Power Pros Forum

The Yankees have finally begun to play. Going into this week (In my mind, the week starts on Monday. Called Weekend for reason ), they had suffered a blowout and their offense was almost dead as they were plagued by slumps and injuries. On Tuesday, despite A-rods 2 homers, they suffered another blow-out. They went into Wednesday scoring an average of 2.5 runs per a game and no come-from-behind wins after the 7th.
But boy did this change...
Wednesday the Yankees got just what the doctor ordered and returned the favor to Baltimore with a 8-0 blowout. This was the second highest amount of runs scored next to their game against the Sox. The next game, Kennedy pitched his first great game giving up 1 run in 6 innings. Problem was, the Yankees offense was gone and it looked like it was a one game burst of offense. But that was not the case as in the 9th, the Yanks had their first walk-off after a double by the hot Matsui, a questionable called strike-out of Giambi, and a double by Cano! Perhaps it was Giradi's anger and argument with the umpire of Giambi's strikeout that brought the team around. He got thrown out as he was really giving it to the umpire as kicked his hat in the air.
The next game, Seattle came in to play the Yanks at the right time as they got another great pitching game and a blow-out of 12-2. The next game they got 12-6 blowout (which I was at!) of the Mariners and a succesful 40-pitches by Joba as he began his transition to a starter. The next games was the closest as Wang had a bad outing and gave up 4 earned runs and one off an error from Dunken in 7 innings and one out. Prospect Ramirez came in and proved himself once again as he continued his 0 era streak with 1 and 1/3 scoreless innings. Then came up the Yankees who had only managed 2 runs and were suffering a 3-run deficit. Seattle brought up Rode to pitch who gave up 2 walks to Abreu and A-rod. They replaced him with their closer. Giambi came up and struck out. Matsui came up and got a single that might have been an out as the closer made an amazing play and took the ball. The problem was his throw which he threw over the first-baseman head letting A-rod score. Then came Back-Up Molina, who had not gotten an RBI in May till yesterday. He got a game-winning double. Needless to say, Mariano came up to get another scoreless save.
What a come-back! As Giradi said, they had truly hit rock-bottom on Tuesday. But the Yanks are finally hitting as they climb back from being 5 games under 500. They are slowly catching up and are out of the cellar! They outscored Seattle in their best series winning with a ratio of 50-17 runs (Yanks). This is their second sweep. Plus, Mariano has succeeded in 12-12 saves and has a .45 era from his one run given up in the 11th inning against the Rays after 3 innings. This may very well be his best season. His 12th save came in July last year. What a difference!
Now their playing Baltimore and Kansas City who are struggling as of late.

I am psyched as well.
Go Yanks.

, yep.
I have a good feeling about this week. Unfortunately, lucky Boston is playing Seattle. However, the pitcher who has been the most successful this year and even more-so against the Sox is pitching for Seattle. Felix Hernandez had a 1-hit game the last time he played Boston. Their both on a 7-game slide, lets hope that Seattle is the one to stop the skid.
By the way, how about the Rays? I mean I knew they were going to be better this year, but this good? Shields has come around and so has the rest of the lineup. The bullpen has always and still is a problem, but their doing alright so far. They already have a great rotation and they have 2 prospects both of which could possibly be as good as Kasmir. Imagine Kasmir as a number 3! Scary thought.

LaTroy Hawkins sucks.
Rasner pitches 1-run ball for 6, and Hawkins blows it with 3 runs. If a real pitcher pitched, and the bullpen pitched scoreless innings, it could've gone to extras with the Yanks scoring 1 late in the game.

How does LaTroy keep getting jobs? That guy has been a gas can everywhere he has pitched, yet somehow he keeps getting big league gigs.

It's because he used to be a very good save man for the Twins, but most baseball fans have short memories and the "what've you done for me lately" mentality.

Apart for a few sub-3.00 years, and a couple mid-3.00 years, his career has been full of 5.00 ERA's. Inconsistent. Not for a big-market environment. New York is different than Colorado and Minnesota. Trade him. Might get something little. Call up one of:
Dan McCutchen (AAA starter who's been rock-solid, and most believe his eventual destination is the bullpen, anyway - power pitcher)
Mark Melancon (maybe a couple months off, but he's got filthy stuff)
J.B. Cox (closer than MM, maybe a month or two, got the mentality, and a decent arsenal)
Steve White (power pitcher, former starter converted to relief recently)

I had to look this guy up to check his record, and LaTroy last had a good season in 2004 when he had 24 saves and an ERA just over 2.6. The next year his ERA ballooned to about 4 and he finished the year 4 and 16 with 12 saves with three different teams.

And the year he had 28 saves he had an ERA of about 6.

I think Carl Pavano would be better for the Yanks right now.

I'm probably one in a million, but I kind of would like to see Carl Pavano back soon. And I don't hate him that much - he hasn't really pitched poorly, so the only issue is money, so it's not a big deal to me (of course, I'm not paying).
I'd like to see him pitch soon, and he does have some talent, so there is a little upside that he could do well. Besides, $10 million salary sure looks good when it's freed up to chase other FA's once he leaves.

I don't whats the problem this year, but Troy LaHawkins and Ohendorf have blown roughly 9 or 10 games together. If they keep playing like this, the Yanks will really have to take them out. They may have had other good years, but this clearly does not look like one. Once Kartsens is back, one of them could be replaced. Hopefully Briton works out and does well again.
By the way, how about that Ramirez? 8 innings of dominating pitching.

OHHHHHHHH YEA MANNY HIT #500

HAHA

YAHHH!! TRICK YAHHH!!

Why couldn't he wait until monday so I could see it on t.v?!?

Well it was going to happen eventually, so oh well. I was actually very impressed with Manny. First, he gave his helmet and his scorecard to the hall of fame from the game, (Typical Manny, somewhat into himself), but he also decided to auction off his home-run ball for Red Sox charity which I believe goes to curing and helping those with cancer. I had a very bad image of him and his personality, but that just goes to show that people are much more complicated then you think. While I'm not exactly happy he did it, congratulations Manny. Yanks lost a bad one todau but they still have plenty of momentum after last nights 12-inning win. Rasner pitched his first bad quality start (he had 5 quality ones, literally) and got his second loss. The first was certainly not deserved as he gave up 1 homer for 1 run in 6 with about 5 hits.

Jobas pitching today!

We just shouldn't have lost yesterday. Kyle Farnsworth and Hawkins are too unreliable right now to be used for key situations. They should only be used to eat up innings (6-7th or extra inning games). And did Britton insult Girardi's mother or something? He's getting no chances.

Ramirez should get the promotion to set-up man. The sooner Girardi realizes that the better.