TakeHimDowntown.com

Bronx, N.Y., September 25, 2005 — Overruling the old-time American music classic (and the Kansas State Song), 55,000 screaming fans attending the home finale tilt between the Yankees and the Blue Jays Sunday afternoon could have told you there was nary a “discouraging word” even though “the sky [was] cloudy all day.” The teams engaged in what was a taut, tight, and crisply played game for most of the afternoon. The first four frames lasted barely an hour and it took not 80 pitches to retire the first 24 of 26 batters. At 71 degrees with 46 percent humidity and light breezes, nobody missed the sun all that much. Continue reading No Discouraging Words

Bronx, N.Y., September 23, 2005 — You don’t go on a streak like the Yankees have of late without doing many things right. Since enjoying their last off day of the regular season September 12, they have won 10 of 11, accepting contributions from virtually every member of their roster to keep the winning going. They took the field against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first of three Friday night having won four straight, and finally in first place by a full game. Continue reading Let the Good Times Roll

NEW YORK, N.Y., September 19, 2005 — Sure, it was another beautiful night in the Bronx, as the Yanks hosted the Orioles to start a seven-game homestand Monday, the last regular-season stand of the year. Yes, the Bombers have been hanging in tight in both the AL East and Wild Card races, and the just-concluded 5-1 road trip moved their record to a level over .500 closer to what they and their fans have become accustomed. And sure, the usual 50,000-plus flocked to Yankee Stadium to welcome them back, and to hopefully root them on to the 2005 postseason. Continue reading A ‘Grounded’ Performance

Bronx, N.Y., September 11, 2005 — The Yankees and Red Sox spent the first two games of this crucial September series in the Bronx apparently trying to make the point that neither team is set up to coast in October. David Wells made mistakes in the zone Friday night and his fieldmates made four errors behind him in an 8-4 Yankee win. Then the Yankees followed three ineffective frames by August pickup Shawn Chacon by throwing away the game in a six-run fourth inning Saturday afternoon. Continue reading In Arms’ Way

Bronx, N.Y., September 9, 2005 — Just when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays had us shaking our heads wondering if this Yankee team can bring this season to a successful conclusion, the Bombers go out and hammer a top opponent in a big game. They did it behind the pitching of a journeyman starter who did not get a chance until such luminaries as Darrel May and Tim Redding had taken bows, and thanks to the offense of a catcher who has struggled mightily most of this year. Continue reading Small Ball, Big Game

Bronx, N.Y., September 5, 2005 — It was a 7:08 first pitch Wednesday night, and a 7:10 first “Boo!”, as Jaret Wright started a nightmare of an inning by walking Julio Lugo on five pitches. Three pitches later, Carl Crawford had bunted for a hit, Wright had thrown the ball down the right field line, and both Lugo and Crawford had scored on Jorge Cantu’s first-pitch single to right. Tack on four more throws, and you get a popup, a Jonny Gomes triple off the right field wall with Gary Sheffield injured, and a sac fly for a 4-0 deficit. But hey, the weather was great. Continue reading The Yanks Show Heart