Go figure.
Last week, the Yankees' bats were silenced by a trio of Detroit pitchers who entered their starts with a combined record of 1-8. The Bombers then turn around and win three straight games against Seattle gunslingers Erik Bedard, Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva, who entered their starts with a combined tally of 7-1.
Of course New York's pitching also had something to do with the weekend three-game sweep of the Mariners. Chien-Ming Wang started it off with yet another gem on Friday night, Mike Mussina continued his resurgence on Saturday afternoon, and then recent call-up Darrell Rasner impressed on Sunday.
Rasner appears to be the Yanks' new number four guy, now that Phil Hughes has been placed on the DL and Ian Kennedy has been demoted to the minor leagues following an awful start to the season. I have no problem with Rasner filling one of those two open spots in the rotation. He was dominating in Scranton to the tune of a sub-1.00 ERA. What I do take issue with is who the Pinstripes are talking about filling the number five spot.
Kei Igawa, who New York spent $46 million on to bring from Japan last year, is a mediocre 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A in 2008. The left-hander was terrible on the Major League level last season, finishing 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts. It's yet another guy being put in the rotation ahead of Joba Chamberlain, who is definitely among the top five starters in the organization.
And now the Yankees' grades for their last five games.
Joe Girardi, Manager: (B-)During a season in which the bullpen has been overworked because of bad starts by Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, shouldn't you give the relievers rest when you can? Girardi pulled Wang after just 90 pitches Friday, Mussina was allowed to throw just 84 on Saturday, and Rasner issued only 76 pitches on Sunday. All three starters were cruising when they were lifted, but luckily for the manager, the bullpen pitched well every time.
Johnny Damon, LF: (A) The lead-off man continued his hot hitting this week, going 7 for 17, including a home run on Saturday. He also made an outstanding diving catch in Sunday's win.
Derek Jeter, SS: (A) The Captain's been on fire as well, going 7-10 over the weekend.
Bobby Abreu, RF: (A) Four straight multi-hit games for Abreu. The 0-3 on Wednesday keeps him from receiving an A+.
Hideki Matsui, DH: (A-)This is who should be batting cleanup during A-Rod's absence. Not Shelly Duncan (.182 avg) and certainly not Jason Giambi (.150 avg). Generally, you want a good hitter batting fourth. Girardi finally seems to be catching on.
Jason Giambi, 1B: (D-) No hits in his last 10 at bats, hitting .150 in May, team is 12-14 with him and 5-2 without, team was 42-41 with him last year and 52-27 without. Still batting fifth.
Melky Cabrera, CF: (A-)Here's the guy who should be hitting fifth. He's six for his last 20, including a big two-run homer on Sunday, bringing his average up to .291. That's 141 points higher than the Giamzero. Cabrera also has more home runs and RBIs than the worthless guy batting ahead of him.
Robinson Cano, 2B: (D) Cano went 2-14 over the last five games, but hopefully his homer Sunday is a sign of things to come.
Morgan Ensberg, 3B: (C-) Ensberg has played the last four games at the hot corner, picking up four hits in 16 at bats and committing an error on Saturday. Ensberg is hitting just .220 now and I'd really like to see Alberto Gonzalez split more time with Morgan during A-Rod's absence.
Alberto Gonzalez, 3B: (D)Gonzalez got just one start at third base over the past five days, but Girardi also put the kid at second base on Friday, replacing the struggling Cano. Gonzalez went 1-7 in the two starts, but is still hitting .269.
Chad Moeller, C: (D-)It's good to see Moeller back with the Yankees after being designated for assignment. Chad got two starts in the past five games, going 1-8 but he's still hitting .286. The M's also only stole one base off of him.
Jose Molina, C: (F)That's more than can be said of Molina, who allowed six stolen bases in the three games he started last week. He failed to throw out a single base stealer and went just 1-9 at the plate, dropping his average to a woeful .224. I'd say Moeller is the better catcher at this point.
Shelly Duncan, 1B: (C-)Duncan got two starts batting cleanup against the Tigers (both losses) and he went just 2-8. He also struck out looking for Matsui in the eighth inning of Sunday's win. If Girardi wants to put Duncan in the lineup, it should be towards the bottom and it should only be to replace Giambi.
Andy Pettitte, SP: (D-) Pettitte was cruising along until he gave up two runs in the fifth and sixth on Wednesday. Andy is now 3-3 and needs to be more consistent at the number two spot for the Yankees if they are to continue winning.
Ian Kennedy, SP: (F)Kennedy once again couldn't get out of the fifth inning on Thursday and was sent back to the minors after his latest poor effort which actually DECREASED his ERA to 8.37. Scary when four earned in 4.2 ip can do that.
Chien-Ming Wang, SP: (A+) The 2008 AL Cy Young continued his brilliance on Friday, surrendering just one run in six innings. He's now tied for the Major League lead with a record of 6-0.
Mike Mussina, SP: (A)Well, I had three guys to choose from in my pre-season plea to get Joba into the rotation and I apparently picked the wrong one. The Moose turned in his third straight good performance on Saturday, giving up just seven hits and one run in six frames. But the most important thing was that he didn't walk anyone.
Darrell Rasner, SP: (A-)Rasner's first Big League appearance this season didn't start well as he served up a two-run homer to Adrian Beltre in the first inning. But it was smooth sailing from there, as Rasner went on to pitch five straight scoreless innings until departing after the sixth. He also didn't issue a single base on balls.
LaTroy Hawkins, RP: (B+) Two appearances and two scoreless innings.
Edwar Ramirez, RP: (B+) Ditto for Ramirez.
Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (B) Bad on Wednesday, but good on Friday and Sunday.
Jonathan Albaladejo, RP: (F)Terrible outing for Albaladejo on Thursday when he got bombed for four earned runs in just an inning and two thirds. He also picked up the loss.
Chris Britton, RP: (B+)Britton's first appearance of the season was a good one as he didn't allow a run over 2.2 innings pitched. He was wild, though, throwing 20 balls in 40 pitches, including two walks.
Jose Veras, RP: (A)Another member of the bullpen merry-go-round. Veras threw a perfect frame on Saturday.
Ross Ohlendorf, RP: (B+) One hit and one K in one inning on Sunday.
Joba Chamberlain, RP: (B+)The Yankees played 35 innings over the past five days. Joba participated in one of them. Really great way to use one of your best pitchers.
Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) Two more perfect innings.
Yankees Overall Grade: (B) The Yanks are doing things in threes this year. Since April 14, they have won three, lost three, won three, lost three, won two, lost three and won three. Hopefully that streak will come to an end when the Yankees host Cleveland on Tuesday.
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2 months ago
I fail to see why you give Matsui an A- ? with a 14 game hitting streak?
Everyone dumps on him all the time, imagine having him batting 8th?
You give the other guys A, yet him an A- are you anti Japanese ?
What gives?
Highter OBA than Abreau, takes more pitches, less strike-outs, better fielder, usually more RBI, he has been humiliated by Girardi all year long, I wish he were traded for his own sake.
The minute Posada and Alex get back, he will bench Matsui, you will see, watch....
Maltz
from 2 months ago
The grades are for the last five games, not the last 14. Over the last five games, Matsui is 7-22, while Damon is 7-17, Jeter is 10-22 and Abreu is 9-19. That's why the first three guys in the order got a slightly better grade than Matsui. If I was grading the entire season, clearly Matsui would have the highest grade.
Who dumps on Matsui? If you had read my other articles, before ignorantly suggesting that I'm anti Japanese, you would have seen how I've ripped Girardi for benching Matsui despite the fact that right now he's the best hitter on the team.
2 months ago
This whole article was a waste of my time. I give it an F.
Girardi isn't resting the bullpen in May... so you give him a B-? What on earth are these guys doing in the major league if they need rest in May? That's just crazy.
I agree with Bruce... Hideki should have an A, as well as Melky.
Cano belong along side of Giambi with a D-.
Moeller needs to be boosted up to a C... he isn't with us for his bat.
Andy gets a D- while Moose gets an A??? This really is where you lost all credibility... Andy has a lower ERA and one less start with almost the same amount of innings. Don't get me wrong, I like Moose and I want him do do well, but Andy and him do not have that large a chasm between them.
Britton doesn't deserve the same grade as the rest of the relievers. He is very lucky that his walks didn't amount to much.
Joba... no problem with his grade, but putting him in the rotation this early in the season would be a big mistake.
As far as the overall grade of a B? They are in 4th place in the AL east! That is a D in my book... they better get off their butts and start improving. With Hughes and Kennedy out of the rotation... I see better days coming.
from 2 months ago
You guys need to start reading a little more closely. The sixth paragraph reads: "And now the Yankees' grades for their last five games." They are not grades for the entire season.
2 months ago
Sorry for the remark about Japanese, but I am upset with the way Girardi is treating Matsui, and I am not even a Matsui fan. Even yesterday, he took an at bat away from him, he didn't take one from Abreau? And his reason is transparent. If he benches him tomorrow, thats it, I am gone for the season, he is like a little league manager with first class players. I have seen Matsui do little things that have turned games around like a great slide, incredible catches in left or right field, but all Girardi does is praise Damon, Jeter and Abreau? and still probably wants to hit Matsui 8th.
Matsui was been second in homers for the Yankees last year, and 2nd in RBI's.
Bruce
2 months ago
I am a Matsui fan and I agree that Girardi isn't using him to his full potential. Matsui should be batting cleanup everyday until A-Rod and Posada return, but I don't know about those incredible catches you're talking about. I think Matsui makes more mistakes than great plays in the outfield and is better suited as the DH. Also, what do you mean by Girardi's "reason is transparent" for taking at bats away from Matsui? I think he's sitting him so much lately because they've been facing a lot of lefties. I don't agree with the reasoning but I think that's what Girardi is thinking. Finally, I read a lot about the Yankees and I haven't noticed Girardi praising Damon, Jeter and Abreu more than Matsui. Let me know where you're getting that from.
2 months ago
I really just read MLB.com, ESPN not much time for other stuff, Matsui is NEVER in the headlines. Transparent, Matsui is coming to bat, other guys are having a field day, Abreau has 3 hits, Jeter 4, etc, Matsui needs stats just like them, if not it will give him another reason to ride him. Why give Duncan at at bat? Check Matsui against lefties, he hits over .300 against them, that is what I mean. The other day in left field, I saw Matsui go back to the wall to make a great catch, then in foul ground another. Lets not forget he broke his wrist diving for a ball. Girardi puts him in right field, left field, there is no permanent spot. I checked, and in Japan, he played center field. There is just something fishy, Torre gave Matsui respect, that was so obvious sometimes annoying, now with Girardi, the opposite is insidious. Starting the season having him bat 8th? Why didn't they put Abreau there? Matsui walks more, has a higher OBA, strikes out less, hits more homers, obviously this bothers me because I can sense there is more going on than meets the eye. Jeter as captain should take charge.
Bruce
2 months ago
You keep saying there's more than meets the eye going on but you're not saying what it is. I disagree with how Girardi is using Matsui at times this year, but he's also sitting Damon and Cabrera too much also. I don't see what you're getting at and you really haven't given any hard evidence to prove that Girardi is intentionally disrespecting Matsui. I don't think Matsui should be batting eighth, but with Abreu, A-Rod and Posada in the order, I can see why he'd be as low as sixth. He definitely should never be behind Giambi.
from 2 months ago
So, what would happen if they switched Abreu and Matsui?
More people on base for Alex..
Matsui takes as many pitches..
walks more
strikes out less..
Why don't managers experiment a little?
Your thoughts?
Bruce
from 2 months ago
I wouldn't change anything up right now. They've been scoring a lot of runs the last three games with Abreu third and Matsui fourth. When A-Rod returns, he can go back in between the two. Abreu and Matsui have very similar career numbers, with Abreu's being a little better. I don't really think it's a big deal which one bats before the other, but if they begin slumping again, I wouldn't have a problem with them flip flopping in the order to try to spice things up. I think the main thing is that they need to be in the lineup everyday, no matter if they're facing a right- or left-hander.
2 months ago
Jordan,
I always enjoy your grades even if I don't agree with all of them, keep up the good work.
2 months ago
I failed to mention I agree with your constant criticism of Girardi and the way he uses the bullpen/lineup, but my only beef with you today is that you B- for the last 3 games but failed to say one good thing about him... since it's an okay grade of B- you should say at least one sentence of positive things about the man.
from 2 months ago
You are correct. He led them to three wins in five games, so that deserves an okay grade, but more specifically, he seems to be stealing and hit and running a little more, which I like. For example, after Damon led off the bottom of third on Sunday with a single, Girardi had Jeter hit and run. Jeter singled to right on the play, allowing Damon to reach third with nobody out. That play sparked the six run inning for the Yanks.
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