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A Biased Look at the New York Yankees, the Greatest Franchise in the History of Sports

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March 31, 2008

Ceremonial Opener a Wash-out

by @ 9:29 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

The 84th opener of the house that Ruth built was postponed today due to rain.  It has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 1 at 7:05 pm. 

As exciting as it was to consider the fan fare amounted to open this, the last, season at Yankee Stadium, the rain would not let up, and those fans were sent home, having to wait until tomorrow to cheer their bombers on to victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Don’t worry though, everything looks good to get the game in tomorrow, and we can begin to say goodbye to our beloved Yankee Stadium.  Let’s face it, rain is always better than snow.  Remember last year to start the season?  Now that was ugly.  This is just wet.  

March 27, 2008

“The boss” gets honored at Legends Field

by @ 9:19 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

George Steinbrenner showed some emotion today as the blue covering was removed from the scoreboard in left field, to unveil the beginning of a new era for the Yankees spring training facility.  Legends Field, as it is now previously known, became George M. Steinbrenner Field.  The sign gleamed in the sunlight as the audience in Tampa stood and cheered for their local hero.  As if it were a page out of a book, with his family by his side, and Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “New York, New York” playing in the background, Mr. Steinbrenner was met with another standing ovation as his golf cart made its way around the warning track. 

This event has been a long time in the making.  The local residents of the grapefruit league field have been asking to do this for years, only to be declined by the boss himself.  With the daily operations of the Yankees now in the hands of his sons, Hank and Hal, it seemed like the right time.  At 77, and the longest tenure in the majors (35 years), the amount that Mr. Steinbrenner has done for that community will never be forgotten by the residents, and they wanted him to know that.  With a unanimous vote by both the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa City Council, the renaming of Legends Field was simply left up to a ceremony.

One of the many examples of Mr. Steinbrenner’s generosity toward the residents of the Tampa community is the creation of the Gold Shield Foundation.  This incredible organization was set up to help the families of police officers, and fire fighters, killed in the line of duty.  It gives immediate financial assistance to those grieving families, and gives free tuition for a college education.  This is only one of many examples of the overwhelming generosity that sparked the residents to say “thank you” by honoring his name, and renaming Legends Field.

Already having a street named after him, the doors to George M. Steinbrenner High School plans on opening it’s doors in 2009.  Located north of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, it is yet another testament to the character of a man who’s name became synonymous with the Yankees, starting on January 3, 1973.

The first game at George M. Steinbrenner Field started with the ceremonial first pitch by his wife, Joan.  Although it one-hopped to home plate, there was nothing but smiles from Jorge Posada, and Mrs. Steinbrenner, as he escorted her off the mound.  The game seemed to come second, as this was Mr. Steinbrenner’s day.  During the ceremony he put his arm around Derek Jeter, whispering something in his ear.  Apparently it was motivational, for Derek became the first player to hit a home run at George M. Steinbrenner Field.  As appropriate as that sounds, I cannot think of a better way to start a new era in New York Yankee spring training baseball, then watching a Derek Jeter home run go over the fence in the exact replica of Yankee Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

If there was ever a figure in Major League Baseball that deserves this kind of honor, it is “the boss.”  Love or hate the Yankees, you can’t take away the humbling amounts of generosity that George M. Steinbrenner has showed the community of Tampa, his players (both past and present), the city of New York, and the volumes of lives that he touched throughout the years.  I can’t think of a person more worthy of this honor, and his name will remain where it belongs for a long time to come, atop the scoreboard in left field, at the stadium built by the boss himself in 1996.  Congrats boss.  You earned, and deserve it.

March 21, 2008

Yankees victorious over Blue Jays

by @ 3:16 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

In a game that opening day starter Roy Halladay was slotted to pitch in, the Blue Jays showed up giving Kane Davis the nod.  He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits, in 3 innings.  Not the best performance, but it is spring training.  The Yankees ended up winning this one 7-2, and seeing Ian Kennedy go 4 and 1/3 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits, stiking out 4 batters.  This is the kind of game you like.  Seemingly on slow motion, just coastin’ to the finish….la la la.

The seventh inning is what all Yankee fans are talking about around the water-cooler today.  The seventh inning is when Joba Chamberlain came to the mound.  This kid can really pitch.  What a sight.  He has such a way of conveying victory.  In only 11 pitches (9 of them for strikes) he shut down the side.  Proving without a doubt that the organization made the right move with him just the day before, in telling him he would start the year out of the bullpen.

The offense came from 2 Yankees in particular during this game.  Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit were the two Yankees that contributed 5 of the 7 runs today.  Shelley had 2 RBIs, scored a run, struck out once, at 5 at bats.  Betemit went off for 2 hits (one a homer), 3 RBI’s, scored 2 runs, walked once, struck out once, was left on base 4 times, all in 4 At Bats. 

This was a nice game to watch (ESPN), because even though we were still watching some names appear that we weren’t that familiar with, it was nice to watch a Yankee game, first of all, and it was nice to watch them in command throughout the whole thing.  I never once thought this game was going to be contested.  They seemed to just quietly go about their business, and come away with a “W”in.

Regular season right around the corner.  Joba looks ready.  It is a good day to be a Yankee.

March 19, 2008

Yanks get win over Red Stockings on St. Patty’s Day

by @ 12:09 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

I know that it is spring training.  I know that these lineups are nothing like we will see in April.  I know everything you can say about this not meaning anything…after all it is only spring training.  Not so when it is Yanks-Sox.  There is something different about these games.  When you have a declared enemy, you never want them to win at anything.  Even if it is just spring training. 

Well the Yankees did meet their sworn enemy, and going into it, the Sox were hoping to get some luck from the Irish.  They entered the contest with a spring training record well under .500, and seem to look a little sluggish.  Andy Pettitte was on the mound, threw about 65 pitches in 3 and 1/3 innings.  Gave up 3 runs, on 3 hits, and seemed very happy with his performance.

Derek Jeter was hit in the left forearm by a pitch in the second off pitcher Tavarez.  No real harm seemed to be done as Jeter stayed in the game afterward.

The Yanks came away with the victory 8-4 in this one, and can proudly add (even if it is spring training) another notch in the win column of this long, historic rivalry.  Sorry Red Sox fans, you will have to wait until next time to try to get in talk of your last World Series victory parade.  And how they had to shut the whole city down.  Turns out it wasn’t as tough as they thought…They weren’t doing much of anything anyway!

March 16, 2008

Billy Crystal retires from Yankees

by @ 11:14 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

The Yankees signed Billy Crystal to a one day contract, and honored that contract last Thursday against the Pirates.  This idea came in a conversation that Crystal had with Derek Jeter over the phone.  Crystal, a life long Yankees fan, wondered if he could play for the Yankees for one game in spring training, and got his wish.  As somewhat of a 60th birthday present, the Yankees sized his cap, and gave him all the current Yankee spring training swag, including giving him the number 60.  He showed up to camp all smiles, and was not shy for the cameras.  Everyone knew that this was for fun, and for a friend of the organization, and Crystal looked like a boy who received his life long dream.  All he could say the whole day to reporters was how much he was looking forward to this, realized it was for fun, and just wanted this day to never end.

The second part of the wish came true in the first inning…”Now batting for the New York Yankees…Billy Crystal,” echoed throughout Legends Field as he waved to the crowd, and approached the plate.  I am sure nerves had something to do with his performance at the plate (as it would for anyone fulfilling a dream), as he went down swinging.  He did, however, make some pretty decent contact on his second strike, sending it foul.

After his at-bat, he simply turned waved to the crowd, and then proceeded into the dugout (all the while smiles).  He received a good hearty razzing from his teammates, and as the rest of the afternoon’s pictures showed, seemed to be the clubhouse favorite.  The whole team, at one point or the other, was ear to ear smiles while they listened to a comedian at work, making light of the situation, and keeping the bench laughing.

He was there for the post game press conference, sitting next to the pitcher he faced in the first, and even he was smiling the whole time.  Crystal again explained his gratitude for the opportunity to be a Yankee, and said the retirement party was the next thing he was looking forward to.

No other team in Major League Baseball could get away with something like this, or even get away with it the way they did.  This is living proof that there is no other team in professional sports like the Yankees.  Nor will there ever be.   Congratulations to Billy Crystal, and to the Yankees, for making baseball more fun then business; even if it was just for one at bat in the first inning.

March 15, 2008

Duncan shows Rays that Yankees don’t back down

by @ 9:35 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

Shelley Duncan made a hard play on the base paths himself Wednesday, as he slid into Aki Awamura of the Rays, a little high in the heels.  He was looking to stretch a single into a double, and did not beat the ball to second by a distance, but he was left a choice…isn’t that right Mr. Elliot Johnson?  He could have slid and been out or tried to make some form of contact and hoped to knock the ball loose. 

To be fair, let’s break down some facts:

  1. Duncan hit the ball into the outfield, off the glove of the third baseman.
  2. He rounded first with a head of steam, trying to stretch a single into a double.
  3. The outfielder made a great play to send the ball to the second baseman, Aki Awamura.
  4. It arrived before Duncan, and he slid into second trying to jar the ball loose.
  5. Duncan struck Awamura in the knee with his cleats, and caused a little bleeding.
  6. The right fielder from the Rays sprinted in, and jumped on Duncan from behind.
  7. Benches clear, and for the first time in recent history, a baseball fight broke out in a spring training game.

Given these facts you can see that there wasn’t anyone hurt by this (at least no one will be missing 8 to 10 weeks minimum).  You also see somewhat of a double standard here.  It was “ok” for Cervelli to get barrelled over at the plate and break his wrist, calling it “hustle.”  Once Duncan shows that kind of drive, in return, he is looked at differently.  He is looked at as a bad guy.  If you look at the damage done, and the context in which this should be considered, who would even imagine that suspensions, and fines would only go to the Yankees.  It is hypocrisy, really.  The same “hustle” play just happened days before, with a player left on the DL for an undetermined amount of time, and nothing was said about that.  A Yankee does it…..FOUL!  It’s just not right!

Let’s consider some of the quotes that also came from this…

Derek Jeter — “What’s unfortunate is it’s a situation that if our catcher didn’t go down with a broken arm, I don’t think (Duncan) would be suspended.   Now he’s suspended and people talk about the way he plays the game. Shelley plays hard all the time. If I were Shelley, I wouldn’t change the way I play. There’s no reason.”

Joe Girardi — “Shelley’s a very aggressive player.” “I only know I’m upset because my catcher’s having surgery today.”

Joe Madden (manager of the Rays) — “It’s contemptible. It’s wrong. It’s borderline criminal.  That was a blatant attempt to hurt Aki. It was set up. It was planned and it was premeditated.”

As you can see, it seems that there is a bit of “do as I say not as I do” mentality, that the Rays seem to have adopted.  When you have some of the best to ever play the game defending their teammate, in convincing fashion, one would have to side with reason.  Just days ago, it was a Tampa Bay Ray slamming into a Yankee player, breaking his wrist, and putting him out for at least 8 to 10 weeks on the DL.  Now the cleat is on the other foot, and Madden has a problem with it.  This is ridiculous.  Baseball has enough of it’s own problems, it doesn’t need managers flip-flopping on their opinions, and it surely doesn’t need hypocrisy.  I will tell you what it does need.  A good rivalry!  And it looks like this could be the making of a good one.  Tampa Bay has never tried barking up this tree before, and the Yankees, under skipper Joe Girardi, are not backing down from anyone.  Period.

The final quote comes from Brian Cashman, GM of the Yanks, “I’d take 25 Shelley Duncans, how about that?”

Enough said Mr. Cashman.  We will stand down for now, cheer for our Yankees, and hope that the Rays realize that only big dogs get off the porch.  The others, like the Rays, try once or twice, and get shown competition, pride, and passion. You are making a big mistake Tampa Bay.  However, you are going to make for an interesting rivalry this baseball season, instead of the annual eggs you clowns lay against us every year.  Realize that winning can be an attitude, but for some (like the Yankees), it is a lifestyle, dressed in pinstripes. 

March 10, 2008

Girardi upset over play at the plate

by @ 11:53 am. Filed under 2008 Yankees

In a spring training game in the middle of last week, a rookie prospect catcher for the Yanks, Francisco Cervelli, was bulled over by Tampa Bay Ray’s player Elliot Johnson, at a play at the plate.  I have to admit this is just baseball, and guys are trying to win a position on the squad.  However, after reading more articles then I care to admit, I have developed a problem this, and I tend to take the side of the Yankees manager Joe Girardi. 

If I may, I would like to place the evidence of this event before you, and let you decide for yourself.  I have no intention on making your mind up for you.  I will be the first to admit that I have flipped a little in my position from initially hearing these reports. 

The facts(in no particular order):

  1. There was a play at the plate.
  2. The catcher had the ball, with the base runner barreling down at him at full speed.
  3. There was plenty of time to either; stop, slide, turn around, walk away, have a hot dog and an ice cold Bud Light…
  4. The runner lowered his shoulder and plowed right into Cervelli, leveling him on the spot, and seemingly knocking him out for a very short period of time.
  5. Four days prior to that Carl Crawford had a hard collision at the plate with another catcher.
  6. Cervelli proved why he was deemed the best defensive catcher in the organization by Baseball America Magazine, as he still hung on to the ball for the out.
  7. In the 7th inning he was hit by a pitch from David Price, on a 2-2 count.
  8. The Ray’s won the game 4-1.
  9. Cervelli was fitted with a cast for his broken right wrist recently, and will be out an undetermined amount of time.

Given the following situation it seems like it was just a hard play at the plate that didn’t work out for the Yankees.  However, reading a little deeper, you find the following quotes (in no particular order):

  1. Joe Girardi — “I think it’s uncalled for.  Spring training, you are going to get people hurt, and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt.  It’s one thing to get hit by a pitch, it gets away, but, I don’t understand it.”
  2. Elliot Johnson — “His left foot was right there blocking the plate, and my options were either hook around and slide, I thought that would probably have taken too much time and I would have been out.  The time that I had there, the instinct was slide and be out or hit him and see if I can pop the ball loose.”

That being said, I find it hard to believe that a play at the plate was going to be a deciding factor as to whether Johnson made the team or not.  Also, I have played sports on a national level, and realize the importance of pulling up in exhibition for the sake of the sport, the teams, and the individual.  If the Rays decide that their new name, and apparantely attitude, is going to impact this season, then let it impact this season, not pre-season.  There is a time and place for everything, and this was not the time or place.  If it were a regular season game, and something was on the line (even just your starting job) it would be understandable, and you would hear stuff like…”A hustle play,” or “Great play at the plate.”  Instead, in spring ball, you are going to hear criticism, and have your manager, Joe Maddon to say this….uhhh coach?….anything?…. anything at all?

Exactly!  This is why I have flopped a little on my decision.  I can remember hearing the commands before the start of pre-season games, “play at 80% today, guys,  No heroes out there today, save that for when it matters,” or “concentrate on fundamentals today, boys, NO CONTACT!”

As much as I would salute a play like that in the regular season, I cannot justify plowing over a guy who may not even be anticipating it in spring training.  Not cool. 

The last quote comes from Johnson: “Looking back at it, I’d have to say I’d probably do the same thing.”

The last word comes from me: Remember the importance of everything having it’s time and place.  Wrong time, wrong place, and, oh, by the way, you are still out, and noone can take that play at the plate away from Cervelli!  Nice play kid!

March 9, 2008

Newsflash…..Hughes is good!

by @ 7:55 pm. Filed under 2008 Yankees

Just in case you were wondering how this kid, who went 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA, his rookie season, would start off in 2008…

Phil Hughes pitched 4 innings of lights out baseball earlier today against the Minnesota Twins.  He marched right through the first 9 batters, and then walked 2 in the forth.  He said that he was pleased, and liked the location of his fast ball.  His pitch count hit 56.  Very good stuff this early in spring.  Girardi was also available to give the kid, in his sophomore campaign, a thumbs up.  “It seems he’s growing as a pitcher,” was one of the comments made by the skipper to the Associated Press today.  Twins Manager, Ron Gardenhire, also had this to say, “He’s got good stuff.  He’s as advertised.  I thought he did what we try to get our guys to do, and that’s pitch.”  Impressive.

Pretty ironic, really, if you consider in the off-season, the Yankees had put together a deal which included Phil Hughes to the Twins for Johan Santana.  It sounds like fate was on our side for that one.  We may see an impressive emergence of a super star talent as we watch Phil Hughes grow into his own on the mound.  I hope he didn’t jinx himself when he jokingly remarked, “I just hope I don’t waste all of the good innings during spring training.”

We will have to wait and see.  Although that is what makes the cream rise to the top.  Consistency.

March 7, 2008

Conditioning being stressed heavily at camp

by @ 7:38 am. Filed under 2008 Yankees

Joe Girardi has had the boys running a little more this spring training than years past.  He wants to make sure that being in shape for the season is maintained in spring training.  Maintained because over the summer Brian Cashman made some phone calls to the players and reminded them to enter spring training in shape, to avoid what happened to them last year with all the injuries early in spring training and the first part of the regular season.  This resulted in the firing of their conditioning coach, Marty Miller, real early in the season last year. 

As all first class organizations do, they start every new year concentrating on improving their known weaknesses.  Conditioning was definitely one of them.  As Brian Cashman was calling the team, he talked to Bobby Abreu about his conditioning levels starting last season, and told him that if he did not get a verbal commitment from him about his condition entering camp, he would have to reconsider his option year, which amounts to $16 million.  Abreu expressed his desire to remain a Yankee, and promised to enter camp in shape and stay in shape for the entire season.  Which, as he looks entering spring training, he is a man of his word.  So as you can see, conditioning is being stressed heavily this spring, and seems to already be showing dividends.

*Rumor Mill*  Some even say that it was Girardi’s style spring training, and concentration on conditioning, that won him the job over “Donny Baseball.”  Saying that Don Mattingly would not have been so tough on them in spring training.

March 6, 2008

Theeeee Yankees win!

by @ 11:05 am. Filed under 2008 Yankees

Just thought I would practice that now, nice and early, for when it happens this year and the Yankees upset the world and take out the almighty Tigers in the playoffs.  Not one season (other than those rough years in the 70′s and 80′s) can you ever count out the Yankees.  Obviously, their payroll demands some form of attention, whether it be from the national press (i.e. ESPN, or USA Today), or thousands of fans spread out all over the country, waiting to get their turn to write about their beloved Yankees. 

Overall, you should see the same things as years past.  Everyone exaggerating the performance (or lack there of), early on in the season, to find that they have played themselves into a race for first place in the AL East.  Ahhh, to be a New York Yankee.  The whole world watching your every move, good or bad, and judging it due to their own standards and morals.  That must be tough until the paychecks arrive.  Along with a thick skin, a large bank account, and hundreds of people willing to do anything for you at the drop of a hat, comes FAME.  Some players, like the one and only Derek Jeter, have seemingly no problem with it.  Others, like–ohhh I don’t know–Randy Johnson, seemed to have a hard time. 

Regardless, it is Spring Training and every team is preparing the World Series parade in their fantasies.  But only one team does it for real every year, your New York Yankees!  Name me one other team that has the chance EVERY year to go to the playoffs (besides the old Atlanta Braves) and have a legitimate shot at winning it all.

I am glad that this is a site dedicated to the almighty Yankees, and can be delivered from a bias point of view.  Let’s face it, is there any other way to be a Yankees fan, but biased?  How can a lifelong Yankees fan look at any other team in the league and not think “inferior?”  We would have to play baseball another 100 years, and have some other team be as good as the Yankees for that entire time, for the Yankee proud to even consider them in the same sentence as their Yankees. 

For example, the major league baseball team from Boston has had a couple of good years.  To think that their 2 World Series wins is impressive, let’s compare that to the almost 30 that the Yankees have won (we won’t even get into the total number of World Series appearances total, that would be ridiculous).  So being a die-hard Yankees fan has it’s perks, and comes with it rivals.  However, to know that for at least the next 100 years or so, the Yankees are still going to be the best baseball has to offer, whether you want to discuss history or this year’s team, they are just the best. Period.  Sorry Boston, you have had enough regular season and post season beatings to understand.  Really you have. Congratulations on your 2 World Series victories in the past few years, seriously, but you don’t need to tell us how it feels.  Would you like to know how it was to win our 25th World Series? 

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