[PARAM]

I suppose most of you guys are Dodger or Cardinal fans but I'm a Yankee fan and I know of one or two posters who are also fans of the pinstripes. It's been a good time for Yankee haters the last 6 or 7 years.

An aging roster.
A-Rod.
Barely finishing over .500 the last 4 years
7 years since they won a game in the ALCS.

Plenty of stuff to enjoy.

But the worm is starting to turn. Sanchez, Bird and Judge starting the season on the 25 man roster. Frazier, Torres, Kaprielian, Sheffield, Wade and a few others waiting for a chance. An injury or a trade. But they can mature in the minors this year. The baby bombers are going to make a little noise in the AL East. I'm not predicting a division championship, mind you. But I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't just barely finish above .500. Gonna be a fun year to watch.

[dieterbrock]

I was telling my buddies that I wasn't thrilled about Tanaka having such an "impressive" pre-season. Would have preferred he got lit up once or twice "working on stuff"
Well, I got my wish, just happened opening day!

[PARAM]

I was telling my buddies that I wasn't thrilled about Tanaka having such an "impressive" pre-season. Would have preferred he got lit up once or twice "working on stuff"
Well, I got my wish, just happened opening day!

So that was YOUR fault? !!

I've been excited since Sanchez tore up the league the end of last year. I think Judge will begin his assault this year. And Bird/Sanchez/Judge will be the heart of their order for the future. Now once we work the young starters into the rotation, we'll be set. It won't deliver anything remarkable this year, more than likely, but starting in 2018 (just in time for the Rams....what a good time for us two, eh?)....they will be hated once again.

[PARAM]

Well DB, looks like Greg Bird might be on his way out of that rut!! To be 8-4 with Sanchez hitting .125 before going on the DL, Bird hitting under .100 and Didi missing every game, we ought to have a strong lineup once they're all back. And Bird looking good the last game and a half is a promising sign. I'm amazed with the pitching. CC, Pineda, Severino and the youngster going tonight Montgomery are looking surprisingly good. Tanaka was expected to be good.

And I went to opening night at the Thunder. Torres hit a bullet up the middle that must have had an exit velo of 100+. That kid McKinney is a hitter too.

[dieterbrock]

Bird snaps out of his slump and is rewarded with a seat on the bench to watch Cris Carter go 0-3...
Pretty fun season so far for sure but color me NOT surprised that the pitching has been good.
CC was pretty good last year, albeit only for 5 innings a game and I'm a big supporter of Severino and Pineda

[PARAM]

Bird snaps out of his slump and is rewarded with a seat on the bench to watch Cris Carter go 0-3...
Pretty fun season so far for sure but color me NOT surprised that the pitching has been good.
CC was pretty good last year, albeit only for 5 innings a game and I'm a big supporter of Severino and Pineda

They are playing well. Perhaps it's got a little to do with having so many hot young prospects breathing down their necks? I saw Chance Adams pitch in Trenton. He's gonna be good. Didn't give up a hit until the 5th inning. I want to see Justus Sheffield but that's gonna be pot luck. I've got 6 games left.

When Sanchez returns he'll take a bit to get back on track but perhaps the timing was good when he went down. He can forget about that bad start. Didi will be huge when he gets back. I heard he could start a rehab assignment soon. And Bird might be well on track once those two get back. Judge is.....dare I say.....the best of the bunch?

[PARAM]

Gotta take two of three from the Bucs.

Pretty fun season so far for sure but color me NOT surprised that the pitching has been good.

The pitching?

After 17 games, 2nd fewest earned runs allowed in MLB.
Fewest walks.
4th lowest opp. avg
Lowest opp. OB%
2nd fewest hits allowed
As a result, lowest WHIP
Highest K's to walks
4th highest K's per 9
2nd fewest SB allowed
4th lowest slugging %

But how about that offense?

2nd most runs in MLB
4th highest batting average
2nd highest OB%
2nd highest Slug%
2nd highest OPS
2nd most stolen bases
3rd fewest K's
4th most walks
4th in home runs

Castro (.364) and Headley (.362) are unconscious.
Ellsbury is doing well (.323).
Judge is "getting it".
But the guys who have been a major reason for the good start?
Torreyes (.296; 13 rbi) taking over for Didi
Romine (.324) holding the spot for Sanchez
Hicks (.323, 4 HR, 9 Rbi, 10 walks and 2 SB) outplaying Gardner.

Now certainly this pace won't continue but once Didi and Sanchez get back, Bird finally rounds into form and the pitching continues.....they should be a tough team to beat. It's an exciting time for me. Yanks doing well and the Rams making the huge change to offensive minded McVay. Maybe another 99 like year on the horizon for us soon DB?

[PARAM]

Damn, Brett Gardner with a two out, two strike, 3 run homer in the top of the 9th to win a well pitched game by Pineda. They have come from behind in 8 of their 18 wins. Judge with 2 hits, Castro with his 4th straight multi-hit game, Hicks with 3 hits, hell even Pineda had a hit. Can't wait for Sanchez and Bird to get going.

[PARAM]

Man 18 innings on Sunday night. What a game! Chapman blows the save and the chance at a sweep. The bullpen pitches shutout ball the next 9 innings for the win and sweep. Sometimes despite evidence to the contrary, everything just goes well. Take the Cubs going all the way to Colorado after the marathon loss only to have their next game rained out. I would have bet the Yankees didn't get more than 4 or 5 hits the following night. Fortunately, they faced Rookie Davis.

[snackdaddy]

Yankees are off to a good start. Best record in the majors at the moment. But the Orioles aren't letting them run away with it. Aaron Judge has been tearing it up. Played his college ball in my hometown, Fresno State.