Not sure if he has ever been referred to as “Flash” before, but let it be known that the Dude has officially bestowed that nickname on Yankees’ outfielder Brett Gardner.
As we are a third of the way through the current campaign Gardner has been a great boost to the team in left field. His play in the outfield has been excellent, as expected. But offensively he continues to amaze with an over .300 batting average, some bursts of power and speed on the bases that confuses and impedes the defense. It is sweet to watch someone do this when they are on your side!
So, “Flash” Gardner is the best surprise of the 2010 season to date. The Dude would enjoy hearing concurring or opposing views. Please feel free to comment Yankee fans.
With a third of the season in the books, it seems to go without saying that the Yankees second baseman, Robinson Cano, has been their MVP throughout this season. He is currently hitting in the .375 range and has keep the team’s offense in high gear. This is especially vital this year as Alex Rodriguez’s hip is a big question mark and Mark Teixeira has had quite the off year. Without the man, who Yankee fans know was named for baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the team’s offense struggles would have been long and pronounced.
Still, others could make a case for MVP. Both Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes have been great in the starting rotation (as CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett have been so inconsistent) and Brett Gardner has been the seasons most pleasant surprise in left. Nick Swisher has also had his teammate’s collective backs, while scarring us to death in right field. Yet, these two guys are making their marks this year.
Perhaps, before the trading deadline, the Yanks will add a pitcher or hitter that will assist the team in their quest for a second straight World Series Championship. But until someone else emerges as a catalyst, the Dude will Go with Cano!
Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees Photo by Keith Allison on Flickr
This past week Fox Sports had a great article by Ken Rosenthal, that appeared on Comcast.net about their belief that the Yankees will eventually acquire current Seattle Mariners’ pitcher, Cliff Lee. According to the story, Lee made a strong impression on the Yankee brass–especially General Manager, Brian Cashman–when Lee headlined the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation during last year’s World Series.
So, the questions that the Yankees must answer are:
Can they get Lee on the open free agent market?
Like CC Sabathia, would money be no object?
Where would that leave the Yanks with regards to a free agent pursuit of Carl Crawford?
Currently, the Yankees’ rotation is solid, do they need Lee now?
Would the Dodgers, Angels or Braves make a deal for Lee and then sign him to a long year deal?
To avoid the above scenario, would the Yanks include such prize prospects as catcher Jesus Montero and SS Eduardo Nunez? Do they have to pay that price right now?
Other than his Cy Young award winning year, is Lee more effective in the National League?
The Dude believes that, as much as it would be great to get Lee right now, the Yankees should take their chances and risk loosing him. Montero is reported to be an offensive weapon at catcher and, in case no one has noticed, Jorge Posada (you gotta love him!) is starting to break down.
True, the Dodgers and Angels, especially the Angels, really need him and they may make the deal that takes him off the market. If they trade for him they’ll want to only give up top prospects if Lee signs with them long term.
Lee has stated that he wants to enter the free agent market. If he holds to that position he may accept a trade to another team but not sign long term. He needs the Yankees ’cause he’ll get more money from them than anyone else. He would be re-united with Sabatha, with whom he was a teammate when both were with the Cleveland Indians. He has a chance to win a World Series every year. And, the endorsement deals will be much more lucrative in New York than anywhere else. Since Lee is doing commercials in Seattle, this may make a difference.
The Dude encourages the Yankees to wait. We have a team that can win this year. Let’s do so. Of course, if the Mariners would take less . . .
What say ye Yankee Universe? Would love to hear your comments.
The Dude feels “inspired” this week to continue on a pitching review of the reigning New York Yankees for the current season. Today, the focus is Javier Vasquez, the Yankees #4 starter in the rotation. Vasquez had a previous tour of duty with the Yankees in 2004 and is generally remembered by Yankee fans as the fellow who came into the seventh game of the 2004 American League Championship Series and promptly gave up a grand slam home run to Johnny Damon (when he was with the Cheating Sox!). After the season the Yankees lost faith in Vasquez and shipped him, with other players, to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson.
Prior to his return to the Yankees, Javy was most recently with the Atlanta Braves where he had a very solid year at 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA. Based on those numbers the Yankees decided to re-acquire him for this year.
As Yankee fans know, Vasquez looked like a “deer in the headlights” when this season began. Fear gripped most fans as they saw in him a player who would never, emotionally or mentally, adjust to playing in the limelight and pressure of NYC. He was bombed in several of his early starts and booed at Yankee Stadium.
However, over this last 5 starts Vasquez has started to show what he is made of and resembling the player the Yanks thought they were getting. He has been extremely impressive, has had good control, and hasn’t been ruffled when a pitch goes wrong. Credit has to be given. This guy could have crumbled and faded away into a lost season but he is stepping up and giving fans the hope that he will do his job well and can be counted on as the season progresses.
The Dude still doesn’t have lots of confidence in him just yet, don’t want to see him on the mound in a big, pressure game. Still, I can be persuaded!
New York Yankees Pitcher Andy Pettitte by Keith Allison on via Flickr
The New York Yankees are sporting one of the best pitchers in major league baseball this season. Perhaps one of the best kept superstar secrets in all of baseball. The Dude refers to 15-year veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte. Over the course of this season, Pettitte is 7-1 and is keeping hitters off balance with the change-up he has tweaked to go along with his curveball, four-seam fastball and his “out” pitch, the “cutter.” This is a pitch that moves down and in on a right-handed batters and away from those hitting from the left side.
Now, some people will say that perhaps Pettitte has fallen back to using Human Growth Hormone (HGH). He admitted in 2007 that in order for an elbow injury to heal faster he used HGH twice during the 2002 season. He has denied using that substance, or any other performance enhancing drugs, at any other time. (Actually, the Dude believes that the guy who is back “juicin” is David Ortiz of the cheating Red Sox!)
So, with the expectation that Andy is solid and upfront with us, let the discussion begin on whether or not he deserves consideration to be allowed to enter baseball’s most exclusive club, the Hall of Fame. Below is a list of Pettitte’s career accomplishments (from Wikipedia):
Two-time 20 game winner in 1996 and 2003
His won-lost record, heading into this year, was 236-136.
He has a career ERA of 3.88.
He has never had a losing season in Major League Baseball.
He has more starts and more postseason innings than anyone else in history.
He is the biggest winner in MLB postseason history with 18 wins.
From 2000 to 2009 he has more wins than any other pitcher during that decade.
Irregardless how this year turns out–the Dude believe that Pettitte is a hall-of-famer. Perhaps not on the first ballot but he’ll make it. He is the most consistent winner of his generation. And, oh yeah, those FIVE (5) World Series rings won’t hurt him at all either.
A friend of mine, a New York Yankees fan as enthusiastic as I am, asked me the other day if I was happier when the Yankees win. I thought about that and concluded that, indeed, the sun shines a bit brighter, birds chirp a bit sweeter and the grass is greener under my feet when the Bronx Bombers have emerged from another game triumphant.
Mind you, I did not say I was “happy” when they win–just that I am happier. After all, being happy is a choice.
Then he asked me about my fondest memory regarding the Yanks. I knew exactly the moment in time that answered that question. I can remember where I was and all the emotions of that moment. It was October 18, 1977. The official birthday of “Mr. October.”
The Yankees had won the World Series in my lifetime prior to that October night but I had been too young to remember those events. This was to me my first time–witnessing a Yankees’ World Series victory. To this day I can still remember the feelings of wonder, excitement, and awe. How great it felt to truly be a Yankees’ fan. To experience what my Dad and my uncles had known for so long. This–thanks to Reggie Jackson.
With three swings of the bat, Reggie silenced his critics and led the Yanks to their first World Series win in eighteen years. Even today, if the video of those home runs comes on the TV, I stop and watch and the emotions are still there.
Though there have been spectacular moments since then, and recently quite a few special ones, I will never forget that night. It was great that my friend had asked such a question. The first time the Dude saw a Yankees’ championship. Does anything compare to that first time?
Reggie Jackson World Series 1977 Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier
The New York Yankees are going to the birds this week as they are in the middle of a three game home stand with the Baltimore Orioles. Over the upcoming weekend the Yankees will be in Toronto to catch the upstart Blue Jays for the first time this season.
The Orioles are continuing their wretched re-building effort. We are at the beginning of June and they are almost 20 games out of first. It is a shame that an organization with such a tremendous facility (Oriole Park at Camden Yards) and such a proud tradition (with former players such as Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Cal Ripken, Jr.) could be in the terrible straits in which they find themselves. Ownership needs to present the fans of Baltimore a quality product. This isn’t a team the Yankees need to fear but the Yanks need to take care of business. Another disaster, like the Saturday game collapse against Cleveland, must be avoided. This is a time for the Yankees to multiply wins and not trip over themselves.
Then, it will be time to see if the Blue Jays are for real. They lead the American League, if not all of baseball, in home runs. The Jays seem to be doing it with, as former Orioles manager, Earl Weaver, use to remark, “Pitching, Defense, and the Three Run Homer.” The Yankees should have the rotation geared up to perform at its best during the three game series this weekend. Toronto is only 2 games behind the Yankees and, as with their series this week with the first place Tampa Rays, the Jays are looking for reasons to believe in themselves. The Yanks need to damage that rise in confidence by, at least, winning the series, putting the Jays in their place and reminding this up and coming group that the team from New York is the 27 time World Series Champions. As the song says, “We Weren’t Born to Follow.”
Several weeks back the folks at Sports Illustrated, I believe it was the May 3rd issue, put on their cover the fab four of the Yankees. The players with 20 World Series rings combined and the backbone of the team since 1996. Of course, the Dude is referring to Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte (pictured below).
Photo by Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI
Here is WFAN’s Mike Francesa describing the cover and commenting on the SI Cover Jinx (to which the Dude subscribes):
For Yankees fans this a fun and entertaining article. It marks the first time that the long time teammates have ever been at lunch together (without other teammates) and it shows them as playful, poking fun at each other and the character traits each brings to the team and their friendship. It was interesting to hear Posada describing how he’s never been mad at any of the other three. If there is a problem it is discussed and then everyone moves on. Great advise for any relationship.
Sports Illustrated followed up with an excellent article on their web site as the conversation continued. The Dude highly recommends reading the following link and hopes all Yankees fans truly appreciate to what we have been treated over the last 15 years. We haven’t seen four teammates stay together like this, and had the success these four have had, in the history of sports. In today’s age we are not likely to see their kind again. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/04/27/yankees.core.four/index.html
Granted, coming off a terrible Yankees’ loss like Saturday’s versus the Indians can trigger an emotional reaction. However, is it time for the Yanks to give some consideration to trading Joba Chamberlain?
The performance this Saturday of 4 hits and 4 runs in one third of an inning by Joba was awful. This is the second or third time this still young season that he has imploded as the setup man for Mariano Rivera. He seemed lethargic, unemotional, lazy, slow. This, compared to when he is the pump-fisting, excited, focused, possible future closer. He even threw to first base on Saturday when the runner was standing on the base. It was like, he was in another game.
So, perhaps that focused, dominating Joba is still out there. Perhaps it was just a day when he didn’t have it. But the question needs to start being considered. Would the Yankees consider putting Joba Chamberlain into a package for Cliff Lee or Ray Oswalt? True, the 8th inning setup roll would still be a problem but Joba needs to be careful. If he can’t consistently find that guy who dominated hitters in 2007 then he may be pitching his way off the New York Yankees.
During this tough stretch for the New York Yankees, their Captain, Derek Jeter has experienced an unusual (for him) batting slump.
After starting the season at around .315 for the first several weeks he had a period of an under .200 batting average. Hard to believe for this guy. So, some questions have to be asked. Is this a normal slump that all players go through? (He did have 3 hits yesterday, may be coming out of it). Or, is Captain Cool starting to feel that he is in the last year of his contract? He, and every single Yankees fan, wants him to play his entire career in Yankee pinstripes. But, perhaps, he is pushing himself.
Alternatively, he is now 34 years old and I believe that Bill James (he of baseball statistical fame) states that players at this age can begin to decline. It is almost impossible to consider that Jeter could be slowing down, he has been amazing for 15 years. This future, first ballot Hall-of-Famer can turn it back on. All Yankees fans are crossing their fingers, toes and eyes that he’ll do it again. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.
Yankees Dude 