Elections and Your Civic Duty

Yeah, I know, you're sick of all the campaigning and election news. But really, you've got to take this seriously. Your vote counts.

So go out there and cast your vote for the 2008....All-Star Game!! Woohoo! This will be its last year at Yankee Stadium, so make it a good one. You can vote at MLB.com or baseball stadiums around the country. You don't even have to register for this kind of voting. :) C'mon, choose well and make it worth it to buy MLB Allstar game tickets. It's not just a right; it's a responsibility.

Legends to become Steinbrenner

So Legends Field is being renamed... I can't imagine a better way to be remembered than to have a field named after you - especially while you're still alive to enjoy it. Think of the extent to which we've become so familiar with the major field names? Shea Stadium, Fenway Park, Minute Maid Park... okay, scratch that last one. And granted, Legends Field is only a Spring Training Field, but it's still a nice gesture.

Yankees Chat

So what do I do when I'm not writing? (Which is sadly all-too-often). I'm lurking here at Yankeemania.com, which takes up far too much of my time.

New York Yankees controversy 101

I know we needed a win, but did we really need all this controversy over the whole "MINE" thing? Personally, I don't see anything wrong with what Rodriguez did. I mean, sure... yelling "MINE" in the ear of a third baseman to get him to not go after the ball isn't really the best way to win, but there are so many worse things people could do. And besides, aren't the players getting yelled at all the time on the field anyway? Seems like that third baseman needs to start paying more attention to who he's listening to.

New York! New York!

It's hard to be a New York baseball fan. I would say that the New York Mets and Yankees are serious contenders for this seasons championship so I will suggest that all New York citizens accept that they have exceptional baseball teams, route for both, and buy tickets to the World Series in advance.

I would've killed to see Mattingly at the World Baseball Coaches Convention! He would make a great manager for the New York Yankees--hope his back doesn't stop him

Welcom Back, Andy

Andy Pettitte inked a one year $16 million deal with the New York Yankees today, bringing him back for a second stint in New York. Pettitte pitched for the Yankees from 1995-2003 helping the Yankees win four World Series championships before leaving to pitch for his hometown team the Houston Astros. Hopefully Pettitte will help bring back the winning tradition to Yankee Stadium that he helped build for 9 seasons.

Jeter Tries Harder

Isn’t that what they say about being Number Two? Hey, Yankee fans are rightfully proud of our shortstop, Derek Jeter, even if the Minnesota Twins’ Justin Morneau got enough votes to beat him out for this year’s American League MVP. It wasn’t the closest vote ever, but at 320 to 306, it was closer than last year, when our Alex Rodriguez nudged out the Boston Red Sox’ David Ortiz 331-307.

Congrats to both amazingly skilled athletes! And New York sez thanks for another great year, Derek!

Three Young Tigers for Sheffield

Gary Sheffield was not happy about being replaced in the lineup by Bobby Abreu, so maybe he’ll be happier in Detroit. Currently sixth in RBIs and seventh in home runs among active major leaguers, Sheffield has probably earned the right to claim superiority. One the other hand, it took a few years (nineteen, as a matter of fact) to acquire those stats. That puts him at the stage where teams have to try to guess how much longer a guy can produce at that level.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have three young pitchers coming from the Tigers organization with plenty of potential among them. Anthony Claggett and Kevin Whelan will start out at Tampa and Trenton; Humberto Sanchez, with 10 wins and 6 losses (2.63 ERA in 20 Double-A and Triple-A starts) will be part of the Yankee’s roster. Let’s hope they all have a lot of years of fine baseball ahead.

How About Those…Scarlet Knights?

While my New York Yankees are enjoying some r-&-r, I’ve had a chance to check out some other sporting events in the neighborhood. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Did they used to be yet another New Jersey joke? No more. They currently have a perfect season going at 9-0.

I thought that was about to come to an end last night, when No. 3 Louisville (I thought they play basketball, not football!) was ahead 25-7 at the half. But Rutgers, led by Ray Rice, who’s in the running for the Heisman, kept it together, so things were tied in the 4th. When Jeremy Ito got to try a field goal with just seconds left, he missed but was blessed with a do-over owing to an offsides penalty. That did it—final score: Rutgers 28, Louisville 25. New Jersey, ecstatic.

They Gripe About Yankees' Star Power

But when the recent World Series got pitiful television ratings, I heard commentators bewailing the fact that the New York Yankees weren't involved. Love us or hate us, baseball fans just have to watch us!

Tigers Are Ready For Cardinals

We Yankees at least put them to the test during our piece of the playoffs, but the Detroit Tigers didn't seem to break a sweat during their encounter with the Oakland A's. Meanwhile, the Mets and Cardinals were dragging out the NLCS to the last regular inning of the 7th game. The Cards will barely have time to towel off from that rain-soaked victory before they head off to Detroit.

I'm figuring the 2006 World Series should be another W in the American League column.