Posted by: Patrick
From the press release:
The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Kai Liu and catcher Zhenwang Zhang to minor league contracts, becoming the first Major League team to sign a player from the People's Republic of China with approval from the Chinese Baseball Association.
The 19-year old Liu began playing baseball in 2000 for the Guangdong Province team. In addition to his playing career in the six-team Chinese Baseball League with the Guangdong Leopards, he was chosen to participate as a member of the People's Republic of China National Team.
Zhang, 19, began his playing career in 1998 in the Municipality of Tianjin. He helped lead his team, the Tianjin Lions, to the CBL championship series in three of the past five seasons (2002, 2005 and 2006) and was selected to represent his country as a member of the PRC National Team. Zhang also participated in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Both players will be introduced at a formal press conference at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 6. Following the press conference, the players will report to the Yankees Player Development Complex in Tampa, Florida.
The 19-year old Liu began playing baseball in 2000 for the Guangdong Province team. In addition to his playing career in the six-team Chinese Baseball League with the Guangdong Leopards, he was chosen to participate as a member of the People's Republic of China National Team.
Zhang, 19, began his playing career in 1998 in the Municipality of Tianjin. He helped lead his team, the Tianjin Lions, to the CBL championship series in three of the past five seasons (2002, 2005 and 2006) and was selected to represent his country as a member of the PRC National Team. Zhang also participated in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Both players will be introduced at a formal press conference at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 6. Following the press conference, the players will report to the Yankees Player Development Complex in Tampa, Florida.
06/18: The Yankees and the Mets
Posted by: Patrick
06/18: Posada and Munson
Posted by: Patrick
Posada's style, value reminiscent of Munson's:
Via Peter Abraham.
... Then Guidry and Posada will talk about Munson, who was Guidry's batterymate and a young Posada's role model when he perished in a plane crash at age 32 in 1979. The thing is, Posada reminds Guidry, and probably a lot of others, of Munson.
"Of course," Guidry said. "His desire to win. His idol was Munson, and he asks me (about Munson) all the time.
"He reminds me about him because of his desire to win. He doesn't like losing. Thurman didn't like that, either. And he wants to be in there every day, and the same thing about Munson. They're a lot alike."
"Of course," Guidry said. "His desire to win. His idol was Munson, and he asks me (about Munson) all the time.
"He reminds me about him because of his desire to win. He doesn't like losing. Thurman didn't like that, either. And he wants to be in there every day, and the same thing about Munson. They're a lot alike."
Via Peter Abraham.
06/18: Vizcaino and Mo
Posted by: Patrick
From Peter Abraham:
"For a couple of weeks now, I have felt good about my mechanics," Vizcaino said. "Mo helped me a lot."
On his way out of the clubhouse, Rivera said all he did was offer friendship.
"He needed somebody to talk to," the closer said. "I said to him, 'We think you're good. You just need confidence.' I will help out anybody if they want."
On his way out of the clubhouse, Rivera said all he did was offer friendship.
"He needed somebody to talk to," the closer said. "I said to him, 'We think you're good. You just need confidence.' I will help out anybody if they want."
06/18: Shea Hillenbrand
Posted by: Patrick
From the Post:
We were also interested in him this offseason, according to reports.
Via PSD.
The Yankees have talked to the Angels about Shea Hillenbrand, a right-handed hitting first baseman they were interested in this past offseason when he was a free agent.
We were also interested in him this offseason, according to reports.
Via PSD.
Posted by: David
Chien-Ming Wang was dominant for 8 2/3 innings against the Mets with a career high 10 strikeout performance and A-Rod got the offense started with a two run homer in the first inning. Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada also homered later in the game and the Yankees took the series over the Mets 2 games to one.
Mets starter and ex-Yankee Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez could not get his fastball over consistently and the Yankees teed off of him. Posada added an RBI single and Miguel Cairo added an RBI double. With the Red Sox winning earlier in the day, the Yankees remain 8 1/2 games behind them in the AL East.
Interleague play will continue on the road for the Yankees on Tuesday vs. the Rockies at Coors Field.
Mets starter and ex-Yankee Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez could not get his fastball over consistently and the Yankees teed off of him. Posada added an RBI single and Miguel Cairo added an RBI double. With the Red Sox winning earlier in the day, the Yankees remain 8 1/2 games behind them in the AL East.
Interleague play will continue on the road for the Yankees on Tuesday vs. the Rockies at Coors Field.
06/17: Clippard Demoted
Posted by: Patrick
According to Peter Abraham, Tyler Clippard was demoted to triple A Scranton after yesterda's start. Clippard's first run with the MLB Yankees ends after 6 starts. He went 3-1 with a 6.33 ERA. We won 5 of the 6 games he started.
Kevin Thompson is up in his place to provide some depth. Mr. Abraham also mentions that Kei Igawa will likely be brought up to start Saturday against the Giants.
Kevin Thompson is up in his place to provide some depth. Mr. Abraham also mentions that Kei Igawa will likely be brought up to start Saturday against the Giants.
Posted by: Patrick
Losses won't kill us - but losing streaks will. Thankfully, today our offense made sure that we were back on the winning side, by scoring 11 runs on 15 hits and 6 walks. We scored 2 runs in every inning from the 2nd to the 6th and added another one in the 8th for good measure. D. Jeter was all over the board today, going 4 for 5 (1 2B, 1 HR) with 2 runs, 2 RBI and 1 SB. A-Rod was A-Rod like, going 2 for 4 with 3 runs, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB and his 26th home run.
Cano was 2 for 4, as well, with 2 runs, 2 RBI and a double. The Yankees final 2 hit man, Miguel Cairo, was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 1 SB. Damon (1 BB), Abreu (2 BB) and Posada (1 BB) each had 1 hit and 1 R with Damon grabbing an RBI, as well. In other words, every Yankee reached base at least twice, except for Melky who went 0 for 4. But, even he picked up a sacrifice that helped runs score in the 2nd.
The pitching side... well... we allowed 8 earned runs. The Mets had 1 less hit and the same number of walks. Clippard was knocked out of the game in the 4th, after 3 and 1/3 and 77 pitches. He was relieved by Luis Vizcaino who ... (wait for it)... didn't allow a single run in his 1 and 2/3 innings and picked up the W on top of that to improve his record to 3-1. Proctor came on after that and was excellent in his 2 scoreless innings of work, taking his ERA down to 3.28.
This was followed by Kyle Farnsworth who pitched the 8th, allowing an earned run but getting out of the inning after that by striking out both Beltran and Wright. With an 11-6 lead, Mo came in to pitch the 9th. After finally getting his ERA to under 4 on June 12 for the first time since April 14... it's headed back up above 4 again. Thanks to 3 singles, the bases were loaded with 2 outs. After getting 2 strikes on Chris Gomez, the left fielder singled score Delgado. This was followed by Jose Reyes, who singled to score another. Finally, Beltran fouled out to Posada to end it. Yankees win, 11-8.
Tomorrow, at 8:05 PM on ESPN, Chien-Ming Wang (6-4, 3.49) will go up against El Duque, Orlando Hernandez (3-2, 2.38 ERA... wow, he's doing well this year). So, that should be a cool match up.
Cano was 2 for 4, as well, with 2 runs, 2 RBI and a double. The Yankees final 2 hit man, Miguel Cairo, was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 1 SB. Damon (1 BB), Abreu (2 BB) and Posada (1 BB) each had 1 hit and 1 R with Damon grabbing an RBI, as well. In other words, every Yankee reached base at least twice, except for Melky who went 0 for 4. But, even he picked up a sacrifice that helped runs score in the 2nd.
The pitching side... well... we allowed 8 earned runs. The Mets had 1 less hit and the same number of walks. Clippard was knocked out of the game in the 4th, after 3 and 1/3 and 77 pitches. He was relieved by Luis Vizcaino who ... (wait for it)... didn't allow a single run in his 1 and 2/3 innings and picked up the W on top of that to improve his record to 3-1. Proctor came on after that and was excellent in his 2 scoreless innings of work, taking his ERA down to 3.28.
This was followed by Kyle Farnsworth who pitched the 8th, allowing an earned run but getting out of the inning after that by striking out both Beltran and Wright. With an 11-6 lead, Mo came in to pitch the 9th. After finally getting his ERA to under 4 on June 12 for the first time since April 14... it's headed back up above 4 again. Thanks to 3 singles, the bases were loaded with 2 outs. After getting 2 strikes on Chris Gomez, the left fielder singled score Delgado. This was followed by Jose Reyes, who singled to score another. Finally, Beltran fouled out to Posada to end it. Yankees win, 11-8.
Tomorrow, at 8:05 PM on ESPN, Chien-Ming Wang (6-4, 3.49) will go up against El Duque, Orlando Hernandez (3-2, 2.38 ERA... wow, he's doing well this year). So, that should be a cool match up.
06/16: Pavano Vacates Parking Spot
Posted by: Patrick
Tyler Kepner and Bryan Hoch both talk about Carl Pavano's parking spot.
Apparently, his car had been in his spot this whole time, unmoved, until this morning. Even with his car still in it, the Yankees have painted over his number 45 with a 22 - giving his spot to Roger Clemens. Kepner:
Apparently, his car had been in his spot this whole time, unmoved, until this morning. Even with his car still in it, the Yankees have painted over his number 45 with a 22 - giving his spot to Roger Clemens. Kepner:
I have no idea how Clemens comes to the games now. I’m quite sure he can get where he wants to go without a problem. But could you imagine Roger rolling down the Deegan in his burnt-orange Hummer, pulling into the players’ lot and seeing Pavano’s car in his space? Hilarious.
06/16: ROGER 2057
Posted by: Patrick
Watch below (warning: a little vulgarity).
Obviously playing off of some things people like to say about the Yankees, Steinbrenner, Clemens, etc., but cute nonetheless. All things aside, if Clemens can give us 6 IP, 3 ER every night, he can pitch until he's 100, as far as I'm concerned.
Via Peter Abraham.
Obviously playing off of some things people like to say about the Yankees, Steinbrenner, Clemens, etc., but cute nonetheless. All things aside, if Clemens can give us 6 IP, 3 ER every night, he can pitch until he's 100, as far as I'm concerned.
Via Peter Abraham.
