New York Yankees: Pride, Power & Pinstripes

[Sons of Kohral]

Taken From ESPNnews

Yankees Ready For Battle

The Bronx Bombers have proven that having a stacked team does not necessarily mean that they'll win the World Series. After dominating the late 90's, the ball club has played very lack luster baseball considering the talent. Having not won a championship since the year 2000, Yankee management has called for drastic changes.

The recent signings of C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to help out the pitching and slugger Mark Teixeira to bolster the bats. Coupling this with the addition of Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher, the Yankees seem to be an unstoppable force where even their benched players could be starters on other teams. Only time will tell if history repeats itself, or if the Yankees break free of their bad luck streak and they win the big one again.

---
Taken From ESPNnews

Opening Day At Baltimore

The opening series will pit the Yankees (0-0) against the Orioles (0-0) in Baltimore to start off a 9 game road trip. Ace C.C. Sabathia will make his Bomber debut against Oriole hurler Jeremy Guthrie. Insiders tell us that Nick Swisher will be hitting DH instead of Hideki Matsui. Yankee management claims that this is not a sign that they are unhappy with Matsui, but that they feel that the switch hitting Swisher may lend a better chance against Guthrie.

With players like Melmvin Mora and Aubrey Huff, the Orioles aren't huge underdogs, but how they fare against Sabathia will definitely be the fulcrum on which their hopes of winning are placed on.

NEXT: Game 1 Results vs. The Baltimore Orioles

[GatorBait19]

this is MLB 2k9 correct

[Sons of Kohral]

No, it's MLB 09: The Show for PS3.

[GatorBait19]

Okay just making sure

[treton]

Good luck. Though I am an Orioles fan, so I hope you lose, just this game, the rest, you can win.

[Sons of Kohral]

Taken from the New York Daily News

Swisher Shocks; Sabathia Leads Yanks In Win

BALTIMORE - The weather couldn't have been better for Opening Day in Baltimore, but the weather didn't help the Orioles as they fell to the visiting Yankees 4-2.

Talk of the game was Nick Swisher who was received in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, went 4 for 5 for the night. While none of the hits were for RBI's or more than a single, it has convinced coaching to start him at the DH spot for the rest of the series.

Johnny Damon inspired the Yankees by going 3 for 5 with a double and 1 RBI during the Yankee's 2 run first inning. After that, the bats stalled as the Yankees had left bases loaded twice without capitalizing on it.

Jeremy Guthrie was in rare form, pitching only 4.2 innings and allowing 3 runs on 10 hits. After pulling him, the Orioles put in Mark Albers who had the Yankees number, only allowing 1 unearned run (due to an error) on 4 hits and striking out 4 in 2 innings.

C.C. Sabithia on the other hand proved why the Yankees sought after him so hard. He pitched 4 hitless innings, allowing his first hit late in the 5th, but what a hit it was. The monster Aubrey Huff blasted a solo shot for the Orioles first run. The sencond came in the eighth inning from a double by Nick Markakis. This prompted Sabathia to be pulled after the eighth inning and the reigns were given to closer Mariano Rivera to finish the game for the save.

After a day of rest, the Yankees (1-0) will play the second game of a 3 game series against the Orioles (0-1). A.J. Burnett will pitch against the veteren lefty, Rich Hill. When asked for a comment, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi is quoted as saying, "The Orioles aren't a team we could take lightly. The fact that our bats aren't on fire is a problem. If we're squeeking by wins against them, how can we possibly fare when we go to Fenway? I want to make sure that there's no doubt that we'll win the division" It should also be noted that Yankee captain, shortstop Derek Jeter, went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts in a dismal performance.

Look for Burnett to try and keep the ball low, especially when facing the likes of Mora and Huff. It'll also be interesting to see how Nick Swisher does now that he's guaranteed starts in this series.

Daily Spread: Yankees -2

[Sons of Kohral]

Taken from The New York Daily News

SWISHER-SWEET!

http://thepilver.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/nick-swisher.jpg
*Imagine a Yankees jersey

BALTIMORE - In one of the closest games the Yankees will probably play, they managed to rally from behind to take the win, 7-6.

If Guthrie had angered the pitching gods last game, than Burnett must've pissed them off earlier today. After the Yankees score 1 run in the first inning, the Orioles respond with vengeance by scoring 4 in the second. Chris Gomez started it off with an RBI single, and set up Gregg Zaun for a 3 run homer. The Yankee's responded with another run in the 3rd inning, an RBI single by Teixeira, that brought the score to 4-2. After Burnett gave up 4 hits in the next two innings, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi decided to warm up a fresh arm in the bull pen. That wasn't before the Yankee's rallied in the 6th, started off by a two run dinger hit by Nick Swisher., with Robinson Cano hitting in an RBI later on in the inning to give the Yankee's the lead 5-4.

Nick Swisher wasn't done yet though, as if to convince Yankee management that he's worth keeping as a starter, he hits a solo shot, giving the Yankees a 6-4 lead and giving himself 2 home runs for the game. Coupled with a Posada RBI single and the Yanks were up 7-4.

The Orioles clapped back though, and rocked reliver Aceves for two runs in the eighth, forcing the Yankees to put in closer Mariano Rivera a third of an inning early, making him earn the save, plus one out.

At the end of the game, the loss can be attributed to the Orioles' decision to keep reliever Chris Ray in the game for an inning too long. It was only in the eighth where the Yankees pulled ahead and didn't look back.Before that, Ray had pitched two innings with 4 strikeouts, effectively keeping the Yankees at bay.

It is interesting to note that A-Rod went 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

W: A.J. Burnett (1-0)
L: Rich Hill (0-1)
SV: Mariano Rivera: 2

Next: Exclusive interview with Yankee Manager Joe Girardi and next game preview.

[GatorBait19]

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/sergnyc13/NickSwisher.jpg

thought that might help

[Sons of Kohral]

lol, thanks. It was like 5 in the morning and I didn't feel like looking up the Spring Training pictures.

[Sons of Kohral]

Taken from YESNetwork.com

Joe Girardi Interview

YES Network: We have here an exclusive interview with Yankee manager and former catcher, Joe Girardi. How are you Joe?

Joe Girardi: I'm doing pretty good.

YES: It's still very early in the season, only two games have been played but what if anything have you noticed in season play that you missed in Spring Training?

JG: Honestly, its that we can't rely on our big names to carry us to victory. Burnett barely got that win last game and as of right now, Derek Jeter and A-Rod aren't playing as well as they should be. Fortunately, our other players have stepped up to fill this void. We are extremely impressed with the play of Nick Swisher in particular, someone who seems to be working hard to securing that starting DH spot.

YES: If he secures it, what's going to happen to Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui?

JG: He's an outfielder by trade, so I could use him whenever Damon, Cabrera or Nady need a break. Besides, its always nice to have a big bat on the bench in times of a pinch hit situation.

YES: What are your thoughts on Sabathia and Burnett?

JG: Sabathia played as expected. Two earned runs in eight innings is good. I'd obviously prefer to see him shutout each game, but that's an unreasonable expectation. Brunett on the other hand, I think its just new team jitters. Mid way through the season and he'll settle down.

YES: Are the Yankees looking at free agency for any other players?

JG: We have a nice little cushion, but as of right now, free agency will only be used if we absolutely need a player.

[Sons of Kohral]

Taken from ESPNnews

Yankee/Oriole Preview

The New York Yankees (2-0) look to sweep the Baltimore Orioles (0-2) in the last of a three game series.

This game will see the Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Ming Wang hurling against Mark Hendrickson. The game will come down to which team can get the bats working as both teams have seen their big hitters silenced. If the Orioles can force Wang out of the game early, their chances of winning against the Yankee bullpen dramatically increases.

[GatorBait19]

I like so far, what about updates around the league maybe?

[ya_its_me]

Yeah, how my White Sox doing?

[GatorBait19]

How are the Rays doing.... seriously (born and raised in Tampa, always have loved them, even when they sucked)

[Sons of Kohral]

That's no problem. I'm also going to update the home run race, AL East Standings and the Yanks cross town rivals, the Mets. I'll update as soon as my room mate stops playing Left 4 Dead and lets me hop on my PS3.

[Sons of Kohral]

Bat's Blasting; Yankees Sweep

http://www.trimbolichiropractic.com/images/damon.jpg

BALTIMORE - The bats were hot in both dugouts, but the Bronx Bombers manage to sweep after squeeking out of a bottom of the 9th rally by the Baltimore Orioles, 6-4.

The Yankees started strong and with the help of Chien-Ming Wang, had a 4-0 lead into the fifth aided by home runs by Damon, Texeira and A-Rod. At least until the Orioles flipped the bat switch from slump to power and rocked two shots of their own by Wigginton and Scott.

Reliever Marte came in the 9th inning for the Yankees in a non-save situation (Yanks were leading 6-2) but a late game rally brought the Orioles within two runs. A late decision by Girardi to personally visit the mound and calm Marte down proved the right decision as he went on to strike out the next two batters and get a fly out to close the game.

The Yankees continue their 9 game road trip with a 3 day visit to Kansas City as Andy Pettitte will take on Luke Hochevar. It is also being heavily rumored that Nick Swisher will remain the DH in the lineup for the first game.

Daily Spread: Yankees -1.5

Around The League

The D-Rays are 1-2, 2.0 games back.

Surprisingly (for me at least), the White Sox are too 1-2 and in last place in the AL Central.

Run wise, neither team is being outscored by much, so I don't see either of the current standings being a reflection of things to come.