I’m too amped up to put my thoughts down in a rational manner right now, so I’m going to bullet point it again.
- A.J. was pretty awesome until the 7th, as he shut the Twins out for 6 innings and matched zeroes with Kevin Slowey. In the 7th, he allowed a two out RBI to Matt Tolbert that was made possible by a walk to Nick Punto. He then walked the next two hitters and threw in a wild pitch and a passed ball by Kevin Cash, and suddenly another run was in and the bases were juiced. Albaladejo came in to strike out Kubel to end the threat. All in all it was a very strong performance from Burnett, and the Yankees could really benefit from seeing him settle in and pitch the way his talent suggests he should be able to pitch.
- Can we not find anybody better than Kevin Cash? I know that he is the 4th string catcher, but I have to assume that Chris Stewart is better than what we have seen thus far from Kevin.
- In the bottom of that inning, A-Rod homered, Matsui doubled, moved over on a bunt, and scored on a sac fly from Melky. A-Rod is starting to look a bit more comfortable at the plate, and Matsui and Melky seem to be in the middle of every Yankee rally these days.
- In the next inning, Albie loaded the bases with one out, including a walk to Nick Punto (sensing an annoying theme?). Brett Tomko came in, and with the infield in, Denard Span lined a grounder sharply to first base. Mark Teixeira dove and threw the runner out at home from his knees. it was an exceptional play, and Tomko coaxed a popup from the next hitter to end the threat. I do not have much faith in Tomko, but he did his job today. In regard to Tex, his glove is as good as advertised, and makes him a valuable player even when he is slumping with the bat.
- Mo pitched the top of the 9th and worked around a leadoff single by Joe Mauer to retire the side. In the bottom of the inning, Brett Gardner pinch ran for Swisher and was at second with one out. Cervelli lined a ball of the pitcher, and it bounced back towards home plate. Mauer grabbed it and pumped to first, and Gardner headed home. It was a stupid play with a contact hitter like Cano due up next, and he was nailed at the plate by the alert Mauer.
- There was a lot of bunting by the Yankees in this game. Not so sure I like it.
- Alfredo Aceves pitched the 10th and breezed through a 1-2-3 inning. He needs to be used in high leverage situations ASAP. He pounds the zone and does not seem to be afraid to come inside on hitters. Quite frankly, he looks excellent at this point, and the Yankees should be utilizing him over options like Albie, Tomko, Veras, and Edwar.
- Johnny Damon hit a walk-off home run to end the game in the 10th. This time has a really good vibe about it lately, and the hot bat of Johnny Damon has a lot to do with that. With Manny testing positive, Jason Bay becoming prohibitively expensive, and Matt Holliday struggling mightily away from Coors, Damon may actually be the Yankees best option in LF for 2010.
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18 Responses to Yankees Walk Off Again As Damon Homers In 10th
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TIQ IQ
I hated the 9th-inning bunt, and would have preferred for them to give Gardner a chance to steal first. I don’t mind bunting from 2nd to 3rd with no outs, but I am not a fan of the bunt from 1st to 2nd, especially with a basestealer on. Nonetheless, another exciting win.
I don’t mind Gardner being aggressive, though he was clearly faked out by Mauer, who made a head-up, athletic play.
I was thinking the same thing but after hearing Joe’s exlaination of why he went the way he did that kind of made sense. Gardy is very aggressive (he proved that with the play Mauer made). You had a lefty that was quick to the plate. We could have ran ourselves out of an opportunity.
To me, it looked like he was going all the way on contact, wasn’t he waved in?
Just a great play by a very good catcher, stopped that from being a run…I have no problem with him trying to score. I do have a problem with not letting him steal 2nd, then bunt him over to 3rd. Would have been the winning run but, the out come was ok.
No, he was held up. And with a contact hitter coming up, I do not love that risk.
I stand corrected…I just watched the replay.
The biggest thing with this streak is that the starters are making wins like this possible and lineup is great when out key guys can get it done.
I think Swisher has been contributing but once we get Nady back we can have the opportunity to play the hot hand like we are doing with Melky and Gardy right now.
I think we’re only going to get better as the season goes on… very exciting.
… oh and I really like Pena as the utility infielder. His defense can save runs and that is just as good as putting them up.
Great point. I like Swish, but Nady is useful as well, and the comparison to Melky and Gardy is apt.
Swish is a hole in the order right now. We need Nady back desperately. If Nady cant go by the break then we need a trade.
A hole is a little overboard – don’t you think? OBP has been holding up. He’s a hard out even when it doesn’t always lead to production. Giambi-esq.
Plus, when he is hot again in a couple of weeks (perhaps sooner) you might change your mind. And even if that doesn’t happen Cashman is not likely to add to payroll this early.
PJ Plittierre >>> Kevin Cash
With Pena and Brett on the bench (or playing), we also have added a new aspect…speed, pitchers don’t like speed on the bases.
Having those 5 guys around (Pena, Brett, Nady, Swisher and Melkey) gives Joe a lot of bullets to use…each guy has different talents.
Yeah it does feel like the team is a lot more well rounded… we can do things I think that we couldn’t last year. My two favorites though as Tex’s D and obviously the ability to have an ace pitching performance almost every time out (not fully realized yet – but I hope to come).
It is so wonderful to go into every start with a horse. Wang is looking like he is ready to step back in. Have they announced anything re: Hughes next start?
What do we do with the backup catcher next year? Go with Frankie Cervelli, re-up Molina, or something else?
Go with Cervelli but, I think a lot depends on Posadas’ health. If we can’t be sure of him being a 100%, we definitely need Molina back with Cervelli as their back-up…Cervelli can be sent down, Molina can’t.
I still think Cervelli is the better catcher but, the roster can’t carry three catchers…or can we?
No way on 3 catchers, I’d much rather keep another usable bat on the bench.
I think Molina’s D isn’t what it once was, and his offense is non-existent.
I agree with Mike R. PJ is doing great at Scranton. He handles the pitchers as well as Cervelli, and is certainly better than Cash.