09/12: Jeter Ties The Record...
Posted by: James
...for most hit by pitches of any hitter in Yankee history! Woo hoo?
I'm not sure if they mentioned this in radio/TV broadcast but I've been waiting for Jeter to do it for a couple of days now. I was perusing the Yankees Baseball Reference page when I noticed that Jeter was #2 going into the season. He is now tied with Frankie Crosetti, who played shortstop as well, in the 30s and mid-40s.
So...ummm...way to go? Should I be happy he's no.1 or alarmed at how many times the guy's been plunked? And by the time it's all said and done, he'll have put some serious distance between himself and any future contenders. In any case, I think it's a testament to his resilience how few games Jeter has missed over his career in spite of all the beanballs (You can't see it but I am currently knocking on wood while rubbing a rabbit's foot while tossing salt over my shoulder...).
Update: I didn't realize this at the time but Derek leads the all-time Yankees in singles now too, having taken over the top spot from Lou Gehrig during the season. He has also moved into the top 10 on the all-time doubles leaderboard (now tied with Mickey Mantle for the 6th spot) and the all-time extra-base hits leaderboard (in the 10 spot, after pushing Bob Meusel off the list). It should be interesting to where Jeter will stand amongst these players at the end of his playing days, which at this point, is a long way away (thankfully!).
I'm not sure if they mentioned this in radio/TV broadcast but I've been waiting for Jeter to do it for a couple of days now. I was perusing the Yankees Baseball Reference page when I noticed that Jeter was #2 going into the season. He is now tied with Frankie Crosetti, who played shortstop as well, in the 30s and mid-40s.
So...ummm...way to go? Should I be happy he's no.1 or alarmed at how many times the guy's been plunked? And by the time it's all said and done, he'll have put some serious distance between himself and any future contenders. In any case, I think it's a testament to his resilience how few games Jeter has missed over his career in spite of all the beanballs (You can't see it but I am currently knocking on wood while rubbing a rabbit's foot while tossing salt over my shoulder...).
Update: I didn't realize this at the time but Derek leads the all-time Yankees in singles now too, having taken over the top spot from Lou Gehrig during the season. He has also moved into the top 10 on the all-time doubles leaderboard (now tied with Mickey Mantle for the 6th spot) and the all-time extra-base hits leaderboard (in the 10 spot, after pushing Bob Meusel off the list). It should be interesting to where Jeter will stand amongst these players at the end of his playing days, which at this point, is a long way away (thankfully!).
09/12: Rizzuto in Rehab
Posted by: Patrick
From the New York Post:
What can be said? True legend, great man. We all wish him the best here, obviously. There should be a street named after him somewhere.
Via Steve.
The Scooter will turn 89 later this month, and this has been a difficult year for him and Cora. Rizzuto couldn't make it to Yankee Stadium for Old-Timer's Day. He is now at a private rehab facility, trying to overcome muscle atrophy and problems with his esophagus. ...
"Derek just broke my father's record for games played as a Yankee shortstop," explains Rizzuto's eldest daughter, Patricia. "If it had to be somebody, we're glad it was Derek."
"Absolutely," Phil chimes in softly.
"Derek just broke my father's record for games played as a Yankee shortstop," explains Rizzuto's eldest daughter, Patricia. "If it had to be somebody, we're glad it was Derek."
"Absolutely," Phil chimes in softly.
What can be said? True legend, great man. We all wish him the best here, obviously. There should be a street named after him somewhere.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Jason
Last evening the Yankees won the finale of this four-game series with a dramatic rally, and a bit of help from the bullpen.
Randy Johnson was below average: He gave up 5 ER on 9 hits in 6 full innings. The Orioles tagged him in the 3rd, 5th and 6th and the Yankees entered the top of the 7th trailing by three runs.
In an inning similar to that huge 8th last week in Kansas City, Abreu, Alex, Cano and Bernie all recorded RBIs as the Yankees scored 6 runs and took the lead 8-5. The crippling blow was Cano's bases loaded opposite field line drive over O's LF Tatis, who appeared to misplay the ball and fell down as it sailed past him, allowing Posada to score from 1st base.
Brian Bruney, another of Cashman's hidden gems, mowed the O's down in the 7th, including 2 K's. Scott Proctor gave up a home run to the catcher Hernandez, 8-6 Yankees.
Do you think that Proctor can handle a heavy workload? I'd like Joe to give him a lot of work down the stretch...just to make sure his arm is capable of withstanding a rigorous playoff schedule. Just drink a lot of green tea, Scott. It does wonders for shoulder/arm fatigue...
In the top 9th, that worthless head-case choker Alex Rodriguez hit his 461st career home run, an opposite field job against Chris Ray, the Orioles' best pitcher. 9-6 Yankees. That no-good, overpaid, will-never-be-a-"real" Yankee was 3-5, with 2 RBIs.
The Yankees pulled to 30 games over .500. The AL East race is for all intents and purposes over as the division lead is 10.5 games and the magic number is now 10.
Just a moment...LOOK OUT! GODZILLA IS MOVING SOUTHWEST IN LONG ISLAND SOUND TOWARD THE BRONX! HE JUST STOPPED TO CRUSH SOME HEDGE FUNDS IN STAMFORD AND GREENWICH!!
Randy Johnson was below average: He gave up 5 ER on 9 hits in 6 full innings. The Orioles tagged him in the 3rd, 5th and 6th and the Yankees entered the top of the 7th trailing by three runs.
In an inning similar to that huge 8th last week in Kansas City, Abreu, Alex, Cano and Bernie all recorded RBIs as the Yankees scored 6 runs and took the lead 8-5. The crippling blow was Cano's bases loaded opposite field line drive over O's LF Tatis, who appeared to misplay the ball and fell down as it sailed past him, allowing Posada to score from 1st base.
Brian Bruney, another of Cashman's hidden gems, mowed the O's down in the 7th, including 2 K's. Scott Proctor gave up a home run to the catcher Hernandez, 8-6 Yankees.
Do you think that Proctor can handle a heavy workload? I'd like Joe to give him a lot of work down the stretch...just to make sure his arm is capable of withstanding a rigorous playoff schedule. Just drink a lot of green tea, Scott. It does wonders for shoulder/arm fatigue...
In the top 9th, that worthless head-case choker Alex Rodriguez hit his 461st career home run, an opposite field job against Chris Ray, the Orioles' best pitcher. 9-6 Yankees. That no-good, overpaid, will-never-be-a-"real" Yankee was 3-5, with 2 RBIs.
The Yankees pulled to 30 games over .500. The AL East race is for all intents and purposes over as the division lead is 10.5 games and the magic number is now 10.
Just a moment...LOOK OUT! GODZILLA IS MOVING SOUTHWEST IN LONG ISLAND SOUND TOWARD THE BRONX! HE JUST STOPPED TO CRUSH SOME HEDGE FUNDS IN STAMFORD AND GREENWICH!!
09/12: Best...Response...Ever.
Posted by: James
In response to David Ortiz's comments from the other day about Derek Jeter coming up short in the MVP argument, the captain responded with a deflection that I can't help but admire.
Machiavelli couldn't have handled that better. Still, I have to admit, I was honestly surprised to hear that it was Ortiz that brought this up. I hate how he hits the Yankees but I have had nothing but respect for the guy. He looks like he genuinely enjoys the game and interacting with the fans and in most cases, seemed humbled to be able to play a game for a living. So when these articles attributed him with these selfaggrandizing comments, I was pretty shocked, and it looks like Johnny Damon was as well:
I don't have to do it in his lineup," he said. The captain shrugged when asked further about Ortiz's comments, saying, "I'm not thinking about the MVP right now. We're thinking about winning a division. We've still got something to play for." (Ouch - he put the kibosh on that one!)
He then added, "No one here's focused on individual awards."
He then added, "No one here's focused on individual awards."
Machiavelli couldn't have handled that better. Still, I have to admit, I was honestly surprised to hear that it was Ortiz that brought this up. I hate how he hits the Yankees but I have had nothing but respect for the guy. He looks like he genuinely enjoys the game and interacting with the fans and in most cases, seemed humbled to be able to play a game for a living. So when these articles attributed him with these selfaggrandizing comments, I was pretty shocked, and it looks like Johnny Damon was as well:
Ortiz' comments surprised former teammate Johnny Damon. "That doesn't sound like Ortiz," he said.
...
"You got to see Derek do the job," Damon said. "He gets clutch hits and plays Gold Glove shortstop. I am going to choose my teammate."
...
"You got to see Derek do the job," Damon said. "He gets clutch hits and plays Gold Glove shortstop. I am going to choose my teammate."
Posted by: Patrick
From MLBPlayers.com:
Congrats.
Fans who voted online selected Mike Mussina, Jim Thome, Barry Zito, John Smoltz, Albert Pujols and Nomar Garciaparra as the finalists from their respective divisions for the 2006 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. Thousands of fans took part in the online balloting on MLBPLAYERS.com, MLB.com and the club sites from Sept. 5-10 to choose the six finalists. ...
AL East: Mike Mussina
Mike established the Mike Mussina Foundation in 2000 in his hometown of Lycoming County, Pa., to benefit local children and child-related charities. Through the Foundation, Mike has directed the College Bound Program, which grants a college scholarship to a graduating senior from 12 local high schools. Always concerned with helping young ballplayers, Mike donates his time to the International Board of Directors for Little League Baseball. He and the foundation also have donated more than $300,000 to Little League Baseball. Mike is also involved with the American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Major League Baseball Players Trust's Buses for Baseball program.
AL East: Mike Mussina
Mike established the Mike Mussina Foundation in 2000 in his hometown of Lycoming County, Pa., to benefit local children and child-related charities. Through the Foundation, Mike has directed the College Bound Program, which grants a college scholarship to a graduating senior from 12 local high schools. Always concerned with helping young ballplayers, Mike donates his time to the International Board of Directors for Little League Baseball. He and the foundation also have donated more than $300,000 to Little League Baseball. Mike is also involved with the American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Major League Baseball Players Trust's Buses for Baseball program.
Congrats.
Posted by: David
Sal Fasano took advantage of getting some playing time with a three run homer to center and Derek Jeter also homered and extended his hitting streak to twenty games as the Yankees defeated Baltimore 9-4 on Sunday afternoon. Nick Green playing for a sick A-Rod also hit a dinger and has played a good third base.
Fasano and Jeter connected off of Hayden Penn who entered the contest with an ERA of 108.00. Jeter had four RBI on the day and is justifying his MVP contention.
Jaret Wright pitched 6 1/3 strong innings before giving way to Villone and Proctor. Ramon Hernandez was the offense for the O's with two home runs and four RBI.
Mariano Rivera threw off of flat ground for about forty-five pitches the last fifteen from the stretch. He still feels some tightness but is improving everyday. Mo will not pitch in a game for the rest of the week. Torre wants him to throw at least two bullpen sessions before being in a game. With the Yankees having a ten game lead there is no need to rush him back until he is 100%.
The series concludes tonight with Randy Johnson going for his 17th win of the season vs. Kris Benson.
Fasano and Jeter connected off of Hayden Penn who entered the contest with an ERA of 108.00. Jeter had four RBI on the day and is justifying his MVP contention.
Jaret Wright pitched 6 1/3 strong innings before giving way to Villone and Proctor. Ramon Hernandez was the offense for the O's with two home runs and four RBI.
Mariano Rivera threw off of flat ground for about forty-five pitches the last fifteen from the stretch. He still feels some tightness but is improving everyday. Mo will not pitch in a game for the rest of the week. Torre wants him to throw at least two bullpen sessions before being in a game. With the Yankees having a ten game lead there is no need to rush him back until he is 100%.
The series concludes tonight with Randy Johnson going for his 17th win of the season vs. Kris Benson.
09/11: There Is No "I" in Team
Posted by: James
But there is one in Ortiz. Even though the season isn't over, David Ortiz seems to have resigned himself to losing the MVP race and has started well...whining...in advance. To be honest, I'm a little surprised to hear this from Ortiz. I'm not surprised that he harbors these feelings; that's understandable. I'm just amazed that he comes out and says these things as his team falls apart and falls 10 games back in the division. I'd link to the standings but I think this race player is a far more fun tool to check out (you can actually go back as far as 1901!). Perhaps all the media love and SI covers have made the man a little more brazen. In any case, here's the gist:
Wow. I don't think I even have to comment here. If you're a baseball fan and you think that HRs and RBIs without context are the only important part of the game, I can strongly suggest one book that would be worth your time. Update: SG over at RLYW took a sabermetric look at Jeter's viability as a MVP candidate - as usual of SG, certainly worth a read.
Oh, you mean hitting in front of Manny Ramirez, a HOFer who will go down as one of the best hitters of his, or any, era? And is it really Jeter's fault that Theo failed to resign Johnny Damon to hit leadoff? Oh, and way to bury your teammates there. That should really help morale.
"I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz said. "If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBI [which would give him 137], that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have."
"But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ball club, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games.
"But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ball club, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games.
Wow. I don't think I even have to comment here. If you're a baseball fan and you think that HRs and RBIs without context are the only important part of the game, I can strongly suggest one book that would be worth your time. Update: SG over at RLYW took a sabermetric look at Jeter's viability as a MVP candidate - as usual of SG, certainly worth a read.
"Don't get me wrong -- he's a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," Ortiz continued. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be.
Oh, you mean hitting in front of Manny Ramirez, a HOFer who will go down as one of the best hitters of his, or any, era? And is it really Jeter's fault that Theo failed to resign Johnny Damon to hit leadoff? Oh, and way to bury your teammates there. That should really help morale.
Posted by: Patrick
Congratulations to Joseph and Mike on advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs in the YanksBlog.com Fantasy MLB 2006 league. Joseph will now face me and Mike will now face Hip Hip Jorge! The winners will play for the championship.
Good luck.
Good luck.
09/11: Outrageous Speculation...
Posted by: Jason
...is always enjoyable:
Jeter is clearly "locked in" at the plate. If he hits safely in the remainder of this season's games, his hit streak will stand at 41.
Some intriguing questions would be raised:
1) Do the playoffs count as consecutive games, or would Jeter receive a pass until April 2007?
2) Since the Yankee Clipper's record was acheived in 56 contiguous games, would a Jeter hit streak that carried over to '07 receive an asterisk similar to Woods's "Tiger Slam" of a few years ago? Perhaps continuing the hit streak in the '07 regular season would be considered an even greater feat?
3) Could this topic be any more premature?
With the dangerous Sal Fasano's decision to pick up Alex's slack and power the offense, the Yankees are apparently on autopilot into the postseason. The Yankees Universe needs some intrigue!!!
Jeter is clearly "locked in" at the plate. If he hits safely in the remainder of this season's games, his hit streak will stand at 41.
Some intriguing questions would be raised:
1) Do the playoffs count as consecutive games, or would Jeter receive a pass until April 2007?
2) Since the Yankee Clipper's record was acheived in 56 contiguous games, would a Jeter hit streak that carried over to '07 receive an asterisk similar to Woods's "Tiger Slam" of a few years ago? Perhaps continuing the hit streak in the '07 regular season would be considered an even greater feat?
3) Could this topic be any more premature?
With the dangerous Sal Fasano's decision to pick up Alex's slack and power the offense, the Yankees are apparently on autopilot into the postseason. The Yankees Universe needs some intrigue!!!
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees increased their lead over the Red Sox to a double-digit margin yesterday with a 3-2 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards. Chien-Ming Wang was good once again, giving up only one run on eight hits as he picked up his 17th victory of the season, which is tied for the Major League lead. The Yankees also moved to within a half game of the Tigers, who lost in Minnesota for the best record in the A.L.
The game was pretty uneventful offensively. The Yankees struck first in the 5th with an RBI single by Johnny Damon to score Kevin Thompson and a sac fly by Melky Cabrera to put the Yanks ahead 2-0. The O's closed the gap to 2-1 in the 7th with a base hit by Brandon Fahey before Derek Jeter added another insurance run with a base hit in the 8th. Kyle Farnsworth came in to close it and gave up a solo home run to Kevin Millar, but that would be all the damage against Farnsworth as he picked up his third save of the season.
Jaret Wright will look to pick up his 10th victory of the season and will face Hayden Penn in the third game of this four game set. Penn made one start this season on September third and gave up 8 runs against Oakland without getting out of the first inning, hence his bloated E.R.A. of 108.00. Game starts at 1:35 ET.
The game was pretty uneventful offensively. The Yankees struck first in the 5th with an RBI single by Johnny Damon to score Kevin Thompson and a sac fly by Melky Cabrera to put the Yanks ahead 2-0. The O's closed the gap to 2-1 in the 7th with a base hit by Brandon Fahey before Derek Jeter added another insurance run with a base hit in the 8th. Kyle Farnsworth came in to close it and gave up a solo home run to Kevin Millar, but that would be all the damage against Farnsworth as he picked up his third save of the season.
Jaret Wright will look to pick up his 10th victory of the season and will face Hayden Penn in the third game of this four game set. Penn made one start this season on September third and gave up 8 runs against Oakland without getting out of the first inning, hence his bloated E.R.A. of 108.00. Game starts at 1:35 ET.
