5 - 5 record - after a 1-4 start to the season which seemed to confirm the fears of many Yankee fans and prognastications of some Yankee detractors, New York bounced back to win 4 games this week. The first came against vaunted Yankee slayer Justin Verlander. The bombers got on base 9 times in 7.1 IP against the Tigers ace, including a bomb from Jayson Nix that sparked a 3-run second inning and put the Yanks ahead for good. CC rediscovered his good stuff allowing only 7 baserunners and 0 ER in 7 IP. Shutting out a good Detroit team on the road was a great pick-me-up for the team and it's fan base.
Silver linings - I tweeted after the aforementioned victory that being 2-4 after a series in Detroit with this lineup and inconsistent pitching is not the worst thing in the world. Since then we've won two games at Cleveland against a team that is re-tooled and seems to be a possible threat to Detroit in the AL Central, (depending on how you feel about Terry Francona and the job he can do with those new weapons in Choo, Swisher, Bourn, etc).
Rain, Rain Go Away - the two rain outs in Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday served as a good reminder why I don't schedule my baseball trips in April. Those games will be made up during an entirely different series but would I have been able to make it to Cleveland for a second time in a year? Probably not. The wife and I are going to see them take on San Diego in early August...it never rains in SoCal, right?
The Future is Bright - I'm still not convinced that a line-up featuring Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, and Lyle Overbay playing everyday is a recipe for success but we all know this won't last long. When Jeter, Granderson, and Teixeira return, each of whom appear to be set to return next month, this team will actually be fairly deep. Wells will probably enter into a platoon situation with either Hafner at DH or Ichiro in the OF. Overbay may be released or at most will be bannished to the end of the bench. But no matter the structure, these three have shown they can be significant contributors.
Pronk Go Yard - Travis Hafner, who just a few years ago was in the discussion for best designated hitter in the league, would probably still be in Cleveland if it were not for the injuries that have kept him out of the lime light and the Indians every-day lineup the past three seasons. So in a somewhat poetic moment, the man known as Pronk hit a three-run bomb in his first at-bat as a visitor to Progressive Field. This just seconds after receiving a warm ovation from the Indian faithful. I always admired Hafner from afar as he exhibited ability to hit for both power and average. I'm so glad he's on this team and hope he can stay healthy long enough to hit a few (dozen) more dingers.
Michael Pineda Takes Another Step Toward the Bronx - The would be number two (or at least that's what we were sold when he was traded for) took another big step towards returning to action on Wednesday when he threw batting pratice to live hitters for the first time since shoulder surgery that ended his 2012 season. This guy has become the invisible man ever since last Spring and if he makes it to a big league mound this summer you'll hear a collective "Oh yeah!...I remember that guy!" from the Yankee fanbase. Who knows if he'll return to his 2011 all-star form. It's foolish to expect that, but if it happens Yankee fans should rejoice.
Robbie at Short, Clapper at Second - Every year you see guys playing out of position due to circumstance. Last year Chris Davis pitched 2 scoreless innings for the Orioles and actually got the win. Jorge Posada once played 2B in 2011 against Oakland. So yeah, it happens. And on Saturday against Baltimore, it was Robinson Cano's and Francisco Cervelli's turns when the short handed Yankees needed some late inning shifting after starting SS Jayson Nix got pinch-hit for by Brennan Boesch. As much as I love Robbie and think he could be an outstanding SS with that arm of his, let's hope the Captain returns soon and we don't have to see that again.
Favorite Play of the Week - So I'll preface this by saying I didn't get to see it live, but rather so the highlight this morning on MLB Network. But if I saw last night's triple play as it happened I probably would have done a backflip! Not only did it get us out of a real jam (what triple play doesn't get someone out of a jam?) it was great to see the excitement on everyone's face in the dugout afterwards. Youk was especially exhuberant. It was the icing on the cake, (too bad we didn't win).
The Week to Come - the Yankees have one more game against Baltimore before taking on the league's grittiest team, Arizona, before heading up north for three against the Blue Jays.
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