Postgame notes: Yank homers are grand
Posted by: Josh Thomson - Posted in Misc on Jun 20, 2010 
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Mark Teixeira’s third-inning grand slam provided all the cushion the Yankees needed in today’s 4-0 win. It was the fifth of his career and his first in pinstripes (or Yankee road grays) — just not his first in the Bronx. He burned Edwar Ramirez for a grand slam as a member of the Angels on Aug. 3, 2008.
The Yankees lead the bigs with seven grand slams (Alex Rodriguez, 2; Jorge Posada, 2; Teixeira; Curtis Granderson; Robinson Cano) after belting three this homestand alone. But check out these stats: the club is batting .420 with 37 hits and 103 RBI with the bags juiced this season.
The production already dwarfs last season when the team hit just three slams all year. Even the club record is in jeopardy this season; it sits at 10, which was accomplished in 1987 (thank Don Mattingly for that).
The man who provided today’s grand slam, Teixeira, hopes the big home runs he hit the last two days are the sign his struggles are over.
“It’s a daily grind. It’s never easy. You’re always working, especially both ways,” Teixeira said. “It’s tough for me sometimes. But when I can hit a home run left-handed yesterday, a home run right-handed today, hopefully that’ll get some things rolling for me personally.”
• Alex Rodriguez was replaced by Ramiro Pena at third base following the rain delay, but it was only for precautionary reasons. “I felt really good,” Rodriguez said. “I think we had a little bit of a delay and Joe just felt like it was a good idea.”
Despite his manager’s caution, Rodriguez plans to play every game this week. “In a perfect world, I hope to get to play all six,” he said. “Right now, that’s the plan.”
• Today was the club’s 9,500th victory since its inception in 1903. The Yankees are 9,500-7,167 overall and are one of two teams with more than 9,000 wins in that span, joined only by the Giants (9,008).
• The Yankees are now 9-3 all-time in rubber games against the Mets, and a meaty 8-0 all-time in the Bronx.
• Those of you who noted Francisco Cervelli’s penchant for triples? You were on to something. Today Cervelli hit his third of the season. It is the most by a Yankee catcher since Joe Girardi hit four in 1998.
• Batters are now 0-for-their-last-22 against Mariano Rivera. Righties are in an 0-for-20 skid.
• As I mentioned on Twitter, the Mets optioned Jenrry Mejia to the minors after the game. The 20-year old was the youngest pitcher in baseball but had been used sparingly, pitching just four times since back-to-back appearances on June 5 and 6.
Mejia has not been charged with a run in 23 of his 30 outings, but the club believes he must work in the minors to further his development. He will head to Class AA Binghamton (partially at his request; “Triple-A is too cold,” Mejia told us) and start on Wednesday. The Mets have not announced a corresponding roster move, but will likely promote reliever Bobby Parnell from Buffalo.
Mejia understood the decision, and could even be described as excited. “I’m happy that I”m going to be a starter again,” Mejia said. “I want to be a starter in the major leagues. I’m going down, I’m going to continue to work hard. I don’t have to put my head down. I’d have to work hard anyway.
So, 2009 was the year of the walkoff; 2010 is the year of the grand slam???
nice attitude (the mets pitcher)
The year of the grand slam and great starting pitching.
One way of looking at all the walk offs last season was that they were behind in a lot of games and were fortunate to win so many…though it did give them a “team of destiny” feel.
Any time, Vinny. Happy to add something to this board. I’m such a slug. Laird makes a lot of good plays and pretty good on bunts. Just that his throws usually drift off-line to the outfield sign. Hardly ever towards the homeplate side.
For Mejia, I’m sure Joel Sherman is going to throw a party in his pants, if anyone out there has read the “Hardball” blog
It sort of amazing this club is alone in first in baseball’s toughest division with all the issues they’ve had to deal with. then again if you get good pitching, have a great closer and come thru with the bases loaded you can mask a lot of deficiencies.
I’m convinced the Yanks will be better the second half of the season with Jeter, Rodriguez and Tex picking it up
outfield sign
Sorry, that’s “outfield side”. If it goes to the outfield sign, I’d say to stick him at DH.
GB 7 —-
Sounds like Laird is throwing a cutter. Probably needs to center his grip on the ball better.
I’m not the least concerned about Burnett. He has these runs every year. Then, he turns it around and just WOWs you for 7-8 straight games. at the end of the year, he’ll be at 14-15 wins and a 3.85-4.10 ERA. He’s cut down considerably on the wild pitches and especially, the walks. Problem is, the hit batters are way up. Of the 9 he’s hit, at least 4 of them have been on the back foot or back leg.
86, like I said earlier…not sure of it’s footwork (or like you just said…grippong the ball_, but, either one is very correctable. No mistaking that bat. a lot of power and good average. That’s a really good right handed bat to have. Hits right handers and left handers very well and not a pull hitter. Power to every field.
Didn’t Tex used to be one of those?
I agree GB…. legit power bats are special and it’s good to see him developing. I suppose he could emerge at 3B with Alex to DH in a few years.
86, right now, Laird is the only legitimate third baseman in the system, unless you count Brad Suttle, who’s been less than impressive offensively or defensively.
“partially at his request; ?Triple-A is too cold,? Mejia told us”
Imagine if Joba ever said something like that? My god he would be blasted by ever writer/analysist/journalist/fan/etc
I love Mejia’s request, because it shows what a moron he is. Buffalo is too cold, but I guess Binghamton is nice and warm. It’s 75-80 this time of year in Buffalo.
I like Meija’s attitude about the demotion…but you have to hate the reasoning for going to Double-A. Too cold? Where do you hope you’ll be pitching on those cold April (and sometimes May) nights in a year or two? How about September and (hopefully for the Mets’ sake) October?
I had an opportunity to see John Sterling do his “thuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yankees win” up close and I was shocked. It is tolerable on the radio but to see him do it in person was like watching a two year having a temper tantrum in his playpen. Sterling, what is he now 70 or 71? act like he has dementia by stomping his feet and waving his arms back and forth, I was horrified. It looked to me like a child demanding his mama get him out of the playpen or babybed. ALso that female partner of his has the worst voice on radio I have ever heard. So rough like she just smoked 3 packs of cigarettes and downed a bottle of scotch. Could they have not found a woman with a more professional voice in this country..geez
Cooper, your comments about Sterling may appear a bit harsh, but in all likelihood, they are perfectly accurate. If I am on the road listening to the end of a Yankee victory, I lunge to the radio’s off button to avoid further brain damage at Sterling’s call. As someone who has studied and taught psychology for years, I am positive that poor John is suffering from some kind of arrested development, so profoundly attached to a sports team that he becomes a 10 to 12 year-old when calling a game.
Isn’t there some way to convince the poor soul to cease the madness? The Yankees are regal, the elite of baseball in many ways. To be represented by an over-the-top adolescent is embarrassing.