MLB: New York Yankees Baseball Blog

2008-11-25T14:52:00.002-05:00

The Yankees have announced their 2009 Spring Training Schedule--the earliest start in 60+ years! Get the schedule here.

2008-10-30T14:33:00.001-04:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Yankee fans!

2008-10-20T12:20:00.002-04:00

All we want for Christmas is an awesome pitcher. Where do you think Cashman should shop?

Penn Jillette for President

2008-09-03T22:18:00.002-04:00

This has nothing to do with baseball, but I love this guy: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/02/jillette.presidency/index.html

Pinstripes in the Park

2008-06-22T11:47:00.000-04:00

I missed Pinstripes in the Park this year, but it's still worth mentioning. For a few years now, they've held this event, and it's a lot of fun. It's sort of a cross between watching the game at the ballpark and on TV.

What to do, what to do...

2008-06-12T11:35:00.001-04:00

My sister was "complaining" about New York during a recent visit. Her complaint? There's too much to do!

Should she go to the Guggenheim or MOMA? Should she get Yankees tickets or broadway theater tickets? A taping of SNL or Letterman? Yadda yadda. (How could she have left out the museum of sex?)

If only we could all be lucky and live in a place like Iowa. Then we wouldn't have to decide. Tip cows or tip sheep? Hang out in the Wal-Mart parking lot or in the McDonald's parking lot?

'Stache Superstitions

2008-06-03T10:44:00.000-04:00

Giambi's growing and keeping his facial hair because he's sure it helps his luck. Can you imagine if people in most professions were as superstitious as baseball players? Like, your boss would insist you wear purple underwear for board meetings?

It's silly, but whatever works!

Out With the Old

2008-05-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

A friend went to the Yankees/Mets game recently and gave me his updated commentary on Yankee Stadium information. He said he thought he'd be sad to see it go, until he got there and remembered/realized how down and out the poor place is. They're not really bothering with upkeep at this point, vendors are shutting down, etc.

I'm not sure I feel the same way, but sometimes change is a good thing.

Elections and Your Civic Duty

2008-04-30T13:27:00.002-04:00

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

2008-02-14T15:39:00.003-05:00

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

2007-08-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-01T14:55:00.000-04:00

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!

2007-03-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-01-16T13:13:00.000-05:00

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

Welcome Back, Andy

2006-12-08T18:12:00.001-05:00

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

2006-11-21T18:22:00.000-05:00

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

2006-11-14T20:37:00.000-05:00

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?

2006-11-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

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

2006-10-30T21:05:00.000-05:00

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

2006-10-20T16:39:00.000-04:00

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.

OMG

2006-10-15T20:11:00.000-04:00

So, my Yankees are out and (gulp) the Tigers are in? Is the sky falling? Run, Chicken Little, Run!

Johnson is back

2006-10-05T13:05:00.000-04:00

I'm really looking forward to the game today, especially after the rainout yesterday. The Big Unit looks to be back in the game on Friday and with that hopefully the Yankees will be going back to the Series. I mean who could ask for more? They're the best team money can buy and I love em. Go Yankees!

Yankees Going for 27th Championship

2006-10-02T12:39:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees have made it back to the playoffs for the 12th straight season. Their run to the World Series starts against the Detroit Tigers tomorrow, October 3. The chips seem to be on the Yankees side at the start of the American League Divisional Series with home field advantage and the Tigers finishing their phenomenal season on a 5 game losing streak. But the Yankees have not lived up to the hype since 2000 when they won the World Series against the New York Mets in the Subway Series, let's see if they have what it takes this season.

A-Rod is Back in Action

2006-05-29T16:29:00.000-04:00

Alex Rodriguez is starting to shine again for the New York Yankees this season after solid wins against the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. On Saturday he hit two home runs, his first double homer game this season, and seemed to be back in the swing of things. If Rodriguez keeps getting those clutch hits, we can’t lose!

Pitching and Hitting are Right On for Yankees

2006-05-15T14:08:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees are really hot right now and our power hitters, Bernie Williams and Alex Rodriguez, took out the Oakland A’s with some dominating home runs. These two hitters are doing awesome this season and giving much needed support for our pitching staff. Pitcher Chien-Ming Wand is having a great start with three wins, and his win on Friday looked like the best stuff he’s shown us in a long time.

Go Yankees! Beat Bo Sox!

2006-05-08T19:57:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees will pit Randy Johnson against Josh Beckett on Tuesday as they attempt to dominate the Boston Red Sox. It is our biggest rivalry and I am going to get tickets to the game. I can’t miss watching this season’s first match up between the two giants. The Yankees have a decided advantage and I am predicting a sweeping victory, if you get my meaning!

Leader of the Pack

2006-04-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees may have given up two to the Minnesota Twins but they came out fighting Sunday and stole the Twins fire and Jason Giambi got off two homers leading his team to the win. The Twins were looking to sweep us for the first time since 1991 but Giambi was determined not to let it happen.

Yankees get into the swing of things.

2006-03-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

The New York Yankees are in the midst of training camp. We have won some games and we have lost almost as many. We started off the month with three losses and quickly switched gears to win five in a row. I like what I’ve seen from this Yankees team. Who has caught your eye this spring?

Blizzard Hits New York City

2006-02-14T12:47:00.000-05:00

Just as spring started in many parts of the country, winter reared its ugly head and dumped a whole lot of snow on New York City. The whole city is blanketed in white. It is beautiful and inconvenient at the same time. Hopefully the weather will warm up in time for the New York Yankees to start spring training.

Yankees Snag Another All-Star Player from Sox

2006-01-30T20:40:00.000-05:00

The great Johnny Damon will be representing the New York Yankees and the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He was added to our roster recently and will be showing up for spring training soon. I am glad that once again we have acquired one off the best players in the league. It is great to b a New York Yankees fan!

Looking For Answers

2005-10-22T07:07:00.000-04:00

Well the end of another disappointing season in New York usually means that several players’ heads are on the chopping block. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is not the type of guy to take his knocks with a team to hopefully win a championship in a few years, he wants to win now. And he pays for it, with the Yankees always at the top of the payroll every year, but they haven’t won a world series since 2000. So now the big question is, who’s out, who’s gone and what big name will come in to take their place. A name I’ve heard been thrown around is Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, who is apparently looking to get out of Boston. This is precisely the type of big name that Steinbrenner looks for every offseason, so don’t be surprised to see some new faces in pinstripes next season.

Johnson Shelled, Yankees at the Edge

2005-10-08T06:27:00.000-04:00

The Yankees are in an unfamiliar position so early in the playoffs; their backs are firmly against the wall. They have now lost 2 straight and stand to be eliminated Saturday night. Randy Johnson, who was a big reason for getting them this far this season, struggled only pitching 3 innings and allowing 5 earned runs. So now it’s win or go home time for the Yankees as they play game 4 of the series at Yankee Stadium against the Los Angeles Angels. Who knows what will happen with the Yankees after this season, owner George Steinbrenner has been known to break up the team and to start over if they don’t get to the World Series. Saturday may be the last time you several Yankees in the pinstripes.

Yankees Taking It Back

2005-09-22T09:55:00.000-04:00

The Big Unit has struck again. Wednesday night, Randy Johnson allowed only 3 hits in over eight innings of work to help the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1. But more importantly this win puts the Yankees a ½ game up in the American League East. The Yankees may after all be able to clinch their 8^th straight division title. It just looks like the last series of the season against the Boston Red Sox, September 30 to October 2 in Boston, is going to be where it’s all said and done.

Who You Gonna Call? The Big Unit!

2005-09-13T01:54:00.000-04:00

When the Yankees needed someone to come through to give them a win on Sunday against the American League East leading Boston Red Sox, they went to Randy “Big Unit” Johnson. With the win on Sunday the Yankees took the series from the Red Sox and stayed in contention for the division title. Johnson gave what is recognized as his greatest performance of the season, and if it was any less of an effort the Yankees would be going to Tampa Bay having lost the series. There was no doubt that Johnson was in top form only giving up one hit in the outing. It’s not over yet.

October Plus Baseball Equals Yankees

2005-09-06T10:40:00.000-04:00

Well the Yankees are poised to make it to the playoffs for the 11^th straight season. However it will be with a wildcard and not by winning their division which they have become accustomed to doing. The Yankees are 3 games back from the Red Sox, but 1.5 games ahead in the wildcard race, so the Yankees control their destiny from here on out. The remaining 23 of their final 26 games this season will be against division teams, and all of those teams except for the Red Sox are under 500. All the Yankees need to do is to keep playing the same kind of ball they've been playing all season and they will definitely take their place in the postseason.

Evening Out

2005-06-16T13:31:00.000-04:00

The climb back to .500 has been tough for the Yankees. This entire season has been tough for the Yankees, who are still trying to find their rhythm. The good news is that they are on a 2 game winning streak, which is something that had not been done that much through the early part of June.

Part of the reason for the Yankees recent success is because manager Joe Torre is using his designated hitters, Bernie Williams and Ruben Sierra more. Torre also stuck Jason Giambi in the line-up hoping his bat would come around and it did last night win Giambi hit the game winning home run in the 10th inning.

Empire Falling

2005-06-02T12:37:00.000-04:00

It is not looking good at all for the New York Yankees. The first sign would be when Emil Brown blasted a two- run homer to beat the Yankees and handing a loss to Randy Johnson, who had not lost to the Royals in 12 years.

Another sign is the fact that A-Rod went hitless for the second night in a row, and the last thing that comes to mind is that this is the Yankees 4 strait loss. The sad thing is it isn’t their first 4 game backslide this year.

I've Seen Better

2005-05-29T20:18:00.000-04:00

The big unit still was able to get another one in the win column against the Red Sox, but it was sloppy outing for the Yankees ace. Johnson gave up nine hits and walked four, which is very uncharacteristic of him. The good news is that he only gave up 3 runs in six innings, although 5 of the 9 hits came consecutively in the last inning that he pitched. Is that what the Yankees paid for?

Getting Stressed

2005-05-25T16:34:00.000-04:00

We all have are problems but some more than others. Usually when people get stressed out from there job, boss, family, or significant other they tend to seek help. Well, that is exactly what 3rd baseman Alex Rodriquez is doing.

And why not?

Everyone needs a little help now and then and what better place to get help, then from a therapist, multiple therapists at that. I don’t know exactly what he needs the help for since he is leading the Majors right now with 16 homeruns and 46 RBI’s.

Roid Boy

2005-05-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

I personally think that Giambi is a waste of roster space. While Boston has David Ortiz, we get stuck with a steroid junkie. Sorry that might be slamming the guy, but I have no respect for athletes that do riods’.

Though the Yankees organization has invested a lot of money into Giambi and so Yankee’s hitting coach Don Mattingly wants Giambi to make an effort to pull the ball instead of trying to poke it in the opposite direction. This would make Giambi more aggressive at the plate.

Bernie turns DH

2005-05-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

from Foxsports.com

Bernie Williams, no longer a regular outfielder because elbow tendinitis impedes his throwing, might become the full-time DH. Manager Joe Torre is losing patience with Jason Giambi, who has lost aggressiveness and no longer drives the ball. . . .

2B Tony Womack has had problems converting to left field. He doesn't have an outfielder's arm and often takes the wrong angles on flies and base hits. . . .

As the No. 9 hitter ahead of SS Derek Jeter and Womack, 2B Robinson Cano will allow the Yankees to employ a more aggressive running game.

Whats Going On?

2005-05-09T14:08:00.000-04:00

Don't get me wrong. I am a baseball fan and the Yankees represent just that in America. But what is the team to do with some much inconsistency?

Williams is not even a starter anymore. Not that we didn't see that coming. Is age finally catching up with the House that Babe built?

Pitching Woes

2005-04-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

from foxsports.com

RHP Tom Gordon's early-season struggles can be attributed more to a lack of confidence than a lack of stuff. Still, Gordon's trademark curveball hasn't been sharp, and he has been hit hard several times while relying more on his cutter than his curve. Manager Joe Torre insists Gordon isn't in danger of losing his eighth-inning job and that the team will let him work through his problems. . . .

RHP Tanyon Sturtze's oblique injury opened the door for Buddy Groom to get the call from Class AAA Columbus, giving the Yankees another veteran lefthander in the bullpen. Groom pitched well in spring training, allowing just one run in eight appearances.

Pitching Rotation

2005-04-14T15:53:00.000-04:00

from Foxsports.com

The Yankees entered the season hoping to use a five-man rotation, but RHP Kevin Brown's balky back could cause them to alter their plans.

Sturtze or prospect RHP Chien-Ming Wang, who's pitching in Class AAA and could be options to fill in for Brown if needed.

But New York also could decide to rely on its other four starters and skip the fifth spot as often as possible until Brown shows he can physically handle the workload.

It has Begun

2005-04-07T20:38:00.000-04:00

It was fiver-time Cy Young winner who led the New York Yankees in their season opener to a 9-2 victory over the defending World champions and most heated rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

"I had a lot of adrenaline in the first inning, and a lot of things really weren't working for me early in the game, other than my fastball. I naturally want to establish that, but then as the game progressed, I was able to throw my breaking ball to my advantage."

The man’s name is Randy Johnson and the big apple loved him. I guess you can say he earned his pinstripes after last night. The Unit allowed only one run in six innings, along with six K’s in front of a sellout crowd.

Of course Johnson didn’t single handedly beat the Sox, he had help from the Yankees offense who accounted for 15 hits. There was five different batters who drove in runs on the Yankees side… and fuel to the most epic rivalry in sports history.

Whats been Happeing

2005-03-30T13:28:00.000-05:00

from Foxports.com

Tony Womack has adapted to the No. 9 spot in the lineup without any problems, and the second baseman has been hitting well all spring. Womack stole seven bases in his first 16 games, and he gave the Yankees a speedy presence at the bottom of the lineup. A leadoff hitter in St. Louis last year, Womack will now help set up Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield. . . .

Jason Giambi had no trouble when he finally played first base this spring, so Joe Torre will have the ability to use him in the field to give Bernie Williams or Ruben Sierra a day as the designated hitter throughout the season. Giambi will be the DH most days, however, as Tino Martinez remains the superior defensive first baseman. . . .

P Steve Karsay finally started to look like his old self toward the end of camp and let the ball go without any hesitation. After missing most of the past two years following shoulder surgery, Karsay has command of all three of his pitches and should be a valuable asset to the deep Yankees' bullpen.

Soft Spot

2005-02-24T20:31:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

The Yankees are strong in almost every area, but the backup depth in the outfield is certainly a question mark. Gary Sheffield, Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui are all in their 30s (the first two in their late-30s), and the Yankees would be in rough shape should any of the three suffer a major injury. Ruben Sierra can play the corner positions, but he is much better suited as a pinch hitter or DH. That leaves Bubba Crosby and non-roster invite Doug Glanville to fight it out for the other spot, as the Yankees look for a back up center fielder who can also serve as a pinch runner.

A change that Fits

2005-02-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

The Yankees turned to both the young and the old to bolster their starting rotation and added Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright, both 29, via free agency before dealing for 41-year-old Randy Johnson. The revamped rotation should give New York a good shot at an eighth consecutive AL East crown, but that isn't the team's main concern. That would be the postseason, where the addition of Johnson gives the Yankees a true No. 1 starter to throw against the likes of Curt Schilling and Johan Santana and allows Mike Mussina to take the mound in Game 2. The new hurlers also provide some power arms, which Jon Lieber and Orlando Hernandez didn't possess in 2004.

Better with Age

2005-02-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

With Gary Sheffield, Bernie Williams, Ruben Sierra, and Hideki Matsui the New York Yankees probably have the oldest outfield in Major League Baseball. Don’t let that fool you though, for it is also one of the most productive in the leagues.

I guess the Yankees are in the same boat as the Giants, older player players being like wine.

Big Unit to Big Apple

2005-01-10T11:17:00.000-05:00

Since July the Yankees have had heavy interest in the Randy Johnson. After months of talk and trade gone askew, the big unit only awaits his physical today in his last step in becoming a Yankee.

For the 41 year old left handed pitcher the Yankees traded away right hander Javier Vazquez and several prospects that include Brad Halsey and Dioner Navarro, and just because the Yankees can, $9 million in cash.

Yanks welcome Pavano to Bronx

2004-12-23T17:14:00.000-05:00

By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com

The Yankees introduced a towering starting pitcher on Wednesday, though it was not the one that the baseball world had been waiting to see.

Just hours after the Randy Johnson deal fell apart, Carl Pavano was welcomed to the Bronx at a press conference in the Stadium Club at Yankee Stadium, as New York unveiled its biggest free agent signing of the winter.

"I've been playing baseball since I was seven years old. I always dreamed of playing for the Yankees," Pavano said shortly after slipping into his new No. 45 pinstriped jersey. "If I passed up the opportunity to play with the very best franchise in all of sports, I think I would have regretted that.

"It didn't come down to who was going to pay me the most," he added. "It was where I was most comfortable."

The Southington, Conn., native was joined by his parents, Ann Marie and Carmen, as well as his agent, Scott Shapiro, as the Yankees rolled out the red carpet for their newest star. General manager Brian Cashman, manager Joe Torre and COO Lonn Trost also joined Pavano for the press conference.

"[Pitching] is an area that needed some attention, and this winter, we concentrated on that solely," Cashman said. "The biggest piece that we were hopeful on was Carl Pavano."

The Yankees inked Pavano to a four-year contract worth $39.95 million, with an option for a fifth year. Pavano went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA for Florida in 2004, upping his lifetime record to 57-58 with a 4.21 ERA.

Pavano joins a starting rotation which includes Mike Mussina, Javier Vazquez, Kevin Brown and Jaret Wright, who agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal that has not been officially announced. Pavano, Vazquez and Wright are all in their late-20s, injecting some much-needed youth into the pitching staff.

With Mussina established as the team's ace, Pavano doesn't have to take on that role in his first season in New York, taking away some of the pressure that may have existed had he signed with a club such as Detroit or Baltimore.

"When you have the quality we have, as well as some depth to go with it, then one guy doesn't have to be the guy all the time," Torre said. "Pavano is certainly capable of being a No. 1 guy, but he doesn't have to be.

"When you have a couple of other guys that are capable like Brownie and Mussina, he doesn't have to take on the whole thing by himself," the manager added. "That's important."

"My expectations are so high that I feel like I should be the ace every fifth day, that I should go out and win ballgames," Pavano said. "I'll enjoy having guys like Brown and Mussina around because of their resources. They're ultimate veterans."

Pavano's road to the Bronx was a lengthy one, as he embarked on his "Carlpalooza" tour with Shapiro, stopping in Detroit, Seattle, Boston, New York and Baltimore to meet with prospective suitors. In the end, his decision was clear, as he instructed Shapiro during the Winter Meetings to hammer out a deal with the Yankees.

"I went in with a very open mind with no expectations," Pavano said. "I just wanted to go and experience everything individually, then sit back and reflect on everything."

Despite early reports that Pavano was leaning toward the Red Sox, the Yankees continued to pursue the right-hander. Torre sought out a meeting with Pavano in West Palm Beach, where Torre was visiting for his nephew's wedding. Pavano credited his two conversations with Torre as a big part of his decision.

"My heart was always with this team, so I felt I owed it to myself to look elsewhere and see where I'd be comfortable," Pavano said. "I thought this was the best fit."

Pavano is the latest young hurler brought in by the Yankees to restock their rotation, but New York is hoping that the 28-year-old has more success in his first year in the Bronx than Jeff Weaver, Jose Contreras or Vazquez.

The right-hander doesn't anticipate any trouble making the adjustment to either New York or the American League. After all, unlike Weaver, Contreras and Vazquez, Pavano has experience in the postseason, winning a World Series with the Marlins -- by beating the Yankees.

"With every organization, there have been different distractions," Pavano said. "In Montreal, it was ownership changes and not knowing where we were going to be every year. The things that come with this city are the fun parts; knowing you're going to have a good team every year, that you play with a bunch of guys that want to win and are expected to win."

Yanks Give Back!!

2004-11-26T18:44:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah. Great bunch of guys, those Yanks. News from mlb.com:

Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mike Mussina are partof the foundation of the Yankees on the field, but this foursome has taken it
upon themselves to do their part off the field with foundations of their own.
Each of these men have taken up a cause by starting a foundation, and each
have made quite an impact with fundraising and hands-on involvement.

JOE TORRE SAFE-AT-HOME FOUNDATION
Torre lives a charmed life as the manager of the Yankees, but life wasn't always so easy for him. As a child, Torre dealt with domestic violence in his home, and in 2003, he decided to start a foundation to educate people about the issue.

"My visibility as Yankee manager has given us a lot more opportunities to talk to people," said Torre during the season. "Domestic violence is something that has been under lock and key for the longest time, and I didn't realize how widespread it was until we started talking about it."

Torre's foundation held several events in 2004, including its second annual
fundraiser dinner as well as a golf outing at Trump National Golf Club in
Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Among the participants joining Torre were Donald Trump,
Rudy Giuliani, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. The event, which also
included a silent auction for sports memorabilia and a live auction for a
Mercedes SLK, raised more than $545,000.

The Yankees also helped Torre's foundation on the field as part of Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope program. Torre joined Arnold Palmer, Boomer Esiason and Magic Johnson in the Four Seasons of Hope, and during the baseball season, Circuit City donated $1,000 to Torre's foundation for every home run hit by the Yankees, who set the franchise record with 242 homers.

TURN 2 FOUNDATION
When Jeter was a youngster, he admired Dave Winfield as much for what he did to help others less fortunate than him as for his play on the field. As Jeter got closer to becoming a big leaguer, he decided that when he reached the Majors, he would also do what he could to help people. That's what prompted him to create the Turn 2 Foundation, which promotes healthy, drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles for young people.

Since turn 2 started in 1996, the foundation has awarded more than $3 million for
substance abuse prevention programs, leadership development, college
scholarships and athletic skills clinics.

Jeter has hosted a fundraising dinner each year since the creation of Turn
2, and his annual holiday party for children in the New York metropolitan area
has been a hit for years, including last year's event at the Big Apple Circus.

This year's dinner, titled "Children Are Our Foundation... Teamwork Is How
We Build It," raised more than $850,000. A group of his teammates, including
Posada, Javier Vazquez, Tony Clark, Bernie Williams, Kenny Lofton and Hideki
Matsui, attended, as did coaches Luis Sojo, Willie Randolph, Don Mattingly and
Torre.

In January, Jeter made his first foray into the world of charity golf
tournaments, hosting the First Annual Derek Jeter Celebrity Golf Classic
Fundraiser in Tampa. The foundation raised $217,000, with all proceeds going to
youth programs and organizations in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, including the
Phoenix House, Hillsborough Education Foundation and St. Peter Claver Catholic
School.

At the event, celebrity participants were auctioned off, as the
golfers were given a chance to play with some of their favorite athletes and
celebs. The high bid? Michael Jordan, who drew $14,000 to play in a foursome.

"We were trying to think of something to do in Florida, and golf is pretty
big here," Jeter said. "You hear a lot about charity golf tournaments, so we
thought we'd give it a try. People like to go to warm places in January,
especially to play golf."

Among Jeter's other Turn 2 endeavors in 2004 were baseball clinics in New York and Michigan and an outing for 130 children from Jeter's hometown of Kalamazoo to a Yankees-Tigers game in Detroit.

JORGE POSADA FOUNDATION
Posada established his foundation with his wife, Laura, after the couple's son, Jorge IV, was diagnosed with craniosynostosis as an infant. The younger Posada had to undergo five major surgeries to correct the condition.

Craniosynostosis is a congenital or birth defect, characterized
by premature closure of one or more sutures which causes an abnormally shaped
skull.

The purpose of the Foundation is to raise awareness of the condition
and to provide financial help to families with children afflicted by
craniosynostosis. Posada's foundation is also trying to encourage further
research of the condition.

"My son is doing well," Posada said. "It's difficult. I'm not 100 percent
out there when you have problems with the family, and it's hard to concentrate
at times, but I do. But I'm not the only one in baseball, or in life, who is
dealing with things in the family. There are a lot of people with children or
family who have things going on."

In August, Posada hosted a charity dinner titled, "Heroes for Hope," which was to benefit research. The event, held at Capitale in lower Manhattan, featured a concert by Puerto Rican salsa artist Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Posada has also teamed with Wise Foods, which
contributed a portion of all Wise New York Deli potato chip sales to the Jorge
Posada Foundation.

"We are starting to help people little by little," he said. "I use my name to raise money, and the money is used to help children. A lot of people do not know about craniosynostosis."

MIKE MUSSINA FOUNDATION
The Mike Mussina Foundation was established in 2000 to benefit children and
children's charities. In 2003, the foundation began awarding scholarships to a
graduating senior from each of 12 Pennsylvania-area high schools.

A national scholarship program was also launched in conjunction with a number of
organizations and corporations. The scholarship provides funds for college-bound
students from the north, south, east and west regions of the United States.
"It's nice to be noticed for other things besides just pitching and
baseball," Mussina said. "There are a lot of guys out there who spend a lot of
time and effort doing off-the-field things, so it's an honor to be considered
for this award."

The foundation awards $1,000 scholarships to one graduating senior from
each of the 12 high schools in Lycoming County, Pa., including both public and
private institutions. Each student receives $1,000 a year for up to four years,
as long as they stay in good academic standing.

Mussina has also teamed with Wolfgang Candy Company, based in York, Pa., to produce a candy bar in support of his foundation. The chocolate/peanut butter "Moose Bar" features a photo of Mussina in action on the wrapper.

"Because of my strong ties to Pennsylvania, Wolfgang Candy seemed like an ideal partner for this project," said Mussina. "I grew up in Pennsylvania and still come home as often as possible during the season. Working with a local company to help change the lives of kids across the state seemed like a perfect opportunity to give
something back."

Mussina's charitable efforts began when he played in Baltimore, where he participated in the "Reading Makes Cents" program, and was also a spokesperson for the Baltimore Sun's summer reading program.

Since 1997, Mussina has worked with the College Bound Association of Lycoming County,
as well as the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross Association.
"I've always been an education-oriented person," said Mussina, a Stanford
graduate. "To help kids find a way to get to school and make it through school,
that's important to me."

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Oh, the Agony!

2004-10-25T15:32:00.000-04:00

Well, this is what Bob Klapisch, writing for espn.com has to say:

The money is limitless, but what did it get Steinbrenner in 2004? For $184
million, the Yankees became the equivalent of a '70s-era gas guzzler -- huge and
loud and impossible to ignore. But step on the pedal, as the Yankees did in Game
7, and there was nothing under the hood.

Whatever, he's probably a red sox fan.

Who is it gonna be??

2004-10-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

TONIGHT

2004-10-17T18:25:00.000-04:00

We take them down!

So... who will be next? Houston? St. Louis?

See Ya Minnesota!!

2004-10-10T19:37:00.000-04:00

Man, this has been a fantastic season! And now it's time once again for the AL Championship Series where we will face the boston redsox. It's like de-ja-vu all over again!

Lieber, lead us through game 2!!

2004-10-06T16:53:00.000-04:00

Here's a great article from mlb.com:

NEW YORK -- When the Yankees were making their perennial postseason run last year, Jon Lieber was vigorously rehabilitating his right elbow far away in Tampa, Fla. While Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were trying to pitch the Yankees to another World Series title, Lieber trying to resurrect his career in anonymity.
The Yankees signed Lieber knowing full well he would miss the 2003 season because of Tommy John surgery. With Clemens threatening retirement and Pettitte an impending free agent, Lieber was signed as security for the 2004 season. Before his surgery, he was considered a dependable, inning-eater who could stabilize the Bombers' rotation.

With the acquisition of Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez, Lieber was again overshadowed and slated to be the No. 4 starter. Lieber's hard work and perseverance, however, has catapulted him to the No. 2 starter in the Yankees' playoff rotation and he will make his postseason debut on Wednesday, opposing Minnesota's Brad Radke at Yankee Stadium.

Lieber had a productive season for the Yankees, going 14-8 with a 4.33 ERA and doing what he does best, working fast, pounding the strike zone and inducing ground balls. Lieber doesn't have many tricks, but proved he is a fast healer.

"Well this is what I have been waiting for, for 11 years now," he said before Game 1 of the Division Series. "This is what it's all about. And it could not happen at a better place than New York City and Yankee Stadium. And to actually be here and be part of that, especially after going through Tommy John surgery really is something special."

American League Leaders
Walks per nine innings
J. Lieber, NYY 0.92
B. Radke, MIN 1.07
C. Schilling, BOS 1.39
C. Silva, MIN 1.55
M. Buerhle, CWS 1.87
Tim Hudson, OAK 2.10

Last season, Yankee manager Joe Torre would get occasional reports on Lieber's progress. Tommy John surgery, or elbow ligament replacement surgery, replaces the shredded elbow ligament with one from another part of the body. To rebuild the elbow takes several months and then comes the throwing and actually trying to regain velocity.

It's a surgery that's become common amongst pitchers and some as young as their late teens undergo the process. But it is a risk. Some pitchers never regain their velocity or command. For control pitchers such as Lieber, regaining those two are crucial.

Lieber said he began feeling 100 percent in August and the numbers show that he gained momentum as the season progressed. He was 5-0 in September with a 3.12 ERA, by far the Yankees' top starter.

"It's a lonely rehab," Torre said. "And when you get back, I'm sure you have some doubts. But by midseason on, he just felt like he's been all the way back."

During the season, Lieber said he leaned on teammate and Tommy John survivor Tom Gordon, who had the surgery in December 1999 and missed the 2000 season. Gordon has regained his velocity and emerged as one of the league's top setup men.

"I think really the one person that comes to mind that's really helped me is (Tom Gordon)," Lieber said. "And to be able to have him there and seeing the struggles that I was going through this year ... he told me, along with some other people, just wait until the end of August, September and you are going to feel your strongest."

The Yankees desperately need a pinpoint Lieber in the postseason. No. 1 starter Mike Mussina finished strong after a midseason slump but Brown is still recovering from a broken left hand and is a question mark, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez has an ailing shoulder and might miss the Game 3 start while Javier Vazquez won just four of 14 starts and finished with a 6.95 ERA in the second half.

So once again, Lieber has emerged from the shadows to have an important role on this team.

"This is postseason and this is Yankee Stadium," Torre said. "He seems ready for the challenge. He's going to have plenty of support because I don't think there's a soul on this ballclub that doesn't pull for him."

Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Torre likes what he saw from Giambi

2004-09-23T18:10:00.000-04:00

From ESPN.com, Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Jason Giambi's home run against Toronto resonated with the recovering slugger, his teammates and Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Giambi's two-run, opposite-field drive in the second inning put the Yankees ahead to stay in Tuesday night's 5-3 win, stopping an 0-for-32 slide. Giambi's first homer since June 20 also gave him hope that he can play himself into shape to make New York's postseason roster.

On Wednesday, he remembered the feeling he had crossing the plate.

"Everyone was excited for me. That's when it really hit me. That's one of the probably few times ever in my career I got to enjoy the moment," he said. "It was pretty special."

Torre hopes Giambi, who has fought to overcome a benign tumor and other ailments, can be his team's designated hitter in the postseason -- if not in the first round, perhaps in the league championship series if New York advances.

Giambi, who did not play in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays because left-hander Ted Lilly started for Toronto, is batting .212 with 12 homers and 39 RBIss.

"I don't need him back all the way," Torre said. "Even if he's like 80 percent, he's still going to be better than a lot of players. So I just need to see some consistency. I think last night was a big step, not the fact that he hit a home run, but the fact that he hit a home run to left-center field. That's not easy to do, to drive the ball. For a left-handed hitter, that's a long way to go."

It was just the second homer to left field for Giambi this season, according to STATS Inc.

"Last night was the first night that I put some really good at-bats together, saw the ball and recognized some offspeed pitches. We made big strides so, hopefully, I'll keep going forward," Giambi said. "I wanted to come back. I could have shut it down, but I didn't."

Series Finale.

2004-09-15T14:37:00.000-04:00

I'm at work, but I got a chance to glimpse the game: Yankees 3, kansas city 0. It's looking good.

Yanks over O's

2004-09-13T13:36:00.000-04:00

Ten Orioles pitchers combined to walk 14 Yankees, but only two of the 14 came around to score, as the Yankees left 17 men on base. The 10 pitchers used by Baltimore established a new Major League record. The 14 walks were the most issued to a Yankees team since May 14, 1980, when the Royals' also walked 14. The 17 men left on were the most for New York in a nine-inning game since June 24, 1994, against Cleveland.

Gary Sheffield help put the game away with a game winning home run to make the score 9-7. Helping him come closer to a AL MVP Award.

Yankee Doodle Giambi

2004-09-06T18:43:00.000-04:00

As I hear it Jason Giambi has been dealing with his pituitary gland, according to a report that was in the New York Daily News. Apparently the tumor in the gland is associated with the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. Although just speculation, since the MLB has approved the treatment of the tumor with corticosteroids, which are not performance enhancement, yet still would show up positive on a drug test. Giambi was afraid to admit this when he testified under a grand jury, thinking guilty by association. Either way. God Loves the Yankees.

Go Yanks!!!

Doin' all the right things...

2004-09-02T17:02:00.000-04:00

Things are still lookin up for the Yanks:

 	        W  	L  	Pct  	GB 

 NY Yankees 	82 	50 	.621 	-- 

 Boston 	78 	53 	.595 	3.5 

 Baltimore 	60 	71 	.458 	21.5 

 Tampa Bay 	59 	73 	.447 	23.0 

 Toronto 	55 	78 	.414 	27.5

The next month should be smooth sailing into the playoffs, except for one thing: 6 games against the Red Sox. I guess thats really 6 things, huh? Just yesterday there were 5 'transactions':

Steve Karsay  	recalled from minors rehab

Felix Heredia 	called up from minors

Dioner Navarro 	purchased from minors

Juan Padilla 	designated for assignment

Dioner Navarro 	signed

That's a lot of movement. I guess big Stein knows what he's doing...

Again I say (type):

2004-08-25T15:01:00.000-04:00

Word to your mothers.

Jeter: you are, in the parlance of our times, The Man. First, sir, you knock one out of the park then you steal the winning run in the 9th. Cheers to you.

Mr. Jeter is now the 11th player in Yankee's history to score 1,000 runs, and the Yankees maintain their (our) 6 1/2 game lead over... what's that team called? Oh yeah, the red sox.

Also, Javier Vazquez: condolences, and you played well.

That is all for now.

Word to your mothers.

2004-08-17T19:02:00.000-04:00

75/42.

We face off with the Twins tonight. Based on my accumulated data... yeah, we're gonna put those sox-heads in their place.

Sturtze to start in place of Vazquez

2004-08-11T16:52:00.000-04:00

The Yankees will attempt to avoid a three-game losing streak tonight in Arlington. We dropped last night's game 7-1. Tanyon Sturtze will start instead of Javier Vazquez tonight because of a case of conjunctivitis (pinkeye, for all you laypeople (people who are not experts (people who are very well-versed in a particular field))). Sorry, just a little fun with parentheses :-).

Sturtze has a 5.27 ERA in 2004, with a 7.57 lifetime vs. Texas. The Rangers will start Nick Regilio, a rookie with an empty win column so far and a 5.51 ERA. He has never faced the Yankees.

Good luck tonight, Bombers!!!

Yankees gain Loaiza

2004-08-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

From Yankees.com:

The Yankees bolstered their starting rotation on Saturday by adding an All-Star, it just wasn't the All-Star that everyone had expected to land in New York.
New York acquired right-hander Esteban Loaiza from the White Sox, sending right-hander Jose Contreras and cash considerations to Chicago.

Esteban Loaiza / P
Born: 12/31/71
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site

"Jose Contreras has got a great deal of talent and ceiling, but we feel that in our situation, Esteban Loaiza will be more reliable for us," said general manager Brian Cashman. "Esteban had a huge year last year and was a bona fide No. 1 starter. He's more reliable, and we're looking for a little more consistency than we had."

Sad to see Contreras go? Perhaps. But they say you have to plan for the future, not hang on to a present that will soon be past its prime. At least that's what I heard.

I also heard the Yankees are hosting the A's tonight in the Bronx, and Mark Mulder and Jon Lieber are gonna throw down. But that's just what I heard. You don't have to take my word for it. Just watch. Tonight. Now.

Tampa Bay 9, NY Yankees 7

2004-07-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

The power of the might error, from Yahoo Sports:

Robert Fick's routine fly ball fell for a two-run, pinch-hit double in the sixth inning Monday night, helping the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the New York Yankees 9-7.

"The ball should have been caught," said Fick, whose hit was one of a franchise-record eight doubles for the Devil Rays. "The way my season is going it kind of helps."

Aubrey Huff's two-run double was the big blow in a five-run first for Tampa Bay, which won the opener of a two-game series after losing four in a row to New York heading into the All-Star break.

Come on! I know you're on the road guys, but that was a routine play! The Yankees have one more chance in Tampa this afternoon before heading back home to play the Blue Jays. We're still 7 games ahead of Boston, though, who lost last night to the Mariners....

You win some, you lose some...

2004-07-19T16:50:00.000-04:00

The series with Detroit could have been better:

 Thu, Jul 15	at Detroit	W 5-1 

 Fri, Jul 16	at Detroit	L 0-8 

 Sat, Jul 17	at Detroit	W 5-3 

 Sun, Jul 18	at Detroit	L 2-4

But, we're still 7 games ahead of Boston, so its not all bad.

Now so now its on to Tampa Bay, where the Yankees will play thier next 2 games. Rookie pitcher Alex Graman will pitch tonight. From yahoo:

Graman saw his first major league action with the Yankees in April, yielding six runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings in two appearances. His first career start lasted just 2 2-3 innings as he was pounded for five runs and eight hits in New York's come-from-behind 11-8 win over the Chicago White Sox on April 20.

The 26-year-old left-hander was demoted soon afterward, and when the Yankees needed an extra starter last month they promoted left-hander Brad Halsey from Double-A instead of recalling Graman.

Lets hope he can come through for us now...

AL 9, NL 4

2004-07-14T10:58:00.000-04:00

Thanks Roger! Six runs in one inning. Thats more like a home run derby....

Now its off to Detroit...

 Next 5 Games

 Thu, Jul 15	at Detroit	7:05 pm 

 Fri, Jul 16	at Detroit	7:05 pm 

 Sat, Jul 17	at Detroit	7:05 pm 

 Sun, Jul 18	at Detroit	1:05 pm 

 Mon, Jul 19	at Tampa Bay	7:15 pm

Tampa bay SWEEP

2004-07-12T10:41:00.000-04:00

The four game series against Tampa Bay came easy to the Yankees. Only game 2 was even close, ending 5-4 Yankees. After the break we go on the road to Detroit and then out to Tampa Bay to try to sweep them at home. That'd be cool, huh?

Standings going into the allstar break:


 NY Yankees  	55  	31  	.640  	-- 

 Boston 	48 	38 	.558 	7.0 

 Tampa Bay 	42 	45 	.483 	13.5 

 Toronto 	39 	49 	.443 	17.0 

 Baltimore 	37 	48 	.435 	17.5

Leaders going into the break:


Individual Leaders

 AVG	G. Sheffield	.296 

 HR	Á. Rodríguez	22 

 RBI	Á. Rodríguez	58 

 R	G. Sheffield	61 

 SB	Á. Rodríguez	18 

 W	J. Vázquez	10 

 SV	M. Rivera	32 

 IP	J. Vázquez	118.2 

 ERA	J. Vázquez	3.56

Now its just sit back for a few days before going to Houston for the allstar game....

haha

2004-07-09T16:23:00.000-04:00

Joe Torre Fired for Surfing Porn Sites at Work

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fired Joe Torre Tuesday after learning that the team's manager has been using the computer in his office to visit porn sites before, after, and even during games.

It goes on...

7-1 Yankees

2004-07-09T10:10:00.000-04:00

Pitcher Jose Contreras was all over the place in the game, pitching some innings like a Yankee should, but then slipping in the 4th inning, allowing Tampa Bay's only run of the day.

``I lost my rhythm a little bit,'' Contreras said through a translator. ``I was taking too much time between pitches.''

He was able to regain that focus, however, and led the Yankees to a solid win.

Let's win this series against Tampa Bay and get some momentum going into the all star break!

10-8 Detroit

2004-07-08T11:33:00.000-04:00

The pitching last night was atrocious. The Yankees' offence just wasn't enough to overcome Brad Halsey's pitching. This is the first time in 8 years that the Tigers won a series in New York

After this series with Tampa Bay coming up, we go on the road to Detriot. Hopefully we'll be able to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Loss to Detriot

2004-07-07T12:04:00.000-04:00

Well, the Yanks lost last night, 9-1 to Detroit, and it was not pretty. I guess that makes up for the fact that we beat them 10-3 on Monday. Hopefully we can close out this series with a win tonight...

Welcome to my Yankees Blog!

2004-07-06T10:18:00.000-04:00

Here's a little information about the Yankees from here to get this started:

The record of World Series success of the New York Yankee team of 1996-2000 was actually the third greatest run (dynasty) of World Series success in modern-day Major League Baseball history.

The 1949-53 New York Yankees won 5 consecutive World Series championships, won another in 1947, and went three years before another World Series victory. That's 5 in a row and 6 out of 7, between 1947 and 1953.

The 1936-39 Yankees won 4 consecutive World Series championships, won another in 1941, and had not won a World Series in four years before the first in their run. That's 4 in a row and 5 out of 6, between 1936 and 1941.

The 1972-74 Oakland Athletics won 3 consecutive World Series championships, and won no more until 1989. That's simply 3 in a row.

The 1998-2000 Yankees won 3 consecutive World Series championships, won another in 1996, and had to play through one more playoff round than did the 1972-74 Athletics in order to win their championships, making it a more difficult accomplishment for the Yankees over the Athletics. That's 3 in a row and 4 out of 5, between 1996 and 2000.

No other team in modern-day Major League Baseball history has won 3 consecutive World Series championships. And just for good measure, the 1910-1913 Philadelphia Athletics won two World Series in a row (1910-11) and 3 out of 4, and the 1915-18 Boston Red Sox also won two World Series in a row (1915-16) and 3 out of 4.

Stay tuned for up-to-date Yankees information!