Vazquez saves Yankees weekend in Toronto

Thank goodness the New York Yankees have Javier Vazquez. Yes, I really said that. If it wasn't for his strong outing today, the Yanks might have left Toronto with their tails between their legs after another bad run-in with a division foe.

After AJ Burnett's shaky outing on Friday and a wasted, solid effort from Andy Pettitte, the Yankees really needed a good outing from Vazquez. And they got it. He held the Toronto Blue Jays down long enough for the Yankees offense to strike back, with the help of some painful hit by pitches by Toronto pitchers and clutch hitting from Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano. They managed to escape Toronto with a win when they were just two innings shy of an embarrassing sweep.

The Yankees now head down to Baltimore where they can try to regain their mojo by beating down the hapless Orioles. But the lack of offense this weekend was a wake-up call. It was long assumed that once the Yankees lineup was close to full strength after the numerous injuries, that the struggle to score runs would end. But that has not been the case with Mark Teixeira still caught in his funk and Alex Rodriguez having trouble with runners on base.

Considering the way the weekend was heading, one out of three ain't bad. Thanks, Javy!

Thanks to sillygwailo via Wikipedia for the photo.

Cano strengthening early MVP bid

Is there any question that Robinson Cano is having an MVP-caliber year?

What was already a strong case for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award has gotten even stronger in recent weeks. He is hitting .465 over his current 17-game hitting streak and is getting hits even when he doesn't hit the ball particularly well, as he showed yesterday with his ribbie double in the first inning.

Cano is leading the league in hitting with a .373 batting average and is tied for fourth in ribbies with 43. He has hit 12 home runs and scored 41 runs and carried the offense when both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira were slumping big time. And let's not forget his defense because Cano is well on his way to winning his first Gold Glove, making difficult plays seem effortless.

“Robby has really emerged as an elite player,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s been one of the best players in the game.”

There's no doubt he has some stiff competition. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers is in the top five in the American League in batting average, home runs and RBIs. If Detroit stays competitive in the division race through the regular season, Cabrera will get a ton of support for the MVP.

The New York Yankees have done pretty well in the MVP race in recent years, with ARod winning two and Derek Jeter and Teix finishing high in the balloting. But this year, Cano has the opportunity to fulfill those predictions of greatness and bring home the trophy.

Boycott MLB Network until Selig does right thing

As a baseball fan, I am appalled and frustrated by Bud Selig's reluctance to do the right thing and reverse the call that robbed Armando Galarraga of a perfect game and a well-deserved spot in the history books.

Selig's statement about the game was noncommittal but baseball officials are leaking word to the media that he will not overturn the call. That is disgraceful, worse than the blown call itself. Selig has the ability to right the wrong and refuses to do it. But since he has not publicly stated he won't reverse the call, there is still time to convince him to do the right thing. And the way to do that is to hit him where it hurts: in the pocketbook.

Those of you who read my blog can tell I've been a huge fan of the MLB Network since it launched January 2009. I loved watching the World Baseball Classic last year and enjoy being able to watch so many games between teams other than the New York Yankees. I like that they have so many former ballplayers doing the analysis. I was even addicted to the Hot Stove show during the offseason. But I will not tune into MLB Network until Selig reverses the call, which means I probably won't ever watch it again.

Fewer eyeballs watching shows on the network translates into less money for Major League Baseball. If salvaging the credibility of the game isn't enough to convince Selig to make the correct decision, perhaps losing dollars will do the trick. Let's boycott the network until Selig makes things right.

Thanks to Major League Baseball for the photo.

Pettitte or Hughes for All-Star game start?

Joe Girardi is going to have a tough decision to make if veteran Andy Pettitte and youngster Phil Hughes keep matching each other start for start with brilliant performances. Although both are likely to make the All-Star team, only one guy can start the game for the American League. Who will Girardi choose? It's like Sophie's choice for pitchers. Ok, maybe not that dramatic, but it's still a tough call.

Pettitte is a two-time All-Star and the godfather of the New York Yankees pitching staff. The veteran lefty has a 7-1 record, a 2.48 ERA, with 41 strikeouts vs 18 walks and a 1.15 WHIP. But despite his fantastic year, Pettitte constantly reminds us that he is closing in on the end of his career. An All-Star game start would be a wonderful way for Girardi to express the gratitude of the organization and the pinstripe faithful.

The numbers put up by Hughes this year are remarkably similar. His win-loss record is also 7-1, with a 2.54 ERA, 64 strikeouts vs 20 walks and a 1.05 WHIP. His poise and coolness on the mound are striking for a 23-year-old pitcher. He learned a lot under the tutelage of Mariano Rivera (the ultimate cool customer on the mound) in the bullpen last year and has carried that into his starting career. But a start in the All-Star game in Los Angeles in front of a partisan crowd (he's from nearby Mission Viejo) would send his confidence soaring to new heights.

Girardi is a long-term thinker, especially when it comes to his pitchers, and there is no question that Hughes is the future of the Yankees organization. That might give the kid the edge. Plus, Pettitte being the kind of guy that he is, probably would have no objection to the youngster having the spotlight. That could make it an easier call for his manager.

Baseball can allow limited instant replay

There will never be a better argument for instant replay than the blown call by umpire Jim Joyce that cost Armando Galarraga his perfect game last night. Major League Baseball can and should allow for the limited use of instant replay for all types of plays, not just home run calls.

I know baseball doesn't want the games to drag on longer than they already do. But as a fan, I would much rather the umpires spend an extra five minutes getting the call right than refusing to take another look because it will take too long. I think it does more damage to the game when a terrible call stands because there is no mechanism to correct it.

There is an easy way not to let the use of instant replay get out of control: limit the ability of a team to request a replay to one play per game (and specifically bar replays on ball and strike calls). If a manager knows he only has one replay request, he will guard it zealously. He's not going to waste it on a silly call to see if a runner is safe at first with no one on base and two outs in the third inning. The manager will wait until a crucial point in the game to ask for a replay such as runners in scoring position in the late innings. And those are the times when getting the call right is most important.

Allowing for limited instant replay is what is best for baseball. I hope Bud Selig and his baseball committee come to the same conclusion very soon.

Galarraga teaches valuable lesson: forgiveness

Armando Galarraga taught all of us a valuable lesson in handling the blown call that cost him a chance at baseball immortality: how to forgive.

I was merely watching the game on MLB Network and I was yelling and cursing when umpire Jim Joyce blew the call that cost the young Detroit Tigers pitcher his perfect game. But Galarraga was the most composed person on the field. He later attributed this partly to shock, but the kid's reaction was perfect. Rather than yell at the umpire for what was obviously a bad call, he simply took the ball, got back on the mound and got the next guy out to preserve the 3-0 victory.

Galarraga seems determined not to let the mistake rob him of a wonderful achievement. He pledged that he will show his son the video of the time his father threw a perfect game. Even though it may not enter the record books, he knows in his heart that on June 2, 2010, he was perfect.

After the game, Galarraga was genuinely worried about Joyce's well being and mental health. He was grateful for Joyce's heartfelt apology, noting that it is rare for an umpire to admit to such a mistake, especially to a player. "His body language said more than a lot of words," the young pitcher said. "His eyes watered.”

Galarraga was so concerned that Joyce was taking the blown call so personally and badly that he gave the veteran umpire a huge hug and then went on to publicly absolve Joyce of the blame for taking away his chance at baseball history.

We should all be so forgiving.

Thanks to oneideaprincess via Wikipedia for the photo.

Do the right thing Bud Selig!

Sometimes the right thing to do is so clear that there shouldn't be an argument. A mistake was made, a terrible mistake that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game. But it is a correctable mistake and Bud Selig should correct it.

Umpire Jim Joyce made a terrible call when he ruled that Cleveland Indians shortstop Jason Donald beat a throw to the first-base bag on what should have been the 27th out, ruining Galarraga’s perfect game. Even in live action, the runner was clearly out and the replays confirmed that. Galarraga somehow kept his composure and proceeded to get the next hitter out and preserve the 3-0 victory. It will go down as a one-hit shutout, but it was a blown call and should not cost the kid his well-earned recognition in the history books. Give him back his perfect game.

There are some baseball purists who will say overruling the call will open a Pandora's Box for missed calls. I think not. Even non-baseball fans who see the play will realize that this is a unique situation. Selig can step in this one time to make things right, making it clear that he will not make this a regular occurrence. That is exactly what should happen.

Joyce made a mistake. He's a human being and human beings make mistakes all the time. We all understand that. But part of being a human being is admitting mistakes and doing whatever can be done to fix them. Joyce did his part with his teary, heartfelt apology to the young pitcher. Now it's time for Selig to do his part.

Do the right thing Bud! Give the kid his perfect game back.

Thanks to Major League Baseball for the photo.