Torre’s book was not notable for his exquisite metaphors, inquisitive imagery, or anything of that manner. It was revealing the team’s feelings toward Alex Rodriguez, or as the team called him, “A-Fraud”. Now, most players denied these rumors that Torre brought about in his book, but after this past week perhaps Joe wasn’t just bitter about how he went out in New York. A-Rod has been boo’d and cheered during his tenure in NY, but what fuels fans to cheer for the superstar has been his production. A-Rod has to produce to keep NYC off his back, but when he doesn’t terms like A-Fraud come about. It’s the price you pay when you are a high profile athlete in a high profile town. Manny got the same heat and Boston and eventually left. Some players just get tired of it and some players are fueled by it, and one of those players is A-Rod. Rodriguez loves the attention and will do anything to be in the spotlight, but this week I’m sure he wishes it was the late 90′s where he played in Seattle and was a rising star with absolutely no pressure.

A couple of years later he got his contract and cash he earned in Seattle and became a superstar for the Rangers. He played in Texas from 2001-03 where the Rangers finished last all three years. That is time he began juicing. He admitted this week to juicing all three years with the Rangers, but stopping after bolting for NY. Now, what I don’t understand is why would one feel more pressure to put up numbers in Texas, then in NY? Seems a little odd, but this is the Steroid Era in MLB so everything is odd and nobodies word is worth anything anymore, unless your name is Derek Jeter.

Moving forward, Torre may have stirred some people, but A-Rod testing positive for steroids stirred the entire country. With the regular season slowly creeping on us, I have to believe things in NY will not be much different for A-Rod. If he performs to the highest degree possible he’ll still be loved by the Yankee faithful, but if he gets off to a bad slump then it could be a long, draining year for Alex Rodriguez, and perhaps the Yankees as a whole.

Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte did not have a very good game as he only threw 4 2/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and all four runs that the Angels scored. Three runs scored in the fifth inning when only two should have. Pettitte gave up a rbi single to Robb Quinlan that scored two, but then Xavier Nady had a costly error that allowed one more run to score. Pettitte was then pulled from the game after walking the next batter.

The Yankees were up 2-0 early in the game as they pushed across two runs in the first inning. Jason Giambi had a rbi single that scored Derek Jeter and then Bobby Abreu scored on a balk. The offense threatened in the ninth inning with two runners on base but Hideki Matsui struck out to end the game.

The team will be off on Thursday and then play the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. The Yankees could play the spoil role by beating the Rays this weekend.

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Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte improved to 13-9 as he pitched seven innings and only allowed five hits and one run. Pettitte was on top of his game as he did not walk a batter and struckout four. Brian Bruney pitched the final two innings and held the Blue Jays hitless.

At the plate it was two runs in the first inning and then three runs in the fourth inning. In the first, Jason Giambi had a rbi sac fly and then Xavier Nady hit a rbi single. In the fourth, Johnny Damon grounded out but got a rbi and then Yankee captain Derek Jeter connected on a two run home run to put the team up by five runs.

Great win for the Yankees! Yankees Baseball Blog

David Robertson improved to 2-0 on the year as he recorded one out to pick up the win.  Yeah one out and Robertson got the win lol.  Starting pitcher Darrell Rasner was taken out of the game after pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up four hits and two runs.  Ranser ended up with the no decision as the offense didn’t kick in until he left the game.

Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth, and Dan Giese all pitched on inning of relief without allowing a run to score.  That is exactly how you want to see your bullpen throw the ball.

Bobby Abreu led the team with three rbi including a two run home run.  Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano both finished with two rbi while Jason Giambi contributed with one rbi.  Balanced scoring once again by the Yankees offense who are swinging the bats very good right now.

The Yankees will be going for the three game sweep on Wednesday.  I like their chances do you?

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Alex Rodriguez hit a two run home run while Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter both added solo shots for the Yankees.  A-Rod finished the game leading the team with three rbi.  Cano and Jeter both had two rbi each while Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu both chipped in with one each.  That is a big balanced scoring attack for the Yankees as almost everybody contributed.

Sidney Ponson improved to 6-1 on the season as he threw 5 2/3 innings to get the win.  Ponson gave up nine hits and three runs while walking and striking out two batters.  Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson, and LaTroy Hawkins all threw out of the bullpen.  Hawkins threw the final two innings of the game while only allowing one hit.

It was a very good win for the Yankees and they will now hope to go up 2-0 in the series when they face off againast the Twins on Tuesday evening.  Yankees Blog

Jeter scored both of the Yankees runs in the game.  Besides the game winning run in the 10th inning, Jeter also scored in the first inning on a Jason Giambi single.  The Yankees did leave 13 runners on base while striking out eight times.

Mariano Rivera earned the victory as he pitched the 9th and 10th innings.  Rivera is now 4-3 on the season with a 1.06 era.  Starting pitcher Sidney Ponson pitched the first six innings to get a no decision.  Ponson gave up five hits and one run.  The one run was a solo home run by Carlos Pena.

The Yankees will now play the make up game with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.  They will be leaving shortly for Pittsburgh for the 7:05 game and then will fly out tomorrow night for Toronto where they will take the Blue Jays on in a weekend series.

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Derek Jeter got the Yankees scoring started in the third inning when he had a two run double that scored Robinson Cano and Jose Molina.  The Yankees were able to tack on a couple of insurance in the eighth inning when Melky Cabrera hit a solo home run and Bobby Abreu had a rbi double that scored Jeter.  Cano then singled to score Abreu for the yankees fifth run of the game.

Great win for the Yankees as they beat the Rays who sit a top the division.

Yankees Blog

Bobby Abreu had a three run home run and then a rbi double to lead the Yankees at the plate with four rbi.  Jason Giambi had two rbi while Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano both had one rbi.  Cano’s rbi came via the long ball when he went deep in the fifth inning of the game.  Melky Cabrera tacked on another run in the ninth inning with a rbi single.

Joba Chamberlain improved to 2-2 on the season as he pitched a good ball game.  Chamberlain tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up six hits.  Joba walked one batter and struck out seven others in the game.  Great outing for Chamberlain as he continues to get stretched out in the starters role.

Ross Ohlendorf recorded the last out in the seventh inning and then tossed a scoreless inning in the eighth inning.  Jose Veras gave up two runs in the ninth inning but did not let the Pirates score and kept the shut out in tact.

Good win for the Yankees as they dominated the Pirates pitching staff.  That is how you bounce back from a butt kicking like the Yankees took on Tuesday night!

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The Yankees started their scoring in the 2nd with home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi.  Giambi followed this up with another long homerun in his 2nd at bat in the 4th inning, this time a 2-run shot to deep centerfield.  The Yanks tacked on 3 more runs in the frame after an error by Padres 2nd baseman Craig Stansberry extended the inning for them.  Derek Jeter drove in an 8th inning run to complete the scoring for the bombers. 

Andy Pettitte looked spectacular in his 7 innings of work allowing just 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 9.  He also picked off his 87th runner of his career in the 2nd.  He was helped also by some spectacular defense by Melky Cabrera, the only Yankee who didn’t get into the mix offensively, making a beautiful diving catch in deep centerfield in the 1st inning. 

It was a great win for the Yanks as they seem to be playing with much more confidence now that they have their ‘A’-lineup in there everyday.  Giambi looks like he is ready to carry the team on his shoulders and A-Rod over the last 2 weeks is putting up numbers that rival last years’ incredible season.  Interleague play has come just at the right time for the Yankees.

Hideki Matsui celebrated his 34th birthday in style as his 6th inning grand slam powered the Yankee offense.  An infield single by Derek Jeter followed by walks to Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez set the stage for Matsui’s dramatics as he drove a 1-1 pitch just over the 362 sign in right-center field. 

 Andy Pettitte returned to form last night as well tossing 8 strong innings of 1-run ball allowing only 5 hits over that span to pick up his 6th win of the year.  Andy looked very comfortable last night, located his pitches well and seemed to have everything working for him.  He pitched out of trouble in the second and third innings but other than that, he sailed right along.    Mariano Rivera got three outs including 2 strikeouts for his 18th save of the season.

The Yankees flew to Houston after the game for this weeks’ interleague play.  It will be the Yankees first trip to Minute Maid Park and Joba Chamberlain goes for the Yankees in the opener Friday night.