Haters gonna hate

The Yankees signed Andrew Miller to a four-year $36 billion deal, when this happened the speculation was that the Yankees wouldn’t try to keep David Robertson, which turned out to be true, no offer was made to D-Rob from the Yankees and he signed a four-year $46 million deal with the White Sox. He will be their new closer.

While I was expecting to hear the news that Robertson signed elsewhere, it still hurt to read the news. I briefly, for about 30 seconds, considered quitting the Yankees, it was their fault after all, but where would I go? The White Sox? After all a team is not one player.

As closer for the Yankees in 2014 Robertson had 44 save opportunities and was successful 39 times. He struck out 96 batters over 64-1/3 innings. Andrew Miller has been signed as a reliever, not a closer which leads me to wonder who will be closer for the Yankees next year.

One of the things the Yankees are criticized about is their lack of ‘home grown’ talent. “The Yankees buy their championships.” Here was a player who came up through the Yankee system, who was home-grown talent, who took over for Mariano Rivera, the best closer in baseball and did an admirable job. And the Yankees traded him essentially, for Andrew *bleeping* Miller. I think that is what I am maddest about.

But I am just a fan, and I will get over this. Baseball is a business after all, albeit one that breaks your heart.

Nova belongs in the majors, yes or no? {{YES}}

~~ Yankees 7, White Sox 2 ~~

Of course that is just my opinion, which doesn’t count for much, but he held the White Sox to 1 run over 7.2 innings, Robertson came in for the rest of the inning, I don’t remember why, maybe just for work, Noesi gave up a home run, then just turned around and got the last batter out. This was after Martin padded the Yankees lead with a 3 run home run.

It still remains to be determined what will happen to Nova, of course one wonders why they can’t just ship A.J. out and keep Phil and Nova, but I don’t think that will happen.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Winning in spite of ….

~~ Yankees 18, White Sox 7 ~~

No I won’t go there, I have always defended A.J., always looked for the good, and this is how he repays me! 13 run lead and he went from being a pitcher, to throwing batting practice. I saw this before, with the Blue Jays, that time there wasn’t a lead to give up and the Yankees lost, this time, Joe pulled him after 4.1 innings and put in Cory Wade. AJ was mad, didn’t wait for Joe, walked off the mound and pulled his jersey off as he went into the tunnel. Cory got the win, Ayala and Soriano pitched scoreless. So much for blaming A.J. previous loses on no run support. He could not complain about no run support here! This just makes me mad, and I don’t like to get mad at any of the Yankees. Especially one I defended in the past.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

The Yankees are a history making team

~~ Yankees 6, White Sox 0 ~~

After a rain delay, with no rain, all eyes were on Phil Hughes. To say he pitched good is an understatement. It wasn’t a no-hitter but it was a shut out. His line: 6 IP, 3 H, no runs, no errors, 4 K’s, his ERA is inching its way down to 6.93, then the rain came down. So Phil pitched a complete game.

While everyone’s attention was focused on Phil, Russell snuck in with a home run and Mark set a new MLB record by homering from both sides of the plate for the 12th time in his career.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

The big man has 16

~~ Yankees 3, White Sox 2 ~~

That’s 16 wins and Mo has 28 saves. The headline says that CC was not dominant, but still he pitched 8 innings and got the win. I would say the TEAM was not dominant since they only got 3 runs, but as I say, a win is a win is a win.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Sending the White Sox home

~~Yankees 12, White Sox 3~~

Once again the Yankee starter went deep. This time it was C.C. Sabathia pitching 7 innings, the only runs the White Sox got were unearned.

The first two runs the Yankees got were without a hit, then in the 5th Gardner started with a home run, he also got the first out. In all there were 12 batters, the inning was 32 minutes and six different hitters drove in runs. Then in the 7th inning Nick Swisher hit his first home run of the season. Actually on his first base hit of the game he had the biggest grin, like he felt things were turning around.

Lance Pendleton came in to pitch the last two innings. Not a save situation, but he pitched two scoreless innings.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

How do you spell relief? Bartolo Colon

He doesn’t have a commanding presence on the mound. He doesn’t have Andy Pettitte’s stare, or David Robertson’s high socks. He doesn’t stand tall on the mound like A.J. Burnett, in fact, in comparison with most Yankee pitchers you could describe him as short and dumpy (some unkind person called him Big Bart). He doesn’t have a cutter like Mariano Rivera. What he does have is remarkable control of his sinker and and fastball that tops out at 96 mph. He has the ability to pitch like the former Cy Young winner and 2 time All Star that he is. He is Bartolo Colon and he is simply amazing, sit down Mr. Konerko, you have been whiffed by the Great Bartolo.

On April 3 when he pitched against Detroit his ERA was 9.00, with each game it has come down till this game with the White Sox, his ERA is now 2.77 and his WHIP is 1.12 (I think that’s good).

Also I need to send my apologies to Phil Hughes for saying he needs to get his shit together, he may be suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome. If he is he might need surgery (a twelve hour procedure that includes removing part of a rib) and it could possibly be the end of his season.

~~Yankees 3, White Sox 1~~

Bartolo pitched 8 innings, 99 pitches, 1 earned run. Mo came in for the 9th and got his 8th save of the season.

Teixeira left game with right shoulder soreness. He dove to get a ball during the last game and he dove again tonight and aggravated it.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Once again, starting to H.A.T.E. the White Sox

There is no way the Yankees can win the series, the best they can get is a split. This time the Yankees were ahead in the top of the 8th, then were a run behind at the middle of the 8th. It was a combination of Soriano giving up a two run home run and Greg Gibson’s shrinking strike zone.

~~White Sox 3, Yankees 2~~

So the Yankees were a run behind going into the bottom of the ninth, Jeter got on base, and Alex hit a ball that went to the wall, and this little brat Lillibridge caught the ball. He did the same to Cano. So we lost the first two games of the series and Yankees cannot win this series. This is the first time this season Yankees have lost two games in a row.

Still hurts. And of course Kasey is blaming Soriano, and I guess he is partially to blame, but there was no run support.

On the plus side, Ivan Nova pitched into the 7th inning. He did a good job and got an ovation when he left. He did not however, get the win but his ERA is now down to 5.82 from a choking 7.63 after his last start with Toronto.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

5/2 NY Yankees 12 vs Chicago White Sox 3

There were a few changes in the line up today, Alex Rodriguez was off, as first Girardi said he just needed a rest, then later it came out that he was a little sore. Ramiro Pena replaced him at 3rd base, then later Jeter came out, Pena moved to short stop and Francisco Cervelli took over 3rd base. Nick Johnson was at first and Mark Teixeira was the designated hitter. Curtis Granderson was hurt yesterday, he pulled a groin muscle rounding second so Brett Gardner was put in center field and Marcus Thames was in left field.

Another stellar performance by Phil Hughes, and the rest of the team was phenomenal. Every time the ball was hit to left field I was holding my breath, Marcus Thames is not as good defensively as he is offensively. But he did fine, he actually made a great sliding catch. It looked to me that as he was running toward the ball he was yelling that he had it, then when he jumped up with the ball still in his glove everybody was clapping him on his back. Phil Hughes pitched 7 scoreless innings while the Yankees scored 12. The CWA were shut out until the ninth inning. Mark Melancon was the relief pitcher and the eighth inning was scoreless but in the ninth, one of the White Sox hit a home run with two men on base. I was quite upset that they only won by 9 runs when they could have won by 12. Heee!

Offensively the Yanks were hot, obviously. First Gardner brings Cano in on a single. Then Gardner hit a home run. This pitcher has never had a base stolen while he pitches. We know Gardner loves to steal bases so instead of walking him he threw one over the plate and Brett hit it over the wall into the seats. The next home run was by Robinson Cano, it was a three run home run. Thames hit a pop up that the infield missed just glanced off one of their gloves. Then Swisher hits a two run home run. Had to outdo Gardner I guess. Hee hee, Mark hit 4 out of 5, Kasey and I think it was being hit during the spring training affecting his hitting. No home runs but hitting pretty good now. A good game to win the series and make up for yesterday’s not so good game.

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote

5/1 NY Yankees 6 vs Chicago White Sox 7

Friday on the way home Kasey was saying she might suggest going to the game today if D was feeling better (he had teeth pulled Thursday) since he won’t be able to do anything after next Tuesday (surgery for Prostate Cancer). I remember thinking, “Well if they do I will stay home so I can do some things around the house and get some work done on the computer.”

Saturday morning D knocked on my door, “You want to go the game with M and Sarah and me?” Did is stick to my plan? Or did I think, “Sarah needs someone to show her how to behave at ball games and how to cheer for her team.” So off to the game we went.

D bought 4 tickets, 2 each in different sections. He and Kasey were overlooking 1st base and Sarah and I were overlooking right field and the bullpen. Main difference they were in Grandstand (shade) and we were in Terrace (no shade). 

Javier Vasquez was starting pitcher and he was not good. The bullpen was also not good. The team rallied, but then somebody gave up a home run with men on base. Swisher hit his first at home home run and made some great catches, but it just wasn’t enough. There were some nice things, though, the two older gentlemen  sitting next to us complemented me on my NYY logo tattoo (I put on a new one right above my butterfly) and asked me if my nail polish was Yankee blue. I also got an education in old men’s health problems (eww) not by them talking to me, I could overhear them talking to each other. One talked about the time he was taken out of Yankee stadium by ambulance and as they were leaving asked, “If I get done at the E.R. before the game ends, can I come back?” I would have asked the same thing. 

It was a bright sunny day and we were sitting right in the sun. I was wearing tank top and shorts and forgot to put on my sunscreen. I got very hot and sunburned. My legs got very sunburned and my back and shoulders here, you can see, except for where the temporary tattoo was. Today I asked Nick to spray Solarcaine on it and when he saw the NY he cracked up.

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote