Charge the Mound…

Yankees 2007 — Game 25
Sunday April 29, 2007 at 1:05 p.m.
(Record: 9-14)
Boston Red Sox

[New York. April 29, 2007.] Just when you think the Yankees have momentum, they play lousy and lose to the Red Sox temporary fifth starter.  Going into this game, with Wang on the hill, it looked like we would salvage this series and this April.  Boston had something to say about that.  The Red Sox, led by a first-inning home run from David Ortiz, took the rubber game 7-4. 

Boston  101 020 120 [7 9 1]
Yankees 003 000 010 [4 7 0]

WP: J. Tavarez (1-2)
LP: C. Wang (0-2)
S: J. Papelbon (8)

Home Runs: David Ortiz (7); Doug Mientkiewicz (2); Alex Cora (2); Manny Ramirez (3); Derek Jeter (2)

Three Stars
#3. Derek Jeter -  Derek tried to make this a game in the eighth when he hit a home run off of Mike Timlin.  But it was too late — Manny’s home run an inning earlier sealed this one. 

#2. Doug Mientkiewicz - His third inning three-run home run, which game the Yankees a 3-2 lead, looked to be the beginning of a big game.  It was not, but at least Doug appears to be showing us something besides his glove.

#1. Alex Rodriguez - Alex went 2 for 4 in this game to complete an amazing April.  Since this game was yet another bad Yankees April lose, I think A-Rod deserves first star for finishing off his April in style.  And that is an April that he hit .355, with 14 home runs and 34 RBIs — not to mention, the Yankees were rained out twice in April.

Yankees 2007 — Game 24
Saturday April 28, 2007 at 3:55 p.m.
(Record: 9-13)
Boston Red Sox

[New York. April 29, 2007.] As the rumors about Torre’s dismissal fly, the Yanks actually won a game.  After Karstens left the game with no out in the first — after breaking his leg on a line drive up the middle — Kei Igawa pitched a gem.  This is the kind of pitching the Yankees need from their starters (or reliever in this case).  Except for the to-be-expected bad eighth inning by Farnsworth, the Yanks staff held the Sox in check in this much needed 3-1 victory.  Posada supplied all of the offense.

Boston  000 000 010 [1 7 2]
Yankees 000 201 00X [3 7 1]

WP: K. Igawa (2-1)
LP: T. Wakefield (2-3)
S: M. Rivera (1)

Home Runs: Jorge Posada (3)

Three Stars
#3. Mariano Rivera - It is sad to say, but in this game (on April 29, 2007), Mariano Rivera earned his first save of the season.  He has already blown two saves this year and has an ERA too high for me to even mention — it would hurt too much.  The Yankees and their fans can only hope Mariano will be Mariano the rest of the season.

#2. Jorge Posada - I still have no idea how Jorge Posada was able to take an inside Wakefield knuckleball (that was tailing in) and crush it into the rightfield stands.  Well, he did it, and it was all the Yankees and Igawa needed.

#1. Kei Igawa - After Karstens went down, Igawa trotted out from the bullpen with two on, none out and Ortiz up in the first inning.  As I awoke from the haze, he promptly induced Ortiz into a double-play and after avoiding Manny, he struck out J.D. Drew.  Six innings later, it was the seventh, and Igawa had completed 6 innings, giving the Sox only two hits.  He won this much needed game for the Yankees.  It looks like he is back in the rotation… 

Yankees 2007 — Game 23
Friday April 27, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
(Record: 8-13)
Boston Red Sox

[New York. April 28, 2007.] The Yankees allowed the Red Sox to come into town and embarrass them.  Granted, this game hurt more as another New York team lost a heartbreaking playoff game that I had to listen to on a walk-man at the Stadium.  The only exciting moment in this one was the “Let’s go car wash” chant!

Boston  002 031 014 [11 13 2]
Yankees 000 400 000 [4 7 0]

WP: D. Matsuzaka (3-2)
LP: A. Pettitte (1-1)

Home Runs: Kevin Youklis (2); Julio Lugo (2)

Three Stars
#3. Sean Henn – The only pitcher that did not look awful in this one, which included a Mariano collapse (4 runs, 1 out) and a Yankees 11-4 loss to the Sox at home.

#2. Jason Giambi - Two hits — second star — Yankees lose 11-4 to the Sox at home.

#1. Derek Jeter - Three hits — first star — Yankees lose 11-4 to the Sox at home.

Yankees 2007 — Game 22
Thursday April 26, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
(Record: 8-12)
Toronto Blue Jays

[New York. April 28, 2007.] Hughes pitched pretty decent in his debut, but the Yankees’ offense was non-existent.  The ex-Marlins really frustrate the Yanks.  A 6-0 loss to the Jays and the Yanks streak is now 6.  Not an impressive way to welcome Boston to New York.

Toronto 200 020 200 [6 8 0]
Yankees 000 000 000 [0 4 1]

WP: A.J. Burnett (2-1)
LP: P. Hughes (0-1)
Home Runs: None

Three Stars
#3. Johnny Damon - Nasty game — shut out against — so no fun to pick stars.  Damon gets third with his two stolen bases.  No hits though.

#2. Jason Giambi - Had half of the Yanks’ four hits.  Star number two.

#1. Phillip Hughes - I heard he likes Phil.  Although he gave up four runs — this Yankees team should have been able to get him his first major league win.

Yankees 2007 — Game 21
Wednesday April 25, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
Toronto Blue Jays
[Postponed by Rain]

[New York. April 26, 2007.] The first game of a short two-game series with the Blue Jays was postponed because of rain. This could turn out to be good luck since Pettitte can now move back two days to pitch against the Red Sox. He was basically the only Yankees’ pitcher that was able to get the Sox out consistently last weekend.

Yankees 2007 — Game 20
Tuesday April 24, 2007 at 7:10 p.m.
(Record: 8-11)
at Tampa Bay Devil Rays

[New York. April 25, 2007.] Within minutes of walking off the mound, Chien-Ming Wang’s “decent” performance (a two-star performance considering the circumstances) was wasted by the Yankees’ bullpen. It was only a few weeks ago when I was rambling about how great our bullpen is — and how they may be the best in baseball. Granted, most of the pen still has terrific numbers, but they continually give up big hits. This time it was Myers, giving up a two-strike grand slam to a guy that has 100 stolen bases over the prior two years. It was nice to see Wang back, but if the pen continues to struggle, we are going to need a completely healthy staff to not only start, but stay in there until Rivera. And in case you missed the memo, the Yankees have lost five in a row — but still combined for 29 runs over that span. That is — in a word — insane!

Yankees 010 000 210 [4 6 1]
Tampa Bay 000 200 40X [6 10 1]

WP: J. Salas (1-1)
LP: C. Wang (0-1)
S: A. Reyes (7)

Home Runs: Hideki Matsui (1); Carl Crawford (4)

Three Stars
#3. Jorge Posada - When your team is playing like garbage, a two hit night, with an RBI and a run scored, is all you need to earn a star. Sadly, Posada’s great start is going unnoticed (.344, 2 home runs and 12 RBIs) with all the losses and the A-Rod home runs.

#2. Chien-Ming Wang - If Myers gets Crawford in the seventh, Wang ends with 2 earned in 6 1/3 innings — and probably gets the win. Not a bad start for Wang, but not nearly enough to turn this streak around. I does not appear to be getting much better for the Yankees, and we will not see Wang again until the Red Sox are in town.

#1. Hideki Matsui - Hideki hit one out. His first of the year — not that he has played in many games this season. His home run gave them a 1-0 lead. He also had an eighth inning two-out RBI single that wanted to start a comeback. Even though they lost, it was still nice to see Hideki hit the ball well. (Especially against Kazmir, a solid lefty, who served up his second-inning home run.)

Yankees 2007 — Game 19
Monday April 23, 2007 at 7:10 p.m.
(Record: 8-10)
at Tampa Bay Devil Rays

[New York. April 24, 2007.] Kei Igawa will be dropped from a lot of fantasy baseball teams this week. Some grabbed him for his potential strikeouts, some just because he is pitching for the Yankees’ offense.  Regardless, this 2007 version of the Bronx Bombers is starting to be consistent — impressive offense and terrible pitching.  We can only hope that when the injury bug leaves this clubhouse — if it ever does — they can start to play a little inconsistent.  For now, just another 10-8 loss, in a two home run game by A-Rod.

Yankees     011 112 002 [8 13 0]
Tampa Bay 040 120 30X [10 15 0]

WP: C. Fossum (2-1)
LP: K. Igawa (1-1)
Home Runs: Alex Rodriguez 2 (14); Rocco Baldelli (3); B.J. Upton (3); Robinson Cano (1)

Three Stars
#3. Robinson Cano - Quietly, Cano has batted .324 this year, including his 2 for 4 performance in this game.  Why do I say quiet?  Well, he has not really had the “big” hit yet and most of his base hits have been singles.  At least he finally hit a home run — and it gives him a star.

#2. Jason Giambi - Jason was 3 for 4 — with an RBI and a walk.  He is now batting .310.  I did not expect to see him batting over .300.  Let us hope he can keep that up.

#1. Alex Rodriguez - Amazing!  He has now hit 14 home runs in his team’s first 18 games.  Too bad his team is 8-10.  Reminds me of Texas!

Yankees 2007 — Game 18
Sunday April 22, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
(Record: 8-9)
at Boston Red Sox

[New York. April 23, 2007.] Although I would like to carry on-and-on about how weak of a performance the Yankees put forth this weekend against the Red Sox, I would rather save the words as it is only April and they meet again next weekend.  For now, one word — Pathetic.

Yankees 201 011 010 [6 9 0]
Boston  004 000 30X [7 11 0]

WP: D. Matsuzaka (2-2)
LP: S. Proctor (0-1)
S: J. Papelbon (6)

Home Runs: Manny Ramirez (2); J.D. Drew (2); Mike Lowell 2 (3), Jason Varitek (2); Derek Jeter (1)

Three Stars
#3. Andy Pettitte - For coming out of the bullpen and trying to salvage a win in this series — in which, if you didn’t notice, the Yankees were swept.  Pathetic. 

#2. Derek Jeter - For being the only Yankee to hit a home run on a night the ball was jumping out of Fenway — ask Chase Wright.  Pathetic.

#1. Jason Giambi - For giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead in the third — on two clutch hits – a lead that would be taken away after four back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs against.  Pathetic.

Yankees 2007 — Game 17
Saturday April 21, 2007 at 3:55 p.m.
(Record: 8-8)
at Boston Red Sox

[New York. April 22, 2007.] Ouch.  Looks like the momentum did carry.  The Yanks jumped out to two leads early, but their next rookie failed to hold it.  The Yankees will need more runs if they are to salvage a game in this series.  I know it is April, but you never want to see your team, that is hit with the injury bug, swept by a rival.  I guess there is always next weekend in the Bronx, but if this all keeps up, that could be worse.

Yankees 220 000 100 [5 9 0]
Boston  220 300 00X [7 13 1]

WP: J. Beckett (4-0)
LP: J. Karstens (0-1)
S: J. Papelbon (5)

Home Runs: David Ortiz (6)

Three Stars
#3. Kyle Farnsworth - He pitched the ninth — in a 7-5 game — and held the Sox at seven.  Normally that would not earn you a star, but with the way Farnsworth has been pitching, getting Ortiz, Manny and Drew in order (with a double-play) is worth something.

#2. Alex Rodriguez  – I really never thought the Yankees would get pushed around like this and the masses could not blame Alex Rodriguez.  He is still hitting well — with a double and an RBI single in this game.

#1. Robinson Cano - In a lose to the Red Sox there really should not be a star, especially a first star.  With that in mind, I give this spot to Robinson.  He had two hits in the game, one RBI and — unlike the rest of this team – did not strike out against Josh Beckett (who continues to rack up wins – as the fourth starter on the Sox).

Yankees 2007 — Game 16
Friday April 20, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
(Record: 8-7)
at Boston Red Sox

[Los Angeles. April 21, 2007.] That game really was the worst Yankees regular season loss to the Red Sox since Mariano’s last implosion in Fenway, back in Summer of 2004 — at least this one did not include a walk-off home run. This really was the Yankees’ shot to win this series. Pettitte pitched great, A-Rod continued his “sick” streak and they held a 6-2 lead (sound familiar) in the eighth inning. Now we have to rely on two rookies to somehow salvage this series.

Yankees 001 113 010 [6 11 0]
Boston 000 200 05X [7 13 0]

WP: K. Snyder (1-0)
LP: M. Rivera (1-2)
S: H. Okajima (1)

Home Runs: Alex Rodriguez 2 (12); Jason Varitek (1)

Three Stars
#3. Robinson Cano - Robison looked good with two hits, one off the monster. He is going to be needed if the Yankees continue to lose these kind of games. This was likely a momentum swing game — and Cano seems like the kind of (Jeter-esk) player that will be unscathed.

#2. Alex Rodriguez  – I guess the rivalry and pressure in Fenway have no effect on Alex’s unreal April. He hit another two home runs, the second, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead and should have been the game winner. Too bad Rodriguez cannot pitch this weekend.

#1. Andy Pettitte - Andy brought his game to Fenway. Pitching well and making only one real mistake — the two-run home run by Varitek. Two runs in six inning at Fenway, that should have been enough for a win.  Now the pressure is on Karstens and Wright.  Now that Andy is done on the field, it is time to prove his metal in the clubhouse.