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.

Yankees @ Orioles 9/6/12

The Yankees start an all important four game series with the second place Baltimore Orioles tonight with only one game separating the two teams in the AL East. The Yankees got a big win yesterday over the Tampa Bay Rays and tend to do extremely well in Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where all four games will be played, so the Yankees have to have some confidence going into it. The Yankees will start David Phelps tonight coming off of one of his worst starts in his very young career and will be facing off against Jason Hammel fresh off the DL for the Orioles. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm et on YES and MLB Network.

Lineups

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

Go Yankees!!

I Could Not Be A Yankees Fan In The 80's

Thankfully I was born in late 1985 and did not get into baseball religiously until the 1995 season because I would be a totally different person right now if I had to watch the Yankees in the 80's and early 90's. I am usually a very calm and collected person but over the last month to month and a half I have been a very edgy and irritable person. The Yankees, behind only my son and my wife, have become my passion over the last 16+ years and I hate to see them lose. I was visibly upset and downright angry when I went to bed Tuesday night after losing and falling into a tie for first place and I got to thinking, what would I do if I was a little bit older, not spoiled by the Yankees recent success and dynasty, and has to watch the Yankees post Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson.

The Yankees won 103 games in 1980 but it was a year after Thurmon Munson's death and we lost in the ALCS to the Kansas City Royals. We had a strike shortened season, which I have never witnessed first hand because I was 8 years old for most of the year in 1994, in 1981 and lost in the World Series to the Dodgers. Then the revolving door of managers and the chaos around the team started and eventually spilled onto the on field product. Hell George Steinbrenner even got suspended from baseball for misconduct if that puts things into perspective for the younger Yankees fans that are reading.

Losing seasons in 1982, 1989-1992, and 1994 were the toughest of times for Yankees fans in recent memories. The team finished no better then 2nd place from 1982-1993 and would not see a season where they "finished" in first place until 1994, the 1994 season that ended premature and cancelled the World Series. The Yankees loss in the ALDS to the Seattle Mariners cost Buck Schowalter his job which is a shame because he would never get to see first hand the team him and Gene Michaels built which included guys you may have heard of, guys like Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Jorge Posada to name a few.

I think all of the younger Yankees fans are truly spoiled, and not to say that that's a bad thing because it is not, and could not imagine watching the Yankees during that 12+ year stretch from 1982-1994. I know I couldn't if I react the way I did to falling into a TIE FOR FIRST PLACE then I could not imagine watching a losing season. I would probably be on my second or third heart attack. I am just glad everything is good in Yankeeland this morning, at least for one more day.

This Day In Yankees History : 9/6/12

On this day in 1973 the Yankees released not one but two Alou brothers. Felipe Alou was sold to the Montreal Expos and Matty Alou eventually ended up with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Not really Yankees news but on this day in 1995 Cal Ripken broke the iron man streak held by Lou Gherig  playing in his 2,131st straight game with the Baltimore Orioles.

Andy Pettitte Faces Live Hitters

Andy Pettitte threw an inning of a bullpen session to live hitters for the first time since fracturing his ankle which seems like forever ago. Andy thre 15 pitches and drew praise from Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Andy is expected to throw another bullpen session on Friday and hopefully stretching himself out to 30 pitches. We need Andy more then ever so PLEASE come back healthy, effective, and quickly.

Yankees @ Rays 9/5/12

Alex Rodriguez double ties the game at 1-1

Russell Martin has a two rbi ground rule double to put the Yankees up 3-1

Russell Martin solo home run puts him above the mendoza line and gives the Yankees a 4-3 lead

#untuck 6-4

The Yankees will go into Tropicana Field tonight looking to avoid a three game sweep and stay in first place in the AL East. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound with the task of giving us 7 or 8 great innings and will be facing off with Matt Moore. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on MLB Network and YES Network.

Lineups

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

Go Yankees!!

Yankees... Win.... Now!

Let's just get to the point here ever since the All Star break the Yankees have sucked. They have, to this point, blown a 10 game lead in the division and look like at best a first round exit in the playoffs. Granted a lot can change in the next 27 games but I am not one to look too far ahead anymore. Everyone who knows me, reads my blog posts, or follows me on twitter knows I am not one to equivocate or mince words. I am a straight shooter because straight talk is easily understood. This will be my first and my last rant calling out the Yankees and their players to get their head out of their behinds and start playing like we, the guys and girls paying their salaries, expect them to. Get it done and start getting it done now!

This Day In Yankees History : 9/5/12

In 2007 the Yankees hobbled 3B Alex Rodriguez, who prior to the game was seen limping to the hospital to get his ankle examined, belted two home runs in one inning against the Seattle Mariners. Alex was only the fourth player to ever achieve the feat.

Yankees legendary announcer Bob Shepard announces his last game at Yankees Stadium. He was the Yankees announcer since 1951 and did so over 4500 times in his years as the Yankees announcer. Bob Shepard was 96 years old.