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Roger, Freddy, and Jesus

Dan McCourt — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:49:13 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 24, 2011 – The celebration of the 50th anniversary of Roger Maris’s 61st home run, delayed from the rain-drenched Friday night, went off without a hitch Saturday afternoon, even better perhaps because this day was exactly one week from the actual anniversary, which falls after the regular season ends. The Maris family and two of Mickey Mantle’s sons took to the field following the announcements of Maris teammates Bob Cerv, Bobby Richardson,

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I-Van and the Grandy Man

Dan McCourt — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:19:43 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 20, 2011 – The Yanks won their second straight game of a homestand that they hope will witness their clinching of the AL East crown and home field in the upcoming ALDS and ALCS. And they did it behind yet another masterful outing from Ivan Nova, a rookie right-hander who pushed his season mark to 16-4, and all but guaranteed that he’ll be toeing the same mound on October 1 in game

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That Winning Feeling

Dan McCourt — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:57:47 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 19, 2011 – My friends and loved ones are not buying it, but I’m here to tell you, the 6-4 Yankee win over Minnesota wasn’t just a baseball party on a gorgeous afternoon, capped by a moment for the ages.

True, the home team received some very encouraging news on some position players, a mystery starter turned in a few innings better than most we’ve witnessed in the Bronx all year,

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Batman and Robinson

Dan McCourt — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:34:10 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 5, 2011 – What began as a quiet September callup rewarding a year of good service, and auditioning for the big club, has dramatically morphed into a debut with all the subtlety of Sherman’s March to the Sea. Joining his new teammates four days ago in a cramped visitors’ clubhouse in Fenway sure not to be too much of a culture shock for a guy plying his trade in the minors, Jesus

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CC and the Cap

Dan McCourt — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:55:12 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 4, 2011 – Showing no signs of his 128-pitch effort in Boston Tuesday, staff ace CC Sabathia did exactly what he was supposed to Sunday afternoon, dominating the visting Blue Jays into the eighth inning in a 9-3 Yankee win. The fourth-place Jays (with a record good enough for third in four of the other five divisions) reached him for base hits early, but not as often as he was striking them

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Ivan Not Terrible

Dan McCourt — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 05:41:46 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., September 2, 2011 – Ivan Nova survived a shaky first inning Friday night with a big helping hand from Brett Gardner. Nova was plenty good all by himself going forward from that point, but was so was Toronto’s Brandon Morrow, so it’s a good thing Gardner continued to be in a helpful mood. Brett’s sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot in the home third, equaled an early Blue Jays

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The Longest Day

Dan McCourt — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:56:36 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., August 25, 2011 – It was a day of extremes at Yankee Stadium Thursday afternoon. The skies opened in the morning, making the legions of fans traveling to the park wonder if they were wasting their time. Despite discouraging weather repors, however, the rain slowed, then stopped, although intermittent showers continued through the early hours of the game.

“Early hours?” Yes, I said early hours. Those in attendance were about to experience a

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Bronx Quake

Dan McCourt — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:53:51 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., August 24, 2011 – Perhaps the most convincing, and simultaneously bizarre, argument supporting Curtis Granderson as the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player is emerging in Yankee Stadium this week. If Curtis doesn’t hit, the Yankees don’t win. Team captain Derek Jeter has gone 6-for-8 over two nights, teammate Nick Swisher has homered three times for five runs, and Robinson Cano has extended the Yankees’ longest 2011 hitting streak to 15 games. Still

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The Thrill or the Agony

Dan McCourt — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:22:38 +0000

Bronx, N.Y., August 23, 2011 – The oft-injured A’s righty Brandon McCarthy put on such a mesmerising clinic on throwing strikes in the A’s 6-5 win in Yankee Stadium Monday night that for all intents and purposes it appeared the Yankee offense took the first seven innings off. Of course they did not. In fact, as my scorecard incredulously tells me, McCarthy had just one solitary one-two-three inning through seven-plus (although a base hit,

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Hip Hip

Dan McCourt — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:44:03 +0000

The plaque on the crystal vase given to Jeter spelled out what this was all about.

Bronx, N.Y., August 13, 2011 – Just when Yankee fans were thinking it was safe to put aside the offense and devote all their attention to the starting rotation, a familiar figure rode into town Saturday and stole the show, driving in six runs in a 9-2 win. The all but gone Jorge Posada took his turn in the

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