The Yankees are off to another hot start, prompting me out of my July 4th blogging hiatus to find something new to say about my favorite yo-yoing New Yorkers.
First, a few observations: Whenever I'm working on the sports desk at my illustrious intern position at the MetroWest Daily News, the Red Sox always seem to be winning. A lot. Argh.
Second, although I am a fan who generally trusts management decisions for my favorite teams, the Yankees have started to irk me lately, especially with the choice of the final starter (with Chien-Ming Wang out) and the eighth-inning setup man. Today, the Yanks announced they were starting top-notch receiver Alfredo Aceves in place of Wang, even though Phil Hughes has done a great job in the starting role earlier this season. (Hughes may be a little rusty, but don't tell me never-started Aceves isn't.)
And finally, the reason for my swish-and-bang headline: The Yankees are currently winning 5-1, and I am quite pleased. Nick Swisher scared the Twinsies into walking him, forcing a run, and every member of the Yankees has a hit so far through five innings (except, alas, Alex Rodriguez).
New York is just a game back of the Red Sox, and the Bombers hold down the second-best record in the American League (third-best in MLB).
Other Yankees posts
Showing posts with label chien ming wang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chien ming wang. Show all posts
7.07.2009
6.29.2009
500 saves, 1 win, 0 errors
Tonight was a classic Yankees win (and God bless ESPN for broadcasting the game for those poor souls who live in Boston and can't get regular Yankees games on TV).
Mariano Rivera recorded his 500th career save; Chien-Ming Wang finally won a game for the first time in over a year; and the Yankees' defense powered the team to a 4-2 win over the hapless New York Mets.
Mariano Rivera tossed his 18th save in 19 chances, coming in during the eighth inning to whiff a batter, then closing it out in the bottom of the ninth. In between his trips to the mound, however, the batting order came around to give him his third regular-season hitting chance ever. Mo worked the count and drew a walk against a reliever who has been anointed as a next great one (Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez), pushing a bases-loaded runner home to give the Yanks another run.
Chien-Ming Wang, the poor former-ace for the Yankees, finally got a W tonight. He'd been 0-6 so far this season, and even when he wasn't allowing what led to a 34.50 ERA (his first seven starts, runs allowed: 7, 8, 8, 5, 4, 3, 3), he just had bad luck getting the right situations for a statistical "win." Tonight, however, he was crisp, keeping the bases clean and not breaking his ankle when running out grounders.
But the real winner in tonight's game was the New York defense. In fact, the difference in the game was how much better the Yankees' defense was than the Mets' defense. Forget your All-Star closers (we'll even let K-Rod slink away without judgment here) and high-caliber batting orders.
This game was won in the diamond.
As the commentators murmured about Derek Jeter getting older and whether he'd have to be shifted away from shortstop, he once again showed that, no matter what the future holds, that is not the case right now. Flu bug or not, he was classic Jeter tonight, turning solid plays.
To his right, Alex Rodriguez showed his worth as a fielder. He made a couple diving plays and scooped up a key bunt for a force-out to keep New York in the game.
And Mark Teixeira keeps earning his dough at first, no question about it.
In contrast, the Mets avoided any Castillo-like game-ending error blunders (although there was a dropped Jorge Posada fly late in the game that was gratuitously ruled a base hit), but they were instead just mediocre in the infield. In the first inning, all three runs were because of less-than-great plays by Mets infielders, and although no errors were tagged on the blue-and-oranges, rudimentary conversions by the players would have kept those runs from scoring. Alas, tonight the Mets had strung enough together to win (they out-hit the Yankees 5-4), yet those unfortunate plays derailed what they needed to overcome a depleted batting order and the extremely bad luck the Mets have attracted recently.
Better luck next time.
The Yankees (43-32) are riding a five-game winning streak, have the third-best record in the league, and sit just three back of the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox. Next up, the Bombers face Seattle (39-36) at home, where they'll try to keep increasing space in their tight division. Tampa Bay (42-35) and Toronto (41-36) are nipping at their heels.
Other Yankees Posts
Mariano Rivera recorded his 500th career save; Chien-Ming Wang finally won a game for the first time in over a year; and the Yankees' defense powered the team to a 4-2 win over the hapless New York Mets.
Mariano Rivera tossed his 18th save in 19 chances, coming in during the eighth inning to whiff a batter, then closing it out in the bottom of the ninth. In between his trips to the mound, however, the batting order came around to give him his third regular-season hitting chance ever. Mo worked the count and drew a walk against a reliever who has been anointed as a next great one (Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez), pushing a bases-loaded runner home to give the Yanks another run.
Chien-Ming Wang, the poor former-ace for the Yankees, finally got a W tonight. He'd been 0-6 so far this season, and even when he wasn't allowing what led to a 34.50 ERA (his first seven starts, runs allowed: 7, 8, 8, 5, 4, 3, 3), he just had bad luck getting the right situations for a statistical "win." Tonight, however, he was crisp, keeping the bases clean and not breaking his ankle when running out grounders.
But the real winner in tonight's game was the New York defense. In fact, the difference in the game was how much better the Yankees' defense was than the Mets' defense. Forget your All-Star closers (we'll even let K-Rod slink away without judgment here) and high-caliber batting orders.
This game was won in the diamond.
As the commentators murmured about Derek Jeter getting older and whether he'd have to be shifted away from shortstop, he once again showed that, no matter what the future holds, that is not the case right now. Flu bug or not, he was classic Jeter tonight, turning solid plays.
To his right, Alex Rodriguez showed his worth as a fielder. He made a couple diving plays and scooped up a key bunt for a force-out to keep New York in the game.
And Mark Teixeira keeps earning his dough at first, no question about it.
In contrast, the Mets avoided any Castillo-like game-ending error blunders (although there was a dropped Jorge Posada fly late in the game that was gratuitously ruled a base hit), but they were instead just mediocre in the infield. In the first inning, all three runs were because of less-than-great plays by Mets infielders, and although no errors were tagged on the blue-and-oranges, rudimentary conversions by the players would have kept those runs from scoring. Alas, tonight the Mets had strung enough together to win (they out-hit the Yankees 5-4), yet those unfortunate plays derailed what they needed to overcome a depleted batting order and the extremely bad luck the Mets have attracted recently.
Better luck next time.
The Yankees (43-32) are riding a five-game winning streak, have the third-best record in the league, and sit just three back of the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox. Next up, the Bombers face Seattle (39-36) at home, where they'll try to keep increasing space in their tight division. Tampa Bay (42-35) and Toronto (41-36) are nipping at their heels.
Other Yankees Posts
6.23.2009
Another stinker for the Yankees
Chien-Ming Wang is having issues, but a three-run effort is nothing to look down on.
The Yankees' lineup patching together only four hits against a 33-36 Braves team is. (Follow the pointing finger to 0-for-5 Nick Swisher, 0-for-3 Mark Teixeira, 0-for-4 Alex Rodriguez and 0-for-4 Jorge Posada.)
New York also left 12 men on base during its 4-0 wilt of a loss against another National League team.
Other Yankees Posts
The Yankees' lineup patching together only four hits against a 33-36 Braves team is. (Follow the pointing finger to 0-for-5 Nick Swisher, 0-for-3 Mark Teixeira, 0-for-4 Alex Rodriguez and 0-for-4 Jorge Posada.)
New York also left 12 men on base during its 4-0 wilt of a loss against another National League team.
Other Yankees Posts
Return to inter-league play for Wang's ankle
Around this time last year, the Yankees headed into inter-league play. During a New York romp, when even their starting ace, Chien-Ming Wang, got on base, a fateful accident happened that has bugged the Yankees since.
Rounding the bases, Wang misstepped and hurt his ankle, dropping him on the disabled list for a few weeks. Throughout the rest of the season, he struggled with injuries, leaving the Yankees deprived of their best pitcher going into the pennant race. New York then missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and although it was a team effort that took the Yankees out of the 2008 postseason, not having two-time 19-game winner Wang down the stretch certainly didn't help.
The Yankees were excited to have Wang back for a full season this year, joining ace CC Sabathia, Yankee stalwart Andy Pettitte, young up-and-comer Joba Chamberlain and veteran A.J. Burnett in a powerhouse staff. But Wang quickly became the weakest link, if he could be called a link at all.
Wang has lost five games this season, holding down an ERA of 32.30 at one point. Entering tonight's game, his ERA had sunk to 12.30 (a "bad" major-league pitcher can get benched at 6.00 or so). Nothing has gone right for Wang.
So, as another inter-league tilt arrives, and Wang pitches the Yanks into a 3-0 hole (through five innings), how many New York fans are wishing that Wang hurts his ankle lapping the bases again? He had time on the DL already this year, and it didn't cure him, and now Phil Hughes (3-2, 4.78 ERA, 43 Ks, 17 BBs in 43.1 IP) waits in the wings. Compared toWang (0-5, 12.30 ERA, 21 Ks, 14 BBs in 26.1 IP), Hughes looks like a Cy Young-caliber option.
(And, as fate has it, Hughes is usually the reliever who comes in and picks up the pieces after Wang's slow starts.)
Wang has been a great contributor to the Yankees. He went 8-5 in his first season, in 2005, with a 4.02 ERA, then ripped through the next two seasons, going 19-6 and 19-7 with ERAs of 3.63 and 3.70, respectively. (In 2007, his strikeout total peaked at 104, 28 Ks higher than the next closest season, even as he pitched 19 innings less. And he's a sinkerballer, which means he's not even supposed to be getting guys to whiff.) But with all the problems he's been having this season, and the Yankees' inability to pull away in the American League East, he needs to find a solution to his pitching decline, and quick.
Rounding the bases, Wang misstepped and hurt his ankle, dropping him on the disabled list for a few weeks. Throughout the rest of the season, he struggled with injuries, leaving the Yankees deprived of their best pitcher going into the pennant race. New York then missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and although it was a team effort that took the Yankees out of the 2008 postseason, not having two-time 19-game winner Wang down the stretch certainly didn't help.
The Yankees were excited to have Wang back for a full season this year, joining ace CC Sabathia, Yankee stalwart Andy Pettitte, young up-and-comer Joba Chamberlain and veteran A.J. Burnett in a powerhouse staff. But Wang quickly became the weakest link, if he could be called a link at all.
Wang has lost five games this season, holding down an ERA of 32.30 at one point. Entering tonight's game, his ERA had sunk to 12.30 (a "bad" major-league pitcher can get benched at 6.00 or so). Nothing has gone right for Wang.
So, as another inter-league tilt arrives, and Wang pitches the Yanks into a 3-0 hole (through five innings), how many New York fans are wishing that Wang hurts his ankle lapping the bases again? He had time on the DL already this year, and it didn't cure him, and now Phil Hughes (3-2, 4.78 ERA, 43 Ks, 17 BBs in 43.1 IP) waits in the wings. Compared toWang (0-5, 12.30 ERA, 21 Ks, 14 BBs in 26.1 IP), Hughes looks like a Cy Young-caliber option.
(And, as fate has it, Hughes is usually the reliever who comes in and picks up the pieces after Wang's slow starts.)
Wang has been a great contributor to the Yankees. He went 8-5 in his first season, in 2005, with a 4.02 ERA, then ripped through the next two seasons, going 19-6 and 19-7 with ERAs of 3.63 and 3.70, respectively. (In 2007, his strikeout total peaked at 104, 28 Ks higher than the next closest season, even as he pitched 19 innings less. And he's a sinkerballer, which means he's not even supposed to be getting guys to whiff.) But with all the problems he's been having this season, and the Yankees' inability to pull away in the American League East, he needs to find a solution to his pitching decline, and quick.
6.04.2009
Yankees 8, Rangers 6
The Yankees topped the Rangers 8-6 today to take back the top spot in the American League (although they're tied with the Red Sox this time).
Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to complete the Yankee comeback. New York was down 5-1 on another rough start by Chien-Ming Wang but came back thanks to a timely hit from Mark Teixeira.
Other Yankees posts
Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to complete the Yankee comeback. New York was down 5-1 on another rough start by Chien-Ming Wang but came back thanks to a timely hit from Mark Teixeira.
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ti-share-uh
Chien-Ming Wang is in usual form, meaning he's let five runs in over five innings. Not good.
But Mark Teixeira is also continuing his May tear, dropping a double in the bottom of the fifth to plate three runs. The Yanks have tied the game against the Texas Rangers at five, and no one is questioning why New York nabbed Ti-Share-Uh in the offseason.
Other Yankees posts
But Mark Teixeira is also continuing his May tear, dropping a double in the bottom of the fifth to plate three runs. The Yanks have tied the game against the Texas Rangers at five, and no one is questioning why New York nabbed Ti-Share-Uh in the offseason.
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6.01.2009
Joba!!!
Sign Joba Chamberlain up for the infield! My goodness, what a play!
(I hope it's up on YouTube, but for those of who didn't stay late after work to watch the game, he just dove off the mound, laid out and snared a pop-up two inches from the turf.)
On the other hand, Joba's pitching has had some issues lately. He is fantastic most innings, then getting in jams in the others. Bottom line, he uses tons of pitches to try to piece together a quality start. Tons of pitches=put him in the bullpen. Let him provide two innings a night and not use up his arm where Chien-Ming Wang can work.
And what is up with random creatures invading whenever Joba pitches in Cleveland? Bugs in the 2007 playoffs, seagulls chilling with the outfielders today. My, oh, my.
Maybe there's something in the air...and, if so, could it have gotten into the nostrils of whoever keeps making the calls at first?
(I hope it's up on YouTube, but for those of who didn't stay late after work to watch the game, he just dove off the mound, laid out and snared a pop-up two inches from the turf.)
On the other hand, Joba's pitching has had some issues lately. He is fantastic most innings, then getting in jams in the others. Bottom line, he uses tons of pitches to try to piece together a quality start. Tons of pitches=put him in the bullpen. Let him provide two innings a night and not use up his arm where Chien-Ming Wang can work.
And what is up with random creatures invading whenever Joba pitches in Cleveland? Bugs in the 2007 playoffs, seagulls chilling with the outfielders today. My, oh, my.
Maybe there's something in the air...and, if so, could it have gotten into the nostrils of whoever keeps making the calls at first?
Labels:
chien ming wang,
joba chamberlain,
new york yankees
5.31.2009
Tex? Good. Gardner? Errr....
Mark Teixeira did his job again today, driving in four runs with a double and a homer, but some shoddy play by the Yanks with runners on base (I'm thinking Brett Gardner at the plate) doomed the Bombers to a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Tribe.
Gardner was up in the top of the ninth with a speedy teammate on second, but all he could do was hit a bouncer that set up a double play from the next batter.
Chien-Ming Wang gave another solid relief performance, tossing three perfect innings, and the top three Yankee batters all went 2-for-4 (although there was quite a dispute over one play at first that could have easily been another Derek Jeter hit). But New York never got rolling, and it was more entertaining watching the seagulls fly in and stroll around the field than sit through all nine innings of this game.
New York can grab another W tomorrow before heading back to the Bronx and facing the American League-leading Texas Rangers. I hope Melky's back by then; they need his hot bat.
(Notes: Tex's home run ties him for the home run lead in the American League; the Yankees tied the Major League record for games without an error with 17 straight, which equals the Red Sox's 2006 mark.)
Other Yankees posts
Gardner was up in the top of the ninth with a speedy teammate on second, but all he could do was hit a bouncer that set up a double play from the next batter.
Chien-Ming Wang gave another solid relief performance, tossing three perfect innings, and the top three Yankee batters all went 2-for-4 (although there was quite a dispute over one play at first that could have easily been another Derek Jeter hit). But New York never got rolling, and it was more entertaining watching the seagulls fly in and stroll around the field than sit through all nine innings of this game.
New York can grab another W tomorrow before heading back to the Bronx and facing the American League-leading Texas Rangers. I hope Melky's back by then; they need his hot bat.
(Notes: Tex's home run ties him for the home run lead in the American League; the Yankees tied the Major League record for games without an error with 17 straight, which equals the Red Sox's 2006 mark.)
Other Yankees posts
5.22.2009
That makes 9
The Yankees won their ninth game today, topping the Baltimore Orioles 7-4. Joba Chamberlain got pegged in the leg with a line drive, but with Chien Ming Wang coming back soon, the Yankees should be able to patch things together without him. (Or maybe put him in the number one reliever spot, where he belongs.)
Previous posts:
Full seats, sharp pitching, eight in a row
The Bombers are Back
Tex: batter, gold glover, Sesame Street character
Go! Go, Johnny, go go go!
A-Rod? In the clutch? No way.
Another W for NY
Pen Problems
Our kind of Brett
Sweet curses
An A-Bomb! For A-Rod!
What's that nasty smell from the Bronx?
Previous posts:
Full seats, sharp pitching, eight in a row
The Bombers are Back
Tex: batter, gold glover, Sesame Street character
Go! Go, Johnny, go go go!
A-Rod? In the clutch? No way.
Another W for NY
Pen Problems
Our kind of Brett
Sweet curses
An A-Bomb! For A-Rod!
What's that nasty smell from the Bronx?
Labels:
chien ming wang,
joba chamberlain,
new york yankees,
orioles
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