Author Archive
AJ Burnett Is Key to The Yankees’ Postseason Success
Posted: 1st October 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
As I watched Tuesday night's game, the biggest positive impact was that AJ Burnett appears to back on the upswing.á Over his last 24.2 innings, he has allowed only 18 hits, four ERs, 10 BBs and recorded 27 Ks. His ERA over that stretch is 1.46, and his WHIP is 1.14.
The patently inconsistent pitcher had a terrible August and early September, but now appears to be back on track.á I ...
New York Yankees Exorcise and Slay the Two Red Dragons
Posted: 29th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
At this time last week, the Yankees were coming off losing two of three against the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees were heading into a grueling week of having to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at their place for three games, then home to face the rival Boston Red Sox.
With Boston only five games back after last Sunday (and four in the loss column), many prognosticators said the upcoming ...
Simple Solution to a Potential Messy Showdown Between the NFL and MLB
Posted: 21st September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
If the Minnesota Twins come back from their current three games deficit to tie the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League Central division, they must have a single game playoff. That playoff game will be held at the HomerDome in Minnesota.
This is key for two reasons. One, Detroit finds the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to be a horrific place to play, and the Tigers would be at ...
Something Strange Happened in the Yankee Loss Last Night at Seattle
Posted: 19th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
Last night, the Yankees lost the first game of a brief six game West Coast road trip. Mariano Rivera blew just his second save all season. He had converted 36 straight save opportunities and given up one run in his previous 33 innings.
That wasn't the strange thing, however.
It was only the fourth time Rivera has ever given up a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.
But that ...
Boston Red Sox Quietly Go to a Six-Man Rotation
Posted: 19th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
In doing prep work for my weekly Friday radio show appearance on The Shore Sports Report, I came across the Boston Red Sox upcoming pitching matchups.
Clay Buchholz went last night at Baltimore, Jon Lester (3-0, 0.84 vs. O's this year—a gambler's lock if there ever was one) goes Saturday, and Dice-K on Sunday. The longer schedule has Tim Wakefield making an appearance on Monday and Paul Byrd going Tuesday at Kansas City.
That ...
Jorge Posada Gets His Ears in an Uproar and Almost Hurt the New York Yankees
Posted: 17th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
Childish, baby like, and potentially dangerous. That is what Jorge Posada's actions were Tuesday night in the fracas that erupted at Yankee Stadium.
And I thought boxing was coming to the New, New Yankee Stadium a few years from now, but not as soon as last night.
Posada felt he should not be the recipient of the Toronto Blue Jays retaliation of "my hitter gets hit, so we must hit yours." Actually, ...
Cowboys Offense Proves They Still Have Big Play Potential
Posted: 15th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in NFL
The primary question mark this offseason concerning the Dallas Cowboys was their perceived lack of big play receivers. Since releasing wide receiver Terrell Owens, many pundits questioned whether the trio of Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin would be able to consistently get open, create mismatches and get deep.
None of these three receivers are the perceived deep threat Owens was, and except for big drops by Crayton two seasons ...
Why The Worry Over AJ Burnett? He’s The Same Pitcher Signed Last Winter.
Posted: 14th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
With his most recent bad starting pitching performance, AJ Burnett has proceeded to scare the bejesus out of New York Yankee fans across the country.
It is a relief that NFL football started yesterday (Sunday the 13th) because instead of Jets and Giants football talk over the radio and TV airwaves, it would have been more of the up and down, Jekyll and Hyde AJ Burnett talk.
There is a great Talking ...
Joba Chamberlain Should Not Be On NY’s Roster If He Does Not Start In ALDS
Posted: 10th September 2009 by Joseph DelGrippo in MLB
Joba Chamberlain was given guinea pig status again last night, allowed to throw only three innings for the third consecutive "start." Although he allowed two runs in the first inning, he only walked one batter and set down the last eight men he faced.
He deserved at least one more inning (or maybe two), but the Yankees have a plan for him—the "Joba Rules" limit his innings so as not to ...