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.

Read more...

Game 88 Yankees at Mariners

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Marcus Thames DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF
LHP CC Sabathia

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chone Figgins 2B
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Jose Lopez 3B
Casey Kotchman 1B
Justin Smoak DH
Josh Bard C
Jack Wilson SS
Michael Saunders LF
LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith

Remembering Sheppard: As most have heard, Bob Sheppard passed away early this morning, and it would be nice to see the Yankees win this one for him.
CC If You Can Hit It: CC Sabathia is going for his eighth straight win today as he heads into the All-Star break as the hottest Yankee pitcher next to... Javier Vazquez? Yes.
First Half Winners: Yankees are garunteed the best record in the majors heading into the All Star break. First time this has happened since 04. That is all I will speak of about 04.

Read more...

Bob Sheppard dies at age of 99

Sad news in not only the Yankees community, but in the sports world as well. Longtime legendary Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard passed away at the age of 99. Sheppard called his first game as PA announcer in Yankee Stadium in 1950 and his last in 2007, after he left citing health reason. He was also the New York Giants PA annoucner from 1956-2006. Sheppard was a huge part of the Yankee Stadium experience. Everytime he would greet the fans, "Hello everybody, and welcome to Yankee Stadium" goosebumps had to run down everyone's back. I know I had them. Sheppard was honored by the Yankees in 2000 when they gave him a monument alongside the Yankee greats in Monument Park and it reads, "Voice of the Yankees." Other nicknames of Sheppard included the "Voice of God."

Honestly, anyone who has ever been to Yankee Stadium, probably played baseball in their backyard as a kid, picturing and imitating Bob Sheppard calling your name as you stepped to the plate. His voice will still echo off the walls in Yankee Stadium, because thanks to Derek Jeter, we will always hear him say, "Now batting, Numbah two, Derek (Derek) Jeetah (Jeetah)...Numbah two."

Bob Sheppard will be greatly missed in the Yankee and baseball community. RIP.

Read more...

Wanted: 8th Inning Guy

Joba gives up a grand slam in a 1-0 game where Javier Vazquez pitched brilliantly in a pitcher's duel with Felix Hernandez. But thanks to Joba, King Felix goes the distance and pitches another complete game victory to beat the Yankees, striking out the side (with some help from the umpire) in the ninth inning.

Who should be out 8th inning guy? Because this guy aint working.

Read more...

Game 87 Yankees at Mariners

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

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chone Figgins 2B
Russell Branyan DH
Jose Lopez 3B
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Justin Smoak 1B
Michael Saunders LF
Rob Johnson C
Jack Wilson SS
RHP Felix Hernandez

Stacking Lefties: Joe Girardi is batting three lefties in a row tonight. Girardi usually likes to split them up.
The Only King I Know: King Felix Hernandez is on the mound tonight. In his last appearance against the Bombers he absolutely dominated them pitching a complete game two-hit shutout.
YES3D: Tonight's game will be the first MLB game to be broadcasted in 3D. Who has a 3D TV anyway, and do you really have to wear stupid glasses to watch that tv?

Read more...

Swisher to Compete in HR Derby

Nick Swisher will be competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday July 12. His announcement comes two days after the fans selected him as the final All Star for the American League team. Obviously, this will become an issue inside the Yankees clubhouse after the coaches already expressed dismay when Robinson Cano was going to compete in it before a minor back injury caused him to pull out. (I think they faked it). Now Girarde and Kevin Long will be getting questions on whether Swisher should compete or not.

I think they'll have less of a problem with Swisher competing than with Cano. I know I do. The Yankees coaching staff has put so much work and effort into making Cano a complete hitter over the last two years, they did not want to see it all go away because of the Home Run Derby. Swisher, on the other hand, is a born power hitter. That's what he's done his entire career up until this year, when the Yankees finally got him to start hitting for average. The only thing I'm worried about is if this will cause Swish get in a habit of swinging for the fences every at bat. Hopefully not, and if he's quickly eliminated we won't have to worry.

Read more...

Lee to Rangers, Not Yankees

Joel Sherman and Ken Rosenthal are both reporting that the Seattle Mariners stepped away from an agreement with the New York Yankees to trade Cliff Lee and instead are trading him to the Texas Rangers for Justin Smoak, Mark Lowe, three others and cash.

So the good news, Cliff Lee is probably not pitching against the Yankees tonight. The bad news, is the Yankees appeared to have Lee in their hands, only for the Mariners to back out the last second and now he's on the NL West-leading Texas Rangers.

I really do not think it was necessary for the Yankees to acquire Lee. They still have the best record in the majors and one of the best pitching rotations without Lee, and will probably sign him in the offseason.

Read more...

Cliff Lee To Yanks Nearly Done Deal (UPDATE)

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that a deal is near done and in agreement to send Cliff Lee to the Yankees in a deal setup around Yankees prospect Jesus Montero. The deal would mean somebody, most likely Javier Vazquez, will be dealt as well. Or, maybe the Yankees push Phil Hughes back into the bullpen to limit his innings. Yet that doesn't seem to make much sense.

In fact, I'm not sure if I can make much sense out of any of this. The Yankees pitching has been doing very well lately, they have the best record in baseball, and they haven't even hit their stride yet in terms of how good they can be, and if Cashman trades Montero it goes against every reason why he wouldn't deal for Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, and Roy Halladay.

So it's a little puzzling and I want to hear more about this trade, but that Queen from Cleveland is taking over ESPN so I just have to keep refreshing MLB trade rumors. And if Lee does in fact come to New York, well, we may just take a break from the blog until October when things really start to heat up.

UPDATE: It now appears that talks have stalled and that the deal looks to have died when Mariners became concerned about David Adams's health, the second baseman who the Yankees were offering in the Montero package. ESPN also reports it's possible another team has came in with a better offer. But right now, Lee is a Mariner.

Read more...

Game 85 Yankees at Mariners

All this madness about basketball almsot made me forget to make a post. Anyway back to baseball season.

Yankees
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF
Ramiro Pena 3B
LHP Andy Pettitte (10-2, 2.82)

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Chone Figgins 2B
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Russell Branyan DH
Jose Lopez
Kotchman 1B
Josh Bard C
Josh Wilson SS
Michael Saunders LF
LHP Jason Vargas (6-4, 3.22)

Read more...

We Did It!

The announcement everyone in New York has been waiting for all day has just been final. Nick Swisher is going to the All Star Game! Nick tweeted thank you to all the fans for voting. The Yankees fans came through and did it, and more importanty we beat out Red Sox Nation by voting Swisher in over Youkilis. Where's that "Nation" now?

Joey Votto was voted in as the last man for the NL roster. But if you weren't voting for Joey Votto what the heck were you doing? He's like top five in every offensive category I have no idea why he wasn't on to begin with.

Maybe next year the fans won't vote a Yankee in over you...ha!

Read more...