Bronx, N.Y., July 24, 2011 – The Yanks took the rubber game of their three-gamer with the A’s Sunday afternoon, prevailing in a way they could not the day before: They took a solid start from a vet and made it stand up. The Bombers couldn’t overcome the two-run third-inning homer off A.J. Burnett by Josh Willingham, coupled with the relentless bat of Hideki Matsui, on Saturday. But they achieved a 7-5 win this day despite an early two-run rally against Bartolo Colon, and the 5-for-5 day the 2009 World Series MVP threw at them. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 10, 2011 – For the second time in almost three years, I was invited to spend extra time in a Yankee Stadium on an unforgettable day on Saturday afternoon and, just as I had done in September 2008, I took full advantage. Smiling contentedly from the depths of my being listening to the father behind us explain how he and the family should book so they could beat the traffic, I had relaxed and listened to Joe Girardi, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter explain just how special a day I had just experienced. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 9, 2011 – OK. I’m the happiest person, and Yankee fan, on the planet about now, and I can’t stop smiling. But the 5-4 Yankee win over the Tampa Rays Saturday afternoon, and Derek Jeter’s part in it, has me in a bit of a bind. I’m my Irish father’s son, and we don’t just celebrate our great days – we exaggerate them. As sure as the six-foot sub I served my family three decades ago zoomed to an incredible 25 feet, there’s some embellishment coming. But how to manage it? Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 7, 2011 – That’s about all there is to say coming off a lifeless – make that L I F E L E S S – 5-1 loss to the Tampa Rays in Yankee Stadium Thursday night. The Rays scored early, sneaking a bouncer past Mark Teixeira at first that he’ll catch nine out of 10 times, and Nick Swisher, whose right field play of late has been stellar, had trouble with the wall down the line for the second time in two weeks, and Ben Zobrist had a triple. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 30, 2011 – I would never have admitted it going in, but I really loved the Yankees’ chances for the three-game sweep of the visiting Brewers Thursday afternoon. And it wasn’t just that the Yanks had just beaten Milwaukee’s twin 7-2 (going in, 7-3 leaving) aces in the first two gamers of the series. Randy Wolf is a veteran southpaw, the kind of hurler that often has success in the ballparks in the Bronx, and the NL Central first-place Brewers must have been spoiling a for a fight off a bumbling loss in game 1, and a largely hitless one in the second contest. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., 2011 – For the majority of the 46,000-plus populating Yankee Stadium on a glorious Wednesday night, the Yankee 5-2 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers was an enjoyable win over a team the Yanks rarely see. The Bombers have played the Brew Crew two straight, faced back-to-back 7-2 aces, and have beaten both. And they moved two more games up on the Red Sox in first place in the AL East. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 28, 2011 – The Tuesday contest between the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and the Yankees in the Stadium was an intriguing one on several levels, and not just because each club sits atop its division. With many a Yankee fan clamoring for starting pitching help over the winter, the Yanks never really set their sights on the available KC Royal righty Zack Greinke once the Cliff Lee plans were foiled, much to the displeasure of some of theiir fans. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 26, 2011 – The weather gods smiled on the Bronx Sunday afternoon on one of the most special Yankee days of the year, as the Old Timers came and entertained us – and each other – yet again. Five Yankee widows and 47 Old Timers were feted, and retiring Yankee trainer Gene Monahan came in for special attention. Before the longtime Yankee staffer was given a string of gifts including a Garth Brooks 10-gallon hat and concert, a multi-signed Nascar helmet, a trip to the Alps, a sitdown lawnmower and a Ford truck (perhaps with a dog?), laughing taped interviews with stars like Derek Jeter – “he’s been here 100 years, I think” – and Don Mattingly – “he worked on Babe Ruth, you know” – set a loving and comical tone. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 16, 2011 – The Yankees finished a sweep of the Texas Rangers Wednesday afternoon in, yes, the first true hot afternoon of baseball of the season. They got great outings from two pitchers who weren’t even in the organization a few days ago, and completed what started as an 0-3 homestand at 6-4. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 15, 2011 – The Yankees played the part of very poor hosts yet again Wednesday night, humiliating the Rangers with yet another blowout. Texas manager Ron Washington was forced to call on three relievers once the Yank abused a quality starter for the second night running, although this time they more pestered southpaw Derek Holland to distraction rather drove him out, as they had with Alexi Ogando after he retired just five batters the night before. Continue reading →