Monday, June 08, 2009
Nuthin but a Homer
Four home runs were hit in today's festivities as the Yankees take two of three games in the series. Swisher went for #12 which is half of his 2008 totals. Teixeira's 18th bomb moves him ahead of his Rays counterpart Carlos Pena and Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz for tops in the AL. Only Adrian Gonzalez (also a 1B) has more with 22.
Pettitte was his typical self and earning the win with former starter Phil Hughes putting in a perfect inning of relief work.
Rivera earns save number 14, only one behind Brian Fuentes of the Angels.
Boston was idle today putting the Yankees a full game ahead with a crucial three-game series starting tomorrow. June? Crucial? Yes. The Yankees can handle the other three teams in teh East, but are a dismal 0-5 against the Sox this season. Four more losses and they lose the East if they tie with Boston.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Labels: Adrian Gonzalez, AL East, American League, Boston, home run, league leader, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixiera, Nelson Cruz, Nick Swisher, Red Sox, win, Yankees


Posted by Steve Kenul at 10:25 PM

Thursday, June 04, 2009
Melky is Clutch, Burnett Sits
I did not see the game. Shame on me.

Boston won, Tampa won, Jays sinking faster than the Titanic. Still tied for first and once again the best team in the AL. Tough series next week against the Rays as Boston welcomes Texas.
Chein-Ming Wang made his second Yankees "debut" and it was the same stuff. Texas scores a few runs, Wang weeps. I don't get it. Before the injury last season Wang wa son pace for a career year. This year he is on pace for a not so career year...obviously.
A.J. Burnett has been suspended six games for throwing at Nelson Cruz. Understandable since he threw at his head and not his ribs like he was supposed to.
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Labels: 2009, AL East, American League, best record, clutch, home run, Melky Cabrera, Red Sox, Texas Rangers, win, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 9:36 PM

Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Hard Baseball and Posada Throws it Away (Literally)
The error free streak is ovah! Jorge Posada, in an attempt to throw out a base runner, threw wildly at Robinson Cano who missed the ball and let it trickle to the outfield scoring the first E in 18 games.
The error was meaningless as the Yankees put a seven spot in the fourth with some hard baseball. First Teixeira was smacked in the ribs and given first base. A-Rod trickled a ball to the shortstop who in turn attempted to start a 6-4-3 double play. However, Tex came in hard to the second baseman taking him out on a CLEAN play and breaking up the double play. Beautiful take out slide too if I might add.
In the Rangers top half, AJ Burnett threw one at the head of Nelson Cruz (who had homered earlier in the game). Burnett, the Rangers, and the Yankees were warned and no more rough and tough ball was played.
I love how the code plays out in baseball, but still, never throw at the head.
Sox and Jays win as well. Lead is still one game in the East...Yankees have the best record in the American League, second in the majors to Torre's Dodgers.
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Labels: AJ Burnett, AL East, American League, error, error free, error streak, first place, Jorge Posada, record, Texas Rangers, win, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 9:28 PM

Thursday, May 28, 2009
Like It's Supposed to Be
Yankees and Red Sox fighting for the AL East crown, just like back in the day...two seasons ago. Blue Jays are falling and falling fast and the Rays just aren't last years Rays. I have already predicted the Blue Jays to finish last in the East behind Baltimore.
Sox take on the sinking Jays this weekend and the Yankees seek revenge against the Tribe. Crucial series for the Yankees as Boston will possibly take all three from Toronto.
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Labels: 2009, AL East, American League, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 11:18 PM

Saturday, July 19, 2008
2008 All-Star Game Play-by-Play

Top 1stCliff Lee (CLE) pitchingHanley Ramirez batting (FLA): foul, strike looking, ball, strike out swinging
Chase Utley batting (PHI): strike looking, foul, ball, strike looking
Lance Berman batting (HOU): strike swinging, fly out to right center
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Bottom 1stBen Sheets (MIL) pitching Ichiro Suzuki batting (SEA): ball, fly out to right
Derek Jeter batting (NYY): strike looking, ball, strike looking, foul,
base hit to secondJosh Hamilton batting (TEX): strike looking, ball,
Jeter steals second, strike out swinging
Alex Rodriguez batting (NYY): ball, strike looking, ball, foul out to catcher
1H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Top 2nd Lee pitchingAlbert Pujols batting (STL): strike looking, ball, ball, strike swinging, ground out third -> first
Chipper Jones batting (ATL):
base hit to centerMatt Holliday batting (COL): ground out first unassisted,
Jones to second on force playRyan Braun batting (MIL): foul, strike swinging, strike out swinging
1H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Bottom 2nd Sheets pitchingManny Ramirez batting (BOS): ball, ball, foul, foul, foul, strike out swinging
Milton Bradley batting (TEX): ball, ball, strike looking, ball, strike looking,
ball fourKevin Youkilis batting (BOS): ball, ball, foul, strike swinging, ball,
Bradley steals second, foul, strike out swinging
Joe Mauer batting (MIN): ball, ball, foul, ball, strike looking,
ball fourDustin Pedroia batting (BOS): strike looking, ball, fly out to center
0H 0R 0E 3LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Top 3rd Joe Saunders (ANA) pitching Kosoke Fukudome batting (CHC): strike looking, ball, foul, ball, ground out first unassisted
Geovanny Soto batting (CHC): fly out to center
Ramirez batting: ball, ball, strike looking,
base hit to rightUtley batting: foul, ground out first unassisted
1H 0R 0E 1LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Bottom 3rd Carlos Zambrano (CHC) pitching Suzuki batting: ball, ball,
base hit to rightJeter batting: check throw to first, ground in double play shortstop -> second -> first
Hamilton batting: ball, foul, ground out second -> first
1H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Top 4thRoy Halladay (TOR) pitching Berkman batting: strike looking, ball, strike swinging, strike out swinging
Pujols batting: foul, strike looking, foul, base hit to right, out at second right -> shortstop
Jones batting: ground out shortstop -> first
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Bottom 4thZambrano pitchingRodriguez batting: strike swinging, foul, ball, strike out swinging
Ramirez batting: ball, foul, ball, foul, ground out second -> first
Bradley batting: ball, strike swinging,
reached by throwing error on shortstopYoukilis batting: ball,
Bradley picked off at first0H 0R 1E 0LOB
AL 0 – NL 0
Top 5th Ervin Santana (ANA) pitching Holliday batting: strike looking, ball, strike swinging, foul, foul, ball, foul,
home run to rightBraun batting: strike looking, ball, foul, ground out second -> first
Joe Crede (CHW) replaces Rodriguez at thirdFukudome batting: strike looking, strike looking, ball, ball, strike out swinging
Soto batting: strike looking, strike swinging, strike out swinging
1H 1R 0E 0LOB
AL 0 – NL 1
Bottom 5th Nate McLouth (PIT) replaces Fukudome at center fieldRussel Martin (ATL) replaces Soto at catcherDan Haren pitching (ARI)Youkilis batting: strike looking, foul, fly out to center
Mauer batting: ball,
base hit to shortstopIan Kinsler (TEX) pinch runs for MauerPedroia batting: ball, ball, check throw at first, ball,
Kinsler steals second, ball fourSuzuki batting: strike looking, ball, check swing strike, strike out swinging
Jeter batting: ball, strike looking, strike swinging, ball, foul, ball, ground out pitcher -> first
1H 0R 0E 4LOB
AL 0 – NL 1
Top 6th Justin Morneau (MIN) replaces Youkilis at firstKinsler replaces Pedroia at secondHamilton replaces Ramirez in left fieldGrady Sizemore (CLE) entered in center fieldJason Varitek (BOS) replaces Mauer at catcherJ. D. Drew (BOS) replaces Suzuki in right fieldJustin Duchscherer (OAK) pitchingRamirez batting: strike looking, ball, strike swinging, foul,
base hit to leftUtley batting: ball, foul, check throw to first, ball, ball,
base hit to right, Ramirez to thirdBerkman batting: strike swinging, ball,
sac fly to center, Ramirez scoresMike Young (TEX) replaces JeterPujols batting: strike looking,
base hit up the middle, Utley to secondJones batting: ball, ball, strike looking, strike swinging, strike out swinging
Holliday batting: strike looking, pop out to second
3H 1R 0E 5LOB
AL 0 – NL 2
Bottom 6th Dan Uggla (FLA) replaces Utley at secondMiguel Tejada (HOU) replaces Ramirez at shortstopCorey Hart (MIL) replaces Holliday in left fieldAdrian Gonzalez (SD) replaces Berkman at firstAramis Ramirez (CHC) replaces Jones at thirdHaren pitchingHamilton batting: strike looking, ball,
base hit to centerCrede batting: ball, foul, foul, foul, foul, pop out to second
Sizemore batting: ball,
Hamilton steals second, strike looking, ball, ball, foul, strike three looking
Bradley batting: fly out to center
1H 0R 0E 3LOB
AL 0 – NL 2
Top 7th Carlos Quentin (CHW) replaces Hamilton in leftJoe Nathan (MIN) pitchingBraun batting: strike swinging, foul, check swing strike out
McLouth batting: ball, ball, fly out to center
Martin batting: ball, fly out to center
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 0 – NL 2
Bottom 7th Ryan Ludwick (STL) replaces Braun in left fieldEdinson Volquez (CIN) pitchingMorneau batting: ball, ball,
double to rightBattery meetingKinsler batting: ground out to shortstop -> first,
Morneau advances to thirdDioner Navarro (TB) pinch hitting for Youkilis: ball, strike swinging, foul, ball, foul, strike out looking
Drew batting: ball, foul, ball,
home run to right, Morneau scoresYoung batting: strike looking, strike swinging, ball, strike out swinging
2H 2R 0E 2LOB
AL 2 – NL 2
Top 8th Navarro stays in the game, replaces Varitek at catcherJonathan Papelbon (BOS) pitching (boos followed by a “Mariano” chant)
Tejada batting: strike looking,
base hit to right (more boos)
(More “Mariano” chants)
Uggla batting: strike swinging, strike looking, ball, (overrated chants), strike out swinging
Gonzalez batting: ball,
Tejada steals second, a
dvanced to third on throwing error by Navarro, sac fly to center, Tejada scores (more boos)
David Wright (NYM) pinch hits for Pujols: strike looking, foul, strike three looking
(Bronx cheer)
1H 1R 1E 1LOB
AL 2 – NL 3
Bottom 8th Brian Wilson (SFG) pitchingQuentin batting: ball, ball, fly out to center
Carlos Guillen (CHW) pinch hitting for Crede: ball, foul, strike swinging, foul, foul, ball, foul, ball, strike out looking
Billy Wagner (NYM) pitchingSizemore batting: ball, foul,
base hit to rightEvan Longoria (TB) pinch hitting for Bradley: ball, foul, ball,
Sizemore steals second, battery meeting,
ground-rule double to left (fan interference), Sizemore scoresMorneau batting: ground out pitcher unassisted
2H 1R 0E 1LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 9th Guillen stays in at thirdFrancisco Rodriguez (ANA) pitchingA. Ramirez batting: foul, ball, strike swinging, ball, ball,
ball fourChristian Guzman pinch runs for A. RamirezHart batting: strike looking, fly out to right
Mariano Rivera (NYY) pitchingLudwick batting: strike looking, ball, (“Let's go Yankees” chant), ball, strike swinging, ball, strike three swinging,
Guzman caught stealing second0H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 9th Guzman stays in at thirdRyan Dempster (CHC) pitchingKinsler batting: strike looking, ball, check swing strike, ball, foul, strike three swinging
Navarro batting: ball, foul, ball, foul, ball, strike out swinging
Drew batting: strike looking, ball, ball, ball, strike looking, strike three looking
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 10th Rivera pitchingMcLouth pitching: ball, strike looking, ball, foul, foul, ball, foul, strike out looking
Martin batting: strike swinging, ball, foul, foul, foul, foul, ball,
base hit to rightTejada batting: strike looking,
base hit up the middle, Martin advances to thirdUggla batting: strike looking, ground in double play second -> shortstop -> first, Tejada out at second
2H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 10th Aaron Cook (COL) pitchingYoung batting:
reached base by fielding error on second basemanQuentin batting: reached base by fielding error on second baseman, Young to thirdGuillen batting: intentional ball, intentional ball, intentional ball,
intentional ball four, Quentin to secondSizemore batting: ball, foul,
ground into fielders choice. Young out at home first -> catcher, Quentin to third, Guillen to second.Longoria batting: ball,
ground into fielders choice. Quentin out at home second -> catcher, Guillen to third, Sizemore to secondMorneau batting: strike looking, ground out shortstop -> first
2H 0R 2E 7LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 11th Joakim Soria (KCR) pitchingGonzalez batting: ball, strike looking, ball,
base hit to left fieldWright batting: strike looking, strike swinging, ball, strike out swinging
Guzman batting: strike looking, strike looking, fly out to right center field
Hart batting: ball, ball, strike swinging, strike swinging, fly out to right
1H 0R 0E 3LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 11th Cook pitchingKinsler batting:
base hit to centerNavarro batting: ball, check throw to first, foul, check throw to first, ball,
Kinsler caught stealing second, ball, strike looking,
ball fourDrew batting:
base hit up the middle, Navarro to secondYoung batting: strike looking, ball, ball,
double to center, Navarro out at home center -> catcher, Drew to thirdQuentin batting: ball, ground out shortstop -> first
3H 0R 0E 2LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 12th Soria pitchingLudwick batting: ball, foul, ball, ball,
ball fourMcLouth:
bunt hit, Ludwick to secondMartin batting:
sac bunt, Ludwick to third, McLouth to secondTejada batting: intentional ball, intentional ball, intentional ball,
intentional ball four(longest All-Star Game in terms of time)
Uggla batting: , strike swinging, strike swinging, strike out swinging
George Sherrill (BAL) pitchingGonzalez batting: strike looking, strike swinging, strike out swinging
2H 0R 0E 8LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 12th Cook pitchingGuillen batting:
double to deep leftSizemore batting:
force out to second -> first, Guillen to thirdLongoria batting: strike looking, ball, foul, strike out swinging
Morneau batting: intentional ball, intentional ball, intentional ball,
intentional ball fourKinsler batting: ball,
Morneau reaches second by fielders indifference, foul, ground out third -> first
1H 0R 0E 4LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 13th Sherrill pitchingWright batting: strike swinging, ball, strike looking,
base hit to right-center fieldGuzman batting: ball, strike looking,
sac attempt, Wright forced out at second.
Hart batting: foul, foul, strike out looking
Ludwick batting: ball, ball, ball, strike looking, pop out to second base
1H 0R 0E 1LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 13th Carlos Marmol (CHC) pitchingNavarro batting: strike looking, ground out second -> first
Drew batting: strike swinging, ball, ball, ball, strike looking,
reached by error on second basemanYoung batting: ball, foul, strike looking, ball, ball, strike three looking,
Drew steals secondQuentin batting: foul, ball, strike looking, strike out looking
0H 0R 1E 2LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 14th Sherrill pitchingMcLouth batting: fly out to deep right
Martin batting: ball, ball, foul, fly out to deep right
Tejada batting: foul, ground out shortstop -> first
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 14th Brandon Webb (ARI) pitchingGuillen batting: ball, line out to shortstop
Sizemore batting: strike swinging, ball, ball, strike swinging, foul, strike out swinging
Longoria batting: ball, strike looking, ball, strike looking, strike out looking
0H 0R 0E 0LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Top 15th Scott Kazmir (TB) pitchingUggla batting: ball, strike swinging, strike swinging, strike swinging
Gonzalez pitching: strike looking, ball, ball, strike swinging, fly out to left
Wright batting: ball, ball, ball,
ball fourGuzman batting: ground out to first unassisted
0H 0R 0E 1LOB
AL 3 – NL 3
Bottom 15th Brad Lidge (PHI) pitchingMorneau batting: ball, strike swinging, strike swinging,
base hit to centerKinsler batting: strike swinging, strike swinging, ball, fly out to left
Navarro batting: strike looking, ball,
base hit to center, Morneau to secondDrew batting: ball, strike swinging, ball, foul, ball, foul,
ball four, Morneau to third, Kinsler to secondYoung batting:
Sac fly to right, Morneau scores2H 1R 0E 1LOB
AL 4 – NL 3
WP: Scott KazmirLP: Brad LidgeMVP: J.D. DrewTime: 4:50
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Labels: 2008, Alex Rodriguez, All-Star Game, American League, Brad Lidge, Derek Jeter, J.D. Drew, Jonathon Papelbon, Justin Mornueau, Mariano Rivera, National League, Scott Kazmir, Yankee Stadium



Posted by Steve Kenul at 2:40 PM

Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Top Five: Homeruns
For the next five weeks, Bronx Bloggers will release a top five list of events and players in Yankees history.
These lists are:
Recent Home Runs
Recent Plays
Underrated Players
Overrated Players
Top Lineups
Today I release the top five home runs in recent Yankees history.
Enjoy...
#5
Derek Jeter
Yankees vs Orioles
1996 American League Championship Series
October 9, 1996The Yankees trailed the Orioles 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Derek Jeter hit

a deep fly ball to right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco moved near the fence and appeared "to draw a bead on the ball" when the then-12 year old Maier reached over the fence separating the stands and the field of play 9 feet below and deflected the ball into the stands. While baseball fans are permitted to catch (and keep) balls hit into the stands, if "a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball", spectator interference is to be called.
Right field umpire Rich Garcia immediately ruled the play a home run, tying the game at 4-4, despite the protest of Tarasco and Orioles manager Davey Johnson. The Yankees would win the game in the eleventh inning on Bernie Williams' walk-off home run. The Orioles maintained their protest of the Maier play after the conclusion of the game, but their protest was denied by American League President Gene Budig because judgment calls cannot be protested.
#4
Jim Leyritz
Yankees vs Braves
1996 World Series
October 23, 1996In Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Leyritz hit a 3 run home run to left center in the 8th inning to tie the game at 6 and cap an improbable 6-0 Yankee comeback which did not begin until the 6th inning.

This home run came off Atlanta closer Mark Wohlers and led to the Yankees eventually winning the game 8-6 in 10 innings with future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs 2-out bases loaded RBI walk off pitcher Steve Avery providing the winning margin in the top of the 10th. After the Yankees lost the first two games of the series at home, and narrowly winning Game 3 in Atlanta, this game appeared to be going to the Braves, which would have given them a significant 3-1 series advantage. Instead, Leyritz home run shifted the game's momentum and the Yankees won to tie the series 2-2.
#3
Tino Martinez
Yankees vs Diamondbacks
2001 World Series
October 31, 2001
The Arizona Diamondbacks had taken a 2-1 lead in the World Series and a 3-1 lead going into the ninth inning with their closer on the mound.
Things were going well when Byung-Hyun Kim took the mound and send the D'Backs one game closer to a title.
Things went well....until Kim threw the pitch.
Tino Martinez, oh-fer the series, drilled the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a game-tying two-run home run with two outs.
The Yankees won the game in the tenth inning and tied the series at 2.
Was it a fluke shot, a once-on-a-lifetime event? Keep reading...
#2
Scott Brosius
Yankees vs Diamondbacks
2001 World Series
November 1, 2001
Due to the World Trade Center attack, commissioner Bud Selig pushed the season back a week sending the World Series into November for the first time in MLB history.
Almost a mirror image of the game from the night before, the Yankees entered the ninth inning down by two runs and two outs with an unlikely hero at the bat and Kim on the mound.
Scott Brosius hit the second pitch he saw from Kim deep into the sky and over the fence for an improbable home run to tie the game and send the Yankees into yet another extra inning victory and gave the Yankees a 3-2 series advantage heading to Arizona for the finale.
#1
Aaron Boone
Yankees vs Red Sox
2003 American League Championship Series
October 16, 2003The Yankees and Red Sox each had successful seasons, both reaching the playoffs, and both reaching the championship. Both playing close to 170 games; but game seven of the championship series is the one game to define their season.
The Red Sox had taken a commanding 5-3 lead with their ace Pedro Martinez on the mound and some clutch magic in the air.
The Yankees had tied the game at 5 going into extra innings and a gritty, gutty, and tense series wired down to one pitch.

It was the 11th inning. Tim Wakefield, the master knuckleballer was facing the defensive replacement Aaron Boone. Wakefield's first pitch was quickly changed into history.
"
Although the Boston Red Sox and the fans throughout New England would tell you they were five outs away in the 8th inning, leading by three...as BOONE HITS IT TO DEEP LEFT, THAT MIGHT SEND THE YANKEES TO THE WORLD SERIES! BOONE THE HERO OF GAME 7!!!"--Joe Buck
The Yankees had reached the 2003 World Series behind Boone's home run against the Red Sox.
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Labels: Aaron Boone, ALCS, American League, Braves, Derek Jeter, Diamondbacks, home run, homerun, Jim Leyritz, Orioles, Red Sox, rivalry, Scott Brosius, Tino Martinez, World Series, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 9:21 PM

Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Yankee Stadium to Host 2008 All-Star Game
From the New York Post:The home stretch for Yankee Stadium figures to be the 2008 season, and part of it is likely to include the All-Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic hasn't been in The Bronx since 1977, but 31 years later, Yankee Stadium is the probable revenue.
On seven prior occasions the All-Star Game has been held in New York, with Yankee Stadium having it three times (1977, 1960, 1939), the Polo Grounds twice (1942, 1934) and Shea Stadium and Ebbets Field once each (1964 and 1949 respectively).
In those seven games, the American League had won four times, though the NL had won the three most recent contests in New York. The AL hasn;t lost an All-Star Game since 1996.
The Yankees had four All-Stars last season: Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez.
The replacement for Yankee Stadium figures to open for the 2009 season.
Labels: All-Star, All-Star Game, American League, Ebbets Field, Midsummer Classic, New York, Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 5:17 PM
