Rsull87's Weblog

Yanks

rsull87 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:29:50 +0000

For the last blog of the semester, I am mainly goin to focus on what the Yankees need in order to have a great year and make a run for the world series. The Yankees always want to be contenders. A year not wining the world series for the Yanks is a failed year. If the Yaks want to have any serious chance this year making it into the post-season they need their young pitchers to step up. Latroy Hawkins, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Ross Ohlendorf (majority of the young pitchers on the club) have an ERA of over 5.0. I strongly feel that if these young pitchers can pitch a little bit better and the Yankees hitting keeps up, they will finish very strong and make a run to the post-season. Up to this point, the Yankees have done a pretty good job at the plate. Chad Moeller leads the team with a .350 average, followed by Alberto Gonzalez who has a .333 average. However, Moeller and Gonzalez have only played a combined 12 games. Hideki Matsui has the next highest average (and the teams best average considering the amount of games he has played) with .324, followed by Melky Cabrera with a .309 average. The team’s batting averages will continue to fall and rise as the season goes on, but as I said I really feel that the season will be placed on the shoulders of the young pitchers.

I would like to see a Yankee/Mets world series this year. Nothing is better than a subway series in the city and the way the Mets are playing, they have a great chance of making it there. Its just up to the Yankees to see what they can do, hopefuly pass the Red Sox and win their 27th World Series Championship.

Yankees off to 11-10 Start

rsull87 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:07:13 +0000

The New York Yankees have had better starts to their seasons, but as a fan im still not worried. There is plenty of time and games left in the season to turn it around. As of today (4/23) the Yanks are 3 and a half games behind the AL EAST leaders, the Red Sox. No need to worry if your a Yankee fan because there is so much time for them to turn around their play. The Yankee’s are currently in a series in Chicago, where their facing off agaisnt the White Sox. The White Sox play at U.S. Cellular Field. The first game of the series, Yankees ace Ching Ming Won took the mound and delivered another win, bringing his record to 3-0 on the year. Bobby Abreu had a huge grand slam in the 7th inning, with Johnny Damon hitting a three run homer late in the game, and Giambi also adding a home run late in the game to give the Yanks a 9-5 win. The Yanks have the second game of the series tonight, and White Sox pitching star Javier Vazquez faces off against Moose. The Yanks will finish off the series in Chicago tomorrow night. The starters for tomorrow night are scheduled to be Phil Hughes for the Yanks and Gavin Floyd for the White Sox.

There are a lot of people who are saying that the Yanks aren’t for real this year and that they wont even make the playoffs, but they will. They have so much talent and young players. As the season goes on, I really want the Yankees to keep Joba in the bull pen. There are so many people who want Joba to be a starter, but i like how Girardi is managing the club. Pretty soon the Yanks will be on top. Atleast, i hope they will be.

Yanks/Red Sox Meet

rsull87 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:48:38 +0000

The New York Yankees took on the Boston Red Sox for the first time last week in the 2008 season. The teams played a series of 3 in Fenway Park first, then had a 2 game series in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium. In the first series, the Red Sox played very good baseball and won 2 out of the 3 games. Manny Ramirez absolutely destroyed it for the Red Sox, hitting nearly 450 in the series. The Yankees and Red Sox have many games left this season in which they will face off together. Recently, I went to the Red Sox/Yankee game on April 16th. It was a great game and the atmosphere was incredible. There is nothing better than Yankee/Red Sox games in any sport in my opinion. It was pretty weird though, i thought that there were so many Red Sox fans in the stadium. The game was insane. It was so long. There was hit after hit, home run after home run. Ching-Ming Wong started for the Yanks, he pitched an alright game but gave up 6 hits in 5 innings of baseball. Clay Bulcholtz got the start for the Red Sox, he also got banged up a bit throughout the game and got taken out in the 4th inning after allowing 6 runs. The Yankee hitters showed up though, the final score of the game was 15-9. The game took almost 5 hours. It was the longest game i have ever been to. Last Night, the Yanks and Red Sox finished up their 2 game series in the Bronx. The Red Sox won 7-5. Josh Beckett (2-1 now) got the win for the Red Sox, and Mike Mussina ( 1-3 now)lost. The Yanks will now leave the Bronx and head to Baltimore, where they will take on the 9-7 Orioles. Daniele Cabrera (0-0 with a 5.94 ERA) will get the start for the Orioles and Phil Hughes (0-2 with a 9.00 ERA).

The Yankees are currently 9-8.

The Yanks schedule is linked here if anybody is interested in the remaining games.

Health A Concern for Yanks

rsull87 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:41:48 +0000

The Yanks have started an eight day road trip. They are currently in Kansas City playing the Royals. The yanks lost the first game of the series of 3. Phil Hughes got the start for the Yanks in the first game in Kansas City and was knocked out of the game in the fourth inning. Wilson Betemit, playing shortstop for the injured Derek Jeter, had a hit in the second inning where two runs scored off the Royals starter Brian Bannister. Alex Rodriquez had a very bad game, striking out looking three times looking and one time swinging. Royal’s starter pitched to the fifth inning, allowing two runs, five hits, and striking out six. The Yankees would go on to loose the game, but that was the least of their worries. Derek Jeter has been suffering from a strained groin and Jorge Posada has been suffering from a very sore shoulder. Jeter will not play any time this week according to the Yankees, they are saying the earliest he will be back on the field no earlier than Friday. Jorge Posada has also been a major concern for the Yank’s. He was removed from the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Royals in the 6th inning because he felt stiffness in his right shoulder. The Yanks are hoping that Jorge will not get put on the disabled list.

Here is a link for all baseball fans out there that will show you all the stats, standings, and schedules of your favorite MLB team.

Yank’s/Met’s Off to a Start

rsull87 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:20:06 +0000

As of 4/7, the New York Yankees have started off the season 3-3. The Yank’s have struggled in the past few games. Tonight, (4/7) The Yankees will face off agaisnt the Tampa Bay Rays. Mike Mussina is getting the start for the Yank’s and Jason Hammel will start for the Rays. Up to this point, the Yankees are in third place in the AL east with the record of 3-3. In the Yank’s most recent game, Andy Pettite got the start and it was a good sign for him to be out on the field because he was put on the 15 day DL at the opening of the season. Pettite was banged up in his season opener, he gave up 5 earned runs in the game and a big three-run homer to Jonny Gomes and a solo home run to Willy aybar Overall, the Yankees have not been playing good baseball lately but it is still very early in the season. Major League Baseball teams play a total of 163 games a season so there is plently of time for the Yanks to get their hitting together and put together some wins. I still think that they will pull everything together and have a great season and hopefuly go on to win another World Series.

The New York Mets have also had a similar start to the 2008 season. As of 4/7, the Mets are 2-3 and will have their last home opener at Shea Stadium tomorrow, 4/8. Oliver Perez will get the start for the Mets and John Moyer will start for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets are coming off a series in which they played the Atlanta Braves, where they lost the series finale because of a great pitching performance by John Smoltz. Smoltz pitched five innings and went on to strike out 6 Mets. The game was a real pitchers duel until the eight inning when all-star Mark Teizeira hit a two run homerun in which the Braves took the lead 3-1, and would hold onto that lead and win the game.

There is still so much time left in the season, and anything is possible. I believe that eventually the Yanks and the Mets will start playing better baseball because both teams are very talented. I would actually love to see another Subway Series. Now that the weather is getting warmer people are started to get out to the ball park and enjoy America’s past time, baseball.

Season Opener

rsull87 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:29:51 +0000

New York Yankees- It was the last time the New York Yankees would open up in the house that Ruth built. The game was the beinning of a new era in Yankee Baseball, with new manager, Joe Girardi. It was the first game managed by a manager in 12 seasons, and due to a rain delay the day before yesterday, the Yankee’s and new manager Joe Girardi were anxious to get started. Chien-Ming Wang got the start for the Yankees and Roy Halladay started for the Toronto Blue Jays. The game was a pitchers duel until the 6th inning when Blue Jay pitcher gave up a homerun to Melky Cabrera. After Cabrera’s homerun, the game was tied and 2-2. The Yanks would go on to take the lead in the 7th inning when Yankee left fielder Hideki Matsui hit a rocket ground ball to second base but the fielder could not handle the ball which allowed Alex Rodriguez to score and give the Yanks the lead.. With excellent pitching from Chien-Ming Wang, the Yanks bullpen took over. Joba Chamberlain came into and pitched for the Yanks in the 8th and recorded two strikeouts. Mariano Rivera came in for the save in the 9th and didnt allow a runner to reach first base. The Yanks won 3-2.

New York Mets-After winning their opening game to the Florida Marlins, 7-2, the Mets had their second game of the season yesterday. Pedro Martinez was the man who was getting the ball for the Mets. Pedro had started the game and did not pitch well in his first two innings. In just the first inning of the game, he hit the first batter he faced and then gave up a home run to Dan Uggla. He went on to retire the next two batters but then in the second inning gave up a lead off homerun to Luis Gonzalez. Pedro Martinez would throw his last pitch in the fourth inning due to a strained hamstring muscle. Martinez gave up two home runs and hit two batters. When Pedro left the game, the Mets would come back and tie the game. Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, Angel Pagan and Scneider all had singles in the fourth inning and drove in a run apiece. The game then turned into a pitchers duel and would stay 4-4 throughout 9 innings. The Marlins would go on to take the lead in the 10th inning and hold onto that lead, 5-4.

Yankees - 1-0

Mets - 1-1

Hughes on the Bubble/Met’s John Maine strikes out 7

rsull87 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:47:11 +0000

Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes has not been doing so well this spring training. In his second appearance, he had to leave the game on Wednesday vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed seven hits and seven runs in only four innings pitched. Hughes gave up three homeruns the first time around the Pirates batting order. The Yankees did manage to put some hits and runs together and beat the Pirates 12-9. The Yankee’s had 13 hits through only 4 innings. Yank’s catcher Jorge Posada lead the team with three hits and three RBI’s (run’s batted in) including his second inning 2-run homer. Bobby Abreu went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and two runs scored. A-Rod and Hideki Matsui also had two hits and a RBI each. The Yankee’s are currently 10-7-2 in the Grapefruit League.

On March 19th, the New York Mets played the Cleveland Indians and held them to 1 run. The Mets had a impressive performance from pitcher, John Maine pitched 5 2/3 innings and struck out seven Indian hitters to help the Mets win 3-1. Maine has been struggling this spring but is hoping to earn a spot on the roster and with his performance yesterday, he is in good shape. Met’s backup catcher led the team hitting in the game. He had two hits and a RBI (run batted in). The Mets win improves them to 14-7-1 in the Grapefruit League.

Spring Training

rsull87 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:59:08 +0000

With the approach of the baseball season near, spring training is in full affect throughout Major League baseball. Up to this day, the New York Yankees have 6 wins and 4 losses. The New York Mets 9 wins and 5 losses. The Yankees have had a rough start to spring training due to weather, therefore have missed the first few games of spring training. Here is a website where you can see the spring training statistics, schedules, and standings for all the teams in MLB. The Met’s have another game tomorrow, March 13th, at 1:05pm versus the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankee’s also play tomorrow in which they will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:15pm at Legends Field. The Met’s and Yank’s will travel after tomorrows game and play another on Friday, March 14th. The Met’s are traveling to Florida while the Yank’s will be going to Cincinnati. In a spring training game today, the Yankee’s had a bench clearing brawl after a home-plate collision a few days ago that would provoke the brawl today. The home plate collision injured a Yankee catcher and upset new Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Today, March 12th, in the second inning of the game between the Yankee’s and Ray’s, the Yankee’s first baseman Shelley Duncan (also a name involved in the Mitchell Report) took out the Ray’s second baseman Akinori Iwamura with a hard slide. Duncan was then tackled by the Ray’s right fielder, Jonny Gomes, which would lead to the bench clearing brawl. It was not a serious fight, but Shelley Duncan, Johnny Gomes, and a hitting coach and third base coach were ejected.

Pettitte Apologies

rsull87 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:09:07 +0000

On February 18th, Andy Pettitte had a press conference in Tampa Bay, Florida (training camp for the New York Yankee’s). Pettitte faced reporters and the media for the first time since his name was on the Mitchell Report in which is was stated he had used human growth hormones. Pettitte stated that “I felt like I need to come out, be foward with this. Whatever circumstances or repercussions come with it, I’ll take and I’ll take it like a man and I’ll try to do my job.” During the press conference, Pettitte was obviously nervous throughout the conference and I’m sure he did not know what to expect. Brian McNamee, former trainer for Pettitte (and Roger Clemens) said in the Mitchell report that Pettitte used human growth hormones in 2002. Two days after the report was released Dec. 13, Pettitte stated thatMcNamee was correct and accurate and Pettitte also stated that it was the only time he used humane growth hormones in his career. Does anybody think it was smart for Pettitte to come clean and admit that was he did was wrong? Or should he deny everything like many other athletes, and possibly have acongressional hearing dealing with the situation? Anybody think that Pettitte will be respected more than Clemens, even though Clemens is still denying all allogations of ever using human growth hormones?

Clemens/McNamee

rsull87 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:18:13 +0000

Today was the start of the Congressional Hearing between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. Clemens, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, was involved in the Mitchell Report in which Senator George Mitchell sent a report to the Commissioner of Baseball sparking an investigation into the illegal use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances in Major League Baseball. Among several names giving by Senator Mitchell, Clemens was one of the persons who was targeted the most on this topic because of the career that he has had. Clemens would have gone down as one of the greatest pitchers of all time but now because of all the rumors and investigations dealing with whether he has used steroids or any illegal substance, his career will come to an end and he will never be looked at the same. People will look back at his career and see the Cy Young Awards, the World Series Rings, and all other records held by Clemons as tarnished. The Congressional Hearing started today and Clemens still is denying everything about his use of steroids. His old personal trainer, Brian McNamee, is disagreeing with Clemens and testifying that he himself had injected Clemens with anabolic steroids. Im very curious to see how this turns out because both men do not seem as if they are going to chang their stories. Anybody think Clemens is innocent?