Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Taking Stock Of The Internal Third Base Options

(SPOILER ALERT- Nobody on this list can replace this guy.  Courtesy of The AP)

The injury cloud that has hovered over the Yankees since Spring Training is still there and starting to rain on the position players now.  Alex Rodriguez is officially heading to the DL again, for what will surely be an extended period of time, and the Yankees are left with decisions to make about what to do to replace him in the immediate short term and long term for the remainder of the regular season.  Those decisions have an added level of urgency and intrigue connected to them with this injury butting up against the upcoming trade deadline.  Cash already made a splashy swerve move this week, but there certainly no talks being had about corner infielders.  As those talks start to heat up today, the Yankees will first look to their internal cache of fill-in options.

Game 97 Wrap-Up: SEA 4 NYY 2

(Hey look!  Another Yankee getting hit by a pitch!  Courtesy of The AP)

It had already been a frustrating game for the Yankees before they came to bat in the top of the 8th inning last night.  They had failed to capitalize on a litany of opportunities given to them by a not-so-sharp Felix Hernandez and found themselves trailing in the game after Freddy Garcia gave up just enough runs to the horrible Seattle lineup.  But all of that went out the window when Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch in the 8th and went down in pain, clutching his left hand.  It didn't look good, it didn't sound good, and the diagnosis after the game was not good.  The Yankees lost the game last night, but the loss of A-Rod could prove to be far more devastating.

Game Notes:

- Curtis Granderson got things started in the top of the 1st with a solo HR to make it 1-0 New York.  A-Rod walked but was quickly erased by a Robinson Cano GIDP.

- The lead didn't last long, as Michael Saunders took Freddy yard on a 1-0 fastball in the bottom of the 1st to tie things up.  It was about as horribly as one could locate a fastball, belt high and right over the middle of the plate.

- The Yankees got another 1-out walk in the 3rd, and just like in the 1st they immediately erased it with an inning-ending DP.  That's 4 inning-ending double plays in the first 12 innings of this series, if you were wondering.

- Freddy struck out the side in the 2nd, but gave up what would prove to be the game-losing runs in the 3rd.  An infield single off a deflection, a groundball single through the right side, a soft liner single to right, and a sac fly.  Nothing that major, but well placed and effective to make it 3-1 Seattle.

- The Yankees loaded the bases with 1 out in the top of the 4th on a pair of singles and a walk to Mark Teixeira, but could not plate a run as King Felix got the next 2 batters out.  Like I said, tons of missed opportunities.

- There was nothing to suggest that the A-Rod HBP was intentional, nor the one to Jeter earlier in the 8th inning or Ichiro earlier in the game, but if I'm Ivan Nova I'm laying a fastball in Michael Saunders' back tonight.  You just can't let 3 of your guys getting hit go like that, especially when one of them ends up on the DL because of it.

- As for the rest of the 8th inning, the Yankees once again had the bases loaded with 1 out, and scored a run on a Teix sac fly to make it 3-2.  But Joe left Raul Ibanez in to face a lefty (WHY??????) and Ibanez predictably struck out swinging to end the inning.

- After giving up the 3 runs early, Freddy settled down and actually retired the next 15 batters he faced in order before giving way to the bullpen with 1 out in the 8th, including 4 swinging strikeouts.  What started out looking like another disaster turned into a pretty solid outing for Garcia.

- Unfortunately, the mix-and-match crew in the 8th couldn't pick him up.  The infield RBI single by Kyle Seager was a fluke, but the 3 walks to load the bases weren't.  The call to intentionally walk Jesus Montero with 2 outs was also questionable.  Ballgame over, Yankees lose.

Well That's A Fine Way To Wake Up This Morning

(Un-friggin-believable.  Courtesy of The AP)

"Rodriguez has a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal near his left pinky."

The Horse is heading to the DL for 2 months.  Shittiest wakeup ever?  Shittiest wakeup ever.