1,001 Posts

The Yankees got handled tonight and even with A-Rod’s help the team’s anemic offense continues to cause Yankee fans everywhere to yell profanities at inappropriate times (seriously, it seems like this is a common practice for us now, and I guess it shows our solidarity). It was an ugly loss but I guess the one cool thing that came out of it, well for me at least, is that I posted about Derek Jeter’s injury a little while ago.

That post was actually number 1,000 here at the iYankees Blog and it’s a funny “milestone” if I’m even allowed to call it that. I don’t quite remember how or why I ultimately decided to start this blog and I never thought it would really go anywhere, but it actually has, so I’d like to thank all of the readers who stop by and spend moments of their day here, reading about your NY Yankees (even when they’re terrible).

Jeter is OK

I can’t stomach anymore Yankees-Orioles, but I can report to you that Derek Jeter is alright and is considered “day-to-day” with a contusion on his left hand after getting hit by Daniel Cabrera in tonight’s game. X-Rays came back negative, so it’s nothing too serious.

Totally Random Ryan

Recently, I had the pleasure of watching the NL ROTY, Ryan Braun, play against the Boston Red Sox (on TV). A game between the Brewers and Boston was pretty interesting to me (my GF is a Sox fan), and Braun did well last year, absolutely destroying all comers in the NL, so I thought it’d be interesting to see how he would handle Josh Beckett, the ace of aces, on Sunday at the Fens. Of course, Braun did not disappoint.

Although the Brewers lost the game, Braun had a 4-RBI day, and rocked Josh Beckett with 2 homers. Each time I was pretty amazed at Braun’s sheer power. He leaned out and over the plate and got two curveballs, both seemed to be out of the strike zone or maybe on the outer edge, and he managed to pull them over the Monster like he had been playing there for years. It was a demonstration of things to come, as Braun hit his 12th and then 13 homer that day and he’s probably looking at a 40+ HR season in his second year. The kid can hit for a high average, swipe a bag and has been solid in the OF after being moved from 3B (he was dreadful there in 2007 which is why Troy Tulowitzki’s defense at SS challenged him for the ROTY Award).

Braun amazed me and the way he hit just seemed unreal. He’s 24 and he’ll turn 25 after the season is over. Imagine what this guy will do in 3-5 years and the numbers he’ll put up? 29-30 are typically called the “power years” for developing hitters and I don’t even think I could predict what we’ll see, but I’m sure it’ll be great.

The reason I bring up Braun is because is because of his age and his ability. When I think of the Yankee lineup and their farm system, there are no Ryan Brauns, no definitive phenoms that can probably put up HOF numbers and no clearcut hitting monsters. Jose Tabata is a guy that we herald and he’s been likened to Manny Ramirez. Of course, he’s still very raw and has shown some immaturity in 2008. I look at the aging Yankee lineup and think of what could be in the future and hope that, one day, the Yankees will be able to draft a Ryan Braun of their own. Stockpiling young pitching is great and the Yanks have done that through their drafts, but at the same time, it’ll be harder and harder to get a potent offense in the future via trades especially when so many young offensive players are signing reasonable long-term deals (like Braun).

I look forward to the day when a 2nd-year or even a 1st-year player on the Yankees, drafted a few years earlier, has a 35+ HR season. I know it’s a long shot and true talents like Ryan Braun are hard to find but it’s not a far fetched fantasy in this day and age. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Hank Hoping For A Streak

While he’s not discussing Joe Girardi or Brian Cashman, Hank Steinbrenner is telling reporters that he’s expecting the Yankees to go on a tear, very soon, especially with A-Rod returning. While I can envision the Yankees going on a winning spree that rivals their second half from last year, Hank also has to realize that both the division and the league are much deeper in terms of talent. So, for instance, although the Kansas City Royals were no-hit yesterday, their lineup is still a talented group. The same can be said for the Rays, the Orioles, the Twins, and other teams out there that are supposedly winning with smoke and mirrors. It will be harder for the Yankees to pad their record and feed off the underbellies of starting rotations when those rotations have become more and more talented over the years.

Hank Speaks (Surprised?) On Girardi & Cashman

Tyler Kepner (NY Times) brings us a piece on Hank Steinbrenner’s feelings pertaining to Joe Girardi’s job, thus far, as the Yankee skipper. Steinbrenner seems to sympathize with Girardi’s misfortunes this season, saying that he’s been doing what he can with what he’s got. In addition, Hank speaks on Brian Cashman and seems to be supportive of his tenure, stating that, as of now, he would like to keep Cashman as the GM after the season is over. However, he also states that it’s really up to Cashman if he wants to return and even if he does want to return, it has yet to be determined if that will actually occur.

I used to think Cashman was a lock to return to the club after the season, but now, after every Hank Steinbrenner interview, I’m really not so sure anymore. Every Hank quotable seems to work against that notion, in some way, and we’ll see how Cashman reacts come season’s end.

A-Rod Under Pressure

So, today A-Rod will return to the Yankee lineup and the pressure he currently faces is simply astounding. With every runner left in scoring position, we can’t help but to look to A-Rod as the prototypical hero who has come to save the damsel in distress that is the NY Yankee offense. People are expecting greatness upon his return, but how will A-Rod react with the bat? In the past, he’s often dealt with the criticism and the pressure in a less than productive manner, swinging too hard and too often as he constantly tried to do too much in order to live up to the grueling expectations that are essentially inherent for him. Last year, when he produced his greatest season as a Yankee, most of his success was thought to be the product of a carefree sort of attitude or at least a more relaxed approach at the plate. He took what was given to him, didn’t try to do too much with a bad pitch and totally raked from the beginning of the season and on.

But, what can we expect now? With the lineup looking absolutely dreadful and with Jorge Posada still out for a prolonged period of time, how will A-Rod react when the spotlight on his production will be brighter than it has ever been (outside of the playoffs)? Granted, his tremendous presence alone will make the lineup deeper, but will the production be even close to what it was like last season? We can only hope for the best and look to A-Rod to add some right-handed power, something the Yankees have sorely lacked, however his layoff has been a long one and maybe fans should temper expectations for a bit until he gets settled in.

Oh, and by the way, A-Rod has hit .345 against Daniel Cabrera (the pitcher he faces tonight) of the Baltimore Orioles (in 29 AB’s he has 2 HR and a 1.021 OPS). Yeah, no pressure.