with two RBI and was one of six Yankees with multiple hits.  Derek Jeter was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two walks.

Burnett went six shutout innings, striking out seven and allowing only three hits.  However, he gave up four walks.  Jose Veras couldn’t get out of his own way in the seventh inning, so David Robertson had to come in, followed by Chien-Ming Wang for two innings to close out the game.

Wang faced six batters and retired them all in what had to be a confidence boost for the right-hander.  His velocity is still down somewhat, but this is obviously a step in the right direction.

The Yankees have tomorrow off before beginning a four-game series in Cleveland on Friday.

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.