Postgame notes: “I just followed my game”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Aug 11, 2012 
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When the game was over, the Yankees clubhouse opened several minutes later than usual. Even then, the media was informed that Joe Girardi wasn’t ready to be interviewed. The players would talk first, then the manager, an odd flip-flop of usual protocol.
At that point, it became fairly clear that Ivan Nova was probably not the story of the day.
Make no mistake, though, Nova was very good today. Winless since the All-Star break, Nova delivered 7.1 innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts. His first strikeout came on his slider, the one pitch that seemed to be giving him the most trouble recently.
“I think the confidence that I still have in myself, I think that is the key,” Nova said. “I was working hard in the bullpen. I wanted to make sure all my pitches were right and I left the bullpen with a good feel for my work. All of them were working fine.”
It’s true. The slider was a fine pitch today, and Nova’s fastball showed some real pop. But it was Nova’s curveball that really stood out. He was using it to get ahead in the count, using it to induce routine outs and six of his strikeouts came on curveballs.
“My curveball is my natural pitch,” Nova said. “I can work with the curveball really well. Even when I struggle with the curve in the bullpen, I can throw my curveball for a strike when I need it. Today it was an unbelievable pitch. I’m glad I had it today.”
Nova slightly altered his slider grip leading into this start, tucking it farther back in his hand, but he did nothing to the curveball. Although the slider has become a go-to strikeout pitch in the past year or so, the curveball remains a point of absolute confidence for Nova.
“With the lefties, I was thinking sometimes you’re trying to bounce it,” Nova said. “They don’t go for it, so I was trying to throw a little bit down, no bounce, really inside to a lefty. It was good. … The first slider that I threw was a strikeout, and I could see the movement that the slider had. For me, it got to make me feel more good about it. I got good break on the slider. The grip that we’ve got, the work that we put in was working. After that, I was just trying to see if I had another pitch, and the curveball was the other pitch. The game was telling us what to do and that’s exactly what I did today. I just followed my game.”
• Casey McGehee had his welcome-to-the-Yankees moment with that three-run homer in the fourth. He later doubled in the game. “I was trying to force that to happen, especially the first couple times out there, trying to do way too much every at-bat,” McGehee said. “I think I’m making a conscious effort to slow down, relax, and realize that even though it’s a new organization, new team, it’s still a game I’ve been playing for a little while.”
• More from McGehee: “I’ve been working with K-Long quite a bit on some stuff at the plate. I’m trying to be stubborn with it, stick with. I think it’s going to help. It was nice to feel what it felt like when it’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
• Derek Jeter’s sixth-inning double gave him an A.L.-leading 150 hits for the season. He’s the second player in baseball history to reach 150 hits in 17 straight seasons. The other is Hank Aaron.
• Dave Robertson threw one pitch tonight and ended the eighth inning with a double play.
• Rafael Soriano followed Robertson with a scoreless ninth to pick up his 28th save.
• A little bit more on the Sabathia injury: “We’ve been talking about it all day, just trying to decide what we were going to do,” Girardi said. “It’s not any worse than it was after the first start, but our concern is it didn’t go away. As far as concern, it’s pretty low. We were deciding should we just skip him a start, should we DL him? What do we do in this instance? We’ve decided that we’re going to DL him. We’ll have to name a starter on Monday; I don’t have that right now. We’ll have to decide what we’re going to do. As far as the concern, it’s pretty low-level, because it’s not like it got any worse. He wants to pitch on Monday, which I’m not surprised, because he said he’s dealt with it before. We just decided, let’s try to get it cleaned up now.”
• Girardi said he’s not sure how many pitches David Phelps can throw at this point. His last minor league start came on July 14 when he threw 103 pitches. Phelps hasn’t thrown more than 36 pitches since then.
• It’s worth noting that Adam Warren is scheduled to start tomorrow’s Triple-A game. I have to think he would have been a call-up candidate — either as a spot starter or a long man — had the Yankees not agreed to a deal with Derek Lowe.
• Although Girardi said there are no more tests scheduled for Sabathia, he will see a doctor in New York on Monday. “He could possibly have an injection, cortisone injection,” Girardi said. “That’s not uncommon.”
• The plan is for Sabathia to come off the DL to start in Cleveland on August 24.
• After all this rotation talk, the final word actually goes to McGehee: “One thing I’ve noticed here is everybody expects to win. So it’s not usually a big hurrah crazy or jump up and down moment. We come to the field expecting to win, so definitely, guys make their comments, congratulate and that sort of stuff. But that’s one thing I’ve definitely noticed here. If you’re in there, you’re expected to contribute.”
Associated Press photos
i notice that josh hamilton is finding his groove again, he’s hit .392 with 2 homers 9 rbi the past week.
Welcome to the NY Yankees, Casey.
will nova be as good vs texas as he was vs the jAAAys?
johan gave up 8 runs in 1.1 innings. Ouch!
remind me again are the astros switching to the american league or the american association next season?
The team that releases lowe has to pay his salary.
The yankees only have to pay prorated league minimum.
He was released,not put on waivers.
The team that releases lowe has to pay his salary.
===============
braves were paying 10 of the 15m
YS – Astros are in our league.
Derek Lowe. Yuck. I hope he doesn’t have to pitch any important innings.
andrew miller may have pitched the greatest inning ever but not tonight, tonight he faced one batter and allowed the go ahead run to score.
I remember a couple of months ago when Giddy Met fans were comparing Santana to Hamels
Lowe, 39, was released by the Indians earlier this week, meaning the Yankees will only be on the hook for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum. The veteran right-hander pitched to a 5.52 ERA (4.47 FIP) in 21 starts and 119 innings for Cleveland this year, though he walked more batters (45) than he struck out (41). He also got hammered in his last dozen starts, pitching to an 8.80 ERA. That’s why he was released. Lowe still generates a ton of ground balls (60.0%) with his upper-80s sinker, though left-handers have just crushed him this year (.412 wOBA).
Lowe is only for debth,and to eat a few innings.
If he gets bombed,he will be quickly released.
Youk hit a homer and one of this teammates put a thumb in his eye in the dugout.
Nick,….you’re kidding?
I am not kidding. Youk looked even more pained then he does when he complains about a called third strike.
Hillarious – I don’t feel sorry for any of them!
I’d rather see some random minor leaguer than Derek Lowe.
Mo, I hear you, but lowe it is
Rays have Longoria and Joyce back now, with Scott on the way. That’s a much scarier looking lineup now and with their starting pitching, they’re going to make a run at us.
Bruceb _ don’t conflict regarding the Rays
“will nova be as good vs texas as he was vs the jAAAys?”
Clever. And the answer is no.
Good evening everyone,
I only saw one at bat from Nova…His mechanics were much, much better…His arm slot was higher which meantt that his shoulder wasn’t opening up like it was in the recent past…His landing was balanced…I think he may have overcomed the mechanical problems he had in the recent past…He may not be as good against the Rangers like he was today, but I think he will hold his own against them.
I hope they give Phelps the shot.
Looking good for that.
“UPDATE, 6:25 p.m.: A Yankees source has confirmed that Phelps will start Monday.”
Derek Lowe’s a Yankee?
How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.
They should JF…By the way, good posts you made yesterday and the day before it
Triple Short of a Cycle August 11th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
I remember a couple of months ago when Giddy Met fans were comparing Santana to Hamels
———————————
Mets are right where they belong
Don’t mind the Lowe pickup. He can burn some innings out of the pen. There is no risk. As soon as Cc returns, Lowe is probably gone. Phelps gets a couple of starts until then.
Varitek and lowe for Slocumb… as lopside as Anderson for Bagwell, though I am 99 pct sure Bag was on juice in compiling some of his numbers.
looks like I missed a lot today….just watched the play back…Nova was much better even thought he was facing a very depleted Jays lineup….but everything was sharper and his location was much better as well.
Sucks about CC but if they can stamp out the problem like they did before with a short DL stint then this is probably the correct decision at this point in the year…..it’s getting crunch time and they can’t afford something like this to linger….fix it right and get him ready for October.
No problem with the Lowe move….not that surprising to be honest….if he’s going to pitch out of the pen with Phelps starting then I like it…..
imagine how big the crowd must be at the 3hour delayed Orioles-royals game in balimer!
Remember when the big debate of the 2008-09 offseason was which starter to sign: AJ or Lowe? Neither player earned their money, but AJ has clearly performed better, despite his troubles in the Bronx.
aj or lowe was far behind signing cc and tex in that offseason iirc. i dont remember alot of people pushing to sign lowe on this blog.
Looking good for that.
“UPDATE, 6:25 p.m.: A Yankees source has confirmed that Phelps will start Monday.”
–
Good. He really deserves it and of course needs the innings.
The injuries to the rotation this year further proves the importance of Hughes and Kuroda. Hose guys have been the two most consistent petticoats,’despite Hughes’ poor start.
Well what seems to be some good news out of all of this is that the first DL stint for CC this year was because of a strained abductor muscle and this is because of a sore elbow.
I would be a ton more worried if both times he was put on the DL was because of a sore left elbow.
I think he will be fine after missing 2 or 3 starts here.
as far as im concerned, hughes and nova are in the PS rotation. until i see andy pettitte pitching a 2nd or 3rd rehab game i consider him unavailable.
Ys Guy says:
August 11, 2012 at 11:00 pm
aj or lowe was far behind signing cc and tex in that offseason iirc. i dont remember alot of people pushing to sign lowe on this blog.
Xxxxx
Those two pitchers were the second and third most high profile starters on the market, after CC. the Yanks were linked to Lowe that offseason, though perhaps by his agents trying to drive up the price. As I recall, many here cavorts AJ because he was dominant against this team in 2008.
Hughes and Kuroda have been the most consistent starters — not petticoats. Don’t know how my phone came up w that word …
Time for David Phelps to become the 1964 Mel Stotlemeyer of 2012
Pat M,
I attended Stottlemeyer’s first game. Mantle hit a homer over the 461 mark. What a day.
austinmac…….I was there that day also and Mantle hit the longest homerun in Yankee Stadium history as he cleared the batters eye screen ….I think they measured it as 505 feet if memory serves me well which is not always now a days….Yanks beat the White Sox that day and ended up winning the AL Pennant……I remember Sox Centerfielder Mike Hirchberger ( ? ) running back near the monuments and just looking up as the ball just kept on sailing….I think that was an early August afternoon game …….
Pat M—It was Gene Stephens who coasted back on Mantle’s drive..
Pat M, that would be 48 years ago today!!!
jackamir……Gene Stephens sounds right…..Where did Hercshberger play ??? JCPD, 48 years ago, I remember going to see The Beatles ” Hard Days Night ” Movie that evening…..I was all of 12 year sold
Phelps has drawn another tough assignment.
He’s overcome most every challenge thrown in his path.
I wonder what his pitch count will be ?
50-60 pitches ?
Bullpen-demotion-rotation-promotion-bullpen-rotation-bullpen (you just know he’s going back there).
What a season for Phelps.
Bret-
Yup.
Makes me think of a yo-yo.
MTU,
I hope he can stay healthy and compete for a spot in 2013. He’s only pitched 52 innings not including 18 in the minors. So you figure add about 5 innings per start over his next 3 starts in place of CC and he’s only at 85 innings. He’d be lucky to finish with 100 IP.
Bret-
Me too. That back and forth can take a toll.
Aceves had some trouble with it.
I’m not sure if Phelps is eligible or not but the Dominican would be a nice place to spend a Winter.
If he’s eligible Phelps ought to be able to get 30-50 innings from Winter ball.
As a 5th starter you only need to pitch around 150 innings.
That said, I’m not at all sure what the Yankees plans for Mr. Phelps are going forward.
Do they see him as a keeper, or as trade bait ?
Got to walk the Mops soon.
MTU,
I think if they sign Melky then there’s no real urgency to trade a potential starter for an OF. Their best bet would be to keep the rotation stacked (and cheap) and sign bats whenever they can. I also think signing Melky gives them more leverage in trades. With Melky, they could look to upgrade LF and if they can’t find a deal that makes sense (which I believe happened with Headley at the deadline), then their fallback is Brett Gardner. Now if they don’t sign Melky, their backup plan in the OF is a gaping hole in RF.
That hole in RF hurts them in trades where they are looking to add offense. So I say sign Melky and explore the trade market for guys like Upton and Headley.
And I would bring back Ichiro to DH and play in the OF. This way if they still can’t upgrade Gardner and he happens to get injured, Ichiro is ready to replace him. If he gets injured again, you put Ichiro in LF and trade for Headley at the deadline. He should be cheaper next year and certain Yankees prospects may be valued more if they advance one year closer to the majors.
Good morning-
Thank goodness Nova was back on track and gave the team innings yesterday.
Ichiro 18M this year. What do you think he’ll take to stay in NY?
Melky 5/70-75? If so Melky……………Mesa will play RF next year.
The Yankees I believe have 5 days after the end of WS to pick up the 13M option on Grandy. Same with Ichiro if they want the sole negotiating window.
When does Soriano need to decide whether he opts out, because that will determine where the Yankee $$$$ will be alloted?
I like what Melky has become, but I just can’t see him as a $ 15 M a year guy.
Signing Ichiro let’s you include a healthy Gardner in a trade pkg for Upton, Headley or CarGo.
But you can’t do that without committing to Gradny in CF or signing BJ Upton can you?
86w83-
Good morning. I just asked that question about Granderson. I would think the Yankees have 5 days after the completion of the WS to pick up his 13M option or buy him out[2M] and let him enter the FA pool.
I’m not sure teams will be willing to trade for Gardner until he proves himself healthy-whether that be in some winter leagues or more likely ST.
I’m tempted to say pass on Granderson long term. I agree Gardner needs to play somewhere, sometime to establish some trade value.
In NYC, heading out to the park… Central Park that is… Later.
May 23, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese
Yesterday we got news that the Yankees top prospect, Manny Banuelos, was placed on the DL with an elbow injury. Anytime that happens the first thing that comes to mind is Tommy John Surgery which means a year on the DL.
Fortunately, Banuelos’ injury doesn’t appear to be too serious. Josh Norris of the Trentonian reported that the Yankees sent Banuelos for a MRI which came back clean and have determined that he has, “a tired arm.” Apparently the DL stint was only precautionary. Can’t be too careful with the organization’s top arm.
Shelved for the rest of the season. What is different that the Yankees feel they can risk Sabathia’s multimillion dollar arm and that he will be back after missing only 2 starts?
Say what you will about Cash’s other talents, but he is dumpster diver supreme. Just think, he signed for this year:
Jones
Garcia
Ibanez,
Nix
Rapada
Eppley
Wise
traded for
McGhee
Ichiro
and also signed Kuroda, the best investment yet, and a guy he’s been chasing for years. Kudos on Kuroda all them other moves, Mr Cash.
I’m looking forward to Phelps getting a couple of starts and crossing all my fingers. I’d love for him to be another sleeper like Nova out of the mL.
Where had everybody gone yesterday? It’s rare to see it so deserted here. At least there were virtually no bridge jumpers or pitch to pitch panickers!
Oh, by the way, you can never have enough pitching:
Torre, Gillick, Jeter, Arod, Weaver, and just about every other coach or manager that ever expressed an opinion says it. But, hey, the bullpen catcher knows better
Another example of good waiters getting good tips. For everyone who pitched a fit because Phelps wasn’t starting, it’s just a another classic case of fan impatience. I know several of us mentioned that the game is extremely fluid and that changing situations could cause Phelps to be in the rotation. We just didn’t know which ones would do it.
Kudos to the Yankees for not replacing either Freddy or Nova.
************
The thought of Derek Lowe in pinstripes is almost too much for me to bear. HOWEVER – when I read it would be as bullpen relief and not as a starter, it did calm down my wretching by a bit.
It has nothing to do with Derek Lowe as a pitcher and everything to do with him as a former Suxer. I couldn’t stomach him as a Suxer. Period. I did actually think there were a few good guys on that team over the years. Wakefield was one. Lowe was near the bottom of the totempole.
“Say what you will about Cash’s other talents, but he is dumpster diver supreme.”
Absolutely.
Early May-
Jose Campos went for an MRI and the result was elbow inflammation. There’s no timetable for his return, but it could take a week or so before we see him back on the mound.
Why is Sabathia different?
I like what Melky has become, but I just can’t see him as a $ 15 M a year guy.
==================================
Neither will Hal.
CC was evidently pitching with this last time out which now explains a lot…
Yanks61-
Kuroda statistically has been the Ace of the staff. If he got any run support he’d have 4-5 more wins. He’s the low man on the totem pole for run support, nearly a full 2 runs less than CC.
If he continues his dominance thru the rest of the season and playoffs, I hope he wants to come back for another year and not say sayonara.
With the way they jerk Phelps around I wouldn’t be surprised if Lowe gets the start against Boston next weekend.
I doubt they sign Melky as well. He doesn’t hit below 270 and he doesn’t hit 30 HRs and he is a contact hitter
It’s funny how I can forgive Lowe for being such an ardent red sock years ago.
As long as he does well for us that’s all that matters, after all we forgave Clemens, Boggs and Damon…
Hi Trish,
I hope you’re well (?) We’re having a cool day here in France (which, no doubt, makes a lot of you folks back home on the East coast quite envious.)
The Yanks have for now, at least, gotten back on track. Testament to a lot of really good roll players, I think.
Hal is on a strict budget and has an intense fear of failure, if you know what I mean.
Yanks61…Seen any of the Coneheads in France?
YT – I quite agree. I’ve kind of lusted after Hiro myself for a few years. Pat M. was absolutely right about him. I’d love to have him back next year.
Mick, I’m still looking! Is that why folks used to wear those starnge pointy bald heads whenever Cone pitched for the Yanks? (aha, the light goes on!)
The Yankees, I believe, have 5 days after the end of WS to pick up the 13M option on Grandy. Same with Ichiro if they want the sole negotiating window.
When does Soriano need to decide whether he opts out, because that will determine where the Yankee $$$$ will be alloted?
I asked this earlier. Am I correct?
Trader,
Ichiro should be brought back as a hedge against any potential negotiations with Melky and Melky should be signed in order to increase the Yankees leverage in trade talks for an OF upgrade over Gardner. The first order of business should be to sign Ichiro during the 5-day window.
As soon as Soriano opts out (I believe it’s during the 5 day window preceding free agency), fans will want that 14 million allocated somewhere and there’s a glaring hole in RF. It doesn’t get more obvious.
Obviously I could be wrong, but this could be one of the most interesting Yankee offseasons in a very long while. In fact, as Arod is eventually phased into a fulltime DH and Jeter (who has had a remarkable resurgence) plays toward the end of his career, Grandy is traded or allowed to walk, Swish probably walks (with a pick for the Yanks), the Yanks will have to try to transition to youth, while still remaining competitive. This is why I think that Cash has one of the most difficult GM jobs in BB.
Escobar gets plunked 2 times, so he has the right to be somewhat agitated. But the general Attitude displayed by that guy, should be reserved for those that have, “been there, done that”, at the MLB level. Escobar’s numbers, and MLB length of service, simply do Not measure up to his Gary Sheffield “chip on the shoulder” attitude. It’s easy to see why Bobby Cox exiled Escobar to Canada.
Bret-
If Soriano opts out, that 14M will be used not only for a corner OF’er, a catcher, but for, Rivera/Kuroda/Pettitte if they plan to have any of them back, plus the possibility they decide to extend Cano and perhaps Grandy after picking up his option.
Melky would be nice but I don’t think the Yankees, if they bid at all for him, will be the high bidders. Just my 2 cents.
Unless Ichiro does something of note down-the-stretch, or in the Playoffs\World Series, I would let him walk. I do Not see a lot of difference in Ichiro’s level of play and that of Justin Maxwell who the Yanks Cut outta Spring Training. Again, if your lookin’ to upgrade in the OF, you should be attempting to put together a package for J. Upton. Phelp’s starts in replace of CC, should increase his value, and easily make him the centerpiece of said package.
This could be our OF for 2013:
Gardner/Ichiro+ Granderson + Mesa/an Almonte
Donny, I love the DH and don’t want the AL to change it, but I think having the pitcher bat used to be one of the great dissuasive forces for the abuse of batters being hit by a pitch.
If Justin Upton is still on the trading block in the offseason, as he has picked up his offensive numbers, Towers might still need a 3rd baseman, a closer, a starter, and another OF’er to replace Upton.
I’m not sure the Yankees have what he wants or should part with some of the players he might request, especially if he wants some major league ready players to compete next year.
Phelps/Nova+Gardner/Austin/Mesa+Robertson/Montgomery+Adams/Laird/any other 3rd base prospect
Have a great day everyone.
Get well soon CC.
Welcome aboard Lowe. If you put up your April numbers I’m very happy. If not-it’s man overboard!
Until later.
Phelps will have to pitch well for his value to increase.
David Phelps gets to replace CC, and pitch his first two games (not ever ofc) against Texas and Boston, at Yankee Stadium. Quite a draw. Good thing he seems to be confident.
Have a good day everyone. As always, go yankees!
Team USA are you kidding me?
Yanks61 – what part of France are you in? My earlier posts were hits and runs and I just got back in! I didn’t know you were in France. Tell more!
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“If he continues his dominance thru the rest of the season and playoffs, I hope he wants to come back for another year and not say sayonara.”
Absolutely!
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On the “makes me sick” scale, Lowe is way up there. I never had any respect for Boggs (based on his well-publicized dalliances) and Damon wasn’t with the Sux long enough to make a difference to me. I couldn’t stomach Clemens and it took me an entire season to warm up to him. I eventually came to like him but his killing the Yanks while trying to get his 300th win, his phony “I’m retiring to my mother can see me make it into the HOF”, and his denial of PED useage and all the grandstanding that went with it, caused me to lose any respect for him I might have had. To me he’s a speck of dirt on the earth, nothing more.
Here’s the best part. If the phony had retired when he said he was going to, he probably would have made it into the Hall! Playing his game, so to speak, probably lost him all chances of that. (We know what the court said, and we also know what the court of public opinion said, including some of the writers who have a vote.)
Dream Team my ass.
This has probably been answered a thousand times and I admit I never really thought about it until now, put can someone tell me why the Olympics, which is supposed to be about amateur athletes, has pro basketball players? Why is basketball in there? I’m sure it’s been there a while but as I said, I never really thought about it until right now. Thanks.
i see no way the yankees bring ichiro back next year
Basketball at the Summer Olympics has been a sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904. Women’s basketball has been played in the Summer Olympics since its first appearance in 1976.
…
Thanks in part to the effort of Phog Allen[1][2] (Kansas Jayhawks collegiate coach), the first Olympic basketball tournament was organized in the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin on outdoor tennis courts. Dr. Naismith presented the medals to the top three teams. According to the Olympic rules of that time, all of the competitors were amateurs. The tournament was held indoors for the first time in 1948. The American team proved its dominance, winning the first seven Olympic tournaments until 1968 without losing a single game.
…
In 1989, through the leadership of President Borislav Stankovi?, FIBA approved the rule that allowed NBA players to compete in international tournaments, including the Olympics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.....r_Olympics
Wow.
It is really pathetic that the best NBA players in the world are up by 6 points late in the 4th