Back-to-back-to-back; eight straight

by Travis G on May 20, 2009 10:29 PM EDT

In the second inning, Swisher, Cano and Melky completed that feat (for the first time since 2005). It sparked the Yankees to another win - in almost the exact same way as last night: a close game for most of the match, until the Yanks broke it open with a huge late-inning rally.

Phil Hughes had a game of extremes. He was dominant in some ways (striking out a career-high nine - as Ken Singleton put it, eight of the 'swinging variety'), but made some big mistakes as well (two home-runs). He may very well be demoted to Scranton to make room for Chien Ming-Wang. What may have saved his day was the strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out double-play in the third: with two runners on, Hughes dropped a beautiful curve in there for strike three, and Roberts was caught in a pickle between first and second.

I'm starting to think (or perhaps hope) that Melky really has turned a corner, and that this isn't just a hot streak. Most players that have as many ABs as he does at his age (1550 at 23) turn out to be at least good MLers, if not great.

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impressive

this is the most impressive way the yankees are playing right now in a long time, may be 2-4 years. hope, they finish the sweep tomorrow. Joba needs to take care of business and finish the sweep w/o any dumb move like throwing to huff. And, then 3 lefties with 10+ HRs in phillies lineup will come to yankee stadium for a 3 day HR derby. Hope, it won’t be windy.

by yankslocktowin on May 20, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

idk last year during our 8 game win streak we looked impressive

and then we stopped :/
we need to keep on rolling
and yeah im not looking forward to playing Utley, Howard, and Ibanez

by Brian5517209 on May 21, 2009 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Should be interesting against Philly.

As a Giants fan, I hate Philly teams so I really want the Yanks to keep rolling.

Utley scares me a little, but Ryan Howard realyl doesn’t at all. The Yanks will throw the top of the rotation at them anyway. The Yanks faced Ibanez before with Seattle, no big deal there.

I think these Yanks are legit over last season win streak version.

THe biggest gauge for a team is how they respond AFTER A LOSS, so we’ll see what goes on after that happens…..IF it happens…..

by FreeBradshaw on May 21, 2009 7:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Right On

I’m not afraid of the Phillys. What scares me a little is how they will respond when they finally lose one. HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT MELKY!

by jimwarren on May 21, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

we're never going to lose again

by Brian5517209 on May 21, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

what i like the most

is that this team is winning games the way they used to. pitching and late inning spurts.. the pitching keeps it close and then when they get to your bullpen they beat the hell out of them. that’s the Yankee Way!

by mysportsrumors on May 21, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Actually

I would not have ANY problem with Joba throwing at Huff considering they plunked both A-Rod and Tex yesterday. Sorry I think what Huff did was ok, but he should understand that the difference is when Joba pumps his fist its not about punking out the batter, he is just excited. Same thing Paps does. Is it over the top? Sure. Can the batter get pissed? Yeah. You know how to shut someone up? Hit his best pitch over the fence like Huff did to Joba. When Huff came around and started the starting and fist pumping he was trying to punk him out. Thats fine. Just don’t get mad when you see a 96mph nice and tight and you have to duck. I like that kinda baseball. Gritty. I have no problem with the Orioles hitting Tex and A-Rod, hell I can understand why. But just be careful when you do that, there are a lot of games left against each other and the Yankees are the better team.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on May 21, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

Question

Do we keep up Hughes as the long man so he can pitch to major league hitters to prep for taking Pettite’s spot next year?

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on May 21, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

no, bc i still think

Hughes will learn more pitching every 5 days in Scranton than being the mop-up man in the Bigs, when he has no idea when he’ll pitch.

by Travis G on May 21, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I see your point. But I am still not sure it is better to go every 5th day for 6-7 innings against lineups who have maybe 20% of their players who will ever be big league, as opposed to every 4th or 6th day for 3 to 4 innings against the best baseball players in the country. But I can see the flip side as well. But having him up can allow him to pitch no pressure mop ups and also do spot starts when say your pitcher gets beaned in the first inning.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on May 22, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions