Yankees Big Three

Who says the Yankee's are getting old? Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mariano Rivera have something to say about that. Jeter is batting .411 on the season with 4 home runs and 13 RBI's. Last night in Arlington, he went 4 - 5 with an RBI. A - Rod is hitting .250 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI's. He went 1 - 2 last night along with 3 RBI last night, with a home run. Rivera came into the ninth inning and shut the door for his fourth save this season.

If you listened to the media last year, Jeter and A - Rod were terrible according to them. They began to ask questions like, "Is it time for Jeter to retire?" The answer was an easy one, absolutely not. The captain of the Yankee's still has "it". The only reason why Jeter should retire is if he is no longer able to play or if he isn't having fun playing the game any longer.

A - Rod is currently trying to chase down Bonds/Aaron for the most home runs in major league history. This year he surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. on the list. Just another accomplishment for a famous Yankee.

Rivera continues to set the record for saves in a career each time he saves another game. This may or may not be Mo's last season. He said that he is the only one that knows if this will be his last season or not. I see no reason why he should retire. He is 42 and his cutter can still reach 93 MPH at that age which is remarkable. He is still extremely effective in the ninth inning. He still has the ability to play, so it leaves the decision entirely up to him.



The Grandyman Can!

Yankee's outfielder Curtis Granderson hit three home runs in the first four innings of last night's game against the Minnesota Twins. He eventually hit two more singles in his next two at bats and went 5 - 5 on the night. Granderson used to be the center fielder of the Detroit Tigers and imagine what that line up would be if he were at the top leading off. Austin Jackson was sent there in the trade to get Granderson to the Yankee's in the first place and I know that Jackson is a very good outfielder, but Granderson is simply better. Not by a lot, but enough to make their line up even more potent.

Granderson made history last night by becoming the first person to ever hit three home runs at the new Yankee Stadium. He received a curtain call from the Yankee faithful after his third bomb of the night.



Bartolo Colon: 38 consecutive strikes

Bartolo Colon, of the Oakland Athletics, threw 38 consecutive pitches for strikes last night against the Angels. That includes foul balls and ball that were put in play. That number is amazing and most guys would not be able to through that many strikes in the bull pen. That is incredible. I personally believe that this is more impressive than Cliff Lee and Matt Cain last night.

Lee pitched 10 innings and let up no earned runs. Cain was able to pitch 9 shutout innings. The unfortunate part of this story for them is that fact that Cain got a no decision out of it and even though Lee pitched 10 innings, he also got a no decision and his team lost. What does a guy have to do to win a game?

Colon was more impressive though because sometimes the call depends on the home plate umpire. To be pounding the zone like that explains why he was able to give his club a victory.



Jamie Moyer: Getting it done!

A 78 MPH fastball will win some games for you as long as you can locate it. Moyer, at the age of 49, has become the oldest pitcher to win a game in major league history. He has also faced 8.9% of all the batters in major league history, and that is a fact. Even taking into account players like Babe Ruth and the all time greats that played before he was born.

Its different to say that he one this game as a member of the Colorado Rockies and not the Philadelphia Phillies. This is an impressive accomplishment because the guy is almost 50 years old and he is still doing what he loves. Plus, it cannot be forgotten, that he is coming off Tommy John surgery.



Bobby V: Stop talking

Bobby Valentine has never been afraid of speaking his mind, but now he needs to stop. Yesterday, he questioned Kevin Youkilis and his commitment toward the team. Nobody really has any idea what Valentine was trying to do. If he was trying to fire his team up and inspire them or inspire a certain player, he picked the wrong guy to do so. Youkilis has always played hard.

Dustin Pedroia was the first to defend him and say that he was confused by Valentine's actions, here are some of his quotes below:

"I really don't know what Bobby is trying to do," Pedroia said. "That's not the way we go about our stuff around here. He'll figure that out. The whole team is behind Youk. We have each other's backs here."

"Maybe that works in Japan," Pedroia said, referring to Valentine's success as a manager in that country.

Whatever is going on in Boston needs to stop if they have a chance at even making the playoffs at this point.

Vin Scully returns for Jackie Robinson Day

The Los Angeles Dodgers announcer returned to the microphone yesterday on Jackie Robinson day. He missed the previous five games, including the Opening Day for Dodger stadium, due to a bad cold. Scully is one of the best of all time and that is why he is in the Hall of Fame.

Since his broadcasting career started in 1950, he has called three perfect games, 19 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star Games. He also called Kirk Gibson's famous home run and Hank Aaron's 715th home run.



Baseball news

Since the Mets and Phillies open up a three game series today, I have a bit of news from each team. Lets start with the Mets. To update a previous story about David Wright, doctors have cleared him to resume baseball activities. The Mets were 4 - 0 when he was in the line up and are 0 - 2 without him. The organization said that his status for the game will be decided at game time.

Now, on to the Phillies, Pat Burrell signed a one-day minor league contract with them and retired as a member of the Phils. He is fourth in team history in home runs, eighth in RBI's, and ninth in extra base hits. He will retire with two World Series rings to his name. One with the Phillies in 2008 and one with the Giants in 2010.