Trumbo Swung to Arizona in Three Team Deal

"I'm going that-a-way."

There's been rumors for several days that the Los Angeles Angels were trying to deal first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo. Tuesday afternoon one of the rumors came true when Trumbo was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three team deal.  The Angels picked up left-handed pitchers Hector Santiago from the Chicago White Sox and Tyler Skaggs from Arizona. The Diamonbacks also sent outfield prospect Adam Eaton to Chicago.

Home runs (29, 32, 34) and RBI (87, 95, 100) increased each of the three years the 27-year old Trumbo played for the Angels, but so did his lack of contact. Trumbo struck out a career worst 184 times in 2013 and had an on-base percentage of .294. The Diamondbacks will look to Trumbo to add power to a lineup that relied heavily on Paul Goldschmidt last season. (The NL MVP runner-up hit 36 of the teams' 130 home runs.)

Eaton was supposed to make a major impact on the Diamondbacks lineup this past season, but an injured left elbow limited him to 66 games and he managed to produced just a .674 OPS. He'll compete with Avisail Garcia, Alejandro De Aza, and Dayan Viciedo for playing time in the White Sox outfield.

Skaggs was originally selected in the first round (40th overall pick) of the 2009 MLB amateur draft by the Angels. He was dealt to Arizona at the 2010 trade deadline as part of a package for veteran starter Dan Haren. The 6'5" left-hander made 13 Major League starts over the last two seasons with an ERA over 5.00, a WHIP of 1.412, and 7.4 strikeouts/9 IP.

Prior to the 2013 season he was named the 12th best prospect in baseball by Baseball American and MLB.com tapped him as the number 10 prospect. But after having success at the Double-A (13 starts) and Triple-A (9 starts) level in 2012, Bauer struggled in his first full year at the Triple-A level. He allowed more than a hit per inning and gave up 4.5 runs per game. A drop in velocity of Skaggs' fastball was considered to be the main reason for the drop in performance.

Santiago started, closed, and pitched middle relief during his three year stint with the White Sox. This past season he started 23 games and came out of the pen another 11 times. The Newark, New Jersey native can strikeout batters with the best of them (8.3/9 innings in '13), but also struggles with his command (72 walks in 149 IP). It's not yet known how the Angels plan to use him.

Alfonso Soriano's Beat Down of the Angels

Yankees fans who watched Alfonso Soriano embark on a promising career his first time around with the team hoped to see some of the same excitement when the 37-yr old return at this year's trade deadline. Soriano obliged on Tuesday and Wednesday when he knocked in a ridiculous 13 RBI in two games vs. the Los Angeles Angels.

In Tuesday night's 14-7 Yankees win, Soriano hit a 2-run home run in the 5th inning, added an RBI single, and then iced the cake with a 3-run blast in the 7th. The six RBI were a career high for the native of the Dominican Republic. That career high lasted all  of one day.

Wednesday's 9-3 shellacking of Jered Weaver and the Angels saw Soriano reach a new height. It began with a grand slam in the bottom of the first after Weaver had retired the first two batters he faced. But the first hit of Robinson Cano's 4-4 night, a double by Alex Rodriguez and a walk to Curtis Granderson walk set the stage for the left fielder.

He added a 2-run double an inning later and led off the 5th inning with a solo home run. He was a combined 6-9 with four home runs, a double, and even a walk in the last two games of the four games series. (Concludes with a 1:05 PM EDT start on Thursday.) The hot streak pumped up Soriano's Yankees' OPS to .858 and his slugging to .606 since his return on August 2.

The grand salami was the fifth of Soriano's career and landed in Monument Park. It was his first bases loaded whack with the Yankees since he hit a pair in the 2003 season. The 13 RBI in two consecutive games are the second highest total in franchise history. Hall of Fame second baseman Tony Lazzeri had 15 RBI with an American League record 11 in one game.

Ivan Nova appreciated some run support for a change on a night he didn't have his best stuff. He still managed to go 7.1 innings and lowered his ERA to 2.99 to go along with a 6-4 record. He's allowed 11 earned runs over 52.1 innings in his last seven starts (1.90 ERA) and is, in effect, the Yankees number two starter right now.

A-Rod finished the night 1-4 and is 8-31 with a slash line of .258/.343/.419. He's hit one home run, driven in four runs, and scored three, and has been pretty solid defensively. The mixed response from the crowd has been no different so far and will be nothing compared to what A-Rod will experience this weekend in Boston.

Derek Jeter took part in some drills on Wednesday and will fly down to Tampa today (Thursday) to continue his rehab from a calf injury. He's eligibile, but won't be activated for the Red Sox series.

MLB's Poor Umpiring Helps Yankees Blast Halos

The cry for instant replay is going to reach a crescendo sooner rather than later. With a 162 game regular season schedule we've witnessed many mistakes by the men in blue year in and year out. It's affected the biggest stage as well during the post-season.

While it may not cost a team a post-season series, it could help decide who reaches the post-season. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels are two teams battling to stay above water, so when a call possibly costs them a game, you bet plenty of people stand up and take notice.

Last week in Chicago, home plate umpire Alan Porter erroneously called Brett Gardner out at the plate when he was clearly safe. The "erased" run helped cost the Yankees the game. Tuesday night's contest with the Angels saw the wrong call go in the Yankees favor. Chris Nelson, who spent a few weeks in a Yankees uniform this season, was on third base for Los Angeles with one out in the 6th inning and the Yankees clinging to a 4-3 lead.

Tommy Field lifted a fly ball to left that enabled Nelson to race home ahead of Alfonso Soriano's throw to tie the game at 4-4. Or did it? Catcher Austin Romine threw the ball to Jayson Nix at third and home plate umpire David Rackley called Nelson out. Needless to say Angels manager Mike Scioscia went ballistic. Replays showed that Nelson did not leave third base early - his foot was still on the base when the ball landed in Soriano's glove.

It was Rackley's responsibility to watch Nelson since the third base umpire, Brian Gorman, had to make sure the ball was caught. So standing 90 feet away Rackley determined that Nelson left before the ball was caught which allowed the Yankees to record a double play rather than make an appeal.

Instead of a tie game and lead off hitter J.B. Shuck coming to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs, the inning was over with the Yankees still in the lead. It enabled CC Sabathia to stay in the ball game and pick up his 10th win of the season. The Yankees also had their biggest offensive explosion in what seemed like a decade and held on for a 14-7 win.

Alfonso Soriano had his first big game back in pinstripes with a pair of home runs and a career high six RBI. Alex Rodriguez ripped a 2-run double to the base of the wall in left, Vernon Wells homered for the first time since May, and Eduard Nunez had four ribbies.

It was an odd game to say the least. Sabathia only allowed three hits, but walked six hitters. He also struck out seven so there was plenty of "no contact baseball" when he was in there. The double digit win total made Sabathia just the fifth pitcher since 1900 to win 10 or more games in their first 13 seasons. The others are Tom Seaver, Don Sutton, Eddie Plank, and Carl Hubbell.¹

The game was held up by rain for 26 minutes with two outs in the top of the 8th inning. When play resumed Dellin Betances struck out rookie Grant Green with a 97-mph fastball to end the inning. Unfortunately, Betances didn't have the same good fortune in the 9th inning when he was tagged for four runs after he struck out Chris Iannetta to start the frame. Joba Chamberlain came on to record the final two outs - a seven run lead may be the only time Joba is trusted now.

1 - Elias Sports Bureau

Hamilton Official to Halos

Go west not so young man; perhaps that was the calling Josh Hamilton heard when he decided to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. Or more likely it is because the Angels were the only team to offer Hamilton $25MM a year and a five year contract to boot.

It couldn't have hurt either that Hamilton's former Texas Rangers' teammate C.J. Wilson had signed a free agent deal with the Halos last season and probably reached out to him. Despite his production, teams were reluctant to give Hamilton too many years or too many millions to a player that has battled substance abuse, injuries, and prolonged slumps, several times. On the other hand he's still one of the most dangerous bats in baseball.

Hamilton hit 43 HR and drove in 128 runs in 143 games last season. His .930 OPS was second only to his 2009 AL MVP season when he finished with a league best 1.044.

Hamilton gets added to a lineup that already includes Albert Pujols, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout, and Mark Trumbo, who averaged 30 HR and 91 RBI the last two seasons. The Angels also have a glut of outfielders even with Torii Hunter gone.

The Angels have said they don't want to deal Trumbo and neither Peter Bourjos nor Vernon Wells have much value right now. DH Kendrys Morales is said to be expendable and, on a frightening note if you are a Yankees fan, Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier today that his sources indicate the Yankees could be a destination for Wells. The two teams supposedly discussed it at the recent winter meetings.

The Yankees want a right-handed bat to platoon/fill in for Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, and Ichiro Suzuki. (If he returns as is expected.) Between 2002 and 2006, teams would have killed to get Wells, but not any more. Except for a comeback season in 2010 when he hit 31 home runs and drove in 88, he's done next to nothing and/or been hurt. Wells has had a sub .700 OPS in his two years in LA and is owed $42MM over the next two years. I wouldn't trade a half dozen donuts for him.

Yankees, Kuroda Moving Closer

Hiroki Kuroda turned down the Yankees $13.3MM qualifying offer earlier this month, but it appears a return to the Bronx could be imminent. ESPN's Jayson Stark used Twitter to tell the masses that the Yankees are "very confident" they will be able to re-sign the 37-yr old right-hander.

The rumor mill had Kuroda wanting to return to southern California, where he pitched as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-2011. The Angels were also said to be in the mix for Kuroda's services, should he decide he does not want to return to his native Japan.

Kuroda was the Yankees' best pitcher in the second half of 2012 and finished with 16 wins and 3.32 ERA.

UPDATE 9 pm ET - It's official, Hiroki Kuroda returns to the Bronx for one more year with a raise to $15MM.

Yankees Snatch Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

Cano's nap cost the Yankees dearly - courtesy of daylife.com

No, that's not really how the saying goes, but it's apropos considering the way Sunday's Yankees-LA Angels game turned out. If I told you prior to the game that the Yankees would score eight runs and you knew Jered Weaver was starting for LA, you would know for sure that the Yankees would come away with a sweep of the three game series. Only that's not what happened.

The Yankees ran themselves out of a pair of innings and the end of the bullpen let the game get out of reach. The final was a 10-8 hitter's duel that came out in the Angels' favor. The Yankees did indeed get to Weaver, who entered the game with a 1.96 ERA, for five runs in seven innings, but the All-Star right-hander won his 11th game.

Yankees' starter Ivan Nova was far from his beat (6 IP, 6 ER), and the Angels tacked on three more runs against recently acquired reliever Chad Qualls, and and another against youngster D.J. Mitchell. The Yankees still had a chance to come back in the 9th inning despite being down five runs.

Angels' closer Ernesto Frieri had not allowed a run in 26 appearances since being acquired from the San Diego Padres on May 3. But in a non-save situation in the series finale, he got his first taste of the Yankees' power lineup.

Robinson Cano, who had extended his hitting sreak to 18 games earlier in the day, drew a lead off walk and Mark Teixeira followed with a 2-run home run to cut the deficit to 10-7.  Mike Scioscia pulled his young closer in favor of lefty Scott Downs after Frieri walked Nick Swisher. The Yankees had rallied from three runs down on Friday night against Downs and it appeared they would again when Raul Ibanez ricocheted a single off of Downs to bring the tying run to the plate.

Downs came back to strike out Andruw Jones and got Russell Martin on a fielders choice to put the game in the hands of Derek Jeter. The Yankees' captain walked to load the bases for Curtis Granderson,who put up a great eight pitch at-bat. The Yankees centerfielder had homered earlier in the game, and just got out in front of a Downs' pitch and pulled it foul before he walked to force in a run.

That turned things over to Alex Rodriguez, who had quieted some of his critics with a pair of hits on Saturday and his 14th home run of the season in the 1st inning on Sunday.  But right-hander Kevin Jepsen  got A-Rod to pop out to Albert Pujols to end the ball game.

The Yankees, perhaps, would have had a lead entering the 9th inning had Cano been awake earlier in the game. With A-Rod leading off third, Cano got caught napping at 1st base in the 3rd inning. Weaver picked him off and Cano was quickly tagged out in a run down. Rodriguez tried to score on the play, but shortstop Erick Aybar gunned him down at the plate for a very ugly double play and huge rally killer.

Evidently, Russell Martin didn't get too much confidence back in his bat after Friday night's game winning hit. He tried a bunt in a pair of at-bats, one of which he popped in the air and turned into a double play when Eric Chavez was doubled off base.

Chavez continued to show though that when healthy he can still drive the ball. After he hit just two home runs in 2011, Chavez smacked his eighth of the year on Sunday.

Nova was victimized by three home runs - Aybar and Pujols in the 1st inning and Maicer Izturis in the 6th. Mark Trumbo added another off Mitchell in the 9th.

Mike Trout had just another day at the office- two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. Shockingly, he didn't steal a base.

Yankees Dig The Long Ball

Grandy goes yard - courtesy of WIBX.com

Former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver must love watching this version of the New York Yankees. The Earl of Baltimore was known for playing for the 3-run home run, and while the Yankees may not have it it as a strategy, they indeed live and die by the long ball. Yesterday was a good day to be alive.

Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson supplied the power in the Yankees 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Starter Freddy Garcia sweated and battled his way through five innings to pick up the victory with much help from the Yankees bullpen.

Down 2-0 after the top half of the 1st inning, Cano quickly tied the game with his 21st home run of the season off Angels starter Jerome Williams. (He later added an RBI single in the 6th after the Yankees lead was cut to one.)

Two innings after Cano's heroics it was Granderson's turn to hit one out with a man aboard. Williams, just off the DL, laid in a fat one that Granderson crushed for 4-2 Yankees lead.

Garcia allowed five hits and issued five walks, and worked out of trouble every inning. The 35-yr old improved to 4-2 on the season and is 2-0, .3.17 in the three starts he's had since he was returned to the rotation on July 2.

The Yankees bullpen stepped up again after Garcia used up his pitch count after five innings. Cody Eppley (2 IP), David Robertson, and Rafael Soriano finished off the win with Soriano striking out Albert Pujols on a check swing to end the game.

Michael Kay was joined in the YES booth by Paul O'Neill and David Cone, an excellent trio of entertainment and knowledge. But Kay made one error concerning Chris Stewart. Kay remarked on how well Stewart has hit on the season (a .265 average at that moment), but Stewart's batting average is truly not an indicator of the season he has had at the plate. After a 1-3 performance on Saturday, Stewart's OPS sat at an incredibly weak .572. That's pitcher-worthy not a number a positional player would want to have.

Mike Trout continued his remarkable rookie season on Saturday. Three more hits, two stolen bases to give him a league leading 30, and a run scored. In July alone, Trout is hitting .429 with a 1.321 OPS, four home runs and eight RBI. He's an amazing player to watch and very mature for a 20-yr old.

Alex Rodriguez got a temporary reprieve from the idiot boo-birds with a two hit game and his 10th steal of the season. Players get booed, it happens, but when your team is in first place, 21 games over .500, you really need to shut up.

I almost never give Nike any props (I hate their company and it's CEO Phil Knight), but this "Chicks Dig The Long Ball" campaign is still classic. Especially consdering Mark McGwire was fully pumped with 'roids (and possibly HGH among other things) at the time.


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2 Bad Pitches Don't Spoil The Whole Game Girl

Russell Martin strokes game winner - courtesy of Buffalo News

If you hadn't known better you would have sworn tonight's game between the LA Angels and Yankees was being played on the left coast.

It was one of those typical games where the Yankees had a lead for most of the game, but then everything went to hell in the last few innings. This time around it was Hiroki Kuroda holding a 2-1 lead on his home mound in the 7th.

Had there been a full moon Friday night, you clearly would have seen a baseball pass by it, much like ET and his bicycle did many moons ago (no pun intended). The ball had launched off the bat of Angels' left fielder Mark Trumbo with two aboard and came back to Earth in the seats behind the Yankees bullpen. The Yankees suddenly were in a 4-2 hole and the once smooth sailing Kuroda had encountered choppy water. (The Trumbo home rnu was bad pitch #2 after hitting Kendrys Morales with a 1-2 pitch.)

It didn't get any better in the 8th when for some reason, Joe Girardi left Kuroda in the game and the Angels tacked on an insurance run on Albert Pujols' bloop double to right. But the Yankees had some magic of their own in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Derek Jeter started things off against lefty Scott Downs by lacing a double up the alley in right-center. Curtis Granderson, hitless against Downs in 12 career at-bats, worked a tough walk to bring Mark Teixeira to the plate as the tying run.

Teixeira had provided the first two Yankees runs with a bullet home run to left off Angels' starter C.J. Wilson in the 3rd inning. While that Teixeira home run got out in a hurry, his home run off Downs to tie the game was a high majestic shot to left field.

Downs finally retired Alex Rodriguez (who heard many boos on the night) and Robbie Cano, before he walked Nick Swisher to end his night on the mound. With right-hander Kevin Jepsen on the hill, pinch-runner Dewayne Wise swiped second base to put the go ahead run in scoring position. Angels' skipper Mike Scioscia decided to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez to force Russell Martin and his sub-.180 batting everage into a clutch situation.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering why Girardi didn't send Eric Chavez up to pinch-hit, but Girardi stuck with his catcher and his confidence was rewarded when Martin lashed a go ahead single to right. Martin wasn't done coming up big in the game though.

Rafael Soriano came on in the 9th to close things out, but Yankees killer Howie Kendrick reached on a one out single. Soriano retired Erick Aybar on a foul pop, but then uncorked a pitch in the dirt. Though pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis put up the hold sign, Kendrick took off for second base. Martin quickly got to the baseball and fired a strike to an awaiting Derek Jeter to end the ball game. A fired up Martin pumped his fist and celebrated a night in which he threw out three of four would-be base stealers in addition to his game winning hit.


Notes

The comeback would not have been possible had Swisher not robbed Trumbo of another home run in the 8th inning.

The Yankees signed Kosuke Fukudome to a minor league deal. The Japanse born veteran had been recently released by the Chicago White Sox after hitting just .171 in 24 games. The 35-yr old is in his 5th Major League season and has been on the decline since breaking in with the Cubs in 2008.

Austin Romine was expected to compete for a back up catching job on the Yankees at some point this season, but the 23-year old went down with a bad back in Spring Training. Romine returned to action Friday night with the GCL Yankees. He was 0-2 with an RBI and split the team's catching duties with Eduardo de Oleo.

Joba Chamberlain began his road back from a busted ankle and continued his recuperation from Tommy John surgery with a scoreless inning in Tuesday's GCL game. He's expected to pitch again this weekend.

Andy Pettitte will be getting his broken ankle x-rayed to see what progress has been made.

Mike Trout, with his family in Derek Jeter's private box, had another ho-hum night. Two hits, two steals, and a run scored. He's an incredibly dynamic player to watch.

Kuroda Shines On Opening Day

Hiroki Kuroda's Yankees debut was less than memorable - 4 earned runs allowed in five-plus innings in an 8-6 loss to Tampa Bay a week ago. But despite being admittedly nervous, Kuroda stepped on the mound for the home opener and pitched a gem and the Yankees beat the LA Angels 5-0.

Kuroda allowed five hits over eight innings, before David Robertson finished up in the 9th, to pick up his first American League victory. Kuroda got an early boost when Nick Swisher delivered a two out, bases loaded double to jump start the Yankees to a quick 3-0 lead in the 1st inning against Ervin Santana.

The former Dodger is now 2-2, 1.71 against the Angels, whom he faced three times in inter-league play. He threw 109 pitches, 71 of them for strikes, walked two and struck out six, including an aggravated Albert Pujols in the 6th.

The Yankees added some tack on runs with a pair of home runs. Alex Rodriguez tied Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth on the all-time home run list with blast number 630, a shot to straight away center field. Curtis Granderson then took advantage of the short porch in right with his second home run of the season.

Jeff Mathis, Yankee Killer

Jeff Mathis is a professional catcher. Jeff Mathis is not a professional hitter...except when he plays the New York Yankees.

Though his career OPS against NY is actually lower (.547) than his overall career OPS (.564), Mathis has 16 RBI in 30 games against the Yankees. Three more of them came last night when Mathis broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double and then broke the game open with a 2-run home run in the 7th as the Angels beat the Yankees 6-0.

LA has already taken the series by winning the first two of the three game set and are just 1.5 games behind Texas in the AL West. Meanwhile, the Yankees have dropped four straight, but remain 2.5 in front of Boston, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

After managing just three hits and one run against Jeff Weaver and Jordan Walden on Friday night, the Yankees managed just four hits off of Dan Haren, who tossed a complete game for his 15th win. CC Sabathia struggled through six innings, but allowed just one run in seeing his record drop to 19-8.

Does Joe Girardi Want To Win The Division?

I know more than anyone you need to rest your big guns out of the bullpen, but it seems of late that Joe Girardi is going to lesser in pitchers in high leverage situations (yes that was me actually using a metrics term).

It would seem the Red Sox skid of eight losses in 10 games is influencing how Girardi uses his pen. The Yankees lineup is short and got shorter tonight with injuries, so the games are tight and the Yankees have lost three of them in a row. Scott Proctor, Aaron Laffey, and Luis Ayala combined to lose the latter two. Saturday night down 1-0 in the 7th, Girardi went to Hector Noesi, who has really struggled of late. Moments later it was a 3-0 deficit.

Make that 5-0...Jeff Mathis who can't hit anyone, except the Yankees, just hit a 2-run home run off Noesi.

Go for the division Joe, don't try to back into it.

Failure in the Halos House of Horrors

All those good feelings built up by the sweep of the Oakland A's and a four game winning streak were nearly completely wiped out last night by another tremendous case of RISP failur, the anagram that keeps on killing. The Yankees had Angels' ace Jered Weaver on the ropes early, but like Muhammad Ali doing rope-a-dope, the LA starter wouldn't go down despite being roughed up. The result was a 3-2 loss that dropped the Yankees lead over the Boston Red Sox to one game (two in the loss column) in the AL East.

Though they went in order in the 1st inning, the Yankees made Weaver work, particularly Derek Jeter who saw 15 pitches before he flew out to center. Yankees starter Ivan Nova was shaky, but battled his way into the 7th inning. However, he put his team in a hole in the 1st inning, something you can't do against a guy like Weaver no matter how many pitches he throws.

Erick Aybar reached on a one out single and moved into scoring position on a Nova wild pitch. Former Yankee Bobby Abreu doubled to give the Angels a 1-0 lead and later in the inning scored himself on an Alberto Callaspo ground out. The Yankees had a big chance of their own in the 2nd inning when Alex Rodriguez reached on a lead off double, moved to third on a Robinson Cano ground out and scored on a Russell Martin single to halve the lead. Nick Swisher drew a walk, but both Jorge Posada and Brett Gardner looked at a called third strike to allow Weaver to escape further trouble.

The Yankees tied things at two apiece in the 4th on walks to Rodriguez and Swisher and a ground rule double by Posada (the Yankees were victimized by Angel Stadium's low outfield walls). But Gardner struck out again, this time swinging, to strand two runners in scoring position. That would be all the Bomberless-Bombers would manage the rest of the night, which was unfortunate since Nova gave the lead right back in the home half of the 4th.

The Angels, wearing 1960's retro uniforms and hats topped with halos loaded the bases on singles by Russell Branyan and Mark Trumbo and a walk to Jeff Mathis. Peter Bourjos, who entered the game mired in a long slump, stroked his second single of the night to give LA a 3-2 lead. Nova retired the final two batters of the inning to keep it a one run game, but his offense was shut down for the night as the Yankees did not getting a single hit over the final five innings.

Kings, Princes, and Other Road Obstacles

The Yankees open a tough, nine game road trip tonight in pitcher friendly Safeco Field in Seattle. While most people point at Saturday's quest against Felix "The King" Hernandez as the toughest game on the road trip, things won't be much easier tonight for the Yankees when they face rookie Michael Pineda.

The native of the Dominican Republic, given the moniker "Prince", made the Mariners out of spring training this season after going 11-4, 3.36 (with 154 strikeouts in 139.1 innings pitched) between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

At 6'7", 255 lbs, Pineda is an opposing figure to deal with as is his mid to upper 90's fastball. Through nine starts, Pineda has compiled a 6-2 record, a 2.16 ERA (1.65 at home) and has struck out better than nine batters per nine innings (9.4). He's allowed just 41 hits hits and issued a mere 14 walks in 58.1 innings pitched, has allowed just three home runs, and limited opponents to a .194 average. For more on Pineda's outstanding control, check out this piece by ESPN's Lee Singer.

A.J. Burnett has the task of out dueling Pineda, while Ivan Nova must take on Hernandez tomorrow. The Yankees do, however, have several players with pretty good numbers against Hernandez.

Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Russell Martin, Brett Gardner, and Jorge Posada are all near or over .300 against the reigning AL CY Young winner. On the flip side, Nick Swisher, struggling already this year, is just 8-34 against Hernandez and could very well have a seat on the pines come Saturday night.

The Yankees most favorable match up comes on Sunday when CC Sabathia squares off with Jason Vargas. After the Seattle series, the Yankees move on to Oakland to face a pitching staff that leads the Major Leagues with a 2.87 ERA. The series opens Monday with Bartolo Colon facing Trevor Cahill and his 2.02 ERA. Tuesday's Yankees starter has not yet been announced, but the A's go with sharp left-hander Brett Anderson (2.84). No starters have been announced for Wednesday's finale as of yet, but's likely Freddy Garcia will get one of the two games. Remarkably, the weak hitting A's have scored just one less run than the Yankees (413-412), though NY does have three games in hand.

The trip concludes in Anaheim, the site of many of the Yankees in-season and post-season horrors. Who'll take a 6-3 road trip right now? A lot of hands.

BD Hot Stove: Vladdy To Regain Halo? | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: Vladdy To Regain Halo? | Baseball Digest

t’s a bit hard to imagine, but the Los Angeles Times’ Mike DiGiovanna feels that if the Texas Rangers sign Adrian Beltre there is a good chance Vladimir Guerrerowill return to the Los Angeles Angels.

Vlad is not the player he once was – a 5-tool stud that could throw a ball from the right field wall to home plate on the fly, run like the wind, and could hit any pitch out of the park – but he did bounce back with Texas last season. Serving as the team’s primary DH (he played only 18 games in the outfield), Guerrero hit .300, belted 29 home runs, and drove in 115 runs while posting an .841 OPS. His home run total was his highest in two years; the RBI total his higest in three.

The Angels used Hideki Matsui as their DH last season, but parted ways with him when his one year deal expired. Vlad was an extremely popular teammate and fan favorite during his six seasons in Anaheim, but the Angels let him walk after he played in just 100 games in 2009 (He produced 15 HR, 50 RBI, and a career low .794 OPS). Guerrero’s physical ailments- bad feet and knees in particular – have slowed him and affected his play. At 36 years of age (on Feb. 9) he’s a risk the Angels, who lost out on Carl Crawford and apparently Adrian Beltre, may very well be willing to take after finishing 9th among 14 teams in runs scored last season. On the other hand Texas is willing to let Guerrero go after a poor post-season that saw him produce just 6 RBI in the three playoff series.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

Adrian Beltre is indeed getting very close to a six year, $96M deal with the Texas Rangers. That according to team beat writer T.R. Sullivan. The sixth year would reportedly be voided if Beltre doesn’t reach a specified amount of plate appearances in the fifth year.

The Orioles have officially locked up Kevin Gregg with a two year, $10M deal.

The Reds have signed outfielder Jeremy Hermedia to a minor league deal.

The Mariners and infielder Brendan Ryan will not have to go to arbitration after agreeing to a two year, $2.75M contract.

The Giants are talking once again with shortstop Edgar Renteria, who said the team disrespected him in earlier negotations.

BD Hot Stove: The Not So Wild West | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: The Not So Wild West | Baseball Digest

The American League western division was for the taking when camps broke out of Arizona and Florida in 2010 and the regular season began. But soon teams fell by the wayside. The Angels were riddled with injuries and players that couldn’t fill the shoes of those who had departed (John Lackey, Chone Figgins), and the Mariners were a woeful excuse of a baseball team. Texas emerged on top, but with Cliff Lee’s departure this off-season, the division is certainly up for grabs again in 2011.

Not as deep in the heart of Texas: Lee was the key to the Rangers sealing up the AL West and their run to the World Series. But with Lee gone, the Rangers don’t have a true number one in their rotation. They did make a low risk/high reward signing Sunday when they came to terms with former Diamondback, Brandon Webb ($3M base). It remains to be seen whether or not Webb will be able to regain his form. The Rangers signed Yorvit Torrealba to shore up the leaky boat situation they had at catcher and kept Matt Treanor to back him up. Jeff Francoeur (KC), Rich Harden (Oak), and Brandon McCarthy (Oak) all signed elsewhere.

In the arms of the Angels: With ace John Lackey’s departure prior to the 2010 season and Nick Adenhart’s tragic death in 2009, the Angels were lacking in quality starters last season. The Halos picked up Dan Haren at the trade deadline and hope someone else will emerge this year in the back end of the rotation. One player who might fit that bill is Hisanori Takahashi, the 35-yr old left-hander LA signed away from the Mets. The Angels did give themselves a shot in the arm, the left one to be exact, by signing stand out set up man/part-time closer Scott Downs to a three year deal. The team also parted company with long time reliever Scot Shields. The Angels will be employing a new DH as well after letting Hideki Matsui walk (to Oakland).

An A for Effort: Oakland hung tough for quite a while in the west last year and has been very busy this off-season. In addition to signing Matsui, Harden, and McCarthy, the A’s also dealt for outfielders David DeJesus (KC) and Josh Willingham (FLA), brought back 2nd baseman Mark Ellis, and signed reliever Fernando Cabrera to a minor league deal. Gone are Jack Cust, Vin Mazzaro, Edwin Encarncion, Eric Chavez, and Ben Sheets.

The Rhyme of the Mediocre Mariner: Seattle has had high expectations the last couple of years and very poor results. Outside of Felix Hernandez, Ichiro, and Franklin Gutierrez, there aren’t many holdovers on the roster to get excited about. Bringing in Jack Cust as the new bat isn’t going to change that. Seattle is reportedly shopping closer David Aardsma and already dealt away infielder Jose Lopez. Starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (Hou), like much of the team, had a disappointing 2010 and left via free agency. The only other notable signing for Seattle was the retention of Erik Bedard. Yes, it will be another rough year to be a Mariners fan.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

The Blue Jays are reportedly close to inking reliever Octavio Dotel to a one year deal. Dotel could either serve as a set up man or closer.

The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo hears that Carl Pavano is holding out for a three year deal.

The Phillies re-upped with reliever J.C. Romero; terms are reportedly one year at $1.1M.

The Brewers have come to terms with reliever Takashi Saito on a one year, $3M deal.

Lee Says No to a Halo

The Los Angeles Angels surprised a lot of people when they acquired Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today it was the Halos who got the surprise when Chicago Cubs 1st baseman Derrek Lee turned down a trade to join the club.

Lee invoked his no-trade clause the deal, because he felt it would be better for his family to finish out the season with Chicago. Lee added that he hopes to stay beyond the current season.

The Angels also got bad news before this afternoon's game with Boston when scheduled starter Joel Pineiro was scratched with a strained oblique. He's expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

The Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers did swing a deal with the Tribe sending Jhonny Peralta to the Motor City. In return, Cleveland received minor league pitcher Giovanni Soto. The Tigers have been hurt, literally, by injuries to Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen.

Rumor Mill

The Cardinals are said to be interested Orioles infielder Miguel Tejada. Baltimore also continues to get calls about Ty Wiggington.

The Blue Jays are said to be talking to the Diamondbacks about Kelly Johnson. Current 2nd baseman Aaron Hill is willing to change positions to upgrade the offense.

In addition to Wiggington the Marlins are also checking into Jorge Cantu, as are the Giants. San Fran is also looking into Jose Guillen.

The Blue Jays are said to be asking for a top prospect for reliever Scott Downs. That means they want Jesus Montero from the Yankees. Not happening. The Jays reportedly have already asked for Joba Chamberlain.

The Indians and Phillies are said to be discussing Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook.

The Dodgers have shown an interest in Royals speedster Scott Podsednik.

UPDATE 9:21 p.m. The Dodgers have indeed acquired Scott Podsednik for 2 minor leaguers - Lucas May and Elisaul Pimentel.

Godzilla Switches Coasts

Hideki Matsui was a true professional in his seven years in Pinstripes. Now, he'll be bringing that professionalism to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Godzilla has reportedly signed a one year, $6.5 million deal to play for Mike Scioscia on the left coast.

Matsui reached the pinnacle of his Yankees career in his final season in the Bronx, winning the World Series MVP Award as the Bombers captured their 27th world championship.

Matsui had many big hits during his time in the Bronx and will be missed.

Those Other Series

I haven't forgotten about the rest of the playoffs, just been more focused on the Yankees' ALDS match up. But here's how I see things:

Red Sox vs. Angels

The Angels have been miserable in the playoffs against Boston and I don't see it changing. The Angels should be able to run at will against Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez, but Boston's 1-2 punch of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester is awfully tough.

The Angels have been through a lot this year with Nick Adenhart's death and a rash of injuries, and Mike Scosia has done an amazing job of keeping it all together. But I don't see the Angels' rotation, outside of John Lackey, shutting down the Boston lineup.

Prediction: Boston in 5


Rockies vs. Phillies

The Phillies have had their problems this season, particularly in the bullpen, but there's still plenty of talent in the starting rotation and a powerful offense.

The Rockies turned things around when manager Clint Hurdle was replaced by Jim Tracey, and played some of the baseball in the 2nd half. I don't like their starting pitching in this series. None of them scare you.


Prediction: Phillies in 3


Cardinals vs. Dodgers

St. Louis easily outclassed the heavily favored Cubs to win the NL Central. The Dodgers had a cake walk in the NL West, at least until the last 2 weeks of the season. Then things got ugly and they nearly blew the division (though they would have made the playoffs either way).

The difference in this series will be the Cards' top 2 starters - Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright should be able to shut down the Dodgers bats, which have been slumping of late. And Albert > Manny.

Prediction: Cardinals in 4

Only in California

The U.S. Men's Water Polo team throws out the first pitch.

Only in California

The U.S. Men's Water Polo team throws out the first pitch.