Bronx, N.Y., September 21, 2008 — At the end of a full day packed with time-consuming activity, hours of circumspection, and symbolic representations of heroism and excellence, the south Bronx was treated to a dazzling view Sunday night. The half moon rose above the left field outfield facade right after Mariano Rivera had put the finishing touches on a 7-3 Yankee win. The metaphor could hardly have been more apt: Five days removed from an almost blinding harvest moon, the orb was bathed in otherwordly colors, but the fact that half the show was missing from view spoke volumes as well. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., September 14, 2008 — Despite the fact that the Yanks cashed in a rollicking 8-4 victory over the Tampa Rays Sunday afternoon under steamy skies, the hot and humid weather was not the only unpleasent presence wafting over the Stadium. Alex Rodriguez was lustily booed just two innings after he homered for 100 rbi’s, and starter Carl Pavano received mostly derision after he tweaked his hip in the sixth, even though he left the game as the pitcher of record on the winning side. Further, Joe Girardi pulled Robbie Cano after he made a nice play to escape an ugly fourth inning, even if was the second baseman’s particularly lackadaisical play that set it all up. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 31, 2008 — One of the two good things that can be said about the Yankee 6-2 loss to Toronto Sunday afternoon is that for the most part it was over in the very first inning before fans had too much time to invest their dreams, screams, and hopes. Following a disturbing pattern established earlier in the week against Boston, Andy Pettitte walked one early, and the game went downhill from there. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 29, 2008 — The good news was that coming off a 16-month injury hiatus last weekend, Yankee righthander Carl Pavano had thrown well enough for a win. The bad news? “Well enough” would not be good enough vs. A.J. Burnett and the visiting Blue Jays Friday night. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 28, 2008 — Nobody has to tell a Yankee fan that it has been a bad year in the Bronx, and yet another bad week as well. And if it’s been bad for the team and the fans, it’s been even worse for freshman manager Joe Girardi. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 17, 2008 — Fifteen days ago on Old Timers Day in the Bronx, the Yankees suffered an early tense moment following the festivities in the game with the playoff-bound Anaheim Angels. Jered Weaver had just struck out the side in the bottom of the first, and a single and double by the first two batters in the second set Anaheim up with second and third with no outs. A grounder and walk later, second baseman Wilson Betemit’s bad throw allowed two runs to cross. Mike Mussina shrugged, and calmly retired the next 16 batters he faced. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 15, 2008 — The poor play and ineffective offense continued for the Yankees Friday night, as they lost a heartbreaker at home to one of the few teams they should be expected to beat of late. Kansas City broke a 3-3 tie with yet another run against Mariano Rivera in a tie game and, despite Joakim Soria’s and fate’s determined efforts to let the Yanks back in the game, they lost 4-3. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 3, 2008 — Everything went pretty much as expected through the first half of Sunday’s Angels/Yankees game in the Bronx, which is to say the hometeam was in trouble. Halos starter John Lackey had pitched a one-hit shutout in Boston last time out, and he was blanking the Yanks on three singles through four. On the other hand, struggling number five Yankees starter Darrell Rasner was beset by 10 baserunners and five runs already. Continue reading →