Thursday, September 27, 2007

LUCKY 13th


The Yankees clinched their 13th straight playoff appearance as they beat the Devil Rays 12-4 in their southern home. Bring on the Post Season!
Photo by John Monaco

Saturday, September 22, 2007

JAYS BEAT BOMBERS IN 14

The Yankees lost last night to the Blue Jays after coming back to tie the game in the 9th inning. The Yanks were down by 4 going into the ninth but when the smoke cleared it was 4-4 going into extra innings. Brian Bruney gave up the game winning homer in the top of the 14th but did he really have to lose it?

Dan McCourt (aka Knuckles) was at the game, we know we heard him on the radio, check out what he had to say on his webpage "Take Him Downtown".

The crowd screamed with glee as Mariano Rivera came on to work a 1-2-3, 10-pitch 10th, and the Yanks couldn't wait to get back to the task at hand. with Johnny Damon leading off yet again. And it started well, with Janssen missing on two straight.
But then the game suddenly ground to a halt, and who's to say what night have happened had it not? We had been treated to three hours of world-class pitching from both sides, and then a scintillating four-run rally when the Yanks had their backs to the wall. Who could ask for anything more for their sports entertainment dollar? But one young woman apparently felt that there was too much cheering going on, and none of it for her, so she grabbed her moment and darted onto the field. She was quickly wrestled to the ground behind shortstop, handcuffed by the police, and led off the field, fighting every step of the way. The game resumed.
But the moment had passed. Hanssen found the zone and retiried Damon on a fly and escaped around a two-out walk to Abreu, and the Yanks never threatened again. Fans cheered lustily when Jeter singled on the first pitch of the home 14th, but once Matsui followed with a two-out walk, Jose Molina struck out. They were the only home-team baserunners after the 10th. The Yanks were blanked over the last five frames by Janssen, Jeremy Accardo, Brian Wolfe, Joe Kennedy, and Jason Frasor, with the last two getting a win and a save, respectively.


DOUBLE TROUBLE
Rookie Ian Kennedy had originally been set to be on the mound on Saturday for his fourth Major League start, but his stiff upper back canned those plans.
No matter, the Yankees thought, with a seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens set to go Sunday with two extra days rest he would be the natural replacement. But the Rocket's left hamstring didn't like that idea, either, so right-handed rookie Phenom Phil Phills in in a Phlash. Young Phil Hughes goes for his second Yankee Stadium win in the matinee against the Blue Jays. Joba Chamberlain will be unavailable as he pitched two innings in te loss last night.


There will be a tribute to the recently passed Yankees Legend Phil Rizzuto Sunday before the game starting at 12:30.

Monday, September 03, 2007

I'VE HAD ENOUGH

What is going on here? The only thing to go right lately was the start by the young Ian Kennedy. I haven't been teased this much since my high school prom. Heck that was in the last millenium. Just when you think the team is turning around...BAM! The offense goes away...BAM! The pitching goes awry...BAM! Results WINS go bye bye!!! Andy Phillips is out for the season with a broken wrist. And no it isn't from high fiving Shelly Duncan.

We sweep the Red Sox in style last week and like a scene from Damn Yankees we can't do anything right after that. The dreaded Devil Rays take two of three on our turf with two of our former farmhands doing the damage on the form of Carlos Pena and Dioner Navarro. Meanwhile up in Boston they pulled another rabbit out of their farm hat as Clay "Gumby" Buchholz pitched a no hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.

In a move that may open the door for Mike Mussina to return to the starting rotation, Roger Clemens was lifted from his start against the Mariners on Monday with right elbow discomfort that will likely force him to miss at least one start. Rumors have it he has a slight groin twinge as well from a split he did in the second inning. Clemens told Yankees manager Joe Torre that his elbow was troubling him during the fourth inning of a 7-1 loss to Seattle in which he allowed three runs.

Not much time left as we enter the final month of the (regular) season. Every game is a must. Once we finish with the M's and Royals we stay withing the division which includes 3 game up in Fenway against the Red Sox. That may show continuation of the beaning war started last week in New York. That should prove interesting.