March Madness is usually reserved for college basketball but every four years, there's another tournament that's getting everyone's attention. The World Baseball Classic (WBC). The World Cup of baseball is on display once every four years. It truly is the World Series. Much like the NCAA's Madness, the WBC has certainly lived up to it's expectations and more.

On Saturday night, the USA and Dominican Republic squared off in a loser gets eliminated game. It had a Game 7 feel to it. Just a week prior these two teams met in Miami in the First Round with DR edging out a victory over Team USA with an 8th inning comeback for the ages. This time Team USA provided highlights for the ages.

In what is sure to be looked at over and over again two moments popped out from Saturday night's game. Giancarlo Stanton drilled a two-run Home Run to Left Field that nearly went into Western Metal Supply Co.'s building. It had an exit velocity of 117.3 MPH off his bat. It's the 4th hardest hit ball in the StatCast era ( the tool used to measure such occurrences). Stanton is no stranger to hitting HR's or hitting the ball far and with force but to do it on a global stage in a must win game, was huge. Stanton is already a huge star for Major League Baseball, this moment just propelled him into superstardom.

The next moment came from Adam Jones who ran over 100 feet (thanks StatCast) to jump and scale the wall to rob a HR away from his Baltimore Oriole teammate Manny Machado. It was truly an amazing catch and it was picture perfect. At the time of the catch it saved the game for Team USA because the very next hitter Robinson Cano hit a HR to Left Field to get the DR within one run 4-3. Jones is a native of San Diego so to make that kind of catch, in that particular moment of the game, with the tournament on the line, in his hometown, on his Baltimore teammate made it all that more special.

"I'm still in kind of shock that I even got to that ball," said Jones, who played at Morse High about 8 miles east of Petco. "I mean, off the bat I'm just like, `This ball's hit really far, so just keep going, keep going. You know this California air's going to slow it down and just never quit.' That's just the style I play with. I don't mind running into a wall or two. I just kept going after the ball."I saw the replay after the game. It was a hell of catch," he added.

 I've played center field most of my baseball/softball career, when I tell you what he did was amazing, believe me. He did something that is extremely hard to do and he did it almost effortlessly.

After the game both emphasized how big of a win that was for the team, the tournament and ultimately the country.

It certainly was a hell of a game. A game like this, moments like this draws in new fans and gets the attention of anyone with a pulse. This WBC has been nothing short of amazing. The games have been played with a plethora of passion. The fans in attendance for all these games have been loud, passionate and engaged. It's amazing to see the fans come out in support of their country and voice their passion. It's added to the electric atmosphere. I'm all for Spring Training, but this tournament takes baseball to another level. I love it!

Major League Baseball should take some notes on what makes this tournament must see in so many people's eyes and apply it to the regular season. Maybe I'm going too far but hey, I'm still excited about a game that ended about 24 hours ago. And that's the idea....well done!

Team USA plays Japan on Tuesday night in the Semi-Finals in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium for the right to play in the Championship Game. They await the winner of the Puerto Rico-Netherlands game on Monday night. I'll be a little bias and root for a USA-PR showdown in the Finals, their game last Friday night had lots of drama. Here's hoping for a rematch of that thriller too!

 

 

 

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Tags: Adam Jones, Dominican Team, Giancarlo Stanton, Manny Machado, Robinson Cano, Team USA, WBC, World Baseball Classic

Robinson Cano made his return to the Bronx last night and much was made about the reaction he was given by the crowd at Yankee Stadium. I was one of those in attendance to see Robbie's return. So was about 15,000 other people braving the atrocious weather Tuesday night.

I don't see why a big deal was made. Like any other athlete who leaves in their prime to go to another team, Cano was booed. Ok, ok so it was a little more than just a couple boos.

Everyone in the entire ballpark came last night, sat in frigid temperatures and endured annoying rain drops just to come together as one to mercifully jeer Robinson Cano. They (we) had every right to do so.

For one, I booed him because he left my favorite team. He left my team when he could have been a huge piece to a World Series championship contender this year and for years to follow. People have argued that the portion of the crowd calling Robbie a sell-out is hypocritical. The Yankees have over the years over paid and bought a collection of superstars from other teams in hopes of regaining the dynastic years of the late 90's. To that, I agree. Cano went for more money and a more secure future in Seattle for 3 years and $65 million more than what the Yankees offered.

Let's be honest, we would of all done the same. We all go to the higgest bidder and we're all told we should get out of our comfort zone so we can cash in on our skills and talents. Not many times do we go with the "hometown discount" we all thought Cano would take.

“It was business for the Yankees and business for myself,” Cano said. “They made their decision and I made mine and we’re both happy.”

Robbie Cano left the Yankees for more money. A statement that no Yankee fan or anyone thought they would ever hear. It's unprecendented. The best player on the Yankees gave up the chance to be the face of the franchise, be paid like a boss and then some, a chance to be one of the all-time Yankee greats and a chance to be the next generation's Derek Jeter. None of that mattered. The only thing that did.... $$$$$$. That's the business decision Cano and his agent Jay-Z made. Not a smart one if you ask me.

With Jeter in his final season, the Yankees are looking for their next superstar. Cano was that guy. According to the ratings last season and the low attendance the Yankees received while the collection of superstars were injured during the majority of last season told the Yankees the bigger picture. While Cano was clearly the best player on the team, he clearly was no superstar, and he clearly wasn't worth the extra money and years that Seattle ultimately gave him. I'd say let him walk. The Yankees made the right decision. They did what was best for business.

Still as no. 22 Robinson Cano was announced with each at-bat, every second he had the spotlight on him, he was booed out of the Bronx. He fielded a ground ball, he paused for a second and effortlessly threw to first base to record the out, he was booed and booed and booed. Cano quickly upon his depature to Seattle was stricken with the notion he didn't hustle. One game years ago saw Cano not run out a routine ground ball. Yankees manager Joe Girardi saw enough and benched Cano for his lack of hustle. Since then, it's something that was held against Cano. Why? Because the Captain Derek Jeter always ran hard down the first base line..on every play. He's the standard in New York. Fair or not, it is what it is. Cano has put up MVP like numbers for the last 4, 5 years with only 1 World Series to show.

That is the telling tale of it all. One championship in nine seasons. That's considered a failure in the Bronx. The best player on the team needs to do better than that. He did...he left and took more years and more money from a different team. Who could blame him? Oh right, all of Yankee Stadium did Tuesday night.

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Tags: Derek Jeter, Joe Girardi, Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners

Coming off the the holiday the Yankees find themselves 1 game behind the Boston Red Sox and have won 10 of their last 11. They are playing well all around again, much like their run back in May. The Yankees idlily would like to finish the first half strong and ahead of the Red Sox in the standings. At this rate, that shouldn't be a problem to accomplish.

Here are my thoughts on some of the things going on with the Yanks right now:

Phil Hughes:
This has been the biggest issue lately. What do you with the young 23 year old? I'm grown to liking the phrase "whatever helps the team" and in this case, Hughes is best in the bullpen. He's been lights out since getting there, so keep him there right now. Does he belong in the 8th inning? Well so far, he's done the job in the 8th as we've seen in recent days, so yea give him the ball in the 8th. He can let the ball go around 95, 96 and mixes it up well with a nasty curve. Reminds you of Joba Chamberlain in '07, just without all the flash. The need for Joba was in the 8th inning that season and this season, the need for Hughes is there as well. Let him rock there and see what happens, if he falters t hen you send him to the minors and stretch him out again, that simple.

Chein-Ming Wang:
Boy this guy can't catch a break. It looks like he's headed to the DL for the 2nd time this season just as he's starting to turn things around. It's a shame he's had such a down year but it's better this happens this year when the Yanks have so much depth in the rotation, rather than it happen when he's the top guy in the rotation (oh, wait that happened last year). Point is, this is going to be his down year no matter how you slice it. It's a good thing the Yanks spent all that money on CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, they're a combined 14-9, nothing spectatular, but better than the likes of Darrel Rasner and Sidney Ponson, the guys the Bombers threw out their last year in Wang's absence. Let Wang get his issues straight no, so when the strecth run comes, he's ready to go.

Alex Rodriguez:
Despite being out for the first 5 weeks of the season, Alex has pretty good numbers in terms of HR and RBI. It appears he has turned the page after having just an awful June. His production means the rest of the lineup will see better pitches to hit. Hideki Matsui has been the beneficial of A-Rod's recent surge. Robinson Cano has been hot also, but can't hit with runners in socring position. Alex has also played expectionally at 3rd base. He is the kind of player that can be hot for weeks and if this is one of those streaks, the AL East is trouble.

Mariano Rivera:
Congrats to him on recording his 500th save last week against the Mets. The best reliever in Major League history notches another milestone under his belt to further cement his place in baseball history. His class and professionalism, mixed with his dominance and consistency easily puts him in a class of his own. Though he has been shaky this season at times, he's still one of the game's best. His presence on the mound and in the lockerroom means so much, as always he is a key contributor in every run of Yankee success.


Time to take over the AL East and run away with it. Ok, that's a little premature but whenever the Yanks ride a streak like this it does get you excited. Good times in the Bronx.


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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Mariano Rivera, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano, Yankees

The Yankees are having a homestand for the ages. They have 4 walk-off wins and have had some memorible moments. Who says this Yankee Stadium doesn't have any history?

We saw 3 walk-off wins in a row last weekend. When did you ever see that? A-Rod has been hitting HR's left and right. That's all he's hitting right now but we'll take it. Mark Teixeria is hitting anything and everything. Robinson Cano remembers how he hit in 2007 and so far isn't breaking stride. CC Sabathia is finally the real CC. Melky Cabrera has been money in the clutch. I mean things are clicking on all cylinders now.

What makes this homestand so great is that you can see how the Yankees are finally loosening up. Pies in the face by AJ Burnett, crazy haircuts by Nick Swisher, a WWE Title awarded to the MVP of each game by Johnny Damon. This stuff is great. Where has all this been the last few years. The relaxed Bombers are a fun team to watch. It's been a pleasure to watch. I'm glad to see the chemistry is finally coming along.

The presence of Alex Rodriguez was thought to be sort of a distraction but it hasn't. If anything he was the right man at the right time coming to a team who deseperatly needed him. He's contributing and so is everyone around him. How long is this little run of coolness going to be around the Bombers? I'd say all season but it's going to be one long summer so anything can happen. But remember...the Yankees will get healthier, Jorge Posada, Xavier Nady,and Chein Ming Wang are all expected to reclaim thier roles in the next few weeks. What happens then? Who knows, but for the time being, this is the best team to watch, beacuse if you don't, you're gonna miss something amazing.



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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Xavier Nady, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

What a week it has been for the Bronx Bombers. Here's a recap of the insane week the Yankees have had to this point so far.

Monday:
Twins 6
Yankees 7

Teixeria and A-Rod delivered first inning homers and the Yanks never looked back. They completed a 4 game sweep of Minnesota.

Tuesday:
Orioles 1
Yankees 9

A-Rod homers in his fourth straight game! CC dominates again through seven and gets his third win in as many starts. Yanks roll to their seventh straight!

Wednesday:
Orioles 4
Yankees 11

No stopping the Bombers, as they win their eigth in a row. Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera hit three consecutive homers in the second inning. Phil Hughes struck out a career-high nine over five solid innings.

Thursday:
Orioles 4
Yankees 7

Streak hits nine as Cano hits another homer. The story of the game was the Yankees bullpen as they held down Baltimore in relief of Joba who left the game in the first after being hit by a line drive on his knee. First nine game winning streak since June of 2007.

Friday:
Phillies 7
Yankees 3

The World Champs came in and ended the winning streak via the long ball. The Phils hit four homers in the win. The Yanks did their best with three of their own, by Jeter,A-Rod and Tex but it wasn't enough to pull out number 10.

Saturday:
Philles 4
Yankees 5

A-Rod does it again! He hits another late inning homerun when the Yanks need it the most. Down 4-2 in the ninth and Alex sends a Brad Lidge pitch into the seats in right. This sets up Melky Cabrera's 3rd walk off hit this season. The Yanks are finding ways to win games, a sign of a team clicking on all the right cylinders.




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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Balitmore Orioles, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, Minnesota Twins, Nick Swisher, Philadelphia Phillies, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Angels 9
Yankees 10

Last weekend the Yankees blew 2 games in Boston they should've won. They almost started this weekend the same way. With a lead of 4-0 in the 6th Andy Pettitte fell apart and the Halos scored 6 runs with 2 outs. The Yanks tried their best to come back themselves and got to trailing 9-8 in the 8th. In the 9th they got a walk from Mark Teixeira and base hits by Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano to load the bases. Jorge Posada then came up and got the game winning two-run single to send everyone home happy. Good game but there are some serious issues with the bullpen, let's see what the Yanks do to address this.


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Tags: Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teixeira, QuickCap, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Yankees 11
Orioles 2
Baltimore wins series 2-1



That's more like it. Strong hitting and good pitching from Burnett. Nice to see Teixeira go yard, as well as Robbie. How about Swisher with 5 RBI's? Now hopefully we can continue this going into Kansas City this weekend.

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Balitmore Orioles, Baseball, Good Hitting, Good Pitching, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, QuickCap, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Chasing800 is going to look at each position and give you insight and opinion on the current situation and what may loom ahead. Today we will look at First Base.

Current Situation:
Mark Teixeira is your man at First Base for 2009 and the immediate future. After signing an 8 year deal in the offseason with the Yankees, Tex has found a new home and looks forward to bringing a championship back to the Bronx. His defense and offense are upgrades over Jason Giambi, who left for the Oakland A's over the winter. Teixeria should help his fellow infielders Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and when he comes back, Alex Rodriguez and save them a few errors. This guy is a pure stud any way you want to look at him. He can win a Gold Glove and hit 40 HR and drive in 130 RBI. This is the guy the Yankees want to have in their lineup for so many reasons. He's about to hit his prime and is ready to show the world why he chose the Yankees over the Angels and Red Sox.

Chasing800 Prediction:
Mark is going to have a great season. The key is to see if he starts the season slow like in past years. His production should also increase once A-Rod comes back in May. I'm looking at .317 39 HR 117 RBI for Tex in his first season in the Bronx. Some may say he should put up slightly better numbers than that and to that I agree, but I want to stay realistic here. I also predict a Gold Glove for Tex this year. He's been tearing the ball all spring so let's hope he rides that right into the season.

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Tags: 2009 Outlook, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Spring Training, Yankees

Last night the Yankees opened their new Stadium in style. I was able to score a ticket from a co-worker yesterday morning and thus I was headed for the new ballpark in the Bronx.

The place is amazing, it really is. If you're going to a game you should go early and just walk around. There's so much room to navigate. There are team stores all throughout the stadium. There is so many more options when it comes to food and the line to wait for it isn't bad either. May I recommend the garlic fries, they were incredible, the smell from the garlic will get to you at some point while you're passing the concourse and you WILL be tempted to try them. There are HD TVs everywhere you go. Bring a camera with you when you arrive to the park because you will be taking a million pictures.

My seats were in the second row right behind the Right Field Foul Pole. I saw myself on tv a few times last night, boy was that cool. Hideki Matsui's Homerun off the RF foul Pole was heading right for me if it didn't hit. I got to see Chien-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter up close from the standing right at the RF wall. Even Ted Lily made his way to where I was and I could see the focus on his face as he was preparing for the game last night. As I was walking around the stadium I got to go to the LF wall and watch the Cubs work oout right in front of me, pretty cool stuff. I didn't get to see Monument Park because it was closed due to to the rain but I'll get a chance to see it when I return on April 18th. I was very impressed by the new digs and it was without question a more enjoyable experience than the old stadium. More room, more comfort, more to see, more to eat, more everything, how could you go wrong? I give the place an A from what I saw. I'm sure I didn't see everything (the resturants were booked so I couldn't get in) but I don't doubt they are top notch places.

As for the game, Matsui, Robinson Cano, and Cody Ransom all hit home runs to help the Yankees overcome an early deficit and thus the Yanks won 7-4. Once I'm able to upload the pics I took, I will post them here. If you're going to the game today, enjoy yourself, you will truly be in awe.


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Tags: Chein-Ming Wang, Cody Ransom, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Spring Training, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

Chasing800 is going to look at each position and give you insight and opinion on the current situation and what may loom ahead. Today we will look at Second Base.

Second Base
Much like Shortstop, this position is not up for grabs, it belongs to Robinson Cano. Cano is coming off his worst Major League season. He hit .271 14 HR 72 RBI in 2008, all were down from .307 19 97 in '07. Cano was hitting better in September last season after hitting coach Kevin Long made some adjustments to his stance. At 26, Cano is still maturing at the Major League level and is continuing to improve his game. Last season we saw some lackluster defense from Cano. One in particular came in a game last summer in which manager Joe Girardi had to bench his second baseman. It was a move that many believed was overdue. Hopefully Cano learned from that experience last year. He's got a sweet swing and his defense seems so effortless at times. We know he has tremendous talent, his head just has to be in it.

Chasing800 Prediction:
I expect a 2007-like performance from Cano, somewhere along the lines of .313 17 89. A little below what he did in 2007 but I'll take that from Robbie this year. I still see him making a few mental mistakes on the field but they will be few and far between. He can make the All-Star team this year if he gets off to a good start, something he didn't do last year. The Yankees expect a bounce back year from Cano, so do I.

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Tags: 2009 Outlook, Baseball, Joe Girardi, Kevin Long, Robinson Cano, Spring Training, Yankees

As of right now there is no decision made on what is going to happen with Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees are trying to explore every possible option before making a decision. That's only logical considering the magnitude of the situation. Alex is a player you can't replace no matter how hard you try and if the Yanks can keep him in the lineup then that's what they're going to do. But how smart is that move?

If Alex needs surgery then he should get it ASAP. Some sources have claimed that the surgery for A-Rod's hip can happen as early as Monday. If that is the case then he will be out for around four months and he won't be back until the All-Star Break in July. This is really a tough situation the Yankees are put in again with Alex. It really is amazing how much has gone on with Alex over the last month or so, it seems surreal.

The reality of this situation is that the Yankees are handcuffed either way so they should just opt for the surgery. You would get a free month (this month) of rest and rehab and then just hope that Mark Teixeria can handle the new found pressure on his shoulders. The rotation WILL have to live up to their billing and deliver in the absence of Rodriguez. A lot is expected from the Yankees this year, with or without Alex so you have to do what's best for the team and have him get the surgery and get healthy. There is no sense in having him play the year hurt, especially if it could jeopardize his remaining years in pinstripes.

It's a no win situation for the Yanks. They are going to have to hope from bounce back years from Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui, and Jorge Posada. If those guys along with Derek Jeter play up to expectations then the Yanks will be fine, but if they don't, Boston and Tampa Bay will be right there every step of the way ready to return to October.



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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Spring Training, Yankees

Today, there was actual baseball played. No more talk, it was time for business. Spring Training offically began today as the Yankees played their first game of the spring.
Some highlights of today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays was Brett Gardner hitting the second pitch of the game for a homerun. Alex Rodriguez also went yard, as he hit a 2-run shot in the 4th innning. The Yankees won the game 6-1. Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Nick Swisher were the other "main" Yankees that played in today's opener. Mark Teixera should make his spring debut tomorrow.

Manager Joe Girardi announced his rotation today, he said it was going to go as follows: CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain. This rotation makes the most sense as the Yanks want to seperate the power arms of Sabathia and Burnett and they want to limit Joba's innings. Things might change as the season gets closer but for now Girardi has things set.

Not much of a reaction for A-Rod today when he came to the plate for the first time, but some boos were heard when he hit the homerun but that's expected. This will be an interesting thing to keep an eye on as Alex travels from city to city.


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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Derek Jeter, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Spring Training, Yankees

Derek Jeter made some history yesterday as the Yankees won 8-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Entering the weekend Jeter needed 9 hits to tie and 10 hits to pass Lou Gehrig for most hits all-time at Yankee Stadium. Jeter is now tied with Gehrig with 1,269. He got 3 hits in each game of Saturday's doubleheader and recorded another 3 hits yesterday. The record-tying hit was a homerun to the bleachers in right in the 5th inning. Once the Stadium scoreboard made the sellout crowd aware of Jeter's feat, he got a curtain call.

"It feels good," Jeter said after yesterday's 8-4 win over Tampa Bay. "I'd be lying to you if I said it didn't. I always say records are meant to be broken, but this one with the Stadium closing here in a week, at least I know I tied for it.

"It's pretty special. You think about the history of this organization. When you mention players' names, Lou Gehrig is right up there at the top. To be tied with him in anything is something I'll always remember."

Alex Rodriguez started the scoring off in the first with a grand slam, his 34th homerun of the year and 553rd all-time. Jason Giambi also contributed to the scoring with a two-run shot.

The negatives that came from yesterday's game saw Robinson Cano get benched by Joe Girardi for not hustling for a ball hit off of Giambi's glove in the 4th.

"I just wasn't happy with that, so I took him out," the manager said.

Carl Pavano, yesterday's starter left in the 6th inning with a stiff left hip, but still recorded the win. Pavano is 3-1 on the year.

To close things out, Mariano Rivera came in to get one out in the 9th inning to record his 35th save of the year and 478th of his career tying him with Lee Smith for 2nd all-time.

In a time when the Yankees need everyone to step up Jeter has answered the call. With his 9 hits this weekend he raises his batting average to .408 in his last 29 games, talk about clutch. With the season winding down and the Yankees seemingly headed for an early winter yesterday gave you alot to cheer for. In the future when you look back at these Yankees you'll always remember Derek Jeter, always consistent and always a winner.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Carl Pavano, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Joe Girardi, Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, Yankees

As I've stated before there are many factors that led to this disappointing 2008 season. Offense, defense, pitching, manager, general manager. Today we focus on Joe Girardi.

"I take responsibility for it, that's the only way I know how to do it," Girardi said. "Obviously, my job is to get the most out of everyone."

Well it appears he didn't. Somewhere along the way I believe he lost his players. Melky Cabrera had a good April, then disappeared. Robinson Cano forgot that he was the second coming of Rod Carew in the first half, and even at times in the second half. Those are two players that played well under Joe Torre, oops, I shouldn't have mentioned that name. More on him later. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were absolute busts. Kennedy didn't seem botheres by his last performance in Anahiem where he was rocked again and thought he pitched well. That got him a first class ticket back to the minors. Even through the let downs, Girardi has done well with the hand he was dealt.

Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Mike Mussina and Brian Bruney were asked about Girardi's performance and praised him. Others on the team chose not to comment. Hmm. Not good. That right there shows you how the clubhouse seems divided. That was never the case under Mr Torre. Girardi's biggest mistakes might've been trying to mix and match the lineup too much. Also his always optimistic attitude has come off as a joke. He's told the media his players are fine and then those players magically get hurt within days, if not hours.


That guy in L.A. Joe Torre is sitting pretty at the top of the NL West while Girardi's Yanks sit in fourth place. Had Torre delivered a fourth place team in September he would surely be out the door by now, but since Girardi is handpicked by Brain Cashman and given the ok by the Steinbrenner family, his job is safe.....for now.

"Joe has done a good job, he had to deal with a lot," Cashman said of the Yankees losing Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang for extended stretches. "He never used excuses and has always looked to solve the problem. He has handled our pitchers very well, he and (pitching coach) Dave Eiland have done a good job."

I agree but I also think if Torre was here the Yankees wouldn't be in this position. It's a debate that will linger all winter long because the bottom line is this: Torre got the Yanks to the playoffs every year he was here. Girardi failed in his first try. Can't blame Girardi for it, but it does show how effortless Torre made the job seem. Now that the Dodgers look to be playing in October while the Yanks sit at home, Torre's laughable State Farm commerical about his new life in L.A. isn't so funny. He looks like a genius for walking away from the Yankees. What happens if the Dodgers win the World Series? How will that affect Girardi's job? Time will tell.

I think Girardi did what he could this season and I don't hold him accountable. I wanted him as the manager so I have to accept the fate that came along with it. He showed me some fire this season and I liked it. The night he got thrown out and threw his hat to the ground and put on a Lou Pinella like tantrum I got all fired up. It was what I wanted to see, it's what many fans wanted to see. For that night it worked as the Yankees made a 9th inning comeback. Since then, we've got a toned down Girardi, that I don't like. Let the man do his job the way he sees fit. I think he's trying too much to be a media's manager. Let him scream, curse, shove. Whatever gets the job done. Maybe then, ALL of his players will respect him and then ALL of them will play with some pride. While I can't say poor Joe, I can certainly say shame on those players who gave up on him and the team. The lesson we learned here....Joe Torre is a sure genius!

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Tags: Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Brain Cashman, Derek Jeter, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Melky Cabrera, Mike Mussina, Robinson Cano, Yankees

20 games to go, 7.5 games out of the wild card and the Yankees still think they have a shot at making the postseason. That shipped has sailed. The season ended the night Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedoria hit a grand slam to break open a "close" game. At the end of that grand slam Jonathan Papelbon stood with his arms opened as if he stood there in victory. Boy was he right. The Yankees haven't recovered from that onslaught.

As a Yankee fan I am ashamed of this team. Such promise and so talented, injuries or no injuries, they still had the pieces to make this thing interesting down to the last day but I feel like most of the team has given up. A-Rod can't hit the clutch again, Cano makes dumb mistakes a player of his caliber shouldn't be making, Jeter isn't himself this year, Pettitte seems to be down to his last few breaths, Melky Cabrera should be playing in some Independent League, Giambi is all or nothing, Veras is no modern day Jeff Nelson, Ramirez is no modern day Ramiro Mendoza. I've had enough of Girardi and his positive outlooks. That's not what he was brought here for. He was brought here to institute passion into the players who essentially need a good kick in their rear. Cano cost the Yankees a game last week by being nonchalant and when asked about it you compare him to being as smooth as Roberto Alomar?! Are you serious? I guess he was talking about the Roberto Alomar that couldn't buy a hit in his last days as a Met. That kind of stuff gets me pi***d.

Then you get quotes like:

"We're not out of it yet, All we can do is go out there and play hard." - Johnny Damon

"I look at this team and I look at our lineup and I feel like this team should win....I feel like this team should beat up on people. That's how I feel." - Andy Pettitte

“How many games do we have left?” Told there were 22, Rodriguez’s eyes grew wide and he muttered an expletive. “You have to do what you can do,” he said. “We have to take it one game at a time and look up after 15 games and see where we stand. Crazier things have happened.” - Alex Rodriguez

I mean why is there a sense of urgency now and why wasn't there any in August? I have to question the leadership of this team. They're in crisis mode now and need to win now at any costs. The Rockies did it last year, so did the Phillies. So you can't tell me the almighty New York Yankees can't make miracles happen. It just seems unlikely. What a shame. The Yankees will go home on September 28th once the final out is made in Fenway Park. Money can't buy you happiness or a championship these days. Not only that but now it doesn't even buy you a pass to the postseason. That's pathetic. 20 games to go, 10 more at the Stadium, why bother playing themnd ? Oh yea, it's the last year of Yankee Stadium, apparently the memo never got to the Yanks. Instead of playing for a championship to close out the most historic stadium of all time, they're closing it out against the Batimore Orioles on ESPN, oh joy, what excitement, I can't wait!

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Joe Girardi, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Yankees

The Yankees took out their brooms yesterday in Baltimore as they completed a 3 game sweep of the Orioles. It got a scary towards the end in the ninth as the O's had the tying run on 3rd base with two outs but Mariano Rivera struck out Nick Markakis to end the game.

Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 with a HR,two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. He hit the go-ahead HR in tghe top of the 7th to break a 7-7 tie. Cano called it the biggest hit of the season for him. Johnny Damon added a 3-run HR while Bobby Abreu added three hits.

“Being able to sweep Baltimore definitely puts us in a much better situation against Boston,” Damon said.

Boston comes into town on Tuesday to start a huge three game series with the Bombers. Their lead on the Yanks is five games in the wild card.

The Yanks blew a five run lead in this game. Yesterday's starter Darrell Rasner had his shortest outing of the year: 3 1/3 innings, eight hits, five runs allowed (three earned). It was a sharp contrast to his last outing in Toronto on Tuesday against the Blue Jays where he went into the seventh and gave up only one run on three hits.

Rivera entered the game in the eigth and was asked to get a four out save. Rivera up for the challenge excelled in making manager Joe Girardi pleased with his decision to bring in his closer early. With two oouts in the ninth Rivera walked Brian Roberts on four pitches. Roberts then stole second and an erratic throw by Pudge Rodriguez led to Roberts also taking third base on the play. With the tying run 90 feet away Rivera caught the outside corner on Markakis and the Yanks were on their way home with a sweep. It was their first road sweep of the season.

The Yanks have Monday off before their big series with the Red Sox. Let's see if the momentum stays with the Bombers against Boston.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu, Darell Rasner, Joe Girardi, Johnny Damon, Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, Yankees

The Yankees mounted a late inning rally last night against the Baltimore Orioles as they won 9-4. Bobby Abreu went 5 for 5 and homeruns by Robinson Cano, Jose Molina, Cody Ransom, and Xavier Nady all contributed to the victory.

Mike Mussina wasn't able to further along his quest for 20 wins for the first time in his career as he went six innings and allowed four runs and left when Baltimore had a 4-3 lead.

"I kept us in the game. We were never out of it,” Mussina said. “We got the at-bats we needed in the end.”

Moose entered the game with an 11.29 ERA against his former team entering last night's game so giving up four runs was an "accomplishment" on his part.

“To hold them to four runs the way I pitched the last two times against them, this was pretty good,” Mussina said. “If you can hold them to one run an inning, it’s not as demoralizing to your team. We were able to stay in and come back and win it.”

He now is 0-2 with 8.49 ERA against the O's this season in three starts.

Derek Jeter recorded his 2,500th hit of his career with a hit in the first inning. That puts him with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as the ONLY men to have at least 2,500 hits all as a Yankee. When asked about how he felt about his latest accomplishment, Jeter responded:

“It means we won the game today. I guess if you play long enough, you’re bound to get some milestones. More importantly we won. We needed this game.”

The Yanks didn't pick up any ground on the Red Sox and remain six games out of the wild card. Saturday, the Yanks send Carl Pavano to the mound....OMG hold on to your seats, we're in for a ride.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu, Cody Ransom, Derek Jeter, Jose Molina, Mike Mussina, Robinson Cano, Xavier Nady, Yankees

When the leader of the team speaks, you listen. When it comes to the Yankees, when Derek Jeter speaks, you listen to what he says. The captain of the Yanks spoke about the current state of the team. This should tell you enough...

“It was a bad trip, you can’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “We need to fix some things.”

He was then asked if his teammates were as confident as he is, he responded...

“They better be”.

The Cano's and Cabrera's better have a fire in them in these last 40 games or else heads are going to roll. Alex Rodriguez said it best the other night. he was asked if time is running out on the season and the Yanks' chance at making the postseason, he replied "Yep". That tells you all you need to know. A-Rod hit the go ahead homerun in Tuesday night's game in the 12th but the Yanks couldn't build on it in Wednesday's game in which they lost 4-2 and dropped the series.

The Yanks finish thier 10-game road trip 3-7. Horrible. Will the Yankee Stadium faithful give them support and love or are they going to let the Bombers hear it for stinking it up across the country? They open a three game set with the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. This is a good time to win three games in a row...because time is running out.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Yankees

The New York Yankees (30-30) start a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals (23-37) at Yankee Stadium tonight. After yesterday's improbable win, the struggling Royals come in at just the right time for the Yanks to feast on. Here are your matchups this weekend.

Tonight - 7:05 p.m., YES
Kyle Davies - RHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Darrell Rasner - RHP (3-2, 2.67 ERA) NOTE: Davies served up A-Rod's 500th HR last season.

Tomorrow - 1:05 p.m., YES
Brian Bannister - RHP (5-6, 4.60 ERA) vs. Andy Pettitte - LHP (5-5, 4.21 ERA)

Sunday - 1:05 p.m., YES
Zack Greinke - RHP (5-3, 3.56 ERA) vs. Joba Chamberlain - (1-2, 2.42 ERA)

Monday - 1:05 p.m., YES
Luke Hochevar - RHP (3-5, 5.13 ERA) vs. Mike Mussina - RHP (9-4, 4.01 ERA)

Prediction: Yanks win 3 of 4.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Darell Rasner, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Joba Chamberlain, Mike Mussina, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Joe Girardi got his money's worth last night in the bottom of the 9th inning and minutes later pulled out a 2-1 win.

Jason Giambi was called out on a pitch by home plate umpire Chris Guccione on a "foul tip." A couple problems with that. The ball didn't appear to hit Giambi's bat and Guccione didn't make the call until Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez pointed it out. That brought Girardi out of the dugout and in the face of the home plate ump. He was then ejected.

"I didn't think it touched him," Girardi said. "Hence I was a little upset..... I wanted to kick something, and I figured that was the best thing. Walls don't work too well. ... I wasn't happy with the explanation."

Before he hit the showers he put on his best Lou Pinella impression by slamming his hat to the ground on two occasions and kicked it for good measures.

"I enjoyed it," Derek Jeter said. "I was hoping he would kick it all the way to the dugout like Piniella. ... Girardi wants to win. He cares a lot. Just because some people may not have seen it, I know he has that in him."

That was the greatest thing I've seen all season. It's excatly what every Yankee fan wanted to see all these years. The crowd went crazy for Girardi's antics. A manager that will fight for his team and do everything he can to protect them. Girardi has done just that and last night was the icing on the cake. Joe Torre was critcized for not showing that type of emotion during his tenure in the Bronx. This is excatly why I thought Girardi would be a perfect fit for the Yanks as manager. Did it fire up the team? Let's hope so.

Robinso Cano provided the exclamation point on the night as he singled home the game winning run. Is that the type of hit that gets Cano going for the rest of the season? Probably.

Ian Kennedy started the game and pitched well. It was his best start of the season. He did give up four walks but he was agressive in the 3rd inning when he was faced with bases loaded and one out. He got out of the jam and his confidence started to rise.

"For me, in recent history, it was a rarity for you to see that," Kennedy said. "But in my past, I've always pretty much come back and have done that."

It was the second consecutive solid outing by a Yankee starter. Now the Seattle Mariners come into town just at the right time. The Yanks swept them earlier in the month and are looking forward to the rematch. The Bombers have their top three pitchers going for them this weekend so it's a chance for the Yankees to right their ship. Last night's win was good for so many reasons, now they just have to keep building off of it.

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Tags: Baseball, Derek Jeter, Ian Kennedy, Jason Giambi, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Robinson Cano, Yankees