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 →

Bronx, N.Y., August 1, 2008 — Following the devastation Anaheim wreaked upon the Yankees Thursday, fans could be forgiven for missing what was the turning point of the Friday night game. Few expected Sidney Ponson’s quick and efficient 11-pitch, top of the first, and before the 54,000-strong throng realized it, the Yanks were set up to take a lead. A 1-0 Derek Jeter single to right following Johnny Damon’s six-pitch leadoff walk against Ervin Santana had the home team set up. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 20, 2008 — Famously, a squirrel cavorted on the right-field foul pole last August as Andy Pettitte was pitching the Yanks to a win in a sweep of the Red Sox. The “Dog Days of August” have not arrived in the 2008 baseball season yet, but it could hardly have been hotter as the Yanks swept the A’s 2-1 behind Pettitte Sunday afternoon. But don’t take my word for it; we spied what could have been the same squirrel scurrying for the shade under a car in Parking Lot 8 after the game. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 18, 2008 — Well, the A’s traded away Joe Blanton, and the Yanks slapped around lefty Greg Smith, who was pressed into duty Friday night in the Bronx after Joe was shipped out. And what chance did the lefty thrower have really, relying on the 88-mph fastball and the change of pace floating in at around 80? The opposition battered him for three hits in the first, one more each in the second and third, then two more in both the fourth and the fifth. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 9, 2008 — The first place Tampa Bay Rays left town late this afternoon after playing 19 innings over two days in a ballpark that historically has not been kind to them. Considering that they scored all of one run while they were here, it was business as usual as the Yanks swept them in a two-game mini-series. Continue reading →