Everybody thinks they know what’s wrong. Everybody thinks they have an answer to why C.C. gave up his usual 4 or 5 runs, this time in 3-2/3 innings, a continuing downward trend from last season that has sparked outrage and debate about what to do with him and the only thing that is outsized about him these days (his contract). Neither Girardi nor pitching coach Larry Rothchild are worried about him or Kuroda, who is also struggling for “obvious reasons” (heh).
Hey, you have to admire Girardi for not getting nervous or flying off the handle at the relentless questions or speculation; he’s juggling a lot of issues this season and entering May in first place is certainly a relief. You could also say that it’s only May, and the Yanks are in first in a division that resembles the NBA Atlantic Division with a host of weaknesses and injuries, but to a fan like me, that ignores the larger issue of what to do while having one or possibly two reliable starters for your five man rotation, not to mention a lineup that more often than not lately has shown a propensity for leaving a lot of men on base. Is it too soon? Yes and no; too soon to look for reliable support via trade or down in the minors… well, except for our old friend, the Friendly Neighborhood Aceves, who swooped in around the fourth inning and stopped the bleeding the rest of the way, saving the bullpen from collapsing from exhaustion. He’ll do.
But the lineup as written needs attention. Once again the Yanks had ample opportunity to score and failed. Does it seem like when the bases are loaded, that’s when the batters decide to be aggressive and swing at the first, second and third pitch (if it gets that far), often resulting in swinging strikeouts, routine grounders or infield pop-ups? Outside of Teix, are they pressing or are they pressing? Again, too early to tell, yet in the meantime the cracks are showing in the field as well, where a fly ball to center turns into an inside-the-park three run homer. I tell you, I could not follow this game any further than I did; as a fan it disappoints me to have to look at or listen to it.
I did tune in later to hear Ace still throwing zeroes at the Rays in the eighth and through the rest of the game, but as usual, the bats threatened and then wimped out. I guess I’m not much of a fan if I can’t follow these games all the way through and then expect to recap them in a serious way, huh?
Well, at least Montrose (a village in the town of Cortlandt next to Peekskill, NY) has a state park with a fine hiking trail, who knew?
A Pleasant Way to Spend Your Sundays
[Photo Credits: Examiner.com, William D. Jackson]
Reminds me of an early Jackson Five song, as we move back to a hip-hop beat (your choice: L.L. or Biggie).
At least we've found new "Ace".
Interesting choices. L.L. Definitely had the more prolific career and catalogue; not only penning and performing his own classics, but ghostwriting others as well. But as far as overall impact I would argue that Biggie's meteoric rise edges out Uncle L in popularity and complexity. With that as a frame of reference, I put this to you: if current trends remain the same past the All Star break, who leads the Yankees: Jeter or Tanaka?
[2] Hate to speak ill of the dead but neither Biggie nor Tupac do/did anything for me. Guess I'm just an old fuddy-duddy when it comes to hip-hop, still like Slick Rick, Rakim, De La, ATCQ, LL, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD!
Uncle L has longevity on his side, too, though he hasn't made an relevant records in a long time. I wasn't much of a Tupac fan--part of the reason was I didn't like the beats he used--but Biggie, yeah, I always liked Biggie.
Other than Jackson 5 and LL ( who I know more from SVU) I have no clue who those other people are. Hey Chyll I spent yesterday at a 5-year old granddaughters party at Teatown Reservation in Croton (or Ossining, or Briarcliff) I'm not sure which. That's a few miles south of Montrose. Later, when I left car to see my 12-year old grandson play 'Club Soccer' in Pleasantville, Yanks were down 5-1, maybe 4th inning or so. When I got back in car after soccer, it was still 5-1, now in bottom of ninth. Glad I missed it!
[5] Definitely Croton. I lived up the high ground on Teatown Road for two years as a child; two of the happiest years of my life. I have recent pics of a hike around the reservation. The only part that's changed for me outside of some building renovations and kiosks is the boardwalk along the drive side of the lake is "new" to me. It's been closed for repairs since Hurricane Sandy from when I went there last year, but locals told me they walk on it anyway. A beautiful place all around and a lot to learn. My sister remembers carrying me around on her shoulders after walking halfway around the lake, and she's especially proud of the first time I made it around on my own power. Oh, another addition is walkway bridge to the island at the beginning/ending of the boardwalk; they are turning it into an environmental refuge/study area for the study of the numerous flora and fauna dwelling there. Really cool.
Pleasantville, now that's a whole nuther country to me. I hail from the other side of the Taconic and until I had my own car I hardly ever ventured east unless it was on a family excursion or father-son bonding road trip. Nice homes.
Yeah, apparently everyone pretty much tuned out the game at the same time, and probably checked back in the same time I did. It's a problem even if the Yanks are in first; they don't seem to be too-too worried about it and I like the confidence, but as I said earlier, the keys to this season are Teixeira and C.C. and whatever they contribute. So far Teix is mashing and has contributed to the standings, but C.C. has been wholly inconsistent, and sadly the expectations have to be lowered considerably before he can be counted on to make a contribution. Wouldn't be so bad if we had a healthy Nova and Pineda to fall back on, but here we are. Even with Pineda, I think they're already working on plans B and C.
[6] Indeed.
I have never seen a pitcher change the way CC has in his body and in his velocity. I always got the feeling that he often rescued himself from tough spots by throwing just a little bit harder and blowing guys away when he needed to. And now that's over. So I'm not surprised he hasn't got it totally figured out yet. But we don't have all year for him to get there.
Kuroda seems to me to have a dead-arm/unspecified arm injury. I would not be surprised to see him get put on the DL for a little while just to see if it helps.
Being the current Croton resident among the banterites, I can give a hear hear from Teatown. Great place for me growing up and now for my kids...
And hey, oddly enough, i was at Pville yesterday too, watching my boy play soccer. There was some excellent club level games going on at the big field. Such a cool game, never played myself but I like rooting.
[8] Small world! My grandson plays for the Ossining Munay team.