Postgame notes: “There was no doubt in my mind”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Jul 27, 2011 
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Through most of CC Sabathia’s career with the Indians — including his Cy Young season — the Cleveland manager was Eric Wedge, who tonight sat in the Mariners dugout and watched his former ace dismantle his current lineup.
“That was about as good of stuff as I’ve seen him have,” Wedge said. “He had a better fastball than we’ve seen him have a times. He’s always had a good fastball, but at times, but he was really consistent with it tonight. His secondary stuff was as good as we’ve seen it too.”
It was a performance for the ages until the rain came. Clouds had been gathering since the early innings, and it was quickly very obvious that the weather was a greater threat than the Mariners. Sabathia had struck out seven in a row — one shy of an American League record — before a steady shower turned into a temporary downpour, forcing a 30-minute rain delay. Sabathia retired the first three batters after the break, but Joe Girardi said Sabathia’s stuff wasn’t quite the same. He’d thrown for a while underneath the stands, but the offspeed stuff was different.
“He was so sharp before the rain delay, and I thought his slider got a little bit bigger after the rain delay,” Girardi said. “I didn’t think he was quite as sharp, and we’ll never know, but golly, for that (six) and a third he was brilliant… It’s one of those nights, he’s rolling along so well, it’s just like, please don’t stop this game. But you can’t stop mother nature.”
Sabathia said he still felt good after the first delay, but the second was obviously a different story. Ultimately, Sabathia settled for a career-high 14 strikeouts on a night that was more memorable for what might have happened than for what actually happened.
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Francisco Cervelli: “The whole game, I had in my mind, no-hitter… The first inning, the way he was throwing the ball in my glove, sliders in the dirt, I thought we had a chance to do it. They’re professional hitters, but CC was really good today.”
Mark Teixeira: “He was so dominant. You always figure someone’s going to bloop one in or you’re going to make a mistake, someone’s going to get a hit. But the fourth or fifth inning, he was dominant, and we figured, alright, if he can keep this up, I think he’s going to get it… You never know. No rain, he might have had a perfect game.”
Eric Chavez: “There was no doubt in my mind he was going to throw a no-hitter.”
CC Sabathia: “You know you haven’t pitched out of the stretch the whole game. Some guys say they don’t know, but I know from the first pitch until I get out of the stretch that I’m in the situation I’m in.”
Here’s Sabathia.
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• Girardi said the first delay could have gone quite a while without Sabathia needing to come out of the game. His pitch count was low enough, that the Yankees could have let Sabathia throw simulated innings every 15 minutes or so and just counted that against his game pitches. Sabathia said it didn’t matter. There was no chance Girardi was taking him out. “I was going back out,” he said.
• During the rain delay, Sabathia said he sat in the clubhouse and talked to his teammates. There was no superstitious silent treatment during the game or the delay. “I’m really not that type of person,” Sabathia said. “It was just normal.”
• Sabathia guessed that he’s shaken off Cervelli two or three times since Cervelli became his regular catcher. As soon as he started his postgame press conference, Sabathia gave a ton of credit to his catcher. Cervelli, of course, deflected the praise right back to his pitcher. “He’s a liar,” Cervelli said. “He’s got the ball, so he throws what he wants. I just try to be on the same page.”
• The single by Brendan Ryan was a 2-0 fastball. It extended Ryan’s hitting streak to 10 games.
• The Yankees had a total of 18 strikeouts tonight, their highest nine-inning total since Ron Guidry’s 18-strikeout game in 1978… This was the first time the Yankees held their opponent to one hit since September of last year when Sabathia beat the Athletics… This was the first time the Yankees held the Mariners to one hit since 2002 when Freddy Garcia was opposing starter for Seattle.
• Curtis Granderson momentarily took sole possession of the team lead in home runs tonight, but just a few innings after he hit his 28th, Teixeira responded with his own 28th homer in the eighth inning. “It’s a lot of fun,” Teixeira said. “We don’t like sitting on whatever number we’re at, so we enjoy going back and forth.”
• Teixeira has now hit 100 home runs since coming to the Yankees.
• Nothing more to say about Dave Robertson. That was still a three-run game when he came out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth. He allowed one run on a routine grounder to third, but got two quick outs to limit the damage. “He does it every time, doesn’t he?” Teixeira said.
• By the way, Girardi said he’s still not sure whether Rafael Soriano will be activated tomorrow or Friday. He also refused to say whether Soriano will take back the eighth inning. “The first thing is, let me get him back, and then we’ll make decisions as the game goes on,” Girardi said. “We need to get him pitching well, that’s the bottom line, and get him comfortable. He had four outings, which is not a ton of outings. It’s somewhat of a short spring training, but we feel that we need him and then I’ll make those decisions.”
• Chavez said everything felt fine in his return from the disabled list. He was tested a little bit — and made some nice plays at third — but he came out of the game with no pain, having gone 1-for-3 with an RBI single.
• Let’s end with this Robertson stat: When he struck out the first batter he faced in the eighth, it was his 10th consecutive strikeout with the bases loaded. No pitcher since at least 1965 had a bases-loaded strikeout streak that long in a single season. Robertson has faced 12 batters with the bases loaded this season: 10 strikeouts, one ground ball out and one double.
Associated Press photos
Happy Birthday A-Rod
Somehow ARod turning a year older is only slightly less distressing than myself turning a year older.
Alex Rodriguez’s right knee seems to be healing quickly from surgery, judging by an intense workout with girlfriend Cameron Diaz yesterday morning at the Equinox in South Beach. The slugger, who’s expected to return to the Yankees in mid- August after surgery July 11, broke a sweat on the StairMaster next to Diaz for nearly an hour. “Diaz was being ex tremely bubbly and friendly,” a spy said. “She gave Alex a smile before putting on her iPod and getting serious about her workout.” Diaz ended her session before A-Rod, who stayed for an intense stretch.
http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesi.....z1THGK8bMK
Montero is power insurance for Alex’s knee. Bring him forth.
Ubaldo is the Yanks for the taking, the only question is how much will Cashman be willing to give beyond Montero and Batances
Ubaldo is the Yanks for the taking, the only question is how much will Cashman be willing to give beyond Montero and Batances
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Hopefully nothing if by beyond montero and betances you mean montero + betances ++++
Now if you mean keeping Montero + betances and beyond means giving up parts of the rest of the farm, I’m all for that.
If Cashman coughs up Montero & Betances for Jimenez, I’ve given him way too much credit.
It’s interesting that Cashman always adds a disclaimer when commenting on potential trades: “…but I have bosses.”
He’s clearly wary of giving up elite pieces.
They can’t have Manny, Dellin, Jesus or Gary Sanchez. Everyone else can be discussed.
The key is holding Banuelos out of the equation in my mind, but Montero & Betances and some lower level A type prospects would be included…….I also heard tonight that the Angels are interested in Eric Chavez, to what degree he didn’t know or wouldn’t say…….Cashman is intent on trying to pry an Ace type arm from someone and Billy B is asking for not only the moon and the stars but the sun as well
Trading Betances would be very foolish indeed.
…Arodys Vizcaino’s rise must stick in Cashman’s craw. If it’s up to him, none of the Big 3 are going. If it’s up to Randy Levine, all bets are off & heaven help the Yankees.
CC lost some momentum after the first delay, and Seattle hitters looked like they had time to rethink their approach and became more patient, which led to the first hit.
CC had great stuff, but the Mariners were chasing out of the zone end davis was calling a wide strike zone which tightened up a bit after the 2nd rain delay. CC also lost some command, perhaps a let down after losing the no-no.
The hit he gave up was a blooper though. No hitters are as much luck as pitching. BABIP has to be 0.
The rain has not been kind to CC the past 2 years (he lost a W against Boston last year with a rain delay that started after 4 2/3 IP and Yankees well ahead).
Record now 15-5, he has a pretty good shot at 25 which should help his Cy Young chances among those who attach importance to W’s.
Mariners losing streak in danger tommorow with Hughes-King Felix. King Felix has not been as good this year, so the matchup is not as bad as it looks given the Mariners offensive woes.
J. Alfred Prufrock…….It could be a case about ownership wanting to go all in for a title this season……..I could see the club willing to surrender two of their top 4 guys and holding the line there…..For me I think Manny B will be more valuable down the road than Dellin
Ubaldo isn’t elite enough to warrant dumping the farm in some weird attempt to go ‘all in’ this season in my opinion. Walks too many, too many questions surrounding him.
Not good prior postseason performance. He’s no Cliff Lee!
Just popping in for a look see. Still posting away………………………….LMAO !
Neither is Cliff Lee!
T’was myself? I would not have sent CC out after the second rain delay. IIRC, the no-hitter was lost already, no?
Anyways, that Jarrod Weaver has a snazzy ERA. Looks like a 2-horse race at this point.
Pat M. July 27th, 2011 at 1:54 am
J. Alfred Prufrock…….It could be a case about ownership wanting to go all in for a title this season……..I could see the club willing to surrender two of their top 4 guys and holding the line there…..For me I think Manny B will be more valuable down the road than Dellin
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In Trenton, Cashman was just standing around chatting with some scouts there & repeated what he’s told the media. “I’d like to upgrade, but I don’t want to pay the price. But I have bosses…”
Manny is going to be very good & is of course a lefty, but there’s no denying that Dellin has the better arm. All I can say is, if it comes to pass that Montero & Dellin get moved, hello 2002
montero + betances is already too much for ubaldo imo
he’s not the same pitcher he was in the first half of 2010
Actually, could be a 3-horse race if you include the 3-legged horse Beckett.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa – I agree. I think it’s easy to dismiss a pitcher you don’t actually see (Betances). Some have no idea how good this kid is. If they can do something without giving up the two better Bs & the two best catchers, fine. Otherwise, they’re better off leaving well enough alone. I’ll trade this year for the next five or six, if it’s down to that. At some point, you’ve got to hang onto your top guys so close to the majors instead of running after the shiny toy. Look at Vizcaino.
Face….His October numbers aren’t bad
The Brothers want to win another World Series while they still have Alex, Derek and Mariano……50 million a season and no title stings
agreed Alfred. i mean if you are talking about montero + betances/banuelos you are talking about building a package for a proven ace. a Felix Hernandez type. Ubaldo hasn’t proven he’s that type of pitcher.
Aceves:
6-1 3.28
Cashman (fail)
Got my fingers crossed for Phil Hughes today. Big start for him & us. Royals have the kind of offense that can rap Lackey good. Chen could be a nightmare though.
Goodnight & a good morning, all.
West Coast Yankee Fan July 27th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Aceves:
Do you know the poster Vineyard yankee?
Hola Luis. Si.
Muchas gracias, just wanted to make sure
So many rumors and much speculation about nothing. These big name guys like Ubaldo, Kershaw, Felix are not going anywhere. SP is at a premium and these GM’s know it.
Tiene una pregunta? Rápidamente por favor, estoy cansado.
West Coast Yankee Fan July 27th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Aceves:
6-1 3.28
Cashman (fail)
Yanks have the best bullpen era in the league.
We need another starter.
Thank you for helping me clear things out. Didn’t know you’vee been so many times to Venezuela.
Sí, él es un gran amigo que confío.
Yo tambien es que me mando un e-mail y queria asegurarme, gracias
good night
Yes, I stayed in a small fishing village on Isle de Margarita for a month while we were filming. I loved it. Las mujeres más bonitas: )
Nite.
Aceves isn’t a fail, it allowed somebody like Noesi, a younger pitcher with better stuff to show what he can do as a Yankee longman.
To bad the same opportunity that occurred with Aceves won’t happen with Burnett.
Pirates @ Braves ended in the 19th inning with a blown call on play at the plate.
Im really torn on this Ubaldo stuff…..if there is really anything to it. Much like I was last year with the Cliff Lee rumors around this time.
I do think Ubaldo would increase their chances of winning this year and could be a nice 1-2 with CC for the next couple of years…..that said he’s not a sure thing or proven postseason performer like Lee was…..but he’s not a rental either and he’s really pretty cheap.
Im really hesitant to part with Montero…..and when you add Betances and even more onto the package then I get even more nervous about it.
If the Rockies are still asking for 4 top players then its an easy decision……no way. If they’ve come off that and have lowered the price tag then its a difficult decision and one that could have ramifications for several years either good or bad.
I would no more trade Dellin and Jesus for Ubaldo than I would trade those 2 for Justin Smoak, the key piece to last year’s Lee deal. And Lee was a MUCH better proposition.
Aceves isn’t a fail, it allowed somebody like Noesi, a younger pitcher with better stuff to show what he can do as a Yankee longman.
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Suppose it could be argued that not having Aceves made it necessary to pull Noesi from his development as a starter, but overall the bullpen has been very good, so I don’t see letting him go as a failure. It’s not as though he’d have brought the Yankees anything in trade.
As Girardi said…..there was a noticeable difference in CCs command and.his slider after that first rain delay……I really think he would have had a shot wihout the rain…..didn’t look like that Ms lineup was going to touch him.
Excited to see what Hughes can do today….
I wouldn’t trade either of those guys for Smoak either…..Lee was a 3 month rental also so at least with Ubaldo you get 2 more years after this.
Aceves is a punk…..he fits in perfect with the Red Sox.
Excited to see what Hughes can do today….
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More anticipating his next start. This simply isn’t anywhere close to a major league offense that he’s facing today. It’s a historically bad lineup that appears to be quitting (see in particular: Suzuki, Ichiro). Not sure a whole lot can gathered from a start against them. I think what will be important to watch is where he is velocity-wise and movement-wise on his heater.
Not happy that Aceves was able to leave and sign with the RS, but I can’t blame Cashman for making that decision.
Aceves didn’t really pitch all last season. His back was bad, then he broke his collar bone in the off season. Suddenly his back issues are disappeared like magic. That is some amazing work that Boston does on backs. Wakefield, Beckett and now Aceves. Yet to be seen is how Laptops does with his back… my guess is he will be “perfect”.
I don’t think it will be something that will hold up long term. If they have bad backs, are given epidurals, that problem is being masked and will only end up with them having more damage to their backs.
Aceves’ back was at a point where surgery was being widely talked about. That is quite a change for where he is now.
Mell,
Agree but you could also look at it as a chance to get on track and throw a good game to lead in to his next start.
The Mariner offense is.really bad though……I’ve been shocked in this series at how old and late on everything Ichiro looks.
Please do NOT give away the farm for Jimenez. He has “another NL bust” written all over him.
Blake and crew-
Good morning. Jimenez talk is wearing on me too. Blurb from Joel Sherman’s article in NY Post this AM hits on all my concerns. Looks like Sherman has been following the blog!!Full article attached:
The Yankees and many organizations are concerned about red flags with Jimenez. His fastball speed is down from a first half last year when he was arguably the best starter in the majors, he is just 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA despite generally pitching better in July, and he has a high-maintenance delivery that makes him susceptible to arm injury and/or fits of wildness (more problematic in the AL East than in the NL Central). In other words, there is some A.J. Burnett there.
Also there are officials who simply see a red flag in the Rockies having a young, talented, inexpensive starter on the market. What do they know about Jimenez that other teams don’t?
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....6EQqDPZI/0
With regards to Beltran from the same NY Post article:
An official from a team involved on Beltran said, “It doesn’t matter how good [general manager] Sandy Alderson does [his job], there is only so much he can get for Carlos Beltran for two months. They will get a good return, but not a headline good return.”
Now on Rasmus-
Berkman played yesterday with a right shoulder strain, removed in 4th inning to go for MRI. Throws left-handed. Will this put a hold on talks for Rasmus if he’s put on DL??
Trader,
Good stuff…..yea I don’t know about Rasmus. They’d probably want an outfiekder back in a deal for him anyway …..but the Berkman injury does complicate them moving him now.
I think a lot of writers might read the blog
Mell-
Good morning.
“I think what will be important to watch is where he is velocity-wise and movement-wise on his heater.”
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Definitely. If he’s at 91 with little movement, bad location even the worst offensive team in the majors might get more than a few runs off him today.
Read that Doug Fister is available. Any interest?
CC has been so remarkable, yet even though he’s a Yankee, he’s underrated……..
I would say it’s a big game today because Hughes is pitching, but I can’t. It’s big in that if his stuff is crap again or he just pitches badly, I think he’ll be sent down in exchange for Nova, but if he pitches well, it won’t say anything about how good he’ll be going forward. It’s a game by game thing at this point.
Blake-
Morning.
I share your concern regarding Ubaldo if the price includes Jesus and Dellin. Agree with you that Betances is preferable to Montero.
In my mind, I think that’s where I would draw the line.
Would include one but not both in the same trade. That might be worth the risk.
Otherwise, I think I’m passing.
That’s a very high price w/o having Cliff Lee like certainty.
More doubt is creeping into my thinking lately.
Almost to the point of having cold feet on it.
Glad I don’t have to make a decision like that.
Also there are officials who simply see a red flag in the Rockies having a young, talented, inexpensive starter on the market. What do they know about Jimenez that other teams don’t?
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Blake-
COSTCO has a 90 day return policy on major electronics. Insist on one from the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez. If he “stops working” the Yankees could return him no later than October 31st!!
YT-
He’s worth the risk depending on the price IMO.
New thread on CC———>