Monthly Archives: May 2012

Gardner, Joba, Manny B., Campos, etc.

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

Brett Gardner (elbow) is getting close, but not close enough for Brian Cashman to give a date when he could return. “We start looking at potentially scheduling games in the minor leagues,” Cashman said. “I will hold off on that until the batting practice sessions.” Gardner, out since the middle of April, could take batting practice this weekend and then play in a few rehab games before returning to the Yanks. So at some point toward the end of next week seems possible. Continue reading →

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Why The New York Yankees Need Francisco Cervelli

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

All season long the New York Yankees have been plagued by an inability to get runners across the plate in key situations.  One spot that has been particularly weak in the dreaded “runners in scoring position” category has been catcher.  Combined, catchers Russell Martin and Chris Stewart have a .200 batting average, and when it comes to RISP they are hitting .226. While it was made clear to all of us that Stewart was brought on board for his defensive prowess, at what point do we say that getting on base and driving runners home must be given a higher priority? This season the New York Yankees have lost eight games by 2 runs or less.  In those eight games the catchers are hitting .240 with three RBI. How many of those games would the Yankees have won if they had a catcher who could hit his weight?  How many more RBI opportunities would Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson have had if someone at the end of the lineup could get on base? With just three of those eight defeats … Continue reading →

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David Robertson Expects 2 More Weeks on DL

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

“Robertson, I would shoot for not earlier than mid-June,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. Robertson has already played catch on flat ground a few times this week and reported no lingering discomfort in his oblique. But he still has to begin throwing bullpen sessions and batting practice before he can go out on a rehab assignment. In Robertson’s absence, Rafael Soriano has locked down the closer’s job and returned to fantasy relevancy. The man who led the AL in saves with the Rays in 2012 has converted all six of his save opportunities this year. With Soriano excelling in the Closer role, its very smart for the Yankees to take their time with Robertson.  He will probably come back, and resume his role as the 8th inning guy. Continue reading →

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Yankees’ Robertson out at least two more weeks

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

New York Yankees reliever David Robertson is expected to miss at least two more weeks with his rib-cage injury, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com. Robertson is at the Yankees’ training complex in Tampa, and still has to do throw bullpen sessions, batting practices and play in rehab games. “None of that has happened yet,” Cashman said. “He didn’t think this was a serious issue and then the next thing you know, it turned into a DL and it has turned into something that is longer than 15 days.” Robertson has been out since May 11. His absence has allowed Rafael Soriano to seize the closer’s job by converting all six save opportunities this. He saved 45 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. Continue reading →

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Umpire Denies New York Yankees Catcher Russell Martin Simple Task During Game

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

Catcher Russell Martin issued a complaint about umpire Laz Diaz via the media after the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 Wednesday night. Martin’s grievance had nothing to do with a small strike zone or about any actual play during the game. So what has Martin so pissed off that he went off in front of a group of reporters? His complaint is that Diaz, the home plate umpire, would not allow him to throw any new balls back to his pitcher. Yes, that’s right, Diaz made sure to throw every new ball into play himself. “He told me I had to earn the privilege,” said Martin. “Even at the end of the game after I get hit in the neck. I’m like, can I throw the ball back now? He’s still like no. I’m like you’re such a (expletive). Like for real. Unbelievable. I even told him like when there’s guys on base, I like to keep my arm loose. No. I’m not letting you throw a ball back. That’s pretty strange to me.” Some… Continue reading →

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The New York Yankees Need Ivan Nova to Regain 2011 Form

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

To say that New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova has been terrible this year would be a disservice to terrible pitchers.  Nova has been dreadful this season, though has mostly flown under the radar as fans vent over how bad Phil Hughes has been and the fact that Nova sports a 6-2 record this year.  However, won-loss records mean very little, especially when the peripheral numbers bear out as Nova’s do. So far this year Nova has pitched to a 5.60 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.  He has allowed 11.9 hits per 9 innings, and leads the Major Leagues in hits allowed with 79 in only 62.2 innings.  To compound these awful numbers, Nova has allowed 13 home runs so far this season after allowing only 13 all of last year in 165.1 innings.  His home run per 9 innings rate is a dreadful 1.9.  That is just shy of 2 home runs per nine innings.  The only positive in Nova’s game right now is his strikeouts are up dramatically to 8.3 per nine. Certainly this year’s performance is not what the New York Ya… Continue reading →

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Yankees’ Martin said umpire ‘punished him’

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin said plate umpire Laz Diaz punished him in an unusual way for arguing balls and strikes. Martin claimed Diaz wouldn’t let him throw new baseballs back to his pitchers after fouls during Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. Martin said the “punishment” occurred after he exchanged words with Diaz early in the game. “He said that it was a privilege that I had to earn, for me to throw the ball back,” Martin said. “That’s never happened to me before. I even told him, because there’s guys on base, I like to keep my arm loose. Nope. ‘I’m not letting you throw the ball back.’ That’s pretty strange, to me. That’s a good story, huh?” Diaz was unavailable to speak with reporters, because Martin spoke to them nearly an hour after the game. Continue reading →

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Opinion: Soriano will remain closer

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

Before Brian Cashman said that David Robertson would not return to the Yankees’ until mid-June at the earliest, I thought that Rafael Soriano was going to take his job. This just solidifies it further. Robertson was only the Yankees’ closer for a week after Mo Rivera went down for the season. He was 1-for-2 in save opportunities, which tells you little to nothing if he can do the job or not. In my opinion, because of how good Robertson is, he could be an excellent closer. Continue reading →

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Interleague play: good or bad?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

The Yankees start up the second round of interleague games in the Subway Series against the Mets. After that series, they travel to Atlanta for a three game set against the Braves (June 11-13).  I will be in attendance of for each game of that series and will share some of that experience in a few weeks. This is the first of a three week post. Bud Selig has made some bad decisions. If you have seen an All-Star game since the 2002 debacle, you know what I’m talking about. I could go on for days on the new format but I don’t want to beat a dead horse. While Selig has made his fair share of blunders, who among us hasn’t, he’s done some things well, specifically introducing interleague play. Interleague play was introduced in 1997 and has been a mainstay ever since. There are opponents to mixing the two leagues and I will never understand why. “It’s about tradition!” They cry. “Don’t ruin a good thing!” They holler. Major League Baseball (MLB) disregards change slower than the Federat… Continue reading →

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Russell Martin Claims Umpire Laz Diaz Wouldn’t Let Him Throw New Ball to Pitcher Because He Hadn’t Earned It

Posted on May 31, 2012 by admin

We may have a new low when it comes to power-hungry umpires, if Yankees catcher Russell Martin can be believed. The New York catcher had some eye-opening claims following the Yankees’ win over the Angels on Wednesday night. Martin argued balls and strikes with home plate umpire Laz Diaz earlier in the game, and after that, Diaz refused to let Martin throw new baseballs back to the pitcher when they came into play. According to Martin, Diaz instead insisted that he throw the ball back. “He told me I had to earn the privilege,” Martin said, according to The Star-Ledger…. Continue reading →

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