Praise for Soriano
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on Aug 19, 2012 
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Rafael Soriano is not only the fastest Yankee to untuck his shirt after a game, he’s a Yankee who has had much to do with where they are right now.
Mariano Rivera wrecked his knee May 3 and Soriano has been a rather competent fill-in. We’ll see what happens in October, but the Yankees have no complaints so far with 30 saves in 32 tries to go with a 2-1 record and a 1.68 ERA in 51 games. Opponents have hit just .217 against Soriano.
After his 1-2-3 ninth Friday night against the Red Sox, he became the seventh Yankee to reach 30 saves since the stat began to be recognized on an official basis in 1969.
“It’s not easy to replace a closer, especially someone of Mo’s talent,” Joe Girardi said before Saturday’s 4-1 loss. “You talk about what Mo has done over his career. I don’t know where we are if Soriano … I mean, you start losing four or five games that you should’ve won, it’s different. And then there are concerns about how you’re closing games out.
“He’s meant a whole lot to this club and has accepted that role and has done a really good job and has ran with it.”
Soriano looks intense out there, but there is another side to him, according to Girardi.
“He’s fun loving … relaxed, good in the clubhouse,” Girardi said. “I enjoy being around him. He makes me laugh. He gets on people just like anyone else in the clubhouse. He’s fun.”
Still remember all the bellyaching regarding Soriano in the offseason. There was one crying about lost opportunity cost and other nonsense. As it turns out, Soriano is having one of his best season. He’s been real good and pretty valuable.
Trout is 3-3 with his 23rd hr
Unfortunately, Kevin Rae Jepsen gave up a bomb to Carlos Pena and now the Rays lead 10-8. :
That is an unbelievable loss for the Halos.
That could be the game that mentally ruins their year. If you’re the Halos there is no way you can lose that game. Being ahead 8 to 0. Devastating…
I was unhappy about it, wishing for the Rays to lose, but then I heard one of the Angels announcers talking about how they had inducted the 2002 team into their Angels Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony and, I have to admit, the thought of them blowing an 8-0 lead and losing on such a night has made me smile. I do not recall the 2002 Angels with fondness.
Schadenralleymonkeyfreude?
Schadenralleymonkeyfreude?
Got that right!
Rays only 5 games back now. Yanks can’t afford to stumble.
wow … that is an amazing comeback by the Rays … very impressive.
As far as the Yankees are concerned, until they play them head to head in September they just need to continue playing good ball like they have been for past 2 weeks. If you date back to the final game of the Oriole series where they avoided being swept thru yesterday’s loss to the Red Sox, they have gone 11-6 – winning percentage of .688. I am sure just about every Yankee fan would have signed up for that record, especially without Arod and Andy and now Tex hurt with the wrist injury.
If they keep playing at that pace and Tampa Bay inches closer because they refuse to lose, you really can’t criticize the Yankees if the lead keeps shrinking.
Sometimes you have to just give the other guy credit.
Phelps is the new Alfredo Aceves/Ramiro Mendoza.
Hope for the future.From Pinstripe Alley:
AAA Empire State Yankees: W 10-3 vs. Rochester Red Wings
Darnell McDonald 2-5, BB
Corban Joseph 3-6, HR, 3 RBI – 11 for his last 36 with 4 HRs, second straight game with a dinger
Eduardo Nunez 3-6, K – raised AAA average to .211
Brandon Laird 2-6, RBI
Austin Romine 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K – first homer since returning from injury
Melky Mesa 2-5, RBI, SB
Michael O’Connor 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K – third win of the season, 63 of 99 pitches for strikes
Juan Cedeno 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, HBP
AA Trenton Thunder: L 2-3 vs. Bowie Baysox
Jose Pirela 0-4, K
Adonis Garcia 0-3, BB, K
David Adams 0-3, BB, K
Zoilo Almonte 0-4, 2 K
Luke Murton 1-3, RBI, HBP – HBP broke up perfect game
Addison Maruszak 1-3, HR, BB – batting .273 this season
JR Murphy 0-2, BB, K
Vidal Nuno 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K – 56 of 93 pitches for strikes
Graham Stoneburner 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, K
High A Tampa Yankees: Postponed
Low A Charleston RiverDogs: L 6-7 vs. Augusta GreenJackets
Ben Gamel 0-4, K, SB
Cito Culver 2-5, RBI, SB
Dante Bichette Jr. 0-4, RBI, BB, K – 7 for his last 36
Saxon Butler 1-3, 2B, RBI, K
Robert Refsnyder 1-3, BB, E9
Francisco Arcia 2-4, 2 RBI
Casey Stevenson 1-4, K – batting .294 this season
Ali Castillo 1-2, 2B, BB, 2 SB – 13 for his last 38
Brett Gerritse 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K, WP
Melvin Mercedes 2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K – 24 of 42 pitches for strikes
Really wish Phelps could stay in the rotation ……but they need him in the bullpen too so it is what it is…..the kid is impressive the way hes had to bounce around in different roles….its one thing for a veteran will a lot of big league experience to do that and have success……its another for a rookie……
The injuries caught the Yanks last night……got got pitching but the depleted lineup juat couldn’t muster much and with Cano slumping its just tough for them against lefties with Tex banged up…….they need Alex and Tex back to balance the thing out.
Time to take care of business tonight…..the Rays are hot and are making their usual late push…..
The Angels are now 3.5 games out of the WC.
MTU
Phelps is not the new Aceves/Mendoza.
He’s better
And he should remain a starter!
blake -
They at least need Cano out of his slump and Tex back. The replacements for ARod have done a nice job.
Very upset with the Angels right now!!! And just want Tampa to go away.
the melky story takes a turn to the bizarre;
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....-1.1139623
Good morning
I saw the first few innings. The homer was hit on a pitch out of the strike zone. Also the bats were robbed by some excellent defensive plays.
We need a healthy CC and Tex going forward.
You know, I had to just shake my head when the reporters asked Girardi if Phelps would be taking anyone’s spot in the rotation. Not because Phelps wouldn’t have earned it, but because when was the last time Girardi announced anything like that to the media????
I would not be entirely surprised if he did or didn’t. Either way. Girardi’s got options. And if Nova or Hughes can’t be more consistent, I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility if the Yankees don’t pull away (or Tampa/Baltimore just stay too close for comfort as the season winds down) that Phelps could step in for a start or two. Just don’t ever expect Girardi to give that information away. (At least not before he’s spoken to the players about it.)
Gotta be super impressed with the job Phelps did yesterday. And you can’t even fault him on the one big hit he gave up (it was a good pitch). Burns my tail that they can’t that the gnat Ciriaco out!!!!!
YS Guy-
Thanks for the link.
Further suspension for Melky?
Cano has been slumping ever since his friend Melky was “outed” for steroids.
Any need to worry?
Just watched a short replay of Phelps 7 strikeouts, most with unhittable off speed pitches that acted like splitters.
With his repertoire, poise, pick off move, and ability to work fast, he belongs in the starting rotation.
A fake website is at least an original plan to try to get away with it….
Yankee trader, no need to worry about cano. Cano is not granderson or tex. he has the ability to go 3-4 in his next ten games or so.
We need to figure out a way to get ciriaco out!!!!!