The only good news about a 7-3 Yankee loss to the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., on March 2, 2024, was that the youngsters saved them from the shutout by scoring all three runs in the top of the ninth. Continue reading →
The Yankees used an Everson Pereira two-run homer and an Anthony Rizzo grand slam (first pitch, following three consecutive walks) to take a 6-2 lead in an eventual 8-4 final over visiting Toronto on March 1, 2024, but this would not be a good day in Yankee camp. Ace Gerrit Cole allowed a single, home runs, triple with two down in the top of the first, and was removed, though in weird Spring Training fashion, Cole returned to pitch the second. But the tightness that he experienced in the first was not a minor matter, and he would spend much of the upcoming season on the Injured List. Continue reading →
Years ago, much of the Yankee controversy spun around the late George Steinbrenner and his criticism of Derek Jeter regarding his level of intensity and commitment to his game. It seemed a tempest in a teapot when they did a series of Visa commercials together lampooning the alleged late-night partying, and then suddenly, Jeter was named team captain. Although I’m sure no one knew that Alex Rodriguez would be joining him on the left side of the Yankee infield soon, the timing of Derek’s receipt of this honor before that trade was fortuitous. These musings flow from the fact that it was February 28 in 1991 that Don Mattingly became the 10th Yankee captain. Donnie, who served in that capacity through 1995, his last year in Pinstripes, arrived on the scene as hitting coach the same year Jeter began his first full season holding that title. Donnie served as Joe Torre‘s bench coach for the Dodgers in 2007-2009, then took over as manager, and joined the Marlins in that capacity in 2016. Continue reading →
The 2024 Yankees took their first Spring Training loss on February 27, in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Rays in Port Charlotte. A home run from First baseman Jose Rojas and Anthony Volpe‘s RBI double tied the game at two, but the Rays took it with a third tally in the sixth. Continue reading →
With the birthday of the Warrior Paul O’Neill just yesterday and Don Mattingly having become Joe Torre‘s bench coach after several seasons as the Yankees batting coach during this time in 2007, and his replacement as manager with LA in 2011, it would be easy to wax nostalgic about the day some of our favorite players wore the Pinstripes for the last time. The fact that Donnie was wearing Dodger Blue with Torre in 2008 and 2009, and continued to until recently, and was with Miami when he won Manager of the Year, adds to the reverie. But perhaps no day in Yankee history is as fraught with that form of bittersweet musing than February 26, 1935. That is the day the Yankees released the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, so he could sign on with the Boston Braves of the National League. Of his 714 career homers and 2,213 rbi’s, the Bambino collected six and 12, respectively with the 1935 Braves.
The Juan Soto love fest carried into his second game when the right fielder chipped in with two, two-run doubles in the Yankees’ 9-2 victory over visiting Minnesota on February 26, 2024. Up 4-2, the Bombers put this one away with a five-run seventh, highlighted by Jorbit Vivas‘s three-run tater.
With Tino Martinez throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and Carlos Rodon and Aaron Judge wearing high sox with their pinstriped unis, the Yankees vanquished the visiting Blue Jays 12-6 in their Spring home opener on February 25, 2024. Surprisingly, Rodon pitched into the third inning, netting five punch outs before surrendering a home run to Alejandro Kirk, and Juan Soto drew early raves with a three-run bomb in the fourth. The home team scored in five frames, while Toronto did most of its damage with a five-run seventh. Continue reading →
You hear it every year, why even look at stats and game results from Spring Training; I’m here to argue, because it’s just too much fun not to. Starting the 2024 campaign on the road in Lakeland to play the Tigers, Luis Gil got off to a decent start, striking out three in two frames, but Andy Ibanez reached him for a two run bomb. But the Bombers took over with three-run second and third innings, the first featuring a home run for new Yankee outfielder Trent Grisham. As is often the case, the game got uglier late, as the visiting Bombers tacked on four in the eighth and eight more in the ninth. more than making up for the four spot Detroit added in the bottom of the ninth of a 22-10 Yankee victory. Continue reading →
On February 23, 1954, the Yanks sold righty Vic Raschi to the Cards. Vic’s career winning percentage of .667 rises over .700 if his eight years in Pinstripes are isolated, and he played on six Yankee World Series teams, all winners, with four over the Dodgers, one the Giants, and the other the Phillies. Continue reading →
Opening their Spring Training season at George M. Steinbrenner Field a surprising one day earlier than they had in 2018, the Yankees hosted the Blue Jays on February 22, 2020. Their pitching was good, starting with six up, six down by J.A. Happ, but the bats showed up barely, and late. Rosell Herrera‘s third-inning single stood by itself until a two-out double in the seventh, and first baseman Chris Gittens‘s lead off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Toronto, who strangely brought almost their entire Opening Day lineup on the road for this first exhibition, plated the winning run in a 2-1 victory on a double steal in a four-steal seventh inning against southpaw Luis Avilan. It was just 55 degrees in Tampa; feel sorry for me? Continue reading →
Much is made of the Yankees’ current penchant for trading younger prospects for older players, particularly in light of the way they appear to be turning those tables of late. But you can find examples of the Yankees acquiring senior players throughout their history. On February 21, 1904, the Highlanders (as they were called at the time) purchased 40-year-old catcher Deacon McGuire from the Detroit Tigers. McGuire would drive in 67 runs and steal eight bases in New York over the next four years. Continue reading →
