Granderson Pop!

The Good

David Phelps pitched 5.2 innings allowing just 1 run against our rivals.  Granderson hit two homeruns to put the Yankees ahead, and Sir Derek Jeter went 2-5 with a run scored before being pulled with some sort of an injury.

The Bad

Derek Jeter was pulled out of the game after he came up limping after running to first on a double play.  However, Jeter insists that he's fine and that he'll play in today's game.  I guess that's what a contract year does to you.  It makes you play harder than you would otherwise.  What's that?  Its not a contract year!?  He just plays hard!?  I guess that's why we're called the Respect Jeter's Gangster blog.

The Ugly

Although the Yankees won, so did the Orioles, which keeps us in a two-way tie for first. 

Making Up For Lost Pop

Three homeruns in yesterdays game brought the Yankees back to their patented winning strategy, adding 1 to the win column and 6 to the CHF coffers.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 15hr = $30
Curtis Granderson 37hr = $74
Alex Rodriguez 17hr = $34
Robinson Cano 30hr = $60
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 16hr = $32
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2
Steve Pearce 1hr = $2  

Total 213 hr = $426

The Bats Are Not Coming To Life

The Good

Jeter's 2 run double gave the Yankees some hope, and Swisher's 2-5 night helped break him out of his slump.

The Bad

Besides the aforementioned players, the Yankees continued to pay their membership dues to the Dead Bats Society.  We have not seen this many dead bats since the Bat Flu epidemic of 1979.

The Ugly

A walk off win by the Red Sox on a night that we so badly needed a win falls into the ugly category.  But even more ugly are the 21 players the Yankees left on base yesterday.  21! 

But Did the Children Benefit?

No they did not.  $0 has gone towards helping fight the bat flu epidemic ravaging children across the globe.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 15hr = $30
Curtis Granderson 35hr = $70
Alex Rodriguez 17hr = $34
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 16hr = $32
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2
Steve Pearce 1hr = $2   Total 210 hr = $420

Are the Bats Coming Alive?

On Sunday, the Yankees won a 13-3 game over the Baltimore Orioles to claim a one game lead in the division.  The Yankee bats came in to save Freddy Garcia who lasted just 3.1 innings, and the Yankees did what they haven't been doing in a while: hitting when it mattered.  There's no question that Sunday was a key game for the Yankees, because had they lost, they would officially be chasing the division instead of leading it.  The question is, will the Yankees be able to continue hitting.  Will having the Orioles on their heels be enough to motivate this team to wear their big boy pants?  This series in Boston will let us know. 

Yankees Maintain Division Lead with Series Tie

The Good

The Yankees still lead the AL East. We can still hit home runs. Lots of them. We still play in New York. No one is trying to move the team.

The Bad

We still have more injured players than the 1970 Marshall football team. (Too soon?). Teixeira began the series injured, returned, then got reinjured. Not good.

The Ugly

That blown call in the third game did not go unnoticed by RJG. After the game, we sought out Jerry Meals for an explanation.

"Look, it's not as easy as it seems, calling balls and strikes."

Meals looked shooken up. His eyes darted nervously around the room. He seemed distracted. Somewhere else.

"One second you're standing there. Alone. You think to yourself, just don't miss any calls. A checked swing. A bang-bang play at first. So many things can go wrong. Next thing I know, I says to myself, my last name is Meals. Meals! How stupid is that? Then Teixeira is sliding, I'm not at all paying attention, and the entire world is waiting for my call. Teixeira was running so I figured, hell, he must be out. Yeah. I messed up. But is your name Meals? Then give me a #$%@ing break, ok?!"

He has a point.

A Homer a Day Keeps the Orioles at Bay

Sort of anyway. Martin, Pearce, Granderson, and Jeter each had one home run in the last three games, while A-Rod added two of his own. That's $12, count 'em, $12 for the kids.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 15hr = $30
Curtis Granderson 35hr = $70
Alex Rodriguez 17hr = $34
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 16hr = $32
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2
Steve Pearce 1hr = $2

Total 210 hr = $420

That One Stings A Little

The Good

Some would argue that scoring 6 runs without a single homerun is a good sign for the Yankees.

The Bad

We don't win if we don't hit homeruns.  The Yankees have proven that time and time again.  So 6 runs or not, we still took a loss, and now we're tied for first with the Baltimore Orioles.

The Ugly

The Baltimore Orioles are in the race for October.  Baltimore!  October!  We're talking about the Cal Ripken-less, Mike Mussina-less Baltimore Orioles.  And we're talking about October, the month where the best teams in baseball contend in post season baseball.  I feel like I'm in that show Quantum Leap.

Oh That We Would Remember the Children

I just happened to glance at the numbers, and it looks like Eric Chavez has 13 homeruns to A-Rod's 15.  The major difference is that Chavez makes $900,000 and A-Rod makes $29 million.  But really both are irrelevant because neither of them hit a homerun yesterday to benefit the kids, so the real number to focus on is 0, the number of children helped by the Yankees last night.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 15hr = $30
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 204 hr = $408

Back on Top

The Good

The Yankees held off the Rays, still losing the series, but regaining first place. We all know that's what matters. We're fighting a war of attrition, willing to sacrifice battles for a greater end. We're strategical like that.

The Bad

Kuroda gave up four earned runs in only six innings of work. Should he be sent down to work out his mechanics in Triple-A? Probably. Will he be sent down? Yes.

The Ugly

Steve Pearce was pulled in the ninth inning for pinch hitter Eric Chavez.

"I had to leave the game early," explained Pearce, "because someone fraudulently stood in for my at-bat as Steve Pearce. This is why we need strict voter ID laws, otherwise every old man with a last name like Chavez can just walk up to the plate, claim to be Steve Pearce, and vote for Barack Obama."

Told that was not at all what happened, and that Chavez simply pinch hit for him under established Major League rules, Steve was unconvinced.

"It doesn't matter if people follow the rules and that the scenario I just described has never happened in this state. We need these laws to protect the Steve Pearces of the world. Period."

Martin Continues to Contribute

To the children, that is. Another bomb, another $2.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 15hr = $30
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 204 hr = $408

We May Not Be As Good As We Thought

The Good

Cano hit a homerun while the bullpen protected a 3-run deficit by pitching 2.2 innings of scoreless ball.  That deficit could have grown much larger and the Yankees could have been embarrased by this loss.  Instead, the bullpen managed to keep the loss from being a blow out.  Cheers!

The Bad

Another loss proves the old adage that division leads in July simply aren't worth anything true.

The Ugly

After the game, Cano broke down the situation the best: "We've got great talent on this team.  Its just that its talent in like baking cakes and stuff like that, not baseball talent.  With injuries, the ratio of talented cake bakers to talented baseball players has shifted in favor of the cake bakers, which makes for great post game desserts but terrible in-game play."

Wipe Your Tears

At least there was reason for the children to cheer.  Cano's homerun adds $2 to help benefit the kids.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 14hr = $28
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 203 hr = $406

Is This a Collapse?

Why do people keep talking about a collapse? Yes, the Yankees once held a 10 game division lead. In July. Last year, the Red Sox collapsed. They held a 17 game lead, in September. We call that a collapse because it is mathematically impossible to not win the division when you have a 17 game lead in September.

The Yankees had a three game lead (I believe) on September 1st. If they don't win the division, that is not a collapse. They simply lost a pennant race. That happens. But losing a pennant race in and of itself does not make a collapse, especially when 90% of your team is in triage (#inappropriatemedicalhyperbole).

Now, I know we New York fans expect a World Series every year. But can we please stop talking about a collapse? That's just stupid. It makes us look stupid, like we don't know what 'collapse' means but keep using the word in everyday conversations in contexts where it doesn't apply.

Sabathia Ace-Like, Martin Stealth-Like, Yankees Still Lose

The Good

7 innings of 3 run ball is typically considered good. It was good to see Martin steal a base and get his batting average ever close to .200.  Ibanez' triple was also pretty good.

The Bad

Not a single homerun was hit yesterday.  Not that homeruns have been winning us games lately, but at least when we hit homeruns, the children benefit.

The Ugly

The Yankees continue sliding. And not good sliding, like when you steal home, but bad sliding, like losing a 10 game lead in your division.


The Children Don't Benefit

No homeruns mean no money for the Children's Health Fund.  I guess little Timmy will have to wait another winter for that flu vaccine.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30 Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 28hr = $56
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 14hr = $28
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 202 hr = $404

Yanks Drop Important Series to Os

The Good

The Yankees get to hobble to Baltimore later this week and take on the healthier, younger Os again, so that's really #$&*ing great!

The Bad

Curtis Granderson was added to the list of injured Yankees. Our starting line-up is now Derek Jeter, and a series of guys with names like 'Boxcar Joe'. In fact, our starting line-up looks more like the first list of cuts from Spring Training camp than it does a major league line-up, but that's cool.

The Ugly

After losing the rubber match, Hughes stood in front of his locker next to an empty chair. As the beat guys approached, we could sense something weird was about to happen. Then Hughes spoke.

"You might be wondering what a New York baseball tradesman is doing here," began Hughes. It was a strange opening remark. We were in the Yankees clubhouse after a baseball game. The only thing we were expecting to see were baseball tradesmen.

"I have the president here, and I'm going to ask him a few questions," continued Hughes.

"Can you ask him why you can't keep the ball in the park?" replied one beat writer.

Hughes did not appreciate the comment. His face formed into a frown and, for a moment, it seemed as though he might cry.

Then he cried.

We left.

Why Come We Hit Homers and No Win Games?

Granderson, Cano, and Dickerson all contributed to the children in this series. Granderson even went and got hurt so he could better relate to them.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 28hr = $56
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 14hr = $28
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 202 hr = $404