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
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. 
It was fitting that Thursday’s Yankees/Phillies contest in Clearwater saw the teams come up with just five hits and no runs between them through six innings, as the nine hurlers who carried the action to that point were led by Philly’s Roy “Doc” Hallday and CC Sabathia from the the Yankees, two of the very best pitchers in major league baseball. Home-standing Halladay, in particular, was midseason nasty, retiring six of seven batters around a Placido Polanco error on 22 pitches, with three strike outs and no walks, while throwing first-pitch strikes to every guy. 
Everyone seemed to be ready to settle into Opening Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field Wednesday afternoon quietly, feeling their way, making a mistake here and there, and zipping through a pitching-dominated game. The lowly Pirates were the visitors, with some interesting one-time Yankees in tow, and the crowd size was minimized by the 55-degree temps, a whipping wind and the all-too-intermittent burst of sun.