Posted by: Patrick
Just a couple of Jeter related stories. From Tyler Kepner:
Matsui on Jeter from Peter Abraham:
My favorite story, by far, is this one by my pal Andrew Marchand: Derek Jeter wants to be an owner someday. I can guarantee that Jeter would be a completely different owner than George Steinbrenner, for one critical reason: Steinbrenner is a pessimist by nature, and Jeter is an optimist.
Matsui on Jeter from Peter Abraham:
“Derek transcends leadership,” Hideki Matsui told me through his translator, Roger Kahlon. “I have played with many great players with the Yankees and Giants but nobody like Jeter. He runs, he hits, he fields and he plays well in the clutch. He is truly a great player.”
Posted by: Patrick
In his second Minor League start, this time pitching for the double A Trenton Thunder, Clemens pitched 5 and 1/3 innings, throwing 102 pitches. He allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 5, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.
From Yahoo!:
From Yahoo!:
"So far so good," he said after his second minor league start since signing with the Yankees.
Clemens refused to say where his next start for the Yankees would be. He said he has told team officials how he feels, adding that an intense bullpen workout on Friday might be the deciding factor. He said his arm and legs both felt good.
"I felt the last three or four days when I backed off my routine to give my body a chance to catch up, I expected it to respond well, and it did," Clemens said.
Clemens refused to say where his next start for the Yankees would be. He said he has told team officials how he feels, adding that an intense bullpen workout on Friday might be the deciding factor. He said his arm and legs both felt good.
"I felt the last three or four days when I backed off my routine to give my body a chance to catch up, I expected it to respond well, and it did," Clemens said.
Posted by: Seamus
I've spent the last few hours checking to see if there were any pigs flying about in my neighborhood after the Yankees just scored 8 runs for Andy Pettite. The Yanks got to Curt Schilling early and often, scoring in each of the first four innings en route to an 8-3 victory in the rubber match of a three-game set against the Red Sox.
The Yankees jumped ahead 3-0 in the first via an RBI single by Jeter and a two-run laser home run by Hideki Matsui. Jeter added another RBI base hit in the 2nd and Posada did the same in the 3rd. Doug Mientkiewicz put the Yankees up 6-0 in the 4th with a home run off the upper deck facade in right field.
That would be enough for Andy Pettite, who was a rock yet again for the Yankees. You'd think an E.R.A. of 2.66 would get you a few wins for the Yankees but tonight's victory puts Andy Pettite at a mediocre 3-3 on the season. This time Pettite allowed 9 hits, but only one came around to score and he struck out two in a stellar 7-inning performance.
Kyle Farnsworth came in with a 6-1 lead in the 8th and gave up two runs on a solo shot by Coco Crisp and a double by Mike Lowell, and was actually booed pretty heavily at the Stadium. Mariano Rivera finished the game, striking out the side in a scoreless ninth.
Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Doug Mientkiewicz all had three hits and Matsui and Cano added two hits each as well. The only Yankee without a hit was Jason Giambi. Jeter's second hit put him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 5th on the Yankees' all-time hit list (now at 2,216).
Normally, going 3-3 in a six-game stretch against the rival Mets and Red Sox would be satisfactory but even after taking two of three from Boston the Yanks have only gained a half game on them since Friday. On the bright side, the Yankees have won 3 of 4 against two teams other than the Rangers and Mariners and finally seem to be clicking a bit.
This weekend's series against the Angels should be interesting. It will be the third straight series for the Yankees against a first-place team. First game is Friday at 7:05 E.T. and will feature an interesting pitching matchup as Tyler Clippard tries to expand upon his very successful debut and will face the young Jered Weaver.
The Yankees jumped ahead 3-0 in the first via an RBI single by Jeter and a two-run laser home run by Hideki Matsui. Jeter added another RBI base hit in the 2nd and Posada did the same in the 3rd. Doug Mientkiewicz put the Yankees up 6-0 in the 4th with a home run off the upper deck facade in right field.
That would be enough for Andy Pettite, who was a rock yet again for the Yankees. You'd think an E.R.A. of 2.66 would get you a few wins for the Yankees but tonight's victory puts Andy Pettite at a mediocre 3-3 on the season. This time Pettite allowed 9 hits, but only one came around to score and he struck out two in a stellar 7-inning performance.
Kyle Farnsworth came in with a 6-1 lead in the 8th and gave up two runs on a solo shot by Coco Crisp and a double by Mike Lowell, and was actually booed pretty heavily at the Stadium. Mariano Rivera finished the game, striking out the side in a scoreless ninth.
Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Doug Mientkiewicz all had three hits and Matsui and Cano added two hits each as well. The only Yankee without a hit was Jason Giambi. Jeter's second hit put him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 5th on the Yankees' all-time hit list (now at 2,216).
Normally, going 3-3 in a six-game stretch against the rival Mets and Red Sox would be satisfactory but even after taking two of three from Boston the Yanks have only gained a half game on them since Friday. On the bright side, the Yankees have won 3 of 4 against two teams other than the Rangers and Mariners and finally seem to be clicking a bit.
This weekend's series against the Angels should be interesting. It will be the third straight series for the Yankees against a first-place team. First game is Friday at 7:05 E.T. and will feature an interesting pitching matchup as Tyler Clippard tries to expand upon his very successful debut and will face the young Jered Weaver.
05/23: All Class
Posted by: James
A little more than a month after the shooting, the Yankees have made the largest donation to the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund with Big George writing a check for $1 million.
Say what you want about Steinbrenner; the man certainly puts his money where his mouth and often times, his heart, is. Way to go Big Stein.
The fund was established to help those touched by the tragedy, and the money will provide grief counseling, memorials and assistance to the victims and their families.
...
According to Steger, the Yankees are the only sports team to contribute money to Virginia Tech. And Steinbrenner isn't finished supporting the school, either. The Yankees announced that the team will play an exhibition game against the Hokies baseball team sometime in 2008. All proceeds will be added to the memorial fund.
...
According to Steger, the Yankees are the only sports team to contribute money to Virginia Tech. And Steinbrenner isn't finished supporting the school, either. The Yankees announced that the team will play an exhibition game against the Hokies baseball team sometime in 2008. All proceeds will be added to the memorial fund.
Say what you want about Steinbrenner; the man certainly puts his money where his mouth and often times, his heart, is. Way to go Big Stein.
Posted by: James
It's official. Our long national nightmare is over.
Pay for the surgery and then get him out of here. I don't want to see him in the dugout because he might hex the other players. I don't want to see him working with Yankees personnel and taking time from that could be spent on players that will actually play. I just want to see him gone; he can pay for his rehab on his own. He parlayed one very good season into a $40MM contract with the Yankees and that investment yielded just 19 starts (that's $2.1MM a start, far more than Clemens money!) and 111.1 IP (that's $359,389.03 an inning) so he's certainly got the money. Heck, if making the most money for the least work was a sport, Pavano would be in the Hall of Fame.
Carl Pavano's career with the Yankees could be over, as the oft-injured right-hander appears to be headed for season-ending surgery.
General manager Brian Cashman said on Wednesday that a battery of four doctors has agreed that Pavano has either a substantial or complete tear of a ligament in his pitching elbow, with Tommy John surgery having been recommended as a treatment option.
...
The surgery would remove Pavano from action for a span of 12 to 18 months, which could take him through the remaining time on his contract with the Yankees. Pavano is in the third season of a four-year, $39.95 million deal.
General manager Brian Cashman said on Wednesday that a battery of four doctors has agreed that Pavano has either a substantial or complete tear of a ligament in his pitching elbow, with Tommy John surgery having been recommended as a treatment option.
...
The surgery would remove Pavano from action for a span of 12 to 18 months, which could take him through the remaining time on his contract with the Yankees. Pavano is in the third season of a four-year, $39.95 million deal.
Pay for the surgery and then get him out of here. I don't want to see him in the dugout because he might hex the other players. I don't want to see him working with Yankees personnel and taking time from that could be spent on players that will actually play. I just want to see him gone; he can pay for his rehab on his own. He parlayed one very good season into a $40MM contract with the Yankees and that investment yielded just 19 starts (that's $2.1MM a start, far more than Clemens money!) and 111.1 IP (that's $359,389.03 an inning) so he's certainly got the money. Heck, if making the most money for the least work was a sport, Pavano would be in the Hall of Fame.
Posted by: Patrick
Kat O'Brien, Tyler Kepner and Mark Feinsand have entries up on the recent media game.
Both Kepner and Feinsand say the winning streak is at 10 and not 11 - it's a twice a year thing and the New York team hasn't lost since 2001. Gathering from all of the entries I've read, the New York team lineup (not sure of order) was as follows:
C - Kevin Devaney
1B - Ben Walker
2B - Pete Caldera
3B - Jack Curry
SS - John Harper
LF - Peter Botte
CF - Tom Verducci
RF - Bryan Hoch
DH - Mark Feinsand
DH - Kat O'Brien
? - Peter Abraham
? - Ken Davidoff
SP - Tyler Kepner
RP - Bob Klapisch
Player/Manager - Anthony McCarron
From Kepner:
Good stuff.
Both Kepner and Feinsand say the winning streak is at 10 and not 11 - it's a twice a year thing and the New York team hasn't lost since 2001. Gathering from all of the entries I've read, the New York team lineup (not sure of order) was as follows:
C - Kevin Devaney
1B - Ben Walker
2B - Pete Caldera
3B - Jack Curry
SS - John Harper
LF - Peter Botte
CF - Tom Verducci
RF - Bryan Hoch
DH - Mark Feinsand
DH - Kat O'Brien
? - Peter Abraham
? - Ken Davidoff
SP - Tyler Kepner
RP - Bob Klapisch
Player/Manager - Anthony McCarron
From Kepner:
One of the great privileges of this job is the annual media game at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. Once a year, early in the morning, the Yankees and the Red Sox open their doors to let the New York media take on the Boston media. It’s real hardball: umpires, scoreboards, music, a post-game food spread, the works. Everything but those annoying writers asking us questions after the game.
Good stuff.
Posted by: Patrick
From the Daily News:
Jason Giambi failed a Major League Baseball-administered amphetamines test within the last year, which has subjected him to additional drug testing, sources told the Daily News. Giambi tacitly admitted last week that he has used steroids, but he failed to mention that he has been caught using other drugs.
Because Major League Baseball's amphetamines policy keeps a first positive test secret, however, it is unlikely Giambi will be asked about it when he meets with representatives from commissioner Bud Selig's office, possibly as soon as tomorrow on the Yankees' day off.
Because Major League Baseball's amphetamines policy keeps a first positive test secret, however, it is unlikely Giambi will be asked about it when he meets with representatives from commissioner Bud Selig's office, possibly as soon as tomorrow on the Yankees' day off.
Posted by: Jason
...to hurt me, you know just how to tear me up,
and leave me in small pieces on the ground."
Alternative country pioneer Dwight Yoakam's song "Little Ways" comes to mind as I write today's recap, for obvious reasons. A suddenly chilly offense and compliant pitching gave the Red Sox the lead they required to recover the game they lost Monday night.
We should be disappointed but not furious with Mussina: Granted, his first inning was horrible (three hits and three runs on a long Ramirez HR) but besides the first and the mistake to Lowell (solo HR) in the fourth he settled down for the next five frames. Certainly long enough for the Yankees offense to light up #5 starter Julian Tavarez, right?
One of Yoakam's early CDs is titled "Just Lookin' for a Hit" and I can not find a better description of the offense last evening. After Tavarez's gift run on a wild pitch in the fourth, the Yankees had bases loaded/one out in the fifth. They could manage only one run on a fielder's choice.
The Red Sox extended their lead to 7-2 in the seventh, aided by hits off of Mussina and Myers. I should add that the Yankees experienced (approximately) their 135th umpire's blown call of the season, when Joe West called Crisp safe on a steal of second. The reply showed Cano putting the tag on him in time. There should have been 2 outs w/no baserunners.
Bottom eighth: The Yankees had bases loaded, one out. One run on a fielder's choice? Not acceptable. Papelbon looked shaky in the ninth and the Yankees had 2 on, no out...again, no hits when necessary.
Torre acknowledged that the "pressure is on" to win this series. Joe is a master of understatement.
and leave me in small pieces on the ground."
Alternative country pioneer Dwight Yoakam's song "Little Ways" comes to mind as I write today's recap, for obvious reasons. A suddenly chilly offense and compliant pitching gave the Red Sox the lead they required to recover the game they lost Monday night.
We should be disappointed but not furious with Mussina: Granted, his first inning was horrible (three hits and three runs on a long Ramirez HR) but besides the first and the mistake to Lowell (solo HR) in the fourth he settled down for the next five frames. Certainly long enough for the Yankees offense to light up #5 starter Julian Tavarez, right?
One of Yoakam's early CDs is titled "Just Lookin' for a Hit" and I can not find a better description of the offense last evening. After Tavarez's gift run on a wild pitch in the fourth, the Yankees had bases loaded/one out in the fifth. They could manage only one run on a fielder's choice.
The Red Sox extended their lead to 7-2 in the seventh, aided by hits off of Mussina and Myers. I should add that the Yankees experienced (approximately) their 135th umpire's blown call of the season, when Joe West called Crisp safe on a steal of second. The reply showed Cano putting the tag on him in time. There should have been 2 outs w/no baserunners.
Bottom eighth: The Yankees had bases loaded, one out. One run on a fielder's choice? Not acceptable. Papelbon looked shaky in the ninth and the Yankees had 2 on, no out...again, no hits when necessary.
Torre acknowledged that the "pressure is on" to win this series. Joe is a master of understatement.
Posted by: Patrick
This is awesome.
Members of the New York and Boston baseball media get together every year (I guess) and play a game in Yankee Stadium. The New York team has won 11 times straight (update: it appears to be 10 games, not 11). They have umpires, they put the writer's names up on the scoreboard and they play music when they come up. Sounds like a total blast!
This year's New York team included Abraham, Tom Verducci, Jack Curry, Tyler Kepner, Anthony McCarron, Pete Caldera, Pete Botte, Bob Klapisch, Bryan Hoch, Kevin Devaney, Kat O'Brien and Mark Feinsand (apparently).
Abraham mentioned that they are looking at a rematch at Fenway on June 3. Hopefully they can keep the string of dominance alive.
Members of the New York and Boston baseball media get together every year (I guess) and play a game in Yankee Stadium. The New York team has won 11 times straight (update: it appears to be 10 games, not 11). They have umpires, they put the writer's names up on the scoreboard and they play music when they come up. Sounds like a total blast!
This year's New York team included Abraham, Tom Verducci, Jack Curry, Tyler Kepner, Anthony McCarron, Pete Caldera, Pete Botte, Bob Klapisch, Bryan Hoch, Kevin Devaney, Kat O'Brien and Mark Feinsand (apparently).
Abraham mentioned that they are looking at a rematch at Fenway on June 3. Hopefully they can keep the string of dominance alive.
05/22: Tyler Clippard's MySpace
Posted by: Patrick
Check it out. So, yeah. Interesting. I submitted a friend request from our MySpace.
Jim Baumbach was the one who pointed it out, so I presume that it's actually his.
Via Steve.
Jim Baumbach was the one who pointed it out, so I presume that it's actually his.
Clearly we've now officially entered the digital age in pro sports, the point where players entering the majors have grown up relying on the Internet. They know of no other way. I'd imagine most 22-year-olds have their own myspace pages.
Via Steve.
