July 4 2009 Demolition Images

post from Demolition of Yankee Stadium on 04 July 2009 11:47:20 PM. © Demolition of Yankee Stadium

Photo Credit: Gary Dunaier (Flickr)Bookmark To:

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Yankees Add 3 IFAs

post from The Voice of Yankees Universe on 04 July 2009 11:45:52 PM. © The Voice of Yankees Universe

With the July 2nd internation free agent signings beginning, the Yankees signed three players.They signed Gary Sanchez, Damian Arredondo, and Christopher Cabrera.Sanchez received a $3 million dollar bonus and will actually be debuting in the GCL in a couple off weeks.

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Late Night Royals Links

post from Royals Review on 04 July 2009 11:44:00 PM. © Royals Review

Late night on a Saturday, on a holiday, on a website devoted to a bad team with a small fanbase. This links post should find a huge audience. I love the direction my life has taken.

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Trivia: OPS and Batting Average

post from Sports In-Depth on 04 July 2009 11:16:00 PM. © Sports In-Depth

There are currently 6 players with an OPS (On Base Percentage plus Slugging Percentage) over .1000 and only Ben Zobrist (.292) of Tampa Bayis doing it with a batting average under .300.

From 2000-2008, there were 67 instances of a player having an OPS over .1000 and only 8 times did the player do that with an average under .300.

The lowest batting average while still having an OPS over .1000 from 2000-2008: Jim Edmonds in 2003 with a .1002 OPS and a batting average of .275. He only had 447 at-bats, but hit 39 home runs for a slugging percentage of .617 (3rd best in the league)

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Trading Wang

post from The Chuck Knoblog on 04 July 2009 10:57:00 PM. © The Chuck Knoblog

Yesterday Jon Heyman mentioned on Twitter that The Phillies and Rangers have some interest in Wang. Its definitely an intriguing idea. I'm torn on this. For now, I'd hang on to him. With another month or two of good performances he could recoup a lot of his old value. Their also has to be an eye focused on next year. If they trade Wang they need to make some tough decisions about whether or not to sign onto yet another big free agent contract or give the spot to Alfredo Aceves or Ian Kennedy. Both would be untrustworthy and if Aceves, they would lose one of their best bullpen arms.

If they offered up a nice package (which Texas can definitely do) I'd take a good hard look at it but my expectations for that are very low at the moment. Tomorrow is another big start for Wang (they're all big from here on out to be honest) and we may have a better idea of where we stand with Wang then.

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Yanks Walk-Off With Win, But Lose Their Wang

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 04 July 2009 09:24:00 PM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E Toronto 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 10 0 NY Yankees 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
6 12 0
Winning pitcher - Brett Tomko (1-2)
Losing pitcher - Shawn Camp (0-4)

It was a nice win for the Yankees today in The Bronx, as they defeated Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in 12 innings. Today's no decision for Halladay broke a streak of of six straight wins for him over the Yanks, dating back to Opening Day last year. That's the good news, now for the bad.

After having a very solid first five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, Chien-Ming Wang got into some trouble in the sixth. He allowed a leadoff double to Marco Scutaro and two batters later Adam Lind gave the Jays 4-3 lead with a two-run homer. Wang them mysteriously was taken out of the game. It turned out that he strained his shoulder and is now headed for the DL. The Yankees are now eying an August return. It's really a shame, he was finally starting to look like himself again, and then in a blink of an eye he's back on the DL.

It's likely the Yanks will call on Sergio Mitre to replace Wang in the rotation. In 7 starts for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Mirtre is 3-1, with a 2.95 ERA. He's allowed 13 ER 29 hits, struck out 31 and walked just 5 in 39.2 innings pitched.

David Robertson would replace Wang and the Jays would eventually score another run in the inning to extend their lead to 5-3.

Luckily for the Yankees today was not one of Roy Halladay's best days.

The Yanks scored their first run in the first. With Johnny Damon on second and two out in the first Alex Rodriguez came through with another clutch hit, an RBI single to right to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. An inning later Hideki Matsui added another run with a solo homer, his 12th of the year. Jorge Posada added a solo homer in the fourth for the Yanks third run.

With the Jays leading 5-3 in the seventh, Derek Jeter led off with a single to bring Johnny Damon up as the tying run. Damon, who was hitting .345 agianst Halladay coming into today, took a 1-1 pitch a knocked it three rows into the seats in right for a game-tying two-run homer. It was definitely a new stadium homer, that ball doesn't go out in most parks, and probably wouldn't have gone out in the old place. But who cares, I'll take it.

The score would remain tied through the next four and a half innings as each team's bullpens held the offenses scoreless. On the Yankees side, Brian Bruney - who struggled a bit but found a way - Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke and Brett Tomko combined to pitch five scoreless, allowed just three hits and two walks.

Mark Teixeira led off the bottom of the 12th with a double off the first base bag, and then the Jays walked Alex Rodriguez to setup the double play. With the way Robinson Cano is swingning the bat with men on - 0 for his last 19 coming into the at-bat - Joe Girardi decided to have him bunt the runners over. But Jays' reliever Shawn Camp couldn't throw a strike and Cano worked a 3-0 count. At this point, the 44,000+ in the crowd, the millions at home, and everyone on the field, including Teixeira on second figured Cano would do the obvious thing and take a pitch. But no, not Cano. For some stupid reason he actually bunted the ball, Teixeira, too stunned to move at second, barely got halfway to third before catcher Raul Chavez fielded that ball and forced him out. Girardi said that since Cano has no sacrifice bunts this season he misunderstood the sign. If that's the case, isn't it the job of the manager and coached to make sure everyone knows the signs?

The mistake didn't end up costing the Yankees because Jorge Posada then lined a single into right-center scoring A-Rod from second, and the Yanks won the game 6-5. It was their eighth walk-off win, and 24th comeback win of the year. It was also Posada's second walk-off hit of the year. The win combined with Boston's 3-2 loss to Seattle today puts the Yanks just one game back in the AL East.

Now back to Cano. I never have been one to give Cano credit for his baseball intellegence. I think he's very talented, but he isn't a smart baseball player. He also doesn't run hard all the time, usually because he's too busy sulking as he gets out of the batters box when he thinks he's made an out, and for some reason he can't hit at all with runners on base all of a sudden. Today's stupid play in the ninth just adds to the frustration. But what really bothered me today is that after the game he hid from the media.

To see how a situation like this should be handled all we need to do is look at New York's other second baseman, the Mets' Luis Castillo. After dropping what should have been a game-ending pop up, and single-handedly losing the opener of this year's Subway Series, Castillo stood in front of the cameras and microphones and answered the questions. Cano, on the other hand, ran away like a baby. Some veteran on this team needs to get in his ear and teach him how to play this game and handle things properly. I've heard a lot of people say he should be benched, but I'm not sure if that's necessary. For now I'd drop him to sixth or seventh in the lineup and hope that works.

Anyway, the Yanks look to take the first three games of this four game set with a win tomorrow afternoon in The Bronx. Joba Chamberlain will make the start for the Yanks, and he will face left-hander Brett Cecil.

Also, check out the video tribute the Yankees did for L ou Gehrig. They have several players reading parts of his speech. It's pretty cool.

AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Jeter, SS 5 1 1 0 1 2 0 .308 Damon, LF 4 2 1 2 2 2 1 .287 Teixeira, 1B 6 0 3 0 0 0 2 .279 Rodriguez, A, 3B 3 1 2 1 3 0 2 .244 Cano, 2B 6 0 0 0 0 0 10 .300 Posada, C 6 1 2 2 0 1 0 .269 Matsui, H, DH 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .259 1-Ransom, PR-DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 a-Swisher, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Cabrera, Me, RF 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .280 Gardner, CF 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 .277 Totals 45 6 12 6 6 9 18

a-Grounded out for Ransom in the 10th.
1-Ran for Matsui, H in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Matsui, H (15, League), Teixeira (23, Camp).
HR: Matsui, H (12, 2nd inning off Halladay, 0 on, 1 out), Posada (11, 4th inning off Halladay, 0 on, 0 out), Damon (16, 7th inning off Halladay, 1 on, 0 out).
TB: Jeter; Damon 4; Teixeira 4; Rodriguez, A 2; Posada 5; Matsui, H 6; Cabrera, Me.
RBI: Rodriguez, A (43), Matsui, H (32), Posada 2 (35), Damon 2 (49).
2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 4; Gardner.
GIDP: Cano.
Team RISP: 2-for-10.
Team LOB: 11.

FIELDING
DP: 3 (Cano-Jeter-Teixeira, Jeter-Cano-Teixeira, Wang-Jeter-Teixeira).

IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Wang 5.1 6 4 4 1 1 1 9.64 Robertson, D 0.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 2.84 Bruney 1.0 2 0 0 1 0 0 3.68 Hughes, P 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.20 Rivera, Ma 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.60 Coke 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.97 Tomko (W, 1-2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.19
BLUE JAYS STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jorge Posada (2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI, R, Walk-off single in 12th)

HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Rodriguez (2-for-3, RBI, 3 BB, R)

Tomorrow's Game

Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.89) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (2-1, 5.09)

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-win-but-lose-their.html

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Phillies 4 Mets 1 July 4, 2009

post from The Mets Report on 04 July 2009 08:32:49 PM. © The Mets Report

The Mets got a decent effort from Fernando Nieve, the kind of effort that you would expect from a guy that was claimed off waivers in the spring. He gave up 3 earned runs over 5.2 innings, not bad. Once again, the bullpen was spotless over the final 2.1 innings.The problem again today was defense [...]

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Rangers win fourth straight, rip Rays (AP)

Even during a long slump when they struggled to scratch out runs, the Texas Rangers never wavered in their mindset at the plate. That steady approach is beginning to pay dividends. Andruw Jones homered and drove in four runs, Michael Young added a three-run double and the Rangers roughed up David Price to win their [...]

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Yanks Walk-Off In 12th, Wang To DL... Again

INSIDER: Today, the Bronx Bombers defeated Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in 12 innings. Today's no decision for Halladay broke a streak of of six straight wins for him over the Yanks, dating back to Opening Day last year.

ON THE MOUND:

After having a very solid first five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, Chien-Ming Wang got into some trouble in the sixth. He allowed a leadoff double to Marco Scutaro and two batters later Adam Lind gave the Jays 4-3 lead with a two-run homer. Wang then was taken out of the game. It was reported that he strained his shoulder and is now headed for the DL. The Yankees are now looking an August return. What a bummer, he was just starting to look like the old Wang and then he goes down with a DL stint.

Sergio Mitre will likely replace Wang in the rotation. In 7 starts for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Mirtre is 3-1, with a 2.95 ERA. He's allowed 13 ER 29 hits, struck out 31 and walked just 5 in 39.2 innings pitched.

David Robertson would replace Wang and the Jays would eventually score another run in the inning to extend their lead to 5-3.

The score would remain tied through the next four and a half innings as each team's bullpens held the offenses scoreless.

Brian Bruney struggled but did not give in, Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke and Brett Tomko combined to pitch five scoreless, allowed just three hits and two walks.

THE OFFENSE:

Roy Halladay did not have one of his best days which does not happen often.

The Yanks scored their first run in the first. With Johnny Damon on second and two out in the first Alex Rodriguez came through with another clutch hit, an RBI single to right to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. An inning later Hideki Matsui added another run with a solo homer, his 12th of the year. Jorge Posada added a solo homer in the fourth for the Yanks third run.

With the Jays leading 5-3 in the seventh, Derek Jeter led off with a single to bring Johnny Damon up as the tying run. Damon, who was hitting .345 agianst Halladay coming into today, took a 1-1 pitch a knocked it three rows into the seats in right for a game-tying two-run homer. Most definitely a New Yankee stadium HR.

Mark Teixeira led off the bottom of the 12th with a double off the first base bag, and then the Jays walked Alex Rodriguez to setup the double play. With the way Robinson Cano is swingning the bat with men on - 0 for his last 19 coming into the at-bat - Joe Girardi decided to have him bunt the runners over. But Jays' reliever Shawn Camp couldn't throw a strike and Cano worked a 3-0 count. For some reason Cano bunted the ball, Teixeira, too stunned to move at second, barely got halfway to third before catcher Raul Chavez fielded that ball and forced him out. Girardi said that since Cano has no sacrifice bunts this season he misunderstood the sign.

The mistake didn't end up costing the Yankees because Jorge Posada then lined a single into right-center scoring A-Rod from second, and the Yanks won the game 6-5. It was their eighth walk-off win, and 24th comeback win of the year. It was also Posada's second walk-off hit of the year. It was the Yanks ninth win in ten chances and combined with Boston's 3-2 loss to Seattle puts the Yanks just one game back in the AL East.

Also, don't forget to check out the video tribute the Yankees did for L ou Gehrig. They have several players reading parts of his speech.

THE BOX SCORE:

NY Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Jeter, SS 5 1 1 0 1 2 0 .308 Damon, LF 4 2 1 2 2 2 1 .287 Teixeira, 1B 6 0 3 0 0 0 2 .279 Rodriguez, A, 3B 3 1 2 1 3 0 2 .244 Cano, 2B 6 0 0 0 0 0 10 .300 Posada, C 6 1 2 2 0 1 0 .269 Matsui, H, DH 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .259 1-Ransom, PR-DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 a-Swisher, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Cabrera, Me, RF 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .280 Gardner, CF 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 .277 Totals 45 6 12 6 6 9 18

a-Grounded out for Ransom in the 10th.
1-Ran for Matsui, H in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Matsui, H (15, League), Teixeira (23, Camp).
HR: Matsui, H (12, 2nd inning off Halladay, 0 on, 1 out), Posada (11, 4th inning off Halladay, 0 on, 0 out), Damon (16, 7th inning off Halladay, 1 on, 0 out).
TB: Jeter; Damon 4; Teixeira 4; Rodriguez, A 2; Posada 5; Matsui, H 6; Cabrera, Me.
RBI: Rodriguez, A (43), Matsui, H (32), Posada 2 (35), Damon 2 (49).
2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 4; Gardner.
GIDP: Cano.
Team RISP: 2-for-10.
Team LOB: 11.

FIELDING
DP: 3 (Cano-Jeter-Teixeira, Jeter-Cano-Teixeira, Wang-Jeter-Teixeira).

NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Wang 5.1 6 4 4 1 1 1 9.64 Robertson, D 0.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 2.84 Bruney 1.0 2 0 0 1 0 0 3.68 Hughes, P 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.20 Rivera, Ma 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.60 Coke 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.97 Tomko (W, 1-2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.19
PLAYER OF THE GAME:

Jorge Posada (2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI, R, Walk-off single in 12th)

UP NEXT:

Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.89) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (2-1, 5.09)

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Injury Status: Wang To DL

Wang had an MRI after the game and according to Peter Abraham, he's headed to the DL with "a strain with bursitis. But everybody seems to think that he will be back within a month."

Back in 2005 Wang missed missed almost two months with right shoulder inflammation, but told reporters after the game that this pain was much less severe than the pain he felt back then.

The Yankees will likely look to Triple-A for a replacement for the rotation.

Erik Boland thinks Mitre will be the guy who gets the call and so does Abraham in the link above.

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