Don’t Call It A Comeback

As I’m sure all the baseball fans out there know, spring training kicks off this week. The Yankees’ pitchers and catchers

Welcome home!

officially reported to Tampa today to prepare for the 2013 season. Few things compare to hearing the sounds of balls pounding into gloves and cracking off wooden bats as the teams workout in sunny Florida and Arizona to get ready for the grueling 162-game schedule over the course of six months. It’s days like today that make the following announcement worthwhile:

161st & River is back!

Yes, the one-stop website for all your Yankees news that my good friend Sean O’Leary created in 2008 has returned to the web … and we’re coming with a vengeance. In addition to providing you with the top headlines from those paid to write and report on the Yankees we’ll also be creating our own content through the site blog, providing a tweet stream for any instant news & updates, and moderating our discussion forums allowing users to vent about almost anything they wish. It’s easily integrated with Facebook and Twitter, so you have the option to sign in with either account or you can register with an e-mail address.

161st and River was the website that really kicked off my foray into blogging and I plan on being an active part of its return, much like I was dating back to our humble beginnings in 2006 as a Facebook group, as a forum moderator and site blogger. The site is currently slated for an official launch on Opening Day; Sean is presently looking for people to blog, moderate forums and help out with site maintenance. If you’d like to help out in any way, hit us up on Facebook and Twitter.

Hopefully I’ll see you guys at 161st & River!

Gameday Post #9: Anaheim Angels at Yankees

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.

Without Jackie Robinson’s efforts and courage, I would never be as interested in baseball as I am today. I wouldn’t have the pleasure of looking up to such players as Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, Curtis Granderson and Justin Upton. I wouldn’t have grown up dreaming of emulating them on a baseball diamond.

Thank you, Jackie Robinson, for not only changing professional baseball … but the whole world.

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Baltimore……………..5-3

NEW YORK……..…….4-4 (1.0 GB)

Tampa Bay……………4-4 (1.0 GB)

Toronto.………………4-4 (1.0 GB)

Boston……….…………3-5 (2.0 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Sunday, April 15th, 1:05pm

TV/RADIO: ESPN, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: Jerome Williams (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Ivan Nova (1-0, 2.57 ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

Jerome Williams (LAA) — Williams missed most of the spring with a hamstring injury, but got through two Minor League rehab outings and will make his first appearance at Yankee Stadium. He posted a 3.68 ERA in 44 big league innings in 2011.

Ivan Nova (NYY) — Nova notched the Yanks’ first win with seven innings of two-run ball on April 9 at Baltimore. He was peppered for 10 hits but limited the damage, walking none and striking out seven. He’s 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts vs. the Halos.

 

ANGELS LINEUP

TBA

YANKEES LINEUP

TBA

Gameday Post #8: Anaheim Angels 7, Yankees 1

U-G-L-Y, Hughes ain’t got no alibi … it was ugly. Yeah, yeah, it was ugly.

Well, at least Robbie Cano got his first RBI of the season today. And David Phelps came up big in relief yet again.

Other than that, though, it wasn’t a fun game to watch.

Gameday Post #7: Anaheim Angels at Yankees

The Yankees played another extra-inning tilt Wednesday night with the Orioles. And just like the previous night, it was the Bombers who came up victorious. Nick Swisher’s 2-run HR in the 10th capped off the three-game sweep and gave his team  the 6-4 victory. CC Sabathia labored through 6 innings, allowing four earned runs but picking up eight strikeouts. A 38-pitch 2nd inning ate into his overall pitch count, but he felt much better than he did in his first start. With a depleted bullpen, CC did more than enough to give as much length as possible. Boone Logan, Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera held down the fort on the mound, throwing four shutout innings in relief. Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira each chipped in with multi-hit games. Granderson popped his first HR of the season and added 3 RBIs.

Hiroki Kurdoa will take the mound against Ervin Santana in the Yankees’ home opener vs. the Angels. Stadium gates open at 11am, with player introductions set to start at approximately 12:40pm. Enjoy, everyone … hope to see some of you there!

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Tampa Bay………..4-2

Toronto……..…….4-2

NEW YORK……….3-3 (1.0 GB)

Baltimore.………..3-3 (1.0 GB)

Boston……….………1-5 (3.0 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Friday, April 13th, 1:05pm

TV/RADIO: YES, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: Ervin Santana (0-1, 7.94 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (0-1, 6.35 ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

Ervin Santana (LAA) — Santana struggled in his season debut, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits (two homers) against the Royals on Sunday. The 29-year-old has a 5.55 ERA in 12 career starts against the Yankees.

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) — Kuroda had a tough Yanks debut, rapped for six runs (four earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings by the Rays. The 37-year-old said he didn’t feel he had one pitch he could consistently go to, something he hopes won’t happen in his Bronx debut.

 

ANGELS LINEUP

 

YANKEES LINEUP

 

Gameday Post #6: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

For a few innings, it seemed like last night’s game would never end. No one was taking control in the late innings, and the Yankees and Orioles were destined for a ridiculously long night. But Raul Ibanez’ 12th-inning double put the Yankees ahead for the 5-4 win. The key hit helped let Freddy Garcia off the hook. Making his season debut, Garcia was far from sharp as he threw more wild pitches (five) than allowed runs (four). The five wild pitches were the most by a starter since 1989. The bullpen was able to pick him up as David Phelps, David Robertson, Boone Logan, Cory Wade, Clay Rapada and Mariano Rivera combined to allow no runs over 7 1/3 innings of work. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano continued their hot hitting by combining to go 5-for-12 with an RBI. Ibanez and Brett Gardner also added two-hit games to help pace the offense.

CC Sabathia will look to complete the three-game sweep of the Orioles as he goes up against newly appointed ace Jake Arrieta. After the game, the Yankees fly back to New York for their annual Homecoming Dinner Thursday night before kicking off their first homestand against the Angels.

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Tampa Bay………..4-1

Toronto……..…….4-2 (0.5 GB)

Baltimore…………..3-2 (1.0 GB)

NEW YORK………..2-3 (2.0 GB)

Boston……….………1-5 (3.5 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 11th, 7:05pm

TV/RADIO: YES, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: CC Sabathia (0-0, 7.50 ERA) vs. Jake Arrieta (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

CC Sabathia (NYY) — Sabathia struggled with his fastball command on Opening Day, allowing five runs in six innings — four on Carlos Pena’s slam. Sabathia was encouraged that he pitched better the second and third times through the lineup. He was 2-0 vs. the O’s in ’11.

Jake Arrieta (BAL) — The 26-year-old Arrieta is coming off seven scoreless innings vs. the Twins in an Opening Day victory Friday afternoon. Arrieta has emerged stronger since offseason right elbow surgery and he will look to continue that against the rival Yankees.

 

YANKEES LINEUP

SS Derek Jeter

CF Curtis Granderson

2B Robinson Cano

3B Alex Rodriguez

1B Mark Teixeira

RF Nick Swisher

DH Raul Ibanez

C Russell Martin

LF Brett Gardner

ORIOLES LINEUP

LF Nolan Reimold

SS J.J. Hardy

RF Nick Markakis

CF Adam Jones

C Matt Wieters

3B Mark Reynolds

DH Ronny Paulino

1B Wilson Betemit

2B Robert Andino

Gameday Post #5: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

The Yankees are now in the win column! Ivan Nova came out and played the role of stopper as he led New York to a 6-2 victory over the Orioles last night. Fresh off a rather rough spring training, Nova showed everyone that he’s the same pitcher that won 16 games a year ago, going seven innings and allowing two earned runs. He also struck out 7 batters and didn’t allow a walk. The offense did some good damage against Brian Matusz, with Derek Jeter’s 4-for-4 night leading the charge. Andruw Jones chipped in his first HR of the season starting in place of Brett Gardner, who entered as a defensive replacement shortly after the home run. Birthday boy David Robertson and the incomparable Mariano Rivera finished off the Orioles with back-to-back scoreless innings to notch the first win of the season.

Freddy Garcia is set to take the ball in the second game of this three-game set. He’ll be countered by Wei-Yin Chen, who will be making his major-league debut out of Taiwan.

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Baltimore………..3-1

Tampa Bay..…….3-1

Toronto…………..2-2 (1.0 GB)

NEW YORK……..1-3 (2.0 GB)

Boston……….……1-3 (2.0 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 10th, 7:05pm

TV/RADIO: My9, MLBN, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: Freddy Garcia (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, -.– ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

Freddy Garcia (NYY) — Garcia clinched a spot in the rotation when Michael Pineda was placed on the DL with a shoulder injury, but a strong spring had the team debating carrying Garcia anyway. The soft-tosser was 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA in four starts vs. the O’s last year.

Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) — The 26-year-old southpaw from Taiwan will be making his Major League debut against the division-rival Yankees. Chen was 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five starts this spring.

 

YANKEES LINEUP

SS Derek Jeter

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

3B Alex Rodriguez

1B Mark Teixeira

CF Curtis Granderson

DH Andruw Jones

C Russell Martin

LF Brett Gardner

ORIOLES LINEUP

LF Endy Chavez

SS J.J. Hardy

RF Nick Markakis

CF Adam Jones

C Matt Wieters

DH Nick Johnson

3B Mark Reynolds

1B Chris Davis

2B Robert Andino

Gameday Post #4: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

Long story short: it was not the ideal opening weekend for the Yankees. Yesterday’s putrid effort solidified that. But the good thing is that you get another change at it the next day. Tonight Ivan Nova takes the hill for the first time in 2012 looking to get the Bombers into the win column. He will be matched up against Brian Matusz, whose 2011 season was historically bad.

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Baltimore………..3-0

Tampa Bay..…….3-0

Toronto…………..2-1 (1.0 GB)

NEW YORK……..0-3 (3.0 GB)

Boston……….……0-3 (3.0 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 9th, 7:05pm

TV/RADIO: YES, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: Ivan Nova (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Brian Matusz (0-0, -.– ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

Ivan Nova (NYY) — Nova had a sluggish start to his spring but seemed to put it together near the end. Nova is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts vs. the O’sover the last two years, striking out 21 batters in 25 1/3 innings — his most against any club.

Brian Matusz (BAL) — Coming off a tough season, Matusz was one of the feel-good stories this spring. He earned the final rotation spot and will make his season debut Monday against the Yanks. He’s looking to prove that last year’s 1-9 record with a 10.69 ERA was a fluke.

 

YANKEES LINEUP

SS Derek Jeter

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

DH Alex Rodriguez

1B Mark Teixeira

CF Curtis Granderson

LF Andruw Jones

C Russell Martin

3B Eduardo Nunez

ORIOLES LINEUP

LF Nolan Reimold

SS J.J. Hardy

RF Nick Markakis

CF Adam Jones

C Matt Wieters

3B Mark Reynolds

DH Wilson Betemit

1B Chris Davis

2B Robert Andino

Gameday Post #3: Tampa Bay Rays 3, Yankees 0

NOTE: Due to Easter Mass, I didn’t have time to do a pregame post. So this will be a post-game wrap-up.

Thank goodness the Knicks pulled out an overtime win against the Bulls today.

Obviously, this is not how anybody envisioned the Yankees’ season to start. Jeremy Hellickson was on his game from the word “Go!” as he shut down the Yankees offense and outpitched Phil Hughes en route to a 3-0 Rays win. It capped off a three-game sweep for Tampa to kick off the 2012 MLB season. Hughes himself wasn’t bad at all — he only allowed two earned runs in 4 2/3 IP. He was consistent with his velocity, routinely hitting the mid-90′s with his fastball, but was not economical with his 99 pitches. Hellickson was just that much better. The reigning Rookie of the Year was phenomenal in his start, throwing 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The Yankees offense mustered only three hits, all doubles from Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher.

Now I know people are prone to panicking over an 0-3 start. But it’s important to remember two things:

1. If there’s anything that the game of baseball teaches you, it’s the old adage “Patience is a virtue.” There are 159 more games to go,Yankee fans. No team goes 0-162 in a season, the same way no team goes 162-0. It’s all cliche, I know, but it definitely rings true. Which leads me to this …
2. Remember the 1998 Yankees? You know, the team that won 114 games and the World Series? They started 0-3. Just sayin’ …

Bottom line is this: the season is far from over, everyone. Let’s not hit the panic button yet after three games, okay? They on their way to Baltimore with Ivan Nova making his season debut against Brian Matusz tomorrow. They’ll win at least one of these next three games. The Bombers just have to put this last series behind them and move on the next one.

Gameday Post #2: Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

The 2012 season did not start well for the Yankees as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays in their first game, 7-6. CC Sabathia was not sharp in the beginning of the game, allowing five runs in the first three innings on home runs from Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria. Mariano Rivera uncharacteristically let the lead slip away in the bottom of the ninth, taking the blown save and loss. All was not bad, however. Raul Ibanez provided enough offense to line CC up for the win, knocking a three-run HR and driving in 4 runs overall. Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Brett Gardner each had multi-hit games as well.

Free-agent import Hiroki Kuroda will make his first start for the Bombers as he takes the hill in Tropicana Field against perennial Cy Young candidate David Price.

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

Baltimore………..1-0

Tampa Bay..…….1-0

Toronto…………..1-0

NEW YORK……..0-1 (1.0 GB)

Boston……….……0-1 (1.0 GB)

 

DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 7th, 7:10pm

TV/RADIO: YES, MLBN, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: Hiroki Kuroda (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. David Price (0-0, -.– ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) — Kuroda will make his Yankees debut after signing a one-year, $10 million deal. The 37-year-old is coming off a campaign with the Dodgers in which he established career highs in wins, ERA, starts (32), innings (202) and strikeouts (161).

David Price (TB) — Price is one year removed from a second-place finish for the AL Cy Young Award. The left-hander went 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA in 2011, logging 224 1/3 innings. He is 4-2 with a 4.05 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Yankees.

 

YANKEES LINEUP

DH Derek Jeter

RF Nick Swisher

2B Robinson Cano

3B Alex Rodriguez

1B Mark Teixeira

CF Curtis Granderson

LF Andruw Jones

C Russell Martin

SS Eduardo Nunez

RAYS LINEUP

CF Desmond Jennings

1B Carlos Pena

3B Evan Longoria

LF Matt Joyce

RF Ben Zobrist

DH Luke Scott

2B Jeff Keppinger

C Jose Lobaton

SS Reid Brignac

Gameday Post #1: Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

It’s that time again, boys and girls … OPENING DAY!!!!!

Last year I got a little sidetracked and crazy busy, but this year I’m gonna give it another go: 162 games, 162 posts (the “high” watermark is 16 games). I’m gonna do a preview of each game consisting of the pitching probables, up-to-date division standings, a recap of the previous game and lineups whenever available. I’m also gonna try to sprinkle in some video entries every now and then … something new for the blog. It should make for a fantastic 2012 season so sit back, relax, and enjoy yourselves as the Yankees push towards their 28th World Series title!

*****

A.L. EAST STANDINGS

NEW YORK………..0-0

Baltimore………….0-0

Boston……………..0-0

Tampa Bay………..0-0

Toronto……………0-0

 

DATE/TIME: Friday, April 6th, 3:10pm

TV/RADIO: YES, MLBN, WCBS 880, WADO 1280

PITCHING PROBABLES: CC Sabathia (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. James Shields (0-0, -.– ERA)

 

PITCHING PREVIEW (from MLB.com)

CC Sabathia (NYY) — Sabathia will make his ninth career Opening Day start, and his fourth as a Yankee. He has gone 95-40 with a 3.09 ERA over the past five seasons, leading the Majors in wins, winning percentage and innings pitched.

James Shields (TB) — Shields is coming off his best season after going 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA in 2011. Included in his body of work were 11 complete games and 249 1/3 innings. Shields is 5-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 20 career starts against the Yankees.

 

YANKEES LINEUP

SS Derek Sanderson Jeter

CF Curtis Granderson

2B Robinson Jose Cano

3B Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez

1B Mark Charles Teixeira

RF Nicholas Thompson Swisher

DH Raul Javier Ibanez

C Russell Nathan Coltrane Jeanson Martin

LF Brett Michael Gardner

RAYS LINEUP

CF Desmond Jennings

RF Ben Zobrist

3B Evan Longoria

DH Jeff Keppinger

SS Sean Rodriguez

2B Elliott Johnson

1B Carlos Pena

C Jose Molina

LF Matt Joyce