Results tagged ‘ Phillies ’

The Top Three’s

Here are this weeks top three…

teams on the rise:

  1. Seattle Mariners
  2. Baltimore Orioles
  3. Philadelphia Phillies

teams on the decline:

  1. Anaheim Angels
  2. Toronto Blue Jays
  3. Boston Red Sox

free agent signings:

  1. John Lackey to the Red Sox
  2. Chone Figgins to the Mariners
  3. Hideki Matsui to the Angels (edit: thanks to Evan Coleman for the correction.)

trades:

  1. Curtis Granderson to the Yankees
  2. Cliff Lee to the Mariners
  3. Milton Bradley to the Mariners

available free agents:

  1. Matt Holliday
  2. Jason Bay
  3. Ben Sheets

If you have any questions or comments on any of the picks I made, leave a comment on this entry and I’ll reply to you.

Chat or Chuck: Pedro Martinez

I have to blog about it, I’m sorry. According to a report in the NY Daily News, Yankees 2B Robinson Cano said that he would like Pedro to come to the Yankees. Pedro has consistently said that he wants to pitch in 2010, and has made it clear that he wants it to be for the Phillies. When asked about the Yankees, he kind of dodged the question. We have to do it, lets take a look.

Why Chat?:

  • He’s led the league in ERA five times.
  • He has a 2.93 career ERA.
  • He has led the league in strikeouts three times.
  • He has led the league in WHIP six times.
  • He is a three time Cy Young winner.
  • He has led the league in H/9 and SO/9 five times.
  • He has led the league in SO/BB four times.

Why Chuck?:

  • “I actually realized that I was somebody important,
    because I caught the attention of 60,000 people, plus the whole world
    watching a guy that if you reverse time back 15 years ago, I was
    sitting under a mango tree without 50 cents to pay for a bus.”
  • “I know I achieved a lot, and I know I have my little share of respect.”

Chat or Chuck?:
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck!!!!!!! Im, sorry, but Cano should have kept his mouth shut to begin with. Nobody talked about him on the Yankees until now. Yes, the Yankees now realize they have a chance to sign one of the best pitchers in the history of the game, but I don’t listen to the kind of junk he says on a daily basis for ANYBODY. Plus, I don’t want to give up the “who’s your daddy,” even if it is for just one game a year.

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Poll of the Day:
Should the Yankee consider Martinez?(survey)

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And the Yankees are World Champions!

’09 Yanks nab 27th World Championship.

World Series Champs.pngOn December 12th, 2008, A.J. Burnett signed an $82.5 million contract with the Yankees. I sent an email to my dad who as at work with the link to the article on the signing. My dad replied by saying, “don’t count your chickens until the eggs hatch.”

327 days and 28 million seconds later, the Yankees passed around their 27th World Series trophy, for the first time in nine years. From CC’s horrible start on opening day, to A-Rod’s walk off in the fifteenth inning against the Red Sox, the Yankees have climbed every mountain, jumped every hurdle and now stand atop every team in Major League Baseball.

“You realize how difficult it is to get here,” Yankees captain Derek
Jeter said. “I never lost sight of the fact that it’s very difficult to
get to the World Series, let alone to win one. You realize and remember
how hard it is.”

Yanks Celebrate.jpgIn his potential final game as a Yankee, Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBI’s in a game, sealing up his World Series MVP honors.

“This is what the Steinbrenner family has strived for, year after year
– to deliver to the city of New York,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi
said. “To be able to deliver this to the Boss, the stadium that he
created and the atmosphere around here, it’s very gratifying to all of
us.”

Probably most gratifying to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. The king of
baseball has now sealed his resume. Alex Rodriguez has now won a
championship and is now the true champion that we all know him to be.

Andy Pettitte stepped up big for the Yankees on three days rest, and in possibly his final game in pinstripes, helped get his sixth ring.

“This is what you set out to do when you go to Spring Training,”
Pettitte said. “It’s a great feeling to be able to accomplish with the
rest of the team. This is what you play for.”

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Poll of the Day:
Which of the following free agents should the Yankees resign? (Select as many as you want)(opinion)

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Thank you, Andy

Pettitte 11:4.jpgAs Andy Pettitte walked off the mound in World Series game 6, the crowd serenaded him with epic cheers, showing their appreciation for this mans determination and dedication for the past 15 seasons. The 37 year old took a seat in the dugout, with the anticipation of his careers end in near sight.

In his final start of the ’09 season, he pitched 5.2 innings of 3 run, 5 hit ball, walking 5 and striking out 3. In his long passionate career with the Yankees, the two time all-star won 192 games, struck out 148 batters and won 5 championships, with number 6 in his near hopes.

Not to say Pettitte couldn’t resign next year, in fact, there is a good chance he will. But, if today was his final start, I would like share my, along with this entire cities appreciaition for everything he has accomplished on this team. Thank you, Andy Pettitte.

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Mo ‘em down

Best closer of all time may go for three.

If there is a recurring theme in this series, it’s the inability for either team to put it away. Up and down each of these teams, there have been holes in this series. It’s fair to say that whoever manages to plug those holes up, will win the series.

It’s also fair to say that the Yankees have the clear advantage regardless of anything else. There at home where they had more success than any team in baseball, and, they have control over the only sure thing left in this series: Mariano Rivera.

So, we are left with yet another issue. How do you use the one sure thing left in the series to win the series. With a lead in the latter part of the game, Rivera is a sure go.

Whether that situation will present itself is yet to be seen. But, assuming it does, I think it is fair to say that the Yankees will, under no circumstances, watch a late inning lead get blown with Rivera sitting out in the bullpen.

In the seventh inning tonight, the stage will be set. With a two or one Yankee lead, the decision will begin to mount upon Girardi’s shoulders. Do you give the ball to the greatest reliever of all time and say, “bring us home”? Or do you play the safe route, and ensure yourself that you will have him in game 7?

The last time Rivera pitched more than two innings in a postseason game was just a few weeks ago. Rivera pitched 2.1 innings against the Angels and gave up no runs and one hit in game 2 of the ALCS. He has pitched three innings in a postseason game twice, the last coming in 2003 against the Red Sox, another scoreless performance.

So, you can ensure the champagne, or you can ensure that you will have Rivera for as long as you want in a potential game 7.

But, the decision won’t be made by us. Here is a recent update from Yankee reporter @BryanHoch via Twitter.com: “Joe Girardi believes the Yankees have Mariano Rivera for at least two innings tonight — “Maybe a litter more,” he said.

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Poll of the Day:
Should the Yankees use Rivera for more than 2 innings?(survey software)

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The rest debate does not rest

Pettitte to start game 6 on 3 days rest.

Pettitte 11:3.pngAndy Pettitte gets the nod tomorrow in game 6 and will be pitching on 3 days rest for the first time since 2006. That starts the debate. We started hearing about it yesterday, and we haven’t stopped hearing about it since: The ineffectiveness of starters on 3 days rest.

Starters in the World Series on 3 days rest are 12-36 in the last 48 decisions. I’ve been watching Mike Francesa a lot today, and he has brought up that number about 50 times.

Here’s my counter. In 2009, starters have a lower ERA on 3 days rest then on 4 days, 5 days and 6 days rest. In the last 10 World Series starts on 3 days rest, 6 of them have been quality starts, including 6 starts with less than 2 runs allowed, a complete game, an average of 6.1 innings pitched per start, and an ERA 3.73. Those numbers are not to bad at all.

So, you can go with the recent history or you can go with the information used by the critics that dates back to the 80′s when the game was completely different.

Not to mention that of the last 10 World Series starts on 3 days rest, two of them were tomorrows starter, Andy Pettitte. In those 2 starts, he pitched 17 innings and gave up ZERO runs. So, all of the sudden, the stats are completely in Petttittes favor tomorrow.

But, of course, Mike Francesa had a counter argument for that. He pointed out that both of those Pettitte starts were a long time ago, 6 and 13 years respectively. Mike said that Andy is an older man now and is not the same pitcher.

Okay, so lets look at the older pitchers on 3 days rest. Lets look at pitchers of the same age as Pettitte (37), on 3 days rest in the World Series. It has been done 4 times. They combine for a 3-1 record, 3 complete games, 2 complete game shutouts and a 2.90 ERA.

If you look at the relevant stats, not the ones that are convienient for the Yankee haters, then you realize that Pettitte realy has the advantage going on 3 days rest. I don’t know how much these stats can tell us, but if the critics claim their stats will predict something, then I’ll claim mine will to, and these stats give Pettitte the advantage.

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Poll of the Day:
Does it make a difference for Pettitte pitching on 3 days rest?(trends)

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Phlying back to NY

Series resumes Wednesday in New York with Yanks up 3-2.


Burnett 11:3.png

The Yankees and Phillies are back in New York and will take their workouts today at the Stadium.
As if the Yankee loss in game 5 wouldn’t cause enough uproar among Yankee fans, there is also the Burnett debate smeared over it. 
Girardi has made some questionable moves at times, but seriously, in any baseball game, who would you rather have on the mound, Burnett or Gaudin? There was no way that Girardi was going to tell this huge offseason investment to miss out on the clinching game.
Burnett going on short rest also sets up Pettitte — with the most postseason wins of all time — to pitch the clinching game in New York against Pedro Martinez. That situation doesn’t sound to bad to me. Not to mention you have CC to fall back on in game 7, just like the ALCS.
Pettitte on short rest has a 4.15 ERA in his career and hasn’t done it since he was an Astro in 2006. Forget the numbers, Pettitte has pitched in the postseason more than any other pitcher in the history of the game, I don’t think we have to worry about anything.
For those of you playing flashbacks of 2004 over and over in your head, let me calm you down. The Yankees led the league with a .704 winning percentage at home. They outscored opponents by 101 runs and hit 136 homers in their new park.
And another thing, for all of the chaos and commotion taking place in New York over this game 5 loss, let me tell you something. The Yankees went into the defending champions home and beat them 2 out of 3. The only pitcher they have lost to is the Phillies best and the Yankees have a chance to clinch in their new home with the most experienced pitcher in the world on the mound. What are you complaining about?
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Poll of the Day:
Who should have pitched game 5 for the Yankees?(polls)

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World Series Game 5 Lineups

Check out the Game Preview


New York Yankees (3-1, 103-59)

Yankees Logo Special.jpg

Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Brett Gardner CF
Jose Molina C
A.J. Burnett P
Pitching: A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04)

Phillies (1-3, 93-69)
phillies.jpgJimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Carlos Ruiz C
Cliff Lee P

Pitching: Cliff Lee (7-4, 3.39)


Major League Baseball has approved the Yankees request to remove Melky Cabrera (hamstring) from the active roster and activate Ramiro Peña.

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Poll of the Day:
What will be the result of game 5?(poll)

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World Series Game 5 Preview

Yankees Logo Script.gifWorld Series 2009.gifPhillies Logo Script.gif

A-Rod 11:1.png

The Yanks are up 3-1 in the 2009 World Series and with a win tonight, can lock up their 27th world championship. The Phillies, on the other hand, will look to send this series back to New York for a game 6 and hopefully, for them, a game 7.
The Yankees pulled off another heroic win last night. A 4-4 game going into the top of the ninth, and with two outs the Yankees got something going. Damon stole second and third base on the same play due to the extreme shift that was on for the left handed hitting Teixeira. A-Rod drove him in with a ringing double down the left field line and Posada drove in two more with a single. 
“We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” said last nights hero, Johnny Damon. “We’ve won three games and that’s not what we set out to do. We would like the fourth, and when this playoff time started, we set out to win 11. We’re at 10, and hopefully we can get number 11.”
Win number 11 would give the Yankees their 27th title and their first since the Subway Series 9 seasons ago.
“We play as a team and play like every game is our last game,” Chase Utley said. “So that’s not going to change how we go out there.”

Here is a summary of the game 5 pitching matchup:
Yankees probable pitcher:

A.J. Burnett.jpg
A.J. Burnett
#34 RHP
(13-9) 4.04 ERA 207.0 IP 195 SO 1.401 WHIP
Last Game: WS Game 2: W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
Phillies probable pitcher:

Cliff Lee.jpg
Cliff Lee
#34 LHP
(14-13) 3.22 ERA 231.2 IP 181 SO 1.243 WHIP
Last Game: WS Game 1: W, 9.0 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
So, the stage is all set. It will be the strikeout leader in 2008 against the complete game shutout pitcher in game 1. Either we return to New York with Yankees up 3-2, or the Yankees will be handed their 27th world series trophy later tonight.
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Poll of the Day:
What will be the result of game 5?(polls)

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Yanks scare off Phils with Halloween victory

Yanks take 2-1 lead in Philli opener.


Halloween Sign.png

Eight years ago today, Derek Jeter lined a ball into the right field stands in Yankee Stadium, winning the game for the Yankees in game four of the World Series. That was the first ever hit in November baseball.
Today, the Yankees continued their Halloween success. Going into the night, the series was tied 1-1 after the first two games took place in New York. After an hour and a half delay due to rain, both teams took the field for the third match-up of this World Series. 
The Phillies struck first in the second inning. A Jason Werth homer, an RBI walk and a sac fly gave the Phillies a quick 3-0 lead. 
The Yankees struck back in the fourth. A-Rod hit a two run homer that included the first overturned home run in World Series history. It was also A-Rod’s first World Series hit in his career.
Cole Hamels started out very strong. But that didn’t last long. He ended the game going 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs. Those are the same exact numbers he put up the last time he faced the Yankees. 
On the other side, despite a rocky second inning, Pettitte was very strong. He struck out seven batters in 6 innings pitched. He was backed by a perfect bullpen, despite a home run allowed by Phil Hughes who struggles to find a groove this postseason.
Jason Werth added a second homer later on in the game. That is the second time this series that a Philly player has had two homers in a game.
Andy Pettitte also made the highlight reel, recording the first Yankee RBI in a World Series game by a pitcher since Jim Bouton did it in 1964. 
Another big moment came in the eighth inning when Matsui came in to pinch hit and hit a home run. The last Yankee to do that was Jason Giambi in the 2003 WS against the Marlins.
A lot of big moments in this game, all ending in an 8-5 victory for the Yankees. They lead 2-1 going into game four, which is the same situation they faced in the ALCS. I think we would all accept they same outcome.
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Poll of the Day:
Who is the player of the game?(polls)

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