Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview is with long time friend of the blog, Aziz Nekoukar of Pride of the Yankees.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Unfortunately, I'm probably studying, though I'm finally finishing up law school this spring. (Assuming I pass all my classes.)
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
My brother and I took over Pride of the Yankees at NJ.com at a very inopportune time in Yankee history: October, 2004. We wrote an infamously overconfident entry after the Yanks took a 3-0 series lead. (That entry has thankfully disappeared since NJ.com changed its blog format).
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The daily grind is really tough; sometimes I just don't want to read the daily non-baseball stories that constantly surround the Yankees. Because, do I really care where Brian Cashman ate his dinner last night? But the best part is interacting with people that really care about the team. For whatever lucky reason, we've developed this devoted readership which is full of rational-thinking Yankee fans - and you don't hear the phrase "rational-thinking Yankee fans" in many places.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Unfortunately, I'm probably studying, though I'm finally finishing up law school this spring. (Assuming I pass all my classes.)
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
My brother and I took over Pride of the Yankees at NJ.com at a very inopportune time in Yankee history: October, 2004. We wrote an infamously overconfident entry after the Yanks took a 3-0 series lead. (That entry has thankfully disappeared since NJ.com changed its blog format).
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The daily grind is really tough; sometimes I just don't want to read the daily non-baseball stories that constantly surround the Yankees. Because, do I really care where Brian Cashman ate his dinner last night? But the best part is interacting with people that really care about the team. For whatever lucky reason, we've developed this devoted readership which is full of rational-thinking Yankee fans - and you don't hear the phrase "rational-thinking Yankee fans" in many places.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham and Tyler Kepner report that Joe Girardi hopes for Jorge Posada to catch 100-110 games this season. So, Jose Molina should see a good amount of time this year.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham has the list of this year's guest instructors at spring training. They are Yogi Berra, Billy Connors, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Reggie Jackson, Hector Lopez, Tino Martinez, Stump Merrill, Graig Nettles and Mickey Rivers.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham has Bud Selig's statement on A-Rod's admission of steroid use.
Both Abraham and Kat O'Brien say that this means that A-Rod won't be getting suspended. Yesterday, Selig was said to be considering some sort of action against the Yankees third baseman.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am saddened by the revelations concerning Alex Rodriguez’s use of performance-enhancing substances. While Alex deserves credit for publicly confronting the issue, there is no valid excuse for using such substances and those who use them have shamed the game.
“What Alex did was wrong and he will have to live with the damage he has done to his name and reputation. His actions are also a reminder to everyone in baseball—under our current drug program, if you are caught using steroids and/or amphetamines, you will be punished. Since 2005, every player who has tested positive for steroids has been suspended for as much as 50 games. Eradicating performance-enhancing substances from the game of baseball has been my first priority over the past decade and it is important to remember that these recent revelations relate to pre-program activity.”
“What Alex did was wrong and he will have to live with the damage he has done to his name and reputation. His actions are also a reminder to everyone in baseball—under our current drug program, if you are caught using steroids and/or amphetamines, you will be punished. Since 2005, every player who has tested positive for steroids has been suspended for as much as 50 games. Eradicating performance-enhancing substances from the game of baseball has been my first priority over the past decade and it is important to remember that these recent revelations relate to pre-program activity.”
Both Abraham and Kat O'Brien say that this means that A-Rod won't be getting suspended. Yesterday, Selig was said to be considering some sort of action against the Yankees third baseman.
Posted by: Patrick
From MLB.com's Doug Miller:
B.A.T. announced the creation of The Bobby Murcer Award, which will be presented to the team in both the American League and National League whose players contribute the most amount of money to B.A.T. through the Major League Baseball Payroll Deduction Program. The award will be presented during the 2010 Annual B.A.T. Dinner.
Posted by: Patrick
From Nathaniel Vinton and Christian Red of the Daily News:
Via Andrew.
"He's open to everything. That doesn't mean he can do everything. He's keeping all options open," MLB spokesman Rich Levin told the Daily News, referring to Selig. ...
"Once you start tinkering, you can create more problems," Selig told USA Today, referring to the record books. "But I'm not dismissing it. I'm concerned. I'd like to get some more evidence."
"Once you start tinkering, you can create more problems," Selig told USA Today, referring to the record books. "But I'm not dismissing it. I'm concerned. I'd like to get some more evidence."
Via Andrew.
Posted by: Patrick
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com has Mark Teixeira's reaction to A-Rod's admission of steroid use. Lyle Spencer, also of MLB.com has thoughts from Torii Hunter.
"I know he's going through a rough time right now, and I think his apology said it all," Teixeira said. "He's disappointed in himself, he made a mistake and we're all going to move on ... I'm just going to open up my arms, give him a big hug, tell him I love him and we're going to get through this." ...
"I've been around long enough to not really be shocked by anything," he said. "This is a sport that's had some troubles, there's no doubt. I'm not going to judge anybody.
"I've never touched steroids or any of those kinds of things -- it's something I feel very strongly about -- but at the same time I've made mistakes, I'm not perfect, no one's perfect."
"I've been around long enough to not really be shocked by anything," he said. "This is a sport that's had some troubles, there's no doubt. I'm not going to judge anybody.
"I've never touched steroids or any of those kinds of things -- it's something I feel very strongly about -- but at the same time I've made mistakes, I'm not perfect, no one's perfect."
"I hate it, the whole steroid thing, and I know it's wrong," Hunter said by phone. "But it takes courage to come out and say, 'I did it,' like A-Rod did.
"He nipped everything in the bud when he came out and told the truth. I know he was sincere. I know him, and I like him. He is the type of guy who couldn't have this hanging over his head. He's taking all the heat now, and that's not easy for anyone, but he's a strong guy.
"To me, it's like when you're a parent, and your kid does something stupid, like all our kids do. You punish them, let them know what they did wrong and why, then it's back on track. I hope that's how it will be for A-Rod."
"He nipped everything in the bud when he came out and told the truth. I know he was sincere. I know him, and I like him. He is the type of guy who couldn't have this hanging over his head. He's taking all the heat now, and that's not easy for anyone, but he's a strong guy.
"To me, it's like when you're a parent, and your kid does something stupid, like all our kids do. You punish them, let them know what they did wrong and why, then it's back on track. I hope that's how it will be for A-Rod."
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that right handed pitchers J.B. Cox, George Kontos and Kanekoa Texeira have been invited to camp.
Posted by: Patrick
Wayne Parry of the AP reports on the sentencing of Ryan Ward, who impersonated Joba Chamberlain and received free food and drinks at restaurants. He signed autographs and was approached by women. "There were many," he says.
He received a fine of $2,518 and two years on probation. The article has pictures of him and he does bare a resemblance. Though, frankly, I don't know how many actual Yankee fans would have been fooled by him.
He received a fine of $2,518 and two years on probation. The article has pictures of him and he does bare a resemblance. Though, frankly, I don't know how many actual Yankee fans would have been fooled by him.
Posted by: Patrick
Via Peter Abraham.
