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Indians Ruin Yanks' Home Opener
Bunch of killjoys.
CC Sabathia gutted his way through 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Jorge Posada cracked a solo home run, but Jhonny Peralta snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the seventh and Grady Sizemore walloped a grand slam as the Indians shelled the Yanks 10-2 at the new Stadium. Robinson Cano banged out three hits and Hideki Matsui collected three walks, but it that wasn't nearly enough offense. Cliff Lee conjured up his 2008 form, holding the Bombers to just one run through six innings, and helped the Tribe spoil a festive day in the Bronx.
I was chained to my desk at work and don't have the stomach to watch the entire replay of this massacre. But John and Suzy kept me in the know throughout the afternoon so I'll forge ahead with my little roundup.
The Good:
Jorge Posada. I guess it's a catcher's thing. Posada drilled the first home run at the new Yankee Stadium, a blast to center, to tie the score at 1-1 in the fifth inning. Jose Molina was the last player to hit a home run at the old Yankee Stadium and catcher Duke Sims was the last player to go yard at the old, old Yankee Stadium in 1973 (thanks for that bit of trivia, Michael Kay). Posada also gunned out Sizemore trying to swipe second in the top of the frame. It's still very early, but it looks like Jorgie is all the way back from last season's shoulder surgery.
The Bad:
Jose Veras/Damaso Marte. Believe it or not, this was a pitcher's duel through six innings. But then these two guys walked out to the mound. Veras entered the game in the seventh inning with the score knotted at 1-1 and promptly allowed the Indians to take the lead. Mark DeRosa led off with a walk and Victor Martinez and Peralta followed with back-to-back doubles. Exit Veras. Enter Marte. Marte plunked the first batter he faced, Shin-Soo Choo, and things didn't get any better. Before he recorded the final out of the inning, Marte managed to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 10-1 impossibility. Way to bring everyone down, fellas. Veras failed to retire a batter, but he was still slapped with his first loss of the season. The dynamic duo's combined effort: 1 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR.
Ducks on the pond. The Yanks only scored two runs on the afternoon, but they had their chances. In fact, the Bombers had at least one runner on base in every inning except the sixth. The Yankees left 15 runners in scoring position and stranded 27* runners on base overall. I'm no genius, but you're not going to win many games if you can't push across runs.
*This can't be right. The box score lists 27 runners left on base, but my brother nearly took my head off when he read this. For this to be true, the Yanks would have had to strand three runners on base in every inning for nine innings. Like I said, I'm no genius.
The Ugly:
A far cry from 1923. That was the year the old Yankee Stadium opened. I'm sure you all know the history. Babe Ruth homered as the Bombers beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Thursday's lopsided loss to the Indians doesn't quite have that same magic, does it?
And a little housekeeping in case you missed it. Xavier Nady was placed on the 15-day disabled list and the team called up right-handed reliever David Robertson to take his place. Joe Girardi didn't waste anytime getting Robertson acclimated -- D-Rob pitched the final two innings against Cleveland. No word yet on the severity of Nady's injury, but it looks like he'll be lost for the season.
Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back on track Friday afternoon. The Indians will counter with Anthony Reyes (1-0, 6.00 ERA). Chamberlain picked up a no-decision in his last start against the Kansas City Royals despite allowing just one earned run through six innings. Joba appeared in four games against the Indians last season and finished 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. This will be his first career start against the Tribe. Reyes earned a victory in his first start of the year, allowing four runs over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. This will be the Yanks first look at Reyes. Nick Swisher is the only Yankee with any history against Reyes. He's 0 for 3 against the right-hander.
Let's hope the second game at the new joint ends better than the first one.
CC Sabathia gutted his way through 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Jorge Posada cracked a solo home run, but Jhonny Peralta snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the seventh and Grady Sizemore walloped a grand slam as the Indians shelled the Yanks 10-2 at the new Stadium. Robinson Cano banged out three hits and Hideki Matsui collected three walks, but it that wasn't nearly enough offense. Cliff Lee conjured up his 2008 form, holding the Bombers to just one run through six innings, and helped the Tribe spoil a festive day in the Bronx.
I was chained to my desk at work and don't have the stomach to watch the entire replay of this massacre. But John and Suzy kept me in the know throughout the afternoon so I'll forge ahead with my little roundup.
The Good:Jorge Posada. I guess it's a catcher's thing. Posada drilled the first home run at the new Yankee Stadium, a blast to center, to tie the score at 1-1 in the fifth inning. Jose Molina was the last player to hit a home run at the old Yankee Stadium and catcher Duke Sims was the last player to go yard at the old, old Yankee Stadium in 1973 (thanks for that bit of trivia, Michael Kay). Posada also gunned out Sizemore trying to swipe second in the top of the frame. It's still very early, but it looks like Jorgie is all the way back from last season's shoulder surgery.
The Bad:
Jose Veras/Damaso Marte. Believe it or not, this was a pitcher's duel through six innings. But then these two guys walked out to the mound. Veras entered the game in the seventh inning with the score knotted at 1-1 and promptly allowed the Indians to take the lead. Mark DeRosa led off with a walk and Victor Martinez and Peralta followed with back-to-back doubles. Exit Veras. Enter Marte. Marte plunked the first batter he faced, Shin-Soo Choo, and things didn't get any better. Before he recorded the final out of the inning, Marte managed to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 10-1 impossibility. Way to bring everyone down, fellas. Veras failed to retire a batter, but he was still slapped with his first loss of the season. The dynamic duo's combined effort: 1 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR.
Ducks on the pond. The Yanks only scored two runs on the afternoon, but they had their chances. In fact, the Bombers had at least one runner on base in every inning except the sixth. The Yankees left 15 runners in scoring position and stranded 27* runners on base overall. I'm no genius, but you're not going to win many games if you can't push across runs.*This can't be right. The box score lists 27 runners left on base, but my brother nearly took my head off when he read this. For this to be true, the Yanks would have had to strand three runners on base in every inning for nine innings. Like I said, I'm no genius.
The Ugly:
A far cry from 1923. That was the year the old Yankee Stadium opened. I'm sure you all know the history. Babe Ruth homered as the Bombers beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Thursday's lopsided loss to the Indians doesn't quite have that same magic, does it?
And a little housekeeping in case you missed it. Xavier Nady was placed on the 15-day disabled list and the team called up right-handed reliever David Robertson to take his place. Joe Girardi didn't waste anytime getting Robertson acclimated -- D-Rob pitched the final two innings against Cleveland. No word yet on the severity of Nady's injury, but it looks like he'll be lost for the season.
Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back on track Friday afternoon. The Indians will counter with Anthony Reyes (1-0, 6.00 ERA). Chamberlain picked up a no-decision in his last start against the Kansas City Royals despite allowing just one earned run through six innings. Joba appeared in four games against the Indians last season and finished 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. This will be his first career start against the Tribe. Reyes earned a victory in his first start of the year, allowing four runs over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. This will be the Yanks first look at Reyes. Nick Swisher is the only Yankee with any history against Reyes. He's 0 for 3 against the right-hander.
Let's hope the second game at the new joint ends better than the first one.
Bruney-Chamberlain-Rivera
I think that could be a winning 1-2-3 punch. Actually, I think most people think that.
Did you hear how stupid Suzy sounded after the jets flew over Yankee stadium? Not as bad as the "Roger Clemens is in George's bawx!" call but painful, nonetheless.
That sounds like a pretty good formula.
Dang! I missed it. I tuned in about three minutes before the first pitch. Damn my lazy ass!