When the Yankees go 5-1 in a week, like they did against Colorado and Oakland, there shouldn't be much to complain about. And there isn't. Sure, the offense hasn't been hitting light's out, but it hasn't had to, with a pitching staff, from the starters to the bullpen, that has been as good as any group in baseball this season. The best part, is the two have complimented each other. In one victory, where Phil Hughes allowed six runs in 5.2 innings, the offense scored 11. Hughes even got the victory. It's been that type of run for the Yankees who are 23-13, tied for second best in the majors.
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down Week 6: Mariano Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Vernon Wells are up, Ichiro Suzuki, Brett Gardner, Travis Hafner down
A big part of the New York Yankees' success in the early going this season is due to the team's veteran players. Three of them continue to put up big numbers, especially this week, and will be represented on our Up list below. Thanks to those players, and a host of others, the Yankees are 10 games over .500 and have won five straight heading into Monday afternoon's doubleheader against the Indians.
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State of the Yankees Week 5: Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes and a patchwork offense have Yankees as one of the AL's best teams
Despite a laundry list of injuries this season, the Yankees are right where they have been for the past two decades, in the conversation as one of baseball's best teams. The Yankees are 18-12 on the season, 1.5 games in back of the Boston Red Sox for first place in the AL East. They're also 1.5 games behind for the American League's best record. With that standing, Yankees fans have to be feeling real good, especially knowing the cavalcade of stars could be returning for the season's second half.
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down Week 5: Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda, Lyle Overbay are up, Jayson Nix, Boone Logan, Andy Pettitte on down list
The New York Yankees finished off their homestand this week by going 3-3 against the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics, not exactly what the team had hoped for after starting with a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. On the positive side, there was the continued great pitching of Phil Hughes and Hiroki Kuroda, who are quickly becoming the team's most dependable starters. On the negative, there was the loss Sunday, where Jayson Nix and Boone Logan couldn't come through in key spots. Not surprisingly, those four, and two others, make up this week's 3 Up and 3 Down.
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State of the Yankees Week 4: Sweep of Blue Jays highlights week, but injuries continue to take toll
Who knows how good the Yankees would be this season if injuries wasn't the key topic of discussion. Derek Jeter, Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, we all know the names of those who have missed the season so far. But the injury bug hasn't stopped, with Francisco Cervelli, Ivan Nova and Kevin Youkilis joining the long list of injured players. Luckily for the Yankees, they keep winning games on the field, putting themselves in perfect position to make a run once the stars return to the lineup.
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down Week 4: Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes up, Ivan Nova, Francisco Cervelli, Eduardo Nunez down
In a week where the Yankees went 5-2, including a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, it was again injuries that put a damper on the team's winning ways. Francisco Cervelli and Ivan Nova were the latest victims, with both getting injured in the same game. They join Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira on the disabled list. With that list, it's amazing the team is 15-9 this season. The Up list below is part of the reason for success.
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State of the Yankees Week 3: High expectations are back after Yankees put together another winning week
The New York Yankees have come a long way since a rocky start to the season, when they lost two of three games to both the Red Sox and Tigers. In a three-week span, the Yankees have gone from a team that many thought would finish in last place, to one that is 10-7 overall and just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL East. Big expectations are back in the Bronx, just like they should be.
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down Week 3: Hiroki Kuroda, Joba Chamberlain, Brett Gardner up, Eduardo Nunez, David Phelps, David Robertson down
You know a team is doing well when you have trouble coming up with three players who under-performed during a week. That's exactly the kind of week the New York Yankees had. The team went 4-2 and has won seven of their last 10 games. The team is hitting and the starting pitching has been outstanding. In both losses, the bullpen ended up blowing leads, so that's a hint of what's to come in the Down section. But, first, a lot of bright spots from a winning week.
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State of the Yankees Week 2: Robinson Cano, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda have Yankees back in hunt
Admittedly, we were a little concerned when the New York Yankees opened the season with two series losses to the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. Winning one of out of every three games would make a very long season for Yankeesfans. But the Yankees turned a corner in Week 2, winning four of five games, and five of six overall, to move over .500 and within a game of first place in the AL East.
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down Week 2: Robinson Cano, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda are up, Phil Hughes, Shawn Kelley, Andy Pettitte down
The New York Yankees' start to the season didn't alleviate any fears the team could be in trouble this season, with a 2-4 record and a pair of series losses to the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. But the team did a 180 this week, as the Yankees went 4-1 and have won five of six games overall. It's still early in the year, but this edition of 3 Up & 3 Down is a whole lot brighter than last week's.
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State of the Yankees 1: Yankees open season with two series losses, no offense & lots of pitching concerns
For the first time in two decades, the Yankees actually living up to expectations has been a bad thing. Unlike previous years, where it was World Series or bust, this new version of the Bronx Bombers has limited to no expectations of making a run at a postseason berth, let alone a world title. With that, the fact the 2013 squad has jumped out to a 2-4 start shouldn't surprise anyone. Still, even with low expectations, these are the Yankees, and winning one out of every three games just won't cut it. So, what's gone wrong so far?
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down after Week 1: Kevin Youkilis, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte start strong, Robinson Cano, Ichiro Suzuki, Ivan Nova down
It's going to take a lot for Yankees fans to get behind Kevin Youkilis. For years, he was Public Enemy No. 1 with the Red Sox. But if Youkilis continues to produce at the plate, as he's done so far this young season, he might win over fans quickly.
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Yankees 2013 Season Preview: Despite injuries to key players, Yankees will still win AL East and challenge for world title
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Curtis Granderson breaks forearm, won't return until at least May, here's who could replace him
The one thing the New York Yankees couldn't afford this spring was an injury, especially to one of the team's marquee players. But in the team's first televised game of spring training, that's exactly what happened, and the effects will be felt way into the regular season. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm after getting hit by a pitch from Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ in the first inning Sunday afternoon. Granderson left the game in obvious pain, but the extent of the injury wasn't known until X-rays revealed the fracture. Granderson will be out until at least the first week of May, a month into the regular season.
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New York Sports' Top 12 Storylines Of 2012: Alex Rodriguez, RA Dickey, Champion Giants, Derek Jeter, Tim Tebow, Mariano Rivera, More
As the ball is getting closer and closer to being dropped in Times Square, it's only fitting to look back on the year that was, especially in sports. There was no shortage of storylines making the back pages and lead spots on websites covering the sports world this year, with the good, bad and ugly carving their way into the history books. Of course, with sports, it's all about stats and lists, and we have a great one to end this crazy year in the Big Apple. GameDay names the 12 best New York sports storylines from 2012. Make sure to comment on our list and come up with your own in the comments section below.
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Red Sox Analysis: Dissecting the questionable offseason moves by the Red Sox, including Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, more
The Boston Red Sox have invented a new philosophy for their 2012 offseason. The goal on Yawkey Way has been to give slightly above average and slightly over the hill players as much money as it takes to get them to come to Boston. That’s right. In an age where teams either search for low cost players or the best talent, the Red Sox have spent a ton of money on marginal players. Let’s break down the moves Boston has made this year and talk about why they have been left behind by the likes of New York, Baltimore, and even Toronto.
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Yankees free agent targets this offseason, including Hiroki Kuroda and Joakim Soria
That brings us to replacing Rafael Soriano, as he is almost assuredly going to cash in after his successful year closing games for last season. The Yankees have a solid bullpen to lean on, with Mariano Rivera returning as closer, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain as set up men and Boone Logan, Clay Rapada and David Aardsma as relievers. So, realistically, the Yankees could let Soriano go and continue on as if nothing changed. The one option the Yankees should look into is former Royals closer Joakim Soria, who missed the entire season last year after going through Tommy John surgery. Soria would be the perfect set-up man for Rivera next season and then the heir apparent the following year.
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Yankees Analysis: We Put The Current Roster Through Our Pay Him Or Slay Him Evaluation, A-Rod, Swisher, Granderson, Girardi, More
After a downright embarrassing performance at the plate during the postseason, the immediate reaction should be to blow the entire Yankees offense up. Get rid of everybody and start over. Build a team that doesn't have to rely on the home run to score. Build a team that actually has a pulse at the dish. Build a team that has a will to win, and does it in any way possible, especially in the playoffs.
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Does it ever end? More controversy surrounds A-Rod
It really is amazing what a lightning rod of controversy Alex Rodriguez is. Really, I'm amazed. Every single time you think it can't get any worse. Every single time you think he's turned the corner and put his silly antics behind him. Alex Rodriguez's gossip page life just has to have a soap opera type storyline that has nothing to do with his ability, or lack thereof, to hit a baseball.
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Nick Swisher not only failing at plate and in field this postseason, but he has no sense of reality either
Nick Swisher's words are simply ridiculous and show how delusional he is as a multi-millionaire out of touch with the general public. Would Yankee Stadium be so negative if you actually got a base hit every now and again, or didn't misplay a fly ball in the outfield to cost the team a key victory in the ALCS opener, huh, Nick? Would you expect them to cheer every time you strikeout weakly, Nick? The only good thing about Swisher's words is the fact it's another nail in the coffin of his Yankees career.
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Time for Yankees to wake up after not only losing Game 1 to Tigers, but Derek Jeter for postseason
The 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 12 innings wasn't just a terrible defeat on the field, it was a terrible loss to the soul of the Yankees. On a ground ball during the final inning, Derek Jeter made the play at short, but he landed awkwardly on his plant foot on the run and his ankle rolled. But the injury ended up being much worse than that, as we learned after the game Jeter fractured his ankle and will miss the rest of the postseason. Watching Jeter basically carried off the field was devastating, and now the Yankees will have to continue on without their captain and team leader.
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A-Rod's not clutch, but he's not the only one failing for Yankees in playoffs
The obvious is Alex Rodriguez just can't get the big hit in the big moment. I know this. The world knows this. I have very little confidence when he's at the plate in a big spot. In Game 2, the die-hard part of me thought this would be the time where A-Rod would finally break through and tie the game with a home run. The other, realistic part of me knew the game was over. But he's not the only problem.
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State Of The Yankees 24: Quest for another world title begins against the Orioles in ALDS
The Orioles made it interesting, but at the end of the regular season, it was still the New York Yankees standing alone on top of the AL East. The Yankees swept the Red Sox over the last three days of the season to outdistance the O's by two games in the division. Not only that, but the Yankees won a league-best 95 games to garner the top overall seed in the playoffs. All this for a team that had gigantic struggles during the regular season, had significant injuries to key players and had a manager who still doesn't know how to lead a team on game day.
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State Of The Yankees 23: Despite Girardi's mismanaging, Yanks build small cushion in AL East
We're down to the final eight games of the season and Yankees manager Joe Girardi still can't get out of his own way and help this team win. Tuesday night, he took out Phil Hughes in the seventh inning and brought in lefty Boone Logan for matchup purposes with a 3-1 lead. Hughes had allowed just one run through two outs of the seventh, and even though he loaded the bases, he had just struck out Pedro Florimon. The next batter, Denard Span, was already 0-for-3 against Hughes. But Girardi, who doesn't know how to manage a game, just a matchup, pulled the plug on Hughes and brought on Logan. Before you could blink it was 5-3 Twins and the Yankees lost a game they should have won.
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College GameDay Rewind Week 4: Yankees manager Joe Girardi doesn't deserve job
The Yankees are riding their own momentum and the most impressive part of winning nine of their last 11 games is overcoming the shortcomings of their own manager. Joe Girardi is a complete joke and has no right managing the greatest franchise in the history of baseball. As I wrote in the State of the Yankees column, he manages like a robot, going by a program instilled in his brain that goes by matchups instead of realizing players are actually human beings with actual emotions.
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State Of The Yankees 22: Pettitte returns and Yankees continue their quest for the AL East crown
But the team should be more fired up than usual as Andy Pettitte will return to the mound. As we've broken down here many times, Pettitte could be the key to turning the season around, just in time to win the AL East and head into the postseason. Pettitte will be the team's third starter in the playoffs, following CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda. While the Yankees need Pettitte to pitch well and win the game Wednesday, it's more important he looks good and emerges injury free.
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College GameDay Rewind Week 3: Yankees get Andy Pettitte back at perfect time
Wednesday could be the turning point in the New York Yankees season. Why? Because Andy Pettitte makes his long-awaited return to the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. Yes, the 40-year-old Pettitte, who has been on the active roster for just 40 games this season, is the key in whether or not the Yankees finish off the Orioles and win the AL East. Even bigger, Pettitte is the key to the Yankees winning another world championship.
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State of the Yankees 21: Maybe the Yankees just don't have what it takes to win the AL East this year
For once, I'm completely dumbfounded about what to write about this Yankees team. They either aren't lucky enough or simply aren't good enough to win the AL East this season. At least that's what they've shown during this on-going 22-game stretch against AL East opponents. The Yankees are 5-9 so far against division opponents, with eight to play. That's not going to win the division.
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College GameDay Rewind: Yankees officially collapse, now Derek Jeter needs to bring fire
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Yankees 3 Up & 3 Down after Week 1: Kevin Youkilis, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte start strong, Robinson Cano, Ichiro Suzuki, Ivan Nova down
It's going to take a lot for Yankees fans to get behind Kevin Youkilis. For years, he was Public Enemy No. 1 with the Red Sox. But if Youkilis continues to produce at the plate, as he's done so far this young season, he might win over fans quickly.
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Yankees 2013 Season Preview: Despite injuries to key players, Yankees will still win AL East and challenge for world title
Obviously, no one really knows what's going to happen this season until it actually plays out on the field, but from our perspective, all those already writing the Yankees obituary are not only premature, but incorrect. The New York Yankees are going to win the AL East again this season, even with the current offense.
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Curtis Granderson breaks forearm, won't return until at least May, here's who could replace him
The one thing the New York Yankees couldn't afford this spring was an injury, especially to one of the team's marquee players. But in the team's first televised game of spring training, that's exactly what happened, and the effects will be felt way into the regular season. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm after getting hit by a pitch from Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ in the first inning Sunday afternoon. Granderson left the game in obvious pain, but the extent of the injury wasn't known until X-rays revealed the fracture. Granderson will be out until at least the first week of May, a month into the regular season.
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New York Sports' Top 12 Storylines Of 2012: Alex Rodriguez, RA Dickey, Champion Giants, Derek Jeter, Tim Tebow, Mariano Rivera, More
As the ball is getting closer and closer to being dropped in Times Square, it's only fitting to look back on the year that was, especially in sports. There was no shortage of storylines making the back pages and lead spots on websites covering the sports world this year, with the good, bad and ugly carving their way into the history books. Of course, with sports, it's all about stats and lists, and we have a great one to end this crazy year in the Big Apple. GameDay names the 12 best New York sports storylines from 2012. Make sure to comment on our list and come up with your own in the comments section below.
Read the full story by clicking here
Red Sox Analysis: Dissecting the questionable offseason moves by the Red Sox, including Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, more
The Boston Red Sox have invented a new philosophy for their 2012 offseason. The goal on Yawkey Way has been to give slightly above average and slightly over the hill players as much money as it takes to get them to come to Boston. That’s right. In an age where teams either search for low cost players or the best talent, the Red Sox have spent a ton of money on marginal players. Let’s break down the moves Boston has made this year and talk about why they have been left behind by the likes of New York, Baltimore, and even Toronto.
Read the full story by clicking here
Yankees free agent targets this offseason, including Hiroki Kuroda and Joakim Soria
That brings us to replacing Rafael Soriano, as he is almost assuredly going to cash in after his successful year closing games for last season. The Yankees have a solid bullpen to lean on, with Mariano Rivera returning as closer, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain as set up men and Boone Logan, Clay Rapada and David Aardsma as relievers. So, realistically, the Yankees could let Soriano go and continue on as if nothing changed. The one option the Yankees should look into is former Royals closer Joakim Soria, who missed the entire season last year after going through Tommy John surgery. Soria would be the perfect set-up man for Rivera next season and then the heir apparent the following year.
Read the full story by clicking here
Yankees Analysis: We Put The Current Roster Through Our Pay Him Or Slay Him Evaluation, A-Rod, Swisher, Granderson, Girardi, More
After a downright embarrassing performance at the plate during the postseason, the immediate reaction should be to blow the entire Yankees offense up. Get rid of everybody and start over. Build a team that doesn't have to rely on the home run to score. Build a team that actually has a pulse at the dish. Build a team that has a will to win, and does it in any way possible, especially in the playoffs.
Read the full story by clicking here
Does it ever end? More controversy surrounds A-Rod
It really is amazing what a lightning rod of controversy Alex Rodriguez is. Really, I'm amazed. Every single time you think it can't get any worse. Every single time you think he's turned the corner and put his silly antics behind him. Alex Rodriguez's gossip page life just has to have a soap opera type storyline that has nothing to do with his ability, or lack thereof, to hit a baseball.
Read the full story by clicking here
Nick Swisher not only failing at plate and in field this postseason, but he has no sense of reality either
Nick Swisher's words are simply ridiculous and show how delusional he is as a multi-millionaire out of touch with the general public. Would Yankee Stadium be so negative if you actually got a base hit every now and again, or didn't misplay a fly ball in the outfield to cost the team a key victory in the ALCS opener, huh, Nick? Would you expect them to cheer every time you strikeout weakly, Nick? The only good thing about Swisher's words is the fact it's another nail in the coffin of his Yankees career.
Read the full story by clicking here
Time for Yankees to wake up after not only losing Game 1 to Tigers, but Derek Jeter for postseason
The 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 12 innings wasn't just a terrible defeat on the field, it was a terrible loss to the soul of the Yankees. On a ground ball during the final inning, Derek Jeter made the play at short, but he landed awkwardly on his plant foot on the run and his ankle rolled. But the injury ended up being much worse than that, as we learned after the game Jeter fractured his ankle and will miss the rest of the postseason. Watching Jeter basically carried off the field was devastating, and now the Yankees will have to continue on without their captain and team leader.
Read the full story by clicking here
A-Rod's not clutch, but he's not the only one failing for Yankees in playoffs
The obvious is Alex Rodriguez just can't get the big hit in the big moment. I know this. The world knows this. I have very little confidence when he's at the plate in a big spot. In Game 2, the die-hard part of me thought this would be the time where A-Rod would finally break through and tie the game with a home run. The other, realistic part of me knew the game was over. But he's not the only problem.
Read the full story by clicking here
State Of The Yankees 24: Quest for another world title begins against the Orioles in ALDS
The Orioles made it interesting, but at the end of the regular season, it was still the New York Yankees standing alone on top of the AL East. The Yankees swept the Red Sox over the last three days of the season to outdistance the O's by two games in the division. Not only that, but the Yankees won a league-best 95 games to garner the top overall seed in the playoffs. All this for a team that had gigantic struggles during the regular season, had significant injuries to key players and had a manager who still doesn't know how to lead a team on game day.
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State Of The Yankees 23: Despite Girardi's mismanaging, Yanks build small cushion in AL East
We're down to the final eight games of the season and Yankees manager Joe Girardi still can't get out of his own way and help this team win. Tuesday night, he took out Phil Hughes in the seventh inning and brought in lefty Boone Logan for matchup purposes with a 3-1 lead. Hughes had allowed just one run through two outs of the seventh, and even though he loaded the bases, he had just struck out Pedro Florimon. The next batter, Denard Span, was already 0-for-3 against Hughes. But Girardi, who doesn't know how to manage a game, just a matchup, pulled the plug on Hughes and brought on Logan. Before you could blink it was 5-3 Twins and the Yankees lost a game they should have won.
Read the full story by clicking here
College GameDay Rewind Week 4: Yankees manager Joe Girardi doesn't deserve job
The Yankees are riding their own momentum and the most impressive part of winning nine of their last 11 games is overcoming the shortcomings of their own manager. Joe Girardi is a complete joke and has no right managing the greatest franchise in the history of baseball. As I wrote in the State of the Yankees column, he manages like a robot, going by a program instilled in his brain that goes by matchups instead of realizing players are actually human beings with actual emotions.
Read the full story by clicking here
State Of The Yankees 22: Pettitte returns and Yankees continue their quest for the AL East crown
But the team should be more fired up than usual as Andy Pettitte will return to the mound. As we've broken down here many times, Pettitte could be the key to turning the season around, just in time to win the AL East and head into the postseason. Pettitte will be the team's third starter in the playoffs, following CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda. While the Yankees need Pettitte to pitch well and win the game Wednesday, it's more important he looks good and emerges injury free.
Read the full story by clicking here
College GameDay Rewind Week 3: Yankees get Andy Pettitte back at perfect time
Wednesday could be the turning point in the New York Yankees season. Why? Because Andy Pettitte makes his long-awaited return to the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. Yes, the 40-year-old Pettitte, who has been on the active roster for just 40 games this season, is the key in whether or not the Yankees finish off the Orioles and win the AL East. Even bigger, Pettitte is the key to the Yankees winning another world championship.
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State of the Yankees 21: Maybe the Yankees just don't have what it takes to win the AL East this year
For once, I'm completely dumbfounded about what to write about this Yankees team. They either aren't lucky enough or simply aren't good enough to win the AL East this season. At least that's what they've shown during this on-going 22-game stretch against AL East opponents. The Yankees are 5-9 so far against division opponents, with eight to play. That's not going to win the division.
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College GameDay Rewind: Yankees officially collapse, now Derek Jeter needs to bring fire
The New York Yankees have completed their dramatic collapse, falling into a first-place tie in the AL East with the Baltimore Orioles after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday night. The Yankees once-thought insurmountable, double-digit advantage in the division is gone, and their is no reason to believe things will turn around anytime soon, putting their postseason hopes in severe danger.
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State of the Yankees 20: AL East lead continues to shrink as Yankees drop two series in a row
In the biggest series of the year, this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees appeared at best a team that doesn't have the talent to hold onto the AL East, and at worst, a team that just doesn't care whether or not they lose anymore. Take away a bases-loaded walk and then an error on the next batter, and the Yankees would have been swept away by the Orioles and would be tied right now atop the standings. We've written a lot here in this space about not panicking. But guess what? It's panic time.
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College GameDay Rewind Week 1: Joe Girardi on hot seat for Yankees
If the punchless Yankees, who look like they don't want to win anymore, do end up blowing the AL East lead, manager Joe Girardi has to go. It's simple. The Yankees made a big mistake hiring Girardi in the first place (Don Mattingly should have gotten the job), now they need to rectify it. If only they could find a way to bring Donnie Baseball back ... but that's wishful thinking.
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State of the Yankees 19: AL East lead down to 3.5 games as Yanks can't put together winning stretches
Just when the Yankees appeared to be back in the driver's seat for not only winning the AL East going away, but having the best record in the league as well, a week like last happens that puts everything back into the world of the unknown. After taking three of four from the Rangers and two of three from the Red Sox, the Yankees answered this past week by getting swept by the White Sox before winning two of three from the lowly Indians.
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State of the Yankees 18: Big series wins over Boston and Texas have Yankees back on top in AL
Wasn't it just about two weeks ago that everyone was pushing the panic button on the Yankees season? Well, doesn't that seem a whole lot of silly right now? The Yankees not only have the best record in the American League, but they just won three of four against the Texas Rangers, who many consider the top team in baseball, and two of three from the Boston Red Sox to push themselves 23 games over .500. The Yankees have won nine of their last 12 games and lead the Orioles by five games and the Rays by six in the AL East.
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State of the Yankees 17: Yanks solidify postseason chances with winning week, but injuries mount
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its 17th installment with a much-needed winning week, highlighted by four straight victories, but an injury to CC Sabathia casts cloud over next two weeks.
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Yankees adding Derek Lowe to bullpen
The New York Yankees are bringing in former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe to provide depth in the bullpen with CC Sabathia being placed on the disabled list. Lowe was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians last week. He is expected to join the Yankees on Monday.
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Yankees put CC Sabathia on DL
Ace CC Sabathia was put on the 15-day disabled list after Saturday's game because of stiffness in his pitching elbow. This is the second stint this season on the DL for Sabathia, who missed three starts surrounding the All-Star Game.
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Andy Pettitte is the missing piece to the Yankees championship puzzle
So, A-Rod has been missed, but we have a much bigger missing piece to the Yankees' championship puzzle and who might just explain why the Yankees have gone from unbeatable to clinging to a postseason berth in short order. That piece is Andy Pettitte.
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State of the Yankees 16: Needed series win over Seattle has Yankees heading to road with positive momentum
This was the week the Yankees needed to right the ship and regain their once-dominate control of the AL East. It didn't start out so well, with the Yankees losing the first two games to the Baltimore Orioles to turn a once-thought insurmountable lead into a precarious one. But over the final four games of the week, the Yankees did what they had to do, winning three to create some much needed distance between the Orioles (6.5 games), Rays (7.5) and a whole 10 games over the Red Sox.
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State of the Yankees 15: Despite four-game losing streak, nothing to panic about for Yankees ... yet
With the Yankees losing their fourth straight game to end the month of July, the question obviously becomes is this a sign of things to come or is it merely a temporary stretch of bad play and bad luck? The answer isn't clear, and it never is, but an educated guess says this is just one of those stretches where a great baseball team plays some pretty bad baseball. No more, no less.
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Alex Rodriguez breaks left hand, put on 15-day disabled list
Alex Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday night with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was hit by a change-up from Felix Hernandez in the eighth inning in a 4-2 loss to the Mariners. Hernandez had hit Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter before nailing Rodriguez late in the game. The Seattle pitcher hit three of the final five batters he faced, although none appeared on purpose.
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State of the Yankees 14: Four-game sweep by Oakland hurts, but trade for Ichiro should fuel Yankees
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its 14th installment with a terrible sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics and a shocking trade for Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki.
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First photo of Ichiro in a Yankees uniform
Ichiro takes the field in his new Yankees uniform.
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Yankees trade two pitchers for Mariners star Ichiro, will bat eighth in debut
The New York Yankees pulled off a shocking trade moments ago, acquiring outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners for a pair of minor leaguers. The Yankees are in Seattle tonight, so Ichiro will switch dugouts for the game.
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Breaking down the brightest, and dimmest, stars of the first half of the Yankees season
Robinson Cano: The All-Star second baseman has put himself in the MVP discussion after a slow start, so it's no surprise he leads our list by being named on 6 of the 13 "Up" lists this season. In 85 games, Cano is batting .313 with 26 doubles, 20 home runs and 51 RBI. He ranks in the top eight in five offensive categories, including fourth in slugging and eighth in both home runs and batting average.
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State of the Yankees 13: Jones finds fountain of youth, Yankees head into break with baseball's best record
Almost everything went right for the Yankees in their four-game series with the rival Boston Red Sox this weekend at Fenway Park. The Yankees won three of four games. Andruw Jones hit four home runs, and missed a fifth by just inches, in three games, rediscovering the form that made him a star a decade ago. Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia were both superb on the mound. The Yankees won four of their last five heading into the All-Star break to hold the best record in baseball. They have the biggest division lead in baseball as well, seven games over the second-place Baltimore Orioles. And there was the burying of the Red Sox, all the way back into a last place tie with the Toronto Blue Jays, 9.5 games out of first in the AL East.
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State of the Yankees 12: Yankees remain red-hot despite losing CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte to injuries
July started just how June ended for the New York Yankees - with a victory. The Yankees, coming off a tremendous month, going 20-7 in June, won the first game of July Sunday afternoon, clinching a split with the Chicago White Sox. The Yankees also got news that three of their players will be starting the all-star game, with Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson winning the fan vote, and another, CC Sabathia, chosen as a reserve. But not everything is going well for the Bombers.
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Fans vote in three Yankees to start All-Star Game, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano
The All-Star Game in Kansas City will have a New York Yankees feel to it as three of its players were voted to start in the fan balloting. Derek Jeter will start at shortstop, Robinson Cano gets the nod at second and Curtis Granderson gets one of the starting outfield spots.
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Andy Pettitte breaks ankle, will miss at least six weeks
In a matter of hours Wednesday the Yankees went from having one of the best starting fives in all of baseball, to now trying to suddenly replace their top two pitchers. First it was CC Sabathia being placed on the 15-day disabled list this morning with a muscle strain in his left leg. Then, Andy Pettitte was hit with a line drive to the ankle in the afternoon game against the Cleveland Indians hours later. He will miss at least six weeks.
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Yankees put CC Sabathia on 15-day DL
Just when it appeared everything was going the Yankees way during this incredible run in June, some big news has come as the first downer in a long, long time. The Yankees are going to place ace pitcher CC Sabathia on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain. Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement Wednesday morning, a few hours before the Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at the Stadium.
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State of the Yankees 11: Yankees continue to rule New York baseball with another series win over Mets
Facing the first bit of adversity in a month, losing three straight games, including the series opener to the Mets Friday night, the Yankees had to respond in a big way in the final two games against their cross-city rivals, especially considering the trash talking by closer Frank Francisco. Consider the job done. The Yankees bounced back, winning Saturday's game 4-3 and besting R.A. Dickey (although he didn't take the loss) and the Mets 6-5 Sunday.
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State of the Yankees 10: Three straight sweeps has the Yankees back as the best team in baseball
To say the New York Yankees are playing the best baseball of the season would be a giant understatement. The Yankees have won nine games in a row and 12 of their last 13. They went from four games over .500 two weeks ago to 15 over today. They've taken over first place in the AL East and trail only the Don Mattingly-led Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball. Nothing could be going better for the Yankees these days.
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State of the Yankees 9: Red-hot stretch continues as Yankees sweep Mets in Subway Series
The Yankees team everyone thought they would be before the season has finally materialized over the past three weeks. After starting the year with mediocre play, with the low points including a pitching staff that was seemingly getting beat up night after night, and an offense failing to get a big hit in any situation, let alone a big one, the team has finally taken all their lofty potential and translated it to victories on the field.
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State of the Yankees 8: Successful road trip has Yanks on doorstep of AL East lead, despite lack of clutch hits
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its eighth installment with a successful road trip but still a whole lot of failures at the plate in the clutch.
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State of the Yankees 7: After hitting rock bottom, Yankees reel off five straight; big stretch ahead
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its seventh installment on this Memorial Day with a five-game win streak that has the Bronx Bombers finally resembling the title contenders everyone thought they would be.
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State of the Yankees 6: Andy Pettitte delivers vintage performance, but offense can't get clutch hit
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its sixth installment with a vintage performance by Andy Pettitte but another week of failure at the plate in clutch moments.
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State of the Yankees 20: AL East lead continues to shrink as Yankees drop two series in a row
In the biggest series of the year, this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees appeared at best a team that doesn't have the talent to hold onto the AL East, and at worst, a team that just doesn't care whether or not they lose anymore. Take away a bases-loaded walk and then an error on the next batter, and the Yankees would have been swept away by the Orioles and would be tied right now atop the standings. We've written a lot here in this space about not panicking. But guess what? It's panic time.
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College GameDay Rewind Week 1: Joe Girardi on hot seat for Yankees
If the punchless Yankees, who look like they don't want to win anymore, do end up blowing the AL East lead, manager Joe Girardi has to go. It's simple. The Yankees made a big mistake hiring Girardi in the first place (Don Mattingly should have gotten the job), now they need to rectify it. If only they could find a way to bring Donnie Baseball back ... but that's wishful thinking.
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State of the Yankees 19: AL East lead down to 3.5 games as Yanks can't put together winning stretches
Just when the Yankees appeared to be back in the driver's seat for not only winning the AL East going away, but having the best record in the league as well, a week like last happens that puts everything back into the world of the unknown. After taking three of four from the Rangers and two of three from the Red Sox, the Yankees answered this past week by getting swept by the White Sox before winning two of three from the lowly Indians.
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State of the Yankees 18: Big series wins over Boston and Texas have Yankees back on top in AL
Wasn't it just about two weeks ago that everyone was pushing the panic button on the Yankees season? Well, doesn't that seem a whole lot of silly right now? The Yankees not only have the best record in the American League, but they just won three of four against the Texas Rangers, who many consider the top team in baseball, and two of three from the Boston Red Sox to push themselves 23 games over .500. The Yankees have won nine of their last 12 games and lead the Orioles by five games and the Rays by six in the AL East.
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State of the Yankees 17: Yanks solidify postseason chances with winning week, but injuries mount
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its 17th installment with a much-needed winning week, highlighted by four straight victories, but an injury to CC Sabathia casts cloud over next two weeks.
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Yankees adding Derek Lowe to bullpen
The New York Yankees are bringing in former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe to provide depth in the bullpen with CC Sabathia being placed on the disabled list. Lowe was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians last week. He is expected to join the Yankees on Monday.
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Yankees put CC Sabathia on DL
Ace CC Sabathia was put on the 15-day disabled list after Saturday's game because of stiffness in his pitching elbow. This is the second stint this season on the DL for Sabathia, who missed three starts surrounding the All-Star Game.
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Andy Pettitte is the missing piece to the Yankees championship puzzle
So, A-Rod has been missed, but we have a much bigger missing piece to the Yankees' championship puzzle and who might just explain why the Yankees have gone from unbeatable to clinging to a postseason berth in short order. That piece is Andy Pettitte.
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State of the Yankees 16: Needed series win over Seattle has Yankees heading to road with positive momentum
This was the week the Yankees needed to right the ship and regain their once-dominate control of the AL East. It didn't start out so well, with the Yankees losing the first two games to the Baltimore Orioles to turn a once-thought insurmountable lead into a precarious one. But over the final four games of the week, the Yankees did what they had to do, winning three to create some much needed distance between the Orioles (6.5 games), Rays (7.5) and a whole 10 games over the Red Sox.
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State of the Yankees 15: Despite four-game losing streak, nothing to panic about for Yankees ... yet
With the Yankees losing their fourth straight game to end the month of July, the question obviously becomes is this a sign of things to come or is it merely a temporary stretch of bad play and bad luck? The answer isn't clear, and it never is, but an educated guess says this is just one of those stretches where a great baseball team plays some pretty bad baseball. No more, no less.
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Alex Rodriguez breaks left hand, put on 15-day disabled list
Alex Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday night with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was hit by a change-up from Felix Hernandez in the eighth inning in a 4-2 loss to the Mariners. Hernandez had hit Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter before nailing Rodriguez late in the game. The Seattle pitcher hit three of the final five batters he faced, although none appeared on purpose.
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State of the Yankees 14: Four-game sweep by Oakland hurts, but trade for Ichiro should fuel Yankees
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its 14th installment with a terrible sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics and a shocking trade for Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki.
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First photo of Ichiro in a Yankees uniform
Ichiro takes the field in his new Yankees uniform.
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Yankees trade two pitchers for Mariners star Ichiro, will bat eighth in debut
The New York Yankees pulled off a shocking trade moments ago, acquiring outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners for a pair of minor leaguers. The Yankees are in Seattle tonight, so Ichiro will switch dugouts for the game.
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Breaking down the brightest, and dimmest, stars of the first half of the Yankees season
Robinson Cano: The All-Star second baseman has put himself in the MVP discussion after a slow start, so it's no surprise he leads our list by being named on 6 of the 13 "Up" lists this season. In 85 games, Cano is batting .313 with 26 doubles, 20 home runs and 51 RBI. He ranks in the top eight in five offensive categories, including fourth in slugging and eighth in both home runs and batting average.
Read the full story by clicking here
State of the Yankees 13: Jones finds fountain of youth, Yankees head into break with baseball's best record
Almost everything went right for the Yankees in their four-game series with the rival Boston Red Sox this weekend at Fenway Park. The Yankees won three of four games. Andruw Jones hit four home runs, and missed a fifth by just inches, in three games, rediscovering the form that made him a star a decade ago. Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia were both superb on the mound. The Yankees won four of their last five heading into the All-Star break to hold the best record in baseball. They have the biggest division lead in baseball as well, seven games over the second-place Baltimore Orioles. And there was the burying of the Red Sox, all the way back into a last place tie with the Toronto Blue Jays, 9.5 games out of first in the AL East.
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State of the Yankees 12: Yankees remain red-hot despite losing CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte to injuries
July started just how June ended for the New York Yankees - with a victory. The Yankees, coming off a tremendous month, going 20-7 in June, won the first game of July Sunday afternoon, clinching a split with the Chicago White Sox. The Yankees also got news that three of their players will be starting the all-star game, with Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson winning the fan vote, and another, CC Sabathia, chosen as a reserve. But not everything is going well for the Bombers.
Read the full story by clicking here
Fans vote in three Yankees to start All-Star Game, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano
The All-Star Game in Kansas City will have a New York Yankees feel to it as three of its players were voted to start in the fan balloting. Derek Jeter will start at shortstop, Robinson Cano gets the nod at second and Curtis Granderson gets one of the starting outfield spots.
Read the full story by clicking here
Andy Pettitte breaks ankle, will miss at least six weeks
In a matter of hours Wednesday the Yankees went from having one of the best starting fives in all of baseball, to now trying to suddenly replace their top two pitchers. First it was CC Sabathia being placed on the 15-day disabled list this morning with a muscle strain in his left leg. Then, Andy Pettitte was hit with a line drive to the ankle in the afternoon game against the Cleveland Indians hours later. He will miss at least six weeks.
Read the full story by clicking here
Yankees put CC Sabathia on 15-day DL
Just when it appeared everything was going the Yankees way during this incredible run in June, some big news has come as the first downer in a long, long time. The Yankees are going to place ace pitcher CC Sabathia on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain. Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement Wednesday morning, a few hours before the Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at the Stadium.
Read the full story by clicking here
State of the Yankees 11: Yankees continue to rule New York baseball with another series win over Mets
Facing the first bit of adversity in a month, losing three straight games, including the series opener to the Mets Friday night, the Yankees had to respond in a big way in the final two games against their cross-city rivals, especially considering the trash talking by closer Frank Francisco. Consider the job done. The Yankees bounced back, winning Saturday's game 4-3 and besting R.A. Dickey (although he didn't take the loss) and the Mets 6-5 Sunday.
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State of the Yankees 10: Three straight sweeps has the Yankees back as the best team in baseball
To say the New York Yankees are playing the best baseball of the season would be a giant understatement. The Yankees have won nine games in a row and 12 of their last 13. They went from four games over .500 two weeks ago to 15 over today. They've taken over first place in the AL East and trail only the Don Mattingly-led Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball. Nothing could be going better for the Yankees these days.
Read the full story by clicking here
State of the Yankees 9: Red-hot stretch continues as Yankees sweep Mets in Subway Series
The Yankees team everyone thought they would be before the season has finally materialized over the past three weeks. After starting the year with mediocre play, with the low points including a pitching staff that was seemingly getting beat up night after night, and an offense failing to get a big hit in any situation, let alone a big one, the team has finally taken all their lofty potential and translated it to victories on the field.
Read the full story by clicking here
State of the Yankees 8: Successful road trip has Yanks on doorstep of AL East lead, despite lack of clutch hits
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its eighth installment with a successful road trip but still a whole lot of failures at the plate in the clutch.
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State of the Yankees 7: After hitting rock bottom, Yankees reel off five straight; big stretch ahead
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its seventh installment on this Memorial Day with a five-game win streak that has the Bronx Bombers finally resembling the title contenders everyone thought they would be.
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State of the Yankees 6: Andy Pettitte delivers vintage performance, but offense can't get clutch hit
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its sixth installment with a vintage performance by Andy Pettitte but another week of failure at the plate in clutch moments.
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State of the Yankees 5: All is right in Yankee Universe as Pettitte returns, plus Cano heats up
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its fifth installment with the return of fan favorite Andy Pettitte as all seems right in Yankee Universe despite his loss.
State of the Yankees 5: All is right in Yankee Universe as Pettitte returns, plus Cano heats up
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its fifth installment with the return of fan favorite Andy Pettitte as all seems right in Yankee Universe despite his loss.
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the full story by clicking here
Andy Pettitte to return to Yankees for Sunday start
When Andy Pettitte announced he was going to make a comeback with the Yankees this season, no one could have imagined his return would be a necessity more than a luxury. But with the injury to Michael Pineda and the overall struggles of every starting pitcher not named CC Sabathia, that's exactly the case.
Andy Pettitte to return to Yankees for Sunday start
When Andy Pettitte announced he was going to make a comeback with the Yankees this season, no one could have imagined his return would be a necessity more than a luxury. But with the injury to Michael Pineda and the overall struggles of every starting pitcher not named CC Sabathia, that's exactly the case.
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the full story by clicking here
State of the Yankees 4: Sadness surrounding Rivera injury still at forefront for Yankees
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its fourth installment with the most depressing news to hit the team and its fans in a long, long time as Mariano Rivera is lost for the season with a torn ACL.
State of the Yankees 4: Sadness surrounding Rivera injury still at forefront for Yankees
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its fourth installment with the most depressing news to hit the team and its fans in a long, long time as Mariano Rivera is lost for the season with a torn ACL.
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the full story by clicking here
As news of Mariano Rivera injury sinks in, don't bet against return
The news that Yankees great Mariano Rivera had a torn ACL and would most likely be lost for the season didn't sink in right away. It was too sudden and too shocking to think about the future, a season without the all-time legend coming out of the bullpen to close out another game, another championship.
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Mariano Rivera tears ACL, most likely will miss entire season
The New York Yankees and their fans received just about the worst possible news anyone could have imagined - Mariano Rivera has a torn ACL and will most likely miss the entire season. Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement after the Yankees lost to the Royals Thursday night.
It was an emotional scene in the Yankees locker room in Kansas City as closer Mariano Rivera spoke with the media after learning he has a torn ACL and will most likely miss the rest of the season. He also has a torn meniscus. Rivera was emotional and fought off tears as he talked about letting the team down.
State of the Yankees III: Breaking down a tough stretch, led by CC Sabathia
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its third installment after a tough stretch against two of the league's best, two prime performances by ace CC Sabathia and a captain who's playing better than ever.
There's hopefully still plenty of baseball left in the careers of Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero, but so far the Yankees look like complete fools for making the trade of the two highly-touted prospects this offseason with the Seattle Mariners. News today is that Pineda will be out for the season with a labrum tear in his right shoulder.
As we throw out the first pitch here on our second State of the Yankees column, the mood couldn't get any better if you're a fan of the Bronx Bombers. On both Friday and Saturday, the Yankees not only beat the rival Red Sox, but humiliated them. It makes for a fun edition of this breakdown.
The Yankees' 4-4 start to the new season isn't anything to get excited about, but considering the Bombers were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening series, it's not anything to get worried about either. After losing the first three games, the Yankees went on to sweep the Baltimore Orioles and took the first game of a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels before losing big Saturday.
As pitchers and catchers report to Yankees spring training today, general manager Brian Cashman, continuing his overly-honest approach that began last year, admitted the team played to win the wild card in the 2010 season. The Rays ended up winning the division, but had to face the Texas Rangers in the first round. The Yankees won the wild card and played the patsy Minnesota Twins.
Finally, the Yankees have sent pitcher A.J. Burnett packing in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. While the Yankees didn't get much in return, this was more a classic case of addition by subtraction. Burnett would have come into spring training as the seventh starter, so there was no reason to keep him around.
The Yankees signed a former power hitter Wednesday, and no it's not Hideki Matsui or Raul Ibanez. Russell Branyan has been invited to spring training, the Yankees announced. Branyan appears to have little shot to make the team, but anything can happen with a strong exhibition season.
In an emotional press conference, Jorge Posada announced he was leaving the game of baseball forever. With Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, among other players and coaches, in attendance, one of the greatest catchers in Yankees history announced his retirement to a jam-packed audience in the Bronx.
New York Yankees great Jorge Posada will officially announce his retirement Tuesday morning at Yankee Stadium. Posada played 17 years with the Yankees, becoming one of the best hitting catchers of all-time. He won five World Series titles and was a five-time all-star.
As much as the Giants claim to own New York, especially when they are playing in an NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, this week proved otherwise. Here's the day-by-day breakdown of a week that should have belonged to the Giants, but had them regulated to secondary status.
The Yankees have reportedly traded for Seattle Mariners rookie all-star pitcher Michael Pineda in exchange for catcher Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi. Also, many outlets are now reporting the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.
While he may not have gotten the ultimate sendoff of winning a World Series title last October, Yankees great Jorge Posada accomplished something on a personal level that has him leaving the sport with his head held high. One of best hitting catchers in baseball history is set to retire in the next two weeks, meaning he will end his legendary career right where it started - with the Yankees.
Before I get to my Yankees eulogy later tonight, as I was in the ballpark to witness the ALDS Game 5 disaster against the Detroit Tigers, I wanted to point out the one man who actually showed up to play this postseason. Jorge Posada, the man banished to the bench by manager Joe Girardi, proved once again he is one of the greatest Yankees of all-time.
I realize there was no real basis for my contention that A.J. Burnett would throw a gem Tuesday night for the Yankees in a do-or-die Game 4 of the ALDS against the Tigers. Call it a hunch. Call it a feeling. Call it shear stupidity. But I just knew Burnett would come through and send this series back to the Bronx.
The Yankees saved their season Tuesday night in Detroit with help from one of their heroes and one of their goats. Together it couldn't have added up to a more important outing for the future of the Yankees this postseason. Curtis Granderson did it with his glove and A.J. Burnett did it with his arm and New York has forced a Game 5 in this ALDS with a 10-1 victory in Game 4.
In 2007, three young pitchers made their debuts in the Bronx for the New York Yankees. Two of them were considered the future of the most storied organization in all of sports. The third was a notch below his teammates, but still had unbelievable upside. Together, the trio were not only pegged as future All-Stars, but the ones who would be the face of the next generation Yankees.
Jesus Montero, the much-hyped catching prospect in the Yankees minor league system, should be making his long-anticipated arrival in New York Thursday to join the big league team. Yankees manager Girardi said Montero will arrive tomorrow.
The end of a great Yankees career as we know it occurred today at Fenway Park in Boston. That is where manager Joe Girardi told Jorge Posada he would no longer be the team's designated hitter. Without a spot behind the plate and a position to play on the field, besides a very occasional turn at first to spell Mark Teixeira, Posada will be regulated to the bench from here on out.
Alex Rodriguez has taken a big gamble. Literally and figuratively. And he's probably going to lose. The question is how big? Major League Baseball is investigating the Yankees slugger's involvement in illegal, underground poker games detailed by a report in Star Magazine. The same such games the league told him to stay away from in 2005.
Forget about the Yankees or Red Sox acquiring Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda at the trade deadline. Kuroda has decided not to waive his no-trade clause and will finish out the season with the Dodgers. "I told Ned (Colletti) through my agent (Steve Hilliard) that I will be wearing this uniform throughout the season," he said through an interrupter. "I'm not going anywhere."
It was July 10 way back in 1997 that I made the trek to Yankee Stadium for what I thought would be one of the great moments in the history of the Bronx Bombers. A Japanese superstar by the name of Hideki Irabu was set to make his Yankees debut as a starting pitcher that night, and my excitement and enthusiasm was equaled by the over 50,000 people who packed the Stadium that night to witness history.
Call me naive or say I'm behind the times, but I had a major revelation during my vacation to Chicago last week. What's the major eye-opener? Chicago Cubs fans are not only the most overrated in all of baseball, but they could be the worst fans in the game. I actually can't imagine a fan base that is worse, and I'm surrounded by a great number of Mets fans.
When Yankees captain Derek Jeter reached first on a bunt single against the Rays Sunday afternoon the scoreboard flashed a familiar countdown on the big screen in the outfield. Only this time the number "3" was replaced with the number "4". As in 4,000 hits. Such is life for the future Hall of Famer where the next great moment is always on the horizon.
Here is more of our coverage of Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes' rehab start for the Trenton Thunder in New Britain Friday night. We have full coverage below this post and in the pages of the New Britain Herald, but here is the entire press conference following Hughes' start against the Rock Cats.
Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes said his rehab start with the Double-A Trenton Thunder against the New Britain Rock Cats was a step in the right direction Friday night. Even though he had better numbers during his first rehab stint for Staten Island in A-ball, Hughes was positive in the progress he's making.
It didn't take the New Britain Rock Cats long to start the hype machine on their website for this Friday night when the Trenton Thunder arrive in town. Why the hype? Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes will be on the mound for the Thunder Friday night. Hughes will be making a rehab start in New Britain.
For the first time since the early years of interleague play, I actually found myself glued to the television for a series that didn't involve the Yankees and Mets. Of course, it was special circumstances as the Yankees were in Wrigley Field for a series against the Chicago Cubs.
I got the opportunity, for the second year in a row, to attend the New Britain Rock Cats hot stove luncheon Friday afternoon, despite the early snowfall, and there was some interesting tidbits to come out of the event. Minnesota Twins general manager Bill Smith was the featured speaker, and the underlining theme of his speech to the crowd at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell was, for me anyway, beating the Yankees. The "damn Yankees" as he would say.
Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were both elected to the baseball Hall of Fame today after coming up just short a year ago. Alomar was named on 90 percent of the ballots, while Blyleven was on 79 percent. Connecticut native Jeff Bagwell received 41 percent of the vote, far shy of the 75 percent needed for election. Yankees great Don Mattingly also came up well short of election.
As news of Mariano Rivera injury sinks in, don't bet against return
The news that Yankees great Mariano Rivera had a torn ACL and would most likely be lost for the season didn't sink in right away. It was too sudden and too shocking to think about the future, a season without the all-time legend coming out of the bullpen to close out another game, another championship.
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Mariano Rivera tears ACL, most likely will miss entire season
The New York Yankees and their fans received just about the worst possible news anyone could have imagined - Mariano Rivera has a torn ACL and will most likely miss the entire season. Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement after the Yankees lost to the Royals Thursday night.
It was an emotional scene in the Yankees locker room in Kansas City as closer Mariano Rivera spoke with the media after learning he has a torn ACL and will most likely miss the rest of the season. He also has a torn meniscus. Rivera was emotional and fought off tears as he talked about letting the team down.
State of the Yankees III: Breaking down a tough stretch, led by CC Sabathia
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its third installment after a tough stretch against two of the league's best, two prime performances by ace CC Sabathia and a captain who's playing better than ever.
Surreal
night in Bronx ends with watching Tigers celebrate after beating punchless
Yanks in ALDS
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact the Yankees' season came to an end Thursday night. It was almost surreal sitting in the stadium watching the Yankees go down without a fight against Jose Valverde in the ninth inning and having the Tigers celebrate right in front of me.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact the Yankees' season came to an end Thursday night. It was almost surreal sitting in the stadium watching the Yankees go down without a fight against Jose Valverde in the ninth inning and having the Tigers celebrate right in front of me.
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