Suckered By the Yankees Again

"They brought in Joba?!!!"

There's a famous scene in the Godfather Part III - a horrible movie by any standard - that has stood the test of time. It's been repeated, re-phrased, re-imagined, and spoofed a 1,000 times over.

Al Pacino's Michael Corleone says with much exasperation, "Every time I try get out, they pull me back in!" When it comes to the Yankees, it's more like "Every time I try to get in, they pull me back out." Sunday was one of those days. Having already won the first two games of a three game series against the Baltimore Orioles, Andy Pettitte continued his August turnaround with six solid innings.

The Yankees led 3-0 when the first two Orioles reached to start the 7th inning. Joe Girardi sent for Shawn Kelley to face Matt Wieters. The Orioles' catcher singled to drive in Baltimore's first run of the day and then J.J. Hardy hit an opposite field 3-run home run to put the Orioles ahead for good.

Kelley gets a pass; though every game is a must win, he's been pretty solid all season. The next two relievers don't get a pass from though, especially one of them. Boone Logan replaced Kelley and gave up a hit and a walk. When Logan is on, he's fantastic and when he stinks, he smells worse than East River. There's no-in between for the left-hander.

Things got worse moments later when Girardi signaled for number 62 to enter the game. Joba Chamberlain should never be in another game in a Yankees uniform unless it's an Old-Timer's Day and he's buzzing  the head of a 70-year old Kevin Youkilis.  Rumors have it that Adam Jones could be seen drooling as he watched Chamberlain warm up from the on-deck circle.

Chamberlain retired Manny Machado on a failed bunt attempt, but Jones blasted one to deep center for a 7-3 Orioles lead that was three more runs than the O's would need. The Yankees had momentarily moved into third place, but slinked back to fourth place in the AL East after Sunday's sudden score change. They also dropped  back to 3.5 out in the wild card after Oakland won.

The Yankees now play a more inept Chicago White Sox team that swept a three game series with the Yankees in Chi-town in August. With this Yankees team, you just don't know what you'll get...except for aggravation.

Burnett Gets Homestand Off On Right Foot

The weather wasn't as miserable as it was Tuesday night, but the Yankees and Orioles had to slog through some sloppy surroundings at the Big Ball Park in the Bronx tonight. But A.J. Burnett (3-0) gave the Yankees some night time sunshine with a solid performance and Alex Rodriguez got the Yankees on the board early with an opposite field 3-run blast. Mariano Rivera retired the side in the 9th for his fifth save to seal the deal in the Yankees 7-4 win.

Burnett started out 3-0 last season before the wheels completely fell off his game. He's hoping for a better outcome this year and so far he seems to be battling through his on field problems with more tenacity and grit. It took 53 pitches to get out of jams in the first two innings, but Burnett blanked the Orioles until the 7th when Matt Wieters and Brian Roberts knocked him out of the game with a pair of 2-run home runs. But by then the Yankees had put seven runs on the board and the bullpen combo of David Robertson, Rafael Soriano, and Rivera allowed just one base runner over the final 2.2 innings.

Baltimore starter Chris Tillman had a short night; though a lead off single by Brett Gardner in the 1st was erased by a caught stealing, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira followed with singles of their own. Rodriguez then jumped on a meatball and lined it over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead. The home run was A-Rod's fourth of the season and the 617th of his career.

The Yankees sent Tillman to the showers in the 2nd after Russell Martin laced a one out double, moved to third on a Gardner ground out and scored on Jeter's infield single. Teixeira followed with his second hit of the night and A-Rod walked to load the bases. Robinson Cano then doubled in the gap in left-center for a 6-0 lead and curtains for Tillman.

The Yankees got their final run in the 5th when Jorge Posada hit a solo home run off of Chris Jakubauskas.

Notes

Jeter's two hits left him 65 shy of 3,000.

Posada and Teixeira both snapped 0-18 streaks.

FullCountPitch - Will We Ever Get Out Of This Place?

FullCountPitch - Will We Ever Get Out Of This Place?

The Baltimore Orioles were once the beasts of the AL East, the monsters of MLB. They were a dominant team and a contender from the mid-1960s through the early 1980′s and again in the mid to late 1990′s. But it’s been hard times in “Balmor” since then, with the team usually in last or next to last place in the division. Is there any hope for the O’s to once again join the American League elite?

Some of my most vivid childhood memories include watching players like Frank and Brooks Robinson, and Boog Powell thrash Yankees’ pitching. I remember watching in awe as Dave McNally, Mike Cueller, and Jim Palmer pitched lights out baseball. Of course, I also recall watching manager Earl Weaver manipulate his players, the field, the umpires, etc., to ensure an Orioles win.

Those teams were the O’s teams of the the 3-run home run. There was no small ball; the Orioles just methodically out-pitched, out-hit, and out-defended everyone in their wake. And man could those teams field! Brooks with 16 straight Gold Gloves at 3rd base, Mark Belanger providing no pop, but fielding with the grace of a ballerina, and center fielder Paul Blair running down any ball hit to the gaps.

The Orioles, not the Yankees or Red Sox, were the team that everyone wanted to be. While Boston and New York had their heated moments and a few players exchanged punches to the face in the 1970′s, they were always looking up at Baltimore in the standings. Today Yankees and Red Sox fans hate one another and each other’s team, but back then any animosity I felt towards the Orioles was out of jealousy. The Orioles simply did everything right. And yet despite all of that, the Orioles won the World Series only twice (1966, 1970) during the era of their AL dominance from the mid 1960′s through the 1970′s. They lost to the Amazing Mets in 1969, blew 3 -1 leads in games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in both the 1971 and 1979 World Series, and ran into the Oakland A’s juggernaut in the 1973-1974 ALCS’.

Read the rest of the free article at FullCountPitch.

Brian Roberts Nick Markakis Buck Showalter Matt Wieters Brian Matusz

FullCountPitch - These Guys are Catching on

This week's column for FullCountPitch.com is about the new breed of catchers making their way in the Major Leagues and trying to be the next Joe Mauer.

It’s not often that a rookie catcher makes a huge impression in the Major Leagues, but that is exactly what Buster Posey did last season for the San Francisco Giants. The National League rookie of the year hit .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in just 108 games. His defense was stellar as well- he threw out 37% of would-be base stealers and caught a starting rotation that was the key to the Giants’ first World Series victory in 56 years. The rookie also stepped up in the playoffs, hitting a combined .288 in three series with a home run and five ribbies.

The 23-yr old is part of a new breed of catcher that is beginning to have a big impact on Major League Baseball. The position is no longer referred to as the “tools of ignorance” and the prototypical catcher is no longer built like a fireplug. The new guys are athletic, quick, solidly built, and can hit the heck out of the baseball.

Click Here to read the rest of the free column and to read more about Jesus Montero, Carlos Santana, J.P. Arencibia, and Matt Wieters.

It's a Winn Win

photo courtesy of Washington Times

"He's used to being an every day player. " "This is the first time he's been in a part-time role." "He's a great guy. The only active player that is on the board of directors of the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT)." Those were some of the plaudits Michael Kay handed out last night for Yankees outfielder Randy Winn. Moments after I retorted, to the television screen, "What are you, his lawyer?", Winn turned on a Jeremy Guthrie fastball and sent it into the night for what proved to be a game winning 3-run home run. I bow to Mr. Kay.

The home run was a huge lift for the Yankees, who lost Jorge Posada during the game to a calf strain and were without the services of Mariano Rivera, who had felt stiffness in his side since the weekend. Joba Chamberlain came on in the 9th and picked up his second career save to secure the Yankees 4-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

It also helped to have the big man on the mound on Monday night. CC Sabathia scattered six hits over eight innings to improve his record to 4-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.74. The four non-Javier Vazquez starting rotation has combined on a 2.27 ERA and have won 13 of 14 decisions.

Matt Wieters took Sabathia deep in the 2nd inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead, but the Yankees took control in the 4th. Nick Swisher, who has not hit well in a year-plus at Yankee Stadium, continued his new found love of home cooking, tying the game with an RBI single. After a Brett Gardner single, Winn hit his first home run in nearly 500 at-bats. It was also just his second hit of the season.

Notes

Swisher is 8-12 on the homestand with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 4 Runs scored.

After starting out the month 6-9, Mark Teixeira was hitless in four at-bats.

In his post-game, Joe Girardi said of Rivera, "Mo felt it Saturday after throwing Friday. Has gotten better each day. No further tests scheduled on Mo". Rivera later said he could have pitched if it were a big game situation.

Baseball America's Top 100 in '09

The much anticipated "Top 100 baseball prospects" list has been released by Baseball America. Not surprising, Baltimore Orioles stud catcher, Matt Wieters, tops the list. He's followed by future Rays ace David Price, the Cardinals Colby Rasmus (outfield), Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson, and his teammate, outfielder Jason Heyward.

Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider, A's left-hander Brett Anderson, Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin, Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner, and Rangers right-hander Nefteli Perez, round out the top 10.

The Yankees are represented by outfielder Austin Jackson (36), catcher Jesus Montero (38), and pitcher Andrew Brackman (92).

Former Yankee Jose Tabata remains on the list at number 75.

Click here to see the complete list.

AL '09 Rookie Preview - AL East

Who will be this year's Evan Longoria or Alexi Ramirez? While there may not be a player of Longoria's stature or someone who comes out of nowhere like Ramirez, there are plenty of good first year players to compete for this year's rookie of the year honors.

We start out today by taking a look at the rookies in the AL East.

AL East

Yankees

With All-Stars and/or veterans at nearly every position, you won't see a rookie make an impact in the Bronx, outside of the bullpen, this season. And even then it would probably only be in a long man role. Al Aceves, Anthony Claggett, or Mark Melancon could be that guy, but none will be in the rookie of the year running.

Red Sox

Like the Yankees, Boston has put together a veteran team, with a sprinkle of younger players. But none of the youngsters are rookie eligible. Japanese import Junichi Taweze could have an impact in the Red Sox search for middle bullpen men.

Rays

You already got a glimpse of the favorite for the AL ROY in last year's post-season. David Price showed baseball fans what Rays fans have been drooling over since they selected him as the first overall pickout of Vanderbilt in the 2007 amateur draft.

Big, left-handed, and throws hard; that all spells intimidation. Price dominated Double-A hitters before struggling at the Triple-A level. However, a recall to the majors didn't prove to be a problem. Price posted a 1.98 ERA in 14 appearances (all but one of which were out of the pen) and then won one game while saving another in the ALCS. Price then threw 3.1 innings in the World Series to bolster his resume and confidence.


Blue Jays

Outfielder Travis Snider is one of the top prospects in baseball and a bona fide ROY candidate. He hit .301-2-13 in a 24 game call up late in the season. The just-turned 21-yr old is only three years out of high school, but he's quickly moved up the organization's depth chart.

Snider had a fabulous year at 'A' ball in 2007, belting 16 home runs and driving in 93 runs, while batting .338 and posting a .902 OPS. He built off of it last season, playing just 17 games (4 HR, 7 RBI) at high 'A' before a promotion to Double-A. While his batting average dipped (.262) and he had the usual young hitter's strikeout problem (116 K's in 362 ABs), he earned a promotion to Triple-A with 17 HRs, 67 RBI, and an .818 OPS in 98 games.

The Blue Jays came calling after Snider hit .344 at Syracuse with 2 HR and 17 RBI in just 18 games. That gave him a combined minor league season of 23 HR and 84 RBI.

With the departure of A.J. Burnett, 22-yr old Brett Cecil has a chance to join the Blue Jays starting rotation. Like Snider, Cecil played at three levels last season, spending most of his time at Double-A New Hampshire. 129 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched opened GM J.P. Riccardi's eyes and Cecil has a legitimate chance to go north with the Jays if he can prove himself this spring (He won't have to wait long; he's got the starting assignment for Toronto's first spring training against the Yankees on Wednesday.)

Cecil was a closer and full-time reliever at the University of Maryland, but has made more than a smooth transition to starter. But just like a young hitter has a tendency to strike out, young pitchers tend to walk hitters. That wasn't the case for Cecil at Single- and Double-A, but he issued 16 free passes in just 30.2 innings for Syracuse.

Orioles

Everyone in the Orioles organization as well as their fans is awaiting the arrival of catcher Matt Wieters, last season's minor league player of the year. Not since Joe Mauer has a catcher brought such expectation to the game. That's what will happen though when you hit 27 home runs, between 'A' and 'AA', and post a 1.054 OPS.

Wieters is likely to start the season in Triple-A, but is expected to be called up by the All-Star break. Wieters only has one year of pro ball under his belt, but he destroyed college pitching for three years while at Georgia Tech. Wieters has gotten good marks for calling games and handling pitchers. He's quickly become a team leader and is great with the fans. This guy is just what the Orioles organization has needed for a long time.


Ranking the AL East ROY Prospects

1. David Price
2. Matt Wieters
3. Travis Snider
4. Brett Cecil