Clearwater, FL, March 1 — Yankee fans have a lot of change to adapt to in 2008. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are replacing their aging father at the helm. Joe Girardi slips into the manager’s chair, vacated by Joe Torre after 12 years. And the team opted not to trade young pitching for an older experienced stud. Continue reading
All But One Pass a College Test
Tampa, FL, February 29 — A few years back, the Houston Astros broke a long streak and lots of Yankee fan hearts when they strung together a no-hitter against the Bombers, the first no-hitter in major league history shared by six pitchers. Friday, six of the Yanks’ most promising new arms allowed one single among them, pitching to just 25 batters in eight innings of an 11-4 victory. Continue reading
Wintry Stadium(s) Day
Bronx, N.Y., January 18, 2008 — I’ve been pretty deep in thought since my annual pilgrimage to Yankee Stadium over the New Year holiday this year, but the news (and pictures) about the name “Yankee Stadium” being added to the new edifice across 161st Street has prodded me to share some thoughts and photos. It’s always with a somewhat sentimental turn of mind that I take these midwinter trips to the Bronx. I feel reassured paying off my season plan invoice in person, it’s true, but there is also something contemplative about seeing a great baseball venue in the throes of winter. Continue reading
An Orwellian (1984) Dilemma
Bronx, N.Y., January 6, 2008 — Hall of Fame selection days have been frustrating and disconcerting trials for some ballplayers, an annual cycle in raised then banished hopes that ex-Yank closer Goose Gossage hopes to escape in 2008. It has been a great day for others, though, including one-time Yank Phil Niekro, who celebrates the 10th anniversary of his selection Sunday. Continue reading
In Medias Res
Bronx, N.Y., December 2, 2007 — Heard any good Yankee rumors lately? Just kidding. If you’re breathing and linked to the rest of the planet in the most rudimentary fashion, you know New York (and baseball) is abuzz with the Yanks’ attempts to trade for Minnesota southpaw Johan Santana. And if you have a 24/7 hookup? Well, forget the cold. Back away, step outside and clear your head. Continue reading
Tell-Tale Heart, Bronx Style
Bronx, N.Y., October 7, 2007 — A Yankee season that was imperiled when the Indians beat Chien-Ming Wang in Cleveland was pushed further to the edge by a swarm of gnats Friday night, resulting in an 0-2 record in the five-game ALDS. One wonders how a confident yet nervous Yankee crowd in the Stadium for Game Three Sunday night would have reacted had they known going in that aging vet Roger Clemens would not last three frames. Continue reading
Munsters in Pinstripes
Bronx, N.Y., September 23, 2007 — The good news for the majority of Yankee fans that showed for the rare daygame in the Bronx Monday afternoon was that hard-throwing A.J. Burnett, who had shut out the club in Toronto little more than a week ago, would not be arriving to make his scheduled start. The bad news was that much of the Yankee club did not arrive either, or so it seemed. Continue reading
In the Big Inning(s)
Bronx, N.Y., September 23, 2007 — A favored term among baseball writers not that many years ago was the battery, referring to the day’s pitcher and catcher combination. The Yankee battery outdueled that of the Blue Jays in a 7-5 win in Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon. Continue reading
Got Melk?
Bronx, N.Y., September 22, 2007 — I’m told there’s no truth to the rumor that the Blue Jays and Yanks have decided to suspend this coming Monday’s makeup of an April rainout, simply because they’ve more than made up for it in the nearly 10 hours of baseball they played in the Bronx starting with Friday night’s first pitch. Heck, throw in the 90-minute rain delay before Saturday’s tilt got underway, and they could suspend Sunday’s game too. Continue reading
The Time Machine
Bronx, N.Y., September 21, 2007 — The Yanks hosted the Blue Jays in the first of four Friday in the Bronx, the last regular-season night game in Yankee Stadium in the 2007 season. Following an oft-repeated script, it was a gorgeous night, and the Stadium was packed. Toronto came in after having swept the Red Sox in three at home, primarily on the strength of superb pitching. The bad news for tonight’s home team was that they brought all the great arms with them. Continue reading