Bronx, N.Y., April 26, 2915; Yankees 6, Mets 4 — Well, the Yankees won the Battle of New York, part one, in 2015, the first home series in which they’ve beaten their crosstown rivals since 2012. But any Yankee fan hoping the team could derail the Mets fan brigade by doing so better rethink it. Down one run, then two, with four innings left, the Flushing-rooting visitors cheered lustily for a team whose offense through the game’s second half consisted of an infield single, a walk, two hit-by-pitches, and reaching on a swinging strike out/wild pitch. Continue reading
Author Archives: Dan McCourt
Yanks Waste No Time
Bronx, N.Y., April 24, 2015; Yankees 6, Mets 1 — Despite the 30-degree wind chill Friday night, New York had a rare occasion to smile at the schedule makers at major league baseball. There has been a lot of drama over the years in The Bronx and Flushing, and all surrounding communities, since Dave Mlicki of the Mets blanked the Yankees 6-0 in the first regular season interleague game between the teams in 1997. Despite a Mets sweep in 2013 and continued success last year, frustrated Mets fans — with their team off to a fantastic start — were itching for an early fight in 2015, and they got it. Continue reading
Shake, Rattle, Rock, and Roll
Bronx, N.Y., April 12, 2015; Yankees 14, Red Sox 4 — The very first road game I ever attended was on April 7, 1969, when as a college student in our nation’s capital, I witnessed my Yankees beat the Senators 8-4 in their home opener at RFK Stadium. Mel Stottlemyre bested Camilo Pascual that day, largely on the strength of back-to-back home runs by Bobby Murcer and Jerry Kenney, the third baseman who would clear just one more fence the rest of the year. In 1970, he doubled that output to four long balls, and hit .193 for the year. Continue reading
Not One Bad Inning
Bronx, N.Y., April 9, 2015; Toronto 6, Yankees 3 — It was easy to think of it, that thing that has reared its ugly head quite a few times since CC Sabathia went from being the Yankee horse — who largely carried them to Championship No. 27 in 2009 — to a pinstriped puzzle. From 2009 through 2012 he won 11, 14, 11, and nine more games, respectively, than he lost, then his 2013 mark slipped to 14-13, before his knee gave way last year at 3-4. Continue reading
Yanks Weather a Win
April 8, 2015, Bronx, N.Y.; Yankees 4, Blue Jays 3 — Fans concerned about the [lack of] Yankee offense following Monday’s opening loss didn’t receive a lot of comfort from Wednesday’s victory in the frigid tundra that passed for the Stadium, but they certainly got an ace outing from Michael Pineda. The line read two runs (one earned) on six hits through six, but the hulking righty really only threw one bad pitch all night. Continue reading
Choice of Three
Bronx, N.Y., April 6, 2015; Blue Jays 6, Yankees 1 — The Yankees and their fans awoke to a gorgeous sunny day Monday. It wasn’t actually warm, but weather featuring temps in the low 60s is better than we’ve come to expect for Opening Day of the baseball season in the Bronx in early April. Masahiro Tanaka was poised to take the start, and a mostly new infield was in place to help initiate a new Yankee era. Continue reading
Baseball Among Friends
Sarasota, Fla., March 10, 2015 — The Yanks traveled south to play the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota Tuesday. The ballpark has been there for years, with several teams — including the White Sox and the Reds — serving as Spring tenants, but the city and the O’s have teamed to make an unadorned diamond into something of a jewel. But neither can take credit for the gorgeous blue sky, the white puffy clouds, or the 85 degree temps we enjoyed on a perfect day. Continue reading
The March of Time
March 9, 2015, Tampa, Fla. — The Yanks hosted the Tampa Rays Monday afternoon under bright sun, some high clouds, and 82 degrees worth of heat. The home team fielded what could be their opening day lineup, while the Rays’ traveling squad included several of the name players their nondescript offense will feature in 2015. Neither team knocked the cover off the ball, and each scored when the other was struggling on defense. The Rays out-errored the Yanks 2-1, and the Yanks won the game, 4-3. Continue reading
Cave for the Save
Kissimmee, Fla., March 7, 2015 — For five innings Saturday in Kissimmee, the Yankees were frustrating their fans with more of their 2014 attack. The Friday evening plan featured two singles until three eighth-inning hits produced a run; now a second-inning Mark Teixeira line single and a walk was the sole output. This stood in stark relief against what the Astros had done in their first inning against veteran righthander Scott Baker, a free agent trying to land a spot with the Yanks. Continue reading
The Best and Worst of Times
Port Chester, NY, December 25, 2014 — With apologies to Charles Dickens, end-of-the-year musings can be melancholy ones for long-time fans of the New York Yankees. Though they are enthusiasts for the most successful team in spectator sports history — the happiest of outcomes — most now remember that fiery player and manager Billy Martin passed away on Christmas Day in 1989. This was 15 years before one-time pinstriper Johnny Oates (2004) died on Christmas Eve. And one year ago, slick-fielding first baseman Mike Hegan, who debuted in the Bronx, joined Martin by succumbing on Christmas Day, 2013. Continue reading