Sunday, April 7, 2013

Francisco Cervelli Added To Wives & Girlfriends Section


Francisco Cervelli may have the hottest girlfriend in all of the Yankees Wives & Girlfriends section with Patricia De Leon. I have no idea how this had originally gone unnoticed by myself but with an addition like this I say better late than never, right? Welcome to the Yankees Wives & Girlfriends section Cervi!

Support The Staten Island Yankees On Thursdays


The Staten Island Yankees have announced a new program that will help what I consider to be a great charity. Every Thursday starting April 4th and running to July 25th the SI Yankees will donate $5 to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for every season & ticket plan sold. The Stephen Siller foundation supports those affected by Hurricane Sandy so this is definitely a good cause to get behind.

Bald Vinny Invites Our Readers To Section 203



By Bald Vinny

This season TiqIQ has partnered with The Bleacher Creature himself, Bald Vinny, to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.


The first homestand for 2013 is in the books, and it feels like quite a relief (though, admittedly, I do wish it was a bit longer than three games). After the exhilaration of Opening Day (and the requisite day off) Game Two could be summed up in one word: Cold

It was seriously one of the coldest games I had ever been to. The temps were low, the winds were whipping, and the play on the field made it even harder to sit through. Aside from a brief respite in the early innings (shout out to Zak at Steiner Sports for the Luxury Box invite) I stayed for the entire game in Section 203. 
Yes, the ENTIRE game.


For those of you that know me, it's not uncommon for me to bounce out of the game an inning early to head to my t-shirt stand. Business comes first for me in the Bronx, and if the crowd is heading for the gates or my assistance is needed, I will sometimes split early. I really had nothing to do outside on Wednesday, so I stuck it out with a few of my Creature brothers and sisters until the final out (there were 6 of us left in the bottom of the 9th). Not sure what I was hoping to see, but when I finally thawed out, I swore that I still had a good time.

Game three was immensely better, if not simply for the weather, but for the Yankee win. I know it's still very early in a long season, but with the way people talk about this team coupled with the first two games, we even found ourselves getting excited about simply having a lead (yeah, sometimes confidence can feel that low). Yanks hung on to win it, and the mood on the avenue felt good after the game for a change. 

I hate to sound like a sap, but I do get a little sad when the Yanks hit the road. I really enjoy being on the ave and interacting with so many passionate and knowledgeable Yankee fans. It makes even the longest, coldest, losing-est game a bit more bearable (and this week, every little bit of that helped!). Yanks return next Friday, and I'm already looking forward to the first Friday night game in Section 203 (If you've never been, it's an entertainment spectacle unto itself). 


Hopefully next week will show the return to more seasonable, baseball like weather. If you get the chance to join us out in 203, it's sure to be a good time. 

Yankees Avoid Sweep, Beat Tigers 7-0


The Yankees got to the Tigers and Justin Verlander early in the second inning with Vernon Wells leading off with a walk. Ichiro would follow that with a fielders choice but would be driven in by a Francisco Cervelli RBI double to put the Yankees up 1-0. The unlikeliest of heroes Jayson Nix hit a two run home run later in the inning to put the Yankees up 3-0. Ichiro would add an insurance sacrifice fly in the 8th inning to make it 4-0 Yankees and Cervelli would single in another run to put the Yankees up 5-0 in the 8th.


I said before the game that for the Yankees to have a chance to beat Justin Verlander they would need a shut out from CC Sabathia and I was not that far off. CC Sabathia went 7 IP and had 4 K's with 4 BB's and 4 hits allowed with 0 runs. CC's velocity was still a little down, which Joe Girardi says is normal for CC at this time of the year, but he was keeping the ball down and getting batters out and that is all that matters at the end of the day.


David Robertson had a semi Houdini inning as he allowed runners to reach first and third with one out in the 8th before inducing a ground ball and striking out a batter to leave the 8th with the score still 5-0 Yankees. Jayson Nix would lead off the 9th with his third hit of the game and that was followed by a Brett Gardner single. Kevin Youkilis would add two insurance runs in the 9th knocking both of them in and extending the Yankees lead to 7-0.

Yankees win 7-0

Breaking News: Joba Chamberlain Shaves Mustache


The Yankees Joba Chamberlain is obviously a superstitious player, as many baseball players are, because after a rough start to the season that saw his ERA jump above 21.00 Joba has decided to ditch the mustache. Thank goodness for that because all the kids can come out of hiding now. Thank you Joba!

Week 1 Yankees Player of the Week


The Yankees started off the season terribly, going 1-4 against Boston and at Detroit. They did it in embarrassing fashion, never scoring more than four runs in a game, allowing at least seven runs in four out of five games and playing underwhelming defense. The offense has been pretty much what you would expect, but newcomers Kevin Youkilis, Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner and Brennan Boesch have all swung the bats very well. Brians Cashman's offseason acquisitions Youkilis, Wells, Hafner, Boesch Ben Francisco and Lyle Overbay hit a combined .293 this week (22-for-75).  It is the remaining players from last year that have been killing the Yankees like Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki. If those guys can pick it up and the new guys can keep it up, the Yankees might be able to survive April. However, they can only survive April if their pitching staff picks it up in a major way. Every pitcher other than David Robertson allowed a run for the Yankees this week. Yesterday, after the Yankees battled back to within 5-4 and David Phelps immediately gave two runs back. The Yankees could have easily won if they pitched well and had more luck, as they should have scored more than the four runs that they did.

The Yankees as a team had a 6.49 ERA this week, the bullpen had a 7.65 ERA, and if you take out Andy Pettitte, the starters went 0-4 with a 7.80 ERA. Those are truly egregious numbers, especially when you have a limited offense. The middle relief pitchers for the Yankees have been abysmal, as Joba Chamberlain, Phelps and Boone Logan all stunk miserably. Chamberlain and Phelps should improve, but  the Yankees have a big problem if Logan does not, as he is their only lefty. His arm appears shot from all the innings last year and the Yankees might want to think about bringing up Vidal Nuno or picking Clay Rapada back up.

The only silver lining I have about these games is that the guys who you would expect to be good haven't been, like Cano, Gardner, Ichiro, Phelps, Chamberlain, Logan, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes. So, if they pick it up like their track records say they will, and you still get production out of Youkilis, Wells, Bosech and Hafner, the Yankees should be able to tread water in April. Now, here are the nominees for Yankees Week 1 Player of the Week.

Kevin Youkilis: Youkilis hit .389, with 1 HR, 2 RBI and a 1.172 OPS this week. He was one of the few consistently good hitters this week, as he had a hit in all five games this week. He had a big home run on Friday that gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead, which unfortunately they were not able to hold it or expand it. Four out of Youk's seven hits this week went for extra bases.

Vernon Wells: Wells hit .286 on the week, with 2 HR's, 4 RBI and a 1.089 OPS. Wells had three hits in Wednesday's 7-4 loss against Boston, including a three-run home run that made the the game respectable. Also, he had a rocket home run yesterday that evened the score at one. Both home runs were line drives, which shows that Wells' approach at he plate is really sound right now.

Travis Hafner: Hafter hit .313, with 1 HR, 2RBI and a .889 ops. The Yankees saw a lot of righties this week, which benefited Hafner. He had exactly one hit in all five games this week, including a solo home run in Wednesday's game.

Andy Pettitte: Pettitte was absolutely outstanding in Thursday's win over Boston. He pitched eight inning, allowed one run on eight hits and struck out three. He looked like the Pettitte of old, constantly pitching out of trouble and throwing strikes. He played his stopper role well again, as the Yankees desperately needed a win and he delivered.

The Week 1 Yankees Player of the Week  is Andy Pettitte. He was really the only Yankees pitcher who pitched well and was the reason for the only Yankees win. Vote for your player of the week in the poll and discuss the week that was in the comments.

[polldaddy poll=7020472]

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers 4/7


The Yankees have started the season with a terrible 1-4 record and are looking to take a step towards evening up that record today in Comerica. Problem is the Yankees will be facing off with Justin Verlander today in his second start of the season. The Yankees will send their ace CC Sabathia to the mound to look to bounce back from his first start. The game will be televised on YES and TBS at 1:08 pm ET.

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Travis Hafner DH
Vernon Wells LF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Francisco Cervelli C
Lyle Overbay 1B
Jayson Nix SS

The Mariano Rivera Farewell Tour Begins Today


The Detroit Tigers have announced that they will have a pre-game ceremony to honor Mariano Rivera. This is Mariano's final season so teams around the league, much like they did with Chipper Jones last season, are going to honor him wherever he goes. Mariano Rivera is a class act and is beloved and respected by fans of all teams and players as well so this should be a fun ride. I am interested in seeing what the Tigers have planned for Mo as a going away gift.

What's Wrong W/ The Yankees Bullpen?


I know it is extremely early but the Yankees bullpen, which has been a strength since Joe Girardi took over the helm, is suddenly looking like a weakness. Granted five games is a terrible sample size but still some of these numbers, especially the innings pitched stats, are not looking too good right now.

Mariano Rivera

0-0 W/L
9.00 ERA
1 G
1.0 IP
2.000 WHIP


Cody Eppley

0-0 W/L
21.60 ERA
2 G
1.2 IP
2.400 WHIP


Shawn Kelley

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
3 G
1.0 IP
1.250 WHIP


Boone Logan

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
3 G
1.1 IP
4.545 WHIP


David Phelps

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
2 G
4.0 IP
2.250 WHIP


Joba Chamberlain

0-0 W/L
21.60 ERA
2 G
1.2 IP
6.667 WHIP


Adam Warren

0-0 W/L
1.69 ERA
1 G
5.1 IP
1.125 WHIP


David Robertson

0-0 W/L
0.00 ERA
1 G
1.0 IP
0.000 WHIP


This is making the decisions to release David Aardsma and Clay Rapada really not sit well with me, not that they did to begin with. I know that David Aardsma's inability to pitch multiple innings has hurt him in his standings with the Yankees but Cody Eppley cannot get a left handed hitter out so I cannot justify the decision. Yes Clay Rapada is a LOOGY good for about one out a game and would have had to start the season in the disabled list but I cannot make a case for an Eppley or a Kelley over him at this point. I trust Girardi and I expect the Yankees bullpen to be one of the best in the league when it matters and the sample sizes are larger but right now I am a little worried...

Game 6 Lineup: Yankees vs. Tigers

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Travis Hafner DH
Vernon Wells LF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Francisco Cervelli C
Lyle Overbay 1B
Jayson Nix SS

LHP CC Sabathia

Whats Wrong W/ The Yankees Rotation


The Yankees five starting pitchers have each had a turn through the rotation and the Yankees starting rotation seems to be in shambles. Outside of the 40 year old wonder Andy Pettitte the Yankees rotation has failed to give Joe Girardi any kind of length, consistency of the good kind, or pitch well. The Yankees have started out the season 1-4 and will not face Justin Verlander today with the distinct possibility of starting the season 1-5 and having their ace CC Sabathia starting the season 0-2. Let's take a statistical look at the Yankees starting pitchers so far this season.


CC Sabathia


0-1 W/L
7.20 ERA
1 G
5.0 IP
2.400 WHIP


Hiroki Kuroda


0-1 W/L
13.50 ERA
1 G
1.1 IP
3.750 WHIP


Andy Pettitte


1-0 W/L
1.13 ERA
1 G
8.0 IP
1.125 WHIP


Ivan Nova


0-1 W/L
7.71 ERA
1 G
4.2 IP
1.500 WHIP


Phil Hughes


0-1 W/L
6.75 ERA
1 G
4.0 IP
2.000 WHIP


The Yankees staff has only given Joe Girardi 23 IP in five games leaving the bullpen to pick up 22 IP which has not been a recipe for winning thus far. I do not expect the Yankees to stay anywhere around these numbers but this is still a very scary trend that the Yankees need to turn around sooner rather than later.