Yanks Go Yard » Raul Ibanez

My Yankee Moment of 2012

Ricky Keeler — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:00:13 +0000

All offseason long, the great folks here at Yanks Go Yard have looked ahead and graded the players and front office from the past year. What will change about the Yankees in 2013 and how will the team be different from the one in 2012? On that note, I wanted to talk about my favorite moment of 2012 that now involves an ex-Yankee based on recent weeks.

Despite his move to Seattle, Raul Ibanez will always be remembered for his clutch hitting in the postseason of 2012. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports)

On October 10^th, 2012, the New York Yankees were taking on the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the ALDS. Both teams were tied at one game apiece. On that night, the Yanks found themselves down 2-1 in the bottom of the 9^th inning staring a 2-1 series deficit right in the face. With 1 out, manager Joe Girardi made a gutsy move and benched third baseman Alex Rodriguez for outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez was having a red hot stretch, which included a game a week before against Boston where he tied the game in the 9^th and won it in extra innings to, in essence, clinch the AL East.

Going back to October 10^th, Ibanez faced off against O’s closer Jim Johnson. Johnson was one of the best closers in the American League during the regular season, but had struggled in Game 1 of this series when he gave up a home run to Russell Martin in the 9^th inning. On this night, the result was the same as Ibanez deposited a ball over the right field fence to tie the game and keep the Yankees alive. He would later go on to hit a walk-off home run against Brian Matusz in the 12^th.

While the Yankee postseason was filled with a lack of clutch hitting, Ibanez was a bright spot in that whenever he came to the plate, you always felt the Bombers had a chance to make a comeback. That is why I was upset to see Ibanez sign with the Mariners for only $3 million without even an offer from the Yankees. I know the Bombers have become more fiscally responsible this year, but $3 million for a 4^th outfielder who can get big hits off the bench. I know he would be 40 years old, but there would have to be a spot for him on this team for a player like him.

Despite the offseason that has featured a lack of big name coming under the Christmas tree, the Yankees still gave us a moment for 2012 that will reminisce in fans’ hearts for the next few years. It’s like what John Sterling used to say for Ibanez’s home run calls. He was Raul and he was “so cool”.

Grading The Yankees: Raul Ibanez

Andrew Corselli — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:00:24 +0000

By the end of spring training, the Raul Ibanez signing was panned by every pundit and Yankee fan alike. The guy hit well below the Mendoza Line, couldn’t buy a walk and had only one home run in the Grapefruit League. “This guy is supposed to be the lefty half of the DH platoon?!?” we all thought to ourselves. The designated hitter can’t hit!

It’s a good thing those games don’t count. (more…)

Raul Game: Picture Post

Andrew Corselli — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:10:36 +0000

Arguably the greatest Yankee postseason game since 2001 (easily the best sporting event I’ve ever attended) went down last night. Game 3 of the ALDS — the Raul Game. My bank account is drained, my throat is destroyed and I’m terribly hungover, but I would give absolutely anything to relive that game. There are no words to describe it, so here are some pictures. Pics are worth 1,000 words, right? So consider this the longest post you’ll ever read.

(more…)

Two Players the Yankees Must Keep in 2013

Benjamin Orr — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:00:54 +0000

While some of this may be wishful thinking, there are two New York Yankees who have to stay next year; Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez. Both players filled in this year in big ways and both had contributions that one would wonder where the Yankees would be without them. For Suzuki and Ibanez, neither had any ideas that they would be Yankees before 2012 and now that they are, they’ve become a couple of the most reliable players on the team. Suzuki’s value may be a little higher as right field may be a vacant spot if the Yankees do not re-sign Nick Swisher. For Ibanez though, if he is re-signed, the Yankees will have answered their DH dilemma, at least for another year. These two are players that the Yankees must keep going forward because their contributions have been huge. (more…)

Thank You Raul Ibanez

Jimmy Kraft — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:00:26 +0000

First, Happy Postseason everybody! Now that we got that out of the way; what an up-and-down season for the Yankees, even more so for Raul Ibanez. In spring training many fans (including myself) wanted Ibanez gone. Now, I’m gladly eating crow. He hasn’t had the greatest season by any stretch of the imagination (.239/.306/.454), but he’s solidified himself in Yankee lore for coming up big in key spots. Most notably, his two-run game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth against Boston two days ago, and then three innings later hitting the game-winning RBI single. (more…)

Should the Yankees be concerned about the Rays?

Benjamin Orr — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:00:56 +0000

The trend lately is that the Tampa Bay Rays (63-52) have always found their way into the playoffs or have been at least threatening to get in. Will the same be true for this season? The New York Yankees (68-47) had a comfortable lead over the Rays and Baltimore Orioles, but now that lead has slipped by a few games. The Rays are currently on a seven-game winning streak and they certainly seem to be making the most of it with the Yankees’ inconsistent play since mid-July. The Rays are a team that primarily focuses on their pitching and with David Price (15-4, 2.50 ERA) leading the way, it may be a rough road ahead for the Yankees who play the Rays six more times before the regular season ends. (more…)

Yankees’ Trifecta: Swisher’s slam, Lowe’s relief aid Phelps’ first victory as starter

Chris Carelli — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:30:17 +0000

New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher blasted a go-ahead grand slam and Derek Lowe pitched four innings of relief for his first save in over 11 years (almost to the date) which helped earn David Phelps his first victory as a starter in the Yankees 8-2 drubbing of Ryan Dempster and the Texas Rangers. (more…)

Teixeira and Chavez homer on consecutive pitches to rally Yankees over Tigers

Chris Carelli — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:22:00 +0000

The New York Yankees took a step in the right direction yesterday winning their second straight game, salvaging a split with the Detroit Tigers and ended a spell of eight consecutive losses in games decided by one run. They did it with an eighth inning rally which consisted of two pitches. (more…)

Yankees’ rally falls short in ninth as slide continues

Chris Carelli — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:32:48 +0000

Since the All-Star break the Yankees have been unable to put together a streak to remind everyone how good of a team they really are. Last night, in a 6-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers they at least showed some heart scoring two runs of Tigers closer Jose Valverde while getting the lead-run in scoring position. (more…)

The Yankees and the month of August

Benjamin Orr — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:00:18 +0000

So clearly, it’s been noted that the New York Yankees have had somewhat of an unusual trend of losing games lately. Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have gone 11-11 and their streak of dominance in the MLB has been currently won over by the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds who now both hold better records than the Bombers. Even the Baltimore Orioles who sit 5.5 games out of first in the AL East are going nowhere but up, especially with the Tampa Bay Rays on their tail. Out of those 11 wins, six of them came from the softer teams in the AL such as the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. When the Yankees have faced contending teams as of late, such as the Oakland A’s, the Yanks seem to falter a bit. Currently, they’re locked in a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers, a team that loves to remind us who won in the ALDS last year. After this, the Yankees face quite a few tough teams such as the Texas Rangers for four games, the surging Boston Red Sox, the hard-nosed Chicago White Sox along with playing the Blue Jays six times in the remainder of the month. The Yankees have no reason to really be concerned, but if they continue to play the way they have, then the concern may be legitimate. (more…)