March 11, 2012
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

The Yankees played their 9th & 10th  (split squad) games of Spring Training, vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field, while a second team of player stravelled along with Manager Joe Girardi to Minnesota Twins, Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers, Florida, to manage the team and observe #65-RHP Phil Hughes pitch his 2nd start.

With Bench Coach Tony Pena substituting as Manager at Steinbrenner Field the Yankees star closer Mariano Rivera pitched his first game vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.  The fan favorite Panamanian pitched 1 inningof no hit, strikeouts, walks or runs.

A session of questions and answers  followed in the Yankees Clubhouse at the conclusion of Rivera’s one inning of pitching:
Mariano:

Reporter:  Was it where it would be at mid-season?
Rivera:  It’s at mid-form.  So at mid-form is where you have to be when you are ready to pitch.  You know what it means.

Reporter:  I just want you to say it.
Rivera:  It’s Spring training.  It’s the first outing.  You just have to do what you have to do.  I think I did what I wanted  to do.  I threw  my pitches, I feel good and I am waiting for the next outing.

Reporter:  Does it compare to other years, your first time out.  Is is similar?
Rivera:  Oh yea, definitely.  The same feeling, the same situation.  Just trying to get people out and go home.

Reporter:  Do you appreciate that you got a standing ovation, when you came out, do you appreciate that a little bit more?
Rivera:  What are you trying to say?

Reporter:  As you get older (laughter).
Rivera:  Be nice you guys. (laughter)  I always appreciate.  Don’t matter the situation, I always appreciate it.

Reporter:  The second hitter made you work a little bit.
Rivera:  That’s what it is.  That is the game.  You have to work,  you have to pitch, In a situation like that, I mean, you don’t want to throw 7 or 8 pitches, you want to throw the most you can, so that when the situation comes you are ready.

Reporter:  The large part of the crowd gave you a standing ovation even before you pitched when you came out.  You think that’s because a lot of them think this might be the last year?
Reply:  Thanks, I’ve got to go.  Laughter!

So, abruptly, ended the post-game interview with Mariano Rivera as he one again dodges the number one question  in the Yankees camp.  Is Mariano Rivera returning to the the Yankees team for the 2013 season.

Now, according to the fact that the average person is “willing to wait” 250 miliseconds, less than a blink of an eye – fans, you are going to have to wait until when and if Mariano Rivera decides he has had enough of the Yankees mound to announce his departure from the team.  A sad day it will be.  An end to a Yankees era.

Stay tuned.

March 09, 2012
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

The Yankee Pavillion
Where there used to be a large open tent.
It was where New York Yankees #13-3B-Alex Rodriguez held his historic Press Conference on February 17, 2009, to declare his innocence regarding his alleged usage of steroids.

It’s really an impressive facility. It was constructed to the right of the George M. Steinbrenner pitchers back-field practice field.  The Pavillion is another way for the Yankees organization to generate additional revenue.  It’s a sophisticated reception hall with a capacity of 250-500 guests.  Designed for team activities, outside corporate functions, including weddings.
It really is fine looking in the inside.

It’s a museum.  It provides  another facility for the legendary team to exhibit additional memorabilia.  The New York Yankees.  It must be a challenge to display “everything out there”.  On exhibit in the Pavillion are baseball uniform shirts of the Yankees Legends; bats  and  balls.

The Eagle Medalion:
It is placed on a wall inside, at the the front of the Pavillion.
Familiar to the fans of Yankees Stadium in the Bronx.
They were originally designed and placed in 1923 on the original Yankee Stadium, “The house that Ruth Built”.  When the new Yankee Stadium was completed, 3 Eagle Medalions were commissioned; two were placed on the front face of the Stadium and a Bronze Medalion was placed inside the Stadium on the wall at gate 4 – the Press Gate.

The new Yankee Stadium medalions are engraved with the date 1923 at the top and 2009 at the bottom.  The Miles R. Braun design incorporates elements of traditional baseball.  The American Eagle proudly sits with outstretched wings atop a fascia of bats and gloves, over an abstraction of the baseball field.

Of special interest are the overhead lights in the Pavillion.  The pride of  Vice-President of Marketing Howard Grosswirth.

Look-up to the ceiling .  It is a delight of images of  Yankees Legends, past and present; Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Goose Gossage, Dave Righetti, Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez, Thurman Munson, Mark Texiera, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Roger Maris, Joe DiMaggio, Curtis Granderson and the great Babe Ruth.

The Yankee Pavillion – conducive to entertaining!  The exhibits – a trip down memory lane!  The overhead lights – a sight to behold!

George M. Steinbrenner Field
Formerly Legends Field
Tampa, Florida

March 4, 2012

The 110th Spring Training season in Yankees franchise history. After Ft. Lauderdale, it is the 17th consecutive season in Tampa.
It’s the home opener for the New York Yankees.
The teams line-up for the singing of the  National Anthem
It is a Yankees Spring line-up of players to behold, all 69 of them.  A team formation as no other.
Featured: 34 Pitchers, 8 Catchers, 15 Infielders, 12 Outfielders.
It marks the Yankees’ most players in camp since 2008.
Considering that the Yankees are undergoing a  major turnover with young talent, shortstop Derek Jeter and RHP Mariano Rivera become the first set of players to be teammates in 18 or more consecutive seasons since Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker played together for 19 straight seasons with Detroit Tigers from 1977-1995. 
Gone from the team after 17 seasons behind the plate, visibly missed by the fans, catcher Jorge Posada.

There  are nine different countries represented on the Yankees current 40-man roster: Canada, Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Curacao, Panama, Puerto Rico, the U.S.A. and Venezuela.
And, they are tall in the sun.  The Yankees roster features eight players measuring 6’5″ or taller. 

It is a windy day in Tampa for a game in the sun for the Philadelphia Phillies with the  NY Yankees.
Manager Charlie Manuel on the bench for Phillies, Joe Girardi for the Yankees.
It is the second exhibition game of the Grapefruit League spring schededule for the teams.
The Yankees defeated the Phillies 8-5 in the first game in Bright House Field, Clearwater .
RHP, Roy Halladay starts the second game for the Phillies – RHP, Freddy Garcia starts for the Yankees.
In the 1st inning, with Ty Wigginton on base, Philadelphia rightfielder, Hunter Pensce connects  his second home run of spring putting the Phillies ahead 2-0.
In the Yankees 1st inning , 3B-Alex Rodriguez returns the homerun gesture .  Phillies 2 – Yankees 1.

The game continues, the Phillies score runs in the 6th and the 8th.
The  Yankees score runs in 3rd, 4th and in the 7th.
Final Score:
NY Yankees   7 Runs  –  9 Hits – 0 Errors – LOB 11 
Philadelphia   4 Runs – 12 hits – 4 Errors – LOB  8
Winning Pitcher:  D.J. Mitchell  1-0
Losing Pitcher:  Joel Pineiro 0-1
Save: Chase Whitley #1
Attendance: 10,981
Time of Game 2:44

September 30 – October 1, 2011
Yankee Stadium
The Bronx,  New York

Rain – Rain – Go – Away
The Yankees have had 23 games affected by weather in 2011 with a Major League  most 9 postponed  games  and 13 that experienced delays.  The game total also included a July 18th win at Tampa Bay when a bank of lights went out due to lightening. 

Saturday, October 1st, the Yankees resumed Game one of the 2011 American League Division Series vs. the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium.  The game was picked up from the bottom of the Yankees 2nd inning with the score tied 1-1.  The suspension is the first since the January 2009 rule amendment was passed by the Major League Clubs, providing that all postseason games become suspended games if they are called, regardless of how many innings have been played or the score at the time the game is called.

Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia pitched 2 innings of the rain shortened  game on Friday.  On Saturday, at the top of the 3rd inning, Ivan Nova took the mound as the relief pitcher.

Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander pitched one inning of the rain shortened game .  Doug Fister took the mound in relief on Saturday.

Rookie pitcher Ivan Nova went undefeated in his final 16 starts of the season.  His first start in postseason confirmed his effectiveness by pitching 6-1/3 innings of 4 hit ball to Detroit.  Nova became the first Yankees Rookie to earn a win in his postseason debut since Orlando (Duque) Hernandez on 10/10/98, Game 4 of the ALCS in Cleveland.

It was an Ivan Nova and Robinson Cano game.  Cano’s hit  in the 5th inning was thought to be a homerun.  It was reviewed by the Umpires in the Authentication Room.  The ball landed on the ledge of the wall at right centerfield.  It was ruled a double.  In the 6th inning, Robinson Cano broke the game wide open with a grand slam putting the Yankees ahead 8 – 1.  At the top of the 8th inning, Cano  again connected with a double and tied the Yankees postseason franchise record of  6 RBIs.

Jorge Posada played in his 121st postseason game, tying Bernie Williams for second place all time behind Derek Jeter with 148. 

50,940 fans in attendance – the largest single game attendance in the 3 year history of the current  Yankee Stadium.
Final score Yankees 9 – Detroit 3
Winning Pitcher: Ivan Nova
Losing Pitcher: Doug Fister
Time of the game 3:26

July 19, 2011
Tropicana Field
St. Petersburg, Florida

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays

They were called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when Tropicana Field received the new kids on the diamond. The juicy park had remained vacant of baseball for many seasons.  Finally, in 1998 , the boys of summer uniformed in white and blue took their positions at the bases, the pitcher stood at the rubber of the mound, the benches  in the dugout were occupied and the bullpen was in full practice.  It was time for the 13th expansion team to play ball.

Time has passed.  Almost  thirteen seasons  have come and gone.  The team dropped the Devil from their name, during 2008 they were the American League East Champions and went on to become the American League Champions. They completed the 2010 season American League East Champions.  The Tampa Bay Rays continue competing and  they want to win a World Series Championship  in a new ballpark. They also want to be in place  for an All Star Game.

After roving through Major League Baseball for the past 30 seasons, to my surprise, yesterday I set eyes on Tropicana Field during my very first Tampa Bay Rays  baseball game at their ballpark.  I really have not covered  games at many other ballparks but I have been to Cleveland and I have admired  Baltimore.  I  foll0wed the birth of Citi Field from ground breaking to first game.  I witnessed the construction of  the new Yankee Stadium, as  it finally stood in splendor and abundance  across 161st Street in the shadow of its namesake.

I was not prepared for my first impression of  Tropicana Field. It was love at first pitch.  It is an intimate ballpark, cozy and quaint.  Small by todays standards. It’s like a place that time forgot.  Yikes, this is what the ballparks of yester-year looked like, with all its nooks and cranies. Only pictures taken will be the best way to describe it.  It is a ballpark where I can remark  of  its different seating areas “I would like to sit there to see a game”.  As we circle the outfield,  looking  at the signage, we take note that there is no fancy corporate sponsorship signage on display.  It seems as if all were all naturely place here and there and everywhere with no assistance from the folks at Home and Garden.  KANE’s Furniture creatively markets  their name to inform the fans of the “Ks” in the game.  There is no “ribbon” circling Tropicana Field.

Then the ugly hit me.  The Dome.  It resembles  the tent top of a three ring circus.  And, finally there is the faux turf and dirt, a carpet of green and brown. 

The Yankees are in town to play.  There are a lot of Yankees fans at Tropicana Field.  The fans are unsure as to whether to boo or cheer the recent 3,000 hits player, shortstop, Captain of the team, Derek Jeter.

At the top of the 7th inning, as Tampa Bay takes the lead from the Yankees 3 -2, the fans come alive for their team at Tropicana Field.  On this night, it is a win situation at Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Stay tuned.

Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Before and After.
In and out of The Bronx. 

Yankee Stadium is like a City within a City.  When you enter the gates of this sports cathederal, it’s as Alice when she went into the tunnel to Wonderland or Dorothy upon walking the yellow brick road.  The City is different in here.  There is lots of color.  A lot of game takes place on the Diamond.  It is magical.  But as with Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in the Emerald City, we know they both eventually return home.  

YES there was a missed opportunity.  Still, I’ve come full circle.  There is no right way to say goodby to people and a place you love and it has been 30 seasons of in-love for me.  Today is filled with final moments and reflection, en espanol e ingles.  I will indulge a moment to think of what I accomplished, after all it was 30 years.  It was the best of times in Major League Baseball.
We remember the Boss.

 It’s interleague play.  The Subway Series.  Yankees/Mets.  It’s a party of 48,293 fans of New York.   It may be cold in The Bronx but inside the sports cathederal, for me, it’s a beautiful day full of warm rememberance.

 But as like Alice and Dorothy, it is time for Raquel to return home from the Citi.

Resuming the baseball game on the field – top of the 7th inning, the Yankees beat up the Met’s pitchers – 13 players came to bat, Gardner, Jeter, Rodriguez, Cano and Dickerson connected with 6 additional hits, scoring 8 runs.  After 3 hours and 3 minutes of play Yankees 9 – Mets 3       

New York – New York
Stay tuned.

Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York

May 21, 2011

The New York Mets Manager said “You never know what you’re going to do offensively against a knuckleballer”.

The Yankees found this to be true from last night’s Mets game starting pitcher R.A.Dickey.  The knuckleball held the Yankees to 1ER in 6.01IP.  The first game of interleague was a win f0r the Mets vs. Yankees 2 – 1.

Game #2 – The Mets scored twice in the 1st inning against the Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.  The New York Mets fans got excited.  But, the Yankees scored twice in the 2nd inning against the Mets starting pitcher Chris Capuano.  They scored twice in the 3rd inning  and twice in the 6th inning.  Russell Martin,  Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and tonight’s DH Alex Rodriguez connected home runs.  It brought the Yankees total home runs to 70 for the season and leaders in home runs in the American League. 

At the top of the 8th inning, Derek Jeter on his road to 3,000 hit for the 2,973 time of his career.  He then stole 2nd base to tie Rickey Henderson (326) for first place on the Yankees’ all-time stolen bases list.

The 2nd game of the 2011 Yankees/Mets interleague series snapped the Yankees season high six-game home losing streak.  The Yankees did not leave a runner on base.  The final score was Yankees 7 – Mets 3.  For 2 hours 44 minutes,  the teams played to a sellout crowd of 48,286 New York fans. 

The world did not end today.

Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York

May 20, 2011

There’s nobody here but New Yorkers?

It was 1997.  Fifteen seasons ago, it was the start of Major League Baseball Interleague play.
Before interleague, the Yankees and the Mets played the Big Apple Series, then it was the Mayor’s Challenge and finally the Mayor’s Trophy games.  They awarded a trophy?  During 1997,  Major League Baseball instituted interleague play throughout the Major Leagues.

The teams now play The Subway Series and have shared interleague wins and losses at the old Yankee Stadium, the new Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium and Citi Field, with an overall series record of 108-77-1 tie, in favor of the Yankees.

Fittingly, today the New York Yankees Museum will feature a new exhibit dedicated to honoring the legacy of the late Principle Owner George M. Steinbrenner III.  “The Boss: Remembering George M. Steinbrenner III” aims to capture his dedication to winning, his motivation to take the Yankees to the top of baseball and his quiet generosity.  He loved the game.  

During interleague play, from his Box, the Boss so enjoyed seeing all these New Yorker Mets and Yankees fans in his Yankee Stadium.

And so, tonight, 47,874  fans celebrate New York during interleague play.

Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York

May 12, 2011

Thirty-five games into the season, Yankees Captain, shortstop Derek Jeter playing DH.  Yikes!
Former Yankees catcher now DH,  Jorge Posada sitting on the bench.

The 2nd inning is noted for sloppy play by the Yankees.
Two errors and a passed ball, Ivan Nova pitching for the Yankees is battered by the Kansas City line-up, scoring 6.
It’s bad pitching, bad fielding and no hitting for the Yankees.
In the 4th inning, Cuban defector, Amaury Senit  making his Major League debut, takes the ball.  Kansas City scored 8 vs. Nova.

Sean O’Sullivan starting his 5th game for Kansas City is pitching a 5th inning perfect game.  American League 2010 MVP, Yankees 2nd baseman, Robinson Cano left the game in the 5th inning of yesterday’s game after getting hit in the helmet with a pitch.  In the 5th inning of today’s game he takes his revenge as he breaks up the perfect game with a home run and puts the Yankees on the scoreboard.

Sean O’Sullivan loses focus and puts the following three Yankees batters on base. Double by Swisher, hit by Gardner and a walk to Nunez.  The sixth batter in the inning, catcher Francisco Cervelli connects with a double and scores 2 runs.  Derek Jeter follows with a sacrifice fly, scoring Eduardo Nunez.

During five innings of play – Royals 8, Yankees 4 
After scoring a 9th run in the 6th inning, Kansas City goes out 1,2,3 in the 7th.

On the Yankees Milestones List:  At the bottom of the 7th inning Derek Jeter connects his 2,963 hit to tie Cincinnati Red Stockings centerfielder Sam Crawford (2,963) for 29th place on Baseball’s all-time hits list.

At the bottom of the 8th inning, Yankees 3rd baseman, Alex Rodriguez connects the 619th homer of his career.

Kansas City with an 11 to 5 lead against the Yankees has out hit The Bronx Bombers with 16 hits.  8 hits for New York. 

On this Thursday night, 41,790 fans, at least half of those remaining at the end of the game, witness as the Yankees surrender 1st place in the American League East to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kansas CityRoyals 11 – New York Yankees 5

The Yankees will next face the Boston Red Sox.  Yea!

Un Poquito De Beisbol Con Sabor Bilingue
Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York

May 1, 2011

Emilio ‘Millito’ Navarro (26 septiembre, 1905 – 30 abril, 2011).  At 105 years old he was the oldest professional baseball player.  He was born in Patillas, and grew up in the baseball fan favorite town of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

With no professional ball being played in Puerto Rico during the 1920’s, he played in the Dominican Republic for the Escogido Lions.  During 1928, Navarro boarded  a ship to New York to join the New York  Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League.  He became the first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro Leagues.   That season he batted .337.  The 5’5″ infielder was known for his agility at shortstop, his effectiveness as a lead off  hitter and his base running skills.

During the 1930’s Navarro played in Venezuela with Los Magallanes and in Puerto Rico he organized and was the co-founder of the Ponce Lions.  He enjoyed 20 seasons playing and coaching second base.

In 1992 Emilio ‘Millito’ Navarro was voted into the Puerto Rico Hall of Fame and in 2004 the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame.

Before the start of the 2008  First Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball held a ceremonial draft of former Negro League Players, the New York Yankees drafted Navarro.  Tino Martinez made the announcement.  In 2008, prior to the last game played at the old Yankee Stadium, Navarro threw the ceremonial 1st pitch.  Before the 30 foot toss to fellow Puerto Rican, Yankees catcher, Jorge Posada, Navarro warmed his arm and waved his hat to the fans.  They loudly cheered the oldtimer.

Emilio ‘Millito” Navarro was asked how the sport of baseball had changed and he answered quickly through a translator “high salaries, I made $25.00 a week”.  Asked for his secret to a long life, “his faith, dancing and an ocassional glass of whiskey”.  He also described  the hardships of discrimination and spoke of Jackie Robinson.  He thought Major League Baseball was making a good effort to recognize those players who suffered the cruelties of the past.

The legendary baseball hero of Puerto Rico is survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 1 great, great, grandchild.

Connie Marrero lives in Cuba, at 100 years of age he now remains the oldest professional baseball player.

Viva beisbol.