Jeter an Astro Beater

We apologize for the late recap of last night's game, just got caught up in other things. A very well pitched game on the heels of Andy Pettitte's gem on Thursday night. Joba Chamberlain had his longest start of the season, though he didn't figure in the decision and Kyle Farnsworth gave Mariano Rivera a rest by picking up a save in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

This one was all about the pitching as Chamberlain and former Yankee one year wonder Shawn Chacon each allowed a run. Derek Jeter snapped the 1-1 tie in the 8th inning with his 4th home run of the season. Jose Veras picked up the victory with a pair of dominant innings, striking out three of the six batters he faced. Then it was up to Farnsworth who got assignment because Rivera had pitched five times in six days.

Farnsworth hit Ty Wiggington on a 3-2 pitch to start the inning, but Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt went right back to Farnsworth. With Geoff Blum pinch-hitting for Brad Ausmus, Wiggington was throwing out trying to steal 2nd base by Jose Molina who had replaced Jorge Posada in the 7th inning. Farnsworth then threw a wicked breaking pitch past a swinging Blum for strike three and just like that the Yankees were 2 games over .500 for the first time since April 29.

News and Notes

Jorge Posada was removed as part of a double switch and even though Joe Girardi tried to downplay it, it was clearly a defensive move. The aggressive Astros had stolen 2nd base four times with Posada behind the plate. He did throw out Bourn attempting to steal 3rd. Joba Chamberlain also picked off Lance Berkman off of 2nd base on the front end of a double steal. Berkman was charged with a caught stealing as he attempted to reach 3rd base.

Chamberlain threw 88 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. Girardi said he would have gone out to start the bottom of the 7th if his spot in the order hadn't come up in the top of the inning. Chamberlain won't be on a pitch count when he faces the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Derek Jeter's home run was the 199th of his career.

Jeter an Astro Beater

We apologize for the late recap of last night's game, just got caught up in other things. A very well pitched game on the heels of Andy Pettitte's gem on Thursday night. Joba Chamberlain had his longest start of the season, though he didn't figure in the decision and Kyle Farnsworth gave Mariano Rivera a rest by picking up a save in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

This one was all about the pitching as Chamberlain and former Yankee one year wonder Shawn Chacon each allowed a run. Derek Jeter snapped the 1-1 tie in the 8th inning with his 4th home run of the season. Jose Veras picked up the victory with a pair of dominant innings, striking out three of the six batters he faced. Then it was up to Farnsworth who got assignment because Rivera had pitched five times in six days.

Farnsworth hit Ty Wiggington on a 3-2 pitch to start the inning, but Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt went right back to Farnsworth. With Geoff Blum pinch-hitting for Brad Ausmus, Wiggington was throwing out trying to steal 2nd base by Jose Molina who had replaced Jorge Posada in the 7th inning. Farnsworth then threw a wicked breaking pitch past a swinging Blum for strike three and just like that the Yankees were 2 games over .500 for the first time since April 29.

News and Notes

Jorge Posada was removed as part of a double switch and even though Joe Girardi tried to downplay it, it was clearly a defensive move. The aggressive Astros had stolen 2nd base four times with Posada behind the plate. He did throw out Bourn attempting to steal 3rd. Joba Chamberlain also picked off Lance Berkman off of 2nd base on the front end of a double steal. Berkman was charged with a caught stealing as he attempted to reach 3rd base.

Chamberlain threw 88 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. Girardi said he would have gone out to start the bottom of the 7th if his spot in the order hadn't come up in the top of the inning. Chamberlain won't be on a pitch count when he faces the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Derek Jeter's home run was the 199th of his career.

Yankees vs. Astros - June 13

RIP Tim Russert.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Yankees

D. Jeter ss
R. Cano 2b
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
H. Matsui lf
J. Giambi 1b
J. Posada c
M. Cabrera cf
J. Chamberlain p

Astros

H. Pence rf
K. Matsui 2b
M. Tejada ss
L. Berkman 1b
C. Lee lf
T. Wigginton 3b
M. Bourn cf
B. Ausmus c
S. Chacon p

Yankees vs. Astros - June 13

RIP Tim Russert.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Yankees

D. Jeter ss
R. Cano 2b
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
H. Matsui lf
J. Giambi 1b
J. Posada c
M. Cabrera cf
J. Chamberlain p

Astros

H. Pence rf
K. Matsui 2b
M. Tejada ss
L. Berkman 1b
C. Lee lf
T. Wigginton 3b
M. Bourn cf
B. Ausmus c
S. Chacon p

Houston, We Have Lift Off

Sounds a lot better than, "Houston, we have a problem". The Yankees player their first ever regular season series in Houston when they start a 3-game series tonight. The Yankees haven't played the Astros since June 10-12, 2003. The Yankees took two of three in the series, but in the one game they lost they were no-hit.

The Houston Astrodome was a tough place to hit home runs, but that is not the case in Minute Maid Park, which opened in 2000 and, at the time, unfortunately had its naming rights owned by Enron. The Brewers and Astros combined for 15 home runs in the latter two games of their series on Wednesday and Thursday.

The park includes a retractable roof, and an annoying replica train filled with replica oranges. The craziest part of MMP is the uphill slope in center field, which can trip up the best defender. MMP holds just under 41K and its dimensions, per mlb.com are as follows:

Distances from plate:
Left field - 315 feet
Left-center - 362 feet
Center field - 435 feet
Deepest point - 436 feet
Right-center - 373 feet
Right field - 326 feet

Height of wall:
Left field - 19 feet
Left-center - 25 feet
Center field - 10 feet
Deepest point - 10 feet
Right-center - 10 feet
Right field - 7 feet


The Yankees did play one game here, back on March 30, 1999. It was an exhibition game prior to the regular season, with the Astros winning it 6-5. Jason Grimsley took the loss, while Paul O'Neill and Ricky Ledee each homered in the first game in the park's history. The Yankees also played the first exhibition game in 1965 prior to the Astrodome opening. Mickey Mantle hit the first home run and the Yankees lost 2-1.

The Yankees have already made a roster move and it's a good one. They've sent little used Shelley Duncan down to Scranton and recalled infielder Alberto Gonzalez. The latter's defense and mobility will make him a much better fit in the NL parks.

Pitching Probables for the Series

Friday - Joba Chamberlain (1-2, 2.67) vs. Shawn Chacon (2-2, 4.96) 8:00 EDT
Saturday - Mike Mussina (9-4, 3.82) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 1.99) 7:00 EDT
Sunday - Chien-Ming Wang (7-2, 4.30) vs. Roy Oswalt (5-6., 5.06) 2:00 EDT

Houston, We Have Lift Off

Sounds a lot better than, "Houston, we have a problem". The Yankees player their first ever regular season series in Houston when they start a 3-game series tonight. The Yankees haven't played the Astros since June 10-12, 2003. The Yankees took two of three in the series, but in the one game they lost they were no-hit.

The Houston Astrodome was a tough place to hit home runs, but that is not the case in Minute Maid Park, which opened in 2000 and, at the time, unfortunately had its naming rights owned by Enron. The Brewers and Astros combined for 15 home runs in the latter two games of their series on Wednesday and Thursday.

The park includes a retractable roof, and an annoying replica train filled with replica oranges. The craziest part of MMP is the uphill slope in center field, which can trip up the best defender. MMP holds just under 41K and its dimensions, per mlb.com are as follows:

Distances from plate:
Left field - 315 feet
Left-center - 362 feet
Center field - 435 feet
Deepest point - 436 feet
Right-center - 373 feet
Right field - 326 feet

Height of wall:
Left field - 19 feet
Left-center - 25 feet
Center field - 10 feet
Deepest point - 10 feet
Right-center - 10 feet
Right field - 7 feet


The Yankees did play one game here, back on March 30, 1999. It was an exhibition game prior to the regular season, with the Astros winning it 6-5. Jason Grimsley took the loss, while Paul O'Neill and Ricky Ledee each homered in the first game in the park's history. The Yankees also played the first exhibition game in 1965 prior to the Astrodome opening. Mickey Mantle hit the first home run and the Yankees lost 2-1.

The Yankees have already made a roster move and it's a good one. They've sent little used Shelley Duncan down to Scranton and recalled infielder Alberto Gonzalez. The latter's defense and mobility will make him a much better fit in the NL parks.

Pitching Probables for the Series

Friday - Joba Chamberlain (1-2, 2.67) vs. Shawn Chacon (2-2, 4.96) 8:00 EDT
Saturday - Mike Mussina (9-4, 3.82) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 1.99) 7:00 EDT
Sunday - Chien-Ming Wang (7-2, 4.30) vs. Roy Oswalt (5-6., 5.06) 2:00 EDT