Posted by: Michael
Derek Jeter received exactly what he decribed as a "stupid letter."
It was detailed that the letter came from the Cleveland area from back in April.
I'm glad this story made it out. For one it makes everyone realize that there are crazy lunatics out there who write death threats for the most stupid things.
Second, baseball players are human too with real emotions. While they are on the field we can enjoy them for what they do on the field. We can see every action, and yes, we as Yankee fans can cheer and boo with the best of them of their onfield actions. But their lives off the field are private. And sadly, in New York, this is hardly ever the case. In the history of the Yankees many of the player's off field actions have made the front page. Some for the good and some for the bad.
Jeter is the measuring bar for class. He is our Captain. It wouldn't take a mountain of stupid letters to diminish what he has accomplished and will continue to for him, for us, and for baseball.
New York Yankees star Derek Jeter received a threatening letter that reportedly warned he'd be "shot or set on fire" if he didn't stop dating white women.
It was detailed that the letter came from the Cleveland area from back in April.
"It wasn't like, 'I'm going to do this to you. I'm going to do that to you,'" Jeter said. "It was just a stupid letter. I've gotten stupid letters before. That's basically it. Now, for some reason, it's on the front page and it's some big, huge story."
I'm glad this story made it out. For one it makes everyone realize that there are crazy lunatics out there who write death threats for the most stupid things.
Second, baseball players are human too with real emotions. While they are on the field we can enjoy them for what they do on the field. We can see every action, and yes, we as Yankee fans can cheer and boo with the best of them of their onfield actions. But their lives off the field are private. And sadly, in New York, this is hardly ever the case. In the history of the Yankees many of the player's off field actions have made the front page. Some for the good and some for the bad.
Jeter is the measuring bar for class. He is our Captain. It wouldn't take a mountain of stupid letters to diminish what he has accomplished and will continue to for him, for us, and for baseball.
Posted by: Patrick
Jen over at NoSenseWorrying.com has posted some quick videos of various crowd chants, etc. that the fans did for Bernie. One more year.
Steve Lombardi posted some pictures from yearly Yankee rookie... hazing or whatever you want to call it ritual. This year? Cheerleaders. Good stuff.
Steve Lombardi posted some pictures from yearly Yankee rookie... hazing or whatever you want to call it ritual. This year? Cheerleaders. Good stuff.
Posted by: Michael
The Yankees and Red Sox entered the day tied for first place in the American League East. And in my mind, one of them needs to take the AL East title to continue play in the post season. It's as simple as this: Who wants it bad enough?
It will take a total team effort. And this was more evident today than it was Saturday. Robinson Cano's 2-Run Homer in the seventh sent the Yanks well on their way for the victory. Gary Sheffield put the game further out of reach for the Blue Jays with his 3-Run blast in the eighth. The Yanks finished their final home stand with a 6-1 record.
Obi-Wang had a no hitter going into the fifth inning when he came apart. Eric Hinske hit a 2-Run homer to give the Blue Jays the lead. Aaron Hill provided further damage in hitting an RBI double in the same inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead. Derek Jeter came back with an RBI single in the fifth to close the gap, but A-Rod struck out to end the inning.
I watched today's game with my Dad and we both agreed on one particular point. We love Cano's bat, but anytime he touches the ball on defense we are scared silly. He's a rookie, and hopefully he will continue to mature and cut back on his errors. He's a dynamo at the plate when production is needed.
Another thing I wanted to point out was a glaring mistake by Luis Sojo waving around Cano in the fifth. It was considered a base running error on Cano's part, but in replays I could clearly see Sojo's arm waving him around. In the replay, he adruptly stopped when Cano was caught trying to stretch it to third.
Boston beat the stuffing out of the Orioles today to keep the AL East battle tied. I'm not surprised to see Baltimore lying on their back playing dead. It is beyond me why they let Lee Mazzilli go. Oh well, I'm glad they faded and are no longer an issue.
For the Yankees the battle continues tomorrow as Randy Johnson (15-8, 3.90 ERA) takes the mound on the road against the "playing dead" Baltimore Orioles. Rodrigo Lopez (14-11, 4.79 ERA) is the opposing pitcher, and I consider him the best pitcher on their staff right now. Game time is 7:05pm ET at Cameden Yards.
It will take a total team effort. And this was more evident today than it was Saturday. Robinson Cano's 2-Run Homer in the seventh sent the Yanks well on their way for the victory. Gary Sheffield put the game further out of reach for the Blue Jays with his 3-Run blast in the eighth. The Yanks finished their final home stand with a 6-1 record.
Obi-Wang had a no hitter going into the fifth inning when he came apart. Eric Hinske hit a 2-Run homer to give the Blue Jays the lead. Aaron Hill provided further damage in hitting an RBI double in the same inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead. Derek Jeter came back with an RBI single in the fifth to close the gap, but A-Rod struck out to end the inning.
I watched today's game with my Dad and we both agreed on one particular point. We love Cano's bat, but anytime he touches the ball on defense we are scared silly. He's a rookie, and hopefully he will continue to mature and cut back on his errors. He's a dynamo at the plate when production is needed.
Another thing I wanted to point out was a glaring mistake by Luis Sojo waving around Cano in the fifth. It was considered a base running error on Cano's part, but in replays I could clearly see Sojo's arm waving him around. In the replay, he adruptly stopped when Cano was caught trying to stretch it to third.
Boston beat the stuffing out of the Orioles today to keep the AL East battle tied. I'm not surprised to see Baltimore lying on their back playing dead. It is beyond me why they let Lee Mazzilli go. Oh well, I'm glad they faded and are no longer an issue.
For the Yankees the battle continues tomorrow as Randy Johnson (15-8, 3.90 ERA) takes the mound on the road against the "playing dead" Baltimore Orioles. Rodrigo Lopez (14-11, 4.79 ERA) is the opposing pitcher, and I consider him the best pitcher on their staff right now. Game time is 7:05pm ET at Cameden Yards.
Posted by: Patrick
Just wanted to remind anyone who wanted to enter that the deadline to enter our giveaway is tomorrow (September 26, 2005) at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. Good luck.
Posted by: Patrick
Yanks' attendance surpasses 4 million:
Pretty cool.
Sheppard instead thanked the crowd on behalf of the Yankees organization. After attracting a crowd of 53,911 for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, the Yankees' home attendance surpassed 4 million for the season.
They are the second American League team to draw 4 million fans -- the Blue Jays are the other -- and third in the Majors. Toronto and Colorado each surpassed the mark in 1993; the Blue Jays had done so in 1992 as well. ...
This is the eighth straight year the Yankees have set a new season-high in attendance, and the seventh consecutive year they have welcomed at least 3 million fans through the Stadium gates. ...
Gary Sheffield cited that fan support as the reason he came to play in New York. He said he was swayed while sitting in the stands during a playoff game while his uncle, Dwight Gooden, pitched for the Yankees.
They are the second American League team to draw 4 million fans -- the Blue Jays are the other -- and third in the Majors. Toronto and Colorado each surpassed the mark in 1993; the Blue Jays had done so in 1992 as well. ...
This is the eighth straight year the Yankees have set a new season-high in attendance, and the seventh consecutive year they have welcomed at least 3 million fans through the Stadium gates. ...
Gary Sheffield cited that fan support as the reason he came to play in New York. He said he was swayed while sitting in the stands during a playoff game while his uncle, Dwight Gooden, pitched for the Yankees.
Pretty cool.
Posted by: Patrick
Updating what was previously written, it appears that Sheffield will be heading back out to right.
Manager Joe Torre said Sheffield would be back in right field in the next day or two, as his leg has shown improvement on a daily basis while he works out in the outfield.
"He's been working every day," Torre said. "He's moving back, moving laterally a lot better."
"It's getting better," Sheffield said. "It's just a matter of going out there and not worrying about taking the first step. I have to get past that, because when the ball is hit, you don't have time to think about that."
"He's been working every day," Torre said. "He's moving back, moving laterally a lot better."
"It's getting better," Sheffield said. "It's just a matter of going out there and not worrying about taking the first step. I have to get past that, because when the ball is hit, you don't have time to think about that."
Posted by: Patrick
For the second consecutive time, Jaret Wright exited early and the Yankees lost. In his last 2 starts, Wright has pitched 3 and 1/3 innings, allowing 6 earned runs on 11 hits and 2 walks. In this game, he'd only last 1 inning before being pulled in favor of Aaron Small. He managed to injure himself in the first, but remained into the second where he started off the inning by allowing 2 straight singles followed by a walk to load the bases with no outs. This brought Small in. He managed to get Vernon Wells to foul out before a Robinson Cano error lead to 2 runners scoring. A sacrifice fly scored another. And then it was over. All told, the Blue Jays scored 7 runs in the first 2 innings. And that is all they would score. And all they would need.
Wright not withstanding, the Yankee pitching was very good with Small (6 and 2/3) and Sturtze (1 and 1/3) combining for 8 innings of 0 earned run ball (4 hits in those 8 innings).
The Yankee offense just wasn't up to the task today. After scoring 2 in the 1st, thanks to an A-Rod home run (his 46th of the year, tying him with David Ortiz) that scored Jeter. A-Rod drove in another run in the second, scoring Bubba on a double. All quiet until the 6th where Jeter singled in Bernie to make it 7-4. And that's how it would end. Shame.
A-Rod lead the offense by going 2 for 3 with 2 walks and the aforementioned dinger and 3 RBIs (124 on the year). Jeter (1 for 2, 1 walk, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 HBPs), Bubba (1 for 2, 1 run) and Bernie (1 for 4, 1 run) contributed, as well. Sheffield, Matsui and Sierra collected a hit apiece. Giambi, Posada and Cano were hitless.
Losing streaks aren't something that we can really afford right now, so hopefully Obi Wang (7-4, 4.03) can get us back on track. He'll go against Josh Towers (12-11, 3.78). Hopefully the offense can give him more than 4 runs.
Wright not withstanding, the Yankee pitching was very good with Small (6 and 2/3) and Sturtze (1 and 1/3) combining for 8 innings of 0 earned run ball (4 hits in those 8 innings).
The Yankee offense just wasn't up to the task today. After scoring 2 in the 1st, thanks to an A-Rod home run (his 46th of the year, tying him with David Ortiz) that scored Jeter. A-Rod drove in another run in the second, scoring Bubba on a double. All quiet until the 6th where Jeter singled in Bernie to make it 7-4. And that's how it would end. Shame.
A-Rod lead the offense by going 2 for 3 with 2 walks and the aforementioned dinger and 3 RBIs (124 on the year). Jeter (1 for 2, 1 walk, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 HBPs), Bubba (1 for 2, 1 run) and Bernie (1 for 4, 1 run) contributed, as well. Sheffield, Matsui and Sierra collected a hit apiece. Giambi, Posada and Cano were hitless.
Losing streaks aren't something that we can really afford right now, so hopefully Obi Wang (7-4, 4.03) can get us back on track. He'll go against Josh Towers (12-11, 3.78). Hopefully the offense can give him more than 4 runs.
09/23: He's Chacon and He's OK
Posted by: Patrick
Another Shawn Chacon start, another 8 innings of shutout baseball. This is the third - count it - third time he's thrown 8 innings scoreless in a start with the Yankees (11 starts total). With a 5 run lead, Torre decided that 111 pitches was enough for Chacon and Scott Proctor pitched a scoreless ninth to conclude the game.
The Yankee offense got going in a hurry, starting the bottom of the 1st inning with back to back jacks, care of D. Jeter and Robinson Cano. 2 hits and 2 walks later, it was 4-0 at the end of 1. The Yankees would add 1 more in the 7th, bringing the total up to 5 and that is where it would end, 5-0 Yankees.
Jeter was 1 for 2 (3 walks, HR), Cano was 2 for 5 (HR), A-Rod was 1 for 2 (2 walks, 2 runs), Matsui was 1 for 3 (2B, 1 run, 1 RBI), Posada was 2 for 3 (1 walk) and Tino was 1 for 4 (1 RBI). Matsui's double was number 43 on the year, a high for him in a season as a Yankee. Sheff, Bernie and Bubba all went 0 for 4.
Boston won and Cleveland is leading, so it looks like the Yankees will maintain pace. 1 game lead in the division, back half a game in the wild card. 9 games left. We'll get Jaret Wright against Scott Downs (3-3, 4.32) tomorrow at 1:05 Eastern.
The Yankee offense got going in a hurry, starting the bottom of the 1st inning with back to back jacks, care of D. Jeter and Robinson Cano. 2 hits and 2 walks later, it was 4-0 at the end of 1. The Yankees would add 1 more in the 7th, bringing the total up to 5 and that is where it would end, 5-0 Yankees.
Jeter was 1 for 2 (3 walks, HR), Cano was 2 for 5 (HR), A-Rod was 1 for 2 (2 walks, 2 runs), Matsui was 1 for 3 (2B, 1 run, 1 RBI), Posada was 2 for 3 (1 walk) and Tino was 1 for 4 (1 RBI). Matsui's double was number 43 on the year, a high for him in a season as a Yankee. Sheff, Bernie and Bubba all went 0 for 4.
Boston won and Cleveland is leading, so it looks like the Yankees will maintain pace. 1 game lead in the division, back half a game in the wild card. 9 games left. We'll get Jaret Wright against Scott Downs (3-3, 4.32) tomorrow at 1:05 Eastern.
Posted by: Patrick
Continuing what I posted yesterday, Bob Herzog at Newsday.com and Jack Curry at The New York Times start making the case for Mo. From the Curry article:
Mo has pitched 75 innings so far. With 10 games remaining, I'd expect him to reach 80 with a good possibility of him pitching more. So, let's say he reaches 81 and doesn't allow an earned run in any of those innings. That knocks his ERA down to 1.22. Let's say he reaches 45 saves and gets another win. 8-4, 45 saves, 81 innings, 1.22 ERA. I just did a quick check, so I may be wrong... but the three pitchers who have won the Cy Young with the least innings pitched are:
1. Rollie Ringers - 78 (1978) - 6-3, 1.04 ERA, 28 Saves
2. Dennis Eckersley - 80 (1992) - 7-1, 1.91 ERA, 51 Saves
3. Eric Gagne - 82 (2003) - 2-3, 1.20 ERA, 55 Saves
Mariano Rivera - 81 (2004) - 8-4, 1.22 ERA, 45 Saves
Via Pride of the Yankees.
"I think he's got a good chance only because he's really been clutch and there's not anyone else, except probably Colón," said Dennis Eckersley, who won the Most Valuable Player award and Cy Young for the Oakland Athletics in 1992. ...
For a closer to win the award these days, he usually has to be almost perfect and it has to be a lean year for starters. Rollie Fingers, who won the Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981, said that modern-day closers simply did not pitch enough to win those awards. Fingers tossed 78 innings in 1981, a strike year in which 38 percent of the schedule was lost.
"Sportswriters aren't stupid," Fingers said. "It's tough to give a guy who pitched 50 innings a Cy Young."
Jorge Posada, the Yankees' catcher, dismissed that argument. "You go for the best pitcher," he said. "He's been the best pitcher."
Eckersley agreed with Posada. "There was more pressure on him than anybody," Eckersley said. "Every game he pitched, they needed. The guy is ice."
For a closer to win the award these days, he usually has to be almost perfect and it has to be a lean year for starters. Rollie Fingers, who won the Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981, said that modern-day closers simply did not pitch enough to win those awards. Fingers tossed 78 innings in 1981, a strike year in which 38 percent of the schedule was lost.
"Sportswriters aren't stupid," Fingers said. "It's tough to give a guy who pitched 50 innings a Cy Young."
Jorge Posada, the Yankees' catcher, dismissed that argument. "You go for the best pitcher," he said. "He's been the best pitcher."
Eckersley agreed with Posada. "There was more pressure on him than anybody," Eckersley said. "Every game he pitched, they needed. The guy is ice."
Mo has pitched 75 innings so far. With 10 games remaining, I'd expect him to reach 80 with a good possibility of him pitching more. So, let's say he reaches 81 and doesn't allow an earned run in any of those innings. That knocks his ERA down to 1.22. Let's say he reaches 45 saves and gets another win. 8-4, 45 saves, 81 innings, 1.22 ERA. I just did a quick check, so I may be wrong... but the three pitchers who have won the Cy Young with the least innings pitched are:
1. Rollie Ringers - 78 (1978) - 6-3, 1.04 ERA, 28 Saves
2. Dennis Eckersley - 80 (1992) - 7-1, 1.91 ERA, 51 Saves
3. Eric Gagne - 82 (2003) - 2-3, 1.20 ERA, 55 Saves
Mariano Rivera - 81 (2004) - 8-4, 1.22 ERA, 45 Saves
Via Pride of the Yankees.
09/22: The MVP Race
Posted by: Patrick
Now, I am of two minds here. If we're talking David Ortiz and A-Rod, it's A-Rod. I just read an article that beautifully summed up my thoughts on the Ortiz vs. A-Rod argument. It was by none other than Conan the Barbarian at noMaas.org. Check it out.
But, I have another name to throw out there. Dreaming? Perhaps, perhaps. Mariano Rivera. I left a comment on an entry at WasWatching.com and got 3 positive responses. Basically, the thought here, as laid out by Jason O. over there... if the award is really relative value to the team, Rivera is ahead of A-Rod and Ortiz. If he finishes out the season strong, get's his ERA below 1.20, perhaps gets either 45 saves or a win or 2 more, what do you think? Let's see here...
Let's imagine that God is going to strike 5 random players with injuries - right now. They will be injured for the rest of the year, but be back next year and will be fine. You can pick 1 player that will be "safe". Who do you pick? Good arguments can be made for A-Rod, Jeter, Mariano. But, when you think about it, Mariano. Mariano is the reason we have a slight grasp on 1st place. Mariano is the difference maker with the Red Sox. He's the reason we're in the playoff hunt. Now, don't get me wrong. Without A-Rod? We could be out. Without Giambi's turnaround? Yep, could be. But, without Mariano? We're totally, totally screwed. (Edit: Rereading this, I'm kind of torn between Jeter and Mariano just because Jeter means so much, but the point stands). If fate had blessed the Red Sox with Mariano and us with Foulke, not only would we be out of the playoffs a bit ago, but last year wouldn't have been the first Red Sox World Series championship since 1918.
How important is Mo right now? Seriously. We have to throw him virtually every night. If we didn't have him now, forget about it. That's the MVP. He deserves serious consideration. He probably won't get it as there is a natural bias against pitchers - especially relief pitchers, that will keep him from getting it. But, Cy Young is more likely. He deserves even stronger consideration for that award. I mean, let's think about it. If you could trade Mo for this season for any starting pitcher in the AL that we don't already have - would you do it? I guess there are certainly arguments to make, but... for me, no. Mo's the guy.
Remember, ANYONE who can hit can "play" DH adequately. Those who can hit as good as or better than Ortiz, all while playing stellar defense at the hot corner, are few and far between. There are other players in the majors who would be a better DH than Ortiz is right now. There's not one player in the majors that would be a better all-around 3B than A-Rod. If you were to ask A-Rod to DH he could do it. Could you ask Ortiz to play 3B? Well you could, and just hope that Ortiz' family stampedes over the runner whenever a ball is hit in his direction.
But, I have another name to throw out there. Dreaming? Perhaps, perhaps. Mariano Rivera. I left a comment on an entry at WasWatching.com and got 3 positive responses. Basically, the thought here, as laid out by Jason O. over there... if the award is really relative value to the team, Rivera is ahead of A-Rod and Ortiz. If he finishes out the season strong, get's his ERA below 1.20, perhaps gets either 45 saves or a win or 2 more, what do you think? Let's see here...
Let's imagine that God is going to strike 5 random players with injuries - right now. They will be injured for the rest of the year, but be back next year and will be fine. You can pick 1 player that will be "safe". Who do you pick? Good arguments can be made for A-Rod, Jeter, Mariano. But, when you think about it, Mariano. Mariano is the reason we have a slight grasp on 1st place. Mariano is the difference maker with the Red Sox. He's the reason we're in the playoff hunt. Now, don't get me wrong. Without A-Rod? We could be out. Without Giambi's turnaround? Yep, could be. But, without Mariano? We're totally, totally screwed. (Edit: Rereading this, I'm kind of torn between Jeter and Mariano just because Jeter means so much, but the point stands). If fate had blessed the Red Sox with Mariano and us with Foulke, not only would we be out of the playoffs a bit ago, but last year wouldn't have been the first Red Sox World Series championship since 1918.
How important is Mo right now? Seriously. We have to throw him virtually every night. If we didn't have him now, forget about it. That's the MVP. He deserves serious consideration. He probably won't get it as there is a natural bias against pitchers - especially relief pitchers, that will keep him from getting it. But, Cy Young is more likely. He deserves even stronger consideration for that award. I mean, let's think about it. If you could trade Mo for this season for any starting pitcher in the AL that we don't already have - would you do it? I guess there are certainly arguments to make, but... for me, no. Mo's the guy.
