Posted by: Patrick
Jim Baumbach spoke with Mike Stanley about his unlucky comings and goings from the Bronx as well as what he's done since leaving the game.
Via Steve.
All these years later, surely Yankees fans still hold Stanley in high regard, but his star has faded in the Bronx, probably because he was never part of a championship team. Reached during the week on his cell phone, Stanley said he absolutely loved his time as a Yankee, but he admits his unlucky timing still "just eats away at me." He said sometimes Yankees fans that he meets ask to see his World Series rings. Imagine how that makes him feel. "It's just such a sore subject with me," he said.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
In a letter sent to Hardin on Sunday, Waxman expressed concern with Hardin's comments published in The New York Times. The attorney reportedly said that it would be "unbelievable" and "brazen" if a federal agent, Jeff Novitsky, attended a committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
The article also reported that Hardin said, "I can tell you this: If [Novitsky] ever messes with Roger, Roger will eat his lunch." ...
"If today's quotation is accurate, however, it goes beyond any personal enmity that exists between Roger Clemens and Mr. McNamee," Waxman wrote. "I do not know your intent in making this statement, but under one interpretation, it can be seen as an attempt to intimidate a federal law enforcement official in the performance of his official duties."
The article also reported that Hardin said, "I can tell you this: If [Novitsky] ever messes with Roger, Roger will eat his lunch." ...
"If today's quotation is accurate, however, it goes beyond any personal enmity that exists between Roger Clemens and Mr. McNamee," Waxman wrote. "I do not know your intent in making this statement, but under one interpretation, it can be seen as an attempt to intimidate a federal law enforcement official in the performance of his official duties."
Posted by: Patrick
Tom Singer and Brian Costello report on the news that the Clemens team has handed over evidence aimed at refuting one of Brian McNamee's claims in the Mitchell Report.
McNamee had told investigators that Clemens attended a party held by Jose Canseco, his teammate at that point, in Miami at Canseco's home. It is there, McNamee claimed the belief that Clemens and Canseco talked about steroids, with Clemens asking him about them for the first time, later on that same road trip.
Clemens has denied he even attended this party and claims to have been playing golf. The evidence comes in the form of video tapes of game broadcasts on June 9 and June 10 or 1998, where, according to Clemens' attorney Rusty Hardin, the broadcasters discuss the party and reference the fact that Clemens was not there and that one of them saw him on the golf course. Perhaps more interestingly, they also presented the committee with an affidavit from Jose Canseco, testifying to the fact that Clemens did not attend his party.
Hardin also stated that Clemens has the receipt from the golf course that day. The committee will be holding a hearing in Washington on Wednesday.
McNamee had told investigators that Clemens attended a party held by Jose Canseco, his teammate at that point, in Miami at Canseco's home. It is there, McNamee claimed the belief that Clemens and Canseco talked about steroids, with Clemens asking him about them for the first time, later on that same road trip.
Clemens has denied he even attended this party and claims to have been playing golf. The evidence comes in the form of video tapes of game broadcasts on June 9 and June 10 or 1998, where, according to Clemens' attorney Rusty Hardin, the broadcasters discuss the party and reference the fact that Clemens was not there and that one of them saw him on the golf course. Perhaps more interestingly, they also presented the committee with an affidavit from Jose Canseco, testifying to the fact that Clemens did not attend his party.
Hardin also stated that Clemens has the receipt from the golf course that day. The committee will be holding a hearing in Washington on Wednesday.
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees 40 man roster and non-roster invitees have been added to the official site. Phil Hughes has officially been given number 34.
Via Ben.
Via Ben.
Posted by: Patrick
From Bill Madden:
Via Bryan Hoch.
"As it turned out, it was just as well I didn't get (the Yankees) job," Mattingly - who last month had to withdraw as Joe Torre's batting coach with the Dodgers - told the Daily News at Mohegan Sun, where he was the honoree at the Connecticut Sports Foundation's annual cancer charity dinner. "That's because I would've had to walk away from it because of these issues."
Via Bryan Hoch.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that the Yankees and Chien-Ming Wang appear to be headed toward an arbitration hearing over the $600,000 difference between what the Yankees offered and what he is requesting.
Wangis asking for $4.6 million, while the Yankees offered an even $4 million. Brian Cashman told Abraham, "I expect there will be a hearing. There have been talks but they haven’t been productive." Abraham also notes that the last time the Yankees went to arbitration was in 2000 with Mariano Rivera, over a difference of $2 million ($9.2 and $7.2). The Yankees won that case.
This is definitely a little disappointing. I mean, money's money and you try to keep what you can, but I just hope that the Yankees offered to, at least, meet them in the middle and Wang's camp is holding out for a long term deal.
Wangis asking for $4.6 million, while the Yankees offered an even $4 million. Brian Cashman told Abraham, "I expect there will be a hearing. There have been talks but they haven’t been productive." Abraham also notes that the last time the Yankees went to arbitration was in 2000 with Mariano Rivera, over a difference of $2 million ($9.2 and $7.2). The Yankees won that case.
This is definitely a little disappointing. I mean, money's money and you try to keep what you can, but I just hope that the Yankees offered to, at least, meet them in the middle and Wang's camp is holding out for a long term deal.
Posted by: Seamus
Yep, the Yankees spent $40 million dollars on a baseball player who makes news by "playing catch." In other news, it appears that Bill Gates may have "bought something."
The article says that Pavano was able to throw a distance of up to 90 feet (oh my!) and that he actually "felt great." Now I have no idea what on Earth could actually make this guy feel great, but whatever it is, it's probably not a bad idea to send it along with a few million dollars to Seattle or some other club who needs a thinks-he-has-been.
The article says that Pavano was able to throw a distance of up to 90 feet (oh my!) and that he actually "felt great." Now I have no idea what on Earth could actually make this guy feel great, but whatever it is, it's probably not a bad idea to send it along with a few million dollars to Seattle or some other club who needs a thinks-he-has-been.
02/08: Phil Hughes Profile
Posted by: Patrick
Sam Border has a profile of Phil Hughes. Very worthy of a read.
Via Steve.
When he played on the freshman team at Foothill High School in Southern California, Hughes was the human equivalent of the strip at the top of the screen during baseball television broadcasts. His coaches would lean on the rail of the dugout and ask questions over their shoulders. "What did this guy do the last time up? Where's the play on a fly to right? Can this guy hit the breaking ball?" And Hughes would simply call out the answers, never taking his eyes from the field. He knew the scouting report on the next day's hitters, sure, but he also knew the exact cutoff machinations of the first and third basemen on a ball hit to the outfield.
Why?
"I don't really know," his father, Phil Sr., said. "He's just always been that way. He doesn't smile during games. It's just not the way he works. It's not the way he's ever worked."
Why?
"I don't really know," his father, Phil Sr., said. "He's just always been that way. He doesn't smile during games. It's just not the way he works. It's not the way he's ever worked."
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
You may remember that, back in September, the rookies on the Yankees roster dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz, as part of the annual rookie hazing. Watch below for video from that day as well as thoughts from Phil, Joba, Ian and Shelley.
Posted by: Patrick
The AP reports that, according to a Tampa councilman, the Yankees are expected to change the name of Legends Field to honor George Steinbrenner.
