ONE MONTH
(August 29nd – September 4th)
Yankees: Hard Rain, Loses Games
Mets: Who?...what?...Capau-who-when?
*Adam Hammer's "Loose Lips" will be up soon on the site. So make sure you return soon after reading for his latest loud mouth cruel sense of humor...he has not forgotten about us, just held back a bit.
New York Yankees
78 - 52
2nd Place by 2.5 games
The Yankees lost 5 out of their last 9 going into Sunday’s postponed after postponed double header. They had a tough time during the first two games of the series, until the time for the Yankees to shine came on the Bronx ballpark once again. In game three, against the Oakland A’s the Yankees were on the path of being swept at home. They were down 7-1 after three innings and Boston was beating up on Texas gaining a lead in the AL East. Bad weather was on the horizon in New York so the rain delay and constant bad weather throughout the game couldn’t and wouldn’t stop these two teams from playing this game.
History happens for the Yankees, it feels like a couple times a year now-a-days. This year has been filled with Derek Jeter and all his fantastic accomplishments throughout his career and this week was no different as he passed Mickey Mantle with his 2,402nd game played Sunday. However another record was made and surpassed by thee most historic franchise in sports. Three Yankee players (Cano, Martin and Granderson) did something that has never been done before in the long aged old sport of baseball…
Collectively these three each hit a Grand Slam homerun in a 9 inning game. First time, and maybe the last. After being so far down the long ball came in hand as the Yankees fought back with fury. 22 runs, that’s right! 22 runs on 21 hits. It felt like they had the bases loaded every inning from the 4th inning on. They were a force to be wrecking with and a show was put on for the afternoon week day crowd.
The Orioles didn’t fear the Yankees as they showed their “home” crowd Friday night how putting up runs is no problem in Baltimore. Matt Wieters is beginning to show his stuff as he whines down his second full year behind the plate. Nick Markakis has been a wonderful contact hitter all year batting .286 and consistently getting on base.
Yankees @ Orioles
Monday at 7:05pm
One more game in this disastrous series and the Yankees must come out with a victory before flying to Boston for an all important three game set with their arch-rival. It’s going to be either Freddy Garcia or CC taking the mound tonight. I personally say let Freddy deal with Baltimore and put your Ace out there in game one of the Boston series. I’m not Joe, but I know that playing the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the playoffs is something the Yankees should be striving for. Don’t be scared Yankees…don’t back down.
As of now it looks as if Freddy Garcia will start tonight in Baltimore…
Yankees @ Red Sox
Tuesday thru Thursday at 7:10pm
…So this all means the staff Ace named CC Sabathia will start game one of this Boston series.
The Red Sox have the Yankees number. Josh Beckett throws lights-out baseball against them and no matter how many runs the Bronx Bombers score against John Lackey it never seems like enough. They got a hold of Jon Lester last time for one inning and it just so happened to be enough, but what about Mo this time? He has pitched once in the past eight games and it seems like Mr. Girardi is not using him like he did before the All-Star Break. The Yankees need to show Boston that they are still a challenge. That the Yanks won’t give up a lead late in the game. They need to do more then hit homeruns against this Boston powerhouse. They need Jeter and Gardner and Granderson to get base hits and doubles and produce base runners. Make a bit of a threat on the base paths, you know, get these usually 4 hour games back to how they used to be in the past. A gritty, hardnosed series becoming once again a spectacle beyond all belief.
Joe Girardi needs to have this Yankee team playing for 1st place in the division and show no sign of backing out to just settle for the Wild Card spot. Boston sits at home tonight with either a 2 or 3 game lead going into the series. Yankees want and should climb into Fenway Park down two a pissed off. A-Rod is back and the lineup is producing…it’s that pitching that holds all the curvy question marks.
Blue Jays @ Yankees
Friday at 7:05pm
Saturday & Sunday at 1:05pm
The interest in this series will fluctuate with the outcome of the Red Sox series. It’s do or die time for the Yankees to make a strong move for 1st place and a better match-up for round one of the 2011 playoffs. Fans know it, the Yankee players know it and Boston knows it.
Toronto has been a .500 team all season with streaks all year of up and down. Jose Bautista’s HR swing has also been quieted down since the All Star break and taking the series 7-5 so far this year is not going to cut it for the Yankees. They need to separate themselves from the pack in more ways than one.
New York Mets
62 – 68
3rd place (21.5 GB)
Told you all I’m all about just the positive news coming out of the Mets situation correct? Well this week we can break it down to three positives.
First off the Mets pulled back into 3rd place in the division for lingering in 4th for two weeks. Now, I understand it wasn’t great baseball that got the team back into the middle of the division and it all was in due to Washington’s six game losing streak, but regardless it’s where your team stands. In third, only 21 ½ games back from the blistering Phillies.
Secondly, the dreadful season is almost over. Jose Reyes should not cost too too much for the Mets to resign in the off season. In fact as the little bastard continues to play under 140 games each year he would be a risky sign anywhere else but New York. The Mets are used to all this by now. His hamstrings will kill him in the long run. Great season, but not powerful enough to do anything by himself.
The third positive and I think the best outlook of the week had to be Chris Capuano’s Friday night performance. He two hit the Atlanta Braves by striking out an amazingly high 13 batters and walking zero. What? Who? Yeah, the Mets version of “CC” – Chris Capuano, not only had a complete game shutout and surrendered only two hits the entire game, but did so well the Mets took off the rest of the weekend.
Thanks Irene.
Marlins @ Mets
Monday at 4:10pm & 7:05pm (Doubleheader)
Tuesday thru Thursday at 7:10pm
Five games this week against the division lagging Florida Marlins. They are a sad team with their star SS Hanley Ramirez having his absolute worst year, Josh Johnson still laying on the beach with his DL stint shoulder and Gaby Sanchez falling back down to Earth after his incredible start to the season. Do they miss Dan Uggla? Ah, maybe but more importantly I think they miss a fan base.
The Mets need to close out the season strong. I’d like to see a winning month of September keeping this team near 73 to 76 wins on the season. Wouldn’t be so horrible after such a plagued season.
Mets @ Nationals
Friday at 7:05pm
Saturday at 7:05pm
Sunday at 1:35pm
Wouldn’t it be great to see Stephen Strausberg return from Tommy John surgery and face the Mets this weekend? It would be, but extremely doubtful to happen.
I’ll call you if it does and we’ll get together for a beer.
And now for your reading pleasure…
***
The Future; According to the Late-Great George Carlin
“No one will take drugs, but people will still buy them and conceal them from the police.”
Last Quip by Doctor Kas: “Hurricane Irene blasted up and through the shore line on the East Coast this weekend. A day without electricity is comfortable, relaxing and seems to put your life in a slow to medium pace. Does anyone remember the early 90’s?” I sure as hell do.”
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