Winter Wonderland

Well we've got about 8 straight days of snow in the forecast here in Syracuse, so I'm a little jealous of everyone in Orlando for the Winter Meetings, which start today.

• GM Brian Cashman is done playing Santa's elf, and now wants to bring Yankee fans a Christmas present in Cliff Lee.
• Lee's agent was surrounded by reporters today, but said there isn't anything to report or speculate on yet.
• Pat Gillick was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee, but late Yankee owner George Steinbrenner did not receive the requisite number of votes.
• Another ridiculous contract out of the Washington, DC sports market (after the McNabb-Redskins deal) as Jayson Werth signed a 7 year, $126 million contract with the Nationals. I can't find a quote from Werth, but if it says anything other than "I signed here because the Nationals were the only ones stupid enough to give me this much money" he is flat out lying.
• And as Jayson Stark writes, the only person who likes the Werth deal more than Werth is Carl Crawford, who is going to be swimming in money after this offseason.

There will probably be a lot more news this week than there has been this offseason, which of course MLB coincides with finals week, but we'll do our best.

SEE YA!

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For the Boss and Bob

Nick Swisher hits the walk-off single to win the game 5-4 in the ninth. What an emotional, dramatic, and key win for the Yankees tonight. They distance themselves to 3 games ahead of the Rays in the AL East and Mr. Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard are looking down at Yankee Stadium with a smile on their faces.

I'm going to have to admit, I'm still disappointed Derek Jeter didn't come through for the storybook ending in the ninth. He probably had the closest relationship with both the Boss and Sheppard out of all the Yankees. Nonetheless, all the Boss would have wanted is a win, no matter how it got done or who got it done.

Mariano Rivera had an impressive ninth inning where he picked off B.J. Upton and struck out Evan Longoria. David Robertson also had an impressive outing, striking out the side in the eighth inning.

Down 3-1, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada hit back-to-back homers to tie the game. The Rays were able to take the lead thanks to some misplays by Nick Swisher, but he made up for it tying the game with a monster shot to right field. He later got the big hit winning the game in the ninth.

This game kind of reminded me of the game after Thurman Munson died. Very emotional. Back and forth contest. 5-4 final score, both games won in the ninth. I thought the ceremony was well done, the Bleacher Creature silent roll call, and the PA address system shutdown for the game were go ideas remembering Bob Sheppard and the Boss.

No question it will be an Instant Yankee Classic...probably Monday.

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Game 89: Yankees vs Rays

Pre Game ceremonies going on now (6:45). Here's the lineups. Remember this is an important series too, not just remembering Steinbrenner and Sheppard.

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Juan Miranda DH
Brett Gardner LF

Rays

*Got the lineup from RiverAveBlues.

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"Began with Horace Clarke and died World Champion" Remembering The Boss(Updated with more reaction)

There are many quotes I could use as the headline, but the above is what MLB analyst Peter Gammons wrote on his twitter and I thought that speaks volumes of how far Steinbrenner has come when he first bought the Yankees, and how appropriate it is that he leaves us as a reigning World Series Champion. Here are some more reactions from players, writers, coaches, and friends of Steinbrenner:

"Steinbrenner was a fascinating figure: Charitable and cruel at the same time, stubborn yet visionary. He changed all of sports. In my 1st year covering the Yankees, most of spring training was spent chasing George down hallways. He was bigger than any player." Peter Abraham, Boston Globe. Former Yankees beat writer.

"George Steinbrenner was one of the most giving n generous person I ever met-he had a special fire in his belly to win and a Big HEART!...In my years in sports I have met many winners- the 3 people I knew that hated losing more than most were Steinbrenner ,Knight, n Bo Schem." Dick Vitale, NCAA Basketball Analyst, Baseball Fan.

"George was The Boss, make no mistake. He built the Yankees into champions and that’s something nobody can ever deny. He was a very generous, caring, passionate man. George and I had our differences, but who didn’t? We became great friends over the last decade and I will miss him very much." Yogi Berra, former Yankee catcher, manager under Steinbrenner.

"Few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than George Steinbrenner. George had a deep love for New York, and his steely determination to succeed – combined with his deep respect and appreciation for talent and hard work – made him a quintessential New Yorker." NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg


Mark Feinsand of the Daily News also has more reactions. It seems nobody has any current player reactions right now. Once I find some I'll add them to this post.

"He was bigger than baseball. Everybody knew who The Boss was. Anywhere you went with him, people wanted his autograph or to talk to him." Gene Michael, former Yankees GM.

"I will always remember George Steinbrenner as a passionate man, a tough boss, a true visionary, a great humanitarian, and a dear friend. I will be forever grateful that he trusted me with his Yankees for 12 years. My heart goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed in New York, Tampa and throughout the world of baseball. It’s only fitting that he went out as a world champ." Joe Torre, former Yankees manager.

"George redefined professional sports ownership with his vision, his ability to build a champion and a passionate approach that lifted the visibility and popularity of his franchise and his sport. From an interest level, baseball was always better when the profile and the performance of the New York Yankees was at a high level, and George always made sure that was the case." Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys

"He expected to win every day. I remember my first or second year I got doubled off third base on a line drive, but we won the game. Afterward he’s yelling at me, ‘Don’t get doubled off again.’ I said, ‘We won the game.’ But he expected perfection.” Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop

"Winning the World Series meant a lot to him, but the next day he was back to work – ‘OK, how are we going to win next year? He loved winning the World Series, thought it was a huge accomplishment, but never rested after it." Joe Girardi, Yankees manager

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George Steinbrenner Dies at age 80

More sad news to Yankees fans this week. George Steinbrenner died this morning in Tampa after suffering a massive heart attack at the age of 80. Just days after the passing of legendary PA announcer Bob Sheppard, Steinbrenner follows. While the last couple of years Steinbrenner has given control of the team to his sons and has disappeared from public view due to his health, it still comes somewhat of a shock, especially after one Yankee legend just passed.

The Boss revolutionized the free agency of baseball and is largely responsible for the way it is today due to his belief of handing out unprecedented contracts to superstar players. Steinbrenner won seven World Series and 11 pennants during his ownership of the Yankees. He took over the Yankees after they had some awful years in the late sixties and early seventies, and returned them to greatness by the end of the seventies.

Steinbrenner was a colorful, controversial owner, who wanted nothing more than to just win. He had an up-and-down relationship with the Yankee fans and players, but in the end, it is the great things he did for the franchise and the players and coaches under him that will be remembered.

Steinbrenner, in my mind, is unquestionably the greatest owner in sports, and today will be one of the saddest days in the sports world. I am sure today's All Star Game will be a tribute to the Boss, and the Yankees will continue to honor him the rest of the season.

Last year, the Yankees World Series mantra was to "Win it for The Boss." This year, I'm sure it will be "Win it for The Boss, Again." Because we all know Steinbrenner doesn't settle for just one championship.

We'll have more and Yankee player reactions as well throughout the day.

RIP George M. Steinbrenner III. 1930-2010.

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Ringing in the new season

Angels 5 11 0
Yankees 7 13 0

WP: Pettitte (1-0)
LP: Santana (0-2)
S: Rivera (3)

Player of the Game: Nick Johnson. Despite the fact that he has the Stadium crew play Miley Cyrus as he walks to the plate (apparently it's his daughter's favorite song), the new DH went 2-3 with a homer and three runs scored.

Play of the Game: The Jeterian home run to right center field by the Captain in the third inning.

Turning Point of the Game: The infield single by Derek Jeter with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The ball bounced off Ervin Santana's hip and a run scored to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

Notes

• The Yankees received their World Series rings prior to the game today. It was an emotional moment all around when Head Trainer Gene Monahan, who is currently away from the team to undergo treatment for cancer, came out of the dugout to get his ring. World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, now a member of the Angels was on hand, as was current Padres Jerry Harriston Jr, who flew cross country on a red eye.
  
• Prior to the ceremony, Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi presented the Boss, George Steinbrenner, with his World Series Ring. They continue to maintain the curtain of secrecy around the Boss, because as far as I know, they didn't show him on TV.
• Derek Jeter played a prank on his old buddy Matsui. Apparently, the gave a way fake rings to fans, so Jeter put a fake one in Matsui's box, because Hideki wouldn't have anyone to compare it to and wouldn't realize until afterward. Girardi gave Matsui the real ring when the teams came on the foul lines for pre-game introductions.
• And Chan Ho Park pitched out of the bullpen, and was able to control all of his bodily functions.

TOMORROW:
Yankees vs. Angels, 1:05 PM
Vazquez vs. Pineiro

SEE YA!

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Game 1 Pre-Game Festivities

We are less than 48 hours away from beginning the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Wednesday. Today there were some releases on what to expect for Wednesday.

• First, the game is scheduled to start at 7:57 pm ET, as it has been during the ALCS.


• Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes will be performing "Empire State of Mind" before the game. The song is off Jay-Z's latest album and is Derek Jeter's batting intro music.


• George Steinbrenner will be in the House that He Built for Game 1. Joe Girardi said in the postgame last night that they were out to win this one for him.


• It is still unknown who is throwing out the first pitch. I don't know if the Boss is in any condition to do it, but hey, you never know. My money is on either Yogi Berra or Reggie Jackson. Although they have been bringing the 90's dynasty Yankees back lately for first pitches.

In other MLB News:

• Mark McGwire, yes the steroid user, will be the Cardinals hitting coach next year. I wonder what secret methods he has stored for them...


• The Yankees beat the Giants in the ratings yesterday as well. The Giants also couldn't beat the Cardinals. Thank God the Yankees won.

That's it we'll see what we got for tommorow.

See Ya!

[photo courtesy LoHud Blog]

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