The Unofficial 2011 New York Yankees Thread

[Dagan81]

Yeah, yeah. I know that this is a Chicago message board, and I know that I am going to catch hell from all the Cubs and White Sox fans on it. However, there are more Yankees fans around the world rooting for the Bronx Bombers than there are fans for all the other major sports franchises combined.

Samurai Mike, where are you? I need at least one other loyal fan to make this thread worthwhile.

[Dagan81]

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Thursday, March 31, 2011
Yankees 6, Tigers 3
(0-1)


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
R H E DET
0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
3 6 1 NYY
0 0 3 0 0 0 2 1

6 5 1 W:Chamberlain (1-0)L:Coke (0-1)SV:Rivera (1)


(1-0)



Granderson's homer gives Yanks opener

Coming off injury, center fielder snaps tie with Tigers in seventh

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | Friday Apr 1, 2011

• Comments (1013)

Must C Curtis: Grandy does it with his glove and bat

NEW YORK -- There was no way to tell if Curtis Granderson's smile was wider after his tiebreaking home run on Thursday, or if he beamed brighter after one of his two outstanding catches in center field.
Granderson seemed happy with all of it, and so were his teammates, as his second season in pinstripes opened by helping power the Yankees past the Tigers, 6-3, on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
"The big thing is just getting the first one out of 162," Granderson said. "All the firsts are out of the way. I know these guys, I know this city, I know how it is. All of those question marks are gone."
Granderson gave the Yankees the lead with a solo blast to right field off former Yankees lefty Phil Coke after Mark Teixeira had slugged a three-run homer off Detroit ace Justin Verlander in the third inning.
New York also got six effective innings from CC Sabathia and three innings of perfect relief to ice the Tigers on a frigid afternoon, the first March regular-season game played in the Bronx.
"It was great to see the way we did it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Tex had a big three-run homer, a big homer by Grandy, you get six innings from your starter and you go to your bullpen. It works out nice. It's how you draw it up."
Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up the victory, while Rafael Soriano -- last year's American League saves leader -- made his Yankees debut in the eighth, striking out one.
"It's different, but I feel great because they give me the opportunity," Soriano said. "You get a little excited, because you're in a Yankees uniform. I made it."
Sporting his new high-sock look, Mariano Rivera performed just like old times in the ninth inning, notching his 560th career save to pull within 41 of Trevor Hoffman for the all-time Major League lead.
Rivera's outing was highlighted by the display shown in center field by Granderson, who flagged down a Brandon Inge drive after a long run for the second out of the ninth.
"Some great plays," Rivera said. "He feels good. He's done a tremendous job all spring and in the second half of last year. I wish him the best -- let him continue what he did today."
Arriving in New York late on Wednesday from Tampa, Fla. -- where he had put his mended strained right oblique through the paces of a final workout at the Yankees' Minor League complex -- Granderson said he was "definitely surprised" to make it back to the lineup so quickly.
Granderson's physical status was given an immediate test in the first inning, as he had to flop forward to make a diving catch on a Will Rhymes liner to center. He did not wince, erasing any fears the Yankees might have had.
"Curtis is a gamer," Verlander said. "He's going to give you everything he's got. He made a couple of great defensive plays. He's a talented baseball player. I enjoyed watching him play with us. I can't say I enjoyed watching him today, but I wish him the best when he's not playing us."
Then, leading off the seventh, Granderson turned on a fastball from Coke -- a chip in the three-way trade that brought Granderson to New York -- and slugged it into the right-field seats.
"Obviously, the home run is the best outcome when it's all said and done," Granderson said. "For me, it's just continuing to prove to myself that I can do it, because I've done it."
Derek Jeter lifted a sacrifice fly off Ryan Perry later in the inning, pushing New York forward after Sabathia and Verlander locked up in a pair of strong pitching performances.
Each starter allowed three runs in six innings, with the Yankees managing just three hits off Verlander, who walked four and struck out eight with 124 pitches -- 31 of which came in the first -- and still had enough to extinguish a New York rally in the sixth.
Attempting to shrug his tendency to begin seasons slowly, Teixeira accounted for the Yankees' production off Verlander by pumping a fastball into the second deck in right field, narrowly keeping it fair.
"It's great to start this way -- I'm not going to lie," Teixeira said. "You don't want to start the season slow as a team or personally. To get this out of the way with a win and hit a big home run -- to be part of it is great."
Alex Rodriguez doubled leading off the sixth -- recording his eighth consecutive hit on an Opening Day dating back to 2003 -- and Russell Martin led off the third with a hard single, his first as a Yankee, for the only other hits off Verlander.
Making his third Opening Day start for the Yankees, Sabathia held the Tigers to three runs (two earned) in a 106-pitch effort, scattering six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
"It feels great to get off on the right foot," Sabathia said. "The bullpen came in and pitched great, and that's a strength of our team."
The Tigers scored the first run of the game in the second inning, as Jhonny Peralta lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Miguel Cabrera.
Brandon Inge added a run-scoring single in the fourth off Sabathia, and Cabrera connected for a game-tying sacrifice fly in the fifth, a run that was unearned due to a Robinson Cano error earlier in the frame.
"I made some pitches when I had to," Sabathia said. 
"I got in some tough spots but was able to try and minimize the damage."
Nick Swisher completed the Yankees' scoring by blooping an RBI single just beyond first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, allowing plenty of cushion for Rivera to send the fans home happy.
"Hopefully, we continue that," Rivera said. "The first one was a good one."


Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Dagan81]

Mariano Rivera is 42 saves away from breaking the all time record held by Trevor Hoffman. You have got to be pumped about that!

Texiera actually hit well on opening day. Traditionally he has struggled to put together a good first couple of months in seasons past, sometimes still batting in the upper .100s/low .200s going into early June. Maybe the extra at bats he took during Spring Training warmed him up. If that doesn't work, then I'm convinced that he is not a cold weather player, as is indicated by his play in the month of October.

Curtis Granderson was certainly playing very well yesterday. He hit the go ahead home run and made two very outstanding catches in center field, one of which was reminiscent of Mickey Mantle's catch in the Don Larsen perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

[soulman]

Yeah, yeah. I know that this is a Chicago message board, and I know that I am going to catch hell from all the Cubs and White Sox fans on it. However, there are more Yankees fans around the world rooting for the Bronx Bombers than there are fans for all the other major sports franchises combined.

Samurai Mike, where are you? I need at least one other loyal fan to make this thread worthwhile.

I doubt that but there have been quite a few articles about how far reaching global illilteracy has become so nothing would surprise me. Do they actually know it's the Yankees they're rooting for or is it because they can't spell and just think the pinstripes are neat?

The main reason why I know that this crap about more Yankees fans is just that is that no Islamic Extremist would ever cheer for a team called the Yankees and the French aren't too fond of us either.

[Dagan81]

I doubt that but there have been quite a few articles about how far reaching global illilteracy has become so nothing would surprise me. Do they actually know it's the Yankees they're rooting for or is it because they can't spell and just think the pinstripes are neat?

The main reason why I know that this crap about more Yankees fans is just that is that no Islamic Extremist would ever cheer for a team called the Yankees and the French aren't too fond of us either.

You are as full of shit as a Christmas turkey, Paul. How come the Yankees have partnerships with the Manchester United, Notre Dame football, and the Dallas Cowboys? They are in a sort of cartel surrounded by all the great winners of the world of sports, from this country and around the globe. You're just jealous because despite the fact that the White Sox have a potent offense, they PALE in comparison to the Yankees' offense. And, we have good pitching. We're going to win the World Series again, for the 28th time!

[Dagan81]

• Wrap
• DET Recap
• NYY Recap
• Box
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• Photos

Saturday, April 2, 2011
Tigers 6, Yankees 10
(0-2)


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
R H E DET
0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 1
6 10 2 NYY
3 3 0 0 3 1 0 0 x
10 12 1 W:Burnett (1-0)L:Penny (0-1)SV:Rivera (2)


(2-0)



Yanks' bats relentless in rout of Tigers

Teixeira hits second three-run homer; Burnett works five innings

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 4/2/2011 10:00 PM ET

• Comments (828)

DET@NYY: Teixeira's three-run blast breaks it open

NEW YORK -- The various illnesses that spoiled A.J. Burnett's week guaranteed that he wouldn't be able to hear any crowd reaction by the time he walked off the mound on Saturday afternoon.
That was too bad, because Burnett would have received an even bigger boost to his day. Fighting sinus and throat infections, Burnett battled through five good innings as the Yankees defeated the Tigers, 10-6, at Yankee Stadium.
"That last inning, I couldn't even swallow," Burnett said. "The only time I heard them was when I was walking from the bullpen. I thought, 'It must be pretty loud if I can hear them right now.' From the get-go, nothing but positives."
Limiting Detroit to three runs on five hits, Burnett had plenty of support. Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer for the second straight game, Russell Martin also connected for a three-run shot and Alex Rodriguez tacked on his 614th career blast.
"So far, so good," Teixeira said. "You've got to stay humble. This game will humble you quick. The first two games, we're scoring a lot of runs and I'm a big part of it, so I feel great."
With the outcome seemingly in hand, Yankees manager Joe Girardi began to play his bench and asked his bullpen to soak up the remaining four innings. Boone Logan wobbled in the ninth, allowing Mariano Rivera to pick up an easy save, the 561st of his career.
The day was a step in the right direction for Burnett, who is looking to rebound after going 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA in 33 starts last season for New York, in what he agrees was the worst year of his career.
Pitching in short sleeves despite his illnesses, Burnett started strong but began to wear down later in his 86-pitch outing. Austin Jackson clubbed a solo homer in the third and the Tigers added two runs in the fifth before Burnett squelched the rally.
"I thought he threw the ball well," Girardi said of Burnett. "Stamina was somewhat of an issue. His ears have been clogged and he's had a hard time breathing, and that's why I only let him go five innings today. I wanted him to get through that fifth inning because I thought he threw the ball well."
In that fifth, the Tigers jumped on Burnett for three hits to open the inning, with Alex Avila shooting an RBI single past shortstop Derek Jeter to bring home the second Detroit run.
After a visit from pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Burnett trusted his changeup and induced a run-scoring groundout from Will Rhymes, then whiffed Magglio Ordonez on a curveball in the dirt to end the inning.
"I felt like I could do more, but I couldn't," Burnett said. "It was a positive step. I was able to use my second and third pitches the way I wanted to."
Martin thought the at-bat against Rhymes provided "good information" both for Burnett and for himself, as the new battery continues to build a relationship and rhythm.
"I think he underestimates his changeup, but the more he throws it, the more he's going to realize that it's a really good pitch for him," Martin said.
The Yankees battered Penny for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings, putting runs in Burnett's back pocket early.
In the first, Rodriguez stroked an RBI double, Robinson Cano added a run-scoring single and Nick Swisher connected for a sacrifice fly.
Having also gone deep in Thursday's season opener, Teixeira slugged his second three-run homer of the season to extend New York's lead to 6-0 in the second inning.
After posting only two home runs and nine RBIs in all of last April, a month in which he batted a miserable .136, Teixeira has already notched a pair of homers and driven in six runs, a credit to altering his winter workouts by spending more time hitting.
"It makes me realize that I made the right decision," Teixeira said. "It's always a little bit tough to do something you haven't done your entire career and change the way you work out, the way you swing, the way you prepare. Hopefully, it's going to work out like this the rest of the year."
Martin completed the damage against Penny in the fifth with his homer off Brad Thomas, who allowed two inherited runners to score. Penny walked four and struck out three, permitting seven hits in an 89-pitch outing.
"That's a real tricky team to pitch against, because if you give them too much credit, they get counts in their favor and they hurt you," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Certainly, you have to pitch them with respect, getting ahead."
Jeter picked up two hits as he resumed his chase for 3,000. The captain needs 72 more to become the 28th member -- and first Yankee -- of that exclusive club.
"The good news for us is that one through nine, everyone's swinging the bats well," Rodriguez said. "Hitting is contagious. It definitely helps everyone else when everyone is swinging the bat well."
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Dagan81]

Man, the Tigers put a scare in me toward the end of the game. Joe Girardi took out Jeter and A-Rod early, like around the 7th Inning. We had scored 10 runs by then, but Detroit pecked away at the lead until we had to use Mo (Mariano Rivera for those not familiar with Yankee nicknames) to close out the game.

Some points of interest coming from this game:

1) Derek Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits continues: he currently sits at 2,928 total hits, and needs just 72 more hits before he becomes the first Yankee to reach the milestone.

2) Mariano Rivera is 41 saves away from matching Trevor Hoffman's all-time record of most career saves, which currently stands at 601. Rivera is also the all-time leader in postseason saves with 42.

[The Benjamin]

Sorry Dag, but the homer glasses down.

More fans than all the other major sports franchises combined? Thats Bullshit and you know it. Most popular baseball team, most likely. Mostly due to the bandwagoners. But more than all others combined? Be a bit more realistic my friend.

[The Benjamin]

The research for the mostly searched team is definitely relying on the popularity of the sport; based on US sports stats, on Google.com analytics and onto Yahoo Buzz, we managed to reassemble the final list for the most popular team, in terms of number of searches.

1. Dallas Cowboys - NFL
2. New Orleans Saints - NFL
3. Pittsburgh Steelers – NFL
4. Los Angeles Lakers - NBA
5. Cleveland Cavaliers – NBA
6. Manchester United – English Premier League
7. Real Madrid – La Liga (Spanish football League)
8. AC Milan – Serie A (Italian Football League)
9. New Jersey Devils – NHL
10. New York Yankees – MLB

Wanna try again there Dags?

http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-a...0-1790108.html

[little bear]

Wow. Didn't know the Saints were so popular...