Friday, April 10, 2015

Breaking Down the First Yankee Series of the Season

Blue Jays win the series 2-1
Game 1 - Jays 6 , Yanks 1
Game 2 - Jays 3 , Yanks 4
Game 3 - Jays 6 , Yanks 3

Well in the first series of the year the Yankees had some let downs in every facet of the game. In game one they mustered just three hits and their opening day starter didn't last five innings. The Yankees also had a costly error from Chase Headley. In game two Michael Pineda was sharp and the Yankees rallied back with a lucky eight inning. Andrew Miller got the save for the Yankees. In game three the Yankees bats went quiet again. CC Sabathia had one bad inning where he gave up four runs that cost him the game. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira both homered. The Yankees had some unlucky innings but didn't pitch in the big spots and didn't hit in the big spots.



The Positives
Masahiro Tanaka looked great in his first two innings before letting the wheels fall off. Brett Gardner homered. Michael Pineda looked like the Pineda from last season when he was healthy. The Jays didn't do much against Pineda. Pineda pitched six innings allowing two runs and striking out six. Chris Martin then came on and threw another scoreless inning, Dellin Betances gave up an unearned run but I thought he looked much better than in the spring. Andrew Miller looked great in his first save chance. In game three CC Sabathia took a loss but really had just the one bad inning.  Sabathia had eight strike outs and you have to be encouraged by that. Alex Rodriguez has hit the ball well since his return. Rodriguez just missed a home run in game two and then blasted one in the series finale. JR Murphy had two doubles in his first start. Jacoby Ellsbury hit the ball extremely well in games two and three.



The Negatives
Masahiro Tanaka didn't fair well in his first start. Even though he started off good he allowed one bad inning to completely ruin his night. You have to wonder how Tanaka will hold up this season. The bats have not looked good. Stephen Drew has looked like an automatic out. The Yankees had just three hits in game one. The team has just looked flat. Of course some people will not be encouraged by the start of Sabathia. The Yankees lineup needs improvement and so does the pitching staff.



The Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in their second home series of the season.


By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

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