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
Author Archives: Dan McCourt
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
Gather Ye Walkoffs …
August 24, 2014, Bronx, N.Y. — A Yankee season in disrepair took another baby step toward redemption Sunday afternoon, as the “Bombers” took out the visiting White Sox, 7-4 in 10 innings, for a three-game sweep, and a barely acceptable 4-2 record on a homestand vs. two very challenged ballclubs. The win hardly leaves them looking pretty, but they’re in better shape than they were four days ago. Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Mr. Greene
August 7, 2014, Bronx, N.Y. — After going 2-0, in effect, against three Detroit Cy Young winners in succession, relying on veteran hurlers, the Yanks hosted the Bengals in an even more tight, tense contest — if that’s possible — on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon today. But this time the home team handed the ball to 25-year-old rookie Shane Greene, taking on veteran Rick Porcello, 13-5 on the season, in Greene’s sixth major league start. Continue reading
The Towering Inferno
July 20, 2012, Bronx, N.Y. — It’s hard not to feel good about the three-game sweep of the Reds by the home-standing Yanks coming out of the All Star break, particularly in light of the five straight losses the team suffered to conclude their last home stand. Those losses, one uglier than the next, handed the “Bombers” a home mark five games under .500, their lowest standing in that respect in decades. Continue reading
S O(ffense) S
Bronx, N.Y., June 27, 2014 — Yankee fans were doubly concerned as the team welcomed the rival Red Sox to town for the first of three Friday night. The 2014 season has been a struggle in the Bronx. The team’s infield defense has been weak, three starters have been disabled, and key offensive performers are having bad years. It’s enough problems to forget about the opponent. From the fan’s standpoint, the team is fighting their own shortcomings, trying to succeed in areas where they have often been failing all year. Continue reading
The Art and Science of Sports Journalism
Port Chester, N.Y., June 26, 2014 — A long-winded and boring-sounding title for the event hosted at the Port Chester/Rye Brook Public Library Thursday evening, but this off night on the Yankees schedule was a blast. One of the laments six Yankee beat reporters shared with us is that in 2014, there really never is a moment that they’re not on the job — a tweeted report of an injury, a trade, a player release is potentially just seconds away. Continue reading