7th Inning Star War

Bronx, N.Y., May 15, 2010 — The Yankees, a team that has had its share of run-ins with Hall of Famer and mlb disciplinarian Frank Robinson, would do well to steer clear of any punishable behavior on May 14. Sixteen years ago on this day, ex-Yankee Dave Winfield supplanted Robinson for 12th place on the career rbi list. Friday night, Alex Rodriguez blasted his way past Robby to move into seventh place on the all-time home run list. I’d suggest the Yanks be on their best behavior in the coming days. Continue reading

Hughes Comes Up Huge

Bronx, N.Y., May 2, 2010 — It would be easy to misunderstand how the Yankees overcame the White Sox in the third of three in Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Bombers blasted the White Sox, it’s true, running up a 12-0 lead before Mark Melancon allowed a meaningless three-run home run in the ninth inning. They amassed 16 hits, blasted three home runs (none of them of questionable length), and Yankee batters reached base 22 times in eight frames. Continue reading

Let’s Call It a Sycle

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

Tex and the Texan

"Wily, gritty, gutsy"--Pick your adjective. It's why Yankee fans are happy when Pettitte is on the mound.

"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

Jorge Posada

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

Robinson CanoBronx, 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

Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui

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

The Girardi Bunch

Bronx, N.Y., September 30, 2009 — The Yankees and their fans continued the lovefest that originated in the Boston sweep over the weekend and continued through walkoff win number 15 from Tuesday on Wednesday night in the Bronx, even if the game result was a tad disappointing. With the AL East title and best record in baseball already assured, they hoped to continue the positive vibe, and a loss resulting in a 5-1 homestand stood no chance of dampening the spirits permeating the park. Continue reading

Taking Care of Business

Bronx, N.Y., September 27, 2009 — The Yankees and the Red Sox saved their best for last in the three-game weekend series, but it didn’t matter. Hard rains all morning were the more effective block to the home team clinching the AL East. But once a packed Stadium waited out a one-hour delay the Yanks did a day’s work and came away with a 4-2 victory for their 100th season win, a three-game sweep of their opponents, and the Division title. Continue reading

‘s Wonderful

Bronx, N.Y., September 26, 2009 — The Yankees moved within one game of 100 wins and also reduced their magic number for clinching the AL East to one with a 3-0 win over the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon. Staff ace CC Sabathia brought his “A” game and copped his 19th win with seven innings of shutout ball. Then Manager Joe Girardi called on the eight inning/ninth inning combo he hopes to use to bring the team its 27th Championship: eighth inning by youngster Phil Hughes, ninth inning by Mariano Rivera, the best closer the game has ever known. Continue reading