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.

Walks ruin Burnett’s start, Yanks lose 7-2

A.J. Burnett was cruising well into the fourth inning Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium against the Texas Rangers.  In fact, he was perfect through 3 2/3 innings.  However, after two two-out walks, Burnett gave up a three-run home run to Ian Kinsler.  After that, the Rangers were well on their way to a 7-2 victory.

It wasn’t all Burnett’s fault.  The Yankees left 12 runners on base and couldn’t capitalize on starter Dustin Nippert’s seven walks.

Burnett was done after six innings.  He struck out a season-high 12 and only allowed two hits, but the three-run home run he allowed was more than enough to cause the defeat with the lack of run support he received.

Once Burnett was out, Phil Coke allowed a three-run home run to Nelson Cruz and Kinsler added his second home run of the game against David Robertson.

The Yankees will look to rebound tomorrow when they begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.  CC Sabathia gets the start.

This one’s on Girardi (with a side of Posada)

Update – 4:35 p.m.: Apparently Girardi said Gardner not running has been addressed, meaning Gardner did something wrong (h/t RAB’s Twitter page).

Why didn’t Joe Girardi have Brett Gardner steal with the extremely slow Jorge Posada up at bat?

Why couldn’t Posada hit a fly ball?

Why was Chien-Ming Wang taken out?  Why were Phil Coke and David Robertson brought in?

Eric Wedge looked like a fool for taking out the surging Carl Pavano when he did.  But by the end of the ninth inning, Girardi made Wedge look like a genius.

By the way, I’ve seen just about enough of Coke.  Walking someone batting .184 in the ninth inning is just inexcusable.

Bad, frustrating loss, folks.

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.

Bruney to see Dr. Andrews

The news just gets worse for Brian Bruney.  The relief pitcher is scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday, Tyler Kepner reports.

Bruney may have rushed himself back, and Joe Girardi is none too pleased.

“I just think he wasn’t totally forthright in how he was feeling,” Girardi said. “We’ve had many talks with him over the last couple of weeks about how you have to tell us exactly what’s going on. It could be that by rushing himself back, he’s never given himself the amount of time he’s needed.”

The Yankees called up David Robertson after this afternoon’s game and he will be up with the team in time for tonight’s game.

Kepner mentions Huston Street as a potential trade target.  Street is 7-for-7 in save opportunities for the last-place Colorado Rockies, allowing seven earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.

I’m not sure it’s time to start looking outside of the organization for help.  However, that day will probably end up coming sooner or later.

Tomko called up

Bryan Hoch texted into Twitter saying that Brett Tomko was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  David Robertson was sent down.

Tomko has struck out 17 and walked four in 14 innings in Scranton, allowing only one earned run.

I think it’s worth having his veteran presence up here.  The Yankees will need to make a 40-man roster move.

Berroa called up

As expected, Angel Berroa has been called up to replace the injured Cody Ransom, according to Chad Jennings.  Berroa is not on the 40-man roster, so the Yankees still need to make another move.  While no move has yet been announced, Jennings suggested moving Xavier Nady to the 60-day DL.

Berroa, 31, is batting .316/.365/.491 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 57 at-bats for Scranton.

It was said last night that David Robertson was called up to take Chien-Ming Wang’s spot.

Adding injury to insult

As Peter Abraham succinctly put it:

Wang to DL, Robertson coming.

Ransom on DL (quad). No word on who is coming.

Bruney has an injured elbow. Tests tomorrow.

That answers the question as to where Bruney was.  Ransom was injured stealing second base.  I would guess they’re disabling Wang with a “tired arm” or something.  More speculation: I’d say Robertson will remain up with the team until Tuesday, when Phil Hughes gets the call to start against Detroit.

Update – 12:30 a.m.: Abraham has more.  Apparently Bruney’s elbow was bothering him on Wednesday, which is why he didn’t pitch in the 14-inning game.  He gave up one run on two hits Tuesday night.

Ransom has some sort of a tear in his quad.  The Yankees will need to make a 40-man roster move when calling up an infielder tomorrow.

Regarding Wang, the Yankees said Wang’s issues are hip-related, stemming from his foot injury last year.  According to Brian Cashman, Wang will need two weeks of physical therapy.

Miranda called up; Matsui’s knee problems strike again

According to Bryan Hoch, 1B Juan Miranda was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  To make room for him, RHP David Robertson was optioned to Scranton.  Hoch said that the Yankees felt they needed a bench player due to Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury and Hideki Matsui’s left knee injury.

Matsui has fluid on his knee and is not in today’s starting lineup.  Joe Girardi feels that he “maybe has taken a little step back.”  Matsui was on base four times yesterday and then this comes up.

Miranda, who will be 26 next Saturday, is batting .361/.425/.667 in 36 at-bats for Scranton.  He has three home runs, 13 RBI and four walks.

Yankees cut eight

Peter Abraham reported that the Yankees reassigned the following eight players to the minor-league camp today:

OF Todd Linden
1B-OF Shelley Duncan
OF John Rodriguez
INF Doug Bernier
INF Justin Leone
C P.J. Pilittere
C Chris Stewart
RHP David Robertson

This is what Joe Girardi had to say about Robertson:

“He threw the ball OK,” Girardi said. “It’s important he go down and get some work. Robbie’s performed at this level pretty well at times and he performed for us at spring training pretty well at times. He’s a man who has, I think, a good future. He needs to continue a little to mature a little but as pitcher. I told him there’s a chance we’ll see him this year.”

I think 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 spring innings is a little better than "OK." I hope he'll get another chance to prove himself sooner rather than later.

Yankees sign remaining 0-3 players

0-3 players are players who have between zero to three years of service time. The Yankees have signed all 20 of these players, including Joba Chamberlain.

According to Bryan Hoch, Chamberlain will make $432,575 if he spends the entire season with the big club.

In addition to Chamberlain, the Yankees agreed to terms on 2009 contracts with the following players: Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo, Francisco Cervelli, Anthony Claggett, Phil Coke, Wilkin De La Rosa, Christian Garcia, Brett Gardner, Dan Giese, Eric Hacker, Phil Hughes, Steven Jackson, Ian Kennedy, Edwar Ramirez, Cody Ransom, Dave Robertson, Humberto Sanchez and Jose Veras.

The team didn't have to "renew" any contracts, meaning this year the team and the players all came to terms on a contract,

Yankees win 7-3

CC Sabathia made his Yankees spring debut tonight, and it resulted in a victory for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees scored four runs against Justin Verlander, and Sabathia only gave up one earned run in two innings of work. He threw 26 pitches for 20 strikes, struck out two batters, gave up two hits and walked none.

Cody Ransom went 1-for-3 with a double and Johnny Damon had an RBI double. Alfredo Aceves pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. David Robertson struck out the side to close the game in the ninth.

Chien-Ming Wang will go against the Atlanta Braves tomorrow afternoon at 1:15 in Tampa. The game will be on YES and WCBS-AM 880.

Rookies dress up as Village People

Update - 6:55 p.m.: Cervelli, Miranda, Sanchez, Aceves

The Yankees hazed their rookies after today's scheduled game was rained out. They made them dress up as the Village People on the way back to the team hotel, according to Bryan Hoch.

Brett Gardner donned a construction vest and jeans, Alfredo Aceves became a screaming Indian chief and Francisco Cervelli was the leather-clad biker. Juan Miranda (police officer) and Humberto Sanchez (sailor) found different uniforms, and David Robertson was a cowboy -- six-shooter and all.

It doesn't seem like the Yankees tortured their rookies as much as the White Sox tortured Lance Broadway, for example.

I haven't found any pictures yet, but I'll add them to this post once I do.

AP Photo

Sweep success

None of the games were pretty, but the Yankees beat up on a lowly opponent, sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in their own building. The game took over four hours and the Yankees had a 7-2 lead, but I'll take it.

The Yankees survived a shortened outing by Darrell Rasner. He threw 98 pitches while only recording 10 outs. David Robertson, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras all struggled out of the bullpen, but Robinson Cano hit the go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning.

Cano finished the day going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady also had multiple hits.

Despite allowing the game-tying home run in the fifth inning, Ramirez "earned" his fourth victory of the season. Mariano Rivera recorded four outs for his 31st save of the season.

Next up for New York is a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox that begins on Tuesday. Hopefully the Yankees can carry the momentum gained from this sweep forward.

Eight is great

The winning streak is now at eight games, as the Yankees bats did the talking this afternoon. After Joba Chamberlain out-pitched Josh Beckett last night, the Yankees scored 10 times and recorded 13 hits to defeat Boston for the second straight day.

Andy Pettitte gave up two runs in the first inning, but he settled down after that. He was given the lead in the fourth inning and didn't look back. He gave up three runs (one earned) over six innings, striking out seven and walking three.

Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera each had two hits, while Robinson Cano had three hits. This was his seventh multi-hit game in the eight games since the All-Star break. He hit his ninth home run and 22nd double of the season, driving three runs in in the process and taking his batting average up to .270.

Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte made their Yankee debuts this afternoon. Nady reached base twice (a walk and a hit by pitch) and Marte struck out David Ortiz, the only batter he would face, in a big spot in the seventh inning.

Jose Veras walked a batter and allowed a hit while only retiring one batter. However, Marte and Ramirez got out of the seventh inning without allowing a run. Ramirez went on to pitch a scoreless eighth and David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth to finish the game.

Sidney Ponson and Jon Lester will pitch the finale tomorrow night.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The beginning of the Sexson Era

The Yankees are 1-0 with Richie Sexson, as the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-1 Friday night. See, he is already making a difference.

After Mike Mussina allowed three hits and one run in the first inning, Sexson quickly earned his pinstripes. He hit a two-out RBI single to center to tie the game. He finished 1-for-3 with one RBI, one walk and one strikeout.

After that, the Yankees rolled. Robinson Cano hit a two-out three-run home run in the third. Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez had two-out RBI hits in the fourth. Are you sensing a trend?

Abreu, Cano and Melky Cabrera had two hits. Rodriguez had three hits, including his 20th home run of the season and 538th of his career.

Mussina pitched six innings, allowing nine hits and one earned run. He struck out six and walked none en route to his 12th win of the season. He lowered his ERA to 3.49 in the process as well.

David Robertson, Edwar Ramirez and LaTroy Hawkins each pitched one perfect inning. Robertson struck out the side in the seventh.

The two teams will do it again tomorrow afternoon. Justin Duchscherer, tomorrow's scheduled starter, has been pushed back to Sunday. Sean Gallagher, originally slated for Sunday, will start tomorrow instead.

Igawa sent back

That was quick. With David Robertson's call-up, Kei Igawa was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Igawa pitched one inning last night and gave up two hits.

To make room for Robertson on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated Oneli Perez for assignment.

I would have designated LaTroy Hawkins for assignment. But that's just me.

Robertson called up

David Robertson has been called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will be with the team this afternoon, according to Chad Jennings. There is no word on who has been sent down yet.

In 33 innings (20 games) for Scranton this season, Robertson has given up nine runs (six earned for a 1.64 ERA) and has struck out 48 batters while walking 16. He began the season in Double-A Trenton and struck out 26 batters in 18 2/3 innings.

We've learned to take minor-league numbers with a grain of salt, but his strikeout total is intriguing. It appears that he can walk batters at times, so that could be a concern. But overall, he deserved the promotion and hopefully he can deliver.