Posted by: Patrick
Account to a source that spoke to ESPN, Alex Rodriguez is set to meet with MLB officials on Sunday.
Posted by: Patrick
Update 2: The account is real!
Update: The Twitter account is linked on Sabathia's official site.
Updating a previous story, Mark Newman of MLBlogs reports that he confirmed with CC Sabathia's marketing person that the CC_Sabathia account is a fake. Sorry for the confusion.
The reason that we had passed it along originally was because Nick Swisher's account had been verified and Swisher was following the Sabathia account (and only 3 others). So, apparently, Nick (or whoever set up Nick's account) thought it was him, too. Oh well, no biggie - maybe CC will sign up eventually.
On a related note, Andrew mentioned that Yankees prospect Bradley Suttle now has a blog.
Update: The Twitter account is linked on Sabathia's official site.
Updating a previous story, Mark Newman of MLBlogs reports that he confirmed with CC Sabathia's marketing person that the CC_Sabathia account is a fake. Sorry for the confusion.
The reason that we had passed it along originally was because Nick Swisher's account had been verified and Swisher was following the Sabathia account (and only 3 others). So, apparently, Nick (or whoever set up Nick's account) thought it was him, too. Oh well, no biggie - maybe CC will sign up eventually.
On a related note, Andrew mentioned that Yankees prospect Bradley Suttle now has a blog.
Posted by: Patrick
Graham Goldbeck at Beyond the Boxscore takes an in depth look at Mariano Rivera's 2008 season and how his cutter was the epitome of everything that is good in the world.
Via Joseph.
Via Joseph.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham and Tyler Kepner have pictures of the Yankees hat for this season - there is an "Inaugural Season" patch on the back of it.
Posted by: Patrick
For those interested, I thought I'd pass on some details on Bernie Williams second album, "Moving Forward." The cover is above and there is some additional information, from the label, below. Also, listen to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" (featuring Bob Sheppard on the intro) and "Glory Days."
The album will be released on April 14 off Reform Records/Rock Ridge Music. You can pre-order at Amazon.com.
Posted by: Seamus
From the Associated Press:
This comes a day after his cousin, Yuri Sucart, was seen both arriving at and leaving the Blue Jays' spring training ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, where the Yanks were in town for an afternoon game.
A lot of people in the media have gone way over their heads here to assume that A-Rod should somehow disown his cousin over this whole steroid thing, but the Yankees are right in asking Rodriguez to simply keep him away from the ballpark to avoid the distractions.
Alex Rodriguez was told by the New York Yankees to keep his cousin away from the team. The message was given to the star third baseman on Thursday, said a person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team did not make an announcement. The message applied both to spring training and the regular season, the person said.
Rodriguez also was told the cousin should not be anywhere the team congregates, which presumably includes the team's hotel when it travels and the ballpark.
Speaking at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., general manager Brian Cashman said only that the matter of Rodriguez being picked up from his spring training opener Wednesday by his cousin "has been handled."
Rodriguez took a similar tone following New York's 5-1 victory on Thursday over Tampa Bay.
"It's been addressed," he said. "And, no further comment."
Rodriguez also was told the cousin should not be anywhere the team congregates, which presumably includes the team's hotel when it travels and the ballpark.
Speaking at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., general manager Brian Cashman said only that the matter of Rodriguez being picked up from his spring training opener Wednesday by his cousin "has been handled."
Rodriguez took a similar tone following New York's 5-1 victory on Thursday over Tampa Bay.
"It's been addressed," he said. "And, no further comment."
This comes a day after his cousin, Yuri Sucart, was seen both arriving at and leaving the Blue Jays' spring training ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, where the Yanks were in town for an afternoon game.
A lot of people in the media have gone way over their heads here to assume that A-Rod should somehow disown his cousin over this whole steroid thing, but the Yankees are right in asking Rodriguez to simply keep him away from the ballpark to avoid the distractions.
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch and Hal Bodley, as well as Peter Abraham all have quotes from Mr. October on A-Rod's tumultuous offseason and what the third baseman needs to do now. In so many words: hit.
Via Steve.
Rodriguez's parting words to Jackson at the end of the '08 season, before all of the steroids talk began, was that he would be gunning for him in April. With 553 to his name, Rodriguez needs just 10 to tie Jackson.
"He'll blow by me like I'm standing still," Jackson said, with a grin. "It's a shame -- one of the all-time greats."
His gallows humor masks some disappointment. Jackson considers Rodriguez a friend, but he also refers to him as a Yankees "asset" -- a sharp word general manager Brian Cashman used after Rodriguez's news conference, coldly portraying him as a corporate investment.
"He'll blow by me like I'm standing still," Jackson said, with a grin. "It's a shame -- one of the all-time greats."
His gallows humor masks some disappointment. Jackson considers Rodriguez a friend, but he also refers to him as a Yankees "asset" -- a sharp word general manager Brian Cashman used after Rodriguez's news conference, coldly portraying him as a corporate investment.
Reggie said he spent time with Yankees general partner Hank Steinbrenner on Tuesday.
"'You deliver this message,' [Steinbrenner] said sternly to me. 'You tell him to hit the damn ball and hit it when it counts,'" Jackson said. "Yes, that's really the most important thing Alex can do at this stage. All the other conversations, they don't matter. The more you talk, the more you have an opportunity to make a mistake or say something stupid or something you can go trace.
"My dad used to say you can control the story as long as you still get a chance to hit. Take the bat away and you start running your mouth, you're going to get in trouble. Edit your own story with the bat, and as long as Alex does that, he's got a chance to change things."
"'You deliver this message,' [Steinbrenner] said sternly to me. 'You tell him to hit the damn ball and hit it when it counts,'" Jackson said. "Yes, that's really the most important thing Alex can do at this stage. All the other conversations, they don't matter. The more you talk, the more you have an opportunity to make a mistake or say something stupid or something you can go trace.
"My dad used to say you can control the story as long as you still get a chance to hit. Take the bat away and you start running your mouth, you're going to get in trouble. Edit your own story with the bat, and as long as Alex does that, he's got a chance to change things."
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
On the road to promote "Baseball Prospectus 2009," five of the Baseball Prospectus group will be appearing at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on Sunday, March 1 at 2 PM. They'll be doing a Q&A panel as well as a book signing.
Among them, Cliff Corcoran of Bronx Banter and Steven Goldman of Pinstriped Bible.
For more info, see the museum's website.
Among them, Cliff Corcoran of Bronx Banter and Steven Goldman of Pinstriped Bible.
For more info, see the museum's website.
Posted by: Seamus
Jose Veras says he was unaware he was named to the Dominican Republic's WBC roster until a Dominican team official informed him Tuesday morning. Veras had previously said he would not participate in the tournament.
The problem is, I'm not sure if they are allowed to find somebody else. The rosters submitted on Tuesday were supposed to be final. So it looks like the Dominican team will have to go with 27 guys (WBC rosters can carry 28 players). It's probably not a huge deal but I've been under the assumption that Veras would have a spot on the Yankees' roster anyway.
"It's an important season for me," Veras said. "I don't have a regular spot here, and I have to fight for my spot. I don't think that, if I go 20 days [away from] my team, it's going to be possible."
Veras, 28, was a regular presence with the 2008 Yankees, appearing in a career-high 60 games and going 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA, walking 29 and striking out 63 in 57 2/3 innings.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has listed Veras among those in competition for a middle-relief or setup role in camp.
"I just want to be here working for my spot and do my best to give the team a chance to win the game," Veras said. "All my concentration right now is here, not on the Classic. I promise you they'll find somebody else."
Veras, 28, was a regular presence with the 2008 Yankees, appearing in a career-high 60 games and going 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA, walking 29 and striking out 63 in 57 2/3 innings.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has listed Veras among those in competition for a middle-relief or setup role in camp.
"I just want to be here working for my spot and do my best to give the team a chance to win the game," Veras said. "All my concentration right now is here, not on the Classic. I promise you they'll find somebody else."
The problem is, I'm not sure if they are allowed to find somebody else. The rosters submitted on Tuesday were supposed to be final. So it looks like the Dominican team will have to go with 27 guys (WBC rosters can carry 28 players). It's probably not a huge deal but I've been under the assumption that Veras would have a spot on the Yankees' roster anyway.
Posted by: Seamus
Spring training games finally started across the league today, and the Yankees won their first game in Dunedin against the Blue Jays by a score of 6-1, thanks in part to a 4th inning homer by Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who walked his first time up, homered in his first official at-bat of the game. Brett Gardner belted one out as well.
Brett Tomko started the game and pitched two scoreless innings. Jose Veras, who allowed the only run in the game, received the win for what it's worth.
Brett Tomko started the game and pitched two scoreless innings. Jose Veras, who allowed the only run in the game, received the win for what it's worth.
