Postgame notes: A little bit different
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on May 28, 2010 
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Take the good with the bad from Javier Vazquez tonight. His first two innings were awful, and Vazquez was lucky to get out of them with only three runs scoring. If not for two nice plays by Mark Teixeira, there’s no telling how bad it could have gotten.
But he also got through his final 13 batters with only two hits. There were plenty of hard-hit balls — including, Jason Kubel’s home run and Orlando Hudson’s triple — but he was better later in the game.
“My first few games, early in the season, I wasn’t battling as well as I did today,” Vazquez said. “Really, the first couple of innings were the two innings that hurt me the most because I didn’t make good pitches.”
Those bad pitches were offspeed, not so much the fastball problems Vazquez was having earlier in the season. He said his smashed right index finger had no impact — “Didn’t even feel it,” he said — but he hung some curveballs and missed with some changeups.
“He left some breaking pitches up tonight and they didn’t miss them,” Girardi said. “A couple of curveballs. A couple of changeups. He got on the side of pitches and that’s going to happen. His command wasn’t as good as his last two starts but we’ll have to get it back… He made some mistakes with his breaking stuff tonight, so that was a little bit different than what we had been talking about.”
• It’s been a week since the last time the Yankees scored more than four runs, but there have been some good signs the past few games. Mark Teixeira has six hits in the past four games, Derek Jeter has turned things around and Curtis Granderson should be back tomorrow. “Baseball has ups and downs,” Robinson Cano said. “We went through this last year too. We are going to be ready for this. We have to keep fighting and just keep our head up.”
• Girardi said he still doesn’t know what the move will be to add Granderson to the roster.
• Chan Ho Park faced four batters and allowed three base runners: Two hits and one walk. He said he’s having trouble keeping his pitches down in the zone, and he hasn’t felt quite the same since his hamstring injury. He’s still getting his strength back. “A little bit different than before,” he said. “But still I think it’s fine.”
• Girardi said he hasn’t noticed his players pressing with runners in scoring position, but the team was 2-for-7 in those situations tonight, with both hits coming from Cano. “I don’t see a real pattern,” Girardi said. “We’re just not impacting the baseball at times.” It didn’t help that both Kevin Russo and Brett Gardner hit the ball hard but lined out in key spots with runners on base.
• This was the Yankees first loss in Minneapolis since August 13, 2008.
• Jeter has an 11-game hitting streak and Cano has a 10-game streak.
• According to Elias, Vazquez had not allowed a home run in 63 straight at-bats before Jason Kubel’s home run in the sixth. It was the Twins first home run since May 17, a streak of 349 plate appearances.
• In case you missed it in the game post, Granderson told Donnie Collins that he feels about 90 to 95 percent overall. “The groin is actually good,” he said. “I haven’t felt anything with it. If you dig in and touch it, it’s still tender to the touch. But I don’t feel anything with it.”
Associated Press photos of Vazquez and Teixeira.
Could be worse.
The Phillies have scored once in the last seven days. Youch.
It never occurred to me that someone would see good in Vazquez’s game tonight
Phillies have sucked since the guy with the binoculars got caught
joe doesnt see a pattern?
?
on a side note: Jeter 11 game hitting streak? wow
out of nowhere
it seemed like two days ago he was in a huge funk
baseball.
Yanks need to fall into 4th place before Joe sees a pattern….
I could do without the Granderson, graphic visual details.
Javy had 48 pitches in the first 2 innings. I’m officially over him.Park makes me ill. He’s a sure bet to give up a run (s) e very time he enters the game.
Park needs to go – with a terrible acquisition he has been.
His claim to fame is that he somehow allowed 10 hard hit balls right at fielders for 3 innings in Fenway.
I don’t know who is worse – Park or Winn
The Yankees are stupid with how they handled Park. He only had 1 rehab appearance and then they brought him back. Whether he has the stuff to get AL batters out is a different question. But the dude missed a month he was going to need more than a 5-7 appearances to get his stuff back. Bringing him back so soon was desperate.
J Rich fell asleep after his big shot, and Artest outhustled him for that Off. Rebound!
And the best part is, TNT was talking after the game about the bad shot earlier by Artest and about how devastating a loss it was for the Lakers.
Nice to see the Lakers victory completely undermined.
Whereas if that was the team from Boston, they’d be cleaning them from now until next Christmas.
CR9,
What are your thoughts on Tim Opylant?
Park in Philly was throwing 95-96
This Park is throwing 91-92 slop.
Bubba
Must you continue asking me the same question every day, trying to elicit the responses you are looking for?!
Tim is a great actor!
CR9,
Come on… that wasn’t the response I was looking for
Not even interested in the Yankees game tomorrow
I will nervously be watching the Cs/Magic. I am trying not to get my hopes up. I have my superstitions, so I will not be watching the game live, but I will be somewhat aware of the score.
I hope we were not teased! If you were not going to finish off the comeback, you should have just lost in 4.
Rank the off-season acquisitions
1. Winn
2. Park
3. Johnson
3. Vazquez
Leiter kept pointing out that Vazquez lacked command of his FB. He repeatedly mentioned that when your stuff is diminished, you have to change your approach. Leither knows pitching. So I think that speaks volumes about where Vazquez is right now.
Couldn’t Park have played in more mL games while rehabbing? He has been awful.
“I will nervously be watching the Cs/Magic. I am trying not to get my hopes up. I have my superstitions, so I will not be watching the game live, but I will be somewhat aware of the score.
I hope we were not teased! If you were not going to finish off the comeback, you should have just lost in 4.”
Same here about your first paragraph.
As for your second one, the more games the Celtics had to play, the better. Rasheed injured his back. Daniels and Davis picked up nice concussions. Perkins picked up 2 technical fouls, but since the NBA gifted one away from Perk, now he sits a 6, with his next technical earning a suspension.
Always Believe! Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
Don’t really love seeing Granderson say he thinks “90-95%” and he still has soreness. If he’s not 100% he shouldn’t be out patrolling CF tomorrow night.
1. Winn (Fail)
2. Park (Inc, although not looking promising)
3. Johnson (Inc: I would wager that he gets big hits between August and the end of the playoffs, even if it’s as a PH)
3. Vazquez (Inc: I still think he turns it around, even if he has to spend some time in the pen at some point to find his stuff/rhythm)
Vazquez turns 34 later this year, but how much could he have declined from Atlanta?
Is he toast without his normal velocity?
the fact that WINN ranks #1 says something lol
Rich
Winn has been okay for his role as a backup.
Park, I agree with.
Johnson, I think his early struggles were due to not being able to get around on inside strike 3s due to his wrist. I think he had the injury all season, and played with it anyways. I also think he will be a great addition at the trade deadline.
Vazquez, I think will be fine. I think tonight was due to his finger, and nothing else.
“Don’t really love seeing Granderson say he thinks “90-95%” and he still has soreness.”
——————
The Yanks have to be very careful with Granderson. Rollins had a calf injury and was out for a month and then came back played for a couple of games and then reinjured the calf and is now back on the DL. You can’t rush an injury like that.
CR9
Russo is better. There is no reason for Winn to remain on the team.
Winn is a great defensive player who can play all 3 OF positions in a pinch
He has speed and can be a pinch runner
He is a switch hitter, which is nice to have off the bench.
He is also a great clubhouse guy.
Give him regular PT and see the difference it makes. Not easy to play once a week.
Granderson has to be inserted into the 2 hole……He’ll thrive in that spot….Put Gardner back in the 9 hole where he’s comfortable
Rich
I agree. Russo should remain on the team.
I think Miranda will be sent down. Miranda is obviously in need of everyday ABs. He has a pretty swing, but he clearly is not ready for the majors, IMO. Maybe, Miranda could be our full time DH/backup 1B next season.
Russo, Im sure, can play backup 1B for Tex.
Pat
Hope everything went well with your wife.
Great end to the Lakers game also.
hey, matt di,
I agree but chad’s an willfully blind optimist. In any case, go to sleep. Does Tom know your up this late?or are you at mj’s?
I have the same dumb superstition (not watching certain events live until a certain time, if at all)
Randy
Mine is mainly because I despise the NBA. The NBA is most dominated by officiating.
Like the saying in baseball goes, momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher.
In basketball, momentum is as the referees want it.
Games can be completely overtaken by referees. Like on the Gasol dunk attempt tonight to try and go up 5 with 20 seconds left, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FOUL 100% of the time for Kevin Garnett.
But not for the Lakers!
I can only tolerate certain amounts of an NBA game, or else things get broken!
CR9, Thanks man……She’s spending the night in the hospital and she’ll be fine….Besides she has an ocean view room……Lakers stole one tonight, no cover on the line though ……
Pat
Great to hear!! Cant get better than an ocean view room!
LOL @ not covering the line! The Lakers NEEDED this game; I was so excited.
Nite All!
“I can only tolerate certain amounts of an NBA game, or else things get broken!”
Yep. That has what turned a lot of people off to the NBA – the refs and their dominance on the game.
Especially on Celtics games lol
Pat M
My best to your wife.
Good to know that your wife’s okay, Pat M.
As for the Lakers, a win’s a win a Winn.
What do you think? No one’s giving the Lakers a chance in PHN. I think they pull it out. Just need to play with energy & focus.
I missed the Yankees game. Sounds like a good thing.
Apologies if this has been posted, but there are, in fact the Hughes Rules. Right after the game, I thought that no way Vazquez starts in the postseason (knock on wood). If the Others can do their thing, we’ll just have accept that Vazquez is truly the 5th starter that you just put out there every 5 days and prays he can give you 5-6 with not too much damage.
Of course this puts more pressure on Hughes, but I think he’ll be a-ok.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=5227531
I still think the Lakers will win it all.
Vazquez either has to find a way to increase his velo, or as Leither suggested, change his pitching pattern.
M,
I think both series will go 7. Lakers will win and Magic will win.
Rich,
I like how you think!
Carl,
I guess. The Celtics are nicked up to be sure. Baby has a concussion. Wallace couldn’t sit in a chair for film sessions. And marquis daniels (who? lol) has something, too. At least Perkins will be there!
I’m torn. I wanted the C’s to win because we (Lakers) have home court over them, but not the magic. But then the C’s started to look good. But then the magic started to look good.
Just as long as the Lakers win their semifinal, that’s the important thing. The Celtics going 7 would’ve been bad before. They’re a much worse team with 3 days of rest or more. But now the extra rest would benefit them because they’re nicked up.
Good to know that if you dig in and touch Granderson’s groin he’ll feel it.
I think I’m going to squirm if he digs in at the plate.
Why? Guys are always digging in.
Michelle May 28th, 2010 at 1:04 am
The Yankees are stupid with how they handled Park. He only had 1 rehab appearance and then they brought him back. Whether he has the stuff to get AL batters out is a different question. But the dude missed a month he was going to need more than a 5-7 appearances to get his stuff back. Bringing him back so soon was desperate.
——————
I don’t know about you, but if my team blew 5 runs leads twice in three games had a staff that included Boone Logan and an (at the time) ineffective David Robertson and Damaso Marte, Ace with a sore back, and a Joba that was throwing 94 mph meatballs, I might be a little desperate.
The only thing Javy has successfully shown, is that Cashman made a huge mistake this offseason, with his pipe dream. He cut too deep, acquired inferior players that are a step back, and doesn’t have an eye for good pitchers, (his ACE after 47 games is still looking for his 5 th win,) while the # 2 and 5 havef ive wins, and the #3 has his sixth win!!
To top all that off, he brings back Gaudin who left the Yankees with an 8 plus Era, to the team.
**I must note, in fairness, Last year the Yankees won every game Gaudin started, even if he didn’t get the win himself!!
**Sabathia hasn’t won a game since May 3rd against Baltimore, he’s no Ace!!
As a Yankees fan last nights game was hard to watch. Jaavier threw 26 pitches in the 1st, yielding a run.
The second inning was another 22 pitches, yielding 2 more runs. By this time I turned to TB vs CWS, and KC vs bos, literally praying they lose too!
This isn’t the way to watch a Yankees game. It’s true they won the series, but are also on the verge of losing 2nd place.
hat’s a fan to do? May 28th, 2010 at 7:43 am
As a Yankees fan last nights game was hard to watch. Jaavier threw 26 pitches in the 1st, yielding a run.
The second inning was another 22 pitches, yielding 2 more runs. By this time I turned to TB vs CWS, and KC vs bos, literally praying they lose too!
This isn’t the way to watch a Yankees game. It’s true they won the series, but are also on the verge of losing 2nd place.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Please tell us where to send flowers to your funeral. You’re on the verge of suicide in May? You’ll slash your wrists before the end of the season, because the Yankees are going to lose 40 more games.k
Ah, good morning, my friend GB7. Been looking for a friendly face this morning. I don’t recognize half the people who’ve posted since the middle of the game last night.
There are two things that crack me up in particular. The first is how “we” do or don’t do this or that. The second is how “they” better do this or that “or else.”
On the first, how much more time does it really take to type “the team” or “the Yankees?” Last I looked, “we” here on the Lohud do nothing more than watch and critique.
On the second, “or else” what? You won’t watch anymore? I hope it means you won’t post anymore, but I doubt that.
No one’s saying there should be dancing in the streets – these are frustrating times for a fan. Everyone want’s their team to win, no one likes when it struggles. It’s a long season, and there’s plenty of time to right the ship.
Well, I had to say that, but I don’t know why I’m wasting my time – those that know this don’t need to read it, and those that don’t will ignore it anyway.
Morning, Doreen. Hope all is going well in your little corner of The empire. Yeah, I love those threats of what they’d better do, too. What I haven’t figured out is that if they are a “we”, why aren’t they accepting a large part of the blame for these losses. Yeah, I really believe those idiots won;t watch another game. If they did, they’d have no reason to whine about anything. I blame their parents and Dr, Benjamin Spock.
Have you been tracking the Trenton Thunder? “Our kids” Romine and Laird are really putting up All-Star numbers.
I’m close to getting away from this site, because it’s becoming a sewer and there seems to be no attempt or desire to stop it. It’s only because of posters like you, Pat M, Randy, pat, SJ, CB, Betsy, Erica, Erin, MTU, the two Rays and a couple of others that make this place bearable. The others aren’t worth crap. Anyway, what’s the weather up there? I know Trenton was suspended last night, so they have a game and a half today.
Laird hit for the cycle over the weekend!
Vasquez had, for ten years or so, been a guy with a consistent +fastball. It was one of the things that made him a solid ML starter. Now, his fastball sits at 87 and, on occasion, gets up to 90. This has been the case in every one of his starts in 2010. Since he’s now had 6-7 starts, I think its safe to say that he’s lost something. And just about every time he starts a game now, the Yankees lose something: a chance to win.
Man, talk about trying to put lipstick on a pig. “Vazquez only gave up two hits over his last 13 batters”. Yeah, a homer and a triple. And a lot of other hard-hit balls. He stunk. Face it. Admit it. Vazquez sucks. Park is even worse, if that’s possible. Randy Winn should be released when Granderson comes back. That’s how bad he’s been. And Nick Johnson…. How’re those off-season moves working out for ya, Cash?