Robinson Cano’s career has been a battle of improvement. And, for the most part, it has been extremely positive. After nearly winning the batting title in 2006, and hitting .306 in 2007, things looked pretty good for Cano. But, once he hit .271 in 2008, the Yankees needed an answer.
The answer was Cano’s aggressiveness. In 2008, he had just 26 walks, the 12th lowest in the Major Leagues among qualifying batters. He swung at 52% of the pitches he saw, well above the league average of 46%.
By 2010, where Cano ...
I'll admit that I wasn't always the biggest Marcus Thames fan.I hated his long swing. I hated how he played the outfield like a foreign exchange student in gym class. I even hated his name—and no, not his oddly pronounced last name.Has there ever been a likable Marcus? Really? No...no there hasn't.But just when it looked like Thames had a chance to make my Mount Rushmore of most disliked Yankees—Rogers, Brown, Pavano, Mondesi—something strange happened.Marcus Thames became...a fearsome slugger.These things happen in baseball, but this is especially true for the ...
The Yankees never really planned on using Dustin Moseley this season. They signed him as insurance and only called him up so he wouldn’t opt-out of his contract.
Then Andy Pettitte went down, and he became an important member of the 2010 Yankees.
He hasn’t even done that poorly, in his starts the Yankees are 7-4. He himself is 4-2 with a 4.86 ERA.
Those numbers are respectable, however, this Cinderella story is in danger of becoming a pumpkin as evidenced by last night’s 4.1 inning/4 earned run performance. Even in an emergency ...
The Yankees are taking on the A’s again today and might not need as much offense with Phil Hughes on the mound. A strong start today would probably go very far in easing the fear of the playoff rotation.
Here are some notes:
Alex Rodriguez went through a pregame workout with no problems yesterday. It appears he’s on track to return September 5th when he’s eligible.
Lance Berkman made his first of two rehab appearances yesterday and went 2-for-5.
Alfredo Aceves also made another rehab appearance and ...
Marcus Thames hit his sixth home run in as many games as the Yankees slugged their way past the Oakland A’s 11-5.
Here are some notes:
Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup and hit a third inning home run that put the Yankees ahead 4-3.
Dustin Moseley started and did not have his best stuff. He lasted just 4.1 innings, allowed four runs and walked four.
Javier Vazquez came on in relief and pitched as well as he’s pitched all season. His fastball looked good, often clocking ...
We've seen it throughout the years, as teams encounter difficult decisions, when long-serving veterans and fan-favorites enter the inevitable, athletic decline phase of their careers.
No one can escape the clutches of the dreaded father time, when a player's body simply cannot do the same things that it could during the prime of his youth. Maybe it's the eyesight, maybe the legs feel heavier and the footwork slower, the hands a tick behind Major League fastballs.
For all their apparent super-human qualities, athletes face a ...
CC Sabathia leads the American League in wins. And now he's been tagged as the front runner for the 2010 American League Cy Young award.
His wins are pretty, but he certainly hasn't been the best pitcher in the American League. The 7.67 runs the Yankees give him in support per game have certainly helped his Win-Loss numbers. Sabathia has given up five earned runs in three of his decisions where he either got a no-decision or win, because the Yankees offense bailed him out.
Now I'm not trying to say ...
Through history, many players have entered baseball's most hallowed hall. The list of players is numerous: 54 starting pitchers, 16 catchers, 18 first basemen, 17 second basemen, 10 third basemen, 21 shortstops, and 60 outfielders have plaques in the Hall of Fame. Even nine umpires have gained entrance to Cooperstown. Some claim third base, or even catcher, is the most underrepresented position in the Hall of Fame. However, only five relief pitchers have ever been elected: Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Dennis Eckersley, and Goose Gossage. With reliance on ...
Roger Clemens plead not guilty to the perjury charges levied against him Monday, according to a report from the Associated Press. Clemens was accused of lying to Congress during a hearing regarding the use of steroids and HGH in baseball.If he's convicted, he faces jail time of up to 30 years, and a fine up to $1.5 million. But the real damage was done today, as Clemens' not guilty plea has already sealed his fate.Here are 10 reasons why Clemens' Hall of Fame dreams were dashed today. Begin Slideshow
With a nice series win over the weekend in Chicago, combined with the Tampa Bay Rays taking two of three against the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees now have a 6.5-game lead over the Red Sox for a playoff spot.
While no lead is insurmountable (right, 2008 Mets?), there is a really good chance the Yankees will be playoff-bound.
With the Minnesota Twins now having a 1.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers for the second best division record, it might even be better for the Yankees to not win the division.
Their pitching ...