The LoHud Yankees Blog

Derek Jeter said he’s not going to the all-star game. He’d rather take it easy.

Three other notes:

- Alex Rodriguez is going for an MRI on his right knee. The Yankees are calling it precautionary.

- Nick Swisher’s quad is bothering him, and he might miss a day or two. No tests scheduled.

- Brian Gordon was released so that he can sign in Korea.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Andruw Jones RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Francisco Cervelli C

Just wanted to post a quick reminder that our friend Ron is planning a LoHud Yankees Blog Outing for later this month at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s PNC Field. If you missed Ron’s invitation earlier this week, here it is again. Should be a great time, so shoot him an email.

Also, check out my friend Jeff Passan’s piece on the Rangers fan who fell to his death last night. It’s a well written story about fathers and sons.

Here’s Ron’s letter.

—

For those interested, I’m happy to again organize the LoHud Yankees Blog group outing for 2011 to see a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees game later this summer at PNC Field, just off I-81 in Moosic, PA. In 2008 and 2009 we had over 80 blog readers, family and friends attend the outing each year. I think those who attended would agree it was a great time! I was late getting organized in 2010 and we were unable to get together.

The 2011 LoHud Yankees Blog outing will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 7:05 PM when the SWB Yankees will take on the Syracuse Chiefs, AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals. There will also be post-game fireworks that night, which from much personal experience I can say are very good. For those interested, the series with Syracuse is part of a four-game homestand beginning Friday at 7:05 PM through Monday at 7:05 PM including a 1:05 PM Sunday start. You can contact the SWB Yankees box office at (570) 969-BALL (2255) for additional tickets.

For those who are unfamiliar, PNC Field is about 60 miles from Binghamton, 100 miles from Newark, 110 miles from Philadelphia, 120 miles from NYC and 130 miles from State College.

The group venue for this year’s outing will be the Third Base Party Box. The cost per person — including game ticket and all you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, soda, water, beans/pasta salad and an SWB Yankees cap and program — is approximately $32 – $35.

At this point I’m uncertain if Chad Jennings will be able to attend, but hopefully he can join us.

I’d ask anyone interested in the outing to e-mail me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at yankslifer@yahoo.com with number of tickets you’re interested in. I’ll invoice those interested through PayPal which has worked well in the past.

In prior years, a number of people from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and even Virginia came to the outing. Later, via e-mail, I’ll provide driving directions and links to hotels and restaurants in the area for those attending.

Thanks to Chad for posting this.

Ron

Derek Jeter’s pursuit of No. 3,000 is casting a large shadow, obscuring the fact that the Yankees have dropped four of five and have fallen out of first, now trailing the Red Sox by a half game.

Jeter, the consummate win-first, team-first guy, said the mini skid is taking away something from the chase.

“Yeah, it is,” Jeter said. “We’ve been facing some tough pitchers these last few days. Guys step up when they play us, and especially there in Cleveland, a couple guys we’ve faced, they hadn’t thrown the ball well all year. And it doesn’t get any easier with Tampa. We’re playing two tough teams since I’ve been back, and hopefully (Friday) we can come out and score a few more runs.”

Joe Girardi doesn’t feel the 3,000 hoopla has been a distraction to his players.

“I think the guys are going about their business,” Girardi said.

Alex Rodriguez has gone 85 at-bats now without a homer, the longest single-season stretch in his career. He has sent up just 13, although he is batting .295 with 52 RBI. A-Rod turns 36 in 19 days.

Derek Jeter had thoughts rattling around under his helmet after doubling in his first at-bat against Jeff Niemann – 3,000 thoughts.

“After the first one, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it was obtainable today,” Jeter said.

But it didn’t happen. Jeter went 0 for 4 the rest of the way and is at 2,998. Jeff Niemann retired him three times, and then Kyle Farnsworth got him on a slow bouncer to third to end this 5-1 loss.

“It’s always good when you get a hit your first at-bat, but after that, Niemann did a great job,” Jeter said. “We had some opportunities early on, and he pitched out of a couple of jams. Early on, I thought I was going to get a few, but that wasn’t the case.”

Third baseman Sean Rodriguez robbed him of a hit in the fifth, going down for a backhand stop and throwing him out.

“It hurt my feelings a little bit,” Jeter said kiddingly. “They were joking on the bench that I hit two or three balls a year down the third-base line and he caught one of them. It was unfortunate, but I thought it was going to get by him at first.”

Joe Girardi said the atmosphere in the dugout generally was “business as usual. The atmosphere is not really any different. Now I can’t tell you it (will) be that (way) after he gets the next one and each at-bat after that. But at 2,998, it’s still business as usual.”

It wasn’t business as usual for Bartolo Colon. He walked a season-high-tying four and gave up 10 hits and five runs in 5 2-3.

“I wasn’t throwing strikes and every time I threw strikes, they hit ball really good on me,” Colon said. “So there’s nothing I can do about it.” 

At least Colon said he felt fine physically after 15 games, 12 of them starts, and 90 innings. This was his second start after coming off the DL. The run he allowed in the first snapped his streak of 13 1/3 scoreless innings. The 10 hits were the most he had given up since 2007 with the Angels. The loss snapped his four-game winning streak.

Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a solo homer and a single. He has hit safely in 23 of his last 26, batting .353 over that span.

Jorge Posada played in his 1,785th game, which tied Don Mattingly for ninth on the Yankees’ all-time list.       

Friday night Jeter gets to face Jeremy Hellickson. Freddy Garcia starts for the Yankees.

Yankees lineup
1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Curtis Granderson CF
3. Mark Teixeira 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Robinson Cano 2B
6. Nick Swisher RF
7. Jorge Posada DH
8. Russell Martin C
9. Brett Gardner LF
Bartolo Colon RHP

Rays lineup
1. Ben Zobrist 2B
2. Matt Joyce RF
3. Evan Longoria DH
4. Casey Kotchman 1B
5. B.J. Upton CF
6. John Jaso C
7. Sean Rodriguez 3B
8. Sam Fuld LF
9. Reid Brignac SS
Jeff Niemann RHP

TV/Time: YES/7:08
Umpires: Derryl Cousins HP, Jim Wolf 1B, Ron Kulpa 2B, Gary Cederstrom 3B
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 79 degrees

3,000 Watch: 2,997 and counting. Jeter is 5 for 9 with a walk lifetime vs. Niemann. No player has ever picked up his 3,000 hit against Tampa Bay. On Sept. 9, 2009, Jeter had three hits to tie Lou Gehrig’s franchise record of 2,721. All three hits came off Niemann.

Update, 7:16: One run in the first off Colon. Now Jeter’s first at-bat.

Update, 7:18: First pitch, lines a solid double to left-center. 2,998.

Update, 7:29: The Yankees strand Jeter at third and Teixeira at first.

Update, 7:48: Two outs, second and third, bottom of the second. Jeter’s turn.

Update, 7:49: Bouncer to third, side retired.

Update, 7:52: Zobrist solo shot to the right-center seats. It’s 2-0 in the third.

Update, 7:55: I know we’re all on Jeter watch, but the Colon watch has been hard on the eyes so far. B.J. Upton delivers an RBI single, and it’s 3-0.

Update, 8:06: It’s still 3-0 after three.

Update, 8:16: Colon has given up seven hits and four walks but somehow only three runs in his four innings.

Update, 8:27: Make that five runs. Upton sends a two-run shot to the left-field seats in the fifth.

Update, 8:37: Jeter is robbed of hit by Sean Rodriguez, who went down for a backhand stop by third and got up and threw The Captain out here in the fifth.

Update, 8:45: Colon is done with two outs and a man on first in the sixth. This was just his third bad start out of 12. Hector Noesi will take the ball.

Update, 8:48: Martin throws out Zobrist stealing to end the inning.

Update, 8:57: Cano a shot to the bleachers in right-center. Homer No. 15. It’s 5-1 in the sixth.

Update, 9:12: Jeter’s next at-bat is here after Gardner’s two-out single in the seventh.

Update, 9:17: Bouncer to short. Tonight doesn’t look like the night. 5-1, end of seven.

Update, 9:31: Niemann is out after 7 1-3 strong innings. Juan Cruz is in, one out, Mark Teixeira on first.

Update, 9:38: 5-1, end of eighth. The Yankees will have to go through five batters before Jeter is due up.

Update, 9:56: Kyle Farnsworth is on to try to close it out.

Update, 10:06: Jeter one more chance with runners at the corners and two outs.

Update, 10:09: Jeter bounces softly to third. Yankees lose, 5-1.

Major League Baseball just sent this announcement.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim right-hander Jordan Walden has been named to replace Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees on the American League’s active roster for the 82nd All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced today.

Because Rivera was a player-elected All-Star, his replacement was to be the next highest ranking relief pitcher who was not already an All-Star via the Player Ballot. Walden ranked fifth among relief pitchers on the A.L. Player Ballot with 67 votes.

Walden, a 23-year-old rookie, is 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA (36.2 IP, 12 ER) and 19 saves this season. The 6’5”, 235 lb. Walden has struck out 39 batters and has allowed only one home run this season.

Other announcements regarding the All-Star rosters will be made as they become available.

Mariano Rivera is declining another invitation to the All-Star Game, this time because of the triceps soreness that bothered him the last few days.

“I’m not going to go because I want to make sure that I’m 100 percent,” Rivera said. “The three days will be good to rest.”

Rivera said he had inflammation that caused the soreness, but that he’s feeling better and is good to go again tonight.

Angels closer Jordan Walden will replace him on the AL team.

Brian Heyman here with a chance to possibly see history tonight. All the pregame chatter has been about Derek Jeter, being three hits away from 3,000. The Captain had a press conference. He spoke about the prospect of 3,000 and his career. He said he wasn’t sure how he would feel when it happens, whether it would be euphoria or relief.

“I don’t know,” Jeter said. “Maybe a little bit of both.”

Jeter was surprised to find out about five years ago that no player had accomplished 3,000 hits as a Yankee. He has taken a look at the 27 names in the 3,000 club.

“All those guys played for a  long, long time, had long, successful careers,” Jeter said. ”One thing I think gets overlooked in baseball stats is guys who have 200-hit seasons. Home runs go up and down. Runs go up and down. But 200-hit seasons, there are usually only three or four guys in both leagues combined that get 200 hits. In order to get 3,000 hits, you have to do that for 15 years. In order to be on that list, you’re going to have to play for a very, very long time and be consistent.”   

Jeter takes pride in consistency and reliability.

“The thing I always wanted to do is when came to the field, I wanted the organization to have a pretty good idea who was going to play shortstop,” Jeter said. “I take a lot of pride in going out there every single day. That’s why I like to play every day and try to be as consistent as possible. I think the thing that’s the most difficult to do in our sport is be consistent. Playing well gets you here. Consistency keeps you here. That’s the thing I’ve always tried to focus on. You’re going to have good years. You’re going to have bad years. For the most part, I’ve tried to be as consistent as possible. I do take a lot of pride in that. I think that’s the reason why I’m still playing now.”

Plus, he loves being the shortstop and a durable figure, outside of this last calf injury.

“That’s my job,” he said. “My job is to play every day. When I came up in this organization, when The Boss was here, young players, at first we didn’t get too many opportunities. That all started with Bernie, Bernie having success. When we got that opportunity, we didn’t want to sit out because we thought someone else was going to play. You never want to be in a situation where someone else comes in and does your job. That’s why myself, Jorge, Mariano, Andy, the guys who came up in the organization, we wanted to be out there every day. Pitching-wise, they wanted to be out there every five days, or Mo to be available every day to pitch. I’ve taken a lot of pride to try to be out there every single day.”       

Rivera planned to test the triceps muscle that has been bothering him by having a higher intensity catch. He hasn’t pitched in the last three games.

1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Cano 2B
6. Swisher RF
7. Posada DH
8. Martin C
9. Gardner LF
Colon P