4/4-4/6 Weekend Recap
I spent the last weekend totally immersed in watching baseball games, but none pertaining to the New York Yankees. My hometown Carolina League A Advanced team, the Salem Avalanche, started off their year with a home series against the Potomac Nationals. It was amazingly refreshing and fun to spend the weekend watching the games in our beautiful stadium with a beautiful date. (Hi baby!) The Avalanche took the series 2-1 and they look good coming into the 2008 season. However, while I was watching the live ball, the Yankees were working themselves into some questions. Here is a look back at the weekend.
4/4 Yankees/Rays
The Lineup was changed again due to Posada not catching. He DH’d instead. Joe Girardi had some upper respiratory sickness, and a high fevel. Rob Thomson managed in his place.
Here was the new lineup:
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Matsui LF
Molina C
Ian Kennedy made his season debut, and got booted after 2 and 2/3 innings. He threw only 12 strikes in a nearly 30 pitch first inning and gave up a run almost immediately while walking two. His third inning was what did him in though, and he earned five runs in the inning. The big blow was a three run homer that came on his 70th and final pitch of the game. Ouch. He ended up walking four and throwing only 32 strikes. It should be noted that he is generally noted for his command.
He said: “As a young guy, you have to prove yourself and throw strikes,” Kennedy said. “I know that sometimes when you hit the back of the plate and you’re expecting that call, you might not get it.” (lohud) No kidding.
The Yankees came back and rallied their recently anemic lineup in the bottom of the inning, scoring four on Sonnanstine. Andy collected himself though, and exploited the Yankee lineup for only one hit through the seventh.
In the eighth Latroy Hawkins pitched for the Yanks, but soon gave up a homerun. After five more consecutive Ray hits he was pulled for Farnsworth.
Farnsworth looked decent; that is until a monster three run shot from Carlos Pena.
Overall the Rays spanked NYY 13-4.
4/5 Yankees/Rays
On Saturday the Bombers looked for a little bit of redemption after suffering a pretty bad defeat the night before. Andy Pettite made his season debut, and cost John Albaladejo his spot on the MLB roster. Joe Girardi was a game time decision, but ended up not managing again. Rob Thomson took the reins once again.
Here was the lineup:
YANKEES
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Duncan 1B
Pettitte LHP
RAYS
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Gomes RF
Aybar 3B
Bartlett SS
Riggans C
Johnson DH
Jackson RHP
The sleepy Yankees offense had trouble getting men on base, and then converting those RISP’s into runs. They pulled ahead quickly 1-0 on an A-Rod RBI, and proceeded to load the bases early on in the game, but then Jeter and Damon were both set down to spoil the effort. Posada was back catching again, but Giambi left the game after his second at bat due to tightness of the groin. So far the Yanks have been outscored 28-15 and are .162 with RISP. Makes me wonder if Girardi is experiencing some tightness somewhere himself. BTW Giambi really rallied to become the starting 1B this season, iinstead of a DH. Looks like he was able to stay healthy for 4.2 games.
Pettitte didn’t look to horrible for his first start, but wasn’t deserving of any awards either. He only allowed two earned runs through the fourth inning. The fifth inning brought his undoing however, and Johnny Gomes smacked a high hanging offspeed pitch over Matsui in left. Oh yeah, it counted for three runs. Overall Pettitte surrendered eight hits, walked two, and hit Carlos Pena twice. Oops. He threw 86 pitches. On his performance he noted:
“I feel good. I got a little gassed in the fifth inning, but physically I feel great. My body feels good, but I just didn’t have anything today, man,”
“I felt bad for Jorge. I didn’t give him hardly anything to work with. It was not a real good day at all.”
The Yanks were down 6-1 in the eighth and once again got the bases full. Posada was able to turn that into a two RBI hit after Cano fanned out.
Rays Win 6-3
The Yankee offense is certainly struggling to this point. None of the batters are doing to much, notably the top of the lineup and Cano in his new #6 spot.
However the Yankees defended themselves and their performances as not being indicative of too much besides remarkable pitching. Here is what they said:
John Damon: “Guys are pitching us tough but we’re good enough players to hit anybody.”
Derek Jeter: “We wanted to get a few runs there but sometimes the pitcher is just better than you are.” (Ha thats what I want to hear from you, Captain)
Rob Thomson: “This offense is going to hit. At some point it’s going to hit.”
Jason Giambi: “I’m not worried because over the long haul we’re going to score runs.” “But unfortunately we’re not getting much done right now.”
(All Quotes from Lohud)
4/6 Yankees/Rays
The Yanks once again matched up against the Rays, who were trying to work on a series sweep.
The lineup was:
YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF
Wang RHP
Joe Girardi was back in control on the bench as the Yankees, I mean CMW, shut down the Rays 2-0. He pitched well, and as usual was not scared to allow the ball to be put in play. His six innings didn’t allow any runs (obviously) and besides a bit of trouble in the seventh had a pretty nice outing.
Hideki Matsui was the other difference maker in Sunday’s game, driving in two runs on a crucial homer in the fourth, as well as having two other hits. 2-0 Yanks.
When CMW put runners on the corner in the seventh with no outs, Girardi went ahead and put in Joba Chamberlain instead of Farnsworth. Chamberlain wiped out the side on eight (count them-) pitches, including a 100+ mph four seamer. He struck out the first batter and the next hit into a dounle play. His work in the eighth? 1-2-3, no earned runs. Mo took care of the ninth, business as usual.
Yankees finally win 2-0.
Bears, Beers, and Yankee Baseball 
