Mark Trumbo hit a ninth inning home run to left field on the third pitch from Cory Wade to give the Angels a 9-8 victory over the New York Yankees. In a game that had a little bit of everything, the Yankees had plenty of chances to win the game, including a bases loaded top of the ninth with two outs, but could not get the runs across they needed to win the game. The game started terribly for the Angels as their ace, Jered Weaver, came up lame after only three batters in the first. Reports later indicated that Weaver had a back problem. With his family in the stands and a family crowd on Memorial Day, Weaver let two F-bombs shouts for all the world to hear as he was walking toward the dugout after the injury. Some sloppy defense helped the Yankees score three runs in the inning and with Weaver out, it seemed all the breaks were heading their way in this game. But Phil Hughes gave all the runs back and then one in the bottom of the first. Hughes did not have a good outing and the Angels hit the ball hard off of him all night.
(click “view full post” to read more)
If a Kuroda blanks a team and nobody can hit, did he really pitch well? No matter, the scorecard says that Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight shutout innings, limiting the punchless A’s offense to a walk and four hits. The Yankees had another rough game with men in scoring position and could only manage two runs themselves. They had plenty of chances to put A’s starter, Tommy Milone away in the first three innings and could not do so. The only early run in those innings was a big bomb from the bat of Andruw Jones, a solo job and homer Number 425 in Jones’ long career. Once the Yankees had that one run, the game was basically over. The final outcome gave the Yankees their fifth straight win and sent the A’s to their fifth straight loss.
(click “view full post” to continue reading)
From my Maine location, watching games boils down to MLB.TV or the MLB Network. When watching the New York teams on MLB.TV, I will almost always switch to the New York broadcast when the games are of the away variety. Doing so gives continuity to my roots as a New Jersey boy listening to the home teams. Before launching off into this opinion piece a few disclaimers are needed. First, these opinions are my own and do not reflect on the opinions of this site and its leadership. Secondly, I listen to far more Yankee games than I do Mets games. But it seemed right to include both here even if the opinions should be stronger for the Yankees since I listen to them far more often. I do not get the post game shows, so no review of those entities are possible. I do not listen to radio broadcasts, so there will be no review of the radio personalities. I also could not include the “field” reporters because the computer broadcasts cut them out.
(click “view full post” to continue reading)
After watching the Yankees defeat the Oakland Athletics last night in Oakland, the overwhelming thought was how sad it is that baseball has not resolved the stadium issue for the Athletics. There are no qualms about the team or the organization. Billy Beane and company have tried to make it work despite having little to work with. Despite being the worst hitting team in the American League, the A’s are in second place in the AL West. But forcing the A’s to languish in that dump of a park and allowing the San Francisco Giants to continue to block a team move to San Jose is unacceptable.
(Click “view full post” to read more)
Imagine if you will that the year is 1954. It is the last game of the regular season and your dad has taken you to see your Yankees for one last time that season. Unlike most seasons, these Yankees are not going to the World Series because they came in second place. Oh, it’s not as bad as you think. The team won 103 games that year and still finished eight full games behind a juggernaut Cleveland Indians team that featured Larry Doby, Early Winn, Al Rosen and Bob Feller among others. It is a Sunday afternoon and you settle into your seats. The crowd is sparse with only 11,670 souls to witness the game. Nevertheless, this is Yankee Stadium and the organ is playing. Suddenly, the imperious voice of Bob Sheppard appears from the clouds to announce the starting line ups. You dutifully take the names down of the visiting Philadelphia Athletics on your scorecard and then he gets to the Yankees’ line up. You mark down on your scorecard that Hank Bauer is leading off and playing right field. Next is Eddie Robinson, which you think is kind of different because he hardly ever played. And then the next two players are announced:
“Playing shortstop, Number 7…Mickey Mantle…Number 7
“Playing third base, Number 8…Yogi Berra…Number 8…”
Those two announcements have you so flubbed up and flabbergasted that you miss the rest of the lineup. Did that voice from God just say that Mickey was playing short and Yogi was playing third? You look to your dad and he shrugs and grins. Well, how about that, as Mel Allen would say.
(click “view full post” to read more)
Russell Martin personally left seven men on base in last night’s game. His ungainly offensive performance was fortunately overwhelmed by what was strictly a favorable game for the New York Yankees. But even so, the game and Martin’s offensive performance leaves a lasting impression of a big black hole at the bottom of the Yankees’ lineup when Martin is catching. Has Russell Martin become the new Jeff Mathis? Well, we can always point to his on-base percentage as that part of Martin’s offensive game is the only thing that keeps him from Mathis territory. Otherwise, Martin’s offensive season is bleak. The eternal question and dilemma here is if Martin’s work behind the plate is enough to offset what has been a putrid offensive season.
(click “view full post” to read more)
The New York Yankees took the rubber game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, 8-3, as a trio of the Yankees’ “old men” had big nights. Alex Rodriguez hit two homers in his first two at bats, Derek Jeter had three hits and tied Paul Waner for fifteenth all time on the hit list and Andy Pettitte gave up two solo homers and little else in seven innings of work. Curtis Granderson also hit a homer in the first inning, his fourteenth of the season. Will Smith‘s major league debut could not have gone much worse for Kansas City.
(click “view full post” to read more)
As I wrote yesterday, it is easy when a team or a player is struggling to pile on and gnaw away at the freshly exposed skins of the stinking Yankees. Wallace Matthews of ESPN.com took his turn today by stating emphatically that Alex Rodriguez is no longer a great player. Matthews built a great case. The power numbers are no longer there. He strikes out in big situations. The Royals showed what they think of A-Rod by walking Robinson Cano to load the bases to face A-Rod instead. Matthews even mentioned the drive the other night that died on the warning track in left. That was age, not the wind or anything. Matthews, of course is not alone. Others have pointed to A-Rod’s declining OPS numbers that seem to indicate a fall from grace for the once-great slugger. But the biggest slap by Matthews was stating that A-Rod was, “a middle-of-the-road major league third baseman.” I am not sure how life’s journey has brought me to this place as an A-Rod apologist, but even at A-Rod’s current state, he is no middle-of-the-road third baseman.
(click “view full post” to read more)
The New York Yankees were supposed to face Luis Mendoza tonight in the third game of their series with the Kansas City Royals. Instead, the Yanks will face a guy making his major league debut. His name is Will Smith. No joke. As Ken Davidoff joked in his column today at the Post, this is not some Men in Black promotion. And as I joked in my game picks post, why the Royals did not save him for July 4 is beyond me. But all kidding aside, who is this guy and why are the Royals starting him? And why would the Royals prefer him to Luis Mendoza? Mendoza’s peripherals at first glance help us understand the Royals’ reservation. Mendoza has an ERA just north of five and actually has a higher walk rate than strikeout rate this season. But still, this seems like an error in judgment for the Royals.
(click “view full post” to read more)
IIATMS MASTHEAD
Co-Founders and Editors Emeritus
Jason Rosenberg, Larry Koestler,
Moshe Mandel, Brien Jackson
Editors-in-Chief
Michael Eder, Stacey Gotsulias, Matt Imbrogno
Writers
Tamar Chalker, William Tasker, EJ Fagan, Mike Jaggers-Radolf, Brad Vietrogoski, Domenic Lanza
SNY
SNY
In Mo We Trust
