Stars in Stripes

Metrodome's Farewell Present

2009-10-17T22:05:00.002-04:00

*Video to be replaced soon

The final game in the baseball history of the Metrodome saw the Yankees move on to the American League Championship Series. Enjoy the latest edition of Yankees Insider!

Yanks Start October Run Strong

2009-10-17T22:02:00.003-04:00

*Video to be replaced soon

Inside the ALDS

2009-10-17T21:54:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK – The Yankees made quick work of the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the playoffs last week.

As a reporter, it was very exciting to be part of Game 1 and Game 2. I covered the final postseason at the old Yankee Stadium in 2007, both as a writer and as a tv reporter. That one was a heartbreaker. Standing in the press conference room, you just knew the Joe Torre was coming to an end in the Big Apple. I don’t think people wanted to believe it, but I realized it was going to be a reality.

It looked like Torre was tired of trying to justify himself, and the Yankees were tired of losing in the first round.

I can’t say I wanted Torre to go. I think you could make a strong case for him being the greatest Yankee manager of all-time, regardless of his record prior to the pinstripes. Just because you have a talented, high-paid roster, it doesn’t automatically equate to winning – especially come October.

Torre is now one of the best managers in the game. I just think he and the Yankees needed a change.

That’s where Joe Girardi comes in. I wasn’t singing Girardi’s praises like everyone else when they made the change, and in reality, Torre could have come back if he chose the terms of that incentive laced contract offer.

Girardi took his lumps last season, but I can safely say, he’s done a terrific job in Year 2. The Yankees are the team to beat in October – the best of the Final Four teams remaining. They’re better than the Los Angeles Angels. They’re better than Torre’s L.A. Dodgers. And, they’re even better than the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Again, it doesn’t mean that they will win the World Series; it just means that they are more than capable of beating any of the other three teams left. Honestly, at this time of year, it’s anyone’s game.

Still, the Yankees showed how dominant they could be in the American League Division Series, sweeping the Minnesota Twins in three straight. The Twins were the hottest team coming in, but the Yankees capitalized on every little mistake they made.

These Yankees play the best team ball since the squad that reeled off three straight from 1998-2000 and were three outs shy of four -in-a-row in 2001.

Alex Rodriguez was key for New York in the ALDS. He’s been one of the most important figures for the Yankees this season.

In Game 3, A-Rod and Jorge Posada hit seventh-inning home runs to spoil Carl Pavano’s opportunity to frustrate his former club last Sunday. The Yankees advanced to their first American League Championship Series in five years with the 4-1 victory.

New York won 4-3 in 11 innings Friday night in the Bronx. Mark Teixeira provided the game-winning blast after A-Rod tied it with two outs in the ninth on the most clutch homer of the series. The Yanks won the opener 7-2, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

Check out our Yankees Insider packages and relieve the moment with BronxNet.

The Boss Speaks

2009-10-07T20:45:00.003-04:00

New York – George Steinbrenner may not be as visible as he used to be in the Bronx as he gets on in years, but there's one thing "The Boss" would never miss: The postseason.

Yankee captain Derek Jeter already came out this week, calling for the Bombers to win another World Series for Steinbrenner. The patriarch of the Yankees universe will be in New York for the American League Division Series tonight.

As in classic Boss fashion, he released a statement saying, rallying the troops: "This has been a tremendous year for our team as we have settled into our new home. The New York Yankees are proud of our rich history of outstanding players and this year's team has worked hard to prove that they are worthy of the great distinction of calling themselves Yankees.

"We look forward to finishing what we started this season and never losing sight of our goal - to bring another championship to the best fans in the world and the great city of New York."

Yankees Insider Rewind: Bombers Win AL East

2009-10-07T20:24:00.000-04:00

Relive Jeter Passing Gehrig

2009-10-07T20:16:00.002-04:00

Yanks Celebrate AL East Crown

2009-09-29T21:58:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – I think I’ve finally dried off from Sunday’s champagne shower. The winning doesn’t seem to get old in the Bronx. The Yankees hit the century mark Sunday, No. 100 in their 4-2 win over Boston.

They ripped Kansas City in the opener Monday night, but as I watch from my press box seat, the Bombers are currently on the wrong end of a 3-2 deficit, heading into the bottom of the eighth.

AJ Burnett pitched a gem tonight, allowing only one run to the Royals. Phil Coke pitched OK in relief, but his throwing error to second base cost the Yankees late.

They still have six outs to turn things around.

As for Sunday, it was another surreal experience. The Yankees clinched their 11th AL East crown since 1995, tying for the most division titles in the wild card era along the way. They have now won nine of their last 10 games against Boston after losing the first eight games in the season series.

It was also the Yankees' 49th comeback win, which is the most in baseball, and their 35th come-from-behind victory at home, which is the most in team history.

What can I say, there’s never a dull moment in the Bronx these days.

Matsui Delivers; Champagne Looms

2009-09-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK – Hideki Matsui’s dominance of the Red Sox continues. He delivered a clutch two out, two RBI hit to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the sixth.

Matsui has the best numbers of any Yankee against Boston in 2009. He continues to make them pay, time after time. In addition, he has quietly put together the best season of any Yankee designated hitter as he approaches 30 home runs.

Brian Bruney, who recently switched his uniform number to No. 99, was perfect in relief. Move over Rick Vaughn, the new “Wild Thing” has been lights out. Bruney provided a sparkling 1 2/3 out of the pen and gave way to Phil Coke, one of the unsung heroes of the bullpen this year. Coke delivered once again, striking out David Ortiz to end the inning. Big spot with the revitalized Ortiz taking a shot at tying the game with one swing.

Mark Teixeira homered in the ninth and now, Mariano Rivera is making his way to the mound to close the door.

Yanks Can Clinch Today

2009-09-27T15:56:00.003-04:00

NEW YORK – Looking on as the Yankees try to sweep Boston out of New York today, and in doing so, win the American League East Crown on a rainy Sunday afternoon in the Bronx.

Let's catch up with some news and notes from the press box.. Robinson Cano singled in the second inning for some more Bronx Bomber history in 2009. Now, Derek Jeter and Cano each have 200 hits. With Robbie's base knock, the pairing became the fifth combo in franchise history (sixth time) to each collect at least 200 hits in the same season, joining Lou Gehrig and Earle Combs (1927), Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio (1936, '37), Bernie Williams and Jeter (1999) and Alfonso Soriano and Williams (2002).

According to Elias Sports Bureau, no teammates have ever reached 200 hits in a season at shortstop and second base.

Congrats to DJ and Robbie!

Cano's resurgence has played a huge part in New York's turnaround from a season ago. The potent lineup the Yankees yield is so well constructed from an offensive standpoint with solid contributors playing the up the middle positions. Jeter is having one of the finest seasons of his career, an MVP type season, while Cano is arguably the best hitting second baseman in the league, and don't forget Jorge Posada behind th plate. He has really bounced back from injury. The Yankees have also had success with a rotation in center field. I can't tell you how many games Brett Gardner has won for the Bombers this season with his feet. That speed of his is indefensible, and it's an element the Yankee lineup has lacked in recent years.

The other half of that tandem, Melky Cabrera, homered today. He's also bounced back from a disappointing 2008 season. Melky's versatility has been a great asset. Today, he's playing left field.

We stand at 2-1 in the sixth. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Bombers were robbed. Nick Swisher doubled and tried to tag up on a fly to center. He made it to third, but the umpiring crew blew the call, saying he left too early. Boston appealed and Swisher was called out. Cabrera later singled, which would have tied the ballgame.

Standing by for a celebration. We'll see if the Yankees deliver.

Andy, Not Feeling So Dandy

2009-09-15T23:36:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK – Tonight’s loss doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The Yankees should be more worried about Andy Pettitte’s health.

The 37-year-old hopes a little rest now will go a long way toward a healthy October. After several sparkling starts in the second half, Pettitte will be skipped in the rotation tomorrow. The Yankees said Tuesday that the left-hander has a “tired pitching shoulder.”

Instead, Chad Gaudin will get the call tomorrow night. Pettitte will be pushed back to Monday night and face the Angels on the road.

“I think they just think that with the rest, skipping a start, that that should clear it up,” Pettitte said prior to the game. "I definitely don't want to be standing out on the mound in a postseason game or a game during the year that might matter a little bit more, with my arm aching a little bit.”

Pain in the same shoulder hampered Pettitte during the second half last season and he went 2-7 with a 6.23 ERA in his final 11 starts.

This is cause for great concern, even if the Bombers are only being precautionary at this time. Pettitte has been very consistent, going 13-6 with a 4.14 ERA for the AL East leaders. He has thrown 178 1-3 innings in 29 starts and gives the Yankees a chance to hide Joba Chamberlain until the American League Championship series, assuming they win the Division Series.

The Yankees can go with three starters in the first round, likely lining up CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, 1-2, with Andy finishing off the trio in the third spot, breaking up the two lefty starters between the hard-throwing Burnett.

“It is a concern,” manager Joe Girardi said of Pettitte’s tired shoulder. “That’s why we chose to skip him. We want to knock this out sooner than later.”

They better. I still say Joba could dictate the entire outcome for New York in the postseason. If he’s solid, there’s no reason to think the Yankees can’t win it all. If he’s terrible, the Bombers, even with all their offense, could be in serious trouble, especially if he moves up to No. 3. That would give a team like Detroit, New York’s likely first round draw, an added advantage.

Let’s face it, Burnett has been inconsistent himself and has never pitched an inning of post-season baseball in his life, and Sabathia is still unproven come October.

Andy needs to be right. The Yankees have what it takes to win it all, but they are still very thin when it comes to starting pitching depth. I hope they don’t regret passing on Roy Halladay.

These are the kind of x-factors that make October baseball the crap shoot it really is.

Tempers Flare: Posada Challenges Carlson

2009-09-15T22:27:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK – Quick update in the top of the 8th. Yanks still losing to Toronto, 9-3, but the action is just heating up.

Jorge Posada just tackled lefty reliever Jesse Carlson. Georgy wasn't too happy with a pitch earlier in the at-bat, one that sailed right behind him, and he brushed past Carlson when he scored on a double by Brett Gardner moments ago.

Carlson called out Posada and a mini squable ensued. This, perhaps stemming from an earlier beaning of Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill.

Both benches cleared. Honestly, it's the most excitement the Yanks have provided since they had an early lead.

Posada was ejected. The Jays went to the bullpen and relieved Carlson.

Maybe, this will spark one of those crazy comebacks?

Stay tuned.

Looking Ahead: Yanks Wrap Homestand with Jays

2009-09-15T22:13:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK – Sitting in the pressbox, watching the Yankees fall apart to Toronto tonight.

Hey, it happens.

Even to the best of teams.

What more can you ask from the Bombers?

They have won 15 of their last 20, 31 of their last 41, 42 of their last 57 and 55 of their last 75 games. They have the best record in baseball since the break, marking their second best second-half start (42-14 in 1938) since the All-Star Game was instituted in 1933.

Sounds good!

The Yankees have a 7 ½ game lead on Boston for first in the division. Now, we’re cooking!

They have been in first place (shared or sole possession) for 70 days this season, including each of the last 57. Fire!

They became the first in the bigs to 90 wins. Smoking!

And, the icing on the cake: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yankees have never blown a lead of more than six games.

Advise: Starting lining up for playoff tickets. HOT!

Preview of More to Come?

2009-09-15T21:41:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK – Last night’s makeup between the Yankees and the Angels had a postseason feel in mid September.

Could this be a possible playoff preview?

The Bronx Bombers finally had the look of a contender against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a foe that even the Joe Torre era Yankees never seemed to figure out. The key for New York Monday night was simple: Beat L.A. at its game – the speed game.

Brett Gardner slid into third base on the front end of a double steal, then popped up and came home with the go-ahead run as catcher Mike Napoli’s throw rolled into left field.

With the speedy play, the Yanks proved they, too, can play small ball – something the franchise has lacked for the better part of this decade since topping the Mets in the 2000 “Subway” World Series.

Aside from the added element of speed in the Yankees arsenal, the story is twofold. First, the Yankees took it to their west coast rivals and in doing so captured a win that keeps them in control of the race for home-field advantage throughout the postseason – for now.

The Yankees magic number is now at 12 for the American League East crown and 7 for the Wild Card.

While the Yankees march toward October, keep these factoids in mind, too. The Yanks have now won five of their last six home games versus the Angels. They can’t meet in the first round if everything stays the way it is right now, but those are the kind of numbers that make you feel a little more comfortable with the thought of the two squaring off in a seven-game series for the pennant.

Right now, New York can do no wrong. They are 42-15 since the All-Star break.

October looms. You can throw all the stats out the window then. But, for now, the Yankees have the AL on lockdown – and that includes even the nemesis of nemesis, the L.A. Angels.

Relive Yanks, Sox at Fenway

2009-09-11T22:56:00.001-04:00

In a new twist to my blog, I'm going to be adding several packages from the program in rewind, so to speak.

Already this week we took a glimpse back at Old Timers' Day and the Yankees/Red Sox in August at home. Today, we take you back a couple of weeks to Fenway Park in Boston. And for the first time, I've also decided to include the entire morning show from Friday, Aug. 28, which included our recap from the Yankees' weekend trip to Boston. Flash forward to around the 36 minute mark for the sports segment if choose not to watch the whole show.

It was a wild weekend in Boston — another Yankee sweep.

Open Friday 8-28-09 with Rhina Valentin

From One Captain to Another...

2009-09-11T22:24:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK — Baseball immortality. And we were here to witness it — again!

Derek Jeter kept the crowd in suspense for at least one at-bat. With the all-time Yankee hit mark on the line, the captain whiffed in his first AB. But as Jeter always does, he made up for it shortly later with a single to right field in the third.

In the process, Jeter broke the Yankees' hit record held by Lou Gehrig for more than seven decades Friday night. That gave Jeter 2,722 hits, one more than Gehrig, whose Hall of Fame career was cut short by illness in 1939. He later singled to right in the fourth inning, pushing his even further.

Of course, the game against Baltimore must get through five innings and become official for Jeter's hit to count. The start was delayed 87 minutes by a heavy rain that had tapered off by the third inning.

Jeter's record-breaking hit was remarkably similar to the one that tied Gehrig on Wednesday night, a sharp grounder inside the first-base line. After this one, Yankees players poured out of the dugout and engulfed Jeter at first base with hugs and pats on the back.

Here in the press box, Yankees PR released a statement from principal owner George M. Steinbrenner. One that pretty much sums it up. "For those who say today's game can't produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter. Game in and game out he just produces. As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees' all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing in the game today. That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record holder Lou Gehrig.

"It adds to the pride that the Yankees and our fans feel today. Every Yankees' era has its giants. It's thrilling to watch Derek as he becomes one of the greats of his generation, if not all the time."

This evening is extra special for me. Through some friends, I was able to get my brother and his family some tickets for the game. They are sitting in the stands right now. My 11-year-old nephew is out there. That's about as cool as it gets.

I grew up across the street at the old ballpark, and now the tradition continues within the family with my nephew looking on in the new digs. He's a big Jeter fan, as is my big brother. It's cool to share the moment with them.

My folks are watching from home in Florida, too. They wouldn't miss a Yankee moment like that for the world.

We're happy at BronxNet that we got the chance to capture it. Congratulations Derek. Thank you for all 2,723 hits...and counting.

(Rainy) Stage Set for Jeter to Pass Iron Horse

2009-09-11T20:40:00.003-04:00

NEW YORK — The rain is coming down, but the umps are trying to get it in. Derek Jeter is walking to the batter's box here in the bottom of the first.

Andy Pettitte retired the side in the top half and Jeter goes for history. STAY TUNED!

Jeter Makes History...

2009-09-09T22:01:00.003-04:00

Watch Derek Jeter's historic hit at Yankees.com.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090909&content_id=6878726&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

The New Pride of the Yankees

2009-09-09T21:46:00.003-04:00

NEW YORK — HE DID IT! HE DID IT! Derek Jeter has just tied Lou Gehrig as the all-time hit leader for the New York Yankees.

The "Iron Horse" held the hit mark for 72 years. Jeter just laced a line drive single down the right field line. Hit no. 2,721! From one Yankee captain to another, Gehrig, and now Derek Jeter, share the honor.

But, can Jeter own it tonight? I'll be checking back in with live updates...

Stay tuned, and don't forget to watch Friday morning for our special package honoring Derek Jeter and his remarkable career. The hits just keep on coming for Jeter and for BronxNet!!!!

Dream Lineup on 9.9.9

2009-09-09T21:32:00.007-04:00

This is pretty cool...Just found this on Yankees.com.

I'm going to vote...you should, too.

What's your dream lineup of Yankees?

Today is 9/9/09, and it's time for you to decide.

Vote for the best single-season efforts by position, and stake your claim in Yankees history.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/fan_forum/all_time_nine/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

Jeter Ready to Join Gehrig Atop Yanks' Hit List

2009-09-09T20:49:00.007-04:00

NEW YORK — Something told me tonight would be special. I'm seating here in the press box at Yankee Stadium, looking on as Derek Jeter inches closer to history.

After being collared with an o-fer the last two nights, including a miserable doubleheader for Jeter on Monday where for the first time in his career he was held hitless in a twin bill, the Captain managed to breakout out of his slump with a crafty bunt in the first inning.

It was the kind of bunt that would make the late Phil Rizzuto proud. You know, the kind of moment the legendary Yankee shortstop turned broadcaster would characterize with his trademark "HOLY COW!"

Hall of Famer Ted Williams once said if the Red Sox had Rizzuto on his clubs in Boston, "we'd win the World Series every year."

That's the sentiment I feel when trying to put Jeter's career into perspective, especially for fans in other cities.

Jeter may not be the best player in the American League.

He may not be the best player in baseball.

Hell, he may not be the best player on his own team.

But I ask you: if you needed one hit with the game on the line, is there anyone you'd rather see in the batter's box than good, old No. 2.

Jeter is our generation's Phil Rizzuto. He's Mr. Intangible. He does everything well and always seems to be in the right place, at the right time.

No coincidences here.

This latest Yankees Dynasty won nothing before No. 2 took over at SS.

And now, he's one hit away from tying Lou Gehrig on the all-time Yankee hit list.

Simply put, I'm watching greatness right before my eyes.

Leaving Boston Behind...

2009-09-09T20:13:00.003-04:00

The Yankees distanced themselves in August with a sweep of their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at home.

Let's look back on that series...

Bobby C - Yankees Insider Open 8-14-09 - Yanks Sweep Sox

Relive Old Timers' Day

2009-09-09T19:59:00.007-04:00

Let's take a look back at Old Timers' Day 2009.

Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium

Was Standing Pat at Deadline Right Move?

2009-08-26T16:49:00.005-04:00

The Yankees passed on Roy Halladay. They watched as Cliff Lee was dealt to defending champ Philadelphia. They even let Jarrod Washburn, a solid lefty pitcher, who was having a good season in Seattle, land in Detroit.

Yankee brass was content heading into the "dog days" of August with pretty much the same team it assembled in the winter.

Is that the right move?

Well, I think they needed another front line pitcher for their staff, even though they have so much money committed to CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett right now. However, it hasn't come back to haunt the Yankees – just yet that is.

Boston needed pitching too and while they grabbed slugging catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez from the Indians before the deadline, that did nothing to address their pitching woes. Former Cy Young winner John Smoltz didn't pan out for the Red Sox and they have been reduced to a two-headed pitching staff with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top of the rotation with little else in the middle and backend, rounding out the staff.

Right now it's really hard to argue with the lack of moves by the Yankees. They are 27-10 after the break and have a strong hold on the division after a four-game sweep in the Bronx of the Red Sox in early August and the more recent two out of three at Fenway Park over the weekend.

The concern longterm is Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees have two achilles heels right now, in my opinion. They have an inconsistent Joba, who is being managed on a tight innings (pitch) count, and a bullpen that could use another lefty. The pen is solid, but has seen its share of work in August. Damaso Marte is set to return from injury. We shall see if he's the answer from the left side, along with Phil Coke.

As for Chamberlain, he will start on regular five day rest Sunday and will have to hope for a better result than Tuesday’s performance after eight days rest. Chamberlain found a different way to limit his innings than the predetermined plan to offer him extra days when he lasted just four innings and allowed seven runs and nine hits, including a five-run fourth in the Yankees’ 10-9 loss to Texas.

Chamberlain, who has said his staggered schedule calls for patience on his part, didn’t make excuses after the poor performance. "We’ve continued to work out a plan that fits us to get our work in on and off the field," Chamberlain said. "We are doing the best we can."

But will it be enough?

That is one of the biggest questions for the Yankees as they move forward.

Hairston Paying Dividends for Bombers

2009-08-26T16:31:00.004-04:00

The July 31st trade deadline came and went, and Toronto ace Roy Halladay stayed put. The Yankees missed out a golden opportunity to add a front line pitcher to the top of their rotation, thus slotting everyone at the top down a notch.

In the end, Halladay was too much of an expense even for the Yankees. Thankfully, no one else had the cash to make it happen, either, especially the Red Sox, who are now sinking fast in the race for the AL East.

The Yankees did make one minor move, adding Jerry Hairston Jr. Cincinnati shipped the utility player to the Bombers for minor league catcher Chase Weems before the deadline and Hairston has been a nice addition for New York.

Sometimes, it's the small moves that count most come October. Boston's Dave Roberts played a huge role in 2004, stealing a base that turned the entire rivalry around.

Maybe Hairston will provide some fireworks in the playoffs. He's a solid middle infielder and he could spell a guy in the outfield if needed.

In 19 games for the Bombers since the move, Hairston is hitting .303 with one home run and six RBIs.

To top it off, Hairston is a third-generation major leaguer and a genuine good clubhouse guy. He's father and grandfather really passed along good baseball to Jerry in the genes.

Nice pickup!

Bobby C, BronxNet on YES!

2009-07-29T19:52:00.004-04:00

That's me, inside the Yankees dugout on Old Timers' Day. This pic was snapped by a friend, right off the TV. It's from Yankees Magazine. They were also filming during the festivities and captured me in the dugout.

Pretty cool!

Back in Biz...

2009-07-29T19:13:00.002-04:00

Hey there fans, I’m back blogging again. This has been the longest I’ve been away in a while. I’m usually posting every day, or every few days, but it's been a week now.

I’ve actually been very busy with our coverage. I’ve spent a lot of time working on some extra packages. I hope you enjoyed our look at Old Timers’ Day this past Friday on the show. I’m actually going to be hosting OPEN this Friday all by my lonesome.

I feel like a middle infielder going into pitch. I’m always playing the lead sports anchor and this Friday I’ll have to host the whole morning show with Rhina on maternity leave. The new, interim position will be fun, and of course, I'll have everything sports, too in the roundup and "C-List."

I'm happy to be back penning some Yankee notes, too. The break was much needed though. I'm sorry I didn't let everyone know. Then again, my blog has some great stuff on it, even in my absence. I have some links on the sidebar and you can always get up to date baseball info with SI, as well as scores and sports updates with the tool bars provided below. All part of the whole experience that is Stars in Stripes.

The Yankees are cruising these days, holding on to a 2 1/2 game lead in the AL East. I have a lot of posts to add between tonight and tomorrow. Please check back a bit later. We’ll have a lot to discuss with Friday’s trade deadline looming. Plus, I’ll reflect on the Yankees’ recent surge with a quick look back on the homestand.

Talk to you in a bit.

-BC

Old Timers Announced

2009-07-17T20:40:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – Out at the ballpark tonight, and I'm very excited about this coming Sunday. Sunday is Old Timers' Day at the new Yankee Stadium, the first inside these "rookie" walls.

As the Yankees continue to try and build a new tradition here across the street from "The House that Ruth Built," they've adopted some of their most memorable rituals of season's past, most notably the annual Old Timer's game. Last year's final one at the old Stadium was great. We did a terrific package for the station that included some of the all-time greats.

We even had an exclusive interview with Reggie Jackson. Now, that's big time. Do you know how difficult that was to work?

Well, we're gearing up again for the big game. The festivities are always a special treat. I can remember going to the Old Timer's games as a kid. It was the one game of the season, I wouldn't dare miss.

But then again, the Bombers didn't do much winning back then, so the ballgame was a chance for a youngster like myself to get lost in all of those stories that mom and dad had about the Yankees from their glory days.

The ones they enjoyed in their youth.

I never thought I would see a good Yankee team myself. I really clung to all of those great stories from the 1950s, '60s, '70s. I grew up with some royally bad teams, but hey, they were "my Yankees."

Looking back, I think it made it even more special when they finally started winning World Series again. I had dreamed of telling stories about legends past one day, but all I had to work with was...well, the past.

Now, I have both. The old tradition, the old guard, and the Yankees of my generation, which are slowly becoming the Old Timer's of tomorrow. As legendary Yankee voice, the late, great Mel Allen would say, "How about that!"

Check out this list of Old Timers below, released by the Yankees.

Mike Mussina, an Old Timer? He won 20 games last year!

Should be a great day at the ballpark.

List of those Scheduled to Attend (*Denotes First-Time Old-Timer)

* Luis Arroyo
* Jesse Barfield
* Yogi Berra
* Ron Blomberg
* Dr. Bobby Brown
* Homer Bush
* Rick Cerone
* Horace Clarke
* Jim Coates
* David Cone
* *Chad Curtis
* Bucky Dent
* Al Downing
* *Mike Easler
* Dave Eiland
* Whitey Ford
* Oscar Gamble
* Joe Girardi
* *Dwight Gooden
* Rich "Goose" Gossage
* Ken Griffey, Sr.
* Ron Guidry
* *Charlie Hayes
* Arlene Howard
* Helen Hunter
* Reggie Jackson
* Pat Kelly
* Don Larsen
* Hector Lopez
* Lee Mazzilli
* *Lindy McDaniel
* Gene Michael
* Diana Munson
* Kay Murcer
* Meredith Murray (B.P. Pitcher)
* *Mike Mussina
* *Jerry Narron
* Jeff Nelson
* Graig Nettles
* Joe Pepitone
* Bobby Richardson
* Mickey Rivers
* Bill "Moose" Skowron
* Aaron Small
* Mel Stottlemyre
* Bob Turley
* Roy White
* *Don Zimmer

Stadium to Host College Football

2009-07-17T20:28:00.006-04:00

The new cathedral has a throwback feel and is about to welcome another old time tradition that was customary at The House that Ruth Built.

Sources confirmed that Army and Notre Dame will square off in the first college football game at the new Yankee Stadium in 2010.

I blogged about the possibility of this earlier in the season in this space. Army issued a release Friday afternoon touting a "major college football announcement" Monday at the Stadium.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick told the Associated Press the negotiations were far along, but would not acknowledge a completed deal.

Notre Dame still has two dates not scheduled for next year, including one home game.

The Times Herald-Record, citing unidentified Army sources, said Friday that Army will also play games at Yankee Stadium in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons. Rutgers and possibly Syracuse could be involved in future games at the stadium, a person familiar with the scheduling told the AP on condition of anonymity.

Army and Notre Dame played each other at Yankee Stadium annually from 1925-46. The two teams last met at Yankee Stadium in 1969.

Cool idea. I’m definitely interested in seeing that. All I have to say is: GO IRISH!

Second Half Starts at Home Against Detroit

2009-07-17T00:01:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – What to expect from the Yankees in the second half, you ask?

Well, if you read my midseason report, I gave you my take on the Yankees so far. They have some room to grow, but I think the current roster is still a Wild Card kind of a team. I haven’t been impressed by the Yankees against the American League’s elite, most notably their 0-8 mark against Boston.

After getting swept by Anaheim, the West division leader, just before the All-Star break, the Yankees will try to get back on track against another when they open a three-game home series with the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

New York (51-37) lost all three games to the Los Angeles Angels last weekend, giving up 29 runs in the series after coming in with an eight-game road winning streak.

Detroit will be facing a New York club that has struggled badly against division leaders. The Yankees are 5-15 against the Tigers, Angels, Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies – the first-place teams they have faced in 2009.

Despite that stat, the Yankees lead the race for the wild card and trail Boston by only three games in the East.

The Tigers will give rookie Luke French (1-0, 1.93) his third career start. He earned his first win July 8 by giving up one run over 6 1-3 innings of a 3-1 victory over Kansas City. Detroit recalled the 23-year-old left-hander from Triple-A Toledo on June 29 to replace Alfredo Figaro in the rotation.

AJ Burnett will oppose French for the Bombers. He’s looked very strong in his last few starts.

The Yankees took two of three at Detroit from April 27-29 in the teams’ first meeting of the season.

Midseason Report Card

2009-07-16T23:52:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – The teacher has clocked in, and he’s here to give his Yankee report card for the first half.

In my book, the Bronx Bombers have some red ink to tend to, but have performed relatively well prior to the All-Star break as they gear up for the stretch run. New York begins a new homestand Friday when it welcomes Detroit to the Stadium.

I give the Yanks a B+ on the whole for the first half, but still believe they are a Wild Card team and not a real threat to Boston – yet – for the American League East crown. All of that could change if the Yankees step up and acquire Roy Halladay from Toronto. I think the Yankees should make it a blockbuster and try and swing a larger deal with the Blue Jays that could include former All-Star outfielder Alex Rios, who is having a down year, but is very talented and not far removed from All-Star caliber play.

The Yankee off-season has produced some very fruitful free agents. Slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira has lived up to the billing. He looked like a bust in April, but ended up starting in the All-Star Game after hitting .275 with 21 homers and 63 RBI in the first half. His glove may be even more valuable than his bat, as he has saved countless errors at first base.

Free agent pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett have looked sharp of late as well. A bad April (1-2, 4.73) gave way to a great May (4-1, 2.56) for Sabathia. Burnett is 6-2 since late May with a 2.01 ERA, erasing his mediocre first two months and helping the Yankees surge in the standings. He’s also been a valuable asset to team chemistry, leading the team in thrown cream pies – New York’s new custom for a walk-off winner.

Derek Jeter has rebounded from a down season in 2008. The captain leads the team with a .321 average, showing renewed life in his bat (10 homers) and his legs (17 steals) in the leadoff spot. Even Mariano Rivera has picked it up. The great closer went through his annual early season struggles, causing many to speculate that he was finally on his way out. He rebounded in typical fashion, converting his last 19 save opportunities.

The most important piece to the puzzle remains Alex Rodriguez. His impact is undeniable. Since his return on May 8, the Yankees are 38-22.

The Yankee bullpen has struggled a bit, but Phil Hughes has been a nice addition in the late innings. As far as my midseason report card goes, New York gets barely passing grades in the middle relief department and the backend of the rotation.

Bottom line: The Yankees could use one more bat and defining pitcher for their rotation and possibly one more arm for the bullpen. Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang have been major disappointments in the pitching department, while Nick Swisher has done some good in the outfield, although injuries to right fielder Xavier Nady and reliever Brian Bruney have had a major impact in the first half.

With the July 31st trade deadline looming, the Yankees should be players for an outfield bat and another quality starter. Or, move Chamberlain back to the pen and make Hughes the No. 5 starter in the interim until Wang returns from another DL stint.

I still think New York would be better served with Chamberlain in the pen. The Yankees need more from the backend of the rotation and they need to hit better against the top teams in the league. The bats have been quiet against Boston, Detroit and Anaheim.

A-Rod will have a better second half and expect even more from Tex and the rest of the lineup. Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera have played well in center, splitting time and Johnny Damon had a great first half. Still, Eric Hinske, albeit a nice player, won’t help the Bombers down the stretch with some aging outfielders like Damon and Hideki Matsui in the mix.

ASG Insider Wrap Up

2009-07-16T23:49:00.002-04:00

ST. LOUIS – I must admit, St. Louis is the greatest baseball town I’ve been too – yes, even better than New York City.

They breathe baseball. St. Louis is like a throwback to the 1950s when football, basketball and anything other than baseball took a backseat in America.

To St. Louis, baseball is life, and the rest are just details.

With that in mind, it made the entire All-Star experience extra special. It was truly one of the best All-Star games I’ve covered.

The Carl Crawford catch is extremely memorable and the 4-3 final was a special treat for a baseball purist like myself.

Here are a couple quick hitters before we say goodbye to St. Louis.

The American League has gone 4-1 lifetime in the five ASG played in the city. WOW!

Despite the AL’s dominance, the NL is still 40-38-2 in the 80 ASG.
For the first time since 1999 at Boston, there were no homers hit in the All-Star Game…That was also the last time no player had more than one hit.

The NL’s five hits Tuesday were the fewest by one team in the ASG since the NL had just three hits in 2001 at Seattle.

The game was played in 2:31, the shortest Midsummer Classic by time since 1988, a 2:26 contest at Cincinnati.

Interesting to note: NL ASG starter Tim Lincecum played Golden Tee in the clubhouse an hour and a half before the first pitch. He seemed to be having a lot of fun.

All the All-Stars had a blast – this reporter included.

Dazzling Catch Keeps AL All-Star Steak Alive

2009-07-15T14:29:00.002-04:00

ST. LOUIS — The Midsummer Classic isn’t just for sluggers after all.

In a tight ballgame Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford pulled back a home run with a leaping grab, keeping the game tied for the American League an inning before Detroit’s Curtis Granderson tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning of a 4-3 All-Star win for the AL. The junior circuit is now 12-0-1, dating back to its last All-Star defeat in Philadelphia in 1996 — the longest unbeaten steak in All-Star history — and won its seventh straight since the Midsummer Classic has been used to determine home-field advantage for the World Series.

All the talk after the game was Crawford’s robbery of Colorado’s Brad Hawpe.

“I was over the wall. It would have been a home run,” explained Crawford, who named the All-Star Game MVP. “Feels good. Feels great to help the team win.

“It's got to be the top (defensive) play (of my career), I don't think I've ever robbed a home run before, so I picked a good time to do it tonight. It's definitely probably my best catch I've ever made.”

New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth to close the door for an All-Star record fourth time. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

“We came here on a mission and the mission was accomplished,” said Rivera, who broke Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley’s All-Star mark for saves.

Rivera ensured that the AL would once again have home-field advantage in the Fall Classic — something his club may get a chance to take advantage of this October.

Even Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon had it on his mind. “It is so important to get home-field advantage in the World Series,” said Maddon, whose Rays lost to Philadelphia in the World Series last October. “So there was a lot on the line there today.”

Crawford became the first non-pitcher to win the MVP with no RBIs and no runs. He entered with a pinch single in the fifth, but it was his snare of Hawpe’s leadoff drive in the seventh off winner Jonathan Papelbon that clinched his MVP honors.

Hawpe and the rest of the NL locker room was stunned. “I still don’t think there’s a good answer for it,” he said.

Granderson’s one-out triple in the eighth against Heath Bell landed off the bottom of the left-field wall. Bell, the loser, intentionally walked Cleveland’s Victor Martinez, and Baltimore’s Adam Jones followed with a fly to deep sacrifice right that brought Granderson home.

AL pitchers retired 18 consecutive batters before Adrian Gonzalez’ two-out walk in the eighth against Minnesota closer Joe Nathan. Los Angeles Dodger second baseman Orlando Hudson singled and, with pinch-hitter Ryan Howard at the plate, stole second before Howard struck out on a pitch in the dirt.

The AL scored twice in the first against reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum after hometown hero Albert Pujols allowed Mark Teixeira’s one-out bouncer with two on to bounce away. Yankee captain Derek Jeter came around from second on the error, and Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton hit a two-out RBI grounder.

The NL went ahead 3-2 in the second against AL starter Roy Halladay on a two-out RBI single off the bat of St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino scored from second on a throwing error from Hamilton. Milwaukee bopper Prince Fielder plated Molina for the lead with an opposite-field double.

But the AL battled back. Minnesota catcher and the league’s leading hitter, Joe Mauer, tied it in the fifth with a two-out RBI double off L.A. Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley.

“They have some pitching,” NL manager Charlie Manuel said. “The whole game was centered around pitching and we had a tough inning the first inning, but after that it was definitely a pitcher's game, and they have some horses and the back end of the bullpen is good. I felt like our guys did a super job, too.

“They executed when they had to and they made the big play when they got a hit.”

Previewing the Midsummer Classic

2009-07-14T13:43:00.002-04:00

ST. LOUIS – The National League used to dominate the Midsummer Classic, reeling off a string of wins in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

But these days, the annual All-Star spectacle belongs to the “Junior Circuit” – the American League.

The NL hasn’t won since 1996, something the “Senior Circuit” will try and change tonight when the 80th annual affair squares off in St. Louis.

Now 11-0-1 since its 1996 defeat at Philadelphia — the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history — the AL has cut the overall gap to 40-37-2 in All-Star games and hasn’t lost in six meetings since the winning league started receiving home-field advantage in the World Series.

Welcome to one of the most one-sided rivalries in sports.

“We’d like to keep this streak alive one more year,” Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan said.

Reigning NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum will have honor of trying to change that fortune as he gets the start, opposing Toronto starter and AL pick Roy Halladay.

“We would love to be able to snap that streak,” said Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, a St. Louis native. “It always seems like they kind of pull it out towards the end of the game but, you know, hopefully this year it will be different.”

Couldn’t be more different from 1966, the last time the stars met in St. Louis. The NL was in the midst of winning nine straight All-Star games and 19 of 20.

Ever since, the AL has turned the tables on their counterparts, even dominating the NL in interleague play during the regular season. Since interleague play began in 1997, the AL had a 1,673-1,534 advantage and this year’s season series went 137-114 to the junior circuit – its sixth straight winning record and ninth in 13 years. The All-Star dominance hasn’t carried over as much in October. The AL has won seven of the last 12 Fall Classics and each side is 3-3 since the Midsummer Classic determined home field in the World Series.

“Is there more talent in the American League than the National League? Not necessarily,” Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said. “I think it’s just two totally different styles of baseball, and when you put those up against each other for one game, our style seems to come out ahead.”

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel believes the AL’s dominance should be further incentive for his club tonight. “That's motivation and something else to play harder for. Yeah, I hear that, and I think our league definitely wants to win, and we would love to be called the superior league.”

All-Star victories have taken on increased importance because of the connection to the World Series. In 18 of the last 23 Series, the team with home-field advantage has gone on to win.

2009 MLB All-Star Lineups

American League

1. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, rf
2. Derek Jeter, New York, ss
3. Joe Mauer, Minnesota, c
4. Mark Teixeira, New York, 1b
5. Jason Bay, Boston, lf
6. Josh Hamilton, Texas, cf
7. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay, 3b
8. Aaron Hill, Toronto, 2b
9. Roy Halladay, Toronto, p

National League

1. Hanley Ramirez, Florida, ss
2. Chase Utley, Philadelphia, 2b
3. Albert Pujols, St. Louis, 1b
4. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee, rf
5. Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia, lf
6. David Wright, New York, 3b
7. Shane Victorino, Philadelphia, cf
8. Yadier Molina, St. Louis, c
9. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco, p

Derby King: A Prince

2009-07-14T12:41:00.004-04:00

ST. LOUIS – The crowd at Busch Stadium celebrated hometown All-Star Albert Pujols and serenaded homegrown standout Ryan Howard, but by the end of the night, their applause were fit for a…prince.

Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder edged a field that included favorites Pujols and Howard and surprise runner-up, Texas’ Nelson Cruz en route to being crowned king of the Home Run Derby. Fielder outslugged Cruz 6-5 in the finals, taking home the title before the St. Louis faithful, who hoped it would go to one of their own.

“This is Albert's stadium and Ryan is from here," Fielder said. "I was just happy I was able to put on a show and I'm glad I won."

Pujols, St. Louis’ powerful first baseman who leads the majors with 32 homers at the break, and Howard, Philadelphia’s big bopping first baseman who grew up in the Gateway City and won the event in Pittsburgh in 2006, were eliminated in the second round. With the hometown sluggers out early, Fielder won the derby with a steady power display, highlighted by one jaw-dropping blast, estimated at 503 feet.

Fielder, the son of former big league slugger Cecil, became the youngest player to hit 50 homers in 2007 at age 23. But that season, he was eliminated in the first round of the derby in San Francisco.

He maintained a similar approach Monday night, but the result was far different. “I’m not quite sure about my mechanics. I just know I have to swing hard,” said Fielder, who became the first Brewer to win the derby. “In high school, a lot of people told me to swing easier and everything, but I just don’t know how to do that.

“I knew what to expect this time so I was a little more relaxed,” he added. “I think it’s very competitive. I don’t think (any) of the guys would be here if they weren’t. But it’s fun at the same time.”

With three outs left in the final round, Fielder parked one onto the grassy hill in center field for the victory. Fielder started out using a bat that belonged to injured Milwaukee teammate Rickie Weeks, then switched to fellow All-Star and teammate Ryan Braun’s stick.

Fielder finished with the most home runs in the contest, connecting on 23 for the evening, including the four longest shots of the night. Fielder and Cruz both made their major league debuts in 2005 with the Brewers. Each has 22 home runs this year.

Fielder stole the spotlight from the hometown sluggers and the first-timer Cruz. The Texas Rangers slugger is enjoying a breakout season. The Dominican-born Cruz was a late addition to the All-Star roster because of an injury to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter.

Unfazed by his first crack in the derby, Cruz set the pace in the final round, smashing five homers in nearly capturing the title. Other than Fielder’s mammoth blast, Cruz had the second most jaw-dropping home run. In the first round, Cruz hit a drive into the fourth deck in left field – a feat never accomplished during a game in the four-year history of the new Busch Stadium.

The derby served as a nice warm up to the Midsummer Classic. Toronto’s Roy Halladay will take the hill Tuesday night for the American League, opposing reigning National League Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum. The AL has won 12 straight All-Star games.

Yanks Should Mortgage Farm for Halladay

2009-07-13T17:29:00.010-04:00

ST. LOUIS – I spent some time chatting with Toronto GM JP Ricciardi a couple of years ago on a visit to Canada.

Make no qualms about it, JP hates the Yankees.

And, he should.

They represent everything the Blue Jays will never be from this point forward. From a financial standpoint, Toronto can’t compete with the Bombers anymore, and that, more than likely signals more time passing up north without a title.

The game has changed so much since the Jays were a dynasty in the early 90s.

Realistically, Toronto headlines a host of teams that can't win no matter how close they got, because, larger market teams like the Yanks and Red Sox have more dollars to invest in talent.

With that said, would a desperate Ricciardi consider dealing his ace, Roy Halladay – arguably the best pitcher in the American League – to his nemesis?

I say, YES!

Especially if given the opportunity to fleece New York of some of its best prospects and young talent, understanding that Halladay is likely gone in a year-and-a-half when his contract is up.

“Doc” loves Toronto, but he’s got no shot of winning there – and he, like JP, knows that.

Halladay is 32, but he's in his prime, and still dominant. Conversely, would the Yankees consider moving some of their best prospects for a pitcher in his early 30s, maybe the center fielder of their future, Austin Jackson, in a package for Halladay. Or better yet, a deal that could include Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, who were at one point, two of the most coveted pitching prospects in the game.

The stock for both has dropped a bit. Chamberlain hasn’t starred in the rotation the way he did in the bullpen, and Hughes is now in the pen, performing well in a role reversal for the two. Hughes showed some flashes of brilliance as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen when Chien-Ming Wang returned from the DL.

Sources say the Jays want Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano and Chamberlain for Halladay – a move I would welcome if the Yankees can find an adequate replacement at second for Cano. No easy task when you consider how well Cano has rebounded. It's not like I want to get rid of Cano Yankee fans, its just that you can't get something without giving up something, and Cano could be expendable for Halladay in my book.

That deal is more than likely just rumblings though, because I can’t see why the Jays would want Cano when they have Aaron Hill at second base. Unless, they want to move Hill to another position in the infield and play Cano at second.

Halladay may not even be a good fit in New York. He seems to have a small market mentality – both in personality and demeanor, likely a residual of playing in Toronto for the last several years.

Still, there’s no denying how good Halladay – on paper – could be when paired with CC Sabathia at the top of the rotation. Add AJ Burnett in the third spot and Andy Pettitte and Wang, or Hughes at the back end, and you have the best starting five in the American League, and maybe, all of baseball.

New York has one of the better rotation’s already. Halladay could cement that rotation.

I say it all the time, you can never have enough pitching. Halladay could be the difference come playoff time, especially if he makes a smooth transition to playing in the Big Apple.

A big IF, but one worth considering. The last time the Yankees acquired an ace from Toronto, it worked out pretty well. Roger Clemens won two championships and played in two more series in the Bronx (2001 and 2003) during in his time in pinstripes.

Halladay got the nod today to start the 80th annual All-Star game Tuesday night in St. Louis.

The hard-throwing right-hander is 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA this season. He spoke about the possibility of being dealt Monday in St. Louis during an early All-Star press conference.

“Yeah, it's tough," said Halladay. "Obviously I'm somewhere that I enjoy being and spent my entire career, so there's a lot I think that goes into it. But you know, I think as a player, there's that will to win and there's that will to do it in October, and basically that's all this has been about is I would like to chance. And I'm not saying it won't be Toronto. It's just what's going to be best for the organization, are we going to be able to do that, and how do we move forward.

"But it has been tough because I do enjoy Toronto so much, and you would like to be, you know, three games up in first place and not have to deal with this."

JP said he would entertain offers. Halladay sounds lukewarm on the idea of picking up and moving, but if he's motivated, there's no telling how good he could be in the heat of a pennant race.

Rumors have Halladay likely packing his bags for the National League. Reigning champs, Philadelphia, could provide Toronto with a nice package of young prospects for Halladay.

But, I think none would be better than what the Yanks could offer in Chamberlain and Hughes, or a deal that would include Cano.

You may differ on opinion on this one, but I’ll tell you, pitchers like Halladay don’t come along very often.

It’s time for the Yanks to make a move. Halladay would be a good start.

First Place, Not for Long

2009-07-13T16:55:00.004-04:00

The Yankees swept the Twins in Minnesota, moving into a tie for first place with Boston earlier in the week, but the weekend brought three straight losses in Anaheim as the Red Sox capitalized on New York’s woes against the Halos.

On the flip side, Boston swept their final series before the All-Star break, taking a three-game division lead into the Midsummer Classic.

The Yankees continue to struggle against the American League’s elite. They are 0-8 against Boston and now 2-4 against the Angels after being swept in Southern California.

John Lackey pitched seven solid innings and the Angels knocked around CC Sabathia Sunday to complete the sweep behind a 5-4 victory.

Sunday’s loss was extra bitter after New York’s dreadful display Saturday. The Angels trailed 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth and then scored seven runs, highlighted by Brandon Wood’s two-run shot, en route to a season-high 14 runs. It was Wood’s first homer of the season and seventh of his career. The Angels went on to win 14-8.

It wasn’t the offense that failed the Bombers Saturday. It was the pitching.
Yankee starter Andy Pettitte allowed six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in the loss as the Yankees fell to 5-16 in the last 21 road games against the Angels.

Alex Rodriguez and Eric Hinske had multi-HR games and Hideki Matsui also went deep for the 14th time this season.

But it wasn’t enough.

It was the fifth time in the last 55 years the Yankees have lost a game when hitting at least five homers.

The Angels cruised, scoring 10 or more runs in back-to-back games against the Yankees. Friday, A-Rod homered for the Yankees, who failed to extend their eight-game road winning streak despite taking a 4-0 lead in the second and fell out of a first-place tie in the AL East.

Gary Matthews Jr. had an RBI single in the second for his 1,000th career hit, and former Yankee Bobby Abreu drove in a run in the fifth to cut the Yankees' lead to 5-2. The Angels never looked back, taking the ballgame, 10-6.

New York was riding high, coming off a huge holiday weekend the week before and a sweep of the Twins.

On Thursday, Mark Teixeira ended a 23-game homerless stretch and the Yankees completed a season sweep of the Twinkies with a 6-4 victory.
Unfortunately, none of that carried over to the next series, where the Angels continue to haunt the Yankees, especially on the West Coast.

The Bombers finished the Minnesota series having won 13 of their last 15 games, including another AJ Burnett gem Wednesday when the Yanks built an early lead and won 4-3 in Burnett’s fifth straight start with fewer than three earned runs.

In his previous start, Sabathia held the Twins to just three hits as the Yankees pummeled Minny 10-2 in the opener.

But once again, New York proved it still has a long way to go if it wants to compete come playoff time. Equally strong teams, like Boston and Anaheim, are doing a better job of grinding out games against the Yankees.

Nonetheless, for all the injuries and the loss of A-Rod for more than a month at the start of the season, the Yankees close out the first half neck and neck with Boston.

They look much better than they did at this point last season, and something tells me, they are on a collision course with Boston for another showdown in the American League Championship Series.

Tex, Jeter and Mo off to All-Star Game

2009-07-07T18:14:00.006-04:00

The Yankees will be well represented in next week’s All-Star festivities. Not only will myself, BronxNet’s top Yankee Insider be heading to St. Louis for the Midsummer Classic, but so will three Bronx Bombers: Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

Teixeira’s back-and-forth battle with Red Sox counterpart Kevin Youkilis to serve as the American League’s starting first baseman ended on Sunday, and now the slugger is headed to the July 14 contest at Busch Stadium, joined by Junior Circuit leading vote-getter, Jeter, and the unflappable closer, Mo Rivera. Jeter and Mo are both 10-time All-Stars, and like Tex, are enjoying terrific seasons.

“I’m so appreciative of the fans," Teixeira said. "Since I've been here, I've said they were the best fans in the country. I want to thank all of the fans for going out there and voting. It just shows how passionate Yankees fans are. There's probably four or five first basemen that deserve to go and deserve to start, but you've got to give credit to the Yankees fans for getting me there."

Jeter paced the AL in votes received for the first time in his career, appearing on 4,851,889 ballots to earn his sixth All-Star start.

It’s hard to make an All-Star case for any other Yankee than these three. Robinson Cano has had a bounce back season at second base, but that position features some of the top hitters in the league, including reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia and Toronto’s Aaron Hill. Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler may also capture one of the final spots on the roster.

As far as pitchers go, only CC Sabathia deserved some consideration. He’s been shaky over his last few starts and that likely sealed the deal for the big lefty.

Nonetheless, congrats to Jeter, Mo and Tex. I’ll see you in St. Louis!

Weekend Full of Fireworks for Yanks

2009-07-07T17:48:00.004-04:00

The Bronx Bombers finished the holiday weekend by taking the final two of three from Toronto, highlighted by some fireworks of their own with another walk-off win Saturday as America celebrated Independence Day with a Yankee victory.

July 4th was a special one for the Yankees. Before the game, they honored Lou Gehrig’s memory on the 70th anniversary of his famous “luckiest man alive” speech. Jorge Posada singled in the winning run in the 12th inning to lift New York to a 6-5 win, coming up with the clutch hit after a rough game behind the plate. It was Posada’s first game back after sitting out with a sore thumb Friday.

That was the biggest win of the weekend for the Bombers. They beat ace Roy Halladay and proved, once again, how tough they can be at home no matter who they're facing.

The celebrations wouldn’t end there for the Yankees. Sunday was equally impressive. After blowing an early 4-0 lead, the Yankees came back from an 8-4 deficit to win for the 10th time in their last 11 games. Derek Jeter was 4 for 5, hitting his 10th homer to give him 14 straight seasons with 10-plus homers.

It was New York’s fifth straight win over the Blue Jays, whose five-run fourth inning gave them an 8-4 lead. There were four homers hit at homer friendly Yankee Stadium, raising the total to 139 at the new ballpark midway through the season.

Yesterday, the Yankees almost pulled off the four-game sweep, falling 7-6 to the Jays. Toronto starter Ricky Romero was sharp, but the Bombers took advantage of the bullpen late, nearly capturing the win. But it wasn’t meant to be. The Yankees couldn’t push across that final run in the ninth as Toronto avoided the sweep.

Romero improved to 2-2 on the road and 4-0 in his last four starts. The young left-hander looks a lot like a young Johan Santana. He has allowed only five earned runs in his last 28 1/3 innings.

While the Blue Jay lefty was on point, the Yankees’ lefty was not. Andy Pettitte fell to 0-5 in eight home starts against the Jays since 2001.
That was about the only bad news for New York coming out of the weekend. They need to get Andy right at home.

That was the final homestand for New York before the All-Star break. They head to Minnesota tonight.

Behind Burnett, Bombers Right Back to Winning

2009-07-03T17:10:00.010-04:00

NEW YORK – It didn’t take AJ Burnett and the Yankees long to get back on the winning track.

After losing for the first time in eight games Thursday night, the Bombers took the first game of a four-game set from Toronto Friday afternoon at the Stadium. Burnett scattered six hits over seven innings, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez homered, and the Yankees opened the long holiday weekend with a 4-2 victory.

Wearing bright red caps as part of Major League Baseball's Fourth of July weekend celebration, the Yankees quickly rebounded. Burnett (7-4), who lost to his former team at Toronto on May 12, allowed both runs, struck out seven and walked two. Phil Coke and Phil Hughes split the eighth and Mariano Rivera struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances, No. 503 of his career.

"When you’re clicking, everything just flows,” Burnett said. “When you’re clicking on pitches, you don’t even think about anything. You know, it’s just all confidence out there.”

The offensive highlight of the afternoon came from Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod led off the eighth against Jeremy Accardo with an opposite-field homer to right. He has 14 homers this season – including five in his last eight games.

“It was good to have a day game and get back at it really quickly,” Rodriguez said.

The Blue Jays feel for the fifth time in their last six games and are now 1-3 against New York this season, including 0-1 at the Stadium. Toronto starter Brian Tallet suffered his second straight loss.

“Not too good,” Toronto manager Cito Gaston said of losing the game. “You’d prefer to win games like this…but it sure didn’t feel good.”

The Jays will send Halladay to the mound tomorrow to oppose Chien-Ming Wang. Halladay is 10-2 with a 2.56 ERA this season. Wang is 1-6 with a 10.06 ERA.

Notes: Yankees catcher Jorge Posada rested his sore left thumb for the second straight day. He was hit by a foul ball Wednesday night…Toronto third baseman Scott Rolen singled to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games...A-Rod tied Don Mattingly (222) for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time list. He is also two homers shy of tying Rafael Palmeiro (569) for 10th place on baseball’s all-time list.

Take 2-of-3 from Ms; Win Streak Ends at 7

2009-07-03T16:22:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK – The Yankees took advantage of a week Seattle club this week, taking the first two games of the series Tuesday and Wednesday nights before falling in the series finale last night.

The Yankees welcome Toronto for the start of a four-game weekend series today, one that will include the best pitcher in the American League, Roy Halladay, taking the hill for the Blue Jays.

Unfortunately, the Yankees meet their divisional rival having watched their seven-game win streak come to an end Thursday against the Mariners.

Seattle is not a good baseball team, but you have to give the Yankees credit for taking care of business. New York has played down to competition several times this season; losing games it has no business losing.

That wasn’t case against the Mariners as the Yankees continued their solid play, winning yet another series.

Tuesday night, Melky Cabrera’s go-ahead double in the eighth inning helped the Yankees beat the Mariners 8-5 in the opener for their sixth straight win. Alex Rodriguez hit his 565th career homer and Cabrera drove in three runs as the Bombers won their ninth in a row at home over Seattle, dating back to 2007.

Tuesday’s win proved once again as A-Rod goes, the Yankees go. Wednesday brought more of the same. The streaking slugger hit a tie-breaking homer and Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings, leading the Yankees over the Mariners 4-2 for their seventh consecutive victory.

A fatigued Rodriguez, who had hip surgery in March, was held out of the lineup June 19-20 in Florida. Soon after, his swing started to come around. Now, the three-time MVP is on a hitting tear. In his last seven games, he is 10-for-23 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 10 walks.

Russell Branyan had a bounce back game and the Mariners salvaged the final game of the series last night. Branyan rebounded from a frustrating string of strikeouts with a mammoth homer over Monument Park, and the Mariners beat CC Sabathia and the Yankees 8-4 to snap the New York’s seven-game winning streak.

The Yankees will look to bounce back in a quick turnaround against a tough Blue Jay team Friday.

Notes: On Wednesday, July 1, prior to the Yankees-Mariners game, the Yankees honored the 150th anniversary of Fordham University's baseball program with school president Joseph M. McShane, S.J., throwing out the game’s ceremonial first pitch. The Yankees also invited the Fordham Prep baseball team, which won the Class A high school championship this year…Over their last 16 games, Yankees pitchers own a 2.81 ERA (141.01 IP, 44 ER) with a .215 opponents batting average, leading the majors over that stretch in both categories…A-Rod is 10-for-his-last-26…In Thursday’s loss, first baseman Mark Teixeira was charged with a ninth-inning throwing error. It was his first error since 8/19/08, snapping a 106-game errorless streak at first base…On Saturday, July 4th, the Yankees will honor Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig during pre-game ceremonies. This year marks the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, when he gave his “Luckiest Man” speech and his No. 4 jersey was retired – the first in sports history…Each of the four games this weekend, through Monday, are day games.

Where Have You Gone Shane Spencer?

2009-07-03T15:19:00.006-04:00

NEW YORK – Out at the ballpark this afternoon for the opener of a four-game, holiday weekend set with AL East rival Toronto. I got to thinking about one of my favorite afternoon games that included me sharing a moment with my favorite player at the time – and getting ejected for it.

But that’s another story for another post. The player I speak of, though, is none other than Shane Spencer. I got to wondering how the “Home Run Dis-Spencer” was doing these days. So, I decided to give Google a quick search and found out that Spencer is in his second season as the hitting coach for the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

I was happy to hear that Spencer had a job in baseball, even if it wasn’t of the playing variety. I loved watching Spencer play. As a teenager, he was my favorite player. He was a classic example of an overachiever, having made the majors after crossing the picket line and playing as a “scab” in 1994.

Spencer survived the scrutiny and made a nice career for himself in the pros, one that included being part of four World Series teams with the Bombers. He won three rings and enjoyed perhaps the greatest September call up in baseball history in 1998 when the Yankees were on an historic pace in the win department.

The stocky, baby-faced outfielder was first brought up by the Bombers at the age of 26, in the midst of a famously dominant season by the Yankees. He quickly endeared himself to fans by hitting 10 home runs, including 3 grand slams in only 67 at-bats – a rate that would have been phenomenal even for an established star – and won a surprise spot on the postseason roster. Spencer's production of a home run for each 6.7 at-bats would have yielded 76 dingers during Mark McGwire’s 70-home run 1998 season, with 509 official at-bats. During Barry Bonds' record year (2001) where he hit 73 homers in 476 at-bats, Spencer’s total would have been 71.

Spencer was nicknamed “Roy Hobbs” after the fictitious star from the film and book, The Natural. Hobbs’ character also enjoyed a breakthrough rookie year as an older player. Unfortunately, Spencer would never follow through on the promise.

Injuries and off the field issues prevented Spencer from maintaining that level of play.

But for a guy that was a long shot to make it to the big leagues, I look at Spencer’s career as a major achievement. He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1998 for his dramatic splash on the big league level and had some key postseason moments, including a big homer off Curt Schilling in the 2001 World Series.

Now, the seven-year major leaguer, a 28th round pick, gets a chance to steer young players in the right direction as a minor league hitting instructor.

Not everyone gets a chance to be Mickey Mantle, or even Shane Spencer for that matter. He had a wild ride in "The Show" – a short one, but one that I’m sure he and many fans like myself will soon forget.

p.s. Remind me to tell you about that afternoon at the old ballpark some day.

Yanks Deal for Hinske

2009-06-30T17:49:00.001-04:00

Long coveted for his multi-purpose bat and ability to play several positions, the Yankees, who talked about making a move for veteran Eric Hinske a few times the last couple of seasons, acquired the utility player from Pittsburgh Tuesday for a pair of minor leaguers.

The Yankees dealt right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer to the Pirates in exchange for Hinske. Hinske had signed as a free agent with the Bucs after appearing in his second successive World Series in 2008 with the Rays. As Tampa Bay’s Opening Day right fielder last season, Hinske delivered 20 homers and 60 RBIs for the American League champs.

Now 31, the left-handed hitter, who was part of Boston’s title run in 2007, batted .255 in 54 games with the Pirates this season. He had one home run and 11 RBIs. Hinske is a former AL Rookie of the Year, earning those honors in 2002 with the Toronto Blue Jays, who had made him their 17th-round selection in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft. He is a lifetime .257 hitter in 957 career games.

It’s not a bad move for New York, especially considering that Xavier Nady has now been lost for the season due to injury.

How much Hinske will perform in New York in a limited role remains to be seen. If he produces somewhere in between the kind of numbers he posted the last three seasons, he will be a valuable role player and hitter off the bench for the Bombers.

The Yankees also received cash considerations along with Hinske, whose 2009 contract is for $1.5 million. The team announced that Hinske will join the club in New York today and a roster move will be made to activate him for the game against the Mariners.

Reflecting on Mo’s 500

2009-06-30T17:46:00.003-04:00

Sunday night, Mariano Rivera joined a very exclusive club when he became only the second closer in baseball history to lock down 500 saves.

For me, it goes without saying how incredible Mariano Rivera is. I remember him back in 1995 when he made about 10 starts and how mediocre he was as a starter. A lot of that had to do with his lack of repertoire.

But give the Yankees credit – more specifically former manager Buck Showalter and former GM Gene Michael – for moving Mo to the bullpen. The Yankees would go on to lose the first-ever Division series in five games in Seattle, falling in the dramatic, decisive Game 5 when Ken Griffey Jr. came around to score the game-winner off Jack McDowell.

That image isn’t what resonates when I think of that series. Losing that series hurt, especially when you think back and consider the Yankees having a 2-0 series lead, but that series did more good than bad in the long run, because it gave birth to Mariano Rivera as we know him today.

Mo would become the perfect setup man to John Wetteland in 1996 and shortly there after, the greatest closer in history.

Bar none. Without question.

Congrats to Mo. And consider this: Mariano has pitched for over a decade in the playoffs, nailing down save after save. He has a lot more innings on that arm, and a lot more saves to his record.

And the best part is, the 39-year-old isn’t showing signs of slowing down. He may not be as dominant as he once was, but I’d still take Mariano over anyone with the game on the line – and that includes Trevor Hoffman, who has the record 571 saves.

“You can add up all the players that ever played the game, and Mo has been as consistent as anyone," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “He's done it in the regular season, he’s done it in the postseason, he’s done it in Spring Training, he’s done it in the Minor Leagues. He’s done it everywhere he’s been.”

Jeter nailed that response down like Mo in the ninth!

Rebounding from Interleague Woes

2009-06-30T00:40:00.005-04:00

Since being no hit through five in the middle game of a three-game series with Atlanta last week, the Yankees have soared back, winning five straight against their National League opponents.

Interleague play wasn’t kind to the Yankees in the Florida series, but New York managed to take the final two games in the next series in Atlanta, which then fueled a terrific sweep this past weekend back in New York against the Mets in Queens.

Let’s quickly recap the Marlins, Braves and Mets series, and talk about some of the important highlights from each of the games.

A week ago, New York opened its series with the Marlins on a positive note. Boosted by a large contingent of Bomber fans in Florida, Andy Pettitte and two relievers combined on a three-hitter. The Yankees beat the Marlins 5-1 Friday night without a slumping A-Rod, who was benched due to fatigue.

But the Yankees had no answer for Marlin ace Josh Johnson Saturday night. The right-hander pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Dan Uggla homered to lift the Marlins to a 2-1 win.

Johnson, who improved to 7-1, struck out five and walked two to outpitch former Marlins teammate AJ Burnett. It was the sixth straight start Johnson had gone at least seven innings.

Losses like that happen. The Yankees ran into a hot pitcher and he did what he’s been doing. That’s the “X-Factor” of the game. Good pitching always silences good hitting and while the Yankees boast a powerful lineup, Johnson was simply that good Saturday night.

No big deal. The rubber match called Sunday. But the result was anything the Yankees could have hoped for, especially with their ace on the mound.

CC Sabathia left early with an ailing arm and the Yankees fell 6-5. Florida’s Hanley Ramirez and Cody Ross homered and the Marlins staved off a late rally by the Bombers, improving to 7-5 against the American League East this season – the best interleague record of any National League East team this season.

Sabathia left in the second inning with biceps tightness. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious and CC would return this past Friday night – to form no less. More on this later.

As for Alex Rodriguez, he went 1-for-4 to snap an 0-for-16 streak. Still the Yankees lost for the fourth time in five games.

Believe me now when I tell how important it is for A-Rod to hit. When he does, the Yankees win. When he doesn’t, the entire lineup suffers. His impact affects both Mark Teixeira and conversely the rest of the entire lineup. Just his presence as a potential threat when he’s doing well is enough to generate a lot of punch at the top of the lineup.

The interleague series of late for the Yankees cause a number of problems. First and foremost, you’re talking about nine straight games on the road against National League competition, which nullifies the designated hitter for New York. This past week and a half has kept Hideki Matsui on the bench since he can’t play the field the way he used to. Who ever did the scheduling for New York wasn’t kind during this road trip.

The Yankees also continue to struggle with everything that is foreign to them. Mix in the loss of the DH and A-Rod not hitting, and you’ve got a remedy for disaster.
That’s what happened last Tuesday night when the Bombers opened their series in Atlanta following the off day.

Rookie phenom Tommy Hanson dazzled for the Braves, winning his third straight. Brian McCann had two RBIs, including a solo homer and the Braves threw consecutive shutouts for the first time in four years with a 4-0 victory over the Yankees Tuesday night.

This was, in my opinion, the worst loss of their recent struggles. New York managed just four hits and left 12 runners on base as Chien-Ming Wang lost his sixth straight. By the way, he pitched very well. He just happened to be the recipient of no run support for the second straight start.

At that point, New York had lost three straight and four of six.

All of that changed Wednesday night when the Yankees broke out of their funk offensively to beat the Braves 8-4.

Sparked by manager Joe Girardi, who got tossed early, Francisco Cervelli hit an unlikely home run and A-Rod finally came through for the Yankees in snapping a three-game losing streak.

New York didn't even have a base runner through the first five innings. But Cervelli hit his first career homer to break a 14-inning scoreless drought in Atlanta, and the slumping Rodriguez managed a two-run single that put the Yankees ahead to stay in the sixth. The Yankees had scored only 18 runs in their previous seven games, losing five.

Rodriguez and the Yankees kept rolling Thursday night. A-Rod tied Reggie Jackson with his 563rd home run, and Mariano Rivera earned his 499th career save in an 11-7 victory.

The Yankees won their second straight, taking sole possession of second place in the AL East and moved four games behind Boston for the division lead.
On a side note, Boston became the quickest team to 40 wins in the AL for a third straight year earlier in the week. I still think they are the team to beat in the division and in the league.

And I’m not just saying that because of the Yankees ineptitude against them this season.

The BoSox were one win away from the World Series last year. It’s amazing how much of a role reversal it is between the Bombers and the Sox these days. Everything Boston touches seems to turn to gold. For example, Nick Green played an entire season at Triple A last year for the Yankees. This year, he goes to Boston and has done a darn good job as its everyday shortstop, filling in. The Sox lose Mike Lowell. No problem. David Ortiz falls off the face of the earth. No problem. Dice K is out of the rotation with injury. No problem, Boston is still in first place. That my friends is the mark of a champion.

Sounds a lot like the Yankees of recent yesteryear. You know, the teams under Joe Torre. The ones that could plug any hole.

Things are different these days. The Yankees haven’t had as much good fortune. Granted, they are coming off a very good series against the Mets.

I’m not sure how much of a test the depleted Amazins were for New York, but a sweep and its fifth straight win Sunday night is good enough to remain in the thick of things as we approach the All Star break.

We covered the first two games of the series Friday and Saturday nights. Friday was historic for the Bombers as A-Rod passed Jackson on the HR list.

But the best news came from the pitching mound where Sabathia show no ill effects from his biceps tightness to stifle the Mets on three hits over seven innings. Sabathia improved to 7-4.

No one in the Yankee lineup gave CC more support than fill-in leadoff batter Brett Gardner, who raised his average 22 points to .303 with a career-high five hits, including his third homer of the season and a triple. That kid can fly. How could you not like Mr. Gardner? His speed is a welcomed addition to the lineup. If he can hit a little, he’ll man center for the Yankees the rest of the way. He brings so much to the table.

Fellow reserve Ramiro Pena had two doubles and a single as a late replacement in the starting lineup for flu-stricken Derek Jeter, sidelined by a cough and a fever.

Gardner and Pena provided some of that good bench depth I was just speaking about with Boston. You win at the major league because of 25 guys, not just the starting nine. That’s why everyone, from the last guy in the bullpen to the World Series MVP, gets a World Series ring in October. You need depth. You need character players.

These were some good signs for the Yankees – even if they came against a Met lineup ravaged by injuries.

One day after Sabathia and the bullpen combined on a three-hitter, AJ Burnett and two relievers authored a suffocating one-hitter against the punchless Mets, a 5-0 victory Saturday night in a runaway Subway Series.

Burnett finished the job, taking a no-hitter into the sixth. Check out this stat: 21 of 26 pitches were strikes with two strikes in the count (season-high 10 strikeouts).

“You can say I was inspired, definitely,” Burnett said later of taking the ball after Sabathia’s dominant performance. “I thought about his game all last night. And I've told him a handful of times over the season, 'I can't wait to throw behind you, Big Man, I can't wait.”

Sunday night, the Yankees completed the sweep. The final game of the series belonged to Mariano. Baseball's most unflappable closer became the second reliever to reach the 500-save milestone when the Yankees held off the Mets 4-2 for a Subway Series sweep.

Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman (571) in the 500-save club. It was Mo's 110th save of more than one inning pitched and his 18th career save against the Mets.

Chien-Ming Wang recorded his first win since June 15, 2008 and the Yankees outscored the Mets 18-3, out-hitting them 26-9 in the sweep.

The biggest surprise, though: Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk to add a ninth-inning insurance run.

Poor Francisco Rodriguez. First, Luis Castillo abandons him at Yankee Stadium and now this, an RBI, bases loaded walk to Mo.

The Yankees will look to continue their winning ways tonight when they welcome Seattle to the Bronx.

Yankee Insider

2009-06-19T20:24:00.004-04:00

A few things to ponder:

Should the Yanks sign Pedro?

I blogged about this earlier in the season, but with reports flying around, from ESPN to Fox and everywhere in between that Pedro Martinez could land with the Yankees, I’m inclined to put in my two cents again on the subject and say I was ahead of the curve on this.

I suggested at the beginning of the season that they at least consider it, but honestly, I don’t understand why they would make the move now. The Yankees are rumored along with three or four other teams as possible suitors for Martinez. Ironically, all of the teams rumored don’t need help in the starting pitching department, the Yankees included.

They are set to take a look at Martinez in the Dominican Republic, where he will work out for a few teams. I would take a chance on Martinez if it was a minor league deal, or if he budged on his asking price of $3 million. You can never have enough pitching.

I genuinely believed Martinez would end up back with the Dodgers, or figured the Mets would finally cave and bring him back. It really makes more sense for him to return to the Mets.

I think he could be a serviceable arm in the bullpen – for the right price – and if nothing else will create a little buzz for whatever team takes the chance. Word is that the Angeles are hotly pursuing Martinez.

The problem for the Yankees centers more around having Martinez on the team. He’s never been popular with the Bombers.

Should the Yankees Leave Wang Alone?

Yes, no doubt. He pitched much better against the Nationals this week and for the first time this season, the Yankees failed to win a game when their pitchers gave up three runs or less. Talk about bad luck for Chien-Ming Wang.

By the way, congrats to Wang. His wife gave birth earlier in the week. Wang had tons of balloons and cards in his locker. He seemed upbeat and happy. In his culture, having a child is considered “good luck.”

That wasn’t the case Wednesday night, but Wang’s pitches are finally moving. His slider was sharp and his velocity is up. His sinker is finally starting to sink. You can’t move him to the bullpen now. He’s just not suited for the pen and won’t rebound as quickly pitching in shorter stints.

He’s starter and that’s that. Plus, Phil Hughes has embraced his new role – for the time being. Keep in mind people, Wang won 19 games twice as the ace of the last two Yankee playoff teams. He also won eight games before injury cut his season short last year.

The problems for him are not arm related – they are mechanical. He’s still searching for that arm slot and I truly believe he was getting over some shell shock after his first five starts. He’s never been this bad and for a pitcher of his success, sometimes making light of it is as tough as correcting it. Pitching is as mental as it is physical.

Wang should be fine. The Yankees should also be willing to wait him out – at least a bit longer. He’s too valuable and many contending teams have a bad starter or two in the back of their rotation. It won’t cost the Yankees a playoff spot in June. They are only three out of first place and Wang is making strides.

How’s Gardner?

Less than a day after being carted off the Yankee Stadium outfield with what the team feared might be a concussion, Brett Gardner was back on his feet and ready to play.

“I’m feeling all right, better today,” Gardner said Friday afternoon. “I’ve still got a little headache and my body’s a little sore, but other than that, I'm probably pretty lucky that it's not any worse.”

Gardner was not in Friday's starting lineup, still suffering from soreness and a minor headache. But he was available to pinch-hit and expected to be back to normal on Saturday.

Resting A-Rod a Smart Move

2009-06-19T19:16:00.001-04:00

While Alex Rodriguez might feel better about having his homecoming interrupted, the Yankees are doing the best thing by resting their slumping slugger in the Marlins series.

Following a tumultuous month at the plate, A-Rod is being benched for two games for what he and the team called "fatigue."

The three-time AL MVP had been set to play his first regular-season games in his hometown of Miami against the Marlins, reserving about 100 tickets for family and friends.

Rodriguez is batting .145 (8 for 55) in June. He’s in an 0-for-15 slump, and is hitting .212 with nine homers and 26 RBIs. He was replaced Friday by Angel Berroa.
Rodriguez missed the start of the season following hip surgery and had played in every game since rejoining the Yankees on May 8 in Baltimore, where he homered on his first pitch.

His return sparked the Bombers. Likewise, his struggles have played a major role in their recent skid.

Face it: As A-Rod goes, the Yankees go.

They don’t need Rodriguez to be great, but they need him to be good enough. His presence commands respect when he’s going pretty well. The Mets elected to pitch around Mark Teixeira last Friday night and would have gotten the final out on A-Rod’s pop up to Luis Castillo had he not dropped the ball. The blunder scored two and gave the Yankees the win.

Without Castillo’s miscue, A-Rod is the goat yet again. Rest will be good for him. Plus, Berroa may provide a spark. He’s not A-Rod, but he can hit a little. He’s got some pop. Sometimes, you have to count on your reserves. It’s a long season. That’s why you have them – and that’s why all 25 guys get a World Series ring. Each one is as important to the next.

Nats Surprise Bombers

2009-06-19T19:04:00.003-04:00

NEW YORK – It was a wild week for the Yankees after a pretty tough week of matchups last week. The Bombers were swept in Boston last week and then had to come home to meet the Mets.

Thankfully, they capitalized on some lucky breaks and took 2 of 3 from their crosstown rivals. Unfortunately, that some luck was nowhere to be found in the Washington series this week, which of course, is quite surprising.

The Nationals entered their series with the Yankees with a 16-45 record (.262 win percentage), but still managed to top the Bombers in 2 of 3, taking Wednesday’s game 3-2 and yesterday’s series finale 3-0. They are the worst team to beat the Yankees in a series in which the Yankees were at home (minimum 50 games into the season). The previous worst, 1939 St. Louis Browns (38-99).

The Nationals are also the third-worst team to beat the Yankees in any series.
It’s funny, because so much of the Bomber turnaround can be pointed at Alex Rodriguez’ return. However, A-Rod has now gone into a terrible slump, so much so that New York is benching him for two games to give him some rest.

After waiting out a 5 ½-hour rain delay Thursday afternoon, Craig Stammen earned his first major league win. Julian Tavarez provided some key relief and the last-place Nationals collected their 18th win of the season in the first game without a homer at the new Yankee Stadium.

Joba Chamberlain took the loss for the Bombers. He didn’t pitch all that bad, but the offense stalled against Stammen and the Washington bullpen.

As they say, every dog gets their day. This series was one for the Nationals.
Perhaps the rainy day played into their favor. Scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m., the game did not begin until 6:31 p.m. A postponement seemed unlikely because the teams shared only one mutual off-day the rest of the season for a possible makeup.

I was out at the game Wednesday night, wrapping up another edition of Yankees Insider for our morning show, which came great – might I add. I can’t believe it ended the way it did.

After fouling off four two-strike pitches, the hot-swinging Robinson Cano grounded into a game-ending double play with runners at the corners. Johnny Damon hit a solo shot to start the ninth that put the Yankees within one, but Cano failed to come through, sealing a 3-2 Nationals win.

The Yankees rested Derek Jeter Wednesday. He’s dealing with some ankle issues, but said he would play. Manager Joe Girardi held firm that Jeter needed the time off. He was sorely missed, especially late.

The Nats and Yanks scored just five runs total, but they hit three homers.
The story of the night was New York native John Lannan. The lefty allowed two runs and four hits in 8 1/3 innings, hurting one of his hometown teams for the second time in two weeks. He beat the New York Mets 7-1 on June 6, tossing a four-hitter for his first career complete game.

Lannan is the best Washington pitcher on the staff. He was quality, but the Yankees seem to always struggle when facing a pitcher for the first time. It happened in the Met series Saturday against Fernando Nieve and it happened again against Lannan and the Nats this week.

It’s an issue that Girardi addressed with the media and it shows a lack of scouting and preparation, in my opinion, even though Jeter said it doesn’t matter, because you have to see pitchers live. He noted all the preparation in the world doesn’t change how good their stuff could be when you step into the box.

New York won the series opener Tuesday 5-3 following the off day. Robinson Cano knocked in the tying run with an RBI double in the seventh, sparking a late rally for the Yankees in another comeback win.

The Bombers were lucky against the Mets over the weekend and got some good breaks against the lowly Nats Tuesday, but the rest of the series provided how the Yankees have to make their own breaks, especially against teams as awful – yes, I said it – as Washington.

Just when you think the Yankees are cruising, they get sloppy. A-Rod has struggled and now Mark Teixeira is cooling off, too. Jeter being hurt doesn’t help the situation either. Guys like Nick Swisher are also showing signs of fatigue.
The Yankees will try and bounce back tonight against the Marlins when they open a weekend series in Florida.

Yanks Welcome Nats to Town

2009-06-16T14:33:00.002-04:00

NEW YORK – The Yankees look to take advantage of the worst team in baseball Tuesday night when they begin a three-game home set against the Washington Nationals.

Last week, New York (36-27) was swept in a three-game series at AL East-leading Boston before returning home to win two of three against the Mets.

The Yankees will be looking to avoid a letdown when they take on the Nationals (16-45), who are on pace for 119 losses. Washington is also enduring rumors that manager Manny Acta’s job may be in jeopardy.

The Yankees are happy to finally be returning to normalcy. Let’s see if they can get build off their series with the Mets by making fast work of the Nats this week.

Yanks Luck Takes Turn for the Better

2009-06-16T14:21:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”

As a sportswriter and sportscaster, you gotta love your clichés – and folks, I can’t think of a better one to describe this past weekend’s series with the crosstown Mets than the aforementioned one about luck.

The Bombers, like the Amazins, looked sloppy all weekend, starting Friday night at the Stadium. Thankfully, they were as lucky as can be.

I was out at the ballpark Friday night for what will go down as one of the most amazing finishes in Subway Series history thanks to Luis Castillo, who’s blunder in the ninth sealed an improbable Yankee win.

With two outs and two on in the ninth against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez had failed again in the clutch – or so it seemed – popping up to Luis Castillo in short right for what would have been, should have been the final out.

Instead, two runs raced home as the ball fell safely to the outfield turf after striking Castillo’s outstretched glove, a most improbable finish for the first Subway Series game at the new Yankee Stadium. The Yankees stole a 9-8 win over the Mets on Friday, an ending that will be talked about for decades to come.

"I really have never seen that before, and I’ve played for a long time," A-Rod said afterward. “That’s why you play for nine innings – that's why you play hard. The lesson we take from here is to play all 27 and hustle all the time.”

Yankee closer Mariano Rivera was in line for the loss. He should have been the goat after surrendering an RBI double in the eighth to David Wright that gave the Amazins a lead.

But the Bombers stormed back for the 21st time this season, the most in the majors, handing K-Rod his first blown save of the year – even if most of the blame should be placed on Castillo’s shoulders for failing to use two hands in catching the popup.
Luis, come on, that’s the first thing we teach little leaguers. TWO HANDS!
Derek Jeter, who has a lifetime average over .400 against K-Rod, lined a one-out single to start the rally in the ninth. He stole second, but pinch-hitter Johnny Damon – out of the lineup with an eye malady – struck out swinging for the second out of the inning.

Wanting no part of the hot-hitting Mark Teixeira, K-Rod walked the Yankee first baseman for Rodriguez, who has one career hit lifetime against K-Rod.

True to form, A-Rod provided what would have been the final out, popping up to right. K-Rod and the Mets were shocked when a hustling Texieira came flying across home plate with the winning run.

“I have to catch that ball,” Castillo said. “I didn't get it. I feel bad. It was a routine fly ball. I need to get it.”

The fortunate Bombers walked away Friday night with a gift win – one they quickly returned Saturday in a surprising 6-2 loss.

After Friday’s incredible comeback victory, the Mets got to Andy Pettitte for five runs. Alex Rodriguez went deep in the second inning, but it was one of only four hits for the Bombers against starter Fernando Nieve in the second game of the Subway Series.

The relatively unknown right-hander effectively silenced the Bombers’ bats in an exceptional fill-in start. Omir Santos homered and drove in three runs for the Mets in a bounce back win.

Now, as a Yankee fan, you have to be thinking the Bombers are going to lose the series with Johan Santana taking the hill Sunday, which means Mets fans will be saying how the Amazins should have swept the series with Friday night’s loss a defeat that should have never happened.

It was an unpredictable series to say the least. The Yankees were very lucky in my opinion, benefitting from some big breaks, none more important than Santana’s ineffectiveness Sunday. Santana was so bad, you have to wonder if he’s injured.

Whatever the reason, it was a lucky break for the Yankees as Santana was way off his game. The Yankees capitalized on the worst start ever by Santana, taking the first chapter of the 2009 crosstown series, 2-1. Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano homered in a nine-run fourth as the Bombers hammered Santana, coasting 15-0 over the Mets at the Stadium. The Bombers lit up Santana for nine runs.

“It shows you he’s human,” said Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett, who won for the third time in four starts. “It happens to everybody. This is a very, very potent lineup. Our job is to keep them in the game as best we can, because they’re going to score runs.”

Robinson Cano and Damon each finished with three RBIs, while rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli and Cano logged three hits apiece. Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 in the leadoff spot, setting the tone for the rest of the lineup in their 17-hit performance.

“It’s just the Subway Series – you’re going to see some strange things,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “If someone would have told us that’s how we were going to win two out of three, I never would have guessed it.”

Those are the breaks, Mr. Girardi. Those are the breaks. You didn’t get them in Boston, losing three straight, but you had to be happy to have them this weekend when the Yankees escaped winners of two of three.

The Bombers welcome lowly Washington next, beginning tonight at the Stadium. CC Sabathia will take the mound tonight for the Yankees.

Notes: Lefty reliever Damaso Marte got clearance from Dr. James Andrews on Monday, and is set to resume his throwing program at the team’s Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla…Yankees manager Joe Girardi devoted his off-day to a cause near and dear to his heart, hosting a fundraiser to benefit Alzheimer’s research. Girardi’s "Catch 25 Foundation" organized its second-annual "Remember When, Remember Now" gala on Monday at New York’s Grand Central Oyster Bar. Girardi’s father, Jerry, is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease…The verbal spat between Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez and Yankees reliever Brian Bruney escalated into a physical confrontation on Sunday, as the pitchers swapped aggressive words and gestures in the outfield before the game. The players had to be separated after K-Rod confronted Bruney in left field, once the Mets had completed their stretching regimen. Bruney said that his intention was to approach Rodriguez to make peace, after he was quoted saying that Rodriguez has “a tired act” and called the closer’s on-field actions “embarrassing.” Bruney later apologized for his comments…We covered the MLB Draft last week, which ended Thursday. In total, the Bombers made 20 selections – 12 position players and eight pitchers. New York had taken Slade Heathcott, an outfielder from Texas, on Tuesday in the first round with the 29th pick, bucking its trend of taking pitchers early in the Draft. The Yankees were sure to bolster their farm system with arms, though, taking pitchers in the third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth rounds, including Seton Hall's Sean Black, who was a second-round pick in 2006.

This Sox! Yanks Still Winless Against Boston

2009-06-11T23:50:00.004-04:00

Alex Rodriguez put the Yankees in position to win their first game against the Red Sox Thursday night with a two-run double in the seventh, but CC Sabathia and New York's bullpen faltered in the bottom of the eighth, allowing three runs despite not allowing an extra-base hit in a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

The Yankees were swept out of Boston, dropping their eighth straight game to their heated rival thanks to that crazy eighth inning.

Can you imagine, 0-8 this season against Boston?

The Red Sox won Tuesday 7-0 and then held on 6-5 yesterday.

Enough of this. I'm happy the Yanks won't play Boston again until August. The Bombers have a lot of work to do, beginning with fixing whatever has happened to Chien-Ming Wang.

The challenging week for New York won't get any easier. The Yankees return home and host the Mets for a weekend series.

Yanks Announce Holiday Twin Bill

2009-06-11T23:39:00.004-04:00

Last week's postponed game with Tampa Bay has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 at 7:05 p.m., as the second game of a day-night Labor Day doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

The Friday, June 5 game was postponed due to inclement weather and now becomes the first holiday twin bill for the Yankees since they split two games on Sept. 4, 1978 against Detroit at the old Yankee Stadium. The Bombers won the first game behind Ron Guidry's 20th win of the season.

In addition, the promotional item - a Yankee Stadium Figurine courtesy of Sports Authority - scheduled to be given away on June 5, will be distributed to the first 18,000 fans, age 21 and older, with tickets for the rescheduled game.

For more information, log onto yankees.com.

Yanks Grab Heathcott with Top Pick

2009-06-10T13:38:00.002-04:00

SECAUCUS, NJ – Over the last few years, the Bronx Bombers have always turned to free agency for an outfielder.

That may change with the addition of a high-ceiling prospect in high schooler Slade Heathcott, whom the Yankees tabbed with their first pick in Tuesday night’s 2009 First-Year Player Draft, 29th overall.

Bucking their recent draft trends, Heathcott became the first position player the Yankees have taken with their top selection since taking C.J. Henry 17th overall in 2005.

Heathcott, a powerful offensive outfielder who is coming off ACL surgery, attended Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.

The team's original first-round pick, the 25th overall, was awarded to the Angels as compensation for free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. But the Yankees received the 29th pick as compensation for Gerrit Cole, their first-round selection last year, who chose to enroll at UCLA rather than sign with the team.

Some mock drafts had the Yankees taking Reymond Fuentes, from Fernando Callejo high School in Manati, Puerto Rico, but Boston snatched up the nephew of Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran a pick before.

Heathcott is an enigma for scouts. He can play the outfield or pitch. He DHed for most of the spring and was out until mid-March recovering from November surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Heathcott is also recovering from a jammed throwing shoulder that kept him from pitching.

When healthy, “he’s an athletic outfielder with five-tool potential,” according to Baseball America.

The 6-foot-1, 190 pound Heathcott was selected for the Aflac All-American Game last summer as a pitcher. It’s still unclear if the whether the Yankees will try and convert him to a pitcher. Some clubs coming into the draft liked Heathcott more for his prowess on the mound. The lefty hits 88-92 mph consistently and touches 94 on occasion, with a promising curveball.

There are some drawbacks that come with drafting the talented Heathcott, who’s had some issues off the field. In addition to questions about his character, Heathcott is verbally committed to LSU.

The Yankees will have until Aug. 16 or until Heathcott enrolls in college, which ever comes first, to ink him to a contract.

Inside the 2009 MLB Draft

2009-06-10T13:33:00.003-04:00

SECAUCUS, NJ – The draft was a treat. The MLB Network’s Studio 42, which honors the late, great Jackie Robinson, is truly a classic baseball heaven, and was the perfect place to host the First-Year Player Draft.

Major League Baseball did a nice job televising the event for the first time. They still have some work to do to catch up to the NBA and the NFL, but it’s a step in the right direction, marketing the draft to fans around the country. On the TV side, you could tell they were still working on the some of kinks. The biggest change, in my opinion, should be having those first-rounders, or at least the top 15 prospects on hand for the draft, for both the media and the fans attending.

This was one of the biggest challenges for the network, too. Not having those selections readily available made it difficult to get their reactions. They had several picks on via phone and TV conferencing, but it’s the not same as having them front and center right after the pick.

With that being said, one of the highlights of the evening had to be local outfielder Michael Trout, who was the only amateur player on hand for the draft. A nervous Trout was taken late by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Surrounded by friends and family, Trout could barely express how happy and excited he was to move closer to realizing his major league dreams. He addressed the media afterward and then went around the room to thank all of the team representatives.

He looked like a kid in a candy store, even signing some autographs for the fans watching live in the studio.

While the top selections like San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who was taken No. 1 overall by the Washington Nationals, were nowhere to be found, each of the club’s had a representative on site to make the picks, many of which were legends from their respective teams. Hall of Famers like Detroit’s Al Kaline, L.A.’s Tommy Lasorda and Pittsburgh’s Bill Mazeroski took part in the festivities.

It should be noted that MLB invited the prospects to attend, but that Trout was the only player to accept the invite. Several of the notable amateurs are still playing college ball in the NCAA World Series, others chose not to sit there and potentially wait out a long selection – something that happens to the best young players in the football and basketball drafts.

Some, like Strasburg, simply speak through their agents. He’s represented by super agent Scott Boras, who is looking for a huge deal for the young flame thrower, rumored to be upwards of $30 to $50 million.

Baseball actually has a few things to work on when it comes to the draft. First, there should be some better rules in place regarding rookie salaries. Basketball has the best cap in place. Baseball on the other hand will allow Strasburg, who has never thrown a major league pitch, the opportunity to sign a huge, guaranteed contract, even though he may never make it to the big leagues.

Another interesting aspect of the draft has to be the fact that picks can’t be traded, putting teams like the low budget Nationals in jeopardy of not signing a blue chipper like Strasburg. That rule hamstrings some of the weaker clubs, but is intended to force them to draft a good player and develop him in their system. We know what often happens anyway. Small market teams develop talent only to watch them walk away in free agency, or get dealt by the club when the player’s free agency is approaching.

The MLB Draft may not be perfect, but I think it has the chance to really catch on. ESPN’s coverage of college baseball has increased in recent years with the additions of some of new channels like ESPNU. That expanded coverage will make some of these amateurs household names come draft time. It will never be like March Madness, a huge factor in making the NBA Draft as big as it is, but the growth of the MLB Network and the exposure of some of these young stars through expanded TV coverage gives fans some better insight leading up to the draft.

If nothing else, the presence of the legends added to the special feel of the night and was enough of a reason to tune in. Honestly, after those first few picks, my knowledge of the top up-and-comers rested solely on how quick I could thumb through the draft pick guide. I had my finger on some of the possible picks the Yankees might take late in the first round. Check out my feature on the Bombers’ first-rounder in my next post.

Commissioner Bud Selig is no David Stern, but he navigated through some fumbles to complete the first round in a little under three hours. The compensation round followed, concluding day 1 of the draft. The draft continues Wednesday, but will not be televised. Fans can keep up with the picks on www.mlb.com.

From a media perspective, only the major players in the business, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and the AP, among others, were on hand for the draft. Only a few of the smaller media outlets, ourselves included, made the trip to New Jersey Tuesday night.

Yankee greats Tino Martinez and Lee Mazzilli picked for the Bombers. Below is a list of the first round choices. Tune in to Friday’s show for a full wrap up on the MLB Draft.

1 WAS: S. Strasburg
2 SEA: D. Ackley
3 SD: D. Tate
4 PIT: J. Sanchez
5 BAL: M. Hobgood
6 SF: Z. Wheeler
7 ATL: M. Minor
8 CIN: M. Leake
9 DET: J. Turner
10 WAS: D. Storen
11 COL: T. Matzek
12 KC: A. Crow
13 OAK: G. Green
14 TEX: M. Purke
15 CLE: A. White
16 ARI: R. Borchering
17 ARI: A. Pollock
18 FLA: C. James
19 STL: S. Miller
20 TOR: S. Jenkins
21 HOU: J. Mier
22 MIN: K. Gibson
23 CWS: J. Mitchell
24 LAA: R. Grichuk
25 LAA: M Trout
26 MIL: E. Arnett
27 SEA: N. Franklin
28 BOS: R. Fuentes
29 NYY: S. Heathcott
30 TB: L. Washington
31 CHC: B. Jackson
32 COL: T. Wheeler

BronxNet Visits Studio 42, Checks in on MLB Draft

2009-06-09T19:08:00.004-04:00

SECAUCUS, NJ – Happily approved for the 2009 MLB Draft, I’m on location in New Jersey for the annual first-year player draft.

We’re taking part in some history as the draft is being televised for the very first time. I’ll have a more detailed perspective shortly, but here’s a quick post on the first couple of picks. The Washington Nationals selected San Diego State University right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall selection. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo and Nationals Scouting Director Dana Brown made the joint announcement.

Strasburg, a 6-foot-4 power pitcher, went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 starts as a junior for the Aztecs. He fanned an NCAA-best 195 in 109 innings, and did not issue more than two walks in any game this season. Strasburg, who was San Diego’s closer as a freshman and their top starter each of the last two seasons, walked one or fewer in 10 of 15 starting assignments.

“We are thrilled to select someone with the special talents that Stephen possesses,” said Rizzo. “Those talents have long been on our radar, and Stephen’s domination at San Diego State and vast experiences gained with Team USA last summer have done nothing to change our thoughts about his abilities.”

I’ll check back in shortly with more. The Yankees have the No. 29 pick in the first round.

Yanks Head to Boston

2009-06-09T18:36:00.003-04:00

The Bombers seemed to be spiraling toward disaster the last time they had Boston in their sights five weeks ago. The Red Sox swept a two-game series in the Bronx, improving to 5-0 against the Yankees in 2009. The sweep occurred in the middle of a five-game losing streak for the Yankees. During that stretch, they went 2-7 to fall a season-high 6 ½ games out of first place.

But A-Rod’s return and a long homestand shortly after started the turnaround for New York. Now, the Yankees will enter the opener of a three-game series in Boston tonight atop the AL East. The Yankees own the best record in the AL at 34-23 and lead Boston by one game.

The revival has been fueled by good health, good pitching and Rodriguez’ return, which has made a significant impact on the lineup, lengthening the order and providing Mark Teixeria with some needed protection.

Pitching has been key for New York in its surge to the top of the standings. Tonight, the Bombers hand the ball to AJ Burnett. The Yankees signed the hard-throwing righty largely because of his success against the Red Sox. With the rain delay Friday, New York got the opportunity to push Burnett’s start back for tonight’s series opener in Boston. He is 5-0 with a 3.52 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox.

Burnett did not fare well in his last start in Boston. It was his worst ever against the Sox. He allowed eight runs over five innings. Burnett is coming off one of his starts of the season – seven innings, three runs and eight strikeouts against Texas. He comes in pitching on two extra days of rest.

The Red Sox will turn to Josh Becket, who is coming off one of the finest performances of his career in his last start, pitching a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings. Over 7 1/3 innings, he allowed two hits and no earned runs, striking out nine. Beckett is on a roll, turning in a quality start in his last six outings. Beckett has pitched twice against the Yankees this season, going 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA.

This series will be a good indicator of how strong a contender the Yankees are. They need to take at two games in Boston. The Red Sox are banged up and the Yankees have a challenging week ahead with the Mets on tap for the weekend.

Yanks Win Another Series

2009-06-09T18:24:00.007-04:00

I’m happy to return from L.A. and our coverage of the NBA Finals to a Yankee team that looks primed for its series with rival Boston.

Let’s quickly recap the weekend series. Four more homers by the Bronx Bombers Monday night backed Andy Pettitte in a 5-3 victory over Tampa, their second in as many days. Sunday Mariano Rivera righted the ship after one of his worst relief outings. Unlike Saturday, when his manager ordered him to walk Evan Longoria, Rivera got his chance to face the Tampa slugger, this time with two outs in the ninth and a one-run lead to protect.

This time, the outcome was more familiar for Rivera and the Yankees. He got Longoria to ground out meekly to second, closing out the Yankees 4-3, come-from-behind victory for his 495^th career save.

New York scored three in the eighth on a walk, an error and a fielder's choice in winning seven of their last 10.

Saturday, Rivera was simply off his game. Joe Dillon hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth and the Rays got to the all-time great for the second time this season, topping the Yankees 9-7. The Rays committed four errors, but came through when it counted most. B.J. Upton added an RBI single off the star closer, part of a four-run rally that carried the AL Champions to their fourth straight victory and sixth in seven games.

Friday night's scheduled game between the Rays and Yankees was postponed because of rain, pushing back David Price and CC Sabathia to Saturday afternoon.

That was a highly anticipated matchup, pitting Tampa’s promising young lefty versus the more established Yankee ace, but with the game tied late, it once again became a matchup of the bullpens. Unfortunately, Rivera didn’t have his best stuff.

Thankfully, baseball gives you a chance to redeem yourself the very next day. It was a terrific series for New York, serving as a good warm-up for the Red Sox this week.

Error-free, Homer Happy Yanks Battling for First

2009-06-04T16:48:00.013-04:00

It’s been a minute since I have checked in. I’m in Los Angeles covering the NBA Finals for the show and although I haven’t taken an eye off the Yankees, they’ve been on the back burner the last few days.

Catching up, the Bronx Bombers took three of four from Cleveland over the weekend and looked very sharp, especially in the field where they put together the longest errorless streak for a team in history – 18 games, which came to a close Tuesday night at home against Texas.

The Yankees now have a share of the best record in the American League with Boston at 32-22 following Thursday's 8-6 win over Texas. Much of their recent success has to be attributed to Alex Rodriguez. New York is 18-7 since his return. He’s played pretty well, especially considering his lack of spring training.

But it’s actually been his presence that has had a dramatic effect on the team. The greatest beneficiary of all this has to be Mark Teixeira, who is knocking the cover off the ball since A-Rod’s return. Hitting in front of A-Rod, Tex has seen more fastballs and his resurgence has really lengthened the lineup.

Melky Cabrera's two-run home run in the eighth inning, his fifth go-ahead hit in the eighth inning or later this season, gave the Yankees their sixth win in their last eight games Thursday afternoon at the Stadium. Johnny Damon hit his 11th homer of the season, tying his career-high before the All-Star break.

In his first start since April 18, Chien-Ming Wang allowed five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and took the no-decision. For the Rangers, Nelson Cruz homered, giving him eight home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 13 games. Nonetheless, Texas is 2-6 in its last eight games vs. the Bombers.

The Yankees kicked off the week in fashion, closing out a strong series in Cleveland. Joba Chamberlain returned to form and now has a strong hold on his spot in the rotation. He allowed two runs in a career-high eight innings while the Yankees set a record for consecutive games without making an error Monday night in a 5-2 victory over the Indians.

Chamberlain improved to 3-1. The right-hander retired the first 11 batters before Victor Martinez’s home run in the fourth. Chamberlain allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five, showcasing the same velocity that made his an instant star in Big Apple out of the bullpen. He hit 97 mph on the radar gun in the eighth.

The Yankees picked up right where they left off Tuesday night back in New York. Convinced he was being thrown out, Teixeira sparked the Yankees in a seven-run fourth on a hard slide at second that sent Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus flying. The Yankees pounded the Rangers 12-3 to take over the best record in the AL.

The Yankees' 12 runs set a season high and it was the eighth time they have reached double figures this season.

Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit three-run jacks for the Yanks. Through Tuesday night, there had been 24 games at Yankee Stadium and all had at least one home run – the longest streak of MLB games with a long ball from the start of play at any stadium in MLB history.

"We did the talking with our bats," Teixeira said.

AJ Burnett has feasted on the Rangers as well. The pitcher beat Texas for the second time in a week, allowing three runs in seven innings. He struck out eight in the win.

Sunday, Cleveland got the better of New York. Jhnonny Peralta provided the game-winner. He drove in three runs, including a one-out RBI single in the ninth in a 5-4 Indians win. Saturday was much better for the Yankees thanks to CC Sabathia. He didn’t allow a hit until the fifth. Posada and Nick Swisher provided the offense, homering in a 10-5 Yankee win. Friday, Andy Pettitte labored through a sore back, pitching into the sixth in a 3-1 New York win that gave the Yankees sole possession of first place in the division for the first time since 2006.

New York welcomes Tampa Bay this weekend for a four-game set.

Road Trip Continues in Cleveland

2009-05-29T16:36:00.003-04:00

The Bronx Bombers seem relaxed heading into their four-game set with Cleveland this weekend.

Former Indians ace CC Sabathia took in an NBA playoff game last night. Along with Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano were in the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena as the hometown Cavaliers, led by reigning league MVP LeBron James, hung tough in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning game 5 to force a game 6 in the best-of-seven series this weekend.

With the help of Yankees PR, Sabathia, the new Yankee ace, arranged the evening for he and his teammates. “King” James did not disappoint, posting a triple-double (37 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists) in Cleveland's 112-102 win.

The Yankees have been a different team since Rodriguez's return on May 8 – both on and off the field. Mark Teixeira has been a primary beneficiary. Since that date, Teixeira has hit .383 (28-for-73) with 10 homers and 24 RBIs.

Hideki Matsui has also stepped up as a contributor and New York's lineup may get a little bit longer on Friday as they are primed to welcome back switch-hitting catcher Jorge Posada from the DL.

The Yankees had an off day Thursday after taking two of three from Texas. New York shared first with the Red Sox going into Thursday’s action, but Boston regained the AL East lead with a victory last night.

New York is 13-11 on the road. Posada’s return will certainly help the lineup, especially with Melky Cabrera sidelined nursing a bum shoulder. Both Jose Molina and Xavier Nady are on the mend and could rejoin the team shortly. The Yankees have also elected to keep Chien-Ming in the bullpen for the time being with Phil Hughes coming off a dominant start in Texas. Hughes will take his turn in the rotation this week.

The Yankees play four in Cleveland and then return to the Bronx for another long homestand in early June starting Tuesday against the Rangers.

Yanks Move into Tie for First

2009-05-28T10:34:00.004-04:00

Baseball has a way of yielding the results we come to expect. The game just always seems to even out.

The Yankees struggled in April and early May while Toronto jumped out to a sizzling start in the tough American League East. Talent wise, the Bronx Bombers came into the 2009 campaign with a much improved roster and was arguably the team to beat in the division.

Now, that talent is coming together. The proverbial "cream is rising to the top." Toronto has lost nine straight. Tampa, the reigning AL East champs, have looked nothing like the team that won the division last year. With injuries and decline to slugger David Ortiz, even Boston has taken a step back of late.

Enter the Yankees. Propelled by their 10-game homestand and two wins in Texas, New York now has a share of the AL East lead. The Rangers defeated the Bombers 7-3 Tuesday night, but the Yankees won 9-2 Wednesday, taking two of three from Texas. New York will now continue its road trip. The Yankees head to Cleveland tonight to open a four-game set.

The Yankees have won 12 of 15 and are tied atop the division with Boston. It is the first time this season New York has been in first place in the AL East.

New York was dominant Wednesday in Texas both on the mound and at the plate. AJ Burnett pitched six shutout innings to win for the first time since April 14 and Hideki Matsui homered twice, while the Yankees reached double-digit hits for the fourth straight game with 15 in the victory.

Mark Teixeira homered for the seventh time in 10 games and 10th time since Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. Matsui homered twice for the third time in his career and first since July 31, 2007 against the White Sox.

Despite the offensive outburst, the story was Burnett. The right-hander, who was 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA over his past seven starts, said he wanted to stay aggressive against a hard-hitting Rangers lineup. Burnett (3-2) allowed three hits, walked four and struck out seven, fairing much better than Joba Chamberlain the night before. Tuesday, Chamberlain lasted four innings for the Yankees, allowing three earned runs. After getting hit in the knee in his start, Chamberlain didn’t look 100 percent. Chris Davis homered twice for the Rangers providing starter Kevin Millwood all he would need on the mound. Millwood scattered nine hits, allowing just three runs in 5 2/3 innings as he beat the Yankees for just the second time in his career.

All in all, another good series for the Yankees. Anytime you can take two-of-three on the road, you’re in good shape. Andy Pettitte will take the hill Friday for New York opposing Cleveland’s Cliff Lee. Pettitte looked dominant at times during his last start. If only he could have two pitches back, he may have earned the win. Pettitte allowed two home runs to the Phillies on Saturday. The left-hander surrendered just five hits in taking a no-decision. The Yankees came back to win the game, saving Pettitte from his first loss since April 26.

A-Rod Inspired on Memorial Day

2009-05-26T17:48:00.002-04:00

The jeers in Texas didn’t slow A-Rod Monday. If anything, the patriotic Rodriguez appeared more inspired if nothing else on Memorial Day as he returned to Arlington for the first game since admitting earlier in the year that he used steroids while playing for the Rangers.

A-Rod had a memorial day to remember, collecting five hits in an 11-1 rout of his former club. He tied a career high (done four times previously) and set a season high with four RBIs.

“There’s no panic. I know exactly what I'm capable of doing,” Rodriguez told reporters in the postgame press conference. “I'm feeling much better each and every day.”

After dropping two of their last three to Philadelphia to wrap their 10-game homestand, every Yankee seemed back on track in the first game of a three-game set in Texas. Every Bomber in the starting lineup had a hit and the first five in the lineup combined to go 12-for-23 with 11 runs and eight RBIs.

Rangers starter Matt Harrison allowed seven runs, which matched the total runs he had allowed in his previous four starts combined.

Offensively, A-Rod was the story Monday. He singled in the eighth for his fifth hit of the day and was lifted for a pinch runner with the Yankees sporting a 10-0 lead. His first five-hit game since April 2005 raised his batting average 70 points – from .189 to .259.

With A-Rod shouldering the load with the bat, Phil Hughes took care of the rest on the mound for the Bombers. He limited the Rangers to three hits over eight shutout innings, leaving after 101 pitches and eight full innings. It was by far his best start of the season. He had allowed 17 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings since throwing six scoreless innings in his first start of the season April 28 at Detroit.

The weekend series was a disappointment, despite Saturday’s theatrics. The two weekend losses could have easily gone the other way. New York played solid baseball in both defeats. The interleague series didn’t slow he Yanks, though, which is a good sign. They returned to form Monday.

A-Rod has been great. Hughes lived up to the expectation of another start and continues to give the Yankees time to handle nursing Chien-Ming Wang back to full health.

The Bombers donned red caps with stars and stripes through the interlocking NY Monday. They certainly seemed inspired. Whether it was Memorial Day, or the cavernous Ballpark at Arlington, New York started its road trip on a positive.

Diamond in the Rough? Prospect Noesi Opens Eyes

2009-05-26T16:56:00.002-04:00

Down on the farm, Hector Noesi is having a dream season for the Yankees.

He didn’t allow a run in over 20 innings through mid May and earlier in the month struck out seven and walked one over seven hitless innings for Charleston. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher looks like the real deal. At 6-foot-2 and174 pounds, the native of the Dominican Republic has shown poise on the mound and could rise through the Yankees minor league system quickly.

Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on Dec. 3, 2004, Noesi spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer and Gulf Coast leagues before sitting out the first 50 games of 2007 for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

A strained right elbow limited Noesi to five appearances with Charleston upon his return, but he did bounce back with a solid campaign in 2008, going 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 14 appearances (seven starts) between the GCL Yankees and short-season Staten Island.

I personally have not seen him pitch live, but from looking at his stats and seeing some video, he looks very promising. I doubt the Yankees would promote any good prospects quickly. It took them a while with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. I can’t imagine it being any different here.

But it might be food for thought. Maybe Noesi is major league ready. I know it’s low A ball, but if he continues to carve up batters, the Yankees should consider promoting him to at least Double A. If that success continues, a cup of coffee come September wouldn’t be out of the question.

Phillies Answer Last in 11th

2009-05-25T15:12:00.007-04:00

A day after providing the game-winner, Melky Cabrera tied it in the ninth Sunday, but this time the Phillies would get the last say in the series finale.

Philly scored in the top of the 11^th and held on to beat the Yankees, 4-3, taking 2-of-3 from the now not-so-surging Bombers.

It was New York’s first series loss since dropping a two-game set at home against Tampa on May 6-7. The Yanks appeared to be in a position to part again. Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon opened the 10^th with a pair of hits. Mark Teixeira, who stepped in 2-for-3 with a homer, couldn’t come through this time, grounding into a double play. After the Phillies walked A-Rod intentionally, Ramiro Pena flied out to force extra innings.

The missed opportunity would come back to haunt the Yanks in the 11^th as reliever Brett Tomko issued a two-out walk to Chase Utley and served up a double to Carlos Ruiz, plating Utley with the go-ahead run.

Notes: Reliever Brian Bruney again experienced discomfort in his right elbow on Monday and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list…The Yankees begin a road trip and open a three-game series today in Arlington, Texas against the Rangers. Phil Hughes will oppose Matt Harrison. Hughes allowed three runs in five innings in an 11-4 victory over the Orioles in his last start. Left-handed hitters are batting .372 off him while right-handers are hitting .283. He is also averaging 5.4 walks per nine innings.

Back by Popular Demand: Yanks Pull Walk-off Again

2009-05-25T14:38:00.005-04:00

Just catching up. The holiday weekend has contributed to some delay in posting in this space. No worries. I’ve been in tune.

After the Yanks lost Friday night to the defending champion Phillies, the Bronx Bombers were back to their familiar ways Saturday afternoon at the Stadium. With one out in the ninth, Melky Cabrera completed yet another comeback win, lacing an RBI single to right-center to seal a 5-4 walk-off win. Cabrera’s single scored Robinson Cano and evened the series with Philly at 1-1. It also marked the Yankees’ fourth walk-off in nine games of their current 10-game homestand.

In the process, Cabrera emerged the hero for the second time in eight days. The rally was started in the ninth when Johnny Damon walked off closer Brad Lidge. Damon promptly stole second. Mark Teixeira struck out, but Alex Rodriguez came through in the clutch, launching a full-count homer to right to tie the game.

Say what you want about Alex. He’s clutch in the regular season. Hopefully, the law of averages will turn the tide come October for A-Rod and the Yankees.

With the game tied, Cano singled and stole second to put the go-ahead run in scoring position for Cabrera. The “Melk-Man” delivered again.

It’s been a great homestand for the Yankees. This stretch has them in prime position to take control of the AL East.

Eight...Nine, but Phils Snap Yanks Win Streak Before 10

2009-05-23T15:13:00.004-04:00

The Yanks used the long ball to roll to eight and nine straight wins, but Friday night, the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies came to town and gave the Bombers a test of their own medicine.

Seven more home runs were hit at baseball's newest launching pad – Yankee Stadium – when the top home run-hitting teams in each league faced off. Four were hit by the Phils, who rolled to a 7-3 victory in the first interleague game at new Yankee Stadium and ended New York's nine-game winning streak.

There have been 82 homers at Yankee Stadium, a record for the first 21 games at a major league park, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hey, the Yankees couldn’t keep winning. If they were to lose, the Phillies are as formidable an opponent as any. Ten straight would have been nice, but the Yankees continue to hit and they did get some positive news Friday on the Chien-Ming Wang front. Activated before the game after nearly a month on the disabled list, Wang made his third career relief appearance and gave up a long homer deep over the Yankees bullpen to Raul Ibanez. He threw 51 pitches, allowing two runs and six hits in three innings while lowering his ERA from a ridiculous 34.50 to 25.00.

AJ Burnett struggled once again for New York. He’s been a great addition to the clubhouse, but from the looks of things his velocity is down. His heater has lost some zip.

Meanwhile, Wang looks like he’s regained some of his velocity, touching 94 on the gun. However, his command wasn’t there – something that will likely come with more innings in the majors. Wang could get a start next week in place of the injured Chamberlain. As for Burnett, he made need some side sessions to work on things. He is winless in his last seven starts.

Chamberlain was knocked out in the first inning Thursday night, bruising his right knee on a liner off the bat of Adam Jones. Thankfully, the Yankee lineup came through once again and the bullpen picked it up in Chamberlain’s absence. Robinson Cano drove in three runs, Alfredo Aceves led a solid effort by a depleted bullpen and the surging Yankees shrugged off Chamberlain's injury in a 7-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Thursday night. The victory completed New York’s three-game sweep of the Orioles.

The home run played a major role in New York’s long win streak. Nick Swisher hit the first of three consecutive homers that sent Phil Hughes and the Yankees to their eighth straight win Wednesday night. In the 11-4 victory, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera also hit solo shots to right field in the second inning against starter Jeremy Guthrie – all with two strikes.

Unlike the woeful Orioles, the Phillies can pitch a little bit. That was the difference Friday night in ending the Yankees win streak.

Behind Sabathia, A-Rod, Streak Hits Seven

2009-05-20T12:58:00.006-04:00

NEW YORK – The Yankee win streak was in good hands Tuesday night with CC Sabathia reprising his role of ace on the mound.

The burly lefty won for the third straight time and looks every bit like the work horse the Yankees hoped he would be, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings in a 9-1 win over Baltimore at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia, who struck out seven, settled in after allowing singles to the first two batters of the game. He then retired 21 of 23 hitters.

“I could have finished it,” Sabathia explained when asked if he could have tossed a complete game, “but I understand why Joe (Girardi) took me out. We had a big inning and he had a chance to take me out.”

It remained a 2-1 game through Sabathia’s entire outing before the Yankees erupted for a seven-run seventh en route to their seventh straight victory. The bullpen threw two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth. Brian Bruney, who came off the disabled list before the game, and Brett Tomko each pitched 1-2-3 innings to close it out.

The Orioles (16-23) struck first on an RBI groundout by Aubrey Huff in the first inning, but Alex Rodriguez quickly erased the small deficit in the bottom half of the inning by connecting off Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen for a two-run shot. A-Rod has now homered in four consecutive games.

The home run was all Sabathia needed. Baltimore had just one hit the rest of the game – a fifth inning single by Nolan Reimold. Sabathia, who has a 1.12 ERA in his past three starts, improved to 4-3. He threw 105 pitches on the night.

The Yankee manager said Sabathia would have returned for the eighth if not for the big bottom of the seventh. Girardi then praised his ace for being able to stay strong and make quality pitches throughout the game. “He’s able to continually keep the ball down in the zone and make his pitches,” he said. “I talk about CC being such a strong guy. I mean he’s physically a strong man. He doesn't seem to get tired around 90-100 pitches. He’s the type of guy that can continue and stay strong and make his pitches, and that’s what’s so impressive to me.”

For six innings, Bergesen (1-2) matched Sabathia pitch-for-pitch. He exited after 6 1/3 innings with runners on first and second in a 2-1 game, leaving it for reliever Chris Ray.

Ray allowed a single to Melky Cabrera to load the bases, but got Francisco Cervelli to hit a slow grounder to shortstop Robert Andino that should have at least recorded the second out. Instead, Andino booted the ball, plating Nick Swisher from third, reloading the bases.

Derek Jeter followed with double into right-center that cleared the bases after center fielder Adam Jones made an errant throw, allowing Cervelli to score. Mark Teixeira put on the finishing touches, blasting a two-run homer – his fourth in four games.

The Yankees will try and make it eight straight tonight in the middle game of a three-game series with the Orioles. Phil Hughes (1-3, 7.56 ERA) will oppose Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie (3-3, 5.21).

Notes: The Yankees’ 15 come-from-behind wins are tied for tops in the majors with Philadelphia’s 15. The Yankees have won an MLB-best eight games in their last at-bat…The Yankees lead the majors with a .355 batting average (81-for-228) in “close and late” situations (defined as the seventh inning or later with the batting team ahead by 1R, tied, or with the tying run on base, at bat or on-deck), with 21 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 52 RBI…Chien-Ming Wang threw a side session before the game after making his second rehab start Sunday with Triple A Scranton. He tossed a complete game shutout in a 3-0 victory. He allowed four hits and walked none, throwing 49 of 75 pitches for strikes.

White’s Appearance Postponed

2009-05-19T20:46:00.009-04:00

NEW YORK – Out at the ballpark tonight and decided to remind everyone at home that Yankee legend Roy White will be on the show, but that his appearance has been postponed for the moment.

I promise I will let everyone know as soon as I do when White is to appear. The former Yankee All-Star will be on to discuss his new book, Then Roy Said to Mickey...: The Best Yankees Stories Ever Told. From the publisher, Triumph Books: “White provides a fascinating array of stories from the Yankees' residence in the dumpsters of baseball and triumphant tales from the last five years of his career when the team's star rose again. White gives the reader an insider's point of view and provides previously untold tales that bridge the gap between the phenomenal Yankees of the early 1960s to their reemergence as a baseball powerhouse in the mid-1970s.”

I’m very excited to have Roy on set. I apologize for the delay. He was supposed to be on the show recently, but a book signing came up and he couldn’t make it.

You know, you gotta make that money!

Hey, good things come to those who wait. You won’t want to miss Roy White. Stay tuned.

Hot-hitting Tex Powers Yanks in Sweep of Twins

2009-05-19T15:24:00.004-04:00

Monday night at Yankee Stadium didn’t end in walk-off fashion for the Bronx Bombers, but it did end in victory.

The surging Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins in four straight, holding on for a 7-6 win on a chilly night in the Bronx. After a string of three straight walk-off victories, the Yankees overcame a 2-0 first-inning deficit to win their season-high sixth straight.

I decided to watch my first game of the season from the stands tonight. I actually purchased tickets, even though I have a full season credential, just to catch a glimpse of the new Yankee Stadium from a fan perspective – all of which will be captured in a package for this Friday’s morning show. Don’t forget to catch OPEN on BronxNet Ch. 67, live from 10 to 11 a.m.

I certainly picked a hell of a night to watch a game from the stands. It was very chilly in the Bronx. More like October baseball than a game in late spring.

Despite the briskness, the Yankees didn’t disappoint. Did you expect anything less against the Twins? The Yankees improved to 23-3 at home against Minny during the regular season since the start of 2002. With the loss, the Twins fell to 4-12 on the road this season, last in the AL.

Homer happy Yankee Stadium was up to its old tricks again last night. Surging Mark Teixeira was the primary culprit. He homered twice in the win. Through 17 games, there have been 63 dingers hit in the new ballpark (32 by the Yankees and 31 by opponents).

Tex was hitting .198 on May 8, but has raised his average to .239, doubling his home run and RBI totals since A-Rod’s return. He homered from both sides of the plate, combining with Rodriguez for back-to-back home runs in a six-run first inning. Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte was solid and the Yankee bullpen held it together late to secure the win. Pettitte improved to 9-5 all-time against the Twins and 4-1 on the season. With Mariano Rivera overworked of late, manager Joe Girardi opted to go with left-hander Phil Coke in the ninth. He as a bit shaky, but earned his first career save.

Teixeira was all the talk afterward. He explained how much easier it is to hit with A-Rod in the lineup “Pitchers are just making a few more mistakes,” Teixeira told reporters. “It puts a lot of pressure on them when Alex is in the lineup and, you know, a pitcher is not going to want to get into deep counts and maybe walk me with a guy like A-Rod behind me.”

Happy to see Tex coming around. The Yankees welcome Baltimore next as they continue their 10-game homestand. Back to the press box tonight. It’s a lot warmer there.

On a final note, every reporter should watch one game a season from the stands. It helps keep everything in perspective. Sportswriters can be as cynical as they come. Sometimes catching a game from the other side helps us keep in touch with why we wanted to cover baseball in the first place.

Wild Weekend of Walk-off Heroics for Yanks

2009-05-18T17:51:00.013-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I suggested the Yankees were gelling without A-Rod. I stand by my comments, even though the team floundered for a while with big time disappointments against the Red Sox and some of the AL’s finest earlier this month.

I think the Bombers took their lumps, found some level of camaraderie while Rodriguez was sidelined and now that they are getting healthy, have A-Rod back in the lineup and are in the middle of an important early season homestand, are playing their best baseball.

Dare I say it: The corporate Yankees are having fun.

It looks like the Yanks have found an identity. They’re really starting to put it all together. The Yankees have a wacky way about them recently and are becoming masters of the late inning comeback. All of sudden, the Yankees are gritty. They’re enjoying the game. Everyone’s stepping up. Which is saying a lot, considering it was only a couple of weeks ago that guys like Mark Teixeira couldn’t get out of their own way on the diamond.

A-Rod’s absence, I believe, provided some much need bonding and far less distraction in the early going. But his arrival has provided the Yankees with more fire power and comes at the perfect time. New York was reeling. A-Rod was ready to provide some much needed spark.

The combination of the two has really electrified the team.

Not coincidentally, the Yankees are beginning to enjoy the spoils of these late-inning heroics, which around their clubhouse means proudly wearing a facial mask of whipped cream. Johnny Damon was the latest to take one in the face on Sunday, belting a 10th-inning home run to lift his club to a 3-2 victory over the Twins, New York’s third straight in walk-off fashion.

And just as in the previous pair of thrilling finishes, AJ Burnett slathered Damon right on the field.

Damon's blast into the second deck in right field off Twins reliever Jesse Crain continued a string of late magic for the Yankees, who have won a season-high five straight to improve to three games over .500.

The last time the Yankees had three consecutive walk-off wins was Aug. 27-29, 1972.

Saturday afternoon, Rodriguez hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 11th inning to record his first hit at the new Yankee Stadium and stun the Twins. Teixeira, who had four hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle, set up the homer with a leadoff walk.

Friday night set the stage for the wild weekend. Even before Melky Cabrera stunned the Twins with his walk-off hit in the ninth, it had been a memorable one at Yankee Stadium. Alex Rodriguez made his debut in the new park and Brett Gardner, filling in for Johnny Damon, proved to be a supersonic sub, speeding around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.

Andy Pettitte will look to sweep the Twins out of town tonight when the Yankees try and close out the four-game series with another victory over Minnesota. Glen Perkins will oppose Pettitte.
The MLB record is five straight walk-offs. If the Yankees truly want to make some history, they'll need to accomplish this rare feat two more times to tie the record. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that belongs to the Houston Astros, who victimized the New York Mets and Montreal Expos five times at the Astrodome from July 19-23 in 1986.

Is another walk-off in store?

A-Rod Ready for Stadium Debut

2009-05-15T14:38:00.004-04:00

Finally, A-Rod news that’s baseball related.

Forget injuries. Forget steroids. Forget Madonna.

Let’s talk A-Rod coming home. Rodriguez is expected to suit up in home pinstripes for the first time in 2009 when the Yankees open a 10-game homestand tonight against the Minnesota Twins.

“I’d like to see it, first of all,” Rodriguez told reporters of the new Yankee Stadium. “All the guys have been telling me about it. I'm really excited just to see our new home, so for me, it’s like Opening Day all over again.”

Rodriguez has played six games since re-joining the Yankees on May 8 at Baltimore. His first swing of the year sent a three-run rocket out of the park. But his lack of a legitimate Spring Training – interrupted by March 9 right hip surgery that cost him 28 games – has made regaining his timing a project.

A-Rod is 2-for-20 since hitting the longball at Camden Yards. He is now hitting just .143.

Say what you like about A-Rod. The Yankees need him as much as they need any one player on this team. It was clear how much he was missed through the first month and a half of the season.
He may be a poor postseason player, especially by the lofty standards he sets for himself during the regular season, but from April to September there are few in the game as good as Mr. Rodriguez.

This is an important stretch for the Bombers. All of a sudden, the Boston Red Sox are really banged up, New York just took two of three from Toronto and Tampa can’t seem to get it all together. Sounds like a golden opportunity for the Yankees to climb in the standings.

A-Rod can help play a big role in that. Welcome home!

Yanks hit .500 Mark

2009-05-15T14:22:00.004-04:00

The Yankees are back at .500 after last night’s victory in Toronto. It may not seem like a big deal, but to the Bombers, it’s a start. Plus, New York returns home tonight against the Minnesota Twins as it opens a weekend series with a good chance to build on taking two-of-three from the AL East leading Blue Jays.

Thursday night, CC Sabathia tossed eight solid innings, striking out five, but the ace lefty was trailing until the seventh frame. Derek Jeter knotted the game with an RBI single before Hideki Matsui belted a go-ahead homer in the eighth to lift the Yanks to a series victory in Toronto. Sabathia also broke even, improving to 3-3.

Jeter and Matsui both returned from injury to spark the club. As noted, if the Yankees can get solid play from their core, despite age and injuries, there is no reason to believe this team can't win the division, or clinch at least a Wild Card berth, with the pitching they have.

The question still remains: Can the Yankees keep it together?

The last two nights were positive. The Bombers even got some contributions from places they least expected. Brett Gardner sparked a five-run second inning with his first career homer, a two-run shot, and the Yankees cruised to an easy victory over the Jays Wednesday to even the series. Andy Pettitte worked six solid innings for his third win and Mark Teixeira drove in two runs.

All in all, a good series in Toronto. We shall see if it continues at home tonight with Phil Hughes taking the hill to oppose Twins lefty Francisco Liriano.

Is Roger Telling the Truth?

2009-05-13T13:38:00.006-04:00

To believe or not to believe in Roger…that is the question?

Or, better yet, do you care anymore about steroids in baseball?

With American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime hitting book shelves this week, Clemens is back in the news, refuting the book yesterday on ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show.

For me, I care. I also happen to be a big Roger Clemens fan. Let reporters tell you that they don’t play favorites, but in reality, we all have guys we root for. Guys we like, because they gave us the time of day, or come up with good quotes.

Roger Clemens is a likeable baseball personality and arguably the best pitcher of this generation. There have been guys better in given years, but his resume, from top to bottom, is unmatched. Seven Cy Young awards can attest to that.

But we had to know something was up.

Right?

To be in your forties, throwing ninety plus. That was an impressive feat in and of itself.

Prior to my reporting days, I never cared much for Clemens as a Yankee fan; he was always the enemy, but when he put on the pinstripes, there was no one I wanted more on the mound than him, especially after he settled in after his first year in New York.

Clemens could match any ace. He was intimidating and gave fans a sense of confidence just with his sheer presence alone.

But there’s a lot of potential evidence pointing to his drug use, which to me, begs more questions, like when did he start?

How long did he use?

Is he a Hall of Famer?

Would he have been a HOF before he started using, if he did indeed use steroids later in his career?

Do I believe Roger? Yes and no.

I want to believe him.

But I have a hard time dismissing the 2000 Subway Series bat tossing incident with Mike Piazza as anything less than ’roid rage. (Note, I didn't care very much at the time so long as the Yankees won another World Series.)

More importantly, I want to believe Roger. I want to believe in his greatness.

I almost feel he’s lying to himself and that he’s so convinced that he’s living a lie. He sounds believable, because he believes it.

Which is why I believe we’ve reached a point I’ve been sharing for years now. The game is loaded with steroids, creating a level playing field of sorts – in a bad way, of course – but still a level playing field.

If the stars are doing it and the scrubs are doing it, there’s a very good chance the guys in between are too. It's rampant and likely still going on. Masking agents make that possible.

Did you ever think that owners and baseball organizations might welcome it. They don't have to deal with the side effects. They won't have to worry years from now if their kidneys shut down. All they care about is winning. All they care about is making money.

Nearly everyone using it doesn’t make it right, but that seems to be the reality.

The reason why I care is two fold. Kids shouldn’t grow up believing steroids make a major leaguer. If anything, the recent admissions and cases like A-Rod, Manny and Roger prove that steroids – even allegations – ruin careers.

Plus, the record book has always been the most respected part of the game. Baseball has always been about numbers. The 56-game hitting streak. 61 Homers. Hank Aaron’s 755.

All of that is tarnished now.

And because of it, it’s hard to believe anyone these days.

Oh Doctor! Burnett Done in by Mentor, Jays

2009-05-13T12:43:00.005-04:00

AJ Burnett tried to focus, but the presence of ace Roy “Doc” Halladay, his former mentor, loomed too large Tuesday night in New York’s series opener with the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Halladay, meanwhile, had the Yankees' number, firing a five-hitter to lead his team to a 5-1 victory over his former buddy and pupil. Burnett was greeted with boos north of the border for the first time since departing Toronto this past offseason for a big free agent contract with the Yankees.

The hard-throwing right-hander is winless in his last five starts, falling to 2-1 last night against division rival and first place Toronto.

Halladay improved to 7-1 in another dominating performance.

"I tried to block it out once I got out there," Burnett said. "But we all know who’s pitching and what he's going to do. I tried my best not to worry about him and just do what I can for myself."

I happen to really like Burnett, even though his injury history is sure to catch up to him some time in pinstripes. Like so many Yankees right now, Burnett is not living up to expectations. He inked a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

Now, he has to pitch like it.

He’s getting rattled in TORONTO!

Granted, the Yankees didn't exactly have their “A” lineup – Hideki Matsui left the game after one at-bat with tightness in his right hamstring and is listed as day-to-day, and Derek Jeter also did not play for the first time this season, mending a sore right oblique.

When does panic start to set in, Yankee fans?

The Yankees, at their core, at starting to show their age. Jorge Posada is hurt. Jeter is on the mend. Matsui has been a shadow of the player we saw five, six years ago due to lingering injuries the last three years. With Xavier Nady out, the bench is depleted, because a guy like Nick Swisher now has to start.

Ironically, Swisher has been the best of the free agent crop thus far.

With that said, are you surprised the Yanks are two games under .500, third in the American League East?

Sizzling Damon Playing for Ring, Contract

2009-05-11T17:40:00.003-04:00

What’s got into Johnny Damon? Wheaties? 'Roids? Rings? How 'bout the all mighty dollar?

About the only thing going right for the Yankees these days is “Johnny on the Spot.” The Bronx Bomber lineup has been far too inconsistent, but Damon keeps coming through, turn after turn. He rediscovered his home-run stroke last week and has been named the American League Player of the Week, presented by Bank of America for the period ending May 10.

Damon led the Major Leagues last week with five home runs and 15 RBIs in seven games, while hitting .419. His 1.032 slugging percentage, built on at least one extra-base hit in each of the seven games, was tops in the AL.

The weekly award was only the second of the 15-year veteran’s career. He had previously earned honors for the week ending Aug. 21, 2006, during his first season with the Yankees.

This could be Damon’s last go around with the Yankees. He’s in his walk year. Figures, whenever a guy is ready to be a free agent, he summons that little extra. I think the owners had it right 30 years ago when many players played for a contract on a year-to-year basis.

Free agent has, to a certain extent, really affected the game in so many ways. Some guys play better with job security and others tend to slack off once they get the big payday.

I would assume the Yankees would consider Damon for another small contract, but at the same time, the youth movement in New York may push the organization toward giving prized prospect Austin Jackson a chance to shine next season.
Damon was a huge part of Boston’s World Series run in 2004. I’ll never forget his grand slam off Javier Vazquez that sealed the deal in game seven of the ALCS. I never thought the former “idiot” would ever don pinstripes, but he’s played well for New York, albeit never as good as he was in Boston.

I happen to really like Johnny Damon. I’m just not sure if he’s durable enough in the outfield these days to contribute to a World Series winner in New York. He may have to contribute in a lesser role after this season if he wants to finish his career in the Big Apple. Whatever the story, Damon is focused right now and I truly believe he wants a deal and a ring so his days in New York aren’t considered a failure.

The Red Sox have won another title since his departure. If the Yankees can’t, Damon joins a list of free agents over the past nine seasons, including Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina, who haven’t been able to help the Bombers resume their championship ways. Check out this footage from the Yankee/Red Sox series last week. We caught up with Johnny D. after the Bombers’ opening loss to Boston last Monday night. I’ve included the entire morning show for your pleasure. Skip ahead to the end for my segment. http://bronxnet.fliggo.com/video/ScJO7gZe

Yanks 2-2 Over Last Four

2009-05-11T17:15:00.004-04:00

Checking back in with another small blog post. I was out covering New York Giants rookie mini-camp this weekend and didn’t have a chance to pen any Yankee notes.

The show went well Friday morning, but the appearance of Yankee legend Roy White is on hold until later this week. He had a book signing and couldn’t attend.

More on that later. As for the Yankees, they are still not playing consistent baseball, having dropped five straight games heading into Friday before snapping that streak in the opener against the Orioles in Baltimore. The arrival of Alex Rodriguez Friday night provided a 4-0 win. A-Rod went deep on the first pitch he saw, homering to left. Rodriguez would later strike out twice, but his presence in the lineup was a tremendous lift – it was clearly evident in New York’s swagger.

However, confidence is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. Phil Hughes proved that Saturday. The Yankees lost 12-5 and looked ready drop the finale of that series yesterday on Mother’s Day before Johnny Damon came through in the seventh.

Damon has sent baseballs out of big league ballparks in five of his past seven games for the Yankees, but this one was easily the most meaningful. He belted a three-run home run in the seventh inning on Sunday that proved to be the game-winner in New York’s 5-3 win over Baltimore, connecting with a light pink Louisville Slugger bat in honor of Mother's Day.

If it takes pink bats to rally the Yanks, I say everyone in the lineup should hit with them.

AJ Burnett has consistently credited Roy Halladay with being one of the most influential people in his baseball life – and now they'll face each other when the Yankees travel to Toronto Tuesday.

Four Straight Losses

2009-05-07T00:34:00.013-04:00

Hate is a strong word. So I won’t use it here. But I will say this: I strongly dislike the Boston Red Sox – and most especially their fans.

First off, I apologize for not penning a blog post in a day. I’ve been pretty consistent with putting together a few thoughts daily. Honestly, Monday night’s marathon slowed me up the last couple of days. I’m still recovering.

Secondly, I’m so disgusted with the Yankees that I’d rather not get into it. I’m tired of looking for the silver lining. I’m tired of grasping at straws. This is one of the best teams money can buy, but they aren’t playing like it.

Make all the excuses you want. CC Sabathia shouldn’t be 1-3. Mark Teixeira shouldn’t struggle for a whole month and have it be OK in Yankee Land. He’s been pretty good the last few days, but we didn’t sign him to be good, we signed him to be great.

Pressure. Yes, of course. It’s New York. It’s time to perform. It’s time for the Yankees to get their acts together.

A few days ago I suggested they had finally turned a corner on the early season. On second thought, I believe the Yankees are gelling, but only against competition they can beat. They are clearly not as good as Boston – at least yet – and after tonight’s defeat to Tampa Bay, I wonder to myself if they are third in the race in the East. And I don't mean from a standings perspective. I mean from a team perspective. Do you think the Yankees have the edge against Boston in many of the categories? Would you take Boston's staff over the Yankees? There bullpen? There depth? There lineup?

I think I would. Can you explain to me how in the world David Ortiz doesn't have a home run and the Yankees are 0-5 against Boston?

How many times is Jason Bay gonna kill the Yanks? How many times is Nick Green, a former castoff of the Bombers turned Red Sox starting shortstop, going to outshine Derek Jeter in the short series at home. We're talking about Nick Green.

I said at the outset of the season that the Yankees will likely be the Wild Card winner. I still believe Boston is the team to beat. But the Yankees have some concerns, albeit so early in the season. They lack depth in some big areas. And they are an older club with an aging core.

Lastly, I want to throw in my two cents here once again about Joba Chamberlain. He’s proved nothing as a starter. I don’t care about his 12 Ks last night. He’s still made for the bullpen. Though Chamberlain struck out 12 batters and left to a standing ovation, the Yankees couldn't overcome his shaky first inning and suffered a 7-3 defeat to the Red Sox on a damp Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium. No silver lining from me here. A loss is a loss. That made five straight to Boston.

Johnny Damon belted a three-run homer off Red Sox starter Josh Beckett, but that was the sum total of New York's offensive production against the right-hander. Boston took both games of the abbreviated two-game series.

We know what happened Monday. Which is why I’ll flash back and comment on a few Boston fans. Filming the game from the main level in the late innings, these two burly men jumped in front me and then had the audacity to tell me that I wasn’t where I said I was. I didn’t bother to make a stink. But I’ll say this: Red Sox fans have no class. I understand these are only two fans and that two fans shouldn't be enough for me to come to this decision, but honestly, I don't think I've ever met a nice Sox fan.

And that organization, a Yankee doormat for over 85 years, now has the upper hand. That has to change. We finally have a rivalry, because Boston is legit. I'll give them that.

Jon Lester pitched the Red Sox to a 6-4 victory before 46,426 fans Monday. The contest started two hours and 17 minutes later than scheduled, thanks to steady rain. It ended at 1:10 a.m. ET on Tuesday. I'm still exhausted from the night. It didn't help me that the Yankees didn't win. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon loaded the bases in the ninth, but struck out Teixeira and later Robinson Cano to end the game. Teixeira had already belted two dingers, so he gets a bit of a pass, but the Yankees, on the whole, do not.

It was another weak performance.

The same could be said tonight.

The Bombers were on top of the world after Teixeira hit a bases-clearing double in the eighth to help force extras against Tampa. But in the 10th, Carlos Pena hit a game-winning homer to right field off Phil Coke, as the Yanks dropped their fourth straight game.

Final score: Rays 4, Yankees 3.

New York has played well at times, but remains very inconsistent.

The Yankee 411

2009-05-04T16:19:00.006-04:00

NEW YORK – Make no mistake about it, it’s still the hottest ticket in town.

Yankees vs. Red Sox. Boston. New York.

Tonight, the greatest rivalry in sports resumes. And, oh yes, the stars will be out – both on the field and in the press box. Just the thought of the Yankees welcoming the Boston Red Sox to the new Yankee Stadium for the first time ever has BronxNet Executive Director Michael Knobbe coming out for the ballgame.

The “Big Boss” and I will be there as the Bronx Bombers open a mini two-game series against their longtime rival. Don’t forget to tune in Friday in the a.m. for Open’s coverage of everything Yankees. We’ll recap this week in Yankee baseball like no one can.

As for the Yanks, a rain out Sunday pushes Phil Hughes into the lime light tonight in the opener. Previously winless in the big leagues since Sept. 27, 2007, Hughes showcased sharp stuff in handcuffing the Detroit Tigers to just two hits over six scoreless innings on Tuesday.

Hughes was activated from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier that afternoon, summoned to jump into the rotation as right-hander Chien-Ming Wang works on mechanical and physical issues in Tampa.

Hughes will oppose Boston left-hander Jon Lester. Should be a great matchup. The Yankees, who were swept at Fenway Park last week, could use a pair of Ws against Boston. The Red Sox are reeling, having dropped three of their last four to Tampa Bay.

As for Sunday’s game between the Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, there’s no date for the rescheduled game just yet. Fans holding paid tickets for the May 3 postponed game may use them for the rescheduled game between the Yankees and Angels, or exchange their paid tickets for any regular season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months of the postponed game (subject to availability), according to Yankees.com.

In other Yankees news and notes…

The Yankees placed left-handed reliever Damaso Marte on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, retroactive to April 26, with tendinitis and weakness in his pitching arm…

Derek Jeter, who was battling on a stiff neck Saturday after a hard slide and collision at second base on a stolen base attempt, should be ready to go tonight. He told BronxNet Saturday: “It’s a little stiff, but it’s all right. I’ll be alright. It’s a little sore.”

Jeter also commended staff ace CC Sabathia, saying he pitched well on a day when the Yankee offense stumbled…

Speaking of stumbling offense. Robinson Cano had his American League-season-high hitting streak snapped at 18 games on Saturday. The streak was a personal single-season best and tied a career best. He batted .363 (29-for-80) over the stretch…

Hideki Matsui has a 12-game hitting streak and is 17-for-46 (.370) over the stretch. ...

The Yankees have also signed ex-Met Casey Fossum to a Minor League contract Friday. The left-hander was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Palmer, Halos Halt Yanks' Win Streak

2009-05-03T14:28:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – No comebacks for the Yankees Saturday.

A little bit of thunder in the ninth from the Bronx Bombers, but it wasn’t enough as the Angels held on 8-4 behind Matt Palmer and a late rally of their own.

Palmer outpitched CC Sabathia for his second major league victory. Torii Hunter chased Sabathia with a two-run double in a four-run seventh and the Angles ended New York’s four-game winning streak. The 30-year-old rookie pitcher, who improved to 2-0 on the season, pitched three-hit ball for 6 1/3 innings before the Angels’ struggling bullpen survived a scare in the ninth. The Yankees scored three runs in a late rally, unlike the night before, that would fall short.

The Yankees put up a season low four hits, while Sabathia fell to 1-3 on the year, giving up four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. The burly lefty threw 119 pitches.

“CC is so strong. He’s used to throwing that many pitches,” explained Yankee manager Joe Girardi of why he left Sabathia in with runners on in the seventh. “He had a big strikeout of the previous batter. I didn’t think it was a problem. He’s such a competitor.”

Girardi talked about Palmer’s performance, too. “He’s a guy we’ve never seen. He threw a good ballgame. We had a chance to get some runs and we didn’t.

“You’d like to be able to do it every day,” Girardi added of comebacks, “but that’s not going to happen. CC is able to shut people down, but he didn’t do it today. He threw a pretty descent game today, but Palmer threw a better game. We haven’t scored him a bunch of runs this season.”

Sabathia admitted his frustration. “We were in the game late and I gave up some hits. Hunter has a quick bat. I had him 0-2 and he got the hit.

“It all evens out,” Sabathia added of the lack of run support. “It’s a long season and sometimes the offense is going to be big. I feel I threw the ball well today, but I got the loss.”

Despite the loss, Sabathia’s velocity was the best it has been this season. He was throwing in the high 90s in the seventh, touch 98 on the radar gun at one point.

Yanks Gelling without A-Rod

2009-05-02T14:15:00.003-04:00

NEW YORK – Something has finally clicked in the Bronx.

Maybe lowering ticket prices has the Yankees feeling chipper, or maybe, just maybe, the

Bombers are finally gelling – and dare I say it, minus the great Alex Rodriguez.

There’s no denying that A-Rod’s potent bat is sorely missed in the lineup, but one thing the Yankees haven’t had since Rodriguez joined the team in 2004 is the same kind of chemistry in the locker room that they had during the dynasty run of the late 1990s. I’m not blaming A-Rod for that, but I think he’s part of it. He’s just not one of the boys, like Scott Brosius, Tino Martinez, David Cone and Paul O’Neill – or that’s my observation from the clubhouse.

Ooh, timeout. As I pen this latest blog entry, Yankees media at the ballgame Saturday has just announced in the press box a rehab update on A-Rod and Chien-Ming Wang. Rodriguez, today, had six plate appearances, went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts and played five innings at third base in an extended spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Tampa. In that same game, Wang, who’s also on the DL, went four innings and gave up no runs.

Excellent news for Wang, and despite the hitless afternoon, good news for A-Rod, too. I know he homered yesterday. I mentioned it on the morning show in the sports recap. Rodriguez should be back no later than May 15 and possibly as soon as May 8. Wang should be back within two weeks as well.

Back to the latest topic: Chemistry. Is it overrated? Or has the Yankees star-studded lineup the past few seasons contributed to a lack of it. In Boston these days, it seems like there’s a no hero every night – whether it be a rookie, or a veteran off the bench. It’s not just the starts in Beantown that carry the Red Sox, it’s the 25th guy, too.

That’s the measure of a team. I’ll never forget my high school baseball coach (Steve Macias) telling us, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link.” A little self promotion here, we win two city titles and one state championship on his watch.

As far as the Yankees go, maybe this is there year, because guys like rookie Ramiro Pena, refocused center fielder Melky Cabrera, who has earned his starting job back with his hot hitting, and the ever-positive and hot-hitting Nick Swisher (nursing a bum elbow today, but who’s expected back in the regular lineup Sunday), have breathed new life into that clubhouse. Even Robinson Cano has shed his lazy ways, looking an early season MVP candidate (.378 avg., 5 HRs, 17 RBIs)

Last night was a perfect example. Four straight in the win column for New York.

Why the sudden surge, you ask?

Team work.

Cabrera (hitting .321; had a hit and an RBI Friday night), Pena (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and company sent 10 men across the plate – a new trend for this club, whose lineup was supposed to be anemic without A-Rod, but instead has proved that small ball still wins games in the majors – if you give it a chance. The Bombers scored 11 runs Tuesday, another eight the following night and brought home seven against the Angels Thursday in the opener of their homestand. Friday, the Yankees rallied for a 10-9 comeback victory as Jorge Posada knocked in the winning runs in the ninth with a walk-off two-run single.

New York won when trailing by five runs or more at the end of the seventh for the first time since Sept. 14, 2007, when it rebounded from a 7-2 deficit to win 8-7 at Boston, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Angels hadn't lost when leading by that much after seven since blowing an 8-3 lead at the Chicago White Sox in a 9-8 loss on Sept. 1, 2000.

Yankees Streaking

2009-05-01T12:47:00.002-04:00

In Yankee Land, this April could best be described as a rollercoaster ride. From one series to the next, the Yankees have been night and day.

The Bombers looked terrible in Boston last weekend, pretty sharp toward the tail end of the Detroit series middle of the week and down right terrific last night in the opener of their series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anheim.

Melky Cabrera has earned his stripes back, taking command of the center field job with his sensational hitting. Cabrera spoiled Angels manager Mike Scioscia’s strategy, smashing a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning that led the Yankees over Los Angeles 7-4 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

Joba Chamberlain disproved my point the game before – at least for now – earning his first win as a starter in 2009. He gave up only three hits as the Yankees escaped a bullpen meltdown in the ninth Wednesday.

Like their previous game in Detroit, the Yanks stung the Tigers with one big inning – this time, it was a seven-run fourth Wednesday night at Comerica Park. Nick Swisher homered in the fourth and fifth to start and cap the scoring for the Bombers in the finale for Joba’s first win.

Swisher is hot again, too. The Yankees could also have Alex Rodriguez back in the lineup by May 8, or at the latest May 15. A-Rod went 1-for-6 yesterday with a home run in a game down in Florida Thursday.

That’s great news for the Yankees.

Couple of quick points: I still think, especially with the 150 inning cap for this season, Chamberlain would better served coming out of the pen. Not going to change my mind on that front just yet. Again, the most important innings are the last ones. Just ask Mets ace Johan Santana, who could have easily won 25 games last season and watched again this week as JJ Putz blew a one-run lead in the eighth. That’s right, the same JJ Putz the Mets signed as a free agent to try and prevent bullpen meltdowns this year.

The last outs are always the toughest to get.

With Hughes Back in Fold, Time to Reconsider Joba’s Role

2009-04-29T10:51:00.002-04:00

When it comes to Joba Chamberlain and the Yankees, I am a firm believer that his talents are best served coming out of the bullpen.

I completely understand how incredible it would be if he becomes the next Roger Clemens, but I also realize how fragile he can be. In fact, the Yankees only got their hands on him in the first place, because of his injury history when they scooped him up 41st overall in the 2006 draft; the Yankees received that draft pick as free agent compensation for Tom Gordon, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Forty other teams were well aware of Chamberlain’s talent, but passed, fearing injury.

Flash forward to 2009. Chamberlain hasn’t had strong command since returning to his starting role. His velocity is down. He throws way too many pitches as evidenced in his last start in Boston where four double plays bailed him out.

Let’s be realistic. Chamberlain has a better shot of being a relief ace then being an ace starter. He’s already shown the prior.

That’s why, coupled with Phil Hughes’ terrific start Tuesday night it Detroit, it’s time to reconsider his role.

Chamberlain is still on an innings count. Let him pitch meaningful innings at the back end of games. We saw what happened in Boston. Chamberlain is as good an insurance policy on Mariano Rivera as anyone on the roster. And, in my mind, he’s still better than half the guys they trot out in the seventh and eighth innings.

Brian Bruney is out. Phil Hughes looks like he could grab that No. 5 spot in the rotation. Why not put Chamberlain back where he belongs?

Hughes, Yanks ‘Back on Track’

2009-04-29T10:46:00.003-04:00

Phil Hughes hadn’t won in over a year. The Yankees came in losers of four straight.

Together, Hughes and the Bronx Bombers remedied both of those slumps Tuesday night. Both came to a decisive end at Comerica Park as Hughes pitched six scoreless innings in his first start of the season and Jose Molina’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run seventh inning in an 11-0 Yankee thumping of the Tigers.

“It’s a good feeling,” Hughes said. “I didn’t have one of those all year, so to get one in the first start is kind of nice. We needed a win to get back on track.”

Hughes was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the afternoon, replacing injured right-hander Chien-Ming Wang.

The Yankees will try and make it two straight tonight when they send Joba Chamberlain to the hill in the third and final game of their series with Detroit.

Yanks Finally Drop Prices on Tix

2009-04-28T22:24:00.007-04:00

In addition to the Yankees problems on the field lately, momentarily remedied by an 11-0 drumming of the Tigers in Detroit tonight, the organization has been trying to find ways to fill those expensive empty seats behind home plate.

The answer all along was simple. But it was one the Yankees hoped to avoid. Today, they came to their senses and dropped ticket prices.

It pays to be media. I know I wouldn't pay $2,500 for a ticket behind home plate. Before my press days, I remember back in 2002, my senior year in college, I went to see the Yankees play Minnesota at the old Yankee Stadium. I got there at game time with a buddy and scalped a ticket for $50. $50! I remember mulling whether or not it was worth it. $50 bucks is a lot for a college kid. I sat right behind the Yankee dugout. The Yanks lost. Former farmhand Eric Milton tossed a gem. Still, it was worth every penny.

And by today's standards, a steal of a deal.

Nevertheless, good job by the Yanks in lowering those ridiculous prices.

The Yankees have adjusted prices on more than 40 percent of the front-row seats at the new Yankee Stadium and will offer additional free seats to some ticket holders.

The adjustments to the club's pricing policy were outlined in a statement authorized by Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, and it came as a response to the five-game homestand that saw a number of premium seats unoccupied at the $1.5 billion ballpark.

Visit http://www.yankees.com/ for more on the new ticket prices.

Problems Continue in Motown

2009-04-28T01:00:00.002-04:00

Another night. Another city. Another poor performance from the Yankees.

Was it Justin Verlander, or are the Bronx Bombers just this bad right now? The hard-throwing right-hander came in winless with a 9.00 ERA, but looked dominant in Detroit Monday night, mowing down nine Yankees in the process.

It was the best Verlander looked in two seasons.

CC Sabathia went the distance, but wasn’t nearly as sharp as Verlander. Placido Polanco's double and Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single in the opening inning comprised the only scoring of the game until the sixth, when Curtis Granderson's bunt single started a one-out rally for the Tigers. Polanco doubled in Granderson, then came home on Magglio Ordonez’s second home run of the season.

With their fourth straight loss, the Yankees dropped to 9-10.

How can a team this good, play this poorly?

I understand about the injuries. I realize A-Rod and Chien-Ming Wang are out. I get all of it. But Sunday’s finale in Boston was embarrassing and the team didn’t show any moxie coming off the weekend sweep at Fenway tonight in Detroit.

Sabathia’s been good, but not great. Mark Teixeira needs to pick it up, too.

Honestly, all of the Yankees need a swift kick in the butt.

The Yankees don’t display any fire. They don’t play at all like the Red Sox. Boston, in my mind, is still the team to beat. They have prime guys, in their prime, that rally around each other. David Ortiz is batting sub .230 with no homers and Boston is riding a 10-game win streak. How crazy is that? One night it’s Jason Bay. The next, Mike Lowell. The next, somebody else. That’s a championship team.

Forget Tampa, the AL East is going through Boston again this year.

The Yankees need to snap out of it quickly, or the division will surely get away from them. It’s too good a division not to. The Toronto Blue Jays, of all teams, are in first – and look good. You still have Tampa. And Boston’s looks great.

I’ll tell you, if the Yankees can’t get it going with all this talent, Joe Girardi has to go.

The Yankees were helpless Sunday in Boston. Justin Masterson started for the Red Sox and left on the winning side, hurling 5 1/3 innings of one-run, six-hit ball.

ONE RUN OFF JUSTIN MASTERSON!

Don’t even get me started on Jacoby Ellsbury’s straight steal of home off Andy Pettitte. Actually, you know what, I’ll say this: That’s fire. That’s passion. That’s winning baseball. That’s something the 2009 Yankees have yet to get a grip on.

Tomorrow, New York welcomes back Phil Hughes, who takes Wang’s turn in the rotation. Hughes didn’t record a win in an injury-plagued 2008. Let’s hope 2009 is a better year for him.

Andy, Yanks Try and Salvage Series at Fenway

2009-04-26T17:19:00.006-04:00

If you thought Friday night's loss was hard to swallow, Saturday’s matinee in Boston was downright indigestible for Yankee fans.

I don't even want to think about it, let alone spend much time writing about it. Handed a six-run lead early, AJ Burnett pitched his worst game in pinstripes as hated Boston outslugged the Bronx Bombers, 16-11. The wild finish was Boston's largest comeback to beat New York since May 16, 1968, and it came after Burnett was presented with a 6-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings. Burnett, who usually owns the Sox, faltered big time. Boston rapped him for eight runs and eight hits in five innings.

Still, the Yankees had their chances late. The bullpen was equally disappointing. Brian Bruney was sorely missed on the same day he was placed on the DL with a bum elbow. He should be back in two weeks. Those two weeks can't come soon enough. He's been great.

Forget about Saturday Yankee fans. I know I'm trying to. Tonight is all that matters. The Yankees need to salvage the series, taking at least one game from their rival.

Andy Pettitte will be asked to stop the bleeding. Pettitte draws the call for his fourth start of the season. The veteran left-hander turned in a gritty outing his last time around. On Tuesday against the A's, Pettitte limited Oakland to two runs on nine hits.

Pettitte last faced the Red Sox on Aug. 26, 2008 at the old Yankee Stadium, allowing six runs on 10 hits in a 4 2/3-inning losing effort.

Not so good. But check out the carreer stats in Boston. Pettitte has a 6-2 career record with a 3.53 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) at Fenway Park.

Which Andy will show up tonight?

Say it Ain’t So Mo…Rivera Blows Opener in Boston

2009-04-25T16:51:00.006-04:00

When you see each other as much as the Yankees and Red Sox do through a 162 games, there are no surprises when it comes to closer Mariano Rivera.

“The Sandman” is still the game’s best when push comes to shove in the ninth, but he’s been very hittable, especially in April, against the hard-hitting Red Sox the past few seasons.

That was the story last night as Rivera coughed up a two-out, game-tying home run to Jason Bay. It was the 61st blown save of Rivera’s career, 12th vs. the Red Sox – many of which have come at the beginning of the season.

“That’s a huge at-bat,” Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis told reporters in the post-game about Bay’s long ball that sent the game into extra innings. “If he just misses that ball, it’s ‘Game over.’”

Bay tied it 4-4 in the ninth, allowing Youkilis to play the role of hero in extras. He would go on to hit his second career walk-off in the 11th as the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 5-4. The last Red Sox player to hit an extra-inning walk-off homer vs. the Yankees was Jim Gosger on June 4, 1966 in the 16th inning.

With the extra inning win, the Red Sox and Yankees have each won 81 extra-inning games against each other with eight ties. It was Boston’s eighth consecutive victory.

The Yankees will try and bounce back today behind starter AJ Burnett, who will oppose Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.

Notes: The Yankees placed right-hander Chien-Ming Wang on the 15-day disabled list after Friday night’s loss and recalled David Robertson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Robertson gives the Yankees another arm in the bullpen after the 11-inning loss to Boston. Phil Hughes is expected to be called up to pitch Tuesday in Detroit…The Bombers also played Cody Ransom (quadriceps) and Brian Bruney (elbow) on the DL, summoning infielder Angel Berroa and pitcher Mark Melancon from the minors to take their spots on the roster.

Swisher, Yanks Ready to Rumble in Boston

2009-04-24T13:13:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK – Nick Swisher is off to a great start in pinstripes – one he hopes continues this weekend when the Bronx Bombers renew old acquaintances in Boston.

The fun-loving outfielder told BronxNet earlier in the week that he and the Yankees are ready for the Red Sox. “We know Oakland’s been struggling, but it was still good to play well in this series and finish the homestand strong,” said Swisher, who already boasts a nine-game hit streak and has reached base safely in all 15 games in which he has appeared this season. “We’re definitely ready for Boston. We’ve played some good teams early in the season, but this will be a good test for us. I was impressed by Tampa, but even there, we played well. We've shown we can play with anyone.

“Right now, the focus is on having everyone get into a groove,” he added. “We know Boston is hot, but we’re playing pretty good baseball ourselves.”

The Yankees traded infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to Chicago in exchange for the switch-hitting Swisher and minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira this winter.

The 27-year-old Swisher struggled in Chicago, batting .219 in 2008, but he did hit 24 home runs in 153 games. He’s been great for the Bombers so far, hitting .306 with four dingers and 12 RBIs.

He’s not the only new Yankee gearing up for the first taste of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry. “We’re all excited,” Swisher said. “How could you not be?”

Like Swisher, newcomers AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira will all get their first look – from a Yankee perspective – at the greatest rivalry in sports. Teixeira figures to get the brunt of the fan reaction all weekend, having shunned the Red Sox's advances to sign an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees.

Sabathia's turn in the rotation doesn’t fall this weekend, but Burnett will pitch Saturday against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.

Boston comes into tonight riding a seven-game win streak. Both clubs are 9-6 through the first 15 games with the Yankees feeling pretty good about themselves, too, after Melky Cabrera’s walk-off home run Wednesday that sank Oakland in 14 innings.

New York will send Joba Chamberlain to the hill. The hard-throwing right-hander is looking for his first win of 2009. The highlight of Chamberlain’s brief big league career as a starter came at Fenway Park last July 25, when he handcuffed the Red Sox for three hits in seven scoreless innings, walking one and striking out nine.

He is 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in six games (two starts) against the Red Sox in his career. Jon Lester will throw for Boston.

First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. tonight. Brace yourselves Bronxites for another tussle at Fenway.

Should Yanks Sign Pedro?

2009-04-24T13:09:00.002-04:00

If Chien-Ming Wang remains a question mark for the Yankees much longer, when do we open discussions on potentially acquiring another arm for the rotation?

Should the Yankees consider signing their old, arch-rival, free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez?

Yes, I said it.

And I’ll explain why I’m throwing it out there. Skipped for this weekend’s series at Fenway Park, Wang instead pitched seven innings in an extended spring game on Thursday in Tampa, Fla. The righty allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits, walking none and striking out 11 against a team of Philadelphia Phillies farmhands. Wang threw 70 of 91 pitches for strikes in the outing.

Has Wang turned a corner? Or has that foot injury that kept him out most of last season affected his mechanics so much that he’ll never be the same pitcher ever again?

Let’s hope not. The Yankees need Wang if they’re going to make a serious run at World Series title No. 27. I know they have CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain, but the bottom line is: You can never have enough pitching?

That’s why it’s not insane to consider signing Martinez, who at 37 is far from his glory days when he pitched in Boston, but who’s still good enough to command a starting spot in the rotation – even if it’s at the backend of a playoff contender.

Martinez will resume throwing from the mound in the Dominican Republic, according to Fox Sports. The right-hander, who the Mets elected not to resign this winter, has mostly been playing toss as he contemplated his major league future, but it appears that he wants to return.

The Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have both admitted interest in Martinez. Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets last season and pitched six scoreless innings for the Dominican club at the World Baseball Classic.

He is reportedly asking for a one-year, $5 million deal, but that just doesn't make sense for most teams at this point. The Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers could also be major players for Martinez if the price drops.

The Yankees haven’t really been mentioned much when it comes to Pedro. But you’d have to think they’d consider it, especially if they struggle this weekend in Boston.

Money is no option for the Yankees. They’d probably give Martinez his $5 mill. The bigger question would be whether the clubhouse could stand adding Martinez to the fold. In Joe Torre’s new book, The Yankee Years, he mentions how many players came to him before Martinez signed with the Mets saying how much the clubhouse was against Martinez joining the Yankees.

It’ll be hard for any Yankee left over from that 2003 American League Championship Series to forgive Martinez for throwing then 72-year-old bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground during a bench clearing brawl. Martinez and Jorge Posada traded barbs, which incited the incident after Martinez threw at Karim Garcia.

So, could the Yankees put their hard feelings aside for Pedro? Hey, I think they could. The Yankees had no love for Roger Clemens before he joined the Bombers. It worked out pretty well there. And Clemens was a notorious head hunter.

Plus, there aren’t many holdovers from that 2003 club. Is Pedro still the same pitcher? Or course not. Could he throw a solid five innings and from time-to-time have a vintage performance? I really do think so.

I’m not saying I like Pedro, but I understand how good he can be. I was there that night in September, 1999 when he one-hit the Yankees, striking out 17 in a near perfect game performance. If he’s a third as good these days, he’s better than half the guys the Yankees would consider as a replacement for Wang.

He’ll make a solid addition for any club midseason. I think in the long run, Martinez will sign with LA, the team he debuted for in 1992.

Still, it’s food for thought in the Bronx.

As for the Yankees, if Wang remains with the big league club, his next turn in the rotation could come Tuesday at Detroit. If Wang stays in Florida, the Yankees could elect to bring up Phil Hughes, who’s pitching well at Triple A.

Melk Man Delievers in 14th

2009-04-23T00:51:00.006-04:00

The homers keep coming for the Bronx Bombers in “Coors Field East.”

While the Bronx could never be confused with Colorado, home of Coors Field, the new Yankee Stadium may very well be the East coast version of the long ball haven out West.

Count’em. Six games, 26 dingers. Two of them today from switch-hitting Melky Cabrera, including the ballpark’s first walk off. Cabrera turned on a fastball in the 14th inning and sent it into the right-field stands, his second home run of the game.

Cabrera's 14th-inning drive, the fifth home run of the game, concluded a 4-hour, 57-minute marathon Wednesday, a 9-7 Yankees win over the Oakland Athletics.

By the way, the 26th home run at the stadium is one more than the previous record for the first six games at a major league venue. That had been established at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in 1955, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Bronxites, welcome to “Coors Field East.”

Rehab, Not Surgery Needed for Nady

2009-04-22T18:20:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK – Xavier Nady and the Yankees got the news they were looking.

The Yankee right fielder won’t need season-ending Tommy John surgery. Instead, Nady will attempt to rehab a strained ligament in his right elbow. He received encouraging news from Dr. Lewis Yocum, a noted orthopedist and the Angels' team physician, after a review of his medical examinations.

Yocum performed Nady's first elbow procedure in September 2001 and will assist the Yankees team physicians in rehabbing Nady back to health this time around.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman estimated that Nady could need approximately four to six weeks of rehab.

"When I first found out, I thought I was done [for the season],” Nady said. “This is a lot better. I wanted to avoid surgery if possible. You've got to do what's right. I hope going this route ends up working out."

Night and Day: Behind Andy, Mo, Pitching, Not Long Balls, the Story

2009-04-22T00:39:00.007-04:00

NEW YORK – With all the focus on the dingers swirling in the Bronx wind the last few days, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera reminded us of how a well pitched game can make anyone forget about the home run.

For the 57th time in their careers, Rivera saved a win for Pettitte, tying Oakland Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and starter Bob Welch for the highest total in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

New York held on for a 5-3 win at the Stadium.

One homer left the yard – well below the average of five through the first four games at Yankee Stadium this past weekend as the Bronx Bombers won their first-ever night game at the ballpark.

Maybe homers only fly out during the day time? This evening truly belonged to Pettitte and Rivera.

"The Yankees let me know after the game," Rivera said of the record. "It means we've played a longtime together. It's special for me and Andy, but the most important thing tonight was his performance. The bullpen just followed up on what he did."

Added Pettitte: "Mariano and I are very fortunate to be in this position. Right now, I'm just trying to make adjustments and build on every performance. Tonight was a strong start."

The Yankee captain, Derek Jeter, suggested the media was going batty with the home run stories. "Balls are going to fly out some times," he said. "It's only been a few games. It's too hard to judge in that period of time.

"We've been playing well," he added. "Both offensively and defensively. We're doing well."

The Yanks (8-6) won their second straight and three of their last four, improving to 3-2 on the homestand.

Nick Swisher, who's been red hot of late, went 0-for-3, but said he'd trade hits for wins any day. "It doesn't matter to me as long as we win. We're taking things one day at a time. It was a great game for Andy and Mo. A great win for us."

Former Yankee Jason Giambi made his first appearance in the Bronx since returning to Oakland this winter as a free agent. He was robbed of an extra base hit on a dazzling catch by center fielder Brett Gardner.

Needless to say, Giambi wasn't impressed by the wind.

"There wasn't much wind tunnel. I hit a couple balls that were pretty good and actually they went nowhere," Giambi said. "It played the same to me. I mean, there were some balls crushed, myself and Robby Cano. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. It was a night game and really heavy mist."

Damon hit the lone long ball Tuesday night, a no-doubter into the second deck in right field that would have left almost any park on any night.

The sixth-inning shot off Andrew Bailey gave the Yankees the 5-2 lead.

The A's (5-8) dropped their third consecutive game and four of their last five.

Wednesday afternoon will be a battle of leftys at the Stadium. CC Sabathia will oppose Oakland's Brett Anderson.

Yanks' New Stadium on the Juice?

2009-04-21T20:02:00.005-04:00

Maybe Major League Baseball should test the new Yankee Stadium for steroids, because baseballs are flying out of the ballpark at an alarming rate.

Twenty home runs were hit in the Yankees' first four regular-season home games this year, with another six clubbed during a pair of preseason exhibitions.

Why?

Steroids? No, no needles here.

No one really seems to have a definitive answer, actually, but it’s apparently the work of the ballpark’s new jet stream in right field. In addition to the short porch in right, the stadium’s expansive concourses and “open air” design have generated a wind tunnel down the line. The new stadium has the exact same dimensions on the field. Just like "The House that Ruth Built," the new Yankee Stadium is 314 feet down the right field line.

Unfortunately, the Bombers’ opponents have taken more advantage of it through the first four games. The Yankees and Indians combined for 20 homers from Thursday through Sunday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 20 long balls hit over the first four games at Yankee Stadium are the most for any stadium within its first four games, surpassing the previous mark of 18 set by Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park in 2003.

New York split the four-game series with Cleveland. The Indians out-homered the Yanks, 11-9, taking the home opener from the Bombers Thursday and handing them a 22-4 thrashing Saturday.

"It was great weather the last four games, it was perfect," Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "The wind was blowing out a little bit and I'm not a meteorologist, so I don't know what's going to happen the rest of the year."

To be continued…

2009-04-21T19:57:00.003-04:00

BronxNet takes you inside the new Yankee Stadium for the home opener. Check it out...

http://bronxnet.fliggo.com/video/XhV5vMAb

Tuesday Night Lights: Yanks Play First Night Game at New Stadium

2009-04-21T19:46:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK – When it comes to the new Yankee Stadium, everything the first few series will be about the ballpark’s “firsts.”

Tuesday night represented another first for the $1.5 billion stadium – its first night game. After postponing Monday's series opener due to rain in what would have been the first night game at the new Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers and the A’s get down to business with Andy Pettitte making his stadium debut tonight.

Tonight also marks the first time Jason Giambi has been back in the Bronx since last season. Giambi donned pinstripes from 2002-08. The 38-year-old signed with Oakland this offseason as a free agent. He addressed the media before the game.

“I gave my heart and soul when I played here,” Giambi said. “There’s no place on the planet like this. I had a lot of ups and downs here, but I grew as a person.”

We’ll see who has a better stadium first, “Dandy Andy” or “the Giambino.”

Speaking of new Yankee Stadium firsts, here’s a few to remember.

Hit
Yankees: Johnny Damon, first single to center on 4/16/09 vs. Cleveland (Home opener).

Home run
Yankees: Jorge Posada, fifth inning, solo home run to center off Cliff Lee on 4/16/09

Win
Opponent: Cleveland’s Cliff Lee on 4/16/09

Error
Yankees: Cody Ransom on 4/16/09 vs. Cleveland (throwing, sixth inning)

Star-Spangled Banner Performer: Kelly Clarkson (Opening Day)

Ceremonial First Pitch: 4/16/09 vs. Cleveland, Yogi Berra

Public Address Announcer: Paul Olden 4/16/09 vs. Cleveland