Yankees postgame: CC in command, Stewart stars, Gardner tweaks wrist
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on Apr 18, 2012 
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Let’s start with CC Sabathia after this 8-3 win for the Yankees. He went from hittable through three innings (three runs, four hits) to unhittable the next 4 1/3 to secure his first win. The lefty said it started with a mechanical tip from pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
“Larry came to me after the third and he just said, ‘Make sure you get on top of the fastball.’ That was all I needed to hear,” Sabathia said. “The command came. (Chris Stewart) called a good game. So I just kind of got in the flow.”
Sabathia said his fastball velocity wasn’t what it was previously, but that fact “helped me stay under control.” Sabathia is 9-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last 10 starts against Minnesota, including the postseason. He gave the Yankees their third quality start in 11 tries and his first in three.
“Hopefully we can get on a roll,” Sabathia said. “We do have a really deep pitching staff and a really good one. It’s just up to us to make the pitches and show that potential.”
Stewart’s contributions both behind the plate and with the bat didn’t go unnoticed.
“Player of the game,” Brett Gardner said.
The light-hitting backup catcher tied his career high with two hits and set a career high with three RBI. The offensive contributions, he said, are always a bonus.
“Not only one of my best nights, but it was in Yankee Stadium of all places and I’m wearing pinstripes,” Stewart said. “Definitely one I’m not going to forget.”
Gardner made a great catch to end the Twins’ two-run third, racing in and diving to make the grab. But he hurt his right wrist in the process.
“I was a little worried about it coming in,” Gardner said. “I definitely could feel it a little bit. But as the game went on, it actually felt a little better and a little better. So I’m not really too concerned about it.”
The 7, 8 and 9 guys in the order — Eduardo Nunez, Gardner and Stewart — combined to go 6 for 10 with four runs scored, two doubles and five RBI. Nunez went 2 for 4 with an RBI. He wasn’t even in the original lineup. He was only inserted at short in a chain of moves after Mark Teixeira was scratched with flu-like symptoms. The Yankees’ depth is going to be important because as Joe Girardi said. “Not everyone in that room is 25.”
Girardi said his guess is that Teixeira will be able to play Wednesday night.
The pitching matchup will feature Hiroki Kuroda and Jason Marquis.
NY Highlanders uniform and cap for Boston.
http://www.mlb.com/cutfour/art…..um=twitter
Jamie Moyer won his 268th game and became the oldest pitcher to ever win a game in the ML.
He tied Jim Palmer in wins, but, the similarity ends there.
You get Granderson, Nunez and Gardner on the bases, they can do some serious damage. Changes the team dynamic instantly. Nunez hitting 450 or some silly thing. Ok, very few games but looked nice and steady today defensively.
I think Jones showed a little of why he should get a bigger role.
Fun possible fact:
I doubt the Yanks will miss the postseason this year, but if they miss it, Stewart doesn’t play for the 2013 Yanks, and the 2013 Yanks make the postseason, Stewart would hold the dubious distinction of being the only 1995 on Yankee to not make the postseason since he appeared in one game with the postseason-less 2008 Yanks.
Correction:
Stewart woud be the only 1995 on Yankee to not make the postseason in two stints with the Yanks if the 2012 Yanks miss the postseason but make the 2013 postseason if he doesn’t play for them in 2013.
You are funny, GB.
VERY happy for CC and Chris Stewart.
Valentine . . . . when is he going to get canned. lol
Gardner is much too modest. He had a great game himself. Got on base every time up. An inning saving catch.
He’s not really full-time, but his OBP is .424, second to Nunez at .467. Just hope his wrist is okay.
Glad Stewart had a good game, love to see the maligned do well.
What’s more satisfying tonight our score or the Texas Rangers? They jumped all over Lester.
Good to see CC settle down tonight.
m,
I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I’m starting to feel sorry for Boston. Just having to deal with V. is going to be hard.
No. Don’t say that. Once you do, their luck will turn for the better!
Can you see Bobby V being fired? I can’t. Not during the season. I mean I could see it happening, but I don’t think it will. They made a very big deal out of his hiring. And they also made it clear that this was a transition year.
Would be cool to see him squirm after all his big talk.
m,
I would LOVE to see him fired, but better yet…I want him around all season to mess with the team and keep us all entertained. Can you imagine that clubhouse with him “in charge”? Those guys aren’t the nicest folks in the world. We saw that with how Francona was treated (doesn’t include Pedroia).
V’s a blowhard. He’ll get what he deserves…eventually.
You’re right — they did make a big deal out of his hiring. I think Red Sox ownership/management must be the only people on earth to not understand by now what guy of leader V makes.
Love Love LONG homeruns !! . . . Josh Hamilton CRUSHED a shot against the Sox last night !.. what a shot ….. he knew it was impressive when he crossed home plate … Goodness.
and thanks for the Fantasy Points Josh !!
When Hamilton is right and 100% healthy he might be the best all around player in baseball….he’s just not that guy all the time.
Certainly glad the arm slot issues with CC were just mechanical and not because something was hurting…..seemed like he was dropping a little out of the stretch particularly …and it did get better as the game went……part of what makes CC good is that downward plane from 6’8 on his fastball….and when he’s not on top it gets more hittable.
Hope Gardner is ok cause he’s really playing well……
I agree Blake .. Gardner is ok as well !
hope*
randy l. March 19th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
there’s an unusual mixture of management and coaching personnel with the orioles.
duquette, showalter, and rick peterson is a very interesting mix. maybe it will blow up because duquette used to be a total a hole but he did lay the ground work for the red sox world series teams.
showalter and peterson both have their resumes of success.
my inner psychic baseball quiji board says watch out for them
Quiet morning around here. Haven’t been around too much lately, but a wonderful rainy morning gives me the excuse I needed. Has Lohud solved all the Yanks’ problems while I’ve been gone?
Randy,
I think with the Orioles its just so tough to get your head above water in the AL east…..and another problem for them is the new CBA came at the worst time if you’re trying to rebuild a farm system……you can’tdecide pay over slot or go after international guys anymore without paying big penalties so that’s going to make it harder to get top talent quickly……Theyd be an ok team now if they had some pitching…..they do have Dylan Bundy on the way who sounds like an absolute monster.
Tom,
Not all of them yet
Randy,
I traded Montero last night…..but I got Justin Upton in return
blake-
cool , i’ll have to watch arizona to see how monteo does there
Randy-
Mornin’.
I do not believe the O’s have the Pitching to go very far.
It would be an achievement for them to just get out of the cellar.
I would mind if Boston took their place.
“Beantown cellar dwellers” has a nice ring to it.
did nunez actually make it through a game without an error?
wow, things are looking up.
edit: wouldn’t. oops. sorry.
Last night was one of the better games Nunez has played that I can remember….he looked relaxed and made some things happen……more of that please.
Blake,
Texas has a serious lineup. You have to be on your game or they will homerun you out of the ball park.
I have to admit that with both the Rangers in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Knicks playing their best basketball in the past 10 years the plight of the Yankees isn’t at the top of my sports radar right now.
The fact that the Yankees are playing .600 ball given that Cano, Arod and Teix haven’t been driving in runs ball plus the dearth of quality starts from a very good rotation just means they will most likely have a great regular season, probably winning 95-100 games and running away with the AL East.
It’s LoHud tradition to obsess about every little thing going on in Yankee land, I prefer to just let a very good team play the games and appreciate what I see on the field-I see really good things coming in 2012.
Good morning-
Nunez did look relaxed at SS and made some good plays.
Swisher at 1st made a nice grab of a popup, leaning over the dugout railing.
However Jones in RF, with no-one on base, caught a flyball just in front of a little boy with his outstretched hand and glove, ignored him and threw it back to the infield. Not a good way to make a little kids night.
If Holland repeats and Harrison establishes himself a long with Darvish Texas could be extremely tough.
I’m hoping that Darvish turns out to be the crappy version of dice-K (sorry JF).
Not sure the Texas pen is as good as it was without Feliz out there and their team speed is fairly poor.
Tigers look very tough too.
If Nunez can tighten up his defense, we’d have a helluva player on our hands
New one —->
“I do not believe the O’s have the Pitching to go very far.
mtu-
It would be an achievement for them to just get out of the cellar.”
i think rick peterson in newly created role of “director of pitching development” will have some positive influence with the oriole pitchers.
i can’t find much info on how this role is different from a minor league pitching coordinator, but it appears it’s a position that’s much more comprehensive.
Texas led the AL, actually the entire league in BA last year with .283. They scored the 3rd most runs in AL, had the 2nd most homers.
The pitching staff ERA was 5th in AL at 3.79, just after the Yankees.
The team payroll is just below 121M.
They can continue to add without fear of exceeding the LT.
However, if the Yankees stay healthy they will be adding Pettitte by mid May, possibly Pineda by mid June, Aardsma by late July, and possibly Joba in September.
Since we all know that good pitching beats good hitting, the Yankees are better!!!