New Site

Today marks the official end of an era, as I announce the closing of Yankees Kid Talk. Started in December 2007, I covered a couple great seasons in Yankee history. The closing of the old Yankee Stadium, the opening of the new one; and most importantly, the Yankees 27th World Series Championship.

But do not be worried, Yankee fans – I am not going anywhere. Well, I am. I’m moving to a new site. The name “Yankees Kid Talk” has run its course, as I’m about to turn 14. My new site is called “Yankees Run This Town” – after my YouTube channel that has been the main reason why I haven’t updated the site in a while.

But I will be blogging on my new site much, much more often, and will be definitely blogging about the upcoming postseason for the Yanks, which starts on Friday with ALDS Game 1.

So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check out my new site – http://homeoftheyanks.blogspot.com/

 

I’m sure you’ll love it.

GO YANKEES!

A-Rod, Tex, and Martin Go Deep As Yanks Win 10-6

Well, baseball is as officially back as it can get, as the Yankees opened up the season at the Stadium on Thursday, and beat the Tigers 6-3. Sorry for not posting a recap, I was busy (what else is new). But today the Yanks took the field for game 2 of 162, and the Yankees once again defeated Detroit 10-6, thanks to the Yankees’ powerful bats.

Of course the story that hovered around this game was A.J. Burnett. His first start of the 2011 season, Burnett hoped to get off on the right foot, after posting a 10-15 record with an ERA over 5 in 2010. And, for the most part, he wasn’t too bad. He went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits. Certainly better than the majority of his 2010 starts, that’s for sure.

But at the end of the day, the key to the Yankees’ win was offense, offense, and more offense. The Yankees lit up Brad Penny for 8 runs in 4 1/3 innings, highlighted by another three-run home run from Mark Teixeira. And yes, this is April, so no more joking about how his Opening Day performance was technically in March. Through two games, he’s finally having a hot start to his season. Hopefully he’ll keep it up.

After Penny left, the Bombers didn’t skip a beat, as in the 5th inning, catcher Russell Martin hit his first homer as a Yankee, a solo shot to right field off Brad Thomas. And in the 6th, a guy you’re probably more used to seeing go deep, went deep – Alex Rodriguez. He launched a solo shot as well, almost identical to Martin’s. Both shots were the players’ first homers of the season.

After A.J. left the game, Girardi turned his newly stacked bullpen. David Robertson pitched the 6th, and had no problems. Luis Ayala, who just barely made the roster out of Yankees camp, struggled a bit, allowing two runs in 2 innings. As did Boone Logan, who only got an out in the 9th before handing the ball to Mariano Rivera. But I can assure you Mo was flawless, for he quickly picked up the last two outs of the game for the save, to seal the Yanks’ 2nd win of the season.

All in all, a pretty good day for the Yankees. If Burnett can pitch somewhat like this all year long, even if it is only 5 or 6 innings, it would be great. The offense, like they did today, will be backing him up all the way. A.J. will make or break the Yanks’ 2011 campaign, so it’s good to see him get off on the right foot.

The Yankees will go for the sweep tomorrow night, with Phil Hughes going up against Max Scherzer. Game time 7:05pm. And only, on YES.

 

2011 Opening Day – Tigers vs. Yankees

2011 Regular Season Game 1
Detroit Tigers (0-0) vs. New York Yankees (0-0)
Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
TV/Radio: YES, ESPN, WCBS 880
1:05pm

YANKEES

#11 Brett Gardner LF
#2 Derek Jeter SS
#25 Mark Teixeira 1B
#13 Alex Rodriguez 3B
#24 Robinson Cano 2B
#20 Jorge Posada DH
#33 Nick Swisher RF
#14 Curtis Granderson CF
#55 Russell Martin C

LHP C.C. Sabathia (21-7, 3.18 ERA in 2010)

TIGERS

#14 Austin Jackson CF
#28 Will Rymes 2B
#30 Magglio Ordonez RF
#24 Miguel Cabrera 1B
#41 Victor Martinez DH
#25 Ryan Raburn LF
#27 Johnny Peralta SS
#15 Brandon Inge 3B
#13 Alex Avila C

RHP Justin Verlander (18-9, 3.37 ERA in 2010)

Yanks Lose To Phillies In Spring Opener

Okay, so the Phillies won this one. But we still have their number in the World Series.

After long months of waiting and anticipating, Yankee baseball is finally back. The Bombers opened up their Grapefruit League schedule against the Phillies today down in Tampa, and unfortunately lost 5-4 in a rematch of the 2009 World Series.

The 2005 A.L. Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon got the start for the Yankees, and of course, being the first spring game, only pitched a couple innings. But he limited Philly to only a run on two hits. Now you can’t base too much off the first spring game, but Colon was hitting up to 93 mph, which is pretty good for the 37-year old.

Then, like every spring game, reliever after reliever after reliever came in; for both teams. Joba Chamberlain followed Colon and pitched a scoreless inning, as did David Robertson after him. Then David Phelps, Hector Noesi, Eric Wordekemper, and Luis Ayala combined to finish the game, with Wordekemper blowing the save when the Yanks had previously held a 4-3 lead.

On the offensive side, Francisco Cervelli drove in the Yankees’ first Grapefruit League run in the 2nd with an RBI double. Mark Teixeira drove in a run in the 5th with an RBI triple, and Jorge Vazquez hit a huge, two-run homer in the 7th. 18 different players came up to the plate for the Yankees, and managed to get 9 hits in total.

So, I guess it’s tough to watch the Yankees lose, but all in all it was great to see the Bombers back in action. The Yankees will now travel to Clearwater, to play, well, the Phillies, again. Expect more of the Phillies’ stars to be in the lineup, and expect less from the Yanks. These exhibitions are not your normal Yankee games. But they are Yankee games, and that’s all that matters.

Spring Training Game 1 – Phillies vs. Yankees

Spring Training Game 1
Philadelphia Phillies -vs- New York Yankees
George M. Steinbrenner III Field – Tampa, FL
TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
1:05pm

Here are the lineups. Baseball, is back. Wow.

PHILLIES

#11 Jimmy Rollins SS
#7 Ross Gload DH
#29 Raul Ibanez LF
#6 Ryan Howard 1B
#10 Ben Francisco CF
#9 Domonic Brown RF
#? Jeff Larish 3B
#23 Brian Schneider C
#21 Wilson Valdez 2B

LHP Cole Hamels (12-11, 3.04 ERA last season)

YANKEES

#2 Derek Jeter SS
#33 Nick Swisher RF
#25 Mark Teixeira 1B
#13 Alex Rodriguez 3B
#24 Robinson Cano 2B
#20 Jorge Posada DH
#14 Curtis Granderson CF
#11 Brett Gardner LF
#17 Francisco Cervelli C

RHP Bartolo Colon (DNP last season)

Joe Torre Named MLB Vice President

According to numerous reports, Joe Torre has been hired as MLB’s executive vice-president of baseball operations. Commissioner Bud Selig is expected to announce the hire tomorrow at the Rockies’ spring training facility.

The former Yankee manager (1996-2007) led the Bombers to four World Series titles, making him one of the most iconic figures in Yankee history. Following his ugly break up with the Yanks, Torre went to L.A. and managed the Dodgers, where he led them to the N.L.C.S. two straight seasons. But following a disappointing 2010 season in which the Dodgers missed the playoffs, Torre called it quits. He promised to stay in the game to some extent, whether it was on TV, or even back in the dugout, managing another team. But now, Joe has one of the most important jobs in the game.

In total, Joe managed five different teams for 29 seasons, and also led a successful 18-year playing career. He is still one of my favorite managers of all time, and I wish him the best in becoming Baseball’s VP. He’s definitely earned it.

CC Saying C’Ya To Yankees?

When the Yankee signed CC Sabathia to that crazy 7-year, $161 million deal back in 2008, it included a clause in the contract that would allow CC to opt out after the third year, 2011. Well, uh, if you guys didn’t know, that’s this year!

And when the Yankees’ ace arrived in Tampa on Monday, he told reporters that him opting out is still a possibility. “I have no idea. It is still in my contract.” The now slimmer CC said, who reported to camp 25 pounds lighter. “Anything is possible.”

We all remember how Alex Rodriguez decided to opt out of his contract during the 2007 World Series. Most of us believed it was the end of A-Rod in pinstripes, as George Steinbrenner continuously said if A-Rod opted out, he wouldn’t negotiate with Alex to bring him back. Sure enough, the next month, a new 10-year deal was finalized, with the Yankees. And A-Rod was, I guess, “back” in the Bronx.

Now whether this will happen with CC, is yet to be seen. Heck, he hasn’t even opted out yet. But what scares me a little is last fall, he made it clear that he wouldn’t even think about using the opt-out. Just a couple days ago, he said anything’s possible. Also, he said something along the lines of – I’m here to help this team win – along with his recent comments. This team? The 2011 New York Yankees? That’s not  sounding like a guy who is going to fulfill his whole contract with the Yankees.

Then again, look at this from a business standpoint. CC, if he does opt out, probably is making the right decision, financially. Will he get anything close to his current deal from another team? No. But the New York Yankees? You bet. If not more. They need him a lot. He is the team. Jeter, Posada, and Mo? Not anymore. It’s CC, Teix, and Cano. Throw Hughes in there too. He is the centerpiece to future Yankee teams. They couldn’t loose him.

In the end, what I see happening, is CC opting out (not during the World Series hopefully). I think his agent will try to look for other teams, but within an hour after opting out, CC calls up Cash, they do a little negotiating, and CC is back with the Yankees within a month. 7 years, $170 million.

I don’t think this is what the Yankees want, but this is how it’ll happen. Even if no other teams show interest, the Yankees will overpay, and give him a year or two more than he maybe deserves, just to make sure he comes back. Either way, CC, one way or another, will be with the Yankees for many years to come.