Game 16: Yankees at Rangers
April 23, 2012, 7:05 p.m. ET, Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Tex.
TV / Radio: MY9/ESPN, WCBS 880 AM
Hello from Arlington, as the Yankees get set for what is going to be a very good test of their current state, taking on a 13-3 Rangers club that just might be the best the game has to offer. There’s no question that the Rangers boast a pretty complete offensive attack, and that’ll be CC Sabathia’s issue to handle tonight as he gets the ball, pushed back a day by the deluge in Boston.
A couple of brief pre-game updates to offer: Joe Girardi said that Freddy Garcia is “absolutely” staying in the Yankees’ rotation, and Michael Pineda’s dye-cast MRI has been pushed back a day to Tuesday due to a scheduling conflict.
The Rangers are holding a pre-game ceremony to honor the career of Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, who retires as a Texas Ranger and, in Joe Girardi’s opinion, is a surefire Hall of Famer. Pudge’s Yankees stint wasn’t long in 2008, but he leaves behind a legacy in New York of the bizarre-looking ‘RODRIGUEZ 12′ t-shirts you see every once in a while, making you wonder momentarily if they misprinted one of Alex Rodriguez’s.
Here are the lineups:
YANKEES (9-6)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Andruw Jones LF
Eduardo Nunez DH
Chris Stewart C
Pitching: CC Sabathia LHP (1-0, 5.59 ERA)
RANGERS (13-3)
Ian Kinsler 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Josh Hamilton LF
Michael Young 3B
Mike Napoli 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
Yorvit Torrealba C
Brandon Snyder DH
Craig Gentry CF
Pitching: Derek Holland LHP (2-0, 3.10 ERA)
Bryan Hoch
Let’s go Yankees!
I think CC likes warm weather and he’ll get it in Texas! Temp there is 75.
Hey Robert: bases loaded and Tex strikes out. Back to the old Tex before the last game. Was that an anomoly? Got to get the runs when there’s opportunity or it comes back to bite you, especially against a team like the Rangers. Let’s go CC.
Sounds like a huge crowd!
No rockets off of CC!
Not quite enough!
Bob, the second AB was worse! A double play!
I’m liking how CC looks!
Tex is getting closer!
Now Tex grounds into a DP. That’s more consistent for Tex other than the last game. He really hasn’t got his game in gear at the plate yet this year. Slow starter baloney! Needs to learn how to use spring training to warm up.
Bob, are you still in?
Robert: Closer to what?
Maybe he’s going back to his old style……when he hit .300+.
Tex is getting closer to a hit! That last AB was a solid grounder to short!
Bob, you have ESPN don’t you?
At least Arod is heating up after a good spring training. Tex needs to take a page out of ARod’s book. 3rd up and grounds out. Miserable showing at the plate. Why does Girardi play Andruw Jones. I really don’t like him. Never have. He seldom comes through in the clutch. Better to have had Ibanez playing or Chavez.
Not against a LHP.
Robert: Not able to pick it up on ESPN for some reason. it’s probably a channel I have to pay to see.
I think Tex worried too much about his slow starts. He needs to get back to his pre-2010 performances!
Bob, do you get MLBN?
And Stewart scores his second!
Jones doesn’t do much with a left handed pitcher either. Better than a right but not a lot. Man, Jeter is hot. Hope he stays that way. He’s Mr. Clutch again. Jeter renewed.
Sure Nolan, leave him out there!
What was Jones vs LHP last year….280? Not so bad at all!
You didn’t like Marcus Thames either!
Robert: They tried to mess with Tex’s swing in spring training, trying to get him to hit to the opposite field, talking about him bunting etc. I think it’s messed him up more. Now every team has got the big shift on him and he hits into it almost every time. And he’s swinging up on the pitches all the time trying to knock it out of the park or over the shift and ends up striking out. His mechanics are really off.
You can’t beat Hamilton all of the time!
CC may go a complete game!
Some warning track flys tonight!
You’re right I didn’t like Thames either. I think Cashman picked them both up at the end of their careers and neither of them produced like expected. I didn’t think Cashman would sign Jones again this year after last, but what do I know? I thought Chavez was a good resign if he stays healthy and so far he’s contributing. Can you tell me why Joe is saying that Garcia will stay in the rotation? Instead of Phelps? Garcia is being hit all over the yard this year and has lost his location. His velocity hasn’t been good for several years. Girardi did the same with AJ last year. He stunk up the joint almost every game but Girardi kept trotting him out in the rotation regardless.
Yes, Bob, but that’s what the market usually has for fourth outfielders. Better players want a full time job!
And they met Cashman’s expectations! We can’t have superstar subs!
And you don’t dump a starter with back to back 12 win seasons this early!
Girardi leaving CC in too long? 7-1 now 7-4 and Texas can do some damage with couple of innings left. Why is Jones in against a RHP? Why doesn’t Girardi put Ibanez in because Jones strikes out again!
Jones is a better defender!
Mo ‘em down!
That’s all folks! Take care Bob!
Game, Set and Match. Good game overall against a VERY good Rangers team. IF the Yankees can take two out of three here I’ll be happy. Rather play the Rangers now then in July or August when it is HOTTER than *ELL in Arlington. Take it from me there is no air movement in the stadium they play in.
Good win. Mo gets the job done but CC was pretty dominant. He’s the ace. Now what happens after CC. Not a lot of confidence in the rest of the starters on any given night. Good night offensively for Jeter. Chris Stewart should probably start more games. Go yankees! Let’s sweep the Rangers. Sox losing tonight.