Author: Chris Carelli

The New York Yankees come into each season with one goal in mind and that is to win the World Series. The 2012 season was no different in that regard. The Yankees were once again able to reach the postseason by virtue of a 95-67 record, good for first place in the highly competitive American League East. They barely outlasted the Baltimore Orioles in the process, and then had to face the club in the American League Division Series. The Yankees won the ALDS in five hotly contested games earning a trip to the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees offense went into a severe slump just about all at once and combined with excellent pitching by the Tigers, the Yankees were swept. The regular season and postseason showed two very distinct sides to the Yankees and raised multiple questions about the team’s future.

Regular Season Summary

Jeter turned in one of his best seasons in a decade in 2012, but suffered a broken ankle during the ALCS. Image: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

The Yankees got out to a slow start in April and May, posting a 21-21 record at about the one-quarter mark of the season. April was an especially tough month on the injury front. They lost Brett Gardner to injury after the first week of the season and then Mariano Rivera suffered a season ending injury to his ankle while shagging flies at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium. The Gardner injury forced Joe Girardi to use Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones in the field more than he ever intended. At first David Robertson took the reins from Rivera, but he fell victim to the injury bug as well and Rafael Soriano became the de facto closer. It ended up being a strong part of the Yankees arsenal going forward. Soriano went on to record saves in 42 out of 46 chances for the Yankees.

After the mediocre start, the Yankees went on an incredible streak which saw them win 36 of 49 games to raise their record to 57-34 and enjoyed a ten-game lead in the AL East. That was the largest lead they had for the season. From that point on the Yankees played 38-33 ball. The entire month of September was a dog fight with the Orioles and for a time the Tampa bay Rays.

During the upswing the Yankees received bumps from Derek Jeter who ended the season leading the Majors in hits with 216 and Robinson Cano had a tremendous June (.340/.416./.730 with 11 home runs and 21 RBI). Nick Swisher was also hot during the streak producing a triple slash of .321/.406/.548.

After the Yankees lead seemed insurmountable they began to slide. They suffered injuries to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. Both men missed 40-plus days during the season, severely hampering their contributions to the team. But, the Yankees received big help from Eric Chavez as a replacement for Rodriguez. Ibanez was stellar when the Yankees were down in April and then turned it on again in September into the postseason magic which we’ll discuss later. Ichiro Suzuki was the big trade at the deadline and he turned his season around in the Bronx. Cano finished the regular season hitting .615 over the final nine games.

The Yankees suffered from the injury bug in the rotation as well. CC Sabathia won 15 games, but missed time this season, hitting the disabled list twice. Andy Pettitte, who came out of retirement and returned to the field in May, was on the shelf for a couple months after fracturing his ankle from a line drive. Hiroki Kuroda arguably the team’s best free-agent signing turned in a fantastic season going 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA. He received very little run support at times which could have prevented him from recording a 20-win season. Ivan Nova, the 2011 surprise member of the rotation was wildly inconsistent in the second half and ended up losing his spot in the rotation. Phil Hughes started out slowly along with the rest of the team but was remarkable and more the pitcher the Yankees hoped from June through October. He ended up posting a 16-13 record with a 4.23 ERA. Rookie David Phelps wore many hats; long man, spot starter and short relief and he was very good all-around.

In the pen the Yankees received surprising performances from Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada, who combined with Boone Logan to comprise the middle relief crew Girardi relied on the most to get the game to Robertson in the eighth and Soriano to close it out. Robertson was very good, but not as dominant as he was in 2011 and Soriano we’ve already mentioned was very instrumental in the Yankees success.

Postseason Summary

After playing a full month of baseball in more or less playoff atmospheres, the Yankees met the Orioles in the ALDS after the Birds defeated the Texas Rangers in the wild card play-in game. The series started in Baltimore as this season the lower seed played the first two games in their home park and the higher seed received home field advantage in the final three games. The Yankees won Game 1 behind stellar pitching from Sabathia and a Yankees offensive eruption in the ninth against Orioles closer Jim Johnson. The Orioles took Game 2 to even the series and were up on the Yankees in Game 3 before Ibanez hit a game tying homer in the ninth (off Johnson) and then the game-winning home run in the twelfth inning. Besides hitting the homers, Ibanez’s hits were huge because he did them as a pinch-hitter for Alex Rodriguez, marking the beginning of the story outside the playoffs for the Yankees. The Yankees gave back the series lead in Game 4, but Sabathia came back with an even better effort in Game 5 to send the Yankees to the ALCS. The Yankees won the entire season series with the Orioles 12-11 by a difference of only 4 runs.

In Game 1 of the ALCS, the Yankees again had a monumental comeback in the ninth inning, this time off Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde. Unfortunately, they were unable to take the lead and eventually lost to the Tigers 6-4 in 12 innings. Jeter was lost for the remainder of the playoffs after fracturing his left ankle (yes another fractured ankle for the Yankees), which he had been slowed by for several weeks. The Yankees bats, already on the down side went even colder from Games 2-4 prompting more benchings by Girardi. It seemed that no matter who the Yankees put up to the plate besides Suzuki, Ibanez or Teixeira they could not generate any run support for a pitching staff that performed very well. In the end they were swept and humiliated in some people’s minds.

Players with Options to Consider

• Robinson Cano – $15 million; will get picked up and talks could begin toward a long-term contract extension.
• Curtis Granderson – $15 million; this one should get picked up as well, but the thought of a long-term extension has definitely taken a hit.
• Rafael Soriano – can opt-out of contract and become a free-agent. His fantastic season puts him in a position to exercise the option and look for a multi-year deal.

Key Free Agents

• Nick Swisher – unlikely to re-sign.
• Ichiro Suzuki – could find a spot in right field to replace Swisher.
• Hiroki Kuroda – increased his value with excellent season. A definite possibility to stay in the Bronx.
• Mariano Rivera – claims to be looking to re-sign.
• Andy Pettitte – once again contemplating retirement, but if he comes back it will be with Yankees.
• Raul Ibanez – his performance in the playoffs may have netted him more money and other opportunities to explore.
• Eric Chavez – could get another one year deal with Yankees as insurance for A-Rod.
• Russell Martin – probably wishes he signed three year offer on the table last offseason. Could wind up in New York for less money considering poor overall offensive performance.
• Andruw Jones – poor season likely ends Yankee tenure.

Management/Coaching

• Brian Cashman – Is he wearing out his welcome in New York, or is he the perfect mouthpiece for Yankees’ ownership?
• Joe Girardi – His job is safe for now. Contract ends with 2013 season. Lame duck manager?
• Tony Pena – Looking for a managerial job, but would likely return as bench coach if none is offered to him.
• Larry Rothschild – He’ll be around in 2013 as the Yankees’ pitching coach for sure.
• Kevin Long – If the Yankees get out to a poor start at the plate he’s a goner.

What do the Yankees need to do this offseason?

The Yankees have a good amount of soul searching to do this offseason. After a dismal performance in the postseason, a multitude of questions arose some of which are not even on the field concerns. With an abundance of free agents and question marks with players already under contract or with options that will be picked up, the Yankees have to decide who best fits the team’s homer happy mantra which Cashman has already suggested the Yankees will not change.

Does the team create a slight balance by signing Ichiro and combining his style of play with Gardner’s, and Jeter’s for that matter? Having three contact hitters at the top and bottom of the lineup may compensate for times when the team is not driving the ball over the fence.

If they are able to sign both Kuroda and Pettitte, who will be fifth starter assuming Hughes did enough to solidify his spot and the Yankees don’t use him for trade bait? If one or neither of them signs for 2013, does Ivan Nova get another chance? Will Michael Pineda be ready to provide some innings? Does David Phelps get a crack at being a full-time member of the rotation?

Regardless of how one assesses the information at hand, the Yankees will have a very busy and incredibly eventful offseason.

For all things concerning the Bronx Bombers, make sure to visit Yanks Go Yard.

They can afford a new statue in New York. What the Yankees couldn’t afford was to lose to the Baltimore Orioles at the wrong time. They didn’t, thanks to Ibanez, who was riding the bench, but in a bold stroke by manager Joe Girardi found a bat and pinch-hit for designated hitter Alex Rodriguez. Then he pinch-hit for himself. Actually, Ibanez just quietly stayed in the lineup as the DH out of sight, until the batting order got around to him again. He promptly hit another solo home run for the 3-2 victory and the 2-1 lead in games in the American League Division Series. (more…)

Brett Gardner has only played nine games this season, but he should be back with the Yankees early next week. (Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE)

then, and has been working on recovery.  Last night, Gardner made a rehab start for the Charleston River Dogs and finally got some live game action in.  He went 1 for 3 with a steal and a run scored for the River Dogs.  Gardner played college ball at the College of Charleston so he is quite familiar with the city and the River Dogs’ home field, Riley Park.

Andrew Miller of the Post and Courier says Gardner was supposed to play a few games in Tampa after finishing his rehab, then return to the Yankees.  However, rain forced a change in his rehab start locations.  And Gardner was perfectly happy about it.

“It’s not the way we planned it, but this was a great consolation prize for me,” Gardner said. “This made the most sense to everyone. They didn’t have to twist my arm at all to get me back here.”

Brett Gardner has played five seasons, including this year, for the Yankees.  He has become the team’s every day left fielder and a major piece of their defense.  Gardner got nine games in before the injury and was hitting .321/.424/.393.  Last season, Gardner stole 49 bases for the Yankees, and he has stolen 137 in his career.

Gardner is expected to return to the Yankees lineup early next week.  Raul Ibanez, who the Yankees expected to use in more of a designated hitter and pinch hitter role this season, has been filling in for Gardner.  He has hit .255/.308/.497 this season.  Dewayne Wise has also played 21 games in left this year for the Yankees.

The Yankees hope Garnder’s return can help power them past the tightly-bunched American League East.  All five teams in the division are within four games of first place.  The Yankees are currently a half game back of the Rays with the Orioles right behind them.  Gardner’s speed, glove, and bat should be a big boost for the Yankees.

For more on the Yankees be sure to check out Yanks Go Yard. 

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The game of the day involved two AL East powerhouses, who squared off in a fateful game to end the 2011 season the last time these two teams faced eachother. The Rays won by a run, with the newly acquired Carlos Pena making good on his first game in his reunion with the Rays. He started the scoring in the first by smashing a grand slam off of C.C. Sabathia (8 hits, 5 runs in 6 innings) and then hitting the game-winning single to score Ben Zobrist, who hit a triple earlier to tie the game at 6 in the bottom of the ninth.

In fact, Pena had a WPA of .585 for the game with Zobrist adding a .494 WPA; that’s the way to start things off when you’re back on your old team. James Shields allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings of work, but the bullpen did not allow a single hit for the final four innings.

For the Yankees, Raul Ibanez had four RBIs with an Early Wynn special in the third to score Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez, with A-Rod contributing a 2-3 game with two runs and two walks. Mariano Rivera was charged with the loss, after he blew the game bu allowing the two runs in the ninth; his only out recorded was a strikeout of Sean Rodriguez (1-2, R, 2 BB).

April 6, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman

Rangers 3, White Sox 2

The White Sox missed some opportunities in this game by going 0-7 with runners in scoring position, and those missed chances led to them falling just short against the Texas Rangers in a 3-2 game. John Danks pitched six quality innings and struck out six while allowing six hits and three runs, and opposing starter Colby Lewis struck out seven in six innings with seven hits and two runs allowed. Danks, however, ended up with a negative WPA for the game. Lewis ended with a Game Score of 58, with Danks receiving a score of 54.

Adam Dunn had a monster of a home run in the 6th inning; the inning that yielded the only two runs of the game for the White Sox. After tying it 2-2 at that point thanks to a single from Alexei Ramirez, Michael Young knocked in Josh Hamilton in the bottom of the sixth to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead that would not change. Joe Nathan blanketed the White Sox in the ninth, and Ian Kinsler led the way with two early extra base hits (double and a home run) to lead the way for Texas.

Angels 5, Royals 0

Even though it was Albert Pujols‘s debut with his new club, this was anything but The Machine’s game. He went 0-3 with an intentional walk, was mowed down by Aaron Crow, hit a popout to third, and was bounced out on a double play in the game. Crow ended up being charged with the loss after allowing three runs in 1.1 innings and helping the Angels to a five run outburst in the bottom of the eighth to seal the home opener.

Bruce Chen tossed six scoreless frames while allowing just three hits, but ace Jered Weaver was even better in his eight innings. Weaver allowed just four hits and struck out ten batters to help shut down the Royals.

Erick Aybar finished with three steaks, and Peter Bourjos went 2-3 to help lead the Halos. His RBI hit in the eighth was off of an infield single, and Aybar tripled in three- including Bourjos- then later scored on a single from Torii Hunter (1-4, 1 RBI).

Orioles 4, Twins 2

Jake Arrieta allowed just two hits and two walks in seven scoreless frames for a 75 GSC, while Carl Pavano was exactly average in a 4-2 victory for the Baltimore Orioles. Josh Willingham hit a two-run home run off of Troy Patton in his Twins debut, while Nick Markakis led the way for the O’s in a fantastic game by hitting a round-tripper in the first with a triple, walk, two runs, and three steaks overall.

Mariners 7, Athletics 3

Leadoff hitter Chone Figgins was actually relevant in this 7-3 victory, as he went 3-4 with two ribbies and helped Brendan Ryan score in the opening frame on some terrible defense by the A’s. Brandon McCarthy received no help, as he allowed just two earned runs out of the five that were scored in the five innings that he was in the game for.

The newly acquired Seth Smith knocked a pinch hit single to score Jemile Weeks in the eighth in his lone at bat, as Jonny Gomes was the cleanup hitter and DH in this one.

Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run dinger in his MLB debut, after the A’s took a risk by signing the talented Cuban outfielder. Fellow young star Jesus Montero went 1-4 with a sacrifice fly to score Figgins in his debut with the M’s.

Rockies 5, Astros 3

Jeremy Guthrie and Wandy Rodriguez were about even in their performances, as Wandy allowed no earned runs with three runs being earned in the loss. In his Colorado debut, Guthrie allowed just four hits in seven innings and gave up three earned runs in total. The always solid Rafael Betancourt is the new closer in Colorado, and he is already making his extension look good by notching the save.

Michael Cuddyer and Ramon Hernandez are two new Rockies who both went 2-4, while Carlos Lee‘s 2-4, HR, 2 RBI stat line was the best offensive performance for the ‘Stros. RF Brian Bogusevic and Troy Tulowitzki also homered.

5 Diamondbacks, 4 Giants

A tough game was fought between the two best teams in the NL West, with the D’Backs emerging victorious in off-games for starters Tim Lincecum and Ian Kennedy. Ryan Roberts hit a clutch two-RBI double in the sixth for the Snakes, and Chris Young and Paul Goldschmidt also homered for ‘Zona. Pablo Sandoval went 2-5 with an RBI for the Giants, with the newly acquired Melky Cabrera having a nice 2-5, 2 run, 2 RBI game in right. Both Sandoval and Cabrera hit doubles, with Melky showing why the Jonathan Sanchez trade with the Royals was beneficial.

Cardinals 11, Brewers 5

The NL Central heavyweights fought it out, with the Cardinals exercising their offensive muscle and showing why they can win big even without Albert Pujols on their team. Yovani Gallardo was shellacked in 3.2 innings of six-run ball, and he surrendered four homers to Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran, World Series hero and hot hitter David Freese, and star Matt Holliday. Freese and Beltran had field days against the Brewers, and this game was definitely one Cards fans will be proud of.

Dodgers 6, Padres 0

The Dodgers shut down the (sarcasm alert) vaunted Padres offense, as the Padres were only able to get three hits off of Chad Billingsley in 8.1 innings of excellence. The strikeout artists punched out 11 stymied Padres, with Chase Headley getting mowed down three times. The newly extended Cory Luebke did not fair out as well, as he gave up five earned runs and nine hits in 4.2 innings, despite notching six strikeouts.

Newly acquired pitchers Micah Owings and Andrew Cashner (from the Anthony Rizzo trade with the Cubs) combined for 4.1 innings of one-hit, two-walk, three-strikeout baseball (Owings pitched 3.1 of those innings and allowed the lone hit).

Mark Ellis was a guy I tabbed as an underrated signing, and the new Dodgers second baseman is the only veteran signing that will pay dividends (something I said a month ago). He went 2-5 with two runs and a double, but this was Andre Ethier’s game. The star right fielder went 2-4 with four RBIs including a double and a triple (both off of Luebke). Superstar Matt Kemp is also starting the season on the right footing for the Dodgers, and he went 2-4 with two runs and an RBI.

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