Yankees' future is now

The Yanks' 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins was a mere footnote of the day's happenings. "Start spreading the news..." The crown jewel of the organization, Joba Chamberlain, has stepped up to the starting rotation. The debate to keep him as a dominant reliever is moot.Last place teams don't need great set-up men. The road back to respectability starts at the top of the rotation. A one-two punch of Chamberlain and Wang is the foundation of the future.

The transition from stopper to starter was a time consuming, arduous one. "It felt like it started forever ago, but it came about quick."--(Joba/P. Abraham.) Chamberlain had to endure a three appearance marathon over an eight day period. Pitch totals of 35/40/and 28 assured the Bombers' brain trust that the royal stretching was accomplished. Extra care was taken in scheduling the debut, rather than toiling in the anonymity of Minnesota the future will be unfurled under the glare of the Gotham spotlight. Mound opponent Doc Halladay promises to make it a formidable challenge. Let the fist pumping frenzy commence. "This is what we think is best for him."--Brian Cashman. Patience is a virtue.

The long-term vision featuring Chamberlain anchoring the rotation is a viable one. The short-term reality is fraught with peril. "He leaves a giant hole in the bullpen."--ESPN. The scorecard shows the Yanks are 32-7 in games Joba and his career ERA of 1.32 take the mound. The aforementioned, "giant hole" may have been in reference to designated replacement (drum roll) Kyle Farnsworth (seriously.) Years of auditions have the relief corps in a familiar place. Those trying to block out the memory of the Farns and his Yankees' career 8TH inning ERA of 5.42 were provided a flashback last night when he managed to hold the opponents to one homer during his return engagement. The bridge to the Great Rivera is as wobbly as ever.

Chamberlain's new job presents physical and mental challenges. "It will be the same old Joba."--Chamberlain, promising to bring the heat early and often. "They should be happy with 4 innings, anything more is risky."--(Flaherty/YES.) "Six would be ideal."--Joba. For the sake of the organizations future, let's hope logic prevails and a careful, patient approach is taken--this time.

Yankees' links

Here are some Yankees' links of interest:

• "Where have you gone Morgan Ensberg?" takes a page from Paul Simon.





• Here's one possible place to look. It appears he may have company.





• Was Watching notes the Bombers' latest acquisition and asks the eternal question,"Am I missing something?





• Repalcement Level Yankees, documents Giambi's latest reincarnation.





• Pinstripe Alley, wants your vote--"Jorge or the voice of God?"

(Editors Note: sorry for the formatting. I have issues with Blogger and links.)

Yankees' confusing plans

The New York Yankees are in the midst of a tough transition. A veteran laden, free agent-based roster is morphing into a young, home grown team. Patience, experience and a coherent plan will be required to pull this off.

Brian Cashman's vaunted youth movement is a noble concept. (Contrary to media reports, Cash didn't invent the idea.) After years of squandering huge sums of the organization's money on failed acquisitions Cashman decided it was time to set a new course. He persuaded the organization to funnel it's legendary resources into the depleted farm. The feeble farm was bolstered and analysts began taking note of the promising talent. A sound long term philosophy was long overdue and Cashman took all the credit.

Nurturing and developing promising young talent to viable major league producers is a monumental task. Cashman has no experience in this area but the organization's resources allow him to hire the best people. Evaluating progress isn't straightforward, "It's not black and white but shades of gray." As time goes on, patterns develop that will signal progress.

Coherent planning featuring patience are prerequisites to success. For those of you scoring at home, here are a few notable developments:

• 2007-- Phenom Phil Hughes attends spring training. The plan is to have the prodigy develop his craft at Scranton. The Yanks' are ravaged by a slew of pitching injuries and Hughes is brought up sooner rather than later. He flashes brilliant potential before falling to injury. He hasn't been the same since and currently assumes the familiar position on the DL.
• 2007- Ian Kennedy gets his feet wet by making three productive big league starts. He has a disastrous start in 2008 and is appropriately demoted to Triple-A. One impressive start in the minors spring boards him back to the show.(Patience takes a back seat to desperation, Igawa is the alternative.) Kennedy continues to be over matched until he falls to a face saving injury.
• 2008- The Bombers' brain trust has plans for the crown jewel of the system, Joba Chamberlain. The strategy is a road map to a good place--Chamberlain and Wang at the top of the rotation. Getting there is a long and winding road. Joba begins spring training as a starter. It is announced he will start the regular season in the bullpen but will go to Triple-A mid-season and stretch out his arm, returning as a member of the rotation. After it becomes obvious they can't afford to have him leave the team, (The team is 32-7 when Joba pitches--Peter Abraham.) the plan changes-he will stay in the pen to develop his starting arsenal, build arm strength and preserve leads. The first step was two innings in a lopsided game; Next was a planned 55 pitch appearance that turned into 40; Last night, Chamberlain was scheduled to relieve Pettitte and throw 55 pitches. He throws 27 and is pulled.Closing out wins is Rivera's job. Joba throws 28 more in the pen for a total of 55. These things take time, or do they? Now comes word that Chamberlain could join the rotation on Monday. Apparently, patience was lost along the way.

Coherent planning and effective implementation are vital to the long-term success of the franchise. Let's hope, ownership is aware of the inconsistencies that have unraveled and is capable of doing something about it.

Photo/Newsday

Yanks bomb in Baltimore

The Yankees put nine runs on the board in Baltimore and it wasn't enough. The game started with promise and ended in a pratfall. Giambi whacks a hanger to Eutaw street, Damon hits a three run dinger, 4-0 Bombers. Prodigy Ian Kennedy had room to breathe and strut his stuff.

The lead doesn't survive the second as Kennedy is exposed again."The wheels have fallen off the cart for Ian Kennedy." The organization's plan of bringing the neophyte back from Scranton after one impressive start was clearly flawed. Oh well, time for a new plan.

Abreu and A-Rod hit back to back bombs in the fourth putting the Yanks back on top 8-4. Enter Ross Ohlendorf, exit lead. "Mistakes are disappearing into the night."--Singleton. Three Baltimore homers tie the score.

For those of you keeping score at home: 8 runs, 3 errors, 1 wild pitch, 1 passed ball and 1 epic mental blunder--Jeter gets pick off 2ND with 2 outs, 2 runners on and A-Rod at the plate. The Yankees deserve to lose.

Edwar Ramirez rescues Ohlendorf by pitching 1 1/3 shutout innings, running his scoreless string to 14. After all the bluster and hype focused on Generation Trey, the quiet guys Ramirez and Rasner get the job done without fanfare--is there a lesson to be learned?

Tie game , late innings, who you gonna call? "Maybe they can move Joba up a day?"--Singleton. Oh no you don't, there's a plan in place. The bullpen gate swings open, enter Farnsworth. He promptly gives up a single to right that should score the go-ahead run. Abreu guns out the runner at the plate. The Yanks survive.

The Great Rivera shuts the door in the ninth and tenth. The Bombers go ahead 9-8. It's time for LaTroy Hawkins to redeem himself and show up. There is no surprise to this ending. "The Yanks couldn't come up with a lead they couldn't blow."--ESPN. Final score 10-9 Baltimore. There is no relief in sight.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees no relief in sight

The Yankees five game winning streak ended with a thud in Baltimore yesterday. The bubble of momentum and good feelings burst. Darrell Rasner did his best to keep the good times rolling. He turned in his fourth consecutive impressive outing--6 innings, one run. "I'm not worried about my job. I'm worried about getting outs." Rasner did his job. The Bombers' bats took the day off and the result was a taught 1-0 game after six innings.

Close games are where the value of a strong bullpen shows up. Joba Chamberlain isn't available to save the usual suspects this season. He is making the necessary move to shore up the creaky starting rotation. "Other people have to step up and get in the mix."--Girardi. (Uh Oh.) La Troy Hawkins and Jose Veras combined to squelch any hopes of a Yankees' comeback, giving up five runs in the seventh. Positive momentum replaced by familiar frustration.

After the game, Girardi was peppered with questions revolving around filling Joba's shoes. There has been a gaping hole in the pen for years. How long has it been since Rivera, Stanton, Nelson and Mendoza shortened the game and shut the door on opponents hopes? A Double-A kid had to rescue the pen last year. This season it's another perpetual list--18 relief pitchers auditioned in Tampa this spring. There is no relief in sight.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees gain momentum

The Yankees took care of business. A weak opponent showed up at their doorstep and they swept them aside to run the win streak to five games. Inept play featuring sporadic pitching and anemic offense has been replaced by walk off wins, come from behind victories and booming bats. Momentum currently resides in Pinstripes.

The rebuilding Baltimore Orioles are on deck. The O's have managed to lose for ten consecutive seasons under the leadership of infamous owner Peter Angelos. GM Andy MacPhail is doing an impressive job of restoring credibility but this is a team the Yanks should beat.

The mound match up for today's matinee Darrell Rasner vs. Garret Olson favors the Yanks. Here's a scouting report on the O's lefty, "The real Garret Olson lies somewhere between the one who throttled Triple-A and the one who stunk in the majors. A polished college lefty, Olson has three good pitches but no devastating out pitch, which limits his upside. In Baltimore he fell into the common trap of trying to be very fine, afraid to trust the approach and pitches that got him there in the first place."--Baseball Prospectus, 2008 Guide. (Ian Kennedy take note.) Teams continue to trot out southpaws and exploit a Bombers' flaw. Duncan and Ensberg haven't helped balance the lineup. Posada can't return soon enough. Darrell Rasner has been a revelation in producing three consecutive impressive outings. Consistent control has been the earmark of Darrell's successful return to the show.

The Yankees did what good teams do against bad teams by sweeping Seattle. The Baltimore Orioles provide an opportunity for more of the same.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees' notes & quotes

The power surge continued yesterday as the Bronx Bombers crushed the hapless Seattle Mariners. The reincarnated Jason Giambi flexed his opposite field muscle provoking memories of his MVP days in Oakland. It was another beautiful day in the Big Apple as the Yankees' win streak extends to four. Here are some notes:

• "An experiment wrapped in reality."--Kay. "He enjoys the limelight."--Cone. They were talking about Joba Chamberlain, it's a good thing Joba is cut out for attention because the hype is out of control. A crush of media dissect every fist pump. Announcers hyperventilate describing his 36TH pitch. Somewhere Goose Gossage is rolling his eyes. Can we tone it down and let a good young pitcher learn his craft?
• More Joba, "It's a gutsy move...this may hurt them now but help them later."--Cone. Now is last place with an old starting rotation. The timing of the move is not "gutsy" it's a no brainer.
• Former Yankees stalwart Willie Randolph is taking the obligatory heat that comes with managing an overrated roster and producing mediocre results. He now has a vulture circling, "I just want them to know of my availability. I'm only a phone call away. I could be in NY tomorrow."--Gary Carter. (NY Times.) Classless doesn't begin to describe it.
• Mel Stottlemyre has had better days. The Mariner's staff has allowed 54 runs in in 5 games. A team built around pitching is going belly up. "Mel is an optimistic coach."--Cone (paraphrased.) Good luck with that.
• "Last year we proved we could win and now the bar has gone up..This year anything short of making the playoffs will be a major disappointment." Seattle skipper John McLaren (SI) The expectations were a tad skewed.
• USS Mariner provides a glimpse of Seattle's GM issues, "you don’t get to rewrite history. We knew this team wasn’t good, and we spent the entire off season trying to tell you that. You ignored us at your own peril, and you built a terrible baseball team for $117 million. That’s your fault.
  And now, rather than learning from your mistakes, admitting that you have absolutely no idea how to evaluate pitching talent, you’re completely ignorant of how to value defense, you don’t know what kinds of hitters work in your own park, and realizing that there’s an entire school of analysis that could help improve the decision making of the club, you’re once again focusing on things like clubhouse leadership and character.
  This is ridiculous. Build a good baseball team, and you won’t have to talk about all this psycho babble crap that you guys invent to try to justify your horrible decisions." This sounds familiar.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees' secret plan

The Yankees transformation of Joba Chamberlain from dominant reliever to top-of-the-rotation starter is a covert operation. The Bombers' brain trust may have borrowed one of Dick Cheney's bunkers to hatch the details of this delicate operation. New York Magazine provides some detail, "Now, after totally reversing course and claiming this was the plan all along (and, implicitly, that they were lying earlier for some reason), Girardi has “refused to divulge how Chamberlain will be transitioned,” according to the Post, and Cashman demurred, “I don't want to be specific in how or what we're trying to do.” It’s all a little too secretive, like they either have no idea what the plan is or they do know and it’s not something the public can handle."

Clandestine operations lead to idle speculation, which is where I come in. Assuming that there is in fact a real plan, it is appropriate that Joba will pitch multiple innings every fifth day and make a brief appearance in between. Today, Mussina's start should be the day. The Moose averages a meager five innings per start. Segueing from Mussina's Moyeresque fluff to Chamberlain's heat should befuddle the opposition. I have to go now there's a guy in a pinstriped trench coat at my door.

Yankees maul Mariners

The Yanks dormant bats awoke last night and pounded the reeling Mariners 13-2. The Bombers extended their win streak to three as they strive to escape the cellar. Shelley Duncan provided a long overdue power surge by hitting a three run homer. Robbie Cano slashed two hits to the opposite field, signalling that his bat is back. The good times are finally rolling in the Bronx and the visiting Seattle Mariners provide the perfect opponent.



The Mariners win percentage fell to .367 and it's getting ugly. USS Mariner quotes Ichiro Suzuki, "I feel that something is beginning to fall apart." The ship is sinking. Baseball Prospectus' 2008 Guide had provided a warning, "As befits a team of such mediocrity, the Mariners will face the challenge this year of balancing the development of their prospects against the organization's desire to contend...The ironic truth about this win-now attitude is that if the Mariners don't exhibit more patience, they not only won't win now, they won't win in the future either." Those prophetic words provide a clear warning to the New York Yankees. The Yanks stormed back from a terrible start last season by beating up on weak teams. It won't be that easy this year but the next two games provide an opportunity to gain ground. The Yankees feasting on the weak, a flashback to the good old days.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees' walkoff win

The Yanks beat the Orioles last night 2-1 and rekindled some sweet memories. Starter, on the brink, Ian Kennedy was resurrected with a credible performance. He blended effective with erratic and survived. "Kennedy is taking baby steps."--Kay. For the first time this season, Kennedy moved in the right direction and provided a recollection of how well he pitched last season.

The Bomber bats were quiet again against yet another southpaw. One run is all they could muster in eight innings. The after-effects of the heralded Chamberlain transition to the rotation didn't take long to show up. Joba's stretching out in a lopsided game the night before resulted in his watching from the bullpen as the usual suspects tried to fill his over-sized shoes. The gate from the bullpen swung open in the eighth and the infamous Farns entered the fray. "People forget he was signed to be the eight inning guy and failed for two years."--Kay (Paraphrased.) No we don't. Farnsworth managed to keep his 96 MPH heat in the park and the eight morphed into Mariano in the ninth. (Rumor has it this is the way Farns used to pitch somewhere but my memories not that good.)

The fun started in the bottom of the ninth. Game tied 1-1, Giambi called out on strikes, let the show begin. Girardi steps out from behind the stoic mask and does Billy Martin and Lou Piniella proud. An animated argument featuring hat throwing, dirt kicking and a prolonged dramatic ejection follows. The frustration of managing an overrated team into last place spills over as the crowd roars. You go Joe. Girardi exits and Cano concludes the show by slashing an opposite field, game winning hit. Sinatra sings while Robbie dances. The trip down memory lane in the Bronx was all good.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees get boost

The Yankees shutout the Baltimore Orioles 8-0 last night at the stadium. A rare laugher in the midst of a grim season. It was good to welcome back composure and quality play, they were missed. Darrell Rasner continued his march to major league credibility by earning his third consecutive victory. Rasner balanced razor sharp control of a sneaky fastball with an assortment of crooked stuff to stifle the opponent.

The offense was led by the MVP. Alex Rodriquez reminded us how big his bat is. He sprayed the field with bombs. A big fly to left-center was followed by a screaming line drive to right-center for a double, as an encore he hit another homer over the 385 mark in right-center. The second tater was hit so hard it bounced back on the field fooling the umpires into thinking it was a double."A simple stroke and the ball jumps."--John Flaherty. A-Rod wasn't alone as the bottom of the order provided a boost. Duncan, Cano, Moeller and Melky got the Bombers off to a good start with four straight hits. Crooked numbers on the scoreboard combined with suffocating pitching makes the game easy.

NOTES:

• The second erroneous homer call this week has the instant replay argument rearing its ugly head. Sounds simple, the time spent arguing can be used to get the call right by glancing at a monitor. If MLB is seriously going in this direction, they need to learn from the NFL's mistakes. The procedure has evolved into a time consuming boor.
• The Yankees announced after the game that Joba's two inning appearance last night was the first step in the road to the starting rotation. "This was the plan all along."--Girardi. Let's hear from the prodigy, "The way the plan is, I am going to continue to stay here, there is no better place than here to learn and take your licks and get better," Chamberlain said. "The plan is, I am gonna continue to mix things in when I have the opportunity, but continue to do my job and get outs."--NY Daily News. Let's see, the plan out of spring training was to send him to the minors mid-season to build arm strength. The plan last week was to keep him in the pen all season. Now the plan is to have him pitch more innings out of the pen. The latest version makes the most sense for the team. For Joba's sake, let's hope that the Bomber brass doesn't change plans again anytime soon.

Photo/Newsday

Yanks embarrassed again

The Yankees responded to the subway sweep by losing 12-2 to the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles. The drubbing was earned with a combination of poor pitching, shoddy defense and anemic offense. It was ugly.

The Yankees' pratfall out of the gate and into the cellar brings obligatory heat. The franchise leads the sport in assets, payroll and expectations, last place isn't part of the plan. Let the finger pointing commence. It's a Gotham tradition to focus on the manager--ask Torre and Randolph-- Girardi's short tenure doesn't qualify him as scapegoat. The media has harped on the blustering new Boss. Hank Steinbrenner has upheld a dubious family tradition of making headlines. Brush aside the bombast, his actions have supported team architect Brian Cashman's plan. Johan Santana isn't in pinstripes, youth has been served. Cash has a 200+ million dollar payroll that has produced: 1) "The worst Yankees bench ever."--anonymous scout (are there any other kind?) 2) No long man, on a team trying to develop two young starting pitchers simultaneously. 3) No lefty in the bullpen. Mix these issues with an old, fading roster add injuries and a poor start isn't a shocker.

The buck doesn't stop with Brian Cashman. It's deeper than that. I'm reminded of an interview Bobby Valentine did with ESPN when he managed the Mets. He was asked if there were concerns about a players motivation after signing a long term contract. "It depends on the goals, if he is trying to get to the Hall of Fame you have no problems on the other hand if he is playing to buy the house on the hill, watch out." Paraphrased. (IE. Piazza vs Bonilla.) The Yankees' roster is cluttered with guys who are comfortable with "the house on the hill." "Let's see what the Yankees are made of, if they fight back."--John Flaherty. The 2008 New York Yankees are 0-24 when trailing after seven innings. If the stats don't sink in, watch the bench when the team is behind, joking and laughing aren't appropriate. Last night the Yankees "fought back" with a Hawkins pitch headed in the direction of an opponent's head, it was a reminder how low they've sunk.

There is no short-term answer for the Yanks' quandary. The alleged bountiful farm is full of not ready for prime time suspects. Rushing the future hurts everyone. The market for over-paid faded veterans is null, so forget the miracle trade. The only option is to ride out the storm. The payroll drops as Giambi, Mussina, Farnsworth, Abreu, Hawkins and Ensberg go away. There will always be options for the richest franchise in history. The focus should be on the long term, finding a team architect capable of finding the right pieces would be a big step in the right direction.

Photo/Newsday

Yanks' gloomy forecasts

The basement the Yankees dwell in is a dark place. The news that A-Rod is back and Posada is throwing provides a ray of sunshine. I scanned the Bombers' blogosphere in search of hope:

• Yankees Republic, provides a comprehensive report on the first quarter of the 2008 season and compares the results with last season's stumbling start. The conclusion that an epic comeback will be much tougher to come by this season because of improved competition is compelling. The truth hurts.


• Was Watching, documents the Yankees' defensive issues and concludes, "It doesn't bode well for New York this season."


• Bugs and Cranks, chimes in "Our nation is suffering from Yankees fatigue."


• Lo Hud, cranks up the optimism by setting our sites on the wild card, "Based on the better balance in the league so far, the wild card winner may need only 85 or 86 wins this season." Be still my heart.

The search for a light at the end of the tunnel failed. The consensus is it's a train.

Yankees' subway crash

Yankees' ace Chien-Ming Wang took the mound in the Bronx last night, looking to stop the latest slide. He matched up with Oliver Perez, a lefty with a reputation of being, "maddeningly inconsistent." Perez's underachieving teammates are managed by Willie Randolph, "Who may be too quiet and too dignified for the Met's job."--Gammons. Advantage Yankees? Not so fast.

The Bomber lineup featured five left handed hitters against the Mets' southpaw. Ensberg and Duncan, on the roster to provide balance against left handed pitching, watched from the bench, again. Hideki Matsui, who has tried to carry the offense all season, hit a two run homer, but once again, he was the lone producer. The umpires helped the home team by taking a three run Delgado dinger off the board. It didn't matter.

The Yankees were dominated by the Mets 11-2. "There's always more than one way to get the job done. "--Morgan. The basement-dwelling Yankees need to find another way because this way doesn't work.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees notes from last place

The 2008 New York Yankees reside in the cellar of the AL East. The news surrounding a team that leads the sport in payroll and expectations is dour. Here are some depressing notes:

• "Andy Pettitte is 0-4 with an ERA of 6+ in his last 5 starts" (SNY.) The pressure on ace Chien-Ming Wang is off the charts. He is in the position of having to win and go deep every start. Good luck with that.
• Kyle Farnsworth gives up his 6TH dinger in 20 innings. The SNY booth comments, "He took the mound with gasoline in his pocket... he has a reputation of being temperamental and volatile."--Keith Hernandez
• Listening to a Yankees game on Met's channel SNY presents a different perspective then the home cooking of YES. Analysts Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling were bewildered about the lack of a lefty in the Bombers' pen, "It's inconceivable that you wouldn't have that option." (paraphrased.)
• Rudderless ship? "there's no exact timetable" for shifting Chamberlain out of his critical setup role.
  Girardi said that the club's needs would dictate any move, and added that, "I feel we have enough starting pitching" to compete. General manager Brian Cashman said Chamberlain is "a reliever right now," because "that's where he's needed." (Newsday)
• SI reports on the Bombers' brass, "Hank blames Cashman for everything." Cash responds, "The Steinbrenners are the custodians of the greatest franchise in sports history. When things don't go well, there's uncomfortableness. And it's my job to deal with it." Here's Cashman dealing with it, "We're a good team playing poorly. We're not a misjudged team." Of course not, if they were "misjudged" it would lead to more "uncomfortableness" on Cash's part. Politics is clearly in this guys future--the sooner the better.
• A step in the right direction: "We've been telling these guys we want to be more aggressive."--Bobby Meachem

Photo/Newsday

Yanks get no relief

The Yankees and Mets squared off in the Subway series Saturday. Slow starts have collided with high expectations to form combustible conditions for both franchises. Sparks flew this week as frustration led to choice comments. Hank Steinbrenner's routine may be getting old already but the New Boss was backed by a credible Pinstripe source, "Hank has every right to say those things because they're playing lackadaisical."--Tino Martinez (NY Post.) The Big Apple's tabloid media poured gas on the fire, reporting that Brian Cashman's big noose was back and Willie Randolph's job is in jeopardy.

Johan Santana helped ease Willie's pain by doing what stoppers do. The Mets beat the Yankees 7-4 as Santana gave the Bombers a glimpse of what could have been. "We needed to feel good about ourselves again."--Randolph. Santana's effective pitching was supported by stellar defense and a series of dribblers by the offense, that's all he needed to send the Bombers to another defeat. The Yanks got no relief as Andy Pettitte fell to 3-5 and Kyle Farnsworth reverted to form, giving up two bombs. The Yankees remain in the cellar of the AL East where it's getting warmer by the day.

Photo/ Newsday

Yanks' recipe for disaster

The 2008 New York Yankees have all the ingredients necessary to blend a toxic baseball brew:

• High profile franchise, spoiled by unprecedented success and straddled with exorbitant expectations.
• Neophyte, ego driven owner looking to fill Dad's over sized shoes.
• Team architect, groomed by appeasing overbearing owner, demands complete control and bites off more then he can chew. There's more to the job than massaging media to manipulate image.
• Voracious tabloid driven press coverage looking to exploit every flaw.
• Roster cluttered with yesterday's stars and tomorrow's hopes.
• Tightly wrapped manager who "dies a little with every loss."
• Impatient fan base who believe championships are their birth right.

Those looking for miracle antidotes will be disappointed.

Yanks' Mussina mesmerizes Rays

The Yankees took a small step in the right direction in Tampa last night. The Bombers' muted offense exploded for two runs and the potent pitching made it work. Mike Mussina masterfully dished a dazzling array of junk that befuddled his aggressive foes. Moose's Uncle Charlie nibbled on the black for 6 1/3 innings before turning a meager lead over to the bullpen.

Sequeing from Mussina's eephus pitches to the heat of Ohlendorf, Chamberlain and Rivera tranlates to lights out for the opposition. The 2-1 victory provides a temporary respite from the never-ending challenges. The series finale features a matchup of Ian Kennedy and Scott Kazmir. Apparently, all of Kennedy's issues were fixed in one impressive start in Scranton. What happened to the front office's patience? Hopefully, Kennedy can withstand the dubious decision making. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, as Johan Santana is scheduled to pitch in the Bronx tomorrow to show us what we missed.

Yanks hear from the Boss

Hank Steinbrenner responds to the Yank's anemic start by issuing a statement straight from his Dad's infamous playbook. Peter Abraham has details on the latest tirade: "This is going to get turned around. If it’s not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have to.”
"By force? What does that mean, executions at dawn for anybody not trying hard enough?"
Anybody else get the idea that this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better?" (Hat tip to Baseball Musings)

I agree that all the ingredients for ugly debacle are in place. It's not necessarily all bad. The prospect of having some dead weight removed--Igawa, Giambi-- rather then the constant reinventing charade may help ease our pain and send a message.

Yanks in Dire Straits

The Yankees' 2008 season nears the quarter pole and things aren't going as planned. The lackluster offense managed one run and 6 hits against Tampa last night, meekly losing 2-1. A glance at the Bombers' lineup and bench paints a dire picture. Three players--Matsui, Abreu and Cabrera are producing to their potential. The MVP watches from the bench. The irreplaceable 37 year old catcher has been shelved with a balky shoulder. "If you're going to live there and say 'Oh my goodness, we can't win without him,' then it's basically packing the tent and you can't do that...You've got to find a way to get it done. We have to make up for his loss."--Joe Torre, referencing Rafael Furcal to the LA Times. The words fit Torre's former club.

Who is stepping up? The body language sags. You get the impression that the veterans remember what it was like to play for a championship contending club and those memories are fading. The sobering part is the allegedly potent offense was supposed to carry the perpetually work in progress pitching staff.

There are no easy answers, a roster featuring a mix of faded veterans and unproven youth can't flip a switch, expecting A-Rod to turn it around, by himself, is misguided. The one area of progress--the bullpen-- doesn't help much when they routinely inherit deficits. Yankees' followers have been spoiled for a long time, now we are getting a taste of issues that normal teams routinely face. Welcome to the dark side.

Rays run past Yankees

Blogging Yankees baseball from Las Vegas is easier said then done. Distractions here are like bugs on Joba in Cleveland. In a show of sheer will, I put down the poker chips and dragged my tired carcass to the Caesars Palace colossal sports book in time to watch the Yanks/Rays on the jumbo screen. The Yankees' anemic offense plods on as a note scrolls: "A-Rod will miss another week." It's hard to believe the 2008 season is only six weeks old. Is there a quota on problems? Here's a few notes:

• Evan Longoria is a natural. Small market Tampa can simply put him in the lineup and watch him grow, there are advantages to being an under the radar team with no expectations.
• The young, aggressive Rays show no respect for their elders and jump out to a 5-0 lead. The Yanks try to come back: 5TH inning, Melky on 1st, 1 out, Molina attempts a bunt (Huh?)
• Chris Britton relieves Pettitte, he has put up respectable stats but spends more time on the Scranton shuttle then in pinstripes, is the slovenly, why bother to get in shape appearance hurting his career?
• Igawa (are they serious?) warms up as Britton struggles. (Flashback to figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, after getting whacked in the knee wailing) why? is he still on the roster. Perhaps someone from the "In Cash we trust" crew can explain this. Logic is clearly not part of the infamous plan.
• The perennial doormat Rays run with abandon, signalling the dawn of a new era. Tampa buries the Yanks 7-1 in a game that wasn't as close as the score.

Yanks' Kennedy has company

Yankees' prodigy Ian Kennedy was drafted in 2006 and rushed through the minors in 2007. His success in Tampa, Trenton and Scranton vaulted him to the Bronx. He displayed confidence not normally found in a neophyte.

Here's an excerpt from MLB, dated June 2006: "Kennedy has never been to New York, but he plans to get a first-hand look at Yankee Stadium in the near future.
As for his timetable to reach the Majors, Kennedy will leave that decision to the Yankees, but he plans on working as hard as he can in order to make the ascension through the Minors at a speedy pace.
"I'm just going to try to do what I know I can do, which is pitch," he said. "If they want to bring me up fast, that's fine. It's their decision, though obviously I would like to make it there quick." Be careful what you wish for.

That was than; this is now. Ian Kennedy is back in Scranton, licking his wounds after an early exit from the Big Apple. What happened? The search begins on the diamond: control, mechanics, fear of contact all the usual suspects. The list doesn't tell the whole story.

There is a long list of pitchers who couldn't handle New York City. Mike Mussina is an exception, let's hear from the Moose, "You can read about it; You can talk to other players who have been through it; You can tell yourself a thousand times that you can handle it. There is no way to walk into that atmosphere on a daily basis and be prepared for it and most important, accept it. You can't fight it. Every guy who has tried to fight it has failed."-- John Feinstein, Living on the Black.( A stark example of a failed Gotham fighter is Randy Johnson. The image of the Big Unit pushing a camera out of his way foretold an ominous story.)

Ian Kennedy's brief debut on the big stage taught him a lesson--if it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger. Time will tell if he's strong enough to survive.

Yanks use old play book

The Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers on Saturday deploying an offensive style that was straight from the Joe Torre playbook. Torre's teams are known for working the pitchers and aggressively running the bases. The 2008 Girardi squad has featured a lethargic offense, they entered today's game 10Th in the league in walks and aren't wearing out pitchers. The new Joe had the team running extensively in spring training but it hasn't carried over to the regular season.

The Yanks went old school and it worked producing a 5-2 victory. They worked five walks to go with nine hits and put a crooked number on the board. Aggression payed on the bases as the hit and run featuring Jeter motoring from first as Abreu sliced a double to left produced a run. Working pitchers, producing base runners and aggressively attacking works, why mess with success?

Notes:

• Rasner turns in his second consecutive productive performance: 6 IP/2 runs/1walk/4 hits, after all the hype, an under the radar guy looks like a solid number four starter.
• Baseball is a game of failure, but you'd never prove it by the Great Rivera. He makes domination look easy. "Rivera has lived on hitters hands for years."--Karros. Mariano continues to spoil us.

Editors Note: Will be on vacation in Vegas this week, will post regularly, but comment response may be slow.

Yankees history lesson

Yankees prize import Kei Igawa took the mound in the motor city last night. The modified, finely tuned lefty sported nifty numbers from Scranton suggesting he could compete in the show. He sputtered from the start, crashed and burned in the 4TH lap. Brian Cashman's lemon is exposed again.

Someone said, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Cash obstinately said,"Igawa is in the mix." (Would you buy a used car from this man?) David Cone said, "The test will come with runners on base, there is a tendency to revert to form." (paraphrased.) Coney knows pitching. Igawa dodged a spray of bullets in the first, got them out in the second and proved Cone's point in the third. Men on base resulted in an array of lofty gopher pitches.(Note: Ordonez vs Igawa brought back memories of Tyson vs Spinks.)

The bottom line: 3IP/11 Hits/6 Runs, translates to embarrassing debacle. What has history taught us? Let's see: 1) Acknowledging errors is important. It would be refreshing to hear, "Losing the Dice-K sweepstakes put me in appease the owner mode (my specialty.) I reacted by throwing 46 million out the window. So sorry Boss." 2) Propaganda rubs salt in the wound. The perpetual search for the silver lining insults the intelligence of everyone involved. "The good news is Igawa didn't walk anyone."--Ken Singleton. 3) Minor league stats are not indicative of major league competence. Here's one example, Edwar Ramirez arrived last season with the following eye-popping numbers: Tampa-ERA 1.20/Trenton-0.54/Scranton-0.90. He concluded his MLB debut with an ERA of 8.14. There is a long list of pretty numbers emerging from the farm, there is no reason--other than self-serving hype--to dwell on them.

History taught the Yankees a few lessons last night, hopefully they learned something, this time.

PHOTO/NOMAAS

Yanks' Igawa is "in the mix"

The Yankees go back to the future today by starting Kei Igawa in Detroit. Optimism gets tested in Motown. For those of you, who who chose to forget, here's a scouting report from BP, "The arm that launched a thousand baseballs...His performance screams of another too-nervous-for-New York scenario in which the ravenous, man eating Yankee Stadium crowds unnerved the new hurler by threatening to do unnatural things to kittens during his windup, Igawa was so thoroughly brutal that a comeback seems unlikely."

"Ye of little faith," apparently the seers at Baseball Prospectus hadn't heard Brian Cashman's fateful words, "Igawa is in the mix." In Cash's world, "thoroughly brutal" translates to "growing pains" which morphs into "work in progress." The bottom line is, it's a reach of epic proportions.

Igawa's presence does manage to do the unthinkable--it unites the Yankees blogosphere. Normally a divergent mob, we are all on the same page. The Yankees Republic captures the carnage of the "46 million dollar albatross." In highly literate fashion, "The most salient folly of Cashman's reign" is documented. For those of you who would rather wait for the movie, Eephus Pitch provides a preview. It's not a pretty picture.

Yankees flash potential

The Yankees 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians provided a glimpse of what could be. Balanced pitching combined with potent power is a lethal combination.

Mike Mussina mesmerized the Indians for four innings with an assortment of slow motion hooks and well placed 80ish fastballs. The bubble burst in the 5Th but Moose turned over a 4-3 lead to the bullpen. He did his job. The pen provided relief as Ohlendorf, Chamberlain and the Great Rivera recorded 12 outs.

The quality pitching was supported by a four homer power surge. Giambi, Betemit and Cano shook their dormancy to provide a spark. They did their jobs.

The Yankees .500 record attests to the fact that days like this aren't routine. Today's matinee in the Bronx provided a pleasant reminder of what's possible when everyone does their job.

Yanks face grim facts

A glance at the standings show the Yankees .486 win percentage is good for a 4 1/2 game deficit in the Division and (gulp) Wild Card. Considering all the issues, injuries and not ready for prime time players, rationalizing that it could be worse or they've dug out of deeper holes would be the normal reflex. Delve deeper, and a grim picture is painted.



The Yanks are 6-11 against contending teams. Impotency against lefties ranks as a prime weakness. The New York Post published an article titled, "Rushing A-Rod 'left' team vulnerable" here's an excerpt: "Rodriguez and Posada (shoulder) have been out concurrently since April 29. In the eight games since, the Yanks are hitting .220 against lefties with a .282 on-base percentage and a .292 slugging percentage. The .620 OPS [on-base plus slugging percentages] they began the day with against southpaws was the third-worst in the majors, and the .310 slugging percentage was the worst. On the season, the Yanks have 15 extra-base hits off southpaws in 344 at-bats." Team architect, Brian Cashman, rallies the troops, "We are dying right now without Posada and A-Rod." Apparently, part of the infamous plan was to have Posada stay healthy forever and A-Rod to be MVP and iron man, in case of emergency we've got Ensberg. Keep in mind, the potent lineup was supposed to carry the work in progress pitching staff.

There is an old expression that says "It's darkest before the dawn," Eephus Pitch provides us with a coming attraction that suggests we aren't there yet. (Warning the preview is not for the weak at heart.)

PHOTO/Newsday

Yanks' battle of the fittest

The Yankees young season is thirty four games old. The mediocre results won't suffice. The hype of the phenoms is irrelevant. The bottom line is quality production. The organization gets it.

The demotion of prodigy Ian Kennedy was a big step in the right direction. Replacement Darrell Rasner doesn't have Kennedy's press clippings, "The only indication Rasner has given that he can't be a useful back of the rotation pitcher is that he hasn't been able to stay out of the infirmary."--Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide, but he earned the job by getting results, it's that simple.

YES broadcaster David Cone knows something about competition, "You're not entitled...Generation trey is now generation uno." You earn your pinstripes the old fashion way--earn them.

Ian Kennedy started for Scranton last night and turned in a stellar performance. "No hitter through 5.2 innings. Eight strikeouts without a walk. Struck out the last three batters he faced."--SWB. "Kennedy got the message."--Cone. The message is clear--hype has taken a back seat to performance.

Yankees competition

The Yanks were enjoying a rare day off, but the competition was busy. The Red Sox and Tigers played in Motown, both clubs are coping with high expectations.

The Detroit Tigers were the darlings of the preseason prognosticators. SI said, "Therefore, the equation that defines Detroit's upcoming season will most likely prove to be a simple one: One of the most productive offenses in the history of the game + a rejuvenated rotation = the Tiger's first world championship since 1984." Reality says, " 33 games into the regular season their .424 win percentage has them mired in the cellar of the Central Division." Former Yankees malcontent Gary Sheffield, is now Detroit's problem. Manager Jim Leyland shook up his floundering club by demoting Sheff to the six spot in the lineup and moving his balky shoulder to leftfield. Gary explained his lack of production--.183 BA/2 homers/5 RBI--" DH doesn't fit my personality." Joe Torre will be relieved that it's not his fault. The Yanks dumped Sheffield on the Tigers and received damaged goods--Humberto Sanchez-- in return. It proved to be addition by subtraction as it alleviated the never ending soap opera that perpetually surrounds poor Gary Sheffield.

The Boston Red Sox are the other end of the spectrum. The Bomber's rivals are defending a championship,indoctrinating young players, coping with injuries and doing just fine. Their .618 win percentage is ominous. The balance on the field and in the front office is an enviable combination. The Yanks have their hands full.

PHOTO/SI.com

Yankees sweep

The Yanks sweep the Mariners and the sun comes out in the Bronx. The early season stumble has been replaced with a confident gate. The offense puts up crooked numbers while the pitching staff gets people out, all of a sudden the game is easy.

"Everybody's failed opportunity is opportunity for someone else."--M. Kay. Exit Ian Kennedy enter Darrell Rasner. I don't know what's in the water in Scranton, but the stats Darrell brought with him--4-0/ERA 1.87/BAA .170--are too good. The reincarnated Rasner did the job, after weeks of watching Hughes/Kennedy melt down in the third, a solid six was invigorating--just ask the bullpen.

Speaking of the relief corp, is it premature to say they actually look viable? The army of arms is getting people out, if this continues, the plan to move Joba to the rotation may not result in carnage.

I was about to wrap up this article on an optimistic note, than I read this in Newsday: "Kennedy's descent means the ascent of lefthander Kei Igawa, the $46-million "investment" who likely will start in Kennedy's place Friday or Saturday in Detroit. Igawa has been pitching relatively well." There are clouds on the horizon, enjoy your day in the sun.

PHOTO/NEWSDAY

Yanks do the right thing

Hyped prospect Ian Kennedy was demoted to Scranton on Sunday, after all the words, action speaks. Ever since Joba Chamberlain burst from the gate, expectations for the next farm crop have been distorted. It takes time to nurture potential, you can't rush the future. The organization made a mistake by basking in the attention the rejuvenated farm system received. The Bomber's brass should have lowered the volume and let the kid's play speak for itself. Today's move is decisive action that rectifies a problem, it's a step in the right direction.

The YES crew of Kay, Murcer and O'Neill discussed the aftermath, they found Kennedy's paraphrased quote disturbing, "It'll be good to go somewhere where every pitch isn't scrutinized and isn't the end of the world." Kay responded, "It's the big leagues, what do you expect?" O'Neill says, "It can be crushing it really can...Sounds like someone beaten down and tired."

There's a big jump from the minors to the show. The Yanks have a list of guys arriving with gaudy stats that don't mean anything once the game starts. Baseball is a game of failure, let's hope Ian Kennedy can learn from the experience. "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."--Bobby Murcer.

Yankees comic relief

Yankees' venerable voice of reason, the original Boss, calms the turbulent water: "comparatively laid-back Yankee owner George Steinbrenner advised his sons to "calm down" and "not make any rash decisions." "It's just a game," Steinbrenner said in a statement released by his spokesman Howard Rubenstein."--The Onion

More Hank issues are covered in a Sports Shorts segment presented by eTrueSports.

Yankees notes & quotes

The Seattle Mariners are the tonic the Yankees needed to ease their pain. Yesterday's 6-1 victory featured effective pitching from a revived Moose plus a rejuvenated offense, combine that with a sloppy Seattle squad, it adds up to a two game winning streak. Here's a few notes:

• A preview of the Mariners from the Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide:"As befits a team of such mediocrity, the Mariners will face the challenge this year of balancing the development of their prospects against the organization's desire to contend...Development or damned the torpedoes? It's a tough call." This sounds eerily familiar.
• More cogent analysis from BP: "If you're going to have a pitching staff that relies on defense, it would follow that you would assemble an excellent defense. Instead, the Mariners ranked second to last in the American league." The beat goes on as Seattle commits six errors in two games against the Bombers.
• It doesn't add up: " 2002-2003 Giambi hit .339 and .327 in clutch situations, with an OPS both years over 1.000. Since 2004 he has hit .217 .229 .203 and .222 in clutch situations."--Bill James Gold Mine. Michael Kay recently noted that the Yanks are a .666 team with Giambi on the bench and .500 with him in the lineup. Since 8/10/07 he has the second lowest batting average in MLB to Sheffield. This season he is hitting .154 despite showing up in shape and having the added incentive of pending free agency. Here's a report from Susan Waldman yesterday: "Giambi thinks he is hitting the ball well, it's just bad luck." No it's not. His bloated contract has him anchored in the lineup. He is the most expensive mistake in Yankees history. Face facts, end the charade.
• Mel Stottlemyre, pitching coach of five World Champions now presides over an impressive Mariners staff as Gator's replacement Dave Eiland is mired in transition. Good guys don't always finish last.
• Class Act: Jeter requesting that venerable PA announcer, Bob Sheppard's recorded voice introduce him for the rest of his career illustrates what the captain is all about.

Photo/Newsday

Yanks' aces deliver

Last night, the Yanks beat the Mariners the old fashioned way. Quality pitching is at the root of successful baseball and the Bomber's hurlers did the job. Staff ace Chien-Ming Wang took the mound and did what stoppers do. The losing streak is over, let the momentum begin. (Peter Abraham from Lo Hud quantifies the quality, "Wang is 22-6 career after a loss, including 11 in a row.")

Wang got plenty of support in shutting down the inept Mariners. He turned in six strong innings and turned the cold Bronx night over to Kyle Farnsworth's heat. Farnsworth displayed the dominating form that has occasionally shown up in his enigmatic career. He took care of the seventh. The rest was left to the rested tandem of Chamberlain and Rivera--lights out.

It's important for the Yankees and their fans to savor games like this, there won't be enough. The pitching staff carried the injury depleted team to victory. Today the Moose goes against King Felix Hernandez who features, "fearsome stuff" and the challenge of the 2008 season continues.

Yankees "Deal with it"

The Yankees played the Tigers at the stadium last night, looking to avoid the first sweep by Detroit in the Bronx since 1966. Prior to the game, team architect Brian Cashman welcomed May by saying, "No on crisis mode...Deal with it."--YES.

Ian Kennedy took the mound with an uncharacteristic aggression. For two innings, he bore a striking resemblance to a major league-ready pitcher. Abreu supported the prodigy by swatting a three run bomb. It was all good.

The bubble burst in the third. Professional hitter Maglio Ordonez whacks an RBI double. Cabrera lofts a long fly, in the vicinity of the right field wall, Abreu has issues in this area and the result is Cabrera lumbering into 3RD. Detroit 4 Yanks 3. Bullpen warming up in the 3RD, Girardi shakes his head--been there done this. Michael Kay recounts a conversation with Jim Leyland,"Big difference between having to use your bullpen and wanting to use them for match ups. the Yanks have to use them again." (paraphrased)

The rest of the game was controlled by Tiger's southpaw Nate Robertson. Here's what Baseball Prospectus wrote, "remarkably consistent at a level just below average." Ian Kennedy isn't there yet.

Game Notes: Tigers 8 Yanks 4:

• Phil Hughes was placed on the DL with a rib problem. To his credit, he didn't use the recent injury as an excuse,"I don't think it was an issue in my performance." Here's how GM Brian Cashman dealt with the news, "Cashman tried to link it to why the Yankees top young pitcher has been so inconsistent over the first month, going 0-4 9.02 ERA over six starts, 'His fastball command has been uncommonly off. Now we know why." (Heyman,Gannet News) Here's some sobering history from Brian Heyman, "In reality, he has had just one healthy season since being drafted 23RD in 2004." Cashman's draft philosophy is to select high-ceiling prospects with injury issues. Hughes joins a distinguished list of touted pitchers in rehab. (Seems like only yesterday we were told what a find Humberto Sanchez was.) This scenario isn't going away.
• Yesterday, I wrote "Giambi isn't part of the solution; he's part of the problem." Michael Kay quantifies my observation, "The Yanks are 57-28 (.670) without Giambi and 42-41 with him in the lineup." Let's see how long it takes the Bomber's brass to "deal with" the facts and cut the cord.

Photo/ Newsday

Yanks tread water

The turbulent Yankees season hasn't caught up with them in the standings. A mediocre start by the competition has bought the Bombers time. The clock is ticking.

There is a perception that the Yankees have had a run of bad luck: Injuries, schedule, growing pains,weather are hurdles the team has dealt with and are still viable. This search for a silver lining overlooks the fact that Wang is 5-0, The Great Rivera is perfect and Joba excellent. Three guys have been responsible for carrying the troubled team from poor to mediocre. Baseball is a game of failure.Perfection is impossible. Relying on three guys won't work.

Game Notes-- Yanks/Tigers :

• "Guys like Cano and Giambi have to live up to their baseball cards."--Michael Kay. Be careful what you wish for, Giambi hasn't been productive since 2006. He implied in the spring that the uncertainty of when he would play first under Torre deterred him. Girardi eliminated that excuse and the results are poor. He is not part of the solution;he is part of the problem.
• YES broadcaster Michael Kay announces that the Yankees have put hyped prodigy Phil Hughes on the 15 day DL with an oblique problem. Al Leiter says, "when did that happen?" He suggests that it will give Dave Eiland time to work out his mechanics (Deja Vu all over again.) The cynic in me thinks this smacks of a face saving move. The responsible blogger realizes it's pure conjecture and hopes "The Franchise" will recover.