Yankees Throw In The Towel On Nunez

Too many botched plays caused Nunez's demise in NY.

Eduardo Nunez had the tools and he had the talent. He just couldn't make it happen in the Major Leagues as a Yankee. And in a short time, he will no longer be a Yankee.

The Yankees designated Nunez for assignment Monday afternoon, in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Yangervis Solarte. With Derek Jeter sidelined for nearly the entire 2013 season, Nunez had the opportunity to establish himself, but his OPS was under .700 and he continued to stumble in the field. He committed 12 errors at shortstop and made another pair at third base. In 2011, the numbers were similar - 14 errors at shortstop and 6 at third base.

In Spring Training this year, he faced stiff competition from Solarte and Dean Anna for a utility spot on the team. More than anything, your utility infielders must be solid defenders, and Nunez couldn't provide that. The Yankees waited until this past weekend to announce that Solarte had made the team over Nunez. Solarte took advantage of his situation with hot bat in the exhibition games, but today's move was more about Nunez than anything else.

Fans and the media like to talk about how Nunez was one of the reasons the Yankees couldn't swing a deal with Seattle for Cliff Lee in 2010. The Mariners wanted Ivan Nova and/or Nunez, and the Yankees reportedly said no. However, it's ridiculous to assume the Yankees would have won the World Series again had they acquired Lee. There's also no saying Seattle might not have pulled out of the deal and made a trade with Texas anyway.

The Yankees have 10 days to trade Nunez or he'll be released outright. He'll definitely get a shot with some organization, who might convert him into an outfielder. Something the Yankees should have done a long time ago.

Yankees Re-sign Defender of the Infield

It's minor news in the world of the Yankees, but it's good news nonetheless. The Yankees have re-signed Brendan Ryan as Derek Jeter's back up at shortstop as well as to fill a utility role.

I've discussed it before, Ryan cannot hit. It's not that he refuses to, but it's close. But there are few in the game that display his glovework at shortstop. He's got great footwork and a cannon for an arm.

The Yankees are going to be negotiating with free agents like mad men in the next month, so it's nice that a small, but vital move got taken care of early.

Derek Jeter DL Trip Ends Season

I had hoped Derek Jeter would have been shut down weeks ago, but unfortunately he kept playing. A short time ago he was placed on the 15-day disabled list to, in effect, end his 2013 season.

Jeter tried to come back on time for opening day this year after he broke his ankle last October. But a second fracture occurred and he was placed on the DL. He returned for one game before he had to be DL'ed with a quad injury. A calf problem followed and then his ankle acted up again.

Jeter played in just 17 games this season and had 73 plate appearances. He hit just .190/.288/.254 with a home run and 7 RBI. He's currently 10th on the all-time hit list, three behind Paul Molitor, with 3,316 hits.

The 13-time All-Star has an $8MM player option for 2014, which right now I would say there is no doubt he will pick up and try to comeback. Just like Mariano Rivera, I do not see Jeter ending his career in this manner unless he's physically unable to.

Brian Cashman told the media the game has not seen the last of Derek Jeter. For now, Eduardo Nunez and Brendan Ryan will hold down shortstop.

Yankees Bring in Ryan As Nunez Continues to Play Goalie With the Baseball

He didn't save money on his car insurance. He found out he's now in a pennant race.

With Derek Jeter out indefinitely with ankle soreness, the Yankees knew they had to do something to strengthen their defense at shortstop. Eduardo Nunez continues to be unreliable defensively so expect to see Brendan Ryan replace him in the late innings.

Ryan was acquired from the Seattle Mariners after Tuesday night's game for a player to be named later. Though he won't be eligible for the post-season (you have to get there first) his defense will be a big boost up from both Nunez and Jeter at this point.

He's not likely to get many starts, however, since his bat is lacking. Just a .238 career hitter, Ryan hit just .198 for the M's this season. The '70s porn 'stache will have to go though. Everyone has to sacrifice in tough times.

Yankees Top Tina Fey and Paul Rudd and the White Sox

"Make another error and next time it'll be hot coffee."

Tuesday night's Yankees-White Sox game had all the makings of a disaster. Hiroki Kuroda was attempting to right his ship after three poor outings in a row and struck out the side in the first inning. The only problem was Alfonso Soriano had played a potential fly out into a double and Eduardo Nunez added to his error total at shortstop. Kuroda worked out of the jam with just one run allowed, but the Yankees already trailed after a half inning. More poor play by Soriano in left field and domination by White Sox starter Chris Sale put the Yankees in a 4-1 hole.

By that time the five human and one furry occupants of our household were watching Admission with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. A cute movie that was no blockbuster, but enjoyable nonetheless. I had already lambasted Nunez repeatedly in debating his value with my brother. "His bat is not good enough to put up with his defense in the field."  A little later Nunez tried to prove me wrong.

After the credits rolled on the movie, I glanced at Yahoo baseball and was shocked to see Yankees 6 White Sox 4.  The Yankees get all the credit in the world for coming from behind to win another must win game. Robin Ventura should be sent a thank you card for his role in it - he pulled Sale after the star in the making threw 114 pitches. (The people that knocked Ventura need their heads examined - 114 pitches in this day and age is a huge amount.)

Derek Jeter got the ball rolling with a one-out single in the bottom of the 8th and Robinson Cano followed with a double. Ventura ended Sales' night and brought in Nate Jones to face Soriano. The second time around in pinstripes has been fruitful for Soriano, whose bat does make up for his defensive deficiencies. He laced a single back up the middle to cut the White Sox lead to 4-3 and moved to third when Alex Rodriguez followed with a single of his own.

Lefty Donnie Veal replaced Jones to face pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson, but the Grandyman lined a game tying single to center field. Veal struck out Mark Reynolds, but Nunez lined a double to left off right-hander Matt Lindstrom to put the Yankees on top for the first time, 6-4.  Mariano Rivera made quick work of the White Sox with a 12-pitch, 9th inning for his 40th save.

It was a tremendous win, but also a reminder that Nunez cannot, should not, be in the field with such huge importance on every game. With Jayson Nix out, the Yankees should have picked up a Miguel Cairo-type player to spell Jeter in the field and kept Nunez on the bench.

Notes

The time finally arrived - Phil Hughes has been plucked from the rotation and put in the bullpen. David Huff, who has a similar career path to Hughes will take his turn in the rotation against Boston on Saturday. Hughes was tremendous out of the pen for the Yankees in 2009 and the move could mean that Joba Chamberlain gets crazy glued to the bullpen bench in close games.

Girardi told the media that he will use the off-season to try to get Rivera to return next year. The odds are slim to none.  Rivera is a man of his word and the "retirement tour" that has taken place would seem disingenuous.

The Yankees first run came on a double steal. A hit and a pair of Chicago errors put Vernon Wells on third and Nunez on first. Nunez broke for second on Sales' delivery and catcher Josh Phegley fired towards second. Wells broke for home and scored when second baseman Gordon Beckham cut the ball off in front of the bag, but made a throw to the wrong side of home plate.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nunez became the first non-Jeter shortstop since Randy Velarde (1995) to drive in the game winning run in the 8th inning or later.

Yankees Loss of Nix Hurts More Than You Think

There have been a number of players over the years described as scrappy, pesky, or a "real gamer". Sometimes those terms have been used so often, such as describing David Eckstein, that it annoyed fans. It really is said to mean said player does more with less. (Which could  kind of sound like a slight to the player.)

Teams like to include those types of players on their rosters. Guys like Phil Garner, who would run through walls to help his team win a game. Jayson Nix is that type of player and when the Yankees lost him for the season with a broken hand Wednesday night they lost some attitude and grit in their clubhouse.

Don't go quoting Nix's OPS to me to belittle him. Nix is the kind of player whose game isn't necessarily reflected in box scores. His best asset is his versatility; he can play second base, shortstop, and third base. He's also played 22 games in the outfield, mostly on an emergency basis.

Nix has good speed and picks the right times to swipe a base. He was successful in 13 of 14 stolen base attempts this season and is 35 of 44 (79.5%) lifetime. Nix has decent power for a utility infielder - .358 lifetime slugging pct. - and has topped double figures in home runs three times in his MLB career.

Unfortunately for Nix his inability to get on base enough keeps him from seeing more action. His best game as a Yankee might have been the next to last game he evey played for them. In Tuesday night's come from behind win against the Toronto Blue Jays, Nix tied the game in the 7th inning with a solo home run and then provided a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th. (He also went 1-2 with two walks and two runs scored in the day portion of Tuesday night's day/night twinbill.

Nix got to the plate just once against Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on Wednesday night. Unfortunately it wasn’t a softer knuckleball, but an 80-mph fastball that bore in on Nix, leaving him and his left hand no room to escape. He stayed in the game, but only momentarily before he told first base coach Mick Kelleher that he was in pain. Nix's hand appeared to be already swollen when television cameras zoomed in for a closer look.

Ironically, Nix probably would have been out of a job in the next week with Derek Jeter starting another rehab assignment with Scranton on Thursday evening. If he heals properly Nix would be able to rejoin the Yankees after the MLB rosters expand on September 1. Until then you'll just have to hold your breath every time a ball is hit to Eduardo Nunez or Mark Reynolds on the left side of the infield.

It's Time to Shut Jeter Down For the Season

Grimace seems to be Derek Jeter's favorite new expression.

You can't deny Father Time when it comes to recovering from injuries. 39-year old Derek Jeter is finding that out the hard way.

He played on a bad leg in the 2012 post-season, which led to a fractured ankle. In working his way back to try to be ready for opening day this season, Jeter fractured the ankle in another spot.

Ready to come back at last, he strained a quad in his first game of the year. That led to another stint on the 15-day DL. He homered in his first at-bat on the first pitch he saw when he returned on July 26, but after four games he sat out the last two games in San Diego with a right calf strain. While Jeter can continue to maintain his "I'm all right" mantra, his body is telling him otherwise.

An MRI revealed a Grade-1 strain, which could lead to another stint on the DL. Though Grade-1 is the mildest of the possible calf injuries, Jeter sat out June 14-July 3 two years ago with Grade-1 strained calf.
In other words, it's time to shut down Jeter down for the rest of the 2013 season. He'll kick, he'll scream, he'll protest, but it's in his best interest. There's no reason to think the rest of the year won't be just like this...play a little, sit out, rest injuries, etc.

Let Jeter mix rest and mild exercise for the foreseeable future and then over the winter get back to being 100% (or as close as he can get) when Spring Training rolls around. (He'll have to exercise his $8MM option for 2014; he'd be crazy to try to sign a new deal instead.)

The Yankees aren't going anywhere this year, despite being just 4 1/2 games out of the wild card after Phil Hughes got lit up for a change on Sunday and the Yankees lost to the Padres 6-3.

The hope here is that Eduardo Nunez also can raise his game enough to get back some of the trade value he's lost. Though he can't make the mistakes he did on Sunday when he didn't hustle out a double play ball and forgot to cover third on a wheel play.

But enough about Nunez, this s about Jeter and protecting his legacy and the way he leaves the game. When that time comes it should be on two good legs after playing the majority of the season.

Derek Jeter: Now You See Him Now You Don't

Hit number 3, 305 in progress.

The Yankees are 1-0 with Derek Jeter back in the pinstripes. And it may stay that way for a while. The Yankees rallied from a 3-0 deficit to the KC Royals Thursday afternoon and pulled out an 8-4 victory. The win gain a split of the four game series after the Yankees dropped the first two.  Jeter picked up his first hit, an infield single on the first pitch he saw from Royals' starter Ervin Santana, his first RBI, and his first run scored of the season. And then he picked up his first tight quad.

Jeter, who DH'ed and batted second, left the game after a 1-4 day  and headed for an MRI machine. His status for this weekend's series with Minnesota depends on the results of the MRI and how the Captain is feeling.

It was the only thing that put a damper on the day. With Brett Gardner sore after being hit with a baseball Wednesday night and Travis Hafner hurting, because he's Travis Hafter, Jeter came to the Bronx one day earlier than expected.

Eduardo Nunez started at shortstop and of course had to make an error in front of his unofficial mentor. Andy Pettitte struggled through another start, but battled long enough to pick up his 252nd career win, good enough for 44th place on the all time Major League wins list.  He put his team in a 3-0 hole in the first inning, but Jeter and the boys struck back quickly.

The crowd was sparse for an afternoon, non-divisional affair, so the ovation when Jeter stepped into the batters' box was not as loud or as long as you would have expected. Then again, most fans did not know Jeter would be playing on Thursday.  Any nerves he may of had were channeled through that first swing that resulted in a dribbler inside the third base foul line. Veteran infielder Miguel Tejada tried to make a bare hand grab, but couldn't come up and Jeter raced to first with career hit #3,305.

Joe Girardi called for a hit and run, and Robinson Cano came through with a single to center that sent Jeter to third. Vernon Wells' sac fly brought him home for the Yankees first run of the day.

The Royals bounced right on Pettitte for another run and a 4-1 lead in the top of the 2nd, but the Yankees came right back with two of their own. Austin Romine (double) and Ichiro Suzuki (single) provided the two out RBI hits before Jeter grounded out to end the inning.

The Yankees pounded Santana in the 5th to take control of the game. Ichiro drew a one-out walk, stole second, and moved to third on Jeter's ground out. The Royals elected to intentionally walk Robinson Cano, but Santana then walked Wells to load the bases. Lyle Overbay hit a grand slam in the same situation Wedesday night, and delivered again, this time with a 2-run single. Nunez and Zoilo Almonte added RBI singles, before Almonte got thrown out at third to end the inning.

Girardi pulled Pettitte with two outs in the top of the 6th to keep him out of further trouble and the pen was magnificent, especially Shawn Kelley and David Robertson, who combined for five strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

Jeter got his final at-bat of the day and hit another grounder, but this one knocked in the Yankees' eighth run of the day.

Pettitte Far From Perfect, but Yankees Rally Past O's Again

Andy Pettitte is not the pitcher we're using to seeing out there on the mound. More baseballs are in the air than on the ground, Pettitte's trademark for getting outs. On Saturday afternoon he hung tough and the Yankees offense bailed him out in a 5-4 Yankees win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Things didn't look good early for Pettitte, as has been the custom of late. Chris Davis, who used to not be able to hit a left-hander if  he were swinging an oak tree, deposited a first inning pitch over the center field wall for his 33rd home run and 2-0 O's lead. Alexi Casilla added an RBI double an inning later and the Yankees were in a quick 3-0 hole.

The Yankees bats, which had shown life in Minnesota, cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half of the 2nd inning against O's starter Chris Tillman. Recently acquired Luis Cruiz slapped a bases loaded single to get the Yankees on the board and fresh-off-the-DL Eduardo Nunez lifted a sac fly to left for the second run of the inning. The Yankees might have gotten more had Lyle Overbay not run them out of a bigger inning.

Overbay tagged up at second base on Nunez's fly and was easily thrown out trying to advance to third. Never mind the old cliche "You don't make the first or last out at third base.", you don't try to advance to third on a ball hit in front of you, especially when you have no speed.

Pettitte was tagged for another run in the 4th on a Taylor Teagarden RBI single, but finally retired the side in order for the first time in the 5th.  The Yankees took the opportunity to tie up the game in the bottom of the inning. Nunez and Chris Stewart stroked back to back singles and Brett Gardner followed with a sac bunt.

Ichiro Suzuki lashed a ball back up the middle that Casilla made a gorgeous stop on ranging to his right, but had no play on the speedy Ichiro as Nunez scored. Robinson Cano then sliced a pitch to left-center for a game tying single.

Pettitte stranded a runner in the 6th and left with two in the 7th after he struck out Nick Markakis looking with Casilla on second base. Shawn Kelley came on and stranded Casilla with a strikeout of Manny Machado. The Yankees meanwhile had taken the lead in the bottom of the 6th when Overbay singled, moved to second on Cruz's sac bunt, and scored on Nunez's single to center. Adam Jones made a strong throw home, but Overbay knocked over Teagarden as the the catcher couldn't corral the baseball.

David Robertson and Mariano Rivera finished things off for Pettitte's 251st career win, a total that tied him with Bob Gibson on the all time list. It was the lefty's first win since June 8 and his first start since he passed Whitey Ford as the Yankees all time strikeout leader.

Nunez In, Phelps Out

The Yankees finally got someone back from the DL- Eduardo Nunez was activated for Saturday's game with the Baltimore Orioles after a 60 day stay on the disabled list due to oblique strain.

No corresponding move was made, but a check of the active roster has made is appear that David Phelps is the odd man out. UPDATE - Phelps was placed on the 15-day DL with a convenient forearm strain.

Nunez had a chance to establish himself as an every day player while Derek Jeter rehabbed his bum ankle, but Nunez proved to be fragile. He has played in just 27 games this season and has been out since he left a May 5 game with Oakland early. He had a sub par .565 OPS at the time.

Injuries and ineffectiveness in the rotation gave Phelps a shot to get the ball every fifth day. He was 5-4, 4.93 as a starter and won his last start on Sunday. Ivan Nova's recent success, especially his Friday night complete game win over the Orioles, has pushed him back of Phelps on the food chain.

This Is Your Captain, I am Ready For Lift Off

Scranton, PA, the home of the Triple-A Scranton RailRiders is going to have a little extra excitment this July 4th weekend. Nope, not more fireworks, just the captain of the New York Yankees checking into town.

Derek Sanderson Jeter has gotten the go ahead from the Yankees team docs to start a rehab assignment. El Capitan is expected to play at least five innings in the field during Saturday night's game.

During prep for this season, Jeter fractured a different area of his ankle then where the break occurred that knocked him out of last season's playoffs.. I admit it seems kind of odd that someone that just started to run the bases the other day would start a rehab assignment already (or already in my estimation.), but this is very good news.

Here's to the Yankees' captain staying healthy for the rest of the season and replacing whatever .190 hitter is at shortstop in the meantime.

A-Rod Ready to Hit Live Pitching

In the next step towards his return to the Yankees, suspensions not withstanding, Alex Rodriguez will face live pitching on Tuesday. That according to Brian Cashman on a conference call with reporters.

A-Rod ran the bases on Saturday at about a 75% effort as he inched closer to a return. The controversial third baseman will still need a rehab assignment of undetermined length before he dons the big league pinstripes. It all may not mean anything if Bud Selig and crew slam the hammer down on A-Rod for his alleged involvement with Biogenesis.

Derek Jeter recently increased his baseball activities and hopefully will return sometime sooner rather than later. Francisco Cervelli's broken hand is coming along nicely and he should return sooner than all of the DL'ed players. Eduardo Nunez is on the 60-day DL and has no timetable attached to him.  Meanwhile, Curtis Granderson's finger gently weeps. (Apologies to George Harrison.)

Yankees Acquire Reid Brignac from Rockies

The revolving door continues in the Bronx..Jon Heyman reports that.utility infielder Reid Brignac has been acquired by the Yankees for cash considerations.  Alberto Gonzalez, reacquired on May 9, was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Brignac was once considered a solid prospect as he climbed the ladder of the Tampa Bay Rays organization, but his bat never caught up to his glove. He played parts of five seasons with the Rays with the 2010 campaign his Major League best. He hit 8 HR and drove in 45 in 326 plate appearances, but his .692 OPS was less than stellar.

Brignac stock fell drastically after that when he was beset with injuries and put up a .448 OPS in 2011. The Rays shipped him to Colorado prior to this season for cash or a player to be named later. His slash line of .250/.294/.375 made him expendable.

The highlight of Gonzalez's brief second stint in New York was the chance to take the mound. He retired the one batter he faced when the Seattle Mariners drubbed the Yankees on Wednesday.

Yankees Finally DL Nunez, Recall the Attorney General

The Yankees gave Eduardo Nunez every opportunity to avoid going on the disabled list with a strain in his rib cage, but after he still felt soreness after a workout Saturday, Nunez was indeed placed on the 15-Day DL.

Nunez will be eligible to be activated on May 21 since he was DL'ed retroactively to May 6. Alberto Gonzalez, just reacquired from the Chicago Cubs, was recalled to take his place on the 25-man roster.

Mark Teixeira was moved to the 60-Day DL to make room on the 40-man roster.

Sometimes You Can't Go to the Wells Once Too Often

"Brooks" Wells

Vernon Wells was a one man wrecking crew in the Yankees 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies last night. Wells homered, singled twice, stole a base, and scored what proved to be the winning run. All of that might not have mattered if Wells hadn't grabbed an infielder's glove and manned the hot corner in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The game was tied at two apiece in the top of the 9th after Wells and the Rockies' Todd Helton hit 2-run home runs earlier in the game. Wells led off the inning with his third hit of the game and then stole second base.

With everyone thinking bunt, closer Rafael Betancourt walked Lyle Overbay. The bunt was on for sure after that and Ichiro Suzuki complied with a perfect sacrifice bunt.  Jayson Nix was intentionally walked to set up a force at any base and led to a big decision by Joe Girardi.

With Chris Nelson due up, the Yankees manager sent up Travis Hafner to pinch hit, despite the fact that the Yankees were out of available infielders. (Eduardo Nunez was still unable to play due to strained rib cage.) Hafner struck out for the second out of the inning, which left things up to Brennan Boesch, who stepped in for pitcher David Robertson.

Boesch hit a ball in the whole between shortstop and third base that third baseman Nolan Arenado made a diving stop on. But Arenado's throw to first base was late and Wells crossed home plate to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. The Yankees might have gotten more, but Nix was caught off of second bag and tagged for the final out of the inning.

"The ball will find you" is a long time, proven cliche that came to fruition in last night's game. Wells never played anywhere other then the three outfields spots in his 15 years in the big leagues and 549 minor league games.  With Mariano Rivera on the mound for the save, Carlos Gonzalez hit a one-out chopper to Wells' left side.  The third baseman deftly moved to his glove side, snared the ball out of the air, and made a perfect throw to first base. (Anyone else have horrible visions of Gary Sheffield filling in at his old position for the 2004 Yankees?) Michael Cuddyer reached on a single and stole second base, but Rivera retired catcher Wil Rosario on a fly out to earn the Yankees a 'W'. You can bet Wells was breathing a little easier after that.

Notes

Rivera was honored by the Rockies prior to the game in an on-field ceremony and also met with some of their employees earlier in the day. The only other time Rivera pitched in Colorado was a 1995 exhibition game.

David Phelps did a great job of saving the bullpen, which was short-handed, with seven gritty innings. he looked like he wouldn't make it past the 6th, but hung tough.

Ivan Nova could be activated to face the Cleveland Indians in one of Monday's twinbill with the Tribe.

Curtis Granderson has reported to Triple-A Scranton to continue his rehab from a broken forearm. There's a possibility he could be activated next week, by which time Girardi has to decide whether to put him in center or move him to left field and leave Gardner in the middle.

Girardi's lineup on Wednesday was Tony LaRussa style - he hit Phelps in the 8th spot and catcher Austin Romine 9th.

A-Rod Florida Bound For the Next Step

A-Rod is the true Johnny Drama

Alex Rodriguez took another step towards returning to the active roster in July when he arrived in Florida for  the start of "baseball activities". There are no details as of yet as far as what the baseball activities will include. Hopefully nothing illegal.

The Yankees controversial third baseman has been out all year after he underwent left hip surgery in January. A-Rod had been rehabbing the injury in New York and though he was not introduced to the fans, sat in the Yankees dugout on Opening Day.

A-Rod will have to continue to rehab his image as well after he was implicated as a customer of a Florida based anti-aging clinic that was a front for the sale of steroids. Major League Baseball is still investigating who may have been involved.

Nunez hurting again

The MRI on Eduardo Nunez's rib cage came back negative, but the Yankees shortstop said he "can't move". With an off day Monday prior to a three game series in Colorado, the Yankees have time to decide whether or not to bring another position player up from the minor leagues.

Should Nunez not be able to make a go of it, Jayson Nix would start at shortstop and former Rockies infielder Chris Nelson would get the start at third base. If Nunez is to be DL'ed, the Yankees could recall Corban Joseph, who got the nod when Kevin Youkilis first went on the DL or 33-year old veteran shortstop Gil Velazquez. In his first season in the organization, Velazquez is hitting just .197 for Scranton, but has seen regular playing time at shortstop. His recall would force a move on the 40-man roster as well. (David Adams cannot be recalled until May 15.)

The Yankees could also look for another veteran infielder as they did with Nelson. (This could be even more important the longer Derek Jeter is out of the lineup.) Nunez has missed time  in two separate incidents this season after he was hit by a pitch.

Logan the Yankees' Boondoggle

The Yankees lost the game and Eduardo Nunez

There's a reason a lot of Yankees fans don't trust Boone Logan and Sunday afternoon's game was a prime example. Down 4-1 to the Oakland A's, the Yankees rallied for three runs in the 6th inning to tie things up at four apiece. It stayed that way until Logan served up a gopher ball to the A's Josh Donaldson and the third baseman hit it out for this third home run of the season. The Yankees rally against closer Grant Balfour fell short in the 9th and the 5-4 loss gave Oakland the series win two games to one.

Logan looks dynamite at times and other times not so much. Part of the problem I put squarely on the shoulders of Joe Girardi. His predecessor, Joe Torre, was a notorious bullpen killer in his dozen years with the Yankees. Scott Proctor and Tanyon Sturtze were just two of the relief pitchers that were never the same after they were over worked by Torre.

Girardi has been much more protective of his bullpen, but Logan appeared in 64 games two years ago and 80 last season. That does not count, of course, the number of times Logan warmed up in the pen, but did not enter the game. It's no wonder that Logan felt elbow tenderness in Spring Training. Logan has been in 11 of the Yankees first 30 games, putting him on a pace for approximately 60 appearances. But that number could easily rise as the season goes on.

I've said it before and it bears repeating - there is absolutely no reason for Girardi or any manager to mix and match as much as he does. A good relief pitcher can get out right-handed and left-handed hitters no matter what arm they deliver the ball with. There have been times when the Yankees had a five run lead and a right-hander would open the inning by striking out the first two hitters, both of which were right-handers. The pitcher was in a groove, but because a lefty was coming up, Girardi had to go to the pen and counter with a left-handed pitcher. With a five run lead there is no reason to. For that matter there's probably no reason to even warm that pitcher up unless you have no trust in your first pitcher.

Notes




Andy Pettitte's last two starts are something to worry about more than Logan's outing. In his prior start against Houston, Pettitte lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs on 10 hits. He only made it through five innings on Sunday, and allowed four runs (three earned), walked four batters and hit another. A very unusual start for Pettitte, who is normally very accurate with his pitches. Pettitte's problems started when his back started aching.

Lyle Overbay was nearly the hero in two different spots in the game. Down 4-1, The Yankees put a couple of men on base against starter Dan Straily in the 6th inning, which led to a quick hook from manager Bob Melvin. Left-hander Jerry Blevins entered to face Ichiro Suzuki, Jayson Nix, and Overbay.

Ichiro singled to cut the lead in half, and after Nix went down for the second out of the inning, Overbay dropped a ball in front of center fielder Yoenis Cespedes to tie the game. The Yankees put two aboard against Ryan Cook in the 8th and it came down to Overbay with two outs. The first baseman just missed getting all of one and flied out to the warning track in centerfield.

The Yankees had one more shot with two outs in the 9th against closer Grant Balfour. Brett Gardner roped a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The disadvantage there being that the A's then intentionally walked Robinson Cano, even though it put the winning run on first base. That left things up to Vernon Wells who swung and missed at a strike three fastball to end the game.

Eduardo Nunez had to leave the game in the middle innings when he felt discomfort in his rib cage. An MRI was negative, but with the Yankees about to start a three game series in Colorado on Tuesday, they are probably going to need another position player.

2013 Yankees Position Players Report Card; The First Month

Written prior to Tuesday night's game.

No one is comparing the current New York Yankees squad to the 1998 team that won 114 regular season games, but clearly they are not the '62 Mets either. Despite injuries to a number of their regulars, the Yankees finished the first 25 games of the season with a 15-10 record. It left them three games behind the surprising Boston Red Sox in the AL East and atop the AL wild card race. 

Doom and gloom was the theme during Spring Training. Alex Rodriguez was already out until at least July with hip surgery, and was under the scrutiny of the Commissioner's office for allegedly being tied to an anti-aging clinic in Florida that was a front for selling performance enhancing drugs (PED). Derek Jeter had a setback as he tested out the ankle he broke during last year's playoffs, and then a new fracture developed after the team went north. 

Curtis Granderson broke his forearm in the first Spring Training game when the Blue Jay's J.A. Happ hit him with a pitch. Mark Teixeira injured a tendon in his wrist while getting ready to represent the US in the World Baseball Classic. Phil Hughes dealt with a bulging disc and was shut down. On and on it went. Throw in the departures of Nick Swisher and Russell Martin via free agency and a powerful ball club suddenly looked old and weak. 

General Manager Brian Cashman, who broke his leg sky diving, shuttled in players to fill in the holes. Minor leaguers, former Yankees, beat up veterans, come one come all, Uncle Brian wants you! 

Cashman had enough heads up notice about A-Rod to sign former Red Sox enemy Kevin Youkilis to a free agent deal. He signed free agent Travis Hafner as a power bat for the left-side of a DH platoon. He swung a deal for Vernon Wells after the Los Angeles Angels picked up the bulk of Wells' hefty contract. Not satisfied with outfielder Juan Rivera or veteran Dan Johnson as a solution for first base, Cashman brought in Lyle Overbay just days before Spring Training ended. 

The outfield was bolstered with the signings of Ben Francisco and Brennan Boesch after they had been released by their current teams. The acquisitions of Wells and Hafner, in particular, were met with skepticism by Yankees fans and ridiculed by some in the media. There are many games left in the season, but no one is snickering now. 

The Yankees newcomers have been a large part of the Yankees' April success as has the starting rotation and bullpen. To no one's surprise another key has been the production of Robinson Cano, who started out the season poorly and then caught fire. 

The Head of the Class 

Travis Hafner: "Pronk" slugged 127 home runs and drove in 434 runs¹ from 2004-2007 while a member of the Cleveland Indians. Then his body fell apart and before you knew it, Hafner was a 36-year old has been. For the moment anyway, Hafner has found the Fountain of Youth in the Bronx. His six home runs in 62 at-bats are already half the total he hit in his final season with Cleveland last year. 

Hafner leads the Yankees in on-base (.413) and slugging percentage (.661), which also means he leads the league in the combo, aka OPS (1.075). This past Saturday the Yankees were in a 3-0 hole to the Toronto Blue Jays until Hafner tied it up with one swing. Then with the game tied at four apiece, Hafner hit one off the wall in the 7th inning for a game winning triple. The only concern was would he make it to third base without pulling, breaking, or spraining anything. 

Vernon Wells: The former Blue Jay was once atop the league as well- a stud five tool player whose stellar performance from 2002-2007 reeled in a seven year, $126MM deal from the Canadian franchise. The big money in the deal didn't kick in until 2010, by which time Wells was broken and bent. Toronto finally found a taker in the Los Angeles Angels and shipped him there prior to the 2011 season. 

Two straight sub-.700 OPS seasons on the left coast made Wells' services no longer wanted in California. One problem though - he was still owed $42MM. With the regular season less than a week away, the Angels sent Wells and $29MM to the Yankees for a couple of lower level minor leaguers. 

Being in pinstripes rejuvenated Wells' psyche; playing left field every day, Wells is among the team leaders with a .304/.374/.557 slash line. After hitting 11 home runs in 77 games with LA, Wells has already hit six with his new club and has been solid in the outfield. 

Robinson Cano: The only thing that surprised anyone about Cano was his 3-23 (.130), no RBI start to the season. It's no coincidence the Yankees went 2-4 in those six games. Since then, Cano has been tearing the cover off the baseball. He has 30 hits in his last 79 at-bats (.380) with 7 HRs, 8 doubles, 17 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Overall, Cano's now hitting .324 and sports a .986 OPS. 

Defensively, he's been as good as the second Gold Glove Award he won last year. He's handled 102 chances to date without an error. He's also not been distracted by allegations that an acquaintance of his was involved with the same clinic in Florida that A-Rod has been tied to. With their captain sidelined, Cano has stepped up on and off the field. 

Does Nice Work, but There's Room for Improvement 

Brett Gardner: After an April 16 win against Arizona, Gardner's batting average sat at a paltry .240 with an uninspiring .321 OBP. It was not what Gardner nor Joe Girardi had imagined when the Yankees skipper made the center fielder his every day leadoff hitter. Even worse, Gardner did not have a single stolen base. 

Since then Gardner is 14-49 (.286) with a .352 OBP (just about his career average), but has just one stolen base in three attempts. Yankees fans have seen this lack of aggressiveness before from Gardner and it can't go on. The Yankees lineup needs him to revert back to his 2010-2011 form when he had back-to-back seasons of 40+ steals. It also has a direct affect on Cano, who has been in the #2 spot in the order at times and can't afford to put himself in a hole taking pitches for a base stealer that won't run. 

Gardner has shown some surprising pop with three home runs, has 12 RBI and 13 runs scored, and has been rock solid in center field. Now he needs to get moving on the base paths. 

A For Effort 
Lyle Overbay: The Yankees first baseman is a perfect example of why you can't judge a player by strictly looking at his numbers. (Sorry SABRmetricians.) Overbay's numbers are pedestrian - .241/.268/.418 - but Overbay has come through in the clutch in some big spots this season. In the Yankees first win of the season, a psychological must after losing two straight to Boston to start the year, Overbay put the Yankees on board first with a 2-run single, en route to a 4-2 win. 

His RBI triple put the Yankees ahead for good in the second game of their recent four game sweep of the Blue Jays and he had the game winning two run home run the next day off 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner, R.A. Dickey. But it's Overbay's defense at first base that has been the key to his play. With Teixeira out, the Yankees needed someone to grab Kevin Youkilis and Eduardo Nunez's stray throws as well as field their own position cleanly. Overbay has done that and more. 

Out on Sick Leave 

Kevin Youkilis: When the Yankees signed Youkilis to fill in for Rodriguez at third base and to occasionally spell Mark Teixeira at first, they knew they were bringing in another player whose best days appeared to be behind him. Youkilis rebounded a bit for the Chicago White Sox after the Boston Red Sox dealt him away at last year's trade deadline, but there were still doubts if his body could ever hold up again through a 162 game season. 

Unfortunately for Youkilis and the Yankees, the answer appears to be no. Youkilis got off to a tremendous start - a nine game hitting streak to start the season (.424 avg) and a gaudy 1.227 OPS - but then his back started to ache. After that terrific start, the beardless, aching Youkilis went into a 3-31 slide at the plate. 

He sat out a week and returned against the Blue Jays this past Saturday, but was sent for an MRI afterwards. The results landed him on the disabled list for at least two weeks. 

Francisco Cervelli: The Yankees enthusiastic catcher has seen his share of bad breaks, both figuratively and literally. After he caught 126 games over two seasons, Cervelli thought for sure he was the backup to starter Russell Martin for the 2012 season. Then at the last minute the Yankees acquired Chris Stewart and Cervelli was relegated to the minor leagues for the season. After he got through the anger and disappointment, Cervelli settled in and came to camp this season prepared to win a spot. 

It didn't hurt that the Yankees let Martin walk and prospect Austin Romine missed all but 14 games last year with a bad back. Girardi said the playing time between Cervelli and Stewart would work itself out and it did just that. Cervelli stepped to the forefront with solid defensive play, his work with the pitchers, and even with his bat. 

His .877 OPS was by far the best of his career. He had already slugged three home runs, driven in eight runs, and was 3-8 with runners in scoring position. (All three hits were with two outs.) Then this past Friday night, Toronto's Rajai Davis fouled a ball off of Cervelli's exposed hand. A break occurred and surgery followed that will knock Cervelli out of action for six weeks. The Yankees will now hope Romine can step up (barring another move) to back up Stewart. 

A Hard Worker, Could Hit More 
Jayson Nix: The Yankees utility man has already played second base, shortstop, and third base this season. Nix will now be concentrating on third base with Youkilis sidelined for at least two weeks with a bad back. 

He's been solid for the Yankees in the field, which is the biggest thing you want from your utility man, and has shown double digit power in the past when he has gotten enough playing time. 

It's Time to Do a Book Report for Extra Credit

Ichiro Suzuki: The veteran hit machine and free agent to be struggled mightily in Seattle last season, and appeared to be done. But after a deal to the Yankees, Ichiro ended the season with a torrid final month. It was so good, the Yankees decided to bring him back with a cheap deal, ostensibly to platoon in right field. Mainly due to injuries, Ichiro has been the everyday right fielder, but has contributed very little. 

The .322 lifetime hitter (which was the same average he had as a Yankee last year), hit just .200 through his first 16 games, before he started to show some signs of life. (He had three hits in April's finale against Houston.) 

Eduardo Nunez; The Yankees have always loved Nunez's potential, but his inability to play consistently good defense has hampered his progress. It was decided that Nunez would play shortstop only this season, so he could concentrate on improving his defense. So far it has worked- Nunez has shown tremendous range to his left and right, and is throwing a much more accurate ball to first base. Now his bat has to get moving. 

It took three hits in the month's final game to get Nunez about the .200 mark. His tremendous speed gives the Yankees an added dimension, but only if he can get on base to use it. (Tuesday night he stretched two hits into doubles by running hard out of the batter's box.) Nunez has 30-40 steal potential should his offensive game come together. 

Headed For Detention

Ben Francisco: The veteran outfielder may not be headed for the principal's office, but he may get designated for assignment if his bat doesn't improve. Just 3-29 on the season, the right-handed hitting Francisco has started to lose at-bats to left-handed hitters when southpaws are on the mound. He could be the first to go when Curtis Granderson returns. 

Brennan Boesch: The 6'4" left-handed hitter was wildly inconsistent during his time with the Detroit Tigers. He looked like Babe Ruth for a stretch of time and then like a baby batting against grown men at other times. With the free agent signing of Torii Hunter, Boesch became expendable and the Yankees grabbed him off of waivers. 

Boesch is just 7-35, but does have two home runs, a double and a triple. 

How Did You Get in This Class Anyhow?

Chris Stewart: The Yankees acquired Stewart at the last moment last season, which relegated Cervelli to the minors. Now with Cervelli hurt, Stewart will get the bulk of the playing time behind home plate. He came to the Yankees with a stellar defensive reputation and not much of a bat. Neither aspect of Stewart's game stood out last year. 

Stewart's eight passed balls and four errors didn't make his (career high) .611 OPS look any better. To his credit, he did throw out 23% of would-be base stealers, which was just below the league average. Somehow, Stewart ended this April with a .294 average and a .711 OPS. He's had one error and a couple of passed ball so far, but has thrown out five of nine potential base thieves. 

What's Ahead in the Next Marking Period

Curtis Granderson: The Yankees center fielder is "probably pretty close to returning"² according to Girardi. The earliest would likely be mid-May since the "Grandy man" will need to play in some rehab games. 

Corban Joseph: The second baseman was recalled from the minors when Youkilis went on the DL, primarily because he was already on the 40-man roster. 

Austin Romine: He figures to catch twice a week backing up Stewart- likely Phil Hughes or Andy Pettitte and David Phelps/Ivan Nova.