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Rays Blitz Wang, Yankees
It was an early test against the American League's best from a year ago and the Yanks failed miserably.
Chien-Ming Wang was tattooed, the bullpen wasn't much better and Carlos Pena smoked three hits and drove in six runs as the Rays crushed the Yanks 15-5 at the Trop. The final score doesn't even begin to illustrate how lopsided this ballgame was. The Bombers were down 9-0 after two innings and it wasn't long before both squads took on a Grapefruit League feel. The Rays hoisted their first American League Pennant before the game and then went out and whipped up on the fellas from New York in their home opener. It was a turn the page type of game so I'll dedicate a little Bob Seger to the Yanks.
The Good:
Nick Swisher. I was tempted to leave this spot blank, but I refuse to get too down this early in the season. Swisher took Scott Kazmir deep in the third inning for his third home run and 10th run batted in on the year. I'm not sure if John Sterling has come up with a home run call for Swisher yet, but my brother and I had a great time coming up with some on a long car ride on Friday. Actually, we were repeating suggestions some fans made on WFAN earlier in the week. I really liked: Nick-knock! It's a Swisher Sweet! I also enjoyed: Pow! Right in the Swisher! Anyway, Swisher's dinger Monday night "sliced" Tampa's lead to 10-1. Swisher finished 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.
The Bad:
Chien-Ming Wang. It was a horror show right from the beginning. Wang walked B.J. Upton to lead off the bottom of the first and things degenerated quickly. By the time the first inning was over the Rays stole three bases, ripped two doubles and scored four runs. And they did all that despite Gabe Gross getting caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning. The Wanger didn't fare much better in the second frame and was pulled before recording an out. Wang's velocity was down (if the gun can be trusted) and he threw WAY too many pitches. It was his second straight ugly performance this season. Wang fell to 0-2 with this stinker: 1+ IP, 6 H, 8 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 hit batsman.
The bullpen. Wang was terrible, but the trio of Jonathan Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez and Phil Coke didn't do much to stop the bleeding. Each reliever allowed at least one run during his stint. Albaladejo entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the second and promptly gave up a grand slam to Pena to give the Rays a 9-0 lead. Ramirez gave up a gofer ball to Pat Burrell in the sixth that extended Tampa's lead to 12-2. Coke recorded two quick outs in the seventh, but a Robinson Cano error sandwiched between two walks led to a three-run double off the bat of Akinori Iwamura that extended the Yankee deficit to 15-3. The pen's final numbers weren't pretty: 6 IP, 10 H, 7 R (4 earned), 4 BB, 5 K, 3 HR.
The Ugly:
Embarrassing. That should be the header instead of ugly, but I'm a slave to habit. Swisher earned a "good" grade for his bat and his performance on the hill should make every Yankee pitcher who threw Monday night red-hot with embarrassment. Yes, Swisher came in to pitch the eighth inning for the Bombers and was the only "pitcher" to hold the Rays scoreless. Swisher could hardly compose himself on the mound as it looked like he was about to bust out into hysterical laughter at any moment, but he did what he was asked to do. Too bad the rest of the pitching staff didn't. Swisher's line: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back on track and will battle Matt Garza (1-0, 1.29 ERA) Tuesday night. Burnett picked up his first win (and first as a Yankee) of the season against the Orioles in Baltimore last week. A.J. is 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rays. But Carl Crawford sees Burnett well -- 13 for 36 (.361, two doubles, one homer and two runs batted in). Garza allowed just one run over seven innings in a 4-3 Rays win over the Boston Red Sox in his first start. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 5 career appearances against the Bombers. Derek Jeter (.364) and Robinson Cano (.455) have good lifetime numbers against Garza.
Burnett stopped a two-game losing skid in his first start this season.
The Yanks would like to see more of the same Tuesday night.
Chien-Ming Wang was tattooed, the bullpen wasn't much better and Carlos Pena smoked three hits and drove in six runs as the Rays crushed the Yanks 15-5 at the Trop. The final score doesn't even begin to illustrate how lopsided this ballgame was. The Bombers were down 9-0 after two innings and it wasn't long before both squads took on a Grapefruit League feel. The Rays hoisted their first American League Pennant before the game and then went out and whipped up on the fellas from New York in their home opener. It was a turn the page type of game so I'll dedicate a little Bob Seger to the Yanks.
The Good:
Nick Swisher. I was tempted to leave this spot blank, but I refuse to get too down this early in the season. Swisher took Scott Kazmir deep in the third inning for his third home run and 10th run batted in on the year. I'm not sure if John Sterling has come up with a home run call for Swisher yet, but my brother and I had a great time coming up with some on a long car ride on Friday. Actually, we were repeating suggestions some fans made on WFAN earlier in the week. I really liked: Nick-knock! It's a Swisher Sweet! I also enjoyed: Pow! Right in the Swisher! Anyway, Swisher's dinger Monday night "sliced" Tampa's lead to 10-1. Swisher finished 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.
The Bad:
Chien-Ming Wang. It was a horror show right from the beginning. Wang walked B.J. Upton to lead off the bottom of the first and things degenerated quickly. By the time the first inning was over the Rays stole three bases, ripped two doubles and scored four runs. And they did all that despite Gabe Gross getting caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning. The Wanger didn't fare much better in the second frame and was pulled before recording an out. Wang's velocity was down (if the gun can be trusted) and he threw WAY too many pitches. It was his second straight ugly performance this season. Wang fell to 0-2 with this stinker: 1+ IP, 6 H, 8 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 hit batsman.
The bullpen. Wang was terrible, but the trio of Jonathan Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez and Phil Coke didn't do much to stop the bleeding. Each reliever allowed at least one run during his stint. Albaladejo entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the second and promptly gave up a grand slam to Pena to give the Rays a 9-0 lead. Ramirez gave up a gofer ball to Pat Burrell in the sixth that extended Tampa's lead to 12-2. Coke recorded two quick outs in the seventh, but a Robinson Cano error sandwiched between two walks led to a three-run double off the bat of Akinori Iwamura that extended the Yankee deficit to 15-3. The pen's final numbers weren't pretty: 6 IP, 10 H, 7 R (4 earned), 4 BB, 5 K, 3 HR.
The Ugly:Embarrassing. That should be the header instead of ugly, but I'm a slave to habit. Swisher earned a "good" grade for his bat and his performance on the hill should make every Yankee pitcher who threw Monday night red-hot with embarrassment. Yes, Swisher came in to pitch the eighth inning for the Bombers and was the only "pitcher" to hold the Rays scoreless. Swisher could hardly compose himself on the mound as it looked like he was about to bust out into hysterical laughter at any moment, but he did what he was asked to do. Too bad the rest of the pitching staff didn't. Swisher's line: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back on track and will battle Matt Garza (1-0, 1.29 ERA) Tuesday night. Burnett picked up his first win (and first as a Yankee) of the season against the Orioles in Baltimore last week. A.J. is 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rays. But Carl Crawford sees Burnett well -- 13 for 36 (.361, two doubles, one homer and two runs batted in). Garza allowed just one run over seven innings in a 4-3 Rays win over the Boston Red Sox in his first start. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 5 career appearances against the Bombers. Derek Jeter (.364) and Robinson Cano (.455) have good lifetime numbers against Garza.
Burnett stopped a two-game losing skid in his first start this season.
The Yanks would like to see more of the same Tuesday night.
Girardi is a complete joke. Even my wife was calling him a douche for bringing Swisher in to pitch. Gotta love a guy raising the white flag in April to a divisional foe.
And I'm sure Swisher is a great guy and everything, but laughter isn't something I want to see when you just got your doors blown off.
I didn't really feel anything toward Girardi for bringing in Swisher. The bullpen was drained and it was a lost cause. The fact that nobody pitched well last night was more disturbing to me.
I'm sure John Sterling will come up with something self-indulgent and stupid for Swisher. Although I hate all his homerun calls, if I had to pick one, I like the "Pow! Right in the Swisher!" (Being a Honemooner fan and all) This is what I can't wait to hear Sterling say, "I'm retiring as the voice of the Yankees." I hate him more and more with each passing year.
Much more importantly, the Yankees stunk. I agree, turn the page and battle back.
Yeah, it's a solid one. It might be even funnier if he punched himself in the face after he said it. I'm sure you would be rooting for Swisher to go deep on every at-bat if he did.
I guess no one reattached the wheels after they fell off in the 8th in Kansas City...
Don't fret, Alex. Remember Bob Seger. There I go, turn the page ...