Results tagged ‘ Joba Chamberlain ’

Phil Hughes starts, Cano clutches, and Mo saves on Jackie Robinson Day

hughes.jpg
Thursday. It was Jackie Robinson Day. It was also Phil Hughes’ debut as the Yankees’ fifth starter of the season.
I’ve been anticipating to watch this game on ESPN for it was my first live Yankees game, although I’m 12 hours ahead from the Bronx. Too bad I missed the first inning. Thanks to my Tita who wanted to watch something else. But thank God I made it in time to see the second inning’s actions.
The first player in the box was Hideki Matsui. The first pitch was a ball, but the second pitch was driven deep to the right centre field. There were cheers from both sides of the crowd, and it was nice of the Yankees fan to still cheer for Godzilla.
I saw Hughes’ disappointment, and I am impressed with how he carried himself. I am always impressed with Hughes. He’s just 23 years old but he carries an aura of a veteran, sort of Andy Pettitte aura.
It was Jackie Robinson Day and the man in the box for the first at-bat of the bottom of the second was the second baseman of the Yankees, who was named after the man who broke the colour barrier. On the second pitch, Robinson Cano drove a solo homer in the right field  off Scott Kazmir tying the game against the Angels.
As if the solo home run was not enough, Robinson Cano did something impressive, besides his defensive skills. With Alex Rodriguez on second base, Cano hit another homer in the right field.
Every fan of the Yankees, and some other fans of other Major League teams, are aware of Robinson Cano’s roots including the significance of his jersey number- 24. Of course, he couldn’t wear #42 for it was retired in the entire Major League in 1997 to honour Jackie Robinson. No one is allowed to wear 42 again, except for Mariano Rivera.
Robinson Cano was the first and last Yankee player who hit home run during the Game 3 of the Yankees vs. Angels series in the Bronx. Derek Jeter was the second and only other Yankee who drove a home run.
It was in the third inning when Phil Hughes fought a battle against the Angels. His pitch count was increasing that certainly had Dave Eiland and Joe Girardi concerned. I was concerned too. It was his debut as a starter of the season. I am glad he won the battle with just one man left on base, whom he had walked.
When I saw Phil Hughes’ pitch count in the fifth inning, I already knew that it might be his last inning. But I also thought that it’d be possible for him to still pitch in the sixth inning but not in the entire inning. I was right.
Phil Hughes still pitched in the sixth inning but Joe Girardi had to take the ball from him after two at-bats, when Torii Hunter and Hideki Matsui, for a walk, got on base. It was obvious that the third, including the fourth inning, had a toll in his arm.
More than Torii Hunter’s wheels, I was worried about Phil Hughes’ arm. I think he had a total of 108 pitches during the game. That was a gamble. When Phil Hughes returned to the dugout, I was impressed by the fans who gave him a standing ovation. It was sweet.
Hughes was replaced by David Robertson, followed by Damaso Marte then Joba Chamberlain. The latter was doing good especially with his slider but something went wrong. I wouldn’t say it’s his mechanics. Joba can throw impressive pitches, but he’s not at par with veteran pitchers nor with Hughes when it comes to mental preparation and attitude, which greatly affect a pitcher’s performance in a game.
With two men on base, Enter Sandman was played in the entire Stadium. Mariano Rivera came to save and close the game. Mo only faced Bobby Abreu, who grounded out to Robinson Cano to Mark Teixeira for the final out of the game.
The Yankees won the third game against the Angels, 6-2 on board. They won the series with 2-1.

CC Chased by Utley

Utley.jpgGame 1 of 2009 World Series was, without a doubt, a history both for the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Chase Utley was walked in the first inning and in the third inning
after eight pitches from CC Sabathia, the second baseman of the
Phillies hit a solo home run to right field. Three innings later, Utley
hit another solo homer in the right field.

It was the first home run, then first two consecutive home runs, that
CC Sabathia gave up on a leftie in the Yankee Stadium. Utley’s third
inning homer was also the first one in the Bronx on a post-season game.

The Yankees lost Game 1 of the World Series, 1-6 against the Phillies.
It was their first post-season lost in the Yankee Stadium.

Game 4 of the Fall Classic would be CC’s chance to take command in the
mound and be the “CC” he used to be during the regular season, and
during the ALCS.

The tension in the field, as well as among the fans, was apparent as
Chase Utley stepped into the batter’s box in Citizens Bank Park. With
two balls and no strike, Utley drilled a double sending off Shane
Victorino to the home plate for the Phillies’ first run.

The next two at-bats of Chase Utley were not productive. He popped out
to second baseman Robinson Cano in the third inning and to shortstop
Derek Jeter in the fifth inning.

The seventh inning was the pay-off at-bat. On two strikes, Chase Utley
hit another long shot to the right field from the same pitcher, CC
Sabathia.

As Utley returned to the Phillies dugout, so did Sabathia to the
Yankees dugout. He would not return to the mound. Joe Girardi had Joba
Chamberlain relieve for CC.

With 6.2 innings pitched, the 6’7″ Yankee allowed 7 hits, walked 3 but struckout 6, and earned 3 runs. He has an ERA of 3.29.

The Yankees did win Game 4 on 7-5 against the Fightin’ Phillies. They still lead the series on 3-1.

Hurray For Halladay. It Will Be a Wonderful Labour Day for the Jays.

Doc.jpgRoy Halladay (13-8) was the starter of the Toronto Blue Jays against the New York Yankees on Friday night at the Rogers Centre.

It was a perfect 5 2/3 innings until Doc, who throws right, walked
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. But the Jays stayed on lead with 4-0
against the Bronx Bombers.

Ramiro Peña, who played shortstop,
doubled in the sixth inning. The next two batters, Eric Hinske and Mark
Teixeira, both earned a walk. With all bases loaded, Alex Rodriguez was
struck out marking Halladay’s sixth strikeout of the night. Three more
Yankees followed in the eight and ninth inning.

Doc is known
to be a splendid pitcher so it was, perhaps it still is, quite a
question why the Yankees chose Joba Chamberlain as the Bombers’
starter. Not that Joba couldn’t win for his team, but he doesn’t
guarantee a perfect game. Joba never had one compared to Halladay who
holds five complete games before Friday night.

The Yankees sent five pitchers to the mound while there was only one Blue Bird.

Halladay is one dominating Blue Bird and he proved it once again as he
closed what he started with 9 up, 9 down in the last three innings. Doc
summed it to 21 up, 21 down with 9 strikeouts. Roy Halladay now holds a
14-8 record this season.

The Jays’ bullpen had an early Labour Day observed and Roy Halladay sealed the  game with 6-0 win against the New York Yankees.

Another missed game.

I wasn’t able to watch the Tuesday noon game of the Yankees vs. Blue Jays. Thanks to ESPN, there was no live telecast.

When I checked the Yankees.com,
I found plenty of video highlights. I missed a lot! Joba Chamberlain
may not be my favourite starter, but it was still a game I would like
to watch. I want to see and know how every Yankee player does his role.
Besides, I’m always curious how he pitches when Posada is his catcher.

Albeit missing the game, I thank God that the Yankees won again. It’s their third win against the Blue Jays. One more win and they will tie with the Red Sox. One more win and it’ll be a sweep against my second favourite team.

I may like the Blue Jays, but not as much as the Yankees. I still want
the Yankees to win, and I do mind if they lose to the Blue Jays.

Tomorrow is the fourth and last game of the Yankees vs. Blue Jays. Mr.
Steel Gaze will be the starting pitcher. Too bad ESPN will not air the
game. I really hate it.

Can I teleport to the Yankee Stadium? Please?

By the way, I am glad that Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Mariano Rivera made it to the All-Star Game roster. Thank you for everyone who voted for the Yankees’ captain and first baseman.

Music:
Muse – Supermassive Blackhole

| back to blog home |
Theme: MLB “modern” | Get a free blog at WordPress.com
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.