Friday, September 7, 2012

Can Russell Martin Keep It Up? Does It Matter?

Chances are the ball is in the catcher's glove.

Coming into tonight's game against Baltimore, Russell Martin has hit .290/.353/.452 in the last two weeks, which spans 35 plate appearances. Not a large sample size, so it's hardly something to get excited about, but I wanted to bring it up for this reason...

Even if Russell kept up that hitting, I still wouldn't want him back next year. Of course, there's a chance he's the best option the Yankees have at catcher for 2013, but I really hope that's not true.

Spin the globe, close your eyes, stop it with one finger, and I'm sure that area you point at has a better catching option than Russell Martin.

As for Martin keeping up this pace I'm not holding my breath either. Included in those 14 day splits is... and Burch is going to hate this... his BABIP, which is .320. Adding that to what we've seen out of him all year, and to remind you that's a batting line of .203/.307/.375, and I think I and other Yankee fans have every reason to hope Cashman can get somebody else to work behind the dish.

Damn You Twitter!!!

I did not even know that this was possible...

Yankees @ Orioles 9/7/12

UPDATE:

It's the third inning and Mark Reynolds does not have a home run yet #progress

Russell has muscles! 3-0 Yankees

Steve Pearce, who?, hits a two run home run to put the Yankees up 5-0

Alex Rodriguez hits his 300th home run as a Yankee to make it 7-0 Yankees!

Jeters 3rd hit of the game makes it 8-4 Yanks

#untuck!!! 8-5


The Yankees and Orioles are in a mathematical tie for first place atop the American League East and still have three more games head to head in Oriole Park at Camden Yards to play yet including tonight's game. The Orioles own the tiebreaker so the Yankees really need to win tonight and the next two games to put a little cushion in between these two teams.


Do not fret Yankees fans, as dismal as the team looks in the win/loss column the offense looked a lot better last night and may be on their way to a turn around. You also, as much as I hate to admit this, cannot blame anyone for last night's loss including Girardi. He brought in his second best reliever and set up man in the 8th inning to hold it at a 6-6 tie and he just simply got beat. When Robertson faltered he brought in his 3rd best reliever and one pitch later he got beat. Binder or no binder that was the right call and it is not always going to go the way we planned it. Now if you want to jump on the #FireGirardi bandwagon for keeping Chavez in against a left hander for three straight important at bats or for his willingness to use Andruw Jones at all and his unwillingness to use Chris Dickerson then I am 100% behind you.

The Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound to try and stop the bleeding tonight and will be facing off against Wei-Yin Chen, who has looked good against the Yankees all season long. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network.

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Russell Martin C
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones LF
Steve Pearce 1B
Casey McGehee 3B


Go Yankees!!

Nova May Start Sunday For Freddy Garcia


The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees will use Ivan Nova in the rotation instead of Freddy Garcia on Sunday in the finale against the Orioles. This is a far cry from just yesterday when they were not guaranteeing his starting rotation spot. Six home runs and a devastating and embarrassing loss can do that to a manager I guess. If Ivan Nova feels no discomfort and has no set backs after his bullpen session today look for him to be activated off the DL.

David Aardsma Shaky Again In Latest Rehab


David Aardsma pitched again for the Trenton Thunder yesterday and allowed a run in his latest rehab game on the way back from hip and Tommy John surgery. David threw 28 pitches, 16 for strikes, and hit as high as 90 mph while allowing a walk and three hits in his inning of pitching. Any hope of Aardsma coming back this season, not that we should rush him or be disheartened or discouraged if he does not come back, is really starting to dissipate. Thankfully we have a really team friendly 2013 option so all that is important is getting David's work in and getting him healthy.

This Day In Yankees History : 9/7/12


Not really Yankees history but hey it was a slow day on September 7th. In 1998 Mark McGwire, with a line drive to left field in the first inning, hit his 62nd home run to break a tie and pass Yankees Roger Maris for the single season home run record. Roger's family was in attendance to witness the impressive feat and share an embrace with Mark in the stands.

Nova Throws A Bullpen Session & Girardi Looks Dumb


Yesterday before the embarrassing loss to the Baltimore Orioles Ivan Nova threw a 30 pitch bullpen session in wake of him being eligible to come off the DL as soon as tomorrow. Ivan Nova was getting bombed before being put on the DL with shoulder inflammation, granted, but now reports are saying that Nova's spot in the rotation is once again not guaranteed. I am hoping that this is just posturing or trying to light a fire under Nova or seeing if lightning can strike twice and not Joe Girardi really being okay with Freddy Garcia in the starting rotation. We're probably about 20-21 days away from an Andy Pettitte return, setbacks or miracles withstanding, so to even fathom Nova in the pen over Garcia just really makes me wonder why and if Joe Girardi is REALLY becoming Joe Torre version 2.0.

Yankees 2012 Top 50 Prospects


Our friends over at Bronx Baseball Daily, Rob Abruzzese and Greg Corcoran, compiled a Yankees 2012 Top 50 Post Season Edition prospects list that you guys should all check out. I have done these before so I know a ton of work goes into them so check it out, comment and tell them how Manny Banuelos should not be #1 anymore *spoiler alert*, and all that good stuff. Enjoy!

Mark Teixeira MAY Play Today


Call it desperation, call it a veteran wanting to turn the team team around, call it whatever you want to call it just make it happen. Mark Teixeira, despite reported lingering tightness in his calf,  MAY return to the lineup tonight against the Orioles. A Saturday or even a Sunday return is far more likely but Girardi seems willing to let Mark let him know when he is ready. He ran the bases as 80% yesterday and still felt some tightness but still wants to play today. With three straight left handed starters coming up for the O's this weekend Teixeira's bat would really improve our chances.