WHAT SHOULD THE YANKEES DO WITH NUNEZ?

I feel bad for Eduardo Nunez. After getting a reputation for making errors at just about every position he was asked to play, the Yankees sent Nunez down to the minors when Eric Chavez was reactivated from the DL. The reason I feel bad is I don't think he stopped trying. He wore the disappointment in himself on his face. But his defensive difficulties seem to get worse with every game and every error he made. However he was becoming a defensive liability. Yankee fans started to hold their breath with every fielding play he was involved in. Maybe Nunez started to feel that, which may have made him even more nervous, which may have caused him to make more errors, and so on.

Now back in Scanton Triple A, the question becomes what do they with Eduardo? Unfortunately, all the years he spent proving himself as a major league ballplayer (as all young players have to do) has been erased and he needs to start all over again. Now, when you mention his name, he is considered the "error prone" Eduardo Nunez. That's truly unfortunate.

I think the best thing for this young player is to go to another team with a smaller stage. Not everyone is cut out to play in New York. Nunez may be one of those players.

I hope Eduardo Nunez can turn things around for himself, whether it's here in the Bronx or somewhere else.

ON THOSE DAYS - FOR MY MOTHER

You, my sweet, dear mother have known me for over 15,330 days. During those days...

When I felt ugly
YOU told me I was beautiful

When I felt like a failure
YOU told me I was amazing

When I lost my way
YOU told me to come home

When a guy broke my heart
YOU told me it was HIS loss

When I succeeded
YOU told me how proud you where

When I was a child, you taught me how to walk and talk. As a woman, you taught me how to love and laugh. You are my hero and my rock. You share my sense of humor and love of sports. You are my beautiful Mom.

A NOVA WIN, A ROBERTSON SAVE AND A YANKEE WIN.

Ivan Nova pitched great, Raul Ibanez and Curtis Granderson went deep (Ibanez twice) and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3. But the big story last night was David Robertson getting the save.

Nova went 7 inning and gave up 2 runs on 6 hits. He fought his way out of atleast one jam and overall seemed to have put his last bad outing behind him. He looked like the pitcher we have to enjoyed watching.

Raul Ibanez and Curtis Granderson went deep. We saw hits from Tex, A-Rod and Cano - which had been missing lately. Hopefully the middle of the order is starting to get timely hits. Russell Martin is still not having a hot bat, but he made a great throw to 2nd in the first inning to complete a strike em out throw em out play to end the inning. Plus I think he kept David Robertson's head from exploding in the 9th.

Speaking of Robertson, he got the first 2012 Post-Mo save. It wasn't as quick or as pretty as a Mariano save but considering the pressure and anxiety he must have been feeling, he did good. After the game, David was quoted as saying "I was thinking you better not blow your 1st one. Do not blow your first opportunity or Mo might come in here and smack me around”

Lastly, some good news for Andy Pettitte. He is officially scheduled to make his 2012 start this Sunday at Yankee Stadium (mother's day) against Seattle. The Yankee house will be a rockin! Welcome home Andy!

Hopefully we can grab another win from the Rays and keep this train on the rails and in the right direction.

As always, GO YANKEES!

DAVID ROBERTSON SHOWS HOUDINI MAGIC

Mariano Riveria made his major league debut on May 25, 1995. He was a skinny, 25 year old kid who at times struggled to find a place for himself as a pitcher for the Yankees. After that incredible world series win in 1996, the then closer, John Wetteland, didn't return and the job went Mo. "Enter Sandman" was born; but becoming the "great" Mariano Riveria took many seasons, at times suffering difficult losses. Mo's greatest talent wasn't just the cutter - it was the ability to turn the page after a blown save. No one becomes legendary overnight, including Mo.

I say all this because today was the first save for David Robertson. With only a 2 run lead, the game rested on this kid they call "Houdini", for his way getting out of big jams. DRob's heart looked like it was going to pound out of his chest. At one point I became concerned he was actually going to hyperventilate. True to his nickname he wound up loading the bases with one out and then struck out the next two and the game was over. I don't know if I have ever seen a more relieved closer. A huge exhale and, as someone said to me, "the color came back in his face". At the same time, somewhere, Mo smiled as the little prayer he said was answered and he too was able to exhale.

This is not the way anyone expected Robertson was going to be handed the keys to the castle, most of all Robertson. But as they say "You plan, God laughs". David got through that first save opportunity and though it may not have been pretty - he did it.

If I could say anything to David Robertson it would be to take a lesson from your predecessor and whether you get or blow the save, forget about it by the time you leave the clubhouse.

This kid young man from Tuscaloosa, Alabama has the stuff to be a good, if not a great, closer. I don't have a crystal ball and I don't know what the future holds for DRob. What I do know is fans have loved Mariano for what seems like a lifetime, and like Mo, Yankee fans have David Robertson's back. Today and always.

ANDY IS READY - IT'S GO TIME

The night Andy Pettitte takes the mound, for the first time since 2010, the New York Yankees fans will be collectively holding their breath. Because after the hoopla wound down over the announcement if Andy's return, the next question everyone had was "Can he?". Can return at the age of 39 (almost 40) and pitch again after sitting out all of last season? Can he be the same "Andy Pettitte" we knew for all these years. Can he still have the same great pick off move and strike out pitches he had before? There is only one way to find out. Put him on the 25 man roster and hand him the ball. As Nike says "Just do it".

Andy has made about 5-6 starts in the minors. Numbers have been decent. I think fans thought he would be lights out. After all he's pitching in the minors. It's not that simple. Everyone has to remember that these minor league players, especially those in triple A, are good. They are there because their team feels they have what it takes to be a major league player someday. He's not pitching to high school kids. Second, these minor leaguers know who Andy is. They want nothing more to get hits off him. If nothing else they can say "I got double off Andy Pettitte". I don't think the numbers are as important as how Andy feels after his starts. How strong his legs feel and if he has any soreness in his arm. According to Andy his legs and arm both feel good. He's ready. It's go time.

I want Andy to succeed. I have loved him as a player and admired him for the man he is since he first came up in 1996. But I also trust him. If you believe IN Andy then you have to believe what he says. So when he says "I'm ready" then that's all I need to hear.

I picture his first start like a scene from a movie. On that night (hopefully this week) Andy will take the mound, crowd roaring and screaming like it's the seventh game of the Workd Series. He throws a couple of warm up tosses. The lead off hitter steps into the batters box. Andy sets into the wind up, fans hold their breath and.....fade to black.

LET'S GO YANKEES

It was another ugly game last night.  The Yankees scored 1 run on 8 hits.  Kuroda pitched ok.  He went 4.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits.  Kuroda was followed by Rapada, Epply, Logan and Garcia (sounds like a law firm).  Collectively the relievers gave up only 1 run on 2 hits.  The ugly part of this game was the hitting, once again.  The Yankees left 9 guys on base.  At one point the Yankees had bases loaded with two out and Jeter grounded out of the inning.  Jeter is doing some amazing hitting - but he cannot be expected to get a hit at every single at bat.  There so many times during these games, the bats look lifeless.  I cannot pretend to know what the problem or the answers are. 

When you mix the injuries, the poor pitching and lack of hitting together, you get exactly what we have right now - a team that is 4 1/2 games out of first place.  I believe in this team.  I believe they can turn this around.  But it really does have to start right now, today. 

On the upside, Andy Pettitte makes his last minor league start against, of all teams, Pawtucket (Red Sox minor league team).  If all goes well, Andy should be back home hopefully next week.  That day Andy starts his first game at Yankee Stadium, Andy will be reminded by the fans why he is doing this. 

The dust has settled on the Mariano Rivera injury.  However, if I see one more article on if Mo can come back or why he shouldn't have been shagging fly balls, I will scream.   I love how even former players are weighing in on Mo.  "It's going to be a long road, he is having major surgery" said one former big leaguer.  To which I would like to respond "No Sh*t".   I'm not a doctor, nor are most people saying that they doubt he can comeback.  What I am is a fan of Mariano and my money is always on him.  Faith and determination are two things you can't take away from anyone.  Mo has both. 

Today is a new day and time to turn the page.  Maybe today is the day they turn it around.  That's the beauty of both life and baseball.  You never know what is coming around the corner.

As always, GO YANKEES!!!

YANKEE STRONG

A few days ago I wrote about being Jersey Strong - tonight it was Yankee Strong from the Bronx Bombers.

In the last 24 hours they went from losing Mariano Rivera for the season and maybe forever to Mariano vowing to come back next season. The mood in the clubhouse went from morose to uplifted. All on Mo's three word statement - "I'll be back". If there is anyone I would put money on to do it - it's Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees had CC on the mound, who if anyone could, he's the guy who can stop the bleeding of the losing streak. CC gave up 2 runs on 7 hits. But even more an important the bats finally started to get going. Collectively the team got 6 runs off 11 hits and home runs from Tex and Jeet. Cano seems to have started to find his swing (hopefully). They miss Gardner and Swisher both at the plate and on defense, but that just means it's time for everyone else step up.

Speaking of Captain Jeter, his batting average is again over .400, acting as if he has put the team on his shoulders knowing they have the talent to win. He also is setting the mood for the team more than ever. He came to the clubhouse tonight determined to put what happened to Mo behind them. As if to say "ok guys enough being sad, we need to start winning, Mo or no Mo". That is not Derek being uncaring about his injured teammate. I saw Derek's post game interview last night. His heart was broken over what happened to his friend of 20 years. But he also knew that feeling down about it, wasn't going to do any good. He walked in with a "c'mon lets go" attitude. That's why he's the captain - it's just Jeter being Jeter, as simple as that.

The Yankees play two more in KC and come home and play three against Rays, who have been on fire. The Rays series will be the opportunity to show the baseball world that no matter how broken the Yankees are, they are Yankee Strong, Just like Mariano will show them these next 9 or 10 months. That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.

Win today - play tomorrow.

As always, Go Yankees!