Daily Archives: April 9, 2013
Opening Week Jitters For The Yankees
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Opening Week was what many suspected, but as the Yankees come out of that leg of the marathon, they are alive and kicking. The question will be as it always was: Can the pitching keep the team in the game?
By Nicholas Rossoletti (Yankees Correspondent/Trade Correspondent): Follow @nross56
As winter turns to spring, anyone who loves the game of baseball begins to become anxious. The season is almost here becomes a rallying cry for those fans who spend the cold winter missing the boys of summer.
Opening Day is a borderline holiday for we baseball fans. It marks the beginning of our six (6) month journey. A time of renewal and rebirth. A time of hope as spring turns to summer and our favorite teams return to their ballparks. The Yankees headed north to begin the season and immediately entered their traditional role in the spotlight of New York.
For over 100 years, there has been no bigger ticket in sports in the Big Apple than the Yankees. Sadly enough opening day was as bad as many of the naysayers expected. CC Sabathia, a traditional slow starter, was beaten badly by the Red Sox.
Sabathia’s largest weakness was the frequency with which runners reached base. Allowing 12 base runners over the course of only five innings, Sabathia provided the Red Sox with opportunity after opportunity.
Much has been made of Sabathia’s decreasing velocity. It was the hot topic after the outing. Sabathia topped out at around 92 MPH on his fastball, which seemed ultimately much more hittable.
Equally worrisome to the loss in velocity is the inability to control the strike zone with 4 Walks during the start. All in all, it made for another horrid opening day from a pitcher that has traditionally been poor on opening day.
Ivan Nova: Back When It Was Working:
Clear Skies Empty Stadium – A Sully Baseball Video
I made this video in 2011 when I couldn’t believe the season was opening in cold weather cities and stadiums like AT&T Park were empty.
Why guess what?
The Padres and the Angels are the last two teams to have their home openers.
How the hell does that makes sense?
Watch other Sully Baseball videos HERE.
Addison Reed: Not Just A One Pitch Pitcher
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Reed didn’t start out the 2012 season as the Sox Closer. That honor was given to Hector Santiago, a young Left-Hander, now used primarily for long relief. Santiago’s big selling point was his nasty screwball. But, he eventually had problems throwing it, or any pitch, for strikes. Once Santiago began to struggle, Reed eventually worked his way into the closer’s role. 3 Saves, 1-0 record, 0.00 ERA. Not a bad start to a season for one of baseball’s up and coming Closers – which has helped propel the Sox into 1st place in the American League Central.
By Brian Madsen (White Sox Correspondent) Follow @brianm731
While the baseball world focuses its eyes on young arms like Stephen Strasburg, Dylan Bundy, and Jose Fernandez (for good reason), White Sox closer Addison Reed has raised some eyebrows in the first 6 games of this season.
Though Reed made his first MLB appearance in 2011 as a September call-up, he didn’t make a real impact until 2012. Reed saved 29 games last year with an ERA of 4.75. Not stellar numbers for sure, but also not shabby for a rookie.
He picked up the first Save of his career in May of 2012 and was officially named the Closer by month’s end.
Addison Reed of the San Diego Aztecs:
Is Jeff Luhnow Preparing To Make Trades?
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General Manager Jeff Luhnow has stockpiled a lot of talent in the Minor Leagues in the last few months – and is looking to acquire a helluva lot more. With the club having lost 6 games in a row since the opener, this could get ugly real quick – with every meaningful player being traded away. This is Jim Crane’s mandate. The Astros full game plan is to be as bad as they can be in the next few years – in order to Draft as high as possible. We have had great chats at the strosbros.mlblogs.com Podcasts, plus Sully’s Daily Baseball Podcasts here at the Reports has also covered the topic.
By Lee White (Astros Correspondent)
Is Jeff Luhnow back at it with his magical trades? Is Paul Clemens coming up to the Major League level? No one knows anything at this point. Okay, before we at the ‘Stros Bros begin any speculation, lets give a little back story.
Other than the Opening Night victory, plus last nights 3 – 0 loss to the Mariners, in which they had 2 perfect Innings, the Houston Astros have been atrocious. Especially the bullpen.
Okay, on Sunday the bullpen was also alright, having given up 1 run in 4.2 Innings, but even the sun shines on a dog’s hind end every now and again. But, of course the Astros bullpen is bad. That was a given headed into the season, but with this bad bullpen, it seems as if some moves are on the horizon.
WEBN Interview with Luhnow:
Arizona Diamondbacks First Week in Review
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The Diamondbacks have started the 2013 season off great at 5 – 2 – including a great kickoff series versus the St . Louis Cardinals at home – before sauntering into Milwaukee and brutalizing that club for a 3 game stanza. The Starting Pitching looks a lit like it did in 2011 – and the Bullpen has been good in playing at two hitter friendly parks thus far for full series. They club has received contributions from everyone in their line up. The biggest impacts have been by Gerardo Parra, Martin Prado, and Paul Goldschmidt. The team lost the opener of the 3 game series vs Pittsburgh last night 5 – 3.
By Chris Lacey (Baseball Writer) Follow @aecanada12
The Arizona Diamondbacks had a very good start to their 2013 baseball season. The Diamondbacks have managed to start the season 5-1, and they are tied for first in the National League West division with the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks just finished a series sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. This is also the first time they have swept their opening road series in team history.
The Brewers did not have Ryan Braun play at all in the series, and the Brewers slugging Third Baseman Aramis Ramirez was injured in the first game. The Brewers still played very well without their two best offensive players unavailable.
2011 NL West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Mature Lyrics – Parental Guidance Is Advised:
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 9, 2013
From ESPN.com
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast deals with unusual math.
You don’t really start following teams until you turn 8 years old.
That means 10 year old Yankee fans have no memory of a World Series title.
Kids getting their driving license in New England can say the whole “Curse” thing was before their time.
And 26 year old have never experienced anything other than labor peace in baseball.
It sure makes ME feel old.
Also I determined that Brandon Phillips, Matt Harvey, Ervin Santana and especially Robinson Cano owned baseball on April 8, 2013.
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Players who owned baseball for a Day
Clayton Kershaw – 2
Robinson Cano – 1
Shin-Soo Choo – 1
Alex Cobb – 1
Zack Cozart – 1
Yu Darvish – 1
Chris Davis – 1
Jacoby Ellsbury – 1
Prince Fielder – 1
Adrian Gonzalez – 1
Carlos Gonzalez – 1
Gio Gonzalez – 1
Bryce Harper – 1
Matt Harvey – 1
Felix Hernandez – 1
Adam Jones – 1
Cliff Lee – 1
Jed Lowrie – 1
Justin Maxwell – 1
Bud Norris – 1
Gerardo Parra – 1
Andy Pettitte – 1
Brandon Phillips –
Albert Pujols – 1
CC Sabathia – 1
Ervin Santana – 1
Drew Smyly – 1
Justin Upton – 1
Adam Wainwright – 1
Barry Zito – 1
MLB Reports 
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