Best Right Fielder in New York History

According to the new show The Lineup over on Madison Square Garden Network, it's none other then Babe Ruth.

A panel of experts got together to determine who was the best right fielder and had to choose between the talented Ruth, Daryl Strawberry, Mr. October himself Reggie Jackson among others New York greats.

The show airs on Tuesdays at 10:30 on MSG. Here's a little background information about the show

“The Lineup: New York’s All-Time Best Baseball Players,” is a new original series and interactive fantasy game that will determine the best baseball players in the history of New York. Each 30-minute episode of “The Lineup” will present a number of nominees for consideration at each position, from the Yankees, Mets, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, with one episode dedicated to the best New York manager of all-time. MSG’s Fran Healy will host a panel, consisting of Hall of Fame Mets catcher Gary Carter, former Yankee bullpen ace Sparky Lyle, New York Magazine contributing editor and baseball aficionado Will Leitch, and executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau Steve Hirdt. The panel will whittle down a larger list of players from each position and determine the top five from each spot on the diamond. By the end of each episode, they will crown the top player at each position and name him to the official “Lineup” card."

This week the panel will determine who the best center fielder in New York is.

Here's the official word from MSG:

Tune-in to the next episode, Tuesday, May 11th at 10:30PM, when the panel chooses NY's All-Time Best Center Fielder. This will truly be an ultimate debate with so many greats like Willie Mays, Micky Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Bernie Williams, and more! Who will the panel choose? Tune-in to find out! Photos of the top right fielders here:  http://www.msg.com/2.1490/mickey-mantle-yankees-1951-68-1.41769

If you missed the latest episode, "Right Fielders," check out more extended and uncut footage of the panel discussion here:http://www.msg.com/tv/shows/the-lineup/1.41906
Don't forget to make your weekly picks in the interactive fantasy game on http://msg.com/lineup/ for a chance at winning a signed baseball from a baseball legend! This week's winner will win a signed baseball from the legendary pitcher Goose Gossage! Each week you play the The Lineup fantasy baseball game is a chance to win more signed memorabilia! 

- Courtney

Yanks take two of three at Fenway

Opponent: Boston Red Sox

Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Ma.

Yankees overall record: 21-9

Series MVP: Francisco Cervelli

Honorable Mention: Brett Garnder, Nick Swisher, Phil Hughes

Quote of the series: comes from Mark Teixeira on Cervelli

"He comes up (last year) and everyone talks about his defense. He’s going to catch, he’s going to throw, he’s going to be great behind the plate,” Mark Teixeira said. “This guy is impressing me more and more every day. He stepped up for a future Hall of Famer. He’s stepping up and doing a great job for Jorge.”

The Yankees were able to continue their winning ways before losing the series finale to the Red Sox, this past weekend.

Friday's game was a clear demonstration of how patient this Yankee offense can be.  Going into the game, the thought was the game was going to be a pitching battle between Red Sox starter Josh Beckett and Yankee youngster Phil Hughes.  Hughes was able to out battle a wild Beckett.  Beckett simply unraveled and allowed 8 runs in the sixth inning while also hitting Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter.  Jeter's plunking came with the bases loaded to allow another run in.  Hughes meanwhile, continued his dominant start to the season by pitching seven effective innings, allowing two runs.  His season earned run average sits at a miniscule 1.69.  This is what manager Joe Girardi had to say about Hughes' start from Friday.

“Beckett struck out five of the first six hitters and it’s not looking like you’re going to get a lot of runs,” Girardi said. “And (Hughes) just matched him.”

Saturday's game was a bit of a back and forth game until the two teams hit a one hour and twenty minute rain delay in the fifth inning.  CC Sabathia was unable to get the win, after only pitching 4 and 2/3 innings.  He needed one more strike to qualify for a win but the umpires called a rain delay before he was able to complete the at bat.  Alfredo Aceves came in and got the win following the delay, yet he had to come out early due to a stiff lower back.  He is considered day to day and the Yankees have no plan to put him on the DL.  The offense exploded following the delay.  Teixeira hit 3 home runs and is finally over his April slump.  Cervelli had five RBI's from Saturday's game.

Sunday's game, mothers day, brought the Jekyl and Hyde  AJ Burnett once again to Fenway.  Up until Sunday's game, Burnett has been virtually unhitable.  Boy did that change.  Burnett allowed eight runs in an overall ugly game.  The defense was not the best and the weather was simply miserable; cold and windy.  With the wind the temperatures were down into the low 30s.  Girardi was ejected for protecting his player, Marcus Thames.  Unfortunatley it did nothing to inspire the team.  Jon Lester was pitching too well to get a hit.


Next Up: The Yankees head to Detroit for a four game series against the Tigers.  Former teammates Johnny Damon and Phil Coke all now play for the Tigers. 

Johnson to the DL (yet again)

For what seems like the millionth time in his career, Yankees DH Nick Johnson was placed on the 15-day Disabled List this morning.

Johnson has an inflamed tendon in his right wrist.  Johnson originally hurt his wrist in 2008.  Johnson felt his injury after taking a swing in the first inning.

The team placed Johnson on the DL even before he had a MRI.

GM Brian Cashman said it will be "several weeks" before Johnson rejoins the team according to Sam Borden at the Journal News.

How sweep it is! Yanks sweep O's in Bronx

Opponent: Baltimore Orioles

Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY.
Yankees Overall Record: 19-8
MVP of the Series: Francisco Cervelli
Honorable Mention: AJ Burnett
Quote of the series: comes from manager Joe Girardi about the recent injury bug that has bitten the Yankees

"Part of what you have to manage is the competitive spirit in them. You have to determine whether it’s just soreness or injury, and does soreness turn into injury. Those are things you have to determine as a manager. It’s usually harder when a guy has mileage. When a guy has mileage, they’ve probably pitched through aches and pains or played through aches and pains.”

The Yankees defeated the Orioles with the strength of their pitching staff over the past three days.  In game one, CC Sabathia was outstanding.  He pitched eight innings and only gave up one run, a home run to Orioles catcher Matt Wieters.

Jorge Posada had to leave Monday's game early with a strained calf.  He had a MRI taken on his calf which came back negative.  Posada has not played since Monday but is expected to be back sometime for the Boston series.

Tuesday's game belonged to AJ Burnett.  He was outstanding.  His curveball is back to the form it was in during the 2008 season when Burnett was with the Blue Jays.  He is baffling his opponents with the pitch and it proved true during Tuesday's game.  He only gave up one unearned run through 7.1 innings.

Burnett could not have won Tuesday's game without help from his catcher, Francisco Cervelli.  Cervelli really stepped up his game with not only his defense but his offense.  He hit his first career triple and drove in two go-ahead runs.

Wednesday's game was a bit of a mixed bag with the results.  The team got the all important win but they were bit by the injury bug yet again.  Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte had to leave after five innings after experiencing stiffness in his elbow.  He was sent to the hospital for a MRI where minor swelling was revealed.  He will most likely just undergo treatment and the team will continue to monitor his elbow.

The concern now is how the injuries will continue to stack up.  Last series, Curtis Granderson was lost.  Mariano Rivera hasn't been available since the weekend, but Joba Chamberlain has taken over the closing duties for the moment.  Then this series both Posada and Pettitte went down.  Hopefully, Rivera, Pettitte or Posada will have to spend time on the DL, otherwise the team could be in serious trouble.

Next Up: The Yankees head back up to Boston to play the Red Sox for a three game series.

-Courtney

Yankees take series from White Sox 2-1

Opponent: Chicago White Sox

Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Yankees Record: 16-8
MVP of the series: who else would it be? Robinson Cano
Quote of the series: comes from Nick Swisher on the loss of Curtis Granderson.

“Curtis is a tough dude, man," Swisher said. "He’ll be back as soon as he can, no doubt.”

The Yankees returned home after a week and a half on the road and continued their winning ways.  With the victory over the White Sox, the Yankees have now one 7 of 8 series played this season.

Friday night's game was a battle between each side.  Andy Pettitte struggled the most he has all season but still managed to get a win.  He had help from his buddy Derek Jeter, who hit a home run and a triple, while driving in three runs total.  Friday's victory was a bit old-school with help from the old guard all around, including a save from Mariano Rivera.  Pettitte gave up four runs through eight innings.  The team won the game 6-4.

Saturday's game was a back and forth battle between the two teams.   Javier Vazquez was once again awful and could not get out of the third inning.  The team also lost starting center fielder Curtis Granderson, which I wrote about down below.  Granderson strained his groin and will most likely miss a month.  Brett Gardner will take over in center for Granderson.  The bullpen ended up giving the go ahead run in an overall sloppy game for the pitching staff.  The White Sox were victorious with a score of 7-6.

Phil Hughes continued to pitch like an ace during Sunday's game.  Hughes has been absolutely unbelievable as the team's fifth starter.  Although, given the way Vazquez has pitched, Hughes has jumped into the fourth starter role.  He has been pitching like an ace since the season began and would probably be the ace of the staff on half of the teams in all of Major League Baseball.  Hughes even beat Mark Buehrle, who is normally in the conversation for the AL Cy Young every year.  Hughes was aided by Robinson Cano's amazing start with two home runs, one of which was a three-run home run.  Gardner also hit his first home run of the season, and his first since June of last year.  Gardner is hitting well over .300 and if he can keep his offensive production up, the Yanks will be able to cope with the loss of Granderson.

Next Up: The Bombers continue their home stand and take on the Baltimore Orioles, for the second time in less then a week.

-Courtney

Granderson to the DL

The newest Yankee center fielder is heading for the DL.  

Curtis Granderson strained his groin in yesterday's game against the White Sox, while rounding second base.  He awkwardly touched second while he was on his way to third on Brett Gardner's RBI single.  Granderson had to hop halfway from second to third base.

He was replaced by pinch runner Randy Winn who stayed in the game to play left field, while Gardner moved over to play center.

Granderson was diagnosed with a grade two strain of his groin.  He is expected to miss anywhere from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of four weeks. 

Gardner will take over in Center while a platoon of Winn and Thalmes will take over in left.  

The team is expected to call up a reliever today to take Granderson's spot until the bullpen gets in better shape.  

You can expect an outfielder to be called up later in the week. 

- Courtney

Yanks take two of three from O's

Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
Location: Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD.
Overall Record: 14-7
MVP of the series: Robinson Cano for making plays on both sides of the ball
Quote of the Series: comes from Derek Jeter about how Cano is playing this month.

“He’s in one of those zones right now,” Derek Jeter said. “Every player wants to be in it, but they come few and far between. It seems like everything he’s doing right now is perfect, and he’s playing as well as I’ve ever seen him.”

After a visit with the President, the Yankees got back to do what they have been doing all season. Winning.

The team defeated the Baltimore Orioles two games to three after Thursday's series win.

The series started with the O's earning a victory, just their fourth of the season.  The Yankees were bothered by poor defense, especially late in the game from Jeter and Jorge Posada.  The pair made throwing errors late in the game which allowed the go-ahead runs to score.

Wednesday's game allowed CC Sabathia to get back to the way he was pitching all season.  Sabathia, was lit up by the Angels offense last series.  Luckily, for him, the Orioles are among the leagues worst offensive clubs.  Sabathia pitched into the eighth inning and allowed just two runs.  The team won with a score of 8-3.

Thursday's game belonged to Robinson Cano.  Cano hit two home runs, and made a spectacular play in the field that prevented a run from scoring.  Cano went deep in the hole between second and shirt and made a strong throw to get a speedy runner.  Starter AJ Burnett on television replays could be seen saying "wow".  Cano got a fist bump from Burnett after the inning ended.

Burnett himself pitched phenomenally.    He pitched eight innings and allowed no runs in the teams 4-0 victory.  Mariano Rivera came in and earned the save.

Next Up: The Yankees return home after a week and a half on the road and take on the Chicago White Sox.  The Yankees will have 23 of their next games played in New York, with one series being played at Citi Field against the Mets, once inter-league play begins

-Courtney