Hughes Home Run Ball Hurts Yankees in Loss To Angels

Phil Hughes got the start at Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon and it was not
what the New York Yankees hope they will get from their number three starter
this season. Hughes gave up two early home runs and the Los Angeles Angels
never looked back.

In, 3-1/3 innings, Hughes allowed six runs, six of ten outs by strikeout. The
Yankees dropped the second game of their season opening home stand to the
Angels and snapped a four-game winning streak. His outing was quite a contrast
to the start that Hiroki Kuroda gave the Yankees Friday afternoon in their home
opener.

The other concern for New York is the lack of hitting coming from the middle of
their lineup. Robinson Cano recorded his first RBI of the season with a single in
the fifth inning. The Yankees were also stopped with the effective pitching of C.J
Wilson, who along with Albert Pujols signed two of the top free agent deals in rhe
off season.

Wilson recorded his first career win against the Yankees in four starts, allowing
one run in six innings.

“I think he got us to chase some pitches off the plate inside, and that’s what he
does,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Wilson. The manager was more
concerned with Hughes who showed no signs of arm problems in spring training,
something that hindered the right hander.

In his two starts, Hughes is 0-2 with an ERA of 9.00. “T o me his arm strength is
fine to me it’s a matter of making more consistent pitches,” said Girardi.

“Things have not gone the way I wanted to,” said Hughes who was behind hitters
and ran up his pitch count. “I just have to keep a good attitude and hope things
turn around.”

Wilson gave up six hits and when he left after six innings, after throwing 105
pitches, the Angel pen of three other pitchers held the Yankees hitless. The lone
bright spot for the Yankees was Derek Jeter, 2-for-5, collecting his fourth multi-hit
game of the season.

They are 4-4 after eight games. Girardi is not concerned as the Angels try and take
the series Sunday night in the Bronx and Ivan Nova (1-0) making his second start
for the Yankees. The Manager said, “This is a long season. We are not 0-8,” as he
defended claims that his team may be in a panic mode.

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
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Another Perfect Home Opener for the Yankees

Nick Swisher got a good pitch to hit in the first inning, a double to deep center
that scored Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. That opened the door for another perfect Opening Day in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium Friday afternoon.

Even more perfect because Jorge Posada returned to the Bronx, one of the “Core
Four” throwing the ceremonial Opening Day pitch to his father.

“The season does not start until after the home opener,” said Swisher after the
Yankees 5-0 shutout over the Los Angeles Angels, their 14th in their last 15th in the
Bronx. It was that type of day again at Yankee Stadium. Warm enough also for
the Yankees to entertain a sold out crowd with home runs from Alex Rodriguez
and Curtis Granderson.

The home run from Rodriquez, second of the season off Angeles starter and loser
Ervin Santana, was the 630th of his career which tied him with Ken Griffey Jr.
on baseball’s all-time list. He was moved from the clean-up spot to third in the
batting order after failing to drive in a run in the first six games and the home run
was his first.

Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) who struggled in his first start down in Tampa Bay last
Saturday, allowing six runs, four earned gave up five hits, struck out six, walked
two and did not allow a runner to reach second until the fifth inning. The former
Dodger had good command with his splitter in eight innings.

When he left the mound he received a standing ovation from the 49,386 Opening
Day fans. “It was the greatest feeling in the world and I would like to repeat
that,” he said. “When you have that type of run support I was able to be more
relaxed.”

It was that type of Opening Day in the Bronx. The Yankees have a way of making
this day more special than any other team in baseball. The win made it extra
special with the home runs and good pitching to go with it. But the pitch from
Posada, who retired in January, made it more compelling. After the pitch, Posada
was hugged by his former teammates on the field.

At the team Welcome Home Dinner Thursday night in Manhattan, Posada was the highlight and what teammates described as the incentive to make this home opener extra special.

“It has to be something special for those two,” said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi
about Posada returning to the stadium and his father watching him throw the first
pitch at home plate. “He deserved that and it was great.”

But it was greater moment for Girardi to his starting pitcher rebound in his second
start. And Rodriquez finding the home run swing, a huge shot into the netting in
Monument Park, to straight center off the first pitch from Santana in the third
inning, was an impressive swing. He also singled in the first and later scored on
the Swisher bases clearing double.

“It puts a little sidebar on our season,” said Girardi about the milestone home run
from Rodriguez. And he said about Kuroda, “I don’t think it gets any better, you
get a quality start from your pitcher into the ninth inning.”

And it does not get any better when the Yankees win their home opener of the new season.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

This post is sponsored in part by Building A Photography Website and Women of Wrestling

Mets’ Offense Showing Deficiency; Johan Continues Recovery

New York – Johan Santana was pleased with his second outing of the season at Citi Field Wednesday afternoon. The New York Mets left hander opened the2012 campaign six days ago at home throwing five scoreless innings in a no-decision. Though the Mets would lose 4-0 to the Washington Nationals, Santana was pleased. “I was able to compete and feel good,” said Santana the two-time Cy Yong Award winner who sat out all of last year after surgery to his left elbow. It was a tough first inning of work, 27 pitches, but he had good command except for a slider that got away in the second inning that gave the Nationals a run.

One thing is certain for the Mets. They know Santana has recovered, though they are still being cautious. He threw 93 pitches in five innings. After his 99th pitch to Jason Werth in the sixth, he was lifted.

However the Mets bats have not been very active these past two games against the Nationals. Washington took two of the three games and New York was limited to three hits in the Wednesday afternoon game, attributed to their highly touted 23-year old starter Stephen Strasburg.

He threw over 100 pitches and was able to get out of two-out one out jam in the sixth inning. One of the outs was a pitch that was questionable to Bay which appeared to be a ball on the replay. Terry Collins was tossed in the top of the seventh inning by plate umpire Larry Vanover regarding that strike call to Jason Bay.

Bay, batting fourth, was subjected to constant boos from the Citi Field crowds this week when he came to bat. One of the high salaried players left on a Mets team payroll, that has been reduced, was not productive last season. In the six games Bay was 3-for19, in 19 at bats.

“I have been facing pretty good pitching the past couple of days,” said Bay who did not address the issue about the controversial pitch. “It’s a matter of building on it. I feel I have had some pretty good at bats.”

Ike Davis, who sat down the night before was back in the lineup and a single off Strasburg in the sixth ended a 0-for-18 start. And the Mets may not see David Wright for the next few games as they head to Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Wright is scheduled to see a hand specialist in New York on the off day Thursday to further determine his condition of a small fracture in the fifth finger of his right hand. Wright was wearing a splint Wednesday in the clubhouse and said he hopes to be back in the lineup Friday when the Mets open a three-game series in Philadelphia.

Notes: Collins said about the lack of hitting: “We took some good pitches down the middle the last two innings and you can’t do that.” On the bullpen that issued ten walks, the first since May 9 of 2010 against San Francisco, he said “We didn’t pitch well today. Lucky we did not lose by ten runs.”

The Mets went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and are 9-for-54 in their first six games….Ruben Tejada went 1-for-4 and the last four games is 7-for-15 and was at the top of the league in the category coming into the game….Santana and the pen struck out 10, the fourth consecutive game Mets pitchers have had double strikeouts which was last done June 10-June 13, 2008.

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This post is provided in part by Great Neck Apartments & Five Towns Homes For Sale

Keep It In The Ring Radio Returns - New Day, New Time, New Station

A new station, new day and time, and bigger, better and as they day, badder.
That is what Rich Mancuso says about the debut of Keep it in The Ring, this time
this time which debuts on www.inthemixxradio.com Thursday April 12th from
5:30-7:30pm. The program can be viewed on U-Stream via your laptop or home
computer and most phone apps.

Rich, a veteran sports journalist of 28 years, who also worked in the pro wrestling
industry will once again be joined by his sidekick Jason Feliciano. And like the old
show, you will never know what to expect from the two of them on the set. There
will be a cast of characters, sports talk. Live phone guests and calls, plus the usual and unusual highlight clips.

Keep it in the Ring was tagged when Rich sat by the side of Jodi McDonald on
his overnight weekend program on Sports Radio 66 WFAN in New York City, a
segment on pro wrestling that began in 1988 and ran for four years. At the time,
pro wrestling again was at a peak and Mancuso ended the segment with “Keep it
in the Ring.” It has passed on to mean all sports, covering the issues and athletes
that are a part of what Mancuso calls, “The World of Fun and Games.”

Said Mancuso about the new program, “Things did not work out at the former
station which was not my doing but this is better and bigger. I look forward to
the opportunity once again tying to keep Jason in the Ring.” He also hopes to
have Die Hard Derek Gordon on a regular basis to contribute with a pro wrestling
segment.

Mancuso will be joined by a cast of characters behind the scenes. “I will get them
involved as the creativity like a pro wrestling audience is so important.”

Reach Rich and Jason on Facebook.com/Keep It in The Ring or on the group page
Keep It in The Ring. Also get on the blog with your thoughts and feedback. Enjoy
and Keep it in The Ring.

This post is sponsored in part by Create A Photography Website and Classic Wrestling Videos

Santana Gets The Loss in Mets Loss to Nats and Strasburg

New York - Johan Santana was pleased with his second outing of the season at
Citi Field Wednesday afternoon. The New York Mets left hander opened the2012
campaign six days ago at home throwing five scoreless innings in a no-decision.
Though the Mets would lose 4-0 to the Washington Nationals, Santana was
pleased.

“I was able to compete and feel good,” aid Santana the two-time Cy Yong Award
winner who sat out all of last year after surgery to his left elbow. It was a tough
first inning of work, 27 pitches, but he had good command except for a slider that
got away in the second inning that gave the Nationals a run.

One thing is certain for the Mets.. They know Santana has recovered, though they
are still being cautious. He threw 93 pitches in five innings. After his 99 th pitch
to Jason Werth in the sixth, he was lifted relieved by Manny Acosta. Four other
pitchers followed and if the Mets were able to score some runs, perhaps Santana
would have been got his first win of the season.

“I’m very happy at this stage,” said Mets manager Terry Collins about Santana.
He was tossed in the top of the seventh inning by plate umpire Larry Vanover
regarding a strike call to Jason Bay in the previous inning. “And five days from
now you will see him again,” he said.

And that is the plan for Santana, to pitch on schedule now that it appears the 33-
year old is back to health. During the completed opening season home stand, in
which the Mets went 4-2, players in the clubhouse said having their ace back was
an incentive and the pitching staff reiterated that Santana made it competitive to
go that extra mile on the mound.

However the Mets bats have not been very active these past two games against
the Nationals. Washington took two of the three games and New York was limited
to three hits in the Wednesday afternoon game, attributed to their highly touted
23-year old starter Stephen Strasburg.

He threw over 100 pitches and was able to get out of two-out one out jam in
the sixth inning. One of the outs was a pitch that was questionable to Bay which
appeared to be a ball on the replay.

“He never says a word and when he is angered there is an issue,” said Collins
about the pitch to Bay. “I went out there to protect him,” added Collins as to what
caused his first ejection of the season.

Bay, batting fourth, was subjected to constant boos from the Citi Field crowds this
week when he came to bat. One of the high salaried players left on a Mets team
payroll, that has been reduced, was not productive last season. In the six games
Bay was 3-for19, in 19 at bats.

“I have been facing pretty good pitching the past couple of days,” said Bay who
did not address the issue about the controversial pitch. “It’s a matter of building
on it. I feel I have had some pretty good at bats.”

However, Collins is concerned that good pitching from Santana did not come with
runs from his offense. Ike Davis, who sat down the night before was back in the
lineup and a single off Strasburg in the sixth ended a 0-for-18 start. And the Mets
may not see David Wright for the next few games as they head to Philadelphia
and Atlanta.

Wright is scheduled to see a hand specialist in New York on the off day Thursday
to further determine his condition of a small fracture in the fifth finger of his
right hand. Wright was wearing a splint Wednesday in the clubhouse and said he
hopes to be back in the lineup Friday when the Mets open a three-game series in
Philadelphia.

Notes: Collins said about the lack of hitting: “We took some good pitches down
the middle the last two innings and you can’t do that.” On the bullpen that issued
ten walks, the first since May 9 of 2010 against San Francisco, he said “We didn’t
pitch well today. Lucky we did not lose by ten runs.”

The Mets went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and are 9-for-54 in their
first six games….Ruben Tejada went 1-for-4 and the last four games is 7-for-15
and was at the top of the league in the category coming into the game….Santana
and the pen struck out 10, the fourth consecutive game Mets pitchers have had
double strikeouts which was last done June 10-June 13 , 2008.

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

This post is sponsored in part by Bay Club Bayside & Forest Hills Rentals

METS LOSE THEIR FIRST WITHOUT DAVID WRIGHT

New York – Ross Detwiler had a shaky first inning on the mound for the Washington Nationals Tuesday night at Citi Field. The New York Mets had two runners on with no outs. But in his first start of the season, Detwiler got out of a jam. From there the Mets had to play catch up baseball and at times it resembled so much of what went wrong last season.

After that inning, Detwiler retired his final 13 batters and the Nationals would go on to a 6-2 win handing New York their first loss of the season. The Mets did not resemble a team that won their first four games, their best start since the 2007 season, and were one of four teams with a perfect record to start the season. They were denied their first 5-0 start since 1985.

Detwiler (1-0) would throw five scoreless innings and allowed two hits as the Nationals evened the three game series that concludes Wednesday afternoon.
Mets manager Terry Collins had to revamp the starting lineup. Ike Davis, hitless in four games sat down and Justin

Turner got the start at first base. Davis would pinch hit with two on and two outs in the seventh and struck out.
More importantly, Ronny Cedeño got the start at third for David Wright who sustained a jammed fifth finger of his right hand in the Mets win Monday evening. An X-Ray revealed a small fracture at the middle joint of the finger.

“This is a non-operative surgery,” said a statement released by the team regarding the injury to Wright. Last season he was on the disabled list with a lower back stress fracture that caused him to miss action from mid May to late July. Thursday, in their Opening Day win, outfielder Andrés Torres was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf.

The statement went on to say about Wright, “The finger will be splinted and reevaluated tomorrow,” meaning prior to the finale Wednesday a determination will be made about Wright. The statement went on to say, “David can return to baseball activity as tolerated.”

“I couldn’t grip a ball today,” said Wright who went 7-for 12 in the first four games.”It’s always frustrating to miss time. Kinds of breaks up the momentum we had.”

Dillon Gee, who led the Mets in wins last season with 13, got his first start. He allowed four runs, which three were earned in 5 1-3 innings, striking out six and walked one. A booted ball by Daniel Murphy led to an error that helped the Nationals score three runs in the sixth inning.

Gee (0-1) was undefeated in five career starts against Washington. He would also give up a home run to Ian Desmond leading off the game. “Thought he threw the ball good,” said Collins about his starter. “If we make some good plays behind him he leaves with a good outing.”

The Nationals banged out 13 hits off Gee, Bobby Parnell, and Miguel Batista.

The finale Wednesday brings a good pitching matchup. Johan Santana, who threw five scoreless innings in the Opening Day assignment and got a no decision, opposes touted right hander Stephen Strasburg, making his first start for Washington.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
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This post is provided in part by Great Neck Rentals & Five Towns Real Estate

Mets Three Game Opening Season Sweep Over Braves Brings Another Perspective

New York – A prevailing mood in the New York Mets clubhouse is that they can win and have an impact in the National League East. And after completing a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon at Citi Field over the division rival Atlanta Braves, 7-5, there is every reason to put things in another perspective.

Winning ballgames, and more than the experts predicted has put a different perspective on what is expected to be another dismal season in Flushing. This was the first time in a 50 –year history of the club when a Mets team started the season with a three- game sweep over a division rival.

At 3-0, and with the cross- town Yankees off to a 0-3 start, this is something the organization is hoping will regenerate some interest. More so, if the wins can continue in the next three games at home with the Washington Nationals, getting a good start out of the gate is what will convince fans that this may not be dismal as was expected.

“This means everything,” said Manager Terry Collins when asked about the three games against Atlanta that saw his team pitch effectively, use the long ball, and also get the timely hit. “We’ve done a lot of talk in spring training about getting ready to compete. I told those guys in the first meeting ‘you’re professional baseball players and there are expectations in this town and in this clubhouse.’”

Numerous times last season, his first, Collins reiterated about expectation but the message did not carry into wins. A second half finish saw New York finish fourth in the division with 77 wins, and then losing Jose Reyes to free agency, now with the Miami Marlins, made the outlook look more dismal for 2012.

However, Reyes, for the moment has quickly not been a topic at Citi Field. His replacement, 22-year old shortstop Ruben Tejada, had a career day Sunday with a career high four hits with two doubles, driving in two runs.

“We have to keep working hard every day,” commented Tejada. “We play hard and together as a team,” he said.

And that was a prevailing attitude of this Mets team after the season opening series sweep Sunday afternoon. They believe in themselves as a team and despite what the prognosticators say, they have no intention of making this a dismal season.

And if the Mets get good starting pitching, as they did Sunday from Jonathon Niese, Saturday from R.A. Dickey, and in the opener Thursday, five strong innings from Johan Santana, well this could become a special season. But will the pitching stay consistent? Can Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee, who start the first two games with the Nationals Monday and Tuesday, be just as good?

“You can’t ask for better than that,” said Collins about the starts that have put the Mets at 3-0 for the first time since 2007 when they won their first four. “We saw that in spring training even though our starters did not go deep. We like our rotation,” he said also referring to Gee and Pelfrey.

Niese, in particular, who signed a long term contract Saturday, struggled often last year. At times there were doubts he could be a quality starting pitcher. The return of Santana has inspired the pitching staff, and according to guys in the clubhouse the entire roster.

“They want to compete and do what he does,” said Collins. “He creates a great atmosphere. It spreads.

Niese flirted with a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Freddie Freeman singled to right field with no outs. He would allow four runs, two earned, seven strikeouts and two walks. He lasted two more batters after the hit by Freeman. Atlanta scored four runs in the seventh. Lucas Duda lost a ball in the sun, and Jason Howard had a two-run double.

“It would have been hard to take me out,” said Niese who had a 93 mile fastball and control that was rare last season. The Mets after 7,911 games still remain one of four teams in baseball that have never had a no-hitter pitched. “We have a staff that likes to compete with each other and that is a good thing,” said Niese.

And this start has also been attributed to a revamped bullpen. Frank Francisco closed his third consecutive game becoming the first player in franchise history to save his first three games. Prior to a Brian McCann home run in the eighth inning it was the first Mets run surrendered by the pen. In three games the pen has allowed one earned run in 10.0 innings.

“We have to pitch,” said Collins. “We have a lot of work ahead of us. We have a long way to go. All we want to do is stay competitive.”

They have come out of the gate with this good start. That is what every Mets fan needed to see, and this team believes it will continue. David Wright is hitting with authority and showing signs of his old self. Daniel Murphy picked up a couple of hits and two RBI, including a two-run double in the three-run Mets sixth.

Now they need Ike Davis to get it going as well as Jason Bay, two silent bats in the first three games. But they feel like everyone else in the Mets clubhouse. It will come.

“I’m just a little off right now, I’m not worried,” said Davis. His feeling is the hits will come and go five for his next ten, and there will be no reason for concern. “It’s only three games,” he says about going hitless in his first eleven times at the plate.

Last season that would have been a concern. But for now, with the three- game sweep coming out of the gate, there is not one player in that Mets clubhouse who will think otherwise. Winning and a different perspective of what they are capable of doing is here to stay,

Jose Thole the rookie catcher said in that clubhouse Sunday, “We have a team that can win and we will continue to do it.” And for the first three games the Mets have certainly proved they can be competitive.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

This post is sponsored in part by Bay Club & Forest Hills Apartments