Ball or Nuthin' » Yankees

George Steinbrenner Dies at Age 80

T Lamont — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:57:02 +0000

The recent backbone of perhaps the most enduring legacy in professional sports has died.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has passed away at the age of 80. He had been of declining health over the past few years, and his death came at the hands of a massive heart attack suffered at his home in Tampa, Florida.

For more than three decades, Steinbrenner has undoubtedly proven to be the most defining forces behind the success of the Yankees and, to a further extent, major league baseball. Under Steinbrenner’s tenure, the Yankees won 11 American League pennants and 7 World Series titles.

Steinbrenner’s stubborn during his earlier years rubbed his staff and the general public the wrong way – and in the process, he lost many fans and followers. But after hitting rock bottom – including a suspension from the day-to-day involvement with his club, Steinbrenner became forced to trust his specialists. And that ultimately culminated in more championships over the last 15 years.

Bernie Williams and Steinbrenner - two of New York's biggest winners.

A great deal of the success of Steinbrenner’s teams was unquestionably due to the owner’s penchant for opening his checkbook. The Yankees have been noted for instituting a no-holds-barred approach when it comes to signing superstars – and that has contributed greatly to the team’s ability to win.

That philosophy has made him, and the Yankees, the most polarizing figures in sports. New York became a team that is either loved or despised by the vast majority of baseball fans. But an undeniable truth is that the Yankees have since been a financial kingpin in major league baseball. During a time where baseball experienced a black eye through the effects of performance enhancing drugs, Steinbrenner’s dedication to winning gave fans something else to focus. Ticket sales in opposing ballparks spiked when the Yankees visit (and still do), thanks to the impact that Steinbrenner has had.

Steinbrenner:

As I have said many times – my father was a great fan of Bill Dickey’s and he certainly loved the Yankees. I hope that he would be pleased.

The Yankees’ success speaks for itself…and it speaks for volumes for Steinbrenner.

Unlike

Yankees Show Their Toughness in Win Against Twins

T Lamont — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:18:38 +0000

Minnesota catcher Drew Butera had doubled to center. Then, New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez muffed a sacrifice bunt by Minnesota Denard Span.

With no one out and runners on the corners in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees and the Twins were tied at 2-2. And they had the look of a team that was able to fold in to what looked like a compromising situation.

But in typical New York fashion, the ball started to bounce their way.

Twins’ second baseman Orlando Hudson hit a sharp liner back through the box. Only it didn’t make it through. Andy Pettitte snatched it before it could sail over his head, securing the first out in the inning.

But coming to the plate was the reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer. Mauer, who entered the game batting over .340, already had an RBI-single to his credit. But you got the feeling that this at-bat was going to be one that decided the outcome of the contest.

Siwsher's solo shot in the ninth won the game for the Yankees.

Mauer displayed great discipline in this plate appearance, working Pettitie to get the count in his favor three balls to one strike. But the crafty lefty hurled a pitch that sailed away from Mauer. It got enough of the plate that made it appear enticing, and Mauer was induced to ground into the 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

In the top of the ninth, the Twins brought in 6’11″ reliever Jon Rauch to keep the Yankees at bay. However, with one out in the inning, Nick Swisher swatted his eighth home run of the season over the right field wall. New York takes the lead on the solo shot, 3-2.

So, of course, it’s now Mariano Rivera time. The 40-year-old set down the Twins in order by getting three groundouts to record his tenth save (after recording his ninth in the first game of the doubleheader earlier today).

It’s games like these that explain why Minnesota has come up short against New York in 11 of their last 12 meetings. It was the kind of victory that couldn’t be any more typical of the New York Yankees.

Is A-Rod the New American Hero?

T Lamont — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:55:50 +0000

About 9 months…roughly 270 days…

That’s how long ago reports surfaced that New York Yankees’ superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids back in 2003. We all recall that shaky interview in which Rodriguez “came clean” about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. He claimed that it occured during a 3-year span after he had signed a mega-deal with the Texas Rangers (10 years, $252 million) – and that he felt immense pressure to live up to his own hype.

At that point, he pretty much handed in his “I am an All-American Golden Boy” badge. This badge, formerly held by Mark McGwire and, more recently, Michael Phelps, is generally a one-way proposition. You get the badge from a career of seemingly doing everything the right way.

Looking at Rodriguez’ career, it seemed as if the super-talented New York native hadn’t taken a misstep at any particular point. A-Rod had his share of haters, just like any other superstar…but what could they really hold against him as a player and a person?

Well, during his Rangers’ years, Alex stats were phenomenal. His three-year averages were a batting average of around .310 and 52 HRs. Now his previous stats weren’t that far off from these numbers (a .300 BA and 40 HRs was routine for him) - so the increase in productivity seemed fairly natural from a player that was universally regarded as one of the best in baseball. But, of course, in hindsight the increase is more reasonably explained now that the cat is out of the bag.

So, as we entered 2009, we were welcomed to A-Rod’s surprise coming-out party. And we expected to see him leave our network television and move off into some oblivious regional access programming.

Rodriguez broke into the league as part of a formidable Mariners' tandem with Ken Griffey, Jr.

But guess what? It didn’t work out that way. After a productive 2009 season that witnessed Rodriguez post 30 HRs and 100 RBI in 124 regular season games (totals that project out to 39 HRs and 131 RBI), Rodriguez was right back into the spotlight of a Yankees postseason run.

And this postseason run was a much different one for A-Rod. Unlike in past postseason appearances, Rodriguez was extremely productive in the 2009 ALDS and the 2009 ALCS…adding even more fuel to the fire of his haters. He batted .438 with 5 HRs and 12 RBI. In this year’s World Series versus the Philadelphia Phillies, Rodriguez went deep in Game Three and provided a clutch game winning 2-out RBI-double in the top of the ninth inning to place the Yankees on the brink of winning their first championship since 2000.

Pending a breakdown of historic proportions by the Yankees, it looks like Alex Rodriguez will have the last laugh in a season which appeared bleak. While athletes like Rodriguez are held in very high esteem, they are human at their core. Heroes that aren’t celebrities or athletes seem to be held to a different standard of expectation when it comes to deceit and impure intentions. This debate won’t be one that is easily settled. But with all of the hidden agendas and general dishonesty from athletes these days, we may be left to ask ourselves…

Is A-Rod the new American hero?

Unlike

L.A. Angels Throw Away Another Game

T Lamont — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:36:27 +0000

After 5 hours and 10 minutes of game time, the Los Angeles Angels committed another error which resulted in the New York Yankees scoring the game winning run in the 13th inning – and taking Game Two of the ALCS, 4-3.

With runners on first and second and 1 out in the bottom of the 13th, Melky Cabrera hit a ground ball to the left of Angels’ second baseman Maicer Izturis. Itzuris attempted to turn a double play to end the inning, but his throw was wide of the bag at second base, allowing Jerry Hairston Jr. to score on the play.

The loss puts the Angels in an 0-2 deficit in the best of seven series. Game Three is scheduled for Monday at Angel Stadium.

Unlike

Yankees Take Advantage of Angels’ Miscues

T Lamont — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:48:09 +0000

The New York Yankees are a team filled with above-average players at every position. From the every spot in the lineup, they are able to hurt you. Their pitchers are big-game performers who step up on baseball’s grandest stage.

So, you’d figure that they have a leg up on most other major league baseball teams. In no way do they need help from other teams. On Friday night, they got plenty from the Los Angeles Angels.

The Bronx Bombers beat the Angels, 4-1, in Game One of the American League Championship Series. A masterful pitching performance from C. C. Sabathia, and three Los Angeles errors boosted the home team to victory.

Guerrero had the only extra base hit of the night off of Sabathia.

Sabathia gave up 4 hits, struck out 7 and walked only 1 in this game. In his first postseason with the Yankees, he has been outstanding – posting a 2-0 record and a 1.23 ERA thus far. He had the Angels’ hitter off balance all night.

Angels’ outfielder Torii Hunter:

“CC was not cold at all. Man, I faced him a lot in Cleveland, when I was in Minnesota, it was a division rivalry. The guy always pitched good in the cold. He’s got a lot of meat, now. He’s a big boy.”

Yankees’ outfielder Johnny Damon:

“That’s why we got CC. To be a workhorse during the season, of course, but to shut down teams in the postseason.”

The Angels committed some fielding miscues that gave New York some opportunities – which they took full advantage of. Johnny Damon scored on an infield pop-up that third-baseman Chone Figgins and shortstop Erick Aybar both let drop in-between them.

“One of us has got to catch it. Pretty simple,” Figgins said. “The mistakes that we made cost us.”

“I thought he was going to catch it,” Aybar said. “We didn’t communicate well.”

In addition, Angels’ starter John Lackey committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. Centerfield Gold-Glove winner Hunter charged a base hit too aggressively, allowing the ball to kick up off the heel of his glove and over his head. These miscues turned extra bases into extra runs.

Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia:

“We haven’t seen our guys crack the door open for a team like we did tonight in a long time. And the Yankees are going to take advantage of that.”

For Game Two, they’d better make sure that the door is closed and pad locked.

Unlike