2007 New York Yankees:

hayesb26 · 04-17-2007, 07:47 PM

2007 New York Yankees:

Team Preview: Part One of Four

03/31/2007

The snow is melting, the birds are returning, and spring is finally here. For New Yorkers, that means one thing: Yankee baseball. 2006 was a season to forget as far as New York fans are concerned. The team fell quickly in the first round of the playoffs to the Detroit Tigers, playing what could only be called “embarrassing baseball.” Steinbrenner was eager to fire manager Joe Torre, but smartly regained his cool before doing so. Instead, he opted to let everything stay put for the most part, aside from a few players coming and going to and from the team. Coming into the new year, gone are starting pitchers Randy Johnson and Jared Wright, and replacing them are former Yankee hero Andy Pettitte and Japanese star Kei Igawa. Gary Sheffield has been sent to the very team that defeated them in last season’s playoffs, the Detroit Tigers, for a package of minor league prospects including the highly touted Humberto Sanchez, who will begin the season at AAA Columbus. Returning for his farewell tour will be Yankee icon Bernie Williams, who will play sparingly as the fifth outfielder, barring injury to any starters. With the team’s core players back for another run in 2007, including team captain Derek Jeter, the underappreciated Alex Rodriguez, the always dangerous Jason Giambi and the consistent production of Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu, expectations are high in the Bronx. Both fans and ownership have made it well-known that they will not accept another season without the ultimate prize: a World Series championship.

Of course, as most loyal fans already know, the Bombers biggest move this off-season was not a player move, but a management change. Steinbrenner, armed with the fact that the Yanks had not won a World Championship since 2000, decided that the team needed to head in a new direction. Former GM Brian Cashman was fired, and Steinbrenner brought in a brash, young candidate, Brett Hayes. Hayes graduated from Stanford in 2003 with a degree in sports management, and had been working his way up the ranks within the Yankees organization ever since. Being that he was a member of the Yankees staff for only three seasons, Hayes’ sudden promotion to GM has angered some within the organization. They seem to question the idea that a youngster could jump over them to such a pristine job, so quickly. The fact that he was fast to earn the liking of Steinbrenner upon his arrival to the team was no small part to Hayes receiving the job so quickly. Hayes is expected to remain quiet and stay out of the public spotlight by many, given that this is his first high-profile job, and it’s about as big as they come. However, don’t expect him to take too long to get into the swing of how things work, and he’ll get involved to help out the ball club. According to former employers, Hayes has a keen eye for judging young talent, and for working opposing GMs into trades that are unfavorable for their teams. Because of these talents, it has been rumored that George is relinquishing full control of the team and personnel duties over to Hayes. Of course, we’ve all heard that one before…

(This dynasty will be run on OOTP6.5, and will be run with the 2006 MLB schedule, as I couldn't get the 2007 one in time. However, all rosters were up to date for 2007 and will go from there)

bucketsndimes · 04-17-2007, 08:13 PM

Looking forward to more.

hayesb26 · 04-18-2007, 01:08 PM

Team Preview: Part Two of Four

04/01/2007

Continuing our preseason preview of the 2007 New York Yankees, we will now briefly outline transactions that the Yanks were involved in during the off-season. These transactions include only those that were finalized by new GM Hayes, and not those that were finished under Brian Cashman, as you should already know those deals by now. Before the season began, Hayes quickly pulled the trigger on two trades, showing that he is not scared to mix it up with the major leaguers. Let’s look at a quick overview of those trades:

Yankees Send:

- Kelly Stinnett
- Two AA Prospects
- $3,500,000

Cardinals Send:

- Yadier Molina

New York was able to deal its aging, backup catcher in Stinnett for one of the premier young catchers in the major leagues. Granted, they did have to give up a fair amount of cash and a couple of solid looking prospects, but it’s nothing that the Bombers can’t cope with. Molina will backup Jorge Posada in the Bronx for a year or two, before presumably getting his shot at the full time role. Molina brings with him to New York a reputation as the best defensive catcher in Major League Baseball, as well as being a talented but unrefined hitter. Assuming he works on his approach at the plate over the next season or two while learning under Posada, there is no reason why Yadier cannot become a star in this league. There’s not much negative to say about this trade. Hayes dealt away an aging backup catcher, along with some prospects and cash to receive a young, talented, potential star backstop. Hayes will without a doubt receive praise for his first move.

Yankees Send:

- Carlos Pena (AAA)

Angels Send:

- Justin Speier

Without a doubt, the bottom of the New York Yankees bullpen is a little shaky. There is also little doubt that Justin Speier is a quality reliever. So, it made sense for Hayes to pull the trigger on a deal sending Carlos Pena to Anaheim for the reliever. Pena was facing a huge roadblock in New York, as the Bombers have plenty of players ahead of him in line at first base. However, in Anaheim he’ll get the chance to fight with youngsters Casey Kotchman and Kendry Morales for the starting job. Speier should fit in very well in the New York bullpen, as they desperately needed another arm that can eat some quality innings. It’s unlikely you’ll find any critics to this second deal that GM Hayes has pulled the trigger on, as it appears as though he received more than a fair share. Speier should help out in a big way this season on the major league roster, while Pena was nothing more than trade bait sitting in the minors. Deal number two of the Hayes regime will go down in the minds of most as an early success.

Finishing off his pre-season transactions, Hayes signed left handed reliever Joe Kennedy to a one-year deal worth $500,000. Kennedy was released by Oakland after an in-house dispute with management. Without a lefty in the pen, Hayes went to free agency to find one. Kennedy should be sufficient, if unspectacular. There is very little risk in the deal, as it’s simply a one year investment worth a mere 500k. If Kennedy doesn’t work out, it will be very easy for the Yanks to simply cut ties with him and look in another direction. For now, this appears to be a good deal, addressing the lack of a lefty in the Yankees bullpen.

As you can tell from his first three transactions, Hayes is not afraid to mix things up a bit. However, one thing you should not expect to see from him, is to engage in many big name deals. He has publicly stated that he is very content with the core of this team, and has no plans or desire to change any of that. Of course, things could change as the season goes along, but as of now, things are good for the New York veterans. Time will tell if Hayes’ stance on the issue remains the same come the end of July, when the pressure of the impending pennant race and even closer trade deadline are bearing down on him….

Astros33Resurrected · 04-18-2007, 01:19 PM

Good luck with your Yanks

AZTarHeel · 04-18-2007, 03:48 PM

Maybe I need to start another Red Sox dynasty to counter all these Yankees' stories ;-)

Astros33Resurrected · 04-19-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

Maybe I need to start another Red Sox dynasty to counter all these Yankees' stories ;-)

Yea. I guess the Yankees winning championships can get boring to some people. So you should totally do a Red Sox dynasty. They could win in 2085 or something.

hayesb26 · 04-19-2007, 10:22 AM

Team Preview: Part Three of Four

04/02/2007

Part three of our five-part preview of the 2007 New York Yankees will focus on the pitching staff. In 2006, as it has been in most every season in recent memory, the achilles heel of the Yankees was their pitching staff. Hopefully, with key new additions for the upcoming season, the same won’t be said about our 2007 Yanks.

The staff begins with Chien-Ming Wang. He became the ace of the rotation last year, going 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA and was a candidate in the Cy Young race. Wang heavily relies on the groundball to get his outs, striking out just over three battings per nine innings last season. Don’t count on that stat to change much, as he’ll heavily rely on his defense to get him outs. At just 27 years old, Wang is without a doubt the new leader of the Yankees rotation. Although language barriers may prevent him from leading with words, his example should be more than enough.

Second in the rotation is old reliable, Mike Mussina. Moose went 15-7 for the Yanks last season, with an ERA of 3.51. After signing a two year extension at the end of the season to finish his career in New York, Mussina is hungry to get a World Series ring before that time comes. Although his competitive fire remains, Mike has a lost a bit off his pitches with age. He’s now 38, and doesn’t have the velocity or command he used to possess. Although he may not be the ace that fans have become accustomed to, Mussina should still be a quality starting pitcher in this league, and will keep the Yankees in many ballgames.

Returning to pinstripes and pitching 3rd in the rotation is Andy Pettitte, who openly admits that he probably should have never left the organization in the first place. By signing Pettitte, the Yanks hope to accomplish several things. First, Pettitte is now the only left handed pitcher in the rotation. Secondly, they hope to re-create the magic from the multiple World Series runs the team had with Pettitte on board. Third, as everybody knows by now, is the Roger Clemens fiasco. It’s no secret that Roger and Andy are close friends. By signing Pettitte, the Yankees have also significantly increased their chances of signing Roger Clemens midway through the season, which would be an incredible boost to the staff. Although Andy has gotten older, and is now 34, he still has the talent and ability to be a top of the rotation guy. His ERA of 4.20 last season, while pitching his home games in Houston’s Minute Maid Park, is a prime example of that. Look for Pettitte to bounce back in the Big Apple, and re-emerge as a force in pinstripes.

Fourth in the rotation for the Bombers will be Carl Pavano. Pavano, who did not pitch in 2006 because of a variety of injuries, is on thin ice with management in New York. The Yankees signed him to become a Cy Young candidate, and become a leader of their team. Since joining the team, he’s done neither. In fact, he has yet to pitch an adequate amount of innings since joining the Yanks in 2005. Now 31 years old, Pavano is a prime trade target, as the Yanks will try to package him with prospects to unload his $9.6 million salary. However, if Pavano is able to regain his pre-2005 form and impress the fans and management, he could slot into the rotation very well in the #4 spot.

Coming from Japan to fill the final spot in the rotation will be Kei Igawa. Despite being in the shadow of Matsuzaka for most of his career, Igawa was a very dominant Japanese player, leading the league in strikeouts several times. If he can translate that type of performance over seas, he’ll be an absolute steal for the Yanks at $4 million per season. Only 27 years old, Igawa still has time to grow and mature, and potentially become an upper end starter in the league. Despite occasional control issues, Kei has the stuff to just overpower hitters, even with the fact that he rarely throws over 90. Hitters often come back from the plate saying that Igawa throws deceptively fast, and that the ball arrives much faster than any of 90 MPH pitchers they have seen. After an impressive spring, Igawa has earned a rotation spot and will be given the chance to take off and run with it.

Potential Changes:

Roger Clemens. The biggest free agent of them all is one who signs mid-season, more than likely. Clemens instantly becomes the ace of any staff he pitches for, and would more than likely help push these Yankees over the top. Look for the Bombers to make a strong, and I mean strong, push towards signing the Rocket.

Carl Pavano. Management has a very, very short leash on Pavano this season. He could find himself in AAA, another team, or the free agent list if he isn’t careful. GM Hayes will not accept anything less than Yankee-quality baseball, which Pavano will have to prove himself capable of.

Livan Hernandez. Placing Livan in here is nothing more than a hunch. The free-agent-to-be starting pitcher has stated that he’d love to be a part of a winning team, which he will be unlikely to find in Arizona. The Yanks could use an inning eater like him if anyone in the rotation falters, or injury strikes.

Brad Radke. Radke has decided to return for one more season with the Twins, in hopes of capturing a World Series title. If that ends up being impossible in Minnesota, the Twins have guaranteed Radke that he will have the chance to be on a winner, and chase that championship. Again, if another starter fails to do the job, or an injury occurs within the pitching staff, look for the Yankees to search outside the organization.

The bullpen begins with Scott Proctor in middle relief. Proctor really came into his own in 2006, when the Yankees needed it most in relief pitching. His 3.52 ERA helped bridge the gap from the starters to Rivera in the 9th, and he was very effective. He’ll be the Yanks top middle relief man this season, and should see a lot of work. Even though he’s 30 years old, Proctor has only been in the big leagues for two seasons, and will produce well above his cost.

Next in the pen is the newly acquired Justin Speier. Speier came over from Anaheim without ever pitching an inning for the Angels in exchange for Carlos Pena, and should fit right in in the Big Apple. Last season in Toronto, Justin posted an ERA of just 2.98, which will be a huge benefit to the Yankee bullpen. Adding depth to that pen had been a huge concern of GM Hayes, and adding Speier behind Proctor should help to ease those concerns.

Luis Vizcaino came over from Arizona in the Randy Johnson deal this off-season. He was the only major league player that the Yanks received, and he will be another plug in this New York bullpen. Last season with the Diamondbacks, Luis posted an ERA of 3.58 in over 60 innings of work. He’ll be expected to repeat those numbers this season for the Yankees, and will be slotted in as a third middle reliever in the bullpen.

Upon finally moving to the bullpen for good last season, Joe Kennedy was a spark for the Oakland Athletics. He posted an ERA of just 2.31 in 35 innings as the lefty specialist in the Oakland bullpen. He’ll be filling the same role here in New York, as the only left-hander in the Yankee’s bullpen. He is expected to translate well to the city atmosphere and continue building upon what he started last season.

The final middle reliever in the Yankee’s bullpen will be 30 year old Colter Bean. Not much is expected of Bean, other than to come in and pitch in games that are out of hand. Bean is not a very special player, nor will he ever be one, but he will record his fair share of outs for the Yankees this season. If he can keep the ERA below five, New Yorkers will certainly have nothing to be upset about.

In the setup role for the Yankees again this season is right hander Kyle Farnsworth. Farny has had his ups and down’s in New York, and is also considered to be on the hot seat. The now 30 year old reliever had an ERA of 4.36 last season. Although he has the pure stuff and ability to throw with anyone, Farnsworth has been labeled as a head case, and is often known to beat himself. If he’s on, his stuff is untouchable, but if he’s off, look out.

Wrapping up games for the Yankees is the familiar legend, Mariano Rivera. Rivera, who has been a little bit worried about his impending free agency after the season, seems to only get better with age. He posted a 1.80 ERA in 2006, while saving 34 games for the Yanks. He did, however, miss some time with injury, which the Yanks cannot afford to have happen again this season. Look for Mariano to sort out his contract situation, stay healthy, and have another amazing season.

AZTarHeel · 04-19-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astros33Resurrected

Yea. I guess the Yankees winning championships can get boring to some people. So you should totally do a Red Sox dynasty. They could win in 2085 or something.

Actually here's a dynasty I've kicked around doing (but don't have the time to do right now) -- take over the Yankees in 1903 (when they moved to NY from Baltimore) and see if I can match or exceed what the Yanks have done over the decades in terms of championships, etc. I'd make myself accept the rookies that really came to the club each year. But aside from that, anything it takes to win!

That would be a fun challenge ... if I could take a year off from work or something...

AZ

TheeeeeeeeeYankeesWin · 04-20-2007, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

Maybe I need to start another Red Sox dynasty to counter all these Yankees' stories ;-)

I think I might start a Red Sox to see if it would be possible to go 0-162 for a season. Maybe forfeit games with an incomplete roster, or do things like sell the next Babe to the yanks for cash

for the play "No No Win Yet"

Astros33Resurrected · 04-20-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

Actually here's a dynasty I've kicked around doing (but don't have the time to do right now) -- take over the Yankees in 1903 (when they moved to NY from Baltimore) and see if I can match or exceed what the Yanks have done over the decades in terms of championships, etc. I'd make myself accept the rookies that really came to the club each year. But aside from that, anything it takes to win!

That would be a fun challenge ... if I could take a year off from work or something...

AZ

That is interesting. I should try that this summer, when I'm just working 30 hours a week and not working and going to school. That would be an awesome dynasty.

You should quit your job and break all ties with friends and just work solely on that dynasty

Astros33Resurrected · 04-20-2007, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheeeeeeeeeYankeesWin

I think I might start a Red Sox to see if it would be possible to go 0-162 for a season. Maybe forfeit games with an incomplete roster, or do things like sell the next Babe to the yanks for cash

for the play "No No Win Yet"

When your the Bo-sox, anything outside of winning it all is possible

hayesb26 · 04-20-2007, 08:39 AM

Team Preview: Part Four of Four

04/03/2007

Part four of our preseason Yankees preview is the area that most people expect to be carrying the Yanks back into the playoffs and to the World Series. That area of the game, of course, is their hitting. The Bronx Bombers will be expected to live up to their billing, and at times may have to carry this team over some rough patches from the pitching. If the Yankee pitchers can merely keep games within reach, this group will get them to the playoffs, and who knows what will happen from there.

The offense starts with the leadoff hitter and centerfielder, Johnny Damon. Although now 33 years old, Damon remains a fearsome hitter. Last season he hit .285 with 24 homeruns and 25 stolen bases. The combination of speed and power atop the Yankee lineup makes Damon an intriguing leadoff hitter. Look for him to run early and often when on base, to get into scoring position for the big bats behind him in the lineup.

Second in the Yankee’s lineup is shortstop Derek Jeter. Hard to imagine that the golden boy is now 32 years old, but he seems to keep on getting better. Although the World Series Ring hasn’t been there in a handful of years, Jeter is coming off a career season, and is reportedly hungrier than ever. Jeter hit .343 last season with 14 homeruns and 34 stolen bases, and was among the short list of AL MVP candidates before finishing 2nd to Justin Morneau. While Jeter may not put up those numbers again this season, he’ll without a doubt be a force in the AL East as he tries to lead the Yanks to the promised land.

Hitting in the three-hole for the Bombers this season is the trade deadline pickup from a season ago, Bobby Abreu. Abreu is a nice blend of speed and power, and combined with his incredible eye at the plate he is enough to make any opposing pitcher fear him. After coming over from Philadelphia last season, Abreu played in right field and hit .330 with 7 homeruns and 10 stolen bases in just 58 games. He also had a .414 OBP in those games, a tribute to his remarkable eye.

Batting cleanup in New York this season is the always controversial Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod, the third baseman and perennial MVP candidate, has been underappreciated and often turned away by the Yankee faithful. During last season’s campaign, he hit .290 with 35 homeruns and 121 runs batted in. In New York, these numbers were not enough, as Alex was booed heavily during the season, and especially during his 1-14 performance during the Yanks first round playoff loss. The pressure is on for A-Rod, as he has an opt-out clause after the 2007 season that would allow him to enter free agency. However, look for him to step up big in ’07 and prove to the entire Yankee organization that he is indeed a “true” Yankee.

Protecting A-Rod will be Jason Giambi, the designated hitter. Jason hit .253 with 37 long balls last season, including 113 RBIs. Look for him to post about the same numbers this season, as the average just isn’t there anymore. However, with his patience at the plate, he’s still likely to post an OBP over .400. That patience is what keeps him in the lineup on most days, as he still gets on base as much as anybody in the league.

Playing left field, and hitting in the #6 spot in the order is Hideki Matsui. After a nasty broken wrist kept him out for the majority of 2006, Hideki will need to bounce back to prove his consistency and worth to the Yankees. He hit .302 with 8 homeruns in just 50 games for the Bombers, and should translate those numbers quite well into a full season. Although he won’t win any awards out in the outfield, Hideki’s range and arm make up for his lack of technique.

Behind Matsui is the catcher, Jorge Posada. Posada will handle the catching duties again full-time, at least for this season. With his age catching up to him, and Molina in the wings, Posada’s time at catcher could be limited. Jorge hit .277 with 23 homeruns last season, very good production out of a catcher. Don’t expect him to hit either of those numbers again though, but he will still be a decent value.

Doug Mientkiewicz has come over from the Royal’s to chase a World Series title and play first base for the Yanks. His gold glove caliber defense at 1st will finally land Giambi in the permanent DH spot, which can only help this club. Although he hit .283 last season in limited at-bats, the Yankees are really expecting more out of him defensively than offensively at this point. The offense is going to produce plenty of runs with or without him, but the defense needs his leadership out there.

Second baseman Robinson Cano rounds out the order for the Yanks. Cano is young, raw, and talented. Look for him to be challenging for batting titles in his future. Despite being injured for a big portion of 2006, Robbie hit .342 with 15 homeruns. Though not the best fielder at second, Robinson can certainly manage the position and keep it from beating him. Expect Cano to really come into his own this season, and begin to challenge for batting titles and MVPs.

The Yankee bench features several players who are very good backups. First, backup catcher Yadier Molina. Recently acquired by GM Hayes, Molina will be the starter on this team by 2009. He’s got the defensive and offensive skill set to push him towards the top of the game. Bernie Williams returns to the Big Apple for his farewell campaign. At the age of 38, Bernie’s skills are not what they used to be. However, he’ll still contribute the occasional big hit and be a leader to this group. Miguel Cairo is the team’s utility man, playing basically every position but catcher. He’ll be a fill-in for guys who are either injured or need a day off. He fills his role nice, but will never be considered a starting player in this league. Melky Cabrera is the Bomber’s young outfield prospect. Coming up last season because of injuries, Melky proved himself major league worthy, impressing everyone. He remains as the 4th outfielder this season because of the fact that all outfielders are currently healthy. Expect to see quite a bit of playing time for Melky, as the Yankee outfielders are both injury prone and older.

hayesb26 · 04-21-2007, 08:38 AM

The Time is Here

04/04/2007

It’s April 4th, and it’s time to begin another season of Yankees baseball. Although games have been being played since the 2nd, today is the start of the season for the Bombers. They’ll start a three game series in the Bronx against the Kansas City Royals at 7 p.m. tonight, as Chien-Ming Wang takes on Zach Greinke. It’ll also be fan appreciation day at the stadium, so a sellout is practically guaranteed.

Fans, get there early, as the place is bound to be mobbed my game time.

hayesb26 · 04-22-2007, 11:45 AM

Yanks Pound Royals in Opener

04/05/2007

The New York Yankees have made a statement on opening day 2007 in the Bronx, even if it was only against the Kansas City Royals. The Yanks won the game nine to four, getting solid performances from everyone involved. Starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang went 7.1 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out a pair, while allowing just one free base. After a shaky start in which he allowed three earned runs in the first inning, Wang settled down and shut out the Royals the rest of the day, allowing just one unearned run after that. Since it was not a save situation, Scott Proctor came in and pitched a hitless final 1.2 innings to the game, although he did have control issues.

At the plate, it was a complete team effort. The Bombers didn’t live up to their name, however, preferring to dink and dunk their way to nine runs. Either way, they got the runs on the board and won the game. Every starter had at least one hit, and four had a multi-hit opening day, including the top third of the lineup in Damon, Jeter, and Abreu, who all had two hits. After being down 3-0 after one inning, the bats came alive in the second, as the Yanks scored six to put the Royals down and out for good. In a game in which the entire team contributed, Bobby Abreu earned player of the game honors for his two for five performance, including a double in the 2nd that drove in two, sparking the big inning.

Yankees – 9 - 13 - 1
Royals – 4 - 7 - 1

WP: Chien-Ming Wang (1-0)
LP: Zach Greinke (0-1)

CarolinaSox · 04-24-2007, 12:06 AM

I am thinking about doing a dynasty where my payroll is $220 million and I trot out pitchers like Chase Wright, Sean Henn, Colter Bean and Darrel Rasner. That would be fun. May be tough but what is the worst that can happen? Not like they will give up four homers in a row or anything.

TheeeeeeeeeYankeesWin · 04-25-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaSox

I am thinking about doing a dynasty where my payroll is $220 million and I trot out pitchers like Chase Wright, Sean Henn, Colter Bean and Darrel Rasner. That would be fun. May be tough but what is the worst that can happen? Not like they will give up four homers in a row or anything.

You forgot Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes (starting tomorrow). Whats the worst thing that can happen? Maybe the highest paid guy will hit 14 homers in 18 games or something

Yeah we suck per dollar so what. There's no David without Goliath!

TheeeeeeeeeYankeesWin · 04-25-2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaSox

I am thinking about doing a dynasty where my payroll is $220 million and I trot out pitchers like Chase Wright, Sean Henn, Colter Bean and Darrel Rasner. That would be fun. May be tough but what is the worst that can happen? Not like they will give up four homers in a row or anything.

In the Yanks defense, each year they reinvest the highest percentage of their profits in payroll of any team. So while most owners pocket the $$$money$$$ and collect from the Yankees in an illegal revenue sharing arrangement, the Yankees continue to reward their fans by producing the best product they can. Have they made the best moves? Absolutely not. But Steinbrenner is a great owner and the business of baseball involves a lot of luck. At least the Yanks don't screw over the fans by taking their money and pocketing it without making pennant runs. The great loyal Cubs fans should revolt! They show up for games year after year, buy apparell, and watch the games on TV to make some rich F$&% fatter. Red Sox fans (probably the best fans there are) got screwed for decades until the recent ownership change finally brought in a new spending philosphy.

Like it or not, the Yanks are great for the sport - they always have been.
Now I totally understand why everyone hates them -and I would hate them too if I weren't from the area and did'nt grow up watching them

. Im just making a point about the high payroll actually being positive, in my opinion. Other teams would love for everyone to believe the myth that low payrolls are admirable (while their owners go out and buy a $25m mansion)

hayesb26 · 04-26-2007, 07:03 AM

Bombers Steal One

04/06/2007

The good news is that the New York Yankees are 2-0. They defeated the Royals last night, however not in the fashion that they would have liked. Trailing 6-3 as they went into the bottom of the 8th, the Bombers benefited from two Kansas City errors in the inning, which led to three of their four 8th inning runs. Those unearned runs allowed the Yankees to edge out a close, and probably undeserved, victory by a score of 7-6. Hideki Matsui led the charge, driving in the go-ahead run in the 8th, and going three for four at the plate. His performance earned him player of the game honors, as he drove in one and scored another. Derek Jeter also collected three hits for the Yanks, and Bobby Abreu hit the first New York homerun of the season as well, a solo shot in the 1st inning off of Kansas City starter Colt Griffin.

Griffin pitched well, keeping the Royals in the game with a strong performance. He allowed two earned runs over 4.2 innings, and left the game with a lead. Mike Mussina made the start for New York, and struggled at times, allowing five runs to cross the plate in just six innings of work. However, the Yankees bullpen of Joe Kennedy, Justin Speier and Mariano Rivera worked the final three innings while holding the Royals to just one run. Mariano’s save was his first of the season, and was a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. Speier earned the win, despite giving up a run during an inning of work, thanks to the New York rally in the bottom of the 8th. The Yankees will wrap up their series with the Royals this afternoon, as Andy Pettitte returns to the Yankee rotation to take on Odalis Perez.

Yankees – 7 - 12 - 2
Royals – 6 - 9 - 3

WP: Justin Speier (1-0)
LP: David Riske (0-1)
S: Mariano Rivera (1)

AZTarHeel · 04-26-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astros33Resurrected

When your the Bo-sox, anything outside of winning it all is possible

I remember a guy from the old Tournament Dreams College Basketball dynasty boards doing an "anti-dynasty" where he took over Duke and tried to make the program as horrible as possible ... as a Carolina fan I enjoyed that one ... wouldn't like seeing the Bo-Sox go 0-162, however ...

hayesb26 · 04-28-2007, 02:44 PM

Bullpen Blowup

04/07/2007

The Yanks opening series didn’t end quite the way they would have liked, as they were beaten by the Royals yesterday afternoon by a score of nine to two. The game also brought up an area of concern that is sure to continue to be a thorn in the Yankee’s side all season: their bullpen. The pen wasted an excellent return to pinstripes by Andy Pettitte, who pitched seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs. He left the game down by a score of two to one, and assumed that he had given his team a good chance to win the game. However, in the final two innings the bullpen allowed seven earned runs, letting the Royals blow the game wide open. Kyle Farnsworth came in for the eighth, and left before even recording an out, allowing five runs. Luis Vizcaino, brought in during the off-season through trade, was brought in for the ninth to stop the bleeding. However, he gave up two solo shots, putting the game out of reach, with what would prove to be the final score. On the other side, Odalis Perez pitched 6.1 very good innings for Kansas City. His bullpen, however, was able to do an adequate job, giving up just one run over the final 2.2 innings. The Yankee’s bullpen appears to be an issue that will have to be dealt with this season, but Hayes will probably wait and see if they straighten up with time.

On the offensive, it was a rather boring game for the Bombers. Hideki Matsui had a solo homerun in the 9th off of reliever Octavio Dotel, but other than that offensive production was very slim. Matsui and Alex Rodriguez combined for five of New York’s seven hits, and also either scored of drove in both runs. The Yanks continue their season opening home stand tomorrow when they open up a three game set with the Orioles, as Carl Pavano takes the mound against Daniel Cabrera.

Yankees – 2 - 7 - 0
Royals – 9 - 13 - 0

WP: Odalis Perez (1-0)
LP: Andy Pettitte (0-1)

04-17-2007, 07:47 PM	#1
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	2007 New York Yankees: 2007 New York Yankees: Team Preview: Part One of Four 03/31/2007 The snow is melting, the birds are returning, and spring is finally here. For New Yorkers, that means one thing: Yankee baseball. 2006 was a season to forget as far as New York fans are concerned. The team fell quickly in the first round of the playoffs to the Detroit Tigers, playing what could only be called “embarrassing baseball.” Steinbrenner was eager to fire manager Joe Torre, but smartly regained his cool before doing so. Instead, he opted to let everything stay put for the most part, aside from a few players coming and going to and from the team. Coming into the new year, gone are starting pitchers Randy Johnson and Jared Wright, and replacing them are former Yankee hero Andy Pettitte and Japanese star Kei Igawa. Gary Sheffield has been sent to the very team that defeated them in last season’s playoffs, the Detroit Tigers, for a package of minor league prospects including the highly touted Humberto Sanchez, who will begin the season at AAA Columbus. Returning for his farewell tour will be Yankee icon Bernie Williams, who will play sparingly as the fifth outfielder, barring injury to any starters. With the team’s core players back for another run in 2007, including team captain Derek Jeter, the underappreciated Alex Rodriguez, the always dangerous Jason Giambi and the consistent production of Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu, expectations are high in the Bronx. Both fans and ownership have made it well-known that they will not accept another season without the ultimate prize: a World Series championship. Of course, as most loyal fans already know, the Bombers biggest move this off-season was not a player move, but a management change. Steinbrenner, armed with the fact that the Yanks had not won a World Championship since 2000, decided that the team needed to head in a new direction. Former GM Brian Cashman was fired, and Steinbrenner brought in a brash, young candidate, Brett Hayes. Hayes graduated from Stanford in 2003 with a degree in sports management, and had been working his way up the ranks within the Yankees organization ever since. Being that he was a member of the Yankees staff for only three seasons, Hayes’ sudden promotion to GM has angered some within the organization. They seem to question the idea that a youngster could jump over them to such a pristine job, so quickly. The fact that he was fast to earn the liking of Steinbrenner upon his arrival to the team was no small part to Hayes receiving the job so quickly. Hayes is expected to remain quiet and stay out of the public spotlight by many, given that this is his first high-profile job, and it’s about as big as they come. However, don’t expect him to take too long to get into the swing of how things work, and he’ll get involved to help out the ball club. According to former employers, Hayes has a keen eye for judging young talent, and for working opposing GMs into trades that are unfavorable for their teams. Because of these talents, it has been rumored that George is relinquishing full control of the team and personnel duties over to Hayes. Of course, we’ve all heard that one before… (This dynasty will be run on OOTP6.5, and will be run with the 2006 MLB schedule, as I couldn't get the 2007 one in time. However, all rosters were up to date for 2007 and will go from there) Last edited by hayesb26; 04-18-2007 at 01:29 AM.

04-17-2007, 08:13 PM	#2
bucketsndimes Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The States Posts: 409	Looking forward to more. __________________

04-18-2007, 03:48 PM	#5
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,744	Maybe I need to start another Red Sox dynasty to counter all these Yankees' stories ;-) __________________ Current Dynasties Baseball's Rebirth in the Old North State (1945-) The Tobacco State League: A Summer With the Red Springs Red Robins From the Way-Back Machine (WAY old dynasty stories): The Steve Victory Story: Tournament Dreams College Basketball! Baseball In The Tar Heel State: A Fictional Experience The Arizona League: Real Players. Fictional Teams

04-18-2007, 01:08 PM	#3
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Team Preview: Part Two of Four 04/01/2007 Continuing our preseason preview of the 2007 New York Yankees, we will now briefly outline transactions that the Yanks were involved in during the off-season. These transactions include only those that were finalized by new GM Hayes, and not those that were finished under Brian Cashman, as you should already know those deals by now. Before the season began, Hayes quickly pulled the trigger on two trades, showing that he is not scared to mix it up with the major leaguers. Let’s look at a quick overview of those trades: Yankees Send: - Kelly Stinnett - Two AA Prospects - $3,500,000 Cardinals Send: - Yadier Molina New York was able to deal its aging, backup catcher in Stinnett for one of the premier young catchers in the major leagues. Granted, they did have to give up a fair amount of cash and a couple of solid looking prospects, but it’s nothing that the Bombers can’t cope with. Molina will backup Jorge Posada in the Bronx for a year or two, before presumably getting his shot at the full time role. Molina brings with him to New York a reputation as the best defensive catcher in Major League Baseball, as well as being a talented but unrefined hitter. Assuming he works on his approach at the plate over the next season or two while learning under Posada, there is no reason why Yadier cannot become a star in this league. There’s not much negative to say about this trade. Hayes dealt away an aging backup catcher, along with some prospects and cash to receive a young, talented, potential star backstop. Hayes will without a doubt receive praise for his first move. Yankees Send: - Carlos Pena (AAA) Angels Send: - Justin Speier Without a doubt, the bottom of the New York Yankees bullpen is a little shaky. There is also little doubt that Justin Speier is a quality reliever. So, it made sense for Hayes to pull the trigger on a deal sending Carlos Pena to Anaheim for the reliever. Pena was facing a huge roadblock in New York, as the Bombers have plenty of players ahead of him in line at first base. However, in Anaheim he’ll get the chance to fight with youngsters Casey Kotchman and Kendry Morales for the starting job. Speier should fit in very well in the New York bullpen, as they desperately needed another arm that can eat some quality innings. It’s unlikely you’ll find any critics to this second deal that GM Hayes has pulled the trigger on, as it appears as though he received more than a fair share. Speier should help out in a big way this season on the major league roster, while Pena was nothing more than trade bait sitting in the minors. Deal number two of the Hayes regime will go down in the minds of most as an early success. Finishing off his pre-season transactions, Hayes signed left handed reliever Joe Kennedy to a one-year deal worth $500,000. Kennedy was released by Oakland after an in-house dispute with management. Without a lefty in the pen, Hayes went to free agency to find one. Kennedy should be sufficient, if unspectacular. There is very little risk in the deal, as it’s simply a one year investment worth a mere 500k. If Kennedy doesn’t work out, it will be very easy for the Yanks to simply cut ties with him and look in another direction. For now, this appears to be a good deal, addressing the lack of a lefty in the Yankees bullpen. As you can tell from his first three transactions, Hayes is not afraid to mix things up a bit. However, one thing you should not expect to see from him, is to engage in many big name deals. He has publicly stated that he is very content with the core of this team, and has no plans or desire to change any of that. Of course, things could change as the season goes along, but as of now, things are good for the New York veterans. Time will tell if Hayes’ stance on the issue remains the same come the end of July, when the pressure of the impending pennant race and even closer trade deadline are bearing down on him….

04-18-2007, 01:19 PM	#4
Astros33Resurrected Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lufkin, TX Posts: 2,213	Good luck with your Yanks

04-19-2007, 10:22 AM	#7
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Team Preview: Part Three of Four 04/02/2007 Part three of our five-part preview of the 2007 New York Yankees will focus on the pitching staff. In 2006, as it has been in most every season in recent memory, the achilles heel of the Yankees was their pitching staff. Hopefully, with key new additions for the upcoming season, the same won’t be said about our 2007 Yanks. The staff begins with Chien-Ming Wang. He became the ace of the rotation last year, going 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA and was a candidate in the Cy Young race. Wang heavily relies on the groundball to get his outs, striking out just over three battings per nine innings last season. Don’t count on that stat to change much, as he’ll heavily rely on his defense to get him outs. At just 27 years old, Wang is without a doubt the new leader of the Yankees rotation. Although language barriers may prevent him from leading with words, his example should be more than enough. Second in the rotation is old reliable, Mike Mussina. Moose went 15-7 for the Yanks last season, with an ERA of 3.51. After signing a two year extension at the end of the season to finish his career in New York, Mussina is hungry to get a World Series ring before that time comes. Although his competitive fire remains, Mike has a lost a bit off his pitches with age. He’s now 38, and doesn’t have the velocity or command he used to possess. Although he may not be the ace that fans have become accustomed to, Mussina should still be a quality starting pitcher in this league, and will keep the Yankees in many ballgames. Returning to pinstripes and pitching 3rd in the rotation is Andy Pettitte, who openly admits that he probably should have never left the organization in the first place. By signing Pettitte, the Yanks hope to accomplish several things. First, Pettitte is now the only left handed pitcher in the rotation. Secondly, they hope to re-create the magic from the multiple World Series runs the team had with Pettitte on board. Third, as everybody knows by now, is the Roger Clemens fiasco. It’s no secret that Roger and Andy are close friends. By signing Pettitte, the Yankees have also significantly increased their chances of signing Roger Clemens midway through the season, which would be an incredible boost to the staff. Although Andy has gotten older, and is now 34, he still has the talent and ability to be a top of the rotation guy. His ERA of 4.20 last season, while pitching his home games in Houston’s Minute Maid Park, is a prime example of that. Look for Pettitte to bounce back in the Big Apple, and re-emerge as a force in pinstripes. Fourth in the rotation for the Bombers will be Carl Pavano. Pavano, who did not pitch in 2006 because of a variety of injuries, is on thin ice with management in New York. The Yankees signed him to become a Cy Young candidate, and become a leader of their team. Since joining the team, he’s done neither. In fact, he has yet to pitch an adequate amount of innings since joining the Yanks in 2005. Now 31 years old, Pavano is a prime trade target, as the Yanks will try to package him with prospects to unload his $9.6 million salary. However, if Pavano is able to regain his pre-2005 form and impress the fans and management, he could slot into the rotation very well in the #4 spot. Coming from Japan to fill the final spot in the rotation will be Kei Igawa. Despite being in the shadow of Matsuzaka for most of his career, Igawa was a very dominant Japanese player, leading the league in strikeouts several times. If he can translate that type of performance over seas, he’ll be an absolute steal for the Yanks at $4 million per season. Only 27 years old, Igawa still has time to grow and mature, and potentially become an upper end starter in the league. Despite occasional control issues, Kei has the stuff to just overpower hitters, even with the fact that he rarely throws over 90. Hitters often come back from the plate saying that Igawa throws deceptively fast, and that the ball arrives much faster than any of 90 MPH pitchers they have seen. After an impressive spring, Igawa has earned a rotation spot and will be given the chance to take off and run with it. Potential Changes: Roger Clemens. The biggest free agent of them all is one who signs mid-season, more than likely. Clemens instantly becomes the ace of any staff he pitches for, and would more than likely help push these Yankees over the top. Look for the Bombers to make a strong, and I mean strong, push towards signing the Rocket. Carl Pavano. Management has a very, very short leash on Pavano this season. He could find himself in AAA, another team, or the free agent list if he isn’t careful. GM Hayes will not accept anything less than Yankee-quality baseball, which Pavano will have to prove himself capable of. Livan Hernandez. Placing Livan in here is nothing more than a hunch. The free-agent-to-be starting pitcher has stated that he’d love to be a part of a winning team, which he will be unlikely to find in Arizona. The Yanks could use an inning eater like him if anyone in the rotation falters, or injury strikes. Brad Radke. Radke has decided to return for one more season with the Twins, in hopes of capturing a World Series title. If that ends up being impossible in Minnesota, the Twins have guaranteed Radke that he will have the chance to be on a winner, and chase that championship. Again, if another starter fails to do the job, or an injury occurs within the pitching staff, look for the Yankees to search outside the organization. The bullpen begins with Scott Proctor in middle relief. Proctor really came into his own in 2006, when the Yankees needed it most in relief pitching. His 3.52 ERA helped bridge the gap from the starters to Rivera in the 9th, and he was very effective. He’ll be the Yanks top middle relief man this season, and should see a lot of work. Even though he’s 30 years old, Proctor has only been in the big leagues for two seasons, and will produce well above his cost. Next in the pen is the newly acquired Justin Speier. Speier came over from Anaheim without ever pitching an inning for the Angels in exchange for Carlos Pena, and should fit right in in the Big Apple. Last season in Toronto, Justin posted an ERA of just 2.98, which will be a huge benefit to the Yankee bullpen. Adding depth to that pen had been a huge concern of GM Hayes, and adding Speier behind Proctor should help to ease those concerns. Luis Vizcaino came over from Arizona in the Randy Johnson deal this off-season. He was the only major league player that the Yanks received, and he will be another plug in this New York bullpen. Last season with the Diamondbacks, Luis posted an ERA of 3.58 in over 60 innings of work. He’ll be expected to repeat those numbers this season for the Yankees, and will be slotted in as a third middle reliever in the bullpen. Upon finally moving to the bullpen for good last season, Joe Kennedy was a spark for the Oakland Athletics. He posted an ERA of just 2.31 in 35 innings as the lefty specialist in the Oakland bullpen. He’ll be filling the same role here in New York, as the only left-hander in the Yankee’s bullpen. He is expected to translate well to the city atmosphere and continue building upon what he started last season. The final middle reliever in the Yankee’s bullpen will be 30 year old Colter Bean. Not much is expected of Bean, other than to come in and pitch in games that are out of hand. Bean is not a very special player, nor will he ever be one, but he will record his fair share of outs for the Yankees this season. If he can keep the ERA below five, New Yorkers will certainly have nothing to be upset about. In the setup role for the Yankees again this season is right hander Kyle Farnsworth. Farny has had his ups and down’s in New York, and is also considered to be on the hot seat. The now 30 year old reliever had an ERA of 4.36 last season. Although he has the pure stuff and ability to throw with anyone, Farnsworth has been labeled as a head case, and is often known to beat himself. If he’s on, his stuff is untouchable, but if he’s off, look out. Wrapping up games for the Yankees is the familiar legend, Mariano Rivera. Rivera, who has been a little bit worried about his impending free agency after the season, seems to only get better with age. He posted a 1.80 ERA in 2006, while saving 34 games for the Yanks. He did, however, miss some time with injury, which the Yanks cannot afford to have happen again this season. Look for Mariano to sort out his contract situation, stay healthy, and have another amazing season.

04-20-2007, 08:39 AM	#12
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Team Preview: Part Four of Four 04/03/2007 Part four of our preseason Yankees preview is the area that most people expect to be carrying the Yanks back into the playoffs and to the World Series. That area of the game, of course, is their hitting. The Bronx Bombers will be expected to live up to their billing, and at times may have to carry this team over some rough patches from the pitching. If the Yankee pitchers can merely keep games within reach, this group will get them to the playoffs, and who knows what will happen from there. The offense starts with the leadoff hitter and centerfielder, Johnny Damon. Although now 33 years old, Damon remains a fearsome hitter. Last season he hit .285 with 24 homeruns and 25 stolen bases. The combination of speed and power atop the Yankee lineup makes Damon an intriguing leadoff hitter. Look for him to run early and often when on base, to get into scoring position for the big bats behind him in the lineup. Second in the Yankee’s lineup is shortstop Derek Jeter. Hard to imagine that the golden boy is now 32 years old, but he seems to keep on getting better. Although the World Series Ring hasn’t been there in a handful of years, Jeter is coming off a career season, and is reportedly hungrier than ever. Jeter hit .343 last season with 14 homeruns and 34 stolen bases, and was among the short list of AL MVP candidates before finishing 2nd to Justin Morneau. While Jeter may not put up those numbers again this season, he’ll without a doubt be a force in the AL East as he tries to lead the Yanks to the promised land. Hitting in the three-hole for the Bombers this season is the trade deadline pickup from a season ago, Bobby Abreu. Abreu is a nice blend of speed and power, and combined with his incredible eye at the plate he is enough to make any opposing pitcher fear him. After coming over from Philadelphia last season, Abreu played in right field and hit .330 with 7 homeruns and 10 stolen bases in just 58 games. He also had a .414 OBP in those games, a tribute to his remarkable eye. Batting cleanup in New York this season is the always controversial Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod, the third baseman and perennial MVP candidate, has been underappreciated and often turned away by the Yankee faithful. During last season’s campaign, he hit .290 with 35 homeruns and 121 runs batted in. In New York, these numbers were not enough, as Alex was booed heavily during the season, and especially during his 1-14 performance during the Yanks first round playoff loss. The pressure is on for A-Rod, as he has an opt-out clause after the 2007 season that would allow him to enter free agency. However, look for him to step up big in ’07 and prove to the entire Yankee organization that he is indeed a “true” Yankee. Protecting A-Rod will be Jason Giambi, the designated hitter. Jason hit .253 with 37 long balls last season, including 113 RBIs. Look for him to post about the same numbers this season, as the average just isn’t there anymore. However, with his patience at the plate, he’s still likely to post an OBP over .400. That patience is what keeps him in the lineup on most days, as he still gets on base as much as anybody in the league. Playing left field, and hitting in the #6 spot in the order is Hideki Matsui. After a nasty broken wrist kept him out for the majority of 2006, Hideki will need to bounce back to prove his consistency and worth to the Yankees. He hit .302 with 8 homeruns in just 50 games for the Bombers, and should translate those numbers quite well into a full season. Although he won’t win any awards out in the outfield, Hideki’s range and arm make up for his lack of technique. Behind Matsui is the catcher, Jorge Posada. Posada will handle the catching duties again full-time, at least for this season. With his age catching up to him, and Molina in the wings, Posada’s time at catcher could be limited. Jorge hit .277 with 23 homeruns last season, very good production out of a catcher. Don’t expect him to hit either of those numbers again though, but he will still be a decent value. Doug Mientkiewicz has come over from the Royal’s to chase a World Series title and play first base for the Yanks. His gold glove caliber defense at 1st will finally land Giambi in the permanent DH spot, which can only help this club. Although he hit .283 last season in limited at-bats, the Yankees are really expecting more out of him defensively than offensively at this point. The offense is going to produce plenty of runs with or without him, but the defense needs his leadership out there. Second baseman Robinson Cano rounds out the order for the Yanks. Cano is young, raw, and talented. Look for him to be challenging for batting titles in his future. Despite being injured for a big portion of 2006, Robbie hit .342 with 15 homeruns. Though not the best fielder at second, Robinson can certainly manage the position and keep it from beating him. Expect Cano to really come into his own this season, and begin to challenge for batting titles and MVPs. The Yankee bench features several players who are very good backups. First, backup catcher Yadier Molina. Recently acquired by GM Hayes, Molina will be the starter on this team by 2009. He’s got the defensive and offensive skill set to push him towards the top of the game. Bernie Williams returns to the Big Apple for his farewell campaign. At the age of 38, Bernie’s skills are not what they used to be. However, he’ll still contribute the occasional big hit and be a leader to this group. Miguel Cairo is the team’s utility man, playing basically every position but catcher. He’ll be a fill-in for guys who are either injured or need a day off. He fills his role nice, but will never be considered a starting player in this league. Melky Cabrera is the Bomber’s young outfield prospect. Coming up last season because of injuries, Melky proved himself major league worthy, impressing everyone. He remains as the 4th outfielder this season because of the fact that all outfielders are currently healthy. Expect to see quite a bit of playing time for Melky, as the Yankee outfielders are both injury prone and older.

04-21-2007, 08:38 AM	#13
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	The Time is Here 04/04/2007 It’s April 4th, and it’s time to begin another season of Yankees baseball. Although games have been being played since the 2nd, today is the start of the season for the Bombers. They’ll start a three game series in the Bronx against the Kansas City Royals at 7 p.m. tonight, as Chien-Ming Wang takes on Zach Greinke. It’ll also be fan appreciation day at the stadium, so a sellout is practically guaranteed. Fans, get there early, as the place is bound to be mobbed my game time.

04-22-2007, 11:45 AM	#14
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Yanks Pound Royals in Opener 04/05/2007 The New York Yankees have made a statement on opening day 2007 in the Bronx, even if it was only against the Kansas City Royals. The Yanks won the game nine to four, getting solid performances from everyone involved. Starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang went 7.1 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out a pair, while allowing just one free base. After a shaky start in which he allowed three earned runs in the first inning, Wang settled down and shut out the Royals the rest of the day, allowing just one unearned run after that. Since it was not a save situation, Scott Proctor came in and pitched a hitless final 1.2 innings to the game, although he did have control issues. At the plate, it was a complete team effort. The Bombers didn’t live up to their name, however, preferring to dink and dunk their way to nine runs. Either way, they got the runs on the board and won the game. Every starter had at least one hit, and four had a multi-hit opening day, including the top third of the lineup in Damon, Jeter, and Abreu, who all had two hits. After being down 3-0 after one inning, the bats came alive in the second, as the Yanks scored six to put the Royals down and out for good. In a game in which the entire team contributed, Bobby Abreu earned player of the game honors for his two for five performance, including a double in the 2nd that drove in two, sparking the big inning. Yankees – 9 - 13 - 1 Royals – 4 - 7 - 1 WP: Chien-Ming Wang (1-0) LP: Zach Greinke (0-1)

04-24-2007, 12:06 AM	#15
CarolinaSox Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 232	I am thinking about doing a dynasty where my payroll is $220 million and I trot out pitchers like Chase Wright, Sean Henn, Colter Bean and Darrel Rasner. That would be fun. May be tough but what is the worst that can happen? Not like they will give up four homers in a row or anything.

04-26-2007, 07:03 AM	#18
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Bombers Steal One 04/06/2007 The good news is that the New York Yankees are 2-0. They defeated the Royals last night, however not in the fashion that they would have liked. Trailing 6-3 as they went into the bottom of the 8th, the Bombers benefited from two Kansas City errors in the inning, which led to three of their four 8th inning runs. Those unearned runs allowed the Yankees to edge out a close, and probably undeserved, victory by a score of 7-6. Hideki Matsui led the charge, driving in the go-ahead run in the 8th, and going three for four at the plate. His performance earned him player of the game honors, as he drove in one and scored another. Derek Jeter also collected three hits for the Yanks, and Bobby Abreu hit the first New York homerun of the season as well, a solo shot in the 1st inning off of Kansas City starter Colt Griffin. Griffin pitched well, keeping the Royals in the game with a strong performance. He allowed two earned runs over 4.2 innings, and left the game with a lead. Mike Mussina made the start for New York, and struggled at times, allowing five runs to cross the plate in just six innings of work. However, the Yankees bullpen of Joe Kennedy, Justin Speier and Mariano Rivera worked the final three innings while holding the Royals to just one run. Mariano’s save was his first of the season, and was a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. Speier earned the win, despite giving up a run during an inning of work, thanks to the New York rally in the bottom of the 8th. The Yankees will wrap up their series with the Royals this afternoon, as Andy Pettitte returns to the Yankee rotation to take on Odalis Perez. Yankees – 7 - 12 - 2 Royals – 6 - 9 - 3 WP: Justin Speier (1-0) LP: David Riske (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (1)

04-28-2007, 02:44 PM	#20
hayesb26 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 267	Bullpen Blowup 04/07/2007 The Yanks opening series didn’t end quite the way they would have liked, as they were beaten by the Royals yesterday afternoon by a score of nine to two. The game also brought up an area of concern that is sure to continue to be a thorn in the Yankee’s side all season: their bullpen. The pen wasted an excellent return to pinstripes by Andy Pettitte, who pitched seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs. He left the game down by a score of two to one, and assumed that he had given his team a good chance to win the game. However, in the final two innings the bullpen allowed seven earned runs, letting the Royals blow the game wide open. Kyle Farnsworth came in for the eighth, and left before even recording an out, allowing five runs. Luis Vizcaino, brought in during the off-season through trade, was brought in for the ninth to stop the bleeding. However, he gave up two solo shots, putting the game out of reach, with what would prove to be the final score. On the other side, Odalis Perez pitched 6.1 very good innings for Kansas City. His bullpen, however, was able to do an adequate job, giving up just one run over the final 2.2 innings. The Yankee’s bullpen appears to be an issue that will have to be dealt with this season, but Hayes will probably wait and see if they straighten up with time. On the offensive, it was a rather boring game for the Bombers. Hideki Matsui had a solo homerun in the 9th off of reliever Octavio Dotel, but other than that offensive production was very slim. Matsui and Alex Rodriguez combined for five of New York’s seven hits, and also either scored of drove in both runs. The Yanks continue their season opening home stand tomorrow when they open up a three game set with the Orioles, as Carl Pavano takes the mound against Daniel Cabrera. Yankees – 2 - 7 - 0 Royals – 9 - 13 - 0 WP: Odalis Perez (1-0) LP: Andy Pettitte (0-1)