Bronx, N.Y., May 22, 2009 — It didn’t take the Phillies long to come up with a first impression of the new Yankee Stadium. A.J. Burnett’s first-pitch fastball to Jimmy Rollins at 7:09 landed several rows back in the right field stands before the clock advanced to 7:10. True, the next pitch that hit Chase Utley didn’t seem nearly as neighborly, but once Phillie righty Brett Myers threw his second pitch behind Derek Jeter 10 or so minutes later and both benches were warned, the new place became downright civil yet again. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: May 2009
First Base Steps Forward
Bronx, N.Y., May 18, 2009 — Ever since Donald Arthur Mattingly called it quits once his team finally reached the playoffs after years of meritorious service, first base may have supplanted center field as the position to fill on the Yankees. Both Tino Martinez and Jason Giambi initially struggled under that mantle’s weight until each secured a spot for themselves with early-season grand slam home runs. Mark Teixeira has battled through a tough stretch with this early as well, but he has broken the mold. It’s hard to point to one particular at bat, one defensive play, one individual game where Tex overcame his struggles. But make no mistake, he has arrived on the star stage. Continue reading
The Damon Deck
Bronx, N.Y., May 17, 2009 — So how is the new Yankee Palace going to play as the season unfolds? Will balls continue to fly out in right center as the months grow warm, then hot, and the winds grow still? Will the team warm to the new Stadium and regularly win here, or lose too often, as had been the case before their recently begun homestand? Patterns emerge over time, and trends need to be verified through game after game. But at least for the time being Johnny Damon has snagged onto the second deck in right field as his preferred depository for his home runs. Continue reading
Less (Pitches) = More
Bronx, N.Y., May 16, 2009 — Agonizing through an endless top of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon, I was thinking about one of the earliest games some kids play in their baseball-learning process. “Bombs away” is the way I and a string of nieces and nephews refer to the game that came to mind, a pastime that has the player(s) located near a convenient stream, river, pond, lake, or even bigger body of water. A partaker picks up a rock, stone, shell, stick, or some other object and tosses it in the water while yelling “Bombs away!” Artistes sometimes go for flourishes such as skipping stones, but really, the splash is the hoped-for (and almost always achieved) outcome. A big spash is a crowd pleaser, but bottom line, this game is about quantity, not quality. The more you can throw, resulting in more splashes, the better. Continue reading
A Lame Loss
Bronx, N.Y., May 5, 2009 — Of all the negatives that could and will come out of yet another Yankee loss to the Red Sox Tuesday night, one argument will be no closer to being settled. Should Joba start or should he relieve was a beside-the-point calculation in this one, because the 21 pitches the Red Sox punished for five hits and four runs starting the game were poor-quality pitches. The mounting losses point to several Yankee season-long concerns, like a devastated bullpen, their two most expensive free-agent signees stumbling badly out of the box, a weak bench, and an offense that seems always to be waiting for a long ball to score the next run. Continue reading
Mayday Mayhem
Bronx, N.Y., May 1, 2009 — Friday night was not a gorgeous night. And despite a quick 4-0 Yankee lead in the first inning in Yankee stadium, it hardly featured a classic game. The four-run outburst was achieved on just two hits, with a huge assist from Anaheim (sorry, one city mention per team is my rule) righty Jered Weaver, who walked the first two batters he faced. A fielder’s choice, sac fly, single, and homer (Jorge Posada) followed, and the Yanks had a nice lead. Continue reading