"IT'S GONNA BE A LONG SEASON!"

I guess I would call this a follow up to my piece titled I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE.  Normally I'm psyched up around this time of year. Spring training has begun and that means my beloved Yankees start yet another season for the ultimate goal,  another World Series championship.  Sadly though, this season is starting to look like it may be a very long season, especially after a winter of doing absolutely nothing by the boys of Yankee brass. 

There are 2 good things. Derek Jeter & Mariano Rivera.  We have a healed Derek Jeter,  back at 100% and that's great.  Sure, some have stated that given his age and injury, he will never be the same. But my gut tells me if anyone can fully recover, Derek is the man who can and will. Also, the whole Mariano Rivera stuff is bittersweet. I believe this season, his last, he will be back at 100% too, but sadly for us fans, this season is the last we'll see the great Mo pitch.

Those injuries to Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are killing us.  We lost Eric Chavez, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin... I know, I know, we all know this. But what did we do to fill in those holes? We signed an aging Kevin Youkilis and Travis Hafner. I'm not too jazzed. 

I'm not sure Youk will be the surprise people are talking about and Travis Hafner is a DH... he won't be playing the field.  To all of that, I say this... give me a break.

Oh and let's not forget the signings of Chris Bootcheck and Dan Johnson. We released Jack Cust and Colin Curtis and Chris Dickerson is now with the Baltimore Orioles and all the others who were claimed and then released.  Yankeeland is in a tizzy. And just recently I was reading of a trade to get Garrett Jones and Casper Wells.  Again, how much is this really going to help this club?

(In Photo: Kyle Seager)
My suggestion is simple. Go after Chase Headley or even a Kyle Seager and of course BYB's brilliant idea to snag Giancarlo Stanton now! But no.  The boys won't even get Carlos Lee.  Aubrey Huff might be available... and it's just mind numbing.  Enough already! I truly am sick of what has been done, or should I say, NOT been done this off season.

I've written, as well as BYB about bringing the kids up from the farm. Let's not forget, that's how we molding championship teams, starting with guys like Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. Have we forgotten? We need to  give the kids a chance.  Instead, we keep hearing that "they're not ready" or "not groomed enough."  I say, groomed for what?  Who's getting married here?  Can these youngsters be any worse then the nobodies we've already signed?

Yes, as a die hard 50-year Yankee fan, I am spoiled rotten.  After surviving those late 60's early 70's losing teams, I do expect a winning championship, caliber team every year and sadly, while not one pitch has been thrown in the regular season, I just don’t see this team winning 90 games or dare I say, even making it to the playoffs.

I hope I'm wrong, I do.  I hope this is a great Yankee season, but mentally, I am prepared for a long, aggravating season. Maybe... just maybe someone in management wakes up before it's too late.

Is it April 1st yet? Let's play ball already! Go Yankees!

 --Dave Goode, Die-hard Yankee fan
Interviewed for his 30 plus years experience as a vendor at Yankee Stadium
THE VENDOR FROM THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT



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CC MONSTER DOMINATES; YANKEES WIN 6-3

Entering tonight's match up with the Seattle Mariners, several important story lines were working.  The Mariners came in red hot, having won seven games in a row and eight of ten, since trading Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees.  Meanwhile the Yanks had gone 4-5 since the acquisition of Ichiro, but Suzuki had managed a hit in every game with New York. 

 

Additionally,  CC Sabathia had struggled in his last three outings.  Manager Joe Girardi decided to make a change at catcher, giving Russell Martin the start instead of CC's usual "personal" catcher, Chris Stewart.  In his post game comments, Girardi expressed his desire to reunite the Martin-Sabathia battery combination.  Girardi also reinserted Mark Teixeira into his lineup. Girardi played one more trump card by inserting Curtis Granderson into the lead-off spot for only the 4th time this season.

The night started well for Sabathia with his new battery mate.  Through the first six innings, CC struck out 10 Mariners.  His only blemish was a ball he left up and over the plate to Casper Wells.  Wells deposited the pitch into the left field stands for a home run.  Though five the Yanks had hit Kevin Millwood fairly well, they only managed two runs on seven hits and a walk.  The Yanks scored 2 in the third inning after Ichiro reached first via an infield hit.  

Ichiro extended his Yankee hitting streak to 10 games with the single.  Russell Martin followed with a double to center and Suzuki moved to third on the hit.

 

Robinon Cano plated the 2 runners with a single to right.  The Yanks carried that 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but nobody was feeling comfortable with New York winless in the last six one-run games played.  The Yankees were able to get some insurance via the home run ball.

 

Eric Chavez hit a patented fly ball, short-porch, Yankee Stadium home run that also scored Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez was on base via a fielder's choice.  The Chavez HR reduced the anxiety level and gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead through 6.

 

Sabathia was able to cruise through innings seven and eight, allowing only a one out double to Miguel Olivo.  Olivo was left stranded as Sabathia retired Eric Thames and Trayvon Robinson on ground outs. In the seventh inning, the Yankees increased their comfort level with two runs off reliever Carter Capps.  Capps allowed a Russell Martin single and a Granderson walk to start the seventh.  He was replaced by Oliver Perez who quickly allowed RBI singles to Cano and Ibanez.  The Yankee lead had grown to 6-1.

 

In the ninth, Sabathia had a hiccup.  He walked nine-hole hitter Brendan Ryan to start the inning and then allowed a monster shot HR off the bat of Dustin Ackley.  Suddenly the lead had shrunk to 6-3 and the Yankees had closer Rafael Soriano warmed in the bullpen.  Girardi visited the mound, but the big man convinced the manager all was well.  Sabathia proved it by retiring Wells, Kyle Seager, and Jesus Montero in succession.

 

Sabathia continued his August dominance, running his career record in the hot month to 42-12.  CC also recorded his 35th complete game in moving his 2012 record to 11-3.  His Friday night dominance was a major first step in restoring order and confidence to the Yankee camp.

 

Friday night's final, Yankees 6  Mariners 3.

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer

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