Author Archives: Dan McCourt

Double-Barreled Baseball

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Hiroki Kuroda threw eight first-pitch strikes to 12 batters, and struck out two in three scoreless innings.

Dunedin and Tampa, Fla., March 12, 2012 – Another great day in West Florida, even if the second of two games we witnessed had the Yanks drop a 4-3 nail-biter. (Yes, I know they’re exhibitions, but I defy any true fan to see one like this in person and not get wrapped up in the outcome.) After watching the Blue Jays beat the Orioles under bright sunny low-eighties skies in Dunedin, we returned to Tampa for a three-hour-plus war of attrition between the Yankees and the Houston Astros. Continue reading →

The Seeds of Victory

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Leading the way as you would expect him to, CC threw first-pitch strikes to 10 straight batters.

Tampa, Fla., March 11, 2012 – A split squad of Yankees led by the staff ace and the starting infield treated a visiting split squad of Phillies pretty shabbily in a 3-0 shutout Sunday afternoon, while three hours south a traveling B squad dropped a game vs. the Twins. A day in Tampa that started with dark ominous clouds hanging over George M. Steinbrenner Field became a winner, as the intermittent cloud cover gave welcome periods of cool shade and little else.

Even though CC Sabathia walked shortstop Michael Martinez to begin the game, he set the tone by throwing strikes, finding the zone on the first pitch to the next 10 batters. Following his two-hit, three-inning outing, the Yanks kicked the stingy meter up a notch, beginning with Mariano Rivera’s first game action of the spring. Continue reading →

As Orlando Burned

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As the skies morphed from overcast to full-on sunshine hot, the entire visiting Yankee squad stretched and prepped for the game ahead.

March 10, 2012, Orlando, Fla. – Despite the threatening clouds that dominated the skyline Saturday morning, gorgeous Champion Field was open and ready for business early. The Braves were hard at batting practice pregame, then the Yankees, both cooking, as would the 10,000-plus fans in attendance at game time, under a glaring sun only intermittently interrupted by big puffy clouds. Continue reading →

A Touch of Class

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Daniel Burawa pauses in his morning throw session as David Phelps prepares to throw.

March 9, 2012, Tampa, Florida – The sun was hot and unrelenting in Tampa Friday as the Yanks, led by three scoreless frames from veteran righty Freddy Garcia, cruised to victory against a visiting squad from the Atlanta Braves. The largely absent Yankee offense made an appearance and, even if 3-0 doesn’t sound that impressive, the home team did force outfielders Michael Bourn and Jose Constanza, in center and left respectively, to repetitively retreat to the wall on a series of well-launched missiles. Continue reading →

…Where We Left Off

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This was Jorge Vasquez going yard in back-to-back games in 2011, but today he gave the Yanks the lead with a sixth-inning single.

March 2, 2012, Westchester County, NY – It was terrific and cathartic, as it always is, when I watched the first game of the Yankees’ 2012 Spring Training season on MLB Saturday afternoon. Granted, I’ve become used to seeing these live, but I can adjust until we go down next week, and however you see it, the first game is the first game. I’ve been through this many, many times, and I know it’s not about winning these games; it’s about the sun, the grass, the field, the new players: Hope springs eternal. Continue reading →

Jorge Knows How to Walk Off

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Exhibiting confidence and pride on a bitterweet day, Jorge spoke frankly about his career, and his proudest moments.

Bronx, N.Y., January 24, 2012 – Jorge Posada made it official Tuesday morning, announcing his retirement as he sat with his family in front of a crowd of worshippers at Yankee Stadium. Team officials, players, ex-players, broadcasters, members of the press and, most important of all, a group of his most passionate fans listened to Posada explain what his 21 years toiling in the franchise, 17 of them in the big leagues, has meant to him, and how bringing it all to a graceful conclusion makes him feel. Continue reading →

Not Baseball, But Not Bad

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The moon appeared early in the fourth period, shortly before a blocked punt decided the game.

The moon appeared early in the fourth period, shortly before a blocked punt decided the game.

Bronx, N.Y., November 12, 2011 – The Rutgers/Army football game in Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon was actually a quite competitive, though not particularly exciting, contest. Both teams missed extra points, and the Scarlet Knights place kicker whiffed badly on a chip shot field goal. But the failed extra point was much more injurious to the Army effort because it left them down a point, 13-12, as the game drew to its closing minutes. Continue reading →

Ca-Nova Stalls Detroit

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Bronx, New York, October 1, 2011 – Well, it took 26 hours and 55 minutes, four “starting” pitchers and two entrances to (and exits from) the Stadium, but the Yankees have finally taken the first game of their 2011 ALDS battle against the Tigers. The game was halted by a monsoon Friday night, and rains threatened to mess with the Saturday restart as well, but as it turned out all the fans and players had to contend with was bone-chilling cold. Continue reading →

Roger, Freddy, and Jesus

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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, Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, and Yogi Berra. Continue reading →

I-Van and the Grandy Man

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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 two of the ALDS. Continue reading →