The Yankees first "mini week" of the season had plenty of ups and downs and certainly some eye-opening moments.
Considering the Bombers won two of three from the Tigers, I would say they are content with that result. The goal is always to get two of three in all series.
Lets talk about the good first. I like the looks of Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and the bullpen combination of Joba, Soriano and Rivera.
Martin hit .455 over the weekend and looks like the All-Star catcher the Dodgers once had.
Granderson jacked two homers and says that he is confident now after working with Kevin Long. He also now feels comfortable in his New York surroundings with a year under his belt. I expect a big year from him.
Mr. Teixeira sent three "tex" messages over the wall in the series. He connected in each game which is huge news for Yankee fans who expected another typical slow start.
Mark says he added a batting cage to his home over the winter and hit all year round instead of just starting in spring training.
Friday night's game featured old-style Yankee baseball from the late 90's but instead of the old combination of Stanton, Nelson and Rivera we now have a new version of Joba, Soriano and Rivera.
Those three will be tough to beat, especially if the Yankees can get to the eighth inning with a lead. Soriano and Rivera are lights out! The pinstripes managed 23 runs in the three games, as well as hitting nine home runs.
Now for the bad and I am not sure where to start. Starting pitching was mediocre as Sabathia labored through Thursday's game.
A.J. Burnett coasted for four innings Saturday before getting into trouble, although he did muster a win and showed his toughness battling through a nasty head cold.
On Sunday, Phil Hughes was terrible, and even more alarming was the fact that his velocity is way down from last year. I am worried he either has a dead arm or quite simply he is not suited to be a starter.
Bartolo Colon came in on Sunday to pitch after Phil Hughes got shellacked, and he didn't fare much better. I am surprised the Yankees kept him over Sergio Mitre, who was dealt to Milwaukee at the end of spring training.
There is no upside with Colon; he is simply washed up. I really hate to get too excited over just three games, but am I the only one that thinks that Derek Jeter just looks "old?" For Derek's sake, I really hope that I am wrong.
We also had some controversy when the Yankees were caught sending hand signals to the players on the field from a employee stationed behind home plate.
Brian Cashman, the Yankees GM, simply brushed those allegations off saying that the Yankees scoreboard was not working correctly and they were relayed the radar gun results to the batters. I do believe Major League Baseball rules say that is a no-no.
Cashman also riled up the Mets on Saturday stating that the Mets had "abused" now-Yankee pitcher Pedro Feliciano.
Cashman stated that the Mets over worked him to the point of the arm issues that he has now. Well, Brian, if you thought that then, why did you sign him in the first place?
This week's schedule brings in the Minnesota Twins for four games then it is off to Fenway for three against the 0-3 Red Sox.
Looking ahead, the Bombers really have a tough month with six games vs. the upstart Orioles, four with the White Sox, four with the Blue Jays and also three with the Rangers. A very tough month indeed.
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