Thursday's win against the Blue Jays came so far out the blue (figuratively) that even I could not believe it.
Who could have predicted that outcome? Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth with no one on base against one of the best closers in baseball, the Yankees staged their best comeback rally of the season to date.
It started with Ryan yielding a single to Alex Rodriguez on a ball that went off third baseman Scott Rolen's glove. Shortstop David Eckstein would have had it if Rolen did not get in the way. He would take second base on a defensive indifference play.
Hideki Matsui would then single up the middle to bring home Rodriguez to make it 8-7. At this moment, the run given up by Kyle Farnsworth appeared to loom very large.
Jose Molina had substituted for Jorge Posada in the top half of the inning. With his spot in the lineup now up, Girardi choose to pinch-hit Molina with Jason Giambi, who had missed Wednesday and (to that point) Thursday's game due to foot injury he suffered in Tuesday night's game.
Giambi had terrible numbers lifetime against Ryan (2 for 14 with 7 strikeouts). The closer, who is death on left-handed hitters, got ahead of the count 0-2 before Giambi would drive the next pitch deep down the right field line.
Seeing how the Yankees were running into bad luck not only in that game, but most of this season, no Yankee fan would have been surprised to see that ball take a turn a little further right and go foul. What's the harm? It's not like that hasn't happened enough times in the 59 games played so far. This time, the team would be given some good fortune.
The ball would in fact stay fair, right into the upper deck. Ballgame over. Yankees win! 9-8 the final score. A sense of relief, but mainly joy. Giambi, who has been maligned early in the season for his lack of productivity with the bat, has come around in a big way. From an average that was dipping close to .170, and now close to .260. He is in the top 10 in the American League in OPS. If he continues his hitting, he may find himself in Yankee Stadium for the All Star Game in July.
What does this mean in terms of Yankees Long Term Outlook? Well, they still only trail the Red Sox in the loss column by five games. Seattle and Detroit are having their seasons spill out of control. Add to that, the Indians are still floundering under the .500 mark.
I had hoped that after 60 games, they would find themselves at 32-28 (30-30 is the current record) going to what I will entitle "The Sprint". 22 games are coming up against very beatable opponents. This is time to start establishing that you are here and put a foot stamp on the rest of the American League.
It has become quite apparent that parity has run rampant in the League this year. For as consistently inconsistent as they have been this season, one hot streak is all that is needed to get everything on track.
Here is a look at the Yanks next 23 games
4 vs. KC
3 at OAK
3 at HOU
3 vs. SD
3 vs. CIN
3 at PIT
1 vs. NYM
3 at NYM
An 18-5 record during this time would put them at 48-35 and near the top of the AL East standings. The opponents are there to run off a nice lengthy streak. Can it be done?
Jorge Posada made his return to the lineup today. That now allows for the complete Opening Day lineup that the Yankees can now field. If Robbie Cano can bring his bat back into the lineup at some point during this season, there will be many times where they will have big offensive games.
Chien Ming-Wang and Andy Pettitte have to correct their struggles. They have not pitched well in the last month. Perhaps some softer batting orders are what's needed.
Darrell Rasner has been a savior to this point. His first below start took place on Sunday, but he has given the team far more than they ever could have hoped for.
Joba Chamberlain is slowly trying to develop into that starter who is working with limited pitch counts, as the organization tries to build up his arm strength. His next three starts are against Kansas City, Houston and San Diego. It will give him a chance to be effective against lineups that are either not good or lack discipline.
What can be said about Mike Mussina? Now, all one could say is "Who knew?" As Manny Ramirez was using him for batting practice back in April, you had to wonder if the career of "Le Moose" had officially seen its better days. Since that last start at home against Boston, he has the most wins of any pitcher in baseball.
His control has been excellent. Using his superior intelligence and not power to get hitters out. Going from a fastball at 86 to a changeup at 66. It has been marvelous to see. Certainly, one sees a little market correction in his numbers. However, charting his next four starts it is very possible that he could have 13 wins by the end of this month. If that happens, he will find also find himself as a surprise All Star next month as well.
The bullpen remains a complete work in progress. LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth continue to live up to their career performance. Joe Girardi has placed has trust of the 8th inning now that Chamberlain has moved to the rotation, in Farnsworth. Why? Who knows? Right now, a six out hold exists. Youngsters Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras have pure stuff, but have been inconsistent at best this season. There are some reserves down in the minor leagues that are refining their stuff, but none with the maturity, readiness along with the statistics to bring any one of those people up. So as of right now, it is a work in progress and you hope the team can be able to slug their way through that problem for the time being.
The time is now. 60 games of the season are complete and 102 are to go. The Yanks can make hay in their first fifth of these 102 games by starting it off strong.
Who could have predicted that outcome? Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth with no one on base against one of the best closers in baseball, the Yankees staged their best comeback rally of the season to date.
It started with Ryan yielding a single to Alex Rodriguez on a ball that went off third baseman Scott Rolen's glove. Shortstop David Eckstein would have had it if Rolen did not get in the way. He would take second base on a defensive indifference play.
Hideki Matsui would then single up the middle to bring home Rodriguez to make it 8-7. At this moment, the run given up by Kyle Farnsworth appeared to loom very large.
Jose Molina had substituted for Jorge Posada in the top half of the inning. With his spot in the lineup now up, Girardi choose to pinch-hit Molina with Jason Giambi, who had missed Wednesday and (to that point) Thursday's game due to foot injury he suffered in Tuesday night's game.
Giambi had terrible numbers lifetime against Ryan (2 for 14 with 7 strikeouts). The closer, who is death on left-handed hitters, got ahead of the count 0-2 before Giambi would drive the next pitch deep down the right field line.
Seeing how the Yankees were running into bad luck not only in that game, but most of this season, no Yankee fan would have been surprised to see that ball take a turn a little further right and go foul. What's the harm? It's not like that hasn't happened enough times in the 59 games played so far. This time, the team would be given some good fortune.
The ball would in fact stay fair, right into the upper deck. Ballgame over. Yankees win! 9-8 the final score. A sense of relief, but mainly joy. Giambi, who has been maligned early in the season for his lack of productivity with the bat, has come around in a big way. From an average that was dipping close to .170, and now close to .260. He is in the top 10 in the American League in OPS. If he continues his hitting, he may find himself in Yankee Stadium for the All Star Game in July.
What does this mean in terms of Yankees Long Term Outlook? Well, they still only trail the Red Sox in the loss column by five games. Seattle and Detroit are having their seasons spill out of control. Add to that, the Indians are still floundering under the .500 mark.
I had hoped that after 60 games, they would find themselves at 32-28 (30-30 is the current record) going to what I will entitle "The Sprint". 22 games are coming up against very beatable opponents. This is time to start establishing that you are here and put a foot stamp on the rest of the American League.
It has become quite apparent that parity has run rampant in the League this year. For as consistently inconsistent as they have been this season, one hot streak is all that is needed to get everything on track.
Here is a look at the Yanks next 23 games
4 vs. KC
3 at OAK
3 at HOU
3 vs. SD
3 vs. CIN
3 at PIT
1 vs. NYM
3 at NYM
An 18-5 record during this time would put them at 48-35 and near the top of the AL East standings. The opponents are there to run off a nice lengthy streak. Can it be done?
Jorge Posada made his return to the lineup today. That now allows for the complete Opening Day lineup that the Yankees can now field. If Robbie Cano can bring his bat back into the lineup at some point during this season, there will be many times where they will have big offensive games.
Chien Ming-Wang and Andy Pettitte have to correct their struggles. They have not pitched well in the last month. Perhaps some softer batting orders are what's needed.
Darrell Rasner has been a savior to this point. His first below start took place on Sunday, but he has given the team far more than they ever could have hoped for.
Joba Chamberlain is slowly trying to develop into that starter who is working with limited pitch counts, as the organization tries to build up his arm strength. His next three starts are against Kansas City, Houston and San Diego. It will give him a chance to be effective against lineups that are either not good or lack discipline.
What can be said about Mike Mussina? Now, all one could say is "Who knew?" As Manny Ramirez was using him for batting practice back in April, you had to wonder if the career of "Le Moose" had officially seen its better days. Since that last start at home against Boston, he has the most wins of any pitcher in baseball.
His control has been excellent. Using his superior intelligence and not power to get hitters out. Going from a fastball at 86 to a changeup at 66. It has been marvelous to see. Certainly, one sees a little market correction in his numbers. However, charting his next four starts it is very possible that he could have 13 wins by the end of this month. If that happens, he will find also find himself as a surprise All Star next month as well.
The bullpen remains a complete work in progress. LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth continue to live up to their career performance. Joe Girardi has placed has trust of the 8th inning now that Chamberlain has moved to the rotation, in Farnsworth. Why? Who knows? Right now, a six out hold exists. Youngsters Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras have pure stuff, but have been inconsistent at best this season. There are some reserves down in the minor leagues that are refining their stuff, but none with the maturity, readiness along with the statistics to bring any one of those people up. So as of right now, it is a work in progress and you hope the team can be able to slug their way through that problem for the time being.
The time is now. 60 games of the season are complete and 102 are to go. The Yanks can make hay in their first fifth of these 102 games by starting it off strong.
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