Yankees @ Blue Jays 5/17/12

UPDATE:

The Yankees have acquired Matt Antonelli from the Orioles off waivers and will send him to AAA Empire State Yankees. They have moved Cesar Cabral to the 60 Day DL to make room on the 40 man for Antonelli. He is a infielder with a weak bat so do not expect much out of him but some insurance. Welcome to the club Matt.


Robinson Cano with an rbi double to give the Yanks a quick 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. 


Joey Bats hits a two run home run to put the Jays up 2-1. #Steroids
Hughes has been very home run prone, even when effective, this season. 


Another two run home run allowed.... 4-1 Jays. 


Jays sweep the Yankees in the 2 game series and take over 3rd place in the AL East by 0.5 games.
Jays win 4-1

Philthy Going For The Split

Phil Hughes and the Yankees are back at it today against the Toronto Blue Jays north of the border in this quick two game set. The Yankees lost last night so they will be trying to split the series and stay ahead of the Jays in the AL East. Game will be televised on YES at 7:07 pm ET.

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Nick Swisher DH
Eric Chavez 3B
Andruw Jones RF
Russell Martin C

Meet A Prospect : Dante Bichette Jr

Meet a prospect is back and this time we're meeting Mr. Dante Bichette, Jr. Dante, the son of major leaguer Dante Bichette and Hot Yankee Mom Mariana Bichette, was born September 26th, 1992 in Orlando ,Fl. Dante, born Alphonse Dante Bichette Jr., was drafted 51st overall by the New York Yankees in the 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft as a third basemen. Dante is part of that very talented Charleston River Dogs team so now is a good a time as ever to meet Mr. Bichette.

Dante, nicknamed "D" by his mother, was part of the very talented Staten Island team that won the championship in 2011 in the Gulf Coast League. Dante actually hit the game and series deciding home run in that series on the way to the title. Here is a list of his accomplishments in that same 2011 season for the Staten Island Yankees, seen here. 

12/22/2011	MiLB.com Organization All-Star
11/30/2011	Topps Short-Season/Rookie All-Star
09/16/2011	Baseball America Rookie All-Star
09/13/2011	GCL Most Valuable Player
09/13/2011	GCL Post-Season All-Star
07/31/2011	GCL Player of the Month

Bichette's mother actually got Dante to start doing yoga while in high school, maintaining that it would keep him quick, flexible, and healthy. At first, naturally, Dante hated it but not admits that he loves doing it because of the fact that it does in fact keep him healthy.  Dante also has a brother, Bo Bichette, and he claims that his brother is "twice the player" that Dante is.... which so far is a scary thought. 

The Yankees caught a lot of flack from the fans and from the baseball minds around the league for taking Bichette as they thought his minor league success would be short lived. They also said that his defense was less then stellar and he was destined to be a left fielder and a Shelly Duncan type hitter. All of these thoughts, and more, are quickly being reversed as he has done nothing but be successful and quite the haters. Bichette just may be the steal of the 2010 draft.

Yankee Defense, Then & Now

Any picture that shows Youkilis getting out is a great one.

I've always been a big proponent of baseball teams that play great defense. I've been a part of teams that could put a decent amount of runs on the board, so if they could just play solid defense and prevent the other team from scoring, then wins wouldn't be that hard to come by. Of course, since I was hitting on those teams, scoring runs became more of a challenge. But one team that hasn't had trouble scoring a lot of runs is the New York Yankees.

From 2002 to 2011, the Yankees have scored a total of 8,885 runs, which is 109 more runs than the team with the 2nd most... the Red Sox. Over those same 10 years, the Yanks also have the highest wOBA, the highest wRC+, and the 2nd highest OPS. The 2012 version of the Bronx Bombers are 3rd in all three of those categories. So it should be pretty obvious that this is not a team people should worry about when it comes to putting crooked numbers under the "R" on the scoreboard.

This photo appeared on Page 1 of a Google search for "crooked number". Why? I have no idea, and I don't want to know. Monkeys rule!

So how about their team defense, which is the focus of this post?

Well, in 2002, the Yankees were ranked 27th in Fielding Percentage, and 25th in errors, in all of MLB. If it wasn't for the fact the offense scored 38 more runs than any other team in the league, then there would have been a really good chance the Yankees went from 5 World Series appearances in the previous 6 seasons, to missing the playoffs entirely. Which would have been pretty damn embarrassing.

To put that in perspective, the Yankees actually had a higher Fielding Percentage (.984 vs. .979), and committed 32 fewer errors (127 vs. 95), in 2005 than in 2002. Yet Moshe Mandel of The Yankee Analysts wrote a piece in 2009 saying that the '05 Yankees had the "Worst...Defense...Ever!!" (yes, he used two exclamation points). So as a defensive-minded person, I was not pleased.

The Nunez to the outfield experiment went about as well as the first test of radioactive material.

Which tells you why I was okay with the Yankees trading Jesus Montero. The team already scores plenty of runs, so I really wouldn't have liked to see the team use Jesus Montero even as a part-time catcher. Jesus Montero has 3 passed balls in 125 innings as a catcher this season, while Russell Martin has 3 passed balls in 253.1 innings. And while Montero's caught stealing percentage is 20%, Martin's is at 30%. And I don't want a guy with that low a CS% in the AL East, where the Rays and Blue Jays are 2nd and 5th in stolen bases in the American League.

What about now? Is the defense still that bad? Do we need them to score nearly 900 runs again to have a shot at the playoffs?

Well, so far in 2012, the Yankees are ranked 1st in Fielding Percentage, and 1st in errors (tied with the Mariners), in all of MLB. As I write this I'm watching/listening to the Yankees vs. Jays game on MLB.tv, and the Toronto announcers spent a good chunk of one-half inning talking about how good the Yankee defense is these days. They mentioned all the Gold Gloves by Derek Jeter and Mark Teixiera. Although Robinson Cano dropped a ball while trying to turn a double play the very same inning, Robbie has been an outstanding second basemen, who's currently got the 3rd best UZR/150 of all 2B in MLB. Last week, on MLB Network, it was said that Curtis Granderson was voted the 3rd best outfielder in MLB by players. ARod is playing really well at 3B, and Nick Swisher is average at worst in RF.

It doesn't have the history of others, but in my mind, this is the most beautiful trophy in all of sports.

So New York has really turned things around over the past 5 or so years, putting together a team that not only hits the snot out of the ball, but also fields it really well too. It's no wonder Brian Cashman pulled the trigger on a trade for Michael Pineda, and is working hard to hold onto top pitching prospects like Manny Banuelos.

Oh, and Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez have both played more innings in LF than Brett Gardner, and have UZR/150s that are much lower than Brett's (-2.4 and 3.6 for Jones and Ibanez, versus 14.1 for Gardner). Which tells me the defense would be even better if it weren't for Gardy's injury.

Get well soon, kid.

I truly believe that if the Yankee starters can get their... stuff... together, then winning another World Series is a strong possibility.

Series Awards - @ Baltimore, May 14-15

I'm cutting the Series Wrap, and just doing the Series Awards. This is due to two reasons...

1. You guys don't need another write-up about the individual games. You can get those elsewhere, and some of them are a lot more in-depth than mine are.

2. Due to a new job, and not having a whole lot of free time anyway, it's really hard for me to get them up as soon as I'd like.

The second reason is also the reason I haven't posted much lately. Thankfully Burch has been posting some great things regarding sabermetrics and prospects.

Series Awards

Jake Taylor Award
Mark Teixeira - He was only 3/8 in the series, but he did record hits in both games, including a bomb in Game 1. Honestly, nobody really stuck out to me. Robbie Cano was pretty good, as he had a couple hits in Game 1 (1 double), and his 1 hit in Game 2 was also a double. ARod had a great Game 1, going 3-5, but was 0-3 with a walk in Game 2. And Curtis Granderson had 2 homers in the series, but those 2 were his only hits as well.

Gentry Award
Nick Swisher - This one was kind of tough, as Swisher had 2 RBI and walked twice in the first game of the series. But Nick did have only 1 hit in the series, and did nothing for the team with his bat Tuesday night.

Rick Vaughn Award
Boone Logan - This is the first time a reliever has gotten this award, but neither Nova nor Sabathia pitched well in their starts. Freddy Garcia was the only Yankee reliever that threw more than 1 inning in the series, but he did give up a run. The fact that Logan has struck out 11 batters, while walking none, over his last 4 innings of relief work made me look his way.

Kelner Award
Ivan Nova - Ugh. 5.1 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs (all earned), and 3 walks to 4 Ks. Ivan hasn't been the bastion of consistency this season, as his 7 starts this season have gone good-meh-good-bad-bad-good-bad. This is not the guy Yankee fans expected before the season.

--------------------

*The awards are named after one of the best baseball movies of all time... Major League.

Jake Taylor Award - Awarded to the most valuable position player. Named after the hard-nose veteran catcher that, despite making the league minimum, was the heart and soul of the 1989 American League East winning Cleveland Indians.

Gentry Award - Awarded to the least valuable position player. Named after the very first man cut from the 1989 Cleveland Indians, #47 Gentry. A man so insignificant he wasn't even given a first name.

Rick Vaughn - Awarded to the best pitcher in the series. This one is, of course, named after the "Wild Thing". The man that made Clu Haywood look silly in the division deciding game.

Kelner Award - Awarded to the worst pitcher in the series. Named after the Opening Day starter for the '89 Indians. Not a good game for Mr. Kelner, as Indians' announcer Harry Doyle famously quipped "thank God" after Kelner left the game. And yet another bad player without a first name.

5/16 - @ Toronto Blue Jays

UPDATE:

Kuroda allows a two run home run to put the Yankees down 2-0 to the Jays


Another home run allowed by Kuroda... 5-0 Jays


Scratch that... 6-0 Jays with a great slide at home plate on a decent throw by Ibanez.


Mark Teixeira hits an RBI single, probably too late, to make it 7-1 Jays. 


Blue Jays Win 8-1

Win It For Japan

This is Bryan, filling in for Burch, who usually posts this stuff.

Hiroki Kuroda is taking the hill for the Yankees tonight, hoping to get the team back on the winning track. Here is the lineup...

Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez DH
Russell Martin C
Jayson Nix SS

Here are some other pregame notes, courtesy of the LoHud Yankees Blog...

In the middle of 16 games in a row, Joe Girardi has decided it’s time to give guys a rest. Derek Jeter is off tonight, and Girardi said another of his regulars will almost certainly sit another regular tomorrow.

“I think I’ve always been concerned with players’ health,” Girardi said. “You see that a lot of times injuries are caused by fatigue, and that’s a concern for me. And I think as you know your players better, you know how many days they can go before you think it physically starts to wear on them. … I think you can wear them down and then they don’t start to swing the bat as well, they don’t move as well defensively and they get frustrated, and you can get into bad habits.”

When the lineup was posted, most of you probably expected something along these lines from Girardi. For better and for worse, he’s been committed to giving players — particularly his older players — regular rest. Today it was Jeter’s turn to sit for the first time this season. Jeter laughed when asked whether he was physically healthy.

“What do you think?” he said.

“Just a day off,” Girardi said. “We’re in the midst of 16 in a row. You give him today and maybe he can play the rest of the way out here. I’ll try to get him a DH maybe somewhere against Kansas City.”

Although he’s dealing with a cough, Mark Teixeira has played all but one game this season, and he’s played all of them at first base. Girardi said he told Teixeira that he wanted to DH him in Baltimore, but Teixeira convinced him that he was fine.

Although he plays a position that requires a ton of running, Curtis Granderson has started every single game in center field, but Girardi said he’s not particularly worried about Granderson’s health or durability.

“Curtis is a guy that’s used to playing every day,” Girardi said. “You look at what he’s done in the past, will I possibly give him a DH day here in these next eight days? Probably. But a lot of times last year I thought he might need a day and he’d play and get three hits that day, so he’s a tough one to take out of the lineup because he seems to do well when he plays every day.”

• Ivan Nova said he feels even better today than he felt yesterday, and there’s a good chance he’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow in preparation for a start on Saturday. “He came through the running fine,” Girardi said. “He feels better, and even if he didn’t throw a bullpen I wouldn’t rule out a start. I wouldn’t rule it out. I’ve said before that guys have skipped bullpen sessions before just because sometimes it’s that time of the year. He does feel better. He’s going in the right direction. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

• Girardi said he won’t avoid any of his relievers just because Nova’s next start isn’t a sure thing. D.J. Mitchell pitched today, so I’m not sure you could consider him an emergency option should the Yankees need to promote someone to make that start. Basically, it seems that Girardi is expecting either David Phelps or Freddy Garcia to be available that day, and if one of them isn’t, then the Yankees will adjust.

• Even though he leads the team in homers, Girardi said there was no consideration of anyone other than Granderson hitting leadoff today. “That’s the next guy if Jeet’s not going to be in the lineup,” Girardi said. “Jeet’s done such a good job for us, and Grandy’s done it before, so I’m comfortable putting him in.”

• Eduardo Nunez made two errors in a Triple-A game today.

• Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie got a four-game suspension for hitting an umpire with a thrown helmet last night, but he appealed and will play tonight.

• By the way, I honestly didn’t realize Jose Bautista was hitting .195 until I looked at today’s lineup card. I knew he wasn’t off to a strong start — he does have eight homers — but I didn’t realize he’d been that bad.

• This will be Hiroki Kuroda’s first career start against the Blue Jays.

Meet A Prospect : Manny Banuelos

I know this is probably silly to do, mainly because everyone already knows who Manny Banuelos is, but after coming off the DL Manny has been absolutely filthy again. His control is back, his velocity is back, and his dominance is back. Manny Banuelos was born on March 13th, 1991 in Monterrey, Mexico and was one of four international free agents the Yankees signed out of Mexico in 2008, including Afredo Aceves. Manny Banuelos gives the Yankees the best prospect they have may have ever developed.... a scary thought. Meet Mr. Manuel Banuelos. 

Manny Banuelos, or Man Ban as more commonly known as on the interwebs, is a young and small framed left hander that easily touches 92 MPH with his fastball. His changeup already looks like a plus pitch and possibly the strike out pitch. He has also been adding a curve and/or slider to his repertoire which would make him one scary individual on the mound.  He, in my prospect humping opinion, reminds me a lot of Johan Santana. 

Manny B was named the #1 prospect overall for the Yankees in The Greedy Pinstripes Top 20 prospect list, among others, after being 4th and 6th best in the two seasons prior to 2012 respectively according to Baseball America. Even after struggling with command in parts of his last two seasons he still looks like a potential Ace at the top of a rotation and is still far and away the best Yankees prospect, let alone best pitching prospect in a rich system.

The great Mariano Rivera even , seen here, said that Manny Banuelos is the "best pitching prospect he has ever seen". That is saying a lot considering how many young arms he has seen coming through the Yankees system in his 16 seasons, although we should take a step back because the last pitcher he donned as the "best" was Brien Taylor... and we all know how well that worked out.  Either way this is very high praise from the greatest closer of all time. 

Yankees @ Orioles 5/15/12

UPDATE:

CC is a little wild in the 3rd inning, Yankees down 2-0


Orioles Win 5-2

Eyes Set On 6 Straight Wins

Tonight the Yankees conclude their quick two game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The game will be televised on MLB Network and YES Network and will begin at 7:05 pm ET.

Here are the lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones DH
Jayson Nix LF
Chris Stewart C 

Houdini Can't Escape a DL Stint

So David Robertson has been placed on the DL, and his roster spot will be taken by Cody Eppley. Thankfully Yankee starters are doing much better than they were in the first month of the season, and we still have guys like Soriano, Wade, and Logan in the bullpen, but this is not good news. David has a strained left oblique, and as long as he doesn't try and return to soon he should be okay. I hope he takes his time and his 100% sure about being healthy, as we don't want that strain to turn into a tear.

Note: The roster page will be updated later on.

Meet A Prospect : Ronnier Mustelier

Meet a Prospect is back, and this time we are going to be highlighting Empire State standout Ronnier Mustelier.  Just a few weeks back Ronnier was in AA Trenton but after homering in his fourth straight game down there , after being extremely impressive in a very short time in the Yankees system, but the Yankees could not keep the 27 year old utility player down anymore.

It is hard to really discuss where Ronnier came from, how he was as a kid, etc because of his defection from Cuba so we will instead jump straight into what he has done in his very short time as a New York Yankees farm hand.

Ronnier does not show up on anyone's top prospect list, and he probably won't, because of his age. A lot of people fail to realize or know that this is only his second year in the minors after defecting from Cuba in 2009. He actually recently signed with the Yanks last year in June although he played professional baseball in Cuba averaging a triple slash of .281/.405/.421 in 88 games.

Ronnier actually just started in the GCL last season, but he only lasted five games there. He had a triple slash of .500/.524/.550 in those five games and he impressed the Yankees brass so much that he completely skipped over Charleston and went straight to the High A Ball Tampa Yankees. He completed the rest of the season in Tampa, with a triple slash of .333/.378/.524, before being promoted to Trenton for this season. He only lasted 25 games in Trenton before moving to AAA Empire State putting up a triple slash of .353/.412/.598.

We have seen plenty of guys who can hit and not play defense though in the Yankees farm system, Brandon Laird and Jorge Vazquez come to mind, but that does not seem to be an issue with Ronnier. He is a pretty solid third baseman and can play in the outfield in a pinch. Makes you wonder why we have Raul Ibanez playing Left Field with Brett Gardner out and not  rushing giving this kid a chance. He has decent speed, steals bases when he has to, and keeps his strike out numbers low. I really think the way this kid is playing this season we just may see him in the Bronx sooner then you think....

Yankees @ Orioles 5/14/12

UPDATE:

Nova allows two runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by an Adam Jones double that I am surprised did not go THROUGH the wall. Nova is all over the place with his pitches and it looks like tonight is just going to be one of those nights for the Yankees.


Derek Jeter passes Robin Yount with a single this game and Alex Rodriguez has two hits to start the Yankees offensive rally. 


Nick Swisher comes up big with a 2 RBI double to tie the game up at 2. Swisher leads the Yankees in RBIs with 26 RBI's this season. 


Curtis Granderson hits a home run to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead! The Grandy Many Can!


Xavier Avery triples to tie the game at 3's and JJ Hardy hits a two run home run to give the O's a 5-3 lead as the sky opens up!


Raul Ibanez reaches on a fielding error and two runs score to tie the game up at 5.


Mark Teixeira hits a two run home run to put the dagger in the O's and give the Yanks a 7-5 lead. 


Eric Chavez gets an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to give the Yankees an 8-5 lead


Yankees win 8-5

Win Tonight & It's A Winning Streak

Tonight the Yankees will face the Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards in the first game of a quick two game series. The game will be televised on YES Network at 7:05 pm ET. Ivan Nova will look to start a new winning streak for the Yankees and will be facing Jason Hammel.

Here is tonight's lineup

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Russell Martin C