Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees have brought back Lee Mazzilli, this time as Joe Torre's fourth Yankee bench coach. Mazzilli was the Yankees first base coach for four years from 2000-2003, but spent the last two seasons managing the Baltimore Orioles. Mazzilli was fired by Baltimore in the middle of last season after they quickly collapsed after being in first place through late June.
I think this is good to see. Mazzilli has a great mind and he fit in well with the Yankees' bench while he was here. It also helps that we have a guy who has experience coaching under Joe Torre. I actually think he did a pretty good job in Baltimore. People forget that the Orioles weren't expected to do anything last year, yet they led a division that includes the Yankees and the Red Sox for most of the first half of the season. And of course it never hurts to have another home town guy on the staff. Welcome back, Maz!
I think this is good to see. Mazzilli has a great mind and he fit in well with the Yankees' bench while he was here. It also helps that we have a guy who has experience coaching under Joe Torre. I actually think he did a pretty good job in Baltimore. People forget that the Orioles weren't expected to do anything last year, yet they led a division that includes the Yankees and the Red Sox for most of the first half of the season. And of course it never hurts to have another home town guy on the staff. Welcome back, Maz!
Posted by: Michael
MLB announced the winners today of the AL Gold Glove awards, and Derek Jeter won his second Gold Glove!
In my mind, MLB should be comparing Varitek to Jeter instead of the other way around. But hey, that's my opinion. Say what you want about "middle of the pack" stats, the AL short stops fall far short of a "take charge presence."
I will also like to say that we as Yankee fans are very fortunate to have Jeter our our team. I believe it is more of a natural aura that surrounds him on and off the field that every baseball player should strive to emulate. When I think of him, I think of all the things when I think of the Yankees. Class. Professionalism. And maybe a bit of cockiness. Not a bad thing. Left off of the All-Star roster? That one still has me shaking my head.
Here's to you Jeter and your Gold Glove.
On the surface, Jeter had a modest season with the glove, his 15 errors and .979 fielding percentage ranking middle-of-the-pack. But like Varitek, the Red Sox captain, the Yankees captain's take-charge presence in the middle of New York's infield presented a compelling case for voters.
In my mind, MLB should be comparing Varitek to Jeter instead of the other way around. But hey, that's my opinion. Say what you want about "middle of the pack" stats, the AL short stops fall far short of a "take charge presence."
I will also like to say that we as Yankee fans are very fortunate to have Jeter our our team. I believe it is more of a natural aura that surrounds him on and off the field that every baseball player should strive to emulate. When I think of him, I think of all the things when I think of the Yankees. Class. Professionalism. And maybe a bit of cockiness. Not a bad thing. Left off of the All-Star roster? That one still has me shaking my head.
Here's to you Jeter and your Gold Glove.
10/30: Neil Allen Out
Posted by: Michael
According to the Daily News, bullpen coach Neil Allen was relieved of his position yesterday by Brian Cashman.
It will be interesting to see if the combo of Guidry-Kerrigan will fill the two empty roles in the coaching staff.
Reached at home, GM Brian Cashman confirmed the move and said Allen had been offered a new position within the organization that is not on the major-league level.
Allen's removal means the Yankees now have a bullpen coach vacancy to go along with their opening at pitching coach. Former Yankee Ron Guidry remains the top candidate for that spot, though Joe Kerrigan, whom Cashman hired as a scout earlier this year, is under serious consideration to join the coaching staff in some capacity.
Allen's removal means the Yankees now have a bullpen coach vacancy to go along with their opening at pitching coach. Former Yankee Ron Guidry remains the top candidate for that spot, though Joe Kerrigan, whom Cashman hired as a scout earlier this year, is under serious consideration to join the coaching staff in some capacity.
It will be interesting to see if the combo of Guidry-Kerrigan will fill the two empty roles in the coaching staff.
Posted by: James
Just when you think baseball has gone and turned that proverbial corner from the steroid scandal, we get news, though there is no official confirmation of any kind yet, that an AL outfielder has tested positive for steroids. Deadspin looks like they were the first to post something about this based on the following text in the latest edition of USA Today Sports Weekly:
"An American League outfielder on a postseason team tested positive for steroids, according to his agent, but the player is appealing the results."
10/27: Matsui Apologizes to Torre
Posted by: Patrick
So says Yogi:
No shock to any Yankee fans, really. Matsui is classy.
Funny bit here:
Steve Lombardi notes asks if Yogi should have been the one to reveal this. I agree, he shouldn't have been. But, it's out there now...
Via Steve Lombardi.
... that Hideki Matsui personally apologized to Joe Torre after the Yankees' collapse in the division series. After batting .200 against Anaheim and making the final out in Game 5, the Japanese outfielder told the manager, "I played bad for you. I'm sorry. I hurt the team."
No shock to any Yankee fans, really. Matsui is classy.
Funny bit here:
Why didn't his knees ever give out in 19 years of catching? "I was small. I didn't have to go down too far."
Steve Lombardi notes asks if Yogi should have been the one to reveal this. I agree, he shouldn't have been. But, it's out there now...
Via Steve Lombardi.
10/27: 162 Games Played
Posted by: Patrick
Steve Lombardi mentions the only Yankees to play in 162 games in a season. They were:
Righties:
Bobby Richardson in 1961
Roberto Kelly in 1990
Alex Rodriguez in 2005
Lefties:
Chris Chambliss in 1978
Don Mattingly in 1986
Hideki Matsui in 2003 (163), 2004 and 2005.
Only 6 guys (8 times). Considering how long the Yankees have been around, that seems like a low number to me.
Righties:
Bobby Richardson in 1961
Roberto Kelly in 1990
Alex Rodriguez in 2005
Lefties:
Chris Chambliss in 1978
Don Mattingly in 1986
Hideki Matsui in 2003 (163), 2004 and 2005.
Only 6 guys (8 times). Considering how long the Yankees have been around, that seems like a low number to me.
Posted by: Patrick
Latino Legends team announced:
Congrats.
Alex Rodriguez, Dominican Republic, Shortstop (1994-current): Regarded as one of the best all-around players in the game, Rodriguez shined as a shortstop before moving to third base for the Yankees prior to the 2004 season. Rodriguez was named the AL's MVP in 2003 and he became the youngest player ever to reach the 400-home run plateau in 2005. A two-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop, Rodriguez is a nine-time All-Star. ...
Mariano Rivera, Panama, Relief Pitcher (1995-current): Regarded as one of the most reliable closers in baseball history, Rivera ranks inside the top 10 in career saves. Before becoming the Yankees full-time closer in 1997, the right-hander set a club record in 1996 for the most strikeouts by a reliever with 130. Rivera, who saved 40 or more games in a season five times and 50 or more twice, led the Yankees to world championships in 1996 and 1998-2000, while winning the 1999 World Series MVP. The seven-time All Star has finished five seasons with an ERA under 2.00 while never completing a season with an ERA above 3.00.
Mariano Rivera, Panama, Relief Pitcher (1995-current): Regarded as one of the most reliable closers in baseball history, Rivera ranks inside the top 10 in career saves. Before becoming the Yankees full-time closer in 1997, the right-hander set a club record in 1996 for the most strikeouts by a reliever with 130. Rivera, who saved 40 or more games in a season five times and 50 or more twice, led the Yankees to world championships in 1996 and 1998-2000, while winning the 1999 World Series MVP. The seven-time All Star has finished five seasons with an ERA under 2.00 while never completing a season with an ERA above 3.00.
Congrats.
10/26: Cashman Accepts 3-Year Deal
Posted by: James
Update: Cashman has accepted the three year deal.
The latest report coming out of ESPN has the Yankees offering Brian Cashman a three-year deal worth over $5 million. Personally, I think Cash will do a good job as GM and in my mind, he should get the opportunity to reconstruct the Yankees without being second-guessed at every turn. That being said, anyone who works for George Steinbrenner's baseball operations knows the deal. You will get a big budget, a very good salary, numerous chances at winning it all and oftentimes the best players in the game. However, with all that good stuff, you have to know that you will be held personally accountable for the things that do go wrong. What's that Spider-Man always says? "With great power comes great responsibility". Hmm, seems to fit pretty well, doesn't it?
For the players that Cashman (or whoever else will be hired if he turns down the job) will be working with, click here to take a look at what they did this past year and what grades they got.
The latest report coming out of ESPN has the Yankees offering Brian Cashman a three-year deal worth over $5 million. Personally, I think Cash will do a good job as GM and in my mind, he should get the opportunity to reconstruct the Yankees without being second-guessed at every turn. That being said, anyone who works for George Steinbrenner's baseball operations knows the deal. You will get a big budget, a very good salary, numerous chances at winning it all and oftentimes the best players in the game. However, with all that good stuff, you have to know that you will be held personally accountable for the things that do go wrong. What's that Spider-Man always says? "With great power comes great responsibility". Hmm, seems to fit pretty well, doesn't it?
For the players that Cashman (or whoever else will be hired if he turns down the job) will be working with, click here to take a look at what they did this past year and what grades they got.
Posted by: James
In the morning: there was news that Yankee pitcher Steven White won player of the week honors in the Arizona Fall League (so far, decidedly a hitter's league). This is a nice little surprise as White has gone 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA (with a .173 batting average against) in four AFL starts so far after coming off a less than stellar season in AA. Hopefully, Steven has started to put a couple of pieces together and is going to start living up to the potential that made him a fourth round pick for the Yankees in 2003.
In the evening: Eric Duncan provided the offense for the Grand Canyon Rafters (quite possibly one of the weirdest names and logos in baseball history - just take a look at the hat in the link!), going 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs, to raise his batting average back over .400 and his OPS over 1.200 (.403 and 1.278 to be exact). His fellow Yankee prospect T.J. Beam (a very good relief prospect) closed out the game going 1 and two-third innings and struck out 4 of the 6 men he faced. All in all, not too shabby.
In the evening: Eric Duncan provided the offense for the Grand Canyon Rafters (quite possibly one of the weirdest names and logos in baseball history - just take a look at the hat in the link!), going 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs, to raise his batting average back over .400 and his OPS over 1.200 (.403 and 1.278 to be exact). His fellow Yankee prospect T.J. Beam (a very good relief prospect) closed out the game going 1 and two-third innings and struck out 4 of the 6 men he faced. All in all, not too shabby.
10/25: Final Out Balls
Posted by: Patrick
USAToday.com tells us where recent World Series ending balls are currently located. The Yankees:
Via Steve Lombardi.
1996
• Where's the ball? Displayed in [Charlie] Hayes' living room.
1998
• Where's the ball? With [Tino] Martinez's glove in a safe-deposit box. "I'm never going to use the glove again," Martinez says.
1999
• Where's the ball? [Chad] Curtis gave it to a security guard, Dan Weiss, who helped Curtis and his family when they lived in New York. When Weiss said he wanted to give the ball back, Curtis said he autographed it, "To Dan," and said, "Now what am I going to do with a ball that says, 'To Dan?' He would have never sold it, but I wanted it to have value to him as a friend."
2000
• Where's the ball? [Bernie] Williams had it signed by his teammates and keeps it in his trophy case at home.
• Where's the ball? Displayed in [Charlie] Hayes' living room.
1998
• Where's the ball? With [Tino] Martinez's glove in a safe-deposit box. "I'm never going to use the glove again," Martinez says.
1999
• Where's the ball? [Chad] Curtis gave it to a security guard, Dan Weiss, who helped Curtis and his family when they lived in New York. When Weiss said he wanted to give the ball back, Curtis said he autographed it, "To Dan," and said, "Now what am I going to do with a ball that says, 'To Dan?' He would have never sold it, but I wanted it to have value to him as a friend."
2000
• Where's the ball? [Bernie] Williams had it signed by his teammates and keeps it in his trophy case at home.
Via Steve Lombardi.
