Bronx, N.Y., May 1, 2010 — A great night was anticipated Friday in the Bronx. Not only were the seemingly never home Yankees returning to start a brief homestand following a nine-game, 10-day trip, but warm and dry temps were expected as well. It was almost 70 degrees and sunny in the afternoon, so we were confident in one half of the equation. Continue reading
Author Archives: Dan McCourt
Tex and the Texan
"Wily, gritty, gutsy"--Pick your adjective. It's why Yankee fans are happy when Pettitte is on the mound.
Bronx, N.Y., April 18, 2010 — Five days ago, Andy Pettitte whipped Anaheim in the 2010 Stadium opener featuring a killer curve that netted him six strike outs in the first four innings. It was a different Pettitte who took the mound Sunday, mixing every pitch he had and searching for a few more to get the right combo against a game Texas team out to avoid a sweep.
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Northern Inhospitality
His two hard singles started rallies, and Jorge collected his 1500th career hit today.
Bronx, N.Y., April 17, 2010 — There’s no better way to say it. Ignoring all the pregame reportage regarding the surging Texas Rangers and in particular hurler Scott Feldman, the Yankees couldn’t have treated the second-year hurler more rudely. After he was extended to 23 pitches in the first on a walk and a single, Jorge Posada drilled the young righthander’s first pitch of the second for a long single into right center. None of the following 37 pitches were hit particularly hard, but by the time it took Feldman that many to escape the second frame down 2-0, you knew his day was largely over. Continue reading
Honor Robinson? Can[d]o
Bronx, N.Y., April 16, 2010 — The Yankees took the rubber game of their third straight three-game series Thursday night, beating Anaheim 6-2 in a game that turned listless once Yankee power had taken control. All of major league baseball honored Jackie Robinson this day, the 63rd anniversary of the day that he broke the color barrier in baseball. But the Yankees took it one step further, as their second baseman, who has carried the first name “Robinson” in honor of Jackie his whole life, hit two home runs and drove in three runs against Anaheim lefty Scott Kazmir. Rewarded with the number five spot in the order beginning this season, Robinson Cano has been on fire at the plate.
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Time Loves a Hero
The mutual respect of two of the classiest professionals Yankee fans have ever known shines through.
Bronx, N.Y., April 13, 2010 — The Yankees and their fans celebrated last year’s Championship at the home opener in the Bronx Tuesday afternoon with a 7-5 win over the visiting Anaheim Angels. The team had all-timers Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra on hand to help hand out the rings to the victorious players. With the Championship Number 27 banner blowing in the breeze, Broadway’s Kristin Chenoweth’s rendition of the National Anthem was crowned by a Navy Phantoms flyover, and Bernie Williams tossed out the first pitch. Continue reading
A Southpaw Steps Forward
Well, the Yankee bats came so awake Monday that it took two ballparks in two cities to contain them. And they made some noise Tuesday as well. But the pitchers “dropped the ball” in a 12 -7 loss to the Pirates, the team’s first loss in three games with Pittsburgh. Ace CC Sabathia, throwing mostly hard stuff, surrendered four runs and a team cycle to the first four Pirates hitters, with right fielder Garret Jones delivering the last three runs on a three-run shot into the two-year-old Tampa Tribune deck beyond George M. Steinbrenner Field’s right field wall. Continue reading
Wecome Back, Javy
It was hardly what any Yankee fan still reeling from what took place in October 2004 wanted to see. It didn’t help that Jimmy Rollins took Javy Vazquez’s first pitch over the George M. Steinbrenner Field wall in right field in front of a crowd swarming with Phillies fans. And Vazquez was pitching for a team that hadn’t won since its Spring opener five days ago. In that time the Yankees have been swamped by teams putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard, having been reached for a six-run inning once and two five-run onslaughts. Continue reading
Catch a Buzz
This was the advice from the very popular beer guy at Dunedin Stadium where we witnessed the Blue Jays host the Tigers Sunday afternoon. As it turned out, it was a wise move to blow off the three-hour trip to see the Yankees embarrassed by the Twins in Ft. Myers. It was on this day in 1857 that baseball decided that a game would constitute nine innings, not nine runs. Reverse that rule and two of the last three Yankee losses would have ended early. Continue reading
Waiting for Good Play
Well, the weather in Tampa and the Yankee play continued heading in two different directions Saturday afternoon, as the home-standing pinstripers took it on the chin from the Blue Jays, 9-1. But although the offense continues to struggle, much of the day’s trouble can be tied to one unfortunate bullpen outing. Continue reading
Beware the Fifth of March
I have to imagine that, like most sports figures who experienced success early in life, Joba Chamberlain must have a nice collection of memorabilia. For his sake, I hope it’s not calendar-based, because if it is, March 5 has to be shaping up as one of his least favorite days. A year ago, for instance, he started a game against an undermanned Team Canada from the World Baseball Classic. Five batters, four walks and 28 pitches in, Joe Girardi removed him with no one out in a six-run inning in a game where Canada held on to win 6-0. Continue reading