Tornadoes Wreak Havoc on South

One of the Most Deadly Outbreaks in US History Takes Over 315 Lives

By now, most people have seen news coverage of the utter devastation across the Southeast US.  Alabama was hit especially hard and saw the lionshare of the casualties (210+).  This most recent outbreak, April 25-28 (with the most damage and fatalities on the 27th), surpasses the "Super Outbreak" of April 3-4, 1974 as the one of the worst tornado outbreaks in US history.  What I find most horrifying about that statistic is that weather warnings have improved immensely in the past 30-40 years and yet we still lost the same amount of lives.  This shows the continued need for improvement of warning systems as well as just how destructive the 2011 outbreak really was.  One of the major factors in the high casualty rate was the propensity for EF-4/5 (Enhanced Fujita Scale) tornadoes on April 27th 2011 to hit populated areas.  No matter the warning time, some people's living situations are not conducive for tornado survival.

I could go on at length about the awful destruction and fatalities but instead will focus on what meteorological ingredients came together on Wednesday April 27th, 2011 to cause this record breaking tornado outbreak.  This really is a once or twice in a lifetime event and from a meteorological perspective, it is extremely fascinating.

Synoptic Weather Set-Up

The United State is one of the most conducive continents for tornadoes.  These localized destructive storms are actually very uncommon in other parts of the world.  The right ingredients must be present to spawn a twister and to see an outbreak such as this past week's, everything must come together perfectly.

Severe thunderstorms originate when there is a clashing of airmasses.  In the southern US, moisture rich, warm Gulf of Mexico air is transported northward.  Farther north across the Rockies and southern Canada, cooler, drier air moves southward.  During the spring, Canada is still fairly chilly and the Southeast is warming up as the Gulf of Mexico warms.  When these two air masses collide, strong thunderstorms can occur.

Above is a weather map from the 8am EDT on April 27th.  Note the temperatures (red) and dew points (green) across the Southeast.  Both are in the 60s which means it is very moist at the surface, great fuel for storms.  Notice the temperatures and dewpoints in the 30s and 40s across the Midwest (cooler, drier air).   Lastly, notice that winds are from the Southeast across much of the region.

This second map (above) shows what was happening around 1500m above the surface (again, 8am on the April 27th).  The key takeaway from this map is the strong winds (~50 knots) across the Southeast and the southerly wind direction over western Georgia and south-southwesterly wind direction farther west over Alabama, MS, and LA.  If you compare these wind direction and speeds with the surface map (1st chart) you can see that the winds at 1500m about 40 knots stronger and at least 45 degrees (in some cases 90 degrees) different than the surface winds.  This change in direction and strength is called shear.

If we look at ~5400m above the surface, the winds have shifted even more to the west over the Southeast and are ~60-70knots.  Again, more shear.  Also, temperatures are 8 degrees F over the Southeast which is ~60 degrees less than the surface temps.  Cold air on top of warm air creates instability which aids thunderstorms.

From the above charts, we can conclude that the temperature rapidly decreased with height across the Southeast which is an important ingredient for thunderstorms.  However, the ridiculous amount of shear throughout the region is the key for tornado-genesis because it allows the storms to rotate.  The combination of these basic ingredients, as well as a plethora of more complex factors came together to create a combustible situation that ended up yielding close to 100 tornadoes (we don't know yet how many will be confirmed).

I'm hunting for a track map but can't seem to find it right now...I'll post it when I come across it.   It is remarkable.  The tornado that ripped through Birmingham and Tuscaloosa began on the AL/MS border and ended in northern Georgia!

Major Tornado Outbreak Ongoing Across Southeast US

Turn on The Weather Channel for continuing coverage of the historic tornado outbreak ongoing in the Southeast tonight.  It may turn out to be the biggest outbreak on record.  I'll try to have a post about this event tomorrow or Friday.

On a different note, weather for tomorrow's Yankee game...

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. White Sox):

Clearing throughout the evening and breezy with a temperature of 63 at game time, falling into the 50s.

Enough Time for Weather

It may be late but not late enough to preclude a forecast for tomorrow's ballgame at Yankee Stadium against the White Sox.  I will most likely not be able to blog about tonight's game due to a hectic schedule tomorrow which is a shame because I have a lot to say (as I assume most Yankees fans do) and none of it is good about Rafael Soriano--can anyone say Kyle Farnsworth (okay, it's a bit premature for that).  Hopefully I'll find some time later this week to write a few posts.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. White Sox):

A nice warm day with a mix of sun and clouds and the slight chance of an evening thunderstorm.  Temperature at game time (7:05pm) 72 degrees.

Burnett Brilliant But Bronx Bats Silent

Alliteration attempt failed...couldn't think of synonym for "silent" that started with a "B".

Commentary:

AJ Burnett continued his strong start to 2011 allowing only 3 hits and 1 run over 8 innings.  This dominant start would go to waste however as White Sox pitcher Philip Umber limited the Yanks to just 1 hit over 7 innings of work.  Taking a no hitter into the 7th, Umber pitched effectively and efficiently, allowing only 2 baserunners through 6 innings (BB and HBP).  Despite not having blazing velocity, Umber used late movement and good location to confuse the New York hitters.  The Yanks had no luck with the Chicago bullpen either which had blown a league leading 6 saves this season.  Although Granderson led off the 9th with a sharp single to right, Tex immediately grounded into a double play on an 2-0 pitch and A-Rod struck out to end the game.

This was by far the worst offensive performance by the Yankees this season.  The hitters looked uncomfortable at the plate all night and couldn't string any hits or walks together.  As detailed above Granderson gave them a chance in the 9th and Chavez, pinch hitting for Gardner gave them a chance in the 8th when he singled and Nunez, the pinch runner, stole second.  Jeter however continued his struggles, ending an 0-4 night with a groundout.  The Jeter subject is a long topic to tackle and I may try to delve into it tomorrow or later this week if I have time but it seems like he is hitting far too many ground balls.  I believe he only has 2 or 3 extra base hits so far in 2011.

Grades:

Offense:  D-  They weren't no-hit so it can't be an F but there wasn't much to talk about tonight at the plate.

Starting Pitching (Burnett): A  1 run over 8 IP.  Kept the team in the game and should have been able to pick up a win.  He now is no longer undefeated in April over the past 2 years.

Bullpen:  C  Soriano once again had issues.  An infield pop up that no one reached in time, a stolen base, and a single led to a run but the dominant closer in Tampa last year has not endeared himself to New York fans so far this season.  I hate to say it, and it may just be his personality, but he looks disinterested when he pitches.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. White Sox):

Another warm day tomorrow with more humidity.  Clouds will mix with sun throughout the day with a pop-up thunderstorm possible by the afternoon and evening.  A better chance of rain will come overnight and Wednesday.

Game Time Conditions:  Passing clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible.  Temperature of 72 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 64
Observed Temp: 59
Forecast Conditions:  Mostly cloudy with a shower possible.
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy with drizzle during the last few innings.

Grade: A-  Temperature was off by 5 degrees.

La Nina Leads to Extreme Drought in S. Plains

No relief in sight for the parched areas of the southern Plains due to a strong ridge of high pressure anchored over the Southeast which is consistent with La Nina conditions.

Well written article discussing the impacts of the drought and specific areas affected.  Non alarmist and factual...just how scientists like it.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7536588.html

Hughes' Arm Feels Numb; Leads to Setback

Phil Hughes, who was scheduled for a minor league rehab assignment later this week will be evaluated by a team physician tomorrow following an unsuccessful bullpen session where his arm felt dead after only 10 or 15 pitches.  He stated that it felt like he had thrown 110 or 115, not 10 or 15.

This is definitely not good news for the Yanks and it will interesting to see if there is anything structurally wrong with the arm.  On the bright side, Garcia is pitching like the dominant righty he was several years ago, not allowing a run in his 2 starts this season.  Colon also pitched extremely well in his first start of the season.  For now, the starting staff is hanging in there but it would definitely be an asset to have Hughes as another option should Nova continue to struggle or if one of the veterans falters.

"It's All About the Money" Article

Below is a link to an article found in the blog "It's All About the Money Stupid."

I couldn't have said it better myself and agree 100% with the thoughts presented in the blog.

http://itsaboutthemoney.net/archives/2011/04/25/girardi-needs-to-trust-his-starters/

Long Ball Helps but Small Ball Creates Win for Yanks

Commentary:

Although Granderson's 2-run home run in the first inning picked up where the Yanks left off last night and started the game off on the right note, small ball in the 11th inning would allow New York to win its 12th game of the season.  Behind another brilliant start by Freddy Garcia, a persistent Yankee offense, and timely miscues Baltimore, the Yankees won the extra inning affair 6-3 after a 40 min rain delay due to a strong thunderstorm.

Despite a strong, 6 inning, 2 hit shut out from Garcia, the Yankees bullpen found a way to blow the game and allow it to move to extra innings.  Garcia once again used a variety of offspeed pitches to completely baffle the Baltimore hitters.  They looked as bad as Brett Gardner does at the plate (burn....).  Garcia struck out 7 while throwing 90 pitches which leads me to the question "why did Girardi go to Joba in the 7th?"

I understand that Joba is supposedly the "7th inning" guy but he has been only adequate this season while Garcia has yet to allow a run in two starts.  Wouldn't you stay with Garcia for the 7th?  Instead Joba allowed a 2-run HR to Mark "I'm the first person in baseball history to have a lower batting average than number of strikeouts in the course of a season" Reynolds to make the game 3-2 Yanks.  This lead however would not hold up as Robertson got into trouble in the 8th and forced Girardi to call on Mo for a 4 out save which he would not be able to close out.  He allowed a game tying double by Roberts in the 9th and was lucky that the winning run (Andino) was called out at the plate.

The storm clouds rolled in during the bottom of the 10th and rain began falling in earnest in the top of the 11th.  The airport in Baltimore reported a wind gust of 40mph and it poured for about 20 minutes.  The brief delay seemed to give the Yanks focus while completely ruining the game for the Orioles.  Fielding errors on infield singles following a ringing double by Cano helped the Yanks score 3 runs in the 11th.  Buddy Carlyle closed out the game in the 11th due to Soriano's unavailability because of a "stiff back."

Grades:

Offense:  B+  Came through in the 11th when needed but 14 strikeouts is too many but 7 walks is very respectful.

Starting Pitching (Garcia):  A+  He was mowing down the Orioles and looked like he could have gone at least one or two more innings.  Although he only went 6 innings, he gets the first A+ of the year because he was not taken out of the game for ineffectiveness.

Bullpen: C+  Joba gave up a HR and Mo blew another save.  Logan thankfully looks like he is getting back on track while Robertson struggled for one of the first times this season.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

N/A (Sorry, did not forecast yesterday)

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. White Sox):

The Chicago White Sox will visit the Bronx for the first time this season tomorrow night when Burnett (4.37) opposes Umber (4.42).  A warm front lifting northward through the region will promote showers and possibly a rumble of thunder throughout the day.  Although the rain should be scattered in nature, a delay or postponement can not be ruled out.

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Mostly cloudy with showers and possibly a rumble of thunder.  Temperature 64 degrees.

Game Delayed Due to Thunderstorm

The Baltimore/New York game was delayed with a 2-2 count on Cano in the top of the 11th with no outs due to heavy rain and a severe thunderstorm.

Should be a delay of no more than an hour.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Effect for Baltimore

AT 428 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
  EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
  FROM 9 MILES NORTH OF OLNEY TO OLNEY TO BETHESDA...AND MOVING EAST
  AT 35 MPH.

Looks like the game will have to be delayed.  Most likely will not begin the 11th until the storm passes.

EF2 Tornado Rips Through St. Louis International Airport

It's not common for tornadoes to strike metropolitan areas but St. Louis was in the cross hairs on Friday night when an EF 2 twister tore through the airport.  Thankfully no one was killed or critically injured despite the 22 mile long path and EF 4 strength during parts of its lifetime.

An EF 2 twister has winds of 111-135 mph while the stronger EF 4 contains winds of 166-200 mph.

For those weather nerds out there, below is the observation from St. Louis airport on Friday night as the tornado passed through Concourse C:



KSTL 230112Z 29029G42KT 1SM R30R/2800VP6000FT +FC -TSRA BKN020 OVC040CB 22/19
 RMK TORNADO B10 W MOV E AO2 PK WND 29042/0112 CONS LTGICCGCC ALQDS TS ALQDS MOV E P0001=
KSTL 230124Z 33007G35KT 280V020 1SM R30R/1600VP6000FT +FC -TSRA BR BKN020
 OVC040CB 19/17 RMK TORNADO B10 W MOV E AO2 PK WND 29042/0112 WSHFT 0104 CONS
 LTGICCGCC ALQDS TS ALQDS MOV E P0040=

 For the non-weather folk out there, it is incredibly rare to see a FC (funnel cloud) reported.  And no, the the + does not mean "heavy funnel cloud" as it does with +RA meaning heavy rain.  You can also see "TORNADO B10 W MOV E" meaning the tornado began at 10 min after the our and is moving east.

Mother nature is always delivering something incredible, it's great that no one was killed.

More severe weather early this week and it has been an active season already.

Orioles Get Shellacked by Yanks

Commentary:

What began as a dominant performance by CC Sabathia ended as a Bronx beat down of the Bird.  Lead by Russel Martin's 2 home runs and 6 RBIs from A-Rod, the New York offense broke out for 15 runs on 14 hits.  The knockout punch came in the 8th inning when A-Rod hit a grand slam on a 2-0 pitch following a walk to Teixiera.  The Yanks scored 7 runs in that frame and added two more in the 9th following some drama.  Martin was plunked by Josh Rupe in the back near the head with 2 outs on the first pitch.  It definitely looked intentional as Martin had hit 2 long balls earlier in the game.  Rupe of course denies any intent but why would he admit it if he meant to hit him?  It would only give the Yankees more reason to nail one of the Orioles in today's game.  We'll see if Freddy Garcia decides to make things interesting...the O's should be thankful that AJ Burnett isn't on the mound.  Brett Gardner followed up the hit batter by drilling another home run  to get him out of a 0-16 slump.

CC Sabathia was again brilliant against the Os who he now is 15-2 against lifetime--it was his first win of the season. The only blemish came in the 7th inning when he allowed a 3 run HR to Adam Jones to give Baltimore their only runs of the night.  Journeyman Buddy Carlyle relieved CC in the 9th and allowed a hit before retiring the last man of the game to end a night the Os wanted to forget.

Grades:

Offense: A+  Uh, could you give them any other grade for 15 runs?

Starting Pitching (Sabathia): A-  Was about to give him an A but the 3 run blast by Jones limits this grade to an A-

Bullpen:  A   Not much material to work with here but Carlyle did a good job in mop up relief.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 66
Observed Temp: 72
Forecast Conditions: A shower early, more clouds than sun/moon.
Observed Conditions:  Mostly cloudy, dry.

Grade: B-  Got the general idea but the temp was 6 degrees off and no rain was reported.

Happy Easter

Hope everyone is having a relaxing and enjoyable Easter Sunday! 

I'll have the summary of yesterday's game posted before the start of today's contest at 1:35pm.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday!

CC's Start Rained Out, Will Start This Evening

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast (for Friday night):

Forecast Temp:  46
Observed Temp:  44
Forecast Conditions:  Cloudy with showers, game could be postponed
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy with rain.  Game postponed

Grade: A-

CC (0-2, 2.52 ERA) will oppose Bergesen (0-2, 3.38 ERA).  Clearly both starters have done their job on the mound early this season and have fell victim to poor run support or bad luck.  Both look for their first win this evening at 7:05pm.

If history is any indication, the Yankees should feel good about their chances in this game.  Bergesen has a 5.82 ERA in 17 IP against New York while CC sports a 2.86 ERA in 141.2 IP and a brilliant 14-2 record.  If there is any place where CC should pick up a win, it's in Camden Yards.

Enjoy the game if you're headed there tonight, should be a gorgeous evening for baseball.

Showers Possible for Tomorrow's Game (Forecast)

Due to a lack of time after tonight's game to write a commentary and forecast for tomorrow's game, here is my prediction for Saturday night's contest.

Weather for Tomorrow's Game (at Orioles):

Once again showers will be in the forecast as a weak front slides through the region in the afternoon.  At this time it looks like off and on showers are possible throughout tomorrow night's game although the temperature will be milder than tonight's raw and damp conditions.

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Temperature of 66 degrees with more clouds than sun/moon.  A few showers around, especially early.  Should get the whole game in.

Wet, Cool, and Damp in Baltimore Tomorrow Night

Don't know if I'll have time tonight for a full summary of last night's game so here is a look at the weather forecast for Game 1 of the Orioles series at Camden Yards.  Hopefully later tonight, time will allow me to discuss Bartolo Colon's resurgence against the Jays yesterday.

Weather for Tomorrow's Game (at Orioles):

A storm system moving eastward will overspread clouds over the region during the day, keeping temperatures at bay (or harbor in Baltimore's case--excuse the bad joke).  Rain will develop in the afternoon and evening creating the possibility of a delay or postponement.

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Cloudy and cool with showers throughout the game.  Depending on the intensity of the rain, the game may need to be postponed.  Temperature of 46.

Quick Grades; Full Commentary Tomorrow

Quick Grades (Yanks win 6-2):

**I'll have the full commentary and summary of tonight's win tomorrow as well as the forecast for Friday. Below are the grades.**

Offense:  A   Well done throughout the game.  Scored via groundouts, sac flies, and home runs.  Balanced attack and kept putting people on base.

Starting Pitching (Colon): A  Can't ask for much more than 6.2 IP with 2 runs allowed from a fill-in-used-to-be-ace starter.  He looked great.

Bullpen:  B  Robertson allowed a hit which plated the Jays' second run and Pendleton ran into trouble in the 9th.  Soriano bailed the team out recording the save after walking the first man he faced to load the bases.

On a side note, Curtis Granderson should be a baseball commentator when he retires.  His interview with Kim Jones after the game on YES was casual and informative.  Very well spoken and seems like a quality guy.

Mariano Blows First Save; Yanks Lose 6-5

Commentary:

What began as a battle between two starting pitchers (Burnett and Drabek) that have had strong starts early turned into a battle of the bullpens that Toronto ended up winning in the 10th inning on a Travis Snider double to left center that plated Escobar off of Ivan Nova who for some ridiculous reason was in the game.

Both starting pitchers performed adequately for their respective clubs with both of them going 5.1 IP and allowing 6 hits.  Burnett left with the lead and in position to pick up his fourth win of the year.  Both pitchers had issues finding the strike zone with Burnett issuing 5 walks and Drabek 4.  So far this season, only 56% of Drabek's pitches have been for strikes which is one of the lowest percentages in the league.  Burnett also threw his 6th wild pitch of the season which was the Yankees' 9th at the time and soon to become 10 courtesy of Mariano Rivera.

The bullpen took over for both pitchers in the 6th and while New York was able to shut the Jays down early with Robertson, Joba, and Soriano, Toronto held the Yankees at bay when it mattered.  Mariano came in with a 5-3 lead and a chance to earn a save.  He promptly gave up hits and a squeeze play that tied that game at 5.  The location and movement weren't there tonight for Mo.  Could it be an issue of early season overuse? Hmm...something to consider.

The loser of this game however would be Ivan Nova who entered in the bottom of the 10th after the Yanks failed to score in the top of the inning despite 2 walks.  Why Nova was pitching, I have no idea.  Lance Pendleton is the better option.  He had been perfect in his 3 innings over the weekend and is used to being summoned out of the bullpen.  Nova has been a starter and has walked 9 batters and allowed 17 hits in 14 innings...WAY TO MANY base runners to bring him in in a situation that demands near perfection which Pendleton showed he could accomplish.

As for the Yankee offense, it was nice to see some runs being scored NOT via the home run with a RBI single from Posada and a run scoring DP ground out by Martin.  But a game would not be complete without the long ball so Teixiera promptly delivered a 2 run shot and Granderson added a solo blast.  What is troubling however is Brett Gardner who went 0-4 at the plate and saw his average dip below .130.  This is unacceptable and he must get it turned around soon.  It adds an entire new dimension to the Yankees offense when he is on base like he was last year.

Tough loss to swallow for the Yanks but Mo was going to blow a save sooner or later.  Let's just hope that his lack of command wasn't a result of too much work early in the season.

Grades:

Offense:  B+  Couldn't get it going in the 10th when they needed it and they hit into a few double plays.  Gardner needs to get on track.

Starting Pitching (Burnett): B-  Not a great start but you can live with 3 runs over 5.1 IP.  Too many walks and he really lost control of the game when the Jays started hitting him the 6th.  Must still work on consistency throughout the game and not losing focus although I will say that Martin seems to be doing a great job helping AJ.

Bullpen:  C  Can't be anything higher than that despite great performances from Robertson and Joba and a decent job by Soriano.  Mo blew the save and Nova should never have been allowed to pitch the 10th.  Poor managerial decision.

Weather:

No verification or forecast due to domed stadium.

Sleeting and Freezing in Toronto

According to the much maligned Susan Waldman (WCBS 880 announcer) it is 33 and sleeting outside the dome in Toronto just prior to first pitch.  Of course it is 72 and pleasant inside!

A quick educational note about sleet.  It is NOT the same as hail.

Sleet forms when snowflakes fall through a layer of above freezing air where the snowflake partially melts.  Before reaching the ground however, the partially melted snowflake refreezes into an ice pellet, causing sleet.

Hail on the other hand is formed when ice crystals repeatedly cycle through a thundercloud.  The intense winds in the storm first carry the ice down where liquid water attaches to it.  This water freezes and causes the chunk of ice to grow as it is transported upward by the strong winds.  Eventually, the ice chunk becomes too heavy to be supported and it falls out of the cloud as hail.

In general, hail is more common during the summer in thunderstorms while sleet is more common during winter storms.

Weather Tidbit: Wet April in State College, PA

Although mostly related to New York Yankees updates, I will also post random weather facts/analysis/trivia/data from time to time.

State College, PA has received 3.79" of precipitation this month and is the 10th wettest April on record.  Although we are not in danger of breaking the record of 8.51" set in 1933 (I'm sure that didn't help spirits during the Great Depression), more rain is in the forecast today as well as the next week.  Can we break the top 5 wettest April's on record?

Dome in Toronto Allows for No Cancellations

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (at Toronto):

Good news is that the Blue Jays have a dome so they never get rained out.  Bad news is that it will be a raw and chilly day outside the stadium.  Expect temperatures in the 40s with a few showers.

No game time conditions since it is in a dome.

 

Off Season Moves Payoff for Yanks; Take Series from Texas

Sorry for the lack of updates on the first two games on the Rangers series...it's been a busy weekend.  However, I will review tonight's game and give grades for ALL three games of the series as well.  The Yanks are off tomorrow so Tuesday's forecast will come tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Commentary:

The game was exciting and so was the weather.  What began as a pleasant spring evening with a temperature of 59 degrees turned stormy with a brilliant flash of lightning followed by some rain and small hail during the middle innings.  The grounds crew never had to make that run onto the field though and the game was played in an economical (for the Yankees) 3 hr and 3 min.

CC took the mound for New York trying to notch his first win of the year.  Plagued by bad luck despite brilliant pitching early this season, Sabathia would still find himself winless after he departed the game with the lead in the 7th. Staked with his first lead of the night, CC struck out Bourbon and was relieved by Joba in the 7th with 1 out.  Joba promptly walked the first man he faced, Ian Kinsler.  Michael Young knocked him him in with a ground rule double and CC's potential win had evaporated in 5 minutes.  From there, the bullpen looked solid with a dominant performance by Mariano in the 9th and a refreshingly easy inning for Soriano in the 8th who's ERA dropped to 8.10.

The game was close all the way with Adrian Beltre supplying 4 of the 5 Texas runs, including a 2 run first inning home run to put the Rangers out in front.  For New York, they struggled off of Ogando for most of the night but it was once again the home run that kept them in the game (60+% of the Yankees runs have been scored via the long ball).  Cano connected on a solo shot while Martin and Granderson each had 2 run home runs.  The hero of the game however was Eric Chavez who is now 6-12 in games that he starts.  His go ahead single in the 8th that plated Teixiera was the turning point in the game.

Grades (Sunday Night vs Rangers):

Offense:  A-  Would have been nice to see some more action off of Ogando early but New York stayed patient and figured out Ogando by the 3rd time through the line up and were able to handle the high fastball.

Starting Pitching (Sabathia):  B-  Not a good start but nevertheless had the chance to pick up a W.  Still a sparkling ERA of 2.52 this season.

Bullpen:  B+  Inexplicable 4 pitch walk to Kinsler by Joba and then allowing the game tying double to Young.

---------------

Verification of the Forecast for Saturday's Game;

Forecast Temp: 49
Observed Temp: 47
Forecast Conditions:  Cloudy with showers developing.
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy, showers developed.

Grade:  A

--------------

Grades (Friday Night vs. Rangers  Loss 5-3)

Offense:  C  2 for 8 with runners in scoring position although they managed 9 hits.  Grounding into an American League record 6 double plays doesn't help.

Starting Pitching (Nova):  D+  4.1 IP and 5 runs.  Not good, and the 5 walks is especially awful.

Bullpen:  A  Once again the bullpen came through.  Lance Pendleton was a nice surprise who was just called up from AAA to replace Hughes.  He was perfect in 3 innings of work.

Grades (Saturday Afternoon vs. Rangers  Win  5-2)

Offense:  B  5 runs was good and there were 2 more home runs but the Yanks were 0-5 w/RISP which needs to change.  You can't continue to rely on the home run. 

Starting Pitching (Garcia):  A  Can't ask for much more from your number 5 starter especially on a chilly, damp, and blustery day.  6 IP with 1 BB, 1 SO, and 2 hits.  Especially impressive since he hadn't started in about 3 weeks.

Bullpen: B-  Soriano once again had issues but Joba and Mo were solid.

Persistent Yanks Rally Against Birds

Commentary:

Sorry for the delay but here is the recap and commentary from yesterday's exciting Yankees game against the Orioles.

Baltimore got out to an early lead due to Hughes ineffectiveness once again.  His fastball failed to reach past 92mph and to compound the issue, he wasn't locating his pitches well at all.  After 4.1 IP he was done and had given up 5 runs and 7 hits.  We found out today that Hughes has been placed on the 15-Day DL with a "dead arm."  I'd say this is the right move since Colon is pitching well out of the pen and he is a veteran starter that New York can add to the rotation.

Despite the Orioles' early lead, they were held scoreless by the Yanks bullpen after the 5th inning by stellar work from Colon, Joba, and Mo.  Arguably the biggest play of the game was in the 8th when a pitch in the dirt by Chamberlain got away from Martin and the runner on 3rd (Pie) broke towards the plate.  Joba quickly--well as quickly as he can got to the plate, blocked it, got the ball from Martin and tagged out Pie.  It was a fantastic play that had Orioles manager Buck Showalter out of the dugout arguing the call with home plate umpire Dana Demuth.

The scoreless innings provided by the 'pen allowed New York to chip away at Baltimore's lead.  With 1 in the 5th, 2 in the 6th and another run in the 7th, the Yanks had the game to within 1.  Posada led off the bottom of the 9th with a towering blast to right center to tie the game at 5.  Posada now has 5 home runs and only 7 hits!  (Another random interesting fact is that AJ Burnett has more wins than the Red Sox).  The game remained tied and moved to the 10th when Teixiera walked and A-Rod doubled him to third.  Swisher promptly delivered the game winning sac-fly and was pied as usual for his walk-off heroics.

Grades:

Offense:  A  Great job chipping away and coming through in the clutch.

Starting Pitching (Hughes):  D+  Another poor start by Hughes who now has been relegated to the DL

Bullpen:  A  Once again they do the job and not just on the mound.  Joba's block of the plate proved to be a key to victory.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. Rangers):

The weather will be going downhill tomorrow as a moisture laden storm system approaches from the west.  At this point I believe the entire game will be played before the heavier rain begins during the evening.  If it was a 7:05pm start, the game would most likely be canceled.

Game Time Conditions (1:05pm):  Cloudy with showers developing throughout the game.  The entire game should be able to be played.  Temperature of 49 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp:  58
Observed Temp:  67
Forecast Conditions:  Partly cloudy
Observed Conditions:  A few clouds.

Grade:  B-  Totally busted on the temperature but the general idea was right.

 

Quick Weather Update--Will Post Commentary Tomorrow

Commentary:

I apologize for not having time again to complete this section for tonight's game.  I will however post a full discussion tomorrow, hopefully before 6pm.  Very exciting game was played tonight...lots to talk about.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup:

 Another nice night for baseball with temperatures slightly cooler than this evening due to an area of high pressure sliding off shore.

Game Time Conditions:  A few high clouds with a temperature of 50 degrees.

Verification for Yesterday's Forecast:

Will be discussed in tomorrow's commentary section.

Thanks for reading and have a great night!

Bye Bye Birdie! Yanks Blast Birds

Commentary:

Hope the creative title makes up for no commentary tonight--not enough time.  See below for grades and weather.

Grades:

Offense:  A-  7 runs on 12 hits is a good nights work but would have liked to have seen some production in later innings to warrant an A or A+.  No major complaints except that Granderson went 0-3 and his average now sits at .156--streaky so far this season.  Speaking of averags, A-Rod leads the team with .355.

Starting Pitching (Burnett):  B+  Cant boost it into the A range because of the 4 runs he gave up in the 7th but he struck out 5 in 6.1 IP and threw 112 pitches.  The strong start to the season continues although he still seems to have mental lapses at points.

Bullpen:  A+  One hit given up by Soriano and that was it.  Robertson did a masterful job in the 7th and Mo got the usual 1-2-3 ninth..

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. Orioles):

The Yanks conclude their rain shortened series tomorrow evening and the forecast is looking gorgeous.  Simply a splendid spring evening across the tri-state area with a light wind and partly cloudy skies.  Bring a light jacket with you for the end of the game.

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Partly cloudy with a light breeze.  Temperature of 58 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 51
Observed Temp: 49
Forecast Conditions: Cloudy, cool, and damp with a shower early.
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy, cool, and damp with mist/drizzle.

Grade: A

Second Rainout in a Week Postpones Yanks-Orioles

Quick Update:

While they might have gotten the game in after 930pm, it really wasn't worth it and the field was probably incredibly soaked.  New York City has received 0.68" today (as of the writing of this post) and temperatures held in the low 50s, now falling into the 40s.  Would have been an awful night for baseball with a gusty wind as well.  Burnett will be pushed back until tomorrow with Hughes starting on Thursday.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. Orioles):

The system that brought the wet weather today will continue to sluggishly pull out of the region but leave behind scattered showers and cool conditions throughout the day.  Definitely grab the umbrella if you're headed to the game tomorrow although I do believe the game will be played (possibly with a slight delay in the beginning).

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Cloudy, cool, and damp with a shower early.  Temperature of 51 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 48
Observed Temp: 52
Forecast Conditions:  Cloudy with showers.  Good chance of not getting the game in.
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy with rain.  Game postponed

Grade: A-

Yanks Dominated By Beckett; Lose 4-0

Commentary:

It took 9 games but the Yankees offense finally failed to show any signs of life during Sunday night's game at Fenway, losing 4-0.  This poor showing was no fault of New York's hitters however.  Josh Beckett, after a troubling first start of the season, bounced back with a phenomenal outing last night, limiting the Yanks to 2 hits over 8 innings.  He struck out 10 and walked 1 by harnessing all his pitches.  The New York hitters looked off balance all night and only managed two singles (Cano and Chavez).  It definitely was a reality check for New York who had been scoring runs with ease so far this season.

The Yanks weren't helped by a sub-par outing from CC Sabathia who only managed 5.2 innings while throwing 118 pitches (Beckett only needed 103 to get through 8).  It was CCs first poor start of the season and is now 0-1 despite two fantastic starts prior to last night.  The bullpen didn't help matters when Chamberlain relieved CC in the 6th and allowed 2 more runs to score.  Some good news was the Boone Logan looked better although he did walk a batter.  In the 8th, Girardi decided to bring in Freddy Garcia as a reliever which was somewhat surprising.  He will pitch later this week so it seems like Joe just wanted to get him some work.  Garcia's first appearance of the year was mediocre, allowing an insurance run.

In the end, Boston ended up taking the series but the good news is that they once again forgot how to pitch tonight, losing 16-5 to the Rays.  Dice-K looks like he has no idea how to pitch anymore and Wakefield should retire.  So in the battle of the AL East basement dwellers, the Rays have climbed even with the Red Sox.  The series continues tomorrow.

As for the Yanks...

Grades:

Offense:  C-  They don't get a lower grade due to the dominance of Beckett.

Starting Pitching (Sabathia):  C  Although the earned runs weren't awful, 118 pitches for 5.2 is unacceptable for an ace--especially when Beckett had his A game.

Bullpen:  C+  A decent outing from Logan and Garcia.  Poor performance by Joba.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup (vs. Orioles):

Not looking promising for baseball tomorrow as a storm system will SLOWLY CHURN across the Northeast bringing damp and chilly conditions.

Game Time Conditions (7:05pm):  Cloudy with showers.  Temperature of 48 degrees.  Good chance of not completing  the game.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 50
Observed Temp: 54
Forecast Conditions:  Cloudy with rain developing.  Possibility of not getting the game in. 
Observed Temp:  Mostly cloudy with showers.  Game played in full.

Grade: B

Charl Schwartzel Wins the Masters in Epic Sunday Finish

While this blog mainly focuses on the Yankees, I would be remiss to not mention the phenomenal drama that occurred today at the Masters in Augusta, GA.  The final round was riveting with 10 players within 1 shot of the lead at one point.

The day began with Rory McIlroy attempting to win his first major and back-up three good rounds with one more.  However, after an adequate front 9, he completely imploded with a triple bogey on 10.  He ended up shooting an 60, finishing 4 under.  The real story on the front 9 this afternoon was Tiger Woods who found some of that "Tiger magic" of old.  He shot a 5 under 31 on the front including an eagle to get close to the lead.  He cooled down on the back nine and missed a key par and eagle putt at 12 and 14 respectively.  If he had had either of those puts, who knows what would have happened.  In the end, a good tournament for Woods who showed that the potential for greatness is still there, just not consistent.

Through all the drama and lead changes coming down the stretch, one man emerged victorious as the sun set on the beautiful, tranquil setting...Charl Schwartzel.  No, that is not Charles, it is Charl.  But as someone mentioned, maybe now that he won, he can splurge to add the 'e' and 's'.  Schwartzel began the day with some magic, sinking a long bump and run at the 1st and then using a wedge to eagle the 3rd.  From there he sailed along with pars until the 15th where he decided to go absolutely nuts.  In the heat of all the pressure, Charl birdied his last 4 holes!  It was an outstanding show of confidence and putting.

It was a great day for golf between McIlroy's downfall, Tiger finding some old magic, and the victory of unknown Schwartzel.  Let's hope the other three majors this year are just as riveting.

Yankees Offense Continues to Produce in 9-6 Win

Commentary:

On a gorgeous spring day in Boston, the Yankees took the second game of a three game series from the Red Sox on 9 runs and 13 hits.  The barrage of offense just kept coming yesterday afternoon as New York jumped on Bucholtz early and often while also tacking on runs against the Sox bullpen.  Everyone had a hit except Teixeira and Gardner who is off to a troubling slow start to the season.  Given his good season last year I'd be surprised if he doesn't turn it around soon.  He's also too fast to not leg out some infield singles every so often so I wouldn't be worried yet.  The real powerhouse of the day was Russel Martin.  His 2 HR and 4 RBI led the Yanks to victory.  He is now hitting .321 on the season.  Martin wasn't the only newcomer to make a statement yesterday though.  Eric Chavez was 3 for 5 and a RBI in his first start as a Yank.

As for the pitching, Nova hung in there and the bullpen shut the door, not allowing a Boston come back.  Ivan Nova continued his solid start to the season as the Yanks #4 starter by tossing 4.1 innings and allowing 4 runs.  Although not a great start, he kept New York in the game.  Nova was able to limit damage in most of the innings and needs to work on how he gets out of jams by trusting his pitches.  The real bright spot of the day was the bullpen which allowed 0 runs in 4.2 IP.  Robertson and Chamberlain were perfect while Ayala allowed 3 hits.  Good signs from Robertson who hadn't been extremely sharp this season as well as Ayala who has proven to be a nice option for Girardi.

Boston is now 1-7 and the road gets no easier.  They face CC tonight with Beckett on the mound for the Red Sox who wasn't great in his first start and has always struggled against the Yanks.  After New York leaves town, Boston will host the equally slow starting Rays in a battle to get out of the AL East cellar.  Should be quite the series as both teams can't afford to be swept, falling to possibly 1-11.

Grades:

Offense:  A+  Can't find much fault with yesterday's performance.

Starting Pitching (Nova):  C  Only got through 4.1 but kept the team in the game.  Will be looking for more length as the season progresses.

Bullpen:  A+  Again, can't find anything wrong here.

**No game tomorrow so I will post the weather forecast for Tuesday's game on Monday afternoon/evening.**

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

**No forecast**

 

Yankees Give Boston First Win Despite Potent Offense

Commentary:

The Red Sox needed to win a game and they finally broke out of their slump at the right time yesterday afternoon, beating the Yankees 9-6 in front of 37,718 at Fenway.  As has been the theme early, the Yankees had no problem  scoring runs on Friday with 8 hits and RBIs from 5 players.  A-Rod had another home run and the Yanks were decent with RISP (3-10) although the Red Sox were better at 6 for 10.  A positive the be taken from this loss would be the continued run scoring in the first half of the game against John Lackey despite being put in a hole early by the incompetence and lack of velocity of Phil Hughes.

Speaking of Hughes, he only lasted 2 innings, throwing 47 pitches, allowing 6 runs, and walking 2 while striking out none.  This was the second bad start for Hughes in a row and the main issue seems to be a lack of velocity.  His fastball was slightly faster than his first start at 90-91mph but his location was still off and he struggled during his short outing.  The questions has to be raised whether Hughes should be sent down to the minors to build arm strength and allow Colon to start.  But it seems at this point that Hughes will remain in the rotation for now.

After Hughes departed, Colon did a good job limiting the damage allowing 2 runs, 1 earned.  He kept the game at 6-7 into the 7th when Girardi made a questionable move, bringing in Boone Logan to pitch to David Ortiz immediately after a strikeout by Colon.  Obviously the thinking here was to bring in the lefty to face the lefty but Colon looked sharp and had only thrown 62 pitches.  If Logan was a "specialty lefty" I'd understand the move but he's not and has not looked good so far this season.  As expected, Logan blew the game open by allowing Ortiz to double and he scored later when Robertson allowed a hit.  The game was now 6-9 and the Yanks lost by the same margin.

Grades:

Offense:  A-  Didn't score enough in the late innings to warrant an A but scoring each inning on John Lackey was impressive.

Starting Pitching (Hughes): F  Really can't find anything good in this outing.

Bullpen:  C+  Colon was great but Robertson and especially Logan were not.

Weather for Today's/Tomorrow's Matchup:

The game has already started so I won't forecast for today but here is tomorrow's forecast.

Game Time Conditions (8:05pm Sun):  50 degrees and cloudy with rain developing.  Possibility of not being able to complete the game.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 48
Observed Temp: 47
Forecast Conditions:  Partly Cloudy
Observed Conditions: Partly Cloudy

Grade: A

Yanks Win Without HR; Head to Fenway

Commentary:

Let it be known that the Bronx Bombers don't always have to "bomb" their way to victory.  The Yankees finally figured out how to score without the long ball in this afternoon's 4-3 win over the Twins.  Apparently 4 is the magic number (4 runs in each game against the Twins) of late.  I'm sure the Red Sox would like to see 4 runs scored in a game as they dropped their 6th straight today to fall to 0-6...more on that later.

A.J. Burnett had his Jekyll and Hyde moments today but in the end the good side won out and he tossed a strong 6 innings allowing 2 ER on 5 H with 2 BB and 5 Ks.  He struggled with his command at times but was not wild and there were definitely many positive signs.  He walked the first two men he faced in the 2nd but then got the next 3 outs without allowing a run.  The only poor part of the day was in the 4th, immediately after he was staked to a 1-0 lead.  That quickly evaporated on doubles by Thome and Kubel.  The Yanks quickly responded though and ended up winning 4-3 on a key RBI double by Andruw Jones, a Russel Martin RBI ground out, and a Gardner RBI single in the 4th.

On a raw day in the Bronx with a tight and moving strike zone by home plate umpire Larry Vanover, the offense produced runs in a variety of ways while also recovering from a 2-1 deficit.  The 4 runs would be all that was needed as JoSoMo (credit: Michael Kay--I can't believe I'm using his abbreviation) closed the door in the 7/8/9 innings.  Soriano had an important bounce back game after being roughed up on Tuesday night.  Joba did allow a run in the 7th but held the Twins there.

Grades:

Offense:  B  4 runs is a decent day but they could have scored more and they only had 5 hits although they made the most of them.  Good to see them not rely in the home run.

Starting Pitching (Burnett): B+  99 pitches in 6 IP isn't economical but he got the job done.

Bullpen: A  Great stuff again although Joba allowed a run in the 7th.  Mo retired the side in order in the 9th using just 7 pitches while Soriano used just 10 in the 8th.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup:

The Yanks will head to Fenway for the first series in Boston where the Fenway Faithful will most assuredly be seething after a 0-6 start including just being swept by the Indians who weren't supposed to be any good (possible special blog post to come on Boston's issues tomorrow).  As for the weather...

Game Time Conditions (2:05pm):  Partly cloudy and 48 degrees.  A crisp but nice early April afternoon for a ball game.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 50
Observed Temp: 47
Forecast Conditions:  A spotty shower early with skies clearing throughout the afternoon.
Observed Conditions:  No rain with mostly cloudy skies with some peeks of sun appearing late in the game/evening.

Grade: A-

Rain Postpones Garcia's Debut

Update:

I'll be the first to admit a busted forecast when it occurs and unfortunately, those "spotty showers" turned into an evening long light rain event that has postponed tonight's game vs. the Twins.  Garcia's spot in the rotation will be skipped and Burnett will pitch tomorrow's matinee (1:05pm).

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup:

It'll be a chilly day for baseball with temperatures in the 40s.  Expect clearing skies throughout the afternoon.

Game Time Conditions:  A lingering shower possible around first pitch with clearing skies for the rest of the afternoon.  Cool with a temperature of 50 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 51
Observed Temp: 45
Forecast Conditions:  Mostly cloudy with spotty showers (no game cancellation)
Observed Conditions:  Cloudy with light rain (game canceled)

Grade: C-

Soriano Stutters, Logan Loses It

Commentary:

The Twins can be happy for one night as a 4-0 8th inning Yankee lead vanished as quickly as the pleasant weather yesterday.  Delmon Young's 3 RBI double (really a jam shot that was popped to right field and happened to fall in) tied the game at 4 in the top of the 8th before Boone Logan did what he does best and show no poise when he relieved Mo in the 10th.  He gave up the game winning hit to Mauer which made it 5-4 and the Yanks couldn't muster a baserunner in the bottom of the inning.

Lost was Sabathia's brilliant start in which he didn't have his best stuff but managed to record 6 Ks and 2 H over 7 IP.  With CC's night over, Girardi elected to use Soriano again after using him for 19 pitches last night.  It was clear from the beginning that Soriano didn't have it, issuing 3 BBs.  I have to disagree with Girardi's move here and think Robertson was the better option with the 4-0 lead since he hadn't pitched in a few days.  Robertson eventually got his turn when after Soriano had already walked in a run and the bases were still loaded.  After reaching a full count on Delmon Young, Robertson jammed him with a high fast ball but it dropped in to right field, clearing the bases.  I've already seen the usual ranting about Girardi on the message boards and I do agree that Soriano shouldn't have been used in the 8th inning.  But to say that Robertson shouldn't have been used because he is not reliable is a ridiculous statement.  Given better luck, he gets out of the jam without allowing a run.  In addition, I do agree that Girardi tends to be a bit too much "by the book" and can often times not go with the "feel of the game."  However, who else would you have used in the 10th inning other than Boone Logan?  He was fairly (okay, maybe that is a bit generous) dependable last year.  In the end, the Twins pick up a much needed win at the Stadium on a blustery and cold night that could help explain Soriano's issues.

Grades:

Offense:  B-  Yes they had 2 more HRs.  Yes they were 1-1 w/RISP.  But when it mattered most in the late innings the Yanks couldn't produce anything on the basepaths.  While hitting many home runs is nice, it has to take a mental toll on the club which is now subconsciously waiting for or trying to hit the long ball.  Other sources of offense must show up soon and it is not enough to score in the first two innings only on back-to-back nights and expect to win both games.

Starting Pitching (Sabathia):  A  You ask for much more except a complete game shut out from CC.  Too bad he won't pick up a win for his effort.  He now has 2 no decisions.

Bullpen:  C-  The grade isn't lower because Mo had a perfect 9th and Young's hit to tie the game off Robertson was mostly luck.  Logan and Soriano were awful.  Ayala looked decent, inducing a double play ball immediately upon entering the game.

Weather for Tomorrow's Match Up:

Can't rule out a shower tomorrow night so bring the umbrella and poncho.  Any rain should be short lived, allowing the game to be played fully.

Game Time Conditions:  Mostly cloudy with spotty showers.  Temperature of 51 degrees.

Verification of Yesterday's Forecast:

Forecast Temp: 46
Observed Temp: 45
Forecast Conditions: Mostly cloudy with gusty NW wind at 20mph
Observed Conditions: Mostly cloudy with WNW wind sustained at 10mph, gusting to 25mph.

Grade: A

Jo-So-Mo Closes the Door in Yanks Win

Commentary:

Thanks to the creativity of Michael Kay (YES play-by-play announcer) we now have a name for the "Big 3" in the Yanks bullpen: "JoSoMo" in reference to Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, and Mariano Rivera.  Whether that sticks, is up for debate.  Some dedicated YES listeners may also remember the attempt at QuanGorMo several years back during the Quantrill, Gordon, and Rivera years.  This never caught on so don't expect Kay's latest acronym to see any popularity.  The point however is that JoSoMo again did what they accomplished so nicely on Thursday in the Yanks opener and made the last 3 innings a breeze for New York.  All three pitchers looked great again and if this trend continues (as it looks like it should) scoring runs in the last three innings of any ballgame against the Yanks will be as difficult as it was for Phil Hughes to get outs yesterday.  Add a dominant Dave Robertson and a good lefty in Feliciano to the mix, and you have arguably the best bullpen in the majors.

But the main story from tonight's 4-3 win against the Minnesota Twins (yes the Twins lost at Yankee Stadium again if you can believe that) was the youngster Ivan Nova.  His line of 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K is just what you'd like to see from your fourth starter.  Although not dominant, Nova showed poise on the mound and worked out of some jams.  He induced an inning ending double play in the 5th from Delmon Young and got a key strikeout  to close out his night in the 6th.  A good start from the rookie on the pitching staff and he showed signs of promise.

As for the offense, it looks like Buster Olney may be writing another article about the ridiculous rate of HRs at the Stadium (article written 2 years ago).  Posada and A-Rod both connected on 2 shots this evening and accounted for all the scoring offense.  The Twins, to their credit, responded and scored 3 runs to make the game close (as they always seem to do) but couldn't muster any rally against the already overused acronym JoSoMo.  So while not a great night offensively by the Yanks despite the HRs, the pitching stepped up which was a relief after yesterday's batting practice.  And once again, the Twins came up short which should be no surprise and you begin to wonder if Gardenhire would rather just not play again.

Grades:

Offense:  B  4 Runs, 7 Hits and 4 BB is a decent night but 0-3 w/RISP keeps this grade from being higher.  While the HRs early this season are great and many players are off to a red-hot start, scoring needs to come from other places rather than just the long ball.

Starting Pitching (Nova): B+  Great first start for the youngster who showed promise and poise.  Kept the Yanks in the ball game for 6 innings.  Should be great to watch him progress this season.

Bullpen: A  Can't be an A+ due to a few base runners although the Soriano's baserunner came on a ball that deflected off his glove and Rivera's came on a ball that was tapped to center field on a great pitch low and away.  Once again the trio in the 7/8/9 inning did the job.

Weather for Tomorrow's Matchup: 

Bring the heavy jacket tomorrow as it will feel more like fall with a gusty wind and chillier temps.  No rain in the forecast though so there should be no problem getting the game in.

Game Time Conditions:  Temperature of 46 under mostly cloudy skies and a gusty NW wind of 20 mph.

Welcome to the 2011 Edition of "The Home Depo"

It is officially baseball season again and that means it's time for me to attempt to keep this blog updated!  We'll see if I can make it until June this year unlike in 2010 when I stopped posting in May.  I promise, time permitting, that I'll update as much as I can (hopefully daily) with my commentary and grades of the previous Yankee game as well as a weather forecast for the next day.

If you're new to my blog, welcome (I hope you're a Yankee fan).  If not, well then you'll think my posts are biased but that is because they are meant to be.  This is not a baseball blog, this is not a sports blog, it is a Yankees blog with a meteorological twist although I may post some unrelated topics from time to time.

Of course healthy argument about my thoughts in the comments section is fully appreciated =) Feel free to rip apart my analysis but try to do it in a respectful way.

As for the weather portion of this blog, my goal is to give a forecast for the upcoming ball game and discuss how weather may have impacted previous games.  So if you're headed to the ballpark, make sure to check out The Home Depo for the latest forecast!  In addition, I'll blog about interesting weather stories on occasion.

Lastly, I am open to suggestions for a name to this blog.  I'm struggling to think of how to combine weather and Yankees into a quick and catchy title.  If you have any thoughts, please comment on a post and let me know!

Well, it's time to stop rambling so you can check out some of my other posts or, if you're already bored, leave this site and never come back =)  Hope you enjoy!