The Sommer Frieze

Recap: Typical of the 2008 season. Yanks blow a 6-2 lead because of a key error (Cano). Rasner pitches well, better than his line, and gets a ND. Bullpen implodes. Yanks get the tying and winning run on base with no one out in the 9th, and (yes, he hit it hard, but…it comes down to results, you know) you-know -who (hint #13) hits into a DP. Ransom flies out. 7-6 Jays. 

Here is what A-Rod’s bat looks like 
after he hits in the clutch.
Stop squeezing so tight, Alex. 

 Have a nice Labor Day weekend. Between baseball and college football, a busy sports weekend, and once the NFL heats up next week….

YANKEES (72-62, 6 back of WC. 1 game better than the Pythagorean record. OPS+ 104; ERA+ 98)

Damon CF .313-11-57-24-125 (even with his bad arm, does he go back to CF in 2009? Do the Yanks go with what they have now? Nady-Damon-Abreu with Matsui DH? With Melky, Gardner, Christian and possibly A-Jax as backup?)
Jeter SS .295-8-60-9-100
Abreu RF .298-15-83-14-121
A. Rodriguez 3B .307-28-79-16-156 (see below)
Giambi 1B .250-27-82-2-134
Nady LF .308-8-23-0-144 as Yankee. .324-21-80-1-142 overall.
Matsui DH .304-9-38-0-122
Cano 2B .269-12-59-1-88
I. Rodriguez C Unbelievable. 10 for 55 as Yankee. .182-1 HR and 1 RBI. 1 steal. OPS+ 31. THIRTY-ONE. Overall, .277-6-33-7-89
Rasner RHP 5-9, 5.03 ERA+ 84.

Justo Arias and Rafael Martinez each suspended 50 games for PEDs. You haven’t read much about them (if at all) from me this season. Arias was in the Dominican Summer League as was Martinez. That’s why.

In a NY Post column, Kevin Kernan writes about how A-Rod has lost all the good will built up in 2007 by his .242 RISP this year. Since Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, A-Rod has stranded all 38 runners that have been on base when he has come up to bat in the postseason. Lots of times, he seems to have no clue as he presses. Much like Cano or Melky, no clue at the plate. He needs to stop thinking. Relax and react. Let his natural ability take over. As Yogi said, “how can you think and hit at the same time?” Confidence in A-Rod to produce in the clutch—from fans AND teammates—has to be waning. And to think. Only 9 more years of this? Have to say, Kernan makes a point.

Be shuffling around, with home stuff, PSU football (I won’t pay too much attention to it. I mean, Coastal Carolina? Beat Michigan for the first time since 1996 and really excite me…) and the Yanks. Enjoy the day!

Yanks get 2 in the 1st as A-Rod and Giambi drive in runs after two wild pitches put the runner into scoring position. Still 2-0 after 3.

Vernon Wells ties it in the 4th with a HR.

Back to back. Cano and (finally!) I-Rod. Get hot, Pudge. Yanks 4-2.

Matsui 2-run double. Rasner gets no help from a non-thinking Cano (Robbie’s making some bad mental mistakes defensively lately) and leaves in the 7th, bases loaded, no out, 6-3. Bruney in. Huge K.

Post laments loss of Joba recently. What about the losses of Wang and Bruney?

Bruney gives up a 2-run single, then gets a foul popup and a K. Rasner is charged with 5 R in 6 IP+, but he pitched better than that.

Bullpen implodes in 8th. Bruney gives up a hit, Marte gives up a hit, sacrifice, Edwar gives up a hit…two runs in and it’s 7-6 Toronto.
Pudge gets on, Gardner PR, he steals. Hey, that’s his value. He’s stranded.

Leadoff single, Veras in for Edwar. Sacrifice, groundout, int. walk. They have to keep it here to have a chance against. B. J. Ryan.

PSU won 66-10. Like I mentioned above, I’ll get excited about my alma mater if when they compete (and hopefully win) against the Big 10 schedule—Ohio St. (forget it, it’s at Columbus), Michigan, Wisconsin…

 Well, still 7-6 going to the bottom of the 9th. Can the two glamour boys come through (Jeter single and A-Rod HR?) 

Jeter does his part. Singles in the RF corner. Rios holds the Captain (in name only in my view, see what I’ve written about Posada) to a single. Maybe Abreu will HR and spare the “A”-Rod. Abreu works the count to 3-1. Foul. Walk. Abreu does HIS job. Can Alex? Hit hard, but to the third baseman. You guessed it. Third baseman steps on 3rd for the force, throws to first. DP. Ransom flies out to end the game.