On Tuesday the New York Yankees declined options and starting pitcher Carl Pavano and first basemen / dh Jason Giambi. Pavano’s option was to be worth $13 million instead it was bought out for $1.9 million. Giambi’s was worth $22 million and he was bought out for $5 million. Not a bad payday for going on the free agent market if you ask me.

Pavano could possibly be re-signed by the Yankees if he will take a cheap deal but don’t look for the Yankees to really negotiate with Giambi.

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The New York Yankees are expected to decline the $22 million option on Jason Giambi but resign him to a much cheaper deal the New York Post is reporting. Giambi made $21 million in 2008 and will have to take a huge paycut if he chooses to stay with the Yankees in 2009.

The Yankees wouldn’t mind not re-signing Giambi if they are able to get a decent first basement via trade or free agency but I fully expect Giambi to be back in pinstripes in 09. Even if they choose to go with a younger player, Giambi can platoon at first and also DH while helping out a younger player.

The Yankees management should soon know if Mike Mussina plans to retire or not as his agent will be meeting with him in the next week to see what he would like to do. Mussinw won 20 games for the Yankees last year and if he chooses to retire, the Yankees will be looking for another starting pitcher as well.

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The New York Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday afternoon by the score of 4-2. The Yankees dropped two games to the Angels as they clearly just didn’t have the team to keep up with the high powered Angels. There is a reason why they are about to clinch their divison and start looking forward to the playoffs while the Yankees will be staying home.

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.

Yankees Blog

The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon but they wouldn’t have if Jason Giambi didn’t have the game that he did. Giambi had all three of the Yankees runs including the game winner in the bottom of the ninth inning. Giambi stepped up big when the Yankees really needed him.

Giambi had a two run home run in the seventh inning to get the Yanks on the board and then added the game winning rbi single in the ninth inning. Pitch runner Brett Gardner scored the winning run on the Giambi single. It was sad to see the rest of the Yankees offense not show to play however.

Mariano Rivera ended up getting the win and is now 5-5. Starting pitcher Mike Mussina pitched good as he went seven innings and only allowed five hits and two runs but for the lack of run support he ended up with the no decision.

Yankees Blog

It was a little bit of revenge for the New York Yankees on Wednesday night as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1. A night after losing 2-1, the Yankees made sure that wasn’t going to happen as they really didn’t have any problems with the Jays on Wednesday night.

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

Well I am now back and ready to get blogging again. I was gone for a over a week in the city of Chicago on business. Just as I get back, the Yankees go on to lose to the Twins by the score of 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The Yankees gave up three runs in the fourth inning when the Twins grabbed the lead and never looked back.

Darrell Rasner got the start on the mound for the Yankees and only lasted five innings as he gave up four hits and three runs. Two of those three runs were earned.  Rasner struckout four batters and walked one while giving up on home run. That one home run however scored three runs and Delmon Young took Rasner deep. The Yankees bullpen did a pretty good job as they limited the Twins scoreless the three innings of the game.

The offense just didn’t have much production to pick up Rasner in the game. Jason Giambi had the lone rbi for the Yankees when he had a rbi single that went to deep right field in the first inning to score Alex Rodriquez. The other Yankees run came in the eighth inning when Bobby Abreu struckout swinging on a wild pitch but make it safely to first base as Ivan Rodriguez scored from third.

The Yankees will now be off on Thursday and and then will start a short three game homestand against the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees need to sweep the Royals if they want to stay in the playoff race. How do you think they will do? Leave us ac omment and let us know!

Finally the New York Yankees were able to end their losing streak!  The Yankees pounded out a 13-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon to break their three game losing streak.  With the win, they were able to avoid the embarrassing three game sweep.

Bobby Abreu hit two home runs and Alex Rodriguez connected for one as well.  It was great to see the Yankees score 13 runs and pretty much dominate the entire game.  Abreu finished the game with three rbi while A-Rod and Xavier Nady both had two rbi.  Johnny Damon, Justin Christian, and Jason Giambi all finished with one rbi.

Joba Chamberlain earned the win and is now 4-3 on the year.  Joba tossed six innings while allowing five hits and two runs.  He struck out six batters while walking none so he did have good control of his pitches.

David Robertson was charged with one run in the eighth inning.  Dan Giese pitched the ninth inning to finish up the game.

I will be out of town until Aug 11th for a conference so I will not be able to do any game recaps on the blog until I get back on the 12th.  If there is anyone out there that would like to blog some game recaps and let their opinion about the Yankees be heard, email us and we can talk and possibly get you setup!

Yankees Baseball

The New York Yankees tried to come back late in the game but still fell short by one run to the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees gave up four runs in the seventh inning and were beaten by the Orioles 7-6.  It was the second straight night that the Yankees have lost to the Orioles and they will have to win on Wednesday to avoid the embarrasing three game sweep at home.

Darrell Rasner gave up eight hits and four runs over six innings to take the loss.  Rasner now has a 5-8 record on the season.  Rasner definately needs to start throwing the better for the Yankees.  They could really use some wins of out him down the stretch.  Newely acquired Damaso Marte did have a good game either as he gave up two more runs after Rasner left the game.  Mariano Rivera also gave up a run in the ninth inning so you could tell that it just wasn’t the Yankees night.

Alex Rodriguez did hit his 22nd home run of the season when he hit a solo shot in the sixth inning.  Robinson Cano then had a two run single in the eighth inning and then Bobby Abreu had a rbi double in the ninth inning before Jason Giambi tacked on a two run single to bring the Yankees within one run.  That was as close as the Yankees would get however.

So now will the Yankees win on Wednesday and avoid the sweep?  I think they will get the job done.  Do you?

Yankees Baseball Blog

Once again the New York Yankees hammered the Minnesota Twins as they won Tuesday evening by the score of 8-2.  Great offense output and great pitching equaled another win for the Yankees as they try to get back up on top of the East division standing.

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?

Yankees Blog 

Bobby Abreu hit a double in the bottom of the 10th inning and Derek Jeter scored all the way from first base to give the New York Yankees a 2-1 victory over the visting Tampa Bay Rays.  The Yankees took both games in the short two game series.  Huge win for the Yankees as they picked up two games on Rays instead of just splitting the series.

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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