In every great dynasty, there are the unsung players who play the support role to the stars of the team. For 17 seasons, Jorge Posada has played his particular part well. As the remnants of that last great dynasty are beginning to finally erode, the Yankees are in that transition phase where saying goodbye is necessary, but entirely awkward.

The catcher’s tenure in the Bronx resulted in a .273/.374/.474 batting line along with four World Series titles. Posada wasn’t the star of the team with Jeter and Rivera present along with some high priced free agents brought in along the way, but he represented what fans liked most about the team. He was a homegrown guy who was playing a position that didn’t come naturally to him. He was one of the few core players who showed any type of emotion. He may not have been the star, but Jorge Posada was certainly the heart of the New York Yankees since 1998.

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The Staten Island Yankees announced their 2012 coaching staff on Thursday, naming Justin Pope as the manager for the upcoming season.

Pope made his coaching debut in 2010, serving as pitching coach for the Staten Island Yankees, where he guided a staff that issued the fewest walks in the New York-Penn League (204).

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to manage in such a beautiful ballpark in front of the great fans of Staten Island,” Pope said. “I’m very happy to be back and I look forward to putting a team of very good players on the field.”

Carlos Chantres, who hasn’t been seen in a Staten Island Yankees uniform since 2006, returns to the Island as pitching coach in 2012. In the summer of ’06, Chantres’ staff led the Baby Bombers to a league best 45 wins, and the fourth New York-Penn League Championship in team history.

Ty Hawkins returns for his seventh consecutive season as the hitting coach in Staten Island. Hawkins has led the Staten Island Yankees to the second best batting average in the NYPL in four of the last five seasons, and a NYPL-most 52HR in 2009. He guided the 2006 Staten Island offense to a league-best .267 average and 365R en route to the club’s second consecutive New York-Penn League Championship.

Also joining the staff will be coach Danilo Valiente, who returns for his second consecutive season with the Baby Bombers. Last season, he helped lead Staten Island to their sixth NYPL Championship.

From the day Joe Girardi landed the dream job of managing the Yankees, his every move, whether the result was positive or negative has been scrutinized. In truth, today’s Baseball Manager is hired to be scrutinized. Their every move is fodder for discussion in the media and in the stands. That’s always been the case, but today’s technology has led to even more criticism. Adding the backdrop of New York, it is safe to say that Joe Girardi is under the most pressure of his other 29 counterparts around the league.

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The second inning start did make for a different vibe. Although the score was tied, it was Jorge Posada leading off the inning. Justin Verlander’s pitching line was being read in the background of the pressbox. But, Doug Fister and Ivan Nova were the story of the early part of the game. Fister was never a strikeout pitcher. He came into the season averaging just 5 strikeouts per nine innings, which is barely a total sustainable in order to be an average Major League pitcher. Since coming to Detroit in a mid-season trade with the Mariners, Fister has dramatically increased his strikeout total, striking out 7.3 batters per nine innings. He did strikeout 6 in 4.2 innings. Fister, however, is a pitcher who relies on pinpoint control in order to compensate for sub par stuff. For his first three innings of work, he was able to hit his spots. He began to show signs in the fifth as the Yankees’ were noticeably aggressive and making better contact. Fister showed the positive and negative of his game in the start. He’s one of the most well prepared pitchers in the game, which helps him attack hitters. But, his stuff doesn’t allow for mistakes. The final line–4.2 innings, 6 runs on 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts–is ugly and doesn’t indicate how well he pitched in his first few innings.

Meanwhile the Yankees’ Ivan Nova’s poise was noticeable in his first playoff experience. He’d throw two clean innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. He walked Alex Avila, which was followed up by two singles. On the second single, Avila tried to score, but was called out as a result of a perfect relay from Curtis Granderson to Derek Jeter to Russell Martin. Nova would walk a batter in each of the next two innings, but would limit the damage from there. After the fifth inning, Nova was staked to a big lead, but his poise during the tie game gives an indication of his makeup, even if he couldn’t finish the game. The Yankees’ rookie would get the win with 6.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

Nova would have to fight the typical nerves that all pitchers face with their first playoff appearance. ”I was excited and had to slow down everything,” said Nova, ”A quick inning like in a situation like today just lets you know that everything is the same (as the regular season).”

His Manager agreed.  ”I thought he controlled his emotions well. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he pitched to contact was able to give us a great game. He almost allowed us to not use or bullpen,” said Joe Girardi.

Game one may have been the moment the world finally got to know Robinson Cano. Cano has been an All-Star for the past two seasons. He finished third in last season’s MVP voting. But, Cano has been one of the game’s best players for the past few seasons. It has been a while since a single player dominated a playoff game. Robinson Cano dominated game one of the Division Series. Cano drove in the Yankees’ second run with a double off the top of the left field wall. In the sixth inning, he hit a 0-1 pitch  out for a grand slam. He would double in the Yankees 9th run in the eighth inning with another double. His 3 for 5 day contained 2 doubles, a homerun, and 6 RBI was just the type of night to give a National audience a glimpse into the player Cano has been for the past two years.

The lone questionable decision of the game was Jim Leyland’s choice to bring in Al Albuquerque, a right hander,  to face Cano in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. While the situation may have been suited for a left handed reliever, it didn’t matter with someone such as Cano. The Yankees’ second baseman performs equally with a .314/.354/.525 slash line against southpaws compared to a .296/.347/.537 against right handers. Cano isn’t a hitter where a Manager would choose a specialist. Instead, he chooses the best reliever. Leyland brought in Albuquerque who pitched 43.1 innings during the regular season while allowing just 21 hits, 9 runs, 29 walks, and 67 strikeouts. Most importantly, he hadn’t given up a h0merun all season. The move was the proper one. Cano just did what elite hitters do; they hit anyone.

“That’s one for everyone to second guess. To me, it was a no brainer. Lefties are hitting .177 against him. Cano is hitting .314 against left handers. That’s why he’s (Albuquerque) so valuable for us. He gets both right handers and left handers out. If Granderson gets a hit, I bring in Schlereth, but Alberquerque has been one of the best in the game at stranding runners.”

For Cano, the ascension the central part of the Yankees’ attack is complete. Joe Girardi saw this coming. “You look at what he’s done for us the last few years for us, he’s been a force. You look at the damage he did last year in the playoffs. We’ve talked about moving him up, but we’ve had players blocking him. He’s blossomed into a great player,” said the Yankees Manager. Girardi does deserve credit for moving Cano to the third spot in the order at the end of the season. If not for the move, Cano doesn’t have the opportunities. With Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez struggling, the same result isn’t guaranteed.

The move to the third spot hasn’t changed Cano at all. It is merely a conclusion from mastering and honing his skills. ”I think he’s learned to pull the ball, drive the ball, and I think he’s learned how to hit in big situations,” stated Girardi. The Yankees Manager also likes that Cano hasn’t changed anything. ”It (his success) tells me that he doesn’t change his approach, which is what you want from him”

The Tigers tried to make it interesting in the ninth by scoring 2 runs in the ninth, but Joe Girardi did something a bit different. At the start of the inning, Mariano Rivera was tossing in the bullpen. It was probably just the beginning of a side session to get some work in, but with the bases loaded and a six run lead, Rivera was ready quickly. He struck out Wilson Betemit to end the game.

Down by one game, the Tigers will turn to Max Scherzer, a high strikeout pitcher who is flyball prone. Originally, he was to start game three in Detroit, a much better environment rather than the homerun haven of Yankee Stadium. Scherzer averages 8 K/9 and was 2-0 in his two starts against the Yankees. Those starts show the best and worst Scherzer has to offer. He struck out 15 batters in 13 innings, but allowed 4 homeruns and 6 runs in the process. He’ll be opposed by the Freddy Garcia, the former power pitcher turned crafty veteran. Garcia isn’t a strikeout pitcher (5.9 K/9), but he is someone who relies on change of speed and location to be successful. In his one start against the Tigers, he allowed 10 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings. He did, however, strike out 8 batters. Garcia also might have fared better in Detroit, but he’s thrown to a 3.98 ERA in 13 starts at Yankee Stadium.

Although the Yankees won the first game, game two is likely very important. Joe Girardi hinted at that after the game, “They are a dangerous club and we know that. It’s always nice to win the first one, but tomorrow is an important game.” Tomorrow is an important game because of the rainout aftershocks. The Tigers already adjusted their rotation. Girardi announced his after the game. ”Right now, we are planning on CC on Monday and AJ on Tuesday,” said Girardi. That means the Yankees have a Garcia for game two, followed by the marquee match up in game three and A.J. Burnett in game four. There is quite a bit of uncertainty with Verlander having the ability to dominate the Yankees bats and Burnett being so inconsistent. The Yankees needed game one, but game two looks to be even more important.

Now that Sandman has entered the record books by eclipsing Trevor Hoffman’s previous mark of 601 saves, Steiner has created a series of memorabilia to mark the occasion, complete with a Mariano logo, an etching of the hurler in pitching motion. The Yankee icon and sure-fire Hall of Famer amazingly recorded all of the saves with the same team – the New York Yankees. The collection will include: hand-signed photographs from the monumental achievement against the Twins at Yankee Stadium, dated September 19, 2011; a plaque with featuring a capsule of dirt taken from the Stadium mound; replica lineup card plaque featuring an actual game ticket; game used mound, bases and home plate; a 14]]> http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/09/rivera-all-time-record-collection-from-steiner-sports-lets-fans-%e2%80%98save%e2%80%99-piece-of-history/feed/ 0 http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/09/rivera-changed-games/ http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/09/rivera-changed-games/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:03:02 +0000 Ryan Lazo http://www.baseballdigest.com/?p=10364 Mariano Rivera’s career seemed to be heading on a different path, one that did not include donning the pinstripes.

During the 1995 season, the New York Yankees had made the playoffs as the first American League Wild Card winner, however, Rivera did not play a part in getting there. The then 25-year-old rode the bench, receiving rare chances while not taking advantage of the times he did.

His 5.51 ERA said it best — he was a failed starter, one who underwent elbow surgery just three years prior. Being sent to the bullpen was said to be his last chance or in his case, the place where he belonged.

He almost never had the chance to prove it.

There were trade rumblings that the Yankees were going to acquire a veteran shortstop and the price was parting with Rivera. However, the Yankees decided not to go ahead with the trade, a decision that would change the franchise’s fate over the next decade.

After the divisional round loss to the Seattle Mariners, Yankees management showed then manager Buck Showalter the door and hired a perennial loser named Joe Torre. Torre did not know it at the time, but the last member of his bullpen — the long man — was special.

Rivera would be called on to pitch in situations the starter faltered early, and Torre expected him to hold the fort. He did just that and soon pitched his way into a more prominent position, the role of the set-up man for closer John Wetteland.

The 1996 campaign was the debut of a formula, one that soon witnessed Wetteland being supplanted by Rivera the very next season. From then on, it’s history.

From the 1997 season to the present day, Rivera has been the best closer in all of baseball, a weapon no other team could match late in games. However, what is it that sets Rivera apart from the rest?

Simply put, Rivera changed the game of baseball like great pitchers before him. Bruce Sutter was also a struggling starter, one who was banished to the bullpen, but while there he developed a pitch that would change his career and many after him.

The pitch: a splitter. Sutter used the splitter to record 300 saves en route to a Hall of Fame career. The splitter helped pitchers lengthen their careers, most notably Roger Clemens. Rivera and his cutter have down the same.

The cutter is now an essential pitch to any pitcher’s repertoire. A fastball that moves at the very last second, darting away from the barrel of the bat and recording outs.

It can be argued that Rivera also made the Yankees. Many credit Derek Jeter and his clutch play during the playoffs as reasons they now have 27 World Series Championship flags lining their stadium, but would they have them without Rivera?

The answer is a resounding no.

Rivera’s dominance in the postseason has been well-documented and is stuff of legend. Elite players pick up their game when everything is on the line and his 0.71 ERA in 94 postseason appearances says everything.

When the final three outs needed to be recorded, Rivera is as close to unhittable in the playoffs as one can be. Being named the MVP of multiple playoff rounds shows the impact he can have.

When “Enter Sandman” blares over the speakers, 54,000 people erupt and the opposing dugout lets out a collective groan.

Rivera gives the Yankees a psychological edge, representing an aura of invincibility.

As Rivera recorded his historic 602nd save, one must realize his significance to the Yankees success. Without Rivera, the Yankees dynasty may never have been realized.

When he decides to retire, it will be a dark day for Yankee fans. Until then, sit back and watch history play itself in front of you, one pitch, one strike and one out at a time.

There will never be another like him. Enjoy his brilliance while you can.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for baseballdigest.com. He can reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

Austin Romine – New York Yankees – The common belief was that Austin Romine should be out of Double-A where he’d spent 2010 and 2011. But Jesus Montero was blocking him at Triple-A Scranton. Montero got an anticipated call to the Bronx. Romine got an unanticipated call to the Bronx. After finally getting a promotion to Scranton on the final day of the Trenton Thunder’s home schedule, the reaction was that at least he’d get some Triple-A at-bats. But September 12th. he arrived at Yankee Stadium and made his major league debut. His first experience in Yankees pinstripes was catching Mariano Rivera’s 599th save. Romine isn’t the exciting bat that Montero is. What he has is a toolbox of skills that he has quietly developed over the past two seasons at Trenton. Those skills need even more polishing, and by getting behind the plate in the playoffs, he would get to improve upon an already excellent ability at his position. He gives the Yankees options. And he gets to show the Yankees (and fans) why he should be the catcher of the future.

Justin De Fratus- Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies bullpen is a weakness on a team that is being called the best in franchise history. Post-season baseball requires the services of the bullpen more than any other time of the season. Justin De Fratus arm could be immensely helpful to a pen that, like any, is feeling the wear and tear of the season. De Fratus split his time between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, finishing with a 2.99 ERA in 75 innings pitched.

Leonys Martin – Texas Rangers – His inspiring story has made the rounds and made his debut all the more special among this pack. Martin defected from Cuba and began the pursuit of his baseball dream. The twenty-three year old fully earned his call-up, hitting .348 at the time for Double-A Frisco. The outfielder is getting his opportunity due to Nelson Cruz going on the DL, but it would be a shock not to see him remain on the roster for post-season play.

Jacob Turner – Detroit Tigers – The Tigers 2009 first round pick has certainly made a fast trip to the majors. And he’s put a heck of a lot of work in during a short period. His first professional season in 2010 ended with a 3.28 ERA in 115 innings combined for Class-A West Michigan and Advanced-A Lakeland. He began 2011 at Double-A Erie, but ended it at Triple-A Toledo. Turner threw 131 innings, struck out a career-high 110 batters, and posted a 3.44 ERA. The Tigers plans appear to include him in the post-season, despite a rough start to begin his major league career. Turner has 9 innings under his belt, with a 7.45 ERA in two games. After all he’s accomplished so far, there’s no reason to count him out.

]]> http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/09/minor-league-report-five-prospects-to-watch-in-the-post-season/feed/ 0 http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/08/a-l-mvp-race-down-to-the-wire/ http://www.gothambaseball.com/2011/08/a-l-mvp-race-down-to-the-wire/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:16:19 +0000 Ryan Lazo http://www.baseballdigest.com/?p=10168

With little more than a month left of the regular season, not only are the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees batting for a division crown, but also an MVP trophy in a race between three players.

It’s a race that is easily similar to the last Red Sox, Yankees race when Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz battled for the hardware. That race was too close to call from the get-go, some making the argument that Rodriguez makes more of an impact because he plays the field while Ortiz gained support through clutch hits.

This season there are three worthy candidates to win the award, two of them who play 81 of their games in Fenway Park and one of them who resides in New York. A strong argument can be made for each player, but in the end there is one that does stand out among the rest.

Jacoby Ellsbury, a player who at one time seemed so lost at the plate, has developed into an All-Star caliber player. The 27-year-old had been known as a speedster, one that continually slapped at the ball hoping to find a hole.

Once on base, pitchers paid close attention to the player who stole 70 bases only two seasons ago, except this season they have more to worry about from Ellsbury. He already had most of the tools to be a great center fielder: speed, hits for average and rarely struck out, but one aspect eluded him — power.

However, he has proved this season that all he needed was time. Now entering his prime, Ellsbury is in the midst of a career-season, one that has seen him more than double his highest home run output to 23 home runs.

As the table-setter for one of the best offensive teams in baseball, Ellsbury is very valuable to the Sox, utilizing his speed to get into scoring position for the traditional power hitters. However, the point can be made that the Sox did not need his production to be where they are today.

Residing in one of the most hallowed positions in all of Yankees history, Curtis Granderson continued his hot-hitting from the end of last season into this year, showing that maybe the Yankees did receive the better part of the deal.

While Granderson struggled for much of his time in New York during his debut season with the club, Austin Jackson, the man sent to the Tigers in the trade, showed tremendous promise. It seemed one-sided in favor of the Tigers until Granderson discovered his power stroke, one that has helped make the Yankees lineup that much more potent and deeper.

The 30-year-old has set a career-high this season with 36 home runs along with 103 RBI’s and over 100 runs scored. Single-handedly, he makes a huge difference to the Yankees lineup because of his deadly combination of power and speed.

However is he the clear-cut choice for the American League MVP award? A .277 batting average and 137 strikeouts certainly does not help make for a compelling case, especially when faced up against Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox.

The A.L. All-Star first baseman came over to the Red Sox during the off-season and has escaped from obscurity that has hampered his superstardom. The Red Sox tried many times to pry him away from the San Diego Padres for a few reasons: his Gold-Glove caliber play at first, unassuming, business-like attitude and a swing meant for Fenway Park.

Gonzalez, a natural through-the-ball hitter, has pelted the Green Monster to a tune of a .345 batting average and has also blast 23 home runs. During the early days of April when the team struggled to produce any semblance of offense, it was A-Gon who supplied the pop.

He has been nothing but consistent all season, helping save runs on defense, supply pop on offense and be a team-leader in the clubhouse. The Red Sox brought him in to help win a championship and size him up for a ring.

Over the last month, A-Gon can help lead the Sox into the postseason while solidifying his position as the American League’s MVP.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

Earlier this season, New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes was a mess: his fastball, once hummed through the strike zone in the mid 90s, barely touched 88. His trademark precision with his pitches, gone. The sharp, biting curve ball which made him a No. 1 pick also missing.

Two questions crossed most observers minds. What is wrong with the much-hyped phenom and will he ever be the same again?

The question of course was fair game after the Yankees juggled Joba Chamberlain from the bullpen to starter and back again, thoroughly messing with his head and career.

Few wondered if it was the dramatic increase of innings thrown the previous season when he was brilliant through the first half and merely mortal in the second.

However, with his spot in the rotation secure after a cooking accident by the resurgent Freddy Garcia placed him on the DL, Hughes once again showcased his mastery.

Truth be told, Hughes had already begin to turn the corner two starts prior when facing the Chicago White Sox. His fastball showed the type of zip not seen since the days of him charging out of the bullpen, leaving White Sox hitters defenseless in their attempts to square it up.

He was back to being the Hughes who the Yankees envisioned becoming a No. 1 starter when they drafted him at the ripe old age of 18. Without a set spot in the rotation, Hughes found himself heading out through the bullpen gates to keep the Yankees in the game against the Boston Red Sox.

It seemed to be an audition for Yankees management to see if Hughes would be up to the task if his number were called during the postseason. He failed the test, allowing the Sox to walk-off with the win.

Although the starts he has made since, most especially the one against the Minnesota Twins, an eight-inning, one-run outing where he flat out dominated leaves the Yankees with a few questions to ponder.

Sure Hughes was not beaming the ball through the zone in the mid 90s, but his 92 mph fastball gave the Twins hitters fits. They could not square it up, either just fouling it off or weakly hitting into the field for an easy out.

This outing comes just a few days after Bartolo Colon once again struggled in a start, this time against the lowly Kansas City Royals. Since arriving in camp for Spring Training, Colon was seen as a curiosity by management.

It was a low-risk, high-reward deal and Colon quickly emerged as the teams best pitcher, behind only C.C. Sabathia. The 38-year-olds resurgent season came about from his devastating two-seam fastball which moves the length of the plate, leaving hitters to do nothing but pound it to the ground. However, the results have not been kind of late to Colon.

He has failed to surpass seven innings in his last four starts and has surrendered five runs or more in three of his past eight starts. Colon looks tired on the mound, his fastball doesn’t quite have the bite like earlier this season and he is being forced to work for everything, leaving him with high pitch counts in the early innings.

With the Yankees all but assured of a postseason start, manager Joe Girardi must decide what is best for his team during the playoffs. Which pitcher should he trust?

Does he go with the veteran who looks to be running out of steam or the youngster who has compiled an ERA slightly above one over his past three starts — all wins.

The decision he makes will have a big impact on the outcome of any possible series. It could be the difference between advancing or being eliminated and once again falling short of the ultimate goal — a World Series Championship.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

This is the final edition of this feature before the minor league playoffs begin. By then, teams will have been crowned champions and many players will be looking ahead to the Arizona Fall League or going home.

The five chosen this time managed to play solidly through the July heat and into the final couple of weeks of their season.

Matt Moore, LHP, Durham Bulls, International League, Tampa Rays – For starters there’s that 0.88 ERA. Add to that his 8-1 record and that between July 22nd and August 12th he mowed hitters down in each of his five starts. Moore posted a 0.69 ERA for July,  striking out 49 batters in 30.2 innings. Highlight: His July 27th gem. Over 8 scoreless innings he allowed just 3 hits and struck out 13.

Gary Sanchez, C, Charleston Riverdogs, South Atlantic League, New York Yankees – Before going on the DL, Sanchez was putting together a productive season. In August he got 13 hits in 9 games, hitting.433 with 5 multi-hit games. Highlight: On August 3rd he hit two home runs and then did it again on August 10th.

Mike Trout, CF, Texas Travelers, Texas League, Anaheim Angels – Trout’s consistency through July and August was just more of the same. He hit .300 in July and is hitting .358 through the first two weeks of this month. He has a 9-game hitting streak going, with 13 hits accumulated. Highlight: On August 6th Trout went 3-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Greg Billo, RHP, Kane County Tigers, Midwest League, Kansas City Royals – While a pitcher’s record doesn’t always reflect his performances, in this case it does. Billo is 9-2 with a 0.75 ERA through the first two weeks of August. He finished July with a 1.19 ERA. In five starts he’s allowed just six earned runs. Billo has pitched deep into games, logging 55 innings in ten starts. Highlight: On August 10th he picked up the win against Peoria after pitching a seven-inning one-hitter.

Mason Williams, OF, Staten Island Yankees, New York Penn League – Through 10 games in August he has 18 hits, putting his average at .500. He finished July hitting .357, improving his average steadily throughout the season. Williams has struck out just once in his last five games. Highlight: On August 6th he got 3 hits, a walk, and stole two bases.

My eye on… Erik Arnesen, RHP, Harrisburg Senators, Eastern League, Washington Nationals: On August 14th against the Trenton Thunder, the big righty came back from a shaky first inning to pitch six scoreless innings . He struck out ten Thunder hitters by mixing speeds and attacking the strike zone. It was Arnesen’s 8th win of 2011.