Sunday, July 22, 2007

Bronx Bashing

Pundits take: Bid deal, they beat up on the D-Rays, doesn't mean anything.

The Straight Dope: The Yanks did what they had to do. Scoreboard aside, I think its important to look how the Yanks finished this series off. They didn't lower themselves to the sloppy level of play exhibited by the D-Rays even though they had every excuse to do just that. Instead, they continued on until the final out, professionalism at its finest - it's what champions do to teams that just aren't at their level.

Be that as it may, I cannot in recent memory remember another major league team handling another major league team the way the Yanks took it to Tampa. Winning 3 of 4, outscoring them 45 to 12 the last three games with 53 hits. I mean this was an LA Police meeting up with Rodney King level of beating.

Matsui
is really starting to heat up at the plate - the return of Godzilla! Pettitte evened up his record with his 6th win. Henn did a solid job in relief - let's give this guy a legitimate shot!

Yanks are now 9-3 since the break - which is about where they need to be pacing for the next 16 (to say 60!) games.

Shelley Duncan in my favorite player.

RBIs: Most know that the single season record for RBIs is 190 by Hack Wilson back in 1930. Similar to how Cy Young's record doesn't seem real, this record should seem just as unreal as Young's. Think about this: 19 of the top 20 seasons of all-time for RBIs all happened by 1938 or earlier. The closest was the 1999 version of Man Ram at 165 (16th best all-time). Currently, A-Rod is pacing at a slightly higher rate than that at 170. As mentioned at the end of April, in this blog, if Abreu and Jeter can finish strong (Abreu seems to have found the manhood zone, and by Jeter finishing strong I mean to keep doing what he has always done), I think A-Rod will have a chance to actually accelerate that pace and put Wilson's record within reach. If that does happen - it'll get more attention than Barry BeefRoid passing Hammering Hank Aaron - there is justice in this world after all.

Off to KC for 4 more games, then to Baltimore for 3 and 1/3... no break for the Yanks until 7/30.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just keep winning series.

Enjoy Shelley Duncan now....I sense a Kevin Maas moment coming any time now.

Matsui going 5 for 6 is probably the best news of the day (other then the W), and Giving Jeter and A-Rod a few innings off is a good thing.

Just keep winning series.

Anonymous said...

Regardless of their position in the Central Division, it doesn't look like KC is going to be a walk in the park - they have won two series in a row against the Tigers and the Red Sox.

old professor said...

The beatdown on Tampa was on of the largest differentials in Major League History. Forty hits and 38 runs in two games is still a big accomplishment even if it is against Tampa.

Two small transactions - Jose Molina for Jeff Kennard brings a seasoned catcher to New York even if he is batting only .220. Bigger problem is his speed. Joe Torre could even win a foot race against him. Molina is a station to station base runner. Yanks gave up a young pitcher with a lot of promise for a catcher that may have already seen his best years. Too bad for Will Nieves, who seemed to be getting some nice hits in the last few games.

I am hoping the Molina trade is not setting up for next year with the thought Posada may be playing somewhere else.

Also Henn is back and may be in line to replace Mike Myers.

Anonymous said...

Is Duncan another Kevin Maas? If not, and he continues to do well - what would that mean for Damon?

Very sad to see Nieves go, it seemed like he was getting better, just couldn't throw any runners out. Molina is a half season solution.

Disappointed that they hold off on getting rid of any of the young pitching prospects, then when they do, they get a 30 something catcher who looks like he could park in the handicap section.

Mid

Anonymous said...

Come on guys....Kennard is a MID-LEVEL prospect a best, and Molina is a huge upgrade over Nieves. No, he won't hit .280, but he won't hit .140 either. And his defense and handling of pitchers will prove much better than Nieves. He is a veteran who Torre can trust behind the plate in a pinch. The move had to be made. Let's not make Kennard out to be K-Rod.

The only way the Yankees let Posada go is if they make a deal with the braves for Salty.

Anonymous said...

The team is rolling

Unknown said...

Now we here rumors of a trade for John Garland and now Tiexiera is back in the mix too. All I know is if the Yankees hold onto their kids, it is conceivable to have a fantastically young pitching staff next year with Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy. That leaves Mussina in the #5 spot oh yeah and there is still Karstens, Clippard, DeSalvo, Rasner & Sanchez. Holy Cow!!! When did the Yanks get loaded with young pitching.

Anonymous said...

I think Joba is going to wind up being the closer once Mariano's days are up.

Next years rotation:

Wang
Pettitte
Hughes
Karstens
Moose

Anonymous said...

Next Year's Rotation

Wang
Pettitte
Middle Relief
Hughes
Chamberlin

Anonymous said...

The latest thing to make all of us feel old:

24 yrs ago yesterday - Pine Tar Bat incident with George Brett.

Yanks now just 4 1/2 back.

Is the team really back to what they are expected to be - or is that they are playing the D-Rays and Royals ??

Mid

Anonymous said...

clarification

4 1/2 back wild card

still 7 1/2 back the dastardly Red Sox

old professor said...

With the rotation pitching well (except for Mussina and Igwa), the Yankees are on a roll. Hughes probably has one more start at Triple A and Karstens is nearing a recall. The Yankees don't need to trade for Garland and they don't need the kid from Texas. The chemistry and enthusiasm on the team are at a season high - Cashman should ride the wave.

Anonymous said...

Torre - saying on radio today that they will be giving Chamberlin a shot as the 7th and 8th inning guy.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Yankees beating the Rays was EXACTLY like Rodney King and the LA Police. Good metaphor.

Anonymous said...

MOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

I wish MLB was like the NFL in that the team could cut a ham 'n egger who is overpaid and not producing. Mussina is terrible this year and is showing his age. He's impossible to trade, they should just cut him. Offer a buy out and be done. He even makes the Royals look like a contender.

Torre is going to try out Chamberlain in the 7th and 8th...yeah just like Edwar. He makes one bad pitch and the kid is sent back down to ride the bus in the sticks league.

We should start a count down for Torre's last day. If we estimate the World Series ends November 1 (begins Oct. 24th, no weather delays and goes full 7 games)...that means Torre has just 98 days left as Yankees manager.

Side note...Did anyone else notice Josh Phelps went deep for the Pirates today. Good thing Torre didn't give that guy any playing time, he may have helped the ball club for goodness sake.

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