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
Author Archives: Dan McCourt
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
Dreading the Day
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. Continue reading
Not Game Seven…
…of the 2009 World Series (rumor has it that that’s over?) but even in March it’s hard not to get excited about Doc Halladay vs. CC Sabathia in Clearwater Thursday afternoon. Expect to see Randy Winn and Nick Swisher, perhaps Robbie Cano too. None of them played in the Opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field Wednesday. I expect Joe Girardi will bring a representative team (at least to start) on the 20-minute drive.
The Yanks could face ex-pinstriper Jose Contreras too, while it’s doubtful ex-Phillie and new Yankee signee Chan Ho Park is ready for game action yet.
Will be cool, windy but sunny yet again. Stay tuned.
YANKEE BASEBALL!!!
Walkoffs W-e-e!visited
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. Continue reading
Thinkin’ Tampa
When Chad Gaudin delivers his first pitch to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon, it will mark the 15th Spring Training Opener since the Yankees moved preseason prep facilities to Tampa from Fort Lauderdale in 1996. The opponent that March 1 was the reigning American League Champion Cleveland Indians, and things got off to an inauspicious beginning. Continue reading
It Happens Before Spring
With all apologies to a movie with special effects that bring a smile and the genuine heart and humor of baseball (It Happens Every Spring, of course), I’m delighted to announce the fourth annual Maple Street Yankee Annual, this one subheaded 2010 Continue reading
Hey, Gorgeous!
We are the champions... In Asia just three days earlier, the World Series trophy made a road trip to Westchester this weekend.
White Plains, NY, February 6, 2010 Hello Excellence, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.
With apologies to Paul Simon, those words, and others just like them, whirled through my head on Saturday, February 6, as we made the trip to White Plains to see the New York Yankee World Series Trophy in person. The predicted snow had stopped south of Westchester County, and when we arrived we had just a 25-minute wait until it was our turn. Continue reading
Welcome Back, Jimmy
Al Kooper's birthday bash at B.B. King's
We experienced the only high side (aside from all the hilarious late night fodder we had for weeks) of the ending of the Conan O’Brien stint on the Tonight Show when guitarist Jimmy Vivino joined the Al Kooper 66th birthday celebration at B.B. King’s Friday night. Jimmy, member of the seminal New York band Prisoners of 2nd Avenue, one fourth of the excellent Beatles cover band the Fab Faux and a regular at Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles in the barn in homey Woodstock, has been on the wrong coast almost continuously since Al’s 65th celebration last year, and New York has missed him. Continue reading