Clueless Joe: ALDS Game 2 Edition

Thinking hard, or hardly thinking?

Let me start off by saying that I am a fan of Joe Girardi, I defend most of his choices but some of his moves in yesterdays game absolutely baffled me.

First move might not be on Girardi, but why are the Yankees pitching to Miguel Cabrera? I know that it was early in the game, and that the night before the Yanks pitching held Cabrera down but since 2009 Miggy has hit atleast .370 against them with 7 home runs and 18 RBI. I think its time for the Yanks to get a new scouting report on him, cause its pretty obvious that the current one doesn't work.

The second move was pinch hitting Eric Chavez for Brett Gardner in the bottom of the seventh. Chavez has shown that he has no pop left in his bat (5 home runs since 2008), also bats left handed like Gardner and is much slower. The move was essentially trading Brett Gardner up for someone of lesser value, atleast with Gardner at the plate he could beat out an infield grounder, and you would have speed on the bases. In the end Chavez went down on three straight pitches, looking at the third strike.

Just like the rosin bag, the Yanks chances
of winning dropped.

The final move Girardi made was in the top of the ninth, sending Luis Ayala out to the mound when the game was 4-1 Tigers. Luis Ayala apparently must have some good black mail on Girardi cause he had no business being in the game. The night before Girardi brought him into a eight run lead, and Ayala had a tough time throwing a strike, it got so bad that Mariano Rivera had to come into the game to close it out. Soriano and Robertson have not gotten into a game since last Tuesday, they have more then enough rest to throw an inning in game two and then again in games three and four, this is after all the playoffs. Instead Girardi managed it like it was just another regular season game, the out come was Ayala giving up a run to help the Tigers win the game. The run loomed large when in the bottom of the ninth the Yankees held a mini rally against Jose Valverde. With the score 5-3 the Yanks had first and second, so the tying run was on first not second had the run not scored.

Game three now proves to be a huge game, as CC and Verlander face off again, this time in the motor city. If the Yanks can't beat the Tigers in game three the season would rest in the hands of ::gulp:: A.J. Burnett.

Believe in Burnett

A.J. Burnett takes the mound for the first time in 2011 against the Tigers today. Burnett comes off his worst season, but it's a new year.

A.J. has always been a bit of a head case, who can forget him getting a random black eye last year? That's why this start is important for Burnett, he needs to get off to a decent starts so the media and fans don't get on his back. Today is that perfect opportunity, the Tigers aren't that impressive offensively other then Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera and Burnett will be opposed by the hittable Brad Penny.

A win today, and the confidence train can get rolling for Burnett and the bombers.

Yankees offseason update: Jeter, Pettitte, Cliff Lee & Cano in the MVP ballot

After a rather quiet start to the off season today the Yankees managed to grab a few headlines today. Lets run through a few of the latest updates.

• At first reports surfaced that the Yankees were going to offer Kerry Wood and Javier Vazquez arbitration. But after further reports, it looks as if the Yanks are going to just offer it to Javy, with the understanding that Vazquez would deny it, that way the Yanks could get a draft pick.
• Reports surfaced a few weeks ago that Andy Pettitte was leaning towards retirement, but it now looks as if he is leaning towards coming back for one final season with the bombers. This would be great news for the Yanks if they could lock up Andy, then they would just need one more pitcher Cliff Lee to finish off the rotation.
• It looked as if the pursuit for Cliff Lee had finally got under way with rumors that the Yanks had offered 6 years $140 million. But after reports from the NY Daily News, no such offer has been made yet. That would have been alot of money for the first known offer, for a guy that is going to be 32 and has only been an elite pitcher since 2008. For the whole scoop check out MLB Trade Rumors.

• The discussions between Derek Jeter and the Yanks have gotten off to a rocky start, and even has Brian Cashman questioning if Jeter wants to remain in the Bronx. I know I had never expected the negotiations to go like this, but both sides are wrong. The Yankees shouldn't be playing such hardball with a player that has helped elevate the franchise over the last 15 years. They should look at all the ways hes helped bolster the franchise name, and how much more he will in the future as an ambassador of the Yankees and of the game of baseball. Jeter is the face of the franchise and will be for the rest of his life. On the other hand Jeter also should do the right thing and put his ego aside and just sign a reduced deal. It would look better on him, and he would still have the chance to make millions on endorsements.
• Robbie Cano finished third in the AL MVP voting. I understand that he may not have been first but Miguel Cabrera even finished before him. Its called Most Valuable Player for a reason, how much value does Miguel Cabrera have for a team that wasn't close to making the playoffs? Cano carried the Yanks at times during the season, but I've said it all along the real MVP for the Yankees should be CC Sabathia.

Yankee Stadium Experience 8/18 Yanks vs Tigers

8/18 tix with Jorge and Mo on them.

It was time to head back up to the Bronx, this time to see former Yankee Johnny Damon and the Tigers. I had on my Yankees Damon jersey and was looking forward to seeing him during batting practice in left field. Once I got to the stadium, it was drizzling and Damon was shagging fly balls in center field. Damon would eventually head in to take his turn hitting but by that time security had kicked all the fans out of the field level that didn't belong.

So it was up to my seats in the bleachers, I had noticed it a few times but in the bleachers behind section 237/238 area there is a sign that says "Advanced ticket kiosk", yet no kiosk is in sight  only hot dog and beer vendor.

Wholly Guacamole nachos for $8.50

Since my friend and I had some time to kill before the game we grabbed nachos from Wholly Guacamole. For $8.50 they gave you a fair amount of nachos along with as many toppings as you want. In other stadium news I also saw somebody actually buy a shirt and program from the souvenir stand located below my seats. For most of the season, it seemed as if nobody even would look at the small stand but i guess tonight was their lucky night. I'll never understand paying $30 for a player tee when if you go to modells you can get them for $18.

The line ups were announced and Damon got a warm reception, nothing Matsui like but still a nice cheer, Damon was 1-3 with a stolen base. It was Jeremy Bonderman who was once suppose to be a star against Dustin Moseley. The Yanks got a quick lead on back to back homers by Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano, but not before Brett Gardner was hit by a pitch. The Gardner hit by pitch was something I had expected after Monday when he slid hard into second to try and break up a double play, Carlos Guillen was hurt on the play and has missed the past few games.

Moseley was so-so for his five innings he was in the game, he did give up two bombs to Miguel Cabrera (who had hit a ball 15 rows up in the left field bleachers during batting practice and left a dent on the bench). But the Yanks offense woke up, even Ramiro Pena joined the cause with a RBI triple (who needs A-Rod !). Curtis Granderson also would add a homer against his former team. Granderson seems ready to break out of his season long slump, although he did strike out against a lefty with the bases loaded later in the game.

For this game I was sitting in my bleacher seats in 235, at the start of the game even with the Yanks offense putting some runs on the board the crowd really didn't seem into the game. By the fifth with the Yanks holding a 7-4 lead the bleachers got a bit rowdier. It started with a fight a few sections over between two girls, both being ejected. Thought out the game I heard a few Detroit sucks chants and the ol' A-hole chant (not exactly that way but you should get the point).

As the Yankees pounded away at the Tigers holding a 9-4 lead in the eighth, the Yanks called Chad Gaudin in. Gaudin hit the first batter Miguel Cabrera and then proceeded to load the bases. A grand slam would have lead to the lead cut to one, but apparently to some it didn't matter. The people in section 235 were to busy trying to start the wave. The wave starters kept trying and started to get off the wave a few times, and since 235 of the bleachers is right below, yet next to the main section. One fan was trying to convince the wave starters to start the wave towards the main section, while leaning over the railing I made sure to tell him to jump. The Yanks managed to get out of the inning by only allowing one run, and for myself I was lucky that the fans finally stopped trying to do the wave.

This is not the same sign, but you get the point

The Yankees would nail down the 9-5 victory by bringing in the great Mariano Rivera to finish it. Through out the game I had noticed that the security at the stadium now holds small stop signs at the top of each section. On the sign it reads to please be curtious and wait until the end of the at bat to go to your seat. It is a great idea since it can get really annoying with people walking up and down sections, but the bleacher guards didn't have any sign. I guess the figure that for the fans paying the cheapest tickets, it doesn't matter if they get bothered with people moving around all game.

Overall it was one of the rowdier games of the season, even though it wasn't against an opponent that the Yanks have had a long history with. It should be noted that this was the bombers first win that I had attended since June, I had been on a three game losing streak. The final from the Bronx : Yankees 9 Tigers 5

Next probable game September 1st vs the Oakland A's.

Oh, and one last note, when Jorge Posada comes up I am all for the hip,hip Jorge chants. But if nobody is responding please do not continue to yell it. It just seems silly when a fan keeps yelling hip hip.

Some Pictures from the game :

Looks like this places has closed down, it was right across from the old stadium.

Over cast Yankee Stadium.

View from left field during batting practice.

What was once a tray of nachos is now empty. Nice Yankees logo at the bottom.

The shop that I never see anyone buy stuff from until tonight.

The crowd early in the game.

May have been a quiet crowd at the start but once the camera guy comes around people wake up and try and get on the big screen.

The people in my row kept moving over and eventually this is what my size of my seat turned into.